Hey! UknownHero here and welcome to another chapter of Senran Persona! I have no idea what to say at this point, I just want to get into the reviews.

To everyone who hates the To Love Ru part: At this point, I don't care. I've had my grievances with that part, and I am making sure it doesn't happen again. Blame JG for that part because it was either that or nothing got done. I promise this chapter is much better in terms of comedy and drama.

And…that's the only thing I wanted to cover here. Time to go on a beach date!

Save Game…Quit!


Chapter 111: Hijinks, Middlegrounds & Lowlights


(9/10, Early Morning)

(Japan, Hebijo Academy, Elites Room)

It was another lively/deadly day at Hebijo as things went on like usual. Torturous training, humiliating punishments, miserable tests, and all that other fun stuff before breakfast.

Everyone was currently doing their own things: Hikage sharpening her knives along with taking care of Poochie, Yomi treating on her bean sprout plants to see if they're still in good condition for their next meal and the next before looking up new ways to cook, Imu sorting through folders, specifically her younger sister and some additional information about the two newly recruited one for their Elite team, and Mirai working on her fiction story online with the help of their own computer in the room.

However, there seemed to be a missing piece of this scene to be an otherwise normal day.

"Where's Murasaki?" Hikage eventually decided to ask.

"Taking her written exam." Imu informed, not looking at her while continuing her task of sorting folders.

"Suzune-sensei didn't mention that before." Yomi got out with a frown.

"Why would she?" Imu pointed out, this time turning her gaze towards the bean sprout-loving blonde.

"...Okay, you've got a point there." Yomi admitted with a nod. "But given how much you've been drilling her through all that homework, she's sure to pass." She then reassured.

"She may know it, but I'm not confident she'll know it under pressure." Imu directly stated with a sense of truth in her words. "Also there's the physical wellness exam, the deadeye exam, the emotional capacity exam, the torture exam, the clown exam..." She soon added.

"The clown exam?" Mirai repeated with a raised eyebrow, stopping her typing for a moment while facing her.

"It's an extra credit exam. It's just what people call it." Imu explained before groaning. "And then tomorrow is the test." She then informed.

"The test to ensure she is Elite material?" Hikage guessed.

"No, the test to see if she's able to stay here." Imu corrected.

"All of the other stuff wasn't for that!?" Mirai exclaimed in shock, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

"Hebijo has high standards for Elites, especially ones who have skipped two years of classes." Imu sighed. "If we accept everybody, our best of the best have to be exceptional."

"What is the Elite test then?" Mirai decided to ask, spinning her chair around to face her.

"You're not gonna like it." Imu simply replied to her.

"...It better not be another baby animal killing one..." Hikage growled out while narrowing her eyes.

"It's not killing another puppy!" Imu immediately reminded. "We're out of those." She then revealed.

"How comforting." Hikage nonchalantly stated in a sarcastic kind of way. "But what is the test?" She then asked ahead.

"It's simple..." Imu told her, pausing for dramatic effect. "She has to beat us in a fight." She then revealed as she adjusted her glasses.

"...Why am I not surprised?" Mirai deadpanned, spinning her chair back again towards the computer and continued typing.

"S-Seriously, that's your reaction?" The glasses-wearing blonde got out, baffled by that response as she stared at the eyepatch-wearing girl.

"You wanted us to look shocked that Hebijo would pull something like this?" Yomi responded.

"Your shocked faces were supposed to keep me going today..." Imu groaned in a defeated manner.

"There there, asshole." Hikage mumbled as she shook her head while patting the girl's shoulder.

"Don't patronize me." Imu responded while shrugging the greenette's hand off.

"Can't we just throw it?" Mirai suggested this time, halting her typing once again.

"Yoke technique." Imu reminded in a flat tone.

"Dammit, forgot about that damn thing." Hikage grumbled in annoyance. "So we have to go all out. No holding back." She then muttered with a frown.

"Yep." Imu replied with a nod. "And, to ensure Yomi doesn't poison us to weaken our strength..." She then added.

"I don't know how to make poisons!" Yomi exclaimed with a pout.

"Your cooking is the equivalent of poisons." Imu deadpanned, causing the blonde to go white as a sheet with a dropped jaw. "Also, say hi to Hanako-san." She then suddenly requested as she looked up to the ceiling.

"Wait, Hana-who?" Mirai got out before a red dot appeared on her forehead.

"Hello~" Hanako the sniper happily greeted while hanging upside down. "I'm a huge fan of you, Mirai-san!" She suddenly revealed.

"I'm...flattered?" Mirai awkwardly responded in confusion.

"She'll be ensuring we are doing our best to prepare." Imu informed in a matter-of-fact tone.

"They don't trust us." Hikage accused with an annoyed expression on her face.

"We're too close to her. They have to make us go at it with the intent of stopping her at all cost." The glasses-wearing girl then stated with a small sigh.

"They could've just raised the stakes by kidnapping a loved one or someone threatening to kill us..." Yomi pointed out, wondering why they would go through such a complicated method.

"Well, you should thank Suzune-sensei for talking Dōgen-sama down from brainwashing and blackmail." Imu casually responded.

The Crimson Squad members in turn blinked. "...Okay, I uh...I think I prefer this now." Yomi admitted.

"Definitely." Mirai added.

"I knew you'd come around to it." Imu got out with a small smirk.

"You're a little too...calm to be talking about kicking your sister's teeth in, possibly even ensuring her death." Yomi soon noted.

Imu however narrowed her eyes in response. "I'm not. I'm actually this close to having a meltdown so catastrophic I'll unleash a lightning storm at the slightest provocation." She got out, almost feeling a bit slightly irritated as electricity began sparking from her body.

"...So how-" Yomi started.

"Lots. And lots. Of-" Imu began to answer.

"Drugs?" Hikage assumed, cutting her off.

"What? No, no no no." Imu got out and corrected her. "Scented candles and meditation. God, what made you think of such a terrible coping mechanism?" She then revealed, looking quite offended.

"Ooh, maybe I should get some. What do they smell like?" Yomi stated as she got interested and asked.

"Miyabi." Imu answered before realizing what she just said. "...I-I mean the...Miyabi flower...?" She tried correcting herself.

"Coming from the Miyabi simp?" Hikage deadpanned.

"...Is that a new type of plant? Is it edible?" Yomi questioned in an innocent tone.

"Let's just start training..." Mirai groaned. "Wait, where are the twins?" She then asked.

Her question was instantly answered as Ryōbi joined the sniper with her own rifle ready to shoot. "Sorry I'm late. My bitch of a pig sister is packing her shit and I didn't want her to mix my stuff with hers. So, who needs a bullet in their udders?" She then started and sarcastically asked.

"Hmmm...I pick the green one." Hanako decided as the two snipers reloaded at the same time with the same motions.

Hikage and Yomi blinked as the blonde looked down at her green tracksuit. "Wait, does she mean me or-" She soon wondered before...

BANG!

...A bullet whizzed right by both of them along with the loud sound of a gunshot. "COME ON! YOU'VE GOT A FIGHT TO PREPARE FOR, YOU PIECES OF SHIT! MUSH MUSH, BITCHES!" Ryōbi soon declared and ordered.

BANG BANG!

"Alright, alright! We're going! Stop putting bullet holes into the flooring!" Mirai countered as the girls scrambled for the exit while the puppy jumped into the greenette's cleavage.

"Hehehe...I love this place..." Ryōbi giggled. "HURRY THE FUCK UP OR THE NEXT SHOT GOING UP YOUR ASSHOLE!" She barked before taking a few more pot shots.

BANG! BANG! BANG!


(Hawaii, Akira and Mishima's Room)

Akira stirred himself awake as he noticed daylight from the glass door leading to the room's balcony. "Mmm." He then hummed as he slowly got up from the sofa that he slept on before setting his white blanket aside and taking his glasses that he placed on an end table near him yesterday before he slept. "Another day in paradise..." He mumbled in a tired manner.

At that moment, Homura then got up from the bed, and so did Asuka at the same time.

The tan-skinned girl simply yawned as she stretched her arms out while sitting up from the bed. "Ahh~ good morning." She then breathed out in relief and greeted, noticing their Leader now awake before rubbing her eyes.

"Morning, Homur–" Akira started to greet back only to falter as he couldn't help but stare at the sight in front of him. Homura and Asuka were both actually naked on their bed, not a single article of clothing to be seen on the two of them.

"Hm? What is it, Akira?" Homura decided to ask as he noticed the stare.

"Asuka, Homura. Why are you two naked?" Akira had to ask with a raised eyebrow.

"Eh?" The tan-skinned girl did a double take at what she had just heard from their Leader.

"Huh?" The brunette however got out in confusion as she just sat up and looked down. "...HWAAAH!" Both sisters yelped in shock before covering themselves with their arms.

"I-I thought we were over this!" Asuka cried out in embarrassment.

"Mmm...what the hell is happenin'?" Ryuji mumbled to himself as he stirred himself awake as well.

"Asuka, Homura...don't yell so early in the morning..." Ann yawned as she shifted on her bed before getting herself up awake.

"Wait no!" Asuka however called out to her.

"Huh?" Ann got out as she woke up before noticing the sisters' state on their bed. "...Oh." She then finished with wide eyes.

"...It's not what it looks like!" Homura retorted back at her friends. "Me and Sis are in a very strict sisterly relation-" She then tried to explain, only to be cut off by someone else.

"Dude, quiet down. You're wakin' up the entire hotel." Ryuji grumbled in a cranky manner as he woke up.

"Eh?" The two sisters got out in confusion. "Ah, sorry." They then apologized in a whisper.

"Thank you. Effin' hell, I don't need this so early." Ryuji groggily stated before he laid back down on the floor.

"Yeah, I kinda wanna sleep in..." Ann then added as she agreed while rubbing her eyes.

"We can't. We still have lectures." Akira reminded with a sigh.

Both blondes groaned, not wanting to think about such things.

"H-Hold on. None of you are even blushing." Homura however noted as she noticed this.

"I thought you'd kill to see our bodies like this..." Asuka shyly admitted as she poked her fingers together.

"I dunno, you're both hot as hell and all, but we've seen you nude so many times it uh...it kinda loses its luster after a while." Ryuji admitted in a nonchalant manner before blinking in realization at what he just said. "Huh. Never thought I'd say that." He then got out.

"You're becoming more resistant, good." Homura responded with a nod of approval. "I guess...they don't mind seeing our...private parts now?" She then added in her thoughts.

"Yeah, whatever. Just put on some clothes already, you nudists." Ann meanwhile requested.

"Okay, okay, where are our clothes?" Homura responded and asked as she looked around the room.

"On the chairs over there." Akira informed as he pointed over to the pile. "Some of them, I think. You may wanna check under the beds just in case. Don't want to lose anything and walk out half dressed." He then added and suggested.

"Under the beds are blocked off. Can't go under it." Ryuji however reminded, knocking on the wood of the bed as he got up from the floor before adjusting his clothes by patting and swiping it with his hands.

"Let me check under the couch then." Akira responded as he leaned down. "Nope, nothing." He informed.

"Uh..." Asuka got out, blushing pink.

"Hm? What is it?" Akira got out as he stood back up, facing the currently nude girls.

"Check your back." Homura responded.

"Huh?" Akira got out before checking the back of his shirt...and peeling one of the pair of panties off it. "...Oh." He soon added.

"H-How did it get all the way over there!?" Asuka exclaimed.

"Who cares? Just effin' put some clothes on." Ryuji sighed as the Leader got the other underwear before tossing it over to the naked girls in a ball. "Ugh...and as much as I don't wanna, we gotta go back to our rooms." He then grumbled.

Homura and Asuka immediately grabbed their respective underwear before getting off their bed and starting to put on their panties first.

"I really hope my roommate isn't still with her boyfriend in there..." Ann grumbled as she got off the bed. "Worse, both of them naked on their own bed." She then added.

"Dude, I just hope my roommate and his girlfriend didn't touch my shit." Ryuji breathed out as he stretched his limbs and cracked his back.

"Ugh...I wonder what we're gonna have for breakfast today." Asuka groaned.

"Probably what we had yesterday. And the day before." Akira responded.

"Breakfast Big Bang Burger." The Thieves deadpanned in unison as the tan skinned girl whimpered before everyone began to get ready for the day.

"...Is it comfy sleeping in the nude?" Ann eventually asked in a curious manner.

"It surprisingly is, but only when you're in a warm and safe environment like at home. Anywhere else and you are just asking for biting cold and biting bugs." Homura responded in a casual manner as the two sisters got dressed with their respective legwear.

"I could guess so." Ann responded in a curious manner. "I basically live alone and my guardian knocks on my door to wake me up. I could probably do it sometimes." She then got out with a shrug.

"Hmm...well I could try to give it a shot as well. Out of curiosity, of course." Akira however stated to them. "See what it feels like." He then added.

"Yeah, no way in hell for me though. Don't wanna flash my mom or give her the wrong idea." Ryuji admitted and explained as he plopped down on the couch where Akira slept yesterday.

"Wrong idea?" Homura got out in confusion before gagging. "Ryuji, that's disgusting! You should be ashamed for even thinking that!" She then declared in disapproval.

"What? It's a natural thing." Ryuji pointed out.

"Sleeping with your mother is natural to you!?" Homura called out.

"..." The other Thieves meanwhile looked at the tan skinned girl in disbelief.

"...Oh, I uh...I get the other implication now." Homura soon realized.

"A little too late there." Akira deadpanned.

"...I'm going to go report to Makoto-senpai about the students sneaking off to have sex with their partners now." Homura decided as she started to put on her bra.

"You go do that." Ann responded in approval. "She'll probably be a blushing mess though..." She then assumed.

"Eh? Why is my bra not fitting right now!?" Asuka suddenly exclaimed as she struggled to hook her bra. "Moh! Katsu-nee's not even here!" She then whined in annoyance.

"Blame Big Bang Burger for that." Homura sighed out, struggling as well with her own bra before the two eventually got them on. "I swear, they have to have something in them that can make a shinobi girl's bust bigger..." She then muttered.

"Moh, I might need to be refitted a bit for the runway show when we get back..." Asuka whined in realization.

"I'll be sure to tell Kokito-san about that when we get back to Tokyo." Ann reassured with a smile.

"Thanks, Ann-chan." Asuka responded with a decent smile on her face before taking her shirt and started to put it on.

At that moment...

"Hruh? What did I miss?" Mishima suddenly mumbled from the floor as he began to sit up.

"GO BACK TO SLEEP MISHIMA!" The Thieves instantly ordered the admin.

"...Okay." Mishima groaned as he did as ordered with a thud along with a snore.

That immediately made the Thieves silent at the action.

"...I'm actually surprised he didn't wake up from us talking a while back." Ann mentioned out loud with a look.

"Heavy sleeper, maybe?" Ryuji guessed with a shrug.

"To be fair, he was stuck in the bathroom for almost an entire night." Akira recalled as the others winced. It was a miracle they fell asleep.

"...Yeah, we should let him rest." Ryuji eventually uttered as everyone who was now awake began preparing for the day.


(Tokyo, Yongen-Jaya, Futaba's Room)

Another morning, another time Miyabi has snuck into her room through the window. Apparently, she wanted to have a discussion about their next move with Morgana instead of doing something fun like playing games or reading manga.

This woman seriously needs to learn to relax.

"Let me get this straight. You want us to tackle a Palace?" Futaba got out as she pinched the bridge of her nose, turning away from her computer. "A Palace? By ourselves?" She then added with a flick of her hand.

"No, I want to find a Palace." Miyabi clarified from the orangette's bed. "We don't have enough manpower right now for such a thing, and if I can't protect you..." She then got out, trailing off as many, many scenarios began to run through her head. None of them were pretty.

"Alright, alright..." Futaba sighed after giving it much thought. "So, do you have any in mind? Like a shinobi or some super important client you know...?" She then asked.

"...Yeah, that's as far as I got." Miyabi sighed. "But we have to do something. We can't just do nothing with our downtime. We need to keep busy to keep the Phantom Thieves in everyone's minds. If someone thinks twice about committing a crime or abusing their power, that's a success in my books." She then stated.

"Prevention is the best way to stop crimes." Futaba muttered before shaking her head. "But we still need a target." She then reminded.

"Yeah." Miyabi got out. "You got anyone?" She soon asked.

Futaba thought about it before shivering and shaking her head. No, she didn't even want to see that man ever again. As long as she didn't have to breathe the same air as him, she would die happy.

"We could always use the poll." The hacker soon suggested before pulling up the Phan-Site on her phone. "Looks like some guy named Kunizaku Okumura is maintaining a steady lead." She soon reported.

