The neon lights of the amusement park slowly faded into a blur behind them as Gojo and Mizuki strolled through the dim streets. Her hand was brushing dangerously close to his — every now and then, she'd fake a stumble just to nudge against his arm.
"Hehe… today was fun, wasn't it?" Mizuki beamed, licking the last of the ice cream off her spoon.
Gojo chuckled awkwardly. "You almost screamed like five times… I thought teachers were supposed to be composed."
"I read in Hikami's book," Mizuki said seriously, "that on a date, girls are supposed to scream and cling to the boy. Right?"
Gojo nearly tripped. "Y-You were reading that kind of book again?!"
"I was researching!" she protested, cheeks pink. "Hikami-senpai said it's a valuable study resource for love and physical bonding rituals!"
Gojo sweatdropped. "You two are seriously corrupting each other…"
They both laughed, loud and unguarded, walking under a quiet, flickering streetlight.
The moment was soft. Warm.
But then —
A chill ran down Mizuki's spine.
She stopped laughing. Her body stiffened. She turned toward the shadows cast by the lamppost.
"…I feel something."
Gojo turned, his hand instinctively brushing the hilt of his spirit blade. "What is it?"
The street darkened. Clouds rolled overhead.
A child stepped out from the mist.
Small. Delicate. Pale like a porcelain doll with midnight black hair and eyes like cracked marbles.
Gojo's eyes narrowed. "A kid?"
But he felt it too — the energy was all wrong. Twisted. Dead.
Behind her, from atop the rooftop, a tall man landed without a sound.
Flowing white hair. A sharp black coat that flared behind him. His golden eyes shimmered like a beast.
Minaga Hanegawa.
He looked at Mizuki.
"Mizuki," he said coldly. "Return to the Crimson House. Now."
Mizuki's lips trembled. "Minaga… brother…"
"You were not meant to mingle with humans," he said. "Especially this one."
Gojo stepped in front of her. "She's not going anywhere with you."
Minaga raised an eyebrow. "Defiant, aren't you?" He looked at the little girl. "Shizu."
The girl's expression didn't change.
"Kill him."
And just like that, Shizu blurred forward.
Faster than Gojo could blink — her tiny hand became claws, aimed straight for his throat.
But Gojo had faced monsters before.
SHHH-CHAK!
He unsheathed his Spirit Sword in a flash, slashing upward, deflecting her claws with a sharp CLANG!
Shizu flew back, landing on all fours like a spider.
"You're strong…" she whispered.
Gojo exhaled. "You don't know the half of it."
But then—pain.
Something sliced through his back — a searing, white-hot agony that dropped him to one knee.
Minaga stood behind him, blade dripping crimson.
"Tch… amateur," he scoffed.
Gojo coughed blood — and still, he moved. As Minaga raised his leg to stomp—
Gojo caught it.
With trembling arms and blood-soaked hands, he locked his fingers around Minaga's ankle.
"…Not yet…"
And then —
"RAAAGH!!"
He launched himself upward, slamming his heel into Minaga's chest with a thunderous BOOM!
Minaga skidded back, cracking the pavement.
Gojo panted, body torn, sword in hand.
Mizuki stepped forward.
He turned, hopeful.
"…Mizuki—run! Get behind—"
She slapped his hand away.
Her eyes glowed crimson.
"You shouldn't have touched my brother."
Gojo froze.
"…What?"
"You're so clingy. Always butting into things that don't concern you," she said coldly. "You're just a filthy human."
"…You… you're kidding."
His heart pounded.
She had laughed with him. Held his hand. Blushed when he gave her the plush bunny from the crane game.
She had said she liked the way he smiled.
And now—
"You're annoying."
She turned her back to him, walking into the rain with her brother.
Shizu looked back, her tiny voice like ice. "You're not dead. That's dangerous. Next time I won't miss."
The three of them vanished into the shadows.
Rain poured down.
Gojo dropped to his knees, blood mixing with the puddles.
The warmth of the day was gone. The sweetness of the date, shattered.
Alone in the silence, Gojo gritted his teeth.
His eyes trembled with fury, confusion, and heartbreak.
"…Even if you betray me…"
He clutched his sword tight.
"…I'll bring you back."
---
To be continued