Chapter 34, page 33

Why.

She rarely takes the time to carefully organize and connect the information behind certain events.

This is really important.

There are many "whys" about Gojo Satoru, even though he seems completely defenseless and open to being explored.

—But there are no blind spots.

Putting aside her thoughts and analyzing from a third-person perspective, he saved Airi Matsuzaka because he was affected by the curse of love upon their first meeting, and his liking outweighed his interest.

For Xijiufu, those days were more of an interest than a liking.

If she goes too far, she will be executed on the spot without a second longer.

What about now?

Is taking her on missions meant to tie her to the advanced training program? After all, her spells are quite useful, and many people want to kill her.

Why.

She wanted to know what Gojo Satoru was thinking, to spy on his thoughts, to control him and to erase him.

Give me an answer.

what are you up to?

What are you trying to do to me with those tricks?

I really want to know.

This unexpected and uncontrollable powerlessness enveloped her, making it impossible for her to think about anything else.

This matter must be resolved, right now.

She turned to face Gojo Satoru and placed her outstretched hand on his chest.

He did not reject her advances.

With his hand still on the doorknob, he gave a puzzled "hmm" to signal Airi to continue.

"Gojo Satoru, you..."

She didn't continue speaking, unable to find the right words for a moment.

"Um?"

After waiting for a while without any sound, Airi Matsuzaka seemed to be stuck, her face showing a confused expression, unsure of how to express herself.

It looks like we'll have to wait a long time.

Gojo Satoru closed the door.

Is something incomprehensible and troubling her? That's rare. What could Airi's quirky mind possibly have that she feels she can't solve?

That seems to be a big problem, and he needs to be mentally prepared.

She had an idea.

However, it made her very unhappy.

tame.

This word is something she always uses to describe herself; it shouldn't be used carelessly.

There are no other words that can be used to describe Gojo Satoru.

He is taming Airi Matsusaka.

It's very dangerous.

It's also very interesting.

Even though I know I should be cautious, I can't help but cross the line and test things out when my interest kicks in.

Are you trying to tame me?

Discipline and instruction, indeed. He had always treated her that way.

He used a combination of coaxing and deception, patiently persuading people; he truly had a silver tongue. He commanded respect, used persuasive language, and lured people with gifts.

"Isn't that so?"

The heartbeat felt under his palm was normal, and he didn't seem too surprised by the question.

It seems like this person will tolerate any question she asks.

Like a toy that cannot escape his grasp, it spun around in his palm.

Is it just... a toy?

"yes."

He admitted it, his eyes crinkling with laughter, a bright and confident smile.

"Are you going to ask why again?" He concealed the sharpness and probing in his eyes, his soft brows hiding any emotions that might frighten her.

What she finally saw was the gentle, somewhat wicked, and somewhat annoying Gojo Satoru.

Instead of Gojo Satoru, who would run away the moment she glanced at him.

"what would you like?"

This was the second time she had asked Gojo Satoru what he wanted from her.

She didn't understand the answer from last time.

never mind.

Whatever they say will never exceed her expectations.

I like you, I love you, I want to be with you, to be inseparable from you, and never leave you...

Those were answers she was tired of hearing.

She didn't want to hear these things from Gojo Satoru.

It's best to remain aloof and unconquerable; once you bow your head, you lose your sovereignty.

He's quite interesting.

"Shh-"

Airi Matsuzaka withdrew her hand from his chest, and gently pressed her index finger against her lower lip as a shushing gesture.

I don't want to hear it.

Don't give in to me.

"Don't speak."

Don't tell me you like me.

"Do what you want."

Come on, try and tame me.

He didn't move, but his eyes subtly changed.

“Say more, Airi.”

"...?"

Is that all? You treat my passionate speech with such a dismissive attitude?

“Never mind.” She was about to continue her sarcasm when Gojo Satoru interrupted her. “You don’t say anything to make me happy either.” He took a step forward, and his first action was to pin Matsuzaka Airi’s hands behind her back.

This is bad.

That was a terrible move.

She couldn't predict what Gojo Satoru would do next, but... her sixth sense told her it would definitely be something unexpected—

"Don't even think about running away." Gojo Satoru pulled Airi, who had taken a step back, into his arms and wrapped his other arm around her as well. "Weren't you so brave to question me just now?" He gently nuzzled her head with his chin, then lowered his head to meet her gaze.

When facing her, Gojo Satoru would always bow his head, maintaining a perfect distance. Whenever she spoke, he would turn and stare into her eyes. It was just a formality, but he always insisted on doing so.

