September 20th.

Hifumi started the day with some good news. She was finally allowed to visit her father in the hospital starting today after school. This was what she was waiting to hear for a while now. There was a lot she had to talk to her father about. So during lunch, she sat with Yusuke once more and pulled out her phone hurriedly. "I apologize in advanced."

"Hm? Apologize for what?" Yusuke asked, since that statement came out of nowhere.

"I'll tell you first." Hifumi said. "Today is the day I am allowed to start visiting my father. The treatment from the hospital has kept him stable. I've…really wanted to speak to him since he fell ill. So I'm apologizing in advanced if I hold up another infiltration…"

Yusuke shook his head, giving a slight smile. "I think the others will be very understanding. You don't have to apologize. I'm sure they will appreciate the heads up as well."

Hifumi gave a slight smile in return. She just hated holding things up when they had important deadlines. But they did have 20 days to ensure Okumura's heart was changed. She was just overthinking a lot.

Hifumi: I've received news that I can visit my father today.

Ann: That's great, Fumi!

Haru: He's sick, isn't he? You should go visit him.

Hifumi: Are you sure that's okay…?

Ren: It's fine, we have time.

Makoto: I think you should visit him. You've wanted to for a while, haven't you.

Ryuji: It's fine!

Futaba: Goooooooo!

Hifumi: Thank you all so much, truly.

Hifumi was wearing a smile on her lips. She was aware she was worrying for nothing and that everyone would approve of the decision. She then furrowed her brows, deciding to text her mother she would be taking the day to visit her father in the hospital. She also shot a text to Mika, just in case she was planning to surprise her with something. "There. All my bases are now covered…."

.

.

Afterschool, Hifumi made a beeline for the hospital. As excited as she was to see her father again after several weeks, she was also nervous. There was a knot in her stomach as she stood outside the door that was to his room. She wasn't sure why she felt so nervous, but she took a deep breath and slowly pushed the door opened. "Hello…Father…?"

Mitsurugi was resting on the hospital bed. Admittedly, he did not look great. But when his daughter was here, he could feel a little better already. "Hifumi, there you are. I hope you've been alright recently."

Hifumi closed the door behind her, giving her father a quick hug. It had been a while since she got to hug her father. "I…I've been okay. How are you…?" It was an awkward subject to touch upon. Based on what she was told, her father wasn't going to make it to the next year. That was only a few months…

"I feel much better now that I get to see you." Mitsurugi replied with a fond smile. He had a way of setting Hifumi's nerves at ease. "How was your school trip?"

"Oh…it was wonderful." Hifumi said with a soft smile, pulling back from the hug before sitting down. "Although our flight to, em…L.A was canceled due to rain, we went to Hawaii instead. Coincidentally, that's where my friends from Shujin went too. So I got to spend time with them."

"With Takamaki as well?" Mitsurugi teased.

Hifumi couldn't help but let out a quiet squeak, feeling a red hue creep onto her cheeks. "Y-Yes…her too. She made that trip much more worthwhile than I ever could have expected. It was a much needed trip after…everything…"

"…I know what your mother has been up to…" Mitsurugi then frowned, but turned his head away to cough. Just because he was feeling better didn't mean he was feeling well. "I am sorry she has been working you so hard lately. I do have to say that she does love you, and I hope you know that. That's where her actions stem from."

"…I know." Hifumi at least wanted to believe that. She loved her mother; there was no question about it. "But…that is what makes it so hard. She doesn't listen to me and I…I have a hard time enjoying shogi these days. The game you taught me…the game I've come to love. It's all so hard."

"I am sorry your mother is also so difficult. Has she at least been a little more lenient with you these days in my absence?" Her father asked, looking concerned.

"A little." Hifumi replied. "But with the situation surrounding Shujin and the Phantom Thieves, she's slowly growing increasingly strict. She doesn't want me hanging around with my friends from Shujin…I'm worried she might do something about it…" She gripped the edge of her skirt nervously. "I don't want to lose everything, Father."

