Book III: Fictional Edification
Chapter III: New Year Full Circle
Café Leblanc (純喫茶ルブラン)/Yongen-Jaya, Tokyo (四軒茶屋, 東京)/December 23, 2019 (Reality: December 23, 2021)/5:45 PM (JST)
It's the night before Christmas Eve. Not a single Shadow, Yokai, Lost, and Yami Matter activity stirred. Everything outside human activity was relatively calm.
On this night, the Thieves and the Vein Remnants enjoyed the peace that followed after the Shibuya Station attack. Since then, no other entities dared to cross over and ruin their holiday festivities. As for the newcomer Aslaug, she was adopted by Makoto's friends Tori and Hiroshi. Once her Valkyrie power became known, the Thieves and the Revenants surmised what her link to the Vamkyries might be.
However, the group decided on a Christmas get-together before the actual holiday. This gave Tori and Hiroshi a chance to bring Aslaug over to celebrate her first Christmas.
"Merry Christmas!" Makoto and Haru greeted Tori, Hiroshi, and Aslaug who were standing at Leblanc's front door.
"Gee, it's gotten pretty lively in here!" Tori said, poking her head inside to glance at the Thieves and Revenants hanging out and chatting.
"This is pretty much all of us right now," Haru said.
"We sent an invite for Yumeko and her friends but they're all out of Tokyo," Makoto added. "I think they mentioned going back to Osaka."
Overhearing this, Hifumi interjected. "Yes, and they'll be back tomorrow just in time for Christmas."
"Is it ok?" Aslaug asked Makoto and Haru.
"Huh? You mean, is it ok for you to come in? Sure, you're all invited," Haru kindly responded.
"Ok, then I will!" Aslaug announced as she quickly ran in and energetically greeted everyone, including Sojiro, who was taken in by the newcomer.
"Boy, she's a bundle of energy, isn't she?" Sojiro chuckled in amusement.
"Yep, she's staying in with Tori and Hiroshi, Sojiro," Futaba answered as she and Ren helped him brew and serve coffee for their guests.
"She has brought some excitement into our lives," Hiroshi added. "Give me the usual."
"Same here," Tori said as she and Hiroshi sat down and requested their coffee.
"What's that they're making, Tori? Hiroshi?" Aslaug curiously asked them.
"Coffee. Remember that brown stuff we both drink while we're out at work?" Tori reminded her.
"And that drink keeps us awake," Hiroshi said.
"Oh, that gross drink I didn't like? Yuck!" Aslaug replied with a disgusted look on her face.
"Hmm, sounds like we'll have to improvise, Ren," Futaba chortled as she whispered in his ear. Whatever she whispered elicited a smirk from him.
When they finished brewing a special drink for Aslaug, they offered it to her. She initially refused until Tori and Hiroshi convinced her to try it. As she sniffed the hot breed drink, she drank it. Much to her surprise, her eyes lit up with delight.
"Wow, this tastes so good!" Aslaug licked the cream from her lips.
"So, what did you two just serve her?" Hiroshi asked Ren and Futaba.
"Nothing too fancy. Just a mocha. We even added a little peppermint to satisfy those wanting some Christmas flavor!" Futaba proudly revealed.
"We're glad you like it, Aslaug," Ren said.
"So, tell us. What are you going to do with Tori and Hiroshi for Christmas, Aslaug?" Haru asked the Valkyrie, who paused from drinking her mocha to give this question some thought.
"Hmm, I don't know. I don't know much about this Christmas, but I just wanna hang out with big sis and big brother," Aslaug replied earnestly.
"That's exactly how it should be. We should be spending time with our loved ones. Even if you're not with family, spending it with friends is just as special," Makoto said as Tori and Hiroshi nodded together.
"Congratulations on the baby, Ann! I'm so excited!" Miyako gleefully squeed.
"Thank you."
"Oh yeah. He's due next month!" Futaba approached her as Makoto and Haru put their ears on Ann's belly. "That makes me an auntie then, Ren."
"Auntie Futaba? I never thought I'd hear that," Yusuke rolled his eyes.
"If you're going to be an 'auntie', shouldn't you play the part and grow some wrinkles around the face?" Ren sardonically teased Futaba much to her annoyance.
"Hey, shut it, jerk!" Futaba retorted.
"Indeed, some of us are going to be aunties very soon. So, which of us offers to babysit the child first?" Haru asked, sneakily smiling before raising her own hand and lifting Makoto's hand. "Why I elect Mako-chan and myself of course!"
"Whoa! Wait a minute!" Makoto nearly protested.
"Aww, I wanted first dibs!" Rachel whined.
"No fair! I'm his real auntie!" Futaba shouted, fiercely flailing her arms in protest.
"Well, step in line because Mako-chan and I called babysitting duties first," Haru openly and proudly declared, winking to Makoto, who gave a nervous chuckle.
"Sure, I guess. I've never really handled kids before."
"It'll be ok, Mako-chan. We'll take a step at a time."
Leonard interceded, patting Makoto's shoulder. "You two will make great aunties."
"But, I wanted first dibs, dammit!" Futaba quickly cut them off.
"Well, perhaps you'd like to babysit Jacob and I's child?" Madeline offered Futaba, sitting on a chair as she finished a plate of chicken legs and a breast.
"Damn, you put that thing away, Madeline!" Ryuji gawked at the plate full of chicken bones. There was not a sign of meat or fat on the bones.
"Don't underestimate a woman's appetite during pregnancy," Jacob grinned.
"Aslaug's not pregnant but she can sure put away a lot of food herself," Tori remarked.
"It surely can't be that Valkyries have bigger appetites and stronger metabolisms than us lowly humans," Hiroshi sardonically conjectured.
"If that's the case, I'd like to see how she fares against Sumire," Akechi remarked. "Well, what do you think, Sumire?"
"There's plenty of fried chicken left for us to eat," Sumire said, meticulously eyeing several boxes of KFC chicken.
"Hmm, we better get some or else it's all gone," Eugene said.
"No kidding and make sure to leave us some, Sumire," Megumi said, recognizing Sumire's ravenous appetite.
"Wow, she's eating just like me! She must love the food!" Aslaug pointed toward Ann on the other side of the cafe.
