Niijima Makoto felt a strange sense of nostalgia as she climbed to the second floor where the student council room could be found. How many times had she climbed these stairs to go to that room? Hundreds? Thousands? And now she was doing it again, but she wasn't a student here. She wasn't a member of the student council, nor was she its president. She was its past.

How quickly things slip into the realm of what once was. The alumni who was once a student. The Phantom Thief who once was a useless sister. The daughter who once had a father. Makoto shivered slightly as she turned to walk down the familiar hallway- if she had Yusuke's skill in art, she could draw this place from memory. Close her eyelids and she could see it down to the streaks of lazy floor waxing performed by the students.

Her graduation was less that four months ago, and she was acting like it was half a lifetime. But that was before The Mountain Top. Everything before that felt like a lifetime ago, and before that, Above the Clouds, another divider in the history of Niijima Makoto. She was double separated from everything that was once her. A limited her.

Now she was finding her way through places that looked like her past life, but she was on a different path. She walked to the student council room as a visiting adult, not a president. She still rode the subway past Shubuya, but went north to Waseda, not east to Shujin. She didn't go home to a dinner table with Sae and dad... on good nights, she went home to a table with Sae and Ren. Like a new maze of life was created from a shuffled tileset of her memory. It looked the same, but the pathways and exits were different.

She reached the door and shoved away the feeling. It was a feeling she couldn't pin down. Nostalgic. Sad. But also hopeful… and correct. All at once. She would ask Ren about it later. Talking to him about this kind of thing helped her figure it out and put it to rest. For now, she needed to set it aside and attend to the matter at hand. Checking on her political legacy, as Ren so eloquently put it.

She put her hand on the door and almost pulled it open. Then she paused. This wasn't her territory anymore. She knocked.

"Come in," said a male voice. Takahashi, her subordinate last year. He used to be devoted and intuitive when focused, but a slacker if he didn't have anything to do. Once Makoto figured that out, she'd piled just enough busywork on him to keep him focused, but enough slack to turn the surplus energy into something constructive. That constructive thing had been an information net of wallflower kids who ended up being a reliable source of rumors, gossip, and plain information from all over the school. Takahashi, either by design or accident, made himself into an intelligence man- or a spymaster- depending on your point of view.

Makoto opened the door. A slightly chubby young man with neck-length black hair looked casually at the door, then Takahashi shot out of his chair, eyes wide. "Ms. Niijima! What can I do for you?"

Makoto could not help but smile at his intensely earnest face. "Mr. Takahashi, I was just visiting some of my old teachers and I wanted to see how you were doing. Please relax."

Takahashi made a visible attempt to relax, settling back into his seat. Makoto took the chair across the table. It almost felt like it used to.

"So," said Makoto, "How is your year starting so far?"

"Very well. No Kamoshida. No mafia. No Phantom Thieves A principal that actually runs the school. It's like easy mode, Ms. Niijima. Nothing at all like last year."

Makoto smiled. "That sounds wonderful."

"It feels lucky. I saw what last year did to you- I don't know how you managed it."

"Good friends. And good subordinates. You helped me through it, too," said Makoto, "And it looks like you learned how it worked. I was impressed with your election. I heard you defeated two athlete captains. Populists are difficult opponents."

Takahashi rolled his eyes. "They loved the fat jokes. But some interesting recordings were somehow obtained of both of them saying some pretty nasty things about all sorts of people. And those recordings somehow got on the internet." Takahashi put on an innocent look.

Makoto carefully kept her face neutral. Illicit recordings and public exposure was a dangerous tool with negative connotations. But if it was just the person's own words, unmanipulated- was that not simply an exposure of truth? Regardless, she was not here to burn a bridge with Takahashi. A man who could build a spy network and attain political power in a high school, such as it was, could be a useful ally in the future. Or a dangerous enemy. Or just an average person, come to think of it. But investments were inherently optimistic endeavors.

"I see," Makoto said in a neutral voice. "Well, then you have nothing to challenge you? No problems to keep your time?"

Takahashi settled back in his chair. "Not really. There is some debate over opening the roof up again, but no one really has their hearts in it. No one wants another… fall. Discussion is starting to just switch to decorating the fences. I think the most popular idea is to grow vines on them like a trellis."

"Oh, Haru would love that!"

"Haru? Oh, you mean Ms. Okumura? That 3rd year gardner whose dad died?"

Makoto pursed her lips at the lack of tact, but Haru wasn't here to be hurt by it. "Yes. That's her."

"She would be really useful for that. Too bad she graduated. But- well, other than that, nothing. Well- one thing recently, but I don't think it's actually a thing."

