The plane had taken off smoothly.
Too smoothly.
Everyone was settling in, adjusting to their seats, figuring out legroom, armrests, and who they were inevitably going to get annoyed at first.
Takeru sat in his assigned row.
Window: Gojo
Middle: Takeru
Aisle: Panda
Yuji leaned over from a nearby row.
"…How did you end up in the middle of that row?"
Hakari grinned from across the aisle.
"…Bro put himself between chaos and comfort."
Gojo was already relaxed, looking out the window like this was a casual afternoon stroll instead of an international flight.
"…Nice view."
Panda shifted slightly in the aisle seat.
"…I feel like I got the best deal here."
Takeru didn't respond.
He was sitting upright.
Perfect posture.
Hands resting on his knees.
Eyes forward.
Too still.
Maki noticed first from across the row.
"…He's not okay."
Yuji leaned closer.
"…What do you mean?"
Maki pointed slightly.
"…He hasn't moved once."
Hakari smirked.
"…He's buffering."
Thirty minutes passed.
The plane hummed steadily.
Passengers relaxed.
Some people started talking.
Others were already dozing off.
Takeru?
Still sitting exactly the same.
Then—
he shifted.
Just slightly.
Yuji immediately noticed.
"…There it is."
Takeru adjusted his shoulders.
Then his neck.
Then looked straight ahead again.
"…This is inefficient."
Gojo glanced over.
"…What is?"
Takeru answered plainly.
"…Sitting."
Panda chuckled.
"…You just now figured that out?"
Takeru didn't respond.
Instead—
he leaned slightly to the side.
Paused.
Then leaned a bit more.
Yuji whispered:
"…Wait…"
Hakari leaned forward.
"…No way…"
And then—
Takeru rested his head on Panda's shoulder.
Silence.
Panda blinked.
"…Oh."
Yuji froze.
"…OH."
Hakari lost it.
"…HE COULDN'T HANDLE IT!"
Maki stared.
"…He gave up."
Gojo glanced over once.
Then smiled slightly.
"…Smart choice."
Takeru didn't say anything else.
Didn't adjust.
Didn't move again.
Within seconds—
he was asleep.
Completely out.
Panda looked down slightly.
Then back up.
"…I guess I'm a pillow now."
Yuji whispered:
"…He lasted thirty minutes."
Hakari grinned.
"…That's longer than I expected."
Maki crossed her arms.
"…At least he's finally resting."
Gojo looked out the window again.
Relaxed.
"…Nanami would approve."
From a few rows back—
Nanami, without even looking, spoke calmly:
"…I do."
Hakari laughed quietly.
"…He sensed it."
And just like that—
for the first time in a while—
Takeru wasn't training.
Wasn't planning.
Wasn't analyzing.
Just asleep.
Leaning on Panda like it was the most natural thing in the world.