Senran Persona: Ninjas of Hearts

by UknownHero

Collab with JGResidentEvil and VividMind17. Fate can be an interesting thing within life. It can bring unexpected changes that no one can truly see. For two girls, those that were destined to be rivals between good and evil, changed under the masks of rebellion to forge their own true paths. Now get up and stand your ground because these sexy ninjas are gonna steal your heart!

128. Shadows of Doubt

Hey, we got another chapter out in this month! UknownHero here and welcome to another chapter of Senran Persona! God, Spider-Man 2 is coming out so damn soon. I might be taking a break to play the game when it comes out.

Senran Persona: Ninjas of Hearts has a TV Tropes page! Help make it more awesome!

Onto the reviews! To RosyMiranto18: Wow, those are some really cool suggestions for the Third Awakening. I don't think we're doing it in this story, but we've also been talking about changing Miyabi's Second Awakening too. We'll see where this goes. To Qwark's Account: Holy crap, thank you. To be honest, I've been having some real doubts on my writing ability lately but seeing a review like that makes me glad that we're doing this. I promise you, Royal content will be worked on eventually. To Tailsmo4ever: Goddammit, I need to look up more one liners. To Ironwall: Oh, I assure you, the Valentine's Beatdown is definitely in this story.

Anyways, that's it! Time to stir up trouble.

Load Game…Start!

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Chapter 128: Shadows of Doubt

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(9/26, Early Morning)

(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)

Miyabi let out a breath as she exited the bathroom while drying her short hair. Her day had started bright and early, when Yumi felt something crawl up her leg (it was just Asuka, mistaking her for her sister). After calmly ensuring that there were no spiders, cockroaches, rats, or snakes (with kunai), they had begun their morning routines.

Miyabi had to admit, it felt sort of nostalgic as everyone did their stuff to prepare for the day. Asuka and Homura were cooking breakfast, Yumi was cleaning the apartment, and Miyabi was the last to take a bath.

In contrast to the absolute insanity of yesterday, today felt...good, for the lack of a better term.

"Miyabi, are you going to stand there in nothing but a towel all day, or are you going to get dressed?" Yumi questioned in a flat manner.

"Just, you know, taking it in." Miyabi responded with a sigh.

"Taking in what?" Yumi got out with a raised eyebrow.

"The atmosphere." The woman answered with a small smile. "Feels sort of like...home." She admitted.

"Well, you're welcome here at any time, Miyabi-chan!" Asuka assured.

"Because you'll just break in anyways." Homura deadpanned. "Now get dressed already! Breakfast is almost done." She then added and stated.

"Alright, alright." Miyabi got out before heading for the door.

Yumi noticed the woman leaving and did a double take. "Miyabi, where are you going?" She questioned.

"...To my apartment next door to get fresh clothes?" Miyabi answered, looking a little confused why the younger girl would ask in the first place.

"Can't you wear the clothes you came in with instead of heading outside in nothing but a wet towel?" Yumi soon questioned.

"It's literally two seconds away. And it's not like there's a lot of people on this floor." Miyabi stated as she grabbed her old clothes. "I'll be back in a minute with my dignity intact. Promise." She then reassured.

"Okay, but you can only blame yourself if a strong breeze leaves you with nothing but a smile." Yumi warned with a joking smile.

"It would be more of a scowl than anything else..." Miyabi muttered under breath before heading out the door.

"...Is it bad that I do not expect to get that towel back?" Homura couldn't help but admit.

"It may be a low chance, but never zero." Asuka sighed as she shook her head.

"Never zero." Yumi and Homura agreed.

"Anyways, I think the apartment is clean enough, Yumi-senpai." Homura soon stated, causing the gray haired girl to stop. "You didn't have to, but thanks." She then added.

"It is of no concern. I needed something to do while you two made breakfast." Yumi responded before noticing the large piles of food in the kitchen. "And that's quite a lot of breakfast." She soon remarked.

"Gotta feed four mouths who just went through hell." Homura simply stated. "And to get rid of the Big Bang Burger taste out of my mouth. So many goddamn burgers..." She then mumbled.

"This feels like a complete 180, Homu-neechan." Asuka couldn't help but notice. "You practically used to go to the place every week to take the challenge." She then added.

"And I will never step foot in there ever again unless it's with a friend." Homura declared. "I put my body through enough torture attempting that." She then groaned.

"And that will only continue in the next Palace." Yumi reminded.

At that moment, the only adult in the Phantom Thieves returned, sporting a fresh set of clothes. "See? Nothing happened." Miyabi stated with a smile as she returned the towel to the bathroom.

"Welcome back from your epic quest, Miyabi." Homura sarcastically got out as she rolled her eyes.

"Just in time too!" Asuka added as she began putting down plates, bowls, and cups on the table.

To that, the white haired woman looked towards the table and went wide-eyed. "Well this is a feast!" Miyabi remarked.

"After yesterday, I felt like we deserve to pig out on things not Big Bang Burger related." Homura replied as she set down the mound of rice.

"Um...I don't want to over eat though..." Yumi admitted. She puked enough for one week. "Are you willing to give me some leftovers before I head home?" She soon asked.

"Sure, senpai." Homura responded with a nod. "Now sit down. We're about ready to eat." She soon got out.

"Hai." Yumi responded as she and the white haired woman took their seats.

"Alright, we have rice, miso soup, grilled fish, bacon, tamagoyaki, pickled vegetables, natto, and...soy sauce." Asuka listed off before setting down the bottle and taking her seat next to her sister.

"Thank you for the food!" The four got out as they gently clapped their hands in a praying position in front of them and soon started digging into their breakfast.

"Why did you cook bacon?" Miyabi had to ask as she took some tamagoyaki.

"It was about to expire." Asuka answered with a shrug. "And who doesn't love a little bacon?" She then asked.

"Vegetarians, vegans, animal rights activists, people who really love pigs..." Yumi answered, listing off each kind of person.

"I meant that rhetorically, Yumi-chan..." The Vice Leader whined while the others giggled in amusement. "So, does anyone have anything to do to keep them busy while we wait?" She soon asked.

"I got my committee." Homura spoke up.

"I have my duties at Kosei and at my idol job." Yumi got out.

"And I have shit to do." Miyabi vaguely responded. "What about you, Asuka?" She soon asked.

"Oh, I-" Asuka began before she paused. "...Uh...besides modeling, I...need to...clean our guns?" She then stammered out, feeling a little lost on what she had to do.

"Come on, you don't need to go to Leblanc?" Homura stated to her. "All that curry and sushi saved us yesterday, so we should probably start stockpiling again." She then added.

"I don't wanna use any more of Boss's ingredients." Asuka responded. "I should be making it all here at home." She then decided.

"Do you usually have curry for dinner?" Miyabi soon asked.

"Erm...not very often..." Asuka soon admitted. "I guess I'm going shopping today. We're having curry tonight." She then got out.

"Oh, then can I-" The woman instantly began to ask.

"Miyabi, you're a grown woman. You can't mooch off us." Homura deadpanned. "...But if you want to, you can come." She then offered.

"I'll be there." Miyabi responded with a nod.

Yumi soon let out a sigh. "I really wish I had gotten an apartment here instead of the one I have in Shinjuku." She soon confessed.

"Then why don't you ask your school to let you move?" Asuka questioned.

"The apartment...was recommended by Ojii-sama." Yumi revealed.

"...That's kind of a weak reason." Miyabi bluntly stated.

"Miyabi!" Homura got out in an offended manner.

"No, she's right." Yumi however agreed as she shook her head. "It was supposed to be temporary, maybe only a month's stay but...until I met you all...and when Ojii-sama passed away..."She soon revealed and stated in a saddened tone.

Miyabi in turn winced at that. "We get it..." She responded. "I'd...would be the same with Mama..." She confessed.

"We should stop talking about this." Asuka muttered. "So...um...hey, do you have a school pet at Kosei? We have a turtle." She soon asked to change the subject.

"We do?" Homura got out with widened eyes.

"Yeah! It's right near the...P.E. office..." Asuka informed before trailing off in realization.

"Ah." Homura squeaked. Even if it was taken over by someone remarkably better than the previous person, she and the rest of the Thieves avoided that place like a plague. "...Crapbaskets..." She then grumbled.

"That turtle has probably seen a lot of shit." Miyabi remarked. "So, Yumi, your school pet?" She soon asked before grabbing a cup of water.

"Ah, we do have one." Yumi remembered.

"What is it? A beetle? A snake? A mouse?" Homura assumed, catching a glance at Miyabi drinking.

"A peacock." Yumi bluntly revealed.

"PFFT!" Miyabi spurted out her drink to her side in surprise to avoid hitting in front of her fellow kunoichi before coughing.

"...Really?" The sisters meanwhile asked.

"Hai. It is our principal's personal pet peacock." Yumi responded and revealed with a nod.

"That's some real alliteration." Miyabi remarked.

"Oh, and I just remembered that Kosei is celebrating its 100 year anniversary in a few weeks." Yumi soon recalled and informed. "Coincides with our school festival." She then stated.

"The school festival." Miyabi repeated. "Ugh..." She groaned out.

"What?" Homura got out with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing, just bad memories of mine." Miyabi sighed as she shook her head. "Whose bright idea was it for a group date cafe, I will personally beat them to a pulp..." She then grumbled.

"Okay, take it easy." Yumi got out.

Homura soon nudged her sister. "Hey, what do you think our class should do, Sis?" She asked in a curious manner. In all honesty, she was drawing a blank.

"Well...um..." Asuka began thinking, closing her eyes to focus. "We could do a...ninja-theme cafe...thing." She slowly began to suggest.

All three of the other girls gave the Vice Leader a flat look. "...Seriously?" Miyabi deadpanned.

"W-Well, every school festival has a maid cafe, why not switch it up a little? I did one last year at Hanzō." Asuka explained. "We spent so much money on the maid outfits that our food was mostly from the combini." She then weakly added.

"That...actually sounds like a good idea." Miyabi admitted. "Not like a maid cafe, at least." She then added.

"Right?" Homura agreed. "Plus, we can save money if we go in our Shinobi Tenshins. No one will suspect a thing." She then added.

"...My Tenshin outfit feels a bit...inappropriate, though." Yumi suddenly reminded

"Well, good thing you're not in Shujin." Homura stated. "It's not like I would use my Noh Style Shinobi Tenshin for it." She then added.

"Oh. Right." Yumi got out, looking a little relieved. "Well, Shujin's school festival is next month, from what I recall. You can mull it over what may be a good idea until the time comes." She then decided.

"Yeah." Asuka responded with a nod. "Now, are you gonna finish that?" She soon asked as she pointed her chopsticks over to the plate of tamagoyaki.

"No! That tamagoyaki is all mine." Miyabi declared as she moved the plate away from the others.

"Oi! You can't hog all that for yourself, Miyabi!" Homura called out. "Isn't your favorite food egg on rice?" She soon recalled.

"It's close enough." Miyabi argued.

"Now now, no need to fight." Yumi reminded.

"I'm getting more bacon." Asuka soon informed.

"...You can try." Yumi instantly countered with narrowed eyes.

And so, breakfast became a rather interesting affair as they practically (but safely) fought for their food. Eventually, all the plates and bowls were empty and the girls were simply leaning back in their chairs to let their food digest.

"Well, we still have an hour before we all have to prove our existence to society." Miyabi mumbled as she checked the time on her phone. "Is there anything we wanna do together before we go our separate ways?" She soon asked.

"We should probably check the news. See what's going on with Tokyo after everything." Homura suggested.

"Moh...I really hope nothing too bad has happened..." Asuka sighed.

However at that moment...

BZZT! BZZT!

"Huh? A text from Shujin?" Asuka got out in surprise as she and her sister pulled out their phones.

"Due to recent events, Shujin Academy will be closed for the day. We apologize for the delay in your academic future, but do not fret. We will be giving you assignments to work on at home. And yes, this does contribute to your final grade." Homura read out loud.

"Eh!? The school is closed!?" Asuka exclaimed.

"Closed?" Miyabi repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Huh, guess classes are canceled today due to the chaos from yesterday with all of our calling cards." Homura muttered with a shrug.

The Kosei student of their group's eyes widened before checking her own phone. "...My school as well..." Yumi confirmed.

"Why the hell would that happen?" Miyabi questioned. "Judging by your expressions, this hasn't happened before, right?" She soon assumed.

"No." Asuka responded as she shook her head. "Is the government going into panic mode?" She then assumed.

"It is likely. Although, I don't know what good shutting down schools would do to stop us." Homura muttered with a frown. "Damn, I wanted to do some committee stuff today." She then grumbled.

"We had sent out multiple calling cards at once." Yumi reminded. "Panic among others was to be expected." She soon stated.

"Well, unlike you, I have a real job. And that means that even through snow, sleet, rain, or hail, I will need to-" Miyabi melodramatically began, however...

BZZT! BZZT!

Yep, that was expected given how things have been happening. "Only a matter of time." Homura couldn't help but think as the white haired woman pulled out her phone.

"Due to the socio-political shitstorm that is engulfing the city currently, we request that you not come into work today. Do not worry though, you will be paid normally. This is for your safety. From your friendly neighborhood manager." Miyabi read out. "By the way, tomorrow night we will be organizing a special Phantom Thieves event. Gotta take advantage of the situation. That sounded like an afterthought." She soon added as she put away her phone.

"So we're all free of obligations today." Yumi breathed out as she processed this. "I-I have to admit, it feels quite odd." She then confessed.

"A ton of shops are probably closed too, so hang out spots are going to be pretty rare today." Homura assumed.

"Hey, there are plenty of places we can go to for free." Asuka however pointed out. "Like Inokashira Park and...um...Oh! Dome Town!" She began before soon suggesting.

"Under construction." Yumi reminded.

"Ugh...frickin' Bootyland..." Homura grumbled under her breath. "Goddammit Yomi..." She soon added.

"Eh?" Yumi got out in confusion.

"Nothing. It's a personal problem I will personally deal with later..." Homura got out as she cracked her knuckles.

"...You're talking about the beansprout lover at Hebijo correct?" Miyabi assumed. "I think I heard she robbed people...of their high class clothes according to her..." She soon recalled.

"She just...she really hates the rich." Homura groaned out. "She would hate Ikaruga-senpai out of principle, most likely." She then added.

"I would not blame her." Asuka soon admitted, wincing at the memories of yesterday.

"True." Homura sighed.

"That reminds me, we should probably call Haru first. Check if her old man is alright and not, you know, dead." Miyabi meanwhile suggested.

"Don't say that!" Asuka called out. "H-Haru-chan's father is fine." She then reassured.

"So call her and see if that's true." The white haired woman deadpanned.

"I will!" Asuka responded as she went to her contacts list and called for Haru. "Please be okay please be okay please be okay please be okay please be okay please be okay please be okay please be okay please be okay please be okay..." She soon repeatedly mumbled as she looked at her phone.

---

(Okumura Residence, Haru's Room)

Haru scrolled her phone up, checking social media on what was happening around Tokyo. Majority of it was about the Phantom Thieves' current move on Okumura Foods. Looks like despite their ploy with all the calling cards spread throughout Tokyo, the one she had sent directly to her father had broken out into the mainstream.

After everything that had happened, especially the assassination attempt in her own father's Palace, she felt slightly miserable from the online posts about the incident.

To her relief, her father seemed fine...for now. Since his father's Shadow was shot in the Palace, she couldn't help but worry what would happen to her real father once time goes by.

They had done their best even without Personas, using as much of their medical supplies to stop the bleeding, but...would it be enough? Would her father become like those empty husks she had seen on the news, go insane like various others?

As much as she hated her father–the person he had become–she didn't want to lose him completely.

WOOSH!

The fluffy haired girl's senses shot up, sensing someone nearby. She turned and saw someone outside the balcony of her room...before giving out a sigh of relief as the person at the balcony was a familiar face.

"Gyū-chan." Haru muttered to herself, standing up from the side of her bed.

Yagyū slid the sliding door open and entered the heiress's room. "Haru-san..." She then started, sounding mellow.

"What is it, Gyū-chan?" Haru soon asked in concern.

"I was just checking on you this morning." Yagyū responded. "I heard most schools around Tokyo are being closed for the day. Except for Kokatsu Academy. Said that they have exams or something like that. " She then added and recalled.

"I received the text earlier." Haru informed. "I guess I'm free today." She then stated.

"So it would seem." Yagyū responded.

"Are you free as well?" Haru had to ask.

"...No." The eyepatch-wearing girl replied as she shook her head. She still had her duties to Okumura Foods and as a shinobi.

God, it felt like she was still trapped in this cage...

"Oh, okay then." Haru got out, looking a little sad. She wanted to spend the day with her to indirectly make up for causing her shinobi friends to fail, but that would have to come later, she realized.

"Um, Haru-san... there's something I have to inform you about from last night." Yagyū began. She didn't have the chance to tell the fluffy haired girl when she came home. Instead, she had simply gone to her room and went out like a light as soon as she hit her bed.

"Is this going to be about my father's change of heart?" Haru assumed, stunning the shinobi for a second.

"Yes." Yagyū replied with a nod. Guess the fluffy haired girl was checking the news. "It...seems his heart is in the process of the change..." She soon stated. "The Phantom Thieves...succeeded." She then concluded.

"H-How?" Haru soon asked.

"I don't know but...they did it." Yagyū responded in an uneasy manner. "And I didn't even get a chance to see who they are..." She soon confessed.

"But...But surely you have at least sensed their presence the moment they go for my father..." Haru stated, trying to add some convincing genuine concern in her tone.

Yagyū in response shook her head. "No, there was nothing at all." She responded. "Whatever happened, it was invisible and instantaneous." She then revealed.

"Oh, if only you knew..." Haru couldn't help but think before blinking.

She totally did not realize until right this minute that she had shown her father's Shadow her naked body after that gruesome Palace fight.

...That's going into the Memories to Never Deal With Again vault...That was starting to get full. Well, at least she hoped her father's Shadow was mature enough about his own daughter's nudity.

She also did remember that despite her and her companions' nudity, her father's Shadow did not mention or even mind about it during their heartfelt conversation after the battle and probably during the middle of the battle where her and her fellow Thieves' attires slowly getting ripped apart as the fight continued until the end.

"The Phantom Thieves really are a force of nature..." Yagyū couldn't help but admit. "But even so, why would they go after your father knowing it was a trap by a third party that wanted to eliminate him?" She soon questioned.

"..." Haru went silent, looking like she was searching for an excuse.

"...They responded to your request, didn't they?" Yagyū realized with a widened eye. "...This third party...they took advantage of your request..." She then added before a new thought came to mind. "Could they...could they be behind the mental shutdown cases?" She eventually deduced in a more serious tone.

"No!" Haru suddenly got out in an uncharacteristically aggressive manner.

The eyepatch-wearing girl jumped in surprise. "Haru?" She then started.

"They...they would never. The Phantom Thieves have done so much for me that I can't possibly thank them enough! Why would you think that!?" Haru soon called out with a frown.

"I'm not referring to the Thieves as the ones behind the shutdowns." Yagyū however stated. "I'm referring to the ones that inflated the Phan-Sites poll that made your father the top target. It's possible that the ones who hacked the site to begin with could possibly be behind the shutdown cases." She then explained.

Haru gulped. Crap, she didn't really listen to that last sentence and she revealed more than she should've! "Oh...um...really? I thought you meant about the Thieves at first, sorry." She soon apologized, slowly averting her gaze away from the eyepatch-wearing girl.

And that instantly caused the white-haired kunoichi to narrow her eyes at the heiress. "Haru...did you...meet the Phantom Thieves?" Yagyū suddenly asked.

To that, the fluffy haired girl shook her head. "No, I haven't. I have to admit, I wish I could at least meet them so I can thank them for what they've done for me." She then replied, trying to sound as calm and convincing as possible...even though she felt a little bad for lying to her friend.

"...Okay." The eyepatch-wearing girl sighed. "All we can do now is wait for his decision to confess his sins..." Yagyū concluded.

"Hai." Haru nodded.

"Also Haru, do not tell anyone you originally put your father's name down on the Phan-Site." Yagyū advised.

"Yes. I won't tell." Haru responded with a nod, mentally wincing. "That would make the public point their fingers at me, and I won't like that kind of negative attention." She then noted.

"And...you should probably call Ikaruga. It seems you've misunderstood each other." Yagyū then suggested once again with a hand on her hip.

"Eh?" Haru got out with widened eyes before touching the phone in her pocket."O-Oh, right...I really should do that." She mumbled out, averting her gaze away from the shinobi.

"Then why haven't you called yet?" Yagyū questioned.

"..." Haru however remained silent in response.

"...You're scared." Yagyū guessed.

"I...We didn't end on good terms the day she left..." Haru shamefully confessed.

Yagyū let out a sigh. Of course it wouldn't be so easy. "Alright. If you have free time, Haru, you should call Ikaruga and clear it up." She soon encouraged.

"Don't worry. I will." Haru responded with a nod. Although, she wasn't sure when she would be ready for such a thing.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Hm?" Haru hummed in surprise before answering the call. "Hello?" She got out while putting her speaker on.

"...please be okay- hey, Haru-chan!" Asuka mumbled before she happily greeted.

"A-Asu-chan!" Haru exclaimed before seeing the white haired girl's uncovered eye widened. "Glad to hear from you early in the morning. Though, I do have a guest around." She soon informed.

"Asuka." Yagyū spoke up.

"Y-Yagyū-chan!" Asuka got out. Wait, why did she sound scared? "Hey, how's everything?" She soon asked in a rather forced casual tone.

"We failed our objective to protect our client, may have destroyed Hanzō's relations with Okumura Foods, and Haru's father hasn't left his study since last night." Yagyū reported in a...somehow serious tone.

"...Why do you sound a bit happy?" Asuka questioned.

Haru then looked towards the white haired girl again to see her barely stopping herself from grinning.

"You...do not know the sheer villainy Okumura-san has displayed these past few weeks." Yagyū admitted. "In any case, I didn't know you were acquainted with Haru." She soon added.

"Oh well, we both attend Shujin Academy. I met her when she was gardening on the school roof." Asuka informed.

"I see." Yagyū nodded. "Well, I am glad you are friends." She then got out in a grateful manner.

"Yeah, I'm glad you're friends with Haru-chan, too!" Asuka replied. "A-Anyways, um...how's your father, Haru-chan? We, uh, saw the news earlier and got worried." She soon explained.

"We?" Yagyū repeated.

"Ah, right. Let me put you on speaker." Asuka got out. "Hey, Yagyū-chan is with Haru-chan! Say hi everyone!" She soon called out.

"Yo." Miyabi's voice spoke up from the phone.

"Morning, Haru." Homura greeted as well.

"I hope you are safe, Haru-san." Yumi's voice stated in a concerned manner.

"Wait, that's Miyabi-san, Homura-san, and Yumi-san." Yagyū realized. "You're all in the same place?" She then questioned.

"We had a little sleepover. But this isn't about us." Homura responded.

"My father is fine, thank you very much." Haru soon informed. "Just...acting rather weird." She then added.

"That's...good." Asuka responded with a slight edge in her tone. "As long as he's not, um..." She then began, but didn't finish her sentence.

"I'll be monitoring his condition and ensuring that he eats." Yagyū informed everyone. "I'm sure the Council will be very interested in my report on the effects of a change of heart." She then added.

"As long as no one dies." Miyabi breathed out before getting a smack in the arm. "Ow! Erm, I mean-" She soon got out, audibly wincing.

"Nobody willdie." Yagyū stated in a serious manner. "We won't let it. You have our promise." She then assured.

"Hai." Haru agreed.

