Chapter 24: The Rebel Club.
It was all quiet as the Thieves followed the Rebels to their hideout. The halls were still void of life as red light continued to filter in through the windows. A sight that, for Ren and the other seven original Thieves, felt similar in some way. But why that was, they could not figure it out.
"We have arrived." The Rebel Leader calls out, standing outside a classroom door before opening it up. Revealing the Rebel hideout inside, along with an all too familiar location waiting for them once more.
"And it's Leblanc. Again." Ohya remarks as they enter the hideout. "Who else is not surprised at this?" The silent agreement from the others was all Ohya needed to hear as they filtered in, sitting down at booths or the bar.
"Are you all mocking our hideout!?" The Rebel Leader asks with irritation in his voice, noting the attitude of the Thieves.
"Please calm down. We have no intention of insulting your hideout." Sae calmly tells them, aiming to diffuse any landmines before they go off. Clearly, talking with these hat people will be like walking on eggshells. Apparently the commotion drew attention from more Rebel's hiding upstairs, leaving the bottom floor almost standing room only as the Rebels talked among themselves about the Thieves.
While Sojiro wanted to start making coffee and curry for everyone, the looks he was getting from the hat people turned him, Hifumi and Ren away from going behind the bar. Maybe if they earned more trust with these Rebels.
"I see. So you stumbled upon them and are trying to figure out if we should let them join the Rebel Club, and if they want to join us if we do let them." One of the Rebels sums up, glancing over at the Thieves before shaking his head. "Well, I suppose we are desperate…. Even a cat and a toy would be helpful…"
"I am NOT a toy!" Isara shouts back, aiming her tiny guns at the hat person while Morgana shakes his head in amusement.
"If you don't mind me asking, but could you explain more about what is happening here? We would like to have more information before we make any unanimous decisions." Ren tells the Rebels, who stare at him with some levels of suspicion.
"That's right. We heard you mention there is a tyrant who rules this place. Can you tell us about them?" Sumire asks, tilting her head. The mention of the tyrant suddenly sent all the Rebels in gloomy moods, staring down at the floor with sad eyes.
"In a nutshell? He's a ruthless monster." One of the Rebels replies, sighing deeply while rubbing their head. "He has no problems throwing someone under the bus. So long as he gets something out of it!"
"That's right! We all trusted him, and he stabbed us in the back!" Another Rebel shouts out, anger in her voice and startling the Thieves at the quick 180.
"That bastard **** took away someone close to me!" Another one shouts, angrily waving their fist in the air. "If it wasn't for ****… It's time he got what he deserved! Every single one of us has been put through hell because of ****!"
"Um… did anyone else hear the name of the tyrant?" Futaba asks the Thieves.
"No…. what is going on?" Mishima replies, shaking his head. The other Thieves were similarly stumped at the situation, confused as to why the name of the tyrant was inaudible to them.
"That's enough backstory! Are you going to help us or not!?" One of the Rebels suddenly shouts, dragging the Thieves from their thoughts as they meet the angry stares of the Rebels. They seemed really pushy to get them to join, more so than anything else.
"Before we say yes, can you be clear on one thing? You do know how we can get out of here, right?" Mona asks, folding his little arms. Mona's question was not what the Rebels wanted to hear, yet they didn't refuse to answer as one of them grumpily replied.
"Fine… We'll tell you this one thing for now. This is top secret, mind you! Recently, we were able to confirm the location of the Legionnaires' leader! But the place is locked up tight. None of us can get in without the four keys."
"Aaand what has that got to do with us? We're lookin' for an exit, not a fight." Ryuji bluntly interjects. None of them were even going to comment on the name of the foes in this area. It is basically the same name as Marie's troops.
"We've searched every other place in this building but have found no way out. The only place we have yet to search is the location where the Legionnaires' leader is hiding." One of the hat-people tells them, looking up with exhausted eyes. A look that Yusuke suddenly wears, placing a hand on his head in exasperation.
"Which means that the door we seek is located in that room. And we need to find all four keys to enter." He says in a calm manner to the others before shaking his head.
"Well, I suppose this means we share a common goal." Haru informs, grasping her hands together. Ren nods at Haru, turning back to look at the Rebels as his gaze narrows in determination.
