Chapter 52: Examination
Saturday, October 15th, 20XX Noon
"She couldn't have waited another five minutes?" Muttering about her sister's odd behaviour; Kasumi yawned wildly.
Even the day after, Kasumi's head was filled with the thick fog of exhaustion despite sleeping for twelve straight hours. Her lethargic body hadn't wanted to move either but there was no time to lounge around in bed; midterms were starting on Monday.
Midterms…
The idea that she would go from fighting against the man who had been her savior to writing a test was… humorous. The kind of humour that left one weeping. Hefting her schoolbag heavy with the semester's material, Kasumi looked up at the sun.
"What is happening…?"
To have your world fall apart and reassemble into something precious all in one day was a disconcerting thing to say the least. That finally got a chuckle from Kasumi. The laughter warding off the breakdown that she should probably be going through.
Inside of Kasumi, there was a newfound peace that kept the storm at bay. Slipping a hand inside her autumn jacket, Kasumi laid a hand on her heart, feeling its steady beat. "Paris…" She could feel her persona inside of her, not as a separate thing but a part of her. Awakened when she had accepted the truth: no one will ever be more important to her than her sister.
"Ugh, I'm going to give her hell when I see her…" Complaining about her sister again, Kasumi finally arrived at the designated café for studying. Tromping up the stairs and keenly feeling each step in her legs, she staggered into the room.
Her gaze settled instantly on a curly-haired boy twirling a pencil. Kasumi briefly considered leaving. "Why you rotten little liar…" Face flushed with indignant fury, she stalked over the table and plopped down on the side opposite the boy.
"Huh? Kas? I didn't realize that Sumire… Oh."
"She tricked us." Kasumi agreed with a growl. "Figured I should let you know so you don't sit there practicing your pencil tricks all day."
"Well… Should we study? That is what we both came here for."
Kasumi hesitated. Ren's eyes were more open than usual. The mystery had deteriorated, leaving him looking more… vulnerable? It was an odd thing to say, but Kasumi could not restrain the opinion once she noticed. "I'm not sure how much studying I'll get done if you're here."
"Oh?" Ren raised an eyebrow. "That sounds suggestive."
Kasumi sighed. "If you're going to be an asshole, I'll just leave."
"How can you say that?" Ren replied. "Weren't you the one who would always tease me?"
Kasumi did pause at that. It felt like a lifetime ago when they had been in this very same café together. She had been confident then, bold and outgoing. "I almost got you killed. I suppose I can't really complain whatever you decide to do."
"Oh? Is that right?" Reaching across the table, Ren's hand was suddenly on her cheek, fingers running along her cheekbone toward her mouth.
Freezing in place, Kasumi endured the contact, heart running a million miles. Even as her mind was panicking though, she did not flinch away nor lean into the contact, she merely endured it. However, when Ren's fingers approached her lips, the speed slowing, she jerked away. "I get it!"
"…Sorry. I went too far."
"You think?" Kasumi pouted, sending him a glare. "What would my sister think if she saw you touching a girl that way?"
Ren's smile returned. "I wouldn't. …Unless she sends me one for a date."
"Date? Who said anything about a date?" Kasumi snapped back.
Ren went to his phone and opened it up. Mimicking a poor cadence of Sumire, he read aloud. "Remember this a date! Be sure to dress nice and comb your hair! Winky face."
"Winky face?"
"Winky face," Ren agreed with a nod.
Kasumi groaned, placing her cheek to the table. "My sister is an idiot. I'm so sorry."
"Yeah, but I think she would say the same about you."
Kasumi could not disagree with that. She could no longer deny that the two of them were linked. Trying to sacrifice herself to help Sumire had never worked and the opposite was true as well. Head still on the table, she lifted her eyes to look at Ren's sideways profile. "So?"
"So?"
"So what are you going to do about it?" Kasumi sulked. "Your girlfriend is trying to pimp you out to her loser sister so she feels better about almost getting you all killed."
"You aren't a loser, Kasumi." Ren spoke intently. "I will admit… this is… unusual, and I don't know how to react, but Sumire and you do that to me a lot."