Frowning, Mitsurugi sat up, his green eyes giving his daughter a concerned stare. "Why do you think you'll lose everything…?"

Oh, right. Hifumi…she couldn't tell her own father she was a Phantom Thief. He was the person she trusted the most, but it was for the best she kept silent on the matter. It was difficult to explain how she felt properly, so she had to dance around the issue. "Well…I suppose you could say I've become acute to when the people around me lie or tell the truth. I used to think that knowing the truth would be great, but there are a lot of truths that simply hurt." Her gaze went down to her lap. "It's odd…I never thought that knowing the truth would make it hard to trust people, or what I hear from them. I even asked someone about it, and they said the truth was absolute. There's no changing it and he was right."

"Hifumi. That's not true." Mitsurugi said.

"Huh?" Hifumi blinked, staring curiously at her father. "What do you mean, Father?"

"I don't know when you became so good at telling truth from lies…but imagine a shogi board for a moment, will you? Mitsurugi suggested, smiling slightly. "The notion that there is only one truth is a rather limited way of thinking, don't you think? Now, let's assume that there is a single truth, there was numerous ways to interpret that truth."

"I'm unsure I follow…" Hifumi was visualizing it, but she wasn't quite understanding what her father was trying to say.

"The truth is not the end all be all of a situation. Someone could say one thing, but mean another. Simply keep an open mind…and if you have options to continue after the truth, then you can pursue them. Don't allow yourself to be checked so easily. The Togo Kingdom does not fall that simply, now does it?"

Hifumi couldn't help but snicker. Even when she was worried about him, her father always had a way to make her smile. "I think…I understand it. It is something I will have to practice. I shouldn't give up on trust that easily, that's what you're saying."

"Sometimes people are incapable of telling the truth. Other times, the truth may be harsh. But there is one truth I believe in: my daughter is a wonderful person. I have faith that she will accomplish anything she sets out to do when she puts her mind…to it…" he started coughing again, despite his efforts to hold it back.

Hifumi was about to tear up. She'd almost forgotten how easy her father could encourage her. "Oh, father…" Her lips trembled and she wrapped her arms around Mitsurugi for a tight hug. "Thank you so much. I really needed to hear that."

The hug was returned, Mitsurugi giving a fond smile in return. "You're very welcome. I want to see you happy, no matter what. That's the least I can do from this hospital bed."

Hifumi pulled back, giving her father the other half of the star charm she bought in Hawaii. "I bought this for you in Hawaii. The other half is with Mother. So…when you two are together, it'll match."

"A thoughtful gift from a thoughtful daughter. I'll cherish this, Hifumi. Of that, I promise." Mitsurugi said with a firm nod. "….We still have time until visiting hours are over. But I do not wish to get in the way of your schoolwork."

"I want to spend as much time as I can with you here." Hifumi said. "At the very least, allow me to properly tell you what I've been up to lately. I want to keep you involved." Of course she was excluding the Phantom Thief details of her life. Even if she didn't think her life outside of that and shogi wasn't terribly exciting, she wanted to keep her father in the loop so he wouldn't miss anything.

.

.

Since they weren't infiltrating the Palace today, Ann simply decided to go home and do…anything but homework. She did a little, but opted out of it about 30 minutes in. So she was lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, bored. "I wonder how Fumi's visit went. I don't want to bother her, but I want to ask…" Mulling over her options, she picked up her phone. Just as she did, she got a text from Shiho. "…!"

Shiho: Hi, Ann. I know this is sudden, but I had to tell you. Tomorrow is the day I leave…

Ann: It's…that time already? It sure flew.

Shiho: …Yeah. I wanted to see you one last time, of course. I've been thinking and there's one thing I need to do before I leave.

Ann: What is it?

Shiho: I want to go back to the roof of Shujin. I hope…that's not too much trouble. I'll also need some help up the stairs. Going down won't be a problem, but…

Ann found herself frowning. There was a stinging pain in her heart.

Ann: That's no trouble at all. I haven't forgotten about the other thing you asked me about too. I'll make it work tomorrow.

