Hey, sorry for the massive delay but welcome back to Senran Persona. Yeah, again, I'm really sorry because… well… life happens and sometimes, life likes to punch you in the gut and tell you you're trash… plus deciding it would be a good idea to work on four stories at once and getting none of them done. Hopefully we can get one more chapter out this year. We have another person throwing in their help now (making it four people working on this), but I haven't really talked to them about if they want to be credited as another collaborator just yet.

Anyways, onto the reviews.

To M. Touhou: Well, thanks for defending me and your efforts are being rewarded today! To Tailsmo4ever: Huh, Ryuji and Katsuragi do kind of have that "Dating Catwoman" dynamic. To Darklight of the 0 arcana: Time skip chapters are becoming harder to justify considering just the amount of crap we need to get through. It'll end up longer!

Okay, that's it! Time to help some friends!

Load Game… Start!

Chapter 139: Tales of Mementos

(10/7, Early Morning)

(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)

It was another morning in Tokyo, uncaring for anyone's current mood as the sky was a crisp blue with a few clouds floating around. Nothing out of the ordinary from the outside.

But on the inside...well, actually it wasn't exactly all that exciting either. Especially inside the Shirokage-Shinkukage apartment.

"Hmhmhmmm~ Hhmmmhmmmhmhm~" Homura's playful humming managed to pierce through the bathroom door since she was still in the bedroom as it filled the air within the apartment.

Meanwhile, the brunette Vice Leader was already up and dressed in her uniform as she was taking a picture of herself while on the couch, ready for school with her phone in her hand and the TV on, despite not actively watching anything on it.

"Hehe, a selfie to Miki-chan in my cute school uniform~" Asuka giggled out with a playful wink, soon giggling some more as she reexamined the image. "Hmmm...still the same bust size as always." She thought to herself as she sent the image.

Back at her old school, she would've complained about her bust being too massive thanks to a certain blonde pervert constantly groping her, resulting in her wishing she could be smaller.

But now...she was unsure if she ever really wanted to be smaller like she used to think she did. "Huh...Katsu-nee, Ikaruga-chan, Yagyū-chan, and Hibari-chan's breasts were always as big as mine. Not to mention Homu-neechan, Yumi-chan, Miki-chan and Miyabi-sensei as well..." She soon thought to herself as she held her own bust in her hands. "...I was really self-conscious about these back when I was at Hanzō Academy." She eventually admitted in her head.

"Be proud of who you are." Chiyome simply yet suddenly stated. "Your growth over the past couple of months never ceases to amaze me. And you've become better, appearance-wise" She then explained in a wise and proud tone.

"Heh. Thanks, Chiyome. I really have improved and become pretty sexy." Asuka giggled out as she soon watched the news.

"Now onto citywide news." The female news reporter announced while holding a bunch of papers in front of her. "What seemed to be so-called 'breast cultists' have been appearing in different areas around Shibuya. Some of tits membe-...I mean its members have been appearing frequently in Inokashira Park and started going into secluded areas of the park to perform their cult's unnatural activities. According to witnesses, most of the cult's members are young adult women and adult women as well, and the cult has now been inviting men recently." She then revealed with a faint blush on her face as she revealed this information.

Asuka immediately palmed her face after hearing that, knowing who was the source. "Katsu-nee..." She groaned out in embarrassment.

"Authorities have been called by some witnesses nearby, but according to them, the cultists swiftly escaped from their activity locations around the city. It is assumed that some of their fellow cultist members have been blending among the crowd and provided the cult information on when authorities are coming to their location." The news reporter continued. "As of now, they have not done anything illegal and were about to change the perception of the public. Citizens of Tokyo, be careful out there, because as you all know, breasts are now among us." She then concluded.

"I can't believe Katsu-nee's making this much of a stir already in Tokyo." Asuka muttered at the idea. "Ikaruga-chan's gonna have a field day with this one the moment she finds out about the cult." She then added.

"And now onto sports news, bowling team Deep Thick have been defeated by their rivals Cream Slide in the Big Balls Bowling Tournament yesterday, advancing them to the semi-finals..." The female reporter continued on, making the brunette sigh from the information...or maybe she was just tired in the morning since she had to go to school.

The sound of the door opening soon gained the brunette's attention. She then turned and saw the tan-skinned girl getting out of their bedroom and started yawning.

"Homu-neechan, you're naked right now..." Asuka pointed out in amusement at seeing her sister in such a state.

"Oh, what?" Homura got out, blinking for a moment before looking down at herself. "...Excuse me for a moment." She calmly and politely responded as she returned to the bedroom.

Asuka meanwhile blinked to that, curious and surprised by the reaction her sister gave. Usually she would be more embarrassed and flustered.

"Homura has matured as well." Chiyome stated.

"She really has." Asuka muttered with a smile.

Meanwhile back in the bedroom, the tan skinned girl sighed as she examined her uniform after getting her crimson bra and panties on. "This uniform...I never noticed it before...but it is rather deplorable." Homura remarked, her disgusted voice carrying a touch of elegance as she carefully scrutinized the fabric. "Kochō-senpai was right, after all. Shujin's lack of proper funding is evident in every thread, every crease..." She then continued as she held the uniform up, her gaze unwavering. "Kochō-senpai spoke of convincing the school to allocate the necessary resources for something more befitting of our stature. Perhaps, she may succeed where others have failed. Yet, until then..." She continued before pausing.

She examined the uniform once more.

Homura's lips curled into a faint smile. "I suppose it falls upon me to ensure this garment is presented in the best light possible for Shujin Academy students. A warrior must always carry themselves with dignity, regardless of the conditions they face." She soon stated.

"Taking your fellow Queen's words to heart I see." Musashi noted.

"Of course, Musashi. Kochō-senpai's truly a woman of unparalleled vision like Makoto-senpai and Yumi-senpai. Her grace and maturity are beyond comparison." Homura praised out loud with a smirk. "And of course, it takes someone like me to recognize such greatness and maturity like Kochō-senpai herself. Ohohoho~!" She then confidently added with a laugh at the end.

"I thought you didn't like that kind of laugh." Musashi reminded in a curious manner.

The tan skinned girl paused to that reminder as she thought about it. It was annoying at the time when one of her committee members did it. But for her...it felt different. "Perhaps it's grown on me or it was always within me as well. Or maybe I'm just in the mood to revel in a little bit of grandeur like Kochō-senpai back there. After all, even a warrior deserves to indulge now and then." Homura replied.

"So even with me, you are still growing and changing." Musashi stated with a nod.

"That is what I am aiming for, Musashi." Homura stated as she got herself dressed before grabbing the brush.

After a while, Homura finally got out, now with her uniform and not in the buff anymore.

"Good. You're now decent." Asuka stated, who was still on the couch watching TV.

"Still can't believe sleeping in the nude becomes a habit of ours." Homura grumbled in disapproval as she adjusted her uniform.

"Yeah." Asuka got out. "I came out of the bedroom naked, too before I noticed." She sheepishly confessed.

Homura made a weak laugh as she made her way to the kitchen, getting the apron on as she started preparing breakfast.

Asuka then noticed her sister's hair being different than usual. It was like how it was last night when she returned from the summit with her drill-like curls.

SPRONG! SPRONG! SPRONG!

"Wow Homu-neechan, your hair seems springier than usual." Asuka noted as she watched her sister cook breakfast for them. "You curled it again too?" She then asked.

"Hai. Kochō-senpai gave me instructions on how to do so before we separated last night and I was able to do it marvelously as a result." Homura replied and revealed with a hint of pride in her voice as she did a hair flick with a smirk on her face.

"I'm glad you made some more friends at the summit meeting you were at." Asuka admitted in relief. "I mean she helped inspire you to a new dream for the future." She then added.

"She did indeed." Homura replied in agreement along with a nod. "Meeting her really inspired me after we had a good discussion." She then added.

"Another role model?" Asuka soon assumed.

"Alongside Makoto-senpai, Yumi-senpai and Ann-chan." Homura proudly confirmed with a smile. "Me and Makoto-senpai are Queens of the Academy." She then stated with pride.

"Queens?" Asuka repeated in a curious manner with a head tilt.

"Hai. As one of Shujin Academy's Queens, I have to make sure everything is in proper order." Homura maturely stated as she continued cooking. "Ohoho~ Just referring to myself as that now sends a shiver down my spine, Sis~" She then excitedly confessed with a laugh and her free hand to her cheek with a sparkle in her eyes.

Asuka meanwhile blinked to this. "Shujin has had a bad record with royalty, Homu-neechan. I don't think people would like being ruled over a queen." She soon warned.

"Hmph! Kamoshida was a peon." Homura soon bluntly remarked with a scoff, causing her sister to snicker at the insult. "I meanwhile treat everyone fairly as best I can. I do not order others around. I do not take advantage of others for my own gain. I do not rule the school with an iron fist. The title of Queen was given to me by the other students, and if they are going to keep calling me that, I might as well make the most of it." She then stated.

"But you do rule the school." Asuka pointed out.

"With Makoto-senpai along with the rest of my committee." Homura added with a finger. "Not to mention the teachers as well. I know my limits, Sis. And I won't let any form of power go to my head." She soon reassured.

"Well...I suppose you have a point." Asuka admitted with a finger on her chin. "But you do have the charisma, which is why they give you that nickname. I've also heard you being called a Dragoness." She then added.

That made the tan-skinned girl sigh. "Yes, they called me that too, and Makoto-senpai as well." Homura stated with a nod...before a small sweatdrop was formed.

"Jeez, both of your charismas are off the charts now." Asuka weakly giggled.

"Well the students respect the fact that we stood up to the former principal before his passing and realize their own mistakes about us, soon respecting us even more as a result." Homura simply explained.

"Then it's a good thing you started the whole committee, with Makoto-chan backing you up." Asuka replied with the reminder.

"Indeed. Well, let's just go ahead before we get late for school." Homura sighed as she set down their breakfast dish onto their table after cooking them. "Oh, and can you tell Leader that we'll be going to Mementos today?" She then reminded as she sat down with the brunette.

"Oh?" Asuka got out as she sat down on the dining table as they began to eat for breakfast. "For what?" She soon asked.

"I figured it's been too long. Plus I had requested it before." Homura simply responded. "And I can't imagine the number of requests we have now on the Phan-Site. Not to mention some of the ones I have as well." She then explained.

"Mishima-kun really has a lot of time in his hands." Asuka couldn't help but say. "Come to think of it, how is he nowadays?" She soon wondered.

"He gave me a rose the other day, for some reason." Homura simply revealed.

"I think he's finally warming up to you. That, or he thinks you like roses. Or girls having a thing for roses." Asuka however suggested with a smile. "You did really yell at him a while back at the start of school. I doubt he would ever have a crush on you." She then reminded.

Homura sighed as she remembered that time. It was not her best moment. "True...Well, good for him." She then stated. "I'm just glad we're on good terms now, instead of...well, fear and tolerance." She soon confessed.

"Great." Asuka stated with a smile. "Now come on. Let's finish eating so we can get to school on time." She then added before grabbing her chopsticks.

Homura nodded before they both made praying hands together. "Itadakimasu!" The two girls got out before they began eating.

"Been missing eggs for a while." Asuka stated as she picked up a piece of scrambled egg with her chopsticks. "Thanks, Homu-neechan." She then added in a grateful manner.

"It is not a problem." Homura responded with a smile. "There's also some meat there if you want, Sis." She then offered.

"Nah, I'm fine with just eggs." Asuka replied as she continued eating. "They're nice for this time of the year. I'll leave the meat to you." She then added.

"Eggs in Autumn. There's a nice ring to it." Homura stated and confessed. "Autumn is such a nice season..." She then added.

"Yeah, but I prefer Spring." Asuka replied. "All the flowers are blossoming, it's not too cold but it's not too warm, and it feels like the start of a new year." She soon explained.

"That's all great, but I'm more of a Summer girl." Homura in turn replied.

"Oh, for the vacation?" Asuka guessed.

"That, and there's a reason to sleep in the nude together." Homura offhandedly responded. "...Of course, that could apply to Winter, when you need to share body heat...and wearing PJs to bed feels really weird now..." She then added before confessing.

"H-Homu-neechan..." Asuka got out. "Do you like sleeping naked? That's pretty pervy sounding of you." She then remarked.

Homura in turn blushed a bit. "I-It's relaxing! And freeing! I-It's the perverts like Katsuragi that ruin it..." She tried to retort back.

"And Jii-chan. At least Katsu-nee doesn't take pictures of his grandchildren..." Asuka reminded with a sigh.

"You know way too many perverts." Homura soon sighed as well.

"I think you're becoming one too by proximity." Asuka however quipped.

"I am not!" Homura responded, clearly appalled by that. "Besides, we both did the same together most of the time! Why would you even complain?" She then added before she continued eating.

"I don't wake up suddenly naked." Asuka playfully pointed out.

"Silence." Homura immediately retorted with a huff.

Asuka made a small laugh. "Sorry." She then stated before she continued eating.

The tan skinned girl meanwhile sighed in response. "I wonder if the others have tried sleeping naked...it's really great, especially when you're with someone else." Homura meanwhile thought as she and the brunette continued their breakfast.

(Kosei High Dormitory, Yusuke's Room)

Yusuke was sleeping soundly in his bed after that busy and interesting day yesterday...until his eyes stirred from the morning light within his dorm room.

His eyes focused and he now saw his room filled with empty canvases and some paintings in progress along with some art equipment around like paint cans, his stool and easel, and his palette and ceramic cup filled with his paintbrushes.

"Hm, I guess I better-" Yusuke started to think, however...

SQUISH!

That perked the artist up from his sleep.

Yusuke turned his head as he shifted himself on the bed and noticed a familiar-looking young girl who was sleeping soundly beside him.

It was Suiren, who was sleeping underneath the same blanket as his.

That prompted Yusuke to finally remember that he brought the young girl he just met yesterday back to his dormitory. He did run into a few fellow students and the staff asking him why he was bringing a girl to his room (which did not help his reputation as that weird guy who likes asking girls to pose naked for him), but Suiren managed to talk them out of trouble.

...By saying she was male.

The awkwardness of that "reveal" prevented anyone else from questioning any further (other than some sexualities).

Luckily, they were looking tired in their eyes and just allowed him to go through in the end. They would allow Suiren to stay in his room, but since she wasn't a student, she would need to leave in the morning. Rules and all that.

"...Suiren-san?" Yusuke whispered, gently nudging the girl.

Suiren shifted a bit, but she was still softly and peacefully asleep.

"Best not to wake her up, then." The artist thought in his head before slowly getting off the bed carefully so as to not wake up the young girl.

When he was now off the bed, he stretched himself up awake and glanced back at the sleeping girl.

He still couldn't believe she requested to sleep in the same bed as him...as she was apparently stubborn enough to not take no for an answer.

After a while, he then decided to keep his bed's blanket away since it was now morning and there was no longer a need for a blanket to cover.

At that, Yusuke gently pulled the blanket away in order to not wake her up, recalling how they really enjoyed the snacks that were left to him in his room the prior night.

But what he saw next was...unusually unexpected.

Suiren was sleeping in the buff. In his bed, of all places.

The artist was stunned for a bit with a small blush forming on his face. He did not expect to see the pale-looking girl in the nude this early on just from the moment he met her yesterday from the Shibuya streets.

...Though, he had to admit...she was beautiful.

Like...a flower that would never wither.

The artist then noticed a pile of clothes on a stool near him...which included a folded pair of panties on it.

"Is sleeping in the nude a habit now by everyone here?" Yusuke couldn't help but wonder in his head as he saw the pile.

At that, he decided to not focus too much and continued on preparing himself for the day.

In the meantime, he was thinking about how he should plan for the idea. At that, he was also waiting for anything that could happen that would need his assistance, most especially his phone buzzing for something related to either the Phantom Thieves or a simple hangout after school was over.

Eventually, Yusuke saw the pale-looking girl stirring herself awake.

"Mrrnn..." Suiren hummed weakly as she slowly got up on the bed before stretching her arms up awake with a yawn. "Ah, good morning Yusuke-san." She soon politely greeted.

"G-Good morning." Yusuke gulped. Even after all this time, after all his encounters, he felt too scared to even look at her bare shoulders.

"You're up early." Suiren noted. "That is promising." She then confessed.

"Well, the early morning is a perfect time to paint and capture a moment." Yusuke informed, his love for art overcoming his nervousness. "As well as the afternoon, between the setting sun and the rising moon." He then revealed.

"Fascinating." Suiren responded in a curious and intrigued manner.

"Forgive me for asking, Suiren-san, but...why are you sleeping naked?" Yusuke eventually had to ask since the thought was troubling him for quite some time now."

Suiren perked up as she looked down on herself. "...It must have been a habit of mine." She then got out as she then bowed. "I apologize for this, Yusuke-san." She soon stated.

Yusuke held up a hand. "It's fine, it's fine, Suiren-san. I...don't mind, really." He then reassured her while looking at her in the buff once more. "...Can you please put some clothes on now?" He soon requested.

"Ah yes, of course." Suiren replied with a nod as she got out of the bed and stood up.

BOING!

Yusuke soon turned his head to look away. "Did you sleep well?" He soon asked as he approached his closet to prepare his attire for the day.

In response, the girl nodded. "Hai..." Suiren responded. "It was nice." She then confessed as she got her clothes from yesterday on.

BOING!

Yusuke couldn't help but remind himself how revealing the girl's outfit was from yesterday.

"Is something the matter?" Suiren suddenly asked as she adjusted her clothes.

BOING!

Yusuke stared for a moment. "It's nothing." He replied. "Can't do a nude painting without consent, or else Yumi-senpai will hear about this..." He then thought in his head before preparing himself for the day.

"Are you sure?" Suiren questioned, getting closer to the boy as she looked up at him.

BOING! SQUISH!

And then held his arm between her bust.

"What are you doing, Suiren-san?" Yusuke asked, noticing and blinking at the action.

"Hm?" Suiren innocently hummed out with a head tilt.

"You're holding my arm all of a sudden." Yusuke noted. "Any reason why?" He soon questioned.

"...No reason." Suiren responded. "...Just wanted to." She then added as she then released and looked at him.

In turn, the young artist blinked to that and nodded as he then looked at the girl again. "Suiren-san, are you sure you're gonna go out in your usual attire once more?" Yusuke soon asked. "You did say you went through a lot of stares because of your outfit over there." He recalled in concern.

"Yes. I am not all too bothered by such a thing." Suiren recalled and informed. "Why do you ask?" She then questioned.

"Well, I thought...you didn't like the attention." Yusuke awkwardly responded.

"Even though it bothered me a bit, I have no other options. This is my only attire" Suiren replied and revealed.

"Oh...I see." Yusuke responded with a nod of sympathy.

"I heard that men tend to react and do inappropriate things when they see a woman naked." Suiren spoke up all of a sudden as she walked around the artist's dorm room. "But for some reason, you did not show any kind of behavior like that." She then noted in a curious manner.

"I'm just...used to the scenario, Suiren-san." Yusuke simply and vaguely responded to her question. "I don't want to cause any trouble, that's all." He then added.

"I can tell." Suiren simply got out as she nodded. "Don't worry, there is no trouble." She then reassured.

"That is all I'm asking for, thank you." Yusuke simply responded. "Still, feel free to leave whenever you want." He soon instructed. "I'm just glad I got to help you stay for the night, Suiren-san. The streets outside can be a dangerous place at times." He then confessed and explained.

SQUISH!

Suiren then went and hugged the boy from behind. "Thank you for allowing me to stay." She soon informed. "Have a good day at school." She then added.

Yusuke blushed a bit at that action before regaining his composure. "Y-Yes. Thank you." He responded.

"...Is something the matter?" Suiren innocently asked.

"M-My apologies. Your sudden contact with me caught me off guard with that gesture." Yusuke awkwardly responded, still slightly blushing.

"Hm? How come?" Suiren questioned in a curious manner.

Yusuke sighed. "Your breasts are touching me." He bluntly informed.

"...Is that a problem?" Suiren soon asked in an innocent manner.

"Technically, no, not really." The artist replied, trying to focus on the conversation itself. "But for common sense, it does give out a sexy or an erotic impression." He then bluntly explained.

"Is that a problem?" Suiren soon asked again in the same innocent manner.

Yusuke sighed. "Personally...not at all." He confessed. "Just getting used to these kinds of scenarios." He then added.

"Scenario?" Suiren repeated with a head tilt.

"Well, scenarios that look erotic or sexy in everyone's eyes." Yusuke explained. "People will get the wrong idea and might get us into trouble if they see those kinds of scenarios, so...it's best to consider those other people's feelings, Suiren-san." He then informed and advised.

Suiren nodded. "I'll be sure to remember that, Yusuke-san." She then replied.

"And just be careful not to do this to those who are...emotionally, psychologically, and sexually vulnerable." Yusuke simply advised her.

"Of course. Only you then." Suiren simply responded with a nod as she let go.

Yusuke simply chuckled at that. "Very well. I will see you around, Suiren-san." He responded.

Suiren in turn nodded as she watched the boy leave as she looked around once more.

She then remembered the mission Dōgen gave to her before she left for Tokyo.

Learn as civilians do to blend in while establishing a base of operations. And it seemed that she finally found a place for that based on her personal criteria.

This was a good place to make this her base of operations. No one would suspect the boys dormitory of Kosei High as her safe haven.

Plus, Yusuke was a nice boy. She enjoyed his company. She found him interesting.

Problem was that she couldn't stay in the premises, due to her status as a stranger. She couldn't enroll, she didn't have the credentials. She didn't see any job listings for a position at the school, and if there were, she doubts it would allow her to live here.

The only logical thing she could think of was...

Morally dubious.

Stealing a position.

But that would be impossible. It's not like there was someone she could-

"Well, well...look what we have here." A young childish voice suddenly got out.

Suiren immediately perked up to that as she looked at the window, seeing an unfamiliar tan skinned girl with yellow eyes sitting against the window sill.

"Never thought I'd see the day Kitagawa-senpai housing a girl." The girl soon remarked with a smirk.

In response, Suiren blinked. "Hm?" She hummed out. "...And you are? And how did you get there like that?" She soon asked.

"Nemesis, a pleasure to meet you." The girl immediately introduced. "And you?" She asked.

"Suiren." The dual colored haired girl responded. "How are you at Yusuke-san's window sill?" She then questioned once more.

"Details, details." The smaller girl waved off. "You have a unique power to you." Nemesis suddenly stated, bringing a hand up as a black mist surrounded it. "Just like me." She then added with a smirk.

"..." Suiren blinked as she looked at the small tan skinned girl with yellow eyes. "You're not human." She soon stated, now growing more curious and fascinated.

Nemesis smiled as her body suddenly grew in size, matching dual hair colored girl's proportions in only a second as she then caressed the other girl's cheek with her actual hair as if it was alive. "I prefer the term Trans-Weapon." She then noted.

Suiren then swiftly took out her chained grimoire, sensing a possible threat.

Nemesis however, while interested in the sudden book summoning, smirked in amusement as she pointed down.

Blinking to that, Suiren looked down at herself as the black mist touched her clothes, suddenly changing it to a new outfit that was now giving off a dark aura. She was now wearing a white tank top that left her belly exposed, a black jacket with a purple interior, some navy blue short shorts that really showed off her rear, and a pair of white tennis shoes. "A clothes transformation in an instant?" She muttered.

"Do you like it? I believe this suits you more than that last one, and is likely less eye-catching than what you were wearing." Nemesis questioned and admitted in amusement. "It's amazing what a little dark matter can do." She pridefully revealed as if she was boasting about it.

That however piqued the dual-colored haired girl's interest. "...Did you just say dark matter?" Suiren questioned.

"Yes. That is one of my unique abilities." Nemesis confirmed and revealed with a smirk.

"But if I recall, dark matter is a harmful substance and is extremely volatile..." Suiren recalled as she felt the material of her clothes.

"I don't know where you got that. Human's definition of dark matter is something less sinister entirely according to those human books." Nemesis however stated. "But my kind of dark matter is unique, and I have full total control of it." She then revealed.

BOING!

"Is it permanent?" Suiren asked as she looked over herself, fascinated by this strange ability to change appearances as she cupped her breasts in her hands.

"Yup." Nemesis replied with a nod.

"Will I be able to take them off as well?" Suiren questioned in fascination. "In case I wanted to change outfits?" She then added.

"Obviously." Nemesis confirmed. "I essentially transformed your clothes into these down to the molecular level." She then revealed.

"...Couldn't you have just given me new clothes? From a store?" Suiren soon pointed out.

"Where's the fun in that?" Nemesis playfully asked.

"I heard shopping with acquaintances is an enjoyable activity." Suiren recalled.

"Just take the free clothes." Nemesis soon stated. "Oh, and you would look nicer with a ponytail." She then suggested.

"But how would I procure one? I thought ponies were a respected and protected species." Suiren innocently asked and pointed out.

"...You don't get out much, do you?" Nemesis soon assumed with q sweatdrop.

"I haven't gone out in several years." Suiren revealed.

Nemesis stared at the girl for a moment. "...NEET." She quietly muttered with a sigh. "Well, not much longer, anyways." She then added.

"Why are you helping me?" Suiren asked her.

"I think it would be amusing. And I do like amusing things." Nemesis simply stated. "Nothing much happens here in Kosei thanks to Yumi-kaichō, so this might be the opportunity I've been seeking." She then revealed with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"...Can I stay in Yusuke-san's room?" Suiren soon requested.

"I can get you two anything you want if it makes up for such a dull year here." Nemesis replied with crossed arms and a smile across her face.

"...But I like this room." Suiren however noted.

Nemesis in response sighed. "Fine. I'll...figure something out so that Kitagawa-san can have a female roommate." She soon responded. "Ahem. See you later, Suiren-chan." She then coughed and stated with a smirk.

The dual colored haired girl nodded to that as she then watched the other girl vanish in a black colored mist.

"...What a strange girl." Suiren soon confessed. "...But if I'm staying, then...I guess I'll stay here." She then decided...unaware of the small smile gracing her face.

Meanwhile, Yusuke, who was unaware of anything that was happening in his room, shuddered before shaking his head. "Must've been the wind." He thought as he continued his way to class.

Elsewhere with Nemesis, she was sucking on a candied apple as she made her way to school. "Let's see if Kitagawa-senpai can figure it out." She playfully responded with a skip in her step.

Whatever happens afterwards, she knew it was going to be interesting.

(Shinjuku, New Moon Apartment Complex)

When she had moved to Tokyo and before joining the Phantom Thieves, Yumi's morning routine had been rather set. She would get up, exercise, eat, shower, get dressed, and head out for the day. As time went on however, she had to add extra steps as more and more important things needed to be taken care of before the morning was over.

Check in on her informants, check the Phan-site, do preliminary research, pray to her grandfather's shrine, trips to the bathroom, practice her dancing, vocal exercises and even the occasional scream into her pillow should she require it.

All of that, while also leaving her apartment at exactly 6:30 AM every single day to catch the train to school that led to her duties at school.

However, an increasingly complicated life did not deter Yumi from skipping steps. Every aspect of her life in Tokyo was important, and she would not allow herself to slack off even for one second.

Even if it did have to involve recording herself in the bathroom, naked, just so her vocal trainer could analyze her singing later today.

She was still surprised at times at learning that her mentor used to do that herself when she was her age. She said that bathrooms have great acoustics, and with no one to judge you while you dance and sing.

Plus, it also helped when some idol outfits made you feel that you were wearing nothing at all.

Plus after a while...it became fun to do.

"Vocal warm ups, starting...now." Yumi thought before clearing her voice. "BABABABABABA! BABABABA! BUTT! FART! BUTT! FART! STUPID! STOOOPID!" She loudly sang out.

Admittedly, it was...strange from an outsider's perspective, but Rise had told her that these exercises did work, no matter how weird it seemed.

"YOU'RE AN ASS-HOLE, STACY! STAAA-CY! YOU'RE AN ASS, HOLE!" Yumi continued on as if it was natural.

BZZT! BZZT!

Upon hearing her phone vibrating, Yumi ceased her practice. "Hm?" She hummed out, looking to see who was calling before smiling and picking up her and answering her phone. "Ah, Yozakura-san. It's so good for you to call this morning." She got out in a delighted manner, making sure to stop the recording.

"Yes, good morning. It's good to hear from you." Yozakura in turn greeted in a delighted manner.

"How has it been going back home?" Yumi soon asked.

"Everything is going well. We're just really missing you, is all." Yozakura answered.

However, the Gessen Leader noticed how...casual and relaxed she was attempting to sound. She was instantly a little suspicious that there was an ulterior motive, but didn't want to pursue it yet.

"Me too. However, I am planning on coming back, mission complete or not." Yumi soon informed. "I wish to be with my family again." She then confessed.

"I hope you complete it soon. You've been away so long, but it still feels strange not to see you around." Yozakura replied back with an easing tone. "Now, how has Tokyo been? How are your friends?" She soon asked.

"Well-" Yumi started, but at that moment...

"Let me stay awhile, stop the world from moving~ And I'll gaze into the sunset 'til it's going, going, gone~!" A familiar voice suddenly started singing...rather well.

"M-Minori, please quiet down. I'm trying to have a conversation on the phone." Yozakura awkwardly requested.

The Gessen Leader however recognized what her friend was singing. "Oh, has Minori-san heard my new single?" Yumi assumed with a smile. That particular song being sung was a fun one for her at the time.

"Y-Yes." Yozakura confirmed in an awkward manner.

"Aw, why do you look so nervous Yozakura-chan? Are you in a hurry or something?" Another voice spoke up as well.

"I am not, but I..." Yozakura replied from her end.

"Hey, Yozakura-chii, who are you talking to?" Shiki's voice suddenly asked.

"N-No one in particular." Yozakura uneasily responded.

"I see the caller ID on your screen." Shiki's voice however responded. "Aw, you're calling Yumi-chii in secret?" She then teasingly assumed.

"W-Well, I...I just needed to-" Yozakura tried to explain herself in recovery.

"Hey, Yumi-chii, how's idol life treating you? Did you get sponsored by Tenga yet?" Shiki however casually greeted and asked.

"Quiet down!" Yozakura however demanded in a whisper.

"I-It's nice to hear from you, Shiki-san." Yumi awkwardly responded. "And no, I have not gotten sponsored by a sex toy company!" She then declared in annoyance and an offended tone.

"What have you sponsored, then?" Shiki then asked.

"Energy drinks." Yumi casually answered, sounding somehow eager about it. "Try all- new, healthiest drink coming to stores near you: Senran Power! Flash the day away!" She soon recited.

"Um, e-everyone, can I please talk to Yumi in private please?" Yozakura soon requested. Was she...pleading?

"Give me a minute, Yozakura-chii." Shiki however responded. "Hey Minori-chii! Yumi-chii's on the phone!" She suddenly called out.

"SHIKI!" Yozakura exclaimed.

"With everyone right by my side, I forget the fear and doubt~ And I might be alright, even though time's running out~ Here, maybe one day I will find~ An escape from the fate I'm assigned~!" A slightly high-pitched young female voice suddenly sang aloud from their end. "Ah! Hey, Yuki Yumi-chan!" Minori soon excitedly greeted. "I love your newest song!" She then confessed.

Yumi in turn smiled after hearing that as well as the youngest of her group of friends singing one of her songs she recently did. "Thank you. I worked really hard on it." She replied and confessed. "Oh, and don't tell anyone, but I might be filming a music video for Take Over. It's still in previsualisation, so it's not set in stone just yet, but we're shooting for next month." She soon revealed.

"Wow, that's great!" Minori got out. "Man, I wish I could be in it. I wanna sing and dance with you!" She then sighed out wistfully.

"Well, if you're in the city at the time, I might put a word in." Yumi responded, amused.

"REALLY!?" Minori loudly exclaimed. "Yay! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou! It's going to be so fun!" She excitedly declared.

"Minori-san, being an idol is not all fun and games though. It's a lot of hard work, with a great standard for perfection." Yumi however stated in a lecturing manner. "And I said I would put a word in, it's not a guarantee." She then added.

"Aw...but I wanna sing with you on stage..." Minori whined and confessed.

"It isn't something you should decide to do on a whim." Yumi soon stated. "If you want to do something like that, you'll have to be 100% committed." She then explained.

"...Does that mean I don't get to make candy anymore?" Minori asked, sounding a little sad.

"I don't think you'll be allowed to eat candy as much." Yumi pointed out. "An idol, like a shinobi, has to keep a healthy body after all, as well as a bright white smile." She then revealed.

"Mmmmm...I think I wanna do it at least once though." Minori admitted as she began. "Oooh! And get everyone to join too!" She then eagerly added.

"Huh?" Shiki and Yozakura got out.

"Like...an idol group?" Yumi assumed.

"Yeah! I want us to be like Milky Pop!" Minori declared, as the light gray haired girl imagined her sisters in matching idol outfits.

"Eh, I'm more of an A.R.C. Angels gal." Shiki casually responded. "Even if they are Evil Shinobi, they make damn good music." She then added.

"I see..." Yumi responded with a nod before blinking in realization of what was said. "Wait, what?" She then got out in confusion.

"Oh right, you didn't get the intel. We got word recently that Milky Pop and the A.R.C. Angels are shinobi. Good and Evil, respectively." Yozakura meanwhile revealed.

"I...I see." Yumi got out, processing this information.

"Hehe, should've figured 'cause of the boobs both groups got." Shiki giggled.

"I-It's not a perfect indicator!" Yumi and Yozakura exclaimed in unison.

"B-Besides, we should never assume based on looks. We must look underneath the underneath." Yumi reminded.

"Are we still sure Kurokage-sama didn't steal that from that anime, Naruto?" Shiki soon asked.

"It's still a good phrase." Yumi sighed out. "...And you're insulting all the flat-chested shinobi out there." She then added.

"Yeah, all nine and a half of them." Shiki quipped.

Suddenly in the ruins of Hebijo, Mirai (Who was still slightly loopy from the flowers) and Ryōbi were filled with a murderous rage. "I feel like someone out there deserves to have their boobs turned into swiss cheese." They both thought in unison.

Yumi however sighed. "You're lucky Ryōbi-san is still not at Gessen." She got out.

"Well, maybe she has- Hey, Mura-chii! Glad to see you're finally up." Shiki suddenly greeted.

"Oh no." Yozakura suddenly muttered.

"What do you mean oh no?" Shiki asked in confusion.

It was at that moment she heard Murakumo yawn. "Hm? Are you all talking to someone?" Her voice soon asked.

"N-No, I mean...yes! It's-" Yozakura's voice awkwardly responded.

"Yumi. Yozakura-chii called her earlier." Shiki revealed.

"Why would you-" Murakumo's voice began asking before pausing. "OH YOU DAUGHTER OF A BASTARD!" She suddenly screamed in anger...and the light gray-haired girl assumed she had a mask on, judging from her tone. Maybe.

"Eh?" Yumi got out as she raised an eyebrow, hearing the sudden anger. "Murakumo-san, is something-" She began asking, however...

"You were trying to milk Yumi!" Murakumo suddenly accused from their end of the phone.

Yumi froze for a second as she heard that. "Huh?" She got in confusion.

"I-I was certainly not!" Yozakura responded. "I was just trying to have a nice conversation-" She then began to say.

"Oh, don't give me that bullshit!" Murakumo roared at her. "You can't milk Yumi, I was gonna do that first!" She then spat out.

"I...I don't know what's going on." Yumi awkwardly muttered out. "And language, please!" She soon demanded.

"W-Well, you shouldn't have talked about milking Yumi last night." Yozakura tried to retort.

"That was in private! You can't tell me how to milk!" Murakumo declared. "GIVE ME YOUR MILK, YUMI!" She then suddenly demanded.

"NO, GIVE IT TO ME!" Yozakura retorted back at her aloud.

"M-Milk?" Yumi thought in her head, unsure about the context in their current situation.

"Why are you talking about milk?" Minori innocently asked.

"I think they mean milking Yumi for info." Shiki soon realized.

"...Oooooh! They're talking about Nii-chan!" Minori responded in realization.

"NO!" Yozakura denied.

"YES!" Murakumo meanwhile responded back.

"Nii-chan?" Yumi mentally repeated in a curious manner.

"HOW'S AKIRA-KUN!?" Yozakura and Murakumo soon suddenly questioned at the same time in fierce tones.

In turn, Yumi blinked. "...Eh?" She got out.

"They wanna know what's going on with your friend, Akira-nii." Minori replied with her voice on the phone this time.

"He's...doing fine." Yumi managed to answer. "Why are you so worried about him?" She soon asked.

"It's not worry, it's love~" Shiki teasingly replied for her friend before a giggle came out after.

"SHIKI!" Yozakura yelled from the phone.

"GRRRRRR!" Murakumo meanwhile growled in anger.

This in turn caused Yumi to gasp. "Love? With him?" She stated in slight disbelief. "Which one of you?" She then questioned.

"ME!" The two responded in unison. "No, don't talk! Akira-kun is mine!" They soon shouted at each other before they began to argue with one another.

"Hehe, here we go again." Shiki giggled.

"...I'm so lost." Yumi muttered.

"Well, let me tell you in the most blunt of terms." Shiki stated before clearing her throat. "Ahem, Yozakura-chii and Mura-chii wanna grope for trout in a peculiar river. Shoot twixt wind and water. Make the beast with two backs. They wanna-" She began stating in a vague manner before...

"Yozakura-chan and Murakumo-chan like-like Akira-nii!" Minori innocently and happily revealed.

