I think this counts as my longest story to date now. Hey, UknownHero here and welcome to another chapter of Senran Persona!

Remember, Senran Persona has a TV Tropes page. Please contribute to it. Or else :)

I really need to start cracking down on request reviews. If you wish to request a story...don't. I don't really have the time or interest to do so. And if you still wish to request a story, at least PM me.

Anyways, that's it. Time to have some sort of relaxing time!

Load Game...Start!


Chapter 77: Festivities and Failures


(7/17, Early Morning)

(Hotel Kusatori)

Murakumo let out a sigh of relief as she dropped her luggage to the floor of her room. She had quite the overnight journey to Tokyo and only now had just arrived.

"So, this is the Gessen personal hotel room." Murakumo got out as she looked around. "It's a lot nicer than I was expecting..." She then confessed. "...And I'm talking to myself." She soon mumbled out.

From there, she decided to take a quick shower and switch to more civilian-looking clothing (although she did keep her mask, she kept that on even in the shower). It was afterwards when she realised how tired she was and what day it was today.

"...Wait, the summer festival is the day after." Murakumo remembered before slapping her mask's forehead. "Well...maybe I can spend it with Yumi..." She soon decided before yawning. "Tomorrow." She then added as she proceeded to crawl into bed for a nap.

She was really glad the hotel room was quite cool due to being underground and all. Much better than an air conditioner.


(Harajuku, Haruka's Apartment)

"I wish I had a better air conditioner..." Haruka sighed as she cooked breakfast for herself, Hikage and Poochie. It was more like shifting around the hot air than cooling anything. She was half-tempted to eat her breakfast while sticking her head inside her fridge.

"What do you mean you need me to come back?" Hikage questioned as she narrowed her eyes.

That meanwhile got Haruka's attention as she looked at the greenette.

"It is as ordered, Hikage." Suzune replied with a long-suffering sigh. "It's an urgent matter. You need to leave by midnight." She then informed.

"Is Haruka-san leaving too?" Hikage then asked.

"Not yet." Suzune however informed. "Actually, she should continue her work. The medicine formulas she's providing us are working wonders. Even helped someone recover from a coma." She soon revealed.

"Really now...?" Hikage got out, holding back some envy at the fact she couldn't stay.

"Yes. It's not a 100% success but it's high enough for Haruka to stay in Tokyo for the time being." Suzune added. "Remember, midnight or else." She then reminded.

"Of course, good-bye Suzune-sensei." Hikage responded as she hung up. "Bitch." She got out in annoyance.

"Don't blame her. She's just relaying orders from the higher ups. There's not much she can do." Haruka sighed out as she brought their breakfast to the table and even placed a bowl down for the puppy as she began eating with gusto.

"It's still frustrating..." Hikage sighed out. "I thought she was on our side." She then added.

"She's on Hebijo's side. Do not mistake for an ally until she proves she is one."

"With our luck, she's gonna be sending someone worse." Hikage then muttered.

"Who?" Haruka asked in a serious tone. "...No, I'm genuinely asking who. I swear, I thought Homura was our most dangerous shinobi and she's changing for the better now." She then added.

"...Imu?" Hikage guessed.

"..." Haruka simply stared blankly into her comrade's eyes.

"...Yeah, that was ridiculous to say that." Hikage soon admitted with a sigh. "...So how long will it take until they realise they're placebos?" She eventually asked.

"I estimate the end of the year. But, if everything goes to plan, we'll be long gone." Haruka casually replied. "Never underestimate the mind of a shinobi." She soon advised.

"You say that, but eventually we'll fight someone who gets a power boost using sugar pills." Hikage deadpanned.

"Well, it's not worse than getting off to their own pain and suffering." Haruka pointed out. "Someone like that would be unstoppable." She then admitted.

"...So a super masochist?" Hikage guessed.

"...You know, actually, I think we would get along pretty well..." Haruka mumbled under her breath.

"...I'm almost glad I'm leaving tonight." Hikage flatly stated.

"A shame." Haruka admitted in disappointment. "But I hope you have a safe journey home."

The greenette however shook her head in response. "It's not my home. Not anymore..." Hikage however declared. "It is simply somewhere I must stay for the time being. Once Yomi and Mirai are in on the plan, then...I think Tokyo should be a nice place to live..." She then stated and declared.

"A little obvious, but we are limiting our visits to Tokyo..." Haruka on the other hand stated. "And we still need to organise so much..."

"I'll leave that to you then since you're still here." Hikage soon stated.

"What?" Haruka got out, blinking. "I thought we were working together on this." She then added.

"We are. You handle all the logistics, I'll handle the rest." Hikage explained. "Planning on two fronts. You, here, in Tokyo securing safe zones for us and me back at Hebijo to tell Mirai-san and Yomi-san about it." She then added.

"I see. Just remember, if we do not plan for every possibility, it could all fall apart." Haruka soon advised with a nod.

"Don't worry. It will all turn out fine." Hikage assured before going off to start packing. "Watch Poochie, ok?"

"Hai hai." Haruka replied as she looked down to see the puppy still eating, causing her to smile. "Good girl." She then praised.

"Arf!" Poochie barked out before going back to eating.


(7/17, Daytime)

(Minato City, Odaiba)

It was a beautiful day in Tokyo...if you didn't mind the sweltering heat that would literally cook eggs on the sidewalk. However, Asuka smiled as the cashier scanned her only purchase.

"And that will be 12,400 yen." The cashier informed as she rang them up.

"Here you go." Asuka replied as she handed over the cash.

"Thank you. Do you want a bag for this." The employee soon offered.

"Yes please." Asuka replied with a nod as the cashier did as such and put the item in a nice bag. "Thank you." She soon got out.

"You're welcome. Please come again." The cashier responded and requested.

"I will...I hope." Asuka replied as she walked over to her roommate. "Here you go, Homu-nee. One fresh yukata!" She then declared before double-checking the collar. "Yup, one fresh yukata!" She soon confirmed with a nod.

"Thanks for paying, Sis." Homura got out as she grabbed the bag. "Still wish I could pay for it by myself..." She then mumbled in a guilty manner.

"Well, maybe you can once August 22nd rolls around." Asuka replied.

"Need...paying...job..." Homura mumbled out in depression as she dropped her head in shame. "Let's just find Ann, Yumi-senpai and Makoto and head home. I am starving and I'm pretty sure there's a nice juicy steak marinated to perfection in the fridge." She then decided.

"Homu-nee, you're drooling again." Asuka informed with a giggle.

"Hah?" Homura got out before wiping her chin. "Ah, I need to stop doing that..." She then muttered as they walked out of the store.

"Hey, over here!" Makoto called out, waving to the roommates.

This in turn caused the two to smile as they walked over to their friends. "Hey, did you get any ice-cream like you said?" Asuka asked.

"No, they were all sold out." Makoto sighed out as she shook her head.

"This early?" Homura got out in disbelief.

"Homura-san, it's 45°C today." Yumi informed while wiping some sweat off her forehead.

"Really? Because it feels like it's 35°C to me." Ann admitted with a shrug.

"Homura-san, the rest of us don't have a fire resistance like you and Ann." Makoto soon reminded. "Although, I don't know how Persona abilities transfer to the real world..." She then added in a more curious tone.

"That would explain why I don't feel as hot as you guys." Ann admitted in an awkward manner while the tan skinned girl nodded in agreement.

"We better not test Makoto-chan's nuclear resistance..." Asuka soon decided.

"I agree. I'd rather not eat uranium to test it out." Makoto admitted with a sweatdrop to the idea.

"It would go straight to your thighs..." Homura joked.

"...Did we have a conversation like this before...?" Ann suddenly asked as she tried to remember.

"Not that I remember." Yumi replied as she thought about it. "Oh, wait, why are we talking about such trivial things? I wish to see your yukata, Homura-san." She then requested with a smile.

"Oh right. You mean...this!" Homura began as she then took out her crimson red yukata with orange fire-like markings.

"Really leaning into your fire theme, huh." Makoto noted.

"Hey, I bet Yumi's is ice and snow themed." Homura countered with a giggle.

"It...It is actually..." Yumi sheepishly confessed.

"Well...I guess the floral pattern is going out of fashion this year..." Makoto muttered.

"Still Ann, thanks for helping me out getting a yukata." Homura got out in relief.

"Ah it's not a problem." Ann waved off with a giggle.

"Though why did we have to go all the way to Minato City for this?" Makoto had to ask as she wiped some sweat off her forehead. "It's really hot out. We shouldn't be travelling this much." She then advised.

"I got my yukata from here, and it's one of the best." Ann stated with a happy smile. "And they're also cheap." She then revealed.

"I know. I heard the higher end ones cost up to 80,000 yen." Makoto informed.

"Oh, that's heart attack-inducing." The tan skinned girl mumbled in disbelief. "Luckily we found something that matches my style." She then added in relief.

"You'd expect it to be custom-made..." Yumi noted. "But it seems off the shelf." She then added.

"Yeah, I just found it after an hour of searching." Ann stated. "I'm pretty lucky when it comes to deals and fashion, so leave it to me for any wardrobe troubles." She soon declared.

"Well, let's hope that luck translates to your test scores." Homura got out.

"Luck has nothing to do with that..." Makoto sighed.

"Look, I've seen Ann's score on midterms. Luck is a factor with her." Homura however informed.

"Hey!" Ann called out as the other girls giggled.

Suddenly, the tan skinned girl began to sniff the air. "What the..." Homura muttered in a serious tone.

"Is something wrong?" Asuka got out in concern.

"It's...charcoal...but not a burning fire...no...it's...grilling." Homura described as she closed her eyes to focus her senses. "Yes...I know these scents...Takoyaki...fish...vegetables..." She soon began listing off.

"Hm?" Makoto got out with a raised eyebrow.

"I smell...meat..." Homura informed as saliva began to leak out her mouth and down her chin.

"Oh, right! The summer festival!" Makoto got out as her eyes widened. "There's a summer festival here in Odaiba. But I don't remember where exactly it is..." She soon revealed.

"Ooooh! That sounds fun!" Asuka got out in excitement. "It'll be a great way to beat this heat! Let's go!" She soon declared.

"We don't even know where it is though." Yumi however pointed out.

"I already know..." Homura replied before taking a deep breath. "Follow me, ladies! I cannot be denied sweet, succulent meat!" She soon declared before dashing off. Thankfully, the girls could still see her run off towards the festival.

Asuka and Yumi giggled at this while Ann and Makoto sweatdroped but smiled in amusement as they followed the tan skinned girl, glad they were able to catch up with her.

Shinobi training really did have its benefits.


(Summer Festival Grounds)

Meanwhile, the boys of the Phantom Thieves had arrived at the festival and it was...miserably hot, which was made worse by all the people and constantly hot stands.

"It's sooooo hot..." Ryuji groaned as he slumped down.

"It's as if we're walking around in an enormous sauna..." Yusuke grumbled as he wiped some sweat from his forehead.

"Well, what would you expect?" Akira quipped before taking off his glasses to clean them.

"Whose bright idea was it to come here again?" Ryuji asked in a desperate manner.

"Yours." Morgana deadpanned.

"...And look at that crowd! Smiling faces everywhere you look!" The boy suddenly heard a female host say. "With that, let's move right into asking some of the visitors here for their comments!" She soon got out as her cameraman panned around the fairground.

"A TV crew, eh...?" Yusuke remarked.

"Look, I ended up on TV once and it didn't end well. I've already had my time in the limelight." Akira stated as he stepped away.

"Hear, hear." Ryuji agreed with a nod. "Come on, let's grab some kebabs and get outta here." He then got out.

"Ah, let's interview those three." The female host suddenly stated as she looked in their direction.

"Hey, is she talking about us?" Morgana soon asked in concern.

"Looks like it." Akira sighed out in resignation as the news crew approached them. "Well this is craptacular..." He then grumbled.

"What the-" Yusuke gasped.

"Uh...What do we do, Joker?" Morgana

Akira thought about it before shrugging. "Just act normal and we'll come out fine." The Leader answered. "I mean, we're just a bunch of punk teenagers to them. Act like one." He then added.

"But we ain't just a bunch of punk teenagers! Aw hell..." Ryuji groaned before gaining a determined expression. "Okay, I'm gonna ham it up and make some real cringey comments so they can't use any of the footage." He soon stated.

"Didn't Homura do the exact same thing and still ended up on TV?" Akira remembered.

"...Mother-" Ryuji swore just as the female host and cameraman...walked right past them. "Huh?" He got out in a dim manner.

"Look." Akira spoke up as he directed the boys' attention to who caught the woman's attention.

"A-Ahhh...!" Asuka squeaked out as the cameraman got her and the host in a good shot while the other shinobi girls watched.

"Hello!" The host greeted. "It sure is hot today, huh?" She then remarked.

"Y-Yes! It's really, really hot. I feel like I'm melting..." Asuka spoke quickly and shakily. "December can't come around soon enough. It'll just be as cold as it is hot out here." She then added.

"Since you're here for the festival, does that mean you and your friends are meat lovers?" The host assumed.

"O-Oh yeah. I'm not too much of a meat eater, and Yumi-chan watches her weight, but Homu-nee loves meat! She would love the ones that dripped with sauce or juices. She would sometimes lick the meat so vigorously and let the taste go all over her tongue. She would swirl it around and let the taste last as long as she could before swallowing it. Her entire mouth would be covered in juices and sometimes go on her chest, but I have licked it off on one or two occasions. I really like it when it's sweet and savory." Asuka confessed and explained.

"Ehehehe..." The female host awkwardly chuckled out before whispering to her cameraman. "We can edit around that, right?" She soon asked in a whisper.

"No." The cameraman bluntly answered.

"Okay!" The female host happily stated. "Well, ah...thank you very much for your time!" She soon thanked the most sexually repressed teenager she has ever met before the two left.

"I think that went well." Asuka breathed out in relief before turning towards her fellow shinobi.

Homura looked like she wanted to die while Yumi just blushed and looked away from her.

"...Why are you guys looking at me like that?" Asuka soon questioned before spotting the boys, who had slack jaws. "A-Ah! Akira-kun! Hey! Y-You saw all that?" She then stammered out.

"Yes we did...and we heard all that too." Morgana awkwardly answered.

"Hm?" Asuka gave the not cat a weird look, not quite getting it yet.

"...Nice work." Akira praised while giving a thumbs up.

Asuka however tilted her head to that...before realizing and paling. "I did it again, didn't I!?" She soon guessed in embarrassment while covering her face with her hands.

"On TV for thousands to see, and soon millions once it inevitably goes on the internet." Akira assured with a smirk.

"Why...!?" Asuka cried out before going to her knees, with her roommate soon patting her back and comforting her.

"Hello everyone." Yumi greeted with a wave as the ash blonde and the Shujin Student Council President returned with flavored shaved ice.

"Senpai." Yusuke replied. "Why are you all here?" He questioned.

"Oh, we were shopping for yukata and decided to stop by here." Ann revealed. "Actually, it was more like Homura's nose led us here." She then sheepishly added.

"Um...What happened while we were away?" Makoto questioned as she saw the crying Vice Leader while she spotted the cameraman head to the bathroom with a box of tissues.

"A lot." Morgana groaned.

"I have to say, that was truly cringeworthy back there." Yusuke admitted. "However, it was probably for the best."

"So, with that out of the way, wanna go get some meat?" Morgana suggested with a hungry smile on his face.

"Oh, right! My kebab!" Ryuji cheered.

"Did someone say meat!?" Homura exclaimed, flashing over to the boys before coughing. "Ahem. Sorry. Just...kinda hungry." She sheepishly apologized.

"The lines look awfully long from here..." Yumi remarked.

"It's probably just the crowd. Come on! Let's get our meat on!" Homura declared as she rushed to the nearest food stand.

However, their adventures for food were for naught as they ended up coming back with very little meat. Asuka, Akira and Yumi could only get shaved ice, Ryuji got fried noodles, Ann and Makoto could only find samples, and Homura had a very small kebab that had more vegetables than meat. Only Yusuke had an actual kebab.

"The lines for the food stalls were even more insane than the heat!" Ryuji complained.

