The arcade was finally calming down.
Machines still blinking.
Coins still scattered.
But at least nobody was actively breaking reality for five minutes.
Takeru stood near a wall, arms loosely crossed, thinking again.
That familiar dangerous kind of thinking.
Yuji noticed immediately.
"…Why are you thinking again."
Megumi sighed.
"…That tone is never good."
Hakari leaned slightly forward.
"…Here we go."
Takeru glanced down at his own hands.
Flexed his fingers once.
Then looked up.
"…Do you think there are any physical changes like with Sukuna?"
Silence.
Yuji froze.
"…Like WHAT?"
Takeru continued casually.
"…Tattoos or something?"
Megumi's eyes narrowed immediately.
"…Why are you asking that so calmly."
Hakari pointed at him.
"…Because that is NOT a normal question."
From nearby, Sukuna's voice came instantly sharp.
Ryomen Sukuna
"…Do not compare yourself to me."
Takeru shrugged slightly.
"I'm just saying."
A pause.
"I ate two cursed objects."
Yuji raised both hands.
"…That's not 'just saying,' that's 'medical emergency.'"
Megumi added flatly:
"…That's multiple crimes against your own body."
Hakari leaned closer.
"…Wait, actually—do you feel anything?"
Takeru paused.
Thought about it.
"…Not really."
A beat.
"…But the knife one said 'warm.'"
Silence.
Yuji stepped back.
"…I hate that sentence."
Megumi rubbed his forehead.
"…We are officially in 'unknown consequences' territory."
Hakari looked between everyone.
"…So we're just waiting for him to evolve?"
Takeru immediately responded.
"…I'm not evolving."
A pause.
"…Probably."
Sukuna clicked his tongue internally.
Ryomen Sukuna
"…You already are."
Fred slowly raised a sign from the arcade counter:
"Side effects: pending manifestation."
Takeru looked at his hand again.
Then shrugged.
"…If I get tattoos, I better look cool."
Yuji immediately shouted:
"…THAT'S YOUR PRIORITY?!"