"Well, there's a good reason for that, Aslaug," Ren said.
Just then, everyone watched Ann put away two plates full of fried chicken, fries, and mashed potatoes. She let out a loud burp much to everyone's dismay. She realized what she had done and covered her mouth.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry!" Ann apologetically cried out. "But, Madeline's right. We're feeding not just ourselves, but another hungry mouth." Facing Madeline, Ann affectionately smiled at the pregnant Revenant.
"Right, so let's both look forward to giving birth to new lives."
"Man, I can't believe my two best friends will have a kid. I hope the kid will like his uncle Ryuji!"
Miyako giggled, playfully prodding Ryuji's side. "Heheh, I'm sure the kid will love you!"
"I'd be more than happy to paint portraits of the children," Yusuke offered to draw a portrait of Ren & Ann and Jacob & Madeline's soon-to-be-born children.
"We'd love that. Thank you," Madeline nodded in approval to Yusuke's request.
"We expect nothing but the best work from you, Yusuke," Ann genuinely smiled.
Just then, Sumire and Aslaug got in each other's way while grabbing their plates.
"After you," Sumire said.
"No, you go ahead," Aslaug apologetically replied.
"Have you ever had fried chicken?" Sumire asked the Valkyrie girl.
"No, it smells good."
"It is good. You're going to like it," Sumire smiled, watching Aslaug quickly biting into a chicken leg. "Wait, you should put that on a plate first!"
Akechi chortled. "Heheh, she's got quite the appetite. You're an intriguing enigma, Aslaug."
"En-i-gm-a? What's that?" Aslaug blinked in befuddlement.
Just then, Leonard raised a glass along with everyone else.
"How about a toast? Not only to this festive Happy Holiday season but a reflection over our friendship the past year," Skyler addressed everyone with a sake cup raised. He smiled at Hifumi and Io, both of whom stood next to him with sake and juice cups raised. "The new additions to our team." He acknowledged Tori, Hiroshi, and Aslaug. "And honoring those we've lost."
Leonard closed his eyes to pay his respects to Iris Salazar.
"But, most of all, here's a toast to a stable future after we beat Mido and the Yami Matter," Ren firmly stated as he, the other Thieves, and the Revenants raised their cups and glasses together in solidarity.
The group chimed in unison. "A Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday to us all!"
Shinjuku Toho Building/Toho Cinemas Shinjuku/Kabukichō (歌舞伎町)/Shinjuku, Tokyo (新宿区, 東京)/December 27, 2019 (2019年12月27日) (Reality: December 27, 2021)/7:38 PM (JST)
As they entered the theater, the Thieves and the Revenants sat together in anticipation of the latest and last chapter of the Skywalker saga, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Megumi, Eugene, Shiho, Tori, Hiroshi, Aslaug, Shinya, Owen, Reiko, and Li-Ming are also present in the group.
"The time has finally come, hasn't it?" Ren asked, shifting his head and veering his eyes over the other Thieves and Revenants. Facing his right, he saw Ann ravenously eating a handful of fresh popcorn.
Noticing her husband giving an amused look, Ann put down the popcorn bag and closed it. He chuckled and opened up the bag to grab himself some popcorn.
"Don't worry, eat as much as you and the baby need to," Ren encouraged his wife to feed for two.
"Right, I just didn't want to make myself look like a pig."
"You're not. You're still my beautiful angel."
Hearing this, Ann's cheeks blushed and pouted. "Oh, stop, silly."
"Yeah, it's the end of Star Wars, isn't it?" Ryuji realized the length of time that the movie series had lasted.
"I doubt it. They'll make more of those side-story movies and shows, but I think the Skywalker stuff might be finished. The very first movie came out in 1977 before any of us here was born." Leonard stated with confidence.
"I find it hard to believe Star Wars has lasted this long in cinema," Makoto said. "The original movies came out before me and Sae were born. Father watched them with us and those gave us cherished memories."
"I can't say these movies gave me those kind of memories, but they were entertaining. Mind you, the first ones I saw were with Anakin and young Obi-Wan." Rachel revealed her first exposure to the long-running space opera franchise.
"That kinda sounds about right for me, too," Shiho added. "I was a kid when I saw those on TV."
"Wow, same! Those movies were favorites of mine before I saw the originals," Megumi stated.
"Originals all the way for me!" Futaba gleefully boasted.
"Well, Io here just saw all of the Star Wars movies for the first time," Skyler said, facing the pale Revenant's way.
"Wait, you mean all of the originals, those prequels, and the new Disney ones?" Ren asked him.
"Yeah, over the past year, we watched them in anticipation of this movie. Io really enjoyed them."
Hifumi then added to Skyler's point. "That's right. Io enjoyed the space adventures and the lightsaber battles. It has been a while since I've seen any of these movies. I've only watched a few of them and stopped at some point."
Skyler put his hands on Hifumi and Io's hands. "And thanks to us, we've caught Hifumi up."
"Man, we had to cram all of those movies in one week since Aslaug has never seen them before," Hiroshi added to his and Tori's Star Wars experience with the Valkyrie.
"I really liked those light sword battles! I imagined myself dueling that evil Valkyrie girl! Voom! Voom!" Aslaug excitedly said, trying to mimic the lightsaber sound effects.
Tori chuckled while patting Aslaug's head. "They're called lightsabers, sweetie. You can tell Aslaug's excited."
"It sounds like you three had some good bonding time," Haru giggled over Tori, Hiroshi, and Aslaug's experiences together.
"That sounds like all of that was spent in your free time," Makoto said.
"Most of our free time, but we made it worth our time," Tori replied. "We had no regrets if only to spend time with Aslaug."
"I'm wondering how this one is going to end the sequel trilogy," Eugene said, sitting next to his girlfriends Sumire and Megumi.
"Either with a bang or a whimper. We'll see, I guess," Megumi added. "What do you think, Sumire?"
"Hmm, I think I'll reserve my judgment until the movie's over," Sumire replied.
"Still, I wonder with the mixed reactions to the last couple of movies," Futaba pointed out the recent controversies within the Star Wars fanbase. "Nah, nearly everyone forgot that Solo movie."