"Not that the heat made things better..." Asuka whined out. "I think I'm covered in sweat that's not my own." She then groaned.

"Standing around in this sweltering heat was rather trying..." Yusuke sighed out.

"No kidding. Today is like an oven..." Ann added as she wiped her brow.

"Not only that, most of the better foods were sold out." Makoto mumbled as she shook her head.

"I didn't even eat breakfast this morning. I'm starting to get lightheaded..." Morgana got out, looking a little dizzy.

"Weren't festivals supposed to be fun!?" Homura called out in a frustrated manner. "God, if you go near any of the fun stuff you'll suffocate." She then complained before shoving the last of her kebab into her mouth. "At least the food we managed to get is good." She soon got out.

"Yes. At least the quality of the food made things better." Makoto admitted.

"Something about the festival does seem to be better than usual." Ann then pointed out.

"It's because we're all together. There's nothing better than the company of your friends." Akira stated with a smile before looking down at his cup of shaved ice. "Although, it would've been even better if I got some meat myself." He then admitted.

"Yeah..." Morgana sighed out.

"Welp, we all came all the way out here, so we may as well go check that thing out." Ryuji soon got out as he finished his food.

"Hm?" Ann hummed out.

"What thing?" Yusuke asked.

"I heard they're building this huge-ass stadium or somethin' nearby. Wait, was that what it was?" Ryuji answered before thinking about it.

"You don't know a thing you're talking about, do you?" Morgana deadpanned.

"A stadium." Yusuke muttered. "Well, such buildings often have intriguing architecture. I'd love to see it for personal reference." He soon stated.

"Well...we don't really have anything better to do afterwards..." Ann muttered out. "We may as well see what it's gonna be. We'll join you guys."

"Hai." Asuka responded as the rest of the girls nodded.

"Oh, cool." Ryuji got out. "Come on, let's get out of here." He then decided.


(Odaiba Stadium Construction Site)

When the Thieves arrived, they saw the great stadium...just barely more than a pile of steel beams and setting concrete. There weren't even any workers or machines being used. It was completely quiet and empty.

"So...that's it?" Ryuji soon asked.

"Of course that's it." Makoto replied as she rolled her eyes. "I heard that construction only began last year." She then informed.

"And it's still not even close to finished?" Ryuji got out in disbelief.

"Goddammit, Ryuji..." Homura sighed out as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Buildings like that take a little longer than a year. Like two. Or five." She then added.

"I thought they would be working on it though..." Asuka admitted.

"In this heat? On a Sunday?" Akira pointed out.

The dyed blond simply shrugged in response. "I guess this is what people call jumpin' the gum." Ryuji grumbled.

"It's gun. Jumping the gun." Ann sighed out as she shook her head.

"Thank you, Lady Ann." Morgana thanked the ash blonde.

"So we came here for nothing." Yumi sighed out. "I still feel hungry. We may as well go get a proper meal." She soon suggested.

"I am with you Yumi-senpai." Homura agreed with a nod.

"Sorry, but I cannot come." Yusuke confessed. "I'm considering picking up some more art supplies. I have a summer assignment to work on." He then added.

"Hm?" Yumi perked up to that before narrowing her eyes."Oh no, I know you'll even spend your transportation money on them. Sorry, but I'm going to make sure he doesn't do that."

"Senpai..." Yusuke got out in a slightly whiny tone. "Erm...I've already spent all I can at the summer festival." He then sheepishly informed.

To that, Yumi took a deep and heavy breath to calm herself down. "...I am going to give you the money, and you are going to spend it on a decent meal, maybe some for a children's arts and crafts store, and go home." She then decided in a calm and collected and totally-not-going-to-manhandle-her-kouhai manner.

"But-" Yusuke began, however...

"No. But's. Mister." Yumi interrupted in a parental manner before grabbing her kouhai's shirt. "Have a pleasant day everyone." She then added.

"See you two later." Akira replied with a peace sign as the light grey haired girl dragged her kouhai to the train station. "Alright, anyone have any recommendations on restaurants around here?" He soon asked the remainder of the group.

"Well, I heard there's a pirate-themed restaurant." Makoto answered before frowning. "It might be a bit of a trip though."

"Nah, let's just find one nearby. Prolly cheaper too." Ryuji got out as the group began to walk away from the construction site.

However, Asuka stayed behind, her eyebrow raised at the girl with red hair staring at the construction site, but shook her head and caught up with the others.


(7/17, Evening)

(Yongen-Jaya, Backstreets)

Soon everyone separated for the night as Akira was walking down the street back to the cafe with Morgana riding around in his bag.

"You better get to sleep right away when you get back. We need to get up bright and early for the fireworks." Morgana soon advised.

"Yeah, I know. I've been keeping a mental note of that." Akira replied. "Believe me, it's kinda hard not to forget it." He then added

"You better cause-" Morgana started, however...

BUMP!

The Leader bumped into someone.

CLANK!

"Whoa!" Akira gawked "Sorry! I wasn't paying attention. Are you alright?" He looked over to whoever he bumped into.

"Seriously? You should've been paying attention Akira!" Morgana meanwhile chided.

"I was talking to you though." Akira muttered with a sweatdrop as he looked at the girl.

In front of them was a brown haired girl that had her hair in a single side pigtail held by a maroon sash with green eyes wearing a white t-shirt that showed her very sizable bust with a black and red over-shirt with a black jacket, jean skirt and boots.

"Hey, are you alright?" Akira soon asked as he offered a hand.

But as the girl pulled herself up, she noticed that something was missing and felt her face, like she was looking for something.

This meanwhile caused Akira to raise an eyebrow in concern. "Uh, miss?" He called out.

"Hm, she doesn't look too good." Morgana meanwhile stated.

"M-M-M-My mask! W-W-W-W-Where's my mask!?" The girl meekly muttered as she looked around the streets for her mask. "D-D-D-D-Did I drop it?! W-W-W-W-Where is it?!" She then stammered out.

Morgana soon narrowed his eyes to this. "Mask?" He repeated.

"H-Hey, just calm down miss." Akira meanwhile instructed as he looked at the nervous girl. "Guessing she's really shy." He mentally deducted.

The girl soon looked around until she found her mask and picked it up. "My mask!" She exclaimed excitedly as she put it on.

Akira soon raised an eyebrow to the sight. "An oni mask?" He muttered before his eyes widened in realization. "...No way..." He thought in disbelief.

"My apologies about that. It was really embarrassing of me to have you see that." The girl soon apologized in a deeper tone.

Morgana meanwhile raised an eyebrow to that. "Her voice got deeper when she put the mask on?" He muttered in confusion.

"So I assume that you get nervous without your mask on?" Akira guessed with a raised eyebrow.

The girl in turn nodded to that as she got to her feet. "Yes." She simply replied.

"I see." Akira crossed his arms.

"Ah, pardon me, I forgot to introduce myself," The girl then started as she dusted herself off. "My name is Murakumo Tairō, it is nice to meet you..." She began to introduce herself.

"Akira, Akira Kurusu." Akira replied. "You...wouldn't happen to know Yumi Tsukikaze, would you?" He soon guessed.

Murakumo in turn blinked under her mask as her eyes widened in a surprised manner.

"Wait what!?" Morgana got out in shock.

"Yes, that's right. I do know Yumi Tsukikaze. Why do you ask?" The girl now known as Murakumo questioned.

"Well, I'm a good friend of hers." Akira revealed. "Yozakura-chan too." He then added.

"Oh, so you're this Akira-chan she mentioned. I thought she was talking about a girl, but I can see that she was really talking about you." Murakumo replied as she then thought about the blonde from Gessen as she then came to the realization. "Still, that's...oddly convenient." She soon stated. "I don't even know why I'm even here..." She then admitted.

"Hey, this back alley has everything. We've got a nice bath, a movie theatre and the best damn coffee in town." Akira soon revealed. "Are you lost?" He then asked.

"No, I just...do know where this address is?" Murakumo replied as she showed him the address on her phone.

"...That's in Shinjuku." Akira informed, noticing she had no wi-fi on her phone. "Probably too late now to take the trains." He then added.

"I uh...I have other ways to get there." Murakumo vaguely informed.

"Yeah, being faster than a bullet train is probably a requirement." Morgana meanwhile remarked.

The brown haired girl soon noticed the boy's bag. "Cat." Murakumo simply stated.

"Yep." Akira replied in an easy going tone.

"Why are you carrying it in your bag?" Murakumo soon asked. "Cats shouldn't be put in there, you know?" She then stated in concern.

To that, Akira gave off a witty grin. "Oh, well she likes being in my bag." He then informed.

The not cat's eyes immediately widened as he glared at the Leader. "I'M NOT A GIRL!" Morgana exclaimed in annoyance.

"She's awfully talkative." Murakumo meanwhile pointed out from hearing the meowing.

"That she is." Akira replied with a chuckle.

"Oh, you're just messing with me now..." Morgana grumbled out.

"In any case, would you like a cup of coffee?" Akira soon offered.

"Um...it's a little too late for that." Murakumo soon pointed out.

"Well, I don't want to fall asleep on your way to Yumi's." Akira replied while going on ahead. "Come on, that cafe I mentioned isn't too far from here." He then informed.

Slightly tilted her head, curiosity filled Murakumo as she decided to follow the boy.


(Leblanc)

"Well, here we are." Akira soon informed as the two approached the cafe.

"The place is closed, Akira-san." Murakumo however stated.

"I have a key." Akira casually got out as he unlocked the door and turned on the lights.

"You work here?" Murakumo soon asked in a curious manner.

"I live here." Akira revealed. "You get used to the smell after a few weeks." He then added.

"What? Why" Murakumo questioned.

"Tokyo's way more fun than my hometown." Akira chuckled out. "So, take your pick, but you're only getting one cup. Boss would kill me if I used too much." He then offered as he got an apron on.

Murakumo meanwhile sat herself down at the counter to get herself comfortable. "Uh...a mocha then?" She soon requested.

"Coming right up." Akira replied while getting to work.

He crushes some beans and grinds them up before pouring some hot water and mixing it up. Once that was done, he pours it into a cup and adds some whipped cream to it and places it on the counter in front of her.

However the masked girl was distracted by something else. "Have I seen that painting before...?" Murakumo mumbled to herself while looking toward it. It really felt as though it had been there for a while now.

"You like it?" Akira spoke up as he filtered the coffee. "A friend of mine gave it to us. Be warned, do anything to it and I will shoot you with BBs." He then warned as he pulled out his model pistol and cocked it.

"Um...Okay. I won't touch it." Murakumo soon replied as she decided to continue admiring the painting.

"Um...you're not gonna try and drink your coffee with your mask on, are you?" Akira asked as he edged his way towards the first aid kid Leblanc had. Hopefully Boss stocked it to treat burns.

"N-No." Murakumo stammered out.

"So...are you gonna take it off?" Akira soon asked in an awkward tone.

"I can lift it up." Mirakumo soon struggled to remove her mask, but hesitanted as she shook her head. "...I-I...I can't do it!" She then squeaked out

Akira sighed before looking under the counter. "Here." He soon got out as he tossed the girl a straw.

"O-Oh, t-thank you." Murakumo meekly got out as she fully placed her mouth on again and sighed in relief. "Thank you for the coffee." She then added in the deeper tone as she began drinking it through the straw.

"I'm surprised I could find straws. Guess the older folk need a little support." Morgana got out in an impressed tone.

"Mm, what an excellent cup of coffee." Murakumo praised with a nod of approval.

"Told ya." Akira replied with a smile. "But Boss' is definitely better than mine. I only started making coffee in April." He then revealed.

"Well, it's certainly better than the instant I've had." Murakumo soon confessed. "...So, how did you meet Yumi?" She soon asked.

"Ah, that. We met while midterms were going on. I just happened to meet one of her other friends, Yusuke, on the way to school and I happened to meet her." Akira soon explained in the most simple way possible.

"She does mention a Yusuke quite frequently...but no one else." Murakumo responded and informed.

"Well, it is pretty recent." Akira soon informed. "After a hiccup or two, we ended up getting along pretty well." He then revealed.

"...Shiki would call and tease Yumi more if she knew Yumi made some male friends..." Murakumo muttered in realization.

"So I heard you attend an all-girls school." Akira started to change the subject. "So, how did your exams go?" He soon asked.

"..." Murakumo blinked under her mask as she remembered her exams. It involved a lot of destroyed dummies and broken and bruised bodies. "...It went fine." She soon revealed.

"And so you decided to come out here to celebrate. In the middle of the semester." Akira got out before shrugging. "Man, private school is a lot less strict than I expected. Letting you take breaks like this." He then remarked.

"It's...Um..." Murakumo awkwardly started.

"Don't worry Murakumo-san, I won't pry too much on the matter." Akira replied while shrugging his shoulders. "Just complaining. My school kinda sucks." He then revealed.

"...Oh, weren't you on TV?" Murakumo soon got out. "Yeah, you stole the show from that detective." She soon realized.

"I thought people would've forgotten that already..." Akira groaned.

"No, you were in the right to voice your opinions on the matter." Murakumo however informed while shaking her head. "Especially after that incident with that gym teacher..." She then stated in disgust.

"We got a new one though." Akira pointed out. "Several months later. Instead of a counselor." He then grumbled under his breath.

"...Your principal sounds incompetent." Murakumo soon insulted in disapproval.

"Oh, you do not know the worst of it." Akira stated as he rolled his eyes. "But I'd rather not think about him right now. Especially when summer is only a week or two away." He soon added.

"Agreed." Murakumo replied with a nod.

"So what about you? What are you planning on doing for your summer break?" Akira soon asked.

"Spending time with my friends back at my school when I return." Murakumo answered.

"Huh. Same here. I'm doing just that with my friends." Akira replied as he smirked in amusement. "Yumi included." He then added.

"I see." Murakumo responded with a nod.

"Well I hope you can enjoy yourselves." Akira soon got out.

"Thank you. And you as well." Murakumo replied and nodded as she smiled under her mask.

"Thanks." Akira replied. "I'll be sure to tell Yumi to contact you guys more too since she's so busy." He then added.

"Please do. We've been wanting to hear from her for a while now. We really miss her." Murakumo responded and requested.

"And she's told me she's missed you all too." Akira revealed.

"I see. That's good to hear. It's nice to know she's still thinking of us." Murakumo got out as she smiled.

"Even if they don't contact you much, your friends will always be thinking and concerned for you." Akira soon stated. "Don't assume your bonds are so weak that distance will strain it." He then advised.

"They often do though..." Murakumo soon confessed.

"Then fight to keep it strong." Akira declared. "Don't just let it wither without putting some effort into it. Be active and don't give up until you die." He then instructed.

Murakumo smiled from hearing this and lifted up her mask to wipe away a small tear. "I-I'll do just that." She mumbled out.

Akira meanwhile smiled back to that as he felt his bond with the Gessen Girls was further improving as a result of learning that they felt somewhat distant from their Leader.

RANK UP! CUPS RANK 2!

"I...I need to see Yumi." Murakumo soon got out as she got off her seat. "Thank you for the drink. Um...I'll pay for it." She then added and offered as she prepared to get her wallet out.

"Don't." Akira however rejected, surprising the girl as a result. "Your number would be nice though." He then requested as he took out his phone.

"N-Number!?" Murakumo choked. "I...I..." She stammered out, despite the mask on her blushing face.

"So we can chat." Akira replied. "Since we're friends and all now." He then added.

"..." Murakumo's eyes widened under her mask as she then blinked a couple of times before calming down. "Please be more tactful when asking for other's numbers next time." She awkwardly requested.

"Ehh...I'll think about it." Akira amusingly responded.

"Well, don't blame me when you get punched in the stomach." Murakumo got out before exchanging phone numbers. "I guess that's it. I really need to go." She soon informed.

"Hope I see you around." Akira replied.

"You too." Murakumo responded with a nod before leaving the cafe.

"...I'd say that went well." Morgana spoke up as he jumped up onto the counter.

"It did, but I need to stop bumping into random shinobi." Akira deadpanned before smiling. "The nice ones are fine though." He then added.

"You'd think they would have faster reaction times..." Morgana muttered out with a sweatdrop. "Now let's get to bed." He then instructed.