"Okay. Take care and be safe, Haru-chan." Asuka soon got out as everyone else with her said their goodbyes.

"I will. See you at school tomorrow." Haru promised before hanging up. "Well, I better go check on how my father is doing..." She soon breathed out as she went towards her door, until Yagyū stood in her way.

"Haru, you can leave your father to me." The eyepatch-wearing girl assured with a hand placed on the middle of her chest.

"I-I don't know. I should be-" Haru muttered as she averted her gaze.

"No. You've dealt with him enough. Let me shoulder your burdens." Yagyū however interrupted as she shook her head.

"...Okay. I will." Haru reluctantly responded. "But let me make you breakfast at least." She soon offered.

"I already ate-" Yagyū began, however...

GRRRR...

"...I swear I'd eaten this morning..." Yagyū mumbled as she rubbed her stomach. "Or was that yesterday morning...?" She then tried to recall.

Haru couldn't help but giggle. "I'll go and get the stove ready." She soon got out as she left her room, leaving the shinobi alone.

"...I need to contact Ikaruga about this new possibility..." Yagyū soon stated as she took out her phone.

After a few seconds, the acting leader answered. "Yagyū-san? What is it?" Ikaruga responded and asked.

"A new development...involving a third party that hacked the Phan-Site and made Okumura the top change of heart target. The ones possibly behind the shutdown cases." Yagyū answered in a dead serious tone.

---

(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)

"22...23...24...25..." Akira mentally counted as he did his daily exercise, which is doing pull-ups on a wooden beam above the attic room.

After getting the message about how school was canceled for the day, he knew he had to take it to his advantage.

While doing his exercise, he also caught glimpses of Haruka sleeping on his bed with Morgana in her hands, hugging and cuddling him like a plushie.

As for Morgana and Haruka, the not cat began to stir himself awake.

"...What is this soft feeling of-?" Morgana mumbled, struggling to open his eyes...

BOING!

Only to realize he was cuddled by the sleeping Haruka...in between her luxurious bust.

"Ufufu~ Such a good kitty Mirai~" Haruka mumbled in her sleep while snuggling the not cat.

"Mrow!?" Morgana yelped, knowing he tried to struggle, it would only make things worse. "Dammit! This is like Maki all over again!" He exclaimed in a panic.

"Mmmmm..." Haruka soon hummed out as she slowly awakened from her slumber. "D-Darling?" She mumbled with the not cat in her arms.

"Oh, you're finally awake." Akira got out, looking down at the girl. "Morning." He soon greeted.

"Good morning, darling." Haruka responded with a smile. "Oh, and good morning to you, Morgana." She then greeted while hugging the not cat.

"Joker...! Help...!" The not cat pleaded, barely keepIng his head outside of the girl's cleavage like he was drowning in the ocean.

Akira however snickered in amusement at that. "I think he likes it, Haruka." He responded, still doing his pull-up.

"Ufufu~ Yes he does." Haruka giggled as she continued to hug the not cat. "So fuzzy~" She then cooed out.

"No I don't and I am not!" Morgana exclaimed in annoyance.

"Aw, even he meows cutely~" Haruka cooed out.

"I AM NOT CUTE!" Morgana however declared.

Akira had to stop himself from laughing. He really didn't want to break his neck in front of a girl. "Okay, let me finish this up and shower before I meet you downstairs for breakfast." He then decided.

"Who said I was going anywhere?" Haruka however asked with a smile. "Is it so wrong to be eating eye candy in the morning?" She then added.

"Not when you're constantly surrounded by marshmallows all day." Akira muttered under his breath. He was pretty sure he could tell who he was accidently groping on the train just by feel at this point.

Haruka blinked. "Excuse me?" She responded in curious confusion.

"Nothing." Akira got out before returning to his workout.

Haruka soon picked up the not cat and set him down on the floor, the latter now sprinting away and leaped onto the workbench.

"I'm a gentleman, dammit!" Morgana frantically declared while panting heavily.

"Riiiiiiiiiight~" Akira simply mumbled to himself with a smirk.

"Oh, stuff it down your pie hole. You have a-" Morgana began, however...

"Can I shower with you then?" Haruka requested with a smile, unintentionally interrupting the not cat.

Akira stopped his pull-ups for a second, still hanging as he looked at the blonde's smile after hearing her stimulating request.

"Akira..." Morgana droned out in disapproval.

"...I'll think about it." Akira eventually responded.

"Great, but don't keep me waiting." Haruka replied, still hugging the not cat.

Akira soon flipped off the wooden beam and landed on the floor with perfect form, causing the blonde to clap.

"Such a wonderful execution! 10 points!" Haruka jokingly praised.

"Thank you, thank you, you're far too kind!" Akira jokingly responded with a bow. "Encore? Do you want more?" He then asked in an amused tone.

"I think you're perfectly fine." The blonde simply responded with a smile. "But you are sweating through your shirt." She then pointed out.

Chuckling to this, Akira began taking off his sweaty shirt and pulled it out, revealing her exceptionally toned abs and sturdy chest as well as his decent-looking muscles.

SPARKLE!

And Haruka's nose immediately started bleeding at the sight as if she was enjoying a show.

"Haruka, don't bleed on my bed, please." Akira requested.

Haruka however had a starry look in her eyes as she looked at the boy, instinctively grabbing a tissue from nearby and cleaning the nosebleed before sticking some more tissues into her nose.

"That's better." Akira breathed out. That tissue box had not been used in a very long time. "Such a good girl you are." He then added in amusement as he caressed said girl's cheek, who blushed in response.

"D-Darling..." Haruka responded in a surprisingly meek tone, nuzzling into his firm yet soft hand. "S-So forward this time~" She cooed out in awe.

"Well, I'm just feeling..." Akira began before trailing off with a frown. Was there a word for being relaxed yet worries out of his mind at the same time but really good at hiding it?

"S-Shouldn't you get ready for school?" Haruka and Morgana asked at the same time, the not cat sounding more out of disapproval compared to the blonde's meekness.

"Classes got canceled today." Akira answered. "Craziness of all the calling cards yesterday got them paranoid I guess." He then assumed.

"Well, the Phantom Thieves did just hit all of Tokyo." Haruka got out with a shrug. "Including Okumura, it seems." She then added.

Akira and Morgana flinched.

"Hm?" Haruka hummed out.

"Oh, weird muscle spasm." The Leader lied as he sat down next to the girl. "So, what's Tsumuji doing?" Akira eventually asked.

"Base hunting for Crimson Squad." Haruka answered. "We need a place to stay after we escape." She then explained, unconsciously rubbing the spot where her Yoke Technique was.

"Well, there are plenty of cheap places around Tokyo." Akira got out with a nod. "Of course, most of them literally have zero value, are probably full of termites, and/or may be the site of a murder scene but you could probably fix it up real nice." She soon added.

"Well, shinobi are quite resourceful. I'm sure we can manage just fine." Haruka claimed with a playful smile.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Huh?" Haruka got out as she grabbed the boy's phone for him. "What else does Shujin want?" She wondered out loud.

"Hey, wait-" Akira got out, hiding the rush of fear that ran down his spine.

"Who's B3lladonna?" Haruka asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Haru?" The Leader breathed out in relief before grabbing his phone. "Let me get this." He soon got out before checking his messages while sitting on the couch.

[B3lladonna: I forgot to tell you last night but...thank you everyone, for everything you've done.]

[Road2Queen: Likewise.]

[All4Painting: You do not need to apologize. It was quite the tiring day after all.]

[TheWildJ0ker: No kidding. I expected everyone to turn in early yesterday.]

[SushiRoll23: Miyabi-chan. Yumi-chan, Homu-neechan and I didn't, but all we did was eat out each other and sleep.]

(...)

[SushiRoll23: I forgot to add 'with'! It's eat out with each other! At a restaurant!]

[Alibaba9: lol]

[TheWildJ0ker: We know. We always know.]

[Shut7heFUp: Well, speaking of restaurants, wanna go to one for Haru's welcome party?]

[DarkEyeXI: You're seriously thinking about a welcome party at a time like this?]

[Shut7heFUp: Well, we can't spend the next whatever days worrying about this. We'd age ten years.]

[FireGirl20: Goddammit, Ryuji.]

[B3lladonna: I think it's a fine idea.]

[FireGirl20: Wait, what?]

[Be3lladonna: We all deserve a chance to relax after everything and if I'm going to be part of the team, I want everyone to be as relaxed as possible before the next heist.]

[Road2Queen: As long as you're OK, Haru...Well, is there anywhere you'd like to go?]

[B3lladonna: Actually, I'd like to walk around the school festival with everyone.]

[Negative8Degrees: Me and the other shinobi have been talking about it.]

[All4Painting: I admit, I am interested as well.]

[TheWildJ0ker: Great idea, Haru. We'll all be there together.]

[DarkEyeXI: Oh boy...an adult woman hanging around teenagers...that's not suspicious at all...]

[Road2Queen: That reminds me, we still haven't settled on a guest.]

[Shut7heFUp: A guest!? Like, some kinda celebrity!?]

[Negative8Degrees: Ryuji.]

[Shut7heFUp: You don't count, Yumi. Seen ya so much it ain't really special.]

[Sweetkat06: Translation: You're too much of a good friend, and we want you to enjoy the festival.]

[Negative8Degrees: Thank you. But I'll likely be swarmed by fans if I come...I wish I didn't need to wear a disguise...]

[Sweetkat06: Don't worry, after a while people will treat you normally. Same thing happened to me after my first shoot. A week of autographs and photographs and then back to being ignored. The runway show only restarted that process.]

[Negative8Degrees: Huh. Now that I think about it, things did return to normal at Kosei after a while...]

[TheWildJ0ker: Good to know that fame is just as fleeting at the rumor mill.]

"Darling, what was that?" Haruka asked.

Akira yelped, nearly dropping his phone in the process. "Oh, I forgot you were still here." He had to admit.

"You were extremely focused on your little conversation." Haruka noted with a pout. "What was it about?" She then asked in a curious manner.

"Just about the school festival." Akira answered with a shrug.

"Ah, that is coming up, isn't it." Haruka responded with a nod. "..." She then silently looked into the boy's eyes with a questioning look on her face.

"...Yes, you can come." Akira confirmed.

"Yes!" Haruka cheered with a fist pump. "W-Wait, I have to check in with Takemi-sensei about that. There might be an appointment I need to attend to." She then added.

"Well, the festival goes for a couple of days. I'm sure you can make it." Akira assured. "...Oh crap, I really hope my class doesn't make us do something stupid for it..." He then muttered.

"Hm? I thought you were the type of person to do anything, no matter how stupid it is." Haruka pointed out.

"Hey, I have standards too." Akira responded. "Low standards, but standards nonetheless." He then added.

"Well, you don't have to worry about it right now. You still need to do your shower and breakfast." Haruka soon reminded.

"Don't you need to go to work?" Akira recalled.

"The clinic is down the street and I can get there in a blink. I can leave it until the last minute." Haruka waved off. "Besides, our new regular doesn't come in until around the afternoon." She then added.

"Alright. Had enough of a break anyways..." Akira simply stated.

"So...can I join you in the bath now?" Haruka soon asked in anticipation.

"Alright, you can join me." Akira decided, delighting the girl. "I want the company and the stimulation as well." He then confessed with a smirk.

"Oooh, kinky~" Haruka cooed out in amusement. "Men's side or women's side?" She then whispered for only the boy to hear.

"We'll go where there's no people around." Akira quietly responded for only her to hear. "And maybe you can convince the cashier once again for a private bath." He then added.

"I could convince him to close the place temporarily due to a water heating problem..." Haruka proudly suggested with a smile.

"That would be great." Akira replied with a smirk.

Morgana sighed in slight disbelief. "You're being more and more perverted every day, Akira..." He soon accused in a deadpan tone.

"Oh, and Morgana can join us in the bath." Akira suddenly added, approaching the faux feline.

"...Eh?" Morgana got out after hearing that from his Leader...as his head soon went red. "WAIT WHAT!?" He exclaimed in a panic.

Soon enough, Akira picked up the not cat and gave it to the blonde, who fully accepted it with her hands, before going ahead to the bath house, with the blonde seductress in tow.

"I know pets aren't allowed in the baths, but I can convince the cashier to make an exception." Haruka responded with a smile. "Can't wait to wash and bathe him." She then added while hugging the not cat.

"Perfect." Akira replied with a smirk.

"..." The faux feline went silent, his head still red. "AKIRAAAAAaaaaaaa!" Was all he could scream as the trio soon went to the bath house to wash up for the day.

---

(9/26, Morning)

(Shibuya, Diner)

Having a free time when the most you do by yourself is train or sleep turns out to be rather boring when you have the entire day to yourself. With nothing better to do, Miyabi had wandered around the city without much rhyme or reason when Homura had suddenly called her to the diner at Central Street.

She couldn't help but feel a little relieved when she arrived and saw the tan skinned girl sitting at a nearby booth.

"Homura." Miyabi greeted as she sat down.

"Miyabi." Homura responded with a nod. "You know why I called you here today." She soon got out.

"Because you were bored and no one wanted to hang out with you today?" The woman assumed in a flat manner.

The tan skinned girl rolled her eyes. "No. Everyone is just busy with their homework." She informed.

"Then why aren't you doing it now?" Miyabi questioned, looking at the younger shinobi with an accusatory glance.

"I'll do it later." Homura responded as she glanced at her bag.

"Homura, it's not a good idea to procrastinate." Miyabi lectured with a shake of her head. "For shame, Homura. You're supposed to be the Disciplinary Committee Head of Shujin Academy, and yet here you are at a diner ordering...what is that?" She soon began to scold, until she noticed the tan skinned girl had ordered some stuff for herself.

"Just a sandwich and some coffee." Homura informed as she took a bite of her sandwich. "Here for the free refills." She then added as she lifted up her empty cup.

"Ooh, I'll have some coffee too." Miyabi got out before ordering some from the waitress.

The tan skinned girl smiled a little before letting out a breath. "Miyabi, I called you here about last night." Homura reminded in a serious manner.

Miyabi winced. "...This isn't about the air in the can, is it?" She mumbled out.

"No." Homura bluntly responded. "You totally dodged the conversation last night." She soon stated.

"I was just tired." Miyabi insisted.

"No, I remember you saying," Homura began before clearing her throat. "Ahem. No, no, no. We are not doing this right now. For the love of God, I rather choke on burgers than have this conversation. No no no no no no no, going to the toilet, no no no." She soon recited, imitating the women's speech patterns and mannerisms...badly.

"Alright, alright! Can't believe you heard me word for word..." Miyabi got out with an embarrassed blush. "It's just a pretty heavy topic I'd rather deal with on my own." She then confessed.

"Miyabi, I've had my Yoke technique gone for a few months now. And you can probably guess who got rid of it." Homura soon pointed out.

"The legendary shinobi." Miyabi answered without any doubt. "I don't know, he's like the pinnacle of what a Good Shinobi should be. I have no plans to defect from Hebijo, so getting rid of the Yoke technique on me won't benefit his side." She then explained.

"He knew I was considered an Evil Shinobi and didn't care." Homura got out. "Despite being pervy, Gramps is a nice guy." She then assured.

"Because you're so close to Asuka. And she'd probably never forgive him if he let you die." Miyabi deadpanned. "I'm just some random woman who showed up a few months ago with the original intent to kill you." She then mumbled with a defeated sigh.

"You're close to Sis too though." Homura reminded. "You're undervaluing yourself, you know. Gramps will definitely help you." She soon stated and reassured.

"But what about the rest?" Miyabi questioned. "Your friends, Imu, everyone at Hebijo...it's either obey or die. There's no way he can get us all before the thing activates." She then reminded and pointed out.

"Miyabi, you're just imagining worst case scenarios." Homura responded with a sigh. "We just need the opportunity to do it all." She then added.

"Which is unlikely." Miyabi stated. "Come on. Everyone we care about is in Hebijo, we're here in Tokyo, and the legendary shinobi is God knows where. It's just...all the logistics of it all is making me worry." She soon stated and confessed.

"Well, a certain someone's death would definitely make things easier..." Homura soon enough stated in a dead serious tone.

"Killing Dōgen would." Miyabi agreed. "But he's also the school's main benefactor, and it will all be pointless if the school collapses after a few years without him. Accepting all isn't exactly cheap. More mouths to feed, more people to train, more bodies to be incinerated." She then pointed out.

"Wait, I thought they used the bodies to feed the ninken?" Homura recalled before frowning. She'd have to remind her green haired teammate about that fact for the sake of her pet puppy.

"Only those ones turned to mulch." Miyabi clarified. "Anyways, Dōgen's death won't solve everything. People are going to get really hurt, and unfortunately for us, there are definitely a lot of people who would give their life for him." She soon added.

"I'm aware, but the pros outweigh the cons. In the long term, things will be better." Homura responded and stated. "And since you're part of the Phantom Thieves, you could smooth those problems over." She then added.

"I can try, but it's my father who would have the final say." Miyabi reminded. "And I don't think he'd take kindly to so many developments at once." She then added.

"True." Homura agreed with a sigh. "But...no matter what, we have to do this." She soon stated.

"...Yeah. We do." Miyabi responded with a nod. "Your friends are planning to escape after all." She then reminded.

"I know...I know..." Homura sighed out while rubbing her head. "I wanna help them, but given the situation, I can't lose Hebijo's support just yet. They are paying for part of the rent of the apartment." She added with a frown.

"And they'd go after you and your family." Miyabi added.

"They could try." Homura scoffed. "You've been training Sis after all." She then added with a grin.

"And she's doing amazing." Miyabi proudly confessed. "But...What about your parents?" She soon asked.

"Like Gramps would let anyone near them." The tan skinned girl scoffed with an eye roll. "But Gramps is getting old and he can't be in two places at once...and I have to worry about all you guys, and...god, this entire situation is a mess." She soon groaned as she covered her face.

"It comes with leading a double life." Miyabi sighed. "Well, a triple life in this case. God forbid if a quadruple life comes into the mix." She then stated.

"Hear, hear." Homura agreed with a nod. "So...when are you thinking of getting rid of the Yoke technique?" She soon asked.

"...We have some time until Okumura confesses, right?" Miyabi assumed with a shrug. "Any time before that should work." She added.

"Sounds good." Homura nodded to that. "I'll get in contact with Gramps after I'm done here, and then it's just the waiting game until you're a free woman." She then stated.

"That's great." Miyabi breathed out. "So, how long are you planning to stay here?" She had to ask as she looked around. The place was actually pretty empty considering the day.

"I dunno. Probably loiter around here until 12. Why do you ask?" Homura responded with a nod.

"Well, wanna do some training after you're done here?" Miyabi soon asked. "I'm working on regaining my ultimate form when I'm not focusing on Futaba and I might need some pointers." She then got out as she rubbed the back of her neck.

"Oh, sure. But you owe me a crepe afterwards." Homura replied.

"Done deal." Miyabi nodded. "Now, I'm gonna take advantage of those free refills." She soon got out while waving over to the waitress.

"You better." Homura responded as she took a sip. "Not as great as Leblanc, but it'll do." She then admitted.

"Oh yeah." Miyabi agreed.

"Still, I'm a bit confused about you being a sweets lover now after reading your report." Miyabi admitted.

"Don't get me wrong, I still love meat, but there aren't any kebab places around here, and beef bowls...and sweets are just that good." Homura began to explain before pausing. "...Though I could go for a beef bowl after training." She then admitted.

"You really like food, huh." Miyabi jokingly stated more than asked.

"Hebijo isn't exactly gourmet and you can only eat bean sprouts one too many times." Homura muttered. "...Do you wanna fix that too?" She soon questioned.

"After your breakfast? I'll think about it." Miyabi replied as the two kept talking throughout their stay at the diner.

---

(9/26, Afternoon)

(Shibuya, Protein Lover)

"Alright Ryuji, ya got this." The boy told himself, bouncing on his feet to prepare himself. "Hyōki is just 'nother girl and not some super hot killer shinobi. I mean, all the other shinobi you've met so far turned out to be fine...even though everyone except Asuka hasn't hurt or tried to kill ya at some point." He soon got out. "N-No wait, Hanzō gi- no...the killer robots...do they count? Uhhhh...prolly not, but it kinda feels like it and Oh God, am I having a panic attack right now? Is this a bad idea? M-Maybe I should just make up an excuse and leave, say that my mom's sick or some shit. Yeah, that'll work." He then rambled to himself before turning the corner.

"Ryuji?" A familiar voice suddenly got out.

"Gah!" The dyed blond yelped in surprise. "Hyōki!?" He got out as he looked at the girl, who like him, was already in her work-out clothes.

"Y-Yeah." Hyōki coughed. Looks like her excuse she had been making up on her way here was going to be tossed in the garbage. "We...are thirty minutes early." She soon noted.

"Yeah, I was kinda scared I'd be late so..." Ryuji began to explain before trailing off.

"Me too." Hyōki responded. "Guess...great minds think alike." She then added.

"Y-Yeah." Ryuji replied in agreement.

"Yeah." Hyōki responded.

"Yeah..." The dyed blond got out.

"...Yeah." The ravenette hesitantly mumbled.

With that intelligent conversation done, the two of them stood awkwardly in silence as they tried to figure out what was going to happen next.

"So uh...ladies first?" Ryuji awkwardly replied, gesturing to the young ravenette towards the gym entrance.

"Y-Yeah..." Hyōki responded in an equally awkward tone before nervously stepping into the gym.

"Just another girl...even though all of them you know will kick your ass in some way, shape, or form." Ryuji muttered with a frown.

"Huh?" Hyōki got out in surprise. "I...don't have a reason to kick your ass." She pointed out.

"Oh, you heard that?" Ryuji got out in surprise. "Um...just, ain't...uh..." He then stammered out.

"Same..." Hyōki confirmed.

"First date." The two confirmed at the same time, soon pausing as they looked at one another.

"Y-Yours too huh?" Hyōki got out, getting a nod from the dyed blond. "G-Guess that means we both don't have experience with...dating..." She then got out, blushing a little pink as a result from saying that particular word. "I guess...we should try treating this like usual?" She soon suggested, though unsure about it herself.

"I guess?" Ryuji responded, though also unsure as well as he then looked at the building. "Still, surprised the gym didn't close like everywhere did." He soon admitted.

"Cause of the massive calling card sendings from the Phantom Thieves yesterday?" Hyōki assumed.

"Yeah." Ryuji responded with a nod. "Guess they didn't hit the place." He then added as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I'll say." The ravenette replied in agreement. "So...should we get started now?" Hyōki soon asked in a curious manner.

"That's it, Hyōki, but take it easy too." Ryuji encouraged and advised.

"H-Hai..." Hyōki grunted out while lifting some weights with the dyed blond being her spotter. "T-Thanks..." She then added.

Ryuji nodded to that as the ravenette continued lifting weights, encouraging her all the while as she did so.

Eventually, they went through their entire workout routine together, working up a good sweat before they relaxed on some yoga mats to cool down. "Whew! That was awesome!" Ryuji declared with a grin.

"Yes, it was really good." Hyōki breathed out in a satisfied manner with a smile of her own.

"So...I guess you're gonna shower now?" Ryuji assumed.

"Yes." Hyōki responded as she nodded. "Please don't even try to sneak a peek, okay?" She then casually reminded him.

"I won't." Ryuji reassured with a raised hand. "I'll make sure no one else tries either like last time too." He then added.

"Thank you." Hyōki responded in a relieved manner.

"And besides, I think your, uh...sexy pics are enough for me." Ryuji mumbled out, almost without thought.

"...Uh-huh..." Hyōki mumbled as she headed for the showers.

"...Dammit, I feel like an idiot for saying that." Ryuji groaned as he facepalmed after realizing what he said.