Kasumi straightened her head, waiting for more.
"Do you know what I saw in the metaverse? Not a main character and a sidekick, or any other sort of uneven dynamic. You were equal yet opposite. Sumire is not better than you, Kasumi. She never has been."
Once again Ren reached out with his right. hand. Using his thumb, her stroked the beauty mark as she so often did. Tears welling up, all of Kasumi's insecurities that she had kept bottled up for years began to burst out. "B-But I'm not as pretty as her! I'm not as graceful! Her hair is gorgeous, she can cook, she even outperforms me on tests now! …I'm little more than her guardian."
"I said you were equal, not identical," Ren explained, voice soft. "Besides, I would guess only half of those are true, and you've forgotten the things that you're better at."
"Half? Which aren't true? And what am I better at? Please Ren, there is no need to try and appease my feelings. I will be there for my sister, and I look forward to it."
"…Do you want those answers or not?" Ren chuckled. "I think I'll start with what you're better at."
"Oh, here you go," Kasumi rolled her eyes. She didn't know why, but her heart had picked up its pace again. I… I want to know. It was irritating, but she was hanging off of Ren's every word.
"First off, you're better at making friends."
"Huh?"
"You are outgoing, funny, and can quickly slot in with any group. It's one of the reasons you're as famous as you are at school."
Kasumi frowned. "Sumire could be if she tried."
"No," Ren shook his head, "she couldn't."
There was no proof, nothing that should have allowed Ren to convince her, but Kasumi eventually nodded. "I admit it. You listed one, completely inconsequential thing I am better at."
"Seriously?" Ren said harshly, leaning forward. "I know you are feeling guilty. I know you lost Akechi but—"
"But have you almost killed everyone who meant something to you!?" Kasumi cut him off. "You are very nice to forgive me but… but he lied to me and…" Tears soaking her cheeks, Kasumi buried her head in her hands and cried. Underneath the stoic fatalism and love for her sister, that raw wound gushed blood. A raw nerve that Ren had dug deep enough to prod.
Back shaking from the emotions coursing through her, Kasumi was barely aware of her surroundings. She could not care about what Ren thought, or whether the other patrons were judging her.
It hurt. Oh god, it hurt so much.
At that moment, a warmth wrapped itself around her. Sobbing stopped for the moment, Kasumi looked up through parted fingers. Ren was now seated beside her, arm around her shoulders. His face was still staring off at nothing.
Kasumi's raw heart couldn't muster up an ounce of restraint or regret. Leaning into his chest, Kasumi resumed her sobbing.
Long minutes passed with Ren rubbing her trembling back. She did not cry out loud, but every time she thought herself done, she would remember the broken trust, the months of promises that were now broken and the tears would flow again.
Ren stayed silent throughout the whole ordeal, allowing her to grieve in peace. When she was done, Kasumi sniffed and straightened, staring out over the table. "Thank you."
"I… Kas… I'm so sorry…"
She giggled at that, wiping her face with her sleeve. She was sure that her face was red and disgusting. "You were so suave comforting me, but you still struggle to make a sentence, huh? That's kind of cute… Joker."
"Hrg," flinching, Ren mumbled out a sour response. "I never liked Goro but I didn't think he was evil. I'm just… trying to be what you need."
"You were perfect," Kasumi assured him, placing a friendly hand on his leg. "I am really glad that things worked out between the two of you. I just… I thought that things were working for me too... I can't help but feel like I should have died yesterday."
"Kas…"
"Don't worry," Kasumi shrugged, "I just… I feel like my point of being here is done now. Sumire doesn't need my support anymore with you helping her. I guess I can be her gymnastics rival for a bit, but she's already surpassed me and will quickly grow the gap."
"You're still an idiot, you know that?"
"Huh?" Straightening with anger, Kasumi whirled to face him, glaring up at the boy situated beside her. "I'm trying to be honest, asshole! I take back what I said about you being perfect!"