"If that is the case, then we will join the Rebel Club." He tells them, with the Rebels jumping for joy at the news. "If you already searched this place, then do you already know where the four keys currently are?"
"According to our investigations, there are several strange-looking doors spread out around the building. Like the one you walked out of when we first encountered you." The Rebel informs, suddenly talking a lot nicer than before. "The keys should be beyond them, inside those horrible pocket dimensions alongside the Legionnaires. The closest one is in the courtyard. When you are ready, let us know, and we will head out!" The Rebels rush upstairs to see to their own reparations while the Thieves gather round the café. Sojiro moved behind the bar to get work on some coffee as everyone else let the tension filter out of their bodies.
"I think we'll take a moment to rest first." Chihaya suddenly says, sitting down at the booth. "We've been wandering for so long and had a recent fight as well. A short breather would do us some good."
"Yeah, this place feels a lot different to all the others." Shiho comments, leaning on the stool. "With Marie, Yoshiki and Ichiro, the kingdom was an entire country or city. But this place is just a single school."
"It certainly is strange." Yoshida agrees, nodding his head down. Yuki glances at Tsuchiya and Toshiro, noting the silence radiating off the two of them.
"Is something the matter?" She asks them, grabbing their attention.
"Sorry, mother. It is nothing. Just another sense of something I should know, yet cannot remember." Toshiro replies, shaking his head and giving out a sigh. "But I am more than sure I will remember eventually."
"Just so long you don't break a blood vessel." Tsuchiya remarks, folding her arms.
"Still, isn't this world a bit on the lame side? All the others were sprawling cities with cool sights. But this is just a school building with strange doors. So lame…" Isara remarks, shaking her turret.
"Yeah. Why couldn't it be cooler." Shinya agrees, putting his hands into his pockets.
"I am more interested in who is in control this time." Erina suddenly chimes in. "What kind of mastermind do we have to battle? A brainwashing bitch to be like Marie? A propaganda mastermind like Yoshiki? Or a warmonger like Ichiro and Shido?"
"It could be a teacher." Kawakami remarks, drawing all eyes to her. "Think about it. This place is in Toshiro's heart, and so if that's the case then whoever is ruling this place must have been someone from his days as a student."
"That… actually makes a lot of sense actually." Akechi remarks, nodding his head.
"Unfortunately I do not recall anything of my school years." Toshiro replies, shaking his head.
"Y'know, I feel the same way." Erina suddenly says, drawing all eyes to her. "Ever since we got here, I've been getting this feeling that I should know it. But I can't. It's a bit unnerving, to be honest. Know I now how you feel Toshiro." Erina lets out a sigh before refocusing herself, turning to look at the Thieves. "So, this place is where you guys go to almost daily, right?"
"Well, it sort of looks like this, but a real one is much more crowded and lively." Sumire explains, resting one leg on top the other. "And there are all sorts of people as well."
"Yep. Sometimes you get shitty teachers like Kamoshida and great ones like Kawakami. Other times you get nosey counsellors." Ryuji explains, sitting next to Ann.
"Then there are the transfer students who arrive and shake everything up." Mishima adds with a grin as Shiho lets out a tiny laugh while Ren and Sumire shake their heads at them.
"Don't forget the terrifying student council president." Futaba adds with a cheeky grin. "A fearsome chief with a fist of steel." Her grin was quickly wiped off when she heard a clearing of the throat behind her as she, Ryuji, Ann, Mishima and Shiho turn around in their seats. To see a very unamused Makoto standing behind them.
"I don't know about all of that, Futaba-chan. I only punish Shadows and Legionaries." She tells them calmly, even as her face was encased in shadows. "And juniors who don't know how to keep their mouths shut."
"S-Sorry, senpai!" The five exclaim as they jump away from her as the Thieves chuckle at them, including Toshiro, Yuki, Tsuchiya and Erina.
"Okay, if we have that out of our system, lets move out for the first key." Sae suddenly remarks while standing up. "Do we know which way we need to go in order to reach the courtyard?"
"I know the way!" One of the Rebels shouts as they bound down the stairs. "Follow me!" He exclaims proudly before bounding out the door. The Thieves shrug among themselves before following after the Rebel. Once more walking through the orange filled halls.
"So… This might be just me…. But does anyone else feel like they've seen this before?" Ryuji suddenly asks, drawing eyes from everyone.
