The hallway outside the classroom was starting to feel like a revolving door.
Except the door was Takeru.
And the problem was everyone inside could predict what was coming next.
Yuji leaned toward Megumi.
"…He's doing it again, isn't he?"
Megumi didn't even look up.
"…Yes."
Inside the room—
SLAM.
The door flew open.
Takeru burst in.
Again.
Nobara groaned instantly.
"…I swear if this is another 'I escaped Shoko' moment—"
Takeru didn't answer.
He just ran straight in, slid across the floor—
and stopped right in the middle of the room.
Then quickly adjusted the lower half of his bandages with cursed energy, tightening them just enough to hold.
Yuji blinked.
"…Okay, that's new."
Takeru grinned.
Not the serious, calculating kind he usually had.
More like—
a teenager who just got away with something stupid.
"…Still operational."
Hakari immediately pointed.
"…HE'S SMILING."
Nobara narrowed her eyes.
"…Why is that worse?"
Takeru stretched his arms slightly—
carefully avoiding anything that might undo the lower seals—
then flexed once.
Just for show.
"…Look."
Panda paused.
"…Why is he flexing while medically unstable?"
Takeru laughed.
A little breathy.
A little proud.
Like he actually found the whole situation kind of funny.
"…Lower half stable."
He tapped the bandages.
"…Upper half negotiable."
Yuji put his head in his hands.
"…Why are you like this…"
Megumi sighed.
"…He's coping."
Nobara pointed at him immediately.
"…THAT IS NOT COPING, THAT IS SHOWING OFF!"
Takeru shrugged.
Still smiling.
"…I made it here without Shoko catching me this time."
Silence.
Hakari leaned back in his chair.
"…That's actually kind of impressive."
Nobara snapped.
"…DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM!"
Yuta looked genuinely concerned but also relieved.
"…At least you're in one piece… sort of…"
Takeru walked toward his seat casually.
Lower body carefully stabilized.
Upper bandages still slightly loose—but holding enough.
He sat down.
Then leaned back.
Relaxed.
Like nothing was wrong at all.
"…Class attendance achieved... Again."
Yuji stared at him.
"…You're way too happy about this."
Takeru glanced over.
Still smiling a little.
Not manic.
Just… genuinely amused with himself.
"…It's faster than waiting."
Megumi muttered.
"…That's the problem."
Nobara sighed heavily.
"…I miss when you were asleep in the infirmary."
Takeru chuckled again.
Then leaned forward slightly.
"…So."
A pause.
"…What did I miss?"
Hakari raised a hand immediately.
"…Oh I got a LOT to tell you—"
Nobara cut him off instantly.
"…NO. You are NOT getting him more ideas."
Yuji sighed.
"…This is going to be a long day…"
And for once—
Takeru just sat there.
Smiling a little.
Not fighting.
Not breaking.
Just… back in class.
Like he belonged there.
Even if nobody was sure that was a good thing.