"Welcome to TORRENTOWN!"

Akari could barely read the sign, but that's what she thought it said. There seemed to be several people wandering around in a village. It was full of houses that really looked like incredibly large tents. Of course, there were some normal buildings among them. Akari waved at a woman who seemed to be reading on a bench. She looked up with shock. She grabbed her hand and started running.

"H-hey! Where are you going?"

"Back to my house! How long have you been out here?"

"About an hour..."

"Well that's no good!"

They approached a large tent with light coming out of it.

"Cmon, it's warm in here."

She thought about it for a bit. A strangerdoing this does sound suspicious... but I'm cold...

Akari let in and entered the tent. It had some chairs and a tv on the side she entered on. It was split in half by a curtain.

She could see everyone clearly now. The woman on the left had long, blonde hair with a bow on her head. She was dressed up in a fuzzy gray jacket, rain-boots, and pants that did not seem suitable for such a rainy environment, but she didn't comment. There was another person in the back, who didn't seem to notice her. She looked like some kind of...knight? Her hair color seemed familiar

"SUGIURA AYANO, WE HAVE A GUEST!"

"Ayano?"

"Welcome back...Akari????"

They both stared at each other in awe until the Blonde woman decided to break the ice.

"My name's Toshino Kyoko (but you can just call me Kyoko) and my girlfriend here's name is Sugiura Ayano (or just Ayano)... I suppose you two know each other already."

Akari broke out of her trance.

"W-well its nice to meet you! It's just been so long since Ayano and I spoke so I didn't know what to say."

She finally decided to speak up.

"It's true, we do have a lot of catching up to do..."

"Well then get on with it! Catch up! I'll be at the 'downpour store'!"

"Downpour store?"

"Ayano came up with it!"

She left Ayano and Akari to themselves.

"...So when did you meet Kyoko?"

"We met right before we were forced underground. She said she was supposed to transfer here but she came at the wrong time."

"That's a shame..."

"Yeah, but I'm glad I met her. What have you been up to these past years?"

"I've been living with my sister, Akane at the same spot we fell down. I also met her right before we we then... Anyway, I decided to leave because I was incredibly bored and socially starved. You?"

"Well I fell in love with Kyoko, Moved here, set up tents for everyone, and we've just started getting actual buildings in. It doesn't help that all our stuff keeps getting swept away in this cascade and everyone decided to move further down..."

"But why are you cosplaying a knight?"

"Ah, that's a long story. You see, we all want to escape here but at the end of this place there seems to be an ancient wall of which our scientists have discovered is the best way out of here. The problem being that it requires a soul strong enough to destroy it."

"How do souls get strong?"

"Fighting mostly. But don't worry, you don't have to kill anyone. Usually someone has to give up to finish a battle."

"That's...useful to know. Is that why you're dressed like a knight? Are you protecting someone?"

"Well...I'm monitoring the amount of fighting here. A lot of people have been trying to battle without a license lately..."

"How do I get a license?"

"Its...a lot of paperwork. A lot if paperwork that falls onto ME. Ironically, its easier to deal with people without licenses."

"I see why people wouldn't want to go through all the trouble then."

Silence

"So who's Akane?"

"She's my older sister, but we were separated shortly after I was born."

"Its nice that you two were able to reunite!"

"I...don't like her very much. She's overprotective and tries to keep me away from my friends. I'm not sure why..."

"Well I don't think she hates you or anything... maybe you should try talking to her."

A short girl busted through the door She looked like Himawari but slightly shorter.

"Sugiura Ayano! Someone's trying to start a fight!"

"Can't you guys deal with it?

"Well...you've got to come see this, quick!"

Not very far away, Akari could see lightning flying through the air. Thoughts were swirling through her head

I swear to god, this better not be-

"TOSHINO KYOKO!"