"Ugh, he probably doesn't even have one." The white haired woman dismissed without much thought. "I've seen more than enough of the Phan-Site to know that people only want us to target people they don't like. Being an asshole doesn't necessarily translate to a Palace." She then assumed.

"It's highly likely though." Futaba pointed out.

"Why not Principal Bitternuts?" Morgana suddenly suggested, getting the duo's attention. "The others have been talking about it for a while, but they could never nail down that final keyword." He then explained.

Miyabi blinked. "...Who?" She got out in confusion.

"The principal of Shujin." Futaba informed.

"Ohhhh...that guy." Miyabi remembered before letting out an amused smile. "I robbed him of information once." She then stated in a thoroughly proud tone.

"Why am I not surprised?" The hacker muttered as she rolled her eyes. "But isn't he already screwed? The media is watching him like a hawk right now, probably going to prison for criminal neglect soon enough. It feels like we would be kicking him while he's down." She soon pointed out.

"Yeah, but it's the principle of the matter." Morgana responded as he shook his head. "He's only going to cry for being caught, not for how many students he's hurt over the years because of his direct and indirect actions. He let Akira be seen as a criminal, he let Ryuji take the brunt of the consequences of Kamoshida's actions, he let Kamoshida turn Shujin into his castle and did nothing as he tried to turn Lady Ann into his whore, and he pushed Makoto into desperation and near insanity." He then listed off every one of his crimes. "He needs to pay, and to feel all the pain he's inflicted on innocent people. Jail isn't enough." He then growled, determined and ready for what was to come.

"...Okay, I'm convinced." Miyabi responded with a nod. The not cat's eyes widened for a second before smiling.

"Well, it's not like the hard drive has finished and I can just set it on auto." Futaba added. "Alright, let's do this!" She then decided as she nudged her glasses up with a hint of a glint in the lens.

"And since it was your decision, I guess you're the boss here, Morgana." Miyabi decided as she faced the not cat.

"W-Wha?" Morgana stammered out, stunned before regaining his composure. "Ahem. I'd be honored to lead this operation." He soon responded.

"So, do we need to get our equipment updated or..." The white haired woman soon began to ask.

"It's merely information gathering. Nothing more." Morgana answered as he shook his head. "Despite how...useful Oracle is, with only the two of us in the frontlines, fights with Shadows will just drain our supplies before I can even detect the Treasure." He then explained.

"Stealth is an option." Miyabi countered as she looked over them. "We have a small group here. We could probably make it to the Treasure without triggering an alarm, and once everyone gets back we can send the Calling Card. We could get this Palace over with right as they come back." She soon reasoned.

"What about obstacles? What if we need to change his cognition to get further into the Palace like with my tomb? Or a really tough Shadow we can't avoid?" Futaba soon pointed out.

"I think we should focus on getting that last keyword first before we worry about that." Morgana however stated. "Time isn't of the essence here. Even if- excuse me, when he goes to jail, his Palace won't be going anywhere. Like you said, Futaba, he's already screwed. The best we can do is make sure he regrets his crimes instead of wallowing in his failure." He then explained.

"But it would be nice for everyone to come back to a heist." Futaba added with an eager giggle.

"Alright, then let's search the town. Someone has to know how fucked up this guy is." Miyabi declared as she stood up from the bed.

"Oracle, you can stay here and hunt down any info you can get from the internet."

"Roger that, kitty." The hacker responded with a salute.

"That leaves Mona and I to look for the info we need in the city." Miyabi stated "Huh, it feels kinda weird to take orders from a cat." She then muttered.

"Not a cat." Morgana grumbled in a bitter manner.

"Should we tell the others about this?" The orangette soon questioned as she brought up the IM. "Only a few keystrokes and 299 792 458 milliseconds away." She then added, already writing the message.

"No." Morgana answered.

Instantly, Futaba stopped. "Huh?" The girls got out in confusion.

"This is a personal target, someone who has screwed them over time and time again." Morgana explained. "They'll be itching for revenge if we tell them now, and I don't want to ruin their trips by making them automatically get to work as soon as they land. Plus, it'll be a nice surprise. A gift, if you will." He then added with a smirk.

Futaba narrowed her eyes. That would be a sucky gift for Asuka's birthday. "Are you really sure about this?" She then pressed, hoping that what he was deciding was a good idea.

"Yes. We got this." Morgana insisted in a confident tone. "Plus, I get to prove I'm still a valuable member of the team." He then thought with a smirk.

"Okay..." Miyabi muttered with a frown. "Well, it's only, like, two more days before they come back. What's the worst that could happen?" She then got out as the not cat jumped onto her shoulder.


(Harajuku, Haruka's Apartment)

Haruka examined the last of her vials and wrote down the necessary information in her notebook before setting them up back and cleaning her workspace to finish her work. After a while, she stood up from her desk and decided to go to her room before opening the door.

"Hello, Tsumuji." The blonde greeted as she entered the room while noticing her current guest.

The former assassin rolled her eyes. "Good morning. Hey, I am perfectly aware that I'm not the most trustworthy person you've met, but uh...do you have anything less...fetish-y to tie me down with?" Tsumuji requested.

Currently, both her arms were tied to posts on the bed while her legs were cuffed together. Also, to make sure the girl didn't have any tricks up her sleeve, she was forced to wear a yellow sling bikini that barely covered her sensitive parts.

"It was on sale." Haruka answered for her as she closed the door and locked it. "So, Tsumuji-chan, I'd like to continue our discussion. I only know who you are and why you're here, but I need more before I truly let you into the Crimson Squad." She then continued as she sat on the bed beside her.

"...Is that seriously the best name you could come up with?" Tsumuji deadpanned.

"Don't anger a doctor." Haruka sharply warned. "I know how to swap a person's gender and I'm not afraid to use it." She then threatened.

"...If that's a threat, it's not a very effective one." Tsumuji however reminded her.

"You really want a tent in between your legs?" Haruka deadpanned, taking out a vial of purple liquid from between her breasts.

"I'd be alive, I'd be healthy, I'd just need practice and aim." The Rabbit Anointed shinobi informed her without a care. "Plus...I kinda always wanted a pe-" She then started to add.

"O-Okay, I get it. I'll work on my interrogation technique." Haruka cut her off and stated to herself as she flicked the vial in which disappeared from her hand.

"I'd still want my boobs though. Can you figure out a way to keep them?" Tsumuji reminded her and then asked.

"Tsumuji-chan, are you going to answer my questions or not?" Haruka however downright reminded her.

"I do, but you're the one who brought the whole gender potion thing out of nowhere as a shitty threat." Tsumuji responded and told her. "Are you a little obsessed with your little creation? Proud of it? Want to put it in the water supply for everyone to be affected? Oh, and since you're a doctor and all, maybe you wanted to hold up a vaccine program and inject people with it." She then countered with a hint of teasing to it.

SLAP!

Suddenly, the blonde smacked the other girl across the face.

"Ow!" Tsumuji yelped out. "Hey, that was uncalled for! A doctor shouldn't treat a patient like that!" She then declared.

"Off duty." Haruka simply stated.

"I can only imagine what you do on-duty." Tsumuji deadpanned. "Are you gonna ask me questions or not? These cuffs are digging into my wrists a little. The pink fuzz does not help at all." She then requested.

"Will you please allow me to ask what I want without any lip until I say so?" Haruka requested her.

"Fine. I won't." Tsumuji grumbled with a sigh.

"Good." Haruka responded with a nod. "Now, how do you know about Akira Kurusu?" She soon asked.

"..." Tsumuji went silent for a moment. She did not expect to encounter a civilian like him.

"Well?" Haruka questioned once more, arms crossed over her chest.

"...I encountered him while I was seeking Homura here in Tokyo." The Rabbit Anointed shinobi eventually answered.

Haruka in response nodded as she listened. "Right, darling is being trained by Homura, so it makes sense." She thought to herself.

"Yeah, and he's weirdly good." Tsumuji had to admit. "I bet he could even beat you." She then stated.

"Don't compare your worthless abilities to mine." Haruka however ordered as she narrowed her eyes. "But does that explain why you have those scars?" She then questioned.

Wincing, the Anointed shinobi nodded. "The three of us got into a fight in the middle of the night, and he actually stabbed me." Tsumuji soon revealed. "Can't believe a civilian like him went toe to toe with a shinobi." She then muttered.

"He stabbed you?" Haruka repeated, inwardly sighing in relief. "Darling's getting better." She thought in giddiness.

"In the thigh. Homura was the one who got me in the foot." Tsumuji revealed. "Both still hurt a little. I can still fight though." She then added.

"But not at 100% most likely." Haruka assumed before she glanced over at the wound. "Possibly never without any real medical assistance. So no fighting." She then added and instructed.

"Hey, I was expecting to lose this leg from the hip down." Tsumuji admitted. "I'm just happy to still have it after my crappy first aid." She then added.

"You're welcome, by the way." Haruka reminded in amusement.

Tsumuji simply scoffed in annoyance at that. Also, her forehead started to slightly sweat a little from the slight humidity in the room. Probably her body as well the longer she stayed in it, and her sling bikini didn't exactly help her...and why was she starting to think it was getting comfortable now?

"Anyway, let's continue. Why did you seek Homura-chan and attempt to kill her?" Haruka started once more.

"...Because I was believed that she was my brother's murderer." The Rabbit Anointed shinobi answered. "He was also the reason she went down the Evil Shinobi path after all." She then revealed.

Haruka's eyes immediately widened to that information. "Oh, was he now?" She responded as she then narrowed her eyes.

"I never really heard any of the details. I only knew the name, the vague details of his last mission and the face of his murderer." Tsumuji revealed. "I spent years of my life studying and training to kill her. But...I guess it didn't amount to anything." She soon confessed before sighing. "I have nothing left now, only..." She began in depression.

"Death...Or your support in our own endeavors." Haruka assumed.

"If only to have a purpose." Tsumuji responded. "It was Kurusu-san's suggestion." She then added with a small blush on her face.

The busty blonde closed her eyes to process everything she was told before nodding. "Okay. I think that is enough." Haruka soon ordered.

"Enough for me to join your group?" Tsumuji assumed.

"Don't push it." Haruka deadpanned as she freed the other girl's arms with her cuff keys. "I'll be going to work now. I want this place spotless by the time I come back." She soon instructed.

"Will do, Haruka...sama?" Tsumuji responded and hesitantly referred to her like that.

"Good girl." Haruka encouraged in approval with a smile. "I'll see you tonight with some nice food for you. Have a good day, Tsumuji-chan." She then stated to her as she stood up and began leaving the room.

"Sure thing, Haruka-sama." Tsumuji replied with a bow, only to nearly tip over before righting herself. "Hey, wait, you didn't uncuff my legs from each- and you're gone." She tried to remind her boss, only to see that she was long gone. "Ugh...I'm beginning to regret becoming a Rabbit Anointed..." She then grumbled as she hopped to get the cleaning supplies, wincing every time she jumped.

If Haruka was going to keep those cuffs on her legs, she shouldn't try and unlock them herself or else she might piss her off more and make her do worse stuff to her like...put sand in her eyes, reduce her breast size or something equally as lame.

She needed allies, not enemies so even if she had to be humiliated for a bit, it would be worth it in the end.

The sling bikini seemed a little excessive though.


(9/10, Daytime)

(Hawaii, Hotel Lobby)

Akira sighed, as did Ryuji and Mishima. The lectures were boring him to no end, to the point where he was sure he was not going to remember any of it as soon as he got home.

The girls had left to do their own things, with no clue to where they are right now, and as far as he knew, Yusuke found somewhere to settle down and paint for the day.

Even Rito and his entourage of friends were out again and the King of the Universe himself wasn't responding to a single text of his.

He really needed better hobbies that didn't involve Phantom Thief stuff.

"Our trip is almost over..." Mishima got out. "By tomorrow night, we'll be in the airplane heading home." He soon reminded.

"Dammit, this isn't how stuff was supposed to go!" Ryuji growled as he stomped his foot.

"What do you mean...?" Mishima got out in confusion.

"We ended up walkin' around same as we always do in Japan..." Ryuji stated with a frown. "I mean we even ate at a freakin' Big Bang Burger! It's like we never left!" He then complained.

"Whine all you'd like, but that's what the trip was supposed to be." The admin pointed out as he shook his head.

"It probably would've been more if shit weren't so screwed at the start of the year..." Akira quietly muttered under his breath.

"But weren't some other guys gettin' all cozy with their girlfriends or some shit?" Ryuji stated to them.

"I think..." Mishima reluctantly responded.

"Then that's it! That's what this trip is missin'!" Ryuji called out, causing his friend, and Mishima as well, to wince as several people stared at them weirdly. "C'mon, we totally gotta get movin' during our free time in the afternoon." He then declared.

"What are we going to do?" Mishima then asked.

"Make a once-in-a-lifetime summer memory! Hawaii's famous for its beaches, and y'know...what happens in Hawaii stays in Hawaii!" Ryuji pointed out. "We can get some girls' numbers durin' the day, then sneak away to 'em at night!" he then got out.

"Uh...are you sure about that?" Akira questioned. "Can you even get a date? Can you even understand your date?" He then got out in a skeptical tone.

"Hey, I have more game than ya think. Eff any language shit." Ryuji replied in a confident tone while puffing out his chest. "So, you in or out?" He then asked.

Both the Leader and the admin looked at each other with unsure expressions. "Uh...in...?" Mishima hesitantly responded.

"I need to go to the bathroom." Akira got out as he shuffled backwards.

"Aw, don't be like that. It'll be great!" Ryuji assured. "Neither of us have girlfriends who'd get mad at us about it either!" He then insisted, missing the Leader avoiding his gaze.

"I guess that's true, but..." Mishima mumbled out as he scratched the back of his head.

"What makes you think-" Akira began to ask, only to quickly shut his mouth. "I mean, this is gonna be a disaster." He then groaned.

"Hey, I know you're actin' all cool, but you're totally coming with. No questions asked." Ryuji insisted with a smirk.

Akira silently began to curse his Debonair level Charm.

BZZT! BZZT!

"I think questions have been asked, Ryuji." Akira thought as he checked his phone.

"Oooh, you got a message? Who could that-" Ryuji got out in an excited manner before cutting himself off. "Uhhh actually, you don't gotta answer that. It might be something about you-know-what...C'mon Mishima, let's go!" He quickly suggested as he grabbed the administrator's arm.

"Wait, what just happened!? It's only going to be the two of us, Sakamoto!?" Mishima exclaimed.

"Don't gimme that look! We're goin' to Waikiki! Try n' get a little more excited!" The dyed blond then encouraged.

"Man..." Mishima groaned as he was practically dragged out of the lobby.

"It could be trouble back in Tokyo...I better check it back in my room." Akira thought as he headed for the elevator. He was a little lucky here. The elevator door opened as soon as he pressed the Up button, with no bald dickheads in sight.

"Ah! Please hold the door!" A familiar voice called out as he heard someone rushing over just as he stepped inside.

Akira's eyes immediately widened as he placed a hand in front of the door, stopping it and causing it to open once more as a familiar fluffy haired girl got in. "Whoa!" He got out as she nearly crashed into him.

"Ah! I'm so sorry." Haru apologized before seeing his warm gray eyes. "Hm? Oh, it's you." She soon realized.

"You're...Haru, right?" Akira recalled.

"Yes, sorry for bumping into you. I was in a hurry." Haru apologized in response.

"It's okay, it's okay." Akira assured, idly noticing how...soft the girl felt. "I was just about to go back to my room." He then explained.

"I see." Haru responded with a nod. "We have free time until evening. You should spend it doing something more...what's the word?" She then revealed and suggested before trailing off.

"Exciting? Productive?" Akira listed off.

"I'm not sure." Haru admitted with a small blush. "But probably something your friends." She then advised.

"Yeah. I should." Akira agreed with a nod. "If you don't mind me asking, what about you? Where are you heading?" He soon asked.

"I was just about to head to my own room with Kawakami-sensei. I forgot we were supposed to discuss the post-beach plans yesterday." Haru revealed and explained. "Why did Ika-chan and Katsuragi-san have to call me that afternoon? And...him as well." She however thought to herself.

"It's our last day here. It might be a little too late for that." Akira pointed out before realizing that despite the doors closing, the elevator hadn't moved an inch. "Ah, crap. We haven't chosen a floor yet."

Haru however giggled in response. "Floor 3, thank you." She replied in a grateful manner.

"Anything for the lady." Akira politely responded with a bow before pressing the button. "...Say, you said you didn't have your friends here." He then recalled.

"Yes. Don't worry, I had plenty of fun while I was here without them." Haru replied and reassured.

"Yeah..." Akira responded, feeling bad for the girl before an idea came to mind. "But...you could spend some time with me and my friends. They wouldn't mind if you joined." He soon offered.

