The chaos from earlier had finally settled into something resembling order.
At least visually.
Emotionally? Not even close.
Takeru stood in the center of the room again, now properly dressed.
Tight, long-sleeved black shirt.
Baggy white training pants.
Black martial arts slippers.
And a long haori draped over his shoulders, tied neatly with a decorative cord.
The same presence had returned with the outfit—like everything had been reset into "serious mode."
Sukuna stood nearby, fully manifested, watching with mild amusement.
Ryomen Sukuna
"…Better presentation."
Yuji looked relieved just seeing normal clothes again.
"…Okay, at least we're back to baseline chaos."
Megumi didn't look convinced.
"…That doesn't feel like baseline."
Hakari stretched.
"…I feel like something worse is coming."
Kirara nodded.
"…Always is."
Gojo leaned against the wall.
Satoru Gojo
"…He's about to say something stupid again, isn't he."
Takeru ignored all of them.
He looked upward.
Directly.
As if addressing something invisible.
"…Narrator."
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Yuji blinked.
"…Did he just—"
Megumi cut in immediately.
"…Yes."
Takeru continued calmly.
"…May we visit thy Heian Era?"
Silence stretched.
Fred slowly lowered his sign in the corner.
It read:
"He is addressing reality now."
Sukuna smirked slightly.
"…Bold request."
Gojo raised a hand slightly.
"…I don't think that's how travel works."
The second Gojo nodded.
"…Pretty sure you need paperwork."
Takeru waited.
Still staring upward.
Still completely serious.
A long pause followed.
The air felt like it was holding its breath.
Then—
nothing responded.
Yuji whispered.
"…So what now?"
Takeru exhaled.
"…Denied."
A pause.
"…Rude."
Sukuna laughed quietly.
"…Even existence refuses you sometimes."
Takeru lowered his head slightly.
Then shrugged.
"…Fine."
A beat.
"…I'll go myself later."
Everyone immediately reacted at once.
"…NO YOU WON'T."