Shiho: Thank you, Ann. I'll…see you tomorrow I guess.

So that was happening tomorrow. Ann sighed and turned to lie on her stomach, now texting Hifumi.

Ann: Hey! How did the visit go?

Hifumi: It went just fine. It was so nice to talk to my father again. It helped a lot.

Ann: I'm glad to hear that. I know it was something that's been on your mind. So, um…can I ask you something?

Hifumi: Of course. What is it?

Ann: Can you come to Shujin after school tomorrow?

Hifumi: Shujin…?

Ann: Yeah. There's something I need you for. I hope it's not too much trouble.

Hifumi: Of course it isn't. But will I be allowed…?

Ann: It's okay. I'll sneak you in. I'm gonna ask Ren for help too. We'll be going to the roof.

Hifumi: Okay. I'll see you tomorrow!

Okay. That wasn't so hard. Although this was just the easy part. The hard part no doubt came tomorrow. Ann's heart wasn't ready…

.

.

September 20st.

Early morning. Ren sat down at his seat behind Ann, just waiting for glass to begin. "Morning." Ren yawned.

"Hey." Ann turned around, a bit of a serious look on her face. "I'm sorry to bump into operation time, but I need your help with something today."

"What's up?" Ren asked.

"Shiho is moving today. She wants to come to school first…and I was hoping you'd help her up the stairs. She wants to go to the roof." Ann explained.

"Your friend is coming…?" Morgana quietly remarked.

"Okay. You don't have to say anything else." Ren gave Ann a slight smile.

Mishima happened to overhear Ren and Ann talking. This was normally the part where he would awkwardly intrude, but he hesitated. Because everything that happened several months ago…he couldn't deny his role in things. It was something that ate away at him slowly, but he could ignore it by working on the Phan-Site. "Suzui…"

.

.

Later that day, Ann snuck Hifumi into Shujin and to the roof, asking her to wait there. Afterwards, she went to meet Shiho with Ren, proceeding to help her up the stairs. Shiho was pretty tired and a little weak, so she was grateful for their help. She was also wearing her old Shujin uniform. "Ann…Ren-kun. I'm pretty heavy, huh…? Thanks for the help."

"Isn't Ren super reliable?" Ann said with a smile.

"Mhm. Just like you were telling me." Shiho said with a slight smile.

"Oh…" Hifumi blinked a few times at Shiho.

Shiho turned her gaze to Hifumi, smiling slightly while stepping forward, extending her hand. "I'm Shiho Suzui. You must be Hifumi, right? Ann's told me a lot about you."

"S-She has?" Hifumi wasn't expecting to meet Shiho today. But she managed a slight smile in return, shaking Shiho's hand. "It's an honor to meet you, Suzui-san. Ann has also told me a lot about you."

"You can call me Shiho. It's okay." Shiho pulled her hand back. "…Today's the day I leave. I wanted to meet the person Ann was so happy about being with. I've wanted to meet you for a while, to be honest."

"Ah…." Hifumi felt a slight blush creep onto her cheeks. "W-Well…you're far closer to her and all…"

"We've known each other for a while, so that's only natural. But you two have gotten very close in such a short time, right?" Shiho asked.

"I…Yes. Ann is very important to me…" Hifumi replied sheepishly.

"Aw, come on guys…you're gonna make me blush…" Ann used a finger to twirl one of her pigtails around sheepishly. But she was so happy to see Shiho and Hifumi getting along.

Shiho's smile faltered slightly as she walked to the edge of the roof. After the day she jumped, there was a fence in front of the edge so repeat incidents couldn't occur. She looked down at the ground, sighing quietly. "We're so high up…" The fact she was walking to the edge make the trio nervous.

"…Why did you want to come here?" Ren asked.

"…I wanted to reenact that moment." Shiho replied honestly. "Wearing these clothes, standing here again…I wanted to know what it would feel like."

Ann tilted her head very slightly. She was about to ask a hard question. "What about back then? What were you really thinking?" She could never get that horrid sight out of her mind. Even from inside on a lower floor, she could clearly make out the defeated expression Shiho wore seconds before she jumped from the roof. That action spurred the Phantom Thieves into action against Kamoshida.

