Rei prodded at the blue-haired head at her feet, noting a number of cut wires and feeling a growing sense of confusion and dread while the female voice continued to come out of her phone. "What do ya mean 'we have a problem'?"

Rei looked around in panic. "Did they ship you in pieces?"

"NO!" There was a very distinct sound of heavy breathing coming from the phone. Which was impossible, or at least simulated. "I was deactivated except for a wifi monitor and input from an algorithm looking for news that there were Persona users in the city!"

Rei growled. "Well, you are now, and I can't carry you when you're like this. Obviously your...whatever we call your brain and soul are still functioning. Can you get another body later?!"

"Turn on your camera," The woman said. "Labrys, by the way."

"Joker," Rei said, turning on the app and getting onto her knees to dig through the remaining packing material. "What am I looking for?"

"...the cylinder, there. That's my processor. It looks like it's still hooked to the power source," Labrys said. Rei found it - it was not quite as big around as the head. Definitely too small to go where a person's brain should be, but looked like it might just fit inside the robot girl's abdomen. Or what was left of it. She picked it up, and managed to fumble through the Meta-Nav's options to get back just as the shouting got loud.

Just behind her, a guard turned the corner. "All right, who made the mess in here? Someone's getting fired."


Back in the safe area of the Palace, Joker put Labrys, or what was left of her, down. Now that she had a chance to examine it, it was actually almost pretty. The 'Processor' was roughly cylindrical, but it looked more like two metal wheels welded to the top and bottom. The sides had some kind of blue, glowing substance that pulsed gently, almost organically. There was a single window on the side, showing a blue crystal cut into ultra-fine filaments like a feather. On the back side were a few batteries taped to a cell phone, with a USB cable leading from the phone to a printed circuit board that had been attached to the top of the mechanism with zip ties. "Guys….I'm not a tech gal. I know they're doing some amazing stuff, but . . . can they make a computer that's self-aware enough to maybe have a Persona?"

"No," Queen said. "Dammit, we've been scammed."

Labrys huffed. "I ain't just a computer! Look...a lotta this stuff ain't what you'd call public. Ya ever heard of the Kirijo Group?"

"Some kind of sciencey stuff. They sponsor all sorts of things." Panther said.

Queen quieted down. "...Now that you mention it, they're way more than that. Some kind of think tank attached to the Kirijo Corporation. They hold all kinds of technology patents that they license out to the bigger companies."

"That ain't all," Labrys said. "They been researching Personas a long time. At least since the 90s. I'm...well, I'm the first real result when they figured they needed a way to fight Shadows."

"Wait, so you're...what?" Joker asked, starting to get frustrated. "What's your angle?"

Labrys made a sound like air blowing between her teeth. "I just wanna find out what's going on for my boss, but that's gonna be a lot harder without my original body."

Joker started to pace, then she pulled out her thermos and downed the coffee. "All right. I guess we can't just leave you in a Palace, but once we're back in the real world your boss had better be able to send you a new robot to put you in."

"That's...gonna be a problem," Labrys admitted.

Joker groaned. "Well, I have no idea how to make you one."

Labrys thought about it. "I have money. If we have the internet, I might be able to figure out something. I just need hands to put it together. Won't be my old body, but I can at least do Navi duty for your group. You don't look like you have someone like Fuuka around."

Angel sighed. "We definitely need that. This Palace is huge."

Queen nodded. "I agree."

"I can help you avoid patrols on your way out for today." Labrys said. "My Processor's too delicate to survive a fight with this jury-rigged setup."

Joker nodded. "Let's go."


As Labrys had promised, the Palace escape went off without any further hitches. Rei and Morgana stumbled up the stairs and into her bedroom, where Rei put Labrys up on the shelf. "Ugh, never figured this year I'd have roommates." She gave Labrys a look. "...you have a camera on that thing?" she asked. Morgana silently padded into his own shelter, knowing what was coming.

"...I can see outta the window, sorta." Labrys said. "Kinda not what I was expecting." Rei pointedly reached out and turned her around to face the wall. "Hey!"

"Not while I'm changing." Rei growled.

Morgana poked his head out just far enough to be heard. "She's going to find out anyway."

Rei sighed. "And I'm going to tell her why she's not seeing me change, but that doesn't change the fact that she's not seeing it."

"Not seeing what? Ya got a Shadow under that shirt?" Labrys said, joking.

Rei sighed. "No...I'm a transgirl." She walked over to the dresser, throwing her stuff in the clothes hamper as she went by.

Rei was just pulling on her nightgown when Labrys responded. "Yeah, I can relate." Rei turned her back around, a curious expression on her face suddenly. "My old body had a camouflage mechanism...and my computer parts kinda wigged out for...reasons. I thought I was human, but I can't say it quite felt right."

Rei thought about it. "I guess you kind of can, but you just had to turn your systems off, no?"

"Actually," Labrys said. "It's bein' a robot that don't quite feel right."

