Hello, everyone! I'm back with a new chapter! Chapter 5! I hope everyone will enjoy this new chapter! Without further ado, let's start!

Normal POV

Kai and the others ran out of the safe room and went to find where Ann was taken to with Morgana's directions.

" This way!"

They continued running towards a door as they heard Ann's voice.

" Look, I'll apologise for touching the armor without permission!"

" She totally doesn't get what's goin' on!"

" Let's hurry! We have to save her!"

Kai slowly opened the door as he soon had to quickly cover Aichi's eyes again from the cognitions that were in front of them.

" Again?!" Aichi exclaimed

" Trust me. Just don't see."

" Dude, just quickly walk him away from here then."

" Look, over there!"

" Takamaki!"

They ran towards them as Aichi pulled Kai's hand off his eyes after that.

" Just when I was about to start enjoying myself..."

" What's the deal with this guy...?!"

" You little...!"

" ... How many times are you gonna come back? I bet you're just like those thieves. You came because you're pissed at me, huh? But, ah... I forget that chick's name, but it's your fault she jumped, you know."

" Huh...?"

" You were so reluctant to throw yourself onto me that I had her take your place."

" How dare you treat her like that!" Aichi shouted

" You bastard!"

Ann gasped as the guards went nearer to her with their swords.

" No!"

" Take one more step and I'll kill her on the spot."

" Dammit...!"

" Just sit back and enjoy the dismantlement show."

" No! Don't!"

" Maybe I'll start with her clothes..."

" You're such a perv!" The cognition Ann laughed

" H-Hey, what're we gonna do?!"

" I don't... know..."

" Takamaki!"

" How do I... My powers... Please..." Aichi thought

" Is this... my punishment for what happened to Shiho...?"

" That's more like it. You should've looked like this from the start."

" Shiho... I'm so sorry..."

" ... Takamaki-san! Don't listen to him! It's not your fault that Suzui-san jumped! ... You know it yourself too!" Aichi shouted

" Huh...? ... You're right. Letting this piece of shit toy with me... What was I thinking...?!"

" It's like I always say. Slaves should just behave and-"

" ... Shut up! I've had enough of this... You've pissed me off, you son of a bitch!"

Just as Ann's head started hurting, Aichi winced as he knelt down and held his head in pain.

" Ace!"

" Takamaki!"

" My... It's taken far too long."

" Urgh...!"

" Tell me... Who is going to avenge her if you don't? Forgiving him was never the option... Such is the scream of the other you that dwells within. I am thou, thou art I... We can finally forge a contract..."

" I hear you... Carmen. You're right. No more holding back...!"

" There you go... Nothing can be solved by restraining yourself. Understand? Then I'll gladly lend you my strength."

As Ann ripped the mask off her face, a pillar of fire surrounded her as Carmen took form behind her. Aichi's headaches stopped as well as he got up.

" Ace, you alright?!"

" ... Yeah..."

Ann slashed the cognitive version of her after that as she dropped the sword she had in her hand.

" You know what? I'm not some cheap girl you can toy with... you scumbag."

" Bitch...!"

" You stole everything from Shiho... You destroyed her... Now it's your turn! I will rob you of everything...!"

" How dare you! Enough of your insolence!"

The Shadows transformed into a bearded devil like creature sitting on a toilet.

" No, I've had enough of you. No one's gonna stop me now! Let's go, Carmen!"

" A toilet...?"

" How dare you deny King Kamoshida's love, you selfish lass?! Pay for this insolence with your life!"

" That dirtbag sees women as sexual outlets! Don't make me laugh with that 'love' bullshit! C'mon, Carmen! Let's give 'em hell! Hit him with your Agi!"

A burst of flames hit the Shadow as it got knocked down.

" Let's do this! All-out attack!"

" Yeah!"

They attacked the Shadow together as it got back up again.

" Come, Arsene! Eiha!"

Black shadows rose and hit the Shadow as Kai clicked his tongue.

" Captain Kid, go on with your Zio!"

" Zorro, hit him with Garu!"

Both wind and lightning attacks hit as the Shadow resisted the attack.

" Lightning and wind attacks don't work on 'im!" Ryuji exclaimed

" Here it comes!"

Wind attacked them as Ryuji got blown back by it.

" Skull!"

" He healed himself!"

" Carmen, once more with Agi!"

The Shadow got knocked down again as they hit it with their all out attack.

" Arsene, finish it off with your Eiha again!"

Arsene appeared and finished it off as it started to disappear.

" To think... there would be a woman... who could stand up to King Kamoshida..."

" Pff, outside of school, that guy's nothing but a pathetic loser!"

As soon as the Shadow disappeared, Aichi ran over to Kai as he circled his arm around his waist again.

" You okay?"

" Yeah."

'Kamoshida' ran away after that as Ann tried to chase after him but fell to her knees from exhaustion.

" Wait...!"

" Why'd you come here, man?! And more importantly, how?!"