"Oh." Haru blinked. This was the firsttime...anyone had asked such a thing of her. Not even her incredibly dangerous friends. "That's a generous offer...but I'm afraid I can't accept." She then refused as she shook her head.

"Well, I had to try." Akira let out a good-natured smile as he leaned against the wall. "But may I ask why?" he then got out in a curious tone.

"I'm not only here to chaperone the students." Haru vaguely responded.

"Ooh, a secret mission?" Akira chuckled in a joking manner.

"N-Nothing of the sort." Haru stammered with a blush. "But...it would've been nice to simply have time to myself." She then confessed.

"We all need more time, Haru-san." Akira muttered. "Let's make some later when we're back home, okay?" He then promised.

"I...I think I'll take you up on that some time." Haru got out with a smile. "Ah, I never got your name." She then realized.

"...Call me Joker." Akira responded with a smirk.

DING!

"Hm, okay Joker-kun." Haru replied as the elevator door opened. "I'll see you around school, okay?" She then added with a smile.

"Sure thing, Haru-san. Have a good day." Akira replied as he gave the girl a quick wave.

Haru jogged across the hallway as she was trying to reach Miss Kawakami's hotel room.

BOING! BOING! BOING!

Akira simply stared at her running before hitting the button for his hotel room floor, the elevator closing on the fluffy haired girl's bouncy run. "...Curse my wandering eyes..." He muttered...only to think of something in particular in his mind. "Wait...she had actual large breasts...how did I not notice that earlier?" He then thought, blinking a couple of times as a result.


(Hawaii, Hotel Room)

Elsewhere, a hotel room door opened all of a sudden, revealing the homeroom teacher at Shujin in her casual attire while holding what seemed to be a shopping bag of some sort.

Kawakami soon nodded as she laid out what she had. "Alright, time for some private time." She decided in relief. "Let's see what I bought from that swimsuit store." She then stated as she took out what she bought from the bag.

After a short while, she laid out different two-piece swimsuits of intricate-looking designs among them on the bed.

Kawakami held a finger on her chin, trying to choose which swimsuit she should try on first. "Hmm...I'll tryyy...this one first." She hummed and eventually uttered as she picked the first two-piece.

She then stripped off her casual clothes, and then her underwear, leaving her nude for a short moment before taking her chosen two-piece and putting it on with ease. Then she took the opportunity to face herself in a mirror and did some poses in front of it.

"Huh, this one's not bad." Kawakami commented to herself as she gazed on her first swimsuit, which is a beige-colored two piece with frills on both of them.

After that, she then decided to try another two-piece, which was plain dark blue in color with nothing decorated among them. "This one's nice..." She then commented about it.

She soon tried the other swimsuits left: a striped bikini with a red and blue color scheme on them, a floral-designed bikini with varying color schemes, and a bikini with opposite colors: black for the top, and yellow for the bottom. Soon after, she posed in front of the mirror wearing the last swimsuit before her body relaxed and her shoulders drooped down.

Kawakami sighed tiredly. "Ugh, what am I doing? I feel like such an idiot for getting psyched like this..." She groaned to herself, her voice clearly struggling. "Then again, we are on a trip, so..." She then added to herself as she made a point.

Maybe she really needed this trip for her own betterment to help her set aside her mind from other things back in Tokyo. Also, she then thought about Homura and Asuka...specifically, their busts.

"...What would it take to have breasts like them?..." Kawakami muttered to herself as she placed her hands on her own breasts before sighing. "What am I thinking? Jealous of my students?" She then asked herself in shame.

"Hmm, maybe I should take a bath first." The Shujin faculty member soon decided before untying her top and taking off her lower piece, leaving her naked once again. She then grabbed the bikini and threw them on the bed along with her other swimsuits that she bought before taking a fresh towel from the cupboard and heading towards the bathroom before closing the door.

After quite a long while, a knock was heard on the hotel room door before it opened, revealing Haru who decided to enter inside the room.

"Good morning, Kawakami-sensei. I completely forgot about the post-beach plans yesterday, so maybe we can discuss it toda-" She then stated as she headed towards the main room only to notice that the room was practically empty, cutting her off entirely.

"Huh? She's not here..." Haru quietly noted as she looked around. "Hm?" She then got out as she noticed some things scattered across one of the two beds in the room. One was a shopping bag standing up and some intricate-looking two piece swimsuits. "Did Sensei buy these?" She soon wondered in a curious manner with an innocent head tilt.

FWOOSH!

Suddenly, the bathroom door opened and steam came out as a familiar face was seen. "Ahh~ What a good and refreshing bath." Kawakami stated to herself as she got out from the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel around her body and another towel wrapped on her hair. "Mmm, you still got it, Sadayo!" She then bragged to herself as she posed in front of the mirror...at the perfect angle to see a very traumatized familiar face standing there.

"S-Sensei?" Haru meekly got out.

"GAH!" Kawakami yelped, freaking out in shock as she turned around right away to face her visitor. "O-Okumura-san!? H-How long have you been standing there!?" She soon asked as she held her towel on tightly.

"T-The entire time." Haru replied almost hesitantly, still staring.

"W-Why didn't you knock!?" Kawakami asked away loudly.

"You didn't lock the door, Sensei." Haru innocently informed.

"A-Ah...crap." The Shujin Academy teacher only swore.

"Kawakami-sensei!?" Haru stammered in shock.

"I-It's nothing! Just preparing for a daaaaa..." Kawakami tried to explain only to stop herself. No no no, she shouldn't be confessing such a thing to a student. "D-Day out. Yes. Finally a day to relax after my disaster of a life until this point." She eventually finished, saving herself.

"O-Okay." Haru got out, ignoring the whole disaster of a life thing. "I was just about to discuss the post-beach plans that I forgot to discuss with you yesterday, so..." She then informed.

"Um, sure. Post-beach plans, right..." Kawakami responded as she began thinking about it...only to point out in her mind about something important first. "...Can I put some clothes on first?" She then requested.

"Oh, uh...sure, Kawakami-sensei." Haru eventually replied, deciding to wait until her teacher was fully dressed.


(Japan, Gessen Academy Elites Room)

Yozakura let out a sigh as she stretched her limbs. For several days now, they had been working on preparing Kurokage's funeral in their free time. However, this was the first time in a while they were all together to work. It was mostly quiet within the room, with everyone doing their own thing.

"Schlong schlong schlong schlong..."

Mostly.

"Schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong schlong..."

"Shiki!" Yozakura snapped, turning to the source of her annoyance.

The fashionista, who was sitting right in front of her, blinked as she then looked up from her phone. "...Yozakura-chii, that was Minori-chii." Shiki pointed out.

The acting leader blushed. "Huh? Sorry, that was on instinct." Yozakura soon apologized. "Wait, why are you saying schlong, Minori!?" She then exclaimed. She had never heard such filth coming from the childish member.

"You didn't give me anything to do for the funeral and the wake." Minori mumbled out. "I'm boooooooooorrrrrreeeeeeedddddd..." She then moaned in despair.

"Well, could you please stop?" Yozakura requested as she shuffled through all the papers in front of her. "I have to pick the perfect flowers for Kurokage-sama." She then informed.

"You're acting like there's going to be a lot of people there." Shiki however noted with a frown. "It's going to be us and maybe the people we found in his contacts. And he wasn't exactly popular." She then reminded.

"Still, if he had their contact info, they must've been close." Yozakura responded and pointed out. "We should call them right now." She then suggested.

"Hai. We can't keep such a thing from them for long." Murakumo replied with a nod. However, there was a minute of nothing as no one did anything. "...Why is no one getting out their phone?" She soon questioned.

"Why aren't you?" Shiki countered.

"I...I'm expecting a call soon." Murakumo lied.

"I'm preparing everything." Yozakura reminded.

"I'm scared..." Minori confessed.

"Ugh..." Shiki groaned as she face palmed. "I guess no one here wants to talk to strangers. How about a formal letter?" She soon assumed and suggested.

"That sounds fine." Murakumo replied with a nod.

"Okay. Good. Now who is going to write it?" The fashionista soon breathed out in relief before asking.

However once again, no one spoke. "...Oh come on, seriously?" Shiki groaned out.

"I'll do it." Minori suddenly offered in a saddened tone.

"Minori?" Yozakura got out, looking quite concerned. "Um..." She began, only for the masked girl to grab her shoulder and shake her head.

"Just let her. It's better than letting her do nothing." Murakumo however got out.

"I'll make it the best letter anyone's ever read!" Minori reassured with a determined fire in her eyes.

"It's supposed to be formal, Minori. Be...respectful." Yozakura requested, seriously starting to regret letting the childish girl do this.

"I will." Minori responded in a surprisingly more serious tone with a nod.

"...Okay, I have to ask. Why schlong?" Shiki suddenly asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It sounded funny." Minori innocently answered automatically. "...What is that by the way? I heard someone at school call someone else that." She then asked.

This in turn caused the others to pale slightly. "Oh boy..." They all muttered as they looked at the young brunette that tilted her head in confusion.

"...Not it!" Shiki suddenly exclaimed.

"Not it!" Yozakura instinctively declared.

"Wait what?" Murakumo got out in confusion before realizing. "Dammit..." She groaned.

"It sounds like a foreign candy..." Minori murmured. "Does it taste good?" She soon got out in a curious tone.

Murakumo simply glared at the other now nervous girls through her mask, dragged her thumb across her neck before silently taking the young girl out of the room.

"Didn't think you'd throw Murakumo-chii under the bus like that." Shiki noted with a raised eyebrow.

"There are much more important matters we must attend to." Yozakura soon sighed out before glancing over at all the flower pictures. "...Ooh, these look nice. Do you think yellow would be nice?" She soon questioned.

"Hmm...I'd prefer white." Shiki admitted as they continued planning the funeral.


(Hawaii, Akira and Mishima's Hotel Room)

As soon as Akira arrive, he sat down on his bed (which smelled like bath bombs for some reason) and pulled out his phone.

Instantly, he saw the flood of notifications for him.

"I have way too many messages!" Akira thought. And most of them were girls. "...Wow, I am kinda a manwhore..." He then admitted as he scrolled through the texts.

Ann, Makoto, Kawakami, Hifumi, Ryuji with Mishima...

And the shinobis.

[SushiRoll23: Hey Akira-kun! I found this amazing spot! It has really clear waters and the sun feels amazing there! It's too beautiful not to share with someone! Homu-neechan seems to be busy, so if you have the time, find me at the souvenir shop and I'll take you there!]

[FireGirl20: Hi. I want to explore the city but I kinda don't have money. I'm that Big Bang Burger near the beach. Let's spend today together.]

[Negative8Degrees: Akira-kun, do you have some time? The beach is lovely today, but I don't want to be here by myself. Do you mind spending the day with me?]

Akira winced. So many people wanted to hang out with him, but he couldn't be in several places at once. He had to choose someone and leave the rest to just hang around all day by themselves.

...Who would he spend the day with?


(Fast Forward)

"Is this really necessary?" Sae sighed, feeling as though she had asked this questioned way too many times throughout this entire interrogation.

"Yes." Akira bluntly answered.

"Is that the only answer you're going to give for this ridiculous retelling?" The prosecutor then pressed.

"Yes." Akira responded in the same manner as before.

"Go ahead." Sae groaned, waving her hand.

Akira then winced, as if he was struggling to remember. "Well...I might've gone to the beach to see Yin..." He soon began as he did his best to retell his day with the Vice Leader.

(Rewind)


(Hawaii, Secret Beach)

Akira had texted everyone else that suddenly came up that required his attention before texting Asuka that he was coming. After quickly changing into his swim trunks, he headed over to the agreed meeting spot; a secluded beach far away from the major hotspots.

It was pretty small, with large rocks on the sides, but the sand and ocean was just as clean and vibrant, maybe even more so. There was also a beach blanket and an umbrella nearby, probably set up by a certain shinobi he loved. "Asuka really outdid herself..." The Leader got out, unable to stop a smile from breaking out on his face.

"Hey, Akira-kun!" Asuka called out as she ran up to her boyfriend.

Akira had to resist imagining Asuka in the nude upon seeing the Vice leader and her...physics-defying breasts bouncing around as she approached him. "I'm never gonna be used to this, am I?" He thought.

"Nope." Asuka giggled as she pressed her chest against his chest.

"What the-" Akira got out in surprise, stumbling back a little.

"Your face is easy to read when you're flustered." Asuka giggled. "Now come on! The water feels really nice at this time." She then added.

"Hold on! Let me keep my stuff dry!" Akira called out as he took off his glasses and put down his wallet and phone on the towel. "I should really buy some waterproof stuff..." He muttered before jumping into the water with Asuka.

SPLASH!

"Woo!" Akira cheered, the water instantly refilling his vigor after a long day of boredom.

"The water feels so great!" Asuka got out happily while doing backstrokes.

"That it is..." Akira breathed out as he lazily floated around. "This place is perfect for us. How did you find this?"

"I just got lucky and found it while I was walking around, trying to find a good place to spend time in." Asuka admitted. "I'm glad you like it."

"Hey, I'd like anywhere you wanted to spend time in." Akira pointed out. "Although, privacy is a serious bonus." He then added with a smile.

"Ooh, do you wanna dive down and see if we can find treasure here?" Asuka soon suggested.

"What brought this on?" Akira asked with a chuckle.

"Just wanna see if there's anything we can bring back home." Asuka answered.

"There is a gift shop." Akira pointed out. He thought at best they would only find trash or something here and he didn't want to ruin his girlfriend's bright mood.

"Come on..." Asuka whined, her eyes sparkling like the crystal clear water they were swimming in.

"Alright, alright." Akira relented before closing his eyes. "Shinobi training, don't fail me now." He muttered under his breath before taking in as much air as he could before going underwater.

A few minutes later, he returned to the surface, gasping as much air as he could.

"Who dumps a street sign in the ocean!?" Akira exclaimed as he caught his breath, just as Asuka broke to the surface. However, she was only keeping her head above the water, where he saw the red blush on her face.

"A-Akira-kun! Um...I lost my t-t-top...and um..." Asuka stuttered out.

"Come on, I'll help you find it." Akira offered as he began to prepare for another dive. "I should start packing extra tops just for you." He then added in a joking manner.

"I-I'm not that ba- AH!" Asuka began before suddenly screaming.

"Huh? What's wron-" Akira started but then stopped himself. "You just lost your bottoms, didn't you?" He then guessed, sounding somewhat exasperated.

"N-No. W-Worse." Asuka meekly replied, fidgeting around and twitching. "T-They're sucking..." She then got out.

Akira in turn blinked in confusion. "...What?" He bluntly asked.

Asuka decided to bite the bullet and stand up...only to see two living creatures on her.

"...She's a hentai magnet. There's no other explanation. This really shouldn't be possible." Akira thought with a sweatdrop as he saw two octopuses covering the girl's breasts. They didn't seem native to Hawaii.

"H-Help...please..." Asuka soon requested in an embarrassed tone. "Moh...I'm glad my agency isn't around to see this..." She then mentally added.

"Be glad that there's no one else but me here to see this." Akira stated. "Let's get those off of you and go find your top." He then suggested.

"Y-Yeah..." Asuka replied in agreement.

Soon enough, the two found the top as well as removing the octopuses from the brunette.

"Whew," Asuka sighed out in relief. "T-Thanks Akira-kun." She got out in a grateful manner.

"It's okay. Though..." Akira replied as he leaned in. "We are alone here. What do you wanna do?" He soon asked.

"Mmm...anything would be nice." Asuka replied.

"Is this permission?" Akira asked in a curious tone with a smirk on his face.

Asuka in turn winked in a playful manner. "Hehe, maybe~" She replied with a giggle as she then gave off a model-like pose.

"Okay then." Akira replied...before swiping the girl's top. "Hehe, I stole it." He remarked in a teasing manner before running off in the other direction.

"Wha-!? Hey! Akira-kun!" Asuka cried out as she chased the boy, both of them laughing all the while.

Soon the sun began to set as the Vice Leader finally managed to swipe her bikini top out of the Leader's hands. "I took it back." Asuka declared in a satisfied tone.

"Alright, alright. You win. You deserve a reward." Akira then declared.

"Really? What is it?" Asuka asked in a curious manner.

"Whatever you want it to be." Akira replied.

Asuka however pouted to that in a playful manner. "Stop with those vague replies and tell me." She soon requested.

Akira merely chuckled. "A kiss from the Leader of the Phantom Thieves." He soon requested.

"What? But that's too easy, Akira-kun," Asuka reminded. "Hehe, but ok!" She giggled as she leaned closer to the boy.

CHU!

"Hehehe..." Asuka giggled with a blush. "Ulp!" She suddenly yelped as she blushed even redder.

"Asuka?" Akita got out in concern.

