Extra 4.16

Gojo Satoru didn't explain much. He just laughed happily, patted Jiang Lai on the shoulder, and skipped the topic.

"Let's go, Xiao Lai. After visiting Osaka, of course you have to bring back some souvenirs. Let's go to the mall in the city center."

“Would you like to bring souvenirs to the students?”

"Of course - no!" Gojo Satoru frowned, swung the eye mask in his hand for a while, put it back on, and said in a light tone, "I'll eat ten servings by myself~~"

"…Are you serious, Gojo-sensei?"

"you guess?"

Facing that smiling face, Jiang Lai twitched his lips, knowing that Gojo Satoru was making fun of him again.

The other person seemed to enjoy teasing me and watching me make all kinds of expressions. I could feel his bad taste much more by experiencing it myself than by reading it in comics.

Jiang Lai withdrew his gaze, and he felt that the low and subtle emotion that had just emerged in Gojo Satoru was swept away - or more precisely, it was suppressed again and hidden in his heart.

Now, the white-haired man has returned to his usual lazy self.

They went to the mall and bought a lot of local specialties. Jiang Lai also picked out a few extra gifts and planned to give them to Yuji Itadori and others as Christmas gifts.

Gojo Satoru had plenty of money, so he waved his hand and told Jiang Lai to buy whatever he wanted, and they could settle the bill together and he would pay for it.

However, Jiang Lai still carefully wrote down the price of each item, preparing to pay back Gojo Satoru after his salary was paid.

Carrying large and small shopping bags, Jiang Lai and Gojo Satoru took a bus from Osaka back to Tokyo.

On the way, Jiang Lai took out his cell phone.

The mobile phone that blocked the attack of the Curse Spirit is still intact and shining like new. The invincible mobile phone is still invincible today. The upgrade on the display is still going on, only the limited-time chat software is lying alone on it.

Jiang Lai's eyes fell on the chat software.

Although Gojo Satoru changed the subject not long ago, Jiang Lai did not forget the previous conversation. His thoughts were shaking in his heart, and questions popped up like bubbles.

Is Geto Summer Oil an enemy or a friend? Who is Gojo Satoru waiting for? What is the special day of December 25th?

It would be faster to think about it alone than to find a partner to explore it together, so after hesitating for a while, Jiang Lai chose to open the chat software.

Ah... Anyway, let's talk to Matsuda for a while. And let him know that I'm safe.

Having made up his mind, Jiang Lai carefully edited the news.

He informed Matsuda Jinpei of what had happened before, but he deliberately downplayed some scenes and briefly mentioned them.

Jiang Lai didn't want to worry his friend, so he simply skipped the most dangerous part and was determined not to let the other party know.

Matsuda Jinpei responded quickly, but his first sentence was: "Did you omit some content in the middle?"

Can you see this? Jiang Lai was startled and shocked.

He was silent for a moment, then added cautiously, pretending to be nonchalant: [No, Matsuda (Sunny Puppy Smiles.jpg)]

[I won't be fooled by emojis, Jiang Lai. I've been a policeman for many years, so I still have some writing skills. I can guess that what you omitted is the most dangerous part.

But... never mind. Since you've messaged me now, it means everything is over.

I'm glad you're okay. Try to be more careful next time. I won't ask any more questions, and you don't have to feel pressured.]

Wow, he is indeed an experienced and mature policeman! Jiang Lai didn't expect that the other party really saw through it. But after reading the other party's last sentence, he felt a little bit of hidden guilt.

Jiang Lai blinked and quickly replied: [Sorry, Matsuda, I didn't tell you for any other reason. I just didn't want to make you worry QAQ.]

The response from the other side was also very calm.

[Yeah, I understand, I didn’t think much about it.

In fact, I have experienced everything, so you don't have to worry about whether it will make me worry.

I didn't mean anything else when I said those words, and you don't have to think too much about it. I just don't want to...find out at the end.]

Jiang Lai lowered his head and looked at the last sentence, his expression slightly startled.

