Nobody spoke.
Not after that.
Not after the gunshot.
Not after watching Takeru fall.
The battlefield had gone still.
Dust settled slowly through the cold air.
Even the wind felt quieter.
Older Gojo knelt there for several long moments.
One hand still against Takeru's chest.
Hoping.
Knowing.
Still hoping.
Then silently—
he slid an arm beneath Takeru's back.
Another beneath his legs.
And lifted him carefully.
Like if he moved too roughly, it would somehow make things worse.
Young Gojo watched silently.
No grin.
No jokes.
No confidence.
Just staring.
Older Geto closed his eyes briefly.
Young Geto looked away entirely.
Yuji wiped at his face furiously.
It didn't help.
Choso stood immediately beside Gojo.
Close.
Protective.
Like he refused to let his brother walk alone.
Even Sukuna had manifested fully again.
And for once—
he said nothing.
No mockery.
No grin.
No amusement.
He simply walked beside them.
Silent.
The group began moving back toward Jujutsu High.
Slowly.
Riko walked behind them trembling slightly.
Shaken.
Alive.
Because of him.
Shoko walked near the front.
Both older and younger Shoko.
Neither speaking.
Young Shoko kept glancing at Takeru like she expected him to suddenly sit up and complain.
Older Shoko already knew better.
And hated that she did.
Yuta walked with his head lowered.
Megumi's fists stayed clenched the entire time.
Panda's ears drooped.
Takaba wasn't smiling.
Even Ryu was quiet.
Kashimo stared ahead silently.
Higuruma adjusted his tie three separate times before finally stopping altogether.
Nobody could process it.
Not really.
Because Takeru was always moving.
Always talking.
Always laughing.
Always making noise.
And now—
nothing.
As they walked through the streets—
people moved out of the way instinctively.
Not because of cursed energy.
Because of the atmosphere.
Grief.
Young Gojo finally spoke after what felt like hours.
Quietly.
"…He jumped in front of it."
Nobody answered.
Because everyone saw it.
He didn't hesitate.
Not even for a second.
Yuji's voice cracked again.
"…He saved her…"
Choso lowered his head.
"…That is who our brother is."
Sukuna glanced slightly toward Takeru's still form.
Then looked away again.
"…Foolish."
A pause.
"…And admirable."
That alone made several people look up.
Because Sukuna never said things like that.
The gates of Jujutsu High finally came into view.
Morning light barely touching them.
And waiting near the entrance—
Utahime.
Maki.
Yuki.
Hakari.
Kirara.
Miwa.
Aika.
They had stayed behind.
None of them knew exactly what happened.
Only that something had gone wrong.
Hakari's grin faded first.
"…Hey."
No response.
"…Where's Takeru?"
Then Gojo stepped closer.
Still carrying him.
And the silence answered everything.
Miwa covered her mouth immediately.
Kirara froze.
Hakari's eyes widened.
Maki stared hard like refusing to believe it.
Utahime's expression shifted slowly.
From annoyance.
To confusion.
To disbelief.
"…No."
Gojo kept walking.
Head lowered.
Still silent.
And for the first time since anyone there had met him—
Satoru Gojo looked completely broken.