The Gessen Leader's eyes soon widened in realization and shock. "...B-Both of you!?" Yumi exclaimed with a blush on her face.

"Bingo~" Shiki teasingly confirmed with a giggle.

"I might get a big brother! Isn't that cool, Yumi-chan!?" Minori meanwhile asked in excitement.

"Uhhhhh..." Yumi got out, still processing this information. "Oh no. Minori-san thinks he's as good as married to them already. This needs to be discussed before it spirals out of control and someone dies." She meanwhile thought to herself, eyes narrowing a bit.

"Rabble rabble rabble rabble! Rabble rabble rabble rabble! Rabble rabble radda radda!" The argument soon melted down into, or at least to Yumi as she could barely understand what her teammates were even saying at this point.

(In a more romantic timeline, Yumi started to grimace and sweat as her two lovestruck sisters kept bickering and prying for information from her about her boyfriend.

"I should probably say that I am-" Yumi tried to say, however...

"Not now, Yumi!" Murakumo and Yozakura interrupted.

And that was the end of that topic.)

"Hehe, they're talking like the idiot adults in that one American R-Rated cartoon where everyone looks like they're made of paper." Shiki snickered while saying so.

"To be frank, adults in real life sound very similar." Yumi couldn't help but comment before shaking her head. "Also Shiki-san! What have we told you about watching that show!? It's degrading!" She then chided in a disapproving tone.

"It's funny! And it kinda has a point. Have you seen Cash4Gold? I only know about that because of the song!" Shiki then argued. "Bum da dum. Bum bum bum bum dadada bum-" She then began to sing, however...

"SHIKI-SAN!" Yumi loudly chided once more.

"Sorry, it's really catchy." Shiki soon apologized. "...Bum da dum. Bum bum bum bum dadada bum da bum..." She then sang quietly to herself.

Yumi in turn sighed to this. "If Yozakura-san and Murakumo-san are still fighting, stop them and put them on the phone." She soon instructed. She waited for a few seconds, heard some more scuffling, before hearing her team's voices again.

"TELL HER TO STOP!" The two lovestruck fools called out in unison.

"STOP!" Yumi yelled out.

"HA!" The two girls responded in proud sounding unison.

"BOTH OF YOU THIS INSTANT!" Yumi loudly called out, a hint of frustration in her voice.

Immediately, there was sudden silence from the Gessen girls' end. "E-Eh!?" Yozakura and Murakumo got out in disbelief.

Yumi then took a calming breath. "Look, I think the best way to know someone is to talk to them. You do not need to go through me to know more about Akira-kun himself." She then advised in a firm manner.

"...Yumi, please be quiet. I'll be honest, you have no idea what boys are, even if you have that junior artist friend of yours along with you." Yozakura requested and confessed in a surprisingly blunt manner.

In turn, the Gessen Leader and Kosei Student Council President felt offended by that statement. "I've been living as a normal civilian for over a year! I have a good idea what a boy is." Yumi called out, her eye beginning to twitch.

"Can you tell me what a boy is, then?" Murakumo soon asked.

Yumi opened her mouth before stopping herself. What was her idea of boys?

"Senpai, promise me you won't be mad, but my favorite paint maker just released a new color and...why are you glaring at me so intensely all of a sudden?" Yusuke's voice asked in her head.

"Hey, Yumi, are busty- I mean, are you boobs- I mean, can I touch your- no, I'm trying to say I want to butt- Ah, fuck it. I'll see you tomorrow." Akira's voice then echoed in her head.

"...Huh? What're talkin' about, Yumi? Sorry, I wasn't payin' attention. What're we doin' again? Studying? Aw man...Hey, check out the Phan-site!" Ryuji's voice soon got out in her mind.

"Zzzz...Lady Ann...you're so beautiful. Yeah, you can touch me there...I'm so big, aren't I? Yeah, I do look like one of those pretty boys from Korea...Zzzzz...~" And finally, Morgana's voice mumbled, an extract from a particular memory she hoped she had erased.

Yumi simply sweatdropped at those quotes in her head. Clearly she hung out with the boys of her group long enough. "...That does not matter." She soon got out, shaking it off. "You should be braver than this. You've done so much more that required much more courage before." She then stated.

"But this is different." Yozakura mumbled out. "You can't punch feelings..." She then added.

The leader of the group groaned. Maybe it was time to encourage them a little. "Well, if you cannot talk to him, then maybe he is not as important as you think." Yumi suggested.

"W-What!?" Murakumo got out in shock.

"How could you say that?" Yozakura added as well in a disbelieving tone.

"If you are that afraid of talking to him, then that must mean you aren't willing to overcome that fear and face him." Yumi responded, hearing her friends, sisters, wince from the statement. "If you want something bad enough, you must overcome your own limits to take it, or someone else might get to it first." She soon stated and declared.

(In a more romantic timeline, Yumi couldn't help but mentally add, "Like me.")

"Eh!?" The two sisters simply got out in shock.

"You two are Gessen students, shinobi and my dear sisters. I will not tolerate such cowardice in the face of such a small obstacle. If that is the case, then maybe you were cut out to uphold Ojii-sama's legacy."

"W-We are not cowards!" Murakumo insisted.

"You two are horny~" Shiki teasingly sing-sung.

"La-Language, Shiki-san!" Yozakura chided.

"B-But you're right! I'm gonna call Akira-kun right now!" Murakumo suddenly decided.

"WHAT!? Most of the girls from Gessen's end yelled, wincing Yumi a bit from the sound of her phone.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Yozakura shouted out before...

CRASH!

"Oi, that's expensive!" Shiki chided as sounds of stuff breaking and colliding echoed from the phone. "Watchitwatchitwatchit!" She then yelled afterwards.

CRASH!

"A boy isn't worth property damage!" The tech-savvy blonde continued in order to remind them in annoyance."Look, I'll call him for the both of you so stop fighting!" She then decided.

"What!? No, don't!" Yozakura shouted as she pleaded.

BEEP!

"Too late!" Shiki informed with a giggle. "Heeeeeeeeeeeeey, Akira-kun." She soon suddenly greeted.

"Hm?" Yumi hummed out. "Whose phone did they call him with?" She then wondered to herself.

"Akira!" The two soon squeaked out in a panic.

"Hey." Akira yawned...or least, that's what the light gray haired girl assumed considering how compressed her Leader's voice was. It seemed he was just waking up though.

And...she also noticed that the voice was a bit low, but it was audible enough for her to hear. Made sense since he was from a different phone.

"What do you want to talk about?" He soon asked in a curious manner.

"Nvfnjeoiajsajlasawaffle." Murakumo's voice spat out.

"She completely tripped at the starting line!" Yumi mentally groaned with a sweatdrop.

"Haaaaaah...oiasjipoesfsasdd?" Yozakura's voice spat out this time.

"Both of them failed!" Yumi thought in disbelief.

"...Uhhh...red?" Akira's barely audible voice spoke up. "And, um...churros." He then added.

"Thank you!" And with an audible beep, Yozakura hung up the phone on Akira's end. "...Yes! We did it!" She soon declared in excitement.

"Yosh!" Murakumo cheered as the light gray haired girl heard high-fiving and hugging.

"Did you?" Shiki questioned in confusion.

"We know his favorite color and his favorite snack! Take that, Yumi!" The duo soon proudly declared.

"He understood you two!?" Shiki exclaimed in shock.

To Yumi, that wasn't too much of a shock. He was unnaturally skillful at useful and useless things. "...I think I'm going to hang up now as well..." She soon sighed.

"Ooh, before you go! Do you know what Akira's favorite-" Murakumo soon started, however...

Beeeeeeeeeeep...

Yumi soon sighed as she ended the call with her sisters. "Akira-kun, how in the world do you do this...and with my sisters out of all people." She muttered in concern as she then got herself ready for the day.

She would also have to talk to their Leader about this too...

(10/7, After School)

(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc)

As soon as school ended for the day, the Thieves headed for Leblanc for the meeting today. It was actually going rather casually, all things considered, making small talk and playing a few games with each other, even after everyone arrived. At the center of it all, on the table, was Akira's chocolate fountain, which the others gladly used to glaze some of the snacks they brought to Akira's room.

"Futaba-chan, sushi isn't made for chocolate!" Asuka cried in anguish.

"You have to live dangerously, Yin, or else you may never discover a hidden nirvana." Futaba claimed as she tried to get to the fountain, only for the Vice Leader to pull her back from destroying her dear creation.

Yumi sighed. "What are you talking about?" She then spoke with half-lidded eyes from nearby, sounding disinterested.

"Futaba, don't play with your food like that." Makoto advised her before gobbling a chocolate-covered marshmallow.

"But I saw a ton of videos saying that it's really good!" The hacker countered.

"I will not allow you to besmirch my Jii-chan's signature futomaki rolls like that!" Asuka retorted annoyingly.

"That's a thousand yen word." Akira remarked. "She's serious, Oracle. Drop the sushi. Or dip it in soy sauce." He soon stated and instructed.

"C'mon, Akira, she won't hurt me over sushi." Futaba waved off before pausing. "R-Right?" She soon asked in a hesitant manner.

"You wanna test that theory, Futaba?" Akira bluntly asked.

"...I'll be better off not knowing." Futaba muttered.

"Thank you..." Akira and Asuka sighed out in relief.

"Haru, don't you want some chips?" Ryuji meanwhile offered.

"I'm fine with my banana, thank you." Haru pleasantly replied.

"Who eats an entire bunch of bananas by themselves?" Ann soon asked.

"I do." Haru responded. "It's my personal comfort food that me and my friends from the Melon Peaches used to eat together." She then explained in a nostalgic tone.

"Melon Peaches?" Morgana repeated, sounding curious about the name.

"Oh, it's the name of the group I was in when I was in shinobi training, Mona-chan." Haru revealed.

"So you did train with shinobis when you were younger." Makoto got out in awe...and a hint of envy.

"Hai, the five of us on one of my friends' family's secluded island location. We spent an entire year there training ourselves before returning to the mainland." Haru revealed.

"So you five were a squad in the making." Miyabi concluded in an impressed manner, getting a nod of confirmation from the auburnette.

"Similar to an Elite squad." Yumi then stated. "Were you five supposed to be Elites?" She soon assumed.

Haru however shook her head as she went and used the chocolate fountain to dip her banana in. "No, not really." She responded as she looked at the food. "We just trained together as friends while we were young." She soon revealed. "I think our parents were possibly planning it though." She then deducted as she started eating.

The other Thieves could only watch on with bile fascination as they watched Haru swallow the chocolate banana whole.

The heiress soon chewed and gulped the banana down, letting out a breath afterwards. "Mmm, I told you I could do it!" Haru cheered, looking quite proud of herself.

"Haru...that's effin' awesome!" Ryuji confessed, sounding genuinely impressed.

"Why thank you, Ryuji." Haru smiled in an innocent manner.

"Why can you do that?" Makoto meanwhile asked in disbelief.

"It was during my training days. Gin-chan taught me how to do it." Haru revealed in a nostalgic manner. "She was hoping it would impress Leo-chan." She then added with a giggle.

"Oh yeah, I think you mentioned it before." Ann recalled. "So it was you..." She then began.

"Me, Leo-chan, Gin-chan, Kumo-chan and Ikaruga-chan, though I call her Ika-chan." Haru confirmed, listing off the names of her friends.

"It's still crazy you knew Ikaruga-chan as a kid." Asuka had to confess in amazement.

"You got that right." Homura admitted in agreement.

"We've been together for a long while when we were young, so she's easy to remember." Haru replied. "A year on an island together training as a team." She then added before frowning. "I...still want to know what happened after though. It feels like something's...missing." She soon revealed.

"Missing?" Morgana repeated. "Missing how?" He soon asked.

"I'm...not sure." Haru hesitantly responded. "It feels like the memory gets fuzzy, for some reason." She then explained. "...Maybe I'll try and contact Leo-chan when she and the Zodiacs arrive in Tokyo. Last time I spoke with Ika-chan over the phone, she told me her memories felt fuzzy too." She soon decided and revealed.

"Leo-chan? Zodiacs?" Ann repeated in confusion.

"The Zodiac Star Committee of Foundation Star Cross Academy." Morgana stated. "Apparently they're an Evil Shinobi group that's trained to follow the Leo person of their group that's the leader since she's the heir of her family." He then recalled the mentions of it in the Metaverse.

"...How do you know about them, Mona-chan?" Haru asked, looking at the faux feline with widened eyes.

"You hear a lot of things in the Metaverse, Haru." Morgana responded. "Details about shinobi factions are no exception either." He then added.

"Wait, really?" Miyabi responded, blinking upon hearing that. "Does that mean...rumors about shinobi are spreading in the public?" She then asked.

"Trust me, it freaked me out for a moment when he told me he knew about Hebijo when I first met him." Homura admitted.

"Me as well when he confirmed I was from Gessen." Yumi then stated.

"I've been here long enough before I met you all, just so you guys want to know." Morgana simply noted as he wagged his tail. "Before I got captured by Kamoshida, of course." He then sheepishly added.

"Huh, okay. Good to know for the future." Miyabi responded with a nod.

At that moment, the Leader suddenly returned with something in his hand.

"Joker, why did you buy a churro?" Morgana asked from his bag with a raised eyebrow.

"Mm, it was on my mind this morning." Akira answered with a shrug before chewing on more of his fried dough stick.

"A craving?" Miyabi assumed.

"Yeah." Akira confirmed with a nod. "Man, it was hard to find a place that made them. No wonder I haven't had them all year." He then confessed.

"Is that a favorite snack of yours?" Asuka asked him.

"When I was younger, when my parents took me out to places and I was a good boy." Akira revealed. "Don't think I'm getting any more from them." He then added.

"Aw man, now I want one." Ann groaned as she rubbed her stomach. "Hey, can I have a bite?" She then asked the Leader.

"Ann, you can get your own later." Homura however stated in a mature tone.

"It's just one bite. I'll even get the end he hasn't chewed on." Ann however insisted.

"How could you betray crepes, Ann?" Futaba spoke up with a pout.

To that, Homura, Yumi and Makoto sighed in perfect unison. "Here we go..." They mumbled at the same time.

"I'm not betraying crepes!" Ann declared with a pout. "Come on, fried dough is like heaven in food form. Especially with powdered sugar, dipped in chocolate, with strawberries and...come on, Joker, just one bite!" She stated as she began listing off before soon begging.

"Aren't you supposed to be on a diet?" Yusuke remembered.

"She is..." Homura confirmed.

"I've been keeping it up! I only eat sweets every three days now." Ann revealed. "Actually, today is my cheat day, so gimme." She then added.

"Just get one delivered online." Futaba however suggested in an annoyed tone.

"It'll take too long." Ann whined.

"Ann, I can't let you give up like this." Makoto soon spoke up while shaking her head. "I thought you wanted to beat Mika and improve your health. Do you remember what Ikki-sensei said about your body?" She then reminded.

"...That it was a miracle I didn't look like a very pretty beach ball with twintails, and that it won't last into adulthood..." Ann hesitantly recalled, wincing all the while.

"And other...rather colorful descriptions." Asuka recalled with a wince as she began to remember that particular lesson.

Ann looked like she was about to cry when she was told all that (despite knowing that it was probably necessary in the long term).

"But it's just a bite of a churro! It won't add too much to my calorie count!" Ann continued arguing. "Please, weaning myself off sugar is practically killing me! I don't have as much willpower as you think...for food at least." She then pleaded, going down into a dogeza position.

The others in the group (save for the young hacker who found it amusing) sweatdropped to that. "Okay, you can cheat for today, but you're getting salad for the next seven days." Homura soon responded and instructed.

"Yes! Worth it! Akira, give me the-" Ann pumped her fist before turning towards the young man, only to see he wasn't holding anything.

"I finished it while everyone was talking." Akira informed with a shrug before licking his fingers. "Damn, I should've gotten a second one." He then grumbled.

"NOOOOOO!" Ann whined before pouting.

"Ann Takamaki, please cease this whining at once." Homura however suddenly ordered in a mature tone, causing the ash blonde to wince. "We are here for a meeting and a discussion for a Mementos trip and we must start it post-haste." She soon stated.

"We'll get celebratory churros once we're finished with today's Mementos run, okay?" Akira soon offered.

"Then it's seven days of salad." Futaba chimed in.

"...You're paying." Ann responded with a thumbs-up.

"Alright, but don't blame me if you're not getting a new whip for the next Palace." Akira sighed out.

To that, Ann pouted. "Maybe we'll find a good one today..." She muttered.

"We'll see." Akira responded.

"Another thing...is it just me, or is there something different about Homura right now?" Futaba suddenly asked, gaining the attention of the others.

That prompted everyone to glance at the tan-skinned girl, who was looking and acting confident in terms of her posture and charisma.

"Now that you mention it...Homura seemed to look like she's acting regal or something." Miyabi got out in a curious manner.

"Am I now?" Homura questioned, holding back a smirk from being referred to as such.

"Huh, Lady Homura's seems kind of...different." Morgana couldn't help but comment as he noticed the girl. "Actually, she seemed different today at school as well." He then recalled.

"I did notice some of the students looking at her as if she was a celebrity when she passed through the hallways." Haru informed with a finger on her chin.

"Surely you jest." Homura responded in a sheepish yet prim-and-proper tone.

"Man, Homura-chan, you were like a queen today." Ann jokingly noted.

"No kiddin'! You and Makoto got fanboys and fangirls now!" Ryuji meanwhile remarked.

"Fanboys and fangirls?" Homura repeated as she looked at them. "...Ah, you are referring to the other students that admire us." She soon realized.

"Those fans of ours were just...too much, though." Makoto couldn't help but comment in an awkward manner.

"Preach..." Miyabi muttered in annoyance, recalling her time at Hebijo before it became a crater.

The tan skinned girl in mention meanwhile was filing her nails as she then checked them in an elegant and mature manner. "Please, I did not order the other students to act as they do. They themselves willingly chose to act as such, even after I requested them not to do so." Homura however stated.

"Seems to me like they're easily influenced." Akira pointed out as he looked at the tan skinned girl. "Though I can't blame them this time." He then admitted.

"Hmm...you do seem to be emitting a more royal aura now." Yusuke hummed out and stated in a curious manner while making a frame with his hands.

"Hai, Homu-chan seems really pretty today." Haru delightfully confessed.

"I graciously accept those compliments, Yusuke, Haru-senpai." Homura responded in a polite manner, causing the others minus the Vice Leader, who giggled in response, to blink at hearing that.

Akira placed a finger on his own chin this time as he looked at the tan-skinned girl. "Did something happen to you guys during that Summit of yours?" He soon asked.

"Um...I think one of us did." Makoto managed to reply for her and the tan-skinned girl.

"I simply discovered the new dream I wish to strive for thanks to a new friend I made at the Summit." Homura proudly revealed.

Everyone looked at her in curious manners, though her adopted sister, the Shujin Student Council President and Kosei Student Council President smiled proudly.

"And that dream would be, Lady Homura?" Morgana soon asked in a curious manner.

"To become a principal of a school, of course." Homura proudly replied.

With that, everyone stared at her dumbfounded this time.

"...Huh?" Akira got out, blinking to the reveal.

"Say what now?" Morgana stated as well, staring at the tan-skinned girl as if she grew a second head.

"Y-You wanna become a principal!?" Ann and Ryuji exclaimed in unison.

"Hai, the inspiration came to me thanks to the words of a new friend I had made when she asked me what I wanted to strive for." Homura calmly yet proudly revealed.

Makoto meanwhile closed her eyes as she smiled in content. "It surprised me too when she told me last night." She confessed.

"I believe it is a wonderful goal to strive for as well." Yumi confessed in agreement with a sincere smile.

"And I am still striving to become an excellent Kagura level shinobi along with Sis." Homura soon stated.

Asuka looked at her before smiling. "That's great, Homu-neechan." She replied.

"Kagura level?" Futaba repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"The highest shinobi rank level in the world of shinobi." Miyabi revealed as the other shinobis in the group nodded in confirmation.

Asuka then sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. "Back at Hanzō Academy, I was only a Chūnin before coming to Tokyo." She soon admitted.

"I was only a Jōnin back at Hebijo." Homura meanwhile revealed.

"...Same here." Miyabi confessed.

Yumi however blushed at hearing that. "...Tokujōnin." She soon sheepishly revealed, causing the other three shinobis in the group to look at her in disbelief.

"Y-You're the same rank as Daidōji-senpai!?" Asuka exclaimed in awe.

"That's the rank right below Suzune-sensei!" Homura and Miyabi meanwhile stated.

"For real? Our PE teacher's the same rank as Yumi?" Ryuji got out.

"Uh...what do those ranks mean?" Ann meanwhile asked.

Haru meanwhile giggled at this. "Chūnin means a Middle Shinobi, Jōnin means High Shinobi and Tokujōnin means Special High Shinobi." She revealed as if reciting it.

"You know that, too, huh, Haru." Miyabi noted.

"Hehe, it was taught at the very early days of shinobi training." The heiress explained to herself. "There are various other ranks, too." Haru then stated.

"Well, it is good to know you are well-versed." Homura soon praised in a more mature sounding manner.

"Thank you, Homu-chan." Haru smiled in response.

"Why, you are most welcome, Haru-senpai. I appreciate it, really." The tan-skinned girl regally responded while fiddling with her curls.

"...This is still gonna take some getting used to." Ryuji muttered as the ash blonde nodded in agreement.

"In any case, we're glad to know you made some new friends at that summit you two went to." Akira stated in relief with a smile. "That and finding a new dream." He then added.

(In a more romantic timeline, Akira had to hold back feeling turned on by his girlfriend's more regal nature.

It was just that enticing to him.)

SPRONG!

"Thank you Akira." The tan skinned girl responded with a smile as her curls bounced. "In any case though, shall we start this meeting?" Homura soon requested as she crossed one leg over the other. "I wish to know of the targets we have plus the ones I also have due to personal issues of some of my committee members that need to be resolved post-haste." She then maturely stated with narrowed eyes.

The others meanwhile looked at the tan skinned girl, surprised by that request and explanation.

...Except for Haru, who was enjoying a cup of coffee that was made for her by the Leader.

"L-Lady Homura is right," Morgana stammered out in agreement, shaking off his dazed state from being enticed by her words. "W-We do need to talk about the targets we got." He then stated.

"Alright, so what do we have?" Miyabi began, sounding eager to do this thing.

"Well...erm, we don't have any directly on the Phan-site." Asuka replied. "Instead, this trip will be focusing on resolving conflicts involving our allies." She then informed.

"What?" Miyabi got out in confusion.

"My confidants. My friends." Akira clarified, getting the attention of the others. "They're all suffering. We have to help them." He soon revealed.

"Alright, what do you have then?" Ryuji soon asked.

"Let me take the floor from here, Joker." Morgana requested.

"That's a table." Akira however pointed out with a smirk.

"Shut it." Morgana bluntly ordered. "Anyway..." He began before going over the Mementos missions they needed to do for the day.

"This first one is from the owner of the Central Street airsoft shop. Apparently, an acquaintance is threatening him." Morgana soon started. "This acquaintance, Tsuda, is...a professional. If we don't hurry, Iwai will be in serious danger." He then revealed.

"A professional...what?" Miyabi pressed with narrowed eyes.

"...A yakuza." Akira eventually answered, deciding it wouldn't hurt.

"Ya-Yakuza!?" Ann exclaimed.

"The only way you'd become acquaintances with a yakuza would be because they're extorting you or you're part of a family." Yumi muttered with a frown.

"It's both in this case." Akira informed.

"That explains so much." Ryuji couldn't help but admit. "That man's pretty freakin' scary..." He then mumbled.

"He did look like he wanted to murder you when you talked about guns." Homura recalled. "Must've really appreciated the few good guns yakuza can get a hold of..." She then assumed.

"In any case, it's been awhile since we took down a serious criminal. That's gotta be a nice notch on our belt." Ryuji got out in an excited manner.

"Ryuji..." Homura sighed in disappointment while shaking her head.

"Well, we've already taken on the mafia, might as well add the yakuza on our list." Makoto stated. "Are we all agreeing to this target?" She then asked.

"Yep." Most of the group replied in unison, while some simply nodded in agreement.

"You know it." Akira replied with a nod.

"I'll chop their fingers off, then!" Haru declared all of a sudden, stunning the others. "It's what they do in the yakuza, right? Hm, I wonder where they keep all the pinkies..." She then casually added.

"Erm...Haru, you don't..." Makoto stammered, not sure how to respond before deciding it would be better to move on. "Alright, we're going after a yakuza now." She then mumbled.

"Actually, now that you brought it up, Makoto, we have a target that was related to someone important to that case." Morgana spoke up. "Remember that journalist Ohya who got us info on Kaneshiro?" he soon asked.

"The regular at the Crossroads bar?" Yumi recalled with a frown.

"Yes. This is about her boss." Morgana responded with a nod. "He's been harassing her, and keeping her from investigating the case in which her partner went missing." He then revealed.

Miyabi grimaced at that. "That does not sound good if she wants to see her partner alive..." She then remarked with a hand scratching her head.

"Well, dead or alive, he has to know something that he doesn't want other people knowing." Morgana stated.

"Truth is the highest art of a journalist. To think someone would be so imprudent as to impede it..." Yusuke claimed before frowning.

"That's tabloid journalism, alright." Homura sighed in annoyance.

"Still, let us lend Ohya our assistance so she can gather the news she needs." Yusuke stated.

"All in favor?" Akira questioned.

"Aye!" The Thieves responded.

"It's unanimous." Akira stated with a nod. "Let's unveil the truth in this dark and seedy world." He then declared.

"Alright, next up, I hope you know your shogi." Morgana continued. "This intel is about a stage mother who mistreats her daughter, the shogi player Hifumi Togo. She controls every aspect of Hifumi's career, and thus has ruined her daughter's shogi life." He soon revealed.

"Togo-san!?" Yumi gasped.

"Ah, right. Hifumi attends Kosei." Akira remembered. "She's like a school idol, right?" He then recalled.

"Yes. I think I recall she is also senpai's other vice president." Yusuke responded with a nod.

"Other?" Homura repeated in confusion, recalling the other Vice President from yesterday's summit.

"Hai, it was necessary when Togo-san needed time off to participate in her tournaments but did not wish to give up her position. She is my substitute when I am away while Nutsu-san focuses on...well, any work I need done while I'm here." Yumi explained in an intellectual manner.

"The difficulties of being a student council president..." Makoto sighed out.

The not cat nodded in response as he then continued. "Hifumi also hasn't lost a single match, from what I hear." Morgana recalled.

"Well...that's not a good thing." The Leader stated, causing the Kosei students to narrow their eyes. This couldn't be good.

"She forced Hifumi to become an idol against her wishes and even plans to fix her upcoming match." Morgana soon revealed.

"It isn't exactly the first time either." Akira added.

"How horrible..." Yumi whispered. "How did I not know this?" She then wondered in a depressed manner.

"You can't keep track of everything that happens to everyone, Yumi. Even if it happens among the students." Makoto responded and reminded.

"I agree." Yusuke replied, nodding. "For example-" He then began.

"Inari, don't get us off topic." Futaba interrupted. "123 needs a W from the Thieves from the sounds of it." She then got out.

"And it also sounds like her mom is trying to live through her daughter..." Miyabi muttered with a frown.

"She's treating her daughter like some kind of tool. We have to release Hifumi from that state." Makoto got out. "Everyone who agrees, say aye." She then instructed.

"Aye!" Most of the group replied in unison once more.

"The ayes have it! We're Upstaging the Stage Mother!" Morgana responded. "The calling card is already at her doorstep, so all we have to do is deal with her Shadow." He then stated.

"Alright, let's give her a...I don't know what shogi term to use here..." Akira tried to say, only to give up sounding cool.

"Haven't you been learning about shogi, Akira?" Asuka reminded with a teasing smile.

"I can do the moves, but the freaking names I forget. Hifumi really loves making up her own moves..." Akira groaned while rubbing his forehead. "And that's all my targets. Homura, what are the problems affecting your committee?" He soon asked as everyone else looked at her.

"Okay, let's start off with the first of my committee members I learned about first, Daigo Madoka." Homura began. "Our target for solving his problem regarding a friend of his." She then stated.

"Who is he?" Makoto soon asked.

"Well as you know, it's been a long time since Kamoshida has gone to jail, but his influence still lingers." Homura began, getting everyone's attention. "A friend of his, Josuke Hamada, hasn't calmed down since, his desires becoming distorted and is taking out his rage on everyone around him. If we don't stop him soon, someone will get killed." She soon revealed in a concerned manner.

"Damn..." Akira muttered with narrowed eyes.

"Every time we think we're done with the asshole, he somehow manages to come back in some way..." Ryuji grumbled, clenching his fists in anger. "Hey, after we take care of all his lingering shit, is there a memory erasing jutsu so we can never think about him ever again?" He soon asked.

"As unpleasant as the memories are," Miyabi began as the tan skinned girl shuddered. "We have to keep him in mind so that we don't let another Kamo-shithead slip through our fingers. If you have to suffer, it's better to remember than repeat it." She then stated.

The dyed blonde simply sighed at that. "Yeah, yeah, you're right." He responded. "Sorry." Skull soon apologized.

"It's not a problem Ryuji." Homura responded with a sigh. "Let us take him down post haste." She then added as the others nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, he'll be reformed by the end of the day." Morgana replied. "Who's next on our list?" He then asked.

"Our next target is Sora Kagurazaka's aunt, Kimi Kagurazaka." Homura soon started. "She was the one who beat Sora, his family and his friend to near death, wanting to make her nephew's life a living hell. Her status as a CEO and a former MMA champion makes her think she's untouchable. Bulletproof. We need to prove her wrong." She soon revealed in detail.

"Huh...hold on, hold on, I think I've heard of her before. The Bulletproof Butterfly." Makoto recalled. She remembered reading about her when she wanted to refine her fighting style and add in crippling moves to her repertoire.

"...Oh God, is it going to be another situation like the cheater?" Futaba soon realized with a groan.

"It probably will be." Homura confessed with a reluctant sigh.

"Let me look her up." Ann spoke up as she pulled out her phone. After searching the name up, she got her answers. "Ah, here we go. Wow, that's a big win streak. One of the best in the MMA world...but according to this, that ended when...huh. Interesting. Allegedly, she lost because she didn't want to catch her opponent's cold. Retired soon after." She read out and soon revealed.

"She retired because of that? For real?" Ryuji got out in disbelief.

"We might be able to exploit that weakness if we have the right Personas." Morgana soon suggested. "Joker, you better prepare well for this target." He then advised.

"I will." Akira responded with a nod.

"Good. We are going to end this abusive fighter's reign." Homura declared.

"Do we still have more targets?" Ann decided to ask.

"We only have one more. That will be...a military officer." Homura continued, which caused a few gasps around the room. "Masamune Gohara. A corrupt general officer who secretly violates NATO practices, and forces his troops to cover it up by any means necessary. Naomi Shingo is their crosshair now after discovering their crimes they've pulled as Bleach Japan members." She soon revealed.

"Bleach Japan?" Miyabi repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, I heard about them." Makoto recalled. "Apparently they go around all of Japan protesting against areas similar to Shinjuku where there are the...risque and unclean in their eyes. I believe that formed back in 2004." She then added to the recollection." Apparently their slogan is to bleach the gray to white, so to speak." She soon concluded.

Yumi's eye immediately twitched to that. "Ah yes, those people." She groaned out.

"So you know about them as well, Yumi-senpai?" Homura assumed.

"Fools that think they are on the side of justice, but all they do is just protest what they don't like." Yumi revealed. "I once heard their protests from my apartment in Shinjuku and then I spied on them as they incited a fight before my contact with the police brought it to an end." She then added.

"These guys instigate fights?" Miyabi asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Hai, I recall even some of their members bringing metal baseball bats to fights." Yumi revealed with a nod and recalled.

"For real!?" Ryuji got out with widened eyes.

"Hai." Yumi confirmed with a nod.

"Real tough these guys are." Homura soon noted.

"More like they're stubborn..." Akira remarked with narrowed eyes. "And impatient, even." He then added as well.

"What makes it more ironic is that they keep going on about wanting to crack down on all forms of crime, even victimless ones." Yumi soon revealed. "My police contact as well as many others in Shinjuku say they are an annoyance." She then added with a sigh.

"It sounds like they are the ones disturbing the peace." Morgana meanwhile noted.

"As if they want the attention of others, create disarray in public." Akira soon stated. "Perfect for other hidden work behind the scenes while the public is distracted." He then added.

"An impressive bit of speculation." Miyabi commented, sounding impressed. "However, this is all just an assumption. They could just be overzealous asshats who don't have anything better to do." She then added.

"Well, it doesn't matter what Bleach Japan is exactly. They want Naomi gone." Homura soon revealed. "That was made clear when I had to bring her to the hospital after they attacked her." She then added in a dead serious tone.

"They're going to kill her!?" Ann exclaimed.

"They already attempted to kill her." Homura corrected. "She had to be taken to a hospital afterwards. I doubt in their next ambush they'll take any chances. We can't let this happen. and I don't want her killed because of a right-wing puritanical, xenophobic organization that targets the homeless, foreigners and other such groups." She then added.

"..." The others could only blink at how the tan skinned girl described the group.

"That's...unfortunately accurate." Yumi awkwardly confirmed.

"For real?" Ryuji got out.

"They target the homeless too!?" Ann gawked in concern.

"They do indeed." Yumi responded with a nod and a sigh.

"Yomi would hate them immensely since she came from the slums too." Homura soon stated. "The fact that they aren't all six feet under means she isn't aware of their existence." She then added.

"Plus there's her current situation." Miyabi reminded, causing the tan skinned girl to wince.

"Well, as much as I want to shove some feet up their taint (and not necessarily mine), we need to focus on Naomi-san's attacker." Makoto soon got out.

"It's the only way we'll make sure she won't be finished off." Akira responded with a nod. "I doubt I need to ask, but all in favor?" He then asked.

"Hell yeah, aye!" Ryuji called out as he cracked his knuckles. "They're goin' on about protectin' people and defend us but then do this!? Hell now were lettin' them pull this kind of shit!" He soon growled with clenched fists.

"Alright, bleach this stain away." Akira declared.

"Is that everything?" Yusuke asked as he wrote down the last name on his sketch pad.

"Yep." Morgana nodded. "Six targets today. Let's take care of them as efficiently as possible, everyone." He then instructed.

"Alright, let's get on the train to Shibuya, guys." Miyabi spoke, with everyone nodding in response.

"God, I really wish we had a real car so we can skip public transport." Homura spoke up as they walked. "I mean, I can break hands and skulls, but it gets annoying having to watch out for gropers." She then added.

"Yeah, but city traffic would just make things take longer." Akira pointed out.

"And it's 4:30 right now, so the train should be pretty light on people." Morgana then stated.

"And if you're sick or tired of people trying to feel you up during the morning rush, you can ride on top." Miyabi suggested.

"We're not that desperate." Makoto stated in a flat tone. "...Isn't there stuff above the train that would totally decapitate you though?" She then pointed out.

"You just have to lie down really flat. Trust me, I've tried it before." Miyabi advised and reassured in a casual manner.

"There is nothing about you that screams flat." Ann deadpanned.

"Wait, why go through all that? Can't you just take the women's only passenger cars?" Yusuke soon pointed out.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...Fuck." Ann muttered while slapping her forehead.

"Yeah, I have a self-imposed ban from them for life." Miyabi grumbled, baffling the others.

"Um, why?" Makoto asked in confusion.

"Fangirls." Miyabi bluntly responded, causing the others to sweatdrop.

"Really? I thought it'd be 'cause ya got confused for a man again." Ryuji admitted without a single second to even think about what he was saying.

"Horny girls that do know and don't care..." Miyabi grumbled with a twitching eye.

Futaba meanwhile snickered to that. "Big Sis is popular with the ladies in the wrong way." She soon remarked.

"Can we please go to Shibuya now!?" Ann suddenly snapped.

"Alright, alright. You'll get your churros faster." Akira quickly assured as they all began making their way downstairs.

(Metaverse, Shibuya Mementos Entrance)

[You have now arrived in Mementos. Have a fun trip.]

"Thank you, Text-to-Speech lady." Joker responded as he pocketed his phone.

"I just realized that the MetaNav just calls it Mementos." Panther spoke up.

"Huh? So what?" Skull got out in confusion.

"I'm just wondering who named it Mementos in the first place." Panther explained before turning to the resident Metaverse expert. "Mona?" She then asked.

"Hey, don't look at me like I named it." Mona responded. "Mementos is just...is, I guess. It's been around for a long time, maybe since humanity began to think. For all I know, Mementos is simply its name in this era. It could've been called something else. It is humanity's collective unconsciousness. It might change like the tunnels down there." He then explained what he knew once more.

"I guess that makes sense." Noir soon agreed.

Suddenly, Joker paused. "I feel like we've had this conversation before..." He muttered.

"I just think we're running out of shit to talk about." Skull assumed with a shrug.

"Given the type of things we talk about while we're all together, I very much doubt that." Queen sighed.

"I'm gonna head down first. Need to up my arsenal of Personas." Joker soon informed as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Hey, if it's just something in your head, can't you change it from the loli paradise?" Yang got out in a teasing manner.

Joker closed his eyes as he took a deep breath in complete irritation. "Again. Not. A loli paradise. A prison." He soon stated. "And I can't. Something about my journey or whatever." He then added.

"Yeah, you keep saying that." Yang murmured.

"Yang-neechan. It's a real thing." Yin insisted with a sigh.

