The day should have been a disaster.

Sorcerers and cursed spirits sharing the same space—no barriers, no missions, no “kill on sight” orders. Just a rare, chaotic truce day at a remote mountain lodge Gojo insisted was “neutral territory.” Neutral, of course, meaning he picked it.

The moment everyone arrived, the atmosphere cracked with tension.

Hanami stood silently among the trees, vines shifting like they were breathing with the forest. Mahito spun in lazy circles, poking at Panda’s fur despite Panda swatting him away. Jogo complained about the sun. Choso hovered protectively near Yuji like an overworked older brother. Sukuna lounged on a boulder, tapping his nails against stone with an infuriating smirk.

And Toji… Toji leaned against the porch railing like this was all normal, arms crossed, eyes sharp, grin feral.

Megumi pretended not to see him.

“Okay!” Gojo announced dramatically, clapping his hands. “Team-building day! No murdering. No maiming. No emotional scarring—looking at you, Mahito.”

Mahito pouted. “You’re no fun.”

Nobara tugged on her jacket, already unimpressed. “Can we just get this over with? I don’t trust any of them.”

“Understandable,” Nanami muttered. “I will be leaving at precisely five p.m. Whether we are done or not.”

The first activity was a hike.

Hanami walked beside Megumi, who—though visibly uncomfortable—kept pace with a strange sense of mutual respect. Yuji trotted ahead with Choso shadowing him protectively, occasionally swatting Mahito’s hand away whenever he tried to poke Yuji’s cheek “to see what happens.”

Gojo intentionally walked next to Jogo.

Jogo intentionally tried to light him on fire every three minutes.

Panda and Toge stuck together, exchanging occasional commentary. Toge nodded toward Mahito chasing a butterfly with frightening enthusiasm. “Salmon,” he said grimly. Panda translated it as: that shouldn’t be allowed to roam freely.

Toji didn’t join the hike so much as stalked through the woods like a predator on vacation. Every time Megumi glanced over his shoulder, he caught Toji smirking at him like this was entertainment.