Akira in turn nodded to that. "Though Murakumo-san seems to have some issues with not letting people see her face." He soon pointed out. "However this just shows that even shinobis are human too." He then stated.

"...I'll admit she does sound cuter without the mask on." Morgana soon admitted while following.

"Too bad I can barely understand her." Akira muttered.

"Hey, I see your hand twitching every time you see her mask." Morgana soon accused.

"Yeah, well, it's a habit now." Akira replied with a shrug as he put away the cup, now ready to end the day.

Suddenly, Murakumo came back inside with two broken halves of her mask...and her panties on her face. "U-U-U-Um...d-do you have glue?" She meekly got out.

"...Upstairs." Akira answered as he pointed up.

"Thankyouverymuch!" Murakumo thanked the boy before rushing up the stairs.

"I'm really curious as to why she's an introvert to this level though." Morgana soon admitted.

"Everyone has their stories." Akira stated, though curiosity also began to form within him. "But...it's never a good idea to pry unless they're ready. Or they need it." He then added.

Murakumo soon came back down and bowed to the boy. "Thanks for allowing me to use your glue." She soon got out.

"No problem. Have a good night." Akira replied with a smile.

"And um...do you mind not mentioning this incident?" Murakumo soon requested.

"What incident?" Akira innocently asked.

Murakumo soon sighed in relief as a result. "Thank you. Good-bye." She got out as she left the cafe once more.


(Sojiro Sakura's House)

Ẁ̶̭̳̫͈̠H̷̢̨̹̟̟͕̮̹̺̟̰̻̣͖͛̄̅̌̈́͒̈́̾̓̌̈́̽̚͠͠Y̷̡̢̢̤̻̫̜̔̌ ̶̢̛̛̭̦̖̣̯̰̞̲̺̖̪̺̜͍̈́̈̎̾̓̐̄̉̐̕̚̕W̸̬̞͓̠͚̪̩̼͎͙̜̼̯̼͌́̔É̶̻̗R̵̢̛͙̙͓̱̣͙̱̥͑̔̎͠Ȇ̷̮͍̝̦͇͓̩̫͉͙̂̓̏̒̔̈͜͝ ̷̧̢̙̭͚̬̤͎̩̮̮̲̜͎͖͛̾Y̶͍̯̦̭͇̪͍͍͎̬̪̒̊͌̒̽̓̓͆̉̆̀̎ͅƠ̸̪̠̟̯̫̼̥̬̺͋͒͂͜Ų̵̫̣̟̻̼͉͓̖̫̀͆̉̀̽͋ͅ ̸̛̤̯͇͚̲̝̟͑̀̔̿̐̅͆́͂̈́̉̚͜͝E̵̛̲͍̮͔͈͔̿̀̃̽͆͂̌̈́͆͗̅͛͝V̷̨̥̥̯̥̣̖̎̐̽Ę̷͓̬̜̰̰͕͔̤̥̲̗̜̙͕͂̍̋̿̑̌̅N̴̡̟͔̩̘̭̔̈́̀̒͊̓̽͆̌̀̕̚͝ͅ ̶̰̻͈͎͓͓̘̥̫̻̿̈͗̉́̅̊̕͜B̶̻͈̎̒͐̋͊̇̂̕͝͠O̵̧̺̦͉̙͉̩̲͈̰̜̺̮̅̏͐̅̐̉̊̈͋͝Ṛ̷̡̠̩͇̝̚͜N̵̡̘̠̼̦̤̝̺̱̾̍̑͛̑̓͝͝ͅ ̶̬̹͖͚̖̬͙͋̍̉͜ͅY̷̢͔̻̬̙͎̰̖̣̙̾͛̓̑͗́͒͐̒͂͘Ồ̶̯̙̘̪͎́͗͂͗̇̈́͋Ǔ̶̢̫̺͉͎̝̥͎͈̗̜͕̪͛͆́̍͑̍̿͋͊͑͋̔̀ͅͅ ̶͔̟͈̟̤̩̯̳̰̞̻̗̳̄͜W̶̲̽́́̓Ã̶̢̹̬̩̲͚̼͙͇̀͊S̸̡̱̭͈̜͓͕͈͈͗̎͜T̴̢̻̂̉̉̈́̓̎̾̚͜͝͝È̷̢͇̺̥̠̙͕̗͎̻̪̳̙͍̈́͛̃̆̐̒͊͠͠ ̵̛̱̼̾̾̒͛̃́͘Ǫ̷̭̗͚̣̠̲̰̼̗̩̦̗̪̑͐́̑́̑̽̚ͅF̶̧͍̼̝̟̣̙̤̤͑͛̈́͋ ̴̡̢̡̢͙̬͖̥͇̙̭̘͈̺͋͐̉̑̎̾̾̎̏̓̈́̕͝͝Ş̴̯̬̠̤̗͓̗͎̝͙͈̤͛̌́͂̂̈̒̀͋͒̈́͘̚̕͘͜ͅK̵̠̼̗̪͉͍̤̅͠I̷͉̤̬̾̿̀̆͗N̸̡̳̙̞͖̲̹̮̘̗͚̓̂̏̚̕

"Focus...focus dammit...!" The young girl panted out. "Cute ninja girls, cute ninja girls...Hey, she left her panties there." She then noticed as she focused on the mentionable in the attic.

Cheetah print panties. Huh.

"A literal moeblob..." She then breathed out while a trail of drool leaked from the side of her mouth. "And now I got the tracker on another one of Tsukikaze's friends from Gessen." She then added as she looked at each one on her screen. "Yosh, Haruka, Mirai, Hikage, Yozakura and now Murakumo. Another link to their respective schools is connected now." She then listed off each girl.

K̷͚̪̺̗̮͉̗͍̤͇̪̜͔̖̄Į̷͉̙̠͇͈̙̟̖̫͈̬̙̠̍̅̋͜L̶̼̺͖̗̞̗̱̤̟̤̉̎̽̓͊̀͗̃̕͝ͅL̶̡̧̬͚̳̲̥̪̹̜̻̔͊͒̂Ÿ̶̨̡̰͖̬͔͉̭̪͙͓͓̳̹͔Ö̶̧̢̨̢̻̦̬̪̮̰͕̰̙͙́̀̓͊̆̉̕̕U̶̡̹̞̤̜̻̼͎̯̾̆͜R̴̯̒͑̎̑̏̿̇̄͂͂͘͝͝͝S̷̡̨̢̢͔̼̫̹̼̟̣̘̹͎̏̍̈́̌E̶̤͔̺̊̾̾̿̈̊̋̽͝Ḻ̶̨̧̮̭͕̹͕̺͎̝̗̭̎͌͒̋̅̿͋͜F̶̱͚͙̯̩̲̗̦͒̌͝Ā̴̢̨̼̩̝̖͎̙̺͇̠̊̌͋́̑̈́L̸̬̣̙͒̓̊͝R̶̛̘̋̀̈́̓̿̈̊͘E̸̛̲͑͐̈́̉̕̚Ạ̸̧̨̨̛͇̤̤̮͎̞̰̲͒͋͌̃͐̍͛͠Ḋ̸̮̦̲̠̖̔͗Ý̴̨̗̱̝̭̝̰͉̭̤̪̬̭̙͗̒̀́̊̈̔̇̈́̈́͠ͅỶ̸̧̝̟̟̇̈́͜͜Õ̵̡̨͓̖̣̲̩̬̠̺͎͍͙̝̎̐̇̈́̀͜U̵̧̢̧͎̘̺̺̪̘̱̻̟̼̼̳̔̀̃͊̉̈́̅͠͠D̶͇̳͍̭̣̻̼̼͇͗̐̆̀̉̏Ȩ̶̮̬̼̬̪͍̣̠̩͂̈̑͌͗͛͛͋͂͝S̵̢̖͕̬̠͈̜͓̼̮̫̲͊͒͋E̸̛̦̠̰͚͍̫̼̹͖͎̬̘͓̽̐̈́̐̈̇̑̔͘̚͝ͅR̴̨̗͍̄͑̽͊͜͠V̴̡̢̢̛̮̣̲̭̯̻̭̩͓̟̝̬̽̓͗̿̊̒̓͛̿Ė̸̱̹̞̬͕̙̊͂͂̿͘͜͝L̵̼̻̮̰̺̆̃̂̈́͌̅̿̏̃̈́̆E̸̢̞̣̰͖̝̝͉͚̙̍͋̌̑̋̿̅̑́̑͆͐̋͜͝͝S̶̝̹̺̫̯̠͛̎̈́͗̈́̔̾̈́̿̍͐̂̚̚S̴̡̘̥̯̞͖̘̺̼̝̪͇͙̊̄̄̌̎̄̉͑̕͝ͅT̸̡̩̥̳̟̳̄̂́̀̐̏̓̊͂̀̂̇͜͝͝ͅH̸̻̝̟̘̥̔̈̈́͆͑̓́ͅA̶̧̛̗̯̲͔̮͎͍̙̒̈́͒̿͒̋̾̾N̸̨̡͆̾͆̄͐͊̍̑͆̈͛͐̃͜͠͝T̶̨̻͉͖̮̭͓̼̼̝̖͙̯̱̅̒̅̈́̈́͌̔̀̆͛̆̈́͂̏͜H̵̡̘̭̖͔̝̲̖̯̥̬̓Ī̷̭̠̖̜͓̙͈͉͕̰̜̠͚̘̥͌̏̚S̸͇̮̲̦̥̝̒̌́̀͊́̀

"No...Stop...!" The hacker sobbed. "C-Cute ninja girls...cute ninja-" She struggled out, however...