Kasumi was shocked to see that her own anger was reflected in Ren's own. His face was lined with creases of frustration. As she tried to turn back to the table, his hand whipped out and grabbed her chin, keeping them looking at each other. From this distance, their heavy breaths were starting to mix together.
"You," Ren intoned forcefully, speaking each word with care, "are not inferior to your sister."
Speechless, Kasumi stared up at him dumbfounded. That passion there was one that she had heard from Akechi, but there was more. His voice was trembling with poorly concealed warmth and care. So slowly that Kasumi barely noticed, but those black eyes grew to consume all of her vision.
The slight tingle from their noses touching sent the jolt of awareness through her that she needed. Pulling back and out of his hand, Kasumi flew into a flurry of motion. "Guess we may as well start studying. I-I'll message Sumi to join us if she wants! Would you be willing to go order me a coffee?"
"Y-Yeah…"
The stutter in Ren's voice terrified her. He… didn't plan that!? Running one more hand over her face, Kasumi felt that exhaustion rebound with a vengeance. Her emotions had run a full gambit today leaving her with no energy.
Tests, unfortunately, were not kind enough to slot themselves in nicely around illegal vigilante behaviour. Forcing open her bag, Kasumi sent her sister a quick message and threw herself into math.
Saturday, October 15th, 20XX Afternoon
Sae's heels clicked ominously with each step she took through the corridor that 'doesn't exist'—at least according to public records.
A long elevator ride below SIU headquarters, Sae nodded to the lone guard forced to work this shift. He was part of a select few that got increased pay with dirty money. Sae had been shocked to learn how easy they had been to recruit. The bait of money and power had yet to fail the corrupt directors with their efforts to build a private army within the police force. A private army that Shido appeared to have taken over.
"You are…"
"Aye, your new boss," Sae spoke flatly. "Go stand by the elevator until I'm done."
"…"
Sae could see in his eyes that measuring look, followed briefly by the glance up and down her body. It was almost as if she could see the thoughts being processed with all the mental acuity of a sloth. No one here that Sae could call out to, no weapon on her person she could use to resist, the doubt that she is actually important. In moments though, that same weakness that led to the man abandoning morality for money forced his hand.
"As you command."
Sae watched him go, and only entered the room he had been standing beside when he was a good fifteen meters away. Slipping inside the room, Sae closed the soundproofing door with a sharp snap.
Upon her entrance, the man tied to the chair inside struggled to raise his head, one eye swollen shut. She had prepared herself for sights like this, but it still turned her stomach as she struggled to keep her face straight.
"Ahh, so you've arrived…"
"I have," Sae said sitting in the chair on the opposite side of the table. Unable to restrain her guilt, a single word croaked out of her throat. "Sorry…"
Chuckling, the man looked at her with a glazed eye through strands of dirty long black hair. "For what? You're upholding your end, right?"
"…I am," Sae whispered. "Akane and Mikoto are quickly becoming fast friends. She likes having someone to talk to about the phantom thieves."
"Ahh, I bet she does," Zenkichi chuckled. "Or maybe just someone at all…"
Sae could not bear it any longer, so she stuck out her hand. "Do you have it?"
"Ahh, here you go." Ripping off a patch of his shirt, he stuck it out to Sae.
Taking the small patch of fabric, Sae looked closely at it, scanning for the lens that she had put there. "How long do I have?"
"Most of the damning stuff will be gone in a couple of hours."
"…I see. Good luck Zenkichi… and thank you."
"…No, thank you, Sae. I just… I…"
There was a raw fear and terror in his eyes. No one could prepare themselves for the mental and physical torture that the corrupt police put the people in these cells through. "It's going to be okay. I'll get you out soon, I swear."
"I didn't understand. Sae… I almost told them about it! Their examination is thorough…"
"Zenkichi… I'm so sorry." Before she broke, Sae fled the room. She could not help the tortured prisoner escape from his chosen fate for now.
Saturday, October 15th, 20XX Night
Muscles straining, Ren did his best to pull himself up so he could see over the hard wooden rafter before letting himself down again.
What the hell did I—
And back up. The agony in his arms blotting out the intrusive thoughts.
