I just speedrun Monster Hunter Rise on PC for a special occasion. Hey, UknownHero here and welcome to another chapter of Senran Persona!

Senran Persona: Ninjas of Hearts has a TV Tropes page! Check it out or else!

Onto the reviews: To a random Guest: We didn't detail when Ryuji and Ann got their second awakenings since we don't really go into the game's Confidants. It's just assumed at some point that Akira gets all the ranks in the background. And the Senran Kagura girls will get their second awakenings soon. To another random Guest: Is Akira dating Homura? Well… you'll see in Hawaii.

And so…that's it! Time to find out why your world is crashing down!

Load Game…Start!


Chapter 105: Don't Fear the Research


(9/3, Early Morning)

(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)

"Not a day goes by without me thinking 'bout the way the world stopped mid-motion~" Homura sang as she cut the vegetables before carefully placing them into bento boxes.

"When you walked into my life and we connected like we'd shared the same mad potion~!" Asuka continued as she poured green tea into a pair of thermoses before screwing the caps on.

"Lunches are ready, Sis." Homura informed as she sealed the bentos, one wrapped in a red ribbon and the other with a green one.

"Thanks Homu-neechan, your lunches are the best." Asuka replied with a grin.

"Oh, you flatter me so much." Homura giggled in amusement with a softer and well-mannered tone with a hand to her mouth.

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with saying the truth." Asuka countered. "You could go pro with how good you are." She then added.

After all, she heard from Daidōji-senpai that your femininity correlates with your cooking ability and these days, the tan skinned girl was very feminine.

"Stop flattering me. We've had this conversation before. If anything, you should go pro." Homura soon requested and suggested.

Asuka blinked. "...I already am." She then reminded.

"I-I know. Just saying." Homura got out, blushing as she tried to hide by tying up the bentos in cloth.

The duo soon became a giggling mess as the morning before heading to school went on like usual.

BZZT! BZZT!

Instinctively, the sisters took out their phones and entered the group chat.

[Road2Queen: Futaba, did you get the USB?]

[Alibaba9: Fo' sho.]

(...)

[Alibaba9: Yes.]

[Alibaba9: Ahh...to have a ninja at your beck and call is way too fun.]

[Shut7heFUp: What're you talking about this early in the morning?]

[DarkEyeXI: Makoto extracted the data and I delivered it to Futaba last night.]

[TheWildJ0ker: Well done, Queen, Serpent.]

[FireGirl20: Didn't you say getting help would overcomplicate the task?]

[Road2Queen: I...ran into some difficulties. But don't worry, it's fine now.]

[Road2Queen: Right?]

[Alibaba9: Other than how long this is taking! Seriously, I gave it the entire night and it's still processing! God, I need to order some new RAM!]

[Alibaba9: Stupid Msty USBs!]

[Negative8Degrees: ETA?]

[Alibaba9: 7 hours. Give or take.]

[TheWildJ0ker: That's about a school day. Let's meet up in Futaba's room after classes.]

[SushiRoll23: That sounds good.]

[Alibaba9: I'm gonna punish you if you're lateee!]

[FireGirl20: ...I don't want to know what that is.]

"Well, it appears as though we have a meeting, then." Homura stated.

Asuka in response nodded. "Yeah. I hope Futaba-chan was able to find something from Makoto-chan's sister." She replied.

"I hope it's gonna be useful info in that laptop of hers." Homura admitted as she got her bag.

"Yeah." Asuka replied with another nod. "And I hope Makoto-chan doesn't get into any more trouble with her sister. I mean...to be living with someone out to get you without even knowing..." She then started before trailing off.

"Sis...we were like that at the start of the year." Homura pointed out. "Technically. Mostly because of rampant paranoia. But yeah, I don't think their relationship can take anymore hits like that. Being a Phantom Thief would destroy that." She soon added.

"...You think we can help fix it?" The Vice Leader asked in concern.

"I don't know." Homura confessed. "We've practically been two peas in a pod since we met. I wouldn't know a thing about fixing a sibling relationship. Besides, it's between them. We should stay out of it." She then admitted.

"I guess you're right...but that won't stop me from helping at least a little." Asuka declared with a fire in her eyes.

"Oh, I never said to not do anything." Homura stated. "Maybe some nudges here and there." She then got out with a shrug.

Meanwhile, Asuka looked at her phone as she began her own discussion.

[SushiRoll23: Miyabi-sensei, can we have a training session after the meeting today?]

(...)

[SushiRoll23: Sensei?]

[DarkEyeXI: Fine. Where do you wish to meet at this time?]

(...)

[SushiRoll23: Inokashira Park.]

[DarkEyeXI: Very well.]

[DarkEyeXI: I'll meet you at the park then after the meeting.]

[SushiRoll23: Hai, see you then sensei.]

"Come along Sis, time to go." Homura called out from the door.

"Hai!" Asuka responded, pocketing her phone as the two headed for school for the day.


(9/3, Morning)

(Shujin Academy, Classroom)

"Next week is the school trip you've all been looking forward to...Have you been getting ready?" The class's current teacher, Mr Inui, questioned his class with crossed arms. "Your destination is none other than Hawaii. I hope your passport isn't about to expire. You're heading out on Wednesday, so there's no time to get a new one printed." He then explained further, getting murmurs from the students.

"Wait what?" Asuka got out in confusion before raising a hand. "Um, Inui-sensei? I thought it was scheduled on Monday." She then asked their current proctor.

"Hm?" Inui hummed as he noticed the hand raise of the brunette. "Ah, you must've been misinformed. It's definitely Wednesday." He then reassured her.

"Oh." Asuka got out, blinking to this.

"Kawakami must've messed up the date..." Akira thought with a frown. However, given her current situation, he couldn't blame her.

"Anyhow, I'm sure you'll enjoy your time sightseeing in Hawaii more if you have more knowledge." Inui soon stated. "Please turn to page 217 and look at the picture." He then instructed his students.

It was a picture of a man in robes holding a spear, with a red square over his right hand.

"Hmmm...Takamaki-chan." Inui decided as the ash blonde's head snapped up from what she was doing on her desk. "This is King Kamehameha, the founder of Hawaii."

"...The Dragon Ball guy?" Ann whispered. Instantly, to the other Thieves, they knew she was doomed to get whatever the question was wrong.

"In this famous statue, he's holding a spear in his left hand, but what does he have in his right?" Inui soon asked. "Don't cheat and check the next page now." He then warned.

"Uhhh..." Ann got out before silently begging her friends to help out.

"Nothing." Homura mouthed off.

"Oh! It's...nothing! He isn't holding anything!" Ann answered.

"Correct!" Inui exclaimed with a clap of his hands. "His right hand is said to represent a symbol of prosperity; the spear in his left, Hawaii's peace. As an aside, it seems that this statue is not of King Kamehameha himself." He then elaborated.

"Eh?" Asuka gasped in a surprised manner.

"After Kamehameha's death, another king commissioned the statue, using a boy from his court as the model." Inui continued his explanation. "I hope you will make the most out of your five days there. Let me just say that I have a fondness for macadamia nuts, so..." He soon began.

"And he's gonna talk about macadamia nuts until class ends..." Homura thought with a sweatdrop as the teacher began rambling. "Hmm, I wonder what kind of dishes I could make with macadamia nuts..." She then thought to herself.

"Souvenirs, huh..." Morgana muttered. "I definitely wouldn't want to get some wooden figurine. I can't understand why people would send things like that as gifts..." He then admitted.

"Hey, they're part of the culture. Plus, there are plenty of people who find them cool or cute." Akira whispered as the lesson went on, with his and the girls' Knowledge increasing all the while.


(9/3, After School)

(Shinjuku, New Moon Apartment Complex)

Shiki snapped back to reality and sat up, already grabbing her phone to check the time.

3:30 PM. She had just spent another day staring up at the ceiling and doing nothing ever since the light gray haired girl left for school this morning.

"Way to take care of yourself, Shiki." The fashionista sarcastically grumbled as she picked herself off the ground. "I should probably head back to my hotel room, maybe treat myself to a doughnut. It would be better than laying around doing sweet FA for the next few days." She muttered and admitted.

Pipipipipipipi!

Shiki swallowed, barely even glancing at her phone to even know who was calling. There was the option of simply not picking up and continuing to waste away in her friend's apartment, but cursing her phone addiction and social life, had already answered it by the time she decided she wouldn't do it.

"Shiki." A familiar voice called out.

"M-Murakumo-chii." Shiki stammered, not feeling ready to face the masked girl even over the phone. "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey..." She then greeted, attempting to sound as casual as possible.

Murakumo, for what it's worth, didn't say anything about her weird-ass greeting. "You're on speaker phone. Everyone's here." She informed.

Shiki pushed down a whimper before taking a deep breath. "How was school?" She soon asked, wanting to lighten the mood a little.

"..." Silence however was the only response.

"...You guys didn't go to school...right." Shiki then realized, silently slapping her forehead.

"We...asked permission from the higher-ups to excuse us from classes for...an obvious reason." Murakumo informed from the phone.

"Planning a funeral takes time." Yozakura sighed. "And arranging the cremation is...morbid to say the least." She then confessed in an uncomfortable tone.

"Why can't we get someone older to take care of all this...?" Minori whined.

"He's our grandfather. It should be our responsibility." Murakumo stated before letting out a breath. "I was sorting through his stuff all day, trying to find anything he left for us. At least I found his contact list so it won't just be us at the funeral." She revealed.

"How many are there?" Shiki soon asked.

"...Two." Murakumo sadly answered.

"...Okay, that just made me sadder..." Shiki groaned.

"It's probably not as bad as Yumi." Murakumo soon assumed. "How is she handling it?" She then asked.

Shiki coughed harshly after gasping in too much air. It actually took a few seconds for her to recover. "A-About that..." She began before trailing off.

"Shiki..." Murakumo responded in an accusatory tone.

"I...may have...avoided the topic..." Shiki shamefully admitted.

"What!? You haven't told her yet!?" Yozakura exclaimed in concern.

"You better have a good reason." Murakumo stated.

"I...I couldn't do it. I'm sorry." Shiki muttered in worry and guilt. "I just...couldn't..." She soon confessed in shame.

"Shiki-chan..." Minori mumbled.

"She was just...so happy to see me..." Shiki explained in a hesitant manner. "I just...can't ruin the moment for her. Like, seriously..." She then admitted, tears staining her eyes.

"Shiki..." Murakumo got out in concern.

"...It's not like we can blame her." Yozakura got out with a sigh. "...I'll try calling her later." She then decided.

"Thanks Yozakura-chii." Shiki responded in a graceful manner as she then proceeded to wipe away her tears while having a couple of sniffs on her nose. "Ugh, I need a hanky or something. Don't wanna ruin one of my favorite shirts." She then muttered.

"Go ahead. Take your time to pick yourself up." Yozakura responded.

Shiki nodded at that as she pulled out a handkerchief from one of her denim jacket's pockets with her free hand and wiped her face and nose properly before taking a deep breath.

"Are you feeling okay now, Shiki-chan?" Minori soon asked after a few moments.

"Y-Yeah...yeah, I'm good now." Shiki responded with a nod. "Sorry." She then apologized.

"Leave it to me to contact Yumi about Kurokage-sama's passing..." Yozakura once more requested. "I've...already got the arrangement as to where he will be buried for the funeral." She then hesitantly informed.

"That fast?" Shiki responded with widened eyes before gaining a solemn expression.

"Hai, the funeral will be on September 20th." Yozakura responded and informed.

Shiki hummed in response with a nod. "Got it." She replied, still trying to accept the reality of their situation right now. "Still, it's pretty far away for the funeral." She then admitted.

"I'm sure Yumi-san can make it, even if she's busy with her new...job..." Yozakura responded.

"Speaking of which, did you at least find out why she became an idol in the first place?" Murakumo meanwhile asked. "We all know it seems...unlike her to pursue something like this." She then reminded.

"Uh, yeah, Yumi-chii told me about it a little, actually." Shiki replied with a nod as she calmed herself with a couple of breaths. "She seemed so...happy...proud that she was doing this..." She then revealed.

"You said that. And...to be honest, I don't think I'd fare any better." Yozakura confessed.

"Still, this makes things more difficult..." Murakumo soon stated in an uncomfortable tone. "The longer we wait, the worse the pain gets." She then added.

"I know." Shiki groaned. "Life sucks sometimes, doesn't it?" She simply got out.

"Hai..." Minori agreed.

"Where is Yumi, anyways?" Yozakura had to ask.

"I dunno. Probably hanging out with her new friends." Shiki replied with a shrug.

"Oh! You mean like Akira-nii?" Minori guessed.

"Probably." Shiki responded. "Oh yeah, I met the guy." She then revealed. "...Murakumo-chii, Yozakura-chii, you picked a good one." She eventually admitted.

"Huh?" Minori innocently got out in confusion.

"Yeah. He was a total gentleman. A good charmer and a looker too." Shiki confessed and revealed with a smirk.

"!?" Yozakura and Murakumo got out.

"Eh, Murakumo-chan? Yozakura-chan? Your faces are red. Are you okay?" Minori innocently asked.

"I-It's nothing." Yozakura stammered. "What did he do?" She soon asked in anticipation.

The smirk soon faded from the blonde's face before sighing. "I...I just wasn't ready to even head to Yumi's apartment to even talk to her. Then, like some movie, he comes up to me and asks me what's wrong." Shiki responded and revealed. "H...He helped so much in so little time..." She then confessed.

"...Akira-kun can be like that..." Murakumo admitted in a mumble.

"Akira-kun is smart, and there's no way she wouldn't mention her grandfather beforehand." Yozakura soon remembered. "Wouldn't he put two and two together and...tell her?" She then pointed out.

"...Oh fuck..." Shiki cursed inwardly. "Uh...is it bad to hope that he's dumb?" She then admitted.

"Yes. Yes it is." Yozakura deadpanned. "No...we can't make assumptions. That's what got us in this mess in the first place. We have to make things right...directly." She then declared.

"Right." Shiki replied in agreement. "...So, are you going to call her now?" She then asked.

