It was strangely funny how easy it was to get Kuroi back. With the Strongest Duo (And Hitomi, of course), it was not that hard to come up with a plan and take out the kidnappers, who had demanded to meet in Okinawa of all places. Hitomi had no clue yet as to why this was the chosen place, but they were here at the beach and Kuroi was safe. It would be nice to enjoy themselves for a few hours before returning to Jujutsu High.

The sun was bright, but its light was almost welcoming. It was not too hot either. The weather was perfect to be on the beach.

Riko and Gojo practically ran towards the ocean with strangely similar squeals of glee as the water splashed at their feet. Hitomi stood with Kuroi and Geto, half-tuned into their conversation and half-lost in her thoughts. She kept her hands in the pocket of the shirt that she wore over her dark blue bikini. She'd prefer going without the shirt, but there were people here and she did not want to show them her back. Not with the scars that covered it.

(And besides, there were more good-looking people to look at.) (She was referring to Gojo and Geto, though she would fall on a sword rather than admit it out loud)

"I can't believe I got captured by the Star Religious Group and by a non-sorcerer at that," Kuroi said, frowning. "I'm ashamed of myself."

"You couldn't help it if they caught you off-guard," Geto answered with a kind smile. "Part of the blame lies with me, too."

"Was I really caught off-guard though?" Kuroi asked quietly. "I thought I was on high alert after the incident with Q. I still don't have much recollection of being attacked. And you all came here by plane? Were you okay? You weren't attacked?"

"Gojo's got good eyes," Hitomi stated. "Before we took off, he checked over all the passengers and staff, as well as the inside and outside of the plane."

Geto nodded. "Yeah. And while we were in the air, I had my cursed spirit keep watch outside. It was safer than using a land route." Then with a slightly grave look, he added, "I'm more curious as to why they designated Okinawa for the exchange?"

"Probably to buy time, right?" Kuroi asked, looking at the two sorcerers. "Even if they fail to kill Riko-sama, they could keep her from making tomorrow's full moon deadline."

"If that were the goal," Hitomi replied. "They would choose a rural area with poor transit infrastructure."

"You don't think they're planning to take over the airport, do you?" Kuroi exclaimed, looking extremely worried.

"Maybe so. But we'll be fine. We are not the only ones who came here," Geto answered with a comforting smile.

Ah yes. Those two first years, Haibara and Nanami. Hitomi really liked them both. Both of them had good hearts in them, even though Nanami pretended to hide it behind that grumpy exterior. She only hoped those two remained safe during this mission.

Just a few feet away, where the tides hit the beach, Gojo and Riko were pointing towards a sea cucumber and laughing like a bunch of maniacs. Then Gojo began chasing the younger girl around. Hitomi couldn't help but smile a little. No matter how arrogant Gojo looked, there was a kind side to him as well. It was his idea to go to the beach after all; his idea to take Riko sightseeing one last time before life would get uprooted completely. Riko deserved those few hours of fun.

"Satoru! It's time," Geto shouted, getting the attention of the two having fun on the beach. Riko immediately stopped smiling.

'The poor girl just wants to enjoy herself,' Izuki appeared out of nowhere, hovering just near the surface (the boundary line) and Hitomi did not push him away this time. 'My heart breaks for her. Or I guess, our heart breaks for her.'

'Bringing up some old feelings honestly,' Hitomi replied. 'The kid deserves peace, quiet and fun before life turns shitty.'

"Suguru, let's head back tomorrow morning instead." At Gojo's word, Riko's mood immediately brightened and she looked much happier. But could they actually-

"But-" Geto started to say, but was interrupted by Gojo, as he walked towards them, Kuroi joining Riko.

"The weather's holding steady, right?" The white-haired boy said. "Besides, there are fewer curse users in Okinawa than there are in Tokyo."

"Please be a bit more serious about this. We would be taking a big risk if we stayed, right?" Hitomi said. It would probably be for the best to take Riko back to Jujutsu High, just for the sake of her own safety.

"It's better if the time limit on the bounty runs out while we're mid-flight, right?" Gojo shrugged his shoulders.

"Satoru," Geto leaned closer to him, gently pulling Hitomi so she could hear as well. "You haven't released your technique since yesterday, have you? You haven't slept at all. And you don't plan to sleep tonight, do you?"

"Gojo, oh my god, seriously?" Hitomi whisper-yelled. "You should not be doing that. That's very unhealthy and it's going to leave you crazy fatigued?"

Geto nodded. "Are you sure you don't need to get back to Jujutsu High?"

"It's not a problem," Gojo answered, lightly fist-bumping Geto's shoulder. "Playing through 99 years of MomoTetsu was far more draining. Besides, you're here, too."

"And me," Hitomi added. "Don't you dare forget about me."

"Of course," Gojo let out a laugh, ruffling her hair. For once, she did not push him away. "Where would we be without you?"

He slung an arm around her shoulders. "Besides, there's something I have to do before we leave."

"What?" The second the word left her mouth, Hitomi knew. In hindsight, it was so obvious that the white-haired idiot would try to pull something when they were at the beach. She let out a shriek as Gojo lifted her into the air, carrying her bridal style. Geto's protest was lost in the noise of Gojo's cackle.

"I swear if you don't put me down right now, I will kill you!" Hitomi kicked her legs in the air, trying to hit Gojo, but the idiot kept on laughing. The loud splashes of the tide coming in told her that they were standing right in the ocean now. She could hear Riko laugh a few feet away.

"Okay, I'll put you down!" Gojo smirked.