"Oh, look at that! You know, improving your body will help you in the metaverse. Way to go!" Morgana praised him for his hard work.
Panting, Ren could not reply, only continue working out. He wasn't going to stop working until he passed out on the floor in exhaustion. The hard exercise was straining his body to the limit—or well, his arms. Pausing halfway up, the muscles failed, and Ren dropped down hard to the floor. Lying there in a heap, Ren knew that he couldn't do anymore, even as his heart rate began to slow.
"That… didn't work."
Rolling to his feet, he began squatting. Up and down, again and again, depriving his body of every bit of energy it had.
Hah! Can't think if I have no energy!
Seeing his manic passion, Morgana identified that something was wrong. "Umm, are you alright?"
"Just… trying to sleep…"
"That is a good idea with midterms starting on Monday… but, oh, I see."
He does? Ren froze momentarily to stare at Morgana. This would be the greatest piece of guesswork Ren had ever seen.
"You and Sumire made some progress and now you can't get her out of your mind. If you had wanted some private time I can head out for a bit."
Ren probably would have blushed if he wasn't so surprised—or had the extra blood to spare. Morgana was surprisingly accurate… just had the wrong sister. Overstepping would be the mild way of framing Ren's actions today.
The sisters were just so similar. Kasumi's distress had tugged at his heartstrings exactly how Sumire's had. Ren had made multiple comparisons between them: two sides of the coin, mirror images, the list went on. How can he love one and not the other? His heart had certainly failed to separate the two today when he had leaned in.
Energy giving out his legs, Ren flopped back to the floor, resting an arm over his eyes. Chest heaving, he struggled to speak his question to Morgana. "Why… do you think… Kasumi won't join us?"
"Huh? Didn't Sumire mention that in her messages? She said that Kasumi doesn't believe in vigilante justice."
"But… She just got… proof that the…" Hating his own stilting talking, Ren gave up for a moment to collect some air in his lungs before continuing. "Akechi showed her how corrupt the police are. Doesn't that change everything?" Turning on his side, Ren watched Morgana who was perched on the couch arm.
The cat shrugged; the motion distinctly non-catlike. "To me it doesn't matter. They are incompetent and that's bad enough. I don't get her way of thinking."
"Ahh, that's right. Each heart we change helps you out."
Morgana looked ashamed as he moved and began stalking back and forth. "It doesn't just help me!"
"I know that," Ren replied, "but it does, does it not? There is a whole lower section of mementos that opened up. If we change Shido's heart, we may get to the very bottom."
"That is where it will be," Morgana mumbled. "The bottom of mementos will hold the secret of my humanity. When I get my hands around the person that cursed me…"
Ren smiled at that. The conversation was a good distraction from his own stupidity. "Would it really be so bad if you weren't human? Can't you be… almost human or something?"
"Almost human?" Morgana scoffed. "What does that even mean? I am not some sub-human shadow."
"That's not what I meant," Ren tried to say, but it was clear that Morgana was not entertaining any ideas. Groaning loudly from the pain in his arms, Ren heaved himself to his feet. His body and clothes were sticky with sweat. "I'm going to run over to the bathhouse quick. I'll be back"
"Sure," Morgana yawned, settling in for sleep. "If I'm asleep, have a good night… Last day of studying tomorrow."
"Yeah…"
Parting there, Ren gathered his stuff in moments and was out the front door, locking it behind him. His time in the bathhouse was surprisingly short. The workout and talk with Morgana had successfully cleansed his mind a little. It was not until Ren was pulling the covers over him in bead, waiting for the release of sleep that the nightmares started. He was dancing with Sumire, only for her to wink at him and suddenly she was Kasumi. The mischievous older sister taunted him before morphing back into Sumire.
Just as when they had danced together in their takedown of Akechi, the twins' forms morphed together, becoming a single double-headed monster. Impossible to tell which was which anymore, Ren whined in defeat, wondering if he was being cursed for something. Because having his first girlfriend couldn't simply be a joyous experience of growth and happiness.
