Hey, UknownHero here and welcome to another chapter of Senran Persona! God, this chapter was hell to write, especially the boss fight. Even in written form, Okumura tests our patience and ability.

Senran Persona: Ninjas of Hearts has a TV Tropes page. Also, thank you WWP Futsure LKD for creating a playlist on all the songs used for boss fights and important moments! I'll link it in the AO3 version.

Time to answer some reviews. To M: No, that conversation with Murasaki ended there. To ConnivingG: 35,000 words not enough for you!? How about 55,000? Is that enough for ya?

And that's it for the reviews. Time to eat shit.

Load Game…Start!


Chapter 127: The Treasure of Mammon


(9/24, Early Morning)

(Hanzō Academy, Elites Room)

Yagyū let out a yawn as soon as she entered the room. The only one she could see inside was Katsuragi, who looked like had just finished making her daily cup of instant ramen. Seeing nothing wrong, she sat down across from the blonde.

"...You think Hibari would upgrade Muramasa's boobs to be bigger than Ikaruga's if I asked nicely?" Katsuragi suddenly asked, noticing the white-haired Hanzō first year.

"Katsuragi, I literally just came in. Who opens a conversation like that?" Yagyū groaned as she palmed her forehead.

"Sorry, I just wanted to make some small talk before class." The blonde not-so-apologetically got out.

"There are literally millions of other topics you could have opened with. The weather, the gossip at school, Ikaruga coming back, or my departure, literally anything else but breasts." The white haired girl pointed out in frustration.

"Well, what did you expect me to say?" Katsuragi questioned.

Yagyū opened her mouth...only to close it once she realized she was coming up blank. "...You seriously need to get yourself a partner-in-crime or someone similar who is just as perverted as you." She sighed out.

"Hey!" Katsuragi got out in an indignant tone. "I could go for both a girlfriend or a boyfriend, or maybe both! I could find Asuka and Ryuji-kun right now if I wanted to!" She then called out.

"Well I don't- wait, what?" Yagyū soon started before asking in realization the moment she heard the blonde's full response.

"Wait, what?" Katsuragi however responded.

The two girls blinked at each other in silence. "Did you just-" Yagyū soon started,

"He was just the first person I thought of, okay!" Katsuragi defended herself before realizing her other slip-up. "N-No need to pry into that." She then added.

Yagyū however raised an eyebrow to that. "Okay..." She simply responded.

"But now that you did mention it, Ikaruga is coming back today, right?" Katsuragi asked away, holding her cup of instant ramen and chopsticks in both of her hands.

"Yes." Yagyū confirmed with a nod. "She should be back at any moment now." She then recalled.

"Finally, the average bust size can go up once again." Katsuragi breathed out in relief.

"I don't know exactly what you mean by that, Katsuragi-san." Yagyū bluntly commented on that. "With the arrival of the new wave, the chest size has already gone up." She then pointed out.

"Yeah, but um..." Katsuragi began, only to find she couldn't finish her sentence in a satisfying way.

"...You missed her." Yagyū concluded.

"Yeah..." Katsuragi breathed out in defeat. "I gotta admit that Ikaruga was 50% of my self-control and 60% of my entertainment." She then revealed.

"That does not surprise me." Yagyū bluntly stated.

The hidden entrance flipped sideways open with a thud, and revealed a familiar long-haired ravenette who just now entered their private hangout room.

"Welcome back." Yagyū greeted.

"Oh great, she's here!" Katsuragi stated in relief, setting aside her now finished cup of instant ramen as she stood up. "Good timing, too." She then added.

"Welcome back." Yagyū greeted while chewing on a piece of dried squid, her bags nearby and ready for the switch.

"Yes...hello there, Yagyū-san, Katsuragi-san." Ikaruga greeted, almost a bit inert with her tone. "...Where is Hibari-san?" She then asked as she looked around.

"Working on Muramasa." Katsuragi replied to her as she was doing stretches with her arms. "If you hear something blow up or a horrible screeching noise, that's normal." She then informed.

"Ah yes, I'm going to have to meet this Muramasa-san." Ikaruga recalled. "Just...another task on the mountain of unending other things I have to deal with on a regular, no, frequent basis." She then sighed out in obvious frustration.

"You don't sound all that prim and proper, Ikaruga." Katsuragi remarked. "What, Okumura being bigger trash than usual?" She then assumed.

"No." Ikaruga growled through gritted teeth, her face slowly turning red. "He is the most gigantic, most enormous, grotesque and rotten individual in the entire world, no, this entire galaxy! So large, unwieldy, and horribly dangerous that the human mind cannot comprehend how much of A MASSIVE DUNCE HE IS!" She then started as her voice's anger continued to grow until it finally burst.

Everyone in the room blinked. "...What?" Katsuragi spoke up in a cautious manner.

"I want to kill him." Ikaruga soon revealed with gritted teeth as she made strangling motions with her hands.

"..." Katsuragi's eyes soon widened in disbelief at that blunt statement. "Damn, he pushed you that far?" She then got out.

"You have no idea, Katsuragi-san." Ikaruga groaned out. "As much as we loathe him, he is still our client, and it is not in our place to ignore orders." She then reminded and stated.

"Ugh, that really sucks..." Katsuragi grumbled with crossed arms under her large chest. "How's our Haru-chan, by the way? Is she still getting married to that suit-wearing idiot?" She then asked in concern.

"She..." Ikaruga began before stopping herself, hesitating in even answering. "She has...given up fighting herself." She soon revealed in a saddened tone.

"What!?" Katsuragi got out with widened eyes.

"..." Yagyū meanwhile narrowed her uncovered eye at that reveal.

"She's...the one who originally placed a request to the Phantom Thieves...before the hacker inflated it." Ikaruga informed in a mellow tone this time, like someone just committed betrayal in front of her.

"Oh." Katsuragi got out. "Okay." She then shrugged before returning to her ramen.

Ikaruga's eye twitched. "Okay!? She's relying on someone else entirely to stop this nonsense! A complete wild card! And your best response is OKAY!?" She then shouted out, flickers of blue fire beginning to surround her.

"...Yeah?" The blonde responded a little too casually for the ravenette's liking.

You know, there have been days when Ikaruga has wanted to choke Katsuragi unconscious but she always suppressed those feelings, playing it off as overreacting and nothing she hasn't dealt with in the past three years she has known the blonde.

However, today it felt like she was being tested to notto strangle her best friend with her bare hands.

"It's obvious these Thieves have a power we don't understand, and obviously foolproof. We'll just have to wait and see." Yagyū soon stated.

"But how can we even trust them!? Do you actually think they're gonna risk going after Okumura when a hacker inflated his numbers!?" Ikaruga shouted out.

"Because the Phantom Thieves have already won." Katsuragi however answered.

"Already- Do you even hear yourself!?" Ikaruga called out in frustration, nearly pulling her hair out. "What if a change of heart isn't enough!? What if it does nothing and Haru is still sold off!? We need to take this matter into our own hands!" She then questioned.

"But didn't you say-" Katsuragi began to remind, however...

"Forget about what I said!" Ikaruga interrupted as she shook her head. "We fight for all that is good and is just here at Hanzō Academy and what Haru is going through now is an injustice!" She then declared.

"Ikaruga, are you insinuating we should go rogue to stop this?" Yagyū assumed in a serious tone.

"...It is all I can think of." Ikaruga admitted in a surprisingly vulnerable tone.

"Hey hey hey hey..." Katsuragi got out as she went over to comfort her best friend. "It's okay to feel powerless sometimes. Sometimes you just...can't help everyone. Not even your own friends." She then stated.

"But...Haru...she..." Ikaruga tried to explain, but she was too busy sobbing to form a complete sentence.

"Getting upset over it won't help her. Neither is throwing away everything for someone else's happiness." Yagyū responded. "It is obvious that she hasn't given up yet, just waiting for the right opportunity." She then assumed.

Ikaruga went silent, slowly regaining her composure before she could speak. "...I guess she hasn't forgotten the theory of being a shinobi." She then got out with a small laugh.

"You never forget it. Like riding a bike." Katsuragi claimed. "Unless it's been a while and you've only done it once or twice before, but still." She then added with a shrug.

"We've been friends together since we were kids, so..." Ikaruga began. "Me, Haru-san, Kumo-san and...and..." She then listed off before trailing off. "..." She soon paused as she went into a thinking position.

"Hm? What's up?" The blonde third year asked, noticing the behavior.

"...Was there...someone else?" Ikaruga soon muttered. "I feel as though...I'm forgetting someone...who was it?" She then admitted and mumbled the question.

"Well, you and your family got involved with a lot of people before, Ikaruga." Yagyū got out. "It might be hard to remember after so many faces and so many years." She then added.

"...You're probably right." The ravenette admitted in agreement. She would have to ponder on it later. "In any case Yagyū-san, you have your work cut out for you once you head out." Ikaruga concluded with a sigh.

"What?" Yagyū responded with a raised eyebrow. "My work cut out? Why?" She then repeated and asked.

"Well, Okumura said that he will be putting you under much more scrutiny." Ikaruga revealed.

"I suspected as much." Yagyū responded with a nod and a sigh.

"Aw hell, my turn's gonna suck, isn't it." Katsuragi realized.

"Probably." Ikaruga and Yagyū both agreed in unison.

"Well then. Take care, everyone." Yagyū got out as she hefted her bag over her shoulder. "I will ensure that both Okumura's will be safe and happy by the end of my duration." She then reassured.

BOOM!

"WAH!" Hibari yelped out from another room. "MOH!" She soon whined.

"Hehe, sorry Hibari-chan!" Muramasa's voice apologized with a giggle.

"...S-Someone please go check on Hibari for me." Yagyū muttered as she rushed off to begin their client's duties.

She was now starting to feel a bit more distant towards Hibari ever since Muramasa came along, but now's not the time for personal feelings. Right now, shinobi duties come first.


(Harajuku, Haruka's Apartment)

The sun had not risen by this point in Tokyo, and yet someone had arrived with the intent of having a long conversation with the person who lived there. After taking an elevator to get to the appropriate floor, she used her crutches to start knocking on the door.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

"Mmmm...no, stop. You'll knock off all the fine china on the other side..." Haruka mumbled in her sleep, having quite the odd dream tonight. "Knock me up? That's fine. Now all four of you, stand there and mumble mumble mumble..." She then giggled, clutching onto her pillow...and began making out with it.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Right next to her, in the same bed, Tsumuji was having her own weird dreams. "I can't go in here without enough sin points? Come on, I've at least ran over some plush toys. Okay, new idea: adultery." She murmured, oddly smiling.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

"GAH! FUCKING- Alright!" Tsumuji snapped as she got off the bed and stormed out of the bedroom. She had tried to ignore it for some extra sleep, but this random idiot at their apartment room door was persistent. "Let me get the freaking door before you wake up the entire complex, ya bulldozer!" She then called out.

"Thank you!" The muffled voice responded from the other side.

"It's freaking 4 AM in the morning! Who the fuck is knocking on Haruka-sama's door!?" Tsumuji grumbled as she stomped over to the front door and opened it. "What the actual fuck do you-" She began before freezing up.

"Hello Haruka, I'd like to-" Imu began at the same time before they realized who they were talking to.

"...You're not the old lady from across the hall." Tsumuji responded, her face pale as she recognized the person. "Oh fuck all kind of ducks!" She mentally swore in a panic.

"I didn't know you could rent out stripper maids." Imu muttered with a raised eyebrow.

"Stripper-" Tsumuji growled before looking down at her current outfit...which consisted of a bikini and her maid mobcap. "...I don't own anything else to wear, okay!" She squeaked.

"Um...maybe I have the wrong place..." Imu muttered as she double-checked her phone.

BOING!

"Tsumuji-chan, who is it?" Haruka yawned out, wearing even less than the maid (as in nothing at all) as she walked into the glasses wearing blonde's sight.

"..." Imu opened her mouth, looking between the two barely dressed women before coming to an appropriate conclusion. "Okay, what the hell is going on here? Should I just come back at a later time, you two?" She soon questioned.

"Huh? What?" Haruka got out in confusion before realizing who their guest was in their room. "W-Wait, th-this isn't what it looks like! I-I mean, it...well...erm..." She then tried to explain, but just couldn't get the proper words out.

"You know what, I actually don't really care about how freaky you are in the bedroom. May I come in?" Imu soon stated and requested.

"I am not-" Haruka tried to deny before letting out a sigh. "Whatever. Tsumuji-chan, do you mind making some coffee?" She responded and requested.

"Hai." Tsumuji replied with a bow before going on ahead to prepare coffee.

Imu soon watched the maid head over to the kitchen, half-expecting to see some sort of brand or markings on the girl's buttcheeks. "...So you've been busy, Haruka-san." She soon noted.

"I am not having sex with my maid." Haruka downright informed her.

"I'll believe it once you actually get dressed." Imu deadpanned as she took a quick glance down. Huh, she sure shaved nicely.

"...Right. One second." Haruka got out. Then, in a literal blink of an eye, she was dressed and ready to go to work at a moment's notice. "Okay, have a seat." She soon ordered.

Imu nodded as she used her crutches to get inside the apartment.

"...You're injured yet you came to Tokyo." Haruka noted as the glasses wearing blonde nodded in confirmation.

"Who ran you over?" Tsumuji questioned.

"My little sister." Imu answered. "Murasaki." She then revealed.

To that however, Haruka smirked in sadistic anger. It was time for payback. "Oh~ You mean my little sister?" She countered.

"Excuse me?" Imu responded before coming to the realization. "Oh, right, that." She then muttered in a sad tone.

"Oh, how does it feel to lose your sister? To face the consequences of your own actions?" Haruka soon questioned as she narrowed her eyes. "This is punishment for all you've done, all you've tried to do to destroy her." She eventually stated in a no nonsense tone.

"She ran away from her duties. That's her problem to solve." Imu responded.

"You drove her into becoming a shut-in." Haruka reminded in disapproval.

"Because she nearly killed me with her powers, you stupid fucking bitch!" Imu snapped.

"Oh I know about that, and the reason behind it." Haruka responded. "Murasaki-chan told me everything you did to her." She then revealed with narrowed eyes. "All for the sake of some power she doesn't even want." She soon stated.

"...You don't want to make me an enemy here." Imu soon threatened.

"You were already an enemy as soon as you hurt Murasaki-chan." Haruka responded. "I was more of a sister to her then you ever were." She then stated.

"...You're right." Imu suddenly responded.

"There's no deny- wait, what?" Haruka began before soon asking in confusion.

"I was a cruel, controlling, and hateful sister who couldn't see the trouble she was causing until it was too late." Imu soon confessed.

"And jealous." Haruka added after regaining her anger. "And yes, Murasaki-chan knew you were jealous of her." She then revealed.

"Yes, and jealous." Imu sighed out. "But Murasaki is going down a dark path and I can't stop her anymore." She then stated in a dead serious tone.

"Only because it was your-" Haruka began before realizing what was said. "Wait, dark path?" She repeated in confusion.

"She's actively suppressing the Root of Calamity, but in turn she is feeding it." Imu explained. "All that hate and resentment, to me and her old self is making it stronger, and if I don't stop it, terrible things will happen." She then revealed.

"And how would you even know about that happening?" Haruka questioned in an untrustworthy tone.

"Because I'm not here trying to plan a betrayal and escape from Hebijo Academy." Imu answered in a serious tone. She didn't even flinch when the maid had a sharpened tray at the back of her neck.

"...And where did you come up with that assumption?" Haruka calmly questioned, unphased by this stated.

Imu simply pulled out her phone and pressed play.

"Winging it is not an option here." Hikage's voice (and a sense of dread) filled the room. "Too little, and we can't garner enough panic to cover our escape. Too many and we might be engulfed by it. We're betraying the academy, and they will not take such a thing lying down. We need to cover every possibility if we want to pull this off."

Imu paused the recording. She had dozens more, but she thought it would be sufficient enough. "You forget that Hebijo trains shinobi, and information can be more powerful than a weapon or a bomb." She soon stated.

"Hikage..." Haruka muttered, resisting the urge to facepalm. "...And what makes you think you are getting back to Hebijo?" She soon questioned in a dead serious tone.

"The one that ties you all together." Imu answered. "...I want to meet Akira Kurusu." She then revealed.

Haruka tensed up as she gave a scowl. "You will do no such thing." She responded.

"I'm not asking for permission. I was warning you." Imu corrected. "I...I just need advice, really." She hesitantly confessed.

"...Advice." Haruka repeated. "Is that so?" She then added.

"He was able to get Murasaki to come out, and the rest seemed to change as soon as they came back, so I want it to happen to me." Imu explained and revealed.

"So you came all this way...to get advice." Haruka simplified. "You know, at this point, these little trips here have been used for everything but what is related to the mental shutdowns. I don't even think any of us met up with Homura." She then responded.

"..." Imu in turn gave off a blank look.

"...The current leader of the Hebijo Elites." Haruka reminded.

"I admit, I forgot she even existed." Imu responded and confessed. "All I'm asking is for help. And some medicine." She then requested.

"This is coming from the girl threatening me and my group, your former sister included." Haruka deadpanned.

"Who said I was threatening you?" Imu questioned.

"You just played a recording that could easily get us all killed once word gets out of Hebijo." Haruka reminded. "Not to mention...Dōgen-san." She then added.

"...Dammit! You see why I need the help?" Imu exclaimed in frustration.

"Because you're two-faced and scatter-brained?" Tsumuji bluntly assumed.

"No, because I'm a screw-up who can't say anything right currently!" Imu confessed.

"Delete that recording you just played and any other evidence you possibly have." Haruka instructed. "And then we'll probably talk further." She soon stated.

"Hey, if I could get something like this, what makes you think I'm the only one?" Imu however stated. "And I won't delete it until you actually talk with me." She then responded.

"I said I would." Haruka corrected.

"Probably." Imu countered with narrowed eyes. "I know you're gonna kick me out without another word. If you're going to treat me like I'm a monster, then I won't have any reservations about what comes next." She then accused.

"I am not treating you like a monster." Haruka responded.

"Are you? You were smiling when you were taunting me about taking Murasaki away like a favorite doll." Imu questioned and reminded. "Is everyone who doesn't agree with you an enemy? Or are you afraid of making a mistake?" She soon questioned.

"I am not afraid." Haruka responded. "And Murasaki-chan is not a doll. She is a person like everyone else." She then stated.

"Do you always have to correct me, or are you just telling yourself that?" Imu soon asked.

"Ufufu~ How dare you try and turn this on me..." Haruka giggled out in a sadistic manner.

"Then let me ask you this: Have you removed the Yoke technique?" Imu eventually questioned.

"..." Haruka and Tsumuji were soon struck silent.

"Your escape will mean nothing if you die ten feet out, and I don't see how you can get it off before anyone else finds out of your plans." Imu soon stated in a serious tone. "You all want to leave, but only recently you've made the effort. That doesn't sound like you want it enough." She then added.

"I do want it!" Haruka declared. "We all do!" She soon stated.

"Then kill me right now." Imu eventually ordered.

"...Gladly." Haruka got out as she flicked out a kunai from her hand, lunged at her and...

Stopped. The sharp point of her kunai was inches before Imu's glasses.

"...Haruka-sama?" Tsumuji got out.

"What's the matter, do it!" Imu called out with a glare, sitting completely still from her current predicament.

"...and give you the satisfaction of death?" Haruka suddenly questioned.

"But you were all for it earlier." Imu pointed out with a frown. "Was that a lie? What's stopping me from killing myself here and now!?" She then called out.

"Do you want to die!?" Tsumuji exclaimed.

"If it means protecting those I love, yes." Imu replied bluntly. "I'm willing to kill and die for what I believe in, do you?"

Haruka's hands began to shake. "I'm...I'll..." She hesitantly started.

"You're a shinobi. You should have the willpower to do this." Imu reminded. "You've already killed before, you can do it again." She then stated.

"Haruka-sama! Don't let her get to you!" Tsumuji called out, gritting her teeth together. "I'll kill her! I won't stain her blood on your hands!" She then offered.

"..." Haruka however scowled in response. "...No." She soon decided.

"No?" Imu and Tsumuji repeated in shock.

"Tsumuji-chan, put down your weapons." Haruka soon ordered. "If she lives or dies, she gets what she wants. And...we need the allies." She then stated and admitted in a relucent manner.

"Wha-!?" Tsumuji exclaimed in disbelief.

"Tsumuji, if we are to live new lives, we need to show mercy to our enemies..." Haruka explained. "And our friends. I don't want to go back to a life full of hate." She then added.

"Then I'll hate for you!" Tsumuji declared, already pulling back her sharpened tray to slice the bitch through the head, only for her mistress to grab her wrist.

"You will not!" Haruka declared. "We aren't killers anymore, tools for others to use...we are people, and we choose how we live." She soon stated.

"...Aw, dammit!" Tsumuji relented as she freed herself, but didn't do anything else but glare at the glasses-wearing girl. "Fine! I guess I'll go spit in her coffee cup now." She then grumbled as she headed into the kitchen.

"...So I'm guessing I'm not forgiven." Imu assumed.

"No, but...I'll give you a chance." Haruka replied. "I'll be watching you, and if you dare hurt anyone, then I'll make every moment of your life a living hell." She soon threatened.

"Tch, make me repeat high school?" Imu scoffed as she rolled her eyes. "I'd rather you just kill me." She then admitted.

"I won't let you escape that easily." Haruka stated as she shook her head. "Also, when you return to Hebijo...you will let them leave. And if they are caught, you will release them." She then ordered.

"That's just one less person on the frontlines. It won't be easy." Imu pointed out.

"Nothing worth it ever is." Haruka replied with a smirk. "Now, let's have that talk I promised." She soon requested.

Imu nodded. That was all she wanted.


(Hebijo Academy, Elites Room)

Suzune let out a long, suffering sigh. "So again, I ask, why did you cause an incident so severe at the train station that you were arrested and we had to bail you out, Ryōna?" She bluntly questioned the blonde that was kneeling in front of her.

"I'm surprised you bailed her out." Mirai soon admitted.

Suzune sighed again and, without even sparing a glance at the first year Elite, flicked her away.

"O-Oh, I thought I saw a Yōma!" Ryōna claimed with a sheepish smile.

"There hasn't been a Yōma sighting since the 5th of this month." Suzune deadpanned.

"Oh...I guess I jumped the gun." The blonde soon got out in an embarrassed manner, sticking out her tongue while hitting the side of her head at her mistake.

"...Cleaning duty. Three weeks. Toothbrush. Dog kennel." Suzune slowly stated before handing her a bottle of dish soap and a cheap toothbrush. And it was used, judging by the gunk already on it.

"Yes, Suzune-sensei." Ryōna muttered with a bow, graciously accepting the items before the teacher left.

"Uuughh..." Mirai groaned as she returned to the group. "Can someone give me the number of that truck? I'd like to steal from it." She mumbled out in a daze.

"...So what the hell actually happened?" Hikage asked, reading a fashion magazine and laying on the couch while Poochie was resting on her stomach.

"I saw Imu-san at the Tokyo train station." Ryōna answered.

"PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!" Murasaki spat out her water.

"Moh! Could you wait until we finish drinking when you drop news like that!?" Yomi called out, disgusted...by the terrible waste of water that had splattered all over her uniform.

"S-Sorry Yomi-chan!" Murasaki apologized as she made quick bows towards her.

"Besides, we already know that Imu is in Tokyo." Hikage reminded with a frown. "And that it's likely she'll be going after Akira Kurusu." She then added, causing the purplette to flinch.

"Wait, really!?" Ryōna exclaimed. "We have to stop her!" She then declared.

"...You know Akira?" Yomi got out in surprise.

Ryōna's eyes widened as she realized her slip-up. "U-Um, well...he has a magnetic personality?" She awkwardly replied with a chuckle.

"Him. Out of 13.5 million people." Mirai deadpanned.

"How do you know that off the top of your head?" Yomi had to ask.

"Research." Mirai answered, her eyes drifting away from the others as she remembered that she should probably delete her search history. So much weird shit involving death and boobs... "Anyways, there's nothing much we can do other than warn him. Maybe we could send texts to him later. Even a call would do too." She then added and suggested.

"...Ah crapbaskets! I should've done that earlier..." Ryōna groaned as she covered her face in embarrassment.

"You even got his phone number?" Hikage noticed with a raised eyebrow as the masochistic blonde nodded. "Okay, what happened?" She once more asked.

"N-Nothing. I just met him and um, we had a nice time." Ryōna truthfully answered, but her demeanor said it all.

"...A nice time for you is being beaten black and blue." Yomi pointed out.

"...he made me feel funny..." Ryōna soon confessed. "...and in a different kind of way." She then corrected.

"...Funny how?" Yomi soon asked.

"Funny...g-good?" Ryōna answered with a wry smile.

"...Oh God, did you-" Mirai assumed with a massive blush on her face.

"What!? No no no no!" Ryōna denied as she flailed her arms around. "We did nothing but go see Swan Lake and he was nice and amazing and he made me realize that there's a lot more to life than I thought and that me and my sister are going down a really dark path and now all I want to do put on a really nice wedding dress and see him at the end the aisle alone with me, exchange wedding vows and, give him permission to whack my soft ass and...and...ah-"She then rambled on before realizing she said too much and let her mouth hang open as her head went red.

"...What?" The four Crimson Squad girls got out in confusion.

"Uh...hahahahaha! I was...joking! Yeah, joking!" Ryōna tried to play off, laughing very, very awkwardly. "P-Please laugh..." She quietly pleaded.

"You like him too?" Murasaki whispered a little too loudly, instantly getting the first year blonde's attention.

SHATTER!

"WHAT!? YOU'VE FALLEN FOR AKIRA-KUN!?" Murasaki and Ryōna exclaimed to one another at the same time.

"Oh my..." Yomi muttered with a hand over her mouth.

"Oh, you cannot be serious..." Hikage deadpanned as pinched the bridge of her nose.

Outside the Elites Room, a certain teacher gained an amused expression. "Heh. Sounds like this guy is like Leader back in Inaba..." Suzune thought before getting back to work.

"Akira-nii's harem is growing..." Mirai meanwhile mumbled with a sweatdrop. "And knowing him, he isn't even trying. Just being nice to girls." She then added.

"...I have other competition!?" Ryōna exclaimed before pausing. "...Wow, Akira-kun really is a nice guy." She soon admitted in an impressed manner. "He would be a perfect husband to help raise Ren, Ryōki, Ryōka, Ryōba, and Ryō, even give me some usual spanking once in a while when I'm naughty and..." She then got out in a delighted and more well mannered tone.

"...What?" Murasaki and Yomi got out in confusion.

"Oh, and it would be such a wonderful day to go to a car dealership and look at all the minivans to fit the entire family and let Akira hit me with the van before he then takes me to the hospital where he then comforts me at my bedside." Ryōna then continued with a starry look in her eyes.

"Uh...what?" Hikage responded with a raised eyebrow.

"...That's really creepy, you know that?" Mirai pointed out.

"Huh? What is?" Ryōna soon innocently asked with a head tilt.

"Have you even held his hand before?" Yomi countered with her own question.

"Oh we'll definitely be holding hands all day along with Ren, Ryōki, Ryōka, Ryōba, Ryōmi and Ryō! I will never let him go forever and ever and ever! I'll even let him crush my hand so that I won't get away from him. My heart, soul, and genitals all belong to him." Ryōna eventually stated in an airy manner before finally snapping out of it, realizing what she just confessed. "...Oh, that actually does sound really creepy." She then admitted, cringing with a blush.

"...Uh, is she getting a split personality or something?" Mirai bluntly whispered to the other Crimson Squad girls.

"Oh God, please don't." Hikage groaned with a face palm. "Split personalities are so stupid. Especially when you have nine of them to switch between every week." She then stated and declared.

"What?" Mirai got out in confusion.

"What?" Yomi got out as well.

"Arf?" Poochie got out as she tilted her head.

"...Eh?" Murasaki concluded the circle of confusion. "...Did you just reference that movie that's coming out in November? I think the title was Split or something..." She soon asked and added. "Or was it something I read, like, in 2013?" She then muttered under her breath.

"...Yes." Hikage answered with a sigh.

"Ooookay?" Mirai awkwardly got out in confusion.

"Worse news. While you were gone, Imu found out about Akira-kun." Murasaki cried out while shaking the first year blonde.

To that, Ryōna paled. "Yours too!? So did Ryōbi-chan!" She responded. "I...accidently let it slip yesterday." She then confessed with a pink blushed.

"...You're kind of an idiot." Yomi bluntly stated.

Ryōna really tried to resist the oncoming pleasure before her willpower gave in. "Ahn~" She moaned before pausing and groaning in defeat. It just didn't feel the same anymore. "I-I know I am..." She then mumbled.

"It sounds like part of you wants to end your masochistic ways, but the other part of you wants to hold onto it, causing a twisted and weird mix." Yomi assumed.

"That, or you're crazy and that you need to see a therapist." Mirai then bluntly added in a flat tone.

"...Does Hebijo have a therapist?" Ryōna had to ask.

"What do you think?" Hikage bluntly countered. As far as she knew, Hebijo's version of therapy was surviving in a burning building or torture contraptions suited for punishment, even letting someone rot in a cell as a result of failure.

"I'm sure a blow to the skull might help with that." Mirai got out.

"A sledgehammer to the head would be great, hehe~" Ryōna confessed with a giggle. "Or a chainsaw would be great, too." She then added.

"Too far." Mirai bluntly denied.

"I mean, you can shoot me with your guns." Ryōna soon suggested.

"No." Mirai responded bluntly once more...before smirking. "Akira-nii wouldn't like that since he cares for his friends." She then stated as the first year blonde perked up. "He might even get sad if he found out you died." She soon revealed.

"What!? No no no, I will never kill myself doing stuff like that!" Ryōna responded as she shook her head. "How would I get off if I'm dead!?" She then exclaimed.

"...There's no helping her." Hikage deadpanned.

"And Akira would be sad if I did die too!" Ryōna panickingly added. "And I don't want my love to cry!" She then confessed.

"Aaand there it is again." Mirai spoke up with a sigh.

"Then why are you still a shinobi? Why are you still here?" Yomi soon asked.

"...my Onee-chan..." Ryōna sadly confessed.

"Ryōbi?" Hikage guessed.

"No." Ryōna answered with a sad sigh. "Ryoki-oneechan..." She then revealed.

"Oh..." Mirai got out with a wince. "Enemy shinobi?" She guessed.

"No...our much older sister." Ryōna responded. "Well, she died way before Ryōbi-chan and I came here..." She then revealed.

"Legacy? Honor?" Yomi soon assumed with narrowed eyes.

"...Revenge." Ryōna mumbled out.

At that point, Crimson Squad decided to not press further on the issue.

"Oh, forgot." Suzune suddenly got out as she returned, holding something quite large in her hands. "Here's your room for the time being." She declared before dropping the empty cardboard box in front of the masochist before leaving once again.

"...You can room with me if you want." Murasaki suddenly offered. "As a fellow Akira-kun enjoyer, we must stick together." She then added.

"...Really?" Ryōna got out in a curious manner. "You're...alright with it?" She then asked.

"Haruka-oneesama encouraged me to get closer to Akira-kun. I'm just doing the same." Murasaki responded with a smile as she offered a hand.

"Well...I hope this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Ryōna happily responded as she and the purplette shook hands.

"Aaaaand they've joined forces." Mirai deadpanned with a sweatdrop as the Crimson Squad members noticed a fiery aura surrounding the two.

"...You think he'll spank us both if we ask him too?" Ryōna then suddenly asked, causing the purplette to blush.

"Don't turn into a masochist, Murasaki." Hikage sighed out.

"I won't." Murasaki promised.

"But what if he's into it~" Ryōna asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively with a cat-like grin on her face.

"U-Uh...u-u-um...er..." Murasaki stammered out, attempting to sink into her own uniform like a turtle.

"Stop that." Hikage however ordered in a blunt manner.

"B-Bebeby, save me!" Murasaki mentally cried out.

"Save you!? Save yourself!" Bebeby mentally responded.

"Uh...it says here that if you room with anyone, you'll be shipped off to...not sure what language is this...Mexican maybe?" Yomi informed as she squinted at the warning printed on the box:

SHIP PACKAGE TO: El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río Porciúncula

"Sounds like a terrible place." The blonde eventually admitted.

"Suzune-sensei really plans ahead." Mirai remarked with a sweatdrop.

"It's Hebijo Academy. A place where...ah, screw it, let's keep planning to blow this joint." Hikage began before grumbling to herself.

"Yeah." Yomi, Mirai, and Murasaki replied as they made their exit.

"Alright." Ryōna responded with a nod. "...Wait, what?" She then got out with widened and confused eyes as she followed Crimson Squad out of the room.


(Tokyo, Hebijo Base)

Ryōbi winced as the rusty door squeaked and groaned while she pushed it closed behind her. "Home sweet home..." She sighed as she went to turn on the lights.

FLASH!

"This fucking place is falling apart..." Ryōbi got out in a mumble, wincing as one of the lights fell from the ceiling and smashed onto the ground. "Ryōna really lived here for a week? Tch, probably enjoyed this stupid place. God, this place better have a working toilet or I'm gonna be a little mad." She then assumed as she went deeper into the base, throwing her bags to the side.

She soon found one of the cots and sat herself down on it, allowing herself to relax.

"Dammit, I can't believe she has feelings for the damn guy now...what the actual hell...?" Ryōbi grumbled in annoyance to the person she intend to find and talk to. "What's so good about this Kurusu guy? I've seen his face, but he didn't look all that special. She probably took a damn light hit to the head." She then grumbled as she laid down.

Dammit, this was supposed to be a simple mission. Kill Miyabi, avenge Ryōki-oneechan, then live life. That was all. Anything more complicated and they'd be relying on others too much. But no, life had to kick her in the uterus again by making this whole thing more complicated with crushes, and shitty lessons, and the fucking Phantom Thieves crap.

She watched Trigun! Killing was a necessary part of life, shithead!

But...there was no helping it anymore. She'll need to track the fucker down, talk to him, kill Miyabi, maybe kill him too, then live life.

...But also maybe not kill him for her sister's sake.

Disappear. Yeah, that sounded better.

Ryōbi took a deep breath. This was not gonna be- "WHAT THE FUCK!" She suddenly yelped as she felt something touch her cheek, causing her to jump out of the cot and summon her rifle out of her hands in pure instinct.

Ryōbi then blinked at what exactly touched her cheek.

"...Are these...pink beansprouts?" The brunette soon asked as she leaned in closer to take a good look. "...Why are they glowing?" She then asked with worry.

BLINK! BLINK! HUUUUUUUUUUUM!

At that moment, the beansprouts blinked...and humming...

"...What...the...fuck..." Ryōbi got out, her eyes widened.

"...Pantiesssssss...booooobies..."

That immediately caused warning sirens to go off in the brunette's mind. "Nope!" A pale-faced Ryōbi instantly declared as she made her exit. "Nope nope nope nope! This place is no longer fucking meant for habitation anymore! Fuck this shit I'm out!" She then added as she headed out the door and slammed it shut.

And just to make sure no one else went into the hellhole, she barricaded the door with various materials and objects she found around the area.

"I'm gonna need another place to stay." Ryōbi breathed out as she finished condemning the ruined Hebijo base. "And shit if I'm camping in the middle of the city. Now, where should I go...?" She then wondered out loud as she left.

...However she was unaware of more sprouts popping out from beyond the make-shift barricade as they illuminate the darkness...humming a tune all the while...


(9/24, Afternoon)

(Shujin Academy, Classroom)

Afternoon classes had arrived for the Thieves in Shujin, but their minds were elsewhere as they knew they had a meeting straight after school and they were simply waiting for the day to end.

"Shit...I can't even focus on class..." Ann thought with a frown. There was just so much to worry about. She should probably bring it up in the meeting.

"Haru-chan..." Asuka thought in worry. She could only imagine what she could be going through right now, and it was filling her with guilt.

"Haru-senpai...fuck..." Homura thought, clenching her hand into a fist under her desk. Just thinking about Okumura raised her blood pressure. She couldn't wait to punch that dick in the face.

"We've done this several times already, Mona. Stop worrying about what could happen." Morgana thought, mentally slapping himself. They got this, he just had to believe in them and himself and it would all come out fine.

"He has no style, he has no grace...Th-this Kong has a funny face..." Akira thought. He was just bored.

"Autumn is for eating...Autumn is for art...Autumn is for reading..." Usami recited. "Stores will use whatever reasons they can to pull in customers. This season in particular. Ah yes...people also say that autumn is for sports."

"Yeah, Sports Day is coming up." Ann idly muttered before her eyes widened. "Oh no..." She whispered.

Ikki-sensei was probably going to murder them on that day.

"A while back, baseball was the national sport, but these days people have been into soccer. As you know, black and white are the common colors for soccer balls." Usami soon informed. "Everyone, please turn to page 254 in your textbooks. Shirokage-san, what do you see?" She soon asked.

