For once—
there was no emergency.
No curses attacking.
No death hanging over the next hour.
No mission briefing.
No timer.
No impossible choice.
Just people.
All of them.
Talking.
Laughing.
Existing.
The courtyard of Jujutsu High had turned into a festival of scattered conversations.
Everywhere you looked, someone impossible was speaking to someone they should never have met.
Near the steps—
Young Gojo and older Gojo-era Takeru were both arguing over who was more attractive.
"…Me. Obviously."
Young Gojo pushed his glasses up dramatically.
"…You peaked early."
Takeru replied.
Geto watched both of them and sighed.
"…There are two of him. Incredible."
Older Geto added quietly:
"…And somehow both are exhausting."
Nearby—
Yuji and Nobara stood face to face.
Then without warning—
Nobara punched his shoulder.
"…You idiot."
Yuji blinked.
"…Ow! What was that for!?"
"…For looking like you were about to cry when I got here."
Yuji rubbed his arm.
"…I was not."
"…Liar."
Then she turned to Takeru.
Her expression softened immediately.
She tapped the side of her face.
"…Hey."
She smirked.
"…Still got both eyes."
Takeru stared for half a second.
Then smiled wider than he had all day.
"…Looks good on you."
"…Obviously."
She crossed her arms.
"…And don't act weird. I remember everything."
"…Yeah."
There was relief in that single word.
Across the yard—
Todo had one arm around Takeru's shoulders already.
"…As I told you months ago, brother, your taste was acceptable."
"…That was the weirdest compliment I've ever gotten."
Todo pointed skyward.
"…Truth arrives strangely!"
Hakari laughed loudly.
"…I need this guy at parties."
Kirara muttered:
"…No you don't."
Yuki and Choso stood off to the side.
Peaceful.
No battle plans.
No pressure.
Just talking.
Panda was sitting on the grass while Maki leaned against him like a chair.
"…You know I'm not furniture, right?"
"…You're stable furniture."
"…That's fair."
Megumi sat nearby with Inumaki and Kamo, visibly trying to avoid being dragged into nonsense.
Too late.
Gojo shouted across the courtyard.
"SEA URCHIN!"
Megumi didn't even look up.
"…I'm ignoring him."
Shoko and Utahime were drinking tea.
Young Utahime and older Utahime were somehow both complaining at once.
"…He's unbearable."
"…Which one?"
"…Yes."
Ryu had found food somewhere.
No one knew where.
He was happily explaining flavor philosophy to Takaba, who was pretending to interview the rice balls.
Kashimo stood with arms crossed, watching everyone.
Yuta walked beside him.
"…You can join, you know."
"…I am."
"…You're standing alone."
"…Exactly."
Yuta sighed.
Later—
as the sun lowered—
people naturally drifted into larger groups.
Stories were traded.
Embarrassing moments exposed.
Arguments reignited.
Laughter carried through the grounds.
Takeru stood still for a moment in the middle of it all.
Watching.
Listening.
Everyone alive.
Everyone here.
Gojo suddenly threw an arm around him.
"…You did good."
Takeru glanced sideways.
"…Rare sincerity from you."
"…Don't get used to it."
Then Nobara shouted from across the yard:
"HEY TAKERU! GET OVER HERE!"
"…Coming!"
He moved without hesitation.
Toward noise.
Toward people.
Toward life.