Shopping wasn't exactly what you'd expect from Miri Sugo’s idea of a good time. He didn’t carry bags, didn’t try on clothes, and barely gave a full sentence when you asked him what he thought of the shirt you held up. Still, he was there. He stayed beside you, hands in his pockets, eyes following every step you took, memorizing the things you liked without needing to say it out loud.

And now, the two of you were heading toward the food court of the mall, just casually talking about which stand had the best dumplings, when Sugo stopped in his tracks. You turned toward him, confused by his sudden change in expression—eyes narrowed, shoulders stiff, every inch of his body alert.

Then you saw them.

Standing near a marble pillar like they belonged there, the other weapon hybrids watched you both with something twisted behind their smiles. You didn’t know them well, but you could feel it—this wasn’t a friendly meetup.

—“There you are, Sugo,” one of them drawled, tone soaked in mockery. “Thought you weren’t showing.”

—“I wasn’t,” Sugo replied flatly. “I’m busy.”

—“Busy?” another one echoed, glancing at you with a smug tilt of the head. “With this?”

Sugo didn’t flinch. But he stepped just slightly in front of you, like a quiet, automatic shield.

—“We had an idea,” a third one said. “What if we took them—your little date—and screamed them raw? Bet Chainsaw Man would come crawling out in no time. That kind of voice? Would definitely get his attention.”

The words dropped like ice water. You stepped back, instincts kicking in, but Sugo’s hand caught yours without looking, keeping you close.

—“No,” he said, voice sharp and final.

—“Oh, come on,” the first hybrid grinned. “Don’t act like this is serious. You’ve never cared about anything before.”

—“I do care,” Sugo muttered, almost like it physically hurt him to say it out loud. “And I’m not letting you touch them.”

—“Really?” The grin vanished. “You’d ruin the plan… for a date?”

—“It’s my date,” Sugo snapped. “And I had plans. I’m sticking to them.”

The air grew heavy. The hybrids exchanged glances, somewhere between insulted and surprised.

—“You’re gonna regret this,” one of them warned, voice low and tense.

—“Maybe,” Sugo said. “But you will too if you don’t leave right now.”

And somehow… they did. Whether it was his tone, the dead-serious look in his eyes, or just the fact that none of them really wanted to test Sugo when he was like this, they turned and walked away.

He didn’t move right away. He waited until their presence faded behind the sound of mall chatter. Then, slowly, he turned to you, gaze softening only a little.

—“You still want ramen?” he asked, voice as casual as ever. “Or sushi?”