Inevitably, he recalled the past events in the world of science. Missing and concealing, reunion and unawareness, sunset and sunrise, those stories were like old movies from a long time ago, playing frame by frame in his mind.

Perhaps, at certain moments, hidden ignorance can also cause some painful unintentional harm.

Jiang Lai pursed his lips, tapped the keyboard of his mobile phone lightly, and replied repeatedly: [OK.]

The other party quickly sent a smiley face emoticon, then withdrew it. After a while, another smiley face emoticon with sunglasses and curly hair simply added was sent.

Jiang Lai's slightly depressed heart recovered again, and he couldn't help but be amused. He sent a message: [Why don't you just post your own selfie, Matsuda? Is there any need to specially photoshop it?]

[Hey, no. I'm eating on the street right now, it's weird to take a selfie in a restaurant. Anyway, as long as the meaning is conveyed -]

Then, Jinpei Matsuda continued to send messages.

[Okay, let’s get down to business. What do you want me to help you analyze?]

Jiang Lai also withdrew his attention. He told Matsuda Jinpei the doubts in his heart and described the situation at the scene in more detail.

Jiang Lai believes that clarifying this information will help him further explore his own life experience and memories.

After receiving the message, Matsuda Jinpei did not reply immediately. Jiang Lai did not wait foolishly, because he knew that it took time to digest the information and process the intelligence.

So he put down his phone and rubbed his temples and around his eye sockets.

Even if you are used to looking at your phone in a shaking car, you will still feel a little dizzy.

Maybe it was because there were too many ups and downs of shock and relaxation today? Jiang Lai felt a little sleepy.

There was still a long way to go before reaching Tokyo. Jiang Lai kept his eyes open at first, but then he gradually became sleepy, his eyelashes fluttered, and his eyelids became heavy.

"Hey? Is classmate Xiao Lai going to sleep?" Gojo Satoru, the front passenger, raised his voice.

"Yeah." Jiang Lai nodded and replied, "I'm a little sleepy."

"Okay, then go to sleep. When you fall asleep, I'll draw a little turtle on your face~!"

"Hey, Gojo-sensei......!"

"I'm just kidding." Gojo Satoru handed over a coat from the front row and threw it to Jiang Lai. "Cover yourself up, Xiao Lai. Don't catch a cold. Otherwise, how can I squeeze you into work later?"

"Thank you." Jiang Lai was not angry. He could hear that Gojo Satoru was teasing him again.

He took the coat very directly without any reluctance. After all, people will feel cold instinctively after falling asleep. He just added, "If you didn't say those words later, I would be more moved, Mr. Gojo."

"Oh, I just couldn't help teasing you." Gojo Satoru laughed heartily, his attitude casual and carefree, "I suddenly understand... someone's amusement back then."

Someone? Jiang Lai tilted his head slightly. Gojo Satoru didn't mention anyone by name, but his tone was filled with the same nostalgia as before.

"Okay, go to sleep, classmate Xiao Lai~~" Gojo Satoru waved his hand and stopped talking, indicating that Jiang Lai could go to sleep peacefully.

Jiang Lai didn't ask any more questions, he was indeed sleepy.

I put on my coat, and as the sweat slowly rose, I felt more sleepy.

Jiang Lai did not delay any further, but followed his instinct, covered himself with the coat, and fell into a dream little by little.

No dream along the way.

When he woke up, the vehicle had already arrived at the gate of Tokyo Jujutsu High School. Jiang Lai woke up at the right time.

After returning the warm coat to Gojo Satoru, Jiang Lai wiped his face before getting out of the car. He glanced at the side mirror and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there was no turtle or anything like that drawn on his face.

Very good, it seems that there was no prank. Jiang Lai was relieved.

This was a worry. Then, he took out his cell phone and checked the messages.

Matsuda Jinpei has already sent a reply, but unlike the long analysis that Jiang Lai had expected, he only sent a few simple sentences.

[I think the person he is waiting for is you.

You must have already felt it subconsciously, so I won’t elaborate further here.]

[Go to the appointment, Jiang Lai. Maybe the answer will be on that day.]

