HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! UknownHero here and welcome to (probably) the last chapter of Senran Persona for 2023. What a year, people! Pat yourselves on the back for the goals you've achieved, the failures you caused, and the knowledge you've learned. You… should probably be doing something better than reading a 2.6 million word fanfic full of descriptions of boobs.

Dear lord, this is the longest fic in Persona and Senran Kagura. People should make more.

This fic full of boobs also has a TV Tropes page! Don't be afraid to help out there.

Anyways, I want to thank everyone who has been reviewing and consistently reading this fic. Throughout the year, I've been sad and angry… but also happy me, JGResidentEvil, and VividMind17 have been inspiring others to make their own fics. Don't solely credit me, a fic of this size and magnitude wouldn't be possible without their help. I've seen too many people who assume that I'm the main guy (as well as misspell my name) but that's inaccurate. I'm just part of a bigger picture, it just so happens that I upload this fic on here and AO3. Please give some love to my collaborators in reviews or through PM, whatever. Just show them how much you care.

Speaking of which, if you think FFnet is dying… I hope it isn't and I'm gonna keep posting here and AO3 until the ship sinks. Hey, it might get better sooner or later. I have backups of all my fics so once it does, just look up "UknownHero" on AO3 and you'll probably see me slowly uploading my crap there, turning it into my main account.

Ah, but enough of my thanks and crap. Let's get onto the reviews.

To KingJGamer: Eh… I don't think we've talked about Tactica all that much, but I don't think it'll be included here. The story is already big enough as it is. We'll see. To hoodini5569: Oh, the festival! We definitely have stuff for that, and that Haruka date is coming…hopefully. To WWPLunatique: I think you're the person who has been contributing quite a bit to other stuff, so I just wanna say thank you so much. It's really appreciated.

And…that's it. For the final chapter of 2023, but not this fic (I want to make that clear), let's do this.

Load Game…Start!

Chapter 131: Extra-Troubling Antics

(9/29, Early Morning)

(Hebijo Academy, Hallway)

As always for the school that trained Evil Shinobis, it was cloudy and dark, as if a veil of darkness would forever overcast the school for the rest of its existence.

For one particular Hebijo student, however, she currently had a lot on her hands after everything that she pulled during the past days. Right now, she was on a huge apology spree towards all the Hebijo students who she had tormented with while she was not herself that time.

"I am so sorry about yesterday!" Ryōna exclaimed, prostrating to each and every girl she wronged. "I caused you all trouble and I apologize for it! I'm sorry! It was all my fault!" She then continued while rapidly bowing and apologizing even more.

"Has Ryōna ever apologized before? For anything?"

"Nope."

"Guess that blow to the head really affected her."

"That explains how she acted yesterday."

"We shall never speak of yesterday again."

"Just another day at Hebijo."

"We really need therapists..."

As Ryōna continued apologizing, the New Wave of Hebijo Elites stared at the entire scene from a distance.

"...Are we actually seeing this?" Bashō couldn't help but ask.

"Wow, Ryōna-chan's really going at it." Ibuki noted.

"Guess she remembered what she did yesterday and felt guilty over it." Bashō assumed.

"Only to win back the crowd and be more popular than me." Sōji scoffed. "What a bunch of unimportant sheep." She soon grumbled.

"Why do you make everything about you?" Chitose sighed out.

"Why wouldn't everything be about me?" Sōji countered with a self-important smile.

"...I mean, you did essentially cause yesterday's incident." Bashō reminded.

"Because she cheated." The narcissist once more countered in a stubborn manner.

"And you just had to give her a serious concussion with a metal bat." Bashō reminded once more.

"Don't argue with her. It's an exercise in futility." Chitose however groaned.

"Goddammit..." Sōji grumbled in annoyance with hands on her hips this time.

The others meanwhile sweatdropped upon hearing that. "...Who's going to milk this for all its worth?" Chitose suddenly questioned.

"Moh, Chitose-chan, it's obvious that Ryōna-chan has had a moment of enlightenment." Ashiya chastised in disapproval before looking at the still apologizing blonde. "O Great Demiurge, may you have mercy on this poor penitent soul. When she finally repays for all the pain and suffering she has caused in her short life, may she finally suckle on your divine teats and rectum." She then got out as she brought her hands together for a prayer.

"Eh?" Ibuki got out.

"W-Where the hell are you getting these passages?" Sōji had to ask.

"From the Great Demiurge themselves of course!" Ashiya proudly replied with a starry look in her eyes. "And in this brilliant book by one of their first followers, purchased in 10 easy payments of 8,999 yen." She then added as she pulled out a rather thick, red book.

"...You bought a book for that?" Bashō had to ask, staring at the redhead.

"Yes. It was in exchange for a donation." The cultists confirmed.

"...To?" Chitose got out.

"An online charity organization: The Followers of the Free." Ashiya informed, gripping her book lovingly.

"Uh...yeah. Just...don't suddenly make a cult here in Hebijo, okay?" Chitose soon requested.

"Sadly, these books are out of print so I cannot spread the Great Demiurge's teachings." Ashiya sighed.

"Out of money?" Bashō assumed.

"No, apparently some non-believer owns the IP." Ashiya admitted with a frustrated groan. "The Great Demiurge belongs in the public domain!" She soon called out, shaking her fist at the invisible entity that was copyright.

"I wonder why..." Sōji quietly asked in a sarcastic manner while rolling her eyes.

"Hey, don't be mean, Sōji-san." Ashiya pouted.

"Ugh, just do whatever you want." Sōji grumbled as she then scoffed. "In the meantime, time for me to find and beat that stupid bitch that I don't know who claims she has a stronger weapon than mine." She then decided.

"Please don't start an unnecessary fight again, Soji-san." Bashō got out with a sigh. "You already went through a certain degree of humiliation from Ryōna-san's unusual episode." She then reminded.

"Hmph!" Sōji however huffed out as she strutted away.

Chitose however sighed. "I'll go keep an eye on her." She then stated before following her de facto leader.

Meanwhile with Ryōna, she was still bowing in front of the other Hebijo students to the point that she might break her back, her massive bust bouncing all the while.

BOING! BOING! BOING! BOING!

"MOH!" Ryōna got out as she kept on apologizing and bowing to other students while also thinking back to last night to her discussion with her twin.

(Rewind)

"You are not killing Miyabi!" Ryōna shouted out.

"I didn't say anything about that." Her twin insisted.

"But you were implying it!" Ryōna countered.

"I just said I'm meeting Miyabi tomorrow night." Ryōbi stated. "Are you expecting me to do anything bad?" She soon questioned.

"Yes!" Ryōna responded.

"Why?" Her twin then asked.

"Because you're you!" Ryōna called out.

"Ryōna, I promise you, I am not thinking of killing Miyabi as of this moment. There is no reason for me to, so you can calm your stupid big ass tits. I'll be back soon afterwards. Then...we can have a proper conversation." Ryōbi stated in a calm manner. "...Yeah, that part still feels weird to say." She then bluntly confessed.

"Well you better get used to it!" Ryōna declared before letting out a breath. "...Thank you for listening, by the way." She then added.

"Again, still gonna take some time getting used to the fact that you sound completely stable now." Ryōbi got out in an uneasy manner.

"You should've heard me this morning." Ryōna awkwardly giggled.

"...I did see that image of you. What the hell were you thinking?" Ryōbi responded and asked.

"Devil me was in control." Ryōna simply answered.

Beeeeeeeep...

Ryōna blinked before checking her phone. "She hung up on me." She got out before pouting. "Rude!" She then whined with a puffed up cheek.

Well, at least that takes care of that problem, she hoped. Now she has to think of how she'll apologize for her actions today...

(Fast Forward)

A 24 hour apology tour around the school was the best she could come up with when she woke up this morning.

Even if some of them forgive her, or maybe no one at all afterwards, she'll be able to hold her head up high. She was going to be a better person from now on...that only indulges in her lust with as much control as possible in the privacy of her bedroom, as she had also done this morning.

Maybe hidden in public too, if she was feeling frisky.

"I need Akira-kun to scold me too~" Ryōna offhandedly thought as she began to drool.

Ah yes, she will really be a better person after today.

(Elites Room)

Meanwhile, inside the Elites Room, everyone was having breakfast together.

"So, have you heard of Ryōna's 24 hour apology tour?" Hikage suddenly asked as she poured the gourmet dog food into Poochie's bowl.

"Yep. Looks like Ryōna up and at it." Mirai got out.

"Is she apologizing to the ones she hurt?" Yomi asked while eating her bowl filled with bean sprouts. Raw bean sprouts.

"To everyone in the school." Hikage confirmed, twirling her knife between her fingers. "The only people she hasn't hurt are the ones that were already dead, Homura and Haruka." She then added.

"And Ryōbi." Mirai added.

"No, she indirectly hurt her emotionally. You know, judging by our last phone call." Yomi reminded. "Huh...you'd think everyone would want to beat her death..." She soon realized.

"Everyone wanted to beat her ass, but soon remembered that she'd enjoy it so this was a nice compromise." Mirai informed in a casual manner.

"Ah, that makes sense." The bean sprout lover responded with a nod. "...But you know the teachers will do something to punish her properly." She then noted before chowing down her bowl of bean sprouts.

"Yeah..." Mirai sighed. "...Is nearly taking over the school punishable by death?" She then asked.

"It certainly won't be 500 yen and a high-five." Hikage deadpanned. "Maybe we should keep the teachers incapacitated somehow..." She then mumbled to herself.

"It would make our escape easier..." Mirai admitted with a contemplating look.

Murasaki meanwhile entered the scene from her room and was in her workout clothes while lifting her dumbbells like usual. "What's up? Is Ryōna still apologizing?" She got out while continuing her workout.

"Yup." Hikage confirmed while petting Poochie as the puppy ate. "...You made yourself busy, Murasaki." She then added, noticing the former shut-in's toned body.

"A six pack..." Mirai got out with a widened eye.

"Well, I have to prove to Hebijo I'm useful without the Root." Murasaki got out with puffed out cheeks. "Plus, I like working out now. It just feels good to me now just as much as playing video games." She then stated.

"So you started moderating yourself?" Yomi asked in concern.

"Started? I've been doing it for a good while now." Murasaki stated in a proud manner. "I was finally able to break my PB while finishing Dead End Aegis yesterday!" She then revealed with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Is that why I heard crying from your room last night?" Yomi recalled.

"I need to buy happier visual novels..." Murasaki mumbled, sniffling a little while the others sweatdropped.

"We'll buy you some once we're free from Hebijo's clutches." Hikage promised.

"Really?" Murasaki got out in a curious manner.

"Sure." The snake-themed girl simply replied nonchalantly.

"Hikage, you aren't into VNs. I don't even think you've seen a video game before. Do you even know any?" Mirai pointed out before asking.

"Sure. I've heard of some." Hikage casually responded before pausing. "Uh...Little Busters...Yosuga no Sora...Corpse Party...?" She then started listing off.

"I will never play a Corpse Party game again!" Murasaki growled, a dark aura flaring around before coughing, causing it to fade as fast as it came. "S-Sorry, just...bad memories with that one." She awkwardly apologized.

That in turn caused the others to blink, making them curious about what happened.

"Uh...you okay, Murasaki-chan?" Mirai nervously asked.

"It's fine." Murasaki answered. "I just... already played those games Hikage-chan mentioned and...it gave me quite the trauma." She then added, soon gaining a haunted look on her face,

"Oh..." Mirai got out almost softly. "Well, what kind of games do you want to play, Murasaki?" She then decided to ask.

"The uh...slice-of-life kind, mostly." Murasaki soon replied.

"...To practice for Akira-nii?" Mirai soon assumed with a smirk.

"No, that's eroges." Murasaki mumbled under her breath with a blush.

"...Eh?" Mirai only got out in slight confusion and shock.

"Just...I have a lot of depressing games. It's actually nice to let myself be happy now, you know?" Murasaki quickly explained while awkwardly giggling.

"Maybe you should show one of them to me." Hikage soon suggested. "Happiness, joy, laughter...it still feels a little alien to me, despite...the other incidents." She soon admitted.

"I mean, you shouldn't use games to learn about emotions." Murasaki however advised. "They're more about evoking them than teaching them. It's no wonder Onee-chan got hurt so badly..." She then explained before shamefully added.

"Murasaki-chan..." Yomi got out in a sympathetic manner.

"I let my emotions get the better of me during our fight." Murasaki sighed. "I let it all get to me and I just sort of...snapped." She soon muttered, sounding rather regretful.

"...No wonder you were able to ragdoll Imu." Yomi remarked.

Hearing that caused the purplette to wince. "You know...now that I think about that fight with her...I'm starting to feel bad." Murasaki soon admitted in a meek manner.

"Don't." Hikage harshly responded. "She deserves every broken bone." She soon stated in a venomous tone.

"Even so, she's still my older sister." Murasaki however reminded. "I mean yeah...she was jealous I got the Root and she didn't and she did as our parents ordered to do what she did that made me become a shut-in in the first place, but-" She then started explaining, however.

"No, don't make excuses for her." Hikage interrupted, glaring at the former shut-in. "What gave her the right to try and force me to kill Poochie cause she spited me?" She then questioned in a dead serious tone.

"Wasn't that the staff?" Murasaki however asked.

"Imu convinced them to do it just to get at me." Hikage confirmed as she held Poochie in a protective manner.

Murasaki meanwhile winced at that. It...was something her sister would do.

"There's no point in forgiveness for anyone but us. Don't let your old bonds cloud your judgment." Hikage declared. "We'll figure this out later, alright?" She then assured as she patted the purplette on the shoulder.

"...Hai, Hikage." Murasaki soon responded in a saddened tone.

"Good." Hikage responded with a nod before sighing in an exhausted manner. "Sorry, it's just...Imu's past actions really frustrated me to a breaking point." She then admitted.

"Hikage..." Murasaki breathed out.

"We're your new family now. And no one will take you away from us." Hikage declared with a determined look on her face as the others nodded in agreement. "And we won't force you into situations you're not comfortable with, like the Root. We'll run away as far as we can to ensure you're safe." She then stated.

"Yeah. You're family to us now." Mirai confirmed with a nod.

"Our bond is much more important than those scum living in pure luxury." Yomi soon stated with a smile. "Please remember that, Murasaki-chan." She then added.

"Family..." Murasaki mumbled, a small smile gracing her face to that idea and how considerate and kind her friends were towards her. "T-Thank you..." She then got out in a grateful manner.

"No problem. It's us against the world now. We have to protect each other." Mirai responded.

"Yeah, you're right...but I don't want Onee-chan to die or get killed, okay?" Murasaki responded. "She's still my blood family, so I hope you can understand that, at least." She then stated.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. But no promises if she pushes the wrong buttons." Hikage sighed out as the purplette nodded in acceptance. So, when is class going to start?" She then asked.

"That depends. Has anyone checked on the teachers?" Yomi replied and then asked. "Hm, you'd think Suzune-sensei would be here...I wonder where she is?" She then assumed and wondered aloud where their teacher might be.

(Training Ground)

THUD!

"That...is the last of them..." Rin heaved out, wiping the sweat off her brow as she stabbed her shovel into the dirt. "Ryōna...really is one scary little girl when unhinged..." She soon muttered in disbelief.

"That blow to the head really messed up her psyche. Well, as expected from that kind of lethal injury." Tenjin suddenly added aloud in her own head.

"You said it." The teacher agreed. "And now to burn these stupid therapy bats. Why are these things so heavy...?" She soon grumbled as she began dumping said bats into the pit she dug.

"I could even sense that her inner selves were in control at the time." Tenjin somehow informed her. "To think she had two Shadows..." He then added.

"Still, suppressing both her positive and negative sides...I thought it was only theoretical." Rin couldn't help but say.

"Classic case of an angel and devil on the shoulder situation. She had ignored them both which was the reason for her masochistic mindset and the past few days were the result of them having their chance to be in charge." Tenjin explained afterwards.

"Don't think I'll be rewarding Sōji for what she did though. Even if her modeling is one of the sponsors for the school's fundings...not that anyone knows about that except for the higher-ups." Rin responded. "I ran through three bottles of soju just so I could get through those days." She then added.

"Alcohol poisoning is going to take you long before any shinobi will." Tenjin then reminded her.

"That's the dream." Rin breathed out. "Now where did I put my matches...?" She mumbled as she checked her pockets.

"If you want to know or get reminded, the Crimson Squad girls are going to attempt their escape soon." Her Persona informed all of a sudden.

"I know." The Hebijo teacher stated. "They're cutting it rather close." She then added as she finally pulled out the box of matches from one of her pockets.

"That Dōgen man's still around, right?" Tenjin decided to ask.

"I don't have his head mounted on my wall, so yes, he still is." Rin pointed out with an annoyed look on her face. "Dammit, I still need more time...and I still don't know who he's in contact with either..." She then muttered in concern.

"We will figure it out. We always do." Tenjin reassured her host.

"We do one murder investigation and suddenly we're ace detectives." Rin murmured with a small scoff.

"Better than that Light Yagami knock-off currently in Tokyo." Her Persona then joked.

Rin in turn snickered to that comparison. "Starting to feel nostalgic, actually. Now if only Teddie was here to hit on all the girls, then it would feel like five years ago." She then admitted and stated.

"I wonder how your students would react to young-looking boys here." The Persona soon asked.

"I'm pretty sure they wouldn't survive a day here in Hebijo grounds." Rin then assumed. "And I would never recommend Teddie or Yosuke going to this place." She then added. "...They'd unintentionally charm some girls here without even doing anything." She soon continued.

"Some would kill them in a heartbeat." Tenjin added as well in her head. "...Does learning the way of the shinobi affect someone's charm?" It then curiously asked.

"...If you're a young male, probably." Rin eventually replied after giving it some thought. "Also, my theory? If a biological male starts learning the way of the shinobi at a very young and only a very young age, most especially during one's puberty or teenage years, his sense of charm will be enhanced and can also pass on to his adulthood and even at old age. I can also assume it is hereditary as well." She then assumed.

"Thinking about Leader now, are we?" Her Persona guessed.

"You know how hot and sexy our Leader is. Just like Kiriya-sensei is." Rin casually admitted, imagining the two men without clothes on and doing some provocative poses. "And Daidōji-chan agrees with me." She then added...while wiping off some of the blood from her nose.

"Yeah, yeah, keep those lustful thoughts to yourself, my secretly horny host." Tenjincasually stated. "Careful saying that out loud, though." then added.

"Right..." Rin responded as she went back to work and returned to her serious Hebijo sensei side with the name of Suzune.

(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, things were going a lot more peacefully...relatively. Akira was well aware of the shitshow that was going to be at school today.

Huh. Ryuji was right. He was being too cynical. Maybe kind of a dick to himself.

"Nine thousand and ninety-nine...Ten thousand..." Akira breathed out as he finished the last pull-ups.

"Damn, Joker." Morgana had to say, noticing the body of the Leader in disbelief. "You already had a lot of muscle on your body. When will you stop?" He then noted and asked.

"When I'm able to protect all of my friends." Akira answered in a determined manner. "When will that be? Well, we're about to find out soon enough." He soon stated. "Though I'll admit, seeing Murasaki-chan's progress was a bit of an inspiration." He then confessed.

"Motivated by those very big boobs, I assume?" Morgana assumed.

"That's part of it. But mostly it's because I'm proud of her progress and I like praising her for it." Akira casually answered. "You saw how she was back when we first met her." He then reminded.

To that, the not cat recalled the first meeting with the purplette, remembering how meek and timid she was. "...True." Morgana had to admit. "Futaba could learn a thing or two from her too." He then added.

"That really depends on her." Akira stated. "Though...can we imagine Futaba having muscles and abs like hers?" He then asked.

That in turn caused the two to pause for a moment before looking at one another.

"...Yeah, not really." The two soon awkwardly answered at the same time.

"I'd rather see her in a...slim body, at least." Morgana suddenly admitted. "Besides, she might really die if she even attempted to do any kind of workout." He then added.

"You're right about that." Akira replied in agreement...before suddenly sighing. "Dammit, Ryuji, why did you have to call me out like that?" He softly grumbled out.

"Hm?" The not cat hummed out in confusion, seeing the irritation on the Leader's face. "Is there something I should know, Akira?" Morgana soon asked.

"...Well Ryuji called me cynical and negative yesterday and it made me realize that he was right." Akira sighed out the confession, remembering that time with the dyed blond at school.

"Yeah, I heard. In your bag." Morgana recalled. "So you took what he said seriously." He concluded.

"Yeah...I did." Akira responded. "Guess my probation really affected my perception of things." He then admitted.

"I can't blame you, but...maybe you should at least see the positive side of things despite everything that's happened to you." Morgana replied and advised.

"I'll try...no, I will." Akira responded in reassurance.

"Good." Morgana replied once more with a nod of approval.

At that moment, Akira decided to make a feel on her toned abs and muscles on his fit body by running a hand through them. "Huh...I've been working out almost every single day without getting fatigued lately. I feel like I'm hot like those girls with big breasts are." He couldn't help but admit.

In response, the not cat sweatdropped. "Are you actually trying to attract more girls to you?" Morgana soon asked in a deadpan tone.

"Maybe." Akira casually responded while shrugging his shoulders with a smirk.

"...Manwhore." Morgana sighed while shaking his head.

"You know, I'm starting to take that as a compliment in secret." Akira finally relented as he admitted. "Thank you, Morgana." He then added.

Morgana made a look at him. "Oh?" He then started. "Then I hope you have no problem anymore calling you that for the rest of your life." He soon told him afterwards.

"Pretty much no one can really hear you, so...yeah, go ahead. I really don't care anymore." Akira simply replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

Morgana chuckled. "Good." He responded. "Manwhore." He then added with a smirk.

To that however...Akira smirked as something came to mind. "Catwhore." He suddenly countered.

"!?" Morgana's eyes immediately widened in response. "Excuse me?" He then responded.

"Well, you're technically a cat, and most girls love cats, so...yeah, you're pretty much in the same boat."

Morgana closed his eyes while blushing, remembering the many times he got hugged by girls with big boobs, before sighing. "Again, not a cat, but I'll let it pass. Also, why are we even in the same boat?" He responded and then asked.

"Morgana, you took a bath with Asuka and Homura, you've been touched by girls' boobs and even felt them with your feline body, and you have crushes on some of our teammates, especially Ann." Akira responded and reminded. "How is it any different from mine?" He then questioned.

"..." Morgana immediately was silenced as he then blushed red.

"I thought so." Akira concluded with a smirk as he got a towel. "I'm gonna head for the bathhouse now. Wanna join me?" He then decided and offered.

"..." Morgana only went silent for a moment. "You can sneak me in?" He then eventually asked.

"Yeah, pretty much." Akira casually replied as he picked the not cat up. "Come on, let's secretly impress the ladies after we finish on the way to school." He then added proudly.

"Shut up, Joker..." Morgana grumbled as the two headed out for a morning hot bath.

(Tokyo Mirage Apartment Complex)

While Akira and Morgana enjoyed their morning bath, a few blocks away, the girls of the Senki Shu group were...

Well, they were treading on thin ice as Hyōki had done nothing but glare at them at first sight this morning. If looks could kill...

"Mmmmm..." Hyōki hummed out, arms crossed over her chest, pouting with a puffed up cheek.

"She's still mad at us." Yuki awkwardly got out.

"You think, Yuki-chan?" Miki only stated with a sigh...while only in her black-laced bra and panties as she was forced to sit in the seiza position with a cinderblock on her knees along with the others. "Y-You know I got work today, right?" She then asked.

"Hmph!" Hyōki however just responded with a huff. "Don't even think that I would let that stunt you pulled yesterday at the diner slide." She soon stated.

"Technically Miki dragged us along..." Maki deadpanned.

"And yet you still followed her lead." Hyōki pointed out back.

"Out of concern for you." Miki responded. "This is the first time you have ever shown an interest in anything besides revenge for what your family did and the destruction of the shinobi system." She then stated and reminded by listing off their goals.

"..." Hyōki immediately paused to that and went silent. "That's...My experiences and goals are different from this." She then responded. "Don't make me remember what happened to the others that were experimented on..." She soon mumbled out.

"We're just saying that you finally have a life that most young people have aimed for aside from what we've done on a daily basis. The killing, the blood, all of that." Reki responded. "But now, everything has changed. A boy is treating you like a person." She soon stated.

Hyōki in turn blushed to that while twiddling her fingers. "M-More than how anyone else ever treated me..." She mumbled out.

"And we think you also deserve to be happy too." Miki confessed.

"Yeah! So you'll make us happy afterwards!" Yuki added.

SMACK!

"Ow!" Yuki yelped out. "I thought it was a one-at-a-time sort of thing..." She then got out.

"We have to ensure our Leader's happiness before our own." Reki soon stated. "Especially with what she went through with all those experiments she endured." She then added.

"Yeah..." Yuki got out. "Still upset that the Yōma pills your old man had made are basically duds now, Hyōki-chii?" She then asked in a curious manner.

To that, the ravenette paused as she looked at her hand. "I mean...the pills are duds now but...I still feel something within me due to them..." Hyōki hesitantly confessed.

"Do you need to get a doctor to check you out?" Reki suggested.

The ravenette however shook her head in response. "Not yet..." She responded in a dead serious tone. "If I'm in the hospital, I won't get to hang out with Ryuji-kun all that often!" She however mentally added in a panic.

"At least you won't die at the hands of those pills now." Maki pointed out. "That's at least good." She then added.

"Yeah. There's no way I'm going to die now." Hyōki confirmed in a determined manner.

"And...you just sealed your fate." Miki teased before getting smacked in the back of her head again. "OW!" She yelped out.

"You're bringing this on yourself by constantly bringing up Hyōki's crush." Maki deadpanned.

"Well, it's not my fault he's a him-" Miki began to counter, only for the young leader to put her laser blade against her hair. "H-H-Him...him." She squeaked.

"He. Is. Not. A. Himbo." Hyōki slowly stated in a deadly tone before narrowing her eyes at the pinkette. "Bimbo." She then insulted.

"Miki, I suggest you shut the hell up," Maki deadpanned. "And let Hyōki here fall in love and defend her man like they're already happily married." She then added.

To that however, the ravenette blushed scarlet once more. "S-Shut up!" Hyōki squeaked out, flailing her arms in a childish manner. "M-M-M-M-MARRIED!?" She mentally exclaimed.

"Again, there's no shame in this happening." Miki giggled out. "Besides, we need the win..." She then grumbled.

"I agree." Maki spoke up. "I mean, how many wins can the most wanted shinobi in all the world get?" She then added.

"Did you have to remind us of that..." Yuki groaned as she covered her head.

"Hey, we haven't been discovered yet. Miki is even freely showing her butt and face all around Tokyo right now as a model." Maki countered. "Come on, once we're ready, we can achieve our goals before any of the shinobi will know what hit them." She soon stated.

"That same confidence is how we lost the Saiga estate a while back." Reki sighed out the reminder. "Now it's under surveillance and we can't get it back and that's why most of us here are working menial human jobs." She then added.

"M-Menial!?" Miki repeated in an offended manner.

"I said most of us." Reki responded.

"Yeah, because you refuse to find one, Princess Deadbeat." Maki pointed out.

"I prefer to call myself a freelancer." Reki claimed as she frowned.

Hyōki meanwhile clenched her fists harder than usual. "Don't...remind me..." She grumbled out.

"Sorry..." Reki apologized in an uneasy manner. "And then there's also...Kuroki as well..." She then reminded with a wince.

"Not...even...her." Hyōki once again grumbled.

"Okay, okay...calm down." Reki sighed out. "We all share the same feelings, but don't let it control you. Human emotion can be a fickle thing." She then added.

"Hai..." Hyōki responded, calming herself down.

"...So can you end the punishment soon? I gotta get to work at retraining Ranze-san for the sake of her girlfriend." Miki requested and explained.

"Girlfriend?" Reki repeated. "Someone wishes to mate with her?" She then asked.

"It surprised me too." The pinkette model confessed. "Either she's a two-faced bitch with no redeeming qualities or we aren't seeing the whole picture and she's quite a decent person outside of work. I personally subscribe to the bitch theory." Miki then stated.

"Oooookay?" Maki got out with a raised eyebrow.

"What are you going to do to her?" Yuki had to ask.

"I'm not going to hurt her." Miki assured. "But it does involve edible lube." She then added with a more playful yet sadistic grin.

The leader of Senki Shu groaned. How were these people her teammates? "I really hope I'm not the only one dealing with such a troubling morning..." Hyōki soon sighed out as she rubbed her forehead.

(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)

"I really hope someone else in this city is freaking out as much as I am..." Homura sighed as she meticulously cleaned her uniform.

"Homu-neechan, I think you've done enough. Your top is sparkling!" Asuka got out, wincing while covering her eyes. How did she get the fabric to sparkle like that!?

"It's still not enough, Sis." Homura responded. "I have to look my utmost best today! There's a lot riding on what I'm going to say at school this morning." She then stated.

"I know too. My name was on the Phan-Site's front page as well." Asuka reminded with a small sigh.

"Then why are you so calm!?" Homura suddenly shouted out, causing her roommate to flinch. "We went from being Akira's side pieces to actually respected and liked around the school, and then Mishima screwed it all up in one goddamn night! Months of work, possibly gone in a fucking snap!" She then growled while strangling her sticky roller.

"Homu-neechan, you aren't gonna hurt Mishima-kun, right?" The Vice Leader got out in a worried manner.

"No, but all my instincts are telling me to." Homura replied, letting out a cooling breath. "It would be infinitely easier than talking to him. I have no idea what I'm gonna say to him today..." She then got out and confessed.

"Well, Akira-kun seemed confident that Mishima-kun could change his own heart." Asuka reminded.

"And you believe him that easily?" Homura however asked.

"Don't you?" Asuka countered.

"...Akira can make and has made mistakes before." Homura however reminded. "When the chips are down...sometimes you can only rely on yourself. And I am the worst person in this situation." She then added and stated.

"Well... maybe that's what he needs." Asuka suggested in a comforting manner.

"Yeah. The unstable bitch who hates everyone. Including herself." Homura countered with a sigh.

"You aren't that person anymore." Asuka frowned at that. "Come on. You have to face Mishima-kun today. Don't overthink this because you're scared." She then encouraged.

"...But what if I make it worse?" Homura however then asked.

"You'll never know if you don't try." The Vice Leader stated. "And who knows, maybe Mishima-kun will go up to you first. No chance of running away then." She then pointed out.

"Not if I hide and never see him again for the rest of the year." Homura mumbled under her breath.

"Then I'll drag you to his feet! Now come on, we're gonna be late." Asuka got out in an exasperated manner before pushing her sister towards the door.

"Okay, okay, I'll...be mentally preparing myself then." Homura got out with a groan before grabbing her bag. Her sister was right, but it didn't mean she had to like it.

Meanwhile, next door...

GULP!

"Ahhh~" Miyabi gulped and then breathed out in relief as she finished drinking a bottle of energy drink to start her day. "Don't got much, but a drink's a drink." She then stated to herself.

The white-haired woman had just finished her morning breakfast that consists of a purple energy drink that she bought from a convenience store last time and her usual egg rice bowl that she prepared for herself.

"Still love my favorite." Miyabi stated while licking her lips from the familiar taste of her favorite food. "Alright. Let's get ready for society today." She then added as she stood up from the table and went on ahead since she already finished bathing herself up.

Miyabi then opened her wardrobe and skimmed through her clothes until she finally saw her unique-looking work attire and took it. She then took her duffel bag with her and dropped it on her couch to put her stuff in for work, including her work attire.

Staring down at her stuff, Miyabi couldn't help but sigh. "Am I playing with fire?" She offhandedly thought to herself.

"No one at Hebijo would ever expect you to be working at the place where you work at, shogun." Nobunaga remarked in amusement. "None of your friends have yet." He then got out.

"Yeah, but those fangirls are crafty. And I know they love the unisex look." Miyabi reminded.

"There's nothing unisex about a maid's attire." Nobunaga countered. "Particularly yours." He then added.

"Yeah, but just one look through the window by one of them and that place is going to be trashed." Miyabi got out in a worried tone. "...Or worse, we start selling overpriced merch of me." She then added in a nervous manner.

"You mean you as Morgan." Nobunaga corrected.