Shiho was silent for a moment before answering. "…I…I didn't want to die. I just needed an escape. It was like another person inside of me was screaming, telling me to come up here. It almost felt like that person was trying to kill me." It was very understandable for Shiho to say and feel this way. She was…sexually assaulted by Kamoshida, along with physically and mentally. She reached her breaking point that day.

"…." Ann had no words. It was a question she avoided asking for a reason. Hifumi had nothing to say either, but she placed a hand on Ann's shoulder to try and comfort her.

Shiho then turned around. "But I know that person was part of me too. My weakness. So I wanted to see if she would show up again now."

"Is she gone?" Ren asked.

Shiho nodded. "Yeah. She doesn't exist anymore."

"You're so strong, Shiho…" Ann said. "The only reason you can stand here now is because of how hard you worked for your rehab."

"Maybe, but that was all thanks to you, Ann." Shiho said.

"Huh…?" Ann walked forward, oddly surprised.

"Because I saw how hard you were trying, too." Shiho smiled at her best friend. "Trying to be strong, trying to be cool…wanting to be an action star, striving to be a better model. You were always so positive. Your eyes sparkled with motivation. With you putting that much effort in, I couldn't just let my life go to waste in a hospital bed. That's why I wanted to stand again…it was because of you. And if you've been showing that same resolve for Hifumi, I know just how hard you've been working."

"Why are you so surprised?" Hifumi asked Ann with a soft smile. "It was those very same qualities Shiho just mentioned that have rubbed off on me too. You…have an amazing way of motivating people, Ann. You inspired me to keep standing too, even when I was on the verge of giving up. If it weren't for you reaching out to me on that day, I don't know what I'd be doing now…"

It was just as Shiho thought. She was right to want to meet Hifumi. Ann had a similar impact on the both of them. "Being able to change people. That's what true strength is."

Ann felt her lower lip quiver. "Shiho…Fumi…I…I don't feel strong at all. I'm just…a scared lonely girl sometimes…"

Shiho's gaze went down. She was no doubt at fault in some way for how Ann felt there. "I'm sorry…for deciding to transfer schools.

"Shiho…" Ann felt like she was going to cry, but she couldn't. Not in front of Shiho. "I'm going to become a real model! That way you'll be able to keep seeing me, and keep giving life your all! I'm gonna be in a bunch of magazines, and I'll say a ton of good stuff in interviews…! So…! So…." She was failing. She could feel the tears welling up and threatening to fall, but she turned her head, wiping them away before they could. "Stay healthy, work hard…but not too much…a-and keep in touch…just take care of yourself."

Now Shiho felt like she was going to cry too. She quickly walked over to Ann, wrapping her arms around her for a hug. "I love you, Ann. Once I can smile again from the bottom of my heart, I'll come visit."

"Y-Yeah…" Ann sniffled.

Their hug was cut short when Shiho pulled away. "Thank you, Ren-kun, for all your help…"

"No problem…" Ren was silent the whole time, because he was simply here for moral support. "You take care of yourself, Shiho."

Nodding, Shiho turned to Hifumi, surprising the shogi player by wrapping her arms around her for a hug. "And Hifumi…thank you for being Ann's friend in her time of need."

"Y-You're welcome…" Hifumi stuttered, taken aback by Shiho's actions.

"So…since you're her closest friend…I know I can ask this with absolute certainty." Shiho whispered so Ann wouldn't hear. "Can you look after Ann for me? I think we both know she can be a little excitable at times. She does need that shoulder to lean on…and I…I know she'll be just fine with you. That's why I wanted to meet you today…I know it's a little selfish of me to ask you this…"

Hifumi was stunned that Shiho wanted to ask her this personally. "Of course I will. I will protect Ann with all of my might. Of this, I am certain. You have my word as ruler of the Togo Kingdom!" She unintentionally slipped into shogi mode a bit there. That made Shiho giggle; she was honestly hoping she had a chance to witness that quirk of Hifumi's when Ann mentioned it.