"..." The other side soon went silent with no one responding.

"...Is that a no?" Shiki guessed.

"N-No, I-I'm just...busy...right now." Yozakura stammered out, probably blushing all the while.

"...We're all cowards..." Murakumo groaned as the blonde heard the audible thud of her mask meeting the wall. "EEP!" She yelped out.

"And that's another few thousand yen down the drain..." Yozakura sighed. "We'll call her today. I promise." She then reassured.

"You better. Bye." Shiki sighed with a shake of head before hanging up.

Shiki didn't feel like cooking, so she simply ordered online, splurging on a few comfort foods.

Maybe that'll make the resulting meltdown she'd have to face easier.


(Yongen-Jaya, Futaba's Room)

Meanwhile, the Phantom Thieves had all gathered in the young hacker's room, waiting for all that data to load in her computer. Ryuji had dumped a pile of magazines and pamphlets onto the floor earlier and began reading one of them.

"Ugghh, is it done yet?" Ryuji got out in a whiny tone, earning him a smack in the back of the head. "Itte!" He then cried in pain.

"Give it a minute." The orangette replied, still working on her computer magic. "Wait...an hour. No, ten minutes. Hold a day...year...month...okay now it's done. Now to just load all the data into an unstandable format..." She then continued.

Ann let out a sigh before grabbing one of the pamphlets. "Whoa, you grabbed all these? Are they for Hawaii?" The ash blonde assumed as she studied the pictures of hula girls and pineapple-based dishes.

"If we're gonna lay low, we might as well enjoy it." Ryuji pointed out before turning the page of his magazine. "Aww, look at this one! Gigantic sea-turtle sightseein' on some beach." He then got out in an excited tone.

"Come on, food's more important than some turtle." Ann scoffed before grabbing another pamphlet, which was all about the local delicacies available in the tropical island. "You really don't find steak this big and thick in Japan! Also...mahi-mahi? Is that some kind of fish? Think it's good?" She soon asked.

"Mahi-mahi is an excellent source of healthy, lean protein. It's also rich in Niacin, Vitamin B12, Phosphorus, and Selenium." Homura explained, only for some people in the room to stare at her. "...What? We have to learn what fish is edible anywhere in the world. Standard shinobi survival lessons." She explained as the other shinobi girls nodded in agreement.

"I thought you'd instantly go to the sweets section." Miyabi meanwhile pointed out.

"I don't always eat sweets." Ann scoffed as she rolled eyes, before instantly flipping to said sweets section. "Oooooohhhh...food coma here I come...~" She got out, drooling a little.

Homura meanwhile sighed. "I will allow it since we are essentially on a vacation." She responded.

"Thanks, Homura!" Ann happily exclaimed while hugging the tan skinned girl in a grateful and relieved manner.

"But that also means extra hard training to burn it all off." The tan skinned girl added with a smirk and a gleam in her eye.

"...Why did you have to mention that...?" Ann squeaked.

"It seems that it's the season for schools all around. We're going on our school trip as well." Yusuke informed.

"Yeah? Where you guys goin'?" Ryuji had to ask with a raised eyebrow.

"I believe it's Los Angeles." the young artist then responded with a thoughtful expression.

"Hai, we are indeed going to Los Angeles." Yumi confirmed with a nod. "I was asked to chaperone just today. One of the teachers is currently on maternity leave." She soon explained.

"Oh, congratulations to her." Asuka replied with a smile.

"Ahaha, that doesn't suit you guys at all!" Ryuji chuckled. "I bet you wanted to go somewhere like Nikko or Nara." He then guessed.

"Well...I did wish to go down the Tokaido trail..." Yumi admitted.

"Anywhere is acceptable. Natural mineral pigments used for Japanese art were also originally imported." Yusuke pointed out.

"Isn't Los Angeles a polluted hell hole where famous people go to die, an epicenter of the USA's murders and is one baseball player's death away from total anarchy?" Homura recalled with a raised eyebrow.

"No, that's Detroit." Ann corrected before stopping to think. "...No, wait, that's already happening..." She then muttered under her breath.

"Hawaii and Los Angeles..." Ryuji muttered before turning to the Leader. "Which do you wanna go to?" He soon asked.

"Engadine." Akira deadpanned.

"Australia?" Miyabi got out in an incredulous tone with a raised eyebrow.

"Dude, that place will kill you!" Ryuji however reminded in a worried tone.

"Isn't that the place where some big shit politician shit himself in a WcRonald's?" Futaba remembered with a raised eyebrow.

"There's a plaque." Ann remembered. "Australians are quite proud of that fact." She then informed.

Suddenly, the not cat let out a sigh. "So we won't be seeing each other for a while..." Morgana got out in a sad tone.

"I guess the only Thieves in Tokyo will be Futaba, Makoto, Morgana and Miyabi." Akira remarked as those team members perked up. "I consider that a good team." He then admitted.

"Uh...about that..." Makoto began.

"We'll make sure to buy a souvenir for you guys." Futaba interrupted her.

"Don't worry, we will." Asuka assured as she patted the hacker's head.

"Ooh, here comes some interesting data." Futaba announced as the Thieves gathered around the computer. "This is just from a quick glance...but it says perpetrated and connected a lot." She then stated and informed.

"Phrasing." Akira got out.

"I know what I said." Futaba countered with a grin, causing the others (save for the artist) to sweatdrop.

"We already know that mental shutdowns are being caused by someone." Miyabi muttered with a frown. "What's important here is that the police, or at least Makoto's sister, knows that they aren't a natural phenomenon but a targeted attack." She then added.

"Actually, it's not just about people having shutdowns." Futaba got out. "Looks like she's inferring that the psychotic breakdown incidents are connected to the same case." She then revealed.

"Go, Makoto's sis!" Ryuji cheered with a grin.

"Hm..." Yumi hummed with a frown. "I just realized...how do psychotic breakdowns even occur?" She soon asked.

"Mona?" Ann got out as they all turned to the not cat.

"I...I don't know." Morgana got out, his eyes widening in worry. "Killing someone's Shadow causes a shutdown but...I have no idea how people go into such a state. But it certainly has to involve something with their Shadow." He then assumed.

"So whoever's causing these incidents is doing something to them to cause such insanity." Asuka mumbled. "Maybe it was in your mother's research notes?" She then guessed as she looked towards the hacker.

"Nope. From what little I saw, there was nothing about psychotic breaks." Futaba informed with a shake of her head. "Whoever is causing them...it's entirely possible they know more about the Metaverse than we do..." She then got out, narrowing her eyes.

"Could it be the same people who falsely blamed Futaba?" Yusuke questioned.

"It's likely..." Makoto replied, her hands clenched into fists.

"No Miyabi, you can't murder them no matter how much you want to." Akira suddenly ordered. "...Make them quadriplegic instead." He then requested.

"Joker!" Morgana exclaimed.

"Kidding, kidding." The Leader quickly assured before leaning towards the white haired woman. "But seriously, I want them breathing through tubes for a while." He then whispered.

"Consider it done." Miyabi responded with a gleam in her eyes.

"How long do you think it'll take to analyze all of it?" Makoto asked.

"Hmm, there's a lot, so it's not happening overnight." Futaba answered as she checked how much RAM the entire process was taking. "But I'll manage by the time you guys get back. I demand souvenirs from Hawaii and LA for my reward." She then requested.

"I don't really get all this, but you're as amazing as always, Futaba!" Ann praised. "I guess it's called an information war? It's so high tech and modern, it kinda reminds me of a movie."

"We're the Phantom Thieves, so it's not that big a deal." Morgana muttered. "I mean, I can turn into a car and stuff too..." He then grumbled.

"And what a cute and comfortable car you are..." Asuka cooed as she petted the little guy.

"It is adorable." Ann admitted in agreement.

"Cute...adorable..." Morgana repeated in an uncomfortable tone. "Lady Asuka...Lady Ann...I..." He then began before trailing off.

"Hm?" Asuka hummed out as she tilted her head.

"Welp, we'll continue this when we get back from our trips." Ryuji interrupted. "I can't wait to see how much the Phantom Thieves' popularity has increased by then!"

"Hey, who knows, we might even be international." Miyabi pointed out. "Medjed wasn't just attacking Japan." She then added.

"Oh hell yeah!" Ryuji cheered with a fist pump. "The Phantom Thieves are takin' over the world!" He then declared.

"We're not taking over the world. We're helping it." Akira however reminded. "In the shadows, of course. Like a shinobi would do."

"...Does anyone wanna bet we have to change someone's heart while we're there?" Asuka then asked the others.

"..." The Thieves quickly cringed at the thought.

"If...the opportunity rises, then...maybe." Akira admitted.

"I guess there's nothing we can do but relax until we have our target..." Akira thought with a smile.

"I guess we're dismissed for the day." Homura decided. "I better head back to Shujin for a while for committee duties. With Fat Flubber in hot water, someone's have to make sure the school's intact. See ya soon, guys." She added before leaving with a quick vanish on the spot.

"Daaamn." Ryuji got out in awe. He's seen them pull that so many times already, but it never failed to amaze him.

"Such a convenient way of getting around." Makoto admitted.

"Shinobis are the best." Futaba sighed in happiness.

"Man, I wish I can learn to do that..." Ann muttered in amazement.

"You will." Akira thought with a smirk. Sparring sessions and training with Homura or Miyabi will eventually pay off for him and his fellow civilian Thieves one day.

"Oh, I have a few informants I have to talk to." Yumi remembered. "If I'm going to be out of the country, I need to ensure everyone will be fine for a week." She then explained.

"Uh, hey, why don't we meet up after you're done?" Akira suggested.

"Where?" Yumi asked as she faced him.

"Is Shinjuku fine?" Akira asked.

"I'd be in the area anyways." Yumi stated. "I'd be happy to see you then. How about...oh! There's a nice little restaurant I always wanted to visit. Plus, at lunch today, I was informed of a little surprise~" She then happily added.

"Alright." Akira nodded to that before heading out the door.

Time to make this week count.


(Shujin Academy, Courtyard)

GULP! GULP! GULP!

"Ah~!" Homura breathed out in satisfaction as she finished the container of milk she got from the vending machine. "All good to resume my patrol." She declared with a smile while throwing out the empty container.

As she tossed the milk carton into the trash can, she was about to resume her patrol until she remembered that she had a meeting with one of her committee members. "Right, Orimura-san should be at the gym." Homura soon muttered before heading over there.

She heads over to the gymnasium where he usually hangs out to have some time to himself. As she reached the door, she could hear some noises on the other side. A ball being dribbled and shoes squeaking on the court.

"Already in there." Homura noted with a nod as she then opened the door and entered the building.


(Gymnasium)

As Homura entered the gymnasium, she saw her committee member playing with the volleyball by bouncing it off the wall and passing it back. One had him taking a dive to catch it, but missed and fell right on the wooden floor as the ball rolled over to her feet. "He has a pretty good form." She thought to herself while picking the ball up.

Satoshi meanwhile sat up as he rolled his shoulder to make sure that it wasn't dislocated. "Okay, good. It's not dislocated. That would've been bad since this is my spiking arm." He muttered as he was about to grab his bottle of water, he felt another hand about to grab it as well. "Huh?" He got out in confusion as he turned to see the tan skinned girl right beside him.

"Good afternoon Orimura-san." Homura soon greeted in a calm and serene manner. "Ok Homura, act as though you are like Yumi-senpai and you'll be just fine." She mentally reminded herself as she focused on emanating one of her seniors she respected.

"Ahh! Shinkukage!?" Satoshi got out, jumping in surprise as he pulled his hand away from her. "I wasn't expecting you to be here sooner than I expected. I didn't really notice you." He then muttered with a blush as he felt just how soft and warm her hand is, but he tried not to let her notice.

"Well, I did not wish to interrupt your practice." Homura simply stated.

"Oh, I see. Thanks." Satoshi responded as he stood up. "Well, I'm glad that you came anyway. I thought that you'd still be on your patrol." He then added and pointed out.

"I was, but I decided to make time so we can talk." Homura replied.

"I see." Satoshi responded with a nod "So what's up? Anything you want to talk about in particular?" He then asked.

"Well, I would like to know a bit more about you if that is alright." Homura soon requested.

"More about myself?" Satoshi repeated as he raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "I guess I could tell you if that's what you want to know." He then replied.

"Good." Homura delightfully replied with a gentle smile while playfully tossing the volleyball in her hands before tossing it over to the boy. "Now let's get some more info on him." She meanwhile thought in anticipation.

Satoshi catches it with his hands before tossing it back to her. "I'm sure that you probably already know most of what I told you the other day, but there are a few things I didn't tell you before." He soon stated.

"I do recall some of it." Homura replied with a nod while catching it.

"Well, what I didn't tell you is that I wasn't like most kids growing up." Satoshi soon revealed.

This in turn caused the tan skinned girl to raise an eyebrow. "Really now." Homura responded in a curious manner.

"Yeah. My parents are real sticklers for rules." Satoshi soon confessed. "It was always 'Do your homework, Satoshi!' or 'Be polite to your superiors!' You wouldn't believe how demanding they were." He then added as he repeated some of the things they've said.

"Ah, over demanding parents." Homura got out as she nodded. "Just like my former family..." She thought to herself. "It is safe to assume they expected a lot from you, like having good grades and such?" She then guessed.

"In more ways than you can imagine. But somehow I think that it's more than just that." Satoshi replied with a despondent sigh.

"How so?" Homura in turn asked.

"What I mean is that I think that everything I've done wasn't really for me, but really for them." Satoshi answered in a despondent manner.

"?" Homura however just raised an eyebrow to that in confusion.

"They always say that they 'Know what's best for me', but anyone can tell that they're just lying through their teeth." Satoshi continued. "But because they're my parents, I really can't stand up to them and just do as they told me to do." He then added as he sighed.

"I see, so you feel as though you are on their leash." Homura soon stated, feeling sympathetic to the boy.

"A really short leash, at that." Satoshi responded with a sigh."If I ever step out of line or do things they don't approve of, my leash just gets even tighter. I couldn't even play with the other kids because I was always studying." He muttered as he had his hand around his neck to make it like something was choking him.