"No, I don't even wear a damn wig to work! And no one else has eyes like mine!" Miyabi ranted as she glanced over to her reflection.

"ACHOO!" Hikage suddenly sneezed, causing her teammates to look at her in concern. "Huh, that was weird." She mumbled out as she readjusted her hair as Poochie licked her face. "Good girl." She praised with a giggle.

"It's going to be merch of me, Miyabi!" Miyabi concluded.

"You're working yourself up over nothing." Nobunaga sighed out. "And what is so bad about your place of work?" He then questioned.

Miyabi in turn paused at the question. "Well...it's nice and all, and the pay is good (almost suspiciously too good) and they treat me like a girl there but..." She began, smiling a little more at each good thing before trailing off. "It's...sort of...not me..." She hesitantly confessed.

"Not you?" Nobunaga repeated.

"I'm supposed to be the adult, the big sister, the brave and cool person that takes no shit and that everyone relies on at the lowest points!" Miyabi reminded as if she was reciting it in a proud manner. "But if anyone I know sees me working there, I feel like I'd die..." She then finished in a dour manner.

"...So you feel as though you are embarrassed." Nobunaga simplified, causing the white haired woman to blush.

"Who'd take Hebijo's up-and-coming principal seriously after seeing them working at a maid cafe..." Miyabi grumbled. "Everyone else has respectable jobs. Asuka's a frickin' model, Yumi's a damn idol, Homura...does whatever she does to make money. I'm just fetish material to everyone, no matter how well I'm treated there." She then listed off and stated.

"A job is a job. I am sure they will understand." Nobunaga however stated.

"Because they're too nice to say to my face what they really feel." Miyabi sighed out. "...Except Asuka, she would definitely understand no matter what." She then admitted in amusement.

Nobunaga in turn chuckled in amusement at that. "Your student is indeed the most understanding." He had to admit. "A shining bright light in the depths of the darkness." He then recited in a wise tone and a nod of approval.

"And Akira. The guy could sympathize with murderers." Miyabi added under her breath before pausing. "...Wait." She soon realized.

"He...has befriended murderers. Including you." Nobunaga pointed out.

The white haired woman however frowned at that, recalling a bad memory. "...Ryōki..." Miyabi muttered in a guilty manner.

"That was not your fault. You had no other choice. And she had asked you to do so." Nobunaga however reminded in a serious yet sympathetic manner.

"It still doesn't fix the fact that I still did it..." Miyabi muttered with the same amount of guilt. "At the least, there won't be anymore stories like mine now..." She then added in a humorless tone.

"And with your newfound bonds and powers, you can create new stories." Nobunaga concluded. "For now though, It's time to go to work." He soon reminded.

"Right. It's not like I have anything better to do than that." Miyabi eventually decided. "How many customers will call me a hunk today? You know, I should really request a hunk tax or something. If I'm gonna lose my femininity every time it is said, I might as well get paid for it too." She soon grumbled as she headed out as well.

(Aoyama-Itchome, Subway Station)

The train just arrived at the Aoyama-Itchome subway station and eventually slowed down to a stop before the side doors began to open. With that, a flood of people and commuters poured out of the train with some of them breathing out in relief from all that cramping. One particular girl broke free from the flood of people and stretched her own neck in relief.

"Six crushed hands...that's a new record." Homura quietly stated to herself as she went through the ticket gates. "Now, where is Sis? I'm pretty sure I saw Hitomi shoved in between her thighs..." She soon thought.

As she walked through the station, she saw a familiar face out of the corner of her eye who was walking in the same direction as her: Yuuki Mishima.

"My lucky day, at least." Homura mumbled as she briskly approached the unsuspecting boy while swerving through the crowd of people. "Mishima-san." She then stated aloud as she got near him.

The mentioned boy quickly turned around before flinching a bit as he saw who it was. "A-Ah! Shinkukage-san! I...erm...uh..." Mishima soon stammered as he stopped in his tracks.

"We need to talk." Homura sighed out before grabbing him in his hand. "Come with me." She then added as she pulled him along but not too hard.

"Ah- H-Hey!" Mishima only got out as he got dragged along with the tan-skinned girl.

After a while, they were now in a quiet alleyway near the school in order to converse privately.

"Jeez..." Mishima began, rubbing the hand where he was grabbed for a bit. "Wh-What gives, Shinkukage-san?" He then asked almost nervously.

Homura however sighed in response. "I saw the Phan-Site." She soon revealed in disappointment.

"O-Oh, that. Yeah. Crazy right? Who would put..." The admin awkwardly chuckled, slowly backing away from the tan skinned girl.

"Mishima-san, there is no escape." Homura firmly stated. "Why did you put Asuka and my name on the site?" She soon asked.

"..." Immediately, the admin became silent and nervous with shame.

"I won't hurt you. I only want the truth." Homura responded and requested. "Is this because of when I first transferred when I snapped at you during the Kamoshida incident? If it is, I'm sorry for that." She then assumed and stated.

"It's...It's because I'm still such a loser, alright!?" The admin suddenly snapped.

"Eh?" Homura got out, not expecting that answer.

"After everything with Kamoshida, after all this time, I'm still not anywhere close to being better than...this!" Mishima responded as he gestured to his wimpy, generic-looking self. "Look at you and Asuka! You two were basically in the same boat as Ryuji and Akira, but...here you are at the top of the food chain! You have so many people supporting you, praising you, making you a queen or dragon or whatever that actually helps and protects the school, and yet barely anyone has even looked concerned at me, or comforted me after all the pain I went through in volleyball!" He then ranted in frustration.

"M-Mishima..." Homura got out in disbelief.

"A-And yeah! It's also about all those hurtful words you said!" Mishima continued, feeling on a roll now. "Calling me nothing but a sick, rape-fetish fucktard! And you know what, you were right! Every damn word! I could've stopped but...I-I just couldn't! I helped push Suzui-san off that roof and into that coma, I ruined your friend's life, I nearly got us all expelled, I...I don't have anything but the Phan-Site..." He soon called out, his voice cracking towards the end before looking down at the floor, unable to look Homura in her eyes anymore. "I'm a zero...always have been, always will be..." He then declared before whimpering in shame.

Homura could only stare at the boy, eyes widened. He was...holding all of this in his heart all this time?

"...That's...what I've wanted to say since you took down Kamoshida...and I guess it grew from there." Mishima concluded before flinching. "...Please don't hurt me." He then squeaked.

"...No, I'm not gonna do this hiding behind a mask." Homura muttered with a sigh. Nothing overly proper, or mature, or anything like that. No, he needed someone who was just a better person nowadays. "Look, I'm sorry, Mishima. I didn't really treat you all that well after everything after Kamoshida, I never apologized for even yelling at you in front of everyone, and...I should've done all this sooner rather than, well, right now." She soon spoke in a much less formal manner.

"A-Ah, it's okay, Shinkukage-san, I was just...just going through some things..." Mishima waved off, attempting to end this conversation as soon as possible.

"It doesn't make it right though." Homura countered with her hands on her hips. "You're...You're still angry about me screaming that you sucked his dick..." She then assumed.

"...I...I never felt worse in my life, actually. Only really topped by what happened to Suzui-san." The admin soon confessed.

"Yeah, she uh...she's not exactly a friend of mine either." Homura mumbled as she rubbed the back of her neck. "I was really screwed up back then. I was mean, spiteful...and more than likely, you're not gonna let go of what I've done right now, and I'm okay with that." She then had to admit.

Mishima only looked at her while being completely silent as a response.

"So...uh, yeah. That's all I wanted to say today. I can't make you forgive me with words, so I'll do it with my actions. I'll prove to you I won't become the tyrant you think I am now." Homura concluded. "At least take down Asuka's name. She doesn't deserve to be on the Phan-site." She then requested with a bow.

Mishima went through a variety of expressions at that moment. Sorrow, relief, anger...then finally, he just let go of it all. "...I never thought of you as a tyrant, just...um..." Mishima began, stumbling a little on his words. "Shujin really has a problem with idolization and uh, they always latch onto the next big thing. First it was Kamoshida, then it was you, then Niijima-san, and now it's the uh...the Phantom Thieves. I just...I'm just tired of people telling me who I can and can't be. Guess I took it out on the wrong people." He then got out, looking a little relieved he was able to let out his true feelings.

"Hey, if you need someone to direct your anger at, there's no better person than me." Homura encouraged. "I'll take responsibility for my actions, no matter how late I am." She then reassured.

"Shinkukage-san..." Mishima breathed out.

"Don't worry what happens at school. I'll make sure the Phantom Thieves won't look weak." Homura reassured before shifting to a more elegant and refined posture. "Now then, I believe we should be heading to school now. We mustn't be late after all." She soon reminded in a more refined tone.

BANG!

Mishima immediately blushed and felt hot to the demeanor change from the tan skinned girl. "Y-Yes ma'am!" He stammered out while standing at attention and saluted.

"Heh. Thank you, everyone, for helping me become the person Mishima needed." Homura mentally snickered and thanked in her own head. "Now come along, we'll talk more along the way." She soon reminded.

"Huh?" Mishima looked surprised before smiling. "O-Oh, right. Urgh...my face is probably all messed up..." He soon got out as he wiped his face.

"But it felt good to let that all out, didn't it?" Homura pointed out.

"Yeah...It did, Homura-san." Mishima sheepishly confessed as the two headed out to school for the day.

(Akihabara, Alice's Apron Maid Cafe)

Ring Ring Ring!

"Morning everyone!" Miyabi called out as she entered her place, ready to start her day. As she entered, she saw her fellow co-workers currently cleaning the room and arranging the furniture before opening their business for the day.

In the corner, she couldn't help but notice that there was a small section dedicated to Phantom Thieves merchandise. "Right, we're starting that today..." She soon muttered. They've been planning a special limited time Phantom Thieves-based special menu and merch for sale for a good while now. "Is it ironic that an actual Phantom Thief works here?" She soon wondered.

"Ah! Morgan-chan's here!"

"Morning Morgan-chan!"

"You're just in time!"

Miyabi meanwhile smiled at that and gave the other employees a wave of her hand. "Yes, yes. Hello everyone. Glad to be here." She soon replied as she took off her coat, revealing her uniform to everyone.

"H-Hey, senpai." A familiar voice soon squeaked out her greeting, getting her attention.

"Tsumuji." Miyabi responded. "You're here early." She then noted.

"I-I have to be. I'm still a newbie so I have to work h-hard to prove my worth." Tsumuji replied with a slightly nervous tone. "Like with the merch shelf over there." She soon got out.

"I see that." Miyabi replied. "They just arrived today?" She then assumed.

"Yep!" The newbie answered with a nod. "We should have enough of that stuff to last the week...maybe. Phantom Thieves crap sells out pretty fast these days." She soon mumbled.

"And they don't get even a lick of the royalties." Miyabi added with a frown. "Doesn't this go against everything they stand for?" She then questioned in concern.

"It does, but it helps with getting customers to come." Tsumuji answered with a shrug. "Ooh, have you tried out the Phantom Cherry Float we're serving? It's really good." She soon asked.

"...Nope. Not yet." Miyabi admitted. "I'll try it at lunch." She then decided.

"Great! We can all try it together!" Another employee got out. "Oh, and the Phantom Chocolate Cakes, the Vandal sandwich, Change-of-Heart soup..." She then listed off.

"Are we just gonna order the entire special menu?" Miyabi jokingly asked with a hand on her hip as the other employees giggled.

Meanwhile, a red-haired woman in the black suit was looking towards the co-workers observing them full before turning around and saw the white-haired woman entering the workplace.

"Oh, uh, Morgan-chan." The female manager called out to her. "Can I have a word with you for a moment?" She soon requested.

"...I just walked in, Manager-san..." Miyabi groaned, hefting her bag filled with her necessities.

"Don't worry. It will be quick." The manager however assured with a smile. "Please follow me." She then added as she gestured to the white-haired woman to go with her.

Miyabi simply sighed softly before deciding to follow her, hoping to God that she wasn't being fired.

(Alice's Apron Maid Cafe, Manager's Office)

The door opened and entered the two women inside what seemed to be the manager's office of the cafe. It was...not exactly the most standard of manager's offices, with the walls painted in a light pink, figurines of various anime characters in varying states of undress, and a kitty clock hung on a nearby wall, but it was also full of important stuff like filing cabinets, a rather fancy computer set-up, and a coffee machine.

Miyabi had to admit, the owner/manager was a very, very interesting person. And an otaku as well as a business woman.

"So...what is it, ma'am?" Miyabi finally asked, breaking the silence in the room as the manager went and sat herself down.

To that question, the manager smiled, confusing the white haired woman. "I was thinking of giving you a promotion for your hard-earned work here in my cafe." She soon revealed.

"R-Really?" Miyabi got out in shock. She wasn't expecting this. "A-Are you sure?" She then asked.

"Well, you pretty much survived in my establishment long enough without getting groped by our male and female customers here, so I thought you deserve the promotion, at least." The manager explained with a nod and a smile.

The white haired woman's eyes widened to that reveal. "Um, thanks, I appreciate it, ma'am." Miyabi replied with a slight bow. "...Wait, there's female sexual harassers, too?" She then suddenly asked.

Her manager made a sigh. "...You seriously don't think lesbians exist." She then replied with a question.

"Lesbians? Like, from that one country with the green flag?" The questioning woman got out with a raised eyebrow.

"You know what, never mind. You'll figure it out." Her manager however replied instead. "Anyway, I had a staff member of mine who went through that crap herself, so...yeah. Anyone can be perverted no matter what sex you are." She then informed.

"I see. Thanks for that warning, ma'am." Miyabi responded.

"Glad you get it." The manager replied back with a nod. "Alright, let's discuss what the promotion's all about." She soon stated.

"Hai. So what would be my title now exactly?" Miyabi soon asked.

"Your title would be a H-Level maid." The manager answered, confusing the white haired woman. "And before you ask, it is not a downgrading title. In fact, it is now a promotion where a staff member can now have special access to particular sections of this company." She soon stated and explained.

"H-Level?" Miyabi repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"We only discussed the details of H-Level with our staff who get promoted, so I appreciate you would keep this a secret from anyone who was not yet promoted to this level." Her manager informed, earning a nod from the white-haired woman. "Alright. So...we actually have a new work attire that is exclusive for expensive or high class slash VIP events." She then revealed.

"A new work attire? Huh, I'm curious to see what it is." Miyabi began with slight curiosity. "Also...VIP events? That's new." She then added.

"Mm-hmm. VIP events are only booked in advance and not our usual business here." The manager began. "Due to its cost, we rarely have customers who wish to book such an event here in our workplace, so it's slightly discouraging for me and my staff to say the least." She soon explained.

"Well, it is VIP and is considered expensive by many." Miyabi however stated almost matter-of-factly. "So what do I exactly do as a H-Level?" She then asked.

"Well, H stands for Head Maid, not hentai if you were wondering. We are not in that kind of business. That means when we have a VIP customer, you are in charge of organizing and ensuring the best customer experience possible. You may not be directly participating in these events, but you must have a hand in every single aspect, from the food to the maids who are working." The manager explained in a clear and concise manner. "You are expected to be on your utmost best behavior at all times or else you may suffer heavy consequences from me personally. We don't promote those we don't believe that can handle this type of standard after all. It is a high risk, high reward type of job after all." She then revealed in detail in a serious tone.

To that, Miyabi nodded. That didn't sound too bad, especially when her daily life was as insane as her's. Head maid sounded pretty good in her opinion.

"Are there any questions or concerns?" The manager soon asked.

"Hmm...not right now." The white haired woman responded after a little bit of thought.

"Well, you're free to bring them up at any time." The manager kindly stated before pausing. "Except at 1 AM. Or any time between one and six in the morning. And on public holidays. And when- you'll know when I need my privacy." She then added.

"So, ma'am, what's the new work attire look like?" Miyabi decided to ask.

"Hold on. Let me go get it for you." Her manager replied as she stood up and walked towards one of the metal wardrobes before opening it to find the H-Level work attire.

The white haired woman instantly felt fear stab into her heart at the sight of it. "...Oh no..." Miyabi muttered in a fear-filled manner.

"What? You don't like it?" The manager asked in concern.

"I...I don't know if I should." Miyabi confessed with a blush.

"Well, a H-Level maid must look the part. It must command respect from both customers and co-workers." Her manager informed in a clear and concise manner.

"Y-Yeah but..." Miyabi hesitated, not wanting to anger her boss but...she just couldn't let this stand! "Do you have anything that makes me look less like a man!?" She then demanded.

The uniform wasn't a maid dress at all! Nope, instead it was a butler's uniform with white gloves and even a fake white mustache. To her horror, it looked about her size.

"Well, this is one of your two outfits as a H-Level maid." The manager revealed as she set down the butler outfit. "You'd be surprised how many people love girls with mustaches. It makes them look really cute, especially when they do those little posh accents, ehehehe~!" She soon explained with an excited giggle that only caused white haired woman to sweatdrop. "And finally, here is your other H-Level outfit, for a more feminine look." She then added, placing down the second outfit which was, as said, more feminine.

"...You could've led with this first..." Miyabi grumbled as she picked up the feminine outfit to get a better look at it.

It was primarily a red maid outfit instead of the usual black everyone else wore. It had a pinstripe pattern, embroidered white frills, a large red bow tie, black to red stockings, and a golden badge on the right breast. It was blank right now, but she was sure it would be engraved with her fake (well, fake fake) name soon enough.

"So, do you like it?" The manager soon asked.

"...Seriously, why didn't you lead with that!?" Miyabi mentally exclaimed before letting out a breath of relief. "I'll take it." She then declared.

"One of these days someone will take the mustache." Her manager grumbled under her breath, once again causing the white haired woman to sweatdrop. "So, do you accept?" She soon asked.

"Hell yeah I do!" Miyabi declared with a smirk before coughing into her fist. "Er, I mean, of course Tenchou, I shall accept my promotion." She soon responded in a more well-mannered tone.

The manager however giggled in amusement at that. "No need to be formal with me right now. But congrats are in order." She responded before pulling out a bottle of champagne.

"I...I don't drink." Miaybi awkwardly responded. "Not anymore." She then mumbled as she remembered the first and only time she was drunk.

"Who said anything about drinking? Especially at 9 in the morning?" The manager however questioned and reminded before...

SMASH!

"And thus I christen you as a H-Level maid!" Her manager declared after smashing the bottle on her desk, leaving a sizable dent in it and causing broken glass and champagne to go everywhere. "...I need to clean that up." She soon muttered.

"Was...that necessary?" Miyabi had to ask with a sweatdrop.

"I actually ordered confetti online, but they mixed up my package and I just decided to go with it." The manager answered. "Stupid Blamazon." She grumbled out with a pout.

"Want me to get you a mop and dust pan?" Miyabi couldn't help but laugh a little.

"That would be lovely, Morgan-chan." The manager replied in a grateful manner. "Your new uniform will be ready in a few days. Just need to, uh, get it cleaned and adjusted to your size."

"Of course." Miyabi responded with a nod of understanding before leaving the office to grab some cleaning equipment. "Hey, Nobunaga?" Miyabi suddenly thought.

"Hm?" The Persona hummed out.

"I think I was overthinking it this morning." Miyabi mentally confessed, a pleased expression on her face. "As long as I enjoy it here, who the hell cares what the others think I do?" She then added in her head.

"So...you're ready to tell them?" Nobunaga soon asked.

"...E-Erm..." Miyabi got out, stammering and a little stunned by the question. "In due time, Nobu. In due time." She mumbled as she grabbed the mop, dust pan and a bucket from the equipment room.

"Oh hey, Morgan-chan!" A young female voice spoke up, prompting the white-haired woman to turn towards the person who was calling.

It was Kiki, real name: Yuki Ikusaba (of Senki Shu, not that she knew), one of the new workers at the cafe. And she was already out in the open in her work uniform. "Hey, Kiki-chan. What's up?" She soon greeted and asked.

"I just came here recently, and Maru-chan told me you have a meeting with the manager." Kiki responded. "What did you discuss with her, Morgan-chan?" She then asked.

"Well...I got promoted." Miyabi replied.

"Wow, Morgan-senpai! You got a promotion!? Congrats!" Kiki exclaimed with a smile.

"Yeah, thanks." Miyabi responded while scratching her cheek.

"You work so hard every day, I can't help but admire it!" Kiki added with a smile. "What's the promotion all about?" She then decided to ask.

"Secret." Miyabi simply answered.

"Awww, what?" Kiki pouted. "Not fair..." She soon whined.

"Just gotta work hard and then you'll get to my position as well in no time." Miyabi responded and explained. "In any case, we need to get to work." She then instructed.

"Right. Come on." Miyabi responded and instructed. "There's a line outside already." She then noted.

To that, Kiki nodded. "Hai!" She replied as the two got themselves ready for the day.

(9/29, Morning)

(Shujin Academy, Classroom)

Asuka looked out the window from her seat at the back of the classroom, subtly sighing at the sight of narrow streets and dirty alleyways. Her seat back in Hanzō Academy had an amazing view...mostly because it gave a clear view of the outside should an enemy shinobi try to infiltrate the school. It was nice to take advantage of lulls in lessons and lose herself, but Shujin Academy was nothing like that. No, the entire school was beset by buildings, separated by streets only five people wide at best. No wonder it was called a "Prison School". She had no idea why she was thinking about this now of all times, but given that the teacher right now was Mr. Ushimaru, it was better than focusing on him.

Speaking of Hanzō, wasn't he still in Tokyo somewhere? She hadn't seen him since he told her about Shin. Maybe he was busy because the Phantom Thieves killed it.

"J-Jii-chan could never figure out it was us, right? I mean, it all happened in the Metaverse..." Asuka thought to herself.

"It would not be possible." Kaeru confirmed. "The only way he would know is if one of us tells." She then added.

"I know but...he's Jii-chan. There's not a lot I can get away with..." Asuka reminded.

"Like that one time you decided to prank him by filling his sushi with that strange bottle of thick liquid you found in your parents' room?" Kaeru recalled.

"Hehe, that sent him to the toilet for the entire day." Asuka recalled with a giggle. "How was I supposed to know it was a liquid laxative?" She then asked.

"You didn't know what laxative was at the time." Kaeru reminded. "Thank God it wasn't the lube..." She then added.

"I-I thought I buried that memory!" Asuka thought in distress as she blushed and covered her head. "Gah...that will forever scar me until I die...!" She mentally whined in embarrassment.

However, before she spiraled into other regrettable memories, the teacher saved her.

"When I went to buy a present for my grandchild the other day, they had a Phantom Thieves costume on sale." Ushimaru suddenly brought up, causing the actual Thieves' eyes to twitch.

"They have what?" Asuka whispered in disbelief.

"They don't even know what we even look like in-costume..." Homura silently deadpanned.

"That must be one pervy costume..." Akira quietly remarked. "...I have to check it out." He soon decided as he quickly pulled out his phone to do some searching.

"It'd spell the end of this country if kids started wanting to become more like the Phantom Thieves. You're already in your second year of high school. You should have a clear vision of your future." Ushimaru soon declared.

"Ehhh..." Ann got out with a slightly skeptical look.

"Ngh..." Asuka and Homura groaned out in uneasy tones.

"...I think my best prospect is as a househusband." Akira thought with a sigh.

"I've seen plenty of adults look just as lost as Ryuji in a math lesson." Morgana got out. "Or...any lesson for that matter..." He then added.

Ushimaru then started to scan his class. "If you're looking for safety and stability, a civil servant is a good option. Hey, Kurusu. I bet you think that civil service is all office work...but the fishermen of Nagaragawa are actually civil servants as well. So, tell me which sector they belong to."

"The Imperial Household Agency." Akira answered without a second thought.

"Oho...I'm impressed you knew that." Ushimaru got out in an impressed manner. "Only the cormorant fishermen of Nagaragawa are officially used by the imperial household. Those fishermen are granted spots on the Imperial Household Agency's Board of Ceremonies." He then informed.

"Yeah, because you know how to fish, you know how to run part of the country." Ann thought as she rolled her eyes.

"That said, you can't break into that industry even if you wanted to since it's a hereditary occupation. If you want a government job, try for a spot in the Diet - though some may say that's hereditary too." Ushimaru continued explaining.

"That means when the guy in the position dies, their next of kin takes the position, right?" Homura quickly recalled as she raised her hand.

"No necessarily when they die, but yes. When they leave the position." Ushimaru responded. "And since you spoke up, do you know the problem with hereditary positions?" He then questioned.

"It would cause friction between family members where they would do what they can to gain the head position for themselves, right?" Homura assumed in a serious tone.

Ushimaru in turn nodded. "That can be an issue, but that is also a personal problem. I'm looking for how it affects the country overall." He responded and explained. "You see, hereditary positions are rife with corruption and bribery. It perpetuates a culture of dependency between an economically/politically dominant patron." He then started explaining.

"Oh..." Homura got out in understanding as she continued listening with interest.

"It also passes down the ideology of the predecessor and previous works from one generation to another, leading to stagnation and trapping those of the next generation in the family's preoccupations."

"Like the currently outgoing Prime Minister." Mishima guessed. "The...make more babies guy." He then muttered.

Ushimaru nodded at that. "Finally, having a guaranteed position means they are less likely to work hard for their given position, leading to incompetence." He then stated before looking around the classroom. "Shirokage, what is this effect called?" He eventually questioned.

That got Asuka's attention as she thought about it for a moment. "The Carnegie effect." She soon answered.

"Correct. The idea that inherited wealth harms recipient's work efforts." Ushimaru responded with a nod of approval. "I'm honestly fed up with politicians these days. Isn't there anyone who seriously wants to improve this country?" He then confessed and asked.

"Well, there's Yoshida Toranosuke...um..." Akira easily before pausing. "...Uhhh..." He then started before trailing off.

"Oh, there's this one...guy..." One student got out. "Toshiro Kasukabe, I think...? He sounds...fine." He then recalled.

Ushimaru however sighed to some of those responses. "Yeah, I don't expect you kids to keep up with politics." He got out. "But you will. Someday." He soon stated.

"That sounds like a threat." Homura couldn't help but quietly remark.

"Oh yeah, they said on the news that the cabinet's approval rating went down again." Morgana remembered. "They're the complete opposite of us. Our popularity and approval have been going through the roof." He then added.

"We've been getting close to hitting that 100% now..." Akira muttered with narrowed eyes as he looked at his phone like everyone else in the group. While he would've normally be happy about this...

"Fuck Okumura in the butthole, PTs!"

"Close down the Big Bang Burgers already!"

"I shit in the urinal of a BBB! Take that, establishment!"

"Give me back Wild Duck Burger dammit..."

"This is beginning to spiral..." Morgana got out in concern as he watched the comments scroll by.

Asuka let out a breath, spying on the poll on her fellow Leader's phone. "Haru-chan..." She whispered in worry.

"Still, if something does happen to Okumura..." Homura began. "People are gonna jump on the bandwagon thinking the Phantom Thieves did it..." She quietly reminded.

"Whatever happens, we have to be ready for anything." Akira had to state to every member of his group.

(9/29, Lunchtime)

(Shujin Academy, Student Council Room)

Makoto was currently using their school computer, skimming through important school data that she must take note of along with the Vice President.

Said Vice President continued typing and searching through the files before he noticed a particular file in one of their school folders. "Hm?" He hummed out in a curious manner as he then clicked it open.

Turns out, the file was a documented list of inter-school meetings recorded by the school in which the data results were considered very humiliating for Shujin Academy.

"Son of a..." The Vice President almost cursed, noticing the contents of the file."...Niijima-san...I think you better come and see this..." He got out with a pale face.

It prompted the Student Council President to face him, stand up and walk towards his computer to see what he was talking about. "What is it, Yamato-san?" Makoto soon asked.

"Look." The Vice President, now named Yamato, only got out as he gestured to the file on his computer screen for the brunette to see.

"This is..." Makoto breathed out in disbelief before noticing the dates. "These were from months ago..." She then noted.

"Turns out Kobayakawa had these hidden so no meetings could have ever gotten together in the first place." Yamato revealed. "All these schools have been having official committee meetings without us..." He then added.

"Oh my God...How did Kobayakawa do this of all things?" Makoto couldn't help but say, disbelief etched on her face as she noticed the meeting list.

"You should probably discuss this with Shinkukage-san since this also concerns her as well, Niijima-san." Yamato soon advised.

"Of course, Yamato-san." Makoto responded with a bow. "I will. Right now in fact." She then added as she got up from her seat.

"Alright...I'll be here if you need me." Yamato got out before returning to work.

(Shujin Academy, Classroom)

At that moment, the second year Phantom Thieves and Morgana were eating lunch, gathered around a set of four desks, which was their usual activity when they didn't want to go outside. In between their enjoyment of food and drinks, they were having a conversation about their middle school days.

And currently, their focus was on sweet, smiling Asuka.

"...And that's when I heard a snap." The Vice Leader got out in shame. "I sort of ignored it at the moment, considering I was in the middle of stuffing that jerk's face into the dirt, but I definitely felt it when the teachers separated us. And that was how I broke my arm for the first time." She then stated and concluded.

"W-Wow Asuka-chan..." Ann breathed out in disbelief.

"You...scare me, Lady Asuka." Morgana confessed.

"I cannot imagine you as a delinquent, Asuka." Akira admitted as he shook his head.

"Yeah. You're like...made of puppies and sunshine and rainbows...and violence." Ryuji got out, wincing a little at that last part.

"Ehehe..." Asuka sheepishly giggled out while rubbing the back of her head. "It's not like I smoked or skipped class or anything, I just got into a lot of fights with guys and girls." She then added.

"For what reasons?" Ann asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well...let's see..." Asuka breathed out as she leaned back in her chair. "There was one time about a jelly cup, that time someone stole my eraser, uh...I saw a kid getting bullied and...beat up the entire basketball team..." She soon listed off, blushing a little at that last one.

"..." This in turn caused the others to look at her in disbelief.

"I used to get pretty stressed thanks to constantly training, okay?" Asuka awkwardly admitted.

"So, venting?" Ann guessed, causing the brunette to nod with a blush.

"Asuka, I didn't even get into that many fights in middle school." Homura got out in awe.

"But you have gotten into fights." The not cat assumed, although it was more of a formality than anything else.

"Oh hell yeah. Just 'cause I was good back then didn't mean there weren't idiots." Homura replied and stated.

"Like...?" Ann pressed.

"Well, after winning the student council presidency back in middle school, my opponent thought it would be a good idea to fight me." Homura responded and answered. "And just like in the votes, I won by a landslide." She got out with a smirk.

"Who picks a fight over being the student council president? In middle school?" Ann questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"I dunno. She had issues." Homura shrugged.

However the group then picked on what the tan skinned girl had mentioned. "Wait, for real!? You were actually a student council president!?" Ryuji exclaimed.

"Yeah?" Homura got out in a casual manner. "Why are you making that a big deal?" She got out and then asked.

"I mean...you being the head of discipline is one thing, but a President like Makoto?" Ann pointed out.

"Wouldn't actually have taken you as the type before...everything." Akira admitted.

"Well, it wasn't like how screwed up it was at Shujin when we transferred over." Homura stated with a frown. "It was actually pretty boring and I barely remember it. Of course, my tenure did get cut short..." She then muttered.

"'Cause of Komachi." Asuka grumbled.

"Komichi." Homura corrected before pausing. "...No wait, Komachi was right the first time." She soon mumbled.

"Brain fart moment?" Morgana jokingly assumed.

"No, I've been slowly but surely erasing him from my memories for years after what he did to me." Homura got out. "Of course, the fucking universe decides to dig him back up after a while..." She then grumbled in annoyance.

"No, that was his sister." Akira corrected.

"Well, whatever. I have absolutely absolved myself of that stain in my life." Homura declared as she wiped her forearms. "And I am ready to move forward." She soon got out, smiling at her sister.

"So you want to become student council president after Makoto graduates?" Ryuj got out.

Homura in turn gained a thoughtful expression to that suggestion. "Maybe. But probably at Hanzō Academy after Ikaruga-senpai graduates since I'm going to be attending Sis's school after this year." She then assumed.

"Moh..." Asuka suddenly got out with a pout.

"Sis?" Homura responded in confusion.

The Vice Leader surprisingly gained a saddened expression on her face. "I missed almost an entire year hanging out with Ikaruga-chan and Katsu-nee...I might not be able to see them again for a long time after..." Asuka reminded herself. "...Unless they do what Daidōji-senpai did and decide not to graduate yet..." She then got out.