"But, didn't The Last Jedi pretty much split the fanbase?" Ryuji asked.
"Sure, it did some damage, but it's been mostly whining and complaining from a vocal group online. I've even engaged a few of these vocal jerks online myself." The glass-wearing otaku illustrated the vocal discontent with the recent Star Wars movies. She then evilly grinned. "It was fun poking holes in their dumb arguments."
"But, I'm sure you've had issues with that movie, too?" Yusuke queried to her. "I recall you didn't like parts of it, Futaba?"
"Well, sure. The middle part of the film got a little boring for me and I think Luke could've been handled better. Feh, nothing beats my favorite, The Empire Strikes Back."
"I always prefer The Return of the Jedi myself," Ryuji stated.
"Revenge of the Sith for me!" Shinya raised his hand.
"Wow, someone's top fave is a prequel film? Interesting," Futaba coyly smirked at Shinya. "So, you and your friends are mostly familiar with the prequels and the new ones?"
"Yeah, we watched the new films together. Those are the ones we grew up on," Owen said, referring to the Disney films.
"We didn't dislike the The Last Jedi. We thought it was a good movie. We saw that and The Force Awakens with our families." Reiko said.
"Well, I saw The Force Awakens by myself since mom was too busy," Shinya sighed, recalling every time his mother had to decline to take him due to work commitments. "My mom did eventually take me to see Rogue One and The Last Jedi."
Makoto folded her arms and smiled. "Well, I thought The Last Jedi was a decent film. I think it's good it challenged movie-goers and dared to take risks."
Haru genuinely smiled. "Everyone has their different viewpoints about that movie, don't they? I just wish we could agree to disagree on entertainment mediums. Speaking as someone who runs and has stakes in my company, I have varied opinions about the foods we have to take into consideration. We must appease our customers."
"Not if those customers are being complete dicks," Leonard voiced his displeasure with rude customers who've badmouthed Haru over any lack of food quality. "Voice your concerns, but don't threaten the people working on the products."
"Right, we should agree to disagree. I may not like the direction of some of the new movies, but I won't be an asshole to y'all." Futaba concurred.
Makoto turned to Futaba. "But, we could have a healthy debate about The Last Jedi."
"Sure, and I contest why The Empire Strikes Back is the best."
Yusuke muttered. "So, is anyone going to mention Star Trek?"
"Please, that's a whoooooole can of worms I don't wanna open! That fan rivalry goes way back before our time" Futaba added about the fan rivalry between the two popular Sci-Fi franchises.
"Speaking of fans, check out those cosplayers!" Shinya pointed to a group dressed as Star Wars characters. Three Storm Troopers, a Darth Maul, and a Darth Vader showed up to take their seats.
"Yeah, but look at them over there!" Megumi pointed out to a specific group of cosplayers, dressed as characters not seen in the Star Wars films.
"They indeed put a lot of work into their cosplay," Eugene commented on the cosplayer's quality craftsmanship.
"Well, some do buy their cosplay from online sellers, too," Sumire pointed out.
"My point still stands. Cosplay makers are to be commended for their work."
One such cosplayer was a young woman with reddish-orange hair styled in braided pigtails. A pair of goggles adorned the top of her hair. She had on a form-fitting black sleeveless bodysuit, a light brown ranger cloak, black and brown elbow-length gloves, a blue-green article of clothing around her waist, two leather waist belts intersecting in an X shape, and knee-length dark brown boots.
"Whoa, isn't that the Kozmo Farmgirl?!" Shinya recognized her.
"That's one of the Kozmo Duel Monsters from the Yu-Gi-Oh! game," Owen verified.
"Now that's a cool cosplay!" Reiko said.
"I see, there's others with her. Are they part of those Kozmo Duel Monsters, too?" Rachel asked her brother.
"Yeah, the one with the green painted skin, the pointy ears, and golden curls is Kozmo Goodwitch," Owen pointed to the one sitting next to the farmgirl cosplayer.
"She looks like Yoda," Li-Ming stated.
"The one with the black mask and black witch's hat is Kozmoll Dark Lady. She's supposed to be like Darth Vader. The other with the black cloak and double-sided red lightsaber is Kozmo Wickedwitch. She's like Darth Maul," Owen finished pointing to the all-female Kozmo cosplay group.
"We need to take pics of them after the movie!" Shinya declared.
"I'm taking one with the Farmgirl," Reiko affirmed.
"Oooh, can I dress up like them?" Aslaug asked Tori and Hiroshi.
"We'll see what we can find online for us later," Tori said.
"Just don't make me dress up like a Storm Trooper. I don't know how cosplayers can handle wearing those all day," Hiroshi muttered.
Just then, the lights started to dim and the previews finished.
"The movie's about to start, guys. Time for us to go to a galaxy far, far away," Futaba whispered.
As everyone settled in their seats, Skyler handed popcorn and candy to Hifumi and Io. After getting her snack, Io waited in anticipation for the The Rise of Skywalker crawl to come up. Likewise, Aslaug readied herself for her first in-theater Star Wars experience.
When seeing Rei, Finn, and Poe on screen together, some members of the group were delighted to see the three leads.
Ren whispered. "So, right there that would've been Luke, Leia, and Han, but Shinya, for you and your friends, these three are the characters you've followed."
Shinya nodded. "Yeah, 'cause we were kids when we first saw them in The Force Awakens. And now we're first-year high school students."
"That's right. So, we grew up with these movies," Owen reflected on their growth alongside the movies.
"But, I was introduced by Anakin, Obi-Wan, and the Clone Wars stuff on TV," Shinya muttered. "So, that introduced me to Star Wars. I wasn't even born when those movies came out in theaters."
"That was the same with me, but then I watched the originals," Ren said. "These new movies are ok, but don't resonate as well for me."
"It's a generational thing," Skyler stated. "People like me and Ren prefer the originals and grew up on those prequels. Shinya, you and your friends were introduced through the prequels but grew up on these new movies."
Rachel nodded. "Taking my brother to see these movies opened my eyes to how impactful these movies are."
"And then there's first-timers like Io," Hifumi pointed out.
"And miss little Valkyrie over here," Tori quietly muttered while Aslaug was too distracted by the movie to hear her.
