An hour and a half passed after the end of breakfast and Eddy used that time as a clean up and decompress period at his home. After a wash and soak in the bath he was wearing a yellow unbuttoned button up shirt over a simple black t-shirt. He wore dark jean shorts and his street shoes. After a while Ino told him about what happened at Stormchaser. More importantly the fate that befallen Obe-ni and Kei-On. Eddy wanted to feel something but as it is with the system, this was abstracted out. To remedy this Ino provided a thin black box. Eddy examined a black box in respectful silence as the tape inside hummed its contents in his ears. He played it over and over for 30 minutes. A cool breeze wafted through the silence of Eddy's back porch as the kid was able to peacefully mourn. A click signaled the end of the recording and Eddy sniffed in relief. "Thanks Obe," he looked to the floor with a warm smile as a hand rubbed his shoulder. He was leafing through faded writings and pictures that made up "Fort Peach Creek" on his lap. "He didn't have to do that."

"He wanted to tell you more," Ino-hene had a parental tone. The rustling of his wicker porch chair creaked from his gesture of solidarity. "He hated the system's answer for death and legacy. We all do."

"I hate this place," Eddy said after a few minutes of morning breeze. He wiped his face.

"We can say we made it to the festival though," Ino-hene pulled out a white glass bottle and a tray of two small cups from under the white table between the two. "Not a lot of iterations can say that."

"What's that?" Eddy asked looking at the container.

"Ceremonial sake," Ino beamed. "This is the pure stuff too."

"Under-aged drinking?" Eddy laughed wiping a rouge tear from his eye. "How scandalous."

"It's how we mourn our friends and family in this town," Ino chuckled as he poured the wine into the cups. "The system takes our memories of them but we'll celebrate their lives anyway. Through their voices, their writings, and blatant Alcoholism."

Eddy laughed as Ino returned to his seat. The book was closed at the poem Eddy wanted. They gingerly picked up their cups. Ino lead the Rumor Mill toast.

Through dark puddles, we spite our creators

Through the night, we smite our invaders

Until the sun gives us our day

With our fangs we'll never let you go astray

For the lost

For the found

For everyone

That ends up in this town

We are here, now and never

And until our candle melts

We'll stand by you forever

To hell with all else.

To Obe-ni

To Kei-On

To the Lost and Found

May you find peace in your new Town

The two men drank from their cups. Their defiance to their cage burns like their tongues. Ino's eyes flashed pink as he slammed his cup down and the two utility men howled.

Kokoro Culture Festival Day 3: Noon

"I think I needed to watch the proof on that wine," Ino mused watching Eddy stumble into Sayori's house.

"Hello lovebirds~" Eddy was happy and blushing as he nearly fell in the living room. "I have returned with good readings and good findings!"

"What happened to you?" Sado looked at the boy with a shocked expression. Eddy blew steam out of his nose. And fell to his knees.

"Don't take Papa Ino to jail~" Eddy whined as he bowed to the floor.

"What happened Asaki-san?" Sado glared at the sharp-toothed man.

"Gah!" Ino yelped surprised at Sado's intensity. "It was just a shot of sake. We made a toast to the people we lost at Stormchaser. I didn't know he would take to it as strongly as he did."

"I found the poem I wanted to read," Eddy rose back up. "Is Sayori ready?"

"Almost," Sado answered with a nod. He then held up the smoldering core, "You forgot this on the table."

"I thought I would make it go away and fake my results," Ino admitted embarrassed. "I hate dealing with Color cores. The stories behind them are tragic."

"Sayori," Sado looked at Ino with restrained concern."Wants to test the core."

"W-what?!" Ino roared incredulously spooking Eddy sober. "There are so many reasons that's a bad idea!"

"I know. I tried to talk her out of it," Sado was frightened. "She figured that since you have rollback you can use that if something goes wrong."

"I'm lost here, what's the issue with the core?" Eddy asked siting on his book.

"Let's just say things may get really really bad, really really fast if proper direction is not met," Ino grunted. "And rollback sometimes doesn't work for some folk."

"I-I want to take that chance," Sayori squeaked from atop the stairs. She traded her casual clothes for her school uniform.

"What did I say about eavesdropping?" Ino spoke sternly. "And there's no telling what this thing will do. I don't know if you will share memories with the crimson, or catch on fire, or just go crazy. I can't in good faith see myself subjecting you to that."

"Boss you tried to feed me that thing in a doggie dish," Eddy replied flatly.

"And you threw it at me," Sado added. "Where did all this good faith talk come from?"

