After the uproar over the battle against the special grade cursed spirit finally died down, life at Jujutsu High shed its brief danger and tension and settled back into a steady daily rhythm.
There were no urgent missions, only regular special training, coursework, and the daily antics of the three of them and their friend. It was uneventful but fulfilling.
Qingxiao always remembered how Shoko had looked back then, her eyes red, both angry and distressed for him. He remembered her exhaustion and lingering fear after staying beside his hospital bed all night.
As their ordinary days together slowly accumulated, that sense of indebtedness and tenderness quietly settled in his heart.
The long stretch of clear skies came to an abrupt end, and the weather grew noticeably colder. A biting chill filled the air, and even the wind blowing through the corridors turned sharp and dry.
The weather station had announced days in advance that a strong cold front would pass through, bringing the year's first widespread snowfall after nightfall. Snow would fall all night, leaving the world white the next day.
Whenever Qingxiao happened to pass the Medical Room, he would catch Shoko rubbing her hands together and breathing on them.
Qingxiao quietly settled on a plan. With the first snow approaching, this was the perfect chance to get her a complete set of warm accessories that fit well and looked good, a small way of making it up to her after all this time.
The day's special training proceeded as usual.
By the time training ended, the sun had sunk completely below the horizon. The orange-red afterglow faded, the sky rapidly darkened, and the evening wind swept through all of Jujutsu High with a biting chill.
Normally, once Qingxiao had cleaned himself up, he would head straight for