"Look, as long as it improves Joker's Personas, I'll believe anything." Yang sighed out. "But loli wardens is pushing it." She then admitted.

"...Caroline is going to kill you." Joker bluntly stated.

"Pfft, I can beat a six year old." Yang snorted out.

"They're physically eleven, at least." Joker corrected with a sigh, feeling the glare from one of the wardens on him down at the entrance.

"Can we please go down now!?" Panther called out. "We can talk while driving." Shr then added.

"Alright, alright." Joker stated

"Actually, you guys go on ahead," Mona suddenly got out. "I need to talk to Skull about something...alone..." He then informed in a dead serious tone.

"Oh, um, alright." Joker responded with a nod. "We'll...wait for you downstairs." He then added as the rest of the group followed.

"Huh?" Skull meanwhile got out as the others went down the stairs, leaving him and the not cat alone. "What do you want? Wait, is it about those lady cats you've been-" He soon asked and then started to assume before...

"No no no! It's about Lady Hyōki!" Mona interrupted and declared.

"Hyōki-chan?" Skull repeated in confusion before blinking. "Wait, Lady Hyōki!? The hell Mona!?" He then asked in a more disbelief tone.

"Skull...what the hell are you going to do about her?" Mona soon asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Huh?" Skull got out in confusion. "Oh shit! He knows about me and Katsu-chan!? How the hell!?" He mentally began panicking before...

"I'm talking about Lady Hyōki..." Mona soon enough stated in a dead serious, no nonsense tone that was on the verge of growling in fury.

"...Eh?" Skull got out in confusion, now thrown for a loop. "Uh...what are you-?" He started to ask.

"I'm talking about the fact that LADY HYŌKI IS IN LOVE WITH YOU!" Mona soon roared jumping into the air while flailing his arms in a comedic manner.

In turn, Skull blinked. "...Huh?" He got out. "...What?" He meanwhile thought, trying to process what he heard.

"You heard me." Mona got out. "Lady Hyōki! The girl with the beautiful long black hair and gold eyes. And who's in love with you of all people!" He then called out.

"Wha-?" Skull got out in shock. "Hold up! Y-You know Hyōki-chan?" He then asked in confusion. "Shiiiiiiiit!" He mentally swore in a growing panic.

"Should've seen that coming." Seiten Taisen remarked.

"Don't change the subject!" Mona however ordered while grinding his teeth. "It's on a need-to-know basis, and all you need to know is that you're screwing it up!" He then stated.

"W-What the hell are you talking about!?" Skull soon asked.

"You better not hurt Lady Hyōki's feelings after the suffering she's been through, or I'll never forgive you..." Mona soon threatened.

That however got Skull's attention. "Suffering?" He repeated. "The hell are you talkin' about, Mona?" He then asked in concern.

"...No, I'm not gonna tell you about it." Mona suddenly decided.

"What?" Skull exclaimed. "Why the hell not?!" He then asked. "What the hell happened to Hyōki-chan!?" He meanwhile thought in concern now.

"It's up to Lady Hyōki to tell you, but let me just say that she hasn't had the best life." Mona soon stated. "All I can say is that her father was a despicable asshole who makes Noir's look like a saint in comparison." He then vaguely revealed with cold fury.

"!" Skull's eyes immediately widened to that. "Should I be angry enough to track him down and give him what's comin'?" He then asked as he cracked his knuckles.

"If he isn't dead, he should wish he was." Mona thought to himself. "There's no need for that, Skull." He then answered to him this time.

"Just...dammit." Skull sighed. "If she's hurting and hidin' it, we- I gotta do something about it." He then eventually declared.

"Well, you're a big part of the reason why she's hurting!" Mona then called out.

"...Say what?" Skull got out in confusion. "Mona, I haven't even laid a goddamn finger on her. If you're-" He then started saying.

"You're hurting her emotionally! Not physically!" Mona however declared."Actually, I think Lady Hyōki wants you to be more physical!" He then added with a blush on his face.

"Huh?" Skull got out in confusion. "...Wait, you're not sayin' she-" He began to guess with widened eyes.

"Yeah. She is-" Mona started to say, however...

"Wantin' to fight me?" Skull guessed. "I mean, I do need a sparring partner that won't wreck my bones...and my muscles...and my ability to pronounce my hreghs." He then muttered as he rubbed his throat.

Homura had definitely dealt some long-lasting damage in their last training session.

Mona's eye immediately twitched to that. "Oh my God, didn't you hear me a while ago!? She's in love with you, you idiot!" He spat out in complete irritation.

"I know!" Skull countered, an obvious blush now on his face. "I'm still processing this happening!" He then confessed. "Holy shit, she like-likes me!?" He thought to himself.

"Wasn't it obvious?" Seiten Taisen questioned.

"Well, I am kinda in love with another girl, asshole!" Skull mentally called out. "Wouldn't you have told me!? You're me! You should know if I'm missin' something!" He added in his head.

"The dream you had involving her wasn't enough of a clue?" His other self pointed out.

"Dreams are weird! I remember havin' dreams about Akira, and he isn't crushing on me!" Skull responded in frustration before pausing. "...Is he?" He then added in a slightly freaked out manner. He didn't swing that way, dammit!

Mona sighed deeply in annoyance, though he relaxed a bit afterwards.

"...Holy shit..." Skull once more breathed out as he processed this.

"So, what's your next move?" Mona decided to ask him with crossed arms.

"Next move!?" Skull repeated. "...Mona, we were fine before. I...I just wanna keep being Hyōki's friend." He soon revealed.

"That won't work." Mona shook his head to that.

"Really!? It won't?"Skull responded in disbelief. "Why can't I just be friends with Hyōki-chan?" He then questioned with narrowed eyes.

"You just can't, okay?" Mona vaguely answered.

"No, that is not okay!" Skull countered with a growl.

"Well, keeping it the way it is now is killing her, so you better make a decision!" Mona then insisted.

"...Look, I was never gonna hurt her on purpose, but you make it sound like it's my obli- oboo- able-...job to be with her." Skull stated with a frown.

"Huh?" Mona got out.

"I want to be her, she's freakin' awesome, but a sad story isn't a good reason to keep seein' her." Skull explained in a serious manner. "Lotta people got dealt shit hands, but that doesn't mean we'd all be friends. The reason I hang out with Hyōki-chan is because I like her, nothin' more than that." He then stated.

"But there's more to it than that." Mona insisted.

"And I don't care."Skull countered while shaking his head. "What I do with Hyōki-chan ain't your business. This is my relationship, not yours, dammit!" He then called out.

Mona flinched. Maybe he went too far in his nosiness. "Skull..." He got out.

"Sorry for snappin' at ya but...it makes me feel ya don't trust me with this. Hyōki-chan and I are doin' fine, no need for you to complicate things by telling me shit. If I mess up, I'll deal with it." Skull sighed.

"But I don't want you to-" Mona began.

"Screw it up because you feel sorry for Hyōki-chan?" Skull guessed before sighing again. "Yeah, I really don't want to either but...I'll do it my way. If I did it any other way, I feel like I would be cheatin'." He then confessed.

"Cheating?" Moan repeated in a confused manner.

"Mona, I wanna be myself with her. Up front and shit. I don't wanna beat around the bush with anyone." Skull explained. "If she ends up hatin' me...then that just sucks, but at least I could be my real self with her. I like Hyōki-chan 'cause she's Hyōki-chan, and I hope she likes me 'cause it's me." He then concluded.

The not cat blinked. He didn't think anyone had seen this side to the dyed blond before. "...She really does like you. She loves you." Mona stated.

"...Yeah." Skull replied, resignation in his voice.

"You don't seem too happy about it." Mona soon noted.

"'Cause I've seen enough romance anime to know how much it sucks." Skull answered.

Mona blinked. "...You watch romance?" He soon asked.

"Harem counts, right?" Skull then replied.

"Dumbass." Mona sighed.

"Hey, I watch the sappy stuff too, ya know." Skull grumbled. "And...you know...what if I like someone else already?" He then asked in a cautious manner.

"Ryuji, I don't think Shiomi J-Cup would even look at you." Mona deadpanned.

"Not her!" Skull responded while shaking his head. "Like...a real crush. Love." He then clarified, making sure to choose his words carefully.

"What're you...?" Mona began to ask before pausing and nodding in realization. "Ah, you mean Katsuragi?" He soon stated.

Skull gasped before coughing. "K-Katsu-Katsuragi!? What made ya think it was her!?" He repeated and soon asked.

"I saw how happy you were with her at the beach." Mona got out with a teasing smile. "But let me tell you, she is way out of your league. Hell, I think Lady Hyōki could do a little better than you." He then informed with a chuckle.

Skull's eye twitched. He had to hold back a lot to not tell him that he was already dating the very girl that was out of his league (Mona wasn't wrong about that). "S-So what? I have a better chance of gettin' a girl than you!" He then pointed out.

"Not until I get my real form back." Mona claimed with a smirk. "I bet I'll be winning the hearts of all the fair maidens in the land once I'm human again." He then stated.

"Yeah, keep dreamin', Mona." Skull mumbled under his breath. Suddenly, he realized something. "How did ya figure out Hyōki-chan even had a crush on me, anyways?" He innocently asked.

"Oh, she confessed when I encountered and also when we bathed together." Mona replied and revealed.

"Well, that's-" Skull began before he froze. "...What?" He soon got out.

The not cat in turn nodded. "Yeah. As much as I want to turn back into a human, looking like a cat has tons of advantages. She really gave me a good washing though at the bathhouse." Mona soon stated and confessed in satisfaction before he soon noticed the dyed blond glaring furiously at him. "Uh, Skull? Why do you look pissed?" He called out in concern.

(Mementos Entrance)

Meanwhile, the rest of the Phantom Thieves were just standing around, talking. Actually, the only one doing something unique was Joker who was...just standing in a corner, staring blankly into space.

"Hm...Leader always seems so focused when we're in the Metaverse, so seeing him like this worries me." Noir couldn't help but admit, looking closely at Leader's completely blank expression.

"Don't stand too close to him!" Yang called out as she pulled their newest member back.

"Ah!" Noir yelped. "S-Sorry, is that a rule?" She soon asked.

"It's a warning." Yang stated seriously.

"...How long is Skull and Mona going to take?" Widow wondered out loud as she looked up the staircase.

"Yeah. I was raring to go, but them holding us up is really killing my mood." Serpent grumbled while impatiently tapping her foot. "Come on, ya jerks! We don't have all day!" She then called out, her voice echoing up the stairs.

"Be patient, Serpent." Queen sighed while shaking her head.

"So what do you think Skull and Mona are talking about?" Oracle decided to ask.

"Probably arguing over something that's not really much of a big deal." Queen replied. "Don't worry, they tend to banter almost all of the time." She then added in reassurance.

"You sure?" Panther meanwhile asked. "Something about it seemed off this time." She soon confessed in an uneasy manner.

"It'll be fine." Yin however assured. "They're as thick as thieves-" She then started, however...

"Yin, please!" Oracle cried, taking a hit to her HP by that pun.

"I'm sure that it's nothing too serious." The Vice Leader continued with hope in her voice. "I mean, they should be coming down these stairs right now!" She then added.

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

Yin suddenly regretted that she was right.

"YOU! EFFIN'! DICK! PER! VERT! SHIT! HEAD! STUPID! CAT! OW! SHIT! EFF!" Skull grunted as he hit every step on the way down.

"NOT! A! CAT! WHY! ARE! YOU! KILLING! ME!?" Mona screamed, with intermittent cries of pain.

"...Oh, they're coming down the stairs, alright." Yang deadpanned as her sister flinched with every step they went down.

CRASH!

Skull and Mona finally reached the ground and dropped themselves very badly onto the floor.

"...That looked fun!" Noir exclaimed while the other sweatdropped at how innocent it sounded.

"You...perverted...cat." Skull growled out in a vengeful manner.

"Uuuuggh..." Mona groaned in pain. "She...took me inside." He then muttered for only the dyed blond to hear.

"Doesn't...matter..." Skull countered.

"Skull! Mona!" Yin exclaimed as she ran over to the injured boys.

"Hoo boy." Oracle howled as she noticed something on the hologram in front of her. "69 HP left of both of you. Nice." She then revealed.

"Oracle!" Panther chided with hands on her hips.

"Don't worry, I got it." Oracle soon assured. "Necronomicon! Give 'em an HP boost!" She soon commanded as her UFO-like Persona appeared above her.

"Executing heal command." Necronomicon announced.

SPARKLE!

"Urgh...my back...my back..." Skull whined as he picked himself up from the floor.

"I hate stairs...!" Mona sobbed while doing the same.

"Did you two trip down the stairs or something?" Yang accused. "Or, more accurately, did Skull trip and bring you down with him, Mona?" She then added with a deadpan look on her face.

"Actually, I heard that Skull was trying to kill Mona..." Serpent revealed.

"Erm...we can explain." The two in mention responded.

"What were you two fighting about?" Queen demanded.

Skull and Mona looked at each other. "...G-Guy stuff." Skull managed to reply as he faced her.

"Yeah. Guy stuff." Mona repeated in agreement, though he looked a bit nervous.

"Guy stuff." Queen repeated in a skeptical tone. "And what is this guy stuff that led to this?" She then asked once more.

"What? We don't go and ask you when you talk about girl stuff." Skull countered, attempting to dodge the question.

"That's because girl stuff usually involves pads and tampons." Serpent chimed in.

Widow sighed as she felt irritated at that statement. "Serpent..." She groaned.

"W-We talk about other things." Yin spoke up with a blush.

"Shopping and clothes don't count." Serpent chimed in. "Also food. And boobs. Those are open topics." She then added.

"I think we should spend the time we have actually doing our duty instead of standing around doing nothing." Mona soon suggested, sweating a little.

"Y-Yeah. Hearts don't change themselves!" Skull agreed a little too eagerly.

"I really hope they can though." Yin muttered with a sigh.

"Still, it's been a long while since we've seen each other like this." Joker spoke up, earning everyone's attention. "In our Phantom Thieves outfits, of course." He then added.

That prompted everyone to look at each other and to themselves as well.

"Yeah, it is." Yin replied as she adjusted her outfit.

"Indeed it has." Yang got out in agreement, also adjusting her attire.

"It has been less than two weeks." Widow however pointed out. "How is that any different from our previous excursions? We've gone on longer without going into the Metaverse." She then reminded.

"Actually, just four days ago we had a sparring session." Serpent then reminded. "Not everyone was there, but a good lot of us were." She then added.

The Leader looked confused before thinking about it. "Huh? Ohhh..." He then let out.

"Joker, you were there." Mona sighed while shaking his head. "Although, you were running on fumes and saying 'ow' with every step." He then added.

"How rough was training with Yang?" Panther questioned in a curious manner.

"V-Very." Joker nervously responded. "Sorry, I have a really sucky memory." He then got out in an apologetic tone.

"How do you know so much, yet remember so little?" Yang deadpanned.

"I like to live my life a quarter mile at a time." Joker then replied. "...Whatever that means." He soon admitted.

"Smart yet dumb, cool yet dorky at the same time." Oracle commented. "You are the living embodiment of a paradox." She then stated with her hands on her hips.

"Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?" Joker however asked.

"...Yes." Oracle simply responded.

"Take it as whatever you want it to be." Yang snarked. "So, are we ready to go now?" She then asked.

"Hold up! There's one more thing we need to discuss!" Oracle suddenly called out.

"Huh? What is it?" Panther responded, hearing the urgency in their navigator's voice.

"Well is it just me or...does Queen's chest seem...fuller?" Oracle asked...with a sparkle in her eyes underneath her goggles.

"Uuuuuugggghhhhhhh..." Serpent groaned loudly, deciding to go to the nearest wall and slammed her face into it.

"Eh?" Queen got out at that before looking down...and then groaned at what the orangette was referring to.

That also prompted everyone to look towards the advisor...and notice the obvious change.

BOING!

"O-Oh my." Noir gasped out, her hand covering her mouth.

"Q-Queen!?" Panther gawked out in disbelief at the sight of the blushing advisor. "W-When did this-!?" She began to ask.

"I have no idea..." Queen sighed out the confession as she hugged herself.

SQUISH!

"I haven't even encountered Katsuragi-san recently or eaten at Big Bang Burger after what we learned." Queen soon stated.

"That means their growth is all natural." Joker confirmed as he looked at the blushing advisor. "You're being a woman now, Queen. Good for you." He then encouraged.

Queen blushed some more to that.

"Are you sure you should be the one saying that, Joker?" Panther asked with a hand on her hip.

"Is it weird?" Joker commented as he thought about it, earning a stare from everyone. "...What answer would anger you the least?" He then countered with crossed arms in front of his chest.

"Just say nothing." Panther soon instructed as the other girls nodded in agreement.

"Alright." Joker responded with a sigh.

SQUISH!

"Ngh..." Queen meanwhile groaned as she looked down at herself again. "At least Yang kept her word about the Shinobi Tailors adjusted all my clothes." She then added in relief. "Woke up this morning to find the work done and it was like my clothes were always this size." She soon revealed in a grateful manner.

"The only faction we approve of being neutral." Serpent stated as the other shinobis nodded in agreement.

"Are there any other shinobi services we could take advantage of?" Panther soon asked in a curious manner.

"Are there Cooking-nin like in that one filler episode of Naruto that makes food for missions?" Oracle then assumed.

"Surprised you know about that faction, but no, we can take care of that ourselves. Plus, store-bought stuff and MREs are good enough." Serpent responded and stated.

"And I do not believe we should take advantage of shinobi services for selfish gains." Widow soon informed.

Yang in turn nodded in agreement. "Hai, it would lead to possible skepticism as to why are suddenly needed just for food delivery." She then explained.

"Makes sense." Joker replied in agreement. "If we become too dependent on it, they could probably suspect something." He then stated.

"Right." Mona replied in agreement. "It is the shinobi we're talking about here." He then added.

To that, the ash blonde sheepishly giggled and rubbed the back of her head. "Hehe, yeah. I guess that does make sense." Panther admitted in an awkward manner. "Guess using them just for clothing adjustment is good enough." She then added.

"It could be useful, really." Noir soon admitted. "The boys here do need some adjustment in their clothes as well, don't you guys think?" She then suggested.

"We'll have to wait and see about that." Yin responded as the men in the group nodded to that.

BOING!

"Aaaand Noir's back to normal too." Oracle soon commented as she noticed the Thief in mention. "She's like a magician or something." She then added, noticing the breasts.

"Schrodinger's Boobs." Joker muttered, seeing the actual chest as well.

"Hush." Serpent deadpanned while the orangette snickered.

"Hm?" Noir got out as she heard that before glancing down. "Oh, my breasts are out and about now." She soon confirmed as she cupped her own large breasts.

BOING!

Noir then giggled in amusement as she brought out and rested her axe on her shoulder. "Hehe, it looks like I really am catching up to my Melon Peaches days with Ika-chan, Kumo-chan, Leo-chan and Gin-chan." She soon stated.

"You...don't mind?" Panther asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh no, not at all." Noir responded. "Actually when we were younger, we couldn't wait to develop into beautiful and well-developed ladies according to Ika-chan." She then revealed.

"..." The others could only look on in disbelief.

"I-Ikaruga-chan said that?" Yin gawked out as she processed those words.

"Hai, those exact words." Noir innocently confirmed.

"She said that they were a woman's hopes and dreams?" Yin then asked.

"Hai." Noir responded with a nod before tilting her head. "Huh, now that I think about it, Ika-chan really changed since our Melon Peaches days." She then confessed.

That in turn got the Vice Leader's attention. "Really?" Yin responded in a more curious manner.

"Hai, after we finally helped Ika-chan out of her shell, she really became more playful and friendly." Noir revealed before giggling. "Hehe, I still remember when she groped us as a means of examinations and a bit of enjoyment. Kumo-chan really enjoyed it too." She then recalled.

"...Uh, what?" Yin responded in confusion, not able to imagine it. "Ikaruga-chan did that?" She then thought.

"Noir, what did you say?" Yang got out. "About your Ika-chan friend?" She then added.

"Ika-chan groped us as a means of examinations and it became a bit of enjoyment for all of us back then." Noir once more stated. "And Kumo-chan really enjoyed it back then, too." She then added.

"...Eh?" Yin only got out as she was dumbfounded by that.

"Hehe, thinking back, Ika-chan basically became like the Katsu-chan of your Hanzō group, Yin, at least until our last few days together before separating." Noir giggled out.

SHATTER!

"EEEEEEEEEEH!?" Yin and Yang exclaimed in unison, startling the others a bit.

"T-There's no way I can believe Ikaruga-chan was like that!" Yin soon stammered in denial.

"I agree with Yin here." Widow responded. "That sounds far-fetched from the sound of it." She then added.

"I wish I could lie to you about that, but this is true, Widow, Yin." Noir responded. "Ika-chan was quite the perverted one, but we really didn't mind. It was actually fun." She then revealed and confessed.

"Ehhh...?" Yin only droned out in disbelief. "I-Ikaruga-chan..." She mumbled out, still trying to imagine or even process this mere idea.

Noir meanwhile giggled to that as her mind began to wander, thinking back to those times.

(Rewind)

(Melon-Peaches Elites Room)

BOING! SQUISH!

"Hehe, good morning Ika-chan." A twelve-year old Haru giggled out in amusement, unphased by the ravenette's action. She was currently sitting on their couch lounging for the day while wearing a plain pink t-shirt, some black jogging pants and gray rubber shoes.

"To you as well, Haru-chan." Leaning behind the auburnette heiress, a twelve-year old Ikaruga replied with a smile as she was wearing a white, cropped jacket that left her midriff exposed, with a plunging neckline that showed off a surprising amount of cleavage, a short yellow skirt that exposed her thighs, and some knee-high black boots along with her hair in a ponytail as she casually groped her friend from behind under her arms. "I must say, your boobs are getting a bit bigger than usual." She then noted with a spark of amazement in her eyes.

That in turn got the young auburnette's attention. "Eh? You think so, Ika-chan?" Haru innocently asked as she glanced at her chest that was currently being groped by her friend.

"Hehe, I know so. You'll definitely become a beauty when you get older." Ikaruga soon stated with a giggle. "Hell, all of us will in the end." She then corrected with a cat-like grin as she gave another squeeze on the heiress's budding chest.

"Hehe, why thank you Ika-chan." Haru giggled out and replied. "I am curious how much my breasts will grow when I get older." She then confessed.

"They'll be big, I am certain." Ikaruga replied in reassurance. "Hopefully mine would be, too." She then added as she glanced down at herself.

Haru smiled. "I'm sure yours will too. I'll look forward to that one day, Ika-chan." She reassured.

Ikaruga smiled before continuing her usual groping on the heiress.

BOING! SQUISH!

"At it again, Ikaruga-san?" Ginrei meanwhile sighed out as she, the blonde and the brunette arrived in the main room.

"Yup." Ikaruga replied with a grin. "Wanna get one, Ginrei-chan?" She then offered in a casual and relaxed manner.

Ginrei pondered that with a finger on her chin. "Maybe later. In the bath." She eventually replied.

"Yes! Thank you, Ginrei-chan!" Ikaruga excitedly responded with a fist pump.

Murakumo meanwhile giggled to this. "Hehe, s-same old Ikaruga-chan." She got out in amusement with a hint of a stammer in her voice.

Leo in turn nodded in agreement. "Hai. Being away from everyone that would control her allowed her to become more relaxed." She responded and reminded.

"Hell yeah! You guys were there with me as the sisters that you guys basically are." Ikaruga replied as a sparkle came to her eyes. "Also, I wanna see everyone's bodies be voluptuous and developed when we get older." She then added with raised hands while wiggling her fingers.

The other four girls giggled to that response as they soon went off to prepare themselves for the day.

(Fast Forward)

Noir soon sighed in a delighted manner...before she placed her hands on her breasts. "Ah, good times." She breathed out as she squished her breasts a bit.

"..." Yin's eyes widened as she heard and learned all of this. "R-Really?" She breathed out.

"Hai!" Noir happily and innocently replied, setting her hands down. "Though Ika-chan might not remember..." She then quietly added.

"Or is too embarrassed to want to remember or even mention it." A majority of the group thought.

"Huh, I guess people really do go through phases in life." Joker eventually got out. "And women having perverted sides as well aside from men." He then added, thinking back to the girls he knew that were as mentioned.

"...I cannot deny that in any way." Serpent groaned out with a face palm. "Damn...fangirls..." She then struggled out.

"You'll be okay, Serpent." Joker reassured as he patted the woman's shoulder.

"I'm...still trying to imagine Ikaruga-senpai being like that of all things." Yang confessed in an uneasy tone.

"I guess time can change you, really." Widow couldn't help but say.

"Ikaruga-chan..." Yin groaned as she palmed her mask-covered face.

"Hehe, don't worry, Yin. I won't let Katsu-chan know about this." Noir reassured. "She would never stop pestering about it with Ika-chan if she finds out." She then added matter-of-factly.

"...Yeah. You're right on that, Noir." Yin agreed, feeling reassured about it. "Thank you." She then added in a grateful manner.

"Okay, we better get back on topic now." The Leader meanwhile suggested as the others nodded in agreement. "What's the highest floor for a target?" Joker asked.

"I'm detecting it's on...Chemdah, Area 6." Oracle reported.

"Then we'll start from the nearest safe area and work our way down from there." Joker stated before looking over to the auburnette. "Hey, maybe we'll see Jose again this time." He then added.

"Mona-chan!" Yin soon called out.

The not cat nodded as he jumped into the air. "Morgana...Henshin!" He soon declared.

POOF! BEEP BEEP!

"Oh, um, shotgun!" Noir suddenly called out.

"Shotg- dammit!" Skull tried to shout before cursing.

"Shotgun's lap!" Oracle called out.

"What!?" Serpent exclaimed in shock. "That's not allowed!" She then stated.

"As long as everyone is wearing seatbelts and won't go flying out of the Morgana-windshield." Joker called out as he stepped into the Morganamobile. "Queen, you wanna have a shot at committing hit-and-runs?" He jokingly offered.

"...That does sound a little fun." Queen had to confess before sighing. "Screw it, I might as well try and exercise some road rage." She then decided.

"Queen...?" Panther got out, sounding a little worried.

"It's nothing serious, I just have some issues I need to run over. Let's go." Queen insisted before taking the wheel

"I thought this was going to be my stress relief..." Yang couldn't help but think as the Leader pulled out his phone to fast travel.

(Chemdah, Area 6)

The journey was more important than the destination.

This was a quote often applied to life. After all, death was inevitable. Nothing truly lasted forever, so until one reached their ending, it was important to take joy in the moments between. To create good memories that they would take with them into the next world...

"Have mercy!" A Shadow wailed as it ran before...

WHAM! SPLATTER!

"THERE'S MERCY IN HELL, SHITBAG!" The driver shouted out, leaning out the window to flip off the already dead Shadow.

Suffice to say, Queen was making plenty of good memories.

WHAM! SPLATTER!

"HAHAHA! THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR SNIPING AWAY THAT LIMITED EDITION BUCHIMARU-KUN! HAHAHAHA!" Queen cackled as she began chasing down a fleeing victim of her indiscriminate lust for hit-and-runs.

The others, who were all in the back, flinched every time the car went over a corpse. In contrast, they were wishing to forget about this as soon as they left the Metaverse. "Guys..." Oracle suddenly began, decidedly not on shotgun's lap.

"Yeah?" Most of the Thieves replied in response.

"Queen is S-tier on the Scary Girl tier list." The tech-loving Thief stated.

"No arguments here." Yang simply uttered with a shrug of her shoulders, surprisingly remaining calm about what was happening.

"Actually, you all are in my book." Skull offhandedly stated.

"What did you say!?" Serpent got out, glaring at the dyed blond.

"Shutting up now!" Skull immediately spoke, nervously adjusting his red ascot.

"My windshield wipers are being overworked..." Mona complained. They have been running ever since their advisor ran over her first Shadow.

"I feel like it's our fault she's like this..." Panther soon admitted.

"At least we're getting some experience from it?" Joker awkwardly pointed out.

"I do not believe that is the point." Fox however noted.

"Ooh! Queen! Take out that one! It's running away!" Noir soon suggested in a giddy manner.

"Thank you, Noir. COME HERE YA PIECE OF SHIT!" Queen kindly thanked their newest member before aggressively accelerating towards her next victim.

"What about Noir?" Yang asked with a sweatdrop.

"She was always like this." Oracle answered while checking out her own skinsuit. "SSS-tier. Super Sadistic Shinobi." She then added.

"TAKE THAT! AND THAT! AND- Oh, treasure chest up ahead!" Queen laughed joyously before stomping on the brake. "Joker, do you have a lockpick?" She soon asked.

"What a turnaround." Fox remarked.

"Do you one better," Joker responded with a proud smirk. "An Eternal Lockpick!" He overdramatically declared as he pulled it out of his coat.

SHINE!

"What the hell!?" Yang exclaimed in shock.

"Why is it glowing like that?" Widow had to ask.

"It's...wonderful...!" Yin gasped in delight.

"...That is totally just the Skeleton Key from Skyrim..." Oracle pointed out in an unamused tone.

Unfortunately, the light from the Eternal Lockpick bounced off her goggles and hit one of them in the eyes.

"MY EYES!" Panther screamed while covering her face.

"With this beauty, no more Lockpicks will be made!" Joker meanwhile dramatically declared.

"S-Seriously!?" Serpent gawked out in disbelief.

"It's wonderfully designed and masterfully crafted. Good work, Joker." Fox praised.

"I taught him everything I know." Mona claimed while sniffling proudly. "Make sure you don't lose it." He then ordered.

"...I might turn it into a necklace." Joker soon got out as he went over to unlock the chest.

Eventually, the Thieves found the portal to a budding Palace and drove into it, leaping out of the car before it even hit the floor.

"I'm here to kick ass and take initials because names take too long to write down." Skull declared as he pumped his shotgun.

"Wow, how long have you been waiting to say that?" Joker asked in a teasing manner.

"And you got the phrase wrong. It's kick ass and chew bubble gum and I'm all out of bubble gum." Panther corrected.

"What? I'm quotin' somethin' different. Plus, isn't it I'm here to chew ass and kick bubblegum?" The dyed blond claimed. "And I'm all out of ass?" He then added, wondering why all his friends (except Noir) were staring at him.

"..." The others could only look on in disbelief to hear that.

"Typical Skull..." Mona grumbled. "How he got a girl crushing on him is beyond me..." He thought to himself.

"Welp, we've ruined any sort of badass-ness in this moment." Queen stated. "Let's just steal their heart." She then suggested.

Yang meanwhile rolled her eyes and stepped forward as she approached the Shadow as she then narrowed them. "So, you're Hamada Josuke." She soon stated.

"Whatzittoya?" The Shadow harshly asked.

"Let me get straight to the point." Yang soon started. "You're letting your anger control you, hurting a lot of people all the while without even throwing a punch. We're gonna give you one chance: change now or we'll force you to change." She then added and ordered.

"Don't tell me what to do." The Shadow however remanded. "No one gets to tell me what to do anymore dammit!" He then declared in a furious manner.

"Uh, maybe we should've said that a little more nicely." Panther soon suggested.

Yin nodded in agreement to that as she stepped forward. "Look, we don't want to hurt you. All we want is to ensure you aren't hurting yourself and anyone else. Please, we're only asking you to calm down and think about what you've done." She soon requested and stated.

"What I've done!?" The Shadow repeated in an offended tone. "It's all his fault! That's why I'm like this! I WON'T STOP UNTIL HE PAYS!" He then declared, soon transforming.

"Gah...why do we always somehow piss them off...?" Oracle groaned. "You'd think our negotiation skills would help here." She then grumbled.

"Apparently not." Joker shrugged as everyone pulled out their weapons. "Alright, get your game faces on. Showtime!" He then announced as the fight started.

(Cue Beauty of Destiny by Shihoko Hirata feat. Lotus Juice)

"I will end you. I WILL END ALL OF YOU!" Shadow Josuke growled as he brandished his sword.

"An Okuninushi." Mona informed as Oracle quickly scanned the Shadow.

"He has some Rage skills and Psy. Keep calm and you should turn out fine." The navigator advised.

"Weakness?" Yang asked as she turned to Queen, who quickly used Shadow Factorization on the enemy.

"Water." Queen reported.

"Alright. Mermaid!" Joker called out as he tore off his mask, summoning the mythical creature to his side.

"Hehehehe~ Thank you for summoning me, Trickster." Mermaid giggled in a delighted manner.

"No problem. Now take care of this asshole!" Joker soon ordered.

"No problem~! AQUADYNE!"

"Aw, what's the Little Mermaid going to- BLUB BLUB BLUB!" Shadow Josuke managed to say before being drowned in thousands of gallons of magically-produced sea water.

SPLASH!

"BLEH!" Mermaid soon got out while blowing a raspberry at the enemy.

"Whoa! You've been putting some work into her." Yang noted in awe as she saw the Shadow get washed away by a giant wave. "Well, can't be left behind!" She soon declared as she ripped off her mask. "Musashi! Terror Claw!" She soon commanded.

"Fear my wrath!" Musashi roared, slashing at Shadow Josuke with glowing purple claws.

"GRAAAH!" The Shadow screamed as the claws tore through his armor. "Wh-What the hell...Wh-Why are you here!? NO! NOOOO!" He then screamed, tripping on nothing as he curled into a fetal position.

"Nice! He paralyzed with fear!" Oracle informed with a fist pump.

"That's...a little disturbing, but nice going Yang." Serpent remarked.

"Excellent work, miss Yang~" Mermaid suddenly praised as she swam to the tan skinned girl's side.

"Oh um, not a problem." Yang awkwardly responded. "Okay, seriously, are you trying to say something, Joker?" She then asked.

"What?" Joker soon got out in confusion.

"Isn't she part of your mind or whatever?" Yang pointed out.

"You forget how Jack Frost is towards Yin?" Joker countered, glancing at the Vice Leader, who was indeed hugging Jack Frost like it was a plushie.

SQUEAK!

"It's equally unexplained as that!" Yang reminded as Mermaid hugged her arm affectionately.

"BASTARDS!" The Shadow meanwhile roared.

"Ah, he recovered so quickly!" Panther exclaimed.

"Aquadyne!" Joker called out, causing Mermaid to end her hug towards the tan skinned girl as she raised an arm, sending another wave of water.

SPLASH!

"We better finish this quickly." Queen soon advised.

"Yep." Yang agreed with a nod, getting ready to pounce on the Shadow. "Don't cry for mercy! All-Out Attack!" She then declared before they all rushed it down.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! WHAM! CRACK! SLASH! SLAP! WHAM! SLASH! CHOP!

"Yang, finish him!" Joker called out as they landed back on the ground. The tan skinned girl nodded in response, already walking over to the weakened enemy with her guns in hand.

"You...YOU...!" Shadow Josuke could only say, shaking with rage.

"So much for that." Yang casually replied before pulling the triggers of both guns.

BANG!

(End Music)

The shadow dispersed and reverted back to Shadow Josuke once more, the battle now finally over for the Thieves against him.

"Damn it...damn it all!" Shadow Josuke growled, banging his fist on the floor.

"Whoa, he's still pissed!" Skull exclaimed, gripping his melee weapon even more.

"Back off, Skull." Yang ordered as she then stepped forward, taking off her mask. "Are you okay, Josuke-san?" She soon asked in a more calmer tone as she offered her hand.

"Get your hand away from me." The Shadow demanded in a spiteful manner while slapping the offer away. "No one helped me with Kamoshida. I had to stand up on my own. He taught me I didn't need anyone else." He then revealed and recalled.

"The fact that you're taking lessons from that jackass means you're not on the right path." Yang however pointed out. "Talk. Now." She then requested with a serious stare aimed at his eyes.

"Do you know how long I've been planning to take down that bastard!? I had it all planned out!" Shadow Josuke spat out in anger. "Ever since he ruined the soccer team, I've been trying to find all I could get him to restore it, it was all for nothing!" He then revealed.

"Blackmail." Joker got out in realization. "You had blackmail on Kamoshida." He then added.

"Hell yeah I did! I wanted to ruin his life just like how he ruined so many others." Shadow Josuke stated with clenched fists.

"The new king of the castle." Fox stated.

"Then...Then the goddamn Phantom Thieves swooped in and changed his heart." Shadow Josuke growled. "I was ready, dammit! It was all prepared! But no...he got the easy way. He confessed and went to prison. God, he deserved so much damn worse than just...just becoming someone's prison bitch!" He then yelled, pounding the ground until his hands started to bleed.

"...You felt that your revenge was taken away from you." Widow soon realized.

"The soccer team was pretty damn good 'fore Kamoshida shut it down." Skull recalled with a frown. "Heard they were all gettin' scholarships. Got Fuyumi-sensei fired too." He then recalled.

"He ruined all our dreams." The Shadow continued. "Don't you see? It's all his fault!" He then declared in anger.

"Shouldn't you blame us t- MPH!?" Serpent began before the Vice Leader covered her mouth, the latter shaking her head at the former.

"...Kamoshida has ruined a lot of lives. We know too many people who have...or experienced it ourselves." Yang soon reminded and stated. "But...he's gone now. He won't hurt anyone else. You don't have to be like this anymore." She then added in reassurance.

"But...he..." Shadow Josuke tried to argue, however...

"Doesn't matter." Yang interjected while shaking her head. "He hadn't mattered ever since he got arrested. But you...you're keeping his influence alive. You need to let him go." She then advised.

