A/N: Merry Christmas, everyone! That year was...a thing. And being on the Essential Worker category didn't exactly do a whole lot for my writing time. I've been better about it in the past few months, but being persuaded to take up another project hasn't helped. Hopefully, with...recent developments I'll be able to keep on track next year better. I can't make any promises, but I'm hoping to have SOMETHING out next month.

Everyone instantly drew their weapons, Joker only slightly ahead of the others. She glanced around, slightly surprised by their speed. Right, got a weirdo here. She gripped her dagger firmly, and looked at the man. "Keino-san," she said, deliberately getting the obviously expected honorific wrong. With some pleasure, she noted Keino winced at that. "I would like to inquire what, exactly, you mean by that statement."

Keino gave her a long, wary stare for several moments. "Amamiya-chan, isn't it obvious? I would think so, especially to you." He lowered his guard, beginning to pace. When his back was turned, she gave a quick, questioning glance to Morgana, who frowned and shook his head. "Japan has lost its' soul - "

"Since the war," Joker replied, yawning. "Sorry, don't buy it."

"Not just then, although that was when the loss was felt," Keino riposted.

Queen sighed. "Seriously, you want to go back to Tokugawa?"

"That is, of course, unsustainable." Keino agreed. "The world has changed too much. I do run a business that puts me in touch with the outside world. Besides, in many ways, it is as if we never left. Look at the world around you! People are lost, confused, unable to find a station in life...and yet, they try, seeking jobs that do not suit their abilities. There are those who are barred from positions their abilities would allow, like yourself, by accidents of birth."

Angel snarled and nearly charged, until Skull put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head. "What about the Buraku you're employing?!" Queen jumped, and then stared at Angel in surprise.

"Necessary," Keino said simply. ""Every society requires base laborers. Some must be sacrificed for maximum potential," the Shadow explained in a voice that was almost casual. "The burakumin are already criminals, barely better than animals. Is it not better to use them as harnessed horse and oxen than to simply slaughter them as the wild wolves they have become?" Joker began to inch towards the window, signaling the others to follow as the faux-Daimyo turned back to them. "You see, I do not intend to simply return to the era that only partially suits our needs as a nation, I intend to improve it!"

Angel ripped off her mask in rage, blood visibly pouring down her cheeks. "I! Am! Not! An! Animal!" Blinding light flashed through the room, reflecting off nearly every weapon and the polish of the metal floor, all focusing on Keino's face. The Shadow screamed in outrage and pain, and his naginata swung around in a wide arc.

"Run!" Joker cried out. Her grappling hook was in her other hand, and she lashed out with it, aiming for one of the fortress' guard towers. A few minutes later, she landed on the wall, looking out at the watchtower. The other thieves were beside her a moment later. Joker made a particular point to be sure Angel had joined them, which she had or there would have been a massive chewing out.

Unfortunately, that still left the other problem. Queen was looking at Angel very oddly, evident even from behind the mask. "...so...that's what you didn't want to tell me?" Angel stopped dead, more immobile than was natural. "Angel...what? I don't understand. The school even let you in, if that were still a problem…"

"Of course it's still a fucking problem!" Angel spat. "Do you have any idea the kind of Hell the acceptance board put me and my family through? I had to prove there were no Yakuza in my family back to the Restoration! That my mom didn't have me out of wedlock! I needed damn near perfect grades! And that was even though the board wanted proven volleyball players to feed to Kamoshida! And if I brought any of it up, to anyone, I was out for bringing shame on the school for discriminating against me."

Queen swallowed. "I...I didn't…"

"Of course you didn't know!" Angel screamed at her. "You didn't -"

There was a resounding thud as Panther slapped her best friend. "Shiho! Mak...er, Queen has nothing to do with the acceptance process. Even I know that much. You're being unreasonable." Angel stopped, and took a few quick breaths before switching to deep ones.

Queen sighed. "That said….I shouldn't have been so...skeptical. I'm sorry." She looked around. "Should we head back, Joker?" The transgirl raised her eyebrow. "No, no, I didn't mean...I meant for today, to get our thoughts in order."

