Winter's arrival

The gentle autumn breeze quietly withdrew, and time slipped by in a flash as the biting chill of winter slowly spread throughout Jujutsu High.

The yellow leaves had all fallen, leaving only sparse, slender branches in the woods. The morning wind carried a bone-piercing chill, and the world was filled with the stillness and cold unique to winter.

Before they knew it, November had arrived. November seventh was Shoko Ieiri's birthday.

Qingxiao had always remembered Shoko's birthday.

He had taken this silver Cursed Tool lighter from the Cursed Tool Repository some time ago. He had tried it on a mission, and it worked very well.

Shoko's combat abilities were poor, yet she always went on missions with them. Qingxiao had always worried about her safety.

Her birthday was the opportunity he had long been waiting for.

After spending so much time at Jujutsu High, he had long since come to regard Satoru, Geto, and Shoko as true companions.

They usually spent their time either in class or on standby for missions, and their days were monotonous. So he did not want to treat Shoko's birthday as a formality. It did not need to be a grand, lively affair, but at the very least, he wanted her to truly feel that someone remembered her birthday and sincerely celebrated it with her.

After much thought, he decided to take the initiative and find the other two to settle the birthday arrangements.

He left his dorm room and headed straight for the other two's dorm next door. The hallway at Jujutsu High was quiet and deserted, with winter's chill seeping through the gaps in the windows.

Qingxiao took out his key and unlocked the dorm door, then knocked on Suguru Geto's room first. A reply soon came from inside.

He pushed the door open and entered. Suguru Geto was sitting at his desk, reading a book on Jujutsu theory. His desktop was neat and clean, and the light fell softly over the pages, lending the scene an air of quiet composure.

Before the two could exchange more than a few words, light footsteps came from next door. Satoru Gojo strolled back with a snack in his mouth, his white hair swaying. Spotting Qingxiao at the open door, he immediately poked his head over curiously. "Huh? What brings you here, Qingxiao? Looking to spar with Geto again?"

Looking at the two before him, Qingxiao spoke in a serious tone to remind them.

"Shoko's birthday is in a couple of days. Don't forget."

At those words, Satoru Gojo froze at first, his blank mind racing. A few seconds later, he clapped his hands as if struck by sudden realization, his white hair swaying gently with the motion. "Oh, right! I remember now! There was something like that! I remember."

Compared with Satoru Gojo's belated realization, Suguru Geto was much more composed. He nodded lightly, his expression gentle and calm. "I know. I bought her present well in advance."

"Huh?!" Satoru Gojo's eyes instantly widened. "You already had it ready? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Suguru Geto pressed a hand to his forehead helplessly and explained softly, "I thought you remembered too, so there was no need to remind you specifically."

"I did know!" Satoru Gojo raised his chin, utterly unabashed. "But I forgot, so it didn't occur to me to prepare ahead of time."

With that, he immediately leaned toward them and asked eagerly, "Come on, tell me. What presents did you get Shoko?"

Suguru Geto answered openly, briefly describing the gifts he had prepared. They were all practical items.

When it was Qingxiao's turn, however, he merely smiled faintly and kept them firmly in suspense. "It's a secret."

Satoru Gojo was instantly displeased. He puffed out his cheeks and leaned closer, patting his chest with an earnest expression as he promised, "Huh? Are you worried I'll tell someone? My lips are sealed!"

Sealed? More like a wide-open jar! Qingxiao grumbled inwardly, but aloud he said, "It's not that I don't trust you. Look, I haven't even told Geto."

That made Satoru Gojo feel much better. "Even Geto doesn't know? Then I suppose I'll forgive you for keeping it secret!"

Beside them, Suguru Geto chuckled at that and shook his head helplessly, playing along. "That's true. He hasn't let a single hint slip. I'm curious about the surprise you've prepared too."

If he told them in advance, knowing Satoru, he would definitely blurt it out on the spot, and the surprise would lose its meaning.

He knew perfectly well that the gift he had prepared was completely different from Geto's and Satoru's conventional gifts.

The days flew by, and before long, November seventh arrived. Shoko's birthday came right on time.

Over the next two days, they kept a tacitly agreed low profile.

The Training Ground, usually full of their playful squabbling, occasionally grew a little less noisy. Satoru Gojo snuck out of Jujutsu High several times, returning each time with bulging bags and mysteriously hiding from everyone, though he could never escape Qingxiao's notice.

Qingxiao saw through him but said nothing, letting him fuss about as he quietly chuckled to himself. The one who was usually the most laid-back was taking things seriously for once, all for a companion's birthday.

Suguru Geto remained as composed as ever, attending classes, training, and reading, his routine unchanged and nothing unusual showing. But Qingxiao knew that he was always thoughtful and thorough, so the gifts he had prepared would surely be thoughtful and suit Shoko's tastes.

As for Qingxiao himself, he maintained his daily regimen of rigorous training, only unconsciously feeling the Black Gift Box in his pocket after finishing each day's practice.

He had repeatedly polished the Cursed Tool inside until it was clean and gleaming, without a speck of dust. The care he had kept hidden for so long awaited only her birthday, when he would solemnly place it in Shoko's hands.

The days passed at an unhurried pace, slipping by in a flash, and before long, November seventh arrived. Shoko's birthday came right on time.