"Huh? What was that about Ikki-sensei?" Ryuji got out.

"She's still a student at Hanzō. She never graduated." Asuka informed.

"...You can do that?" Akira got out in disbelief.

"Apparently." Asuka answered with a shrug.

"Isn't she, like, 25 or something?" Ryuji soon questioned.

Asuka in response nodded.

"Why...?" Ann had to ask.

"No one knows why. She just never graduated and refuses to." Asuka revealed. "And she gets really weird if you ask." She then added, shivering at the memory.

"I mean, there has to be a limit to doing that. One or two years, fine, but staying until you're in your mid-twenties..." Akira however stated. "No wonder she's a gym teacher." He then muttered under his breath.

"You have something to say, Kurusu-san?" A familiar voice suddenly asked, prompting everyone to turn their heads quickly.

"JIMINY CRICKET!" Akira screamed before breathing rather heavily. He was pretty sure he would've shit his pants if he had not seen much worse from the Metaverse. "How long have you been here!?" He soon demanded.

"No wonder she's a gym teacher." Daidōji slowly but surely repeated. "A reminder that you have gym after lunch." She then warned the boy, causing his current friend circle to shiver.

"Hai, Ikki-sensei. Sorry, Ikki-sensei." Akira responded and apologized.

"Good. Don't be late, all of you." The PE teacher got out before taking her leave. But not before adding one last thing. "Oh, and Kurusu? Stay with me after my gym class later." She then added before leaving...while hiding a smirk on her face.

"...Goddammit." Akira cursed with a sigh.

"I'm pretty sure she won't go hard on you." Ann tried to assure him. "...I think." She then finished.

"Are you secretly Morgana, Ann?" Akira jokingly asked.

"Hey!" Morgana got out in an offended manner.

"Oh shut up, Akira." Ann scoffed, rolling her eyes, but still giggled either way as she turned to the Vice Leader. "In any case, don't think of coming to Tokyo as a complete bad thing, you became friends with all of us after all." She soon stated.

"It doesn't mean I can't miss my other friends." Asuka responded. "Who might not be my friends if they ever find out afterwards..." She then muttered.

"Asuka, I think you're worrying too much." Akira replied. "All the Phantom Thieves have been doing is good. If they found out, they'd be happy, excited and proud." He then reminded and declared.

"But it's not nice to lie to them for so long..." Asuka mumbled with a hint of shame in her voice.

"Well, I'm sure they'll...hang on." Akira started before pausing for a moment and suddenly got out.

"Huh?" Homura responded in confusion.

"Is something wrong?" Morgana meanwhile asked.

"Don't you think more people would approach you guys after being targeted by the Phantom Thieves." Akira remarked.

The rest of the Thieves blinked before they realized what was going on and looked around. No one was really paying attention to them other than the usual looks and glances towards them.

"Yeah..." Ryuji got out as they all began to frown.

"Well, it's not like that happened with our other targets we did for Mementos requests." Ann pointed out.

"Hey, check the Phan-site." Homura soon suggested.

"Hai." Asuka nodded as she pulled out her phone and quickly went to the site. "Hey, our names are gone." She soon got out, placing the phone on her desk as everyone looked down.

"But what's that?" Morgana asked

"An...apology letter?" Akira realized. He wasn't expecting that.

"Dear fellow Phan-natics." Asuka read out, as the other Thieves winced at the crappy fan name. "You may have seen two names on the front page of the site, calling for their hearts to be changed. This was a serious mistake. It was a selfish request that has severely damaged their reputations. I do have my personal hang-ups, but I will not bring them into the open like this. I will not reveal my identity, but I will atone for my actions yesterday. I will also be banning their names from being posted here to ensure it is not spread. Sincerely, the admin." She soon concluded.

"And no, my heart was not changed either. This was my own decision in the end." Homura added.

"Mishima really issued an apology..." Ann whispered.

"Way to go, Akira." Ryuji cheered with a smile.

"Hey, that's all Mishima." Homura spoke up. "He just needed his eyes open again, is all." She then stated.

"Yeah." Akira agreed with a nod.

"That's a relief." Asuka breathed out with a smile.

"And hey, people are believing it instead of thinking we forced him to." Homura remarked with a smile of her own. "That's actually kind of a miracle." She then admitted.

"Well, that's one problem down...hopefully." Ann breathed out in relief. "We might need to talk to Mishima though. Just to make sure, you know?" She then added.

"Don't worry. I will." Akira promised.

"Should I come with?" Homura soon offered.

"No, you've done enough. I think I have it from here." Akira responded in a confident manner. "And hey, we've proved it's actually possible." He soon realized.

"Eh?" Ryuji and Ann got out in confusion while Asuka and Homurra gave the Leader an odd look.

"We changed a heart without a fight." Akira explained. "Wish we could've figured that out earlier..." He then grumbled.

"Well, there'll be another opportunity later down the line." Asuka assured. "But at least we know that's an option now." She then added with a smile.

"We better brush up on our diplomacy then." Homura suggested.

At that moment though, the classroom door slid open as a familiar face came in and entered the room.

"Oh, hey Makoto-senpai, what's up?" Homura greeted and asked.

The student council president however looked at her best friend intently. "Homura, we need to talk." She soon stated in a no nonsense tone. "Now. Follow me." She then instructed as she started leaving.

This meanwhile confused the group greatly. "Uh...okay?" Homura awkwardly responded as she stood up to follow her friend. "Ryuji, don't eat the rest of my lunch. Sis, go nuts." She soon instructed as she left.

"Yay!" Asuka cheered before taking Homura's bento.

"Aw what!?" Ryuji complained before slumping in his seat. "All I got was a melon pan..." He grumbled.

"Well, next time don't leave your money at home." Ann grumbled.

"Well don't blame me! All our money is physical thanks to the effin' Metaverse and my wallet ain't big enough for all of it!" Ryuji called out.

"Ryuji, seriously!? Quiet down!" Morgana scolded as the blonds continued to argue while the brunette happily ate her two lunches and the Leader just watched along with the not cat.

The other students in the classroom couldn't help but sweatdrop.

Yep, that's how their lunches usually go in the end.

(Hallway)

Meanwhile, the student council president and the disciplinary committee head were aimlessly walking the halls.

"Are we going anywhere in particular, senpai?" Homura eventually asked. "We've been going in circles for the past three minutes and classes are in five. I have gym after and Ikki-sensei will threaten me with laps and poor-quality orange slices if I'm late." She then got out, looking slightly miffed.

"Hold on, we're getting there." Makoto responded in a reassuring, yet serious tone.

"If you want somewhere private, we could just go to the roof." Homura suggested.

Makoto opened her mouth to inform the tan skinned girl that only Haru could, only to pause to remind herself locks were merely a suggestion to a shinobi. "We aren't breaking into the roof..." She soon stated.

"Senpai, if it's so serious, a Shinobi Kekkai can get us privacy and security anywhere. Come on, why are you delaying?" Homura pointed out quite openly, though it didn't worry her considering there was no one in the hallways they were walking through.

"Alright, alright." The advisor finally relented as she stopped walking. "Well, it's about something the principal left behind." Makoto began.

Homura instantly went quiet and stared at the president for a very good while. "Oh dear God, no." She got out in a frustrated yet traumatized manner.

"It's not as bad as you're imagining." Makoto reassured.

"Anything to do with the principal is bad." Homura groaned out. "What exactly is it, senpai?" She then asked.

"...Somehow he has been blocked out from the student council and disciplinary committee heads." Makoto revealed in a dead serious tone.

"Stop being vague, senpai!" Homura snapped. "Rip the band-aid off, dammit! You're making me a nervous wreck here!" She then declared.

Makoto in turn nodded. "Kobayakawa has been preventing us from meeting up with other student council presidents and committee heads for group meetings among them." She soon revealed.

"Meetings with other high school student council presidents and committee heads?" Homura repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Hai. The Future Leaders Summits." Makoto responded with a nod before reciting what it was called. "Turns out Kobayakawa was preventing these messages from other high schools in Tokyo and making sure we didn't have any contact with them to have discussions about how to better improve our schools." She soon revealed and explained.

"...How the hell did Kobayakawa keep this school running all these years?" Homura eventually questioned.

"I'm starting to question it myself..." Makoto groaned.

"Alright, how many schools are we talking about exactly?" Homura soon asked.

"Quite a few." Makoto responded as she took out a list...a long list at that. "Including Shujin Academy, there's also Kosei High, Nanyo Academy, Karasama Private High School, Sakigei Municipal Academy, Metropolitan Hakuō Women's Academy, Shinozuka Technical High School, Maisen University High School and many, many others..." She then read out.

"..." Homura's eyes meanwhile widened to that in disbelief. "...Was Kobayakawa trying to screw Shujin over?" She eventually asked in growing frustration and a twitching eye. "Because ignoring a meeting like this with a lot of schools is bound to give it a bad reputation. Also, you call that a few?" She then stated and questioned.

Makoto in turn sweatdropped to this. "I...already contacted all of the schools on the list and apologized to all of them for the delay, explaining the reasoning behind it." She soon sighed out in a stressed manner.

Homura froze for a moment before eventually sighing. "Fine. I guess we can handle that many schools in a large meeting." She soon stated. "Where is the meeting taking place and when?" She then asked.

"The Summit will be at the Capitol Hotel Tokyu in Chiyoda City in a large conference meeting room, and it will be next week on October 6th." Makoto informed. "The instructions say that the Student Council President, Vice President and Head of Discipline of each school are required to attend." She then recalled.

"Huh, that's quite a distance." Homura noted. "So the other members of the committee won't be joining?" She soon questioned.

"Hai." Makoto confirmed with a nod. "Only those three positions from each school's committee can join on how to further improve our schools and relationships between them. The rest are exempted from the meeting." She soon explained.

"Okay, I understand." Homura responded. "...I don't think I've met the Vice President though." She soon recalled.

"Hm?" Makoto hummed out in a curious manner.

"Do we have a vice president here in Shujin?" Homura finally asked.

"We do." Makoto confirmed with a nod. "Yamato Issen. Though you haven't seen him yet. He tends to leave school right away after dismissals during his regular days." She then revealed.

"Huh. No wonder I haven't seen him all the time." Homura muttered. "I mean, it's been months and I still haven't seen or know this person." She then noted.

"I'm pretty sure he'll appreciate meeting the head of Shujin's newly-formed disciplinary committee for the first time." Makoto reassured with a smile. "I'll introduce him to you soon enough." She then added.

"Thanks, Makoto-senpai." Homura replied before thinking of something else. "Hey, um...how are your breasts holding up?" She then suddenly asked.

"I'm...adjusting." Makoto awkwardly responded, glancing down at her own semi-developed chest.

"Do they start to grow more naturally?" The tan-skinned girl asked once more in concern.

Makoto reluctantly cupped her breasts with her hands. "I haven't noticed anything so far, I think." She responded, softly squeezing her own developing breasts.

Squish! Squish!

"I see." Homura only stated. "...What do you think of big breasts, Makoto?" She then suddenly asked.

"Huh?" Makoto got out, hearing the question. "What do I think...?" She then repeated in confusion.

"Yeah, what do you think of big breasts?" Homura asked once again. "Do you, uh, have any opinions or something to say about them?" She then added.

To that, Makoto pondered that unique question."Um...I think they're interesting to have for a young girl like me." She then answered. "And...I guess I do like having them." She soon continued, though still sounded unsure a bit.

"Okay, how would you feel if they actually became...big like mine?" Homura had to ask almost without hesitation. "Being serious here." She then added.

To that, Makoto blushed a bit. "...I don't know. I mean, it's me having big breasts we're talking about." She finally answered. "Maybe...I'll start adjusting as well, probably. Get used to the weight of it." She then got out.

"Huh? They're not heavy though." Homura pointed out.

"Really?" Makoto got out before realizing something. "...Ah, your shinobi training, it makes sense." She guessed afterwards. "...And since I've been through similar training, I guess I would be fine, too..." She then realized.

"Better for you, at least." Homura simply stated. "Even so, I'll help you adjust if it comes down to it." She then reassured with a smile.

To that, Makoto smiled in a grateful manner. "Thanks, I appreciate it, Homura-san." She responded before checking the time. "Ah, you better get back to the others now." She then advised.

Homura nodded in response, and the two of them went ahead to do their respective duties in Shujin Academy.

(Yongen-Jaya, Takemi's Clinic)

Haruka let out a sigh as she looked down at her phone. It had been hours since she had seen a patient today. No appointments, no walk-ins, not even a cat wandering by. She guessed she should be happy that no one was sick or hurt, but since she couldn't work on her research she found herself doing nothing but sitting on her chair, occasionally getting a cup of coffee.

She wasn't even that thirsty or anything. She just needed the short caffeine rush to get her through this boring day.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Darling!" Haruka mentally exclaimed, happy that the boy would take the time out of his busy schedule to-

Oh. No, it was the friend he had contacted her about a few days ago.

[BootyPride24/7: You better not flake out on me tonight.]

[DrSeduce: I promise I will be there. It's just after work. Don't be impatient.]

[DrSeduce: I'll be in Yongen.]

[BootyPride24/7: I know, I know. Just be there.]

"Texting during work hours, Haruka?" A voice from behind spoke up in a scolding manner.

Haruka didn't jump, but she certainly blushed. "O-Oh, sorry sensei. It's just been a slow day today." She soon apologized as she set down her phone.

"You have to be ready for anything." Takemi got out as she shook her head. "I mean, our guinea pig could be being carried through that door right now, drugged and beaten all to hell, in dire need of medical attention." She then pointed out.

Haruka winced. She rather die than delay giving her crush all the love, attention, and drugs he needs. "Sorry, sensei..." She apologized.

"...That being said, I've been playing games on my phone for the past hour." Takemi soon admitted with an embarrassed sigh. "I guess we're both slacking today." She then noted.

The busty blonde soon giggled. "We have been working fervently on the cure since we went full into research and ever since you got your reputation back, we haven't had a chance like this to relax without a patient coming in." She soon got out. "Not to mention-" She then started, however...

RING!

"Ah, back again, Zeroga-san." Haruka noted with a smile.

"H-Hello, fellow human." Reki awkwardly mumbled out.

The curly-haired blonde stared at the silver-haired girl in response. "...I am, indeed." She could only say.

"Ah, it must be around that time to get your check-up, isn't it?" Takemi soon remembered as Haruka brought up the schedule on the work computer.

"Hai." Reki nodded.

"And no friend this time?" Haruka questioned.

"I can go by myself." Reki got out with a pout. "I only needed help that one time." She then insisted.

"Well that is good to hear." Takemi responded. "Come on in and we'll get started." She then instructed.

Reki nodded to that and headed into the consultation room with no argument.

When they were now inside, the two doctors began their medical examination on their patient. During the checkup, the doctors began murmuring their findings about their current patient with their medical tools such as a stethoscope, a small flashlight, and other equipment.

"Eye reaction fine, normal heartbeat and blood pressure..." Takemi listed out on her clipboard. "Alright, your internal systems are in good condition right now, Miss Zeroga." She soon informed.

"I see. That's good news." Reki simply responded with a nod, feeling a bit hopeful.

"Alright, time for the outside check-up. Please strip off your clothes, Zeroga-san." Haruka soon requested. "We wish to examine your physical body thoroughly to see any deformities on your skin and body."

Reki meanwhile blushed as she then stripped down. Her black jacket was removed, followed by her purple one piece dress pulled up, black boots and socks removed, bra unclipped, and lastly, panties pulled down. After setting all her clothes down and her shoes aside, she was now in the nude in front of the two female (thankfully) doctors. But even then, in a slight form of instinct, she covered her sensitive parts with her arms and hands.

...She never used to do that before...

BOING!

Takemi could only stare flatly at the girl's bouncing chest. Was the average bust size of teenagers growing...? And that's not to mention...

"Hm?" Takemi hummed out, noticing the mark on her chest. "Is that supposed to be a tattoo, Reki-san?" She then assumed.

"I-It's a birthmark." Reki responded.

"Quite unique-looking for a birthmark, I must say." Haruka confessed, with an edge of skepticism in her tone. "I've never seen one with...color..." She then remarked.

"It would've been easier if you said it was a tattoo." Takemi remarked. "Now stand still. It'll only take a moment." She then instructed and reassured.

Reki nodded before standing as still as she could, following whatever instructions the doctors requested of her when needed. On any other day, it would've been an annoyance and to mentally check out, but given the circumstances she couldn't help but feel scared the entire time.

Eventually, Takemi asked her to put her clothes back on while Haruka wrote down the results.

"So, did you find anything wrong?" Reki finally asked, rubbing her own hands, bracing herself for whatever the results may be

"Other than your oddly detailed birthmark in the shape of a very fancy butterfly?" The doctor assumed in a somewhat cheeky manner. "Well, you seem to be doing fine so far. Normal like always." Takemi informed.

"Like...a normal human being." Reki hesitantly responded.

"...Yes." Takemi responded, narrowing her eyes a little. If she was a robot in disguise, she had to be the fleshiest robot she's ever seen (and felt for that matter). "There is quite literally nothing wrong with you. You don't get that often around here. Every patient I've had has either a chronic disease, bad habits affecting their body, or a past injury but...nope! All green all the way." She then informed.

"...Right." Reki responded, uneasiness in her voice. "Also...it's a moth." She soon corrected.

"A moth?" Takemi repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"My birthmark, I mean." Reki responded before unbuttoning her shirt for a moment to show her birthmark once again for the doctors to see. "Here, if you wish to take a look again." She then added.

"Oh...I see." Takemi replied as she made a note of it. "Well, I do see the moth resemblance" She soon confirmed as she gazed at the purplette's birthmark.

"Hmmm...Miss Zeroga." Haruka began. "That is not the reaction a 100% healthy person should have. Is there something wrong we need to talk about?" She then noted and asked.

"It's...nothing..." Reki reassured as she looked at her hands.

The doctor let out a sigh. "Miss Zeroga, you must be honest with your doctor, or else we can't help you." Takemi advised in a serious manner. "If you lie or omit details, I could very well put you in more danger and neither of us want that. Are you sure there is nothing I should be concerned about?" She then stated and questioned.

Reki meanwhile hesitated in response as she looked down. "...So...hypothetically...if a human body dies and then comes back to life, what happens?" She suddenly asked.

"Hm..." Takemi hummed out as she took a second to think. "Well, someone can technically die for at least a few seconds, maybe a few minutes and come out of it fine. There was this one case in Inaba where a little girl managed to come back despite being dead for at least half an hour, and with no adverse effects even years later." She soon answered as best as she could.

"Oh?" Haruka got out in a curious and fascinated manner.

"Are you worried about any long term effects because of such an ordeal?" Takemi soon assumed, getting a nod in response from the silverette. "I don't have access to your full medical history, but I assume your heart stopped beating at some point in the past given your reaction." She then stated and guessed.

"Y-Yes." Reki responded in an uneasy manner.

"Well, the heart can be revived even after stopping. It's the death of the brain you need to worry about." Haruka recalled as she frowned. "When the brain begins to die, there's no going back from that. Even if you do get revived, the damage to who you are and how you function is heavily affected." She then informed.

"I...I see..." Reki uneasily responded.

"But...to see someone so healthy after that is...a wonder. A miracle even." Haruka continued before giving the girl a sorrowful look. "But...who you were before may be gone forever." She then stated.

Reki looked down at her hands. Well, not really her hands. They had belonged to someone else so long ago. "...Yes. That makes sense." She soon nodded.

Both doctors saw what she was doing and looked at each other. "Well...I'm not a therapist, never touched psychology, but I do know death." Takemi soon confessed. "And...I encourage you to let whoever that past self was rest."

"What do you mean?" Reki however asked in confusion.

"Death isn't just the end. It's a new beginning, even if you don't know it yet." Takemi began. "I know when I lost everything, I thought I would just...wallow away until my end after my job was done. But now...I like the life I live, even if it's in the back alley. I've found new people to hold close...and new goals to strive for."

"New people..." Reki muttered.

"Reki-san...Let the past be that, the past." Takemi encouraged with a kind smile. "So you can move on towards the future." She then added, the blonde meanwhile nodding in agreement to that.

The silver haired girl smiled. "...Wow, I...you have such a way with words, doctor." Reki couldn't help but praise.

"I may have picked up a few things from a certain guinea pig..." Takemi muttered under her breath. The kid was practically a doctor at this point.

"Ufufu~ Darling does have that effect on others." Haruka giggled out. "Now, please put your panties on so you can pay for your check-up." She soon instructed.

"H-Hai." Reki responded with a nod as she did as such.

Meanwhile, the two doctors sighed as they looked at one another. "She is an interesting one to say the least." Takemi confessed.

"Hai..." Haruka responded in agreement as she then looked back at the door.

(Backstreets)

When she walked out of the clinic, Reki couldn't help but notice how the sun shone brighter than before. How the sky seems clearer, how the air felt on her skin, and the pleasant feeling flowing throughout her flesh.

Her flesh.

Reki placed a hand over the moth mark on her chest.

How long has it been since that fateful day?

When she was betrayed after completing the extermination of trash yōma.

When the original Reki died at the hands of her teammates and allowed her to take her form?

Yet still, she could remember that day as if it just happened only hours before. She had been harboring this anger and hate against the world for years, and what did she have to show for it? Every shinobi in the world out for her blood, languishing in hiding in what originally was the body of a human, without the power to truly fight back...

Was this to be her life? As a human with nothing left but the hate in her heart?

"The past is the past..." Reki whispered, recalling the doctor's words. Whatever was left of her yōma form was gone forever. Whatever her dreams for the world might be out of reach.

Her revenge against the shinobi that originally started everything was gone and the extermination of mindless yōma was, as far as she could tell, complete?

Looking forward down the street, she could see people young and old happily talking with each other. A meager existence...but a fulfilling one to them.

Maybe...it was time to start living like she was human too.

Reki then looked towards the sky. "It's so...blue..." She muttered, seeing it now in a different light. Feeling as though she was seeing it for the first time.

It felt right.

"I'm...I'm human now..." Reki quietly mumbled out, awe and disbelief in her voice...before a smirk graced her face. "You hear that, humans! Reki Zeroga is human!" She soon declared before dancing in the middle of the street.

Everyone around only gave her strange looks and gave a wide berth...all while attempting to avert their eyes from her bouncing chest.

From the entrance of the clinic, Haruka and Takemi couldn't help but giggle at the sight. "She has some moves." The doctor remarked.

"Yep. This is making up for the past five hours of boredom." Haruka got out in amusement before glancing at her chest. "...Could it be?" She thought to herself.

"WHO THE HELL IS CHEERING SO LOUDLY!? I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING, DAMMIT!" A young female voice rudely called out in annoyance.

"Eh?" Reki looked around, looking rather confused where that yelling was coming from. "U-Uh...sorry!?" She soon apologized.

(Sakura Residence)

"YEAH, WE GET IT LADY! NOW QUIET DOWN!" Futaba screamed out from her room's window before slamming it shut...and then realizing how she acted. "...Oh crap, I've been influenced by Big Sis...!" She then got out before glancing down at her body before pouting. "But in the wrong way..." She grumbled in annoyance.

"Statement: Breast envy at 98%. It is advised you let go of such vapid thoughts." Necronomicon informed and advised.

Futaba however groaned in response. "I'm sorry, but when you spend some time being in a world where everyone but you have balloon tits, you'll know my pain!" She mentally stated before pausing. "...Wait, you should know my pain! I am thou, thou art I!" She then added.

"The likelihood of developing the bust of a shinobi is...15% due to lack of proper training." Necronomicon confirmed.

"Dammit!" Futaba swore out in anger.

"15% is a rather good number given the context." Necronomicon responded. "Reminder: You are in the middle of a match." She then reminded.

"Hey Alibababa, fucking stop AFKing and- HRK! Blah..."

"Oh goddammit..." The orangette grumbled as she focused once more, jumping into her chair and putting on her headset.

Futaba was currently playing Counter-Fyre Online with a bunch of shooter noobs and pros on her high-tech computer.

Guess which side she wasn't on?

"He's on Z! And a tapir has the largest penis-to-body ratio of any animal!"

"Come on...you can do this, guys..." The hacker mumbled in annoyance, feeling focused on her current online match. However, she soon ran into a problem as she and one of her teammates tried to get through a door at the same time.

"You first." Kassy ordered, greatly confusing the orangette.

"Why me?" Futaba questioned.

"Women and children first."

Futaba's left eye twitched. "I have a..." She tried to explain before sighing, gunning the idiot down before heading in another direction. "I swear to god if you guys don't get this, I will fuck the shit out of you! Wait-" She soon threatened, only to realize too late she misspoke.

"Oh OKAY! I am not fucking...COME 'ERE! COME 'ERE!"

Futaba let out an agonizing cry as she watched as Fugu was riddled with bullets.

"I wanna die. I really wanna die." Futaba whined before turning to her fellow survivor. "Please, Pastry, don't let me-" She then started, however...

"LEEROOOOOY JENK-"

Futaba wanted to slam her head on her keyboard as her last teammate was deleted from existence for his idiocy, but managed to pull herself back from the brink. "I-I can ace this. I can still ace this!" She declared, rolling her shoulders as her in-game took out a grenade and threw it...

PING!

Only for it to hit on an odd piece of geometry and bounce back to her feet.

This caused the orangette to...simply accept her fate. "...Ok, that was the worst throw ever...of all time..." Futaba had to admit in annoyance and shame.

BOOM! DEFEAT!

"Ugh, Master Guardian Elite, my ass. Playing with Murasaki's way better..." Futaba cursed and grumbled before deciding to leave the game since she played it for quite a long time, some matches won and some matches lost, and she did not want to hear all the jeering from her teammates. She then leaned back on her personal gaming chair with a sigh of relief. "Hey Necronomicon, can you give my brain a massage?" She then politely requested her Persona.

"Acknowledged. Executing command: Brain Massage." Her Persona responded in a robotic tone.

"Oooooohhhh...that's the stuff..." Futaba moaned as she leaned back in her chair...and nearly fell off it, only saving herself with a timely grab of her arm rest. "Whew, that was close!" She got out.

"Averted. Occurrences of when you fell off the chair remains at 32." Necronomicon informed.

"You can track that...?" Futaba groaned.

"I track everything. Information is power." Necronomiconresponded. "Alert: Productive work below recommended levels. Please resolve." She then informed and instructed.

"I can't believe my own Persona is telling me to get off my ass." Futaba grumbled with a pout. "You were way more fun when you were a pharaoh, you know that Necro?" She then remarked.

"Subjective." Necronomicon simply responded. "Addemenum: This voice in your head is beneficial to mental health unlike prior voices." She then stated.

"...Point taken..." Futaba mumbled out.

"I, as in the both of us, only wish for the best of us." Necronomicon soon stated. "You do wish to become more open, do you not?" She then recalled.

"Yeah..." Futaba sighed. "I would be a lot braver if I had bigger bazookas though..." She then grumbled.

"Doubt." Necronomicon responded. "87% chance it would be worse given the calculated increase of lingering public eyes." She soon informed.

Futaba however pouted to that. "Dammit! I want a rack too for crying out loud!" She then whined.

"Chance of spinal fracture due to oversized breasts and lack of physical training: 255%." Necronomicon however stated.

"Grrrr...! Fine! I'll do my push ups and take on more of Big Sis's training." Futaba growled out and decided. "I will not be denied!" She then declared with a fire in her eyes.

"Suggestion: Do you wish to go outside for Serpent's training?" Necronomicon soon questioned.

"...M-My room is fine enough." Futaba muttered before going to the most roomy part of her room and began working out...for ten minutes before laying face first on the floor.

"Results: 3 floor push ups, 10 squats, 7 [exercise name missing], and 4 minutes of in-place jogging." Necronomicon reported. "Congratulations, you have beaten your personal best. 10 EXP gained." The Persona then informed in a proud manner.

"Ngh...massage please..." The orangette groaned out her request before her head felt something crawling around inside her skull and brain, though it was not something harmful. In fact, it felt like there were multiple tentacles rubbing every inch of her brain in some sort of a massage as she requested.

"Ooohoo~ thank you, Necronomicon, hehe~" Futaba breathed out in relief. "Wonder if you can do this to my whole body...~" She then added in the same tone.

However the orangette then winced as the white haired woman came to mind.

"..." Futaba only went silent for a moment as she remembered the constant lectures with her sister figure. "...Well, it's not like I'm doing anything visually in her eyes. As long as I'm not doing anything weird-looking in front of her, I guess I'll be fine, right?" SHE mumbled.

"Alert: Self-pleasure with Persona not recommended." Necronomicon simply advised.

"Eh? You can do that?" Futaba however asked in interest.

"Please do not try to use me with that unnecessary request." Her alien Persona suddenly requested. "I will not interact with you indefinitely if you do insist." It then warned.

"Okay, okay, sorry..." Futaba awkwardly apologized. "I'll just stick to brain massages with your sci-fi looking tentacles..." She then mumbled.

"I truly appreciate your understanding with me." Necronomicon robotically replied.

"Yeah yeah..." Futaba sighed out as her Persona continued with massaging her brain. "Mmmm~ yeah, right there..." She then moaned in relief.

After a while, Futaba's brain felt like mush as her body felt like total bliss as well.

"Best feeling like always." The orangette stated with a smile. It was a gift that kept on giving...and she loved it.

"Thank you for the feedback once again, like always, my host." Necronomicon robotically replied.

"Hmm, ah, speaking of, I gotta think of what to get Big Sis and the others for Christmas." Futaba realized as she started browsing. "Let me see..." She muttered as she looked around.

This was the first time she had ever thought about buying Christmas presents at all, and the first time she had actually decided to celebrate Christmas in the past two years. Sojiro did try to get her to leave her room then, but she'd often ignored him or slept through the day. All that holiday cheer felt so hollow when your mom died and almost straight afterwards shoved her uncle's custody where she was more like a neglected puppy than a human being.

But now...she had people she cared for now alongside Sojiro. So she had to make it up to him as well as her new friends.

And since cooking and crafting wasn't exactly her strong suit, she could only express her gratitude in the only way she could: through money.

"It doesn't have to be expensive, it's just the thought that counts right?" Futaba began. "Ugh...but what if my gift sucks because of how cheap it is! I mean, I have more than enough money thanks to the Metaverse and the bank accounts of assholes but...um..." She then started rambling.

"OVERTHINKING OVERTHINKING OVERTHINKING!" Necronomicon however chanted while blaring alarm sounds in her head.

"R-Right." Futaba got out, startling a bit from her Persona's reaction. "But what if they think I'm just getting expensive stuff for-" She then continued to worry, only to feel a mental slap to the back of her head.

"OVERTHINKING!" Necronomicon stated once more.

"Alright, alright!" Futaba exclaimed before taking a deep breath. "Okay...let's calm down. Let's go one by one. First off, what would Sojiro like?" She soon got out before bringing up a word document on her computer.

She really had to think about this and not just look up everyone's search history. She wasn't going to cheat no matter how tempting it may be!

"Hm?" Futaba hummed out before noticing something in particular, causing a gleam to come to her eyes as she smirked. "Oho~ This'll work for our big breasted best buddies~ Mwhehe~" She giggled out. That takes care of the shinobi. Now for the rest of her friends. "Hmm...Ryuji would like a voucher for an all-you-can-eat ramen place..." She muttered before she began searching.

She had a lot of work to do, but it was gonna be worth it.

(9/29, After School)

(Classroom Building 1F, Hallway)

The tan skinned girl let out a small yet adorable yawn as she walked the hallways of the school with elegance and grace. "Jeez, guess I'm a little tired today." Homura thought to herself.

Despite this, Homura was practically radiating as other students looked at her in admiration.

"Look! There she is! It's Homura Shinkukage!" A student whispered as he pointed at her.

"You're right! It is her!" Another student joined in.

"She sure is just amazing! I'm surprised that she's just walking around like a normal person!" A third studentgot out.

"And she is just so cute! I really wish I could date her!" A fourth student beamed.

"Dude, you don't stand a chance! She's way too good for you!" His friend however pointed out.

The tan skinned girl meanwhile smiled gently to the praise she was receiving. It was way different then how it was back when she first transferred and even back when she was at Hebijo. However it wasn't out of pride, it just honestly felt good.