Meanwhile with the young ravenette, she had started running the shower and started washing off.

"Moh...why are you feeling like this Hyōki?" Hyōki soon mumbled to herself while washing her hair. "He's just a nice boy who's treating you way better than how your parents did, that's all..." She then added.

That also reminded her, she should punch Miki in the throat. Sure, she was really happy right now, but she still definitely deserved one for doing such a thing without her permission.

"...It's coming one day, Miki. And it's coming soon..." Hyōki grumbled with a pout as she then ferociously began washing her hair.

---

(Central Street)

Meanwhile right outside the gym, the dyed blond sighed as he paced around a bit. He had already showered himself a while after the ravenette had gone in, so now he was just waiting for her to come out. "Alright Ryuji, just apologize to her for saying that when she comes out. Simple as that." He soon instructed himself.

"Ryuji!" Hyōki called out.

"I'M SORRY I JUST SAY STUPID SHIT ALL THE TIME!" Ryuji soon called out as he braced himself for whatever beating he might receive from the girl.

"Eh?" Hyōki responded in confusion as she came out of the gym wearing a white turtleneck with a black button down sleeveless vest over it with a blue plaid skirt and black high boots. "What are you talking about?" She soon asked.

"Oh uh...y-you know, about the uh...thing." The dyed blond soon mumbled out. "You look...uh, pretty nice. Where'd ya get that?" Ryuji couldn't help but comment and then asked afterwards.

To that, Hyōki blushed a bit to the compliment as she went silent.

Maybe she shouldn't mention how she got her outfit...

---

(Rewind)

In the Underground Mall (which was their fifth stop today), the ravenette had her face in her hands while sitting on a bench, having stopped watching her acquaintances pile more and more clothes next to her.

None of them even focused on the calling cards that were sent out like crazy that day.

"Moh! We've been here for three hours! LET ME PICK SOMETHING!" Hyōki suddenly snapped.

"Hyōki-chii, you have horrible tastes in clothing." Yuki bluntly admitted.

"No I don't!" Hyōki got out with a huff. "What I'm wearing right now is fine. Shouldn't I be doing something more important with my time, like...like..." She then tried to explain.

"Oh, you're right!" Miki suddenly gasped.

"Thank you!" Hyōki breathed out in relief.

"We have to buy you makeup after this." The pinkette model exclaimed.

Hyōki groaned as she put her face in her hands. "But I'm going to the gym first!" She reminded.

"And who said you couldn't look cute both inside and outside the gym?" Miki responded. "Come on, you should care more about your appearance." She soon stated with her hands on her hips.

"You're only saying that because appearance is everything to you as a top model!" Hyōki countered.

"And you say that like it's a bad thing." The pinkette responded with a smirk.

"It is when you've been doing this for THREE HOURS!" The ravenette screamed in frustration.

"No shouting in the store!" One of the workers scolded.

"You can go- MPH!" Hyōki began to yell, only for the pinkette to cover her mouth before they were kicked out.

"We still have three more to go until your date, so we need to spend that time wisely. And this place has the most potential." Miki claimed as she added another piece to the pile. "Now go into the changing room already. All these cute shirts won't wear themselves." She then instructed and stated.

"You said that exact line three stores ago!" Hyōki whined.

"La la la la la~ Ooh, look at that shirt!" Miki sang before going off to find more clothes.

"Moh!" The ravenette whined as she looked at her over-enthusiastic friends.

Yuki meanwhile began patting her friend's shoulder. "There there." She reassured.

(Fast Forward)

---

"...I had it laying around." Hyōki vaguely answered.

Ryuji simply shrugged at that. "'Kay." He accepted without much more thought. It was obviously a touchy subject to her. "So...movies now?" He soon asked.

"Movies. Right." Hyōki replied with a nod. "So, what are we watching?" She soon asked as they headed to the nearby theater.

"Oh, uh...I was gonna let you pick." Ryuji sheepishly replied,

"You should really decide yourself." Hyōki playfully scolded. "What if there isn't anything I want to watch?" She soon pointed out.

"Well, I don't really have a preference either, I just wanna- Oh shit, the Masqueraider movie!?" Ryuji suddenly got out.

"Eh?" Hyōki responded, perking up to hearing that before seeing the poster. "T-The new one!?" She then asked in an excited manner.

"Hell yeah!" Ryuji answered with a fist pump. "Wait, you're into it?" He soon asked in surprise.

"Yeah!" Hyōki exclaimed before realizing how she was acting as she soon blushed in embarrassment while twiddling her fingers. "I-It isn't too...childish for me, is it?" She suddenly assumed in concern.

"Hell no! Honestly, I've been wanting to see it too!" Ryuji admitted with a grin.

"R-Really?" Hyōki responded in a hopeful manner.

"Yeah! You could've just said so." Ryuji replied and pointed out. "So you're a fan of Toku heroes?" He then added.

In response, the ravenette relaxed a bit as she gave an enthusiastic nod. "Y-Yeah. They helped me through some...bad times." Hyōki responded.

To that, the dyed blond narrowed his eyes a bit. "...Shitty parents?" Ryuji suddenly guessed.

To that, Hyōki flinched.

Ryuji meanwhile immediately realized what he did and winced. "Ah, dammit! I'm sorry." The dyed blond soon apologized.

"I-It's ok." Hyōki reassured with a sigh. "But...yeah, they were bad...treated me like I never existed." She soon confirmed.

"Shit..." Ryuji swore out. "You need somewhere to stay?" He then asked.

"Oh, don't worry." Hyōki assured as she waved off the boy's worries. "They haven't bothered me in a long, long time." She soon added, smiling a little too widely for the dyed blond's comfort.

"..." The dyed blond was completely quiet as internally he was coming to a rather horrible realization.

"C-Car crash..." Hyōki quickly informed. "They got into one and died while leaving me home alone like they usually did." She then added.

"..." Ryuji, however, still remained silent as he kept looking at the girl's struggling smile.

"...Please don't judge me..." Hyōki suddenly and meekly begged in a sad whimper.

To hearing that, Ryuji winced again at her sudden shift. "...They must've been really bad, huh." He muttered in concern.

"Yeah. They were." Hyōki mumbled as she took the dyed blond's hand. "But...enough about them. Let's go see Masqueraider now." She soon requested.

"Sure." Ryuji responded with a quick nod. He better not pry before he confirmed something really disturbing about the girl. "Popcorn?" He soon suggested.

"Ugh, no. Stuff always gets stuck in between my teeth. I want something more...luxurious." Hyōki admitted.

"...The theater sells pizza too." Ryuji then pointed out.

"That works." Hyōki responded as the two headed inside...her clinging onto him in a comforting manner.

---

(Central Street)

Akira had been taking advantage of his free day rather well. He had gotten some work done, hung out with a few confidants, ate some good food, and headed into the Velvet Room to complete a request or two for the twin wardens while also strengthening his arsenal. Arsene and Jack Frost were going to be terrifying once he was done with them.

Akira blinked as his mind returned to reality, feeling stronger and...expanded, if that was the right word.

"You better use them properly, Inmate." Caroline reminded while smacking her baton on the palm of her hand as she and her twin came out of the Velvet Room cell door.

"And we look forward to your next rehabilitation session." Justine got out with a flash of a small smile.

"Me too." Akira replied before heading off. "Alright, got some new Personas, new skills...whoever's gonna fight me next is gonna regret it." The Leader declared as he fist pumped. "...Shoot, forgot to ask them what they were planning too. They mentioned something, but I forgot to ask what it was." He then thought to himself.

"That's good, because you're going to need them." A very familiar voice spoke up from behind him.

Akira immediately tensed before turning around quickly, his dagger already in his hand before realizing it was just the white haired woman with an amused smile on his face. "...How long have you been standing there?" He questioned.

"How long have you been standing there, Leader?" The woman countered.

Caroline and Justine also noticed this and got surprised as well. "Where the heck did she come from!?" The former exclaimed.

"...I truly have no idea, Caroline." The latter however replied to her rhetorical question.

"...Touché, Kurayami." Akira had to agree. "I'm guessing you want another sparring session?" He then assumed.

"You know it." Miyabi nodded, though she did not see or hear the Velvet Room twins. "I already called the others participating in this fight. They should be here any minute now." She then informed, silently adding 'Or else' in her head.

"Okay." Akira breathed out before leaning against the nearest wall. "...So, miniguns, huh?" He soon spoke, not really sure what else to say.

"Yep." Miyabi replied with a nod. "Is the gun shop over there stocking them now?" She then asked.

"Yep. Iwai found a supplier for cheap. Still not exactly a steal, but affordable for our operations." Akira answered. "...Huh, you've been using the same one since your Awakening." He soon realized.

"Well, it's not like I needed the upgrade anytime soon." Miyabi replied as she leaned against the wall next to him. "But after...you know...I need more firepower. Plus, it's better at crowd control than your dinky little pistols." She then muttered.

Akira's eyes went half-lidded. "They work fine." He then reminded. "...Plus, I'm working on itemizing some Personas for you guys. When I come across a Persona that can turn into a bullet hose, I'll let you know." He soon continued.

"Yeah, because that's something you can do. Turn gods, angels and demons into swords and guns." Miyabi got out as she rolled her eyes.

"And whips. And bludgeons. And tekko. And-" Akira continued.

"I get it." Miyabi sighed out, interrupting the Leader. "You know, that Velvet Room place sounds pretty interesting. Any reason why only you have access to it?" She soon questioned.

"I mean...Asuka can see it, but she can't enter it." Akira revealed. "I don't really know why. Maybe the universe took pity on little ol' me."

Somewhere nearby, Caroline snorted from the Velvet Room door while Justine shook her head in disappointment.

"Yeah, it's a real pity." Miyabi deadpanned before checking her phone. "Where are they...?" She whispered.

"Over there." Akira answered as he pointed to where her chosen victims were coming from.

"Hey." Ann unenthusiastically greeted as she, Yusuke, Makoto, Yumi, Homura and Haru arrived.

"Hey everyone." Miyabi responded before turning to the glasses-wearing boy. "Leader, wake up Morgana." She then urged as she nudged the Leader.

"I'm already awake..." Morgana groaned as he popped his head out. "Another fight?" He assumed.

"Another fight." Akira confirmed as the not cat leapt out of his bag.

"Never speak of fight club...cause that's what this is becoming with us..." Ann sighed out.

"And just like Fight Club, all the fights amount to nothing." Makoto added.

"They do something!" Miyabi insisted. "They're helping me and you guys get stronger." She soon explained.

"Didn't you sit out of the last two fights?" Yusuke pointed out.

"I've already said this. I can't study your techniques properly by participating. I need an impartial view."

"By watching us try and kill each other." Ann groaned. "Why do we keep answering your calls?" She wondered out loud.

"Bribery." Miyabi bluntly answered. "Don't you want a new dress, Takamaki-san~?" She then teased.

"...Dammit, I need the money..." Ann grumbled before beginning to do some stretches.

"I see the merits in such a thing. And, since I'm new, I would like a more intimate understanding of everyone's techniques." Haru however stated. "I will gladly participate in a match. Although, I'll need my axe..." She then added.

"Here's the equipment bag." Homura got out as she set the bag on the ground.

"Thank you, Homura-san." Yumi responded with a nod as she bent down to distribute everyone's weapons.

"How's this fight's going to happen?" Makoto decided to ask.

"Well, it was supposed to be you, Ann, Morgana, and Ryuji against Yusuke, Makoto, Haru, and Yumi." Miyabi informed. "But since Ryuji isn't picking up my calls, I'm getting Homura to replace him." She then added.

"I wonder why." Homura deadpanned with hands on her hips.

"Isn't he on his date right now?" Akira reminded. "He's probably busy with that." He then added.

"And he probably wouldn't want to come anyways." Ann assumed in a flat tone with crossed arms.

"Lucky bastard..." Morgana grumbled, and not just because he was on a date.

"So, Miybai-san, what do you wish for us to do?" Yumi soon asked.

"Fight. Like every other time I've set up a training session like this." Miyabi deadpanned before thinking. "Although...hey, Akira?" She soon got out.

"Hm?" The Leader hummed.

"How are you feeling about your hand-to-hand?" Miyabi questioned.

"Uh, I've been looking up some boxing techniques and stuff, but since I keep my knife on me all the time, I haven't really focused on it." Akira answered as he did a few shadow punches.

"Okay, how about...this time, you can only use physical skills." Miyabi suggested. "Buffs are fine, but use a spell or try to inflict a status effect and I'll end the fight in your loss." She soon declared.

"Technical it is, then." Akira nodded, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"I said no status effect spells." Miyabi reminded in an aggravated manner.

"There are other ways to inflict status aside from using Personas, Miyabi." Akira countered with a smirk.

"Excuse me?" Yusuke got out with widened eyes. Oh right, he had forgotten about those skills.

"There's Memory Blow, Terror Claw, Death Scythe..." Akira listed off.

"Hold on, Death what?" Yumi gasped in horror.

"D-Do you have that?" Homura fearfully asked with rapidly growing worry.

"You'll see." The Leader responded. The others couldn't help but step away from the boy.

"Alright, everyone knows the rules?" Miyabi told everyone, not even phased by the so-called Death Scythe.

"No." Haru automatically answered as she shook her head. "Is it one of those 'no rules' fights barring death?" She assumed, causing some people to step away from her.

"No. There are rules, Haru." Miyabi replied. "No items, no instant kills, and no Despair under any circumstances." She informed in a firm manner.

"Ah, got it." The fluffy haired girl responded with a nod.

"Also, if all of you manage to lose your clothes, including any underwear you have on, you must keep fighting or I'll personally kick your ass through your mouth." Miyabi then casually added.

"Wait, what?" Ann only got out, trying to pick up what the white-haired woman just said.

"Shinobi Kekkai!" Miyabi shouted out, causing the Thieves to vanish into thin air.

After a second, they were now in a purple-tinted atmosphere where–

---

(Fast Forward)

"No." Sae very suddenly got out.

Akira blinked at that. "Huh?" He responded in confusion.

"No, I am not sitting through you describing yet another fight. The one with Okumura was long enough!" Sae snapped as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"But it's important that i-" Akira began to insist, however...

"I only have a limited amount of time here, Aki- Kurusu, so I highly suggest you skip to the next relevant part." The prosecutor soon advised, anxiously checking her watch.

"Okay, okay. Easy there." Akira responded. "You really are interested in my maze of relationships, aren't you, Miss Prosecutor?" He then got out in an amused tone.

"..." Sae silently glared at the Leader.

"Wow, your glare is scarier than Makoto-senpai's." Akira soon remarked. "And it is getting increasingly more scary as I talk and- anyways, we fought for Serpent's amusement..." He then rambled on, continuing his story from after the fight.

(Rewind)

---

"Congratulations, Joker." Miyabi declared as everyone returned to reality. For some reason, however, everyone seemed to be smoldering. "You and your team have conquered this challenge." She declared, giving the winning team a proud smile.

"..." Akira, and the rest of the fighters for that matter, stared at the woman with their eyes wide, and their pupils shrunken into tiny dots before...

THUD!

"Uuugh..." They all (except Haru, who was still standing) groaned in pain, allowing the soft concrete pavement to comfort them.

"Pansies." Miyabi deadpanned.

"I hate everything and everyone here." Homura mumbled face-first into the pavement as the only woman in the group helped her to her feet. "Especially you." She bluntly added.

"Yeah, nothing I haven't heard before." Miyabi responded as she rolled her eyes.

"That was a lovely bout, everyone! I'm glad to have joined this sparring session." Haru happily got out with hands clasped in front of her.

"G-Glad you had fun, Noir." Morgana mumbled as he slowly crawled into Akira's bag. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna be here and die for a while. Revive me when you need me." He then got out before allowing the sweet embrace of unconsciousness to envelope him.

"I wish I could do that..." Yusuke lamented.

"Alright everyone, you can leave. Have a good day. You better train hard for the next fight!" Miyabi soon got out, waving the others away so she could talk to the Leader alone.

"Screw you." Ann grumbled before limping out of the alleyway.

"I didn't think limbs could ever bend that way and still be fine..." Akira couldn't help but admit as he watched his friends leave.

"I'm much more concerned about Haru." Miyabi soon admitted as she watched the heiress practically skip away, looking no worse for wear. "I've heard some evil laughs back in my day and um, she has the most." She muttered in concern.

"...Most evil laugh?" Akira guessed, having expected another word from that last sentence.

"Something like that, but it's actually something more." Miyabi explained. "Best not to dwell on it too much, Leader." She then advised.

"Yeah..." Akira agreed.

"But...to think, you know..." Miyabi started before pausing for a moment to come up with the right words. "Haru is...kind of admirable." She suddenly admitted.

"Admirable?" Akira repeated. "How come?" He had to ask.

"I mean, she was trained as a shinobi as a kid and yet she's...I dunno...better off than expected." Miyabi explained. "Sure, she was lonely and her father's very much of a bastard, but...she smiles, has hobbies, she has a real life." She murmured.

"Unlike you." Akira couldn't help but mentally finish for the woman. "Natural sense of optimism, I suppose?" He guessed with a shrug.

"Hmm...Akira, do you think I should try and be more..." Miyabi started as an embarrassed blush came across her face. "Feminine?" She soon got out.

Akira blinked. "Shouldn't you ask Ann or Asuka about that?" He pointed out.

"They're just gonna say yes. I need someone who will actually think before they decide." Miyabi explained her reasoning. "Plus, I've heard you've been in touch with your feminine side." She then added.

"...You're gonna have to be a little more specific." Akira however told her with crossed arms.

"Didn't you crossdress on a dare or something?" Miyabi questioned.

"Revenge, but damn straight." Akira explained. "I still have the costume Ann gave me. Wanna see it? I must say I've gotten rave reviews because of it." He then added and asked.

"That's not what this discussion is about." Miyabi sighed in slight frustration. "...But damn, you've got me curious." She soon admitted.

"Maybe when I'm not beaten to a pulp by my friends." Akira stated. "So, what is this discussion about? Is this related to your fan club?" He soon guessed.

"Militia." Miyabi corrected.

"Right." Akira got out.

"Well, it's the main reason for my Militia...they all see me as if I'm some hunky male..." Miyabi then explained.

Akira couldn't help but glance down at her boobs. "...Really?" He deadpanned.

"Really." Miyabi replied with a frustrated sigh, somehow not even phased by the fact that the boy looked at her chest. "I mean, I know I'm a tomboy, but maybe if I act more like a girl, maybe those crazed fangirls will back off." She then deducted.

"That's..." Akira began as he tried to figure out what to say in the next second.

Sound logic.

Terrible logic.

"Some pretty sound logic." Akira concluded. "But um...don't you think they'll just like feminine you instead?" He soon pointed out.

"Yeah, well..." Miyabi scoffed before pausing. "Erm...uh..." She then stammered.

"Look, you're already a girl in my eyes. If people don't see that, they must be blind." Akira assured as he nudged her shoulder.

"Everyone at work says that, but when a customer wants someone a little rougher..." Miyabi mumbled under her breath.

"Excuse me?" Akira got out, not quite sure what he just heard.

"Nothing." Miyabi waved off. "Look, it's just...really frustrating. I'd do anything to get rid of my Militia and get people to actually see me for who I am." She soon stated.

"Well, I'll always be there to help. Just give me a call whenever you need me, okay?" Akira assured as he put his arm around the woman's shoulders. "I won't let you deal with this alone." He then declared.

Miyabi blinked, as if shocked to even hear that someone. "Thank you." She honestly replied. "You know, I don't think I've ever heard anyone else but Imu tell me that." She soon admitted.

"Guess you need to know more reliable people." Akira remarked.

"Maybe." Miyabi responded with a smile.

Akira meanwhile couldn't help but smile back, feeling his bond with the woman grow stronger.

SHATTER!

Rank Up! Lust Rank 5!

Unlocked Harisen Recovery!

Chance to cure status ailments inflicted upon party members.

Miyabi blinked. "...Huh." She got out.

"What?" Akira asked, feigning ignorance to the change.

"Nothing. Just...go and rest up, Leader." Miyabi soon waved off as she pushed the boy away.

"Okay, I'll see ya around, Miyabi." Akira nodded as he took his leave.

"Yeah, you too." Miyabi replied. "Wait, I mean me too. Erm...Yeah, I'll see you around." She then stammered out before deciding it would just be better to go grab some food and leave.

---

(Ogikubo, Ramen Town)

"You made me go all the way to Ogikubo for...this place?" Hyōki soon asked, blinking at the sight.

"Yeah, it ain't much of a looker, but I promise you that this shop is awesome." Ryuji promised.

"If I wanted ramen, I'd usually go to Ichiran. And even then, I prefer such things like caviar, fugu, or wagyu. The luxurious kinds of food, to be specific." Hyōki explained, before pausing after realizing she was sounding picky. "B-But since we're...together, I guess I don't mind ramen in a simple ramen shop here in the streets." She then got out with a blush.

"That place is great n' all, and that all sounds tasty and expensive as shit, but ramen is way better with company." Ryuji stated. "Come on, I'm paying." He then offered.

"H-Huh?" Hyōki got out, surprised by the offer.

"What? Your friends never treat you to anything?" Ryuji questioned in surprise.

"I don't think I've ever been treated by...anyone." Hyōki awkwardly admitted.

"Welp, let me be your first then." The dyed blond declared, causing the girl to blush.

"...I wonder how many other firsts I'll have with you." Hyōki wondered out loud without really thinking, surprising the boy a little.

"Well, uh...we'll figure that out later." The dyed blond assured as he guided the girl to the ramen shop.

"Welcome!" The shop owner greeted, soon smirking at who it was. "Ah Ryuji! The usual?" He then greeted and assumed before noticing the dyed blond's extra. "Oho...treating a lady this time?" He soon assumed.

"Hey, everyone needs to get a taste of the good shit." Ryuji responded as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, the good shit coming right up." The shop owner got out as he began preparing the dyed blond's usual order. "So, what do you want?" He soon asked.

"Umm...I'll get what Ryuji's getting." The ravenette answered after thinking about it.

"You sure? The boy's got a real big stomach." The owner soon advised.

"I'm bigger." Hyōki replied without thinking, causing someone to spit out their ramen.

"Well, okay then. Just give me a minute." The man responded before going to grab some rags to clean up the mess the other customer made.

"So, who have you come here with before?" Hyōki soon asked in a curious manner.

"Well, first it was old track team members," Ryuji began with a nostalgic smile. "But then later on, I took my best buddies. Akira, Asuka, Homura...man, I gotta get the others in on this place too." He then started to list off before soon coming to that realization.

"So...close friends." Hyōki simplified in a curious manner. "Male...and female ones?" She then asked in an awkward and hesitant tone.

"Yeah?" Ryuji awkwardly asked.

"Isn't it strange though?" Hyōki soon asked.

"Uh, not really." Ryuji bluntly answered. "Huh, I didn't think I'd meet someone else so old fashioned." He muttered, a certain light gray haired girl flashing in his mind.

To that, the ravenette blushed. "I-It was how I was raised before my parents passed..." Hyōki mumbled.

"Well, let's get ya into the 21st century." Ryuji jokingly suggested.

"Order up!" The ramen chef declared, placing the bowls in front of the two.

"Alright!" Ryuji cheered as the two received their bowls. "Itadakimasu!" He declared before splitting his chopsticks and digging in.

"I-Itadakimasu." The ravenette hesitantly got out as she soon took the first sip of her food.

KABOOM!

"!?" Hyōki's eyes widened in disbelief as she finally tasted the ramen, hearing a mental explosion of flavor coming from her mouth. "This...This is better than Ichiran..." She breathed out in awe and amazement.

