The training grounds had quieted after the spar.
Reina was still catching her breath nearby, adjusting her stance and replaying everything in her head.
Takeru, meanwhile, was just standing there like something had clicked in his brain.
"…Hey uh, narrator?"
Everyone turned slightly.
That was never a good sign.
Takeru raised a hand casually.
"…Could you like… spawn the rest of Sukuna's fingers so I have 20?"
A pause.
Even Sukuna slowly looked over.
Then—
the cursed energy in the air shifted.
One by one, sealed objects appeared in front of Takeru.
Fingers.
All of them.
Completing the set.
Yuji immediately stiffened.
"…WAIT—"
Takeru stared at them.
Then slowly started counting on his fingers.
"…Wait."
A grin formed.
"I can have finger 4…0…"
He paused for dramatic effect.
"…FORTY SUKUNA POWERS!"
Hakari blinked.
"…That sounds illegal on multiple levels."
Sukuna, for once, didn't immediately insult him.
He just stared.
Slowly.
Then smiled.
"…So that's what you're doing."
Takeru turned his head slightly.
"…Hm?"
Sukuna stood fully in his manifested form.
Arms crossed.
Expression amused in a way nobody had really seen before.
"…Good work."
A pause.
"…Nephew."
The entire group froze.
Yuji immediately pointed.
"WAIT YOU NEVER CALLED ME THAT!"
"…You didn't earn it," Sukuna replied instantly.
Takeru shrugged.
"…Fair."
Then—
he walked forward.
Picked up the fingers.
All of them.
Calmly.
Like snacks.
Reina blinked rapidly.
"…You're just… eating them?"
"…Yeah."
Hakari leaned forward.
"…HE'S NOT EVEN HESITATING ANYMORE!"
Takeru stacked the fingers in his hand.
Looked at them once.
Then devoured them all.
One after another.
No ceremony.
No hesitation.
"…Yummerz."
Silence.
Yuji slowly sat down.
"…I don't think I'm supposed to watch my life like this."
Higuruma adjusted his glasses.
"…That was deeply concerning."
Megumi just stared.
"…Forty Sukuna powers is NOT a thing."
Sukuna crossed his arms again, now looking genuinely entertained.
"…Let's see what you become."
Takeru swallowed.
Then exhaled slowly.
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Then—
the air around him shifted.
Heavier.
Sharper.
Different.
Even Sukuna's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Oh."
Takeru looked down at his hands.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Okay."
A pause.
"This is gonna be fun."