" Hey, is that how you speak to a woman?! Are you alright, Lady Ann?"

" Lady Ann...? Wait, what is this thing? Is it alive...? How can it talk? And... where in the world are we...?!"

" J-Just calm down. Everything's going to be okay, don't worry."

" How am I supposed to calm down?! ... H-Huh...? Why am I dressed like this? When did I- Ugh, what's with this?!"

" Just calm down."

" Well, I'm stumped... A search party will be coming for us soon. There's no time to explain. We don't have a choice. Let's retreat for now!"

" We were just gettin' fired up, and you just had to go and in the way... Rgh, fine... Here, gimme your arm. You take this other side."

" Oh, let me help. Kai-kun, you can just rest more."

Aichi took Ann's other arm as they helped her out of the castle and back to the real world. Ryuji got for them drinks after that as Ann took one and he gave Kai the other.

" What about me?"

" Huh? But you're a cat."

" ... Have you calmed down, Lady Ann?"

" Um... Morgana, right? I really am talking to a cat... This feels so strange... Oh, sorry! You're not a cat, right?"

" It's only natural that you're confused. Demanding that you understand all of this right after what you went through is asking too much."

" Honestly, I still can't believe what happened... And that power... my Persona..."

" It's the will of your rebellion, Lady Ann. With it, you'll be able to fight in that other world."

" So if what you told me is true, we can make Kamoshida have a change of heart, right? Is it really possible...? Can we actually force him to confess his crimes?"

" The volleyball team's keepin' quiet about this, while teachers and parents turn a blind eye. If guys like us try and complain, they're just gonna shoot us down. Goin' all in on this plan is the only choice we got."

" Then let me help too. I want to make him pay for what happened to Shiho. He just keeps going like nothing happened, even after what he did to her... I'll never forgive him."

" Wait, did you just say, 'let me help'? You mean, you want us to take you along?"

" Don't act like I'm going to drag you down. Weren't you watching? I can fight too."

" Hey, what should we do?"

" ... I say, if she wants to, then let her. It's not like we can stop her from going back in by herself if we don't let her join."

" I agree as well. We are lacking in manpower, after all. Don't worry, I'll protect her."

" He's right. Even if you said no, I'd just go in alone."

" See what I mean?" Kai sighed

" Oh right, she can go by herself... I guess it'd be more dangerous turnin' her down... Rgh, fine..."

" Then it's decided. Well, I hope we get along! I'm going to make Kamoshida atone for what he did. Not just for Shiho's sake... but for everything he's done. I won't let any more people suffer because of him. I'll do whatever it takes!"

Kai sighed and shrugged as Ann nodded.

" Just let me know when you're heading back in... Oh wait! We don't have each other's info. Hey, give me your number and chat ID. And, um..."

They exchanged their numbers quickly.

" I'll be counting on you, then. Same goes for you, Morgana."

" The pleasure is all mine, Lady Ann."

Ann walked away after that.

" What a kind girl... Such admirable consideration for others... And the innocence to cast herself into the jaws of death to achieve her goal... She cares about her friends, and she's beautiful to boot... What a girl! She's captured my heart..."

" Dude. You know, it'd be better if this group could get together quick from now on..."

" True. Our best option would be to make a secret hideout where we could discuss these things."

" A hideout, huh...? I like the sound of that. The school rooftop would work... It seems like nobody goes up there. For the time being, that will make the perfect hideout. I can't contact you from inside a Palace, so I'll stay in this world. That being said, I need someone to take care of me. I'm personally nominating you. You should feel honoured."

" ... I have Aichi with me right now. You're going to have to sleep on the table."

" Wait, what?!"

" That's the condition. You don't have much of a say in this."

" Well, we now have our hideout. Let's meet there tomorrow!"

Ryuji ran into the train as Kai started making his way back to Leblanc as well.

" The store's still open. Go upstairs."

Kai nodded as he glanced at the woman sitting at the table nearby him. She then noticed his stare as she turned to him.

" ... Yes?"

" Hey, lay off the customers. Sorry if he was rude, Doctor."

" ... I don't mind."

" Come on, you're getting in the way. Go on upstairs."

Just as Kai was about to head up, the woman left as he asked Sojiro about her.

" Oh, that customer just now? She's the head doctor over at that clinic down the street. Rumor has it she gives crappy examinations, and sells some weird homemade medicine on top of that. At least, that's what I've heard. I haven't been there myself. They should really just leave her alone. It's not like she's getting in the way of their lives..."

" Hey, are we there yet?"

Kai flinched as he felt Morgana moving in his bag and looked over to Sojiro.

" ... Well, I'm gonna head home and start making dinner..."

Kai sighed in relief when Sojiro left as he went upstairs and let Morgana out.

" What the...?! What is this place?! Is this some kind of abandoned house?!"

Suddenly, Sojiro came back up as Kai flinched a little.

" Hey, are you- I was wondering why I heard meowing... What did you bring it here for?!"

" ... Uh... It was abandoned and I found it so..."

