Author's note:

Felt bad about the last chapter so I hurried this one out.

Enjoy.

Chapter 54: A Dark Reunion

Saturday, October 22nd, 20XX Morning

With a tremendous bang, Makoto slammed her hands against the table in LeBlanc's attic. The noise more than loud enough to carry down to the few customers that would be patronizing the run-down café at this hour.

Ren flinched slightly, knowing the lecture that Sojiro would give him later. Futaba shot him a pitying smile. That distraction prevented him from interrupting Makoto before she continued in a far too loud voice.

"We need to target Shido, immediately! Let's have a route by the end of the day and—"

"Mako-chan!" Haru cut her off as she arrived up the stairs, the fluffy-haired CEO's voice sharp and commanding. "You are disturbing the café. If you can't speak respectfully, I'll need you to leave."

"H-Haru?"

"I understand that you are emotional. Take a breath and compose yourself."

Thank you, Haru! Ren's mental praise turned sour as her glare turned to him.

"And you! Control her better. Are you the leader or aren't you?"

Wilting, Ren raised his hands in defeat. "Sorry, sorry. Her intensity just surprised me is all."

Makoto, however, was far less conciliatory as she whirled on Haru, nostrils flaring. "Do not tell me to calm down! This is an emergency!" Her voice was loud still, but quiet enough that the customers would not be disturbed.

"Then calm down and tell us about it, Mako-chan."

"…Fine," sighing Makoto sat down hard on the couch. It was a clear sign of her mental distress that she did not care that she was pressed against Ryuji, or that the boy was munching on a protein bar in the early hours. "My sister and the police investigator are a bunch of idiots. If we don't change Shido's heart soon, bad things will happen."

"Bad things?" Sumire inquired. "We wanted to save Rose but then…"

"She was still alive," Makoto agreed, waving her hand as if the girl's presence wasn't a remarkable factor that had blindsided them all. "It doesn't change the fact that Shido's heart needs changing."

"You avoided Sumi-chan's question," Haru followed up.

Maybe it was the disappointed look on her friend's face, but Makoto finally slowed down, hugging her body, anger fleeing as sorrow took its place. "I… I didn't understand perfectly but… I think Zenkichi is being held in those same cells that Rose was."

Ryuji whistled loudly, the only sound that passed through the stunned room. It was Morgana who actually talked though. Jumping from his position on Futaba's lap onto the table, he stared at the group. "This is unimportant. We always knew that operations against Shido would commence once exams were gone. We will get the truth in the metaverse."

"Hold on!" Sumire protested. "That place is incredibly dangerous! Not only are the letter holders tough, but there is that Akechi… He had a bad aura about him."

"Sumire is right," Ren added quickly before Makoto could continue ranting. "Let's be realistic. We can't rush in again and assume we are invincible. With our actions last week, I should be dead."

Ren paused, hoping the finality of the statement was sinking in. Sumire's hand on his back helped steady Ren as he elaborated.

"Kasumi's powerful awakening was a miracle. It won't happen again. And that didn't just save me. All of us were in trouble because of our overreaction."

"Sorry…" Sumire apologized from behind.

"It wasn't just you though," Ren reminded her. "We are going up against the same people that set the last trap. Sure, it will be the cognitive Akechi and not the real one, but the point remains."

"So, we need a strategy?" Makoto surmised. "That's fine. But it doesn't change what we need to do."

"I agree." Ryuji spoke up, voice oddly calm. "This bastard has been ruining things for a long time now. Let's set him straight."

With Ryuji's unusual control fueling determined words, no one spoke a word of disagreement. Ren did not miss the satisfied look that Ann shot him, however.

"Now then," Makoto leaned forward. "Let's talk strategy."

Saturday, October 22nd, 20XX Afternoon

"I found the target," Violet whispered to the girl below her. "Are you ready, Panther?"

"Yeah, on it," she sighed, taking far less care to keep her voice low. "I still think going straight for the kill makes far more sense."

