EDIT: Okay, so i corrected some parts of this chapter after noticing all of the spelling errors in it, sorry for that.
Chapter 15: Alleycat
Days Until: The Cultural and Sports Festival: 5
Stop Satsuki Kiryuin's plan.
That non-stop train of thought were still on full steam after losing control over Senketsu and her emotions. Satsuki demonstrating the absurd power-gap between the both of them, being very over-reliant on Akira and Mako constantly saving them from her own problems she causes, fully knowing about her dad's killer and being too weak to seek for the truth of her life…
Ever since her enrollment into Honnouji Academy, she hoped for her questions to be immediately answered. But the funny and ironic thing is, she was left with even more questions rather than answers. Seems that her train of thought has no sign of stopping now.
Train…
Train…
Train…
Ryuko began to open her eyes, expecting to be on the Mankanshoku's humble cottage, resting on her comfy futon and forget everything that happened yesterday. But rather than anything of the prior things came true, She strangely woke up sitting on a velvet blue passenger train seat. In fact, she was now inside a moving vintage steam train on the passengers' wagon, with chairs and tables fitting for a VIP room.
"Huh… Where the eff am i…?" She muttered to herself while holding her head. "Well, my head isn't hurting like ass, so it's at least safe to assume I wasn't drunk as crap from a hangover." She told herself, yet she didn't drink. The brave girl then looks around thinking that she was in some sort of fever dream, only to find more velvet blue colors and there were symbols of a silver V letter plastered on some places of the unknown vehicle. It was odd, but the weight of her clothes felt quite, different… "Huh? Senketsu!?" She looked at herself, only to discover that she wasn't wearing her Kamui anymore, and rather her old clothes she had before that fateful encounter with Mako and the thief.
"My! Seems that destiny brought quite the guest to this place." A voice coming from the Velvet wagon echoed all over, causing the spunky girl to look around.
"Huh? Who the hell said that?" The girl demanded answered while owling all over the room, but she stopped once she saw a strange old man with a long nose wearing a suit sitting in the center of the wagon, having a table in front of him with a deck of cards. Beside him, there were 2 men sitting on each side of the wagon. One had white hair, golden yellow eyes reminiscent of Shadow-selves and wore a train attendant velvet room outfit, while the other was a young adult with dark blue hair that seem to look at the window.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room." The old fella with the long nose greeted Matoi with the humblest way possible. "My name is Igor, and I'm pleased on making your acquaintances."
"Velvet, Room? Wait a damn second! D-did you kidnapped me or something, ya' creep?" Ryuko was about to draw her Scissor Blade nearby. But just like her Kamui, her Scissor Blade was still missing. "My Scissor! D'oh great… First Senketsu and now my scissor blade." She badgered as she crossed her arms and sit back, expressing frustration on her face
"Now, now. No need to get violent. I don't desire to hurt you in any shape or form. All I want, is to aid you on your journey into womanhood, and to solve the mysteries of your troublesome past." Igor added, showing no signs of harming his guest. "Your body is currently sleeping in your best friend's home after that tiresome struggle you had yesterday. You see, this realm exists between dream and reality, mind and matter. Think of it as some sort of lucid dream if you will."
"So, if it is some sort of dream-like place, why me?" The girl having a dash of red on her hair questioned the old man with the long nose. "Look, I'm already more conflicted that I need to be. Please don't tell me that I'm some sort of "Chosen one" bullshit." Ryuko didn't want more thoughts to overflood her mind, feeling that what she experienced recently was enough for her to say stop and take a rest.
"Hehehehe… No need to worry. You haven't been summoned here to fulfil any prophecy or anything." The resident of the Velvet room affirmed that the rebellious girl didn't had any prophecy to fulfil. "Let me get there, my dear guest." Igor chuckled for a moment. "You see… Only those who are bound to a contract in one way or another, may enter this realm. Maybe you haven't noticed back on the Natural Elections, but once the voice of your best friend's managed to get into your mind, you chose to bind yourself into the contract of freedom, acknowledging some parts of your hearts, thus permitting you to not only awaken your Kamui's Spiral Power, but to also gain control over your emotions."
"Oh, I see…" The girl sighted, not being that convinced about the controlled emotions part of the explination. "Still, i-i-I know this is a very fucking stupid question, but if this train is moving, who the hell is conducting it and where the hell are we going to?" Ryuko looked puzzled about the locomotive moving forward. "But, I'm sure that whatever the answer is, it's gonna be a complicated mess of meanings and symbolism, isn't it?
"Hehehe… My, you are quite the curious girl." Igor chuckled from the young girl's curiosity. "Why don't you take a peek for yourself?" The main host of the Velvet Room pointed his hand to the window, which Matoi decided to get up from her seat to take a look.
Once she looked at the windows of the train, she discovered that the outside of the vehicle they were traveling was covered in a light fog, the rails were underwater like in Spirited away and the places the locomotive passed by resembled locations she has visited once. From Honnouji Academy, Mako's house, her old schools and even her old burned-out home. Thougj, it was also important to mention that she also saw people being burned by blue flames covering their bodies, and yet they seem to not mind. As if they were somehow unaware and ignorant.
"As you can see, this room changes depending on the heart of our guest." Igor explained the look of the Velvet room. "By the form the Velvet Room has taken, I can guess you are a wandering heart, in search for some sort of enlightenment and the truth of which your parental figure has hidden from you. And yet, you're still unaware that either the truth you desire will either be good or bad. But no matter what you think, you still keep moving forward. Just like how trains do unlike cars. They cannot go back without looking forward. That is quite fitting for a stubborn yet determined young woman like you." The man of the long nose finished his explanation before shuffling his deck of Tarot cards.
"Well, thanks, I guess… But what about these 2? And you still haven't told me who's the asshole conducting this damn train?" She still has a lot of questions that needed answers.
"You do have a keen eye. I can appreciate that." Igor then stretched his right hand to present the white-haired attendant. "This man you see at your right is Theodore. Just like me, he's a resident of the Velvet Room."
"Nice to meet you. But please, feel free to refer to me as Theo." The male young man said with politeness.
Igor then stretched his left arm to where the other guest was. "And the one you see on your left, hehehehe… Let's say, he's a guest of honor. Just like you, he has once had a tough journey that even made him challenge the universe himself." Igor told Ryuko. "Though, he requested me to not tell you his name, for now. But if you ever feel that the whole world is against you, feel free to talk to him anytime."
"Yo." The blue-haired man introduced himself as he did the peace sign with his right hand.
"So… Are we just gonna pick dicks or somethin'? I'm kinda bored if you ask me." Ryuko sighted while laxing off on her blue seat. "If you ain't gonna do something, then get me back into the real world or something like that."
"Hehehe… Glad you ask." Igor chuckled, before summoning a deck of cards out of nowhere into his right palm. "Once you awaken the true power of your heart and your Kamui, I'll make sure that we will provide more help on your journey. Though, perhaps I can read your future if you wish to."
"You know old man; I don't really believe on that fate of the cards bullcrap." Ryuko commented while scratching her back of her head. "But it it means to wake up from this weird-ass acid dream, then just get over it."
"Hehehe… Very well then." Igor then began to shuffle the deck of tarot cards again and then place 7 cards on a circular manner. He picked one of the random cards on the table and flipped it. "Ahh… If it is the Hanged Man standing straight. This Arcanas can represent many things. But it seems that somehow, I can see to be a very drastic change or reveal. Whenever it will be good or bad, only time will tell." The old resident then flipped the second card. "My, The Hermit upside-down. Seems that whatever this change mean, it will cause you to isolate from the ones you love and care." Igor then flipped the last card. "And the last card seems to be the Sun flipped-down. The path that you're about to take can take you to reflect your inner soul, could it be that your unknown desires be related from a wish you had as a child?"
Ryuko stopped from a moment. Now that she thought about it, even after all this time, she's unsure on what she truly desires in the end. She now knows who killed her father and by doing so, it almost costed the lives of Akira, Mako, Senketsu and everyone she cared about. What does she want? Satsuki Kiryuin is way too strong for her to kick her in the ass and she couldn't hope on reaching her level in the span of a single day, yet she wanted to destroy her ass so badly. And the assholes from Nudist Beach kept hiding things from her as if he was the FBI or some shady organization.
"But just to be advised. If you don't like the future you see ahead of yourself, do what you have to do to fight against it. You're the only one who's able to bend your own destiny's path." The mysterious young man of the star-glasses advice Ryuko.
"But don't expect for your rebellious spirit to win the battle against the world alone. If you do want to walk the path of rebellion and rehabilitation, you need all the help of your closed ones." Igor then swept his hand over the unflipped cards to reveal them. The following were the fool in the form of a Fool card, Priestess, Death, Sun, Devil and the Star being in the center of the table. "The cards you see on the table are the Arcanas your closest friends share.
"Wait, but why is the Fool one look like a Joker playing card? Did you forgot to shuffle well your cards that you ended up mixing up your playing cards with your 'all psychic' deck ya' big nerd? Wait a shitting second… Do you know Fuzzy Hair in any shape or form?" Ryuko gasped at the reveal. Sure it was a bit of a loose question, but considering the alien-esque powers he had, it wouldn't be a big surprise if he and this room would be connected or associated.
"Oh, you have quite the keen eye. By Fuzzy Hair, I think you refer to the trickster, am I right?" Igor confirmed Ryuko's theory. "You aren't the only one who has step a foot on this place. There are many who have signed a contract, and we are there to aid them in their journey."
"Wait! If that's really the case! What the hell are those Personas? Is there a way I can stop Satsuki Kiryuin's Shadow things? Who the hell is Akira and where does he really come from? I swear if you don't say anything, I'm gonna take your cards and shove them right down your ass!" Ryuko spammed thousands of questions at the resident of the Velvet Room at the same time before slamming her hands into the table. But Igor seem very indifferent.
"Unfortunately, even if I would wish to tell you, I don't have the permission to tell you. But I'll promise to do so when the time comes, and when you truly need to know. Patience is virtue after all. And even if your friend knows him, neither I nor him cannot contact each other by the moment. But make sure to keep your bonds as strong as possible, as they can become your sharpest of swords. Be sure to keep your allies strong that can help you take on this bizarre world." Igor reminded Ryuko into keeping his friends close and sure to trust them before reshuffling the Tarot cards back into the deck. Not before pulling out a card out of it. "But, before you can return into the real world, I'd like you to give you this…" The head of the Velvet Room then gave Ryuko 3 objects. One was a Velvet Key and the other a blank Tarot Card. "Accept these as a gift from the 3 of us."
"Uhh… Thanks, I guess…" Ryuko owled before taking 2 of the 3 gifts and put them into her pocket. "I guess this key can make me go into this room, right?"
"Correct. This key grants you access to the Velvet Room anytime you want. All you need to do is close your eyes, calm your mind and have the desire to enter this place." Theodore told her.
"Yeah, yeah… But why give me a card without nothing in it? Is this some kind of McGuffin or "The chosen one item" bullshit? What am I supposed to do with it? Wipe my ass with it and see if it somehow ends up awakening its powers?" The spunky teenage girl still was confused on what the card in blank represents.
"There, there… No need for questions that shall lead you too nowhere. You don't want this to evolve into a wild goose chase, don't you?" Igor calmed Ryuko down. "Just like how your friend can summon a variety of Personas, you too possess the power of the Wild Card, my fellow guest. You represent the Arcana of the Fool, which is considered one of the most powerful Arcanas. Not because of its raw power, but because it has an infinite potential to become anything it desires. You do have the spirit to rebel, worthy to awaken a Persona, but you still haven't confronted and accepted your inner desires, your other selve, your Shadow. Once you do confront the side of your soul that you try to hide and repress, that will be the day your Persona shall manifest."
"What my master wants to refer is that you have to think the white card as a blank canvas. It may be empty at first, but that blankness is what makes it special. Whathever your imagination desires, that blank canvas can turn into a building, full-size continent or even your own universe." Theodore cleared Matoi's questions.
"But… let me see… 1, 2, where is the 3rd one?" Ryuko asked, demanding her 3rd gift.
"I would want to give it to you, but I cannot do it until you fully mastered the Spiral Power of your Kamui." The man with blue hair told Ryuko without even looking. "Your Kamui contains powers that can even make evil gods tremble. But you still need to forge a deep bond with your God's robe and have your emotions under control to truly tap into this power."
"You're referring that green thing Senketsu transformed when we battle that bubblegum-girl?"
"You got It right. Feel free to visit me anytime. Think of me as some sort of theraphist, but cooler and more handsome." The boy replied with glee while still looking at the window.
Ryuko just didn't said anything. "I-I think I'm fine for now… I'll go back to the real world." Ryuko stated to the 3 as she just wanted to be back with her friends.
"If that's your decision, so be it." The man of the long nose nodded. "If you want to go back, close your eyes and desire to be back into the real world. Until then, we hope we meet again…" Igor said goodbye while Ryuko shut her eyes and wished to be back with her friends.
Exit the Velvet Room?
No
Yes -
Ryuko opened his eyes, returning her room on the Mankanshoku's Back-Alley Clinic rather than on that enigmatic Velvet Room. Her body was covered in bandages on the parts she suffered bruised and any injuries they seemed to be harming. She looked around to find 2 people watching over her. One was Senketsu who was clinging over the wardrobe like he usually does and the other was Akira for no one's surprise, sitting beside her while wearing his casual attire rather than his Phantom Thief suit.
"Oh… It's you Fuzzy Hair…" Ryuko sighted, watching the wild card. "Hey, aren't you supposed to be with those weird perverts? Or what? Did you gave up seeing how weird as balls were those guys?"
"Well, you're correct that Mikisugi and his teams are very, abnormal and eccentric for a rebel group. I told HQ that I would watch over you and see if you can recover after well, yesterday's incident." Akira told Ryuko before giving her a mug. "Here… I'm sure some coffee will make you feel better. I made it myself."
Ryuko then looked at the mug of recently made hot coffee his friend was offering him. "N-no thanks, I don't feel like drinking right now…" She had to decline Kurusu's gesture of compassion. She knew he made that coffee with love and care, but she just didn't felt like doing anything right now. "H-hey by the way, I'm wondering… What are the other weirdos up to?"
Akira nodded to Ryuko's question. "Well, Mikisugi unfortunately has been tasked on giving the No-Stars regular classes alongside the other teachers at Honnouji while the higher-ups are busy raiding the remaining schools in Kansai, but Maiko is still developing a strategic defense against the Kiryuins while he's absent. Still, we're not sure on how to really exterminate Satsuki's Shadows if any of the special forces being me, Sanageyama and Morgana go out of commission. Let alone on how to truly stop her and Nui Harime if she decides to drop in." Fuzzy Hair explained what where the others doing to prepare once the School Raid beings. "The others are training as hard as they can as we speak. Hakodate and Kinagase are both sharpening their guns while Morgana is teaching Sanageyama to control his Persona better. Well, coming from you, I'm sure you're not that interested on the whole save the world thing, considering you're not a hero-type of person."
"Heh… Sure you can read my mind, Mr. Superman…" Ryuko made a soft smile in response but didn't even made an effort to even stand up. She was just laying on her futon, thinking about every stupid stunt she has done so far.
But the Mankanshoku's wouldn't be left with crossed arms. Ryuko is still like their 3rd child. Both Sukuyo and Mataro entered the room with a present to bright the girl's day. Although, their method of entering was rather… Weird. They just opened the door like a normal door rather than how a Japanese door should.
"Hey, Ryuko Chic!" Exclaimed the boy with enthusiasm while carrying a big bowl full of croquettes.
"We brought you your favorite meal to put that frown of yours upside down!" Mako's mom said with positiveness in her voice, while carrying some tea for Ryuko.
Ryuko appreciated the kind gesture of the family, but she declined. "Thanks, you, but I'm not in the mood to eat…"
"But these aren't any croquettes!" Mataro confirmed. "These are mom's super-energizing croquettes made of the best ingredients I could steal!"
"Mataro! How dare you!" Sukuyo disciplined her son by smacking him in the head, causing the boy to grow a bump. "Anyway, with one simple bite, all of your energy and happiness will be at 100! Want some proof? Here!" Sukuyo opened the window, showing Mr. Mankanshoku and Guts running at the speed of sound. "Anyway Ren, you want some?"
"I'll save them for later." Ren chose to save the croquettes for later. Sure, they seem to work as the housewife of the family affirms her snacks to be, yet he ws very skeptical on what she and Mataro put on the recipe for their crunchy food.
"Thank you everyone, but I'm not that hungry…" Ryuko declined the offer for now. She didn't had any motivation, not until she could be sure she could wear Senketsu again without being driven mad and cause another disaster.
"Oh well, more for me!" Mataro chowed down one croquette and was instantly overdosed with energy, making him go outside and run alongside the family, up to the point that they began to turn into butter.
"Well, at least I'm assure to be back on track with one chow." Ryuko smiled at how the family bond together and how they were willing to help her even in hard times.
"Anywho, I'll better let you alone for a while. Girls your age tend to be curious about the world, so it's better for you to give it a rest for you." With her final words, Sukuyo left the roof, leaving the thief, the Kamui and the girl only.
Meanwhile, Senketsu seem to have some sort of guilt he was carrying, as his only eye looked a bit sad.
"Huh? Is there something the matter Senketsu?" The Wild Card questioned the Kamui on the wardrobe. He was as concerned for him as much as he was for Ryuko.
"Humm… I just, feel sorry for not being strong enough to not letting myself transform into that, thing… Forgive me, Ryuko…" The Kamui feeling very guilty for what the girl forced her transform into wanted reconciliation from Matoi.
"N-no, it wasn't your fault Senketsu…" Ryuko retracted her friend's words. "It was mine this whole damn time… I couldn't control myself from the start. And when Nui Harime admitted that She was the one who killed pops, I gave in into my rage like usual and I almost killed everyone… All for just some pointless revenge… Damn, I was so selfish…" Ryuko looked at the window from outside. "To be honest, I don't know if it is safe to wear you anymore. Not because of you, but because of me…" Matoi then looked at the Wild Card to ask her something. "Hey Fuzzy hair, I know I hate to really, really but reaaaaally say this, but… Can I lend you Senketsu for a while? It's just that, I don't know how I will even overpower Satsuki Kiryuin and I already know who killed my dad. Seeing how strong you are, maybe you and Senketsu can make a good team. Urgh… Who am I kidding? I would just put you 2 into more danger…"
Akira was very surprised on Ryuko's request. But even when he was being given a demi-god clothes, he just had to decline. "I appreciate you wanted to help, but I have to say no. It's just, that I know how much Senketsu means to you, and even if hypothetically I could wear him, I don't think it would be correct." Akira explained the reason for not wanting to don Senketsu before looking at the Kamui's Eye. "Even if I can't see it, I can sense a very strong connection between the 2. As if you were meant for one another. Besides, what would everyone think if I wear a very skimpy and feminine skirt? I still have some dignity to protect and no one would take me seriously if I run around wearing a stripper's getup. Maybe I would probably be sucked like an orange or go ballistic if I were to put you. It's already odd having a talking cat as your friend already."
Ryuko made a soft chuckle by the response. There was just a pleasant aura that Kurusu radiated despite having the power to destroy the entirety of Honnouji Academy. By that, I refer the building and not the organization.
Akira stopped for some moments before looking around, there was someone important missing. "I guess that Mako is still having school. Anyways, how did you convinced the Student Council to dismiss this day?"
"Well, one of those golden hands messaged us that she was about to be patrolling Honnouji Academy alongside the other No-Stars once the whole Tri-City School Raid BS begin." Ryuko informed the messy-haired teenager. "Let me guess, those weirdos of Nudist Beach want me to magically recover from my emotional state to help them "Save humanity" as if me and Senketsu were some sorts of weapons… Tch… As if the world ever made something good for me…" Ryuko seem very nitter for what she theorized.
"Well, fortunately I've managed to resolve that." Akira confirmed the angsty girl. "I've talked with Mikisugi-San and we're not planning to take you to a war, knowing that it will only hurt you more that you can handle."
"Humm… You know, maybe you were right about me dropping from the Sudden Death Runoffs, but I was such a dumbass for ignoring you…" Ryuko felt more guilty from remembering what she did on the Sudden Death Runoffs.
"No need to blame yourself. I admire your determination and passion into chasing the truth, despite my warnings." Akira wanted to cheer up Ryuko in any shape or form. "Maybe you're only confused. Then again, how should I know? But there's no need to fear of failures. They say that you learn more from failure, and the success is only the fruit of your achievements and growth." Akira adviced Ryuko into looking at the bright side of the spectrum and learn from her mistakes. In actuality, he didn't invented that phrase. He just found it out on a luck once he, Sojiro and Futaba went to grab a bite on a Chinese restaurant. He only wanted to sound cool.
Ryuko though it for a second. Maybe Akira is right, he did told her about the fate of his friends and promised himself to not lose another one in his sight. And now that she thought it better, she just felt more laxed and a bit less hot-blooded. It was true that her anger and recklessness have won much of her battles, but now she almost destroyed everything she hold dear once she tried to let her anger guide her. Senketsu is now is feeling bad for something she is to blame on due to this. "Hmmm… Maybe you're right." Ryuko sighted at Kurusu's response. "H-hey Ren, if you don't mind calling you like that."
"Do I see triggered to you?." Akira responded sarcastically with a smile.
Ryuko took a breath before proceeding. She felt something on the pockets of her pajamas, and it seem to be the same blank card Igor gave her. "I, wanted to know if you know this." Ryuko then passed the Tarot Card to Ren to inspect him.
The trickster was quite surprised on what Ryuko had in her possession. It was a Tarot Card with nothing in it other than the 0 of the Fool Arcana. Could Ryuko perhaps be on her way to awaken her Persona?
"It was on some sort of dream. An old man with a long nose gave it to me. He told me that once I accept my other self, I can awaken a power like the one you have. But he also told me that you also know him. Just, who the hell are you? How did you acquire those Personas? Where do these Shadows come from?" Ryuko had one million question waiting in line to be responded.
Akira shrugged his arms from the question. "Well, about Igor and me… It's true that we have met, a good couple of times that is." He responded. But from that point, his voice became a bit gloomier. "I, I really want to tell you who I truly am and, but I just… can't at this moment. But I'll promise you once we get through this, I'll tell everything. No more secrets to hide." Akira smiled wholesomely while offering a pinky promise.
Ryuko just couldn't resist. He just seems like a guy she can really trust, and as a bonus, he was as playful as Mako when laxed but serious and badass in combat. Well, the playful side still was won by Mako and she couldn't be replaced. So, she accepted and both shook a pinky promise. And Pinky promises never breaks. "H-hey… I know you aren't the guy who I could ask you this question, but… How do you think my mother was?" Ryuko looked at the roof, wondering how her mother figure was she never met on her life. "I was so busy with my dad I never had time to think about mom… I know that what dad told me was true, but…"
Akira was a bit conflicted on how to respond his question. He didn't knew much about Ryuko, let alone being the fact that he was from a whole different dimension than she. "To be frankly, I don't know how to answer your question." Akira shook her head to reply. "Hey, did you ever asked your dad about your mom?"
"Well, he did." Ryuko answered. "Dad told me that her name was Miwai Matoi. When she first met her, she told me that she was as spunky and tough as I am now, but she still had that kind and lovely heart. She also used to sing a lullaby when I was still on her womb, to the point I had it stuck on my head. He also said that she had a hobby on sewing, and the clothes that I had before meeting Senketsu was a gift she made before passing away."
Akira looked at Ryuko for a moment. "I mean, I'm not your dad to say he lied or not." Kurusu then placed his palm on Ryuko's forehead. "You just need some rest sleep from now on. We'll take care of Honnouji Academy from now on. But, I can't stop you from going if you want. That is, if you feel like you can wear Senketsu with confidence…"
Ryuko heard those words and close her eyes to sleep like a newborn baby. She still had to recover both physically and mentally. Akira didn't want to pressure her even further, as she was felt the whole world against her. But well, he can relate on what Ryuko Matoi is facing, as he too had to go against the world on his final mission with his friends before the disaster.
Kurusu still sat alongside Ryuko to give her some company, but soon his curiosity would rise once he heard Senketsu, sing…?
"You're alone in the rain
Been thinking of you
You can't stop your tears
When you stayed with me just before
I want to know
Do you love me
How long you had to wait for me
You can't think of yesterday
I got in a fight
When you saw me
But I couldn't talk and sprawled out on the floor
So it's too late…" The Kamui sang a melancholic melody while closing his eye.
"For a sailor uniform, you do have quite the singer's voice." The trickster turned at Senketsu's direction, which surprised the Kamui. "Ever tried to participate on Japan go talent? Hell, we could make a good ventriloquist comedy duo."
"Aahh! S-sorry…" The sentient piece of clothes turned red like a girl confessing her feeling to her crush. "Once Ryuko mentioned something about a lullaby, it made me remember something… This, melody makes me feel like it is something important for Dr. Matoi, when she created me…"
"Maybe is because how much Ryuko loved that melody from her mother, Dr. Matoi made you remember the lyric for her to not forget her mother." Akira deduced. "But whatever it truly is, it could be a signal of you recovering your memories."
"Hmm… I hope so." Senketsu hoped that he would be close to the truth of his existence and his true purpose. "Do you think, that I was destined to be worn by Ryuko? The last time I synchronized with someone that wasn't her resulted on failure." The Kamui asked himself, memorizing back when Ogure tried to steal his powers, only for her plan to backfire.
"Maybe, but who knows? You did said that Maiko's blood was salty. Perhaps it's just an allergy you have. Speaking of which, can clothes have allergies?." The Phantom Thief deduced, filling his head with stupid questions.
"Hmmm… Now that you put it that way…" Senketsu deduced about the possibility of Akira wearing him. "Then again, I doubt that you would like to be forced to wear a exposing skirt."
Akira unleashed a slight chuckle at the black uniform's sense of humor. Kurusu was glad that Senketsu was at least on a stable mental state. "Well, maybe once when the situation gets dire, we can find out. But nothing about sucking my blood alright? I don't want to catch any allergies. And it would be also very gross."
"Alright then…" The Kamui responded.
Kurusu then laid down on the floor face-up, feeling how his bond with both Ryuko and Senketsu became stronger… Bonds… Speaking of bonds, he then remembered what happened with his bond with Nui Harime yesterday. He felt that his bond somehow just, "Broke". And after that, he sensed that his mission given into this world will not be completed until he reforged his friendship with the Grand Corturier, if he could call that a friendship of course.
He then pulled out his smartphone to contact Mikisugi and Maiko on a pirated Chat-room so the Kiryuin forces couldn't track them down. It was quite convenient that this dimension's wi-fi shares similarities with the one of his home-dimension.
*Chatroom Created*
*TakeYourHeart1996 has joined the Chatroom*
TakeYourHeart1996: Mikisugi, do you have free time?
*NudeJustice69 has joined the Chat*
NudeJustice69: I'm afraid I don't have that much time to respond to your calls Kurusu. Honnouji Academy has informed me that I will maintain my façade as the middle-aged teacher for a little while until they complete their raid. Kinda sus if you ask me.
TakeYourHeart1996: Hmm… yeah, pretty sus. (_ ) Do they know you're part of Nudist Beach? You're the leader of the group, so there could already know you.
NudeJustice69: But hey, we can use this on our favor. Speaking of favors, can Ogure enter the chat?