"I just...can't do that..." Shadow Josuke responded, tears beginning to well up in his eyes.

"Yes you can. You just need some good friends." Yang got out while smiling over to her friends. "Come on, aren't you still in contact with your soccer buddies?" She then asked.

"...Haven't talked 'em in a while, but yeah." Shadow Josuke managed to reply with a contemplating look on his face

"Then talk to them. Have fun with them. Forget that he ever existed." Yang encouraged as she helped the Shadow to his feet. "If you guys were good enough to get scholarships before, you can do it again. Besides, Ikki-sensei would be more than happy to restart the team at school." She then advised.

"...It's not that easy." Shadow Josuke reminded, looking quite hesitant.

"It never is, but you have to try. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Yang responded while patting him on the shoulder. "Besides, your energy could be a lot better spent training than revenge." She then added.

"Leave that to us." Skull chimed in.

"...I guess I'll try it out then. Thanks, Dragoness of Shujin." Shadow Josuke got out, feeling more at peace than before as he started to glow.

SHINE!

"..." Everyone stared in silence. "Seriously?" Panther then began, looking at the tan-skinned female Thief.

Yang sighed while putting her mask back on. "Silence." She simply ordered as she grabbed the Treasure the Shadow left behind: a Rage Gem.

"Man, the soccer team got off light in comparison to the track team." Panther remarked.

"Still, he must've loved the sport just as much." Skull stated before growling. "Kamoshida..." He then muttered.

"One of these days, we'll never speak his name again. But for right now, we'll have to do our best in making sure his legacy ends." Yin declared as everyone nodded.

"...Tell Ikki-sensei about this to get the soccer team back on track?" Joker suggested.

"Josuke will probably do it himself." Yang assumed as she gave the Leader the Treasure.

"But a rec from the head of the committee might sweeten the deal..." Skull soon pointed out.

"...Ikki-sensei scares me, okay?" Yang admitted.

"Me too." Skull also stated.

"That's what everyone says at first about Daidōji-senpai. Especially after the time she fought the animals at the zoo for the sixth time. I'm surprised there are some zoos that don't know who she is." Yin reminded and recalled as she looked at everyone else. "Ready to go, everyone?" She then asked, though soon saw the gawking expressions on the others' faces.

"Um, yeah." Joker finally spoke as they all began making their way out of the place.

(Kaitul, Area 3)

The navigator was staring out the window, watching the tracks and Shadows pass them by. "This darkness...It's so...undergroundy!" Oracle exclaimed.

"There are few things undergroundier than the underground." Noir replied with a straight face.

"Wh-What the heck does that mean!?" Yin questioned, befuddled by the statement. "...What is undergroundier than the underground? I...I want to know now that you mentioned it." She then confessed.

"Well, there's Hell, the Underworld, Tártaro, Purgatory, Hades..." Noir casually answered.

"That's...those're just lands of the dead." Yang pointed out. "I think a few of them are just the same one with a different name. I think Joker even pulled a Shadow down to Hades once." She then recalled.

"How about the Earth's core? Is that undergroundier?" Noir then brought up.

"I think we're getting lost in the plot here..." Joker got out.

"Hey, uh, my ass itches." Skull awkwardly informed as he shifted in his seat.

"Oh my God, Skull!" Panther got out in an appalled manner.

"Aw, let the man scratch his ass." Serpent sighed, running a hand through her white hair.

"You did not have to announce it to the team, though." Widow deadpanned.

Queen could only groan. "What riveting conversations we have when we're together." She soon mumbled.

Joker chuckled a bit at that. "Perks of being a part of this group." He then commented. "Being able to have conversations the public never casually talks about, be it sensitive, perverted or sexual." He soon casually added.

"...Has Haruka still been seeing you Joker?" Yang suddenly guessed in a deadpan tone.

"Oh you have no idea." Mona sighed out, glad he was in car form that hid his blush.

(In a more romantic timeline, Joker's lover's left eye twitched.)

"Hey, see the portal thing!" Skull suddenly called out, pointing over to the left path they were just about to drive past.

"Alright, here we go." Joker announced as he turned the car towards the portal.

Once the Thieves arrived, they leapt out of the car like usual before Mona transformed back.

"ID, now." Joker ordered.

"Whoa, it's Tsuda's Shadow." Oracle reported, looking over to the yakuza. Even from where they are, they could feel his intimidating presence.

"Somethin' about this guy tells me he's nuts. I guess I shouldn't be surprised." Skull muttered with narrowed eyes.

"He is threatening Iwai-san..." Widow reminded. "He's doing this because he's getting desperate, am I correct?" She then asked, getting a nod from the leader.

"He seriously intends to kill someone. We'd better change his heart immediately." Fox soon reminded.

"It's scary, but we gotta do it!" Panther declared, with everyone nodding in agreement as they soon approached the target.

"Hey, you bastards!" Shadow Tsuda yelled towards the Thieves. "So you're the ones working under Iwai!" He assumed with a glare.

"He is a kyodai." Joker responded while pulling out his gun.

"Who said you could come in here? This is my territory!" Shadow Tsuda got out in a threatening manner. "I'm the Hashiba Clan's second-in-command! Don't come in without my say-so! Don't talk, don't breathe, not without my permission. You guys aren't yakuza, so you obey me! You hear me? Those are the rules of this world!" He then stated and declared.

"You're just really ruthless businessmen. You aren't special." Oracle deadpanned.

"World's changing, dickbag." Serpent stated. "The yakuza are a dying breed. There won't be a place for them in a couple of years, you know?" She then pointed out.

"Dammit, you're not taking me seriously, either. No one takes me seriously!" The Shadow complained. "You, the Hong Kong mafia, Iwai, even the guys in the Hashiba Clan!" He then added.

"God, you sound more like a baby than a hardened yakuza." Panther muttered as she rolled her eyes.

"I AM NOT PART OF THE GONDAWARA FAMILY! I LEFT THAT LIFE, DAMMIT!" The Shadow suddenly declared with a twitching eye, for some reason sounding...offended?

"Huh?" The Thieves got out in confusion.

"Well, forget that! I'm not a joke! I'll show you alllll!" Shadow Tsuda roared, his voice echoing across the area they were in.

"If you wanna get beat down, then step up!" Joker declared as Shadow Tsuda convulsed into a black liquid mass and came out a different appearance.

(Cue Veiled in Black by Yoko Shimomura)

"Don't underestimate me, brats!" Shadow Tsuda threatened from upon his throne. "Godammit..." He then growled, readying himself to kill the thieves.

"Aw, the toilet demon again? Out of all the Shadows..." Panther grumbled under her breath.

"That's...an interesting Shadow design." Serpent had to admit in an awkward tone.

"Sometimes I hate humanity." Oracle deadpanned as she stretched her fingers.

"People think of going to the bathroom nowadays?" Noir however asked, noticing the Shadow's appearance and adding the information about the Metaverse and Mementos that she was educated with by her fellow Thieves last time.

"Stay focused, everyone!" Queen called out. "It has Evil Smile and Ghastly Wail. If you get hit with Fear, you'll be vulnerable to an instant kill!" She then informed and warned.

"Got it!" Yin replied before tearing off her mask. "Here we go! Persona!" She called out.

"Magnadyne!" Chiyome called out as a meteor came down and crashed into the Shadow.

CRASH!

Debris exploded from the Shadow's spot...but said Shadow was still up and running despite the impact.

"Bufudyne!" Shadow Tsuda called out, summoning ice projectiles and showering them at the Thieves.

"Dammit, did it have to be Ice!?" Yang complained, barely dodging out of the way.

"Panther, you took care of one pretty well back at the castle." Joker recalled. "You up for a repeat performance?" He then asked.

"I don't want to be associated with this travesty, I've got standards!" Panther called out in disgust.

"Fine then, let me handle it." Joker soon decided as he stepped forward. "I wanna make this thematic." He then added.

"Joker?" Mona got out in confusion.

"Just run in when I call for it." Joker ordered as he ripped off his mask. "Light 'em up! Moloch!" He soon commanded.

"Agidyne!" His current Persona declared.

FWOOSH!

Igniting the enemy into flames.

"GAH!" The enemy yelped in pain from the burning heat.

"Should we let him?" Noir meanwhile asked.

"It is someone threatening his friend, and you know how he gets when that happens." Yin stated in a knowing tone.

"...We better get out of the splash zone." Yang soon suggested, with the others quickly agreeing as they stood back.

"Evil Smile!" The enemy Shadow declared as he noticed their act, unleashing his attack.

"Agh!" Joker grunted as he stumbled back from the attack's impact.

"Haha! I've got you!" The Shadow exclaimed. "GHASTLY WAIL!"

"JOKER!" Oracle cried out, but it was too late. The attack was executed flawlessly hitting Joker head on.

He stumbled a little, looking dizzy, before slumping down on his feet.

"Heh, dead on your feet." Shadow Tsuda got out with an impressed smirk. "Not everyone does that when faced with a yakuza. You're a tough fighter kid, but ya don't mess with the best." He then declared.

Joker...smirked back.

"Heh, you think a scary face would take me down that easily?" The leader got out with a cocky grin, looking no worse for wear.

"What?" Shadow Tsuda began, surprised a bit.

"Immunity." Joker informed before taking off his mask, his Persona appearing behind him cracking his knuckles. "Moloch, show him a real smile."

"With pleasure." Moloch replied with a grin, which began to affect the Shadow.

"Wh-What's happening?" Shadow Tsuda got out as the world began too dark around him until only Joker remained.

"What? Are you afraid?" Joker taunted as his form began to shift and change, turning more and more demonic by the second...at least in Shadow Tsuda's eyes. "Are you scared to die?" He then questioned, his voice distorted into a hellish growl.

"A-AHHHHHH!"

Joker went to switch his Persona but stopped himself. No, it wasn't the right time. "Noir, give him a headache!" He soon ordered.

"Yes, leader! Go, Milady!" Noir excitedly exclaimed as she tore off her mask.

"Psiodyne!" Milady declared, her fan aiming at the target.

WEEEEEEEP!

"GAAAAAHHH!" Shadow Tsuda screamed in pain, falling off his throne to writhe on the floor. "Wh-what...just what are you?" He whimpered while clutching his head.

"A thief." Joker answered as he leapt back. "Feel the heat! All-Out Attack!" He then called out and ordered as he and the others rushed in.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! WHAM! CRACK! SLASH! SLAP! WHAM! SLASH! CHOP!

"He's on his last HP!" Oracle informed, though it was unnecessary as the leader was already standing over the Shadow, his pistol aimed at his face.

"H-Hold on, wait!" The Shadow got out in a panic.

"Don't mess with his family ever again." Joker growled before pulling the trigger.

BANG!

(End Music)

"Yosh! No sweat." Yin cheered.

"So much for a hardened yakuza." Queen remarked as she casually unloaded her revolver.

"So, do you mind explaining to us why you're going after Iwai?" Joker asked while putting away his weapons. "Or do we need to take off a pinkie first?" He then threatened while moving over to show their newest member behind him.

"Heheheheheh...~" Noir ominously giggled while sharpening her axe.

"I...I...There wasn't any other way..." Shadow Tsuda confessed. "Once they find out I've been letting them down, I'll be demoted from second-in-command..." He then revealed.

"Maybe you should've just cut your losses." Fox suggested.

"That is not the yakuza way." Queen however pointed out.

"I'm just a relic from an old era. The young college graduates in the Hashiba Clan laugh behind my back. Hehehe...Even the world of the yakuza's been taken over by the intellectuals." Shadow Tsuda lamented. "That's why I had to make this transaction work, no matter what. Even if it meant taking advantage of my subordinate...Mune...The Hong Kong mafia pulled the carpet under me. It's what I get for breaking the yakuza code." He then mumbled.

"...Hey, there's no harm in starting from rock bottom." Joker got out in a comforting manner. "Once you're there, the only way forward is up. But the bottom doesn't have to be all dark and gloomy. If you can stand and look up, you'll see the light of hope there." He then stated.

"Yeah...I'm done with being pathetic. Sorry, Mune...I wish I could have a drink with you one more time." Shadow Tsuda finally relented as he began to glow. "...You were at least better than the Gondawara Family..." He then added.

SHINE!

"...I'm getting the feeling I don't wanna know what he meant there." Joker couldn't help but think as he went over to retrieve the Treasure.

"What's that?" Yin asked.

"A Weird Wrap." Mona informed while the Leader twirled the wrap around his finger. "It makes you immune to Fear, but we have much better armor at this point."

"Of course." Joker got out before tossing the armor to the Vice Leader to put in the duffle bag.

"Another criminal down." Mona breathed out while stretching his limbs. "At this rate, we'll be going against every type of crime you can commit." He then assumed with a smirk.

"What? Like jaywalking?" Panther guessed.

"Jaywalking as a crime is a scam." Joker grumbled. "Besides, we've had worse reasons for having a Shadow down here." He then reminded.

"We better head out now." Queen soon suggested, causing everyone to nod before they went on their merry way.

(Kaitul, Area 5)

While they were driving through Mementos, Joker was taking it slow, getting as many items, money, and flowers that could find while out and about. Naturally, in-between the fighting and looting, the Thieves began to indulge in their usual pastime: Talking about anything that came to mind.

"Hey, why does the gun shop have armor for Mona?" Panther suddenly asked.

"Huh?" The Leader got out, wondering where this was coming from while resisting his instinct to look back, lest he crashes into a wall or a Shadow.

"You don't go anywhere else for his stuff, right? So why does the big and scary airsoft shop have collars, scarves, and these cute little vests?" Panther soon explained.

"...You know, I never thought about that until now." Joker admitted.

"Me too." Mona spoke up. "I mean, he special orders my slingshots but..." He then started before trailing off.

"Maybe Iwai-san secretly sews stuff for pets." Yin guessed. "He is a pretty nice person, even if he was a yakuza before." She then added with a giggle.

"Ehhh...I don't see it." Skull responded with a frown.

"Hey, even hardened criminals have hobbies." Oracle stated. "Like this one time, there was this drug dealer that got paid in pinball machines! And I know this one guy in a forum who shoplifts Gunpla." She then recalled and revealed.

"Aren't those boxes pretty big?" Panther recalled.

"He's a really good shoplifter." Oracle casually informed before facing the artist Thief. "Hey, Inari, have you ever-" She then began to ask.

"No. I do not wish to cause trouble by stealing items, no matter how desperate I am." Fox scoffed, cutting her off, before averting his gaze. "...Although, I have stolen trading cards before." He soon confessed.

"You're kidding." Joker gasped in a scandalous manner.

"Not really. It was from a pack that someone had already opened and hid under a shelf." Fox informed. "There was this peculiar creature on it with a shining finish. I simply had to study it." He then added.

"Shining finish? Like...a rare card?" Skull realized.

Suddenly, Oracle went stock still. "Inari...what was the card exactly?" She soon asked.

"Hm, I don't recall. I gave it away once I was done with it." Fox soon revealed, causing the orangette to gasp in horror. "...Why are you looking at me like that?" He then asked.

"I swear, Inari, if that card was over 10,000 yen, I'm going to smack you." Oracle threatened with a pout.

"Huh?" Fox only got out.

"Over some cardboard? And for how much?" Serpent got out in confusion.

"Cards can be very lucrative to sell if it's to the right person." Oracle revealed as the other non-shinobi thieves (save for Fox, Queen and Noir) nodded in agreement.

"Tch. Losers." Serpent scoffed while rolling her eyes.

(Kaitul, Area 7)

"Sewing Kits are so convenient, but they don't work like they do in the real world, do they?" Noir got out as she studied the item.

"They're actual mini-sewing kits. You could probably make emergency repairs with them." Yang replied and revealed. "Never learned to sew though." She awkwardly admitted, making the mental note to have to learn to do so in the future.

"I can sew wounds pretty decently, but not clothes." Serpent then spoke up.

"Maybe I should learn." Fox soon got out while looking down at his outfit. "It would make my clothing last longer, and thus I can save money."

"Well, don't worry. If you have an emergency like that, I can use these to repair any clothing you wish, almost as good as new." Noir soon offered in a happy manner.

"Wait, you can actually sew?" Yang asked for clarification.

"Hai. It's something I had to learn." Noir confirmed with a nod.

"You don't look happy about it." Yin however noted to her.

"Well, what started as an interest turned into a wife skill I needed to develop." Noir admitted.

"That just makes it sound sexist..." Yang muttered in annoyance. "Sewing clothes being a girl thing only and all. Wife skill just sounds exaggerated." She then added with the same tone.

"Really?" Noir simply got out in contemplation. "I mean, I had learned about sewing back during my Melon Peaches days with Gin-chan. She really loved sewing Leo-chan's clothes when she had the chance whenever they got torn." She then revealed.

"See? Sexist." Yang sighed as she stated.

"You...don't have to dwell on it too much, Yang." Skull meanwhile got out, earning a groan and a huff from the tan-skinned girl.

"Wait, if you can sew, can't you modify your clothing without tailors?" Queen soon pointed out.

"I think my father told me that we're rich and busy to do such a thing. The helpers and commoners should be the ones to do it." Noir however replied.

"...Wow." Fox could only say, unable to think of any other reaction.

"I know." The heiress stated with a sigh.

"I don't think you can repair the type of damage clothing gets from shinobi battles though." Mona then got out.

"That makes sense. You can't repair anything if there isn't anything left to repair." Yang admitted.

"Besides, our shinobi outfits repair themselves after a while. That's the magic of chakra." Serpent soon stated.

"You know, I hope one day we can put on our Thief outfits just like you can with a Shinobi Tenshin." Noir confessed with a hopeful tone.

"I don't." Panther got out. "As much as I've gotten used to it, it's still too embarrassing to wear in public." She then admitted.

"My suit leaves little to the imagination." Queen sighed. "I'm a little jealous that Noir and Oracle don't wear anything so revealing." She then got out.

"Guys, I wear a skinsuit on my top." Oracle however reminded them. "You can totally see my nips." She then added with a smirk as she tried to flaunt her budding breasts that were covered by her outfit.

"...Do you think before you speak? Or do you just ignore all the boys around you?" Serpent groaned out as she facepalmed.

"Well, Joker, Skull, and Mona are the only men I don't mind hearing or witnessing something perverted coming from all of us girls here. Anyone else outside this circle is not included." Oracle casually admitted with a raise of her hands. "I trust them, that's all." She then confessed.

"...Where is your mind at?" Yang and Widow questioned at the same time in disbelief.

"Internet, like always." Oracle countered with crossed arms. "But if I made you girls uncomfortable or anything, then sorry." She then added and apologized.

Panther sighed. "Well, this is still better than your shut-in days." She had to admit.

Oracle simply giggled at that. "And I got all of you to thank for that in the end." She quipped.

Most of the Thieves smiled at her.

"And not just you guys, but also Katsu-nee and Saki-chan too." Oracle added, an obvious gleam in her eyes as she brought up her hands and began wiggling her fingers.

Immediately, the Thieves sweatdropped as some of them made weak laughs.

"Man, I wanna grope some boobs right now..." Oracle uttered to herself.

Serpent casually pushed the orangette's arms down. "Down, girl." She bluntly ordered.

"Saki-chan?" Noir repeated in a curious manner, this getting everyone else's attention.

"Murasaki, formerly a shut-in like Oracle due to a family related power she has that made her fear the outside world before she had a chance meeting with Joker that inspired her to do more with her life." Serpent explained in a deadpan tone as she pointed a thumb at the boy in mention. "Now she's a beefcake with a six-pack and gained a love for exercising now that could possibly be on par with Skull." She then added.

"Huh?" Skull only got out, hearing the mention of his codename.

"So Joker inspired another girl to change huh?" Panther jokingly got out before giggling. "Hehe, he does that a lot." She then noted.

Joker was not sure if he should feel proud of it or not.

"Hehe, Saki-chan had an awesome six-pack when I had that last video chat with her." Oracle remarked with a thumbs-up of approval.

"...And currently detained with some of Yang's friends after Hebijo's destruction..." Serpent soon reminded.

"Do you need to mention that? We know and it ain't like saying it is gonna fix it." Skull grumbled.

"Detained..." Noir repeated, sounding a bit down. "Are your friends gonna be alright, Yang?" She then asked.

"I honestly hope so." Yang sighed out. "They're strong, at the very least. Just as long as Dōgen doesn't try to pull anything either during his power grab attempt." She then stated and concluded.

"Dōgen..." Noir repeated once more before starting to think.

"Noir?" Mona got out, noticing the reaction.

"Don't tell me. He's yet another childhood acquaintance that you're suddenly remembering now." Serpent assumed, starting to clench her fist bit by bit.

"Eh!? No, no." Noir shook her head. "It's just...he's the one person that caused Serpent's school to get blown up, right?" She then recalled.

"Yeah?" Oracle responded with a nod. "Noir, where are you going with this?" She soon asked.

"Oh, um, it's nothing." Noir tried to reassure the others. "Don't worry about it." She then requested.

"Noir, it had to be something if you were thinking about Dōgen." Serpent started assuming. "I swear, if you really are connected to him..." She then added.

"I assure you I don't have a connection to him. I promise. I was just curious about remembering his crimes towards you, Serpent." Noir once again reassured. "Can we please move on from this topic, please?" She soon requested.

"Okay, okay." Serpent relented, somewhat starting to regret pushing the issue on her.

(Kaitul, Area 9)

The rest of the way to their next target was spent in silence, without an encounter with any Shadows on the way, so when the Thieves arrived, they decided to do some stretches before they approached the budding ruler.

"Another target, another fight." Yang breathed out while stretching her limbs, limbering up for the upcoming battle.

"Who's this?" Panther asked the leader.

"Shinpei Honjo." Joker answered while clenching his fist.

"So that Shadow's the boss of that journalist, Ohya." Mona informed.

"He looks so sus, man." Skull muttered with narrowed eyes.

"Well, he is obstructing a news investigation to keep some incident hidden under the rug." Widow reminded.

"People died in that incident. He should be ashamed to call himself a journalist." Fox got out in disgust.

"We'll have to make him see the truth!" Yin declared with a fist pump as they approached the Shadow.

"Hey, Phantom Thieves Daily. Can I ask you why you're such a corrupt piece of shit?" Joker called out.

"You...Are you that kid who was hanging around Ohya?" Shadow Honjo asked.

"No, I'm his twin brother. Name's Ren. Nice to meet you, jackass." Joker sarcastically replied.

"Ugh, screw you, guys. Snooping around together where you shouldn't be..." Shadow Honjo grumbled. "What'll happen if this draws negative attention to me from the higher-ups!? Stop meddling around!" He then demanded.

"Hey, hey, hey, what happened to journalism?" Yang called out. "You're supposed to snoop and meddle, that's how the truth gets to the public. The truth might hurt, but it will set people free!" She then declared.

"Now free Ohya!" Joker ordered while pointing his knife at the Shadow.

"It'd be better for the organization if we didn't have rebels like her around!" The Shadow spat out. "You must not care about dying if you oppose me! Just obey those with power if you wanna live!" He then declared as he began to transform.

"I do like living, but not without knowing the full story." The leader responded as he relaxed his shoulders. "Journalists should be watchdogs, not lap dogs. Now let's put you down." HE then declared.

"Let's make some headlines, everyone!" Oracle cheered as everyone readied for battle.

(Cue ABNORMAL by Mutant Monster)

"A Take-Minakata." Joker muttered to himself as the Shadow fully transformed.

"God, these things were annoying at the bank." Queen grumbled.

"I'll teach you how society really operates, you brats!" Shadow Honjo suddenly declared, already preparing an attack. "Megidola!"

"Right off the bat!?" Yin exclaimed in a panic.

"Shit!" Skull swore as everyone raised their guards.

BOOOOOOM!

"AAAAHHHH!" The Thieves cried out as they were all blasted away from the Almighty spell.

"Guh, that's smart." Mona groaned in pain.

"That's stupid." Serpent grumbled while shaking off the feeling of getting hit in the atoms.

"Why did it have to be Almighty?" Panther complained.

"He's got Invigorate! He'll outpace most of us if we don't take him down efficiently enough!" Oracle informed.

"So we gotta pull out all the stops." Queen responded. "We have enough items to heal back up, right?" She then asked.

"Yep." Yin confirmed after a quick inventory check.

"Okay, give it everything you've got unless you really can't hit 'em!" Joker soon instructed. "Mona, you're in charge. He has a weakness to Wind." He then ordered.

"On it!" Mona replied with a nod as he hopped into the air. "Witness my resolve! Garudyne!" He soon commanded, his Persona appearing behind him.

WOOOOOOSH!

"GRAH!" The Shadow cried out as he was blasted in the face. "Grrr...can't you kids respect your elders?" He soon grumbled.

"We do, we just don't respect you." Joker responded and revealed. "Don't go for it yet, kick him while he's down!" He then ordered.

"Roger that! Hientou!" Yang responded and commanded.

FWOOOSH! SLASH!

"NO!" Shadow Honjo then screamed as his chest was slashed, igniting his skin. "AAAAHHHH!"

"Burning to a crisp!" Oracle informed with a grin.

"I'll make it even worse." Queen soon got out while summoning Anat. "Feel my rage! Freidyne!" She soon commanded.

KABOOOOOM!

"AAAAAAHHHHH!" And with that, the Shadow collapsed from all the damage, having lost chunks of his body and bleeding quite heavily.

"Way to destroy him, girls!" Skull cheered as the two girls in mention high-fived one another.

However, it wasn't enough to take him down and really made the enemy mad. "Flash Bomb!" The Shadow roared, unleashing its attack.

SHIIIIIIINE! BOOM!

"Dammit!" Serpent cursed, too slow to cover her eyes from the attack. "Urgh! My eyes!" She then screamed.

"Serpent!" Mona called out before seeing their newest member shake her head. "Noir, are you okay?" He then asked.

"I've been flashed and banged many times over the years. This is nothing." Noir claimed, barely affected by the attack.

"Uh, phrasing." Joker got out.

"Huh?" Noir responded in innocent confusion with a head tilt.

"Watch it! He's charging up another Megidola!" Oracle soon warned.

"Mona!" Panther called out.

The not car nodded as he tried to summon Zorro. However, nothing appeared. "Crap...I forgot to recharge my SP..." He soon realized in a panic.

"Shit!" Joker swore. Even if he did have a Persona with a Wind skill, there wasn't enough time to switch to it!

"I got it!" Yin suddenly called out as she tore off her mask. "CHIYOME!" She then commanded, a green glow surrounding her as her Persona appeared.

"Portrait of Girls." Both Yin and Chiyome declared as swirls of sakura petals and light engulfed the Thieves, filling them with warmth as the sounds of toads filled the air.

"Whoa! Vice Leader sacrificed her own SP to recharge everyone else's! You're all full!" Oracle revealed in amazement.

"Wow, you can do that!?" Serpent got out in disbelief.

"Amazing!" Mona exclaimed in awe.

"Urgh...thank you..." Yin chuckled weakly, feeling drained from using the skill. "T-Take him down!" She then ordered.

"Megi-" The enemy began, however...

"GARUDYNE!" Mona interrupted as he casted the spell with all his might.

WOOOOOSH!

"GAH!" Shadow Honjo cried in pain as he collapsed to the ground.

"He's vulnerable!" Fox shouted to his allies.

"Make him suffer!" Noir roared as they rushed the Shadow.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! WHAM! CRACK! SLASH! SLAP! WHAM! SLASH! CHOP!

"You know what to do, Joker." Oracle got out as the Leader landed in front of the Shadow, pistol in hand.

"How...dare you..." Shadow Honjo panted out as Joker stood on his chest, getting a good enough angle to shoot him in the face.

"You know what they say: Kill your darlings." Joker got out before pulling the trigger.

BANG!

(End Music)

"So, what was that about teaching us about society?" Serpent questioned in a sarcastic tone.

"Sorry, we're bad learners." Skull stated.

"You are, at least." Yang deadpanned.

"Aw come on!" The dyed blond exclaimed in annoyance.

"Dammit, dammit, dammit...!" Shadow Honjo cursed as he pounded the floor. "What was I supposed to do...?" He then questioned.

"Tell us the truth." Widow demanded.

The Shadow sighed, as if he knew the answer already. "I can't oppose the higher-ups. It's easier to not rock the boat. Mass media is just another corporation, really. Passion for journalism won't pay the bills. It's useless, just useless to chase after your ideals..." He then lamented.

"Not to Ohya, it isn't." Joker countered.

"...She's really incredible. No matter what people say to her, she'll never give up on finding the truth...I found her naive passion to be so annoying." Shadow Honjo got out in a wistful manner. "It reminds me of all that pain I felt in the past. Back in the past, before I gave up. Before my passion rotted away and my wife cheated on me..." He soon sighed.

"Her loss." Panther chimed in. "I bet you were a great person before, and you can be that great person again, but first you need to make up for all lies and lost truths first. A journalist has to have integrity first." She soon encouraged.

The Shadow let out a jovial chuckle as he began to glow. "...Heh, you're alright."

SHINE!

"...You have to chase the truth, no matter how much it hurts." Joker breathed out as he watched the motes of light fade away.

"Joker, the Treasure." Serpent reminded.

"I got it, I got it." The Leader nodded before swiping the treasure from the air. "Hey, who wants Invigorate 3?" Joker asked as he waved the skill card around.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Everyone else looked at each other, death in their eyes.

"...It's mine!" Panther declared as she dashed right ahead.

"No, it's mine!" Queen however declared with a fire in her eyes.

"I have the lowest pool here, I'll get it!" Yang countered with the reminder.

"Oh no you don't, Yang-neechan!" Yin declared before tackling her sister down.

"Hey, I'm the one who has to teach you the fuckin' card, Jugs!"

"She's reverted!" Joker mentally exclaimed.

"Gimme that!" Oracle declared as she leaped towards everyone as well.

"I will have it, please." Fox proudly stated as he rushed in.

"Mine! Mine, mine!" Morgana excitedly declared.

"No, this must be used responsibly!" Widow soon declared. "And since I am the most responsible one, I should be the one to learn it." She then added and concluded.

Ker-chunk!

"Wanna say that again, Widow?" Serpent questioned in a threatening manner.

"Since I am the most responsible one, I shou-" Widow once again began repeating her words.

"OKAY, IT'S ON!" Serpent cut her off immediately.

"Wait, guys, we should have a civil-" Joker tried to calm the Thieves down, but to no avail as his friend threw down with each other.

"You're really doing something so stupid over some cardboard?"

"You're doing the same thing!"

"I could I just copy-" Fox began to point out, only to get sucker punched.

"Shut up, Inari!" Oracle demanded.

"You shall pay for your insolence!" Yang roared.

"En garde!" Fox declared.

"Achente!" Noir shouted out.

"You can't escape from crossing fate!" Widow then got out. From there, the spells started flying.

"Look! Joker's taking his top off!" Oracle called out all of a sudden, hoping to distract some of her fellow Thieves.

"Eh?!" Panther gasped before glancing away and completely shifting her attention.

"What? Where?!" Queen loudly stated as her attention got shifted away as well.

Joker blinked, considering he was standing right in front of them watching this horrific breakdown to team cohesion. "Wait, I'm right here-"

"Oracle, you don't need SP!" Serpent however reminded her.

"I might need it!" Oracle insisted.

"Don't make me rip your outfit off!" Queen soon threatened. "I've played tons of Akiba's Trip! I have Strip no Jutsu!"

"That's not even a real thing!" Skull called out.

"...I think I'll keep it for now..." Joker quietly mumbled as he pocketed the skill card, waiting for his friends to tire themselves out before they continued their Mementos trip.

(Akzeriyyuth, Area 2)

Eventually, Yang was the one who would be first to get an Invigorate 3 skill card due to the fact she indeed has the lowest SP out of all of them. Now she just needed the time to teach it to herself.

"You don't even need your SP most of the time..." Panther grumbled.

"And I can create copies." Fox reminded.

"And that will be done when we go back. I'll have Fox make enough copies for all of us." Joker sighed out.

"I think we've been down here too long." Queen soon groaned.

"Yeah." Skull agreed with a nod. "'Though, shit's not that much better back home. Shit's been gettin' more and more weird." He then noted and admitted.

"I told you this, Skull. The world has always been this weird, it's just you haven't noticed it until now." Yang stated.

"Not this weird, though." The dyed blond muttered.

"Eh, I just go with the flow at this point." Joker casually admitted. "There are some things you can fight, but you can't fight human nature." He then stated.

"Is it human nature to walk up to someone and say Hey, baby, I'm a magician. Wanna see my penis disappear in your vagina? Because I definitely heard that on the way here." Serpent deadpanned.

"Pfft!" Oracle stifled a laugh.

"God, that's awful!" Panther declared in disgust. "I can think of way better pick-up lines than that. And trust me, I've heard my fair share over the years." She then claimed.

"At least girls didn't try to flirt with you..." Serpent grumbled.

"Actually, a few have. Or at least used those techniques to try and get free clothes." Panther admitted while twirling her hair around her finger. "I can see why it's annoying." She sighed out.

"Right?" Serpent replied in agreement.

"Man, I'm so jealous! I want people to flirt at me!" Oracle complained, ignoring the likelihood that she'd just clam up and run on first contact. "Everyone's getting action except me. Even Inari." She then added.

"Huh?" Fox responded in confusion. He didn't recall any girls at school doing such a thing.

"I...do not know what you mean." Noir got out with a raised eyebrow. "I have not been flirted with." She then confessed. "Sugimura does not count." She soon added with crossed arms under her large breasts.

"Never did, never will." Yin spoke up.

"Agreed to that." Everyone else replied in agreement as they continued on.

As they went deeper into Mementos, the Thieves continued to fight Shadows to keep themselves active and aware, despite most fights in this level having become easily dealt with.

However, overconfidence was a slow and insidious killer. And eventually, it caught up with them...by Joker not paying attention to the road.

"Goddammit, HOW MANY EFFIN' SHADOWS ARE COMIN' AT US!?" Skull shouted as another wave of Shadows surrounded them.

"I'm so sorry!" Joker apologized once again. He had let themselves get ambushed and now they were desperately trying to gain enough ground to either kill them all or escape.

"Dammit, I need help! Skull got taken as a hostage!" Serpent called out. "They want blood, which I am desperately running out of..." She then informed, looking rather pale.

"Give me a minute to think!" Joker responded while shuffling through all his Personas. Come on, he knew he had something...

"WE DON'T HAVE MINUTES, LEADER!" Yin yelled as she tried to fight off a Black Ooze from distergrating her clothes...again.

"FUBAR! THIS HAS BECOME A FUBAR SITUATION!" Oracle eventually declared, typing at her keyboard at a rapid pace at the situation occurring.

"I vote for a tactical retreat!" Fox soon suggested. "We can just get Skull later!" He then stated.

"You dick!" Skull yelled.

"No! We can do this!" Widow encouraged while kicking away a handsy Nekomata before shooting at point-blank with her rifle.

"The Phantom Thieves have never run away!" Yang then added while decapitating a Shadow.

"That is factually wrong!" Panther called out as she kicked a Slime away. "We've run away tons of times! We just ran away from a Reaper ten minutes ago!" She soon reminded.

"Well, not from small fry like this!" Yang replied before blocking a Giant Slice.

The Leader soon sighed. Guess it was time to pull out all the stops. "I have no choice! I must call upon the power...of it." Joker thought.

"Joker! A little help here!" Yang called out while she and Yin leapt out of the way of an attack.

"Everyone, do you trust me?" Joker suddenly asked.

"Eh?" The other, less distracted thieves got out.

"I need permission!" Joker insisted in a desperate manner.

"Yes! Whatever! Do it!" Queen responded in a distracted yet frantic manner.

The Leader then took in a deep breath as the aura around him intensified. "Don't blink." Joker soon ordered, getting everyone's attention.

WOOOOOOOOOSH!

"Whoa!" Yin yelped as everyone around the Leader was pushed back by an invisible force.

"Is that coming from Joker!?" Noir questioned in awe.

"Leader, what are you doing!?" Serpent called out.

"Summoning the strongest Persona I've ever created!" Joker declared.

"HURRY IT UP!" Skull shouted, blasting away his captors while they were distracted by the display.

"The King of the Monsters...Gigantis...Monster Zero-One...The God of Destruction...Dagon. There are many names for you, but only those deserving of such power to smite them may know it!" Joker declared as he put a hand on his mask. "Stand by me and show these fools true destruction! May there be mercy for my enemies in hell!" He soon commanded.

"W-What is this power...!?" Queen got out in awe.

"Whoa...Joker's power level is rising...!" Oracle informed. "It's going off the charts!" She then declared.

"Joker!" Yin cried out as a Shadow tore off her glove.

"Per...So...NA...!" And with that cry, Joker ripped off his mask, unleashing the full power of nature from the Sea of his Soul, forming behind him into a giant...

Green penis with tentacles on a chariot.

"MARA!"

"Hello boys~! Ready to have some fun~?" The massive dick on a chariot soon asked.

"Mwahahaha...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Joker maniacally laughed out as the Shadows all began to back away in fear...or disgust. Both, probably.

"Wait, what?" Everyone else got out in confusion.

"Penetrate the heavens and come at them like you've never come before! MARAGIDYNE!" Joker commanded.

His greatest Persona did as Joker commanded as it...spurt fire on the enemy Shadows like a flamethrower, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake!

No need to mention where that fire was coming from other than even the girls began to wince empathetically, especially when Mara began using Maeigaon to finish the rest of the stranglers off.

"Hm...maybe I should re-fuse it back into a Psy spewer..." Joker idly thought while all his friends watched in horror until all the Shadows were dead.