D̸̝̘̠̠̑͊͘̚Ĭ̵̗͌́͆́̍̎́͆̕͘͝E̵̙̩̳͎̣͖̝̓̀̂̓̄̓̎͛̀̀̕̕͠͝͠ͅD̸̨͖̺͔͖͚̄̈́̓̇̈́̇̐̐̄̏̃͠Į̵̞͍̘͖̯̳̯̝͈͕̪̈͌̈̿̔̇͒̒̀͂͜͝E̵̛̛̠̳̭͔̲̺͎̘̰͍̒̐̓̍͆̀͌̊̂̆̋̚͝D̶͖̮̎̈́̊̀͌̊Í̶̖͍͇̙̹͐̌̄̀̾̉͂̈͗́̄̐̽͝Ȩ̶̥̦͉͈̀̌̾͑̈́̈́̈́́͋̓͜D̷͇̝̾̋͌̃̍̃̈́͠͝͝I̷̧͕̭̙̽͆͐̚͝Ę̸̤̹̱̼̗̓D̷̟̬̖͈̤̩̼͚̉̎̑̊̄͘ͅI̷̜̰͉̻̠̒̑̌̓̌̆̈́̎̓͒͂̿͘͝Ȩ̶̗̭̟̰̦̇̆̄̂̀̎̀Ḑ̴͕͚͖͚͛͋̽̀̾͌̎̌͛̔̒͊͋̕I̸̡͎̜̮͉̯̼͖̪̤̱̯̞̥̺̓͗̾̑̈́Ę̵̡̣͍͎̬̼̹̗͉͎̱̔̍͠Ḍ̵̗͎̳̤͍̝͕̱̊͊̈́̂̋̽̌̋͆̑̇̿̕̚I̸̢̢̛̗͍̺̞̜͎̲̗̼̣͆̐̆̈́͊͌̀͆̌͌̒̕͜Ê̴͈͕̿̅̈́̅̈͠͝͝D̶̜̪͍̊͗̂̐͒͊̄̍̚̚͠ͅĮ̶̛͙̖̮̩̝͈̹͈̼̋̔͂̏̃̂̕̕ͅȨ̷̨̹͍̮̻͇̪̗̦̹͋̇̆̽D̵̛̦͚̪̥̮͗̈́̎́̂̉̓̕̚͜Ĭ̶̢̲̣̗̦͍͚Ę̴̖̞̖̞͈͕̠̘̱̭͆͒͒̋̄̊͂͗̌̒̏̊̾D̷̢̲͍̺́̋̉̐̏̀̾̀́̑͝͝I̴̘̲̪̜̼̝͕̜͆̀͌̏̓́̈́Ę̴̟̘̻̼̲̖̲͉͙̱͌̅̾́̎̍̀̑͆̓͝͝͝D̷̢͙͍̟͔̞̗͒͒̋I̶̡͙̮͍͍̣͇͒̈́̒̈́̈́̈́̈́͝Ȩ̴̟̥̲̖̖̲͖̩̼̏̀̓́͘ͅD̷̨̛̛̛̘̣̦̤͙̼̖̫̝̜̟̩̓̓̌͐̒͛͘͜I̵͈̘̦͖̰̓͊͝E̴̡̧͇̠̤͍͖͕̽̄̈̐̄́D̷̡̧͇̫̤̯͚̳̭̏̈́I̶̛̖͎̻̜͐̏͛̈́̀̄̾̂́͠͝Ẽ̸̢̛̛͚̝͍̻̤̳̪͔̝͗̆̊̈́̀̚͜D̸͈̪͚͗̀̃̀̾͗́͝Į̷̥͇̞̙͇̀̍̃͑̃̈̈́̐É̷̼͖͈̙͉͇̞̪̮͖͑̇̆͛̐͝D̷̳͖̯͉̝̻͔͎̫̞͕̂̐̈́͝͝I̴̧͙̔Ę̶̮̲̼͓̻͐̒̈́̀́̊̐̆̆͊͌̕͘Ḓ̸̨̤͕͍̬͛̒̈́̐Í̴̛̻̳̞͙̬̐̒̍̌̓̈́̌͊̽͌̕̕͘͜͜É̶̺̅̓́̓̈́̀D̵̨̼̠̝͔̫̩̲̖̟̱͈̲̈́̊͋̈́̇̀̐͂̿̚̚͝ͅI̶̛̘͖̹̟̺͎̬̹̼̓̉̊̋̒͆̉̕͝E̷̢̮̫̬̮̲̲͉̻̓̈͋̾̀͒̐͌̚͝͝D̵̢̢̼͚̰̥̝̯͎̱̲͉̭̠͗Ĩ̷̡̙̖͉͖̯̣̞̗̜̦͓̿̈́̌̀̂E̸̺͚̫͈͙̭͈̝͒̿͘D̶͚͚̥̠̟̘́̽̾Ḭ̶̧̧̛̲͓̘̻̝͈̮̘̐̓̉̄̈́͒̕̕͝Ę̸̞̝̪͓̮̗̞̬̗̹͔̫̖̬̌̄̎͊͒͊̎̽̍̓̂͂̕͝Ḏ̶̢̛̩̤͚̟̓̓̈́͋͝I̵̗̣̞̳̟͔̪̙̟̠̖̬͆͒͒́̈́̑͛͋͛̉̕̚͝E̷̻̎͋͐Ḑ̸̧̧͓̹̤̼̞̩̎͒̏͘ͅÌ̴͙̼̖̞͙̼͓̥̋̒͌̑̋̑̃̌̚͘͝E̶͔̦͓̖̜͑̿͗̅̍̎̀͠͠D̴̪̝̜̉̓̍̃̇I̵̫̪̫̲̲̫̦̤̲̼̼̐͐͑̈́̉̾̃̋̚͘Ę̶̠͍̥͇͎̼̃̽̊̂́̓̈́̆̍̃̕͝D̸̪͊̈͋̄̎̃̓̋̒͑̔͒̈́I̸̢̡̢̛̝̻̜̻̐͆́̆̐͘È̷͖̍͛̊͐́͝D̵̨̡̼͙͎͕͓̑͂̎̏́̈́̚͝͝͝I̵̳̬̳̟͈̝̱̱̰͖̾̂͌͊̐͂͂E̵̡̢̝͎̼̪̦͕̙̓͗̄̈́̐̆͝͝Ḍ̷̱̋̍̉͋̈̑̿̕I̴̡̧͓͖̤͖̮̺̰̘͔̻̦̋̊̚Ę̶̡̢͕̯͈̙̥̺̦̣͗̓̏̐͌Ḓ̸̖̮̞̘̞̙̹͒̋̅́̇̓́̋͒́̈̾́͝I̵̡̡̡̨̛̗̝̜͗̆̌̌̑̅̾̏̅͘Ȩ̴̢̯͈͓͍̠̘͓̩̀̾̿̃̂̋͆̌̕̚͝͝D̷̢̨̦͇̘̟̖͇̙̻̰̥̆̂̓̅͆̉͐̑̚͘I̶̦̦͒̊̎̓̈́͌̋̃͘̚͝E̴͓̻̮̪̪͈̞̻̤̬̗̘͉͓̱͛̋̀̆̑̿̿̉̚̕Ḑ̸̛̛̩̗͍͓̃͗̽̉̌̀̆̋̾͗̑̈́͜ͅĬ̶̢̖͈͖̮̼͙͎͍̻̮͉É̶̞̙̳̭̺͚̥̲̙͙͆̐̊̿̄̋̎͊D̶̰̣̺̿͌͗́̈̈́̀̓̾͐͠͝I̶̘̭̭̼̗̝̼͚̤̬̲̾͐̈́͒̆͛̓̈̂͘ͅȨ̴̧̜͍̖̳͎̲̲̤̜͈͓͎̞̏̽̑̽͊̌̊͛̈͘͝Ḋ̵̨̧̹̙͉͉̹̖̬̫͙̗̊͑͒̀̈͆̇͌̈́̅ͅÍ̶̢̲̦̏́̅̆͠Ẽ̷̝͕͍̤͕͙͙̲̥̫͕̩͔̾̋̾͝D̵͔̝̲͖̘̱̻̝̔I̴̛̭̖̎͗͂̍̄̀́̐͛̐͝Ĕ̸͈͇̯̳̏̋̄̀̊̔͐͒̌̕͠͝D̷̜͚̯͆̾͗̈́͛͑̄̈́͠I̷̺͎̜͓̱͑͝E̴̜͂̓Ď̷̢̛͍̫̖̞̩͉̬̻̯̩͆͐̑̀͌͌̑͌̀̅̋͗͘ͅǏ̷̱E̵̢͖͖̟̲͌͂̈́͝D̶̡̠̦̥̞͉̤̠͆̀̽͆̔̊I̴̧̧̮̱̠͍̲̬͙̺͉͓͒̌̑ͅͅȨ̴̯̬̜́Ḑ̷͎̞̣̫͔̙͎̪͉͉̒̑̓̔͌͌̈́͒̐̀͐̿͠I̴̛͎̭͕̖͕̱̟̞͇̖̥̼͊̒̉̉͒̌̍̾̃͆͛̂̾̕Ḙ̴̡͇͇͈̦͎̠͗̑̄̀͌́̒̃̑̔̕D̵͈̮̖̭͖̩̭̦͉̦̠̜̍͋͂Į̷̯̳̟̲̌̃̐͌́̓́̅͛̔̏̚̕͝Ḛ̵̯͑̿̋̊̇̂̀͆̃͊̾́̅̉͘D̵̙͙̠͉̺̘̗̙̣͉͖͇̰͐̊̅͋̈́̐̃I̵̧̤̮̻̣̭͚̝͕̲̹͎̜̞͂̐͋̋́̈́̀͗͂̀͌̍͆̉̚ͅE̴̫̗̠͙̗̅̓́̓͂͜͠͠D̸̢̨̨̝̮̜̬̣͓̥̹̤͍̒́̑͐̉͒͆͆͝͠Ḭ̵̧̪̞̮͈̭̌̊̽̍̐̿̈́͐̄E̷̩͍̰͐̈͊̾͛͛̏̈́̆̍͘͝D̶̹̩̥̳͓̙̰̣̆̒̌̆͋̒͜͜I̸̟͕̝̭̝̜̳̙͐́̈͒̕̕͜Ȩ̴̛̟̼̘̟̺̼͓̎͊̓̿͘͜͝ͅD̷̡̤̲̦̝͚̲̝͈̎̔͜͜͠ͅI̶͖͓̦̍͆̓͐̊͌̅͌̿͂͋͝E̴̠̬̦̜͓̮̥̲̗̎̇̿͘ͅD̸̡̦̳̬̖̙̊̃̍̿͒̈́͊̄͛̈́̆̈́̅̌͘I̸͍̯͍̪̣̩͌̈́̾̀̎̃̌͒̉͜͠Ȩ̶̨̨̮̗̼̭͎̦̤͖̫̜͂ͅD̸̨̛͉̤͒̌̊̑̕I̴͓̗̜͂̔̍̾̈́̋͝ͅE̶͓̜̊̍̆̚Ḍ̸̡͈̠̺͓̪̬̺̖̖̉̉̑̓̋͛͑͜͠͝ͅͅĮ̷̡̡̢̛̛͇͔̟̙̞̖͕͎͍̩̠̍̐̌̓́̌̕͝Ȩ̷͎͙̪͖͆̑̆̈́͐̏̈̿̏̍͌̎̎̂̚D̴̛̼̾̆̓̚͘Í̸͈͉̣̺͉̪̩͋͒͂͆̌́̒͐͘͠Ḛ̴̡̻̖̬̻̫͉͂̇͂̌̒̈́̈̉̕̕͜͝Ḑ̵̢̞̮͖̃̄̒̈́̏̌̾͘̚͜İ̶̧̛͖͖̫̯̖̱̮͖͍̹̫̪͌̄̍͘E̷̺̣̬̤̰̹̪̮͂̋Ḑ̸̧̡̛̙͓̞̬̳̖̞̭̳̎̓́́̒̈́͊̆̏̅̔̏ͅI̸͓̠͙͙̬͖̫̙̹̫͉̲̝̯̿̓̎̑͋̇͌̌̄̀̈̽̕͝ͅẺ̶̖̳̪͇͓̮͍̘̑́̿͂̿̀͘͝ͅͅD̶̨̡̛͓̱̞͉͇͈̘͔̝̹͍̮̝̿͐͒̔̀̚Į̷̛̳̪̲̭̽́͊̇̑͑̓͘͜͠Ë̷̛̙̰͚̞̜̮͔͎͈̗͔͈̙̼́͒́͑̀̒̌̔̆̔̚͝ͅD̴̯͔̑̈́͌̅̔̔̏̊͐͊̽̃͊͑͘Į̵͓̙̞̬̜̼̦͇̯͉͓̮̈́̄̉̂̈̈́̓͆̚͝Ę̴̭̟̥̱̣̣̮̘̤̠̈́̓̄̽͗̃̓͒̓̈́͘̕͜͝D̴̡̬̤̠͉̪͓̱̮̦̗̏͊ͅI̵̢͔͙̥͓̲̥̞̰̣̠͈͍͇͒͜Ȩ̸̝̱̄͗̆͌̋̐̽́̽̚͘͝͝ͅD̶̨̘̫̪̥̹͉̝̞̰͊̉̔̈͐͌͋̍̾̚͝Ī̷̧̳͚̼͎̯͈̤͚̯̩̺̫̯͇̌̄̉̅̅̿͑̂͐Ȩ̸͇̯͖͍̱̬̻͖̗͇̭̕D̵̡̥͓̗͔̗͉̼̈́̌͛̾̆̀̋͂͊̅͘͝͝Ḯ̷̢͕̩̥͒͋͗̾͊̊́͂͘͠Ē̴̩̭̟̬̮̜̪̹̮̜͂̎̀̍̋̉̊̑͐̍̂̓͝D̴̲̘̖̻̯̩̖̃̒͂͒̾̊͂̽͘I̸͚͛̈́̏̆̍̋́̑͋̕̚͝ͅE̸͕̙̞̤͑͑̿̅̂́̑́̓̿̈́̒͐͝ͅD̶̨̛͖̩͇̩̦̝͖̱͚͐́̎̆̑̈́̐I̵̩͕̓͆͌͌̎͑̿̃́̚͠E̸̳̗͑̈́Ḏ̷͋̊̌̀I̸̬̳͎̥̮̫͖̟̓̏͋̈̌̾̈ͅȨ̴̳̤̖̊͆͛͊͒̕͜͠Ḑ̸̩͇̗̗̃I̶̻̘̅̇͋̊̕͠͝E̶̢̛͇͔̣̫̫̫̹͕͕̭͓̒͜Ḑ̸̛͉͍̫̼̥̠̾̈́͗̉̃ͅI̷̧̙͚̐̋͒͗̿̍͛̔̾̀̀͘Ě̸̡͇̺̲̞͚̺̜͆D̷̡̛̝͖̺̜̖̠͐̅̿̐͂͐̑ͅI̵̹̗͇̺̗̳̳̺͈͖̭̩̮͒͜ͅĘ̶͓͇̚͝D̷̡̺̣̳̮͊̊̿͌͗̆͐͆̆Ȉ̵̤̞̭̖̯̻̦̜̱̗̘͚̪̆̿̋̈́̏̃̀̂͐̕͝͠E̸̛̞̩̝̯̞̮̝̰̥͎͎̅͊̅̓̑̎̓͛̒̂̏̅̀͘Ḑ̴̎̀̂̑͌̈́͂͑̕Ḯ̶̧̹̻̗̙͎̤̫͖͊̎̿͗̎͛̄̀̄͗̄͜E̴̥̠̲̦̱̱̼̺̪̠͓̰̖͌̐̐̏̾̄̋̂̄͑̈́̚͝͠D̴̹̱̟͖̜͓̮̰͊͝ͅḮ̷̡̥͔̝͙̜̝̱̹͖Ĕ̷̛͙̰̝̙̭̻̽̌̓̄͌̒̕͠D̶̛̩̲͎̦͚͍͍͗́̎́̂̕͘Î̷̼̬̒̾͐̐̆̋̔̌͛̉͘͝E̵̛͇̩͕̬̲̼͚͐͌̏̇̀̕͘D̵̨̪̗̿̓͆͆́͑̏͆́̍Ĩ̵͍͔̫̤̎̈́̿͂̇̅͌͋͆̀̀͝Ȇ̵̛̛̻̪͙̺͚̥̘̞̳̼̩̍͗͋͒̄̚̚Ď̷̢̲̬̞̣̰̪̯̌̏̆̾̍̀͋̄͌̕͠͠Į̶̧̡̩̠̳͚͔̝̦̦͔͎̈́̐ͅͅÈ̴̛̙̰̫͍͖̝̭̓̏͆̎͂D̵̢̡̛͙̟͉̬̥͉̲͉̠̱̻̃͐̎͊̎̂̽̇̑́̕͝͝I̷̧͇͇͔̣̻̙̠̳̾̌͠ͅE̵̮̤̖̥̲͈̟͇͋̍̄́͝ͅD̴̢́̀̄̑̅̑͗͊̈́̾̋̿̀͘Į̵͎̅̐̉̅̒̾͋̑̇̒͗͗̓̈́̚Ę̵̘̬̰̣̘̳̱̯̱̈́͒́̽̇̓̉̚̚ͅͅD̸̙̰̪̗̭͍́̎̂̈́͌̆͝ͅI̵̡̥͙̓̏͑̏Ȩ̴̳̩͖̱͇̗̻̉́͐͗͊̿̊̔͠

The girl quickly grabbed the nearest pillow, stuffed her face into it and screamed. "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" She wailed as the night went on.


(Shinjuku, New Moon Apartment Complex)

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Yumi groaned as she was woken up by someone knocking on her door.

And that snapped her awake as well, because she didn't remember going to sleep. She must've crashed as soon as she got home.

Which was strengthened by the fact that she was on the floor.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

"I-I'm coming." Yumi responded as she picked herself up from the ground, smoothed out any wrinkles in her clothes and cleaned up her hair before answering the door. "Hello?" She yawned.

"Yumi. It has been a while" A familiar voice greeted.

The light grey haired girl jumped as she immediately recognized it. "M-Murakumo-san?" Yumi got out, surprised to see her oni masked wearing friend. "Oh that's right, you were coming next." She soon recalled before bowing. "My apologies." She then got out.

"It's okay. I'm sure you're extremely busy." Murakumo replied. "You are in charge of taking care of both Kosei and your information network after all." She then added.

"As well as some other obligations." Yumi muttered out as she let the girl in.

"So, how is your mission going?" Murakumo soon asked.

"Not much has changed when Yozakura-san came over." Yumi responded. "I'm still working on that lead but it is taking a while. I don't know when I'll produce a result." She then admitted.

"And the Phantom Thieves?" Murakumo continued questioning.

"According to my network, they performed some minor changes of heart afterwards." Yumi answered. "Other than that they've been quiet since Kaneshiro's calling card was sent. They're still trying to get that logo washed off but they lack the funding." She then added and informed.

"To think that would just appear overnight..." Murakumo soon stated.

"Yes. It makes them seem like a force of nature, does it not?" Yumi replied with a nod and questioned.

"...Or a shinobi." Murakumo soon suggested in a serious tone.

"...That is a possibility." Yumi got out as she forced down her emotions. "Do not worry about them. I'm keeping my ear close to the ground and you guys will be the first to know." She then assured before frowning a little. "How is Ojii-sama? I haven't talked to him in quite a while." She soon asked in concern.

"Kurokage-sama is doing well. He just caught something before I left." Murakumo revealed. "Although, I'm sure he's worried sick about you given what's happening." She then added.

That in turn caused Yumi to sigh in relief. "That is good to hear. I'll need to call him some time soon." She got out.

"Why are you so relieved? He's strong. He won't drop dead just yet." Murakumo however stated and reminded.

"D-Don't say that." Yumi stammered out. "I'm just getting paranoid over not being there when you need me." She then confessed.

"Yumi, we all know your mission to bring an end to the mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns is more important and could bring an end to the way of the shinobi if used the wrong way." Murakumo soon stated. "...There has to be some way to shorten just saying mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns. Becoming too much of a mouthful." She then muttered.

"The incidents, then." Yumi replied. "And I know how important it is. But I still care about you all back home." She soon informed. "If I'm not there and something happens..." She then muttered once more in concern.

"We'll do fine." Murakumo however assured. "You need to trust us. Even Minori has been picking up the slack since you left." She then added and revealed.

"Really now." Yumi got out with a smile after learning this.

"Yes. She's actually the next person after me." Murakumo answered with a nod.

"Are these visits going to rotate back to Yozakura-san?" Yumi soon requested.

"No. It's our only chance to see you in-person." Murakumo responded.

"Given the escalating situation here, I understand they don't want to risk more shinobi than necessary." Yumi replied with a nod. "Still, I always feel a little lonely whenever I come back to my apartment. No one there to greet me or...anything..." She then informed.

"Well, at least you have your friends like Akira." Murakumo responded.

"O-Oh, you met Akira-san?" Yumi soon asked.

"Mm, he seems like a nice boy." Murakumo confessed. "He's good at making coffee as well." She then added.

"Ah, you got coffee from Leblanc as well." Yumi soon guessed with a smile. "That cafe has a really nice atmosphere. Even though it does have a rather strange menu." She then confessed with a smile.

"I did smell coffee and curry...and a little bit of seaweed..." Murakumo then admitted.

"Ah, it must've been the seaweed used for their sushi." Yumi soon informed.

"So the cafe serves coffee, curry and sushi..." Murakumo listed off as she thought about it. "...Well, I guess there's a niche for everything." She then admitted.

"It makes for a good location for a get-together. I just wish I could visit more often with my other friends." Yumi replied and admitted.

"How many friends do you have?" Murakumo soon asked in a curious manner.

"Eight." Yumi answered before letting out a smile. "I have a suggestion. Do you want to join me and my friends at the fireworks festival tomorrow? It'll be fun and I'll introduce you to them." She soon offered.

"Um...I'll think about it." Murakumo hesitantly responded.

"Hm? How come?" Yumi hummed out and asked in concern and confusion.

"Well...I need-" Murakumo started, however...

CRACK!

"WAH!" Murakumo exclaimed as she tried to put her mask back together. "Wh-Whyhasntthegluesetyetyouresupposedtobetheonethatsetsinliketwominuteswhydidyoubetraymeeeeeee...!" She quickly stammered out.


(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)

"Man, I really need to label these." Akira muttered as he held up two bottles of glue. "I can't tell the difference between the fabric glue and the super glue..." He then grumbled before realizing something. "Wait..." He soon got out just as...

CRASH!