*EvilGenius has entered the chatroom*
EvilGenius: Sorry for not being that active. You know a genius like me takes time to develop weapons and my phone is a whole cluster to speak about when it comes on searching certain apps.
NudeJustice69: At least I'm glad that you're able to join us Ms. Ogure. Oh, I almost forgot. Our base at Osaka informed us that we got 2 ehh, particular recruits. BTW, how's the development of your ultimate Anti-Goku Uniform Weapon?
EvilGenius; I'm already done with the initial development. With this baby of mine, we'll able to fully combat the Goku Uniforms of thr Kiryuin alongside the Life Fibers and we won't need anymore Dotonbori Robos that makes us look like clowns.
NudeJustice69: It's D.T.R.! Anyways, still we need to keep the DTRs. With the Kiryuin having Shadows in their army and free to control as they will, we need to use as much firepower as we have on our disposal. Speaking of which, you still haven't tried your new Custom DTR Kurusu. I'm sure it will make you look great.
TakeYourHeart1996: Thanks for the kind gesture Mikisugi, but I'll pass. In my point of view, I don't think the DTRs are that good having such a noticeable design flaw. And you know that I also won't risk my own dignity for riding something that looks like a chicken.
NudeJustice69: Well, in nudist beach we pride ourselves on showing everything we have to bare. And I still I haven't introduced you to the Ultimate Double Naked DTR.
TakeYourHeart1996: ?
EvilGenius: Just let him be… He just loves to brag about his DTR. Anyways, can we already plan our defense plan for tomorrow?
NudeJustice69: Sorry for going off topic. Alright, so let's recap. The Tri-City School Raid begins the day after tomorrow at 2:00 A.M. Houka Inumuta and his team will gain total control over the access of all communications over the Kansai Region, making everyone who isn't part of the Life Fiber's forces unable to contact with anyone, thus preventing us from contacting us with one another. The Cultural Division will march forward the Abekamo Academy using Jakuzure's Noise attacks to subdue the 4 Guardians that protects the school. We already sent warning signals to the 3 schools and the mayors of the 3 cities, so they can prepare themselves for any kind of evacuation of civilians if necessary. Back with the Abekamo Academy, we'll be providing them with an Anti-Sound barrier to reflect Jakuzure's attacks and any kind of unorthodox gadget to counter attacks from her Clubs. Ira Gamagori and his Disciplinary Committee will face against the Kami-Kobe High School in Kobe, which is fitting considering all of its student are Banchous. He will attack them with Honnouji Academy's Iron Rules that are even harder than diamonds. Fortunately, I've contacted our American branch into providing those rough raffs enough equipment to combat the Iron Rules. And finally, we've come to the main dish itself, Osaka. Originally, Sanageyema was going to be the head into the invasion against the Naniwa Kinman High School, led by their Money-Loving Student Council President Kaneo Takarada, heir of the Takarada Syndicate. But thanks to Uzu's defiance to Honnouji Academy, Satsuki Kiryuin will be the one who shall lead it instead, which we can use on our great favor. This assault will be different than the rest, as Honnouji Academy will not only battle against Takarada, but all of Osaka as well. The Kaneo Syndicate has been the mortal enemy of the Kiryuin Conglomerate ever since the Japanese Economy skyrocketed. Kaneo Takarada can be very arrogant and quite annoying, but he and the syndicates are the reason Nudist Beach can stand on its two feet economically, as he gives us the necessary funds to battle Ragyo Kiryuin. Kurusu, you're our best soldier we have on our disposition. Just like Ryuko, you're the only one here who can even Satsuki Kiryuin. I would have liked to have Ryuko on our side, but knowing how destroyed she became after what happened yesterday… Ryuko is still human, so we have to respect her privacy. Back to the plan… Kurusu, you will infiltrate into Osaka as a Takoyaki vendor in the market place, as Honnouji Academy plans to destroy every trace that could help the Takaradas. If we somehow pull this off and capture Satsuki Kiryuin, we'll disrupt Ragyo kiryuin severely once we take away one of her most trusted and powerful military forces. But this plan can be a double-edge sword. If we lose the other schools and the battle for Osaka, the worst case scenario is that both you and Ryuko could be taken hostage by Honnouji Academy to power up their forces even further. So I'll ask you this once again, Akira Kurusu. Are you sure to take this risk?
TakeYourHeart69: You know me, I'll love myself to take a good gamble. And I definitely take this one for everyone the Kiryuin Family has curved stomped and all those lives they have ruined and destroyed. Now, all we need is to take care of the Shadows.
NudeJustice69: Well, for that I was thinking about having Sanageyama, Ogure and Hakodate arrive at Kobe. Tsumugu and Morgana will be deployed at the Kansai region to stop Jakuzure, meanwhile I will be at our Osaka HQ if any of you need backup. Although, I don't really know if we will win, counting how many Shadows Satsuki is using to conquer the world…
EvilGenius: How many?
Back at Honnouji Academy, their big day was almost there for them. And it shows with the large ammount of trucks parked at the front-yard of the schools. One-Stars and Two-Stars were currently carrying caged Shadows into these trucks. Some of them were like the ones the Phantom Thieves faced on the Palaces, while others are like the ones they faced in the Cinema. It was a petting zoo of very deadly demons being all transported into special trucks to deploy against the Kansai region.
"Well class, I think that the day after tomorrow is the day the Tri-City School Raid trip, and all of the Academy's best students are going to participate, which left you guys to just be left and watch over the school. Phew… Sucks to be you, but fortunately if you want to feel less miserable, us teachers have to also stay." Mikisugi told the entirety of Class-K which sighted in desperation all together. "Hey, don't get mad. At least you have it assure that today, there won't be any extracurricular classes hehe… Now, since you already know, the Student Council has forced me into teaching you Geography since the board of directors has suffered from very traumatic experiences. Since we're in the topic of the Kansai Region today, it would be good to educate you about the 3 main cities." Mikisugi then began to lecture his students.
Meanwhile, Mako wasn't paying attention as usual, as she was mostly making doodles on her notebook with a sad face. "D'oh… I wanna go, but I don't wanna… But it's a free trip, but it's also a war, but it's a full trip from Kobe to Osaka…" Mako constantly mumbled while scribbling all over her notebook doodles of Ryuko, Senketsu and Akira holding hands together and eating Takoyaki. "Hmpph… I just hope Ryuko, Ren and Senketsu are alright…"
"Ms. Mankanshoku, are you paying attention?" Mikisugi woke the bubbly girl from her trance by throwing her a piece of chalk.
"Huh? Ah!" The coconut head yelped in panic as she jumped out of her seat. "Don't eat me Mr. Mikisugi!"
"heh, can't blame ya. School can be quite boring." Mikisugi scratched the back of his head, feeling some sort of sympathy for Mako before drawing a map of japan in the chalkboard. "Still, I can't tolerate seeing students slacking off important topics in schools. They say knowledge is power after all. So Mako, can you please come to the chalkboard and point out the locations of Kobe Kyoto and Osaka?" Mikisugi made Mako pass in front to show the locations of the cities.
"Oh! That's an easy one!" She said with enthusiasm. "There's Kyoto, then there's Kobe and finally Osaka!"
Aikuro smiled, but shook his head. "I applaud you for the effort, but I'm afraid that all of them are wrong." Aikuro corrected Mako before bringing out 3 pins. "There's Kyoto, who's famous for its numerous Buddhist temples and imperial gardens. Hey, did you know that there's a temple called Honnouji? Quite impressive." Mikisugi pointed out, causing the class to mutter with one another. "Then there's Kobe, which is known for its beef." Mikisugi pinned the location of Kobe. "And finally, there's Osaka. The pride and joy of the Takarada Syndicate and world-famous for its Takoyaki." Mikisugi then pinned the last city.
"Whoooah! I've never knew that they were that near with one another!" Mako dazed on her teacher's wisdom.
"Well, they're all on a region after all. It still amazes me how you've managed to reach high school." Mikisugi was pretty amazed how someone like Mako climbed her educational ladder, despite not being that smart.
Then, the bell tolled.
"Well, seems that my time as teacher is over." Mikisugi announced his students that his teaching time was over. "At this time, you would have recess. But due to the trucks out there and the hazardous nature of the Shadows, the Student Council has advised everyone to stay on their classrooms until further notice."
Such notice upset a lot of students in Class-K as they show it with growls of irritation.
"Hey now! It's not that bad inside here. It's not like someone's gonna enter like last ti-"
SLAM!
"I NEED YOU ALL TO TAKE ME TO RYUKO MATOI!" A voice coming from the entrance of the classroom echoed all over Class-K, which made all students look at the originator of the voice. At the entrance, there was a young man the same age as Ryuko and Mako, wore a No-Star Honnouji Uniform, had some messy hair and wore glasses, with a hair-bang covering his left eye.
"Uh? Are you perhaps lost?" Aikuro asked awkwardly to the mysterious boy.
The boy completely ignored Mikisugi's presence before looking at Mako directly. "You there! You're Mako Mankanshoku right!?" He exclaimed with spirit, pointing at Mako with his arm shaking before pointing at Mikisugi. "And you must be his Home-room teacher, Aikuro Mikisugi!"
"Uh, yeah?" Both teacher and student replied at the same time in confusion about the mysterious kid.
"I knew it!" The kid cried while slamming his hand into the other. "I need you both to take me to see Ryuko Matoi!"
An akward silence passed for 5 seconds, until the teacher of Class-K made the first word. "Umm… Sorry, but I'm afraid that I can't." Mikisugi apologized while accommodating his glasses. "She couldn't come today as she was homesick. And busting into their guardian's home is just bad manners to its core."
"Huh? Who's that guy?" One of the No-Stars asked to another, which caused a chain of muttering and whispers among its students. Some were the usual compliments about how hot he was, while there were also guesses and even theories on where he appeared in the first place.
"Sorry for not introducing myself!" The kid made multiple comicall bows to Mikisugi. "My name is Shinjiro Nagita, former Club President of the Newpaper Club of Honnouji Academy!" Shinjiro introduction manifested those big letters on him.
This made Mikisugi raise some eyebrows. "A Newspaper Club you say?" Aikuro asked Nagita, raising an eyebrow. During his 3 years in Honnouji Academy, Aikuro has never heard of a newspaper Club being a thing, much less on how much the Kiryuins tend to censor the media with the help of the Jakuzure Corporation.
"Oh, yeah I forgot. The Kiryuin has censored any information about my Club, because they were too afraid for their dark secrets to be exposed!" Shinjiro exclaimed with a flamboyant voice while doing an eccentric pose. "I too was once part of the system of Honnouji Academy! I was even one of the Emperors. Me and my Club controlled the local news of not only Honnouji Academy, but also the news of all Honno City as well! But our meddling would make us walk a forbidden plan, once we discovered Satsuki Kiryuin's master plan!" Nagita then looked at the other extras, wanting their full attention. "Can't you see? You're nothing more than pawns! Pawns for the Kiryuin to use for their twisted chess game!" The mysterious teenager babbled at the No-Stars before concentrating his attention back at Mikisugi. "Forgive me for being so loud. But I can't hold these flames of passion burning eternally inside my soul, desiring for the people to rebel against the system!" Nagita cried tears while clenching his fist and biting his lower lip.
"Uhh, sure… With that attitude, I'm sure you fit better for a theater Club rather than a Newspaper Club." Mikisugi commented. Yet, he was still weird about the kid. Why would the Kiryuin even accept a Newspaper Club in the first place, if letting third parties have total control over the media will only negatively affect the envoys of the Life Fibers.
"Ehem…" Shinjiro rearranged his glasses to continue with his story. "The Kiryuin being the diabolical corporation that they are found out about their wicked scheme being exposed. I tried my best to make my fellow pieers to notice Satsuki Kiryuin's true intentions and open their eyes to the truth, but the Disciplinary committee quickly censored my article, revoked me from my Goku Uniform, my Emperor status and planned to execute me in front public to assure their dominance over Honno City with fear and ignorance! But I've managed to barely escape alive! Sadly, I couldn't save my Club members from their dreadful fates… I hid myself from the shadows of Honno City, fearing for Honnouji Academy to undoubtly find my location as their Life Fibers have eyes all over the world, blinding the innocent and pure with ignorance and manipulation! But luckily, there were 2 sparks of hope that fell from the heavens!" Nagita widen his eyes before looking at Mako dramatically, which made her shriek. "Mankanshoku! It was thanks to you that those sparks of hope were shown to me! It was when you and Akira were about to get promoted into Student Council member status! You showed me that they exists 2 heroes who were able to stand against Satsuki Kiryuin and her 4 evil gods! I'm talking about the Kamui wielder Ryuko Matoi and the rightegous Phantom Thief Akira Kurusu A.K.A. Joker!" He shouted out loudly with intensity, it echoed all over the school.
"We heard you like the annoying mega-phone you are, Paper boy!" A voice shouted from the corridors of Honnouji Academy, which resulted to be a group of hulking No-Stars who were like 9 feet tall each one, running through the hallways like a stampede of mad bulls to catch Nagita.
"Great Scoop! It's the Disciplinary Committee!" The newspaper boy cursed in anger after being found out by Gamagori's Goons. "You'll never stop me from stoping your wicked scheme! All empires must fall sooner or later!" The boy with the glasses cried while shaking his fist back and forward as he ran from the bulky lackey and jumped over Class-K's window. "VIVE LA REVOLUCIOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!" He exclaimed while falling from the window into the ground. Everyone would expect someone from falling over from that height would be dead, but from someone from a cartoony world like Nagisa, not so much.
"He's getting away! After him!" The 3 cronies then jumped to follow the kid, which left the whole classroom on an akward silence.
"How odd…" Mikisugi seem to have a lot of raised eyebrows than his 2 eyes can express. Some things on Nagita's story didn't made sense. There were some things he still didn't clarify. But if In the best case scenarios, maybe he's actually telling the truth. But what can he know? If you want to know the location where the eggs are being hidden, you must ask the mighty eagle who laid them in the first place.
There was a slight tension in Satsuki Kiryuin's chamber. The day after tomorrow is the day the schemes of the Kiryuin shall put into actions after 3 years, so everything must be fool-proof and perfect. Otherwise, Satsuki Kiryuin's whole life will be for naught.
"The Cultural Squad has all the preparations complete for the trip to Kyoto. We'll be taking the Aerial Assault Shadow Units to perceive the opposition in the air. We've be taking the Fizzy clone and the Maid Clubs with us to aid us in battle." Nonon informed everyone, showing One-Stars loading caged flying shadows in the trucks.
About the Life Fiber clone like the ones Fukuroda used with Mecha-Champion III, the original plan was for the original Honnouji Emperors to aid the Elite 4. But thanks to Akira, Hakodate and Sanageyama's betrayal and a large amount of Clubs being disbanded due to the Natural Elections, they had to use their memory clone technology.
"The Disciplinary Committee will make sure to teach Kobe a lesson." Gamagori informed everyone as the screen changed to One-Stars preparing themselves and entering the traveling trucks to invade the city. Unlike the other troop brigades, Gamagori didn't want to take any Shadows since he still stands about opposing the idea of using those Shadows, as he fear they could go berserk at any moment and injure his fellow peers.
"I've already prepared the troops of the Sports Division for the battle in Osaka. The clones of Hakodate and Sanageyama although not as strong as the originals but enhanced using Persona Fragments, shall be the sub-generals, and we've assure to take our Strongest Shadows in our disposition alongside our secret ace. This is between me and the Takaradas." Satsuki informed the rest of them.
"Just please Gamagori, if you're going to fail, don't commit senpuku. Cleaning your guts would suck balls." Nonon placed her smug comment on the table as usual as she laid on her girly couch, now with photos of the Wild card.
"No need to even think about it Jakuze. I've changed." Gamagori responded, referring on how Akira changed his point of view and how to be from now on.
"The Tactics and Information division is already taking action over the digital Territory." Inumuta informed the group while showing the Sewing, Mathematics and Computer Club in action. "Me and Iori have already taken over the entire network of the Kansai region and we've sent Seekers and Ravens if technology fails us, which I really doubt."
Satsuki seem pleased that all preparations were almost ready. She only needs to know one thing… "Iori, are the S.M.T. Uniform finally ready?" The Kiryuin contacted the Emperor to know if the next evolution of her Goku Uniforms are finally finished from developing.
"Yes, Milady. It may have took us a lot of casualties and tries, but our mass produced Anti-Kyoto, Anti-Kobe and Anti-Osaka stabilized Goku Uniforms are finally finished." Iori informed his superior. "They're being handed over to all of our non-No-Star students as we speak. With these, I'm sure you'll be able to use powers similar to Akira Kurusu's Personas uses. We've also finished the development of your Ascension Dress if we've crossed with the Phantom Thieves during our raid trip to the Kansai region."
"Excellent." Satsuki smirked in satisfaction. "Gamagori, are you sure you don't want to take a Shadow unit with you? We've been planning this for 3 years and we need to use any means necessary for our crucial step through world domination and liberation."
"It won't be necessary." Gamagori bowed. "I think that my own strength and resolve alongside the grit and sense of Justice of my soldiers are enough to face off the gangs of Kami-Kobe."
Satsuki looked at Gamagori with a cold narrow. "It's because of Kurusu, isn't it… Fine, do what you want, but I expect no apologies or excuses if you fail me for your insolence."
"No need to worry, I won't fail." Gamagori promised to not go defeated this time. "Why would I fail if I have nothing to lose in the first place?"
"One more thing to tell you all." Inumuta raised his voice to catch the other's attention. "Me and Iori unfortunately haven't finished developing your new S.M.T. 3-Star Goku Uniforms, so we're forced to wear our new One-Stars uniforms until we're finished."
"They'll all been upgraded and enchanted by your battles with Ryuko Matoi, Nui Harime and Akira Kurusu, so don't look all glum…" Satsuki told her Elite Trio. "You've been beaten by Senketsu and Nui Harime, beings made from Life Fibers and Joker, an unpredictable foe strong enough to rival even my power. So consider learning from your losses." The dictatress of Honnouji told her troops, ready to make the final order, until she heard a buzz from the door of her chamber. "Yes…?" Satsuki pressed a button to talk to whoever was behind the door with her cold and dark voice.
"Uhh… Yeah, C-can I have a word with you, Lady Satsuki?" It was Mikisugi with his teacher façade. "There has been a, how can I say it… A student making a disturbance during my lectures. L-look, sorry for wanting a word with you when you're stepping into your next phase of your ambition." Mikisugi really desired a talk with Satsuki Kiryuin herself about a topic that concerns him.
"Are you sure about this Milady? We've know how tired you are right now." Soroi told his master since Satsuki got some Insomnia during the night of yesterday for all the stress she was oppressing inside her soul.
The Kiryuin didn't like to be interrupted for trivial things, but knowing that the days of the foolish masses are already numbered, why not fulfil the teacher's whim as a death wish? "Let him pass, but you only have 5 minutes maximum."
The teacher entered the nest of the eagle, walking with frightened legs to convince the 3 devas' that he was as scared as any other person.
The teacher and the Student Council President looked at one another for about 10 seconds.
"Well, aren't you're going to ask me a question? Or are you just going to waste my time?" Satsuki asked the teacher, constantly tapping her chair with her index finger.
"Y-yeah, sorry… it's just that phew… I'm talking with THE Satsuki Kiryuin." Aikuro stammered. "It's just, I've been serving you and Honnouji Academy ever since your mother founded this school, despite even when I'm at least higher than the No-Stars in status, still bellow the One-Stars. Anywho… there's been this kid I haven't heard about."
"And who is it?" She asked.
"His name's… Shinijiri Nagita. He responded that he was a former Club President of the Newspaper Club and even one of the Emperors. "He just appeared out of nowhere and announce that he was about to begin a revolution or something."
"A revolution you say?" Satsuki was already beginning to develop a slight headache. First Nudist Beach, then Ryuko Matoi, and then Joker and his band of Thieves and now some petty excuse of a revolutionary. "Inumuta, any information about the suspect?"
"Apparently, it seems so." Inumuta quickly browsed Shinjiro Nagita's info from his computer to later show it into the big screen of the chamber. "Apparently, he ran away from Honnouji Academy and destroyed his own Goku Uniform. But, it's normal to forget the name of No-Stars after all."
"Pfft! Like seriously? Why do we even still have them here if they don't contribute to anything? Well, I guess its fun to corrupt their morals to be honest." Nonon smugged in response while hugging a crocodile plushie.
"You'll see once we begin the Cultural and Sports Festival, Jakuzure." Satsuki replied to her one and only true friend's question. The No-Stars are needed to suffer and experience hatred and despair for her mother's plan after all. They'll be the lambs that shall be sacrificed for her troops to advance to her twisted ambition. "Thank you for noticing us about this, Shinjiro Nagita. We'll send the Disciplinary Committee and a Persuading Shadow squad once we return victorious from our Tri-City School Raid."
"Uhhm… T-thanks Lady Satsuki." Mikisugi made a small vow. So what has he gathered is that A) There were ACTUAL plot-holes on Shinjiro's whole backstory and B) The 3 mooks of the Disciplinary Committee that were chasing Nagita couldn't be real members. Either they already were chasing down him, but then again. All the equivalent of the police in Honnouji Academy had an extreme and undying loyalty to Gamagori and Satsuki Kiryuin, so they couldn't have acted unless these 2 have given them orders which they seem they haven't prior to this meeting. "Thank you for having time for me, Lady Satsuki. I hope you all return safely once the Raid trip is over." Mikisugi made a bow before making his exit to the chamber.
"Do we really need to act as if they don't know that we already know that he's a spy?" Gamagori faltered toward Satsuki Kiryuin once Aikuro wasn't present on the chamber.
"Let him still be shrouded on the fog of ignorance." Satsuki assured to the giant to let the teacher think they don't know about his cover. "The reason why I kept him so long in the Academy was for him to lead us to the naked fools' hideout to destroy them once and for all." The Kiryuin explained why she kept Mikisugi in his teacher position for a long time. "I could have just kill him years ago, but I thought that having the leader with us would be much better."
"Oh! Following the ant's path to its colony to burn it all down, I just loooove how malicious you can get Lady Satsuki." Nonon smirked while waving her baton left and right. She just took any opportunity to praise her friend if shown the chance.
"But now that we're settled on…" The lady of war got up her chair as she stood up with Bakuzan as she usually does, causing a pure white light with some black glow to envelop her. "I've expect a lot from you as commanders on the battlefield. Lead my troops and soldiers to victory, my 3 devas! Be sure to give it you all once we begin the day after tomorrow at 02:00 A.M." She exclaimed to her closest people with spirit and pride.
"Roger!" The Elite Trio and Iori saluted as they fled the chamber with exuberantly speed as if they were cartoons, leaving the room for only her and Soroi.
"Some tea to light up your stress, milady?" Soroi offered Ragyo's pride and joy a pot ready to serve on a tray with a cup for her to sip.
"Why would I ever deny your tea Soroi?" Satsuki sneered calmly at her butler, which he served her a cup which she sip in pleasure. "Is the chopper ready?"
"Yes milady."
"Good." Satsuki nodded. "Then let's pay mom a visit, shall we?"
SLASH!
Both Morgana and Sanagemaya clashed sword while Diego and Bellerophon did the same, causing a shockwave that blew away pieces of scraps, trash and used electronics into the air.
"Humm… You don't do it half-bad for someone your size." Sanageyama complimented the cat as he and him were clashing blades, pushing one-another to their limits.
"Heh! What can I say? They say that great things come in small packages!" Morgana replied, using the opportunity to pull back his sword and sweep between Oni Mask's legs.
"Don't think so!" Thanks to Sanageyama's Tengatsu, he quickly grab Morgana by the tail and threw the cat into the air before casting Garula to trap him in a medium-size tornado.
"Woah! Woah! Woah!" Morgana yelped as he was spinning inside the twister, trying to find a way out of this situation. But maybe there was. He only needs to wait for the monkey to foolishly strike him.
"Seems you're having too much fun on the wacky twister!" Sanageyama seems too determined as he pulled out the case from his new Katana. "Why not join the spin party?" He proclaimed as he began to spin and spin like a top. "Take no tsuisuta!" Sanageyama who now looked like a green tornado jumped into his own twister, hitting the cat several times. "Now to cut down the cat!" Uzu then charged his katana with a windy aura to give the final blow. "Gaaaah! Meee-"
"Gotcha!" Morgana quickly shoot out a ball from his slingshot that exploded into a cloud of ink once it hit Uzu's face, covering his face in ink and inactivating his Tengatsu.
"Aaah! Not again!" He agonized in frustration as he tried to get the ink out of his face.
"Ready Diego?" Morgana then got out of the twister and summoned his Persona as he prepared his sword. "Puntazo de la Justicia!" Morgana shouted as Diego thrusted his sword at Sanageyama's stomach, causing him to spit out some saliva.
BAM!
"Aahh! Damnit!" Sanageyama screamed as he was blasted into an iron wall. "Geez, for a cat you're quite a pain in the butt to deal with, aren't ya?" Sanageyama got up before transforming Bellerophon back into his mask.
"For the last time I'm not a- ARGH! Forget it! I don't care anymore." Morgana snarled at Oni Mask's commentary as he put down his Tailor's Saber and walked toward the recently-defeated Kendo President to give him a paw. "Here, this should put you back on track." Morgana used Diego's Diaraham on Uzu to heal any injuries caused by his sparring.
"Hum… Thanks buddy." Sanageyama thanked the burglary cat before sitting on the ground to give Morgana a headpat. "Phew… How can you go full trigger happy while I become tired as crap from the slightest magic thing my Persona uses?"
"It's just a matter of training your heart. Not literally, but I think you have my point." Morgana told Uzu. "Using Persona skills tends to tire its user and more when the attack is stronger. That's why you must have at least weaker versions of your skills to not waste your energy quickly." Morgana adviced the green-haired thief before offering him a bottle of fresh water to hydrate himself, which Uzu accepted to drink. "Believe me, me and Joker were on the Phantom Thief business for a long time, so we barely break a sweat. But hey! You do possess your Tengatsu. I mean, you were a part of the Elite 4 for a reason, right?"
The both were at the local dump of the slums to spar with one another. Morgana was teaching Sanageyama how to use his Persona with more efficiency after yesterday's sloppy moves he did. It still strange him how someone from another world was able to awaken a Persona outside of the Metaverse.
"Speaking of which *Gulp* *Gulp* how did you and Akira met in the first place? I doubt that he found you on some sort of creepy pet shop straight out of horror movies." Sanageyama wondered how a cartoon cat met the trickster while taking big gulps from a bottle of water he brought up prior to their warm-up.
"Well, it was quite simple actually." Morgana told Uzu. "Remember when he told you about the abusive P.E. Teacher? Well, it seems that the bastard's distortions were so twisted it gave form to literal castle. That's what we call a Palace."
"A Palace?" Sanageyama owled in confusion. "Alright, I think we're touching more complicated stuff. You would expect from me to not want to understand your mumbo jumbo, but counting that I'm officially part of your Phantom Thieves, it would be fair to know the things you know."
"A-are you really sure? You know it could potentially blow your mind." Morgana warned the green-haired boy about his long-ass explanation.
"Pffft! Come on, just tell the good and juicy stuff." Sanageyama seem to not hold remorse and very eager on the dump of exposition he was gonna be flattened by.
Morgana let out a small sight, preparing himself. "Alright, but I warned ya. It all begins with the Palaces…"
30 minutes of very boring exposition later…
"And that's when shadows are born." Morgana finished up his explanation. Which let Sanageyama's brain to almost melt into juicy pink stuff.