"And we were outvoted," Violet reminded her. "Joker and Queen think it is possible to get the letters without resorting to violence."

"Like that's ever worked," Panther grumbled, and Violet had to agree. It seemed highly unlikely that Shido would have confidants that would hand over their letter of introduction to someone after a five-minute conversation.

"Oh well, Noir is on the move," Violet noted as the girl began to descend the stairs. However, the young CEO turned to stare at Violet and waved her over frantically. "That can't be good."

Jumping down from the railing, Violet approached the girl. She felt exposed down here, with no one watching above in the game room. Shadows could attack from any angle. "What is it Noir? Weren't you going to talk to that TV president?"

"Yes, and I think you should be there."

"Me?" Violet tilted her head. "Why?"

"Because you know him too."

With that ominous note, Noir led them down the stairs and face-to-face with the silver-haired man playing at slots with two bodyguards. When he stood to face them, thick arms crossed, he stood a good head taller than them.

I… know him?

Violet was pretty sure she didn't, but with the mask on it was hard to say. Her facial recognition wasn't strong enough to remove it and overlay the result with people she had met.

"You…" The TV president said, staring hard at Noir. "Are you… Ms. Okumura?"

"Indeed, I am," Noir replied, performing a slight curtesy. "It's a great pleasure to meet you. My friend here is someone else you are acquainted with, yes? Yoshizawa Shinichi's daughter?"

"Oh, him." The TV president said flatly, giving Violet a hard stare. "I can't say your father's made things easy me. Quite a respectable rival. If it wasn't for him, I'd have a monopoly on the TV business by now."

"I-Is that so?" Violet stuttered. She felt utterly prepared for this conversation. Trying to catch Noir's eyes failed as her fluffy-haired companion continued to look up at the man with a pleasant smile. "Umm, well competition breeds innovation… Am I right? Ahahaha…"

"…Indeed." Was his curt reply. There was no laughter in it. That humor did return as he turned back to Noir. "So sorry to hear about your father's collapse. He was a good man until he tried to rise above his means. Should have stayed in place and served Shido faithfully."

"…" Haru did not respond, her eyes lowering dejectedly.

Either not noticing or reveling in the damage he was doing, the TV president continued with a jolly, conspiratorial tone. "I heard that he's essentially dead. May as well be in a coma, he sits around drooling all day… So, only a little less useful than before!"

Violet moved instantly, grabbing Noir's wrist. Even using her whole strength, Violet left like she was trying to contain a bull as Noir's muscles flexed beneath her. "Noir…"

"Please release me, Violet. Don't worry, my mind is clear."

"Ahh… Sure." Hesitantly, Violet retracted her hand as Noir took a step forward. As she raised her head, she was almost nose-to-nose with the TV president. Whatever he saw in that gaze clearly didn't sit well with him as he stumbled back into the console.

"I'm going to kill you now and take your letter," Noir said cheerfully. "While you are writhing on the ground, shrieking in pain, please consider how much my father suffered."

"Y-You bitch! You think you can just threaten me like that? I'm an important figure and—AHH!"

Violet was not fast enough to stop Noir's attack. The axe penetrated down through the man's left shoulder sending up a shower of realistic blood. Just as she was wondering if this was a real person trapped in the palace that Noir had killed, the man's eyes refocused as his body began and flow and change.

Blood vanished in a cloud of mist as an old monkey man took the place of the president. Dextriously, he bounded off the wall to open space, posing on one leg. "You will die for this!"

"Hehe, oh no, you will!" Noir promised even as his flunkies also transformed into powerful looking shadows with wings. As the enemy grabbed control of the skies, Violet and Noir went back-to-back—now completely surrounded.

"This is entirely your fault, you realize that, right Noir?"

"I don't need help, Violet. Run and I'll deal with all of them. Milady, shoot them down."

"Shit." Cursing, Violet dove away from Noir, hunkering under a gaming table. The bullets came raining down moments later. It was a horrible place for fighting and the carnage that occurred spoke to that. Noir was a center of whirlwind, the occasional stray catching her as well.