Rei winced. "And what's coming isn't going to help with that. I can't make anything that sophisticated. We'll be lucky to get you mounted on one of those vacuuming robots."

Labrys laughed. "I think we can do better than that, working together. You might even learn something."


Rei wasn't even surprised anymore to find herself in the Velvet Room. "Yeah, yeah, Labrys is a treat. I couldn't just leave her there," she snapped. Caroline's baton swung into the bars of her door. Rei didn't even flinch. "There's only so often you can do that before I stop jumping," she deadpanned. Then she started taking off her shirt. "Okay, okay, let's get this over with."

Igor's response was in the tone of annoyance that could only come from someone who was not accustomed to interruptions of any sort. "Congratulations on an unexpected boon," he said. "I admit your response was daring, and well worthy of a Trickster,"

Rei sighed. "You're just going to ignore me. Fine." She looked to Justine, who was almost horrified. "Get the needle ready. I still need to figure out how to gracefully back out of Haru-chan's offer to hang out."

Justine coughed. "Is this really the time to be thinking about that?"

"Well, I'm not getting any time while I'm awake and you people are taking away my subconscious time," Rei said with a dark mutter. She held her arm out through the bars.

Caroline frowned, but gently took Rei's hand. "Are you certain you don't want the restraints?"

"I want to get back to sleep," Rei sighed. "Lay it on me." Justine inserted the needle, and the world before Rei's eyes swam as she fell back into her cell, thankful for the padded floor as her head hit it. "Ugh…"

After another indeterminate time, Rei sat up, noting the room was now only spinning in three dimensions. "Ugh...I do feel a bit stronger than last time…" She held out her hand. The image of the Pixie was now perfect. "Hey, neat!" Then her eyes opened. "Wait, what? I feel...more."

Justine was positively beaming at her. "See, you can do it. Focus." Rei closed her eyes, and a shape like a snowman appeared, although the details were indistinct and it was moving somewhat strangely. "There should be more, as well. These are the least of your true powers."

Rei closed her eyes. "Right...I know what I need." And she began to meditate, feeling for the powers she wanted. It was difficult work, far moreso than she'd anticipated. Caroline's voice cut through her concentration. "You need to hold the exact form you want Adler's mind to take. The power follows the form." She concentrated on her friends - Ann's fire and grace, Ryuji's speed and strength, Makoto's skill and clear head, Shiho's fury and sense of right and wrong, Morgana's innocent determination...and Labrys.

She tried to hold it all at once, but she found she couldn't manage it. One trait would slip away for each one she thought she grasped, and in the end the limits of her comprehension left her gasping, with a pounding headache. She thought she could hear a voice, distantly, but couldn't tell if it was her imagination. When she finally had enough energy to concentrate, though, she realized something had changed. Adler was stronger, and a powerful healing spell drifted through her mind. There were other abilities as well, not everything she wanted, but enough. "...right. Can you send me back to the real world now?"

Igor smiled. "You're dissatisfied with the result. Please me, and I might see my way to gifting you with greater control."

"...We'll see," Rei replied uncomfortably. "For now, half a night's sleep will be good enough."


"REI!" Labrys was screaming at her. "Rei! Wake up!"

Morgana's head poked out of his own bed. "What? What is it?"

"Someone's tryin' ta break in!" Labyrs was nearly in a panic.

Rei froze, starting to breathe deeply. Kamoshida!? No way! She stood up and leaned out of the window. "Oh...ugh. Labrys, that's just the Chief." Which it was, at the door, struggling with the lock.

Labrys' vessel pulsed. "What?"

Rei groaned. "I forgot. I live over the restaurant. He's my guardian, but he's got to make the food and that means coming in early." She glanced at the clock. "It is a bit too early, but. . . well, I gotta bake something for the day anyway. Please be quiet." She stumbled down the stairs after tying a yukata around her frame.

Soujiro had finally the door open as Rei came down. "Hey, you got your girlfriend with you?"

"Phone game," Rei said, brushing it off. "Thought I turned it off last night." She changed the subject "You're in early."

"Just needed to make some curry," Soujiro said, equally dismissively. "None of your business why."

Rei's phone beeped. She ignored it. "Oh...well, too late to go back to sleep. I'll shower and let you get on that. Let's try some eclairs?"

"Whatever," Sojiro said to her.


Rei was never quite certain how she'd made it to school. She was hopped up on so much of her guardian's coffee that her hands were shaking, and yet at the same time she felt like she'd run all the way from Yongenjaya to Aoyama-Ichitome. By the time her train had stopped in Shibuya for the transfer she finally had to silence her phone completely, as Labrys was constructing a shopping list and sending it over piecemeal.

And, just for fun, she had burned the eclairs.

She slumped into her seat, looking more exhausted than Kawakami-sensei did as the roll was taken and the school gates locked. A bit of her longer hair brushed up against her nose as she realized it had come loose from the pins and she quickly tucked it back into place. Ann looked over her shoulder. "Rough night?"

