Remi didn't try anything again.
Not after the two slaps.
She just walked ahead of them now—hands in her pockets, acting like the whole situation was normal.
Megumi followed a few steps behind.
Takeru kept pace beside him.
Neither lowered their guard.
The colony felt quieter in this section.
Too quiet.
Like something was waiting to interrupt them again at any moment.
Remi glanced over her shoulder.
"…You're really going after Higuruma, huh?"
Megumi answered immediately.
"…Yes."
Takeru added flatly.
"…Objective target."
Remi sighed.
"…Yeah, well. He's not exactly hiding in plain sight."
They turned a corner—
and the structure of the colony shifted again.
An apartment building stood ahead.
Old.
Crowded-looking.
Like it had been dropped into the colony without permission.
Remi pointed up.
"…He's in there."
Megumi looked up.
"…Shinjuku sector?"
Remi nodded.
"…Yeah. That's where Higuruma's been showing up."
Takeru scanned the building.
"…Vertical zone likely unstable."
Megumi frowned slightly.
"…So we'll have to search floor by floor."
Remi shrugged.
"…If you survive that long."
Takeru glanced at her.
"…You are still here."
Remi raised her hands slightly.
"…Hey, I'm just the guide."
Megumi exhaled.
"…You're useful. Just stay that way."
Remi smiled faintly.
"…No promises."
Meanwhile — Yuji's Side
A different sector of Tokyo Colony 1.
Crowded streets.
Broken neon signs flickering above empty roads.
Yuji stood alone.
For the first time in a while.
A new Kogane floated near him.
Smaller than others.
More jittery.
"…Player Yuji Itadori."
Yuji looked up.
"…Yeah?"
The Kogane flickered.
"…A new guide has been assigned to your sector."
Yuji blinked.
"…Guide?"
A voice called out nearby.
"…Over here."
A man stepped into view.
Calm.
Composed.
Different energy entirely from the chaos around him.
Yuji narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Who are you?"
The man adjusted his glasses slightly.
"…Ren."
Kogane chimed again.
"…Information update: Higuruma Hiromi is active in the Ikebukuro sector."
Yuji froze slightly.
"…Ikebukuro?"
Ren nodded.
"…If you're looking for him, that's where you'll have to go."
Yuji clenched his fist slightly.
"…Got it."
Kogane flickered.
"…Colony routing updated."
Yuji looked forward.
"…Then I move."
Ren watched him for a moment.
"…You're not the only one being moved around."
Yuji didn't respond.
He just started walking.
Shinjuku Route — Megumi & Takeru
Remi stopped at the base of the apartment building.
"…This is it."
Megumi looked up again.
"…We proceed."
Takeru nodded.
"…Confirmed."
Remi stepped back slightly.
"…Try not to die in there."
Megumi glanced at her.
"…We won't."
Takeru added calmly.
"…Statistically unlikely."
Remi smirked.
"…Good answer."
Then she turned away, disappearing back into the colony streets.
Megumi and Takeru stood in front of the building.
A vertical maze waiting above them.
Megumi exhaled.
"…Let's go."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Objective: locate Higuruma Hiromi."
And together—
they entered the building.