Alright, UknownHero here and welcome to another chapter of Senran Persona. Started a new fic with another partner, go check out Hearts of Heaven & Hell. I'm trying to avoid all the crap tropes that come with writing DxD fanfics like making Issei not a pervert or essentially making an OC that just has Issei's name and Boosted Gear. Maybe kill his parents to make him a tragic character or some bullshit to artificially make him more interesting.
Senran Persona: Ninjas of Hearts has a TV Tropes page! They removed the Awesome page because there weren't enough examples!
No reviews this chapter. Let's just jump straight into the goodbye!
Load Game…Start!
Chapter 90: Sayonara, Shiho Suzui
(8/4, Early Morning)
(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)
The sisters had just taken their morning bath and were getting themselves dressed.
"You're putting your new underwear on?" Asuka asked as they got dressed.
"Gotta break it in." Homura replied as she got the purple one piece on followed by her top. "Man, this feels good." She soon admitted in satisfaction while cupping one of her breasts.
"Why did you wear wraps again?" Asuka meanwhile asked.
"Used to think it was easier." Homura simply answered.
"Hm, I'm sure Daidōji-senpai still wears wraps though..." Asuka hummed out.
"...Oh jeez, I forgot she's here..." Homura groaned as she remembered the person mentioned.
"Then again, I think she's strong enough so it doesn't matter if she has to wear a bra or wraps." Asuka soon admitted.
"That strong?" Homura questioned in growing concern. Usually she would be interested in fighting someone tough, but the more she heard about her, the more she felt as though the new gym teacher was like her old sensei back at Hebijo.
And that was something even she knew not to ever mess with...especially after the 200 losses to her in sparring matches with her, 100 times with her fellow Elites and 100 times by herself.
"Wait, there was that summer sports program thing, right?" Homura suddenly remembered.
"Yup." Asuka responded with a nod. "Why do you ask?" She then asked.
"I was just wondering how it was going." Homura replied with a shrug. "Or if anyone has survived..." She then mumbled with a haunted look on her face. If she was anything like Suzune-sensei, she expected blood.
"We can always swing by Shujin to check it out." Asuka suggested. "But I'm sure Daidōji-senpai is doing things much better than that fucking piece of shit I refuse to name today." She then reassured and stated,
"True." Homura replied in agreement. "I mean, she can't be worse than him, right?" She then assumed.
(Shujin Academy, Gymnasium)
TWEEEEEEEET!
"COME ON! I DON'T SEE THOSE LEGS WORKING MAGGOTS!" Daidōji called out, wearing a white t-shirt under a black tracksuit and white sneakers. "YOU MAY HAVE YOUR SNACKS AND ORANGE JUICE LATER! THIS PROGRAM LASTS ONLY TWO HOURS SO I WANT EVERYONE TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT!" She then informed.
"YES SENSEI!" A group of male students responded in unison, almost like soldiers while enthusiastically doing pull-ups.
"AND COME ON LADIES!" The new gym teacher called out as she turned her attention to the girls. "THIS ISN'T AN ICE-CREAM SOCIAL! IF ONE OF YOU AREN'T SWEATING BY THE END OF TODAY'S SESSION, YOU WON'T GET SNACKS AND YOU'LL NEVER GET SEXY AS ME! MY BOOBS WERE FORGED IN BLOOD, SWEAT AND ENDURANCE!" Daidōji soon reminded and stated as she grasped onto her chest and jiggled them herself.
BOING!
"YES SENSEI!" A group of girls responded in a similar manner as they all jogged around the edge of the gym.
Daidōji soon smirked as she looked at her progress. "Just like the good old days." She thought to herself in a proud manner. Good thing the old tricks still work on a younger generation.
From a distance, the Disciplinary Committee members looked on at the sight with interest. "It's impressive how enthusiastic they are." Keiichiro confessed.
"I'll say, it's like an actual gym class now." Chitose admitted in agreement. "You know, it really says something about this school that there's so many here. It's like they waited for her to come back." She soon remarked.
"..." Satoshi meanwhile said nothing to this as he went over to do pull-ups as well.
"S-She's so cool..." Hitomi admitted. "J-Just like Homura-senpai..." She then added.
"I'm surprised Homura-buchou isn't even here." Naomi noted as she looked around before shrugging. "Eh, she's probably enjoying her break." She then deducted in a relaxed manner.
"Like anyone should." Ichiko remarked.
"Yeah." Daigo got out with a nod. "I heard people are talking about Shinkukage-san more in a positive manner. Think she would be surprised when the next semester starts?" He then asked.
"With the title they keep talking about, oh yeah." Ryoga replied with a nod of his own.
"Is it Dragon or Queen? I keep hearing both." Hikari soon asked, frowning as she tried to remember which one she heard first.
"Eh, I prefer Dragon. Sounds better to me." Ryoga admitted. "Besides, Queen seems more fitting for Makoto-senpai." He then added.
"Actually...it does sound about right." Chitose admitted in agreement.
"I'm just glad she's getting the respect she deserves." Naomi admitted, only to be interrupted by more screaming.
"FASTER! FASTER!" Daidōiji screamed her order. "ACTUALLY, GO SLOWER! YES! THAT'S IT! GIVE IT YOUR ALL!" She then instructed.
"YES SENSEI!" The students responded in unison.
"She's really going all out on them." Naomi admitted.
"I just hope she doesn't fall into the same temptations as Kamoshida." Emica mumbled in a nervous manner.
"EVERYONE STOP! HERE'S YOUR SNACKS!" Daidōji then announced as she pointed to a plastic table full of orange juice boxes and protein bars. "EAT AND DRINK SLOWLY! I WANT YOU TO RELAX AND RECOVER BEFORE WE MOVE ONTO THE NEXT SET OF EXERCISES BEFORE WE PLAY BADMINTON!" She then instructed and informed.
"YES SENSEI!" The students responded.
"Um...I think it's safe to say that's a no." Hikari muttered.
"She could be a little less aggressive though." Ichiko grumbled. Gym was not going to be fun when summer ends.
"They're really into it." Naomi pointed out.
"Still better than Kamoshida at least." Ryoga stated as the other members nodded.
"Too bad Sora-kun is away." Suzuka got out. He probably would've loved to be here.
"Well, he did say he was on a family vacation." Keiichiro reminded. "Probably for the best." He then added under his breath.
"The Medjed thing, right? Any updates on the Phantom Aficionado?" Emica assumed before asking.
"The Phan-site? Nope, nothing." Ryoga informed as he pulled out his phone. "You think the Phantom Thieves are on vacation too?" He soon guessed.
"I mean, they might be having some difficulty since they're a bunch of hackers going by anonymous cover names." Daigo replied and pointed out.
"Hey, they did in people like that Kaneshiro guy before. Hackers should be nothing for the Phantom Thieves." Suzuka reminded. "Heh, I bet they're picking off their members one-by-one as we speak." She then stated with confidence.
"Don't...be so hopeful." Satoshi panted as he went up to the group. "My parents are already stocking up on toilet paper." He then added.
"Or they could be pulling off something dramatic and take them all down at the last second." Naomi soon suggested.
"Well, whatever it is, they're running out of time." Emica reminded in concern.
"DID I SAY YOU COULD ONLY TAKE ONE!? TAKE MORE! WE'LL HAVE MORE TOMORROW OR ELSE SOMEONE WILL BE SPEAKING TO ME!" Daidōji ordered. Meanwhile, some fatass in his crappy apartment shivered in fear.
"My, she really knows how to motivate people." A short pink haired girl suddenly got out in an interested and amused tone.
"I think it's more like taking advantage of their lust. So shameless." Yui deadpanned with a sigh...before realizing who she was talking to. "...Wait, Momo-san, you don't even go to this school! Get out of here!" She then exclaimed her reminder before going to take the girl out.
The rest of the committee looked on in a curious manner. "Friend of Yui-chan?" Hikari guessed.
"Who knows? I barely recognise anyone other than you guys." Suzuka replied with a shrug. "...Why are we here again?" She soon asked.
"Making sure that-" Emica started, however...
"WHY ARE YOU ALL JUST STANDING THERE AND TALKING!?" Daidoji interrupted. "TEN LAPS AROUND THE GYM, NOW!" She then commanded.
"Ugh," Ichiko groaned as she rolled her eyes. "We aren't even here to-" She then began, however...
TWEEEEEEET!
"DID I SAY YOU COULD ARGUE!? EITHER START RUNNING OR LEAVE!" Daidōji however ordered once more.
Wow, somehow her voice managed to make them soil their pants without anything coming out. "Okay, okay! We're going!" Ichiko whimpered as the remaining committee members dashed off, except for the bandaged girl who limped.
"EMICA! YOU TAKE IT EASY THOUGH!" Daidōji soon ordered. "SIT AND EAT SNACKS! YOU MAY ALSO KEEP SCORE IN OUR BADMINTON GAME LATER!" She then added.
"...You're very scary." Emica mumbled, shivering.
"Oh. Ahem." Daidōji got out as she cleared her throat. "Is this better?" She soon asked.
"Thank you Daidōji-sensei." Emica responded in a grateful manner.
"No worries." Daidōji assured before narrowing her eyes. "Hm, can't you walk normally without all those bandages?" She soon questioned in concern.
"Huh?" Emica got out in a surprised manner to the attention. "E-Erm..." She then stammered out.
Daidōji however frowned before feeling the arm in the sling. "...You take it easy." She suddenly ordered once more before walking off to see the other students.
Emica only nodded in response before sipping her orange juice.
And through all of this, Tomoko deadpanned at the sight of the boys and girls essentially working themselves half to death. None of them put in this much effort in real gym class. And this was all from the new gym teacher's aggressively nice and positive yelling...and her bouncing chest.
She was half-tempted to title the article "Shujin Academy is Stupidly Horny for New Teacher."
But at least they weren't being lazy.
(8/4, Morning)
(Shinjuku, Meidaimae Station)
Ann had sent everyone the location of the station where Shiho was leaving from. Since it was in a part of town that the two roommates haven't been to before, it took a little bit for them to find it.
"I think this is the place..." Homura muttered, wearing a yellow t-shirt over a light blue jacket and a pair of short shorts. "Why couldn't Shiho's family use the station at Shibuya?" She soon asked.
"It's the only train line out of Tokyo to Inaba." Asuka informed, wearing a red t-shirt with a white open jacket and a jean skirt. "Come on, I'm sure we're late." She then added.
Homura soon let out a sigh and shook her head. "This is not going to be fun for me..." She then got out.
"Saying goodbye never is." Asuka stated as they headed into the station.
From there, they quickly found their friends waiting at the platform. They were dressed a little more nicely than they usually were. However, it became apparent who actually saw the weather report today.
"Dammit, why did I let my mom dress me up for this? Stuffy as hell..." Ryuji grumbled, sweating like a pig while tugging at his collar.
"You are way too overdressed." Ann giggled. "You look like you're going to a masquerade ball." She then noted.
"And you look like you just walked out of a fashion shoot." Asuka however jokingly pointed out with a giggle of her own.
"Hey, glad you could make it." Akira got out.
"Morning." Homura meanwhile greeted.
"Good morning, Lady Asuka, Lady Homura." Morgana soon greeted with a smile as he popped his head out of the Leader's bag.
"Hey, Morgana." Homura got out as she rubbed the not cat's head. "Are you gonna say goodbye too?" She soon asked.
"Well, she's an honorary Phantom Thief after all." Morgana replied with a smirk.
"She's only going to hear meows though..." Makoto pointed out. "Unless you changed her cognition beforehand..." She then added.
"I could quickly bring her and Morgana-chan into my Kekkai so she could properly meet him." Asuka offered.
