(A New Distortion has begun to open, let us see where this will lead us to as we take our first steps.)

Bold = English Conversations

Bold + Italics = Japanese Conversations

Distortion 1

The 1st Free City of Otsu, a hierarchical city that had managed to declare independence from the rule of the NOL. To most people, it seemed to be a haven for criminals to do their shady underground work in, a gray zone that the NOL was unable to touch due to their lack of jurisdiction of the area. At least the last two years have managed to be kind of Otsu, allowing the young Hierarchical city to prosper now that the NOL was no longer in charge of the daily life of the city.

As Makoto walked down the streets, she couldn't help but keep her head up as she didn't want to feel depressed looking at the ground. To her left she could hear the sound of guns firing as she didn't need to look at that direction to know that it was a group of criminals settling their differences as to her right, she could hear the moans of women echo through another alleyway as a couple of men started to walk with her.

"Hey there Makoto-Chan, becoming quite the regular around here." The man asked as Makoto simply continued to walk, ignoring what the man had just said. "I see that you're starting to talk to Midnight Jasmine more and more. Something wrong with your relationship?" His friend asked as Makoto did not hesitate to turn around and with her hands, grabbed the offender by his balls, making him whimper immediately.

"What I choose to do around this district is up to me. Don't push me right now." Makoto said, her hand starting to squeeze the man's balls in a way that would inflict more pain as the man slowly crumpled. "F-Fine dammit! Geez… You don't have to handle him that roughly. You treat your man like that?" The other man asked as he instinctively covered his balls when he immediately sensed a blood lust emerge out of her. Despite her lacking an arm and being so easy to overpower, both the men did not dare to do anything to her.

"Oh come on Miss Nanaya, Don't be so rough on them." A voice said as Makoto turned to see two skimpily dressed women approach her direction, their winter coats barely covering their body enough to help protect them from the cold. "I can promise you that they are actually good boys, they just like playing around with the women that's all." One of the women said as Makoto simply shook her head at that before releasing her grip on the man's balls.

"They better be. Otherwise they may wake up the next morning without their balls." Makoto threatened as she turned around to walk back to her place. "Just curious though, Are you really unsatisfied with your boyfriend right now? Not saying you are, it's just that normally women who come around here are here for that reason." The other woman questioned as Makoto stopped walking for a bit before shaking her head.

"I still love him… he's just busy right now." Makoto confessed before leaving before they could ask any more questions. As she got away from the Red Light District of Otsu, Makoto couldn't help but clutch her chest sadly as she shook her head. She shouldn't be coming down here in the first place, she couldn't help but feel like she's stabbing Sora in the back each time she came down here. 'Even if it's just Jasmine now… what will I do if… If I...' The thought of her going to another man besides Sora, spreading herself for a random man on the street crossed her mind as she shook her head, biting her lips for thinking something like that.

'What the hell is wrong with you Makoto! Stop thinking of these stupid thoughts! You're not going to betray Sora like that!' Makoto thought as she shook her head even more, going as far as to slap herself in the face as she spat on the ground, right at her own shoe to curse the fact that she would even think like that. With that, Makoto decided that she needed to rush back home before more weird thoughts begin to creep up into her mind.

As she did so, Makoto decided to recap what her month has been like ever since she came over here from Kagutsuchi in the search of clues. 'To think that all I have done in this one month alone is just fuck around at the Red Light District, talk and become friends with the heads of four criminal syndicates and now have to wait for more shit to happen that I can go out and do. What a way to be productive Makoto.' Makoto thought as she stopped right in front of her current residence for the time being in Otsu.

In her whole life, she would have never thought that she would have lived in such a place. As she took the elevator up to the top floor, her mind simply went to what she had managed to accomplish in the past month. And what she simply accomplished was almost nothing as she slammed her fist right onto the elevator wall, being careful not to create a dent as she walked out and stepped in front of the door.

