The aftermath of the battle settled slowly.
The mysterious woman stood among them now, arms crossed as Shoko finished patching up the last injuries.
Everyone was still trying to process what they had witnessed.
Takeru pointed at her casually.
"…So. Name?"
She looked at him for a moment before answering.
"…Aika."
Takaba nodded seriously.
"…Cool name."
Kashimo smirked.
"…Fits."
Takeru stretched once, then suddenly snapped his fingers.
"…Oh right."
He turned toward young Geto.
"…Didn't you have to meet up with Riko?"
Young Geto blinked.
"…Hm?"
"The Star Plasma Vessel."
Takeru shrugged.
"…We can come with you."
Young Gojo immediately grinned.
"…Field trip."
Older Gojo's smile faded slightly.
He knew this day.
Exactly this day.
Older Geto glanced toward him silently.
The two shared a look.
Heavy.
But neither stopped it.
"…Alright," young Geto finally said.
And so—
they went.
The Meeting
Riko Amanai stared wide-eyed at the enormous group now surrounding her.
"…Why are there so many people!?"
Haibara waved enthusiastically.
Yuji apologized immediately.
Takaba introduced himself twice.
Panda somehow got pet.
But young Geto stepped forward calmly.
And the room quieted.
He spoke gently.
Carefully.
Not like a sorcerer speaking to a mission target.
Like a person.
"You don't have to merge with Tengen."
Riko froze.
Young Gojo looked over at him.
Surprised.
Geto continued.
"You can live."
A pause.
"You can go to school."
"…Make friends."
"…Grow older."
Riko's eyes widened slowly.
"…I can?"
"…Yes."
Silence.
Then—
for the first time in a long time—
Riko smiled freely.
"…Then I want to live."
Tears formed in her eyes.
Maid tears too.
Relief.
Hope.
Everyone around them softened slightly.
Even older Geto looked emotional watching his younger self say the words he once needed to believe.
Then—
Takeru's expression changed.
Instantly.
His Six Eyes sharpened violently.
Something.
A shift.
A presence.
His head snapped toward the doorway.
And he screamed.
"RIKO WATCH OUT!"
He moved instantly.
No hesitation.
He shoved Riko aside—
BANG.
Silence.
A single gunshot echoed through the hall.
Takeru's body jerked.
A hole opened through his head.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
And he collapsed.
No Infinity.
No reinforcement.
No cursed technique.
Nothing.
Just—
down.
Still.
"…Takeru?"
Yuji's voice cracked instantly.
Then chaos exploded.
"BROTHER!"
Choso lunged first.
Yuji dropped beside Takeru immediately.
Hands shaking.
"No no no no no—"
Panda froze.
Megumi's eyes widened.
Hana covered her mouth.
Yuta rushed forward desperately.
Shoko dropped to her knees trying to find anything—
pulse—
breathing—
something—
But the damage was catastrophic.
And standing at the entrance—
gun lowered—
was a man.
Lean.
Calm.
Cold.
Toji Fushiguro.
Young Megumi stared.
Uncomprehending.
The room shifted.
The four Gojos and Getos stepped forward.
Together.
Older Gojo's face had gone blank.
Young Gojo smiled.
But there was nothing playful left in it.
"…You."
Young Geto's cursed spirits erupted outward.
Older Geto's expression darkened completely.
Toji looked around once.
Then smirked slightly.
"…Four of you, huh?"
No one answered.
The fight began instantly.
The building shook.
Blue tore through hallways.
Curses screamed.
Weapons clashed.
Toji moved like a monster.
But this time—
he faced impossible odds.
Young Gojo evolved mid-fight.
The near-death pressure.
The rage.
The understanding.
Red.
Blue.
Collision.
For the first time—
Hollow Purple.
The blast tore through the battlefield.
Toji barely survived it.
But the combined pressure of four monsters—
past and future—
was too much.
The brutal fight ended in silence.
Toji finally fell.
And nobody celebrated.
Because behind them—
Takeru still lay motionless.
Yuji was crying openly.
Choso held Takeru's hand with both of his.
Panda sat silently nearby.
Even Kashimo had stopped speaking.
Older Gojo walked over slowly.
Very slowly.
Then dropped to his knees beside Takeru.
His hands shook.
He placed one against Takeru's chest.
Nothing.
And for the first time since arriving in this rewritten world—
Satoru Gojo cried.
Silently.
Over his little brother.