Morning sunlight spilled across the halls of Tokyo Jujutsu High.
For once—
Things were… normal.
Yuji stretched as he walked into the classroom, bandages still visible under his uniform.
"…Man, I missed this," he said, dropping into his seat.
Nobara immediately turned toward him.
"You missed what? Getting assigned more missions?"
"No, like—just sitting here, not getting attacked by cursed monsters every five seconds."
Maki, leaning against the window, snorted.
"…Give it a few hours."
Megumi sat quietly at his desk, flipping through notes.
"…Enjoy it while it lasts."
The door slid open.
Takeru walked in.
Same calm presence.
Same quiet steps.
Sunglasses back on.
But something was… different.
Yuji grinned immediately. "Yo! You finally showed up!"
Takeru gave a small nod. "…Morning."
Nobara squinted at him.
"…You're acting weird."
"…I always act like this."
"…No, you're acting extra like this."
Yuji leaned forward, whispering loudly, "She's got a point."
Takeru sighed softly, taking his seat. "…I'm fine."
But across the room—
Megumi glanced at him.
Watching.
Not convinced.
Maki crossed her arms. "…You pulled something dangerous yesterday."
The room quieted slightly.
Yuji rubbed the back of his head. "…Yeah… about that…"
Takeru didn't respond right away.
"…I had it under control," he said finally.
A beat.
Megumi spoke.
"…That's what worries me."
Silence.
Nobara blinked. "…Wait—why is that the scary part?"
Megumi looked at Takeru.
"…Because controlling that kind of power… isn't normal."
Yuji frowned slightly. "…But it helped, didn't it?"
Maki shrugged. "…Power's power. Doesn't matter how you use it—until it does."
Takeru leaned back slightly in his chair.
"…I'm not losing control."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
But for just a second—
His grip tightened slightly on the edge of the desk.
Inside—
A quiet voice echoed.
"…We'll see."
Takeru's expression didn't change.
But his eyes—behind the glasses—shifted slightly.
The door suddenly slammed open.
"GOOD MORNING, STUDENTS!"
Satoru Gojo burst in, way too energetic for the situation.
"…You're late," Nobara said flatly.
"I'm fashionably late," Gojo corrected, grinning.
Yuji raised a hand. "Sensei, we almost died yesterday."
Gojo tilted his head. "…But you didn't! See? Success!"
"…That's not how that works," Megumi muttered.
Gojo's gaze shifted.
Landing on Takeru.
Just for a moment—
His smile faded.
"…You okay?" he asked.
Takeru met his gaze.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
Gojo held the look a second longer than usual.
Then—
He smiled again.
"Good! Because I've got your next assignment!"
Collective groan.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Nobara snapped.
Yuji flopped onto his desk. "We just got back!"
Maki smirked. "…Told you it wouldn't last."
Megumi sighed.
"…Of course."
Takeru didn't react.
But as the noise filled the room—
Laughter.
Complaints.
Normal life.
He sat quietly.
Listening.
And for just a second—
He almost relaxed.
Almost.
Because deep inside—
Something was still watching.
Still waiting.
And for once—
It wasn't trying to take control.
It was…
Interested.