Still on hiatus with Real Ideal, until after this chapter. Don't expect the return to be amazing, but I do still have a story.

As for this... I still estimate it to be a 60k story.

Kono Arc's just about finished.

'Kami-sama?'

Elsi rubbed her eyes as she woke up from her sleep. Apparently she missed Kono's final return, as it was morning.

But Keima...

She found herself looking down on the gamer she was looking for, sleeping below her on the floor. Realizing she had occupied his bed that entire night, even though she had brought a mattress, she quickly rushed down, nudging the immobile body.

'Kami-sama, Miyako's waiting for you. Why don't you hurry up?'

A flash of white caught her eye. Startled, Elsi reached over for the PFP in his hand, which had not been turned off. The screen showed a short, but ominous message.

" Miyako can't go. I called her ten times already, and she hasn't picked up. Looks like you're off the hook today."

Chihiro's email brought foreshadowing, as although Keima had suffered through the late night break-in, this supposed blessing seemed more harmful than not.

Of course, Elsi payed little attention to that. It still was strange for Miyako to not be prepared at all.

At this point, the Capturing God had roused himself, and blinked.

'Is it morning already?'

She nodded before yawning.

He patted the empty spot on the found where his PFP had previously been in vain, as Elsi had already taken it.

'Kami-sama, are you going to stay home then?'

She handed the small device to him. He took it from her readily.

'No, I don't have much planned today. Are you going somewhere?'

Elsi shrugged in indifference.

'Oka-san said she needed something from the convenience store. I'll go later.'

Elsi walked over to the destroyed window, and surveyed last night's damage.

'Do you need me to clean this up?'

Keima held back a sarcastic reply, instead ignoring her question and got up from the floor, wincing. Apparently wooden flooring wasn't the best place to sleep. He had even tried to wrap himself with Elsi's unused futon in his desperation, but it was too small. The constant reminder from his stiff joints was evidence of that.

'Just make sure the settings are on low for your broom.'

Mari had left earlier that morning (apparently she had a good night's sleep) to buy some more vegetables, leaving the two with some readily made food.

'Kami-sama, what do you want from the convenience store?'

'Just get what you need.'

A knock from the door interrupted their small breakfast, and Elsi went to open it.

'Chihiro-chan! Why are you here so early?'

While the conversation remained out of sight, Keima nearly choked on his breakfast. Just when he thought he had gotten a break, here comes another problem he had to deal with. Keima could only hope that she was just looking for Elsi. And the likelihood of that was slim.

'...Oh? You're looking for Kami-sama?'

Dammit.

'Alright, but if you want have some food...No? Alright.'

The first thing that struck Keima was her expression. While when he had gotten her text (at midnight, when he had barely began to sleep on the uncomfortable floor), it seemed to be relatively normal.

But now, she looked as if she hadn't slept since she sent him the text, with hair that had been hurriedly brushed paired along with crinkled clothes, red eyes, and if he listened closely, hiccups.

Something had happened, and Keima knew that he wouldn't be playing any galges that day.

Elsi pulled a chair out, which the girl sat on before looking down in a dismal way.

Seeing that she had given Chihiro a seat and that she wanted to talk with Keima in private apparently, the demon began to leave.

'Kami-sama, I'm leaving, but open the door for me when I come back. Bye Chihiro-chan!'

Closing the door, she left the place in awkward silence.

...

Keima didn't pick up his PFP, as it didn't seem that was the socially accepted thing to do to right then. He observed the broken down mess in front of him. Is she had come all the way here instead of just emailing him, she must have something very important to say.

'Ka...'

Her attempt to speak came out hoarse, and cut off before she finished, ending with a whisper.

'Yes? What is it?'

She tilted her head to look towards him, and quietly murmurs what might as well had been a punch to the face for Keima.

'I remember everything.'

Before he could even begin to be shocked at her revelation, she answered what would have been his first question.

'I remember the training, the meat buns, the kiss in the rain...everything...'

Widening his eyes, Chihiro didn't look at him as she clenched her hands while her eyes blurred with tears.

'But what...does it have to do with her...'

Elsi looked over the vast array before her. She couldn't believe it. Despite Mari suggesting she send a letter to the convenience store, even after seventy-nine letters requesting it, Elsi doubted that she would have her dream fulfilled.

