The tension didn't drop after the fight.
If anything—it shifted.
Less about survival.
More about what comes next.
Takeru stood in the middle of the street, thinking.
Then—
he started counting.
"…Okay so…"
He pointed lightly as he spoke.
"…Ryu, Uro, Yuta, me, Yorozu…"
"…Yuji, Megumi…"
A pause.
"…Can't forget Kashimo…"
Kashimo smirked slightly.
"…You'd better not."
Takeru continued.
"…Hakari… and Kirara…"
He paused.
Then counted again under his breath.
"…1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11…"
A small exhale.
"…Dang it."
Yuji tilted his head.
"…What?"
Takeru looked up.
"…I'm a hundred short."
Silence.
Hakari raised an eyebrow.
"…Short for what?"
Takeru didn't answer that part.
Instead—
"…Who has points?"
Kirara crossed their arms.
"…You're already sitting on over a thousand."
Takeru nodded.
"…Not enough."
Ryu let out a short laugh.
"…I've got nothing."
Kashimo shrugged slightly.
"…Same."
Uro glanced sideways.
"…I have some."
Yuta spoke calmly.
"…I still have points as well."
Higuruma adjusted his stance.
"…I can contribute."
Hakari smirked.
"…Yeah, I've got some saved."
Kirara nodded.
"…Same here."
Yuji scratched his head.
"…I don't think I've got much…"
Megumi stayed quiet for a second.
Then—
"…I have a few."
Hana hesitated slightly.
"…I should have some too…"
Yorozu said nothing—
but her presence alone made it clear she wasn't excluded from the question.
Takeru listened.
Processing.
Calculating.
Then nodded once.
"…I need exactly one hundred more."
Hakari grinned.
"…You're really counting it down to the last point, huh?"
Takeru responded immediately.
"…Yes."
Ryu smirked.
"…Greedy."
Takeru corrected without missing a beat.
"…Efficient."
Kashimo let out a quiet laugh.
"…Same thing."
Uro sighed slightly.
"…So we pool points."
Yuta nodded.
"…That would solve it."
Higuruma added:
"…And it would allow immediate action."
Kirara looked at Hakari.
"…We're doing this?"
Hakari shrugged.
Grinning.
"…Why not?"
Yuji looked at Takeru.
"…What happens when you get the hundred?"
A pause.
Takeru didn't answer.
Not directly.
"…Next step."
Megumi's eyes narrowed slightly.
But he didn't push.
Because whatever Takeru was planning—
It was precise.
And almost ready.