"A...soccer ball?" Asuka innocently answered.

"It's a football, you uncultured swine!" One of the other students called out.

"Quiet down!" Usami yelled at said student with a pointing finger before focusing back on his lecture. "Now, how many white and black shapes are there respectively on the...ball." She soon questioned.

"Ugh, why wasn't this question about baseball..." Asuka mentally whined.

"Lady Asuka looks worried." Morgana noticed. "Akira, you wanna help her out?" He then suggested.

"Do you even have to ask?" Akira quietly responded as he wrote the answer into his notebook and shifted it into the Vice Leader's view.

"Thank you, Akira-kun." Asuka mentally got out in relief. "20 white, 12 black." She finally answered.

"That's correct. This ball is composed of twelve black pentagons and twenty white hexagons. It's made up of a total of 32 surfaces. By the way, apparently soccer balls used to be only one color." Usami soon explained as the class praised the Vice Leader for her knowledge. "They changed it to be black and white so it could be seen better on television...or so I hear, anyway. Television was still in black and white when they started airing soccer in Europe." She then added.

"Um...aren't there still ones being sold with one color?" One of the other students soon pointed out without raising his hand.

"Detention." Usami deadpanned, getting a small 'Awwww' from the offender. "At any rate, the contrast of white and black next to each other...it's a slick design, don't you think?" She then remarked.

"Well, she is right." Homura muttered. "It's a classic design nowadays. You can't really image anything else. The power of cognition." She then added.

"A recent design that's caught my eye is the Moon Burger, which uses an egg to represent the moon." Usami soon admitted, ignoring Asuka, Homura, and Ann slamming their heads onto their desks. "Now, now. I'm well aware of the bad rumors surrounding Okumura Foods, but you can't argue with hunger." She then admitted.

"Eat. Somewhere. Else. Please." Homura quietly pleaded. Despite that sounding good, after what was going on, it was not worth it at the moment...

"I just realized, do they put extra estrogen in the patties?" Akira idly wondered. That would explain a lot, but then again, the entire population of Tokyo would have shinobi physics on their boobs.

God, shinobi biology was weird.

"You think someone like her really eats hamburgers?" Morgana got out in a surprised manner.

"Burgers are universal." Akira soon answered. "...Oh, son of a bitch..." He then swore under his breath.

"You walked right into that one." Homura groaned, her voice muffled as she was still face first on her desk.

Akira simply clicked his tongue in annoyance before he then sighed. "...You know, I kinda want Haruka to send me another nude pic of hers right now..." He soon casually stated to himself softly, leaning down towards the not cat and not letting anyone hear it, including the female Thieves inside the classroom with him, though he hoped he wouldn't be overheard since he knew shinobi have exceptional hearing.

"...You know what, in a rare, boring case like this, I agree." Morgana admitted softly as well, having a private talk of their own between the two of them.

"But you might prefer Ann's, though." Akira teased him with a small smirk. "If she would ever do that one day." He then added.

"Lady Ann would never debase herself like that!" Morgana spat back, albeit not too loudly.

"I know." Akira responded. "Lucky me, I suppose. That means more motivation for me." He added in a cheeky tone.

"...Pervert." Morgana called him out.

"You too, little buddy." Akira spoke back, giving a short rub on the faux feline's head. "Naked women all over your body and fur. Not to mention soft big boobs." He then teased further.

"...Shut up." Morgana only got out, shifting uncomfortably inside Akira's desk.

"Hey, at least it's not boring." Akira however told him back with a small smile.

The faux feline only rolled his eyes in response.

BZZT! BZZT!

Akira felt his phone buzz before discreetly taking it out and turned it on to see the text message.

[Alibaba09: So...Leader...you want a nude pic of Haruka every now and then during boring classes, is that right?]

"Is that Ryuji?" Morgana guessed, hearing the phone buzzing. "I'm guessing it's Ryuji. Complaining about classes again and texting while in class like usual." He then continued.

"...Yeah. It's Ryuji, alright." Akira lied, knowing that this might be the perfect opportunity to provide some proper motivation during his boring classes.

[TheWildJ0ker: Yes, please.]

[Alibaba09: Mwehehe. Since you asked politely, I'll make it happen for sure.]

[Alibaba09: If you want, we could talk about that proposition of yours with just the three of us here in a private group chat.]

[TheWildJ0ker: That would be great, Futaba. Thank you. We'll do it at a later time.]

[Alibaba09: (屮`∀ ) ]

Akira now knew there was no turning back. He was now going to see Haruka's nude pics once in a while during boring classes.

"And thus, you will now be bound by chains of lust..." Arsene informed in the Leader's mind.

"..." Akira went silent for a moment before eventually sighing. "I would blame the shinobi for that, but...somehow, it's now my personal way of coping ever since the day I got arrested and transferred to Tokyo." He then stated in his mind.

"And jokes, hee ho." Jack Frost chimed in.

"And messing with people." Mermaid pointed out.

"And violence." Queen Mab added.

"And-" Pixie began, and probably all the other Personas floating around in his head when he decided to put a stop to it.

"Okay, okay, I get it..." Akira cut her off in a mumbling tone as he slammed his head on his desk as well. "I need healthier coping mechanisms." He sighed out as the lesson continued on.


(Harajuku, Haruka's Apartment)

Meanwhile, in Haruka's apartment, she and Imu were having tea and scones Tsumuji had made after moving Imu's luggage inside. For the time being, Imu was living here until she had to return.

"So, Murasaki-chan ragdolled you to the state where you were in a wheelchair until recently." Haruka simplified.

"I, uh...I think I went overboard with the war of words with her during that fight." Imu responded and confessed in an uncomfortable manner.

"You think?" Haruka however repeated as she narrowed her eyes. "Weren't you trying to discourage her just because she likes to physically exercise now?" She then assumed in disapproval.

Imu simply crossed her arms under her breasts, almost as if she was trying not to respond to that particular question.

"Why recently, Murasaki-chan has sent me an image of her progress and I can say I am so proud of her." Haruka soon revealed with a smile as she took her phone out.

Imu then noticed the photo...only to freeze in disbelief on what the photo consisted of: It really was her younger sister in her own room, though she took the picture of herself in front of a mirror with a somehow playful and teasing expression...all the while naked as it showed off her muscular body with her six-pack.

"So proud of her." Haruka happily sighed as she did the motion of wiping away a tear from her eye.

"WHY IS SHE SHOWING HERSELF OFF NAKED!?" Imu exclaimed in disbelief.

"Ask her, not me." Haruka simply replied, unphased by the anger.

"...Is it that Kurusu boy who convinced her to do this!?" Imu soon accused in growing irritation.

"No no, she decided to do that all on her own." Haruka calmly confirmed with a wave of her hand.

"BULLSHIT!" Imu countered in anger. "My sister would never do such a disgusting thing like this!" She then declared.

"And that is why you truly don't know her." Haruka responded in disappointment while shaking her head. "She is growing up in a way you would have never expected." She soon stated.

"But...doing such an indecent act...I would not tolerate this..." Imu responded, still couldn't believe her younger sister would do such a thing.

"But it is still her choice to make in the end." Haruka however reminded in a dead serious tone. "And if she wants to become a flirty tease as well, it is her choice." She then added in amusement.

To that however, Imu could only let out an incoherent angry grunt like sound in response.

"You should let her have her free will, even if you think she's making a mistake." Haruka soon stated. "If it works out, you should be happy. And if it doesn't, as unlikely as it may be, then you should be there to pick her up." She then added.

"Unlikely!?" Imu got out, her eye twitching. "Are you not planning for it if something goes wrong!?" She soon accused.

"Murasaki-chan is a big girl, not a child." Haruka responded in a calm manner.

Imu however adjusted her glasses in all seriousness. "She is still my younger sister, and as her elder sister, I have to do what's best for her." She responded. "And you basically ignored my question." She then noted.

"It won't go wrong." Haruka stated. "Nothing will go wrong." She then reassured.

"And you think you're confident enough to believe that is happening?" Imu questioned as she narrowed her eyes.

"I trust my friends they'll pull through." Haruka got out with a smile. "You should do the same with Murasaki." She then advised.

"...Are you out of your mind!?" Imu exclaimed in disbelief. "Trust shit! It will be them against everyone in Hebijo! If Dōgen doesn't get them first, someone else will!" She then argued.

"Not this again..." Haruka groaned. "Look, Murasaki-chan and the rest of the Crimson Squad can do this. We can defeat hundreds of shinobi at once with nary a scratch on us. They will be fine." She then reassured.

"Yeah, that's easy to tell yourself when you're in exile for your insane experiments." Imu deadpanned the reminder.

"I'm not that person anymore." Haruka maturely stated.

"But you were that person once!" Imu countered. "Those are the consequences of your actions, and no amount of making up for it will undo that." She then stated.

"I am already working on making up for my sins in my own way." Haruka responded. "I don't need to be there. They will be fine without me." She then assured.

"So...they can slaughter an entire school?" Imu questioned with a frown.

"Sl-Slaughter!?" Haruka gasped.

"Haruka, there is no way they can leave without a little bloodshed." Imu pointed out as she shook her head. "Or a lot of bloodshed in this case. Do not tell you're all planning to do this non-lethally." She then all but pleaded.

"...We are shinobi. We can use something called sneaking out." Haruka replied in a simple manner, as if she was talking to a child.

Imu face palmed. "...You can-not be serious..." She muttered.

"Murasaki-chan managed to sneak out of the school without you knowing for quite a long time." Haruka reminded. "And had also given permission to leave without anyone knowing either." She then added.

"Suzune-sensei knew! Suzune-sensei knows everything!" Imu called out. "No one was going to stop her in the first place. Now everyone's going to stop her!" She then added.

"Isn't this talk about Murasaki-chan?" Haruka soon reminded.

"Let me finish!" Imu demanded. "Just leaving with a loose plan and the power of friendship or whatever isn't going to work because this isn't some anime show on television! The power of swords and violence is way more effective in this reality! And in reality, there are no credits until you die!" She then stated.

"...You are way too much of a realist..." Haruka sighed out in disappointment.

"And you're too much of a...fantasy...ist!" Imu countered before wincing at her wording. "It's better to be realistic and reasonable than believe you can fly if you try hard enough." She then stated.

"There are some shinobi that can..." Haruka soon pointed out.

"THAT'SNOTTHEPOINTHERE!" Imu shouted in frustration.

And once again, Imu could only let out an incoherent angry grunt-like sound in response as the back and forth between her and Haruka continued on.

"...You want a cup of tea?" Haruka offered.

"Ugh...I need sake." Imu groaned as she rubbed her forehead.

"You're not- oh wait, you're 21." Haruka began before remembering. "Well, I don't drink so there's nothing here for you. And besides, a real shinobi must not poison themselves with such a thing." She then reminded.


(Hebijo Academy, Teacher's Quarters)

"Suzune-sensei! Nina got her leg stuck in the mechanical bull again!" A student called out.

The teacher let out a long, suffering sigh, pulled out a flask she kept between her boobs, chugged it until it was empty, then headed off.

God, she wished that girl lost her leg by now.


(Harajuku, Haruka's Apartment)

"Well, it would help me not to constantly worry about shit!" Imu responded before grabbing a cup of tea and drinking some of it. "...I mean, this kind of helps, but it still doesn't make me feel any better." She sighed...right before drinking some more.

"That's because Tsumuji-chan spit in that." Haruka revealed.

Imu choked on her drink while swallowing the rest of the tea before coughing and spitting out the tainted tea, splattering it across in front of her and even dampening her own clothes.

"Maybe I should've kept that from you." Haruka responded in a nonchalant and unphased manner.

"...Do you mind if I take a shower here?" Imu soon asked, her neck shivering slightly from what she just drank from.

"Go ahead. Just strip down here and let me take care of your clothes." Haruka responded and instructed. "And I promise I won't do anything bad to them." She then added.

"Can't I just go to the bathroom?" Imu pointed out.

"We're not leaving you anywhere alone." Tsumuji deadpanned as she pulled out a kunai and began playfully tossing it in her hand.

Imu sighed before beginning to take off her clothes one by one in the middle of the living room, albeit reluctantly. She took off her shirt and threw it on the coffee table before going for her sandy blonde then unclipped her bra, releasing her large breasts, before throwing it onto the pile.

BOING!

After a moment of taking off her dress, shoes, and panties and throwing onto her pile, Imu was now standing nude in front of the apartment room's two residents. She also had her glasses removed, so she was almost as blind as a bat now.

Haruka soon giggled at the sight. "Cute." She began.

"S-Shut up..." Imu got out in slight annoyance, instinctively beginning to cover her body with her arms.

"We're all girls here and you're still acting embarrassed." Haruka answered and reminded.

"Well, it's not the first time I've been laughed at naked." Imu mumbled out with shrugged shoulders, still covering herself up.

"Huh?" Tsumuji got out with widened eyes.

"Hikage stole my clothes and hid them on the roof in high school." Imu revealed with a blush.

"How do you know it was-" Haruka began to ask.

"She left the note, dammit!" Imu declared.

"...Okay, I have to admit, that's not cool..." Tsumuji admitted.

"Can I get a towel or something, please?" Imu pleaded.

"...What are your three sizes?" Tsumuji suddenly asked.

Imu looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Why the hell would you need to know?" She asked as she narrowed her eyes.

"Never mind." Tsumuji responded as she shook her head before brandishing her kunai.

Imu still stared at the kunoichi. "...88, 60, 82 " She eventually stated, catching Tsumuji's attention. "Now I'll kill you two if you tell anyone." She soon threatened.

"..." Tsumuji went silent on the sudden reply while looking at Imu. "Cup size?" She then asked once again without hesitation.

The glasses-wearing blonde made a face again...before sighing. "E-Cup." Imu once more answered almost reluctantly.

"...How are you the older sister to Murasaki-chan again?" Haruka teasingly asked.

"By being born five years earlier?" Imu answered, looking at the girl as if she was a dumbass.

"Despite Murasaki-chan being a K-Cup?" Haruka soon reminded in amusement.

"Don't know why the hell she's bigger than the rest of the Hebijo students." Imu responded. "All the junk food must've gone to her boobs, I dunno!" She then got out as she threw up her hands before yelping and covering her chest again, causing the two other girls to laugh. "I-I'm going!" She soon called out.

"You mind if Tsumuji-chan and I join you in the bath?" Haruka soon requested. "We'll have to wash ourselves together as well." She then revealed.

Imu could only blink as the two other girls began stripping themselves down, even able to tell without her glasses on. "I...I haven't even said...yes..." She awkwardly pointed out.

"So you were going to accept anyways." Haruka remarked in an amused tone, taking off her bra and going for her panties.

Imu's eyes immediately widened to that remark. "W-Wait, I said that wrong-" She soon started.

"Too late!" Tsumuji declared as she removed her panties and threw it over her shoulder.

The three girls were now all naked together in the apartment living room.

"...I don't know if you two like being naked or just...really need to get laid." Imu only commented.

"I'm just more comfortable with my body than most people." Haruka claimed as she did a quick sexy pose.

"I mainly follow Haruka-sama's orders. She is my master after all." Tsumuji meanwhile responded in a loyal tone with a shrug.

The glasses-wearing girl could only give the two slightly blurry figures a flat look. "I'm going to the bathroom now." Imu deadpanned as she headed over there. "If you're bathing with me, too, then come on." She then added.

Haruka smiled as she followed her in the nude with Tsumuji in tow.


(9/24, After School)

(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)

As soon as school ended, the Leader headed for the hideout, giving his guardian a quick excuse about having a study group session with everyone and inviting Futaba along so she could be prepared for when she ever goes back to school. Sojiro was a little too busy with customers to say no, but he had things handled and ushered the boy upstairs.

Right now, Akira and Morgana were playing on the retro game console the Leader bought earlier to pass the time until...

RING RING RING!

The two of them heard the front door's bell ring.

"They're here." Morgana stated as the Leader paused the game.

"Alright, let me copy the password." Akira sighed as he pulled out his phone to write it down before turning the console off. "Hey! We're in the attic!" He then called out.

After a second or two, they soon saw Haru coming up the stairs with no one else behind her.

"Thank you for getting everyone to come for a meeting, Akira-kun." Haru told her Leader with a slight bow.

"It's not a problem, Haru." Akira replied with a smile. "Just from your text, I could tell something happened that pushed you to call for one." He then stated,

"...Was I that obvious?" Haru got out in a shy manner.

"No, but if you deal with enough people angry enough to do something dangerous, or stupid, or both, you learn the pattern." Akira informed with a shrug.

Haru could only awkwardly giggle in response before looking around. "Oh? I'm the first one here?" She soon noticed.

"Yep, you've got 'em all beat." Morgana confirmed.

"I see...actually, this may have been a stroke of good luck - there's something that I want to discuss with you." Haru soon informed with an excited smile.

"Discuss?" Akira repeated.

"Mmhm." Haru responded with a nod.

"What's the situation?" Morgana asked.

"I've been thinking...I want to be more helpful to the Phantom Thieves. So I came up with a new approach to fighting in hopes of making it a regular strategy in our battles...but I need your help to make it happen, Mona-chan." Haru answered as she looked towards the not cat.

"Oho! Me, eh? Well, if you need me, then who am I to turn you down?" Morgana remarked with a proud smile.

"Thank you!" Haru happily responded. "So I'll get right to it. What I'm thinking is..." She then began as the Leader simply faded into the background and listened.

After a while of interesting and...somehow sadistic brainstorming...

"...And that's how we finish!" Haru then eagerly finished her mysterious idea.

"Haru...sometimes, the stuff you come up with honestly scares me." Morgana only commented on what the heiress was suggesting for an idea of a special attack.

"You didn't have to detail what was happening to the Shadows you kill them." Akira pointed out. "Or describe what organs would rupture- hey, why did you assume the Shadows would be human-like...?" He then asked in a cautious manner.

"Oh...it's absolutely fine if you don't want to..." Haru soon assured with an embarrassed blush on her cheeks.

"Not another word - I'll do it! You deserve only the grandest of performances!" Morgana soon declared.

"...Great! Thank you, Mona-chan! I wonder if the Star will grant us our wish..." Haru soon wondered.

SHINE!

"...I think that answers that." Akira chuckled as the glow of the star faded away in his pocket.

"Just you wait, Akira-kun. I'll do my best!" Haru cheered in an eager and giddy manner.

"Alright. So, wanna play some games to pass the time?" Akira soon offered. "I just got Punch Ouch and Bike Ryson is kicking my ass." He then informed.

"Why does he have a bike as part of his move set?" Morgana had to wonder out loud. "That has to be against the rules in real boxing." He then grumbled.

"Um, sure, I will give it a try." Haru nodded as she took a seat and got herself comfrotable.

At that moment, two more familiar faces arrived.

"Ann, Yusuke." Akira greeted with a smile.

"Hey!" Ann responded as she set down her bag. "We met up at the train station." She soon explained.

"Which reminded us of what happened several days ago." The artist added with a smile. "Ann and I have a new Showtime for the star to turn into reality." Yusuke informed.

"Huh, you too?" Akira responded in a curious manner.

"Yeah, we totally forgot to tell you." Ann got out in a sheepish manner. "We made it up on the way home after the infiltration. Sucks that we didn't think of it earlier." She then added.

"Well, you'll have an opportunity to use it." Akira responded with a smile. "Now describe it to me and let's see what the star says." He then added as he pulled out the star from his pocket.

Ann and Yusuke nodded to that as the two began explaining everything in detail for their new Showtime.

And then eventually...

SHINE!

"Alright, another new Showtime!" Akira claimed with a pumped fist. "I'll be counting on your two to make the call for when." He soon stated.

"Hai, Leader." Yusuke and Ann responded in unison.

Soon enough, the rest of the group soon arrived.

"Everyone's here, Akira-kun. Let's start this meeting." Asuka declared as everyone nodded.

"You got Haru through the basics, right?" Ann asked the infiltration team.

"Yep." Homura responded with a nod. "She should be caught up with everything. There might be details we didn't have time to tell her though..." She then admitted while rubbing the back of her neck.

"Alright, a quick Q & A with Haru." Akira announced. "Any burning questions you have?" He soon questioned.

"...How are we going to deal with all the Hanzō shinobi after we steal my father's heart?" Haru soon asked.

"Okay, I admit that I was expecting an easier question." Akira muttered with a wince.

"Well...most likely we'll be avoiding them and the HQ, like we've been doing since we decided on targeting your father." Yumi spoke up.

"No, I mean..." Haru began as she tried to think of the right words.

"Haru, what's wrong?" Makoto soon asked in concern.

To that, the fluffy haired girl took in a deep breath as she started explaining everything that happened, the reason why she wanted to call this meeting in the first place.

"Shit..." Ryuji muttered in a sympathetic manner.

"No wonder you asked to hold this meeting..." Ann got out in a concerned matter.

"Ikaruga-chan..." Asuka mumbled in concern. "I didn't even get to see her before she left...I could've smoothed things over..." She then got out in a saddened tone.

"It's ok, Asu-chan. Part of her mission was just to watch over Okumura Foods and given everything, it wasn't going to happen." Haru reassured and explained. "Although, I wished she stayed longer. We...didn't exactly part on good terms." She then confessed.

"What? Why?" Asuka asked with widened eyes.

"Ika-chan...probably thinks I just gave up..." Haru shamefully revealed. "I just...I couldn't just say that I was doing something about the arranged marriage directly." She then got out. "Though she does know that I had originally placed the request for my father on the Phan-Site..." She soon revealed.

"Did that help?" Homura then questioned.

To that, Haru shook her head. "It...actually made things worse." She sighed out.

"Well, once your dad gets his change of heart, it'll be alright, right?" Ryuji got out.

"I...I don't know." Haru hesitantly confessed. "Outside of confessing what's really going on, I cannot think of anything." She soon revealed.

"This is a difficult situation." Yusuke muttered with a frown. "One that does not have a clean and effective answer." He then stated.

"Well...what's one more person knowing?" Ann suggested. "There are quite a few people outside of our group that know already and we haven't been burned by them." She then added.

"...You think we should reveal the truth to Asuka's friends?" Makoto assumed.

Asuka whimpered. "I...I don't know..." She hesitantly responded.

"It wouldn't be that bad of an idea." Ryuji pointed out. "Aren't they, like, fans of ours? And they won't kill us like...every other shinobi in the effin' country." He then added before finishing nervously.

"My sisters woul-" Yumi began instinctively, only to pause. "Well...maybe..." She then hesitantly admitted.

"Okay, how about this? We tell them after the confession." Akira soon suggested.

"Why after?" Yusuke soon asked.

"It's plenty of time for Ikaruga to calm down, especially after Okumura breaks the engagement." Akira explained. "She'll be thankful for the Phantom Thieves, even if she is still a little pissed, which would smooth over the revelation of who we are." He then stated.

"That's...surprisingly well-thought out." Makoto had to admit.

"You've been thinking about it?" Miyabi assumed with a raised eyebrow.

"I've been practicing confessions in my head since Toranosuke-san found out by himself." Akira confessed with a shrug. "I know not everyone would be accepting, so I'm preparing myself for those situations." He then stated.

"One of them involves fireworks." Morgana helpfully revealed with a sigh.

"So we're gonna wing it?" Futaba concluded.

"What?" Homura got out. "No, we haven't even decided if we're actually going to go through with it. Haven't you been paying attention?" She then stated and asked.

"This should really be a team decision." Haru got out. "Should we put it to a vote?" She soon suggested.

"Hai." Asuka responded with a nod. "All in favor of telling my friends after the confession, say aye." She soon got out.

"Aye." Akira, Ryuji, Homura, Ann, Yumi and Haru responded.

"And...all in favor of not telling my friends..." Asuka hesitantly continued.

"I'm pretty sure we can tell by the people not saying aye." Futaba pointed out. "Besides, this probably should be a unanimous decision. This affects the whole team after all." She then added.

Miyabi nodded in agreement. "As of now, it's too much of a risk. We don't know how they'll react even if they're calmer or simply fans of us. I mean, come on, that means you two will have to tell them that you've been lying to their faces for a while, and trust is a rarity amongst shinobi." She then stated and explained.

"And the less people that know, the better." Makoto soon admitted. "Telling our secret isn't just a sign of trust, it's a heavy burden. Especially when an increasing number of people will do anything to get to us." She then added with a wince.

"...I guess you're right..." Haru sighed out.

"We'll figure something out soon, Haru." Akira promised. "But I guess this just isn't the time." He then relented.

"So, any other questions?" Morgana soon got out.

"Oh, about how we defeated my fiancé in there...will that have any effect on my father?" Haru soon asked.

"Nope. They did something similar in my Palace, but I'm perfectly fine." Futaba answered almost automatically.

"I-Is that so...?" Haru got out in surprise.

"But man, that cognitive stuff is crazy!" The hacker soon got out in an excited manner. "He was so similar that Haru couldn't even tell!" She then added as the girl in mention blushed a bit in embarrassment.

"The fact that he was barely different really pisses me off." Miyabi grumbled. "Your father is very aware of the type of person that bastard is, and yet he's still selling you off! No one should allow that to happen to a family member, especially not their own daughter." She then stated and declared.

"That might have just been a coincidence. Usually cognitive people look totally different. The version of me in Kamoshida's castle was terrible." Ann stated and muttered the second part.

"Uugh..." Asuka groaned as she covered her face.

"There, there, Sis." Homura got out in a comforting tone as she patted her sister on the back. "Stupid fucking whore versions tied up like butchered pigs..." She then grumbled under her breath.

"Ah, and the version of me at the museum was a painting, not even a person." Yusuke remembered.

"And my painting was still being made..." Yumi sighed out.

"Huh, I guess I'm the only shinobi without a cognitive version..." Miyabi remarked. "Yay me, I guess." She then mumbled.

"And you jinxed it. Good job." Futaba deadpanned.

"Now that you all mention it, why isn't there a cognitive version of me? Is it somewhere in there?" Haru soon asked in a curious manner.

"Well, I could imagine a couple of reasons why we haven't seen it...but I don't think you'd like them." Morgana soon stated.

"..." Haru went quiet.

"Come on, don't think about that stuff. Anyways, if a dude's cognition can change the scenery or even the people in the Palace..." Futaba soon began, getting more and more with each word. "Couldn't you use that to make a dream filled world full of people you love!?" She then exclaimed.

"Huh?" Homura got out with a raised eyebrow,

"Man, Palaces are super promising! My greatest hopes and dreams might still come true! Well, that's kinda impossible this time, hehehe...but maybe we should try in the future?" Futaba soon tried to convince the team.

"Sounds fun." Akira couldn't help but admit. That would make staying here in Tokyo for him, and well...his hometown would not be so welcoming.

"I don't know..." Asuka spoke up. "The Metaverse does make people's thoughts real but...it's still a dream, right? Temporary, fleeting. Eventually, you have to wake up, right?" She then reminded.

"True, but people don't say living the dream for nothing." Akira replied with a shrug.

Makoto soon sighed. "...In any case, if Haru followed that conversation, there's nothing else we need to teach her." She soon stated.

"Alright, anything else?" Morgana eventually asked.

"...No, I think I'm good." Haru responded.

"Okay then." Akira nodded before leaning in close. "Because tomorrow, we'll be sending the calling card." He soon revealed.

The rest of the team soon nodded at that. Usually, it would be met with some smiles and rushes of excitement, but right now there was a lot riding on this to warrant such reactions.

"Hai, Leader." Asuka got out with a nod. "Ryuji-kun, do you mind-" She then began.

The dyed blond however smirked. "Already made and printed some out." Ryuji interrupted as he pulled one out of his bag. "Got 'em ready the day after the infiltration. I even got it spell checked and shit." He then claimed.

"..." At that, everyone's eyes widened in horror.

"By, like, a website." Ryuji soon assured, looking a little offended. "Come on, guys, I'm not that stupid." He then groaned out.

"Birthday candles." Morgana deadpanned.

"I'm shit with girls and tests, not secret important shit." Ryuji admitted.

Makoto coughed.

"Oh...right..." The dyed blond then sighed out. There was no winning this one.

"Still, it's nice of you to be prepared." Homura admitted as she took the card out of his hand. "And it actually looks good. Good job." She added and praised.

"Sir Kunikazu Okumura, the great profiteering sinner of greed." Morgana read out. "Your success and global fame exists due to the tyranny you rain over your employees. Thus, we have decided to make you confess all your crimes with your own mouth. From, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts."

"Hmmm...should we mention the bullshit political marriage in here? Get him freaked out over it?" Miyabi hummed out and suggested.

"No, that'll probably get Haru accused." Akira however turned down. "Plus, there's another problem; we can't do this quietly." Akira pointed out.

"Eh?" Asuka got out in confusion.

"Since when have our calling cards ever been quiet?" Homura pointed out.

"Well, for Futaba. We only had to give it to her." Akira answered. "That's because she knows us. Here though, we need to do a grand gesture or else he might not believe it." He then explained.

"Joker is right. If we don't do something big, the calling card could be ineffective. We can't take any chances here." Morgana agreed. "But that'll also signal to the Conspiracy that we're going to steal his heart. They're likely ready to strike and take advantage of the heist." He then assumed, causing the fluffy haired girl ro wince.

"Yeah, and what the hell do we do about Black Mask?" Homura asked. "They're gonna swoop in and take out Haru-senpai's father after we beat him to a pulp. And I know we're gonna fight him since we can't seem to go ONE PALACE without kicking the ruler's ass." She then explained.

"Once again. Phantom Bandits of Heart." Yumi sighed out.

"It could not happen this time." Akira pointed out in a...meek tone.

"You don't even sound confident, Leader." Miyabi deadpanned.

"There's a lot of shit happening now. One wrong move can be our downfall right now." Akira explained as he rubbed his forehead.

"That's been like that since our first heist..." Ann sighed with a groan.

"So we have to do something loud enough to get Okumura's attention and let him know it's the Phantom Thieves, but without alerting the Conspiracy and Black Mask." Yumi concluded. "That's quite a conundrum if I've ever heard of one." She then confessed.

"Conun- what?" Ryuji repeated in confusion.

"It's likely that we can't avoid alerting them." Makoto stated, ignoring the dyed blond's lack of knowledge. "However, it would be best to delay them as long as we can, before they realize what may be happening." He then added.

"Would that require splitting up the team again?" Yusuke soon questioned in concern. "You know what happened the last time we did." He then reminded.

"We should avoid doing that." Homura muttered.

"...I have an idea." Futaba spoke up, slowly walking forward towards the middle of the group.

"Eh?" Haru responded in a curious manner.

"Let's see...My idea for our calling card presentation is..." Futaba began as she went on to explain her idea. There were wild gestures, charts, arguments, and even origami, but the hacker managed to convey her idea.

"...Why does that sound really good?" Homura had to admit in disbelief.

"Yeah." Akira agreed with a nod. "It's risky, but if we pull it off, it'll give us the time to steal Okumura's heart. Nice going, Oracle." He then praised.

"Hehe, praise me more." Futaba confidently and jokingly ordered with her hands on her hips.

"Ok, with everything planned...anything else we want to discuss before we end this meeting?" Akira soon asked. "We have a lot of work to do tonight." He then added.

Morgana suddenly held up a paw, which was noticed by some people in the group.

"Morgana? What is it?" Akira soon asked upon seeing the raised paw.

"...Yesterday, I had a moment of weakness..." Morgana shamefully confessed.

"Huh? A moment of weakness?" Ann repeated, looking at the faux feline. "What do you mean?" She soon asked.

"I got enticed by high quality fish...and met another new shinobi." Morgana revealed. "Maki Gasai. Apparently she's part of a group that was forced to become shinobis." He soon started. "The girl that Ryuji met the other day, Hyōki Saiga, is their Leader." He then informed in a serious tone.

"WHAT!?" The Thieves all exclaimed in shock and horror to this new development.

"Why didn't you mention this earlier, you stupid fucking c- MPH!" Miyabi shouted in anger before the Vice Leader and the tan skinned girl covered her mouth.

"For real!?" Ryuji breathed out in disbelief. "But she's only 14!" He then reminded.

"That...is unusual indeed." Yumi confessed as the other shinobis if the Thieves nodded in agreement.

"Homura said that Tokyo is now a hotspot for Evil Shinobi activity." Makoto reminded. "Which means that right now, any shinobi group could be in Tokyo, regardless of Good or Evil ones." She then got out.

The light gray haired girl in response however shook her head. "No, I mean the fact that she's an Elite at 14 of all ages." Yumi corrected as the other shinobi girls nodded in agreement. "Shouldn't she be in middle school...?" She then muttered in concern.

"Who cares about their age! If they can kill us, it's more than enough to worry about them." Futaba called out. "Where do they live, Mona?" She then asked.

"They're living here in Yongen." Morgana soon revealed, causing the group's eyes to widen. "The Tokyo Mirage Apartment Complex is their base of operation, but that's all I know." He soon recalled.

"...Seriously? That close?" Akira asked in a curious manner.

"Yes." Morgana confirmed with a nod. "Apparently though, they're a group of girls who were forced to become shinobis." He then revealed as he narrowed his eyes.

"So against their wills." Akira concluded.

"That...doesn't usually go well for some people..." Ann noted in concern. "Wanting to do something your parents do is one thing, but being forced into it can lead to serious issues..." She then warned.

"Even I know that isn't good." Miyabi had to admit in a serious tone. "Being forced into becoming someone in particular can cause a person to become mentally unstable if it's literally drilled into them." She soon revealed as she looked at the other shinobis in the group. "With the four of us, we at least had the choice of wanting to be shinobis." She then stated as the other three nodded in agreement.

"And now there are five girls living nearby that are like that." Homura reminded. "Five, possibly unstable girls that were forced into the shinobi lifestyle with who knows what happened to them with possible backstories." She then concluded.

"...Glad I'm not the only shinobi magnet in this group anymore..." Akira softly muttered to himself.

"That's really bad." Ryuji got out in a nervous yet concerned manner.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious." Miyabi grumbled with a mock salute. "We literally have enemies right near our front door. If we somehow survive the next few months, it'll be a miracle." She then added.

"Hey, we survived from you and you lived right next to us." Asuka reminded with a smirk.

"Yeah, but I don't think we can solve every problem by pulling people into the Metaverse." Miyabi sighed out. "Remember, a lot of people want our power. If we give it to them, we're just screwing over the world." She then reminded and stated.

"Okay, well, as long as we stay under their radar as civilians, we should be good." Akira pointed out. "We're probably freaking out about this too much. If we know who they are, it's likely we'll panic and reveal that we're hiding something. We have absolutely no reason to worry about them." He then stated.


(Tokyo Mirage Apartment)

Meanwhile, only an hour's walk away from Leblanc...

"ACHOO!" The five girls of the mentioned group sneezed out at the same time within their apartment.

"...Did we just...all sneeze at the same time?..." Maki asked, noticing the scene.

"We did." Reki confirmed with a nod. "We might have caught something." She soon assumed.

"Strange." Hyōki however confessed in a curious manner, holding a towel around her body after taking a bath before yawning. She still had no idea why she slept in so late this time.

"You know they say something like that happening means someone's talking about you." Yuki jokingly recalled.

"...That's only a myth though." Hyōki sighed out with a facepalm.

"One that we possibly just experienced." Reki reminded.

"Whatever. We're getting carried away..." Maki sighed out. "Anyway, any plans we're having for today...?" She soon asked.

"Daily check-up." Reki answered while the blonde nodded in agreement.

"Model business like usual." Miki responded as well with a shrug on her shoulders. "...And training Ranze today." She then added with a sigh.

"I guess I don't have plans of my own for this day." Hyōki replied as well with a hand on her hip, still wearing nothing but a towel.

"Should we send another sexy photo to Ryuji-kun, Hyōki-chan~?" Miki soon suggested with a sly grin.

"...Miki, just shut up, okay?" Hyōki ordered with narrowed eyes. "How about you guys send a photo to him this time?" She then outright suggested.

"Why? You're the one who's got a thing for him though." Yuki reminded as she brought her phone out.

The short ravenette however immediately blushed to that. "...Y-You didn't record me in my sleep again, did you!?" Hyōki bitterly asked her teammates.

Yuki however gave a sly grin of her own as she then pressed play.

"Hehe...Ryuji-kun...How bold to start stripping me in public...while rubbing my breasts..." The familiar ravenette's voice giggled out in her sleep with a flirtatious and teasing tone.

Hyōki soon paled as she heard all of that with widened eyes as her head then began steaming.

"...The sheets needed to be changed again after that..." Maki bluntly pointed out.

Meanwhile, Miki had a gleam in her eyes that no one else noticed. "Now, what is Hyōki-chan's passcode again?" The pinkette thought.

"You know, I'm now actually interested in this Ryuji boy." Reki eventually confessed. "More so out of curiosity for how he unintentionally affected our dear Leader." She then explained.

The young leader however glared at her teammate. "Yuki...do you want me to slice your phone in half?" Hyōki outright threatened her with a red face as she summoned a sword with a red guard that looked like dragonic wings in a black sheath.

