The forest was finally calming down.
The barrier had fallen.
The event was technically still happening.
But at this point nobody was really sure if this still counted as a school competition anymore.
Tiny Yuji sat on a rock eating snacks someone had somehow produced.
Tiny Takeru was trying to copy Older Takeru's posture and failing because he kept looking too serious.
And Takeru himself?
He was thinking again.
Which immediately worried everyone nearby.
"…Oh no," Megumi muttered.
Takeru suddenly snapped his fingers.
"WAIT."
Hakari sighed loudly.
"…There it is."
"I need nicknames."
Older Gojo looked proud instantly.
"…Now THIS is important."
Nanami pinched the bridge of his nose.
"No it is not."
Takeru ignored him completely and pointed dramatically at Choso first.
"Bro-so."
Yuji blinked.
"…That actually works."
Takeru pointed next at Older Gojo.
"Brojo."
Older Gojo adjusted his glasses proudly.
"See? ORIGINAL MODEL."
Then Takeru pointed at Younger Gojo.
"Brojo 2.0."
Young Gojo immediately objected.
"WHY AM I THE SEQUEL."
"Because you are literally the younger version."
"…Fair enough."
Tiny Yuji raised his hand.
"…What about me?"
Takeru pointed dramatically.
"Broji."
Tiny Yuji gasped.
"…THAT'S FIRE."
Yuji immediately looked offended.
"WAIT WHY DOES HE GET A COOLER ONE."
"Because tiny you has aura."
"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN."
Then Takeru pointed toward both Todos.
"Bro-do's."
Both Todos froze.
Then simultaneously flexed.
"…PERFECT."
"TRULY PERFECT."
Takeru pointed toward Megumi next.
"Megubro."
Megumi looked exhausted instantly.
"…Please don't."
"Too late."
Tiny Takeru nodded approvingly.
"…That one has potential."
Then Takeru pointed toward Hakari.
"Bro-kari."
Hakari looked genuinely touched.
"…I've never felt so accepted."
Kirara immediately sighed.
"You are absolutely encouraging him."
Takeru started pacing now like he was developing a scientific naming system.
"Maybe more…"
Everyone collectively feared that sentence.
"…Please stop while you're ahead," Yuji begged.
Takeru held up a finger dramatically.
"Oh and I probably will never call anyone these."
A pause.
"…But still."
He grinned.
"Fun to have handy."
Silence.
Then Sukuna let out a quiet snort from nearby.
"…Your brain is fascinatingly stupid."
Tiny Yuji looked inspired.
"…I want a nickname list too."
Tiny Takeru nodded seriously.
"…This is important social evolution."
Nanami looked exhausted beyond human comprehension.
"…We are watching future generations decay in real time."
Even the younger students were losing composure now.
Nobara pointed at Megumi laughing.
"MEGUBRO."
"…Don't start."
"MEGUBRO."
"Please stop."
Panda immediately joined in.
"BRO-KARI!"
Hakari pointed proudly.
"THAT'S ME!"
And within minutes—
the entire event somehow devolved into everyone making terrible nickname combinations.
Even Younger Gojo eventually joined in.
"…Nanabro."
Nanami stared at him silently.
"…Absolutely not."
Meanwhile—
Takeru leaned back against a tree smiling slightly.
For the first time since the glitch—
things felt normal again.
Chaotic.
Idiotic.
Loud.
But normal.
Tiny Takeru sat beside him quietly.
"…You really like making people laugh, huh."
Takeru blinked slightly.
Then smiled softer this time.
"…Yeah."
And for a little while—
the timelines stopped hurting quite so much.