Date: ?
It was a haze, yet all so vivid for Ren at the same time. Was this a dream or reality? It felt like a strange mix of both. He and the rest of the Phantom Thieves were in some movie theatre. The entirety of the Phantom Thieves were in this movie theatre and they weren't alone. No, there were two groups of Persona users with them and…damn. Ren could remember their faces and voices, but not their names. It was difficult…but he remembered three of them very clearly.
Two high school boys around his age; one with short silver hair and the other with blue hair. There was another; a girl with red hair tied into a ponytail. All of them…all four of them were Wild Cards. They had the same power, and they were brought together by fate from different times, and in the girl's case, a different, but similar world. "So it looks like this is goodbye…" Ren said while rubbing the back of his neck. "It's kind of sad…after everything we've all been through, I hate the fact that we're going to forget it all."
"Me too!" The girl spoke up. "When I got here…and the members of **** didn't recognize me at all, I felt so alienated. But even then…you and the rest of the Phantom Thieves made me an honorary member. It was really nice…It helped make me feel not so alone when I felt like I didn't belong."
"Our roles could've easily have been switched." The blue haired boy said. You wouldn't guess from first glance, but this boy and girl…they were supposedly the same person from a different world. Their experiences and how their worlds reacted and interacted with them was nearly the same. The proof was in the pudding by the fact that even their Persona was the exact same, minus some aesthetical differences. The difference between them? The girl was far more outgoing and one to take initiative when it came to someone's emotional wellbeing. The boy was more reserved, quiet, but a capable leader all the same. Those two took 'I am thou, thou art I' literally. "But still…I'm glad to have met you all the same."
The girl smiled in response to this. "You too! I'm happy to have met all of you. I never thought I'd meet people who were just like me…I wish we could stay here just a little longer…" Even as she said such positive things, there was a strong yearning desire to go back home. She made fond memories with the people here, but deep in her heart, she had to return to her world…and without these memories, no less…
"From how it sounds…we've all got important fights ahead of us." The silver haired male said. "But there's no need to look so said. After all…even if we do forget the time we've spent together, those bonds we've made won't disappear so easily. They'll be what tie us together in our hours of need." This guy really liked his bonds, that much was clear. But first, he extended his hand to Ren. They were the first two to meet and bond as Team leaders. "From what it sounds like…our fights are over by the time you start yours. But even if we don't run into each other again, you should know that I'll be supporting you."
"Hey, me too!" The girl quickly piped up.
"Same." The blue haired male shared the sentiment, just not as exuberantly as the others.
"Hah…" Ren laughed a bit and eventually shook all of their hands. He then looked to the young girl who stood shyly to the side. The future movie director of New Cinema Labyrinth. "And thanks for saving us…it was all thanks to you."
"I…I was just protecting you guys, like you guys did me…" The girl shifted about it place shyly, but she was smiling all the same. "I really hope you'll see my movie when I make it."
"Of course we will!" The girl with the ponytail said exuberantly. "I won't miss it for the world, I promise!"
.
While Ren chatted with the other team leaders, there was a girl on the silver haired boy's team that looked absolutely irritated at something. This wasn't just some regular girl though, no…this girl was a super famous idol. Damn it, it would be so easy to remember her name if it weren't for the rules of this place. Well, Ann was there to pacify her…somewhat. There was another girl took, a short one with light blue hair. "C-Come on, it's just a goodbye. I think you can offer him a few minutes." Ann said with a sweat drop. To think she'd be able to talk so casually to an idol, one she was a big fan of no less!
"You won't even remember this when you wake up." Futaba said while wagging her finger. "But it's so unfair, I don't wanna forget about the cool robot!" She meant that literally. There was a robot that could use a Persona! Considering what they knew about Persona, it was such an intriguing encounter…but it was so unfair she was going to forget about this.
"So please calm down, ****-chan?" The blue haired girl pleaded. She, the Idol, and Futaba were all navigator types. A fearsome trio that helped out quite a lot when things were dire.
"Hmph…" The idol just huffed in response. "Senpai's attention should be focused on me…but I don't want to forget about you guys either. We just met…!" At least this was enough to shift her attention to something more bittersweet. "I can see Senpai any time…but not you guys…"
"Don't worry!" Ann piped up with a great big smile. "We'll always see you on stage! After all, I'm a huuuuuuuuge fan of you!"
