"Well I now know what my Cursed Technique is, so easy man…"
Yuji blinked.
"…Huh?"
Nobara slowly turned her head."…Did he just say that like it's a normal thing?"
Megumi didn't move."…That's the problem."
Takeru stood there casually, like the last few days of reality-breaking events were just a warm-up tutorial.
He adjusted his sunglasses.
"…Confirmed system: Ten Shadows. External interference: Sukuna. Output acceptable."
Yuji raised a hand."…Why does that sound like a machine again?"
Takeru ignored him.
Then—
his expression shifted slightly.
Not outwardly dramatic.
Just inwardly focused.
"…Mindspace access."
The air around him tightened.
Not a domain.
Not a technique expansion.
Something quieter.
More internal.
And then—
he stepped inward.
Inside Takeru's Mindspace
It wasn't empty.
It wasn't dark.
It was structured.
Like a training arena built out of memory, instinct, and cursed energy residue.
Shadow fragments hovered like unfinished ideas.
Six Eyes perception drifted across everything at once.
And at the center—
a presence sat like it belonged there.
Ryomen Sukuna
Sukuna didn't even look surprised.
"…You're early."
Takeru crossed his arms.
"…Training request."
Sukuna raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…Request?"
Takeru nodded once.
"…One hour."
Silence.
Then Sukuna chuckled.
"…You humans are funny."
Takeru didn't respond.
Sukuna stood slowly.
"…Very well."
"…One hour."
A pause.
Then his smile sharpened slightly.
"…Try not to break yourself."
Outside Reality
Yuji suddenly grabbed his head.
"…WAIT—HE JUST LEFT?!"
Nobara stepped forward."…Where did he GO?!"
Megumi's eyes narrowed sharply.
"…Mindspace."
Yuji blinked."…He can just do that mid-conversation?!"
Megumi answered flatly."…Apparently."
Inside the Mindspace – Training Begins
Sukuna moved first.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Certain.
A single step forward.
Pressure dropped instantly.
Takeru reacted immediately—Six Eyes mapping the shift before it fully completed.
He dodged.
Barely.
Sukuna smiled.
"…Good."
Another step.
The space folded.
Not broken.
Rewritten.
Takeru adjusted again.
"…This is not physical combat."
Sukuna tilted his head slightly.
"…Correct."
"…It's control."
A beat.
Then—
Sukuna struck.
Not a slash.
Not a punch.
A shift in presence.
Takeru blocked—
but still slid backward.
His expression stayed calm.
"…Output mismatch."
Sukuna laughed softly.
"…You're learning."
Outside Reality
Yuji was pacing now.
"…Is that bad? That sounds bad."
Nobara:"…That sounds VERY bad."
Megumi didn't blink.
"…He's measuring Sukuna's control patterns."
Yuji froze."…Why would he do that?!"
Megumi's answer came instantly.
"…Because he thinks everything is data."
Inside the Mindspace
Sukuna stepped closer.
"…Tell me."
"…Do you understand what you're doing?"
Takeru paused.
Then:
"…Yes."
Sukuna smiled.
"…No."
Another exchange.
Faster this time.
The space around them started to compress.
Takeru's Six Eyes sharpened further.
"…You are simulating dominance pressure."
Sukuna's grin widened slightly.
"…And you're trying to quantify it."
A pause.
Then Sukuna leaned in slightly.
"…That won't work forever."
Takeru didn't flinch.
"…Then I will adjust."
Sukuna laughed.
"…Good answer."
Outside Reality
Yuji whispered."…He sounds like he's studying a final boss."
Nobara:"…He IS studying a final boss."
Megumi's voice dropped slightly.
"…The problem is… Sukuna knows that."
Silence.
Inside the Mindspace – Sukuna's Warning
Sukuna stopped moving.
Just for a moment.
"…One hour, right?"
Takeru nodded.
"…Correct."
Sukuna's expression shifted slightly.
Not playful now.
Something more precise.
"…Be careful."
A pause.
Then—
"…Because I don't stay 'training partners' forever."
Takeru met his gaze.
"…Noted."
Sukuna smiled faintly again.
"…Good."
And the training continued.