"I see..." Homura got out. "Is that...the reason you act so rude and even defend Kamoshida?" She then asked in a hesitant manner.

"Yeah, because I was taught to always follow orders of those in power." Satoshi replied with a despondent nod. "And because Kamoshida was the PE teacher here, I had no choice but to follow his orders." He then revealed.

"So what you said last time..." Homura realized with widened eyes.

"Yeah..." Satoshi got out as he nodded to this revelation. "It was because of them." He then responded.

"To think that was it..." Homura muttered as she picked up another volleyball.

"Sounds pretty pathetic, doesn't it?" Satoshi eventually asked. "Someone who can't stand up to their own parents and just follows orders like a dog. Kinda fitting for me, I suppose." He then added with a humorless chuckle.

"Honestly...it does..." Homura confessed, surprising the boy as he looked at her in disbelief. "But that just means you try and change for the better." She then declared.

"Change for the better? What are you talking about?" Satoshi asked in disbelief. "What makes you think that things can change?" He then added.

"Well, you are always going to be living with your parents? Are you going to let them control your entire life?" Homura soon questioned as she tossed the ball to the boy.

Satoshi in turn caught the ball, but was pushed back by the force of her throw. "I...I..." He struggled, at a loss for words.

"Orimura-san, we are all on the paths to becoming adults, so we can not just allow them to push us around like that." Homura soon declared. "Parents or not, they have to know that at one point that their children need to leave the nest." She then stated.

"Leave the nest...?" Satoshi repeated. "I don't really know...I just..." He soon muttered as he lowered his head while dropping the ball from his hands.

Homura however sighed as she saw how the boy was. "I apologize, I may have gone too far." She then got out.

The boy however shook his head in response. "No, it's alright. I just wasn't expecting you to actually give me advice that you'd usually get from your parents." Satoshi replied. "I just wasn't sure how to respond to it because no one has really given me any sort of talk like that." He then reassured.

"I see." Homura got out with a nod. "God, what the hell is with overbearing and over controlling parents?" She thought to herself in annoyance.

"But I don't know if it'll help me with my parents, I'll still consider your advice." Satoshi admitted as he smiled softly. "So thanks, for actually giving me something I really needed to hear." He then added.

"It is not a problem Orimura-san." Homura replied as she smiled, glad she was improving her bond with her committee member.

RANK UP! TOWER RANK 2!

Hardening Skin: Chance of increasing Endurance at the start of the battle.

Homura then looked towards the clock and saw how late it was getting. "Oh my, I did not think that much time had gone by. I better return to my patrol before heading out." She then confessed and informed.

"Then you better get going. Our buchou had better not set a bad example to the other students." Satoshi soon quipped.

Homura in response couldn't help but giggle in response with a hand covering her mouth. "True." She admitted in agreement as she turned to leave.

"Hey, Shinkukage?" Satoshi called out to her.

That got the tan skinned girl's attention as she looked back at her committee member just as she opened the door. "Yes?" She responded in curious confusion.

"You don't have to call me by my last name anymore. Just Satoshi is fine." Satoshi soon got out, looking away while blushing slightly.

Homura however just giggled in response with a hand covering her mouth. "Ufufu, I'll consider it Orimura-san." She replied in amusement.

"Yeah, sure. Homura." Satoshi mumbled, still blushing a bit at her.

Homura meanwhile simply just winked in response as she left the gym.


(Courtyard)

Homura felt proud of herself for helping her committee open up a little more and even finding out the real reason for his rude behavior that was stemmed from his overbearing parents.

As she went back on her patrol, Homura slightly relaxed herself as she took in a breath. "My word Yumi-senpai, emitting you is more difficult then I though...I guess that means I need more training from you as well as Makoto-senpai..." She thought to herself in determination.

She then took out her phone from her pocket to see how much time she's got left before heading home for the day.


(Shinjuku, Red Light District)

Akira had arrived at the meeting spot he and Yumi agreed on and was simply waiting for the girl to arrive. Morgana had left to do whatever the little guy did when he wasn't around so he was alone with only his thoughts...

And the advertisement that took up an entire wall for Yumi's upcoming single releasing later this year. Plenty of people were taking photos and posing in front of it.

"Wow, that's weird but really cool." Akira admitted as he stared at the giant advertisement. "Yumi's gonna become the next Risette at this rate." He then thought with a smile.

"Akira-kun." Yumi whispered.

"Wah!" Akira yelped in surprise as he jumped and turned around to see the light gray haired girl wearing a brown trench coat, hat and sunglasses. "Yumi? Where did you come from? And why do you look like two children stacked in a coat?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's not like I chose to." Yumi sighed out. "Inoue-san told me to wear this whenever I go out, and only change once I'm out of sight. If people find out I live here of all places, or find where I go to school or where I live, I'll probably never be left alone by the paparazzi." She then explained.

"I...don't think that'll be a problem." Akira awkwardly chuckled. "But I guess you've become famous enough if you have to wear a trench coat and sunglasses to hide now." He then remarked in amusement.

"Unfortunately. The price of fame is a high one..." Yumi lamented.

"And how are things as Student Council President of Kosei now?" Akira then asked.

"Same as ever, actually." Yumi answered with a smile. "Though more girls are idolizing me now and asking about what being an idol is like and those sorts of things while the boys sometimes ask me for autographs, though I politely explained that I'm not allowed to do so." She then revealed.

"Well, this is going to be your life now so you better get used to it." Akira stated.

"Hai, I did indeed expect this Akira-kun." Yumi calmly replied with a nod.

"Heh, bet your friends back in your old school would never imagine you like this." Akira got out.

"Hm? Oh, of course, I never told anyone in Gessen about this recent development. I completely forgot about them since I'm so busy nowadays. I even forgot to call Ojii-sama after all this time." Yumi realized as she pulled out her phone. "I better see how they are." She then added as she called their number.

After a few seconds of waiting, someone eventually picked up. "Hello?" Yumi greeted in a pleasant manner.

Suddenly, Akira and Yumi could practically hear something snap like a twig, as if something minor finally caused the whole damn dam to break.

"WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING, YUMI!?" A voice yelled out.

Akira couldn't help but wince because whoever that was, they sounded pissed.

Yumi fumbled and nearly dropped her phone upon being yelled at before placing it against her ear. "I-I apologize! I was rather busy with work and...excuse me, but please stop yelling at me...Okay, those names are rather harsh. Please calm down." She stammered out followed by the request.

The Leader meanwhile narrowed his eyes as heard something else over the light gray haired girl's phone. "I can hear sobbing from here..." Akira thought.

"W-Why are you crying all of sudden!? Did...Did you miss me that much? ...No? Then what do you-" Yumi started asking before her eyes widened in shock.

This however concerned the Leader. "Yumi, is something wrong?" Akira asked.

Yumi only responded by collapsing to her knees, her phone falling out of her hand as tears ran down her eyes.

"Yumi!?" Akira got out in concern.

"He's...He's gone." Yumi whispered out.

"Hm?" Akira got out in confusion. Next thing he knew, the light gray haired girl was gone from her spot in a flash. "What the-!? Yumi!" He called out for her, but knew it was futile. "What just happened?" He whispered to himself before spotting that the light gray haired girl had left her phone on the ground. The person who called her was still on.

"Yumi? Yumi! Yumi, can you hear me!?" The female voice soon called out. "I-I'm sorry, I...I couldn't..." She then stammered.

Akira shook his head and picked up the fallen phone. "Hello? Is that you, Yozakura-chan?" He soon asked.

"Huh? Wait, Akira-kun? Where's Yumi!?" the acting leader got out in confusion and concern.

"Yes Yozakura-chan, it's me. And she ran off." The Leader informed in a calm and collective tone. "Now tell me, what did you tell Yumi to make her run off?" He then questioned while narrowing his eyes.

"...That's..." Yozakura hesitantly began over the phone.

"Please, I need to know." Akira once more stated.

"Are you sure?" Yozakura questioned in concern.

"Yozakura-chan, trust me." Akira pleaded as he impatiently tapped his heel. The more time this took, the farther Yumi would go and who knew what she would do alone.

"It...It was...our grandfather...he...he passed away." Yozakura soon revealed.

The Leader shook his head. He figured it out when he met Shiki, but that still didn't stop the feeling of his stomach dropping. "When did he die?" Akira asked over the phone.

"...A few days." Yozakura replied in a saddened tone over the phone.

"What!?" Akira exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell her then?" He soon asked.

"I tried to, but her phone was off..." Yozakura began explaining over the phone, however...

"...Yumi missed his passing, didn't she?" Akira deducted, interrupting the explanation. Her debut concert. "Where is he going to be buried?" He soon asked in a serious tone.

"...I can't say." Yozakura responded in a serious tone.

Akira however narrowed his eyes to that. "Please. Tell me." He then pleaded.

"But..."

"Are you in Tokyo right now?" Akira soon asked with narrowed eyes.

"No...I'm...I'm out of town." The acting leader answered. "But...I can still rush over there and-" Yozakura began.

"Please." Akira calmly requested in a serious tone, interrupting the bluette.

"...He's going to be buried here." The acting leader informed as she sent the location to Yumi's phone. "Please, take care of her." She then muttered.

"Thank you. I will." Akira replied before hanging up and checking the location. It was a few stops from where he was, won't take more than thirty minutes. "I have to hurry..." He muttered as he rushed off.


(Shinobi Mountainside Graveyard)

This place was not easy to get to, let alone find even with a map. One had to be a shinobi to access the place, but it was nothing Third Eye and Homura's shinobi training couldn't help. After landing inside the graveyard, he looked around and noticed how...quiet and tranquil the place was. Well-maintained, with bright green grass and cloudless blue sky. It was practically a whole different world, with only the gravestones indicating that it was a resting place for the fallen. The place was a paradise...if it weren't for all the graves.

"I guess all shinobi deserve a place like this after they die..." Akira muttered out before shaking his head. He needed to find his friend and fast.

However at that moment, the Leader heard some soft sobbing. "Yumi..." Akira muttered in concern as he walked around the graveyard.

Eventually, he found the girl, kneeling at a headstone. It seemed like it was only recently placed.

Akira couldn't help but wince. Either it was made quickly...or they had one ready.

"Hey, Yumi..." Akira called out as he slowly approached the girl.

"He's gone...He's gone..." Yumi repeated to herself.

"Yumi..." Akira got out as he placed a hand on the crying girl's shoulder. "...I know this must be hard for you..." He then stated in a sympathetic tone.

Yumi twitched at that. "...Hard? That's all you can say?" She growled out as she stood up. "That it must be hard that I lost the most important person in my life and I didn't know about it until today?" She then questioned.

"...Sorry." Akira apologized. "I worded that wrong." He then admitted.

"Oh no, you didn't. It's just that you'll never feel your entire heart being ripped out of your chest and watch it get stomped on in front of you while you bleed out." Yumi got out, tears still running down her face. "I...I let my selfishness take over, let my pursuits distract me! My job, my own selfish desire...I let it all go to my head and now my grandfather is dead and I wasn't even there to say goodbye!" She then admitted in shame.

"But Yumi-" Akira started.

"Don't you dare say it's not my fault! It is! If I didn't have a Persona, I would have a Palace! I would be no different from Madarame!" Yumi all but demanded, interrupting the Leader. "Cuteness is justice? To think being an idol will allow me to change the world? No...No it was just an excuse to-" She began self berating herself, until...

SLAP!

"What the hell are you saying!?" Akira called out as the gray haired girl rubbed her sore cheek. "Yumi, that is your grief talking. Not you. Your grandfather would be proud of you." He then insisted.

"YOU DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT HIM!" Yumi countered.

"True. But I do know you." Akira responded...before taking a battle stance. "And I know you want to fight me." He then stated.

"...RRRRRRAAAAAHHHHH!" Yumi roared as she threw a few (rather sloppy) punches and kicks at him.

Akira quickly raised his guard, guarding against every attack the gray haired girl threw at him. It hurt, but it certainly wasn't as painful as what she was going through right now.

That is until she tackled him down and started just beating her fists into him, forcing him to curl into a ball and endure the blows.

After what seemed like hours, Yumi finally got tired and got off him. The Leader groaned in pain as he sat up, wincing at every movement he made.

Yep, he was definitely gonna need to see Takemi afterwards.

"You...You got that out of your system?" Akira panted out.

"...Homura-san has been teaching you well." Yumi replied in a flat tone.

Suddenly, Akira embraced the light gray haired girl in a hug. "It's alright Yumi, everyone loses someone important in their lives someday, and you have the right to feel sad about losing them. If one thing that Morgana said is true, you are a human first and a shinobi second." He soon stated. "You still have your friends, you still have all those girls your grandfather adopted, and you have..." He then reminded before pausing.

What would be the right words right now?

It only took a fraction of a second to decide. "...And you have...someone to cry when there's no one else." Akira stated.

Yumi remained silent for a while before hugging the boy, sobbing softly into his chest.

Akira simply closed his eyes and let her stay there for a while. She could take all the time she needs.

SHATTER!

RANK UP! Adjustment Rank 8!

Unlocked Protect!

Chance to shield Joker from an otherwise fatal attack.

After an hour, Yumi finally pulled away. Her eyes and nose were red, tears ran down her cheeks, and a little snot dripped out of her nose.

Akira was already making a promise to never let Yumi fall to this state no matter what the cost.

"Just...give me some time alone...okay?" Yumi mumbled out.

"Of course, but I'll be nearby just in case." Akira soon reminded in a mutter. He had decided to wait by the gate until Yumi came back before escorting her to the station.

"Hai..." Yumi soon muttered back as she continued looking at her grandfather's soon-to-be grave.

Akira sighed and shook his head. There was nothing else he could do now, so he limped his way out of the graveyard, hoping he could make it to the clinic before sundown. "At least...my skin and body is a bit harder now to handle those blows." He muttered to himself.

At the moment, as he was leaving...

"Take care of them..." A voice in the wind that only the Phantom Thieves Leader heard.

