Chapter 78
Gojo Satoru, who was confidently demanding special treatment, looked even more smug, making no mention of how he had arrived at the door at four o'clock to wait when he saw the email that said "[approximately five o'clock]".
He simply picked up the paper bag beside him and happily showed it to Kazuma Hatake.
"This is also a gift I brought for you!"
There was only one paper bag, and it was clear that Xia Youjie didn't have a share.
So when Gojo Satoru turned his gaze and it fell on Xia Youjie, who was listening silently, the latter was stunned for a moment and immediately spoke up.
"It's okay, I don't need a gift."
Honestly, it's only an hour's drive, so why would I need to bring a souvenir?
But at this moment, Xia Youjie was clearly not the kind of delinquent who couldn't read the room, contrary to his appearance and clothing style.
Compared to Gojo Satoru, who received elite family education from a young age, and Hagoromo Kazuma, who hardly spends any effort on socializing with classmates, Natsuyu Suguru, who attended ordinary schools from kindergarten to junior high and has a relatively mild demeanor, might be the most knowledgeable of the three...
Not only did he not complain, he quickly climbed a few steps up the stone steps, placed the two shopping bags full of souvenirs next to Gojo Satoru, and then coughed a few times, as if he had been enduring pain the whole way.
"Yes, I need to get some glass for treatment now."
Xia Youjie's speech quickened as well, "You guys keep chatting, I'm leaving now. Um, no need to see me off, no need, I can walk by myself."
As he spoke, he retreated, and by the time he finished speaking, Xia Youjie was already several meters away from the two of them. Then he turned around and left without looking back, his feet barely touching the ground.
Anyone who didn't know better would think Xia Youjie was sulking with someone.
“…”
Gojo Satoru raised his eyebrows, looking puzzled. "Why are you running so fast? I was just thinking of saying I'd share one with him."
There's only one paper bag, but that doesn't mean there's only one thing inside.
"It's probably because he doesn't like sweets."
Kazuma Hatori tilted his head, looking puzzled.
"Hmm—never mind him."
After thinking for a while and coming up with no clue, Gojo Satoru simply gave up and handed the paper bag to Hagoromo Kazuma, who had come over, and took the two bags of souvenirs.
"Red bean paste dumplings!"
As they excitedly rummaged through it like inspecting spoils of war, they even let out a cheer.
Kazuma Hato didn't mind at all that he was unpacking right there, nor did he mind the dust kicked up by the constant footsteps on the stone steps—he sat down next to Satoru Gojo and opened the paper bag.
They are eight round, golden-brown chicken-shaped steamed buns.
Kazuma Hatori was stunned.
He watched as the chicks, with their sweet, fresh egg and milk aroma, sat neatly in the transparent packaging box, their heads held high, their round, dark, beady eyes all looking at him, as if they were happily chirping.
[Wait for me to bring back some souvenirs!]
[I heard the chicken-shaped steamed buns there are super delicious!]
This is the chicken-shaped steamed bun that he didn't get to eat during his first playthrough.
Is it...is it a coincidence?
Kazuma Hatori blinked slowly, dispelling the sudden surge of melancholy, and looked toward Satoru Gojo.
"What's the matter?"
Sensing the gaze, Gojo Satoru bit into a soft, fluffy rice ball, his cheeks bulging, and even his pronunciation became unclear, as if sweet sugar threads were stuck between the syllables.
"If you're talking about Fukuoka's most famous specialty, it's chicken-shaped steamed buns. I even went to Yoshinodo to queue up and buy the Fukuoka-limited matcha filling."
Although chicken-shaped steamed buns are sold in Tokyo, the most authentic taste can only be found in Fukuoka.
Misunderstanding that Hatake Kazumi was complaining that the souvenir he bought was not thoughtful enough, Gojo Satoru held the remaining half of the red bean paste dumpling in his hand and explained with extra seriousness.
And he only gave it to Kazuma Hatori, no one else got one!
Even if Jay hadn't left, he would have only gotten a small chicken bun.
The remaining seven are all true!
"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony."
Kazuma Hatori pursed his lips, revealing a knowing smile.
He wasn't sure if this was an inherent feature of the game—that whenever Gojo Satoru went to a certain place, he would always bring back local specialties for the player.
It's like a random event triggered in the ever-flowing story time; as long as Gojo Satoru goes to Fukuoka, he will definitely buy chicken buns.
But, how should I put it... is it a regret that I've already completed my first playthrough?
Kazuma Hatori wasn't quite sure what his emotions were like at that moment.
Gojo Satoru noticed this.
“You don’t look very happy,”
He frowned, pondered for a while with great distress, and then hesitated before speaking.
Don't you like chicken-shaped steamed buns?
How strange. When he saw the Yoshinodo sign advertising the chick-shaped steamed buns, he was absolutely certain that "that kid must love chick-shaped steamed buns, and if I bring them home, he'll be so touched he'll cry his eyes out."
It's hard to imagine that cool guy's face showing a crying expression, but I didn't expect it to be this kind of reaction that doesn't seem very happy.
