The fort was alive.
Pizza slices disappearing.
Fries getting stolen mid-conversation.
Macaroons somehow vanishing faster than anything else.
Yuji leaned back against a pile of pillows.
"…This is actually the best idea we've had."
Hakari nodded, mouth full.
"…Easily."
Panda adjusted slightly, clearly comfortable.
"…Optimal environment achieved."
Yuta smiled quietly.
"…Yeah… this is nice."
Megumi sat off to the side, eating in peace.
"…It's not bad."
Inumaki:
"…Salmon."
(agreed)
Gojo leaned back, relaxed, watching everything.
"…You all look like you live here now."
Takeru sat in the center of it all.
Quiet for a moment.
Enjoying it.
Then—
he spoke.
"…In a little bit we can try to construct some means-to-an-end for the poster."
Immediate reaction.
Yuji groaned.
"…NOOOO—WE WERE DOING SO GOOD—"
Hakari laughed.
"…He held it in for like ten minutes."
Panda nodded.
"…That's progress."
Takeru continued anyway.
"…We need to figure out what is in 'Z____n' and 'It___ri.'"
Silence.
That shifted the mood.
Just a little.
Yuta looked up.
"…Yeah… that poster…"
Megumi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…It wasn't random."
Inumaki:
"…Tuna…"
(something's off)
Yuji sat up a bit.
"…We never figured out what those names were supposed to be."
Hakari leaned back.
"…Smudged on purpose."
Panda added:
"…Which means someone didn't want it fully known."
Gojo didn't speak right away.
Just listened.
Takeru looked at the group.
"…We have partial data."
A pause.
"…We just need to connect it."
Yuji scratched his head.
"…Z… something… n…"
Hakari smirked.
"…Sounds familiar, but not enough."
Megumi stayed quiet.
Thinking.
Yuta glanced at him.
"…Megumi?"
Megumi shook his head slightly.
"…Not sure."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Then we analyze later."
Yuji blinked.
"…Wait, you're not forcing it right now?"
Takeru shrugged.
"…No."
A small pause.
"…We're busy."
Hakari grinned.
"…HE CHOSE THE FORT OVER THE MYSTERY—"
Panda nodded.
"…Character development."
Gojo smiled faintly.
"…Good call."
Takeru leaned back again.
"…We'll figure it out."
Yuji grabbed another slice of pizza.
"…Yeah. Later."
And just like that—
the tension eased again.
Mystery still there.
Questions unanswered.
But for now—
they had a fort.
Food.
And time.