Angel nodded. "That's a good question…"

Joker smiled. "What's to get in order? We need to figure out a way to disable those watchtowers, right? I know it's been a bit emotional, but if everyone's all right…"

Angel grinned. "I think I can manage." She pulled out her coffee and sipped. "Definitely."

"Labrys?" Queen said. "Lead on."

"Gotcha!"

As they walked along, Queen found herself barely a pace behind Joker, with Angel taking up the rear of the group. "Labrys?" she asked. "As long as we don't disturb the. . . farmers. . . " she said, searching for several moments for the right word. ". . . we'll be OK out here, right?"

Labrys glanced around. "Yes, but make sure I don't lose sight of you. The paths can change."

Queen nodded, and fell to the back of the group in pace with Angel. "...can we talk. Privately?"

Angel snorted. For a moment Queen felt her stomach drop out of her, but then Angel silently fell behind, obviously expecting Queen to follow suit. When they were walking side by side, Angel glanced over at her, then shook her head. "If you're going to apologize or something, forget it."

Queen nearly stopped dead, but remembering Labrys' warning struggled to keep up. "Wh..why shouldn't I apologize?"

"Because I fucking hear it every time someone finds out, and most of the time they're just humoring me before they vanish," Angel shot back. "Ann doesn't care, and neither does Rei-chan, and they're literally the only two in my life. Hell, if she really wanted I'd consider bearing Rei's kids for her just because she tried to help without being an ass."

Queen jumped in shock. "That's an exaggeration, right?"

Angel thought about it. "Maybe, but not much of one. I know she can't have them...erm, the way she'd probably want to."

Queen nodded. "Technically, not at all allowed legally."

"You're distracting from the real question," Angel noted. "...and this probably isn't the place anyway."

Queen squeezed her hands together. "That's true. Let's catch back up with the others. I'm not...quite sure what to do for a meeting afterwards."

"There's a park that's quiet this late," Angel said after a moment. We can talk there before we head home if it's not too late."

The biggest problem of wandering the paths, Joker quickly realized, was continuing to act casual. The constant barrage of the sight of animals being slaughtered with no regard for the smells being generated, and the peasants somehow always seeming to find a way to end up filthier, she could get used to. On the other hand, it was like the smells and sounds were constantly shifting just enough for her mind's natural defenses to not kick in, without any of those new sounds being pleasant.

But if she tried to speed up, people started noticing. Even a brisk walk was enough to slow down the flow of the workers as they stopped to watch her suspiciously. "Morgana, what's going on?"

"The security level's rising," he explained. "Every Palace is different, but I'm guessing that if we get to the point of a general alert these guys all take that stuff and use it on us."

Joker thought about that for about half a second. "Let's not let that happen."

That was about when Skull started jogging. "Gyuh, what's the holdup, Joker?" Then he realized that there were about four hundred eyes turned directly to him. "Uh...yeah, nothing to see here, guys…" He tried to think about those old Samurai flicks. He switched to a deeper, stupid-formal voice. "Uh...be thou about thine business."

Once Skull was no longer the center of attention, Joker said, still quietly. "That was the holdup. Sorry, I was just discussing that with Morgana and we were about to warn you. We've got to keep as close to a normal walking pace as possible."

Skull turned his head to look around as casually as he could. "That sucks…" Then he spotted something. From where he was standing, it looked like a canvas tent that was about twenty feet tall, until he noticed it was moving, slowly, towards a collection point. "That's a big one…" He looked down the line to where Labrys was hiding between Panther and Queen. "Hey, Labrys, think ya can get us a ride?"

Panther blinked, then grinned and sauntered up. "Actually, leave this one to me and Skull."

Driver 46 had a good life. He drove his horse-drawn wagon to a place, picked up some things, took them to a warehouse, and then went to do some more. He couldn't remember the last time he'd ate...or slept...or saw his wife, but that was okay. He could do things like that...later...some other time…

Every so often he even got to interact with Lord Keino himself! Usually, though, it was his minions or occasionally the reward of a 'comfort woman'. And what was wrong with that? He provided for his wife and children...how many of them were there again? No matter. For once, he was even ahead of schedule...or, rather, the filthy Farmers were behind. Again.

