Convergence

Part 2 : chapter 3

"Oh? Utahime, is that you?"

Unfortunately, at that very moment, Utahime lost consciousness.

Satoru caught her before she could collapse onto the ground.

Passers-by turned to stare, curious about the scene unfolding before them. Some were probably wondering whether they had just stumbled into the shooting of a new K-drama—or perhaps I should say a J-drama.

"Hey! Are you alright?"

No response.

Utahime seemed to be in another world entirely.

Her eyes were half-open, half-closed, a blissful smile spread across her face. Her cheeks were flushed, and her breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

Satoru understood the problem almost immediately.

What he could not understand, however, was how she had managed to find him in the middle of such a crowd in Shibuya.

Ignoring Utahime's incoherent muttering, he hoisted her onto his back and started walking towards a quieter area.

As he carried her, she grumbled several insults under her breath. Satoru was not entirely sure whether those complaints were meant for him—but it certainly sounded like it.

"Idiot !! Do you have any idea how long I waited for you?!"

"Oi, stop squirming like that, Utahime! You're not exactly light, you know!"

"Why?! Why did I think it was you?!" she whined.

"I have no idea, but stop moving!"

At last, Satoru found a bench near a small park, far from the noise and chaos of Shibuya.

He dropped her onto it rather unceremoniously, like an old sack, then began rummaging through her belongings in search of her mobile phone.

"STOP!!! A THIEF!!" Utahime suddenly yelled.

"I'm just looking for your phone!"

Despite her protests, Satoru eventually managed to find it.

A few passers-by cast him suspicious looks, and he did his best to signal that this was not an assault—or anything of the sort.

Honestly, what kind of ridiculous situation had she dragged him into?

He had absolutely no desire to end up at a police station.

Once he found the phone, he immediately opened her list of favourite contacts.

The moment he saw Professor Masamichi Yaga's name, he called him, praying that the man would answer quickly.

"Hello?"

"Professor Yaga! Could you come and pick Utahime up?"

"...Who is this?"

"It's Gojo Satoru."

Professor Yaga frowned in confusion.

Gojo Satoru—who was supposed to be in the United States—was calling him in the middle of the night to ask him to collect Utahime, who was meant to be in the Tokyo school dormitories.

"I don't appreciate pranks, young Gojo."

"But I'm not joking. We're near Harajuku Station, I think,... in front of a café called... er... Mori no Terrace, I think. Utahime seems to have had quite a bit to drink, so could you come and get her?"

"I DIDN'T DRINK!" Utahime's voice suddenly shouted in the background.

Yaga sighed.

"...Fine. I'll be there as soon as I can. Half an hour, perhaps."