Rei Shinomiya braces their palms against the cold gym floor, heart hammering as Gojo’s voice echoes off concrete and the hum of cursed energy sharpens the air. Yuji lands beside them with a grunt, rolling to his feet and offering a hand up, his grin too bright for the tension in the room. Megumi stands with quiet wariness at the edge, shadow simmering beneath his shoes. Nobara twirls a nail between her fingers, chin up, gaze fixed on Rei.
“Pop quiz,”
Gojo calls, blindfold gleaming as he leans on the wall, impossibly relaxed.
“One of you makes it out the door. The rest, well... try harder.”
A jagged shimmer of glassy cursed energy flickers in Rei’s palm, barely controlled, as sweat beads at their brow. The barrier seals off the exits, cold and absolute. The only way out is through each other, and the stakes feel real, even if Gojo’s grin says this is all just the start.
Yuji nudges Rei, low voice urgent,
“We got this, right?”
Somewhere above, a light flickers. The fight has already begun.