"Dreamed about the hospital again," Rei said, which seemed safe enough. "I'm going to need to take care of our new friend for the next couple of days, it looks like. We won't even be able to try to go back until I've got that settled, between her and the cat."

"So lucky, you have a girl living in your room?" Rei jumped at that voice. It was the boy she had yanked out of the gym when Kamoshida had tried to kill him during the volleyball rally. Mashima, Machina...Mishima, that's right.

Ann saved her from the annoyed reply. "Obviously not, There's a guest room, right?"

"Exactly," Rei said. "Mishima-san, please do not jump to conclusions."

Mishima blinked. "Oh...uh, right. There's this girl hanging around Shibuya...do you have a sister?" he asked.

Rei felt her annoyance grow as she suddenly knew where this was going. "Rei-chan is my cousin, not my sister. Also, she is not interested in boys." Patently untrue, but Rei figured Mishima wouldn't know that.

"Oh...right, sorry," Mishima muttered, starting to wander toward his seat.

Ann lowered her voice. "Cousin?"

Rei put her head on the desk. "Needed an explanation for Haru-chan, remember? I could have done better with more than twenty seconds to think."

Ann rolled her eyes. "How long do you think that will hold up?"

"I know, I know, okay?" Rei said. "But apparently she's not allowed to hang out with 'boys' anyway."

Ann giggled. "Well, good thing you only count at school, then. When do you think we'll be able to work again?"

Rei considered. "I can't break my date tonight, but I can shop for whatever Labrys wants after school. Call it. . . I dunno, two or three days?"


Rei was the first to arrive this time, or so she thought. She had just barely had time to recheck her makeup when Haru came through the door, bearing two sodas. "Oh, you came!"

Rei grinned. "Of course, Haru-chan. I wouldn't miss a chance to hang out." She stood up. "How much do I owe?"

"Nonsense." Haru said, putting the tray down. "Even if you insist it should be paid...and I agree...they won't take my money and I invited you." Her smile dimmed a little. "The truth is, I needed a day away from my fiance."

Rei thought about that, then grinned. "Sure. Doesn't matter how madly in love with the boy you are, sometimes you need space. So, what do you want to do instead?"

"I don't know." Haru admitted. "What would you do?"

Rei thought about it. "Well, if my schedule weren't so hectic, probably be at Disneyland every day."

Haru's eyes widened. "You can afford tickets?"

"I can afford an annual pass," Rei clairified. "And...well, I'm not exactly welcome in any clubs at my school, studying can only take up so much time, and I wasn't expecting to make a friend."

"Still…" Haru said, looking a little stunned. "Every day…."

Rei grinned. "I could spend a whole afternoon just in the castle," she admitted. "I know it's silly, but I love those old movies. A princess, a castle, a happy ending. Gimmie that over this stupid life any day." By the end of the admission, she was blushing horribly even though her makeup.

Haru giggled. "Well, being a princess may not be how you're imagining it…"

Rei thought about it, and then pulled out her phone. "You mind? I need to check on something." Haru nodded.

Rei quickly sent out a text. Labrys, do you have that parts list finished?

It's harder than I thought, came the reply. A lotta this stuff is off the shelf, but it's like there's a cottage industry in customizing battle androids or something. It'd go faster if you could help.

I told you, I don't have the first clue about this stuff. Rei responded, then decided that was rude. Are you good for a few days? I really don't want to just leave you on the shelf, but something came up with someone who doesn't know about things.

Labrys took longer about replying than Rei liked. Rei, if ya need a day, take it. If I have ta I can shut down. Don't worry, it's. . . mostly like bein' asleep, except I can keep it up for a few days without even a maintenance cycle.

Rei swallowed. Send me what you've got. I'll try to find it. She looked up at Haru. "Sorry...I agreed to pick up something for a friend. No Disney today."

"Nonsense." Haru said. "I'll have it delivered to your place."

Rei's jaw dropped. "No way. A soda's one thing - "

Haru giggled. "I'll have to ask you to pay for it, but I do have a shopping service that can find almost anything I want."

Rei thought about it. "Nnno. By the time we get out there it'll probably be packed for the night. We should pick a weekend or something. Get out early, make a day of it."

Haru smiled. "That sounds lovely. I'm looking forward to seeing what has you so interested…"

Rei chuckled nervously. "...uhm...honestly, it's mostly just that I love the old cartoons, you know?"

"I see….so you're interested in being my friend because I remind you of a princess, then?" Haru half-teased.

Rei gulped. "Maybe a little? I mean, I guess there's people who'd call you that, but that's not what I mean, I mean, uhh…"

Haru smiled. "It's fine." She looked at her watch. "If you like, we could see a movie. I believe you would have enough time for your shopping."

Rei returned the smile weakly. "Uhm...sure, that sounds good."


The theater was in Shinjuku. After being dropped off by the driver, a rather novel experience, Rei started walking towards the ticket booth. Haru giggled. "No, silly. I have tickets." She waved a QR code on her phone. "Come on."