"...And that's what you get for not buying screws to repair your shelf." Morgana deadpanned...only to blush when he noticed the panties. "...Um, Joker, I think Murakumo left something!" He then called out.

"Huh?" Akira got out in confusion...right before slipping on said panties. "Oh shit!" He yelped.

CRASH!


(Shinjuku, New Moon Apartment Complex)

"...Ah, your mask broke." Yumi soon realised.

"Ahhh...Ineedtobuymoremasksbuttheonlyonesthatsellthesetypesarebackhomeattheschoolstoreand-" Murakumo quickly got out in a nonunderstandable babble before it transformed into incoherent crying.

"Breathe Murakumo-san!" Yumi immediately ordered in a authorical manner.

THUD!

"...Or knock yourself out from panicking. I guess that works too." Yumi mumbled as she slapped her forehead. "I think it would be best if she stayed inside..." She soon stated as she lifted the unconscious girl up to carry her back to the hotel. It was then she noticed something. "...Why aren't you wearing panties?" She then sighed out.


(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)

"You found yours yet, Sis?" Homura called out from the living room.

"I'm putting it on right now, just give me a second!" Asuka replied from the bedroom as her roommate heard the rustling of clothes.

"Well I'll just be watching TV while you do! Just say when you need my help!" Homura responded before focusing back on the game show...just after a fat guy belly-flopped into the water and made a tidal wave like splash as a result. "Oooh...that looked kinda painful...I bet I can win that." She then got out in a confident manner.

"Homu-nee, do you mind making an announcement?" Asuka soon asked.

"An announcement?" Homura repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Come on, this is training for my runway show." Asuka explained, sounding excited.

"Oh um...I don't know anything about that but I'll try." Homura awkwardly responded as she cleared her throat. "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants." She soon informed in a well mannered tone.

"F-Flight attendants?" Asuka whispered in confusion.

"Now coming down the aisle is the rising model, Asuka Shirokage. Please do not trip her." Homura soon instructed.

"U-Um, okay." Asuka got out as she walked out of the bedroom.

She was wearing an emerald green yukata with a brown obi. On her yukata were patterns of frog feet.

"An airplane announcement?" Asuka giggled out.

"You said an announcement." Homura pointed out with a witty smirk.

"...Maybe you could get a job as one." Asuka soon suggested.

"And constantly travel without you?" Homura however asked. "Plus...I don't think hospitality is in the cards...or airplanes for that matter..." She awkwardly added before coughing. "Wow, that's your yukata, Sis?" She soon got out in awe as her roommate modelled it for her.

"Yeah. It's a little tight around the chest though..." Asuka replied as she pulled on it a little.

"Better than being too loose like Yumi-senpai's Shinobi Tenshin kimono." Homura jokingly got out. "...Not that I'm complaining, I love the one I have for my training with her." She then soon stated.

"I love that one too, but I also love your new one." Asuka happily confessed with a smile.

"Do you think it's leaning too much into my whole crimson and fire thing?" Homura then asked in a concerned manner.

"No, it fits and suits you perfectly." Asuka reassured with a smile. "Besides, mine is green and covered in frog tracks. I can't really criticize you on that." She sheepishly reminded while rubbing the back of her head.

"...You think I should get something with a snake too?"

"Hmm, I don't think snakes really suit you, Homu-nee." Asuka soon confessed before thinking about it. "You're more fiery and majestic like a dragon." She then revealed.

"Eh, I'm pretty sure Katsuragi has that covered. Don't want to steal her thunder." Homura replied with a shrug. "Besides, everyone on my team uses different species of snakes and I'm not ruining that unity." She then added. "...Even though mine's a Japanese Rat Snake..." She soon mumbled to herself.

Asuka however pouted in response as she began imagining her roommate riding a European dragon completely made of fire. "But it would be so cool..." She mumbled out.

"Just let me have my own opinions, Sis." Homura sighed out as she playfully rubbed her roommate's head.

BZZT! BZZT!

And with that, they pulled out their phones.

[Shut7heFUp: Alright, the fireworks festival is tomorrow! Everyone remembers when and where, right?]

[SushiRoll23: 5 PM flat in Shibuya.]

[Sweetkat06: Hey, Makoto. Are you going to wear a yukata?]

[Road2Queen: I'm planning on it.]

[All4Painting: Yukatas are a great part of the summer tradition...They truly heighten a woman's beauty.]

[All4Painting: I think I will wear mine as well.]

[Shut7heFUp: You've got one, Yusuke? How about you, Akira?]

[TheWildJ0ker: Never even owned one.]

(...)

[Negative8Degrees: So you are coming in your normal clothes.]

[TheWildJ0ker: You seem disappointed, Yumi.]

[Sweetkat06: Hey, I know! Why don't you come without your glasses?]

[FireGirl20: What's the point in that?]

[Sweetkat06: I dunno, you don't get to see fireworks every day, so it'd be sad just wearing normal clothes! Mix up your style a little!]

[Road2Queen: I was just thinking he might want to go for a change of pace.]

[Shut7heFUp: That sounds great! You should totally come without glasses!}

[TheWildJ0ker: And leaving my glasses behind would...?]

[FireGirl20: Come on, Akira. We all know you don't need them.]

[SushiRoll23: Yeah! Show your true self for one night.]

[TheWildJ0ker: This has to be the oddest yet lowest effort request I've received...]

[TheWildJ0ker: Fine, I'll do it.]

[TheWildJ0ker: But only for that night.]

[Negative8Degrees: It would be better if you just scowl less...]

[TheWildJ0ker: Not a lot of reasons to. Sorry.]

[Shut7heFUp: Welp, you guys better not be late tomorrow!]

"So should I ask what you were imagining exactly?" Homura soon asked.

"...You rode on a dragon into battle that was completely on fire..." Asuka answered.

"...Chinese or European?" Homura then asked in a curious manner.

"European." Asuka revealed.

"...Damn that sounds badass..." Homura had to admit in a mutter while imagining it herself as the two headed for bed for the night.

"Goodness Food's stock suddenly plunged, and general unease has spread throughout the market. Since the arson at its affiliate Hareruya, Goodness Food has been desperate to restore its image. With the vice president, who was called in as a trump card, now dead, the company is panicking. Goodness Food's rivals in the restaurant industry, however, are taking advantage of its slump." The news on the TV soon informed and revealed.

"Man, a lot of food companies have been getting hit lately..." Homura muttered. "At this point, one of them is gonna end up on top with a monopoly..." She then added as she turned it off.

"You think it's another Black Mask incident?" Asuka soon asked.

"Probably. But why target a food company?" Homura soon questioned. "I mean, I did go on missions for one once or twice but Black Mask is still targeting random people." She then revealed and pointed out.

"Hmm..." Asuka hummed out as she thought about it. "Ngh...It's still too early for us to really know..." She groaned out before a yawn escaped her lips.

"And it's too late for us to deal with it today." Homura soon reminded. "Let's head to bed, and get up bright and early for the festival." She then instructed.

"I hope I don't get covered in other people's sweat again..." Asuka groaned as they two headed for the bedroom.


(7/18, Daytime)

(Big Bang Burger)

Akira let out a sigh as he entered the fast food restaurant.

"Ah, Captain Kurusu, welcome back." The cashier greeted with the usual Big Bang Burger Smile™. "Do you want another Galaxy Burger?" She soon asked.

"No, no! Not today. I just want something normal." Akira replied with a slight blush. "I'll have uhhhhhhhhh..." He started as he tried to figure out what to get.

"Take your time Captain." The cashier got out.

"...uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Akira continued to drone as he looked at the menu. "...Eh, I'll go all-out. Big Bang Burger, Saturn Fries, Venus Salad and a TaP Soda." He soon decided.

"Coming right up! That will be 1,080 yen altogether." The employee informed.

"Chump change...from literal chump Shadows." Akira thought with a smirk as he handed over the money.

"Would you like us to deliver to your table?" The employee soon asked.

"Sure." Akira replied as he went over to sit down. After a quick check of his bag, he saw that Morgana was sleeping inside it. "I guess you're planning to stay up a little later..." He then muttered.

After playing some games on his phone, his food arrived. It was...quite weird that a burger that wasn't made out of an entire cow was delivered to his table along with the fries, salad and soda.

The Leader soon thanked the cashier before mumbling Itadakimasu and taking a bite. "So this is a normal burger from here..." Akira muttered as he smacked his lips together.

"Akira-kun?" A familiar voice called out in a curious manner.

That got the Leader's attention as he saw a familiar blonde. "Hey Haruka-chan." Akira greeted with a smile as he offered to allow her to sit in the same booth.

The blonde in turn sat herself down as she smiled. "Fufufufu~ You look handsome without your glasses..." Haruka giggled out.

"Huh? Oh, right..." Akira got out as he touched his face just as his food arrived.

"You got yourself contacts?"

"Glasses are fake." Akira casually informed.

"Oh, clever~" Haruka praised as she stole a few of his fries.

"Hey! Hands off the fries, Haruka-chan." Akira chuckled out in amusement.

"Sorry, just a little something before my food arrives." Haruka replied with another giggle.

"Well, at least have some of my salad." Akira then offered

"...Are you implying I'm fat?" Haruka questioned as she narrowed her eyes.

"Hey, I'm not suicidal, just offering." Akira replied as he brought his fork up.

"...Well, you're lucky. I wanted a double serving." Haruka soon stated as she grabbed the fork.

"Don't eat all of it." Akira got out as he rolled his eyes. "And you could've bought two salads." He then pointed out.

"But then I wouldn't have an excuse to come here and eat some of your food." Haruka cheekily replied as she ate a bit of his salad.

"Here's your order miss." The employee soon informed as she placed the blonde's food on the table.

"Thank you ma'am." Haruka replied with a smile as she looked at her burger, fried, salad and small soda and...

"What's this?" Akira suddenly asked as he noticed the other drink with whipped cream and a cherry on it with two straws in it.

"Complementary couple's milkshake! Enjoy!" The employee revealed with a smile before walking off.

"That's not on the menu." Akira stated with a blush before turning his head towards the also blushing girl.

"...D-Don't look at me Akira-kun." Haruka got out as she blinked a couple of times and shook her head.

"...Well, may as well take advantage of it." Akira soon decided with a shrug.

"A-Are you sure?" Haruka mumbled out, her face still scarlet.

"It's a free milkshake, Haruka-chan. And I am not wasting such an opportunity." Akira responded with a smile before taking a sip. "God, this is so much better than the aojiru..." He then admitted.

"Oh, you've had one of those too?" Haruka got out in a curious manner.

"Every. Sunday." Akira soon stated.

"That must get quite expensive." Haruka admitted in a concerned manner.

"I have a few jobs." Akira casually replied. "I'm surprised you get the aojirus too." He then admitted.

"The Beauty Aojiru makes my skin smoother." Haruka confessed as she rubbed her cheek before eating some of her fries.

"Mine too." Akira chuckled out. "It also tastes like lipstick and skin cream. By the way, are you going to see the fireworks tonight?" He soon asked.

"No. Far too busy today. This is my break right now." Haruka replied as she shook her head. "Doctors don't exactly get holidays. Besides, it wouldn't be the same without everyone else." She then confessed.

"Too bad." Akira got out before taking a bite of his burger.

"Are you going?" Haruka soon asked.

"Yeah. Just stopping by for a bite to eat." Akira answered before frowning. "I really need to stop eating here..." He muttered.

"Is there anywhere else you eat at?" Haruka however asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The diner and the beef bowl." Akira answered. "And I have curry for breakfast every day. I have had a very weird diet this year since coming to Tokyo." He then revealed.

"It's a surprise you stay this fit." Haruka soon confessed in a more concerned manner.

"I have ways to stay healthy." Akira off-handedly replied. "Remember when I showed myself off while working out in my room?" He then teasingly reminded with a smirk.

That in turn immediately caused Haruka to blush at remembering. "A-Akira-kun..." She mumbled out in a flustered manner.

"And that's what makes you seem more adorable." Akira chuckled out.

Haruka's head immediately glowed red in response. "Please stop...you're gonna make me melt..." She mumbled out while covering her face with her hands.

"Hehe, never experienced this huh?" Akira chuckled out.

"Not before meeting you." Haruka soon confessed. "Turning my own weaponry against me. Such a dirty fighter." She then informed and confessed.

"Hey, if you don't fight dirty it's not a real fight." Akira soon informed. "And trust me, I'm pretty dirty." He then warned.

"I'm...I'm sure you are." Haruka mumbled out. "Is your idea of fun making girls red?" She soon asked.

"Well, red is my favorite color..." Akira soon revealed. "Ah, sorry, just making some jokes and all. I know you enjoy it when I talk like this." He then apologized and explained

"I can see that." Haruka mumbled. "Just let me enjoy my food in peace..." She then requested.

"Alright." Akira responded as they both ate their food. About thirty minutes later, they had cleared their trays and finished the milkshake, now simply sipping on their drinks.

"Well, my break is almost over. I need to leave." Haruka replied as she then went and kissed the boy's cheek. "Enjoy the festival." She got out with a wink.

"I hope so." Akira replied as he rubbed the cheek with a smile. After Haruka left, Akira stayed inside for a bit to let the food digest before getting up from his seat, bringing his drink along with him since there was plenty left.

However, just as he was at the door, it was opened for him by yet another shinobi he knew.

"Akira-san." The greenette greeted.

"Hikage-san." Akira replied. "Am I a shinobi magnet or are these girls secretly stalking me?" He soon thought.

"Arf!" Poochie barked in the girl's hands.

"Hehe, Poochie." Akira chuckled out as he petted the puppy's head. "So, what are you here for?" He soon asked.

"Big Bang Burger Challenge." Hikage revealed. "Gonna finally take on the last challenge." She then explained.

"Ah, you're going after the Captain's Badge." Akira got out. "I can give you some tips if you want." He then offered.

"...What?" Hikage responded as she blinked to learning that. "...You completed it before me..." She soon stated.

"And Homura if you're wondering. We finished at the same time." Akira soon informed.

"Huh, not bad." Hikage admitted in an impressed tone. "...What does it take?" She soon asked.

"You just have to time your drinks appropriately. It's only use is to soften the burger enough so that you won't choke. Chewing is for the weak. And don't even bother lifting the burger. That just wastes time." Akira answered before narrowing his eyes. "And have you eaten today?" He then asked.

"Yes." Hikage replied with a nod.

Akira then shook his head. "Then you've already lost." He then dramatically declared.

"I do not believe that." Hikage denied.

"Well, when you're puking in the bathroom, do not say I didn't warn you." Akira replied. "Believe me when I say that I have the high ground on this." He then warned.

"You underestimate my stomach's power, Akira-san." Hikage responded before stepping inside the Big Bang Burger, only for the Leader to push her back out. "What is it now?"

"Uh, you may wanna hide Poochie. No pets inside." Akira suggested.

Hikage nodded as she allowed her puppy to go in between her breasts. "Thanks." She replied.

"Yeah. Good luck, Hikage-san. And good-bye." Akira got out before stepping to leave, only for the girl to grab his wrist.

"You're not...staying...?" Hikage responded, sounding a bit sad and disappointed to that.

"I really can't. I'm meeting with some friends tonight." Akira explained in an apologetic manner. "Hey, um...afterwards, after you clean yourself up...you wanna join me and friends?" He soon offered.

"I can't. I'm leaving at the end of the day and this is the last thing I want to do before I leave." Hikage declined. "Hebijo has their own fireworks festival anyways." She then revealed.

"Oh, but it feels like you just got here Hikage-san." Akira got out, blinking to learn that.

"It does, but Suzune-sensei cut my mission short." Hikage stated in a saddened and annoyed manner.

That in turn confused the Leader. "Why?" Akira asked.

"Didn't say anything other than I have to come back soon." Hikage sighed out. "Dammit...I wish I had more time..." She then grumbled.

"Hm?" Akira hummed out.

"Don't tell Homura-san yet...but our group is planning to leave Hebijo." Hikage soon revealed.

Akira nearly choked on his drink before looking around to make sure no one was listening. "You sure?" He soon questioned in a quieter voice.

"We are. It's just that...well, we haven't talked to Yomi and Mirai about it yet." Hikage answered.