"It's really hard to believe that she just started this committee months ago and now look where she is. She's really an inspiration to us all." A female student praised.

"To be honest, I wasn't really sure if this was going to work. Considering that Niijima was also the one who helped create it." A second female student meanwhile admitted to her friends.

"Yeah, I thought that it was going to meet the same fate as the other clubs." A third female student replied in agreement. "But after a couple of months, it's still going strong and they've been really owning that fat bastard of a principal until he bit the dust." She then added.

"And even Niijima-san has cleared up her act and is now no longer breathing down her neck." A fourth female student stepped in.

"And now both her and Shinkukage are walking around the halls like they've owned the place. They really are the Queens of Shujin Academy!" A fifth student pointed out.

Now those comments surprised Homura as she mentally smirked at the idea. "Hehe, me and Makoto-senpai, Queens of Shujin Academy." She thought to herself in amusement. That definitely had a good ring to it.

"And what about the other members of the committee?" A male student asked the others.

"I'd say that I like Shinjo-san. She's just cool and can bring down any bullies that need to be taken down." Another male student answered.

"I'm more into Kamijo. You can't beat that silver hair and awesome figure." A third male student said.

"Kagurazaka is just hot! And he's like a teddy bear!" A female student said with hearts in her eyes.

"Sure, he's cute and all. But I'm more into Shujin himself." A second female student points out. "That appearance and personality makes him more enduring to see." She then confessed.

"Shujin? You mean the guy with the same last name as the school?" A fourth male student asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, that's him. I heard that his family built this school way back when Japan was still young." A fifth male student answered.

"If his family owned Shujin, then that makes him like a king, doesn't it?" A third female student pointed out.

"Yeah, it does. And that means he's already got a shot with either Shinkukage or Niijima. Or even both of them if he wants to." A sixth male student told them.

"But I can say that Imai's a feast for the eyes. That blonde hair just really brings out the best of him." A fourth female student got out.

"Same with Madoka-san. He's got this air of mystery about him that just screams boyfriend material. I can even see him being a host to a giant alien superhero." A fifth female student jokingly added.

That however caused Homura to sweatdrop, however at that moment...

"OHOHOHOHO~!" Everyone heard a loud and haughty laugh that seemed to be coming from the other side of the hallway.

Everyone turned to see Ichiko strutting down the halls like she owned the place.

"Ah, Ichiko-san." Homura mentally got out. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't had the chance to spend much time with her compared to her friends and other committee members.

"Hello there, peasants. Nice of you to roll out the red carpet for me." Ichiko smugly greeted. "And here I thought that I might have to walk on the wooden floor." She then began as she turned to look at all the other students. "Now bask in my radiance and praise me like a queen." She soon ordered. held her arms outwards, but everyone just sweat dropped at this.

"Ichiko-san..." Homura mentally got out in embarrassment as she had to resist palming her face.

Not really wanting to stroke her already inflated ego, all the students returned to their daily routine and headed for clubs.

"Huh. Tough crowd. And here I was being generous to them." Ichiko scoffed before noticing the tan skinned girl. "Oh hey, Shinkukage. What brings you here?" She then greeted and asked.

"Performing my patrol as per usual." Homura answered. "Doubling my efforts actually since the principal's passing." She then added.

"Oh yeah, that was a shock to all of us." Ichiko soon admitted. "I just couldn't believe that it happened right near our school. Sure he was a scumbag, but none of us wanted him dead." She then added.

"Some more than others..." Homura thought to herself, though nodded in agreement with her committee member.

"But now that he's gone, I'm wondering who's going to take his place as principal?" Ichiko wondered in concern.

"That is a good question indeed..." Homura admitted. "Hopefully someone who can run the school better." She then added.

"Maybe, but I wouldn't hold my breath." Ichiko however advised. "I wouldn't be surprised that they've brought in someone who is just as bad, if not worse than Kobayakawa." She then added as she crossed her arms under her breasts.

"True, that is also a possibility." Homura replied in relucent agreement.

"Well, I hope so. It's already bad enough with its reputation thanks to him, but I'll keep my fingers crossed until they do find one." Ichiko replied with a nod.

"Right." Homura noted with a nod of her own. "You seem to be quite the realist Ichiko-san." She then pointed out.

"Well, I've been living on my own for a long time. The only person who was around me was my butler." Ichiko soon revealed. "I guess you can say that he was like a father to me and I cherished every moment with him." She then explained.

Homura however almost face faulted upon hearing that. "A-A butler? Seriously?" She got out in a surprised manner.

"Yeah. he was always there for me whenever I was down." Ichiko responded and revealed. "I guess I never told you that, huh?" She got out as she then playfully stuck out her tongue.

"No, you did not." Homura replied before what she said came to mind. "Wait...was?" She soon questioned in realization. "Ah, I apologize for your loss." She then got out in a sympathetic manner.

"It's alright, he's now living a much better life with his new wife." Ichiko replied with a smile as she waved it off. "But I do always get his postcards from him and he seems to be doing really well." She then revealed as she took out and showed a picture of an older man and woman.

"Oh." Homura got out as she blinked at learning that fact. "Well, congratulations to him." She then added.

"Yeah, thanks." Ichiko quietly responded with a nod as she looked at the picture with a smile and a tear in her eye.

"Hm?" Homura hummed out in a curious manner.

Ichiko snapped out of it and wiped away tears from her eyes. "You didn't see that, did you?" She asked in a quick manner.

Homura however sweatdropped in response. "It was honestly hard not to Ichiko-san." She responded.

"Look, don't tell anyone else about what you just saw." Ichiko soon demanded as she stepped forward to her face. "I'm only showing this with you, I don't want my image to be exposed. Not even to the other members." She stated in a serious tone. "So this is just between you and me, got it?" She then got out.

Homura in response simply nodded. "Of course. Your business is your own." She replied.

"Good. Glad to know that we're on the same page." Ichiko responded. "But you know, now that I got a closer look at you. You really do remind me of Ranmaru. The only difference is that you're more tan than her, but you also do have some tomboyish traits to you." She soon confessed with a nod.

"Ranmaru...you mentioned her before." Homura repeated and pointed out.

"She's really the first real friend I ever made." Ichiko revealed. "Back then, she was this really tough looking girl who dressed up like a delinquent. We didn't really start off well with each other and she even challenged me to a fight." She then began explaining in a nostalgic tone.

That caused Homura to raise an eyebrow to learn that as she gave her committee member a quick up-down. "She...challenged you to a fight." She slowly repeated. "And...what happened?" She soon asked with curiosity.

"I managed to beat her and she had to do whatever I wanted." Ichiko answered her smugly. "That was the deal we made when she challenged me and I won in the end." She swiped her hair with her hand.

This immediately raised some questions for the tan skinned girl. "How?" Homura thought to herself. "So...what did you make her do? Be your maid or something?" She then questioned and guessed with disapproval in her voice.

"No, I made her leave my old school. But maybe I should've had her become my maid instead." Ichiko answered as she then thought about it.

"Ichiko-san." Homura got out in even more disapproval.

"What? That was the deal we made and she kept her word." Ichiko replied as she shrugged her shoulders. "It's not my fault that she's just too trusting." She then added.

"Even so, forcing them to leave school like that was too much." Homura however stated.

Ichiko in turn sighed as she placed her hand on her hip. "I guess you're right. Maybe I was being a little unfair with her. So to make up for it, me and someone else I know decided to take Ranmaru out shopping and helped her into some girl clothes." She then explained and revealed. "As it turns out, she was actually really cute when she didn't act like a boy." She soon confessed in amusement.

"I see," Homura got out. "And that's what led to you two becoming friends?" She then guessed.

"No, it wasn't that. It was something else that happened not long after." Ichiko responded as she shook her head. "The shopping was a start, but it's what she later did that made us become friends." She then stated as she wrapped her arms around her torso as she remembered what happened.

"What will she do later?" Homura repeated.

"She..." Ichiko started before she hesitated to continue her words.

Homura meanwhile tilted her head in response. "Hm?" She hummed to herself.

"I'm sorry, it's just too traumatic for me. I don't want to relive that incident again..." Ichiko muttered as she turned away as more tears started forming in her eyes.

To that, Homura nodded as she gained a serious expression.

"I'm really pathetic, huh? Always having to put on this mask just so that I can make everyone hate me." Ichiko suddenly confessed. "I thought that I didn't need anyone since you may never know when someone is talking about you behind your back."." She then added.

That however caused Homura's eyes to widen. "A mask...so all this time, she was just acting?" She mentally asked herself in disbelief as she then shook her head. "No, you are far from pathetic Ichiko-san." She soon stated.

"Yeah, right. You're just saying that out of pity." Ichiko scoffed at her accusation.

"No, I really mean it." Homura responded as she shook her head again. "I know how you feel because I was like that as well." She then revealed.

This in turn got Ichiko's attention as she looked at the tan skinned girl. "You were?" She gasped in a surprised manner.

Homura in response nodded to the question. "Believe it or not, I thought that I didn't need anyone because I was betrayed by someone as well." She soon revealed. "I thought I was always going to be alone in the world and didn't really think that anyone would care if I lived or died. But after coming here and getting to know my roommate and my friends, I started to change for the better. Sure there are still times where my old self comes out, but it was thanks to them that I was able to change myself and now we've become close friends." She explained as she recalled all the times during the first few months of the year.

"But what makes you think that they won't betray you as well? It's possible that they'll just abandon you to save themselves." Ichiko asked and stated.

"If they had, they would have done so a long time ago." Homura pointed out. "We've all had bad experiences in our lives, but we're still working hard to make sure that doesn't happen again," She then continued as she placed her hand on the other girl's shoulder. "If you don't want to explain what happened to you in the past, that's alright. Your business is your own and I respect your privacy. Just know that if you do feel the need to tell me, I'll be there to lend you an ear." She soon offered.

In response, Ichiko was surprised to hear that the tan skinned girl was once in a similar position as her and has really changed for the better. She then remembered the time with her best friend when she saved her and promised to never betray her and that was when they became friends. "Hey, Homura." She soon got out as she turned to face the committee head.

"Yes?" Homura soon asked.

"If you ever betray your friends, I will never forgive you. Cherish them and never let them go." Ichiko warned and ordered in a stern manner.

"You don't have to worry about that. I would never betray my friends." Homura replied in a dead serious tone.

"Good. I'll hold you to that." Ichiko responded as she then nodded. "But if you do, then I'll be the one to send you straight to hell." She then threatened.

Homura however smirked in response to that. "I'd like to see you try." She challenged as the imagery of a crimson fiery aura of a dragon surrounded her.

"Don't underestimate me, I'm a lot tougher than you think." Ichiko countered with a smirk as the imagery of the animals from the Zodiac appeared behind her.

As the two continued staring down at one another, the tan skinned girl felt, strangely as it sounded, her bond with her committee member growing as a result.

SHATTER!

RANK UP! Fortune Rank 2!

Shamrock: Boost the amount of Luck gained from a Level Up.

"Looks like we're not so different after all." Ichiko eventually confessed after they both calmed down. "We've been through our fair share of trauma and somehow are still standing today." She then added.

"Indeed." Homura replied with a nod of agreement.

"So what do you say? You feel like hanging out with me and Ranmaru some time?" Ichiko soon offered "We can go to the movies, shopping or just have some girl time. I can even introduce you to my cat." She then listed off the things they could do.

This as a result caused Homura to smile. "If I have the time." She replied. "Though you better be sure to put more of an effort for our committee work. Remember, we are practically running this school." She then stated and reminded in a more lecturing manner.

"Right, right. I'll at least try to work hard. You can bet on it." Ichiko nodded to her.

"Good." Homura replied in approval.

"So are you going to continue with your patrol? I can come with you, if you want." Ichiko then offered.

That in response caused Homura to smile. "Sure, I could use the company." She responded.

"Okay, then let's go. We still have a school to watch over." Ichiko declared, no longer feeling that she needed her mask around the committee head.

Homura simply nodded in response as the two headed out to perform their duties.

"Homura." Ichiko suddenly started.

"Hm?" Homura hummed out in response.

"Thank you. For seeing the real me." Ichiko smiled softly "I feel like I no longer need my mask around you. I can just be myself again like whenever I'm with Ranmaru. I don't know if I'll open up to the other members, but I think it's a first step with you." She then confessed.

"It is not a problem, just take it one step at a time." Homura replied and advised.

"Yeah, just one step at a time." Ichiko got out as she nodded. "I'll be sure to remember that." She then added

"Good." Homura responded in approval.

"Also, I heard from the other students that you and Niijima-senpai were like the Queens of Shujin. And that Shujin himself was like a king." Ichiko then got out as she then smirked.

Homura however rolled her eyes to that. "There's nothing intimate between the three of us." She soon informed.

"You sure? Because I feel like he's someone who would take both of you." Ichiko soon asked and teased. "Or is it because you're getting your own harem with the rest of the boys?" She then added.

"Ichiko-san, don't make it seem like I'm a lust crazed girl." Homura however ordered.

"Alright, fine. I was just joking, that's all." Ichiko played off.

"Good. I mean, how would you react if I teased you about your love life?" Homura replied and countered with her own smirk.

"Oh, shots fired!" Ichiko yelped as she held her heart in a dramatic way.

"Exactly." Homura confirmed as she winked to the other girl before going ahead.

"Oh, it is on now, Homura." Ichiko smirked back as she raced to catch up with her.

As such, the two continued on with their interactions while performing their duties before heading home for the day.

(Sakamoto Residence)

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Comin'!" Ryuji called out, scratching the back of his head as he made his way to the door, opening it to see a familiar face. "Yumi?" He got out in confusion.

The light gray haired girl in mention gave a pleasant smile. "Good afternoon Ryuji-san." Yumi politely greeted.

"Yo, what's up, Yumi? Glad you came by." Ryuji casually replied and asked.

"I was hoping to come and visit." Yumi confessed. "Asuka-san and Homura-san told me about the times they had visited and I became curious." She replied and explained while adjusting her school bag.

"Huh, really?" Ryuji asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Hai." Yumi responded with a nod. "May I come in?" She soon requested.

"Uh...Yeah, sure. Come on in." Ryuji nodded as he allowed the girl in.

"Thank you." Yumi replied as she looked around. "So, it is just you and your mother correct? Is she out at the moment?" She then recalled and asked.

"Yeah, she's doing some errands right now. So she won't be back until really late." Ryuji explained as he closed the door.

"I see." Yumi responded with a nod of understanding. "And how have you been? Have you been keeping up with your studies?" She soon asked.

"Eh...Somewhat..." Ryuji answered with obvious uncertainty.

Yumi however narrowed her eyes to that. "Ryuji-san..." She got out in disapproval.

"Okay! I haven't been keeping up with my studies!" Ryuji groaned while rubbing his head in aggravation.

"Ryuji-san, you must study for your exams. I'm rather worried that you will be held back for the year at this rate." Yumi chided.

"Ugh...Don't remind me... That's what everyone's been saying since our exams..." Ryuji groaned in annoyance. "I know my grades aren't really good, but I never get the lessons. They're expecting me to solve something without even explaining it better." He then added.

"Which is why I came over to help." Yumi soon stated. "I have always been at the top of my classes and even helped my friends when they were having difficulties with their studies." She then revealed.

"Really? You can help me with my homework and shit?" Ryuji looked up at her.

Yumi simply giggled in response. "That is what I just said Ryuji-san." She replied.

"Hell yeah! I'm not going to get held back!" Ryuji declared as he jumped for joy a bit.

Yumi however sighed to the response. "Ryuji-san, just be sure to remember that you must at least put the effort into studying." She soon reminded while wagging a finger at the dyed blond.

"Yeah, yeah. I get it." Ryuji responded with a nod.

Yumi once again sighed. "Just like Shiki-san." She thought to herself. "In any case, how about we begin?" She soon offered.

"Yeah. So what are we doing first?" Ryuji asked as they sat down at the table.

"Let us begin with..." Yumi began as the two started reviewing what the dyed blond did know...which wasn't much, though she decided the reason behind this was due to how things were at Shujin.

It just meant she had her work cut out for her.

Hours later...

"Ugh...I just don't get it...How the hell is anyone supposed to understand this?! It just doesn't make any sense!" Ryuji shouted in aggravation, trying to comprehend one of his recent math lessons at school.

Yumi however hushed the boy in response. "You just have to find a way to make it so you can understand it." She simply stated.

"Easier said than done..." Ryuji grumbled out with a pout.

Yumi simply sighed in response. "Really just like Shiki-san to a degree..." She thought to herself. "Wonder if they would get along well..." She then added in her head while continuing her lecture.

"Ugh...I just don't get it...I give up..." Ryuji groaned as he face planted the table.

Yumi however narrowed her eyes to this. "Ryuji-san, saying you are giving up is the same as if you are giving on being a Phantom Thief." She soon declared in disapproval. "Do you plan on just giving up from here on out?" She then questioned.

"Being a Phantom Thief is different from studying! How does that even work?" Ryuji asked her as he looked up.

"That isn't the point. Giving up is still giving up, no matter the situation." Yumi countered. "If it was going to get difficult, would you have planned to give up on taking Kamoshida's heart? Or any of our other targets?" She then questioned.

"Hell no! I wouldn't give up on taking that bastard's heart! I'd give it my all to take his heart!" Ryuji answered with determination.

"Exactly! Now you just need to apply that determination to your studies." Yumi soon stated with a nod.

"But you really think that'll work? Can I really do that just as I did when taking Kamoshida's heart?" Ryuji soon asked.

In response, Yumi nodded. "Hai." She responded in an encouraging tone. "If you just try, then you can succeed at anything if you put your mind to it." She then stated.

"If you think I can, then I'll believe you." Ryuji replied with a nod and a smile as he sat back up.

Yumi in response smiled back. "Yosh, then let us begin once more." She concluded as the two got back to work, the dyed blond now being more motivated as she helped him with any mistakes he had made and explaining the correct way of finding the answers.

With some encouragement from Yumi, Ryuji was now able to focus on the answers as he was able to get most of them right with only a few wrong answers. But it was definitely better than how they were before.

"See, I knew you could do it." Yumi declared in a satisfied manner.

"Yeah, you're right. I really did it. I just can't believe it." Ryuji got out in agreement while also in disbelief.

"You just needed some positive encouragement." Yumi simply explained with a warming smile.

"Too bad no one really likes me at all. To them, I'm just a troublemaking idiot who got his leg broken for standing up for his classmates..." Ryuji sighed as he recalled how his leg was broken.

"That is in the past though Ryuji-san." Yumi however reminded as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "We all just need to keep moving forward and not let the past hold us done." She then stated.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. It just still sucks that no one really appreciated me for standing up to Kamoshida, but I guess it was his words over mine." Ryuji sighed.

"That may have been the case in the past, but it is no longer like that now. He is imprisoned for life and you are still here." Yumi reminded once more. "The Phantom Thieves brought justice onto him and his karma caught up to him for his sins of lust." She then concluded.

"Yeah, that's true. That was a huge weight off my shoulders to finally see him be arrested for everything he's done and some of us even got some closure." Ryuji nodded as he smiled.

Yumi smiled back to this before noticing the time on the clock wall. "Oh my, it seems as though I have to go, Ryuji-san." She soon informed.

"Alright, see you later then. And thanks for your help with my studies." Ryuji replied with a nod.

Nodding back to that, Yumi got up from her seat as she headed for the door. "It was not a problem Ryuji-san. Just remember to keep up with your studies from here on out." She then requested.

"I'll try, but with your help, I think I might have a shot at passing this year." Ryuji nodded as he opened the door for her.

"Why thank you." Yumi replied. "In any case, have a good day." She then added as she performed a respectful bow before leaving.

"Yeah, see ya." Ryuji nodded as he watched her leave.

Yumi meanwhile began her journey home to her apartment for the rest of the day.

(Kichijoji, Shopping District)

"You know, it was a surprise you invited me here, Haru-chan." Asuka got out as she walked through the district with the heiress.

"Well, I had the opportunity to spend time with you and I took it." Haru replied with a smile. "Now, shall we go to a boutique and purchase some new attire for ourselves?" She soon suggested.

"Eh? You want to go clothes shopping Haru-chan?" Asuka asked. "And at a boutique? Didn't we just go to one a few days ago during our spa trip?" She then added.

"One outfit isn't enough. I wish to find more comfortable clothes that can adapt well to my...you know, here." Haru replied and explained as she patted her own chest.

"O-Oh, I see." Asuka sheepishly replied with a nod. "I guess it would be nice for just the two of us to hang-out." She then admitted with a smile.

"That would be great, Asu-chan!" Haru happily replied with a smile. "Do you know any boutiques in the area?" She then revealed and asked.

"Nope!" Asuka responded.

"Eh!?" Haru gasped in surprise.

"Er, the only place I know we could shop at for clothes is the second hand shop. You'll find some nice clothes in there for great deals, though. I found this one blue shirt with two kitty cats as a yin-yang symbol there after all!" Asuka soon explained and revealed. "If you want some real fashion, it would be in Takenoko Street in Harajuku. Ann-chan called it the fashion capital of Tokyo." She then informed.

"O-Oh, I didn't know..." Haru mumbled with an embarrassed blush.

"Well, there is a jewelry store we could try. And I think there's a nice glasses place nearby." Asuka soon suggested. "Wanna go to Harajuku afterwards? Though there's still plenty to do here. Ooh, I wanna play some darts with you at Penguin Sniper!" She then suggested and revealed.

"Darts?" Haru repeated in a curious manner.

"It's like throwing a kunai, it'll be fun. Come on, let's play a quick round." Asuka replied with a smile. "Hmmm, but we usually play with two other people...maybe we should call our friends..." She then hummed out and suggested.

"It's fine. We can do that on another day." Haru responded. "But I only wish to get some new clothing. Let's go to Harajuku." She then requested.

"But we're already here and all..." Asuka pointed out. "Let's get something to eat first." She then decided.

"Okay then. What do you suggest?" Haru agreed before asking.

"Well..." Asuka started as the two then went and got something to eat before heading out.

(Harajuku, Takenoko Street)

After getting something to eat, the two soon arrived at the new area as they walked the streets.

"I wonder why the owner let us get in front of that big line..." Haru wondered out loud as arrived at the fashion center of Japan.

"Me too, but whenever he sees me or Homu-neechan, they always offer us to get their chunky katsu before everyone else." Asuka responded and revealed. "No one complains too." She then recalled.

"Well, it was really tasty. I've seen so many people drooling over it!" Haru remarked.

"Yeah..." Asuka breathed out in satisfaction. "Anyways, here we are! The fashion capital of Tokyo! Or...wait, is it all of Japan? The entire world? Whatever, it's really, really fashionable!" She soon declared.

Haru meanwhile giggled at her friend's enthusiasm. It was just refreshing to her. "Well then, shall we take a look around and see what we fancy?" She soon suggested.

"Sure!" Asuka agreed with a nod. "I remember me and Ann-chan having a few shoots here for Vague magazines. I wonder if the outfits we modeled are still available?" She then recalled and asked.

"I wouldn't know." Haru responded. "I'm...not exactly so fashion-conscious. My father has a tailor that makes our clothes." She added and revealed.

"Well, don't worry. I may not be at Ann-chan's level, but I still know enough to get by and look good." Asuka assured with a fist pump.

"Hai. I shall trust you then." Haru responded with a nod. "You pick the outfits and I shall pay for them. Don't worry about any sort of budget today." She then stated.

The Vice Leader's eyes widened. "A-Are you sure about paying?" Asuka then asked in an awkward manner. "I mean...we keep telling you, you don't have to pay for everything. We don't want to take advantage of you just because you feel you owe us..." She soon reminded.

"Oh, my flow of money will be fine." Haru reassured her. "I think Father wouldn't mind, at least." She then added.

That in turn got the Vice Leader's attention. "Speaking of your father, how is he?" Asuka decided to ask.

"Oh, um, he's always in his study room." Haru replied, remembering the state of her father. "Is it a good sign? A change of heart is already happening to him?" She then asked afterwards.

"As long as he's safe and thinking about his actions, we're on the right path." Asuka replied. "But right now, we only have to wait, Haru-chan. Until the day he finally confesses." She then added.

"Right." Haru replied with a smile. "Ah, that place looks really interesting!" She then stated.

"Hm?" Asuka hummed in interested manner as she turned to see what Haru was looking at. "...W-Why do those mannequins look like clowns...?" She suddenly giggled out, desperately trying to hold back though.

"Is it in season?" Haru soon asked with a raised eyebrow. Also, were those balloons in the chest area...?

"I...I don't know." Asuka responded, allowing herself to laugh a bit too. "L-Let's try somewhere that's doing something a little less experimental like...ah! GAP-Moeh!"

"GAP-Moeh?" Haru innocently repeated after calming down.

"For the girl who wants to shock their peers, breaking out of their usual perceptions to show the world their true self." Asuka explained before pausing. "Erm, that's what my manager, Kokito-san, said when explaining what this brand is." She then added with a blush. She sounded like a walking advertisement for a second there.

"That sounds perfect! Let's go in." Haru happily replied.

"Hai." Asuka responded.

With that, they entered the store. The GAP-Moeh was fairly sized, but the variety of clothing was elaborate. They had something for all sorts of styles and price ranges.

"Wow..." Haru got out in awe as they passed by the racks of clothing, staring at the price tags. "Only three zeros..." She then added.

"...That's 1,250 yen." Asuka pointed out. "There's only one zero in that, Haru-chan." She then informed.

"I-I'm sorry. My mind just ignores all numbers but the first one." Haru got out with a blush. "Oooh, I don't want to sound like a spoiled little rich girl that just throws her money around..." She then confessed in a shameful manner.

"I know who you are, Haru-chan. You're far from spoiled." Asuka responded and reassured. "Maybe a little, um, uniquely sheltered but that's everyone I know..." She soon stated. "I mean you told us you secretly donate money to the homeless as well, so that doesn't make you spoiled at all." She then reminded with a smile.

"But it's way better to volunteer than just give money away..." Haru countered with a hint of sadness. "I want to do more, but I feel like I can't." She soon confessed.

"Hey, we can only try our best with the opportunities we have." Asuka replied.

"...Oh, I'm also gonna have to apologize to any shinobis that might've eaten at Big Bang Burger for their...bust growths too..." Haru then muttered.

"Haru-chan, don't bear the burdens of others, especially when it is outside of your control. And besides, it only happens when we take the Big Burger Challenge. Not with the normal burgers." Asuka replied once more. "Although, I think I can never eat one ever again." She weakly added, already turning pale as she remembered what had transpired only several days ago.

Haru silently nodded, her stomach churning at the thought. Stupid burger cannons...

"I still do want to meet Maki Gasai and apologize to her at least." Haru soon admitted. "She probably suffered so much due to what happened..." She then added.

"You'll get the chance. Maybe even when your father confesses." Asuka assumed and pointed out.

"Maybe..." Haru responded before sighing, feeling as though this was getting depressing now. "Anyways, what do you want to try on, Asu-chan?" She eventually asked.

"Um...I'll let you decide." Asuka replied.

"Oh, okay." Haru stated with an understanding nod before eyeing towards the clothes around the store. "Hmm...let me see..." She then mumbled with a finger on her chin.

After that, Haru began skimming through the various women's clothes and attires across the racks, looking for something that the brunette can fit comfortably on.

"Hmm...here, Asu-chan." Haru decided as she picked out something. "Try to put this on, and let me see what you look like." She soon requested.

"Okay, Haru-chan." Asuka replied as she received the set of clothes Haru picked for her to try on. "Be back for a minute." She then told her before going on ahead to the changing rooms.

Haru however simply tinkered on her phone in the meantime, waiting for one of her new best friends to come out with the outfit she picked for her.

She really hoped it was good enough.

Soon enough, Asuka came out of the changing room wearing a forest green backless, diamond embedded, halter top dress with open-toed, ankle tied and high heels.

"Wow, that dress looks lovely on you, Asu-chan!" Haru praised with stars in her eyes.

"Y-You think so?" Asuka responded in a curious manner.

Haru excitedly nodded to that. "Of course!" She replied. "With your body, it really compliments the entire outfit." She soon complimented. "Green also does suit you best, Asu-chan!" She then added.

"But...it sort of reveals a lot..." Asuka hesitantly pointed out.

"Oh, don't worry." Haru responded. "Showing some skin is great for an attractive girl like you. It is a confidence booster actually." She then innocently informed.

To that, Asuka blinked. "...Really?" She soon asked in a curious manner.

"It is." Haru confirmed with a nod. "Just make sure to be careful around those with lustful intentions, okay?" She then advised.

"Oh, um, I will." Asuka replied with a nod. "Do you want to buy something for yourself, Haru-chan?" She then asked.

"Oh um, me?" Haru asked as she started thinking about it before nodding. "Sure!" She happily replied as the two then giggled.

With that, Haru began skimming through the clothes racks once again to find her own preferred outfit to try on and eventually buy this time. "Hmm..." She hummed out as she continued looking around.

After a short while, something caught the auburnette's eye on one of the racks. "Hm?" She got out before taking a good look at the outfit. "Oooh~ this one's interesting." She then commented as she noticed the outfit.

In the meantime, Asuka was simply gazing at the other outfits and accessories inside the shop while waiting for the heiress to finish before noticing herself in the mirror. "Wow, I really look good." She thought to herself with a smile.

"I suppose you want to wear that during your model gigs with Ann Takamaki?" Kaeru couldn't help but ask.

"Possibly." Asuka answered while shrugging her shoulders.

"Come to think of it...you think there might be a chance that you would wear more revealing outfits as you go through your modeling career?" Kaeru questioned.

"...Maybe?" Asuka had to admit while blushing slightly. "I mean, does Kokito-san even have those in our wardrobes at the agency?" She soon wondered.

"Well, he could buy those kinds of outfits for you and his other models." Kaeru assumed once again. "If your modeling company's higher-ups demanded to have those due to public reception, then it could happen." She then explained, but at that moment...

"Okay, Asu-chan! I'm done!" Haru called out all of a sudden from the changing room before the curtains finally pulled away.

BOING!

When the curtains were pulled away, it finally revealed Haru in a very interesting and revealing outfit. It consists of a black mesh sleeveless shirt that revealed an actual black bra that held her actual H-Cup breasts instead of the custom-made ones and exposed her stomach, a red skirt with a white broken heart on her right hip, black and white striped thigh high socks, and a pair of red converse shoes.

"What do you think, Asu-chan?" Haru innocently asked.

Asuka simply stared at the outfit her friend was wearing. "Wow, that's...quite an outfit, Haru-chan." She had to admit. "How bold of you for wearing it." She soon got out.

Haru however giggled in response. "That was my intention." She revealed, surprising the brunette. "I wanted to fully utilize my true bodily charm since I tend to hide my real body from people all the time." She soon explained.

"I see." Asuka stated with a nod, letting her eyes wander on Haru's revealing outfit. "I notice that your breasts are finally out. And a new actual bra, too." She then added, almost a bit awkwardly.

BOING!

Haru glanced down at H-Cup breasts and gently cupped them with her hands. "Yes, my custom bra is visible when I wear it, so I took them off in order to fully utilize the openness of this outfit and put on an actual bra that can fit my large breasts in." She responded.

"Huh. Okay." Asuka got out with a nod. "In any case, that outfit looks really great on you, Haru-chan!" She soon complimented.

"Thank you, Asu-chan." Haru happily replied. "I was hoping it would really look good on me." She soon confessed.

"Are you going to keep wearing it?" Asuka had to ask.

"Well...it's not like my father is available to scold me..." Haru soon giggled. "And it's not like people don't stare at us anyways." She then pointed out.

"That's true." The Vice Leader sighed as the two then went and changed back into their normal clothes before looking around for some more clothes to try on.

Eventually, the two headed for the register to pay for the dresses they brought.

"Thank you for your purchase." The cashier got out. "Please come again!" She then requested as the two left

"Can't believe we bought these kinds of outfits for the both of us." Asuka couldn't help but say as she held her bags. "It was quite a lot. I wonder how much was all of this..." She then added.

"Oh, your entire ensemble only has four zeros." Haru happily informed.

Asuka meanwhile sweatdropped upon hearing that. "F-Four?" She only got out in concern.

"Hai! Only 70,000 yen total." Haru happily confirmed.