[Well, December 25th is your birthday, I still remember it - I wish you a happy birthday in advance.]

At the end, there was a hand-drawn picture, this time it was not an emoji but a photo. It can be seen that the other party was indeed eating at a street restaurant.

Jinpei Matsuda drew a small cake on a page of the notebook he carried with him. It was ugly, but very serious.

Next to them are a cool little man with curly hair and sunglasses, and a smiling little man with black hair and a scarf. They are Q versions of Matsuda and Jiang Lai.

Jiang Lai couldn't help but curl up the corners of his lips, his eyebrows curved, and he felt extremely relaxed and soft in his heart. The winter wind blowing on his body was not so cold.

No matter what the road ahead holds, no matter what kind of world you are in, you are not alone.

If there is a chance, he will go back there after he clears the level of the magic world here - he misses his old friends a little. Jiang Lai's eyes fell into the distance, and his heart softened.

Time flies and a week goes by in a flash.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the Christmas party.

Although it is called a Christmas dinner, it is not actually celebrated on December 25th because Christmas is a holiday.

That day is left for students to do as they please. They can go home to reunite with their parents or go out to play with their friends.

Therefore, the Christmas dinner organized by the school was actually held one night earlier, on Christmas Eve, December 24, and the celebration lasted until midnight to welcome the arrival of Christmas.

The college had already decorated the Christmas scene, with red, green and yellow light bulbs hanging from the treetops. When the wind blew, they swayed in the wind, like little living elves, twinkling in the dark night.

晚宴大廳裏，擺放着一株高大的聖誕樹（當然，是假樹）。其上同樣挂着燈泡、星星、還有泡沫做的聖誕老人與麋鹿卡片。

除此之外，還有些特別的禮品袋襪子，裏面裝有卡片和糖果。

所有年級的學生們、還有老師，包括夜蛾校長，都齊聚這一場聖誕晚宴，大家互送禮物，嘻嘻哈哈圍坐在一起。飯後還有不少游戲活動。

江萊将自己的禮物送出，他準備了很多份。除了虎杖悠仁他們的，還有些額外的、現場贈送的小禮物。保證場面熱鬧不尴尬。

他們坐在學生那一桌。

不遠處，五條悟、家入硝子、夜蛾正道、七海建人、灰原雄等人坐在老師那一桌。

熊貓望着不遠處的景象，開口說：“好難得啊，第一次見到五條老師出現在聖誕晚宴呢。往年他不是都不參加嗎？”

“鲑魚。”狗卷棘點點頭。

“今年大概是特殊情況。也或許是五條老師想開了，決心和我們一起過聖誕。”禪院真希說着，目光好似無意間瞥了眼江萊。

其實早在一開始，她便注意到了他。

莫名的，她總是在他身上感受到當年那位戴面具的神秘大妖的些許氣息。

可是禪院真希又覺得這是錯覺，她認為那是不可能的，畢竟年齡與能力都對應不上。

“之前五條老師都不參加這個嗎？”虎杖悠仁瞪大金橘色眼睛，看起來有些驚訝，“難道他是[領袖不派對]一派的？“這話說出來，他自己都不信。

“肯定不是。”釘崎野薔薇接上，“五條老師怎麽可能是那種不玩樂的正經派啊，看他日常惡作劇的作風就知道了。”

伏黑惠颔首道：“他不是不派對，他只是單純空出了聖誕節與它的前一天夜晚。”

“呃……可是，為什麽？”虎杖悠仁眨眨眼，有些困惑。

“誰知道。”熊貓聳聳肩，說，“或許是在等人，也或者有其他事吧。從前一天晚上的平安夜，一直到明天整日的聖誕節，幾乎都見不到五條老師本尊。”

“今年他來參加平安夜的聖誕晚宴，已經非常難得了。”禪院真希說，“不知道他怎麽改換了主意。”

剛剛一直未開口的禪院真依忽地發話：“或許沒改——他起身了。”

