Tokyo Colony 1 remained unnaturally silent.
The ruined streets stretched endlessly beneath the barrier overhead.
The group had left the theater.
Now walking through the abandoned district together.
Younger Higuruma was still soaked.
Suit dripping.
Hair damp.
Yet somehow still managing to look more composed than everyone else.
He finally broke the silence.
"…I would like an explanation."
Takeru kept walking.
Hands behind his head.
Completely relaxed.
"…Timeline stuff."
Younger Higuruma stared.
"…That explains nothing."
Yuji pointed at Takeru.
"Trust me, you stop asking eventually."
Megumi nodded.
"…Very quickly."
Younger Sukuna glanced sideways.
"…I still dislike him."
Takeru suddenly stopped walking.
Everyone stopped with him.
Silence.
Then he turned around.
Blue eyes oddly serious now.
No grin.
No chaos.
Just calm.
"…Okay."
The group waited.
Takeru inhaled.
"…I shouldn't say this because it'll hurt…"
A pause.
"…But."
He pointed at himself.
"…Beat me to death."
Absolute silence.
Wind moved through the broken street.
A loose sign somewhere rattled.
Yuji blinked twice.
"…What."
Megumi stared.
"…No."
Older Higuruma adjusted his sleeve slowly.
"…Explain."
Younger Higuruma looked equally confused.
"…I agree with… myself."
Nanami wasn't here.
Yet somehow the air itself felt disappointed.
Younger Sukuna crossed all four arms.
"…You say absurd things far too casually."
Takeru sighed.
"Look."
He pointed at his chest.
"Last time this happened…"
A pause.
"…I got turned into a human-shaped crater."
Yuji slowly remembered.
"…Wait."
Megumi's eyes widened slightly.
"…The Raiden spar."
Takeru nodded.
"Exactly."
He stretched his shoulders.
"And somehow…"
He pointed upward dramatically.
"…My absurdly illegal Reverse Cursed Technique evolved again."
Younger Higuruma frowned.
"…You want us to kill you."
"Yep."
"…On purpose."
"Yep."
"…To see if you become even more broken."
"Bingo."
Silence.
Yuji rubbed his forehead.
"…I hate that this makes sense."
Megumi looked exhausted already.
"…I hate that I also understand the logic."
Older Higuruma stared at Takeru.
Long pause.
"…This is medically irresponsible."
Takeru smiled.
"Correct."
Younger Sukuna smirked.
"…Can I go first?"
Yuji immediately pointed.
"WHY ARE YOU THE MOST EXCITED."
Takeru stepped backward into the middle of the street.
Rolled his neck.
Cracked his knuckles.
Then spread his arms wide.
"…Alright."
A grin.
"Jump me."
Silence.
Everyone slowly exchanged looks.
Uncertain.
Suspicious.
Concerned.
Then somehow—
one by one—
they nodded.
Yuji sighed.
"…I cannot believe I'm agreeing to this."
Megumi stepped forward reluctantly.
"…This better do something useful."
Older Higuruma loosened his tie.
"…I will pretend there is legal precedent for this."
Younger Higuruma exhaled.
"…I have stopped understanding reality."
Younger Sukuna smiled way too widely.
"…Excellent."
Takeru planted his feet.
Still smiling.
"…Okay."
"…Try not to hold back."
The entire group surged forward.
Takeru's last thought:
"…This may have been a bad idea."