"Hm?" Akira hummed out. He looked around in confusion before shrugging and going on his way.


(Fast Forward)

"There's...a secret shinobi graveyard only half an hour away from Tokyo. On the mountainside." Sae repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"It was more like fifteen. And only by train. Then it's a long-ass walk to it." Akira soon clarified. "...If you ask, my answer is no, I'm not taking you there." He soon stated.

"...At this point, I'm just gonna take your word for it..." Sae sighed as the Leader continued his story.

Although, despite his current situation, Akira did not feel like being honest to her sometimes...and maybe this was one of those times...

(Rewind)


(9/3, After School)

(Shinobi Mountainside Graveyard)

Akira was whimpering as the light gray haired girl continued to beat on his body as he prayed that he'd come out of this entire thing with only bruises and a slight concussion.

This had to be revenge for letting the track team beat up Ryuji.

After what seemed like hours, Yumi finally got tired and got off him. The Leader groaned in pain as he sat up, wincing at every movement he made.

Yep, he was definitely gonna need to see Takemi afterwards.

"You...You got that out of your system?" Akira panted out.

"...Homura-san has been teaching you well." Yumi replied in a flat tone.

Suddenly, Akira embraced the light gray haired girl in a hug. "It's alright Yumi, everyone loses someone important in their lives someday, and you have the right to feel sad about losing them. If one thing that Morgana said is true, you are a human first and a shinobi second." He soon stated. "You still have your friends, you still have all those girls your grandfather adopted, and you have..." He then reminded before pausing.

What would be the right words right now?"

He didn't have long to think, so he simply went with his gut. "...You'll always have me." Akira eventually stated.

"Hm?" Yumi hummed out, confused upon hearing this.

"Yeah. You'll always have me." Akira repeated with a nod. "It feels so selfish to say, because I know for a fact there are plenty who love you and would support you but...they're not here right now. I am. I will always be there to make you smile somehow even if I have to travel halfway across the world and all because I love...you..." He then concluded as he slowly realized what he just said.

"...Eh?" Yumi got out, not sure if she heard right.

"Why did that leave my mouth?" Akira mentally facepalmed, imagining himself banging his head on the grave. Still, it was too late to back out now. "Sorry, but...you'll always have me. And...I...God this isn't the place to say this. But do you mind if we talk afterwards?" He awkwardly requested.

"..." Yumi stared at the boy, who only smiled as best as he could before...

SLAP!

"Yep. That happened last time..." Akira groaned as he stumbled back from the slap. "I-I'm so sorry." He then apologized.

"You just had to choose the day I found out my grandfather passed away to confess." Yumi deadpanned, sniffling and hiccupping a little. At least she wasn't crying anymore.

"Sorry...Just...There's no way to justify this, is there?" Akira sighed out. "You...You can just..." He then started as he began to walk away, only for the girl to stop him by grabbing his arm.

"No...stay." Yumi however requested. "I remember that you wanted to meet my grandfather so...We'll pray together." She then recalled and stated.

"He's...not buried yet." Akira awkwardly reminded.

"I know, but...I at least owe him this much right now." Yumi replied before clapping her hands together and closing her eyes.

Akira was unsure about this but did so anyway. It was the least he could do for her.

"Go get her..." A voice in the wind whispered into his ear. The Leader looked around in confusion before shrugging and continued praying.

Unbeknownst to them, two unknown figures stood on a nearby vantage point in the mountainous area

"Well, this is an interesting sight." The first of the two admitted with a finger on her chin along with her other free arm supporting the elbow of the arm she used for her chin.

"Hmm...the granddaughter of Kurokage-sama is here, and a young male civilian is accompanying her." The second one noted with a hand on her hip.

"Yumi-san and a young boy. Quite a combination."

"Did she contact him and bring him here? How incredulous of her." The first of the two wondered, narrowing her eyes.

"He must be close to her, it would seem."

"Shinobis must avoid certain civilian interactions and involvement at all times. Has she already forgotten that rule?"

"He must be that important to her then, considering their interactions just now. Even though we couldn't hear their conversations, their body language seemed genuine. It's like they've known each other for quite a while."

"Him giving a slap to her face wasn't necessary during what seemed to be their argument. He must have had a lot of nerve to do that."

"Well, she was appearing to be frantic. She did vent it all out of her on him by using himself as a training dummy of some sort and he endured it all the while. At least someone has to be rational there."

"True. I can at least acknowledge his sense of dignity."

"Kurokage-sama..."

"It is unfortunate, but we must accept his passing. The least thing we can do for him is to abide by his teachings and continue the path he once tread upon."

"We promise, Kurokage-sama...We will create your ideal world through your teachings that you placed upon us."

"It would be best to inform Fubuki-sama about this."

"Hai, Onee-chan."

"That young man with Yumi-san... Something seems...interesting about him. The fact that he managed to get acquainted with her...we should keep an eye on him."

"You think so? Guess we should take note of him then as well."

"Indeed. Now let's go. We've got more work to do."

WHOOSH!

And thus, the two vanished in an instant.


(Shibuya, Protein Lovers)

Ryuji, along with a duffel bag filled with his personal necessities, went to the particular alleyway to reach his desired destination: Protein Lovers Gym. Without looking back, he entered the establishment before reaching the counter to pay for his fee.

After a moment, he finally entered the gym before going to the locker room to leave his duffel bag there. As he placed his duffel bag in the locker, he made one last moment of opening his bag to get his protein drink before zipping it closed and locked his locker.

"Okay, Ryuji, time to workout." The dyed blond got out as he set down his drink before doing a quick set of stretches. "Some dumbbells first should be good." He soon decided.

After drinking the contents of his protein drink bottle, he then picked up a pair of dumbbells and started doing some reps with it.

Eventually after a while...

"Mm, so this is a gym..." A female voice hummed out and noted.

"Hm?" Ryuji hummed out as he turned and saw a long, purple-haired young girl entering the gym with a duffle bag. "Never seen her before." He immediately noted as he continued doing his reps.

"Okay...okay, okay...just...do this on your own this time." The purplette softly got out as she looked around. "You can do this. Prove Bebeby wrong..." She then instructed herself in a mutter as she went and paid the fee at the counter.

"Alright, locker rooms and showers are that way, miss." The employee informed as he pointed to the women's locker room.

To that, the purplette nodded as she went over to the locker room, placing her duffle in one of them before tying her hair into a ponytail. "Yosh." She mumbled in an attempt to pump herself up before returning to the main part of the gym.

While this occurred, Ryuji couldn't help but stare at the dark purple tracksuit wearing girl...specifically her very large chest area. "What the...is she ...?" He then muttered to himself as he stopped exercising for a moment. "Is she..." He meanwhile thought, quickly getting his phone and taking a quick picture of her before getting back to his usual reps.

The purplette then passed though the gym equipment and the patrons to find the perfect place to train as well as getting used to people around her vicinity...only to sense something. "Hm?" She hummed before sniffing the air.

Ryuji on the other hand couldn't help but think about that girl who just entered the gym. "She's gotta be a shinobi or somethin'. Just gotta play it cool for now, Ryuji." He thought to himself while continuing his reps.

At that moment, Murasaki couldn't help but notice the dyed blond in the gym while unintentionally getting closer to him as she sniffed, as if she sensed something familiar.

SNIFF! SNIFF!

That made the dyed blond turn around as he heard the sniffing sounds only to notice the same girl who entered the gym just now. "Uhhh...did you just sniff me or somethin'?" Ryuji asked, weirded out by that action. "What the hell?..." He thought in confusion.

"Dyed blond hair...acting delinquent..." Murasaki however concluded.

"Huh?" Ryuji got out in confusion.

"You have...dyed blond hair. That means...you're an acting delinquent..." Murasaki explained in an accusing tone. "...He smells like Akira-kun though..." She meanwhile thought.

"Wha...am I that obvious to notice?" Ryuji muttered to himself in disbelief as he scratched his head. "Uh, a-anyways, do I know you or something?" He awkwardly asked.

Murasaki simply shook her head in response. "No...I don't believe so." She responded before going silent for a moment, thinking if she should talk to him despite him being an acting delinquent in her eyes.

"Um..." Ryuji was at a loss here as he looked at the purplette in disbelief. "Well in any case, name's...Ryuji. I know you didn't ask me for my name, but I'll just get it out for you, you know?" He soon got out.

"I'm...Murasaki." The purplette meekly and awkwardly introduced herself.

"Well, it's nice to meet cha." Ryuji replied with a nod.

The purplette nodded back to this as she then gasped. "...You had a...broken leg, too..." Murasaki soon noted, glancing down to the leg in mention.

Ryuji widened his eyes in disbelief. "H-How did you...!?" He began in shock.

"I am...good at noticing these kinds of things." Murasaki meekly answered while twiddling her fingers.

Ryuji in turn blinked to this information. "Huh, that's actually pretty cool." He admitted.

Murasaki simply blinked in response. She was not expecting that response. "Really? You...You really think so?" She soon asked.

"Well, um...it's kinda creepy if you ask me." Ryuji soon admitted, slightly saddening the girl as a result. "I mean, how can you tell? Are you some sort of...psychic or somethin'?" He then asked.

Murasaki in response shook her head. "I...I just have a good sense of smell...so I'm able to figure these kinds of things out." She revealed while twiddling her fingers.

Ryuji went silent as he went dumbfounded by that revelation. "...Huh?" He began. "Wait, wait, wait...did you say...sense of smell?" He then asked.

Murasaki in turn nodded. "It...has always been good." She meekly confessed.

"So that...time you sniffed me...you figured out some stuff about me?" Ryuji recalled and asked.

"Sorry, you just seemed interesting." Murasaki apologized and admitted in a meek manner

"Eh, what's done is done." Ryuji replied while shrugging his shoulders.

"Sorry..." Murasaki apologized once more while shivering a bit out of fear of being scolded.

"L-Like I said, what's done is done." Ryuji waved off. "Shesh, feels like I'm dealin' with a shy Futaba." He thought to himself, noticing the similarities before another thought came to mind. "D-Does she know I'm a Phantom Thief as well!?" He soon exclaimed in his head.

"So...how did it happen?" Murasaki soon asked in a curious manner.

Ryuji in response rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, um...have you...heard about Kamoshida?" He vaguely asked.

"Kamoshida?" Murasaki repeated, blinking to that. "That's...the abusive former teacher, right?" She recalled, remembering seeing the news about him online. "And...the Phantom Thieves' first target." She then added.

"Oh...so you've heard about the Phantom Thieves, too?" Ryuji asked with a grin.

"I'm...a fan..." Murasaki admitted with a blush. There was no way she would tell her sister or anyone at Hebijo that.

"Oh, that's pretty cool." Ryuji replied in approval.

The purplette however tilted her head in response. "But...what does Kamoshida-" Murasaki started to ask before unintentionally leaning in...

SNIFF! SNIFF!

And soon gasped in shock. "...Oh..." Murasaki got out in realization. "He broke your leg...and ruined your life..." She realized in sadness. "Sorry..." She then apologized in shame.

"Eh, it's ok, it's in the past." Ryuji replied while waving it off. "So, you wanna work out together for a bit? Since it's your first time here, I know the gym pretty well." He then offered.

"Are you sure?" Murasaki meanwhile asked in concern. "I...won't get in the way?" She then added.

"Huh? W-Why would ya think that? Of course you won't." Ryuji asked and reassured her.

"Um...o-okay then." Murasaki responded with a nod.

Eventually, the two started working out, sitting next to one another at the work out machines as they did so as the dyed blond instructed the purplette on how to use the machines, soon going through the work-out sessions.

"Not bad, Murasaki, looks like you're getting the hang of it." Ryuji noted and encouraged with a smile.

"T-Thanks, Ryuji-san..." Murasaki grunted out as she kept going. She was really feeling good now.

After a while, both began to sweat profusely from the continuous exercise, which was expected.

Ryuji breathed heavily as he picked up his towel to wipe off his sweat before taking a drink from the water bottle he brought along with him.

Meanwhile, Murasaki began to take off her jacket top to relieve some of the heat.

ZIIIIIIP! BOING!

And it immediately caused some of the patrons to stare at her in disbelief.

"Holy shit..." Ryuji breathed out with widened eyes as he looked at the top that was underneath. "Yup, definitely a shinobi, for sure." He mentally concluded.

He had seen many big breasts over this school year, but hers, however, definitely took the cake. He even wondered if his overall libido started to get more conflicted for the most part.

"Whew..." Murasaki meanwhile breathed out as she was ignorant to the stares as she was more determined and focused on her work-out as she went back to it, working up a sweat as a result. "This is...nice..." She thought to herself.

SQUISH! BOING! SQUISH! BOING! SQUISH! BOING! SQUISH! BOING!

"Lower brain...taking over..." Ryuji struggled in his thoughts. He was definitely gonna need a nice long, cold shower after this entire thing.

"Is something wrong Ryuji-san?" Murasaki meanwhile asked in concern.

"Ah! I'm sorry!" Ryuji yelped as he instinctively covered his crotch.

"Huh?...What for?" Murasaki responded in confusion.

"M-Ma'am, y-you need to keep your track top on!" One of the staff suddenly instructed as he approached the purplette.

"Huh?" Murasaki innocently got out with a tilt of her head while stopping her session as sweat ran down her body.

"Uh, I think he thinks you're too exposed without the track jacket on." Ryuji explained.

"But...my friend gave me these workout clothes." Murasaki revealed.

"I don't care! Do you realize how...exposed you are!?" The male staff member responded in a panic with a scarlet blush on his face.

Murasaki meanwhile looked on in confusion. "Um...what?" She responded.

"Uh...We should probably start leavin', Murasaki-chan." Ryuji eventually suggested.

"Huh? But why?" Murasaki meanwhile asked in confusion once more.

Ryuji meanwhile winced at this. "Ok, how do I explain..." He muttered. "Well...your appearance is...distracting..." He awkwardly got out with a blush.

"...My appearance?" Murasaki repeated, blinking a couple of times...before blushing scarlet and covering her chest with her arms. "S-Sorry!" She apologized in embarrassment before she began bowing rapidly.