"When you put it like that, I know she's in good hands." Shiho pulled back and gave Hifumi a warm smile. She had to see all of them off with one. "I am very glad I got to meet you today, Hifumi."

"And I you, Shiho…" Hifumi now felt like she was going to cry. She had only just met Shiho, but seeing how important she was to Ann was different than hearing it. Seeing Ann barely managing to hold herself together…it hit her heart.

"I have to go now…" Shiho said, slowly making her way to the door. She could get down the stairs no problem, the climb up was the only thing she needed help with.

"Ren, can I…?" Ann looked to Ren. He wasn't sure what she wanted, but he nodded. "Before you go, Shiho…I…I have to tell you…"

"Is it about the Phantom Thieves?" Shiho's guess caught them all by surprise. "I did want to thank them for what they did. You told me they acted in response to my jump, right? Well…I'm glad they're helping people these days. I know things are crazy on the internet…but I am an avid supporter of them and always will be. So…thank you." Shiho's wording was vague intentionally. Honestly, she had a feeling Ann and Ren were involved with the Phantom Thieves. She was thanking them personally, whether she was aware of it or not. But with the way she looked at Ann, then Ren and Hifumi…one could assume she figured it out. She simply didn't want to put the Phantom Thieves in a position where they confessed their identities was all. If they trusted her enough to even begin mentioning it that was okay with her. She was fine not having a solid answer.

"Shiho…" Ann didn't know what to say.

"Goodbye, Ann…I'll see you later." With that, Shiho made her exit, parting with a smile.

Ann was struggling visibly now. "I need to become the number one model around. I made a promise with Shiho and I can't go back. I'm gonna study how to properly exercise, and even relearn how to walk the runway. I want to pick up on some other languages and cultures too, so I can start doing overseas events. I'm not gonna be outdone by Mika anymore either! Because…well…the only way I can help Shiho and you, Fumi, is to show how hard I'm working!"

"I believe in you, Ann." Ren said firmly.

"I do as well. I know you can accomplish anything when you set your heart to it! Your heart…it's saved me, so I know it can inspire others!" Hifumi didn't mean to shout, but she believed in Ann that much.

Ann nodded. "Mhm…! If I can do that, then…then…" It all hit Ann at once. She didn't even know when she started crying, but the tears wouldn't stop. "Dammit! I told myself I wouldn't cry…but it just…won't stop.."

"Ann…" Hifumi frowned, completely stunned at the sight of seeing Ann crying. Before Hifumi knew it, she was nudged forward by Ren. "Ah…" That snapped her out of it and her instinct took over. And suddenly her arms wrapped around Ann. She just needed that little nudge, but this was her chance to return the favor for Hawaii. "Don't you dare say you're alone now. You have me. A-And you have Ren and the others too. But you can always come to me for anything, you know that don't you? We made a promise…"

"Fumi…" Ann sniffled before a smile fought its way to her lips. "Yeah…you're right. I do have you. And the others." She winked, which in turn made Hifumi blush. "I won't forget that promise either."

"Good. I wouldn't forgive you if you did. I'd force you into a game of shogi with me." Hifumi said with a smile. "And I wouldn't hold back."

"W-Wait…let's not go that far…!" Ann said with a nervous sweat drop.

Morgana was in Ren's bag, watching the whole thing play out. He didn't and couldn't say anything. But he was definitely smiling at Ann's resolve. "Lady Ann…she's so strong…"

"I think…she'll be just fine." Ren said with a slight nod.

.

.

As Shiho made her way to exit the school, Mishima saw her and quickly made his way over to her before she could leave. "S-Suzui, wait a sec…!"

Hearing her name, Shiho turned, surprised to see Mishima. "Oh, Mishima-kun…you're looking well."

"So are you…" Mishima made a mad dash, so he had to catch his breath. But after a second of panting, he bowed his head to her. "I'm so sorry for what happened! It's all my fault! If if wasn't for me sending you to Kamoshida, you wouldn't have…you wouldn't have…!"