Asuka went silent. "..." Her eyes only widened in disbelief. She was glad she also got a very good paycheck from modeling. "I could've paid for it myself, but...Haru-chan doesn't have to do this..." She awkwardly thought to herself.

"Yeah...maybe she was too generous for her own good." Kaeru responded in agreement and in an equally awkward tone. "Most likely due to her childhood with her wanting to help others like a Good Shinobi would." She then added.

"Probably." Asuka thought in response, though smiled at seeing how happy her friend was.

"Alright then, let's buy some flowers at another boutique this time." Haru then decided.

"Flowers?" Asuka repeated in a curious manner.

"Yes. I need some for my spare vases in my home and in my own room as well." Haru explained. "Fun fact: they're made of bullet and shatter-resistant glass." She then added.

Asuka blinked at that. That seemed overkill...and expensive. "...Just in-" She then started.

"Just in case." Haru finished without needing to hear the rest. "Many...many cases..." She then mumbled as the lights in her eyes dulled.

"...Uh, then we should head to the Underground Mall!" Asuka soon suggested, returning the light to her friend's eyes. "There's a flower shop there that's open. I think Akira-kun works there." She soon added.

"Hm? I thought he worked at Leblanc." Haru got out with a raised eyebrow.

"There too." Asuka confirmed. "And at the beef bowl place on Central Street. And the convenience store. And I think at a bar in Shinjuku." She then added.

"How does he have the time?" Haru couldn't help but wonder out loud.

"I heard they're pretty relaxed with their shifts for part-timers." Asuka responded. "Still, I wonder if he's working at any of them right now..." She soon muttered as they headed for the train station.

(9/29, Evening)

(Shinjuku, Red Light District)

Akira pocketed his recent income from the Crossroads that he took a part-time job at as he left said establishment. "Whew, that was a lot of customers. So many drinks..." He then breathed out.

"You've been working there for quite some time, Akira." Morgana mentioned from the Leader's bag. "I'm surprised. You move quicker than usual while handling that many customers." He then added.

"Can't go wrong with shinobi training as well as Homura and Miyabi working there as well." Akira replied in a mutter, feeling his Proficiency going up as a result. "Though, the smell of liquor kinda threw me off for a bit at the beginning, but it was a clean run." He soon admitted.

"There were also plenty of interesting stories I picked up from there while you were busy." Morgana soon informed.

"Anything for concern?" Akira had to ask.

"No, just some really interesting stories. Wanna hear?" Morgana replied and offered.

"Morgana, we shouldn't be eavesdropping on someone's life if they aren't in danger or a threat." Akira pointed out in a scolding manner...before gaining an interested look. "...That being said, you piqued my interest. What's the best one?" He replied and asked as he shifted his tone.

"Hm, that's pretty hard to determine Joker." Morgana responded. "There was one about a girl and a persimmon..." He soon began to recall, however...

"Ah, I thought that was you, Akira-san." A familiar female voice suddenly spoke up from nearby.

"Hm?" Akira hummed out, turning his head to see a familiar long, white haired girl in pigtails a long sleeved red flannel buttoned shirt, a light blue tank top underneath the shirt with an image of a squid, blue jeans with a belt and alligator shoes. She was also carrying a few paper shopping bags with her.

The Leader couldn't help but swallow a little. The last time he had seen her (well, a messed up robotic version of her), he was using Tsukiyomi Picaro to slice her to bits while her (physically) closest ally screamed in agony...from Serpent tearing off her metal boobs.

God, even thinking about that fight exhausted him.

"Yagyū-san?" Akira soon recalled, hiding his feelings from the flesh-and-blood version of the girl.

"Hai. Good evening." Yagyū responded. "I was just walking around when I spotted you, Akira-san." She soon revealed.

"Um, are you sure about taking a stroll here?" Akira soon asked in a curious manner. "I mean, this is the Red Light District for a reason." He then reminded.

"And why is that?" Yagyū questioned. "Didn't I just see you leave a shady bar earlier?" She then recalled.

"Funny enough, I worked part-time there. And hey, Lala-chan is a respectable lady and runs a legit business. Don't insult her bar like that." Akira replied and stated in a no nonsense tone as if he was reciting it. "Besides, there can be suspicious individuals around. Like hipsters." He then added.

"I assure you, I can take care of myself." Yagyū however reassured him.

"Why are you even here, anyways?" Akira soon asked. "Shibuya's a better place to hang out at, even if you're alone." He then pointed out.

"Well, I'll have you know I was buying gifts for my friends and the only places they sell those gifts are here in Shinjuku." Yagyū responded.

"Like what?" Akira asked in a curious manner.

"Let's see..." Yagyū muttered as she looked down at her bags. "A stationary set for Ikaruga, a water bra for Katsuragi, teddy bear panties for Hibari..." She soon listed off while sorting out her bags.

"W-Water bra? T-Teddy bear panties...?" Akira got out as he and Morgana sweatdropped.

"As you know, Katsuragi is a massive pervert." Yagyū reminded in a deadpan tone. "And her love of breasts is unmatched to the point where she is physically incapable of seeing someone if they possess a bust size lower than a B, so I thought this water bra would help...for other girls." She then explained in detail in the same deadpan tone.

"...So it's not a cover for the front of your vehicle to prevent water from getting into the grill." Akira assumed in a flat tone.

To that, Yagyū just looked at the boy strangely. "...No?" She responded.

"And...Hibari's gift?" Akira soon asked.

"Well, I thought she'd look cute in them." Yagyū admitted with a small blush. "So I bought a 24 pack. Is that enough?" She then revealed and asked.

"...Enough?" Akira repeated. "That...honestly might be a bit too much." He then awkwardly got out.

"Hm...I guess I should've gotten the Yuki Yumi panties..." Yagyū then stated.

That in turn got Akira's attention. "Excuse me, the what?" He gawked out.

"They're higher quality than the Phantom Thieves panties but much more expensive." Yagyū explained in a casual manner.

"Oh, you gotta be kidding me..." Morgana grumbled with a blush.

"Uh, why don't we go somewhere else to talk." Akira soon suggested.

"It better not be that bar you left." Yagyū assumed.

"No, no." Akira responded with a wave of his hand. "We could head to the Cult9 movie theater to sit down at. There aren't exactly any benches nearby." He then suggested.

"Hm, that is acceptable, Akira-san." Yagyū replied with a nod of acceptance before heading off towards the suggested location, with Akira following after her.

Soon enough, they arrived and sat themselves down on an empty plush seat next to each other, right in front of some movie posters depicting films being shown then or in the future. "Huh, The Duhvengers is coming out in a few days." Akira noticed. "You going to be staying long enough to see it with Asuka?" He soon asked.

"I'm not too interested in superhero movies." Yagyū answered. "And I don't think Asuka is either." She then added.

"Well, there's a few other movies you can see." Akira soon suggested as he checked the posters. "Admission Impossible, Back to the Ninja...actually, I should probably ask Futaba if she wants to see that one..." He soon listed off before muttering under his breath.

Honestly, it was going to be super weird to watch that last one when they had the chance.

"Hm...I guess there is one movie I'd wish to see..." Yagyū hummed out and confessed. "I think Hibari would love Soraemon." She soon revealed.

"It's playing right now and it looks like it's going to be rotated out soon." Akira recalled. "How much time do you have left here?" He soon asked.

"Only two more days." The white haired girl soon revealed with a sigh.

"That's not that long." Akira muttered.

"I know." Yagyū responded with a nod. "But the movie will be gone by then." She then added.

"Hey, there'll be another opportunity. And hey, you could always watch Soraemon on Webflix." Akira pointed out.

"...True, but we don't subscribe to such a service." Yagyū replied and revealed.

"Then just pirate it." Akira then bluntly suggested. "It has a profit of a couple trillion yen, two less tickets won't hurt their bottom line." He then explained.

"You probably shouldn't say that in a movie theater." Yagyū soon pointed out. At the edge of her vision, she could see an employee glare at them. "They are disappearing slowly but surely." She soon informed.

"I...guess that's true." Akira hesitantly responded. "Although, didn't I mention Asuka earlier? Don't you want to spend some time with her?" He then recalled and asked.

"Don't get me wrong, I would love to, but..." Yaygū replied before pausing for a moment. "How do I say this? I think I need to spend more time with Hibari." She then added.

"Hm? Is something wrong?" Akira hummed out and asked.

"Well...she made a new friend recently and has been spending less time with...our group over all." Yagyū vaguely responded.

"That's...great to hear, actually." Akira got out. "She was really sad when I talked to her when she was here. I'm sure she'll start hanging out with you guys again soon." He then recalled and reassured.

"It's not just that, I feel like...as if she doesn't want anything to do with me..." Yagyū explained with a worried look on her face before looking down at her shopping bags. "I was hoping these new panties would help." She soon sighed out.

The Phantom Thieves Leader however sweatdropped to that. "You know, Yagyū-san, are you fine with speaking those things with me? The water bra, panties and breasts and all?" Akira soon asked in concern. "I mean, it's not normally something a girl talks about aloud when guys are around." He then pointed out.

Yagyū pondered on that statement. "Now that you mention it...hmm, those topics are quite inappropriate for a young guy like you to hear. Ikaruga might call me out for that if she was here." She then stated.

"She might, yeah." Akira responded.

Yagyū then looked at him with slightly narrowed eyes. "...Can I trust you, Kurusu-san, to hear about those kinds of topics?" She soon asked.

"Um...even though it sounded quite sensitive to the point of sounding entirely lewd?" Akira deadpanned.

"Yes. And don't attempt to get any inappropriate ideas." Yagyū responded and instructed.

Akira simply sighed. "Of course." He replied with a nod. "If it makes you feel any better, I'll keep these kinds of conversations private and not let anyone know about it." He then offered.

Yagyū narrowed her uncovered eye a bit to the young boy. "You're...surprisingly honest..." She soon stated. "Still, the fact that you say that so casually in a blunt kind of way..." She then started.

Akira in turn sighed in response. "I'm having quite a rough life, Yagyū-san, and pretty much the majority of it is more on the perverted side of things." He soon stated.

Yagyū stared at him once again, trying to comprehend what he just said to her. "...Perverted side of things? Is there something I should know about, Kurusu-san?" She soon stated and asked in a somewhat serious tone.

"I'm friends with Asuka." Akira simply reminded.

"Ah, I see." Yagyū responded in an understanding manner. "Wait...how does being friends with Asuka have something to do with perversion and such? Did something happen between you and her?" She then pointed out and asked.

"Well, Asuka does have a tendency of being in situations that somehow expose her skin at times." Akira replied, calling the time they had hotpot together, and the beach as well.

"...True." Yagyū had to admit, remembering the times her leader had been into such situations.

"Also, I'm still a young guy with urges, Yagyū-san. And since I already have exposure to these levels of lewdness on a somewhat regular basis, I've been practicing self-control pretty much everyday." Akira deadpanned the confession.

"...That's weirdly reassuring." Yagyū got out, eyeing the boy for a bit. "But huh...didn't think you were that understanding when it comes to...lewdness of any kind." She then added.

"You think I'm disgusting, don't you?" Akira soon assumed in a blunt manner.

"Possibly, and I would've despised you for being so blunt about it." Yagyū responded. "But...you seem different from other usual men here, and I don't know why." She then confessed.

"I can assure you I'm well-behaved when it comes to lewd or perverted situations." Akira responded. "Are you gonna hurt or punish me if I did something lewd to you by accident? Like...accidentally seeing you naked?" He then assumed.

This time, Yagyū somehow glared at him for a bit. "...Depends on your intentions. And I don't really tolerate excuses." She soon stated in a serious tone.

"Okay, okay, I get it." Akira sighed out. "But you know, after a while, you get used to seeing people naked. Sure, there's a time and place for it, but at the end of the day, it's just a human body. You see one, you've seen them all." He then revealed casually.

Yagyū in turn blinked upon hearing that. "...Your way of thinking is very unusual for a young boy like you." She had to admit.

"To put it bluntly, I won't be like Katsuragi-san or any other guy with their sexual urges taking over." Akira simplified. "And I'm pretty sure you're gonna scream like heck and beat me up to a pulp if you accidentally saw me naked instead." He then added.

Yagyū's body suddenly tensed a bit. "How very blunt of you. And really disgusting." She then replied in an uneasy tone. "Also...it seems to me that you have seen female nudity on a regular basis." She then added.

"Magic of the internet." Akira automatically stated. Now that he mentioned it, he hadn't done that since before coming to Tokyo, but like hell he was gonna admit it was mostly because of the Metaverse...and shinobi activity in general.

"Yes...I guess that is an...option." Yagyū couldn't help but say. She did hear about young boys using the Internet to search for sexual pleasure. "Even so, watching those kinds of things on the Internet is very...immodest, even for you." She then noted.

"Well, I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm not as pure as the driven snow, I'm still a teenager going through puberty, and I find a lot of people attractive, but at least I know where my line is drawn." Akira casually agreed and noted as well with a sigh. "It's not like I want to seek approval from literally every single person." He then added.

Yagyū had to admit: he did not expect one of her leader's male friends to be this blunt and honest. "Hmph..." She grunted. "Well...you have been friends with Asuka and have trusted you as a friend for quite a few months now, and...frankly, you seem to tolerate the nude female form from what I have heard from our conversation together right now, so...I guess I can safely associate with you despite your...eccentricities, so to speak." She eventually stated.

"Thank you, Yagyū-san." Akira responded with a nod. "Better to have a backbone than nothing at all, right?" He then added.

"If you say so. I suppose I can appreciate it at the very least, Kurusu-san." Yagyū responded. At least the young man seemed like he knew what he was doing and thought ahead before doing something.

"Anyway, let's talk about something else." Akira soon decided. "Hmmm...you seem to be extremely close towards Hibari-san. Any reason why?" He hummed and pointed out followed by the question in a curious manner.

"I'm not answering that." Yagyū answered right away in an almost monotonous tone.

"Oh. I guess it's personal then. Alright, I won't pry anymore if it makes you feel better." Akira got out in response.

"Good. Thank you." Yagyū breathed out, looking a little relieved.

"Is there anything else you wish to talk about?" Akira soon assumed.

"Hmm...seeing as you already witnessed Asuka-san's...habits, what are your thoughts about Katsuragi-san's lewdness?"

"That they can get out of hand if not tamed, from the way I see it." Akira bluntly answered. "She really has a knack for getting lewd and handsy with girls, most especially those with big boobs." He then added.

"You really are surprisingly honest and very blunt for a young guy." Yagyū had to confess. "Anyways, yes, she can get too excited. Especially with the groping." She soon stated. "Is Makoto-san doing okay? After what Katsuragi did to her, I can only assume she's still dealing with the...consequences." She then asked.

"She's been...adjusting..." Akira awkwardly informed. "I mean, her bust did go up a few cup sizes according to her." He then added.

Yagyū simply sighed at that revelation. "I see. I suppose I can give her some advice of my own the next time I see her." She soon responded.

"I'm sure she would appreciate it." Akira responded with a smile. "Also, I guess when it comes to lewdness and perversion, there is no gender barrier to it. In other words, anyone can be perverted, be it male or female." He then stated and then concluded.

"That is undoubtedly true." The white-haired girl stated in agreement. "Though men tend to give in to lust more often." Yagyū then added.

"I can't deny that." Akira sighed out as he scratched his head. "Trust me, self-control is almost like an everyday challenge for me." He then stated.

"I can see that." Yagyū confirmed with a nod. "If only someone like Katsuragi could have that kind of control." She soon got out. "...Like when she was around your friend, Ryuji-san, during that time at the beach." She then added.

"Around Ryuji?" Akira repeated. "Are you saying that...you noticed Katsuragi behaving differently when Ryuji was with her?" He then assumed.

"It was just a wild guess, but...I don't know." Yagyū simply replied, sounding a bit unsure about it.

"Well, the way I see it...when it comes to Katsuragi-san, you don't know what to expect from her aside from her perverted nature." Akira got out.

"At least life is never boring around her." Yagyū admitted.

"I can see that." Akira agreed with a nod.

"And how is life for you here in Tokyo?" Yagyū soon asked.

"Uh...pretty boring." Akira answered, feeling himself sweat a little. "No, I mean, like...mundane. Yeah, that's the word I'm looking for." He then corrected.

"Mundane? Even with the Phantom Thieves appearing at your school? After your supposed whole rant on that variety show?" The white haired girl soon questioned in a somewhat incredulous manner.

"I was hoping people forgot about that..." Akira murmured under his breath. "Well, um, yeah. Uh...I don't really have anything to say about that." He soon mumbled out.

"You are quite the passionate person back there at that show, from the looks of it." Yagyu couldn't help but say to the young man.

"I admit that I am sort of am. But that's what gets me in trouble in the first place." Akira explained to her. "I'll probably do it more in the near future." He then casually stated, almost like he was starting to jinx it.

"That doesn't sound like someone who lives a mundane life." Yagyū couldn't help but say.

"Ah, you shouldn't worry about it." Akira quickly waved off. "I just want other people to be happy, nothing more." He then admitted right away.

"Fighting to protect the smiles of others...I can respect that, at the very least." Yagyū had to say with a nod "I, for one, aim to protect the smile of one person at all times." She then admitted.

"Let me guess, it's Hibari." Akira assumed.

"Hai." Yagyū replied.

"Any reason why?" The Leader couldn't help but ask.

"..." Yagyū instantly frowned at that, looking away from the boy and down at the floor.

"O-Oh, maybe I'm overstepping my boundaries here..." Akira soon got out in an apologetic tone.

Yagyū pondered her thoughts once again for a moment. "...I had a younger sister." She absentmindedly got out after a while.

"Huh?" Akira turned to her.

"My younger sister, Nozomi..." Yagyū trailed off with a slightly saddened tone.

"Your...sister?" Akira repeated with a raised eyebrow. "Wait, had?" He then repeated in concern.

"She...passed away from a car accident two years ago." Yagyū slowly revealed, her body shivering in an uneasy manner.

"Ah, my condolences." Akira responded with a wince.

"Thank you." Yagyū replied. "When I first arrived at Hanzō Academy, I met Hibari. She just looked...so similar to Nozomi that I thought she had returned from the dead. Soon after, we became friends and well...the rest is history." She soon revealed in a nostalgic tone.

"So, you see Hibari-san like a sister you must protect." Akira then concluded. "Like how Homura is to Asuka." He thought to himself.

Yagyō however shook her head to that. "It's more than that, actually, Kurusu-san. It's just that...I wasn't able to protect Nozomi in her time of need when I saw the accident happen...and I can't let that happen ever again. Hibari...is my second chance, my redemption of my failure." She soon responded.

"I see..." Akira responded, feeling sympathetic to the eyepatch wearing girl.

"I'm glad you understand." Yagyū responded. "My parents though..." She then started.

"Oh no..." Akira mentally got out in concern. "What is it?" He soon asked.

"They told me...to move on." Yagyū hesitantly revealed. "To continue my life as if she never existed. They even got rid of every photo of her there was!" She then revealed, her tone rising in anger.

"...They did that?" Akira whispered with a frown.

In response, the white haired girl nodded. "Yes. And...it was working." Yagyū responded and revealed. "I was beginning to forget the image of my little sister's face. I couldn't bear such a thing." She soon revealed in a fear-filled and saddened manner. "So, that is why I wear this eyepatch. Crafted from her last gift to me, her ribbon, I shall go through my entire life with this reminder to ensure she is never forgotten." She then concluded.

Akira looked at Yagyū with widened eyes. He...honestly didn't expect such a story from her. However, he soon felt concern begin to well up inside him. He could feel there was a problem here and he couldn't help himself.

"You're willing to half-blind yourself just so you won't forget..." Akira muttered with a frown. "If that's the case, your bond isn't that strong." He then bluntly stated.

Yagyū whirled her head and glared at the frizzy-haired Shujin student. "What did you say?" She then asked in a somehow seething voice.

The Leader instantly cursed himself. Way to go, idiot. "Sorry but...I just find it a little ridiculous." Akira got out in an apologetic manner. "I'll respect you for your personal reasons but...at some point you'll have to move on." He soon explained.

Yagyū looked at him for a moment to process his reasons...before eventually calming down for a bit with a small sigh. "So you want me to obey my family's words and slowly forget about Nozomi, is that it?" Yagyū however accused.

"No, I don't. You'll never forget her." Akira got out as he shook his head. "People deal with grief in a lot of ways, but at some point they have to let go and live out their lives, or else they never grow. You can't keep yourself locked in the past." He then explained, watching a girl with red hair in a ponytail pass by them.

"But...if I simply let go..." Yagyū whimpered.

"I'm not telling you to let go, I'm telling you to stop crushing it. Her memory, her legacy...it's up to you to make sure no one ever forgets her." Akira stated. "You just don't need an eyepatch to make sure you don't." He then added.

However, all he got in response was a glare from the white haired girl. "H-He can't be serious." Yagyū thought with a frown. "How could he say such things so easily!? He knows nothing!" She then continued in the same tone in her head. She could also feel her teeth starting to grit in her mouth without showing it.

He was wrong, there wasn't any doubt about this! She'll never let go of Nozomi! She'll never let another loved one die on her watch! She'll never let Nozomi out of her sight again, for as long as she lived-

Yagyū froze.

"Whoa, hey, Yagyū-san. I didn't mean to offend or anything, I'm just..." Akira suddenly tried to assure her as he noticed the glare. "I-I'm sorry, I'm getting too nosy for my own good." He soon got out. However, he soon noticed that Yagyū wasn't blinking. "Huh?"

"I...I..." Yagyū tried to say something, only for her legs to collapse underneath her.

Akira jumped a bit by the action before instinctively attempting to help her up. "Whoa!" He got out as he did so. "You okay?" He soon asked.

"I...I...I'm fine." Yagyū struggled out.

"Do you need anything?" Akira soon offered.

"No...I...I..." Yagyū hesitantly responded. "I just...realized something about myself." She shamefully confessed.

"Huh?" Akira got out in confusion before coming to the realization. "O-Okay." He then decided.

"You're...not going to ask?" Yagyū assumed.

"Didn't I just say I was being too nosy for my own good?" Akira reminded.

"Well...yes, you were, but..." Yagyū began before pausing. "Akira, have you ever...tried to fill a void with something else?" She then suddenly asked.

Akira...looked rather uncomfortable at that question. "Uh, yeah." He got out, resisting the urge to look away.

"And...would it be wrong to fill it with someone else?" Yagyū hesitantly asked.

"...No, not at all." Akira eventually responded. "We all need the friends we make and family we find to help us through tough times. That's what being human entails." He soon stated.

"...You're unusually wise for a young boy your age." Yagyū couldn't help but say as she noticed it.

"A lot has happened to me in the past months, so...pretty much I have some time to myself." Akira explained his reasons to her. "So, uh, if there's nothing wrong and you don't wanna talk about it anymore, let's talk about something else then."

"...Nozomi..." Yagyū soon mumbled out, resisting the urge to sob as her body began shivering.

"Hm?" Akira hummed as he heard that.

"Nozomi." Yagyū repeated with a clear voice this time, though there was a hint of slight gloom to her tone.

"O-Oh, you still want to talk about her?" Akira offered.

"Yes..." Yagyū sadly responded. "And...I think I really am crushing her memory..." She soon confessed.

"Y-Yagyū..." Akira got out with widened eyes as he placed a hand on the girl's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her...just as she then hugged him, leading him to rub the back of her head.

RANK UP!

COINS RANK 3!

Soon though, the white haired girl blushed as she ended the hug. "M-My apologies, Kurusu-san." Yagyū muttered in an awkward manner.

"It's not a problem." Akira reassured. "You sort of get used to it after a while..." He mentally added.

"...Now that I think about it, you're the first person I actually talked about my sister and my past." Yagyū couldn't help but stated. "...Did you do something to me?" She then asked.

"Do what exactly?" Akira questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"You made me talk about my past." Yagyū responded. "I...I've never talked about it to anyone. Not even Hibari." She then revealed.

"...I didn't do anything really." Akira awkwardly responded.

The young girl simply stared at him, as if there was something quite strange about this particular young man. "Well, even if you don't know what you did, I'm thankful all the same." She then got out with a bow.

"Well, you're welcome, Yagyū." Akira responded back with a nod. "Still though, your parents are dicks for telling you to just move on and forget your sister." He bluntly confessed.

In response, Yagyū sighed. "Maybe I...over-exaggerated their words." She responded and awkwardly admitted. "Like you said, people deal with grief differently. I guess that was their way...even if it was still terrible." She soon muttered.

"Yeah, adults aren't exactly the smartest people." Akira grumbled. "Well, some of them, at least. Some are too smart for their own good..." He then muttered under his breath.

"Hm?" Yagyu got out, eyebrows raised at the boy's quiet mumblings and pissed-off expression.

The Leader flinched, stopping his mumblings as he tried to make up a good excuse. "Ah, just...um...remembering some of the people I have encountered while being here in Tokyo." Akira tried to laugh off.

"You don't have any positive adult figures in your life?" Yagyū guessed with a serious look on her face.

"Oh, I do. Definitely." Akira quickly assured. "It's just that all the others have too much time and power..." He then got out with a scowl.

Yagyū smirked. "Hmph. No wonder you made that speech against Akechi." She then got out.

"Stop reminding me of that." Akira groaned as he covered his face. "I'll have you know, it actually did get me in trouble." He soon admitted.

"It also had words that resonated with so many people. Maybe not to the level or spread of the Phantom Thieves themselves, but...you shouldn't be ashamed of that." Yagyū added with a smile. "Maybe starting your own rebellion is impossible...but it doesn't mean you can't fight back."

"Well...it's not like it would happen right away like a miracle." Akira however noted. "But if enough people try, then that's a rebellion." He then stated.

"Hm, quite." Yagyū agreed with a nod.

"Rome wasn't built in a day." Akira breathed out.

"True. Though to let you know, Akira-san." Yagyū suddenly started, catching the boy's attention once again. "My eyepatch is for more than just remembering Nozomi." She then informed.

"...Oh?" Akira got out, suddenly feeling bad about this.

"It is best if you don't dwell on it too much." Yagyū immediately informed him. "For your sake." She then added.

"Um, okay then." Akira only got out before noticing the young girl's tone and expression. She sounded like...she was being serious there.

Then...he had an idea. This might be a good opportunity to use that.

While she was not looking at him (when some random guy tried to secretly snatch Yagyu's shopping bags from her hands), Akira secretly used Third Eye on her and noticed something. "...what the hell?..." He thought in disbelief while sweating a little as he saw a very powerful red aura seeping through the white-haired girl's eyepatch. "...She is a shinobi, alright." He then muttered softly.

"Is something wrong?" Yagyū soon asked as the perv walked with a broken hand and fractured pelvis.

"Ah...nothing. Just...I'm gonna go home now. You should too." Akira responded and decided followed by the suggestion. "Also, that guy really took the chance, huh?" He then added, talking about the one who tried to steal her present for Hibari.

"Yes. It was very idiotic of him to attempt such a thing." Yagyū simply stated with a closed eye.

"Anyway, it's getting late. I think the both of us should go home, Yagyū-san." He soon reminded.

"It is getting late." Yagyū responded in agreement. "Do you wish to talk more when we have the chance?" She soon suggested.

"Sure. What's your IM?" Akira asked.

Yagyū frowned as she remembered the rule of exchanging contacts with civilians. "My IM? Hmm..." She repeated and hummed out.

"I mean, I have Hibari's and Ikaruga's IMs already." Akira soon revealed.

"Oh, is that so?" Yagyū got out in a curious manner. "Well, I guess I can trust you with my contact information. Give me your phone, please." She replied and requested.

"Well, do you mind giving me yours then?" Akira asked as he gave his phone to her.

Yagyū nodded as she handed the boy her phone as well, typing a bit on it before offering it back. "Here." She got out as the boy took his phone back.

["SquidProdigy" has been added to your contacts.]

"SquidProdigy." Akira read the username aloud. "Squids, huh?" He then asked in a somehow curious tone.

"I like eating the dried ones." Yagyū however informed him. "But yes, I favor the underwater animal a lot." She then added.

"Hey, I'm not making fun of you because of it." Akira stated.

"I know. Your tone doesn't sound like it." Yagyū responded. "Although, why TheWildJ0ker?" She soon asked.

"I've...had that username since I was 10. Sue me." Akira shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. He was also...not even slightly sure if that was a lie in itself or not.

Yagyū couldn't help but laugh a little. "You went on about letting go to move forward, and yet you still use a name you made up as a child." She pointed out.

"Hey, it still sounds cool to me!" Akira countered.

"Alright, alright, I won't judge further." Yagyū responded.

"Well, now that you're in good spirits, it is time for me to go, Yagyū." Akira noted with a smile. "See you around." He then added.

"See you as well, Kurusu-san." Yagyū responded. "Stay safe going home." She then advised before heading out.

Akira was now far enough from the place she last saw the white-haired girl, subtly blending into the crowd as he went on his way home.

"...You can say it, Morgana." Akira sighed as he noticed the faux feline.

Morgana chuckled. "Nah. I think this situation doesn't deserve such a thing." He soon stated.

"Oh really?" Akira simply got out. "I was hoping you would describe it as such." He then admitted.

"I figured I'll give you a break from that particular word for now." Morgana replied before smiling. "Plus, it was a good thing you told Yagyū what she needed to hear." He then added in approval.

"Yeah...you're right. I think she deserves to hear that." Akira responded with a nod in agreement. "And again, her parents were jerks telling her to forget like that." He then added with a shake of his head.

"I just hope you don't get too involved with the pasts of other people." Morgana however got out. "Knowing too much all at the same time can be quite a problem." He then warned.

"You have a point there." Akira admitted in agreement. "You know, I kinda want something to eat. We still have time before we go home?" He then revealed and asked.

"I think so." Morgana responded. "Let's go to Central Street now if you wanna eat something." He then decided as the Leader headed out.

(Shibuya, Station Square)

Meanwhile, the tan skinned girl was sitting down at a bench on her phone. "I see, so you know about this meeting too, Yumi-senpai." Homura confirmed.

"Hai, I was actually wondering why Shujin hadn't come to any of the past school meetings, but at least I know why now." Yumi responded before sighing. "Kobayakawa really was a detriment to the school..." She then had to admit.

"You don't know the half of it..." Homura groaned out with a face palm. "At least you have a decent principal there at Kosei." She then added with a hint of envy in her voice.

"I guess you could say that." Yumi agreed from her end. "Although, I'm sure the Vice Principal will be doing his best until they hire a new one." She then added.

"Well, I haven't been forced to talk to him so far, so he's already 100% better in my book." Homura mumbled before letting out a sigh. "Why did it have to be this way though? Out of all the people in the fucking world, he's involved in some bullshit conspiracy..." She then grumbled while clenching her fist.

"One problem at a time, Homura-san." Yumi responded. "We can't control the actions of every single person in the world. This is simply a setback. Once Okumura has completed his change of heart, we will go after them." She soon stated and reminded.

"Yeah. I still need to pay Black Mask back for his shitty interruption." Homura sighed.

"Get in line. I'm sure Miyabi-san wants a piece of him first." Yumi soon pointed out. The tan skinned girl meanwhile couldn't help but have the feeling that the light gray haired girl herself sounded eager to tear Black Mask a new one. "Ah, my informant just walked in. I have to go now." She soon informed.

"Alright. See you later, senpai." Homura responded as she soon hung up.

Homura soon leaned back on the concrete seat near the well-known stone dog statue. She was having quite a day after her bonding time with Ichiko.

"Glad things with Ichiko-san are now settled for the time being." She stated to herself in relief.

After looking around and making sure no one was noticing her, she swiftly took something from between her big breasts.

It was a simple packed wafer snack that she bought from a nearby vending machine.

She opened it and ate the wafers inside it right away since she only wanted something to eat for a bit.

"...I wonder what's going on with Okumura right now." Homura soon thought as their recent target came to mind. "I hope Haru-senpai's checking on him. He...He's not going to die...right?" She then added in her head.

"Homura-san?" A feminine voice called out all of a sudden.

Homura prompted herself to turn to where the voice was, and noticed a familiar face approaching her. "Oh, Yui. What's up?" She responded.

"I just happened to see you and wanted to say hi." Yui simply responded.

"Oh, okay." Homura nodded to that. "What were you doing here in Shibuya?" She soon asked.