Rei chuckled. "Okay, I'll bite. What movie are we seeing?" She grinned. "Anything but that 'Black Devil and White Prince' one."

Haru gave her a smile. "I'd have thought you would enjoy a good romance."

"I prefer a little action to liven things up, is all," Rei explained. "Besides, I'd rather see it with a boyfriend or girlfri..." she suddenly trailed off, blushing.

Haru's eyes widened slightly. "Uh...Rei-san…"

Rei sighed. "It isn't really a secret. I'm bi…" then she gulped, remembering the conversation with Mishima on the topic. "But if anyone asks, I'm either gay or you don't know." Haru blushed even harder. "Erm...I know that sounds backwards, but Ren said a guy from his school was acting stupid about me. After…"

"Quite understandable," Haru said quietly. "And I'm glad you're willing to take me into your confidence. I will inform my father and fiance that your homosexuality is an act after your recent trauma, if they ask." Rei blinked. "They...might not appreciate me spending time with someone who may be a romantic partner. Besides, it's true. Being exclusively interested in girls is an act, no?"

Rei giggled. "I guess it is. Thanks." She glanced around. "We should get into the movie." Both girls ventured into the theater, Rei failing to note the sign in blood-red letters above the door as the lights were already turning down...


"Oh, Rei-chan, I'm sorry." Haru was utterly distraught. It wasn't hard to see why. Haru had been eagerly watching the film when she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Rei was almost impossibly curled up in the seat, her knees pressed tightly against her chest with her thin arms curled up around them enough to be placed tightly over her ears. And she hadn't moved until the movie had ended. In fact, she hadn't moved since the movie had ended, since Haru had been unable to convince her that the movie was over when the janitors started to come in to clean up between showings. It wasn't very difficult to pull Rei out of her seat and down the stairs, she was so stiff.

The light of the setting sun finally got through to her that something had changed. Rei opened one eye, and then the other, before realizing where she was. A lesser athlete would have jumped and sent them both tumbling. Instead, Rei blushed heavily. "Uhm...sorry...you can put me down." Haru very carefully set Rei on her feet, and the younger girl uncurled herself easily.

Haru bit her lip. "Rei-chan, why didn't you tell me you don't like scary movies?"

"I...didn't think you would." Rei admitted. "I should know better than to make assumptions about princesses, huh?"

Haru blinked. "Why would that be?"

Rei gulped. "Uh...no reason." Still blushing, she swallowed and continued. "Haru-chan, I am glad I spent the day with you. I mean, the movie wasn't to my taste, but…"

"Why did you stay?" Haru asked, serious.

Rei blushed even more. "I didn't want you thinking I was being rude, or having to leave the theater."

Haru shook her head. "Nonsense. I was being thoughtless. I know you've been through...a lot."

"...yeah."


Rei's embarrassment didn't abate in the slightest as she made the turn onto the street of Akihabara. She glanced around at all the various advertisements aimed at otaku with a bit of distaste, before looking down at her phone. You're sure there's nowhere else? she texted to Labrys.

Nowhere nearby. came the reply. Sorry, Rei, but the same types of people who like that stuff are the ones who are into what we need. If we don't get it here, I need to have it shipped and there's a limit before your guardian starts asking questions.

Rei took a deep breath. Okay, Labrys. What's the first item? She took the part number and started down the street. She found herself blushing heavily at a pair of life-sized statues with...generous feminine proportions in maid outfits with blank, thoughtless expressions and glassy eyes. One was made to be human looking, the other was more obviously inspired by the animated women surrounding her. The overall effect made Rei shudder, but she had to go into the building and through it, up to the third floor to buy the part in question, a pair of spidery metal claws. She took it up to the boy at the counter, putting it down. "How much?"

"Nine thousand yen," he said, before looking up. "Uhm, miss, I really shouldn't…"

Rei sighed. Then she pulled out the cash. "Don't look at me. It's for my girlfriend, some kind of science project." That sounded innocent enough to her ears, but the boy's jaw dropped open. He quietly took the money and bagged the toy. "Uhm…" But Rei was gone, on to the next shop where the scene repeated. Again and again.

After the fifth stop, and almost an hour into the quest, Rei realized that she had most of a robotic endoskeleton. She sighed as an ad for male sex toys popped up on her phone. Labrys, since you're hacked in anyway, can you do a factory reset on the phone when I get home? Last thing I need is a teacher seeing these ads.

You got it, Boss. Labrys replied. Oh, Morgana's home.

Just as well. I don't want him seeing this. Next part?

The next few parts were all circuit boards, apparently some kind of controller for the various bits she'd picked up, although they needed a more powerful computer to tell them how to move. Labrys, you sure I can do this?

Should mostly be plug and play, Labrys confirmed. I can't believe I was able ta get most of this off the shelf. No weapons systems, but I'll be able ta walk around and look human. Just gonna need the skin and some padding. I got a head of hair ordered already, should be here tomorrow.

