The storage room stayed quiet after that.
Too quiet.
Like even the dust didn't want to move.
Yuji was the first to break it.
"…So basically we're being watched by someone who likes paperwork."
Hakari shrugged.
"…That narrows it down to like half the cursed world."
Maki didn't look away from the shelves.
"…It's not Zen'in."
Yuji frowned.
"…Not Gojo either, right?"
Silence.
Takeru flipped through the file one more time, then closed it.
"…Not enough variables."
Megumi's voice echoed in Yuji's head from earlier.
We're already being observed.
Yuji exhaled.
"…So we just don't know anything."
Hakari grinned slightly.
"…That's usually when things get worse."
Maki finally stepped back from the shelf.
Her expression was tight again, but controlled.
"…We leave."
No one argued.
The walk out of the estate felt longer.
Heavier.
Like the place was trying to remember them as they left.
Even the air felt colder near the gates.
And then—
they were out.
The moment they stepped beyond the boundary—
the pressure eased slightly.
Yuji let out a breath.
"…Okay. Yeah. I don't like that place."
Hakari stretched.
"…Same."
Maki said nothing.
But her shoulders didn't fully relax yet.
Takeru walked a bit ahead of them.
Then slowed.
He looked back.
Everyone still felt it.
The seriousness hanging from the mission.
The unanswered questions.
The poster.
The erased names.
The seal.
So Takeru paused.
Then shrugged.
"…Hm."
A beat.
"…This place looks nice."
Yuji blinked.
"…What?"
Takeru glanced back at the estate behind them.
Then tilted his head slightly.
"…Could do better with flare though."
Hakari paused.
"…Did he just critique the Zen'in estate?"
Maki turned her head slightly.
"…You're joking."
Takeru nodded once.
Then suddenly—
stepped forward a bit.
And struck a ridiculous mock pose.
Half dramatic.
Half exaggerated.
Like a bad stage actor pretending to be a noble heir.
"…Behold."
Yuji froze.
"…What is happening?"
Takeru pointed at the estate like it was a runway model.
"…Too stiff. Too gray. No personality."
He spun slightly.
"…Needs more chaos. Maybe some explosions. A fountain would help."
Hakari laughed immediately.
"…Okay, that one got me."
Yuji cracked a small smile despite himself.
"…Why is he like this…"
Maki didn't smile.
But her eyes shifted slightly—less tense than before.
"…Idiot."
Takeru dropped the pose.
Normal again.
"…Trying to improve morale."
Silence.
Then Yuji sighed.
"…Yeah, I guess it worked a little."
Hakari grinned.
"…Mission success."
Maki turned fully now.
Looking back at the estate one last time.
"…Let's go."
And this time—
they walked away without hesitation.
But none of them missed the feeling behind them.
Not gone.
Just… waiting.
And somewhere far beyond the estate—
something still had their names recorded.