"Good idea. Let's just hope no one sees us disappear for a second." Ann got out as she looked around. It wasn't a particularly busy day, but there were still a few people there waiting for their train.
Meanwhile, the dyed blond couldn't help but notice how the tan skinned girl was dressed. "Damn, you look good, Homura." Ryuji admitted.
"I'm not the focus here, idiot." Homura reminded with a frown. "I just needed to be presentable. And you...actually look good too. Who dressed you? Your mom?" She soon admitted and asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes." Ryuji answered automatically.
"You seem a little cranky this morning." Makoto noted. "Is something wrong?" She then asked in concern.
The tan skinned girl in turn sighed. "I'm just...uneasy still..." Homura confessed with a sigh. "I mean...I'm..." She then started before trailing off.
"Hey, it's not like any of us would've done anything better in the same situation." Akira interrupted.
"But...I still just...watched it..." Homura reminded in a guilty manner as she curled her hands into a fist. "Dammit, it's still burned into my brain...I just...if I even have a passing thought..." She then muttered.
"Don't linger on that." Akira interrupted, snapping the girl out of it. "We're always here to help."
"...Thanks." Homura soon responded. "Some scars might never heal...but at least the pain will go away." She thought as she took a deep breath.
"I don't know about that. I think the one on my butt's gone." A familiar voice spoke up. The group turned to see Shiho approaching the group from behind before setting down her luggage. "Hey, everyone." She soon greeted.
"Shiho-chan!" Asuka happily got out as she looked at the girl. "You look a lot better now." She then stated with relief.
"I'd look a lot worse if it wasn't for you." Shiho chuckled. "I still can't express how thankful I am for at least trying to save me." She then stated.
"Well...it's not every day you have someone like me around." Asuka giggled, however she quickly began to tear up and sniffle. "But...I still should've..." She began to sob and shiver.
"Asuka," Shiho interrupted as she grabbed her arms. "Over the past few months, between physical therapy and homeschooling, I've had a lot of regrets. A lot of should'ves and would'ves. But...At the end of the day you can't change what happened. I'm fine now, and I'm going somewhere better. That's all that matters now." She then stated.
"Shiho-chan..." Asuka breathed in awe. "I really hope you have fun wherever you go."
"I will. I promise." Shiho got out before getting a good look at the group. She was a little shocked that the Shujin Student Council President was here. "Hehehe...is everyone here a Phantom Thief?" She then assumed.
"We're missing a few members...but there is one more you need to meet." Akira responded before nodding at the Vice Leader.
Asukaa nodded back before doing a hand sign. "Shinobi Kekkai!"
"Whoa!" Shiho exclaimed as a wave of…weirdness rippled through the area. She then looked around and saw that everyone but the Thieves were gone. "W-Where is everyone?"
"Hello, Shiho-san." Morgana greeted in his Metaverse form.
"...The talking cat." Shiho got out with widened eyes.
"It's Morgana! And I am not a cat!" The not cat responded and declared.
"Kai!" Asuka soon put down the Kekkai, bringing everyone back to reality. "There, now you can hear him in the real world."
"Oh." Shiho responded with a nod. "...Does that mean I can understand all cats?" She soon asked.
"No." Morgana deadpanned. "I'm a little more special than that. But I'm glad we could talk like normal people before you left. I just wanted to say that...um...erm...dammit, I forgot what I was going to say!" He then got out in frustration.
"It's okay. I know what you mean. As long as you're looking out for everyone." Shiho responded as she patted him on the head. "Thank you, Morgana." She then added in a grateful manner.
"You're welcome, Shiho-san. I'll make sure Lady Ann is safe with everything we do." Morgana replied and reassured.
"Lady Ann?" Shiho repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"Just go with it." Ann spoke up with a shrug.
Shiho blinked before giggling and petting the cat one last time before turning to the unexpected addition to the Thieves in her eyes.
"Niijima-kaichou." Shiho breathed out, looking a little surprised.
"Shiho-san, I'm no longer your council president. I'd rather you call me Makoto." Makoto politely stated before giving the girl a relaxed smile. "Hehe...you know...I came here with this long speech, asking for your forgiveness. Even though the real person to blame is long gone, I still feel responsible for what you've gone through. So...here." She soon got out as she handed the girl a rectangular gift wrapped box.
"You really didn't have to give me anything." Shiho got out. "I...I actually hated you for a while..."
"I...expected that." Makoto confessed in an uncomfortable manner.
"But...after a while...and what Ann told me about what happened with you and, um...everything with the principal and the effin' mafia...I can safely say that I don't anymore." Shiho then added. "I really wished we could've gone out and gotten to know each other a little more." She soon confessed.
"I mean...we can if you ever visit...or I visit you." Makoto replied. "I've heard the grilled steak is quite good." She then informed.
"Well, you better treat me to some then." Shiho giggled before looking at the gift. "What is in here anyways...?" She then wondered as she opened it.
"I didn't know what to give you, other than weapons, so I simply asked someone working at the store what I should get. So, I bought that." Makoto explained as the former Shujin student stared at her gift.
"...It's...not a gun, is it?" Shiho soon asked in concern.
"No." Makoto assured. "It's a Buchimaru-branded massage wand. Perfect for back pain. I even charged it for you." She then happily informed.
Meanwhile, the other Thieves stared in disbelief at the gift...except for the Vice Leader, who smiled happily at such a kind gift. "...M-Makoto-" Ann began with a pink blush, only for the Leader to put a hand on her shoulder and shake his head.
"Don't." Akira ordered. "It'll ruin the moment." He then added.
"Wow! That's so nice! I wish I had one..." Asuka spoke up.
"Buchimaru?" Homura meanwhile thought, resisting the urge to coo at the sight of the panda. She would have to talk to her best friend later about it.
"I...I...love...it...?" Shiho awkwardly responded. "Thank you?" She then added.
"You're welcome. Tokyo will be losing an amazing person. I know you were forced to grow strong, but that does diminish what you've done." Makoto replied.
"...I'm going to miss you, Makoto-kaichou." Shiho simply stated before going over to the overdressed blond. "Ryuji." She soon started.
"Hey, Shiho." Ryuji got out, not exactly looking at Shiho in the eyes,"Erm...yeah. Look, I'm not really too good with goodbyes..." He awkwardly confessed.
"I know you are." Shiho got out in an assuring tone. "You know...I never did believe you were really a bad guy, but...I never really tried to talk to you either." She then admitted in a guilty tone.
"It's okay." Ryuji got out as he glanced back at his friends. "Things are a ton better now." He then added.
"I know. So let's keep this short." Shiho decided before giving the dyed blond a hug, which he returned.
"Thanks." Ryuji breathed in relief as he patted Shiho's back. "I'm gonna miss ya, Shiho."
"You too, Ryuji." The former Shujin student replied before letting go.
And then...she turned to Homura, who tried to sink into the shadows but she knew she couldn't escape.
For a while, the two stared at each other with no words between them. The former Shujin student was the only one brave enough to speak. "You look nice." Shiho simply got out.
"Thank you." Homura replied.
Shiho stared at the tan skinned girl, who could only look away, before moving onto the next person.
However...the tan skinned girl knew that it just couldn't end like this. "Listen Shiho...I'm...sorry about-" Homura started, however...
"Stop." Shiho interrupted, glaring at the girl. "I know what you were trying to do, and I've already said that I wouldn't be much better...but no amount of anything would make me forgive you. Even years down the line, I'd punch you in the face if I could." She then growled, her hands twitching at her taser in her pocket.
"..." Homura's expression soon became one filled with guilt, though she expected to hear something along those lines.
However, suddenly, Shiho pulled the tan skinned girl into a hug, surprising the girl. "But...at the very least...I can accept you being friends with Ann." She soon revealed.
"W-What?" Homura got out in shock to hear that. "I-I mean...Ann will always be a dear friend to me. I've been doing a lot of work and...I don't wanna be that person that left you there that day." She then revealed and confessed.
"I hope. Ann is my best friend, so you better not give me any reason to come back here." Shiho threatened before letting out a calming breath. "But hey...that was all just me today. Who knows what will happen in the future. But for now, we are only acquaintances at best."
"I...I can accept that." Homura got out. "If I ever visit Inaba...let's start over." She soon suggested.
Shiho in response nodded. "Sure." She replied before going over to the Leader.
"Hey." Akira greeted.
"Hello." Shiho returned with a grin. "Good to see you've survived all this time." She then added.
"Barely." Akira half-joked before rubbing the back of his head. "...I'm..." He then started.
"If you say sorry, I'm going to punch you in the dick." Shiho grumbled with a frown.
"I...wasn't going to say that." Akira lied with a nervous chuckle. "Just...I wish we had more time together." He then admitted in a sad tone.
Shiho couldn't help but let out a sad giggle. "Me too." She then replied.
"Hey! Let's have a photo everyone!" Ann suggested before rummaging through her bag. "I even bought one of those disposable cameras for the occasion." She then informed as she pulled out a pink instant camera.
"Ooh! That sounds fun." Asuka got out.
"Okay, huddle up everyone. We don't want anyone out of frame!" Akira ordered as the group gathered around Shiho.
The ash blonde then wrapped her free arm around Shiho and smiled. "Three! Two! One!" Ann counted down as she aimed the camera up high to get everyone in frame.
"Sayonara, Shiho!" The Thieves all called out.
Click! FLASH!
A few seconds later, the photo printed out of the camera. However, all there was on it was black nothing.
"Come on, dry already!" Ann grumbled as she waved the picture. "This is why people use digital cameras in the first place! Ah, here we go!" She then got out as the photo became clear.
"Homu-nee's face is covered..." Asuka awkwardly noticed.
"That...That was intentional." Homura admitted as she rubbed her arm.
"Her chest is still there though..." Ryuji muttered, right before getting slapped.
"You just have to say that out loud, don't you." Homura grumbled.
Shiho however giggled. "Thank you...all of you...for coming here." She then got out with a bright smile.
"It was nothing. Really." Akira got out while the other Thieves nodded.
"I'm just glad you can let out a smile like that." Makoto got out. Suddenly, there was an announcement over the speakers.
"The 9:30AM Keiō Line Semi-Limited Express on Platform 2 is arriving shortly. Please stand behind the marked lines."
"Hey...you have a train to catch." Akira reminded.
"Yeah...I do." Shiho responded with a nod as her best friend handed her the photo. "Hey, I'm going to get a drink real quick. Do you mind coming with me?" She soon asked the Leader.
"Um...sure?" Akira replied in a confused tone, with his friends equally confused as the two headed for the vending machines out of their sight.
Shiho double-checked to see if anyone could see them before turning to the Leader and smiling deviously.
This meanwhile caused the boy to blink a bit. "Uh...you aren't buying a drink." Akira noticed.
"I'm not." Shiho simply replied with a cheeky smile and slightly red cheeks. "I...I wanted to thank you a little more personally." She then revealed.
"Personally?" Akira repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"You...You could've just given up. You could've just...done nothing. And I wouldn't have blamed you." Shiho admitted. "Everyone still thinks you're a criminal at school, right?" She then assumed.
"A studious criminal. One they barely care about these days." Akira corrected in a slightly bitter tone.
"We've had a lot of things stolen from us..." Shiho sighed as she shook her head. "And...out of all the things he stole from me...at least he didn't steal the one thing I want to give to you." She then got out as she stared the Leader in the eyes.
Akira however blinked to this. "Huh?" He got out in confusion.
CHU!
Shiho pulled away not even a second later. A simple kiss on the lips, nothing more.
"Thank you...for helping save me." Shiho breathed out. "And saving so many others too, even when the world was against you." She then added in a soft tone.
