The air changed.
Inside the barrier—
something broke.
A pressure.
A shift.
A feeling that shouldn't exist.
B5F — Shibuya Station
Gojo stood still.
Not by choice.
Chains.
Invisible.
Absolute.
The Prison Realm had opened.
"…So this is it," Gojo muttered.
Pseudo-Geto—Kenjaku—stood before him.
Calm.
Patient.
"…You've done well, Satoru Gojo."
Gojo didn't smile this time.
"…You talk too much."
The sealing intensified.
And then—
Above — Outside the Curtain
Yuji froze mid-step.
"…No."
Takeru's eyes widened slightly.
"…Gojo."
Megumi looked toward the barrier.
"…Something's wrong."
Nobara clenched her fists.
"…We're going in."
Takeru didn't wait.
"…Move."
Yuji followed instantly.
"…GO!"
They ran.
Straight toward the source.
Inside — Station Level
They reached the lower levels fast.
Too fast to think.
Then—
Something dropped in front of them.
A figure.
Still.
Choso.
"…You."
His eyes locked onto them.
Cold.
Heavy.
"…Yuji Itadori."
A pause.
"…Takeru."
Yuji stepped forward.
"…Move."
Choso didn't.
"…No."
The air tightened—
Then—
Piercing Blood.
A high-pressure blast—
faster than sound—
Yuji barely moved—
WHIP—
It grazed past—
so close it tore fabric—
nearly took his arm clean off.
"…WHAT THE—"
Takeru stepped in—
"…Close distance."
They moved together.
Yuji rushed first—
Punch—
Divergent Fist—
Delayed impact—
Hit.
Choso didn't flinch.
"…Weak."
Blood formed again—
Convergence.
Compressed.
Condensed.
Deadly.
He fired again—
Takeru dodged—
barely—
The blast tore through the wall behind him.
"…He's fast," Yuji muttered.
Takeru nodded.
"…And precise."
They rushed again—
Close-range.
Yuji landed another hit—
Takeru followed—
raw strength—
clean impact—
But Choso adapted instantly.
Countered.
A strike—
Yuji was thrown back—
hard.
"…UGH—!"
Takeru stepped in—
blocked—
Too late—
Blood struck—
He slid back—
No cursed energy to reinforce.
Just damage.
The fight shifted.
Into tighter spaces.
Hallways.
Corners.
Even—
A cramped bathroom.
Tiles cracked.
Walls shattered.
Blood techniques filled the space—
precise—
relentless—
Yuji kept pushing.
Punch after punch.
Instinct.
Takeru followed—
raw movement—
no hesitation—
But—
Choso dominated.
Experience.
Control.
Power.
He landed a clean hit—
Yuji dropped to one knee.
Another—
Takeru staggered.
Breathing heavy.
"…This is bad," Yuji muttered.
Choso raised his hand.
Blood condensed again.
Stronger.
Denser.
"…Die."
He fired.
Time slowed.
Yuji couldn't move fast enough.
Takeru stepped—
but not enough.
This—
was the end.
Then—
Choso froze.
Mid-attack.
His eyes widened.
"…What…?"
The world shifted.
Not physically.
Inside his mind.
Memory — Not Real
Laughter.
Children.
A small group—
running—
training—
eating together—
Eso.
Kechizu.
Yuji.
Takeru.
All of them.
Brothers.
"…Big brother!"
"…Wait up!"
Warmth.
Family.
Real.
Too real.
Back to Reality
Choso's attack stopped.
His hand trembled.
"…No…"
Yuji looked up.
"…What?"
Takeru steadied himself.
"…He stopped."
Choso staggered back.
"…Why… do I…"
His voice broke.
"…remember… that…?"
Blood dripped.
Uncontrolled.
"…Yuji…"
His eyes shook.
"…Takeru…"
A whisper.
"…My… brothers…?"
Silence.
Yuji blinked.
"…What?"
Takeru didn't speak.
Just watched.
Choso lowered his hand.
The killing intent—
gone.
Replaced with confusion.
Pain.
"…I can feel it…"
His voice cracked.
"…When you were hurt…"
A pause.
"…When they died…"
Yuji's expression shifted.
"…Eso… Kechizu…"
Choso clenched his fists.
"…You killed them…"
Tension spiked—
Then—
"…But…"
His voice dropped.
"…You're still… my brother."
Silence.
Takeru stepped slightly forward.
"…Kenjaku."
Choso's eyes snapped toward him.
"…He did this."
A beat.
Then—
Choso's expression hardened.
Not at them.
At something else.
"…That man…"
His voice turned cold.
"…He used us."
Yuji slowly stood up.
"…Yeah."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Agreed."
Choso stepped back.
Not attacking.
Not leaving either.
Just… changing.
"…This isn't over."
Then—
He disappeared.
Gone.
Aftermath
Yuji dropped back slightly.
"…What just happened?"
Takeru exhaled.
"…We survived."
Yuji laughed weakly.
"…Barely…"
Takeru looked toward the deeper station.
Where Gojo was.
"…We continue."
Yuji stood again.
"…Yeah."
Still hurt.
Still shaken.
But moving.
Because now—
everything was bigger than just one fight.