Oh, speaking of the comfort women Keino one day promised, there was one now. She was...a little unusually dressed, in that skin-tight outfit, but the way her decolletage was exposed left no room for doubt. "Well, hey beautiful" he said. "The back of my cart's free for the next few minutes.

She fluttered her eyes at him, letting him get closer. Which, unfortunately for Driver 46, turned his attention away from the opposite side of the wagon, which was where the large oar came at him and smacked against the back of his head, causing him to dissolve. Skull snorted. "That was way too easy. We coulda switched places." Panther looked scandalized for a moment. "Hey, it ain't that you aren't hot!" Skull complained. "He was just that dumb."

Joker sighed. "Everyone in."

Morgana sighed. "I could have just taken us."

"Security level," Joker pointed out. "Car doesn't fit the scenery, but if we're running for our lives your van mode's definitely the better option."

"Good point," Morgana said with a weak smile.

The guard tower allowed them in with no trouble, just for bringing the cart. As they stepped off, workers jumped out to empty the back. Queen and Angel quickly dispatched them with fist and spear. Labrys looked green. "I know they ain't people, but you guys are a little too happy ta be doing that, ya know?"

Queen shrugged. "They're glorified security cameras. There are going to be more things like that down the line, I'm sure."

Labrys. "You're still...forget it, you're right, it's not safe to let them stay up. They'll be back in a few minutes, so let's go."

The interior of the tower was a simple wood construction, not meant to hold in the event of a siege. There was a simple wooden staircase leading to the next floor, with a simple door at the top. Joker took the lead, opening it...into Hell.

Well, that wasn't true. It was a large marketplace, but one populated solely by the nobility. Men and women in long, brightly-colored kimono were moving everywhere with purpose, screaming orders for purchase at the top of their lungs. Papers moved back and forth across the floor with blinding speed. Joker felt her mind break trying to keep up and slipped into her Sight.

It only helped a little, but it allowed her to focus in on only a few papers at a time. She tried to follow them, along with the gold, until she realized it was all going to and from one place. "Keino Exports," she said. "They're the central money changer."

Queen tried to make sense of it. "What…"

Labrys frowned, her eyes glowing as she scanned. "Joker's right. But…"

"The paintings!" Panther said. "I read about this in the newspapers! He's got paintings stored belonging to practically every rich guy you've ever heard of, and almost all of the ones you haven't."

Skull looked like he was getting a headache. "What...he thinks he's got everyone's balls in a vise with this or somethin'?"

Queen shook her head. "That can't be right."

Labrys shrugged. "A lot of businesses like this exist just ta hold onta these things in 'international waters'. No business taxes and so on. Technically, if they sell'em he's got to cough up, but I betcha if someone needs a lot of cash in a hurry he could really trip them up."

"And piss them off too," Skull pointed out. "Is he really this dumb?"

Joker grinned. "Signs point to 'yes,'" she said. She caught a look from Angel. "Not that he can't cause damage. But hopefully this Palace won't be so bad."

Queen turned her attention to the market. "That might be true, but we have to get across that room. And back out."

"Without being spotted," Labrys added after another quick scan. "If you're a noble you can do it just fine, but wasn't there some old rule about how farmers had ta stay out of nobles' ways?"

Joker frowned. "I'll do it by myself, today. It's just a scouting mission, it doesn't need to be all of us." She had already turned towards a nearby alley when she felt a strong grip on her shoulder.

Queen squeezed down, once, hard enough to get Joker to yelp. "You're taking an awful lot of risks today, Joker."

The transgirl wriggled away from Queen. "You're my friends, isn't that what friends - " she stopped when Angel ran by her. "Hey! Wait!"

She turned to go after her friend, but Queen twisted her body into a simple throw that knocked Joker to the ground. Joker tried to get up, but when she looked up into the glowing yellow eyes behind Queen's mask, she gulped. "Good girl."