"I..." Akira was stunned for at least several seconds before managing to say something. "Ryuji helped too." He then pointed out without thinking.
"And Asuka, Homura and Ann. But...I wanted my first kiss to be pure and this is the closest thing I can get to it. Besides, I think the world owes you one." Shiho explained. "Don't get me wrong though. I'm not looking for a relationship for a very, very long time." She then stated.
"Well I-I...I'm honored." Akira replied before coughing into fist, regaining his composure. "I'm gonna miss you, Shiho." He then got out.
"I will too. You better take care of Ann for me, alright? And keep up the good fight. I won't forgive you if you all die in that crazy dimension." Shiho soon requested.
"I promise. Now, I think your train's about to leave." Akira promised before seeing her family wave at her. "Good luck." He then encouraged.
"I should be saying that to you, Joker." Shiho giggled before running back to her family.
"...That was my first kiss..." Akira mumbled, still a little stunned before shaking his head and returning to his group of friends.
"You're not going to tell them?" Morgana soon asked.
"GAH!" Akira screamed, causing several people to look at him strangely. "Oh, I forgot you were in my bag." He then heaved.
"Hehehe..." Morgana let out a mischievous giggle. "I won't say anything. After all, you don't kiss and tell. At least, I think that's the phrase." He then informed and stated.
"T-Thanks." Akira got out as he cleared his throat and rejoined the group.
"What the hell was that...?" Ryuji had to ask.
"Ah, you know...stuff." Akira replied as he scratched the back of his head. "Shiho's a really fast drinker." He then added.
In the meantime, Shiho turned her gaze back to the group, who all waved at her just as she was about to step onto the train and into her new life. She smiled, waved back, then went inside.
However, the ash blonde wasn't ready to say goodbye just yet.
"Shiho!" Ann called out as she began running.
"A-Ann?" Shiho gasped in shock, seeing that her best friend was catching up to the train with ease.
"Shiho, I promise that I'll..." Ann got out, panting and sweating as she ran. "I'll...I'll change this world...I'll change this world just for you...Make it so that you can come back and never worry again!" She called out, her voice filled with renewed determination.
"Ann, you don't have to!" Shiho got out.
"I want to! This isn't the end...this is-" Ann began, however...
The ash blonde was forced to stop as she reached the end of the platform, as she could only watch as the train passed by her.
And with that, Shiho and her life in Tokyo was gone.
Wiping away some tears she didn't know she had, she walked back to the group with her head held high.
"Hey, you were able to catch up to the train for a couple of seconds there." Ryuji noticed.
"I-I guess my training is playing off..." Ann panted with a smile on her face.
As the train rode off into the distance, the group let out sighs and sniffles. "Well...she's gone." Homura muttered as she rubbed her eyes.
"And off to somewhere better." Asuka added before seeing the ash blonde on her phone. "...Already organizing a trip there, Ann-chan?" She soon guessed.
"Yep." Ann confirmed with a nod before putting away her phone. "Golden Week." She then revealed.
"Well...that's it." Makoto breathed out. "We still have other problems we have to deal with but...at least this one we can finally close." She then concluded with relief.
"Now all we have to worry about is Medjed." Ryuji stated.
"Don't jinx it." Homura sighed out.
"What? It's true!" Ryuji pointed out. "Gonna head home and get out of this monkey suit." He then added.
"Oh, so you admit it." Homura quipped in amusement.
"Ah, shut up." Ryuji grumbled as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "See ya tomorrow, if ya need me." He then added.
"Yeah, bye." Ann replied as the dyed blonde walked away. "I think...I'm gonna follow his words and go home for a while. I woke up too early for this." She then yawned.
"I have some work to do at school." Makoto then got out as she checked her phone. "If you need me, you know where I'll be." She then whispered to Akira before walking away.
That reminded Akira of the text he got from the school. "Right, the sports thing is up and running too. I'll check into that when I have the time." He thought.
"I'm gonna go get something to eat." Asuka spoke up. "You wanna come, Homu-nee?" She then offered.
"I'm...good." Homura muttered, not exactly looking at her roommate. "I'll see you later, Sis." She soon added.
"Hai." Asuka replied before heading off.
Eventually, everyone left the station, leaving Homura and Akira behind.
"Alright, what do I want to do today...?" Akira muttered as he checked his phone.
Meanwhile, the tan skinned girl sighed before turning to the Leader. She needed an outlet of her sadness and anger. "Hey, Akira. I need some training." Homura soon requested.
Akira's eyebrow raised before shrugging. "O-Okay..." He agreed as he reached for his wallet.
"No money today." Homura soon stated. "This time is for free." She added.
"Oh, this is gonna suck even harder than usual..." Akira thought with a sweatdrop. Regardless, he followed the tan skinned girl out of the station.
(Yongen-Jaya, Sakura Residence)
WOOSH!
The white haired woman sighed as she looked at the lingering mess around her. "I think there's even more garbage than last time...has she been getting orders?" Miyabi muttered to herself.
"Why do you keep going through the window? You're letting the heat in." A familiar voice groaned out.
"What the!?" Miyabi yelped before turning around to see the hacker awake, sitting on her bed eating a plate of curry. "Futaba, you're-" She then started, however...
"Eating." Futaba responded before putting more curry in her mouth. "I barely have the energy to get out of bed, let alone destroy an international hacker group. Need more time to rest." She then informed with a sigh.
"It's okay, take all the time you need." Miyabi responded with a nod of understanding. "I know fully well what you're going through when it comes to sleeping for a long time. Three year coma..." She then revealed with a sigh of her own.
"Yeah, I heard about it." Futaba responded with a nod. "It must've sucked being out of time like that." She then added.
"Well, being stuck inside for two years isn't much better." Miyabi pointed out.
"Hey, at least I had the internet." Futaba countered. "You know, until our brains get chipped so we can access it in our dreams." She then added.
"You sound a bit too excited for that." Miyabi responded with a sweatdrop.
"Hey, it was a lot better than the dreams I had before you guys went and stole my heart." Futaba reminded as she finished her curry. "But...I guess I can turn it off for a while. But for now, it's back to dreamland for me. Good night!" She then decided and declared.
"Futaba, it's only-" Miyabi began, only for the young girl to instantly fall face first into her pillow.
"Zzzzz..." Futaba snored out.
"You fall asleep way too easily." Miyabi sighed out as she went over and rubbed the girl's head with a soft smile on her face.
God, to be fifteen again. To have your only worries be school, what you want to eat for dinner and how to create bombs from common household materials.
...Or at least that's how she imagined what being a normal, civilian fifteen year old would be. From fourteen to sixteen was more a blur filled with training and Imu.
...And now she was getting curious over what it would've been like for her if either of them had normal lives...and even got to act like a normal girl...
"...This was how Mama treated me..." Miyabi mentally realized before once more looking at the orangette, briefly seeing the younger version of herself in her place before turning back. "Ugh, stop it brain. You're done with that." She muttered as she shook her head.
If she wanted a child, she'd make her own dammit.
"It's too hot outside, may as well spend the day here." Miyabi muttered before turning her gaze towards the computer, the screensaver simply scrolling through code like that one pretentious action movie. "I wonder if she would let me-" She then started.
"Don't you dare, I will skin you alive." Futaba growled before going back to sleep.
Miyabi immediately sweatdropped. "Just like Murasaki." She thought to herself.
Suddenly, her eyes widened. She needed to go to the bathroom.
And so she left the room to take care of business.
FLUSH!
"Ahhh..." Miyabi breathed out as she washed her hands. Nothing like a good, long- "Crap!" She yelped.
That wasn't soap, that was...hair dye?
"Orange hair dye?" Miyabi muttered as she examined the bottle. "Well, her mother had black hair...but why dye her hair in the first place...?" She then wondered.
Though, looking at the bottle, it made her realize something.
"I could probably dye my hair back to black now that I think about it...but that's too much of a bother. The roots will just be white." Miyabi thought as she tugged a lock of her pure white hair. "I think my hair down there is even..." She then mentally added before looking downwards.
Nope. Not the time.
With a sigh, she finished washing up before heading back to the orangette's room to hang out and enjoy the cool air.
(8/4, Afternoon)
(Sakamoto Residence, Ryuji's Room)
"Thank you for inviting me in." Asuka thanked Ryuji's mom as she stepped inside the apartment.
"Anything for a friend of my son." Ms. Sakamoto replied with a sweet smile. "Ryuji! Your girlfriend is here!" She then called out.
"W-We're just friends Ms. Sakamoto!" Asuka squeaked out in embarrassment.
Ryuji's mother however giggled. "Ah, I'm only teasing my Ryu-kun, Asuka-chan." She replied in amusement. "Plus, he hasn't responded yet. What is he...Oh! He's mas-" She then started, however...
"I WAS GETTIN' DRESSED!" Ryuji exclaimed as he barged through his door and into the living room. "Hey, Asuka." He then panted.
"Hello." Asuka greeted...before blushing and turning around. "...You aren't wearing pants." She got out.
"Because I really didn't expect you to come." The dyed blond muttered. "Why are you here, anyways? You have nothin' better to do?" He assumed.
"Basically." Asuka sheepishly replied. "What were you doing before?" She then asked.
"...Nothin' much." Ryuji hesitantly answered. "Erm, let me clean my room a little. It kinda stinks of sweat." He then got out as he grabbed some air freshener.
"And put on some nice pants, Ryu-kun!" Ms. Sakamoto soon added.
"Got it, mom!" Ryuji replied before heading into his room.
Eventually, once Ryuji's room was clean, Asuka was allowed to enter.
"So, up for playing some more games Asuka?" Ryuji soon asked.
"Yup!" Asuka happily replied as she got herself comfortable. "Let's go for something scary again!" She then requested.
Ryuji however blinked. "Really?" He responded in confusion.
"I'm feeling it." Asuka responded. "And uh...last time I played something horror themed I sort of panicked. I can't do that in the Metaverse." She then explained in a more serious tone.
"Alright..." Ryuji replied with a nod of understanding. "Well, I think I have something for you..." He soon informed, going to the shelf of games.
"That fast?" Asuka soon asked, blinking to that reveal from the dyed blond.
"Eh, I have plenty of horror games." Ryuji casually responded before coming back with a game case that showed an hourglass filled with sand, though the top part showed a skull while the bottom part showed what appeared to be a snow covered cabin with what appeared to be 8 shadowed out figures in front of it.
"Until Dawn?" Asuka got out in a slightly nervous tone as she read the title.
"Yeah, it came out last year." Ryuji informed. "Think you can handle it, Asuka-chan?" He then asked with a teasing smirk on his face.
Gulping slightly, the brunette merely nodded to that. "Y-Yeah, I-I can handle it!" Asuka shakily replied.
"Oh right. The thing about this game is that they censored all the death scenes here for Japan and made the blood black for some reason. You might wanna look it up online." Ryuji soon informed.
"But...making the blood black doesn't really make things less gory." Asuka however pointed out.
"Eh, different standards for different people. I mean, come on, some games are forced to use rainbow or pink blood." Ryuji pointed out. "Now come on, start the game already." He then added.
"Hai." Asuka responded with a nod as she started a new game.
The game soon opened up to a cabin in the woods at night, with snow blanketing the area.
"Huh, good graphics and there's a lot of snow." Asuka noted.
"Cool, because you're going to be seeing that a lot." Ryuji responded.
"...Think all of us could go skiing or snowboarding sometime in the winter?" Asuka suddenly suggested.
"Maybe. But it's not like we live anywhere close to a mountain." Ryuji pointed out.