Yuki only made a calm expression while looking at her in response...only before the upper half of her face casted a sudden shadow over it, with her eyes now with shrinking irises and her mouth forming a small lopsided smile. "I dare you..." She soon responded with a small giggle in the end.

"Alright, alright, you two. Calm down." Reki interrupted as she got in between the two. "Yuki-chan's just teasing, Hyōki-san. No need to bother the other people staying in this building." She then calmly added with a smile.

Hyōki however still glared at her companion...before relaxing her stance and calming herself down. "No matter. This fight would be a childish act for us here." She soon decided.

"Seriously though, you're allowed to like someone either way." Yuki soon got out in her usual carefree self. "There's no shame in that." She then added.

"A man, Yuki." Hyōki reminded with a sigh. "I...I can't fall for someone that easily..." She soon stated. "And...what if he already has a girlfriend?" She then suddenly asked, a pink blush on her face.

"...You've got a point there." Maki admitted. "But still, us girls do have some things to like, especially other people..." She got out. "...Me, I'd rather not get involved with men, but...I guess some of them can be trusted, at least..." She soon admitted.

"After all, Hyōki-chan, look what Ryuji replied when we sent that sexy photo to him yesterday." Miki responded and reminded. "I can tell that this mere man has dignity and self-control." She soon stated.

"T-That's 'cause he's already dealt with stuff thanks to that Kamoshida person we saw on TV..." Hyōki mumbled.

"All the more reason." Miki happily responded as she clapped her hands together. "He knows exactly what not to be." She then stated.

"But he's a high school student while I am still considered a middle school one by civilian standards. It just wouldn't work." Hyōki pointed out.

"And how old is he exactly?" Maki soon asked.

"Seventeen by my estimation." The ravenette replied. "I only turned fourteen a few weeks ago." Hyōki added.

"Seriously? That's not much of a gap though, Hyōki-chii." Yuki pointed out as the others nodded in agreement.

"I'm waiting until I'm older and that's final!" Hyōki snapped back. "And...there's no doubt Ryuji-san's gonna have someone already the moment I come of age." She hesitantly added, albeit a bit down on her voice.

"So stubborn." The other girls thought to themselves.

"Come on, you don't know that." Yuki responded. "Where's the girl who'd do anything to get what she wants?" She then asked.

"She is thinking logically." Hyōki answered in a blunt manner.

"Still, it's nice to know our little Hyōki-chan's got her first crush." Miki cooed out in amusement. "With a man, nonetheless. I thought you'd be a full lesbian, but I guess you learn something new every day." She then added as she playfully poked the ravenette's cheek.

"Ugh, quit picking on me, will you!?" Hyōki soon whined in a more childish manner while clenching her fists.

"Alright, alright, we'll stop." Miki reassured as she looked at their Leader as she acted like an actual child of her age. "Still considering sending a nude pic of myself to Ryuji, though." She then added.

"If you wanna do it, just do it, Miki." Hyōki stated.

"Aww, but he's your love interest, Hyōki-chan~ My beauty might charm him to like me more and take away your chance." Miki playfully reminded as the ravenette blushed in embarrassment...and anger. "Plus, it would be indecent if a nude image of a famous international model leaked onto the internet~" She then added in a teasing manner.

"I-I doubt he knows you are a famous model, and I also doubt he would send your nude pic online." Hyōki stammered her response with a sigh. "Let me ask him first if he's willing to keep secrets, and then you'll send him your nude pic." She then suggested with a hand on her hip.

"Or~" Miki however started with a teasing manner.

"Or what?" Hyōki got out.

SWIPE!

"HEY!" Hyōki soon exclaimed.

"Ufufu~!" Miki giggled out, the young leader's phone in hand as she started running with the ravenette soon chasing her.

"Miki's really trying to play matchmaker with Hyōki though..." Maki meanwhile muttered with a sweatdrop.

"Guess it's her way of trying to make Hyōki-chii happy." Yuki assumed.

"Probably." Reki agreed with a smile.

"Hey! Give me back my phone!" Hyōki cried as she started running after the pinkette who had the former's smartphone on hand. "And don't text him under my name! Moh!" She then demanded.

"And put some clothes on, Hyōki-chiii. You're making the neighbors think we're nudists or porn stars." Yuki deadpanned.

"MIKI!" Hyōki however called out in anger, having dropped her towel during the comedic scene.

"Ufufufu~" Miki giggled some more as she continued running.

BOING! BOING! BOING! BOING! BOING! BOING!

Reki meanwhile giggled in amusement to that. "So energetic like always." She got out.

"Looks like the scare you gave us when Shin died was one hell of a wake-up call for us." Maki noted. "It's...changing us for the better." The brunette added.

"Huh? You think so?" Yuki casually asked

Maki quietly nodded as her response.

"Huh, guess I didn't notice." Yuki responded as she shrugged her shoulders. "Although I wish it'd help ease the pain from that day just before I met you guys. It still feels so raw and keeps haunting me." The blonde sadly added.

"These kinds of things heal over time, Yuki." Reki reminded in a more solemn tone.

"I know...I still hear the screams, the unholy roaring and the ghastly rending of flesh." The dirty blonde hesitantly got out as her face cringed. "The smell as well. It's still stuck in my nose." She then added with a pale face.

"Well, we are all those that have suffered in some way due to the shinobi system." Reki once more reminded as the blonde and brunette nodded in agreement.

"Although, unlike most of you...I did sign up for the shinobi life." Yuki pointed out.

At that moment, the brunette sighed and decided this had gone on long enough. "Don't you have to go train that Ranze girl...?" Maki soon reminded, causing the pinkette to pause, allowing the ravenette to get her phone back.

"Don't you ever do that again, Miki!" Hyōki soon ordered with a puffed up cheek.

Miki simply giggled with a coy smile on her face. "Good luck in advance, though. Ryuji's an interesting man, for sure." She suddenly encouraged

"Huh? Good luck?" Hyōki repeated.

Miki only glanced at the ravenette's phone with the sly smirk still not lost on her face and then back at her companion's eyes before casually switching glances between the two of them, like she was trying to tell her something.

Hyōki noticed the gesture, prompting her to look at her own phone. "What?" She asked, facing her pink-haired companion.

"Mmmmmmm, nothing, ufufu~" Miki vaguely responded with a giggle.

The ravenette however thought otherwise, prompting her to look at her phone, unlocked it...and then soon paled as she looked at her phone screen at seeing a recent text discussion.

[LeopardPrincess: Good afternoon, Ryuji.]

[Shut7heFUp: Oh, hey. Um, what's up?]

[LeopardPrinces: Just wanted to say hi.]

[Shut7heFUp: Um, alright?]

[Shut7heFUp : Are you really Hyōki? If I get one of those photos again...]

[LeopardPrincess: No no, my roommate doesn't have my phone this time. It's me.]

[Shut7heFUp:...Okay? I'm in the middle of something, so can you get to the point?]

[LeopardPrincess: I was wondering if it would be alright if we meet up at the gym again for another work-out session?]

[Shut7heFUp: Oh, uh, another gym session?]

[Shut7heFUp: Sure, I'm down for that.]

[LeopardPrincess: And maybe a movie after?]

[Shut7heFUp: ...Wait, huh?]

[LeopardPrincess: There's a movie I'm curious about, but I'm not sure I wanna see it alone.]

[LeopardPrincess: And my roommates are gonna be out for a few days.]

[Shut7heFUp: So you want some company.]

[LeopardPrincess: Hai.]

[LeopardPrincess: I mean if you don't wanna, it's ok.]

[Shut7heFUp: No, no, it's just...I think there's a lot on my plate in the coming days]

[Shut7heFUp: Maybe the day after tomorrow?]

[LeopardPrincess: Alright, it's settled.]

[LeopardPrincess: We'll meet on 26th.]

[Shut7heFUp: Okay, cool. See you then.]

The ravenette's jaw soon dropped as the other remaining Senki Shu girls looked at the text discussion before whipping their heads to the smiling pinkette."M-M-M-M-M-MIKI! Y-YOU SET ME UP ON A DATE!?" Hyōki panickingly exclaimed with a scarlet blush.

"Technically it's just hanging out at the gym again with a movie after." Miki happily corrected. "You're the one who is saying it's a date." She then added. "And you should be happy he said yes." She soon stated with a smile.

"Y-Y-YOU-!" Hyōki began yelling before faltering with her words.

"Anyway, I gotta go rehabilitate Ranze-san. Byeeee~!" Miki soon got out in a sly tone as she strutted out of the apartment.

SLAM!

"..." Hyōki meanwhile was still motionless in the room, speechless yet silently screaming as her head was glowing red and steaming at this development.

"Well damn..." Reki got out. "...You got a date the day after tomorrow..." She then added.

Hyōki...then began releasing some dark energy from within her body as if something was trying to escape from her body.

"Hyōki-chii, if you blast this room to pieces, we will pay tenfold to the landlord of this building." Yuki warned her, noticing the accumulating energy.

"She...She..." Hyōki struggled out, her face red and her head steaming. "W-W-W-W-W-WHAT AM I GONNA DO!?" She then panickingly asked in a more emotional tone as the dark energy faded almost instantly.

Well, that was definitely a new kind of reaction from their young leader.

"Want to burn off some stress by sparring with me?" Maki sympathetically asked.

"MOH! I CAN'T BELIEVE HE ACTUALLY SAID YES!" Hyōki however exclaimed in the same panicked manner.

"Hey, at least it's not one of those sexy photos you're sending to him." Yuki pointed out.

"SHUT UP!" Hyōki ordered. "THIS IS BIGGER THAN THAT! I GOT AN ACTUAL DATE WITH A MERE MAN AROUND MY AGE! I NEVER BEEN ON A DATE BEFORE! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ON ONE! MOH! THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR MEEEEEEEEE!" She then started before it soon devolved into rambing.

"Eh, you'll be okay, Hyōki-chii." Yuki reassured. "Just make sure you're not seducing him and kill him afterwards." She then added.

"Or let him seduce you somehow..." Maki then added. "If he does, then you're allowed to kill him in secret..." She soon stated.

"MOH! HOW ARE YOU GUYS SO CASUAL ABOUT THIS?!" Hyōki asked in a panic. "THIS IS A MALE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT!" She soon reminded in a frantic manner. "AND I DON'T WANNA KILL HIM!" She then suddenly confessed while flailing her arms.

The ravenette's three companions then looked at her as that got their attention.

"...That's rare of you, to be so merciful." Reki noted in a curious manner.

"He's a civilian...we don't hurt civilians based on the rules we set when we formed, remember...?" Maki pointed out.

"True." Yuki replied as they all looked at their blushing leader.

"As well as the retired shinobi." Reki added. "So don't worry Hyōki, you don't have to kill him if you don't want to." She then reassured.

"...Thanks..." Hyōki responded in relief.

"In fact, should we catch wind of any shinobi gunning for him, we'll step in to protect him." Yuki added.

"Family helps each other after all..." Maki added with a small smile and her eyes gaining the smallest shine to them.

"Now then Hyōki, you better get dressed." Reki soon reminded as they looked down at their nude leader in amusement.

"Can't I have a mental health wellness day and enjoy Masqueraider Ouga in the nude?" The ravenette requested with a pout.

"Not in this apartment." Reki responded with her hands on her hips.

"Yeah, that's a Miki move." Maki added.

To that, the ravenette winced since that was true. "Fine." Hyōki whined as she grabbed a pair of black panties before getting a black t-shirt on.

The other Senki Shu girls meanwhile giggled at the response.

"And don't forget, you have a date the day after tomorrow too." Reki then reminded. "And no kissing on the first date." She soon instructed.

"Hai, hai." Hyōki replied as she was still blushing. "Might opt for the fingerprint lock for my phone as well as changing my pass code." The ravenette thought with a grumble.

But she'll worry about it later, it was time for her shows.


(Leblanc Attic)

The dyed blond only stared at his own phone, trying to comprehend what just happened in the chat message with the girl she met at the gym that day.

And all the while, the rest of the Thieves looked over his shoulder and read the discussion with varying reactions.

"...Did...Did that Hyōki girl just ask you out on a date?" Homura asked in disbelief with widened eyes.

"Huh?" Ryuji responded in confusion.

"It...appears to be the case..." Makoto got out.

"Oh my..." Yumi breathed out with a hand over her mouth.

"Hm." Yusuke simply hummed out in response.

"You're being asked out by a girl, Ryuji-kun?" Haru gasped in amazement. "That was actually kind of sweet. Wish I could ask someone out of my own accord instead of being arranged with someone I don't wish to be with." She then confessed.

"I...uh...eh?" Ryuji was only at a loss for words this time.

"Why the heck did you say yes to her!?" Morgana however asked in a panic.

"I-I-I didn't think this was a date!" Ryuji countered. "It's just talkin' and hangin' out between friends, there's nothing big going on!" He soon stated. "I just met her the other day!" He then reminded.

The ash blonde meanwhile blinked as a thought came to mind. "...A girl's first crush?" Ann meanwhile assumed in a whisper for only the girls to hear.

"Maybe." Asuka replied softly as well.

"She's still fourteen after all." Makoto quietly recalled. "You aren't exactly old enough to understand your own feelings yet." She then added.

"I think it's kinda cute." Futaba admitted. "And, if she's madly in love with you, she might not try and kill us. We might even have a Phantom Thief supporter, like NPC-kun." She then pointed out.

"NPC-kun?" Haru repeated in confusion.

"Mishima. A classmate from our class." Akira deadpanned.

"Come on, guys, she's fourteen, for eff's sake!" Ryuji soon reminded.

"I mean, it is only three years younger than most of us." Ann awkwardly pointed out as the other girls nodded in agreement

"All the more reason not to do anything inappropriate with her." Yusuke agreed, waving a free hand.

"Like hell, man!" Ryuji countered. "An effin' date with a fourteen year old girl! Fourteen!" He then reminded.

"I mean, she does have the boobs, so...it's either her or Katsu-nee." The orangette got out, adjusting her glasses.

"Shut up, Futaba!" Ryuji yelled, earning a snicker from the hacker.

"But then again, Katsu-nee might be alright with you dating the both of them if they meet and if they're both alright with it." Futaba then pointed out along with another snicker.

"The eff?!" The dyed blonde reacted appropriately.

"...Katsu-nee would..." Asuka awkwardly confessed with a blush.

"She really is a pervert." Homura, Yumi and Miyabi bluntly stated.

"Oh come oooon!" Ryuji got out in defeat.

Akira meanwhile looked at his best friend...before he then gave a thumb-up. "Good luck my friend." He soon encouraged.

"Huh!?" Ryuji got out in confusion. "Whaddya mean, good luck!?" He panickingly asked.

"You said you wanted a girlfriend so bad before, right?" Akira responded and reminded. "Now might be your chance to make it happen." He then added.

"B-But...we only just met!" Ryuji reminded. "Not everyone's you, man!" He then countered.

"Do you actually think I'm in a relationship with someone right now?" Akira sighed, though that was a bit of half-lie in itself. "Anyways, we'll deal with your date later, after the Palace. If we all made it out alive of course." He then instructed.

"Dude, come on. Gimme a break here, will ya?" Ryuji groaned.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Hm?" Haru hummed as she felt the vibrating of her phone before taking it out of her pocket and seeing what it was on her phone. "My father is requesting my presence." She informed with a sigh, noticing the text.

That in turn immediately got the attention of the others. "Why?" Ann had to ask.

"To discuss the details for when I move into Sugimura's place." Haru answered, her eye twitching as the glass on her screen cracked a little from her grip.

"...Can I stab him?" Miyabi soon requested. "Like...not kill him. I just want to make sure his dick never works again." She then added.

"You can't just stab people, Miyabi." Makoto got out with a frown. "...Let Haru choose his fate." She soon stated as everyone turned to the sweet and smiling girl.

"Oh, I have something in mind when I can do so with no serious consequences." Haru soon admitted with a decent smile on her face.

"...Yeah, I'm just gonna leave you to it." Akira got out, slightly scared. "Meeting adjourned." He soon announced as the others nodded.


(9/24, Evening)

(Roppongi, Okumura Foods HQ CEO Office)

Kunikazu was sitting on the chair of his office desk, looking at a picture frame in his hands while wearing an expression of reminiscence. The photo itself portrayed a family of three. A happy father, a happy wife, and a happy baby.

He let out a breath as he glanced over to another photo on his desk. It was significantly smaller, depicting Haru in her first year in a proper Shujin uniform.

My, how she has grown. She will definitely make a wonderful wife.

There was a knock on the doors, catching Kunikazu's attention and prompting him to place back his family photo onto his office desk.

"Okumura-san?" A female voice called out from the doors as the person entered through said office doors, revealing to be his personal black-haired secretary. "The next shinobi from Hanzō has arrived." She then informed him.

"Finally. Send her in." The CEO immediately ordered after giving off a tad bit sense of relief.

"Of course." The secretary responded as she then walked in and showed the file. "Here is her file that you requested for, sir." She then informed as the CEO took the file.

"Thank you. Now leave." Okumura then ordered, waving her away.

His secretary bowed in instinct before going through the door and leaving the CEO's office.

Kunikazu soon watched as the white haired girl in pigtails entered the room wearing a long sleeved red palette buttoned shirt, a light blue tank top underneath the shirt with an image of a squid, blue jeans with a belt and alligator shoes.

"Hello, Sir Kunikazu Okumura. I am here to aid you." Yagyū responded with a slight bow.

"Yagyū...Nozomi, correct?" Kunikazu assumed.

Yagyū inwardly tensed for a second or two as she heard her...fake surname. "...Correct, sir." She responded with a nod of confirmation.

The CEO then glanced at the girl's appearance. "I expected much more formal attire." Okumura remarked.

"At this late at night? That would draw more attention and restrict my movements." Yagyū explained.

"I see." Okumura responded, understanding the reasoning. "You have at least thought of how you appear, unlike some others in your team." He then added.

"Really? Even our fashion choices?" Yagyū mentally deadpanned. Did he just not like them?

"One question, though, if you don't mind." Okumura uttered, holding up a finger. "What is with the eyepatch? Do you currently have an eye injury of some sort?" He then asked.

"...Yes." Yagyū lied, immediately reminding herself of the dangers of what she had been through in the past...as well as the wild power within it. "An unfortunate accident occurred in my youth. That is all." She then lied in a professional manner.

"I see. I'm not dwelling on it too much since it's not important." Okumura stated, adjusting his tie. "Now, for your first task." He then began with a frown.

"I've already reviewed the details of your security and the changes made by my predecessors." Yagyū informed.

"Well, then you shall escort Haru back home." Okumura ordered. "Things are much more dangerous than before, so please ensure she makes it back safely. Once you are done, you are to return here." He then added.

"Yes, sir." Yagyū responded with a polite bow.

"Haru should be in a meeting room with the Sugimura family. Go retrieve her once she is finished." Okumura soon informed before getting out some paperwork he had to do.

The white haired girl forced herself not to scowl. "...Hai." Yagyū nodded before heading out of the office.

"Ah, Nozomi-san, the meeting room with Haru-san is...Room 4." The secretary revealed.

"Thank you." The white haired girl responded with a nod. She already knew where it was so she headed straight there.

Once she arrived, she could hear discussion through the door but she couldn't quite make out what it was. "I don't hear Haru..." She soon thought.

She needed to know what was happening inside, so Yagyū pressed her ear against the door and closed her eyes to listen in.

"...and you will be expected to keep up your appearance at social events. You need to be prim and proper." A male, likely Haru's arranged fiancé,concluded. "We don't want you to embarrass your new family now, do you?" He then got out with an edge to his tone.

"...Hai." Yagyū flinched. That was Haru's voice but...she never heard her so empty, so lifeless before.

"Now, before you go, here." Sugimura's voice got out before she heard a piece of paper being slid over.

"A...list?" Haru muttered.

"It is what is expected of you when you fully settle down in your new room." Sugimura explained in a haughty manner. "No arguments. They are there to ensure that everyone is happy with the arrangement." He then assured.

"Except for Haru..." Yagyū thought as she pulled away from the door and knocked on it. "Excuse me, I'm with Okumura Foods security, here to escort Okumura-san home." She called out.

There was a second where nothing happened before Haru opened the door. "Gyū-chan." She gasped with a hand just near her mouth.

"Hello, Okumura-san." Yagyū got out with a polite bow. "I am here to escort you home. Do you wish to leave now?" She soon added.

"Hai." Haru responded before turning to the Sugimura's. "Goodbye. I will see you...later." She then got out with a bow before stepping out and shutting the door, barely allowing those inside to respond.

"Haru?" Yagyū soon whispered, spotting the barely restrained look of sadness and rage on her friend's face.

"Please, just get me out of here." Haru pleaded in a desperate manner, crushing the paper still in her hand.

In response, the white haired girl nodded, gesturing to the heiress to ride on her via piggyback, to which the latter did so without effort ...

WHOOSH!

And the two women vanished in an instant.


(Okumura Residence, Haru's Room)

Haru and Yagyū soon appeared on the balcony to her room, with the white haired girl making sure she didn't step on anything (considering that if she did, she would lose that leg).

Haru soon hopped off the shinobi's back and wiped herself down. "Thank you. You are so much faster than the elevator." She responded in a grateful manner along with a slight bow.

"Well, it is one advantage to my training." Yagyū admitted before taking the list out of the fluffy haired girl's hand. "Do you wish for me to destroy this?" She soon asked.

"They'll just give me another copy." Haru sighed. "But...I'd rather have it out of my mind until then." She then admitted.

Yagyū nodded before looking at what was on it, just out of curiosity.

'You must honor whatever request your husband may give you, whether it involves physical labor, emotional support, or sexual favors.'

...That was just at the top of the list. And it was double-sided.

Yep. This hard-copied list deserved to burn in hell.

Yagyū crumpled the list before pulling out a box of matches from in-between her breasts. After stomping on the stupid thing, she lit the match and threw it onto the paper before joining the fluffy haired girl inside her room.

"Now that we're alone..." Yagyū began before letting out a breath, visibly relaxing. "Haru, are you okay?" She then questioned.

"Gyū-chan..." Haru muttered with a frown.

"We've been talking about your marriage, you know. And just today, Ikaruga was...very bothered by your passiveness." Yagyū admitted. "Are you really accepting your fate?" She soon asked.

"I am not." Haru insisted.

"So you're putting it in the hands of the Phantom Thieves willingly then." Yagyū assumed with a frown. "The past victims had no power. You do. You could do something about this." She then pointed out.

"I can't. You know I can't." Haru however got out with a wince.

"Well...if we work together, we could think of something." Yagyū insisted as she grabbed the fluffy haired girl's hand. "You're not alone, Haru. You don't need the Phantom Thieves to help you." She then stated in a friendly manner.

"..." Haru looked away, unable to look the girl in the eye.

That was the best response she was going to get, Yagyū reckoned. "See you tomorrow, Haru-san." She sighed before disappearing from her sight.

"I am so sorry, Gyū-chan..." Haru mentally apologized, because tomorrow she was going to help invalidate their contract and possibly destroy any future chances of Okumura Foods working with Hanzō Academy.

Ikaruga was going to throttle her if she ever found out about this.

Haru soon let out a breath as she sat down on her bed. Tomorrow was the big day, and despite telling her friends she was ready, as the time ticked down she soon began to have other thoughts.

BZZT! BZZT!

At that moment, Haru heard her phone vibrate as she took it out and got involved with the text discussion.

[Sweetkat06: There haven't been any mental shutdown cases lately, right?]

[FireGirl20: Huh? Wait, really?]

[Alibaba9: Not since Okumura was hacked into first place in the rankings.]

[DarkEyeXI: Perhaps Black Mask is biding their time. Given our declaration of war, they're probably waiting in the shadows to strike.]

[All4Painting: They wouldn't waste time and energy while we're on their trail.]

[FireGirl20: Guessing his backers in the Conspiracy doesn't want him taking any risks.]

[Road2Queen: It's likely they'll become active again soon anyways.]

[Road2Queen: Either because they think the Phantom Thieves are doing nothing and can perform their shutdowns unhindered...or to go after us.]

[SushiRoll23: Moh...this is really bad, huh?]

[Alibaba9: Our online reputation isn't exactly shining anymore either.]

[Negative8Degrees: I'm looking at the comments on the Phan-site right now.]

[Negative8Degrees: So many people are begging or threatening us to take Okumura's heart! Don't they remember that he was a hacked target?]

[TheWildJ0ker: The internet has the retention of a goldfish. I don't think that will stop them.]

[Shut7heFUp: Could be bots makin' those comments too.]

[Alibaba9: Can't stop 'em all, unfortunately.]

[B3lladonna: We're all working so hard...]

[All4Painting: Our inactivity must be upsetting.]

[FireGirl20: Well we can't just live-update our infiltrations. Too much of a security risk. Don't let those people convince you to hurry up, Joker!]

Haru soon let out a breath as she put her phone down after plugging it in to charge. It was just the usual stuff they've been talking about ever since she officially joined the group. Nothing more.

With that, Haru retired early for the night, as tomorrow...her life would change.

How it would end, though...she hoped it would be something that she can willingly accept, at least.


(9/25, Early Morning)

(Shinjuku, The 69 Doors)

Ryōbi had decided to stay at a hotel for the night. It wasn't anything too fancy, but it had good reviews, no secret camera devices, she didn't have to talk to or see anyone, soundproof, she only needed an (easily forged and already prepared) ID, and it didn't smell like shit, so this had bought a room for the entire duration of her stay so it could be her base of operations.

Plus, it had food service, she had money to burn, and all the plushies around the place looked cute.

"If only Hebijo could splurge on base locations..." The brunette yawned out as she sat down with her plate of food.

Ryōbi had turned on the TV for some background noise as she ate her breakfast. It was quite novel to order stuff off the TV, and it seems the staff did their damndest to make sure she didn't need to interact with anyone. It was only a knock on a door and right outside were a set of fresh clothes and her breakfast.

"Eel, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, ginkgo nuts...what weird ingredients." Ryōbi noticed while smacking her lips together. "Tastes fine." She then shrugged.

"Breaking news!" Some overexcited windbag interrupted her train of thought as the show she had vaguely been watching switched to a news broadcast. "It has recently been discovered all over Tokyo that the Phantom Thieves have given calling cards to multiple individuals at once." He reported.

"Wait, what!?" Ryōbi exclaimed as she shot right up and looked directly at the television. On it she could see several storefronts and entrances buildings to corporate businesses covered in red, black, and white spray paint with words like We are inevitable, The Phantom Thieves have already won, and Suck it, losers and symbols like the Phantom Thieves logo, smiley faces, and (for some odd reason) a cat.

There was especially one with heavy amounts of spray paint she recognized selling bootleg Phantom Thieves merchandise.

"As you can see from photos sent in by our news teams and online that this is an official declaration by the infamous group. Officials ask all those affected to remain calm as the police investigate this matter." The news reporter on the scene said. "The Phantom Thieves made their debut on April 26th of this very year at Shujin Academy, accusing former Olympian, and then gym teacher, Suguru Kamoshida and declaring they would change their heart. Six days later, Kamoshida would..." The report continued on, but Ryōbi had already tuned out by that point.

"They're going for all those people at the same time!?" Ryōbi got out in disbelief. "What about Okumura?" She soon remembered before pulling out her phone to check the Phan-site.

"WTF!?"

"Aren't they going after Okumura?"

"i need money uwu"

"GO PHANTOM THIEVES GO!"

"I've got a boner for robbery!"

"I'm livestreaming all the locations they hit right now. There has to be a connection!"

There was just a flood of confusion and support, with people even claiming they were targeted. Unlikely, but given how insane this calling card was, to Ryōbi it felt like it was actually possible. And next to nothing confirming Okumura was hit as well.

To hit so many people at once...this didn't happen like this.

She remembered reading in a report that between their major targets, they would target a lot of smaller people like basic civilians and small-time criminals. But that didn't involve such grandeur. This was out of character for them, so where did this come from? A publicity stunt to assure the public they were active?

Or...was it something more desperate?

"What the actual fuck is happening!?" Ryōbi thought with widened eyes.

Maybe Akira Kurusu could wait a day or two.


(Okumura Residence)

Haru had heard a scream when she woke up this morning, which meant her father had seen the calling card they had all worked so hard on creating. She had checked the news before heading downstairs and it was utter chaos all around the city.

When she did finally head down after getting herself dressed, she could help but smile a little. With Yagyū out, she had taken the liberty to...ruin her own lounge with red, black, and white spray paint.

She was glad she wore gloves so she didn't leave fingerprints.

But then, there was the icing on the cake.

Or rather...the head.

On the table was the head of his statue that was usually in front of the office building (and subsequently smashed from her first time in the Metaverse) with red Xs over the eyes and a bright red smile...and several calling cards stuck around it.

Haru couldn't help but smirk a bit. Perfect.

"Father!" Haru cried in a panicked tone as she brisked towards him, switching her smirk into a worried expression on her face while feigning actual worry. "What happened?" She then asked with the same tone.

"The Phantom Thieves have even attacked my own home!" Okumura growled. "Did they do anything to you, Haru?" He soon asked.

"N-No, I was in my room all night, Father." Haru responded with a shake of her head.

That was true...until at 2 AM, when Asuka delivered her a care package of paint cans and the statue head she managed to find before heading off as fast as she came.

Haru had to admit, there was a lot of catharsis in those few hours of destroying her own home before dumping all the evidence and heading back to sleep.

"But-But sir, we received word that our staff members have just received calling cards of their own!" The secretary responded in a panicked manner. "Although, there is something-" She then started to add before pausing in fear with a pale face.

Okumaura however gave a deadly glare in response. "I don't care if they contacted our people all at once! Do something about this now!" He then blasted at his own secretary.

Haru meanwhile winced upon hearing that. That harsh voice was never not going to scare her.

However, she knew that the police would have their hands full looking into all the cases around the city. Even Okumura Foods being targeted would barely be a blip on the radar until it was too late.

Suddenly, the world went dark as her father was replaced with his Shadow counterpart.

"You think this will be enough to stop me!? Think again! I will not fall!" Shadow Okumura declared before reality returned to the fluffy haired girl.

"This matter is urgent!" Okumura continued screaming at the poor person who had to deal with him. "What do you mean they can't afford to send out more officers!? Aren't the police supposed to protect law-abiding citizens!? Send them the calling card, now!" He then shouted in anger.

"I need to tell everyone." Haru soon reminded herself before sneaking out of her home.

Her father wouldn't miss her, anyways.


(9/25, Daytime)

(Roppongi, Okumura Foods HQ)

Yagyū narrowed her eyes as she walked into the HQ today. She had spent the last night reviewing the security measures and guarding the building before heading to her designated home base to sleep.

And to her surprise, she woke up to several calls and notifications regarding the Phantom Thieves.

It was utter chaos around town. Fanatics of the Phantom Thieves were heading to the hit locations to take pictures and maybe grab a calling card either to keep or to sell online, and the more crazy people were out there hunting down the targets themselves to see if they could find the Phantom Thieves themselves, leading to a lot harassment cases and arrests.

The most important part of it all, though, was the fact that she knew exactly why they would do such a thing.

"A calling card was sent to you as well? At your home?" Yagyū repeated with a serious tone into the phone while she headed into the lobby.

"Correct, during the night after you finished your patrol and turned in for the night." Kunikazu responded and assumed. "The police are on their way to the headquarters, so please do your best to cooperate with them." He then revealed and advised.

"Of course." Yagyū responded. "Stay at home for the time being. I'll be there after I check for anything that may lead to the Phantom Thieves. They may be here right now." She then instructed.

"I trust that you will not fail me like your childish pink haired friend." Okumura responded and stated in a serious tone.

Yagyū's eye twitched as she grabbed her phone a little bit too tight. "I will ensure no one else will hurt you." She promised.

"Good." And with that, Okumura hung up.

"You're not making a lot of friends, Okumura..." Yagyū whispered as she shook her head. "Ikaruga has the right idea..." She then grumbled.

It was at that moment she noticed someone arriving, suitcase and black gloves in hand.

"Ah, excuse me, but Okumura-san has told me to talk to a girl with an odd eyepatch. That is you, I presume." Goro Akechi politely asked as he approached her.

"That is indeed me." The white haired girl responded with a nod. "Yagyū Nozomi. I am already aware of who you are, Akechi-san." She introduced herself and stated.

"Really? Well, I haven't been appearing on talk shows recently so I was afraid that I was being forgotten." Akechi admitted. "But I guess going against the public perception of the Phantom Thieves hasn't quite erased my presence from everyone's minds." He then chuckled light-heartedly.

"Well, what do you need, detective?" Yagyū questioned, crossing her arms under her breasts.

"Allow me to show you the search warrant I made which gives me permission to access the property before I do anything. Almost forgot about that and got chewed out by my superiors." Akechi soon got out before reaching into suitcase and showing the warrant. "Now, may I ask you some questions?" He then asked.

Yagyū had to resist her body's natural gut reaction to narrow her eye. She didn't want to give him too many details, and a detective would be able to call her on that. "Go ahead." She replied with a nod.

Akechi nodded before pulling out a notebook. "Name and occupation, please." He requested.

"Yagyū Nozomi. Student." The white-haired girl responded.

"Student?" Akechi repeated with a raised eyebrow. "Why are you here, of all places, on a Sunday?" He questioned with narrowed eyes.

"I'm in the middle of a special work experience program provided by Okumura Foods." Yagyū recited the backstory that she and all in her team had been given. "An intern in all but name. And only for the week." She then added.

"I see. What a great opportunity, though the timing could've been much better." Akechi remarked. "Now, I assume you've already received the news that the CEO here has gotten a calling card." He then assumed.

"Who hasn't heard by now?" Yagyū got out as she rolled her eyes. She was pretty sure that there were stores having specials prepared just for this occasion to rope people into buying more crap.

"Quite a number of people, actually." Akechi answered. "With all the chaos caused by the Phantom Thieves, I was sent in alone. You would think we would have more funding because of cases like these..." He then lamented.

"They're really stepping up their game." Yagyū commented. She had no idea how they would top this insanity.

"And we must do so at a faster pace. The downsides of upholding the law, unfortunately." Akechi muttered with a frown. "And where were you when you did find out?" He soon questioned

"At home, this morning." Yagyū answered with a shrug.

"Well, I guess that was rather obvious." Akechi admitted under his breath before clearing his throat. "Now, why do you think Okumura was targeted?" He soon questioned.

"It was...inevitable, given his reputation." Yagyū hesitantly responded.

"And that being...?" The detective continued.

"...Despite the hacked poll on the Phantom Aficionado Website, he didn't treat his workers right. Underpay, bad conditions, required overtime...he deserves to have his heart changed."

"Speaking from personal experience, I assume?" Akechi guessed.

"..." Yagyū simply rubbed her fingers while remaining silent, but the detective had gotten his answer.

"Well, that's all I have to ask of you." Akechi concluded as he closed his notebook with a snap. "I'll need to go to the upper floors now to interview witnesses and collect evidence. This has to be the freshest calling card we've been able to find, so it is with utmost importance I go." He then informed.

"I understand." Yagyū responded with a nod.

"Thank you for your cooperation. However, I may need to talk to you later should the need arise, so may I get your contact details?" the detective soon requested.

"Of course, detective." The white haired girl nodded. Akechi soon tore a page out of his notebook and handed it to the girl, who quickly scribbled down her burner number and IM account. "But before you go, may I ask you a question?" She soon asked as she handed her details back to the detective.

"Hm, I don't see the harm of it. You may ask one, but only one. I am currently on a time crunch here." Akechi got out with a shrug, but checked his phone for the time.

"Are you not a little young to be carrying a firearm?" Yagyū questioned with narrowed eyes. She had spotted the gun inside his suitcase when he was pulling out his warrant.

The detective's eyes widened for a second before regaining his pleasant expression. "Oh, you actually noticed the gun in my suitcase. You have a good eye. Well, I've been told that many times but I assure you I am of legal age. It's only for my own safety, which is necessary in my line of work." Akechi lightly chuckled. "Don't worry though, it isn't loaded and I only carry less-lethal rounds. An alive suspect is better than a maimed or dead one." He then informed.

"Less-lethal?" Yagyū repeated, feigning ignorance.

"Ah, you must think I mean non-lethal." Akechi got out with a frown. "Sadly, there truly is no such thing as a non-lethal firearm. We can only minimize the chances of death rather than eliminate it entirely. And before you ask, no, I have not fired it outside of the gun range." He soon informed and assured.

DING!

"Ah, there's my elevator." Akechi stated as the elevator doors opened, showing that there were few people in it before they all exited the elevator, leaving it empty now. "It was nice talking to you, Nozomi-san, but I really must get this investigation wrapped up soon." He then continued as he entered the elevator alone.

"Do not let me distract you any longer then, Akechi-san." Yagyū got out as she stepped aside. "Good luck. You'll need it." She then added.

"All day, every day." Akechi got out with a long, suffering sigh just as the elevator doors closed.

As soon as the boy left, Yagyū narrowed her eyes. "Something about him is off..." She muttered to herself.