"HEHEHE!" Noir's giggling sounded partly demonic as she shot at the shadows. "DIE! DIE! DIE!"

Violet scrambled back another few meters as the hurricanes of air descended down upon where Noir was standing. The entire room had descended from chaos into hell. It was impossible to hear anything over top of the roaring of guns and booms of air-based attacks.

Through the chaos, Violet watched as the TV president closed his eyes, an energy of raw power coalescing around his body.

"Haru, you…" Glaring at the girl that had started the fight without a signal to allow everyone to approach, Violet had no choice but to launch herself through the melee. Instantly bullets blown off course and debris from the hurricane of destruction cut into Violet's body. A sharp piece of wood slicing open her left cheek with a small line of pain.

With the protection of her persona however, the maelstrom did only minor damage as Violet passed through to the other side. Left in a one-vs-one against the TV president, Violet tensed with apprehension. The power that surrounded him was bad news. She would need to find a way to deflect or reduce the strength of his next attack. Slowly, Violet crossed her blade in front of her body, supporting it with her offhand.

"Foolish girl. I'm not wasting this power on you."

"Wha…?"

"AWOOO!" With an animalistic cry, the TV president's monkey god form backflipped in the air and landed sword tip first. From the point of impact two lines of dense red power formed.

"DODGE, NOIR!" Even yelling at the top of her lungs, Violet knew that it was pointless. There was too much noise and her voice got lost on the wind. Half of the entertainment room was now in shambles—a wreckage of bullet holes and broken game tables.

Stuck in her defensive stance, Violet grimaced as the two lines of power rushed forward, forming the outline of a sword. The power destroyed the ground as it passed under and through Violet.

"Gah!" Crying out from pain, Violet staggered from the glancing blow. Most of the power continued past her to an unsuspecting Noir.

The fellow thief was standing in the middle of the hurricane, hat eschew with blood dripping from her damaged form as she laughed. Bloodlust oozed from her as she hunted down the flying shadows. Completely enraptured in her hunt, she noticed too late.

Violet watched pityingly as bloodlust turned briefly to fear as the two red lines of power arched up and together, completing the blade-like shape as it struck Noir's midsection.

The physical blow blew Noir back, sending her crashing hard into a destroyed bank of slot machines. Head lolling down, she could have been dead.

"Bastard!" Cursing, Violet threw herself at the monkey man. Blade whizzing from its sheath, she unleashed a flurry of blows. The cacophony of guns was gone, but it was replaced with the shrill shriek of metal on metal.

"AHAHA! I will defeat you and dethrone your father!"

"You'll pay for what you did to Noir," Violet growled as she increased the speed of her strikes.

"Haha, you can't stop me!"

The monkey god swung with incredible speed and power, knocking her sword out of the way. Her whole hand went numb from the incredible impact. Whipping her rapier back into a defensive posture, she struggled to catch a swing from above. The power of it sent her to one knee.

"Maybe…" Violet panted, glaring up at him. "But he can."

"He?" The TV president frowned, eyes darting to the sides. But he did not turn his head to find the silent phantom.

"Me," Joker whispered, voice filled with rage.

BANG!

"GRAGH!" Staggering away, the TV president collapsed to the ground, clutching his head that leaked energy from the critical hit that Joker had landed.

As he looked at her, Violet's heart skipped a bit.

"Ready?"

"Yes, Senpai!" Rising to her feet, she struck a pose and leapt.

Surrounding the hapless shadow, the two of them danced. Guns and swords blazing with their strikes enhanced by the power of their personas, they tore the TV president apart. Hitting with a three-part combo, Violet flipped backwards as Joker rushed underneath, adding his own brutal stab and cut combo. They ended it with twinned stabs through the shadow's back. Flipping away, Violet ended the all-out-attack slung across one of Senpai's arms cradling her as she stroked his chin lovingly.

Breaths misting together, Violet had to force herself not to drag him into a long kiss. Twirling out of Joker's grasp, Violet raised her blade once more.

