The charcoal grill in the barbecue restaurant was roaring, the A5 wagyu sizzling on the iron plate, fat dripping onto the coals with a satisfying crackle. The savory aroma mixed with the warmth, filling the private room.
Zero Two, wearing a cream-colored knit dress Gaio had just bought her, sat next to him, playfully poking his chest. "Darling, I want the marbled one~"
Gaio chuckled, picking up a piece of beautifully marbled beef, blowing on it, and holding it to her mouth. Zero Two took a bite, her eyes curving into happy crescents. "So good~"
Across the table, Saber's plate was stacked high like a small mountain. She held a skewer of grilled sausage, her cheeks puffed out. "This sausage is spicy!"
She winced but couldn't resist taking another bite, her lips flushed red. "But it's so good!"
Kanna sat on Tohru's lap, her little feet swinging as she clutched a small fork, eyeing the grill. "Tohru-nee, Kanna wants the fatty one~"
Tohru smiled, carefully picking up a piece and cutting it into bite-sized bits. "Eat slowly, don't burn your tongue~"
Kanna stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks bulging like a hamster's. "Kanna wants more~" she mumbled.
Fubuki sat nearby, recording a video on her phone. The screen captured Gaio wiping sauce from Zero Two's mouth, only for her to suddenly lean in and kiss him. Fubuki's laughter rang out. "Haimu, look at this—Zero Two's being all lovey-dovey again~"
Gaio gave a helpless smile, ruffling Zero Two's hair. "Zero Two, how about ice cream later? What flavor do you want?"
Zero Two nodded eagerly. "Chocolate! A huge one!"
Just then, Gaio's phone buzzed with a Line message from Satoru Gojo: [Little Tian Tian, Yuji and the gang are heading to Kuoh Academy tomorrow to blend in as transfer students. Wanna come join the fun?]
Attached was a photo of a daifuku, its golden exterior wrapped around sweet red bean paste, looking almost too sugary.
Gaio rolled his eyes. I'm not Saber. What's with trying to lure me with desserts?
[Not going.]
Gojo replied instantly: [But it's the best daifuku in all of Japan, from a shop in Osaka!]
As Gaio started typing, Zero Two peeked over, her eyes sparkling at the daifuku on the screen. "Darling, what's that? It looks so yummy~"
"It's daifuku, a sweet mochi-like thing," Gaio said, taking his phone back. He sent Gojo a "get lost" emoji, then turned to Zero Two. "After we're done here, wanna go get some? I'll get you the biggest one with extra red bean paste~"
Zero Two let out a cheer and kissed his cheek. "Darling's the best!"
---
Updates are tough, so don't forget to share on 101 Book Network!
Meanwhile, in the meeting room of Tokyo Jujutsu High, Yuji Itadori stared at the documents on the table, frowning. "Kuoh Academy? Why are we transferring there?"
Megumi Fushiguro flipped through the papers, his eyes catching the words "student disappearances." "In the last three months, five students have gone missing. No clues on the surveillance footage, but some people reported seeing a girl in a black school uniform with red eyes."
Nobara Kugisaki chewed on her nail. "What, like a ghost?" Yuta Okkotsu, looking half-dead with exhaustion, raised his eyes. "No idea. If it's a cursed spirit, it wouldn't be this subtle."
Kusakabe, standing nearby, placed a photo on the coffee table. "At the site of the latest disappearance, we found bloodstains and a black feather."
He tapped the feather in the photo. "Here's the thing—this feather's invisible to normal people. Even our investigation team almost missed it. If Miu Miu hadn't been there, no one would've noticed it."
Yuji, Megumi, Yuta, and Nobara grew more serious.
Maki, who'd been dozing with her arms crossed, opened her eyes. "That's gonna be a problem for me, then."
"The equipment team made special contact lenses for you," Kusakabe said. "They're better than the glasses you're using now. You can pick them up later."
Maki nodded, falling silent.
Satoru Gojo leaned back in his chair, twirling a lollipop in his mouth. "Anyway, you guys head there tomorrow and figure out what's going on before winter break. Keep it low-key."
Yuji scratched his head. "Winter break's not far off, though. It starts December 15, and it's already… wait, December 5?!"
"Ten days is enough," Megumi said coolly. "The tricky part is hiding our cursed energy. If we're going undercover, we can't let it leak."
Gojo grinned, patting Megumi's shoulder. "Exactly! That's why you're the team leader~" He tossed each of them a bracelet. "These are suppression bracelets I had Rin-chan and Tohru make, combining gem magic and dragon magic to mask your energy."
He put a finger to his lips with a playful "shh." "Don't tell Little Tian Tian, or my hair's toast again."
The group burst into laughter.
"Oh, what about Mr. Gaio?" Yuji raised his hand. "Could he help?"
Gojo raised an eyebrow. "You want his help?"
