The room had finally calmed down.
Somewhat.
Yuji and Choso were still hovering nearby like Takeru might disappear if they looked away.
Gojo refused to move his chair from beside the bed.
Young Gojo was laying upside down across another chair for some reason.
Takeru slowly sat up.
Carefully.
Holding the side of his head.
"…Okay."
A pause.
"…Something other than asking if I can leave."
Shoko immediately answered without looking up from her clipboard.
"No."
"…I wasn't asking yet."
"You were about to."
"…Fair."
Takeru rubbed his cheek slowly.
Still sore.
Then blinked.
"…Wait."
Everyone looked over.
"…Did two Heian Era sorcerers just slap me?"
Silence.
Then Yuji burst out laughing first.
"YES!"
Young Gojo started wheezing immediately.
"…THAT'S SO INSANE OUT OF CONTEXT!"
Hakari nearly fell backward laughing.
"BRO WOKE UP AND GOT HIT BY TWO LEGENDS!"
Even Megumi looked like he was trying not to smile.
Barely.
Takeru stared at the ceiling.
Processing.
"…One of them is literally obsessed with Sukuna."
From nearby, Sukuna scoffed.
"…As she should be."
"…You are NOT helping."
Takaba pointed dramatically.
"You survived death only to be attacked by women from a thousand years ago!"
"…This timeline sucks."
Older Geto shook his head with a faint smile.
"…You deserved it."
"…FOR WHAT!?"
Young Geto answered immediately.
"Getting shot."
"…THAT WASN'T MY FAULT!"
Shoko finally looked up.
"You scared them."
Takeru paused.
Expression softening just a little.
"…Oh."
A brief silence settled over the room again.
Not awkward.
Just quieter.
Then young Gojo ruined it instantly.
"…Still kinda funny though."
"…I'm killing you."
"You literally failed at dying already."
The room exploded again.
Yuji laughed so hard he doubled over.
Even Nanami covered his face briefly.
Takeru groaned dramatically and laid back down.
"…I want food."
Choso stood instantly.
"I shall retrieve nourishment for my brother."
"…You sound like a medieval knight."
"I do not know what that means."
Gojo leaned against the bedside with a grin now finally returning.
"…Welcome back, little brother."
Takeru smirked weakly.
"…Good to be back."
And despite the bandages—
despite the exhaustion—
despite literally dying—
the energy in the room had finally returned to what it always became around Takeru.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Alive.