That made the idol smile a bit. It was…a little weird hearing about the future, considering she was currently stuck on what it was she wanted to do. That she was certain she was done with showbiz, yet here was a girl saying she was doing even better than ever. Ah…but she'll forget all about that, won't she? No, she shook those thoughts aside and gave the girls a smile. "I'll just sing my heart out for you guys! Don't worry. Even if I don't remember, those songs will be for you all! I promise!"
.
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Morgana was with two unlikely allies that were, in some strange way, similar to him. The first one was a dog. Yes, a dog that could use a Persona, but he was a good boy and dubbed the best mascot between the three teams inside the movie theatre. The second was a bear…or, a dude in a bear suit? Nobody was really sure what that guy was. "I'm beary sad to have to leave you guys behind…" The talking bear said.
"Woof!" The dog wagged his tail, barking a few times.
"I still can't believe everyone likes him the best…I'm cuter!" Morgana huffed. He was very jealous and upset over the fact the dog was the group favorite. Morgana then turned to the tall blonde nearby. Not Ryuji, but someone similar in stature. He acted like a punk most of the time, but he was really a nice guy. "Hey, you!"
"Eh?" The blonde boy blinked, rubbing the back of his head. Between the bear, the dog, and the cat, this guy looked like he was struggling. "The hell do you want?"
"Are you sure I'm not the cutest one here?" Morgana said.
"Well…" This boy was struggling because honestly, he thought all of them were cute. But ultimately… "You and the bear won't let me pet you or touch your fur…the dog was nicer. He's a good boy…" And there was that answer.
"Are you serious!? ***** how could you beartray me like this!?" The bear fell over, but due to the shape of his body…er, suit, he ended up bouncing back up. Morgana and the bear were utterly heartbroken. At least they wouldn't have to remember this stain upon their mascot honor…
"He is correct." The robot girl spoke. Her tone was a little monotonous, but she did have the power of the heart, so there was emotion in her tone. "********** is the cutest one."
.
.
"Alright you guys." A young man with light brown hair and headphones around his neck wrapped his arms around Ryuji, and another young man with a baseball cap. "Even if we're gonna forget all of this, I know you can remember one thing."
"And what's that?" The one with the baseball cap asked.
"You gotta be there for your partner!" The one with the headphones said firmly. "You gotta understand their needs!"
"It feels like you're talking about something completely different, dude…" The baseball cap one said, sweating.
"Yeah, dude. You gotta phrase this stuff better." Even though Ryuji knew what he meant, it just sounded…weird when put that way.
"Agh!" The headphones guy slumped over. What was supposed to be an emotional bro moment was completely ruined. Although for some reason, he wasn't too surprised. This seemed to be the norm. "Okay, but seriously guys! We're the day ones, right? We've been around our leaders longer than anyone else. So we have to go that extra mile to help 'em out!"
"Oh, well that's easy enough! You bet I can do that." The baseball hat one gave a slight grin. "Just leave it to the amazing ******!"
"I got it, too!" Ryuji said with a wide grin. One might look at these three and call them the three stooges. In fact, someone in this large group already did do that, but they brushed it off. At their core, the three of them were just looking out for their leaders as their closest and first allies.
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The youngest Persona user was a kid not even out of middle school yet. He had to be approached slightly differently than the rest, even though he insisted he was grown up like the others. He lost his mother in an accident when he was younger…to someone on the same team no less. There was obvious tension in that regard, but they were able to work together at the very least. This boy took quite a shine to the Phantom Thieves; they reminded him of the Feathermen he watched on TV. The boy approached Yusuke tentatively, looking up at him. "Do you think I can stay a Phantom Thieve, even after all this is over?"
"Being a Phantom Thief is more than just the theatrics." Yusuke said. "It's about helping those who can't help themselves. But if that is being a Phantom Thief to you, then it should be simple enough."
"You think…?" The boy's eyes lit up. Ah…but the idea of forgetting all of this did sting. "But I'm going to forget all of this anyway. I'm only going to remember how I feel about…him…"
"I know what it is like to lose a parent due to someone else's actions." Yusuke knelt down, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You are right to feel the way you feel. But you shouldn't let that feeling define you. It may take you down a road you cannot turn back from. I was able to avoid that thanks to me friends…and though you are young, you have plenty of dependable people around you."