True to expectations, the TV president rose once more, coughing up large amounts of energy as his body struggled to endure the vitality loss. "I will kill you painfully. I will string you each up and make you watch and beg as I tear you all limb from limb!" The yellow eyes began to glow brighter. Once more that red aura of power began to surround the shadow's body.

"It's ice! Do your thing, Fox!"

"Hmm, how disgraceful. Come, Goemon!" Falling from the ceiling, Fow threw a pillar of ice down upon the TV president. It was a sure hit—there was no way that the shadow could dodge… Until it did.

Its body blurred and the TV president was standing beside the attack, looking surprised that he had managed to dodge as well. "Ice!"

"It has an ability to evade its weakness! Can you slow it down Joker!?" Oracle called from above.

"Got it!" Summoning one of his multiple personas, Joker used his sure-hit ability that hampered the shadow's speed. Its movements were sluggish, but charged as it was…

"Stay behind me Senpai!" Crossing her blade in front of her once again, Violet could do nothing but watch as a dizzying array of ethereal blades slashed through the area.

Skidding backwards, Violet coughed up a string of blood. Spitting out the rest of the coppery taste, she looked for Senpai. Violet found him in much the same position Noir had ended up. His eyes were glassy but open. He was moving slowly to pick himself up from the ground.

"HAHAHA! That's one down!" Leaping into the air, the TV president's eyes, full of bloodlust, sought the kill against Senpai.

Before Violet could react to save him, Fox was there. The midair shadow was helpless to avoid being turned into an icicle. With a bang it shattered against the ground leaving the collapsed shadow behind.

The TV president had once been filled with vigor. Now, Violet could barely sense the remaining energy.

"Urgh… I am… chosen."

"You should have handed over the letter," Violet replied coolly. Placing her rapier against the shadow's neck, her wrist twisted, separating the head from the body. The remaining energy flowed from both ends of the decapitated trunk. It was a gruesome sight, but the body quickly began to dissolve.

What was left behind was worse. The transformation faded and the damage of Violet's final attack had not faded. What had once been a shadow was now a human body lying in the same condition.

The blood flowing endlessly from the unmoving body…

Whirling around, Violet's stomach contracted violently. Hurling, Violet gagged as nothing came out. Again and again, she got nothing. No relief from the sight burned in her mind. No relief from the sins that she had started to forget.

I killed someone and I'm happy. No, no, this is wrong. This is—

Warmth enveloped her. Sumire's body was still shaking more than a tree in a storm, but she felt safe again. "Senpai…" Snuggling into that warmth, Violet allowed herself a minute of dependence.

As she recovered in her boyfriend's arms, the room began to calm. The only things moving in the destroyed entertainment room were the phantom thieves.

"Tsk," an angry Noir spat as she staggered over, healed by Panther. "Violet got to do my job. I wish I had gotten the chance…"

"No, Haru, you don't," Violet whispered from her safe place. "This is not something I'd wish upon anyone."

Solemnly, the group collected their second letter.

"Come on," Joker spoke as Violet finally released him. "It's time to return to the pool deck."

Saturday, October 22nd, 20XX Afternoon

"Dude… the girls are wearing swimsuits!"

Joker gave Skull a baffled look. "You saw them in swimsuits when we went to the beach. "Besides, do you want Ann hearing you say things like that?"

"Huh? Why would Ann care?"

"Because you are getting excited about seeing girls in swimsuits?"

"So?"

"You two aren't…?" Joker gave him a hard look. However, Skull's gaze did not flinch or try to hide anything. "Never mind then. My apologies."

Turning his gaze back to their surroundings, Joker did a quick look over the pool deck. It was concerning how open the area was. That was the reason they had skipped this letter initially. Joker's back tingled. No matter how he searched, the prickles continued. Whether it was an instinct that something was wrong or merely paranoia he didn't know.

Across the way, Mona and Yusuke nodded in response, indicating that they didn't find any issues. That meant all they could do was wait and watch as the ladies approached the former noble lounging by the pool deck, staring at women in swimsuits.

