The courtyard had become completely silent again.
Not because of cursed energy.
Not because of fear.
Because everyone was watching Takeru slowly try to understand the situation.
The girl stood in front of him stubbornly.
Still wearing his shirt.
Still blushing.
Still in a fighting stance.
And Takeru—
finally—
started putting the pieces together.
"…Wait."
He pointed slowly.
"Are you wearing a br—"
"…No."
She answered instantly.
Too instantly.
Silence.
Takeru froze.
Yuji froze.
Hakari stopped breathing from laughter buildup alone.
Young Gojo physically fell onto the ground.
"…OH MY GOD."
Takeru slowly turned toward everyone else.
Expression completely serious.
"…I think I need to lose."
Hakari exploded.
"HE FIGURED IT OUT!"
Sukuna laughed loudly from nearby.
"…Hopeless."
Takeru pointed immediately.
"And don't call me hopeless, Sukuna."
Then he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
Actually embarrassed for once.
"…I don't think I'm able to—with morality—win and have her take the shirt off."
A pause.
"…Plus I ain't ever wearing that again."
The girl's face turned bright red instantly.
"…WHY WOULD YOU SAY IT LIKE THAT!?"
"…Because it's true!?"
Takaba collapsed onto the ground wheezing.
"THIS IS THE GREATEST FIGHT IN HISTORY!"
Even Higuruma looked stunned.
"…This may genuinely be the first ethically complicated battle in sorcerer history."
Nanami sighed deeply.
"…We used to fight curses."
Megumi covered his face completely.
"…I want to transfer schools."
The girl tightened her stance more.
Clearly trying to regain control of the situation.
"…Fight me seriously!"
Takeru shook his head immediately.
"No."
"…WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO!?"
"…I'm not uppercutting someone who's one wardrobe malfunction away from tragedy."
At this point even Uro started laughing.
"…He actually has standards…"
Yorozu crossed her arms.
"…Annoyingly respectable."
Hana looked away slightly.
Trying not to smile.
The girl pointed accusingly at Takeru.
"…You're making this weird!"
Takeru pointed back.
"YOU STOLE MY SHIRT!"
"…I HAD TO!"
"…YOU DIDN'T!"
"…I DID IN MY HEAD!"
Young Gojo wiped tears from his eyes.
"…This is better than television."
Older Gojo nodded proudly.
"…That's my brother."
Takeru sighed dramatically.
Then looked at the girl seriously.
"…Alright."
A pause.
"If I buy you clothes later will you calm down?"
The girl froze.
Completely.
"…Huh?"
"…You clearly needed a shirt."
Silence.
Then—
very quietly—
"…Okay…"
Hakari screamed again.
"HE RECRUITED ANOTHER ONE!"
And somehow—
without even fighting—
Takeru had once again turned an enemy encounter into absolute chaos.