Dust drifted through the ruined street.
The aftershock of the shrine still lingered in the air—quiet, sharp, controlled.
Uro lay where she had fallen.
Not gone.
Not erased.
Her fingers twitched.
"…Tch…"
Space bent slightly around her again—weak at first—
then stabilizing.
She pushed herself up.
Breathing uneven—
but alive.
Yuta noticed immediately.
"…She's recovering."
Takeru didn't move.
"…Confirmed."
Uro steadied herself mid-air again—
this time lower.
More cautious.
Her eyes locked onto Takeru.
"…You held back."
Takeru answered without hesitation.
"…Correct."
A pause.
Then—
he added, almost casually—
"…Relax."
Everyone glanced at him.
"…It may be cleave-like…"
A small pause.
"…but I'm not that cruel."
Ryu let out a short laugh.
"…He says that after slicing the sky itself."
Takeru continued—
completely serious—
"…Plus…"
He looked at Ryu.
"…I wanna know your 'dessert.'"
Ryu's grin widened immediately.
"…Heh—so you were listening."
Then—
Takeru turned slightly toward Yuta.
"…And you…"
A pause.
"…are my teammate…"
He stopped.
Thinking.
"…is?"
"…are?"
Another pause.
"…Hm…?"
Yuta blinked.
"…You good?"
Takeru nodded once.
"…Uncertain grammar."
Yuji would've laughed.
Megumi would've sighed.
Ryu actually did laugh.
"…HAHA—man, I like you."
Uro hovered nearby—
watching—
still recovering—
but now fully aware.
"…You're insane…"
Takeru didn't deny it.
"…Irrelevant."
Yuta stepped forward slightly.
"…We're on the same side."
Takeru nodded.
"…Confirmed."
Then—
he looked back at Ryu.
"…Proceed."
Ryu cracked his neck.
Energy building again.
"…Alright."
His grin sharpened.
"…I'll show you dessert."
The air thickened.
Battle resumed.