"I don't suppose you mean walking through an empty school." Sojiro asks, folding his arms.
"Nah not that. It's something else. Dunno why but… I feel like I've seen this before."
"Really? I've been thinking that as well ever since we got here. It's got this vibe, you know?" Futaba replies, shrugging her shoulders.
"I thought it was just me." Haru admits with a sheepish look. "Yet, it feels like there should be more."
"Agreed. I feels… incomplete." Yusuke adds, folding his arms.
"Does it remind you of Mementos?" Akechi asks, hand on his chin.
"No…. It feels similar but different." Ann replies, shaking her head. The rest of the team look at each other with confused glances, while Makoto and Mona stick next to Ren.
"Have you also been feeling like this?" Ren asks the two of them, earning nods in reply. "Strange."
"What does it mean? Nothing here reminds me of our past Palaces." Makoto comments, motioning to the surroundings.
"Let's worry about it later. Right now, we have a key to find." Mona declares as they continue on. Before turning to look at Makoto with a smirk. "Unless we want to find something that isn't Metaverse related. Like, I dunno, a ghost?" Makoto lets out a tiny eep as she clings to Ren while Sae shakes her head at her with amusement. Before a sigh from Toshiro grabs her attention.
"What is the matter Toshiro?" She asks gently, noting the strain on his forehead.
"It is nothing, Sae-san. It's just… Don't the being here seem more riled up than the ones from the last three kingdoms? Granted, those with Tsuchiya were actively fighting back, but even then they were never hostile to us."
"Perhaps there is reason to it. And a simple one at that." Yoshida remarks, turning to look at him. "This place is based on your heart, correct? Then seeing as how you are resolved to bring down your father, brother and fiancée, this place represents your willingness to fight back."
"I'm no expert on the heart or mind, but I see that happening." Tae remarks with a smirk. "He's not the same Toshiro from the start."
"You got that right. From Runaway Toshiro to Defiant Old-Timer." Tao remarks with a wide grin. "Well, Sorta-Defiant anyway. Need to show you have the guts to put where your mouth is irl after all."
"Runaway Toshiro? Really?" Tsuchiya asks with an unbelieving look as Erina chuckles to herself.
"Yeah. He really did have a spine from a block of tofu when we first met. His legs even shook with an audible wobble one time." That got a giggle out of Tsuchiya as Toshiro turns to look at Erina with annoyance.
"Well, YOU still need to grow up a bit yourself, Erina. Aren't you roughly the same age as these kids? You need to learn to respect your elders, or life is going to be—"
"Yeah, yeah. I know, I know…" Erina dismisses as she walks away with a grin, with Toshiro racing to catch up to her with an exasperated look of annoyance.
"Oh I am NO putting up with this anymore Erina!" He shouts after her as the two move deeper down the hallway. Leaving behind the Thieves who collectively sweatdrop at them.
"He's going on about her not growing up, yet he himself hasn't aged either." Iwai comments, folding his arms as Chihaya chuckles next to him. While Yuki only gave the bickering two a soft motherly smile.
Eventually, after winding through the halls of the first floor, they emerge into the courtyard. Finding it to look almost like the one from Shujin academy. Well, other than the glowing door of doom sitting in the middle of the courtyard. It wasn't even connected to a wall.
"Well, that's not hard to miss." Ohya bluntly points out, earning a small elbow from Shinya.
"Wonder what fresh hell awaits us on this end. And what rules we'll have to follow." Isara comments, rolling up to the door and tapping it. "And please tell me there won't be any lava pits here as well."
"Well, we won't find out until we enter." Ren admits as Shiho picks Isara up. "Let's get this over with." Without a word, Ren opens the door and the team enter on through. Once more finding themselves in the same area as their Thief attire manifests on them. And waiting for them were nine troopers, three ninjas and a drummers. All of them waiting on a tower of brimstone as they fired down on the Thieves the moment they entered range.
"Not even here for a few seconds and already we are under attack." King remarks annoyed, ducking under a round and ninja star as Shadow fires back at them. Groaning in annoyance at the negligible damage she inflicted.
"Does anyone see a way up!?" Queen calls out, firing several shots up at the Legionaries and forcing them into cover.
