"You have messed up for the last time!" A voice roared. Making the scenery inside the Nomicon shake violently. Randy, who has his head pressed against the wooden floor in a bowing position. Apologized profusely for his actions. The Book had every right to be upset at him. He didn't listen. Now, there would be consequences for his actions.

"I TOLD YOU!" The First Ninja spoke harshly. A scowl evident on his face; peering down his student with anger, "What DID I TELL YOU?! THE SPELL WAS DANGEROUS. USING THE TENGU LIKE THAT WOULD BE DANGEROUS AND WHAT DID YOU DO?! YOU DELIBERATELY IGNORED ME!"

"Satoru." Plop-Plop spoke softly. The First Ninja's right-hand man is sitting next to the First Ninja. He looked more saddened than angry unlike his friend.

"What?!"

"You're being aggressive. Calm down." Plop-Plop sighed. This was one of the few times where the First Ninja became infuriated. Every so often, he would get annoyed when his previous students don't listen to him. The only time, he could possibly remember getting this angry was the MacAntfee situation and when his brothers were killed.

"I have every right to be!" He growled under his breath, 'I warned him! I told the Ninja not to do it!"

"I didn't think it would get this far-" Randy sobbed through tears, "you're right. I didn't think this through!"

"Your friend is hurt because of your actions. More people would have gotten injured due to your incompetence! I have to reverse this whole affair. Do you know how much power I will have to muster up for this?"

"A lot." Satoru finished before Randy could reply, "So will you, Ninja. You're going to help me."

"I understand, but-Are you going to take the mask away from me?"

The First Ninja's look hardened at Randy. He said nothing at first. Satoru knew exactly what to do with him. He couldn't let Randy go after this incident. This was something that his current student had to fix. While he was content on making his student take on this responsibility alone. Satoru felt, he should step in.

"What are you guys going to do?" Plop-Plop questioned. First Ninja is unpredictable at times. Which made him nervous for Randy. Satoru's sharp look alone, scared him.

"I'm performing an advanced version of the Ultimate Lesson." Satoru said, now calm and collected, "Be ready."

"How?" Randy spoke up. Finally looking at his teacher, "I thought, you just have to walk through a door."

"The more sophisticated version requires the suit and the power of the Nomicon."

"It wipes everyone's memories? Including Howard's? He won't remember me?" While it was for the best that his friend forget. He just couldn't ignore the pit of sadness lingering in his mind. He will be alone in his duties.

"That is the price you have to pay for your mistakes." The First Ninja turned around. A temple emerged from the ground, "Leave the book. You must be in your suit."

"I-" Randy was about to speak once more before the First Ninja waved his hand in dismissal.

"I do not want to hear your apologies. You will make it up to me soon."

With that, Randy was shloomped out of the book. The last thing Satoru saw before Randy left was his wounded look.

"This won't kill him, right?" Plop-Plop asked once Randy had left the book, "The spell?"

"No." The First Ninja shook his head, "It will drain him of his power, yes. But, The Ninja shall be fine."

"What are you going to do with him?"

"I will not dismiss him. If that's what you're worried about, my dear friend."

Randy opened his eyes to see the trees surrounding him. The sky is clear, unlike before. It was like a normal day. Despite, what had transpired a few hours before.

"Okay, Nomicon. I'm ready."

The Nomicon glows intensely. At the same time, the mask began to glow simultaneously. The Ninja could feel the energy surged through him. The fading connection that he formerly had with his friend started to dissipate. He didn't want to let go. In fact, Randy tried holding on to the connection as long as possible. Yet, The Ninja knew he had to let go. With a heavy heart, he lets go of their bond.

Fourteen years of friendship went down the drain. Just like that.

"I'm sorry, Howard."

A screech can be heard in the distance. The Tengu that was once bonded to Howard flew in the sky. The Ninja stood there, mesmerized for a moment until he realized, he had to catch the Tengu before it decided to enact its revenge on someone. Due to the shattered bond, the Ninja could no longer tell if it was or angry or not. Judging by the sounds, it was making. It just might be.

"You don't remember anything?! AT ALL?!" Debbie exclaimed. Her notepad tightly grasped in her hands. She couldn't just report this if Howard didn't remember anything. Furthermore, the school needed her to report about the school's destruction. The reporter thought she could get the latest scoop if she spoke to Howard first. Since, he was involved after all!

"Is this what you came here for? To get the news? Do you not have any sort of compassion, Kang?" Howard grunted; taking a bite out of the chocolates Debbie had given him earlier.

"You're the last one to talk about compassion, Weinerman." Debbie sighed, tucking away the Notepad. He was right. She should have asked if he was okay. Debbie came here to see if he was alright. Honestly, she did care. Even if she didn't want to admit it.

"Okay, seriously. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. You're like the tenth person to ask me that already!" Howard was exaggerating, of course.

First, Mort, then his mom, and finally Heidi.

Now, it was Debbie. When will it end?

"Exxxccccuuuuse me for caring." Debbie huffed in annoyance over Howard's attitude, "I just heard from the teachers that you won't be coming back for some time."

"The teachers?"

"Everyone in Norrisville High knows about it." Debbie observed Howard's reaction. The redhead simply shrank even more when he heard the news.

"Great." Howard shifted uncomfortably, "I wanted to be popular. But not like this."

"You'll live."

"Says the one who isn't injured!"

"They think you got caught in the crossfire with the Ninja and a monster." Debbie frowned. Some sources were sketchy at best. Furthermore, she heard the teachers talking about what might had happened on that day. Silmovitz practically lost his mind when the news got out that Howard had been hurt. Debbie recalled the principal being deeply distraught that he almost lost one of his students on his watch.