It turned out that going unseen in a giant crowd was next to impossible. Angel realized she'd need to go unnoticed. Joker wouldn't be providing any ideas. A quick glance back showed that Queen still had a boot firmly on their 'fearless leaders' chest and wasn't going to move. Later, Shiho, she told herself. She squinted, and figured that the best way was probably to simply trail after someone going in the direction she was intending. If it wasn't her crossing paths, but just helping someone more important, it seemed likely they would let any minor 'insult' pass. She picked a likely looking target and slipped into her wake, following her all the way up to the Keino Exports tent.

This close, she realized a noble was having an argument with the clerk. She considered listening closer, but there was no sense to it. She thought Labrys might be able to make out something, but she was back at the entrance. Instead, Angel turned her attention to trying to find someone trying to leave the crowd.

That was when she'd realized she'd made a mistake.

The woman she was supposedly serving was staying in line, and each of the nobles in the lines on either side were glancing around in boredom. That wouldn't have been so bad - she could have just waited for the transaction to complete. . . but at the front of the line, flanking the clerks, were two Shadows. She was about to get caught.

She did the only thing she could think of. She leaned her spear, ever so slightly, to one side reaching out just far enough to be in the path of one of the noble's legs. When the line moved, he stepped forward and tripped. To ensure she'd have a chance, she raised it to completely flip him over.

Instantly, everyone was screaming and looking around in panic. The guards started coming towards her, but they couldn't tell she wasn't appropriately dressed. Yet. She ran, then ducked into an alley. Once everything had calmed down, she glanced out, and saw that it was only a short dash across the way to get to her destination.

Maybe I should have let Rei do this, Shiho thought. I can't fight these Shadows alone, without backup. I'm not a martial artist like Rei and Makoto. I'm not a sprinter like Ryuji. How do I….how do I… Her mind went back to the day she'd spent with Rei before they'd come to the Palace. The wood stalls were too smooth to climb...but her spear, and her strength in the Metaverse. It has to work. Angel steeled herself. It will work. She retreated down to one end of the alley, then ran. Before she charged out into the street, she turned and planted her spear's end into the earth beneath her feet.

A small part of Angel's mind knew this shouldn't work. Oh, she was strong enough, with the assistance, to get up over the ledge...but to add a curve to her momentum at just the right moment? That simply didn't make sense. It happened anyway, and she landed on the roof of a merchant's stall. Her legs bent as she landed and she was able to take off again, somehow preserving her momentum and changing smoothly back to running, and even holding onto her spear. She was able to make the leap easily, landing on the stall with its' back to the stairs. With a tuck and roll to descend, she was on her way.

And the third floor...was just the top floor. A simple, open tower with a guard-rail, a man staring through a long telescope, a large pile of wood set up to burn with plenty of oil and a lit torch next to it, and nothing else. Disabling the tower would be easy enough.

"So, that's it. Maybe we can just use these grappling hooks to climb up the walls of the towers." Ryuji said.

Labrys looked at the walls very carefully. A laser grid appeared on them, moving as she turned her head, before she stopped. "No good," she said. "Hard ta explain, but I don't think the walls are there."

"Uh...what now?" Ryuji said, his reply a mix of confusion and disappointment.

Morgana frowned. "Yeah, I get that sense too. Okay, so, in the Metaverse sometimes a wall isn't just a wall, or isn't a wall at all. Got that?"

All of the human Phantom Thieves said "No," at the same time.

"Yeah, I was 'fraid of that," Labrys said, shaking her head. "It's...Okay, ya know how the fields aren't really a contiguous space. It looks like it, but like I told ya, if someone passes outta sight behind something, they could end up somewhere completely different and they won't be where they should when ya go to check on them?"

Queen frowned behind her mask, putting her fingers to her chin. "I get it. So what you're saying is, if we were to make a 3D map, the walls outside the tower don't match up to either the walls inside or the roof, and if we tried to climb them we might not find the observation decks at the top?"

Morgana nodded enthusiastically. "That's right, or at least close enough."

