Night finally settled over Jujutsu High.
The endless conversations slowed.
Lights dimmed.
People started separating toward rooms and sleeping quarters.
For a brief moment—
it looked like everyone would act normal.
That lasted three minutes.
Instead of going to bed, nearly every boy in the school quietly migrated toward the large lobby area.
Blankets dragged behind them.
Pillows stolen from multiple rooms.
Snacks carried openly.
Zero shame.
Yuji arrived first with armfuls of chips.
Panda rolled in carrying three blankets.
Megumi came because resistance was useless.
Yuta brought drinks.
Todo carried enough pillows for a military campaign.
Ryu had somehow found dessert again.
Kashimo came only because he wanted to see what stupidity looked like.
Choso came because Yuji was there.
Geto came because Gojo was there.
Young Gojo came because causing trouble was there.
Older Geto came because someone had to supervise.
Takaba came because existence itself was funny.
Hakari strutted in like he owned the event.
And behind him—
Kirara.
Arms crossed.
Already annoyed.
"…I said this was dumb."
Hakari grinned.
"…And yet you came."
"…You begged."
"…Convinced."
"…Begged."
Then Takeru climbed onto a couch dramatically.
Takaba jumped beside him.
They looked at each other.
Nodded once.
Then shouted together at full volume:
"SLEEPOVER! FORT! FOOD! SNACKS! FUN! JOKES!"
The whole lobby erupted.
Haibara burst through the door instantly.
"…I HEARD SLEEPOVER!"
Panda threw a blanket in the air.
"…FORT TIME!"
Todo slammed cushions together.
"…A fortress worthy of brotherhood!"
Megumi turned to leave.
Yuji grabbed his sleeve.
"…Nope."
"…Let me go."
"…Nope."
Within minutes the room became chaos.
Couches flipped into walls.
Blankets stretched across chairs.
Pillows stacked into towers.
Takaba kept declaring random objects "load-bearing comedy supports."
Ryu was arranging desserts in symmetrical patterns.
Kashimo stared at a juice box like it had insulted him.
Kirara sat on a couch watching everyone spiral.
"…This is pathetic."
Hakari handed them snacks.
"…Yeah."
They took them anyway.
Then the door slid open again.
Three late arrivals stepped in.
Higuruma.
Older Gojo.
Young Nanami.
Everyone froze.
Higuruma looked at the blanket fortress.
At Takaba wearing a lampshade.
At Todo saluting a pillow.
At Takeru upside down on a couch.
"…What court of law would permit this."
Older Gojo grinned immediately.
"…The cool one."
Young Nanami stared in visible disappointment.
"…I came because Haibara said there would be quiet reading."
Haibara, from inside the fort:
"…I lied!"
Nanami closed his eyes.
"…Of course."
Takeru pointed dramatically.
"…They're late! Penalty!"
Takaba gasped.
"…Yes! Initiation!"
Before anyone could react, Panda and Yuji threw blankets over Higuruma and Nanami.
Gojo willingly dove into them.
"…I ACCEPT!"
Higuruma sighed from under a blanket.
"…This is kidnapping."
Nanami's muffled voice came next.
"…I want to go home."
Takeru laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
Soon enough—
everyone was inside the sprawling fort.
Talking.
Eating.
Mock arguing.
Throwing popcorn.
Existing in a way none of them had been allowed to for too long.
Outside, the campus was calm.
Inside, the lobby shook with laughter.