"Key...Key..." Makoto said, ruffling through her pockets and mumbling as she wondered where she had left the key to the place as she soon felt a tap on her shoulder as she looked and saw a woman standing right in front of her, her slim glasses befitting of her mature image as she brushed her brown hair back. "You looking for these Makoto?" The woman asked as Makoto sighed and took the keys from them.

"I didn't mean to forget about them again Caroline. I swear." Makoto said, her eyes trying to not look at the Otsunian professor as her figure was quite nice, with a nice set of boobs that Makoto wouldn't hesitate to suck on and an ass that was decent to say the least. "Yeah Yeah. I don't really care about that. Just hurry up and open it already. I spent an hour waiting for you." Caroline said as Makoto scratched her head a bit before finally opening the door.

"You know you didn't have to wait outside for me to come back right. I could have just called you and besides, don't you need to keep on working on your system?" Makoto asked as Caroline scratched her head. "I needed a break… and I didn't want my phone to be ringing again to open the door for your ass again. Don't worry honey. I took this break for myself." Caroline said as Makoto couldn't help but smile at that as she entered the room, the automatic lights activating and lighting up the hallway.

"You eaten anything yet? You look like you're skipping dinner again." Caroline questioned as Makoto was about to refuse before feeling her stomach growl in hunger as she scratched her head a bit in embarrassment. "You're a grown ass woman. You got to feed yourself correctly you know that?" Caroline lectured, making Makoto bow her head as she blushed a bit. "I'll get the instant MRE's cooking so we can have something to eat. Just get something to drink." Caroline lectured as Makoto did as she said and walked into the living room as Caroline went into the other room which was her lab.

As Makoto took a few steps into the living room, she took a deep breath as her hand drifted towards a picture placed on the kitchen island as she couldn't help but look at it. It was a picture of the graduation she experienced all those years ago, her beside her friends, all wearing smiles that now made her feel jealous of the feelings her younger self had. "To think that it was just a few years ago.." Makoto mumbled as her hand drifted towards a blurry spot on the picture.

To most people, it would have simply been seen as the camera losing focus when the photo was taken. But Makoto knew the truth, and she knew it much better than anybody else as she stroked on the blurry spot trying to hide the person who stood there. Her mind's picture was so clear as she closed her eyes, deciding that it was a good time to at least reminisce a little while she waited for the MRE's to come as she tried to think off a better time…

A time where she didn't have to suffer like she did…

FLASHBACK

MAKOTO POV

"MAKOTO! OVER HERE!" A voice cried out as I opened my eyes, It was a few days before we officially graduated. We were getting our photos taken early so we didn't need to worry about that part when we officially graduated. The voice that was calling out to me was definitely Noel Vermillion, A close friend of mine as she ran towards me, whose short hair and petite form would have gotten her mistaken for at least a middle school student.

"Hehe… Oh Noellie." I said as I walked towards Noel. Back in those days, I still remember fondly how much I cared for her. Don't get me wrong, I still do it's just… my feelings right now are just complicated to say the least. "Our photo isn't going to be taken anytime soon. Just relax a little and don't be so tense." Makoto teased as Noel scratched her head, chuckling as she couldn't help herself. "I guess I cannot help but be a bit nervous. We're already graduating so fast and it just feels unreal you know." Noel said as I nodded my head over that.

"To think, that in a few days we will officially graduate and become part of the working class within the NOL. Makes you feel glad and sad for these last few days of our youth." I said as I couldn't help but make some fake sad noises as a way to tease Noel as she chuckled. "To be fair, we are still young so we can see it as being a part of the next step of our youth." Noel said with enthusiasm as I couldn't help but scratch my head at that.

"Man your enthusiasm can be infectious sometimes you know." I teased as I felt a hand rub on my head as I could hear a laugh. "Well that's Noel for you, ever always the optimist with these sorts of things." Hunter said as I looked up to see Hunter with his trademark smile on his face. "Yeah I guess so. But hey, at least you're there to make sure she's kept down to reality am I right?" I teased as Hunter rubbed my head even more.

"Of course I will. I won't let Noel get too over her head." Hunter said as he released his hand on my head and walked over to Noel, holding her hand affectionately as I couldn't help but smile before remembering that this was all a distant thought, a simple memory of simpler times as I cannot help but remember the reality of what actually happened. What happened after we graduated and the life we lived afterwards.

