The corridor outside the room was quieter than before.
Not safe.
Just empty.
Megumi walked a few steps ahead, scanning for exits and movement patterns.
Hana and Angel followed at a slight distance behind Takeru.
Takeru stayed steady.
Focused forward.
At least… at first.
He noticed it once.
A glance.
Quick.
Almost accidental.
Hana looking at him.
Then immediately away.
Takeru paused slightly.
"…Observed anomaly."
Megumi turned his head.
"…What?"
Takeru continued walking.
"…Hana Kurusu is exhibiting repeated visual fixation toward me."
Silence.
Megumi blinked.
"…Huh?"
Hana froze slightly behind them.
"…I am not."
Angel's voice immediately followed through her expression.
"…She is."
Hana narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…Angel."
Takeru looked back once.
Calm.
Neutral.
"…Clarify intent."
Hana sighed.
"…There is no intent."
A pause.
"…You're just… unusual."
Megumi muttered.
"…That's one way to put it."
Takeru tilted his head slightly.
"…Define 'unusual.'"
Hana hesitated.
Then looked at him more directly this time.
"…You're not reacting the way Sukuna's vessel usually would."
A beat.
Takeru responded flatly.
"…Correct."
Silence stretched.
Then Hana looked away again.
"…It's nothing important."
Angel added quietly:
"…But it is notable."
Takeru didn't respond to that.
Just continued walking.
Megumi exhaled slightly.
"…Can we focus on getting out of here?"
Takeru nodded.
"…Confirmed."
But even as they moved forward—
Takeru noticed it again.
Another glance.
Shorter this time.
But deliberate.
He didn't react.
Didn't acknowledge it.
Just kept walking.
Hana, a step behind, slightly slowed her pace.
Like she was adjusting distance without meaning to.
Angel spoke softly through her expression:
"…This is inefficient behavior."
Hana muttered under her breath.
"…I know."
Takeru finally spoke without turning back.
"…Emotional variance detected."
Hana almost stopped walking.
"…I'm fine."
Megumi glanced between them.
"…What is going on."
Takeru answered plainly.
"…Unresolved observation pattern."
Hana sighed again.
"…Just ignore it."
But she didn't stop looking this time.
Not fully.
Not anymore.
And Takeru, for once—
didn't classify it as immediately irrelevant.
He just kept walking.