Labrys did a quick scan. "I'd have to check outside to be sure, but I think what you'd get from this tower is a private bathroom with a hot tub. He might even be in it."

Joker smirked. "I nominate Skull to check on that one, if he wants."

Skull made a face. "Is that for all the times I called you 'dude?'."

"Nah," Joker's smile turned into a genuine grin. "That was just messing with you. If I ever feel like revenge, you'll know."

Panther giggled. "Okay, on that note, let's move on before we lose Ryuji,"

"The worst part of this," Panther said. "I think I'm finally getting used to the smell. Either that, or it just isn't as bad in this cart, but that doesn't make sense."

"More elitism," Angel grumbled. "If you can afford a cart, you don't have to expose yourself to the lowest of the peasants,"

Queen peered out of the flaps on the wagon. "Actually, the smell is getting better." She opened it a bit more so the rest of the Thieves could peer out. It was a small village that they couldn't see from a distance. Well-to-do merchants and artisans puttered about. That was the only word Joker could find - they did not move with any purpose, unlike the nobles in the 'stock market', they just wandered aimlessly, or listlessly worked the tools of their trade.

Joker hopped out and immediately fell into step with a man wearing a toolbelt with a number of hammers on it. "Hey. What's a girl gotta do to get a new knife around here?"

The man mumbled "Company store. It's all pointless anyway. No one takes pride in anything anymore…"

Joker shrugged and fell back. When Queen caught up to her, she shook her head. "Nothing to worry about out here as long as we don't start chopping off heads. Just people lost in their miserable lives."

Queen's look of concentration returned. "...I think I'm starting to get it. Can I check out this tower?"

"Sure." Joker said. "I think I'll check out the village. We might be able to pick up some weapons around here to take back into the real world."

Queen looked at her skeptically. "Split up?"

"Take as many people as you think is smart," Joker responded. "We can keep in touch with phones." She turned to Labrys. "Can you go with her as far as you feel safe and keep up the scans? I'll take Morgana and his senses."

"Thanks," Morgana grumbled.

Joker raised an eyebrow. "You okay?"

"Yeah…"

Queen ultimately decided that she would take Labrys and Skull, relying on Angel and Panther to keep Joker from getting into too much trouble. As before, the first level of the guard tower was a safe space, apparently not worth Keino's consideration. When they reached the second floor, however…

It wasn't a floor at all. It was a large meadow, located in front of the fake Osaka Castle. The city in the real world, neither the modern one nor some stupid fascilime of the medieval village that would have been there when the castle was a genuine military fortification, was there. And, standing alone in front of a bamboo striking pole, was a boy.

The boy was about eight years old, with his hair done up in a topknot, wearing a hakama and wielding a katana too large for his frame. Regardless, he kept clumsily swinging at the target, his sword bouncing off. After each strike, an adult voice boomed 'Again'. The boy flinched, then took another swing. On endless repeat.

"...I see…" Queen said. "Still, I bet the stairs are at the castle gates."

"What do you - never mind," Skull replied. "You'd need too many words and I'm guessin' it don't matter none."

Queen thought about that. "You're...actually probably right at that. We're spending a lot of effort on analyzing this guy, but really we just need to take the Treasure, right?"

"Right." Skull answered. "Yo, Labrys, you think the kid's dangerous?"

Labrys frowned. "Yes. Not the kid, but if ya do anything to hurt him he can call up the guards, and the guards are Shadows."

"Gotcha." Skull said. "You distract him and get him out of the way with your aikido, I run past while you've got him off to the side?"

"Could work," Queen agreed. "But only once."

"Got it." Skull said. "Still, we should probably double-check the top floor for traps. You got another idea?"

Labrys spoke up. "I can use my stealth system to try putting on a proper kimono. He might ignore me if he thinks I'm a lady going to the castle. Heist day, can't do that because he'll be on alert for anything weird, but today…"

Queen desperately tried not to yell at her. "Labrys, you're defenseless in that body. If he catches you…"

"You'll be right here ta back me up." Labrys grinned. "Besides, I'm not completely defenseless. You'll see."