"I see a lift we can use! But we need to move over open ground to reach it!" Crow comments ducking into cover as a ninja star lands right next to him. King glances around, seeing the lack of cover between them and the way up before letting out a sigh.
"All right. If it's speed we need, it's speed we will get." He remarks as he starts to glow red. "It's time we holding ourselves back. Limiters Removed!" As char appears over King, a crimson aura forms over the Thieves as they suddenly feel their world go three times slower. But from the Legionnaires point of view, it was the Thieves who had gone three times faster as they sprinted towards the lift before the Legionnaires even had a chance to fire at them.
A speed that continued on as the Thieve rapidly appeared on the same level as them, instantly rushing into melee range and slashing into them with their weapons. The three ninjas try to teleport around, aiming to cause confusion and disorientation around the Thieves but instead all they accomplished was placing themselves in the middle of them.
Leaving them exposed and quickly kicked off the edge and down to the ground. Turning instantly into black smoke the moment they reached the bottom. The lone drummer attempted to run away, seeing its comrades easily displaced as though they were nothing but a nuisance, only for itself to end up running off the edge and into a pool of lava.
Not a fate any of the Thieves expected to happen to any of their foes.
"Well, that was rather quick." Violet comments as the last trooper falls to them.
"Considering that there were no speakers trying to hinder us this time and that they were expecting us to try and rush them without cover, it's no surprise we had no trouble this time." Devil remarks, spinning the barrels on her gun. "So, where is this key we are looking for? It should be here, right?"
"I don't see anything that looks like a key." Fortune remarks, looking around the area before spotting a glowing orb nearby. "Wait, I think I found it." She remarks, walking over and grabbing the orb of light. Only to tilt her head in confusion as the orb turns into a pack of plasters.
"Plasters?" Panther asks, puzzled by the reveal. Toshiro looks at the plasters, gasping slightly as his eyes widen in recognition. He reaches out to touch them, only to fill the place with a blinding light as everyone tries to shield their eyes from the glare. Before a scene begins to play before them.
Showing a much younger Toshiro, sporting scruff marks and cuts on his face alongside a younger Tsuchiya. Looking over him in worry as the two sit inside a class room. The glow from the windows indicating the evening sun as a knock from the door grabbed their attention.
"Hm? Who could that be?" Toshiro asks as Tsuchiya gets up. "It's late into the evening."
"I'll go check." Tsuchiya tells him, walking to the door and opening it. Revealing…
"Oh hello. I'm so glad I found you." A young woman who looked and sound strikingly like Erina walked into the room, nodding her head to Tsuchiya before glancing at Toshiro. "Huh. You look fine, more or less."
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Tsuchiya asks as Toshiro blinks owlishly at her. "And why did you need to see us?"
"I mean, do I need a reason to enter into the student council room?" The woman asks Tsuchiya who blinks at her rapidly at the answer.
"You are wearing an upperclassmen uniform, but I don't think either of us have seen you around here." Toshiro suddenly asks as he stands up. Fixing the glasses on his face. "Are you a transfer student?" Toshiro's polite tone sent the new girl a back a bit, but she quickly recovered.
"All business aren't you? You got me though." She replies, lets her hands fall to her sides. "I already knew this school was fancy, but they push the decorum here pretty hard, don't they?"
"Ain't that true." Tsuchiya admits, leaning back on the wall. "I certainly wasn't ready for it. Don't even ask me how Tosh here did." Toshiro shakes his head at the barb, her stern face never leaving his features.
"Well, you two certainly got my attention. Mr Class President and his assistant. I got curious about you two, so I started asking around. You two have got a very impressive rep already…"
"I wouldn't say that…" Tsuchiya replies, looking away embarrassed as Toshiro lets out a sigh.
"Why do you say that? A ton of talent, a connected family, stellar grades, and both of your futures lined up. Even getting elected student council president and member as first years! Nobody has ever been able to do that before you!"
"Why are you describing us? Is this some sort of awkward ribbing?" Toshiro asks, looking uncomfortable at the banter. The woman looks at him with a shocked expression before glancing to the side with a guilty look.
"I'm sorry if I upset you. I didn't mean anything bad when I said that. I'm genuinely impressed. And interested in both of you, that's all. I mean, you getting beat up by a band of delinquents while you help the one in trouble get away and find help? They don't even do that in manga anymore. Always seems to be more isekai these days."
