Author's Note: I got the idea from The Grey Rooms podcast. (It's a pity season five is being delayed.) Since then, I knew I just had to write this out for December. There were supposed to be fifteen people for this halo and 500 words each but I ran out of time. I will do better next when there is another Pslams. (Yes, I might do another set like this.) It's just the thoughts and inner monologues of everyone in Ikebukuro. I already know what I am doing next week. The Christmas special is coming together slowly but surely. But I will get it together. For now, enjoy this week's halo.

Halo Nineteen: Psalms:

Mikado

I made it back home this morning. I've done it again, haven't I? They keep telling me it's not cheating. At least that's what Lilith tells me. Thinking about her makes me cringe. I rolled up my sleeve. There are no marks on the skin. I haven't felt the effects of the poison in a while. Maybe it's all over?

Then why won't she leave me alone?

I see her everywhere now. She hasn't tried to sleep with me again. That doesn't stop her from following me around. I tried to ask her what she wants but she won't answer me. She already got what she wanted. I don't know what else Yokubo wants from me.

"I'm home," I said to myself. There's no one in here. I don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand, it will give me plenty of time to think. Then again, I'm tired of thinking all the time. I lay down onto my futon. I don't feel like doing much tonight. Akari promised that she will have the new batch of pheromone blockers ready in a couple of days. I will have to keep my distance until then.

I looked at my phone. No missed calls. Masaomi and Anri have been too busy lately. I've been hearing rumors about Kida-kun and I don't like them. I need to sit him down and talk to him. Anri seems to be avoiding me lately. No. She hasn't. We just haven't been talking lately. I should say something. At least ask if she is okay. My finger hovered above the keys. I frowned to myself. I'm not sure why but when I start to text her but don't go through with it. I am just going to ask Anri how she's doing. Then I wonder why I don't just call her.

I dialed up her number.

The other line began ringing. I rolled over onto my back as I waited. Just keep it simple. Ask how she is doing. That is it. I slowed down my breathing as the phone.

"The number you are trying to is either out of range or turned off," the operator said. Somehow, I wasn't surprised. Disappointed, yes. But not surprised. I stared at my phone.

I would be fine if Anri was angry at me. She's not okay with but she isn't surprised by all of this. She's met some of the girls already. They seem to get along rather well. Still, it's kind of awkward that these were all the girls that have apparently slept with in the past.

I tried to push that thought out of my mind.

I don't know what I am going to do. It didn't help that I kept getting lost in my head. Still, I didn't like where I was going on this excessive path.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my hand. There was a new text. My stomach dropped at who it was.

Ren.

I hadn't expected to hear from him again.

Masaomi

I feel so empty. I don't know why. It started when I made that deal with that woman. Since then, it feels like there is a hole in my heart. I did find a way to fix it.

I couldn't sleep one night and was just wandering around the city. My gang is gone. Mikado and Anri have been getting close and cozy lately. (Honestly, I feel like a bit of a third wheel.) Michiko keeps looking at me with pity in her eyes. I just had to get out.

I ended up at this maid café. The girl greeted me at the door.

"Welcome," she said. "Care to come inside?" I shrugged to myself. Why not? I didn't have anything better to do. I followed her inside.

I have to admit, I was rather bored at first. Why did I think this was a good idea? I shrugged and looked at my phone. No texts from Mikado and Anri. Heh. I bet they are fucking again. I'm actually happy for them. Mikado is finally getting some. He's been getting a lot lately. I can see it in his eyes. I mean, I can see it myself. When did he get so… hot?

I suddenly become aware of someone sitting next to me.

I looked over to my left and see this girl staring at me. She smiled at me in her red party dress. Her hair came down to her shoulders. She had her legs crossed, trying to look cute.

"Hello?" I asked. This girl twirled her hair as she giggled.

"I'm really bored," she said.

"Okay…" I said. She started to scoot in closer to me. She looked into my eyes.

"I'm bored," she said.

"Is that right?" I asked. This girl started rubbing on my leg. I stared intently into her eyes.

"Are you going to entertain me?" she asked. Something about her question. I cocked my head to the side.

"What did you have in mind?" I asked. This girl looked around for a moment. She leaned close to my ear.