"Ah, but it would be fun." Asuka responded...before perking up. "...Wait, we have Yumi-chan's Shinobi Kekkai!" She then declared.
"Are we seriously going to use a ninja technique to go snowboarding?" Ryuji soon asked..
"I don't see why not." Asuka replied with a grin.
The dyed blonde then began to imagine himself snowboard. "...That might be an idea to beat the heat. But maybe not when we're in danger of eco...eco-somethin' collapse." Ryuji admitted and reminded.
"O-Oh..." Asuka mumbled as she remembered that Medjed still exists. "Right. The present is a little more important than the future right now." She then added.
"We'll think about it and talk with the others after this blows over." Ryuji decided.
It started inside the cabin, with a girl and boy getting hot and heavy. The girl was in the process of taking her top off when others began to burst in, one of them with a camera recording the entire thing. Humiliated, she rushed out of the cabin in tears.
"That's a really cruel thing to do to someone..." Asuka mumbled.
"I know. Which is why you won't feel too bad if they die somehow." Ryuji stated.
"They can die?" Asuka gasped.
"Each and every single person in this scene." Ryuji replied. "All of them are kinda dicks, some more than others." He then added.
"Moh..." Asuka then let out a sad moan as she continued watching the scene play out.
The sister rushed out of the cabin and into the cold snow, searching for the heartbroken girl. Hearing her cries, she rushed off into the woods.
However, she then spotted a black totem piece amongst the trees and snow. "Is this a collectable?" Asuka soon asked.
"Well, pick it up." Ryuji replied and instructed.
Nodding to that, Asuka moved her character over to the totem, picking it up and turning it over.
Suddenly, there were flashes of scenes. Of the two sisters falling off a cliff, their bodies hitting rock after rock before landing at the bottom, staring into the camera with lifeless eyes.
"...What was that?" Asuka asked as she paled a bit.
"That...was a vision of a possible future." Ryuji answered in an ominous tone.
"A premonition?" Asuka got out in concern.
"Ah, you can probably avoid it." Ryuji revealed in a casual manner.
"YOU'RE HIDING SOMETHING FROM ME!" Asuka soon accused with a puffed up cheek. "Let's just go find her...whatever her name is."
"Beth?"
"Gesundheit." Asuka responded before blinking in realization. "...Ignore that." She then requested.
Eventually, they found the humiliated girl but there was no time to comfort her all that much as they were suddenly chased through the woods.
"IS THERE A SERIAL KILLER HERE!? WHY IS THERE A SERIAL KILLER HERE!?" Asuka exclaimed.
"Because it's a horror story." Ryuji simply replied.
"No no no no no! Don't fall off the cliff!" Asuka yelped. However, the two girls were taken off the cliff regardless, barely hanging on. "AH!" She then squeaked with a pale face.
And it was playing out just like the vision!
"Crap crap crap crap crap!" Asuka swore out as the choices appeared on screen "Let go or reach!?" She then exclaimed at the choices on screen. "Um...Um...!" She stammered out.
"Hurry, Asuka, you only got a few seconds!" Ryuji warned.
"...They're dead either way..." Asuka realized in horror. "...Let go." She then decided as she hit the button and bit down on her lip.
And with that, the girls fell off the cliff.
CRACK!
Asuka soon winced as she heard the bones cracking with each rock they landed on, before tumbling to the bottom, one of the girls staring at the camera with lifeless eyes. "That...was an intense prologue." She confessed as the screen went black.
"And it only gets worse from here." Ryuji soon warned.
Asuka in turn sighed. "Why am I not surprised?" She replied as she then saw that she was in a new location. "A...psychiatrist?" She got out in confusion.
"Oh, this guy." Ryuji awkwardly got out. "Alright, time to tailor your horror experience." He then informed.
"Oh no..." Asuka muttered. Once she made her choices, the psychiatrist was satisfied.
"You see no one can change what happened last year. The past is beyond our control."
"That's...actually some sound advice." Asuka admitted.
"And that's why we're Thieves. Can't change the past, may as well make the future better." Ryuji got out with a smirk.
Soon, the two watched as the opening started, playing some nice music.
"...Ok, I have to admit that was catchy." Asuka got out. "...Is that weird?" She soon asked.
"Eh, not really." Ryuji replied. "I don't really care about what music you like. Enjoy what you want, don't let other people tell you not to." He then got out.
Eventually, there was a time skip forward, taking place at the very cabin they had seen before.
"A year passed since then...and they still don't know what happened?" Asuka breathed out in shock.
"It's safe to say that they died though." Ryuji pointed out. "...Hopefully." He then muttered.
"What do you mean by hopefully!?" Asuka exclaimed in a panic.
"Ah, spoilers." The dyed blond got out as he shut his mouth.
"Mmm..." Asuka moaned in annoyance with a pout before continuing to play.
"Brr, all this snow is giving me the chills." Asuka got out as she shivered a bit.
"My room doesn't have the best air conditioning though." Ryuji muttered. "Stupid Japanese summer..." He then grumbled as they simply let the cutscene play out, only playing attention to bits and pieces.
"The Butterfly Effect?" Asuka repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"Eh, it's just about how your actions matter and how they'll affect later events." Ryuji explained, even though the game had already explained it. "It's still an interesting thing to talk about. I mean, we all experienced it ourselves." He then pointed out.
"Hm?" Asuka got out.
"I mean, if I didn't meet you, I'd never have gone into the Metaverse and shit." Ryuji explained and reminded.
"Oh yeah, that's true." Asuka replied after recalling that day. "And...I wouldn't have Homu-neechan as a big sister." She then added.
"There ya go!" Ryuji got out as he patted the Vice Leader on the back. "And it's only a matter of time before we kill god." He then added.
"What!?" Asuka exclaimed in shock.
"Joking, joking." Ryuji chuckled out. "But man, there are a lotta games where you have to kill god..." He then mumbled.
"W-Well, I hope it doesn't come to that." Asuka giggled.
Eventually, the characters came across a squirrel in their path and froze on the spot, hoping to not scare it.
"Hey, a squirrel!" Asuka cooed out. "Oh, motion controls...don't...move..." She then got out as she did as instructed, succeeding as a result.
"Oh yeah, I completely forgot the controller has motion controls." Ryuji admitted.
"Ok, so my choices affect the future." Asuka noted with a nod after reading that tutorial. "So that means I need to be careful and make the right choices so that everyone doesn't die."
"That's the gist of it. But killing everyone is a lot harder than you think." Ryuji pointed out.
"...That's an achievement, isn't it?" Asuka soon guessed.
"Yup." Ryuji replied. "And achievements for making very dumb decisions too." He then revealed.
"I don't want to be rewarded for failure." Asuka awkwardly admitted. "That's like getting paid badly for doing a job." She then added.
"Eh, if you get paid either way..." Ryuji simply replied while shrugging his shoulders without any concern.
"Ryuji-kun..." Asuka sighed. "I like feeling satisfied with doing a job." She then confessed.
"Just...keep playing. You haven't paused." Ryuji soon got out and informed.
"What?" Asuka got out before realizing the game was moving on without her. "Oh crap!" She yelped as she continued playing.
Eventually, the cable car stopped and allowed them to start heading to the cabin. On the way there, they spotted a shooting range.
"Why is there a shooting range at the base of a ski lodge?" Asuka meanwhile asked in a curious manner.
"It's in the middle of a forest full of deer and crap. It was probably a hunting area or somethin'." Ryuji guessed. "Plus, you might need guns later..." He then added.
"Good point." Asuka admitted as she had the current player character take aim and shot at some bottles for practice. "Huh, think we could do something like this in the Metaverse?" She then suggested.
"Hunting rifles?" Ryuji guessed with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, shooting bottles. Nah, we have real targets we can practice with." He then realized and reminded.
"Oh right." Asuka muttered. "Ah, I'm suggesting too many things we already have..." She sheepishly confessed.
"Eh, you're just tryin' to help out. No big deal." Ryuji replied.
"Aw..." Asuka soon cooed at the sight of the squirrel once again. She then noticed the crosshair on it. "Wait, why can I shoot the squirrel?" She eventually asked with a pale face.
"Well, shoot and find out." Ryuji vaguely responded.
"I'm not shooting the squirrel!" Asuka exclaimed as the squirrel left, causing her to sigh in relief. "I have a very close connection with them." She then added with a pout.
"Oh yeah. The Happy Squirrel thing." Ryuji replied while rubbing the back of his head with a chuckle. "But ain't your animal thing frogs?" He then asked.
"Toads." Asuka corrected. "Ah, the squirrel left." She then got out in relief.
"Smart move, karma's a thing in this game." Ryuji replied and revealed.
"Well, if I want everyone to get through this, I'm gonna have to do my best." Asuka responded with determination in her voice.
"You know, getting everyone to survive goes against the slasher film thing they're going for. The best part about them is seeing those characters die in creative ways. Having everyone survive just takes the joy out of it." Ryuji then admitted.
"I'm not letting anyone die!" Asuka however exclaimed. "Moh! Why do they make those kinds of movies!? It just inspires serial killers!" She then ranted in frustration.
"Oh, you sound just like all those moral guardians who complain about rock and roll." Ryuji grumbled. "It's all fake, no one's getting hurt." He then got out with a shrug.
"Huh? Complaining about rock and roll?" Asuka repeated.
"Satan worship or whatever." Ryuji scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "You didn't watch a lot of horror movies growing up, did you?" He then assumed.
"Not really. I'm usually too busy training most of the time. And I've dealt with serial killers before while I was at Hanzō Academy with my team..." Asuka explained. "Not. Fun. At all. Especially for Hibari-chan." She concluded, wincing at remembering how traumatized the pinkette was before the white haired girl jabbing her umbrella up his-
"Yeah, I'd expect so." Ryuji interrupted. "But, this is just a game. No need to get so worked up about it. People just like this type of thing." He then stated.
"Sorry. I only mentioned it because the serial killers mentioned kept declaring they were inspired by slasher horror movies..." Asuka sighed.
"Yeah, those were just dumbasses who were going to kill someone even if they didn't watch a movie." Ryuji pointed out before frowning. "If you wanna stop playing, be my guest. No more horror crap from now on." He then got out.
"Aw, but I gotta conquer my fear somehow." Asuka responded while sighing once again. "And I wanna see how the story goes..." She then admitted, feeling her Courage improving a bit as a result of playing.
"I'll take you to a haunted house. Popping the disc out." Ryuji decided as he hit the eject button on his console. "I'm not letting you relive crappy moments of your life. I've had enough of that myself. Now for something less realistic..." He then added.
"Ryuji-kun, come on." Asuka got out with a pout.
"Nope." Ryuji insisted as he figured out what game to play. "If you want to feel some real fear, you have to play it instead of watching a six to eight hour movie with quick time events. So, let's play this one together." He then got out as he grabbed his own controller.
"Together? It's two-player?" Asuka repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"Recent release too." Ryuji added with a smirk. "Think of this as a good stress reliever." He then vaguely added.
"Okay..." Asuka muttered as she grabbed the controller once again and watched the screen...and saw a guy with a horse head in the middle of a zombie horde.
This was going to be interesting.
(Forest)
Meanwhile at the same time, Akira was surprised that the forest wasn't being filled with his horrible screams, but instead filled with trees being shattered.
CRASH!
The Leader dived out of the way of a haymaker, which snapped the tree behind him in half. "Pull your punches a little!" Akira thought.
"Come on, Akira! Work those glutes! I want to see you fucking crying!" Homura demanded as she threw punches at the Leader.
Akira's body moved before he could think, dodging the punches and waiting for an opening. "Come on, Joker, you can do this." He thought before deciding that waiting was for chumps.