"Oh good, so you figured it out." The employee sighed out in relief, though also sweatdropped at the girl's actions.

"Hehe, never thought I'd meet a girl doing this besides Asuka-chan." Ryuji meanwhile thought in amusement...while still thinking about the purplette's...assets. He had to admit, young girls nowadays he knew have been very...sexy, in his point of view.

ZIIIIIP!

Murasaki meanwhile went and zipped her top back up as she sighed in relief. "Sorry again." She apologized.

"Hey, as long as you realized your own mistake." The employee soon stated as he ruffled the girl's head, who in turn blushed as a result.

"Uh, dude, do you really have to pet her head like that?" Ryuji however asked.

"...Right, my bad, miss. Sorry." The employee responded as he ended the head ruffling before returning back to his duty of checking the other patrons in the gym.

"Yeah, we better get back to it, Murasaki." Ryuji eventually suggested.

"Yeah..." Murasaki responded in agreement with a nod as the two went back to the work-out machines and back to their sessions.

Eventually, the two headed for their respective locker rooms to go and wash up as they then stood outside them.

"Um...thank you for explaining some things." Murasaki got out in a grateful manner while bowing to the dyed blond.

"Eh, it's no big deal." Ryuji replied while waving it off. "You did pretty well workin' out, you've been doin' it long?" He noted and asked.

Murasaki in response shook her head. "Not really..." She softly admitted.

"Huh, really?" Ryuji asked, blinking a couple of times. "Well, it's still impressive either way." He then admitted.

Murasaki however blinked in response. "...You think so?" She asked, surprised to hearing that.

"Yeah. I mean, you've handled your own pretty well." Ryuji then praised.

"Oh um, thank you Ryuji-san." Murasaki responded with a smile. She was feeling a lot more relaxed now after working out.

"Also, not to sound like a perv, but bring a spare pair of underwear next time." Ryuji suggested. "You know, so you don't have to wear the same pair after getting out of the showers." He then explained.

"That...actually is good advice." Murasaki confessed as she began thinking about that logic. She wouldn't have to worry about having a sweaty bra and panties if she did so.

"Hehe, learned that from my first time at the gym." Ryuji chuckled out.

Murasaki in response nodded. "Well, thank you for the advice. I'll have to consider it for the future." She softly replied with a smile.

"Cool, maybe we'll see each other again." Ryuji replied. "In any case, see ya around." He then concluded with a wave of his hand before heading into the locker room.

In response, Murasaki nodded and did the same, smiling a bit from the success of what she was attempting. "I...had a conversation aside from Akira-kun and Futaba-chan this time..." She breathed out, feeling quite happy to her success. "...Hope Bebeby's gonna acknowledge it...I think." She then softly added as she went to wash up.

She would definitely want to come back to the gym again in the future though.


(Inokashira Park)

Miyabi sighed sadly as she stared out at the lake, watching couples in boats row through the water. "You know, I thought I'd be in a torrid romance with me wistfully deciding between two men at this age, but now I feel like I'm one cat away from becoming a cat lady." She mumbled to herself.

She was tempted to throw rocks and heckle couples but she was a good person at heart...and imagined doing it.

"Stop singing about geography!" Miyabi mentally shouted out at the boy trying to serenade his date with a song about Mt. Fuji or whatever.

Not long after, she felt a familiar presence nearby. She then adjusted and straightened herself up. "You arrived." Miyabi stated, not even looking away from the lake.

WHOOSH!

"I apologize for being late Miyabi-sensei." Asuka responded, kneeling on one knee to the woman. "Especially after being the one who asked for a training session." She then added.

"Eh, I don't care as long you show up before the day's over." Miyabi admitted. "After all, it's your time. I still get paid regardless of you showing or not." She then pointed out.

"...I'm paying you?" Asuka innocently asked in concern.

"It's a...metaphor thing. Like...okay, this got a little lost from me." Miyabi tried to explain before giving up.

"Ehehehe...Do you need a dictionary?" Asuka jokingly asked.

"Go eat one." The white haired woman grumbled. "So, what made you decide to want training from me this time?" Miyabi eventually asked.

"You know what happened last night." Asuka got out before squealing in excitement. "You should've seen it! Homu-neechan had this bright red hair and I could feel how powerful she was!" She soon recalled in amazement.

"Hey, my hair color changed too..." Miyabi mentally whined. "Though technically it was going back to its normal color." She then added in her head.

However, Asuka's smiling face soon turned serious. "But now...it also means she's stronger than me." She soon stated in a low tone. "And that's something I can't allow! She's my sister, but at the same time she's my rival! I need to catch up!" She then declared with a fire in her eyes.

"So, you want to get stronger since Homura gained her new Crimson Lotus state." Miyabi simplified in a serious yet understanding tone while crossing her arms over her chest.

"Hai, Miyabi-sensei." Asuka responded with a nod while looking up. "Homu-neechan has been developing so much while I feel like I'm lacking. I can't fall behind. I won't." She then explained, remembering the threat of Shin lingering over her head.

"What? Physically or emotionally?" Miyabi meanwhile questioned.

"...Both..." Asuka answered in shame.

"Well, I can't help you emotionally, but I can help you physically." Miyabi admitted and stated. "Come on, let's start with some endurance training." She then decided.

"Eh?" Asuka got out in confusion.

"Shinobi Kekkai!" Miyabi soon declared as the two vanished from the park.


(Miyabi's Shinobi Kekkai)

WHAM!

"If you can't take that while keeping yourself on your feet, you're gonna need more than a few new moves." Miyabi explained while shaking off her hand.

"U-Urgh..." Asuka groaned before shaking it off and getting back to her feet. "I should've expected that from you sensei." She soon remarked.

"First lesson of the day, talking is a waste of time until you're digging for info." Miyabi stated as she cracked her knuckles. "The next one is about to begin. You have two seconds of mercy. Make it count." She then informed and ordered.

Asuka just nodded in response as she readied herself.

"Shinobi Tenshin!" The two soon declared as their regular clothes glowed and were replaced with their attire as shinobis.

"...Right, yours is a school uniform..." Miyabi recalled while giving her student a quick up-down.

"Yup. I thought it looked cute at the time when I first saw it." Asuka replied with a nod.

Miyabi meanwhile sweatdropped upon learning this. "That's it?" She questioned before sighing.

"What? Is something wrong with it?" Asuka innocently asked.

"No, no. I'm not gonna criticize your choices." Miyabi responded and decided. "...So, where do you wanna start?" She soon asked.

"You don't have anything prepared." Asuka realized. "But...I called you this morning." She then reminded.

"W-Well, you know me. Constantly training. I just...sort of lost track of time." Miyabi stammered out while attempting to hide her blush. "Plus, I'm more into winging it and figuring it out. Your training should be tailored to your skills and knowledge. I'm not making you do something you don't wanna do." She then informed before putting her hands on her hips. "So...what do you wanna do?" She eventually asked.

"Um...how about you teach me a new way to fight?" Asuka soon suggested. "Homu-neechan has this nodachi and-" She began.

"No." Miyabi bluntly interrupted.

"Eh?" Asuka got out.

"No." Miyabi answered.

"What!? How come!?" Asuka exclaimed. She didn't even get to finish what she was going to say!

"Look, if you want to learn a new style, don't learn an entirely different weapon." Miyabi advised as she shook her head. "Sure, it worked out fine for Homura, but that's her. You need discipline and focus, not more stuff to pull out your ass." She then stated.

"...It wouldn't be out of my ass though..." Asuka grumbled before grabbing an attempted kick to her face.

"Well, it certainly will seem like it." Miyabi countered as her student pushed her back. "You'd only be sort of good at two fighting styles if it all goes well, which is completely ineffective against someone who's an expert at one." She then explained.

"I learned how to use my guns pretty quickly." Asuka noted.

"It's point and shoot. A gun is child's play compared to stabbing and bashing people up close." Miyabi scoffed as she rolled her eyes.

Meanwhile at Hebijo, Mirai and Ryōbi suddenly felt offended.

"There's more to guns than that." Asuka muttered with a sweatdrop.

"Right. Like how loud they are and how high maintenance it requires just so you won't shoot you or your friends in the face and/or ass." Miyabi countered.

"Ann-chan did shoot me once by accident..." Asuka mumbled while poking her fingers together.

"See! This is why I'm around. you guys need a little adult supervision to stop you guys from making dumb decisions." Miyabi declared and stated.

"Well, Akira-kun does pay Homu-neechan to train everyone." Asuka revealed. "He might even pay her to train you at one point." She then added.

"Asuka, this is about you and what you need. Not whatever the hell Homura does." Miyabi soon informed.

"Oh...well, Homu-" Asuka soon began.

"Forget. About. Homura. For two fucking seconds!" Miyabi ordered, causing the Vice Leader to wince.

"H-Hai, Miyabi-sensei..." Asuka squeaked in a meek manner.

The white haired woman soon sighed as she shook her head while calming herself down. "What's next, you want to make a new Tenshin appearance based on my own?" Miyabi remarked, only to see her student gaining a curious expression, causing her to facepalm. "Are you serious?" She soon muttered.

"I-I wasn't thinking that..." Asuka stammered.

"Oh please. You and Homura are so alike I can barely even tell the difference between you two." Miyabi soon remarked.

"Miyabi-sensei!" Asuka exclaimed, shocked and appalled. "What are you saying!? There's more to it than that!" She then asked and declared.

"Sorry, but it's just how I see." Miyabi stated with a shrug. "People aren't gonna think of you when they see you fight, they're gonna think of the people who taught you and exploit those weaknesses. You should expand what you already know instead of attempting to supplement it with something new."

"W-Well Yumi-chan-" Asuka began.

"Asuka, I'm not Yumi Tsukikaze." Miyabi reminded in a serious tone, interrupting her student. "I'm not Akira Kurusu, or Ann Takamaki, or Futaba Sakura or whoever the hell gave you that idea. I am Miyabi Kurayami, and I personally think teaching you a new style is pointless. I want the best out of you, and different people will need different avenues of thought and training to reach that point. If everyone tried to do what the last person did, this world would be a whole lot duller and uniform. I'm not being mean to be mean, I'm trying to say you could be the strongest damn shinobi in the world and I don't want to screw that up." She then stated and explained.

Asuka's eyes widened as she covered her mouth. "...M-Miyabi-sensei..." She muttered.

The white haired woman soon sighed. "Excuse me, but it's just what I believe." Miyabi got out in an apologetic tone. "Now, can we please get back to figuring out what our lesson plan is?" She then requested.

"Ok..." Asuka responded in disappointment. "I always wanted to learn how to use a katana though..." She meanwhile thought. She wasn't very good with it when she was picking her weapon, but she was only 6 years old. Maybe things would be different.

"In any case, you can summon your guardian animal, right?" Miyabi assumed.

The Vice Leader however flinched. "Y-Yeah, but I have a lot of trouble controlling it." Asuka awkwardly revealed with a wince.

"Well...let's work on that." Miyabi soon decided.

"Erm...that's sort of a bad idea..." Asuka however advised in an uncomfortable manner.

"Oh, nonsense. It's your guardian animal. It shouldn't be that hard. You just need a little time." Miyabi reassured while waving it off. "...What was your animal again?" She soon questioned.

"Toads." Asuka answered.

Miyabi soon blinked upon hearing that. "Ah. No wonder your Persona's called Kaeru." Miyabi realized with a nod of understanding. "Anyways, this might be a good starting point. You have a resolvable weakness we can work on." She then stated.

"But I'd rather learn the katana..." Asuka meekly admitted.

Miyabi scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Why learn a new style when you can add your original one with frogs?" She countered.

"T-Toads. My guardian animal is the toads." Asuka corrected.

"Yeah, whatever, same difference." Miyabi replied off-handedly. "Okay, summon the little guy." She then ordered.

"H-Hai." Asuka responded in an uneasy manner, making the hand signs...

BOOM! CRASH!

Miyabi blinked as she stared at the giant toad. "...Okay, they're a lot bigger than I expected but I guess that's par for the course..." She muttered in shock at the sight. Not even hers got that big.

"W-Whoa..." Asuka got out on top of the toad before jumping off the toad. "P-Please stay right here for now..." She requested.

"...Ribbit." Her summon responded...before completely ignoring her.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

"WAH! CALM DOWN!" Asuka called out in a panic as she went and started chasing after the giant animal in a comedic manner. "MOH! NOT AGAIN!" She soon cried.

Miyabi's eye meanwhile twitched to the sight. "Something tells me she isn't in control here..." She thought.

"U-Um, please stop! We only need a minute! We just need to-" Asuka called out, however...

CRASH!

Miyabi slapped her forehead, though also winced as the toad flattened her student before leaping away, revealing the Asuka-shaped crater.

"U-Uuuuuugh..." Asuka groaned, twitching in pain.

The white haired woman sighed before walking up to the defeated girl. "Here, let me help you up." Miyabi soon offered.

"Oooow...I knew that would happen..." Asuka whined and mumbled as she got back to her feet.

"What the hell is up with that toad of yours?" Miyabi had to ask.

"They...were always like that..." Asuka shamefully admitted.

"And that's why you were uncomfortable trying to summon it?" Miyabi soon guessed. "I dunno, it feels like you haven't tried hard enough." She then stated.

"I-I have tried but it never does what I want." Asuka meekly responded.

"Well, try harder." Miyabi soon ordered.

"You're not gonna help me, are you?" Asuka guessed.

The white haired woman smirked in response. Her student was already learning. "Hey, you wouldn't have learned the jutsu in the first place if you didn't expect to use it in the first place." Miyabi pointed out. "I'll just be here for moral support. You got this, Vice Leader." She then stated and encouraged with a thumbs-up.

"Moh..." Asuka mumbled as she rushed after her out of control summon once more. "U-Um, stay still! Uh...down boy! Down!" She called out.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

However the summon just kept jumping around and ignored the summoner.

"Miyabi-sensei!" Asuka called out while running to the summon.

"You can do it! This is only a temporary setback!" Miyabi called out while crossing her arms over her chest. "This is part of your training!" She then stated.