衆人都轉過臉，遠遠看着五條悟和那一桌的人揮揮手，動作悠哉地邁步，有些晃晃悠悠地向着側門的方向走去了。

“五條老師要走了嗎？”虎杖悠仁下意識看了眼表，“晚宴才進行了三分之二……”

“應該是。”熊貓點點頭，“看來他又回辦公室，或者宿舍了。”

江萊目光落在那道身影上。在多彩漂亮的燈光、華美溫馨的聖誕布景以及人群的歡笑嬉鬧之中，那道獨自離開的高挑背影顯得有些孤單。

“……”江萊猶豫了片刻，而後放下手中的玻璃杯，“不好意思，我去趟洗手間。”

他辭別，接着離開了坐席，追着那道背影一同從側門離開。

與熊貓的猜測不同，五條悟行走的方向并不是辦公室或者宿舍。

他順着樓梯，沒有用術式，平穩地一步步旋轉走上去，走向天臺。

五條悟大長腿走得快，江萊追在他身後，一路小跑，直到天臺才停下。

“怎麽了，小萊同學？”五條悟沒回頭，他語調輕快。

六眼沒有視線死角，所以江萊并不意外對方看到自己。

一路小跑上天臺有些費力，江萊努力平複呼吸，而後嗓音如常回答道：“屋裏有點悶熱，我出來透透氣——五條老師也是吧？”

五條悟牽起唇角，單手搭在欄杆處，沒說是也沒說不是。他稍偏頭，露出精致完美的側臉：“穿成這樣就上來？小萊同學可真不怕感冒。”

江萊這才發覺，自己剛才走得太過匆忙，都沒來得及套上外套。

只是這時候再回去拿，未免顯得就太刻意了，而且最關鍵的是，他也不想再爬一遍六樓，于是幹脆擺爛道：“沒事，反正第二天放假。感冒就感冒吧。”

“哈哈，這可不行哦。”五條悟笑了，他招招手說，“過來。”

江萊順從地走過去。

天臺的風有些大，冬夜的寒意順着衣袖和領口縫隙向內鑽，不過當他走到五條悟身邊時，那些冷風便都消失了。

江萊有些意外地擡起眼眸，隔了片刻，才反應過來，是五條悟動用了術式，擋住冬夜刮起的寒風。

“五條老師好厲害！”江萊真誠地贊美。

“……”五條悟只是擺擺手，語調稍揚，“嗯嗯，還好啦。其實還有比我更擅長應付寒冷的——或者說，對方根本不為四季所動呢。”

那種熟悉的、略帶回憶的語氣重新浮起。

江萊稍微仰起頭，看向旁邊的白發男人。他說：“是五條老師在等的那個人嗎？”

“是呢~”五條悟沒否認。

“……”江萊頓了頓，開口道，“五條老師每年的平安夜到聖誕節，都在等他嗎？”

“哈，是了。晾了我那麽久，我可得第一時間逮到他。”五條悟單手搭在欄杆上，他沒戴眼罩，藍眸輕緩眨動，“最強的時間可是超級寶貴的，一刻千金哦。”

江萊目光落在遠方，從天臺望出去，能夠看見高專校園裏閃爍的藍綠小燈。只是更多的地方，依然是昏暗的夜景，因為這裏是郊區。

“為什麽這麽執着呢，五條老師？”他問，“我覺得，您不像是會困在舊事裏的人。”

“嗯，是嗎？或許是吧。我當然知道，困在舊事裏毫無意義，該做出決定的時候我會做出決定。”五條悟垂下眼簾，“只不過——有些事會潛藏，但不會遺忘。”

江萊偏過臉，那雙棕眸幹淨澄澈：“您的執着等待，是有遺憾或者愧疚的情緒在嗎？因為錯過、或者別的什麽。”

“……”五條悟聞言稍稍一怔，他指尖輕敲着欄杆，沒有第一時間回答。

隔了半晌，才說，“說來奇怪，一開始大概是有些生氣呢。因為總覺得被欺騙了，盡管是善意的欺騙。”

“後來的話，遺憾和愧疚？或許有吧。我一直在想，也許當時冷靜下來，還會有更好的方法，而不是……那樣的結局。”

