The rematch didn't even need a countdown.
It just started.
Yuji stepped forward first.
His eyes locked in.
His breathing changed.
"…Alright."
Megumi immediately noticed.
"…Oh no."
Nobara pointed.
"…He's serious-serious."
Hakari leaned forward.
"…This is gonna be good."
Then Yuji moved.
Not wildly.
Not rushed.
Clean.
Controlled.
Efficient.
Takeru paused for the first time.
Just slightly.
"…Oh."
A grin.
"…Okay."
And then—
he moved too.
The air changed instantly.
Sand kicked up as both of them exploded forward.
Yuji sprinted like an athlete pushed past human limits.
Takeru matched him instantly.
Step for step.
Then—
they both sped up again.
Yuji's eyes sharpened.
Takeru's grin widened.
Now it wasn't tag anymore.
It was a chase.
A real one.
Gojo leaned forward slightly.
Satoru Gojo
"…Oh wow."
Sukuna watched from a distance, arms crossed.
Ryomen Sukuna
"…Finally interesting."
Hakari stood up fully.
"…THEY'RE BLURRING."
Kirara grabbed his sleeve.
"…Sit down before you get involved."
Nanami just exhaled slowly.
Kento Nanami
"…I regret being here for this."
Higaruma nodded.
Hiromi Higuruma
"…This is excessive."
Meanwhile—
Yuji and Takeru were gone from normal perception.
Just streaks of motion across the island.
Sand trails.
Wind bursts.
Footsteps that barely existed.
Yuji pushed harder.
Takeru matched.
Then Takeru pushed harder.
Yuji matched again.
The entire island had stopped.
Even the cursed spirits.
Even Fred.
Fred whispered.
"…They broke physics."
Megumi nodded slowly.
"…Yes."
Nobara added.
"…And possibly common sense."
Then—
Yuji finally changed direction mid-sprint.
Sharp turn.
Perfect timing.
Takeru reacted instantly.
Cutting diagonally across the beach.
Now it wasn't just speed.
It was prediction.
Hakari whispered.
"…This is insane."
Kirara nodded.
"…They're reading each other."
Gojo laughed.
"…This is what happens when you let two problems fight each other."
Sukuna smirked faintly.
"…Good."
And then—
both Yuji and Takeru hit max speed at the same time.
The sound didn't even keep up.
Just motion.
And then—
they both stopped at the same time.
Still.
Breathing lightly.
Yuji stared.
"…You were holding back before."
Takeru grinned.
"…Yeah."
Silence.
Then Yuji laughed.
"…Of course you were."
And just like that—
both of them walked back slowly.
As everyone else finally exhaled.
Hakari collapsed onto the sand.
"…I'm never racing them."
Megumi muttered.
"…Smartest decision all day."
Fred raised a hand weakly.
"…Never again."
And Takeru, still smiling slightly, looked around at everyone sitting quietly watching him and Yuji.
"…That was fun."
Yuji nodded.
"…Yeah."
And nobody argued.