The teleportation light faded out like a curtain dropping.
Tokyo Colony 2 hit them immediately—louder, denser, more chaotic than Sendai ever was.
The air itself felt like it had a pulse.
A few seconds later—
a familiar voice cut through the noise.
"Hey! Takeru and Yuta! How are you!"
A man stood casually nearby, hands in his pockets, relaxed like the entire colony wasn't a death game.
Kenji Hakari.
His eyes flicked over the group.
Then he grinned.
"…And who are the new faces?"
Beside him, Kirara Hoshi watched quietly, more observant than welcoming, eyes tracking everyone's cursed energy like a live system scan.
Yuta gave a small nod.
"…Hakari. Kirara."
Ryu cracked his neck.
"…So these are the locals."
Uro hovered slightly behind, still wary.
"…This place has too many strong signatures…"
Takeru stepped forward slightly.
Calm as always.
"…Allies confirmed."
He gestured lightly.
"…Ryu. Uro. Yuta."
Hakari blinked once.
Then laughed.
"…Ohhh, you've been busy."
Kirara's gaze sharpened slightly at Uro and Ryu.
"…These aren't normal recruits."
Ryu smirked.
"…Good."
Hakari leaned forward slightly.
"…So what's the plan?"
A pause.
Takeru answered simply.
"…Hajime Kashimo."
Hakari tilted his head.
"…The lightning guy?"
Yuta nodded.
"…We need his points."
Ryu let out a short laugh.
"…Sounds like a fun dessert hunt."
Uro clicked her tongue.
"…This is turning into a collection game."
Kirara finally spoke.
"…Kashimo is dangerous. He doesn't cooperate easily."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Expected."
Hakari grinned wider.
"…Alright then."
He stretched slightly.
"…We'll help you find him."
Kirara glanced at Hakari.
"…You're agreeing too quickly."
Hakari shrugged.
"…They're interesting."
A beat.
Then he added:
"…Besides, if Kashimo's involved, I'm not sitting this one out."
Ryu crossed his arms.
"…So what's after that?"
Takeru answered immediately.
"…Tokyo Colony 1."
Hakari blinked.
"…Huh?"
Yuta clarified.
"…Yuji. Megumi. Hana."
Kirara's expression softened slightly.
"…You're regrouping."
Takeru nodded.
"…Correct."
Hakari cracked his knuckles.
"…Alright."
A grin.
"…Let's move."
Ryu smirked slightly.
"…Finally, a proper route."
Uro sighed.
"…I dislike how organized this chaos is becoming."
And just like that—
the group shifted again.
Not scattered.
Not enemies.
But a growing force moving through the Culling Game like it was starting to belong to them.
Next stop:
Hajime Kashimo.
Then—
Tokyo Colony 1.