The underground arena was still loud—
But now…
Everyone was watching them.
Hakari leaned against the ring, arms crossed, clearly entertained.
"Alright," he said, grinning. "Let's warm up. Nothing too crazy."
Yuji cracked his knuckles. "Finally!"
Megumi sighed. "…This is a bad idea."
Nobara smirked. "Relax. What's the worst that could—"
"Actually," Kirara cut in, stepping forward casually.
"…I'll go first."
A pause.
Yuji blinked. "Oh?"
Hakari shrugged. "Yeah, go ahead. This'll be fun."
Kirara's eyes landed on Takeru.
"…You."
Takeru pointed at himself slightly. "…Me?"
"…Yeah."
Nobara immediately grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be good."
Megumi stepped back slightly. "…Takeru, be careful. Kirara's technique isn't straightforward."
Takeru adjusted his sunglasses.
"…Got it."
They stepped into the open space.
The noise dimmed slightly—
Anticipation building.
Kirara tilted their head.
"…Try to reach me."
"…That's it?"
"…That's it."
Takeru shrugged. "…Alright."
He stepped forward.
And stopped.
"…Huh."
He tried again.
Another step—
But suddenly—
He wasn't closer.
"…What?"
From the side, Yuji blinked. "…Did he just—reset?"
Megumi nodded slowly. "…That's Kirara's technique."
Takeru frowned slightly.
"…Distance manipulation?"
Kirara smiled faintly. "…Close."
Takeru stepped again—this time faster—
—and instantly ended up farther away.
"…Okay."
A beat.
"…That's annoying."
Yuji burst out laughing. "BRO YOU WENT BACKWARDS—"
Nobara clutched her stomach. "THIS IS AMAZING—"
Hakari grinned. "Told you."
Takeru exhaled slowly.
His Six Eyes flickered on.
"…Alright. Let's see."
The world shifted—
Energy lines.
Connections.
Patterns.
He stepped again—
Carefully—
This time—
He moved sideways.
Closer.
Kirara's eyes lit up slightly.
"…Oh?"
Megumi narrowed his eyes. "…He's reading it."
Takeru stepped again—
Forward—
Closer.
Yuji leaned in. "WAIT HE'S ACTUALLY DOING IT—"
Nobara grinned. "No way—"
Takeru smirked slightly.
"…Got it."
One more step—
And suddenly—
He was back where he started.
Silence.
Yuji fell over laughing. "NO WAY—"
Nobara pointed at him. "YOU WERE SO CONFIDENT—"
Hakari laughed out loud. "He almost had it too!"
Megumi sighed, shaking his head. "…It's not that simple."
Takeru stood there.
Still.
Processing.
"…Okay," he said calmly.
Then turned.
And walked in the complete opposite direction.
Everyone blinked.
"…What is he doing?" Yuji asked.
"…No idea," Nobara said.
Takeru kept walking.
Five steps.
Ten steps.
Then suddenly—
He appeared directly in front of Kirara.
Silence.
"…Oh," Megumi said quietly.
Kirara blinked.
"…You're kidding."
Takeru adjusted his sunglasses with a small grin.
"…It's not distance."
A beat.
"…It's attraction."
Kirara stared at him.
Then smiled slightly.
"…You figured it out."
Yuji sat up. "WAIT WHAT—"
Megumi explained quietly. "…It's like a constellation. You can only move between points based on a specific order… like stars."
Nobara blinked. "…That's actually kinda cool."
Hakari smirked. "…And confusing as hell."
Takeru stepped back, relaxed again.
"…Interesting technique."
Kirara crossed their arms. "…You're interesting too."
A pause.
Then Yuji leaned over to Nobara.
"…He just got complimented."
"…I know," Nobara whispered back. "…this is history."
Takeru ignored them.
Mostly.
But just slightly—
He smirked.
Hakari clapped his hands once.
"Alright! That was fun."
His grin widened.
"…Now let's make it less fun."
Yuji immediately stood up. "OH LET'S GO—"
Megumi sighed. "…Here we go again."
Takeru glanced once more at Kirara.
"…Next time," he said calmly.
"…I'll solve it faster."
Kirara smiled faintly.
"…I'll make it harder."
And just like that—
The chaos continued.