"Who's side are you on anyway?!" Ino growled.

"I remember what happened last night," Sayori spoke softly as she walked down the stairs. Everyone shot up to look at the bun."The crimson, the gun shot, Monika wishing to die and breaking down in Eddy's arms, all of it. If the Crimson didn't start talking to Sado we may never have made it to morning. If that monster finished her "decorations", I wouldn't of been able to live with myself. I can't just lay back anymore and watch the people I love suffer, let them die because I'm too scared to fight. And eating that monster may be my way to actually start fighting."

The rest of the group was in stunned silence.

"Please Ino," Sayori eyes shined as she fought back tears. "You guys mean everything to me, and I want to prove that I'm not a burden to you. I can't lose you, I'll have nothing left."

Ino pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes in concentration. He looked like he was fighting emotion as well. After a few minutes of debate he gave a deep breath and gave his reply. "Fine. Fine. After your club's presentation meet up on the roof. I'll get Abe-san and hash it out from there. I'm just going to say, I do not approve of this. And I cannot guarantee your safety during the process." He huffed and finished. "I'm- proud of you for taking the initiative on this, not a lot of people would volunteer for testing something from the Colors. Mostly people just want to sweep the whole mess under the rug. Pretend everything is fine until they come to their door, or ambush them when walking the dog. This research is very important to the town. Thank you."

"Thank you too Papa Ino," Sayori closed her eyes and smiled warmly. "I trust we won't regret this."

"Grab your drinks," Ino commanded putting on Obe's aviator glasses and turning to the door. "We're heading north."

"We're so proud of you too," Sado spoke wiping tears from his eyes.

"That's how you do a speech! Earn your address girl!" Eddy added whistled. Sayori hugged the boys in joyous cooperation.

…

The trip to the Academy was uneventful. Eddy finished his sobering as the ocean breeze from the open windows blew into the truck cabin. Ino decided to go a more scenic route up the eastern coast of Palisade Town. Sayori and Sado held hands in a comfortable silence as they watched the scenery. Ino tapped the wheel of the truck to the beat of smooth jazz on the radio. Eddy watched Sayori nuzzle up to Sado with a peaceful happy expression. Eddy lightly grinned and went back to his book. He tried to drink in a as much history as he could to try and give the McGee Family Mantra a more respectful and knowledgeable edge. If I was who I was back in Peach Creek I wouldn't of bothered doing this, he concluded trying to make peace with his puzzle box. He wondered what changed him as the breeze blew through his hair. He wondered what Ed and Double d were doing. He wondered if Double d ever got help with his-. Eddy didn't dwell on that thought as he rubbed his hands. Got to remember about privacy after all. Since Sayori has no real problem airing out Monika's dirty laundry. That got him thinking again about last night. She has to remember too then. What do I say now? Nothing else came from the box except the memory of that poem in my closet. I don't know where it came from. Or even if I still have it. She may need me to remember more. H-her life may depend on it. No! Don't dwell on that! It will work out. I'm remembering things easier now. I need to stop overthinking this, all I'm doing is getting myself worked up. It will come back, it all will come back. I just need to relax and enjoy this moment. Obe would of wanted that. He tried to slow breathe and eventually he was able to return to his calm moment in the truck. The ocean gave way to shops and alleys as the truck entered the town proper. 15 minutes late the truck entered the parking garage on the other side of the street to the Academy gates.

When the group entered through the gates, Eddy realized that he was the only student who dressed casual. Aside from islands of unique clothes the festival was awash in a neutral gray and purple sea. Even Eddy's preconceived notions of hair color failed as everyone either had an odd hair color, or an odd style. They may as well not have faces. Almost to the second that Eddy, Sayori, and Sado entered the school. Communication broke down and soon Eddy was removed and left wandering. OK I'll get a cellphone! Just get me out of here! Eddy roared to himself as he bumped into his third person in 10 minutes. Eddy was getting too overwhelmed in Japanese culture at the culture festival. He could feel something in the back of his head looking at all these new people. A familiar and seductive urge. A scammer's clean slate kind of urge. He ended up in front of a classroom of people having a skit of some kind when another bump sent him back on his rump and the urge scrambled his brain. His palms started to itch and he started to sweat. So many opportunities and we're wasting it on the stupid club! The old demons hissed as they crawled out the recesses of his mind.

"Does no one walk in a straight line in this place?!" Eddy roared as his head broke into a dull throb. The figure he ran into extended a hand.