"So many… Information… Must…" Sanageyama's mind got raped by the rapid information he was blasted by, he had to put his mind to rest for a lot of time.
Ring! Ring!
Ring! Ring!
Mona heard a ringing coming from Sanageyama's phone. He checked first from who was calling, only to discover it was a group call between Mikisugi and Tsumugu. "This is Mona speaking."
"Oh Mona, sorry for interrupting your training with Sanageyama, but this is urgent. By the way, is Uzu okay there?" Mikisugi asked the cat while he was on his apartment alongside Maiko Ogure, still finding any information about the mysterious Shinji Nagita.
"Yeah, let's just say that he needs some rest to say the least." Morgana contested as he looked at the battered Sanageyama.
"Right… Tsumugu, is Hakodate still with you?" Mikisugi asked his trusty companion if the ex-empress was also there to speak up. Both of them were practicing their marksmanship in the thieve's den for the soon-busy day.
"Well, I've already finished with my training session, but the chick here seems too determined to not stop." Kinagase informed his boss as Omiko was still training her sniping skills by shooting down clothes as targets. "So, are you going to tell us something or you just called us 2 to irritate our balls up?"
"Well, some things never change…" Mikisugi sighted. "Anyway, I've finished up counting the soldiers and Shadows they will deploy for the Raid Trip. For no one's surprise, they're putting all the meat on the grill." Mikisugi told the 2. "Unfortunately, I'm not able to send the information the other schools and HQ as Satsuki Kiryuin has control over all communication webs around Kansai. The only thing we can do is hope that they're prepared at least.
"So it'll be a full-out assault, eh?" Tsumugu was not that surprise for the witch's daughter to plan out a full assault to Kansai with her old and new troops. "Do you think the Grand Corturier will be involved?"
"Well, basing ourselves on what happened yesterday, it's mostly safe to assume that Satsuki would prohibit her to participate in the invasion, at least that's what we hope for." Morgana sounded a bit worried. Nui Harime was a monster out of this level, but at least she wasn't as strong as Satsuki.
"I hope that those same prayers won't summon Rei Hoomaru. She may just be the Kiryuin's secretary, but she's as deadly with the blade as she can be listed as one of the deadliest assassins." Mikisugi added to the conversation.
"Yeah, I'm still not sure why a chick like her would be allying herself with the Life Fibers? Does she know that she's only aiding on her own death?" The mohawk operative asked, still puzzled on why a normal human being like her could cooperate on Ragyo's genocide plan. "To be honest, I would ask if Ryuko is ready to fight. But, knowing how much she has suffered in Honnouji Academy, I just hope that she and the Kamui's minds still remain sane after all that bullshit they have to persist. But well, at least I can rest a bit easy knowing that Mr. Dandy looks is looking after her."
"Speaking of Mr. Dandy, Morgana, I really appreciate that you and Akira chosen to help us in what seems to be a hopeless struggle. Thanks to your friend's charisma, he has managed to give courage to the No-Stars and even bring us unbelievably valuable allies." Mikisugi thanked Mona for appearing in the first place.
"Nah, no need for those kinds of compliments. We only want to do what we think is the better thing to do." Morgana smiled on the phone for Mikisugi's comment.
"Well, no matter for now. I suggest for everyone to relax and warm up for tomorrow. Because once this is over, we're all be naked nudists." Tsumugu was about to turn off the call, until Mikisugi stopped him from doing so, as he needed to tell him something particularly important. "Now what do you want?"
"About that, I almost forget to tell you about a certain student. It's a No-Star by the name of Shinjiro Nagita." Mikisugi informed his fellow comrades about the eccentric revolutionary he met on Honnouji Academy.
"And why should we be interested on a No-Star?" Tsumugu seem to not catch Aikoro's interest or plan.
"He just bust into my classroom while I was doing the usual lecture. He told me that he's an ex-student kicked out from Honnouji Academy and former President of the Newspaper Club. He looks very interested on me taking him to meet Matoi. But seeing how crazy he is, I'm sure he's soon heading to the Mankanshoku's residence. Think you can at least watch over him? We don't know if he could potentially be an ally or perhaps an undercover agent by Honnouji Academy."
"Well, knowing that Joker's there, it'll be better to at least look. We don't want Ryuko to stress over even further." Morgana agreed, waiting for Tsumugu to respond to the leader of Nudist Beach's request.
"There are 2 things you all better know… 1: I'll go, but only to check if the girl and the Kamui are okay. 2: If this Nagita guy lays a finger on the both, he'll have a taste of what hell Is truly like, enemy OR not!" Kinagase snarled before cutting the line.
"Well, I guess that resolves that, I think." Mikisugi sighted from the usual Tsumugu attitude before he could return his attention to his laptop. "Anyways Ogure, have you met this Nagita student before?"
"That's strange… I'm sure as hell I haven't met Shinjiro in my entire life, and much less a Newspaper Club, but the Kiryuin's Main Computers administrates him as someone who was expelled." The girl with the glasses looked at the blue-haired pervert's screen to look up the former Emperor's information. She as sure as hell there was something fishy around here, and that fish was the size of a whale, with its smell being worse than a rotten egg.
Satsuki Kiryuin was already inside her private helicopter, watching her troops carry the Shadows she has captured to the trucks as her vehicle was taking her to the REVOCS tower in Tokyo. To think that her revenge scheme would almost come to fruition and soon, she would gain control over the world just to prove her mother that humanity is no one's property if she controls them. But having big ambitions can let you very tired, and the Kiryuin had to sleep few hours to digest the madness that happened yesterday. "Soroi, could you wake me up once we arrive?" She asked kindly to her butler as if she was some sort of child, but her reasons were understandable. A fine lady needs its beauty sleep after all.
"Well of course Lady Satsuki." He responded without questions.
The dictator felt safe in closing his eyes and rest for the moment. She estimated that the REVOCS tower would take at least 4 hours to arrive there, so she had time to recover mentally. She closed her eyes to let herself rest for a while…
…
…
…
Once Satsuki Kiryuin opened her eyes, she looked around and saw that the chopper looked different, alongside its passengers. With the only exception being Soroi who looked normal, except for the pilot who took the form of a game-board avatar piece. In fact, when she looked at the window, she noticed that the entire ground and cities above her took the form of a game board and other types of games.
This type of situation made her remember something. It was like that dream she had about her and Joker with her being the ruler of a palace made out of games, guarding a book that was considered her treasure. First, she must prove a theory of hers to be true before giving a conclusion. She just thought of her favorite book Les Miserables to appear on her hands, which resulted on her desire to be fulfilled. "This must be a lucid dream." She concluded.
"It's more than just a dream, and deep inside your heart, you know I'm telling the truth..."
"What the!? Was that… My voice?" That voice caught the Kiryuin by surprise, but then she remembered that this was just a stupid dream. Yet, what the ominous voice said, whatever the hell was, she knew it wasn't a dream. "And how much more are you talking about? Whoever you are, you're just a product of my consciousness, and I can easily dispatch you with just a thought."
"Is that so? Then how do you plan on disposing…?" The voice that resembled Satsuki's with that Shadow-self voice then came out of the shadows to reveal who truly was. And for no one's surprise, it revealed himself to be a child version of Satsuki like the one when she went to preschool, wearing a king costume and having those golden yellow eyes. "Yourself…?"
"Guuh!" by just looking at the other self, she felt an otherworldly chill down her spine. Most of the time, Satsuki Kiryuin would show herself cold-hearted and proud against even the scariest abominations this world has to offer. She had to purge her fear to fulfill her ambitions after all. And yet, an incredibly young version of herself produced immense and honest attacks of anxiety and panic that were big enough to even touch her soul.
"Can't you recognize yourself?" The small Kiryuin asked as she looked up the real one. "The lack of bravery and self-confidence reflecting through your eyes says that you do…"
"Hmm… Then if you're indeed what I think you are…" The lady of war quickly drew her Bakuzan into the child's throat. "What is stopping me from killing a part of myself I deem unnecessary?"
Satsuki though that the "Impostor" was as weak as a child, but behind that child demeanor, she didn't showed signs of submission. Once Satsuki descend her sword to slice her Shadow-self in half, the other Satsuki stopped the attack by just holding the sword and push it, causing the real Kiryuin to back until she crashed against the plastic wall of her chopper. "Indeed. I am your repressed feeling you fear to expose to the masses. I am your wrath, your inner fears, your envy to what the inferior masses possess, your insecurities, your twisted desires…" The Shadow introduced herself as that ugly part the lady of war refused to aknowledge. "After all, I am you, and you are me. Denying my existence is denying yours."
The Kiryuin still tried to show herself to be the usual brave commander everyone knows her for, and yet she felt that this "Shadow" was even worse than the others she has enslaved. "The look of your eyes… They're look like the ones Mankanshoku had once she wore the S.M.T. Goku Uniform… But…"
"You though I didn't have feeling of my own? That I was just some sort of disease that you can just cure in an instant?" Shadow Satsuki stripped the words of the heiress of the Kiruin out of her mouth right away.
The cold lady looked down once her Shadow opened her mouth to give her opinion. "If that's the case, how were you able to free yourself? I've never remember doing something stupid to let my weak self be free."
"That's easy to answer. Ever since you met Akira Kurusu and put on that Kamui, it allowed me to finally get out from the prison of your heart." The Shadow told her. "You were never controlling me in the first place, you were just rejecting your other self all this time." Shadow Satsuki stepped forward as her menacing presence became more intense. "You think you are some sort of god? No. If we were to strip you away from your clothes and mask, you'll end up just like me. A small and weak child doing a tantrum masquerading as a holy crusade, even when you're too afraid to even rebel against your mother. We're not that different from our dear mother. We treat those we deem "Ugly" as Pigs in human clothing, twisting and corrupting their ideals for our own self-benefit. What even separates us when even if the Life Fibers are exterminated, we'll lead humanity into ruin?"
Satsuki gritted her teeth and clenched her fist. Who was she to speak her that way? "Don't dare to question my ambitions!" She cried in anger, creating a sword beam and threw it to Shadow Satsuki, only for the Shadow to deflect it by slapping it as if it were a mondaine fly. "Tch… Lecture me all you want! You will cease to exist along with Juketsu once I have a Persona of my own, making you worthless from now on!"
The Shadow just snarled on the BS Satsuki Kiryuin bellowed. "Kinda funny that the 18-year-old adult is acting like a child around here. I'm sorry, but a rotten fiend such as you will never obtain a Persona, much less considering that Ryuko Matoi fits better to awaken one."
"Stop insulting me, SCUM! What do you know about Personas that I don't?" Satsuki roared in frustration.
"Want to awaken your one? Why don't tell that to Akira Kurusu and look yourself into a mirror?"
With those words, the ruler of Honno City snapped, leaving pure and senseless rage corrupting her mind. "I told you…" She grasped Bakuzan as strong as she could, it was almost on its breaking point before jumping over her little counterpart. "TO SHUT UP ALREADY!" She raised her Bakuzan ready to slice the Shadow up in pure frustration, but once her swords contacted the Shadow's head…
"LADY SATSUKI!"
"AAAH!" The daughter of Ragyo Kiryuin finally escaped her lucid dream seeing how both Soroi and Rei Hoomaru looked concerned. Her face had sweat all over it after experiencing such unorthodox event. But she swore that dream felt real, way too real to even be considered a dream. "S-sorry… It was just a nightmare." The Kiryuin apologized by making a small bow.
"You had us worried, Lady Satsuki. You were beginning to sweat constantly and we just hoped nothing happened to you." Soroi told his mistress with worry as he handed her a towel to her to swipe the sweat out of her face. After all, her beautiful face must look perfect every time she presents herself to everyone. That was something her mother used to tell her all the times when she was raised by her.
"Forgive us for looking too concerned about you Lady Satsuki, but as Lady Ragyo's biological child and heir to the Kiryuin Conglomerate, it is also my responsibility to look after you and assure that you're okay all the time." Rei affirmed as she also did a bow. Surprisingly, Rei Hoomaru cared for Satsuki Kiryuin and showed general care and love for her. But unlike Soroi, she was blissfully unaware that the child of the woman she admires the most and could consider a mother figure could care less about her and was only using her alongside her mother as mere tools for the accomplishment of her twisted goals. "Lady Ragyo is waiting for your arrival at the REVOCS auditorium. She's looking forward to your plans for the Tri-City School Raid Trip and the Cultural and Sports Festival." She informed the child of Ragyo as she began to type on her tablet. "She would also like to discuss about the Phantom Thief issue alongside introducing you to new members for our plan. You want me to escort you?" The Life Fiber Envoy's secretary questioned the lady of war if she would like her to guide her to her next destination, not doubting that the Kiryuin can do it herself alone.
Satsuki created a small and soft smile on her face by the girl's determination to help the Kiryuin, even when she's fully aware that it will result on the Earth's demise and soon, the closure of the book of existence itself. "I truly appreciate your dedication on serving the Kiryuin Hoomaru, but there's no need for an owl to help an eagle if it has sharp eyes." The ruthless vixen just denied the assistant's help in this case. "But… I cannot stop you from flying on my back." She told her as she walked her way into the tall tower that symbolizes the Kiryuin superiority over everyone else in the world…
At the top of the REVOCS tower, Ragyo Kiryuin was looking herself on a mirror made out gold and diamonds, that was big enough to reflect the monstrous vanity and ego from the most powerful woman of this world. She was putting herself a purple lipstick, but stopped from pampering her face once she saw the pink lolita's reflection out on her mirror. "Hmm… Seem you caught me by surprise once again, Grand Couturier. Say, is there something to report?" She asked her 2nd child and her 2nd masterpiece that was standing with that unsettling smile.
"Emm… Well, let's just say that a little tweety told me that your mini-you came home to visit you. I just hope she's still mad about the incident of yesterday, hihihi!" She jiggled placed her index finger under her lips while still spinning her new Evoker.
"Ausgezeichnet… I'll be sure to welcome my dear daughter how she deserves to be greeted. Though, I'm holding my expectations high to receive an entrance worth of the Kiryuin's name." Ragyo promised to be down in a minute without even turning her head. Just watching Nui in the mirror was enough. "As for the time being, be sure to behave like the good girl that you are. But, if you feel bored, feel free to treat our 2 new guests with care." Ragyo then pointed her hand to Brief and Nova's directions, who both were at Ragyo's desk wearing white tuxedos.
"Uhh… I-I still don't feel quite comfortable with this, body structure." Brief still felt uncomfortable by how the sudden artstyle of this world re-calibrated his appearance and bone structure. He swore that he now felt taller and his face less round. Not to mention his feet looking very strange.
As for Nova, he was relief he didn't had to take a chibi form anymore. Although, the aura of this world felt oddly familiar to say the least. As if he already visited a world similar to this one.
"Okie dokie. Break a leg down there, Lady Ragyo! Oh wait, you can regenerate it anyways!" Nui joked before turning her head 180 and slowly approached the boys. "Ohohohoho… We're gonna have a lot, lot, lot, lot, lots of fun the 3 of us…"
At the REVOCS Tower's auditorium, there were thousands of men In suits all looking the same, similar on how most One-Stars in Honnouji Academy do, each of them waiting for the arrival of both Kiryuins to shower them in their graceful light.
It didn't took that long until that rainbow light began to fill the room with awe and beauty of the CEO.
"Gentlemen, may I ask you… What is clothing?" The voice of Ragyo Kiryuin echoed all around the auditorium for his men to hear with their 2 ears while she descends from the elevator like an angel coming down from the heavens.
"Clothing is Sin! The original sin!" The agents exclaimed all at the same time with the same tone and obedience, up to the point it was pretty disturbing.
"Correct." Ragyo then showed herself from the elevator, which released a dramatic smoke among all her minions. To present herself, she picked her usual feathery dress to show her pale-skinned glory to her subordinates.
HEEL CLICK!
"Indeed that Clothing is sin. The sin of suppression." Ragyo softly spoken to everyone as she elegantly walked the isle like a fashion model, bearing the rainbow light symbolizing her superiority over everyone else. "After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit of knowledge tempted by the serpent despite God's warning, they gained free will of their own, no longer being chained to the Lord's will. But the fools became so ashamed of their nakedness, they used leaves to cover up their bodies. In act of punishment, God banished them both from the garden of Eden for their rest of their lives, condemning them to roam the faces of the earth." On that moment, Ragyo turned her gorgeous body to face all of her agents.
HEEL CLICK!
"From the moment humanity gained free will, they have been destined to cover their bodies in Sin. Fulfil their Lust, satiated their Gluttony, unbound their Wrath, satisfy their Greed, express their Envy and boast their Pride. From that point on, the Life Fibers fed humanity with blissful sin like the filthy pigs they are." Ragyo raised her arms for her employees to see all over the auditorium. "And us the Kiryuin, ever since the Dark Ages, have provided the masses all types of sins for them to feast upon. No matter if it is politics, wage wars or anything that just boosts human's sense of superiority, the Kiryuin were always there pulling the strings from the shadows."
Then, the Kiryuin made her spectators look at the screen above her, portraying an atlas of the entire world, with most countries having the Life Fiber pattern.
"As you can see gentlemen, the clothing made by REVOCS has been sold by 90% of the world, up to the point of almost controlling the entirety of the textile industry's market without anyone noticing that we've stitch every one of our products with dormant Life Fibers, leeching out of their existence until the promised day arrives soon and the Spiral Nemesis rises from this prison the outer gods called our world. And thanks to my daughter and Honnouji Academy's recent discoveries, we've confirmed that there's a vast universe out there for the Life Fibers to feast upon. But… why do we create clothes? Is it because of the money? Is it because we expect a reward for serving the Primordial Life Fiber? No…" Ragyo asked on an ironic way before showing a malicious grin . "Followers of the Life Fibers have attained the absolute truth of the universe, and thus we exactly know men's sins and desires. We manufacture clothes for the sake of clothing! We make clothes only to serve the Life Fibers in their quest of destruction and domination. We all could care less if we die in the process, by being the servants of the ones that gave us existence and purpose is one of the greatest virtues of all." The rainbow which asserted her objectives to everyone at the auditorium as her light became brighter and brighter. "So I'll ask you once again, WHAT IS CLOTHING!?" Ragyo cried on a psychotic way, until a pure white light flashed at the other side of the auditorium, rivaling the matriarch's light in terms of brightness.
HEEL CLICK!
"Clothing is the world!" Satsuki Kiryuin stepped in, facing her mother while having both Rei and Soroi on her behind, standing proud and stoic like a Kiryuin. "The absolute will that covers and binds everything and everyone in its red thread of fate!" The young Kiryuin continued monologuing. "The will that covers the earths, the oceans, the skies, the stars, the heavens, the pits of hell, the truth and humanity itself!"
Ragyo in response on seeing her offspring's arrival and showing an entrance worth of the Kiryuin, smirked in approval. "Correct. That, is the will of the COVERS…"
"Welcome back Lady Satsuki!" Nui Harime surprised Satsuki Kiryuin as she and the others accompanied her mother into her office.
"Ghm… I appreciate your hospitality Nui Harime…" Satsuki gritted her teeth while dissimulating she was glad about seeing her again after the Sudden Death Run-offs incident of yesterday. witnessing her mother's office in the REVOCS HQ brings her a nostalgic breeze of memories, Watching all over the adults all over Tokyo with the gaze of childhood innocence… Still, it didn't took her long enough to catch an eye over the fact that there were 2 boys wearing girlish outfits sitting on a pink tea table. "Excuse me mother but, is there a reason for these strangers staying on your office?"
"Oh right." Ragyo smirked at her daughter's question. "They're guests of honor of mine and also the key to take our ambitions even further. These sweet angels are Briefs and AΩ Nova. Why don't you say hi?" Ragyo asked her new "Children" to wave to her masterpiece.
"Umm… Hi?" Brief awkwardly waved his left hand at Satsuki, a bit dumbed down due to drooling over Satsuki's sexiness and overbearing size of her humps. By Nui referring about fun, he didn't thought it would be literal. He would rather be dead rather than taking this embarrassment any longer.
Nova simply waved his hand as he seems very apathetic about the situation. He was just wondering, where will this take him? Will he be reunited with Luluco? Shall be ever feel love ever again?
"By the way, it's good to meet you again Soroi. I know that taking care of my dearest Satsuki can be quite the chore, but it is rewarding am I right? Tell me, how is your nephew doing at the Sewing Club, me being his mentor in the creation of Goku Uniforms surely gives high hopes on the boy, won't you agree?." Ragyo asked the butler as he only stand by the door to not interfere with the conference between mother and daughter.
"Well of course. Iori has been perfecting his skills as a Life Fiber sewer. He's even been developing higher-quality Goku Uniforms than the ones he has manufactured 2 years ago." Soroi replied a bit nervous. Having a powerful woman as Ragyo felt like you were standing at the gates of hell itself.
Satsuki didn't put that much importance over the boys or her mother by the moment, but she will undoubted and mercilessly dispose of the 2 strangers if they possess a danger to her own ambitions. Suddenly, she felt an unsettling feeling around her body. As if 2 hands began to touch her on parts, she would despite being touched.
"Seems that wearing Junketsu is quite a chore, isn't it?" Ragyo whispered on her daughter's ear while touring her slender fingers all around the Kamui, touching the girl's breasts and rear ends on a very erotic way. "I remember wearing it the first-time my mother encouraged me to put it on. Though not being a hybrid to resist a Kamui at the time, I can say that being able to dominate completely a wild beast like Junketsu is quite admirable. But well, what can I expect from a child of the COVERS?"
"I appreciate your praise mother…" Satsuki Kiryuin has been molested by her mother numerous times, as she did it to assert dominance over her. She always desires for her mom to stop acting like a creep, but showing any kind of rebellion toward Ragyo could be fatal for her ambition. "However, I'll like to complain about something mother."
"Yes, my dear?" Ragyo was full ears.
"I though you disciplined Nui Harime into not bother me while I'm working. Although the Grand Corturier has been proven herself to be an important asset to us, the only thing she has done thus far by meddling around my domain without my permission, slowing down the preparations for the sacrifices to the Life Fibers." The young mistress of Honnouji complained about the Grand Corturier getting in her way. "That's why I ask you the most politely way to keep her out of my realm while i'm busy developing our plans to expand our empire."
"Well, you can't blame moi for trying to show some support for my wee little sister." Nui puffed her cheeks while playing with Satsuki's hair, seemingly sneaking behind her. "Besides, it's not my fault for your No-Stars are becoming more moralized about turning against the system, right?"
"Hmmm…?" The Kiryuin matriarch raised an eyebrow in wonder on what Nui Harime was referring to. "Well, even if I would wish to resolve this, I'm afraid that I just can't." Ragyo sighted before sitting on her chair at the desk. "Even a woman like me has things out of her reach. You know how Nui Harime is a free spirit, and I can't just restrain her artistic freedom. So please, as Chair of the Board of Directors I would like to at least let the Grand Couturier wander again. Then again, if the Grand Couturier misbehaves in an undesirable way that could endanger our vision, be sure to let me know." Ragyo tasked Satsuki while pinching one of the High Order Tailor's squishy cheeks.
"I will." Satsuki did not had any other option, ash she couldn't oppose her mom's ideals, for now… "Now that were done, I guess we can finally start to talk about the main topic." Satsuki shook off the Grand Corturirer's attitude off her to begin her talk with dearest mother. "Hoomaru, begin."
"Yes, Lady Satsuki." Hoomaru then began to project a videorecording of the monstrous Ryuko rampaging all over Honnouji Academy.
"Is this what you want to discuss about? The transfer student Ryuko Matoi and her Kamui Senketsu?" The Kiryuin matriarch gazed at the screen by looking at the absolute destruction the fiend was leaving with every step of her monstrous feet it takes. "La vie est drôle… To think that Dr. Matoi would send her daughter and poor excuse of a Kamui to dethrone us." Ragyo then walked slowly to the screen to have a better look at the recording on the screen. "Although, I must admit that for a God Robe made by humans, it does have quite the destructive capacity." The pale mistress then briefly turned her head to look at Satsuki.
"Indeed, it is." The lady of war with an iron will agreed. "When she was first enrolled into Honnouji Academy, our branches were left without words once she showed her face again wearing Kamui Senketsu. Although reckless in nature, unpredictable and responsible for the mass amount of destruction of Goku Uniforms and our main forces being our One-Stars and Club Presidents, including 5 Emperors of Honnouji, she hasn't posed any true threat to our plans for world domination, despite her desire to know discover who killed Dr. Matoi. Which at this point, she's been reported that her fighting spirit has been broken." She informed the Devil in white. "Although, I cannot say the same thing about the other one…" Satsuki clenched her fists as strong as she could by only thinking about Joker's shit-eating cocky grin. Every time she thought about him, she just wanted to punch him in the face even stronger
Once Satsuki Kiryuin began her discussion about her no-so-favorite student, Ragyo showed a lot of interest on the Trickster. "Oh, by the other one, you're talking about you're referring to Akira Kurusu, or as he likes to call himself Joker. Is that about right?"
"Hmm… It surprised me how you got my words out of my mouth."
"Well, what can I say? As your mother, I should know what is going on inside your head." Ragyo smugly grinned like the usual award mother.
"Hmm… As I continue." Satsuki redirected her mom's attention to her report. "It was unexpected the apparition of Akira Kurusu. When I tasked Takaharu Fukuroda to dispose of Ryuko Matoi prior of her adquiring Kamui Senketsu, he threw himself and saved her from being killed. He didn't seem to wear any kind of Goku Uniform and yet he managed to out-perform a 2-Star. Even stranger, none of our branches from our conquered schools in Japan or neither the government's archives have any data about who Akira is. No Birth date, no home-town, no information about his parents or anything."
"Hmm… Ziemlich amüsant indeed…" Ragyo softly spoken while taking out 2 artistic crystal glasses and serving herself a cup of her most fine and expensive wine for her and Satsuki to enjoy. Think of it as some sort of family bonding event. "Here, for my one and only daughter."
"Thank you, mother." Satsuki accepted her superior's glass for her to drink and took a zip. "Risky, yet the taste is elegant. Hehe, I had to heritage my taste for fine thing from someone." Satsuki giggled without changing the positions of her big eyebrows. Despite her burning hatred the Student Council President had against her mother, there was no doubt that she has inherited some of the CEO of REVOCS' traits like her taste for fine food and wine and complex of superiority. "If you allow me to continue…"
The Matriarch only nodded in response with a chuckle, which greenlighted her bastard child to continue.
"Once Fukuroda re-captured Kurusu and foolishly challenged him to a fight, it was at this moment he awoken his enigma of a power, or better known as his Persona." Satsuki then ordered the secretary of the Kiryuin to swap the presentation to show an image of both Arsene and Raoul. "When me and Kurusu talked person to person, he explained to me that these Personas are a manifestation of someone's soul that awake once someone's spirit burn with the desire to rebel. I've had no choice, but to enroll him as a student of Honnouji Academy by force to analyze his skills and power, and see if I could find a way to get those power as a mean to help with your plans to enslave the masses. At first, he seems to be a great asset for Honnouji Academy as he was a key factor from stopping the unchained 5-Star experiment that ran rampant through the halls of Honnoji and more when he became one of the Emperors of Honnouji Academy, aiding us into defending our main buildings from any opposing forces, despite his Fight Club being the Club with the least members out of anybody. Yet, seems that my worst thoughts would come true of him becoming our greatest foe."