"For better or for worse. Hearing the mixed reviews about this though..." Leonard plainly stated.
"It's better if you watched and formed your opinion, and not let others decide for you," Makoto said.
A few of the couples were immersed in the Rey and Kylo moments, particularly Skyler & Hifumi, Ren & Ann, Makoto & Haru, Kaito & Rebecca, and Shinya & Reiko.
The Knights of Ren appearing was an anticipated moment for some.
"Cool, it's great the Knights are in this," whispered Skyler.
"They look like Kamen Rider bad guys," Shinya remarked.
"Hell yeah! It's about time they showed up!" Futaba chuckled.
"What's a Knights of Ren?" Aslaug asked.
"Shhh," Hiroshi kept the Valkyrie quiet.
The reveal of Palpatine surviving Return of the Jedi and Rey being his granddaughter elicited surprised and dismayed responses from group members.
"So, Snoke's just been a bunch of clones this whole time and Palpatine lived? He's the mastermind behind the First Order," Futaba rolled her eyes, based on her tone she pretended to be surprised. "Gee, how convenient. So, Anakin never brought balance to the Force."
"Well, that just means Rey can bring balance to the Force," Megumi whispered.
"Wait, she can do that, right?" Sumire queried.
"Yeah, she could, but all that effort from the other heroes and Vader's sacrifice meant nothing. Nearly everyone's dead and Palpatine lived. They don't even explain how the creepy fucker survived. Like, W. T. F." Futaba vented her displeasure.
"WTF? What's that?" Aslaug repeated what Futaba said, prompting Hiroshi to cover the Valkyrie's ears.
"Refrain from cussing in front of Aslaug, will you, Futaba?" Hiroshi requested.
"What? She's not going to know what that acronym means, Hiroshi," Tori rolled her eyes.
"What she said," Futaba concurred with Tori.
Skyler leaned back, overhearing Hiroshi's overprotective nature come out. "Oh boy."
Io smiled. "Aslaug reminds me of myself when I first arrived here."
Hifumi giggled. "Yeah, but you weren't as naive as she was."
Scenes such as Leia's passing and Han Solo's Force presence bonding with his son, Ben, drew some sad emotion from the crowd.
The group already witnessed the final battles. Once again, the group's reactions are mixed.
"Yay, the bad guy is dead!" Aslaug cheered.
"Eheheh, that was a fight alright," Tori muttered.
"Hmm, ok. That was cool how she took down the Emperor," Reiko said.
"Hah! Really? I thought it was funny how she finished him," Owen chuckled.
"Well, that was quite the climactic showdown, wasn't it?" Skyler asked Hifumi and Io.
"Not quite what I expected. Io liked it when Rey crossed those lightsabers. I admit that was pretty cool."
Io smiled. "I would've preferred a little more blood."
"Hmm, more blood? Yeah, more blood would be better," Aslaug nodded.
"Looks like you wanted more out of that fight, huh, Aslaug? I can vouch for more gratuitous violence, too," Akechi chuckled as he overheard Aslaug's blood fascination.
"C'mon, this isn't R-rated fare, Akechi," Sumire chortled in amusement.
Ryuji snickered. "Yeah, that ain't gonna happen. Star Wars doesn't have gore."
Miyako added. "I'm kinda glad it doesn't."
"These movies are not known for blood," Makoto commented.
Ren sighed. "Looks like some of us were content but others are just dead inside."
Ann elbowed Ren's side. "So, how did you take to it?"
The Phantom Thief leader slumped back in his seat. "...it was alright."
Rachel sighed. "Did Leia have to die? That was sad."
Sitting on Rachel's lap, Morgana whispered. "So, that means most of the originals are dead. Yeah, I can see why a few of you feel conflicted."
"But, some of us got some emotional investment," Haru said.
"For better or for worse, right, Futaba?" Yusuke asked his friend.
"Mixed bag for me," Futaba remarked.
The last scene appears before the credits roll.
The last words muttered by Rey and another character are heard by the theater speakers.
"I'm Rey."
"Rey who?"
"Rey Skywalker."
The final shot of the movie is Rey looking beyond the horizon of the desert land of Tatooine toward the binary suns, reminiscent of Luke before her.
The movie ended. Many clapped for the movie, but others stayed in their seat allowing the movie's moments to resonate with them. Some tried to process everything they had seen.
The Rise of Skywalker like The Last Jedi before it elicited a mixed response from this theater audience, except for different reasons. The disappointment came from mostly unanswered questions and trying to correct the 'errors' caused by the previous eighth Skywalker saga film. However, the positive response came during the big battle sequences and emotional moments.
Unlike Dragon Ball Super: Broly and Avengers: Endgame, the Thieves and Revenants were still processing the movie.
Shrugging, Futaba sighed. "Ok, so this movie wasn't too bad, but still... so much baggage to process."
"Baggage? I don't see any bags?" Aslaug looked around.
"Figure of speech, my curious Aslaug," Akechi humored the naive Valkyrie teen.
"C'mon, let's go, everyone," Ren said while helping his pregnant wife out of her seat.
10:16 PM (JST)
While Shinya, his friends, and Aslaug took pics with the Kozmo Farmgirl and the Kozmo cosplayers, the Thieves and Revenants shared their overall thoughts on the film.
"Well, I actually liked that film," Haru said.
"Me, too. I was there for those Rey and Kylo moments," Ann happily gleamed.
"I would agree. I enjoyed it, but it's a step below the previous one," Makoto honestly expressed.
"But, aren't all the third movies in each Star Wars saga usually the weakest?" Kaito asked.
"Not Revenge of the Sith. Many argue it's the best of the prequel trilogy," Leonard corrected his Revenant colleague.
"That's not too hard to accomplish. I mean look what came before it," chuckled Megumi.
"I kinda like the stuff in that second movie," Sumire said.
"Attack of the Clones? Hmm, sure there's some good stuff in that one I guess," Eugene recalled.
"And hey! I liked Return of the Jedi!" Ryuji openly confessed. "I guess I'm the only one who liked that one the best from the originals."
Skyler chuckled. "Not really. I like that one, too."
