"So you're saying… that this is it." Satoru's expression remained stoic as he studied her carefully. "That you don't love me anymore?" He forced himself to appear nonchalant as a wicked idea formed inside his mind, a smirk threatening to stretch across his lips as he looked at her.

Qian opened her mouth to respond, but her throat tightened in hesitation. His words from earlier… in her room… could they be true? Could he… actually… towards her… he-?

But what if they're not? Her insecurity reared its head at the back of her mind. What if I get hurt again?

She clenched her hands tightly across her chest. No… this… She had to say it. This is for the best.

"I…I don't. I-I'm sorry." She responded weakly, a bitter taste falling on her tongue from the lie.

"I see." He inwardly grinned maniacally as he noticed her uncertainty, her eyes remaining downcast, and he kept his tone light. "Then prove it."

Her head snapped up so fast that a crack could be heard from a tendon in her neck. She regarded him incredulously. "W-What?"

"You heard me." He shifted backwards, his hand falling down into the water to thumb his pocket as he leaned back in his heels.

"H-How?" She was thoroughly confused, her eyes wide in bewilderment.

Her innocent question almost caused his façade to slip as he gave a casual shrug. "Kiss me." Qian stumbled to the side and all but fell underwater, the loud splash echoing throughout the springs.

"W-W-W-W-WHAT-?!" She fumbled to regain her footing and scrambled to grasp the rocks behind her to steady herself, staring at him slack-jawed while his eyes remained passive.

"You heard me." He crossed his arms over his chest, watching her coolly. "If you don't love me, then you'll be able to give me a quick kiss and walk away. If you can't do that, then…" A mysterious glint was in his eyes. "... you're lying to me."

Her pulse was racing as she stared at him. What was this… what in the world is he playing at? "I-I don't think that's very appropriate-"

"Why not? It's very appropriate. In fact, actions speak louder than words after all." He replied offhandedly as he waved his finger around. "If you simply tell me you don't love me, how do I know you're not just lying to me, or even yourself?"

"B-B-B-Because that-" She bit back a curse, having another urge to throw something at him. Fuck him. She should just push him aside and leave. Didn't she tell herself she was over these games?

But… his words gnawed at her mind. As much as she hated to admit: he was right. She had to prove to- not him- but to herself that she could move on from him.

She rolled her fingers into a fist, clenching them at her sides. "...f-f-f-fine… a-a q-quick kiss, right?"

"Yep. No more than 5 seconds." He tilted his head, staring at her intently while he lowered his arms, placing a hand on his hip. "No big deal, right?"

She nodded jerkily. "Y-Y-Y-Yep. N-N-No b-big deal."

He stood in place as she nervously stepped forward, ripples spreading throughout the surface of the water from the movement. Eventually, she stood before him, her body involuntarily beginning to tremble.

Come on, you can do this. She gulped, her nerves going haywire as she tentatively leaned forward, her fingers shaking so much that she had to grip them so tightly across her chest that her knuckles turned white. She pushed herself up on her tiptoes.

His lashes lowered as their gazes met, his pupils dilating as her face neared his, though the motion went unnoticed by her as she had already begun closing her eyes. She swallowed thickly, every fiber in her body rigid with anxiety as she leaned in, quivering as her lips gently slid over his. Immediately, liquid hot magma coursed through her veins, causing her chest to palpitate as all the blood rushed into her head, pounding in her ears. The lid she had tried so hard to cover and suppress her feelings had splintered open, rampaging through her entire being.

5…

4…

He was completely still, his arms remaining at his sides while her fingers loosened their hold to tremulously touch the hard panes of his chest to steady herself. She was beginning to feel dizzy, her legs felt like jelly, she had forgotten how to breathe… She was mentally counting down and all she had to do was pull away. She needed to move away.

Just pull away, Qian.

3…

But…

2…

She couldn't. Their lips were practically just grazing each other with a simple touch, but her mind was flooding with memories of each other.