Joker could not contain his anxiety. This was the most important letter to get without fighting and they didn't have many people to rely on. Noir and Violet were checked out after the encounter with the TV president. Oracle was still too shy and had a child's body. She was unlikely to be helpful here either. That left only Panther and Queen. Of the two… Joker had no confidence in either to manipulate this man. Neither were exactly seductresses.

Kasumi would be great here…

Makoto was always awkward around strangers and Ann was horrible at manipulating people. This was descending into worst-case scenario. Or it would be, if not for one thing. Skull's gaze tracked the girls' progress, as did the former noble's. Every single one of them were incredibly attractive in their own way, and walking as a group made it even more apparent. The former noble likely wouldn't care if the girls just stood there with dopey smiles.

True to expectations, sex appeal appeared to win out as the former noble's actions grew more animated. Sighing in relief, Joker stretched his back. Hopefully the girls could just get the letter and scram.

"Hmm, that man always was an idiot."

"Wha!?" The familiar voice filled Joker with fear. Even as his mind was paralyzed, his body moved, throwing himself to the side and into a roll. Coming up with his gun out, Joker looked down the barrel at a detective he had hoped to never see again. "Goro."

"Indeed," the cognitive shadow smiled with an inhuman ferocity. "You look distressed. I've been hoping to see you again since you ran away… Ren."

"…What happened to the others?" Joker asked. Throwing out an arm, he stopped Skull from charging past him.

"Hmm, they weren't worthy of being on the ship, so I got rid of them."

"You killed them?"

The shadow detective clicked his tongue and shrugged. "I had no role in it. One of the girls asked for the honor of walking the plank. Who am I to refuse them?"

Walk the plank… That meant jumping from the ship and leaving the palace. Would that be enough to get them out of the metaverse?

"Does that give you hope?" The detective asked. "Ahh, I hope those girls show up again. The look on the one's face was delicious."

"What do you want?" Joker pressed. "Leave us alone."

"Unfortunately, the only one who can order me around is Lord Masayoshi Shido, the hope of Japan. And you are being a naughty boy to gain entrance to his audience chamber, aren't you?"

Joker had no answer for that. Tensing, he prepared for a fight. His best bet would be to isolate this to the side of the pool deck so as to not interfere with the collection of the letter.

"I REFUSE! Come on, let's beat this fool down!" Panther screamed.

The words that carried over to Joker ended any chance of that happening. "Go to her, Skull." Joker commanded. "I'll deal with this idiot."

"Oh? A duel? What are we, two cowboys on a dusty noon road? Very well." Cognitive Goro chuckled. "Standard rules? Back-to-back, ten paces and turn? Draw and shoot on three?"

"…" Joker took a silent moment to see if her was serious before nodding. "That's good with me."

Walking off to the side, Joker briefly looked out over the expanse of the drowned Tokyo. There was a horrible beauty to the scene. The end of one civilization heralding the birth of another.

Our civilization isn't dead yet!

Mustering his determination, Joker pocketed his gun and strode over to the cognitive detective. His senses were on high alert as he showed his enemy his back. If he was going to be betrayed, it would be now.

Despite his misgivings, it never occurred. Striding the ten paces, Joker whirled to face his rival. He had never liked the detective. That dislike had turned into a boiling hatred for what he had done not only to Kasumi and Sumire but also to the Owada daughters.

"One…" Akechi Taunted.

"Two," Ren answered.

"THREE!" Crying out the word, Joker drew and fired faster than he ever had. His hastily drawn gun caught the detective on the left arm.

Akechi, however, had not fired. Smiling mischievously, he completely ignored the damage dealt to him as he pointed his weapon at Joker's face. "Hey, do you think you survive if I pull this trigger?"

"…Why don't we find out?" Ren taunted.

"Yeah… YEAH! AHAHA, DIE IDIOT!"

With a sharp bang, Goro's gun went off and Joker smiled.

His persona's innate trait flared and negated the damage, reflecting it back at its source.

