The road was quiet.
Too quiet.
Takeru walked slightly ahead.
Yuji beside him, hands in pockets.
Megumi behind them, eyes scanning.
Nobara walking with her usual confidence—like nothing could possibly go wrong.
"…Feels normal again," Yuji said.
Megumi didn't agree.
"…It's too empty."
Nobara scoffed.
"…You say that about everything."
Takeru slowed.
Just slightly.
"…No."
A pause.
"…He's right."
The air shifted.
Subtle.
But wrong.
Ahead—
the Yasohachi Bridge.
Still.
Silent.
Then—
something moved.
Two figures stood on the bridge.
Not human.
Not quite curse either.
One taller. One smaller.
Both… wrong.
Yuji squinted.
"…Who are they?"
Megumi's stance changed instantly.
"…Not normal curses."
Nobara cracked her knuckles.
"…Great. First day back."
Takeru stepped forward.
Eyes locked on them.
"…Unknown entities."
The taller one smiled.
Slow.
Creeping.
"…You've arrived."
The smaller one giggled.
"…Brothers… food…"
Yuji blinked.
"…What?"
Megumi's voice dropped.
"…They're intelligent."
Nobara stepped forward slightly.
"…Even better. I can actually hit something that talks."
The taller one tilted his head.
"…You don't understand yet."
Takeru didn't move.
"…Identify yourselves."
A pause.
Then—
"…Eso."
"…Kechizu."
Silence.
Yuji muttered:
"…Those names don't sound friendly."
Megumi already had his hands ready.
"…Stay alert."
Nobara smirked.
"…No problem."
Takeru stepped forward one more step.
"…Hostile confirmed."
Eso's smile widened.
"…Correct."
Kechizu's body twitched unnaturally.
"…Eat… them…"
And just like that—
the air snapped.
Yuji clenched his fists.
"…First fight back, huh?"
Megumi summoned shadows beneath him.
"…Don't get careless."
Nobara lifted her hammer.
"…I won't."
Takeru's stance shifted.
Calm.
Focused.
"…We engage."
The bridge—once silent—
became a battlefield.
First encounter.
No prior knowledge.
No strategy prepared.
Just instinct.
And the fight began.