"Please calm down you two, You both are going to cause a scene if you are not careful." A third voice spoke as I turned around to be greeted by the red haired beauty that was in front of me. "Oh don't be so uptight Tsubaki. Who knows when we would be able to talk like this in ever once we start working at the NOL." I said as Tsubaki smiled towards me. "Well that may be true. We still have to obey the rules of the Academy and not disrupt the other students who are studying right now." Tsubaki lectured as I nodded my head.

"Hai Hai Lady Tsubaki. We will obey all the rules… until we officially graduate." I said, smirking as I felt another presence behind me as that person yawned loudly. "There you are Sora. What took you so long?" Tsubaki questioned as I turned around and looked at Sora, his white hair, yellow and white eyes and missing arm still visible in my memory as Sora yawned a bit. "Sorry, was sleeping a bit and also if you hadn't noticed, getting yourself ready with just one arm is not exactly easy." Sora explained as this made Noel, Tsubaki and Hunter scratch their heads.

"Well if that's the case, why didn't you just get an artificial limb from the hospital? After what we have been though, we should have been given those." Tsubaki questioned as I thought about it and remembered the answer Sora gave that day to Tsubaki. "I could… but I don't want to owe the hospital anything and thus I choose not to get it. Also it's easier to learn how to live with one arm. Our ancestors had to live with one arm long before artificial limbs were as effective as they were." Sora replied.

"It sounds like you're trying to be a cheapskate there." Hunter said, his face flat as Sora scratched his head. "Well… it is true that not getting an artificial limb from the hospital is much cheaper than getting one." Sora answered as I couldn't help but smirk a little as Sora turned around to face me. "Is there something you want to say Makoto?" Sora questioned as I shook my head hard. "No of course not, you should be allowed to save money in any way possible. Even if it means inconveniencing your life any way possible." I replied as Sora lightly grinned, hitting my head as Noel, Tsubaki and Hunter decided to get ready to have the photo taken, leaving me and Sora to ourselves.

"Still not going to tell them what you're planning to do once you graduate?" I questioned as we used the time we gained to go somewhere a bit more private to talk as Sora nodded his head. "I don't mind what they think about me. I am going to be doing my own thing while they do theirs." Sora answered as I smiled at that. "I cannot but envy how straightforward you can be. Most people would have taken the chance to join the NOL yet you're one of the only people I know that actually refused to join the NOL. I don't know if that takes balls or you're that dense." I said, Making Sora look at me a little bit hurt.

"But forget about all of that… How's living with one arm been for you." I asked, sitting right next to him and placing my head on his stump as Sora laid his back on a pillar. "Well… what I told Tsubaki and also if I can be honest… I cannot help but fall into some weird habits while trying to get used to living with one hand." Sora said as I couldn't help but look at him, curious as to what he was talking about.

"Like take for example, trying to do a quickie in the bathroom." The moment I heard Sora say that, I couldn't help but freeze a little as I looked at him with some embarrassment in my face. "I mean taking a cold shower and not masturbating dummy." Sora said, bonking my head as I couldn't help but stick my tongue out at that. "Hehe… you caught me there Sora. Really bad." I answered, having been caught red handed like the horny girl I was being.

"What. You masturbate in the shower?" Sora questioned as Sora being the usual straightforward man, just asks a delicate question that would fluster any other man when it comes to asking sensitive questions to women as I placed my hands on my face, hiding my embarrassment. "I...I do sometimes especially if I am feeling that time of the month. Can we just drop the whole masturbating thing please." I said, wincing a little as Sora looked at me right at the eyes.

"You know...despite us being in a relationship, It's cute to see you fluster up about stuff like this." Sora commented as I was about to punch him in the nuts out of complete reflex only to feel my fist get caught by Sora as I saw his eyes briefly glow green. "It's not fair that you can see what is going to happen to you and react to it. It's like you got some sort of danger sense." I complained as Sora scratched his head and chuckled after releasing his grip on my fist.