"…" The boy was silent. The idea of revenge sounded so easy….but the least he could do try and take those words to heart while they were still here. "Okay…"
.
Makoto and Kasumi were saying their farewells to the two most physically active people here. One was a girl that really, really enjoyed kung-du movies. The other was a boxer to be. Makoto got along quite well with those two, since they too trained their bodies unlike the others. Kasumi took a shine to them as well. "I had no idea you could move your legs that way…agh, this isn't fair! I learned so many things but I'm going to forget them all…"
"You won't forget." The boxer said with a grin. "It's called muscle memory. Just start doing it now and you'll remember it soon enough."
"Yeah, what he said! Once you do something enough times, it'll be easy to remember!" The short haired girl said with a nod.
"I don't…think it's going to work out this way this time…" Makoto said with a sweat drop. "But I really hope I can remember even a little of the things I learned watching you two."
"Me too. I was so in awe watching you work, ****-senpai!" Kasumi said with a bright grin.
"Uh, are you kidding? I'm so jealous of the way you can flip!" The excitable girl said while bouncing in place. "I GOTTA try that next time!"
"…It takes practice. Please be careful." Kasumi said with a small sweat drop. That girl looked like she was the type to try just about anything that she'd seen either on TV or in person.
.
As for Haru and Hifumi, they had quite a group to say goodbye to as well. A girl with long black hair who laughed a lot, a short haired girl in a pink sweater, and a third year with long red hair, with one bang covering her eye. "Inheriting your father's business so soon…I'm still sorry that's something you have to worry about." The black haired girl said to Haru with a frown.
"It's not easy." Haru said while rubbing her arm. "I feel like I'm failing every step of the way…"
"Haru…" Hifumi frowned slightly.
"Don't rush into things." The red haired girl said firmly. "You must take things one step at a time. You may forget I am the one who is telling you this, but it will be something that I hope you can recall on your own."
"Mm…" Haru could smile a bit to that. Those words, though simple, did mean a lot. Considering this one was in a similar position to her, she did have someone she could relate to. "Thank you…"
"You." The girl with the pink sweater pointed to Hifumi. "Don't…leave things unsaid with your father."
"Huh?" Hifumi blinked. The girl in the pink sweater was a little abrasive at times, but only towards a few certain boys.
"You love your dad, right? Just make sure he knows that." The girl said with a slight nod. She could relate to Hifumi in a way. "You may not remember this, due to the dumb rules here…but I know you don't want to leave anything left unsaid. Even if it's simple, it's better to say it."
"I…" Hifumi looked away for a moment. It was something simple, but something she could've easily overlooked. "I'll try to keep that in mind, really…" It wasn't an empty promise, just a promise she was going to have a really hard time fulfilling.
"Good. I'll be mad at you if you regret things." The pink sweater girl gave Hifumi a smile.
"Dragon's Honor!" Hifumi said.
"Snrk…" The black haired girl started to snicker. This made the others turn her way, and soon enough. "Pft…ahahahaha! Dragon's honor…!"
This girl laughed at everything. But this still made Hifumi sweat slightly. "W-What's so funny about that one….!?" No response. The girl was just going to keep laughing about it all.
.
While the others were saying their goodbyes, Akechi was practically at the door to his time already. There were plenty of revelations he had while spending time with such a large group of people like this…and it made him bitter. In a strange way, he didn't want to leave. Strange feelings loomed over him that he didn't understand or know how to process. It made him want to withdraw. Was he going to forget all of this when he woke up again? Was this all for nothing? "…" He was about to be the first one to leave, but two people stopped him.
The First Detective Prince, and a third year that could pass for an adult. "Leaving so soon?" The detective prince asked him. She tilted her hat slightly while staring at him.
"I don't have the time to waste here." Akechi replied with a sour tone. "Lingering here does nothing for anyone. They may call these bittersweet goodbyes, but we aren't going to remember. So what is the sense in dragging it all out?"
"That is one way to look at it…" The detective prince said with a slight frown.
"Yeah, I guess I get it." The third year with the beanie rubbed the back of his neck. He and Akechi were somewhat alike. "Going back is just hard, isn't it…? I can't say I'm eager to leave either, but we gotta…"
"…." Akechi wasn't going to dignify those thoughts with a response. He turned his head away, scowling slightly. "None of it matters in the end." He had something on his mind, but it wasn't going to matter the moment he stepped through that door. Those feelings clinging onto his heart, weighing him down….it didn't matter. They wouldn't matter. He would just be the same person he was when he came in.