Joker kicked the ground in disgust. She'd just talked to the fifth shopkeeper who wouldn't sell anything. Not that she had any ancient coins to pay for it, but it was just….she jumped when she felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Panther?!"

"Sorry," Panther said. "What's wrong?"

Morgana nodded. "Joker, what's the point? They're just cognitions."

"I know…" Joker took a seat on the porch of the sixth stand she was about to try to talk to when she'd been stopped. "...This man's Sensei's friend. I was hoping…"

Angel took a seat next to her. "Sensei?"

Joker realized she hadn't told Panther or Angel about him. "Saitou-sensei. He's my psychiatrist and the doctor overseeing my transition for the study. And...I guess he fronted the cash for a lot of my treatment."

Panther blinked. "Then why are you….this could…"

Joker waved a hand. "Wreck me? Hurt people like me? Probably. The trip to the States is probably off if we do this. It'll lose a lot of credibility. I may have put myself through a lot of extra Hell for nothing." She looked at Angel. "But if everything's as bad as it looks, I don't want this man's money."

Angel swallowed down her nervousness. "Thanks, Joker, but….is this really the place?"

Joker shrugged in resignation. "These cognitions aren't going to say anything. I don't think they have enough brainpower to register us at all."

Angel sighed, taking a seat. "This guy's…"

Morgana jumped up onto the rail above them. "Warped. I swear, this Palace is the weirdest I've ever seen. Treasure out in the open where anyone can see it, infinite mazes with places like this as…well, not really safe spaces."

Panther took a look about. "Joker, what do you think?"

Joker leaned her head back. "Really? If I had to guess? If we looked into him more in the real world, I bet we'd have found all this out eventually. It's not like Keino's….well, like Haru's dad. He doesn't have a big business everyone's heard of. Money? Sure, a lot of it. But I bet he hangs out with a lot of other rich people in his bracket who feel the same about all this. He's smart enough to not say it where Angel's family could hear, but that's it. He doesn't think he's hiding any urges, or that he hates people, so it's all just….normal."

"Hmf," Morgana glanced around, as if trying to make Joker's guess fit. "As good as any guess. We'll find out when we steal the Treasure."

Hiroshi ran through the practice slash for the...how many thousands...it didn't matter. He ran through the slice, again and again, practicing for the war to claim Japan in his future. If he had to do it by himself, he would become a great leader, one cut at a time.

All he had to do was ensure the proper forms were followed, everything perfectly done at every step….and strange ladies walking through his fields were not a part of this plan. "Halt! Approach."

The woman was beautiful, but there was something...imperfect...about her. She approached slowly, elegantly, just as a lady should, but…"Yeah? Whatcha want?" The grating, horrific twisting of language of the Kansai region. He drew his sword (wasn't he swinging a boken just now?) and sliced the woman in half in the first motion. "Whoa!?"

Hiroshi blinked, but the woman was now an extra ken away. He took another swing, but this time he saw it. The image collapsed, but another had appeared. No, another two. So many flaws in the perfection of his world!

Labrys walked slowly to the gate. She was sure there was a stairway beyond it, but the stealth system only had so much range and using it like this was draining her batteries. I'll...need ta get….Mitsuru-san...ta….

Skull picked her up. "Woah, there."

Labrys couldn't force her lips to move. She barely opened her mouth so her speaker could say "Thanks." The illusions collapsed.

Skull shook his head. "Yeah, that ain't gonna work…." He signaled to Queen to go back. She shook her head vigorously to try to get the message across, but he repeated the gesture, then pointed up the stairs. She seemed to understand the message after a second and looked at him skeptically.

The roof had a single Shadow, standing at a telescope just as Angel had described. He looked at his new grappling hook, and grinned.

Joker was just about ready to give up and go after her friends when Queen came out the front door of the tower. "Well?"

"Labrys started to slow down. Skull managed to run through and save her, but I'm pretty sure there will be an alarm soon."

Panther shot to her feet in alarm. "What about Skull?"