The Leader frowned. "Hikage-san..." He started in a low and dangerous tone. "You can't just make such a big decision without getting everyone's input." He then stated.

"But I got Haruka-san's." Hikage revealed.

"Haruka doesn't represent Mirai and Yomi." Akira stated. "What if they don't agree?" He then asked.

"Trust us when we say that Mirai-san would be all for it." Hikage reassured.

"You have to be 100% sure, or else it will bite you in the ass." Akira soon informed as he narrowed his eyes.

"I know, which is why I'm gonna talk with Yomi-san and Mirai-san when I get back." Hikage responded.

"...Alright, but don't assume people will agree with you, Hikage-san." Akira soon warned before he stood up. "You'll regret it later." He then added.

"I'll take that to heart." Hikage replied with a nod.

"Thank you. Now, I need to go meet my friends. I hope I see you around later." Akira got out with a nod.

"Same." Hikage agreed. "Tokyo's more fun than Hebijo." She then admitted.

"Now that we can agree on." Akira chuckled out before petting the puppy's head again. "Be a good girl, ok Poochie?" He then requested in amusement.

"Arf!" Poochie happily barked out.

Akira nodded to that with a smile before heading out of the restaurant.

Hikage meanwhile gave the faint sign of a smile and a blush as she petted her puppy's head just as her challenge arrived. "Bring it on." She declared.


(7/18, Evening)

(Shibuya, Underground Walkway)

"It's so hooooot...!" Ryuji complained as slumped down.

"I feel like I'm being baked..." Morgana groaned.

"You had that exact same complaint yesterday." Akira pointed out. "It's about as warm too." He then added.

"So where are the girls?" Ryuji asked as he looked around.

"They said they were getting together at Lady Asuka and Lady Homura's place first to get their yukatas on." Morgana informed.

"I still don't know where they live and how far and or close they are to...anywhere in Shibuya." Ryuji muttered out.

"It must be taking time for them to put on the yukata." Yusuke assumed as he looked around. "Why aren't you two wearing one?" He soon asked.

"I don't got clothes like yukata. But man, you look way too normal in that." Ryuji replied and noted.

"People often say that to me." Yusuke admitted, causing the three boys to let out noises of understanding.

"Ah, by the way...The exams..." Ryuji began in a somewhat nervous manner.

"I bet you got a big fat F on them." Morgana assumed with a chuckle.

"Shuddup! W-We don't know that yet!" Ryuji struggled out.

"That stutter gave you away." Akira instantly pointed out. "Did the school give you a call about it?" He then guessed.

"Erm..." Ryuji awkwardly got out.

Morgana soon narrowed his eyes. "Ryuji...if you got summer school..." He groaned.

"I did not!" Ryuji denied.

"Then why are you so nervous about it?" Yusuke questioned.

"Because I think Prez is gonna kill me over my score..." Ryuji finally admitted with a sigh.

"She would not." Akira replied. "Homura and/or Yumi on the other hand..." He awkwardly added.

"Do not joke about that!" Ryuji got out in a panic.

It was right then two lovely ladies in pink yukatas approached them. "Are you going to the fireworks festival?" One of the girls soon asked.

"That's right." Yusuke responded with a nod.

"Us too! Wanna go together?" The one in the more flowery yukata offered as she wrapped herself around Yusuke's arm.

"A-Are we...getting hit on!?" Ryuji got out in disbelief, not noticing they were staring mostly at Akira and Yusuke.

"C'mon, let's go together." The one in the more pink yukata got out as she approached Akira.

"Do you happen to be a model? You look great in that yukata." The girl in the flowery yukata assumed.

"Waitin' around's a pain, so can we just go with these chicks?" Ryuji suggested.

The Leader however shook his head as he stepped away from the girl coming onto him. "No." Akira asserted as he narrowed his eyes. "We aren't ditching the girls for people we just met. Come on, I thought you were better than this." He then chided.

"Gack!" Ryuji choked out. "I-I didn't mean anything like that, but-" He then started.

"That's enough." Yusuke snapped, shocking everyone there. "You're disgracing your yukata. You should be more aware of your womanhood." He then called out. The girls scoffed before walking away from them.

"What the effin'-!? Where the hell did that come from!?" Ryuji exclaimed. "Dammit, how could you...?" He then whined.

He soon noticed Akira and Yusuke stepping away from him. Ryuji was confused for a second before looking behind him to see a very unamused group of female thieves.

"Why don't you go after them then?" Ann got out through gritted teeth.

"So those are the kinds of girls you like Ryuji." Makoto softly remarked.

"We were only a few minutes late, Ryuji-kun..." Asuka got out in a saddened manner.

"Uh, well...That's..." Ryuji tried to explain himself before giving up and groaning. "Sorry..." He then apologized.

"Please stop using your other head to think, next time..." Yumi got out as she shook her head.

"Seriously Ryuji." Homura sighed out in disapproval. "They weren't even hitting on you..." She then added.

"What!?" Ryuji exclaimed.

"And you just noticed now..." Akira muttered with a raised eyebrow.

"You know, Yusuke's such a pretty boy, but he is really missing out because of what he says." Ann then pointed out.

"I guess, but he's more likable since he stays true to his ideals. Definitely more than somebody I know." Makoto soon stated, subtly leaking out killing intent.

"I heard that Ryuji pretty much failed his exams." Morgana soon revealed with obvious smugness in his voice.

"Mona, why you little-" Ryuji began, however...

"But...the results aren't even out yet." Homura pointed out.

"Yeah, at least give Ryuji-kun the benefit of the doubt." Asuka called out, causing Morgana to look a little guilty.

"Thank you." Ryuji got out with a sigh of relief. "You all look really nice in your yukatas, ya know? Talk about Japanese beauty..." He then complimented.

"Aw...thanks, Ryuji-kun." Asuka replied as twirled around in her yukata. The Vice Leader's yukata was green in color with various frog prints and flowers on it while her yellow obi had a cute frog on it.

"You totally could have shown up in your thief outfit." Akira stated.

"A-Akira-kun..." Asuka mumbled out as she blushed. "I do kinda want a copy of mine in the real world someday..." She then admitted.

"Maybe for Halloween." Yusuke suggested. "And I must say you look especially exquisite tonight, Ann." He then complimented.

"Thank you, Yusuke." Ann replied with a smile. "...But I'm still not modelling for you." She then informed in a deadpan tone.

"Ack!" Yusuke winced.

"Fiery." Akira complimented as he looked at the tan skinned girl's yukata.

Homura in turn smirked at the comment. "Thanks, Ann helped me pick it out." She revealed and gave a twirl to show it off. "And for pretty cheap too. The obi was a bitch to tie though..." She then awkwardly revealed.

"Because you spent five minutes trying to tie it by yourself." Makoto deadpanned.

"And I almost got it too!" Homura grumbled before puffing out her cheeks. "At least you look lovely in yours, Makoto-senpai." She then complimented with a grin.

"And you as well." Makoto replied as she smiled as well.

"Uh Yumi, why are you in your Shinobi outfit?" Ryuji questioned with a raised eyebrow. The light grey haired girl had come in with a white and pale blue yukata that was decorated with snowflakes.

"I believe you are mistaken, this isn't my Shinobi Tenshin attire." Yumi corrected in a whisper. "This is actually a yukata my grandfather gave me before I left home. It just happens to look similar." She soon explained as she twirled around.

Akira meanwhile smiled at this as he looked at the Kosei Student Council President. "Your grandfather has good taste, Yumi." He admitted.

"Yeah, and it actually fits instead of barely hanging off your shoulders." Homura quipped out in a teasing manner.

Yumi in response blushed to that. "H-Homura-san..." She got out in slight embarrassment.

"Come on, let's stop ogling the girls. The show should be starting soon. Let's go before it gets too crowded." Akira spoke up as he began heading up the stairs.

The rest of the group nodded as they followed their Leader upstairs.


(Shibuya, Scramble Crossing)

"Smile!" Ann suddenly got out before taking a photo. "Hah! I could be a camerawoman if I wanted to." She then declared.

"Huh, we should take some photos while we're here, huh..." Asuka muttered as they made their way to the surface.

BOOM! CRACKLE!

"Oh...it's already started." Yumi got out as she saw the fireworks explode in the sky.

"There has to be a better view than from back here..." Homura muttered before spotting a clear area a few feet away. "Ah, over there! Move!" She soon grunted.

"Don't shove." Akira warned as they made their way there.

"Hey, watch it!"

"Don't touch me!"

"Ah! Pervert!"

"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry..." Asuka apologized.

DRIP!

"Huh?" Ann suddenly got out as she touched her cheek. It was wet.

"Ah!" Asuka yelped as more water droplets hit her face before looking towards the sky. "Huh? It's...raining?" She soon noticed.

"Why now..." Makoto sighed.

"Eh, a little light rain won't ruin the show." Homura got out with a shrug.

And she was right...as the light rain quickly became a downpour...with added thunder and lightning.

CRACK!

And almost instantly, people were getting soaked. "We need to find cover. Now!" Yumi soon instructed.

"Too many...people...!" Yusuke grunted as they shoved around as people tried to go down into the station. Eventually, the Thieves managed to escape into the street and rush under the cover of a nearby convenience store, giving them the chance to dry themselves.

"I should've checked the weather report today...we could've at least got an umbrella..." Asuka groaned as she tried to dry her yukata's sleeves.

"I think some of it got in my ear..." Akira got out as he tried to force it out.

"Why today, god-fucking-dammit..." Homura grumbled as she dried her hair with a minor fire jutsu as a faint crimson red glow coated her body.

The others meanwhile looked on to see their tan skinned friend was already dried off, impressed and somewhat jealous as she looked as though she never got wet in the first place. Although, the steam coming off of her kinda ruined it. "What I wouldn't give to be able to do that in the real world..." Ann grumbled as she wrung out the water in her yukata, revealing her shapely legs.

"Ann..." Makoto spoke up.

"Yeah?" Ann got out with a raised eyebrow before turning to the boys, who were suspiciously looking away with smiles on their faces. "Come on!" She then complained.

"Looks like you need help..." Ryuji sheepishly got out before the ash blonde grabbed his top.

"Then why don't you go buy me a towel already, huh!?" Ann soon demanded.

"Stop staring, ya jerks!" Homura called out, unintentionally causing her breasts to bounce. It was right there they realised that the shinobi's nipples were starting to show through their yukata.

"Brr! Now it's cold..." Asuka mumbled in disappointment while slightly shivering.

"Oh, just perfect! This day just can't get any better!" Homura sarcastically got out as she rolled her eyes.

Just then, a public announcement was made. "Due to the sudden change in weather, a heavy rain and flood warning has been issued nearby. Since the festival cannot proceed in this weather, we truly apologize for cancelling today's fireworks show." It soon informed.

"Aw, what!? Come ON!" Homura shouted out before putting her head in her hands.

"I wanted to see the fireworks..." Asuka sadly sighed out in disappointment.

"How unfortunate..." Yumi mumbled.

Just then, they spotted a fluffy auburn haired girl with a pink yukata heading into a limo with men and women in suits guarding her. Akira couldn't help but notice the large cup size of the women.

"Look at that effin' thing..." Ryuji got out, noticing a limousine with heavy metal plating just across the street. "So fancy, like it's built for war...you'd think they're prepared for a class uprising or somethin'. " He then remarked.

"Hm? Oh! Haru-chan!" Asuka called out. However, due to the rain and the sounds of people complaining and leaving, the fluffy-haired girl never heard her as she left in the well-armored limo. "Wait, why was she in..." She then started in confusion.

This meanwhile caught the others attention as they looked at the Vice Leader. "You know her?" Akira soon asked.

"Yeah. At school." Asuka replied with a nod.

"We can't stay here. Let's go inside." Yumi sighed. The others nodded to that before heading into a nearby convenience store.


(Shibuya, Convenience Store)

When the Thieves entered the store, they soon realised it was packed. People were either talking and buying something before they headed home.

"Ack...We're just tryin' to get outta the rain, but look how crowded this place is..." Ryuji stated.

"I guess everyone had the same idea..." Ann assumed before seeing the Shujin Student Council President thinking. "Hey, what's wrong?" She soon asked.

"Asuka-san, you said her name was Haru, right?" Makoto soon asked in confirmation.

"Hai." Asuka answered as she nodded. "Do you know her as well, Makoto-chan? I mean, she does attend Shujin. I think she's a third year too." She then informed.

"Not really. I've seen her around but we're barely in the same classes. And then after school she just disappears." Makoto replied. "I don't know, I feel like I should be remembering something about her." She then admitted.

"Hmm." Yumi hummed out in a curious manner.

"Well, she's got a ride..." Ryuji pointed out. "Time to show your skills, Mona! We need you as a car!"

"It's not possible in the real world!" Morgana called.

"We could travel through Mementos..." Akira began before shaking his head.

"My feet hurt...It's cold...The festival's been canceled...This sucks..." Ann complained.

"It could be worse. We could all be stripped down to our underwear thanks to beavers summoned by the enemy." Yumi comforted the girl. "And not even that sometimes." She then added.

"That sounds like the tone of experience..." Asuka got out with a wince.

"We made such a commotion with the public, and this is what we get? A rain on our parade." Ryuji groaned. "Laaame. Aren't heroes that lurk in the shadows boring?"

"I prefer we'd stay in the shadows, Ryuji." Yumi admitted as she crossed her arms.

"What are you, moss!? I wanna change the world with a loud bang, like a huge firework!" Ryuji however ranted.

"Fireworks also don't last long after it's set off. What we need is fire. Big and bright that can guide the world into a better path." Homura advised in a calm manner, although the angered expression betrayed what she truly felt. "And we need to add more fuel to the fire, not blow it up." She then added.

"You really are a gyromaniac." Ryuji said before shaking his head.

"Pyromaniac." Morgana automatically corrected.

"...I guess you're right though. But we aren't gonna find someone bigger than Kaneshiro that easily." Ryuji relented.

"Burn too bright, and the fire dies out." Akira stated. "Let's not fall into that."

"The rain is letting up. Though it's regrettable, we should go our separate ways for today." Yusuke suggested.

"Yeah. Let's go home." Morgana agreed. This entire festival was a wash for them.

"I think I'll buy something before I go..." Asuka muttered.

It was right then Homura snapped. "Hell! No!" She soon interrupted.

"Homura, quiet down." Makoto got out as people began to stare at them.

"No! No no no, we can't just end this here. I am not having today ruined because of a little fucking rain!" Homura raged while stomping her foot. "I wanna wear my new yukata doing something fun and dammit, I will! Even if I have to make our own fun!" She then declared with determination and a fire in her eyes.

"What, you think we can make our own fireworks?" Akira mumbled out in a sarcastic manner.

"...Maybe we can." Homura replied with a rebellious smirk on her face.

The light gray haired girl noticed the expression on the tan skinned girl's face and sweatdropped. "Homura-san, what are you planning exactly?" Yumi however asked in concern and curiosity.

"To horribly abuse our powers and equipment. Come on, I think we can lift everyone's moods if we put a little work in it." Homura replied in a confident manner.

"Eh?" Asuka got out in confusion.

"Come on guys, we're heading to our apartment rooftop." Homura soon declared.

"What? Why? What are we doing?" Ryuji asked as the rest of the Thieves began to look confused.

"Having fun." Homura vaguely replied with a grin.


(Shin Megami Apartment Complex, Rooftop)

"Come on and move it! We gotta do this while the night is still young!" Homura encouraged while the other shinobi girls carried heavy boxes with them.

"Are we even allowed up here?" Makoto asked in concern as she carefully went up the steps.

"Probably not, but has that ever stopped us?" Homura casually replied.

"...She raises a good point." Akira admitted as the tan skinned girl pointed the door to the rooftop. As expected, the rain hadn't lightened up at all. Actually, it seemed like it got heavier...

"Perfect!" Homura declared.

"Not perfect! You didn't even give us umbrellas!" Ryuji called out before crossing his arms. "This better be worth it." He then grumbled.

"Oh, it will." Homura assured before turning to her roommate. "Sis! Give us the stage!" She soon ordered.