Their first argument, when she accused him of neglecting his students… only to realize and witness how much he cared for them. Dedicating his whole life to teaching and training them.

The first battle, when he saved them. Witnessing how powerful he truly was. And afterwards, even after almost hurting his team, he treated her wounds.

Then, he had a moment. One where he was lost. That was when… she realized he was also human. Became lost in his own mind… that moment instilled her desire to help him. To get to know him as a person… understand him.

And it blossomed into something else… something more. Something she could no longer control.

1…

A familiar burning sensation prickled behind her closed eyes as she felt herself begin to choke. Time was almost up. She just needed to step away, and then she would've proven to herself. Finally, proven to herself that-

0…

-that she was a liar.

A single tear escaped down her cheek as she released a shuddering breath, her fingers closing in on the collar of his shirt, mindlessly pushing deeper, fully pressing her lips onto his.

I… love him.

His hand suddenly shot up, grasping the back of her head and she gasped. He fisted her hair, gently tugging her face away to peel off her glasses and she flinched, peering thru her lashes, expecting to see his fury.

Instead, her cheeks incinerated as she met his eyes, his stunning blue irises barely distinguishable around the blackness of his fully dilated pupils. His breathing was now erratic, his expression now hungry yet pained, as if he had been restraining himself.

Little did she know.

"Qian." His voice was all but a deep growl as he delicately placed her spectacles behind her without breaking eye-contact. He leaned down, cupping her jaw with his other hand and resting his forehead against hers, their breaths intertwining. "It's been longer than five seconds."

"I…I know." She whispered, her eyes turning downcast.

"No more games." His fingers pulled on her locks, causing her head to fall back, exposing her neck as she was forced to meet his gaze once more. "Why didn't you stop?"

She bit her lip, unable to hold back a soft sob. "I… I couldn't lie… to you… or myself." Placing her hands on his chest, she attempted to push him away. "I-I don't want to love you… but-"

The droplets of her tears fell off her chin, causing miniscule ripples in the water as she lowered her head. "B-But I'm scared, I don't know what to do-"

Upon hearing her confess, her admitting her love for him without his prompting or urging… his last thread of composure snapped and he surged forward, cutting off the rest of her sentence by hungrily capturing her mouth with his.

Finally. Finally.

She yelped as he tightly gripped her waist, shoving himself against her and pinning her to the boulder with his hips.

"...Open." He grunted against her lips and she couldn't help but obey, her cheeks burning as she angled her face, allowing him to deepen the kiss. He nipped her skin, swiping his tongue across before plunging inside and licking the most sensitive parts of her mouth. He ran his fingers through her hair, brushing her bangs to the side before hooking under her chin, coaxing her movements while he collapsed into her, causing her to feel every curve of his toned abdomen. He had held everything he felt about her deep in the recesses of his mind, like a dam holding back an earth-shattering tsunami. However, as he felt her softness once more, breathed in her scent… he squeezed her tightly in his arms, the walls inside him crumbling into pieces.

In a split second, she allowed herself to give in to her urges and clutched the front of his damp shirt, bashfully returning his kiss. She stood on her toes, fervently meeting his lips as she closed her eyes. Her head was swirling from the heat… his heat. For this moment, she allowed herself to feel him. To let him in.

She raised her arms, her palms feeling his built chest, stroking his shoulders and circling around his neck as she breathed into him. This… after this she will finally let go of him. Just this last time-

His hand plunged into the water, scrunching up the fleece fabric of her robe in his fists as his other hand caressed her bare thighs. Without warning, he gripped her behind, lifting her up so her hips were fully pressed against his as he slammed them against the boulder, waves crashing and flooding onto the grass behind them. The feeling of his body jolted her own, as though a burst of electricity coursed through every limb. Her eyes shot open from the cold air buffeting her torso and she squeaked in shock; her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, thinking she would fall; but upon feeling something… hard… instead, her face erupted into flames and she cried out, though it was silenced by his mouth remaining squarely fixated on hers.

From the romantic shows she had seen, the experiences her best friend had told her, she had never understood what it meant to 'desire' someone so much.