Real thieves make their own openings.
After backing off, Akira settled into a boxing stance and did a few shadow punches. If he was going to lose, she was gonna have to work for it.
"Finally getting serious, huh?" Homura remarked as she smirked. "Come at me, I'll give you a chance." She then taunted.
Akira let out a breath and focused, already running through a few scenarios in his head before choosing one and charging at the girl.
"Always with the frontal assault." Homura mentally sighed, dodging the roundhouse and countering by attempting to kick his face with her heel.
Akira backed away from the hook kick before grabbing her leg and slamming his elbow into her knee and throwing a punch at her face.
Raising her forearms, she blocked the attack without much effort. "Wow, that almost hurt. But still not enough." Homura informed and remarked.
"That's because I'm holding back too!" Akira countered before kicking her straight in the chest.
Akira's mind was working on overdrive as he tried to figure out what his next move was. After a millisecond of thought, he scrambled behind the girl, wrapped his arms around her waist and threw her behind him before climbing onto her to finish the fight.
"Ah!" The tan skinned girl grunted as she landed on her back. "Strong enough for a suplex, huh?" She soon got out before grabbing his arms and rolling him off of her. "You have to do better than that." She then shouted out as she got up and ran towards him.
Akira scrambled to his feet and raised his guard, barely taking the quick three-hit combo the girl threw at him.
The Leader slammed his back into a tree as the tan skinned girl forced him back. Thinking fast, he kicked off the tree with his back foot and threw a punch that knocked his opponent backwards, giving him breathing room.
"Sloppy, but getting better." Homura simply stated.
"Oh, I can do better." Akira thought before the two traded blows.
"Left hook. Right hook. Jab, jab, jab. Raise guard, right hook!" Akira thought, his body following his mind with precision. And finally, the tan skinned girl got sloppy herself. "Counter!" He mentally declared as he used his forearm to deflect the haymaker away from him, leaving the girl vulnerable to a-
TWACK!
Homura choked as she was hit in the throat, coughing as a result before the Leader winded his fist back and...
WOOSH!
The Leader smirked. "Boop." Akira got out as he touched her nose.
To this, Homura in turn couldn't help but smirk back. "Good job, Leader." She praised and coughed out, allowing him to relax. "5 minutes. You're shaving off that time. It's been a while since I gave you a pity win." She then revealed while coughing some more.
"You gave me pity wins?" Akira panted out with a groan.
"Only at the start so we could move on." Homura revealed while rubbing her throat. "Go take five, and we'll do the next one." She then ordered.
"Next one?" Akira repeated with a raised eyebrow. "Isn't this usually the last one we do?" He however pointed out.
"Huh?" Homura got out before her eyes widened. "Wow, you went through all my exercises pretty fast." She realized before squeezing some water into her mouth. "Actually, we're done today." She then revealed.
"That's...kinda awesome." Akira admitted.
"You did well out there. I can sufficiently say that you've barely reached the level of a genin...in small bursts of strength during a life-threatening situation." Homura soon informed and congratulated the Leader.
"...I'm...flattered?" Akira replied in an unsure tone.
"I have nothing else to do today." Homura soon stated. "I could go and get some food. Maybe watch a movie..." She then admitted while stretching her limbs.
"Hey, why not try some baseball after lunch? I always wanted to try it out. Wanna go there?" Akira suggested and offered.
Homura meanwhile winced for a moment as she remembered going to the batting cages with the not cat where she caused some damage, but took in a deep breath to calm herself down. "Yeah. Sure." She decided with a shrug as they headed out of the forest and to the train station.
(Yongen-Jaya, Backstreets)
After a few rounds of baseball (and catching one to the face), the two Thieves left the batting cages with some prizes in hand.
"They had someone new at the front desk." Akira noted.
"Ugh, probably should've gotten a job at the batting cages..." Homura sighed as she shook her head. "God, that was an embarrassment..." She then grumbled with a pout.
"You barely hit the ball." Akira however remonded. "I thought you'd be better." He then admitted in a skeptical tone.
"I was! I think it was the bat." Hoimura responded and deducted.
"Sure..." Akira got out as he rolled his eyes.
"It's true!" Homura insisted before shaking her head. "I dunno, that bat must've been pretty old because it felt...kinda wrong...to use, you know?" She then confessed.
"So you think it had cork in the center?" Akira guessed in a joking manner.
"No, just...uncomfortable." Homura mumbled as she clenched and unclenched her hand. "Ngh..." She groaned.
Akira stopped walking and glanced behind his back. "You okay?" He soon asked.
"Maybe I ate something bad earlier..." Homura mumbled. "Ugh...I...I don't feel so good..." She then moaned.
"Well, let's go to Leblanc then." Akira suggested as he checked his phone, unaware that the tan skinned girl wasn't looking so tan anymore. "You better clean up after you're done because Sojiro will-" He then began, however...
THUD!
Suddenly, Homura fell to the ground and began breathing heavily and sweating like crazy.
"Homura? Homura!?" Akira exclaimed as he checked if she was okay. She was breathing, but it was faint and...shit, what was that purple stuff coming out of her mouth!?
There was no time to wonder about that though. Homura needed medical attention. Luckily, Takemi's clinic was just nearby.
"Come on, don't die on me."
"N-Ngh...not...gonna...happen." Homura wheezed, trying to keep herself conscious through sheer will alone. However, talking was like swallowing a spiked bat so she decided to stop.
"Those better not be your last words!" Akira grunted as he lifted the girl onto his back."I expected you...to be heavier...Or am I getting stronger?" He then wondered.
SLAP!
"Of course you heard that..." Akira groaned as he rolled his eyes and made his way to the clinic.
(Takemi Clinic, Consultation Room)
Akira paced around the clinic like a worried parent waiting for the news about their child's surgery. Haruka wasn't in right now, so it came down to Takemi to figure out what was wrong with Homura and somehow help her.
Eventually, the doctor opened the door and pulled him inside before wiping sweat off her forehead.
"So, what's the diagnosis?" Akira asked as he looked to see the tan skinned girl sleeping on the bed. "Please tell me it was just exhaustion or something." He then got out.
"Akira, she was poisoned." Takemi explained in a dead serious tone. "But it looks like her body's immune system is fighting it back pretty quickly. She should be waking up pretty soon." She then informed.
"What? Poisoned? How do you know?" Akira however asked in concern.
"Well, I found a small puncture wound on her right hand that was still bleeding. A quick blood test revealed some sort foregin chemical in it that only took effect about ten minutes later. I just gave her a little booster to help flush it out of her system faster. However, I insist that she stays for at least an hour before I will let her leave." Takemi revealed as she leaned forward. "Tell me, do you know how she was injected without either of you noticing?" She soon asked.
"No." Akira responded. "Wait, maybe on the train ride here? It was a little crowded there..." He then muttered in a serious tone.
"Well, however they did it, it was unsuccessful. She should be waking up any minute now. However, I recommend that she spends the rest of the day relaxing."
"Alright. I'll make sure she gets home safely."
"I need to run some tests on this poison, but it's safe to say that it's not powerful enough to kill your friend here." Takemi stated. As she said that, the tan skinned girl started to stir. "Ah, you're finally awake." She began with a smile.
"M-Mmmm..." Homura groaned.
"How are you feeling?" Akira soon asked.
"...Did I get hit by a car?" Homura muttered out as she shook her head. "Ugh...God, I feel like shit..." She then added.
"Well, it could've been a lot worse." Akira stated as he then leaned in. "Homura...someone tried to assassinate you." He soon whispered.
To learn this, the tan skinned girl narrowed her eyes in a serious manner "...I see..." Homura darkly responded. "Then I need to go." She soon declared as she attempted to sit up.
"Whoa, hold up, young lady. You need rest." Takemi got out as she stopped the girl from leaving.
"No I don't." Homura replied before...
POOF!
Thick, white smoke filled the office, obscuring everyone's view...including the one who made it.
*cough cough* "Why did you use a smoke bomb indoors!? There's only one door!" Akira choked out as he tried to fan the smoke away.
"Ok, bad move on my end." Homura awkwardly admitted as she also fanned away the smoke. "Trying to disappear there but my legs kinda don't work right now..." She then got out.
"Probably should've informed you that your legs are temporarily paralyzed." Takemi coughed out as she opened the only door. "...I won't ask why you had something like smoke bombs. Or where you put them." She then informed.
"Thank you. Um, do you mind leaving us alone?" Homura requested.
"Sure. I need fresh air anyways." Takemi got out as she left her office.
"What the hell was with the smoke bombs?" Akira asked as he tried to find an electric fan or something.
"Escape. Hunt down the bastard who poisoned me." Homura bluntly answered.
Akira in turn sighed but understood why. "Homura, you need to relax." He soon stated.
"But I can't! Whoever did this to me could kill the others if I don't do something! They could kill one of us! They could kill Sis!" Homura countered in a panic before realizing something. "Shit. Shit shit shit. Where the fuck is my phone!?" She soon asked.
"In your pocket. Homura, you're having a panic attack. Breathe." Akira got out as he held the girl's shoulders. "Calm down. I'll call the others for you." He then offered as he pulled out his phone.
"Okay...Okay..." Homura breathed out, calming herself down a little but it didn't help as much as the Leader thought.
"Alright, let's see..." Akira muttered to himself as the tan skinned girl took the opportunity to rest a little.
[TheWildJ0ker: Is everyone okay? Meet anyone suspicious?]
[Road2Queen: I just got home. Wasn't followed. After Kaneshiro, I've gotten more cautious.]
[Shut7heFUp: Yeah, I'm doin' fine too. Playin' a horror game with Asuka.]
[SushiRoll23: For a road trip to Canada...it can be pretty nerve-wracking...]
[SushiRoll23: The anime girl exploded...]
[TheWildJ0ker: I need everyone to respond. Ann?]
[Sweetkat06: Retail therapy and strawberry smoothies.]
[Negative8Degrees: Quite the reckless usage of money. Meanwhile, I'm in the middle of personal lessons. I am with trusted people.]
[DarkEyeXI: I'm with Futaba right now. She's doing fine, by the way, but still asleep...and snoring loudly. God, this girl has some lungs.]
[All4Painting: Currently putting the finishing touches on my latest project.]
[All4Painting: Why are you asking us this, Leader?]
[TheWildJ0ker: Just making sure you guys are fine.]
[TheWildJ0ker: Homura got poisoned, recovering right now.]
(...)
[TheWildJ0ker:...Guys?]
[Sweetkat06: ujibfwashfaopjkvyufgbyui]
[Sweetkat06: I'm sorry, I just spat my smoothie all over my phone.]
[SushiRoll23: HOMU-NEECHAN WAS WHAT!?]
[Negative8Degrees: Poisoned...]
[DarkEyeXI: A shinobi?]
[TheWIldJ0ker: That's the running theory. Most likely a Hebijo. No idea how or why, though.]
[Road2Queen: Is she alright!?]
[Shut7heFUp: Shit...]
[Shut7heFUp: And Asuka's gone.]
[SushiRoll23: I'M COMING HOME RIGHT NOW!]
[TheWildJ0ker: She's at Takemi's clinic. She's fine and conscious.]
[TheWildJ0ker: Well, temporary paralysis of her legs notwithstanding.]
[SushiRoll23: BRING HER HOME THEN! RIGHT NOW!]
[TheWildJ0ker: Can't. Doctor's orders.]
[TheWildJ0ker: Give it an hour, and she'll be back safe and sound.]
(...)
[SushiRoll23: Alright...]
[TheWIldJ0ker: I'll update you guys on the situation, but go on high alert everyone. They might be coming after you next.]
