Beep, beep, beep!

"Ugh…I don't want to wake up yet," I groaned as I rolled over in my bed to turn off my alarm.

I rubbed my eyes and blinked a few times to focus my vision before getting out of bed and going to the bathroom. I splashed some cold water on my face to wake myself up and then proceeded to brush my teeth. As I stood there in the bathroom, all I could think about was that peculiar dream I had last night. It was all dark when suddenly a small, beautiful blue butterfly fluttered into view. As it flew by, I heard the softest female voice speak to me, but it didn't feel like an ordinary dream. The voice sounded like it was coming straight from the butterfly. It was like one of those dreams where you feel like you're halfway between being awake and asleep.

After I finished in the bathroom, I quickly changed into my uniform, grabbed my bag, and rushed to the train station. It was only my second day at Shujin, and I didn't want to be late. To my surprise, quite a few students took the Shibuya station to school. As I was waiting for the train to arrive, I noticed that Makoto was also at the station, but she wasn't alone. There was a loud, blonde boy accompanying her, and they were both taking to that frizzy haired boy from my class. I quickly waked over to say hi to them. Given that I'm new here and the Shujin students seem kind of brutal with the rumors, it was nice to see a familiar face. Moreover, this could be a good opportunity to become friends with someone in my class.

"Hey, Makoto-san," I said happily as I approached her. "Looks like we take the same line to get to Shujin, huh." I flashed her a friendly smile when she turned around and smiled back at me. She brushed a piece of hair out of face before replying, "It seems so. Have you gotten a chance to explore the city, yet Senna-kun?"

I shook my head to say no. "I didn't want to get lost so I just went straight home yesterday. But maybe after the school week is over, I'll explore a little. My parents are rarely ever home, so curfew or whatever isn't a problem for me." After that there was a bit of an awkward silence. Maybe I shouldn't have said that.

"I'm sure you'll have time, Senna-kun. Have you ever met Ryuji and Akira?" Makoto asked me as she motioned towards the two boys with her.

"No! I haven't met them. I'm Senna Kasai! I just moved here from New York. I'm a second year at Shujin." I smiled at them as I introduced myself. They seemed nice enough, so hopefully they'll like me.

"What's up! I'm Ryuji Sakamoto. I'm a second year too," said the blonde boy. Ryuji then proceeded to put his arm around the frizzy haired boy, which startled him slightly. "And this guy right here is Akira. He's kinda quiet so don't expect much outta him."

Akira smiled slightly and just nodded his head in agreement. He was quiet, but he seemed nice enough. Maybe he's one of those people who opens up the more you get to know him.

In any case, after we introduced ourselves the train pulled up so we all boarded together. Unfortunately, there were too many people so none of us was able to get a seat. Thankfully, the train ride from Shibuya to Aoyama-Itchome isn't too long.

We all walked together from the train station to school making small talk along the way. It felt nice having people to talk to, since I hadn't really made any friends yet.

"Ugh, that shitty ass train ride always messes up my back," said Ryuji as he tried to stretch a little. "Being cramped up like that is not good for your bones y'know? Anyways, I gotta get to class, not that it matters anyway." Ryuji seemed to be less than enthusiastic about class. He must not do well in school.

Akira just laughed silently at Ryuji's comment while Makoto shook her head disapprovingly. "If anything, Ryuji, I ask that you please try to raise your grades…at least a little," said Makoto. Akira nodded in agreement with her. Ryuji just sighed before replying, "Whatever, man. See you all later. Oh, and nice to meet you Senna."

After Ryuji left, we all followed shortly after. Akira and I walked together to class. I was able to talk with him a little but like Ryuji said, he's fairly quiet. Normally, silence between two people would be awkward but walking with Akira wasn't that way at all. It was actually kind of comforting. Akira may be quiet, but he's someone I could see people opening up to easily. He exuded a calm, confident aura, and you could tell from his eyes that he had suffered through something. There was also passion in his eyes. He had a look that made you want to act out against anyone or anything that's ever held you back. It was inspiring just like talking with Makoto was.

Akira and I ended up walking in to class together. Naturally, our chatty classmates began to whisper and undoubtedly spread rumors about us possibly being a couple. I rolled my eyes and just walked to my seat. As I sat down, I made eye contact with the blonde girl who sits in front of me, and she flashed me a kind smile. When I sat down and started to settle in, she turned around and introduced herself to me. "Hi Kasai-kun, I'm Ann Takamaki, but you can just call me Ann. You're new here right?"

