The class had categorically refused to let 'Ren' on the team, a decision that suited Rei just fine. She sat on the ground in the long pants of the uniform, gently hugging her knees to her chest. Per his promise, Ryuji had sat down next to her, and then Makoto took up a seat on the other side. Rei gave her a nod, the most the quiet 'Ren' would do under the circumstances, and they watched.

The teachers were elated, of course. With Kamoshida playing for them, they were winning without any effort. Which made sense. Only three of the boys in her class were regular players, and (Rei noted with some annoyance) all three of them were injured. But none more than the small, quiet one she'd noted the first day of class. He was trying to hide a limp, which, she was sure, would just result in permanent harm down the line.

Everyone focused at the next whistle, though. Except the quiet one. He just seemed to slump and took a step back as the ball was served to the team.

Rei suddenly felt, as much as saw, the brief flash of anger on Kamoshida's face when the ball was spiked back in his direction. Skipping the usual bump, he simply returned the ball with a spike at his full power. It rocketed over the net, aimed true at the boy's face. He had no time to dodge or set up a return. He took it squarely, knocked back and off his feet.

Rei counted to three, and realized he wasn't moving. "Makoto! First aid kit on the wall there!" She ran onto the court, checking the boy's neck for signs of injury before gently rolling him over. No bleeding, continued loss of consciousness, no obvious fever, breathing seems shallow to me but it's been awhile… she began running through the symptoms in her head. "Hey, hey, can you hear me?"

The boy didn't answer her at all. Makoto brought the small case over to her. She opened it up, looking through it. "Dammit, gimmie your smart phone." Makoto blinked, but handed it over. Rei thumbed on the flashlight and looked at his eyes. Same size...can't remember if they're dilated or not… She opened his mouth to check the throat, pulling out his mouthguard in the process.

"Hey!" Kamoshida yelled, suddenly all concern. "Hey, is he all right?"

Rei shook her head. "I don't think he's got a neck injury, but he's been out forty five seconds." There were whispers coming all round, especially as the register of her voice was rising slightly, but there was something more important to worry about. She tugged at the waistband of his shorts. "Niijima-san, take off his shoes. Someone else, call 119."

"Are you sure it's that serious?" Kamoshida asked with a small gulp. "I'm sure the nurses' office can - "

"I'm still certified in first aid," Rei cut him off. "Any loss of consciousness is serious. We're over a minute now." Not finding what she was looking for, she flipped Makoto's smartphone upside down and held it near the boy's nose and mouth, noting the condensation forming on it. "He's breathing, but that might stop any time if he doesn't wake up soon."

"Hey, Amamiya-kun, I'm sure you're overreacting!" Kamoshida tried again. "Let's just get him to the nurses' office, huh?"

Rei was about to try to tell him off, when she caught something out of the corner of her eye. It was Principal Kabayokawa, giving her an eager look. Instead she just muttered. "I really don't like the idea of moving someone with a head injury…."

Makoto opened her mouth to say something, but Rei made the slightest gesture with her head towards the principal. She went pale, but just said "Okay, I'll grab his feet. Can you hold his head still, Amamiya-san?"

"Yes." Rei tried her best to keep his head stable as she lifted him up, Makoto doing her best to help. Her mood just darkened even further as the last thing she heard on their way out of the gym was Kamoshida calling everyone to return to the match.

Makoto paced in the nurses' office while Rei held the ice pack on his forehead. "I don't believe this!"

Rei shook her head. "I can't believe I'm the first person in this school who - "

"I used to be certified too," Makoto said. "There's a few others, of course, but everyone trusts the teachers." She continued her pacing. "But Kabayokawa was willing to let this boy die just to. . . to. . . "

"He probably genuinely does think I'm overreacting," Rei pointed out. "Hell, I probably am." Makoto nodded. Neither of them were professionals, so of course the safest thing to do was assume the worst. "Doesn't change that he's been out almost ten minutes."

"Check his pulse again?" Makoto suggested, biting at her knuckles.

Rei nodded and, now that her own phone wasn't trapped in her gym pants, started the heart monitor app and put the boy's finger on the camera. "I wish we had better tools. And where's the nurse, anyway?" She glanced down. "Looks like it's returning to normal. He may just be asleep now."

There was a loud groan, and then his eyes flitted open, looking up. "Huh...an angel?"

Rei gulped and quickly lowered her voice. "I'm afraid not. You've suffered a head injury, but you survived. I need to ask questions to be sure you aren't suffering a concussion. Are you ready?"

"Huh?" The boy said. "Uh, yeah, sure."

Rei flipped her phone over to a list she had found on a web site while the boy was still out. "What is your name?"

"Yuuki Mishima." The boy said.

Rei fired off another one quickly. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Two."

"What's the date?"

