Jujutsu High lay bathed in the pink-orange sunset, the wind sweeping cherry blossom petals past the boundary wall and scattering pink fragments across the ground.
The four of them walked slowly along the sports field. Satoru Gojo sauntered at the front with a lollipop in his mouth, occasionally turning back to bump Suguru Geto's shoulder.
The two bickered together, their voices drifting into the distance.
Qingxiao and Shoko trailed behind, walking side by side over their shadows.
At a hundred and ninety-five centimeters tall, he had to slow his steps considerably to keep pace with her. His shoulders stood almost a head above hers, his breath falling softly onto the crown of her head.
Up ahead, Satoru Gojo suddenly stopped and turned to shout at them. "Could you two hurry up? Even a snail would be faster!"
Suguru Geto slapped the back of his head and added with a smile, "You're not much better. A turtle, at best."
"Hey!"
Shoko's eyes curved despite herself. Qingxiao let out a relieved breath too, the corners of his mouth lifting a little.
The photo spot was beneath an old cherry tree. Yaga had put up the backdrop before leaving: a plain white sheet with a few petals resting on it.
Qingxiao set the camera on a stone bollard and adjusted the settings. Shoko came up beside him to look at the screen, tapping its left edge with a fingertip. "Shift the angle a little to the left. You'll get the canopy in."
Her breath brushed his forearm as she spoke, an unexpected rush of warmth.
Qingxiao nearly pressed the wrong timer button. He gave a muffled "Okay," hurriedly stepped back half a pace, and turned to call Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto, who were still shoving each other.
Shoko lightly brushed the camera