Rei thought about that. Where are we going to pick those things up?

Labrys' reply took a little longer than Rei was comfortable with, holding all this stuff in shopping bags. Uh...got a line on something but...sorry.

Rei gulped. Labrys, what did you do?

Ah didn't know! Labrys' response was quick. It looks like Mitsuru-san did kinda lend out some of the anti-Shadow-weapon tech….and...uh...someone made…

Rei was just leaving the building, and her attention turned to the two 'statues'. Which, Rei saw now, weren't statues at all. They were robots. Humanoid robots, designed for…

Everyone in the district turned to stare at the high school girl who had just screamed in mortification.


"A sex robot?" Rei hissed. "Labrys-chan, you want me to build you a sex toy for a body?"

Labrys's voice went dissonant. "SORRY!" The distortion quickly faded. "Rei-chan, it's all the part numbers Kirijo gave me! I didn't know!"

Rei groaned, collapsing on the bed. "Labrys-chan, this is incredibly awkward. I mean, I can't hide this much stuff for long, and I was already going to have problems explaining it, but . . . "

"We're going to have to find some place to put it together." Morgana said. "I don't get what this is about…"

Rei sighed. "I guess...I guess it makes sense. They look almost life-like. With the right software, no one's likely to notice the difference."

"Plus it'll be easier on my stealth system" Labrys said. "It's built into the processor. Luckily, this is all stuff that can be put together by a complete idiot. It's just the software that's hard, and I am the software."

Rei groaned. "I'm going to have to pull an all-nighter, aren't I? So glad it's Saturday…"


The process was, indeed, mostly plug and play. Pretty much every electronic connection had been replaced with USB connectors between major parts, and while the connections between the endoskeleton and the 'muscles' demanded some soldering, it wasn't delicate work. By midnight, Rei had what she deemed to likely be a functional human arm. "Okay...now, from what I see we hook this thing up to this controller here…" She plugged the two together. "And then normally the controller would go to a larger computer. I don't see that, so I'm guessing there's a plug somewhere on you?"

"Right," Labrys confirmed. "That's what you need the flat cable for. Careful, now."

Rei picked the whole assembly up and put it on the shelf next to Labrys, finding the place that the ribbon cable plugged in after a moment. "Okay...I'm putting it in the first bank...now."

There was a long stream of gibberish from the speaker of her phone, before Labrys finally spoke up. "Oh, wow! I can feel my arm! Actually….wow...I can feel a whole lotta my arm...uhm...there ain't sensors for all this...it's actually kinda weird."

Morgana grinned, stepping out of his alcove. "Hey, you should try touching it!"

Rei considered that for a moment. "You game?"

"Sure!" Rei took the reply as consent and gently stroked a finger down the length of the limb. Labrys started making some decidedly inappropriate sounds. "Uhm...I think there may be a bug."

It took a few seconds for Labrys to reply. "Yeah, that was some automatic response programming. I'll try ta bypass it." Some electronic sounds followed. "Okay, try again." Rei repeated the gesture. "I got the input but it didn't set off the trigger. I'm gonna try ta move it."

The arm promptly flopped onto the floor, and broke the ribbon cable. Morgana screeched and ran away. "...dang, that's creepy."

Rei groaned. "Dammit. I don't know if we have spares." She rubbed at her eyes. "I can't handle much more of this tonight...and I need to bake for the weekend crowd."

"...I can handle an extra day," Labrys said. "Go on. Ya've done enough today."

"Rei!" Morgana said. "I can't believe you'd leave a lady like this."

"I don't want to!" Rei shouted. "But if I don't sleep she's going to end up with a foot on backwards or something."


Rei dragged herself out of bed promptly at six in the morning, turned Labrys away from the room to change, took a shower, threw something yeasty and delicious in the oven, set a timer, and then returned upstairs.

"Where were ya?!" Labrys shouted. Rei jumped. "Someone came in here and stole alla my parts!"

"What?!" Rei gasped. "No way." She jumped over to the window. "How did you know?"

"Ya hadn't turned off the wi-fi on most of'em. I tried ta call you but you left your phone up here on mute." Labrys groaned.

Morgana was just crawling out of bed. Rei glared at him. "We've been robbed. Did you see anything?"

"I must have slept through it." Morgana said. "Call a meeting and let me out. I'll go check the neighborhood. They can't have gone far."


Rei was about to start sending out text messages when the Navigator pulsed on her phone's desktop. "Oh, now what?" She brought up the app...and immediately saw a messaging function had just been added to the update. And, surprisingly, the first message she had been sent was from none other than…

Justine: We have seen that you're trying to evade your school's authorities.
Caroline:
To assist you with that, we came up with this thing.
Justine: Since no one but you and your team can see the Meta-Nav, you can use this securely.
Caroline: You'd better appreciate it, Patient.

Rei's eyes were practically brimming over with tears.

Joker: Guys...thanks. Seriously.
Caroline: Just use it wisely!