For a split-second, I was awe struck by Ann's beauty. I thought Ann was stunning before, but now having her face-to-face with me let me see how flawless she really is. Her hair was so voluminous, her skin was soft and clean, and her face was so friendly. I stammered over my words as I snapped myself out of my daze to reply to her. "H-hi Ann. You can just call me Senna, and yeah. I-I'm new here from America."

I nervously smiled and averted my gaze from Ann's so I could hide my blushing. I let my long, dark hair flow to the front of my face to mask my embarrassment further.

"America? No way! I'm part American, too! I transferred to Shujin this year after travelling around the world so I know how hard it can be to get adjusted to a new place and new people. Especially when sometimes people can be so malicious," said Ann. Suddenly her demeanor went from jovial and friendly to sullen and even a bit sad. I looked up at her and put my hand on her shoulder. I could tell that maybe she had been through a tough time transitioning, but just as quickly as she had seemed down, she was back to her cheerful self. "I just want to tell you that if you need a friend, I'm here! And I see you already met Akira-kun, too. This guy knows the struggle of being new too. Isn't that right?" Ann said as she pointed her questioned toward the frizzy-haired boy.

Akira turned around to join our conversation. I looked over at him and noticed something out of place. He looked as if he was hiding something his desk and when I looked closer, there was a cat in there! My eyes widened in shock, but I figured there HAD to be a good reason for it so I just brushed it off.

"I fit in perfectly," said Akira in response to Ann with a sarcastic tone to his voice. Once the words escaped his mouth, you could see the mischievous grin cross his face as he put his hand up to the glasses he was wearing. Ann simply brushed the comment off and turned her attention back towards me. "He's quiet, but he can be a real joker when he wants to be." They both exchanged a glance and giggled. That comment seemed like it might have been some sort of inside joke.

"But, anyways, like I said, we should totally hang out some time," expressed Ann.

I nodded in agreement and was about to respond until the front door to the classroom opened, and Ms. Kawakami walked in. Everyone immediately found their way to their seats and became very silent. "OK class, today the lesson plan is gonna be different. We'll be going over last week's material so absolutely no slacking off! I mean it! No slacking off!"

"I've never heard a teacher emphasize slacking off like that before," I thought to myself. I guess if we're going over old material, I should probably pay attention anyway. It never hurt anyone to get some extra review.

Once again, hours went by and then the final bell rang. As I was putting my stuff away, I noticed that Ann was already on her way out the door. Before she got too far, I stopped her and asked if she knew any good coffee places around the area. I explained how back home my friends and I would usually bond over coffee at different local shops and that I was dying for a good cup. She thought about it for a second and explained how I could order coffee from the diner in Shibuya but if I wanted the real deal to take the train to Yongen Jaya and look for a small café called Leblanc. She said Akira works there and that the owner is a little rough around the edges but still a really nice guy. She offered to go with me after school, but I turned her down.

"Ok, well, let's exchange contact info then! I'm usually in the Underground Mall in Shibuya after school, so if you're ever bored or just wanna hang out send me a message!"

I smiled brightly as I looked down at Ann's name in my phone. "Thanks so much Ann-chan! I'll definitely have to check out Leblanc sometime!"

With that, we walked out of class together and went to the train station. We both got off at Shibuya, and Ann proceeded to the mall while I went home again. As I walked back, I couldn't help but regret not hanging out with my new friend, but oh well. There's always next time.

·

When I got home, it was the same as usual. My parents were nowhere to be found, so I went through my usual routine: get a snack, turn on my computer, email my friends back home, and study. The only problem with today was it was mostly a review day, so I decided to watch TV instead of study. The first channel was the news so I decided to tune in for a bit. It was mostly boring so I just listened to it in the background as I checked my social media on my laptop.

Onto other news, the international hacktivist group, Medjed, has released a statement to the Phantom Thieves.

"WHAT?" I exclaimed loudly as I immediately began to turn the volume up on my television. "Medjed is one of the biggest groups of hackers in the world. But why would they want to target the Phantom Thieves? It's not like Medjed has done anything significant enough recently that the Phantom Thieves would be taking attention away from them. This is insane."

…These are the details of the message that are posted on the Medjed website: "To the Phantom Thieves causing an uproar in Japan: do not speak of your false justice. We do not need the spread of such falsehood. We are the true executors of justice. However, we are magnanimous. We will give you an opportunity to repent your ways. If you agree to a change of heart, we will accept you as our own. If you reject our offer, the hammer of justice will find you. We are Medjed. We are unseen. We will eliminate evil."

I couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Hammer of justice? That's the best they got?" The threat from Medjed was honestly comical in its attempt to call out the Phantom Thieves. I mean, we're talking about a group of justice seekers who can change people's ways of being for the better versus some geeks with computers.