"T-There's something sucking on my butt..." Asuka squeaked.

Akira couldn't help but sweatdrop. Even the freaking octopuses wanted a piece of his girlfriend. "Um, we should stay away from the water for a while and explore what else Hawaii has to offer." He soon suggested.

"Th-That sounds good, Akira-kun." Asuka replied with a nod before they worked on getting the octopuses off her butt.


(Hawaii, Beach)

After walking around hand-in-hand for what seemed like hours, they heard each other's stomachs grumble. It was high time to grab some food.

"We could go to the Triple Seven where I got your cake." Akira suggested.

"I don't want any packaged stuff right now." Asuka however stated as she shook her head. "I want something authentic, Hawaiian, something we can...share." She then requested.

"...You can make milkshakes at Triple Seven."

"Akira-kun!" Asuka chided as she slapped her boyfriend on the shoulder. Suddenly, she sniffed the air. "Huh?" She got out in an interested manner.

"Wow, what a smell..." Akira muttered before seeing a food truck with a flag on it that had shrimp and garlic on it.

"Hey, look! A food stand!" Asuka called out in an excited manner before taking a deep breath. "Mmm...I can smell the seafood from here. Looks like it's serving garlic shrimp. Makoto-chan told me it was a Hawaiian delicacy." She then informed.

"That sounds a little strange." Akira admitted. "Didn't think garlic would pair well with shrimp." He then admitted.

"Hey, you could say the same thing about coffee and curry. Come on, Akira-kun. We have to try some." Asuka got out in an eager tone before reaching for her...bikini bottoms. "...Wait...moh..." She suddenly groaned.

"What is it?" Akira got out in concern.

"I left my wallet back in my room." Asuka mumbled sadly. "I'll go get it real quick. I'll be back in a sec." She then got out, prepared to sprint back to the hotel and back in a flash.

Instantly, Akira realized he was faced with an important decision every man must make when taking a girl out for food.

Go ahead.

We'll split the bill.

I'll pay.

"Hey, I'll pay." Akira offered as he pulled out his wallet before his shinobi girlfriend could run off. "I still have plenty of American money from when I bought your birthday cake." He then added.

"A-Akira-kun, you really don't have to." Asuka responded with a blush. "I owe you for that cake." She then reminded.

"Hey, don't you know what a gift is?" Akira countered. "Asuka, it's okay. You being with me is payment enough." He then confessed.

"A-Akira-kun..." Asuka stammered with a red blush on her face. "A-Alright, but I'm paying for our next date." She then declared. However, she soon became red as she looked away and poked her fingers together. "T-This is a d-date..." She mumbled out.

"It is, indeed." Akira chuckled. "Now, do you want extra garlic or extra shrimp?" He soon asked.

"Uhhh...shrimp?" Asuka answered in an unsure tone. "Is that even an option?" She then asked.

"Hey! You two from Japan?" A man standing in front of the food truck suddenly asked.

"Huh? You know Japanese?" Asuka got out in surprise.

"Hey, have to know a lot to serve everyone." The food truck owner got out with a smirk. "How 'bout them Phantom Thieves, huh? The guys that steal hearts!" He suddenly said, causing the Leaders to instinctively jumped.

"Eh!?" Asuka nearly choked before regaining her composure. "O-Oh, you know about them." She then mumbled with a nervous giggle.

"Heard about it on the news! They're all the rage in Japan, yeah?" The man soon stated.

"They're making society better back home." Asuka replied with a smile.

"We have merch of them too." Akira soon informed. "They probably don't see a single yen from it though." He then got out with a small chuckle.

"Ah, true. Corporates are always out there chasing trends. Like bottle flipping, and clowns." The man stated with a shake of his head.

"Clowns?" Asuka repeated in an incredulous tone.

"Say, if y'run into 'em, tell 'em I say hello. And ask 'em to change people's hearts so everyone loves shrimp!" The food truck guy requested with a winning smile.

"Erm...we'll keep that in mind." Asuka responded with a blush.

"Post it on the Phan-Site..." Akira muttered under his breath before ordering their food.

Soon enough, they received two plates of garlic shrimp. However, it was heaped into a much larger pile than they were expecting.

"He gave us a lot of extra shrimp..." Akira got out with a sweatdrop.

"It's...a lot less nice to smell when there's so much of it..." Asuka awkwardly admitted.

"We should find somewhere to sit down and eat all this." Akira suggested.

"Hai." Asuka responded with a nod as she took one of the plates out of her boyfriend's hands.

Soon enough, they found a bench to sit down on with a great view of the sun setting over the horizon. After eating their surprisingly delicious meals, they sat in silence letting their food digest with Asuka resting her head against Akira's shoulder.

"Hehehe..." The Vice Leader suddenly giggled.

"What's so funny?" Akira got out with a raised eyebrow.

"All of this." Asuka responded, spreading her arms out. "I never thought our first date would be in Hawaii." She then admitted.

"Hey, I always try to pull out all the stops." Akira got out with a smirk.

"Don't try to claim credit for what the school provided us." Asuka giggled, giving the boy a playful glare. "But...let's come here later when we have the chance, Akira-kun. Just me and you."

"I better start saving money then." Akira got out. "We'll get the best room, the best food..." He then listed off as he already began planning out the entire trip in his head.

"Nah." Asuka however shook her head. "I don't want any of that. I just want to be with you." She then stated with a loving smile.

Akira smiled back. "...I love you, Asuka." He then confessed.

"I love you, Akira-kun." Asuka responded with her own confession. "Oh, before you came to the beach, I found something buried in the sand." She suddenly remembered as she dug into her cleavage.

"What? Buried treasure?" Akira joked...right before his girlfriend held out a large gold coin that had a hold in the center with a string ringed around it. "...Asuka, I didn't mean it." He then got out in disbelief.

"It's fake. Plastic." Asuka informed with an embarrassed blush. "But it looks real if you hold it to the sun just right." She then got out as she lifted it up to the sunlight, making it shimmer and shine.

"It looks like a free kids toy from a restaurant otherwise." Akira pointed out before smiling. "I love it." He soon admitted as he received the Fake Gold Medallion.

"Hehehe...thank you." Asuka giggled. "We still have some time before we need to head back. What else do you want to do?" She soon informed.

"Nothing else." Akira breathed out, kissing the top of her head as they watched the sunset together.


(Fast Forward)

"Wait." Akira stopped his retelling for a moment as he touched his forehead. "Wait, I think I got it wrong. Maybe I did hang out with someone else..." He muttered as the gears turned in his head.

"What?" Sae did a double take on that as she crossed her arms.

"Give me a moment." The struggling Shujin student stated as he tried to remember what really happened next. "Ah, there we go. I think I chose to hang out with Yang that day..." He then started as he finally recalled what really happened next.

(Rewind)


(Hawaii, Shopping Area)

Akira was soon walking along the beach as he searched for his girlfriend. "Hmm, I wonder where Homura is? She said she would be at Big Bang Burger but I didn't see her." He thought to himself before pulling out his phone. Maybe he just missed a message.

Suddenly, he felt something in the back of his pants as well as a slight stinging sensation.

"Ah!" Akira yelped, causing people to stare at him oddly as he held his ass. "Ow, dammit! Ugh...that felt like a yaoi paddle." He then grumbled as he pulled the note out of his trunks.

Meet me at the beach. Don't keep me waiting.
- Homura

"I thought you said to meet up here..." The Leader muttered. "...She slapped my ass, didn't she?" He soon thought as he flipped over the note.

Yes I did. Your ass is awesome.
- Homura

"W-Well, I have been working on it." Akira awkwardly chuckled before seeing several people staring at him weirdly.

Maybe it would be a good time to head over there right now.


(Hawaii, Beach)

"Come on, Homura Shirokage-Shinkukage. Sexy, mature, and elegant." Homura whispered to herself as she slapped her cheeks to focus all her energy on making today great with her boyfriend. "You got this. I believe in you. And I'm talking to myself because I have no idea what's going to happen when he arrives." She then got out in an increasingly panicked manner.

"Yo." Akira casually greeted from behind her back.

"Eep!" Homura squeaked before turning around and doing a sexy pose. "H-Hello there, mister. You come here for little ol' me?" She soon got out in a seductively tone...however the shaking sort of ruined the image she was trying to convey.

"Well you did invite me." Akira reminded in an amused tone. "So, you've been enjoying Hawaii so far?" He then asked.

"Why wouldn't I? This is basically another free vacation for us." Homura quipped out with an amused smirk on her face. "It's nice to get away from all the buildings and just enjoy the sun." She then added.

"Are you planning to even out your tan then?" Akira asked as he lifted up one of his girlfriend's straps to reveal the line of pale skin underneath.

"Heh. Pervert." Homura playfully remarked.

"I am, but I'm your pervert." Akira chuckled out. "So Homura, what do you wanna do now?" He then asked.

"Anything with you~" Homura seductively replied with a wink. "A walk on the beach...swimming around...maybe even a little, um...k-kiss here and there?" She then got out as she blushed redder and redder.

"Well...We could always find somewhere a little more private..." Akira soon suggested as he lightly touched Homura's arm, sending electricity through her body.

To that, the tan skinned girl blushed. "O-Oh. You wanna...O-Okay...but...you kinda...we don't have any..." Homura stammered.

"Why are you so nervous? There's an awesome restaurant nearby and I'm starving." Akira then pointed out.

"Wait, what?" Homura soon asked.

"What do you think I was talking about?" Akira meanwhile questioned, looking genuinely confused.

"U-Uh...well...you know...I thought...you were implying...I'm hungry! I-I am hungry too." Homura awkwardly started before quickly changing the subject and walking off as fast as she could.

"Hey, wait for me!" Akira called out as he followed after her.

However, when they got to the restaurant Akira suggested...

"What do you mean there's no other seats!?" Homura exclaimed.

"Exactly what we mean, miss." The waiter responded in a flat tone. "Can you please leave? Your outfit is making people uncomfortable." He then requested.

"Outfit!?" Homura repeated in an offended tone before taking a quick glance down. "Oh, that's nice you piece of-" She began growling out.

"And we're leaving." The Leader declared as they quickly left the premises. "I'm sorry..." Akira apologized as they walked down the beach.

"Akira, don't be." Homura got out in a comforting tone. "The restaurant was full when we got there. Big Whoop. We can always go find somewhere else to eat." She then stated.

"I know, but I wanted to at least get you something authentically Hawaiian and that was the only one I found around here. None of us have actually eaten anything like that since we got here." Akira admitted before pointing it out.

"There was that pineapple burger from Big Bang Burger." Homura however informed before shivering. "Dammit, it tasted like pizza..." She then whined as her body slumped down.

"...Is that a bad thing?" Akira questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"A burger tasting like pizza is not a memory I want to leave with." Homura groaned before sniffing the air. "Hm?" She hummed out, her head turning towards a rather interesting smell.

"Homura?" Akira got out.

"Something smells pretty good nearby. A little fishy." Homura muttered before spitting the source. "It's coming from over there." She then got out as she pointed over to the nearby food truck.

"Well, let's go see." Akira responded as they headed over to the food truck to see what it was serving.

"Garlic shrimp?" Homura muttered in an interested tone. "I thought that was more of an Australian thing." She assumed with a raised eyebrow.

"No, that's alcohol and poison." Akira corrected in a flat tone.

"Hey, why don't we get something from here? It would be nice to enjoy a taste of Hawaii and get rid of the taste of Big Bang Burger in my mouth..." Homura suggested before coughing, probably at the aftertaste of said burger.

She did not want her bust to keep growing cause of those burgers dammit!

"That sounds like a good idea." Akira agreed with a nod. However, before they could go forward to order...

"You two from Japan?" Someone suddenly called out to them.

"Huh?" Homura got out before realizing it was the man from the food truck talking to them. "Are you talking to us?" She soon asked.

"Well, there's no one else here." The man pointed out. "How 'bout them Phantom Thieves, huh? The guys that steal hearts!" He soon got out in an excited tone.

"Oh, wow." Homura responded, attempting to look shocked. "A lot of people have been talking about them lately. How did you find out?" She soon questioned.

"Heard about it on the news! They're all the rage in Japan, yeah?" The man replied before asking.

"Y-Yeah. Definitely." Homura muttered as she scratched her cheek.

"We have merch of them." Akira informed. "They probably don't see a single yen from it though." He then got out with a weak chuckle.

"Ah, true. Corporates are always out there chasing trends. Like superhero movies, and that gorilla people whip their dicks out for." The man agreed with a nod.

"E-Excuse me?" Homura got out with a baffled expression on her face, stunned by that last part.

"Say, if y'run into 'em, tell 'em I say hello. And ask 'em to change people's hearts so everyone loves shrimp!" The man requested as he headed into his truck, expecting the two to order some.

"They don't work like that, buddy." Homura deadpanned. "Hrrrn...starting to get sick of people begging us to deal with what they want instead what they need." She grumbled in an annoyed manner.

"No kidding." The Leader sighed before going over to order their food.

Soon enough, Akira came back with two family-sized portions of garlic shrimp on large paper plates.

"He gave us a lot of extra shrimp..." Akira thought with a sweatdrop.

"Are people from Hawaii this generous?" Homura got out in disbelief. "Because we definitely have to go here for our honey-" She began before quickly covering her mouth. "N-Next time. I mean, next time...in the future." She then stammered out.

"It's fine, honey. I'll start saving money for it." Akira responded in a teasing tone.

"D-Don't call me that s-so...erm...wow, it's hot! Let's go sit down somewhere in the shade and enjoy this bounty!" Homura blushed and sputtered.

"Aye aye, captain." Akira got out with a quick salute.

"Ah, s-save that for Ryuji!" Homura grumbled as she took one of the plates and walked off.

Akira simply chuckled in response, amused by the reaction the tan skinned girl gave him.

Once they found a bench to settle down on, they silently ate their meals, watching various couples pass by them. The garlic shrimp was pretty decent and filling, if anything

"Ugh..." Homura groaned after finishing the last of her meal.

"Homura?" Akira got out in concern. "Did the guy give you bad shrimp?" He assumed, already ready to give the guy from before a piece of his mind.

"No...no, just..." Homura responded as she shook her head and set down her empty plate. "I had a plan for today like swimming and going to this little boutique in town and then going back to my room um...giving you a tr-training session and I just...it all fell apart as soon as you arrived. This is our first date, Akira, and...I feel like I messed it up." She sighed out her confession.

"Training session." Akira deadpanned, already flinching in the phantom pain he knew he would experience.

"Moh! I don't want to say lap dance in public!" Homura snapped before seeing several people stare at her in disbelief. "...Aw man." She then got out in a small and meek voice.

Akira, however, didn't seem all that bothered. "That sounds like a move someone we both know would do." He pointed out.

"How do you think I came up with that idea?" Homura groaned as she brushed her hair away from her eyes.

"Trying to copy Haruka really doesn't suit you." Akira chuckled out.

Homura in turn pouted in response. "I'm doing my best here, Akira. I'm just...nervous..." She admitted shamefully. "God, why is this harder than fighting? I can do that as naturally as I breathe but once you're around pulling out your stupid moves, I just..." She then grumbled before groaning.

"Become a teenage girl in love?" Akira guessed.

"Well...yeah..." Homura sighed as she brushed her hand through her hair. "I want to make as many memories as I can with you, but there's so much and so little time, I can't-" She began to ramble before stopping herself by slapping her cheeks. "...Dammit! I'm thinking too much! My heart and brain can barely take it." She soon mumbled.

The Leader shook his head and smiled before holding her shoulders and leaning in. "Just do what comes naturally." Akira soon suggested. "I won't run." He then assured, giving her a peck on the cheek.

"O-Okay." Homura responded with a rapid nod. "U-Um...I just...Gah! Why is the only thing I'm thinking is sucking your-" She then complained as she covered her face.

"Not that!" Akira quickly interrupted, blushing quite heavily.

"...Fingers." The tan skinned girl finished before taking a deep breath. "R-Right, just have to be knowledgeable, feminine, elegant, mature, and understanding of others..." Homura got out. "So...which would you like for me to be?" She then asked.

"I want you to be you. All of that and more. The best you you can possibly be." Akira soon confessed.

"...I-I think I have something." Homura mumbled out, doing her best to emit everything she had learned since arriving in Tokyo. "Come along now. There's something I want to see." She then requested.

"If it's your hotel room..." Akira began before turning away to groan and punch himself in the face.

"Well, you're in the right ballpark." Homura responded with a smirk. "...Is that how you use that phrase?" She soon asked.

"I think so." Akira got out with a shrug before following his girlfriend to an unknown destination.


(Hawaii, Hotel Rooftop)

"Nice view, isn't it?" Homura got out with a smile as the two looked at the clear skies.