Until she met him.

Her mind was soaring through the clouds as his touch lingered around the band of her underwear and she arched her back, releasing an involuntarily moan. Upon hearing her own voice, she shot her eyes open before squeezing them shut in embarrassment and Satoru let out a breathy chuckle, his eyes soaking in her expression as he greedily caressed her bare back, his mouth traveling up her jawline.

Control… Satoru… Control yourself.

"S-Sensei-" Qian's entire body trembled, her core melting like ice cream left out in the sun, as his lips outlined her ear.

"My name. Say it." He murmured against her skin. "I need to hear it."

Mine… finally. Mine.

"I-I c-can't- t-that's-" He nibbled her earlobe and a strangled cry erupted from her lips, warmth spreading throughout her veins.

"Qian." His lips were leaving a heated trail as they nibbled her neck. "Say… my… name."

Control yourself, Satoru.

"S-S-" His tongue darted out, licking the sensitive part behind her ear and she whimpered. "S-S-Satoru-san-"

… fuck control.

Upon hearing his first name, his mind completely broke and an animalistic urge overwhelmed his senses. He suddenly pried his lips off of her skin and grasped the front of her robe, opening the collar to expose her throat. Without warning, he dove forward, harshly biting down at the base of her collarbone. She screamed right before he covered her mouth with his palm, soon using his tongue to soothe the wound.

Her mind was wiped, stars danced in her eyes as the fire in her gut spread throughout her veins, dissipating as she collapsed onto him. The part where he had bitten was bright red and tingling. Her head rested at the crook of his neck as she tried catching her breath. "W-Why-d-did you do that-"

"I'm sorry, if i didn't do this I…" His breathing was uncharacteristically labored, placing another gentle kiss on her skin before raising his head slightly, his nose trailing along the crook of her neck to inhale her scent. "I'm worried I would've done something you'd regret."

Her heart hammered in her chest as she took a moment to re-compose and re-familiarize herself: their position, his actions, her actions… where they were… being here. Oh my gosh…! Mortification began to seep into her mind as she realized her behavior. She began to squirm. "I-I-I'm very sorry-"

"I think I feel the same." He whispered against her temple, pulling her flush against his chest and tightening his arms around her shoulders to halt her movements. He placed his lips against the spot where he bit her once more, nuzzling her skin. His muscles relaxed as warmth spread across his chest, a lightness enveloping his core, feeling as though an intangible weight had lifted from his confession.

Qian's eyes widened as his words echoed in her ears. "T-The same as… what?"

For a moment, he remained in the same position: simply holding her and breathing in her scent. "When I first heard you loved me, I panicked. Me: Gojo Satoru, panicking." He finally lifted his head, softly smiling as he looked at her. "I've had people tell me they love me: fans, women, even my family. But I've always hated it. 'Love'? What a pathetic emotion."

She blinked down at him owlishly and he gingerly lowered her back to her feet, rubbing her arms to keep her warm. "Yet, when you said it… no, even before then. I couldn't stop thinking about you. Every time I touched you, I never wanted to stop. When I see you smile, I can't help but smile with you. When you get upset, my immediate thought is, 'who hurt you'?"

"Then, it came down to me being the main source. Who would've thought?" He playfully pinched her cheek and she pouted, causing his grin to widen. "I've hurt you… so many times. And I've thought about how things would be easier if I just walked away."

"But… in the end," He stroked her cheek as he stared deeply into her eyes. "I didn't want to. Every time I hurt you, I kept on thinking: how can I fix this? And when I heard you wanted to forget me, all I could feel was anger and…" He took a deep breath, shaking his head vehemently. "... hurt. If I really didn't care about you, if I really only saw you as a convenience, would I have those feelings?"

"Y-You don't mean that-" She shook her head vehemently, denying his words despite the hope fluttering in her heart. This can't be possible, it can't…

"Qian." The uncharacteristic earnestness in his tone caused her falter, lifting her head up to meet his pleading gaze. "I want to see you with gray hair… with wrinkles. I know it sounds stupid, but… I want to be with you when that happens."