"Meet in the stall in ten minutes," she whispered. That was all it took. She giggled before she stood up and up walked toward the back. What just happened? Still, I had to know what was going to happen. I got up ten minutes later and followed behind.

She waited for me at the entrance. That girl was smiling at me. I walked up and kissed her on the lips. I don't know why I did that. It just felt… right, in a way. She kissed me back and pulled me into a bathroom stall.

Now, I am looking out the window of my room. But I am not alone tonight.

"What are you thinking about?" a girl asked from my bed. I turned to her with a smile on my face.

"Nothing. Just thinking about all the things I'm going to do to you tonight," I said. I walked over and jumped on the bed. She went down as we kissed.

Anri

More Saika children and grandchildren have been staring at me lately. They keep talking about a Saika baby. I have been ignoring it so far. However, that isn't the only thing on my mind.

Lately, I started to feel a little bit nauseated. I've been so tired the past couple of days. I can barely keep my head up in class. Mika asked if I was feeling okay. I said that I didn't know.

Mikado and Masaomi are acting strange lately. I thought about calling them but I don't know what to say. Our friends have been saying things about Masaomi. Things like he's been sleeping around with many girls. Everyone is really worried about him. Mikado-kun and I haven't talked to him in about three weeks.

I started to feel my stomach turn again.

It's been getting worse lately. I couldn't even get out of bed this morning. I called up Mika and she came to stay with me. That's when she started to ask me some strange questions.

"Have you been throwing up yet?" she asked. I shook my head.

"Any cravings?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Any food cravings lately?" Mika asked.

"No," I said. She took a moment to think about that. I tilted my head to the side.

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you are asking me," I said. Mika smiled as she waved me off.

"I'm sure it's nothing," she said. "Just go get some sleep for nothing. I'll make you something easy for your stomach, okay?" I set my head down on my pillow. She leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. Mika turned and walked out of the room. I closed my eyes and went to sleep.

Sometime later, I woke up to hearing Mika talking to somebody on the phone. I could only check the middle of the conversation.

"Yeah, I really think that it is happening again. She's just been feeling sick. No, not throwing up yet. I'm staying with her for the time being. Hm? Where is she now? Anri's sleeping in her bed right now. I just made her some miso. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh." There was a pause for a moment.

"Okay, I am going to stay by her today. I understand. I understand. I understand." Mika hung up her phone. I lay in my bed, confused. What was she talking about? What did she mean that it was happening again? My mind went back to what Saika kept chanting.

Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby!

That reminded me of another thought crossing my mind. There's no way that I could be… be…

I looked up when I heard a knock on my door.

"Are you awake in there?" Mika asked. "I'm coming in." I watched as she quietly opened the door. She poked her head into the room.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Fine," I said. "I'm feeling so much better now." Mika walked into my room with a tray of miso soup.

Chisa

Our sister is dead. The Dante Killer has killed her. Kotoko's ex-husband had to be the one to identify her body. We held a service for her. I already knew who was really to blame.

My father thinks that I don't know what he is doing. Saku told me everything. When I learned the truth, my blood just burned. Who does he think he is, god? No! He is no god! He is just a man. Thinking about that smug bastard made me so angry. I hated the condescending look he has given me throughout my life. I can't understand why Nee-san defends him so much.

Oh wait, yes I do.

Ever since that bastard killed husband number one, Nee-san pretty much pledged herself to him. It makes me want to puke.

For years, he and our mother subjected us to the grim reality of the world. They say I haven't been right in the head ever since. I know why.

If they want mad, I will show them mad. I'm going to burn it all to the ground. And Daddy dearest is going to feel it the most. I am going to destroy his game. I want to destroy everything in his project that he has held so dearly. I want him to experience all the misery and soul-crushing agony that he put me through. I will kill his beloved tadpoles!

I could hear myself laughing like the madwoman they made me out to be. You can't blame me for how I am. He made me this way!

Chiyomi

I ran away from home. I couldn't stay there anymore. Papa lied and said that I seduced him. I tried to explain the truth to Mama but she won't listen. She thinks that Kururi-san made me do this.

"I knew something was wrong with that girl!" Mama wailed.

"No!" I cried. "Kururi-san had nothing to do with this! She didn't make Papa rape me!" Mama was now crying.