He just seemed too...clean. Sanitized was the more accurate word. Too approachable, too nice. In all honesty, she really should've gotten the next elevator or taken the stairs to follow the detective.

But...Okumura was the higher priority, which meant she needed to leave after she collected her own evidence.

So, after doing her sweep, she left for the home of the Okumura's.

She could only hope that Haru would come out of this unscathed.


(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)

Haru was going to enjoy beating her Father to hell and back, and she made this fact very clear since she arrived, polishing her axe in anticipation.

Since there was no school, the Thieves had all headed to Leblanc to pass the time while they prepared themselves, planning out battle strategies and such. It was then that Akira and Asuka had used the time (and some of Leblanc's ingredients) to prepare a few more items.

Just in case.

"And that should be the last of them." Akira breathed out as he helped Asuka zip up the duffle bag.

"Tons of curry and sushi for everyone when we need it!" Asuka declared with a smile.

"And that should take care of the last of the heist prep." Morgana stated with a smirk.

"Hey Haru, you got the statue head we sent you?" Miyabi asked.

"Hai." Haru responded with a nod. "I did go a little rouge and put it in his bed instead of on the table. You should've heard his screams." She then added.

"You Godfather'd your own father!?" Futaba exclaimed, turning away from her phone for a second before laughing out loud. "Holy hell, Haru! That's amazing!" She then got out in excitement.

"It sounds like we got him seriously riled up." Yumi got out.

"Yes. But he's been barking orders as if he was expecting this." Haru soon informed. "He's even sending the calling card to the police as we speak." She then added.

"This is different from normal. He has some nerve, delivering the calling card to the police himself." Yusuke remarked.

"Either he's certain his heart won't be changed, or he's colluded with the police from the beginning..." Makoto assumed with a frown.

"As strange as it is for me to say...I could see that being the case." Haru confessed.

"Whoa! Comments are coming in hot, fresh from the Phan-site!" Futaba soon announced.

"We got a city-wide heist!"

"My dad got a calling card! He's having a panic attack!"

"Yeah, but I don't see Okumura's name anywhere? Does anyone have details?"

"Who the hell is Tsubasa Ohzora?"

"It's total chaos and confusion. Like we wanted. Barely anyone is talking about Okumura." Akira stated with a smirk.

"People are assuming Okumura is getting targeted too, but by the time it's confirmed, it'll be too late." Futaba then concluded with a smirk. A plan executed flawlessly.

"Still, the comments are concerning..." Yumi muttered with a frown. "A lot of people are assuming these people deserve a change of heart, even though they don't even know who they are." She then added.

"Most of them are fake names and anime characters. No one but some edge cases should get affected by this." Homura reminded.

"They're just saying whatever they want." Morgana scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "At this point all they care about is seeing those in power beg for forgiveness." He then sighed.

"This isn't a spectator sport though." Miyabi soon got out with a frown.

"People like seeing bad guys go down in flames." Akira pointed out. "And I have to admit, it is really entertaining." He then admitted.

"The means and the ends have been reversed. We're starting to be seen purely as entertainment..." Yusuke eventually stated in annoyance.

"Dammit, aren't we supposed to give people hope, not just kicks?" Ryuji grumbled while stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Real people are gettin' hurt because of him. It's like bettin' on who gets robbed first." He then complained.

"Yeah." Ann agreed with a nod. "But who cares about the public? Right now, a lot of people are relying on us to help them." She then stated as everyone nodded.

"And that includes me as well." Haru added as she placed a hand over her heart.

"Nervous?" Akira assumed.

"Immensely, but that won't stop me from stealing my father's heart." Haru replied as she frowned. "He had no remorse when I saw him, only anger that he would dare be targeted. I won't feel guilty for hearing him beg for mercy." She then revealed in a determined manner.

"Well then, why are we waiting around?" Asuka got out as she stood up. "Haru-chan?" She then questioned.

"The Phantom Thieves have already won." Haru declared with a smirk as she stood up as well.

"That's what I like to hear. Everyone, let's go." Akira ordered as he adjusted his glasses.

With that, the team exited the cafe and started making their way to Roppongi.

Whatever happened, good or bad, they had to face it head-on.


(Kunikazu's Space Station of Greed, Weapon Production)

"Go go go!" Joker ordered as the Thieves ran towards the giant locked Big Bang Burger door that the Treasure laid behind. They had blasted through the Palace using nothing but stealth and the shortcuts they've unlocked through their infiltration, so now it was only a straight shot to the-

"What the actual hell!?" Yang exclaimed as they all skidded to a stop at the sight.

"Oooooh, it's a UFO!" Oracle got out. Indeed, the door had opened to reveal the giant spaceship floating inside.

"Is that...the frisbee Skull mentioned before? That's what they're making here!?" Mona remembered and exclaimed.

"Well, it's identified so you can't really call it a UFO." Joker couldn't help but point out.

"I thought they were going to war..." Yang whispered.

[The SS Utopia will soon enter its launch sequence from the shipbuilding dock.] the Thieves suddenly heard the PA system announce. [After retrieval of the main core, the launch sequence will commence.] It then informed.

"The SS Utopia!?" Panther exclaimed.

"Project: Escape to Utopia...so this is what that was about." Queen realized with widened eyes.

"Father did say he was going to ascend into the political world..." Noir muttered.

"Yeah, but we didn't think it would be literally!" Serpent called out before blinking. "Wait, this is all happening in his head so...figuratively and literally- God, I hate this dimension." She then mumbled under her breath.

"Oh, this is just bringing back flashbacks of the bank..." Joker groaned.

"So even his company is a stepping stone for him...he will discard this place for his utopia..." Fox scoffed in disgust.

"Abandoning ship when it needs him most." Widow whispered with a frown.

"Wait up...if he gets outta here, we're not gonna be able to make him tell us about the shutdowns!" Skull suddenly realized.

"You're right...we gotta hurry!" Oracle replied. "I think we can go further now!" She then informed.

"Wait, where the hell is the Treasure!?" Yang exclaimed with widened eyes.

"I think I found it." Joker informed as he pointed up at the UFO. A sparkling black sphere item with five light blue lines running through it, all of them leading to a large light blue glowing center.

"Yeah, that's it! That's the Treasure!" Mona confirmed.

"That's definitely not fitting in the Morganamobile..." Serpent muttered.

[Emergency launch sequence will soon be activated.] A robotic voice announced. [Certain areas may be shut off or destroyed. I repeat, the emergency launch sequence will soon be activated. All personnel are advised to evacuate immediately to a safe area of the facility.] It then informed.

"What!?" Yang exclaimed in shock.

"Emergency launch!?" Yin repeated with widened eyes.

"Of course he would bring it with him..." Joker groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Just one more pain in the ass.

"There is no time to deal with you thieves. I must make my exit." The Thieves then heard Shadow Okumura's voice coming from the UFO. "You can all stand and watch in despair as you go down along with this base! Your destruction is imminent! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" He then added, followed by laughter.

"We have to get on that ship!" Joker called out. "Oracle, how much time do we have?" He soon asked the navigator.

"Hacking communications!" Oracle informed as she rapidly typed within her Persona. "Crap! Under 10 minutes!" She soon reported.

"That's plenty of time. Oracle, get us a route inside. Everyone else, RUN!" Yin declared as the Thieves began sprinting towards the ship.

"Enemies!" Mona called out as they ran up the stairs.

"Really!? Now of all times!?" Panther complained.

"Don't waste time fighting! Just push 'em over!" Oracle advised.

The dyed blond took that advice to heart. "OUTTA THE WAY, YA OLD TIMEY DILDOS!" Skull shouted out as he drop-kicked the one in front of them, sending them crashing over the railing and splattering onto the floor. "Wow, that was easy, JUST KICK THEM THE EFF OFF!" he then added.

"Gladly!" Queen responded with a smirk as she charged ahead and kicked one over before lifting another and throwing it off. "Oh wow, that is a lot of fun." She soon admitted before dashing off to find some more, while they made their way to the ship.

"Seven minutes! Pick up the pace!" Oracle called out from her own flying saucer.

"Says the one who can fly!" Skull called out as he shook his fist at her. "Can't ya give us a ride!?" He then shouted.

"Only room for one up here, Skull!" The navigator claimed.

"Hold up! Hide!" Joker suddenly ordered, with the Thieves soon hiding behind a corner and peeking out.

"Dude...is this for real!?" Skull complained.

"Three in a row...and they look tough..." Yang muttered in concern. Joker's Instant Kill technique won't work here...

"We should retreat and come up with a different strategy." Queen suggested.

"Six minutes left!" Oracle chimed in.

"We don't have the time, Queen!" Serpent countered, as the Thieves ignored Yin slowly losing her patience. "We need to hurry and the quickest way through is through them." She then added.

"Are you even thinking!? If we use up all of our energy now, we may as well toss our entire plan!"

"Hold on, guys! Calm down." Panther tried to get everyone to settle down. They may be on a timer, but they couldn't let the pressure get to them.

"Yeah, you're spending more time arguing than we should be running!" Yang then pointed out.

The Vice Leader however had an expression of irritation on her face underneath her mask. "AH! FUCK THIS!" Yin suddenly roared in frustration, instantly activating her Ultimate form and pulling out her katana.

"Yin!?" Yang exclaimed in concern.

"RAAAAAAAAH!" Yin roared as earth swirled around her katana, enhancing and extending its size by attaching to the blade. "CHŌ HANZŌ-STYLE! GEKIDO GIRI!" She then began as she began a horizontal slash.

"OH SHIT! GET DOWN!" Serpent exclaimed in a panic, knowing what was coming.

"DOGON!" The Vice Leader shouted out as she brought her katana, well, buster sword down.

SLICE! SLICE! SLICE!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

And with that, the coast was clear...apart from the scrap metal and earth embedded into the walls.

"...Welp, that solves that problem." Oracle got out with widened eyes. "Yiitsu Style plus Deep Shadow makes her a buster sword user that can level the earth even in a space station." She soon stated before looking at the timer. "Five minutes!" She called out in a panic.

"We need to move!" Fox reminded the team.

The Leader nodded to that before turning to the shinobi. "Ladies, do you mind?" Joker asked.

Yang and Widow shook their heads before they all silently activated their Ultimate forms while Serpent simply coated her katana in darkness.

"Lead the charge!" Noir declared as she pointed forward.

"CHESTO!" The shinobi cried out as they charged forth with their teammates behind them.

After several minutes of blasting through every single guard in their way, they finally made it to a point where the SS Utopia was only a hop, skip, and a jump away...quite literally, as there was no way they were going to cross that gap between them and the ship.

"Dead end!" Yin suddenly got out as her and her fellow shinobi's Ultimate forms faded.

"I don't think I noticed a way to get over there." Noir muttered in worry.

"Nothing's blocking our path now - all we need is a way to get over there. Hey, Joker! See any spots you can use your grappling hook on?" Oracle suggested before checking the timer. "Two minutes!" She announced.

"Come on, come on, come on, hurry..." Panther muttered in a panic as everyone looked around.

By the one minute mark, someone found it in the form of a smaller version of the ship they were heading to. "Hello, beautiful." Joker got out with a smirk before throwing out his grappling hook to attach it to the flying cargo saucer.

"Hey, wait up!" Skull called out as the rest of the Thieves followed suit, swinging over to under the giant flying saucer. "Made it!" He quickly got out with a fist pump.

"Hey! Over there!" Serpent shouted out as she pointed over to the Palace ruler, who was just about to walk up the ramp and onto his ship.

"Hello, Okumura-san." Joker greeted before pulling out his pistol, with the rest of the Thieves equipping their ranged weapons as well. "Since we've caught up to you, let me tell you what we are doing or else you'll have more holes than in your defense case for horrible worker neglect and abuse. We are taking your Treasure and leaving without any resistance. Understand?" He soon got out in a low tone.

"I..." Shadow Okumura began...before instantly going down into a dogeza position, prostrating himself to the Thieves. "I'm sorry! I've had a change of heart!" He cried out.

"Wait, what?" The Leader faltered, nearly lowering his gun before reminding himself to keep it aimed at the Shadow's head.

"Father...?" Noir got out with a raised eyebrow.

"Here, I'll prove it!" Shadow Okumura soon tried to approach the Thieves, only for a bullet to hit the floor right in front of him.

BANG!

"You stay right there!" Widow sternly ordered as she chambered another round into her sniper rifle. "Don't. Move." She then stressed.

"Prove it right where you are." Queen soon added.

Shadow Okumura began to sweat a little, but maintained his sorrowful expression. "Haru, you were always so agreeable. Whether it was in school or after, you only ever did as I said...you've become so admirable..." He then praised.

"That's not so admirable now, jackass." Yang grumbled.

"What's gotten into him?" Widow wondered out loud.

"Ah yes. Do you remember, Haru? You cried your eyes out when my work kept me from attending your first sports day. It was then that you stopped talking back to me." Shadow Okumura continued reminiscing. "Honestly...you had me worried. Still, you stood up against me and became an independent young woman...nothing could make a father happier than seeing that!" He then got out in a proud manner.

"W-Wait, are we being punked?" Yang questioned with narrowed eyes.

"Did Black Mask...snipe it from under us?" Serpent whispered to the not cat.

"No, the Palace should be collapsing right now." Mona muttered as he narrowed his eyes. "Stay cautious everyone. He might pull a fast one on us." He then cautioned.

Noir frowned at that. After a little thought, she lowered her grenade launcher and approached the Shadow of her father. Without saying anything else Yin, Yang, and Mona joined her.

"Noir..." Yin got out in concern, however, the fluffy haired girl gave her a look to assure her that she was ready for any trick her father may pull.

"You still remember something that happened so long ago?" Noir soon asked as she looked down upon her father. "Back then, you poured your heart into making delicious food. You wanted to bring joy to others...why did you change?" She soon questioned.

"F-Forgive me, Haru...but I would never last if my Treasure was stolen! Please don't do it, I'm begging you!" Shadow Okumura soon pleaded.

Noir couldn't help but smile. "...I'm afraid...I don't believe you." She soon stated before aiming her grenade launcher at her father's Shadow. "It's over." She then added.

"...Heh." Her father got out before looking directly at his daughter'smasked face. "You're a lot smarter than I thought." He then smirked before pulling out a remote.

BEEP! BWOOM!

"But still the same foolish girl!" Shadow Okumura laughed as a forcefield appeared around the majority of the Phantom Thieves, leaving only Noir, Mona, Yin, and Yang free.

"What!?" Noir exclaimed in shock.

"You son of a bitch!" Serpent growled as she kicked the forcefield, which only ended up hurting her leg. "Gah! Son of a bitch..." She groaned with a wince while Oracle and Queen checked if she hadn't broken it.

"Guys!" Yin exclaimed as she and her sister rushed over, only to suddenly be wrapped together in glowing wire. "WAH!" She then yelped in shock.

"What the hell!? Ninja wire!?" Yang shouted in frustration as she tried to break out of it, but it wasn't giving in the slightest.

[Capture complete, Okumura-sama.] An too familiar voice declared as she landed next to the Palace ruler.

"Eh!?" Yin gasped with widened eyes, coming face-to-face with herself once again.

[Remember me?] Robo-Asuka got out with a smirk, her wing boosters flaring, pushing Mona and Noir away while Yin and Yang were tossed to the ground together.

"Dammit. I should've expected this, considering what you guys are." Joker admitted, cursing under his breath. After that, four more familiar robots landed near Shadow Okumura. "Of course." He then added exasperatedly.

"The eff!?" Skull cursed in shock.

"We thought you all blew up!" Oracle exclaimed, jaw dropped at seeing the cognitive Hanzō robot shinobi.

[We don't die that easily.] Robo-Ikaruga soon stated.

[Never underestimate a shinobi.] Robo-Katsuragi got out with a smirk as she kicked the air a few times to intimidate the invaders.

"Son of a bitch..." Skull couldn't help but say. They had totally faked everything.

"'Overcome failure at any cost, even if it means betraying others'...that is our family motto! The cold reality of kicking people down is part of business! Virtues and sentiment are for losers." Shadow Okumura gloated with a sick smile as his shinobi stood by him. "What happiness can be found in acting with justice but losing the battle?" He soon questioned.

"What happiness can be found through profit gained by crushing the hearts of others!?" Noir called out in anger.

"Better that than fail! I'd much rather destroy others than wallow in the misery of debt!" Shadow Okumura stated in an uncaring manner. "Regardless, I shall soon set sail into the political realm. To the upper echelons of the world! To utopia! My name shall be etched in the annals of history!" He then declared.

"The anals of what!?" Skull exclaimed in disgust.

"Phrasing!" Joker grumbled.

"Not the time, idiots!" Serpent called out as the ash blonde casted Dia on her leg. "Noir! Mona!" She then called out to them.

"Make your decision, Haru." Shadow Okumura declared. "If you cast them away, I'll let you join me on this ship. Stay, and you will be incinerated along with this entire base. Now then, what is your choice!?" He then demanded.

[It would be wise of you to join us, Haru-san.] Robo-Ikaruga meanwhile advised.

The fluffy haired girl flinched, staring at her childhood friend with sadness and regret from the events of the previous day.

"Noir..." Widow whispered, watching the fluffy haired girl process everything.

"..." It took a little bit, but Noir glared at her father before turning away. She'd rather die here than join his so-called utopia.

"You foolish girl..." Shadow Okumura got out in disappointment.

"How could I be a fool...when you've already burned every bridge in your pursuit to utopia." Noir spat out, refusing to turn towards the man. "All this time, I wished to forgive you, to see the person I loved in the past once again. You are right, I am a fool...for holding onto your old kind self. But...now I realize he's gone. Long gone. I am no longer your daughter, because my father is dead!" She then declared.

"Grrrrr..." Shadow Okumura growled before glancing over to the not cat. "What about you there? Don't you want to get out of here alive? Want to board my ship? You will be worth more with me than anyone else." He soon offered.

"You've been spying on us?" Yang got out with widened eyes.

"Ever since you managed to appear in my office!" Shadow Okumura replied. "You can thank Hanzō Academy for making such lovely surveillance tools." He soon got out as he petted Robo-Hibari, who lovingly accepted the "affection".

Yin's eye however twitched to that. "Stop...treating me and my friends as tools!" She soon demanded.

"But without tools, no one would get anywhere!" Shadow Okumura claimed before looking down at the not cat. "So, do we have a deal? I'll give you ten seconds. Time is money, after all." He then urged the creature, only to get a laugh in response.

"Like I'd ever join you! You treat any connection to you as disposable. What you gain and what you lose. Now look at what you've done, you've lost your daughter and traded it for fleeting power! The connections I've made, however, are what make me happy! Make me who I am! With or without my memories, I'll never let them go! They're irreplaceable!" Mona declared before pulling out his slingshot. "They're my family...and that's why your heart is already ours!" He soon called out.

PLINK PLINK! PLINK! PLINK! PLINK!

In rapid succession, Shadow Okumura could only watch as each of his shinobi minions got hit in the eyes before the not cat rushed over and snatched the remote out of the Palace ruler's hands.

"Never underestimate the Phantom Thieves!" Mona declared as he threw the remote on the ground and stomped on it, crushing it into pieces.

With that, the forcefield shut off.

"...Oh wow, I actually crushed it! Way to go, me!" Mona got out in surprise. He didn't even get shards in his paws!

"Mona-chan!" Yin exclaimed in happiness as the Leader cut the sisters free from their binds.

"Way to go!" Oracle cheered as she hugged the not cat.

"Ya stole the show, man!" Skull chuckled out in a proud manner while rubbing his head.

"Family, huh?" Joker got out in an amused manner as he crouched down next to the not cat. "I always wanted a little brother." He then admitted as he patted the little guy's head.

"Heh, we can talk about family later." Skull chuckled before looking up at the panicking Shadow. "Let's end this one." He then got out.

Mona, and the rest of the Thieves, nodded as they all equipped their weapons just as the robo-Hanzō shinobi recovered.

Soon enough, Shadow Okumura glared at the Thieves. "So much for negotiation..." He grumbled as a chair rose up from the floor behind him. "Hmph, you rebels! There is time before launch...I will crush you all!" He then declared as he sat down on the chair.

[Your wish is our command, Okumura-sama.] Robo-Ikaruga got out as her teammates equipped their weapons.

"Very well then..." Fox responded before unsheathing his katana. "Then we'll just do the same to you!" He then shouted out.

"Grrrr...You won't be getting out of here alive!" Shadow Okumura roared.


(Cue Un-Gravity by Cashell)

"It's time you do as I say, Father!" Noir declared. "Now give up!" She soon ordered.

"Give up...?" Shadow Okumura repeated before cackling. "Try saying that after taking down my shinobi!" He then taunted while his robot guardians stood in front of the man.

"We're not YOURS!" Yin declared in annoyance.

"We got 30 minutes on the clock!" Oracle called out.

"Then let's do this fast, people!" Joker declared as he tightened the grip on his dagger.

"Go, my tools! Be the foundation upon which my victory is built...!" Shadow Okumura ordered, leaning back on his fancy-ass space chair.

[Hai!] The Robo-Hanzō shinobi responded in unison.

[We won't let you down!] Robo-Asuka declared. [For the glory of Okumura-sama, I shall dance within the blood of your shadows!] She soon declared.

"If you're going to corrupt our school's creed, then let me do it as well." Yin growled as she put a hand on her chest. "Yin...will dance for the good of the world's heart!" She soon declared, her eyes flashing green.

[Of course you'd do that...imposter.] Robo-Asuka scoffed as the two glared at each other.

"Heh." Shadow Okumura couldn't help but chuckle in amusement. This would be an entertaining show. "Now, my devoted workers! Targeting them at random won't do the trick!" He soon got out.

[So we shall focus our attention on one of them.] Robo-Ikaruga responded with a nod.

[Hah! Sounds fun!] Robo-Katsuragi giggled as she bounced on her feet.

[Do not underestimate them, Katsuragi.] Robo-Yagyū warned as she subtly stood in front of the robotic pinkette. [Okumura-sama, what are your orders?] She soon asked.

"Yes..." Shadow Okumura muttered as he studied each and every one of the thieves, mentally noting how a majority of them belonged in brothels and hostess clubs. Except for the one in the metal mask, she belonged in a high class brothel. "Target that one first! The phony with the face of my daughter!" He decided, lazily pointing at his own actual flesh and blood.

[Target locked!] Robo-Asuka declared as her team all made her their top priority target.

"Father..." Noir coldly stated, gripping her axe much more tightly.

"Protect Noir!" Mona called out as he narrowed his eyes at the enemy, who all soon dashed towards the fluffy haired girl.

They were quickly intercepted by several of the Thieves, either by tackling one of them down or taking the damage themselves. "You won't hurt her anymore! We won't let you!" Yin shouted out. "Kaeru! Mamagndyne!" She soon added.

"Quake!" Her Persona shouted out before stomping her foot, causing the ground to shake and earth to suddenly erupt from the floor!

RUMBLE! CRASH!

[AH!] Robo-Katsuragi yelped out, staggering herself until she fell onto the metal ground.

[Katsu-nee!] Robo-Hibari called out in worry, even as she jumped out of the way of the earthquake.

[Ignore her! KEEP GOING!] Robo-Ikaruga however ordered her robot companions. [HAAAAAAAAH!]She then cried in pure determination as she headed straight for Noir before swinging, only to be blocked.

"You've got to try harder than that!" Noir got out before shoving the enemy away. "Milady, Mapsiodyne!" She soon commanded.

WEEEEEEEP!

[GAAH!] Robo-Ikaruga got out in pain as Robo-Katsuragi and Robo-Yagyū dodged the attack.

[Ikaruga-chan!] Robo-Hibari called out in worry, having taken the spell in stride.

[W-We must never disappoint Okumura-sama! ATTACK!] Robo-Asuka got out before yelling, shooting forward with her wing boosters. [Magnadyne!] She then cried her attack towards her enemies, hurtling a boulder towards the imposter.

Joker instantly jumped in front of the Vice Leader, already tearing off his mask. "Matrakarn!" He commanded.

CRASH!

[AAAHHH!] Robo-Asuka cried out as her own spell was reflected back to her, sending her back. Her teammates suffered similar fates, before being blown back by the Phantom Thieves' Personas and their attacks.

"Ya can't trick us anymore with that, you metal-looking frauds!" Skull called out, gripping his melee weapon.

"Switch targets!" Shadow Okumura suddenly ordered. "That...bizarre, black-and-white thing!" He then spat out.

"Mona!" Yin exclaimed in concern, glancing at the faux feline.

"Targeting me, eh?" Mona got out with a smirk as he took out his melee weapon. "Don't worry about me, I've got this." He then reassured, brandishing his bladed weapon and hoping for good luck during the fight.

"You're the boss, Mona." Joker responded with a quick salute.

Mona nodded before jumping up and down, waving his arms. "Hey ladies, I'm right here!" He called out before running off.

[After him!] Robo-Yagyū spat out, pointing a finger at the faux feline, who was now in a battle stance.

Mona smirked as the robots tried to attack, but he was using the natural agility this form granted to great effect, swiftly moving out of the way several slashes and kicks.

"Come on, I'm just a cute wittle guy, can't you catch me?" Mona taunted before he slid underneath robot copy of the pinkette and leaping onto the enemy.

The not cat was then crawling around and on the robot shinobi, who all tried in vain to try and hit him. [Get him off me!] Robo-Katsuragi growled before being punched in the face by the robot copy of the Vice Leader.

"Mona's drawing their aggro! Get 'em!" Oracle advised.

"You heard her! Go!" Joker called out as the rest of the Thieves began their assault, attacking the robot shinobi quite easily.

Shadow Okumura growled as he saw that his brilliant plan wasn't working as intended. "The oddball with the fox mask! Attack him this time!" he then ordered.

"Looks like I'll be focusing more on the defensive now." Fox muttered as he shifted his stance while the robots shifted targets.

[Go, Ninto!] Robo-Hibari got out as she set down her explosive bunny, sending it towards the artist.

"Blow that thing up! Now!" Oracle shouted out.

"Got it!" Serpent responded as she dashed over to it, her kicking leg pulled back. "FORE!" She announced before kicking the damn thing back...right into Robo-Katsuragi's hands.

The blonde replica fumbled with the robot bunny before getting a proper grip on the thing...just as the timer ticked down to zero. [...Ruh-roh.] She squeaked before...

KABOOM!

Robo-Katsuragi was blown away, along with the rest of the robo-Hanzo team. While they were still on their feet, it looked like they were rebooting from the attack. "They're stunned!" Fox announced.

"Give it your all!" Queen spoke up as she summoned Johanna. "Mafreila!" She then cried as she made a rotational drift with Johanna on the spot, summoning her attack in the process.

"Maragidyne!" Panther yelled as well, Hecate dancing behind her and throwing her attack.

"MEGIDOLA!" Joker roared as Jack Frost chuckled delightfully as he summoned an orb of Almighty energy and threw it towards the enemy.

BOOM! BOOM! KABOOOOOM!

"Come on, is that all you got, ya losers!?" Mona laughed out loud.

"Mona, focus!" Oracle immediately reminded him aloud from Necronomicon. "Don't get carried away!" She then added with the same tone.

"There! Aim your attacks at him! The obnoxious blonde one!"Shadow Okumura soon ordered as he pointed his finger at Skull and prompted Robo-Katsuragi to rush towards him right away to deliver a flying kick.

"Hey, if you've been spyin' on us, you should know our names by now!" Skull called out as he ducked under the robot blonde's flying kick and landed his own straight-up kick on the robot blonde's stomach, almost flying and staggering her back towards Shadow Okumura's side.

"Why would I bother remembering such ridiculous names when I shall erase them from history?" Shadow Okumura countered in a smug manner.

"Because!" Joker began as he pulled the star out of his coat's pocket. "You're about to get it burned into your brain! Mona, Noir!" He then started and called out.

"Right here!" The two responded as they joined the Leader's side.

"Showtime!" Joker declared, the star shining brightly.

SHINE!

Suddenly, the world around them changed into a city, with Mona and Noir on the top of a building under a spotlight.

"That's our cue!" Noir got out with a smirk before the two leapt off the building.

"Henshin!" Mona called out as he turned into his car form, landing on the road while Noir landed on the roof. Speeding off by himself, the Morganamobile sped off with the enemies in the middle of the road in front of him.

"You've been bad!" Noir then got out with a smile before firing her grenade launcher at the robots before leaping off the car while Mona crashed into them.

CRASH! BOOM!

"And that's that!" The fluffy haired girl declared as she posed...only before Mona suddenly dropped onto the cemented road behind her, looking like he just fainted.

"Ugh..." Mona, meanwhile, moaned in pain.

"Oh, Mona!" Noir exclaimed in worry as she went over to make sure the not cat was okay.

"I...could've done without that last part..." Mona got out in a dazed manner as the world returned to normal.

"I-It's a work in progress." Noir sheepishly confessed, tipping her hat down with her free hand.

"It's still not enough though!" Serpent pointed out with a glare, seeing the robots beginning to recover from the attack.

"Dammit, we're not gonna scrap these copies in time." Yang cursed.

"Just keep pushing!" Joker ordered.

"But where do we push?" Oracle however questioned while trying to figure out a new strategy.

"Hey, look." Queen suddenly got out. The Thieves followed her gaze and saw what she was looking at.

[Yagyū-chan...] Robo-Hibari got out in worry.

[I will always protect you, Hibari...] Robo-Yagyū panted out, her head twitching a little. It had seemed that she had taken the damage for the both of them.

"...Robo-Yagyū really likes protecting Robo-Hibari..." Yin suddenly reminded.

In response, the other Thieves looked at one another.

Looks like they'll have to exploit a different weakness.

"Gang up on Hibari!" Joker ordered.

[EH!?] Robo-Hibari exclaimed at the rudeness.

[You can't use our own tactics against us!] Robo-Yagyū declared in anger.

"Well, we are! Eigaon!" Serpent countered as Nobunaga shot forward and casted dark energy on the pinkette replica.

DOOOOOOOOOM!

[AAAAHHHH!] Robo-Hibari screamed as she shielded herself, only to feel nothing.

[I...I won't...let you hurt her!] Robo-Yagyū struggled out, having used her body as a shield again.

[Yagyū-chan, fall back!] Robo-Asuka called out.

[No! I won't abandon Hibari to these random-looking thieves!] The white haired replica declared as she pulled out her parasol and gritted her teeth, attempting to ignore her failing systems.

[Oi Yagyū!] Robo-Katsuragi called out.

Seeing that there was no stopping her practically suicidal teammate, Robo-Asuka turned to the others. [Katsu-nee! Ikaruga-chan!] She soon ordered.

[Hai!] The two in mention responded as they charged in with their thrusters activated.

"No you don't! Magarula!" Mona interjected and cried out his attack, his Persona, Zorro, floating behind him and thrusted his pointed sword at the enemies in front of him.

WOOOSH!

[AH!] Robo-Asuka and Robo-Ikaruga cried out as they were taken off course. However, Robo-Katsuragi kept going, undeterred by the gust of wind.

[You think that little breeze will stop me!?] Robo-Katsuragi taunted back with clenched fists. [I'm attuned to Wind, you little freak! Dead Dragon Screw!] She then shouted back before launching herself towards the not cat.

WOOSH! CLASH!

"Ain't happenin'!" Skull declared as he blocked the robot's attack with his weapon, grunting in pain as the dragons tore through his outfit.

"Skull!" Mona exclaimed.

"No one calls Mona a little freak, ya fake!" Skull roared as he tore off his mask. "ZIODYNE!" He soon roared.

CRACK! ZAP!

[AGH!] Robo-Katsuragi cried in pain, the thunderbolt causing her to bounce off the floor as Skull grabbed her leg. [Huh?] She soon got out in confusion.

"And say hi for Hibari for me!" Skull then shouted out as he swung the robot around, letting go to send her back to her allies in the most painful way he could muster.

[AAAHHH!] Robo-Katsuragi screamed before...

WHAM!

Robo-Yagyū gritted her teeth as she used her parasol to knock the blonde replica away. [You will NOT hurt Hibari!] She all but demanded.

"Oh, but we're trying though!" Noir countered.

"You fight us, we fight back." Skull meanwhile declared as the others nodded in agreement.

"Now go to hell!" Panther concluded before tearing off her mask. "Maragidyne!" She soon declared.

FWOOOOOOOSH!

The white haired robot grit her teeth, not wanting to give the thieves the satisfaction of more her screams, even as she was being melted while she shielded Robo-Hibari from the intense heat. Thankfully, her allies had dodged the attack.

[No! Yagyū-CHAN!] Robo-Hibari called out in a panic.

[Don't...w-worry, I will protect-] Robo-Yagyū began to respond despite her melting form, however...

"DEATHBOUND!" Serpent interrupted as her Persona slammed his sword on the ground, creating a wave of dark energy to go towards the enemy.

Instantly, Robo-Yagyū once again moved to shield the pinkette replica and take all the damage.

[AAARRRGGHHHH!] Robo-Yagyū screamed in agony, her legs finally giving up as she fell to the floor.

"She's down!" Mona exclaimed.

"Don't let up! Keep aiming for fake Hibari!" Oracle called out.

Robo-Katsuragi's eyes widened at that. [B-Bastards!] She soon growled.

[Yagyū-chan! I can take them!] Robo-Hibari called out.

[I...know...] Robo-Yagyū confessed, closing her eye.

Joker could only shake his head. Time to prove her wrong. "Eiga!" He soon commanded.

DOOOOM!

[AH!] Robo-Hibari cried in pain as she fell on her butt.

[Hibari!] The eyepatch-wearing replica called out.

"Going all-out!" Noir declared as the Thieves backflipped.

"Don't hesitate! It's not really them!" Queen reminded before they rushed towards the pinkette replica.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! WHAM! CRACK! SLASH! SLAP! WHAM! SLASH! CHOP!

"Did we do it?" Panther asked as they landed back on the ground.

Joker let out a breath. "Look." He soon pointed out.

Robo-Hibari was completely fine, but her friend...

[AAHH!] Robo-Yagyū screamed in pain as she fell back to the floor, missing all by her left arm.

[Yagyū-CHAN!] Robo-Hibari cried out as she tried to get up, but her legs still felt too weak from.

Robo-Yagyū shook her head as she attempted to crawl away with her remaining limb. [Hibari, st-stay back!] She pleaded, even as she left a trail of oil in her wake.

Joker winced before sighing. He couldn't help but wonder if this might come to something like this if it all goes wrong. Still, he approached the broken robot, pistol in hand. "You shouldn't sacrifice your life for your devoted Sir Okumura." The Leader got out as he chambered a round.

[I-I would gl-gl-gladly die if it means k-k-k-keeping my loved o-o-o-ones safe.] Robo-Yagyū defiantly declared, her voice stuttering from all the damage.

"How noble." Joker admitted before pressing his pistol against her head. "Me too." He then admitted before pulling the trigger.

BANG!

[NOOOOOOOOOOOO!] Robo-Hibari screamed in horror and anguish.

Robo-Yagyū, sparks flying out the bullet hole on her metal forehead ,meanwhile couldn't move, and yet she smiled. [Hi-Hibari...y-y-you...are sa-sa-safe...] She whispered before closing her remaining eye, finally allowing herself to-

KABOOM!

Blow up!?

"Oh God, you actually do explode!" Panther exclaimed as she shielded herself from the scrap.

[Y-Yagyū-chan!] Robo-Hibari cried in despair, oil leaking out of her eyes like tears.

Meanwhile, Robo-Asuka could only gape in surprise as one of her teammates went down. [You'll pay for that!] She soon declared.

"Hey, I'm not the one who put the self-destruct mechanism in your ass!" Skull called out.

[It's in our boobs, jackass!] Robo-Katsuragi corrected.

[Ugh...] Robo-Ikaruga groaned with a long, suffering sigh.

"...AIM FOR CENTER OF MASS!" Joker suddenly shouted out as he summoned Mermaid to his side, who instantly shot forward to attack the robot copy of his fellow Leader.

"Divide and conquer!" Mona then called out as the Thieves separated like last time to deal with each other robo-Hanzo shinobi individually.

Robo-Katsuragi instantly went for Skull, blowing a Garudyne towards him before engaging him with melee attacks. [Hey, you're faster than last time, blondie.] She remarked.

"And you're sayin' more words than boobs and oppai." Skull replied as he leaned out of the way of a kick. "Guess we're both gettin' better!" He then added.

[Hey, if you stop now, I might even let you give these a test run.] Robo-Katsuragi offered.

"Sorry, but I prefer flesh and blood from a real woman!" Skull countered.

"STOP FLIRTING AND ELECTROCUTE HER!" Mona suddenly called out, currently in the middle of scratching out Robo-Asuka's eyeballs.

"Oh, right. Light 'em up, Persona!" Skull got out before zapping the Katsuragi replica.

ZAP!

[A-A-AAAHHH!] Robo-Katsuragi cried in pain, her voice glitching from the sudden influx of power overloading her systems. This was more than enough to stun her for the killing blow.