He will not bow down for her.

It would be difficult to get him to compromise.

Don't you like me?

Before asking him a question, Airi Matsuzaka pulled her hand away and took off his sunglasses, trying to find some emotional fluctuation or flaw in his eyes.

"What did I do that made you feel like I didn't like you?" He raised an eyebrow, a little confused by the question. "Was it because I didn't let you play games all night? Or because I wouldn't let you drink all the milk in the fridge?"

“Liking and taming can happen at the same time.”

"But you've rejected me so many times—"

Airi Matsuzaka frowned and retorted, refuting his explanation.

“Airi doesn’t like me either.” He took the sunglasses from Airi’s hand and hung them on his shirt pocket. His tone was casual yet slightly frustrated. “You should like me a little more.”

"Then why did you reject me?"

Airi Matsuzaka had a slight understanding of his thought process, but she still seemed completely baffled. Satoru Gojo, on the other hand, was a person full of mystery-solving skills, so in that sense, she didn't seem to have failed too badly.

Gojo Satoru remained silent, looking at Airi as if she were facing some major problem she couldn't solve.

Saying the wrong thing is game over.

Rejection means you don't like her enough.

...But if I don't refuse...the rival becomes a game, how can I compare to him?

He doesn't want to be a tool.

Both want the other to like them more, so they repeatedly test each other's limits, hide their true intentions, and try to influence the other person little by little so that he or she will be more tolerant of their intrusion.

Greedy yet cautious.

They neither know how to restrain themselves nor are willing to back down.

Tsk.

She suddenly didn't want to ask any more questions.

She loves herself the most, so it's inevitable that she'll be briefly attracted to Gojo Satoru when she sees similarities between herself and him.

It is precisely because of this affection that she understands so well—liking Gojo Satoru is simple; she wouldn't dislike someone similar to herself. Liking him is also difficult; she's content with liking herself and doesn't want to share her love with others.

It's so small, she cherishes and protects it herself, how could she just share it with others?

At this moment, Gojo Satoru's appeal to her suddenly plummeted below the passing grade, and his position became precarious.

Gojo Satoru seemed to sense the impending danger. He tilted his head and leaned closer to her to confirm something.

"Do what I want, is that right?"

Is your hearing not good?

"Yes... um?"

He kissed her. It wasn't just a touch of lips; his eyes were open, completely exposed without the cover of sunglasses.

Desire, passion, vortex, love and lust, patience, restraint.

So much was hidden in Gojo Satoru's eyes. Matsuzaka Airi thought absentmindedly as he kissed her passionately.

If you like me so much, why won't you listen to me?

"Airi, you can't think of anyone but me when you kiss her." His fingers threaded through Airi Matsuzaka's loose hair, resting on the nape of her neck, his fingertips gently caressing the delicate skin beneath. "Were you thinking of me just now?"

Having zero experience in relationships, Airi Matsuzaka instinctively felt that if she denied it at this moment... he would probably be very angry.

"Yes, I'm thinking of you."

Yes, I really am thinking of you.

"Do you like me a little more now?" Airi Matsuzaka pressed a finger against his lips to stop him from getting any closer before his next kiss came.

Do you like it?

"The feeling of being kissed."

The light and heat in his eyes rose and twisted as she asked her question, and his whole demeanor suddenly changed, becoming unstable, dangerous, and restless.

Airi Matsuzaka wasn't afraid; she still trusted Satoru Gojo to some extent.

She wouldn't risk her life, and similarly, Gojo Satoru wouldn't let her shed a single drop of blood.

"I like it."

He laughed out loud, a light laugh with a tremor in his voice, his pupils dilating and contracting with excitement.

"May I kiss you again?" he asked politely, but his actions preceded his response.

Passionate, tender, bittersweet, joyful.

He tried every trick in the book to touch her heartstrings and make her show a happy expression.

A beautiful blush rose on her cheeks, and her lips were bitten until they turned a seductive color, but her eyes behind the glasses remained frozen, freezing that brilliant color.

I'm so unwilling to accept this.

He lost his way on this side, while his beloved calmly watched him go mad.

He was furious, but Airi was happily adding fuel to the fire.

He was overjoyed at a kiss, but the person he cherished and had tried so hard to please with kisses looked at him indifferently. How could he not be angry?

But there's nothing I can do.

If the fire ignited within him could melt the ice in Airi's eyes, he could endure it a little longer.

He wanted her so badly that he couldn't bear to see her hurt in the slightest.

"Think about me a little longer."

She's so sweet, she's practically poisoning him.