Yuji scratched his head again. "Not exactly. Just feels like if there's trouble, he could handle it."
Gojo chuckled. "Little Tian Tian? You know how he is. He'll brush you off unless it's something that piques his interest."
---
Back in the barbecue restaurant's private room, Fubuki and Kanna returned from outside. Kanna ran to Tohru, holding a melting ice cream cone that had dripped onto her skirt. "Tohru, my ice cream's melting~"
Tohru crouched down, wiping the stain off her skirt. "Slow down, no one's stealing it~"
Zero Two leaned into Gaio's arms. "Darling, today's been so much fun~"
Gaio kissed her forehead. "As long as you're happy, that's what matters."
Zero Two's laugh tinkled like silver bells. Fubuki snapped a photo of Kanna chomping on her ice cream, while Saber stuffed the last piece of grilled meat into her mouth.
Bzz—
Gaio glanced at his phone.
Another Line from Gojo: [Little Tian Tian, so cold~ Anyway, on a serious note, if we need your help, please lend a hand. Something feels off about Kuoh Academy.]
[Got it.] Gaio pocketed his phone. The name Kuoh Academy sounded familiar. Was it from some harem anime? Or a rom-com? Can't remember.
"Darling, what're you thinking about?" Zero Two pressed her face close to his.
"Oh, nothing." Gaio glanced at the girls. Except for Saber, who was still sipping tea like she hadn't eaten enough, everyone seemed full.
"Wanna go shopping?" Fubuki suggested.
Zero Two nuzzled his shoulder. "Darling, if we go shopping, will you buy me new clothes?"
Gaio grinned, pinching her chin. "Of course. We'll find something your size—but no loosening the straps on purpose this time."
Zero Two stuck out her tongue, hooking her fingers around his neck. "Then you have to pick the prettiest ones for me~"
Saber raised her hand, her ahoge bouncing like a little flag. "Master, if we're shopping, is there a wagashi shop? I'm still hungry!"
Tohru rolled her eyes, poking Saber's arm. "You just ate like thirty plates of meat and two bowls of miso soup. Is your stomach a black hole?"
Saber's face turned serious. "Good food must never be wasted! That's a knight's code!"
Kanna tugged Tohru's sleeve, her eyes sparkling. "Tohru-nee, Kanna wants to go to the toy store! I want a new puzzle. I finished the kitty one!"
Tohru smiled, bending down to scoop her up and nuzzling her head. "Alright~ Toy store it is."
Kanna clapped her hands, chanting, "Daifuku~ Puzzle~ Daifuku~ Puzzle~"
Fubuki waved her phone, the screen showing Gaio and Zero Two. "Let's hit Shibuya. They've got toy stores, clothing shops, and dessert places! Haimu's gonna be so jealous she went to school today—she was just saying she needs new cosplay outfits."
Zero Two sat up, grabbing Gaio's wrist. "Darling! Daifuku! The one on your phone!"
Gaio rubbed his temples with a laugh. "Alright, alright. Daifuku first, then clothes, then the toy store. Happy?"
The girls cheered. Zero Two tackled him with a hug, nearly knocking him off his chair. "Darling's the best!"
Saber was already at the door, hand on the knob, turning back to shout, "Master, let's move! My stomach's rumbling like war drums, demanding satisfaction!"
Gaio stood, laughing as he took Zero Two's hand. "Let's go."
Kanna bounced along behind them, chanting "daifuku" and "puzzle," then stumbled, quickly grabbing Tohru's skirt.
Tohru chuckled, hoisting her up. "Careful, don't trip."
Gaio glanced back at the group, his smile widening as he ruffled Zero Two's hair. "C'mon, or Saber's gonna buy out the whole wagashi shop."
Zero Two nodded, her fingers tightly laced with his as they left the restaurant.
The breeze carried the sweet scent of a nearby bakery. Zero Two sniffed the air, looking up at Gaio. "Darling, even the wind smells sweet today~"
"Haha, that's just the cake shop nearby," Gaio said.
Fubuki grabbed his arm, exasperated. "Dummy Tian-kun, this is when you're supposed to say something romantic, not state the obvious."
Gaio froze, then burst out laughing.
From a distance, Saber's voice echoed, "Master! Hurry up!"
Gaio laughed again, taking Zero Two and Fubuki's hands as they headed toward the parking lot.
---
At dusk, in the Supernatural Research Club's classroom at Kuoh Academy, a stunning red-haired girl flipped through a stack of documents.
"Hm? Transfers from Jujutsu High? Hmm, they don't look half bad. Should I turn them into my familiars?"
With that thought, she tossed the papers onto the table and picked up her phone, swiping to a poster of Gaio gripping a stand microphone, singing passionately.
"Nero-kun~ Are you a demon too?"
---
read my new story
Marvel FRIEZA DBZ
NBA Grind to NBA King