"URGH!" Grunting with actual pain this time, shadow Akechi sunk to one knee, grabbing his face. "ASSHOLE!"

"Shouldn't shoot people then," Joker smiled. "So, is this my win?"

"…Ah. You win for today. Take your letter and go. Also, as a reward I will tell you this. The cleaner is watching the windows into the IT president's room. If you go for that one, you'll have to fight both of them."

"Understood." Joker accepted the information, trying not to betray any emotion.

Goro stood up lowering his hand, revealing a swiftly recovering face. It was incredible vitality. Sauntering over to the railing, the detective threw himself over it and disappeared. Going to check, Joker only saw the swells of waves.

"Well, I think that's it for today…" Looking up, he confirmed that the monster of the former noble had just gone down.

Saturday, October 22nd, 20XX Evening

"I still think I should go home…"

Playing with his girlfriend's hair, Ren shot her a quick glance in the dark room. Well into Fall with the threat of Winter looming, the poorly insulated attic was reaching single digit temperatures. With a small space heater, a blanket, and shared body heat, the cool air was a blessing in disguise.

"Why do you want to leave?" Ren asked, turning back to the movie. It was a foreign movie about a dystopian future. Despite being initially apathetic to it, Ren had to admit that it was gripping as the drama and tension reached its apex.

"I-It isn't that I want to," Sumire huffed. "But my… well I think…"

Chuckling, Ren pulled her a little tighter. "Don't worry, I'll behave. It isn't the first time you've spent the night here."

"Last time we weren't dating like this," Sumire continued, trying to back up her arguments. "Also… what if I can't control myself?"

Ren blinked, unsure if he had heard the last part correctly. Trying to lean forward to see her face was pointless as she shielded herself with a curtain of hair. Her turned head did reveal an appealing target. Leaning in, he whispered directly into her ear. "And what would be wrong with that?"

"EEP!" Hopping away from him, Sumire glared at him with her scarlet face. "D-Don't do that so suddenly! Also, I'm watching the movie!"

"True, I am as well." So, lifting the remote, Ren paused it. He got an immediate reaction from his girlfriend who gaped.

"Y-You! That's mean!"

"So why are you worried about things between us getting more… intimate," Ren struggled to get the words out. The possibilities… Ren almost told her to go home at that moment. His own composure was a fragile thing.

"N-No reason. Slow is just the best right now."

Ren paused. There was one reason that he feared above all others. But, with this being Sumire, everything always came back to that very same thing. "It's about your sister, isn't it?"

The guilty look on her face was as good as a confession.

"Sumire, we talked about this. I don't—"

"I CAN'T LEAVE HER BEHIND!" Sumire screamed, jumping on Ren. Pinned to the couch, he stared up into her frantic eyes. "The thought of what she has been through curdles my stomach. If I lost you… I'd kill myself. How can she bear that pain with a smile?"

Ren bit back his quick rejection and spike of terror. Taking the gentler approach, Ren wrapped his arms around her shoulders pulling her down on top of him. So close together, Ren whispered his carefully chosen words. "I'm not going anywhere. But Sumire, think about this from Kasumi's perspective. Won't she feel even worse if she's the reason that your relationship isn't progressing?"

"I know that. Which is why I won't tell her anything," Sumire huffed. "Besides, if you would just go on a date with her, you can make her forget all about that vile detective."

"So… I'm a bounce-back?" Ren clarified.

"Y-Yeah, something like that! Restore her faith in men!"

"Then sure."

"Huh? You… accept?"

"It will end your sister and bring this to the end. Why would I decline?"

"Oh, I see. Umm, yeah, great!" Sumire answered half-heartedly, beginning to lift off Ren. She clearly had not anticipated his quick acceptance.

Following her up, Ren held her chin with one hand. "There's a condition though. I'll only do it if you stay the night."

"Y-You…" Blushing, she knocked away Ren's hand with a huff. "Fine! I'll do it, of course."

Wait, really? This time it was Ren's turn to be surprised. He had expected her to leave and call of the agreement. Sitting there stunned, it took him awhile to recover. "Well then, we have a deal."