[Sweetkat06: Dammit, we need hiding places...]
[Negative8Degrees: I can set one up at a shinobi hotel; the Kusotori.]
[Road2Queen: The Shitbird...?]
[Negative8Degrees: Ah, a slip of the finger. It's Kusatori. It has been vandalized a few times however...]
[DarkEyeXI: Wait, I've heard of that place. That's owned by Good Shinobi?]
[DarkEyeXI: But...Evil Shinobi students have stayed there as well.]
[Neagtive8Degrees: Good Shinobi get free rooms. Evil gets overcharged.]
[Shut7heFUp: Maybe the Evil guys should set up their own hotel. With blackjack and tycoon.]
[DarkEyeXI:...Dōgen had once suggested that, but my father turned it down due to the risks of exposure.]
[DarkEyeXI: Plus, he's more of a warmonger than a sleazy businessman.]
[SushiRoll23: Dōgen?]
[DarkEyeXI: Hebijo's biggest prime investor. He practically decides everything the academy does. The Yoke technique, the training courses, the masturbatorium (I think that's what it's called)...]
[Road2Queen: 0/0]
[Shut7heFUp: TMI MIYABI!]
[DarkEyeXI: What? Our training courses are pretty important.]
[Negative8Degrees: I'm...surprised you're revealing this much information so easily Miyabi-san.]
[DarkEyeXI: Oh, it's not like I'm telling you where we fucking keep the Super Secret Ninja Scroll, I just don't really trust Dōgen.]
[Negative8Degrees: Noted.]
[Sweetkat06: So many new terms to take in...]
[Road2Queen: 0/0]
"And Makoto's broken." Akira muttered with a sweatdrop. "Dōgen, huh?" He then repeated under his breath.
That might be a name to keep in mind.
"And with that, everyone's fine." Akira announced as he put away his phone.
"Yeah, for now." Homura muttered under her breath.
"Hey. That shinobi training isn't for nothing." Akira pointed out. "Now that they're aware, they're gonna be a whole lot more careful now." He then stated.
Homura's eye however twitched to this response. "Goddammit, Akira! Why the fuck are you so calm about this!? I almost died!" She asked followed by the reminder.
"I know. I was the one who carried you here. Someone has to be the rational one." Akira replied.
"I am rational!" Homura countered.
"Okay. Who poisoned you, when did they do it, and where?" Akira soon asked.
"..." Homura immediately went silent in response.
"That's what I thought. You'd be wasting your time hunting them down by yourself." Akira stated in a lecturing manner. "Plus, they could've easily poisoned me as well, with better results."
"...They're only after me..." Homura concluded with widened eyes.
"That's right. Which means none of us are in danger." Akira assured, although he internally cringed. He was not 100% confident about that statement. "No one except you. We need to stop them." He then added.
"Yeah...Yeah, let's fucking go." Homura growled as she pumped her fist. "If we're going to stand a chance, I'll have to increase everyone's training. If you need me to improve their skills, give me a call." She then offered.
To that, Akira nodded with a smile. "I will." He replied.
"Good. There'll be nothing left of them after I'm done." Homura then declared.
Akira nodded once more to this, sharing the fire in her eyes and the rage in her heart. And he was definitely ready to fight.
SHATTER!
RANK 7
Unlocked Shinobi Training!
Allow party members to learn Skill Cards...for a price.
"That could be useful..." Akira thought with a smirk.
"Also Akira...don't tell Sis about me getting poisoned, you know how she can get at times..." Homura requested.
"..." Akira however gave a sheepish expression to that.
"...You told her already, didn't you?" Homura bluntly guessed as she palmed her face.
BZZT! BZZT! BZZT!
"H-How many times has my phone gone off!?" Homura soon asked in a panic.
"19 missed calls and 10 text messages. And this is just from Asuka." Akira revealed as he handed the girl her phone.
To that, Homura paled. "Shit, I better answer them or Sis will become even more worried." She responded in concern as she took out her phone. "Akira, do you mind stepping out for a sec. This could get loud and personal." She soon requested.
"Of course." Akira replied with a nod as he did as such, though he pressed his ear against the door and eavesdropped on the conversation.
"...!" Akira winced a little. It was loud enough to hear the Vice Leader's incoherent blubbering.
"Sis, calm down!" Homura exclaimed in a panic.
"...!"
"I'm okay. I'll come home as soon as I can." Homura reassured.
"...!"
"Yes, Sis, I'll see you at home, I love you too." Homura then got out in a sisterly manner.
"...?"
"...And sugar cookies, okay goodbye I'll see you later." Homura concluded as she hung up, however...
BZZT! BZZT!
"Oh no, Yumi-senpai..." Homura breathed as she paled again. "Gah...Too many messages...I can't call everyone right now dammit." She then got out.
"Come on, let's get you home. You can talk to everyone then." Akira got out as he helped the girl out of the bed.
"Thank you." Homura breathed out, however her legs gave out from under her. "Ah, my legs feel like...static." She awkwardly informed.
"Guess you're spending the rest of the trip back being carried." Akira got out as he helped the tan skinned girl climb onto his back, mentally bracing himself and hoping she wouldn't react to her chest pressing against him as they left the consultation room.
"It hasn't been an hour yet." Takemi pointed out with an unamused look on her face.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine once she gets home." Akira reassured.
"Fine. But at least make sure she takes these." Takemi soon started as he handed the tan skinned girl a container. "Two pills before bed, two more in the morning, each time with water. And I expect you to come in tomorrow for your checkup, Homura-san." She then instructed.
"Hai hai..." Homura replied as the Leader carried her out of the clinic and to the train station.
(Takura Productions)
Yumi set down her phone and gritted her teeth. The Student Council President of Kosei had just learned about what happened to her friend and student in elegance...and she was rightfully pissed.
"I can't believe someone attempted to poison Homura-san...my precious student..." Yumi thought to herself, an icy aura of fury slightly surrounding her. It wasn't even for being a Phantom Thief, most likely, they just despised the idea of her living.
"Yumi, are you okay?" Inoue called out, concerned to see the scowl on the girl's face.
"It is nothing Inoue -san...just...a friend of mine was in danger. Some idiot tried to kill her in a hit and run." Yumi replied and revealed.
"Is she okay?" Inoue gasped.
"She is fine." Yumi responded with a nod. "But the assassin won't be very soon." She mentally added.
"Should we cut this session off early? You can go visit her if you want." Inoue soon suggested.
"No no, it will be alright, I will visit her soon though to see how she is." Yumi replied as she stood up. Her break was over after all.
"If you say so..." Inoue responded with a nod as he watched the girl make it to the center of the stage while adjusting the headset's microphone. "Okay, take it from the top! One, two, three!" He then instructed, counting up before pointing to the girl.
Soon, music started to play as the light grey haired girl began to sing. "Don't be cold, "I'm not interested", liar~ I'm lonely if you tell me a joke~" Yumi soon began, dancing to the rhythm and steps she was instructed to follow.
Turn, step left, hip shake, pose, point, then step right, finger guns, wink. Practicing over and over until it all became muscle memory. The fun and cute self she was becoming as an idol in training, melding with the serious and determined self she usually was as a Good Shinobi, the kind, wise and mature Student Council President of Kosei and the cunning and rebellious self she had become as a Phantom Thief.
And always with the goal of creating the world her grandfather envisioned. A world of happiness.
And eventually, her practice was done.
"A great practice session! Excellent work!" Inoue praised in approval while clapping for the girl. "You really are coming along great, Yumi. Take a break." He then informed.
"Yeah, you did really well!" A familiar voice to the light grey haired girl announced. "Yumi-chan! Good to see you're working hard! And I loved the little air guitar you did." She soon greeted and added with a grin.
Hearing that, Yumi smiled as she looked at her mentor. "Rise-san, you're back." She got out as she walked up to her.
"Sorry I haven't seen you earlier. I do have my own career after all." Rise soon apologized.
"Ah yes. Your Sapphire single." Yumi recalled. "I thought that was already released. I see advertisements for it everywhere." She then pointed out.
"Eh, audio mixing is taking a while to do. I have to go and listen to everything to make sure it's exactly how I want it." Rise soon explained before shaking her head. "But enough about my song, what about yours?"
"It is going well. They say the rest will be ready next month or sooner." Yumi informed before taking a swig of water. "I have ask, Rise-san. How did your debut go?" She soon questioned in a curious manner.
"It was...kind of a disaster." Rise sheepishly confessed, surprising the light grey haired girl. "It was on this TV show, and all they did to prepare me is just um...well, they actually didn't give me any advice." She soon revealed before laughing. "I tripped as soon as I got on stage, said a few things that embarrass me to this day, and I accidentally said my favorite food was basashi." She then added to the reveal as she listed off the mistakes she made.
"That sounds...quite the introduction." Yumi couldn't help but giggle.
"It's online, it shouldn't be hard to find." Rise pointed out with a blush. "I thought I was finished before I even began. But...I had a song ready and as soon as I got on that microphone, it all seemed to just...melt away. At that moment, I felt like...myself." She soon confessed and revealed. "Plus, the audience loved my klutziness." She then added in a sheepish manner.
"Hehehe...well, that's quite the story." Yumi giggled out in amusement. "Although, I hope my debut will go a lot smoother than that." She then confessed.
"You and me both, Yumi-chan." Rise replied in agreement. "Now then, show me what you got!" She then encouraged.
To this, Yumi smiled as she then nodded. "Hai!" She replied, getting herself ready as the music started once more.
"You're interested, look away and make your cheeks red~ I want to be the cute girl you like~ I love you I love you~!" Yumi began singing once more with passion as the afternoon went on.
(8/4, Evening)
(Shibuya, Central Street)
"Have a nice night!" The cashier called out as the glasses-wearing boy left the store.
After he had dropped the tan skinned girl home, he decided to walk around and buy some supplies.
"Man, I do not trust anyone who tries to scam people with salt rocks..." Akira mumbled as he left the Triple 7, snacking on a sandwich. "I really hope Chihaiya can get out of that program..." He then sighed out before noticing someone familiar rummaging through a garbage can. "How do I know those panties?" He mentally wondered before approaching the trash can.
"Hah! Perfectly good seeds! I hope they're for beansprouts!" Yomi got out as she pulled herself out, a banana peel on her head and gummy bears on her cheeks. She then noticed the Leader, whose expression was going between confusion and disgust. "Ah, good evening, Akira-san." She soon greeted with a smile.
"Hello to you too." Akira replied as the blonde wiped off the garbage off her clothes. "What are you doing on a crappy night like this...digging through garbage?" He then asked in an awkward manner.
"Well, besides rummaging for useful materials, I am punishing anyone who dares spend more money than necessary." Yomi kindly informed.
That threw the Leader off instantly, causing him to drop his usual smile while hiding his sandwich behind his back. "I-Isn't that a little extreme?" Akira questioned, wincing a little.
"If anyone dares to indulge in such luxuries, they are nothing but a blight to society and must pay with their flesh and blood." Yomi stated in a sweet tone. "I utterly despise anyone who has decided to spend their time and money on anything other than the necessities. I mean, there are millions of kids starving all over the world willing to kill each other over scraps while there's that dick over there throwing away a perfectly good milkshake."
Yomi's form then blurred as suddenly, the salaryman was stuffed into the trash, with his pants nowhere to be found.
"..." Akira meanwhile sweatdropped. It was made even bigger when no one tried to help him.
"You see? That is what it must take to fight against such injustice." Yomi concluded. "The Just would never take action so quickly." She then stated while narrowing her eyes.
The Leader narrowed his eyes and started thinking. It was likely she would kill someone if they looked rich enough, and she would definitely kill him if she found out how much money he makes after a trip to the Metaverse.
