A/N: Bridge chapter
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Saiki had enough.
After surviving fifteen different plans that led nowhere, one attempted ritual sacrifice (courtesy of Megumin), and a ten-hour debate over whether they should consult the stars (Frieren silently voted "no" by sleeping through it), he telepathically pinged every intellectually-capable person in the multiverse group.
Within minutes, a roundtable was set up in the control room of their newly reinforced underground lab—also known as "Kusuke's playpen." Around it sat: Senku, Light Yagami, Shadow, Kazuma, Subaru, Gojo, Makima, Kusuke, Chrome, Rudeus, Frieren, and Lloyd.
The chaos began immediately.
Kazuma squinted suspiciously across the table and pointed a finger.
"Why is he here?" He gestured at Light.
Kusuke smirked, clapping a hand on Light's back.
"He's fine. Pretty smart, though clearly not smarter than me. But he listens."
Light flinched and awkwardly peeled Kusuke's hand off his shoulder, forcing a shaky laugh.
Everyone stared.
What the hell did Kusuke do to him…? they all thought in unison.
Ignoring the tension, Senku took control.
"If we can observe the multiverse rifts more closely and for longer durations, we may be able to defragmentize the pattern and—"
"But another rift formation means," Subaru cut in, voice strained. "It could drag in a civilian, a friend... or something worse."
Senku adjusted his goggles and gave a curt nod.
"Right. Time is limited."
"We'll beat the enemy again," Shadow said coolly, arms crossed, voice calm but menacing. "No matter who steps out of that rift."
Kusuke stood, holding up a blueprint on a tablet.
"Then we build two devices: one that can help Saiki close the rift—like a remote switch—and another that amplifies his power."
Saiki, arms folded, narrowed his eyes. "How?"
Kusuke pointed at Saiki's signature pink antenna.
"If I can build your limiter, I can build a power amplifier. Your antenna isn't just a suppressor—it's a two-way valve. With my modifications, it could enhance your powers."
"That sounds unstable," Saiki said. "If you strengthen it, I'll need an even stronger limiter just to function."
Kusuke chuckled ominously.
"I thought you'd figure it out by now. Your powers—true powers—don't just come from you. With the right adjustments, your antenna can either suppress or unlock terrifying potential."
Lloyd raised a hand. "Let's prioritize the switch to stop the rift. I don't understand Saiki's biology, so safer first."
Saiki considered it. Every day the rifts got worse. And every day... he felt stronger.
Just as he nodded slightly, Jinwoo leaned toward Lloyd.
"Do both."
Lloyd blinked. "Why?"
Jinwoo leaned closer, whispering:
"If he does, he might get a system."
Lloyd froze.
"Wait. You knew? You have one too?" he whispered back.
Across the room, Kazuma stared at the two of them. "What am I doing here…?"
Meanwhile, Gojo leaned way too close to Makima.
"So. Want to—"
Makima raised a hand, cutting him off.
"I'll handle the property damage reports and legal configurations."
Kusuke nodded. "Perfect. You're teamed with me and Light. I need to keep... an eye on him."
Light gulped.
Rudeus leaned forward, thoughtful.
"You know, Kusuke, tech might not be your limit. We do have magic."
Frieren, still sipping tea, lazily nodded in agreement.
Kusuke smiled wide.
Too wide.
Villainously wide.
Saiki sighed. "You're volunteering yourself to the devil."
He rubbed his temples as dozens of thoughts flooded his mind—formulas, battle strategies, Light contemplating betrayal, Gojo fantasizing about dating the devil herself, Subaru internally reliving death #46, and Kusuke drafting a plan labeled "God-tier Psychic Enhancement Device Ver. 3.0."
Too much.
Saiki wobbled, brain overheated from everyone's internal rambling.
"I need... coffee jelly."
The meeting ended in a mess of overlapping conversations, incomplete blueprints, and quiet existential dread. But one thing was clear:
The Rift-Stopping Button Project had officially begun.
And with Kusuke and Makima involved... Saiki was no longer sure if that was a good thing.
As the room buzzed with cross-dimensional plans and half-baked side conversations, Kusuke clapped his hands with giddy excitement.
"Alright, everyone shut up. It's time for assignments. You're all talented—or at least marginally useful—so I've split you into task forces."