"Sorry 'bout this, Katsu-chan!" Skull apologized before...

WHAM! KABOOM!

...Knocking her head clean off like a baseball before jumping back to get away from the body just as it exploded. All that was left of her were her boots...and her boobs. "Yep, never doing that again." He soon promised himself in an uncomfortable manner.

"Another one bites the dust~! Three more!" Oracle cheered. "Recovering SP! Keep it up!" She soon encouraged.

"Thank you!" Fox responded before facing towards Robo-Ikaruga, both of their katanas sheathed.

[You should concede before I hurt you.] Robo-Ikaruga advised.

"I should say the same to you." Fox countered, gripping the hilt of his katana even more firmly. "Although, should I appreciate your mercy?" He then assumed.

[That was all I had left.] Robo-Ikaruga responded before crouching low. [I hope you savor it after I am done with you.] She then added.

"Well, you know what they say," Fox began as he mirrored the robot's stance. "There is no honor amongst- SENPAI NOW!" He then started before suddenly announcing.

"Fūma, Aquadyne!" Widow commanded as she jumped in front of the robot as her Persona blasted her with a torrent of water.

SPLASH!

[AGH!] Cognitive Ikaruga wailed in the impact of the attack. [YOU UNFAIR–!]

"Fox!" Widow responded.

CLAP!

Fox nodded, feeling the boost of energy flow through him as he tore off his mask. "Kamu Susano-o! Rising Slash!" He then called out as his Persona used his jagged sword and slashed upwards, sending the enemy into the air.

SLASH!

"Senpai!" Fox yelled to his Kosei senior.

"Yin, with me!" Widow called out, allowing the Vice Leader to join in.

"Hai!" The Vice Leader responded. "Aerial Rave!" She then called out as the duo leapt into the air and cut Robo-Ikaruga into ribbons.

SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH!

"100 hit combo!" The two Good shinobi declared before slamming their weapons into the robot, sending her back to the floor while they landed gracefully.

"Fox, now!" Widow then called out as the Vice Leader jumped away to help the others, giving the gray haired girl a quick salute.

"This is the end!" Fox declared as he readied himself. Now it was time to end it.

However, the robot ravenette wasn't going to fall without a fight, even as she barely got to her feet in time. [Unlikely!] Robo-Ikaruga declared.

Without another word, they both vanished.

SLASH!

The two katana wielders soon reappeared where their opponent previously was, facing away from each other. Widow could only wait with bated breath to see who had won.

Fox winced in pain as he held his stomach, his top slashed.

Meanwhile, Robo-Ikaruga smirked with confidence...before gasping.

KABOOM!

Fox soon let out a breath as he sheathed his katana as he adjusted his ripped outfit so that his chest wasn't so exposed. "You fought well." He got out before rubbing off to support the rest of his team.

"Inari and Widow took down Robo-Ikaruga! Only Robo-Asuka and Robo-Hibari are left!" Oracle reported.

"We have problems though!" Skull screamed as he barely dodged the pinkette replica's giant foot.

[WAAAAAAH!] Robo-Hibari cried as she swung her massive fists around, leaking oil from her eyes as she tried to get revenge for the murder of her lover.

"How did we stop her last time!?" Panther questioned as she had Hecate blast Agidyne to lay some damage on the pinkette replica.

"We never actually stopped her..." Widow suddenly realized with widened eyes. "We simply wore her down and knocked her out before escaping her." She soon remembered.

At that moment, the navigator had an idea. "Distract her! I have an idea you might not like." Oracle soon requested.

"If it helps us take her out." Queen responded. She was a little cautious, but at this point, nothing was off the table.

"I got something for that." Serpent spoke up as she tore off her mask. "Nobunaga, Taunt!" She son commanded.

"Hey! Look at me dancing around like a dumbass!" Nobungaga egged on.

[YOU WILL PAY WITH YOUR BLOOD!] Robo-Hibari roared as she stomped towards her.

The white haired woman smiled as she saw she successfully enraged the pinkette replica. "Holy crap, that worked!" Serpent got out with a fist pump...before realizing the huge mistake she has just made. "...Oh crap, that worked- AH!" She began in a panic as the large pinkette quickly turned around with her metal behind on full view and started dropping herself down onto the ground, her butt aiming at the white-haired Phantom Thief's Persona.

CRUSH!

And thus, Nobunaga was crushed into the floor...by Robo-Hibari's gigantic metal buns.

"...Owww..." Serpent whined, on the floor herself as well, mirroring her Persona's suffering.

[Yeah! Eat it! You big, fat, dumb, meanie!] Robo-Hibari roared as she lifted herself and pressed down harder once again onto Nobunaga, with Serpent feeling the similar effects to it.

"Don't let the intrusive thoughts win, don't let the intrusive thoughts win, do not make a dumb quip..." The Leader desperately thought as he stared at the scene, along with Robo-Asuka who was clashing with him right now.

"Is that distracted enough for you, Oracle?" Serpent squeaked out. Oh God, she could feel the damn thing was about to break her neck.

"Just about. Alright, here goes nothing!" The navigator called out as Necronomicon sprouted its alien tech-looking tentacles and quickly wrapped them around the robot pinkette's body. "BANZAAAAAAAI!" She soon declared with a roar.

"Oracle!?" Serpent exclaimed as the UFO Persona latched onto the giant pinkette.

"I got her!" Oracle called out as she tightened Necronomicon's grip around Robo-Hibari's giant form and lifted her off Nobunaga. "Hurry! Take her down!" She then ordered.

"...How the heck Oracle's Persona lifted something that big and heavy?" Skull had to ask.

"Desperation." Widow assumed.

[WAH! It's all so...wriggly! Kyaahaaa!] Robo-Hibari whined and moaned as the tentacles began to wrap around her arms and chest, immobilizing her...and emphasizing her bountiful chest.

"Mwehehe~!" Oracle soon giggled out.

"...And wanting to cop a feel, apparently." Widow soon finished her previously completed sentence.

"Goddammit, Oracle." Yang sighed as she shook her head.

Joker, however, merely shrugged at the sight. "Hey, if it works." He got out, unphased by the sight as he tore off his mask. "Go for it, Arsene! Eiga!" He soon commanded.

DOOOOM!

[AGH!] Robo-Hibari cried out, feeling the dark energy crushing and disrupting her systems. [Asuka-chan, help me!] She soon shouted out.

Robo-Asuka instantly responded to her call and tried to take a swipe at Necronomicon, only for Oracle to move away at the last second. [Let go of my friend!] She demanded.

"OH CRAP!" The navigator screamed. Her Persona was not that maneuverable so that dodge was a miracle and a half!

"Robo-Asuka is trying to cut her free! Someone stop her!" Mona called out.

"Serpent!" Joker called out.

"On it, Leader!" Serpent responded. "COME HERE!" She then screamed as she leapt onto the flying robot's back.

[WAH! Hey! Get off me!] Robo-Asuka growled before she started to fly around wildly to shake the Thief off.

"Not in your short-ass lifetime, bitch!" Serpent responded as she punched the replica in the face.

"You're doing nice work, Serpent!" Noir called out.

"YOU GET CRUSHED TWICE BY 20 TONS OF ASS AND SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT!" Serpent countered.

"Huh?" The fluffy haired girl got out in confusion. Why are Queen, Panther, and Widow looking miserable right now?

"Don't worry about it." Panther groaned.

"Alright, unleash hell on Robo-Hibari!" Joker soon ordered while casting Matarukaja on his allies.

"GO!" Yin declared as they all sent their Personas forward to unleash everything they had.

WHAM! CRACK! FWOOSH! CRACKLE! ZAP! DOOM! SHINE! BANG! KABOOM! WEEP! SPLASH! WOOSH!

The leader of the robot Hanzo watched in horror as she saw her friend being brutally taken apart. With her building rage, she managed to shake off the pest on her back and fly towards the robotic pinkette. [HIBARI-CHAN!] Robo-Asuka shouted out, but it was too late.

[AAAAAAHHHHH!] Robo-Hibari cried in agony as she began to shrink down back to her normal size.

"That's it! Back off, Oracle!" Fox called out.

"Awwww! Backing off!" The navigator responded in disappointment as she released the broken pinkette before getting away to a safe distance.

[Y-Y-Yagyū-chan...?] Robo-Hibari sparked and sputtered, just like how she presented herself in their first battle. It did not help that something was being printed out of her ass.

Meanwhile, Yang winced before looking away, pulling the trigger to finish her off.

BANG! KABOOM!

[NO!] Robo-Asuka shouted in despair, watching as the last of her teammates went down. [I'LL KILL YOU-] She soon declared.

STAB!

Robo-Asuka however gasped before coughing up oil, having been run through the abdomen by Yin's own wakizashi. The Vice Leader then threw her off her weapons and flicked the oil off.

Yin soon let out a steady breath as she pressed the barrels of her twin pistols at her counterpart's head.

[T-This i-isn't o-o-over!] Robo-Asuka defiantly declared.

"No. It is." Yin replied in a cold manner before...

BANG! BANG! KABOOM!

Robo-Asuka's head rolled across the floor, ending up at Shadow Okumura's feet, which only pissed him off even more.

"So," Joker began as he pulled on his red gloves. "Who's next?" He tauntingly asked.


(Cue Giant Step by Shuhei Naruse)

The ruler of the Palace gripped his seat's armrests in frustration. "Seriously, how useless can you all be!? Does Hanzō train children or killers!?" Shadow Okumura complained before letting out an annoyed sigh, kicking the head away. "...Very well then. Haru! Come by my side now!" He then suddenly ordered.

"Haru- What!?" Yang repeated in shock as Noir froze for a second.

Suddenly, from behind his chair, came out an android-looking robot with a familiar appearance.

"Teach these tools how to properly be used." Shadow Okumura ordered.

"Yes, Father!" Cognitive Haru responded robotically.

"Huh!? That's me!" Noir gasped in disbelief. And she was using her...false chest size. Of course she would be shaped into her Father's perfect image.

"Ugh...we totally jinxed it yesterday..." Panther groaned as she palmed her face.

"Do not kid yourself, foolish girl." Shadow Okumura cackled. "My dear Haru faithfully obeys my orders! After all, she's nothing like your charlatan!" He then declared.

"Basically...that's my father's cognitive version of me..." Noir summarized with a frown.

"Hey guys, don't let this get to you! Just remember: once we take Okumura down, it'll all be over. Let's wrap this up quick!" Oracle informed.

"Not happening. You shouldn't have underestimated the strength of my company!" Shadow Okumura stated in an arrogant manner before turning to his "daughter". "Send in more." He then ordered.

"Yes, Father." Cognitive Haru responded with a nod before bringing up her arm computer. "Sending in...Pervert Squad." She then robotically announced.

"W-What?" Yin only got out.

At that moment, three more replicas of Katsuragi jumped in from out of nowhere, causing the Thieves to stumble back in surprise.

[BOOBIES!] The Three Robo-Katsuragis called out, making grabbing motions with their metallic fingers towards the Thieves.

"Oh dear God, there's three of them now..." Queen whispered in horror...while instinctively grabbing her own slightly developed chest

"Mass produced shinobi...?" Oracle got out in disbelief.

"Aw come on!" Yang complained.

"Every problem can be solved with more manpower...especially when they are all useful, instead of being worth nothing but fuel." Shadow Okumura declared. "That is the strength of my company!" He then added with a vile smile.

"Happiness based on the sacrifices of others isn't true happiness...!" Noir shouted out.

"Oh great, as if one Katsuragi wasn't bad enough..." Yang groaned.

"Hold on a minute!" Oracle spoke up. "Necro is detecting notable flaws in these units. Looks like some corners have been cut here." She informed.

"Of course, he must have rushed the production of them." Queen realized. "They're weaker than their originals! We can take them!" She then called out.

"Just like Shadow Madarame with his doppelgangers." Fox realized.

"Doesn't make her less of a perverted pain in the ass..." The tan skinned girl grumbled before preparing herself for the inevitable groping.

[I'm gonna play with people nearby now!] Robo-Katsuragi declared, staring directly at the advisor.

"Uh, why is that Katsuragi wiggling her fingers?" Panther got out, sounding slightly nervous.

"She's going for a grope!" Yang exclaimed. "Queen, guard!" She then added.

"H-Huh?" The advisor got out, but it was too late.

[Oh, yeah! It's a boob buffet!] Robo-Katsuragi called out before tackling her poor target down.

Queen immediately felt the fondling metallic hands and froze on the spot while also feeling the sudden sensations on her chest and resisting the urge to moan.

"Queen!" Serpent exclaimed in worry. "Someone help-" She then began to call out, however...

"RAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Queen however roared in fury as she suddenly crushed Robo-Katsuragi's neck before pulling upwards, ripping the robot equivalent of her spine and head out of her body. She then pushed the body off her, got herself on her feet and lifted the head proudly into the air. "...I told you they were rushed." She then got out, panting before throwing it down on the ground and crushing it under her foot, sending sparks and scrap metal flying out of the severed robot head.

"Queen, you are amazing." Oracle got out in an awestruck manner. "And disturbed. But mostly amazing." She then added.

"Uh...Fatality? Queen wins." Skull chuckled before focusing on the two other replicas. "Now let's keep kicking their asses!" He then declared.

However at that moment...

BOOM!

Black smoke started coming out of both Robo-Katsuragi's asses.

[Uh, sorry, but we gotta fix that! We'll harass you later!] A Robo-Katsuragi declared before escaping along with the other.

"Wha- Hey! Where do you think you're going!?" Oracle called out as the Thieves watched the blondes run away.

"What the!? They were barely there for ten seconds!" Widow exclaimed in confusion.

"Hmph, losing some disposable employees is nothing to me. I have more than enough to replace them!" Shadow Okumura scoffed. "You made a grave error underestimating my company body! Haru, send in more!" He then ordered as he banged his fist on his armrest.

"Sending in...Standard Squad." Cognitive Haru announced.

"Oh great..." Serpent groaned as another full team of Robo-Hanzō shinobi appeared.

"Dispose of them! Starting with the pompous man in the black coat!" Shadow Okumura commanded as he leaned back in his chair. "I won't let some petty thieves stand in company's- No, in MY way!" He then claimed.

"There are no flaws in my father's logic-" Cognitive Haru meanwhile started...before noticing the Leader ripping off his mask.

"Arsene!" Joker called out as he summoned his Persona...showing his face to Cognitive Haru's sensors...and causing many, many errors.

"Oh...Oh dear..." Cognitive Haru stammered out as she began sweating. "Malfunction...Malfunction...error…error..." She droned on as her eyes went blue with white text too tiny to read in them.

[Eh? Haru-san!?] Robo-Ikaruga exclaimed.

[Why is Haru-chan looking at that boy weirdly?] Robo-Hibari asked in an innocent tone.

[Hibari, stay away from him!] Robo-Yagyū called out as she pushed the pinkette back.

[Come on, Haru-san, we can't get distracted!] Robo-Ikaruga reminded.

[...Meh. The blond guy is hotter.] Robo-Katsuragi got out with a shrug.

"Wait, what?" Skull got out, processing that last bit that was just said.

"You gotta be kidding me..." Yang got out in disbelief at the sight.

"A-Are you okay, Noir?" Mona had to ask upon seeing the fluffy-haired girl begin to sweat and blush.

"I-I am! T-That replica is obviously not like me in any way, shape, or form! I mean, it's probably how he sees me!" Noir stammered out as she pulled down her hat.

"Joker! Stop charming all the girls!" Skull got out in envy.

"You're blaming me for that crap!?" Joker complained.

SLAP!

"Do not get distracted again!" Shadow Okumura scolded, rubbing his hand after performing some percussive maintenance on his daughter to reboot her.

"O-Of course, Father!" Cognitive Haru responded with a nod.

"...That's it, you're dead." Joker darkly declared as Arsene cackled at the boy's building rage. Time to tap into a Persona he'd been saving for a special occasion. "Tsukiyomi Picaro! Wipe them out!" He then shouted out, crushing the card in his hand to summon it in front of him.

"It's Sho-Time! Vorpal Blade!" The Persona shouted out, swinging its darkness-bleeding blade at the robots.

SLASH!

There was a second of nothing...before...

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"Wow! Five in one go! That's our Joker!" Oracle cheered, seeing the bots go up like fireworks.

"The quality is rapidly decreasing." Fox remarked as he informed everyone as well.

"I still have more!" Shadow Okumura growled. "Haru, we need more shinobi!" He soon demanded.

Cognitive Haru nodded. "Sending in-"

"No, enough with the squads! SEND IN AS MANY AS YOU CAN!" Shadow Okumura interrupted.

"Yes, Father!" Cognitive Haru responded before typing at her arm computer.

"Oh no..." Panther whispered in worry as she heard a lot of worrying sounds around them.

"Here comes the cavalry!" Oracle announced as several teams of copies appeared. "Hey, that one has four boobs!" She soon called out, noticing one of the Yagyū replicas with boobs welded to her back as well as her front.

"Say what now!?" Skull exclaimed.

"He really rushed production, huh?" Mona stated with a smirk...along with a slight blush on his face.

"Guess we have to crush them all!" Queen declared, punching her fists together.

"There! Attack her! The headache-inducing bad influence on my daughter!" Shadow Okumura ordered, glaring at the Vice Leader.

"What!?" Yin exclaimed.

"I think that's you, Yin!" Oracle called out.

"Yeah, she heard him, Oracle." Yang added. "And so did I! PERSONA!" She soon roared in anger as she engaged the robots that were beginning to swarm them.

"Father, our workers are falling at a faster rate than anticipated." Cognitive Haru reported. "How shall we counteract such losses?" She soon asked.

"I don't care about the losses here! As long as I am unopposed, we are fine!" Shadow Okumura responded.

"Of course, Father!" Cognitive Haru nodded to that.

"Frag out!" They suddenly heard one of the Thieves shout.

KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!

The cognitive father and daughter soon shielded themselves as several more of their forces blew up, with one Robo-Katsuragi head landing in his lap.

[O-O-Oppai~!] The head got out in a delighted manner. [Hurk! Blah...] It then grunted out.

"And you get a grenade, and you get a grenade, and you get a Psiodyne instead!" Noir happily called out, blasting and chopping anything and everything that wasn't friendly.

The ruler gritted his teeth together, almost breaking them entirely. No, this wasn't supposed to happen! "Dammit! Work harder! You must do so not only for my sake, but your survival!" Shadow Okumura demanded. He then spotted one of the Robo-Hibari simply standing around, awaiting her shot at the Thieves. "She'll do. You there!" He soon shouted in her direction.

[Hai?] The idling pinkette replica got out.

The ruler of the Palace soon pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from out of nowhere and tossed it vaguely in her direction, only for Mona's Wind spell to direct it off course."Here is my Sacrifice Order! Now fulfill it!" He soon ordered.

"Sacrifice Order!?" Yin exclaimed before being hit in the face with the paper notice.

"Yin!" Mona called out in worry.

Pulling it off her face, Yin read the notice. "Effective immediately, Hibari Usagi been assigned the position of...suicide bomber...!?" The Vice Leader read out loud before she crushed the paper in her hands.

[Yay! It's my turn!] Robo-Hibari happily cheered before suddenly began to glow and...puff up in certain areas.

"Dude, why are her tits and ass growing?" Skull questioned in a flat tone, noticing the weird metallic body part growth.

"I hate everything about this entire fucking fight." Serpent plainly stated.

"SHE'S COMING THIS WAY!" Panther screamed as she began to run away from the pinkette replica.

[Selfless...Devotion!] Robo-Hibari soon declared before...

KABOOOOM!

"AGH!" The Phantom Thieves grunted in pain as they guarded against the explosion, with many of them losing their sleeves and gloves in the process.

"S-Seriously!? You're stooping to that now!?" Panther exclaimed, shaking off the wisps of smoke from her now-singed bare arms. "THE EXPLODING BUNNIES WERE BAD ENOUGH!" She then declared, pulling out her whip once again.

"Whatever it takes." Shadow Okumura waved off.

"Well then, let us take your heart!" Yang countered as she slashed up a Robo-Katsuragi with her katanas.

Shadow Okumura gave the tan skinned girl an unamused glare. "Focus on her! The philistine whore with the tan!" He suddenly ordered.

"Oh go fuck yourself!" Yang called out as she flipped the man off before being dog piled by several Robo-Asukas.

"YANG-NEECHAN!" The Vice Leader cried as she ran over. "GET! AWAY! FROM MY! SISTER!" She then screamed as she batted and kicked away her copies before helping Yang out of the dogpile.

"Th-Thanks, Sis." Yang panted out, appreciating the air in the room. She had lost half of what was left of her outfit from the ordeal, but she was still in fighting shape.

"You're welcome." Yin breathed in relief before summoning Kaeru to heal them both. "There are still a ton of fakes here. Would you like to help?" She soon pointed out as all the replicas began to get up and glare at them.

"Would I?" Yang responded with a playful smirk before they went into battle stances.

"PERSONA!" The sisters shouted in unison as their Personas went to wreck the copies.

"Switch targets! The ice queen with the appearance of a prostitute! Get her!" Shadow Okumura commanded, pointing at the gray haired girl who had just frozen a Robo-Yagyū in her place before shattering her.

"Grrr..." Widow growled as she gritted her teeth. "How dare he describe me that way?" She then got out.

"Don't let him get to you, Widow!" Mona got out.

"And focus on the dickless, buxom freak with the white hair! End her!" Shadow Okumura soon added.

"Huh, that's a new one." Serpent muttered under her breath before coming to the realization. "Hey, WAIT A MINUTE! I'M A WOMAN, GODDAMMIT! THAT'S IT! YOU'RE DEAD!" She roared with fury as she tried to charge straight at the man, only for something to trip her. "Huh?" She soon got out in confusion before seeing...a grappling hook wrapped around her leg.

"Stop. Charging in. Like an asshole!" Joker got out through gritted teeth as he retracted his grappling hook.

"R-Right. Sorry, Leader!" Serpent apologized as she picked herself up. "Nobunaga, beat him up for me!" She then called out as she tore off her mask.

"That's more like it!" Joker encouraged as he watched his allies wreck more and more of the robot shinobi. "Queen Mab! Shock and awe!" He soon ordered.

"Maziodyne!" His Persona cried out, casting a thunderstorm upon these worthless replicas.

RUMBLE! CRACK!

The Palace ruler felt his hair beginning to stand on the back of his neck, and not just because of the static electricity from the air. No, this isn't happening! "Keep sending in more, Haru!" Shadow Okumura soon demanded.

"Yes, Father!" Cognitive Haru responded as more and more robot shinobi swarmed the battlefield. He couldn't help but smile. Always the correct response, always in the same tone.

"Dammit! Just how many of them are there!?" Oracle called out.

"As many as I need!" Shadow Okumura answered. "Any who disagree shall be struck down as an example!" He then claimed in a confident manner.

"Well, I promise you this, it won't be enough!" Joker countered as he shot a Robo-Asuka in the face. "God, that feels so weird." He muttered.

"Not as much as I'm feeling right now!" Yin called out as she stomped on the corpse of another of her replicas. "Stay! Down! Already!" She then screamed, each word punctuating a stomp.

"They're thinning out though! Keep it up!" Mona encouraged as he made a Robo-Yagyū and Robo-Ikaruga kill each other by accident.

"Dude, has he even gotten off his chair even once!?" Skull suddenly realized aloud.

"What? Can't do anything by yourself?" Yang soon taunted.

"How dare you say that!" Shadow Okumura spat out. "I have brought this company back from the brink with my own two hands! I deserve a little break!" He then stated.

"So does everyone else in your workforce!" Fox countered as she decapitated a Robo-Hibari and kicked it towards a Robo-Yagyū, causing both of them to explode.

"These mass produced shinobi are getting easier to deal with! Keep killing them!" Queen shouted out before grinding and melting a Robo-Katsuragi's face into a fine dust with Johanna's back tire and exhaust.

Serpent soon pulled her fist out of the hole in the last Robo-Asuka's head and shook off the oil. "What else do you have, Okumura!?" She soon taunted.

"Hmmm...it seems ordinary tools are not fit for this job!" The ruler of the Palace hummed. "Haru, send in my ultimate weapon!" He then ordered.

"Yes, Father." Cognitive Haru responded with a nod before typing on her wrist computer. "Please come in." She soon requested.

"Oh god, is it another Yin!?" Mona assumed in horror.

"Maybe, but watch out...for..." Joker began, only to trail off as something flew into the battlefield.

The Thieves stared in awe and horror as a golden version of Ikaruga nearly three times as big as the original versions arrived using the same wing boosters Robo-Asuka had. She also has much more armor, although the business suit they had seen on the other Robo-Hanzo shinobi were gone and replaced with a sexy Big Bang Burger uniform.

"Why is it always gold...?" Joker deadpanned at the gaudy design.

[Ultimate Machine Goddess of Financial Wealth Ikaruga Alpha Omega Plus, reporting for duty!] The golden Robo-Ikaruga declared as she pulled out a very, very, very large katana from its sheath.

"Good. Now fulfill your duty as my greatest weapon!" Shadow Okumura commanded as he pointed at the Thieves. "For the eternal prosperity of Okumura Foods!" He then declared.

"Hey, remember when I said before that Robo-Asuka was a Gundam?" Oracle spoke up as Necronomicon slowly backed away. "That is a Gundam." She then stated.

"Why does she have Sephiroth's sword as a lightsaber?" Skull wondered out loud.

Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga scoffed as she rolled her eyes. [It's a beam katana, you useless thieves.] She corrected.

CRACK!

"U-Useless...?" Queen whispered, her eye twitching.

"...Uh oh..." The other Thieves (minus Serpent, Oracle and Noir) got out in a nervous manner.

Queen's eyes soon glowed a menacing red. "Call us that again one...more...time." She suddenly requested, the floor cracking beneath her feet as she stepped towards the cognition.

[Hmph! Very well!] Golden Robo-Ikaruga responded while readying herself. [Once again, you are truly usele- GAHAH!] She then started before suddenly screaming in pain as the Shujin Student Council President threw her actual motorcycle-lookinh Persona at her face.

CRASH!

Hair flared up and eyes aglow, Queen rushed ahead in the sudden blink of an eye and a fist just appeared in the golden robot's stomach, with the latter doubling over before collapsing onto the floor.

The Phantom Thieves could only watch as Queen unleashed her rage on Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga, "If I ever meet her sister, I'm going to break her arm in ten places." Yang flatly stated.


(Fast Forward)

At this point, the prosecutor began to sweat. "Did you really have to-" Sae began, however...

"Yes." Akira responded in the same flat tone as the tan skinned girl had.

Actually, to be honest, he was toning it down. She actually said something way worse, but he didn't want her to fear for her life for the next 48 hours.

Akira looked away, shrugged, and then continued recalling one of the worst fights he's ever had the pleasure of suffering through.

(Rewind)


"...Did Queen get her own Ultimate Form!?" Oracle suddenly asked. "Her power level literally just spiked for a moment!" She then revealed.

Serpent's eye twitched at that.

"No, that's pretty much her standard reaction to...that word." Joker responded with a shrug.

"The hair flaring and the eyes glowing are new though." Panther added. "We just sort of...stay out of her way until she peters out or gets knocked out." She then admitted. God forbid someone calls her that in real life again.

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

"And thus, I shall dub thee, Queen's Fury Form!" Oracle soon declared.

"Otherwise known as PTSD." Serpent deadpanned as they watched the girl try to murder the golden bot with her bare hands. "She's not getting through that armor, but she's really trying." She then remarked.

"I'M GONNA REARRANGE YOUR FACE INTO A TRAFFIC LIGHT YOU PIECE OF FUCKING SHIT!" Queen roared in a more demonic tone.

The white haired woman could only blink before sighing. "...You people need therapists." Serpent deadpanned.

"You need one too, Miss Can't-Handle-Being-Called-" Oracle began to tease, however...

[Blast off!] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga suddenly called out as electricity began to spark off her form.

ZAP!

"AH!" Queen yelped as she was forced away, sending her tumbling across the floor, twitching from the paralysis.

"Queen!" Yang exclaimed while rushing over to help her friend.

[This is a matter of life or death, so please treat it as such!] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga declared as she aimed her beam katana towards the Thieves.

"We should take her up on that." Mona suggested as the other Thieves nodded.

The golden robot's only response was to turn her free arm into a cannon, aimed it, and fired.

"WHOA!" Mona exclaimed in surprise as he barely dodged the projectile, but was splattered by its impact. "What the hell!?" He then got out in surprise. Was he covered in...mustard and ketchup?

"Burgers!?" Widow got out in disbelief.

"Of course..." Yang groaned.

"INCOMING!" Joker shouted out as he dived out of the way of the sandwich artillery.

The Thieves instantly scattered at their Leader's shout, running around and taking potshots at the golden robot with their Personas and guns.

Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga growled at this before noticing one of them running noticeably slower than the rest of them. [Got you! Famine's Breath!] She declared as her arm cannon shot something other than a burger at the dyed blonde.

"Skull, watch it!" Oracle warned.

"Shit!" Skull swore, but he just wasn't fast enough to dodge. "My stomach is trying to eat itself!" He soon cried out before groaning in pain and holding his stomach.

"What's happening to Skull!?" Joker asked in concern.

"Dammit! Hunger! She's making him starve!" Mona exclaimed.

"I know something for that!" Noir suddenly got out. "Milady, Amrita Drop!" She soon called out.

"Don't let this setback affect your betrayal!" Milady encouraged as she casted a healing rain upon the Hunger-afflicted boy.

"Whoa!" Skull breathed out as he felt the effects of the attack fade. "Just felt like I just got lunch! Thanks, Noir!" He then got out with a smile.

"No problem!" Noir giggled, tipping her hat down a bit with her free hand.

"Have I mentioned today how much I really hate status effects?" Yang meanwhile growled.

"At least he doesn't inflict..." Joker began before stopping himself. "...Nope, not gonna finish that sentence. ATTACK!" He then yelled.

"Cooldown! Aquadyne!" Widow called out as she blasted the enemy with a torrent of water, but the golden robot used her beam katana to split the water in half, keeping herself dry.

[You have to do better than that! Ultimate Oukaensen!] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga declared as she shot two flaming phoenixes at the Thieves.

SCREEEECH! FWOOOOSH!

"LOOK OUT!" Oracle shouted.

"WIDOW!" Yang cried in worry, already rushing over to shield her senpai.

Widow, however, stood her ground, waiting for the phoenixes to come towards her until...

WOOSH! WOOSH!

"HAH!" The gray haired girl got out as she dodged at the last second, going in-between the flaming birds before pulling out her sniper rifle in one smooth motion. "Rest in Pieces." She quietly stated.

BANG!

[AH!] The golden robot cried as she was sent to the floor.

"So much for the ultimate weapon." Widow quipped as she put away her sniper rifle. "Yang, do you forget that I am perfectly capable?" She soon questioned the tan skinned girl.

"We have to support each other, senpai." Yang reminded with a frown.

"Well, you need to learn to trust-" Widow started, however...

[Burger Barrage!] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga suddenly shouted out.

Widow barely needed to think, pushing the girl down before several burgers were blasted into her gullet.

"SENPAI!" Yang exclaimed in shock.

"Urgh...I think I'm going to vomit..." Widow groaned before collapsing onto the floor.

"Widow's gut is bulging!" Mona exclaimed.

"That is a terrible way to say that she's overstuffed with burgers." Oracle groaned.

"Wait, how do we fix that!?" Panther questioned in a panic.

"O-Oh no, I-I think I'm going to- BLAAAAAARG!" Widow got out as puked out the contents of her stomach.

"...That is how you fix it." Joker answered, grimacing at the sight.

"Ewwwww..." Oracle got out in disgust. "Someone help Widow...and maybe get her some mouthwash." She then instructed.

[You're open!] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga suddenly shouted out as she flew towards Widow with murderous intent.

"Come ON!" Skull complained before moving to intercept the attack while Mona and Noir headed over to the sick girl to help her.

"This boss fight sucks!" Oracle grumbled. "I want a re-release or a patch!" She then demanded.

"It could be worse!" Joker countered before his eyes widened. "Oh shit!" He swore before diving out of the way, barely saving himself from getting skewered.

[This is all a mere waste of time, you know.] [It is futile to resist Okumura-sama's wishes.]

"Oh crap, the timer!" Oracle suddenly remembered. "Five minutes left on the clock!" She soon warned.

"What!?" Skull exclaimed. "We gotta hurry!" He then added.

"Yes. We should." Shadow Okumura responded with a vile smile. "Ikaruga-san, would you please lay waste to these thieves now?" He soon requested.

[Yes, Okumura-sama.] The gold plated Robo-Ikaruga responded as she glared at the Thieves. [Famine's Scream!] She soon declared.

"Everyone guard!" Joker ordered, raising his arms just in time to shield against the blast of the hunger-inducing spell. However, some of the others weren't so lucky as they held their stomachs.

"G-Gah...!" Panther groaned as she held her empty-feeling stomach. "Is this how Mika feels!?" She soon exclaimed.

[You're wide open!] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga suddenly declared, aiming her arm cannon at the now hungry girl.

"Panther!" Fox suddenly called out as he saw the golden robot fire a burger at the ash blonde.

"HURK!" The ash blonde choked before swallowing the burger whole. "...Oh, wow, that was actually kind of good!" She soon admitted.

"D-Did you just swallow that!?" Queen got out in disbelief.

"She did. And it cured her Hunger and healed her." Oracle reported, sounding pleasantly surprised. "So if you're hungry, stuff your face in her burger cannon, got it?" She soon advised.

"...I'd rather starve." Yang deadpanned.

"Hey jackass, is that supposed to happen!?" Skull had to ask the ruler.

"That is merely a taste of what's to come!" Shadow Okumura called out.

"Wait...is this going to go to my boobs!?" Panther suddenly remembered in a panic.

RIP! BOING!

"...I'd say yes." Yang sighed out, having seen the ash blonde's chest burst through her suit.

"S-Sewing Kit!" Panther soon requested in a panic as she covered her chest.

"Here!" Yin responded as she tossed one over.

"She's gone up a cup!" Oracle exclaimed...with a hint of giddiness in her voice.

"Don't even think about it!" Serpent demanded. "Those burgers freakin' hurt!" She then declared.

"Well, can't I have one in the- OH GOD!" The navigator tried to convince the white haired woman, only to be pelted with burgers. "OW! OW! OW! Okay, okay! I get it!" She then got out as she flew away.

[Get away! Your tiny ship is no match against Okumura-sama's masterpiece!] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga demanded and declared.

"Necronomicon wasn't made from the blood of workers!" Oracle called out. "Just...my recently resolved traumas." She weakly added.

"Enough talk, Oracle! We need support!" Queen reminded as she dived out of the way of more burgers. "I am not doubling up on this shit!" She mentally got out. Sae would not be amused by another boob job.


(Fast Forward)

"Okay, what is with your obsession with boobs?" Sae sighed out.

"It is not my fault, dammit!" Akira exclaimed. "The universe just conspires to make my life significantly sexier!" He then declared as he slammed his fists on the table, slightly denting it.

"..." The prosecutor simply gave the bot a flat look.

"...Okay, I admit, that sounds like the opposite of a problem but-" Akira then started before stopping himself.

"Just...keep...going." Sae slowly ordered in a threatening manner. "...Still going to have to talk to Makoto about this later..." She then muttered.

(Rewind)


"Hm? What are you doing!?" Shadow Okumura barked in anger. "Work harder! Contribute more! The fate of the company rests upon how hard you work!" He then screamed at the golden robot.

[Y-Yes, sir!] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga responded with a nod, staring down the group with murderous intent. [Big Bang Order!] She soon got out.

The navigator gasped in horror as she saw the golden robot's power beginning to spike. "H-Hey, something big is coming!" Oracle warned.

"Dammit!" The Leader swore before tearing off his mask. "Makarakarn!" He then called out, biting the inside of his cheek. He didn't have the time nor the SP to cast the magical shield on everyone, so...

"That won't work, Joker! She's charging Almighty energy!" Oracle soon informed. She then realized that there was no way no one could get out of the blast radius in time...including Necronomicon!

"What!?" Joker exclaimed in shock.

Yin's eyes widened. "EVERYONE GUARD!" She soon ordered as everyone summoned their Personas to help withstand the upcoming attack.

[Order's ready!] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga announced.

"Excellent! May I introduce you to..." Shadow Okumura began as he pointed up towards the sky. "The Big Bang Challenge!" He soon declared as Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga unleashed her built-up energy.

"Wait, what?" Panther got out in confusion.

Suddenly, the area faded and turned into the infinite vastness of space...as a standard order of a Big Bang Burger with Large Fries, Small Fries, a Large Drink, and a small drink flew around, leaving a trail of rainbows behind it.

The Thieves couldn't help but gawk at the sight. "Dude. What the actual eff." Skull muttered with widened eyes.

"I have thoroughly given up on understanding this world..." Widow admitted.

