The medical room had settled into a weird calm.
People talking quietly.
Gojo scrolling through his phone.
Young Gojo upside down again.
Yuji eating snacks that definitely weren't his.
Then—
Takeru stood up.
Older Shoko looked over instantly.
Ready.
Expecting him to sprint directly through the door.
But—
he didn't.
He just stood there.
Stretching carefully.
Shoko blinked once.
Genuinely surprised.
"…You didn't run."
"…I was shot in the head, not possessed."
Young Gojo pointed dramatically.
"Character development!"
Takeru ignored him.
Shoko regained her composure quickly.
"…Sit down."
"I will in a sec."
"…Fine."
Everyone watched carefully in case he collapsed.
Instead—
Takeru rolled his shoulders once.
Then suddenly flexed both arms dramatically.
"…I gotta say."
A grin spread across his face.
"Seeing how those two have been looking at me…"
Yuji immediately knew where this was going.
"…Oh no."
Takeru pointed at himself proudly.
"I mean—look at me!"
He struck another ridiculous pose.
"I'm a mixture of Gojo, Sukuna, Choso—"
He paused.
"We still don't know for sure about Megumi."
Megumi stared blankly.
"…What does that even mean."
Takeru ignored him completely.
"I'm the sexiest!"
Silence.
Then from the kitchen—
Choso yelled back proudly:
"I think that is a compliment so, THANK YOU BROTHERU!"
The room exploded laughing.
Yuji fell sideways onto Panda.
Hakari nearly choked on a drink.
Even Higuruma smiled faintly.
Megumi rubbed his face tiredly.
"…Why am I included in that sentence."
Young Gojo immediately pointed at Megumi.
"Potential!"
"…Please stop talking."
Sukuna scoffed from nearby.
"…The brat inherited my perfection poorly."
Takeru pointed immediately.
"YOU are literally four arms and beef jerky fingers."
"…And?"
Takaba slammed his hands on the table dramatically.
"THE SEXIEST BATTLE COMMENCES!"
Older Geto sighed deeply.
"…He survives death and immediately becomes worse."
Shoko crossed her arms.
Watching Takeru carefully.
"…You done?"
Takeru flexed one more time.
"…Almost."
"…Sit down before your stitches explode."
"…Worth it."
"…TAKERU."
"…Sitting."
He immediately sat back on the bed.
Still grinning.
And despite literally dying less than a day ago—
the entire room somehow felt lighter again.
Because Takeru being loud, ridiculous, and impossible to deal with—
meant everything was okay.
At least for now.