Asuka in turn grinned and nodded. "Shinobi Kekkai!" She called out as the group vanished.


(Asuka's Shinobi Kekkai)

Akira blinked as stared up at the sky. Barely anything changed, except that there was a lot less rain.

"Alright, it looks just like the skyline with less stupid rain clouds." Homura got out as she pumped her fist while the rest of the Thieves stepped onto the now dry rooftop. "Yumi, ready?" She soon asked.

"Hai." Yumi replied with a smile as the two shinobi girls set down the boxes.

The Leader meanwhile blinked and raised an eyebrow as he began to realize what was going on. "Ooooh, I get it, clever." Akira got out with a smirk as the shinobi opened the boxes to reveal various fireworks.

"What the!? Where'd you get those!?' Ryuji got out in disbelief, however he was subsequently ignored as the tan skinned girl grabbed a handheld one.

"Everyone stand back!" Homura warned before aiming the tube at the sky. "And...FIRE!" She then announced as she lit the fuse.

BOOM! CRACKLE!

"HOLY SHIT, THAT'S EFFIN' CLOSE!" Ryuji exclaimed as he stumbled back. The firework had appeared as 退却 (Retreat).

"Homu-nee did warn you to stand back." Asuka chided as she and the light grey haired girl stepped forward.

"There we go! Now let's start the show!" Homura declared as she and the other shinobi girls pulled out more fireworks. "FIRE!" She soon ordered.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

And with that, they fired, causing explosions of red and white to appear in the sky.

"Hehehe...Our own, private fireworks show..." Akira chuckled out as the rest of the Thieves stared in awe.

"WOO!" Homura hollered.

"Where did you get these!?" Makoto however exclaimed in disbelief.

"Just some modified shinobi signals and some stolen from the cancelled show." Homura casually informed as she set up the next few.

"Excuse me?" Makoto got out in a dumbfounded manner. "You stole fireworks!? But what about-"

"Shush." Homura however hushed, placing her finger to her best friend's lips to silence her. "Just enjoy the show Makoto-senpai." She soon requested with a grin as she then removed her fingers.

"But-" Makoto began, however...

BOOM! CRACKLE!

Makoto didn't get to finish as the next firework took the shape of 幻 (Phantom). "I'm...just gonna accept it." She soon decided with a smile and a look of awe on her face.

"Thank you. Hey, which one do you want next?" Homura replied and asked.

"Um...the right one." Makoto responded in anticipation.

"Hehehe...you have good taste. FIRE!" Homura giggled and ordered

BOOM! CRACKLE!

"Excellent!" Yusuke praised as the firework turned into a 怪盗 (Phantom thief).

"Hey, I wanna try!" Ann got out in excitement.

"Um...are you sure? You might get yourself blown up if you aren't careful." Homura warned.

"I'm standby." Morgana spoke up as he summoned Zorro to his side.

"Thanks, Mona! And...FIRE!" Ann called out as lit the firework.

BOOM! CRACKLE!

"Yeah!" Ann cheered as her firework took the shape of パンサー (Panther).

"Wait, we're in a Kekkai. We can make our own fireworks too!" Akira realised as he let out a smirk. "Well, you guys did want me to dress up a little. Kaito Change!" He declared as he snapped his fingers.

FWOOSH!

"Arsene!" Joker commanded, ripping off his mask and bringing out his Persona that started it all for them. "Let's give everyone the show they deserve!" He soon declared with confidence.

"Hahahaha! Then it will be one to remember!" Arsene declared before flaring out his wings.

"A show by Joker now." Morgana got out.

"Because of course he would do something like this." Yusuke admitted with a smirk of amusement.

"Keep up the fireworks ladies!" Joker called out as Arsene helped him go high into the air.

"Got it!" Homura replied as the three shinobi girls kept going with launching fireworks.

"Um...he's going into the direct line of fire..." Makoto noticed. "You might want to hold off..." She then began, however...

"But he did say to keep firing..." Asuka pointed out as they launched another firework.

"Asuka-chan!" Ann exclaimed as the Leader began to drop from the sky.

However Joker smirked as he twisted his body around in midair, moving out of the way of the fireworks and barely flinching as they exploded behind him. "WOO!" He cheered out.

"See! He's enjoying it." Homura called out with a smile.

"That's because he's crazy like all of you." Ryuji reminded.

"All of us." Homura corrected. "You can't be a Phantom Thief without being a little crazy." She then pointed out, causing the others minus the shinobi girls to sweatdrop.

"Jack Frost!" Joker began, summoning out the ice Persona.

"Yay! Jack Frost!" Asuka got out in a giddy manner.

"Heehoo! Princess!" Jack Frost meanwhile called out.

"Later Jack Frost." Joker ordered. "Mabufula!" He commanded.

"Hee...HOOOO!" Jack Frost called out as he casted the spell.

CRACKLE!

The others gasped as the spell took the form of Jack Frost's face before a gunshot shattered it, turning it into snowflakes that floated down.

"A wonderful display!" Yusuke praised before he started thinking. "I wonder if I can perform something similar." He then muttered.

"Do it in your own time." Ryuji deadpanned as he continued to watch.

"Finish it off. Arsene!" Joker ordered as he switched Personas.

"Of course." Arsene responded while laughing maniacally as the two swung around, leaving behind trails of energy, drawing something into the sky.

"Oh, I know what he's doing!" Homura soon declared in excitement. "Hold your fire until I say so!" She then ordered.

"Hai!" Asuka replied in excitement.

"There! Time for the finale!" Joker declared as he flashed a thumbs-up.

"And...FIRE!" Homura ordered as they fired their fireworks.

And right after, the Leader landed back on the rooftop, rolling into a smooth walk. "And...adieu." Joker finished with another snap of his fingers and a smirk on his face.

BOOM!

"YEAH! LOOKING COOL, JOKER!" Morgana cheered as the Phantom Thieves logo remained in the air as more fireworks went off behind it, while the Leader bowed with a bright smile on his face.

And so, the Phantom Thieves made their own fireworks show, lasting until they ran out of energy and went home.


(Hebijo Academy)

In a dark room...with only a small candle providing light...a woman with short white hair sat with her legs crossed, meditating.

On her lap, there was a simple piece of paper. It was long and had many technical terms but the only thing that mattered was what it meant.

Miyabi was fit for duty.

"Hey, you missed the fireworks, Miyabi." Imu got out as she entered the room.

Miyabi opened one of her eyes before letting out a sigh. "You better have a good reason for interrupting me, Imu." She then ordered in a serious tone.

"Sorry, but...I'm worried about you." Imu admitted. "You're not ready for this." She then confessed.

"You saw me during the exam." Miyabi countered. "I wrecked all of them. I'm ready." She then reminded.

"But they weren't Elites. They were the rank-and-file. Cannon fodder, if I may be blunt." Imu pointed out.

"It's fine. I'll be fine." Miyabi assured her dearest friend. "This mission will be over before you know it." She then stated.

"But taking on a mission so soon? You're still recovering from...what happened. You just stopped using crutches." Imu soon asked in concern.

"I'm sure Imu. I need to get back out there and prove I'm still a shinobi." Miyabi replied in a determined manner. "A three year coma won't stop me from fulfilling my duty." She then declared in a serious tone.

"Yes but...whatever is happening in Tokyo, you might not be able to deal with it. I mean, these Phantom Thieves could be dangerous. You've seen what they can do." Imu then reminded.

"Don't worry, they're as good as dead when I find them. But first I have to make contact with one of our own who has been living there for the past few months." Miyabi responded. "I've been sent to support this Homura girl in her investigation. Her lack of progress is starting to concern the higher-ups. At least, that's what Suzune-sensei told me." She then stated in a serious tone.

"Do you think those Thieves got to her?" Imu soon asked.

"I don't know. All I know is that something is happening there, and Homura is either bad at her job or she's hiding something." Miyabi replied as she frowned while taking out her black blade katana. "And I intend to find out why." She soon declared as she struck at a nearby candle.

SHINK!

Immediately, the wax candle was sliced in half, bathing the room in darkness like nature intended.

"...You could've just blown on it and saved the candle for later." Imu sighed out.

Miyabi however pinched her nose. "I'm going to go pack." She got out as she left the room.

Imu groaned as she went to her knees. "Dammit...this isn't happening..." She then muttered in denial.

"What are you worried about?" Suzune soon questioned, walking out from the shadows.

The glasses-wearing girl soon glared at the teacher. "Why are you sending Miyabi on this mission, Suzune-sensei?" Imu demanded.

"I understand your concerns, but this mission shouldn't involve any serious fights. It's simple information gathering." Suzune explained. "Besides, it wasn't my call. It was our biggest contributor to the Academy." She then revealed.

"Dōgen..." Imu spat the name out, as if it was dirt. And even then she could still feel the aftertaste in her mouth.

"Yes. However...I have a feeling she needs this..." Suzune admitted. "Now get back to work. If I see another speck of dust, it'll be another 300 hours."

"Y-Yes, sensei!" Imu squeaked in a nervous manner before running off.

Meanwhile, as soon as the girl left, Rin let out a breath. Just her luck that this order came in. It was true that the higher ups were becoming impatient. Two years (looking like three at this rate) was just too long. With the death of the Shinkukage clan, every shinobi in Japan was on edge. They could be the next target and whoever discovered the source of this power would effectively win the war.

Soon enough, things might reach a boiling point and get desperate enough to forgo avoiding Tokyo to attack the problem head-on...starting with the Phantom Thieves.

Although...she had a feeling that it wasn't all luck.

"After all...fate isn't left to chance." Run simply stated as she walked off, hiding a small smile.

She would let fate determine who Miyabi would become in Tokyo.


(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)

Soon enough, the two roommates entered their apartment and locked the door behind them.

"I wish we could've taken photos..." Homura soon confessed.

"No photo could ever replace the memories." Asuka stated as she hugged her roommate from behind. "You are so amazing, Homu-nee."

"Y-You're just saying that." Homura stammered out with a blush on her face. "However, now we'll need to wash our yukatas." She then sheepishly added.

"Oh yeah..." Asuka got out as she looked down. Their clothes were covered in soot and dirt. "...Bath bombs?" She soon asked.

"You know it." Homura responded as she high-fived her roommate before stripping down and heading to the bathroom.

Asuka meanwhile smiled as she became giddy to her roommate holding the item. "Drop it!" She got out in excitement.

Homura in turn grinned as she dropped and the two entered the tub immediately.

PLOP! FIZZZZ!

"Aaaaaaaah~" The two girls moaned in bliss.

"Oooooh this is bliss~" Asuka sighed out in relief.

"Mmm~ The bubbles always feel sooooo gooood~" Homura mumbled in agreement.

"Yep~" Asuka breathed out. "I can't believe we turned a bad day into a good one...~" She then added.

"I won't let even gods themselves ruin today...~" Homura replied as she looked up. "You hear that! You can't stop the Phantom Thieves, asshole!" She then declared as she shook her fist at the ceiling.

Asuka simply giggled at that. "A little disrespectful, don't you think? You might get struck by lightning..." She then advised in a joking manner.

"In the bath." Homura giggled out. "But I'm not exactly feeling forgiving for people in higher powers right now." She then confessed.

"True. Me neither." Asuka agreed before frowning. "Well...most." She then mumbled.

"Yeah..." Homura sighed out. "I know most adults and big shots aren't terrible people but we keep running into people who are abusing their power." She then reminded.

"It's sort of what we get for being Phantom Thieves." Asuka pointed out. "They deserve no less than lifetime sentences and regrets, but I still believe we can change this world for the better, no matter how bad it gets there's always a bright side." She then declared.

"...I really wish I had your wisdom earlier..." Homura sighed out her confession.

"I'm not all that wise, I just believe." Asuka got out with a shrug before handing over some shampoo.

A few minutes later, the two roommates left the bathroom clean and a little shiny while steam came off their bodies. "Aaaaaahhhh...Nothing like a good bath to end the day." Asuka breathed out.

"I'm not tired though...and hungry..." Homura admitted before shrugging. "I'll go make dinner. You go ahead and relax. We'll head to bed after." She soon offered.

"Hai." Asuka responded as she sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. The show quickly caught both roommate's attention when they saw the Phantom Thieves' logo on it.

"...These are the details of the message posted on the infamous hacker group Medjed's website." The TV reporter informed.

"Ugh, lame. Changing the channel." Homura scoffed as she went for the remote, only for Asuka to move it away from her.

"Hold on..." Asuka got as she leaned forward.

"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." The TV reporter read out as a screenshot of the website was shown.

"What...?" Asuka breathed out in shock.

"Oh no..." Homura groaned.

"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." The TV reporter continued.

"Hammer of...what? But we're taking down bad people! Why are they going against us!?" Asuka however exclaimed.

"Hmm..." Homura hummed out as she narrowed her eyes.

"We are Medjed. We are unseen. We will eliminate evil." The TV reporter concluded before turning to his guest. "Akechi-san, why do you think this announcement was made at this time?" He soon asked, causing the roommates to groan.

"Are you on TV every damn day?" Homura grumbled. "I'm surprised you get any real detective work done." She then added.

"I don't know the details, but there is no doubt that they were provoked by the Phantom Thieves." Akechi assumed.

"We didn't even know who they were until now!" Asuka however declared.

"But they probably have a grudge against us...or they're scared..." Homura guessed.

"Whether it's a sense of rivalry or a simple attention grab given the recent trends, I cannot say...Regardless, it's quite a nuisance." Akechi then stated.

"A nuisance?" the news reporter repeated.

"Both Medjed and the Phantom Thieves are nothing more than groups that uphold an egoistic justice." Akechi explained. "It's possible that more people like them will continue to appear thanks to their recent fame. In that respect, the Phantom Thieves face a very serious crime." He then added.

"Egotistic...?" Homura growled as her eye twitched. Yup, she was really hating that detective now.

"Serious crime...?" Asuka repeated in confusion. "We...Do they know who we are!?" She then got out in a panicked manner.

"Other than Mishima, Shiho and that doctor Akira's making us go to? No, not really..." Homura mumbled out with a frown. "And we are being careful when we talk about Phantom crap. It's probably an empty threat but we can't exactly ignore it..." She then advised.

"Well, we gotta see if the others know about this." Asuka soon stated.

BZZT! BZZT!

"I think they do." Homura replied as they tossed their phones to each other.

[Shut7heFUp: We gotta talk about Medjed.]

[Sweetkat06: You mean those guys people online are going nuts over? The Phan-site is having a field day over them.]

[All4Painting: I know that name. It is an obscure god from the Egyptian Book of the Dead: the Greenfield Papyrus. However, since it was exhibited in the Mori Art Museum four years ago, it's become part of popular culture here.]

[TheWildJ0ker: Yusuke, we're not talking about the meme.]

[SushiRoll23: Huh? What?]

[SushiRoll23: No, we mean the hacker group that called us out.]

[Road2Queen: I saw the news too. For some reason they think we speak of false justice...]

[Negative8Degrees: What do they mean by that? We've taken down genuinely bad people. I don't see how it can be misconstrued as such...]

[All4Painting: Now then, what exactly did you want to speak of regarding Medjed?]

[Shut7heFUp: Wellllll, why don't we go after them as our next target?]

[Negative8Degrees: You're quick to suggest that, Ryuji-san.]

[Shut7heFUp: I mean they're like, bad hackers or something, right?]

[Road2Queen: Technically, they're crackers. Those who use the internet to illegally access and alter data. Medjed is an organized group of such people recognized by the larger international community.]

[FireGirl20: Same difference. They're still using computers to mess with people.]

[All4Painting: So they operate on a global scale?]

[Sweetkat06: That makes them even bigger than Kaneshiro!]

[Shut7heFUp: Right!? Then it's settled. Our next target's gonna be Medjed.]

[Shut7heFUp: I wonder if the Nav'll get a hit if we put Medjed in...]

[Sweetkat06: Ooh! Could that work?]

[TheWildJ0ker: Stop it. Both of you. Think about it for a second.]

[Shut7heFUp: What?]

[TheWildJ0ker: It wouldn't work.]

[Road2Queen: Akira is right. That name has to be a pseudonym. And that's assuming that Medjed is one person and not a group as they claim. We don't even know how many people Medjed is.]