"Count me in enjoying the heck out of Jedi, but dudes, you should watch the Clone Wars cartoons. I saw some of that online and it's better than prequels," Tori said.
"Which one? There were two Clone War cartoons," Hiroshi reminded her.
"Umm, the CGI one?"
"Oh, that one is fine but the other 2D one is much better," Hiroshi answered his partner's query.
Yusuke pivoted toward Futaba. "But, I bet this was your favorite film in the series, huh? It beats out Empire Strikes Back?"
"I know you're being a dick, Inari, but don't even…" Futaba shoved a hand in his face. "There were just parts that rubbed me the wrong way. That's all. It's not a bad movie but it's not good either. I feel like it wasted my time. It was only worth spending time with all of you, guys."
With Morgana on his shoulder, Ren expressed his thoughts. "I might have to agree with Futaba here. They didn't explain certain details like how the Emperor survived."
"Not to mention this movie wasn't daring like The Last Jedi," Makoto pointed out.
"Well, that's not what I meant to say. This film felt like its own trilogy told in one movie. It was alright. It didn't make me upset or anything." the Phantom Thief leader said. "That said, I had a good time watching with you guys."
"And that's all that matters," Ann concurred with her husband's final sentiments.
"Good or bad, this is our final movie get-together for the year," Hifumi said. "Those are the memories I wish to cherish most."
"Wouldn't you agree to that, Futaba?" Yusuke reached over a handshake.
Futaba gave a light chuckle. "Oh, how can I argue? This movie may or may not grow on me." She grabbed and shook Yusuke's hand. "But, hey, I still have The Mandalorian and that Fallen Order game to look forward to. It's not a total loss."
"But, how are you able to watch that?" Rachel asked.
"Sis, I think it's already out on the Disney Plus," Owen said.
"Really?! Hey, you want to watch it, Shiho?" Rachel asked her.
"Sure, you name the time and place."
"Isn't Baby Yoda cute?" Reiko asked Shinya.
"Yeah, real cute," sardonically remarked the teen.
"I'll be posting the Kozmo cosplay on my Twitter with my Baby Yoda memes," Li-Ming said, showing Owen her photos and meme pictures. "Wait, nah. Forget that. Now, it's all about that Baby Sonic!"
Reiko scanned over her Twitter pics. "Oh, so that's Baby Sonic? He's so cute!"
Shinya sighed. "Oh joy, Baby Yoda's got competition."
"What's Baby Sonic?" Rachel asked her brother.
Owen answered. "It's the baby Sonic the Hedgehog for that new movie coming out."
"Oh, another baby fad?" Shiho checked her social media feed. Her face gleamed and her cheeks blushed. "Oh, he's so cute!"
Aslaug took a glance at the baby Sonic pics and gleamed. "Wow, how cute! Who is the blue rat?"
"He's a hedgehog, sweetie," Tori corrected the Valkyrie.
"Hedge-hog?"
"Looks like we'll have to show you the games we still haven't played, Aslaug," Hiroshi said.
"We'll see how long these baby fads last until the next 'baby' thing," Futaba nonchalantly shrugged.
"So, what did you think of the movie, Aslaug?" Tori asked the Valkyrie.
"Um, it was ok? I liked the final fight. I imagined fighting that other Valkyrie with a lightsaber!" Aslaug boasted.
Akechi chuckled. "That certainly would be more entertaining than that movie. I do love your vivid imagination, Aslaug."
"Thanks!" Aslaug nodded.
"Hey, is it just me or has Akechi taken a liking to Aslaug, Mako-chan?" Haru whispered to her girlfriend.
Makoto muttered. "He appreciates her naivete. Aslaug has no idea about what he's done to us. It's ok. She doesn't have to know."
Leonard added. "Honestly, Aslaug's naivete is refreshing, especially after what we've been through. Just so as long as Akechi doesn't cause trouble for her or us."
"Don't worry he won't. As much as some of us don't forgive him, he hasn't done us wrong lately," Makoto said.
"By the way, thanks for helping us purchase our seats, Sophie," Ann said as she merrily spoke into Ren's phone.
Sophia immediately replied. "You're quite welcome, Ann. If you need me to acquire the best possible seats for another group outing, just contact me."
"We can count on you, Sophie," Ren smiled.
"Well, if anything let this movie remind us that Star Wars can bring old and new generations like us together. Even folks like Io and Aslaug can find enjoyment from them. And unlike assholes on the internet, we're still here having friendly conversations and peaceful debates. We won't let any divide in a fanbase split our friendship," Skyler openly stated.
"Amen to that, my friend," Leonard concurred as Makoto and Haru folded their arms over him.
"Even for us. Thanks for the invite," Jacob said as he and Madeline walked away.
"No, thank you for joining us," Hifumi bowed as the couple waved to them.
"Farewell and be safe," Io said with an endearing smile as she and the others watched them leave.
"So, the next group meeting is New Year's?" Ryuji asked Ren.
"Yep."
"We hope we'll see you all there," Hifumi genuinely said.
"New Year, here we come!" Hollered Ryuji as he raised his clenched fists into the air.
Meiji Shrine (明治神宮)/Shibuya, Tokyo (渋谷区, 東京)/January 1, 2020 (2020年1月1日) (Reality: January 1, 2022)/12:00 AM (JST)
"Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!"
With that, the locals cheered in unison while bright and loud fireworks exploded and filled the night sky with their brilliance. The Japanese locals assembled to celebrate the ringing of the new year and prayed to the gods to bless them for a fresh new start.
"Happy New Year, man! Another year passed us!" Ryuji hollered as he and Ren fist-bumped and followed that up with a hug.
"Let's make this new year an eventful one, my friends," Leonard said while he kissed both Makoto and Haru.
"Don't worry, we will," Skyler reassured his friend.
"We're going into this year knowing we must settle this fight against Mido and the Yami Matter. Let's make that a priority," Makoto stated.
"Make that our number one New Year resolution. Yes, let's make sure and do it!" Haru declared.
"Let's not forget some of us will be bearing new life soon," Madeline added. "Right, Ann?"
"Yep, and honestly I'm not looking forward to the process," Ann whimpered at the labor she'll have to go through. "But, it'll be worth it for our kiddo. I'll gut it out." She said as she and Ren gripped each other's hands.