"Well, I was doing some shopping in Central Street before returning home." Yui answered.

"Huh, okay. If you don't mind me asking, what did you buy?" Homura then asked in a curious manner.

"A new lampstand for my brother's study desk." Yui revealed. "It suddenly broke yesterday while he was studying." She then explained.

In turn, the tan skinned girl blinked. "You have a brother, Yui?" Homura had to ask with a raised eyebrow. "And you're telling that to me now?" She then added.

Yui blinked when she heard the question. "Y-Yeah...I haven't told you I have an older brother, have I?" She replied and realized.

"Well I wouldn't be asking you this in the first place, Yui!" Homura pointed out.

"Right..." Yui awkwardly got out. "Sorry, it's just... I've been busy the last couple months ever since I enrolled in Shujin. And maybe I haven't mentioned him to you guys in our club room yet." She then started admitting, but before she could continue...

"Homura-chan!" A bubbly voice suddenly called out.

The tan-skinned girl glanced and saw three familiar faces approaching her. The pink-haired girl was running while the other two with her were simply walking.

"Ah, Rito-san, Lala-san, Haruna-san." Homura got out with a smile. "It's been a while since Hawaii." She then added.

"Hai, it has." Haruna politely replied with a smile.

"Hey, Homura-chan. I wanted to show you something." Lala suddenly revealed, getting the tan skinned girl's attention. "See this gun? It worked wonders! You should try to see how it works." She then added rather proudly.

"...A toy gun?" Homura got out with a raised eyebrow.

"Not just any gun. I call him Koro Koro Danjo-Kyun!" Lala proudly revealed.

"That's...quite a name for a weird-looking gun." Homura had to say. "Easily changeable? Male and female?" She then stated in her head, understanding its literal translation.

"...Lala-chan, why did you bring one of your weird contraptions with you?" Yui however exasperatedly asked.

"Whoa, Lala-chan!" Rito called out in worry, noticing the familiar gun. "Put that thing awa- gah!" He then tried to call, only to be cut off by something that happened to him like usual.

"Rito-kun!" Haruna panickily got out in worry.

Rito, like his usual, tripped onto nothing all of a sudden as he approached the tan-skinned girl and began stumbling towards her.

However, Homura simply sidestepped right away just as the boy stumbled past her before snatching the back of his shirt, preventing the boy from falling over completely.

"...You really have to work on that tripping thing." Homura sighed out as she held the back of the boy's uniform as she straightened him out.

"S-Sorry..." Rito awkwardly apologized in shame.

"Seriously. What's going on with your feet?" Homura sighed and questioned. "Akira mentioned you had some very unique conditions, but jeez." She then recalled and breathed out.

"S-Sorry, sorry!" Rito somehow shrieked his apology as he panicked a bit.

"Alright, enough, Rito-san." Homura told him off in assurance. "You apologized too much." She then added.

Rito only tensed in response while feeling slight shame at that comment.

"Anyway, what's with that gun, Lala-san?" Homura soon asked.

"Oh, it's something that I've invented a long time ago." Lala replied. "Anyways, what brings you here, Homura?"

"I...live in the area." Homura answered with a shrug. "Did you really just come all the way here to show me your weird guns?" She then assumed.

"Well, it's not just this." Lala began before grinning proudly. "I have a lot of cool inventions that don't look like this gun, and I'm proud of making them!" She soon revealed.

"L-Lala, that's probably not a good idea..." Rito got out in a nervous manner.

"Can you put that gun away, Lala-chan, please?" Haruna politely asked, remembering how the gun works.

"Yeah, you shouldn't really wave a gun around like that, even if it does look like a toy." Homura pointed out.

"Awww...but I still wanna show you how it works, Homura-chan!" Lala responded in a whiny manner.

Rito and Haruna immediately panicked at that statement.

"L-L-Lala, don't show her how that gun works!" Rito called out in worry. "We're in public!" He then reminded.

Homura however looked at the two with slightly narrowed eyes. She thought there was something going on with these three that they haven't revealed to her yet.

...But then again, she was on the same boat as well. The weirdness, the lewdness, the danger, pretty much everything she has experienced up to now the moment she enrolled in Hebijo and arrived in Tokyo.

"You know what, you don't have to show me how it works right now." Homura finally started with a wave of her hand, earning a look from the pinkette. "We can do it at a later time when I'm free if that is okay." She then assured her as well. "...Yeah, I'd rather not know how it works." She then added in her head this time, already preparing the excuses needed to push it back until she was already gone.

...Besides, she still has to figure out how the pinkette's tail works, noticing it moving like the real thing for quite a while from the start.

"Okay. We'll save the demonstration for another time." Lala sighed in a sad manner as she put away her gun.

Rito and Haruna however sighed in relief.

Meanwhile, Yui had been off to the side at a safe distance, letting out a breath as she walked back to the group. "Lala-san, you really need to learn that there's a time and place for everything, and right near the sacred statue of a beloved Japanese legend is likely a bad place."

"Hm?" Lala hummed out before turning to see the statue. "...Oh wow, what a cute doggie~!" She suddenly exclaimed.

Everyone face-faulted at that. "She never noticed...!?" They all mentally exclaimed.

"Yes. He is." Homura deadpanned as she got off the ground. "Do you guys not know the Hachiko legend?"

"Hm?" The others simply hummed in response.

"I'll take that as a no." Homura sighed.

"I'll take it from here." Yui spoke up as she stepped forward. "The statue was made to commemorate a dog who waited for his owner to return every day, not knowing that he never would. He kept going until he died." She then explained.

"O-Oh..." Haruna got out. "That's so sweet and sad..." She then had to confess.

"It is." Homura agreed with a wistful smile before remembering something from one of her classes. "Uh...if Nana doesn't already know, she probably shouldn't be told about this." She then added.

"Eh? Why?" Lala only got out.

"Well...after the dog died, they taxidermied his pelt and it is currently on display in some museum." Homura informed, causing Lala, Yui and Haruna to gasp in horror. Meanwhile, Rito simply choked. "...You didn't know that?"

"NO!" Everyone else called out.

"Why do you know that!?" Haruna screamed.

"We learned that from class, though." Homura sheepishly revealed. "Ushimaru-sensei, our Social Studies teacher. Mishima literally cried in the middle of the class when he learned that." She then added.

"That's...completely and utterly-" Yui got out, however...

"Shameless?" Rito guessed.

Yui froze for a second. "I was going to say cruel and unnecessary, but...I don't have any other words for this." The disciplinary member muttered. Even a cat lover like her couldn't stand such a thing.

The tan skinned girl decided maybe it was time to change the subject. "Speaking of Nana-san, is she still beating you up lately, Rito?" Homura assumed once again.

"Huh? Oh, Nana-san...um...uh...y-yeah..." Rito awkwardly replied. "It's been less, but old habits die hard, I think." He sheepishly added.

"And let me guess, she hasn't apologized to you yet?" Homura soon assumed.

"I...I don't know." Rito hesitantly responded. "A lot has happened to me in the past weeks." He then vaguely added.

"Seeing naked girls and groping them by accident? As well as the beatdowns?" Homura guessed once again with crossed arms under her breasts.

That made Yui and Haruna freeze in disbelief while staring at the tan-skinned girl.

Rito also immediately froze while blushing. "Wha-? Um...uh...n-no, I " He then stammered.

"I don't mind talking about it, Rito-san. I won't despise you for it." Homura soon stated. "You can tell me. Honest." She then reassured.

"D-Don't you think that's shameless to talk about, Homura-san?" Yui had to point out to her while having a slightly crossed expression.

"At this point...I've been through worse, so it's no problem." Homura simply responded.

"Eh?" Yui only got out from hearing that response. "W-Worse?" She then repeated in concern.

"It's...best you don't know." Homura responded. "Let's just say I have been in troubling situations before too." She vaguely revealed.

Upon hearing that, Yui could only look at her fellow committee member in wary disbelief.

"Sooooo...is Momo-san still trying to-" Homura however suddenly asked with a sweatdrop, attempting to change the subject.

Yui snapped out of her disbelief as she heard the tan-skinned girl asking her a question once again. "H-Hai..." She soon sighed out. "She never stops. She just came to our school and waited near the gates until we all got dismissed from classes." She soon revealed.

"Oh, did she now." Homura responded in a curious manner.

"...Eh?" Rito only got out from hearing that.

"I can't even imagine what's going on in that girl's head." Yui couldn't help but say.

"I mean, does anyone take her seriously with that harem plan of hers?" Homura soon asked.

"I doubt any regular girl would join." Yui replied as she sighed with crossed arms.

"!?" Rito and Haruna's eyes meanwhile widened to that.

"Y-You know!?" Rito exclaimed in a panic.

"Yeah, sorry." Homura responded. "And if she tries to ask me to join, I'll just decline her right away." She soon stated as she looked at the boy. "Rito, I think what you need is friends, not just girlfriends." She eventually suggested.

"Eh? W-What do you mean, Homura-san?" Rito tried to ask as he heard that.

"Huh?" Lala meanwhile got out with a head tilt.

Homura made a pondered look for a moment. "Hmm...well, Rito, you see, I know you have a lot of people who pretty much interacted with you on a daily basis, mostly girls, but...I want you to understand that having positive genuine connections with the people you interact with is just as important as having multiple girls who have an eye on you." She began explaining.

Yui, Lala, and Rito simply stared at her, hearing the words that came out from the tan-skinned girl's mouth.

"But...that's just what I think." Homura sheepishly confessed. "It's up to you if you take that advice or not." She then added.

"Oh, um, yeah, I'll...take your advice then, Homura-san." Rito eventually replied.

"Hmmm..." Lala hummed as she focused her gaze towards the tan-skinned girl.

"Lala, are you using some sort of contact lens or something on me." Homura soon asked.

"...Ah, I'd never ask anyways." Lala stated as she waved her off.

"Huh?" Homura responded in confusion. "W-Wait, what did you just do?" She then started to ask while starting to feel a bit unnerved by it.

"Nothing. I just know these things." Lala vaguely and playfully responded.

"Know what?" Rito had to ask.

"That you already found the person you'd spend your life with." Lala replied.

"What!?" Rito soon exclaimed.

"W-Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey, Lala-san, I am not-" Homura quickly began to deny as she waved her hands in front of her face.

"You can't hide it from me." Lala got out as she shook her head. "You don't have to worry about it, okay?" She then reassured.

"I'm not worrying about that! I'm worrying about what you're thinking!" Homura exclaimed.

"Lala, you really shouldn't mess with Homura-san like that." Rito scolded with a frown.

"Utterly shameless." Yui sighed as she shook her head. Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket, causing her eyes to widen. "Oh, I need to go home now. I can't be late for dinner. I'll see you all later." She then got out.

"Okay, I'll see you at school tomorrow, Yui." Homura replied with a smile.

"Hai." Yui responded before beginning to walk away. "Bye everyone! And don't do anything shameless!" She then added and advised as she briskly walked away from the group and into the crowd.

Homura gazed at her fellow disciplinary committee member leaving. "...If I have a yen for every time I hear Yui saying shameless, I'd soon be a rich woman..." She then suddenly stated in a joking manner.

"She said it all the time in Sainan too..." Rito muttered.

Homura simply nodded in response. "Then she must have been a troubled girl back then." She then thought in her head.

Homura had a lot to know about Yui's friends, and she wasn't sure if she was going to look forward to it. However, at the end of the day, she knew that whatever they were dealing with...it probably isn't as insane the stuff the Phantom Thieves go through on a daily basis.

(Central Street)

Meanwhile, in another area of Shibuya, Akira and Morgana were slowly walking through Central Street with the former holding a freshly made crepe filled with chocolate-flavored fillings and toppings.

"Mmm, so good." Akira mumbled as he took a bite of his crepe.

"Couldn't go wrong with chocolate, huh, Akira." Morgana couldn't help but comment.

"Yep." Akira replied. "Want one, Morgana?" He soon offered, gesturing his newly ordered crepe to the not cat.

"Just chip off a part of it with your hand and give it to me." Morgana advised him. "Don't wanna bite it directly for you." He then added.

"Ah, right. Don't want to add a fishy taste to the crepe." Akira jokingly remarked before doing so.

"Shut up, Akira." Morgana rolled his eyes before eating the crepe piece. "I brush my teeth." He then revealed after swallowing it.

Akira suddenly glanced at the not cat with a stare. "...You brush your teeth? Really?" He then repeated.

"Yeah. Well, you haven't seen how I did it, right?" Morgana responded. "Cats need their owners to maintain their dental health, but I can do it without thumbs!" He then stated.

Akira meanwhile pondered at what the faux feline just said. "...Should I feel a little bad?" He had to ask.

"What? It proves that I'm more human, right?" Morgana soon questioned.

"Human or not, you're cat-shaped and cat-like. I should be taking my responsibilities more seriously..." Akira bluntly responded.

"You are. I'm just a cut above any other pet...not that I am one. This is a temporary set-up!" Morgana replied and reminded.

"Right, right." Akira responded while waving it off. "I'll take you out for the best damn sushi once you are." He then offered.

"Y-You don't have to. Just some nice fatty tuna will suffice. Or you could go for the A5 grade steak, I don't mind." Morgana replied and requested.

"Don't go too far." Akira deadpanned. "Besides, you deserve something reasonably nice. I can't imagine turning into a car and forgetting everything." He then admitted.

"Hey, it's not so bad." Morgana however reassured him. "I met you, after all." He then reminded.

"...That's pretty sappy, man." Akira couldn't help but comment.

"Oh, it's not like you've said equally sappy crap." Morgana scoffed as he rolled his eyes.

"True." Akira nodded. "Although, I don't think it'll ever top your speech at the space station." He then casually reminded him.

"I-It just all came out of my mouth." Morgana shyly got out.

"Well, little bro, never forget we're going to stick with you until the end."

"...Thank you. Really." Morgana soon got out in an honest and grateful manner before frowning a little. "...I really hope I don't have the lifespan of a cat too." He soon mumbled to himself, only to gulp as he realized he had said that out loud.

"..." Akira slowed down at that. "...That's...something we'll deal with when it comes, okay? Don't think about that." He soon got out in a monotone manner.

"R-Right. The future can wait. Let's focus on the present." Morgana responded before blinking. "...Are you gonna give me some more of your crepe now?" He soon asked.

"Hehehe...here." Akira chuckled before handing him some more pieces.

"Mmmmm~ No wonder Lady Ann is addicted to this stuff!" Morgana perked up with the taste.

"Yep." Akira agreed. "Too bad we don't have her genetics. I can already feel it going to my thighs." He then however noted.

"I've seen them. They're fine." Morgana off-handedly stated. "At least they don't go to your boobs." He then joked.

"Now who's the secret perv here?" Akira couldn't help but tease him.

"Again, shut up, Joker." Morgana told him off with a sigh.

"Sorry, hehe." The Leader quickly apologized with a smile. "Also, I'm pretty sure it's stacking until Akira-chan comes back." Akira couldn't help but mentally add, sweatdropping.

"The wonders of women...it's a mystery to everyone..." Morgana breathed out.

"I mean, that would be like trying to figure out why Jack Frost and Mermaid are interested in Asuka and Homura." Akira chuckled.

"Hee ho! It's 'cause Asuka's a princess hee ho!" Jack Frost suddenly got out in his mind.

"Ufufu~ Homura is simply a maiden of extreme interest to me." Mermaid meanwhile vaguely revealed with a giggle in his mind as well.

Akira simply sighed at that. He had quite a lot of Personas within him inside his mind. Fortunately, they're not the talkative bunch and actually acknowledged his sense of privacy within him.

Jack Frost and Mermaid were just the odd ones out of the current bunch. Not that he ever told anyone.

"...Can I discuss something, Joker?" Morgana suddenly asked.

"Hm? What is it?" Akira replied in a curious manner.

"It's about the burgers in Big Bang Burger." Morgana responded.

"Oh...yeah, those things." Akira got out.

"You still remember what Okumura's Shadow said, right?" Morgana reminded. "About the ingredients he added thanks to the help from Maki Gasai's family?" He then added.

"Right. They can secretly increase the breast sizes of shinobi once eaten." Akira casually explained. "Which is crazy if you think about it. Estrogen should not directly do that right away." He then confessed and grumbled.

"Yeah...to think they have the capability to achieve that breakthrough." Morgana got out. "Their funding for the creation of these unique burgers must be very high. Especially when it involves and passes through human testing now." He then stated.

Akira secretly began to imagine her female form attempting to eat a Big Bang Burger and eventually seeing the results. "...Why am I curious? And would Haruka be interested?" He thought to himself.

"Joker?" Morgana got out in a concerned tone as he noticed the Leader's far off expression.

"Um...Is it weird if they can also make guys'...things down there bigger." Akira then continued, this time aloud for the faux feline to hear.

"..." Morgana simply gave a deadpan expression in response. "Jeez, Joker. You really wanna impress and attract many girls, don't you?" He soon assumed.

"It's just a curious thought." Akira simply responded. "Though, Kunikazu's Shadow said that they only have estrogen in their burgers, so...what if they can make burgers that have testosterone instead?" He soon wondered.

"...Okay, that would be ridiculous." Morgana hesitantly responded with uneasiness. "Even though it's not out of the realm of impossibility." He then admitted.

"It's Okumura Foods, so I think there's no doubt they have their own secret laboratories and their secret formulas." Akira responded.

"Haru seemed pretty shocked by her father's Shadow confessing about the estrogen thing." Morgana reminded. "If she finds out about those possible labs...yeah, not sure how she'll react." He then added.

"I just hope she will address the issue soon enough about what's gonna happen with those burgers." Akira responded. "...Though I wouldn't be surprised if Haru decides to continue the production of those unique burgers..." He then added.

"I thought I saw someone familiar." A young-sounding female voice spoke up within his hearing range. "Looks like I was right." The voice then added.

"Hm?" The Leader got out, soon turning to see three familiar girls in the Kosei High uniform approaching him. "...Oh jeez..." He meanwhile thought to himself.

"Hm? Who are they?" Morgana meanwhile asked as he noticed the uniforms. "They go to Lady Yumi's school?" He then got out.

"...Morgana, in the bag. Now." Akira suddenly ordered, still looking at the three approaching him.

"Huh?" Morgana got out in confusion.

"Just do it, Morgana. Now." Akira ordered once again without hesitation and in a no nonsense tone. "And stay silent for now." He then added.

Morgana only stared at him for a second before immediately complying without a word, hiding inside the bag and not popping his head out until it was safe.

"Akira Kurusu." Yami began, seeing the familiar boy once again while nibbling on some taiyaki on one hand and holding a paper bag filled with said snack on the other. "It has been a while since we met in Hawaii." She then recalled.

"Yeah... " Akira responded with a nod. "It has." He added in agreement.

"Yeah, it's been a while, Kurusu-san!" Mea eagerly agreed with a smile instead. "How's Shameless-senpai at your school?"

"...You mean Kotegawa-san." Akira corrected.

"Hai! How is she?" Mea once asked again.

"Well, I don't hang out with her very often, but I'm pretty sure she's fine." Akira responded. "Pretty sure she and the others in the disciplinary committee are hard at work making sure our school gets better after Kamoshida and Kobayakawa." He then added.

"So, she's still keeping order at the school she's now in." The third girl finally spoke up.

Akira finally turned to the certain tan-skinned girl that really caught his attention back in Hawaii.

"Yo, Akira Kurusu." Nemesis greeted with a smirk. "It's been a while."

"...Nemesis, right?" Akira recalled. "Yami and Mea." He then added.

"Great, you still remember our names." The tan skinned, yellow eyed girl responded with a smirk. "I also go by Nemesis-sama as well." She then informed with her hands on her hips.

"Uh-huh." Akira only reacted to that in response. "I'll just stick to Nemesis." He however decided.

Mea on the other hand giggled. "You can also call her Neme-chan too if you want." She then suggested.

"I'm not sure if we're all that close with one another." Akira awkwardly pointed out.

"Oh, but we're already close to begin with, don't you think, Kurusu-san?" Nemesis however asked in a vague tone with a smirk.

That in turn got the boy's attention and curiosity. "How so?" Akira had to ask with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, the moment we talked on that plane thing, you seem to have a gut feeling on who you're really talking to back then." Nemesis responded and explained. "Almost as if...you know we're different from other people. You even showed no fear somehow." She soon vaguely stated.

"...You seem to have a good eye for noticing details like that." Akira stated in an impressed manner. "Well, so do I." He then added in his head this time, thinking about his Third Eye ability.

"Thank you for the compliment." Nemesis replied with a smile. "It's an important skill to have, being able to read people. You might never know who's wearing a mask." She then informed with the same smile as well.

"Heh. Can't help but agree." Akira chuckled and stated with a nod.

Soon, however, her expression changed from amusement to interest. "So...I also noticed that you do have a thing around young girls like my soon-to-be-manservant." Nemesis concluded with a smirk. "Though yours is quite...different in some way." She then added.

"...Excuse me?" Akira got out with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean by that, Nemesis?" He then had to ask. "...Manservant?" He meanwhile repeated in his head.

"Well, for starters, you have quite the number of female friends and acquaintances." Nemesis recalled.

"...I have a feeling you've been stalking me since that meeting on the plane." Akira bluntly stated with a frown. "How much do you know...?" He soon thought, feeling his knife hidden in his pants getting a little...sharper.

"Perceptive. Very perceptive." Nemesis stated to him in an impressed manner. "You...are now quite hard to jack into." She then added in a mutter.

"Hm?" Akira hummed out, looking a little weirded out by the term 'jack'.

"It's nothing." Nemesis waved off. "Anyways, I simply want to get to know you more. No ulterior motives." She then assured with a sweet smile on her face.

"There is a 50% chance that there are ulterior motives." Akira thought in a flat tone. "If you say so...but you could've just, you know, walked up to me instead." He then however replied aloud this time.

"Our last meeting was that of circumstance. You could've been someone else entirely outside of that plane, so I wanted to do some research." Nemesis stated before smirking. "To think you're famous. Or infamous, I should say." She then added with interest.

"Urgh..." Akira groaned. "Variety show rant guy?" He soon guessed. Dammit, was this always going to haunt him for the rest of his life?

"That." Nemesis began. "And the boy who assaulted a woman in his hometown." She then casually revealed.

Mea simply gasped by that information

Yami however furrowed her brows upon hearing that information. "Assaulting a woman... you're despicable." She soon repeated and stated.

Akira tensed... before clenching his fists. "...Don't." He got out in a low tone.

"Whatever do you mean, Akira Kurusu?" Nemesis responded. "All I see is a boy trying to live his life as peacefully as he can, not the brute described in the local newspaper." She then revealed and stated.

"...I mean it, if you want a fight or-" Akira began.

"Fight? Goodness me, no!" Nemesis replied. "But given how fast you assumed that, it doesn't reflect well on disproving that article." She then added.

"If you need to defend yourself, gender is the last thing on my mind." Akira stated in a serious manner. "Anyone, and I mean anyone, can be a threat." He soon reminded.

"But not me." Nemesis reminded him. "Trust me, I am not a threat to you in any way." She then reassured him.

"...What about Mea and Yami there?" Akira asked as he looked over to the two other girls.

"I...have made mistakes before by rushing into things. I now assess the situation first before taking action. So yes, currently, I'm not a threat to you unless you provoked me in any way." Yami answered, although she did continue to narrow her eyes at the boy. And...was it windy or did her hair just move on its own?

Akira narrowed his eyes at the blonde for a short moment before turning to someone else now. "Mea?" He then began.

The red-haired girl in mention shifted nervously for a bit. "Um..." Mea began in an unsure tone.

"Mea." Yami urged as she looked towards the other girl.

The redhead in turn gave a guilty expression. "Well...I lied about my true self to a friend of mine. The first friend that I have made, actually." Mea soon confessed in shame. "But luckily, we became friends again when we made up and my first friend actually accepted me for who I really am." She soon revealed in a proud manner with a smile.

Akira simply looked at her for a moment. "So...you're not going to punch me or beat me to a pulp?" He then asked.

"Unless the situation calls for it." Mea simply replied.

"...Okay, good to hear." Akira replied with a sigh of relief, though he was still on guard for the three of them for now.

"Still, Akira Kurusu...assaulting a woman?" Yami however reminded all of a sudden. "Is that true?" She then asked, hoping to clear all understanding.

"Yami-san...for your sake...please don't discuss that with me anymore, considering you all looked into my private life without me knowing and not knowing what really happened back then." Akira requested. Gone was his more casual tone of voice, but its place was something more cold and serious. "And if you begin asking me what really happened back then, I'm not answering since again, you all looked into my past without me knowing." He then added with the same tone.

Yami made a concerned look towards the Shujin student. Did she just hit a nerve?

"A-Ah, we're sorry about that." Mea tried to apologize, getting a bit unnerved

"Ooooh~" Nemesis however got out. "Touchy subject, isn't it? What's wrong with looking up public information? I'm sure everyone does that with anyone with a presence amongst the human zeitgeist." She then questioned.

"...I'm leaving." Akira suddenly announced as he began to walk away.

"...Eh!?" Mea only got out in shock.

"If you aren't gonna hurt me, there's nothing stopping me from just going home." Akira pointed out, walking past them before stopping his stride. "I don't have to spend time with you, I'm choosing to...unless you're thinking otherwise." He then added, almost daring the girls to even try.

Yami was tempted to use her...special means to keep him from leaving. However, she knew she couldn't. Any sign of force and the only method to get him to talk was torture, and...Rito Yuuki was greatly against torture.

There was also...seduction...but that was equally not an option for too many reasons. Besides, Nemesis had to teach her but didn't have the time for private lessons.

"Well, if I'm free, I'll take my leave-" Akira began before cutting off by someone.

"Hold on, hold on for a moment, Akira Kurusu." Nemesis called out to him.

"Hm?"

"I...may have gone too far with my words." Nemesis soon admitted, keeping her usual composure. "Sorry about that, hehe." She then apologized with a small giggle at the end.

"Stalking and spying does that." Akira got out with narrowed eyes.

"But...in all seriousness, I do really want to know you more, Kurusu." Nemesis insisted with a smirk. "You are an interesting, wonderful human, even more interesting that Rito Yuuki, and...I can't let that go without sating my curiosity about you. You're the first interesting new thing I've found in months and...I have to admit, I can't help myself." She then explained with a grin. "As you can see, I'm not exactly...good at the social aspect of socializing. I'm more of a dominant force that leads conversation, one that listens. And you, young man, have opened my ears." She soon admitted with an eager smile.

"Neme-chan?" Mea couldn't help but say, noticing this about her.

Yami however did not expect this to happen at all.

"Human, huh?" Akira got out in slight curiosity. "Alright, I'll stay. But that does not mean I'm letting go of that stalking crap. Save it for the lonely weirdos who'd like women digging into their lives." He then stated and however noted.

All three blinked, stunned at such a thing. "...That's a thing?" Mea questioned.

"You haven't been online a lot, have you?" Akira assumed. "Count yourself lucky." He then mumbled, staring off into space.

"...Akira Kurusu?" Yami only got out.

"Huh? Wha?" Akira got out, snapping out of it as he looked around and patted himself down. "...What were we talking about again?" He soon asked in a sheepish manner.

"...Once again, interesting." Nemesis giggled. "Alright, now that we've established we won't hurt you, shall I ask you to do something for me?" She then declared before she questioned, stepping forward while sashaying her hips.

"And what is that, Nemesis?" Akira replied, getting ready for whatever the girl wanted to throw at him.

"Well..." Nemesis only got out...before approaching the boy slowly and...

SQUISH!

Hugged him all of a suddenly while looking at his eyes.

Akira didn't know why he didn't back away instinctively the moment the tan-skinned young girl started approaching him slowly.

"Do you want to hang out with us tonight? Along with Yami and Mea?" Nemesis soon asked with a grin as she pressed her small chest against the boy. "I think I can show you a good time if you're interested." She then moaned.

Yami only stared at the scene with half-lidded eyes before sighing.

"Ehhhhh?" Mea got out in pure amusement.

"...Nemesis, are you seriously seducing me right now?" Akira however bluntly assumed.

Nemesis suddenly perked up from that comment. "Oh, you caught onto it." She responded with confidence before releasing her hug.

"I have experience with this sort of thing." Akira deadpanned. She was not subtle at all.

Yami, Mea and Nemesis looked at the boy, hearing his response.

"...Do you have a harem like Rito-senpai?" Mea suddenly asked in an innocent tone, but also with a sparkle in her eyes.

Akira's bag suddenly jolted for a split second. He assumed the not cat heard the question and reacted.

To that, Akira simply looked at them with focused eyes in silence, like he was making them eager to hear his answer to the question.

"Answer." Yami suddenly insisted, slowly narrowing her eyes at the Shujin boy.

"Believe what you will." Akira vaguely responded. "But I should tell you that harems aren't allowed here in Japan." He then reminded.

"So I've heard from the humans' customs here. But for people like Yuuki Rito, it is a special case for us." Nemesis waved off and vaguely revealed.

"Is that so?" Akira stated. "I mean there were a lot of girls accompanying him when we were in Hawaii." He then recalled.

"Well, there's something about that boy that draws you to him." Nemesis explained. "He's nice, but any decent person should be. He's caring, but that's just being nice. It's something more, indescribable, that makes people come to him...mostly women." She then continued with a smile.

"Pervert." Yami added.

Akira in turn sweatdropped as a result. "...Sounds complicated." He then stated.

"It should be. Not everyone comes to him with pure intentions, I'll tell you that." Nemesis replied. "And from the looks of it...you have that same aura, you know." She then noted.

"Well, I do have a habit of making friends from the weirdest of places." Akira admitted. So far he has befriended a former yakuza, an honest-to-god psychic, his homeroom teacher that moonlights as a maid, a very respectable politician, and quite a lot of female shinobi...with big boobs. Probably a lot more sooner on the latter given his weird luck with women.

Except for Mirai and Ryōbi. They...They didn't win the genetic lottery like everyone else.

He wondered if this was karma or some unknown god...or gods looking down on him. Or up on him. Should he be grateful or...?

...Come to think of it, these three were also in the same situation as the two shinobi girls in mention.

Nemesis smirked at the boy before licking her lips. It was subtle, but Akira was able to see it.

Well, time to use his greatest weapons: his mouth and his ability to say really dumb shit.

"As much as I'm interested to see your naked skin, please don't even think about it, Nemesis." Akira casually countered.

That counter in turn surprised the trio.

"...You're unusually honest." Nemesis noted with a smirk. "And you're interested to see me naked?" She then assumed.

"It's more due to the fact that you have the look that practically says that you want me to see them." Akira responded in a blunt manner. "So I'm not being tempted by it this time." He then stated.

The blonde however gave a blunt look to the tan skinned girl. "Disgusting." Yami got out.

"Just being how I always am." Nemesis responded as she shrugged her shoulders while smirking.

Yami rolled her eyes at that before looking at the boy again. "And you too, Akira Kurusu." She bluntly stated.

The boy in turn just sighed in response. "Hate me however you want. At least I know where my boundaries are, Yami-san." Akira however reminded.

Yami simply grunted to herself, hoping she wouldn't...go physical with the boy similar to how she treated Yuuki Rito from the past...or even the Sainan High Principal.

"...Do you want to see me naked, though~?" Nemesis once again teased while tugging on her skirt as well as her collar.

"...Yes and no to a degree." Akira sighed out the confession, earning a perked up expression from the three. "However I'm currently busy with other stuff, and I don't have the time right now." He soon revealed in a blunt manner.

"So, you also have a troublesome life like Yuuki Rito too." Yami assumed while biting a piece of her taiyaki.

"I guess you can say that." Akira vaguely responded with hands in his pockets.

"I did remember telling you that I hate perverts." Yami however stated with a deadpan look in her eyes. "Don't even attempt, Akira Kurusu." She then warned with a raised fist.

"I'm not perfect, Yami-san. I can be perverted if I want to, I have to admit." Akira had to confess with a sigh. "But what's more important is self-control, and I believe Rito knows that, too." He then however stated in a serious manner with crossed arms.

Yami, Mea, and Nemesis looked at him in slight surprise in response.

"None of it is ever intentional, but it still happens either way." Akira continued explaining.

"Oho~ so you're like Rito-senpai?" Mea assumed in an eager tone with a smile on her face.