"Don't worry Makoto. Regardless of what kind of horny woman you try to hide from others, you can tell me. I promise not to judge." Sora said as I could feel my heart skip a beat as I decided that now was the time for me to ask him an important question for what I feel is going to be important for our relationship. "S-Sora… there's something you need to know about me." I asked as Sora looked at me as I took a deep breath.

Sora: Sure Makoto, What's on your mind that you need to say it.

Makoto:… How do you feel about… Same sex relationships.

Sora: Same sex relationships? You mean like being lesbian or gay?

Makoto: Y-yeah.

Sora: What's wrong about them? Isn't that just people expressing their love to each other even if they are the other sex? Is that your question?

Makoto: Sorta… the thing is… you should know… I actually like girls as much as I like men.

There...I said it. Now.. I just wait. God sometimes confessing stuff like this can really make or break a relationship. I really just hope that my first boyfriend doesn't hate same sex relationships because that will be horrible if that was the case. "So that means you are Bisexual right?" Sora asked as this made me widen my eyes a little as he didn't look like he was that fazed by my comment as he looked at me, wondering when I will give him my answer.

I didn't know how to actually answer him as I just remained quiet, nervous about what his directness meant at that moment. "If that's the case, there's nothing wrong about you being Bi. I don't hate you for it if that's what you're thinking about." Sora explained as I could feel a small relief come over me as I knew with Sora, it's better to be through rather than just accept things at face value and leave it at there.

"Aren't you afraid… I might just fall in love with some other woman and have romantic feelings for her as well?" I asked, shifting nervously on my seat as Sora scratched his head. "Look… I am pretty new to this whole relationship game so I don't really know how to answer you on that one. Honestly to me, if you're happy with that person, there's nothing wrong with you wanting to pursue a lover's relationship with them as well. That may be my immaturity speaking but that's just how I feel." Sora said as he knelt down and looked at me in the eyes.

"But that doesn't mean I believe you should go around romancing every person you can see. I may feel that way but others don't. If they feel the same way I do, then that's great and we can work on our relationship from there. The one thing I want you to promise me is not to just fall in love with any woman you see and try to romance them like some weird real life dating simulator." Sora explained, making me nod my head as I felt him give me a soft kiss on the lips.

"Still… if you ever find a woman that you love, don't hesitate to let me know about it. Love is a two way street. Even if it's something painful to share, it is up to the partner to help shoulder each other's burdens." The moment I heard Sora say that, I could feel a sense of reassurance of my decision to tell him about this come out from his voice as he petted my head affectionately. I then decided that it might be better to be just a bit more through.

"Then...what about me and other guys? Is there a limit to that as well?" The moment I asked that question, I could feel Sora slowly start to squeeze my head. He kept his smile but I could see a small vein pop out of his eye. "Are you trying to start some harem behind my back Makoto Nanaya?" Sora questioned with the same softness that was in his voice now sounding like that of one of Tsubaki's many lectures.

"I-I Umm… am not trying to say that I wish to grow my own Harem of men and women in any way! I know that can be problematic in it's own way and I just want to make sure you're okay with me having things like...ummm...male sex friends." I felt the vice like grip on my head go even tighter as Sora's other eye began to pop a small vein of anger. "Does this mean that if I should ever choose in the future to pursue a relationship with me like how you would with women then you would approve."

What the… What kind of question is that Sora!? Wait… does this mean he too is… No no no, too dangerous to presume right now, just answer the damn question before your brain gets smashed to bits. "I see nothing wrong with that. If you allow me to have female love interests you should be allowed to have male love interests!" I said, trying to end the torture that was being delivered to my brain as much to my surprise, Sora slowly released the tension on my head and looked away from me as he scratched his face.