After silently staring for about two minutes, they finally managed to voice their concerns.

"Joker, what have you done!?" Mona cried out.

"Dude! No! NO!" Skull shouted in disgust while averting his eyes.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Panther screamed in horror, recalling the first Palace they experienced with the slime variation.

"Hm...such an interesting design..." Fox muttered to himself. "It gives me inspiration for my next art piece." He then admitted.

"Erase that inspiration immediately Fox!" Widow however demanded.

"Eeep!" Noir yelped out with a blush on her face, using her hat to cover her face from the sight.

"The more info I scan from it, the worse it gets!" Oracle cried out, laughing all the while. "It's a Tower Arcana! Okay, that's kinda hilarious. Oh God, it's weak to Ice!" She soon exclaimed. "And is sooooo biiiiig~!" She then got out in a more impressed tone.

"Oracle! Cover your eyes right now!" Serpent got out in a frantic manner as she jumped onto their navigator's Persona in a futile attempt to block her view.

"I don't think covering your eyes will stop the image of that...thing burning into your brain." Widow stated, unable to look away.

"Sooo biiiig~" Oracle meanwhile droned out with a grin on her face.

"Joker...WHY!?" Yin exclaimed.

"Cover your eyes!" Yang commanded in a panic as she shielded her sister's eyes. "JOKER, I'M GONNA KILL YOU FOR THIS!" She then declared in disgust and anger.

"I-I'm sure Joker had a perfectly good, tactical reason for fusing such a monstrosity." Queen assured. "You did, right?" She then begged. "It could fill...so many holes..." She meanwhile unconsciously thought to herself.

"...Yes." Joker answered. "...Mara's powerful." He simply revealed. "And to see your reactions, but mostly because he's powerful." He then admitted with a smirk.

"...I hate you." Yang bluntly declared. "I hate you so much right now." She then added.

"...Want me to brainwash you into forgetting?" Joker soon offered.

"I want you to destroy it and punch yourself in the dick." Yang growled. "Or I will do it for you, you dick." She then threatened.

"And I will assist." Widow added in an icy tone.

DOOOOOOOOM!

Joker gulped, though he thought he sort of deserved it, so he was quite not afraid of their tones. "...Would you believe it was an accidental result?" He weakly asked.

"No." The two bluntly responded at the same time.

POW!

"GAHAH!" Joker choked out in extreme pain as his special place was smashed by the coordinated attack of three shinobi girls in the group.

"Fuck waiting." Serpent sighed as she dusted off her hands...despite using her shinbone.

"Ooooh! Critical hit to the nads." Oracle got out as she and the boys grimaced.

"Serpent!" Queen exclaimed. "His...crotch..." She then muttered.

"I didn't pop them. He'll be fine, but you may wanna get some ice." Serpent casually informed and advised.

Doubled over but still standing on his two feet, Joker gritted his teeth with closed lips as he felt the pain. Any normal civilian would've castrated their penis entirely and blood would pour out. "I'll...be fine, everyone." He then reassured his fellow Thieves, all while enduring the pain.

"Do you want me to massage it for you, Joker?" Noir politely offered, looking quite concerned.

"I'm okay, Noir." Joker replied at her as he held up a hand, fighting through the somehow extreme pain on his crotch. "I...deserved it." He soon admitted.

"You indeed did." Yang and Widow harshly responded in perfect unison.

Joker sighed as he continued enduring the pain by slowly straightening himself up.

"Still standing and not falling down to the ground." Serpent then noted as she nodded. "Impressive." She had to admit in approval, thought still has that cross-eyed expression at him.

"Be silent." Yang and Widow coldly ordered in unison as the white haired woman winced and shivered a bit at how cold it was as they then looked at the one they struck. "Now, repent for your actions." They then ordered the Leader.

Joker barely sighed as he endured the pain once more. "Yes...I will." He barely replied.

Yang and Widow narrowed their eyes at him, as if they're checking if he's sincere with his words.

"Oh, no one is healing him, okay?" Serpent suddenly informed the others who witnessed the punishment. "Let Joker have this punishment." She then reminded.

"Two peas in a pod, those two..." Panther muttered with a sweatdrop.

"I would've been in a hospital if I was in Joker's place..." Skull muttered. "How the hell are his nads still alive down there...?" He then asked.

"Does shinobi training include something in the nads too?" Oracle couldn't help but wonder.

"Alright...no more Mara..." Joker eventually promised. "For a long time." He then added in his head this time for everyone not to hear.

"Good boy." Yang and Widow responded in perfect unison. "You should reward yourself with a soda when we go back." The former added, unsure if she sounded mocking or not.

Joker simply sighed. "And...let's have a break..." Joker squeaked.

"Roger that, Leader." Yin awkwardly responded. "Mona, any Safe Rooms nearby?" She soon asked.

"We'll just head back to the one on the sixth floor of this area." Mona responded. "Let's go." He then decided as he turned back into his car form.

"Alright, guys." Panther called everyone out. "Everyone in." She then added, approaching the van and opened the door.

Noir meanwhile approached her Leader and placed a hand on her shoulder as he slowly walked towards the van. "Hang in there, Leader." She then reassured her.

"Thank you, Noir." Joker replied as he and the heiress went inside the van along with the rest of the Thieves.

(Akzeriyyuth, Area 3)

Upon arriving at the Safe Floor that they found, the Thieves were doing their own things.

Yang and Widow were fanning themselves with their own respective fan weapons, Skull was sitting while his one foot was bobbing up and down as if he was waiting, Mona was looking out at the train tracks of Mementos as he sat on Yin's lap, Panther was simply sitting...while having a hand placed on her chest, contemplating and mentally comparing her own body to the other girls in the group, Fox was once again framing the scenery with his hands for a new painting, Oracle was typing on her laptop gathering data on Mementos, Queen was cupping her budding breasts with her hands, thinking on what if her breasts start to grow bigger, Noir was padding down her own Thief outfit and adjusting it as she see fit, Serpent was standing near the Safe Room door, securing the whole room, and lastly, Joker was casually checking underneath his Thief outfit to see the status of his...parts.

"How's down there, Joker?" Oracle casually asked as she noticed him while typing programming stuff onto her laptop.

"No bleeding, not broken, balls still there, round and not crushed." Joker responded, seeing the state of his crotch.

"Dude, don't say it that way..." Skull had to comment, feeling a bit unnerved by his statements.

"May I see?" Noir suddenly offered as she stood up. "I hope it is not anything life-threatening." She then added as she approached her Leader.

"Hopefully." Joker stated as he looked at the auburnette. "Are you sure you want to see my...you know?" He then asked.

"Don't worry." Noir replied with a smile. "You're one of my friends, so I trust your state of nudity." She then added in reassurance.

Joker wasn't sure to feel about that response...but since this was the auburnette they were talking about, he was assured at the very least...in a weird yet relieving sort of way.

"N-Noir..." Queen however got out in disbelief.

"Ehhhh...?" Yin awkwardly got out.

"Hehehe...lucky." Oracle snickered before going back to her laptop.

Serpent meanwhile groaned in frustration to this while rubbing the bridge of her nose.

Panther simply blushed at the sight...while starting to think about how things got to this point.

"You shouldn't have to-" Yang and Widow meanwhile started in stern and disapproving tones.

"It's fine, Yang, Widow." Noir replied. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." She then reassured.

The heiress Thief soon lifted the Leader's black pants and checked the young man's parts. "Hmm...no bleeding on the area, so that's good...no signs of discoloration or bruising on the glans and testes, that is perfect...from the looks of it, you don't need an ice pack or any serious medical attention, that's great, Leader." She then casually stated in observation. "I must say, your manhood is like metal if it endured that kind of heavy impact, Joker." She then casually commented.

"Pfft!" Joker snorted in amusement. "They teach anatomy stuff in shinobi training, too, Noir?" He then asked, almost in a remark.

"Yes, they do." Noir confirmed with a nod. "Every detail about the human body counts, that's what my sensei said." She then added matter-of-factly.

Serpent glanced at her before somehow making an understanding look as she heard that. "That is true. I think I remember that lecture from Hebijo." She replied and soon recalled.

The aubrunette soon nodded as she concluded her inspection. "Okay, Joker. Everything seems fine." Noir revealed. "Thank you for letting me check up on you." She then added.

Joker soon sighed in relief. "Right." He responded with a nod. "Thank you, Noir." He then got out.

DOOOOOOOOM!

Though Joker soon noticed the death glares from two particular members of the group while feeling the intensity of the stares. He was unfazed by it, but still...he felt a little bad for some of the girls in his group after that Mara stunt he pulled. In reaction, he simply sighed in regret. "Yang, Widow...again I apologize." He then reminded genuinely, albeit nervously as well.

"We are just making sure you understand." The duo in mention responded unison, fanning themselves with their fans.

Joker nodded in response. "I am, I promise." He replied, earning a simple huff from the two girls.

"Again, two peas in a pod." Panther quipped with a sweatdrop.

"Moreso than usual..." Oracle muttered.

Yin meanwhile giggled at this synchronization, recalling how they were when she first met them due to the shinobi faction allegiance. "It's bringing back memories..." She thought to herself, smiling underneath her mask.

"Is it weird that I need sexual healing right now?" Joker suddenly asked the others in a casual tone

"What, you can't feel it down there anymore?" Serpent commented almost in a tease.

Joker chuckled. "Just checking if I can still get it up." He simply clarified.

Oracle snorted and then laughed "You wanna see if you're still able to be horny?" Oracle

"...Yeah." Joker nodded.

"If Noir says your nads are fine, then there's no problem, right?" Oracle soon guessed.

"Yeah, that's not gonna cut it, Oracle." Joker however noted. "I'll check it myself when I'm back at the cafe." He then stated.

"You go do that, Leader." Oracle stated before working back on her laptop.

Serpent sighed. "Pervert." She simply stated while rolling her eyes.

"Puberty, Serpent." The Leader corrected. "Can't blame me." He then added.

"Shut up, Joker." Serpent simply uttered.

Joker chuckled before standing up. "Alright, everyone. If there are no pressing matters and everyone is well-rested and healthy, then we should continue." He then announced to everyone before heading towards the doors.

With that, most of the Thieves stood up and followed him towards the doors as a response.

"..." Panther meanwhile was speechless as she witnessed this. "Did that just happen?" She eventually asked.

"I have...no comment." Queen simply stated as she and the remaining Thieves in the room stood up as well and exited the Safe Area.

(Akzeriyyuth, Area 5)

After more looting and fighting, the next target for a change of heart was found: a middle-aged woman with bright blue hair wearing a black and gold business suit. However, she had rolled up her sleeves, showing lean muscles, bandaged fists, and tribal tattoos.

"I know that color of hair." Yang got out while clenching her hands. "That has to be Kimi Kagurazaka." She assumed.

"So that's the aunt..." Serpent remarked. "...Eh, Murasaki's more buff then her." She then added.

"...She's not wrong about that." Oracle admitted with a nod of agreement. "Especially with that K-Cup of hers..." She then added with a grin.

"I mean, she is retired. She hasn't been training all that often." Joker reminded. "But it still looks like she can cripple us in real life." He then added with a grimace.

"Just saying, Leader." The navigator got out.

"I know." Joker responded, soon watching as the tan skinned girl stepped forward.

"Kimi Kagurazaka? The Bulletproof Butterfly?" Yang got out.

"Hmph, so my title still strikes fear and awe in this day and age." Shadow Kimi chuckled smugly. "Why are you here? Come all this way to get an autograph?" She assumed.

"Well, if you autograph your heart and give it to us, that would be nice. Thanks." Joker soon replied.

"Ugh, I guess you're the thieves everyone has been talking about." Shadow Kimi grumbled. "I don't know why you're going after me. My company is legit. All we do is provide proper training equipment and-" She tried to explain, however...

"This isn't about your stupid company!" Skull called out. "It's about how you beat your nephew, you goddamn piece of shit!" He then declared and insulted in anger.

"...Oh." The Shadow got out, as if finding out a cute fact about herself. "Pfft, so what of it? Men can take it. He just needed to toughen up. Look at him now compared to before the summer break." She soon stated and claimed.

"That doesn't matter if he's a beefcake now." Yang countered with disgust. "What you're putting him through is nothing but abuse! I swear, do you like bullying the weak?" She then declared and accused.

"Tch, what makes you think you can get involved with how I trained my nephew?" Shadow Kimi scoffed and countered in annoyance. "He's attractive and strong now. That's all that matters." She simply concluded.

"You can't change what he is underneath." Widow however stated.

"Pfft! Yes I can." The Shadow confidently responded. "I just need to beat the weakness out of him. Thank you for bringing it up." She then stated.

"Don't you even think of hurting him again..." Yang threatened with cold fury. "Sora-kun, his family and friends already suffered enough." She then added.

"Or what? You wanna go, bitch? Wanna mess with the best!? FINE!" The Shadow eventually questioned and declared as she then transformed. "I'll show you how I earned my name!" She then added to the declaration.

"And we'll show you how far you've fallen." Yang replied as her teammates pulled out their weapons. "Round 1, fight!" She then declared as the battle began.

(Cue Sun by Tomohito Nishiur)

"A Valkyrie!" Mona called out as the Thieves jumped away from the former MMA fighter.

"Fighting has taught me that the caterpillar takes a while to turn into a majestic butterfly." Shadow Kimi declared. "But when they're still in a cocoon, they can be crushed!" She then added while clenching her fists.

"If that's what you think, we'll just sting like a yellowjacket." Joker responded while twirling his dagger.

"You won't hear the full 10 count! Why don't you go to hell!?" Shadow Kimi soon declared as magical energy surrounded her. "Phys Break!" She then called out, a wave of disrupting power hitting the THieves.

"GAH!" Yang exclaimed as everyone was inflicted by the debuff. "Whoa, I feel weird." She groaned. Her muscles suddenly felt so...soft and flabby?

"Heads up! If you resisted physical skills before, you're vulnerable now." Oracle informed. "It'll wear off, just make sure she doesn't cast it again." She then warned. "Though I got the feeling she's gonna spam it." She soon added.

"I'm guessing she'll be mainly a physical attacker then." Fox assumed.

"Makes sense." Mona responded with a nod. "She probably has a few tricks up her sleeves, so don't play around with her." He then deducted.

"Got it." Skull nodded before tearing off his mask. "Persona! Ziodyne!" He then called out.

ZAP!

However, the Shadow disappeared in a flash, only reappearing after lightning struck the ground.

"Whoa!" Oracle couldn't help but let out. Even Necronomicon lost track of her!

"She's fast!" Noir gasped.

"Not faster than this! Go, Nobunaga!" Serpent soon shouted as her Persona appeared behind her.

"Vorpal Blade!" Nobunaga called out before swinging his mighty sword...which hit nothing but air. "What!?" He exclaimed in disbelief.

"Enough with the magic tricks." Shadow Kimi spat out, looking no worse for wear.

"Shit, her evasion is through the roof!" Oracle swore.

"I bet she can't dodge a bullet though!" Joker called out as he aimed his pistol at the Shadow...

BANG! Ping!

...Who stood there, unamused, as the bullet bounced off.

"Null Gun." Oracle informed after a couple of seconds of silence.

"...You know, her nickname probably should've made us expect that." Panther admitted.

Shadow Kimi smirked. "Charge!" She roared in a confident manner.

"That's not good!" Serpent got out.

"Everyone, guard up!" Queen shouted as she raised her arms to guard herself, prompting everyone to do the same as well.

"Gatling Blow!" Shadow Kimi declared, rapidly punching her target so fast that it sounded like machine gun fire.

RATATATATATATA!

"GAAAHH!" Yang suddenly screamed, launched into the air with an uppercut after enduring a series of rapid blows. She was unconscious before she even hit the ground.

"Total knockout!" Oracle exclaimed in shock.

"Samarecarm!" Mona soon called out, using his Persona to revive the tan skinned girl.

When Yang woke up, she lifted her mask to wipe the blood off her chin. It had been way too long since she felt such pain from a physical attack. "Damn, this is going to be tough." She muttered.

"Keep your distance from her! She can't punch what she can't touch!" Joker soon ordered.

The Thieves nodded before jumping away from the Shadow, casting spells from a distance. However, neither side was able to gain any sort of advantage as Shadow Kimi kept dodging and the Thieves kept moving away.

"Dammit, stay still!" Serpent demanded in frustration as she fired a burst from her gatling gun, which did nothing.

"We can't stop her like this! We need a plan, stat!" Panther got out.

The tan skinned girl grit her teeth. There had to be a path to victory! "Wait, didn't she retire over a cold or something?" Yang suddenly recalled.

"It can't be as easy as throwing out an Ice spell though. She can simply dodge it." Fox however stated. "There has to be some method we can use to gain the advantage..." He then added.

"...Got it!" Yang responded. "Follow my lead!" She soon ordered.

"Are you gonna explain it to us?" Joker asked.

"No time. Just back off and let me do this." Yang responded and instructed.

"...Don't do anything reckless." Yin soon got out.

"I won't, Sis. Not this time." Yang responded in reassurance.

"Are you done yet?" Shadow Kimi meanwhile questioned. "I'd like to have a fifth round with my nephew." She soon stated.

"Hey, we're done playing dirty." Yang called out as she stabbed her weapons into the ground and raised her fists. "One on one. No holds barred." She then got out while taking a karate stance.

"Heh. You're speaking my language." Shadow Kimi responded with a smirk as she cracked her knuckles. "Ready to lose?" She then tauntingly asked with confidence.

"Are you ready, Bulletproof Butterfly?" Yang soon asked.

"Round 1! Begin!" Shadow Kimi meanwhile responded in a dead serious and focused tone.

Yang and Shadow Kimi soon charged at each other, letting out war cries...until the tan skinned girl dropped into a slide, narrowly dodging a punch that would've taken off her head while firing off her grappling hook around the Shadow's legs, causing her to fall.

THUD!

"What the!?" The Shadow exclaimed, finding her feet tied together.

"I hate that I know how to do this from Haruka." Yang thought with a groan as she continued tying up the former MMA fighter with her grappling hook's rope.

"That's something Haruka would do..." Joker meanwhile thought with a sweatdrop as they all watched on until the enemy was tied up like a pig.

"Thought this was a fair fight, you brat!" Shadow Kimi grouwled, struggling against her bonds.

"No holds barred means no rules!" Yang countered as the Shadow paled. "Senpai!" She soon called out.

The light gray haired girl nodded as she ripped off her mask. "Aquadyne!" Widow commanded.

SPLASH!

"GAH!" The Shadow got out before coughing up water.

"She's soaked!" Mona confirmed with a grin.

"Put her on ice!" Yang then ordered..

"Bufudyne!" Joker, Widow, and Fox all commanded as their Personas worked together to freeze the Shadow into a solid block.

CRACKLE!

"Yes! She's frozen now!" Oracle eagerly called out to everyone.

Skull smirked as he twirled his mace. "Alright, time to-" He started saying, however...

"Hold on!" Yang called out, stopping the dyed blond from pulling off his mask. "Let her stay frozen. Let the cold seep in." She soon instructed.

"...Oh, I get it." Joker stated in realization. "If you have buffs, you better use them now!" He then ordered everyone.

"Got it!" Everyone responded before doing their orders, casting as many beneficial statuses as they could, while also debuffing their target.

Eventually, Shadow Kimi thawed out on her own, but she did not look well.

"A-ACHOO!" The Shadow sneezed, sending black globs out of her nose. "Ngh...f-feel like crap..." She groggily confessed with a shiver.

"Whoa! Her power went way down now!" Oracle revealed. "She's weak, pile it on!" She then added.

"All-Out Attack!" Yang called out as they all rushed in.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! WHAM! CRACK! SLASH! SLAP! WHAM! SLASH! CHOP!

"GRRAAHH!" Shadow Kimi cried as she laid on the floor, incredibly weakened but not defeated just yet. "N-N-No...it's still the first round. I'm not...I'm not done yet...ACHOO!" Seh then struggled out, attempting to sit up, only to be forced back down by someone standing on her chest.

"Nope, it is." Yang smirked while reloading her guns.

Shadow Kimi began to panic and tear up. "No...NO! I can't lose! I'm bulletproof!" She then ranted.

"Not anymore." Yang scoffed before she pulled the trigger.

BANG!

(End Music)

"Had enough?" Yang questioned with narrowed eyes.

"Please! No! Mercy! Time out! Time out!" Shadow Kimi pleaded, reverting back into her human form.

"Shut the hell up!" Panther called out. "Did you give Sora-kun that chance when you were beating him? Huh!?" She then questioned in anger.

"Hey! Tone it down. She's finished." Serpent called out.

Panther's eyes widened as she realized how she was acting. "...Right." She muttered before stepping back.

"Please...don't hurt me...I'll stop, I promise!" Shadow Kimi begged. as she knelt down.

"Then why abuse your nephew and everyone close to him in the first place?" Yang soon asked.

"D-Did you not see who he was before?" Shadow Kimi started, her voice shivering. "He was weak. Spineless. He needed to become better or else the world would beat him down even worse than me!" She then continued in complaint.

"Is that it?" Joker stated, not having it. "You just wanted to toughen him up?" He then assumed with crossed arms in front of his chest.

"That shit is bullshit!" Skull cursed. "You just end up hurtin' people over nothing!" He then continued with the same angered tone.

"Is that why you ran away from a fight because of an itty bitty cold?" Oracle then got out.

"..." The Shadow went silent from that.

"...It was more than just the cold, wasn't it." Yang assumed.

"...I...I just didn't want to lose my streak." Shadow Kimi confessed. "I worked too hard to get to that level. If I got sick, I'd lose out on training time, and if I slacked off for one second, I knew I wouldn't be able to catch up as I got older and older. I...I needed to keep winning." She then explained and stated.

"You couldn't bear the thought of losing." Yin concluded.

"...God that's pathetic." Panther had to comment.

"I know." Shadow Kimi shamefully replied. "That doesn't excuse my actions." She soon confessed.

"Apologize to everyone and repent." Yang got out in a disgusted manner as she walked away.

"...Please make Sora happy, okay." The Shadow soon requested.

"I will. You didn't need to tell me that." Yang responded in reassurance.

Shadow Kimi soon let out a sigh of relief. "I'm just happy he finally found a girlfriend..." She then suddenly got out.

"What?" Yang got out in confusion. "S-Sora isn't dating anyone, as far as I'm aware." She soon corrected.

The Shadow tilted her head, looking a little lost. "Hm? But doesn't shut up about some girl named Homu-" She then started recalling.

"I'm not Sora-kun's girlfriend!" Yang exclaimed in disbelief.

"Oh." Shadow Kimi got out, blushing a little. "...But I'm sure his other girlfriends will-" She then started.

"He doesn't have a harem either!" Yang declared with a facepalm, recalling all the girls that found him attractive (and practically getting secretly horny for him) now after summer ended.

Including some of her own female committee members.

"Yes...I know that now." Shadow Kimi responded in a content tone. "...do you-?" She began to ask.

"I swear to God, I will beat you to death with your own skull if you suggest I date your goddamn nephew." Yang growled, her eye twitching all throughout her threat and question. "Guys and girls are allowed to just be friends and not pursue anything romantic." She then stated as her sister nodded in agreement.

Skull meanwhile suddenly sneezed.

Noir noticed this. "You need a handkerchief, Skull?" She then offered.

"I-I'm fine, Noir. Thanks though." Skull awkwardly responded.

"Can you please fucking go back to your real self!" Yang soon growled.

"I will accept that he won't forgive me, only hope that he will forget that I exist like everyone else." Shadow Kimi soon responded.

"No, he will." Yang countered.

SHINE!

"It's a Clenched Fist." Mona informed. "Queen, it looks like you could make good use of it." He then noted.

"I'm fine with what I have now. Sell it." Queen soon assured. She had already used those in the past before Joker replaced them with something better.

"Another one bites the dust." The tan skinned girl breathed out while tossing the Treasure to her sister before going over to retrieve her grappling hook.

"That's the end of that. Good work everyone." Joker declared before letting out a breath.

"Does Sora-kun actually-" Yin started to ask.

"Yeah, a lot of girls are falling for him now." Yang confirmed with a sigh. "He doesn't flirt with them though." She then revealed.

"Like Rito-san?" Widow assumed.

"Like Rito-san minus the tripping and whatever perverted incident he faces at Kosei and gets beaten up for some reason." Yang confirmed. "So shallow..." She then sighed while shaking her head.

"Wonder how he's doing at Kosei now..." Joker simply wondered aloud.

"He's...fine, for the most part." Widow replied, remembering her encounters and interactions with the young boy at school.

Yang however sighed. "Probably getting scolded by the female student body there." She then uttered softly to herself.

"So...beefcake?" Joker jokingly recalled as he faced the tan-skinned Thief

Yang sighed at that before facing him. "...That's it. Joker, give me your skull." She then casually threatened in an unusually calm manner.

"Wait, Yang. I was joking, IWASJOKING!" Joker screamed as he began to run away from the calmly pissed girl.

"...Can a shinobi really do that?" Fox asked his senpai.

"...I have the right to remain silent." Widow responded as she walked over to the car.

The others meanwhile watched as the cartoonish chase was occurring, imagining silly music playing all the while.

After several minutes of watching Yang trying to murder their leader (and nearly succeeding) they were back on the road (well, tracks) to hunt down the targets.

"Hey, Joker, you wanna go shopping with me later?" Skull asked.

"Huh? Two guys shopping together...? Sounds suspicious." Panther remarked.

"Panther, what are you talking about? I can't go out shopping with a friend just 'cause he's a guy?" Joker questioned, sounding a little offended by that.

"You need to be a little more progressive, Panther." Yin scolded, causing the ash blonde to blush.

"Yeah, I was just plannin' to get some stuff from Body Chop, get some more hair dye, maybe do some window shoppin' and get some smoothies." Skull revealed. "See? Totally effin' normal."

"...You dye your hair?" Serpent suddenly asked.

"Seriously, Serpent?" Queen deadpanned.

"What? We have naturally blonde, blue and gray over there!" Serpent soon reminded, causing those individuals to raise their heads. "Hell, we know a girl who has naturally pink hair! Pink!" She then added to the reminder.

"Huh?" Fox got out, confused.

"And I had some white hair before it became like this." Serpent then continued while twirling a lock of her hair around her finger. "The only person I know who dyes her hair is Oracle. By the way, you'd look lovely with your natural color." She then stated and complimented.

"But I'd look so emo!" Oracle whined with an embarrassed blush.

"And now you look like a little version of Yūgiri from the Milky Pop idol group." Panther jokingly pointed out.

"...Oracle dyes her hair?" Skull suddenly got out in surprise.

"I think we need to talk about our hair care products more." Joker got out in a flat tone as he focused on driving, tuning out the rest of the conversation until he felt the navigator tug on his sleeve.

"God I'm thirsty." The orangette groaned.

"Yes you are, Oracle." Joker agreed.

"No, actually thirsty. For a drink." the navigator clarified. "Joker, do you have anything I'd like from your infinite supply of soda?" She then asked.

"Sugar, no sugar, or no sugar and caffeine?" Joker offered, pulling out cans without tearing his eyes away from the tracks.

"What about juice?" Serpent however suggested with a sigh.

"If you're talking about juice, may I suggest habanero juice?" Noir chimed in. "It's wonderful for the pores!" She then revealed.

"It's also terrible for my backside!" Oracle exclaimed, already rubbing her buttcheeks empathetically. "Seriously, don't tell me you drink that stuff!" She then got out in disbelief.

"I was simply making a suggestion." Noir assured...before pulling out a disturbingly red boba tea drink.

Oracle was no longer thirsty.

(Akzeriyyuth, Area 6)

Soon enough, they arrived at their next target; a middle-aged woman in a floral blue dress. "Mitsuyo Togo." Joker muttered under his breath.

"So is that the Shadow of the mother of that shogi player, Hifumi?" Yin recalled, with the leader nodding in confirmation.

"To think she's using her own daughter as a pawn." Fox got out in a disdainful manner.

"Is that ironic? You know, considering the game she plays?" Oracle asked in a curious manner.

"We are not talking about irony right now..." Panther groaned.

"We can't let her use her own daughter like this any longer." Widow declared with narrowed eyes. "Togo-san deserves a better life outside of her mother's influence. Shall begin the change of heart, Joker?" She then declared and assumed.

"We shall." Joker replied as he pulled on his red gloves before approaching the overbearing mother. "Hey, are you-" He started saying, however...

"Yes, yes. Hifumi is my daughter. I am Hifumi's mother." The Shadow claimed in a smug manner.

"Wow, just straight into it." Serpent remarked with narrowed eyes.

"It's not a great life if your only claim is that you're someone's mom." Skull stated.

"I gave birth to her. I raised her! My child should be devoted to serving me! I can finally be happy once Hifumi becomes a famous shogi player!" Shadow Mitsuyo ranted in a crazed manner.

"God, you're a terrible parent." Panther breathed out with a groan.

"And we all have plenty of experience with that." Skull added as well.

"Togo-san is her own person!" Widow soon declared.

"Hifumi-chan isn't yours to use!" Yin then added. "She can rise on her own, she doesn't need you." She soon got out.

Suddenly, the Shadow looked...amused. "Hmph. She thinks she rose in rank on her own skill, but most of those matches were fixed." She soon revealed.

Suddenly, the Thieves were overcome with a sense of dread. "...What are you talking about?" Joker demanded while narrowing his eyes.

"I'm the one who's been building Hifumi's commercial value!" Shadow Togo claimed with a smug manner. "If I didn't get rid of all her rivals, she wouldn't be where she is now! I enlisted private investigators and even criminals to find their weaknesses and destroy them! I paid off anyone who might have complained or spoken out." She then revealed.

"...Dude, what the hell?" Skull whispered as his teammates' jaws began to drop at the reveal.

"Didn't Hifumi tell me you work at a nightclub?" Joker remembered.

"That is...how are you affording all this!?" Serpent questioned.

"Oh, and I even sold stories to those weekly magazines. Heroines and tragedies go hand in hand!" The Shadow of Hifumi's mother informed.

"Those are some frickin' expensive stories then!" Panther muttered under her breath.

"You're wasting so much money on fixing Hifumi's matches!" Queen called out. "If you're spending this time and effort on all that, why don't you just give her the support she actually needs!?" She then pointed out.

"You brats will never understand." Shadow Mitsuyo scoffed. "One more step, and my vision for Hifumi will be realized. I'm so close to victory! I won't let anyone get in the way!" She then declared as she began to transform.

"...Let's just kick her ass before I get an aneurysm over this." Serpent requested, holding back an aneurysm nosebleed from the pure stupidity.

"Gladly." Widow replied as she rolled her neck and opened her fans.

(Cue Defeat by Hideki Taniuchi)

"Just the slightest effort is all I need to finish you!" Shadow Mitsuyo declared as she revealed her true form: a Lilim.

"Funny. I was about to say the same thing." Joker responded as he rolled his shoulders.

"So, how do we want to do this?" Fox asked while taking out his katana.

"...Confuse and exploit money out of her first?" Yang suggested.

"That's the plan." Joker confirmed with a nod. "You should Hifumi for this. Go, Vasuki!" He soon called out, tearing off his mask to summon the giant serpent of the Star Arcana.

"Brain Jack!" The Persona declared, casting the spell.

Shadow Mitsuyo blinked. "What are you...?" She then began before faltering. "What are your orders?"

"We got her!" Oracle called out to her fellow Thieves.

"Thank you, Brainwash Boost." Joker muttered under his breath. "Now give me everything you have!" He then ordered.

"Of course." Shadow Mitsuyo replied, almost in a trance. "Is that enough?" She then added.

"...God, this feels dirty." Panther suddenly realized.

"It kinda is, isn't it." Yang soon admitted while Joker flipped through all the notes, counting each stack. "...We want more."

KA-CHING! KA-CHING! KA-CHING! KA-CHING!

After several minutes of getting money shoved into their faces, the Thieves then went to count all the cash. "Okay, how much money did we get out of her?" Mona began to ask, seeing all the money they've obtained from the Shadow.

"Uhhhh...'bout 500,000 yen per person." Oracle reported from her Persona.

"Is that enough or are we feeling greedy?" Queen soon asked, already budgeting her share to buy another limited edition Buchimaru-kun.

"I dunno...she could snap out of it any moment right now..." Panther reminded in a nervous manner.

"It's a nice amount. I say take her out right now." Yin soon suggested.

"We haven't laid even a finger on her yet." Widow soon reminded as she studied the Shadow's emotionless expression. "How long will this take? And how much respect do we have for her to give her a fair fight?"

"..." Silence filled among the Thieves.

"...I'll take it as none." Joker assumed from the silence.

"Her weakness is Bless." Oracle casually informed.

"Kougaon." Serpent soon threw off her mask and let Nobunaga take care of the Shadow by itself.

FLASH!

"AAAAAAHHHHHH! WHAT'S HAPPENING!?" Shadow Mitsuyo freaked out from the attack's impact.

"Just some payback! Here we go!" Mona declared. "All-Out Attack!" He soon commanded as they all rushed in.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! WHAM! CRACK! SLASH! SLAP! WHAM! SLASH! CHOP!

"One More!" Noir called out.

"Tch, for all that training and study, I didn't need to use a single technique your daughter taught me." Joker remarked as he pulled out his pistol while walking towards the weakened Shadow. "Just the slightest effort is all I need to finish you." He soon got out with a smirk.

The Shadow sighed, already conceding to her fate. A familiar feeling. "Looks like I'm the one who's finished..." She said as she closed her eyes.

"Tsumi." Joker got out before pulling the trigger.

BANG!

(End Music)

"Are you thinkin' a little more clearly now?" Skull asked as the Thieves stared down the defeated Shadow, who was slowly transforming back from her berserk state. "'Cause I hope you know that all your crap is stupid." He then added.

"I...I was always a loser..." Shadow Mitsuyo confessed in a depressed manner. "Even if it was just once, I wanted to taste success. I could never win on my own. I had to use Hifumi, I had to..." She then lamented.

"Winning how you've done it is only temporary." Joker countered with a frown. "What about Hifumi's happiness? Is it really worth winning if it means losing your daughter?" He then questioned.

"I never meant to make Hifumi unhappy. Never." Shadow Mitsuyo insisted. "But when she won that grade school competition...She started being called a genius girl, and I could never get that out of my head..." She soon mumbled.

"You should've nurtured that naturally, not hijack it to your advantage." Noir replied in disapproval.

"You have such a wonderful and intelligent daughter, Togo-san." Widow spoke up. "You have won something, you just couldn't see it. I hope your real self reflects on this and begins atoning for their actions." She then advised.

"I turned out to be such a horrible mother. I'm sorry, Hifumi, I'm sorry..." Shadow Mitsuyo got out in a remorseful manner as she began to glow.

SHINE!

"You better tell her that." Yang grumbled.

"A Bead Chain." Joker muttered as he grabbed the item from the air. "That might be useful in a sticky situation." He thought while pocketing it.

"Her entire shogi career is a sham." Serpent muttered with a frown. "One potentially fixed match might turn out fine, but..." She then started before trailing off.

"Togo-san is still a brilliant shogi player." Widow informed in a confident manner. "I have a strong belief she will be able to win regardless." She then confessed in reassurance.

"That doesn't matter though." Queen however pointed out. "All those fixed matches...if that gets out, she'll be banned for life from every professional league." She then stated.

"Hifumi-chan shouldn't get blamed for this though..." Yin muttered.

"Well, whatever happens now, it'll be up to Hifumi." Joker got out. "Come on, we're finished here." He then added.

"Roger that, Joker." Mona saluted at that before transforming into his car form.

(Akzeriyyuth, Area 7)

"Agh, do I really look like Yūgiri from M.P.?" Oracle suddenly asked while the Leader was running over some Shadows. "Panther mentioned it earlier and now I have to know." She then added.

"I have a picture." Joker casually informed as he tossed over his phone.

"...Why?" Panther soon questioned, although at this point, she felt like she should stop asking.

"The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma." Joker simply answered. "...Also I liked her solo cover of Brave Shine." He then admitted.

"Um, wait, Joker?" Mona suddenly spoke up. "Are you sure you should let everyone go through your photo gallery?" He soon asked in a cautious manner.

"Why are you so concerned?" The Leader responded, confused...until the yelling started.

"WHY THE HELL ARE THERE FOLDERS ALL ABOUT HARUKA!?" Yang exclaimed. "259 PHOTOS!?" She then screamed in a high pitched manner, causing her voice to crack.

"Haruka comma clothed. Haruka comma nude." Serpent read out in a flat tone.

"...You...You organized them?" Skull got out in disbelief.

"...She checks I saved them, okay?" Joker sighed out. Although, he should really start locking his phone. "Not my fault Boss decided to give her her own key." He then added.

"Good to know who wears the pants in the relationship. Or, rather, who doesn't...along with the rest of their clothes." Oracle remarked.

"I'm still in awe that you actually made Haruka get into guys." Yang sighed out.

"That's Joker's superpower." Oracle quipped.

"I don't have superpowers." Joker denied as he thought about it. "...I-I mean, not that superpower. J-Just find the picture of Yūgiri already." He then added.

"Alright, alright." Yin got out as she searched through the Leader's collection of images. Apart from all the pervy photos the doctor's assistant sent, there were plenty of pictures of the chalkboard in class, study notes from Queen, nice looking locations, and...passwords to various things like Leblanc's wifi.

Wow, Joker really was forgetful.

Eventually, she found the odd image out of the entire collection and showed it to the others.

