The direction was set.
Ikebukuro.
Yuji.
The air felt heavier now that they had a target.
No more wandering.
No more waiting.
Takeru stopped walking.
Megumi looked back.
"…What is it now?"
Takeru lowered himself slightly—
then fully knelt.
"…Hop on my back."
Silence.
Megumi blinked.
"…What?"
Takeru continued calmly.
"…I'm going to run to my brother."
Hana froze for a second.
"…Run… like actually run?"
Takeru nodded once.
"…High-speed traversal will reduce time-to-contact."
Megumi crossed his arms.
"…You're serious."
Takeru didn't respond.
He just stayed there.
Waiting.
A pause.
Then—
Hana stepped forward.
Slowly.
Angel's presence shifted.
More aware now.
More curious.
"…I'll go first."
Megumi raised an eyebrow.
"…You volunteered fast."
Hana ignored that.
She moved behind Takeru—
hesitated for just a second—
Then climbed onto his back.
Her arms wrapped around him for balance.
Angel's voice came quietly—
but very clearly—
from her cheek.
"…Physical structure is… notable."
Hana's grip tightened slightly.
"…Angel."
But she didn't move away.
Takeru didn't react.
Didn't acknowledge it.
"…Stability confirmed?"
Hana nodded slightly.
"…Yeah."
Megumi sighed.
"…Guess I'm next."
He stepped up and positioned himself behind, ready to move alongside rather than pile on.
Takeru adjusted slightly.
Balanced instantly.
"…Grip secured."
Then—
he stood.
And the ground beneath him cracked slightly.
Megumi's eyes widened just a bit.
"…You're not holding back, are you."
Takeru answered simply.
"…Negative."
A pause.
Then—
he moved.
—BOOM.
The ground shattered beneath his first step.
They were gone.
Speed tore through the colony streets—
buildings blurring—
wind crashing past them—
distance collapsing instantly.
Hana tightened her grip instinctively.
Angel, quieter now:
"…Velocity is… extreme."
Takeru's voice remained calm.
"…Route locked."
Megumi kept pace as best he could along the side paths, using terrain to follow.
And ahead—
far beyond the fractured city—
Yuji waited.