The boy seemed to need a second to think about that. "Is it still April 13th?"

Rei nodded curtly. "Do you know who I am, and who the Prime Minister is?"

"Well, you're Amamiya," Mishima said. "Prime Minster's...uh, it's still Abe?"

"What's three times four?"

Mishima needed a second in the face of the sudden change of topics. "Twelve, right?"

Rei looked deeply pensive, then turned her eyes to Makoto for guidance. Unfortunately, the older girl didn't have any better answers. Finally, Rei turned her attention back to Mishima. "I'm still concerned. You should go see a doctor as soon as possible, but the principal isn't allowing us to call one. I would also strongly recommend, at least for today, not attending any sports clubs. I certainly wouldn't allow you to train in your condition." Mishima groaned and sat up, or tried to. Rei gently pushed him back down. "I'll get you some water. Do you have a headache?" The young man nodded. "Niijima-san, do your keys include the cabinet over there?"

Makoto shook her head. "Only the nurse has that key."

Rei barely restrained a curse. "And she's no doubt enjoying herself at the match instead of doing her job." She got up to retrieve the glass of water. "Check the first aid kit. Tylenol only, that's important."

Makoto looked through and tossed Rei the packet. She caught and opened it before setting them both down next to the patient with a smile. "Here. I'll help you sit up."

Mishima gave Rei a bit of a smile. "You know, you're way nicer than the rumors make out." Suddenly he couldn't quite meet her eyes anymore.

"It's fine," Rei said. "It's only natural people would be frightened of me. After all, I'm one of the shortest 'boys' in the school, and yet I apparently did enough harm to a grown man that I couldn't stay in my hometown." She sighed. "How did you get the other injuries?"

"What other injuries?" Mishima said, suddenly defensive.

Rei smirked. "Niijima-san, you were paying attention when we brought him here. Would you care to do the 'honors'?"

Makoto nodded. "Well, Ren's the one who practices the martial art where you'd really expect it, but...I'd say sprained ankle, on top of the multiple bruises and the cut on the cheek."

Mishima couldn't look at either of them, now. "It's nothing."

"Either of our sensei would send you home in this shape," Rei said. "And I've completed the nijyunin kumite. Twice." Makoto looked at her in surprise, but Rei returned the look with one that said 'I'll explain later.' "By the way, you missed the healing wrist sprain, although honestly it was mostly gone until he landed on it just now." Rei pulled Mishima's face around to look her square in the eyes. "I know Kamoshida's doing this to you."

"N-no!" Mishima was panicking now. "It's just some bullies."

"'No one would dare do anything to the best Volleyball team in the country'" Rei quoted the boys who had tried to bully her to him. "Either it's Kamoshida or it's happening to you on his watch. Why haven't you told anyone?"

"I did!" Mishima suddenly snapped. "Our parents, the school, they all know about it! They just…" He slumped back over. "They don't care. As long as we win."

Rei slumped back herself, all the resolve draining out of her. Makoto grabbed her by the shoulder. "Th-thank you Mishima-kun," she said. "You should get some rest. I'll contact your parents about the accident." At Mishima's further panicking look, she added "We'll leave Kamoshida out of it. Just sleep."

Makoto was immediately worried that something had gone wrong. The moment the door was closed, Rei's expression hardened. "I know I said I'd contact his parents, but I don't know the number and suddenly there's something way more important to do." She forced a sweet smile. "I'm sorry, could you go handle that for me? I have a pervert to murder."

She's snapped. Makoto put a hand on Rei's shoulder. "I think you need to take a few minutes to really think this through," she said, trying to guide her down the hallway. "We can look in the records room together while you calm down."

Rei broke free from Makoto's grip and glared at her. "You heard what Mishima-san said!" she shouted, then remembered they were in the hallway and looked around to be sure no one had paid attention, but apparently all eyes were still on the Rally. She lowered her voice and stared levelly at the Student Council President. "I am also really not happy with you at the moment, so don't go suggesting I 'calm down.'"

"What?!" Makoto exclaimed back, but she had a sinking feeling of where this was going.

Rei confirmed it with the harshest whisper yet. "If 'everybody knows' I see two answers. One, you were intentionally kept in the dark. Two, you knew too." She started to pace nervously, biting her lip. "Makoto-chan, I can just barely see how you might have wanted to remain ignorant. Your exams are coming up, you didn't want to jeopardize your future by making waves. I get it. But you're not ignorant now, and you were part of the problem." Then she shook her head. "No, it's worse. You are part of the problem."

"I know." That one statement was enough to pull Rei out of her reverie. "I let myself be distracted and blackmailed over my future." She suddenly reached out and pulled Rei into a hug, whispering, "Amamiya Rei. I'm with you. Kamoshida's out of control. But what made you jump to murder?"