Rei quickly pulled up a chat with the others.

Joker: Someone just stole Labrys' new body! I can't leave the shop because it'll make Boss suspicious. Can you guys get out to Yongenjaya and look around?
Skull: Woah! This thing's got chat?!
Angel: I'm on my way!
Queen: I can't head out until Sis does or she'll be suspicious.
Panther: Skull! This is serious!
Skull: Fucking hell! Just read Joker's first message! Sorry, I'm on it!
Joker: They can't have gone far. Thanks guys.

"Okay," Rei said. "I have to stay here since Boss can't know about you, but I've got the others on it."

Labrys sat on the shelf silently for awhile. Rei was about to check to make sure she was still functioning when the voice came out, crackling slightly. "Rei, ya don't have ta do all this. I can just get another one. I'm good for it."

"No." The alarm chose that moment to go off. "I've got to go finish the pastries."


Rei sipped at the coffee listlessly. Chocolate croissants sat stacked up neatly on the dessert tray, while she kept staring at her phone. Sojiro stared at her. "What's so interesting about that phone?"

"Nothing," Rei said honestly. "That's the problem. Waiting for someone to get back to me about something."

There was an awkward silence. "Any other problems at school?" Sojiro finally asked.

Rei put the phone down. "Yes. Of course there are. Kamoshida was a bastard to everyone. The rest of the teachers look at me like I'm scum specifically, but they don't dare say anything because they can't find anything. I have to factory reset my phone every day and make a new account every week to pull that trick, and I don't know how long it'll last." She pulled out her pills and downed them in one gulp of coffee. "Oh, and I'm filling out. By September I won't be able to hide these things without hurting myself."

"Woah!" Sojiro said with a laugh, obviously trying to lighten the mood. "Too much info." He shook his head. "You don't have to hang out here. Go on, whatever it is you need to do.."

Rei grinned, sliding out of the stool. She was barely three steps out of the door before she ran into Morgana. He was looking distinctly agitated. "There was definitely a strange smell. A girl came in the front door while you were in the shower, I think."

"Could you track her?" Rei asked, dreading the answer.

Morgana shook his head. "Her scent's all over the place, but faint. Like she lives here, but rarely comes out. And I'm not really a cat. My sense of smell is better than yours, but I'm not a bloodhound."

"...a girl carrying all of the parts to a sex bot out in the open? Someone has to have seen something," Rei concluded. "I'll ask around."


Shiho and Ann found Rei nursing a bruised cheek. "In retrospect…" Rei said. "I probably shouldn't have pointed out what the suspect was carrying in explicit terms."

"You told them someone stole your robot buddy?" Ann asked incredulously.

Rei shook her head. "No...it turns out some idiot at Kirijo based robots on her body for…" she blushed.

Shiho blushed too. "Oh dear. I mean, I've seen those things but they're . . . "

"Well, she picked out the body and face type herself," Rei said. "I'm pretty sure she'll look way more human than most of them when she's rebuilt...but…"

"No luck, then?" Shiho asked, squeezing Rei's shoulder. "If we've got the money from the last heist, I'll go get more. You don't need to be seen doing that twice." Rei blinked, then smiled and made sure to put her hand on Shiho's

Ann looked between them. "Uhm...Rei, you know?"

"Yep." Rei's smile was weak. "I know, I know, I'm being silly."

Ann giggled. "I used to do the same thing. It's stupid, anyway."

"And I appreciate it," Shiho said, pulling back. "But we've got to find her. Someone might try to blackmail us over this."


The search extended on into the late morning, then the early afternoon after quick lunches for everyone. Ryuji sighed, sitting down. "Man, I don't think we're gonna find anything."

"I know." Rei sighed. "I have so few friends. I lose them pretty regularly, but this is the first time it's been literal."

"Hey, don't talk like that." Ryuji grinned. "We didn't walk out on ya. It's cuz of. . . " Rei nodded glumly, sticking a croissant in her mouth to stifle whatever else she was gonna say. "Way I see it, a good way to find out who my friends are would be to call myself 'Rise' and put on the girliest dress I could find for a few days."

Rei snorted. "Yeah, if you need a loyalty test that might just work until you stopped. They'd probably be mad for lying."

Ryuji chuckled in reply. "Probably. It'd be an asshole move, but sometimes you just gotta do that, huh?"

"Less often than it seems like," Rei said. "But...I guess it happens." She stretched. "Maybe we're going about this wrong? What kind of girl wants a sex bot so bad she sees someone bringing one home in the dead of night and steals it?"

"Morgana was sure it was a girl?"

Rei nodded. "Only extra scent in my room, and if it were Chief he'd have chewed me out."

Ryuji made a thoughtful sound. "You sure you wanna be asking me this. Makoto's the smart one."

Rei grinned. "Don't sell yourself short. You got into Shujin to begin with, your grades couldn't have started that bad." Ryuji gave her a look. "I know, I know, track scholarship, but they wouldn't have taken you if your grades weren't acceptable. Hell, officially that's why I got in - high grades for the future doctor."