"What is it?"

"Nightmares. Lot's of nightmares. Students are talking about them all over the school."

"The same nightmare?" said Makoto, her curiosity piquing.

"I don't have much information on the specifics. I just know lots of people are talking about nightmares, and they started maybe two months ago, and seem to be getting more common."

"They started during the break?"

"Yeah, and talk started the first day of school even, lots of people were talking about nightmares they had over break."

"You have your network report on mundane things like that?"

"They tell me everything they hear as they walk around, not just mundane things."

This was odd news. Lots of nightmares. And then Makoto's brain connected that with the odd news of the suicides this morning.

"Any talk of suicide, depression, or anything like that?"

"No. And I would immediately report that to the staff. That's part of the reason I made the network. No more Shiho's. No more silent victims. No more Kamoshidas slinking in the dark."

Makoto realized she might have missed out on a major ally in Takahashi last year. That statement sounded Phantom Thieves-y. But her attention had been so focused on the Phantom Thieves and their issues outside Shujin, that she hadn't spent much time thinking about securing 'cleansed' territory like Shujin from new problems. Now, here was her old student council VP wrapping up Shujin Academy in a sort of guardian angel spy-ring.

"Can I give you my number?" said Makoto.

Takahashi's eyes went wide. "What!? You're not dating Amamiya anymore?"

Makoto's eyes went wide. Dating Ren? Where did that topic come from?

"What? What does that have to do with anything?"

Takahashi became very red. "Sorry. I must have misunderstood. What do you want me to do with your number?"

Why did he suddenly ask her about Ren? Why was he blushing? He was acting very strange, but Makoto supposed it didn't matter right this moment. She could figure it out later. "Tell me if you find out anything else about these nightmares, or anything else that might seem… irregular to normal life."

"... Irregular to normal life…"

"Right. So, let's exchange phone IDs." As the process completed, Makoto saw that it was getting past mid-morning. With the subways so backed up, she needed to get moving if she was going to meet Sae for lunch near her office. "I have to go. Don't forget to keep me up to date, Mr. Takahashi."

The young man was still red and breathing heavily, averting his eyes. "Yes. Of course. No problem, Ms. Niijima."

Makoto stood and left the room, closing the door behind her. Maybe he had allergies? That must be it.


The Tocho, or the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, was a giant, two-pronged edifice north of Shibuya. The SIU, along with many other government agencies, both federal and municipal, were housed within the dual skyscraper. Makoto rode the train back west from Shujin to get out relatively close to the restaurant where she was to meet Sae for lunch. A soba place. Sae loved soba. Cold noodles. Because the hot noodles were always in soup, and that was just too messy for Sae's wardrobe.

Makoto was a little early, but she decided to head into the restaurant and get them a table. To her surprise, Sae was already there. Her sister looked up from her phone with a small smile as Makoto sat down.

"Makoto, I'm happy you could join me."

"Me too. This is nice. It seems like it's been years since you had free time during the day."

"There is always work to be done," said Sae, "but in the past, I let that thought rule me. But no more. And I have staff to do the work for me while I have a leisurely lunch." Sae grinned.

Makoto laughed. A wave of modest joy flowed through her. This was the old Sae- the one she grew up with as a child. Finally, after the distortion of her sister's palace, the frustration of the Shido investigation, and the wrapup of the chaos of Matsuzaki… Niijima Sae was finally finding time to be who she was, the elder Niijima sister- not just Prosecutor Niijima. Of course, she was still straight-laced, still serious, but she was now displaying that streak of irreverence that had always been a shocking joy to Makoto in the past.

"But that is all of work I intend to mention for the next…" Sae looked at her watch. "Hour and fifteen minutes. So, tell me, how was your classless morning?"

"Very nice. Just Shibuya was clogged up due to the closure of the roads."

"Ah yes, the suicide cases. I imagine people were avoiding the buses."

"They were. And so I had to meet Ren and Futaba at the stop for the school."

A small smile developed in the corner of Sae's mouth. "You had to meet Ren, huh?"

Makoto felt her cheeks warm a little, but she and Ren had been together for almost a year- and probably been through more together in that time than lifelong partners do in eighty years. The embarrassment of being involved with someone was finally starting to fade. Now it felt like... It was more like… the way things were supposed to be.

"I like seeing him. He likes seeing me." Makoto said in a playfully challenging tone.

"Of course," Sae's grin widened to a full smile. "I must have used the wrong tone."