"What training is this!?" Asuka exclaimed in confusion.

"I dunno, fuckin' uh...summon control! Taming? Uh...just make it pay attention to you and then we can get to the good stuff." Miyabi responded while lazily listing off the names.

Wow. Asuka had met some terrible teachers before in her life (including this year) but this...this was beginning to take the cake.

But she already had the feeling the white haired woman was going to be rough on her in the beginning. She just had to prove to her she was ready.

CRASH!

"I am not ready!" Asuka thought as she diced out of the way. "WAH! Don't kill me!" She cried out.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure you don't die right now." Miyabi assured.

"But I'm a healer!" Asuka however reminded.

"No Persona to help you! You're using your own two hands like our teachers intended." Miyabi ordered. "...Seriously, why is her summon so big?" She thought to herself, feeling a little jealous.

"Come on, Asuka! Think! What can you do to stop it!?" Asuka meanwhile thought. "...FLASH BOMB!" She panickingly decided.

"Hey, wait a-" Miyabi began.

FLASH!

"AH!" Miyabi yelped as she began rubbing her eyes. "Okay...should've banned flashbangs too...smart move though..." She grumbled and had to admit.

"I got on!" Asuka grunted out as she held onto the back of the summon. "WAAAAAAAAAH!" She cried out while flailing about on its back.

"Hm...that reminds me, I haven't been on the Hebijo mechanical bull that much..." Miyabi thought as she watched the Vice Leader trying to stay on the bucking toad. "I should probably make a note to rectify that..." She then muttered to herself.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

"SOMEONE HELP ME!" Asuka cried out.

"The only person here that's willing to help is yourself." Miyabi responded. "Don't worry though, it looks like you're tiring them out." She then informed.

As if in spite, the toad bucked even more and jumped even higher, forcing the Vice Leader to cling on even more desperately than before.

"STOP! PLEASE!" Asuka meanwhile begged.

"Just think of what Homura or whatever would do at the moment..." Miyabi suggested off-handedly, beginning to get bored as she waited for the Vice Leader to finally take command of the damn thing so they could move on. "Come on, we don't have all day." She then reminded.

"Grrr..." Asuka growled as her nails dug into the toad's skin. Not deeply, not even that painful, but it was getting her summons attention. "Please, listen to me..." She muttered.

Didn't even notice. She had tried being loud before but it wasn't working.

This thing had never paid attention to anything she said, not even once, ever since she first learned the jutsu.

Hell, even Hibari's rabbit summon listened to her when she first summoned it.

Why her?

CRASH!

Why wouldn't it listen to her?

CRASH!

Why?

CRASH!

Why?

CRASH!

WHY GODDAMMIT!?

CRASH!

STAB!

The toad instantly stopped as the wakizashi was embedded into the ground in front of it.

The Vice Leader meanwhile panted heavily as she glared at her summon with fury. "GRRRR! CALM THE FUCK DOWN ALREADY AND LISTEN TO ME DAMMIT!" Asuka growled and loudly ordered, anger and authority in her voice with a threatening glow in her eyes.

DOOOOOOM!

That meanwhile caught the white haired woman's attention. "Hm?" Miyabi hummed out with a raised eyebrow and interest.

POOF!

Instantly, the giant toad dispersed and vanished, leaving the two alone once more dark filled Kekkai.

Asuka's eyes immediately widened to this action before hitting the ground. "...Eh?" She got out in confusion before realizing what just happened. "N-No wait! Come back! I'm sorry!" She called out as she tried summoning the toad back, but now nothing happened.

"Asuka, where did that come from?" Miyabi questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"I...I was just...frustrated." Asuka admitted with a sigh. "They never paid attention to me before. I've tried being nice before but..." She began explaining before trailing off.

"You're supposed to work together with your summon, not command it." Miyabi reminded. "They're your guardian animal, your protector when faced with a hardship you can't overcome." She then explained.

"Like a Persona?" Asuka assumed.

"No." Miyabi responded as she shook her head. "A Persona, from my understanding, is you. It's an extension of yourself. Your guardian is another being. They have emotions and feelings...just like you. If I were to start screaming like that, what would you do?"

"...I don't know." Asuka responded.

"Exactly." Miyabi responded with a nod before sighing. "Don't get me wrong though, acting like that would frustrate anyone. But that's why we learn patience and understanding while also being stern and...what's the word that means to be uh..." She admitted and stated before trailing off.

"...Steadfast...?" Asuka assumed.

"Eh...probably not it but let's go with it." Miyabi responded with a shrug. "Anyways, you've probably cultivated this behavior in the first place, like a crazy parent with an unruly child, so it's your job to reverse it so that you may effectively work together." She then deducted and explained.

"How do you know so much?" Asuka had to ask in a curious tone.

"Because I was in the same place as you are right now." Miyabi answered as she snapped her fingers. Suddenly, a snake coiled around her arm and a crow landed on her shoulder. "And I'm in the place of my father." She mentally added.

"...You got two!?" Asuka gasped in awe.

"The crow's new." Miyabi simply informed.

"Caw!" The crow got out while poking the woman's ear.

"Ah! Sonova- Bad crow! Bad!" Miyabi chided in disapproval. "I should work on that..." She then grumbled her breath.

"Hehehe...Hahaha!" Asuka laughed, holding her stomach.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Vice Leader." Miyabi grumbled as the crow then landed atop her head. "Now...that toad..." She began.

Asuka didn't need to be told what she had to do as she attempted to summon the toad again.

POOF! CRASH!

This time, it actually did show up...a fair distance away.

Asuka winced before turning to her current teacher, who didn't say anything, only pushing her forward. With that, the Vice Leader took in a deep breath and approached the scared animal.

"Hey." Asuka greeted. Instantly, the toad leapt away. "Don't leave! Please! I...I'm sorry! I'm not going to hurt you. Here." She soon got out before summoning her weapons and laying them down on the ground.

It flinched but didn't do anything.

The Vice Leader took this as a good sign as she stepped closer. "Look...I'm sorry about yelling at you but...we need to work together. We're supposed to be like partners." Asuka explained. "I'll need you in the future, and if I don't get it...I will die. What will it take for you to work with me?" She soon stated in a serious tone as she got close enough to pet its skin.

The toad narrowed its eyes suspiciously at its summoner before...

RIP!

There was a silence that lasted a little too long. "...Did the toad just steal your-" Miyabi began in disbelief.

"Please don't pay mind to it." Asuka interrupted, not wanting to look down. "You only get that one and that's it." She then got out in a stern manner.

"...Ribbit!" The toad responded before licking the faces of both girls.

"Gah! Frog slime!" Miyabi complained.

"Toad!" Asuka corrected, both she and her guardian animal glaring at the white haired woman.

"Sorry." Miyabi apologized with a sigh while wiping away the slime. "Alright, now, I'll give you some time to-" She began, however...

"Tongue Cannon!" Asuka suddenly declared.

"Wha?" Was the only thing Miyabi was able to get out before being punched in the stomach by the toad's tongue and thrown into the air.

Asuka then jumped up to her level, wakizashi at the ready.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

"HAH!" Asuka grunted out as she finished her combo by summoning her toad again to spike the white haired woman back to the ground! "Too easy!"

"Urgh..." Miyabi groaned before jumping to her feet. "Lucky shot, but a shinobi doesn't fall that easily!" She declared as she readied her katana.

"Hai, Miyabi-sensei." Asuka responded as she prepared her twin blades while her Tenshin reformed on her body.

However the white haired woman immediately noticed something that was different. "...Oi, what did I just say before about mimicking my Tenshin clothes?" Miyabi suddenly stated while narrowing her eyes.

"Eh?" Asuka got out as she looked down at herself, seeing that she was now essentially in her sensei's Tenshin attire, but some differences being that the high collar coat was forest green, the cape was solid black, the belt buckle having a frog's footprint on it with the strap wrapping it was a darker green, a dark orange sash, the leggings being black and the boots being forest green and her forest green panties being exposed. She also still had her red scarf around her neck. "Ehehe, looks like I did it again." She however sheepishly got out while rubbing the back of her head.

"Hm?" Miyabi hummed out with a raised eyebrow. "Again?" She repeated.

"Hehe, basically on my first few days at Hanzō Academy during a training session, I instinctively activated my Shinobi Tenshin for the first time without even trying." Asuka revealed. "Guess I remembered your Tenshin appearance and accidentally did my own version of it even though you said not to, sorry." She then deducted and apologized.

The white haired woman however blinked a couple of times to this new information. "Wait, you instinctively activated your Shinobi Tenshin for the first time...without any prior practice... " Miyabi processed as she looked at her student in disbelief. "She is naturally gifted...that's not usually possible...it usually takes a year of training to succeed using a Shinobi Tenshin..." She mentally admitted, impressed by this information while also making a note of this.

"Ehehe, sorry again." Asuka sheepishly apologized. "Guess I should change back huh?" She assumed.

"No, stay like that for now." Miyabi sighed out. "You already put in all the effort for it, or at least your subconscious apparently, you might as well wear it." She added.

"Okay." Asuka responded with a nod before she and her toad went into battle stances "Now, let's do this sensei!" She then declared.

Miyabi inwardly smirked at this. She was actually glad she had a student with a strong will. It was something she always wanted in a student. Not like the fangirls she had back at Hebijo that went down too easily.

"Heh. You better give me a challenge then, my student!" Miyabi called out before the two charged at each other, grinning madly all the while with their eyes aglow in the darkness of the Kekkai.

As the training went on, Asuka felt as though her Courage greatly improved as a result.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Blades striking, sparks flying, bodies exerting, everything in a typical sparring session.

Well...with spirit animals in the mix. Pretty ordinary sparring/training session.


(Inokashira Park)

Eventually, the two returned to the park in their normal clothes covered in some toad slime, their underwear showing through their wet clothing.

"Ok, maybe trying to control that toad is too much..." Miyabi awkwardly admitted.

"My boobs slapped my face most of the time every time I'm riding it...ugh." Asuka groaned.

"But hey, you two are working together, and that's all that matters at the end of the day." Miyabi soon stated in approval. "...Although, I could do with a little less slime..." She then muttered.

"Ehehehe...it just means they like you." Asuka giggled and explained.

"Yeah, while trying to beat my ass..." Miyabi grumbled under her breath.

"So, what's the next session going to be?" Asuka soon asked.

"Next time, I'm bringing some kendo sticks so you can attempt to try out the basic motions of my katana style of fighting." Miyabi decided. "But remember, you can not make it exactly like mine." She then instructed.

"Hai, Miyabi-sensei." Asuka responded with a nod. "I mean, our elements are different, so it wouldn't be exact." She then added. "But...I thought you-" She began, however...

"I'm not teaching you how to wield the katana." Miyabi clarified. "I'm teaching you lessons that require the katana." She soon corrected. "Plus, it wouldn't hurt to steal someone's weapon and use it against them." She then concluded.

"Or if we're in a situation where I have to use yours?" Asuka suggested.

"Pfft! Like that'll happen." Miyabi remarked in amusement while ruffling the brunette's hair. "Take Yusuke's instead." She then added.

"That's a slight against Yusuke-kun." Asuka pointed out with a frown.

"Sorry, I just can't really picture any situation where you wielding a katana would be useful other than...I dunno...everyone is knocked out and you're seconds away from death?" Miyabi admitted. "Still, something to have in your backpocket anyways." She then added.

"Hai, sensei." Asuka responded with a nod.

"Hey, lesson's over. It's Miyabi-chan." Miyabi insisted before blinking. "...Wow, that sounded weird coming out of my mouth." She mumbled with a small blush on her face.

Asuka however just giggled in amusement.

"Hanzō was a step for her, but he spoiled her, dulling her blades so to speak." The white haired woman stated in her head as she narrowed her eyes. "She really does have potential to be a great leader. She just needs the right teacher to get her to the point." Miyabi mentally admitted and decided with serious determination and an excited smirk on her face.

"Hey, can we use the lake to wash our clothes sensei!?" Asuka called out.

"And I just might be it." Miyabi concluded. "Oi Asuka, there's too much crap in the lake. Let's just go to Yongen and go to the bath house. We can wash up while our clothes are in the laundromat." She then responded...before dashing towards her student as she lost balance and fell into the lake.

SPLASH!

"Correction: I must be it." Miyabi deadpanned as she helped the girl out of the water and headed out.


(9/3, Evening)

(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)

"Aaaaahhhh...what a day..." Asuka breathed out as she entered the apartment. "Hey Homu-neechan." She then greeted as she stretched her arms.

"Good evening, Sis." Homura responded as she then sniffed the air. "...You smell like onsen. Did you go to one without me?" She noted and assumed.

"It was Miyabi-chan." Asuka replied. "I uh...I fell into a lake." She sheepishly revealed while rubbing the back of her head.

"..." Homura in response raised an eyebrow. "Inokashira Park?" She guessed.

"I lost balance! And my shoes were a little slippery with all the slime." Asuka soon confessed.

"...Do I need to talk to Miyabi about this?" Homura soon asked in concern.

"You don't need to!" Miyabi responded from beyond the wall.

The tan skinned girl let out a loud groan. "Just come in here to speak like a normal person." Homura soon requested.

"None of us are normal!" Miyabi countered.

"Then whatever constitutes as normal to society!" Homura responded.

"It's her own damn fault for falling in the first place. From the frog to the fall." Miyabi declared.

"It's toads!" Asuka corrected once more with a pout.

"What were you doing, anyways?" Homura soon questioned while narrowing her eyes.

"Training." Asuka curtly answered.

"Training? With Miyabi?" Homura questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"...Yes." Asuka hesitantly responded with a nod.

"O-Oh." Homura got out, looking down with a dour expression on her face. "I thought I would be your only trainer..." She soon admitted.

"But then you'll know all my tricks for the next time we spar." Asuka pointed out with a smile. "We have to keep some secrets after all." She then added.

"...True." Homura had to admit. "Just be sure to know your limits." She then instructed in a concerned manner.

"I will, Homu-neechan." Asuka replied with a nod. "So, what did you do after the meeting?" She soon asked.