"Ah…" Shiho's eyes widened. Mishima was apologizing for that. "…T-That's not your fault…"

"Yes it is." Mishima kept his head bowed to express how sorry he was. "If I wasn't such a coward back then, if I was just a little bit stronger…I could've…"

"You can lift your head…" Shiho said with soft tone. Mishima slowly did so, only to see Shiho's gentle smile. "I don't blame you at all for what happened. I want you to know that…we were all victims. And…I've heard that you're the one in charge of the Phan-Site, right?"

"Yeah…I help the Phantom Thieves from the sidelines. I'm kinda like their manager…" Mishima said, ego still inflated in that regard.

Shiho wasn't going to touch that part. But she did have one thing in mind. "So…keep supporting the Phantom Thieves, please? So that there are no more victims like you or I…I know they can take care of whatever comes their way. That's all I can ask of you…don't lose sight of how you feel, okay?"

"R-Right…" Mishima nodded firmly. "I'm sorry to hold you, Suzui. But…thank you…" He came here to apologize, yet here he was thanking her…

"You're welcome. Goodbye, Mishima-kun…" With a parting smile, Shiho finally left the school to leave with her parents. She gave Shujin one last look, a sad smile now on her lips. Shujin had a lot of memories, good and bad…and as sad as she was to leave, she was glad she was able to at least make one more happy memory with Ann there. "Goodbye…"

.

.

September 21st.

Kasumi was sitting in a room with a teacher and Dr. Maruki. She was just delivered some shocking news that needed to be repeated. She wasn't sure she heard it correctly. "What…? Excuse me, but could you repeat that?"

"Now, nothing's been decided as of yet…" The teacher said. "But at the rate things are going, Yoshizawa's honor status could be revoked. Something so serious, of course, should be brought to the attention of both her parents and yourself."

"I've been told her results at the last meet were quite laudable." Maruki said. He wasn't so sure about this decision. "Isn't revoking her status as an honor student a bit of an overreaction on the school's part?"

"I understand how you feel but…well, third place doesn't really cut it in this case." The teacher replied. She needs to attain first place results for her exceptional status to be worthwhile." Kasumi's eyes widened at that remark. "Now, don't get me wrong here. Personally, I think her results are impressive, but…I suppose the argument could be made that if she's going to represent Shujin and receive special treatment, it's not enough." He then gave a slight laugh. "Please don't shoot the messenger here, okay? This is necessary to guarantee fairness across the entire student body. It's not as if you've been expelled or the like. Another meet's coming soon – please try for the results the school wants to see."

Maruki had to draw the line here. The stress that this was putting on Kasumi was too much and he knew it. "Sir, with all due respect; putting excessive expectation on Yoshizawa-san will only be to her detriment.

The teacher started to sweat. Maruki called him out and he knew it. "Oh! That wasn't at all my intention! I just wanted to give her a little encouragement…Dr. Maruki. Please continue serving the student body as counselor and providing support to Yoshizawa-san. This meeting was merely meant to express how the entire faculty will be supporting her. That's why I brought you in here today as well."

"Supporting her…right." Maruki didn't buy that for a moment. Shujin was doing all it could to look good, and would do anything to scrub the negative reception of Kamoshida's actions. Maruki knew it. It was harder to watch as a member of the faculty, because his options were more limited than he would've liked to admit.

"At any rate, that's all I wanted to discuss with you today." The teacher said. "Keep in mind, these changes are all hypothetical. That is unless Yoshizawa-san doesn't provide better results."

"…." That was a lingering threat of her status. The teacher could phrase it as nicely as he wanted to, but Kasumi knew what was going on. She was effectively being threatened and pressured by the school to perform better, despite her already doing the best she could…

"Well, I suppose we should wrap up here." The teacher said.

"Thank you for the warning…" Kasumi gave a polite bow before exiting the room. Her gaze was down and just as she turned the corner, she almost bumped into Ren. "Ah..! Excuse me, Senpai…" She walked past him without a second thought.