Sae was retreating. Makoto instinctually decided to push the advantage against her sister. She so rarely had the chance. "And how about you, sis? Anyone you desire to see?

Sae's face collapsed into her old stoic frown, but the barest hint of a rosy blush appeared on her upper cheeks. Got her! Makoto fought back a spike of glee at finding a gap in Sae's armor- it was such a rare event. Sae's eyes flicked away and looked out the window.

"I don't have time for such things."

"Sae. You choose not to make time for such things. You know very well that I'm not an idle person but I make time for Ren."

"Yes, of course. Well…"

"Is there someone? Maybe… Seito? The Junior National Police Commissioner? Didn't you oversee the Matsuzaki situation with him?"

Sae's blush increased to a brighter red, but she turned and frowned sadly at Makoto. "No. Well- yes. I've had such… thoughts. But it's pointless."

Sae looked away again. "He's married. And happy. Not that it would matter if he wasn't."

Sae's eyes shifted back to Makoto. "Happy, I mean." She smiled. "If he were not married, however…"

Makoto laughed politely, but she was slightly disturbed. Sae was... sad. She had a crush and it was dead on arrival. But it meant she wanted someone. Someone to share her life with, to adventure with, smile and laugh with- like Ren. Sae wanted her own version of Ren. As anyone probably would.

Could Makoto help her sister with this issue? What happened in romantic movies? The career woman, too busy for romance... it was practically a trope. And they found romance through the intervention of another character- a match is made, and either it surprisingly works, or love is found for the businesswoman unexpectedly while the original matchmaking plan went up in flames. Either way, the movie ends with love. Obviously, this was real life, not some fictional story. But it was worth a shot.

"How about I set you up with someone?"

"What?"

"You know- like a blind date. Like the movies we used to watch."

"Don't be absurd, Makoto. I'm not having my little sister fix me up with someone. Who do you even know? College freshmen?"

Makoto pursed her lips. Sae was trying to get nasty and deflect the suggestion. "I know people!"

"Like?"

Damn! Makoto didn't know that many people. Her mind searched for an answer. "Well, Ren meets lots of-"

"No! Absolutely not, Makoto! You are not going to ask your highschool boyfriend to set me up with someone. As if some kid could-"

"He's eighteen! And even so, Ren is NOT a kid," said Makoto sternly. "You know that better than anyone."

Sae gritted her teeth. She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. Eyes going back out the window again. "That may be so, but still: No. I refuse."

That was Sae digging in her heels. Any further attempt at the topic would just make her angry, and Makoto still wanted to enjoy lunch with her sister.

"Fine," said Makoto, putting the tone of defeat in her voice. "Let's change the subject."

"How about what you want for lunch? I'm getting the dry soba."

Makoto lifted up her menu to hide her smile. Sae hadn't noticed that Makoto never promised not to tell Ren. There were plenty of ways outside of a blind date to… engineer things. Makoto felt a little thrill of mischievous excitement. This is what normal little sisters got to do, right? Meddle in their big sister's love life!


"So we're going to visit Yusuke's studio?" Ann said as Ren and Ryuji walked with her out of the school. "He said he has some painting he wants us to see."

"He didn't say anything to me," said Ren.

"Me either," said Ryuji.

They looked at each other, then over at Ann.

Ann blushed. "What are you two implying? He probably just forgot!"

"I wonder…" said Ren.

Morgana popped out of Ren's bag. "I'll go with you, Lady Ann!"

"Why? Do you think I need an escort? It's Yusuke!"

"Yusuke does tend to ask for naked models," said Ryuji.

"He did that once! And besides," Ann became thoughtful, "I don't think the request for nudity is actually about the female body, but a removal of the corruption of clothing. I think he desires his subject to be purely his subject, or something."

"It sounds like something you've thought about," said Ryuji.

Ann blushed again, then her face grew fierce. "So? Is it wrong for girls to think, Ryuji? Just because you don't do it, doesn't mean I can't!"

"What?"

"Nothing! And it's not like it's private. Anyone can come. Come on, Morgana!" She turned and walked away from them with tense shoulders.

"Ok!"

Ren felt his bag shudder as Morgana leaped out of it and followed Ann down the alleyway.

Ren and Ryuji watched them go, Ryuji rubbing the back of his head.

"What the hell just happened?"

His phone buzzed. Ryuji took it out, his face growing serious. He glanced at Ren. "Sorry dude, I can't hang, got some things to do for my mom."

"Sure."

"See ya!"

Ryuji walked off in another direction, leaving Ren standing alone, a still stone amidst the dwindling tide of students heading back to their lives outside of Shujin Academy. Futaba shoved past him, nose buried in her phone.