"Umm… Sora?" I questioned as he continued to look away from me before clearing his voice a little. "Fine...but on one simple condition." Sora said, his voice sounding a bit sheepish as this made my suspicions about his sexuality grow even more as he looked at me, his face blushing red. "We both have to agree on the guy you have feelings for. If he doesn't meet my standards then you're not allowed to date him." That response is the most parent thing I have ever heard Sora say. He sounds like an overprotective dad with that statement, so much so I couldn't help myself but start laughing, causing him to blush even more as I took his hand and kissed it.

"Y-You know what I am talking about dammit! It's just not only dating him you know." Sora quickly added as I couldn't help but pull him closer and kissed him as our heads lightly bumped onto each other. "Alright Sora, you win. I promise if I ever do find a guy that I might have slight feelings for, you will be the first to know… But know that I hold the same standards for you as you do for me." I retorted as Sora sheepishly smiled and nodded his head.

"I wouldn't be making these demands if I wasn't ready to uphold myself you know. I just hope you don't forget what we are promising while we are separated for a few years." Sora commented as I rubbed our foreheads together as we heard a person clear their voice, prompting us to turn around to see Tsubaki looking at us as she smiled. "Come on you two. We've got to take our graduation photo right now." Tsubaki said, pretending she did not see us romantically talk as I gave her a thumbs up, making her blush and run away from that.

"Well in any other case, Let's not keep our class waiting and take that picture now." Sora said, looking away as he held out his hand for me to take as I couldn't help but smile and take it. As I did so, I tightly held his hand on mine as we walked slowly to savor every single moment our hands touched. "One small step for man, one giant leap for our future." Sora mused as I couldn't help but giggle at his reference..

… not knowing what kind of future was truly in store for us…

"Makoto...Makoto..." Caroline called out as she poked the reheated MRE on her arm as Makoto slowly woke up thanks to Caroline's constant insistence. "H-Huh? Caroline?" Makoto said as Caroline gave her a small smile. "You had a micro sleep there. Tells me you haven't been sleeping as much as I have been telling you to get." Caroline said as Makoto scratched the back of her head, slightly embarrassed to be lectured like how her mother would have when she was a child.

"You know you have to follow the doctor's orders… even if I am not an official doctor and I basically used the internet for most of my information." Caroline lectured as she placed the meal in front of Makoto as she sat next to her. "But in all seriousness… You got to be sleeping right Makoto. You can't afford to be falling asleep in the middle of the job. Especially with what you are going for." Caroline explained as Makoto looked at the steaming MRE and placed it on her face to let the steam slowly heat her face up.

"I know Caroline… it's just… I'm worried if I go to sleep… I will wake up one day forgetting Sora all over again." Makoto said, trying to express her fears as Caroline rubbed her back. "I know Makoto… you have told me this before. But you still got to make sure you're letting your brain rest and process what is going on around you." Caroline explained as Makoto looked at her meal and took a bite from it as she knew that Caroline had the best of her interest and health in her mind for you but she also couldn't help but feel like she couldn't do that.

"Tell me what's going on with the whole memory thing right now. Are more people forgetting about Sora?" Makoto questioned, biting her lips as she always hated hearing this part as Caroline took a deep breath, trying to ready Makoto for what she was going to hear next. "At this point… it will be safe to say that the only people who still even remember Sora at this point are me, you, Pikaka and the Otsu four. Everyone else doesn't even know who he is anymore." Caroline said as this made Makoto rub her forehead with the spork Caroline provided.

"The more people that forget about Sora the more it hurts me you know." Makoto commented as Caroline nodded her head at that. "I understand… it's especially painful for you. All the more reason for you to find that solution before you forget him too." Caroline said. As much as Caroline wanted to tell Makoto to prepare for the worst case scenario, to ready herself for the day she does forget about Sora once more… the current mental state she was in told her that Makoto would have done something worse… something much more worse than just accept the fate that was given to her.

"In any other case, eat up Makoto. You got to get back your strength after your night out the town." Caroline said as she began to eat her meal as Makoto herself ate the meal in front of her, her eyes looking towards the graduation picture as she would have stroked the picture with her free hand but just had to settle with just staring at the empty spot of the picture with a kind of reminiscent sight. "Also, You got a new job from the heads that they want you to do. Thought you may want to know about that." Caroline said as this piqued Makoto's interest.

