Tatsumaki glanced at Sol, her voice quieter than usual.
"Hey. Next time you go to one of those strange worlds, tell me beforehand."
"Mm," Sol replied.
"'Mm' isn't enough!" Tatsumaki said with visible annoyance. "At least tell me roughly how long you'll be gone. Otherwise... otherwise, there won't be anyone to sign all those documents at the Hero Association!"
She quickly latched onto what she considered a perfectly reasonable excuse.
Sol watched her search for an excuse in silence before giving a small nod.
"Got it."
Hearing that, Tatsumaki visibly relaxed, though a hint of embarrassment crept across her face.
She turned away from him and mumbled, "...That's better."
Sunlight filtered through the leaves above, scattering across her curly green hair.
"Come on," she said without looking back, her usual confidence returning. "Let's check out the new arcade. I heard a massive one just opened. As an S-Class Hero, it's my duty to inspect it for potential safety hazards."
With that, she floated ahead.
Sol quietly followed.
The newly opened arcade on the corner was enormous. Bright neon lights flashed above the entrance, and a long line of customers stretched outside.
Ignoring the queue completely, Tatsumaki floated straight to the entrance, folded her arms, and presented her Hero Association ID to a staff member.
"S-Class Hero. Routine safety inspection."
The employee immediately recognized her, nodded nervously several times, and hurriedly cleared a path inside.
Tatsumaki proudly lifted her chin, glanced back at Sol, then floated inside first.
The interior was dim, illuminated by colorful screens and flashing lights. Electronic sound effects, music, and excited voices blended into a constant roar.
She frowned at the noise but enthusiastically began her "inspection."
She drifted over to the shooting game section, watched several players using light guns, and critiqued them without hesitation.
"Too slow."
"Bad prediction."
"No shooting talent whatsoever."
She continued inspecting nearly every popular attraction, offering blunt commentary wherever she went. Plenty of players shot annoyed looks her way, but the moment they realized who she was, none dared object.
Sol followed quietly behind her, watching her meticulously point out flaws. His dark red eyes remained as calm as ever, showing neither impatience nor amusement.
Eventually, Tatsumaki stopped in front of a claw machine.
Inside were rows of plush toys, but one limited edition cartoon unicorn immediately caught her attention.
She stared at it for several seconds before snorting.
"These machines are surprisingly well designed for something made to trick kids."
She subtly tried using her telekinesis.
The machine creaked faintly, but some kind of mechanism prevented her from manipulating the claw directly.
"Boring."
She looked ready to leave, yet her gaze lingered on the unicorn.
Without saying a word, Sol stepped forward.
He inserted a coin and wrapped his hand around the joystick.
His movements were steady and precise.
The claw descended perfectly, gripped the unicorn around the neck, and lifted it without slipping before dropping it cleanly into the prize chute.
Sol bent down, picked up the plush, and handed it to her.
Tatsumaki blinked in surprise.
A brief flash of happiness crossed her face before she quickly buried it beneath her usual proud expression.
She snatched the unicorn from his hand and hugged it against her chest.
"...I could've gotten it myself if I'd actually tried. Since you already won it, though, I'll reluctantly accept it. It would be a waste otherwise."
Holding the unicorn tightly, she floated onward, though noticeably slower than before.
Sol walked beside her as they continued through the bustling arcade in comfortable silence.
Without realizing it, Tatsumaki gently stroked the unicorn's soft mane.
The noisy atmosphere seemed strangely distant.
She floated beside Sol, matching his pace as though deliberately extending the time they spent together.
"Hey," she suddenly said, her voice carrying clearly through the arcade's constant noise. "Those people you brought back look ridiculously weak."
Her tone was dismissive, but her eyes briefly drifted toward him.
"They're Jujutsu Sorcerers," Sol replied, glancing toward someone enthusiastically playing Taiko no Tatsujin. "They have their own way of growing stronger."
"Jujutsu? That weird energy they use?" Tatsumaki frowned. The air around her subtly distorted, quietly pushing away the curious gazes directed at them. "It's kind of like monster energy here, except even more irritating."
She couldn't think of a better description.
"That pink-haired kid has something else sealed inside him, doesn't he? Reckless."
Sol didn't deny it.
"Itadori's situation is unique."
"Whatever."
She didn't seem interested in discussing it further.
"Just make sure they don't cause trouble in our territory. Managing the Hero Association for you is already enough work, and letting them use the training grounds is already an exception."
She deliberately emphasized the words our territory while tightening her grip on the unicorn.
A moment later, another claw machine caught her attention.
Inside rested a limited edition rainbow jellyfish plush, lying atop a pile of ordinary toys. Its shimmering tentacles reflected the colorful lights around it.
She only glanced at it before quickly pretending to watch the racing game beside it.
Sol stopped walking.
He approached the machine and inserted another coin.
The claw descended with perfect precision, slipped beneath the jellyfish plush, lifted it effortlessly, then released it neatly into the prize chute.
The entire process was smooth and flawless.
He picked up the rainbow jellyfish and held it out to Tatsumaki.
She looked at the plush in his hand, then down at the unicorn already in her arms.
A flicker of embarrassment appeared before her usual arrogance returned.
"...What are you doing? One childish toy is more than enough."
Despite her words, her eyes never left the shimmering jellyfish.
Sol remained silent, simply continuing to offer it.
After several seconds of stubborn silence, Tatsumaki finally reached out and snatched it away.
She stuffed the jellyfish into the unicorn's embrace, squeezing both plush toys tightly together.
"I... I'll take it, then."
Her voice remained gruff, though the tips of her ears had turned slightly red.
Clutching both plushies, she quickly floated ahead.
Sol followed at an unhurried pace, watching her somewhat flustered retreat, along with the two oversized plush toys that nearly covered her face.
When they finally stepped outside, the evening breeze carried a pleasant coolness.
Tatsumaki floated quietly a half step behind Sol, watching his silhouette blend into the warm glow of the setting sun.
===
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