"Hey! Futaba!"

"See ya, Ren. I got things." shouted Futaba as she continued without looking back.

Well, it was a good sign that the nervousness from the congestion this morning certainly wasn't bothering her now. Ren took his own phone out. Makoto had the day off. He could spend the afternoon with her. Ren felt a warmth of excitement fill him as he opened up his ongoing chat with Makoto.

==J: what's up?

==Q: sorry, Sae and I made plans at lunch today. Sister night.

Ren's mood fell. But Makoto loved Sae deeply- the weeks of Sae's Palace had been basically torture to Makoto. Now that all that was long done, they could really reconnect again. So there was nothing to be done. He would see Makoto tomorrow.

==J: kk sounds nice

==Q: Talk to you tomorrow. 33

==Q: *3

Ren laughed to himself. An emote from Makoto? She must be picking up things from Futaba, or that Eiko friend of hers.

Well, it seemed all of his friends were occupied today, except maybe Haru. Maybe he should check in on her. He started walking towards the subway station, figuring he would go to Shibuya as it was something of a center to wherever he might end up going.

==J: whats up, Haru?

==N: Hey! Is something happening?

==J: Nothing. Wanna hang out?

==N: if you can get to Fukuoka, sure. hehe.

Kyushu!

==J: ?

==N: had to fly out for a meeting. I'll be back tomorrow.

==J: kk safe trip. Bring us cool southern snacks.

==N: hmmmmm maybe :D

Ren was the odd man out tonight. But he knew lots of other people around the city. If he was going to Shibuya, he could check in with Iwai since his shop was a close walk. Then maybe figure out something after that, there was always a slow evening around Leblanc, too. Visit the clinic and see how Doctor Takemi was, and then help Sojiro close up. Maybe hit the public bath.

"Is that him?"

"He's got that poofy hair goin' on."

"So it must be him?"

"Probably."

Ren looked up from his phone. Two men in black suits were approaching him. One man was bald with circular sunglasses. The other man had spiky hair and a gelled goatee, his sunglasses were triangular on the sides.

"Hey, kid. You Amamiya?" said Triangles.

"Who wants to know?" said Ren, his guard going up. These guys looked like goons. Goons were always easy to spot. But goons for who?

"We want to know," said Circles.

"No, I'm not," said Ren.

"Oh, well do you know an Amamiya? He's about your age and goes to your school," said Circles.

"Moron! This is Amamiya! He's lying," said Triangles.

"What?" said Circles. He looked somewhat baffled by the concept.

Triangles ignored him. He put his hands on his hips and stood in front of Ren. "I know yer Amamiya. Yer coming with us."

Ren's jaw set. His body relaxed, his weight settling to the balls of his feet. "Say's who?"

"Boss Otohime," said Circles.


==J: whats up, Haru?

==N: Hey! Is something happening?

==J: Nothing. Wanna hang out?

==N: if you can get to Fukuoka, sure. hehe.

==J: ?

==N: had to fly out for a meeting. I'll be back tomorrow.

==J: kk safe trip. Bring us cool southern snacks.

==N: hmmmmm maybe :D

Okumura Haru put her phone back in her small purse. It was too bad she was out of Tokyo. The text from Ren reminded her that they had not spent much time just the two of them, in a long time- not since Shido's palace. Ren's perspective on work interactions was so useful, and his insight was something she would like more of. Not his business sense. Ren was kind of hopeless at that. But he was a natural genius at interpersonal things, and that's what Haru wanted to get better at. And to get some juicy gossip about his ongoing romance with Makoto. Haru believed that love was a little different for everyone, but it was obvious that Ren and Makoto were in the middle of it.

While Haru felt… in the middle of nowhere. She gazed upon the reflection of her own face in the golden door of the hotel's elevator. No one standing beside her.

Haru sighed. It was an early end to the workday, so her entourage of employees were now on their own time, socializing. As the CEO, Haru was cut off from such familiarity. It just wasn't done. The hotel's elevator opened. She would return to her suite and browse the internet on her laptop. Maybe watch TV. And look forward to returning to Tokyo and her friends tomorrow afternoon.

She entered the elevator, and so did a young man. It was the personal assistant to one of Haru's board members. A sleek, trim person with a rather gorgeous smile. They exchanged greetings, the young man looking rather sheepish.

"Sorry to barge in, Ms. CEO Okumura. I saw the doors closing and I went for it. I didn't know you were inside."

"There's nothing to apologize for. I don't need an elevator just to myself. Mr.-?"