"Maybe." Ryuji said skeptically. "Well...obviously she's gay. But...well, what good is one of those bots to a...what was the word, cisgirl?"

"Yes." Rei said. "See, you can get it." She giggled at the face he made, but went on. "Maybe it's not the sex angle, but the bot angle. She wanted...what, to program it to do chores?"

"Huh...geek chick?" Ryuji said. "Guess that would explain why she doesn't go out."

"...then the best thing to do is to wait until after dark." Rei decided. "We can probably find the culprit by the monitor glow in her windows."


While Rei was waiting, she realized there was something else that needed doing. "Makoto-chan," she said when she next saw the girl. "Find anything?"

"No." Makoto stopped and gave her an odd look. "Rei...chan?"

Rei grinned. "I'll use 'sempai' at school," she said in a conciliatory tone. "I did already talk to our new friend about things. She . . . doesn't seem to know much. Wrong place, wrong time."

Makoto gave Rei an exasperated look. "So that whole trip was for nothing?"

Rei winced. "Not nothing. We rescued someone from being trapped in a crate, possibly for years."

"...okay, point." Makoto said. "I just meant...I was hoping to put this side show behind us."

Rei did not smack her forehead. Nor did she scream, curse, break down in tears, or spontaneously manifest Adler in the real world. She was tempted to do all these things. "Makoto-chan, is there something specific about this target bothering you?"

Makoto nodded. "Those donations. Cultural preservation, support for the poor...I even dug deeper on that." Rei nodded for her to continue. "He gave a lot of money to Tokyo University's medical research. Did you know he even gave money to your program? A lot of money? You owe Keino for access to your hormones. Without him, the program would have been shut down and you'd have had to wait even longer."

"...why?"

Makoto shook her head. "There was no ulterior motive I could find, other than the obvious. And...well, no offense, but transgender rights isn't exactly a high priority right now. He could have picked a dozen other programs with higher visibility, but he said that one in particular was about 'ensuring at-risk youth don't turn to immoral means.'"

Rei shook her head. "Well, he's got that right. A lot of transwomen do end up going that route, just because hormones and surgery cost. I can afford it, but a lot of the other girls...not so much."

Makoto gave her a small smile. "See? This doesn't add up. He can't be an entirely bad person."

"...you clearly don't have to be a cackling evil monster to have a Palace," Rei pointed out. "Kamoshida had all sorts of self justifications for what he did."

"...okay, I'll concede that." Makoto said after a long moment. "And pointing that out, you do have me curious."

"Good." Rei said. Then she explained Ryuji's theory. "So, make ourselves scarce, check tonight?"

"Sounds like a plan."


Rei needed answers. With a few hours before it was time to resume the search, she knew just where to go.

"Rei, your appointment isn't until - " Saito said surprised, right up until Rei was hugging him. "Rei-chan?"

"Sensei," Rei mumbled. "I don't know what to do."

Saito nodded. "Do you want me to fire up the office?"

Rei considered telling him not to. The various effects could be distracting as heck. But she thought back to countless hours, talking about . . . well, everything. The man was one part doctor, two parts therapist, and one part family to her at this point. All with the zapping and bubbling and glowing of a mad scientist. "...yes, please."

And just like that, she was a little kid again. He'd even managed to scrounge up the sweet milk tea she had liked. She sniffled heavily for a little while. "I'm...I'm sorry, this isn't even what I came here for. And….and on a Saturday."

"Don't worry about that. There's little enough for me at home these days." Saito's voice was gentle. "And you are, after all, my life's work." Rei's lips quirked up. "Now, I haven't seen you this distraught since...well, I was going to say Aoi but I don't think even that set you off this much. Is it about..."

Rei shook her head. "Yes."

"..which is it?"

Rei sighed. "Not him, but. . . my friends. The ones I told you about."

"They rescued you...you've certainly picked up an eclectic collection of them. And so quickly." Saito said, trailing off into thought.

Rei sighed. "Shared trauma, I guess. We all had something to deal with with Kamoshida...but...well..." There was no avoiding this now. Even though she'd come here to try to ask about it, now she was strangely reluctant. What would it change? "There's a man on the donor list for the project. Keino...something?" She decided it wouldn't do to seem too informed.

Saito nodded. "I know the man. It's odd. He's one of the men who has given the most to us over the years, and he invites me to fewer charity functions and so on than many of our contributors. He was even interested in your case when things got. . . messy. He was worried you'd derail the study. I managed to convince the board otherwise with his help."

Rei felt her stomach drop. She might even owe her continued freedom, in part, to this man. "Yes. Makoto-chan brought it up." She took a deep breath. "...and Shiho-chan thinks he's...trying to get his workers killed."

Saito's face went grim. "How does she know that? And why would he?"

