The pressure snapped tighter.
Two states of the same existence grinding against each other—
one held in Sukuna's grip,
the other forcing itself to stabilize.
Takeru's refined form didn't panic.
Didn't thrash.
He calculated.
"…Force applied at collar. Fabric integrity—low."
Sukuna tightened his grip, amused again.
"…You're about to pass out and you're doing math?"
Takeru's fingers moved.
Subtle.
Precise.
Then—
RIP—
The shirt tore clean in his hands.
Sukuna's grip broke with it—
just enough.
Takeru twisted free immediately—
landing back a step—
still unstable, but standing.
Megumi exhaled sharply.
"…Finally—"
But Takeru wasn't done.
He reached into his pocket again—
pulled out the half-drunk milk bottle—
And without hesitation—
THREW IT.
It smacked directly into Sukuna's face.
SPLASH—
Milk scattered across him.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Hana blinked.
"…Did he just—"
Angel paused.
"…Yes."
Sukuna stood there.
Dripping.
Slowly—
very slowly—
he wiped his face.
"…You threw milk at me."
Takeru straightened slightly.
Still stabilizing.
Still composed.
"…There, Sukuna."
A small pause.
"…That'll tone down the spice."
Megumi covered his face.
"…No way you just said that."
Hana was trying not to react.
"…That's… not how that works…"
Angel, oddly neutral:
"…It is technically logical."
Sukuna's eye twitched.
"…You think this is funny?"
Takeru shook his head once.
"…Negative."
Another beat.
"…And stop doing that, Sukuna."
Silence.
Sukuna stared at him.
Not amused now.
Not mocking.
Just… irritated.
"…You're getting bold."
Takeru didn't back down.
"…You are disrupting operational stability."
A pause.
Then—
Sukuna exhaled slowly.
"…Tch."
The pressure in the air dropped slightly.
Not gone.
But reduced.
The original body flickered.
And then—
Sukuna receded.
The split tension between forms weakened.
Takeru's refined manifestation flickered again—
then stabilized just enough to stand without strain.
Megumi stepped forward.
"…You okay?"
Takeru nodded once.
"…Stability partially restored."
Hana exhaled.
"…That was… insane."
Angel added:
"…But effective."
Takeru adjusted his stance slightly.
"…Conflict resolved for now."
A pause.
Then Megumi muttered:
"…You just fought Sukuna with dairy products."
Takeru responded immediately.
"…Improvised countermeasure."
Hana shook her head slightly.
"…I don't even know what to say."
Angel, quieter this time:
"…Adaptability confirmed."
Takeru looked forward again.
"…We continue."
And just like that—
they moved on.
Leaving behind a moment that shouldn't have worked—
but somehow did.