The room stayed quiet after Megumi and Takeru stood up.
Not the kind of quiet that felt safe—
the kind that felt watched.
Megumi glanced around once more.
"…Still no signs of who brought us here."
Takeru nodded.
"…Data insufficient."
Then—
Takeru paused.
A faint pressure shifted across his cheek.
Not external.
Internal.
Megumi noticed immediately.
"…Takeru?"
Takeru didn't answer right away.
His expression stayed flat—but his eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Unusual presence detected."
Then—
a mouth appeared on Takeru's cheek.
Smooth.
Sudden.
Unnatural.
A second voice spoke through it.
"…So this is where you ended up."
Megumi's eyes widened slightly.
"…Sukuna."
The mouth curved slightly as it spoke again.
"…Still as sharp as ever, brat."
Takeru's body didn't react outwardly—but the air around him tightened.
Controlled.
Contained.
Megumi stepped forward slightly.
"…What do you want?"
Sukuna's voice came calmly through Takeru.
"…Nothing urgent."
A pause.
"…Just observing."
Takeru finally spoke aloud, voice steady.
"…Observation unnecessary."
Sukuna chuckled softly through the cheek-mouth.
"…You're getting more confident."
Megumi narrowed his eyes.
"…Don't interfere."
Sukuna responded lazily.
"…I'm not the one moving you around."
A pause.
Takeru exhaled slightly.
"…Then state purpose."
Sukuna's tone shifted—still calm, but more deliberate.
"…This game you're in… it will break you long before it ends."
Megumi's jaw tightened.
"…We already know that."
Sukuna hummed faintly.
"…Good."
Before anything else could be said—
the door to the room opened.
Hana Kurusu stepped inside.
She paused immediately.
Eyes landing on Takeru.
Then the mouth on his cheek.
"…Oh."
A second voice echoed from her cheek at the same time—
Angel.
"…So it's active."
Hana tilted her head slightly.
"…You're awake."
Megumi shifted slightly into a guarded stance.
"…You're the ones who took us."
Hana raised her hands slightly.
"…We didn't hurt you."
Angel's voice followed calmly.
"…We relocated you for assessment."
Sukuna's mouth on Takeru's cheek curved slightly.
"…And now the observers meet each other."
Hana's eyes moved to Takeru again.
Something softer there for a moment.
"…You're Sukuna's vessel's… other half situation, right?"
Takeru blinked once.
"…Simplified explanation: yes."
Angel spoke through Hana.
"…We are interested in your existence."
Megumi frowned slightly.
"…Explain."
Hana hesitated.
Then stepped further into the room.
"…We're trying to figure out what's happening in the Culling Games… and what Kenjaku is really planning."
Angel added:
"…And you two are relevant to that outcome."
Sukuna's voice remained relaxed.
"…Interesting."
Takeru responded flatly.
"…Define 'relevant.'"
Hana looked between them.
"…That's what we're trying to understand."
Silence followed.
Not tense.
Just heavy with unknown intent.
Megumi exhaled slowly.
"…So what now?"
Angel answered.
"…Now you decide whether you cooperate."
Sukuna's mouth on Takeru's cheek lingered for a moment longer.
Then—
quietly:
"…This should be entertaining."
And the room filled with uncertainty again.