To that, Ryuji smirked upon hearing that. "See? What did I tell ya? Don't need that fancy restaurant shit like at that Ichiran place." He then bragged.

"Fancy?" Hyōki repeated in a confused and innocent manner. "Ichiran is a ramen shop for single, socially anxious people. You don't have to talk or even see anyone to get your bowl." She soon informed.

"Huh?" Ryuji got out in a dim manner.

"It's a fairly famous franchise." Hyōki revealed as she tilted her head. "Have you never seen it around Tokyo before? Its tonkatsu ramen is really good." She asked in a curious manner. "Maybe I can take you there sometime." She soon offered...before realizing what she said and blushed. "I-If that's alright with you." She then got out.

"Um, yeah, I'm down for that." Ryuji replied with a nod.

The staff meanwhile chuckled in amusement at the interaction between the two, watching them as they talked and ate their ramen. It was good seeing the boy come with friends, and especially girls. He hadn't visited the place since the incident so to see him smile made everyone's day.

Eventually, the two had finished their food and drinks, and Ryuji was getting ready to pay. It was odd where he got the money from considering his situation, but they weren't going to pry all that much.

"So how much this time?" Ryuji soon asked as he prepared to get his wallet.

"On the house, Ryuji." The ramen shop owner however responded with a smirk.

"Huh? Really?" Ryuji got out in surprise. "Ya never did that when I was in track." He then pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

"Let's just say this time it's a special case." The ramen shop owner vaguely responded with a wink and a smirk.

"Well shit, can't really turn down somethin' like this." Ryuji shrugged. "So, ready to go Hyōki?" He then asked.

"Hold on." Hyōki got out as he drank up the last of the broth. "Aaahhhh...done. I'm ready." She breathed out in satisfaction before hopping out of her seat.

"Alright. I'll see ya soon! I'm gonna order extra next time!" Ryuji called out as the two left the restaurant and began walking the streets.

"I...I had a good time today." Hyōki confessed in a meek tone as she then held the boy's hand.

"Glad ya did." Ryuji chuckled. "Man, I gotta do this shit with Katsuragi too. She'd love this place too."

"Urk!" Hyōki choked.

"Huh? You alright?" Ryuji instantly got out in concern.

"O-Oh, it's nothing. Just...it was a lot of ramen." Hyōki quickly assured as she covered her mouth.

"Okay. Well, don't want ya to puke on the streets." Ryuji replied as he started to rub the ravenette's back. "Wanna go sit somewhere to let the food settle in?"

Hyōki could only nod, not willing to trust herself to hide her slight pain.

The dyed blond soon guided the girl nearby to a bench where they sat down next to each other.

"So...who's Katsuragi?" Hyōki suddenly asked in a curious manner.

"Huh? Oh, just another friend that's a fan of ramen too." Ryuji replied and casually revealed. "Met at the beach over the summer and we talked over ramen when a cart came over. She's really awesome, you should meet her sometime." He then explained.

"I'd...rather not." Hyōki thought with a wince. "I'm glad to know I'm not the only person you would do this with." She soon lied.

"Yeah, well, I don't really do this with anyone." Ryuji stated. "Gotta make some real good memories with the friends I have, you know."

"And...I'm one of them too?" Hyōki asked with a hint of hope in her voice.

"Yeah, definitely! You're an awesome friend, Hyōki!" Ryuji replied with a bright smile.

BA-DUMP!

Immediately, the pink blush returned to the ravenette's face. "T-Thank you..." Hyōki meekly got out, happiness bubbling within her from hearing that.

"By the way, Hyōki...was that sexy underwear pic really necessary?" Ryuji whispered with a slight blush as he leaned his voice closer to her ear.

That made Hyōki blush as she froze. "Um...uh...that was my friend's suggestion." She mumbled out.

"...Had the feelin' that was the case." Ryuji admitted while rubbing the back of his head.

"...What do you think of it, though?" Hyōki suddenly asked, almost without thinking.

To that, Ryuji rubbed the back of his head again in an awkward manner. "Well...it did surprise me...and it made me think someone forced ya to do it." He soon admitted and revealed.

"Forced?" Hyōki repeated. "No, it was just my dumb friends." She soon revealed with a pout.

"Hehe, so your roommate did use your phone the other day for that text." Ryuji chuckled.

"Y-Yeah..." Hyōki responded with a nod. "Sorry about that." She then apologized in a slightly shameful tone.

"W-Well, if you gotta know, I made sure not to download it and shit. It feels really pervy..." Ryuji soon admitted.

"O-Oh, thank you." Hyōki responded.

"Um...are your friends gonna make you send, like...a naked photo or something to me?" Ryuji suddenly asked out of the blue, almost without thinking.

Hyōki stared at him, a blush sporting on her face. "...W-What?" She only replied with a stammer.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Ryuji immediately apologized. "Forget I said that. Please don't kill me..." He then added.

"I-It's okay, it's okay..." Hyōki responded in a reassuring manner. "Well...my friends would definitely do that to mess with me." She then admitted.

"I can probably tell." Ryuji got out.

There was a slightly awkward silence between the two of them for a moment.

"I...don't mind getting that nude...pic...though..." Ryuji eventually and reluctantly stated, sporting a blush on his face. "But...I'm not gonna force ya to do it if you're not comfortable with it. And no way in hell I'm gonna share it online or to others." He then reassured with his hands up.

Hyōki blinked as she heard this, looking at the dyed blond. "R...Really?" She got out. "He...doesn't want me to?" She thought to herself as she processed this.

"Yeah, uh...it's your call if you wanna...send me a nude...pic." The dyed blonde muttered. "I was just thinkin' about what you want. No way in hell I wanna be like that Kamoshida prick forcing that kinda shit onto others." He then explained and revealed.

"...You're nothing like Kamoshida." Hyōki however responded in a serious tone.

"You...think so?" Ryuji soon asked. "I mean, I kinda told you some...dirty stuff. But I didn't hurt or force you or anything, just...you know." He then pointed out.

"W-Well, we're teenagers, some say stuff like that." Hyōki reminded while blushing. "Men tend to get carried away more often though. Maybe every time. But...you at least know better than others. I mean, you even considered how I feel about it, I think." She then stated and confessed.

"Yeah, well, I ain't gonna stoop down to the shitty levels of the shitty adults in my life." Ryuji muttered.

"...Kamoshida really affected you, huh?" Hyōki assumed in concern, glancing towards his leg, soon recalling how he walked with a slight limp.

"I mean, he did break my leg just 'cause he wanted to get rid of the track team and I was the star member of it." Ryuji got out with a wince. "...This was where me and the team used to go to celebrate a win." He then revealed.

The ravenette then gave the dyed blond a sympathetic look.

"Not to mention I'm tryin' to get a scholarship so I can help support my mom." Ryuji then revealed, surprising the ravenette. "Course, things went to shit, but...right now, I don't mind that I'm here right now with you." He soon admitted.

"...You do?" Hyōki got out in a surprised yet curious manner.

"Yeah. Because of my dad, because of Kamoshida...I haven't been happier." Ryuji breathed out in contentment.

"Are you gonna thank them?" Hyōki then asked.

"I'll thank them by livin' a better life than them." Ryuji answered. "Although, without ever seein' them again in my natural born life." He quickly added.

"I guess that's fair." Hyōki got out before frowning in concern. "But...won't the past come to haunt you eventually?" She soon asked.

"Eh, don't worry about it so much." Ryuji waved off without a care as he then rubbed the girl's head. "That's a future problem, and right now, you're my present." He then stated.

Hyōki immediately blushed at having that pointed out...and from the head rub.

"And...if ya need to talk to someone, I'm here for ya if you need it." Ryuji awkwardly offered.

BA-DUMP!

"...Thank you." The ravenette got out with a bright smile.

"No problem, Hyōki." Ryuji responded as he let the girl lean her head on his shoulder. "I'm always here to help any of my friends." He then reassured.

BA-DUMP!

"Y-Yeah, friends..." Hyōki mumbled as she averted her gaze, the word repeating in her mind trying to at least accept it.

...

...

...

...Yeah, screw that!

CHU!

Hyōki suddenly pecked the dyed blond's cheek before pulling away.

"W-Wha!?" Ryuji got out in a surprised manner to the action as he touched his cheek.

"Th-There!" Hyōki breathed out, quickly turning around to hide her face. "Your, uh...reward for our...d-date." She then stammered out before heading off without another word.

"...Did that just happen?" Was all Ryuji could ask.

Meanwhile with the ravenette...she was steaming and blushing red.

"I...kissed him." Hyōki got out, processing what she just did. "I kissed an actual man...that's a first..." She soon added...unintentionally licking her lips as a result.

To think that a mere man would gain her interest...

"A nude pic..." Hyōki mumbled to herself in an airy manner...before shaking her head. "No. Not the time, Hyōki." She then reminded herself.

After all of that, she thought it would be best to go home directly this time. She needed to sort her thoughts out after that endeavor...even though she had fun on her first ever date...

"Ugh, dammit, Miki...you're making me think weird thoughts..." Hyōki then grumbled as she continued on ahead. "...He really is a cutie though..." She soon confessed...before blushing once more in disbelief to what she just said as she placed her hands on her cheeks.

---

(9/26, Evening)

(Gessen Academy, Elites Room)

Minori arrived in the Elites Room with a rather bright smile. She did well on her training, got some real praise from her teachers, and she didn't cry when someone mentioned Kurokage.

Well, she still whimpered and covered her eyes, but it was still a win in her book.

Upon spotting everyone but Yozakura was also in the room, cooling down after their own training sessions, she went to greet them when she noticed a rather...depressing aura coming from Murakumo.

"Hey, Murakumo-chan." Minori greeted, only to get an off feeling from her sister. "You look sad today. What's wrong?" She then noted in concern.

The oni mask-wearing girl gave the other girl a flat stare through her emotionless, unmoving eye holes. "Does my mask look sad?" Murakumo responded.

"Hey, I can just tell, alright!" Minori insisted. "Now, can you tell me what's wrong?" She then asked again with a slight pout on her face.

"It's just..." Murakumo began before letting out a sigh. "Just thinking about some old memories. Nothing more." She muttered as she looked away.

"Shouldn't those memories make you happy?" The candy lover pointed out.

"They do but...they hurt at the same time." Murakumo revealed.

"...Um, can you tell me why?" Minori decided to ask almost hesitantly.

"...I had friends I met when I was a kid after I was adopted into the Tairō Conglomerate. They were...amazing, fun, and...it made my lonely days so much brighter." Murakumo wistfully answered. "But...after some time...we all drifted apart." She then concluded in a sad tone.

"You just...stopped being friends?" Minori asked with widened eyes. "W...Why?" She then added.

To that, the third year brunette sighed. "It happens sometimes in life, Minori." Murakumo answered in a reluctant tone. "People can't be with each other all the time and after a while, they move on. It might not hurt then, but...it happens eventually." She sadly mumbled.

"So...what made you remember?" Minori soon asked as she tilted her head.

"...One of them...was Haru Okumura..." Murakumo sadly revealed.

"Okumura...?" Minori repeated as she then recalled the recent events in Tokyo. "Wait, you mean the one on the news?" She then asked with widened eyes.

"Yes." Murakumo confirmed with a nod. "I really do want to make sure she's okay, but I haven't kept in contact with her in years. Plus...I am nervous if she kept some of her...tendencies..." She soon confessed, the particular memories involving chainsaws entering her mind at that moment.

"Huh?" Minori got out in confusion.

"N-Nothing." Murakumo sighed. "She probably doesn't even remember me. I...I shouldn't really bother her, especially at a time like this." She then assumed with a sad sigh.

Shadows however covered the first year brunette's eyes as she balled her hands into fists. "...No, I won't accept that." Minori suddenly declared.

"Eh?" The masked girl got out in surprise.

"Friends might drift apart but they always somehow come back together again!" Minori declared. "Just like how we're with Yumi-chan, you will meet Haru-chan again one day!" She soon stated with a fire in her eyes.

"Minori..." Murakumo breathed out, surprised at how the youngest member of their group was acting.

"Huh? What's happening?" Shiki suddenly spoke up, having stopped texting her friends to focus on her sisters. "What did Minori say?" She then asked.

"Murakumo-chan should get in contact with her childhood friend, Haru Okumura!" Minori responded.

"Eh?" Yozakura got out as she walked inside the room, having just returned from her own training.

"Wait really? Murakumo-chii knew the daughter of Okumura Foods?" Shiki meanwhile asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That's...surprising Murakumo..." Yozakura on the other hand confessed.

"Hey, do all the rich people know each other? Send Christmas cards every year?" Shiki soon questioned. "...Can you ask for some money to spend on your friends?" She then asked.

"Shiki!" Yozakura exclaimed in disapproval.

Shiki simply giggled. "Had to try." She then stated afterwards.

BZZT! BZZT!

"If someone wasn't calling right now, I would be scolding you much more, Shiki." Yozakura grumbled as she took out her phone and answered it. "Hello?" She soon asked as she walked away to take the call.

"...So, about those rich friends..." Shiki soon began, turning to the third year brunette again.

"Not all my friends are rich." Murakumo deadpanned. "And again, I haven't seen them in years. Actually, my best friend was from the slums." She then added.

"Oh." Shiki winced. "Wait, and you didn't help her." She then noted.

"Couldn't. I wasn't part of Tairō at the time. I thought...I had to let go of all my past relationships after I was adopted." Murakumo mumbled, shaking her head in regret. "Not to mention...I heard she had left later on..." She then recalled.

"Out of the slums?" Shiki guessed.

"No, off the face of the earth." The mask-wearing girl corrected, earning a confused and dumbfounded look from the blonde.

"W-Well, I'm sure she's fine." Minori tried to assure her friend before desperately looking for a change of subject. "Yozakura-chan?" She soon got out in relief as she saw the acting leader end her call.

"I just got a call from our sensei." Yozakura breathed out. "The council is planning on sending more shinobi to Tokyo in a month or two." She soon revealed.

"And we're on the top of the list of candidates, I'm assuming?" Murakumo assumed, getting up from leaning against a wall.

"Yes." Yozakura nodded. "Looks like we'll be seeing Yumi a lot more soon enough." She then got out with a small smile.

"Are we moving into her apartment?" The oni-masked kunoichi asked, approaching her.

"Probably not, but it will be in the same apartment building." Yozakura stated. "It'll be nice for our team to be whole again after all this time." She then admitted.

"Yeah. And it only took, like, a year and a half and real life Phantom Thieves who steal hearts and change the world to get us to this point." Shiki sarcastically added. "Oh boy, I hope they're willing to talk first before kicking our behinds." She muttered in worry.

"I'm sure they'll take the diplomatic approach- wait, why would you assume they can beat us?" Murakumo began before doing a double take.

"Well, unless you have a way to counter their change of heart methods, I'm going to assume they can just end us in a single attack." Shiki replied.

"They aren't higher beings." Yozakura sighed. "They are likely human." She then added.

"How do you know?" Shiki questioned her companion. "They could be sent from God to us humans from ending the world or something from our own hubris. Hell, maybe they're gods themselves!" She soon suggested.

"They are not gods either, Shiki!" Murakumo called out. "What gods would use a literal website to do their change of heart operations?" She then exclaimed.

"...Modern ones?" Shiki suggested.

"Just...stop talking, Shiki-san." Yozakura sighed in frustration. "Anyways, we need to prepare to leave at any time. Who knows when we'll get the call to leave?" She then stated.

"Hai!" The other girls responded with a nod.

It might not be under the best of circumstances, but getting to spend more time with their wayward leader was a chance they had to take.

...And who knows what else would happen.

---

(Hebijo Academy, Elites Room)

"The Phantom Thieves struck again, huh." Mirai got out to herself, scrolling and skimming the online articles about the group on their computer.

"They struck everywhere, Mirai." Murasaki replied while doing her own skimming, mostly on the Phan-site. "But only one person mattered in the end." She then added in a serious manner.

"So all the ones sent around the city were fake, but the one sent to Okumura was real." Yomi summarized with widened eyes.

"Yep." Hikage responded with a nod. "Although there are a few people online who substitute reality with their own. Does anyone know a Naruto Uzumaki in real life?" She soon questioned.

Mirai, Murasaki, and Yomi looked at each other before shaking their heads.

"Thought so." The snake-like girl got out. "So they really went after him despite all the risks. I wonder what compelled them to do so?" She soon wondered.

"Don't know. I just wanna know who hacked the site to begin with." Mirai admitted. "Have the Phantom Thieves made another statement?" She soon asked the purplette.

"No, nothing." Murasaki responded as she shook her head as she looked at her computer. "There are a bunch of theories on the forum, though." She then added.

"Like what?" Mirai soon asked.

"Maybe it was copycats, or the Phantom Thieves decided to make it a challenge." Murasaki replied as she scrolled through the website. "There's also revenge, more exposure, to ensure there isn't a lull in their activities. Someone even mentioned being hired to go after him...or coercion." She then added.

"But all equally unlikely." Hikage assumed.

"Yes." The former shut-in confirmed. "Oh, there are some rumors here or there that seem more...credible." Murasaki soon informed.

"Credible?" Mirai repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, there were protesters that spotted some big shot politicians entering the Okumura Foods building." Murasaki informed as she showed the others a photo of the politicians walking into the building.

"That's not unusual. Okumura is quite the powerful man." Yomi pointed out.

"Ah, but here's the thing, they were bringing along this person." Murasaki responded as she brought up another photo, this time a rather flattering picture of a young man.

"...He looks like a dick." Mirai bluntly stated. No one really disagreed with her.

"He is." Murasaki confirmed with a nod. "Akumura Sugimura. He's a known playboy who manages to get out of trouble because of his family connections, and he has little interest in going into politics unlike his relatives. It's really strange." She then explained and stated.

"Is it possible that Okumura is making a deal with his family?" Yomi guessed.

"It's likely." Murasaki answered.

"...Okumura does have a daughter..." Hikage recalled before her eyes widened. "...Ooooh, I think I know where this might be going..." She soon realized.

"Huh?" Mirai and Yomi got out in confusion.

"This is more of a deduction, but what would be the best way for a company to get more power with them making a deal with another powerful family?" Hikage suddenly stated and asked.

"An...arranged marriage..." Murasaki hesitantly answered before her eyes widened. "...Ooooooh..." She soon got out in realization.

"He's marrying off his daughter for political gain!" Mirai declared.

"And if said daughter doesn't want to, what do you think she would do to try and stop it?" Murasaki added before asking.

"You turn to the only people you can trust." Yomi replied. "But since she's...rich, she probably has no one." She then assumed, trying to bear that specific word.

"...Except the Phantom Thieves." Hikage realized with widened eyes. "...She put her own father's name down as a change of heart target..." She whispered in disbelief.

"If they were the case, wouldn't that have gotten the attention of the Thieves earlier?" Murasaki soon pointed out. "Plus, Okumura was a controversial figure before he was put in the spotlight this year. There's bound to be people who suggested his name earlier." She then stated.

"The Phantom Thieves get targets all the time, and only a handful get dealt with every month or so. Okumura only became more popular and reached the top of the rankings after the hackers inflated his name on the poll." Mirai informed with a frown. "They planned on this. Whoever they are, they wanted Okumura to ruin himself publicly, just like Madarame and Kaneshiro." She then deducted.

"But that still begs the question: Why still go after him?" Yomi soon questioned. "The Phantom Thieves should've figured this out ages ago when they discovered the hacked polling numbers." She then pointed out.

"Maybe they still felt bad for the daughter?" Murasaki guessed.

"If that were the case, we would've had a change of heart every day." Yomi responded as she narrowed her eyes. "Everyone has a sob story, but not everyone will listen. There could be someone in the exact same situation, and yet nothing on their father having a change of heart." She soon stated before gaining a thinking expression. "...Could they have their own limits as well?" She eventually assumed.

"It is possible." Hikage spoke. "Even shinobi can't break certain limits and rules." She added with a sigh.

"So...they are human...like us..." Yomi got out with widened eyes.

"Most likely. It does explain why they haven't operated outside of Tokyo." The eyepatch-wearing girl muttered.

"So that narrows it down. They're human and they're in Tokyo." Hikage sarcastically got out.

"So uh...this means we all support them, right?" Mirai soon asked, wanting confirmation on the matter.

To that, the other Crimson Squad girls nodded in agreement.

"Good." Mirai breathed out. "So...what do we do then? Because Hebijo is going to go after them directly sooner or later." She soon asked, wincing at the thought.

"Well...if push comes to shove and we need each other's help, there is one thing we could do..." Hikage began as a smIle began to grow on her face.

"Which is...?" Murasaki urged as everyone leaned in.

"Get the damn Yoke Technique off us and join the Phantom Thieves." Hikage concluded, getting the interest of the other three girls.

---

(Shibuya, Station Square)

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, a different sort of series of events was underway, that may or may not result in the death of a certain glasses-wearing jerk...who likely couldn't keep it in his pants.

Ryōbi looked at the picture of Akira Kurusu once again, trying to remember each and every facial feature to help in her search for the young boy who charmed her stupid-ass sister. "How the fuck am I gonna find him?" She thought as her eye twitched.

Maybe she should check his home address? That would be a good start.

He lived in...Ueno? That didn't sound right.

Wait, now that she was checking on the info Ryōna had given her, her gut was telling her that it was...off. She was pretty sure Akira Kurusu wasn't from Sweden and his phone number was 555-696-969.

DING!

And that was when the realization came to her like a bag of bricks hitting her head. "...Ryōna gave me the wrong info on purpose." Ryōbi groaned as she slapped her forehead. "Goddammit, Ryōna. You could've corrected it before you left. She better fucking tell me where he actually lives." She grumbled as she began texting on her phone while storming off to the train station...only to bump into someone.

"Ah! Sorry!" The person she bumped into apologized, but the petite brunette's temper had already been flared.

"Watch where the fuck you're going, ya piece of shit!" Ryōbi snapped. "For someone with glasses, you're fucking blind!" She then screamed.

The boy frowned at her. Ryōbi was completely ready to get into a shouting match before seeing the boy relax. "Just...sorry. Let me be on my way." He sighed.

"Thank you, fucking jackass..." The petite girl grumbled as she shoved past the boy.

God, that idiot looks so dumb with his glasses and bag with his dumb cat in it. The fucker looked exactly like the asshole her sister managed to delude herself into falling in love with.

...

...

...

Wait.

"Eh?" Ryōbi's eyes widened as she looked back to see the boy head over to the lottery booth.

"Yeah, I'd like to check if my numbers were chosen." The idiot got out as he reached into his pocket and handed over his ticket.

"There you are, you fucking prick..." Ryōbi grumbled to herself as she began storming towards her target.

Meanwhile, her target was lamenting yet another waste of his hard earned (and stolen) cash. "Damn, nothing good this time." Akira sighed out as looked at the losing lottery ticket of the day. "Welp, onto the scratchers." He declared as he shifted over to the booth next to him.

"Scratchers?" Morgana spoke up with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, the lottery booth sells scratch tickets." Akira informed. "You didn't know that?" He soon questioned.

"You always go for the lottery, Joker. Why are you doing scratch tickets now?" Morgana remarked before asking.

"..." Akira soon paused as he then thought about it.

"You just found that out recently, didn't you." Morgana guessed in a flat tone.

"I'll have you know that's because I don't read signs very often." Akira confessed with a sheepish chuckle.

"How did you make it to Shujin on your first day?" Morgana deadpanned.

"With great difficulty." The Leader of the Phantom Thieves answered.

"Hey! Hey, you!"

"Hm?" Akira hummed out as he turned his head.