And then the burger started to glow...

Yang could only sigh. "...Aw sh-" She started before...

KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

It felt like they were enduring the very explosion that created the universe as it tore and disintegrated their clothes, leaving many of them barely keeping the decency as they were blasted several feet away!

"GAH!" The navigator cried out as even Necronomicon was forced away, causing her to bounce around inside her Persona. And, for whatever reason, she lost her pants before her Persona stabilized. "Urgh..." Oracle groaned out.

"Warning! Warning!" Necronomicon suddenly announced as alarms started blaring. "Several party members are knocked out or in critical states. Please resolve this immediately." It soon informed and instructed.

"WHAT!?" Oracle exclaimed before scrambling back to her control console. "No, no! Joker! Yin! Anyone! Respond!" She called out in a panic. "Don't you dare die on me goddammit!" She soon demanded.

"A-Ahhh..." Yin managed to get out and move slightly from her downed position. She was alive (and her butt was sticking up in the air for everyone to appreciate), but only barely.

At that moment, Joker gasped awake, having blacked out for only a few seconds. He could swear he almost saw the twins and Igor for a moment. "I'm...still...alive." He harshly breathed out, attempting to sit up, but just didn't have enough energy to. "Kinda wish I wasn't though." He then admitted.

"Get up! Come on, get up!" Oracle cried out in a desperate manner.

"Ugh...that sucked..." Serpent groaned out...right before a soda can bonked her on the head. "Ow! Son of a-" She then began to swore, only to feel her stomach growl. "U-Urgh..." She moaned as she laid back down.

GRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Then...the sounds of several growling stomachs were heard...

"No no no!" Oracle panicked as she checked everyone's conditions. "Why is everyone starving on top of all the damage!?" She then got out in surprise.

"Just...everyone...eat something!" Joker struggled out as he held his gut.

"L-Let me check what we have..." Yin panted out as she checked the duffle bag.

"Hurry...!" Panther pleaded, letting out pained moans. She could barely move.

"FOOOOOOOD!" Fox practically begged.

Oracle quickly took stock of the damage done to them. Queen and Mona needed reviving, Panther was losing the little HP she had by the second, and everyone else needed food and healing. This was bad, but not unrecoverable...at least she hoped.

"If you are willing, I can feed you all you want!" Shadow Okumura soon offered while Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga produced a burger from her stomach. "I just require you all to leave me and my utopia alone!" He then stated.

"N-Not a chance...Father..." Noir panted out, shakily getting to her feet. "We...will not take any...charity...from you." She then accused.

"So we add more estrogen than necessary, big deal. It brings out that classic BBB flavor!" Shadow Okumura waved off. A brilliant idea from the Gasai shinobi clan, might I add." He then suddenly admitted with a smirk.

"Wait, what?" Joker gawked.

"Okay, that doesn't even make sense!" Oracle exclaimed. "Extra estrogen doesn't add to bust size in an instant! I checked this thoroughly!" She then declared.

"...Unless you're a shinobi with chakra." Widow soon realized.

"That must be...what Maki Gasai meant..." Mona groaned. "She said...her parents forced her Big Bang Burgers...to make her...bigger..." He soon recalled.

"That. Is so. Stupid." Yang flatly got out.

"Literal. Big Bang. Burger." Panther countered before letting unconsciousness embrace her.

"Revelate later! Still...dying...!" Skull however called out.

"Oh, right!" Joker got out as his eyes suddenly widened. "Leblanc curry and Asuka sushi, here to save the day!" He soon declared.

"Ah!" Yin gasped before pulling out a bento of sushi and curry out of the bag. "Here!" She then called out before throwing it to the Leader. "And there's plenty more!" She soon added as she began distributing the bentos to her conscious friends.

The Palace ruler growled. No outside food. "Ikaruga, stop them!" Shadow Okumura ordered.

"Not happening!" Oracle shouted out. "Ramming speed!" She then shouted out before Necronomicon shot forward and slammed into the golden robot.

WHAM!

"AH!" Oracle yelped out.

[What the!?] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga exclaimed as she was taken off course and was sent onto the floor.

"Oracle!" Serpent exclaimed, spitting out some of her food.

"I-I'm fine...Urgh..." Oracle moaned in a dazed manner as Necronomicon slowly but surely recovered. "Did I buy some time? Am I a hero?" She then wondered out loud.

"Yep. Just about." Joker responded as he slowly got up, feeling the warmth of the meal flow through his body.

"A home-cooked meal is better than anything fast food can make." Noir stated with a smile, happily finishing her bento.

"That was exquisite, Leaders!" Fox praised as he wiped the rice and curry off his face.

"Thank you!" Joker and Yin responded with nods.

"We ain't dead yet!" Skull declared with a smirk.

Meanwhile, the tan skinned girl radiated with heat and anger. "I hate this place, I hate this fight, I hate your father, I hate all these stupid fucking robots disguised as our friends...!" The tan skinned girl growled as she slowly picked herself off the ground. "I. Hate. BIG BANG BURGER!" Yang eventually cried to the heavens.

"Be glad your bust or butt sizes didn't increase this time!" Oracle got out in an amused manner.

"NOT! HELPING!" Yang countered. "Someone revive the rest! I'm going in!" She then ordered.

"Do you have a plan?" Joker questioned with narrowed eyes.

"Yes!" Yang responded, almost sounding offended.

"Is it more than stabbing?" The Leader soon added with a raised eyebrow.

"..." To that, the tan skinned girl gave a deadpan expression underneath her mask.

The hesitation was all the Leader needed. "Yin, Widow, Serpent, help her scrap the bot." He sighed before going off to help the others.

"Hai!" The shinobi responded before joining the tan skinned girl.

"So, what's the plan?" Widow asked.

"Better hurry it up because the gold thing is getting back up..." Serpent reminded as she saw the golden replica starting to recover.

"Widow, soak and freeze it again. It worked last time and will do it again." Yang soon instructed.

Yin nodded. "That sounds good. Let's do this." She agreed before turning to face the golden replica. "Widow!" She called out.

"Aquadyne!" Widow soon commanded.

SPLASH!

The water shot from her Persona splashed onto the robot, and yet it didn't seem all that affected or even slightly wet. "Eh?" Widow got out in shock.

Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga smirked at their surprised expressions. [The combat data from the previous battle has proved useful in my development.] She stated. [Okumura-sama has spared no expense! This armor was specifically created to counter anything you may throw at me!] She then declared.

"She's invincible!?" Yang exclaimed.

"That's really bad!" Oracle got out in worry. "I don't even think status effects will do anything either!" She soon revealed.

"Dammit, that armor is protecting her!" Serpent called out through gritted teeth.

"We need to get that off her somehow." Widow stated as she narrowed her eyes. "I spotted something on her back that may allow such a thing. Vice Leader, I advise you to send one of us to do so while everyone else provides a distraction." She then added.

"It's up to you, Sis." Yang added. "Who do you think should do it?" She soon asked.

"Hmmm..." Yin hummed as she really thought about her decision. "Serpent, you screwed with robot me before, think you can do it again?" She soon reminded and asked.

To that, the white haired woman nodded. "I think I can." She responded before disappearing.

"Okay, let's do this!" Yin declared as Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga finally recovered.

[Only the three of you now?] The golden robot got out, looking almost offended by her opponent's. [I can just crush you all right here.] She then stated.

"I thought you said to take this battle seriously?" Yang reminded as they all got into battle stances.

[After that pathetic display, I don't think I can.] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga scoffed.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, Serpent smirked. "That's it. Keep her talking..." She muttered with a smirk on her face.

"Make sure to conserve your SP! Now attack!" Yin soon ordered her teammates.

"Hai!" Yang and Widow responded as they all charged in to keep the golden robot busy.

The white haired woman kept herself out of sight as she watched the battle, studying the replica for any weakness she could exploit. "They're barely doing any damage. We seriously need to get that armor off..." She muttered.

Suddenly, she spotted something. A small red button that stood out amongst all the gold and glitter.

"Hm?" Serpent whispered with widened eyes, staring at the small button. "What's that on her back? That looks promising." She then remarked, an evil smile growing on her face.

Serpent signaled to the others she was ready.

"Now or never! Miracle Punch!" Yin suddenly commanded as her Persona equipped a boxing glove.

BONK!

The Vice Leader smiled as she saw the golden replica go down. "Serpent, now!" She soon shouted out.

"This is it!" Serpent declared as she leapt out of the shadows and onto Ultimate Robot-Ikaruga's back.

[EH!?] The golden robot exclaimed as she felt something climb onto her back armor. [Who is on my back!?] She exclaimed in a panic.

"That would be me! Never turn your back on the enemy!" Serpent declared before hitting the button.

BEEP! CRASH!

[AH!] UltimateRobo-Ikaruga yelped as her armor fell off...as well as the rest of her clothes. She quickly dropped to the floor and covered herself up with her arms. [N-Noooooo!] She then cried with a whimper.

"Holy crap, she's completely naked." Oracle got out. "She doesn't have the fun bits though." She grumbled in disappointment.

"All the better." Widow sighed.

Serpent soon rejoined the team, cracking her neck as she looked at her handiwork. "The armor's off! We can go all-out now!" She soon informed.

"CHARGE!" The Vice Leader ordered.

"On it!" Yang responded before tearing off her mask. "Wolverine, Charge!" She soon commanded.

"BOOST!" Wolverine declared as she powered up her user.

"Combo time!" Yin then called out as each of the shinobi dashed over and performed their attacks one after another like a well-oiled machine.

SLASH SLASH SLASH! SLASH SLASH SLASH! SLAP SLAP SLAP! SLASH SLASH SLASH!

"Yang-neechan! Finish her!" Yin soon called out.

"RRRAAAHHH! Swift Strike!" Yang roared as she charged in.

SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH!

[AHHHH!] Ultimate Robo-Ikaruga screamed in pain, finding herself unable to move. [N-No...] She soon got out in disbelief.

"She's down!" Yin called out as they all jumped back.

"Everyone's back up! Just say the word!" Joker informed as the other Thieves got off the floor.

"All-Out Attack!" Yin declared as they rushed the robot.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! WHAM! CRACK! SLASH! SLAP! WHAM! SLASH! CHOP!

However, as the rest of the Thieves back off, Noir and Yin instead approach the broken golden replica.

[H-Haru...A-Asuka-san...] The defeated golden robot shinobi whispered, her voice stuttering from all the damage she took.

Yin soon crouched and patted the replica on her shoulder. "You are not my Ikaruga-chan...but allow me to apologize for what we're about to do." She honestly apologized.

Robo-Ikaruga could only close her eyes. [...Do it.] She soon muttered in content.

The Vice Leader then stood up and nodded at the fluffy haired girl. "RRRRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Noir roared as she swung her axe at the downed golden robot and...

CHOP!

Chopped her head clean off as the body lifelessly slumped. "You're free." The fluffy haired girl whispered as the robot faded away.

"What...!? Even her!?" Shadow Okumura got out in shock before turning to his obedient daughter. "Grrrr...is there anyone left!?" He then questioned in a harsh manner.

"I-I am searching, Father!" Cognitive Haru frantically responded. "W-We are out of shinobi!" She then informed.

"Grrr...! What about the workers!? They will make useful fodder!" Shadow Okumura then suggested.

"Gone. Escaped or...destroyed." Cognitive Haru shamefully reported, as if it was her fault.

"Was that the last of the minions? Let's finish him, Joker!" Oracle called out.

"Dammit, if that's how it is..." Shadow Okumura sighed before turning to the cognition. "Haru, I command you to go forth! Show them the might of the company!" He soon commanded.

"WHAT!?" The Thieves cried in shock.

"Yes, Father!" Cognitive Haru responded with a nod.

"Okumura Foods will be gutted if you fail! Do you grasp the situation, Haru?"

"Of course, Father!" Cognitive Haru continued agreeing as she stepped in front of her father.

"Well, then protect me, even if it costs your life!" Shadow Okumura then shouted out.

"As you wish, Father!" Cognitive Haru concluded before stepping forward, turning into a giant robotic version of herself.

"That's just messed up!" Serpent called out.

"I can't believe this guy! A child isn't some kinda puppet or tool to be used!" Oracle growled as she slammed her fist onto her Persona's interface.

[This is for my Father's sake!] Robo-Haru declared as one of her arms retracted.

RRRREEEEVVVVVV...!

"Oh what the hell!?" Yang exclaimed in disbelief.

At that moment, Cognitive Haru's right arm was replaced by another, very long tree-cutting implement like her real self.

"Are you kidding me!? A chainsaw!" Mona exclaimed.

The fluffy haired girl's eyes however soon widened as she immediately recognized the distinctive weapon along with the revving sound it made. "My...My chainsaw!" Noir exclaimed.

"Because of course she has one!" Panther got out in frustration. "And why is it as long as Ikaruga's katana!?" She then asked in a panic.

"...That was its normal length for me..." Noir sheepishly confessed. "My precious Chainy-chan..." She then revealed.

"..." Most of the Thieves suddenly went silent for a second or two, hearing how Noir called her old shinobi weapon.

"That's probably because you got an adult-sized one as a kid." Serpent assumed. "I'm just glad you're using an axe now." She then muttered.

[FOR MY FATHER! RIP AND TEAR!] Robo-Haru then shouted out before dashing towards the tan skinned girl.

"My move too!?" Noir exclaimed.

"Seriously!?" Serpent got out with widened eyes.

"Oh shit!" Yang swore before using her Persona guard against the chainsaw. "AAAAAHHHH!" She then screamed as she felt the weapon attempt to cut through Wolverine's arms, but she held her ground and pushed her away.

"Yang-neechan!" Yin got out in worry.

"I'm okay...Regenerate's already kicking in..." Yang panted. God, it felt like it had cut down to her bones.

"Guys, we're running out of time here! Two minutes left!" Oracle warned in a much more frantic manner while tinkering her holographic screens.

"Two minutes? Well then, let's hurry this along." Shadow Okumura ordered, lazily gesturing to his robotic daughter.

The replica nodded as she closed her eyes. [I am the bone of my chainsaw. Chain is my body and saws is my blood.] Robo-Haru suddenly began to chant.

"Huh?" Widow got out in confusion.

"Uh oh, that sounds bad!" Mona got out in a worried tone.

[I have created over a thousand chainsaws. Unaware of loss, nor aware of chainsaws.] Robo-Haru continued as two chainsaws began to sprout from her back like hellish angel wings.

"How many times is she gonna mention chainsaws!?" Skull called out.

"How far did you get with your old weapon, Noir!?" Yang exclaimed.

"Uhhh..." Noir got out as she began to look a little sheepish.

[Withstood pain to create chainsaws, waiting for one's chainsaw. I have no chainsaw. This is the only chainsaw. My whole life was...] Robo-Haru soon continued as they heard more and more revving coming from the robot.

"I feel like there's a copyright here!" Oracle exclaimed. "If she's doing what I think she's doing!" She then began.

"Huh!? Doing what exactly!?" Serpent questioned in a panic.

"Noir, is your dad an otaku?" Joker had to ask.

[Unlimited Chainsaw Works!] The replica soon shouted out loud.

Noir soon paled as she heard that. "No..." She breathed out in fear. "That was me..." She then revealed.

REEEEEEEEEEEEV!

Suddenly, multiple chainsaws appeared behind the cognitive Haru, floating in the air...all aimed at the Thieves.

"SWEET GOD OF TENTACLES!" Oracle freaked out loudly.

"Oracle!" Serpent countered.

"Mara?" Joker couldn't help but think.

"Oh my-! That's a lot of chainsaws!" Noir exclaimed with a pale face. "I-I never got to complete that move...my Ultimate Shinobi attack I thought up for myself..." She then added and revealed in a meek tone.

"STOP LAMENTING ON THE PAST AND START SHOOTING THE PRESENT PROBLEM NOIR!" Panther screamed as she unloaded every bullet she had at the robot.

RATATATATATATATATA!

Noir's eyes widened as she shook her head. Right, she had to help stop this too. "Watch it! GRENADES!" She warned before blasting her replica with explosives. "MILADY!" She soon called out.

"Psiodyne!" Her Persona called out as she blasted the shameful replica with all the Psychic energy she could muster, causing the robot to stumble but it wasn't enough to take her down.

[Launching!] Robo-Haru shouted as she pointed towards the Thieves.

"Launch- what?" Joker dimly got out in disbelief. Why was that a thing!?

"CHAINSAWS INCOMING!" Skull exclaimed in a panic as the aforementioned weapons were launched at them.

"My god, is she like some sort of..." Fox began, however...

"Yet another stupid fucking robot who wants to kill us right now? I agree, and we should stop talking and START FUCKING KILLING IT BEFORE IT MULCHES US!" Yang shouted in frustration as she kept shooting at the robot. "WOLVERINE, I NEED HELP!" She soon exclaimed.

"Hientou!" Wolverine roared.

FWOOSH! STAB!

[AH!] Robo-Haru cried out as she was skewered with Wolverine's heated claws before being kicked away to pull them out.

"Hah! At least she isn't immune to Fire." Yang laughed out before eyes widened as she dodged an oncoming chainsaw.

"She isn't immune to anything, actually!" Oracle informed. "No weaknesses, no strength, no nothing!" She soon revealed.

"Then there's no point in holding back!" Skull called out as he barely moved out of the way of several more chainsaws coming his way. "Megaton Ra- AGH!" He then tried to let out before taking one to the face...on the flat side, thankfully.

"If we have the chance to, that is!" Queen added as she used Johanna to ride around and avoid the rain of chainsaws being inflicted upon them.

Joker grit his teeth as he felt one of the chainsaws absolutely destroy whatever was left of his coat. They couldn't attack like this, and they were running out of time!

They were not failing here!

And then suddenly, the rain of chainsaws suddenly stopped.

"I-Is it over?" Panther struggled out, scrambling away from a chainsaw that had nearly hit her between her legs.

"What's the hold up, Haru!?" Shadow Okumura demanded from his (increasingly useless) daughter.

[I AM OUT OF CHAINSAWS.] Robo-Haru informed in a shameful manner.

"Wow, that's lame." Skull couldn't help but remark, only to get a double slap upside the head courtesy of the advisor and the white-haired woman.

"If you don't stop them, my dreams..." Shadow Okumura began as he began to sweat,

"What about Haru-chan's dreams!?" Yin interrupted. "What about her!? Why sacrifice your own daughter's dreams for your own!?" She soon questioned.

"Sacrifice..." The ruler suddenly repeated under his breath, with a look that worried the Phantom Thieves. "Gah, it seems I have no other choice..." He soon sighed out.

"Is he finally going to berserk!?" Mona assumed in shock.

However, the reality was so much worse.

"Haru, self-destruct!" Shadow Okumura ordered. "Detonate and take those damned thieves with you!" He then instructed.

[YES, FATHER.] Robo-Haru dutifully responded before executing her self-destruct sequence. And judging by the light leaking through the cracks and seams of her body, it looked like it was going to be a big one.

That however caused the Thieves to pale. "God, he'll even sacrifice his own daughter!?" Yin exclaimed in horror.

Meanwhile, however, the fluffy haired girl glared at her robotic counterpart. "...Everyone, let's destroy it before it can self-destruct!" Noir called out.

Everyone instantly looked at the girl as if she was crazy. "But, Noir...that's..." Yang began to point out.

"I am no longer my father's subservient puppet! The real me is standing right here, opposing him!" Noir interrupted as she stood her ground. "I will not allow him to turn me into scrap by his command!" She then declared as she twirled her axe around.

The not cat saw the determination in her eyes. Looks like nothing was going to convince her otherwise. "At the very least, we can lessen the power of the explosion! GO!" Mona called out as the Thieves stood side-by-side, prepared for one last assault.

"30 seconds for exploding Haru! One minute on the launch timer!" Oracle got out, getting really antsy now.

"Then time to pull out all the stops!" Joker called out. "EVERYONE BLAST THAT THING WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!" He then ordered. With a battle cry, the rest of the Thieves charged forward.

"Haru, do not let them!" Shadow Okumura commanded. Robo-Haru nodded, despite her shaking and charging with destructive energy, and charged as well.

"FIGHT YOUR OWN BATTLES, YOU LAZY DOUCHE!" Oracle snapped. "Screw it! Let me at him!" She soon declared as her UFO menacingly leaned towards the enemy.

"Oracle, you stay up-" Joker began, only to pause as he remembered. "Actually, we need a bigger boom." He then informed.

"Ready and waiting, Leader!" Oracle responded with a nod. "Just give me the opportunity." She then added.

"That can be arranged!" Joker responded as he switched Personas. "Go for it, Mermaid! Wash her down!" He soon commanded.

"Aquadyne!" Mermaid declared as she shot out a torrent of water at the bot.

SPLASH!

"She's soaked!" Joker informed before Robo-Haru swung at him with her chainsaw arms. "Widow!" He then called out.

Widow nodded in response before summoning her Persona. "Fuma! Freeze her!" She soon commanded as her Persona smiled and blasted the soaked bot with a Bufudyne.

CRACKLE!

The light gray haired girl smiled as Robo-Haru froze completely still. "Noir, do the honors!" She soon got out.

"Thank you!" Noir nodded before tearing off her mask. "Snipe!" She then commanded her Persona.

"Break." Milady spoke in a low tone, aiming the guns underneath her skirt at the robot before...

BANG! SHATTER!

With that, the ice broke and the replica collapsed, sparks sputters beginning to come from her from all the damage done.

"She's down!" Noir called out as Mona high-fived her.

"Don't waste it! ALL-OUT ATTACK!" Joker soon commanded before the Thieves jumped into the air.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" The Phantom Thieves roared as they all rushed down the cognition.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! WHAM! CRACK! SLASH! SLAP! WHAM! SLASH! CHOP!

As soon as the team leapt back, the navigator dropped from above to deliver one last present. "And one more for the scrapyard!" Oracle declared as she slammed the bomb down.

KABOOOOM!

As she was blown away by her own bomb, she couldn't help but wonder if she could set off the damn thing without blunt force trauma. Ah, probably when she levels up.

"Gotcha!" The Leader got out just as he caught Oracle in mid-air.

"Nice catch, Jo-" Yin began to praise only to stop as her eyes widened.

The Leader looked confused for a second before actually checking on their navigator. "...Oracle, why are you naked?" Joker suddenly asked, staring down at the nude hacker in his arms.

"NO TIME FOR THAT!" The navigator suddenly screamed as Necronomicon's tentacles lifted her back into itself. Soon, the Thieves looked and saw that Robo-Haru was still functioning...and still ready to explode.

"She's still up!" Queen informed with widened eyes.

"Five seconds!" Oracle reminded in a panic. They just needed that little push, but she didn't know if they had enough gas in the tank to do it!

"YIN, THROW EVERYTHING WE HAVE IN THE BAG TOO!" Joker hastily ordered as he swiftly reloaded his pistol while Jack Frost froze the robot solid.

"HAI!" The Vice Leader responded before throwing out the various bombs and items they've found or collected all throughout their career as Phantom Thieves.

"Four!" The navigator continued. She didn't want to stay to be caught in the explosion, but she couldn't abandon her friends when they needed her most. "Necronomicon! They need support! Matarukaja!" She then added.

"Everyone, keep firing everything you got!" Mona ordered as he summoned Zorro to blast the robot with wind.

"GO GO GO GO GO GO!" Skull yelled as he drained every ounce of energy into Seiten Taisei's near constant attacks.

"Three!" Oracle continued in a panicked manner as she typed on the keyboard.

"We aren't gonna make it!" Serpent assumed, and yet she kept peppering the replica with her minigun while Nobunaga attacked in tandem.

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" Joker roared as he unleashed every Persona he could to destroy the robot but it still wasn't working!

"TWO!" Oracle exclaimed.

At this point, Panther and Queen were the first to expend everything, so all they could do was throw their guns at the robot before forcing their bodies to continue attacking with melee.

Meanwhile, Joker finally felt his exhaustion beginning to catch up with him, but soon dashed towards the self-destructing Haru replica with everything he had left.

"OOOOOOOOOONE!" Oracle got out as she braced herself.

"JOKER!" Yin desperately screamed, her voice echoing around the Palace.

The Leader soon leapt into the air and aimed his gun straight at her forehead.

"Eat this." Joker soon declared as he pulled the trigger.

BANG!

The robot froze stiff as her head leaned back from the gunshot, oil splattering onto the ground and Shadow Okumura's helmet.

[C-Connection...T-Terminated...] Robo-Haru announced as her form began to shake. [Forgive me...Father.] She then mumbled.

And with that, she collapsed in a harmless heap of scrap.

The CEO's Shadow soon glared at the sight. "So even Haru couldn't finish them off..." Shadow Okumura got out in disappointment, as if he just lost a pencil rather than his own daughter. "I've had enough! Someone, get in here!" He ordered.

However, nobody came.

"A-Anyone...?" Shadow Okumura nervously got out as the Thieves began to surround him, slowly but surely.

Even from above, Oracle blocked the light coming from his utopia.

"Father, the time has come to end this." Noir stated, looking down at the man as he cowered in his seat. "Now get up and fight for your dreams, just as I am now and forever will." She soon ordered.

"H-Haru..." Shadow Okumurastammered out as he cowered on his chair. "W-Wait! We can talk about this!" He soon pleaded.

"No." Noir responded as she dropped her weapons and pulled him up by his spacesuit with her bare hands. "We can't." She added before leaning her head back and...

WHAM! SHATTER!

(End Music)


Noir stumbled back as she held her bleeding forehead, courtesy of headbutting her own father's Shadow, before Yin and Yang caught her before she fell. Meanwhile, Shadow Okumura collapsed, his helmet shattered along with his nose.

It...was over.

"One second...to spare..." Oracle breathed out as she dropped from Necronomicon, using the defeated Shadow as a makeshift cushion for her landing.

"...You're still...naked, Oracle." Yang immediately reminded her while panting.

"Look who's talking." Oracle spoke back, still panting. "I mean...all of us here are now naked." She then added.

"We'll deal with it later." Panther reluctantly stated, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over her nude form. "Right now...we have a Shadow to console with..." She then added in a tired manner.

"Noir?" Mona got out as he gave the heiress a look of concern...while still doing his best to not mind the nudity of his fellow Thieves around him, including his devoted ash blonde.

"I am fine, just...give me a moment." Noir assured before spotting the Leader and his rather...unclothed and sweaty state. "Joker, you okay?" She soon asked.

"I-I'm...alive, that's all that matters." Joker groaned, visibly struggling to keep himself on his feet. He had spent everything, from his energy to his ammo.

The rest of the Thieves weren't faring much better, all of them now basically naked, except their masks still present on their own faces, from all the damage and physical attacks their Thief outfits have received during that long, long battle and completely shredding them to bits, but they were nowhere near Joker's level of exhaustion. Still, they all had the power to limp over to the defeated Shadow.

"It's over." Mona got out. No bravado or anything. They just wanted this to end. As soon as possible.

"In the end, I am just one more in a lineage of failures..." Shadow Okumura lamented before looking up at his daughter...his real daughter and...also not minding her state of nudity. "I will contact your fiancé and rescind the marriage offer. This may be the end for Okumura Foods. Forgive me, Haru..." He then honestly pleaded.

"Huh, we really didn't need to convince you." Serpent remarked under her breath along with a hand on her hip.

"Father...I'm sure Okumura Foods can survive without you or that marriage." Noir assured as she lifted up her mask. "There are better ways to run a business. Legitimately, without any blood spilled. But...it's too late for forgiveness from anyone. Only punishment." She then stated as she shook her head.

"You don't know a thing about the corporate world, do you?" Shadow Okumura however got out. "Just like your mother." He then added.

The fluffy haired girl however narrowed her eyes. "Don't you dare mention her in vain." Noir growled. "She would be hurt and disgusted because of what you've become." She then declared.

"You never knew her." Shadow Okumura soon reminded.

A flash of pain appeared across Noir's face. "That may be true, but I'd rather follow her legacy than be part of yours." She then stated.

"...She never wanted you to." Her father whispered in a saddened manner.

"...Eh?" Noir got out in confusion.

"Dammit, why the hell were you hacked to the top!?" Skull suddenly demanded as he impatiently stomped his foot.

"Skull..." Queen got out in a low tone, scowling at the dyed blond...while catching one split-second glance at the dyed blonde's exposed crotch. "...Huh, he's actually packed...still not as yummy though..." She then thought in her head.

"What? He's gotta have done somethin' other than shitting on his workers and we're wastin' time!" Skull assumed with a pissed off tone...while getting split-second glances as well on the advisor's nude state. "So, ya know anything 'bout that shit!?" He then called out as he turned to the Shadow once again.

"Goddammit, Skull!" Yang growled...while giving the split-second glance treatment towards the nude dyed blonde. "Let Noir have a goddamn moment here to-" She then scolded the boy, however...

"Heh...it is likely to get rid of loose ends or potential threats to their plans..." Shadow Okumura soon confessed.

SHATTER!

"What? Excuse me? What?" Skull sputtered as the Thieves realized he might've hit on something.

Joker wasted no time and lifted the man up by his shattered helmet. "Out with it!" He ordered.

"I admit, I spent large sums of money to help my company grow, and to crush business competitors..." Shadow Okumura soon revealed.

"How!?" Queen pressed.

"Don't make us break your legs for what we want." Mona then threatened as the dyed blond cracked his fists.

"N-Not personally! I had a contract. All I did was make the requests to have them eliminated!" Shadow Okumura however explained.

"Eliminated?" Yang repeated as her eyes widened. "You actually did hire a hitman!?" She then exclaimed in horror as the fluffy haired girl covered her mouth, looking a little sick.

"Better...than even the best shinobi in the world..." Shadow Okumura claimed. "Even the oncoming stars that will be arriving soon..." He then added.

"Bastard...!" Panther growled as she clenched her hands into fists.

"...Stars?" Queen meanwhile quietly repeated as she narrowed her eyes.

"Idiots...thinking they could make decisions behind my- ULP!" Shadow Okumura grumbled under his breath before the Leader pulled him up close.

"Who are you contracting? How did you contact them? A name, a face, anything dammit!" The Leader harshly demanded as he shook the Shadow for more info.

RUMBLE!

Joker had to let go of the ruler as he tried to stay on his feet from the rumbling going through the entire Palace.

"No, no, no, not now!" Oracle groaned.

"Huh? We haven't stolen the Treasure yet thou-" Mona began, only to remember. "The launch sequence!" He called out.

"The ship is going to fly off with it!" Fox realized as well.

However, at that moment, Shadow Okumura put two fingers by the side of his helmet. "Stop the launch sequence. And...lower the cargo down." He ordered, surprising the Thieves.

[Stopping launch sequence. Please return to normal duties.] The PA announcer...announced as the rumbling started to stop.

The Thieves soon stared at the ruler in disbelief. "Why?" Noir had to ask.

"Because...you may be the only ones who can save me." Shadow Okumura confessed.

"From what? Who?" Joker pressed with a frown.

"Hey, Joker." Panther spoke up, getting the Leader's attention as she pointed up.

Joker followed her and saw the orb from earlier lower down from the flying saucer in a gentle manner.

And then, it opened to reveal the contents within. Something shiny slowly came out of the saucer and it floated itself down towards the group.

"Whoa...!" The Thieves couldn't help but stare in awe.

"A...star. An actual star." Yin whispered in awe.

"It's a lot smaller than a real star though..." Widow soon pointed out.

"Hey, a Treasure is a Treasure." Mona responded before swiping the star from midair. "There. The Phantom Thieves have stolen your distorted desires. You better tell us everything we want in the real world before you tell the world, got it?" He soon ordered as he stuffed it into the duffle bag.

"I...I will make sure my real self does so." Shadow Okumura responded, bowing his head down. It was right then they noticed teardrops running down his cheeks and onto the floor through his broken helmet.

"Good! Now stop crying and return to reality already!" Serpent demanded. "You're in grave danger!" She then declared.

"O-Oh right!" Noir gasped as she helped her father to his feet. "Father, please, you need to go right now! There might be someone after you! As...As much as I hate everything you've done to me and the others...I don't want to-" She then started, however...

"GET DOWN!" Mona suddenly screamed as he then tried to push the father and daughter to safety.

BANG!

Suddenly, a loud shot was heard...and a bleeding hole appeared in on the stomach of Shadow Okumura's spacesuit.

"FUCK!" Yang exclaimed as soon enough, the former enemy Shadow collapsed clutching onto his bleeding stomach.

"Black Mask!" Widow called out.

"They're here!" Yin got out, instantly going low to find the shooter.

"There! I think I saw him!" Mona revealed as he pointed upward. "That platform on the far side!" He then informed.

"GET TO HIM, NOW!" Joker ordered the team. "Noir, Mona, stay here and make sure he doesn't die!" He then added.

"G-Got it!" Noir responded with a nod.

"Joker, you don't look too hot yourself." Mona got out in concern, looking at the nude and fatigued state of his Leader.

"I can still- GAH!" Joker tried to reassure the not cat, only to wince and collapse to the floor. "D-Dammit..." He cursed. Why was his body giving up now of all times!?

"You better stay here. You'll only hurt yourself." Mona advised as he pulled the Leader down to the floor.

"A-Alright..." Joker relented, wincing at the pain flowing through his body as he settled down.

"Stop the bleeding! Put pressure on the wound!" Widow instructed before dashing off to fight Black Mask with her fans on both her sides.

"H-Hai!" Noir dutifully responded before sitting down and pressing her hand against the wound. "Stay with me, please!" She soon begged.

"Kikuri-Hime! Mediarama!" The Leader soon called out, summoning a Persona to heal the Shadow with the little SP he had, and yet nothing happened. "Dammit, why isn't he healing!?" Joker growled as he casted his best healing spell.

"It was a real gun with real bullets! We can't heal that type of damage with just our Personas!" Mona informed in a serious manner.

"What!? T-That's bullshit!" Skull called out.

"We'll have to go conventional here." The not cat stated. "Yin, we need bandages and medicine, stat!" Mona called out.

"Hai!" The Vice Leader responded as she reached into the duffle and tossed over some of Takemi's best medical supplies to them.

Joker, Noir, and Morgana had to hurry, or else the Shadow would return with a bullet hole still in his gut and who knows what would happen to the real self?

"There! There he is!" Panther called out as she pointed towards the stairs, as out from behind them came a person wearing a body-covering, black and dark blue striped outfit that had several black studded belts strapped around his legs and arms, a short black cape and clawed gauntlets. They were also wearing a dark enclosed knight helmet, with a black mask tinted red, resembling a sharp beak.

He froze as soon as all the Thieves' eyes were directed straight at him...before sprinting towards the fallen Shadow.

"He's going to finish the job!" Queen warned before rushing ahead, her developed chest bouncing all the way.

"STOP HIM!" Oracle immediately declared.

"No you don't!" Serpent declared at the enemy as she brought out her minigun. "GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM BLACK MASK!" She loudly demanded as her gun began firing.

RATATATATATATATA!

"!?" Black Mask dived out of the way and changed directions. He then stopped as the Thieves began to approach him. After taking a second to glance over to the exit, he ran towards it.

"Stop him!" Fox shouted out, gripping his sheathed sword tighter as he sprinted.

"Really, well I was gonna invite him to lunch and-" Serpent soon responded while sprinting along with him as well, however...

"STOP BEING SARCASTIC AND STOP THE FUCKING MURDERER!" Oracle snapped. The white haired woman sheepishly nodded before running off.

"Noir! Get him out of here now!" Yin soon ordered as she then rushed at the new enemy.

"Father!" Noir exclaimed as she held the wound of her father's Shadow. "Please! Don't return to yourself in reality just yet! We need to help you!" She soon begged.

"Ha...ru..." The senior Okumura's Shadow got out in a pain-filled tone.

"Please. Just stay strong!" Noir pleaded. "I'll be fine, just please hold on!" She then assured.

The senior Okumura's Shadow in response closed his eyes.

"No! NO!" Noir cried out as she put as much pressure as she could on the wound.

They soon watched as the Shadow began to fade into light, which only meant one thing.

"Hey, stay with us!" Joker shouted out as he did his best to help, moving Noir's hand away so he could dig out the bullet with his dagger.

"Be wary...of...shining beacons..." Shadow Okumura gasped out, his blue skin paling.

"Can you be any less vague!?" Joker and Noir exclaimed as they both worked harder.

"I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!" They all heard Serpent shout in sheer rage as she caught up to the bastard that shot Haru's father.

"...Well, that's straight to the point." Oracle muttered with a sweatdrop.


(Cue Advanced Phalangealkinetics by Ryan Ike)

"COME HERE, YA SHITTY FUCKING COWARD ASSHOLE ASSASSIN PIECE OF SHIT!" Serpent roared as she tackled Black Mask down. However, he used the momentum to roll her off him and get onto his own two feet.

The white haired woman did the same, looking almost impressed by the move. "All alone, jackass?" Serpent taunted. "Are you waiting for backup, or are you done hiding like the coward after we figured someone was out to get him?" She then assumed.

Black Mask said nothing, but for some reason she knew he was glaring at her under his mask.

