The rhythm of their movement steadied again.
Footsteps.
Wind.
Distant echoes of other players somewhere deeper in the colony.
Takeru walked at the same pace.
Blindfold still on.
Hands in his pockets.
Megumi stayed alert ahead.
Hana and Angel followed behind—quieter now.
After a few moments—
Takeru spoke.
"…Kogane."
A small flutter of cursed energy formed beside him.
His Kogane appeared.
White.
Winged.
Skull-shaped—
with its small heart-shaped tail gently swaying.
"…Yes, player Takeru?"
Takeru didn't slow down.
"…Do you know where Yuji Itadori is?"
The Kogane paused mid-air.
Processing.
"…Searching."
A brief silence followed.
Megumi glanced back slightly.
"…Can it actually track him?"
Angel answered quietly.
"…Only within rule-permitted information scope."
Kogane flickered again.
"…Yuji Itadori is currently active within Tokyo Colony 1."
Megumi frowned.
"…We already knew that."
Takeru continued.
"…Refine location."
Kogane paused again.
"…Exact coordinates unavailable. However—"
A small projection flickered briefly.
"…Last recorded activity places Yuji Itadori near the Ikebukuro sector."
Megumi's eyes narrowed.
"…So he's on the opposite side."
Hana spoke softly.
"…That's not close."
Angel added:
"…Distance increases risk of delayed regrouping."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Understood."
Kogane tilted slightly.
"…Would you like to initiate tracking behavior?"
Takeru responded immediately.
"…Affirmative."
Kogane spun lightly.
"…Tracking will update upon new data acquisition."
Takeru gave a small nod.
"…Continue monitoring."
"…Understood."
The Kogane hovered for a moment longer—
then settled slightly behind Takeru, keeping pace like a quiet companion.
Megumi exhaled.
"…At least we know he's alive."
Takeru's voice remained calm.
"…Confirmed."
A short pause.
Then, quieter—
"…We will reach him."
Hana glanced at him again.
This time not at his chest.
Not at his stance.
Just… him.
Angel said nothing.
And the group kept moving—
now with direction.
Toward Ikebukuro.
Toward Yuji.