.
Lastly, the Velvet attendants. Caroline, Justine, a girl who wrote poems, two older women, and a boy were all assistances to the various Wild Cards. Excluding the girl who wrote poems, the Velvet Attendants dressed the same, yet acted quite differently. They couldn't help but stare at the twins, Caroline and Justice. "I can only wonder what happened to those two…" The attendant with long white hair mused aloud.
"They appear to be in good hands…" The male attendant said.
"Good hands? They stole my popcorn. Ihatethosebrats." The girl in the blue hat grumbled.
"Unfortunately, I don't think there's anything that we can do for them." The other woman said. She was a bit more eccentric in her movement and speech. They were all sibling alright.
"What're you giving us those looks for!?" Caroline stared at the other attendants.
"Relax, Caroline…" Justine said calmly. "I'm sure they are just surprised about the two of us, still."
"Hmph…" Caroline relented for the time being, but she still wasn't happy about those looks. But again…nobody would remember any of this in detail. But the connections and bonds made in the New Cinema Labyrinth would endure all the same…
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November 12th.
Ren woke up and shook his head. What a weird dream that was. It felt surreal. "Agh…"
"What's up?" Morgana was awake, looking over Ren. "Did you have a bed dream or something?"
"No…" Ren shook his head. "Nothing like that. I just…do you remember anything about a movie theatre?"
"Uh…you mean the movie theatre in Yongen?" Morgana blinked, confused. "Or the movie that we saw the other day? It was a pretty good one after all!"
"No, that's not…" Ren shook his head again. It didn't seem like Morgana had any idea. Something told him the others wouldn't either. Was it just him? That feeling of remembering something, but he couldn't entirely recall the important details. Faces, not names. Words, but not voices…this was going to irritate him for a while. "Never mind. It's nothing, I guess…just a dream."
"C'mon, we're gonna be late if we don't leave now." Morgana said. They only had a few more days until they sent the calling card to Sae. It was extra important to stay on top of things.
.
.
Ann and Kasumi met up and were taking the train to school together. While they walked through the Central Square of Shibuya, Ann's eyes wandered to a Risette poster. "Ah, she's so cool! I love Risette…!"
"I'm a fan of her music too." Kasumi said with a slight smile. "I was really happy when she decided to go back into the business…so was Sumire. We both liked her a lot…"
"I wish I could meet her just once…" Ann let out a dreamy sigh. Meeting an idol? That would be so cool! Although, the longer she stared at the poster, the more of a nagging feeling began to creep up on her. "Although, I do feel like I've seen her recently…?"
"Really?" Kasumi turned to look at Ann. "Are you sure you didn't have one of her videos playing while doing homework?"
Ann had to think about that for a moment. Kasumi was…probably right. Ann did have a habit… "That's…probably the right answer. I think I got distracted last night while doing homework and ended up not doing any at all…" Nervous laughter.
Kasumi wore a nervous smile. "Ann-senpai…" As much as she would've offered to help, she was only a first year. The subjects the second years dealt with were far different, so there wasn't lot she could do except wish Ann good luck…
.
.
After school, Haru asked Ren to accompany her to Book Town. Since the death of her father, everything involving Okumura Foods fell directly to her. It was difficult to say the least, as she vented to Ren and Hifumi prior. She didn't know the first thing about running a company, and she wasn't sure who to trust. Plus, this did put a damper on her plans to open her own coffee shop. But she didn't give up! She just had to take a lot of extra steps to get where she wanted to be. She had some books in her hands. "You know, Okumura Foods didn't start out as a burger chain. Originally, it was nothing more than a small café run by my grandfather. That particular shop closed before I was old enough to appreciate the finer intricacies of coffee though…"
"That so? That's a shame. Is that why you want to open a coffee shop?" Ren asked. Haru did ask for Sojiro's expert opinion on her coffee blend. She didn't get the review she was hoping for, but Sojiro was nice enough to point her in the right direction.
"Mhm." Haru nodded slowly. "I didn't know this until a year or two ago when my father told me."
Before Haru could continue, Hifumi spotted the two of them and approached with a smile. "Oh, hello you two. What brings you all the way here?"
