The training yard had finally quieted down after Nanami's announcement.
Not calm—just… contained.
Like everyone was waiting for the rules to actually start existing.
Nanami stood with his arms folded, already mentally structuring schedules, recovery windows, and what he was pretty sure would be a disaster if left unsupervised for even an hour.
Takeru stood in front of him.
Still upright. Still alert. Still in that "ready to move at any second" posture.
Nanami spoke first.
"…So. You understand."
Takeru nodded.
"…So I have to rest, relax, and not train?"
Nanami didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Yuji, watching from the side, leaned slightly toward Hakari.
"…This feels like a trap."
Hakari nodded.
"…It's always a trap with them."
Takeru blinked once.
Then tilted his head.
"…Not until you tell me your dream vacation."
Silence.
Maki slowly turned her head.
"…What."
Yuji froze.
"…Huh?"
Hakari immediately started laughing.
"…HE NEGOTIATED WITH A HOLIDAY PACKAGE."
Nanami closed his eyes for a moment.
Just one.
Like he was deciding whether this was worth continuing as a career path.
"…That is irrelevant."
Takeru nodded seriously.
"…Efficiency of compliance increases with motivation."
Nanami opened his eyes again.
"…This is not a workplace incentive system."
Gojo, from the side, leaned in.
"…I don't know, Nanamin. Sounds like he's onto something."
Nanami immediately shot him a look.
"…No."
Takeru continued, completely unfazed.
"…If I know your optimal relaxation scenario, I can replicate compliance behavior through analogy."
Yuji slowly raised a hand.
"…I think he just invented emotional bribery."
Hakari grinned.
"…That's kinda genius."
Maki pinched the bridge of her nose.
"…It's not genius."
Nanami exhaled slowly.
"…You are not negotiating my personal life."
Takeru paused.
Then nodded.
"…Understood."
A beat.
Everyone relaxed slightly.
Then Takeru added:
"…Then I will infer it."
Nanami froze.
"…No."
Hakari wheezed laughing.
"…BRO THAT'S EVEN WORSE."
Yuji pointed.
"…YOU CAN'T JUST 'INFER' SOMEONE'S VACATION."
Maki stepped forward.
"…Stop talking."
Gojo was smiling like this was the best entertainment he'd had all week.
"…I like him."
Nanami finally spoke again, tone sharper now.
"…You will rest because I am instructing you to. Not because you understand my vacation preferences."
Takeru blinked.
Then nodded once.
"…Understood."
A pause.
Nanami added, more firmly:
"…And you will not train."
Takeru stood still for a moment.
Thinking.
Evaluating.
Then:
"…Accepted condition."
Yuji exhaled.
"…Finally."
Hakari stretched.
"…That was almost a fight."
Maki looked at Takeru carefully.
"…He actually agreed quickly."
Gojo grinned.
"…That's because Nanami sounds like a final boss when he talks."
Nanami adjusted his tie slightly.
"…I will begin scheduling your training properly tomorrow."
Takeru nodded.
"…Approved."
Nanami paused.
Just slightly.
Then turned away.
"…Don't make me regret this."
As Nanami walked off, Yuji leaned toward Takeru.
"…You really tried to negotiate rest time."
Takeru nodded.
"…Logical optimization."
Hakari laughed again.
"…I can't believe that almost worked."
Maki sighed.
"…We're all going to suffer under this dynamic."
Gojo patted Takeru's shoulder.
"…Good job, kid. You almost broke the new teacher in five minutes."
Takeru blinked.
"…Progress?"
Yuji groaned.
"…That's not progress!"
But despite everything—
for the first time in a while—
the chaos had a structure now.
Even if it was already bending.