As he was finally drifting off to sleep, Ren had a final thought: I don't remember a single thing I studied…
Sunday, October 16th, 20XX Early morning
"That damn traitor…" Stumbling back to her room at the end of her shift, Rose looked in at the figures inside. It was a bachelor pad without a real bedroom and no bathroom. It was the last place that four people should be shoved into together.
Her sisters were still sleeping, backs against the kitchen wall with a blanket spread over them. Asleep, they looked oh so very young and undeserving of the fate they found themselves facing.
Akechi, meanwhile, had the futon. The boy was spread out with a pained expression on his face. He had risen only sparingly since they managed to escape from the cruise ship. It was a miracle that they had gotten out at all.
The memory of that other Akechi forcing them to walk the plank… Rose had been less than certain that they would escape and more sure of their imminent death. The impact of the cold water that had disappeared, leaving her shivering on the sidewalk outside the diet building.
Only when she shivered in the apartment did Rose notice her skin quickly beginning to pebble. A cool breeze like a specter's breath seemed to freeze her to her core. Wrapping her arms around herself she swore. "Damn heat is malfunctioning again…"
Approaching the built-in heating unit, Rose confirmed that the unit was on, it just wasn't doing anything. Turning it off, Rose waited a moment and then turned it on again. As she had expected, nothing happened. The building paid for electricity and seemed to not care if its tenants froze. Trying not to wake her sisters, Rose went to the oven and lit a few of the burners, using natural gas instead—which was added unto the rent.
In her state, the small inconvenience suddenly felt like the greatest insult. Beginning to break down, Rose smacked the air, frantically stifling the noise so she wouldn't wake the others. "Why… Why did this all happen, Dad?"
Sniffing, she wiped her face once. When she looked back to her sisters, she noticed Orchid's eyes on her. The rising sun provided just enough light through the closed curtains to make seeing possible. "Sister… we need to talk."
Growing jealous of their embrace, Rose almost slid herself in, but stopped herself. She no longer felt like a member of their group. It was not the three sisters, but two sisters and an outsider. The one that abandoned them and now returned with horrible advice. Glancing over at Akechi, she could not stop the seed of doubt from blooming within her. Should she have trusted the phantom thieves?
More accurately perhaps, was Akechi truly trustworthy? "He's done so much for me…"
"Sit down," Orchid said, the statement was not a suggestion.
Huddling down opposite the two, Rose did her best to adjust the short skirt of her outfit to insulate against the floor. "W-What's happening?"
"We are thinking about leaving today and talking to the phantom thieves."
Rose hissed. "How can you say that? Look at the state they left Akechi in!" Rose wanted the words back instantly as Orchid's face hardened.
"It wasn't really them though, was it? The person responsible was that other Akechi."
"He got us out though."
"He didn't!" Orchid hissed, leaning forward, disrupting Lily's head. "You did! You were the one who convinced him to throw us from the boat instead. Your detective was left knocked out and had to be carried out."
Wilting further, Rose failed to contain the horrific shivers that made her teeth chatter.
"Tell me Rose, please. Did this man actually save you?"
"Yes!" She snapped. "Once I divulged the contents of father's letter, Akechi took me from that damned cell. He saved me from hell, sister."
"Do you even hear yourself? He took you out after you told them about Shido? Rose… He is using you!"
Standing back up, Rose whirled and strode over to Akechi. A small ray of sunlight was peeking through and illuminating his face. It was still locked in a grimace, sweat pouring down. There was no relief for him, even in sleep. Stroking his cheek, Rose reaffirmed her feelings.
"I will not abandon him. If you want to turn us into the phantom thieves, then go."
"I don't want to leave you again!" Orchid shouted, standing up herself, forcing Lily to fully awaken. Even Akechi's eyes fluttered.
"And yet you also don't believe me. I trust Akechi, you can either trust me or not."
"Don't you dare try to turn me into the bad guy," Orchid growled back. "I just want you to acknowledge the possibility that you've been lied to! Did you ever consider that this 'extremely clever man' may have been the one to orchestrate the whole thing? Ordered your torture and arranged to rescue you?"