"Yeah, but we are definitely gonna get in trouble if we're found here." Akira pointed out as they walked onto the roof.

"Eh, living life isn't worth it without a little risk." Homura responded in a carefree manner.

"Well, this is certainly risky." Akira muttered as he nervously looked around for security cameras.

Homura let out a breath before sitting on the edge of the roof. "Come on, sit here. It makes a nice spot to relax." She soon requested.

"Just make sure to catch me if I fall." Akira got out with a nervous chuckle as he sat next to the girl. "H-Holy crap, we're high up." He breathed out, suddenly feeling a sense of vertigo.

"Come on, we've been higher. And jumped off higher." Homura reminded.

"You mean drove off." Akira corrected. "You get any higher than above the skyscrapers." He then added.

"Don't jinx it." Homura giggled. "And just like that, the next Palace we infiltrate will be on the moon." She then playfully grumbled.

"You think we can sell moon rocks if we did? Space nerds love that stuff and would pay a premium for that stuff." Akira questioned in a joking manner.

"We are not that lucky." Homura deadpanned.

"Hey, I'm with you." The Leader pointed out with a loving smile. "That makes me the luckiest bastard in Japan, right?"

"Not the world?" Homura got out in confusion with a raised eyebrow, feeling slightly offended even.

"Eh, there's probably some asshole with two oreven four shinobi girlfriends out there." Akira got out with a shrug.

"Pfft...! Hahahaha!" Homura couldn't help but laugh at that. "That bastard probably can't even walk anymore."

"In the worth it kind or the not worth it kind?" Akira questioned.

"Both, I guess." Homura replied. "...You know, you were right. I do feel a lot more...at ease. Just talking like this, not needing to worry about this being perfect." She then breathed out while playfully kicking her legs.

"Homura, it's already perfect." Akira stated.

"Not yet it is." Homura got out before pulling her boyfriend into a kiss.

Akira's eyes widened a little before closing as he just let it happen. After a few minutes, they pulled away, a thin line of spit still connecting them. "Ah, that's a little embarrassing." The Leader got out as he snapped the line.

"Nah, it was...really nice." The tan skinned girl breathed out before remembering something. "Oh, right! Here. I picked this up from the gift shop. It made me think of you." Homura got out as she held out her gift, a metal charm in the shape of a flame.

"Thanks." Akira got out before putting on the charm. "I'll pick something up for you before we leave." He soon promised.

"No, this moment is what you're giving me here." Homura stated as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "The experience, the memories...the love...it's all I wanted out of today." She soon confessed.

"Homura..." Akira breathed out.

"And...once we get back to Tokyo...back to the reality we have to live...let's make more of these moments." Homura requested. "After all, we...I won't get chances like this again." She then mumbled in a solemn tone.

Akira frowned at that. "Don't say that."

"You have to face reality sometimes, Akira." Homura got out, chortling a little.

"Then I'll change it." Akira instantly responded. "We've done the impossible before, we can do it again." He then declared.

Homura couldn't help but smile. "...And that's why you'd never make it as a shinobi..." She soon stated before laughing. "But...you make a damn fine thief." She then added.

"Hey, I stole your heart once. I can do it again." Akira got out with a smirk.

"Well, come on, Joker. Steal my heart away one more time." Homura soon requested as she held her arms out with a loving expression on her face.

"Gladly." Akira replied before wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning in for another kiss.

Homura soon pulled away. "I'll be back in a few minutes. I want dessert." She whispered before disappearing and reappearing in a flash. "Hah, ice cream." She then got out in a proud manner as she handed the boy a cone of sea salt ice cream.

"...Did you just run down the building to get ice cream?" Akira asked in disbelief.

"And up it too." Homura added before licking her rocky road. "Only the finest ice cream in Hawaii for my...my..." She declared before faltering as a blush heavily dusted her cheeks.

"Boyfriend." Akira finished with a chuckle.

"Y-Yeah...that..." Homura mumbled. "Oh boy..." She then sighed.

"Hey, you don't need to speak." Akira stated as he took in the sunlight. "I know what you mean." He assured.

"...I want to though." Homura replied, her eyes watering a little. "I love you, Akira." She confessed with all her heart, tenderly rubbing his thumb on her palm.

"I love you too, Homura." Akira responded as he grabbed her free hand.

And so, they spent the rest of the day eating ice-cream and watching the sun set in the distance.


(Fast Forward)

"Ah, wait...wait..." Akira suddenly got out, holding up his hands as he frowned even harder than before.

"Are you serious?" Sae got out in growing frustration.

"I've been shot up with enough drugs to kill elephants! I'm gonna need a moment to get my story straight!" Akira grumbled as he really tried to remember.

Sae could only sigh. "...Go ahead. Who did you actually spend time with?" She then questioned, hoping to god this was the last one.

"Erm...Widow...?" Akira soon guessed as he recounted that version of the day.

(Rewind)


(Hawaii, Beach)

Akira arrived at the beach and looked around, wondering where his girlfriend was waiting for him. "You could've at least given me a little more than at the beach…" He muttered to himself while looking at his phone, not noticing someone behind him.

"Akira." Yumi greeted.

"YAH!" Akira screamed before spinning around. "Yumi, you almost gave me a heart attack! Where were you!?" He then called out, trying to regain his breath.

"You passed right by me." Yumi answered in a blunt tone. "Maybe you shouldn't be looking down at your phone while you're walking." She then suggested.

"...Sorry." Akira sighed.

"It's okay. I'm simply happy we can spend the day together, Akira-kun." Yumi politely admitted.

"You sure you didn't cause that storm just to be with me here?" Akira chuckled out his accusation.

"O-Of course not, Akira-kun." Yumi responded, offended by that accusation towards her.

"Sorry, but I was joking. It's just...I missed you." Akira soon confessed.

"We were only away from each other for a few days. But I did miss you too." Yumi admitted. "It felt like...I wouldn't have enjoyed my time in America as much as I'd hope." She then sadly confessed.

"How come? You think your fame made it to the US mainland? Scared you'd get mobbed by your adoring fans?" Akira then asked with a curious tone.

The light gray haired girl immediately blushed at that question. "I-I'm not international yet Akira-kun. I'm trying to say that...I would have been lonely without you..." She then revealed.

"Well, we're together now. What do you want to do?" Akira soon asked.

Yumi merely smiled at this. "I would just like to take a stroll with you." She revealed.

"It would be an honor, Lady Yumi." Akira soon got out in a posh tone, bowing down and offering his hand to his girlfriend.

"No, it will be my pleasure." Yumi replied as she gently took his hand.

With that, the two walked down the beach hand-in-hand, talking about everything and nothing at the same time.

"I don't know. My current sniper rifle is fine, it's just very taxing having to assemble it every time we go into a Palace." Yumi confessed.

"Well, it's the most powerful rifle Iwai has at the moment." Akira reminded. "Do you want something that doesn't require instructions to assemble on my next equipment shopping spree?" He then offered.

"I would prefer something a little lighter...maybe I should come with you to the airsoft store so I can find one suited for me." Yumi responded with a nod followed by the offer.

"Well, Iwai does offer customisation. It might help your effectiveness if we can make your perfect gun." Akira pointed out before noticing something. "Hey, does it look like those girls over there are running to us?" He then noted in a curious manner.

"Oh no..." Yumi mumbled out as they saw two blonde haired girls in pink bikinis run up to them.

"Looks like you do have fans in other-" Akira chuckled...only for the light gray haired girl to quickly shove him into a bush. "Whoa!" He got out.

"You're Yuki Yumi!" The first blonde got out with a starry look in her eyes.

"Indeed I am." Yumi responded in a polite tone, ignoring the pain groans her boyfriend made. Luckily, the beach around this time was quite noisy.

"Hm, didn't I see someone with you?"

"Oh, you must be mistaken." Yumi waved off.

"U-Urgh..." Akira moaned in pain from the bush he was forced to hide in.

"Eh?" The fangirls got out in confusion, wondering where the pained noises were coming from.

"It was the ocean." Yumi quickly stated. "Now, would you like an autograph and a picture?" She soon asked.

"Shut up!" The fangirls squealed as Yumi nervously giggled, hoping this interaction would be over as soon as possible.

A few photos, a video, and an autograph on their bikinis, the fangirls left with bright smiles, thanking the idol and a promise to not tell anyone or else they weren't getting tickets to her next concert.

Once they were out of sight, Yumi's smile dropped as she let out a breath. "Akira-kun, it's okay to come out now." She got out while turning to the bush.

"You could've said hide..." Akira groaned as he brushed off the sand and leaves on his body. "I don't know if you know this, but I happen to be good at stealth..." He then grumbled under his breath.

"..." Yumi, however, was quiet as she wandered over to a nearby bench to sit down.

"Yumi?" Akira got out in concern as he went over and sat next to her.

"Oh, just...we lead very complicated lives, don't we?" The gray haired girl sighed out.

"Yeah, we kinda do but that's what makes it fun." Akira stated with a relaxed smile.

"But...some aspects could be easier." Yumi mumbled with a frown.

"Yeah, it could." Akira admitted as he pulled a leaf out of his hair. "Although, I don't think we're thinking about the same thing."

"It's...not about our work. It's because of our work. And history, the lives we lead, the choices we made to be where we are, who we are right now." Yumi stated in a saddened manner.

"I'm...not following." The Leader admitted with a frown. "I'm Akira, you're Yumi. Nice to meet you." He then got out before holding his hand out.

"Akira-kun, we're more than that." Yumi stated as she pushed his hand down. "We'll...We'll never have the sort of relationship I've seen on TV. Or the type I see at school. We can't even go on dates without a ton of people following us around like rabid dogs. Given what you've been through...you deserve someone who can express their love without worrying about how the world may react." She then lamented.

Akira frowned at Yumi's expression. He was not letting her fall into that same despair ever again. "Hey, I wouldn't have gotten together with you if you weren't worth it. And let me tell you, you are worth every damn second I spend with you." He then declared in a serious tone.

"But...don't you wish we could spend more time with each other? For minutes, hours, days, years...decades?" Yumi questioned as she started to sound more and more worried. "We go to separate schools, we're both so busy with various responsibilities and then at the end of the year, we both have to-" She began to ramble, however...

"Shhh..." Akira shushed the gray haired girl before pecking her on the lips. "That's Future Akira and Yumi's problem. Let them figure it out while we enjoy the moment." He then stated.

"Y-Yes, I agree but...we can't even be seen alone together. Not even half the globe away." Yumi reminded before snapping her fingers, shattering the illusion around them to reveal the endless cold.

"Gah! A word of warning next time!" Akira exclaimed before hugging himself to keep warm.

Yumi sighed as she shook her head. "Akira-kun, one photo of us together and it'll ruin everything..." She pointed out.

"I-I know. Idol fans are v-volatile." Akira responded as he tried to keep his teeth from clattering. "But hey, we're thieves and shinobi. Sneaking around is kind of our schtick. Remember what I told you on your debut." He then reminded and asked.

"...I'm afraid we won't be together for very long..." Yumi confessed.

"If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out, but like hell I'm just gonna stand by and let this die at the first sign of trouble." Akira declared as he grabbed onto her shoulders. "Besides, once the world is saved by your cuteness, things will turn out fine. Come on, let's get out of this cold, enjoy the beach and then return to your room and plow." He soon declared before realizing what he just said. "...Why did I say that last part?" He then groaned as he covered his face.

"Hehehe...Hahahaha!" Yumi suddenly laughed, wiping a tear from her eye. "I guess the infallible Joker falls to the charm of Yuki Yumi." She then giggled.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Ice Queen." Akira got out as he rolled his eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, just...you're usually so confident...it's fun to see this side of you, Akira-koi." Yumi giggled, unable to stop herself from teasing her boyfriend. "And besides, plowing isn't an option. I have a roommate. My Vice President, Togo-san, would not like such a thing happening in the same place she sleeps." She then informed.

"I'm so sorry about my stupid mouth." Akira groaned as he covered his eyes.

"Well...at least I won't be recognized as often as long as we stay a little...quiet." Yumi giggled before taking down the Kekkai. "Come on, let's enjoy the opportunity presented to us." She then stated.

"Okay." Akira breathed out. "Hey, you think that storm was an act of God to apologize?" He soon asked as he held out his hand.

"If this is their apology, I'd be glad to forgive them." Yumi admitted as she took the boy's hand into her own.

With that, Akira and Yumi walked around the beach for a while, making sure to stay in larger crowds so the idol wouldn't be as recognizable. She even bought a nice sun hat off of someone to keep her cool and hide her distinctly gray hair.

"This has been a nice day so far." Yumi breathed out with a smile.

"Yep." Akira responded before rubbing his stomach. "Getting a little hungry though. Wanna go cheap out at Big Bang Burger or go all-out at a nice restaurant?" He soon admitted before asking his girlfriend.

"Hm...maybe something more local." Yumi replied, feeling peckish as well.

"Like...?" Akira pressed with a raised eyebrow.

"Ah! Garlic shrimp!" Yumi informed in a surprised manner as she spotted a food truck nearby. "Yozakura-san would cook this sometimes. I didn't think I'd be able to have some out here. Although, I think I do remember her telling me that it was from here..." She then explained.

"Well, let's go get some." Akira got out as he gently pulled her towards the food truck.

Yumi nodded before sniffing the air. "Mmm...it smells wonderful..." She breathed out with a smile.

"You two from Japan?" The man in charge of the food truck got out.

"O-Oh, hello sir." Yumi stammered slightly as she blushed. "We wish to buy some shrimp." She soon requested.

"Sure thing." The man replied before getting to work. "How 'bout them Phantom Thieves, huh? The guys that steal hearts!" He suddenly got out, wanting to make small talk with the customers.

"You've heard of them?" Yumi got out in surprise.

"Heard about it on the news! They're all the rage in Japan, yeah?" The man responded.

"And all over the world it seems." Yumi remarked with a small smile.

"We have merch of them." Akira admitted with a shrug. "They probably don't see a single yen from it though." He then mumbled with a sigh. Why do heroes never get royalties for the merchandise greedy assholes create?

"Ah, true. Corporates are always out there chasing trends. Like Hamilton and that new monster-catching game." The food truck owner chuckled.

"I don't believe I know about those trends..." Yumi muttered with a frown. "I might have to look into that game." She then thought.

"Say, if y'run into 'em, tell 'em I say hello. And ask 'em to change people's hearts so everyone loves shrimp!" The man encouraged before serving their food. "Enjoy yourself, Yuki Yumi." He then got out with a wave.

"Thank you." Yumi replied in a polite tone as the Leader took the plates, right before realizing what the man just said. "E-EH!?" She then yelped as Akira glared at the man.

"Don't worry, I won't bust ya. Just be careful out there." The man assured with a chuckle.

The couple soon let out a breath in relief. "T-Thank you, sir." They both got out in unison before looking at the plates, blinking at the pile of food on it.

"He gave us a lot of extra shrimp..." Akira thought with a sweatdrop.

"It...smells a little odd..." Yumi admitted, her nose wrinkling at the odor their plates had.

"We should probably find somewhere to eat this peacefully." Akira suggested, carefully balancing the plates on his hands.

"I agree." Yumi responded with a nod.

It didn't take long for them to find a spot as the sun was setting by now. Their meals were warm and filling, so they decided to rest on the bench to let their food digest.

"Mmm...I wish this moment would last forever." Yumi confessed.

"We have to move on though." Akira reminded. "Moments like these shouldn't go on for too long. It's what makes them precious."

"Akira-kun, don't go all philosophical on me. It's just a saying." Yumi sighed.

"Sorry." Akira apologized. "Guess I'm too dramatic." He then admitted.

"But that drama is what caused you to save my debut." Yumi reminded in a grateful manner.

"Nah, that was all you. All I did was verbally and musically slap you into focus." Akira denied and stated.

"You know, my songwriter said that a few of my songs could use a male voice to...enhance them, and I hear you're quite the singer." Yumi soon revealed, a pink blush appearing on her face.

"Ehhh..." Akira got out as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Come on, it's a once in a lifetime offer." Yumi encouraged.

"But then there will be eyes on me as well and attention is the last thing we need in our lives." Akira pointed out. "I'd rather stay in the background, cheering on from the crowd with glow sticks in hand." He then admitted.

"Well, at least be my love interest if I ever get into acting. I don't think I could ever replicate such emotions if it was with anyone else." Yumi requested and admitted.

"Will I get free food?" Akira immediately asked.

"Akira-kun..." Yumi chided in disapproval.

"Kidding, kidding." Akira chuckled. "But they better have curry there." He then got out in a serious tone.

"No promises." Yumi responded with a giggle as the two continued to enjoy each other's presence. "Ah, I bought you something you might like." She eventually revealed with a smile.