Queen shook her head. "They're both on the roof. We'll need to…" She trailed off as she heard two screams, one masculine and one feminine and staticky. "Oh no…"

Skull landed next to her with a billowing dust cloud, Labrys limp over his shoulders. With a flick, the cord on his grappling hook retracting "We're gonna have to fight our way through, and Labrys…"

"Ah'll be fine" a tinny voice announced. "But yeah, we're done for today."

Joker took one look at Labrys in her 'unstealthed' form. "Yeah, no kidding. Morgana, car up. We're making a break for it."

At the edge of the forest, everyone stepped out of the Morganamobile as quickly as they could. "Well," Joker said. "I'd say we're more than halfway done, at least. Two more watch towers, and then we get to send the calling card."

Skull leaned against a tree, shaking out his leg. "Anyone else thinking this Palace is messed up? I mean, I know it's only the second one we've run across, but. . . "

Queen shrugged, taking out the last of her coffee to sip. "Honestly, I think if everyone had a Palace most of them would be something like this. Everyone hides something from themselves. Keino is just . . . hiding a lot because. . . "

"Because deep down he knows he's just scum with too much money?" Panther interjected. Queen nodded. "Honestly, the mental gymnastics of this place…."

Angel shook her head. "Sorry, Labrys, I guess we just pushed too hard to try to get done today. You going to be all right?"

"Yeah," Labrys said. "Almost got enough back to run the stealth already, if I walk slow."

Joker shook her head. "No way. I've seen Angel's apartment, may as well see yours."

Panther sounded surprised, but not completely displeased. "Hey, Angel, you invited Joker over but not me?"

"It's not what you think!" Angel's cheeks turned red under her mask.

Joker smiled. "What, you don't wanna date?"

"Don't you have a Detective Prince?" Angel shot back, causing Joker to blush.

Panther chuckled. "Okay, now I'm convinced you're just investigating him."

Joker coughed. "Open mouth, insert foot," she said. "Sorry. Anyway, I'll see Labrys home if that's all right with everyone? Meet back for another run in two days?" Everyone agreed.

Ruri's new apartment, it turned out, was in Kanda. However, it proved to be slightly closer to the Akihabara station, so that was where Rei got off with her newest friend. Walking uncomfortably past some of the ads, Rei felt Ruri falling behind. "...Can I hold your hand?"

"What?!" Ruri jumped back.

It took a moment for Rei to realize how that sounded. "No, no, it's just...I can keep to your pace easier if you set it."

Ruri stepped in close to her and leaned in. "You're scared," she said.

Rei gulped. "W..was it that obvious?"

"Ya just ran through one of those Palace things in an afternoon. Why . . . oh, right, that Kamoshida guy, right?" Ruri gulped, despite not having any need to - nor indeed the ability - to swallow. "Ya said he - "

Rei snapped "Yes, dammit! You don't have to say it!"

"...sorry," Ruri winced. She sighed, slipping deep into her Osaka accent. "Ah don't get it, but…" She reached out and grabbed Rei's hand, squeezing gently. "And...yeah, Ah'm really sorry I made ya come out here."

Rei shook her head, but when Ruri started walking again she kept up. "It's...I was mostly okay with it until I found out what I'd been buying, but that isn't your fault."

"It's tha Palace," Ruri said. "Actually, tha whole Metaverse." Rei glanced over at her. "It don't just take energy to drive yer Persona," she explained. "It's about focus and mental fortitude. Without those, the place eats at ya. You'll get better with practice, but until you're a real pro coming out you'll be really cranky for at least a few hours even if ya just sit around in the subway lobby."

Rei nodded. "The coffee helps a bit."

"No," Ruri said. "It makes ya feel better for a bit, but unless you get some rest…"

Rei gulped. "How does that interfere with depression?"

Ruri frowned. "Gimmie a sec, I'll call that one in…" There was a lengthy pause. "Clinical or just the common meaning?"

"Clinical."

Another pause. "Rei, we don't got a good answer for that, and the doctors think ya shouldn't go back in. Apparently someone named 'Minako' had some real bad days and she didn't have a chemical imbalance in her brain."

Rei shook her head. "I'll work on being able to handle Navigator duty if I need to get off the front lines, but I dragged everyone into this and I'm not stopping."

