The beach was still in full celebration mode.
People were eating.
Curses were swimming.
Fred was talking with his friends.
Pizza boxes were stacked everywhere.
Some were full.
Some were completely empty.
Some had exactly one slice left.
It was beautiful chaos.
Then Takeru appeared.
FLASH.
He stepped onto the sand.
And beside him—
Kenjaku.
The entire beach went silent.
A curse immediately stood up.
"KENJAKU!"
Several others turned.
Weapons were drawn.
Cursed energy surged.
Yuji's expression hardened.
Maki reached for her weapon.
Hakari stepped forward.
Even the curses that had been laughing moments earlier suddenly became tense.
Kenjaku calmly looked around.
Takeru immediately raised both hands.
"WAIT!"
Everyone stopped.
"He's with me."
Someone shouted from the crowd.
"Why is he here?!"
Takeru pointed at Kenjaku.
"He's thinking about joining the good guys."
Silence.
Kenjaku looked at Takeru.
"I said I would consider it."
Takeru nodded.
"That's basically halfway there."
"No, it isn't."
Takeru turned back to everyone.
"Anyway, nobody attack Dad."
Several people stared.
"Dad?!"
Takeru smiled.
"Long story."
Kenjaku slowly looked around.
Then his eyes landed on something.
Pizza.
Lots of pizza.
Boxes were scattered across tables and blankets.
Some were full.
Some were empty.
Some had already been stacked into towers.
Kenjaku stared.
"…That's a lot of pizza."
Takeru smiled.
"Told you."
Kenjaku walked toward the nearest table.
He looked inside one box.
Empty.
Another.
Three slices.
Another.
Completely empty.
Another.
Pepperoni.
Kenjaku looked back at Takeru.
"You weren't exaggerating."
Takeru crossed his arms proudly.
"I never exaggerate about pizza."
Kenjaku picked up a slice.
Everyone watched.
He took a bite.
Silence.
He chewed.
Then—
"…Not bad."
Takeru's eyes lit up.
"SEE?"
Kenjaku took another bite.
Takeru turned toward everyone.
"Everyone, I think we're making progress!"
Hakari stared.
"…Are we seriously recruiting Kenjaku with pizza?"
Takeru nodded.
"It's working."
Kenjaku looked at the enormous pile of pizza boxes.
"…There may be something to this."
Takeru grinned.
"Family bonding."
Kenjaku sighed.
But he took another slice anyway.