That tiny smile had just started appearing.
"…Got your rhythm—"
Then—
THUD.
Something struck Takeru from behind.
Not a normal hit.
Not a punch.
Not a kick.
Something heavy.
Precise.
Brutal.
His eyes widened for half a second.
The blue glow vanished.
And Takeru collapsed.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Takeru—
the guy who outran everyone.
The guy who laughed during fights.
The guy who kept standing back up—
was unconscious.
Yuji froze.
"…Takeru?"
No answer.
The beach felt colder.
Then—
a second presence stepped out.
Gojo's expression dropped instantly.
"…There were two."
Geto's eyes widened.
"…No…"
Before anyone could react—
the second attacker moved.
BOOOOM!!
Yuji barely blocked before getting blasted backwards through beach chairs.
Megumi summoned shadows immediately—
only for a strike to smash through them and throw him across the sand.
Hakari moved in.
Got hit.
Skidded backwards.
Kirara grabbed him before he slammed into a wall.
Nanami stepped forward.
"Higaruma!"
"Already moving!"
The two rushed together—
one from the front, one from the side—
CRACK!!
The attackers split apart instantly.
One rushed toward the group.
The other stood near Takeru.
Guarding him.
Waiting.
Sukuna slowly stood up.
No smile.
No smirk.
Nothing.
Just four eyes staring forward.
"…You hit him."
The air changed.
Even the ocean felt still.
Fred slowly picked up his fallen sign with shaking hands.
On it, in crooked letters:
"You messed up."