Rei swallowed. She'd sworn not to tell anyone about Shiho's secret, but she knew Saito was also sworn to keep such things in confidence. "Burakumin. He hires burakumin to work at the worst of his import businesses, so he can bribe the inspectors to ignore safety violations." Only once the words were out of her mouth did she realize how implausible that sounded. "According to Shiho-chan. She and Makoto-chan are having a huge fight over it."

"...as motives go, that almost makes sense.." Saito said, grimly. "If it's true. . . well, it would put us in trouble. But do you have any proof, or is this just a teenage girl's imagination?"

...if I tell him, I'll have to explain how I know. That won't end well. Rei's mind was racing. But there wasn't anything else to add. "You've spoken with him. Does he seem the type? Has he ever brought it up?"

"So...you don't." Saito sighed in relief. "Rei-chan, it would be improper of me to reveal such things. . . if he'd ever brought such up. His belief is in a better future for Japan. He makes contributions to many causes that he thinks will advance that goal. I admit, his focus on cultural preservation is a bit illogical in light of that, but he's not. . . not evil in the way you're suggesting." He smiled. "You can take that to your friend."

"Thanks, Sensei." Rei said. "I...that does make me feel better." At least I have more dots to connect now.


Morgana ran up to Rei just as she was returning to Yongenjaya. "C'mon, we found something." He led her to the last place she expected. It was the small yard outside Sojiro's house. Someone had wrapped up a nearly human-sized bundle in old tatami mats, with a note.

Ugh. I just couldn't stand watching you flounder with this thing anymore. I did all the hard parts, so show me something interesting already.

- Ali Baba.

Rei quickly pulled out her phone and messaged the others. Le Blanc was closed, so she just texted the others to come over and returned to her room. The first thing she did was sweep for microphones and cameras. She almost missed it, but then she realized the security camera outside her window could just peek in on the workbench area. Rei made a quick adjustment to ensure her privacy was secured, then got to work.

By the time they had arrived, Rei had Labrys' new body standing up in a short yukata, draped over her front for modesty while she worked from the open back. Her face was a dead mask of silicone rubber, with a dark blue head of hair that contrasted with the almost silver white her old body had been using, only falling to mid back and styled into a tighter ponytail. A long set of wires spilled out of her back from somewhere higher up. "Okay, Labrys, I'm gonna make the connections for a test run. Ready?"

"More than ready. I'm gettin' tired of being an ornament, ya know?" the voice said back.

Rei shoved the cables together, unable to resist a cackle of "It's aliiiiiive"

Labrys' eyes opened. They glowed bright red.

Taken together with Rei's mad scientist routine, everyone else took an involuntary step back. Labrys' full lips turned up in a smile that would have been seductive if not for the glowing red eyes and lack of attendant movement in other facial 'muscles'. "Anti-Shadow Suppression System Labrys. Pleased ta meetcha."

Ryuji's voice hitched. "You ain't gonna kill us all, are you?! I'm too young to die!"

"Ryuji..." everyone else said, exasperated. Ann grinned. "Gotcha some clothes. Figured Rei wouldn't have anything around in robot sizes."

"Not just yet." Rei said. "I've still got to put this thing in all the way. Labrys, all systems good to go?"

Labrys stopped. "All green except the stealth systems. The core's gotta be loaded before I can test that properly."

Shiho grabbed Ryuji by the shoulders and gently turned him around when Rei opened the yukata wider and started wrapping wires as Labrys instructed around her core body cavity before slipping it into place and securing it with some small bolts. Rei zipped her up, then frowned at the seam in Labrys' back. "...how can anyone find this sexy?" It was a legitimate, if somewhat obvious question. While the attempt to look human had been valiant, and Labrys' part choices meant that she wasn't unrealistically proportioned, no one could confuse the results with flesh and blood.

"I dunno. I wasn't meant to be sexy, just human enough ta talk to people." Labrys nearly shrugged before realizing what that would do to her only cover at the moment. "Right...stealth system scanning…." They waited there for a moment, and then she smiled. "Looks like it should work. Activating now." The flash of light was blinding. When Rei could see again, she hastily moved her eyes up. The effect was startling. Labrys' face was now moving much more normally, and the texture of her skin had changed. All of it. Her movement, too precise moments ago, was now fluid and full of subconscious reactions that had been missing. And her eyes had turned from a glowing red to a more normal, or at least natural-looking color.

"...that is too disturbing." Makoto decided.


A/N: First, the good news - in celebration of Transgender Visibility Day, I decided to post this a day early! I would have put it up tomorrow morning, but as it stands I felt I really shouldn't wait.

Next, the bad news - I'll be putting off next month's chapter due to a combination of COVID-related factors in my life (Guess who's on the Essential Worker list), and the release of Persona 5 Royal. My efforts to play the JP version with the assistance of Google Translate fell through, so I'm stuck doing it with the rest of the world outside Japan. And it may have pretty heavy implications for Masks, so I'd like to finish out at least the first two semesters and edit the story up to this point. I don't anticipate total rewrites, at least. So, with any luck, next chapter should be up June 3rd, if not sooner.