Rei was blushing, but she put her arms on Makoto's shoulders. "I...we can't go to the police. If the principal's distracting you, he won't do anything no matter how much evidence, no matter how many accusations we manage to get. Kamoshida's going to try to rape me and then, when I fight back, send me to jail. I'm out of options, Makoto-chan." She gently pushed the girl away. "I don't want to kill him. I don't want to kill anyone."

"...but without any other options, you will." Makoto gulped. "And you're talking about using the Metaverse to do it. It's untraceable. Kamoshida just becomes...another psychotic break." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Who you are in the dark, huh?"

Rei nodded. "Please take care of Mishima-san. I...no one else needs to be caught up in this."

"To Hell with that." Makoto said. "I'm an accomplice already, just by keeping quiet."

"Talk, then," Rei said, smirking. "I mean, everyone will think you need to lay off the bad sushi on movie night, but if you want to cover your bases that way I won't stop you."

Makoto laughed bitterly. "That's not what I meant. If I'm going to be an accomplice, I'm doing it right. We'll both take care of Mishima-san, then I'm going in with you. And, if I can, I'll hold him down while you stick the knife in."

Ann tapped her foot impatiently. True, Ren hadn't known poor Mishima would end up laid out flat, and apparently no one else was going to help, but after a revelation like that he definitely owed her an explanation.

She was about to give up when the sound of a cat's meow caught her attention. "Huh? Oh, hey, what are you doing up here?" The cat just stared back. "Probably a stray, huh?" The cat suddenly darted forward and rubbed against her legs, letting out a series of meows that almost sounded like it was trying to hold a conversation. "Okay, okay, not a stray."

"Mew!" The cat's exclamation came with a tilt of a head, almost like he was expecting an answer.

Instead, Ann bent down to scratch him behind the ears. That lasted right up until a voice cussed behind her. "Dammit, what are you doing up here, Takamaki?"

"It's a public roof," Ann said back. "Anyway, Amamiya invited me up here."

"Uh...huh." Ryuji shook his head. "No way. Not Kamoshida's girl." He said, ignoring Ann's wince. "Okay, if 'Ren' really called you up here...what's 'his' name?" The word 'his' came with a decidedly unsubtle emphasis.

Ann narrowed her eyes. "Ren, duh. You said it yourself."

"Yeah, take a hike." Ryuji said. "If ya can't answer that the right way, we don't want ya up here."

"And what are you going to do about it, Mister 'Track Team Traitor?' Kick me out?" Ann asked acidly. "You can at least wait for Ren to finish up helping that poor guy and ask yourself, you know."

"AGH!" Ryuji shouted to the heavens. "That's it! I'm goin' to go find'em!" The cat yowled suddenly, and Ann was shocked when Ryuji spun around. "Yeah, I know Morgana!" Another meow. "I ain't even gonna ask how you got like that, but goddamit we can't trust her!" There were more feline noises. "What?"

By this point, Ann tilted her head. "Uh, Sakamoto, did you take too much pain medication? Morgana's a cat."

"I ain't on that stuff right now," Ryuji snapped back. "Come on, you can't understand him?"

"...ooo-kay." Ann slowly edged away from Ryuji, and the door. "Ryuji-kun, I think maybe you need to go see the doctor."

By this point, Ryuji wasn't listening to her anymore, instead having entered a spirited debate with the animal, one that involved such phrases as 'collective cognition.' Ann wasn't certain, but she thought the cat was winning the argument. Finally, Ryuji just screamed his frustration. "This don't make any sense, but fine. I'll wait for Rei to get here."

"Who's Rei?" Ryuji just gave her a hard glare for that, hard enough that she thought he might try to toss her off the roof. "Okay, okay, forget I asked."

"You'll find out soon enough, I guess." Ryuji grumbled. "Can't believe I lost an argument with a cat."

Morgana yowled once, and then they settled in to wait. It didn't take very long. 'Ren' and Makoto made it up roughly an hour later than planned. Ren sighed. "Wish we had a hangout closer to the school where I didn't have to wear the uniform," she grumbled, before looking up. "Okay….Ryuji-kun, before we get going, what's up?"

"She's what's up." Ryuji grumbled. "Whatcha thinking, bringing Kamoshida's girl up here after he damn near killed that kid?"

"One, fortunately it wasn't that serious after all," Rei said, walking along the roof. "But yes, that did change my plans a bit. But...well, it's kinda pointless now, but since we've got you here, Takamaki-san...all cards on the table, so to speak?" Seeing the looks of incomprehension from Ryuji and Ann both, she sighed. "I mean, everyone present, Morgana included, has problems with Kamoshida-sensei. But we haven't all explained it to everyone. So….get it all out there."

Ann nodded. "...you're all completely nuts."

"She can't understand Morgana," Ryuji said. "Something about not having seen him in the Metaverse the way we have."