"Why would you lie about something like that?!" she asked. "What has gotten into you?! It's that girl! She did this!" We went back and forth like that for a good two hours. Neither one of us couldn't budge. I think she's torn between Papa and me. She doesn't want to believe that he's turned into such a sick monster but she doesn't want to believe that I would seduce him like that. I couldn't take it anymore and ended up running away in the middle of the night.

Now, I am staying at Hayato-kun's place. I told Kururi-san everything. She came over and stayed in the bed with me. My boyfriend slept on the couch. Both of them are asleep right now. Mama keeps trying to call me but I don't want to talk to her. I have been declining her calls since last night.

I turned over in bed. I don't know what to do. Mama doesn't believe me and I am not going back there.

Aoba

Kururi has Chiyomi and me trapped in her web. The only difference is the Chiyomi can't see it. She still thinks that she and Kururi are best friends. She's just so stupid. Kururi and her circle are using her. I don't know what kind of sick game Kururi is cooking up but I know that it's only going to get worse.

Why haven't I stepped in and tried to stop it? It's not my place. I've got my own problems. Yes, Kururi is a common factor for both of us. She is the source of our problems. But it's Chiyomi's own desperate stupidity. That's her if she gets screwed over in some way. I'm not going to be the one to pick her up if she ends up being miserable. That is not my problem!

I'm trying to find a way to get Mairu back. I'm still the only person who remembers who she is. I gave up on talking about her to Kururi. She'll just laugh her head off. Izaya is no help to me. (I can't even get a hold of him lately anyway.) I'm pretty much on my own for this.

My phone rang again. I looked at the screen and groaned. It's Kururi again. No, not now. I'm not in the mood. I declined the call. That's all she calls me for anyway. I am not some personal sex toy when she's bored. I buried my face into my pillow.

I can't do this anymore. Something's got to give. I've got to get Mairu back and fast. Otherwise, I think I'm going to go crazy.

Kitano

Chisa is becoming more of an obstacle than I pictured. Ever since that dinner days ago, I can tell that something is different about her. Shoko's noticed it too. Neither one of us know what it is. I am going to have to get to the problem of this.

The game is about to enter into the home stretch. We can't afford to have anyone unravel it. We've actually made some good progress too. Two of the horsemen have their horses back, Taro is about to get his back, the tadpoles are evolving rather impressively, the Blood Knights are carrying out their mission without any problems, the Dis Program is in the home stretch of its completion, and there might be some fascinating developments on the way.

I frowned at my desk.

That just leaves cleaning up the garden to let the flowers bloom. I know just the person I need to start with. That reminds me…

I reached out and picked up my phone.

"Good evening. It's good to hear from you again. Listen, I have a small favor, well it's a big favor to ask you. Don't worry, it isn't hard, but it will be time-consuming. There, there. I will make this worth your while. Are you up for it? Good, good. We will be in touch." I hung up. I sat back in my chair.

Welp, that's done.

Taro

I have a little secret. I only feel like that part of me is here. I'm not talking about my horse either.

I don't know how to explain it. It's like I am me but there is another part of me that isn't here inside me. I flexed my fingers as I looked down at my hands. My siblings don't know. I don't think I can explain it either.

Honestly, I don't really think that I am a boy. I think I was supposed to be a girl. I feel like a girl sometimes. Part of me feels more feminine and I kind of look like a girl. I tried to ask Junko about it but she won't tell me anything. The thought won't leave me. Maybe after I get my horse, I will have my answers. For now, I find myself drawn to the hospital.

I stood outside, looking at the doors. I think she's in there. She? I think it's a she calling me. There's only one way to find out.

I walked up to the glass doors without being seen.

-December 15th, 2015-

Kururi looked up when she heard the footsteps getting closer. Hayato walked up to her with Chiyomi on his arm.

"Yo," he said with a wave. Kururi narrowed her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. Hayato looked down at a half-conscious Chiyomi on his shoulder.

"She insisted on seeing how you were doing before she passed out," he said.

"Uh-huh…" Kururi said. She happened to look up to see two police officers walking toward them.

"Oh…" she said. Hayato turned his head and got quiet fast. Kururi sat up straighter as the cops got closer.

"Are you Orihara Kururi?" one of them asked. She cocked her head to the side.

"We need to ask you a couple of questions regarding [name redacted]," he said.