A few days later.
Saitama City.
Outside the hospital entrance.
Yuji Itadori leaned against a pillar by the entrance, his hands in his pockets, glancing toward the intersection now and then.
Megumi Fushiguro stood beside him with his back against the wall, his eyes on the ground, tapping one foot lightly.
Nobara Kugisaki crouched on the steps, turning a nail over and over in her hand.
"Where is he? Why isn't our teacher here yet?"
She tossed the nail up and caught it.
"Is Teacher Wangchuan even reliable?"
Itadori tilted his head to look at her.
"Of course he is. It's just..."
"Just what?"
"Something must've held him up. Like a girlfriend or something..."
Kugisaki rolled her eyes. That told her nothing. She closed her hand around the nail.
"He's got the same problem as Gojo."
"What problem?"
"He's too laid-back."
She slipped the nail into her pocket, stood up, and brushed the dust off her pants.
"Heh heh heh..."
Itadori chuckled.
Kugisaki turned to glance at Fushiguro.
Fushiguro leaned against the wall without speaking, his eyes fixed on the ground, his foot still tapping.
Kugisaki moved closer and nudged Itadori with her elbow.
Itadori lowered his head.
Kugisaki stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear.
"Fushiguro's been like this since yesterday."
"Like what?"
"Not talking. Not smiling."
"Isn't Fushiguro always like that? Ten-"
"No, this is different. I think he's really nervous right now."
Kugisaki glanced at Fushiguro again.
"His sister's been in a coma for almost a year. Anyone would be nervous."
Itadori nodded.
"But everything will be fine once Teacher Wangchuan gets here."
He turned to look at Fushiguro.
"Right, Fushiguro?"
Fushiguro raised his head and looked at Itadori.
"Yeah."
His voice was flat. He had no interest whatsoever in fooling around with these two idiots.