"Older the wine, finer the dine," a man said.
"Younger the soul, tighter the hole." Another preached his own philosophy.
"A hole is a hole even without a soul." Another hammered his own ideal to the point my ear started to bleed.
I was going back to my car, where Mai was waiting for us to go back; I noticed the man talking in complete seriousness. Since I was moving past them, I heard their conversation.
No amount of context is going to save these three. And the last two were startup crimes. Freedom of speech is getting wild these days; at this rate, North Korea's 'democracy' is going to win.
Anyway, I made my way back toward the parking lot where our car was waiting. The afternoon sun had already begun its slow descent, casting long shadows across the pavement. Mai was leaning against the vehicle with her arms folded, tapping her foot impatiently. The moment she saw me approaching, she narrowed her eyes.
"What took you so long?" she asked as I opened the passenger door.
"I was talking."
"Obviously."
I climbed into the seat beside her, and the driver quietly started the engine. The car pulled away from the school, leaving Satozakura High farther and farther behind as the scenery outside gradually changed from suburban streets to the familiar roads leading back toward Tokyo Jujutsu High.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke. The rhythmic hum of the engine filled the silence while trees flashed past the windows. Eventually, Mai rested her chin against her palm and glanced sideways at me.
"The Goodwill Event is in about thirty days."
I nodded without taking my eyes off the passing scenery. "I know."
"It's being held in Kyoto this year."
"So I've heard."
Mai smirked faintly. "You sound awfully calm."
I finally looked at her. "I've got enough headaches already. One more isn't going to change much."
She chuckled before stretching lazily against the seat.
"Just so we're clear..." she began, her amber eyes carrying a competitive gleam, "...I'm not going easy on Tokyo high just because you're there."
"I'd be disappointed if you did."
She blinked. "Hm?"
I smiled. "If you held back because of me, I'd be sad. The entire point of the Goodwill Event is to see everyone give everything they've got."
Mai stared at me for a moment before letting out a quiet scoff. "You say that now."
"I mean it." I folded my arms behind my head. "If you get the chance, shoot me too."
"...You're asking me to shoot you?"
"I'm saying don't hesitate. If we're on opposite sides, we're opponents until the event ends."
A mischievous grin spread across Mai's face. "Careful what you wish for. I've gotten a lot better."
"I know."
"I've been practicing every day."
"I know."
"My accuracy is almost perfect now."
"I know."
Mai frowned. "...Can you stop saying 'I know'?"
"I know."
She stared at me for two whole seconds before punching my shoulder. "You really are annoying."
I rubbed my arm dramatically. "Violence. Truly, this is how heroes are treated."
"Heroes?"
She rolled her eyes. "You're lucky you're cute." Then she let out a sigh and became serious. "While you are away, our principal, Gakuganji, called. It seems he and higher-ups are again planning something for Yuji. What should I do?"
Mai said it with such seriousness. I also looked at it for some time, then just shrugged my shoulder. "Just do what your heart tells you to do, Mai."
Mai tilted her head at my words. "What my heart tells me to do? Can you be any more vague? I am asking whether you want me to participate in or oppose our principal's plan or if you want me to act as a mole and inform you what they are planning to do."
"Not like they will give any important information since they know you are close to me." I finished what she was talking about.
"True." Mai nodded; as long as the higher-ups weren't complete morons, they wouldn't inform Mai about any core plans.
"What do you think about Yuji?" I asked her as I looked outside the window.
"That's an unusual question; since you are favoring him, I think he must be important for you." Mai said while she looked at me. Maybe I am just being very conscious, but her legs are for some reason on top of my leg, even though she has leg space on her side.
"I asked your opinion, Mai, not what I think about him." I asked, ignoring how her leg was creeping around my own leg. Damn, how is she so dexterous with her leg?
"If you are asking my opinion, then I say he is a dangerous element and needs to be exorcised effectively immediately. At the same time, I do understand that he is useful for the disposition of Sukuna's 20 fingers, but the cons outweigh the pros. Like some of the questions Gojo and others refuse to answer, what if Yuji lost control and Sukuna took over? The causality that follows after is immeasurable." Mai then let out a sigh, while she was still serious, her hand was on my thighs, and then she continued:
"But since you are a better judge of character than me, I will just follow you." Mai finished as she looked at me, and I also looked at her.
"I see," I nodded. "So how long is your hand going to stay on my thighs?"
"Till we reach home."
~~~
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