"...I see." Rei said. "Uhm...Makoto?"

The girl smiled. "Takamaki-san, I assure you this isn't a prank. Morgana can speak. It's...probably some sort of psychic ability, actually. It may be possible for you to understand him, but it requires...I can't believe I'm about to say this...You have to actually let yourself believe he can speak. Not just be open to the possibility. It has to be something you convince yourself of so thoroughly it's the truth. To reach such an understanding probably requires bringing about circumstances we can't attempt at the moment…"

Ryuji grinned. "Hey, I got an idea. Monamona, can you write something?"

The cat made a noise between a yowl and a growl. Rei chuckled. "That's a 'yes.' And half credit, Ryuji. His name's 'Morgana' but it is a pretty good idea." She opened up her bookbag and put a notebook down on the ground, next to a pen. "Everyone except Morgana goes around the corner. Ann, you go last and make sure we're all in your field of vision the entire time until Morgana signals us to come back. Makoto-san, lock the door to the roof? And use my trick, put something in front of it that'll be knocked over and make noise. That way, Takamaki-san, there's no way anyone but Morgana could have written it, right?"

Ann nodded, and they did everything just the way Rei requested. Morgana yowled, and Ann ran back around. There, written in crude, squiggly kana, were the words 'It's a pleasure to meet you, Ann-dono.'

It took a second for the full implications to sink in, and then she heard a fifth voice. "Ann-dono, do you understand me now?"

Ann suddenly felt lightheaded, but Rei was holding onto her shoulder. "Oh no. One K.O. per day outside the ring's my absolute limit. You're not passing out on me, Takamaki. Got it?"

"Uh...yeah, I got it." Ann said, giving Rei a sidelong look. ..is he wearing hairpins? Ann pulled herself together and sat down, feeling breathless. "Okay…"

"I'm sorry if we scared you," Morgana added. "But Ren's right, it's best if we're all clear where we're coming from. I'll go last, because...well, you might believe it now."

"Yeah, but it's the most tied into the plan." Rei said. "I'll...I'll go first." She stopped, then pulled out the pins Ann had already noticed, her hair spilling down around her head. "By now, you've probably figured out that I'm really Amamiya Rei, not Ren."

Ryuji groaned. "Ya mean you didn't tell her?"

"I wasn't going to tell her in the middle of class," Rei said. "But yeah, even if Ren can be a girls' name, I don't like thinking about it even if I was 'Ren' more than half my life."

Ann tilted her head. "But didn't you have a girlfriend back home? Or was it a boyfriend?"

"Both," Rei admitted. "Not at the same time. Hiro dumped me when he couldn't handle...y'know. He tried, but he's actually gay. Ai...that was a bit rougher, but it's not what we're here to talk about. Anyway, yeah, Kamoshida….well, you know that he put his hands on me in the hall. It wasn't much, but he made it pretty clear that was just the start. A favor of a little touch for not bringing up that I'm not using my locker. If I let it go, well…"

Ann found she couldn't meet Rei's eyes. "Yeah. That makes sense. But why the big secret? I mean, if you've got a new name and everything..."

Rei hid another of those flashes of rage. "The Principal's decided being a transgirl violates the indecency codes for the school, so I attend as a boy or go to jail."

There was a long silence after that. Ryuji coughed to break it. "So...yeah. I think Rei's the only one who doesn't know the whole story by now."

"Maybe I can shed some light first, though?" Makoto cut in. "You deserve to hear this too. I did some digging. I never really cared about it before, but it turns out, if you look at the numbers, Shujin didn't just have one team ready to compete at a national level. It had two. The volleyball team...and the track team."

Ryuji nodded. "Yeah, I was pretty hot stuff."

Makoto laughed gently. "Well, it wasn't just you. But because of that, this year's budget was slated to look rather different than the one before. The track team had some more money, and we were even looking at maybe giving you the funds to try for cross-country."

Ryuji snorted. "Yeah, that fills in the blanks. I thought he just didn't like the competition. Anyway, our old coach for Track was out a couple of weeks. Kamoshida 'volunteered' to fill in. It was brutal. Like, we looked like the volleyball team after a week brutal. He really pushed at me too. Cussing me out if my time dropped at all, lots of extra exercises. He knew I was the type to fight back. I managed to keep cool for a bit, but then...he kept bringing up my parents. I...I couldn't take it anymore, so I punched him, and the bastard broke my leg and blamed the whole team for it."

Ann winced. "So...that was it."

Ryuji shrugged. "Anyway, that's how I got the 'Yankee' label. Could be worse. He just wants to figuratively screw me."