"For real. You'd think they would do something else for a change." Tsuchiya agrees, shaking her head at her comments while Toshiro looks back at the woman.
"…So you saw that?" He asks sheepishly. The young woman nods as she leans on the wall, not breaking eye contact with him.
"I did. Honestly, I though id see you covered in bandages when I got here. They were not holding back on you one bit. But still, you both jumped in to help that student who was getting mugged, didn't you? Not everyone can do that sort of thing." She tells him with a smile. But Toshiro just lets out another sigh as he sits back down. Rubbing his sore cheek.
"I wasn't doing anything noble. We just happened to be in the area at the time. Once we found out what was going on, we had no choice but to get involved." He lets out a sigh, leaning forward as he rested his arms on his knees. "And I only joined the student council because it would look good on my college application. Tsu joined with me so I wouldn't feel the weight of everyone on my shoulders. That…" He lets out a sigh as Tsuchiya looks at him, her features neutral.
"Because of Dad, right? How he told us it would be good for us to get experience as public speaking figures so we can continue our families' work? Even when we didn't want to." The young woman looks between them, seeing the dull look in both of their eyes as Toshiro lets out another sigh.
"Anyway, the point is that we learned a valuable lesson in interfering or poking our noses in other people's business."
"But still, you two still moved to save that kid regardless." The young woman replies, earning a nod from Toshiro.
"Well, those miscreants seemed too tired to go back to bullying him once they had their fill of me. That and when they heard Tsuchiya calling for help, they made themselves scarce." The young woman slowly nods her head before her eyes light up.
"Oh crap, I completely forgot to introduce myself." She says as Tsuchiya slaps her forehead. "I'm Eri Natsuhara. Nice to meet ya!" She tells them with a big smile before placing a hand on her chin. "You know, I have a big hunch about you two. This is where you two hang out after school, right? I'll drop by again later and bug you again. Oh, but before I go." He reaches into her pocket and takes out a box of bandages. "I got these for you. You have some nasty cuts on your face. These should help seal them up." She places them on the table next to him before heading back to the door. "See ya!" And with that, she left the room. Leaving behind two stunned siblings in silence.
"What an odd girl…" Toshiro remarks, shaking his head, but he is already reaching for the plasters.
"You think so? I think she has a cool vibe." Tsuchiya remarks, walking over to help put the plasters on. Toshiro remains silent, looking back at the door as he closes his eyes.
"What is with that girl…" He asks, as a bright light fills the room with the scene coming to an end.
"Did… Did anyone else see that?" Outlaw asks as the team blinks the brightness away.
"I think so…" Spring replies, giving her head a shake. "But, what was it that we actually saw?"
"That was so full of twists I don't even know where to start." Oracle moans as she rubs her head. "I mean, we saw Toshiro and Tsuchiya as members of a student council and a girl that looked and sounded like Erina!" The group turned to look at them, all three of them in quiet contemplation at what they had just seen. Erina more so as her eye had a far distant look to it.
"Let's head back to the courtyard and talk about it there. Before this heat starts to get to us again." Joker voices, moving back to the door with the Thieves following after him. He did make a good point about the heat here. By the time they returned to the courtyard, the door behind them vanished. Leaving no trace of it ever existing in the first place. A silence continued to fill the area as everyone pondered on what to say next. Before Toshiro broke it with a weary sigh.
"What we saw back there… That wasn't a product of our imaginations." He replies, earning the eyes of everyone around him. Barring Erina and Tsuchiya. "What was saw was an event that truly did happen. Although, as with everything else, I had forgotten until now. The girl we saw was Eri Natsuhara. She was one of my senpai on the student council. But, out of all my life, why that memory?"
"Do you remember what happened afterwards?" Ren asks gently. "It might give us more context on what's going on." Toshiro places his hand on his forehead, straining as he tries to remember what happened next.
"Well, that was the first time me and Tsu met Natsuhara-senpai. She joined the student council shortly after, and…"
"She had you totally whipped." Futaba says suddenly, with Shinya chuckling beside her.
"Somehow, I doubt that would have happened with Tsuchiya being there." Sae remarks, flicking her hair to the side. But the awkward chuckle from Toshiro told her a different story.