"Why you…"
Whatever Rose had been planning to say fled from her mind as a hand grabbed her wrist with a weak grip. "Will you leave me as well… my flower?"
It was so pathetic that Rose was at a loss. The tough, suave detective was gone, leaving behind a sick, broken man. Smiling down at him, Rose whispered words for him as well. "Just give me a moment."
Freeing her hand, she walked back to Orchid and pulled her into a hug.
"Huh? What are you doing?"
"I… I don't know what the truth is but… my feelings on this won't change. Take care, alright?"
"Take care? You can't just kick us out—"
"Weren't you the one threatening to leave?" Rose forced a laugh. "Come on, Orchid. We always knew that the day we'd have to separate would come. I-I'm sorry I included you both in this."
Orchid pursed her lips, looking back at Lily who stared on expressionlessly. It was not unusual for her, but Rose thought exhaustion was further dampening her emotions. The youngest of the three sisters did, however, pull herself to her feet.
"Lily, you tell her! You were the one to suggest abandoning the thieves to help Akechi in the first place!"
"I… I think I was wrong to do so."
"H-How can you say that!?"
"Because we abandoned our friends!" Lily yelled, her face finally breaking into an expression. That emotion was deep regret. Pain that hurt Rose's heart was plastered clearly on her little sister's face. "I-I mean, I don't know if Akechi's words were wrong but… he is clearly lying about things."
Rose could not deny that. Akechi's aloofness had been detrimental to their plan. But now… Rose had a secret bit of happiness that it had failed. She was worried what would have happened if it had worked.
"Lily, you can't flip flop after every single thing! We abandoned them to reunite with Rose and bring our father's killers to justice! What has changed?"
"What has changed is that Akechi will not help us find justice."
The logical response left a gap in the conversation. Rose did not really want them to leave, but at the same time, it felt like a schism had occurred when she was taken away. Into that gap, Akechi's voice rasped. "You should all go. My father will find me soon. Hide yourselves from him."
"Your father?" Rose frowned. "Who?"
"Shido."
The name was a cold bucket of water over the girls. Rose felt her body shaking as she walked back to him. "Explain."
Akechi glimpsed her face and chuckled. The movement sending a racking cough through his body. When it finally calmed down, Akechi explained. "He abandoned my mother and me… He… doesn't know…"
"Is that why you are protecting him from the thieves?" Rose asked in a whisper, "to protect him?"
"No. I want to… want to bring him down myself…" This time as Akechi's words drifted off, his eyes closed, and the fitful sleep resumed.
"Go," Rose commanded. "I will care for him. I don't want either of you experiencing the terror of the police."
"Does it really have to be this way?" Orchid asked desperately, voice breaking from the emotion.
Rose could not look at her sisters. She knew that if she did, tears would flow. "It does."
"Fine. I… I won't say goodbye though."
"See ya, Rose," Lily added on, her voice choking up.
Placing a hand over her mouth to repress her sniffles, Rose couldn't respond until the door creaked open. "Promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay?"
"We will." The meaning was clear. Orchid concluded that Rose would be unable to return the promise.
Moments later, the door was shut, and Rose was alone with Akechi. "Well now, it is time for you to tell me everything." Using Akechi's thumb to unlock his phone, Rose set about to learn everything she needed about the detective.
Sunday, October 16th, 20XX Morning
The being shook their head sadly from side-to-side. Mortals truly are foolish… and some immortals. Appending their thought, the being looked at the split warden talk to itself excitedly about their charge's prospects in the upcoming examinations.
"Hmm, perhaps a change in the rules is in order…"
The rumbling words carried far enough to disturb the halves. Turning their matching eyes upon him; the Warden's conversation ended abruptly. "Is something wrong, master?"
"…No. Merely unforeseen occurrences." The being responded in a deep, borderline inhumane voice. "Return to your… musings."
"O-Of course, Master."
Leaning back in the chair, the being stared up at things far beyond the walls of the prison that he currently ruled over. Yes, that man will be a far better candidate for our challenge.