Without any warning (and really, she shouldn't have expected anything from him), he tossed her into the ocean. Hitomi coughed and spluttered, as she attempted to regain her balance. The saltwater burnt her eyes, some of it going into her ears as well. She had horrible luck though. The next tide came in just at that second, sending her tumbling into the water again. Stupid Gojo just kept on laughing.

As she sat up, coughing and trying to get the water (and oh god, there was some seaweed stuck in her hair), she glared at Gojo. "You're dead. You are so dead."

"Ah come on," Gojo grinned as he offered her his hand. "I'm sure you had such a nice lovely dip in the ocean."

Hitomi would trick him. She had to. She reached for his hand, grabbing it tightly, almost pretending like she needed help. Fuck. She'd forgotten how soft his palms were. Stupid expensive moisturizer using jerk. With the full force of her strength, she tugged and pulled Gojo into the ocean. The tide returned, preventing them from regaining their balance.

Now, Gojo was the one coughing and spluttering and Hitomi was the one laughing like crazy. She could hear Riko laugh too, which was good.

Gojo sat up and pouted. His blue eyes took on the colour of the ocean behind them. But there was a certain lightness in his expression that made him look oddly endearing. A rush of warmth went through her body and suddenly, she was all too aware of how tightly she was still holding onto his hands. She let go abruptly and stood up.

Hitomi shook her head, droplets of ocean water falling from her hair. She turned to look at Gojo and almost froze.

He was looking at her so oddly, the same lightness in his expression. She could hear Riko trying to convince Kuroi and Geto to take a dip in the ocean too. But all she could actually concentrate on was how Gojo was looking at her so...fondly?

A second later, he got up. The moment ended. Or so Hitomi thought. Gojo pressed his palm against her wet shirt, right on the spot where the scar from the Kusanagi sword was located. She felt her cheeks grow hot. What the hell was wrong with her?

Before she could do or say anything, Gojo leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear, "Your scar's pretty."

Huh? Hitomi instantly turned around and looked at him. He just winked, before running off to probably drag Geto into the water.

Your scar's pretty.

No one had ever said that to her. Those who had seen the scar on her back had always pitied her for having it. Today was the first time someone had ever complimented it. And of all the people, she had not expected Gojo to be the one to say it.

'Gojo Satoru,' She thought. 'You confuse me.'

The day was tiring.

After spending time at the beach, they had their lunch. After lunch, they went out for a boat ride in one of the nearby rivers. After that, they had snacks and visited the aquarium. And after that, it had been too dark to go anywhere, so they got back to their hotel. With Gojo's money, they had managed to get a three bedroom suite on a floor that did not have a lot of people, which made it the perfect place for them to stay.

Kuroi and Riko took one room, while somehow, even after a lot of arguing, Hitomi took the other. She would not have minded sharing with either Gojo or Geto, but it seemed the two boys wanted a room of their own.

After a short dinner, nearly all of them had fallen asleep. Nearly all of them. Hitomi had not managed to do that, just yet, a little too worried about Riko to go to sleep. She got out of the bed, quietly closing the door behind her. She carefully tiptoed to make minimal noise and wandered outside, spotting Gojo sitting alone in the tiny living space.

Hitomi sighed and then sat in the chair across from him. "Shouldn't you be asleep right now?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Gojo replied. His blue eyes appeared to be glowing in the night, looking even sharper. But there were circles under his eyes. Clearly he had been using his technique for far too long now.

"I'm worried about you," Hitomi said. "Keeping your technique on for so long..."

He tapped her hand, his glasses slipping down his nose. "You worry too much."

"I worry just enough," She replied, pressing her lips together. Gojo was the strongest Jujutsu sorcerer she knew. He could handle himself against the worst of enemies. But being the strongest didn't make him invulnerable, did it? (for now, at least).

"Gojo."

"Hmm?"

"You know, even with that idiotic image you put out, you have a kind heart. People can't see it because you are very arrogant, but you very readily helped out Riko. You are a good person."

"That is such a backhanded way of giving a compliment."

"And thank you," Hitomi ignored him and continued on. "Thanks for saying my scar's pretty. I've got some shitty memories associated with it, so what you said made me really happy."

"Just stating the truth here," Gojo answered. "And besides, I'd prefer you in a good mood. You are a lot more fun when you're like that."

Hitomi snorted. Then she remembered the reason they were here. Riko. Their mission.

"Gojo," She looked right into his eyes. Or attempted to. To continuously stare into those bright blue eyes was a task she was never going to be good at.

"What?" He frowned, looking at her expression. (But that was probably just her overthinking things.)

"Tomorrow, when we go back..." Hitomi started to say. Then Gojo, that stupid idiot, that kind-hearted boy, lightly flicked her forehead.

"Don't bring that up now. Whatever happens, happens," Gojo said firmly. "We're the strongest. We'll handle it."

"Okay," Hitomi softly replied. If Gojo said it, then she trusted him. "Okay, I believe you."

"Good," Gojo winked at her. "Oh by the way, I forgot to tell you this before...you looked pretty fucking hot in that bikini."

Hitomi sputtered. Seriously? What the hell was wrong with him? Actually, strike that. Everything was wrong with him. She punched him as hard as she could, but her hand only struck his Infinity. "Don't say shit like that to me ever again."

"I mean it," He answered with another wink.

Oh, hell. Why was he so ⸺ But what he said also...

(Hitomi would, of course, deny that she ever blushed.)

As the chapter name suggests, this is unfortunately the last of their happy moments before everything goes...well you know, how it goes. I wish I could guarantee that things better, but its only going to get worse from here hahaha. 

But anyways, I'm sorry this chapter got a bit delayed; I feel really sick last week so I was just taking my time to recover. I'm back on my regular schedule now so expect to see an update by next week, or maybe even sooner. 

I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter! Comments and votes are always appreciated <33