"Yumi, any gift from you is something I'll cherish until I die." Akira insisted.

"I know, but I wanted to give you something that will remind us of our time here." Yumi responded before taking out a necklace. "I'd thought you'd look nice with this on." She then confessed.

"Yumi, that looks way too expensive. It's beautiful, but I think you're better off..." Akira however pointed out and began to admit.

"Don't worry. It's from a local seller who gave me a discount. It's handmade." Yumi assured, interrupting the boy. "I even got a matching one, so when we look at them, we'll be reminded of each other." She then revealed as she pulled it out of her bikini bottoms and put it on.

This in turn caused the boy to blush a bit. "...Okay." Akira soon relented with a smile. "I'll go get you something too before we leave. Don't let me forget about it." He then offered and requested.

"Well...there could be ways that I could forget..." Yumi confessed.

"What?" Akira got out in confusion.

"Something like this...plowing you mentioned earlier today?" Yumi suggested in a joking manner, causing the Leader to groan loudly.

"Please don't make me relive the worst moment of my life." Akira groaned as he covered his face.

"That is what you consider your worst moment of your life?" Yumi giggled in amusement.

"Yeah." Akira replied with a nod. "God, I never felt so embarrassed in my life." He then mumbled.

"Well...let me make this moment the best so far." Yumi insisted before leaning in and kissing him on the lips.

"Y-Yumi." Akira whispered before worryingly looking around and bracing for a change in temperature. "...Is there a Kekkai up right now?" He soon asked.

"No." Yumi assured with a smile. "Right now, I don't give a damn." She confessed before they kissed again, staying like that until they both ran out of breath.

"We're gonna have to go to our rooms soon. Curfew is about to start any time now." Akira reminded as he regained his breath.

"I'm a shinobi and you're a thief. We'll sneak back in with no one the wiser." Yumi stated as she leaned in closer to her boyfriend. "But for now...let's just enjoy this for a little while longer." She softly requested.

"...Of course." Akira replied as he put an arm around her waist. "Love you." He then whispered.

"Love you too, Akira-kun." Yumi replied as she snuggled closer to her boyfriend, his warmth comforting her more than the sun's.


(Fast Forward)

"Okay, each and every one of those outings are too detailed to all be made up, or from hallucinations caused by drugs." Sae pointed out.

"You'd be surprised what the mind can make up." Akira replied with a small shiver.

"As I have been hearing about for the past..." Sae sighed before checking her watch. "Hour and a half?" She then got out in an incredulous tone.

"Huh?" Akira got out, sounding quite surprised. "I thought we've been here for five years, give or take a couple of months." He then muttered under his breath.

"Be quiet. Let me process this." The prosecutor requested before closing her eyes to think. "So which one?" Sae suddenly asked.

"What?" Akira responded in confusion.

"Which person did you spend the day with?" Sae pressed as she leaned forward.

"Is that important?" Akira questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"You've told me everything else in excruciating detail. So who did you go out with?" Sae pointed out before questioning.

Akira's left eye twitched a little. "...Yes." He eventually responded in a flat tone, shifting in his seat in the meantime.

"...Ugh, fine. Move on." Sae finally relented. Either this kid was a great story teller...or he had a harem, and she didn't know what was worse. "This time, continue with the important events of your story." She then got out, waving for him to continue.

"It's going to get really important real soon." Akira assured in a serious tone. "...So back in Tokyo..." He then began, going off on yet another update on what everyone else seemed to be doing.

Sae had to resist groaning out loud, keeping herself together on what more interesting tales the young, bruised Shujin student had to tell. For her, a hot spring bath with her sister would be really nice at this moment. Or maybe a bottle of water delivered on her table would be better. Having both would be best, in some way.

(Rewind)


(Tokyo, Harajuku, Haruka's Apartment)

"Um, thank you, Mori-san." Haruka got out in a polite tone as she carefully handled the container of fresh cinnamon buns in her hand. "I didn't even know someone else lived here." She then thought.

"It's okay, Toyoguchi-san. I had extras." The elderly woman responded with a smile.

"Er, that's-" Haruka began, however...

"Oh, don't complain about a free gift." Mori stated with a frown. "I barely see you come back home these days...or any days since you moved in." She soon stated.

"I am a busy woman." Haruka explained.

"Ah, well I don't judge." Mori assured in a comforting manner.

"Huh?" Haruka got out in confusion before realizing the implications. "Oh, no I'm a doctor. D-Doctor's assistant." She soon corrected.

"That's what they all say dearie. Have a good night." The old lady got out in a comforting tone before shuffling back inside her apartment.

"Good night, Mori-san." Haruka sighed as the woman went back inside her apartment and shut the door. "Why do people assume such things about me?" She mumbled in an annoyed manner...only for the woman she just spoke with to open her door once again and poked her head out.

"Because it's not every day you meet a drug dealer." Mori quickly added before shutting her door again.

"...Okay, maybe the science equipment is suspicious..." Haruka had to admit before placing the container of cinnamon buns in her plastic bag filled with other takeaway food before heading up to her apartment.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Ah." Haruka got out as she took out her phone.

[PlagueDoctor: Haruka, your tests came in.]

[PlagueDoctor has uploaded an image: "TestResultsV278"]

[DrSeduce: Thank you. I'll look at it right now.]

"Ok, progression on the Cancer Research is coming along well," Haruka muttered with a smile as she walked up the stairs. Work had gone relatively well that day with less stress for the day. She was actually able to make some progress as a result.

Things seem to be on the up and up for the research now.

However, even with all of that...there was one single problem...

"...I miss darling..." Haruka soon sighed out as she dropped her head in depression. Maybe she'll call him before he returns...and then sneak into his room to cuddle with him.

She really liked cuddling up to her darling. Probably to the point that she would make it a hobby every now and then when the opportunity rises in itself.

He was her knight in shining armor after all. Her first real love.

"Alright, time to check on my lovely guest." Haruka chirped as she approached her room before opening its door.

"Good evening, Haruka-sama." Tsumuji greeted with a polite bow, still in her sling bikini outfit that the blonde gave her...while hopping to her.

"To you as well." The blonde responded before glancing down. "Oh, did I forget to unlock your feet?" Haruka gasped. "Let me get that for you." She then offered as she approached.

"I know you did this on purpose." Tsumuji growled, instantly dropping her polite attitude.

"You deserved it." Haruka simply stated as flicked a key out of nowhere from her hand. "How did you like hopping around all day cleaning the apartment by yourself?" She then asked as she crouched down to uncuff the restraints on her feet.

"I wanna kill you." Tsumuji deadpanned.

"Perfect~!" Haruka happily replied as she inserted the key in the keyhole. "Anything you've learned today?" She then asked as she stood up to face her.

"I need to work on my legs more?" Tsumuji guessed.

"Do not. Hurt. My friends." Haruka downright warned her with darkness looming over her glowing eyes and pupils. "I could've done much, much worse." She then added with the same tone, this time with a smile.

"Like giving me a dick?" Tsumuji sarcastically guessed as she rolled her eyes.

"No, by slowly and meticulously breaking down your will and/or your body into itty-bitty pieces in the most painful ways possible until there's nothing left but a broken shell of a pathetic assassin who couldn't even beat a civilian." The blonde bluntly responded with a smile that held anything but friendly. "And I do not want to ruin my friendship with darling by making you my loyal servant." She then confessed with the same smile.

The girl immediately paled upon hearing that statement. "...O-Okay, t-th-that was a threat, Haruka-sama." Tsumuji meekly confessed.

"Thank you, I've been thinking about it all day." Haruka happily and pleasantly replied. "And, in the future, you must refer to Hikage, Yomi and Mirai with -sama as well. And darling and Homura. And Poochie." She soon instructed.

"I'm even lower than the puppy?" Tsumuji got out in disbelief.

"You're right." Haruka realized. "Allow me to correct this. You must refer to Poochie with -dono." She then stated.

Her live-in maid just gave her a flat stare. "Well, it's not the first time I've been the bottomest rung of the ladder..." Tsumuji muttered with a sigh. "Now can you please hurry it up?" She then insisted.

"One moment." Haruka requested.

Click!

"Okay, that should do it." Haruka got out as she removed the tight cuffs on her ankles.

"Ahhh...my legs feel like tungsten..." Tsumuji groaned out. "Can I put on some real clothes now?" She then asked.

"Hm?" Haruka hummed out with a raised eyebrow. "You don't need my permission, Tsumugi-san. I assumed you were going to change while I was out. I did say you were free to use any of my old clothes. Obviously not my pants though." She then admitted, having silently been wondering about that.

"..." Tsumuji immediately went silent as she recalled that being said to her as she then palmed her face in shame to her own idiocy. "Let me change my response from earlier Haruka-sama: I wanna die." She stated.

"Even more perfect." Haruka replied in amusement.

"Is this going to be my life from now on, Haruka-sama?" Tsumuji asked.

"Only until I say otherwise." Haruka responded with a sweet smile. "Anyways, before I cuff you to the bed again, let's eat." She then ordered as she pulled out containers of food out of the plastic bag.

"Thank God, I'm starving- wait, you're gonna- MMPH!" Tsumuji got out before her mouth was stuffed with a cinnamon bun.

"Don't completely trust you yet." Haruka simply reminded with a sweet smile.

The soon-to-be-bound girl soon chewed and swallowed the food before taking in a breath. "...Hai, Haruka-sama..." Tsumuji sighed out in defeat, quietly praying to a higher power that she wouldn't milk this for very long.


(Kichijoji, Shopping District)

Miyabi and Morgana groaned in unison as they walked out of Penguin Sniper. They had spent the last hour trying to gather information, but all that ended up happening was

"Well, as expected, a no-name principal isn't going to have any info about his life that the tabloids don't already know..." Miyabi muttered as she and the not cat on her shoulder walked around the district.

"We can't give up here." Morgana encouraged. "It's only been a day. We just need one piece of info, and his whole Palace will be blown wide open." He then added.

"But how? From what I gathered, he didn't have any friends..." Miyabi got out as she frowned in thought.

"Well, we just have to look in the right place." The not cat replied before looking in a seemingly random direction with widened eyes. "Like right over there." He soon added.

"Eh?" Miyabi got out before spotting a familiar ball of fat stilling on a stool at a nearby bar. "...That was easy." She soon muttered as she walked inside and sat down three seats away from him. She'd rather do a quick observation first before going in and milking him for all he's worth.

"Irasshaimase! Welcome to the Stand. What do you want tonight, miss?" The bartender greeted.

"Just water, thanks." Miyabi requested. The bartender gave her an odd look before fulfilling her order. "Hey, how long has he been here?" She soon asked as she looked over to the fat man.

"That guy?" The bartender responded, getting a nod from the white haired woman as he then sighed. "About an hour. Hasn't ordered anything yet." He soon revealed.

"Hmm..." Miyabi hummed out as she then took out some cash. "Here. Go serve him some sake." She ordered.

"Loosening his lips a little with alcohol?" Morgana whispered.

Miyabi nodded. It was a typical info gathering technique. People loved to let out the truth while drunk...especially if you show some skin and underwear beforehand.

Speaking of which, she lowered her dress strap a little, revealing a little bit of her bra. "For the good of the team, for the good of the mission." She whispered.

"Careful..." Morgana meanwhile advised in concern.

"Morgana, I am fine. Just keep it down and let me do the work." Miyabi assured as she watched the bartender serving the principal a glass.

"One sake for you." The bartender soon informed the principal.

"H-Huh? I didn't order anything." The obese man got out in surprise.

"You didn't. That woman there did." The bartender informed as he pointed over to the white haired woman.

"He's barely able to handle his glass..." Miyabi mentally noted. "He's not drunk. He doesn't have any sort of debilitating diseases or illnesses. Other than his weight, he's perfectly healthy. He's worried." She deducted.

"Looks like he'll jump out of his skin at any second." Morgana meanwhile stated. "Use caution, Miyabi. This could be our only chance to get what we need from him." He then warned and instructed.

"You don't need to remind me." Miyabi whispered. "Okay, breathe. Ahem." She whispered to herself before coughing to get his attention.

"Hm?" The principal hummed inconfusion before seeing a rather beautiful woman coming over to him.

"Hey there, mister." Miyabi greeted in the most seductive tone she could stomach using for the man. "You look awfully lonely tonight. Do you mind if I sit next to you?" She soon asked, already moving onto the stool next to him.

"...Do I know you?" Kobayakawa asked in a cautious manner, feeling a sense of deja vu and fear coming over him.

"I...don't think so." Miyabi lied, her body tensing a little.

"Ah, I-I think I do. You work at that-" Kobayakawa began to realize, however...

"Another drink!" Miyabi interrupted as she slammed her fist on the counter, the bartender nodding as he served them another cup of the sweet stuff. "And how do you know that, mister?" She soon asked in a threatening manner.

"...Let us agree to not discuss such a thing." The principal responded, his head turning a slight red. "You may call me-" He then began, however...

"I know who you are." Miyabi bluntly stated. "Who doesn't these days?" She then added.

"I-I guess that's true." Kobayakawa got out with a nod. "M-May I have your name, miss?" He soon asked.

"...Tomoyo." Miyabi answered. "So, why are you here? Enjoying your last night free before the police haul you off for criminal neglect?" She soon asked.

Kobayakawa immediately winced upon hearing that. "A-At this point, seeing the police would be better than this." He soon admitted.

"Ah. I see. Once you're labeled, you're stuck with it for life. No one is even going to give you a chance anymore." Miyabi stated as she recalled what the Phantom Thieves Leader and former track star had gone through. "And you effing deserve it, asshole." She mentally added.

"Wh-Wh-Why do you have a c-cat with you?" Kobayakawa couldn't help but ask as he noticed the cat, his unsteady finger pointing at it

"He is my therapy pet. Don't try to ask." Miyabi simply answered while waving it off. "Now, about what we're supposed to discuss." She then added to get the topic back on track.

"Y-Y-Yes, yes, we'll talk about it right now." Kobayakawa replied with a nod...or at least, she thought it was a nod. His neck didn't exactly have much of an indication of it.

"What!?" Morgana exclaimed in disbelief before getting his head petted a little harder than usual, forcing him to look down at her thighs.

"Ah, sorry. He tends to freak out sometimes." Miyabi apologized as she then looked down at the not cat. "Be quiet Morgana. I'm making small talk here. I'll get you some fresh tuna later." She then quietly requested and offered.

Morgana however sighed. "...If I was human, I could be helping..." He thought. Not even tuna would heal this type of hurt.

Okay, maybe a little.

"So, I have to ask. What pushed you into letting a goddamn rapist into your school?" Miyabi eventually asked.

"He wasn't like that at the beginning." Kobayakawa confessed as he then took a drink. "He was merely a retired Olympian. A star of the country. Anyone would kill to have that type of talent amongst the staff." He then explained, shaking his head.

"And, as I've heard, someone jumped because of him." Miyabi reminded.

"She survived." Kobayakawa offhandedly stated.

Miyabi's eye twitched a little but kept a very long beatdown to herself. "Sure. But you had to have caught wind eventually." She then noted.

"Only...recently." Kobayakawa confessed.

"How recently?" Miyabi questioned.

"Two years, give or take a few months." Kobayakawa simply responded.

"...Urge to kill...rising..." Miyabi mentally growled in anger. "...You have a very funny definition of recent." She remarked.

"I had to keep the school's reputation as the top of the country." The principal insisted. "We churn out loyal members of society each and every year since its opening. If there was even a slight bit of controversy...well, you know the consequences now." He then stated.

"It was going to catch up eventually." Miyabi however pointed out. "You had to at least know that was a possibility, right?" She then asked.

"I was. However, I hoped that it was to be discovered long after I retire." Kobayakawa confessed.

"Well, you're probably about to be retired any day now." Miyabi noted as she downed the rest of her water, as if cheering for the man's last day of being worth more than dirt.

"I...I...I know..." The Shujin Academy principal got out in a defeated tone. "But don't you see? I am as much a victim as all the others. I couldn't control such a situation, even with what I had on hand." He then insisted.

"I am going to enjoy ripping your Shadow's spine out." Miyabi thought in a flat tone. "There there. I'm sure you did (not) do your best." She then got out, soon being disgusted as she (unfortunately) patted his back. "Good god! He's got so much fat on him it's jiggling and it's moist! Why is his suit moist!? Does he wear anything else!? UGH!" She mentally exclaimed in even more disgust.

"Thank you." Kobayakawa got out, sounding genuinely touched. "It's...nice to have a little sympathy." He then admitted.

"I want to go into the deepest hole I can dig in 24 hours and then make you bury yourself in it with your bare hands." Miyabi continued thinking as she gave the man a comforting look. "Hey, everyone needs a little support. Not all bad guys are bad guys, right?" She then pointed out. In all actuality, she got that last thing from a movie she and her best friend saw and she was not digging really deep here.

