Tokyo Colony 1 was quieter than expected.
Too quiet.
Like the city itself was holding its breath.
Broken streets.
Empty buildings.
A sky warped by the colony barrier.
No civilians.
No normal life.
Just the game.
Takeru walked ahead.
Yuji beside him.
Megumi had joined the group after entering through another point.
Older Higaruma walked calmly.
Younger Sukuna followed with his arms crossed.
Yuji looked around.
"…You really know where we're going?"
Takeru nodded.
"The theater."
Megumi frowned.
"…Why would he be there?"
Takeru shrugged.
"…Because Higuruma's weird."
Older Higaruma adjusted his suit.
"…I object to the phrasing."
They reached it soon after.
An abandoned theater.
Tall.
Silent.
Dark.
The doors creaked open.
The group stepped inside.
Silence.
Water could be heard.
Dripping.
Shifting.
Yuji blinked.
"…Bath sounds?"
Megumi stared.
"…In a theater?"
Takeru sighed.
"…Yep. That's him."
They followed the sound.
Down the hall.
Past broken seats.
Past ripped curtains.
Until—
they entered the backstage bathing room.
And there he was.
Younger Higuruma.
Fully dressed.
Sitting in a full bath.
Suit on.
Tie on.
Shoes off, at least.
Silence.
Yuji blinked.
"…Why."
Megumi didn't even try to ask.
Older Higaruma stepped forward.
Looked at himself.
Paused.
"…Younger me?"
A small smile.
"How exciting…"
The younger Higuruma slowly looked up.
Water rippling around him.
His eyes narrowed.
Because standing in front of him was—
himself.
And beside him—
Sukuna.
A younger Sukuna.
And Takeru.
And Yuji.
And Megumi.
His brain visibly tried to process this.
Failed.
Tried again.
Failed again.
Older Higaruma adjusted his collar.
Calmly.
"Higuruma."
A pause.
"Come with us."
The younger one blinked.
"…What."
Older Higaruma sighed.
"I don't really know why but…"
He gestured.
"Come on."
Another pause.
"We don't have all day."
Younger Higuruma looked around again.
At Sukuna.
At himself.
At Takeru.
At the absolute absurdity.
Then he slowly stood up from the bath.
Water dripping from his suit.
"…I have several questions."
Takeru nodded.
"Good."
Yuji smiled.
"Ask them while walking."
Megumi turned around already leaving.
"…Please."
Younger Higuruma stared at everyone one last time.
Then—
for reasons even he didn't fully understand—
he agreed.
"…Fine."
And just like that—
one more piece was added to Takeru's impossible board.
Next stop—
Angel.