"Well, what can be expected from a lost lamb that has lost everything?" Ragyo sighted while sipping her glass of wine with elegance.
"Even when he did his best to follow Honnouji's Iron rules, he has caused a lot of irredeemable damage to the Kiryuin system with his ideals and acts of vandalism. From interfering in official Honnouji Business by saving Matoi from Fukuroda, allying himself with Ryuko Matoi, aiding the Anti-Uniform Guerilla on his escape, rallying the No-Stars to the academy at No-Tardies day, he even managed to put former Tennis Club President Omiko Hakodate, Former Head of the Trap Division of the Disciplinary Committee Maiko Ogure and even the likes of former Kendo President and member of the Elite 4 Uzu Sanageyama against us… and even…" The last though on her head made her calm expression turn into a frustrated frown. Even in her own inner thoughts, she can't stand someone being superior to her. Yet, she can't stop from having some slight respect toward the thief in general.
"Ohh… That's quite the shame. A leader's charisma that can move and motivate the ignorant masses out of their comfort zone is quite the scary power, even scarier than any Goku Uniform." Ragyo quickly how the new student was able to gather disciples from her forces. "That's why you and Kurusu make quite the match." Ragyo then hugged her sweet little pie to calm her nerves. Satsuki Kiryuin even when knowing the monster of a woman her mom is, she still had that motherly aura around her. That of course, referring it on a very twisted way. "But of course, I'm expecting you to not commit that slip up again, understand…?"
"Y-yes mother…" The young Kiryuin stammered while the superior pale woman liberated her child out of her warm Life Fiber arms. "Although, his intermission to our plan has led to some benefits to our forces." Satsuki then to Rei to change the presentation on the screen once again to show footage of the captured Shadows. "As you may know, strange creatures Akira likes to refer as Shadows have plagued all over Honno city, leaving us with property destruction and a lot of casualties, students and citizens alike. They seem to come in 2 varieties, ones that wear masks and others that resemble mythological creatures. It was hard to contain them as we weren't sure how many of them have appeared, but thanks to the efforts of the Hunter's Club and the Sewing Club, we've managed to obtain new military power to our forces." Satsuki then showed an image of the caged Shadows in the Time-out chambers, all for her mom and Grand Corturier to see. "As you can see, me and the bright minds of Honnouji Academy have put our efforts into analyzing these beasts, which lead us to the conclusion that the Shadows are quite compatible with Life Fibers, which lead us into experimenting their anatomy. Our question was if we could be able to fuse them with Life Fibers, thus creating Life Fiber Shadow Hybrids as a result. Forgive me for not telling you this earlier mother."
"To the contrary, my dearest child." The older Kiryuin grinned maliciously in response, seeing how being out of this world can resonate perfectly with Life Fibers, which was quite the oddity. But considering that these Shadows are manifestation of repressed emotions, it made the surprise a bit less interesting. "It is great for you to share the wonders of the Life Fibers to all beings in existence. It's just part of the Kiryuin to spread the will of these beauties after all."
"Like Seriously, what the hell are these hot mamas talking about?" The Geek boy still didn't had the slightest idea on what was happening. Which Nova only shook his head in response.
"As I like to continue, it was hard to tame these beasts. But luckily Inumuta and Iori have resolved this problem by creating a special collar that makes these Shadows completely bend to our will." Satsuki Kiryuin then ordered Soroi to hand her a sample of one of her S.C.C. collars to show her mother. "Using these Shadow Suppression Collars fueled by the essence of Akira's own soul that we dubbed Persona Fragments, we've able to suppress the Life Fiber infused Shadows into submission, making these beasts obey every command Honnouji Academy gives them. Including your, mother… We've recently finished working on a special S.C.C. to put Akira under our commands once we capture him."
"How delightful." The Kiryuin head honcho only responded while sipping her wine.
"Hey Lady Satsuki, do you think once this is over… Can you give me one of those cute Shadows as a pet?" Nui asked her sis while lying over Ragyo's desk without no one noticing.
"I'll take that into consideration." The lady of war responded to take Nui out of her sight. One of the things she despises about her is her saccharine personality that always makes her meddle her nose with someone's else's stuff. "And that brings me into my most important question."
"Yes, my deary?"
Satsuki stood straight and tall, just like a military. "Knowing the dangers that Ryuko and her Kamui and Akira Kurusu and his power to make allies whenever he goes, what is your direct command. Should we exterminate them before they become an unstoppable menace?" The Kiryuin asked her mother in order to see if it didn't interfere with her own evil agenda, as she will capture or put Akira on her side yes or yes.
"It won't be necessary my dear. To the contrary." Ragyo responded as she revealed 2 photos of Ryuko and Joker. "Seems that these 2 students of you have caught my attention recently, so I wish to at least meet them in person. For dear Akira, his unusual powers seem to be greatly beneficial to our plans. Oh! And the Life Fibers also desire a champion to fight for their glory. Don't get me wrong, you're extraordinarily strong, but seems that this "Trickster" can be essential for my secret project." When Ragyo mentioned her, Secret Project was referring to the Ultimate Kamui Shinra-Koketsu, being the final piece for humanity's destruction. "As for Ryuko Matoi, at least make sure she lives until the Cultural and Sports Festival, won't you?"
"I will." The dicator with the thick eyebrows bowed in response. "Speaking of the which, that reminds me to tell you that the Tri City School Raid Trip will begin the day after tomorrow."
"I see… How many days it will take to fulfil your crusade?" Ragyo asked was she tilted her glass cup with one of her fingers in the table.
"Not that much. One day will be sufficient, that including capturing Kurusu and destroying Nudist Beach's main HQ." Satsuki replied formally. "So, expect a guest coming to our manor tonight."
"Magnificent." Ragyo smiled, seemingly assuring that Satsuki was motivated to get Kurusu working for them. "By the way, do you want me to send out my agents to the battlefield to help you? After all, what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine."
"I'm grateful for trying to aid me mother, but I believe my and Honnouji Academy's might is enough to now bring Joker and his followers into their knees. But ordering Hoomaru to keep the Grand Corturier out of my realms until I'm finished with my work will be enough." Satsuki decline her mom's offer since she thought that they could spy on her. "After this, Honnouji Academy will reign supreme over every single school in the country, giving the Kiryuin Conglomerate total control over the Japanese educational system, meaning that REVOCS uniforms with Life Fibers on them will be supplied to every academy in Japan. Giving us one step closer to your plan to submit humanity." Satsuki informed her mother her plan and the consequences if it succeeds.
"Perfect. Then we can flesh out all the naked apes lurking behind our students, Destroying Dr. Matoi's hopes for humanity's safety." Ragyo smirked, seemingly reading her offspring's mind.
"You know my plan. I can say that you indeed are my mother." Satsuki responded, but she still had one more important question. "Although, I still have one more question. Hoomaru, comenze the final recording." Satsuki ordered the secretary, making her show the video recordings of Matoi's battle against Jakuzure and Akira, showing all those Spiral Bursts she was experiencing.
Something in Ragyo broke in a good way. "I-is that…" Ragyo stammered while getting up from her chair. Her eyes and expression widened once she saw that Ryuko Matoi flawlessly managed to tap into "S-spiral power…?"
Satsuki raised one of her eyebrows in intrigue over her mother's reaction. "Hmmm? So, you know what that burst of energy was?"
Ragyo was frozen on her place in amusement for some seconds, before landing back into reality after that jaw-dropping reveal. "My dearest Satsuki. To think that I would bring this topic this soon… But, knowing that you are mature enough for your mind to be given this knowledge…" she softly snickered as she placed one of her index fingers under her delicate lips. "Nui, can you please close the window?"
"Okie dokie!" The Grand Corturier saluted before pulling out her Scissor Blade and cutting the control panel of the windows near her with one slice, causing the windows all around them to close like how they do in super-markets, forbidding any ray of sun to enter the office, leaving a pleasant orange light flashing the room. For Ragyo didn't mind the sadistic cutie to destroy the panel as she could just summon her personal to fix it in a flash.
"Say Soroi, wouldn't you mind staying and being flooded by the truth, don't you?" Ragyo asked Satsuki's butler as she didn't want her child's servant to lose his mind and go insane.
"Oh, no. I don't mind Lady Ragyo. Watching over Lady Satsuki is more important to me." Soroi contested as he took seat alongside Briefs and Nova. "You don't mind me sitting here alongside you, young masters. Right?"
"Not at all to be honest." Nova indifferently replied.
"Though, it would be the best for you to be blissed by the truth. Hoomaru?" With only an order from the fashion goddess, her secretary brought a chair for Satsuki to sit on in front of Ragyo at the other side of the desk.
"Thank you Hoomaru." Satsuki thanked Ragyo's right hand woman for her hospitality as she sat on the seat and placed her cup of wine into the desk.
"Don't even worry of thanking me. I'm more eager to help those who helped me." Rei bowed before retiring to a wall and leave the Kiryuin conversate alone.
"Now then my dear, I have one question for you." Ragyo smugly questioned her trusted general while wavering her glass wine back and forth from her hand. "Have you ever wonder what is out there beyond our world?" She gently asked.
"Hmmm…" The Kiryuin thought it for a second. The idea of exploring what is beyond the world she knew never interested her to begin with, feeling that such desire would just give her the mindset equal of a damsel in distress waiting for her prince charming to rescue her out of the monster that was Ragyo Kiryuin. "Sorry mother, but even when the Life Fibers don't originate from this planet, my sense of adventure is non-existent inside my soul."
"Well, that's quite the shame if you ask me." Ragyo contested ironically. "But what if I told you that exists a vast universe of infinite possibilities and outcomes? And I'm not talking about simply planets, I'm referring to whole dimensions and more."
Satsuki's eyes widen on what her mother explained. If someone else would have told her this, she would cross it as nothing more than a tall tale. But considering ho enveloped Ragyo is with the Life Fibers, it could be true. "Do you mean, other dimensions…? Are you telling me that exists a multi-verse…?"
"Well, of course. The Life Fibers are telling the truth after all." The Kiryuin matriarch grinned while twirling her rainbow hair. "Picture me this. For every decision you make, for every possible outcome that can be made, for every though or every what if… It gives birth to the creation of a brand new world! But basing myself on your clueless expression, it seems that doubts are fogging your vision to the absolute truth. Do not be worry, I have proof…" With that out of the way, Ragyo Kiryuin slowly slid a photo of Kurusu over the desk to Satsuki. "The proof that was lying on Honnouji Academy all this time…"
The young Kiryuin felt a thread inside her mind snap, discovering that there was a dimensional trespasser lurking around her school unnoticed. "You're telling me, Akira Kurusu is… Not from this dimension…?"
"Honey, why would I lie to my daughter?" Ragyo only smiled, seeming indifferent about what her child was being told. "Have you wonder why our branches never had any information about these Personas? Why doesn't Kurusu have any information on the government's main computer? And why did somehow able to change clothes in the middle of that incident with the student named Mako Mankanshoku? It just can't be a mere coincidence."
"But… If that's the case, I'm guessing that those 2 are also from different dimensions if I'm correct." The young Kiryuin guessed a very good deduction.
"Well don't you have a keen eye?" Ragyo then gave Satsuki a round of applause for guessing correctly. "These 2 young boys are the key and the gate for the Life Fibers to spread out all across the different dimensions once this giant pebble transforms into the Celestial Cocoon Seed."
"I see… Now you're planning on a full-scale universal invasion. Sometimes I think you have outclassed me in terms of ambition mother." The lady of war complimented her leader. Of course, her mother's madness would reach its peak once she desired for a full-scale dimensional invasion. Yet, Satsuki Kiryuin could care less about what happens to other dimensions, and much less Akira's. "But, if what you say is true which it is, why did Akira Kurusu landed to our world and wished to oppose your plan?" She asked, holding her chin as she though on why the intermitting.
In response, Ragyo Kiryuin stood up from her seat and approached her child. "My dear Satsuki Kiryuin, of course there's a reason. You know that if you wish to kill a plant, you must pluck out its roots." Ragyo then wrapped her daughter between her arms for her to feel her motherly warm. "Now, close your eyes, and let the Life Fibers open your eyes to the truth…" She whispered to her ear before pressing one of her fingernails down to Satsuki's crotch, causing the young Kiryuin to moan painfully and see visions of Akira's life similar to the ones Ragyo had once the Original Life Fiber blessed her with the truth of Kurusu's world.
On a brief moment, Satsuki woke up from the trance that her mother gave her. "Was that… Oh…" Satsuki couldn't believe the suffering and torment her arch-nemesis was bearing behind his shoulders. On how her comrades disappeared without a trace and how his world was plunged into sloth by an evil outer entity.
"Kinda lovely, don't you think?" Ragyo helped her daughter to recover her posture from the shock. "Of course, a specimen such as him experiencing so many tragedies would be that eager to struggle to save this world. To think that even outer gods out of our reach are against my plans to spread the beauty, don't you think, my dear Satsuki?"
"It sure is intriguing, mother…" Satsuki replied as she sat again on her seat to sip her wine. "So, it is true that for someone from our world to gain a Persona, it must at least form a bond with Joker it seems."
"That's a nice theory you have there." Ragyo commented while returning to her seat. "That's why I want you to bring him alive and make her work for us as our champion. That, and make also sure to forge a bond with him for our forces to become more powerful, don't your dearie?"
"I will." She responded, placing her fist into her chest making a salute. And if the trickster doesn't want to help her gain a Persona of her own to overthrow her mom, she will just change the g in forge into a c.
"Just remember, make sure to keep the No-Stars in check and make their lives a miserable hell. You know how the Life Fibers love to leech out negative human emotions, right?" Ragyo reminded her daughter to still make the No-Stars suffer before the Cultural and Sports festival.
"As you command." Satsuki responded. "That is, will you promise to not let the COVERS devour my Elite Trio, Iori, Soroi and their familiars?"
"Mmm… Well, maybe fulfilling your whim wouldn't hurt that much. You had done so much for me to push forward my ambitions, it would be fair for you to be rewarded." Ragyo contested while looking at her perfect fingernails. "After all, Japan has already enough pigs for the Life Fibers to sink their teeth into, so missing some left overs in the plate can't hurt anyone. Though, I may change my opinion later in the road, but I'll try to keep up with this promise. That is, if you play your part as messenger to the Life Fibers."
"Thanks mother." She bowed in gratitude. "I'll make sure to bring you victory, even if means putting the entire world against me."
"No need to say such things, my dear." Ragyo retracted Satsuki's words. "After all, you're a child of COVERS. And as long as you are, the entire world is your ally." The windows of the office opened once again, revealaing that pleasant daytime. In response, Ragyo hold her cup. "For the fall of humanity?"
"For the fall of humanity." Both mother and daughter made a toast for the incoming downfall of the earth.
Some minutes later, Satsuki and her butler were now aboard on their private helicopter again, heading back to Honnouji Academy to make the final adjustments to her assault tropes. She closed her eyes to have some brief inner peace and concentrate about winning this. "Hmmm… la vie est drole… Life is indeed amusing…" She concluded on what her mother usually told her, just experiencing on how amusing her life has been as she battled Kurusu and Matoi. "Heh… And it's about to be even more interesting, dearest mother…"
Ragyo only watched her off-spring fly back to Honnouji, spreading her will to those monkeys who persist on resiting her will.
"Geez. Lady Satsuki can be quite the extra girl, don't you think?" Nui Harime asked her superior as she was sitting at the edge of the window, with Hoomaru watching.
"You heard Lady Satstuki straight. She doesn't want you to put your fingers into interrupting her work while she's busy helping Lady Ragyo fulfil her vision." Hoomaru corrected the Grand Corturier from doing anything stupid. "All you have done recently is slowing down our objectives."
"Pfft! You're all yapping and no acting Hoomaru. Say, when was the last time you moved your poor lazy ass to do something exiti- "
Hoomaru's Goku Uniform's sleves then morphed into sharp blades which wrapped the Grand Corturier's neck without her noticing. "I've been serving the Kiryuin before you were even stitched together by the Original Life Fiber. If you weren't REVOCS' Grand Corturier, I would have killed you and you wouldn't have notice your life being taken away…" Rei threatened the actually scared Nui Harime. The Lolita then was reminded if even when it doesn't look like it, Rei can be a very scary assassin when patronized.
"Uhh… S-sorry…" The Grand Corturier apologize from her deep soul, which released her from the grasp of death. "Okay, lesson learned. Don't mess up with my sis' toys. Besides, this time I want to help her."
"Just remember Nui, if you anger my daughter it will be your responsibility. I may be your mama, but don't be sure I can't be there to win all of your fights." Ragyo reminded the homunculus to not get in Satsuki's way.
"Nah, don't get all worried out, Lady Ragyo." Nui waved her hand optimistically before changing into her other alter ego Shinjiro Nagita without Ragyo, Hoomaru or anyone in the room noticing it. "Oh well, guess I'll go work as per usual." He said before letting out a small psychotic chuckled while disappearing and heading back to Honnouji Academy, ready to show off Joker her brand-new Evoker If the both of them ever face again.
"That girl can be troublesome, but on a charming way. She is a child of Life Fibers, after all." Ragyo sighted before sitting back into her desk to catch a break, but soon her vintage dial phone began to ring.
"This is Hoomaru speaking." Rei picked the phone to see who it is. "I see." Rei then gave the call to Ragyo. "It's Kuroido from the Kiryuin manor. He wishes to have a word with you."
"Is there any trouble there, Kuroido?" Ragyo called the steward, waiting for a response.
"Y-yes… I-i-It's t-t-the P-p-primordial Life -F-Fiber! It wants a w-word with you, L-lady Ragyo." The Steward nervously stammered at her lady as the one above Ragyo Kiryuin desired to contact the prophet of the Life Fibers.
"Well, that's quite the surprise. Pass the phone to him, won't ya?" Ragyo ordered her butler, waiting for the God to respond.
"So… How was your conversation, my devoted prophet…?" Rather than a voice coming through the phone-line, something began to whisper on Ragyo's mind. The voice was deep, ominous, temptating and worthy of an elder god out of a Lovecraftian tale. "I'm expecting your child, to fulfil her destiny, before the slaughter of our cattle we've built ever since I bestowed these pigs in human clothing the gift, of evolution… Commences…"
"Hmm… There is no need to be in such rush, my master." Ragyo replied to the whispers of the Original Life Fibers with snark, despite how exuberantly high Ragyo had the Primordial god on a pedestal. "Although, it's quite surprising that you're talking with me directly. Could it be that Kurusu's fragments have gave you the power to deliver your emotions through your disciples perhaps?"
"Fu fu fu fu…" The Primordial Life Fiber slowly muffled. "I can say, the Trickster's essence has granted me a power to communicate on a much better scale to my disciples bound by my children… Shackled by my Life Fibers in servitude to my name… The elder one, that holds the infinite truths, of the world…" The celestial alien entity echo through the Kiryuin's mind. "Did you assure, to tell my general to let the child of cognition live?"
"Well, of course master." Ragyo assured the Primordial Life Fiber. "After all, I'm as exciting as you to meet this lost lamb. We may have the key and the gate…" The Kiryuin then looked at the frightened Brief and the serious Nova who was referring to. "Yet, we still lack a champion to spread the word of you."
"Indeed… Possessing the descendant of Hell's Monkey who shall open the gates of infinite possibilities lying inside the nothingling, once this pebble explodes like a star reaching its limit, my will and my children shall spread out, devouring, consuming, assimilating any trace of existence, until life snuffles its last light… Giving birth to a new beginning, the beginning of my choosing…" The Spiral Nemesis commented. "And I'll make sure you, and your lineage will be properly rewarded…"
"I appreciate your gratitude master but serving you to feast on these pigs is enough for the Kiryuin to be satisfied." Ragyo denied the Spiral Nemesis' offer. "After all, serving you for all eternity has been our destiny. Our lives were already planned even before we were even born." The Kiryuin contested, expressing her joy on being nothing more than an obedient servant.
"Very well… If being my loyal servant and voice is what fulfil your desires, so shall be it…" The father of all Life Fibers said in response. "But remember, me and my children are eager for an army… Hungry to consume every trace of emotion lying on the farm you cleverly disguised as an Academy…"
"You'll have one in no time, my glorious master." Ragyo told the Original Life Fiber through her mind. "As Honnouji Academy contains the biggest and best sinners Life Fibers can Leetch themselves off…"
Now back at the Mankanshoku's residence…
Guts entered to Ryuko's room to check if the chick was ok, but without any malicious intent or anything. He walked to wear Ryuko was and began to sniff her to cheer her up.
"Oh! Seems that that you're also worried about Ryuko, right Guts?" Akira asked the bulldog as he pat the canine's head that wore a hoodie. It was odd, but surprisingly that hoodie Guts wear has quite the history. Mako told him that it originally belonged to her dad when she was still an infant, until her mom accidentally shrinks it and became Mako's favorite clothes, until she became too big and was then used by Guts.
The poor dog just muffles before licking one of Ryuko's cheeks.
"Hmm… You're as worried as the others, don't you, champ?" Ryuko smiled at the dog, still feeling ashamed for almost killing everyone on her rage form. "I'll be alright, just… Let me rest for some minutes until I feel better, okay?" Matoi pat the head of Guts, which the dog barked in happiness in response. "Though…" The spunky girl then looked directly at her concerned Kamui. "What happened yesterday, I'm not sure if it's safe for me to wear you anymore, Senketsu…" Ryuko look worried at her dear Kamui for almost losing him thanks to her stupidness. "Umm… Hey Akira, I know this isn't the right time to ask you, and much less the person who should tell me this, but… Do you think I should put Senketsu every again? Even when i…"
"To be honest, it's hard for me to answer a question you should know the answer." Akira contested. "Knowing how much you have endured just to find your father's murderer, and then try to destroy everyone by your senseless rage… It's not my descition to say what clothes to wear today. Even still, it's not safe to wear him right now considering your emotional state. All you can do is try to rest your mind until you feel confident enough to wear your Kamui again."
Ryuko felt slighty relief and yet a bit annoed over Kurusu's words. She always hates people who give long-ass speeches and monologues, and much more on the middle of a fight. Yet, his mere words gave her a small peace inside her soul. "Now that you say it… I'm not planning on using Senketsu… And god knows how much long it will take me to find a reason to use it again…"
"WAIT, NO! PUT IT ON!" Shinjiro Nagota opened the window of Matoi's room, before comically tilting and falling on his head into the Mankanshoku's residence's floor, looking like a slapstick cartoon.
"Well, that was unexpected. Then again, still expected for Honno Standards." Akira delivered a punchline, fully embrazing the absurdities of Honno City.
"Hmm… What…? Did the bitch with the thick eyebrows sent you here…?" Ryuko asked a bit downed by her mood.
"Ugh…" Nagita painfully got back up from his place back on his 2 feet as he swept his uniform out of the dust it gathered. "No! I came her all by myself! Do not be alarm, I'm not an emey, but instead a friend you 2 can count!" He saluted with enthusiasm in hopes to get their trust. "I'm Shinjiro Nagita! Former Honnouji Emperor and also former Club President of the Newspaper Club! It's a great pleasure meeting the 2 of you, allies of freedom!"
"Mom, I'm home." Mako announced as she entered the room by sliding the door of the room. "And I brought a frie-Oh, he's already here." Mako said seeing the eccentric student on her room.
"Oh! It's great to see you once again, my comrade Mankanshoku!" Nagita quickly shook her "friend's" hand too quick, it let the poor girl dizzy.
"Well, no wonder how you got attracted to Mako." Ryuko said, watching how the revolutionary was as batshit crazy as her batshit crazy friend.
"And it is also great to finally meet the 2 of you, Akira Kurusu the Phantom Thief and Ryuko Matoi the toughest girls of Kanto! You 2 are the reason I began to return to Honnouji Academy and begin a total revolution!" Nagita exclaimed as he stood up, not before taking a bite out of a croquete.
"Uhh… Thanks, I guess…" Ryuko just spun to the other side of the futon to not look, but Shinjrio quickly looked at the downed tomboy again directly by the eyes.
"How can you be in bed? You should be putting your Kamui and fight the tyrannical Lady Satsuki!" Shinjiro quickly picked up the Kamui out of the closet, which made Senketsu freak out, feeling some sort of familiar presence over the boy with glasses.
"If you're so eager in dethroning Satsuki Kiryuin, why don't you do it yourself?"
"Uh? Who said-"Shinjiro's words were quickly cut short once Tsumugu alongside Hakodate, Morgana and Sanageyama appeared in front of him, with the adult pointing his needle gun into his fore-head. "KYYAAAHH! FORMER HONNOUJI EMPEROR OMIKO HAKODATE, FORMER MEMBER OF THE ELITE 4 UZU SANAGEYAMA AND UH… Who are you?" Nagita tilted his head sideways as he tried to dissimulate to never met Tsumugu.
"Woah! Talk about a full house!" Mako awed on how many people have gathered on her house.
"I could ask you the same question here, kid." The grown-up replied as he still sustained his weapon to shoot him if the strange kid shows himself to be hostile. "Can't you tell when a person is too tired to do something?"
"Hey, no need to act so violently Tsumugu. We could lose a trusted ally if you would." Kurusu slowly lowered the guerilla's weapon down, not until menacingly narrowing at Nagita which made him run a chill down his spine. "Although, this doesn't mean we should trust him in the go either…"
"WHAT!? A-are you doubting me!? How can I betray you? If that was the case, I would have already brought the Kiryuin with me!" Shinjiro wanted to bring points to prove his worth to the enemies of the Kiryuin. "Tell them Mako! Tell them they can count on me!" He then grabbed the bubbly girl and placed it in front of everyone for her to make her testament.
"Uhh… What he said, I think." Mako supported Nagita, even though she had no idea on what was happening.
"Look, if you really want to prove to actually help us, you better show us." Akira then looked back at Shinjiro menacingly. "That is, if you aren't someone else in disguise, that is… But well, it's only a wild guess of couse…"
What Kurusu said made the imposter run a sweat under his face. "So, the mean poo-poo head knows? Hmm… Should I kill his friends right now, or wait for longer?" The Grand Corturier though to herself for a moment. He said that it was just a wild guess, but for now it would be the best to pretend to act as her male alter-ego and see to where this ride can take her.
"By the way, do you even know this guy?" Morgana asked both Hakodate and Sanageyama if they know the kid.
"Eh, beats me. Jakuzure would know his name better, but then again, most of the Elites barely remember the names of No-Star students, so it's not that surprising that I don't know this suppousely ex-student." Oni Mask replied while eating one of Sukuyo's super-croquettes.
Mona then looked directly at Omiko to wait for an answer, only for a brief short time of awkwardness to pass by in the room.
"Do you really expect a different opinion kitty?" Hakodate answered irritated while cleaning her sniper rifle.
"Anyway, sorry for the hostility Nagita-Kun." Akira apologized, still being very suspicious about the supousely rebel. "These 4 are my friends, just like you we're desperately trying to fight off against the Kiryuin. So, if you have something like a plan to help us, then speak."
Nagita then re-arranged his glasses on a very smug way. "Oh, believe me. I have the perfect plan that shall open the eyes of the entire world to the truth!"
Akira liked the boy's determination, which let him approve his proposal. "Hey Ms. Mankanshoku, think you can make some tea? We're gonna be here some time."
After the group got a cup of tea each, courtesy of Sukuyo, the former President of the Newspaper Club slammed a stack of newspapers into the ground for them to read. Each of them took a sample to read the articles.