Makoto nodded. "So, I guess that brings it up to me. I admit, I wasn't really involved in this until I met Rei, but…this whole thing has highlighted what an awful job I've done as President. I've been looking for ways to make it up to the school, but I expect Kobayakawa is going to stonewall. Originally, we came here hoping to convince you to either come forward or at least consider it when we had more people, but…"

Rei's eyes went cold. "Plans have changed. If you want to share, you still can, but I admit we don't need you to."

Ryuji's attention snapped to Rei. "Wait, you mean we're really gonna do - " He became aware of the girl's sudden glare. "Uh, right."

Rei turned her attention back to Ann. "I'm really sorry to have brought you into this. You'll probably want to back out now, but I won't force you. If talking helps you feel better, we're here. And if you want to talk later, you know where to find me."

Ann blinked. "Wait, so did you find something else on Kamoshida?"

"...enough to know that conventional means won't work," Rei said, carefully considering her words. "And I really think you're better off not asking about the unconventional means."

Ann blinked. "Wait, so, like, paparazzi stuff? Spy cameras in the gym?"

Rei looked to Makoto, who nodded and stepped in. "I believe what Rei is trying to say is that the fewer people who know about what she has in mind, the better. And yes, it has to do with the talking cat." Morgana hmphed. "Sorry, but…"

Ann shook her head. "Well...it's just…it's been going on for awhile, but the day you came to school it suddenly got so much worse."

Ann was standing in the stairwell when Kamoshida came up behind her, uncomfortably close. He always seemed to these days. "Hey, how's it going?"

Ann tried not to stiffen, forcing a bright smile and hoping it came out in her voice. "Oh, it's going great, you know!"

Kamoshida chuckled, and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "How about you come out to my car tonight. I'll give you a ride home."

Ann felt herself go stiff at that, and barely choked out "S-sorry. I have work."

"That's too bad." Kamoshida stepped around her, then looked over his shoulder. "Oh, your friend, Suzui. I think maybe she's under a lot of stress. I don't want to take her off the starting lineup, but at this rate…"

Ann gulped. "Ta-talk to me tomorrow."

By the end of the story, Rei and Makoto were looking at each other nervously. "That...that's actually more helpful than you realize." Rei said. "About what time was this?"

Ann felt her confusion growing. "It was before first period. Why?"

Rei shook her head. "It would be meaningless to you without a lot of explanation you're better off not hearing."

"Are you talking about something illegal?" Ann finally shot out.

Rei thought about it. "I don't think anyone's actually made a law against it. Yet."

Makoto nodded. "That's almost certainly true, and you can't be charged for crimes that aren't on the books at the time you commit the offenses. But that doesn't mean they won't try."

"And it's still horribly unethical." Rei said. "I think I can live with that, knowing the alternative, but I'd rather keep the number of people involved to a minimum. For the sake of my conscience, if nothing else."

"I see…" Ann said. "Well, if nothing happens in a week, I'll...I'll tell the principal." Rei gapsed. "It's just to make sure you follow through on your promises! Take care of Kamoshida in a week or the whole school knows about this conversation!" Ann turned and ran off of the roof, slamming the door behind her.

Rei watched her go, then swallowed hesitantly. "...that went well."

"What were you going on about the time like that for?" Morgana asked.

Rei shrugged. "By my best guess, that would be about the time Kamoshida's Shadow was gearing up to try to get me to agree to join his harem. It implies the link between the two is as strong as I imagined." She smiled. "So, I'm gonna go kill the bastard."

Morgana's jaw dropped open. "Kill the Shadow!? But...but...that could trigger a mental shutdown!"

"I was hoping, yes." Rei pointed out in a reasonable tone. "There's no chance of bringing him to justice as long as the volleyball team is looking set to win games, and he's not injuring most of them badly enough to impede their play. Yet. By the time he does, it'll be too late. So, that leaves manipulate the Shadow, or kill it. And I can't think of anything to do that won't just make Kamoshida take his Shadow's temper out on the students even harder. So . . . "

Ryuji stared at her, having gone pale. "...damn, that's cold. I don't like him, but I can't believe you're talking about this so calmly."

"I…" Rei looked out at the horizon, at least as much of it as could be seen from the roof. "If it makes you feel better? I can't either. But crying and screaming and raving how it's not fair won't do me any good now. So I'll save that for later, and get this over with tonight. No options left."

"Wait!" Morgana shouted. "I might have one!"

Rei blinked. "...don't go getting my hopes up," she warned.

Morgana shook his head rapidly. "I'm not! But there is a way to get Kamoshida to stop and face justice himself." Rei nodded at him to continue, a bit of hope starting to glimmer in her eyes. "The reflection isn't just in Kamoshida's Shadow, it's the whole Palace. So, somewhere within, there's something that reflects all the twisted and distorted desires that make him act this way. That's the Treasure, and it serves as . . . sort of the anchor for the Palace."

