The final minutes of the spar didn't feel like combat anymore.
It felt like pressure.
Megumi's shadows had stopped being attacks and started becoming statements—each one less about overwhelming force and more about forcing Takeru to prove he could still read intent in real time.
Takeru, in turn, wasn't reacting the way he used to.
He was anticipating.
Then adjusting before adjustment was even needed.
Yuji was sitting on a broken slab now.
"…They've been doing this for an hour?"
Nobara didn't look away from the field."…An hour of this is insane."
A shadow blade swept across the ground.
Takeru stepped through the gap like he already knew it would miss.
Megumi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're getting faster."
Takeru answered simply."…You're getting predictable under fatigue."
Megumi clicked his tongue.
"…I'm not fatigued."
A pause.
Then another shadow formation formed—slightly slower than before.
Even Megumi noticed it.
"…Liar," Takeru said calmly.
That made Megumi stop for half a second.
Just half.
But it was enough.
Takeru moved.
Not to attack.
Not to end it.
Just to win the exchange of momentum.
BOOM—
Their cursed energy collided again.
The ground cracked outward in a circular pattern.
Yuji leaned forward."…Okay they're actually just fighting on instinct now."
Nobara groaned."…I hate how good this is getting."
Megumi exhaled slowly.
Then—
he raised his hand for a final sequence.
Not bigger.
Not louder.
Just cleaner.
The shadows condensed.
Focused into a single point of inevitability.
Takeru's Six Eyes sharpened.
"…Final variation."
And then—
A voice dropped into the field like gravity itself deciding to speak.
"Okay."
Everything stopped.
Literally.
The shadows froze mid-motion.
The air went still.
Even Megumi's hand paused halfway through the technique.
From above—
appearing like he had always been there—
stood Satoru Gojo, casually waving like nothing was wrong.
"…That's enough trauma training."
Silence.
Yuji blinked. "…Trauma training?"
Nobara pointed immediately."THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS WAS CALLED—"
Gojo dropped down between them, landing lightly on the cracked ground.
He looked at Megumi first.
"…You're tired."
Megumi replied instantly."…I'm fine."
Gojo looked at Takeru next.
"…You're adapting too fast."
Takeru nodded slightly."…Noted."
Gojo sighed dramatically.
"…Why do I leave you alone for ONE HOUR and you start evolving like rival game bosses?"
Yuji raised his hand."…I think it was technically training."
Gojo pointed at him without looking."Wrong opinion."
Nobara muttered."…He's going to die of stress one day."
Gojo clapped once.
"Alright! Spar's over!"
Megumi immediately lowered his hand."…Finally."
Takeru relaxed slightly.
"…Understood."
Gojo walked between them, looking at the damage.
"…So let me get this straight."
He pointed at Megumi.
"You tried to trap him in adaptive shadow cycles."
Megumi didn't respond.
Gojo pointed at Takeru.
"And you started rewriting his habits mid-fight."
Takeru nodded once."…Yes."
Gojo paused.
Then smiled.
"…That's actually kind of terrifying."
Yuji leaned over to Nobara."…He's calling them terrifying. That's not good."
Nobara whispered back."…That's never good."
Gojo stretched his arms.
"Anyway. Done. No more sparring for today."
Megumi immediately:"Agreed."
Takeru:"…Understood."
Gojo grinned.
"Good! Because next time I leave you alone, I expect either breakthroughs or lawsuits."
Silence.
Yuji blinked."…Lawsuits?"
Nobara sighed."…I'm transferring schools."
Gojo turned, already walking away.
"Oh, and Megumi?"
Megumi looked up slightly.
"…What."
Gojo waved without turning back.
"Nice job surviving him for an hour."
Megumi stared at him.
"…That was not a compliment."
Gojo laughed.
"It was!"
And just like that—
the field finally went quiet again.
Takeru adjusted his sunglasses.
"…I improved."
Megumi exhaled.
"…I noticed."
Yuji stretched."…So… we're done being traumatized?"
Nobara didn't hesitate."…For now."