"What's wrong with Yoshizawa? Didn't she seem off to you…?" Morgana asked.

"Yeah, that was odd…" Ren looked down at his feet, noticing Kasumi dropped the charm she bought in Hawaii. "Oh, she dropped this…"

"She's already gone." Morgana said. "We should give it back to her after school."

"I'll send her a text…" Ren nodded. For now, it was time to get to class, so he left.

Just as Ren left, Kasumi happened to notice she dropped her charm. She didn't get too far and she knew she had it on her when she got to school. So she walked back to the room where the conversation happened. "Hm…maybe I dropped it in here…" Just as she was about to enter, she overhead voices inside.

"How did Yoshizawa-san handle the news?" That voice belonged to the vice principal of Shujin.

"She seem pretty downcast, I think it was quite a shock to her." The teacher said.

"I truly hope this is what finally drives her to succeed…" The vice principal mumbled. "She needs to push herself beyond third place and bring home some stronger results too."

Maruki was still in the room, and he didn't understand why they were pressuring Kasumi in this way. "Vice Principal, I know I've already told you this, but your approach here is going to affect her adversely. Trying to motivate her with harsh words is only to give her anxiety."

The vice principal sighed. "Dr. Maruki, we aren't running a charity. If she's going to receive special treatment, she needs to bring home adequate results. Praising until her head swells may be your idea of therapy, but we can't afford to just butter her up forever. We took in those sisters to improve Shujin's standing, but at this rate, we're only going to end up suffering for it. Not only have we lost one of them, but the other isn't doing so good. Talk about a waste of effort.

"SIR!" Maruki couldn't believe he said something that crass. It crossed the line.

"Oh, my apologies. But there's no denying it. First with Mr. Kamoshida, now with the principal's death – we've got our backs to the wall here. If this keeps going, even my ass will be on the line. That'll be all, excuse me…"

"…!" Kasumi couldn't believe what she just heard. Ran away from the door, fighting off whatever tears were close to falling.

.

.

There was only one place Kasumi wanted to go after school. When depressed, she went to Odaiba. She always went to that stadium when she was in a rut. She just finished talking to Ren over the phone, but her phone was so crappy the signal cut out. He found her lucky charm and was planning to meet up with her to give it back. "Figures it'd cut out. I should've gotten this thing replaced already…" Why did she hang onto this barely working phone for so long anyway? "Ugh. I'm so useless. I do nothing but cause trouble for Amamiya-Senpai and Dr. Maruki…I'm supposed to be THE Kasumi Yoshizawa…"

A couple started to walk past her. "Come on, I want to get a parfait…!" The woman said.

"Yeah yeah, just a sec. I'm looking up a spot right now. It's supposed to be around here…." The boyfriend said.

"Ugh! You've gotten us totally lost! I don't recognize any of these places." The girlfriend scoffed. "What's that building supposed to be anyway?"

"Uh…I think they're building some kinda convention center, or research lab? What's it matter anyway?" Shrugging, the couple walked off.

Kasumi was silent, rolling her eyes at the misconception. "It's not a lab, it's a stadium…"

"Candidate found. Beginning navigation."

"Huh?" That came from Kasumi's phone. She stared down at the large orange eyeball on her phone, then gasped as the world around her started to warp and change. "What…!?"

.

.

Ren and Morgana were approaching Kasumi when this happened. Their eyes widened as the world started to change. They were close enough to Kasumi that they were dragged into the Metaverse. There was a large, clear tower with a sphere at the top. That must've been the Palace, but more importantly…they were in their Phantom Thief attire. "What happened…!?" Joker glanced around, surprised at what just happened.

"This atmosphere…is this a Palace?!" Mona gasped. "But we never activated the Nav…?!"

"It must've been Yoshizawa…" Joker surmised.

"She wasn't anywhere near us…." Mona said. "But she can't fight like we do. We have to find her and fast!"

