Mahito didn't wait.
He moved first.
A blur of shifting limbs—his body warping mid-step as he lunged straight at them.
Yuji met him head-on.
"I've got him!"
Punch—
Divergent Fist—
Mahito twisted around it—
barely grazing the hit—
smiling the entire time.
"…Still predictable."
Nobara moved from the side—
hammer up—
"Don't get cocky!"
Nail—
Mahito's arm stretched unnaturally—
dodging—
then snapping back toward her—
Takeru stepped in—
blocked—
pure strength—
no cursed energy—
Their arms collided—
Mahito's grin widened.
"…You're empty."
Takeru didn't respond.
He struck—
fast—
clean—
A solid hit to Mahito's side—
Mahito staggered—
slightly.
"…Interesting."
Yuji rushed again—
no hesitation—
Combo—
left—
right—
Mahito countered—
but slower now.
Because this time—
they weren't reacting.
They were pressuring.
Nobara drove another nail into the ground—
"…Try dodging this."
Mahito split his body—
avoiding direct damage—
"…Clever."
But not untouched.
Yuji noticed.
"…He's not cleanly avoiding everything!"
Takeru nodded.
"…We overwhelm."
Mahito's smile thinned.
"…You're learning."
Then—
He lunged again—
but not at Yuji.
At Nobara.
Faster this time.
Sharper.
His hand shifted—
ready—
"Idle Transfiguration."
Nobara's eyes widened—
Too close again—
Yuji shouted—
"MOVE—!"
Takeru stepped in—
again—
Intercept—
But Mahito twisted mid-motion—
Changed target—
Yuji—
The distance collapsed—
Everything happened at once—
Movement—
impact—
breath—
And then—
THWACK!