Satoru saw the cautious anticipation in Mahiru’s eyes and subconsciously wanted to nod and say, “Okay.”
But as the words reached his lips, he remembered the train ticket to Sendai and the inherent danger of the trip.
A clear trace of hesitation flashed across Satoru’s face, and his brows unconsciously furrowed again.
This was the expression of someone contemplating a major problem.
‘What should I do?’
Satoru couldn’t bring himself to disappoint a girl.
Today’s trip to Sendai concerned Sukuna’s Finger and was a crucial step on his path to becoming stronger.
Satoru wasn’t sure when he would be back.
He didn’t even know if he could return safely.
Seeing Satoru’s suddenly serious and hesitant expression,
Mahiru’s heart instantly tightened.
This was the first time in her life she had mustered the courage to invite someone of the opposite sex to her home, even proactively offering to cook herself.
Could it be…
that she was about to be rejected like this?
Was it really too abrupt?
Just as Mahiru’s eyes dimmed slightly,
Satoru finally finished weighing his options, took a deep breath, blinked, and threw out a question that completely caught her off guard.
“Okay.
But…”
Satoru paused, his tone filled with genuine confusion, and asked:
“Aren’t you afraid I might have ill intentions?
We’ve only just met, haven’t we?
Safety awareness is still very important.”
Neither the expected answer nor a rejection appeared.
Instead, it was a rhetorical question about her own safety?
“…”
Mahiru was completely stunned.
She looked at Satoru’s serious and earnest expression.
The little emotions in her heart were instantly replaced by an inexplicable sense of absurdity.
Within that absurdity, there was also a subtle sense of reassurance.
He…
was actually worried about this?
At a time like this?
The next second.
Mahiru finally couldn’t hold back.
She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, and finally let out a soft giggle.
Her eyes curved, and her laughter was clear.
She decided to forgive him for now, despite his ‘drowning kitten’ act.
Mahiru realized.
This Satoru guy was an insensitive jerk!
But strangely…
Satoru’s insensitive, even somewhat clumsy, response.
Made Mahiru feel.
It was more reassuring than any grand promise.
Mahiru raised her face, deliberately putting on a stern expression, even with a hint of playful defiance.
But the smile in her eyes couldn’t be hidden at all.
“Hmm, I think…
if it’s Gu-kun, there’s probably no need to worry about such problems.”
She paused, her tone light yet feigning fierceness.
“And!
If you dare to harbor ill intentions towards me!”
Mahiru slightly lifted her chin and waved her small, seemingly unthreatening fist,
“I’ll kick you to pieces!
On a physiological level, so you can never recover!”
After saying these words.
Mahiru’s cheeks flushed slightly, feeling her threat was a bit too over-the-top.
But she still tried to maintain a “I’m fierce” expression, attempting to make her threat more credible.
“I think you should be well aware of my status in school!”
Watching Mahiru gesticulate, not at all menacing but rather somewhat cute.
Satoru stroked his chin, thought about it very seriously, and then nodded earnestly.
“Hmm, that does sound terrifying.
Physical castration and social death.”
“In order to enjoy Shiina-san’s cooking completely intact,”
“I will definitely remember the principle of safety first and absolutely dare not harbor any improper thoughts.”
Satoru spoke with utmost righteousness, as if reading a safety manual.
But the phrases “Shiina-san” and “safety first” sounded like he was deliberately teasing her about her earlier bold declaration.
Mahiru’s face turned even redder, this time from embarrassment.
She realized this guy wasn’t clueless at all; he understood a little!
And then he used his straightforward logic to tease her back!
“J-just know it then!”
Mahiru ended the topic somewhat flustered, but her heart inexplicably beat a little faster.
Satoru continued, “However…”
Hearing those two words, the light in Mahiru’s eyes dimmed slightly again.
“I have to go to Sendai tonight to take care of some things.”
“This matter is urgent and important.