[Shut7heFUp: Oh...]

[Shut7heFUp: Wouldn't we get at least one member's info if we try and look into it though?]

[Negative8Degrees: I doubt it. Crackers make sure to cover their tracks and remain anonymous. Their only defense is their anonymity.]

[All4Painting: Even if we did, how would we discover their location? The only confirmed presence of Medjed has been online.]

[FireGirl20: Not to mention that they are an INTERNATIONAL hacker group. And Morgana can't become a private jet.]

[Neagtive8Degrees: There's also the fact that we would be facing at least a dozen Palaces. If all of them have one.]

[SushiRoll23: That sounds like it'll take more time than we have on earth...]

[All4Painting: This is a greater problem than simply finding their keywords. Unless you have any more ideas, Ryuji?]

(...)

(...)

(...)

[Sweetkat06: Hellooo?]

[All4Painting: ...It seems he had suggested this without putting much thought into it.]

[FireGirl20: Goddammit, Ryuji...]

[Shut7heFUp: C'mon, we can't back down now! People are all excited about it! Our reputation's gonna plummet if we don't face this shit.]

[All4Painting: That is true. If we remain silent, people would believe we simply chose to run away from the matter.]

[Negative8Degrees: Medjed has taunted us publicly, after all...]

[SushiRoll23: We'll probably be called shams...We'd lose all the support we've worked so hard for!]

[All4Painting: And if they are criminals, we cannot just let them be.]

[Sweetkat06: Yeah.]

[FireGirl20: And we don't have any other targets right now.]

[SushiRoll23: I guess we have no choice.]

[Negative8Degrees: We'll need a more effective way to fight back against them though. We'll need information.]

[TheWildJ0ker: Mishima did tell me a rumor was going around about a group ready to declare war on the Thieves this morning.]

[TheWildJ0ker: I guess that's them. I'm gonna go talk to him tomorrow.]

[FireGirl20: WHAT WHY DIDNT YOU SAY ANYTHINGE ABOTU IT EAR LlANFAIR PWLLGWYNGYLL GOGERY CHWYRN DROBWLL LLAN TYSILIO GOGO GOCH]

[SushiRoll23: Slow down Homu-nee.]

[SushiRoll23: I'll join you, Akira-kun.]

[Shut7heFUp: Me too. Let's get this investigation underway tomorrow!]

[Shut7heFUp: Also, Makoto. Try and see if your sister has any info on 'em.]

[Road2Queen: It's highly unlikely, but sure.]

[Negative8Degrees: I'll put my informants to work on it as well. We'll need every advantage we can scrape together.]

[TheWildJ0ker: This is gonna be a tough one, everyone. Get ready for hell.]

"Oh boy, what are we getting into...?" Homura groaned as she set her phone down.

"We're going after an international hacker group..." Asuka soon answered as she plugged her phone in. "Let's hope they're based in Japan..." She then added as she looked out the window.

"I kind of doubt it." Homura replied with a shrug. "If we target someone from another country, then the international police would get involved and that's a whole other thing entirely." She then pointed out.

"Not to mention we'll heighten our threat level to shinobi..." Asuka added with a frown. "But I think things will work out somehow." She then assured with a smile.

"We shouldn't get over confident though." Homura stated. "We're going after bigger and bigger targets. Eventually we're gonna hit a wall like with Kaneshiro with no one to bail us out. We can't rely on chance anymore." She then got out.

"I know but we can do this!" Asuka soon declared. "They'll fall just like Kamoshida, Madarame, Kaneshiro and all the guys we took down in Mementos! We just have to believe and be smart!" She added.

"...I hope you're right, Sis. Because I have a bad feeling about this..." Homura muttered before looking out the window and up towards the raining sky.


(Hotel Kusatori)

"Whew!" Murakumo breathed as she slung her towel over her shoulders, tastefully covering her boobs. "Now that was a nice bath..." She added in satisfaction before going into her luggage to grab some underwear.

"🎵"

Suddenly, her laptop started playing Scythian Suite. Someone was calling her.

"Hm, Shiki's requesting a video chat." Murakumo started as she looked at her phone. "It's a wonder how I'm getting wi-fi several feet underground." She mumbled as she started the call.

"Murakumo-chii! Did you hear-" Shiki began the call only to pause. It seemed she was using her phone vertically to call her and not only that, she and bluette were in yukatas. Much more appropriate clothing than just a towel and a mask. "Did you just get out of the shower?" She guessed while blinking.

"Bath." Murakumo simply corrected.

"Please put on underwear before you answer video chats." Yozakura soon asked.

"No time! Did you hear the news!?" Shiki exclaimed.

"Yes. People at Kusatori are already talking about it. Medjed, some sort of hacker group, is now targeting the Phantom Thieves." Murakumo responded with a nod. "Do you have any idea who they are?" She soon asked, although it was more towards Shiki. She was the most internet-savvy out of all of them.

"Uh, yeah! They've been getting pretty big over the past couple of years!" Shiki revealed. "Their biggest crime was destroying a company from the inside out. They even doxxed the CEO. They found him a week later dead in his car." She then informed.

"So they're serious..." Murakumo simplified. "What did the CEO and his company do?" She then questioned.

"Dealt with spyware, adware, CP...even some rumors of plans to create a psycho A.I like the Terminator movies or something of the sorts." Shiki answered.

"CP...?" Murakumo repeated.

"Cheese pizza." Yozakura sighed out.

"Oh." Murakumo replied. "...Wait, why cheese pizza?" She soon asked.

"He steals his ingredients from the garbage of pizza restaurants for his online only pizzaria." Yozakura replied.

"Ah." Murakumo got out in understanding. "Good riddance I guess..." She then added.

"Doesn't this seem too fast though?" Yozakura suddenly asked.

"What do you mean, Yozakura?" Murakumo requested.

"I mean, Kaneshiro just confessed his sins and now an international hacker group just happens to go after them?" Yozakura soon explained and pointed out.

"..." Murakumo was soon deep in thought as she did think about it. "True. It does seem too convenient." She then admitted.

"Or they're taking advantage of the Phantom Thieves' rising fame." Shiki soon pointed out her suggestion. "If they take down the Phantom Thieves, they'll be even more infamous. All that justice stuff is probably bull, they're just after the glory. It probably isn't from out of the blue, you know." She then added.

"True as well." Murakumo responded with a nod. "Why are we even talking about this? It's not like we can do anything about it. We should just let the Phantom Thieves themselves worry about it." She then questioned and stated.

"...Oh. Right." Shiki awkwardly responded.

"Did you just call me to gossip about the Phantom Thieves?" Murakumo soon assumed with a flat expression underneath her mask.

"...Uh..." Shiki got out as Yozakura palmed her face and shook her head. "N-No, we just wanted to know how Yumi-chii is doing too." She soon assured.

"She's fine. Nothing has changed from when Yozakura visited her." Murakumo answered curtly. "Anything else?" She soon asked, losing her patience by the minute.

"Um...did you buy something for us yet?"

"Good night Shiki." Murakumo deadpanned before ending the call.


(7/19, Midnight)

(Yongen-Jaya, Sojiro Sakura's House)

Help.

She needed help.

She couldn't handle it anymore.

These flashes...these voices...

They were getting worse and louder and w̷̙̭̰̩̦̜̿̽́̔̎͐̊͊̉̅͛̉̀̐̚͠o̶̡͓̲̯̘̖̮̮͉̣̝̝̱͊͋ư̵̢̩͖̪̮̇͛̄́̒̋̈͂̓͂̓͛̈́͠ļ̸̬̖͍̺̩͙͓͔͚͔̩͇͎̍͐̑̄̑̎͋͐́͐̍̕͘̕d̴̢͚̫͙̳̯̯̠̪̹̗̲̓̔̽͂̈́̈̍͛́̈͊̑̔͝͝͠ͅͅn̴̡̬͚̻̲̔̏́̀̍̕̕͝ͅ'̷̤̥̾̔̃̋̌̇̈̊̇͆͘̚t̴̛̲̞̱̙̟̺̱̙͛́̑̑͐̂͘̕ͅ ̷̨̡̧̬̙̝͖̰̣̘̭̫̥̫̲̗̔̐͒̓͊͋̏̉̊̄͋̕̕̚͠͝i̶̦̘̖̲̣̫͙̩̓͋̓̀͐̆̇͜t̴̫̝̥̺̲͙̲̱̰̓̊̎́͊͐͘͘ͅ ̴̢̢̣̻̙̖̝̲̥̺̪̤̫͗̉ḃ̸̨̧̛͓͚̭̰̯̹͍̞͙̇̒̓͗̎́͑̌̉̀͑̚̕e̴̝̜̤͕͖͎̮͖͇̓̒̆̈́͒̑̓͘̕ ̷̢͚̞̥̜͈̳̘͉̱̗͇̹̄̅̿͂͜ͅg̸̨̨̟̬̩̤̦͖̃̓̎̃̽̆̌͂͗̅͜͝r̵̢̡̨̢̖͙͉̦͓̖͍̘͓̎̌̀͂̀̔͒͒̄̚e̷̢̘͉̮̝̪̲͌̊͗̌̈͠a̵͙̘̩͒͊̽͒́̚̚͝͝ț̴̢̛̳͎̼̯̝͋́̇̊̀̑̊̕̚͜ ̴̨̖̼̹̯̦̪͇̈̃̓̽̈͊̓͌̓͜͝t̴̼͉̲̩̞̿̃̊̽͌́̈́̃̈́͋͛̈́̕̕ǒ̸͖̤͍͓̰̖̓̈̈́́̐̚ ̶̨̳̤̼̦̹̪̱̺̝͙̬͖̓̋̄̂̐̍͗͊̔͋͘͜ͅa̶̛͚̪͙̰͔͓͕̳͓͔̯͈̟͔̯̍̎͗̓̅͛̚͝p̶͓̋o̸̧̲͕̣̤͎̘͈̤͈̘̿̒͐͊̐̃́̎̍̃̚͝l̶̢̜̝͈͚̭̲͍̞̠̫͔̗͚͘͜͜ö̵̙́͂́̉͌̃̉̽̈́g̷̡̭͈͗͂̾͆͆̋i̷͉̲̭̪͓͑͂͛͒̅̚ͅż̶̬̠ȩ̷̥̳̳͔̤̖̦̂ͅ ̸̞̺̘̬̗͈̳̮̩͙́̀̔t̷̟̞̮̞͎̯͔̖̯̼͈͌́̄̉̿̐͒̌͒͊͜ō̶̤̤̲̇̈́̎͝ ̴̧̧̫̤̥͖͙̟͇̪̖̱̼̽̈͐̋͂̅̋͋͗́́̈́́̚m̴̦͎̠̣̙̱͔͔̭̗̪̍̿͊̋̀̽̅͆̓̆̈̕͝o̸̦̲̬̟̲̺̗̙̥̰͔͈̖̤̺͚͗̿̊̈́͂́̂̀̆̿̄͠͝t̵̡̮̖̖̉́̉̏̕h̸̛̭̏̆̂̏̍e̴͎͉͈͑̅̐̔́̀͒̋̈́͒̓̚͝͝͠ͅr̷̢̡̛͚̪͚͕̺̜̠͈͖̣̯̭͌̾̏ͅ ̵̠̩͓̞͂̍̄̄̀̓̆̃͠i̵̢͕͍̭̘̟̝̯̱̻̻̹͔̓̊̔͝n̴̢̨̻̰͚̝̭̮̘͜͝ ̴̱̦͉̥̪͙̠̜̻̈́͂͠ͅp̵̧̛͇͙̲͎̱̰͉̲̗͕͐̔͂̀̾͑̊̍̔̈́̀̌͛́ē̷̩̣̜̦̱͚͔̜̣̂́̔́́̈̋r̶̺̲̖̹͙̖͎̣̻̭̂̀̐ͅs̷̠͙͋̅͆̆̽͒̆̃̆̋̚ͅo̷̜̝̝̬̼̫͓͈̤̭̅̏̿̍͑̓̉̍͘͠ņ̴̢͙̝͖̮̥͍̳͚͎̞̟̟̈́͊̇͊̑̄͛͌͛̃̄̀̕͝ f̴̛͉̗͑̄̏͌̈́̀̉͐̄̅͝͠ơ̶̢̢̧̰͉̤͚̭̹̬̫̓͐̏̏̓͗͗̚̕ͅr̴̢̟͈͖͉͈̭̙̙̤̭̾͌̏ ̸̻̫̙́͑̉̎̒̿͒͑̋̒̚̕͝b̶̧̧͎̥͔̺͈̼̩̮̯͐͆̆̑̿e̶͕̯͎̬̦̠̠̤̗̣̦̠̝̰̞̽̍͋̿̑̀̅̏͛̀̊̇͛͝͝ì̷̛̛̛͙̦̿͒̒̋̊̔̊̓̅͠͝n̵̦̺̩͈͍͔̱͑́̓̍͒̃́̅́͠g̷̡̰̖̐͌̀̊̄̅̉̚͝ ̷̨̯͚̳̘̠̙̖͙͓̬̪̗̫̞͐͋̾͆͗̋̊̀͒̀̑̌͘s̴̘̳̬̻̻͉̝̝̰̑̀͆̈̅̔̔̈́͌̓͠͝u̶̢̧̯̭͎͈̘͓̟͕̾̋̅̆̾̕͘͝͝ͅc̴̢̼̳̺̩̗͍̈́̔̿̎͜͝h̶̛̯̋̈́̎̀͑͗̉͗̄̌̓̍͝ ̸̟̟͓͈͇̘̟̹͎͙̟̐͗̈̽̐̃͋͆͆̾͝a̸̛͈̣̼͇̻̝̤̥̭͔̞̯͛̀̋͊̋̏̿͗͗͒͑̽̅͘ ̸̛̥͎̒̀̃̋̆̈́̋͝ẃ̷͎͎͍̈́̅́̐̀̏͝ȃ̴̡͇̰͓͈̯̖̜͎̼͙̺̱̻̅͌̎͜s̴̨̨̨͓̖̰̙̘̠̣͍̈́̎̿̽͝ť̷̡̢͚͍͔̲̺̺e̷̙̜̻͖͔͍̣̠̥̘͉͛̌͌͌̅̕͜͠ͅ ̴̨̱͓̜̲̰̳̟͉̖̩̦͍̭̞̍́̀̾̎̎̅̎͌ǫ̴̨̤̼̠͓̙̺̹̩͊͐f̸̫͎̺̈́ͅ ̶̨̮̞̰̱͓̭̜̠͕̟̾͊̋͌l̵̨̘͈̟͍͖͈̥̈̍̑͑̐͌́̍̏͋͋̚i̸̧̧̮̙͕͍͕̮̺̬̫̗̲̒̈̈̓̐̒̀̿̂͂̍̔̅͘̕f̷̨̹̱͉͚͍̥̳̣͓̬̹͍͎̜̋e̵̡͇̝͈͖͍̰͕͛̔̑̈̐͐ͅ?̶̞͕̣̐̅́͜

"AAAAAHHHHHH!" The hacker screamed as she threw off her headphones and, accidentally, her glasses as well. "I-I can't take this...!" She sobbed out.

She didn't know what to do.

She didn't know if anything would work.

All except for one thing.

And she had the perfect opportunity.

So she put on her glasses, went back to her seat and pulled up some phone numbers.

"Time to return the favor...Phantom Thieves." She soon muttered with a serious tone.


Save Game...Quit!


Asuka/Yin's Social Stats:

Leadership- Dependable (Level 3)

Knowledge- Expert (Level 3)

Proficiency- Skilled (Level 3)

Diligence- Strong (Level 3)

Courage- Brave (Level 3)

Homura/Yang's Development Stats:

Maturity- Managed (Level 3)

Knowledge- Expert (Level 3)

Femininity- Tasteful (Level 3)

Elegance- Disciplined (Level 3)

Understanding- Generous (Level 3)


The Futaba arc is now in full swing...next chapter! Let's how fun fixing the trauma of a teenager will be, shall we? Also...I wrote a while back about something called Futomaki Biyori.

Has anyone...looked that up?

UknownHero signing off, my friends!