"Hi, Hifumi." Haru smiled and Ren gave a slight wave. "I was getting Ren's help with my issues at Okumura Foods. I've been a little stuck lately…and I was reminiscing about the old coffee shop it used to be. Even though it didn't make a lot of money, my grandfather never cared about turning a profit either. The day it closed, people lined up for blocks to give flowers. They really loved that place…"
"It sounds like it was a really lovely place…" Hifumi said with a slight smile.
Haru's smile faltered slightly. "I wonder how many people would line up for Big Bang Burger if it suddenly went out of business…I know we need to do well to keep our employees paid, but I can't help but think we've lost something important…I mean, Takakura-san seems to only be focused on the profits. At this rate, we'll never lose our black image."
Hifumi frowned in response. All of this looked really tough for Haru, and she felt bad there wasn't a lot she could do but listen. "It'll be alright, Haru…you just have to take things slow."
"Mm…" Haru nodded slowly.
Ren needed to break this tension somehow. Ah. Perfect idea. "Black like coffee?"
Haru and Hifumi turned, blinking at his sudden joke. "Huh?" Haru tilted her head. The joke did work and she started to giggle. "Oh, I get it! That's pretty funny…"
"Was it?" Hifumi rubbed her arm. She got the joke. It made Haru laugh at least, so it wasn't so bad.
"I think I needed that laugh." Haru already seemed a little more relaxed than before. But it didn't change her situation. "I know I can act tough in front of the employees, but I don't think I'm strong enough yet to do what I need to do. But I have a plan! Before I determine who I can trust, I'm going to show others that they can trust in me."
"That's a good plan." Hifumi smiled slightly.
"But…I don't know exactly how to go about it." Haru shifted her legs. "Public speaking isn't exactly my strong suit…"
"Haru?" Their pleasant conversation was going to be cut short when a face they hadn't seen in a while reared his ugly face. Sugimura.
"S-Sugimura-san?" Haru was not expecting to see him here. "W-What are you doing here…?"
"I was just heading home from a business engagement when I saw you from my car window." Sugimura explained. His gaze then turned to Ren and Hifumi. Ugh, he remembered them. "Oh…you two again."
"Happy to see you too." Ren said with a sarcastic tone.
"It is very unpleasant to see you again." Hifumi wasn't going to sugarcoat that. She really disliked this guy.
"T-They're my friends, as you know." Haru said quickly. "They are helping me find some books today, that's all. We'll be getting back to our shopping now."
Unfortunately, it wasn't going to be that simple. "Hold on, Haru." Sugimura said. "You think you can go on a date with another man and leave your fiancé in the dust? And don't get me started on this Phony Princess. I'm not a fan of the company you choose to surround yourself with."
"I agree." Hifumi narrowed her eyes slightly. Although she was flipping his remark about her and Ren onto him.
Haru also shook her head. "You are not my fiancé. I already said, I'm not going to marry you."
Sugimura just scoffed. "Oh, is that right? And what about the contact I made with your father?"
The news of this supposed contract had Haru in a bind. "My father is no longer here…you know this…" Her voice was a bit strained. "Besides, marriage is something you go into with your own free will. You shouldn't be forced to marry someone….a contract could never hold the same weight."
"Are you sure about that?" Sugimura asked. "Think about the reparations cost…"
That's when Hifumi stepped forward, just like she did on that rainy summer day. "You are bothering Haru. I am going to ask you nicely to leave. Does this contact even exist?"
"Tch, of course it does. What do you know? This doesn't involve you, Phony Princess." Sugimura scoffed and smoke to Hifumi dismissively. "If Haru backs out of this deal, she will lose everything she owns. Do you really think that's a risk she's willing to take? And do you really think she's going to put her employees at risk because of her selfishness? You, girl, don't understand the first thing about this arrangement. So I would advise you to stop acting like you do."
Hifumi's green eyes glared at Sugimura and she shook her head. "This is my business, because Haru is my friend. And…I also don't believe a single word you've said." The perks of her power were nice. When lying jerks tried to take advantage of a situation, she could see right through their efforts.
"Huh…?" Haru could figure out what that meant. If Hifumi didn't believe Sugimura, then…was there a chance this supposed contract didn't have that much power after all?