"...In a way, yes." Akira sighed as he replied. "Without those so-called accidents." He then added before pausing. Do the train incidents count?

Yeah, no need to tell them about them.

"Interesting, hehe~" Nemesis purred with a smirk and a giggle. "You really are something else, Akira Kurusu. And I'm very lucky that we have met." She soon confessed.

"Just don't try to follow or stalk me or my friends for that matter." Akira suddenly advised the three girls. "Otherwise...well, why ruin the surprise?" He then added with a simple shrug of his shoulders...before aiming a focused look at the three.

Flash!

The three suddenly noticed the boy's eyes flashed red for a split second.

"...Eh?" Mea got out in slight shock, noticing the flash

"What...was that?" Yami couldn't help but say.

"Hm? What was what, Yami-san?" Akira responded with a raised eyebrow.

"Did you...?" Yami began before shaking her head. "N-Never mind." She then got out.

"Okay then. Anyway, do you girls want something else from me?" Akira stated and then asked, a thin veil of politeness in his tone now.

The three girls simply looked at him, unsure what to do next or what to answer for a moment. "...No. We're fine." Yami eventually replied for the three of them.

"If that's the case, have a lovely evening, ladies. I'll see you when." Akira got out as he adjusted his glasses. "Have a good night." He then added as he started leaving.

"Good-bye, Akira Kurusu." Yami spoke as she narrowed her eyes.

"...Did you guys see his eyes?" Mea quietly asked. "They just...turned red for a moment. Humans don't do that, right?" She then added.

"...Is Kurusu really human?" Yami couldn't help but assume, her instincts gravitating towards that of a shapeshifter. Like her and her other fellow companions with her right now.

Nemesis meanwhile just smirked. "How interesting." She simply stated before walking away, faster than the other girls could see.

Meanwhile, with Akira and Morgana...

Morgana soon popped his head out of the bag and looked at the Leader in disbelief.

"Don't. That Nemesis girl is a lot like Haruka and you know how she is." Akira groaned and reminded. "Also, she has a thing for another boy too." He then added.

"So she was messing with you until this Rito guy takes her in for his...harem..." Morgana concluded in an awkward tone. "That...and something about that Nemesis girl is more dangerous than any other girl you've encountered." He then informed in a serious tone.

"Exactly. I can't believe that Nemesis girl looked up into my past." Akira confirmed with a sigh and then grumbled a bit. "And I have a feeling I won't escape from her and those other two as well so easily, so I'd better keep my guard up." He then added as he headed out...unaware of his own shadow rippling ever so slightly.

(Hanzō Academy, Bath Quarters)

SPLASH!

With a small basin filled with water in hand, Ikaruga poured herself some lukewarm water over her nude body while sitting in one of the open bath cubicles' chairs.

She and her fellow Elites, Katsuragi and Hibari, were currently bathing in their school's bath quarters. They were also sitting in the bath cubicles together, washing their bodies.

"Haaah~ Nothing's more relaxing than taking a bath with your friends." Katsuragi spoke up in relief as she poured hot water on herself as well.

"I suppose I can agree to that claim." Ikaruga calmly agreed with a nod while feeling the heat of the water on her naked body.

"But you know what's more exciting while bathing?" Katsuragi began with a giddy grin. "Boobs to see and cop a feel." She then declared in excitement.

"Just...try to behave yourself, Katsuragi-san." Ikaruga ordered with a sigh. "And please let me bathe in peace for now." She then added.

Katsuragi simply sighed as she rubbed soap on her body this time. "Fine... I'll just cop a feel of yours once we enter the baths."

Ikaruga only sighed in response. "Typical Katsuragi-san." She mentally stated in her head before glancing at her other fellow Elite with the pink hair. "How are you feeling, Hibari-san?" She soon asked.

"Hibari's okay." The pinkette replied as she poured hot water all over herself as well. "I was just wondering what Yagyū-chan's doing in Tokyo right now." She then added.

"Probably security work at Okumura Foods and bodyguarding Haru like our usual." Katsuragi casually guessed with a wave of her hand, though her tone was slightly disinterested.

"So when is Yagyū-chan coming back again?" Hibari soon asked as she rubbed her body with soap.

"Very soon. Her remaining days are now running out before it is time for the switch." Ikaruga replied.

"I just hope she's okay with her duties there." Hibari couldn't help but say, sounding slightly concerned while hugging herself on her wooden seat. "I feel like I didn't do a really good job when I was there before. Am I...good enough?" She then meekly added.

"Hibari-san..." Ikaruga got out in slight concern. "Don't say something like that. You did the best you could while you were in Tokyo." She then stated.

"Yeah. Okumura was being an ass expecting way too much." Katsuragi added in annoyance.

"But...But...I should've been able to..." Hibari hesitantly mumbled out.

"No, stop that." Ikaruga interrupted in a chiding manner. "You are capable of great things, you must not let others dictate your lot in life." She soon declared in a proud manner.

"B-But..." Hibari began as she clenched her fists.

"But nothing. Okumura made a mistake firing you, so it's his loss. Don't listen to old assholes who shits on their daughter's life." Katsuragi interrupted.

"Language! But...yes. He did make a mistake for treating you that way. We are always here for you, Hibari-san." Ikaruga responded. "Come now, let's all take a hot dip." She then told the two as she stood up, arranged the things in her cubicle, and approached the large tub.

"Haaaiii." Hibari replied before getting up, fixing her cubicle, and followed the ravenette as well, prompting the blonde to do the same.

SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!

The three Hanzō Elites were now dipping themselves together in the hot baths.

"Ahhhh~ this is the best feeling ever~" Katsuragi breathed out in pure bliss as she dipped herself in the hot, steaming water.

"A perfect thing to end the day off on." Ikaruga soon stated before noticing the pinkette. "Hibari-san?" She got out in concern.

"It's...working..." Hibari sighed as she sank down into the water a little.

"...Still feels empty here though without everyone." Katsuragi couldn't help but mutter as she leaned back and stared at the ceiling.

"Katsuragi-san..." Ikaruga sighed out.

"What? Just...being honest here." Katsuragi awkwardly responded. "We're not going to be whole for a long time. Makes me want to go to sleep and wake up on the day Asuka completes her mission, you know?" She soon reminded.

"You can't just do that." Ikaruga sighed. "But...it is tempting, isn't it?" She then had to confess.

"Hai..." Hibari agreed. She was seriously missing Yagyu...

"Which is why I'm looking forward to my turn in Tokyo, once Yagyu comes back." The blonde soon breathed out. "I'm gonna meet Asuka first once I get there." Katsuragi revealed with a smirk.

"Don't get carried away, Katsuragi-san." Ikaruga chided. "Our mission in Tokyo is still in effect, so I hope you won't forget that." She soon reminded.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Be a bodyguard for Haru-chan's stupid father." Katsuragi sighed out while waving it off. "Even though the old man's been weird ever since that calling card was sent to him." She then added.

Ikaruga in turn sighed, but understood where the blonde was coming from. "Still, Kiriya-sensei said that the Shinobi Council didn't take the calling card very well." She soon informed. "They thought he was on the verge of being compromised. Or worse, a chance of that so-called mental shutdown." She then added.

"Sounds like it's pretty bad." Katsuragi simply assumed.

"He provides a not-insignificant amount of funding. Which means they still have extreme doubts about the Phantom Thieves." Ikaruga soon stated. "I still think they should be worrying about who hacked the Phan-Site to make him top target in the first place." She then added.

"Well, it's not like the Thieves told us anything on their website." Katsuragi pointed out. "They're not the type to just casually state what they have in mind all the time on a public website." She soon stated.

"That's because smart criminals don't reveal their crimes on social media." Ikaruga deadpanned. "And there are plenty of less-than-intelligent criminals who do." She then stated.

"You mean like the girl who asked the Thieves to go after the older brother and then the dad of her friend?" Katsuragi recalled.

"Hm, I don't recall that request." Ikaruga muttered with a frown.

"It was an early one, back when the site first started." Katsuragi responded. "People have been keeping track of every target, major or minor. They're freakishly good at figuring out who gets changes of heart." She then reminded.

"That's the power of the people." Ikaruga soon got out with a hint of amazement. "It's almost scary how good people are at getting information." She then confessed.

"To think a hivemind of nerds can do a better job than us..." Katsuragi grumbled. "Do you think if I ask nicely enough, could I make them do my homework?" She then asked.

"There are plenty of responsible people on the internet too who won't do as you ask for the sake of laziness." Ikaruga pointed out. "...Showing your boobs will not work." She then bluntly added.

"Pfft, they won't get the girls even if they beg." Katsuragi confidently countered with a smirk as she cupped her breasts in her hands. "They might get the cleave though. But only if they're classy...and send me boob pics." She then added, causing the acting leader to chop her head.

"Soooo, are you gonna see Ryuji-san when you head to Tokyo, Katsu-nee?" Hibari then suddenly asked in a curious manner.

"Nehehehehe~ maybe." Katsuragi giggled as she rubbed the sore spot. "It's been a while, though. Maybe he made some new friends and forgot about me. Probably hanging out with some Hawaiian chicks..." She then added and assumed, a hint of disappointment clearly in her voice.

The ravenette however blinked to that response as well as the change in tone. "Um, no offense to him, but I doubt any other girl but you would seek his company." Ikaruga confessed.

"Huh? Why?" Katsuragi asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It just feels like...he would be terrible at interacting with other girls his age." Ikaruga hesitantly confessed. "And I believe only you can give him the company he seeks, Katsuragi-san." She soon stated.

"Hey! If you hung out with him for more than a couple of hours at the beach, you'd end up thinking that way too." Katsuragi reminded before blinking. "Also, are you trying to chaperone me with Ryuji-kun?" She then suddenly asked with a smirk.

"Well, this is the first time you really ever seemed interested in a boy in general, Katsuragi-san." Ikaruga pointed out with a more friendly smile. "And call it a guess, but I have a feeling a young boy like him has an interest in girls with your body type." She then added almost matter-of-factly.

"Oh please, that's every young boy nowadays. Have you seen how the guys stare at us at school whenever we go to the public entrance?" Katsuragi responded.

"I do, Katsuragi-san. I have to admit, as much as I don't appreciate that kind of attention, I suppose it's fine if other people can acknowledge another person's attractiveness, so to speak." Ikaruga casually replied. "As long as their actions and intentions don't go too far, it should be fine...unlike some old people." She then added.

"Yeah, I guess you're right about that, Ikaruga." Katsuragi got out. "Can't believe Hanzō's still in Tokyo. I heard he was still there investigating the incidents as well." She then added.

"He's been keeping an eye on the city itself in the shadows." Ikaruga stated. "Along with the Yōma presence in the mix, though they are in decline now." She then added.

"I wonder what Yagyū-chan's doing right now, though..." Hibari couldn't help but ask.

"We could call her." Katsuragi pointed out.

"You know the rules." Ikaruga reminded.

"And so do I." Katsuragi added with a witty smile.

"Stop it." Ikaruga quickly got out with a glare. "Only important communications while on missions, not when we need to sate curiosity. We can ask her when she arrives back." She then added.

Hibari let out a sad moan at that.

"It'll be alright Hibari-san," Ikaruga reassured with a smile. "She will be back soon. I'm sure she'll have plenty of stories to tell you from when she was there." She then added.

"Yeah. She might've even met a new friend there!" Katsuragi added. "Or hell, meet up with the guys from the beach. Like Ryuji." She then pointed out with a grin.

"You and Ryuji-kun really seemed to get along!" Hibari happily recalled.

"We really hit it off back at the beach, huh." Katsuragi giggled. "You know what, I'm gonna go hang out with him again as soon as I get my fill of Asuka. And maybe even Makoto and Ann too. Oh, and Futaba to help her out of course." She soon decided in a giddy manner.

"Please don't." Ikaruga groaned with a facepalm.

"What? I can't hang out with boys now?" Katsuragi pouted.

"No, you can't hang out with girls your age anymore!" Ikaruga called out. "You're just going to harass them to the best of your ability!" She then accused.

"Well, what's wrong with that? It's called skinship bonding." Katsuragi insisted. "It's not like I'm Kamoshida, and I certainly don't beat the shit out of kids to make myself feel better." She then pointed out.

"But you still touch them inappropriately." Ikaruga however rebuked.

"I'm not an authority figure who abuses her position." Katsuragi however retorted. "C'mon, if you had an actual problem with it, you could've just brought it up with Kiriya-sensei. I'll stop if you really want me to. Come on, it's all in good fun, right?" She then got out with a jovial smile.

"...And bust size increasing..." Ikaruga quietly grumbled, glancing down at her own bust

"Hey, don't blame me for our awesome genetics!" Katsuragi argued. "This is all natural. Wanna see?" She then declared and asked as she slid her hands down her naked body.

"Don't shove your-" Ikaruga began before faltering. "Actually, you do that on a constant basis already. What do you wish to show this time, Katsuragi-san?" She then pointed out and asked exasperatingly.

"Here." Katsuragi replied as she stood up from the bath and slid her hands down her nude body once again but with more visual clarity.

Ikaruga simply sighed at the sight. "Unnecessary flaunting of your naked body as usual..." She grumbled.

"You know I love doing that, hehe." Katsuragi responded and she then made some provocative poses with her wet nude body.

"As much as we don't mind showing your sex appeal to the two of us here, you don't have to act like that, Katsuragi-san." Ikaruga informed with a sigh.

"Um...I think Asuka-chan's a better model." Hibari sheepishly confessed.

Katsuragi in turn face-faulted to that...into the water with a splash. "Jeez, you don't have to drop me like that, Hibari-chan..." She grumbled out as she then pouted.

"S-Sorry, Katsu-nee!" Hibari tried to apologize in a panicked tone. "Uh, I mean, you look great, too!" She tried to reassure.

Ikaruga meanwhile looked on at the expression in amusement. "It seems as though Katsuragi-san is a little envious of Asuka-san now." She soon assumed.

"How can I not be?" Katsuragi sighed t as she threw her hands up in the air. "She gets to hang out with supermodels and idols and gets paid the big bucks. And the average boob-size in the city has only increased in the past two years!" She then complained before groaning. "I miss her, but holy crap, I should've been the one to get that mission." She soon grumbled.

"The world would burn at that moment." Ikaruga deadpanned.

"Hm, it makes you wonder though, what would happen if we all went on the mission with Asuka-chan." Hibari wondered.

"We could've met the Phantom Thieves!" Katsuragi suddenly gasped, looking rather excited. "And beat the shit out of Kamoshida! Hey, think it's too late to transfer now?" She then added and asked with a gleam in her eyes.

"Yes." Ikaruga instantly answered.

"Aw..." Katsuragi got out in disappointment while pouting.

The three soon heard muffled chatter from outside the bath entrance.

"You hear that?" Katsuragi got out. "Someone's coming inside the baths with us as well..." She soon informed.

Ikaruga and Hibari glanced at the doors and sensed multiple presences outside the door.

The sliding doors opened and revealed familiar faces who wore nothing but towels to cover their bodies.

"Hello, guys!" An orange-haired young girl entered the baths wearing nothing but a towel to cover herself. "Mind if we join you in the bath?" She then asked.

"Ah, Fūma-san." Ikaruga got out with a smile. Seeing her made her think of her own leader in regards to her personality.

...Though the orangette could do without the Asuka plushies, no matter how well-made they are...as well as images from the brunette in mention's modeling gigs.

Following afterwards was a light brown haired girl with a low pony-tail with azure blue eyes. "Ah, Ikaruga-senpai. It is nice to see you here in the baths." She greeted as she entered. "Along with your fellow Elites as well, Katsuragi-senpai and Hibari-san." She then noted.

To that, Ikaruga smiled. "To you as well, Hijikata-san." She replied.

When she had met the girl, she had gotten along with her quite well due to similar mature personalities and their interests in discipline.

It essentially made the two girls like two peas in a pod, though she wasn't expecting the girl to use a giant-headed maul as a weapon.

"How is your training with Kiriya-sensei?" Ikaruga soon asked.

"It went well for me." Hijikata replied. "Still have to work on my presence detection, but everything seems to be fine for me." She soon revealed. "Kiriya-sensei said that I showed some decent amount of potential, so I won't waste my training." She then recalled.

"That's good to hear, Hijikata-san."

Next to come in was another brown haired girl, though her long brown hair was free as she looked around with her red colored eyes before beaming excitedly. "Ah, Katsuragi-neesama, you're here!" She got out.

"Oh...uh, hey there, Ayame." Katsuragi awkwardly greeted. "How's uh...things going on with you?" She then asked.

"It's great! There's still so much I need to do, but yeah, still great!" Ayame happily replied as she glanced at the blonde. "Oh~ I can't believe Katsuragi-neesama is here in the baths with me~ " She then mentally added in a blissful tone.

"Well, I hope you and all the new arrivals will find a home at Hanzō." Ikaruga responded with a smile.

Next to appear, who everyone could hear yawning, was a girl with light blue, short boyish hair with two curled cowlicks. "I'm sleepy..." She got out with a hand to her mouth as she entered.

"Ah, Seimei-san." Ikaruga noted. "Are you still requiring the need to sleep right now? You don't have to join us here in the baths." She soon asked and pointed out in concern.

Seimei simply yawned once more. "Mmm, it's fine...I don't really mind..." She then responded, another yawn escaping her lips.

"Se-Seimei-san..." Ikaruga responded in even more concern.

"Don't worry about her, Ikaruga-senpai." Hijikata however reassured her. "She tends to be sleepy most of the time but she can handle it well as a shinobi. She lasted very well in Kiriya-sensei's training." Shw then revealed.

"Oh, um, if you say so, Hijikata-san." Ikaruga responded, albeit a bit concerned.

Soon, lastly to come in was a familiar long blonde haired, low pigtailed android girl with one red eye and one blue eye.

"Ah, Muramasa-chan!" Hibari started out in surprise. "You're out of my room already?" She then asked.

"Hibari-chan!" The robot girl greeted with a smile. "Um, Kiriya-sensei invited me for training, too, so...yeah." She then explained.

"Wow, you look good as new..." Katsuragi got out in awe. "Hibari, you're a mechanical prodigy!" She then added in an impressed manner.

"Ehehehe~ It was easy." Hibari shyly chuckled before quickly looking over her friens's form for any surface-level problems. "Muramasa-chan, are your legs okay? They aren't stiff? And how is your heart?" She soon asked in a surprisingly mature manner.

The android girl however smiled and pumped her arms as if she was flexing. "All in tip-top working order, nya!" Muramasa happily replied.

In response, the pinkette nodded. "Okay then! But come to Hibari if anything goes wrong, okay?" Hibari replied and requested.

"Hai!" Muramasa replied with a salute.

"Uhh...Muramasa-san, shouldn't you not be in contact with water at all?" Ikaruga however reminded the android shinobi.

"Oh, Hibari found out Muramusa-chan's actually waterproof, so she'll be alright." Hibari however revealed with a smile.

"How?" Ikaruga soon asked in a curious manner.

"Ehhhh..." Hibari looked to the side while the blonde android girl looked a little sheepish as they both remembered how they found out. "It...was...really fun!" She vaguely replied.

"Yeah, nya!" Muramasa added with an innocent, robotic smile.

"I mean, she is wearing a school swimsuit." Hijikata pointed out. "Whoever designed her must be a genius." She then stated in an impressed manner.

"Actually, now that you mention it, did you find anything else on her maker, Hibari-san?" Ikaruga had to ask.

"Nope, not at all." Hibari responded as she shook her head. "Anything that could've been used to track them down is long gone. The only thing left was a plate on the inside." She then added.

"Really? What did it say?" Katsuragi asked in a curious manner.

"Uh...A-S-S-W 2.0 Model. 014-07042000." Hibari recalled.

"You even memorized the serial number?" Ikaruga got out in amazement.

"Hibari hoped it would lead to something..." The pinkette pouted with puffed up cheeks.

"A-S-S-W..." Katsuragi repeated. "That's prolly an acronym for something, right? Does it stand for Ass..." She then started. The others expected her to say more, but she just went quiet.

"...You only got as far as 'ass', didn't you?" Ikaruga sighed out.

"Yep." The blonde bluntly admitted, causing the acting leader to sigh.

"Anti...Shinobi...Super Weapon?" Ayame soon suggested. "Alternate Shinobi Support Wench? A Super Spectacular Wobot?" She then added.

"We can make up more meanings for that acronym in the bath." Hijikata decided.

"Agreed." Ikaruga responded with a nod.

After a while of rubbing soap from their bodies and rinsing themselves from the cubicles, soon enough, the five girls were now in the baths with the three Hanzō Elites.

"Haaah~ bathing in these hot baths always feels nice~" Fūma soon stated. "But bathing with friends feels even better." She then added.

"Agreed, Fūma-chan." Ayame replied in agreement.

"You know, with people being and missing all the time, it's nice to have all this company again." Katsuragi got out. "Especially all these new offerings for the Breast Goddess~!" She then excitedly added.

"I offer mine first, Katsuragi!" Ayame enthusiastically got out.

The others, Katsuragi surprisingly included, sweatdropped in response.

"So... how's training for you all?" Ikaruga decided to ask the five to change the subject.

"Muramasa-san is adjusting well." Hijikata revealed with a smile. "Ayame still has a lot of work on her fighting style, but she showed promise, according to Kiriya-sensei." She then added.

The girl in mention grinned proudly at that. "Nya! I'm on my way to becoming a shinobi, Hibari-chan!"

"And Hibari is so proud of you for that!" The pinkette exclaimed as she hugged the robotic girl.

"Uh...you shouldn't be so close. She mainly electrocutes people." Fūma warned. "Waterproof or not, she's making me a little nervous here."

"But I'd never do that to Hibari-chan, nya." Muramasa insisted.

"Just...you know...being cautious." Fūma then admitted before shifting a little further away from them.

"Nya?" Muramasa got out in confusion with an innocent head tilt.

"Hey, Seimei's been pretty quiet this whole time." Katsuragi soon noticed. "Come on, this is the best chance to-" She then began as she turned and-

"Zzzzzz..." The blue haired girl snored, slumped forward with some drool dripping out from her chin to the bath water.

"Asleep. Again." Hijikata got out with a sigh.

"Well, the bath is pretty relaxing." Hibari soon admitted. "If Hibari's skin didn't get all pruney, Hibari would sleep here instead of her room."

"The bath is the most magical place for girls." Katsuragi stated as she leered at the other girls.

"Hey guys, wanna compare boobs together?" Ayame suddenly suggested in an eager tone.

"...Ehhh?" Fūma reacted as she stared at her companion.

"That's what you do here. Isn't that right, senpai?" Ayame stated before looking hopefully at the third year blonde, who was averting her gaze away from her.

"Knock it off, Ayame-san." Hijikata groaned out. "This kind of ridiculous act is truly unnecessary." She then declared.

"Well, how do you suggest we bring ourselves closer together?" Ayame then insisted.

"I wish to be separated right now!" Katsuragi panickingly pleaded in her mind.

"Wow, I've never seen you so red, Katsu-nee!" Hibari got out in awe.

That made Katsuragi snap out of her thoughts. "H-Huh? What, Hibari?"

"Your face is all red, Katsu-chan." Hibari noted once again. "Like whenever Yagyū-chan looks at me for a really long time when we shower together. I don't really get why, though..." She then added with a head tilt.

"Um...okay?" Katsuragi nervously stated.

"So...we should all shower together to deepen our bonds?" Fūma suddenly suggested out of the blue. "Is that it?" She then added.

"Isn't this bath enough?" Hijikata however reminded.

"You know, you're right, Hijikata-san." Ayame somehow agreed to it. "We'll shower together next time when we have the chance." She then added.

"Can't it be now, though?" Muramasa asked. "I really wanna be the bestest best friend to Hibari." She soon confessed.

"We're already that, Muramasa-chan!" Hibari happily reminded her with pumped fists.

"But I wanna be closer!" Muramasa declared. "Is there any way we can all be the superest, bestest of best friends of the whole world wide universe?" She then asked.

Hibari simply giggled at that. "You don't have to do anything. All we need to do is spend time with each other and be happy!" She soon replied.

"Or we could just, you know...reveal our three sizes together here in the baths, hehe." Ayame then suggested in an excited manner.

"...Ummm...excuse me?" Ikaruga got out with uneasiness.

"Ayame-san...what are you even saying right now?" Hijikata had to say with a deadpan tone.

"Well, it's like entrusting a dear friend with your house key or security alarm pass code. It's the ultimate sign of trust!" Ayame soon recalled.

The sexual harasser of Hanzo blinked, narrowed her eyes, before groaning. "...Oh I definitely said that at some point." Katsuragi soon remembered.

"Is this going to continue when I'm at university?" Ikaruga couldn't help but wonder out loud.

"Oh right, you and Katsuragi-senpai are going to graduate soon." Fūma suddenly noted.

"What!?" Ayame exclaimed with widened eyes before letting out a sigh. "O-Oh...sorry, that was...loud of me." She awkwardly apologized.

"Hey, don't worry, girls." Ikaruga reassured them. "We'll still be here for a few more months." She reassured.

"Plus, we have a senpai who never graduated and a friend that's definitely going to be held back." Katsuragi soon informed. "We might be sticking around for a bit longer." She soon added.

"R-Really!?" Ayame exclaimed in an excited manner, really making the blonde second guess herself on that decision.

"It's a maybe." Ikaruga insisted. "Friends are important but that cannot take priority over our future. Besides, there are plenty of campuses within the vicinity of Hanzō." She soon stated.

"I guess that's true." Ayame got out before grinning. "Well, at least I get to hang out with Katsuragi-neesama even more, and that's great." She then happily added.

Katsuragi shivered a bit while in the hot waters.

"So...are we still in with the three sizes revealed here?" Ayame asked once more.

"I guess it's...better than getting your body groped?" Katsuragi hesitantly stated.

"...Pot, meet kettle..." Ikaruga thought to herself as she stared at her fellow Elite.

"Hey, I know you're thinking about kettles again!" Katsuragi called out. "Our pots and kettles are already black!" She then reminded.

"Kettles?" Muramasa repeated in confusion.

"Hibari has no idea." The pinkette responded as she shrugged her shoulders. "Um, Hibari is up for sharing her sizes!" She then revealed with a raised hand.

"EH!?" Ikaruga and Hijikata got out in shock.

"I-I'm still growing up so knowing now won't hurt later." Hibari replied with a shrug. "Yagyū-chan memorized my sizes anyways, so why not all of Hibari's other friends?" She then revealed and asked.

"I guess I will too, nya!" Muramasa decided.

"Bu...s-still..." Hijikata got out.

"Come on, it won't be that bad." Ayame persuaded in an excited manner.

"...Only for team unity." Hijikata sighed.

"Yes!" Ayame exclaimed as she pumped her fist. "Seimei-san?" She then got out, hoping for the Yes Train to continue.

"Wha?" The sleepyheaded girl got out, having totally zoned out of this entire conversation. "Ngh, yes..." Seimei sleepily grumbled.

"Katsuragi-neesama?" Ayame then asked.

"..." Katsuragi simply gave the girl a nervous smile.

"I'll take that as a yes!" Ayame cheered. "Fūma-chan?" She then asked.

Looking around, the orangette couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly. "...Sure, why not?" She then decided.

"...It seems I have no choice..." Ikaruga sighed as she shook her head. "Fine, we shall...share our three sizes...for friendship." She then deadpanned. There had to be a conspiracy going on to make her life more perverted than it should be, she just knew it.

"Right? Let's get to know each other a little better." Ayame stated to herself. "Come on, let's stand up and show our bodies together for everyone to see!" She then eagerly suggested.

"If you even dare to touch every inch of our bodies as well if that's what you're thinking as well-" Hijikata began.

"We're not touching each other's bodies, Hijikata-chan...yet." Ayame however informed. "We're simply showing them, and state each other's three sizes together." She soon explained.

"So, who's starting first?" Fūma asked with a raised eyebrow. "Who is going to volunteer-"

"Zzzzzzz..." Seimei however snored, somehow nodding off during all of this.

"Wah! Don't pass out in the baths Seimei-chan!" Hibari and Muramasa panickingly got out at the same time.

"Oh, don't panic, Hibari-san, Muramasa-san. She's just asleep. She always does that." Hijikata responded. "Just wake her up gently." She then instructed.

Katsuragi blinked, silently staring at the sleeping girl for a good few seconds before splashing water in her face.

"Whu?" Seimei mumbled before letting out a yawn. "What time is it now?" She soon asked.

"You were asleep for 30 seconds." Hijikata simply revealed.

"Oh..." Seimei mumbled before slumping down. Another bout of beautiful sleep, gone in the blink of...an...Zzzzz...

"She...she's asleep again!" Hibari exclaimed.

"Yeah, she always does that at times." Fūma got out. "But don't worry. She's good when it comes to shinobi work." She then assured.

"Okay, who wants to start first?" Ayame then asked. "You can also state your cup size as well." She soon stated.

However silence was the only response.

"Okay fine. Since I came up with the idea, I'll go first." Ayame decided before standing up from the hot water, revealing her wet nude body for everyone to see. "Ayame, B82-W57-H75 and E-Cup." She soon revealed.

"Wow, she really did it, huh." Fūma couldn't help but state in her head.

"Utterly shameless..." Hijikata meanwhile thought.

"Uh...Hibari will go next." The pinkette soon decided before standing up as well to reveal her nude form. "Umm...B80-W55-H73, and E-Cup." She then informed with a smile along with pumped fists.

"For such a small figure, you're pretty stacked..." Katsuragi commented.

"Ehehe...thanks, Katsu-nee..." Hibari replied with a decent smile

"Isn't that...everyone?" Fūma couldn't help but point out before remembering the only flat-chested person in the bath. "Uh, sorry, Muramasa-san." She soon apologized.

"Eh?" The robot girl responded in confusion.

"We really are doing this..." Ikaruga mentally stated with a sigh. "...Fine, Ikaruga...B93-W59-H90, G-Cup." She then revealed aloud as she stood up and revealed her nude body as well, albeit reluctantly.

"And Katsuragi! B95-W57-H90 and a proud I-Cup!" The blonde added as she stood up, showing off her body to the others.

"Wow, you have such a great body, Katsu-neechan!" Ayame exclaimed, eyes sparkling at the sight.

At that, Katsuragi blushed and shifted her position a little while still standing. "U-Uh, next person." She soon got out.

Fūma reluctantly stood up from the water in response. "Um...Fūma, B85-W58-H82...and an...E-Cup." The orangette awkwardly revealed.

"Huh, that's pretty similar to Asuka..." Katsuragi noted.

"E-Eh!?" Fūma gasped. "I'm close to my senpai!?" She then exclaimed.

"Hai." Ikaruga confirmed with a nod, raising her eyebrow once she saw her eyes sparkling with a dreamy look on her face.

"Someone likes Asuka." Katsuragi remarked with a smirk, remembering all the times he groped her leader's boobs.

"Next!" Ayame called out.

Hijikata got hesitant for a second before slowly standing up with hands behind her back. "Mrrn...Hijikata, B90-W60-H88, and...F-Cup..." The brunette sighed out in a reluctant manner.

"Huh? Did you get bigger recently, Hijikata-san?" Fūma spoon got out in concern.

"Yes. Ever since I had Big Bang Burger last week..." Hijikata replied with a small blush. "I'm looking to replace my armor soon...it's getting too tight for my liking..." She then added while rubbing her chest.

"That reminds me, I should eat there more often." Katsuragi muttered before seeing the others stare at her. "...When it's under new management!" She quickly added.

"People really need to stop doing that challenge..." Ikaruga deadpanned. She had seen those burgers and couldn't help but imagine one or more of those burgers stared back at her.

"I can definitely help with your armor problems!" Ayame offered. "But right now, Seimei-chan!" She then declared, prompting everyone to look at the girl in mention.

Only to notice the blue-haired girl snoozing off while her whole nude body is entirely dipped in the hot baths. "Zzzzzz..." She then snoozed.

"She's already asleep again!?" Katsuragi stated in disbelief.

"Zzzz...B83-W56-H80...E-Cup, zzzzz..." Seimei suddenly snored out.

"...Is she...talking while asleep?" Hibari had to say, noticing the strange behavior.

"She does that sometimes." Hijikata soon admitted.

"We make sure she doesn't bathe alone just in case she really drowns..." Fūma replied with a sweatdrop.