"You know. Committee stuff, ate some gyudon...waited for three hours for Yumi-senpai to show up." Homura answered before grumbling about that last part.

"Eh?" Asuka responded in confusion.

"Yumi-senpai promised we'd be dancing today but never showed up..." Homura revealed in concern. "Did something happen? It would be best if I go and see her tomorrow." She mentally asked and decided.

"Well, she is an idol now. I doubt she'll have more free time nowadays." Asuka reminded.

"Maybe..." Homura responded, still a bit concerned.

"Still trying to figure out why she became one in the first place." Miyabi called out.

"Moh! Miyabi-chan, can you just come into our apartment?" Asuka soon requested.

"I'm taking a bath right now." Miyabi responded.

"After a trip to a hot spring?" The sisters asked at the same time.

"I like baths, alright!" Miyabi called out. "Now quiet down. I'm trying to relax here." She then requested.

"You were the one who..." Homura began before trailing off with a sigh. "Ugh, forget it. Let me get dinner started." She soon decided as she went to the kitchen.

"I wonder what Akira-kun is doing." Asuka eventually thought in a curious manner. "I hope he's having a good day." She then added.


(Takemi's Clinic, Consultation Room)

Akira groaned as he opened his eyes and sat up, wincing a little to the tiny spikes of agony around his body. He didn't even realize he fell asleep.

The last thing he remembered was making it there and seeing the doctor and her assistant catch him. Speaking of which, they were in the room, letting out sighs of relief.

"Good, you're awake." Takemi got out as she handed the boy his fake glasses. "Haruka and I managed to treat most of your bruises. They should fade by tomorrow with a good night's sleep." She then informed.

"Thanks." Akira replied as he relaxed himself.

"Moh, what exactly did you do to yourself darling?" Haruka meanwhile questioned with a pout.

"Helping a friend." Akira answered with a smile. "Even if I have to risk life and limb, I do what I must." He then added, wincing a little as his cheek flared in pain.

"You're going to get yourself killed one day." Takemi got out in concern.

"But, it will be worth it." Akira breathed out. "...I still would like to live though..." He then added while sheepishly scratching the back of his head.

"Hold on there, guinea pig. You aren't leaving for at least another hour. Relax and let your body heal." Takemi ordered as she pushed the boy back down. "Haruka, stay with him and make sure he stays where he is." She then added.

The blonde immediately perked up to that. "I would love to." Haruka replied.

"Where are you going?" Akira had to ask.

"Getting dinner." Takemi answered. She felt like eating some tempura tonight. "Haruka, remember he's a patient right now. Do not do anything unbecoming of a doctor." She then reminded and instructed.

"Hai, sensei." Haruka politely replied as she bowed.

"And not the ones in AVs and hentai." Takemi casually added as she left the room, causing the two to blush.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Let me get that for you." Haruka offered, already stepping towards the boy's phone.

"No, it's fine." Akira however denied as he grabbed his phone, hiding the slight pain that flared up. He was not letting her find out all his secrets.

[Road2Queen: Don't forget to prepare yourselves for the trip, OK?]

[Shut7heFUp: You're really sounding like a teacher right now, man. What're you even saying that for?]

[Road2Queen: I tried to say so before. I'll be coming along.]

[Shut7heFUp: Okay, great...wait ...HUH!?]

[FireGirl20: Wait, really!?]

[Road2Queen: The teachers have asked me to chaperone the trip in their place.]

[FireGirl20: YES!]

[FireGirl20: HAWAII JUST GOT 20% MORE FUN!]

[SushiRoll23: Homu-nee, Makoto adds at least 30%]

[Shut7heFUp: Wait, what!? I didn't hear a damn thing about that!]

[Negative8Degrees: Are you UPSET that Makoto-san is coming?]

[Shut7heFUp: Uhh...]

[Road2Queen: Is that a problem?]

[TheWildJ0ker: I'm glad we can go together. The more the merrier!]

[Road2Queen: Yes. I was worried about how many troublemakers will be there.]

[Shut7heFUp: Are you talking about us!?]

[Road2Queen: I mean mundane troublemakers. Like messing with the locals, starting fights, getting intimate in a restroom. Things like that.]

[Road2Queen: The type of trouble we tend to get into is...most likely necessary...]

[SushiRoll23: ...People kiss in restrooms...?]

[DarkEyeXI: And more.]

[DarkEyeXI: So...so much more...]

[TheWildJ0ker: Bring protection. Just in case.]

[Sweetkat06: But why are they having you go at all, Makoto?]

[Road2Queen: It seems some teachers have to stay behind to deal with that tabloid article.]

[Road2Queen: So, they decided to get a couple of third-years to act as additional chaperones. ]

[Road2Queen: It seems a few others besides myself will be going as well.]

[Sweetkat06: Oh, I see.]

[All4Painting: Either way, this overseas trip has been truly long-awaited.]

[All4Painting: I expect leaving Japan will be a great eye-opener for us. This is a wonderful opportunity, so we should be sure to enjoy it.]

[Alibaba9: Don't forget souvenirs! If you do, Necronomicon will handle you!]

"Oh, crap. I forgot to tell you." Akira mumbled as he pocketed his phone.

"Huh?" Haruka got out as she sat on the bed while writing stuff down on a clipboard.

Well, actually she was drawing Akira-chan in different bikinis and a police outfit, but he didn't need to know that.

"I'm gonna be away for a week. It's a school thing." Akira replied and explained.

"Oh? You're going on a school trip?" Haruka repeated in a curious manner. "Where to?" She then asked with interest.

"Hawaii." Akira simply replied, almost flatly.

The blonde immediately faltered upon hearing that. "H-Hawaii!?" Haruka repeated in disbelief.

"Yeah. First thing I've looked forward to ever since attending Shujin." Akira soon admitted. "God, we should've gone to the box factory..." He then grumbled under his breath.

"Excuse me?" Haruka asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing." Akira responded while waving it off. "So...is there anything stopping you from getting a passport and following me to Hawaii?" He soon asked, knowing that she would love to go. He mentally had to admit he was curious to see some of the other shinobi girls he had met in swimsuits...only to go scarlet at the face as a result.

Curse you male hormones!

"As much as I wish I could join you, Takemi-sensei does need me." Haruka sighed mournfully in disappointment. "Cancer doesn't cure itself." She then reminded.

"Maybe next time. You can send me bikini pics later." Akira chuckled before wincing a bit. "Ah, okay. Laughing hurts a little." He got out.

"And that's why you need rest, darling." Haruka sighed while shaking her head. "Don't have too much fun over there, okay?" She then requested as she leaned in.

"I'll try." Akira replied with a small laugh.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Again?" Haruka got out with a puffed up cheek as the boy opened the IM again.

"May I?" Akira requested in a joking manner.

"Go ahead." Haruka responded, settling for resting her head on the boy's chest. "Mmm~ Such nice chiseled abs darling...~" She thought with a cat-like smile while rubbing her head against them.

Akira meanwhile just smirked in amusement, allowing her to do as she wished as he entered the group chat once more.

[TheWildJ0ker: What's up this time?]

[Shut7heFUp: So uh, I think I met a shinobi while I was at Protein Lovers.]

(...)

[FireGirl20: Say what now, Ryuji?]

[Shut7heFUp: Yeah, I'm texting you all for real. I actually met someone who seemed to be a shinobi in my book.]

[DarkEyeXI: Let me guess, you just checked her tits and called it a day?]

[Shut7heFUp: ...Um...]

[DarkEyeXI: Yep, called it. Well...can you at least elaborate on that person's identity, Ryuji-san?]

[Shut7heFUp: Said her name was...Mura...something?]

[Shut7heFUp: No wait! Saki! Murasaki!]

(...)

[DarkEyeXI: Appearance. Do you remember it?]

[Shut7heFUp: Long purple hair that was in a ponytail with a black bow in her hair, stuttering mess, speaks softly most of the time, mentions she usually has a plushie on her.]

(...)

[FireGirl20: Did she really have the bust of one?]

[Shut7heFUp:...Oooooh yeah. Big. Like, very big.]

(...)

[DarkEyeXI: Not possible.]

[Shut7heFUp: What?]

[Sweetkat06: Huh?]

[DarkEyeXI: I said that can't be possible for it to be her.]

[DarkEyeXI: One, Murasaki should be still shut in her own room at Hebijo and two, she would never set foot into a gym to workout.]

[Negative8Degrees: So you do know her?]

[DarkEyeXI: ...Admittingly, yes. I know a girl named Murasaki.]

[DarkEyeXI: She's the younger sister of my best friend.]

[DarkEyeXI: Oi Ryuji, did you snap a picture of her?]

[Shut7heFUp: The hell would I do that?! People in the gym would get pissed at me if they see me as some sort of creepo or stalker or somethin'!]

(...)

[Shut7heFUp: Ugh, fine, I did so you guys can see her face.]

[FireGirl20: Excuse me!? You took a picture of her!?]

[Shut7heFUp: I was thinkin' one of you might recognize her.]

[Negative8Degrees: Share the image if you may, Ryuji-san.]

[Negative8Degrees: We need to see her face to confirm Miyabi-san's suspicions.]

[Shut7heFUp: Sure thing.]

(...)

[Shut7heFUp has uploaded a picture: "MurasakiWorkOut"]

[FireGirl20: O.o]

[SushiRoll23: o.O]

[Negative8Degrees: Oh my...]

[All4Painting: Well now.]

[Road2Queen: She's...]

[Sweetkat06: GOOD GOD, SHE'S MASSIVE!]

[TheWildJ0ker: ...Ann, calm down. No need to be pissed or jealous or something.]

[Sweetkat06: I'm more concerned about her being in Tokyo of all places!]

[Road2Queen: I have to agree with Ann here. Her walking around in Shinjuku is the last thing we want happening to her.]

[SushiRoll23: Katsu-nee would go after her instantly...]

[FireGirl20: And she's the younger sister!?]

[Shut7heFUp: What's her big sister like then!?]

[DarkEyeXI: Smaller and angrier.]

[DarkEyeXI: Actually, now that I look at it, Murasaki definitely got bigger...and what the hell is she doing here in Tokyo!?]

[DarkEyeXI: More than that, how is she here in Tokyo!?]

[Sweetkat06: Probably took the train...]

[DarkEyeXI: Not helping.]

[Alibaba9: Oh, so it is Murasaki-chan. Along with her S-Rank tits like always.]

[Alibaba9: She looks good in those work out clothes too.]

[DarkEyeXI: ...Eh?]

(...)

[DarkEyeXI: YOU KNOW HER, FUTABA!?]

[Alibaba9: Uh yeah, actually. We met at a game store the moment I wanted to buy a game from that store as well. The day we had that sushi feast with Sojiro.]

[TheWildJ0ker: Morgana and I were there, too, as well.]

[Alibaba9: Uh-huh, we were a group of four people back then.]

[DarkEyeXI: So she came to Tokyo...to buy games!?]

(...)

[DarkEyeXI: That's...actually sounds like something she would do.]

[DarkEyeXI: Wait...SHE HASN'T LEFT HER ROOM IN YEARS! HOW THE HELL IS SHE OUTSIDE SCHOOL PREMISES!?]

[FireGirl20: Guess she got permission to come from Hebijo.]

[DarkEyeXI: THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN ANYTHING]

[TheWildJ0ker: She...was probably curious about me...]

[DarkEyeXI:...What?]

[Shut7heFUp: Dude, what!?]

[TheWildJ0ker: Homura's friends must've mentioned me and she got interested enough to leave her room.]

[DarkEyeXI: So she finally decided to leave her room for that!?]

[DarkEyeXI: Imu has been trying for years! HOW THE FLYING]

(...)

[DarkEyeXI:...Does she fucking even know she's out...?]

[TheWildJ0ker: I'd assume so.]

[All4Painting: But it was still a chance encounter, correct?]

[Alibaba9: Obviously, Inari.]

[Alibaba9: Seriously, Murasaki-chan might be the only one having the largest tits in Tokyo or something. I really thought my glasses were fooling me that time I met her.]

[All4Painting: The growth of shinobi has no bounds, it seems.]

[FireGirl20: Inari, be silent.]

[All4Painting: ...You too, Homura-san?]

[FireGirl20: I will make you swallow your paints.]

[Alibaba9: Oh, Miyabi?]

[DarkEyeXI: Yeah, Futaba?]

[Alibaba9: ...Can you tell me her secret on having S-Rank tits?]

[Road2Queen: Futaba!]

[DarkEyeXI: ...Okay that's it, I'm coming over to your house to have a nice long talk, young lady.]

[Alibaba9: You can't be serious.]

(...)

[Alibaba9: OH SHIT, SHE IS SERIOUS!]

[Alibaba9: SOJIRO'S A TRAITOR! SOJIRO'SNUJIBFASELJFSEALMKF]

(...)

[SushiRoll23: Futaba-chan?]

[SushiRoll23: Hello?]

[Alibaba9: Futaba is unavailable. Please text later.]

[TheWildJ0ker: F]

[FireGirl20: It's safe to assume Miyabi got her.]

[Negative8Degrees: I am inclined to agree.]

[Negative8Degrees: We should end it for the night.]

[FireGirl20: Yeah...]

[SushiRoll23: Night everyone.]

Akira let out a sigh as he laid back down on the bed. He was really tempted just to sleep there but he had obligations to his friends.

Suddenly, the doctor came in carrying a plastic bag full of food. "Look at the time. Your hour's up. You're free to go." Takemi informed as she set the bag down. "Haruka, enough cuddle time." She then added in a nonchalant tone.

"Thanks, sensei." Akira breathed out as he got up from the bed while the blonde did as instructed.

"Do you really have to leave right now?" Haruka asked, whining a little but mostly worried.

"Sorry, but I am a busy person." Akira got out in an apologetic manner as he ran through everything he had to do before the Hawaii trip on Wednesday. "A very busy person." He then added, pushing down the tired tone in his voice.

"Okay..." Haruka got out, looking a little sad.

Takemi sighed, shaking her head before...

CHU!

