The weekend amusement park was like a giant, boisterous, colorful bubble, temporarily isolating all Cursed Spirit darkness and Jujutsu Sorcerer strife.
Sunlight was bright; cheerful music mixed with children's screams to form a dazing sense of normalcy.
Ieiri Shoko had changed out of her Jujutsu High uniform, wearing a simple black T-shirt and cargo pants. Her neat short brown hair looked soft in the sunlight. Under her usual lazy expression hid a trace of imperceptible anticipation.
This "miraculous" date stemmed from Shoko's half-joking remark a few days ago: "Staying in a school full of idiots and patients every day is enough; want to change the mood this weekend?" And Nagi's dry "Okay" after a long silence.
Actually, proposing this date wasn't so much expecting amusement rides as it was an attempt—an attempt to pull that youth, who recently hovered on the edge of life and death bearing too much pressure, back to this sunlit, ordinary world, even if briefly.
Thus, the current scene.
Mukyoku Nagi stood beside her, still dressed in dark colors, somewhat out of place in the colorful surroundings.
His vermilion pupils turned slightly, cautiously observing the overly vigorous vitality and noise around him, like a nocturnal creature stumbling into a human party.
For him, analyzing a Special Grade Cursed Spirit's weakness might be simpler than understanding "what to play."
"So... order of conquest?"
Nagi looked at the map, tone serious as if studying a battle plan.
Shoko gave a small yawn, but a trace of a smile lay in her eyes. She pointed casually at the iconic giant roller coaster track in the distance: "That one. Heard rapid switching of extreme gravity environments effectively stimulates dopamine secretion, though I doubt it works on those two idiots."
She implied something.
Nagi nodded, analyzing solemnly: "Theoretically, provided seat belts and pressure bar devices meet safety standards, the generated acceleration and centrifugal force are indeed within human tolerance thresholds. Experienceable."
Shoko: "..."
Sometimes she really got amused by his excessive seriousness.
The two queued up.
Standing side by side, arms occasionally brushed inadvertently.
Nagi's body would stiffen instantly but didn't move away.
Shoko pretended to look ahead, ears slightly warm.
**Stalking Group Observation Point A (Behind Cotton Candy Stall)**
"Wow! Side by side, side by side! Distance less than ten centimeters!"
Gojo Satoru, wearing cartoon sunglasses covering half his face, hid behind huge cotton candy, excitedly elbowing Geto Suguru beside him hard. "Look! Shoko actually didn't complain about crowding! Miracle!"
Geto Suguru maintained a gentle smile, holding binoculars extremely mismatched with his temperament: "Satoru, quiet down, we are 'cautiously' observing. But... Nagi's body language seems very stiff; needs strengthened social adaptation training."
Utahime Iori beside them pulled her hat brim down in despair: "Why am I here... Stalking juniors' date is bad enough, still have to listen to your tactical analysis... Gojo, your sugar rubbed on my clothes!"
The roller coaster started.
Amidst high-speed dives and rotations, screams rose and fell around them.
Nagi remained expressionless, even distracted enough to observe stress changes at track connections with "Vermilion Eyes."
As for Shoko, wind blew her long brown hair into a wild dance. She maintained that lazy expression throughout, but during a rapid dive, her hand subconsciously, lightly grabbed the corner of Nagi's clothes beside her.
Nagi's body seemed to stiffen for an instant. Then, extremely slowly and tentatively, he covered her hand grabbing his clothes with his own, movement carrying a clumsy gentleness.
Shoko didn't pull away.
**Stalking Group Observation Point B (High Viewing Platform)**
"Oh oh oh oh—! Hand! Hand covered!"
Gojo Satoru almost snatched the binoculars. "Log opened up?! My eyes aren't deceiving me, right!"
Geto Suguru revealed an old-father-like relieved smile: "Good progress. Seems appropriate environmental stimulation helps emotional expression."
Utahime covered her face, but fingers spread wide: "...Actually kinda... cute? No! I saw nothing!"
Getting off the roller coaster, their hands separated naturally as if nothing happened, but the atmosphere between them was obviously much softer.
Next was the shooting game stall.
The biggest prize was a particularly soft, ugly-cute white Cursed Spirit-shaped cushion.
"How about that?"
Shoko mentioned casually. "Looks suitable for the infirmary sofa, more comfortable than hard armrests."
Nagi looked at the cushion, then at Shoko, nodding: "Understood."