"What's this job about? And does it involve the fact that the NOL has been eyeing Otsu lately?" Makoto asked as Caroline took a bite of rehydrated beef before answering. "The heads want you to check out what is going on in Akitsu-Ko, specifically at the shut down cauldron there." Caroline said as this got Makoto's interest. "Are the NOL interested in trying to get that cauldron back online? And what does it have to do with Otsu?" Makoto questioned as Caroline reached down her pocket and took out something, sliding it towards Makoto.

"It's less what interest Otsu and what may interest you." Caroline said as Makoto looked down at the item that Caroline slid to her and immediately her eyes widened at what she was looking. "I will get going straight away and check out the cauldron." Makoto said as Caroline immediately patted her on the back. "You're not going there tomorrow. You're getting the final checks done for the experimental system I have planned for the Rev system before I allow you to go." Caroline said as Makoto looked at her.

"Oh come on. Can that wait until I get back from Ko? Who knows how long he's going to be there. By the time the final setup is done he might have disappeared by then!" Makoto said, expressing her desire to go as Caroline shook her head firmly. "More of a reason for you to go out with two arms rather than one. I am not going to let you harm yourself because that would mean I failed in protecting you to the best of my abilities like I always promised the Boss." Caroline said, taking a firm stance at the matter.

Makoto wanted to complain further but the firm look Caroline gave told her that any further arguing from her part would be worthless as she sighed. "Alright Caroline you win. I will take those final checks before I go out." Makoto said, sounding a bit frustrated as Caroline placed a tablet right in front of her for her to see. "Go through the details and make sure you got everything memorized. The NOL are trying to keep their numbers small to not get suspicion from the public so knowing any gaps between their security routes will be important." Caroline said as she finished eating her meal.

"In any other case, I've got to finish those final tweaks to the Rev system before we start messing with the calibrations." Caroline said as Makoto couldn't help but smile as she allowed Caroline to return back to her laboratory. "And get some rest. No taking those caffeine pills. Need your system to be clean for the tests. And don't think you can hide it from me, I will make you take a drug test if I have to." Caroline threatened as Makoto raised her hand.

"Woah Woah Woah. There's no need to do that professor. I swear I will get some rest for tonight." Makoto said, trying to make Caroline chill as she simply left the room, allowing Makoto to take a deep breath as she ruffled her hair. "Geez… It's good to see Caroline care for me like this but also..." Makoto stopped herself from finishing that sentence as she hastily finished her meal and took the tablet to her temporary room, Sora's room as she laid her back on his soft bed.

As much as she wanted to feel excited about a mission like this, she took a deep breath as she knew this was going to be one of her few chances at this. "Relius Clover… This time… I will not be scared of you." Makoto said, clenching her hand on the tablet, staring at the picture of the magenta wearing puppeteer. Will he be able to give her the answers to the questions that she needed answering badly? Who knows, but what it was clear to her was this, Relius knew more about how the world functioned and she needed that knowledge…

...The knowledge to defy and break the world's rules…

GREETINGS LOST SHEEP OF FANFICTION! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AND I HOPE THAT 2021 WILL BE A MUCH MORE KINDER YEAR TO US OVER 2020. While I am glad we have finally managed to get over the humps that is 2020, we are still living in a world where a global pandemic is still rampaging and a cure is yet to be at sight. So while it's great to celebrate 2020 being gone, we must still be safe and remember to not cause even more heartache for ourselves as we try to begin 2021 right.

SO WHAT IS GOING TO NEXT FOR MAKOTO NANAYA!? WHAT WILL AWAIT HER IN AKITSU-KO!? WHAT IS RELIUS CLOVER'S PLANS FOR AKITSU-KO'S CAULDRON AND DOES HE HAVE ILL INTENTIONS TOWARDS IT!? AND FINALLY, WILL MAKOTO HAVE THE STRENGTH AND WILLPOWER NEEDED TO FIGHT AGAINST THE OBSTACLES AHEAD OF HER! Well, let's read on and see.