"I heard." Howard asked, "Do you know if the Ninja was there?"

"It's possible." Debbie shrugged her shoulders, "They should have been there."

"Thanks." Howard flashes one of his rare smiles at Debbie, "For uh-the cookies."

Debbie blinked. Being caught off guard by Howard's words. A deep shade of red appears on her cheeks, "Oh! Yeah, I thought you might like them."

"Did you make them?"

"Yes."

"You should make more." Howard grinned from ear to ear, "It's really good."

Debbie is left speechless by his compliments. For as long as she knew him. He never complimented her this way before. It almost made her respect him more.

"Thanks. I appreciate it. How are your injuries?"

"Pain." The corners of his mouth twitched at the question, "So much pain. I have a lot of gashes, and my head feels like someone threw concrete at me."

"I hope you feel better." Debbie reassured him, "You'll be better in no time."

"Thanks..?"

"You're welcome."

"Does he hate me, Plop-Plop?" Randy sat on the Tatami mat facing Plop-Plop. The First Ninja, who normally sat next to the squire was nowhere to be seen. Plop-Plop casts a very weary smile at the Ninja in an attempt to reassure him.

"He does not hate you, Ninja. I don't think he can bring himself to hate you." The squire looked behind him. Among the Shoji doors lied the First Ninja, sleeping from performing the spell that made everyone forget their memories. Plop-Plop knew it would be some time before Satoru emerged again.

"I've made a huge mistake, Plop-Plop."

"Yeah, you did. Dwelling on it isn't going to make things better. You have to work to gain the First Ninja's trust again." Plop-Plop eyes made contact with the Ninja's tired look, "First, you must rest."

"How can I rest after placing my friend in danger?" Randy asked, sagging his shoulders in defeat.

"Well, I mean, you're no use to us if you're going to sit here and mope about it."

Randy's eyes twitched as the insult felt like a dagger seeping deeper into his wounds. As soon as Plop-Plop realized this. He waved his hands frantically, "That's not what I meant! I mean, you have to keep pushing forward. If you're going to let, this affect you. You're going to end up being stanked and that's something we all want to avoid."

"Howard... Is he going to be alright?" Randy pursued his lips together. Fiddling with his hands nervously.

"He will be fine. He did save you."

"I should check on him-"

"No." The door leading to First Ninja's room slides open revealing an unmasked Satoru. His hair is disheveled. Green strands of hair in front of his face. His whole demeanor seemed worn down, "That is a weight a Ninja can no longer cannot carry. You must leave him be, if you value your life. Do you understand me?"

"But-"

"Do you understand me, Ninja?" He reaffirmed. His face stoic and cold, "I don't want a repeat of this mistake."

"Y-Yes, First Ninja." Randy sputtered out. His eyes downcast on the tatami mat below.

"Did you catch the Tengu?"

"No." Randy stroked his arm. Having a feeling that the First Ninja was still furious with him, "It flew away before I can grab it."

"Then you must find it." The First Ninja clasped his head due to the spell draining him, "That is your priority right now. The Tengu stone is in your possession. Utilize it."

"I'll find it."

"Good. The Tengu normally appears at night. It will definitely try to hunt you down. Use that to your advantage and seal it back in the stone."

"Good Luck, Ninja!" Plop-Plop said excitedly a lot more enthusiastic than the First Ninja, "I'm rooting for you!"

"How are feeling Howie? Mort gently ushered his son into the house. Panicking whenever he took even a step inside his own home.

"I'm fine." Howard growled under his breath. It was already bad enough that he was in tremendous amount of pain. Another when Mort kept worrying about him. It had its ups and downs. Like being spoiled rotten for one instance. In his first week alone, Howard had gotten more ice cream and cookies than he can count. Most of it, from his Mother and Father.

However, it was starting to have it's cons. He couldn't really go anywhere without his father leering over him.

Howard was glad to be home. Where he can eat food that didn't taste like crap. Howard felt weird when the doctors were constantly checking up on his condition and asking questions that he didn't have the answers to.

It felt more awkward when the teachers came in to see him. Howard wanted to hide under the blankets. Again, being prodded with questions. It took a nurse to shoo them all away.

"Any pain?" Mort pried, "Do you need your medicine?"

"No, Mort. I'm fine."

"Are you sure-"

"I said, I'm fine Mort!" Howard snapped at his father. He flinched. Now, a sharp pain greeted him. His father blinked, nervously fumbling his hands.

"I'm sorry, Howie. I just worry. "

Howard sighed at his father's concern, "It's fine, dad. I just need some sleep."

"Why don't you nap on the couch? You might open your wounds if you walk down the stairs."

With the help of his father. Howard was wheeled towards the sofa. Once again, he twitched when Mort lifted him up and adjusted his son on the couch.

This was going to be one long summer.

"I'm disappointed Plop-Plop. No, more than disappointed. Scared. I almost lost him. I thought he would lose himself. He almost did."

Plop-Plop placed some tea in front of him that he brewed up for the two of them, "Randy will fix this. You know that he will."

"Will I ever trust him again?"

Plop-Plop grabbed his cup; sipping it lightly before setting it down. It seemed like he was deep in thought. Unusual in normal circumstances, "There is something that a friend told me long ago. Beginning is easy. Continuing will be hard."

"Who told you that quote?" Satoru took a sip of his tea. Flashing an odd look at his squire.

"You did."

"Huh."

"He'll come back from this, Satoru. Give it time."

The First Ninja wordlessly sipped from his tea.