He paid, picked up the toy gun. Eyes instantly became extremely focused, faint light flowing in vermilion pupils.
"'Vermilion Eyes' dynamic vision capture... 'Congeal' micro-control trigger stability... calculating ballistic deviation..."
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Almost the instant the gun fired, all moving bullseyes were precisely pierced! The stall owner uncle's smile completely froze.
Nagi pointed expressionlessly at the biggest cushion.
Shoko hugged the soft cushion almost half her size, burying her face to rub against it, mouth corner curving into an almost invisible arc: "...Texture not bad."
**Stalking Group Observation Point C (Balloon Stall Opposite Shooting Stall)**
"Cheating! This is naked technique cheating!"
Gojo Satoru was heartbroken. "I'm gonna report! This violates stall game spirit!"
Geto Suguru smiled: "Process doesn't matter, good result is fine. See, doesn't Shoko like it?"
Utahime whispered: "...Actually kinda cool..."
Afterward, Nagi bought Shoko ice cream (precisely choosing the matcha flavor she looked at once more), and when she squinted from the sun, calmly stood on the sunny side to block the light for her.
Shoko, while he studied the map, casually poked his face with fingers cold from ice cream, chuckling at his stunned look.
**Stalking Group Throughout:**
Gojo Satoru: "Recorded recorded! I can laugh at him for a year with this!"
Geto Suguru: "Truly youth." (Continuous benevolent father smile)
Utahime: "(From initial shame to gradual numbness to secretly getting hooked)... Are they going to ride the Ferris wheel next?"
Sunset dyed the amusement park warm gold. The day's noise gradually settled.
The two stood near the exit, atmosphere quiet and harmonious.
"Today..."
Nagi spoke, voice lower and gentler than usual. "...Thanks."
He could actually feel Shoko was using her way to make him relax, experience this strange, "ordinary" happiness.
"Mm."
Shoko patted the big cushion in her arms. "Fruitful harvest. Next time... maybe try the aquarium? Heard quiet environment suits observation and analysis better."
She proposed seemingly casually.
Nagi's vermilion eyes brightened slightly, smiling: "Okay."
Shoko couldn't help smiling too.
After a simple goodbye, the two left in different directions.
That invisible tacit understanding and quietly rising warmth remained in each other's hearts.
The stalking trio prepared to retreat contentedly (gossip soul greatly enriched).
"Complete success! Wrap up wrap up!" Gojo Satoru stretched.
"Truly a beautiful day." Geto Suguru concluded.
Utahime: "...I can finally go home..."
However, Nagi, turning alone into a secluded, unmanned area shortcut to High, suddenly stopped.
Sunset stretched his shadow very long.
The gentleness on his face faded rapidly, recovering usual calm, even carrying a trace of icy sharpness.
He sighed lightly, voice especially clear in the empty block.
"Followed all day, hard on you guys. Come out."
Air quiet for a few seconds.
Then, rustling sounds rose from different shadows.
First was Gojo Satoru walking out from behind a nearby low wall rubbing his nose and chuckling: "Ya~ discovered? Indeed can't hide from 'Vermilion Eyes' perception haha! We just happened to..."
Next was Geto Suguru appearing somewhat awkwardly from behind a utility pole: "Cough, passing by..."
Finally was Utahime Iori jumping out from behind a trash can (?!) blushing: "Shut up! All forced by these two idiots!"
Mukyoku Nagi looked at this luxurious "happened to pass by" group, no joy or anger visible in vermilion pupils, just saying lightly:
"So, had fun?"
Gojo Satoru just wanted to continue bantering, but face changed abruptly. Six Eyes behind sunglasses suddenly sharp, looking toward the alley shadow at the side rear: "...Hmm?"
Almost simultaneously, Nagi's "Vermilion Eyes" instantly locked onto his gaze direction, warning red light flashing in eyes.
Geto Suguru and Utahime also immediately sensed wrongness, entering alert state instantly.
In that shadow, air distorted slightly. Three men wearing traditional kimono, eyes gloomy, emitting dense Cursed Energy fluctuations walked out slowly. Their gazes locked dead onto Mukyoku Nagi like vipers. What they wore at their waist was exactly the Zenin family crest.
"Seems..."
Nagi's voice turned completely cold. He carefully placed a small doll he just won for Shoko but hadn't had time to give on a clean step aside.
"...Today's 'liveliness' isn't just one batch."