Well, he did promise the Crimson Squad girls. Time to put his Kindness to use.
"You know, I do agree with your stance, Yomi-chan." Akira soon admitted.
"What?" Yomi got out in a dumb manner. "You do? I mean, of course you do!" She then got out in a more confident manner.
"Yeah. I mean, we have people worth trillions of yen and making more than anyone can even imagine touching, and a lot of them are just using their money on mansions, cars...while there are plenty of people suffering in the slums right now." Akira explained as he handed some money over to the homeless guy. "Even a million yen would change the lives of people. It wouldn't even make a dent in their bank account." He then stated.
"Too bad people aren't so generous..." Yomi sighed.
"Not everyone has the power to help sometimes." Akira pointed out. "But it's only when they do have the power, and yet don't do anything with it. That becomes a problem." He then stated.
"Erm...I think I heard something about that..." Yomi muttered as she frowned. "With great power comes great...tax returns and dental?"
"Responsibility." Akira corrected.
"No, that's not it." Yomi mumbled as she continued to think about it.
Akira opened his mouth before stopping himself and deciding to not get off topic. "Look, a lot of these CEOs became rich through sheer ruthlessness and forgoing the wellbeing of the common man...but don't take it out on every single person with a higher income than you." He soon stated as he looked up at a giant TV screen, which played an advertisement that was still searching for a puppy. "Heard Mitsuru Kirijo regularly donates to charity, even set one up for orphans. Can't remember the name of it though...Ara...Ari-something Foundation." He then added.
"But still, the world needs to change! Even if it means the death of a few greedy people." Yomi soon declared. "I would gladly feed the rich to the poor if it must come to that." She then added to the declaration.
"Changing the world shouldn't involve the death of others. And you have to admit, eating the rich is a little too far." Akira admitted in an awkward tone. "We'd just get stuff like the French Revolution and that was not a fun time." He then pointed out.
"French Revolution?" Yomi innocently repeated in confusion.
Akira however sweatdropped. "You know, it kinda involved a lot of beheading and death. Sort of completely changed the social and political structure of France and put an end to the French monarchy, feudalism, and took political power from the Catholic church." He soon informed, which only confused the blonde even more. "Note to self, get Yomi-chan a world history book." He thought to himself. "Japan kinda doesn't need that in the history books. Come on, there's this guy I know who's running for the Diet. He would love to meet you and hear your story." He then suggested, already guiding her to the crowd of people outside Shibuya Station.
"A-A Diet member candidate?" Yomi got out in shock. "And...you know him?" She then questioned in a curious manner.
"Yeah. Better than most of the other shitty adults in my life..." Akira muttered under his breath. "Save for my confidants." He mentally added.
"O-Okay...but I know politicians. They're nothing but perverted, money-grubbing, self-absorbed, pig-fucking lizard people." Yomi stated as she crossed her arms under her breasts.
"Hey, only most politicians are." Akira insisted. "This one is a real good guy, I promise." He then revealed as he offered a hand to her.
"I'm trusting you. But if he even gets close to touching me, you both will disappear from the face of the earth." Yomi grumbled as they headed out.
(Station Square)
"Toranosuke-san's speech will begin in 10 minutes! Please stay at least two meters away from the stand!"
"The crowd's even bigger than last time..." Akira thought in an impressed manner.
"W-Wow, that's why there's so many people here? All for this one man?" Yomi gasped in surprise.
"You must be behind on your news, Yomi-chan." Akira got out with a smirk before bringing her behind the decommissioned train car, where the man himself was preparing for his next speech. "Excuse me, Yoshida." He soon called out.
"Hm? Akira!" Toranosuke greeted in a happy tone. It was always good to see the boy. "How has your...um...studies been going?" He soon asked with a knowing wink.
"Really well, Yoshida-san." Akira answered with a smile. "I'd like you to meet a friend of mine." He soon got out as he stood aside, allowing the politician to see the blonde.
"Um...hello." Yomi meekly greeted.
"Hello, young lady." The kind politician replied with a wave. "What's your name?" He soon asked.
"Yomi. Yomi Akutabi." The blonde introduced herself with a bow. Her respect for him was already rising, as so far he had not looked down at her boobs.
"Ah, what a lovely name." Yoshida replied and complimented. "Now, why did Akira here introduce you to me?" He soon asked.
"He said you would love to meet me." Yomi mumbled, looking away from the man.
"Well, I love meeting new people. I'm Toranosuke Yoshida. Do you have any questions?" Yoshida introduced and pressed on.
Yomi couldn't help but blush, suddenly feeling shy. "U-Um..." She stammered out.
The Leader meanwhile placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder, causing her to slightly jump while he chuckled in amusement. "Go on. He won't hurt you." Akira encouraged while sharing a smile with the unyielding politician.
Soon, Yomi took in a deep breath as she regained her composure. "Well...What do you think about the poor?" She eventually asked.
"The poor?" Yoshida repeated as he hummed and started to think about it. "Hmm...Well, I assure you that I do not look down on them. Actually, I look up to them." He soon answered as the Leader stood back from the surprised blonde and watched the man go and make his speech off-the-cuff. "I am not made out of money myself, but not having somewhere to sleep and warm one's self...I doubt I would last very long on the streets."
"The homeless and poor...they are a failure of this generation's actions. Way too many people your age end up begging for scraps, simply hoping one day they'll be able to get a roof over their heads. Even now, home ownership is becoming a more difficult dream to obtain."
By this point, Yomi was in awe of the man. How clear and passionately he spoke. She was hanging onto every word.
"I cannot say I've endured the same hardships the homeless have gone through, but I do know it is another stain in our country." Yoshida continued. "We should be cleaning them up, getting them back on their feet and allowing them to live the lives they deserve instead of sweeping them under the rug like most would do."
"The past generation has ignored the needs of the less fortunate, I'm sorry to say, but that's why we adults need to help the next generation fix the mistakes of the past." Toranosuke stated. "It's only a matter of time where you and all the children in the country are running the place, and I wish for you to not repeat the mistakes of our forefathers." He finally concluded. "Now, I ask you...why did you ask such a question in the first place?" He soon asked in a concerned manner.
"...Well...I...I used to live in the slums..." Yomi began before telling her story prior to entering Hebijo, ending it with her parents sacrificing themselves so she'd have enough to eat.
"So that's why..." Akira thought to himself as he narrowed his eyes in a sympathetic manner.
Once she was done, Yoshida let it process in his mind. "...My...what hardship you've gone through..." He managed to get out, his voice shaking.
"H-Hai..." Yomi responded, her voice a little strained from having to recall those memories.
"How are you now? Are you living comfortably?" Yoshida soon asked in a worried tone.
"Oh! I um...I...I'm doing well..." Yomi responded after snapping out of it.
"Well, if you ever need someone, don't be afraid to ask for help. I'm sure there'll be someone there to pick you up." Yoshida assured with a kind smile.
"You don't have to worry about that." Yomi giggled. "I have people like Akira-kun who will do just that." She then explained.
"Well someone has to be." Akira quipped out with a smirk.
Yoshida gave the boy a smile before remembering he had to make a speech in a few minutes. "I'm about to make a speech. Do you mind if I tell your story in my speech today? I promise you'll remain anonymous." He soon requested.
"I...I don't mind." Yomi breathed out, still surprised by this request.
"Thank you. It won't take long." Yoshida responded with a smile and a nod.
Akira let out a breath before taking the girl's hand. "Come on. Let's try and get a good view." He soon suggested.
Yomi could only dumbly nod in response as the two got into the crowd, close enough just as the politician's speech began.
"It has come to my attention that homelessness and poverty still riddles the streets of Japan." Yoshida began as the crowd gave him his full attention. "A shameful, horrendous thought that children, who should be at school learning about our world, are forced to eat the trash of more fortunate folk."
"H-He's really doing it..." Yomi quietly breathed out in awe.
"Oh yeah he is." Akira replied with a nod.
"Today, I heard a story. Of a young woman who has fought for survival ever since she was born." Toranosuke continued. "A story that shouldn't be written. Nor recorded, so please, I request you all put your phones and other recording devices down. Rather, it should be told and passed around through word of mouth. For free, so many others can be inspired by her will." He then stated.
"Only minutes earlier, I met a young woman who asked me about the homeless and poor. A topic I regretfully haven't thought much of. But her story opened my eyes at the cruelty we do not see in this country. No formal education, forced to eat from garbage thrown away just to survive to the next day. It was a wonder she looked so healthy." Yoshida soon revealed.
"However, I am sad to say her parents cannot be here today. They have perished, sacrificing their lives to ensure their daughter lives to this day. This story is not unique, but the outcome is rare. She now lives comfortably, with friends that will stay with her until her dying breath. I am sure that her story is shared with many children in our country, and I am also sure that they do not end quite as happily as her own. I see businesses and public places that put measures to prevent the homeless from sleeping within their areas, where that money could be spent helping them to their feet and giving them another shot at life."
"Not all criminals turn to crime for power, money or lust. But simply to survive, because they have nowhere else to go and no one willing to accept people who do not live as fortunate as them. These people, rejected by society, all wanted a place to belong but never truly given a chance to do so."
"We are all human, and we all need to help each other. This generation has all but squandered their charity on frivolous pursuits. Everyone here should have a home and something to eat every day. But you, today, could better the world by simply giving to the less fortunate. One day we won't have stories like that young woman's, who has lost everything due to the neglect of others. But, to have that in our lifetimes, we need to ensure the kids of today become the heroes of the future. I am not a wealthy man...but I will do my best to ensure her story will never be told again." Toranosuke concluded.
"Shit...that's...pretty true..."
"Poor girl..."
"I'm not crying, I'm ejaculating from my eyes..."
Suddenly, the Leader began to hear sniffling, confusing him before turning to his blonde companion of the night. "Yomi-chan...are you crying?" Akira got out in concern and surprise.
"His...His speech was s-so beautiful..." Yomi sniffled with watery eyes.
"Yeah. It was." Akira got out with a smile. "You understand now?" He soon asked.
"I...I think I do..." Yomi got out as she wiped away her tears and put on a smile. "...I'm gonna fight for some real change in this world. A revolution that will create a world where everyone is equal." She then declared.
"Yeah!" Akira cheered before coughing as he realized what the blonde just said. "Wait, no! Th-That sounds like an animal farm. Dial it back, dial it back!" He then quickly corrected.
"Oh..." Yomi muttered. "Then...I should focus on the idle rich, rather than anyone with more money." She then got out in an assured tone.
"There we go." Akira breathed in relief.
"Yeah..." Yomi sighed. "Once I leave Hebijo, we're gonna go on missions that'll rob the ones who do nothing and give it back to the one who needs it most. Like the Phoenix Conglomerate. I mean, they enslave children and make them harvest water!" She then stated.
"Sounds like fun. Wanna let me join?" Akira chuckled.
"I don't know about that...but I'll send you an invite once you're strong enough." Yomi replied with a small giggle. "If anything...I bet the Phantom Thieves will do something about them one day." She soon assumed.
"Post the CEO's name on the site and wait then." Akira suggested.
"I will." Yomi giggled before letting out a breath. "This was...This was really nice. Thank you." She soon admitted as she then hugged the boy.
"Now will you stop robbing your friends?" Akira soon asked. "And yes, I heard about that from the others." He then revealed.
"Maaaaybeeee..." The frugal blonde got out in a playful manner.
"Don't tease." Akira chuckled. "But seriously, stop robbing your friends. I think they might stab you." He then advised, any sign of joking wiped from his face.
Yomi soon began to recall the remarks of the greenette's growing frustration. "I'll...keep that in mind." She soon responded.