Coming towards the black haired boy was a brunette wearing a black and red zebra strip-like top that didn't cover her stomach with a jean-like jacket over it with buttoned pockets on the chest area and cuffs on the sleeves, a red, white and black plaid skirt (that showed off her surprisingly shapely hips) and white knee high socks with brown loafers. "You and me. We gotta talk. Now." She suddenly and bluntly ordered.

Akira frowned once again. "Didn't I say I was sorry?" He reminded.

"Do I look like I give a shit? I have some words to say to you, so come with me. Now!" The brunette demanded before seizing the boy's arm and pulled him along with her.

"Wha-!? Ow, ow, ow, hey!" Akira yelped as he was being forcefully pulled by the unknown girl, feeling her grip on his arm tighten and getting some stumbles along the way.

"Come with me, I said!" The girl ordered, still pulling the boy towards the crowd of people.

Akira soon noticed that people were staring at them as they traveled together.

"Tch! Feels good to have a girlfriend..."

"Wow...wonder what happened between them..."

"That guy's whipped..."

"Hey, wait, I am not-" Akira tried to explain, however...

"Get the fuck over here before you lose your arm!" Ryōbi scowled, pulling him even harder towards her.

"Oww!" Akira squeaked in pain. Dammit, why did he have to be so helpless with girls?

The girl then approached an empty and slightly dark alleyway and swung the boy towards in front of her, making the boy stumble a bit.

"Jeez, you have a really strong grip, you know that?" Akira complained, rubbing his somewhat pained wrist.

"I would snap your fucking wrist if I want to, but consider yourself lucky 'cause I only wanna talk." Ryōbi casually informed him with crossed arms.

"Talk?" Akira repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you Akira Kurusu?" Ryōbi asked right away with crossed arms and furrowed brows.

"No, I'm Hayato Asakawa." Akira answered without a hint of hesitation.

The girl rolled her eyes. "Your wallet says otherwise, jackass." Ryōbi bluntly got out as she held up his wallet in her hands.

Akira widened his eyes as he patted his back pocket. "...It's forged." He weakly got out.

Ryōbi ignored him as she looked through his wallet. "Shujin Academy, huh." She muttered before checking his cash. "And holy crap, how much money do you have in here!?" She soon exclaimed.

"...That's not mine..." Akira answered without thinking. "I stole it." He then explained his way out of it.

"Yeah, you're a real Thief, alright." Ryōbi sarcastically got out. If she rolled her eyes anymore, they'd roll out of her skull. "Drop the fucking act, you're caught." She soon stated.

"And if I don't?" Akira questioned.

"Then I'll gouge out your eyes with an ice cream scoop and burn this stupid wallet along with the money in it." Ryōbi casually warned. "And maybe a bullet to your fucking head afterwards."

"...That's a little extreme." Akira commented with a wince.

"I'm not talking about the one that contains your brain." Ryōbi bluntly corrected as she glanced downwards.

"...Okay, okay, you caught me." Akira sighed, somehow unfazed by that obvious threat. "Akira Kurusu, nice to meet you." He then greeted.

"Yeah, yeah, shut up." Ryōbi waved off.

The boy frowned at that. "Most people would respond with their name." He remarked.

"Like I'd give it to you." Ryōbi got out with a glare. "That's on a need-to-know basis, dickwad."

"...Okay." Akira sighed. Looks like he was gonna work to break through her barriers.

"Hmph. You look like every young boy in this fucking city, prancing around the streets looking for something to pass time. Maybe even talk about chicks with their fellow dumbass dick buddies." Ryōbi straight-out insulted in a casual tone.

"Wait, what?" Akira got out while blinking.

"Don't fucking care about your comment." Ryōbi scoffed.

"You're not gonna beat me up to a pulp after this, are you?" Akira asked in a nervous tone.

"Honestly? I wanted to. But I need to ask you something important before that." Ryōbi admitted. "So, do me a favor and don't even try to run away, 'cause I can and will find you again." She soon threatened.

"Noted." Akira sighed out with a nod.

"Hmmm..." The flat-chested brunette meanwhile hummed as she studied the boy, walking around him and mentally noting every feature. "Yeah, you're definitely him...But you don't seem like the type she would go after..." She muttered out.

"Huh?" Akira got out in confusion. "Have we even met before?" He soon asked.

"No, but my bitch-ass sister has." Ryōbi answered. "She told me that she had a new playmate or something, so I decided to find out who she was talking about." She then added.

The word playmate instantly caused the image of a very perverted girl to giggle in the Leader's mind. "...Your sister wouldn't happen to be a blonde masochist with no restraints, would she?" Akira awkwardly asked.

"...Yep, that's the bitch Ryōna." The brunette sighed out while palming her face, not seeing the boy narrowing his eyes towards her. "I...uh, apologize for how she acts, I have no idea how she ended up like that." She then confessed in shame.

"Well, I have to say, she really has a...unique personality." Akira confessed. "Not exactly sure if I should take her seriously, to be honest." He then added.

"Of course you would say that." Ryōbi deadpanned. "It really pisses me off when I see her like that! That girl needs a fucking beating!" She then growled as she slammed her fists together.

"She'd probably like it." Akira pointed out.

"Fuck!" Ryōbi swore as she stomped her foot. "And I can't believe I have to deal with her shit every single day!" She then complained as she covered her face.

"But at least she's got a heart of gold back when we first met, so she's not that bad." Akira assured as he patted his chest. "Or I don't know. I'm not sure yet since we only just met. Looks can be deceiving, pretty much." He then stated.

Ryōbi suddenly got tense because of that statement. "...Yeah. I suppose I can agree with that." She grumbled out. "But you're actually talking about my dumbass twin sister here, so you might wanna choose your next words carefully if I were you." She then warned with narrowed eyes.

Akira pretty much knew who he was dealing with right now. "Oh, noted." He replied before doing a double take. "Wait, twin sister?" He repeated in an incredulous tone.

"You heard me right." Ryōbi insisted with an irritated glare. "That pig-looking bitch is actually my older twin sister." She informed.

Akira blinked for a moment. She looked more like a swan to him. "No offense, Ryōbi-san, but...you don't exactly look like her." He admitted as he scratched the back of his head.

The long twin-tailed girl eyed at him for a moment before simply sighing at that. "Yeah, I know. Everyone says that to us, but yes, we're twins." She then assured.

"Well...I guess the heterochromia gives it away a little." Akira remarked.

"D-Don't stare so intently into my eyes, you fucker!" Ryōbi got out as she pushed the boy away from her. "Ugh, you probably like her more because of those udders on her chest." She then assumed with an eye roll.

"I dunno...aside from big tits, I also like small chests. They're cute." Akira admitted before he could stop himself as he looked down.

Ryōbi stared at him before she reacted...appropriately.

SLAP!

RANK UP!

SWORDS RANK 3!

Akira blinked as he was sent to the ground, spun around by the strength of the shinobi.

She liked that statement enough to form a bond with him!?

"Cute?! CUTE!? Do you wanna fucking die or something!?" Ryōbi growled out. "If you're making fun of my chest again, I will shoot your fucking skull and feed your corpse to the jackals." She then threatened.

"That...came out wrong." Akira winced while rubbing his cheek. "I just meant I know too many girls with massive busts, so it's a refreshing change." He then explained as he picked himself up, though there were some slight stagger before he properly stood.

In response, Ryōbi raised an eyebrow at him. "Huh? How many cows do you know, asshole?" She eventually got out, dumbfounded. "You're messing with me, right?" She then asked.

"Wish I am, but trust me, it is, and surprisingly, I'm already used to it." Akira replied and admitted. "Yeesh, you hit hard." He then admitted again as he rubbed the part where he was slapped on. He was really lucky now that he got extensive and enhanced shinobi training. Otherwise, that slap could've sent him to the hospital, or worse, in a coffin...if there was anything left.

Ryōbi cracked her knuckles. "I can hit much worse than that." She threatened.

"Maybe an apology would be nice?" Akira suggested.

"Like hell! It's your fault for talking about girls and their stupid big tits...and making fun of my chest, too." Ryōbi called out in anger.

"Look, I'm sorry about your chest, okay?" Akira sighed in an apologetic manner. "It was inappropriate and I am sorry." He then added.

"Hmph! You better be." Ryōbi scoffed as she rolled her eyes. "But one more rude crack from your mouth, and I'll cut your tongue off." She then casually warned him.

"And I will accept whatever punishment you deem fitting with grace." Akira assured. "But...why such a strong reaction? There's nothing wrong with you. You're actually really cute." He then asked and complimented.

"W-Will you shut your fucking mouth about calling me cute!?" Ryōbi scowled with clenched fists.

"Sorry, sorry." Akira quickly apologized, flinching as he braced himself for an attack, but didn't feel anything. He lowered his guard to see the petite girl looking away with a blush on her face.

"It's just that...I'm extremely sensitive about my...chest." Ryōbi stammered and sighed out. "I really wanted them to get big one day, and...wait, why the hell am I explaining this to you!? You're a guy, and we just met, for fuck's sake!" She then started explaining before realizing what she was doing and scolded herself.

"I'll...just pretend I didn't hear that part if it makes you feel better." Akira soon offered in an awkward tone. "For my sake as well." He then added.

"Oh, good." Ryōbi replied. "You know, now that we talked, I guess you're somehow...promising, to say the least. Not a fucking compliment, by the way." She then stated.

"Assumed as much, considering how you treated me just now, but I'll let it slide." Akira replied.

"Huh, I don't know if you really do have a head in times like these, or you're just being fucking considerate this time 'cause I'm a girl and all, and I just smacked your pretty face down." Ryōbi countered and explained.

"Probably both, yeah." Akira simply replied. "But might I remind you that if you go too far or cross my line, I'll take drastic measures if I have to. And calling the police wouldn't be the first on my what-to-do list since I'm not exactly a fan of the police." He then added.

"Hmph. Fair enough." Ryōbi replied while shrugging her shoulders before realizing what was also said. "Wait, what do you mean by that last part?" She soon asked.

Akira simply adjusted his glasses in response. "Sorry, can't say. Very personal." He vaguely responded. "And we're not that close yet to say to you what I have in mind about my personal life." He then added.

The heterochromic brunette sighed. "I guess you have a point." Ryōbi replied, crossing her arms.

"So...are we done talking now?" Akira had to ask, hoping to make it out alive.

"Maybe." Ryōbi answered with a small smile. "I could talk to you later, or we could keep talking right now." She then got out.

"About what?" Akira asked once again.

"About how you fuckin' charmed my sister into having a split personality case." Ryōbi bluntly responded.

"...Excuse me." Akira blinked.

"She wants to have your fucking babies while also breaking her arms or something fucking dumb like that." Ryōbi grumbled.

"...Goddammit, not another one..." Akira mentally swore to himself, remembering that he had now charmed three or four girls at this point. It was honestly getting rather worrying.

How is it that people haven't shown them common human decency?

"Not...my intention..." Akira awkwardly got out with a face palm. "And besides, I kinda already-" He then started.

"Yeah, don't care. Just stop." The petite brunette interrupted.

"Stop?" Akira repeated.

"Stop." Ryōbi simply stated once again.

"...Stop what exactly?" The boy had to clarify.

"You should know already, you incubus bastard." Ryōbi growled while shaking her fist towards the boy.

"...I am not a playboy." Akira got out, his eye twitching. "I was just being nice to other people." He soon stated.

"Well, what's your fucking definition of being nice!?" Ryōbi shouted out.

"Treating people as people and not as objects or tools." Akira firmly answered.

Rypbi gave the boy a flat look. "...That's it?" She bluntly asked.

"Yes." Akira nodded.

"And you didn't do some grand fuckin' gesture or anything? Said anything that would make my sister your devoted wife slash slave?" Ryōbi pressed with a frown.

"Hell no." Akira quickly denied, his eye twitching at the last word. "I just told her that-" He began before stopping himself, pausing as he thought about it.

What did he say back at the theater?

Searching his memories, he tried to remember if he said anything significant that might explain why Ryōna would like him so much.

Not liking Swan Lake.

Not just talking to her about stuff.

Not telling her revenge is-

Revenge.

"Oh..." Akira finally spoke.

"Oh, you finally figured out how much of a dumbass you are?" Ryōbi stated to him afterwards.

"...Kinda." Akira responded with a shrug.

"You are just the fucking worst, aren't you?" Ryōbi deadpanned.

"At least I don't call my own sister a slave if I have one. It's degrading." Akira stated with crossed arms.

"Kurusu, there is literally no other fucking way to describe it." Ryōbi stated as she shook her head. "And she fucking loves that shit." She then added.

"I don't." Akira muttered as he scratched the back of his head. "Had enough slaves to last a lifetime. That came out wrong." He then added before slapping his forehead.

"God, you're so stupid." Ryōbi insulted him. "No wonder she fell for you." She then added.

"Well, it's really starting to become a running gag I'm getting sick of." Akira admitted. Seriously, when a shinobi falls, they fall hard and fast.

Ryōbi soon paused. "You know what, I'll let you go under one condition." She soon got out as she held up a finger.

"Is it a date?" Akira assumed.

Ryōbi stared at him.

SLAP!

Before slapping him in the cheek once again...hard. "No, you fucking douche!" She then spat out in annoyance.

"Agh...sorry for my assumption." Akira whimpered as he held his cheek. Yep, Sojiro and Futaba will definitely be laughing at the handprint when he gets home. "What do you want?" He soon asked.

Ryōbi opened her mouth before closing it, her eyes widening as she remembered why she was here. "I just want you to introduce me to one of your friends." She eventually stated.

"My friends?" Akira repeated with a raised eyebrow. "Why...?" He soon asked.

"Just do it." Ryōbi ordered. "I know you know a lot of people in this town, so I want a meeting with one of them." She then stated.

"With who?" Akira then had to ask.

"With..." The petite girl began before stopping again.

Wait, if Ryōna gave the wrong info to her...was it possible that she clued him in on their revenge?

It was...a possibility, a small one to be honest, but she couldn't take such a risk. She needed a roundabout way to get what she needed from him.

"With...an adult woman." Ryōbi decided, wincing a little. That was the best she could come up with!?

"...What?" Akira responded in a dim manner.

"Yeah. And she's, like, she likes inflicting pain onto others. And...and she has a wheelchair I think." The brunette then described, while internally cringing.

Wow, she did not know a lot about Miyabi.

Akira blinked. One person automatically came to mind, but he had no idea why the girl would ask for her.

"Okay..." Akira agreed with a nod. "Well, I'll call her right now and give you the address." He then assured.

"Wait, really?" The brunette responded in a curious manner.

"Yeah, if you only want me to find someone, then I suppose I can manage it for you." Akira offered.

"Oh. Well, thank you." Ryōbi responded with a nod. Huh, that was a lot easier than expected.

"Hello?" Akira greeted, starting the conversation with someone on his phone. "Yeah, it's me. Uh, someone here wants to meet with you somewhere. A young girl with long brown hair." He then spoke to his caller before noticing the brunette trying to lean in to listen. "...Do you mind?" He then asked.

"Tsh!" Ryōbi only scoffed as she backed away a bit from him in annoyance before crossing her arms.

"Thank you." Akira breathed out before returning to his call. "Oh, sorry, that was just the person who wanted to meet you. Anyways, are you willing to do me a solid here?" He soon got out.

Ryōbi bit her lip. She was so close to her- their revenge, she just needed to wait for this idiot to stop talking.

"Hm?" Akira hummed as he listened to the person he called. "Oh...really?...yeah...yeah...okay, thank you. I'll go talk to her. See ya." He soon concluded before putting away his phone.

"Well?" Ryōbi started.

"She said she wants to meet with you." Akira told her.

"Now?" The brunette stated, sounding eager.

"No, she is busy right now." Akira answered. "But she's willing to see you later this week." He then informed.

"What the hell is she doing?" Ryōbi questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Some really important stuff. She has some appointments today too." Akira informed.

"So she's still recovering..." Ryōbi thought as she mentally smirked. "Perfect. Tell me when and I'll be there." She soon instructed.

"Want me to give you their phone number?" Akira soon offered.

"No need. Here's mine and my IM." Ryōbi replied as she handed the boy a piece of paper. "Just have her call it. You can also add my number to your contacts if you want, just to...keep in touch." She then instructed and offered.

"So forward." Akira remarked in a joking manner. "I'll text her the number right now. Give me one second." He then informed.

Ryōbi nodded. Good, now she just needs to think of a location so that Miyabi would disappear without a trace, and finally Ryōki can rest easy knowing that she had been properly avenged.

"Alright. You should be good now." Akira soon confirmed.

"Hm." Ryōbi hummed out with a nod. "You're rather useful, you know that?" She soon admitted with a smirk.

"Useful?" Akira repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes." Ryōbi confirmed with a nod. "Well, I've held you up enough. You are free to go. Thank you, honestly." She soon confirmed with a nod.

"You're welcome." Akira replied, deciding it was the best time to leave.

However, just as the boy was about to walk away, the petite girl stopped him. "Oh, I'm Ryōbi, Ryōbi Inoue. Don't ever forget that." Ryōbi suddenly got out.

The glasses-wearing boy smiled. "I won't, Ryōbi." Akira reassured.

Ryōbi nodded as she watched the boy leave the alleyway. "...Goddammit, Ryōna." She cursed under her breath.

The fucker was too nice for his own good. Now she didn't want to kill him and not just cause he was a civilian nor cause he charmed her twin sister into starting to think more pure thoughts.

"Okay, okay, how do I solve this..." Ryōbi mumbled as she closed her eyes and paced around the alleyway.

This just got a whole lot tougher than she expected...and made her wonder what her twin was doing right now...

---

(Hebijo Academy, Training Room)

Ryōna was currently doing nothing.

I mean, what else could she do in a time like this?

Her sister was out in Tokyo, most likely destroying what little they had left of decent lives while Imu was probably going to do the same thing, intentionally or not.

Hell, she didn't even know why she was still here in the training room, occasionally slamming her face into one of the wooden poles...even though she enjoyed doing it every time.

...But why didn't it feel good this time?

Ever since returning to Hebijo...she had been feeling off...

Ever since meeting Akira...she had been feeling off...

And what was worse...she didn't even know why...

"Ah." A new voice got out, snapping the blonde out of trance. "Are you doing some late night training, Ryōna-san?" She then asked.

Ryōna blinked before turning around. "Ah, you must be part of the new wave." She assumed as she looked at the pale blonde haired girl.

"Ibuki." The normal girl introduced herself. "I'm surprised you and your sister got accepted first before all of us." She then told her.

"Different circumstances." Ryōna got out with a shrug. "Do you wish for me to leave you alone? I'm not really doing anything currently." She then asked.

"It's okay if you stay. After all, it's normal for comrades to train with each other." Ibuki pointed out.

"...Okay, let's do some training." Ryōna decided with a sigh. It wasn't like she had anything better to do tonight other than worry.

Ibuki smiled as she went into a battle stance. "Come at me with everything you can muster, Ryōna-san." She soon requested.

The blonde nodded and took a breath before charging straight at the other girl.

It was a quick spar that didn't really test them all that much, however, it did end up with Ryōna being shoved onto her butt. "Ow!" She got out while rubbing her soft and jiggly ass.

"Wow, you did so well!" Ibuki praised as she helped the blonde to her feet.

"Thank you. You did really well too." Ryōna responded with a quick smile.

The sandy blonde then tilted her head. "Huh. The rumors say you're much different then how you are." Ibuki noted in a curious manner.

"Am I...?" Ryōna soon asked as she tilted her head as well.

"Yeah. People always thought you were crazy and perverted as the world's biggest masochist, but now you just seem distracted and sad." Ibuki replied and stated.

"..." Ryōna however went silent before she sighed. "I can be serious if I wanted to, you know? I'm just...not feeling my usual self right now." She pointed out and admitted.

"There's a lot on your mind?" Ibuki assumed.

"Yeah." The blonde replied with a nod.

"...Is it a crush?" Ibuki suddenly asked.

The blonde's eyes immediately widened in response. "Eh?" Ryōna got out.

"I was like that too, you know." Ibuki confessed, getting the blonde's attention. "It seems like the whole world seems to revolve around them. You can't get them out of your mind and when you can't, you get these really weird feelings you need to work out in the bedroom, bathroom, or in the dead forest outside." She then assumed and stated.

In response, Ryōna's head soon went red as she covered her cheeks with her hands. "H-How did you deal with it?" She meekly got out.

"Well, first of all, it's to stop thinking about them so much." Ibuki answered her question. "You will not be normal if your whole being centers around someone else." She soon stated.

"That's easier said than done, Ibuki." Ryōna however uttered.

"Then that means you aren't being rational." Ibuki stated. "They drive you mad, don't they?" She soon guessed as she stepped closer to the girl.

"...Kind of." Ryōna had to admit.

"Keep imagining a happy future with them?" Ibuki then suddenly guessed,

"Almost all the time now." Ryōna confirmed with a nod.

"It really seems like the ideal life." Ibuki got out with a dreamy sigh before she shifted into a more dour expression. "But unfortunately, real life is much crueler than that." She lamented.

"I know that, but..." Ryōna responded before trailing off.

"Yeesh, you got it bad." Ibuki concluded with a wince.

"Like...I told myself I should slow down and really work out my feelings but...I don't know how to." Ryōna confessed. "I keep hearing my heart beating...and I sometimes feel dizzy..." She then revealed.

"Um, that might not be related to your crush." Ibuki however pointed out, looking a little worried for the other girl. "Did you visit the infirmary at all?"

"Dizziness is not a serious problem here at Hebijo, so it is highly advised that we don't go there unless it is for a real emergency." Ryōna reminded.

"Oh, right." Ibuki responded with a frown. If you weren't bleeding and can still walk, you were fine enough for training. "Well, maybe it would be best if you drink plenty of water and get some rest." She soon suggested.

"That's...That's probably it." Ryōna responded. "I'll do so after we're done here." She then decided.

The normal girl nodded to that. "So...when you were in Tokyo, did you see Haruka-san there?" Ibuki suddenly asked, attempting to force down the eagerness in her expression.

"Um...no, not really." Ryōna only replied.

"Oh...okay." Ibuki got out in a sad manner. "Well...I think you should go to sleep if you're not feeling well." She soon suggested.

"You're probably right." Ryōna sighed out. "Still, it was nice training and talking to you." She then admitted.

"You too. You seem so much more normal in person than in the rumors." Ibuki replied and admitted. "Your sister, though..." She soon started before trailing off.

"Huh?" Ryōna got out in confusion before recalling how her twin usually was. "Oh, she's...she is just like that." She vaguely responded.

"Well, I can certainly say she isn't a calm and rational person." Ibuki stated. "She even cried when we fought together." She then revealed.

"...What?" Ryōna responded in a curious manner.

"Well, it was more like incoherent blubbering..." Ibuki soon admitted while rubbing the back of her neck.

"Hold on..." Ryōna spoke up as she realized something. "Why did you ask about Haruka-san? You know she's in Tokyo right now?" She soon questioned.

"Yes. That's why I'm here in the first place." Ibuki claimed as she let out a dreamy sigh. "Seeing her fight and move like that with her puppets, it drives me wild."

"Oh." Ryōna got out. A rather normal reaction. "Well, I guess I can see that. She is an Elite for a-" She soon began to admit, however...

"Oh, it makes my panties so wet thinking about her~!" Ibuki continued dreamily. "All I want to do at our fateful meeting is to shove my underwear down and present my average tushie to her so she may punish me for my insolence until I bleed down my thighs~!" She then continued while hugging herself along with heart-shaped pupils and a bleeding nose.

"..." Ryōna's mouth had frozen open as soon as she heard the other blonde's true self come out.