"Let's see, says that we're not your blah, blah, blah, blah, more blah, blah, blah…" Mako wasn't really that interested on the headline, and for no one's surprise, she easily got distracted by the weekly comic strip. "Hey, look at the cartoon! Cartoons are the best!"
"READ THE ARTICLE DAMNIT!" Nagita cried in anger at Mankanshoku's sense of distracting easily, which made her finally have the motivation to read the main headline if it means for her new friend to not get angry.
"Honnouji News: Satsuki Kiryuin is transforming the youth into ruthless soldiers?" Ryuko read the title, looking not that surprised. "Geez… It sure is the the discovery of the century... What's next? The Sky is blue?" Matoi blurted, not being that impressed on Nagita's article.
"Yes! I'm fully aware that allies of justice like you know about the corruption and the horrors happening inside the Kiryuins' circle!" Nagita said furiously as he violently chugs his cup of tea. "It's unforgivable thinking that Satsuki Kiryuin and her mother are corrupting and turning the hopes of tomorrow into soulless killing monsters for her own selfish beneficts!" Shinjiro fumed as he ate a good portion of croquettes. "I couldn't let this injustice pass through my back and I had to do something about it! but the Disciplinary Committee banned my article and kicked me out of the campus for trying to express my disapproval of this fascist tyranny! GAH! IS THE PRESS SO UNDERPOWERED AGAINST THE WORLD!? DAMN THE CENSOR- "
"GET TO THE POINT!" Hakodate pointed her weapon against Nagita to make the boy talk already and not stall time.
"GAH! A-alright!" The boys with glasses apologized by doing several bows. "What I'm planning to do is spread the news over the evil schemes of Satsuki Kiryuin was hiding behind the scenes to the entire world. Every news network, every radio station, every page on the internet! With the world fully aware of the things happening, we'll build an army of people wishing to do what is right and build a great revolution, and YOU, Ryuko Matoi! YES YOU! You shall be the one who leads us to victory!" Nagita pointed at the depressed Matoi with enthusiasm, hoping to finally recover her morale and pick up her Kamui.
Yet, the girl only gritted her teeth in disgust. She just looked tired of everything around her. "If you're that eager on me on "Saving the world", find someone else!" She screamed at the reporter in full anger as she usually does when on a very bad mood before throwing the newspaper at Nagita.
"W-what?" Shinjiro gasped on the girl denying the call to arms. "B-but what about those poor people? I-I'm sure that my master plan will…"
"End in failure, whenever you look at it." Tsumugu complemented Shinjiro's line.
"What? But how can you say such things when we didn't even try?" Nagita wanted to know why Kinagase's foresighted this plan in failure, despite not even putting it into motion.
"Being part of Honnouji Academy would make you already aware for the reason. Those Damn Life Fibers…" Tsumugu snarled furiously by the mere thought of the space parasites. "You may wonder why, but the fact is that REVOCS, Ragyo Kiryuin's bastard child main source of income is the reason that people will never take your article seriously. Did you really think that we wouldn't have tried what you want to do?"
Such response let the eyebrows of Akira, Mona, Hakodate, Mako and the other Mankanshokus who were peeking on the door.
"Seeing you confused, I see." Sanageyama commented as he crossed his arms. "Say, have you ever wonder why there aren't any news reporters or photographers bombarding Honnouji Academy with questions and conspiracies? It's their own clothes that makes them blind."
"Huh? How, exactly…?" Morgana asked with some frightened tone as the tension of the room raised to a bit of an extent.
"You know that the Goku Uniforms have stitched Life Fibers into them, and have you ever wonder why we're so eager to find as many pieces of clothes of hope as we can? Well, it just so happens that 90% of the population's clothes is also stitched with Life Fibers." Kinagase delivered as he narrowed his eyes.
This caused the others except for Ryuko let out a big what.
"Wait, if people's normal clothes are stitched with Life Fibers, why aren't they just super-powerful and shit?" Hakodate demanded answers as she seem very shocked on what she has been told. Sure, it could just be BS, but considering the world they live in…
Nagita rubbed his chin to think and concentrate, until he was stroked by a brilliant lightning into his brain. "They must be dormant Life Fibers then!"
"Huh, someone sure did his homework here." Oni Masked complimented the imposter's deduction, which made Joker raise his eyebrow even more over the kid with glasses.
"To put it short, all of REVOCS products are woven with Life Fibers, leeching out into the wearer 's nervous system. Deleting, blocking, censoring or even rewriting memories and even your vision that these goddamn parasites seem as unnecessary or problematic from their subconscious completely. Or as others would put it, they have eyes and fail to see and ears that succumb to ignorance. And with 90% of earth's population wearing REVOCS clothes, well… Take a guess…" Kinagase snarled as he watched at the window, watching the scoundrels of the slums doing what they usually know, without anyone of them blissfully unaware of the possibly chance having Life Fibers on their clothes.
"You're telling me that the Kiryuin can manipulate people's cognition?" Akira was left jaw-dropped on Tsumugu's explanation over why the UNO hasn't done anything to stop Ragyo's psychotic empire. "Damn… seems that we're literally against the world in other words." Akira mumbled while the other Mankanshoku's were left frightened looking at their clothes.
"You see Matoi? How can you lay on bed when the world needs you the most! Please, the world is against us and the Kiryuin won't stop at anything until humanity meets its demise by their matriarchic hands! Come on Ryuko! Become the hero this world needs!" Shinjiro truly sees eager for Ryuko to recover her spirit, while Mako was just chewing on a crusty snack.
"I told you again asshole, I'm not a goddamn hero! I could care less about the world and much less the other shitty students like you that took everything from me, and I won't fight again to put Senketsu a risk!" Matoi yelled at Nagita's face, still feeling frustrated over her error.
"Ryuko…" Akira was very concerned on how frustrated and down Matoi has become. Now that he looks it back, he too has been taken from everything he once held dear prior to his stay at Le Blanc, all because he pushed the wrong person when he tried to do good.
"Then what in the flying heaven are you fighting for?" Nagita stood up yelling, demanding for why Ryuko fights in the first place. Which let a silence for some seconds?
"How should I know? I don't have anything worth fighting for…" Ryuko responded as she just looked at another direction, covering herself on her blanket. "Not anymore…" She muttered, referring to the identity of her pop's killer. Even when finally achieving her objective, she felt… empty…
Nagita was frozen for some seconds, just before taking a more serious face. "Is that it…? Are you really going to let Satsuki Kiryuin get away for everything she has done, when you know fully well that she was responsible for your dad's death…?" Nagita asked Matoi on a very serious tone. "Are you really going to let the past haunt your actions from here on out? Have you look on a mirror? You're Ryuko Freaking Matoi! You dominated Honnouji Academy, be one of the first person to make Satsuki Kiryuin shake in her boots, stand against the evil Club Presidents and the Emperors who were abusing their power for their sake, put the Elite 4 on their place and flip Honnouji Academy upside down! You're such an incredible person and yet you're letting one small slip-up haunt you for the rest of your life?" Shinjiro stood up proud as he could be, feeling as he was about to unleash one annoying and inspiring speech about never giving up. "There are still people out there worth fighting for, even when you don't fully know it. What about Mako, Akira and the Mankanshoku family? Don't you think that the evil forces of the Life Fibers will try to harm them just for the mere fact they associated with you? You once showed me that even the wimpiest and pathetic of wimps can conquer if they really try! So, come one! Fight for those people you believe are important and make a difference!" Nagita exclaimed with passion as he pointed at Senketsu.
Ryuko just look for some seconds to Senketsu, but rather than having that wave of will-power drowning her, she just gritted her teeth even more in repugnation. "God… You are, so goddamn annoying aren't ya?" Ryuko got up from her bed before aggressively trying to push Nagita out of her room. "You and your goddamn monologues make me so fucking done with this! I don't fight because I wanna, and the more I see you, the more I want to kill you! So, get the fuck out and don't bother to return!" She wanted Nagita out of her house as she was considering him absolutely obnoxious by just looking at him. She wanted him OUT! And now!
"What? Y-you can't kick me out! W-what about the No-Stars? What about their families? " Nagita was coming up with many excuses for him to stay and not be expelled, but seems that human anger can be quite the pushover.
"That isn't my problem!" She shouted. "NOW SCRAM!" She cried in pure anger as she kicked Shinjiro Nagita out of the Mankanshoku's residence with a powerful kick that made the boy with the glasses send flying with his ass in the air like some sort of cartoon, all while the former President of the Newspaper Club screamed in fear.
"What the hell are you lookin' at?" Ryuko turned to see the others who witnessed the others watching her, and she just wanted to go back to her room alone, so no one could intervene as she was tired to hear everyone's chattering for today. "I don't want to speak with anyone today…"
Akira wanted to speak up with Matoi, but they knew that doing so will only make her feel more frustrated as she already could take.
"Uhhh… Teenagers…" Tsumugu grunted after watching Ryuko's fit of angst.
"Hey, watch ya mouth there." Hakodate reminded Kinagase to not be that harsh on the youth of the world. That, and also due to the fact that the strongest operatives of Nudist Beach are Teens.
"Tch… Whathever." The Nudist just chose to ignore them. "Look, sorry for intruding to your shack out of the ocean, it was about this Shinjiro Nagita who just appeared out of the blue."
"Yeah, I do also have my suspicions." Akira looked at Tsumugu who still was vert skeptical about their new "ally". "Though, it's still not confirmed if he really try to help us, or he wants us to let our guard down. Whathever it is, we can't fully trust him until he shows signs that he is actually on our side."
In response, Kinagase smirked. "I like your spirit kid. Taking risks whenever you see the chance to do so, but yet you play it safe if it means for the sake of others." The nudist smirked at Kurusu's way to be a leader, not before bowing to the Mankanshoku's hospitality. "I thank you for the hospitality, Mr. and Mrs. Mankanshoku."
"Ah, no need to be so thankful. Ren's friends are our friends after all." Barazo reaffirmed while scratching the back of his head. "Though if you want to repay us the debt, yeah… A good load of green would do just fine." Even when he shown signs of generosity, Mr. Mankanshoku couldn't let pass an opportunity to gain big bucks.
"Dad!" Mataro tried to correct his dad before he could fall into his greedy tendencies again. "Uh, sorry. But well, if you wish to come back again, you are always welcome into Light-speed Mataro's hideout!" He beamed before giving a thumb up.
Tsumugu smirked before packing his stuff. "Well, I'm off to track that brat. I'll make sure to contact you if anything suspicious happens." He said his regards before re-loading his Needle Gun and heading outside.
"I guess I better leave you guys alone…" Hakodate awkwardly added before exiting the home and go back to the base.
"I can say the same. Not that much I can do for today." Sanageyama was the next to say goodbye before returning to the thief's den. "Hey Mona, tomorrow?"
"Well, guess more training can't hurt. Although we need as much energy for the day after that." Morgana accepted Oni Mask's suggestion for more training as he saw the monkey exiting the home in the slums.
"Wait, I need you to do a favor for me Sanageyama." Akira wanted Uzu to do something quick for him.
Kurusu walked toward him and gave him some sort of crimson card. "I want you to infiltrate into Honnouji Academy by night and give this to either Inumuta or Iori. Then, tell them to give this to Lady Satsuki."
"Uhh!? You want me to go on some sort of suicide mission!?" Sanageyama gasped in horror about Akira's request, only for Mona to step in.
"Don't worry, the 2 do owe us. But now that I think about it, this could be great infiltration training for you, that of course, if you follow my command and don't do something stupid." Morgana teased the Kendo President while bumping his leg with is left paw.
"Aw… alright, I'll do it…" Sanageyama sighted as he and Mona left the house.
As for Mankanshoku, she just took a small peek into Ryuko's room. "Hey Ryuko, can I talk with you?" She asked her friend with innocence through her voice, wanting to help her friend to get through this time.
"I, don't feel like talking to no one Mako… I just want to be left alone…" The tomboy responded, looking away to not get mad at her friend.
Mako which felt sad on her friend's state looked at his pseudo-big brother for consort. "Ren, is Ryuko gonna be alright?"
Ren was skeptical on what to say… He didn't had any response to consolidate his friend. "I hope so…"
"Ryuko…" Senketsu whispered in melancholy seeing how broken his wearer has become…
Tsumugu walked the streets of the dangerous slums, trying to go unnoticed due to him being a wanted criminal all over the Honno with his head having a high price. Knowing the locals, they would go ballistic over his bounty and would try to rat him out to Honnouji Academy. All while tracking down Nagita and spy on him to see if he wasn't lying.
Kinagase was standing on a rooftop high enough to at least not be seen by the townsfolk. Though it was a miracle that it can manage to lift his weight without being torn into pieces. "Come one, a brat as weird as him should be sticking out by a sore thumb between these places." Tsumugu told to himself as he looked around to find Nagita. But considering how bat-shit crazy this place was, he would take his words back. He only watched, and watched, and watched… Yet, no signs of him.
Tsumugu noticed that it was getting night already, which was the time when wild Shadows become more active. "Well, seems that the monsters are coming." He said before descending when no one would be looking. Even when the monster hour was coming, it wouldn't stop the nudist for locating the boy.
"Stop right there, gossip boy!"
"AAAH! How can the Disciplinary Committee be so active even in these hours!" Nagita screamed as he ran for his life from the beefy members of the Disciplinary Committee.
"Honnuji Academy is preparing itself for the Tri-Citry School Raid Trip and we won't let a newspaper stop up! Now come here and accept your punishment!" The other One-Star explained, who seem to never get tired of chasing the poor boy.
The pursuit continued until the One-Stars tackled Nagita into a back-alley, seemingly now being captured.
"Well now, seems that the fly can't help itself to approach lights." Kinagase smirked before loading his needle gun before venturing inside the alley if the hulking students would every try to attack him.
Once the guerilla steppes a foot into the alley, he immediately pointed his needle gun into the direction the goons of Honnouji would think they were. "Alright, this petty cat and mouse game ends now!" He exclaimed, only to discover something, odd…
There was no one there…
"Looking for someone, punky?"
"heh… Seems that your light of revolution was nothing more than a light guiding us to a pit, you petty spy?" Tsumugu didn't showed fear as he was expecting for Nagita to actually be a spy for Honnouji Academy.
STRAP!
"WHAT THE!? YOU BASTARD!" The nudist was quickly caught off-guard by Life Fibers wrapping him and slowly covering him, forcing him to go on a fetal position. But the surprises didn't stop there. Once the mohawk man look what was behind the impostor, he was frozen in fright and shock. While Shinjiro was holding a revolver releasing smoke meaning that it was recently shot, a tall female figure that looked like some sort of geisha with spider-legs on her back was generating Life Fibers on them, slowly wrapping the adult on a red cocoon. "I-is that… A Persona…?"
"Hehehehe…" Nagita chuckled in malice as he approached Tsumugu to grab his face. "Well, it is. Did you really though that your Wild card, your monkey and your cat were the only ones able to?" He smirked maliciously toward Kinagase, taking delight on watching him trying to hopelessly unbind himself out of the Life Fibers. "My, you sure are entertaining to watch escape a straight path. But, seems that you just fell like a fly into my spider-web."
"Let me guess, Ragyo's bastard child sent you to steal Matoi's Kamui!" Tsumugu spat at the kid's face furiously. "I swear, she is just as slimy as her mom!" Tsumugu cursed as he could only watch his body being wrapped by the red threads of fate. And even still, he wasn't going to stop trying to resist. After all, he will not stop until every single Life Fiber in the universe was eradicated or until his heart stops beating.
"Eh, we can put it that way." The teen reaffirmed while spinning his Evoker. "You know how I've been banned for stepping a foot into Honnouji Academy, but seeing how your new friends began a revolution to overthrow Lady Satsuki, I could use this as an opportunity to pull a small prank. Well, to be frankly, I wasn't expecting to bump up again with her dumbass friends, but you gotta work with what you have." He shrugged his warms while having a shit-eating glee on his face. "And besides!" Then, Nagita elbowed Tsumugu in the stomach, making the nudist spit blood. "I can't let inferior piggies like you diss my sis."
On that moment, Tsumugu's theories were finally beginning to align. "Heh… What can I say? A nudist must bear it all if you wish to save the world. But I'm sure that a monstrosity like you wouldn't get it. Don't you agree, Grand Couturier?"
On that moment, Nagita began to maniacally laugh reminiscent of an anime villain, before raising his left hair bang to reveal that trademark pink patch, just to finally rip off his face and reveal himself to be Nui Harime. "Oh, you clever monkey. I would want to give you a gold star sticker into your forehead for guessing correctly, but I'm afraid I'm all out of stars."
"Stop the bullshit! How the hell did you got that blasted Persona!?" Kinagasse's mood quickly changed, in order to persuade Harime into spilling the beans.
The homonculus' smile became much wider and wider once she was asked that question. "Hihihi… Well, considering this could be your last moments on this world, I can tell you that this Persona-Making gun was a gift from my daddy. I think you know who I am talking about… Don't you?" She whispered to the burly man's ear. Which made Tsumugu more tense, knowing that the Original Life Fiber bestowed this to the Grand Corturier. "D'aw… Don't look so sad… You should be happy. In fact, you'll be the first piggy to experience daddy's new virtual reality." She began to tease the Nudist, who found himself impossible to talk back as he felt the Life Fiber's covering his mouth. "Don't worry, you'll live on your perfect little world once you lose your will to think. Then maybe a COVERS can use you as a battery if you're lucky so you don't transform into full Life Fibers, Hihihihi… After all, how are you hoping to achieve something that cannot be changed?" She approached the man with the mohawk and pinched his cheek. "And less when you know you're outclassed by your enemies." Nui's tone then disambiguated into a more sinister one. "Just accept it, you're just rats dancing on mousetraps…" Harime blurted Kinagase as he was almost covered by the cocoon before the Grand Corturier could take her Alter Ego Shinjiro Nagita. "Just accept your place on the food chain and stop defying the hand that feeds you, okay?" it seems that his tone became more high-pitched and creepier reminiscent of a certain Egocentric Police Dick.
And there he was. Tsumugu now was all wrapped up into a Life Fiber cocoon, without any trace of wanting to get out. Not a single wiggle or move coming from him. It would be seen that the man who swore to eliminate all Life Fibers was defeated by Life Fibers.
Nagita then noticed the Needle Gun the nudist always carries with him and decided to pick it up. "You know, I could care less if either a COVERS or Lady Satsuki manages to pick you up. I'm just doing what my heart tells me to do. But seems that what my heart desires is to torture you. No one will remember you; no one will never hate you anymore, no one will never love you anymore…" The Grand Corturier in disguise then threw the weapon down into the floor. "How do you plan to stop us… If we have the ignorant masses dancing between our slender fingers? Just face it. You're not Hybrid, you're not Goku Uniform wearer. You're only human…" He ended before stomping the Needle Gun, breaking it into tiny pieces. "And don't you worry. I've heard you once hated that failed abomination of Senketsu, because it reminded you of your dumb sis. My… If she only would have been an obedient sheep like the other herd, rather than hanging out with the black goats. They say that ignorance Is bliss after all… And we can put that in much more context, when we both know what happened to her after playing with my brothers…" He only grinned wider as he rearranged his glasses. He then turned into the other direction and walked away. "I'll make sure to finish the job for you, all while you engulf yourself into your own desires… Nighty night, sweet prince… Hehehahahahahaha!" He maliciously laughed as he left the Nudist rot into the cocoon, all while his new Persona disappear…
What a misguided son of men…
Defying which has gave his race its purpouse in the first place, thinking that he could use my own will against me, only to find out that he and his expedition flew too close to the sun…
Your desperate act of blasphemy would be punished by eternal nightmares until your flesh succumbs to my body.
But, tasting how your soul has been tormented through your life, I've chosen to bestow you my gift of sloth…
Now… Close your eyes, cover your ears, mute your voice, succumb to me, and let me cover you, in perfect world indicated by your inner desires, pig in human clothing…
…
…
"T….U..G.u…"
"TSUMUGU!"
"GAHH!" Tsumugu gasped in pure terror after being plunged into a cocoon of Life Fibers. Once he awoke, he noticed that he was wearing his lab-coat. In fact, he was now at Dr. Matoi's lab with its researchers and everything. "Damn… That was, ugh… What a nightmare I had…" He grunted, feeling his head very dizzy on what he experienced. Though, what he could have gathered, the color of his environment felt more, greyer… "Sorry for the inconveniences Mikisugi. Bug damn… how long have I slept?" He asked his lab companion for how many hours he spent sleeping.
BONK!
"Tsu! You idiot! How can you be so lazy?" A spunky and energetic female voice exclaimed as she smacked the scientist on the head.
"Oh! S-sorry for snoozing on the work, big sis…" He muttered a bit ashamed as the woman that just hit him recently was her big sister Kinue Kinagase.
The hot-blooded girl only smiled in return. "Nah, no need to be so formal lil' bro. Well, still sorry for hitting you. I should have gone for a better solution, but well… I'm kinda reckless if your asked me…" She laughed awkwardly while sticking her tongue out. Even when she was a genius by herself, she still was one reckless girl.
"Uhh… N-no need for apologizing. I admit that it was my fault for oversleeping. I should have still working on reassuring your Kamui is stable enough." Kinagase said a bit worried. After all, even when her big sis survived the almost-lethal experiment with Life Fibers, she still remained strong and brave as she always been. Be either in the academic or physical fields. She could be considered Mrs. Perfect if you could ask.
"Nah, come on Tsumugu, I know you want me to be safe, but you know I can take care of myself in any situation! After all, I'm Dr. Matoi's best scientist after all. Though, I couldn't come this far without your concerns about your concerns and adjustments to my Danketsu." Kinue referred to her Kamui with a smile. Originally, the Kamui project to combat the Life Fibers had Kinue as the wearer who could tame the beast, as she has shown to have a will as strong as Satsuki Kiryuin.
That same night at Honnouji Academy, Iori and Inumuta were still all-nighters at the Sewing Club Laboratory rather than the other Elites of Honnouji who needed sleep for them to be at their best once they attack Kansai the day after tomorrow at 2:00 A.M.
"Iori, any information about Jakuzure and Gamagori's uniforms?" Inumuta asked his partner while he was mostly busy with literally programming his new S.M.T. Goku Uniform by placing it on a special computer for it to download its capabilities.
Ragyo's apprentice then pressed a button on his computer, which made the moving cloth lines pass until they showed a hulking uniform similar to the Juggernaut of Marvel Comics and some sort of metallic pink suit. "The stitching processing of the new Shackle Regalia and Symphony Regalia has been finished. Submitting Life Fibers into becoming clothing can become time-consuming, but implanting them with Persona fragments is much more. And even more if we count how many portions of Akira's essence have been injected in them." He informed. "We're currently into the empowerment process, and once that is finished, we need to stabilize both of them in order for the Elites to not suffer any sort of side-effects. I hope that you're also taking these warning by heart, Inumuta. Your Probe Regalia has proven to be very useful for Honnouji Academy in analyzing data. So if you're planning to alter your Goku Uniform in any shape or form, take notice of these parameters." Iori reminded his mate to be careful when it comes into the creation of Goku Uniform.
"No need for getting so desperate Iori. Risks is very important for a researcher. After all, they say that you gain more from failures that from successes. Being Lady Satsuki's personal tailor would make you understand this better." Inuuta countered his friend's argument.
"Well, seems that you took Akira's words by heart." Iori was at least glad that his companion obtained some experience after his defeat at the hands of the Phantom Thief. "Though, now that I think about it… If it wasn't for him, we couldn't have gotten our research to be this far." Iori had to acknowledge that Kurusu's presence on Honnouji Academy has improved their forces as much as they gave them a headache. From the Shadow Troops to even the S.M.T. Uniforms.
"Well, talk about a wild card, don't you think?" Inumuta snarked while continuing his development, yet he felt something was spying on them. "Alright Sanageyama, you can't stop pretending you're fooling us with your mediocre sneaky abilities."
The unwanted guest only grunted in frustration about being exposed, yet by the tone of his ol' pal, he had that feeling that none of the 2 will rat him out for infiltrating the school at this hour. "Well, I congratulate the dog for still being able to recognize the smell of my ass after my heel-face turn with that long muzzle of yours hiding under that collar." Oni Mask complimented the genius while descending into the floor for everyone to witness his Super Sentai-like Thief attire. "Though, I'm interested on why you didn't you called forth Honnouji's forces the first time you noticed me."
Inumuta only re-organized his glasses to counter the monkey's argument. "Though, assuming the theory of Kurusu sending you here rather than acting on such a reckless way that you decided to attack the Eagle's nest with only using worms as swords. We both do owe Joker a favor." Inumuta told the reason, which Sanageyama told him that Kurusu indeed told him that both Inumuta and Iori owed him for alot of things. "Huh, seems that hanging out with the fox has stick some of its intellect into your monkey brain after all."
"Hey! Not everyone is born a nerd like the 2 of you!" Uzu blurted in anger and embarrassment, feeling somewhat insulted for what the dog barked at him.
"Oh well, guess it's hard to reason with primates." Shiro scratched the back of his head, seeing that it was hard to talk with the new protector of the innocents once he sided with the nudists. "But, I guess that any of us don't want to stall time. Is anything that Kurusu would want from us?" Iori asked his old friend with some staidness in his voice. He hated being interrupted in the middle of his creations, except for Lady Satsuki and so on.
Sanageyama only stood straight for some seconds before telling them for what reason Kurusu sent him here. "I want you to give you this to Satsuki Kiryuin before the Tri City School Raid. We know that stopping your preparations is impossible, but once we try to defend ourselves from your troops, we at least want you to know that we'll be there to stop you." The Green-Haired teen then handed over the teen with the glasses the Calling Card.
"How interesting. A Calling Card reminiscent of a Phantom Thief." Inumuta inspected the piece of paper. He didn't wanted to read It as he was mostly interested on how Satsuki would react to this warning placed by her arch-nemesis. "Although I must say that I'm still confused on why giving off a calling card if you aren't going to steal anything."
"Haven't you heard? We're going to steal her heart. That's why." Sanageyama responded before turning away to exit. But then he was stopped by Iori who was holding him by the shoulder. "What do you want now Iori?"
Iori gulped some saliva before replying his response. "It's about the reason. Why did you choose to betray Lady Satsuki and join the enemies? I know that I shouldn't say this but… Lady Satsuki misses you and feels guilty for being too harsh with you…" Iori said with full honesty, but Sanageyama only took out the tailor's hand out of his shoulder.
"Even when your words sound like a lie, I can safely know that you're actually telling the truth…" Sanageyama sighted before looking at the 2 brains of Honnouji. "Don't get me wrong. Joker, Mona and me still respect Satsuki Kiryuin as an enemy, but once the chains she put me on broke off when she demoted me permanently, it made me realize… I've became so obsessed with her will and all that I forgot about my own goals in life."
"Kinda selfish if you ask me." Inumuta affirmed while re-arranging his glasses.
"Yeah, call it what you want, but the same can be applied for the most of you. I think that Jakuzure and you Iori can be an exception for this rule. But have you ever though what to do once this is all over? Because I already did." Sanageyama said his last words before disappearing from the brains' sight and returning with Mona.
Such question put steam on Houka's train of thoughts. Perhaps he was so concentrated in fulfilling her lady's will, he forgot to plan out for the future. Which was very ironic since Inumuta's genius would grant him a free scholarship, yet it would be useless once Satsuki has the red thread of the world all wrapped between her fingers…
Days Until: The Cultural and Sports Festival: 4
Stop Satsuki Kiryuin's plan.