"Just don't break my hand, Ann," Ren nervously chuckled.
"I can't make any promises, honey."
"It'll be ok, Ann. We're going to pull for you. And remember if you two have me if you need a babysitter," Sumire offered to help with Ren and Ann's forthcoming child.
"Thanks, Sumire," Ren said.
"Perhaps you'd like to babysit ours, too?" Jacob asked Sumire.
"Eh, you can ask me to look after y'alls kiddo," Megumi interjected. "How about it, Sumi and Eugene?"
"Sure, we'd love to help," Sumire and Eugene stated.
Sitting down next to Hifumi and Io, Skyler smiled at the two. "You two are looking lovely tonight."
"Don't we always?" Hifumi giggled.
"Ah, but we're going to look lovelier in kimonos in the morning," Nadia said.
"Well, it's already morning technically speaking, but I get what you mean," Anastasia reminded.
"We'll come back here in the morning with our kimonos and then we can go explore other shrines. How about that?" Hifumi suggested.
"I like the sound of that, Hifumi. Kimonos are very comfortable for me to wear," Io said. "This new year, I hope better things will come for us and not just misfortune."
"Me, too," Hifumi said.
"Make that three of us… or five of us," Skyler quickly corrected himself when he counted the Elven Princesses into the mix.
"Looks like we'll be meeting here tomorrow if everyone else is coming, Inari," Futaba said.
"Yes, that sounds like a plan to me. Visiting other local shrines is also a great way to spend New Year's. Let's pray for good health and prosperity," Yusuke said.
"And indulge in some good food, too!" Ryuji declared.
"We can hit a sushi bar. How about that?" Miyako suggested to Ryuji and his friends.
"Sushi lunch! Let's go for it!" Futaba merrily shouted.
"I'm all for some rich sushi myself," Morgana said.
"Me, too, Morgana," Ren added.
"That sushi you had me try was pretty good! I wanna have some more!" Aslaug openly pleaded with Tori and Hiroshi.
"Don't worry. We'll have all the sushi we can eat," Hiroshi said.
"So, you wanna hang with us, you three?" Tori asked Makoto, Haru, and Leonard.
"We're all going to come back here in the morning anyway. No problem. We're thinking of coming and then heading over to the sushi place," Makoto laid out their overall plans.
"And of course, most of us will be wearing our yukatas. So, I hope you'll wear yours, Aslaug," Haru smiled at the Valkyrie.
"Ok, I will. Though, I don't know what that is," Aslaug replied.
"Don't worry. I've got an extra yukata you can wear," Tori said.
"Thanks, big sis!" Aslaug quickly pulled Tori into a big hug
"Yeah, I can feel the conflicts will further escalate in this new year. I don't expect anything to slow down. Hope for the best and expect the worst. Our enemies will come for us sooner than later," Io predicted as the Thieves and Vein Remnants nodded in unison.
Ren concurred with the pale-skinned Revenant. "For now though, let's all celebrate and enjoy this peaceful time until then. It's been an eventful year for us. We've faced great adversity. We've gained new allies, including our newest friend Aslaug. We've faced a recent tragedy and nearly had our wills broken by the Mido and the Yami Matter. I would know and Ann understands this." As he said this, Ann knowingly nodded. "That said, we are in this together and nothing is going to make us break our resolve." His words instilled as much positivity as he could before the reality of their situation reared their insidious presence.
Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム)/Bunkyo, Tokyo (文教, 東京)/January 5, 2020 (2020年1月5日) (Reality: January 5, 2022)/7:30 PM (JST)
With a new year, a legendary career for one of Japan's famed wrestlers is set to end at Wrestle Kingdom 14. Unlike previous years, which were normally one-night events, this show was extended to two nights on January 4th and 5th.
Tonight is the final match for Jushin 'Liger' Thunder. Being a big fight fan, Ryuji didn't want to miss the end of the legend's career. He and Miyako invited Makoto, Haru, Leonard, Kaito, Rebecca, Yusuke, Futaba, Sumire, Megumi, and Eugene.
After the first match passed, the big match was set to begin. A man emerged, seemingly coming straight out of a Tokusatsu hero show fully garbed in a full-bodied red, white, and silver suit. Concealing his identity behind a mask, the famous wrestler's iconic identity was a red and gold mask with crown spikes. Upon entering the ring, Jushin climbed on a ring post and posed for the fans enamored by his presence. He teamed with another Japanese wrestler named Naoki Sano and competed against Ryu Lee & Hiromu Takahashi.
"Wow, I can hardly believe this is it for him. After this, Jushin's pretty much retired," Kaito commented.
"Yeah! You're the man, Liger!" Ryuji hollered to the legendary wrestler. Dressed for the occasion, he wore a bright red NJPW shirt with a golden lion face embellished in the center. The words 'King of Sports' aligned on top of the lion in bold red. 'New Japan Pro-Wrestling' aligned beneath the lion in bold yellow.
"Getting really excited, aren't we?" Miyako giggled over her boyfriend's enthused spirit.
"It's his last match! No way was I missing this!"
"But, weren't you, Miyako, Makoto, Haru, Kaito, and Futaba here for the first event last night?" Leonard asked them.
"Yeah, but that wasn't even Liger's last match. I want to be there for his final matches."
"Besides, Wrestle Kingdom 14 has been hyped for months. I sure didn't want to miss this!" Futaba shared Ryuji's highly spirited enthusiasm.
"These tickets were awfully expensive," Yusuke said.
"But, they were totally worth it! I'm glad you could come tonight, Inari!" Futaba roared, flailing her arms over her head.
"You're especially in a cheerier mood, Futaba," Megumi noted.
"I wonder why? Are you feeling better since we last had our movie outing?" Sumire asked her.
"Well, Inari convinced me to watch The Rise of Skywalker again, but just the two of us. On a second viewing, that movie's not as bad as I thought. Eh, I don't know. I don't want to see it again for a while. The Mandalorian is spoiling me with its greatness so far."
Makoto added with a modest smile. "Well, at least something out of Star Wars makes you happy."
"These wrestling shows have been a fire. So, I'm content," added the hacker.