"...A-Ahem." Ibuki soon coughed into her fist as she regained composure, quickly wiping the blood off her face. "I-It is perfectly normal to respect a senpai like that, I'll have you know. I am a calm and rational person, after all." She then added in a casual tone once again.

"C-Calm, huh." Ryōna responded. "...Is that how people usually see me?" She thought to herself in disbelief as she then began to pale a bit in fear.

Because holy shit, why didn't she meet her sooner?

"I think I want to be your best friend." Ryōna soon offhandedly admitted.

"Eh?" Ibuki got out in a confused manner.

"I-I'm gonna go to my room now. I'll see you later, okay?" Ryōna giggled before heading for the exit.

"Hai. Good night, Ryōna-san." Ibuki responded as she watched the blonde before turning to the wooden pole. "...You'll do." She soon declared before pulling out a headshot picture of another certain blonde and a staple gun from in between her breasts.

---

(Ryōna's Room)

Soon enough, the blonde entered her room and locked the door behind as she then went over to the window and opened it to get some air.

Ignoring the scream of pleasure of someone stapling their arm just to see how it would feel, Hebijo seemed rather peaceful at night with barely anyone around...well, except all the nightwatch guards. She was pretty sure they would peek in on her just to check if she hadn't somehow gotten herself killed trying to satisfy her fetish.

But alas, she had not done such a thing since she came back, as there were many other things on her mind.

Though the biggest one...

"Akira-kun..." Ryōna sighed out in a love-filled manner as she looked out the window.

Wow, spending her free time thinking about boys. God, she felt like she was one of those drama shows about high school that she watched along with her two sisters.

Possibly one of those dramas where kinky moments happened where she would be taken to the gym storage room where she would be made to have an intense make-out session, soon stripping down before...before...

Ryōna's nose soon began bleeding as her imagination started to become more...vivid...

"Why must you keep thinking such perverse thoughts?" A voice suddenly asked within the blonde's mind, surprising said girl. "You know he isn't comfortable with it." It then reminded in a chiding manner as if it was a parent.

"Ah fuck that! You'd wanna be run over by a truck so he'd be by your side at the hospital and enjoy making love in the bedroom!" A second voice however stated, again surprising the blonde.

"W-What the!?" Ryōna got out, perking up as she looked around in confusion. "Why do I have voices in my head now!?" She mentally asked in a concerned manner.

"Because you are currently at a crossroads." The more elegant sounding voice answered. "One with only two paths and no other ones. The path of pure and rational reason." It then stated.

"Or the path of sheer, unadulterated and unfiltered passion." The rougher sounding voice revealed.

"Reason...or passion..." Ryōna mumbled. "I...I'm not really sure if I want that peaceful life from those daydreams...but I don't want to drive him away either..." She soon mumbled to herself.

"Thus the reason for the crossroad." The elegant sounding version of the blonde soon stated.

"Hehe, yeah. Your new urges towards boys is now makin' ya think new thoughts." The rougher sounding version of the blonde meanwhile remarked in amusement.

"I don't need this right now..." Ryōna groaned.

"You'll need to face it eventually." The elegant voice however stated.

"No I don't." Ryōna however denied.

"Denying it will only make things worse." The rougher voice countered her.

"Worse than it is now?" Ryōna responded. "How can it? I'm already talking to myself!" She then reminded as she threw her hands up into the air.

"Well, until you stop being such a pervert, you will be stuck with us."

"Stop treating anything outside of the perceived norm as a flaw to erase!"

This however just frustrated the blonde. "Everyone keeps looking down on me for what I love..." Ryōna mumbled into her pillow. "These pure thoughts...it's basically dying..." She soon realized.

"Yes! 1 point to me!" The rougher voice declared in a satisfied manner.

"No, it's not. It's breathing new life into a lowly creature as you are now." The elegant voice however stated and revealed.

"Don't listen to her. She just wants you to be a boring old lady."

"At least the life I have in mind actually leads somewhere other than holes!"

"We all end up in holes eventually. Glory or grave, it's all the same to bitches like us!"

"I am not a bitch!"

"You are bitching like one, ya hag!"

"HARLOT!"

"STUCK UP!"

"CHARLATAN!"

"AHN~! KEEP GOING! THOSE INSULTS ONLY MAKES US MORE WET!"

"Moh! This isn't helping me at all!" Ryōna called out in frustration. "I'm sick of all these random thoughts about pain and pleasure, I'm sick of worrying about how people see me, and I am sick OF ALL THESE VOICES IN MY DAMN HEAD!" She then declared.

...

...

...

In response, there was only silence.

Good.

"I think I'm gonna nap..." The blonde soon decided, stripping herself down naked and getting herself under the bed sheets before turning off the lights. "Zzzzzz..." She lightly snored, drifting away into the world of dreams...which happened to involve a medieval dungeon.

Fwoosh!

Unbeknownst to the blonde, two ghostly wisps, one white and one red, hovered out her head and appeared at her bedside as they then took shape...both of them looked like a transparent Ryōna, but also vastly different.

The red wisp soon formed itself into a Ryōna, but with fiery red hair and was wearing the skimpiest black dominatrix-like outfit that barely covered anything along with bat-like wings attached to her back. "...I'd fuckin' do me." She suddenly confessed.

The white wisp meanwhile also formed itself to a Ryōna, but having longer straight blonde hair and was wearing a formal white princess dress along with angel-like wings attached to her back, even having a tiara atop her head. "Oh dear lord." She groaned while palming her face.

"What? It's a pretty standard thought." Demon Whore Ryōna insisted.

"For you." Angel Princess Ryōna got out in a judgemental manner.

"I am thou, thou art I, bitch." Demon Whore Ryōna responded with a smirk.

"Perverted demon." The pure version scoffed in a haughty manner.

"Prissy goody puss flaps." Her perverted counterpart countered.

Angel Princess Ryōna stared at the other girl with a glare...right before tackling her down and forcing her into a choke-hold. "YOU CAN GO DIE IN A HOLE, YOU LUSTFUL BITCH! YOU DON'T THINK I CAN'T KILL YOU!?" She soon demanded and declared.

"GACK!" Demon Whore Ryōna choked, but she didn'tseem to be fighting back at all. "I'VE...FELT WORSE! DO IT...HARDER...!" She soon moaned, drool beginning to leak out her mouth.

It should be noted that they were simply aspects of the blonde's conflicting feelings and in no way they could actually kill each other...

CRACK!

...Permanently.

"Hmph!" Angel Princess Ryōna scoffed as she looked at the unmoving dark counterpart in satisfaction, although it looked like Demon Whore Ryōna had a very good time judging by the look on her face as they returned to the forms of wisps, though the white wisp being slightly larger now this time.

The real Ryōna, on the other hand, would have rather strange dreams that night...and would feel really weird in the morning as the two wisps reentered her body, it soon glowing white for a moment before soon fading.

---

(Shibuya, Rooftops)

The wind blowing around her face was the greatest feeling for Asuka, sitting on the edge of the rooftop building she was on while gazing down the streets and people walking around below while the sun was setting far out in the horizon.

She was surprised that there was nothing on the rooftop to indicate that people had been here. The view was amazing. Although, maybe it was for the best. After all, it was a nice private place she practically had all to herself right now, and they've definitely made plenty of memories here.

"...We should get some fireworks for New Years..." Asuka whispered.

WHOOSH!

A presence sensed behind her, though it was not of hostility.

"Asuka." A familiar voice spoke up.

"Oh hey, Miyabi-chan." Asuka greeted before turning around, seeing the white-haired woman in the flesh in her usual casual attire, carrying a 6-pack of soda cans. "Are we training today?" She then asked.

"Nah, just here to enjoy the view." Miyabi answered as she set down her case of drinks. "Wanna join me?" She then offered.

"Sure. Pass me one." Asuka replied as the white haired woman handed her a can. "What did you do today?" She soon asked as she opened the can.

"Did some training, hung out with some of the others, did some grocery shopping." Miyabi answered. "How about you?" She then asked.

"Oh, I went and did some grocery shopping too and then prepared some sushi for us at home for future trips into the Metaverse." Asuka replied.

"Even on a day off, we're still worrying about the next heist." Miyabi mumbled with a sigh. "Then again, it is best to be prepared." She then admitted with a nod of approval.

"Hai. Better stress about it now than panic later." Asuka breathed out before taking a sip of her drink.

"Hear hear." Miyabi agreed. "We also have to worry about Mementos and getting to the bottom of that, managing the public's reception, making sure other shinobi don't try and catch and urgh, I do not want to think about this right now..." She soon groaned before leaning back.

"...Oh right, just the other day, Futaba-chan did make a new friend when you made her go to Akihabara." Asuka soon remembered.

"Huh?" Miyabi got out with widened eyes. "This is the first I've heard of it! What is she like!? Details now, my student!" She then stated and demanded.

"I-I didn't really get to know her all that well..." Asuka admitted. "Also, didn't you and Akira-kun make her go out and make a friend?" She then reminded.

"I thought she lied about that!" Miyabi confessed. "Also...I would've let her in her room anyways." She mumbled under her breath. Curse her weakness to that little gremlin.

"She took a photo and everything!" Asuka pointed out.

"You know how good photo editing software is these days." Miyabi countered. "And you know how Futaba is on a computer." She then reminded.

"Well, I can confirm she made a good friend that day." Asuka confirmed with a huff.

"And I believe you." Miyabi responded. "So, what is she like from your view? Is she nice? Weird?" She soon asked.

"Both." Asuka answered automatically without hesitation.

"I see." Miyabi breathed out. If her student says she was nice, she could rest easy. "But...is she more than that?" She suddenly asked.

"Eh?" Asuka responded in a surprised manner.

"Asuka, do you think she was a shinobi?" Miyabi soon asked.

"...Eh?" Asuka got out with widened eyes.

"Do you think-" Miyabi began.

"I heard you the first time, Miyabi-chan. Not everyone we meet is a shinobi..." Asuka stated as she rolled her eyes. "She was just a cosplayer, as far as I could tell." She then confirmed.

"Well, you can't be too careful, Asuka." Miyabi responded. "Gotta be always vigilant for any threats." She then added.

"I am. I always was." Asuka replied in a reassuring manner. "It...It was just that sometimes that isn't enough, y'know." She soon added.

"Yeah. True. God, now that I think about it, that does sound really paranoid..." Miyabi admitted before taking a sip of her drink. "Still, it's nice that Futaba is putting herself out there. We need more friends outside of our usual groups." She soon got out.

"Hai." Asuka agreed.

"Actually, that makes me wonder. Did you have friends outside of the Elites at Hanzō?" Miyabi soon questioned in a curious manner.

To that, Asuka shook her head. "Not really. I didn't have a lot of friends growing up. When I was younger, I spent most of my time training and when I was in middle school, I used to get into fights." She sheepishly replied and revealed.

"Wait, you were a delinquent back then?" Miyabi got out in disbelief. "But...you'd make friends with dirt if you wanted to..." She then pointed out.

In response, the Vice Leader just sheepishly giggled again while rubbing the back of her head. "Everyone has to start from somewhere, and I started as a girl who got into fights." Asuka replied.

"Why?" Miyabi had to ask.

"Well, I was...just sort of angry and bitter as a kid. The training, the stress, being told to uphold a legacy I never asked for..." Asuka listed off with a sad sigh. "I guess I took it out on everyone I could if I had the chance. A sword without a compatible shield." She eventually assumed and recalled.

"Heh, no wonder you got so well along with your sister." Miyabi remarked in a joking manner, though was now even more curious by this new information about her student.

"Hehe, you too, Miyabi-sensei." Asuka giggled out.

"Hey, speaking of, where's Homura this fine evening?" Miyabi eventually asked.

"Ah, she texted me saying she was going to hang-out with Futaba-chan." Asuka responded and recalled.

"Ah." Miyabi replied before going back to watching the streets below, which sort of confused the Vice Leader.

"Are you not worried?" Asuka asked in concern.

"I can trust Homura with Futaba." Miyabi responded in a casual manner. "I'm not gonna smother her to make sure she's safe." She soon assured.

"Good." Asuka nodded, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Besides, if Homura did anything, I'd kill her." Miyabi added, her tone shifting from relaxed to dead serious and threatening.

"Uh...please don't." Asuka pleaded with a slight shudder.

"I won't, if she knows what's good for her." Miyabi stated as she crushed her empty can.

"Okay..." Asuka responded.

"Although, maybe I should be more worried about Homura. I hope Futaba doesn't do anything funny to her..." Miyabi couldn't help but say with crossed arms under her breasts.

"I'm sure Homu-neechan is gonna be fine hanging out with Futaba-chan." Asuka reassured with a smile.

---

(Yongen-Jaya, Futaba's Room)

Everything was not fine.

Futaba had a plan today. She invited Homura over to her room to bring her more into the world of magical girl anime with more Sailor Moon episodes. It would be a night full of nothing but repeatedly singing the openings and maybe even working more on the tan skinned girl's magical girl appearance in the Kekkai.

However, the orangette's plans had been thoroughly destroyed once she learned what Homura had done.

"YOUDID WHAT!?" Futaba exclaimed as she looked at the tan skinned girl sitting on her bedside in disbelief.

"I...I binged the entire Sailor Moon series...anime and manga..." Homura confessed.

"You did all of that?! IN ONE SITTING?!" Futaba shouted in disbelief, shooting up from her chair.

"Basically...most the time I was free...in secret..." Homura replied.

"R-Right..." Futaba soon got out. "Favorite Sailor Scout and reason for it?" She suddenly asked.

"I have to say that my favorite sailor scout is Ami. She's always the one who is one step ahead of the other and comes up with the plans to defeat the monster of the week." Homura answered her.

"Huh, Sailor Mercury." Futaba got out in an interested tone. "And here I thought you'd go for Sailor Mars." She then admitted.

"She's right behind Mercury, so she's my second favorite." Homura soon revealed. "But you really shouldn't project what you might think will happen. You might end up disappointed when they've made their choice." She then advised.

"Noted. I just thought that since you're both fire users and all." Futaba replied and confessed while rubbing the back of her head.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say that I felt a connection with her. So in a way, you are right. Just not how you initially thought." Homura admitted with a smile as she crossed her arms.

"Ok, then how about the others like Jupiter, Venus and the Outer Senshi members?" Futaba then asked as she went to get the anime they'd be watching.

"I definitely like Jupiter. She's someone who can be a complete badass and is also caring for her friends. I can also appreciate Venus going out of her way to take Moon's place since they both have blonde hair and it seems to work on occasion." Homura explained. "Chibi-Moon was a bit of a brat during her introduction and still is from time to time, but she's really growing over the course of the series and even befriended Saturn when the others wanted to kill her to end the threat. If I have to make a choice for my least favorite, it'd be both Uranus and Neptune. They've never once considered the consequences for what would happen to innocent people and didn't even bother to work with the other scouts." She then added and concluded.

Futaba meanwhile looked at the tan skinned girl in amazement as she explained her opinions. "You really did binge everything..." She soon got out.

"Yeah, I really did..." Homura replied as she stuck her tongue out playfully and rubbed the back of her head. "Though I think I'll have to change my title to something else." She then confessed.

"Like what?" Futaba asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No idea, something space related l guess." Homura replied while shrugging her shoulders.

"Ah, to match the others." Futaba calmly realized with a nod before smirking. "Mwehehe, you really getting into this huh?" She then giggled at her question in amusement.

"Yeah, I guess I really am. I didn't really think that I would, but I really am getting into this." Homura replied in agreement with a smile.

"Guess it's because you can finally get into stuff like this now." Futaba soon suggested. "You know, stuff that girls can get into and all that." She then explained.

"I know what you mean. But yeah, that's true." Homura nodded in agreement. "Guess becoming Sis's well, actual sister is part of the reason." She then added.

"Yeah, more freedom for you." Futaba simplified.

Homura simply nodded with a smile as she got herself ready. "So, time to watch the new anime." She then got out in excitement.

"Cool. And I got just the one to watch next." Futaba responded with a nod as she went through her anime collection.

"Then let's get it started!" Homura replied in anticipation. "It's not that deceiving one right?" She quickly asked out of concern.

"Don't worry, it's not...yet..." Futaba vaguely replied as she gave an unsettling smirk.

"..." Homura in response gave a blunt expression to the orangette as said girl prepared the anime and sat next to her.

"Anyway, we're going to watch something that's not as dark, but still has some intense moments." Futaba stated as she showed her their next anime, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha.

"Bit of a long title." Homura muttered to herself as she looked at the characters in the cover. "Uh Futaba...how old are they?" She soon asked in concern. She may have started shinobi training at a young age, but they seem to be younger than her.

"Would you believe me when I said 9 years old?" Futaba questioned in response.

"Yes." Homura replied with a nod. "This would be interesting to say the least." She thought to herself as the episode started.

"Huh. I was expecting you to be a little more alarmed seeing a couple of kids in this situation." Futaba blinked as they watched the episode.

"Honestly, I was a bit alarmed, but then I remembered that I also started at a young age thanks to my former family." Homura confessed and explained.

"Oh yeah, that's right. You're basically in the same situation as them." Futaba realized. "But I think you might feel connected to the blonde girl. You and her are a lot more similar than you think." She then informed.

"Really now." Homura got out with interest.

"Oh definitely. Just wait and see." Futaba responded with a nod as the episode was starting.

Homura simply nodded to that as she focused on the episode.

The episode starts with a young boy with light brown hair and green eyes running through a forest. His arm was bleeding, indicating that he was badly injured by something and was trying to get some distance between him and his attacker. In the bushes, a black blob was stalking him and managed to corner him, but the boy held out a red jewel to try and fight back, but only managed to block its attack and injure it. The boy eventually succumbs to his wounds and collapses on the forest floor, but not before calling out for help to whoever might hear him. He then transforms himself into a ferret before finally passing out.

"Mascot?" Homura simply guessed.

"Mascot." Futaba answered with a nod as they continued watching.

Over the course of the episode, the girl known as Nanoha Takamachi goes to school as normal, hands out with her friends, finds the ferret in the same forest from the other night and takes him to a vet to get treatment for his injuries. But later that night, the same monster from before returns for another round and attacks the ferret at the vet, but not before he calls for Nanoha for help and she rushes over to see what was going on. The ferret runs out of the vet and jumps into Nanoha's arms just as the monster fully reveals itself as the episode ends.

"Whew, what a start." Homura breathed out as she settled herself down. She still felt excited from the episode.

"Yeah. That's kinda how most of these magical girl shows start." Futaba explained. "I'm glad that you really enjoyed it so far." She soon confessed.

"Well it's an experience that I didn't really get as a kid." Homura reminded. "So I can fully enjoy it now." She then added

"Oh yeah, that's right..." Futaba remembered.

"Eh, the past is in the past." Homura waved off. "So, despite not really showing any attacks that first episode save for the sealing, got any videos to show what they can do in the future?" She then asked.

"I think I might have a couple more in mind. Most of them are in the later episodes and seasons, but I think I can show you some more." Futaba answered her.

"Sweet." Homura replied as the orangette got to her computer and began typing.

"So what would you like to see first?" Futaba asked while typing away.

"Any finisher attacks." Homura simply replied.

"I think I got just the one." Futaba revealed as she typed in a term.

"Hm?" Homura hummed out as she walked over and looked at the screen. "Divine Buster?" She read out.

"Watch and be amazed." Futaba responded as she pressed the enter key to play a video of a blue haired girl using the mentioned attack.

Homura meanwhile remained silent as she watched the video...only to go wide eyed at the sight of the attack and the damage it caused. "Daaaaaamn!" She got out in amazement.

"Mwehehe. Well? Impressive, right?" Futaba giggled as she twirled her chair around to face her.

"Hell yeah!" Homura responded in a giddy manner.

"Giving you ideas for your Senshi form arsenal?" Futaba then asked in a curious manner.

"You damn right, it is! I'm definitely adding that to my arsenal!" Homura replied and nodded excitedly.

"Mwhehe, sounding like a kid there Homura." Futaba jokingly got out with a smirk.

"Heh, I guess I really am." Homura agreed with a smile and a giggle.

"Yeah, you could even say you're taking back your childhood." Futaba soon suggested.

"Yeah, I think you're right. I've missed out on so much time that I never got to act like a normal kid." Homura realized as she nodded in agreement.

"Aka you coming to Tokyo basically gave you that chance." Futaba then deducted while adjusting her glasses. "But we can talk about that later. Ready the Kekkai!" She soon ordered in excitement.

Homura in turn nodded to that as she made the hand sign. "Shinobi Kekkai!" She whispered as the two vanished from the room...

---

(Homura's Shinobi Kekkai)

And arrived at the crimson tinted battle field.

"Alright. Time to test out that new attack." Homura declaree with a nod and transformed into her Sailor Senshi form.

"Hold on! We need to think of a new name for you!" Futaba however reminded.

"Oh yeah, that's right. We still need to do that." Homura remembered as she calmed herself down. "So what could be a new name for me?" She soon asked as she turned to the glasses wearing girl.

"No idea, something space and fire related." Futaba responded. "Meteorite?" She soon suggested.

"Nah, that sounds stupid." Homura responded as she shook her head. "And Sun would be too easy." She then added.

"How about Blackhole?" Futaba suggested again.

"Too dark and too evil sounding." Homura responded as she placed a hand on her hips and titled her body slightly. "It should be something that's like...explosive..." She then explained.

"Explosive..." Futaba thought for a moment before a lightbulb lit up over her head after repeating the term.

"Wait..." Homura also realized something that came to mind.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Futaba asked with a grin as she lifted her glasses.

"If you're having the same." Homura replied as she turned back to her normal clothes.

"Then go for it! And with a new transformation to match!" Futaba soon declared.

Nodding to that, Homura backflipped away from the orangette before raising a hand to the air. "Nova Power! Make Up!" She passionately called out as a supernova explodes right behind her as she transforms into her Sailor Senshi form once more.

"I am the guardian of passion! One who fights for all that is good! I am Sailor Nova! And now in the name of the light, I'll purify you!" She soon declared.

"Oh yeah! That's more like it!" Futaba cheered as she pumped a fist into the air. "Now you really are a Sailor Senshi!" She then responded.

"Yeah I am!" Nova declared as she winked to the girl. She could literally feel her Femininity improving as a result.

"And the new name definitely suits you better than the last one! From now on, you are known as Sailor Nova!" Futaba soon declared.

"Hai!" Nova replied in agreement.

"So you ready to try out that new attack I showed you?" Futaba then asked.

"Of course! Both a shinobi and a magical girl shouldn't have just one special attack in their arsenal!" Nova soon replied and declared.

"Oh yeah! Now show me what you got!" Futaba replied before an idea came to mind. "Oh wait! Kaito Change!" She suddenly declared as she was then enveloped in green flames before it dyed down to reveal herself in her Thief Attire.

"Your Phantom Thief attire? Why are you transforming to that?" Nova got out in confusion with raised an eyebrow and placed a hand on her hip.

"Duh, so I can gauge your power." Oracle replied as she then got into her Persona. "So, show me what you got Sailor Nova!" She then encouraged.

"Right. Here I go." Nova replied as she took a deep breath to prepare herself for her new attack. "Ok, you ready, Oracle?" She looked up at the UFO Persona.

"All set!" Oracle replied as she typed on her keyboard.

"Ok. Then here we go!" Nova responded with a nod as she got into position and a crimson version of the same magic circle appeared underneath her feet.

"Oooh, nice magical circle effect!" Oracle got out in an impressed manner.

"...What's she talking about?" Nova thought to herself before mentally shrugging her shoulders. She'll worry about it later.

"Whoa! These readings are awesome Nova!" Oracle got out in amazement.