...Kissing the Leader on the cheek. "Knock 'em dead, guinea pig." She then encouraged with a smile.

The Leader blushed and stumbled backwards out the door. "U-Uh...yeah...thanks." Akira coughed out before hurrying out of the clinic.

Haruka meanwhile blinked at the sight as she looked at her fellow doctor. "...You too?" She assumed.

"Excuse me?" Takemi asked, facing her co-worker.

"Don't worry. I don't mind and I won't tell." Haruka assured her with a smile.

"I have no idea what you're talking about..." Takemi got out with a smirk.

Haruka blinked. She couldn't tell if she was joking or not. All she could tell was how amused the doctor was by her facial expression.

"And Haruka?" Takemi then asked again.

"Huh?" The busty blonde got out as she snapped out of her thoughts.

"Your tests are done." Takemi informed as she gestured towards her assistant's work.

"Ah! Thank you." Haruka responded as she dashed to the back of the room.


(Hebijo Base)

Murasaki sighed in satisfaction as she opened the door and made her way into the base, seeing the plushie on the bed just as she left her.

"Yo, you're finally back huh?" Bebeby remarked as the purplette entered.

"Yup." Murasaki responded in a casual tone as she placed her bag aside and went to the fridge. "Uhhh...I guess I'll choose milk tonight." She decided.

"Careful, it's skim milk." Bebeby sarcastically warned.

"Hai hai, Bebe-tan." Murasaki responded, not even phased by the warning as she got the milk out before going for a glass.

"How was the gym?" Bebeby asked. "Did you need someone to get the weight lifting bar off your throat?" The plushie jokingly added.

"It was actually pretty good. I met someone who offered to help me out." Murasaki replied.

"Let me guess. They were related to Akira in some way." Bebeby remarked.

"Basically." Murasaki responded. "He was...actually a nice guy." She then admitted with a smile.

"Is there someone who doesn't know this kid?" Bebeby grumbled. "By the way, are you gonna meet him later? You're only here for a few more days before you completely cause your sister to freak out by the new you." The plushie then reminded.

"I will. I'll text him." Murasaki responded as she began drinking her milk. She was feeling more confident in herself now then the last time she met him.

"You gonna confess to him?" Bebeby eventually asked.

PPPPFFFTTTTT!

Murasaki coughed after spraying milk all over the overgrown beansprouts. "O-Of course not! I-It's still too soon Bebe-tan!" She responded.

"Screw that noise. You fell for him in one meeting." Bebeby pointed out. "Or is it all just a first crush, infatuation thing just because he saved you?" She then questioned.

"...You're not coming when I see him again." Murasaki bluntly stated.

"Oh, I guess you don't need me anymore." Bebeby soon decided.

"More like I don't want you ruining anything." Murasaki countered with a pout.

"..."

"...Bebe-tan?" Murasaki called out.

"..."

"...This isn't funny." Murasaki responded, getting a little scared now.

"..."

"Bebe-tan, please speak!" Murasaki soon ordered in a panic.

"..." Bebeby simply flopped over, unmoving.

"!?" Murasaki's eyes immediately widened in shock. "BEBE-TAN!" She exclaimed as she rushed over to the plushie, picking it up and shaking it.

"Girl, I'm just a voice of your raging loneliness and repressed thoughts." Bebeby suddenly reminded in a serious tone. "If you're gonna do all this, you're gonna have to let me go." The plushie soon stated.

"Urk!" Murasaki got out upon hearing this. "But...I...I can't..." She mumbled.

"Do it. You must." Bebeby eventually instructed.

"You're my best friend!" Murasaki soon confessed as she hugged the plushie tightly.

"I'm you, and you're me." Bebeby however stated. "And you made a new friend in Akira and this other boy you mentioned." The plushie added.

"I-I can't! I won't!" Murasaki decided, tightening her hug with all her strength.

"Hrk! Blarg..." Bebeby choked before her plush tongue hung out of her mouth.

"NNNNNNNOOOOOOO! BEBE-TAN!" Murasaki cried before sobbing into the plushie's chest.

"...Well, given that I'm still talking, you aren't gonna get rid of me until you're middle-aged, huh." Bebeby eventually quipped.

"!" Murasaki's eyes soon widened as one of them twitched. "BEBEBY NO BAKA!" She declared she threw the plushie, conveniently landing into the beansprout grove.

"Hey, don't blame the inanimate object! Blame who the hell's running things up in that head of yours!" Bebeby countered from the garden.

"That's not funny!" Murasaki declared while crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm not laughing, am I?" Bebeby countered. "You were pretty serious about it, but just because you've changed in 12 days won't reverse the years and years of trauma." The plushie then added.

"I...I..." The purplette tried to object, however she wasn't exactly doing a good job.

"See, you're even stuttering like you used to." Bebeby countered. "You only have two days until you have to go back, but you have the rest of your life to work things out." The plushie reminded and stated.

"But...I've grown so much..." Murasaki mumbled.

"That's only a tiny fraction of what you can do." Bebeby responded. "Stop focusing on Akira and shit and start looking forward to life ahead. Also, maybe think about that whole crush thing and give it time to process." The plushie soon instructed and advised.

"I-I have processed it." Murasaki responded in a determined manner.

"What do you both like, then?" Bebeby however questioned.

"..." Murasaki immediately went silent as a result.

"...Yeah. I thought so." Bebeby deadpanned. "Go to sleep. We're visiting him tomorrow." She then ordered.

"...I'm visiting him tomorrow." Murasaki corrected.

"Again, just a voice of your inner thoughts. Technically you're bringing me everywhere." Bebeby reminded and corrected.

"I'm going to sleep." The purplette decided in a flat tone.

"Wear fresh panties...or go nude if you want." Bebeby suggested as the girl went to the bathroom to change.


(Shinjuku, New Moon Apartment Complex)

Yumi let out a heavy breath, her head leaning against her apartment door.

Despite finding out, despite seeing his grave, despite...everything...today just didn't feel real.

Was this entire year even real?

"Dammit..." Yumi quietly sobbed. No, she couldn't just live in a fantasy. She needed to face reality...no matter how much it hurt.

Wiping her eyes, she finally got out her keys, unlocked her apartment and walked inside. She was a little surprised to see Shiki still there, and she did not look happy. "Yumi-chii, you've been out since...!" The fashionista began, only to see the tired and depressed expression on her sister's face. "Oh. Oh no..." She got out as she went pale

"Shiki...you knew, didn't you?" Yumi stated.

Shiki winced. "Hai..." She relented. It was simultaneously lifting a weight off her shoulders and then putting on an even heavier one. "I...I was there when he..." She confessed before trailing off.

"It's fine." Yumi mumbled off-handedly.

"Yumi, no it's not." Shiki got out as she shook her head. "Talk to me. It's...It's why I'm here in the first place." She then added.

"I...I went to where Ojii-sama will be buried..." Yumi hesitantly revealed.

Shiki immediately winced upon hearing that. "A-Are you okay?" She then asked.

"I feel like I cried all my tears there and on the trip here." Yumi mumbled out as she shut the door behind her. "I...I'm not ready for this." She then confessed, her voice breaking.

"Me too." Shiki admitted. "But...at least we have each other, right?" She then tried to encourage, but the tears flowing down her cheeks betrayed her.

"I'm so sorry..." Yumi whispered before she hugged the blonde.

"I-It's okay...I...It's okay..." Shiki sobbed as she wrapped her arms around her sister.

For the next hour, the two simply cried into each other's shoulders. Even when they stopped crying they still held on, not wanting to get rid of the warmth and comfort their bodies provided.

"I'll stay as long as you want." Shiki promised.

Yumi nodded a little before her eyes widened, remembering the conditions of a trip here. "But...I know you can't-" She tried to persuade her friend, however...

"Screw. That. I'm staying until you feel better." The fashionista declared. "I'm not leaving you alone. Not anymore." She then concluded.

The gray haired girl sniffled. "Please don't." Yumi requested in a vulnerable manner.

"...The others are hurting as well..." Shiki pointed out as she rubbed her nose into her Leader's shoulder.

"Yeah." Yumi breathed out her response. "We should talk. I...I didn't give them a chance when they told me."

"I'll set up a video chat." Shiki informed while taking her phone out.

Soon enough, everyone had gotten on the video chat, displaying on Shiki's phone which was propped up on the table with a water bottle.

"Hey, Yumi, Shiki." Yozakura greeted.

"Hello." Minori said in a small voice. The redness on her cheeks and eyes said everything about what she did today.

"Good to see you." Murakumo got out with a wave, her mask unreadable.

"I...I'm so sorry..." Yumi whimpered as she bowed to the screen.

"No, I should apologize first. I-I don't know what came over me." Yozakura insisted before shaking her head. "No, I do. I...just hearing your voice for the first time since Kurokage-sama passed...sounding as if nothing important happened...I couldn't take it." She then got out in sadness.

"Yozakura-chii..." Shiki breathed out.

"It's okay. I can understand your reaction." Yumi however got out with a sigh. "I...I would do the same thing in a similar situation." She then confessed.

"Well...we aren't exactly the most mentally sound people in the world." Murakumo admitted.

"Hai..." Minori agreed with a nod.

"Do you...have a day for Ojii-sama's funeral?" Yumi hesitantly questioned.

"September 20th." Murakumo revealed.

"And...am I allowed to-" Yumi began.

"Of course you are Yumi." Yozakura answered, interrupting her sister. "We'll gather at Gessen before we head over." She then stated.

"That's a school day. I can get permission to take a day off but then there are my other obligations..." Yumi muttered with a frown. "But...I'll try my best to make it." She then promised.

"You don't have to." Murakumo got out in a comforting tone.

"I want to." Yumi quickly declared. "It's...the least I can do after my failure..." She quietly added.

"You didn't fail a damn thing." Shiki assured in a comforting tone. "Urgh, I hate this mood! We can't stay this down forever! Let's just...Let's just talk about something else." She then complained.

"Shiki, it's fine. I-" Yumi tried to say, however...

"No!" Shiki snapped. "We can't talk about grandfather all the time so...let's at least have a normal night." She then stated and requested.

"...Okay, okay. If that would make you feel better." Yumi sighed as she shook her head.

"Thanks." Shiki breathed out, smiling for the first time in days. "Now...did anything happen at school today?"

"Um..." Yumi began as she thought about it. "Oh! The trip!" She then remembered.

"Trip? What?" The Gessen girls all repeated in a curious manner.

"I was asked to chaperone a school trip. I'm going somewhere on Wednesday and I won't be back until the 12th." Yumi explained.

"What!? Is it out of the city or something!? Where are you going, Yumi-chii?" Shiki asked with a hint of excitement in her tone. "Okinawa, Kyoto, Hokkaido? Oooh, those places are nice to take a trip to!" She then guessed.

"Well...it involves an airplane." Yumi awkwardly and vaguely revealed.

"..." There was silence from both Shiki and the girls on the phone.

"...That doesn't narrow it down, Yumi." Murakumo then pointed out.

"How about...an international flight?" Yumi soon revealed another hint while taking out her passport that was given to her when she first left for Tokyo.

"Eh?" Minori got out in confusion while the others simply stared owlishly at her.

Yumi sighed. "Kosei High School is having a field trip to Los Angeles, which is...quite a surprise, I have to admit." She then informed.

"Eh?" Shiki got out as she blinked a couple of times.

"...LOS ANGELES!?" The Gessen Girls exclaimed at the same time.

"Y-You get to go to America!?" Yozakura breathed out. "Oh come on! That's not fair!" She then complained to herself.

"W-Why did you accept?" Murakumo questioned. "Your mission needs you in Tokyo..." She then added as the light gray haired girl's heart stopped for a second.

"Murakumo..." Shiki however started in a surprisingly chiding tone before throwing an arm around the gray haired girl. "Don't take this away from her. Everyone needs a vacation and Yumi-chii here definitely needs one." She then requested and explained.

"Especially now." Everyone mentally added. Despite the silence, the mood was brought down.

"So...you won't be around..." Minori murmured.

"No...I won't..." Yumi sighed. It felt like she was leaving all over again. "But only for a week. I'll always be there afterwards" She then reassured.

"If you say so." Murakumo muttered.

"Um...enjoy your trip. It might make things hurt a little less." Yozakura soon got out.

"I...I doubt it. But I will try." Yumi sighed. "It's getting late and I haven't eaten dinner. I'll call tomorrow, okay?" She then stated.

"Yeah." Yozakura replied, sniffling a little. "I'm...I'm still..." She then continued with a muffled tone.

"No...I...I don't think you need to apologize any more." Yumi assured with a small smile. "Good night." She then muttered.

"Good night and take care, Yumi-chan." Minori replied. It wasn't in her most joyous tone, but at least some of it was back.

After stewing in the silence for a while, Shiki decided to speak. "Yumi-chii...you want me to cook dinner for you?" She soon offered.

"No, you're my guest. I'll cook dinner tonight." Yumi replied as she stood up.

"But..." Shiki tried to help, but her leader was having none of it.

"No buts." Yumi interrupted. "Just...let me focus on something else." She then requested.

"...Okay." Shiki relented, nodding as she sat down at the table while her leader went to the kitchen.

On the 7th, Yumi would be leaving. Only four days of acting like things were normal.

This was going to be hell. For her and her fellow Phantom Thieves.


Save Game...Quit!


Asuka/Yin's Social Stats:

Leadership- Mastermind (Level 4)

Knowledge- Professor (Level 4)

Proficiency- Masterful (Level 4)

Diligence- Thorough (Level 4)

Courage- Daring (Level 4) → Heroic (Level 5)

Homura/Yang's Development Stats:

Maturity- Adult (Level 4)

Knowledge- Professor (Level 4)

Femininity- Natural (Level 4)

Elegance- Yamato Nadeshiko (Level 5)

Understanding- Saintly (Level 5)


Whew! Done! Well…Yumi knows about the death of her grandfather. But we aren't done with her grieving process yet. More interesting developments in the future.

UknownHero signing off, my friends!

Oh, and by the way…

The world listened, Johnny Depp. And they believed you. Hope you get work soon.