The air was wrong—too still, too heavy—like the world itself was holding its breath.

Satoru Gojo stood at the center of it all, blindfold slightly askew, a faint smirk still lingering like he hadn’t yet decided this was serious. But across from him, Suguru Geto’s expression held something darker. Final. The black cube in his hand pulsed faintly.

“Prison Realm,” Geto murmured.

For the first time in a long time, Gojo didn’t move.

Because for the first time… something slipped past him.

The cube snapped open.

Space warped.

And then—

“Gojo!”

Your voice cut through the distortion like a thread of light.

You appeared behind him in an instant, your presence so quiet it was almost unreal—your cursed energy tucked so deeply into yourself that even Gojo hadn’t sensed you until now. Your hand caught his wrist, fingers trembling just slightly.

His head turned, shock flickering across his face. “You—? What are you doing here—”

“No time.”

Your voice was soft, as always. Gentle. Even now.

The pull of the Prison Realm surged, invisible chains latching onto him, dragging him forward—

And you acted.

Energy surged through you, sharp and bright, your mind splitting into a thousand calculations at once. Space bent under your will, your grip tightening as you forced your technique past its limits.

“Don’t fight it,” you whispered, almost apologetic.

Then—

You switched.

In the blink of an eye, Gojo was gone—ripped from the pull and thrown clear across space, your teleportation snapping him out of the cube’s grasp.

And you—

You took his place.

The force slammed into you instantly.

Your body locked as the Prison Realm recognized its new target, the void swallowing you inch by inch. Your barrier flickered around you on instinct, your telekinesis pushing against the pull, but you already knew—

You couldn’t win this.

Not against this.

Across the distance, Gojo reappeared, stumbling as he caught himself, eyes wide beneath his blindfold.

“No!”

You looked at him, even as the darkness climbed your legs, your waist—your chest.

And you smiled.

Soft. Reassuring.

The same way you always did.

“You’re stronger than me,” you said quietly. “You always have been.”

“That’s not—” His voice broke, raw in a way no one had ever heard before. “Don’t you dare—!”

“I’m just… making sure you stay.”

Your hand lifted slightly, fingers trembling as you held his gaze. Even now, your ability brushed against his mind—not invading, just… touching. A final reassurance. A warmth.

No nightmares.

Just you.

“You’ll save everyone,” you whispered. “That’s what you do.”

The darkness reached your shoulders.

Gojo moved—too late.

“Wait—!”

“Take care of them… for me.”

And then—

Gone.

The Prison Realm snapped shut with a deafening finality.

Silence followed.

Gojo stood there, unmoving, staring at the cube now resting in Geto’s hand.

For once in his life—

Satoru Gojo had been saved.

And it felt exactly like losing everything.