Qian blinked once more slowly. H-He can't mean that…

He grasped her face tightly in both hands. "I know I'm the strongest sorcerer in the world, a genius and a prodigy even before then. But when it comes to emotions- I'm immature and an idiot. I've never felt love… or any feelings this remotely… strong. Not even from my own family… So tell me, this burning feeling inside me. Is that it?"

The girl could do nothing but stare at him, her jaw completely unhinged. Slowly, she reached up and held his face in her hands, searching into his irises for any hesitation… any lies. Instead, all she saw was… vulnerability, and a hint of fear.

"I…I don't know." She admitted, and he regarded her in confusion. But her gaze was gentle. "I-I can't dictate what your emotions are for you. But I… the way you're describing your feelings. Mine are… similar."

For a moment, they stared at each other. He brushed her hair to the side.

Suddenly, her nose tickled and she took a step back, turning away to quickly cover her sneeze with her elbow.

"S-Sorry…" She murmured in embarrassment. Satoru released a soft chuckle, caressing her back in comfort.

"Come on, let's get out of here."

—-

Chase Tomioka sat in the living room as he attempted to read his novel. After reading the same line over and over again, he closed the cover with a sigh, taking off his reading glasses and massaging the bridge of his nose.

He thought back to his reunion with his daughter a couple days prior, feeling a pang of sympathy upon seeing her pale expression when they discovered her childhood friend was still alive. She never should have stumbled into this mess… this world. She shouldn't have had any role in this- then perhaps… she wouldn't have such a target on her back.

"Sweetie, you should come home, to us." Yi-lang urged, grasping her daughter's arm. Qian tore her gaze away from the medicine cup in her hands to regard her mother.

"N-No, this is all the more reason why I should stay here." She shook her head adamantly. "It… it's clear Hayato wants me, and I would put everyone in danger if I went home now."

"We don't care about the danger, honey." Chase added, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You are our daughter, it is our job to protect you."

"Yeah, and we can handle ourselves." Zeng stepped forward between his parents.

Qian softly smiled at the three of them and then gently took a step back, shifting out of her family's touch. She placed the cup down on Masamichi's desk before turning back around, pushing on her tiptoes to envelope her arms around them.

"I-I love you guys, but please trust me on this." She peered up at them wistfully. "I-I know this is the best thing right now."

"And there's Tengen's veil here to add to her protection." Masamichi interjected, crossing his arms over his chest as he remained seated behind his desk.

Toshinori chuckled from the side. "Not to mention a certain silver-haired stick-in-the-mud, who just so happens to be the strongest sorcerer in the world, has taken a liking to your daughter. So I wouldn't worry too much."

Qian blushed radiantly at his comment, and Chase couldn't help but laugh. "That's true."

He chuckled to himself as he recalled the man's protectiveness revolving around his baby girl. Well, not so much a baby anymore… A wave of melancholy washed over his mind. It seemed like only yesterday when she was stumbling from taking her first steps, squealing in glee as she and Zeng would play tag in the backyard… now she was a full-grown woman, capable of making her own decisions. He rubbed his face in remorse- he should've told her the truth from the beginning. He should've never tried to shelter her.

I hope… she forgives me.

Suddenly, there was a scream from outside. Chase snapped his gaze at the entrance. His son was at work and his wife had left the house not too long ago to get groceries. He pushed himself off the couch and headed into the foyer, peering into the keyhole. On the other side of the door, before the gate to his house, knelt a slender auburn-haired woman with a coat covering her left shoulder. Her face was twisted in pain as she clutched her arm painfully.

"I-Is anyone there?! Please! T-There's something after me!"

The elder Tomioka was able to see visible green aura, no doubt cursed energy, emitting from the covered arm. She must've gotten injured from a cursed spirit. He immediately opened the door. "Miss, are you alrigh-"

Before he could react, darkness enveloped his senses.