The row of firefighter accessories was an absolute dream. There was the regular fire truck toy, firefighter shrimp chips, a firefighter bento box, and even the hilariously ironic fire truck lighter (Elsi had been saving up for that even though she knew Mari would be against it).

As she began to reach for all of them, a familiar "DORO DORO DORO" issued from her skull sensor. But before she could look around for signs of a Weiss, the voice of Dokorou began to speak.

"Important note to all demons who are part of the Loose Souls Team: our memory and emotional suppressors have been wiped clean. This will result in former conquests to have their memories returned as well as loss of emotional balance. Please be advised, buddies must be kept secure at all times."

The announcement's implications reached Elsi loud and clear, and remembering that Chihiro had been left with Keima, she could guess why she was there.

'Kami-sama!'

Dropping her shopping cart, she exited the small store in a hurry.

Café Grandpa

Keima momentarily pushed aside the worrying topic of how Chihiro remembered her conquest, instead asking another pressing question.

'Who's she?'

Chihiro absentmindedly shook her head in torment.

'You...remember how you were supposed to meet up with Miyako?'

So something had happened to Miyako. Something bad, as only that would have caused Chihiro to-

'...The reason why she can't come is...'

She hiccups, and sniffs in quick succession.

'She's in a coma..'

The room is slammed with a heavy aura. Save for Chihiro's occasional hiccup, the room was silent.

...

Kanon promptly crashed through the window, eyes blazing red, and armed with her twin stun guns.

Elsi had began flying on her hagoromo sometime after she left the store, and disregarding the risk of hitting something, was flying very fast.

That is, until she suddenly feels herself grabbed and hurled down to the concrete, out of nowhere.

Pulling herself from the rubble, her hagoromo had taken most of the damage, but Elsi was more concerned with the girl.

'Shima!'

The girl floating in front of her gave a satisfied nod.

'Seems you recognize me. No one really does that.'

Hovering closer, she sets down on the ground next to Elsi.

'How's life been? I admit, it looks very appealing, but it needs some changes. Of course, I'll be happy to make those changes for your life.'

Her sudden nonsensically casual question did little to distract Elsi from her sudden shift to...this.

She was dressed in the normal Mai-High girl's uniform, but this brought up even more questions, as her earlier controlled flight was not explained by a hagoromo, or anything like it. She didn't have anything identifying her as a demon or anything. Shima looked completely normal, except her hair, which was usually in a orderly bun, had been released and now instead in chaotic tufts of obsidian.

Her wayward thoughts vanished as Shima stomped on the ground.

'I asked you a question, El-chan. Aren't you going to answer?'

Struggling up, she looked up on the deranged mystery of which even New Hell had little information on.

'Who are you?'

Pausing a moment, Shima burst out in a unexpectedly wide grin.

'Simply the wrong person at the wrong place. But it'll soon be the right place.'

Elsi found herself levitating off the ground, and immensely tired.

'Now, what I really do want is my world back, wouldn't you? Of course, that said goal involves me taking you somewhere else.'

As Elsi tried (and failed) to struggle, Shima steps back from the demon.

'Now, this might hurt, or be lethal, or something. I've honestly never tried this. But I'm finding it more and more fun to try new things out. So, here goes.'

Closing her eyes, Shima didn't move. Elsi, unable to even speak at this point, still tried to move in her fatigued state.

Unnoticed by her, she began to fade into nothingness, and she was starting to become transparent all around her.

'Say hello your maker for me, alright?'

Before she could grasp the significance of that, Elsi vanished in silence.

Shima fell to her knees, breathing in short gasps, but in triumph as she gave a smirk. Another check she could add to her list. This was proving to be more and more successful.

The man in the shadows of the office looked on his tablet, the small screen reflected on his muddled eyes. Shining as the only light in the room, was the start menu for that man's most infamous game, based off the life of Keima Katsuragi. He thrust the thin slab away, his face only showing a trace of guilt.

Damn.

I hated that ending, but loved how the rest turned out, because...wow.

Sorry, but I'm leaving that cliffhanger there for now.

Real Ideal also needs some attention.

Just let this stick around for a while, in suspension.

This is really where the two arcs meet.

Finally get to type up a crazy character, keeps me on my feet.

I'll have you admit, sadly

All of the above rhymed, badly.

-Excerpt from An Ode to a Conclusion

From Earl Cardinal, as retribution.

...What? I do what I want at the end of this arc. I get to be annoying.

Oh yeah: Kono Arc is completed now.