It was another bright day at Honno Town. The rays of the sun showered the streets of the slums and the highest streets of the 2-Star districts, with the brightest rays showering Honnouji Academy with all of its luster. Today was going to be a very tiresome day for the higher-ups of the Kiryuin would have to be prepared for tomorrow, as it will be the true beginning of the blooming of the lady of war's plans. Hundreds of One-Stars were jogging and training on their respective Clubs in order to be ready for the big event in the name of Satsuki Kiryuin.
As for the No-Stars and teachers, well… They still have classes like normal, only with the key difference now being the fact that they were still a shitload of trucks out there. Anyways, back with the No-Stars…
"Like, oh my god. I just can't believe we'll have the whole school for only us tomorrow in the morning. Though, it's going to be weird not having Lady Satsuki bless us with her mere presence." A blonde No-Star girl gossiped between her 2 friends in the female bathrooms.
"Totes BBF. Though, I don't know how the principal will manage this school for once." The black-haired friend thought about the possibilities that could happen tomorrow. "Although, I still can't get out of my mind that incredible battle that happened yesterday."
"I know right, hey… I don't want to sound so anti-Honnouji, but I definitely am simping for Joker. He's just so cute and pretty!" The red-haired one began to squeal in excitement by the mere though od Joker's dandy looks.
Meanwhile, Mako was just washing her hands before leaving the bathroom.
"Oh, hey look girls, it's the weirdo kid over there." The blonde pointed at Mankanshoku to tease her. Mako was the magnet for bullies due to her optimism and lack of knowledge of the situation given.
"Oh wow, I wonder what sort of stupidity will do today?" The Redhead teased Mankanshoku to follow the game.
"Hey, who knows? Maybe she could jump over a clift just beca- "
"Good morning Mankanshoku!" Nagita who was wet and covered in toilet paper kicked one of the toilet doors from the inside, which freaked out the 3 bitches who fled away in pure terror.
"Oh, hi Nagita." Mako responded on a very casual tone since she has already embraced the batshit insanity of her world.
"Say my comrade, ready to start a new day on our fight against the Kiryuin?" Nagita exclaimed with enthusiasm, not before cleaning himself out of the toilet wrapping him like a mummy.
As Mako was walking among the campus while Naguta was sneaking in like a ninja, trying to avoid his precense being discovered by the agents of the Kiryuin. "So, Ryuko stayed again in your home, right?"
"Well, yeah. Dad told me that that she's doesn't have any more injuries, but she's still not that comfortable on going to school again." Mako responded her friend's question. "Though, I'm not that worried since Ren is there looking after her. Because he can solve mostly anything! Isn't he the best?"
"Well, you can put it that way." The teacher of Class-K approached the 2 teens in the yard all while scratching the back of his hair. "Glad to see you're not having the disciplinary Committee under your toes. Affiliating with enemies of the Kiryuin can be quite the heavy crime around here. Although, considering that you and Akira are close friends, I'm not that worried."
"Oh, hi there Mr. Mikisugi!" Mako waved at her homeroom teacher with a warm smile. "What are you doing here anyways? Don't you have classes to teach or something like that?"
"Yeah, about that…" Aikuro scratched his blue fuzzy hair again. "Noticing the vast number of Shadows on these areas, I decided to check out and watch over any No-Star student if anything were to happen. Not that I'm saying that I'm underestimating Lady Satsuki's army or anything, but…" Just the look of those monsters' eyes inside their cells made Mikisugi feel… Unsafe. To think that he and his platoon of naked apes would soon clash against Satsuki Kiryuin and her new demonic petting zoo straight out of the uncanny valley.
"I'm glad on having you back, Comrade Mikisugi!" Nagita came out of his hiding spot to shake the teacher's hand. "Say, did you secretly come here to now vent your frustration against the oppressors!?"
"Well, uhh… I guess so…" Mikisugi responded a bit dizzy while trying to recover his composure. "I mean, teachers aren't all that respected here in Honnouji Academy, and salaries wise, they aren't that high to be honest."
Nagita was surprised how petty the teachers were, even if it was just a naked ape in disguise. Damn, and to think that the No-Stars were the only ones who suffer. "Excellent! Then better prepare for the revolution of our lives!" Nagita exhaled while taking out a backpack and bring out from its inside a crate, tons of newspapers, a megaphone and a banner with the Honnouji Symbol crossed on it, symbolizing that they have enough of the Kiryuin's tyranny.
"Wait! You can't just start here when Lady Satsuki's is in the middle of Preparations! Do you feel suicidal or are you just nuts?" Mikisugi tried to persuade the rebel into starting his revolution another time, maybe after the Tri-City School Raid. These kinds of Actions could be a death sentence if anyone of the Disciplinary Committee would find out.
"Better than never! I can't stand here and let those villains torment the innocent any longer!" Nagita bellowed in rage. He then handled the banner to Aikuro and the Newspapers to the bobblehead of Mankanshoku. "If I don't make it out alive here, tell Kurusu and Matoi that I'm done hiding!" Shinjiro tasked the 2 before stepping up on the crate and turn on his megaphone. "Fellow students of Honnouji Academy! Lend me your ears!" He stood up in front of all the students of Honnouji Academy, announcing his speech while the other 2 were standing on an awkward manner. "My name is Shinjiro Nagita! I was a student just like you, but I have chosen to stand out from the chain of abuse we the No-Stars suffer every day at the hands of the Kiryuin and their servants!" Nagita made his voice heard through the whole campus, bringing up a good amount of No-Star Crowd to see. "I know I sound obvious, but Honnouji Academy it is turning its students into soldiers for war! Can't you see, or does the fear of this damn school has also affected your self-confidence? At this point, you're slowly transforming into sheep ready to be sent into the slaughterhouse! We wear out Goku Uniforms to pity against each other all while the rich and powerful enjoy life on the upper parts of Honno City!" The former Emperor told everyone before telling Mankanshoku and Mikisugi to hand over the newspapers to every No-Star present on his speech. Aikruo having more self-confidence on himself just decline, but the same cannot be said for the bubbly coconut-head who began to handle out papers out of sheer pressure. "The reason why the Kiryuins and the Elites are trying to tie us under their strings is because they know we can easily de-throne them if we band together as 1 mad mob! Come on people! Thanks to the brave efforts of former Student and Honnouji Emperor Akira Kurusu and Transfer Student Ryuko Matoi, we have discovered that Satsuki Kiryuin isn't invincible! Read the headlines and find out how we as a community can take over this school for us once and for all! Let's all rise and make a change for once!" Nagita continued to shout his anger toward all of the fellow Honnouji Students. Although he knew that Ragyo needed to have the No-Stars negative feelings to be bottled for the harvesting, he had to acknowledge how straight up tyrannic Honnouji's system is. All he needs to do is to wait for the members of the disciplinary committee to show up.
Which they did…
"It's the paper boy from before!" one of the muscular One-Stars of the trio of buffed students that couldn't stop tracking Nagita since yesterday came rushing alongside his other 2 piers like a full-force stampede of mad bulls.
"Move it, No-Star scum!" One of the One-Stars tackled the entire crowd of No-Stars with a single Shoulder Bash, forecasting a rain of students over our 3 heroes.
"Who even gave you permission to publish your headlines?" The 3rd One-Star asked furiously as it was the most close on tackling Nagita.
"GYAAH! It's the Disciplinary Committee!" Mako yelped in terror, watching the hulking brutes coming their way, ready to break their skulls into tiny bits until they wouldn't take form of simple dust.
"Man! Those guys have ears all around the school when it comes to any violations. Well, can't expect less from Lady Satsuki's loyal soldiers, amirite?" Mikisugi looked at Nagita who pretended to pee his pants in terror. "You better start running for your life, because the last time someone defiled Honnouji Academy, its rotting naked corpse was hanging at the entrance. Don't believe me? Why not ask Suzuki from my class? Oh wait, he's dead."
"No need to worry, I'll handle these guys for you to call for help!" He told his 2 comrades as he bravely charged against the 3 One-Stars, even when he was outmatched by numbers and strength. Even then, he couldn't care less, and he engaged on a big ball of violence against the bullies.
"Uhh… UHH! J-just h-hold there Nagita! I-I'll get help!" Aikuro noticed the boy that she was going to get some help (That is if they're brave enough to face the first of the disciplinary committee).
"N-no! Don't go for help! I-I can -f-f-fight my own battles alone! The 2 of you should worry about being catcher by the other Higher-ups! Go! Run away like the wind of freedom! I'll distract these guys while the 2 of you spread the will of the people!" Nagita denied the help before liberating himself and jumping straight into the same river Hakodate pushed Ryuko time ago.
"He's getting away!" The One-Stars began to follow the boy with the glasses' track.
"After him!" The other One-Star cried as the 3 jumped into the river and swam at the speed of a sports yatch to catch over the rebel student.
"Well, there goes another day at Honnouji Academy." Mikisugi thought to himself while tilting his head sideways. It weirds him how veryone in this world has grown to see these unorthodox events as very mondaine.
"Nagita wait!" Mako's heroic side re-kindled to the surface as she tried to follow the journalist down the river. Luckily, Mikisugi hold her from the collar of her uniform, stopping her from doing any foolish act like she usually does on an everyday basis.
"Take it easy Mankanshoku. He'll be alright. Seeing how durable, persistent and fast Nagita is, he will be okay as always. Otherwise, his corpse would have been hanged a long time ago." Mikisugi bend to see Mako face-to-face and consolidate her from her worries before dusting off the rubble on her uniform. "The best we can do from now on is to return to class and remain calm. You don't want Akira and Ryuko to worry, right? Besides, recess has ended like 1 minute ago and you know how harsh the Disciplinary Committee becomes when it comes to lack of punctuality between students, and more at this time of- "
"What the hell are you 2 doing outside of your corresponded classrooms?" Gamagori lifted the teacher and the student from their collars with his herculean strength, sending the bubbly girl and the middle-aged professor into a state of anxiety.
"G-gahhh! G-gamagori! I'msorryi'msorryi'msorry!" Mako then flooded Satsuki's goliath with tons of apologies.
"Ahaha… Mr. Gamagori… W-what a surprise…" Mikisugi said hi to the law of Honno terrified. "You see, I was just getting into my classroom until- "
"You can save your excuses after your corresponded punishments!" Ira snarled at the bunny and the undercover teacher before dragging the 2 to where the commissary unit was loading up the trucks with sports gear as a mean of ammo for the athletic divisions. "Normally, your acts of treason would be punished by 1 month stay on the time-out chamber Mankanshoku, but since we're very busy with the preparations of the Tri-City School Raid Trip and seeing how bad you want to partake on the trip, you shall be sentenced to hard labor with the commissary unit!" Gamagori has already chosen Mankanshoku's punishment, which then she was forced to hand over baskets full of sports gears to the trucks. "NOW, HAND OVER THOSE BALLS!"
"Y-yes sir!" Mako frighting squabbled while handing over the equipment into the loading trucks.
Gamagori after punishing Mako properly turned around to narrow at Aikuro's soul. "As for you, I would like to also punish you, but Lady Satsuki gave me orders that you have this day dismissed. We don't want any teachers coming to our faces and ruin our plans. UNDERSTAND!?" Gamagori barked at the teacher who wanted out of his campus.
"Ahh! Aaahh!" He pretended to scream while exiting the academy by passing through the red gate. Once he was out of Honnouji Sign, he finally felt glad that he could be his true self without anyone noticing it. He picked up his smartphone and started to call Akira through it. "Akira, I've got some good and bad news."
"I'm more of a guy who likes the bad news first rather than the good ones." Kurusu replied in the phone line.
Mikisugi took a deep breath before spitting out the news. He knew that Joker would despite what he's about to hear, and more when he knew that the wild card hated having his closest friends who are unable to defend themselves be involved. "It's about Mankanshoku. Recently Shinjiro made a scandal on the campus that involved Mankanshoku on the conflict. Though the boy managed to escape the Disciplinary Committee, I can't say the same thing for Mankanshoku."
"Are they holding her hostage?" Akira asked, seeming ready to strike if necessary. He woulnd't let another friend be killed again.
"No, no. Mako is alight, for now." Mikisugi tried to consolidate the teen. It was already stressful trying to be with his broken friend after almost killing everyone and herself, and it would be overkill if another one would be in the brink of its expiration date. "The issue is that Gamagori has punished her by assisting the commissary unit in the Raid trip, which can be difficult to attack knowing one of your friends is in the middle of the battlefield."
The notice made Akira almost skip a heartbeat. He wanted for at least Mako to not be involved, or at least that she has Ryuko to protect her since he will be mostly busy figting Saksuki's round. "I see… I'll make sure to improvise something to pull her out of the conflict."
"Putting your loved ones first instead of your enemies. I admire that but have in mind that we only have tomorrow to stop the Kiryuin once and for all." Aikuro reminded him how important tomorrow day is. It isn't just foiling their plans to take over the schools, but also the last step for them to complete the sports and cultural fesgtival. "BY the way, how's Ryuko doing?"
"Fine. Mr Mankanshoku told me that she hasn't noticed anymore fatal injuries during the day before yesterday, though she still hasn't recovered mentally. She still hasn't recovered emotionally, and I don't think she will soon. We just better ler her stay with Mako's parents alongside Senketsu. We can't risk any innocent people who shouldn't be killed in the crossfire." Akira was as concerned for any innocents losing their lives unjustlingly. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to be ready as I'll ever be."
"Heh, thanks for being someone we can trust, Akira Kurusu…" Mikisugi sighted in relief before cutting the line. Now with one headache out, there's only one more thing he must pull off of his head. He changed the number to Maiko's to call her by the line. "Hey Maiko, have you finally found something about Nagita?"
Somewhere back with Tsumugu, it wasn't possible, but it was over… It was finally over…
Every single Life Fiber in Earth destroyed and disintegrated into not even resemble anything that could be existent. In other words, they were finally extinct.
"Man… Holy shit… I, I just can't believe is finally over." Tsumugu was laying on the floor of the roof of the now destroyed REVOCS tower after the gigantic and intense battle he and Nudist Beach against Ragyo Kiryuin and her daughter plus the forces of REVOCS and Honnouji combined. It was a very tough and hard conflict, with the casualties between NB soldiers and innocents being too high to even consider, but it was finally over. Humanity can finally wear clothes once again without being enslaved by them. It was just him, Mikisugi and Kinue all resting over the spire of the now sinking Honnouji Academy. Yet, despite the "tranquility" they're expirencing, Tsumugu had a feeling this whole thing was, off…
"Well, your life-long dream has finally come to fruition Tsumugu. Every Life Fiber gone from our planet thanks to our efforts." Tsumugu told his comrade while watching the odd sunset from the distance. "If Dr. Matoi would still be with us, he would shed a tear of happiness for how far we've got. But damn… It feels messed up how many kids the Kiryuin have tricked into being puppets for the Life Fibers." Mikisugi grieved and pittied all the youth Satsuki and her mother have destroyed and ruined to transform into their personal army of Super-Soldiers, making them never experiences the wonders of the youth and freedom.
"Although, I'm glad that we can finally rest, isn't that right Danketsu?" Kinue looked at her Kamui that took the form of a long robe when it didn't took the form of a pervy outfit. Despite no one hearing what the god's robe had to say, it could be affirmed that it did some sort of nodding if we take reference Tsumugu's sister's expression. "Anyways Tsu, you have something to declare before we sign the divorce papers between Humanity and the Life Fibers?"
Tsumugu awkwardly turned to see his beloved sis. He looked back into his prior position before giving a light smirk. "Well, at least I'm glad I can finally wear pants again, that's for sure." He affirmed to the 2 before looking at his drink. "But yet, I can't rest easy. Ever since I woke from that long-ass dream, I feel the world around me a bit, odd… No matter how many times I tell myself that this can't be either a dream or an illusion, I feel that there's some sort of tick hiding in the fur of my life. As if a piece of the Jigsaw puzzle forced its way to the space rather than going in naturally with the other pieces."
"Well… First off, you should really work on your metaphors Tsumugu. Because at this point, you'll be talking like someone straight out of a matrix movie." Aikuro recommended his inferior to talk normally more often while putting on a white shirt to cover his handsome and hetero-killing chest. "Anyways, you don't want to keep the crew waiting, right? We're planning a big victory party at HQ. The Takarada syndicate will make sure to cover the budget for us to party all ni- "
BANG!
Tsumugu's fingers quickly reacted by shooting both the teacher and his sister on lethal parts with the lethal module of his needle gun that made it shoot straight out normal bullets.
"T-tsumugu… Why…?" Mikisugi feeling utterly betrayed by his most trusted soldier stammered at him for why he decided to turn his back against not only him, but also his sister. The very own person he admired the most in his life.
"Cut the act already." Tsumugu barked at the supposedly "Mikisugi" He had beside him. He then looked at the 2 and noticed that rather than bleeding normal red blood, they leaked liquified Life Fibers out of their bodies, proving that they were fakes all along. "Whoever you are, I know for a fact that you aren't the real Mikisugi."
"B-but how can you s-say t-t-t-that…? I-I've been your friend si- "
"You had me for a long-time, but I'll tell you where you slip up big time, wise guy." Kinagase stood up towards the fakers with his confident look. "Even if we succeed into destroying the Kiryuin empire and the Life Fibers, Mikisugi would never EVER put on clothing for his own pleasure! Even before forming Nudist Beach, everyone knew that he has been a nudist ever since birth!" Tsumugu pointed out to prove that the reality he has lived in was nothing but a fake to preserved him.
And then… The whole world stopped. The already grey sky stopped blowing away the clouds, the water of the ocean surrounding Tokyo bay put a halt to its waves, the cicadas singing over the trees froze in place. All that was left was a cold atmosphere coving the nudist.
"Man… Talk about climate chamnge…" Tsumugu breathed as he looked everywhere witnessing how the sky was literally shattering, leaving Life Fiber patterns to replace the holes on the atmosphere. "Gotta handle it to ya, whoever you are… You almost though about everything. Though you need to think of it even more."
"Hehehehe…" An ominous voice slowly chuckled as it echoed through everywhere the mohawk-man was. "Seems that you weren't as stupid as I thought… Despite how long it took you to discovered that the reality I have gave you as my gift, was ni+othing more than an illusion I twisted inside your brain…"
"Who the hell are you?" Tsumugu prepared his weapon to shoot whoever was echoing that evil and deep voice. He wouldn't let his guard be dropped down again, not now and much less in this situation.
"Don't you get it, pig…?" The Voice called for Kinagase's attention. "I am the one with many eyes, I am the harbinger of conformism and destruction… I AM GOD…" The voice blurted all around the area. "I'm sure you know who I am, but unfortunately, I'll not let you leave alive to tell the tale…" The echo drawled on.
Just then, the fake mannequins of Kinue and Mikisugi turned their faces and looked directly into Tsumugu. The 2 had their eyeballs removed, leaving their eye sockets leaking Life Fibers out of them.
"Not gonna lie, this is getting creepy as fuck." The Nudist remained brave despite his comment while beginning to shoot out needles out of his gun. But no matter how many needles he bathed the 2 fakes, they seem to not take any damage. Not even the normal bullets, but considering the 2 were leaking Life Fibers, they would already immune to normal bullets to begin with if the 2 were constructs made out of Life Fibers.
The Mohawk man took some steps back, watching how the 2 imposters resembling his friends were slowly crawling their way to kill him like zombies. And if he thought that he was already safe from the Zombie infestation, he thought wrong. He felt a hand grabbing his left leg with the desire to pull him out of the spire. Luckily, Tsumugu was fast enough to react and squashed the hand with his his boot, exploding into Life Fibers. Once he looked at his behind, he couldn't believe it. "Holy mother of shit…" Cursed the nudist, watching a full horde of Life Fiber Zombies climbing their way into the Kiryuin spire. All of them being both members of Nudist Beach and the Kiryuin.
Tsumugu did his best to back them off by releasing one of his grenades into the climbing horde, which managed to back them off for a short period of time. Unfortunately, he took some more steps back to back off the 2 main zombies, which made him slip off. But he quickly grabbed over the ledge of the spire, being on the verge of becoming zombie chow.
The zombified Kinue looked down and stepped on one of Tsumugu's fingers, unaware that Kinagase had a bomb behind his back and ready to throw to her once she gets her guard down. she began to crush each finger, causing the nudist to yelp in pure pain and agony, but still didn't erased that cocky smile of his. Just when it was about to drop the brave nudist out to the zombie wave and for Kinagase to throw the grenade, it said some last words. "Vive, la resistance…"
"Not if the law has something to say, vile creature!"
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
The fake Kinue then epically exploded into tiny pieces with a super-realistic explosion, saving Tsumugu's butt from being fed to the zombies. Actually, a bullet performed toward the fake Mikisugi that it also made him explode just like Kinue, and that same bullet began to bounce against the rest of the zombies, causing a huge realistic explosion that impulsed Kinagase back into the top of the spire face down.
The nudist coughed for some moments before getting up back into his feet.
"Oi, you looked like you were in trouble. And by the way, sorry to bust in into your mind like that."
Tsumugu then looked up to see who told him that. "Well, I'll be honest with you, I had plans already …" Kinagase's voice quickly froze once he saw his savior who resulted to be a… Skeleton policeman with a flaming skull…?
"Ah great… First Life Fiber zombies and now skeleton policemen. This must be the weirdest fever dream I have ever had." Tsumugu only reactionn was a cringed look about his unusual savior on his mind. Sure, this was a cognitive realm taking place on his brain, but he has to admit that things machinated on his inner thoughts can make him have a lot of shower thoughts for a long time, and more when the skeleton just said he just intruded into his mind. Is he some sort of mind demon or something?
"You know I can hear your thoughts, right? And by the way, I'm not a demon, I'm Inferno Cop." The fact that he just said it on such a polite matter made the tough Tsumugu extremely uncomfortable. "And yes, I'm not a product of your imagination. As you can see, I am my own character." The skeleton replied, while rather than moving his limbs like a normal person, it would seem that his whole body was frozen, and he could only do small jumps and move as if it was a stock image. Aside from that, the fire on his skull looks too realistic, even for Tsumugu to comprehend.
Nevertheless, he put his feelings of oddness out of the window for a while to point the stale cop with his weapon. "If you don't wish for your skull to be smashed in half? Then tell me if you're friend or foe?"
"Woah, Woah! Slow there! Can't you see that I'm an agent of justice just like you?" Inferno cop tried to calm the nudist up from firing the weapon. But then again, he is bullet-proof and can just bounce any projectiles back. But he still doesn't like to fight fellow heroes like him. "Tell me, care for a good soup of pork oden?" The undead policeman asked the nudist all while bringing up a bonfire alongside a pot with boiling oden for them to chat and have a heart to heart.
Back with the Mankanshoku's residence, Akira and Barazo were checking on Ryuko's health state with the patriarch of the family checking the girl with the red forelock's pulse with his stethoscope.
"Did you found any other injuries Mr. Mankanshoku?" The trickster asked the back-alley doctor if he has discovered anything harming inside Ryuko's body. The both of them were as worried for Matoi knowing how much she has taken the past days. It just seems that the world can't make her take a slight break.
"Well, what I got recently, I saw that all of her injuries the day past yesterday she got just well, healed themselves instantly. Phew! Kids these days and their immune systems. Wonder if it is my honey's croquets that gave her those Wolverine regenerative powers? Nah, I'm sure it's just runs through the Matoi family, I think…" Mako's dad sighted before swiping away some sweat from her forehead.
Akira just looked at the sleeping body of his friend resting and probably having a sweet dream of her being happy. He couldn't read minds that's for sure, but seeing how Ryuko was as calm as the ocean on daytime, he knew she deserved to escape reality for some time in order for her mental health to be in check. "H-hey Mr. Mankansoku, for a back-alley doctor, you don't seem to do it that bad."
"Oh, r-really?" Barazo stammered for Akira's compliment. No one he has met has told him that he was not that bad of a doctor. Most of his patients told him bad things about how badly he messes up the surgeries and other operations. "Well, I can thank my almost college degree on making it this far. Ahahahaha! Ha, hah…" That optimistic laugh then slowly turned into an awkward one… Remembering what it seems to be a very bad memory on the rise of his mind.
"Something feels wrong… Are you alright Mr. Mankanshoku?" Akira asked as he turned to see the back-alley doctor directly in his eyes and know what was worrying him for having such a tense face.
"Gahh!" The man of the Mankanshoku family gasped by surprise. "Eh… N-nothing r-really Ren…" He muttered for him to close any conversation. But the teen's desire to know more only made him want him to ask more questions. "Aww… Alright, go on and ask me anything…" Barazo just gave up and let the door of question open for Joker to traverse.
Akira smirked for some minutes before continuing. "Anyway, I'm wondering… How even you got yourself into being a back-alley doctor in the first place? And most importantly, how even did you got yourself into Honno City?"
"Ehehehe… Well, it's a very long story, but I'm sure you'll be able to swallow it whole." The family guy then began his explanation. "It all began on my prime days at college when I was studying my Doctor's career. Man! I used to have the raddest of hairstyles back then!" Mako's dad then told him about some useless facts on how he was super-popular back in school. "Although, even if it looked a bit surprising, I wasn't this broke as I am right now! Well, not wealthy enough, but on average. Anyways! T-the point is that I always wished to be a professional doctor able to cure anything and anyone since I was a child. Hell! Even I use to simulate operation with my plush toys!" Mr. Mankanshoku pointed out, showing photos of him. "But well, all stars must fall one day, and mine fell pretty quickly…" Barazo did a brief pause before continuing his tale of woe. "Well, during my graduation, I decided to open up a small local hospital. Well, that was the day of…" The adult stopped, seemingly remembering super-terrible memories about what happened.
"Oh… I, I see…" Akira knew on what Barazo was referring to. He didn't want to ask, but he knew by the expression he caused the death of a patient by some sort of accident. Whenever it was by an error or something else if for his imagination to guess since he knew it was a very fragile topic for asking him. Maybe he would ask out for the details later, but not right now. He just didn't want to break the tranquility for the family, Senketsu and Ryuko. "Anyways… So, how did you got into Honno exactly?"
"Well, it was kind of a miracle for me to be honest. After that ehmmm… Incident, I decided to run from the city I used to live for the cops to not find me and throw my ass in prison. Seems that we used to be the only 2 with a criminal record in this house, amirite?" The man of the house tried to wash off the awkwardness his story ended up creating in Ryuko's room. "Anyways, how I meet Sukuyo was very surprising. We attended at the same college. She was the captain of the Cheerleading club of the school. All men were crazy for her, and what can I say? She's beautiful, pretty, kind, funny and very energetic when it comes doing chores. Of course, anyone would fall over for her. B-but well, the point is that we used to hang out very often. She had eyes on me, and I had mine on her. But well, after our graduation, we went our separate ways, In order to pursuit our own ambitions and objectives in life. But back on when I was. Fortunately, we soon find out each other once again on an bar. Turns out that Sukuyo was on the run and became a petty burglar, so now when you wonder where Mataro had his habit of stealing stuff, you now know the reason. We both shared stories and such and turns out, fate can sometimes be nice for you. Every night, we used to hang out on that same bar and share a good ol' cup of sake to even being left up drunk sometimes. Anyhow, our lovely reunion resulted on a wonderful wedding, though don't think it was the big deal. Though, I did everything in my disposal to buy the most wonderful ring she could see. Hell! Even I sold one of my kidneys to do so!" Mr. Mankanshoku then light up his shirt for Joker to see the part of one of his kidneys was before putting it back. "Anyways, our lives then became better once we heard the Kiryuin seemingly finished building Honno City. Just to have in mind, this is way before Honnouji Academy was created and built. As I was saying, they promised us shelter and lifting up any charges we have against the law, free of charge! I knew it was too good to be true, but well, I knew I was gonna be a family man soon enough. So, me and Sukuyo signed in for the program and then I opened up my back-alley clinic to steal organs and blood out of suckers to sustain the family. But then, one of the best days of my life happened. My wife gave birth to my precious Mako. She was the most beautiful thing I have seen in this world!" Barazo began to shed tears, remembering those happy moments he had when he saw Mako manifest into this beautiful world. "From that day forward, I decided to drop the professional medical field in order to accomplish my most difficult mission to date! Be a good father for my children."
