One hour later.
Nothing had changed.
Takeru was still in the bed.
Still wrapped.
Still completely immobilized.
Shoko was still there.
Still reading.
Still not impressed.
The room was quiet.
Peaceful.
Almost calm—
"…Can I leave."
"No."
Five seconds passed.
"…Can I leave now."
"No."
Yuji was sitting in a chair nearby, chin in his hand.
"…He's been doing this the whole time…"
Nobara nodded.
"…He hasn't stopped."
Megumi stood by the wall.
"…He's testing for a different answer."
Takeru stared at the ceiling.
Processing.
"…What conditions must be met to permit exit."
Shoko flipped a page.
"…Full structural recovery."
"…Estimated time?"
"…Days."
Silence.
"…Can I leave."
"No."
Yuji leaned back.
"…He didn't even react to 'days'…"
Nobara smirked.
"…He rejected that outcome instantly."
Takeru shifted slightly—
bandages tightened immediately.
"…Pain registered."
Shoko didn't look up.
"…Good."
Another pause.
"…What if I remain stationary outside this room."
"No."
"…What if I do not engage in combat."
"No."
"…What if—"
"No."
Yuji started laughing again.
"…She's not even letting you finish anymore…"
Megumi exhaled quietly.
"…Preemptive denial."
Nobara added.
"…It's effective."
Takeru blinked slowly.
"…This is inefficient."
Shoko closed her file halfway.
Looked directly at him.
"…You broke four limbs in under a minute."
A pause.
"…You are currently the definition of inefficient."
Silence.
Yuji whispered.
"…That one landed…"
Takeru stared at the ceiling again.
"…Counterpoint."
Shoko raised an eyebrow.
"…Can I leave."
"…No."
Nobara lost it.
"…HE DIDN'T EVEN TRY—"
Megumi shook his head slightly.
"…He's brute forcing the conversation."
Another five seconds passed.
"…Can I lea—"
"No."
"…Can I lea—"
"No."
"…Can I lea—"
"No."
Yuji leaned back in his chair, laughing harder now.
"…This is never gonna work…"
Shoko finally stood up.
Walked over.
Looked down at Takeru.
"…You're persistent."
Takeru nodded slightly.
"…Correct."
A pause.
"…Can I leave."
Shoko stared at him for a long moment.
Then:
"…No."
Silence again.
Takeru exhaled slowly.
"…Attempt frequency will increase."
Nobara pointed.
"…DON'T SAY THAT OUT LOUD!"
Megumi closed his eyes briefly.
"…We're going to be here all day."
Yuji sighed, still smiling.
"…Yeah… we are…"
Shoko walked back to her desk.
Sat down.
Opened her file again.
"…I can do this all week."
Takeru stared at the ceiling.
"…So can I."
A beat.
"…Can I leave."
"…No."
And the cycle continued.
Unbroken.
Unstoppable.
Completely pointless.