Evening – Half-Past Seven,
The sky above Tokyo slowly deepened from the fading orange of dusk to the velvety indigo of night. Street lamps flickered on, casting a warm, golden glow over the sidewalk, while the hum of the city—cars, chatter, and the distant train whistle—created a soft urban symphony.
On a flyover above a gently flowing river, Nino Nakano walked beside Gojo Satoru. They had just left a small sushi restaurant, their stomachs pleasantly full, and now the cool evening breeze carried a faint scent of river water, mingling with the aroma of city air.
For several minutes, neither spoke. The quiet between them felt natural, almost sacred, their pace unhurried, letting the city's noise blur into a distant, comforting background.
Finally, Nino broke the silence, her voice soft, hesitant, almost fragile.
"Gojo-kun…"
He glanced down at her, noting the slight tilt of her head, the way her dark eyes seemed unsure yet determined.
"…Although I've said it before… I still want to say it. (Thank you) ."
Gojo didn't respond immediately. Instead, he lowered his gaze to meet hers, giving her words the gravity they deserved.
"Thank you… for saving me that day. If it weren't for you… I… I might have been eaten by the filth in the wilderness…" Nino forced a small, shaky smile, attempting to lighten the mood, though her voice quivered with vulnerability.
Her gaze drifted to the shimmering lights reflecting off the river below, the colors dancing like memories she didn't want to forget.
"Ah… really, if I died back then… I'm afraid Ichika would have been so sad. Without me cooking, they'd have to rely on takeout… or worse, Ichika trying to cook herself."
Gojo's face remained calm, expression unreadable, yet his attentive posture spoke volumes.
"She's… not very good at cooking," Nino continued, a faint tremor in her voice. "I remember once she almost burned the kitchen down… I was…" Her words faltered, and a lone tear slid down her cheek.
Her bright blue eyes glistened with unshed tears. Voice shaking, she continued,
"I… I can accept my own death… but I don't want my death to make Ichika, Miku, Yotsuba, Itsuki, or my father sad…"
She swallowed hard, fingers fidgeting nervously as if trying to anchor herself to the ground.
"Haaa… why am I crying?" she whispered, her cheeks flushed, embarrassed by the vulnerability she could not hide. "I'm really sorry, Gojo-kun… for letting you see this side of me."
Tears slid down her hands as she instinctively dabbed her face, sniffing softly.
Gojo still said nothing, but he reached into his pocket and withdrew a small, folded piece of paper.
Without a word, he offered it to her.
Nino blinked, accepting it delicately, her hands trembling slightly. Her heart still raced from the confession she had just made aloud.
"Your appearance that day… it saved me. I… I really appreciate it, Gojo-kun," she said quietly, but with unwavering sincerity.
It wasn't a plea for comfort or sympathy—it was a release, a verbal exhalation of the bottled-up fear and gratitude that had weighed on her since that terrifying encounter with the filth.
...
Hidden Observers – The Nakano Sisters,
From the shadows of nearby bushes, the four Nakano sisters—Ichika, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki—watched silently, hearts racing.
"Wait… Nino… she's crying?" Miku whispered, frowning as worry tightened her chest.
"She's not sad… she's… grateful," Ichika murmured, eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Even her usually sharp tongue softened, observing the scene with quiet analysis.
"Damn it! That man… I want to go lecture him properly!" Itsuki exclaimed, fists clenching instinctively, but Ichika's hand on her shoulder restrained her.
"Calm down, Itsuki," Ichika murmured, voice gentle yet firm. "Look at Nino… she's not crying in sorrow, she's crying from gratitude. Don't misinterpret it."
Yotsuba, small and delicate, bit her lip nervously, watching her sister wipe away her tears. Even though it wasn't sadness, seeing Nino's vulnerable side unsettled her deeply.
They exchanged glances, their hearts racing in unison. Ichika's mind raced, calculating:
Do we intervene? Do we let her handle this herself?
Miku, ever quiet, whispered, "I… I think she really trusts him. That's why she's crying."
Itsuki grumbled but remained silent, acknowledging Miku's point. Yotsuba's wide eyes darted between her sisters and Nino, worried but silently thrilled to witness her older sister expressing something so deeply.
...
After a short pause to regain composure, Nino straightened slightly, voice trembling, yet soft.
"Gojo-kun… could you… could you bend down? There's something I want to say to you."
He tilted his head, sensing the shyness and courage behind her words. With a faint, knowing smile, he bent down slightly, waiting.
In one fluid motion, Nino pressed her soft pink lips to his cheek.
For a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze.
Behind the bushes, the four sisters froze as well —
Yotsuba's hands flew to her mouth in shock. Miku's eyes widened. Itsuki's jaw dropped, though she tried to hide it with her hand. Ichika blinked once, flustered yet silently approving of her sister's courage.
A blush bloomed across Nino's cheeks as she pulled back, tugging nervously at a stray strand of her long beautiful hair.
"Don't misunderstand—!," she stammered, voice shaking. "This… this kiss… it's just to show my gratitude. Nothing more."
Gojo's lips curved into a gentle, understanding smile. He reached out to touch her head lightly, his tone calm and reassuring.
"I understand, Nino. Don't worry about it. It's almost eight o'clock. I'll take you home. Your sisters might be anxious."
He glanced meaningfully toward the bushes.
Even from this distance, he could sense the hidden shapes of her four sisters, their hidden spot betrayed by faint glints of ribbons and hair accessories.
Satisfied that they remained unnoticed from Nino, he stood and offered his arm to Nino.
She accepted it, and together, they resumed walking, their quiet evening stroll continuing along the river, the city lights reflecting softly around them.
.....
Nakano Sisters – Behind the Bushes,
The four sisters lingered a moment longer, hearts pounding from the spectacle they had just witnessed.
"So bold! Nino actually kissed him!" Yotsuba whispered, voice high-pitched, almost squealing in disbelief. She clutched at her chest as if bracing for an explosion of emotion.
"Indeed… indeed…" Itsuki muttered, flustered and at a loss for words. She fumbled with her bag strap, her usual confidence shaken.
Miku remained silent, but the faint blush creeping across her cheeks betrayed her surprise.
Ichika pursed her lips, thoughtful. Should I confront her later, or just wait? she wondered. Her analytical mind ran through multiple scenarios, balancing her sisterly duty against the need to respect Nino's privacy.
Yotsuba's small voice finally broke the silence. "Do you think… he feels the same way?"
"Not our business yet," Ichika replied, although her narrowed eyes couldn't hide the trace of a smile.
Itsuki groaned, flopping back slightly. "She's really brave… I couldn't do that. Not even if my life depended on it."
Miku leaned closer, whispering, "I think… she trusts him. That's why she was..able to do it."
Yotsuba nodded vigorously, still half-hiding behind a bush. "Yeah… she trusts him so much. I hope he never hurts her…"
The sisters shared a quiet moment of reflection, watching their younger sibling walk beside the mysterious, calm, yet protective Gojo Satoru.
Each felt a mix of pride, worry, and awe.
They knew that, in this moment, she had found someone she could rely on.
Someone who could support her without judgment.
The city lights shimmered on the river, painting the scene with gold and sapphire.
Behind the bushes, the Nakano sisters silently followed, their hearts both heavy and light, aware that this evening had marked a new journey in Nino's life.
...
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