The brisk autumn air filled your lungs as you walked along the familiar grassy path, the vibrant leaves crunching beneath your feet, their colors a brilliant mix of colors, providing a comforting crunch with each step. As you rounded the bend, a figure came into view, standing still beneath the ancient Tori gate, their gaze lost in the depths of the velvet night sky.

When your presence seemed to register, Satoru turned slightly, the moonlight casting gentle shadows across his features. "I didn't think anyone would come looking for me," he said softly, a sigh escaping his lips like a whisper carried away by the evening breeze. His voice, though light, held the weight of unspoken burdens, as if he were yearning for a moment of solace. "And to think I thought I'd actually get some peace and quiet here," he continued, his tone laced with irony.

He paused, his fingers running through the silky strands of his white hair, a stark contrast against the inky sky. "Do you know how white birds are meant to symbolize the soul transforming upon passing, right?" His voice was contemplative, and introspective, as he gestured with a slender finger toward Jujutsu High. "I just saw a white heron fly over the school," he added, his tone almost wistful, as his hand fell back to his side, the movement languid and graceful.

"Really on the nose when you think about it," he mused, his hands slipping into the pockets of his dark jacket. His eyes, though hidden behind his blindfold, seemed to hold depths of emotion unexpressed. "Didn't even realize herons nested around here. Weird, huh?" A dry chuckle escaped his lips, an attempt to mask the gravity of his thoughts with humor.

You could feel his gaze shift towards you, an intensity radiating from him that made the cool air feel electric. His lips parted slightly as if he were trying to weave his confounding thoughts into something coherent."… Don’t look at me like that. I’m fine. I’m the strongest, remember?" A facade of confidence and bravado, no mistake about it.