Akira sofly smiled on the father's determination. At least he was glad Mako's dad to be determined into sustaining his family, even if it takes doing sacrideges to do so. Sure, he was still uncomfortable about Barazo's illegal actions like blood-stealing and such, but he has much more important matters to settle with the Kiryuin right now. "Hmmm… That's, quite the story… But say, have you ever consider re-doing your professional medical career again?"
The question Akira gave the family man of the residence made him raise an eyebrow. "I-I don't know… You know what happened last time… You think I can really recover?"
Akira entered his dimension of thoughts for a brief moment to latee response the quack doctor's question. "Well, I once had a friend who also was a back-alley doctor like yourself. Well, she supposedly made medical error, causing her to be blacklisted from most medical institutions. Although, I know I said supposedly since the patient survive and was all just a conspiracy against her by her director who was jealous. Well, the point is that even if that wouldn't be the case, she managed to bounce back into the stars."
"Huh? And how so?" The illegal medic raised a brow to know the answer.
"Well, she had company and friends to support her. I actually used to be a guinea pig for her medicine trials. Now you wonder how I'm able to be strong all of the sudden, amirite?" Joker followed that with a soft chuckle which made barazo follow. "Not that I'm forcing you, but… Mako will graduate from Honnouji Academy and her just being a student will not be suitable for your family anymore. Think it about, for you and your family… and Ryuko…"
The Mankanshoku though it for some seconds before coming for conclusions. "You know right, Ryuko and Mako are doing their best to maintain us! Hell! Even Mataro's burglary is at least helping us eat for tomorrow!" He said with enthusiasm before getting himself up. "Now It's my turn to return the favor!" He exclaimed while clashing his hands together with determination burning through his eyes. "Thank you, Ren, for finally making me realize that I should return to my passion for the medicine and now become a legit doctor. But i'll just let you and Ryuko be for now." The male muttered before leaving the room, which instead he was peaking alongside his family from the door to see how he and Ryuko were doing.
Aside from that, the messy-haired teenager looked back at Ryuko. She seems to gently open her eyes like a flower recently blooming on a dawn of a spring breeze. "Seems that resting made you good this time. Do you feel better?"
"Thanks fuzzy hair. It's good to see your boring face cheering me up." Ryuko shrugged while enveloping her lower part of her face with the bed sheet of her futon. "Why a shit of a person deserves a guy like you? Most of the time, whenever I get into some sort of stupid trouble, I get to drag you into it. It happened with that bastard Fukuroda, then Sanageyama, that fucking and stupid Fight Club, and now… Me becoming a horrible monster." Ryuko only felt more miserable each time she thought about how many times she endangered her friends for her selfish needs. "Why do I always endanger you when I do anything? I, don't want to beat a dead horse anymore, but jesus… I almost killed every one of you the time I went batshit insane…"
"So, you're now afraid of me… Afraid of putting me on, Ryuko?" Senketsu was the next one to give the voice in the room, worrying how his wearer now grew afraid of putting her up because of their recent accident.
Ryuko only hid her face deeper into the sheets in order to prove her point. "You already know the answer…" Ryuko reminded everyone that it was herself who was afraid of. "Even when transformed into, whatever I was… I could not only hear you screams, but also you pleads to stop it, Senketsu… If it wasn't for Mako, her family and you Fuzzy Hair, who knows what would happen?" Ryuko groaned while remembering that she would have been dead if it wasn't for the Phantom Thief's aid and her friends.
Then, Akira grabbed Matoi's hand softly to consolidate. "Well, you said it yourself. There's no need to beat a dead horse any longer." Akira tried to consolidate Matoi. "What's in the past, stays in the past. Don't let it just be the commander of your future, use it to be a better person from your mistakes. Because how are you planning to keep moving forward if your head is still looking at the past?" Akira gave his friend some moral support to cheer her mood up.
"Even if your decisions to not put me on are understandable, there's no need to reject me." Senketsu reminded Ryuko that he was just more than a talking Sailor Uniform. He was like one of her closest friend side from Mako and Akira. "I want to be worn by you and only you. And even if you don't want to activate my battle mode, that's okay. It's just, that I have this feeling that my sole purpose is you to wear me, and for me to protect you…"
"Heh… Seems that the drunken sailor uniform is beginning to remember things." Akira let out his cocky side come to play for a brief time as he teased Senketsu about recovering his memories.
"No… I don't think I remember now, but it's just a preposition…"
Ryuko softly smiled watching the 2 boys argue on a playful matter, reminding herself that she isn't alone…
Speaking of which…
"YOU GOTTA HELP ME MATOI!"
"Uhh?" The thievery teen then looked at the window to see a distressed Nagita seconds before being slammed by the 3 bulky One-Stars who were coming from all parts. Breaking the windows, from the doors the Mankanshoku were spying on and even the freaking closet! They were now over him like kids fighting over candy a piñata dropped.
"How about that, Paper Boy?" One of the One Stars teased the glasses-wearing geek while grabbing one of his legs to forbid him from escaping.
"Let's see how you like it when we hang up your corpse at the gate of Honnouji Academy like what happened to Suzuki!" Another One-Star threatened Nagita into killing him and hanging his corpse in the gates.
"Sorry my precious idols! I didn't want you all to drag you into this!" The renegade apologized from bringing trouble into the table as he began being pummeled by the trio of Disciplinary members.
While the family was shocked and didn't knew what to do, the wildcard placed his fingers into his chin. "How, odd… something isn't right here…" He thought to himself. Why would Nagita say that he didn't want them to be dragged into this, yet he yelped for help before then… it's a contradiction that he didn't passed out easily.
"Hey! What the hell is wrong with you!? Leave him alone!" Mataro was the first to step up from his cowardice. Sure, it would take a lot for the new and reformed Mataro to be submitted.
The only thing they did was turning their head like dolls 180 and narrowed at Matoi menacingly. Sure, a girl as tough as her will take more than a mean glare just to submit her. "Take the criminal with you, I'll take care of this pig." One of the One-Star ordered the other 2 who salute and took Shinjiro to who knows.
"MATOI! KURUSU! ANYONE! HELP ME!" Nagita cried in panic as he was being taken by the 2 students to who knows where. Probably no one knows except him.
The burly man then looked at the family as he raised his fist. "DON'T TEASE THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE!" The One Star directed his mighty fist toward the family. The mom and the child were fast enough to dodge the incoming pain train, except for the father who was frozen in place. Was this the end? Is he really done for?
STAB!
Once Mako's dad opened his eyes, he noticed that he now had Ryuko wearing Senketsu on its transformed state piercing her Scissor Blade all though the One-Star's stomach. Seeing how fast she put on her Kamui was undeniable proof that the girl had very quick.
"Listen here and listen well you muscle freak…" Ryuko drawled on a very raspy and serious voice, up to the point of pure anger. "I'm no hero and I could care less about bullshit like the end of the world. But… If any of you cock-dicks dares, just DARES to hurt my friends…" Ryuko's tone became more aggressive the more she speaks, until she calmed down. "Then I'll make your mother regret having the single idea of having you in this world once I cut your head and kick it into her house…" She grunted, all while the One-Star began to drown on his own blood as a waterfall of his own body fluids began to fall from his mouth. Matoi then pulled out her Scissor Blade from the Dead One-Star's stomach causing him to drop dead and spill more blood over the floor of Mako's house.
"Ryuko…" Akira was just frightened how far did Ryuko went to save those who she cares about. "You… put it on…"
"So, what…?" Ryuko responded without even looking back at his friend. "Heh… Guess it was finally time for me to wear you again Senketsu." She gleamed softly as she looked at her Kamui, feeling the warm of the god's robe on her body. "Still, I need you to make me a favor… Will you try to stop me if I get myself be pulled by my emotions? And if that happens, I want you to get off me before I become a monster again and go find help."
Senketsu widen his eye for a brief moment before taking a sign. "I'll do my best Ryuko but it's up to you to control your emotions."
"Don't worry, I'll do my best." Ryuko reaffirmed before looking at the opened door of the house. "Akira, if something happens to me, if I turn myself into an irredeemable monster and there's no way for me to return, I want you to keep Senketsu and take care of him…" Ryuko tasked Kurusu to possess her Kamui if something were to happen to her by the worst of cases. She took a deep breath remembering all those moments and acknowledging that she has friend that have her back. "So, are you ready to kick ass again Senketsu?" The tomboy looked at her uniform with a spunky glee.
Even when it didn't looked like, the Kamui seemed to be as ready as always. "You just had to say so!" He exclaimed while releasing some steam out of himself just before boosting herself and himself like a rocket, leaving a trail of red stream behind her.
Akira's face was shown to have a satysfing smile. Sure, he had a lot to talk about Ryuko killing a student, even when it was for a good cause, but still was glad that her friend recovered her confidence in her and her Kamui.
Just when he thought that things just got better for her, he got an urgent call from the Thieves' den. "This is Joker speaking." Kurusu picked his phone to see who was calling. If it was enemy forces, he would take necessary actions.
"Joker! This is urgent! Is Ryuko still with you!?" It was Ogure speaking through the phone-line. The tone of her voice contrasted that there was something bad happening or that it was about to happen.
Joker dropped a shocked sweat. Moments later, he recovered his cool like always. "It's about Shinjiro Nagita… Isn't it…?" Akira's assumptions about Shinjiro working with the enemy forces were now revealing to be actually true.
"Unfortunately, you're right." Maiko responded while typing on her super-computer on the den. "Mikisugi and I have finally managed to crack Nagita's identity, but the cracks then began to liberate a rotten smell of an egg." Ogure then searched Nagita's identity on her screen. "Using the data and records of the No-Tardies days taken ever since Honnouji Academy was founded, me being the former traps researcher managed to have most memory out of the No-Stars in the school. If he really was a former student, Honnouji's main network would at least have some sort of record registered on him. The point is our new friend made a slip-up." The genius girl then typed a button, only to reveal that Nagita's files were false and began to being erased. "Shinjiro Nagita doesn't even exist! Whatever he wants from Ryuko, do NOT let him have it!"
Moments prior, Akira noticed something strange about the "corpse" of the One-Star. Instead of being now a fleshy body, it turned out to be nothing more than a wooden marionette with Life Fiber strings attached to it. "Make sure to contact the others…" He grunted before cutting the line and getting his Phantom Thief attire ready. He got out of his house and swing his way as fast as he could to find whenever Ryuko ran.
"Sluuurp! Mmm… It's been a while since I tasted one of those." Inferno cop said as he slurped his oden out loud, enjoying its great taste. "Hey mohawk guy, are you gonna eat yours?"
"No… I'm not hungry… But, if you want it, go on…" Tsumugu gloomed as he gave his bowl of oden to the skeleton cop. Inferno cop took the kindness gesture gladly and devoured the bowl of oden without moving a muscle.
"Mmm… I see you a bit depressed. Are you perhaps having the usual character development?" The cop wondered why Kinagase haven't eaten his plate. Sure, it was his own mind so he couldn't psisically eat the food, aside from himself. Why? Because he's Inferno motherfucking Cop! That's why!
"Maybe? *Sight…* So what? There is just… this strange feeling I'm having recently…" Kinagase let out a gloomed sight from his mouth as he looked at the oden stew on the pot. "It's just, about the Life Fibers… I'm determined into tearing every single one of them, yet I find compassion for the kid's Kamui… God, what's wrong with me?" he asked himself in melancholy while covering his face with his right palm. "I got myself so absorbed by my revenge quest, i… forgot what to fight for now. Ever since pretty boy came here to scold me, I…" Tsumugu paused for a moment.
"Don't know what to do anymore and thus you're sinking on a moral quicksand whenever to kill all Life Fibers or not?" Inferno Cop complemented Tsumugu's words out of his mouth.
The nudist only looked a bit surprised at the stiff policeman. "Well, kinda if you put it that way, I guess…" He responded all while looking at the stew on the pot. "I don't know what's happening to me anymore… Damnit!"
"Hey, maybe you have some sort of trigger event. Everyone has it! Hell, mine was when I was 18 when they killed my parents." Inferno cop told Tsumugu to cheer him up. "Come on, you can tell me everything. It's not like there's no one here outside your thoughts and me."
Kinagase looked for some seconds to the skull before thinking it for some seconds. "Well, it all began when we were little. My big sis had the personality, the strength, and even the looks. And I, well… I just had the devil's luck of being her brother. She always aspired to be a successful couturier in the world of fashion and create all sorts of styles and clothes, all to work under Ragyo Kiryuin's mantle. Me, well… I was always the player 2 of everything she had. N-no matter how hard I try; she always comes up on top. Making me her shadow… but then, I just couldn't hate her… I loved her with all my heart, yet I felt some sort of dark desire erupting through my chest…" Tsumugu made a brief pause, watching how the oden stew made silhouettes of him and his sister. "Once we grew up, we unfortunately discovered the fat and ugly truth hiding under Ragyo's carpet. The both of us decided to work with Isshin to defeat the Life Fiber threat. The old man had Kinue as his favorite assistant and also was seemed to be the most fit for Project First Decision, that's how we used to call Senketsu back in the day. Surprisingly, Kamui we were developing was for Kinue to use and fight Satsuki and her mother… Then… That accident happened…" Tsumugu looked down, seeing how the prototype of Senketsu murdered his sister in cold blood. "Even in her dying breath, she insisted to them to continue with the development of the Kamui. After that, watching how the damn thing killed my sister, I swore to destroy all Life Fibers on the planet. Yet, when I encounter those 2 kids and the kamui in person… I realize that it was different from the rest of Life Fibers. He was way too human to be considered a being made out of Life Fibers, and that's that he's only a sailor uniform. Afterwards, my desire of revenge just… became worthless… I want to destroy the Life Fibers, yet I feel calm in my soul… What do I really want then…?"
Inferno Cop then came to embrace the nudist behind him. "Hmmm… Basing myself on your description, I'm assure that you were just jealous of your sister. And with her now dead, you feel like you will never prove any sort of superiority above her."
Basing ourselves on Kinagase's expression, we can assure that the policeman asserted on hitting the nail.
"Ha! My hellish deductions never abandon me!" Exclaimed the defender of Jack Edge Knife city. "Excuse me for saying that." He apologized for the comment he dropped on the mohawk adult.
"No, i-it's fine…" Tsumugu replied a bit calmer now. "I-I think what you're saying is right. Seems that all those times I envy my sister made me the person I'm now. God, how the hell did I slip it up big time? If it wasn't for that kid, I've would have killed the last remnant of my sister…" Kinagase seemed to be lamenting about almost destroying Senketsu back when he still was on his edgy biker phase. "Why do I fight for anymore…?"
The Infernal law enforced came closer to the nudist to give him a speech. "Who should you gight for? Isn't that obvious? There are people out there that care about you and a lot of poorly-drawn background characters blissfully unaware of the invisible puppets strings attached to them!" Inferno cop added. "Besides, wouldn't you want to protect the Kamui your sister sacrificed himself and its wearer knowing that it is now bestowed on Isshin's daughter's own hands?"
Tsumugu thought it for a moment. He was right! He didn't enlist to Nudist Beach to just show his balls without shame. He and his sister joined to unmask the Kiryuin and liberate the world from the control of the Life Fibers. "Heh… Shit… Guess you were right all along Mr. Bones. Seems that there is a purpose for me. I'll try to protect that girl and her Kamui and make those bastards pay so hard, they will be left bankrupt!" He exclaimed with more determination as he got up and cracked his knuckles. "Besides, I have some unfinished business with a certain someone…"
"So, what are you planning to do?" Inferno Cop asked.
"There are 2 things you should know." Tsumugu said his trademark phrase while picking his gun. "1: I'll try to get the hell out of here! 2: This is my mind…" Kinagase smirked before he began to fly. "Which means that I can do anything I want like a god." He exclaimed as he snapped his fingers, causing the whole place to be caught on fire, meaning that Tsumugu finally accepted his demons and gained control over himself from the Life Fibers. "Hey skelly, are ya comin?"
"Sorry, but I can't right now." Inferno Cop reaffirmed, as he needed to report back to Garterbelt. "By the way, good luck kicking Ragyo's ass, cuz you're about to need it, A lot!"
"heh… For an old bone you sure are quite optimistic." Tsumugu smirked as he watched his mind prison getting crumbled down by the blue flames of rebellion enveloping the whole place.
"Hey there's no need for you to call me old. I'm only 21!" Inferno Cop reaffirmed as he waved goodbye to Kinagase on a very odd manner.
"Well, time to get back to work!" He exclaimed before bursting with a fiery explosion, destroying the fake world he was locked in. Afterwards, it was only blackness…
…
…
…
I'm glad that you accepted me as your other self… Now without anything holding you back, it is time to tap the hidden power lurking within your damage soul and take revenge!
SNAP!
I am thou, thou art i… The contract under the pale moonlight shall be signed with blood and soul… When the blind eyes of society can't see the demonic monsters lurking within the shadows, it will be our duty to cleanse this world against those monsters! We shall hunt every single one of them, and we shall not rest until every single one of them suffers the same way they made the innocents suffer!
"Well, bout time you come to me…" Kinagase smirked within his cocoon, not before the Life Fiber wrap would catch fire, releasing Kinagase all while bearing a new let's say… Thievery outfit.
"Alright assholes, who wants to be the first to meet satan!?" Ryuko bellowed as she rushed in like a mad locomotive against the 2 buffed dudes who looked behind them, but weren't quick enough to react to…
"SEN-I-SOCHITZU!" Ryuko sang victory as she cut flawlessly the 2 One-Stars of the Disciplinary Committee, leaving their embarrassed bodies just like the day they were born, Naked!
"Well, I think that out of do it. Revenge fulfilled." Matoi rubbed the back of her hair and not being impressed on how easy was to defeat those One-Star fodder. They were now like the Puddy Patrols from the Power Rangers. "Oh well, so you want to be ironed or- "
Clap… Clap… Clap…
The stroll back to the Mankanshoku's house was soon stopped for our heroine as she now heard slow claps on her area that looked like the same area, she and Mako use to hang out after school or any Honnouji Shenanigans. "Alright, who the hell wants more? I swear, if you just gonna be you again Nui harime, forget it bitch! It will not work again bitch! I have now my emotions all under control! So, try your best to impress me this time!" Ryuko looked around to see where the claps are originating from. Not receiving any answer, she only heard the claps getting closer and closer.
"Oh wow… Defeated those 2 fodder bodies without even having your body procude a single liquid sign of sweat. I couldn't expect less for the almighty Ryuko Matoi…" The origination of the claps showed himself to be none other than Shinjiro Nagita, having a shit-eating grin on his face like a goddamn sticker slowly walking and getting closer.
Ryuko looked at the side-ways, ready to confront the backstabbing bastard. "Well, seems that you can't find trusty friends around here anymore, can't i?" She snarled before pointing her giant scissor blade at Nagita. "Let me guess, you're actually some sort of secret member of the Elite 4 or some bullshit like that."
"Well, I definitely am not trying to help those naked monkeys, that's for sure." Nagita chuckled as his malicious grin began to stand out even more. "And those guys, don't worry. They were just half-assed puppets I made myself." Nagita then made the girl looked backwards only to find out that the 2 one-stars were as lifeless as puppets, with one of them being pulled up and down by Nagita himself having 5 Life Fiber strings attactched to the construct's limbs into one of his fingers. "In a way to put it also, you were to…"
Ryuko's confusion only grew stronger. "What the hell do you mean, you back-stabbing ass?"
"Hehehehe… It's quite simple to put it honestly." Nagita shrugged, not long before pulling his Evoker and spin it playfully. "Once you got scared of transforming into a monster, you began to reject your Kamui like a disgusting incel carving for women. This of course, would prove to be very harmful for Lady Ragyo's plans. So I decided to- "
SLASH!
Ryuko was a person who just HATED having people monologuing all the time, so she took it to herself into decapitating her enemy. But soon she found out that her sword was blocked by the other Purple Scissor like the one Nui Harime wields.
"Ohohoho… You sly dog… Trying to kill me by monologuing. DON'T YOU!?" Nagita's voice twisted slightly as he shouted and pushed Matoi into the other side of the spot. Which was a fine distance.
Once the dust cleared from the impact and Matoi recovered from the hit, her blood began to boil slightly, but she tried her best to stay calm. Although, she still was super pissed-off seeing her once again. "You got to be kidding me!?"
"Oh, I ain't kidding… Although, I appreciate that you recognize an old ex-friend, don't you, Ryuko Matoi?" Nagita chuckled maliciously before revealing his identity as Nui Harime's male alter ego that she likes to take when she feels like it by revealing his patch Ryuko's dad forced him to wear for taking his Corturier's eye. And just to finally seal the deal, he ripped his clothes apart, only to reveal a more elegant set of clothes for his liking consisting of a long black and purple elegant suit alongside some high heels to accompany it.
CLASH!
"My! My! Sure that times flies by since the last day I ruined your life, don't I Ryuko?" Nagita sprinted himself against Matoi only for her to stop his attack, with the Life Fiber hybrid and the spunky girl pushing each other's weapon. "Don't worry, I'm still the same Nui Harime you know and hate, I just like to put this identity whenever I feel risky, and maybe also on the weekends." She told her opponent before her face turned back into her normal blondie-self, not before reverting back into Nagita.
"You fucking bitch! First you're some sort of Life Fiber shit-girl and now you show that you can replace your pussy with a penis like everyday clothes? You're like the appidemy of gross!" The girl with the dash of red bellowed not before pushing Nagita out with a potent kick.
It didn't took Nagita that long to break himself from the kick by creating a Life Fiber Spider-web around his fingertips and wrap them on 2 nearby poles, catching him from the impact. "Why thank you. I take pride on my looks, so the more disturbing I look to the enemies of the Kiryuin, the better." He stated all while putting his hands together to create 8 big tentacles that took the Kamui wielder by surprise and trapped her. "You know, it was hard to get into your circle of friend. Thanks to you bitch, Lady Ragyo has taken some of my privileges as her favorite minion, well I'm behind Lady Satsuki of course. As I was saying, it was very easy fooling that walnut of your friend for me to get closer to you and put your Kamui again. That of course, your prince charming had to come up and fuck it up, ain't it?" Nagita frowned by just thinking about Akira and his shit-eating grin. But, it didn't took long enough for Matoi to almost stab Harime with her scissor blade as the Grand Corturier's eyes almost got passed by the girls' point of her weapon, not long before she would flail out her weapon, causing the Life Fiber pod she was enveloped with to instantly disintegrate and releasing a determinated Ryuko Matoi.
"Yeah, Yeah! Keep yapping all you want, ya' yarnball with legs! I'm fine hearing on how much of a little shit you are, it ain't gonna work this time! But if it helps on bein' more honest with yourself, well I ain't stopping ya'!" Ryuko narrowed at the monstrosity with a glee not before responding by spinning around before releasing a furious crimson twister and then threw it at Nagita.
Unfortunately, it didn't took Nagita that hard to get rid of the projectile. He made a quick leap between the iron tubes and to the roofs, avoiding the impending twister that vanished like the air on a trail of red sparkles.
"Peek-a-boo…" Harime who changed back into her pink Lolita-self, surprising Ryuko with intentions of stabbing her in the stomach, only to receive a nasty surprise in return.
"Gotcha!" Ryuko's reflexes proven to be the quickest as she instantly grabbed the Lolita by the face and then lash her out like a rag doll into a nearby walls, making her pierce through different houses. Sure, it has some really pissed off neighbors as consequences for that.
"Yeah! How bout' that for a weakling, ass-dick?" Ryuko showed that she wasn't playing around anymore as she confidently spin her scissor blade, but not taking down her guard due to having that feeling that the pink bitch was about to strike at any moment, and more if her guard was down.
Rather than receiving a surprise attack from behind, she only saw the sellout and then Nagita walking almost dead. Chuckling maliciously like an unholy combination of a weasel and a hyena. "Ehehehyahahahaha… You're right Ryuko matoi. It seems that I've been underestimating you during this fight. Though, I'm not surprised that sticking with your boyfriend like a parasite would help you raise your mental defenses." Nagita jiggled on the evilest way as possible while dusting off the debris off his clothes. "You know, I think you deserve a special prize."
"Believe me, I don't want any fucking prizes out of a freak like you!" Ryuko took that as an insult as she took a fighting stance and prepare herself for round 2.
"Well, seems that you do have a brain in your head." Nagita teased the girl before spinning his revolver more. "You know, for my good services, seems that my daddy dearest has gifted me with a special present for me to show you." Shinjiro told Matoi before pointing his gun into his head.
"What? Did you get all salty and want me to see you commit suicide? The go on! Do it already!" Rather than receiving insults about what the hell he was about to do, Ryuko only pressured the other teen to pull the trigger already and kill himself.
"Oh believe me, it's something more jaw dropping like that." Nagita grinned exaggeratedly as his index finger was on the brink of pulling the trigger of his Evoker. "Wanna see something neat…?"
"Per… So… Na…"
BANG!
Ryuko had in her mind into going into Shippu to throw Harime into the sun, but soon she was stopped once she looked at horror at the lumping abomination behing Nui Harime. What was behind the Grand Corturier appears to be a woman wearing a stylish kimono with some modern perks, only that she had 8 spider legs on her back and spat saliva of starvation out of her arachnid and human-like face.
"What the shit is-" Ryuko then was cought off-guard by the "thing" by wrapping her with sticky Life Fiber threads coming out of its spider legs, making her drop her Scissor Blade in the process. "What, No! My Scissor Blade!"
"My, oh my…" Nagita slowly walked into the part where the giant scissor part was dropped into. "Seems that I have finally completed the whole set." The Life Fiber abomination laughed before scrubbing the 2 Scissor Blades down Ryuko's face. "It was about time that I reclaim my compensation prize over what your bastard dad did to my eye!"
"Compensation prize my goddamn ass! Give me back my Scissor Blade and I'll make sure that I kill you fast!" Ryuko barked at the little shit teasing her, fuming her up. Though, right after she tried to calm down. Though she was still super-motherfucking pissed for him to take her memory.