五條悟單手攥着圍欄，指骨隐隐有些泛白，那雙璀璨的蒼天之眸微斂。

“——如果不能相見，為什麽還要說[明天見]呢？”

晚風吹拂起。天空開始飄起細小的晶瑩，一片片從夜空墜落，恍若星星濺出的光點——下雪了。

江萊仰望着這片雪景與夜空，他安靜了片刻，想了下，說：“也許，那本意不是為了給你留下遺憾，而是一種期盼和希望。”

“畢竟，人正是一直懷抱着對明天的期待，才永遠地向前走下去。”

他的聲音清朗溫潤，攜裹少年的氣息。五條悟注視着他，神色微微一怔。

江萊話語說出，而後側臉，眉眼舒朗，吐舌一笑：“我按照自己的想法說的，如果冒犯到了真的很抱歉，五條老師。”

他棕眸明亮，從口袋裏摸出幾枚蘋果味糖果：“不管怎樣，我陪五條老師一起等吧。今天是平安夜，我們一起過節。”

五條悟低頭看着那幾枚糖果。很顯然，這不是聚會上統一購買的，更像是之前在大阪，面前人特意挑選的。

因為這個牌子的糖果，五條悟當時曾随口說過，味道不錯、他很喜歡。

莫名的，原本盤踞在心頭的那抹沉重，此刻忽地消散了許多。

五條悟輕笑了下，腦海中之前一直晃動的疑問，此刻也有了答案。

他知道了——自己所期待再次見到的，既不是相似的面容，也不是舊有的回憶，而是那個獨一無二的靈魂。無論時空怎樣逆轉，那道靈魂永遠不變。

他永遠能夠看透自己或冷漠或潇灑或不在乎的僞裝，卻從不忽視那些看似小的無理的情緒。

坦然溫言安撫、并一直默默陪伴在身邊，像是春風化雨潤物無聲，亦像是嚴冬日光暖人無言。

五條悟伸手，接過那幾枚糖果，語調輕快道：“哎呀、沒想到小萊同學還記得我喜歡哪個牌子，老師真是超級感動呢~~決定了、明天不放假了，帶你加訓吧！咒具使用還有不少可以提升的地方呢。”

“哎？！不要吧五條老師，我想放假QAQ！！明天還是我的生日——”

“那不就更應該好好把握住了麽？生日禮物就是特別訓練~”

“才不要啊五條老師——”

嬉笑的聲音響在天臺，遠處，傳來了鐘塔鐘聲铛铛敲響的聲音。

12月24日的午夜12點，也是12月25日的零點，在這一刻降臨了。

天空飄蕩的雪花愈加洋洋灑灑，罩下一整片聖潔的海洋。空氣一瞬間變得安靜，某種祥和與安寧順着回蕩的鐘聲彌漫開。

江萊與五條悟并肩站在天臺，他望着這片浩蕩雪景，耳邊響徹着整整十二下的厚重鐘聲。

In a trance-like moment, some memories burst out from the buried ground like a fountain.

As Gojo Satoru said - some things will be hidden but not forgotten.

At the moment when Christmas Eve and Christmas met, at the first second of his birthday, Jiang Lai remembered everything.

The air around him was filled with a special power, and the surging space-time magic power surrounded him.

The immaturity of adolescence gradually fades away, and maturity and stability gradually emerge.

Next to him, Gojo Satoru also sensed this wave of power. His glassy blue eyes widened slightly, and he looked into the gentle brown eyes that had been raised again.

At this moment, nothing needs to be said.

Gojo Satoru opened his thin lips slightly, with so many words he wanted to say.

But in the end, he suddenly smiled, sweeping away all those complicated emotions.

The white-haired man stood up straight, his blue eyes shining brightly, and he said cheerfully, "Happy birthday, Lai."

"——The world and I welcome you."

[285 The person I met again was Laiif in 1.0 state - End]

This chapter is 6000+, making up for yesterday's.

There are two more extra chapters to be released, and this book will be finished~