The beach had slowly returned to its usual chaos.
Kenjaku was sitting near the pizza.
That alone was enough to make everyone keep glancing at him.
Takeru sat beside him, eating another slice.
For a while, neither said anything.
Then Takeru looked around.
Everyone was here.
The colonies were over.
The barriers were gone.
The Culling Game was finished.
And somehow, Kenjaku was eating pizza with them.
Takeru tilted his head.
"So what would happen now?"
Yuji looked over.
"What do you mean?"
Takeru gestured around.
"I mean… this is where my timeline ended."
He paused.
"I know what happened before this."
He looked toward the others.
"But now?"
Takeru shrugged.
"I've got no idea."
Megumi sat down nearby.
"So we're just making things up from here?"
Takeru smiled.
"Pretty much."
Nanami adjusted his tie.
"That is somewhat concerning."
Takaba raised his hand.
"I vote for a giant beach party."
Hakari immediately raised his hand.
"Seconded."
Fred shouted from farther down the beach.
"THIRD!"
Takeru laughed.
"Alright, beach party it is."
Kenjaku looked at him.
"You asked what would happen next."
"Yep."
"And your answer is a party?"
Takeru nodded.
"For now."
Kenjaku looked across the beach.
At the curses laughing together.
At everyone eating.
At people who had once been enemies now sitting beside each other.
"…Perhaps that's not such a bad answer."
Takeru smiled.
"See?"
He held up his pizza slice.
"Benefits."
Kenjaku shook his head.
"Pizza."
"Pizza."
A tiny smile appeared on Kenjaku's face.
Takeru noticed.
He didn't say anything this time.
He just smiled and took another bite.
For the first time, nobody knew what came next.
And strangely enough…
that felt pretty good.