"Actually, she did the opposite. Tsu and Natsuhara-senpai got on very well. They seemed to just reflect off each other. Given how Tsu had a similar personality to Natsuhara-senpai before our father sought to bury it, it didn't surprise me. And unfortunately, what Futaba-chan has said is not far from the truth either." He leans back on his foot, looking up to the sky as a calm smile forms on his face, recalling the memories of that time.
"Regardless, she was also the kind of person who couldn't stand up to injustices or mistreatment. Just like me and my sister, although more vocal and outgoing about it. Whenever she caught wind of problems at the school or a student falling into trouble, she'd run up to us with a report. Every time, she would try and convince me with a 'Toshiro, let's fight the good fight.' It got to the point that even Tsu told me to help, telling me to 'Take the punch to the chin and move forward with the mark.' It was all I could do to agree to go with them."
Toshiro shakes his head, letting out a small chuckle as the image of Eri and Tsu running through the corridor with grins on their faces fills his mind. While he struggled to catch up as a band of delinquents chased after them.
"I initially agreed to help so I could keep my eye on both of them. Natsuhara-senpai was such a reckless student council member alongside Tsu. Before I knew it, she had us running all over the school together. We tackled all sorts of issues at that school. To the point that Tsu had to create her own group to keep up with the demands while I stuck by Natsuhara-senpai. Bullying, unfair school rules… Heck, by the end of it, we were giving out career and relationship advice. At some point, the student council room became more of a counselling room for the average student. The students were always so grateful to us when we could help them. And it helped Tsu and I find the spark that we had lost ever since we lost our mother. I especially found it gratifying since I was fed up with my father's alternative expectations of me. In fact, it's what helped Tsu break away from the political path and become a diplomat."
Toshiro's grin becomes slightly wider as Yuki looks between him, Tsuchiya and Erina with a proud look. Tsuchiya was just rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment while Erina looked on with awe. While the Thieves looked on in content silence.
"Looking back at that time, we accomplished a lot together. A lot of good. And then…" Toshiro's face loses the calm look as a wave of surprise fills his features. "That's all I can currently remember. But why? Argh… It's like something is fogging my memory."
"Don't push yourself." Erina comments, walking up and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Look, we all saw that vision. And if getting the key unlocked these memories, then getting the others should unlock the rest. Just don't burst a vein trying to force yourself, okay?" Toshiro looks up at her, surprise on his face before morphing into a warm smile.
"Yes. You are right. Just need to take it slow." He admits while standing up. While in Ren's eyes, he sees the Eclipse Tarot card gain the fifth start. "Besides, there are still some things I need to get to the bottom of."
"Like how Erina and Eri are way too similar to be a coincidence?" Tao asks, glancing between them. "I mean, she even has the same chemistry."
"Aw, come one. I don't boss Toshiro around THAT much! Do I?" Erina replies, only for Toshiro to remain silent as he looks away. "Why are you staying silent?" All around them, the Thieves burst out into laughter at the two while Toshiro shakes his head in exasperation. Erina rolls her one eye in amusement before narrowing it in thought. "But I admit, there is one thing that has been bugging me ever since we arrived in this Kingdom. When I saw Toshiro's memories, I felt something nagging me at the back of my mind. Just… What am I?"
"What do you mean by that, Erina?" Ann asks, tilting her head in concern.
"Well, Yuki-san is Toshiro's memories of his mother brought to life. And Tsuchiya here is a… cognition, was it?... of his sister in real life. So… what does that make me?" Erina's question lay heavy on the Thieves, with no easy answer ready on their lips.
"Well, I have a few ideas, but I can't be certain about them yet." Mona admits with his arms folded. "And I would rather not say until I have more evidence. But no matter what, you are still you in the end. Right?" Erina glances at Mona, giving off a tiny smile as she kneels down to give him a pat.
"Yeah. You are right. No matter what, I am still me in the end." She confirms before standing back to full height. "Shall we head back to the hideout? We still have three keys left to find." Without another word, the team retraced their steps back to the hideout. Unaware of a certain pink bird flying above them with disdain.
Confidant Ranks
Toshiro/Erina : Eclipse (Rank 5)
Tao : Art (Rank 10/ Max)
Isara : Aeon (Rank 9)