How long it will take to deal with…
I can’t say for sure right now.”
“I’ve already taken leave for tomorrow’s classes.”
Satoru looked at Mahiru, his expression very serious, fearing she might think he was being perfunctory.
Satoru was all too familiar with Mahiru’s cooking skills.
This was an anime heroine personally cooking for him.
Satoru didn’t want to miss out like this.
Nor did he want to disappoint Mahiru’s kindness by being late or for any other reason.
“I see…
it’s okay…
Gu-kun’s matters are more important.”
Was she still being rejected…?
Mahiru tried her best to maintain a smile.
Although it wasn’t a direct rejection, it was more disheartening than one.
“Tomorrow at 12 PM, I will definitely give you a definite answer.”
“By then, don’t you dare complain about me bothering you.”
Satoru noticed Mahiru’s change in mood and added, his eyes particularly serious.
The sense of disappointment in Mahiru’s heart quietly faded, transforming into a clear anticipation.
Satoru’s tone, and even his gaze, conveyed abundant sincerity to Mahiru.
“Mhm!”
Mahiru nodded, her smile this time much more genuine, though still with a hint of invisible disappointment.
“Then it’s settled!”
“Alright, it’s a promise.
I will definitely come.”
Satoru’s smile faded, and he looked at Mahiru’s eyes calmly and seriously, making a solemn promise word by word.
After exchanging contact information with Mahiru,
Satoru put away his phone, a reassuringly gentle curve returning to his lips.
He took half a step back and waved at Mahiru.
“Well then, I’ll be off first.” Satoru’s voice softened slightly, “As soon as I’m done with things in Sendai, I’ll contact you immediately.”
“Be careful on your way, I’ll wait…” Mahiru slightly pursed her lips, as if realizing something, and suddenly changed her words, “May everything go smoothly in Sendai.”
“Mhm, see you later.”
Satoru turned and left decisively.
Standing at the apartment door, Mahiru watched Satoru disappear around the street corner, unconsciously touching her flushed cheeks.
“Jerk…”
Mahiru muttered softly, exhaling gently, but the slight upward curve of her lips couldn’t be suppressed.
For the first time, Mahiru felt a clear anticipation for ‘the next meeting’.
[Ding!
Achieved ‘Homemade Meal Promise’ with Mahiru.
Mahiru’s favorability +10, current interception progress: 32%]
[Fortune Value +200.]
[Ding!
Congratulations, Host, your current interception progress has reached 30%.
[Special Reward Issued!]
[Obtained: Fujimiya Amane Core Trait – ‘Detailed Observation Ability’ (Beginner Proficiency) – Able to more keenly notice subtle details in the environment and on others.]
Satoru, walking on the road, checked the sudden interception progress reward, his eyes lighting up slightly.
This system was quite generous, even giving a trait-level ability.
It’s just that this Detailed Observation Ability doesn’t seem very useful.
Satoru tried to concentrate and use this ability.
“Hmm…”
Satoru glanced around.
“The surrounding airflow feels more distinct…”
“The details captured by my vision have also increased a bit.”
“This feeling…”
Satoru frowned slightly, carefully experiencing this subtle perception.
A term flashed through his mind.
“Could this be the legendary Observation Haki?
Although it’s the most rudimentary form.”
Satoru was somewhat surprised by his own imagination, letting out a light chuckle to himself.
“However, this does open up a new way to become stronger.”
“As long as the progress increases, I can still become stronger, without just focusing on critical events.”
…7:15 PM.
The Shinkansen train slowly pulled into Sendai Station.
Satoru stretched, walked out of the station, without any hesitation.
He hailed a taxi, stating the address clearly and precisely.
Sugisawa Hospital, Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai City
This was the hospital where Itadori Yuji / Yuji Itadori’s grandfather, Wasuke Itadori, was staying.
This was also one of the best ways to verify the cause of the system’s grayed-out avatar.