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The hot pot was bubbling and bubbling, and the rich aroma filled the air. Various dishes were brought to the table one after another, soon filling up the entire table.

She expertly divided the food between the red and white soup pots, and soon scooped up the cooked ones and placed them in his bowl. Hipper seemed to be an expert at taking care of others at a dinner party, taking everyone's taste preferences into account and catering to them just right.

There was never a single mistake when he raised his chopsticks - at least, everything in his bowl was to his taste.

There are always those people for whom elegance seems ingrained in their DNA. Whether they move their hands or feet, frown or smile, or even just sit there expressionless, they exude a kind of nobility that others can never achieve, no matter how hard they try.

Hipper is such a person, but she always restrains this trait and hides it properly in her daily life, making her appear approachable and more down-to-earth.

Only when eating, the calm posture that is inadvertently revealed - the slight turn of the wrist when picking up food, the slight pursed corners of the lips when chewing, and even the calmness that passes through the eyes when looking up - can give people a glimpse of the innate elegance.

She picked up the teacup and sipped the warm tea to wash away the greasiness in her mouth. As she put the cup down, she looked up at Gojo Satoru and asked casually, "What are your plans for the future?"

"Plan?" He raised an eyebrow, pausing his food. He spoke frankly, "I hope the students can grow up quickly and take over the teacher's responsibilities. That way... I can relax a little more."

These words sounded very honest, without any flowery words, and seemed like the most sincere expectation hidden deep in one's heart.

Hipper set down her teacup, the bottom of the cup making a soft click as it touched the table. She rested the back of her hand against her cheek, her elbow resting on the edge of the table, and stared at him quietly. A mist seemed to cloud her eyes, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking. But her hands kept moving, still able to pick up the food and drop it accurately into the boiling hot pot.

What motivated the teacher to train the next generation of sorcerers? Was it because of the astral plasma incident? Or was it because of Geto Suguru?

The words twirled on my tongue, but I swallowed them back. There was no need to ask, and no way to ask. Some past events were like stones at the bottom of the water; if you touched them, they would only muddy the water.

Of course she knew that the teacher was not the kind of person who could not stand jokes. He was used to making jokes in his daily life, so he didn't mind any jokes from the students.

But some jokes are different, like a needle hidden in cotton wool, seemingly light but actually poking old wounds - saying them out loud will only make the sense of loss hidden in the eyes spread even wider.

"I will." As he lowered his head and concentrated on eating, Hipper's voice was light but very firm.

"Huh? What?" Gojo Satoru looked up when he heard the voice, with some confusion in his eyes, obviously not following the meaning of her words.

"I say, the teacher's wishes will all come true." The waiter raised his eyes to meet his gaze and handed over the second ice cream after half an hour. Hipper added a touch of unquestionable seriousness to his tone, "Because I'm here."

Gojo Satoru took the ice cream, his eyes resting on the cone for a moment, then turned back to look at her. He suddenly leaned over and passed the ice cream to her mouth, his voice laced with a hint of laughter: "Take a bite and try it."

This is his favorite flavor. Good things should always be tasted by those who like them first, so as not to waste them.

She didn't really dislike ice cream, but when someone offered her something, she had to decide whether to accept it or not. Now, without hesitation, she bit off the top corner of the ice cream.

Seeing her take a bite, the man withdrew his hand, took the second bite, and said with an ambiguous smile: "So, was my previous wish too simple? Let me change to another one?" The ending tone rose, and there was a frivolous smile in his eyes, covering the temptation underneath - as if he was weighing something, carefully probing her boundaries.

He slowly chewed the meat, vegetables, and rice, feeling a sense of relief and a bit of energy. Hipper glanced up at him, her tone teasing, "Besides wanting to lighten your load and slack off, aren't you just looking for fun? What else do you want?"

Did he really think she was the old turtle in the wishing well, who could make any wish come true for him? It wasn't a big deal, but it was quite trivial.

He choked at the response, speechless for a moment, and simply took a big bite of the ice cream. The coldness instantly stung his temples, and even the inexplicable restlessness in his heart was frozen.

I covered my head and gritted my teeth, wondering when this iron tree I'm guarding will bloom. So stupid, I can't even understand this roundabout hint. Is he really slow-witted or is he just pretending to be stupid?

"What about you? Don't you have any wishes?" Gojo Satoru looked at the person who was eating quietly opposite him, with a hint of inquiry in his tone.

It's only natural to be curious about Hipper - this person is shrouded in mystery and hides countless secrets.

The sense of mystery is indeed a plus that can add to one's charm, but he is reluctant to even give an answer, which is really a headache for those who want to get close to him.