"So far, so good. Just need to concentrate a little more..." Nova muttered with a nod as her new attack charged up.

"Three thousand, four thousand, they keep rising!" Oracle exclaimed to her herself as she kept looking at the quickly rising meter. "Six thousand, seven thousand..." She continued.

"Just a little more...Almost there..." Nova thought while keeping her concentration.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

Suddenly, a warning light and a siren began to go off within Necronomicon. "WAH! NOVA! DO IT NOW!" Oracle exclaimed in a panic. "It's to where I would make that one joke but it would be too easy to do!" She then called out as she saw more magical circles form under the tan skinned girl's feet.

"Well...this is an interesting development..." Wolverine suddenly got out within her other self.

"Okay! It's now or never!" Nova shouted as she got ready to fire.

"IT'S STILL RISING!?" Oracle exclaimed in a panic as she backed her Persona away as the space around them started to rumble and shake.

"So...this is the result of combining her skills as a shinobi along with my spells..." Wolverine muttered to herself.

"KURENAI..." Nova started as she fired the attack "BUSTER!" SShe soon roared as she unleashed a massive beam of energy that flew to the other side of the barrier before...

BOOOOOOOOOM!

A massive, earth shaking explosion occurred.

"WAH!" Oracle yelped as she steadied herself within her Persona from the shockwave. On her screen showing random numbers that kept changing every second.

"What the!?" Nova got out as she also had to stable herself from the shaking. "That...wasn't supposed to happen..." She soon muttered in confusion.

"This...will take some getting used to...'' Wolverine muttered to herself.

As the dust died down, confusion was an understatement to say the least. "Wha...? What just happened...?" Nova muttered as she looked at the aftermath in disbelief. "That...felt different then usual..." She hesitantly thought while looking at her gloved hands.

"Whew! I thought I was gonna die from that explosion!" Oracle called out as her Persona came down before vanishing.

"Oracle! Are you alright? You weren't hurt from the shockwave, were you?" Nova exclaimed in a panic as she went to check on her.

"I'm alright, that just really caught me by surprise." Oracle got out as she made her screens pop up again. "Still, that was intense Nova. That didn't feel like a usual attack from you." She then pointed out.

"Yeah, no kidding. That felt a lot more powerful than I thought." Nova admitted in agreement with a stunned expression "I wasn't intending to make it that powerful, but it somehow did. I don't even know what exactly happened." She then confessed.

"So you got no idea what happened?" Oracle soon asked in confusion before noticing something. "Wait, what the?" She then got out in shock.

"What? What's wrong?" Nova looked at her in concern.

"Your Magic stat seriously shot up! It's the highest out of all of us now!" Oracle revealed.

"Wait, seriously?! How is that even possible?!" Nova gasped in shock and disbelief.

"I don't know!" Oracle replied as she scratched her head. "I mean some legends say that ninjutsu and magic are one in the same, but there's no way that could be possible right?" She then got out and asked.

"How should I know? I've been trained to be a Shinobi for years, but nothing has even prepared me for this." Nova explained to her. "I'm not even sure if what you said is true or not." She then admitted.

"Well, how do you feel right now exactly?" Oracle soon asked. "Got the urge to hack and slash with your katanas like you usually do as a shinobi or a Phantom Thief?" She then added.

"I still do, but now I'm getting this other urge to use this magic. It feels like there's 2 different versions of me clashing with each other." Nova confessed as she looked at her gloved hands. "There's the side you mentioned and now this new one that's now being developed." She then revealed.

"Man this is so weird." Oracle admitted. "I thought knowing shinobis and being a Phantom Thief were gonna be the biggest things we'd have to deal with." She soon remarked. "And this doesn't feel like using a Persona spell right?" She then guessed.

"No. It feels like actual magic to a degree. Like what we've seen in your magical girl collection." Nova revealed as she looked at her. "It's not like when I'm a Shinobi or a Phantom Thief, but I'm not even sure how to explain it." She then confessed.

"There's no way you could've unlocked actual Magic...right?" Oracle hesitantly asked before grinning widely. "Because that would be awesome!" She then declared.

Nova in response almost facefaulted to that. "R-Really?" She awkwardly got out...but also felt good from hearing that. "I mean you say that, but I'm not sure how we can explain this to the others." She soon confessed and pointed out. "Sure you and everyone else already know about Shinobi and we all know of the Metaverse thanks to Morgana, but how can we explain how magic really exists?" She then asked.

"Well maybe we can keep experimenting to find out how." Oracle soon suggested.

"Hm?" Nova hummed out in a curious manner. "Are you sure that will work?" She soon asked.

"Come on, we got nothing to lose either way." Oracle replied in a nonchalant manner.

"True..." Nova admitted. She did feel good like this. "Ok, then let's keep going. I'm really curious about what else I can do with these new magic abilities." She soon decided with a nod.

"Sweet! This is gonna be fun Sailor Nova!" Oracle replied as she adjusted her goggles while looking at her screen. "Oooh, it's like you're unintentionally releasing a version of the Sailor Moon glamor spell on your face! My screens can't even recognize you!" She soon revealed in a fascinated manner.

"Really now? I can definitely use this to keep myself hidden from anyone that tries to get a reading on me." Nova jokingly responded as she smirked at learning this. "Maybe I can get used to this." She then admitted in a more satisfied tone. "Anything else about glamor spell, Oracle?" She soon asked.

"Not sure yet." Oracle replied in a nonchalant manner as she kept typing. "We essentially discovered magic as a result of a combination of Persona spells and your ninjutsu, actual magic. Mwehehe~ This is gonna be fun~" She then got out in excitement.

"Yeah, it sure is. Let's see what else I can do with this new magic." Nova nodded as she looked at her hands. "Focus...focus..." She mumbled as she closed her eyes before crimson glowing glyphs formed atop her hands.

As she concentrates, a blade of fire forms from the glyphs as it becomes a black and crimson colored scythe.

"Oooooooh!" Oracle got out in awe at the sight. "Solidifying your element and changing its matter to make actual weapons out of them!" She declared.

Just then, a blue eye opened up on where the handle and the blade were connected and seems to almost be alive.

"Scythe form." The scythe suddenly stated, completely catching the two off guard.

"...H-How?" Nova muttered in amazement to the beautiful craftsmanship of the weapon, but also confusion to how this even occurred. "I thought...my six katana style..." She then reminded herself.

"New style. Device mode. Get set." The weapon stated as the blade folds inward and becomes a staff.

"Eh?" Nova got out in confusion as she got a feel for it. It felt just as natural holding it.

"Did that thing...just spoke?" Oracle lifted up her goggles.

"Yeah..." Nova slowly responded with a nod.

"How is that even possible?! That can't be possible, right?" Oracle asked in disbelief.

"I don't know!" Nova responded, just as confused as she held the new weapon in her hands. "Wolverine?" She mentally called out.

"What's up?" Wolverine answered back.

"Everything going on!" Nova mentally exclaimed. "Awakening magic, Kurenai Buster's power, this new weapon!" She then listed off.

"So you really noticed that? I was wondering when you'd figure it out." Wolverine soon stated.

"Wha!? So you do know something!?" Nova mentally questioned in shock. What did her other self know that she didn't?

"You...may have unintentionally created a fusion between your usual ninjutsu skills as a shinobi and Persona magic..." Wolverine sheepishly giggled out.

"...What?" Nova got out in her head. "What do you mean by unlocked?" She then questioned. "Hold on, seriously!?" She soon asked in confusion.

"When you used your Buster attack, the combination took the form of those magic circles that appeared under her feet and it made your attack a lot stronger than you initially thought." Wolverine explained to her.

"Yes, but how did I do that? More then that, how do I essentially have something like actual Magic? I thought that was only in fiction and in legends!?" Nova soon asked.

"You really think all of that is fiction and legends? It's more real than you actually think." Wolverine responded. "Not everything can be explained with science or facts. You need to see things from the outside of the norm and open your mind to more unknown possibilities." She soon declared.

"S-Seriously?" Nova got out in disbelief. "But...the attacks, the weapon..." She then added as she gripped the staff-scythe tight.

"And? How do you feel about this?" Wolverine countered.

"I'm not sure..." Nova confessed as she was at a lost for words.

"Guess you forgot at the time, the one time you were able to get away from your family and saw a single magical girl show..." Wolverine revealed, causing the tan skinned girl's eyes to widen.

"You actually remember something like that?!" Nova yelped as she blushed. "T-That actually happened?" She then asked in a meek manner.

"Of course. I am you, after all. I know everything about you." Wolverine reminded her. "Even more than you know yourself." She then mumbled.

"O-Oh yeah..." Nova mumbled. "So...I-I wanted..." She then started.

"Yes." Wolverine responded with a nod.

Nova lowered her head in embarrassment as she had to be reminded of something from her past after finally escaping from her parents.

"That as well as being a shinobi." Wolverine soon corrected. "However when you were caught, you were thrusted back into the hellish training. Though it wasn't a surprise since you were five years old." She then added.

"And...I ended up forgetting that part..." Nova realized.

"Yeah, you sure did. One of the few best parts of your childhood during your training as a Good Shinobi." Wolverine replied and nodded while crossing her arms.

"My god..." Nova mumbled to herself.

"Nova?" Oracle suddenly called out.

"Huh? What is it, Oracle?" Nova snapped out of her thoughts and turned to her.

"You ok?" Oracle soon asked.

"Y-Yeah, I'm alright. Just lost in my thoughts, that's all." Nova sheepishly answered.

"Really? So what happened?" Oracle replied and asked.

"Well...as it turns out...I unintentionally made a mix of my own ninjutsu and my Persona magic..." Nova revealed as she rubbed the back of her head. "I can't believe it was actually possible." She then added.

"Huh?" Was all Oracle could say.

"Yup, it's like you heard." Nova replied.

"So...you're saying that...what you did before...was combining the powers you already got...?" Futaba tried to piece together what she was hearing.

Nova in turn nodded to that.

"And you...unintentionally did it...?" Oracle questioned her even more. "You...you essentially became an actual-" She began.

"Yup." Nova replied with a wink and a smirk.

Futaba was just too stunned to say anything and started fidgeting. "That's...so...AWESOME!" She exclaimed as she jumped for joy.

"Right!?" Nova got out as she pumped a fist in agreement.

"Now you really are a magical girl! This is going to be so cool!" Oracle shouted in excitement.

"Oh yeah!" Nova replied with a grin. "A Shinobi, a Phantom Thief and now a Magical Girl!" She listed off.

"Wait, did you want to be a magical girl?" Oracle suddenly asked, surprised to hear that.

"Believe it or not, I did. But I guess I kinda forgot about it over time." Nova embarrassingly admitted.

"...Seriously?" Oracle got out. "How long ago was it?" She soon questioned.

"Back when I was 5 years old. And after I finally escaped from my clan..." Nova revealed, lowering her head when mentioning her former family. "It was a short time, but I saw a magical girl show and loved it. But when I was caught..." She explained before trailing off at the end.

"You ended up forgetting all about it." Oracle concluded.

"Yeah. Because I was put through hellish training when I showed even the slightest bit of weakness. And since then, I never watched a single magical girl ever again..." Nova responded as she looked up and recalled all of the hellish training she went through.

"Until you watched one when you took a day off from school." Oracle then reminded.

"Yeah. And it rekindled my childhood once again and now I'm reliving what I've been missing for so long." Nova responded with a nod.

"You must've instinctively remembered it after watching Magical Kyoko Flame and just build up from there." Oracle deducted. "Guess it was a good thing you took off for a day from school huh?" She jokingly got out.

"Yeah, I guess it really was a good thing I had that day off. I should definitely thank Yui for rekindling a lost memory." Nova replied as she nodded in agreement and smiled.

"And Asuka for making it so you stayed home that day." Oracle added. "Note to self, watch some magical girl anime with her along with tokusatsu." She mentally ordered herself.

"Yeah, Sis as well. I should thank them later." Nova replied in agreement with a nod.

"Oh yeah." Oracle responded before glancing down. "So about your new magical stick..." She began with a grin.

"This?" Nova asked as she held up her new weapon. "Something tells me that I'll keep it. Like it was given to me for a reason." She then added as she looked at her new weapon as it looked back at her.

"Though technically you created it with your own magic." Oracle reminded. "What were you thinking about at the time?" She then asked while examining it.

"I was thinking about my six katana style, but this suddenly appears in its place." Nova looked at her weapon. "At first, I was confused about how or why this happened until it suddenly spoke as we saw earlier. It then folded into what we're seeing now." She then explained and reminded.

"Yeah, I know that. Was thinking it looks a lot like the staves in Nanoha." Oracle replies and admitted.

"It does? Which one does it look like?" Nova raised an eyebrow and looked at her staff more.

"Fate's. Which is odd since I only mentioned her to you." Oracle replied. "Only thing different is that the eye is blue and not yellow." She then added.

"Oh yeah, you did mention a blonde girl that I'd have a connection with." Nova remembered. "It really looks like her weapon?" She then asked.

"Yeah. I believe it was called Bardiche and it, or rather he, is her partner. So much so that he calls her Sir whenever she speaks with him." Oracle explained to her.

"Huh." Nova got out as she looked at her staff. "But...how did I create mine if I hadn't seen hers until now?" She then wondered in a curious manner.

"I'm not sure how this happened. But maybe it's because I mentioned her and you somehow got a visual image of her?" Oracle wondered and crossed her arms. "How do you feel while wielding it?" She then asked.

"Weird...but also natural..." Nova started before realizing that second bit.

"We'll probably have to train you with it before you can use it properly." Oracle replied. "So, gonna name it?" She then asked as she pointed to it.

Nova thinks about it for a moment to figure out what would be a good name for it.

"I mean it would be too plain and use the same name as Fate's." Oracle soon pointed out.

"I know, but I'm not really sure what would be a good name for it. I'm really drawing a blank here." Nova admitted as she scratched her head.

"Yeah, it's pretty difficult to say the least." Oracle admitted in agreement.

"I guess we'll just figure it out while I'm training with it. Maybe by then we'll see what happens then." Nova suggested to her.

"Sounds good to me." Oracle replied. "So, ready to go?" She then asked.

"Yeah, I'm ready. Let's head back." Nova nodded as she released the barrier...

---

(Futaba's Room)

And returned to the orangette's room.

"Whew, what a night." Futaba breathed out as she laid on her bedside. "A lot of info bombs were dropped." She then added.

"No kidding. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what just happened." Homura got out in agreement while leaning against the wall. "Unintentionally combining my Shinobi skills with Persona spells to create magic, creating that new weapon and rekindling a lost childhood memory of the magical girls. It was definitely a lot to take in." She then listed off.

"So we're keeping this a secret between the two of us right?" Futaba then asked.

"Yeah. This is just between us. We can't let the others know what just happened." Homura nodded at her.

"Especially Yumi since she'd tease you about it?" Futaba jokingly asked.

"Oh, ha ha. That's so funny, I forgot to laugh." Homura sarcastically remarked. "But yeah, especially Yumi-senpai." She then nodded.

"Got it." Futaba replied. "So, we really should think of a name for your magic stick." She then pointed out.

"Tell me about it. But I can't just use the same name as Fate's Bardiche, that would just be plagiarizing. Plus, I'm pretty sure they have the name copyrighted, so that's out of the question." Homura sighed as she made her way to the door. "I guess I'll just have to sleep on it until something comes up." She then decided.

"Yeah." Futaba replied. "Anyway, night." She then added.

"Night." Homura responded with a nod and left her room.

---

(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)

Asuka and Homura returned to their apartment almost at the same time, and had instantly remembered they had homework to finish. While it wasn't all that late, they still ate dinner faster than they usually would before breaking out the books.

It actually wasn't all that bad. The tasks that were set seemed pretty hastily made, so working through it felt like a breeze. It almost seemed too easy, but they weren't complaining. Eventually...

"Homework is done!" Asuka declared, leaning back on her seat with arms raised in the air.

"I really hope the others got theirs done before bed." Homura muttered. "50% chance Ryuji forgot about it." She then mumbled under her breath.

"You know, you should really give Ryuji-kun the benefit of the doubt." Asuka stated with a frown.

"He did have a date today. And who knows how that went." Homura reminded. "Probably screwed it up by saying the wrong thing." She then assumed.

"You really don't believe in him?" Asuka soon asked in concern.

"I believe in him, I just don't believe he'll have a long lasting relationship." Homura replied in an honest manner. "Plus we don't know anything about that Hyōki girl, who is a shinobi of an unknown faction after all. For all we know, Ryuji could be dead." She then breathed out before going wide-eyed. "...Oh shit." She suddenly swore as she and her sister took out their phones.

[FireGirl20: Hey, has anyone seen Ryuji today?]

[Shut7heFUp: What's up?]

[SushiRoll23: Ah, Ryuji-kun! You're safe.]

[Shut7heFUp: Safe?]

[FireGirl20: Sorry, but we got worried that you got murdered by that Hyōki girl.]

[Shut7heFUp: Well, I'm in my room eating chips. I'm safe as shit.]

[Alibaba9: ...Is shit actually safe?]

[TheWildJ0ker: Nope. New topic.]

[B3lladonna: I would like to update everyone on my father.]

[SushiRoll23: Is it bad?]

[B3lladonna:...I don't know. He's been acting odd since the change of heart.]

[FireGirl20: Odd how?]

[B3lladonna: He has been cooped up in his study, and his voice lacks energy.]

[All4Painting: That actually sounds quite similar to what Madarame went through.]

[Sweetkat06: And Madarame still had a change of heart in the end. Don't worry, Haru.]

[B3lladonna: Is that so...? Oh, my apologies! I don't mean to doubt you or anything!]

[Road2Queen: Nobody was accusing you of that.]

[Alibaba9: People just act a bit weird after their treasure gets stolen.]

[Alibaba9: It'd be hard not to worry about a sudden shift.]

[Negative8Degrees: You went into a coma-like sleep.]

[Alibaba9: I was out of energy for a while. I didn't sleep for an entire month! That's just ridiculous!]

[TheWildJ0ker: Just keep an eye on him, Haru. That bullet in his gut probably affected him pretty badly.]

[B3lladonna: Right.]

[Alibaba9: Now that the serious stuff is out of the way...]

[Alibaba09: Soooo, how was it, Ryuji? :3 ]

[Shut7heFUp: Geez, you gotta pry into what I do?]

[DarkEyeXI: YOU WERE HANGING OUT WITH A SHINOBI, JACKASS. TELL US.]

[Shut7heFUp: Oh, right.]

[Sweetkat06: You actually forgot she was a shinobi!?]

[Shut7heFUp: I mean she acted like a normal girl. Hell, we saw the Masqueraider movie that she wanted to see and was pretty excited throughout the entire thing.]

[TheWildJ0ker: So you both enjoyed it.]

[Shut7heFUp: I guess so.]

[Alibaba9: Now that I think about it, I did say last time that as a member of the opposite sex, I sensed no charm from you, Ryuji. But now that you got on a date with a girl with big boobs, I think I owe you an apology.]

[Alibaba09; So yeah. Sorry for calling you a guy with no charm, Ryuji.]

[Shut7heFUp: Uhh...what?]

[Alibaba9: Actually, I'm surprised Inari hasn't gotten a date yet. He is pretty damn handsome.]

[All4Painting: I'm...quite flattered, Futaba.]

[Alibaba9: But then again, your weirdness and multiple Ann and Asuka paintings prolly drive the ladies away.]

[DarkEyeXI: Ruined it.]

[All4Painting: I-I beg your pardon!?]

[Sweetkat06: You have what!?]

[Negative8Degrees: He had me help him move more into a storeroom...]

[All4Painting: Senpai!?]

[Negative8Degrees: I am not protecting you in this endeavor.]

"Looks like the conversation has turned into everyone teasing Yusuke now..." Homura muttered, watching as multiple texts scroll by before turning off her phone.

"I wonder if Yusuke-kun would let me have one of those paintings he made of me..." The Vice Leader soon wondered out loud, greatly confusing her sister.

"Sis, isn't it a little creepy that he has several paintings of you and Ann that you weren't aware of until now?" Homura pointed out with a frown.

"I'm actually kind of flattered." Asuka admitted with a giggle. "While it would've been nice if he told us, I would've liked to be a star in his art. Just, you know, without any skin exposed." She then added.

"Hey, given how much we've seen each other naked, he won't have a meltdown again." Homura got out with a small giggle. "...But it better be anyone else but you." She then got out in a serious manner.

"It's not like I'm doing any nude shoots. I'm still too young." Asuka reminded, sporting a slight blush on her face.

"Asuka, even when you're 48, I wouldn't let you." Homura stated. "No one gets to see your naked body but me...and our family...and the other girls...and the guys in the Metaverse because we can't help it..." She then declared before mumbling under her breath.

The Vice Leader soon cringed. How many people have seen her private parts by now? "...You think Ann-chan is right that we're nudists?" Asuka asked in a worried manner.

"We're wearing clothes right now, so...no." Homura deadpanned.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Hm?" The sisters hummed out as they looked at their phones again.

[B3lladonna: Hello? Is this the girls-only chat room?]

[B3lladonna: Futaba-chan sent me a link.]

[Alibaba09: Yep. Seeing your message clearly. Welcome to the female Thieves chat, where girls like us like to discuss the private and the interesting.]

[B3lladonna: Oh? Like what?]

[Alibaba09: Girl stuff. And the guys in our group as well. Also boobs, butts and all the bitties.]

(...)

[B3lladonna: Bitties?]

[Sweetkat06: Don't mind her, Haru.]

[Road2Queen: Don't we already talk about such topics in the main Phantom Thieves chat?]

[Alibaba9: Well, yeah, but us ladies and Miyabi need some privacy, you know?]

[DarkEyeXI: Why did you exclude me...?]

[B3lladonna: So, what do we wish to talk about?]

[Sweetkat06: I dunno. Anyone wanna start?]

[Negative8Degrees: I've been feeling some pain in my back all day...]

[Road2Queen: Me too. And my legs still feel pretty sore from kicking so many robots yesterday...]

[Alibaba9: The phantom pain is real...]

[FireGirl20: That Palace fight really did a number on all of us.]

[DarkEyeXI: : Yeah. I think I got a cramp after we got out. ]

[Negative8Degrees: I admit, it felt like Asuka, Homura, Miyabi and I were shinobi once again during that moment, but to think that those who are not shinobi to begin with able to experience such way of combat...]

[Sweetkat06: Eight of us in our group are not shinobi, though...]

[FireGirl20: Despite some of you getting the shinobi level of training.]

[Alibaba09: Are we gonna get like...shinobi powers like yours? Like, when we're in the real world?]

[DarkEyeXI: With enough training, it's more likely.]

[B3lladonna: Oh! I remember that there are special scrolls involved and that gives out shinobi attire and power, like a Tenshin outfit.]

[Negative8Degrees: Something we don't really need in the Metaverse thanks to awakening to our Personas, though we can still use them in the real world or a Kekkai.]

[SushiRoll23: Oh yeah! Kaeru told me it was because our Personas further enhanced our Metaverse abilities so we don't need them as conduits or mediums.]

[Alibaba09: So what you're saying is that shinobi powers and Metaverse/Persona powers are entirely different and separate, right?]

[SushiRoll23: Just repeating what Kaeru explained to me.]

[Alibaba09: Oh, cool. Glad I figured that part out.]

[Alibaba08: Bet if your shinobi friends knew this, they'd be jelly as hell. Also, my brain feels there's something crawling around like worms for some reason...]

[Alibaba08: I'm serious, there might be worms inside my brain...]

(...)

[Road2Queen :...Is that Necronomicon's doing?]

[Alibaba09: Mwehehe, yeah, she's feeling her tentacles around my brain. Feels quite nice~ ^^]

[Sweetkat06: ...Eh?]

