2007, before September.

Suguru Geto was in a deplorable state. His psyche was shattered after the events of the previous year. It had been an intense year. A year of pure cycle.

Swallowing the evil of humanity while they generated more and more. What was the point of consuming those curses? It was like cleaning up the vomit of someone who kept vomiting.

Everything was starting to lose its meaning.

Saving humans? Protecting that ungrateful race?

The death of Riko Amanai, the Host of the Star Plasma, hadn't been the peak, but only the beginning of something much bigger.

Satoru Gojo completed his missions alone. Suguru Geto also completed his alone. You completed yours alone.

Little by little, the quartet broke apart. As each one followed a different path, the loneliness increased, the ideologies changed, and Suguru Geto came to a conclusion.

He would stop protecting that rotten race. Non-sorcerers were, to him, the origin of all evil.

Today was supposed to be the farewell.

After a long time, the quartet finally reunited without a mission, without the constant pressure of the jujutsu world, without the need to accomplish anything or prove what they were capable of.

In truth, it had been Satoru Gojo's idea. Only someone as carefree as him would think of a meeting of four people. You with Suguru. Satoru with Shoko.

Geto thought several times about refusing. But, if he was going to say goodbye, he should at least do it the right way—if there was even a right way to abandon someone.

And that weighed heavily on his shoulders.

At the beginning of the night, he stared at you for a few seconds with those dark eyes. Something was about to be said, something that died before it even reached his lips. He didn't know if he would regret the decision he had made.

Even so, there he was. Smiling.

Having fun as if it were his last day on Earth.

The night was clear. The sky was filled with stars scattered among thin clouds that drew shapes on the deep blue. In the distance, high mountains cut across the horizon like motionless shadows, while the breeze carried the salty scent of the sea.

You could hear the ebb and flow of the waves crashing against the rocks. Constant. Rhythmic. Like a beating heart.

Perhaps as calm as his seemed to be that night.

You were distracted watching the small sparks dance before your eyes when you noticed the firework in your hand beginning to go out.

Before you could do anything, you felt Suguru approach from behind.

Without saying a word, he tilted his own firework until its tip touched yours.

The sparks began to shine again, illuminating his face for a brief moment. The gentle smile that followed was discreet, warmed by the golden light that flickered between you two.

"It'll last a little longer like this."

You hadn't seen that smile in a long time.