"So that's her." Yang got out as she looked at the orangette in the yellow idol attire on the Leader's phone.

"...Huh, she does look a bit like an older me." Oracle soon admitted.

"You both have long, straight orange hair and green eyes but...ehhh..." Queen got out as she narrowed her eyes.

"It's the boobs, isn't it." The navigator deadpanned as she groped her own petite chest.

"No! No! Like...your face and...you're really skinny and short." Queen squeaked with a blush. "A-Also you wear glasses."

"Yeah, I don't see it." Skull got out. "Probably if ya take off the glasses, you'd look like her little sister or somethin'." He then assumed.

"I am everyone's little sister!" Oracle declared. "I demand gummies afterwards, my dear nii-chans and nee-sans."

"Yes, my sweet imouto." Serpent automatically obeyed, hearts in her eyes.

SLAP!

"Diet!" Yang reminded while the woman held her sore cheek.

"Oh, I recently learned Milky Pop are shinobis as well." Widow revealed, getting the attention of the others as they drove.

"Huh? For real?" Skull got out.

"You're kidding me." Yang commented. "What proof?" She then added.

"Is it the‐" Oracle began to assume while holding up a finger.

"Other than their chests, Oracle." Widow immediately cut her off. "Our intelligence comes from the shinobi council. They are a Good Shinobi faction while another group, A.R.C. Angels, is an Evil Shinobi faction." She soon explained.

Panther sighed. "So many shinobis here in Tokyo..." She then uttered softly to herself.

"Damn." Yang cursed, shaking her head. "Aren't they doing shows in Tokyo?" She then asked.

"Yep." Widow replied, nodding. "And that means they're likely looking into us while they're doing their idol concerts." She then added.

"We're gonna have to prepare to fight them too?" Queen assumed.

"It's a serious possibility." Joker replied while twirling his knife.

Widow sighed in slight defeat. "And here I wanted an autograph." She then stated, sounding a bit down.

"Do you plan to meet Milky Pop at some time since they're idols as well?" Yin soon asked.

"I'll ask but that's up to my manager and agency." Widow answered. "It's not as easy as just calling them up to see if they're available. I'm still quite new in the idol scene, after all." She then added.

"Well, it might be an opportunity to get them to back off." Joker however stated. "If you manage to convince them to leave the Phantom Thieves alone, it will be one less potential enemy." He then noted to her.

"I will try." Widow replied. "Hehe, and I'll be sure to get some autographs from them if you like." She then added with a giggle.

"Yes!" Oracle cheered, earning looks from the others. "What? I want an autograph from them. They have really good music, they did some OPs for my favorite anime this season." She replied and admitted.

"So you've heard of them." Noir stated.

"Yeah, that's what surfing the net for a long time does to you." Oracle simply uttered. "Along with getting way too much information. Hey, did you know that an idol had to shave her head as an apology, even though she was totally innocent? It was super messed up." She then informed to everyone in the van.

"...No. I did not." Widow responded, unconsciously brushing her hand through her hair.

Maybe she should look into that later...

(Akzeriyyuth, Area 9)

The Thieves soon arrived at their next target, and they knew who it was based on the stupid t-shirt he was wearing. They walked ahead towards their target in front of them, their eyes focused on said target Shadow.

"We are seriously going to change the heart of a freaking war criminal, huh." Oracle muttered.

"One that supports a hypocritical rights group." Yang added through gritted teeth.

"God, I want to beat him in the real world." Serpent growled, already in an aggressive stance.

"That won't fix anything." Queen sighed while shaking her head..

"It would make me feel better." Serpent admitted.

"Hearts and minds, Serpent." Joker reminded before looking back at his team. "Everyone ready?"

"Hai." The Thieves replied in unison before they approached the Shadow.

"Hm?" Shadow Gohara got out, noticing the teens glaring at him. "Ah, some up and coming youngin, are you interested in hearing of our plans for Japan?" He noted and soon asked.

"Hell no asshole! We know what you did!" Skull countered and accused.

"Masamune Gohara, your crimes are innumerable. We're here to wreak vengeance and change your heart!" Yang shouted out while aiming one of her machine guns at the bastard.

"Huh? What are you talking about? I've done nothing wrong." The Shadow responded and stated in an offended tone. "I don't need some punk kids spreading lies. We're as pure as the driven snow." He then added in annoyance and proudly declared.

"Bullshit!" Skull countered as he readied his weapon. "You seriously hurt someone over discovering your shit! How could you do that!?" He then asked.

"Tch, so annoying." Shadow Masamune remarked as he narrowed his eyes. "Guess I'll have to silence you too. I'll make sure all the darkness of this country is bleached white!" He then decided and declared, transforming into a skeletal Buddhist monk: a Daisoujou.

"You know what, I was hoping you'd fight us." Yang admitted while rolling her neck. "Now we can show you how it feels to be weak." She then added.

"I have been waiting for this..." Widow surprisingly growled. "Let us remove this stain known as Bleach Japan." She then declared.

"WE WILL NEVER DIE!" The Shadow roared as the Thieves charged in.

(Cue Spinning Wheel by Ryoma Takeuchi, Yuu Inaba, Taiko Katono)

"You dare get in the way of helping this country?" Shadow Masamune snarked in anger.

"You dare hurt my friend the way you did and expect to get away with it?" Yang calmly but furiously accused. "I am going to make you feel everything Naomi felt ten times over!" She then declared.

"Che, so you're in support of that brat, so that's what this is about." Shadow Masamune remarked in annoyance. "Damn stain supporter..." He then growled out.

"Enough talk! Bring him down!" Joker stated and ordered everyone.

"I'll freeze you till you're bleached white! Mabufudyne!" The Shadow declared with raised arms.

"Get outta the way!" Joker shouted out as he summoned Jack Frost in front of the attack, who very much enjoyed the brief winter wonderland.

"Hee ho! That was super fun!" Jack Frost giggled out.

"Now give him all you got, hee ho." Joker soon ordered.

"Megidola!" Jack Frost declared, triggering the Almighty spell.

BOOOOOM!

"...Why did you teach him-" Widow began.

"Please save your opinions until he's complete." Joker waved off with a gleam in his eyes. He still needed a few more skills until he considered the Persona perfect. "Now, what's he weak to?" He soon asked the not cat.

"His weakness is Fire!" Mona revealed. "Panther, Yang, you're up!" He then called out to the two.

"Let's do this, Yang!" Panther called out.

"We'll burn him to cinders!" Yang meanwhile declared.

"Oh yeah, he's toast." Joker jokingly remarked with a smirk.

"Agidyne!" The two fire users declared at the same time.

FWOOOOOOOOSH!

"GAH!" Shadow Masamune got out in pain.

"He's down but he still has plenty of health!" Oracle informed.

"Don't let him get back up. Keep him down and out!" Queen ordered.

"Then I guess let's make sure he stays there." Yang got out while cracking her knuckles. "Stance change!" She then mentally declared, making her swords vanish as she then summoned her fans. "Musashi! Maragidyne!" She soon commanded as she ripped off her mask.

FWOOSH! BOOM! FWOOSH! BOOM! FWOOSH! BOOM!

"It's down! Nice work Lady Yang!" Mona informed and praised.

"Huh? Did that do more damage than usual?" Panther meanwhile asked, noticing the power from the attack.

"Must be 'cause of her fighting like how Widow does with her fans." Mona deducted. "Her using fans must mean her Magic is stronger than usual." He then added.

"Shouldn't we be asking more about the fact she used a multi-targeting spell to hit the same guy multiple times!?" Serpent however pointed out, gawking at what happened.

"...Yang's pulled off a Lulu's Overdrive from FFX! AWESOME!" Oracle eventually exclaimed in amazement.

"The what now!?" Serpent asked in exhausted confusion.

"Basic gist, multi-barrage of spells at a rapid manner!" Oracle simplified in an excited manner, a starry look in her eyes obviously underneath her mask.

"This isn't the time to explain shit!" Skull called out. "Come on and deal some damage before he recovers! Go, PERSONA!" He then added before soon declaring.

WHIFF!

"Aw come on!" Skull gawked in annoyance.

"How did you miss, Skull!? He's not even moving!" Serpent exclaimed.

"Make fun of Skull later, keep the pressure on!"

"Too late! He's getting up!" Oracle meanwhile informed.

"Yang-neechan's attack wasn't enough!?" Yin exclaimed.

"Seems as though something else-" Fox began, only to freeze up from a...feeling...

DOOOOOOOOM!

The air however soon felt as though it was filled with malice as they all turned to the tan skinned girl in mention, whose eyes underneath her mask were glowing red . "No! I'm NOT letting you hurt anyone else! I'll end you before you get the chance!" The tan skinned girl declared with cold fury as the crimson aura surrounded her. "Come, Serpensortsia! Incinerate all of those before you!" Yang soon commanded.

FWOOOOOOOOOOOSH! HISSSSSSSS!

Soon circling around Yang was a snake completely made of crimson flames as she coldly glared at the enemy.

And thus, everyone, the enemy included, went wide-eyed at the sight.

"...That's new." Joker managed to say, blinking at the sight of the giant fire snake.

"The heat...it's so intense..." Panther grimaced, her latex suit not doing any favors while her throat was now feeling dry.

"Whoa..." Queen meanwhile breathed out in amazement.

"...I am feeling a great piece of inspiration from-" Fox started.

"NOIR! STOP TAKING YOUR TOP OFF!" Mona suddenly and panickingy called out with a blush.

"It's really hot..." Noir however pointed out.

"Huh...wha...?" The Shadow soon groaned as he sat up, only to be faced with...well, essentially the Devil in the form of a 16 year old girl with giant boobs.

"Go on, try and stand up." Yang calmly dared in an icy tone as the snake behind her prepared to strike. "I'll send you to hell before you even get the chance." She then declared with a growl that made her sound demonic.

However, Bleach Japan members were not known for their survival instincts. "Grrr...! I am not going to be-" He responded in defiance.

"Burn." Yang soon commanded as the snake opened its mouth and unleashed a torrent of flames.

FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!

"FIFIFIFIFIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRE!" The Shadow wailed in pain, soon running around in a comedic manner.

"...Did she just create a snake made of fire and it can hurt the Shadow!?" Serpent finally gawked in disbelief.

"Guess you should get a new mascot for Hebijo Academy, Serpent, hehe." Oracle remarked with a snicker.

Serpent snorted. "Oh, hush you, young lady." She chided as she rolled her eyes before glancing back at the tan skinned girl, knowing she was smirking underneath her mask. "Where the hell did she learn something like that?" She thought to herself, recalling the reports back at school of the tan skinned girl being the more physical fighter then elemental one.

"Magnificent, Yang!" Widow meanwhile praised in awe at the sight. "You did it just as you practiced!" She then added.

"Couldn't have done it without you, senpai!" Yang proclaimed in delight.

"And I couldn't be prouder!" Widow spoke in return with the same tone.

"What the hell has she been teaching her!?" Serpent mentally asked as she glanced at the excited and proud light gray haired girl before glancing towards the Vice Leader. "...Mental note, do more for Yin's training. No way in hell I'm letting Widow outdo me in training an apprentice!" She then added in her head with a determined fire in her eyes.

"Making this a competition now, shogun?" Nobunaga assumed.

"Life's a competition." Serpent responded.

"How is he still in his berserk form!?" Oracle suddenly called out.

Nothing else needed to be said however. "Yang?" Joker asked, but his dearest ally was already in the middle of finishing the fight.

Yang's eyes were soon aglow underneath her mask as the giant snake of fire glared at the downed enemy. "Time for you to repent." She coldly declared, bringing her hand down, causing the snake to lash in hissing with its jaw open.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAH!" The Shadow exclaimed in pain as...

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

A massive storm of fire was unleashed, defeating the enemy.

(End Music)

"Holy effin' shit..." Skull gawked out in disbelief and a hint of fear as the others looked at the smoldering crater.

"That's what you call overkill." Joker remarked in an impressed tone.

"Is it overkill if it is deserved?" Noir however pointed out.

"...You didn't kill him, did you?" Serpent however questioned, as the crater seemingly did not have the Shadow anywhere in it.

Suddenly, Widow and Yang looked a little nervous and began to sweat (and not from the lingering heat).

"Um, he's in there alive. Just...under a lot of soot." Oracle soon informed before flying over in her Persona and retrieving him. Miraculously, the Shadow didn't look like human jerky, only extremely winded and coughing up black stuff.

"Ngggh..." The Shadow groaned out, once more in his normal human appearance as he got to his feet.

"If the next few words out of your mouth aren't groveling, I will break your legs." Yang threatened as she looked down at the former enemy with her fans at the ready.

"You have no idea who you're messing with!" Shadow Gohara spat out. "You're making enemies out of some powerful people!" He then stated.

"Get in line." Fox got out while rolling his eyes.

"You have no idea of the lengths we'll go." Shadow Gohara soon continued. "The fact that your friend is alive is a mercy, and only because she's just a kid." He then warned.

"Would you shut up and turn yourself in to the Hague already?" Oracle soon snapped. "The fact that you don't have a full-on Palace yet means you still haven't fully fallen. You can still turn it around and atone." She then pointed out.

"...You kids think you have it all figured out..." Shadow Gohara soon mumbled.

"We don't." Joker shook his head. "But that doesn't mean we won't do our best to stop people like you. Now confess to your crimes."

"That's a death sentence." Shadow Gohara insisted.

"You're the war criminal." Queen reminded.

The Shadow hesitated before letting out a sigh. "...Che, fine..." He soon grumbled.

"Still condescending..." Widow noted with narrowed eyes.

"This is different..." Mona meanwhile muttered with own eyes narrowed in a curious manner.

"Be warned though...Even if you did beat me...he will still have his way in the end..." Shadow Masamune weakly responded as his Shadow soon vanished, leaving his Treasure behind.

"He?" Yang repeated in confusion.

SHINE!

"Wha-!? Aw, come on. At least stay a couple more seconds!" Skull complained.

"Maybe the Treasure is he left behind is a clue." Queen soon suggested as the Leader went to retrieve it.

"...It's a Bleach Japan t-shirt." Joker revealed in a flat, annoyed tone as he showed the shirt.

"Son of a bitch." Serpent cursed.

"Fuck that." Yang growled before pulling out a red spray can from her bare cleavage before grabbing the shirt out of the Leader's hand, throwing it on the ground to give it a quick redesign. "There! Now it's worth something!" She then declared.

"Huh, do you just bring that with you?" Noir questioned in a curious manner, although it didn't get answered.

"Steal Japan Back." Fox read out, scrutinizing the new design.

"Why not Blow-" Oracle started.

"It's better." Yang cut her off immediately. "Now what does it do?" She soon asked.

"Hm..." Mona hummed as he went to appraise the item. "Inflicts Rage to self at the start of battle, but allows almost full control over your actions." He revealed.

"That sounds...Bad." Panther remarked.

"Hold on, don't you know this happens all the time, at least in games?" Oracle however noted. "You can't suffer other effects while under one, so you're immune to other stuff as long as it's up." She then explained.

"But you'll be vulnerable to other things like Psy and I doubt you can pass the baton." Mona reminded. "Still, it might be a strategy. Besides, it either fades by itself or we can cure it anytime." He then admitted and stated.

"So, does anyone know who Gohara might be referring to?" Joker asked the others.

"No idea." Serpent confessed with a sigh.

"Another mystery..." Queen soon stated. "We'll have to research him later on." She then stated.

"Yeah. This guy will probably be a future problem we'll deal with eventually." Mona replied in agreement. "But about that death sentence..." He then reminded.

"He's probably just exaggerating, right?" Serpent assumed. "Plus, given what he's done, he probably deserves it." She then added.

"..." The other however seemed uneasy about this, but they couldn't refute.

"...Regardless, Naomi shouldn't run into any more trouble with him, Yang." Joker sighed while looking over to the tan skinned girl.

"Right. Thanks for the help, guys." Yang responded in a grateful manner.

"No problem. Just make sure your other committee members don't get into trouble like that. God forbid we have to deal with the yakuza again." Joker soon replied. "...Maybe next month." He then added under his breath.

Yang meanwhile sweated a little. No way she was telling her friends that Naomi had friends from the yakuza.

"Joker..." Mona sighed.

"Kidding, kidding..." Joker quickly assured. "So, was that our last friend in need?" He soon asked as Fox pulled out his notepad.

"Looks like it." The young artist confirmed before ripping out the page and tossing it over his shoulder.

"We haven't seen Jose-kun the entire time..." Yin lamented.

"Wanna drive around for a while until we run into him?" Joker soon suggested.

"Sure. Good opportunity to find loot anyways." Yang agreed while everyone nodded.

Noir meanwhile tilted her head in response. "Oh, I'm finally going to meet him?" She soon asked as the group soon left the area.

"799 flowers in the van, 799 flowers~! Drive around, pick up the plant, 800 flowers in the van~!" Skull sang (literally) as they drove inside the van.

"Skull!" Mona exclaimed. "If you're gonna sing, can you please sing a different song?" He then requested.

"Ugh! Fine." Skull responded with a sigh. "Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo~ Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo~" He then suddenly started singing, causing the others minus the auburnette to groan.

"Why don't you have a radio, Mona...?" Oracle whined, rubbing the top of her own head.

"We're underground. There wouldn't be a signal." Queen reminded and stated.

"Nothing else in this world follows a lick of logic, why would that?" Serpent however reminded.

"Can't we just sing over him if you find it so irritating?" Widow soon pointed out. "It would be a nice team building exercise while we're driving around." She then explained.

"Alright, what song does everyone know?" Panther soon asked.

"...Galactic-" Oracle began, however.

"Denied." Yang bluntly interrupted with a strict gleam in her eyes.

"Yes ma'am!" The orangette quickly responded.

"Hey, Widow, you did suggest this. What do you wanna sing?" Serpent responded and suggested.

"Well, I am working on a cover song." Widow revealed. "It was fairly popular back in the day, from what my manager told me." She then informed.

"Should you be telling us this?" Fox soon questioned.

"It's being announced tonight and releasing soon so I'm sure it's fine." Widow confirmed. "Na na na-na, na na na na na na na na na~" She soon began singing.

"Oh, I know this song! It was freaking everywhere back home." Joker soon got out in a nostalgic manner. "So Much More, right?" He then recalled.

"Hai." Widow confirmed with a nod.

"I'm surprised you're covering a Haruka Sawamura song. I thought anything relating to her would be blacklisted by your industry." Queen soon remarked. She knew about it because her sister used to enjoy her songs until that whole thing.

"People still enjoy it despite the singer's controversy." Widow stated.

"Yeah, it's still BS that she had to deal with that shit just 'cause she revealed the person who took care of her was a yakuza." Oracle got out.

"Former yakuza." Widow soon corrected.

"Former chairman of the yakuza." Queen then added.

"She still gets hate online for it, although most people have moved on." Panther recalled. "I wonder what happened to her. Totally disappeared after that." She then added in disappointment.

"Well, she's probably doing well now that she's out of the spotlight." Joker guessed with a shrug. "The guy that raised her couldn't be all that bad since she turned out well." He then pointed out.

"I heard he beat a hundred men with his bare fists while they had rocket launchers." Queen soon recalled.

"...That just makes him sound like a badass." Skull had to admit, the others nodding in agreement to that statement.

"And probably just an exaggeration." Mona then got out. "Don't believe in every rumor, Queen." He soon advised.

"Sis told me about it. A lot of reports say that he could." Queen revealed. "And apparently involved in a lot of cases at the Millennium Tower." She then added.

"...The constantly exploding tower?" Oracle got out with a head tilt.

Queen in response groaned. "...Yes, the constantly exploding tower." She confirmed.

"...Where do they get the funds to keep rebuilding it?" Yang soon questioned.

"I'm not sure, the yakuza?" Queen then got out with a shrug.

"Well, whatever's true, I wish I could meet Sawamura-san and get some- BE QUIET, SKULL!" Widow started before suddenly snapping at the dyed blond's insistent singing.

"Skull, you're still singing that!?" Oracle complained.

"What? It's been stuck in my head since last night!" Skull retorted aloud.

"So, uhh...how are we gonna meet Jose again here?" Yin had to ask as the Thieves traveled around within the Morganamobile.

"Jose tends to wander around in Mementos all the time, so...it'll be down to chance and luck when it comes to meeting him." Joker explained.

"If only we had something that we can summon him to us." Oracle couldn't help but comment, staring at Mementos from her window. "Always annoying needing to track down quest givers and NPCs without a map." She then added.

"Hey, eyes up. Shadow right in front of us." Skull called out.

"It's just a weakling. Run it over like you usually do." Yang sighed out.

"Well, yeah, but I'm seeing a couple of others nearby. They'll definitely chase after us once they hear us ram the thing." Joker soon informed as he checked the sides.

"So wait for it to pass and-" Fox started, however...

CRASH!

Only for something white went through in front of them and hit the Shadow, knocking it back away a few meters.

That something was a white car whose trunk was stacked with different kinds of stuff and it towered up as if it was a tall building. The driver, however, was a familiar face.

"Shoot!" Jose cursed to himself. "Almost got confused with the brake and accelerator." He then muttered to himself.

Joker grinned and chuckled at the sight. "There he is." He then stated, seeing the familiar boy.

"Still can't believe he knows how to drive that car he's using." Mona stated.

"We barely can drive you." Yang soon reminded in a flat tone as the Thieves began to get out of the car.

"Touche." Mona stated with a sigh.

"Oh! It's you guys again!" Jose stated eagerly as he jumped out of his white car.

"Hey there, Jose." Joker greeted him with a wave as he approached him. "We were looking for you."

"Well, it has been a while since we've met. You probably have a ton of flowers and stamps to hand over."

"That we do." Joker replied with a nod.

"But not here. This isn't the right place." Jose however noted. "Do you mind following behind me until we get to an appropriate location?" He then requested.

"No problem." Joker replied.

"It's good to see you again, Jose-kun!" Yin happily responded.

"Nice to meet you again too, nice booby lady." Jose casually greeted, seeing the yukata-wearing female Thief.

Yin froze for a moment. "...He still calls me that?" She then stated with a sweatdrop.

"PPFT!" Oracle snorted, holding back laughing like mad.

"There there, Sis." Yang responded in reassurance. "At least he calls you a nice booby lady." She then awkwardly comforted.

"I have other traits..." Yin sobbed as she shuffled back into the Morganamobile.

"What does he call you?" Noir then asked.

"Weird booby lady." Yang grumbled.

"Hah! Weird!" Serpent got out, clearly amused.

"Shut it, pretty man!" Yang growled in retort.

Serpent's eye twitched from hearing that. "You wanna die today!?" She soon threatened.

"I don't seem to recall Jose-san calling me anything odd." Widow soon realized. "I wonder if he likes me more." She then guessed.

"Just get in the freaking car." Serpent growled as she shoved the gray haired girl towards the vehicle while everyone else followed them. Soon enough, they were back on the road, except this time they were following Jose.

"So guys, what are we thinking about trading stamps for?" Joker asked.

"I wanna get stronger sooner." Yang answered as she clenched her fists.

"No, more items!" Yin called out.

"Hey, if we get enough money down here we don't have to work a day in our lives." Serpent then pointed out, though wasn't going to say she didn't like her job.

"Oh, is he behind those stamp stations?" Noir soon realized.

"Yes, yes he is." Joker confirmed with a nod. "He makes Mementos a little more rewarding and provides a ton of items, as long as we have the stuff he wants. It's great, and he's pretty friendly too." He then explained.

"Are you not concerned that there is a child wandering around this place?" Noir soon questioned.

"He's not human. Kind of looks like a puppet." Joker soon informed. "Also, he reminds me of...certain strong individuals." He then added, grimacing while shifting in his seat.

"Eh?" The fluffy haired got out in confusion.

"Nevermind. He's stopped." Joker soon shook his head as he pressed on the brakes.

"Wow..." Noir then let out as she looked out the window, seeing the affected area of Mementos.

"No idea how he does that but enjoy the view." Joker recommended as the Thieves exited the car once more.

"Huh, your group is bigger since the last time I saw you." Jose stated in observation, seeing the bigger numbers in the group. "And there are now more girls in your group." He then noted.

"Uh, yeah..." Skull awkwardly answered, scratching the back of his head.

"The gender ratio may be off, but they're all people I can rely on with my life." Joker soon assured.

Jose blinked. "Um, I don't know what that first part means, but...if you say that they're the people you can greatly rely on, then it's a good thing."

"How's your research going on humans?" The Leader soon asked.

"I'm learning a lot! Thank you for asking, mister!" Jose happily responded. "And how are you adventures?" He then asked ahead.

"Meh, could be better but I'd say we have it handled for now." Joker admitted.

"Well, I'm sure you and your friends will pull through, mister." Jose assured with a smile. "All five of you guys and all seven of you girls are doing wonderful things." He then added.

"Hehehehe, don't flatter us like that~" Panther giggled.

"You're still riding the high of being called pretty lady, huh." Skull had to comment, facing her.

"He's so cute." Panter replied in an airy tone.

"Wasn't Carmen murdered by someone named Jose?" Joker soon recalled.

"Wait! Hold up!" Serpent however interrupted, her face going pale. "F-Five guys? Seven girls?" She soon repeated. "Noooo..." She mentally droned out.

"That's what your group consists of." Jose then got out. "Oh, did I make a mistake?" He soon asked in an innocent manner.

"Yeah, you did." Queen sighed while shaking her head.

"Right, I should have gone with my gut." Jose soon apologized. "Four guys, seven girls, one she-male." He then corrected.

"GAH! SHE-MALE!?" Serpent roared in anger, summoning her wings.

"Serpent! What are you doing!?" Widow exclaimed as the dyed blonde and the blue haired male began to hold the woman back.

"Nothing. I just want to correct the brat." Serpent replied with her deep tone full of anger, frothing at the mouth.

"Whoa! Wings?" Jose gasped in awe. "Humans don't have wings on their backs, but you do. Are you a special kind of human, mister?" He then asked.

"I AM A WOMAN, YOU LITTLE- MMPH!?" Serpent roared in anger at him, only to get her mouth being covered by a hand, cutting her off.

"Why is he so mad?" Jose soon questioned in confusion, causing a loud cry of rage.

"Serpent, please control yourself!" Widow ordered before crouching down to the mysterious boy's level. "I am sorry for that horrendous display, Jose-san. I assure you that Serpent is quite pleasant, but you need to watch what you say. Can you do that for me?" She soon responded and requested.

"Oh, um, of course, grandma." Jose responded with a nod.

SHATTER!

The Thieves swallowed nervously when they saw the light gray haired girl's irises shrink. "...G-Grandma...?" Widow repeated, her eye twitching.

"Well, you have gray hair, and only old humans have that." Jose simply explained.

"I...eh?" Widow gawked in disbelief at how clueless this child was.

"Well, Serpent has- MMPH!?" Oracle began to chime in, only for the ash blonde to cover her mouth.

"Is everyone alright?" Jose asked while the white haired woman managed to break out of the boys' holds. "The weird booby lady seems to be acting odd as well." He then innocently added.

"Ack!" Yang choked.

"Uh, hey! We have a bunch of flowers to turn in. Let's go over there and look at the stars while I purchase stuff." Joker soon suggested in a hasty manner

"Sure, Joker!" Jose replied as the two started walking off.

"Ooh, do you mind if I join?" Noir soon requested, apparently ignoring the chaos around her.

"Of course, pretty lady number two." Jose replied in the same innocent manner, causing the girl in mention to giggle.

"Someone hold Serpent back!" Queen exclaimed as she grabbed the thrashing white-haired woman and held her back from murdering the little fellow. "And...and Widow's starting to ice the whole floor!" She then informed in a panic.

"I'm on it!" Panther called out as she summoned Hecate to melt the floor.

"Someone check on Yin and Yang too!" Queen then added as she pulled the thrashing white-haired woman to the ground this time.

"Uh...I don't think they'll be a problem." Fox however reported, seeing the sisters curled up in a corner and weeping. "Oracle, can you help Queen with Serpent over there?" He soon requested.

"I dunno, Inari. All I can think of is methods on how to make things worse because this is really funny to watch." Oracle confessed.

"...You need to go out more." Fox deadpanned.

"I am out." Oracle countered.

"What's going on over there?" Jose asked once more as he, the Leader, and the auburnette relaxed in his buggy.

"Focus on the stars, Jose." Joker quickly instructed while forcing the boy to look up.

"Wow! I haven't seen stars in years!" Noir giggled in delight. "Ooh, that's the Goose! And George's Harp! And the pee-pee Leo-chan saw!" She then pointed out.

"Pee-pee?" Jose got out, looking a bit confused.

"Just keep looking up." Joker immediately muttered to him, more to himself than anyone else as he exchanged items with the little boy.

Several minutes later, Joker and Noir had finished their business and began returning to the group while Jose packed away his things into his car.

"See you, everyone!" The little boy got out before peeling away to parts unknown.

"Bye, Jose!" Joker responded with a wave and a smile. "That was a nice time." He then stated.

"He was delightful to talk to." Noir then got out. "And the stars he makes to display are so pretty." She then added.

The others, meanwhile, did not feel the same, with most of them having their outfits tattered and looking quite exhausted.

"I wanna kill the kid." Serpent soon confessed in an emotionless manner.

"I wish to re-educate him, Gessen-style." Widow mumbled while flicking her fans open and closed.

"Weird...!" Yang growled through gritted teeth.

"I have other traits tooooo..." Yin whined, her tears leaking out the eye holes of her mask.

"Um...we should probably get a move on. Enjoy the changes to Mementos." Joker soon advised in a nervous manner before hurrying over to the Morganamobile.

Maybe some Shadow hunting would help them blow off steam.

(Akzeriyyuth, Area 9)

Being in Mementos made one lose track of time after a while. After all, it was just a bunch of endlessly repeating subway tunnels that barely look any different from one another. Aside from the occasional weird layouts like crosses, straight paths, and the occasional phallus, it was all draining to one's ability to remain focused.

Battles had started to become routine, loot was beginning to have less and less meaning, even the excitement of finding a treasure chest or a hidden wall was losing its luster.

It was official; The Phantom Thieves were bored. And unfortunately, boredom can lead to terrible, terrible ideas.

"You know what, with everyone here and how much stronger we've all gotten, I think we can take on the Reaper." Joker suggested.

"Huh!?" Skull exclaimed, snapping out of his daydreaming.

"You don't want to solo it this time?" Serpent snarked.

"Widow helped!" Joker insisted while said girl tried to hide in the back of the van. "We managed to prove the Reaper can be killed. I think we should give it a shot together." He then insisted.

"I don't know, this seems like an unnecessary risk." Mona stated. "What would we get out of it?" He soon questioned.

"Aside from a ton of money and making our Personas stronger?" Joker pointed out before taking a moment to think. "...I mean, every Shadow we've fought has dropped something before. We might get something cool out of it."

"Or a useless trophy." Serpent pointed out in a flat tone.

The Vice Leader, meanwhile, had a familiar fire in her eyes as she spoke up. "Come on, everyone. We've all grown a lot ever since we got our Personas and have developed our teamwork to a shine. Sure, it might be unnecessary but we've time and time again that we will overcome even the smallest of odds. We've taken on demons, living paintings, giant piggy banks, mecha shinobi, we even took on Shin and won. We haven't lost yet, because we are strong, smart, and united. So I say we can do this. We can beat the Reaper! So, who's with me?"

"...Dammit, let's do this." Skull soon groaned. He felt too hyped from the speech to turn it down.

"Yeah." Yang agreed. She could never deny her sister of anything.

"Come on! We've got this!" Oracle declared.

"WASSHOI!" The Thieves roared as they drove straight at the Reaper.

(10 minutes later)

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" The Thieves (or what was left of them) screamed as they ran away, wearing nothing but their masks over their heads (or hair).

And clearly enough, bare breasts were bouncing up and down as they ran.

"RUN LIKE A MOTHERFUCKER!" Serpent exclaimed in a panic with Noir and Skull on her back, limp, in the buff and lifeless.

"HELP ME GET JOKER'S BODY!" Widow screamed while carrying Fox and Queen who were in the buff as well. "Wait, WHERE'S PANTHER!?" She then asked in a panic.

"WAKE UP MONA!" Yang called out in a panic while slapping the not cat's face as she was carrying him while running.

Mona snapped out of his unconscious state from the multiple slaps. "Wha-!?" He got out in shock. "Wha-What happened!?" He then asked.

"WE'RE RUNNING AWAY FROM THE REAPER RIGHT NOW!" Yang yelled as she held him in front of her while running.

"IT'S COMING THIS WAY!" Oracle shouted out as she flew away in her Persona as fast as she could. "WHY DID WE THINK THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA!?"

"I'LL HOLD IT OFF AND BUY US SOME TIME!" Yin called out.

"YIN, NO!" Serpent called out in a panic.

"This is my mistake! I gotta make up for it!" Yin responded, her handguns at the ready. "Get everyone out of here!" She soon ordered.

"SIS!" Yang called out.

"THIS IS AN ORDER FROM YOUR VICE LEADER! GO!" Yin however responded while she started firing.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The Reaper did not like that. "...One-shot Kill."

BANG!

"RRRAAAGHHH!" Yin yelled in pain, taking a shot straight to the chest and sending her skidding across the tracks. "I-I'm not done!" She growled out, holding onto her chest as she tried to stand up.

"You're on 1 HP, Yin. I think you're pretty close to it!" Oracle panickingly informed.

"I...If I can still stand...then the fight isn't over ye-" Yin struggled to declare, however...

"YIN, FOR FUCK'S SAKE, STOP ACTING LIKE EVERY SHONEN PROTAG EVER AND GET IN THE CAT!" Serpent called out. "YANG REVIVED MONA BY SOUNDING LIKE PANTHER, NOW LET'S GO!" She then revealed.

"Did you really have to mention that...?" Yang grumbled.

"Where is she!?" Mona meanwhile asked in a panic.

THUD!

It was at that moment the ash blonde's naked body finally dropped from the ceiling and landed on the light gray haired girl. "There she is, uugghhh." Widow groaned in pain.

"Oh, she's been up there all this time." Serpent thought as she looked up at the distinctly Panther-shaped crater in the ceiling (complete with her literal ponytails).

"Is the Reaper still alive!?" Oracle spat out in a panic from inside Necronomicon before its hatch underneath opened and out came the hacker with her Persona's tentacles setting her down safely. "We need to get out of here now!" She then yelled as she finally got on the ground.

"MONA, TURN INTO A DAMN CAR NOW!" Yang yelled in a panic

"W-W-Wait, let me get my bearings fir-!" Mona tried to say, only to see the Reaper charging straight at them. "Oh, hummina hummina hummina..." He mumbled.

"CAR! NOW! OR YOU'LL BE DOG FOOD!" Yang then ordered.

"EEEEYYAAAAH! MORGANA HENSHIN!" Mona screamed as he leapt into his transformation.

POOF!

From the sudden explosion of smoke, emerged the Morganamobile in all its catty glory.

"GETINGETINGETIN!" Mona soon yelled out.

"Anyone who's up, help get everyone into the car!" Widow soon ordered, flinching when she heard the Reaper cock his revolvers.

BANG!

"FUCK ME!" Oracle screamed as she dropped from the air and landed on the roof of the car...all in the buff as well for some reason. "Owww..." She winced out as she held her aching back from the fall.

"ORACLE!" Serpent shouted in horror as she climbed up and got the orangette into the car. That bastard Reaper shot her out of the sky! Luckily, she didn't seem too injured.

"I'm okay..." The navigator moaned.

"Oracle, you're on the wheel!" Serpent ordered as she literally grabbed the nude hacker and threw her down on the driver's seat.

"W-What!?" Oracle got out in shock as she realized where she was now. "Wait, why am I driving!?" She then exclaimed. Her only driving experience was in games only, and even then she used her cars more like battering rams than transportation.

"FLOOR IT!" Yin screamed as she helped dump the last of the unconscious bodies into the back of the Morganamobile.

"AAAHH! FLOORING IT!" Oracle yelled before she slammed her foot on the pedal.

And the van they were in shot away from the area like a bullet...while several van-sized bullets shot after them.

"Watch it, watch it, WATCH IT!" Yang called out.

"I AM WATCHING, WOMAN! DON'T FUCKING YELL!" Oracle snapped.

"Langua-" Widow began.

"I WILL DESTROY YOUR WHOLE FAMIL-" Oracle snapped once again, only to realize she was screaming at the light gray haired girl. "...Okay, too far." She muttered as she continued driving like hell.

Eventually, they lost sight of the Reaper. They were now driving aimlessly across the rest of Mementos after a while, and at least it was now quiet, save for a few Shadows wandering around on random spots.

"...Did we get away?" Oracle panted out.

"I don't see or hear it." Mona informed.

"Okay, stop here, Oracle." Widow soon requested.

The navigator nodded as she hit the brakes, stopping the car at a relatively Shadow-free area.

"Double-check. Are we safe?" Oracle immediately asked.

"As safe as you can be in a Shadow-infested hellhole." Serpent breathed out.

"Okay." Oracle then calmly left the car...and lost her lunch. "AAAAAHHHHH!" She then screamed.

Serpent meanwhile signed, went over to her and began rubbing her back. "Let it all out, sweetie. That's it." She soothingly instructed.

"Stress vomit. Haven't seen that in a while..." Yang muttered with a wince. "But at least we know better now not to be reckless from now on." She then added.

"WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THAT SIX MONTHS AGO!" Mona called out.

"Hush you." Yang simply ordered in a chiding manner.