Eyeing Jushin Liger, Megumi observed. "Doesn't he remind you of one of those characters from the Phoenix Ranger Featherman series?"
"You know he sure does. The outfits they wear are so vibrant and colorful," Eugene observed Liger's masked and costumed figure.
Futaba shrugged. "Eh, maybe bits of the aesthetics, but the inspiration for his wrestling gimmick came from the Jushin Liger anime from the 80s and 90s."
"Wow, you know this how?!" Megumi gasped excitedly and pleaded for an answer from the otaku sage.
"She's our resident otaku," Sumire chuckled.
Lifting her glasses, a sneaky grin adorned Futaba's face. "Sumi's right. Because I know all."
"More like you have access to the 'interwebz' as you like to call it," Yusuke interjected.
"Well, that, too, but I am the biggest tokusatsu aficionado of the group." Futaba then whipped out her smartphone and showed her a YouTube video of a Japanese man with black and white face paint wrestling a rotund American man with a crimson mask. "And I happen to know quite a bit of puroresu, too. See? The guy in the facepaint is Keiji Mutoh, who also happens to be the Great Muta. And this other guy with the mask is Big Van Vader."
Watching the men beating each other up, Megumi nodded. "Wow! I can tell this is old because of the janky video quality!"
"Ahem, it's called a fan cam, girl. They didn't have HD cameras back in the 1990s."
"Right, I knew that!"
"And did you know other American wrestlers used to compete here?"
"Really?" Megumi queried.
"Here we go," Yusuke sighed.
"Well, you know Hulk Hogan, right?"
"I think so?"
"Wait, he was a popular American wrestler, right?" Sumire queried.
"Yep, that's right, Sumi," Futaba smirked as she showed Megumi a video of one of Hogan's Japanese matches. "And he does more than pose and drops those dumb-looking leg drops."
"Oh, wow. Yeah, I recognize him! He was in a movie!"
"Yep, and you know that actor who plays Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy?"
Megumi blinked in befuddlement. "Uh-huh? Dave Batista?"
Futaba sneakily grinned. "He was a pro wrestler."
The Revenant's eyes lit up. "Oh, wow! I didn't know that!"
"The more you know, Megumi," Eugene shrugged.
Yusuke facepalmed. "Oh, good grief, Futaba. You're feeding her too much information."
"Hey, at least I'm getting some kind of reaction out of her, Inari. Just 'cause contact fighting isn't your thing, doesn't mean you need to be a stick in the mud about it!"
Covering his ears, Yusuke shrugged. "Alright, fine. I'll put up with it for you."
"Thanks, Inari!"
Megumi giggled. "You two bicker like an old married couple."
"Yeah, don't they?" Sumire openly giggled.
Upon hearing this, Futaba and Yusuke exchanged awkward but foolishly eccentric looks.
"I'm surprised to see you two here. You two don't strike me as wrestling fans." Kaito addressed Makoto and Haru.
Folding her arms on her lap, Makoto genuinely smiled. "Well, you'd be surprised. I like physical contact sports. Besides, my late father really enjoyed the wrestling shows. He even took me and sis to a couple of matches. We were there to see Jushin Liger compete."
Haru added with a smirk. "And I'm here just because I want to keep Mako-chan and Leonard company. I'm also here to represent my company since Big Bang Burgers is one of Wrestle Kingdom's sponsors."
"And I'm here for the thrill of the show," Leonard stated, sitting in between Makoto and Haru.
"Ssh, hey. The match's about to start," Rebecca whispered.
"Lord Jushin demands our silence," Futaba mumbled with a finger to her lips.
With that, Jushin wrestled his final match and opponents.
10:17 PM (JST)
"Man, what a show that was! I can't believe it's all over for Jushin!" Ryuji incredulously cried out.
"Guys, we just watched Lord Jushin's final match. Let's burn this into our memories." Futaba sadly muttered.
Rebecca sighed. "Aren't you guys being a little over dramatic?"
"Even careers have to come to an end," Kaito plainly stated.
Nodding, Makoto added her views. "He's right. Wrestling is a very taxing and destructive career. All that damage done to the body, especially over the years, can take its toll. Jushin Liger was lucky he could still go at his age."
"Yeah, the same can't be said about those American wrestlers," Futaba said. "There's some that keep coming back from retirement. It's sad to watch."
"Well, hopefully, Liger is smart enough to listen to his body and not his pride. Just speaking from experience as an athlete," Sumire said.
"Yep, and I would know about athletic injuries myself," Megumi said. "Man, that was an incredible show! Some of us should do this again!"
"We should. It's fun watching these wrestling men and ladies so," Eugene added.
"I think I'm out. This is not my sorta of thing. Futaba, perhaps you'd like to go with Megumi, Sumire, and Eugene next time?" Yusuke suggested.
"Eh, sure. I guess."
The group passed by a couple of giant posters with various professional wrestling icons from the past few generations. One framed poster has the iconic images of Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair. Another poster has Macho Man Randy Savage, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, the Ultimate Warrior, and Andre the Giant. A third poster has Bret 'the Hitman' Hart, Owen Hart, Shawn Michaels, and the Undertaker on it. A fourth framed poster has Triple H, Dave Batista, John Cena, and Rey Mysterio on it. A fifth poster has Mick Foley, Chyna, Sting, Big Van Vader, and Bruno Sammartino on it. A sixth poster has the Japanese icons Antonio Inoki, the Great Muta, Ultimo Dragon, and Jushin Liger on it.
Unbeknownst to the group, the residual side effects from the Yami Matter caused the wrestler's faces and eyes to turn toward the Thieves and Revenants. The Urban Myths monitored the group as they departed from the arena.
As they prepared to split off, Futaba paused.
"What is it, Futaba?" Yusuke queried to his friend.
"Hey, did you forget something?" Haru asked her.
"Yo, what's eating at ya?" Ryuji was befuddled by her sudden pause.
"Hey, um. Since the Yami Matter reset time by two years, 2020 already happened. Wouldn't that mean he just repeated his final match and retirement without realizing it?"
Everyone fell silent with this realization.
Then, Ryuji immediately ceased the silence. "Dudes, that's deep. How did I forget that?"
