It's a weird truce that sets between them and it's still a bit awkward, but they're slowly getting back to being functional people just in time for the finals. The studying acts as a quiet therapy, everyone in the dorm perching somewhere, books and papers in hand. Sometimes in the lounge, the roof, in pairs or by themselves, powering through. At least he can exist in the same room as her without flying off the handle.

It's Saturday when Ikutsuki makes his visit to the dorm, calling for a meeting with everyone. Books are slapping shut, but Mitsuru takes a cursory inventory of the team. She narrows her eyes at him specifically with some spark of concern, and looks at the chairman.

"I think it would be best if I gave you the report in the command room by myself. We can discuss your findings afterward, as a group."

"Oh? Well, I was thinking… I thought it…"

She turns her frosty gaze the chairman's way, obviously she's not open to negotiation. Akihiko breathes in relief, he'd rather not revisit that night with an audience.

"Let's go upstairs. I have all the paperwork ready."

Her boots are clicking on the steps as she takes the lead and he shuffles after her, throwing a few interrogating stares at the other members of SEES like a lamb led to his execution.

"Eh, no puns this time!"

Iori nudges Minato sitting next to him, amused. But Akihiko's eyes fall on Yukari hanging by the bar counter, throwing an angry look at the stairs like she's mulling over something dark.

They're asked to come to the command room some time later and file up in silence, pouring in to take ownership of a seat here and there. Ikutsuki is toying with a folder, smiling pleasantly and waits until everyone is settled to begin.

"I called today's meeting because-"

Yukari gets up from her seat and cuts him off.

"I'm sorry. Before we go on, I'd like to ask Mitsuru-senpai something."

Said girl is taken aback.

"Me?"

Takeba exhales a breath and dusts her skirt before continuing.

"Since I joined, so many things have happened… I went along with it, without really understanding what was going on… But now I need to know."

She holds herself straight, her voice not quite venomous, but determined.

"I'm gonna ask you straight out… You've been hiding something from us, haven't you, Senpai? You act like you don't know anything about the Dark Hour and Tartarus, but they're related to that accident ten years ago, aren't they?"

Mitsuru flinches, loosing a bit of her composure. Akihiko is not quite sure he knows where this is going and looks around at the others. Minato and Minako, huddled closed on a large sofa, tense up at the end of her tirade and exchange a look. She grabs her twin's hand, squeezing it hard, and they whisper in hushed tones. Iori looks from Yukari to Mitsuru, thoroughly confused.

"What accident?"

Fuuka looks uncomfortable, a guilty tension in her eyes.

"Yukari…"

Said archer continues, undeterred. She's almost challenging Ikutsuki to cut her off but he's just crammed in his seat, a weird unease on his face.

"There was an explosion near our school, and a lot of people died. It must've been big news back then. You know about it, don't you?"

Her eyes are fixed on Mitsuru, who sighs in resignation.

"…Yes."

Minako speaks up then, a weird grimace on her face.

"Yukari, do you… remember the date? When it…"

"Sometimes in August 1999. I can't recall the exact day, why?"

Minato puts an arm around his sister as if he wants to shield her, eyes indecipherable, his thumb drawing circles on the bone of her shoulder in reassurance. He makes a vague gesture at Yukari to keep going, shaking his head. Akihiko stares at him, drawing a blank.

Why is this important? 10 years ago… it's 2009 now.

He had read the files way back in April, he's got a pretty good visual memory so he thinks back on the papers in that folder. Car accident on the Moonlight bridge in summer, multi vehicle pileup. Pandemonium, not enough ambulances on time to get to everyone, parents found deceased in the flaming wreckage. Twins found on foot nearby. Slight injuries and severe mental trauma, dissociation, no next of kin.

…Shit.

He never pried about their circumstances since everyone with the potential has faced hardships, it's how the power emerges and stabilizes. Doesn't mean anyone wants to talk about it, but they all know it's there, beneath the skin and masks. The cruel irony of coming back where it all started, and learning that their moonlighting might be related to what has destroyed their lives...

Blue meets gray, now he gets it, and the twin nods his way.

Yukari rambles on, explaining.

"Luckily, no students were injured. But, around the same time, a large number of students were recorded as absent. Seems like more than just a coincidence."

Bristling at the insinuation, Mitsuru gets up.

"What do you mean?"

She really means how much do you know; the tone is clear to his ears. She hates not being in the position of strength, attacked in front of her peers. Yukari narrows her eyes, crossing her arms.

"I dug up some old school records and found something interesting. The students who were absent… They all collapsed suddenly and had to be hospitalized. Sound familiar? Like the ones who bullied Fuuka. There has to be an explanation!"

The Kirijo heiress flinches, turns around and gazes out the window. Still, Yukari doesn't let up.

"What really happened on the day of that accident? The Kirijo Group built our school, so you must know something! Tell me the truth!"

Mitsuru takes a moment to collect herself.

"…I wasn't trying to hide anything from you. It just never seemed relevant. But..."

Ikutsuki looks at her with compassion, finally finding something to say.

"It's okay, it's not your fault."

She turns around.

"Alright. I'll tell you the whole story…"

The fact that Mitsuru's grandfather ripped the fabric of reality to create the Dark Hour, causing the pandemonium they're now stuck cleaning up, doesn't seem to sit quite right with most of them. It almost turns into a bickering match, but Ikutsuki crosses his fingers over his folder.

"What if I told you that those twelve Shadows are the cause of everything?"

Everyone gasps in shock and turn around. Akihiko's not quite certain he gets it and speaks up.

"Then, if we defeat them all, Tartarus and the Dark Hour will disappear…?"

The chairman smiles and nods.

"Exactly! That's what I was going to tell you earlier. See, its good news, isn't it? There's evidence to support it too. Now, our true battle begins."

The twins are sharing among themselves in silence, still touching but edgy. Iori seems excited, but Yukari is subdued and wistful.

"I see…"

Ikutsuki continues his lecture with some passion, trying his hardest to inspire the troops.

"Regardless of what's happened in the past, we must fight to protect the people. The Shadows are gaining strength, we can't afford to just wait for them. And there are many mysteries still surrounding Tartarus. Why did a gigantic structure appear in the first place? The answer must lie within it."

The chairman gets up, sorting the papers slipping out of the folder and starts to move toward the doorway.

"I know this might come as a shock, but take the time to rest, all of you, and focus on your studies. Vacations are just around the corner; we'll have ample time to make headway with our mission."

Iori chuckles, shaking his head.

"You're just dropping a save-the-world quest on our lap and expecting me to just go back to my math homework? Sheesh."

"Seriously Stupei? This isn't one of your video games!"

Their bickering just degenerates from there, tension flying high as they disperse back to the lounge. The twins stay in the back, walking slowly and murmuring. Akihiko glances at Minato, who's guiding his sister to his room. Blue hair nods back with a glint of reassurance, he's got this.

He sighs and take the stairs back to the lobby.