"M-My apologies, Lady Yang." Mona suddenly stammered. "We should tend to our wounded now." He then suggested.

"Is it rather disturbing that we have a pile of naked bodies in the back of our van?" Widow soon realized as she looked at how they placed (well, threw) their Thief companions.

"Um...I don't really see the disturbing side of it, Widow." Serpent got out. "We had a lot of those back at Hebijo during after-training. Without the van, obviously." She then revealed in a casual manner.

Widow however made a look. "No, I mean, if it were to happen in the real world, that is. Around civilian areas." She replied and corrected herself.

"Ah, I see." Serpent stated. "Makes sense." She then added with a nod.

"...Can you, uh...get them out of me, please? Before I turn back?" Mona sheepishly requested.

"Alright, we'll take them out of you, Mona." Yang responded. "Oracle, give us a hand here!" She then ordered.

After a while, the nude, unconscious Thieves were laying on the reddened ground of Mementos as if they're corpses. Yang, Serpent, Yin, Widow, Oracle, and Mona, now in his cat form, were simply standing in front of them, staring at the sight of their naked friends being out like a light.

The males being on their stomachs for...obvious reasons.

And of course, Oracle pouted a bit at that.

"That was easy." Serpent simply commented.

"...I just realized that all of us are naked right now." Oracle remembered with a smile.

"Yes, well, take a picture, it'll last longer." Yang grumbled.

Oracle sighed with a frown. "Can't. Stupid Metaverse rules." She countered in annoyance.

"It was a joke." Yang bluntly countered. "Serpent, please rein her in?" She soon requested with a sigh.

"What do you think I've been doing since we met her?" Serpent simply replied with hands on her bare hips.

"Don't hate me for it." Oracle retorted, being unphased by the statement. Out of the corner of her eye, she then noticed the faux feline staring at the train tracks and away from the girls. "Mona, you can look. We don't mind, really." She then stated to him, prompting the other girls to flinch.

Mona felt a bit irritated by that, feeling a bit tired from the nudity he saw and the teasing, subtle or not in his life. "Oracle, I'm just being considerate here for you and the girls' sake here, okay?" He soon stated, sounding quite annoyed. "I already had enough during the bath with Lady Hyōki and-...n-never mind." He then started declaring before stopping himself and started blushing scarlet.

"...Lady Hyōki?" The five repeated in a curious manner.

"Forget it, please." Mona requested.

Their expressions however said otherwise. "...Did you see a girl in the nude?" Yang questioned, her hands crossed over her chest.

"...I've been doing that a lot of times with you guys." Mona had to remind, still staring at the tracks.

"Mona-chan..." Yin got out, remembering their bubble bath.

"I mean, did you see a girl that's not in our group in the nude?" Yang soon corrected herself.

"..." Mona simply stayed silent as he crossed his arms.

"Mona, please be honest with us." Widow soon requested.

"...I did." Mona reluctantly revealed with a sigh. "While in my other form, I had an encounter with one of the shinobis that's living in an apartment complex in Yongen." He then started.

"Really? One of them was out and about?" Serpent questioned with narrowed eyes. "Why exactly?" She then asked.

"Not sure, but she seemed upset and concerned about something, so I curiously got closer to try and listen in on what it was about and..." Mona began. "I ended up learning that she developed a crush on one of the guys." He then revealed as he glanced to the nude males of the group

"A crush?" Yin repeated, sounding curious about it.

"And who might that be?" Widow asked ahead.

Mona in turn sighed, knowing this would happen. "It was...Skull." He awkwardly revealed.

SHATTER!

Sounds of mental glass were soon heard from the five nude girls as they went wide eyed to that reveal.

"S-Skull!?" Yin repeated in shock

"The hell?" Oracle got out.

"O-Oh my..." Yang and Widow breathed out.

"You gotta be kidding me..." Serpent muttered.

"Yeah..." Mona confirmed with a nod...while still not looking at the nude girls.

"Ryuji/Ryuji-kun has a girl crushing on him!?" The five soon enough exclaimed.

"Q-Quiet! And codenames, girls." Mona hissed out and reminded before groaning. "Yeah, found out about it recently when I encountered her." He soon revealed.

"...So one of the shinobis that's living in the same area as Joker has fallen for him." Serpent stated as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"That...was not what I expected to learn today." Widow confessed.

Yang meanwhile blinked. "Wait but...he's...uh oh..." She thought to herself, thinking back to when he saw the dyed blond on his date with the Hanzō Academy blonde. "...There's no way he knew..." She then added in her head.

"Was that why you and Skull-" Yin began asking.

"Yeah." Mona sighed out. "He got pissed after learning about me being in the bath with her." He then explained.

"Whoa, hold up, how did you end up going into the bath with that Hyōki girl, Mona?" Oracle soon asked.

"She...brought me along in the bathhouse while I was wandering outside the cafe." Mona soon revealed, recalling the events as he blushed. "And then she snuck me in and bathed with me, started talking about her life and problems and stuff." He continued before recalling what happened. "...She's had a bad life." He stated as he balled his hands into fists. "And I mean one where her father is unforgivable." He then declared with narrowed eyes filled with anger and hatred.

That in turn got their attention from the sudden mood change, causing them to become concerned.

"Mona-chan?" Yin muttered, nervous as she could feel the anger coming off her friend.

"Whoa." Yang muttered.

"Mona seems...enraged about it." Widow couldn't help but comment.

"...How bad are we talking exactly?" Serpent however pressed on.

"Really bad." Mona vaguely revealed before sighing. "But...can we talk about it later? When everyone is now up, and we're now out of Mementos." he soon requested.

"You're right." Widow responded in agreement. "We're still in Mementos, so it's not safe here. We also need to tell everyone about it as well." She then stated.

"Just...don't let Skull know I told you, please." Mona hesitantly requested as the other girls nodded. "And...can you repair everyone's clothes?" He then once more requested.

"Right. Let me get the Sewing Kits..." Yin sighed as she reached into the duffel bag, really hoping they brought enough.

"If only we could stay like this a little longer..." Oracle commented.

"Hush you." Yang and Serpent chided at the same time as the orangette pouted.

Soon the sounds of sewing machines filled the air as the others' clothing returned...

...and the full frontal nudity going away along with it, much to Oracle's dismay and chagrin.

Yin soon sighed in relief. "Alright, good as new." She replied with a smile underneath her mask.

"Should we heal them all as well?" Mona soon asked.

"That would be the best decision to make." Yang responded as she looked at the others. "Remember, no one mentions what we learned about Skull's crush." She then instructed.

To that, the others nodded in agreement.

After that, healing spells were showered among the unconscious Thieves, and there was waiting.

Joker suddenly shifted first...until he regained consciousness once more. "Ugggghhh..." He then groaned as he tried to sit up.

"You okay, Leader?" Yin soon asked.

"Did someone get the license plate on that artillery shell?" Joker asked while holding his head.

"..." Everyone was staring at their Leader in silence. "Either he's okay, or his brain needs healing, I can't tell." Yang then began.

"I'm fine. Seriously." Joker reassured before wincing. "Okay, less fine, more regretting being awake." He then admitted.

"You best be." Yang and Widow responded at the same time before looking at each for a second...with small smiles etched on both of their faces.

Joker noticed this with a sigh as he slowly got up from the ground, still having mild pain on some parts of his body.

"FINLAND!" Skull suddenly yelped as he sat up. " W-Wha...?" He got out in confusion as he looked around.

"Welcome back, Skull." Serpent greeted, standing almost near him with crossed arms under her breasts. "You said that at Oracle's Palace too when you fell down that pitfall." She then recalled.

"Did I?" Skull responded as the white haired woman nodded in confirmation. "Oh..." He then awkwardly got out.

"I think you need more references." Joker muttered.

"PROTECT ME, CONE!" Panther soon panickingly screamed as she shot up and covered her chest.

"See, like that." Joker then stated.

The others meanwhile gained confused expressions to that. "There are no...we're in a subway." Serpent reminded.

"Um...forget I said that." Panther awkwardly requested.

"What cone are you referring to, Panther?" Noir meanwhile asked in a curious yet dizzy sounding manner.

"Uh...just some traffic cone. Don't mind it too much, Noir." Panther soon responded while fixing up her hair.

"Ngh, that was an experience..." Fox groaned.

"That's all you have to say, Fox!?" Oracle snapped.

"Actually, I feel...inspired." The young artist soon admitted.

"Goddammit." Serpent grumbled with a sigh. "This blue-haired man is so sophisticated it loops back to stupid." She then sighed.

"Ugh...is everyone alright?" Queen meanwhile asked.

"Just about." Yin answered. The advisor soon let out a sigh of relief before...

THUD!

"Zzzz..." Queen snored, having once again fallen into unconsciousness.

"Queen!" Panther exclaimed.

"No, leave her be." Yang sighed out before...

BOING! SQUISH!

Going over and embracing her friend in a hug, her head against her bust. "There there, Queen..." Yang soothingly whispered.

The sleep Queen instinctively snuggled in response.

"Yang domesticated Queen..." Skull and Oracle muttered with widened eyes.

Skull then approached his Leader, leaning in and cupped a hand on the latter's ear. "Women are weird." He then whispered.

"...Yeah." Joker somehow replied in a whispering tone as well. "They are." He then added.

Noir meanwhile took her hat off and patted it, trying to remove some dirt and dust off of it.

"Noir, are you okay?" Yin soon asked.

"...eh?"

"Noir, is anything broken? Anything that's still hurting?" Yin then clarified.

Noir stared at the Vice Leader with an owlish expression. "What are you talking about, Asu-chan?"

"Noir! Codenames!" Yin reminded.

"But aren't we just about to go to Mementos?" Noir got out before she looked around. "Wait, are we here already? Did I fall asleep!?" She then exclaimed in shock.

"...Fuck, the Reaper shot her head and now she has freaking amnesia." Serpent swore and stated.

"That's some serious brain damage, man." Skull got out in worry.

"I feel perfectly fine." Noir replied in a reassuring manner as she then tilted her head. "...So, when are we taking on my father again?" She then asked.

"Joker! She got hit with Forget!" Mona called out in a panic.

"On it." The Leader responded. "Glad I brought a pure healing Persona too..." Joker then muttered to himself.

After that, Joker casted Amrita Drop on Noir, hoping she would return back to normal.

"Now, Haru, do you remember what happened earlier?" Joker soon asked.

"..." Noir could only stare at her teammate as the sounds of screaming, gunfire, and boobs bouncing filled her head. "...I would rather not." She then muttered.

"Yep, she's healed." Serpent sighed out.

"Can't believe that thing destroyed all of our clothes in only one shot." Yin muttered.

"It had ALL THE SKILLS!" Oracle yelled. "Of course it could destroy our clothes!" She then added with the same tone.

"I feel like I got punched in the feelings." Panther whined while rubbing her sternum.

"Well, you did get taken out, like, three times." Yang muttered with a wince. "I think I remember you getting blown into the ceiling." She then recalled.

"...I'm too tired and traumatized to make a perverted crack about getting blown..." Oracle muttered.

"Good." Serpent bluntly responded. "Stay that way for this moment, young lady." She then instructed in a motherly manner.

"NEVA!" Oracle dramatically exclaimed, causing the others to sweatdrop.

"You want more cup ramen or not, young lady?" Serpent counter asked. "Remember our agreement." She then reminded.

"..." Oracle was silent, looking conflicted whether or not it was worth it. "Okay, okay." She soon relented. She wanted that limited edition cup ramen for free, dammit. Along with some consensual touching.

"...Can I pee over there?" Panther suddenly requested, clearly trying to cope from the fear and panic back then.

"You may, Panther." Yang responded as she gestured towards the spot the latex-suit-wearing Thief was referring to.

"Thank you." Panther responded as she walked away to relieve herself. "Ew, did someone puke over here!?" She then got out in disgust.

"My bad!" Oracle called out.

"You know what, let's just all go to the nearest safe area and...cry. Just for a few minutes." Queen soon suggested.

"Yeah, crying sounds good." Skull admitted.

"...I take full responsibility for suggesting we do that." Joker got out.

"It would be best if you did." Yang responded.

(Akzeriyyuth, Area 12)

"We made it to the bottom of this area." Mona reported as the Thieves arrived at the empty train platform.

"I've noticed we'd usually have a request that occurs on these transition floors." Queen soon got out. "Sort of like a gatekeeper before we can pass on through to the next part of Mementos." She then deducted.

"Well, we don't have one this time." Skull spoke. "Guess we'll hafta wait 'til we get one." He then added.

"Hey, Oracle, have you found a way to open these walls early yet?" Yin soon asked in a curious manner as she tapped her knuckles on the door.

"Nope. Guess this wall's a no-go unless we can get more people to accept us..." Oracle reported.

"Hey, can't you just use your Oracle power or whatever to do something about it?" Skull asked.

Their navigator shrugged. "Prolly not. I'm not some kinda god, you know?" Oracle replied and reminded.

Serpent meanwhile sweatdropped. "Oracle as a goddess..." She muttered in a nervous manner.

"Bow to me, mortals." Oracle automatically commanded. "Prepare your mammies to me, your goddess of massive breasts." She then added with the same tone.

"Stop it, Oracle." Widow scolded while pinching her cheek.

"Speaking of gods...have you heard of the god who performed a lewd dance to open a sealed rock door?" Fox randomly recalled.

"Hmmm...I think I see what you're getting at." Queen soon agreed, surprising the Thieves before she turned to the dyed blonde. "Go for it, Skull!" She then cheered.

"Queen!?" Yang gasped in shock.

"The degeneracy is spreading." Panther groaned.

"I'm outta here." Skull deadpanned as he started walking away.

"Hold on." Joker spoke up. "I know that exact tale. I know which god that was." He soon informed.

"Joker?" Yang got out, already looking unamused.

"Give me five minutes. I'll be right back." Joker informed as he pulled out his phone.

"Joker, you're not seriously going to- and he's gone." Mona began before he suddenly vanished. "...Wow, looking at fast travel from the outside is weird." He had to admit.

"Are we really gonna wait for him?" Panther deadpanned.

"I dunno, I want to see him try." Yin admitted. "Maybe he'll actually open it. Stranger things have happened." She then added.

"Down here or in reality?" Serpent questioned in a flat tone.

"Alright, I guess we're doing this." Widow sighed. "So...what do you guys want to do until Joker returns?" She soon asked.

"...Old Maid?" Fox suggested while pulling out a deck of cards.

About one round of Old Maid later (Noir won, if you were wondering), their Leader returned and summoned Ame-no-Uzume. Although it took a little convincing (which was odd, none of them were going to lie), she began replicating the very dance she did to bring Amaterasu out of her cave.

And so, the Thieves watched as the goddess...performed a lap dance. For a door.

"...This was a lot funnier in my head." Joker soon admitted.

"How much did Ame-no-Uzume cost you?" Yin had to ask.

"6,489 yen." Joker answered automatically.

"...You wasted money on a single joke, huh." Yang deadpanned.

"Yup." Joker got out in a regretful manner.

"..."

"..."

"...We can leave at any time, you know. We're done for the day." Panther soon reminded, although she hadn't looked away from the dancing Persona.

"I know. Just...resting." Skull muttered his response.

"Yeah. Let's just...rest for a bit before we head back up." Serpent added as they all sat down to enjoy the sh- I mean, relax for a while.

(10/7, Evening)

(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)

Once everyone had separated for the night, Akira escorted the young hacker back to her home before heading back to the cafe himself for the night...but not before getting the ash blonde's promised snacks.

"Welcome back." Haruka greeted, seeing the boy climb upstairs.

"Evening, Haruka..." Akira replied, yawning as he set down his bag, allowing Morgana to silently climb out and head to the couch. Even the little guy seemed tuckered out. "Want a churro? I got extra." He soon offered.

The doctor-in-training frowned in concern as she saw how lethargic her love looked. "You look exhausted. Tough day?" She soon questioned, only getting a nod in response. "Are you going to call your maid again?" She then assumed.

"Nah, I don't want to call her too often. She has a life outside of that." Akira waved off while he shook his head. "Plus, she isn't getting paid anymore for it, so I'd rather not waste too much of her time on me." He then added.

"So kind." Haruka thought with a smile. "Buttttt...~" She then spoke in a teasing manner.

"I get it, I have a nice ass. So do you, if you haven't noticed." Akira sighed out, rolling his eyes with a small smile.

"I wasn't talking about your butt." Haruka however pointed out before grinning. "But thank you." She then added in amusement.

"You're welcome. So what were you going to say?" Akira replied.

"Well, I do know the human body very intimately, and your body even more so. I could give you a massage if you want?" Haruka replied and soon offered.

Akira meanwhile smiled at the offer. "Haruka, you really don't need to. I just need some sleep." He tried to turn down the offer.

"But I always see you doing something at this time. You rarely ever waste time." Haruka countered. "I bet your heart wants you to do something productive, but your body says otherwise." She then commented.

"Actually, it's my cat." Akira pointed out, glancing at the sleeping not cat.

"Darling~" Haruka however responded, surprisingly in a more menacing tone.

"...Alright." Akira relented.

Haruka grinned, mentally pumping her fist at yet another chance to feel up her crush, but she then froze (and turned on) when she saw the boy starting to take off his shirt. "...You don't have to take off your clothes." She pointed out, though was mentally cheering at the sight.

"After the day I've had, I need the extra freedom." Akira yawned before stripping off his pants. "Plus, I get the feeling that since my butt is on your mind, you'd want to see it." He then added.

"Honestly, all of you is always on my mind." Haruka confessed as she licked her lips, watching him fully undress in front of her. "Your hair, your eyes, your nose, your di-" She began listing off.

"I'm gonna lay on my bed now." Akira interrupted in a flat tone as he made his way to the bed, making sure the not cat was fully asleep.

"Di-di-diaphragm. I mean." Haruka stammered a little. She didn't mean to say that.

"Suuuurrreeee..." Akira playfully droned out with a smirk.

That immediately caused Haruka to pout. "Don't tease me. I'm the one who should be doing the teasing." She got out.

"And flirting. Don't forget the flirting." Akira reminded with a raised finger. "Just wanted to give you a taste of your own medicine, is all." He then revealed in amusement.

"Well, the medicine is delicious." Haruka responded. At that moment, her eyes began to wander over his body. She started blushing, licking her lips, even rubbing her thighs together before she realized it. "...D-Darling." She soon stammered out.

"Hm?" Akira hummed out, noticing the slight tone change in the girl's voice.

"...I'm losing my patience, you know." Haruka muttered her confession. "I...It's taking a lot from me not to...not to..." She then started before trailing off.

"How about the day after tomorrow?" Akira soon offered.

"...Eh?" Haruka got out.

"You and me. Day after tomorrow." Akira responded once more.

"..." Haruka blinked before she soon blushed. "T-The date?" She stammered out.

"Yep." Akira confirmed with a nod. "Not tomorrow, sorry, I already have a thing, but..." He then apologized before explaining until...

SQUISH!

Haruka immediately went and hugged the boy's arm in a clingy manner. "I have waited months since I met you, darling." She responded. "What's another day or two?" She then added.

"Haruka..." Akira breathed out.

"I will always wait for you, darling." Haruka soon softly declared. "Just...promise me you'll always come back." She then requested.

"I will." Akira reassured.

"Good." Haruka responded with a nod. "Now, how about that massage?" She then offered once more.

"R-Right." Akira nodded as he laid on his bed. Instantly, he knew something when he heard the familiar sound of rustling clothes. "...Masseuses don't strip too." He pointed out.

BOING!

"I said I was losing my patience." Haruka reminded with a seductive smirk, already down to her lace pink and black underwear. "You could give me something to make the wait a little more bearable, you know." She then added.

The Leader shuddered. Akira could feel his resistance beginning to crumble. It would be so easy to give in, to give the willing girl everything she could ever want but...

"Rail her! Rail her! Rail her! She's already yours, make it official already! Take all of them as the rebel you are!"

"Shut it, Incubus." The Leader mentally remarked with a blush. Curse those Fusion Accidents for causing him to get stuck with that particular Persona. "...K-Keep your panties on. Please." Akira managed to get out in a somewhat pleading manner.

"Anything you desire. Darling~" Haruka replied in a loyal manner as she tossed off her bra.

"That's the problem." Akira weakly thought as he laid on his bed, allowing the busty, nearly naked girl that was completely infatuated with him to straddle him as she began feeling up his body.

BOING! BOING! BOING!

"...Dammit, I hate my willpower..." Akira thought as he forced himself to keep his hands to his sides. If he started, he didn't know if he could stop.

(And, in a more romantic timeline, he would definitely regret it afterwards.)

He was going to enjoy the massage, but he was going to need to head to the bathroom afterwards or change his sheets before going to sleep...or both. Both felt extremely likely as he felt the girl rub more than just her hands on him.

God, was there anyone on Earth right now who had just as complicated relationships with girls as him?

(Sakamoto Residence)

"ACHOO!" Ryuji suddenly sneezed, barely managing to cover his nose and mouth with his arm.

"Ryu-kun! Here's a tissue." His mom soon offered a tissue to her son.

"Thanks Mom." Ryuji responded gratefully as he wiped his face and arm of his snot.

His mom soon pouted as her son wiped his nose. "You almost ruined your dinner by sneezing on it. I got pork belly today, don't waste it!" She then got out.

"Sorry, it's delicious." The dyed blond apologized and informed with a smile.

"Thank you. It's a new recipe I've been wanting to try out." The Sakamoto mother replied and revealed. "So, how was your day, sweetie?" She soon asked in a curious manner.

"It was pretty good." Ryuji answered. "Hung out with the gang again." He then added.

His mother in turn smiled. "I'm glad you made some good friends." She confessed in approval. "As well as some of them being some very attractive girls like Asuka-chan and Ann-chan." She then added as she glanced at a fashion magazine she had.

"T-They're just friends, Mom!" Ryuji stammered out. "I ain't a chick magnet or some shit..." He then grumbled, though blushed after thinking back to what the not cat revealed to him.

"I'm just teasing you." His mom giggled lightly. "You'll eventually learn that messing with children is an adult's greatest pleasure." She then revealed.

Ryuji soon sighed as he uneasily looked at his mother. "Mom...I actually got an issue I just learned about." He soon confessed with a sigh.

"Does it involve the two girls that like like you?" Ryuji's mother assumed.

SLAM!

Ryuji's head immediately impacted with the table. "Y-YOU KNEW!?" He exclaimed with a blush.

The Sakamoto mother giggled in response again. "Of course. If I couldn't read my own son like my favorite book, you wouldn't be the cutest, kindest, handsomest boy in the world. And I must say, I'm impressed, son." She then confessed with a smirk.

"Th-There are definitely handsomer people than me, Mom." Ryuji mumbled while averting his gaze.

"Hey, don't say that. I even got proof." His mom stated as she pulled out from seemingly nowhere a fancy-looking, laminated certificate. "See? A Certificate of Handsomeness, approved and signed by the Department of Individual Captivation and Kindness. I got it for you when you were only five years old." She then revealed.

"M-Mom..." Ryuji got out in embarrassment at the sight. "W-What should I do though about the two girls that like me?" He soon asked.

His mother in turn sighed as she looked at her son, gaining a more serious look. "Ryu-kun, I've been in love several times in my life." She began. "Love may be important in living a fulfilling life, but it can be fleeting or even dangerous. Your heart, as wise and accepting as it is, can guide you down the wrong path. I know my heart has done so several times throughout my life." She then explained and stated.

"Mom..." Ryuji got out.

"He Who Shall Not Be Mentioned in This Household seemed like a good man once upon a time, you know." His mom soon began to reminisce. "He was such a dreamboat. Like straight out of a K-Drama. We met in university but we didn't get together until a few years later, but all throughout, we were trying to get each other to notice each other." She soon recalled in detail.

"Mom, I...You shouldn't..." Ryuji uncomfortably started.

"Let me reminisce on the man he once was, Ryu-kun." His mom soon responded before getting back to her story. "Boy, we were idiots. I would practically throw myself at him, but when I gave up hope and dated someone else, he did the same. He even did this grand romantic gesture one night." She then continued recalling.

"What was it?" Ryuji soon asked.

"...He had a marching band play outside my dorm room." His mom answered, looking rather embarrassed by the memory even years later. "It was terrible. All night, they played Weird Al, which he lovingly translated to Japanese. Everyone threw stuff at him the next morning." She then revealed and recalled.

"What the eff!?" Ryuji couldn't help but laugh.

His mother couldn't help join in his laughter. "It was right then that I knew I was going to marry him one day." His mom soon stated with a joyful giggle. It lasted for a good half a minute before it turned into a sad sigh. "Of course, I soon realized how crap those gestures really are. Doing something expensive, dangerous, or both doesn't exactly lead to a great relationship. And then he started drinking and..." She continued before ending with a sigh of disappointment.

"...Yeah." Ryuji sighed out. "...It's not your fault." He had to say.

His mom let out a small, if hollow laugh. "I should've known who he was the first time came to my door with flowers while I was with someone else." She stated. "But that's love. It makes you blind, do dumb things, and make mistakes you can't take back. I was always hoping, ever since he left, that you would never have to go through something like that." She then added.

"..."

"That being said, love is still...wonderful. Love can change someone for the better. After all, without love, I wouldn't be here talking to you, Ryu-kun." The Sakamoto mother soon stated.

"M-Mom." Ryuji got out.

"Familial love, platonic love, romantic love...everyone should be able to experience that at least once but the world isn't so kind to provide that. Finding love isn't easy, and you are very lucky to have two girls in your life who find that love in you." His mother listed off and soon explained. "However, I do suggest you choose one and set the one you don't down gently, and to do it soon." She then concluded.

"Soon?" Ryuji repeated as he blinked.

"I've seen some of your shows, and they all have the same theme so you should already know this. Waiting only prolongs heartache." His mother soon informed. "Be upfront with them, or else love can turn to hate, and hate can turn to anger, and anger always leads to suffering." She then advised.

"...Thanks, Mom." Ryuji got out with an appreciative nod. "I needed that." He then added in a grateful manner as he started drinking some of his water.

"...That being said however, I would actually not mind if you get with both of them." The Sakamoto mother concluded as she then took another bite of her dinner.

"PFFFFFT!" Ryuji instantly spat out his water upon hearing that.

"Saw that comin'." Seiten Taisen responded in amusement.

"Don't spit." The Sakamoto mother however reminded in an unphased manner.

Coughing and wiping his mouth, he could only stare at his single mom in disbelief. "MOM! WHY!?" Ryuji exclaimed.

"...Because my son is the kindest, handsomest man I know." His mom answered, as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. "Also, grandbabies. Lots and lots of grandbabies." She then added in a grin.

The dyed blond in turn blushed. "But...Kamoshida-" The dyed blond weakly began.

"Is. Gone." Ryuji's mother interrupted in a no nonsense tone with narrowed eyes. "He cannot hurt you or anyone else anymore. Neither will He Who Shall Not Be Mentioned. But you are not either of them. When given an opportunity like this, you did not abuse it like them, and very much doubt you would throw them away like them once it no longer benefits them." She then reminded and stated.

"But, even if I wanted to, I...I can't handle two at once..." Ryuji soon muttered.

"Not now, but you will when the time comes." His mom assured. "I most certainly have. Hehehehe~" She vaguely got out with a giggle.

"...Huh?" Ryuji responded, genuinely confused.

His mother cleared her throat. "...I mean, erm, you will rise to the challenge eventually." She soon clarified. "...I saw that big, eff-off basket in your room while you were away. Do you need me to buy condoms on my next shopping trip or do you need edible lube?" She eventually informed and soon offered.

Ryuji's blush immediately flared up to that. "M-MOM!" He exclaimed in embarrassment. "Urgh, Katsu-chan and Hyōki-chan, I really hope I can work this out." He then added as the night went on full of teasing from his mother.

(Okumura Residence)

"ACHOO!" Katsuragi sneezed. "Oh, someone must be thinking about me." She assumed with a smile before going to grab a tissue.

She really hoped it was Ryuji, spanking the monkey before he goes to sleep tonight. She had been thinking about him all day, ever since they started dating.

On an unrelated note, she had changed Haru's sheets for her. No reason in particular, she just wanted to do some laundry while she was here.

"Man, this mission has been one amazing moment to another!" Katsuragi thought as she put her skirt back on. "I should definitely go on one more date with Ryu-kun before I head back to Hanzō. With everything going on, I might not get to see him for weeks! Days, even!" She soon decided and stated.

...What? She had her priorities. Plus, Okumura Foods still hadn't changed their plans of screwing over her school, so she couldn't care less for them, and especially for Haru's father.

Well, no, she did care about him a little, but only because anything other than karmic retribution would make Haru sad.

She also didn't want Ikaruga to get worried either since she was one of Haru's childhood friends.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Hm?" Katsuragi hummed out as she looked at her phone. "Ryu-kun, yes! Maybe he's sending me tasteful nudes!" She thought as she opened up her IM.

[Shut7heFUp: Hey, wanna go out tomorrow? I got a surprise for you.]

[GoddessOfMelons: Is it a sexy surprise?]

[Shut7heFUp: It depends on how ya see it. It's at Inokashira Park.]

[GoddessOfMelons: I'll bring the sexy underwear.]

With that, Katsuragi put away her phone with a dreamy sigh.

It hasn't even been a week since they've started dating, and already she felt like living her life with him. It was a nice feeling to have knowing that she managed to secure lifelong happiness in her teenage years. She was seriously head over heels in love with a stud muffin like him!

And now he was (possibly) offering a sexy surprise! He had proven himself as the perfect boyfriend already!

"Hm...I said sexy underwear, but should I surprise him by going commando?" Katsuragi soon wondered before gasping. "Ooh, ribbons. That sounds really tempting..." She then started rambling.

Well, no time like the present to prepare for her date. She soon started taking off her clothes and went through her luggage in search of date-worthy attire, starting off with her underwear options.

BOING!

Katsuragi soon grinned as she looked at herself in the mirror, holding her lace blue bra covered bust in her hands. "Oh yeah, definitely bigger now. I'm definitely a K-Cup or something right now!" She got out with giddy in her voice as she then looked at her phone again. "Better contact the Shinobi Tailors for all of my clothes here and back at Hanzō Academy." She then decided as she contacted said group.

She also couldn't wait to see what else would happen tomorrow. Maybe the other girl that likes her boyfriend would be there too!

(Yongen-Jaya, Tokyo Mirage Apartment Complex)

"ACHOO!" Hyōki suddenly sneezed out. "Ah, I felt that my soul!" She then moaned in pain.

"God, Hyōki, get a tissue!" Yuki called out.

"Out." The young leader bluntly informed.

"Then use the toilet paper!" Miki suggested. "A lot softer than the brand Maki got." She then added.

"Ugh..." The young Leader groaned as she went to the bathroom.

"So, is it flu season again or is someone talking about you?" Miki asked before soon assuming.

"Is that really a human thing?" Reki soon questioned. "Do all humans have some sort of collective consciousness that allows one to tell if they are being talked about via the expulsion of mucus?" She then asked in a curious manner.

"I-It's just a saying, Reki-chii." Yuki awkwardly revealed. "It's not actually true." She then added with a sweatdrop.

"Then why claim it as such?" Reki then pressed in a curious manner.

"Well, it's nice to imagine that it is true. Like, as a kid, I thought when it rains, God is actually peeing." Miki soon admitted.

"...Why would you think that's remotely nice?" Reki soon asked.

"Well, he holds it in all summer and then-" Miki began explaining.

"Alright, we are not going into this topic anymore." Maki soon decided as the young Leader came back into the living room. "You okay?" She then asked.

"Yes. Now, where was I?" Hyōki replied with a nod before sitting back down.

"4 Blue. It's your turn." Yuki answered.

"Oh, 7. Give me your cards, Maki." Hyōki responded as she threw down her Blue 7 card.

"Dammit." Maki cursed as she switched her three card hand for a 27 card deck. "We've been at this for two hours now! Can someone win already!?" She then complained.

"Over my dead body." Reki growled, clutching hard on her hand full of 0s of every color but blue.

"...You know that doesn't exactly work when you say it..." Miki soon pointed out.

"Be glad this isn't Monopoly..." Yuki muttered with a sweatdrop.

The ravenette meanwhile sighed to this. Never in her life had she ever felt such despair and misery before that game night.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Hm?" Hyōki hummed out as she took out her phone. "Ryuji-kun?" She got out, getting the attention of the others.

[Shut7heFUp: Hey, wanna go out tomorrow? I got a surprise for you.]

[GoddessOfMelons: Is it a sexy surprise?]

[Shut7heFUp: It depends on how ya see it. It's at Inokashira Park.]

[GoddessOfMelons: I'll bring the sexy underwear.]

(...)

[LeopardPrincess:...Um...]

[Shut7heFUp: Wait, shit! Katsu-chan!]

[Shut7heFUp: And she's gone...]

[LeopardPrincess: She seems...interesting.]

[Shut7heFUp: That's my girlfriend. Um, I hope she noticed that I'm inviting you too, Hyō-chan.]

(...)

[LeopardPrincess: Hyō-chan? You never called me that before.]

[Shut7heFUp: Testing out a new nickname. Like it?]

[LeopardPrincess: I love you]

[LeopardPrincess: I MEAN I LOVE YOUR NICKNAME FOR ME]

[LeopardPrincess: IT'S NOT LIKE I LOVE YOU OR ANYTHING]

[LeopardPrincess: I LOVE YOU AS A FRIEND]

(...)

[Shut7heFUp: I love you as a friend too.]

[Shut7heFUp: Welp, I'm gonna turn in early. Gotta prep the basket for the surprise picnic tomorrow. Night.]

If there was anyone else looking at the conversation (for example, a mischievous hacker with way too much time on her hands and way too much investment in her friends' lives), they would facepalm upon seeing Ryuji spoil the surprise.

Unfortunately, no one had the chance to point out the incredibly stupid mistake.

Not like Hyōki cared for that as she looked at her screen. "...Ryuji-kun's inviting me to a picnic!" The young ravenette exclaimed in excitement. "Yes yes yes yes! It's going to be so fun and- wait, is he going to cook!? He's going to cook for me!" She squealed in delight, hugging her phone like a teddy bear.

Wait a minute.

Checking the text log again, she groaned as she saw that she overlooked one tiny detail. "No, he cooked for his girlfriend..." Hyōki soon mumbled in disappointment while dropping her head in depression.

"He's obviously cooking for both of you!" Another female voice remarked.

"H-Huh?" Hyōki stammered as she turned to see her grinning friend looking over her shoulder. "Yuki!" She exclaimed as she turned off her phone.

"What? You weren't exactly keeping it private." Yuki countered. "And could you be more obvious with that fumble?" She teasingly asked in amusement.

"He didn't notice..." Hyōki mumbled.

"Or he's intentionally ignoring it." Maki soon added. "I mean, who wants to acknowledge that their best friend is in love with them while they're dating a completely different person?" She then pointed out.

Hyōki's head soon dropped even further in depression. "I'm hopeless when it comes to these things..." She berated herself.

"You're hopeless in a lot of things." Miki chimed in. "Hopelessly in love, hopelessly anti-social, hopelessly better than your dense sister that can't see her best friend is in love with her..." She teasingly began listing off in a joking manner.

"That last one's really specific..." Reki deadpanned.

"But it's true about Gin with Onee-chan." Hyōki confessed with a sigh.

"Still, this Katsuragi chick is so bold for mentioning getting sexy underwear on." Yuki soon remarked.

"Y-Yeah..." Hyōki had to admit in agreement. "...Wait, she left the chat before Ryu-kun said-" She then got out before freezing, her eyes widening while her face turned red.

"...Hyōki?" Reki called out.

"D-Do I need to do risque stuff like that to get him to like me...?" Hyōki soon whispered to herself.

"Maybe if you send a video of her vagi-" Miki began to call out, only to get a pair of panties stuffed into her mouth.

"Quiet you." Hyōki bluntly ordered, stuffing the panties even further. "I-I would never do something like that!" She then declared.

The pinkette soon pushed her leader away and took the wet underwear out of her mouth. "Even if he asked you?" Miki then pressed.

"...G-Guhhhh...well...erm...it-it has to be for a good reason!" Hyōki soon admitted with a groan. "But he would never request that!" She quickly added.

"Do you have any other ambition than stealing someone else's boyfriend?" Maki soon questioned in a flat tone. "Because that's all you seem to think about lately." She then added.

"I-I'm not...I have no...I don't want to..." Hyōki stammered out, unsure how to properly respond. "I-It does seem like it, doesn't it..." She then soon relented.

"You haven't really talked about anything else but Ryuji ever since you met him." Reki soon pointed out. "Hyōki, you need to slow down." She then instructed.

"...But if I do that, I'll lose him to her." Hyōki whimpered. "I wasn't fast enough to steal his heart first, so I'm trying to catch up." She soon stated.

"But you're going to trip at the worst possible moment." Miki sighed while shaking her head. "Think back now, how did you become friends with Ryuji?" She then questioned.

"Eh?" The young Leader got out in confusion.

"Tell me, how exactly did you get to know him?" Miki insisted.

"We met at Protein Lovers Gym with him approaching me, offering to help me out since it was my first time there and then he made sure no one would peep on me in the showers." Hyōki responded and recalled. "A perfect gentleman, through and through..." She then added.

"...She's not wrong there." Miki had to admit.

"Hai, I even heard him get pissed at some people who did try and peep." Hyōki added with a love-filled sigh.

"...How is it that this is the first time we heard about this?" Maki meanwhile asked. "Guys tried to peep on you?" She then questioned.