[Sweetkat06: Wait, your Persona can make you feel that?]

[DarkEyeXI: Okay, moving on.]

[Alibaba09: Quick question. Did any one of you witness a penis in the Palace?]

(...)

[Alibaba09: Kidding. Kidding. I mean, we've all seen the boys naked that time, so I'm just curious.]

[DarkEyeXI: Enough of that dirty stuff, alright, young lady?]

[Alibaba09: I'll stop, I'll stop...for now. Jeez, I really need a break from thinking about that stupid fight...]

[B3lladonna: Oh, I know! How about we all go to a spa? All of us?]

[DarkEyeXI: A spa?]

[SushiRoll23: That's a great idea, Haru-chan! We all deserve a break after that Palace fight.]

[Road2Queen: Another one?]

[B3lladonna: Wait, you guys went to a spa before, Mako-chan?]

[Road2Queen: Yes, it was covered by Ann and Asuka's modeling agency back after we took down Kaneshiro before, but Futaba and Miyabi weren't with us yet.]

[B3lladonna: Oh, then we'll have Futaba-chan and Miya-chan join us to a luxurious spa of my choosing then.]

[Sweetkat06: Luxurious? Seriously?]

[Alibaba09: Cool! I'm actually curious to try those things in spas. The luxurious and high-class, even!]

[Road2Queen: Are you sure you're alright paying this for all of us, Haru?]

[B3lladonna: Don't worry, Mako-chan, I'll have it covered. Even though my family has a lot of money, I don't really spend much, so this time, I'm doing this for all of us.]

[SushiRoll23: What about Yagyū-chan?]

[B3lldonna: Gyū-chan has to make sure Okumura Foods is alright thanks to my father's prior orders.]

[B3lldonna: And if I have to predict, after Gyū-chan has to return, last would be Katsu-chan.]

[Alibaba09: O.O...^^!]

(...)

(...)

[Road2Queen: ...I don't know who she is...]

[FireGirl20: Makoto-senpai, are you alright?]

[Road2Queen: No.]

[B3lladonna: Huh? What's wrong, Mako-chan?]

[Road2Queen: Katsuragi-san is what's wrong, Haru-san.]

[B3lladonna: ...Did something happen between you and Katsu-chan?]

[Road2Queen: Yes.]

[B3lladonna: What happened? Is it something bad?]

[Road2Queen: Not...genuinely bad. Just...got my privacy invaded.]

[B3lladonna:: What do you mean?]

[Road2Queen: Well...It's not like it's a big deal or anything, Haru-san. It's just...she got...her way with me with her hands.]

(...)

[B3lladonna: Oh...did Katsu-chan get her hands on you?]

[Road2Queen:...]

[B3lladonna: I assume your silence means yes, Mako-chan?]

[Sweetkat06: Right on the mark.]

[B3lladonna: When did she get to you, Mako-chan?]

[Alibaba09: The beach!]

[B3lladonna: The beach? You guys met with Katsu-chan at the beach?]

[Alibaba09: Along with her Hanzō Academy friends as well when me and my fellow Thieves went there during school summer break last month. We just happened to cross paths.]

[B3lladonna: Oh wow, what a coincidence!]

[FireGirl20: ...I somehow prefer to call it fate. And Makoto-senpai...she just got first-hand experience on what Katsuragi-san's capable of.]

[Road2Queen: Please don't remind me even further, thank you.]

[B3lladonna: Oh? But groping is her way of getting along with girls, Mako-chan.]

[Road2Queen: ...What?]

[B3lladonna: Yeah, really. If I may ask, did she get to you too, Ann-chan?]

[Sweetkat06: God no!]

[Alibaba09: Yet.]

[Sweetkat06: Be quiet, Futaba!]

[B3lladonna: I'm pretty sure she wants to get to know you, too, Ann-chan. Hence, the groping.]

[Sweetkat06: It's not that, Haru! It's just...her groping has a very weird physical effect on our bodies.]

[B3lladonna: Huh? What do you mean?]

[Sweetkat06: Well, she...she makes girls' boobs grow every time she gropes them.]

[B3lladonna: ...Excuse me?]

[Sweetkat06: We're not kidding, Haru. She is a force to be reckoned with for us girls with those hands of hers.]

[FireGirl20: Basically what happened is that Makoto-senpai's breasts got a bit bigger thanks to Katsuragi-san's groping, Haru.]

[B3lladonna: ...Huh? She can do that? That's the first I've ever heard of it...]

[Sweetkat06: You're friends with Katsuragi, right? Did she... ever try to grope you once, Haru? Maybe multiple times?]

[B3lladonna: Um...not...that I can remember, though. I think she did it to me only once before Ika-chan stopped her.]

[B3lladonna: Ika-chan...she was really...aggressive and protective that time...]

[B3lladonna: And at that point, that was the last time I got groped by Katsu-chan.]

[Road2Queen: Then...how did you get your breasts so big if you hadn't been groped by her for a long time?]

[B3lladonna: Um...I'm not sure. They just...got bigger when I got older.]

[Sweetkat06: Even though you only got slight shinobi training that time before you quit?]

[B3lladonna: Yes.]

[SushiRoll23: Ikaruga-chan must've been protecting you from her trying to do that to you.]

[B3lladonna: Oh my...]

[Sweetkat06: Weird...anyway, curious of me to ask, but...does your Hanzō friends know about your, uh...large chest?]

[B3lladonna: I think...no one noticed it and even mentioned it to me. I did wear my custom compression bra at all times.]

[Road2Queenn: Wow, lucky you.]

[Sweetkat06: I think it's for the best, Haru. If Katsuragi-san finds out about your actual chest size, she might make it grow even bigger.]

[B3lladonna: 0/0]

[FireGirl20: I agree, Haru. It's...for your own good.]

[B3lladonna: Um...I don't mind getting it bigger, though...just have to make sure there's a limit.]

[Alibaba09: K-Cup being the limit? ^^]

[DarkEyeXI: Don't bring up Murasaki into this...]

[B3lladonna: Hm? Murasaki?]

[DarkEyeXI: My best friend's younger sister. She has a K-Cup.]

[B3lladonna: Oh my...really?]

[Alibaba09: Oh yeah, she's awesome too! She's also my co-op buddy in my video games! And I love watching her work out too!]

[Alibaba09 shared image, 'Murasaki Full Body']

[B3lladonna: M-My word! She really is big!]

[Road2Queen: -_-"]

[Sweetkat06: I still can't even comprehend when you showed me a picture of her for the first time...]

[Alibaba09: She just likes to show me her progress!]

[Alibaba09: And she was a shut-in like I was!]

[DarkEyeXI: Alright, alright, enough of that, Futaba...Let's discuss this conversation later, okay?]

[Alibaba09: Mwehehe! See, girls? Told you the female Thieves private chat group is worth the setup.]

[DarkEyeXI: Okay, quiet now, you little gremlin.]

[FireGirl20: I just had a thought. About our spa treatment, I mean.]

[Sweetkat06: What is it?]

[FireGirl20: Should we invite the guys as well to our spa day as well?]

[B3lladonna: Of course. I think they deserve the relaxation as well after that hellish battle.]

[Negative8Degrees: I agree. They have played an important role in changing Okumura's heart and protecting his Shadow from Black Mask as well.]

[Road2Queen: After school, of course.]

[Sweetkat06: And Morgana?]

[SushiRoll23: We can sneak him in like a shinobi would do.]

[Sweetkat06: Can we?]

[FireGirl20: If we don't get caught, that is.]

(...)

[B3lladonna: Oh, they have a pet spa as well!]

[DarkEyeXI: ...How convenient.]

[Alibaba09: Does the spa have baths, too?]

[B3lladonna: They have these mud baths, which is great for skin rejuvenation.]

[Alibaba09: ...Mud bath? Like, actual mud?]

[B3lladonna: Yes, Futaba-chan. Actual mud.]

[Alibaba09: Oh...]

[B3lladonna: There's oil massages as well if you don't like it, Futaba-chan.]

[Alibaba09: ...A mixed bath would be nice, though...]

[FireGirl20: Futaba, seriously?]

[Alibaba09: I was thinking that we should get used to each other in the nude or something like that.]

[Alibaba09: I mean, we already saw each other naked in Okumura's Palace. Let's try to get used to it.]

(...)

(...)

[B3lladonna: Well...I don't really mind that, as long as it's my Thief comrades...]

[B3lladonna: But I don't think the spa has a mixed bath, though. Sorry, Futaba-chan.]

[Alibaba09: Crap...]

[DarkEyeXI: Futaba, give it up.]

[B3lladonna: I could sign up for a reservation on a private konyoku somewhere around or outside the city at a later time if all of us want to.]

[Road2Queen: Let's...discuss the mixed bathing at a later time, alright?]

[FireGirl20: Agreed.]

[Alibaba09: I'll put that on my sticky notes, just to remind and take note of it.]

[Road2Queen: You...do that, Futaba.]

[Alibaba09: Oh, and don't tell the guys about the mixed bath thing. We'll make it a surprise.]

(...)

(...)

[Road2Queen: Seriously?]

[FireGirl20: Oh man...]

The female Thieves ended their private digital conversation at that moment. It was definitely something that random young guys would be interested in and eventually gossip about it in secret.

"Wow, Futaba-chan does not hold herself back." Asuka remarked as they put away their phones. "She even sounded really eager about the spa trip."

"Yeah. I mean, she is a shut-in, so she hasn't gone outside for a long time so it'll be a nice break from the city." Homura stated. "Also she's a pervert who wants to touch our boobs." She then added in a flat tone.

"That, too." Asuka sighed. "I wonder when she'll grow out of it?"

"Sis, your Gramps was taking photos of us sleeping a few months ago." Homura reminded. "Plus, given our lives, I think the universe encourages it."

"...I hate the fact that I can't deny that." Asuka groaned.

"Still, another spa treatment..." Asuka stated aloud to herself. "Honestly, I didn't think we'd have another chance like that again." She then admitted.

"Yeah. And we don't have to pay for any of it this time." Homura added with a relieved smile. "Haru might be the best thing to happen to the Phantom Thieves..." She soon admitted.

"Hey, we shouldn't take advantage of Haru-chan's generosity." Asuka however reminded.

"I know, I know." Homura reassured with a sigh. "But still, you wouldn't say no to this type of stuff." She then admitted.

"...Yeah...I wouldn't..." Asuka sheepishly replied. "But Haru-chan isn't our piggy bank. We can't rely on her for all our financial needs." She soon stated.

"I mean, you get a lot of money from your modeling job." Homura reminded.

"T-True..." Asuka responded with a blush.

"And the Metaverse literally bleeds money into our pockets..." Homura soon added.

"Yeah..." Asuka got out in agreement.

"And all the Treasures and loot, the guns and weapons..." Homura kept going before trailing off. "God, Black Mask must be loaded..." She soon growled out.

"All from the suffering of others..." Asuka also growled out in rising anger.

"And that's not to mention the hits and I really need that freaking spa day." Homura grumbled while covering her face.

"If that's the case, I wonder how the boys are handling their stress?" Asuka soon got out in a concerned manner.

"Well...I guess the boys deserve the spa treatment along with us girls this time." Homura simply uttered with crossed arms under her breasts. "Miyabi's gotta rein in Futaba though." She then added.

"She's becoming more like Katsu-nee..." Asuka noted in concern. "And...I'm worried if she's gonna grope girls breasts as well..." She then added.

"That's...gonna be a bit of a problem." Homura confessed. "Katsuragi has the unique ability to increase a girl's bust size by groping...and if Futaba acquires it too..." She then added before trailing off.

"...That would be something else, that's for sure." Asuka simply stated in a nervous manner

"Let's continue that discussion later...with Makoto and Miyabi..." Homura decided.

"Right." Asuka nodded. "Let's talk about that high-end spa treatment." She then started.

"A mud bath, though." Homura stated, thinking about that particular spa feature. "That's the first I've ever heard of it. Us at Hebijo tend to cover our whole bodies in mud to avoid detection, even used it in our shinobi training regimen back at Hebijo, but...as a spa treatment..." She then continued.

"Wonder how that would feel like for us..." Asuka muttered aloud, imagining what a mud bath as a spa treatment would feel like. "Isn't it a bit gross to bathe in actual mud?" She couldn't help but say.

"We'll just have and see to experience it then." Homura responded with a shrug before another thought came to mind. "Still, a mixed bath?" She soon stated, sporting a slight blush on her face. "That's...quite something." She then added.

"Hai..." Asuka responded with a nod of agreement and also had a blush on her face. "I guess only us and the girls have to decide when that would be." She then added.

"And Futaba said we can't even tell the boys about it." Homura added as well. "I...think that's good?" She then stated afterwards, almost unsure about it.

"Yeah...well, at least the boys in our group are trustworthy, at least." Homura stated with a sigh. "The guys in our school, though..." She then started before trailing off.

"They couldn't help but misbehave and think weird from time to time." Asuka assumed.

"Except my boys in my Disciplinary Committee. And probably Mishima and Yuki Rito from Kosei." Homura proudly reminded. "They know what their limits are and are not willing to cross the line with girls like us." She then added.

"Really?" Asuka replied. "Huh. Guess you can trust them, at least. Rito included, even though he's not from our school." She then added.

"Couldn't help but wonder how Rito's girls fare off with him this time, including Nana." Homura stated, thinking about the poor boy. "And most especially with Lala-san's other younger sister Momo and that Nemesis girl..." She then added.

"...I have a weird feeling about those girls." Asuka couldn't help but state. "Though I don't know why." She then added.

"Somehow I can tell that they're...dangerous somehow." Homura soon stated, remembering those certain faces they she met during their trip to Hawaii.

"Dangerous?" Asuka repeated, looking at her sister. "Why, Homu-neechan?" She then asked.

"I don't know, it's just...they're like us shinobi, keeping secrets and blending in with the public, but...they're different." Homura somehow assumed. "Almost as if...some of them are not what we think they are."

"I trust Lala-san, though." Asuka however told her.

"Still, I think it's best not to get too much attention to ourselves whenever we're out there." Homura advised with crossed arms under her breasts. "You never know what kind of people we're dealing with out there in the city." She then added.

"Hai, you're right." Asuka relented with a sigh, giving out a nod of agreement.

"So...what now?" Homura soon asked, hands on her hips.

"Hmm...wanna have a bath together before going to sleep?" Asuka asked with a smile, pointing a thumb on their apartment bathroom door.

"Sounds good to me." Homura responded with a nod as the two stripped themselves down in their very own living room, setting their clothes and underwear aside on a pile and eventually leaving themselves naked.

"Can't wait for that spa treatment, though." Asuka couldn't help but admit as she walked ahead and entered the bathroom in the nude.

"Same here." Homura breathed out in agreement, following her sister in tow before closing the bathroom door and having a casual bonding time inside.

---

(Tokyo Mirage Apartment Complex)

Meanwhile, over at the Senki Shu apartment...

"Wonder how their date's going." Reki wondered aloud, casually accumulating dark energy on her palm before shakingly dispersing, causing her to sigh.

"Well, it's probably over by now unless he's escorting her back here." Miki assumed while filing her nails. "...Should we have-" She then began.

"Followed them to ensure that the boy doesn't hurt her in any way, shape, or form?" Maki guessed as she looked up from her phone.

"No, I was thinking-" Miki responded.

"We should be using tracking software to see where Hyōki is right now?" Yuki suggested.

"Would you give me a second to speak?" Miki grumbled as she interrupted once again. "Like I was saying, maybe we should have-" She then started.

"Bought more condoms?" Reki assumed.

"You know what, I've forgotten what I was going to say." Miki groaned. "So you will never know what I was going to suggest. Consider yourselves uninformed." She then concluded in a dramatic manner.

"Aw..." Reki sadly groaned.

"Well, that's what you get for interrupting me-" The model began to scold, however...

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The four girls in the apartment room got their attention as they glanced towards the entrance door.

"...That better be Hyōki or else I am going to jam this file down their throat." Miki grumbled as she went to get the door.

When she opened the door, she realized it was Hyōki who looked...like she just left a dreamworld, and yet held the memories close to her heart tight enough to last the journey home.

...Wow, that was a very weird metaphor.

"Hyōki-chan! You're back!" Miki greeted as she ushered the girl inside. "And...where's the Ryuji boy?" She soon asked as she looked out the door to check if he was around.

"We separated after we got dinner." The ravenette answered.

"Ooh, did he take you somewhere good?" Miki responded and asked in a curious manner.

"We...had very tasty ramen." Hyōki meekly responded, the blush returning to her face.

The girls blinked at that. "...Who has ramen on the first date?" Maki questioned with a frown.

The ravenette however narrowed her eyes in response as she then placed her hands on her hips. "Please do not judge him for that." Hyōki suddenly requested, getting her teammates' attention. "It's only him and his mother because his asshole of a father abandoned them, so they have to take it easy when it comes to money since that Kamoshida man ruined his chance of getting a track scholarship by purposely breaking his leg to get rid of the track team at Shujin." She then added in extreme detail.

In response, the four blinked as they looked at the Leader for defending the boy she was on a date with.

"Are you...talking about that Ryuji boy?" Miki soon asked.

"Hai." Hyōki confirmed with a nod.

"Huh, interesting." Reki responded in a fascinated tone. "So you learned more about him." She then stated.

"Y-Yeah." Hyōki nodded.

"We really didn't need to drop his entire backstory though..." Maki got out with a raised eyebrow. "Shouldn't you have kept that a little more private?" She soon questioned.

"Then don't judge him." Hyōki soon ordered with an infuriated look on her face.

"I'm just saying you kind of betrayed his trust..." Maki mumbled.

In response, the ravenette paled fearfully upon realizing her mistake. "N-No, wait, I-" She soon stammered out before covering her face.

"Hey, don't bully the poor girl." Miki however chided. "If he let her learn something so intimate about himself, I assume the date went well then." She teasingly assumed with a grin.

"..." Hyōki however remained silent as she walked past her teammates without stopping, not even looking at their eyes as well.

"Uh...Hyōki-chan?" Miki got out.

SLAM! CLICK!

Hyōki simply slammed the door without hesitation and locked it immediately, leaving the rest of her fellow kunoichi members to stare at what just happened in concern, confusion and slight disbelief.

"So...did the date go wrong?" Yuki soon asked, glancing at her companions.

"She didn't seem angry." Reki noted. "She looked more...dazed." She then added.

"Dazed...?" Maki repeated with a raised eyebrow.

Miki however gained a gleam in her eyes, already having the idea of what actually happened. "Ufufu~" She giggled out in a giddy manner.

"What?" Reki responded.

"Let's just say that there is a possibility that Hyōki has become a woman." Miki vaguely responded.

"Where do we bury the body?" Maki then bluntly asked.

"Huh? What?" Miki replied dimly, stunned by the very serious reactions she was getting from everyone in the room. "N-No, I mean, he might have possibly kissed her. What were you thinking?" She responded and then asked.

"O-Oh." Maki soon got out as she looked away.

"Maki..." Miki responded in a much more authoritative manner.

"It was nothing. Promise." The brunette reassured.

"..." The pinkette simply stared at the girl.

"...Do you want to make me say it?" Maki soon sighed out.

"I don't know. Do you?" Miki countered.

"I am not going to say that they went to a love hotel and made whoopee." Makisnapped with a glare.

"Eh?" Miki blinked.

"Do the deed of darkness, grope for trout in a peculiar river, give a girl a green gown, doing squat thrusts in the cucumber patch..." Maki then continued.

"Uh, Maki-" Reki spoke up as she gave the usually soft-spoken girl an off look.

"...Bringing an al dente noodle to the spaghetti house, putting the bread in the oven, tossing a hot dog down a hallway, having a hot beef injection..." Maki rambled on.

"W-We get it-" Yuki soon got out, but was ignored as the girl kept going.

"...Do matrimonial polka, do the horizontal tango, conquer the pink fortress, do two-person pushups, commit assault with a friendly weapon, a bit of the old in out, bedroom rodeo, hot yoga, parallel parking, bow chicka bow wow..." Maki then stated...as her nose started to bleed a little.

"How do you know all these phrases?" Miki had to ask in an incredulous manner.

"Internet." Maki answered instantly, and was about to continue, only for Miki to cover her mouth.

"You thought they Woohoo'd on the first date?" Yuki simplified.

"Why are you all avoiding the word sex?" Miki bluntly questioned. "...Also, Hyōki-chan is 14." She then added.

"Wait..." Reki soon got out with a frown. "Wasn't her birthday on the 6th? Shouldn't she be 15 now?" She then asked.

"This year was her 14th birthday." Miki corrected. "Though 14 and 17 isn't that much of a gap." She then confessed.

"Not sure if she would care after the shit she went through." Maki reminded as the others winced.

"...What if Hyōki kissed him though?" Reki suddenly asked in a curious manner, attempting to change the subject.

"What are the chances of that happening?" Miki countered.

"You don't think she made the first move?" Reki questioned in the same curious manner.

"I mean, I had to practically throw her at the boy to get her to go out with him, so I'd say the chances are slim." Miki reminded.

"Well, why don't we ask her?" Yuki suggested.

"She locked us out..." Maki informed as she tried to pull the door open, but to no avail.

"Let her be." Miki however responded as she waved it off. "I think our Hyōki-chan needs her privacy to sort her thoughts out after that lovely date." She then added in a delighted manner.

"And where are we supposed to sleep?" Maki then asked.

"..." Reki meanwhile blinked as she looked around. "We can just sleep on the floor or the couch. The shinobi survival way." She responded.

"...Dibs." Yuki suddenly got out.

"What?" Miki got out in surprise.

"Dibs on the couch. Dibs." Yuki explained.

"You cannot call dibs like that!" Reki called out.

"Yes I can. Dibs! See, did it again. Now get the hell away from my couch." Yuki countered before taking her rightful place, glaring at her roommates as if daring them to see what would happen if they tried anything funny.

Maki meanwhile sighed to this. "I'll get the air mattress from the closet." She got out before proceeding to their closet to get the mattress.

Meanwhile in the bedroom...

Hyōki took in a deep breath as she then started to strip down to her black underwear before going to the bed.

"I...I actually did it." The ravenette breathed out as she tucked herself under her sheets...before gently and lightly touching her lips.

BADUMP! BADUMP! BADUMP!

Hyōki's blush soon returned with a vengeance as she then hugged her pillow, knowing what it meant for her heart to beat like that.

BADUMP! BADUMP! BADUMP!

"Ryuji...kun..." Hyōki quietly mumbled out. "So...nice..." She then added...a smile soon gracing her face.

BADUMP! BADUMP! BADUMP!

For Hyōki, who usually could become a very violent and crazed shinobi when extremely provoked due to her past, it was possible now...

BADUMP! BADUMP! BADUMP!

She might be in love with an actual man of young age after all...and it felt...exciting...

---

Save Game…Quit!

---

Asuka/Yin's Social Stats:

Leadership- Paragon (Level 5)

Knowledge- Sage (Level 5)

Proficiency- Transcendent (Level 5)

Diligence- Rock Solid (Level 5)

Courage- Heroic (Level 5)

Homura/Yang's Development Stats:

Maturity- Sagacious (Level 5)

Knowledge- Sage (Level 5)

Femininity- Natural (Level 4)

Elegance- Yamato Nadeshiko (Level 5)

Understanding- Saintly (Level 5)

---

Whew! Done! One of these days we'll actually get to finishing off the shinobi confidants. Now, next chapter…most of it is just gonna be spa stuff. I have absolutely no clue how that's gonna go. Is that gonna be interesting at all? Let me know because I am curious.

UknownHero signing off, my friends!