Ah, surely it couldn't be... that he was the one who actually wanted to eat the chicken-shaped steamed buns back then?!
With a bit of red bean paste still stuck to his lips, Gojo Satoru stared wide-eyed, as if a bolt from the blue had struck his heart.
"How could that be? I'm so happy right now, and I really want to eat chicken-shaped steamed buns."
Kazuma Hatori answered honestly, but the pretty little Satoru seemed not to believe him at all, and instead thought he was just being polite.
"real?"
"real."
"Really? Really?"
"Really, really."
"Really? Really? Really?"
"…………"
Kazuma Hatori calmly unpacked a package, pinched out a cute little chick bun, and split it in half. He used one half to plug Gojo Satoru's mouth, which was still piling up with "Really?"
He bit the other half of his penis, and the other half of his penis narrowed its dark eyes slightly with satisfaction.
Before entering the game, I clearly decided to view the first playthrough of Satoru and the second playthrough of Satoru separately.
As a result, it seems that they have gradually become inseparable.
Gojo Satoru, standing next to him, was chewing with his cheeks puffed out, seemingly focused on eating the large bite of the chick-shaped steamed bun that had been stuffed into his mouth.
"Ichijin".
Suddenly, he also called out the name of Kazuma Hatori.
"What's wrong?"
Kazuma Hatori instinctively turned his head in response, and what followed was the sweet taste of red bean paste and the delicate aroma of glutinous rice filling his mouth—he too had a big mouthful of red bean paste dumplings stuffed into his mouth by Satoru Gojo.
"Take this too!"
That was truly a genuine case of "eating" a trick...
Kazuma Hatori chuckled, a pleasant glint appearing in his deep black eyes as he looked at Satoru Gojo. The glint fell into Gojo's bright blue eyes, causing the latter to also curve into a bright and sly smile.
“I also saw that you bought a bunch of porcelain cats of all shapes and sizes. I mean, you don’t think I’m a cat fanatic, do you?”
Gojo Satoru's tone is light and casual, with a natural sense of intimacy.
He always felt exceptionally comfortable when he was with Kazuma Hatori.
"Enoshima is a cat island, so all the porcelain sold here is cat-themed."
After Kazuma Hatake finished explaining, he asked him a question out of curiosity.
"Aren't you a cat lover?"
"I'm a dog lover!"
Gojo Satoru opened his eyes wide and gestured to him the shape of an Akita Inu.
"I mean, like Hachiko, the loyal dog! You've probably heard that story, right? It's so touching!"
“I’ve heard of it,” Kazuma Hatake muttered softly, a little surprised. “I thought cats and dogs didn’t get along…”
Gojo Satoru: “…………”
Gojo Satoru narrowed his eyes: "Your statement is dangerous, Kazuma-kun."
They actually said he looked like a cat!
Kazuma Hatake immediately put on a serious face, even deliberately adopting an innocent and obedient demeanor.
"Hmm, did I just say something?"
"Pretending to be well-behaved won't work at a time like this. Take another head pat from me!"
“…”
The various porcelain cats—some washing their faces with their front paws, some licking their fur, some leaping to catch butterflies, some crawling forward—finally appeared on Gojo Satoru's dormitory windowsill, arranged in a neat row.
It sparkles in the sun.
………
Xia Youjie also volunteered to help write the report for this [doll attack incident] mission.
Most of the process is true, except for the omission at the end of the story where the "doll" was the container that swallowed the cursed object, and the cursed object was then eaten by Kazuma Hagiri.
The higher-ups in the sorcery world made no comment on the report, as if it were just an ordinary case of a sorcerer committing evil.
As for the old woman's true identity, Xia Youjie specifically asked Teacher Ye'e, but the latter said that even if the higher-ups would arrange for someone to verify it, they would not specifically inform Xia Youjie and Yuqu Kazuma about the follow-up.
In short, on the surface, this mission is now completely over.
But secretly, Kazuma Hatori received another call from Ayako Sakami.
Just before she was about to confront him, Kazuma Hato spoke first.
"She angered me first."
As expected, Ayako Sakami was taken aback and reflexively followed up on Kazuma Hatori's question.
"How did she anger you?"
After thinking for a moment, Kazuma Hatake began to spout nonsense in a cold tone.
"She said she was unwilling to continue serving the patriarch. As long as I joined forces with her, used Xia Youjie, whom the patriarch valued, as leverage, and secretly plotted and manipulated things, the Panxing Sect would eventually be hers."
"Moreover, she also indirectly mocked the patriarch, saying he was like a rat in a sewer, never daring to show his true face all these years. I got angry and killed her."
Ayako suddenly realized, "That old woman actually dared to... I knew she was being sneaky, she didn't seem like a good person!"
Kazuma Hatake: "..."
If they're all curse casters, what good things can they possibly be?
“But it doesn’t matter that she’s dead. The Pope doesn’t intend to blame you for getting rid of her,” Ayako Sakami said.
"The Pope is more curious about where that cursed object went."
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