"...I am certainly a good guy but a bad guy in the eyes of the public, aren't I?" Kobayakawa lamented with a sigh.

"Go die. Right now." Miyabi thought in a sweet manner as she imagined herself grabbing the nearest bottle of bourbon and then smashing it into and through his eyes. He might look better with a glass bottle monocle. "Yes." She then got out.

"Grrr...it's all so unfair..." Kobayakawa soon groaned out. "Not only has my reputation been destroyed by...by Thieves, I'm letting myself be bullied by children! How pathetic. I should've expelled them. And maybe I should tomorrow morning. Such pointlessness should not be in my school." He then spat out.

"Kids can be quite cruel." Miyabi muttered, remembering the time her best friend had a chunk of her hair cut during lunch and then thrown onto her food.

"Tell me about it." The principal sighed as he gripped his glass. "I had bigger dreams than this. Bigger aspirations but every, single, person I knew just beat such hopes from me!" He then ranted, his face (well, his entire body) went red.

"Here we go..." Miyabi mentally groaned, already regretting this part. Man, for someone so fat, he got drunk really easily. "Do tell." She got out in a strained tone.

"I could've been somebody!" The principal cried out. "A leader amongst my peers! Someone to follow around the schoolyard, hanging onto their every word! Who can control even the teachers to step out of their way!" He then declared.

"That has never happened outside of movies." Miyabi couldn't help but think.

"The top dog! The perfect boy! The most popular student in all of Japan!" Kobayakawa continued. "Wasted! All wasted!" He then wailed as the other patrons looked on and heard his ranting, becoming disgusted by his words.

"You sad, sad man..." Miyabi meanwhile muttered as she narrowed her eyes, tuning out the ranting man as she began to think.

"From everything we've heard so far, he wants people to turn to him when they think of power and popularity." Morgana summarized as he then narrowed his eyes in anger and disgust. "How ridiculous! He's just a high school principal! And he has the nerve to use underhanded tactics against students. What a loser..." He then grumbled.

"Now...now I must do what I must to survive..." Kobayakawa soon got out, sniffling as he down another cup of sake. "But...I-I d-don't know if they'll let me..." He then mumbled

That however caught the white haired woman and not cat's attention. "They?" Miyabi mentally repeated as she narrowed her eyes.

"Yeah, that sounds tough, buddy. Are you going to pay your tab now?" The bartender soon asked in an uncaring tone, though was also holding back his disgust from everything he heard from the man.

"I think we have what we came for." Morgana whispered, mysteriously having a wallet in his mouth.

"Except one more thing..." Miyabi muttered as she leaned towards the principal and tapped his shoulder.

"Hm?" Morgana hummed in confusion.

"Hey, what's your first name again?" Miyabi casually asked the panicked principal.

"Kiyoto?" Kobayakawa answered without much thought.

"Thank you." Miyabi replied, patting the man on the back again before getting up from her seat, throwing some money on the counter and leaving the bar. Once she was a good enough distance away, she pulled out her phone and called a certain someone. "Futaba, head over to Shujin. I think we have enough info." She ordered as she started making her way to the train station, rubbing the hand she patted the man with against the side of her clothes.

"Hai." The hacker responded. "...Can you take me there?" She then asked in a shy manner.

"Oh, right, you're not ready to go by yourself..." Miyabi remembered. "I'll be there in a jiffy." She then assured, already preparing to run over to Yongen.

"Who says jiffy these days?" Futaba scoffed, audibly rolling her eyes.

"It's a real measurement of time. I'll be there in a jiffy." Miyabi soon reiterated before hanging up and putting Morgana on her shoulder. "Hold on, Morgana." She then advised.

"I hate this paaaaaaAAAAAAARRRRTTTTT!" The not cat screamed as he dug his claws into the white haired woman's shoulder, hoping to God that he stayed on.


(9/10, Evening)

(Hawaii, Asuka and Homura's Room)

"Aaaaahhhh..." Asuka breathed out, wearing nothing but a towel as she exited the bathroom.

"How was your shower?" Homura asked as she combed her long hair, just as dressed as her sister.

"It only made me miss the bathtub we have at home." The Vice Leader sighed as she sat down on her bed.

"True..." Homura replied in agreement. "Did you have fun today, Sis?" She then asked.

"Yep. I had a really good time." Asuka replied with a nod. "And you?" She asked back.

"Yeah. It was pretty great." Homura answered with a nod. "But the novelty of doing the same things we did back in Japan is wearing off." She then admitted.

"I know. It makes me a bit glad we're going back home tomorrow." Asuka breathed out.

"Agreed. Tonight is our final night here. Thank God." Homura stated and reminded.

"We made some new friends and good memories but...I kinda wished we went to swim with dolphins..." Asuka continued with a smile then her expression wavered a bit in the end.

"Or at least had something organized other than ridiculous lectures." Homura added with a frown. "Ugh...I thought I'd be wishing to stay here a little longer, not wanting to go back home..." She then mumbled in a sad manner.

"Hai, it's been...okay. But I think I can live with that until next time." Asuka admitted with an optimistic smile. "And there will be a next time." She then reassured while hugging her sister in a tender manner.

"...Yeah. There definitely will." Homura replied with a nod. She then grabbed her phone and looked at the time. "It's still too early to sleep. What do you wanna do?" She soon asked.

"...Invite all the other girls for a pillow fight?" Asuka answered after a bit of thought.

"Eh...I wanna do something with you." Homura got out as she shook her head. "I don't think we've done anything together during our entire stay here." She then stated.

"Sneak off to the beach?" Asuka soon suggested.

"It's too cold. The water must be freezing by now." Homura responded.

"Uhhh...braid our hair?" Asuka suggested next, clearly grasping at straws.

"..." Homura simply stared as she twirled around her sister's short hair that was nowhere near long enough for such a thing.

"Your hair?" Asuka corrected before frowning. "Wait, do we even know how to braid hair in the first place?" She then wondered.

"...We need to become closer as sisters." Homura soon confessed.

"Erm, yeah." Asuka awkwardly replied in agreement. "Making a fort out of pillows?" She then suggested.

"There's not enough of them and they're too small to really make one..." Homura soon pointed out.

"Come on, work with me here!" Asuka whined. "There has to be something we can do together before the night ends." She then added.

"...Sparring match on the roof?" Homura replied.

"...Dammit, fine. I wanted something a little...mundane, but at this point, I'll settle for that." Asuka sighed as she shook her head.

"Hey, look at the bright side. I can get some practice with my Noh Style." Homura responded. "And you can show me what Miyabi has taught you so far." She then added with a grin.

"Ooh, yeah!" Asuka cheered before remembering something. "Wait, aw..." She groaned.

"What is it now?" Homura groaned, just wanting to do something with her sister already.

"I'd need a katana to use..." Asuka informed with a sigh.

Homura blinked. "You can use one of mine, Sis." She soon offered.

"Wait, you have-" Asuka got out before pausing and slapping her forehead. "Of course you have one. You have six! I am such a- Argh!" She then grumbled before grabbing the nearest pillow and screaming into it.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

"I'll get it." Homura got out as she got off the bed.

However, it wasn't necessary as they simply spoke through the door. "I see your light is still on. It would be best if you please go to sleep now. The plane is coming at around 10 in the morning, so try not to sleep in." Yui soon instructed from the other side of the door before continuing her patrol.

"Moh..." Asuka quietly whined in disappointment before blinking. "...Kekkai?" She simply suggested.

"Kekkai." Homura responded with a nod of agreement right before the two vanished.


(Tokyo, Asakusa, Hanzō Academy Elites Room)

"Hmm-hm-hmm~" Hibari hummed in genuine joy as she was currently checking inside her bag. "Okie dokie, I think I got everything needed." She declared as she reviewed everything she had for her trip.

"Again, it's only thirty minutes from Shibuya." Katsuragi got out, barely glancing away from her phone. "We canceled our reservation to the Kusotori. You don't have to prepare as if you're going camping. I swear, I think the council is going senile..." She mumbled.

"Actually, I'm going to be camping in the park. Kiriya-sensei told me today that it would be a good experience." Hibari informed.

Katsuragi sighed as she went into something in particular in her mind. "Should I...? No, no, Ikaruga would give me an earful if I did that..." She muttered under her breath.

"Hm? Katsu-nee, what's the matter?" Hibari hummed out and asked with curiosity.

"Oh, uh, it's nothing." Katsuragi shrugged off.

Hibari frowned before taking a look at the blonde's phone screen. "Um...why are you looking at phones on your phone?" She soon asked.

"W-Well, um...you see...I sort of don't like the color and..." The busty blonde tried to make up an excuse before giving up. "Look, don't tell anyone but I'm saving up for-" Katsuragi began to answer.

"Oh! You're buying a personal phone?" Hibari happily guessed, cutting off the blonde.

"Hey! Don't say it out loud!" Katsuragi whispered. "I only need it for-" She then began.

"I'm getting one too. Everyone else is getting one." Hibari continued without letting the third year finish.

"Huh!? Did I miss a meeting about this or something?" Katsuragi responded in confusion.

"Yup. The Good Shinobi Council said that they're requiring us to have a second phone for things like Mappy Bird and illegally downloaded music to give to the enemy just in case." Hibari informed.

"...Is there a catch? There has to be a catch to this. They are not giving us phones for free like the phones we have now." Katsuragi eventually asked and accused while giving the reason.

"No...I don't remember there was a catch." Hibari tried to recall. "I'm going to get my pink one in pink." She then happily revealed.

"Oh." Katsuragi simply responded as she processed this. "...That's awfully nice of the council to do such a thing. What are they going to be?" She then admitted.

"Ummm...I think the most recent model, from the Kirijo Group." Hibari recalled after thinking about it.

"Ooh, those are pretty high end." Katsuragi responded, surprised that she was gonna get the latest model. "When are we getting them?" She soon asked.

"Um...when we get them?" Hibari answered in an unsure tone.

"Come on, be a little more specific here!" Katsuragi groaned.

Suddenly, the door slid open as the ravenette and the pigtailed white haired girl came into the room clad in their gym attires, Yagyū wearing the school's gym uniform consisting of a white buttoned top with red lining with her name on the front of it and skin tight black shorts with white lining while Ikaruga was wearing a black tracksuit that was lined with white and purple.

"You win again." Yagyū calmly stated as she rolled her shoulder.

"It was never about winning, Yagyū-san." Ikaruga however started. "It was to test our skills and to prevent our abilities from dulling." She then reminded.

"I know. Still, a victory would've been nice." Yagyū admitted as she rubbed her shoulder.

"A loss here could be a victory elsewhere. Don't let it get you down." Ikaruga informed.

"Ah! Welcome back!" Hibari happily greeted, noticing the two. "How was training?" She soon asked.

"Well." Yagyū replied with a nod. "Although, Ikaruga here did manage to put her foot through a wall and got stuck for a moment." She then revealed.

"A shameful attack, I admit." Ikaruga sighed out. "I should've remained stalwart in my training, rather than taking a foolhardy opportunity." She then confessed.

"Meh. I put my foot through more stuff than I can count. It happens." Katsuragi got out with a shrug. "As long as you can pull your leg out by yourself, it's all good." She then instructed.

"Speaking from experience?" Yagyū assumed.

"Yep. Used to sprain my ankle a lot doing diving kicks." Katsuragi revealed. "It was fun...up until I ended up stuck for three hours under a waterfall." She then admitted in a sheepish tone.

"...That was last year." Ikaruga reminded in a blunt manner and a sweatdrop.

"Hey, I nailed it the very next month." Katsuragi responded with a fist pump.

"After you got better after getting sick from being under a waterfall for three hours." Ikaruga added. "There is a reason why we have most of our training sessions within a secure and safe location." She then sighed out.

"Way more expensive though." Katsuragi countered. "How many training dummies do we go through every time we want to practice fighting against a horde?" She then asked.

"...A lot?" Hibari innocently recalled with a head tilt.

"Yes. A lot." Ikaruga sighed before sitting down while rubbing her leg, wincing a bit.

"The leg you kicked with?" Katsuragi guessed.

"Hai." Ikaruga responded with a nod.

"I'll get the First-Aid kit." Yagyū offered as she went to do so.

"No, get a compression sleeve from my room. Have tons of those." Katsuragi however suggested as she watched the white haired first year head into her room. "Just don't touch anything else in there!" She then called out.

"I know." Yagyū stated to her while searching...only to notice something very unusual in their room. "...Is that a training dummy with silicone breasts?" She then described out loud.

"Hey, you don't get as good as me with natural talent." Katsuragi stated in a proud tone, flexing her fingers as the serious members of the group sighed. "Alright, let's see if the Phantom Thieves posted up their next targets." She soon decided.

"Didn't they just post a few days ago?" Hibari however pointed out.

"Yes. It usually takes a month or so before they call out their targets again." Ikaruga recalled with a frown. "Hm, it's like they're just gathering up requests and just doing them all in one go." She noted.

"Seems inefficient." Yagyū remarked as she came back with sleeves in hand.

"Seems that they have lives outside of Phantom Thievery." Katsuragi added.

"And isn't it convenient that Asuka-chan left for Hawaii the day before?" Hibari spoke up with a thoughtful look on her face.

"...Yeah, no. That's just a coincidence." Katsuragi waved off before tinkering with her phone once again.

"Still, it is something to take note of." Ikaruga pointed out with crossed arms under her chest. "Nevertheless, we have to be ready for what's to come." She then stated.

"Ok then, let's see the top five this week instead." Katsuragi decided in a mutter as she went onto the Phan-Site. "Let's see...Hinahara Sakimaru, Shogo Akuji, Kiyoto Kobayakawa, Goro Akechi, Kunikazu Okumur-" She then read out before choking and coughing.

"Katsuragi, what was that last name?" Ikaruga asked in an authoritative tone.

"H-Haru's freaking dad!?" Katsuragi exclaimed. "When the hell did this happen!? And why is it staying there!?" She began asking in growing confusion and concern.

"Excuse me?" Ikaruga gasped in disbelief.

"I thought we only get missions from upstanding people like the government." Yagyū got out.

"We are mainly employed by the government." Ikaruga stated. "However, Okumura-san specifically requested us, and paid us more than what the government would provide. It was mainly bodyguard duty and rescue, no corporate espionage or anything."

"I see." Yagyū muttered with a frown.

"Still, this is troubling...we may need to investigate him to ensure he isn't doing anything bad..." Ikaruga soon stated in concern.

"W-What are you saying? You think he's bad because he's at the top of the poll?" Hibari stammered out.

"Well, there at least has to be a grain of truth if he managed to get to the top." Yagyū soon spoke up as she furrowed her brows. "After all, I am aware of the rumors surrounding him."

"Rumors?" Hibari repeated in a curious tone.

"Apparently, some former employees of Okumura Foods have reported poor working conditions." The white haired girl informed.

"That isn't a surprise. There are already multiple scandals he's dealt with over the years." Ikaruga soon pointed out.

"And were they true?" Yagyū pressed.

"We're usually at the Okumura Foods HQ or their home. Nowhere near his businesses." Ikaruga stated with a shake of her head.

"Hey, I'm just wondering why he suddenly shot up." Katsuragi soon admitted. "Why did people suddenly start caring? The poll was complete chaos before." She then asked and reminded.

"Is it possible a group of activists managed to come together and start a campaign against Okumura-san?" The white haired girl then guessed.

"No way...I'm looking it up on the internet right now and while there are groups after his resignation, they're nowhere near large enough to get him to the top spot." Katsutagi informed as she scrolled through the search results.

"That's so weird." Hibari got out in awe and confusion.

"Did someone die then? That would certainly push the public into a frenzy, wanting him to pay for his crimes." Yagyū soon questioned.

"Well, if he did, it's certainly not available online." Ikaruga got out while checking her own phone. "Such a thing would be a nightmare to deal with, but he does have the resources to suppress such information." She then muttered.

Ikaruga and Katsuragi were now starting to feel concerned about what they had just witnessed, considering the fact that their client was now on top of the Phan-Site rankings, not to mention said client's only daughter on how she would be affected by this.

"You think...Haru-chan knows about this already, Ikaruga-chan?" Hibari eventually asked in concern.

Ikaruga placed her hands on her hips, now feeling slightly uncomfortable. "...If she did, she would have mentioned it to us already." She responded with a frown.

"Oh wait, isn't she in Hawaii?" Hibari however realized.

"Hibari, not everyone in Shujin went overseas." Yagyū pointed out.

"Looks like you're going to have to do some research while you're there, Hibari-san." Ikaruga suggested. "I'll give you the address to the Okumura Foods Headquarters. If anyone there asks, say the code phrase: On the behalf of Chiyome National." She then offered and instructed.

