The underground fight club roared.
Cheers.
Shouting.
The sound of fists hitting flesh echoing through the arena.
But at the center—
There was a pause.
Takeru stood across from Kirara.
Relaxed.
Sunglasses low on his face.
Kirara stood just as calm.
Arms loose.
Eyes sharp.
Yuji leaned over the railing. "Round two?"
Nobara grinned. "He better not get sent backwards again."
Megumi stayed quiet. Watching closely.
Hakari smirked from the side. "…Now this is where it gets good."
Takeru stepped forward—
And then—
A mouth formed on his cheek.
Ryomen Sukuna spoke.
"Love Rendezvous (星間飛行, Rabu Randebū) is the innate technique of Kirara Hoshi."
The arena didn't stop—
But for Takeru—
Everything sharpened.
"It marks cursed energy with five stars from the Southern Cross constellation…"
Kirara's fingers moved subtly—
A faint glow flickering between them.
"…acting as a strict spatial puzzle."
Takeru's Six Eyes activated instantly.
The world shifted—
Lines.
Points.
Connections forming.
"Targets with the same star attract each other…"
A faint pull tugged at Takeru's body.
Subtle—
But there.
"…while approaching different stars requires following a precise order."
Takeru took a step—
—and the world snapped.
He was pushed back.
Again.
Yuji burst out laughing. "AGAIN?!"
Nobara pointed. "HE DID IT AGAIN—"
Megumi sighed. "…He's testing it."
Hakari grinned wider. "…Or getting played."
Sukuna continued—calm, almost bored—
"Imai. Acrux. Mimosa. Ginan. Gacrux."
Each name echoed like a rhythm.
A pattern.
"A fixed sequence. Break it…"
Takeru tried stepping diagonally—
—and got repelled again.
"…and you are rejected."
Takeru stopped.
Completely still.
Kirara watched him.
"…Figuring it out again?"
Takeru didn't answer.
Because now—
He wasn't guessing.
He was calculating.
Sukuna's voice lowered slightly.
"If two share the same star… they attract."
Takeru's eyes flicked—
Scanning.
Reading.
Megumi's voice came from the side. "…He sees it."
Nobara crossed her arms. "…Then why isn't he moving?"
"…Because one wrong step resets everything," Megumi replied.
Yuji blinked. "…That's so annoying."
Hakari laughed. "That's the point."
Sukuna continued—
"A technique based on the Southern Cross constellation…"
Kirara shifted their stance slightly—
Almost inviting him forward.
"…a defensive system that creates distance without distance."
Takeru exhaled slowly.
"…Got it."
He stepped.
Not forward.
To the side.
Then—back.
Then—
Forward.
Each step precise.
Measured.
Intentional.
Yuji leaned in. "…He's doing it again…"
Nobara narrowed her eyes. "…No—this is different."
Megumi nodded slightly. "…He's following the order."
Takeru moved again—
Faster now—
Flowing through invisible points in space.
Kirara's eyes widened just slightly.
"…Already?"
Sukuna chuckled softly.
"…You learn quickly."
Takeru didn't respond.
One final step—
And he appeared directly in front of Kirara.
Close.
Too close.
The arena went quiet for half a second.
Then—
Cheers exploded.
Hakari laughed. "HAHA! He cracked it!"
Yuji pumped his fist. "LET'S GO!"
Nobara smirked. "Okay, that was actually cool."
Megumi allowed a small nod.
"…As expected."
Kirara looked at Takeru—
Then smiled slightly.
"…Not bad."
A pause.
Then Sukuna spoke again.
"…And Kirara is also… a man."
Silence.
Yuji blinked. "…Wait—"
Nobara froze. "…Huh?"
Hakari burst out laughing immediately.
"BRO REALLY JUST ANNOUNCED IT LIKE THAT—"
Kirara's eye twitched slightly.
"…Was that necessary?"
Takeru turned his head slightly.
"…Nope."
Sukuna chuckled.
"…I felt like it."
Yuji was still processing. "…I mean—I didn't even ask—"
Nobara smacked him. "WHY ARE YOU TALKING—"
Megumi sighed deeply. "…This is exhausting."
Takeru adjusted his sunglasses again.
Calm as ever.
"…Your technique's good," he said to Kirara.
Kirara crossed their arms.
"…You're annoying."
Hakari stepped forward, grin sharp.
"…Alright."
Cracking his knuckles—
"…Now that introductions are over…"
His cursed energy flared.
"…let's raise the stakes."
The arena roared again.
And this time—
It wasn't just a test anymore.