Morning light crept slowly through the medical room windows.
Nobody had really slept.
Not properly.
Some people were slumped against walls.
Others sat in chairs half-awake.
Gojo was still beside the bed.
Of course he was.
Then—
Takeru's finger twitched.
Shoko noticed first.
"…Wait."
Everyone immediately snapped awake.
Takeru's brow furrowed slightly.
A small groan escaped him.
Then—
slowly—
one eye opened.
Blurry.
Confused.
"…Ugh…"
Yuji practically launched himself forward.
"TAKERU!"
Takeru squinted weakly at the ceiling.
"…Why does my head feel like a truck hit me…"
Before anyone could answer—
two figures suddenly appeared beside the bed.
Hana.
And Yorozu.
Both stared at him for one second.
Then—
SMACK.
SMACK.
They slapped him simultaneously.
Hard.
"…OW!?"
Takeru jolted.
Immediately clutching his face.
"What the hell!?"
Hana's eyes were watery.
"…Idiot!"
Yorozu crossed her arms aggressively, though her voice cracked slightly.
"…Don't scare people like that."
Then both of them turned sharply—
and walked out of the room immediately afterward.
Silence.
Takeru blinked.
Still holding his face.
"…That hurt!"
Young Gojo burst out laughing instantly.
"…FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS!"
Even young Geto covered his mouth trying not to laugh.
Takeru looked around groggily.
"…Why is everyone looking at me like that…"
Then suddenly—
WHUMP.
Older Gojo hugged him so hard the bed creaked.
"…Idiot."
Takeru wheezed immediately.
"…Ack—lungs—need those—"
Gojo ignored him entirely.
Still holding him tightly.
"…Don't do that again."
His voice was quieter now.
Shakier.
Takeru blinked slowly.
Then finally realized.
"…Oh."
A pause.
"…I died, huh?"
Yuji immediately pointed angrily.
"YEAH!?"
Choso finally reached the bed too and nearly crushed both of them in a hug.
"BROTHER!"
Now Takeru was being compressed from two directions.
"…I'M GONNA DIE AGAIN—"
Panda joined.
Hakari joined because it looked funny.
Takaba yelled:
"…GROUP REVIVAL HUG!"
Megumi stayed back.
But barely.
Relief visible on his face anyway.
Shoko finally sighed.
"…Out."
Nobody moved.
"…OUT."
The entire room scrambled instantly.
As everyone argued and shouted again—
Takeru leaned back against the pillow.
Still sore.
Still exhausted.
Still alive.
And for the first time since the gunshot—
the room finally felt warm again.