You really are…"

"The best boyfriend ever," Ren teased as he leaned in for a kiss. Ren thought that Sumire would resist, but she melted into his touch in an instant, their bodies seeming to flow together. It was a long moment later when Ren pulled back. Sumire's lips still searching for his for a moment more. "We have a movie to finish if you umm…"

The glare he got froze Ren in place. "You ruined the movie with bringing up such serious topics! We can… umm, finish it tomorrow morning?"

Ren gulped. Sumire's demure posture on top of him, scarlet face and interlaced fingers were making his body go wild. Vision turning red from a desire to consume his needs, Ren ran his hands up her arms, unable to get enough of her.

"W-Wait, Ren." Sumire lightly protested. "S-Shouldn't we save this until we get in bed?"

"Get in bed?" Ren asked stupidly. His advances had been paused, but his hands continued to rub her arms. "But I'm sleeping on the couch?"

"W-What? D-Didn't you want to sleep in your bed together?"

That's a great idea! Bounding off the couch, Ren shot her a thumbs-up. "I'll grab you some pajamas and we can go to bed!"

"Sometimes you…"

Ren didn't catch the rest but assumed that was a good thing as it didn't sound like a compliment. Taking out nightclothes for both of them, Ren's head cooled a little. Just the tiniest sliver. It was enough for Ren to think back on the promise they had made. Those things he had said had been intended for Sumire to retract the idea about Kasumi. Now that she had gone through with it, Ren would have no choice but to uphold his end. A date with his girlfriend's sister… what an insane idea.

After handing over the clothes, Sumire ran downstairs leaving him the attic to change quickly. Throwing his dirty clothes in a hamper to wash later, Ren sniffed his breath and body. Both were fine. Relaxing a little, Ren stretched and cleaned up the couch and TV when Sumire reappeared.

She was carrying the pants that he had given her wrapped around her own clothes. That left her in only the baggy shirt he had handed over.

A goddess!

Stricken by the sight, Ren forced himself to not stare at her legs so much. It was the perfect mixture of cute and sexy. The fact that it was his shirt made it all the more attractive.

"Umm, I'll just leave these here…" As she placed the bundle of clothes on the ground and it unfurled, Ren's heart stopped. Inside the bundle, initially hidden was her bra.

Then that means…

Stuck inside his head, Ren couldn't move as Sumire approached him. "G-Get it first," she commanded, giving him a light shove.

The simple order was what he needed to get moving. A nice simple order that required no mental capacity. Sumire seemed to be in much the same state as they silently slid into bed together. Saying nothing, they laid close together in Ren's small bed.

"Umm, where is Morgana, by the way?"

"Morgana? I sent him with Futaba to the house." Ren answered.

"And he will be… spending the night there?"

"Yeah," Ren confirmed.

"T-Then, I guess its fine if we do a little… right?"

Once again, Ren began to overheat. "Sumire, I—"

She cut him off with a finger on his lips. As she silenced him, she sat up, swinging a leg over to straddle him. "I really do love you, Ren, and I want to prove that to you tonight. My body is yours, but I have one request."

Sumire's face heated again as she glanced away in embarrassment. Ren remained silent behind her finger. His heartbeat running wild as he waited nervously for the stipulation.

"I just… I can't… Urgh, I can't believe I'm saying this!" Taking a steadying breath, she turned back to him, gaze intense. Leaning over him, they got a world of their own as her hair cut off the outside world. "You can't impregnate me, alright? That's the condition!"

Ren chuckled. It was an involuntary reaction. "Your too cute, Sumire. Don't worry, I have no intention of doing that."

Running his hand over her cheek, Ren once again paused and couldn't believe his luck. The worst event in his life—that he thought had ended it—had brought about a chance encounter with his angel. Her divinity displayed in her pure humanity. That earnest spirit that she fought against the world with. Pouring his heart into the words, Ren kept his declaration simple. "I love you."

Pulling her down on top him, Ren began their long, long night together.