The cabin was quieter now.
Soft engine noise. Dim lights. A few scattered conversations.
Takeru shifted slightly.
Then—
he woke up.
Not instantly alert this time.
Not sharp.
Slow.
Groggy.
"…mm…"
Yuji blinked immediately.
"…Wait—he woke up normal."
Hakari leaned in.
"…No system boot-up? No 'status update'?"
Panda glanced down.
"…Feels different."
Takeru rubbed his eyes.
Actually rubbed them.
"…How long was I out…"
Silence.
Yuji froze.
"…WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HIM?!"
Hakari grinned.
"…Nah nah—this is new."
Maki raised an eyebrow.
"…He sounds… his age."
Takeru stretched slightly, wincing a bit.
"…Why does my neck hurt…"
Panda looked forward.
"…You used me as a pillow."
Takeru blinked.
Paused.
"…Oh."
A beat.
"…My bad."
Silence.
Yuji's jaw dropped.
"…HE APOLOGIZED?!"
Hakari pointed.
"…HE'S HUMAN NOW!"
Kirara smiled faintly.
"…That's actually kind of nice."
Takeru leaned back in his seat, looking around.
Taking everything in.
"…This is kinda boring."
Gojo chuckled from the window.
"…Welcome to flying."
Takeru sighed.
"…We should've brought something to do."
Yuji immediately leaned in.
"…NOW you're thinking like a normal person!"
Hakari grinned.
"…Took him long enough."
Maki crossed her arms, but there was less tension now.
"…About time."
Takeru looked around again.
Then leaned slightly toward Yuji.
"…You got anything?"
Yuji blinked.
"…Like what?"
Takeru shrugged.
"…Game. Music. Something."
Hakari immediately pulled out his phone.
"…Say less."
Kirara leaned over.
"…Don't make it too loud."
Hakari ignored that completely.
"…We're starting with music."
Takeru leaned back, more relaxed now.
"…Alright."
Panda glanced at him.
"…You good now?"
Takeru nodded.
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
Then, more casually:
"…This is kinda nice."
Silence.
Not shocked this time.
Just… surprised.
Yuji smiled slightly.
"…Yeah."
Gojo glanced over again, just for a second.
And didn't say anything.
Because for once—
Takeru wasn't trying to improve anything.
Wasn't pushing.
Wasn't calculating.
He was just there.
A kid on a plane with his friends.
Finally.