"I guess it's my turn now?" The robot girl asked, getting nods from responses from the others. "Um, I'm Muramasa and uh...B70-W52-H68 and A-Cup." She innocently revealed as she stood up as well like most of the rest.

"I'd say variable because Hibari here can upgrade it any time." Katsuragi pointed out.

"But it would make things much more difficult to access her heart and stuff..." Hibari revealed with a pout.

"Just think about it." Katsuragi insisted with a grin.

"Alright, thank you for revealing those important tidbits. You can now dip yourself back into the baths." Ayame suddenly stated to everyone. "I'll use that information as references for my products at my shop in case you guys need something to buy from me." She then revealed.

"Shop?" Ikaruga repeated. "Wait, you work at the school shop?" She then assumed.

"Oh no, I run my own place!" Ayame corrected with a proud smile on her face. "Ayame-chan's Shinobi Essentials! We provide everything from outfits and accessories, to music and artwork, and a daily lottery!" She then revealed.

"A shop owner and you're only a first year? That's impressive." Hibari couldn't help but admit in awe.

"Yep. And I do business with just about anyone!" Ayame informed with a shopkeeper's smile.

"...Anyone?" Ikaruga repeated.

"Yep. As long as they pay, they are welcome." Ayame agreed and added.

"Even Evil Shinobi?" Ikaruga soon asked in concern.

To that, Ayame raised a finger, but then paused to think about it. "I don't ask." She soon answered.

"Ayame...are you selling weapons to the enemy?" Fūma slowly called out in disbelief.

"What!? I mean, I sell weapons too but um..." Ayame admitted, looking a little nervous at all the looks she was getting. "I mean I know I sell to both shinobis and even the shinobis of the exorcist ninjas..." She then muttered.

"Exorcist ninjas?" Hibari innocently repeated.

"Duh, the ninjas that make sure that Ayakashi don't run rampant like how we train to fight the Yōma?" Ayame responded in a nonchalant manner.

"That's actually a thing?" Fūma asked, getting a nod in response from the shop owner. "Huh, so Ayakashis are real too. Good to know." She then added.

"Yeah, though I still have a ways to go before making actual battlesuits ninja gears like the top exorcist ninja tool makers do." Ayame got out with a pout. "Believe me, it is quite a task to sew clothes out of the right material." She then added.

"Ayame-san, that still doesn't excuse the fact you're giving the other faction a better chance of killing us..." Hijikata got out with a dangerous glare in her eyes.

"Actually, weapons aren't all that popular. Clothing and music are my best sellers. Plus there are people who tend to not buy anything..." Ayame soon informed before gaining a hot red blush. "A lot of customers like to grope me...And the lottery prizes have a lot of sexy underwear I need to offload..." She soon revealed.

"..." The others in turn looked at the shop owner in disbelief.

"Also, men entering my shop were extremely rare. Almost like I never got any male customers at all." Ayame suddenly admitted. "Not that I don't appreciate it, but I did hope I got some male customers to buy something in my shop, at least. But now, almost all of my products are now designed for women entirely and some unisex-designed products began to dwindle slowly in my shop."

"Uh...what?" Ikaruga only got out in slight disbelief.

"You've...never got any male customers?" Katsuragi repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Not really, Katsuragi-neesama." Ayame responded with a sigh.

"Then...the ones who tried to grope you are all..." Hijikata then assumed.

"Female, yes." Ayame confirmed with a nod.

Ikaruga in turn gave a look as she glanced towards her fellow blonde Elite.

"Whoa, hey, why are you looking at me, Ikaruga?" Katsuragi sputtered as she raised both her hands. "I didn't even go to her store, remember?" She then added.

"Apologies, Katsuragi-san. Just an unnecessary instinct." Ikaruga responded.

Katsuragi cringed a bit before leaning towards her ear. "Don't lump me in with Ayame, will you?" She then whispered.

Ikaruga simply sighed before waving a hand off, with the blonde simply hummed in slight annoyance in response as she leaned away.

Meanwhile, Hijikata simply rubbed her forehead with what her fellow Elite revealed in response. "I did not expect that you would be groped by females nonetheless, Ayame-san." She then confessed.

"Surprising, right?" Ayame started. "Did you all assume that I would be groped by boys?" She then asked the girls in the bath, aside from the light blue haired girl, who was still looking like she was on the verge of sleeping.

There was an air of silence in the hot bath quarters for a moment.

"I...have to admit...reckless of me to assume that...my apologies, Ayame-san." Ikaruga guiltily stated and apologized with a hand on her chest.

"I...may as well have to apologize, too." Hijikata had to say to herself in agreement, albeit in slight shame.

"How come you don't have any male customers in your shop, Ayame-san?" Fūma decided to ask.

"No idea, honestly." Ayame simply replied as she shrugged her shoulders. "Feels weird not having any guys visiting in my store anymore..." She then admitted.

"I wonder what happened, though..." Ikaruga soon got out in a more curious manner.

"Um...boys aren't all bad, right?" Hibari curiously asked all of a sudden. "You know...boys being dirty or something are not entirely true..." She then added

"Somehow I agree." Fūma replied. "Even though there are some women out there who despise men in general, I have to admit. Mostly due to experience." She then added.

"Hm?" Ikaruga hummed out in a curious manner. "Why would they despise men?" She then asked, not believing what she just heard. "I have a stepbrother, and from the looks of it, he has no interest in the sexual side of things as of this moment. He knows what he is doing." She then casually informed.

"Yeah, that's a good point, though." Katsuragi agreed with a nod. "And so does Kiriya-sensei, remember?" She then added.

Most of the girls nodded with a hum of agreement.

"Hanzō-sama may have the tendency to do shameless acts, but at least he did not go to extreme lengths such as...-" Ikaruga began with a sigh. "-such as having unnecessary intercourse. Besides, he is already married and has a lot of wisdom in his mind." She stated in a serious tone. "For that, I can wholly respect him to a degree." She soon added.

"Huh...that's true, Ikaruga." Katsuragi replied. "Despite the goofiness, he is still our master and a respected shinobi at that." She then added.

"And the founder of the school." Hijikata reminded. "Did he really do those things?" She then asked.

"He does, but at the very least, he doesn't go too far with the acts...as far as I'm aware of. You can trust me on this, Hijikata-san." Ikaruga replied in reassurance. "At most, making one of us give him a back massage." She then added.

In turn, Hijikata nodded. "Alright, if you say so, Ikaruga-senpai." She responded.

"Anyway, they say that they despise men because they are all lustful and can't be trusted, but I don't believe in any of that nonsense." Fūma revealed. "Must be because of the Kamoshida incident." She then guessed, causing the other girls, save for the light blue haired girl, to wince slightly at the name mentioned.

"True...Kamoshida has really set the standards for some people." Hijikata confessed in a serious tone with a nod. "I'm quite surprised that a single public confession can cause huge waves of influences across Tokyo. Maybe even the entirety of Japan." She then added.

"So...if that's the case, what's gonna happen to the men in this country?" Katsuragi soon asked, suddenly thinking about the dyed blond. "You think all guys are gonna be blamed for what one asshole did?" She then added.

"Of course not. They would never think of it that way." Ikaruga responded. "No one is truly perfect, be it male or female." She then stated, getting the attention from the others.

"Yeah... you're right." Katsuragi stated with a nod.

"Well, I just hope that everyone does their best to behave themselves." Hijikata stated. "And maybe keep an open mind about things." She then added.

"Agreed." Ikaruga replied in agreement.

"Well that was an interesting conversation to say the least." Fūma had to admit. "We can continue our discussion for that at a later time. I think it's time we talk about something else." She then added and suggested.

"Yeah, sure thing." Ayame replied with a nod almost immediately. "Go ahead." She added.

Soo, the group of girls were once more greeted with silence as they enjoyed the bath.

"So, um...you guys heard of the Phantom Thieves?" Hibari decided to ask.

"Who hasn't?" Ayame got out with a grin.

"They've been around since May, right?" Hijikata recalled. "The ones who exposed Kamoshida for the scum that he is." She then added.

"Yeah, thank God for that." Katsuragi stated in relief.

"I even got some merchandise planned based on them." Ayame then revealed with a starry look in her eyes.

"No one's actually seen them though..." Hibari pointed out.

"Well, there's their logo." Ayame pointed out. "You can slap it onto anything like posters, t-shirts, wallets, cups, headphones, tape, stickers..." She then started as she began listing off items.

"My, you are really-" Ikaruga started.

"Hold on, I'm not done." The shopkeeper got out. "I've got calling cards, cookies, masks, bags, chairs, toolboxes, power banks, canned bread, dice, controllers, toothbrushes, cutting boards, shields, balloons, bras, panties, bikinis-" Ayame continued, however...

"Okay, okay. The Phantom Thieves are a merchandising machine." Katsuragi interrupted. "God, I was expecting to hear Phantom Thieves condoms at some point..." She then muttered.

"That's in the works. Depends if some of my female customers want to buy that for their guys." Ayame then happily informed. "Gotta get the money somehow to prepare for battle suits and ninja gear making after all." She soon added, causing the others to sweatdrop.

"Ugh, you people are way too noisy..." Seimei grumbled while eyeing the others in annoyance.

"Sorry, Seimei-san. We're just talking." Ikaruga pointed out.

"Yeah, and it's too loud. Can't...you...Zzzzzz..." Seimei mumbled.

"She...She fell asleep mid-sentence!" Hibari exclaimed in shock.

"Um...is she okay?" Ikaruga asked in concern. "Does she have narcolepsy?" She then assumed.

"We tried to ask her but...she goes to sleep whenever we do." Ayame admitted with a sweatdrop.

"She's funny doing it too." Muramasa giggled out in an innocent manner. "She once fell asleep while I was punching her in the face!" She then added as the Elites blinked to hearing that while the other new wave girls sweatdropped.

"I still think you punched her unconscious." Hijikata pointed out.

"But she fired her rockets at me after that." The robot girl reminded.

"Rockets?" Ikaruga repeated.

"She has a rocket launcher!" Muramasa revealed with a smile. "She's super good with it too!" She then added.

"I expected something more...quiet." Katsuragi couldn't help but admit.

"Well, she actually told us about that." Hijikata revealed. "She said the faster her enemies leave her alone, the faster she gets to sleep." She then explained as they looked at the sleeping light blue haired girl in mention.

"Zzzzzz..." Seimei snored out.

"See?" Hijikata soon asked.

"..." The veteran Hanzō shinobi simply stared at the sleeping girl with blank looks on their faces.

"...Hibari can see it!" The pinkette exclaimed in amazement.

"I think we are straying further and further away from our roots as mere shadows in the moonlight..." Ikaruga deadpanned.

"Oh come on, that's the old way. The new ways are better." Katsuragi waved off before grinning. "So...So much better." She then added.

"Hai, Katsuragi-senpai!" Ayame replied in agreement.

GROPE!

"WAH!" Katsuragi exclaimed as the shopkeeper suddenly appeared in front of her and grabbed onto her tits. "W-W-What are you doing...!?" She then squeaked out with a blush on her face.

"Huh? Isn't this how you make friends, senpai?" Ayame recalled with a smile. "Maybe you like it better if I feel up your thighs or butt..." She then added as she began groping other parts of her senpai.

"A-Ayame, p-p-please..." Katsuragi struggled out, soon feeling weak. "Ngh...Futaba's way easier to deal with..." She mentally groaned and confessed.

"...Oh the irony..." Ikaruga couldn't help but think to herself, not sure whether to be amused or sympathetic at the sight.

"Ayame-san is really fast!" Hibari couldn't help but notice.

"The fastest out of any of us." Fūma replied. "I guess that's what comes with working as a shopkeeper." She then assumed.

"Hey, weren't we talking about the Phantom Thieves?" Hijikata reminded.

"Oh, right." Ayame got out, soon giving another squeeze to the blonde, who moaned as a result.

"If you don't mind us asking, what are your thoughts about them?" Ikaruga decided to ask. "Outside of merch." She quickly added upon seeing the shop owner open her mouth.

Hijikata in response smirked. "They have a strong sense of justice for exposing the evils that are hidden in our country." She answered.

"Yeah! Especially with that so-called gym teacher at that school in Tokyo Asuka-senpai's currently at." Fūma added.

"Yes, me and my fellow Elites here remember that all too clearly." Ikaruga nodded as she stated that. "Also, how do you know she's attending there?" She then asked.

"Kiriya-sensei told us about it while training." Fūma replied, the other first years nodding in confirmation.

"I see." Ikaruga responded with a sigh. "I assume you also know about the mission she is currently on?" She then deducted, prompting Ayame to release her hands from the blonde's breasts since the conversation now became serious.

Katsuragi simply had a sigh of relief and hugged her large breasts together before hearing the conversation taking another turn.

"Uh...something about the incidents in Tokyo over the past two years, right?" Fūma soon recalled and asked.

"Yes." Hibari spoke up with a nod. "To put a stop to them before they get any worse." She then added.

"There hasn't been an incident in a while though..." Hijikata however reminded. "Should Asuka-san have returned?" She soon asked.

"Yeah! I- er, we need to meet!" Fūma called out.

"Yes. She would have." Ikaruga responded. "But her reports about the matter have practically been the same; chasing leads that go nowhere." She then remembered.

"Isn't that a little suspicious?" Hijikata however asked. "By now, she would've turned up something worth reporting." She then pointed out.

"What!?" Katsuragi exclaimed, looking shocked, offended and a little enraged. "Asuka would never lie on her reports. That would mean lying to us and Asuka is no liar to her friends." She then called out.

"Yeah, but...Asuka-sa left in April. The very next month the Phantom Thieves appear and now the shutdowns stop after going on for two years straight." Hijikata recalled and soon stated. "That...can't be a coincidence, right?" She then asked.

"..." To that, the Elites became silent as a result.

"Is it possible...Asuka-san is a Phantom Thief?" Hijikata soon asked.

"...Nah...!" Katsuragi waved off.

"I agree. No way!" Hibari agreed.

"That's quite the theory, but you don't know Asuka-san as well as we do." Ikaruga softly giggled.

"B-But you can't deny the possibility!" Hijikata called out.

"That is true, but the simplest answer is often the correct one." Katsuragi stated as she shook her head. "It's just a coincidence, nothing more." She then added.

"Though we aren't denying the possibility, we just know Asuka-san more than you think." Ikaruga soon stated. "If Asuka-san is involved, then she must have her reasons to keep it from us." She then added.

"Yeah, we trust her." Katsuragi responded.

"Well...she is the granddaughter of the legendary shinobi." Hijikata accepted after a little bit of thought. "She wouldn't do anything to betray us." She soon stated.

"Yeah..." Ayame agreed with a nod.

"I can't wait to meet her!" Muramasa exclaimed.

"Me too, Muramasa. Me too." Fūma breathed out.

"I'm still betting the guys that inflated Okumaru on the Phan-Site's poll are the ones behind the shutdowns as well." Ayame soon declared.

"Hm?" Ikaruga hummed out, curious to hear that. "What makes you say that?" She then asked.

"Well...like...um..." Ayame blushed as she scrambled for a reason. "They...seem bad?" She awkwardly answered in an uneasy tone.

"Couldn't you have any better reasons than that?" Ikaruga questioned with a frown.

"Well, it's not like we have anything else to go by." Hijikata responded. "This might be their Hail Mary." She then added.

"It'd be an unwise Hail Mary if they don't have anything prepared in case it goes wrong." Ikaruga however stated. "We shouldn't act like we know what's happening right now. There's nothing to indicate if the shutdowns and those hackers are even related to each other. Jumping to conclusions often leads to innocent deaths." She then added and advised.

"And there's the classic Ikaruga wisdom right there." Katsuragi breathed out. "Her capacity for logical reasoning is just as impressive as her cup size." She soon stated.

Ikaruga really wanted to let out a long-suffering sigh at that, but she was pretty sure she was out of those for the day.

"I guess we have a lot to learn then." Hijikata got out with a nod.

"But that's why you're here. At Hanzō Academy, you can afford to make mistakes and learn." Ikaruga assured. "Isn't that right, Seimei-san?" She soon asked before turning to the drowsy girl.

"Blub blub blub blub..." Was Seimei's response as bubbles appeared where she was once at.

"Wah, Seimei-chan is drowning!" Hibari exclaimed in a panic.

"I'm pretty sure she's trained in underwater survival." Fūma suddenly stated. "Probably breathing through her snot bubble." She then added.

"Ew." The other girls got out with grossed out looks.

"You do what you must to survive." Fūma then recalled with a shrug.

"Yeah! I drank oil from a carburetor once when I was on the streets!" Muramasa freely admitted before sticking out her tongue in disgust. "Tasted like...burning..." She soon revealed with a cringe.

"What?" Hijikata got out in a flat tone.

"Can someone pull her out already!?" Ayame called out as she dived into the water to pull the sleeping girl out.

Ikaruga simply groaned. The arrival of the new wave had done nothing to calm the antics of the shinobi life at Hanzō Academy.

But it did make things more lively for them at least.

(Yongen-Jaya, Backstreets)

"Alright, Haruka. Get home safely." Takemi advised, seeing her assistant leaving after her work for the day.

"I will, sensei. Have a good night." Haruka responded with a bow before taking her leave while pocketing her paycheck. She was going to meet a friend of Akira. Since she had some time before she headed home, she decided to arrange the meeting so she could get that obligation out of the way.

She still couldn't help but wonder why one would choose to have a username like BootyPride24/7. There had to be something better to express her love of butts.

"Hmmm...now that I'm thinking about it, that new amusement park's gonna open soon. This friend must be a real fan." Haruka spoke out loud and assumed. "Bootyland, huh...Kinda tempted to visit once it finally opens. Although, I wonder how Mirai would enter given her appearance. Destinyland probably would be more realistic of a Crimson Squad holiday." She then admitted and pointed out.

Because of the changing season, it was actually colder than Haruka had anticipated, and since she was already thinking about getting some new clothing she had decided to impulsively buy herself a coat while on her break today.

It was a nice coat, long and purple. It even included a hood. She wasn't wearing anything that would match the coat, but she would resolve that in due time.

"Brrr..." Haruka shivered as she flipped up her hood. She could feel her ears freezing over. Dammit, shinobi were supposed to last in arctic environments naked for at least 2 weeks! All that time in the school freezer should've counted for something! Maybe she was getting out of practice...

"I'll think about training later. Maybe with Tsumuji-chan in a Kekkai." Haruka soon got out before sitting down on a nearby bench. She then frowned as she looked around. She had said to meet her around this time and yet there were no signs of her. She knew this area was a little out of the way, but it wasn't that hard to find. In fact, the only other person present in the area aside from her was an old man sitting on another small bench nearby while reading a newspaper.

"Where is this person...?" Haruka wondered out loud as she pulled out her phone, thinking about calling the boy she loved dearly and asking him questions this time.

However, as she did, a set of crosshairs was aimed straight at her head.

Ryōbi let out a breath as she steadied her rifle.

It was her. She might be hiding her face, but she had the udders Imu mumbled about in her sleep. Just looking at her from her makeshift sniper perch filled her with such rage at the sight.

She had loaded her most powerful ammo into her gun to ensure that whatever death her target may have, it would be a swift one. A mercy on her part, you could thank Ryōna for convincing her.

A single twitch of her finger and it would all be over. Ryōki would finally be able to rest. She could finally be able to end her path of revenge.

She could...

She...could...

She...

"Well, I have no idea what else to do!" Ryōna called out in frustration. "But we've already sacrificed too much already, I won't let you sacrifice our last chance to walk away!" She then declared.

She...She couldn't.

Ryōbi let her finger off the trigger. "Fucking stupid Ryōna and her new shitty empathy..." She cursed under her breath.

Getting rid of her rifle and jumping off the building, she landed right behind her target. Ryōbi had to admit, she never expected to actually speak to the bitch.

"Hey, fuckface. You Miyabi?" Ryōbi greeted. The woman didn't respond, focusing mainly on her phone. "Hello...? Dammit, are you Miyabi, you deaf bitch!?" She then called out.

"Hm?" Haruka finally looked up from her phone and turned around to face the person needing her attention. "...You were talking to me?" She then finally began asking.

"Yeah, of course I was talking to you!" The petite brunette groaned. "Why didn't you answer the first time!? You have too much bullshit in your ear holes or something!?" She soon accused.

Haruka however blinked to this in confusion. "Um...I'm not Miyabi." She soon informed.

"That's what I thought, so why don't you- wait what?" Ryobi continued, only to falter when she heard something from the blonde's words.

"I just told you. I am not this Miyabi person you're looking for." Haruka responded as she pulled down on her hood. "But I could use your help. I'm supposed to meet someone here because of a mutual friend." She then offered.

Ryōbi's eye twitched. "...You mean Akira Kurusu." She flatly said.

"Yes." Haruka nodded. "I assume you're BootyPride24/7." She then guessed before looking down. Meh, could be better.

"..." Ryōbi stared at the older girl in silence before covering her mouth...and screamed as loud as she could. "MMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" She screeched out in a muffled manner.

"BootyPride-san!?" Haruka exclaimed.

"I'm fine! Perfectly fucking peachy!" Ryobi not-so-peachily screamed. "Fucking asshole, not giving me the person that I want. Shithead doesn't understand what I mean!" She soon grumbled loudly.

"If I recall correctly, Akira said you wanted to meet a woman with a wheelchair and liked inflicting pain on others." Haruka assumed as she tried to remember. "I'm so flattered, darling thought of me first instead of any of his other adult acquaintances." She then continued with a dreamy-like tone.

"I meant someone else! Like, Miyabi Kurayami or whatever she calls herself. Fuck! I should've just come out with it instead fucking fucking it up by beating around the fucking bush!" Ryobi angrily ranted before pausing. "Do you even fucking own a wheelchair!?" She then questioned.

"We have one or two at the clinic I work at, just in case." Haruka casually answered. "Hm, I wouldn't assume that at first, but darling has some weird thoughts." She soon admitted.

"Fucking! Piece of shit! I'm gonna kill him!" Ryōbi growled out.

That immediately made the blonde tense as she then narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me? Kill who?" Haruka asked in a tense and serious tone. "You will do no such thing." She soon ordered.

"Oh, like you could ever-" Ryobi rebuked, only to be cut off as she sensed a weapon coming at her at shinobi-like speed.

SHING!

The two instantly aimed their weapons at their throats.

Ryōbi pushed a kunai, while Haruka had a syringe with a pink glowing substance.

"Tch, what is that? Pentacetamol?" Ryōbi asked and assumed.

"Concentrated pink bean sprout essence. Will cause those injected to have to be in the bathroom for a couple of hours." Haruka revealed.

The brunette in turn blinked in confusion. "Pink...bean sprouts?" Ryōbi slowly repeated, thinking back to the abandoned Hebijo Base.

"My research is relying heavily on it." Haruka stated.

"And you just have that in your pocket?" Ryōbi got out with a raised eyebrow.

"Just in case." Haruka shrugged. "Consider it a mercy. If this syringe was only filled with air, I could just give you a heart attack. Why mess with poisons and potions when dealing in death?" She then stated and revealed.

"Tch, spoken like a true heartless bitch." Ryōbi grunted. "If you're not Miyabi, who the hell are you?" She then asked.

"That's on a need to know basis. And right now, all you need to know is that you should stop. Now." Haruka replied and ordered in a threatening manner.

"You should know better." Ryōbi got out before leaning in closer. "A shinobi never stops." She soon growled.

"...So you're a shinobi as well…" Haruka assumed. "And judging by the threat, you're an Evil Shinobi too, correct?" She then assumed.

"Aren't you?" Ryōbi countered. "You are still trying to jab me with that shit syringe." She soon reminded.

"That's why I said too, miss..." Haruka pointed out before trailing off, giving the younger girl a look.

"You said your name is on a need-to-know basis, jackass. Like fuck I'm gonna go first." Ryōbi spat out.

"Then I am afraid we're at an impasse." The doctor-in-training lamented. "You should know that acting so hostile won't get you anywhere." She then remarked.

Ryobi's eyebrows furrowed as she scoffed with gritted teeth, glaring at the blonde. "Shut up!"

"You see, that right there? That's why you aren't getting my name." Haruka stated. "And you certainly won't get your answers from me, alive or dead, without at least telling me your name. Even the stains beneath my feet have that courtesy." She then added in a low tone.

"...Ryōbi. Ryōbi Inoue of Hebijo. First year." The brunette reluctantly answered. "There, happy now? Now mention yours too. For common courtesy, fucking bitch." She then insisted in her usual and casual tone.

Haruka decided to hold back her annoyance by the brunette's speech mannerisms. "If you insist...Haruka. Haruka Toyoguchi of Hebijo. Third year." She then introduced.

"Haruk-...Y-You're Haruka!?" Ryōbi repeated before exclaiming in realization. "The mad sadistic scientist!?" She then recalled as the two stepped away from each other.

Haruka frowned in an offended manner at that as she placed her hands on her hips. "That was my past life. I am now a sadistic doctor...in training." She soon corrected. "And madly in love, anyhow." She silently admitted, hiding away the syringe now.

"Yeah, remind me not to get stabbed or something so I can avoid being around you." Ryōbi scoffed as she rolled her eyes while keeping away her kunai.

"Cute. Anyway, what's a Hebijo student doing here in Tokyo?" Haruka soon questioned. "Are you here for orders as well?" She then assumed.

"I am, but I'm also here for personal reasons." Ryōbi confirmed and vaguely stated.

"I can assume as much." Haruka muttered. She was pretty sure no one had even thought of what Hebijo wanted and just lied their ass off on the report. "And I assume it involves meeting Miyabi-san." She then deducted.

"So you do know Miyabi!?" The brunette soon asked once more.

"Ah ah ah, doctor-patient confidentiality." Haruka tutted as she shook her head. "I know a Miyabi. I have many patients and Miyabi is quite the common name, so you won't get anything from me." She soon pointed out.

"Tch...not unless I beat it out of you." Ryōbi muttered under her breath.

"You can try." Haruka dared the petite brunette. "But that would be especially unwise on your part, especially being a shinobi." She then reminded matter-of-factly.

"Hey, I kicked your friends' collective asses to prove myself. I can do it again to you." Ryōbi claimed.

Haruka's eye soon twitched after learning that. So this was one of the girls that beat her fellow Crimson Squad members. "Hm, very well. It's been quite a while since I've had a plaything, and you should make for a nice subject." She breathed out, subtly shifting her stance.

"And there's the Hebijo mad scientist I've heard about in legends." Ryōbi got out.

"I'm not a mad scientist nor a legend." Haruka sternly corrected in annoyance. "But I'm not your enemy...yet. And I suggest you don't make me." She advised in a threatening tone.

"...I only want my target. Nothing more." Ryōbi stated as she clenched her fists.

"And you won't be getting to her any time soon." Haruka countered. "Do you even know what Miyabi looks like?" She then asked.

"She has just as big udders as you and she has black hair." Ryōbi casually answered. "Oh, and she attends Hebijo." She then added.

Haruka gave the other girl a flat look. "That's...most of Hebijo she just described." She thought.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ryōbi questioned, looking a little annoyed by the look she was being given.

"No reason." Haruka lied. "I'm not going to help you if you don't tell me why you're here." She soon demanded.

"You're probably not gonna help me regardless." Ryōbi grumbled. "You, Akira, fucking Ryōna...all of you are gonna spout all the same bullshit I've been hearing until I believe it." She then spat out in frustration. "And it's starting to work..." She quietly added to herself with a sigh.

"Ryōna?" Haruka repeated in a curious manner.

"My twin sister, who my mom shitted out first." Ryōbi off-handedly explained. "Thank God you haven't met her before she came to Tokyo." She soon deadpanned.

"Hm?" Haruka hummed out in a curious manner. "I don't even know anyone like that. What does your sister look like?" She then asked while imagining what she looked like.

How would someone have concave boobs...?

"Blonde, stupid, smiley, stupid again, has fucking milk bags like yours, more stupid. Just fucking stupid." Ryōbi listed off.

"Milk bags? You mean my breasts, right?" Haruka repeated and assumed.

"Yes. Don't delve into it." Ryōbi replied and insisted, not wanting to think about big breasts right now.

"I...don't think I've met your sister." Haruka recalled.

"...Really?" Ryōbi got out in confusion and disbelief. "She never did any of her acts where she pretends to be a dog for an audience and gets money for it?" She then asked.

"...She's done that before?" Haruka questioned.

"My sister is usually the biggest fuckin' masochist in existence..." Ryōbi revealed in embarrassment. "Then she goes and changes after coming here because of some douche, and claims she wants to be some shitty stay-at-home mom or something, and now here am I!" She then rambled and concluded as she began panting heavily.

Haruka however blinked. Something about this scenario seemed...familiar...

"...And it's all because she fell for that Akira Kurusu guy..." The brunette soon grumbled while pouting.

"!?" The blonde's eyes soon widened to that reveal...before giggling. "Oho~ So your twin sister has also fallen for darling too~" Haruka responded in amusement.

"Yeah, it's so fucking stupid right?" Ryōbi scoffed as she rolled her eyes...before noticing the blonde's words. "Wait...darling?" She then asked.

"Well, the more the merrier, right?" Haruka however replied with a smirk. "Also, yes. I love to call him that since I do have a thing for him, too." She then eagerly revealed.

Ryōbi's eyes however widened in disbelief upon hearing that, realizing what that meant. "...All you people are insane." She soon declared.

"We all trained at Hebijo after all." Haruka playfully countered.

"...Touché...douche." Ryōbi hesitantly responded before groaning. "So both you and my sister like the guy." She then concluded.

"Murasaki-chan too. He's one of the reasons she's no longer a shut-in." Haruka corrected and revealed in a proud manner.

"..." Ryōbi's eyes immediately widened to that, recalling how the purplette in mention was with how exercise-crazy she was along with those muscles she had that complimented her huge-ass udders as well as thinking back to when she ragdolled her sister. "He's the reason she's practically a beefcake now!?" She gawked.

"Part of it, I'm the other." Haruka corrected and revealed. "And all I did was encourage her to improve. Darling meanwhile was the driving force for Murasaki to change." She then explained.

"Something tells me that's a running theme for this loser." Ryōbi deadpanned.

"I wouldn't know. I haven't really interacted with many of his friends." Haruka shrugged. "Although, I might be able to now." She vaguely added.

"I'm not his friend." Ryōbi scoffed. "Complimenting my chest once doesn't earn him brownie points." She then remarked.

"Darling complimented your chest? Wow, guess he really has no preferences with women." Haruka repeated and stated with an eager tone and a smile. "Also, that blush says otherwise~" She then sang-sung.

"I-It's because I'm getting hot!" Ryōbi denied as she shook her head...right before shivering. "S-See? Why are you in that stupid ass coat anyways! It's like...45 degrees!" She then claimed.

"Why don't we talk somewhere a little more private?" Haruka soon offered. "It's a little late but I'm sure that Leeeee..." She soon began only to see the white haired woman in mention inside the local cafe, sipping on some coffee. "L-Le bath house. There's a nice bath house close by." She then stated before taking the brunette's hand and started dragging her away.

"Hey, what are you doing!?" Ryōbi exclaimed as she tried to fight back by pulling away from the blonde. "Help! I'm being kidnapped by a cow!" She soon called out while flailing her arms around.

"Quiet down, there are other people sleeping!" Haruka chided as she continued dragging the brunette. "...Miyabi owes me for this." She thought to herself before heading into the building.

Just as the duo went inside, Miyabi poked her head out to check on the commotion. "Huh, no one here..." She muttered, frowning. She swore she saw someone here just now.

"Big Sis, ya find out who was screaming about cows!?" Futaba loudly asked from the Leader's room.

"No! And don't yell!" Miyabi yelled back.

"Well come up here already! I set up the game console now!" Akira instructed from upstairs as well.

"Mona's playing too! We have four player co-op! Finally!" Futaba cheered.

Miyabi meanwhile sighed. "Alright, alright, I'm comin'!" She responded loudly as she headed back inside the cafe for the night. Game night, to be exact.

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)

And…that's it. That was the final chapter of 2023. Thank you for coming and… oh, I should probably get you excited for the next chapter.

Well, next chapter involves the Max Rank of one of the shinobi. Can you guess who? Who will create an unbreakable bond first? Well, not Miyabi… we still need to do all her ranks.

UknownHero signing off, my friends! And look forward to 2024!