Makoto folded her arms. "You didn't. We can thank the Yami Matter for screwing everything up. I swear, we're going to restore time to the way it was before." With that, she garnered serious and determined glances from her friends and two lovers. "Let's make Mido and the Yami Matter regret messing with us."
Dimension: Akane-no-Mai-Vein
Having come out of their secluded quarters, Mido and Kriemhild keenly observed their respective daughters dueling one another. Kráka quickly swung her Crow's Claw toward Jinyo, who parried the blade with her ko-naginata. Jinyo thrust her ko-naginata forward, attempting to tear the dark Valkyrie's armor and cut open her torso. Having just fought Tennyo, Kráka instinctively discerned Jinyo's movements. Kráka sidestepped Jinyo and drove her sword into Jinyo's back. Jinyo raised her ko-naginata and blocked Kráka's blow.
Neither Mido nor Kriemhild blinked. Both had full confidence in their daughter's full abilities and limits. They assessed that this duel would end in a draw.
"Enough! That'll be all!" Mido and Kriemhild shouted, commanding their daughters to cease their heated duel.
While not taking their eyes off one another, Jinyo and Kráka slowly withdrew their weapons and headed over to their respective parent.
"Exquisite performance, my Jinyo. In time, you'll be ready to face Togo Hifumi," Mido acknowledged his clone daughter's potential for greater things."
"Heh, not bad, but I think you could do better. This warm-up is nothing compared to a death duel with that Valkyrie brat," Kriemhild mockingly remarked on Kráka's performance, eliciting an agitated look on the dark Valkyrie's face.
"I won't be so easily defeated, mother. I swear I will kill that girl and her friends," Kráka scoffed.
"Kriemhild, I must say Kráka has shown improvement. She's done well to push my Jinyo's limits."
Chortling, Kriemhild addressed her colleagues without facing him. "You don't need to patronize me, Mido. I can tell you're not thrilled I've been trying to vie for the Yami Matter's approval. And thus far, you've been ahead of me, but don't let it go to your head, Revenant. I will not be underestimated." She then beckoned Kráka over. "Let us head back, Kráka."
"As you wish mother," Kráka muttered, taking a moment to look at Mido and Jinyo before departing with her mother.
Jinyo watched the mother and daughter tandem leave. "Father, can they be trusted?"
Mido responded with an insidious chuckle. "Of course not. We merely tolerate one another since we share common enemies."
"She has allowed you to borrow the Vamkyries though," Jinyo said.
"Correct. However, our goals greatly differ. I seek to create superhumans and displace humanity. Kriemhild's goals only involve chaos. She's already destroyed her own world. Does she seek to destroy another?" The Revenant scientist muttered as he painstakingly watched Kriemhild meet with the Vamkyries. "Well, I surely cannot allow that to happen. Not while I'm here. It was I who found and brought you to this dance, Kriemhild. Do not bite the hand that feeds. Pandora will be watching you."
Finishing her conversation with the Vamkyries, Kriemhild slightly peered over her shoulder and smirked. "Don't worry. I don't intend to backstab you, Mido. Quite the contrary. We need each other to achieve our goals. And I wouldn't dare cross any line with the Yami Matter and Pandora."
Sitting in isolation within a Yami Matter field, Pandora monitored Hifumi, Skyler, the Phantom Thieves, and the Vein Remnants on a screen. With a finger snap, the screen zoomed in, giving her a closer view of Hifumi, Skyler, and Io.
Without a word said, Pandora waved her hand and made the screen go full static.
Chapter Soundtrack
Two Steps From Hell - Christmas Medley - The gang meeting to eat KFC on Christmas. New Year's group meet-up and reflection on the past year.
Star Wars Main Theme - The gang seeing The Rise of Skywalker in theaters.
NJPW - Wrestle Kingdom Theme - A song used in the wrestling scene.
A/N: Then, the group checked out Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, partook in a New Year's celebration, and went to a big wrestling show. All in all, a mostly chill (and deservedly so) holiday season for our heroes… until the last scenes.
Ah, yes, The Rise of Skywalker. It's been over four years. Honestly, that's the last time I watched that movie in full. Yeah, I'm not a fan of it. I won't disparage those who like it.
Anyway, we've seen the characters watch Broly and Endgame in theaters. This ended up being the third (on-screen) movie meet-up. And the response is mixed compared to the other two. This further illustrates how divisive the latest films have been (like Empire Strikes Back once was surprisingly enough back in 1980) for audiences. As you can surmise, there's a split opinion on this movie much like episode 8, but in hindsight, fewer people look back on ep 9 fondly nowadays. However, what's telling is the group's maturity over their viewpoints. This comes to show friends can agree to disagree without unwanted drama. Too bad, there's idiots online who won't learn. And still don't in 2024.
Moreover, between Shinya's group and Ren's, there is a generation gap in how they've been exposed to a franchise like Star Wars. For Shinya's group, their first exposure was the prequels and grew up on Disney-made films. With Ren and Skyler's groups, it's up in the air. Some were introduced by the prequels, others by the originals, and maybe one or two who started with the sequels. Mileages vary among these characters.
Finally, the wrestling scenes depict a yet-to-be-determined event in real time. It's the second night of the two-day Wrestle Kingdom 14 event in real-time 2020. Growing up, I was a wrestling fan. After being distant from it for a long time, I've been watching WWE more consistently again in 2024. It has gotten better, especially after Vince McMahon (the POS perv) was removed. I also watch AEW sometimes and sad to see Sting retire. I do respect and enjoy wrestling overseas, especially in Mexico and Japan. Yes, wrestling is considered a legit sport in Japan while here in the US it's often (and still) sneered at and treated like a circus show with second-rate soap opera storylines. I figured only a handful of the Thieves and Revenants could attend. Makoto and Haru being there makes sense based on their All Showtime Showcase (which has them beating up an enemy inside a wrestling ring lol) in Persona 5 Royal.
More Urban Myth appearances. This time they're wrestling megastars from the past.
And finally, the last scenes with Mido, Kriemhild, their daughters, and Pandora. Things are preparing to head down a chaotic path. Our heroes have a lot to contend with.
Next time though, the gang is about to head into another realm. See you then.