The locker room was finally—finally—calm again.
No surprises.
No sudden entrances.
No chaos.
Takeru stood near his locker, arms crossed.
Yuji right next to him, equally tense.
They both glanced at the door.
Then at each other.
And at the exact same time—
"I swear if one more girl appears in here I'm just not gonna chan—"
BANG
The door swung open.
Everyone froze.
Yuji's soul left his body.
"…No."
Takeru turned slowly.
"…No."
Standing in the doorway—
Nobara.
She looked around.
Unbothered.
"…Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Silence.
Hakari lost it instantly.
"…YOU SUMMONED HER—"
Panda covered his face.
"…This is cursed."
Kirara just shook their head.
"…You two jinxed it immediately."
Yuji pointed at the door.
"…WRONG ROOM—WRONG ROOM—"
Takeru nodded rapidly.
"…Incorrect location confirmed."
Nobara blinked.
Then looked up at the sign.
Then back at them.
"…Oh."
A pause.
"…Huh."
She didn't move.
Yuji shouted:
"…WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?!"
Nobara rolled her eyes.
"…Relax. I'm leaving."
She turned—
walked out—
and shut the door behind her like it was no big deal.
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
Then—
Yuji dropped to a bench.
"…I can't do this anymore."
Panda nodded.
"…We are being tested."
Hakari was still laughing.
"…BACK-TO-BACK ENCOUNTERS—THIS IS CRAZY—"
Takeru stood there, staring at the door.
"…Pattern detected."
Yuji snapped:
"…NO MORE PATTERNS—"
Kirara smirked slightly.
"…You two really brought that on yourselves."
Takeru exhaled slowly.
Then finally—
"…I will now change."
Yuji pointed.
"…YES. FINALLY."
And this time—
no interruptions.
…for now.