The Wind Spirit Realm gleamed beneath a turquoise sky, floating islands drifting lazily like cotton petals. Banners fluttered from sacred shrines, bearing ancient glyphs. Today was the Tsunefuku Matsuri — the Festival of Wind Blessings.
And Arashi Kumon wanted to die.
"You're pouting again," Gojo said, walking beside her as they approached the high altar, where a circular platform hovered mid-air. "That's your eighth pout today. Ninth if we count that one during breakfast."
"I'm not pouting," Arashi muttered, arms crossed.
"You're pouting so hard the clouds are backing off."
Ahead, the Wind Elders stood tall in their ceremonial armor, waiting beside a shimmering silk robe draped on a floating frame.
Arashi froze. "No."
Elder Kazeka stepped forward, beard flowing with the breeze. "Arashi Kumon. You have been chosen by the Wind Mother's will to become the Wind Bride."
"Hard pass."
Kazeka smiled serenely. "The Wind does not accept refusal. The ritual is sacred."
Gojo whispered, "What's a Wind Bride?"
"She wears that robe," Arashi whispered back furiously, "walks a sky-bridge during the ceremony, and receives a blessing kiss from a suitor chosen by fate. Or she's cursed with eternal drafty underwear."
Gojo blinked. "...Is that symbolic or literal?"
"It's both."
A gust lifted the robe and slapped it dramatically across Arashi's face.
Gojo caught a glimpse — sheer white silk that left very little to the imagination. His nose twitched. "That's… very ceremonial."
"Don't look!"
"Too late! It assaulted my eyes!"
Arashi yanked it away, cheeks burning as she glared at the elders. "This is humiliating."
Behind them, Suma gasped. "Wait, you're the bride?!"
Hiyori nudged Hikami. "Oh, this is gonna be good. I want front-row tickets."
Mizuki didn't even look up from her book. "Don't trip and fall off the sky bridge."
---
Later That Day
"I feel like a decorative salad," Arashi muttered, now fully dressed in the robe.
She stood inside a sacred circle etched with wind glyphs. Spirit gusts danced around her feet, gently lifting her long white sleeves and fluttering her hair.
Gojo stood nearby, chewing nervously on a rice cracker.
"Wow," he said. "You look… uh…"
"Finish that sentence and I blow you off this cliff."
"I was gonna say ethereal. Totally not pervy."
She rolled her eyes.
Just then, a chime echoed. The ritual began. The Elders chanted. Spirit winds whirled around the circle.
A faint glow formed around Arashi.
Suddenly—WHUMP!
Gojo tripped on a breeze and crashed straight into the ritual circle.
"GOJO!"
In an explosion of sparkles, he landed directly in front of her—face buried in her chest.
Arashi's scream echoed across the cliffs.
There was silence.
And then… a shimmering golden rope burst from the glyphs and wrapped tightly around both of them, binding their waists together with glowing knots.
Everyone stared.
"…What?" Gojo blinked. "Why are we wrapped together?! Is this part of the show?!"
Elder Kazeka's eye twitched. "You've interfered with the ritual. The Binding Wind Rope has chosen. You are now soul-partners for the trials."
Arashi looked like she wanted to jump into a tornado.
---
Trial One: The Trial of Honesty
They were placed in the Temple of Whispers, where the rope glowed faintly. Each time they tried to lie, it tightened around them.
Gojo winced. "Okay. This is fine. This is okay. Just gotta tell the truth."
"You better not get weird," Arashi muttered.
"Arashi… when I tripped… I might've seen your—"
THWACK! She smacked him with a fan. The rope tightened.
"OW! What the—wait, that wasn't a lie!"
"You were thinking like a pervert!"
More tightening.
"Your honor, I object!"
She grumbled. "Fine. My turn. I… don't hate you."
The rope shimmered gently.
Gojo blinked.
"…That's it?" he asked.
"I also… maybe like your stupid face sometimes," she muttered under her breath.
WHUMP! The rope glowed harder. Gojo's heart skipped a beat.
He leaned in. "Wait… did you just—"
She shoved him. "Shut up! Your turn!"
"Okay. I think… I feel weirdly protective of you. Even if you kick me. Which is hot, by the way."
GLOOOWWW.
The rope pulsed with a golden aura. Both of them turned bright red.
Behind a magic veil, Hiyori popped popcorn. "I KNEW IT!"
Suma snarled. "W-wait! Why is it glowing so much?! HE NEVER SAID THAT TO ME!"
Hikami leaned over. "Ten coins says they kiss before the festival ends."
---
Trial Two: The Trial of Harmony
They were tossed onto a floating cloud platform filled with "wind tricksters"—tiny spirit creatures that created chaotic gusts.
The tricksters giggled and sent random wind currents to blow robes up, tie limbs awkwardly, or knock them into compromising positions.
Gojo got flung face-first into Arashi's lap.
"ARGH!"
"Not my fault!" he wailed. "The wind wants me to suffer!"
Another gust sent Arashi flying, her robe flaring. Gojo instinctively caught her—one hand on her waist, the other…
"WHERE ARE YOU TOUCHING?!"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
They spun into a spiraling gust and landed in a tangle of limbs and robes.
Their faces hovered inches apart. The rope pulsed, glowing white-hot.
Gojo stared. "Your eyes… look really pretty up close."
Arashi blinked. "Shut up…"
He didn't move.
"Why aren't you saying anything pervy?" she whispered.
"Because… if I did… I might not be able to stop."
RUMMMMMBLE.
The rope practically sang. They were glowing like spirit lanterns now.
Arashi's cheeks burned red. "You idiot…"
"I know."
And then the trial platform disintegrated beneath them.
---
Ending
They crash-landed in a soft pile of wind-spun clouds. Arashi was sprawled atop him, soaked from condensation.
Her robe clung. Gojo turned absolutely crimson.
"You're warm…" she whispered, cheeks flushed, breath fogging slightly.
"You too…"
Neither moved.
"…Maybe," she said softly, "I don't mind you being the one tied to me."
Gojo's heart pounded.
"Wait, are you actually saying that—?"
A voice interrupted.
"ARE YOU GUYS MAKING OUT?!" Hiyori yelled from above.
Suma leapt into view, eyes blazing. "UNHAND MY GOJO PILLOW!"
Hikami floated past on a broom. "This trial is 10/10 content."
Arashi groaned and flopped beside Gojo, burying her face in the clouds.
"…I hate my life."
Gojo just smiled.
The rope around them shimmered, warm and steady—refusing to let go.
To be continued…