Multiverse travel starts from a crossover right?

"You pissed off Yamada-sensei again, Takashi," one of his classmates muttered as he strolled into class.

Takashi barely looked up, already slouching into his chair. "Eh, doesn't count when he wakes up mad every morning."

Kazuomi spun around in his seat, smirking. "Yeah, but you've got balls for napping in his class. That's like poking a bear with a stick, while covered in honey, and insulting its mother."

Takashi shrugged. "What can I say? I live dangerously."

"Bro, you live recklessly."

"Same thing."

Kazuomi was about to turn back when he suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. You done with the book I gave you?"

Takashi nodded, last night's memories still fresh, the hours he definitely didn't regret spending. Eyes still forward, a slow grin crept onto his face. "You have good taste."

Kazuomi chuckled, leaning back with a smug grin. "Heh. What can I say? Just a normal man of culture."

Takashi smirked but his eyes flickered toward a certain brick-haired girl chatting with her friends across the room. His expression didn't change, but his tone dropped just a little as he turned back to Kazuomi.

"Just make sure Rena never finds out about it."

Kazuomi froze mid-smug. "Shit. Right. Good call."

He knew Rena well enough to understand one thing. You didn't want to be on her bad side.

His eyes flicked to Takashi, who was grinning at his misery like a bastard. Kazuomi narrowed his eyes. "Hmm… do you want me to tell Yuriko-san?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it.

Takashi and Rei weren't friends anymore. They barely even talked. It was one of those unspoken things no one really brought up, because whenever it was mentioned, Takashi would shut down, get pissed, or both.

But this time?

Takashi didn't get angry.

No glare. No sharp retort.

Just a slight pause, so quick Kazuomi almost missed it, before Takashi leaned back in his chair, his smirk still in place.

"Go ahead," he said easily. "Doubt she'd care."

Kazuomi blinked.

Okay. That was new.

Kazuomi hesitated. "So… you two back together again?"

"Nope," Takashi said, shaking his head without a second thought.

Kazuomi frowned. "Then… you good?"

Takashi stretched, arms behind his head. "Never better."

That was a lie.

Maybe before, he would've been bitter about it. Maybe he would've thrown a sarcastic jab or just changed the subject entirely. But now?

Now he had bigger things to worry about.

"Have you heard? They found another body," Kazuomi said, lowering his voice. "Looked like some wild animal tore it apart."

Takashi raised an eyebrow as Kazuomi pulled out his phone, showing a blurry photo from a news site. The headline was all dramatic, Brutal Mauling Shocks Locals, but the actual image was grainy as hell.

Takashi frowned. "That… doesn't look like an animal attack."

"Right?" Kazuomi nodded. "I mean, I ain't an expert, but this doesn't scream 'bear' or 'stray dog' to me."

Takashi studied the image. Deep gashes, torn flesh, and yeah, that was a lot of blood. But something about the wound pattern felt off. Too messy for a blade. Too vicious for an accident. And if it was an animal, why the hell was this happening in the city?

He exhaled, handing the phone back. "Shit's weird."

Kazuomi nodded, pocketing his phone. "Yeah. And the cops ain't saying much either. Just told people to stay indoors at night and report anything suspicious. Like, gee, thanks, that's real helpful."

Takashi leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Another body. More weirdness. And if he had to guess…

This was just the beginning.

Takashi nudged him. "Hey. You hear anything else about this?"

Kazuomi glanced up. "What, the body? Nah, just what's online. But…" He leaned in slightly. "People are saying it's not just one. There were two others last week. Same kinda wounds. And get this, no sign of an animal."

Takashi's stomach sank.

Three bodies. No official explanation.

Yup. Definitely bad news.

Before he could respond, a familiar voice rang out, loud and exasperated.

"Komuro! You better not be sleeping again!"

Rena.

Takashi barely held back a groan as he turned to see Rena Minami marching toward them, arms crossed, already scowling. She had that "I'm about to make your life hell" expression locked and loaded.

He wanted to shout, Why are you coming after me? Your real target is right in front of me, but wisely kept his mouth shut.

Clearing his throat, he tried to play it cool. "Minami-san, it was a mistake. Don't worry about it."

"Hmph. Why would I worry about you?" she scoffed. "I just don't want the class getting disturbed because of you."

As she spoke, her eyes briefly flicked toward Kazuomi before snapping back, something Takashi didn't miss.

Why are you looking at him when you're talking to me? He kept that thought to himself.

After delivering her short lecture, she turned and walked away, leaving behind an awkward silence.

Takashi turned to Kazuomi, raising an eyebrow. "So… how do you even deal with her?"

Kazuomi sighed like a man who had seen too much. "It's not about dealing with her. It's about enduring."

"Good. Keep practicing, it's a lifelong skill."

"What?" Kazuomi blinked, clearly still oblivious to Rena's feelings.

Takashi smirked but said nothing. He wasn't about to drop that bomb on him, not because he had any interest in Rena himself (he'd already checked that off the list), but because he had no intention of getting dragged into this mess. Bro code was bro code.

His gaze drifted toward Rei, laughing and chatting with some classmates. Carefree. Unbothered.

He shook his head, pushing down the familiar sting in his chest, and pulled out his notebook. The teacher would be here any minute.