After that news report, I decided to do a little bit of tidying around the house before calling it a night. I smiled to myself thinking about that dull warning to the Phantom Thieves. Was this hacker group serious? I hope the Phantom Thieves make an example out of whoever's behind this.

As I thought about it more, the sleepier I began to feel. Suddenly, my eyelids began to get heavier and heavier just like the previous night, and before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

"Gah!"

Just as quickly as I had fallen asleep, my eyes had opened again, but this time I wasn't in my room. I could feel a heavy weight pulling me down, and as I sat up, I noticed that my hands and feet were bound in chains. I looked around nervously as I noticed that everything around me resembled a prison cell. "Wake up, wake up, wake up," I thought to myself frantically. This had to be a bad dream.

I stood up from my solid sleeping structure and walked towards the bars in front of me when out of nowhere, two small, platinum blonde girls appeared. They each had an eye patch that contrasted the other. They were obviously twins, but one looked at me menacingly while the other seemed to pity me.

"Well, look who decided to finally wake up, Inmate!" The more aggressive looking girl said as she watched me walk closer.

"Ah yes. Our new prisoner has finally joined us," said the other twin with a much gentler tone to her voice.

Then, I looked up and noticed an elderly man sitting at a desk with an almost evil look to him. His eyes were bulging and veiny, his ears were pointed almost like an elf's, his nose was long and pointed at the end, and he was almost nearly completely bald. As I put my hands on the bars of my prison cell, the man extended a hand in my direction, and with a deep, polite voice greeted me, "Phoenix, welcome to my Velvet Room."

I pulled vigorously at the door keeping me behind bars. This wasn't real. It couldn't be…could it?

"Looks like we have two inmates now. Oh, this is going to be interesting," said the crueler looking twin.

"The you in reality is currently fast asleep. You are only experiencing this as a dream," said the other young girl.

"Stop resisting! Our Master wishes to speak with you," exclaimed the malicious one as she banged her baton against my cell. I immediately stopped trying to get through the door. There was no way it was opening anyway, and I had nowhere else to go. I figured I might as well listen to what these people have to say until I wake up from this dream.

"Welcome. It pleases me to meet with you today," said the old man. "This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter. It is a room that only those bound by a 'contract' may enter. I am Igor, the master of this place. Remember it well. I summoned you to speak of important matters. It involves your life as well."

I shook my head as my thoughts started racing wildly. What does he mean it involves my life? Isn't this just a dream?

"This is quite the surprise however." Igor looked around with an almost amused look on his face. "The state of this room reflects the state of your own heart. I didn't think that a prison would be your reflection as well. Just as he, you truly are a prisoner of 'fate'."

Finally, I was able to make words emerge from my mouth. I gripped the bars tightly as I asked desperately, "What are you talking about?"

"Closer than you can anticipate, ruin awaits you. The end to everything will fall upon the masses, yet there is still a means to oppose such a fate. You must be 'rehabilitated'. Rehabilitated towards freedom. That is the only means to avoid ruin. Do you have the resolve to challenge the distortions of the world?"

I couldn't even think straight. Everything this man was saying sounded like something straight out of a fantasy. It was all too absurd for me to believe. "What does this all even mean," I asked.

"I take your failure to decline as a statement of acceptance. I shall observe your path to rehabilitation."

As he spoke, the two twins turned towards me in unison.

"Excuse me, as I did not introduce you to the others who inhabit this room. To your right; Caroline. To your left; Justine. They serve as the wardens who shall also aid in overlooking your rehabilitation."

Then each girl spoke, one after the other. "You better do as we say, Inmate. Or else the fate of the world will be doomed," said one of them.

"As your wardens, our duty is to protect the inmates. You may also think of us as your collaborators. That is, if you remain obedient," expressed the other twin.

They both turned around again to face Igor as he explained that their roles would be revealed another time. "Now then, it seems the night is waning…It is almost time. You may take your time to come to understand this place, but know that your deadline is swiftly approaching. We will meet again…eventually."

And with that said, a loud bell began to ring and I immediately shot up in my bed. I was breathing heavily as I looked around and noticed my alarm had went off. I rubbed my eyes and held my head in my hands as I noticed that I had a splitting headache.

"What an odd dream…but was it really a dream," I thought to myself. There was no way it was real, but I felt like all of that was really happening to me. It was the same feeling I had when I dreamt of the butterfly. Regardless, I couldn't let these dreams keep me from being late to school. So, I quickly dressed myself and continued on with my day.