"Shibata. Shibata Akira. A real pleasure to meet you, Ms. CEO Okumura."

"Oh, please, don't be so formal. The workday is over. Please, just treat me like any other young woman. Not your CEO."

The young man eyed her with surprise. "Truly?"

"Of course."

"Then- let me take you to dinner tonight!"

"Wh- What!?"

Haru's gut felt dense with indignation and anxiety. Just like that? She offers to take her mask off and the man immediately asks her on a date, his own CEO!? As if once stripped of her title, Haru was a woman who would say yes to a date with absolutely zero lead in conversation or ice breaking! What was she to this man? The letters 'C.E.O.' with breasts!? Take the former away and ask the latter on a quick fling? Had he no concept of reality?

Haru felt herself blush, felt a squirming nervousness creep over her mind. What should she do? This was wrong behavior. She needed to say something. She was the leader of this man's company, yet she felt totally off balance now. But- He would say something, wouldn't he? Ryuji wouldn't take this kind of- of- shit!

The idea of Ryuji and what he would do suddenly opened a faucet of confidence in Haru's mind. That right! I have the right to feel indignant! I can be angry! It's not my fault I feel this way, it's this man's fault!

Haru's eyes narrowed on Shibata. A vein started pumping on her forehead. "You have some nerve!"

The man's face went very pale, very quickly. "I apologize, Ms. CEO Okumura! It's just- you said-"

Seeing the man rapidly retreat filled Haru with satisfaction, but it only stoked the flames of what was now becoming a rage. "I know what I said!" Haru glanced at the elevator floor indicator. She was on the 10th floor, he had selected the 8th. They were passing the 5th floor now. Haru hit number 6. The elevator stopped. The door opened.

"Get out!" said Haru, her voice heavy with offense. "Get out and I might forget about this by tomorrow!"

The young man practically ran from the elevator. Haru jammed on the close-door button, her jaw set and tight. It finally closed and she resumed a solitary ascent. She fought to calm her breathing. She really hadn't needed to get that angry. She just- got angry more often recently. It wasn't like her.

But the anger dissipated when she reached her suite. She entered the dark room and the lights turned on, revealing a luxurious apartment-like hotel room that was all hers. All hers. Alone.

The hand holding the room key fell limply to her side and she half-heartedly walked into the center of the living room. The curtains were open, revealing the lighted buildings of downtown Fukuoka, and again Haru's lonely reflection.

She stared at her own sad face.

What you looking sad for? You scared the shit out of that sleaze! That was awesome, Haru!

Or at least, that's what Haru imagined Ryuji would say if he were here. It made her reflection smile a little. Then she thought about an old woman named Otohime and a certain recipe for fermented carp. She recalled the old woman's words in her mind, still trusting to the truth of them. Her reflection gained a look of determination. She took out her phone and called Mr. Takakura, her second in command. He was currently looking over things in Tokyo while Haru and the board were in Fukuoka.

"Good Evening, Ms. Okumura."

"Good evening. I want to set up a team-building outing this week. For the administrative assistants of the board of directors."

"Team-building for the administrative assistants?"

"Yes. Thursday, I think, would be best. That's enough time to break from this trip, and people would resent it on Friday. And make it someplace physical. Like… oh! A trampoline park! That would be perfect."

"Trampoline…? Yes… of course."

"And make sure Shibata Akira is there."

"Yes, Ms. Okumura."

"And I'll have a guest."

"Yes, Ms. Okumura."

"Thank you, goodnight."

Haru started up a text. Then her fingers paused over the keys. Otohime's voice rolled through her mind:

A carp wants to be wanted, but he doesn't want to be eaten. Luckily, they are not very observant. Use that to your advantage.

==N: Ryuji, my company is doing a teambuilding day at a trampoline park. Are you free? I want you to come, too.

Haru bit her slip slightly. That last part should get his attention, and make him suspicious.

==S: yea im free. It sounds cool!

That was easier than Haru thought. But then her phone informed her Ryuji was still typing.

===S: but why me?

Because I like you, dummy! Haru sighed. Did Makoto have this sort of problem before she started dating Ren? But that didn't matter. Ren was a different kind of fish. Haru just needed to stick to the recipe that applied to Ryuji.

==N: I want someone who can really show off on the trampolines so my people can see what's possible. You're the most athletic person I know. I need you.

==S: hell yeah! I'll blow their friggen minds, Haru. Just wait and see!

Haru smiled in victory and her heart leaped in her chest.

The bait was taken. Soon the carp would be hooked. And Haru was beginning to realize that she was hungry.