Akira simply chuckled to that. "Well...I gotta go. Meeting up with someone. See you around, Yomi-chan." He then got out as he hugged the girl. He then paused as he remembered where she was before and pulled away. "...And be sure to take a bath." He then added.
"I will. Bye, Akira-san." Yomi replied before heading off.
Forgetting about the salaryman still in the trash can. It seemed he had fallen asleep there.
(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment)
"WWWWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Asuka cried out as she wiped her face with tissues. Though it also earned a knock on their wall, courtesy of the white haired woman.
"Sis, calm down. I only lost feeling in my legs for 20 minutes." Homura tried to comfort her roommate, and instantly regretted the words coming out of her mouth.
"Waaaaaaah! Someone tried to kill Homu-neechaaaaaaaan!" Asuka cried while hugging the girl in mention.
"Hey, hey, come on Sis, it's ok." Homura reassured while rubbing the girl's head. "They didn't do all that good of a job poisoning me after all." She then grumbled before taking a bite of her sugar cookie. "God these cookies are so good. Just the right amount of sweetness." She soon breathed out in satisfaction.
"I'm glad you like them. I made them myself." Asuka sniffled. They were shaped like hearts.
"That's what you spent your day doing?" Homura soon asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Only after coming home." Asuka replied. "Still on my break from my modeling job." She then reminded.
"Ah." Homura got out as she remembered that. "Well, I may as well get some last minute training in before bed. Shinobi-MMPH!?"
"You are going to bed now and staying in bed tomorrow." Asuka however stated in a tone filled with authority.
"S-Sis!?" Homura got out in shock.
"As Vice Leader, I order you to stay inside until we figure out who tried to kill you." "You've done so much already, so do
"Sis, I need to do this." Homura soon stated in a more serious tone. "If someone dies just to get to me...I'd never be able to live with myself." She soon explained. "I already made that mistake with Shiho, I can't ever do that again..." She then reminded.
"But...I...I don't want to lose you..." Asuka mumbled in concern.
"I don't want to lose you either. That's why I'm going out tomorrow." Homura stated with a fierce look on her face. "We're each other's sword and shield. If I can fight, then I won't stay here and let you guys do all the work. This is my fight."
"...No Homu-neechan, this is our fight now." Asuka however corrected in a serious tone. "We are family, I will not be leaving you out of this." She then declared.
"Thanks." Homura replied as she rubbed her sister's head. "...Should Gramps know about this?" She then asked.
Asuka however shook her head to that. "We can't always rely on Jii-chan, we have to grow up sometime." She responded and reminded.
"So it's just us and the Phantom Thieves." Homura muttered. "They'll never see it coming! Let's track down this assassin. Together."
"Together." Asuka responded before yawning. "Erm, tomorrow." She then corrected.
"Hehehe, tomorrow." Asuka giggled before heading to the bedroom.
"...We're not sleeping naked this time?" Homura asked in disbelief, realizing she was still in her sexy purple underwear.
Asuka simply nodded to that as she took her own clothes off, revealing her sexy black bra and panties. "Yup." She replied while getting into the futon.
"...When did you get a black pair of underwear Sis?" Homura soon asked in confusion, resisting the urge to blush.
"I've always had black underwear." Asuka reminded before frowning. "Or...wait...is this yours?" She then mumbled.
"I dunno, we have so much it doesn't really matter." Homura replied with a shrug. "At least you look sexy in it, Sis." She then quipped with a smirk.
"H-Homu-neechan..." Asuka stammered with a blush before calming herself down. "At least it's better than not having any at all." She soon pointed out. "And way better than a bunch of bandages." She then teasingly reminded.
"You're never gonna let me live that down huh? I used to think they were a hassle..." Homura sighed with a sweatdrop. "There are other problems about me you should be worrying about." She then pointed out.
"I know, but your health is important to me." Asuka replied and declared. "I mean, I don't want you to get Gi...Giganto...That thing Dr. Takemi told me, what the hell was it..." She then started before trying to recall the term.
"Speaking of the doctor..." Homura however muttered, grabbing a glass and a bottle of pills in the kitchen. She then quickly filled the glass with water before returning back to the bedroom. "...This won't make me want to, I don't know, try and have sex with the door, is it?" She soon wondered out loud.
Asuka's eyes immediately widened to that as she looked at her sister in disbelief. "What? Ew, did you even think of that!?" She responded in shock and confusion.
"I dunno, it was just the first thing that came into my mind." Homura replied while blushing a bit. "I've drinken and consumed so much weird stuff over the years, all with varying effects, so just...stand back." She then explained and warned.
"I mean, we have been using Takemi-sensei's medicine for a while now, and it hasn't done anything to us." Asuka pointed out with a frown.
"Yet." The tan skinned girl grumbled. "Bottoms up!" Homura soon announced as she then went over and took the two pills as instructed...
GULP!
Followed by downing some water and taking in a deep breath.
"Are you ok Homu-neechan?" Asuka soon asked.
"Woo! That has a little kick." Homura breathed out before slapping her cheeks. "...I really need to go to the toilet now..." She then informed in concern.
"I guess that's how you uh...expel the poison." Asuka assumed with a blush.
"Oh, it better not be a weird color..." Homura muttered as she headed for the bathroom, slipping her underwear down with ease.
"Huh, I thought that kind of underwear would be hard to get off." Asuka admitted as her roommate entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
"Surprisingly not." Homura casually replied from the other side. "Mmmm~" She moaned out in relief. "Oooooh yeah~ I'm feeling a lot better now~" She soon informed.
"Really?" Asuka called out in concern.
"Yeah~" Homura breathed out. "Akira's doctor's good. Really good." She then admitted. "What the hell is that color?" She soon suddenly asked.
"Homu-neechan?" Asuka called out once more.
"Just a second!" Homura responded.
FLUSH!
"And now it's the city's water filtration's problem!" Homura declared in relief and satisfaction as she came out after washing her hands and laying back into the futon.
"Should I be worried about that last comment?" Asuka soon asked as she grabbed the blanket and pulled it over their forms.
"Nope!" Homura happily replied as she hugged her sister.
SMOOSH!
"It's been a long day today, so...let's just sleep and hope tomorrow's better." Homura muttered as she snuggled her head into her pillow before wrapping her arms around her sister.
"Alright. Good night." Asuka responded as the two cuddled up, drifting off to a peaceful sleep.
Meanwhile in her own apartment, Miyabi was pacing about while her eyes were narrowed in a serious manner. "Who the hell would be reckless enough to try and poison an Elite?" She muttered in confusion.
"Someone who does not care for their life." Nobunga answered in a no nonsense tone while narrowing her eyes.
The white haired woman's eyes soon widened, realizing what that meant. "...Revenge. Of course." Miyabi realised. "But there are plenty of people who want revenge. I want revenge! And I definitely have people trying to kill me." She then muttered.
"Achoo!" A certain pair of twins sneezed.
"This is going to be tough to figure out..." Miyabi muttered. "A threat to one of us is a threat to all of us. We just need to find who it is..." She then declared as a dark aura covered her body while summoning her katana.
"Why are you summoning your weapon? You have no leads, and thus no target." Nobunaga soon questioned in a deadpan tone.
"...Instinctive..." Miyabi awkwardly confessed as she recalled her weapon.
"..." Judging silence. Such nothing could convey so much brutality.
"D-Don't judge me!" Miyabi soon demanded before pouting. "I don't need my own self patronizing...me...I have a headache." She began to yell, only to trail off as she realised what she was saying. "Sleep. Sleep would be good." She then decided as she headed for bed.
(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)
Akira frowned as he stared at his phone. Morgana was asleep, having spent a lot of his energy freaking out for the past two hours before fainting. He had informed the Thieves, but he had also informed Crimson Squad of the situation as well.
Their reactions were varied.
Mirai wanted to come to Tokyo once again, this time guns blazing. She already pushed it going once, he wasn't excited about her chances doing it again.
Hikage...actually took it in stride. As long as Homura survived...and didn't eat to think about what would've happened if she didn't.
Yomi...he completely forgot to tell her. Fuck!
And Haruka...he was talking to her at this very moment...
"Homura-chan was poisoned!?" Haruka exclaimed in shock.
And she was panicking already.
"Hasn't she been poisoned before?" Akira pointed out. "Sometimes by you, Haruka-chan?" He then added.
"This is different!" Haruka exclaimed, causing the Leader to wince as he then heard her calm down. "Ugh, I should've been at the clinic. Takemi-sensei doesn't know enough about shinobi poisons to create an antidote. If Homura-chan's resistance wasn't enough, she would've died." She soon stated.
"Think I should tell the others in your group?" Akira soon asked.
"Knowing you, you saved me for last." Haruka sighed.
"...I honestly forgot Yomi-chan." Akira soon confessed.
"Still counts." The busty doctor in training responded before sighing. "I'll tell her after this call. Still, for someone to poison Homura to where she passed out, it must have been very potent." Haruka soon admitted. "This definitely had to be a shinobi. No way conventional poisons would be able to do such a thing." She then stated.
"I assumed as much." Akira muttered. "I think I'm gonna see Homura tomorrow as well. Work on hunting down her assassin." He then decided.
"Let me join." Haruka soon requested.
"You are busy saving lives. Don't worry, I got this." Akira assured. "...And I'll treat you to another session." He then muttered.
"No amount of temptation will stop me from protecting my friends." Haruka however stated. "I'll take the day off and ghost you two. Ensure your safety." She then got out.
The Leader frowned before shaking his head. No point in arguing. "Okay." Akira got out. "Asuka's probably going to do the same." He then muttered under his breath.
"Homura-chan's roommate?" Haruka guessed in confusion. "...Is she a shinobi?" She soon questioned in a more serious tone.
"Uh...no. Just very protective." Akira lied, sweating a bit to the blunder he almost made.
"Then why would she be-" Haruka began to ask, causing the Leader to think fast.
"I told her that Homura was almost run over." Akira interrupted. "Transport incidents, you know." He then got out with a shrug.
"Ah, good thinking." Haruka replied in relief. "I still have some work to do, so allow me to finish that up before I go home." She soon informed.
"You should tell Takemi that, not me." Akira pointed out as he stared up at the attic ceiling. "Tomorrow, we'll search the town." He muttered with a frown.
"Ufufu~ They'll pay for trying to hurt one of us." Haruka responded.
"Let's just hope there'll be something of them left." Akira added. "Get some sleep tonight, okay? We don't want you fighting if you're not at 100%." He then ordered.
"Okay..." Haruka sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow, darling." She then concluded.
"See you too. Goodnight." Akira replied before putting his phone on charge.
Time to sleep, and then turn Tokyo all over to find the culprit.
Save Game…Quit!
Asuka/Yin's Social Stats:
Leadership- Dependable (Level 3)
Knowledge- Expert (Level 3)
Proficiency- Skilled (Level 3)
Diligence- Thorough (Level 4)
Courage- Daring (Level 4)
Homura/Yang's Development Stats:
Maturity- Managed (Level 3)
Knowledge- Expert (Level 3)
Femininity- Natural (Level 4)
Elegance- Disciplined (Level 3)
Understanding- Generous (Level 3)
Whew! Done! I should've uploaded this sooner considering it has been finished for at least a couple hours. And I'm gonna be honest, I do not like writing the video game hangouts but we have at least dozen of these things as well as a full-on magical girl thing that could easily take up an entire chapter that I hope doesn't give Homura more superpowers because I haven't read through the entire thing yet. Next chapter deals with Homura's assassin and then a time skip straight to Futaba's awakening. Maybe.
UknownHero signing off, my friends!