"I don't care what some fraud has to say about this contact." Sugimura shook his head, looking past Hifumi and directly towards Haru. "Besides, this marriage is exactly what Okumura Foods needs right now. My father would have no trouble managing your shares or sweeping away your company's tarnished image."
That's when Ren stepped forward, in front of Haru. "I think you've overstayed your welcome. We're busy."
"You have very bad timing." Hifumi added.
These kids were really annoying. "That reminds me…did Takakura-san tell you about the wedding hall?" Sugimura just talked past Hifumi and Ren. "He got us the Phoenix Wing at the Wilton."
That got a reaction out of Haru. She gasped and took a step back. "Wh-what!?"
"He made a provisional reservation for ten days coming this spring." Sugimura explained. "After all, the sooner, the better."
"Wait a minute!" Haru said.
"We'll have to look into our guests' schedules as well. There'll be over three hundred of them, you know." Sugimura just kept going, not allowing anyone to get a word in edgewise. "I'd rather you not invite your friends. Now, Takakura-san can handle Okurmura Foods in the meantime. Why don't you go stop by the gym or something, Haru? I mean, if you have time to mess around with this fake and that punk, you damn well have the time to lose a little weight."
"Unfortunately, she has 150 pounds of persistent arrogance in a white suit that keeps coming back, no matter how many times she tries to get rid of it." Hifumi's sudden, scathing remark caught everyone off guard. She ended up shifting into Shogi Mode, because the mere prescene of Sugimura annoyed her, and his words towards Haru angered her.
"…!" Haru brought her hand to her mouth, trying not to laugh and failing with snickers that leaked out
"…Oh…" Ren turned his head away, smirking slightly at Hifumi's words.
Sugimura angrily furrowed his brow. He was really tired of Hifumi specifically getting in his way like this. "I'm out of here. Don't forget what I've said." He then turned and walked off.
Hifumi took a deep breath. "I wish he left sooner."
"Man…that guy sucks." Ren grunted. Every encounter with him was absolutely unpleasant. It was almost impressive.
"I know…he's not a pleasant man at all." Haru was at her limit. Dealing with him was already exhausting, and she felt like she could handle him on her own…but the added weight of her father's death and handling Okumura Foods put a hamper on that. "He has fame, money, intelligence…the only thing he needs now is a wife to control. He thinks I'm a perfect target, but I don't intend to be…"
"He's trying to control you through something that may not exist." Hifumi added. "I don't think that contract he mentioned was real. I think he's just trying to scare you into submission. I can't prove it, but I'm confident this is the case. I don't want to get your hopes up, but…"
"I trust you." Haru said with a soft smile. "I'll do what I can in the meantime with Okumura Foods. I can't be weighed down by all this negativity. I just have to take things one step at a time…" Huh…it felt like someone else told her those words recently, too. What a strange sense of déjà vu! "Oh…and thank you both for sticking up for me again. I'm sorry I wasn't able to do it on my own…"
"Don't apologize for that. You're going through a lot…and we're here to help." Ren said with a slight smile of his own. Considering he felt responsible for Haru's father, standing up for her when Sugimura decided to drop by was the least he could do.
"I don't mind standing up for you." Hifumi said with a nod. "I'll keep doing my best to keep that creep away from you. Dragon's Honor!"
"Hehe…thank you." Haru giggled slightly. "I'm sorry, but…I'm a little tired after all of that. Do you mind if we end things here?"
"Of course. Take it easy." Ren said.
"I'll walk you home. I don't have much to do." Hifumi wasn't taking no for an answer either. Haru could only concede and just let Hifumi walk with her.
"See you guys later." Ren waved the two of them off and decided to head elsewhere. As he walked towards the station, minding his own business, something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. Short, silver hair passed him by. He quickly turned, vaguely recognizing that hair from somewhere. "Hey-?" Too late. They were already gone. Or…were they even there in the first place? Who knew. That dream Ren had was really messing with him…
"…Huh?" The man with silver hair turned. He thought he saw someone familiar…nah. Just that weird dream again…
.
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November 13th.
An off day from school. The deadline was steadily creeping up on them…not much time now. That was the first thing Hifumi thought of when she woke up in the morning. She slowly rolled over, checking her phone to see what time it was. Pretty early in the morning, but that's not what caught her attention. There was a text from Mika. An important one too, that read…
Mika: I need your help with something.