"I don't need to tell you guys everything! Especially something so embarrassing like that!" The young Leader exclaimed with a more embarrassed blush.

"I dunno. You should probably have told it to someone like a security guard or an officer..." Maki pointed out.

"Hehe, the staff at the gym heard Ryuji-kun yelling at them and banned the perverts from the Gym." Hyōki giggled out and revealed.

"So blatantly perverted." Yuki simply commented with a sigh. "Especially when they're a minor..." She then added with hands on her hips.

BOING!

Hyōki sighed as she cupped her breasts in her hands. "I blame these." She thought in her head. "Dammit, I hate these things sometimes...why am I cursed to possess such annoyingly-sized traits..." She soon grumbled.

Maki's eye meanwhile twitched to that. "Ahem..." She coughed out.

"Sorry." Hyōki soon apologized.

"Can we please get back on topic?" Miki pleaded to the girls. "I was trying to ask how you got to know Ryuji, how you fell for him?" She soon started and asked. "You didn't just decide to one day, right?" She then assumed.

That in turn made Hyōki widen her eyes in shock as she faced her. "What!? No, no! Absolutely not!" She then exclaimed and denied in reaction.

"So then how and when?" Miki questioned once more.

"We...just kept meeting more and more at the gym and then we hung out sometimes afterwards." Hyōki replied as she thought about it. "Like going to the movies together or getting something to eat. There is no specific point for when I fell for him. I just did over time as he treated me like a person and it just clicked to me after some time." She listed off and soon confessed.

"As a friend." Maki soon stated.

"Yes, as a friend." Hyōki replied with a weak nod. "Where are you going with this!? I'm in love with him now, isn't that all that matters?" She then demanded as she faced her.

"There's more to love than simply going along with the red string of fate." Miki suddenly explained.

"Oh, what can you, or anyone else here, say about love? None of you have ever dated anyone!" Hyoki got out in an irritated manner. "And Miki no, you and Asuka hanging out doesn't count!" She then declared.

"That may be true, but that doesn't mean we are unfamiliar with love." Miki responded. "From stories and tales, we can at least guess how it goes." She then added.

("Also, Asuka-chan actually has a boyfriend." Miki awkwardly revealed in a more romantic timeline. "Netorare is not something I would like to add to my crimes." She then added.)

"Oh yeah? Tell me what I'm screwing up." Hyōki soon ordered.

"The red string is a guide. Something to follow when you're lost." Miki started. "But it can strangle the ones you care for if used improperly. You could end up hurting him. Have you ever considered how he would feel about all this? Is he hurting now?" She then explained matter-of-factly.

"I...I don't know..." Hyōki only got out, unsure of how to respond to that.

"If Ryuji knows that you love him, and he's still trying to hang out with you, then he must really cherish your relationship with him." Maki surprisingly stated. "But you're going to ruin it if you're playing to win a game you've already lost." She then added.

"T-Then what do I do?" Hyōki then asked.

"I can't answer that for you." Maki responded. "For one thing, I've never been in a situation like this before. Secondly, it's your friendship. Your crush. What do you want to play?" She then added.

"I...I wanna cherish my time with him..." Hyōki confessed as she blushed. "I...I want to mean more to Ryuji-kun than just a friend. But I want to show him he deserves all the love in the world! More than...I deserve it." She soon added to the confession as her tone became a bit more depressed.

"Hyōki-chan..." Miki got out in concern.

"He didn't kill his parents. He didn't feel jealous. He...He didn't become a fugitive because of his own mistakes." Hyōki mumbled in a solemn manner. "...Everything that happened to him...he had no control over. I did. If...If there's anyone in this world who needs more love, it's Ryuji-kun. Not me." She then confessed.

"Don't say that..." Miki responded.

"Don't deny it." Hyōki got out as she shook her head. "I...I've been selfish. I still am. I want Ryuji-kun all to myself but...I lost that chance when he started dating this Katsuragi girl. I want to be more than friends, but I can't be anything close to a lover without ruining it! I refuse to be one of those prissy bitches that would do anything to get what she wants!" She soon listed off, confessed and declared.

"Ah, but that is where you are at an impasse." Miki responded. "A selfish desire to be Ryuji's one and only, clashing with the selfless desire to allow him to be with his love. How would one resolve it without breaking a single heart?" She then stated and soon asked.

"You could simply share him." Reki suggested.

"..." The other four in response gave blank expressions to that, though no one noticed the faint blush on the young Leader's face.

"What?" Reki responded in a no nonsense tone.

"Reki, sharing isn't exactly an option." Miki responded. "It's a lot more complicated than just doing that. You have to take into account everyone's feelings. What if one or neither of them agree to such a thing?" She then stated and questioned.

"You simply beat them into accepting the terms." Reki answered.

"We aren't dealing with shinobi here!" Yuki reminded.

"There are also tons of social and legal ramifications to such a thing. Marriage would be off the table, and if one of you gets sick, you can't sign anything for them." Maki soon added.

"I-I don't even know if he would even consider it in the first place..." Hyōki stammered out. "He...He really likes Katsuragi. He wants to treat her right. Me getting involved is just..." She then got out and stated before trailing off at the end.

"...Maybe the easiest option is to just let him go." Maki bluntly suggested.

SHATTER!

And as a result, Hyōki looked as though she was on the verge of tears.

"What!?" The other three exclaimed in shock.

"All this heartache, all this drama, and frankly all these conversations, could be resolved by letting him go. There are plenty of people out there who could be waiting for you." Maki soon explained in a blasé tone.

Hyōki grimaced. "...You're making it sound like it's easy..." She mumbled out.

"I'm not saying that it is, but it's better than agonizing over it until the day you die." Maki continued. "Keep this up, and all you do is live with regret and loneliness. That is not a way to live." She then warned.

"But...I really do love him..." Hyōki mumbled out the confession.

"If you really do, let him go." Maki soon stated. "If it was meant to be, he'll come back. Right now, all you're doing is hurting yourself. You're strangling yourself with the red string." She then explained.

"...But..." Hyōki got out in a small voice.

"Letting go doesn't mean letting go forever." Maki then continued. "I know you'll find happiness but you won't find it by forcing it." She then stated in an encouraging tone.

"...This has gotta be the most philosophical I've heard from you, Maki-chii." Yuki had to admit in awe.

"I've been thinking a lot of things while stabbing something with my knives in my free time." Maki casually replied. "So, Hyōki...what are you gonna do?" She then asked her.

"...I'll still go, but as a friend and meet her." Hyōki soon decided. "...I am a bit curious about her actually." She then confessed.

"About what?" Maki soon asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well since Ryuji-kun talks about her in a good way, she can't be all that bad right?" The ravenette explained. "Sure she mentioned in the text she was going to wear a sexy pair of underwear, but I should first meet her before anything else." She then added.

"So you're gonna judge this girl face-to-face this time?" Maki assumed.

"Words won't exactly cut it, right?" Hyōki stated. "So, it's better if I see it for myself." She then stated.

"And make sure they don't do it in the park." Maki added.

"Yep." Hyōki confirmed.

After a moment of silence, they soon realized that their Leader wasn't embarrassed at all by the prospect. "...Wait, you're fully expecting that?" Yuki soon got out in disbelief.

"You never know what could happen. Ryuji-kun said she's a massive perv after all." Hyōki responded with a blush. "Like those slasher horror movies where the couples get it on, despite the situation around them." She then added.

"This is more of a romantic comedy than a horror movie." Miki pointed out. "...With a slight mixture of porn." She then added with a lopsided smile.

Reki sweatdropped at that. "Porn? Really?" She then questioned.

"It was all I could think of." Miki simply responded with a shrug of her shoulders. "Besides, don't diss pornography. They have some really good plots. Like, lately, I've been reading-" She then began.

"Okay, okay! We get it." Hyōki exclaimed while waving her arms around. "Porn is great or whatever, and we all watch them. Anyway, tomorrow, I will make sure that Ryuji is happy with his girlfriend! If I can't be with him, I'll at least make sure he'll live a good life with someone who deserves it!" She then added and declared without hesitation in her voice.

"And become his mistress." Miki added triumphantly.

"And become his mistr- MIKI!" Hyōki soon got out before glaring at the model.

"Hahahahaha!" Miki laughed before her leader pounced on her with the intention of drawing blood.

Maki meanwhile sighed as she looked at the ceiling. "...What am I gonna do with everyone else moving on?" She thought to herself.

"Maki, can you help me make something sweet for me to bring tomorrow?" Hyōki suddenly requested while still throttling the pinkette.

The brunette in turn sighed as she looked at her needy and love-struck Leader. "...Fine." Maki sighed, soon getting a gleam in her eyes. "We actually better start the mise en place tonight and make everything the next day." She then suddenly instructed.

"The...what?" Reki then got out in confusion.

"I watch too many cooking competitions." Maki simply responded dismissively as she headed into the kitchen.

"...Are we still playing the Uno?" Reki innocently asked.

"Yup." Yuki confirmed as she picked her cards up again.

"Thank you. So, 4 blue, 4 red, 4 yellow, 4 green, 4 red..." Reki began listing off as the blonde paled.

"So that's where all the plus fours went..." Miki remarked as the blonde began to cry in anguish.

(Sakura Residence)

Meanwhile, a playful hacker leaned back in her chair and took a sip of her drink, watching several screens with feeds of her various friends, allies, and potential threats.

"Took him long enough." Futaba quipped with a smirk as she looked at the window on her computer that was showing the Leader being massaged by the semi-nude doctor's assistant.

BOING! BOING! BOING!

"Oh yeah...that feels good..." Akira confessed in a relaxed manner.

"Good." Haruka comfortably replied. "Would you like to put some oil on you?" She then offered.

"I would like to, thanks." Akira replied with a nod. "...Just don't use your tits when you do it." He then added.

Haruka sighed at that. "Killjoy." She got out with a pout as she got the oils before starting to rub the boy down with her hands.

"Dammit, Akira..." Futaba meanwhile muttered with a pout of her own as she smacked her computer desk somehow lightly in annoyance. "He's just teasing her at this point." She soon added as she glanced down at her own small and tiny body. "One day..." She then got out, hoping there would be major changes in the future.

The orangette then sighed as she leaned back in her chair and looked at the ceiling of her room as she thought back to the day's experiences with everything that happened.

"Maaaaan, Homura was completely different today." Futaba soon sighed out as an idea came to mind. "I'll send Homura text so we can watch DxD tomorrow." She then eventually decided as she began typing. "Save for her hair, she was totally like Rias today." She added with a snicker.

Though now this made her wonder how much the tan skinned girl would change afterwards.

"...Would Homura start becoming flirty and seductive like Rias if she watches it?" Futaba soon wondered with a gleam in her eyes with a wide grin on her face as she started imagining it.

(Futaba's Imagination, Bath House Changing Room)

"Ah, good day Futaba." Homura politely greeted as she then did a hair flick.

SPROING!

"Still got the curled hairstyle?" Futaba noted.

"Indeed I do," Homura simply responded. "I'm surprised you are here by yourself." She then admitted as she then unbuttoned her top.

BOING!

Revealing her black bordering on dark purple laced colored bra and panties. "Will you be alright without Miyabi?" Homura eventually asked.

Futaba in response pouted to that. "Hey! I'm a big girl, Homura! Jeez!" She responded in child-like annoyance. "But...I need Big Sis from time to time, too, you know?" She then admitted.

"Heh, fair enough." Homura responded with a smile as she then noticed where the girl's eyes were staring. "Really, Futaba? My boobs?" She then assumed with a sigh as she cupped them in her hands.

"Of course." Futaba eagerly replied. "It's a young girl's secret dream to have big tits." She then added as she brought up her hands and began wiggling her fingers.

"You'll have back pains if that were to happen to a young girl like you." Homura however reminded.

"Eh, details, details." Futaba simply waved off.

Homura soon giggled as she then embraced the orangette in a hug...

SQUISH!

Pressing the girl in between her bust. "Silly and pervy little Futaba." The tan skinned girl got out in amusement as she then started rubbing her head as if she was a pet.

"Hehehehe..." Futaba giggled out as she enjoyed the moment as she smothered her head into the massive bust.

(Sakura Residence)

"Hehehehehe..." Futaba giggled out with a gleam in her eyes. "Shinobi world is the best world." She then uttered, imagining the possibilities.

Oh how she wanted to be busty like them, though all she could do right now was grope to increase bust sizes a little like her blonde mentor can, but to a lesser degree compared to her capabilities.

"Wonder if Big Sis and I can massage together in the nude..." Futaba then wondered aloud...while instinctively running her hands slowly across her body. "Hehehe, I'll just ask her later once we have our secret session once more. Hopefully that limited edition ramen was worth the patience." She then added.

She also had to look into those weird-looking inventions that she found from Yuuki Rito's humble abode, hoping to research them and figure out its effects, as well as finding the blueprints of it and somehow making one of her own someday.

With that in mind...Futaba might consider taking a visit to his household via spying through their computers or phones or any camera in their home to find out more when she had the chance, but that would be another time.

"Still, can't believe Ryuji's got another girl crushing on him." Futaba soon breathed out as she stretched her limbs. "And that she lives nearby." She then added.

Looks like everyone has dealings with women nowadays. Akira has about...four to five girls, Ryuji's dating a girl and has another girl crushing on him...

And yes, Futaba knew that Katsuragi was dating Ryuji.

She had her connections, after all. And to some devices as well.

With that in mind, Futaba continued working on her computer before realizing something.

"Hmm...Big Sis's breasts should be getting bigger bit by bit." The hacker then assumed in her head as she began her usual hacking on her computer.

Time to make some extra money for the Phantom Thieves and others that needed it by ruining scam call centers.

(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)

At the apartment complex, Asuka, Homura, and Miyabi all dragged themselves into Apartment 269 and dumped their stuff on the floor before going to the nearest seat to finally rest after a long day of fighting Shadows and looting the unconsciousness of humanity blind.

"Urgh, why haven't we gotten used to the exhaustion...?" Asuka whined.

"We seriously need to stop letting stuff pile up and then doing it all at once." Homura groaned while stretching her limbs.

"You know Joker wouldn't let that happen." Miyabi soon mumbled.

"I know." Homura sighed.

"You mind if I crash here tonight?" Miyabi soon requested.

"Too lazy to go to your apartment?" Homura spoke in a flat manner. "You know, the one that's literally next door?" She then sighed out the reminder.

"I'm out of shampoo and your bath and toilet is better." Miyabi confessed with a sigh.

"Fine." Homura sighed out. "You know, we never actually slept at your place though. Maybe we can do that next time." She soon recalled and suggested.

"I'll think about it." Miyabi replied as they all sat down on the couch, only to wince in unison.

"Ah! Phantom pain!" Homura squeaked before groaning. "Ngh...why did the Reaper have to shove his stupid gun barrels into my butt cheeks..." She then muttered in annoyance.

"You should be lucky you didn't end up like Yusuke-kun." Asuka pointed out. "Even I felt that bullet." She then admitted with a shudder.

"If he wasn't sterile from asking girls to pose naked for him, he certainly is now." Homura sighed out.

"Ugh, I didn't think the Reaper was that tough..." Miyabi groaned with a wince. "I bet even the Yōma would run away from it in fear." She then added.

"Well it is apparently the physical manifestation of death itself, so...yeah." Asuka awkwardly reminded. "Even after killing the progenitor, we still can't get too cocky." She then stated.

"Hear, hear." Miyabi agreed before coughing. "Agh...it feels like I have and don't have a collapsed lung." She then whined.

"I can still taste my spleen." Homura mumbled. "How strong do we need to be to fight that thing?" She then grumbled.

"Akira-kun and Yumi-chan killed one before, maybe we should ask them." Asuka suggested.

"...You know, we probably should've asked that before charging in, genitals first." Miyabi remarked.

"But Sis's speech was so inspiring! If we didn't go now, it would lose its effect." Homura stated as she patted her sister's head.

"Thanks for covering for your sister's near suicidal confidence." Miyabi deadpanned.

"It was Akira who suggested it." Homura reminded.

"And we should've been the ones who shot it down." Miyabi responded as she put hands on her hips. "That is how democracy works in the ol' J A of P...A N." She then started before awkwardly concluding.

"...That did not make any sense." Homura stated in a flat tone.

"I know." Miyabi slumped on her feet.

BZZT! BZZT!

"Oops! That's me." Homura got out as she pulled out her phone.

[Alibaba9: Hey, wanna hang out tomorrow?]

[FireGirl20: Will it involve going outside?]

[Alibaba9: I've done my mandatory grass touching quota for the week. It's NEET-taba all day tomorrow!]

[Alibaba9: ...Big Sis, stop looking at Yang's text.]

"Huh?" Homura got out before looking over her shoulder to see the white haired woman doing the same. "Miyabi!" She chided.

"Stupid surveillance...who decided to put cameras everywhere in all tech...?" The white haired woman grumbled as she moved away.

[FireGirl20: You should really push yourself to stay outside more. You'll never get stronger if you don't feel the burn.]

[Alibaba9: My push-up PB is six right now. On the wall. I know what burning feels like.]

[Alibaba9: As well as what happens when you nearly poop yourself from too much effort. Man, why couldn't it be like that wrestler who ]

(...)

[Alibaba9: I should stop texting while on tangents.]

[FireGirl20: You really should.]

[FireGirl20: Okay, I'll go. But if it's an inside activity, you're going on a run with me at first light. Not sleeping in.]

[Alibaba9: That isn't too bad. I always wanted to see the girls bouncing in the morning.]

[FireGirl20: I think you've been ruined by Katsuragi.]

[Alibaba9: Katsuragi? I've been like this since I first saw the term "jazz magnet".]

[Alibaba9: Gah! Effing autocorrelation.]

[FireGirl20: Huh, looks like Ryuji's influenced you.]

[Alibaba9: Why do you blame other people? I blame the internet!]

"Huh, Futaba wants to hang out with me tomorrow." Homura revealed. "...Also, what's a jazz magnet supposed to mean?" She soon asked in confusion.

"The fuck should I know? Being attracted to jazz and negative jazz?" Miyabi bluntly responded. "Don't look at me, I've been out of the loop for a couple of years." She then reminded, noticing the gazes of the two stepsisters.

"I think whatever that means, I would be better off living without that knowledge." Homura admitted while shaking her head.

"Futaba-chan has so much knowledge it's almost scary." Asuka soon stated with a shiver.

"Smart as she is, she uses her brain for so much ill." Miyabi grumbled. "I swear, she can't go an hour without bringing up something pervy. She's becoming a dirty old man and Katsuragi is only enabling her." She then lamented.

"Shouldn't you try harder to curb those tendencies, or are you so weak that you can't bear yelling at her even a little seriously, Big Sis?" Homura advised and suggested in a teasing manner.

"You get those fucking words out your mouth, you bitch. Only Futaba can call me that." Miyabi venomously growled.

"What the hell, Miyabi!?" Homura exclaimed, slightly weirded out by the overly aggressive tone.

Miyabi immediately paused as she processed what she just said. "I gotta be honest, I have no idea where that came from." She awkwardly confessed.

"...I think we've been up too long." Homura soon assumed.

"Yeah. Mementos will do that to you." Miyabi stated with a nod

"I'll go get your futon, Miyabi-chan." Asuka soon got out.

"Nah, I'll get it myself. I know where it is." Miyabi waved off, already heading in the direction where they store it.

"You broke into our apartment often enough to know where our spare futons are?" Homura soon stated with a judging stare, causing the eldest thief to stop.

"...I plead the fifth." Miyabi soon pleaded.

"This isn't America or any other country, Miyabi-chan." Asuka giggled. "That's something Ann-chan would try using." She then added in amusement.

"Then I plead you don't question your damn sensei." Miyabi soon got out.

"Teachers can be wrong too..." Asuka pouted as she went to get the futon and prepare the sleeping arrangement for tonight.

"You know, Homura, I noticed you and Yumi were in complete sync today." Miyabi eventually recalled.

"Oh right, I noticed." Asuka stated as well. "What was up with that, Homu-neechan?" She then asked in a curious manner.

"Well, it is something Yumi-senpai and I are bonding over with being able to discipline Akira for his antics today with that...disgusting Persona." Homura proudly replied before narrowing her eyes.

"...I wonder how Akira-kun got that thing." Asuka stated as her body went a tad bit nervous from the thought.

"He said it was an accident." Miyabi recalled.

"But he still kept it anyway." Homura reminded, crossing her arms over her chest. "He should have known how everyone would have reacted." She then stated in a lecturing tone.

"Yeah, gonna have to make Futaba forget about the whole thing." Miyabi sighed. "Jeez, it had to look like a fucking penis..." She then cursed inwardly as she rubbed her forehead.

"Language." Homura sighed out as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. Now she knew what Yumi-senpai had to deal with...

"Okay, seriously, Homura, what happened between you and Yumi?" Miyabi soon asked.

"Just some simple training together." Homura simply replied.

"Does that include speech lessons, too?" Miyabi tried to retort.

"...A bit actually." Homura had to admit.

"..." Miyabi in turn blinked upon hearing that.

"It was part of my elegance training with Yumi-senpai." Homura revealed. "Though I confess I still have my moments." She then added.

"Wait...you actually got speech lessons for real?" Miyabi soon asked.

"Hai, though my training did get to the point where Yumi-senpai wishes I would attend Gessen with her." Homura sheepishly confessed before turning to her sister. "Don't worry Sis, I still plan to attend Hanzō Academy with you." She then reassured.

"Right, hehe." Asuka stated with a simple giggle. "So Yumi-chan's like a sister to you too now?" She then asked in a curious manner.

In response, Homura blushed. "Hai." She responded. "Sisters in all but blood." She then added.

"Which means Yumi-chan's like my sister too now!" Asuka happily and excitedly pointed out with sparkles in her eyes.

In turn, Homura blinked. "...I guess that's one way of thinking about it." She soon confessed.

Miyabi meanwhile blinked herself to that, something within her feeling...envious about this discussion regarding siblings.

"You could ask them to be part of it." Nobunaga soon suggested, causing the white haired woman to blush. "You know how your apprentice is." He then reminded.

"That's..." Miyabi mentally responded as she scratched her cheek to the thought. "I always saw Imu as like a sister to me since we were childhood friends." She then reminded in her head.

"I can tell...though Imu is a different situation since you know..." Nobunaga then started before trailing off.

"Huh?" Miyabi mentally got out in confusion.

She then heard Nobunaga sighing. "You still haven't realized it, have you?" He got out.

"Realized what?" Miyabi soon asked her other self.

"No need to mind." Her other self responded. "You'll hopefully figure it out in due time." Nobunaga vaguely added.

"Um...okay?" Miyabi only got out, a bit confused but decided not to dwell on it any further, deciding it was time to change the subject. "So, being regal like this is a phase right?" She soon assumed in amusement.

Homura however pouted to that, offended by the assumption. "Hmph! It is not a phase." She responded.

"Hehe, guess this Kochō girl really did inspire you huh?" Asuka giggled out from the other room.

In response, Homura nodded. "Hai, Kochō-senpai has become a real inspiration for me." She confessed in a grateful manner. "...I should text her at some point." She soon thought to herself with a gleam in her eyes.

"Watch this girl be a shinobi too." Miyabi jokingly remarked.

"Not everyone we meet is a shinobi." Homura insisted in annoyance.

At that moment, Asuka returned. "Okay, everything is set up." She called out.

"You know, Sis, I saw-" Homura began.

"Homura, stop right there." Musashi immediately cut her off in her head all of a sudden.

"Eh?" The tan-skinned girl got out, hearing her Persona's voice.

"Stop for a second and think before you speak." Musashi advised in a serious manner.

"But I was just gonna tell Sis about Katsuragi dating Ryuji. Despite her...everything, she is Asuka's neechan before me. It's no big deal. She deserves to know." Homura soon stated while shrugging her shoulders.

"Think carefully." Musashi instructed.

"About what?" Homura asked her other self.

"About who Ryuji is." Musashi responded.

"Musashi, I don't know what you mean. He's a loudmouth idiot who can't keep his trap shut when he should. He isn't too much more complicated than that." Homura thought in an annoyed manner.

"..."

"...Fuck, he should've yelled it out by now but he hasn't." Homura mentally realized.

"Yep." Musashi replied. "Please respect his privacy. You'll betray him if you do, and what sort of future principal does that?" She then stated and questioned.

Homura immediately jolted up upon hearing that. "...No, it would indeed be an unwise decision to make without his consent." She maturely responded in an intellectual tone. "I will keep it a secret for now, but I will eventually discuss it with him personally." She then mentally decided.

"Hey, dumbass." An irritated voice soon broke through her thoughts, snapping Homura out of her mental conversation.

"Huh? What? Miyabi?" Homura got out before looking around to see her dear step-sibling gone. "Where's Sis?" She soon asked.

"She left after you went silent for two minutes, staring into space like Akira when he goes to get more Personas." Miyabi answered. "You seriously need to sleep, Homura." She then stated.

"Erm, right." Homura only got out with a sweatdrop.

"...Talking with Wolverine?" Miyabi soon assumed.

"Musashi. And yes." Homura corrected and confirmed.

"I've had those moments as well with Nobunaga." Miyabi had to admit. "Pretty sure you can also notice as well from our other friends if they're talking with their own Personas or not." She then added.

"Oh yeah." Homura replied in agreement. "So where did Sis go exactly?" She then asked.

FLUSH!

"Aaaah..." Asuka breathed as she exited the bathroom while pulling up her panties. "Ah, Homu-neechan, you're back." She then let out in a delighted manner.

"I am." Homura responded with a nod.

"So, what were you about to say?" Asuka asked in a polite manner.

Homura paused. "...I forgot." She responded.

"Eh?" Asuka let out, surprised.

"Yeah, I uh...I lost my train of thought there. Sorry." Homura awkwardly confessed while rubbing the back of her neck.

"It's okay, Homu-neechan." Asuka replied with a smile. "You probably just had a brain fart moment. It's been a long day. I'm sure you'll recall it eventually." She then assumed with a giggle.

"Maybe." Homura replied with a slightly forced giggle.

Meanwhile, Miyabi narrowed her eyes as the sister continued to talk. "...Yeah, I do not believe that shit for a second." She thought. "But do I care enough to pry into it...?"

"Shogun, you have more than enough going on in your life that is more important than-" Nobunaga soon reminded, until...

"No I don't." Miyabi dismissively replied to her Persona before heading into the bedroom.

(Shinjuku, New Moon Apartment Complex)

SSSSSHHHHHH!

Steam enveloped the whole bathroom as the familiar light gray-haired girl was taking a shower in the middle of the night, her thoughts drifting back to the events that occurred within this day.

Of course, the one that was prominent was her time in Mementos along with her fellow Thieves.

As water drenched her entire body, Yumi began to feel the exhaustion from the day's events. Hopefully for her, the bath would at least alleviate all of her concerns.

Taking down Shadows from Mementos was a nice time, despite everything it entailed. However, facing the Reaper (and nearly dying) made her recall her own encounter with one.

Her own...recklessness...

Turning her head, she looked over to the shrine of her grandfather that was visible from her bathroom since she left the bathroom door open. "...I wish I could talk to you again..." Yumi muttered in a saddened tone.

"You know what he would say." Fūma chimed in.

"...I know, but hearing his voice one more time will be enough." Yumi sighed while rinsing off the suds from her body.

"You still have his last words." Her Persona reminded, bringing up his will into the forefront of her mind.

With that, Yumi turned off the shower and stayed still for a moment, thinking of her grandfather once more. After that, she then stepped out of the shower tub and towards the bathroom sink, facing the blurry wet mirror in front of her while still wet and in her birthday suit as well.

At that, she then wiped the mirror clear with her hand, now revealing her own reflection.

"Akira..." Yumi sighed as she closed her eyes...and placed a hand on her bare, wet, chest.

Tomorrow, she would show how much she cherished her relationship with him.

Save Game… Quit!

Joker

Level: 60

Personas: Arsene (Resist: Curse) (Weak: Ice, Bless), Jack Frost (Null: Ice) (Weak: Fire), Mermaid (Resists: Water, Fire) (Weak: Electric, Earth), Incubus (Resist: Electric) (Weak: Fire, Bless), Moloch (Absorb: Fire, Psy) (Null: Curse) (Resist: Electric, Wind) (Weak: Ice), Vasuki (Null: Ice, Electric) (Weak: Curse), Mara (Resist: Bless) (Null: Gun, Curse) (Absorb: Fire) (Repel: Psy), Kushinada (Repel: Bless) (Weak: Ice, Nuke)

Persona Trait: Arsene- Last Stand (Allows use of ambush-only skills after Baton Pass), Jack Frost- Ice Lineage (Chance to halve costs of Ice skills), Mermaid- Wet Bloodline (Chance to halve costs of Water skills), Incubus- Draining Mouth (Doubles effectiveness of absorption skills), Moloch- Immunity (Nullifies ailments), Vasuki- Foul Stench (Increases chance of inflicting ailments), Mara- Mighty Gaze (All-target magic damage 20%), Kushinada- Savior Bloodline (Halves costs of Recovery skills)

Skills: Eiga, Maeiga, Snipe, Speed Master, Tetrakarn, Matrakarn, Tarukaja, Bufudyne, Ice Age, Megidola, Ice Break, Baisudi, Rakunda, Freeze Boost, Null Fire, Aquadyne, Maquadyne, Mediaharan, Rakukaja, Kougaon, Makougaon, Mahamaon (x2), Concentrate, Bless Boost, Bless Amp, Attack Master, Drain Bless, Brain Jack, Triple Down, Trigger Happy, Makarakarn, Brainwash Boost, Null Curse, Agidyne, Stagnant Air, Evil Smile, Maragidyne, Ghastly Wail, Absorb Fire, Fire Amp, Mapsiodyne, One-shot Kill, Tetra Break, Charge, Brain Buster, Psy Amp, Psycho Force, Hysterical Slap, Psy Wall, Mediaharan, Matarukaja, Null Confuse, Wind Wall, Amrita Shower, Null Ice.

Accessory: SP Adhesive 3 (Invigorate 3)

Yin

Level: 60

Persona: Chiyome (Resist: Fire) (Drain: Earth) (Null: Elec, Curse) (Weak: Gun)

Persona Trait: Path of Light (Gain some HP when using support/healing skills)

Skills: Magnadyne, Mediarahan, Sukukaja, Miracle Punch, Mamagndyne, Masukukaja, Earth Boost, Makajamaon, Null Fear, Tetrakarn, Tetraja, Earth Break, Life Aid, Speed Master, Evade Wind

Confidant Rank: Rank 10 (Max)

MAX Confidant Skill: Portrait of Girls - Give all allies (except herself) boosts to all stats and restore some SP.

Twin Style: Trained at birth, uses twin blades to quickly strike at enemies, though not for much damage but delivers many combos.

Yiitsu Style: A style developed for katana use with Miyabi's teachings, it allows Asuka to enhance all her attacks and skills, but at the cost of increasing energy costs with each subsequent use. Now also allows her to strengthen the power of her katana for more devastating, but slower strikes.

Accessory: Skanda Belt (Speed Master)

Yang

Level: 60

Persona: Musashi (Resists: Wind) (Drain: Physical, Gun, Fire) (Weak: Water)

Persona Trait: Path of Crimson (Gain some HP when using Physical/Magic skills)

Skills: Agidyne, Maragidyne, Cleave, Hientou, Regenerate 3, Terror Claw, Triple Down, Swift Strike, Fire Amp, Charge, Riot Gun, Bloodbath, Arms Master, Ghastly Wail, Heat Up, Attack Master, Fear Boost

Confidant Rank: Rank 10 (Max)

MAX Confidant Skill: Burst - A colossal physical attack that hits all enemies and always crits.

Six Sword Style: Self trained since Hebijo, uses her six katanas at once to physically cut down enemies.

Noh Style: After training in the ways of elegance, more akin to her fire element as she uses twin fans to burn her enemies. Now also allows her to also use a variation of Maragidyne that allows her to attack a single enemy multiple times in succession.

Accessory: Tough Belt (Defense Master)

Mona

Level: 59

Persona: Zorro (Resist: Wind) (Weak: Elec)

Persona Trait: Proud Presence (Increases effect of allies' healing skills)

Skills: Garudyne, Diarahan, Patra, Mediarahan, Miracle Punch, Magarula, Me Patra, Samarecarm, Wind Break, Wind Boost, Masukunda

Confidant Rank: Rank 9

Accessory: Fish God's Badge (Ali Dance)

Skull

Level: 58

Persona: Seiten Taisei (Null: Elec) (Resist: Fire) (Weak: Wind)

Persona Trait: Raging Temper (Might increase allies' physical attacks by 40%)

Skills: Lunge, Ziodyne, Tarukaja, Headbutt, Adverse Resolve, Rampage, Mazionga, Bad Beat, Assault Dive, Swift Strike, Shock Boost, Evade Wind, Elec Break, Deathbound, Elec Boost, Megaton Raid, Matarukaja

Confidant Rank: Rank 10 (Max)

MAX Confidant Skill: Evade Wind

Accessory: Rakshasa Belt (Attack Master)

Panther

Level: 58

Persona: Hecate (Null: Fire) (Resist: Electric) (Weak: Water)

Persona Trait: Mastery of Magic (May decrease SP cost of allies' magic skills)

Skills: Agidyne, Diarahan, Dormina, Tarunda, Maragidyne, Dekaja, Fire Break, Lullaby, Ambient Aid, Fire Boost, Matarunda, Evade Water, Evade Ice, Burn Boost

Confidant Rank: Rank 10 (Max)

MAX Confidant Skill: Evade Ice

Accessory: Crimson Necklace (Fire Amp)

Fox

Level: 58

Persona: Kamu Susano-o (Null: Ice) (Resists: Wind) (Weak: Fire)

Persona Trait: Scoundrel Eyes (High chance to evade Phys attacks for all allies.)

Skills: Bufudyne, Giant Slice, Sukukaja, Vicious Strike, Mabufula, Counterstrike, Rising Slash, Dormin Rush, Speed Master, Tempest Slash, Heat Wave, Evade Fire, Deadly Fury, Masukukaja, High Counter

Confidant Rank: Rank 10 (Max)

MAX Confidant Skill: Evade Fire

Accessory: Rebellion Anklet (Rebellion)

Widow

Level: 60

Persona: Fūma (Resists: Ice, Water) (Weak: Fire, Curse)

Persona Trait: Dance of Justice (Chance to trigger a Baton Pass for the next ally when hitting a resistance.)

Skills: Bufudyne, Mabufudyne, Aquadyne, Ice Amp, Water Amp, Dazzler, Makajama, Malaquadyne, Snipe, Dormina, Fortify Spirit, Lullaby, Ailment Boost, Water Break, Cripple,

Confidant Rank: Rank 9

Accessory: Sturdy Suspenders (Unshaken Will)

Queen

Level: 60

Persona: Anat (Null: Nuclear) (Resist: Curse) (Weak: Psychic)

Persona Trait: Gaia Pact (Increase allies' chance of inflicting Burn/Freeze/Shock/Soak by 25%.)

Skills: Freidyne, Mafreidyne, Vajra Blast, Diarahan, Rakukaja, Makajama, Energy Shower, Flash Bomb, Dekunda, Defense Master, Nuke Break, Nuke Boost, Marakukaja

Confidant Rank: Rank 10 (Max)

MAX Confidant Skill: Evade Psy

Accessory: White Headband R (Life Surge / Endurance 8)

Serpent

Level: 59

Persona: Nobunaga (Resist: Curse) (Weak: Bless)

Persona Trait: Self-Destructive (Increase cost of skills when health is low)

Skills: Eigaon, Maeiga, Kougaon, Mamudoon, Mahamaon, Megaton Raid, Heat Wave, Foul Breath, Endure, Ominous Words, Stagnant Air, Evil Touch, Taunt, Survival Trick, Vorpal Blade

Confidant Rank: Rank 6

Accessory: Skull Charm (Mudo Boost)

Oracle

Level: 58

Persona: Necronomicon

Persona Trait: Explosive Scheme (All-Out Attacks may defeat all foes and restore 25% HP to all allies)

Skills: Analysis, Subrecover HP EX, Subrecover SP

Confidant Rank: Rank 6

Accessory: Headphones (High fidelity for real audiophiles.)

Noir

Level: 58

Persona: Milady (Resist: Psychic) (Weak: Nuclear)

Persona Trait: Icy Glare (Decreases allies' chance of being inflicted by ailments by 25%.)

Skills: Psiodyne, Mapsio, Triple Down, Amrita Drop, Fast Heal, Psy Break, Tentarafoo, Tetrakarn, Psy Boost, Makarakarn, Climate Decorum, Gun Boost, Snipe, One-shot Kill

Accessory: Grand Slam Charm (Apt Pupil)

Whew! Done! Finally, we're getting to Yumi's max confidant… but, there will be tons of stuff unrelated to that before we even touch it. Just… There's just so much going on. Like, do people really want to know what everyone is doing at all times? Like, even cutting out some stuff out of this chapter, it ended up being 55k (56k because of these notes). I'm just wondering if because of all this we won't be able to actually get to the end before Persona 6 comes out. And the next chapter isn't going to be any less of a long one considering just how many events there are. I knew this fic would be massive, but not this massive to the point where "side stories" are 20k words that have to share their spotlight with all the other things that are potentially another 20k. Is this okay? Am I okay with all this? So many things that worked out are things that I didn't want. Maybe I'm just complaining over nothing and I should soldier on.

UknownHero signing off, my friends!