"Right." Joker nodded and led the way, leaping over the fence and walked down the path that lead to the building. When they walked inside, the interior of the building was white. Everything was white and there was a melancholy feel to it. There were several tree roots sprouting in this Palace, which they had to use as footholds to traverse. "Damn, how far in is she…?" Joker mumbled.

"She couldn't have gotten far." Mona said while looking around. They hadn't encountered any Shadows so far, but that only worried him for what was up ahead.

"Who's there!?" Kasumi shouted.

"That came from up ahead…!" Mona exclaimed. "Come on, Joker!" They pushed the nearest door opened and saw a figure up ahead with Kasumi. "What's that? A cognitive being…?"

Kasumi was staring at a mirror image of herself. A girl in a leotard, hair down, and she wore glasses. She recognized this person immediately. "What…?!"

"It's my fault…I….You must…Kasumi…" The girl's voice was a little distorted.

"Stop! STOP IT!" Kasumi screamed, before there was a sharp pain in her head. She cried out, falling to her knees in agony. That was when a tall, humanoid Shadow spawned behind the other girl, striking her in the back to send her to the ground. The girl slowly reached out to Kasumi, but she faded away before she could reach her.

"Heresy." The tall Shadow said, staring down at Kasumi. "You dare to spurn our lord's mercy…" With a roar, it exploded into an unknown enemy that no one had seen before. It was still a Shadow, but one wouldn't guess by looking at it.

Mona and Joker arrived right at that moment. "Hey, are you alright?!" Mona asked.

"Are you unharmed?" Joker asked as well.

Kasumi recognized that voice… "Amamiya-Senpai…?"

Mona scoffed at the enemy in front of them. "Hmph! Looks like that thing's ready to rumble!"

"Accept yourself. Our lord laments the foolishness birthed from your pain." The Shadow said.

"What are you talking about…?" Kasumi asked. The voices played. The voices of students in Shujin who took one look at Kasumi and scoffed at her status.

"It must be nice to receive special treatment like that."

"Oh, life's so easy for little miss honor's student."

"That special treatment is hardly deserved…"

Mona and Joker looked around in confusion at these echoes. "Where are all these voices…"

"We took in those sisters to improve Shujin's standing, but at this rate, we're only going to end up suffering for it. Not only have we lost one of them, but the other isn't doing so good. Talk about a waste of effort."

"She needs to attain more than third place…"

Kasumi recognized these voices. The voices that scorned her, the voices that pressured her to do more, simply because THEY were backed into a corner. She….She couldn't take this anymore. She was tired of this. They were pushing her around, pushing expectations on her to make them look better. Nobody understood how hard she was working; nobody understood how hard she was trying to improve. But more importantly…nobody understood more than her that she already knew her shortcomings. "You're telling me that I'm not good enough? That I'm not cutting it? As if I don't know that better than anyone! Still…I don't care what anyone says about ME. I will not tolerate anyone speaking ill of OUR dream!"

"Yoshizawa…?" Mona mumbled.

"…" Joker didn't say anything.

"It's all in your best interest…." Kasumi scowled, slowly pushing herself up to her feet, breathing heavily. "Filling my life with this pressure…" She took slow steps forward. "Demanding the results that you want…and now you're all branding me a failure!? Let me remind you who you're talking too…I am…I am…KASUMI YOSHIZAWA!"

"How elegant…"A voice spoke to Kasumi. Her head throbbed in pain and she started to shake. "Rather than accept a life in cinders, you'd strive towards splendor – you know the risk. So them, if those are the shoes you've chosen…then we'll dance to the end."

A mask appeared on Kasumi's face and she elegantly tore it off in a single motion. Blue flames erupted around Kasumi as she began to transform, donning a black coat and leotard that looked similar to Joker's own outfit. She spun around, now holding a rapier that she pointed forward. Her Persona floated behind her.

"She has a Persona….!" Mona gasped.

"No way…" Joker did not think Kasumi had the potential, but he was positively stunned to see her take that mask off.

"I am thou. Thou art I. Accept this contract, the spell cast upon you."

"I request we have a rematch." Kasumi said to the opposing Shadow. "This time, I'm going all in with Cendrillon!"