Jujutsu High felt quieter than usual when they returned.
Not peaceful—
just tense in that way it always got after something went wrong but nobody fully understood how badly.
The poster was already being carried inside.
Carefully.
Like it might bite someone if handled wrong.
Yuji stretched his arms.
"…I never want to see that factory again."
Nobara nodded immediately.
"…Same."
Hakari, however, looked oddly energized.
"…That was kind of fun."
Megumi shot him a look.
"…You are a problem."
Kirara didn't say anything.
Just kept watching the hallway behind them.
Like expecting something to follow.
Takeru walked slightly behind the group.
Quiet.
Thinking.
His shoulder still felt… off.
Not pain exactly.
More like a wrongness that didn't settle.
He rolled it slightly.
"…Hm."
Yuji glanced over.
"…You good?"
Takeru nodded.
"…Manageable."
They reached the main building.
And then—
It happened.
A sound like something snapping into place where it shouldn't.
POP.
Takeru stopped mid-step.
"…Ah."
Everyone turned instantly.
Nobara blinked.
"…What was that?"
Takeru slowly looked down at his shoulder.
Then paused.
"…Missing component detected."
Yuji frowned.
"…Missing—what does that mean—"
Takeru raised his arm slightly.
Or tried to.
The movement was uneven.
Incomplete.
Like the connection simply wasn't there anymore.
Megumi's eyes narrowed.
"…Don't move."
Takeru blinked.
"…I am moving."
Nobara stepped closer.
"…Why does it look like your arm is just… hanging wrong?"
Hakari leaned in.
"…Oh no."
Kirara's expression tightened.
"…That's not normal injury."
Yuji stepped forward carefully.
"…Takeru… where's your shoulder?"
Silence.
Takeru looked at them.
Very calm.
Almost curious.
"…It appears to have been removed."
Nobara's soul left her body for a second.
"…REMOVED?!"
Megumi immediately turned.
"…Mahito."
Yuji clenched his fists.
"…He did that AFTER the fight?"
Takeru nodded.
"…Delayed effect."
Hakari scratched his head.
"…That's actually disgusting."
Kirara's voice was low.
"…He left a trigger."
Takeru rotated slightly—
carefully compensating for the missing structure—
like he was testing how much his body could still function without it.
"…Mobility reduced."
Nobara pointed.
"…REDUCED?! YOU LOST A WHOLE SHOULDER!"
Takeru paused.
Then:
"…Still operational."
Yuji looked like he might panic.
"…This is NOT what operational means!"
Megumi exhaled slowly.
"…We need Shoko."
Hakari nodded immediately.
"…Yeah. Like… immediately."
Takeru tilted his head slightly.
"…Requesting clarification."
Nobara grabbed him by the other arm.
"…YOU ARE GOING TO MEDICAL—NOW."
Takeru blinked.
"…But class schedule—"
"NO."
All of them said it at once.
Silence.
Even Takeru paused.
"…Understood."
Yuji sighed.
"…We are never letting you out of sight again."
Hakari laughed nervously.
"…Yeah, I'm starting to think that's a good rule."
Kirara looked toward the infirmary direction.
"…Let's move."
Megumi nodded.
"…Before anything else disappears."
And so—
Takeru walked with them.
One shoulder lighter than the other.
Trying very hard to treat it like a minor inconvenience.
While everyone else was very aware—
this was only the beginning of what Mahito had left behind.