The white haired woman sighed. Looks like there won't be any banter today. "Don't blink." Serpent vaguely ordered just as Black Mask reached for his belt before...

CLASH!

Instead of cutting through cloth and flesh, she felt her weapon be blocked by something. "A...laser sword?" Serpent muttered in awe at the red energy blade guard against her attack. "What, buy that from an auction site!?" She then taunted.

SLASH!

"GAH!" Serpent cried out as she took a slash to the cheek, creating a cut. "I am not losing to a damn toy today. CHESTO!" She then called out, wiping the blood before re-engaging with the assassin.

CLANG! CLING! CLANG!

Serpent was trading with her opponent with her sawtooth katana as the two then locked blades. "Why? Why the hell are you doing this!?" She demanded, gritting her teeth together as she tried to push her blade harder against the assassin's.

Black Mask remained silent.

"Not much of a talker, eh? Don't worry, you'll be begging for mercy soon enough!" Serpent countered, a devilish grin on her face. "Right, Yin?" She then suddenly asked before using the pommel of her katana to jab him in the gut to break the lock.

Without a pause, Black Mask blocked the katana strike from behind before swinging their blade at the ambusher, only to miss as the Vice Leader jumped away.

"No time for taunts! GO!" Yin called out before rushing towards the enemy.

"EAT SHIT!" Skull shouted as he jumped up and tried to crack the new enemy's own skull with his melee weapon, only to be easily batted away by the blunt part of the enemy's blade.

"We're all still naked, guys!" Oracle reminded her fellow Thieves who were still all in the nude. "Don't get hit with a direct fatal attack from him! Not even once!" She then warned.

Panther followed it up by using her whip to immobilize the enemy, but they simply sliced through it with their laser sword before using it to block the bullets coming from Fox's assault rifle, quickly retaliating by pulling out an odd-looking pistol and shooting both Fox and Panther in the heads.

PEW! PEW!

"No!" Yin called out with widened eyes.

"Stay focused, Vice Leader!" Serpent reminded as she gripped her sword, stumbling a little as she felt the Palace shake once again. "We gotta end this, now!" She then added.

Yin hesitated before nodding. She could not falter here! "GO!" She shouted out, tearing off her mask to summon Kaeru before charging at the assassin.

Black Mask only shook his head before placing a hand on his helmet. Suddenly, he was surrounded by black flames and dark chains while something was summoned in front of him.

"What the hell is that!?" Serpent exclaimed as she stared at the strange black and white yet still darkened...thing.

Their navigator soon gasped in horror. "It's Black Mask's Persona! WATCH IT!" Oracle warned.

"Heat Riser." Black Mask's Persona called out, buffing itself and its user with great strength. However, it didn't stop the two charging shinobi.

"Heh, not good enough!" Serpent called out as she tore off her mask. "Nobunaga, Mamudoon!" She soon commanded.

"Fall beneath our might, cretin!" Nobunaga declared.

DOOM!

"What!?" Serpent exclaimed as the assassin simply took the instant kill spell, barely even flinching as he rolled his shoulders.

"Brave Blade." Black Mask's Persona called out, cleaving Nobunaga in half as if it was nothing.

SLASH!

"AAAAHHH!" Serpent screamed, collapsing to the floor. She was still conscious, but she felt something inside just...break. She couldn't feel Nobunaga anymore.

Everyone else could only watch in horror by how easily the woman was taken out. "Serpent!" Yin cried out as she rushed over, shooting her pistols at the enemy, but it was all no use.

"Negative Pile." The enemy Persona soon called out, flashing in front of the Vice Leader before thrusting its greatsword into Kaeru.

STAB!

"AH!" Yin yelled in pain as her Persona shattered. "Wha- NOOOOOOOO!" She then screamed, though not out of pain as she clutched her head, falling under Despair.

"Deathbound." The enemy then declared.

WOOSH!

"AAAHHH!" Yin and Serpent screamed in pain as they blasted away.

"YIN! SERPENT!" Yang called out in horror as the two were taken out in a single attack. "YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" She growled.

"Yang! With me!" Widow soon ordered, going into Ice Queen form as she summoned her blade of ice.

"Got it!" Yang responded, going into Crimson Lotus form as she gripped Engetsuka. "You won't be letting you leave!" She declared as she prepared to swing her nodachi at the enemy.

"Tetrakarn." The vile Persona simply got out, casting a shield over its user.

"!?" Widow's eyes immediately widened upon hearing that. "Yang!" She called out.

However, Yang smirked under her mask as she feinted right, moving to his side and...

Was met with a revolver aimed straight at her face.

"What-?" Yang began, however...

BANG!

"YANG!" Widow screamed in horror as the tan skinned girl took the bullet to the face, causing her to stumble back. Something like that would never kill a shinobi outright, especially Yang, but it was enough to stun her for a few precious seconds.

Without another word, Black Mask kicked her away just as the floor collapsed behind her. Widow's body moved before she could even think, running over to catch Yang before she fell and throwing her to safety, readying her gaze towards the enemy.

Black Mask switched their gaze between Widow and the shot Palace Ruler rapidly. At that moment, the light gray haired girl knew that they must be deciding whether or not to kill her or Okumura.

She would not let them have the chance for either choice.

"Queen, on me!" Widow called out as the advisor joined her on her assault.

Black Mask brought out his laser sword once again and readied himself.

"You're not getting away! PERSONA!" Queen declared as she summoned her motorcycle-like Persona and jumped onto it, speeding directly at the enemy.

However, Black Mask rolled to the side as Queen made her motorcycle slide to a stop, giving him enough momentum to slice up her torso and causing her crash. Then, without looking, knocked away an oncoming fan that would've hit him in the head.

Undeterred even by the fall of another comrade, Widow caught her fan in midair and went to slice and slap the enemy with her fans, but she found herself going much slower than normal as Black Mask dodged each and every attack.

She was pushing her to her limit, but the damage and exhaustion from the Okumura fight had caught up to her. No one could beat him in the state they were all in.

The battle had been lost before it had even begun.

Black Mask then aimed his revolver directly at Widow's head and...

Click!

Widow gasped. "Out of ammo." She noted before summoning Fūma to her side. "Aquadyne!" She then called out, her Persona all too eager to waterboard the bastard.

"Makarakarn." The Persona countered calmly, creating another shield to bounce back the stream of water back at Widow.

The ice shinobi grunted as she stumbled back, shaking off the water as she glared at Black Mask.

"Eigaon."His Persona suddenly got out, appearing right next to her with its weapon charged with dark energy.

"!?" Widow's eyes immediately widened upon hearing that, but before she could do anything...

DOOOOOOM!

"AAAAHHHH!" Widow cried in pain as she and her clothing were blasted away, leaving her in only her mask, thigh high socks, and one of her sandals.

"WIDOW!" Yang exclaimed.

"A...Ahh..." Widow panted and hissed in pain, crawling away as Black Mask slowly made his way towards her, dragging his laser sword across the floor like an executioner's axe.

The light gray haired girl soon stopped. No use in getting away any further. However, even as she tried to focus on anything but the burning pain, she heard him.

"All too easy." Black Mask whispered, his mask and low tone disguising his voice, but she could practically hear the smirk from underneath.

And thus, the light gray haired girl came to a realization. "...You've been watching us." Widow realized. "Every fight, every move...you were ready..." She summarized with a glare. "Ever since Kaneshiro..." She then added, noticing a slight twitch from the enemy's hand, causing her to smirk.

Black Mask said nothing more. But their Persona did.

"Megidolaon." It declared as it raised its hands up, forming a giant ball of Almighty energy in seconds.

"NO!" Yang exclaimed as she rushed over to protect her friend.

The gray haired girl's eyes widened. "Yang!" Widow exclaimed, raising her hand to stop her before...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Yang had hugged Widow and took most of the Almighty attack, completely leaving visible marks of the blast impact on her naked skin and body as they were blasted away.

(End Music)


The two tumbled together, feeling each and every bounce and wrong landing before they eventually came to a stop.

"Ugh...damn that stung..." Yang weakly groaned with a wince as she looked back at their opponent...only to find they were gone. "What the-? Where...Where did he go!? Ah!" She got out in confusion before glaring at the crater the attack made.

Black Mask had run away.

"W-We gotta...after him..." Yang tried to get up, only to collapse under her own weight a second later.

"We're outta time for that!" Skull shouted out as he helped the Vice Leader to her feet while Queen did the same with Serpent. Around them, the place was falling apart, with oxygen slowly but surely escaping into space. It wasn't a violent decompression, but that might be the case in the next few seconds.

"But we can still catch Black Mask!" Noir called out in a desperate manner as she looked down at her fading father. They had cleaned the wound, wrapped it in gauze, and fed him the best painkillers and supplements they had, but it still didn't seem as enough! "We can stop him if we just-" She then tried to argue, only for the Leader to tackle her down as a large piece of debris nearly crushed her.

"Dammit, if we stay any longer, we're all dead! We need to go!" Joker shouted out as he pulled Noir back to her feet.

"But what about-" Noir began as she looked to where Black Mask might've escaped, but it was no use. They were long gone.

"I don't know, Haru, but we can't die here!" Joker shouted before grabbing her wrist and dragging away. They did the best that they could anyways.

"No! Let go! AKIRA!" Haru cried out, fighting against the Leader, but was too weak to break out of his grip. "FATHER!" She then screamed as the exit crumbled, reaching her bloodied gloved hand out to where the last she saw of the Shadow of her father, as sparkles of light surrounded him before he vanished.

"Come on, people! We! Are! Leaving!" Oracle announced. "We're all naked, so we'll get injured real badly if we stay here!"

"Wait, where's Homu-neechan!?" Yin exclaimed in realization.

"Over there!" Fox called out as he pointed over to see the two nude fallen girls. Yang looked like she was in too much pain to move while Widow was unconscious.

"Widow! Yang!" Yin cried out, already attempting to rush over to save them only for someone to stop her.

"Watch it!" Queen shouted out as she pulled the Vice Leader out of the way of more falling debris. "We can't stand around and talk!" She then declared.

"But we can't-" Yin tried to insist, however...

"They'll make it!" Joker interrupted before grabbing the Vice Leader's wrist and throwing out his grappling hook.

Widow blinked as she returned to consciousness, letting out a groan as she held onto the first thing she could feel...which was the tan skinned girl's nicely toned yet jiggly butt.

This would've been sexy if Yang didn't cry in pain because all the skin on her ass had been blasted off. Or at least, it felt like it.

"Huh?" Widow gasped as she instinctively pulled her hand away.

"Hhhhnnn...hsss..." Yang hissed in pain, her body twitching because it would be too painful to writhe.

"Homura-san..." Widow meanwhile got out in shock, seeing the tan skinned girl's naked form smoke from the attack. How she was even conscious right now was a wonder.

"Just...help me up...senpai..." Yang tried to let out a good-natured smile, but she was in too much pain to really make a real effort.

Widow however saw through that facade in an instant, but didn't make a comment on it. All she did was put the tan skinned girl on her back and ran, swinging across to join the rest just as the SS Utopia crashed into the platform and fell deep down to parts unknown.

After a quick check that everyone was here, Joker took a deep breath. "CHEESE IT!" He shouted as they all ran for the exit.

"We're not gonna make it!" Oracle exclaimed. No matter how fast they were going, the explosions and implosions were catching up to them.

"Mona!" Joker called out.

The not cat nodded before leaping into the air. "Morgana Henshin!" He called out.

POOF!

As soon as Mona's transformation smoke disappeared, they all jumped into the car from the back as several of the Thieves climbed over each other in the nude just to reach the driver's seat. At the end of the chaos, everyone else was in the back with their naked bodies pressed against one another, and Noir was in the driver's seat.

"FLOOR IT! FLOOR IT NOOOOOOOOOOW!" Oracle screamed as she wrapped her arms around Serpent's bare legs.

Noir floored it...and crashed straight through a window.

The Thieves would've screamed, but in space no one could hear them...or breathe.

Holding onto the little breath she had, Yin activated the Meta Nav.


(Roppongi, Okumura Foods HQ)

The entire world shifted, and the Thieves suddenly landed less-than-gracefully on the cemented ground just as they drove away from the now-vanished Palace.

[The destination (Kunikazu's Space Station of Greed) has been deleted. Have a nice day.]

"Thank you, Meta Nav lady..." Asuka mumbled. At least she didn't crash into anything, there was barely anyone around, and all they had were minor bruises and scrapes.

"Owww...my effin' ass...again..." Ryuji groaned in pain, feeling the cold, hard cement on his face.

"Uuuugh..." Morgana groaned as well, his feline body splayed onto the cement ground.

Akira, sitting on the cemented ground, had dropped his fake glasses from the fall before he picked them up and put them back on. "Is everyone okay? Nothing broken?" He soon questioned.

"Uuuugggghhhh..." The others groaned.

He'll take that as a yes.

The rest of the Thieves were completely down on the ground, clearly looking like they just ran an actual marathon, exhausted or fatigued to the point where moving was a pain. After a while, they slowly stood up and dusted themselves off before adjusting themselves.

"It's gone." Asuka reported as she put away her phone.

"Hey, what about Black Mask?" Futaba suddenly remembered.

Akira's eyes widened before turning to the shinobi, who had all managed to get to their feet first. "Guys." He got out in a serious tone.

"Heard it. We're on it, Leader." Miyabi responded before they disappeared.

The rest of the civilian Thieves all let out breaths of relief before checking for injuries...or changes.

"Oh thank God, they didn't transfer over." Ann breathed in relief as she rubbed her chest. "My boobs were already jiggly enough..." She then mumbled.

"What?" Makoto got out.

"What?" Ann responded.

"Dammit..." Futaba grumbled in disappointment with a pout before spotting Haru, who looked insanely worried right now, fidgeting on her feet while she nervously clutched her skirt.

Right, not the time.

And so, the civilian Thieves could do nothing but wait for the shinobi to return. They didn't have to wait for long though...

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

"We're back." Asuka got out in a dour manner as the shinobi returned.

"And?" Akira had to ask, despite knowing already considering the frustrated and sad looks on their faces.

"He's gone." Yumi informed as she shook her head. "Whoever he was, he managed to slip away." She soon stated.

"Dammit!" Homura yelled in frustration as she kicked the ground.

"Father..." Haru whispered in worry as the ash blonde and the artist tried to comfort her. "Akira-kun, we could've done more." She soon got out with a small glare at the Leader.

"I'm sorry, Haru, but you would've died in there if you stayed any longer." Akira apologized as he, along with the others, turned back to the heiress. "We did the best we could." He then assured as he patted the fluffy haired girl on the back.

"But...Black Mask shot him, a-and he was bleeding and nothing was working..." Haru mumbled, looking more and more panicked with each word she spoke.

"Haru..." Akira sighed out before approaching the scared girl. "Look, I admit, nothing like this has happened to us before. All we know is that if the Shadow dies, they'll suffer a mental shutdown. But he faded into the light like all the other targets we've dealt with so...maybe he's okay." He then got out in a comforting manner.

"Akira, you really shouldn't give her-" Miyabi began, only for the Shujin Student Council President to cover her mouth.

"...Is he really going to be fine?" Haru whispered out.

"If anything happens to him, I'll take full responsibility." Akira promised.

"Akira-kun..." Haru got out with widened eyes. "I...I won't blame you. I couldn't. I was the one who posted his name, and...and the Conspiracy might've used it to-" She then rambled, her mood worsening by the word.

"Anyone could post on the site. Maybe it was only a matter of time, it doesn't matter anymore." Akira interrupted, not wanting the fluffy haired girl to spiral into despair. "Your father will be fine. Maybe not...perfect...but fine." He then assured.

Haru could only stare the Leader in his eyes before nodding. All she could do was hope. She was prepared for that when she posted her father's name, so this shouldn't be any different.

"At least we stopped Black Mask from killing him." Ann got out, hoping it would cheer everyone up.

"And we learned that they sell their services to the Conspiracy. Once the change of heart goes through, we can actually get the info we need out of him to destroy this Conspiracy." Homura added with a frown, crossing her arms under her breasts. "Stilll, a goddamn hitman...fuck!" She then cursed under her breath.

"Mom..." Futaba whispered, looking down at the ground. Her mother...assassinated. Right in front of her very eyes.

Seeing the youngest of the group's sad look, the white haired woman clenched her fists. "I am going to enjoy watching life fade from Black Mask's eyes..." Miyabi growled as she cracked her knuckles.

"Get in line..." Asuka muttered in a dark tone of her own.

"He will not get away with this..." Yumi soon declared in cold fury. "Black Mask nor his Conspiracy will escape justice." She then added.

"Well, until Black Mask comes out of whatever shithole he's hiding in like the coward he is, that won't be today. Probably gonna lay low for a while." Homura however pointed out with a sigh. "Some day though. We are not leaving until he's stopped." She then declared as the others nodded in agreement.

"It won't be easy." Yusuke soon reminded. "Black Mask has at least two years worth of experience over us." He then pointed out in concern.

"Well, when is something ever easy?" Akira however asked.

"Easy mode." Futaba bluntly answered. "Also, what the hell was that back there about your mom, Haru?" She soon asked.

"I...I'm not sure." The fluffy-haired girl replied, looking rather unsure herself. "I-It sounded like...my mother might have been a shinobi." Haru soon deducted.

"He didn't really confirm it because numbskull interrupted." Homura grumbled as she jabbed her finger into the dyed blond boy's stomach.

"Ow, hey!" Ryuji got out in an indignant tone as he rubbed the sore spot.

"It would explain your...eccentricities..." Makoto remarked.

"Whatever do you mean by that, Mako-chan?" Haru got out in confusion.

"Shinobi weirdness isn't genetic, Makoto." Akira pointed out. "It is learned." He then added.

"She does have the boob size though." The hacker soon half-joked with crossed arms, almost in a matter-of-fact manner.

"Futaba Sakura!" Miyabi exclaimed in motherly disapproval.

"I'm just saying!" Futaba responded with raised hands. "I mean, she's really good at hiding her shinobi H-Cup boobs from everyone." She then reminded, causing the others to sweatdrop, though the girl herself of mention blushed a bit.

"...How Haru is able to do that with just a custom-made bra is beyond me." Makoto sighed out.

"It's pure shinobi skill, alright." Futaba simply stated with her hands inside her jacket's pockets.

"So...what are you going to do with that info then? About your mom." Ryuji soon asked.

"I...I do want to learn more about my mother." Haru confessed. "After all, I have effectively disowned my father, even if he doesn't know it." She then added.

"It sounded like that your mother wished for you to stay away from that side of her, though." Yusuke pointed out. "Whatever she may have been hiding, it is likely serious. Are you sure?" He then asked in a cautious manner.

"Yusuke-san, I know and I'm friends with 10 other shinobi and I'm a Phantom Thief. It's too late for me to avoid such things." Haru however reminded him. "Whatever truth is out there, I will face it head-on, just like everyone here." She then declared.

"Well, whatever you're facing, we are right behind you." Akira promised.

"We're here for you, Haru, count on it." Morgana reassured with a nod.

"...Thank you." Haru breathed out, finally smiling for the first time since they escaped.

"So...Chainy-chan?" Ann got out with an amused look on her face.

"I made it up when I was only 6 years old while with Ika-chan and Kumo-chan!" Haru got out with a blush. "Plus, my sensei didn't like the original name." She then murmured.

"Original name?" Morgana repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Choppy Bitey Tingles." Haru happily and innocently recalled.

At that, everyone stared blankly at the fluffy haired girl. "...Y-You really called it CBT?" Futaba snickered.

"Yes. Is there something wrong with it? Because I never really got why sensei seemed so...worried..." Haru confessed.

"I also do not get it as well." Yusuke admitted as he scratched his head.

"Oh, it shares an acronym with-" Futaba began her assassination attempt of their friend's innocence before the most responsible person in the group saved them for one more day.

"Okay, enough of that. What was Okumura's Treasure?" Makoto interrupted and soon asked as everyone looked at the equipment bag the Vice Leader was carrying.

"Oh, it should be in here." Asuka responded as she zipped open the duffle bag and pulled out a rather large box with a rather intricate spaceship on it. It was mint-condition despite the chaos it was in earlier.

"...What is that?" Yumi asked with a raised eyebrow.

"A model kit for the looks of it." Akira answered. From the packaging, it looked like it was from the 70s or 80s.

At the same time, Futaba pulled out her phone and began rapidly typing away.

"Why would a plastic model kit be so important to him?" Ann questioned with a frown.

Suddenly, they saw Haru with a sad smile on her face.

"Haru-chan?" Asuka got out in concern.

"What's the matter?" Makoto asked.

"I remember Father telling me something before he changed..." Haru replied as she took the model kit into her hands. It was so light yet...so heavy at the same time. "He said there was a model kit he really wanted back when he was a child. But no matter how much he begged my grandfather, he never got it." She then explained.

"Your family could get, like, a thousand of those kits though." Ryuji pointed out.

"Okumura Foods has been around for generations, but it was a small company until my father took over. My grandfather was a good man, but not the best businessman." Haru informed. "He'd even lend money with no collateral...it seems the debt collectors were a frequent presence when my father was young." She then added with a small frown.

"Whoa." Homura muttered in awe. "It's kind of hard to imagine that your family was broke in the past." She soon admitted.

"So the paranoia of not wanting to experience that again led him down that path..." Miyabi concluded as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"And that must be why...why Okumura was so willing to pursue his own happiness at the expense of others." Yusuke assumed with a frown.

"Whoa!" Futaba suddenly exclaimed.

"Huh?" Akira got out in surprise. "Wait, do you recognise this thing, Futaba?" He soon guessed.

"Nope, but the online auction sites do." Futaba replied as she showed the team her phone's screen. "Check this out!" She proudly declared.

"What the-?" Miyabi got out, blinking as for a second she thought she was hallucinating the price. "Hooooooly shit, that's a lot of numbers." She then muttered.

"That's more than even Gessen's net worth..." Yumi muttered, noticing the price.

"It sells for more than the briefcase!?" Homura got out in disbelief once she saw the price on the orangette's phone.

"That's a lot of sushi." Asuka could only say.

"It is a staggering price. I've heard this can happen to collector's items, but still..." Yusuke remarked.

"People're gonna pay that much for a plastic toy!?" Ryuji exclaimed in shock.

"Welcome to the world of collecting." Akira got out in a flat tone. "Even the 100 yen coin in my wallet could fetch a high price if it's old enough." He then pointed out.

"By the way...when exactly is the change of heart supposed to happen?" Haru soon asked, hoping for some worthwhile news.

"It varies." Asuka answered. "Your father should already feel it, but the actual confession could take hours or days. All we can do is keep a close eye on him, especially after that assassination attempt." She then added.

"My one happened in a snap." Futaba spoke up with a cheeky smile.

"Yeah, but you took a whole month to nap while we spent our entire summer worrying." Ann groaned. "And you're different. Your Shadow turned into a Persona so that doesn't count." She then added.

"And it's not exactly a competition." Makoto added as she shook her head. "Anyways, until then, let's lay low and make sure no one suspects a thing. Especially Asuka's friends." She then advised.

"Hai, Gyū-chan just got in too." Haru remembered.

"Oh, this was probably not good for the Hanzō track record." Miyabi soon realized, sucking in her teeth and wincing.

"...Gyū-chan?" Asuka repeated in confusion. "As in...Yagyū-chan?" She then assumed as the fluffy haired girl nodded in confirmation.

"Such cute nicknames for cute girls who can likely pretzel us if we look at them funny." Futaba giggled in amusement.

"Oh, if they ever find out it was us at the break-in, they're going to kill us..." Ann groaned.

"Okay. Haru, when you think the change of heart has taken full effect, call us." The Leader ordered. "We have a lot of questions for your father." He then stated in a serious tone.

"And...you know, we can't let your father get away with hiring a hitman." Yumi added in a saddened yet firm manner. "Even if we can't really prove it without revealing ourselves, he got people killed or turned into empty shells." She then added, causing the fluffy haired girl to wince.

"...I will take on my father's burden." Haru could only say.

"The blame is not yours, Haru-chan." Asuka however assured. "The sins of the father should not be placed on the shoulders of their children." She then stated.

"I don't think society will take that to heart though." Makoto sorrowfully pointed out.

"That's a future problem though. Right now, I want to soak in a bath house and get some sleep." Akira breathed out. "And maybe some nude girls in the bath with me if possible..." He then added in his head.

"Same." Ann agreed. "I'm exhausted..." She then breathed out.

"By the way, I actually can't believe we got naked back there. All of us." Futaba soon reminded, adjusting her glasses. "And not, like, tastefully ruined all of our clothes, but full-on, bare-ass-" She then started.

"We get it, Futaba." Miyabi deadpanned.

"We also almost all died." Makoto sighed. "Again." She then added.

"That's just a staple in our heists, Makoto." Homura groaned.

"Um, is that a bad thing that we saw each other naked?" Ryuji meanwhile asked, almost a bit nervous while scratching his head. "After everything we've been through?" He then added.

"If you guys stare at our naked bodies, then yes." Makoto grumbled with crossed arms, eyeing the dyed blonde and then towards the other male Thieves.

"Eh?" Haru however got out in confusion. "Why would that be the case? I mean, they are our companions during that hard-fought battle, so..."

"I-It's the principle of it!" Ann explained. "Come on, Haru, don't you know shame?" She then asked.

"..." Haru however just blushed in response.

"Oh, right." Ann sheepishly got out as she looked away.

"Well, of course I won't show my naked body to someone I truly don't know and not to be fully trusted." The fluffy haired girl answered. "Also, I've seen some of the girls staring at the guys." Haru then pointed out.

"EH!?" Asuka exclaimed in shock.

"Wh-What!?" Makoto got out, looking rather offended and...defensive?

"I mean, Futaba sure stared but-" Homura began, however...

"Queen and Panther got really interested in all the boys' buns, mwehehehe..." Futaba informed with an evil smile. "As well as our Leader's cheese-grater abs." She then added.

"W-Well, that's..." Makoto stammered out in embarrassment...and shame.

"We all still have our masks on. How can you tell they're staring, Haru?" Akira decided to ask.

"I can see their eyes behind the holes of their masks." Haru informed. "I trained to have good eyesight during my shinobi training days." She then revealed.

"You also all got hit with attacks while you were making glances." Futaba then added. "If anything, you guys are the bigger pervs." She then stated.

"EH!?" Asuka gasped before coughing from breathing in too much air.

"We're all perverts in secret, alright." Akira concluded. "Period." He then added.

"Ain't so secret now." Ryuji pointed out.

"This would've turned into an anime situation where the guys get beaten up by the girls after the guys accidentally saw the girls in ecchi situations like that." Futaba admitted and recalled. "Let's try not to do that dumb stereotype here, guys. Trust me, it's too cliche." She then requested.

"Hey, as long we don't cross the lines, we're good with nudity, okay?" Akira soon stated.

"I'm cool with that. Also, no Phantom org- MMPH!" The hacker began to agree, only for Miyabi to cover her mouth.

"Can we please talk about something else...?" Yumi pleaded in a desperate manner.

"What else do we talk about?" Miyabi soon questioned. "Every conversation we've all had together is either about boobs, nude bodies, Phantom Thief shit, and other shinobi coming over to Tokyo." She soon reminded.

"H-Hey, we don't just talk about that." Morgana tried to defend. "Remember, you only just joined a few months ago." He then reminded her.

"Yeah, we also talk about...uh..." Homura began, only to pause for a second to think. "Random...bullshit..." She soon mumbled under her breath.

"...Again, can we please talk about something else?" Yumi soon asked in a flat tone and a sigh.

"Yeah, like who's gonna keep the Treasure for safekeeping until we fence it?" Ryuji soon asked, deciding to move on from the nudity topic. As for the Treasure keeping, no way he was gonna do it, he'd probably destroy it by accident.

"I'll do it." Futaba answered as she took the model kit out of the fluffy haired girl's hands. "My room has the perfect conditions to keep it in mint condition. I'll even set up the listing. It could take awhile before it sells though..." She then informed.

"That's great." Morgana got out with a nod.

"Hey, Morgana-chan! You actually didn't get all weird with the Treasure this time!" Asuka suddenly realized.

"Only slightly though." Homura teased.

"Hey!" The not cat got out in an indignant tone. "But...I'm improving." He proudly declared.

"Thank God for that." Ryuji responded with a laugh. "Treasure humping was not cool." He then added.

"I didn't hump any of them!" Morgana exclaimed in embarrassment. "J-Just...Joker! Let's go home! Now!" He soon called out before jumping into his bag.

"And thus, we make our hasty escape! Au revoir mes compagnons!" Akira dramatically declared as he soon ran off.

"...Such a dork..." Homura sighed as she shook her head.

With that, the civilian Thieves left the area, however the shinobi had decided to stay and talk, mostly to relax and recover. Today had been exhausting, even more than their training days. Homura and Yumi had decided to get some drinks for them while Asuka and Miyabi were simply leaning against the railing, watching people pass by.

"Oh boy..." Asuka breathed out. "We did so much today, huh?" She then remarked, enjoying the moment to relax her body after putting it through so much today.

"Yeah. Killer robots, exploding space stations, shocking revelations, and assassinations..." Miyabi grumbled. "Combined with nearly dying about a dozen times over, I'd say we're due for a spa day." She soon got out.

"We're overdue for a spa day." Asuka corrected. "With the works. Hopefully the model kit sells for enough for another girl's day off." She then added.

"Hey, think about the boys too." Miyabi lightly scolded. "They probably wanna split the money so they can do their thing as well. Go to arcades, drink at the bars...whatever boys with way too much money do." She then stated and listed off.

"Hehehe...right." Asuka giggled.

"I still wonder what he meant about stars though..." Miyabi soon recalled in a serious tone.

"I think he was just talking more about space." Asuka responded with a head tilt. "Or...my friends? I dunno, we'll find out when we talk to him." She then added.

"They better not be blamed for this though. That would be bullshit." Miyabi responded.

"Not really." Asuka sadly got out. "They were contacted to protect him from a change of heart, and they failed. Moh...my teammates are gonna blame me if they find out..." She then mumbled, her hair overshadowing her eyes.

"Hey, we've met them before, and if you explain to them I'm sure they would be understanding." Miyabi reminded and assured. "Plus, they probably know how much of an asshole Okumura is since they've actually interacted with him face-to-face." She then mumbled under her breath.

"But...Ikaruga-chan's a childhood friend of Haru-chan." Asuka awkwardly revealed.

"Hey, you can hate their family and still be friends with them." Miyabi responded. "I should know, all of this made me realize my best friend Imu's parents are complete and utter garbage." She then revealed.

"Huh? How come?" Asuka asked in a curious manner.

"Oh, you know, forcing their children to train day and night, encouraging at least one of them to snap." Miyabi casually listed off. "Hell, I'm still trying to process Murasaki no longer being a shut-in and being an exercise loving girl thanks to her falling for Akira." She then admitted with a sigh.

"WHAT!?" Asuka exclaimed.

"Whoa, quiet down!" Miyabi got out before raising an eyebrow. "Wait, why are you so freaked out about that?" She soon asked.

"U-Uh, w-well, erm...uh..." Asuka stammered out, blushing as she tried to find the right words to say.

"You know what, it doesn't matter." Miyabi casually shrugged off. "Honestly, I am glad Murasaki's doing better now though. She was as bad as Futaba before." She then admitted and revealed.

To that, Asuka couldn't help but wince in concern. "She wanted to...well, I'm glad she's fine now." She then breathed out.

"Yeah...shinobi therapists aren't exactly common...or exist." Miyabi sighed.

"...They exist at Hanzō Academy." Asuka revealed in an innocent manner.

"Oh, but do you use them?" Miyabi then pressed.

"..." Asuka stared at the white haired woman as she tried to remember if any of her friends, or to be frank, any of the other shinobi attending Hanzō used it.

"That's what I thought." Miyabi responded with a sigh. "It's hard to reach out for help. Guess that makes Murasaki stronger than any of us." She then mumbled.

"Futaba-chan reached out to us too." Asuka soon informed. "In a very roundabout way that threatened us, but she reached out, so that's something." She then added in a sheepish manner.

"I guess so." Miyabi replied with a nod before leaning back on the railing and narrowed her eyes. "Dammit, we were so close to catching Black Mask..." She soon growled in frustration. "And that ass took advantage of the fact we were exhausted from that bullshit fight with all the robots, and the burgers, and God I did not expect to be fighting something like that this year." She then rambled before confessing.

"We'll get him next time sensei, I promise." Asuka reassured as she narrowed her eyes as well. "He is not getting away with this." She then added in a dead serious tone.

"Got that right, my student." Miyabi replied in agreement. "He took Futaba's mother away from her and made her suffer. He's gonna go down hard next time." She soon stated and declared.

"...Are you really going to kill Black Mask?" Asuka had to ask.

"Ha! He'll wish I'll kill him in the end." Miyabi responded with a dark smirk, letting out a quick evil chuckle.

"..." Asuka however went silent, turning her gaze towards the ground they were sitting on.

"Asuka?" Miyabi got out in concern.

"I...I want to hurt him just as badly as you do but..." Asuka whispered before stopping herself by shaking her head.

"But?" Miyabi repeated.

"...No, it's probably a dumb thing to say." The Vice Leader sighed.

"I've heard way stupider things while running from my militia of crazed fangirls." Miyabi assured before looking to make sure there wasn't any around. "It can't be that bad, my student. Lay it on me." She then got out.

"What if...we go too far?" Asuka soon asked. "Can we be worse than Black Mask eventually?" She then added in concern.

"...Ok, that isn't a dumb thing to think about." Miyabi had to confess in an uneasy tone. "It's...always a possibility, as bad as that sounds. Power can corrupt people, simple as that." She soon admitted. "However it's what you do with that power that matters." She then stated.

"But I want to use my power to crush his leg, tear out his teeth, make sure he feels all the pain he's ever inflicted." Asuka got out in a panicked manner. "I...I don't even think I thought like this about Kamoshida, I just wanted him to die!" She then declared, both of them unaware of her eyes flashing red for a moment.

"We all have moments like that, Asuka." Miyabi responded. "But tell me, why do you want to? Is it for revenge?" The white haired woman questioned and assumed.

"...Yeah. For everyone they've killed, for the families they've destroyed...for Futaba-chan and her mom..." Asuka answered, growing angrier with each reason she said.

"Black Mask has definitely hurt us, directly and indirectly." Miyabi confessed as she narrowed her eyes. "But...we can't be judge, jury, and executioner. It's not our place, it's not our say. As much as we want to...it's up to those who have the authority to. If we kill him, we would be no better than him. We should bring hope to the people, not fear." She soon stated.

"Hai." Asuka responded with a nod. "Hehe, spoken like a real sensei, Miyabi-chan." She giggled out as the white haired woman blushed.

"W-Well, I gotta be a good example for my personal student after all." Miyabi awkwardly admitted while scratching her cheek. "Also, impressive work using your techniques in that last battle. Really cleared out those robots for us." She then praised.

"Thanks. But I have to get stronger for the next time we fight Black Mask." Asuka responded. "...Training again soon, Sensei?" She soon suggested.

"Oh god no, I wanna take at least one day off after this entire goddamn mess!" Miyabi groaned. "Day after tomorrow." She then decided.

"Hai!" Asuka responded with a salute. "But enough about training and the Phantom Thieves. You wanna get some food together?" She then decided and asked.

"...Anywhere but Big Bang Burger, please." Miyabi breathed out as she picked herself off the ground. "Hey, wanna see if Yumi and Homura are up for it too?" She soon offered.

"Let's go see." Asuka got out as she hopped onto her feet.

Meanwhile with the tan skinned girl and the light gray haired girl...

Homura was taking a large sip of her drink, with her own in one hand and her sister's in the other. "God, it feels good to actually buy a smoothie I enjoy..." She sighed in relief. Drinking so much aojiru over the past few months had played hell with her taste buds and gag reflex.

Yumi meanwhile looked at the tan skinned girl in concern as she recalled what her fellow Elegance Master did in the Palace. "Are you...not hurt?" She soon asked.

"Why would I be? We don't come out of the Metaverse with our injuries, remember?" Homura responded and reminded in a casual manner.

"Still...after all those attacks you took and...what happened with Black Mask, surely you'll need some support." Yumi replied and got out in concern. "You don't have to act strong just so you won't worry others." She then added.

"Yumi-senpai, really, I'm okay." Homura reassured as she stretched her back and winced for a moment. "Phantom pain aside, I don't need you worrying about me." She then added.

"You took a Megidolaon for me!" Yumi reminded in frustration.

"And I'd do it again." Homura bluntly got out with a shrug.

The light gray haired however gave a disapproving glare. "Homura..." Yumi started as she hugged the tan skinned girl in a tender manner. "Never pull a stunt like that again." She soon requested in a concerned yet demanding tone while rubbing the other girl's back. "Please...sister..." She then quietly whispered for only the two of them to hear.

"...I cannot promise you that, Yumi." Homura however responded as she shook her head.

