Silence didn't last.
Yuji's knees gave out first—
no—
not first.
Takeru.
A single tear fell.
No sound.
No warning.
Just—
a drop.
Then—
he collapsed.
Hit the ground hard—
curling in—
hands gripping his head—
Everything breaking at once.
Yuji followed.
"…No…"
His voice cracked—
body folding in on itself—
"…No… no… no…"
They didn't fight it.
Didn't hold it in.
They just—
broke.
Nanami's blood still on them.
Nobara's last smile still in their heads.
Too much.
Too fast.
Mahito watched.
Grinning.
"…Perfect."
He took a step forward.
"…This is what I wanted."
No resistance.
No movement.
Just despair.
Then—
A voice.
Distant.
Loud.
"BESTO FRRRRR—!"
A beat.
A small pebble flew through the air.
Mahito blinked.
"…Hm?"
Then—
SWAP.
A blur.
A presence.
Aoi Todo.
Appearing mid-motion—
switching places with the pebble—
His leg already swinging—
"IENDO'S!"
CRASH—
His kick slammed into Mahito—
launching him across the area.
Impact shattered the ground.
Silence broke.
Todo landed cleanly.
Standing tall.
Back straight.
Aura overwhelming.
He didn't look at Mahito.
He looked at them.
Yuji.
Takeru.
On the ground.
Broken.
His expression hardened.
"…This will not do."
Mahito dragged himself up.
"…Another one…"
Todo stepped forward.
"…Stand."
No response.
Yuji and Takeru didn't move.
Still curled in.
Still shaking.
Todo's voice sharpened.
"…Stand, my brothers."
The air shifted.
Not just power.
Presence.
Resolve.
Mahito wiped blood from his face.
Grinning again.
"…More toys."
Todo cracked his neck.
"…No."
A pause.
"…Your executioner."
Behind him—
Yuji's fingers twitched.
Takeru's grip tightened slightly.
Not standing yet.
But not gone either.
And for the first time since everything fell apart—
something pushed back.