The fight club was still half-destroyed.
Walls cracked. Floor scorched. Air still heavy with leftover cursed energy like static after a storm.
And somehow—
it was quiet enough for Satoru Gojo to make it worse.
The moment he appeared, it wasn't subtle.
One second: empty space.
Next second: he was standing upside down on a broken beam, casually looking down at everyone like gravity was optional.
"…So," Gojo said brightly. "I heard someone copied a domain."
Silence.
Yuji slowly raised a hand. "…I think that was Takeru."
Nobara immediately pointed at him. "DON'T SAY IT LIKE YOU'RE REPORTING A CRIME!"
Megumi sighed. "It basically is."
Gojo's head tilted.
"…You what?"
Takeru stood there, sunglasses still on.
"…It worked."
A beat.
Gojo disappeared.
Then reappeared directly in front of Takeru's face.
Too close.
Too fast.
Too smiley.
"…Excuse me?"
Yuji whispered. "…He's gonna die."
Nobara whispered back. "…Yeah."
Megumi didn't whisper. "…Probably."
Takeru didn't move.
"…Hakari's domain structure is reproducible."
Gojo blinked.
Then slowly turned his head.
"…That's not the point."
A loud crash echoed behind them.
Because Hakari had just been launched into a pile of rubble by Kirara kicking him for fun.
"…I told you," Kirara muttered, brushing their hands off.
"…Stop standing there like you're invincible."
Hakari popped his neck from inside the rubble.
"…I AM invincible."
Kirara stared at him.
"…You literally weren't five minutes ago."
Hakari paused.
"…That was a technicality."
Gojo clapped once, excited.
"Okay! New problem!" he said cheerfully. "One of my students copied a domain, and the other one refuses to admit he can die properly!"
Megumi muttered. "…That's not the problem."
Gojo spun back to Takeru.
"So you just… watched Hakari and thought 'yeah I'll take that'?"
Takeru shrugged slightly.
"…It was usable."
Gojo stared.
"…That's worse."
Yuji raised his hand again. "To be fair, it kinda worked—"
Gojo snapped his head toward him.
"NO SUPPORTING HIM."
Nobara immediately pointed at Yuji. "DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM!"
Yuji flinched. "I WAS JUST SAYING—"
Megumi cut in. "Stop talking."
Kirara finally walked over, glancing between Gojo and Takeru.
"…So you're saying he learned it mid-fight."
Gojo nodded dramatically. "YES."
Kirara paused.
"…That's annoying."
Hakari, now fully out of the rubble, raised a hand.
"…Hey, I'm still here."
Kirara didn't even look at him.
"…You're always here. That's the problem."
Gojo leaned in toward Takeru again.
"So what now? You gonna start stealing all cursed techniques? Maybe my Infinity next?"
Takeru thought for a second.
"…No."
Gojo smiled.
"Good answer."
Takeru added:
"…Yours is inefficient."
Silence.
Yuji choked. "OH NO—"
Nobara wheezed. "HE SAID IT OUT LOUD—"
Megumi covered his face. "…Why would he say that."
Gojo stood completely still.
Then slowly lowered his glasses.
"…You wanna run that by me again?"
Kirara sighed. "…This is why I don't like teaching."
Hakari laughed from the side. "He's got a point though!"
Gojo pointed at Hakari immediately.
"DON'T AGREE WITH HIM EITHER."
Hakari shrugged. "Too late."
Gojo suddenly grinned again.
"…Okay."
"…New rule."
Everyone froze.
"You all," Gojo said brightly, "are banned from getting any stronger without supervision."
Megumi muttered instantly. "…That's not a real rule."
Gojo pointed at him.
"It is now."
Kirara sighed again.
"…I'm leaving."
Hakari followed immediately. "Same."
Yuji looked at Takeru.
"…Did we just get grounded by the strongest sorcerer alive?"
Takeru adjusted his sunglasses.
"…Yes."
Nobara groaned. "I hate this school."
Gojo clapped his hands again, instantly switching moods.
"Alright! Great bonding exercise! Next time we do something less illegal!"
Megumi deadpanned.
"…That's not reassuring."
And somewhere behind them—
Kirara quietly muttered:
"…I still can't believe he copied it."
Hakari grinned.
"…I can."