The itinerary was spread out across the table like Takeru had just declared war on common sense and won.
Yuji stared at it.
"…You really planned all this."
Hakari nodded slowly.
"…I hate how competent this is."
Maki was already reading the room list with visible suspicion.
"…This better not be stupid."
Gojo, somehow already in a good mood about the entire thing, leaned over Takeru's shoulder.
"…Let's see what you came up with."
Takeru pointed at the page.
Calm.
Proud.
"…Who rooms with who, Kirara and Hakari defaulted."
Silence.
Hakari blinked.
"…Defaulted?"
Kirara tilted their head slightly.
"…That sounds like we were assigned by force of nature."
Yuji squinted at the list.
"…Wait, let me see that."
Takeru slid the paper over.
Room Assignments:
Gojo + Takeru
Hakari + Kirara
Yuji + Megumi
Maki + Nobara
Panda + Yuta
Inumaki — separate room
Yuji read the list once.
Then again.
Then looked up.
"…Why am I not surprised that this is somehow both organized and insane?"
Hakari immediately pointed at his own line.
"…'Defaulted' is such a disrespectful word."
Kirara looked at their assignment.
Then at Hakari.
Then back at the paper.
"…I can live with this."
Hakari grinned.
"…Good. I was worried you'd hate me too much."
Kirara replied flatly:
"…That ship has already sailed."
Panda leaned in from the side.
"…That rooming list feels dangerous in ways I can't fully explain."
Yuta nodded politely.
"…I agree."
Inumaki gave a small wave from where he was standing near the door.
"…Salmon."
(as long as it's quiet)
Maki's eyes had stopped on her own line.
Then snapped to Takeru.
"…Why am I rooming with Nobara."
Takeru blinked once.
"…Gender separation."
Maki's expression immediately hardened.
"…And Gojo gets to room with you because you're brothers?"
Takeru nodded.
"…Yes."
Gojo smiled like this was the most natural thing in the world.
"…Brother privilege."
Yuji groaned.
"…I hate that phrase."
Maki crossed her arms.
"…That's not even a real rule."
Gojo shrugged.
"…It is now."
Hakari laughed.
"…This trip is already doomed."
Takeru looked between the list and everyone else.
Then, as if checking off a mental schedule:
"…Rooming stable. Logistics complete."
Yuji stared at him.
"…How are you treating a vacation like a mission deployment?"
Takeru answered instantly.
"…Because it is one."
Silence.
Kirara sighed quietly.
"…That's actually fair."
Hakari clapped his hands once.
"…Alright. I'm satisfied. I got assigned with the only person here who understands chaos as a lifestyle."
Kirara looked at him.
"…That is not a compliment."
"…I meant it as one."
Maki exhaled through her nose.
"…This is going to be awful."
Gojo put an arm around Takeru's shoulders.
"…It's going to be awesome."
Takeru nodded, already satisfied with the result.
"…Departure remains confirmed."
Yuji muttered:
"…We're really doing this."
And somehow—
that made it feel even more real.