"Homura, I will not allow you to throw your life away for me right in front of my eyes." Yumi stressed. "I...I cannot lose anymore family..." She then got out with a sniffle.

Homura frowned before backing off from the girl. "Well, I don't want to either, but in a situation like that, one of us was going to get hurt no matter what." She explained. "It's a selfish reminder, senpai." She then stated.

"Sister..." Yumi muttered in concern.

"And besides..." Homura began as she looked away from the light gray haired girl. "If you're gonna tell me that, you better tell everyone because they're just as willing as me." She then pointed out as she looked over towards her sister and the white haired woman.

"..." Yumi didn't respond, only looking down with a guilty expression on her face.

"Don't worry, I can take the pain, Yumi." Homura reassured. "Pain is temporary, but a bond like this should last lifetimes." She then stated.

The light gray haired girl tried to counter with her own words, only to sigh in defeat. "Just...warn me before you go do something like that again." Yumi hesitantly requested. "I'll...I'll make sure to close my eyes then." She then added.

"And I...will...not die." Homura awkwardly assured. "Um, can you give me a second, I can think of something better to say, but I'm having a brain-fart right now. Or a brain freeze." She mumbled as she clutched her head.

"Or is it because of the burgers or the forceful starvation from Hunger?" Yumi assumed with a small smile.

"I'd...rather repress the memory of that insanity." Homura groaned. "After dealing with so much greasy food, I could go for a salad for dinner tonight." She then admitted.

"A salad would be wonderful right now." Yumi giggled. At that moment, the brunette and white haired woman had walked up to them. "Ah, Miyabi-san. Asuka-san." She soon noted as she handed Miyabi's drink to her.

"Hey." Miyabi greeted with a short wave as she gladly accepted it. "We were about to invite you two to eat with us." She then revealed.

"Perfect timing. We were just talking about getting salads." Homura got out with an amused smile.

"Ah, not wanting fast food after that whole mess, right?" Miyabi assumed with a smirk.

"Miyabi, I thought that was obvious." Homura deadpanned. "Come on, learn to read the room." She then added.

"Shut up..." Miyabi groaned as she rolled her eyes. "Now, do you wanna come with us or not? I'll be footing the bill tonight." She then questioned and offered.

"Really?" Yumi asked in concern. "But I thought you didn't-" She then started.

"I left my money at home last time." Miyabi informed with a sigh. "I'm not gonna let you spend even more money on me, Yumi." She then declared.

This meanwhile confused the two sisters. "How much money did you spend on her, Yumi-chan?" Asuka asked.

"About 140,000 yen for a kimono." Miyabi answered with no hesitation.

"EH!?" Asuka exclaimed in shock.

"What the actual hell!?" Homura called out before turning to the (slightly embarrassed) girl. "Senpai!" She then got out.

"Oh it's ok, my career as an idol pays me quite a hefty sum." Yumi reassured and revealed with an innocent smile.

"What about your information network?" Miyabi asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That's for Yusuke." Yumi bluntly answered.

"...Yeah, that makes sense." Homura bluntly admitted with a sweatdrop. "Now, are we gonna get some freaking salad today, or what?" She soon asked.

"That depends. Is there anywhere nearby we can get some? Or in Shibuya?" Miyabi soon asked.

"To the internet..." Asuka breathed out as everyone took out their phones and began searching.

Meanwhile, the tan skinned girl looks at the light gray haired girl. "Still, thank you for caring though...sister." Homura soon responded in a quiet and grateful tone.

"Aw...look at you two~" Miyabi teased. "You're acting like sisters. Hey, wait a minute, Yumi's an orphan again. Maybe she could get adopted into Asuka's family too." She then realized.

"Miyabi-chan!" Asuka gasped in horror as the light gray haired girl was struck silent.

"That's not cool!" Homura called out with a glare.

"What? I'm honestly suggesting that's an option." Miyabi however responded in a serious tone.

"I still have my other sisters back at Gessen." Yumi reminded.

"Oh." Miyabi got out, blinking. "...So-" She then started.

"My family isn't an orphanage!" Asuka called out with a pout before gaining a thoughtful expression. "Hmm...Yumi-chan and her sisters...also becoming my sisters too..." She soon mumbled out in a curious manner.

"Sis, are you serious?" Homura deadpanned.

"Just...Just thinking!" Asuka shyly explained. "A-And they would become your sisters too, Homu-neechan!" She then added.

To that, Homura paused...before starting to think about it as well. More sisters means a bigger family for her.

"Guys, please stop thinking about it!" Yumi requested while flailing her arms around childishly. "My sisters and I are not up for adoption! Please tell me you aren't serious!" She then stated.

"...I mean-" Homura began, only to see the very annoyed look the light gray haired girl had directed straight at her. "I-It's just a hypothetical. A-A joke, r-right, Sis?" She soon got out.

"O-Oh yeah. It's...just a thing to muse about, nothing more." Asuka responded in a mumbling tone.

"What?" Miyabi got out in confusion, only for the sisters to both elbow her stomach. "Oof! Yeah, joking, whatever! Ow..." She added and winced.

"Besides, if you two were my siblings, then you two would have to attend Gessen Academy." Yumi suddenly stated as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Huh!?" Asuka got out in confusion.

"Oh my God, you're still on that!?" Homura groaned in frustration. "I'm going to Hanzō, Yumi!" She then called out.

"Oh no, I was just pointing it out due to the fact that me and my sisters all attend Gessen Academy as well." Yumi responded and explained. "I am completely alright with you attending Hanzō Academy since Asuka-san is your real sister now and I do not wish to separate you two." She then stated.

"Thank you." Homura breathed out. "Besides, not even you will ever separate me and Sis." She then got out in a dead serious and somewhat threatening tone.

"I just said I wouldn't do such a thing." Yumi sighed. "But it makes me wonder what if I had gotten to you first. We would've made an excellent pair." She then added.

"I can imagine it, but maybe in another lifetime." Homura admitted.

"Like if Homu-neechan was found by Yumi-chan's grandfather?" Asuka assumed in a curious manner.

"I was thinking if I was transferred to Kosei instead." Homura got out with a shrug. "I mean, if that happened then..." She then started.

"Homura, don't." Yumi got out as she held the tan skinned girl's hands in comfort. She didn't want her to go back to those dark thoughts again. "No more what ifs." She soon whispered.

"Right. Thank you, Yumi." Homura breathed out with a bright smile.

"This is drifting into lover territory..." Miyabi remarked.

"It's sister-like!" Homura and Yumi exclaimed while blushing.

"Make out!" Someone nearby called out.

"SHUT UP!" Asuka shouted in a surprisingly furious manner with a raised fist.

"...Who the hell said that?" Miyabi had to ask as they looked around.

"That person over there." Yumi answered as she pointed to the guy, who subsequently exclaimed 'Oh shit!' and ran.

"Wait a minute, I know that guy. He's from Shujin!" Homura realized before glaring at the boy. "Let me go give him some disciplinary measures real quick." She then growled.

"Give him hell." Asuka all but ordered.

"Thank you, Sis." Homura responded in a grateful tone. "Hey! Get back here, Shokkā!" She then shouted out as she chased after the heckler.

"Look at her go...like a leopard chasing a deer." Miyabi remarked as they watched the tan skinned girl get to work.

"...Deers aren't in the same habitat as leopards." Yumi pointed out.

"It's just a saying, Yumi. A saying." Miyabi responded with a smile.

"GET BACK HERE!" Homura soon demanded. "SHOKKĀ! YOU CAN'T ESCAPE ME! I'LL CHASE YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!" She soon declared.

"That's...oddly violent." Yumi muttered in concern. "Are we sure she won't hurt him?" She then asked.

"That jerk has been doing that since we started Shujin..." Asuka grumbled with a pout. "He deserves a little pain." She then added.

"Ouch." Miyabi winced. "So uh...have we found a good salad place yet?" She soon asked the others.

"Uh...no." Asuka answered.

"I've been here for much longer, but I haven't been anywhere that has good salad." Yumi lamented. Of all the places she went to with Yusuke, not one of them had a decent serving.

"Oh, Homura's back." Miyabi got out as the tan skinned girl jogged back to her friends.

"That was fast." Yumi remarked.

"Yeah. Idiot tripped and landed on some girl." Homura informed. The girl looked pretty interesting, she had green and blue heterochromia "She's doing worse stuff to Shokkā than I would ever do." She then assumed with an amused smile.

"Why?" Miyabi had to ask.

"He thought he ran into a wall." Homura answered with a smirk. "Anyways, still no good salad place?" She soon assumed.

"Nope." Yumi responded with a shake of her head. "Do you have anything?" She then asked.

"Oh wait, me and Ann went to a good salad place once." Homura recalled. "It's at Tower Records, Vegelovers." She then remembered.

"The one that serves canned air?" Yumi recalled.

"That's actually a thing?" Miyabi asked in disbelief.

"It's an option, but it does have great salads." Homura responded.

"...I kinda wanna try that canned air though." Asuka soon admitted. "You know, just so I can say I tried it." She then explained.

"As weird and goofy as always, Asuka." Miyabi quipped with an amused smirk.

"Hehe, moh." Asuka giggled out.

"My, you two are becoming close." Yumi teasingly noted in amusement. "Have anything to say about that, Homura?" She then asked.

"...Are you trying something here?" Homura had to ask, getting what the light haired girl was doing.

"Uh what? Asuka's just my cheeky student." Miyabi responded in confusion with a raised eyebrow.

"And Miyabi-chan is my super awesome sensei!" Asuka added with a fist pump.

"Ufufu~ Of course you two are." Homura and Yumi playfully giggled out in perfect sync with a hand to their mouths.

Asuka's eye twitched a little.

"Asuka? Are you getting jealous~?" Miyabi teased.

"E-Eh!? N-No, I-I'm glad Yumi-chan is getting so close with Homu-neechan!" Asuka sputtered in a nervous manner.

"Hey, it's getting late and all the good restaurants are gonna close soon." Homura reminded. "Come on, let's go before Vegelovers start packing up." She soon got out.

"O-Oh. Right." The Vice Leader responded with a nod before they all began walking to the train station before realizing something. "Ah, wasn't today supposed to be used to train Haru-chan?" She suddenly remembered.

The tan skinned girl blinked. "Guess we have to wait until Sports Day then." Homura sighed.

"That sounds like a good idea." Yumi agreed.

"And hopefully, nothing happens until then." Miyabi stated.

"And you jinxed it." Homura deadpanned.

With that, the shinobi left as the sun began to set, marking the end of this chapter in their lives...

Unaware of a new one soon to be opened somewhere down the line, much darker than the night that consumed the sky.


(9/25, Evening)

(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)

Haruka let out a breath as she opened the window into Akira's room. She had left work a few minutes ago, but didn't feel like heading all the way home for some well-earned rest. The room was dark, however, with only the moon giving her enough light to see inside, where she saw that the boy she loved was in bed already with his pet. Looks like he had a big day today, considering he hadn't even bothered to change into his sleepwear. Instead, he had thrown his shirt and shoes somewhere before hitting the hay.

Haruka couldn't help but swoon at the sight of the two curled up together sleeping. "How cute." She then commented almost softly, so as to not wake the two up in the middle of the night.

She then leaped from the window and across the bed, landing quietly on the bedside while looking at the sleeping two.

"Darling?" Haruka got out as she gently shook the boy awake.

"Hm?" Akira groaned as he struggled to open his eyes. "Huh? What time is it?" He mumbled out.

Haruka frowned before checking the time on her phone. "It's only 7 PM." She pointed out.

"Ugh...I closed my eyes for a minute..." Akira grumbled before letting out a huge yawn.

"You still look a little tired." Haruka noted in concern.

"I just had a full day today." Akira then explained.

"On a Sunday?" Haruka pointed out to him.

"I'm a very busy person." Akira responded in a flat tone.

"...One of these days, you're actually going to tell me what you do with your time." Haruka responded in growing concern.

"I've told you before." Akira reminded, mentally wincing. "Like...I'm helping out a friend with their work." He then added.

"...That is the most vague answer I've ever gotten from you." Haruka deadpanned.

"It was Ryuji and he needed me to help him assemble furniture." Akira smoothly lied. "When they nickname it the Divorcemaker, they mean it." He then lightly chuckled.

Haruka narrowed her eyes. "...Are you-" She began, however the Leader already had an answer.

"Yes, our friendship is stronger than ever." Akira interrupted.

"...You're getting worse at lying to me. I won't pry into your business, but...whatever you're doing, don't make me worry too much." Haruka muttered. "I just came here to say that another Hebijo shinobi has come to Tokyo." She then revealed in a more serious tone.

"...Who?" Akira soon asked in concern.

"Murasaki-chan's older sister and Miyabi's confidant, Imu." Haruka answered in the same serious tone.

To that, the Leader narrowed his eyes upon hearing that information. "So Murasaki-chan was a shinobi." Akira stated, feigning ignorance.

"..." Haruka went silent.

"You didn't mean to mention that, did you?" Akira assumed.

"I thought you already knew." Haruka had to admit.

"Well, what did you expect?" Akira responded. "Didn't think someone who was crying and hugging some random person he didn't know would be one." He then pointed out.

"I...guess that's fair." Haruka admitted. "So...I heard the Phantom Thieves made their move this morning." She soon got out.

"Been hearing about it all day, Haruka." Akira sighed as he ran his hand through his messy hair. "What do you think...about the whole thing?" He soon questioned.

"The Phantom Thieves are becoming more..." Haruka started before pausing. "What's the word?" She soon asked.

"Reckless? Stupid?" Akira listed off with a sigh. "Oh, I know, recklessly stupid." He then added.

"I wouldn't say that." Haruka giggleed. "I'm assuming that was the opinion of the public?" She then guessed.

"Yep." Akira nodded. "But you don't get where you are without reckless, stupid actions. I mean, look at me, I am the pinnacle of both things." He then claimed with a cheeky smile.

"You are not stupid." Haruka insisted. "You are..." She then began before closing her eyes.

"An ass?" Akira assumed in a flat tone.

"Everything I could ever want out of life." Haruka concluded before leaning in.

"H-Haruka." Akira got out, blinking.

Suddenly, time began to slow down.

He could feel his heart beat slightly faster, blood rush to his cheeks, how...right this moment was.

Why wasn't he stopping her?

Why was he leaning in?

Oh God, was he about to-

Suddenly, Haruka clenched her hand into a fist and stopped herself. No...not now. She...She needed to do this somewhere other than his room.

"Is...that movie date still on?" Haruka quietly asked.

The Leader snapped back to reality. "O-Oh. Yeah, definitely." Akira responded, looking away from the girl. "I have a pretty open schedule now." He then added with a chuckle.

"Oh. Well...I'll...or maybe you could..." Haruka stammered as she tried to keep herself together. "J-Just swing by the clinic or call me when you're available, okay?" She soon reminded and requested.

"I will." Akira responded as he yawned again. "Now, do you mind letting me go to sleep now?" He soon requested.

"It depends. Have room for one more?" Haruka responded and asked.

"...Feel free to join." Akira soon offered.

To that, Haruka softly smiled as she got herself into the bed and snuggled up to the boy's back.


(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)

Meanwhile, the shinobi of the Phantom Thieves all decided to head to Apartment 269 after having their salads. They had also decided to take some air in a can home to try together for the novelty.

"Okay, this is it." Homura muttered with a frown.

"Bottoms up!" Miyabi declared as they opened their cans.

"AH!" Asuka yelped, shivering from the air now entering her lungs.

Meanwhile, the tan skinned girl was reading the health information on the side of the can and gasped in too much normal air, causing her to cough. "Why is canned air 400 calories!?" Homura exclaimed.

"I swear if our cup sizes go up, I'm going to stop eating food." Miyabi mumbled with a sigh before inhaling her can.

"Oooohhhh wow, that's the stuff." Yumi got out with a delightful shudder, consuming the fresh, crisp air from her can little by little. How they've managed to capture the perfect morning outside was mind-boggling. "...Homura-san, are you going to have yours?" She soon asked.

"Hold on, senpai, give me a second." Homura got out before opening her can and inhaling the air.

"Do you like it, Homu-neechan?" Asuka soon asked.

"...That was a waste of 4,280 yen..." Homura sighed as she threw the empty can into the bin without looking.

"17,120 yen." Miyabi corrected. "We all bought one. And let me just say that the cute pun doesn't save it." She then added.

However, Yumi was a lot more...enthusiastic. "Can I order more online? Is it too late? Is VegeLovers closed? Hold on, let me go check real quick." She soon got out in a barely understandable speed before standing up to head out, only for the sisters to pull her back down.

"Yumi!" Homura couldn't help but laugh a little at her friend's giddiness. "Did you really enjoy canned air?" She soon questioned.

Yumi coughed. "I-I'm so sorry, it just...it felt like home." She soon admitted.

To that, the others winced in realization. "Oh." They all responded.

"Well, it certainly smells better than the infirmary...or Hebijo in general." Miyabi muttered under her breath. It either smelled like burned wood, corpses, or burned corpses. It's surprising how used to it you get.

"...It really has been a long time since we've all been home, huh?" Asuka suddenly got out in a melancholic manner.

"Yeah..." Homura breathed out. And she was all the more happier for it.

"Hai..." Yumi sighed. She couldn't imagine how much she missed while she was here.

"...Well, I've only been away for 68 days, but who's counting?" Miyabi soon pointed out, only to get a pinch on the arm. "Ow!" She yelped, glaring at the tan skinned girl as she rubbed the sore spot.

"Dammit, one off the magic number." Wolverine suddenly stated in the tan-skinned girl's head.

"Shut up, Wolverine." Homura thought as her eye twitched.

"We really need to solve this entire mess before we can all go home." Miyabi mumbled.

"Black Mask, the Conspiracy, Morgana-chan's memories..." Asuka listed off.

"That's all for later." Homura stated. "We have something more present to worry about." She then reminded.

"So...what do we do now that Okumura is...?" Yumi began before trailing off, unsure of how to end the sentence.

"We'll have to rely on Haru-chan to provide us with updates. Other than that, wait." Asuka answered with a sigh.

"Another killer wait." Miyabi mumbled out as she crossed her arms.

"Don't say that!" Homura snapped.

Miyabi winced. "Sorry. A poor choice of words." She apologized. "We should really do something to keep our minds off of him before it drives us insane from worry." She soon suggested.

"Hai..." Asuka agreed with a nod.

"Well, we can discuss that tomorrow. I must head home now." Yumi got out as she stood up. "It's been a lovely evening, everyone. I will see you all later." She soon stated.

"Um, you might wanna rethink that, Yumi." Miyabi however spoke up as she pulled out her phone. "Becauseeee..." She then began as she held up her pointer finger.

"..." Asuka blinked, not knowing what was happening as the white haired woman just went silent.

"..." Homura, meanwhile, raised her eyebrow. What the hell was the white haired woman trying to do?

"...Miyabi?" Yumi finally broke the silence in an exasperated manner.

"...There we go. The last train just left." Miyabi finally informed.

"Oh." The gray haired girl got out.

"You seriously waited until the last train left?" Homura deadpanned. "You could've just said you wanted her to stay." She then pointed out.

"Well...um..." Miyabi stammered as she tried to keep up her mature and aloof image before giving up. "Yeah, I wanted Yumi to stay." She relented.

"I see." Yumi giggled as she sat back down. "Well, I guess we're having a sleepover." She then stated with a smile.

"Sleepover!" Asuka happily and excitedly declared.

"Sleepover!" Homura cheered as well.

"SLEEPOVER!" Miyabi literally yelled...in the middle of the night. "...Too loud?" She soon squeaked.

"Yes. Too loud." Yumi deadpanned. "I think you spooked a lot of people from the other rooms." She then added.

"Well, we haven't gotten noise complaints before but I'd rather not push it." Homura pointed out. "After all, thin walls." She then reminded. "In any case, Sis, you and Yumi go take a bath first." She soon instructed.

"Hai. Come on, Yumi-chan!" Asuka responded with a nod as she and the light gray haired girl headed to the bathroom.

"...I really hope this foreboding sense of doom is just my paranoia..." Miyabi muttered as she watched the two Good Shinobi strip their clothes off along the way. But then she noticed the tan skinned girl looking at her. "...What?" She soon asked.

"Miyabi. We need to talk." Homura responded, causing the white haired woman to raise an eyebrow.

"About what? Our hobbies?" Miyabi questioned with a frown. "What's bothering you this time, Homura?" She then pressed in a rather exasperated manner.

Homura scowled before sighing. "You still have that Dōgen prick's kill switch on you?" She finally asked.

At that moment, Miyabi's thoughts halted, along with her usual train of thought.


(Hanzō Secret Base)

Yagyū let out a huge sigh as she sat down on her bed, wearing nothing but a towel as she grabbed her phone.

"How did they do it?" The white haired girl whispered to herself.

It had been exactly six hours since she saw a change of heart take effect and she still didn't know what exactly happened. All she knew was that she was powerless to stop it.

"The Phantom Thieves...truly are a scary force of nature." Yagyū sighed before she tapped on her phone, calling the first person she thought of to talk to about this.

"Hello, Yagyū-san." A familiar mature and refined young female voice spoke from the phone. "I assume this is going to be your usual report?" Ikaruga then questioned.

"I do." Yagyū replied, her posture straightened.

"Screw the report!" Katsuragi's voice suddenly called out.

Yagyū had immediately pulled her phone away from the shouting as there was a slight scuffle before she cautiously pressed it against her ear again. "Hello?" She hesitantly got out.

"You didn't have to take it from me, Katsuragi-san!" Ikaruga's voice spat out.

"Well, I wanna know now!" Katsuragi countered.

"We can all know together. Calm down." Ikaruga responded in a firm manner. "Just simply turn the loudspeaker option on." She then instructed.

"...Alright..." The blonde relented.

"Thank you." The acting leader breathed out before focusing back on the call. "Now, Yagyū-san...What...What happened to Okumura-san?" Ikaruga soon asked.

"...It happened this afternoon." Yagyū began. "I was at the Okumura Residence, guarding the premises when I saw Okumura suddenly just...stop." She then informed with a frown.

"He froze?" Hibari gasped in a worried tone.

"Yes. He went quiet and stood for several moments. He looked...sad." Yagyū responded with a frown. "Then he went to his study. I tried asking what was wrong but he had locked the door. No response. He's been there for hours now and he was still there when I left." She then muttered.

"Where was Haru?" Ikaruga soon asked.

"Out with friends." Yagyū answered. She had been rather vague when they both talked about it, but she assumed she needed the space. She didn't want to pry. "Came back an hour or two after Okumura-san froze." She then added.

"Was that the change of heart effect happening to him?" Ikaruga assumed.

"It's likely that it was." Yagyū breathed out. "I...I didn't even see anyone or anything. It just...happened." She then revealed.

"And that was it?" Katsuragi got out in disbelief. "Not even a shimmer or...something?" She then pressed.

"No. If there was anyone in there with him, I would've detected it." Yagyū responded as she shook her head.

"So...does that mean the Phantom Thieves...succeeded?" Hibari eventually claimed in a little bit of a meek tone.

"It's...very likely that they did." Yagyū sighed. "We failed the mission." She then summarized.

"...Is it bad that I wanted the mission to fail?" Katsuragi admitted.

"No." Ikaruga responded. "After meeting the man himself again...and after seeing how he treated Haru..." She then began, her voice shaking with rage.

"So what happens now?" Yagyū finally asked, feeling like they did not have any more options left in terms of their client's current issues and predicaments.

There was a little bit of silence before the white haired girl heard Ikaruga letting out a huge sigh. "I'll discuss it with Kiriya-sensei tomorrow on what our next move will be." She then answered.

"That would be the best course of action." The white haired girl agreed.

"No way, I refuse to believe you saw nothing." Katsuragi got out. "Come on, Yagyū, did you meet anyone suspicious today?" She then questioned.

The white haired girl was about to deny, only to pause. "Goro Akechi..." Yagyū muttered with a frown. "It may be just my imagination, but I feel uneasy around him. Not because of paranoia and the chance he may find out about my true purpose in Okumura Foods, but his...demeanor. On TV, his personality is quite charismatic, she cannot help but feel as though he could be a friend after a coffee together. He has great conviction in his beliefs, but when face to face with him...I don't know, I feel...almost scared to be around him. His smile seemed fake, his eyes were more like voids. It's strange, but...something just didn't feel...right about him..." She then admitted.

She was going to look into him carefully...

"Ugh, I never trust celebrities." Katsuragi scoffed. "But I think you're just being a little paranoid. Not like the guy's a murderer or anything." She then stated.

Yagyū simply hummed in response, somehow acknowledging that insight. To be fair, she only met the young man once face-to-face despite his popularity on the public media. Still, she might be overthinking things, but her observations towards the young detective still had to stay, just in case...


(?)

In a dark and dingy alleyway, Black Mask let out a breath and leaned against the wall.

He had to run. Run faster and farther than he had ever done before.

That was the first time he had fought others like him. It was a lot more stressful than expected, despite his preparations, training, and the weakened state of the Thieves.

Still, at the end of the day, he still had to call his benefactor.

After steadying his breath, he pulled out his phone and dialed the number.

"Sir...I managed to complete the task." Black Mask spoke with an actual phone placed on his ear, talking with someone in particular. "...Barely." He then added in a much quieter manner.

"Barely?" The benefactor repeated. It was a deep male voice, someone who was older. "What do you mean, barely?" He then asked.

"There were complications. I had to act fast before the opportunity was wasted." Black Mask replied with a stern voice.

There was a pause. "Explain." He all but ordered.

"I managed to shoot him, but my aim was off because of a damned cat. It'll be a slow death rather than a quick one, but a death nonetheless." Black Mask assured, frowning a little. To be honest, something like this never happened before, but he was sure that the plan would go unimpeded. "I would've finished him off, but the intruders caught me and had no choice but to engage in battle. They somehow suspected me of making a move. As you can see, I am calling to you right now, which means I managed to escape from their clutches." He then added.

"Hmm...why did you not finish the deed after they left the Palace?" His benefactor soon questioned.

"They were still there with him when they're about to send Okumura's Shadow to his real self, and the Palace was on the brink of collapsing, so I had to do what I had to...even if it meant giving away my position to them." Black Mask responded.

"...You really took a big risk there." The benefactor simply stated to him.

"One that shall never happen again." Black Mask promised.

"Were you recognized by them?" The benefactor soon asked.

"That would be impossible." Black Mask sighed in slight annoyance. "My mask covers mostly around my head and face, so they have a very hard time figuring out my identity while I was fighting and escaping capture." He then explained.

"Make sure. Our identities must not be compromised." His benefactor then reminded.

"They were more of a threat than I expected..." Black Mask admitted with a frown. "How they were able to source a portable minigun of all things is a wonder." He soon muttered under his breath.

"A minigun?" His benefactor repeated. "Hm, quite the heavy artillery. We'll have to investigate where they've gotten one." He then added.

Black Mask nearly scoffed. Of course he cared more about the gun that nearly shredded him than the wellbeing of his assassin. "I also noticed that there are some people in their group who are much more advanced and experienced in terms of combat, like they are not civilians to begin with." He began informing him. "They even knew I was out to assassinate him." He then added.

"Like I said, do not ever underestimate them." The man on the other side reminded. "We don't know what each of their members are capable of, but together they've managed to make the giant mess we must clean up." He then added.

"Yes...they did. They are truly fearless in...some respects." Black Mask then admitted, blushing a little at the memory.

He couldn't even believe they fought him while being actually naked in front of his eyes.

"Well, I suppose I can at least commend you for your task. Otherwise, I would be very angry if I see failures in my plan." His benefactor remarked.

"Very well." Black Mask told his contact. "I'll contact you soon, sir, in case something comes up." He then assured.

"Keep me posted." The benefactor simply ordered.

"Yes, sir." Black Mask dutifully responded.

With that, his benefactor hung up.

Letting out a calming breath, Black Mask shoved his phone into his pocket. "Soon." He promised to himself.

Soon, he'll have his revenge.

And the best revenge was often served cold.


Save Game…Quit!


Joker

Level: 58

Personas: Arsene (Resist: Curse) (Weak: Ice, Bless), Jack Frost (Null: Ice) (Weak: Fire), Werecat (Resists: Curse, Physical) (Weak: Bless, Water), Queen Mab (Null: Fire) (Resist: Electric) (Weak: Wind), Tlaltecuhtli (Resists: Physical) (Drain: Electricity) (Weak: Ice), Raga Naga (Null: Electricity), Mermaid (Resists: Water, Fire) (Weak: Electric, Earth), Koumokuten (Resist: Physical, Bless) (Weak: Ice), Kikuri-Hime (Null: Wind) (Resists: Bless) (Weak: Fire), Tsukiyomi Picaro (Repel: Curse) (Resist: Physical, Bless) (Weak: Nuclear)

Persona Trait: Arsene- Last Stand (Allows use of ambush-only skills after Baton Pass), Jack Frost- Ice Lineage (Chance to halve costs of Ice skills), Werecat- Relief Bloodline (Reduce cost of Support skills by 50%), Queen Mab- Static Electricity (Increases chance of inflicting Shock on downed foes), Tlaltecuhtli- Relentless (Damage that strikes foe weaknesses increases), Raga Naga- Electric Bloodline (Halves costs of Elec skills), Mermaid- Wet Bloodline (Chance to decrease cost of Water skills), Koumokuten- Gluttonmouth (Strengthens own HP recovery by 50%), Kukuri-Hime- Relief Bloodline (Halves costs of Support skills), Tsukiyomi Picaro- Bolstering Force (Damage dealt during 1 More +50%)

Skills: Eiga, Maeiga, Snap, Speed Master, Tetrakarn, Matrakarn, Tarukaja, Bufudyne, Mabufula, Megidola, Ice Break, Baisudi, Rakunda, Freeze Boost, Null Fire, Matarukaja, Marakukaja (X2), Masukukaja, Heat Riser, Debilitate, Matarunda, Marakunda, Masukunda, Megido, Mazionga, Agidyne, Null Ice, Rakukaja, Deathbound, Ziodyne, Elec Break, Tentarafoo, Shock Boost, Makarakarn, Maziodyne, Evade Wind, Aquadyne, Malaques, Media, Assault Dive, Regenerate 2, Revolution, Attack Master, Ice Wall, Enduring Soul, Deadly Fury, Lullaby, Energy Drop, Mediarama, Tetraja, Divine Grace, Abyssal Wings, Absorb Curse, Myriad Slashes, Spirit Drain, Curse Amp, Vorpal Blade, Spell Master

Accessory: SP Adhesive 3 (Invigorate 3)

Yin

Level: 58

Persona: Kaeru (Resist: Earth, Fire) (Weak: Wind, Gun)

Persona Trait: Path of Light (Gain some HP when using support/healing skills)

Skills: Magnadyne, Mediarahan, Sukukaja, Miracle Punch, Mamagndyne, Masukukaja, Earth Boost, Makajamaon, Null Fear, Tetrakarn, Tetraja, Earth Break, Life Aid, Speed Master

Confidant Rank: Rank 9

Twin Style: Trained at birth, uses twin blades to quickly strike at enemies, though not for much damage but delivers many combos.

Yiitsu Style: A style developed for katana use with Miyabi's teachings, it allows Asuka to enhance all her attacks and skills, but at the cost of increasing energy costs with each subsequent use.

Accessory: Skanda Belt (Speed Master)

Yang

Level: 58

Persona: Wolverine (Resist: Physical, Gun, Fire, Wind) (Weak: Water, Earth, Bless, Psychokinesis)

Persona Trait: Path of Crimson (Gain some HP when using Physical/Magic skills)

Skills: Agilao, Cleave, Hientou, Regenerate 3, Terror Claw, Triple Down, Swift Strike, Fire Amp, Charge, Riot Gun, Bloodbath, Arms Master, Ghastly Wail, Heat Up, Attack Master

Confidant Rank: Rank 9

Six Sword Style: Self trained since Hebijo, uses her six katanas at once to physically cut down enemies.

Noh Style: After training in the ways of elegance, more akin to her fire element as she uses twin fans to burn her enemies.

Accessory: Tough Belt (Defense Master)

Mona

Level: 57

Persona: Zorro (Resist: Wind) (Weak: Elec)

Persona Trait: Proud Presence (Increases effect of allies' healing skills)

Skills: Garudyne, Diarahan, Patra, Mediarama, Miracle Punch, Magarula, Me Patra, Samarecarm, Wind Break, Wind Boost, Masukunda

Confidant Rank: Rank 9

Accessory: Fish God's Badge (Ali Dance)

Skull

Level: 56

Persona: Seiten Taisei (Null: Elec) (Resist: Fire) (Weak: Wind)

Persona Trait: Raging Temper (Might increase allies' physical attacks by 40%)

Skills: Lunge, Ziodyne, Tarukaja, Headbutt, Adverse Resolve, Rampage, Mazionga, Bad Beat, Assault Dive, Swift Strike, Shock Boost, Evade Wind, Elec Break, Deathbound, Elec Boost, Megaton Raid

Confidant Rank: Rank 10 (Max)

Accessory: Rakshasa Belt (Attack Master)

Panther

Level: 57

Persona: Hecate (Null: Fire) (Resist: Electric) (Weak: Water)

Persona Trait: Mastery of Magic (May decrease SP cost of allies' magic skills)

Skills: Agidyne, Diarahan, Dormina, Tarunda, Maragidyne, Dekaja, Fire Break, Lullaby, Ambient Aid, Fire Boost, Matarunda, Evade Water, Evade Ice, Burn Boost

Confidant Rank: Rank 10 (Max)

Accessory: Crimson Necklace (Fire Amp)

Fox

Level: 56

Persona: Kamu Susano-o (Null: Ice) (Resists: Wind) (Weak: Fire)

Persona Trait: Scoundrel Eyes (High chance to evade Phys attacks for all allies.)

Skills: Bufudyne, Giant Slice, Sukukaja, Vicious Strike, Mabufula, Counterstrike, Rising Slash, Dormin Rush, Speed Master, Tempest Slash, Heat Wave, Evade Fire, Deadly Fury, Masukukaja

Confidant Rank: Rank 10 (Max)

Accessory: Rebellion Anklet (Rebellion)

Widow

Level: 58

Persona: Fūma (Resists: Ice, Water) (Weak: Fire, Curse)

Persona Trait: Dance of Justice (Chance to trigger a Baton Pass for the next ally when hitting a resistance.)

Skills: Bufudyne, Mabufudyne, Aquadyne, Ice Boost, Water Boost, Dazzler, Makajama, Malaquadyne, Snipe, Dormina, Fortify Spirit, Lullaby, Ailment Boost, Water Break, Cripple

Confidant Rank: Rank 9

Accessory: Clear Crystal Necklace (Water Amp)

Queen

Level: 57

Persona: Johanna (Resist: Nuclear) (Weak: Psychic)

Persona Trait: Gaia Pact (Increase allies' chance of inflicting Burn/Freeze/Shock/Soak by 25%.)

Skills: Freidyne, Mafreila, Vajra Blast, Diarahan, Rakukaja, Makajama, Energy Shower, Flash Bomb, Dekunda, Defense Master, Nuke Break, Nuke Boost, Marakukaja

Confidant Rank: Rank 8

Accessory: White Headband R (Life Surge / Endurance +8)

Serpent

Level: 57

Persona: Nobunaga (Resist: Curse) (Weak: Bless)

Persona Trait: Self-Destructive (Increase cost of skills when health is low)

Skills: Eigaon, Maeiga, Kougaon, Mamudoon, Mahamaon, Megaton Raid, Heat Wave, Foul Breath, Endure, Ominous Words, Stagnant Air, Evil Touch, Taunt, Survival Trick

Confidant Rank: Rank 4

Accessory: Thief Mask (Null Brainwash)

Oracle

Level: 56

Persona: Necronomicon

Persona Trait:Explosive Scheme (All-Out Attacks may defeat all foes and restore 25% HP to all allies)

Skills: Analysis, Subrecover HP, Subrecover SP

Confidant Rank: Rank 4

Accessory: Headphones (High fidelity for real audiophiles.)

Noir

Level: 56

Persona: Milady (Resist: Psychic) (Weak: Nuclear)

Persona Trait: Icy Glare (Decreases allies' chance of being inflicted by ailments by 25%.)

Skills: Psiodyne, Mapsio, Triple Down, Amrita Drop, Fast Heal, Psy Break, Tentarafoo, Tetrakarn, Psy Boost, Makarakarn, Climate Decorum, Gun Boost, Snipe

Accessory: Grand Slam Charm (Apt Pupil)


Whew! Done! Um…I actually have to admit something. You might recognise a plot point that is similar to one in The Many Quirks of Phantom Thievery by PsychicBeagle. I assure you that was by complete accident. That was planned for a very long time. I only found out about this just by scrolling through TV Tropes. That's a whoops.

Anyways, now we've got some time to do some stuff, such as complete some Confidants, do some fun stuff, and some other third thing.

UknownHero signing off, my friends!