Everyone leaned forward. Gojo put on sunglasses he already wore. Shadow dramatically crossed his arms. Megumin held up a sparkler. For some reason.
Kusuke tapped his screen and the hologram above them shifted, displaying a mess of names and categories:
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Team Government Blackmail (Primary Political Negotiators)
> Kusuke, Saiki, Makima, Light Yagami
Kusuke smirked. "We'll handle the bureaucrats. Bribery, threats, political suppression... you know. Tuesday."
Makima smiled faintly. Light pretended to be fine.
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Team Psychic (Metaphysical Assessment & Pre-Cog Analysis)
> Kusuo Saiki, Toritsuka, Aiura
Saiki sighed. "Great. Perverted Ghost boy and horoscope girl."
Toritsuka gave him a thumbs-up. "We got this, bro!"
Aiura winked. "You'll thank me when I see your death before it happens."
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Team Suppressor (Combat Response & Dimensional Containment)
Saiki, Saitama, Jinwoo, Shadow
Saiki raised an eyebrow. "This is just overkill."
Saitama shrugged. "Guess I'll punch whoever comes out the rift."
Shadow smiled proudly. "As expected of my Eminence."
Jinwoo beside Igris, "...I'll bring the army."
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Team Science & Engineering (Tech Construction & Rift Device Design)
Kusuke, Senku, Chrome, Lloyd… and part-time Jinwoo
Senku pushed up his goggles. "We're going full scientific revolution."
Chrome fist-pumped. "Hell yeah! Super science time!"
Lloyd looked confused. "What do you mean 'part-time Jinwoo'?"
Kusuke pointed."You're being borrowed."
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Team Radar (Detection & Surveillance)
Saiki, Subaru, Lloyd, Rudeus, Aki
Subaru blinked. "Radar? For what?"
Rudeus pointed at his own glowing eyes. "For those who see what's coming."
Aki lit a cigarette, eyes half-lidded. "I'm here to spot death."
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Team Magic (Arcane Integration & Rift Defense)
> Rudeus, Roxy, Frieren
Frieren didn't react. She might've been asleep again.
Roxy smiled politely. "Let's make sure magic doesn't tear this place apart."
Rudeus nervously agreed. "Please don't let Eris in here."
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Team Backup (Battle-Ready Reserves)
> Toji, Todo, Fushiguro, Megumin, Darkness, Shadow Garden, Eris, Power, Choso, Nobara, Suguru
Kusuke waved dismissively. "I needed bodies."
Megumin yelled, "I'll blow everything up!!"
Darkness taking a stand. "I volunteer to take the hits!"
Power flexed."I'm the strongest!"
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Team Medic
Shoko
She raised a drink. "Try not to die."
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Team Expenses (Resource Acquisition & Financial Oversight)
Ryusui, Kusuke, Makima, Gojo, Lloyd, Jinwoo, Senku
Ryusui shouted, "I shall buy the what i desire!"
Gojo dissapointed. "Wait, are we stealing it or taxing it?"
Makima sighed."Don't ask."
Kusuke bringing up a clipboard with contracts. "Just sign here."
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Team Wildcards (Friend or Foe...?)
Sukuna, Yoru, Reze
Everyone stared. No one said anything.
Sukuna grinned.
Yoru sharpened her nails.
Reze smiled, eyes glowing faintly.
"Why are they even—" Saiki rubbing his eyes.
Kusuke smirked suspiciously. "Chaos is a valid strategy."
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PLEBS (Miscellaneous/Questionable Usefulness)
Kazuma, Denji, Yuji
A long, dead silence filled the room.
Yuji finally raised his hand. "Wait… What do they mean by Government Blackmail?"
Kazuma slammed the table. "More importantly, what do they mean by PLEBS?!"
Subaru stood, frustrated. "I don't even care about that—what do they mean by future precaution?!"
Rudeus pointed at his glowing eyes again. "People who can see or sense into the future."
Aki, deadpan, took a drag from his cigarette. "It's usually death."
Yuji looked at Denji.
Denji looked at Kazuma.
Kazuma looked at Saiki.
Saiki walked out of the room.
Kusuke clapped his hands.
"Alright. You all have your roles. Let's see how many survive by the end of the week!"
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End.