"Sorry about that, here let me help you up," The man spoke with a soft tone. He was a part of the gray void but he had short bright-red hair and green eyes.

Eddy sighed with relief. "Finally someone who speaks English." He grabs the teens hand and turns it to a handshake combination. Eddy was proud he was able to pull that off in the condition he's in. "You wouldn't happen to know where the Literature Club is would ya?"

"W-who's asking?" The man spoke again.

"Me," Eddy said simply. He needed to cut to the chase and leave this crowd. The man looked like he was looking through Eddy like glass. OK can't stay here longer. "Just playing with ya, Name's Eddy. I'm new in town, and I'm trying to find this club I joined."

The man's eyes softened and a light smile grew on his face. "Shin Yamichika, I'm the president of the Debate Club. It's nice to have fresh faces around here."

That's sounds familiar. "So I've been told." Eddy said releasing Shin's hand.

Shin lowered his head in thought. "I think they hold their meetings in Building 2, try level 3 at the end of the hall, if it isn't there, head back here and find me." A swarm of gray was descending off the stairs. Bodies forming into the birds that he saw them as. No identity or uniqueness just gray birds with bags and wallets tied to their feet.

Eddy panicked. "Shin, you are my go-to guy now. Thanks!" Then with a turn and a push Eddy escaped into the aviary hoard. The urge was all around him now. The gray mob of new pigeons cooed around him like an all you can eat buffet. Eddy tried to push past them all but they were dancing, he could hear the money now.Rattling like the chance of a new life draining through his fingers.

He ran through the doors to the outside. He was breathing heavily now as his skin crawled. Birds were waiting for him. "I will not go down that road again!" He yelled startling a few avian money hoarders. You will and you will take the stone and bun with you! Your new trifecta! "No not them, they are too innocent for that!" Eddy's eyes clinched his tears back as he tried to escape the allure of the chance of monetary gain as he stumbled into bird after bird just trying to get to the club. One scam is all we need and we would be rich enough to own these people. He thought clenching his fists as the urge filled his brain with Faustian deals After a while he made it into building 2 but he was already riled up.

"Quit teasing yourself!" the demons laughed in their cells. "You want to get all the best things in life don't ya?" "The club won't respect a commoner utility clerk! What kind of life would that be for her?!"

Visions of last night's kiss rotated in Eddy's head as a terrible ploy. The greed gives no quarter to the reformed. It will use everything to entice a relapse.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!" He made it to an empty stairway as his vision frayed.

JUST US AGAINST THE WORLD BABY BROTHER! The head of the hoard finally spoke as the urges trembled like thunder. The wind of it's power howled as Eddy raced up the stairs. JUST LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS EH PIPSQUEAK?

CAW!

Eddy didn't notice a crow pecking at its wings in the stairway. It was too hidden from view. The bird cawed in surprise and Eddy jumped back. He lost his footing and fell backwards. His head met the stairs personally. He thought he was bleeding when he saw the bird fly down to him and land on his chest. The purple bird was eyeing him in bewilderment as it cawed. Its wings had huge gashes in them from the pecking. Blood was seeping into the plumage.

"C-coin," Eddy pleaded weakly as tears filled his eyes. The pain in the back of his head drowned out the urges. The bird backed away and cawed in a confused voice. "T-tape a coin to my head please."

Eddy's vision blurred as the bird looked around in confusion. He and It were shaking like leaves. The bird looked like it was about to cry watching the child break down in front of it. "I won't tell a soul about your wings dear Crow." Eddy reassured as his fear of relapse increased his sobbing. The bird looked at Eddy in a deeply guilty expression. "I just can't go down that road again, I made too much progress. I want to be a good person. Please." The bird quickly ruffled its feathers to hide its wounds and flew back up the stairs to a bag on the floor. It used its wings to poke into the bag. Pulling out a 100 yen coin and with a slight fidget in the bag the bird came up with no tape. Movement of the wings against the fabric of the bag caused the bird to wince. Eddy was fading fast. "just hold it on with your beak." The bird looked more lost than ever now. It even had a strange blush. It cawed as it placed the coin on Eddy's head with its wing. Eddy heard the crow's calls start to morph into a crying woman's voice as Eddy's head fell back to the stair point. The feathers of the crow fading into a sea of indigo as his demons tried to fight to the coin. Ripping themselves apart in the attempt. His eyes met the crow's as a whimper of gratitude escaped him. He falls unconscious to fevered pleas. The box rumbled shut in Eddy's skull. A laugh from his brother echoed through the chamber like a snake's hiss.