"...like a physical object, right?" Rei asked. "So...instead of an assassin, it's a thief after all…" she murmured, more to herself. "Short version, we take this Treasure, and Kamoshida gets so heartbroken he confesses everything?"

"Well...that's the theory." Morgana said. "I've never done it before, but it should work. And it's better odds than he's got if you just make with the stabbing."

Makoto nodded. "I can't argue with that."

Rei nodded. "Right...so, we gonna do this?"

Standing in the alley, Ryuji was keeping an eye out at the end of the alleyway for them. "Anyone want to back out?" Rei asked. "I know you're in, Morgana, and I can't do it without you. But Makoto-chan? Ryuji-kun? I mess this up and you're accessories to manslaughter. At least."

Ryuji gulped. "Well, when ya put it like that...not sure how much help I can be in there. I mean, ya said it don't matter how strong you are if you don't have a Persona, right?"

"Right." Rei said, giving Makoto an expectant look.

The older girl shook her head. "I can't physically help you, but I can still contribute with my mind and my knowledge of the school. Let's face it, you've been in Tokyo all of four days, right? There may be things you need me for." Seeing Rei about to form an objection, she anticipated it and added "If Takamaki hadn't set a deadline, I could just wait outside, but every time you go and come back you said you're exhausted. You need to be able to talk to me in real time, and without cell phone coverage in the Metaverse…"

Rei giggled. "We could set up a tower or something?" She gave Morgana a look. "Can you help keep her safe?"

"Leave it to me!" the cat declared.

Rei nodded, and gave Ryuji's shoulder a squeeze. "Okay. I won't leave you with nothing to do. I know that'd kill me." She reached into her bookbag and pulled out a small money clip. "Just in case, we're going to need supplies, but it might look weird if I did it. I was gonna ask Makoto-chan, but…"

Ryuji grinned. "Sure thing, Rei-chan. What do you need?"

"General first aid kit to start," Rei said. "Painkillers, sports drinks, bandages."

Morgana spoke up. "Also, anything that says it's refreshing!" Everyone gave him a weird look. "Things in the Metaverse can have a sped up effect. So water from a bottle with special advertising can actually make you feel better."

"Okay, you heard the cat." Rei grinned. "Stock up for a really wild party. Too bad we can't have alcohol, I bet that'd be the really good medicine." Makoto gave her a narrow-eyed look. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Joke, see? Alcohol for 'medicinal purposes'?"

"Oh." Makoto shook her head. "It's good that you're keeping your spirits up…" Makoto had to resist the urge to facepalm at Rei's snicker. "...but perhaps you should try to be more serious?"

Rei sighed. "You're no fun." Once Ryuji was clear, she triggered the app. The world shifted, and everything changed. As the shadows of the Metaverse covered them, Rei felt her clothing shift. She smiled and pulled her hair down. "Now, stay behiii…" She gasped. "Oh, uhm…"

"What?" Makoto asked. She felt strangely confined and, simultaneously, like she wasn't wearing anything at all. Rei was staring at her in a decidedly discomfiting way, though, so she suddenly suspected it was closer to the latter. She looked down.

Leather. Skintight leather all the way down. Unlike Rei's outfit, which looked like it was somehow formed of a single piece, this one consisted of several layers, forming extra protective layers over the tight base. Her chest had a bustier, laced loosely up the middle in a way that would be indecent without the paneling beneath. The area below her hips wasn't as lucky, although she did feel fortunate in that the leather was, itself, thick enough to hide any serious details. There was also a looser second layer running all the way down her sides, under the corset-like chest, of blue leather that offset the black. Her shoulders and knees were protected with spiked plates, and she realized she was holding a pair of, not brass, but lead-weighted steel knuckles. A scarf whipped in the breeze behind her. There was also a weight on her face. She reached up and felt some kind of steel covering that didn't restrict her field of vision at all. Even her boots, while tight around the calf, felt practical enough despite the low heel.

Then she realized Rei was still staring. "Don't look!" Makoto covered herself as best she could with her hands.

Rei swallowed back. "Sorry, just...damn, I thought I pulled this look off good."

Makoto gave her another look. "Uh...you're fine. If I didn't know, I...well, I wouldn't know."

"Yeah, not quite what I meant," Rei said, annoyed. "Uh...Morgana?"

Morgana shook his head. "This didn't happen the other day. Did you come to the Metaverse without us?"

"No!" Makoto shouted. "I don't know why this happened!"

Rei started to pace. "Well...I mean, that happens to us because of the power of our Personas. That means either you've got one, or...I give up. Maybe your desire to see Kamoshida punished is giving you a personal Palace of some kind?"

"I don't think it works like that," Morgana said. "Good guess, but…"

Rei nodded. "Well, easy enough to find out. Hit me."

Makoto was shocked at that suggestion. "What?"