Hibari nodded and saluted. "I won't let you down!" She responded.

"Ugh...and here I thought I could just spend my time feeling up Asuka's boobies all day..." Katsuragi groaned.

"As...unfortunate that may be, this is only a personal investigation." Ikaruga soon stated. "Once we have the necessary info we need, we'll report to Kiriya-sensei." She then stated.

"You're not going to report to him about this now?" Yagyū questioned with a raised eyebrow. "If it involves a client, it needs to be checked with our superiors." She then declared.

"Sensei is currently busy preparing the new recruits and I do not want to distract them from their training." Ikaruga however reminded.

"That is a weak excuse and you know it." Katsuragi accused in a blunt tone. "You just don't want to tell sensei about this!" She then called out.

"N-No, as I said, it would simply-" Ikaruga tried to explain herself, however...

POOF!

"Simply what?" Their sensei got out as he appeared amongst the smoke.

"Whhhhyyy...?" Katsuragi whined between all her coughing.

"Girls, just because I have other duties doesn't mean I don't have time to listen to you." Kiriya stated in a serious tone. "So what do you want?" He then questioned.

"W-Well...um..." Ikaruga stuttered her words.

"Ah, so it is about Okumura-san's sudden rise as a Phantom Thieves target, correct?" Kiriya assumed in a serious tone.

"...Hai, sensei." The girls sheepishly got out.

"And I bet good money you want to launch your own investigation." Kiriya assumed.

"Yes." The blonde replied.

"Well, I must unfortunately deny that request." Their shinobi teacher stated to them in a solemn tone.

"Ah." Ikaruga got out, blinking. Why did that feel like a stab in the heart? "I understand sensei." She soon sighed, doing her best to hide her disappointment.

"Because you'll be there anyway to investigate yourselves." Kiriya quickly added.

"Hai, sensei." Ikaruga replied...only to do a double take. "...Wait, what?" She then got out in slight surprise.

"One of our clients, Okumura-san, just gave us a new mission." Kiriya informed his students.

"Huh?" Katsuragi got out as everyone got onto their feet.

"So late at night?" Hibari questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"What is it, sensei?" Ikaruga asked in a serious manner.

"Simple." Kiriya responded before pausing for dramatic effect. "Protect him in secret from the Phantom Thieves." He then revealed their new mission.

"...Eeeehh!?" The girls exclaimed.

"You'll be working in rotation with Hibari going first." Kiriya soon informed as he gestured his hand towards the pink-haired shinobi. "I'd also like you to report to Asuka to ensure she is aware of the situation, maybe even provide support." He then added.

"Wait, he wants us to...fight the goddamn Phantom Thieves!?" Katsuragi exclaimed after processing the mission given. "We don't even know what to look for!" She then called out.

"And there are some of us who support them." Yagyū pointed out with a frown.

"You need to ignore your personal feelings on missions, ladies." Kiriya however reminded them. "And I am not saying to fight the Phantom Thieves, or kill them. If you want to discourage them from targeting the client, you may. The method is not important here, only the outcome." He then

"...Kiriya-sensei, we're shinobi." Katsuragi reminded. "Hibari's butt communicates better than her mouth." She then added with an unusual seriousness in her tone.

"Please don't say that again." Yagyū bluntly ordered in disapproval and a narrowed eye towards the blonde.

"But we don't even know if the Phantom Thieves will follow the poll." Ikaruga however pointed out.

"Well, it's the best indication of their target short of a calling card, and by then it's already too late." Kiriya countered. "Hibari, be ready for a fight if needed to. If they are merely thieves, they should be easy to subdue." He then suggested.

"Hai, sensei." The pinkette eagerly replied with pumped fists in front of her.

"Good luck training the new canidates too." Ikaruga soon reminded with a smile.

"Thank you. Have a good night, ladies. I'll see you once again for further incoming reports." Kiriya uttered to them while adjusting his suit.

POOF!

Everyone soon coughed as their sensei made a smoky and hasty exit.

"That's it...I'm burning his supply of smoke bombs." Katsuragi groaned, fanning the air with her free hand.

"Th-That will only produce more smoke..." Ikaruga however sighed before coughing some more.

Once Yagyū managed to work through all the smoke inhalation, she turned to the pinkette. "Hibari...I'm going to-" She eagerly began.

"No." Hibari instantly responded as she shook her head.

"Ah. Hibari, we don't know-" Her protector tried to insist, but the pinkette wasn't having any of it.

"Yagyū-chan, I know you care but I can handle a couple of thieves." Hibari assured in a confident tone. "Plus...I want to meet them..." She then added, giving the white-haired shinobi slightly widened eyes.

"Heh, a Phan-girl, aren't you?" Katsuragi assumed with a teasing smirk.

The pinkette immediately blushed to the same color as her hair. "W-Well, if only to see if they really are good people." She mumbled as she poked her fingers together before looking at her bag. "I'm going to need extra room for a few scrolls." She then stated while rummaging her bag.

"Let me help you." Ikaruga eventually offered as she went on to get some scrolls before stopping herself for a moment to face the pinkette. "When was the last time you went out on a solo mission?" She then asked.

"..." Hibari blinked owlishly at the acting leader.

"I see. Come with me, Hibari." Ikaruga sighed as she gestured towards the pinkette to follow her into her room. "Some simple offensive and defensive scrolls should do the job." She then added.

"Hai, Ikaruga-chan." Hibari replied as she stood up and followed the long-haired ravenette.

"Things are really heating up, huh." Katsuragi remarked with a frown.

"Yes." Yagyū agreed, a hand placed on her other arm. "And...I'm getting more and more afraid we'll be burned soon enough." She soon confessed in concern.

"I know." The blonde got out before gazing somewhere randomly. "Asuka, I really hope you got this before things get too hot." She whispered.


(Japan, Aoyama-Itchome, Shujin Academy, Evening)

Meanwhile, back in Tokyo, the remaining Thieves who didn't leave had an imaginary fire in their eyes as they arrived at their destination.

Futaba, Morgana, and Miyabi were currently standing outside Shujin Academy's gate, gazing at the infamous school's building itself. They were also currently alone in the middle of the concrete pathway with only some faulty street lights illuminating said pathway.

"...Walking alone here in the middle of the night...this is a first for me. And it's quite cold out here, too." Futaba got out, slightly nervous as she adjusted her olive green coat to somehow protect her from the cold night. "Good thing we have an actual shinobi here." She then added.

"Don't worry, I'm here to protect you." Miyabi reassured while giving the orangette a head rub.

"Heh, thanks, Big Sis." Futaba giggled with a grin. "We're lucky we have Morgana here too." She then got out.

"M-Me? Why?" Morgana responded with a stammer, confused by this statement while in the white haired woman's arms.

"Because I need something to calm my nipples down." The orangette casually responded. "And you're the perfect one for the job." She then confessed.

Miyabi and Morgana could only look at her in disbelief at what she just said, though they didn't show it in their faces.

"You definitely need to learn some tact, young lady." The white-haired woman eventually sighed out.

"I'm not gonna do it in front of people I don't really know and trust." The orangette stated in response. "And I know tact, Big Sis. At least more than Ryuji." Futaba then remarked.

"More than Ryuji?" Morgana chuckled at that.

"Exactly." Futaba replied with a grin. "Bit of a loud mouth, but he did have the tendency to speak out what's in his mind, which I can respect a bit from him, at least. Just wish he could know how to control that mouth of his, especially when around in public or something like that." She then admitted.

"I have to agree on that one." Morgana agreed with a nod.

"Meh, as long as he doesn't do something stupid while we're on the job." Miyabi muttered.

"Look at all this though." Morgana soon noted as he looked at the school. "I've been here before with Joker, but it still amazes me they did all this in one night. It made you guys more than phantoms back in the day." He then admitted.

"And why so many eyes are on us today." Futaba pointed out with a smirk. "Even though Miyabi and I hadn't joined the group at that time." She then added.

"Yeah. Seems like it." Morgana then had to admit.

"I must admit, Homura and Ryuji did a good job on the school. Where'd they even get these kinds of spray paint?..." Miyabi remarked with a smirk at the sight. The spray paint had not faded at all despite all the rain and heat bombarding the walls on a daily basis. It looked just as fresh as when Kamoshida still ruled the place.

And it all looked amazing, even as the sun was setting.

"You think they have a future in street art?" Futaba soon asked in a joking manner.

"Eh...I'd see it more as Yusuke's thing if professional art doesn't work out." Miyabi admitted with a shrug.

"Alright." Morgana spoke up in a serious tone. "What information do we have on Principal Kobayakawa?" He soon asked.

"Well, he's rather vain. Wants people to see him as the greatest and be envious of his position. He would've had an ego the size of a planet if it weren't for the Phantom Thieves slowly destroying all his plans and self-confidence." Miyabi summarized.

"What about personal details?" Morgana questioned as he ran through as many words as he could think of in his head.

"Nothing the media doesn't already know." The hacker responded. "Lived a normal life before becoming Shujin's current principal. The few people who remember going to school with him do remember him having a little bit of a superiority complex." She soon informed.

"What school did he go to?" The not cat soon questioned.

"Couldn't find it." Futaba responded as she shook her head. "It's weird, there's not a lot of information about his personal life." She then muttered with a frown.

"He did say some stuff about being the top dog at his school." Miyabi remembered. "What place would be similar enough to warrant such a thing?" She then added, trying to figure out what they're missing.

"Heh, Shujin." Futaba joked with a small chuckle.

Instantly, the team froze.

"...It can't be that easy...can it?" Futaba whispered as the white haired woman pulled out her phone.

"Kiyoto Kobayakawa. Shujin Academy." Miyabi spoke before swallowing some salvia.

Well, here goes nothing.

"...School?" Miyabi soon guessed.

[Kiyoto Kobayakawa. Shujin Academy. School.]

[Candidate found.]

Immediately, the three looked at the phone in disbelief. "..." Morgana's eye soon twitched at the sight. "Oh boy, Lady Homura is gonna be rightfully pissed when she gets back..." He soon declared with a sigh.

"I think everyone will be." Miyabi deadpanned.

"That was his distortion!?" Futaba exclaimed before slapping her forehead. "No wonder they couldn't figure it out..." She grumbled.

"So he sees himself as the most popular kid in school?" Miyabi groaned as she rubbed her forehead. "Not like...the principal? Or anyone with any real sort of power?" She then questioned.

"He...He really is worth less than dirt..." Morgana got out in growing frustration.

"Wait, isn't the MetaNav supposed to be navigating us into his Palace right now?" Futaba realized, flinching as she braced for the Nav to activate at any time now.

"Huh. I guess it got an update to stop doing that." Morgana assumed. "Well, it doesn't matter. We have our target's Palace. Now we just need to do some recon and prepare for when everyone comes back." He soon concluded.

"We'll start tomorrow then. It's getting dark." Miyabi decided as she looked up at the darkening sky.

"Oh, I can't wait to see everyone's faces." Futaba remarked in amusement.

"Yep." Morgana agreed with a nod and a smile while wagging his tail.

Nothing was going to stop them now.

...

...

...

"...Can we have something to eat on the way home first?" Futaba suddenly asked the two who were with her.

"..." Miyabi and Morgana stood silent, staring at the orangette.

"You just had curry for dinner at Boss's, remember?" Morgana pointed out with a deadpan.

"Just wanna have a midnight snack or something, that's all." Futaba replied with a shrug. "A Big Bang Burger would be nice for all of us, don't you think?"

"You're going to bed as soon as you get home, Futaba." Miyabi ordered with a sigh.

"Wha-!? This early!?" The hacker exclaimed.

"What's your usual bedtime?" The white-haired kunoichi decided to ask with hands on her hips.

"Twelve if I'm really trying to stay up." Futaba replied as she adjusted her glasses. "Hacking and playing games and stuff." She then added.

"Jeez, Futaba. Seriously?" Morgana uttered with a slight deadpan.

"Still late but-" Miyabi began before pausing. "...It's not midnight, is it?" She then asked, hoping for a good answer.

"Noon." The orangette casually replied.

"Huh!? N-Noon!?" Morgana got out in disbelief.

"When people are asleep, it's my time to shine when they're not looking in front of their devices." Futaba explained to them with an eager tone. "Well, maybe there are some exceptions and rules of mine when I'm trying to hack into something that is in a different time zone than ours like the States or something, soo...yeah, that's my Alibaba routine." She then explained further.

"...I am sneaking sleeping pills into her energy drinks." Miyabi thought in a flat tone. "Whatever, come on, you two, hold on to me."

"But can we eat something first, pleeeaaaase?~" Futaba pleaded, her eyes sparkling from the streetlights.

Miyabi somehow cringed slightly at the gesture for quite a while...before sighing herself afterwards. "...Fine, Big Bang Burger on take out, and then home sweet home for all of us." She eventually decided.

"Sweet! Who's paying?" Futaba got out and then asked.

"..." That made the two silent.

"W-Well, I do have some secret emergency funds in case Joker doesn't have the train fare back home, though it's rarely used now since he does have a couple million stashed away." Morgana informed the two, trying to help...and maybe somehow contribute something to the team for a change.

"No, keep it." Miyabi however responded to the not cat. "I have money and Big Bang Burger is cheap. I don't mind." She then told them.

"Mrnn..." The not cat grumbled without the need for words. He now started to feel like he was somehow...a liability to them now, and that clearly troubled his mind in the past few days now.

"Great! Now if everything's settled, then let's go. We'll all eat it back home." Futaba eagerly uttered with a smile. "And I wanna try to figure out what's going with their burgers." She then added in her head. She did hear about the speculations of Big Bang Burger's burgers being able to grow chest sizes, especially from Homura, Asuka, and some shinobis when she wasn't part of the team yet.

And the three of them disappeared into the night.


(9/11, Midnight)

(?)

Pathetic.

That was all he could think of this human personification of a turd, twitching and bleeding everywhere.

Why would that bastard even bother with such a man like him? There was very little he could provide to the cause but they had still given him everything. A nice house, a job as the principal of a prestigious school and enough money to live in luxury...and squandered it.

Favor after favor, wanting more and more, running the school into the ground. They even gave him Kamoshida when the school's reputation began to flounder. And what did he do?

Kamoshida was arrested. The best thing he could muster after such an incident was set-up some committee instead of maybe hiring therapists or even planning new school events. And when they actually needed him, he turned up with nothing.

So it was no surprise that he was here, in this Palace born of ostentatious desires, to finally deliver what he deserved.

Kiyoto Kobayakawa.

Shujin Academy.

School.

School!? He almost laughed when he figured it out. This piece of shit saw Shujin Academy as...a school? Granted, it was a different school that took up several city blocks and possibly based on his own high school but a school!? Not a castle, or a museum, a bank!? Anything else!?

That was just...pathetic.

He wasn't even the principal! He saw himself as the most popular kid in school, a mere student, who had Kamoshida as his bodyguard and had connections to basically everything, had Makoto Niijima as his loyal dog (As in a literal dog with her head on it) and every student, teacher and whatever just kissed the ground he walked.

This had to be the biggest joke of a Palace he had to go through ever since he started doing this.

He didn't even put up much of a fight once he confronted the man. He barely had to use his Persona.

"Please...! I-I'll make it up to you! I'll give you everything! I don't want to die!" The pathetic man begged, tears running down his face. Huh, he had almost forgotten where he was as he reflected on how worthless this man is.

"Well, if it's any consolation, I do feel sorry about this." Black Mask got out as he twirled his gun before aiming at the Shadow. "You had the most pathetic Palace I've ever seen. Next to the guy whose Palace was located in his parking space or the one who saw their workplace as a call center." He soon stated before frowning.

BANG!

"...Actually, no, I'm not sorry." He then corrected himself before casually walking away from the now decaying corpse of Shadow Kobayakawa. The Palace crumbled around him, a piece of the ceiling crushing the corpse into paste, but he had done this so many times that it no longer bothered him.

All he did in response was pull out his phone.

[Returning to the real world...Have a nice day]


Save Game…Quit!


Asuka/Yin's Social Stats:

Leadership- Paragon (Level 5)

Knowledge- Sage (Level 5)

Proficiency- Masterful (Level 4)

Diligence- Rock Solid (Level 5)

Courage- Heroic (Level 5)

Homura/Yang's Development Stats:

Maturity- Adult (Level 4)

Knowledge- Sage (Level 5)

Femininity- Natural (Level 4)

Elegance- Yamato Nadeshiko (Level 5)

Understanding- Saintly (Level 5)


Yeah…So the Principal's Palace was discovered…and subsequently destroyed. In all honesty, someone already guessed the distortion many chapters back. However, don't think this is a wasted opportunity, shit will go down soon enough.

UknownHero signing off, my friends!