With a plug-in like this that makes your wishes come true, whatever you want is within your reach. Is there really any wish that Hipper has not fulfilled?

"Yes, it's very simple." He pushed the empty bowl aside, ate a second bowl of rice, and poured the remaining vegetables from the plate into the boiling pot. It was more like a frank statement of an ordinary thing than a wish: "Just survive."

Seeing him staring at her without moving his chopsticks, she raised her eyes and glanced at him, not surprised at all: "What are you looking at? Is it strange? I am a person who is easily satisfied."

No, to survive is an instinct ingrained in human nature and the most basic and primitive need.

And wishes should be something based on "living well" - it is an expectation that can be reached by tiptoeing, an extra thought in the heart, and a pursuit that goes beyond survival and has a little warmth.

If a person is stripped down to only the most basic and cruel instincts, and only struggle remains in his eyes, then his life will be filled with only dull and heavy suffering. Where is the happiness?

After eating for a while, the person opposite him didn't move his chopsticks, but just stared at the steam rising from the pot in a trance. Hipper then took out a tissue to wipe the corner of his mouth, put down his chopsticks and paused eating. "What's wrong? You look so sad, I'm still alive, right?"

This person truly hadn't grasped the crux of the matter. Even at this moment, he could still ask such a question with such a calm expression, as if the previous conversation about "living" and "desires" was just a matter of "it's cloudy today."

"I didn't expect that what I said to Hui would apply to you as well." After swallowing the last bite of ice cream, the sweet coolness had not yet dissipated. He picked up the meat slices soaked in soup from the bowl and stuffed them into his mouth, mumbling: "Be a little more greedy, Hipper."

Hearing this, Hipper raised his head and slowly chewed the food in his mouth. After swallowing, he picked up the teacup and drank the remaining tea in one gulp. Then he began to respond, his tone calm and straightforward: "Am I not greedy enough? Two six-eyed people, two classmates, 102,415 universes..."

She no longer maintained her calm elegance, and simply picked up the spoon, scooped a big mouthful of rice into her mouth, her cheeks puffed up, and with a broken jar-like attitude, she started to eat.

"What's the point of being greedy?" She hadn't even finished swallowing the food yet, and her voice was muffled, as if it was choked by the food. "I can't drag you guys down with me."

He let go of his temper and talked a lot, but it was all just angry complaints over and over again, mixed with some inexplicable dissatisfaction, as if someone had been poked in a sore spot, but he could only mutter in his throat.

If you have something to say, you should say it out loud. If you keep it in your heart, those unexpressed emotions will spread and fester like mold in a damp corner, eventually turning into a wound that even time cannot heal.

If you really can't help it, it's okay to cry. Let it out and clear out all the blockages in your heart. Then stand up slowly, hold your head high and walk forward.

People are allowed to fall, and are allowed to rest on the spot after falling, but they must always stand up.

Even if you know that what lies ahead is an irreversible end like death, you still have to learn to face it, Hipper.

It’s like knowing that night will fall, but still having to put away the clothes that are hung out to dry before sunset; it’s like knowing that flowers will wither, but still stopping to admire their splendor when they are in full bloom.

If you can't avoid or escape something, it's better to face it yourself instead of being pushed or forced to encounter it.

"Teacher, you're not thinking about chicken soup, are you?" She finished two bowls of rice, not even leaving out the leftover scraps in the red soup pot, eating them all. Now that she was full and satisfied, she lazily propped her cheek up to look at him, her eyelids narrowed into crescents, and her tone was a bit nonchalant and certain.

"I have my own plans. If I really need you, I won't be polite. Why think so much?"

“…”

Really, her romantic allergy is a bit annoying.

"And..." The corner of her eye quickly glanced at the bowl in front of Gojo Satoru. After all, her curiosity couldn't be suppressed. She looked up at him and asked, "Isn't it strange to eat ice cream mixed with beef?"

I give up. Even at this time, your attention is still glued to this flavor combination. You are really hopeless.

It was rare for him to have no appetite for a proper meal. On their first date, she had eaten to her heart's content and left with a full meal, but he hadn't achieved anything, and he felt an indescribable anger. Glancing at the clock, there were only five minutes left until seven, so he decided not to delay any longer—he would pay the bill first, take her clothes back, and then go to the front to vent his inexplicable anger.

"It's time to go, little genius."

The final battle must finally come to an end, and the two indispensable core combat forces on their side should now head to the front line.

"Are you unhappy? Then let's go have a fight." The girl walked ahead without looking back, her fingertips clicking rapidly on the screen. She was lowering her head to send messages to the students, asking them to prepare for the transmission in advance.

“…Tsk.”

This genius, waiting at night.