" Nowhere, huh...? Look, this place is a restaurant. Animals are a no-go... Though I guess you might stay on good behavior if you've got a pet to take care of... Fine... But keep it quiet when we're open for business. And don't let it roam downstairs, or I'll toss it out. Oh, and I'm not gonna take care of it. That's all on you."

Sojiro left after that.

" Was that the ruler of this place? He seems to be pretty understanding for someone who keeps you cramped up in this dump. Then again, I suppose to normal people I just sound like a meowing cat."

Sojiro came back up again with a plate of food for Morgana as he left after that.

" Looks like the chief likes me better than you. And to be honest, this place is heaven compared to Kamoshida's cells. Remember how you guys asked me about what I am? To be honest... I don't remember anything about my birth. I think the Metaverse's distortion made me lose both my memories and my true form."

" And is that true form you're talking about... a human?" Kai ask

" It has to be! I mean, why else would a cat be able to talk like this? There's no other possible explanation. There's no doubt that the distortions were what caused me to lose my real self. I'm sure that once they're purged, I'll finally be able to get that self back. And I have a pretty good idea on how to do it too. That's why I was in the castle in the first place. Come to think of it, I didn't get hungry over in that world..."

Morgana started eating his food that Sojiro had given as Aichi appeared out of the pendant.

" Are you tired?"

" I'm fine. I just wanted to come out for a bit."

" Let me make myself clear: Your taking care of me won't be for nothing. It'll be give and take. Due to my knowledgeable and dexterous nature, I have a lot of intel on infiltration tools."

" Tools...?"

" Whoa, I can't tell you more unless we settle on a deal. In exchange for keeping me here, I'll teach you about these tools. How does that sound?"

" ... Well, if it helps in defeating Kamoshida, then fine." Kai sighed

" I like that answer. Hehehe... Then it's a deal."

Morgana soon finished his food as Kai went down to wash it while Aichi sat down beside Morgana on the bed.

" I never got to catch your name properly until now. Aichi, was it?"

" Yes, that's me."

" So... how did you end up like this? You looked totally normal back in the Palace."

" I... don't know myself. When I woke up, I was like this. Kai-kun had been taking care of me though."

" So Ryuji was right about your relationship being as complicated as it seems."

" Uh... Yeah, just a little..." Aichi stated, blushing lightly

" How is it, living with him?"

" It's really fun. We always talked to each other everyday through telepathy whenever we're outside of LeBlanc, and only if Sojiro-san is here. Then, once we're alone, we just... get close. He's really kind."

" I wouldn't call him a kind person for asking me to sleep on the table."

" Don't get mistaken. Kai-kun is really a kind person. He does treat cats very well too but... Maybe it's just that you're a little different, that's all..."

" Because I can talk?"

" Maybe... I don't know either."

" You guys don't have to talk behind my back, you know." Kai said when he came back up

" We were talking about the good things about you. Morgana doesn't seem to believe me though."

" I don't really care either way. I just need you here with me instead of this cat."

" Hey!"

" Don't be so rude, Kai-kun. Morgana has been a great guide for us through the castle."

" Whatever."

" Anyway, I'll lecture you about the infiltration tools over time. By the way, the power you used in the Palace was seriously amazing. The stronger that power gets, the more reliable it'll be as a trump card. Alright, I'm gonna stick with you wherever you go from today on. Personas are the strength born from one's heart. Depending on what kind of life experience you gain, I bet it'll affect that power as well! And if you become acquainted with capable people, you might learn various, useful skills too... This is all part of our deal, got it?"

" I don't intend to interact with other people. After this, we're not helping anyone else."

" What are you saying?"

" I'm saying that I want to live normally after this fiasco with Aichi."

" You mean you don't care if there were other corrupt humans out there to ruin others' lives?!" Morgana ask

" ... Listen. I know about those corrupt humans. It was because of them that we're here at this place. That corrupt being is still out there, flocking in his power, while the both of us are here to pay for a crime that we never committed."

" Your story doesn't connect. Aichi here is a spirit, there's no way he can get involved in anything in this world."

" ... Morgana. I was once a human. Like I said, I don't know how I ended up like this. But, it was me who had to serve this sentence. All because... I tried to save someone and was sued by a man in power. The woman I saved... she was never grateful for my help, she falsely accused me of something I never did. No matter how many hearts we might change from now on, the damage to us have been done and we can never return to where we were once from."

" It was a politician, I'm sure of it. You were shot by an officer in an attempt to rescue me from trying to save you from the verdict. In order to save your life, I put you in here." Kai then paused, " We've said enough. Whether or not we'll be continuing this will depend."

Aichi sighed and returned to the pendant as Kai shut the lights and laid down on the bed.

" Sleep wherever you want to. I'm not going to care."

" ... I'm sorry I asked. It's been hard for both of you. Sleep tight."

Kai clutched onto the pendant and drifted off to sleep.

And that's the end of this chapter! Thank you for reading! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and I'll see everyone in the next chapter!