"It's simple enough." Rei smiled and got into a ready stance. "With Adler, I'm much stronger and faster in the Metaverse. You may be a dan ranked aikidoka, but no way you can move faster than me here. Unless you've got a similar power. So, try to lay a hand on me."

Rei immediately regretted that. Makoto's fist was like a lightning bolt, and Rei only barely was able to dodge it, not even enough time to block properly. And the first punch turned out to only be a feint, and Rei's wrist was caught and she was thrown into the wall of the alleyway almost three meters off the ground. "...oww…" She got to her feet. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Mostly my pride. Okay, so you've got something. I guess we'll find out what it is as we go."

Makoto just nodded, as did Morgana, and they ventured towards the Palace.

Ann ran into Shiho in the lobby, grabbing her gym shoes. Wearing a turtleneck sweater over her school shirt to go home couldn't hide all the injuries she was sporting, including a knee brace. She did have one of the many non-regulation hairstyles, done up in a ponytail to hide that it was just a bit too long, and had used an obvious pink band.

But none of that seemed to matter. Her eyes, which Ann knew a year ago had been bright and shining every day, were now dull almost to the point of being flat. But she brightened a little. "Hey, Ann."

Ann grinned. "Hey. Listen, you heard anything about the new transfer student?"

"Well…" Shiho said. "In all honesty, his body count is through the roof, but everyone was really surprised by what he did during the Rally. No one has the guts to stand up to Kamoshida anymore."

Ann felt like she'd been punched in the stomach. "Yeah...about that...are there any other rumors?"

"Huh?" Shiho thought. "Well, he's got a really high voice. He tries to hide it, but don't you think he sounds like a little boy?"

Ann frowned. "More like a girl. His hair's a lot longer than it looks. He's got it pinned up real funny to hide it."

Shiho laughed. "Really? That's the kind of thing that only happens in soap operas and stuff. Seriously, I hope these rumors aren't getting to him."

Ann gulped. "Hey, do the girls have practice today after the Rally?"

Shiho shook her head. "Kamoshida said we should take the day off. It was really weird too. It was like his mind was somewhere else…"

Ann grinned. "Great! Why don't we go out?"

Shiho blushed. "Ann, we're not in middle school anymore."

"You know what? Today, I don't care." Ann grinned. "Let's go out. Somewhere Kamoshida won't find us."

"O-okay." Shiho gulped softly. "Just let me get my stuff."

Entering the palace was simple enough. The vent in the outer wall Rei had pried off a few days earlier hadn't been repaired. "Makes sense he'd be a slob in his own head." She jumped up to it, sliding in, with Morgana just behind.

Makoto looked up at them, then jumped up. She couldn't jump as high as Rei and Morgana could, but she managed to grab the edge and pull herself up easily, crawling in.

Rei and Morgana gave each other a look at the slowness. "Well, better than normal, but something isn't right." Morgana said.

Rei grinned. "Don't worry. If you've got any improvement at all, I'm sure whatever mystical mumbo jumbo this place uses to make you powerless won't work."

Makoto smiled. "Thanks. If you're wrong about that, of course…"

"I'll think of something," Rei said. There was a sudden scream in the distance, startling Makoto. "You actually get used to that," Rei added bitterly. "Keep an ear out. It could cover up the guards sneaking up on us."

Rei opened the door to the closet, and immediately motioned the others to hide. She peered out, hearing voices.

"So, what do you think about the new captain?" One of the voices asked.

Another answered, the clanking of the guards going by making it difficult to hear. "I don't normally question our Lord, but this new guy's something else. I guess what happened the other day really spooked him." Rei frowned, and reached into her pouch to pull out the model gun Ryuji had given her and slipping it into the holster that had magically appeared on her outfit.

"Well, someone managed to lay a finger on His Majesty, so it makes sense he'd be cautious," the first guard said. "Anyway, remember, we won't be getting a new batch of prisoners for awhile. Make sure they last."

"I need to get to my post," one of the guards finally said, and moved off.

Rei looked around the corner at the corridor, but there was no way around, and the guard was just marching up and down the hallway. She twisted around to nod to Morgana, then smiled at Makoto. "For this fight, hold back. You can probably help, but I want you to see how we do it first. It's not as straightforward as you might think." Makoto, very reluctantly, returned the nod. "We should really work out hand signals or something." She leaned out, and noted the guard's back was to them. She pulled out her dagger while Morgana scooted behind a small bust of the King.

The guard turned about and marched up and down the hall. When he had moved between Rei and Morgana's positions, Rei struck. Just like before, she ripped off the mask, then flipped backwards, making sure that the Shadow forming was between the two of them. Morgana then timed a simple slash to land when the creature was still forming and getting its' bearings.