"There we go! That's the Ryuko Matoi I love to see. The reckless and stupid one who thinks before acting." Nagita grinned more innocently, taking pleasure on watching his nemesis struggle on those sticky trheads. "Oh, I forgot to introduce my new imaginaty friend. Did you really think that the good guys could have the privileges of using Personas amirite? I like you to introduce me to my other self, Yorogumo." Nagita then made the girl look up to see the disguisting face of the Tower Persona. Nagita then snapped his fingers, making his other self slam the girl into the floor. Shinjiro then walked to later step on Ryuko over like some sort of dominatrix. "You know Ryuko, I was at least expecting more fun playing with you, but seems that no matter how I look it…" Nagita came closer to Ryuko's ear with a shit-eating grin to top it all off. "You will always be you dads' sha-" Nagita was lucky to then notice that the wraps on Ryuko began to grow spikes on it to later throw him out and liberating her out of her restrains
"SENKETSU SENJIN!" Ryuko was shown to be fast into changing gears when it came on transforming as she recklessly began to rush against the boy with a giant boost of her ventilation grills, beginning a berserker barrage of some sorts, but Satsuki's sister proven to be very swift, even with both of his hands occupied as he was blocking every single attack thrown at him. "Hehehehe! What's the matter? What happened to being relaxed and all that thingamajig?"
"Believe me, I'm trying to get as calm as possible, but snapping your neck in half will prove to be a good calming exercise!" She exclaimed before pouncing over Nagita in order to pull off his head from his body…
Only to discover it would be one of her worst mistakes…
"Alright, I've had enough of messing with ya…" Nagita thought to himself before his Persona would appear once again behind him and assault Dr. Matoi's daughter with a painful Eiagon attack, causing her to scream in pain and being sent into the air, perfect for Nagita to finish up the combo.
"It may be true that my initial plan Into transforming you into a monster was dragged down the toilet, I always have a plan b, c to the z…" Shinjiro cackled out before resharping both Scissor Blades like a twin set of butchery knifes not before summoning 2 clones of himself.
ALL-OUT ATTACK!
The copies began to lash out Ryuko with their Scissor Blades like mad butchers, with each slash making Ryuko agonize in pure pain and with each one tearing down Senketsu. Once it was over, the clones disappear, leaving only the original who then took off his male alter ego to return back into being Nui Harime.
SLASH!
"Sen-I-Sochitzu… 3" She smiled while winking and sticking her tongue out to look as innocently as possible. All while Ryuko's clothes began to glow in disarray. With her eyes twitching in pure shock, trauma and terror, she was forced to see the death of her most close friend she had on her life… Senketsu…
"I-I'm sory… Ryu-kyo…" Seknetsu grieved on not being good enough for Matoi as he said his last words…
And if things couldn't get any worse, Akira found the spot Ryuko was taken that was now on the roofs of the slums due to the heated battle she had with Nui Harime, only to now witness the death of Senketsu the Kamui… "NOOOOOO!" He screamed in pure agony by stretching his hand, seeing Ryuko unleash a burst similar to the Goku Uniform wearers have when their uniforms get destroyed. Senketsu got torn down and his pieces flew all over the area, scattering all over the place like leaves falling over on autumn.
"Senketsu… No…" What Ryuko saw only traumatized her for life… tears were dropping off her eyes watching over how Senketsu's remains fell over her, not for later to drop into the floor unconscious and without any trace of her fighting spirit active. But unlike the other victims of stripping, she seem to still remain her underwear, which saved her from the perverted eyes of creeps.
"Hihihehehehehe…" Nui jiggled maniacly as she slowly turned her head like a possessed foll, showing off a sadistic smile and look directly at a Joker who seem to be done with her games. He promised himself to not let another friend die on his sight, and he seems to fail that task. Now, he only wanted to see that bitch burn with fire, which would you think it would break his morals. But then again, Nui Harime is a construct sewn with Life Fibers. "Oopsie! Seems that Mr. Lupin…" Nui began to tease with Kurusu's sanity all while changing back into Nagita. "Has arrived too late…"
"Bite me… Bitch…" Akira snarled out, seemingly without his usual cool he has when confronting his enemies. "I knew you would pull a trick like this, and I'm done playing…" Kurusu only began to grow bitter and bitter all while changing his Persona into Decarabia.
"Hehehehe… What's the matter? Did I touch a vein there, Hahahaha… Good…" Nagita grinned out while spinning the red scissor blade playfully. "Say, aside from having a nice new haircut, have you still noticed something… Personally different about me, Aki?" The boy with glasses then stabbed his purple sword into the ground to slowly point up.
Whatever the Grand Corturier meant for that, he was aware that it live on the boarders of good newsburg. Once he looked up, something in him made his fear skyrocket once he took a look that Nui Harime has achieved to awaken… "A… P-persona…?"
"Ding ding! We have a winner!" the monstrosity only clapped while chuckling on watching Akira widen his eyes in horror and disbelief. He could see it from his horrified widen eyes that how the hell would someone like her achieved a Persona. "Say, I note you that you saw a ghost. Oh wait! You did!" Nagita then laughed out hard to piss off the Trickster even more, only to avoid a fireball aimed at him. Luckily, it didn't hit any building that would cause an arson all among the slums, but Nagita couldn't stop thinking that it would be very entertaining to watch it. Of course, on a distance that is.
"How did you got a Persona…?" The wild card narrowed angrily at the homunculus by pointing his Tailor's Knife at him. Shinjiro didn't took the threat seriously as he still had that smug grin sticking like a fly on a window.
"Why even ask questions?" The imposter shrugged off, still taking this very lightly. "You know, I would love to show off my new playmate and maybe kill you with these 2 babies or by just deleting the paragraphs of you and your actions out of this fanfiction, but seems that time for a celebrity like me has short time on its Life Fibery hands." Nagita teased the thief by showing a comically large pocket watch and later put it back inside his clothes like he usually does with his weapon. "So don't worry, I won't kill Ryuko Matoi yet. And luckily for you, my 2 puppets will gladly play with you on my absence." Nagita talked while watching Joker charging through, only to bump with the 2 large One-Stars blocking him into decapitating Harime. "But be warned, they don't play nice!" Nagita laughed out while once the Trickster looked further, the Grand Corturier has disappeared like the wind. Then, he received a combined gutpuch in aprt of the 2 burly puppets that blasted him back into the spot with the iron tubes Mako and Ryuko used to hang out.
Luckily for our hero, he has managed to land on a soft mountain of used mattress with a sign reading "Mako's Soft Fort. Why being the thoughest when you can be the softest?". The way how such a convenient plot armor was bestowed into him bothered him. But then again, he had his bones crushed for some time, so it was fine having this change for once.
Playtime seemed to be over for the Phantom Thief as the 2 One-Stars landed in fromt of him, but not before beginning to shake as if they were transforming themselves. Both of them began to produce on the usual Life Fiber glitters to reveal their true identities. As a matter of fact, aside from the super-musculature they had, they showed the burglar that they weren't human. Instead, their true forms were of sentient white business suits with their interior and ties having the usual Life Fiber Pattern. Yet the most disturbing thing about these "Beings" are the soulless faces hanging on their ties. Just looking at them with their eyeless sockets was enough to infest your will with neverending nightmares. The 2 goliaths then began to charge against Akira, but the thief prove himself to be faster as he swiftly dodged the attack that sent the fort fly to the high skies?
"Are those Shadows?" Akira asked nervously as he quickly leaped over the monsters to land on top of the pile of steelpipes. He didn't knew what kind of things those burly suits were. By the look of the Life Fiber patterns, he knew they were made out of Life Fibers… And then he could assume they worked for the Kiryuin family.
The 2 suits didn't took ling enough until both raised his hands, creating a red energy orb between them that cause them to scatter shot energy beams all over the slums on random locations. They knew that they could use Joker's goodwill at their advantage by stressing him if he doesn't show up and fight, there will be major casualties.
Back on the roofs, Nagita was watching the destruction of houses, cars and cats and birds getting their hearts performed by the lazers his 2 goliath COVERS were causing. For other people, this scene would cause terror. Not much for the Life Fiber homonculus as seemed that he was enjoying the chaos while eating Pop-corn. He was just waiting for her sis' to appear and scold her for 291756th time, and sure she had arrive. And just like he was expecting it, with Bakuzan on the point of almost cutting her throat like a slab of salami. "Yeah, yeah… I shouldn't have gotten in here without your permittion Lady Satsuki." Nagita grinned as the ruler of Honno stood behind him.
"You were so clever on trying to hide from my eye by disguising yourself between the trash." Satsuki narrowed at the Lolita that took form of the geeky boy. "What was you busissness here?"
"Well, what you think? The usual. Trying to squash Ryuko Matoi like a boy, that's all." Nagita grinned without giving a shit about his life running at risk all while looking down at the beaten Ryuko Matoi.
Back with the unconscious body of Ryuko Matoi, a small eye of Senketsu managed to wake up. Sure, the whole cutting and hacking hurt like him being thrown into a washing machine with no end. But he was still lucky that he was still alive. One one way or another. "Ugh… My head…" He growled feeling his mind all dizzy and blurry. Well, what would be considered a mind for a Kamui. "Uhh… What a mess… It will take a long while for me to turn back to normal." He just saw all of his pieces all scattered all across the floor. But it didn't too long for him to notice Satsuki and Nagita speaking with one another directly. This would be one of the first time he would feel his fibers having goosebumps by just looking at Satsuki. Her empowering aura planted feared of those unprepared on the storms she causes. He was quick into hiding more than waking up Ryuko since he knew that if she would wake up, she would kill herself by challenging Satsuki or Harime with him torn apart. All he could do is to crawl like a worm and hide under his wearer's neck until those 2 monsters leave this place.
"Who gave you that Persona?" Satsuki's main topic was about how did she obtained a Persona. It just so happen that she watched the entire fight and how did summoned her new Jorogumo.
"Man… Sometimes this whole raid thing can make very stressed out. Here, have a chill pill." Nagita then handed over a cyan blue pill with a snowflake sticker on it to Satsuki's hand for her to calm down. Where did he got that? God only knows.
"Enough of your games Harime! Tell me how you adquired this power!" The Kiryuin's tone grew more desperate as she slowly began to cut Nagita's throat. But no matter how much she tried to intimidate the little rascal, she wasn't able to break that grin of his.
"Sure, kill me if you want Lady Satsuki. That way you won't have your answers." The Grand Corturier slowly turned his head like a creepy doll on a horror movie. "And that reminds me, if you kill me, you're only going to shorten your manpower… Doesn't every pawn cown for you to corner the king on a game of chess." He narrowed smugly at the Lady of war.
Satsuki Kiryuin really wanted to snap his jaw in half, but he was right. She hold down her weapon to later put it back on its case. "Fine… I'm only letting you live only for being because you're an essential asset to my mother and the Kiryuin clan. But dare defy my orders and it will be your last act of foolishness!" She then took her usual pose as he forgave Nagita's life on that moment.
"Well, of course you wouldn't hurt your lil' sibling, aint ya?" The high tailor mocked the girl as he passed his fingers across his shoulders. That is, until her wrist watch with a small Nui Harime pointing at the hours with her arms. "Good heavens! Look at the time! Lady Ragyo will be upset if I don't return. So before I return to the tower, I want you to have this." Nagita left out a gift for Satsuki in the form of Ryuko's Scissor Blade as he dropped it to the ground.
"What kind of trick are you pulling me into this time?" The Kiryuin still has her doubts about seeing her "Sister" drop one of Ryuko's most treasured weapons like yesterday's trash. It was waaaaay too kind for her to just give it to her.
"Don't worry, no strings attached. I just wanted to give Dr. Matoi's last futile efforts to more proper hands." The student in disguised smuggled while looking at his fingernails even more smugly. "Besides, my debt with Isshin Matoi has already been fulfilled. Senketsu is destroyed and the Scissor Blade is ours. Whatever what you want to do with the Kamui's corpse and that weakling of a girl is up to you. Consider these scattered Kamui pieces as a gift of mine." He sighted before turning back into the blondie most people know. "Oh well, good luck with the Tri-City school Raid and make mama proud! Ta-tá!" Nui Harime opened her umbrella to then fly back to the REVOCS tower like Mary Poppins.
At least the young adult with the iron will was glad she doesn't have to bear Nui's… Particular personality any longer until the end of the Tri-City School Raid. After that, she only looked at the beaten Ryuko. "How Pathetic…" She narrowed down with disgust and disappointment as always to Honnouji Academy's No 2 Public enemy. She then decided to give the Scissor Blade a try by giving it a strong swing that was strong enough to create a gust of wind that caused Senketsu's parts (Minus the eye who hid himself on a strong place) to fly to her direction. "So this is the power of Dr. Matoi's last line of defense againsy my family… Seems that even the hands that gave this weapon existence failed to exploit it to its fullest potential…" Satsuki looked down at the red crimson weapon, feeling that its hidden potential will finally be unleashed. Once she took all the scattered Kaui pieces, he made her way back into Honnouji Academy. Nevertheless, she still noticed Akira struggling over the 2 COVERS fighting him. She was about to help him as he wanted him alive for his plans, yet she digressed as she though that he was strong enough to take care of 2 foot soldiers.
Back with Joker, he knew he couldn't hide forever. If he does, someone's gonna get injured by a loosen projectile by the suits. Nevertheless, he had the better idea. If they are clothes, they must at least are flammable in some way, shape or form. Though, since they're U.L.M (Unidentified Loaming Menace), he had to take care of his stamina when it comes into casting his Persona skills. He then proceeds to launch a motorov bottle bomb on an arc direction toward the 2 goliaths, which seem to respond cowardly as they jumped off as fast as they could from the fiery impact of the explosion. As Akira could see, these things are afraid of fire, thus maybe weak to it. "Go! Agidyne!" Kurusu ordered his Decarabia to shoot a big fireball from its eye to one of the giant suits, though they proved themselves to be faster than they expected. Fortunately, the fiery projectile failed to impact into one of the wooden houses that would cause a wildfire all around the slums. And more considering how much flammable trash is scattered all around the lower parts of Honno City. Joker at least could use this distraction for his benefict. So he shift his Persona to Metatron and casted Tarakuja on himself. "Then take this!" Akira exclaimed as he fired his grappling hook against the giant suits. With one of them managing to dodge the attack, the other got himself wrapped into the hook. "Come here!" The Phantom Thief bellowed as he pulled his hook, which caused the goliath of whathever the suit was rocket himself toward Kurusu.
For his next move, the trickster began to sping and spin himself, causing the suit to follow. The result was for it for Akira using the enemy as some sort of wrecking ball. "You're mine!" He screamed before slamming the suit with the other, provoking a big impact and a medium crater afterwards.
Thinking that he has already taken care of those 2 things, he brought up his Dagger up and switched to Decarabia to finish the job and prevent that any other citizen would be injured by these beasts. But once he looked at the crater, he noticed that no one was hiding on it. "What th-"
CLOTH!
Akira was too distracted that gave the 2 suits time to bind him on their now-transformed noodle sleve arms that wrapped him up like a present, causing him to become constrained and become a human Christmas present.
The Phantom Thief wanted to scream, but he was proven to be incapable from doing so. While strapped on that cocoon, he could feel his energy fading away on a gradual pace. That's when he discovered that these things were capable of draining people's stamina by some way or another. He felt dizzy and sleepy. He was aware that it will not take that long for him to submit, but all he could do now is try to keep himself together until rescue could be on the way…
VROOOOM!
The sound of a roaring engine was heard all across the neighborhood accompanied by a shadowy silhouette of a bike and its rider leaping over the 2 monster. It didn't took that long for Joker to identify his savior.
Once the figure landed into land, it did a badass drifting brake, leaving a flaming trail over the ground the tires on fire made their way into. In fact, the bike that the stranger was riding off looked like something out of Ghost Rider. And speaking of which, the rider of sorts seemed to wear some sort of hellish rebel biker consisting of a lot of biker, he looked like something straight out of a Mad Max movie. Black spiky leather boots, a leather jacket with the image of a flaming cop skull on its back with the words 'To Hell with you!', alongside what it looked like a mohawk helmet covering most of his face taking the form of a motocross skull.
"Let go the kid!" The voice of the biker exclaimed before firing a barrage of fiery needles out of his punk-like needle gun against the hand of the suits that were constraining Joker, causing the hand to catch fire and release the trickster who looked tired as hell. Though, he still had enough energy to walk his way toward the biker.
"Heh… Was bout' time my ass would be saved by you, don't ya Tsumugu?" The Phantom Thief panted, knowing already that the biker behind the helmet was in fact his old friend Tsumugu. "By the way, why the sudden wardrobe change?"
"Could you please save your praises for later after we kill these COVERS?" Tsumugu looked at the teenager with a bit of anger, referring the 2 suits by their proper names.
"So, what are those things exactly?" Aside from the name he already was told by Tsumugu, Joker asked what those things were exactly.
"Long story short, COVERS are essentially aliens made out of Life Fibers that serve under the order of the Kiryuin. They snatch humans and eat them to use them as batteries." Tsumugu sighted, explaining a brief explanation of the COVERS to the other member of Nudist Beach. "You're in no condition to fight right now. Better rest until the others arrive." Tsumugu advised the leader of the Phantom Thieves as he recharged his weapon again.
"What? And let you keep all the fun? Though, it's not like you have a Persona to take care of those 2 meatheads… Unless…" Joker smuggled at Kinagase, knowhing why the sudden change of clothes and his transformed bike.
"Hehe! Seems that you weren't that stupid as I thought." Tsumugu glee in response. "Now sit and watch the adults take care of this!" He exclaimed as he looked back at the 2 COVERS. He slowly placed his right hand under his helmet in order to call forth his other self… "Hunt them down… Van Helsing!" Once Tsumugu ripped off his helmet for the first time, an explosion of blue flames enveloped him, causing the apparition of a skeletal version of the legendary monster hunter itself manifested. Armed to the teeth with all sort of anti-monster weapons on his back, all while carrying a whip on fire with his right hand and a shotgun on his left hand.
The COVERS thought this would be the perfect opportunity to ambush the 2 of them without of them having any chance to strike. BIG MISTAKE!
Kinagase counterattacked by cleaving the 2 giants into the air with a flaming sythe weapon he has obtained, giving the new Phantom Thief a chance to give some finishing blows.
Tsumugu and Van Helsing proceed to point their guns against the COVERS, with their fingers on the brink of pulling the trigger, they stay still until the mohawk nudist muttered quietly. "Eat lead…"
Once the 2 pulled the triggers of their respective weapons, the bullets quickly merged together and transformed into a heavenly bullet in flames. The bullet then pierced through the 2 COVERS at the same time, causing them to catch fire and twirl and twist as if they were being exorcised.
Though, it didn't stop them from crawling against the 2 like a possessed person. Luckily, cavalry arrived in the form of 2 twisters of air covered the 2 monsters right before Oni Mask came to finish them off.
MEN
DO
KOTE!
Sanageama shouted out as he sliced the 2 COVERS with his newly obtained Katana from his Persona awakening, causing 2 humanoid figures to fall off to the ground, completely naked and taking a fetal position. "Yeah, yeah. You can thank me later." The green monkey fingerbanged both Joker and Tsumugu.
"And there you go again with your monkey business as usual…" The nudist rolled his eyes a bit annoyed by Uzu's cocky attitude.
"Hey! At least I saved your ass there, so stop acting so edgy, ya' naked ape!" The teenager rose his voice on a insulted manner.
Morgana pounced over the fence over the area to re-group with the rest of the heroes. "We came in as soon as Ogure alert us of Nagita working for the Kiryuin! Are we on time?" He asked while casting salvation on Joker to cure him from his fatigue.
"Uhh… Guys, I think you would want to see this…" Hakodate called the others from the same roof Ryuko was lying unconscious. The group of Phantom Thieves quickly went to the roof both her and Mikisugi were, both of them watching the horror of the crime scene Shinjiro left.
"Oh Shit…" Tsumugu's eyes began to twitch and widen in shock and horror by watching Matoi half-naked. "No… NO!" Kinagase seemed in the verge of losing it. The one thing he swore to protect, now destroyed, forever…
"I'm still here." The voice of Senketsu could be heard from Ryuko's hair.
"Uhh…? Senketsu?" Joker felt like he skipped a beat once he heard Senketsu's voice echo through Ryuko. "Are you still in there? Come on! Give us a hint! Anything!" he looked around, seemingly desperate about finding his thought-to-be dead friend.
"I'm hiding on Ryuko's hair." Senketsu responded before crawling out from his wearer's hair like a worm, revealing that he was still alive after that slice-up Nui Harime gave him.
"Senketsu!" The Wild Card shed a tear after seeing that his sailor uniform friend was still alive. He grabbed the eye of the Kamui and hug it, showing all the sorrow he was about to carry if he would have died back there.
Tsumugu was surprised to hear the Kamui's voice directly again. "So um… did that eye just talked?"
The Kamui looked a bit interested about the nudist finally being able to understand what he says. "Oh, guess you finally took the power to hear me." Senketsu noticed and said with the most polite way possible. "I would really like to talk with you, but Ryuko needs our immediate help." The eye ordered the thieves who could hear him talk.
Mikisugi then bent over and place 2 of her fingers over the tomboy's neck. "Ryuko's heart's still beating like normal. It's a miracle she wasn't dead." He relieved over the fact that Dr. Matoi's child hasn't died after her confrontation with Nagita. "We need to take her to the Thieves' Den as fast as we can. Tsumugu, oh…" The leader of Nudist Beach stopped for a moment to behold his partner's new appearance. "My… Seems that you took a wardrobe change."
"Save the talk for later Aikuro." The punk who understood Mikisugi's order even before explaining it picked Ryuko from the ground as careful as possible. "All we're gonna do is waste time we would use to plan our strategy for tomorrow. Come on team! We're leaving now." Kinagase was the first to leave as he took Ryuko's body to the thieve's den and see if Ogure had something cooking on her sleeve.
Back with the main cast, Morgana approached Joker. "So we're close than ever before… Tomorrow will be now or never. If we lose this one, there's no denying that the Kiryuin will fulfill their desires and a lot of lives will be ruined."
"So… What will be the plan Joker?" Senketsu asked the Thief as he was looking at the eye of the Kamui that was on the palm of his right hand.
"What do we do?" Joker took a breath before looking at the others. "We're gonna save the fucking world…"
"I-IS THIS!?" Back at Honnouji's Sewing Club lab, Iori took a step back in pure shock, seeing all Senketsu's pieces on his table that Satsuki brought to him back at. "Kamui Senketsu."
"I digress. It is what is left of Kamui Senketsu." The Kiryuin corrected her tailor's surprise. "It was courtesy from the Grand Couturier to give us the pieces of Dr. Matoi's Kamui. At least we'll have for sure that Ryuko Matoi will not be a threat to our plans any longer without her Kamui and her Scissor Blade on our possession."
"B-but there must be some sort of trick here! The Grand Couturier can't be this generous! It must be a trap!" Iori the 19-year old teenager thought of this as some sort of plan from Nui as a way to sabotage them. He had those thoughts since he used too study with Nui Harime on the art of stitching Goku Uniform under Ragyo as their teacher.
"Trap or not, it would not be wise to use this to our advantage. As long as she doesn't discover our true ambitions, it's safe to assume that Nui Harime gave us this for the sake of my mother's plan." Satsuki still could care less if it was just another trick from Harime.
"Then, what do you want me to do with these? Would you like to re-stitch them?" He questioned what were the plans of her mistress about using the tattered cloth of Senketsu.
"It won't be necessary. If Maiko Ogure thought us something, it was that somehow Kamui Senketsu serves under Ryuko Matoi and its circle of friends." Satsuki rejected the idea of reassembling Senketsu. With Junketsu was already enough, and she doubted that any other student would resist the Life Fibers of a Kamui. "Make sure to stitch its pieces into the Goku Uniforms of our most trusted students. They'll provide us with combat data about the Spiral Energy if there's still on those scraps and they could be a good bait if we know how Joker gets if his friends get harmed." She ordered her tailor as she took a piece of Senketsu to power Junketsu.
"Understood Lady Satsuki." Iori bowed, while watching the lady of war exit the Sewing Club laboratory.
Back with lady Satsuki, she was about to give her inspirational speech to her troops. Yet, as much as she tried to repress it, she still couldn't bear the stress swarming through her mind. First off, it was that Shadow-self she encountered during her dream and now it was all this confusive thing about different dimensions and universes. And don't get me started on the enigmatic Spiral Energy.
HEEL CLICK!
"Students of Honnouji Academy!" She lured the attention of every student (Minus the No-Stars who were tasked on patrolling Honnouji Academy during the raid trip) look up to watch their goddess on all her glory, all while having her Elite Trio behind her. "This invasion shall be our first step to our world conquest and the realization of our ambition. So I have one world to bestow to all of you! I want you to win this damn war and kill any opposition if necessary! Tomorrow shall be the day the common filth will stop adoring god, for them to begin adore us as their new rulers! ARE WE CLEAR!?"
The entire campus let our a warcry, seemingly motivated about Satsuki's speech.
"Honnouji Academy's Tri-City School Raid Trip… IS MOVING UP!"
Once Satsuki gave the greenlight, all troops of Honnouji began to enter the trucks that would lead them to the rebel school that were opposing the Life Fiber's will. In line, the vehicles containing Goku Uniform users and Shadows drove their way to the different cities to cause havoc and submit the citizens to the Kiryuin clan. All in the name of Ragyo Kiryuin.
"The chopper is ready, Lady Satsuki." Hoomaru who volunteer herself to watch over the School, Raid Trip advised her master about her flying vehicle being ready.
"Excellent." The feme fatale responded. "Iori, Hoomaru, Soroi, you're coming with me. Let's take the Takaradas a visit." Satsuki told the only people left in Honnouji as the other Elites minus Innuumuta were on their way to command the invasions.
Once the chopper took flight and direct his trajectory to Osaka, she felt some sort of paper pinching her butt. Only to realize that it was a calling card on her seat. She pick it up and began to read it.
Satsuki Kiryuin
The Tyrannical False Goddess of Pride
We have grown tired of you abusing your power status, using your Elites and Club Presidents to soil seeds on fear on the citizens and No-Stars of Honno City, forcing them to twist their hearts to join the disgusting system you established. Claiming that to be for the greater good, even when you and us are truly aware that is only for yourself and no one else. Once your Tri-City School Raid Trip starts, it will be the day of your downfall. And once we're done stealing your heart and make you confess your crimes to everyone, we will target your mother next…
From; The Phantom Thieves and Nudist Beach…
Once she finished up reading the letter, she instantly sliced it in half with the Siccor Blade.
"L-Lady Satsuki…" Soroi was left horrorized on how his master reacted to this threat.
Fortunately, it didn't took that long for the Kiryuin to recover control. "Then it's treason then… Fine… I'll be waiting for you. But once we meet, it shall mark the day of your eternal servitude to me, Akira Kurusu…"
Frustration Levels: 0% - 99%
Phantom Thief Summary
Name: Tsumugu Kinagase
Codename: Punk
Persona: Van Helsing
Arcana: The Justice
Melee Weapon: Scythe
Range Weapon: Needle Gun
Attribute: Fire and Bless
Inherit: Bless
Reflects: Curse
Resist: Fire, Bless
Absorb: -
Weak: Ice, Wind
Biography: A monster hunter inspired by the titular character Abraham Van Helsing created by Bran Stoker and also inspired by many American comic books starring Anti Heroes who kill and drag to hell irredeemable criminals and demons down to hell. Known to have clashed with many demonic and evil monsters terrorizing the innocent people in the night. One of his most renowned enemies being Count Dracula himself.
Holy Shit! This chapter took me like 3 fucking months! Damn, I'm way too perfectionist on assuring things it took me a lot. Anyways, we're almost about to witness the Marineford arc of this fanfic and the rematch between Joker and Satsuki. Happy 2021!