"You could get really hurt," Ruri warned.

Rei smiled. "Wouldn't be the first time."

They walked the rest of the way in silence, as the flashy electronics stores and . . . other places gave way to high-rise apartments. Ruri eventually stopped and led Rei to an elevator that went up to a high floor. The hallways were scrupulously clean, and when the door opened Rei winced. The apartment didn't have much, just a beanbag chair and two devices plugged into two different outlets, the other ends of which being some sort of plug Rei didn't recognize. A floor mat suitable for yoga rounded things out.

Then Rei remembered Ruri didn't need food or a soft place to sleep. The mat would probably do fine for her. "The bag's for guests?" she asked.

Ruri smiled and gestured for Rei to go ahead. "Ah can charge standin' up, but it's a bit slower," she explained as Rei collapsed. "Ah'll start gettin' stuff in ta do repairs and upgrades, but if things get real bad I may need a hand."

"As long as you can tell me what to do," Rei confirmed.

Ruri nodded, immediately starting to remove her uniform. Rei responded by making a choking sound. "What?" Ruri asked. "Ah go around witho...oh, right," she said, comprehending. "Uh...gee, this is awkward. I was just gonna get started charging, but I don't have any snacks or anything. Feels kinda rude."

"...uh, why don't you turn the stealth system off so I can see where the plugs go, then I'll get going," Rei said, trying hard not to stammer.

"Ah can hook myself up after ya leave," Ruri said, although she tried hard to not show any annoyance it seeped through.

Rei blinked, then found herself chuckling. "Maybe we should pick up some sci-fi on proper robot etiquette?"

Ruri laughed. "Yeah, that might be a good idea." She turned serious. "Rei, let's wait a couple of days before we finish this job, okay? Ya already ain't lookin' so hot, and I wouldn't be surprised if ya had an episode."

"You mean the doctors you phoned wouldn't be surprised." Rei said flatly.

Ruri looked a bit sheepish. "Actually, they asked me ta check if you're growing tentacles." Rei paled and looked like she wanted to throw up. "Ah think they were exaggerating, but . . . "

"Fine. But only a few days." Rei conceded. She stood up. "Okay, I probably shouldn't keep you from charging. Uh...you need some way to play DVDs or something while you top off?" she asked, looking a little uncomfortable. "This apartment's. . . "

"Eh, wifi router in the ceiling. Ah can stream whatever I want." Ruri grinned cockily. "Thanks though. If ah do think of a housewarming gift I need I'll let ya know.

Rei decided to avoid Akihabara on the way back. It took a little longer, but at least she wouldn't have to go. . . there. And the extra time meant it was late enough that she wouldn't have to risk being thrown out of the woman-only cars (or, worse, brave the other kind.) She scanned her train card. Then she scowled and put some spare yen on the card before she tried again.

Going up to the tracks, she stood and waited before stepping onto the train and stumbled towards an open seat. She was, in fact, so tired she didn't even notice the other girl doing the same until they collided into each other and sprawled out on the floor.

Rei blinked, realizing she didn't feel the pain of bonking her head into someone else. Then she saw the other girl. Wearing the Shujin uniform, she was only a bit taller than Rei. The other girl also had a first-year pin, which distracted Rei from looking into her bright red eyes for only a moment before noticing her hair was the exact same shade. Then she started taking in other details. For a moment, the part of Rei trained to analyze threats thought she was another martial artist, before Rei realized she didn't quite have the bulk for that. More like a gymnast, she thought, even as the rest of her started to recover and glide smoothly to her feet. "Uh...sorry about that."

The girl shook out her head, then grabbed Rei's hand to help her get to her own feet. "Uh, no problem, I'm really clumsy sometimes," the girl admitted, before tilting her head at Rei. "Oh, hey, don't you go to Shujin too?" she asked. Rei gulped and tried to shake her head, but the other girl just tilted hers. "Uh, yeah, I've seen you around, but you look a lot cuter like this." She took a breath. "So, why do you wear the boys' uniform?"