It wasn't at all what Makoto had expected, even with everything she had experienced in the past few days. But even stranger was what Morgana hit - it was a tiny woman with wings, a pixie! But while the pixie was orienting on Morgana, Rei immediately followed up. "ADLER!"

Makoto's blood ran cold when she saw the demon emerge from Rei. She's made some kind of. . . I don't know! Deal with a demon! Is that how she's able to do all this?! Do I have one too? Still, Makoto realized that even if it was a demon, that wasn't important compared to the practical concern of dealing with Kamoshida. And if the school won't do it, and Heaven can't, maybe she was right to turn to Hell. Adler made a little sniffing noise of contempt and summoned several smaller wisps of cursed light to eat at the Shadow. And maybe I shouldn't jump to conclusions.

The Pixie collapsed at Rei's feet. "Please!" it shouted. "What do you plan to do with me?"

Rei apparently hadn't planned for this. "Uhh...you know, I was just going to kill you, but now I feel kinda bad." At the Pixie's hopeful expression, she hardened her own. "But you're still working for Kamoshida, so I'm not seeing a lot of options either."

"I know, I know, but what else can I do…" the pixie said helplessly. "I don't remem...wait, I do remember now! I can help you!" Rei nodded at her to keep going. "If I lend you my power, my other selves in the castle might recognize you! Also, I can teach you secrets, if you learn enough of my form."

Rei blinked. "What? What secrets?"

The Pixie smiled. "I'm not that beast's lackey. I originally came from the depths of the Sea of Souls. Let me into your soul, and you'll see. I am Thou, Thou art I."

"I...I am Thou, Thou art I." Rei repeated. The Pixie suddenly vanished, and a light flew into Rei's chest. "Uhh...was that how it was supposed to go?"

Morgana was dumbfounded. "I was going to teach you about interrogating guards today some time, but it seems you figured it out on your own...and I didn't even think that was possible! You absorbed some of the Shadow's essence into yourself!"

The secrets of a black miracle can be gleaned from this one Adler added in her own mind. But there is yet more I can learn…

Rei closed her eyes, needing to think about this for a second. "Well, I...I don't know. But there's no real time to think about it right now." Besides, I think I know who to talk to about this.

Ryuji placed the shopping basket on the counter at the Lawson's near the school. The clerk looked at him. Then at the cart, then back at him, pointedly. Ryuji grumbled. "Hey, I don't gotta explain myself to you."

"No, you do not, honored customer," the boy said, looking at the contents again. "But I really wish you would."

The basket was exactly what Rei had ordered. Ryuji had counted out the money, and on top of two first-aid kits, he'd grabbed all the bandages and ointment he could afford with half of it. The other half was canned coffee, sports drinks, and bottled tea. "Uhh...yeah, got a track meet coming up. I agreed to buy the drinks."

The clerk just started ringing it up, while Ryuji realized he hadn't actually managed to explain anything. It got even worse when he had to place the second basket, loaded with sweets that no athlete in a million years would be caught dead with, beside the first. "...uh, for my girlfriend."

"Okay, let's try the upper floors first. Kamoshida keeps the volleyball team in the basement. He wouldn't want his Treasure anywhere near them."

The halls were eerily quiet as they walked through a small dining room, and down a red-carpeted hall until they came to to a wooden door sealed with a portcullis at the end of the hallway. There was another door. Makoto frowned. "We're being herded."

Morgana looked up at her. "What makes you say that?"

"This castle's based loosely on the school, right? Just bigger? Well, that - " she pointed at the portcullis. "- is the way up. The only other ways forward are through the courtyard, which I assume is guarded heavily, or into a classroom."

There was a scream. This one didn't come from the basement, but from the open room. It was a scream of terror, not the pained agony of the others, but it was no less chilling for that. It was a girl's scream.

Rei didn't think, she charged through the only open door forward. Her eyes widened when she saw the room. It wasn't the bed chamber, but a long hallway lined with candles on the floor. At the far end was a portrait of King Kamoshida, his cloak splayed to show off exaggerated, oiled up muscles that thankfully cut off at the waist. Below that was a post, holding a girl's arms over her head and her legs splayed. She was wearing neon-pink, leopard print underwear, a tiara with large cat ears on it, and not a stitch else.

"Kami, Takamaki!" Rei screamed and charged across the room, pulling her dagger with the intent to cut her down.

A blur in black and flesh tones tackled her from the side, sending Rei into the wall. Makoto and Morgana gasped.

The figure was wearing a short yukata, open at the sides to show off most of her comically large breasts. She had a wakizashi in one hand, and every inch of her was like some guy's dirty manga brought to life, proportions that were simply impossible for any actual person to have without extensive surgery and a severely shortened lifespan. But when she stood up, she gave them a very familiar smirk with Rei's face. "Gotcha."

Chapter Break