The inside of the changing area was… tense.
Yuji was pacing.
"…Okay, we need to explain that before it sounds worse."
Panda nodded.
"…It already sounds bad."
Takeru, now changed and drying his hair with a towel, spoke calmly:
"…Clarification is required."
Hakari leaned against the lockers, still smirking.
"…Oh, I'm not helping you out of this."
Yuji pointed.
"…YOU STARTED THIS BY NOT SAYING ANYTHING!"
Hakari shrugged.
"…Entertainment value."
Meanwhile—
on the other side—
Kirara stepped back out, arms crossed, clearly waiting.
"…Alright. Explain."
Silence.
Yuji stepped forward first.
"…OKAY so—when we first met you—"
Panda jumped in.
"…You used your cursed technique—"
Takeru finished:
"…The constellation-based repulsion."
Kirara blinked once.
"…Yeah?"
Yuji nodded quickly.
"…And it kept pushing us away whenever we tried to get close—"
Panda added:
"…So we literally couldn't approach you—"
Takeru concluded:
"…Therefore, we had to analyze and understand your technique to bypass the effect."
Silence.
Kirara stared at them.
A long pause.
"…So when you said 'get close to me'…"
Yuji panicked.
"…WE MEANT PHYSICALLY—LIKE MOVEMENT—LIKE DISTANCE—"
Panda nodded aggressively.
"…SPATIAL RELATIONSHIP—"
Takeru added, completely serious:
"…Not social or personal implications."
Another pause.
Hakari lost it in the background.
"…YOU GUYS ARE DIGGING DEEPER—"
Maki, from the side, sighed.
"…This is painful to watch."
Gojo smiled slightly.
"…They're trying."
Kirara stared at them for a few more seconds.
Then—
exhaled.
"…You're all idiots."
Yuji immediately:
"…FAIR."
Panda nodded.
"…Understandable."
Takeru:
"…Acknowledged."
Kirara shook their head, but there was the smallest hint of a smile.
"…Next time, phrase it better."
Hakari wiped a tear from laughing.
"…No, no—don't. That was perfect."
Yuji groaned.
"…I'm never living that down."
Maki crossed her arms.
"…Correct."
Gojo stretched slightly.
"…Well, misunderstanding resolved."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Situation stabilized."
Hakari grinned.
"…Barely."
And just like that—
what could've been a disaster—
turned into just another chaotic moment for the group.