>>1888728

Groaning, rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you shamble out of your bedroom and wander into the main room. It's empty, with your father nowhere to be seen. Well, perhaps getting more than one day with him was too much to hope for. Getting Sunday off was one thing, but a Monday is a whole other matter – he was probably called into work early, before the sun had even risen above the horizon.

Not that the sun is particularly radiant today – the rain still hangs over Ark City like a funeral shroud, dampening down any enthusiasm you might have had for the day. Grunting in dismay, you move to turn on the television, running a brush through your tangled hair with your other hand. When the television remains dead, black and silent, you let out a loud groan. If it's broken, you'll get the blame for sure. Tossing aside the brush, you peer behind the television and wince, a smell of burning plastic assaulting you. Some kind of power surge seems to have fried the insides of it, burning and melting the guts.

“This sucks,” you say aloud, addressing the empty apartment. You half expect Kurosawa to offer some reply as you fix a quick meal, but the cat remains both silent and absent. The previous night's trap had left him in a sour mood. He blamed himself for it, he claimed, for not sensing it sooner. Even when you tried to assuage his guilt, he wouldn't let the matter rest. Finally, he retreated – sulking, you suspect – and left you alone to sleep. You've not spoken with him since.

Breakfast is tasteless, and each mouthful of toast seems to take hours to chew. The dead television still bothers you. Could the lightning have caused a power surge? Your father must not have checked the TV before leaving for work, or he would have left a note warning you not to mess around with it. Maybe he meant to leave a note, but something else distracted him. He is... not a difficult man to distract.

“Damn it,” you sigh, dropping the half-eaten toast back down on the plate. That business with the TV already wasted enough time, and you don't want to be late for school – you'd better get a move on.

-

The elevator seems even slower than normal, chugging and grinding as it descends to ground level. Outside, it would be inaccurate to say that it was raining – rather, a thick and unseasonably cold mist clings to the ground. The sky above is dark with clouds, dark enough that some of the street lights have flickered on to cast weak pools of light across the ground. Simply put, it's the vilest day you've ever seen in a long time.

Sighing to yourself, you start off towards school... only to hesitate. The portal from last night still nags at you.

>Continue on towards school
>Head the site of last night's portal
>Head to the Sentinel building
>Go somewhere else... (Write in)
>Other

>>1888729
>Head the site of last night's portal
We are totally still in the Umbra.

>>1888729
>Head the site of last night's portal
Trying calling someone. Like Chiaki.

>>1888729
>Head the site of last night's portal

>>1888734
I'd say almost anyone but Chiaki.

>>1888738
I chose her because if this the Umbra I don't think it could mimic her personality very well. But we can do anybody.

Burying your hands deep in your pockets, you begin the slow trudge towards school. The rain hadn't seemed heavy enough to bother with an umbrella when you were leaving the house, but that might have been optimistic. It's not heavy so much as... constant, a thick mist of droplets that clings and chills. When you stop at a street corner, you take a moment to buy a can of hot coffee from a vending machine. Even that doesn't seem to warm you up much.

Dropping the half-finished can into the trash, you pause again. You've reached a junction – continuing straight on will take you to school, as normal, but breaking left here would lead you towards the previous night's portal. You're really not sure what you're expecting to find there, honestly. The portal was closed when Kurosawa pulled you out, so all logic suggests that there would be nothing there – nothing out of the ordinary.

Yet still, you feel some nameless instinct tugging you towards that alleyway. Lingering for a moment more, you pull out your phone and glance down at the screen. One bar of signal. That startles you – you NEVER get one bar of signal. This is the most technologically advanced city in the world, thing like that just don't happen here!

Dreading the outcome, you scroll down to a random name – Kasumi – and hit call. The phone... doesn't ring exactly, but it tries to. A frail death rattle of a ring sounds briefly in your ear before dying completely, the words “No Signal” flashing across your screen.

“Alright then,” you mutter to yourself, “Then we'll try someone else.”

Next, you try ringing Chiaki on instinct. She's uninvolved – if this is something to do with you, if this is official magical girl business, she shouldn't be affected. Yet still, your phone gives you that same choked gurgle of a ringing. Sighing in frustration, and no small amount of alarm, you thrust your phone back into your pocket. Electrical disturbances... that suggests Intruders. That's all the confirmation you need to turn away from school and stalk off towards the labyrinthine backstreets in search of the former portal. You'll get to the bottom of this, one way or another.

As you're walking, an idea forms. “Hey Kurosawa,” you murmur, “Could we have missed something? Like, while we were busy with that trap, could another Intruder have crossed over? A stealthy one, I mean, real sneaky.”

You wait for a long moment before the answer comes. “That may be a possibility,” Kurosawa grudgingly admits, “Although I dislike the thought of missing something so obvious. I have not sensed any trouble, but if the Intruder was intelligent enough to bide its time and wait...”

“See what you can sniff out,” you order, “I'm going to do a little investigation here. Let's keep in contact as well – don't go silent on me again, okay?”

“Understood,” the cat answers stiffly.

[1/2]

>>1888752

As you walk, you play around with your little theory, twisting it about and looking at it from all kinds of angles. Luckily for you, the weather has done a good job of thinning out the streets, so you can think aloud without worrying about looking like a lunatic. “What if we come at from the other direction?” you muse, trusting Kurosawa to listen in, “What if WE'RE still in the Umbra?”

“Excuse me?” Kurosawa asks, “Do you not think that you would have noticed? That I would have noticed?”

“Don't just dismiss it out of hand like that!” you snap, “I'm serious here. Would that be possible?”

“The Umbra has a scent. I do not sense that,” the cat states, “The mere fact that I can freely communicate with you is another factor – I would expect the Intruders to be more stringent about isolating you.” He sighs then, sounding like a blurt of static in your mind. “I still cannot detect any Intruders,” he warns, “But a sufficiently powerful Intruder may be able to hide itself from me, as well as... influencing your world.”

“You mean a Tyrant,” you realise, “Right?”

“Theoretically, yes,” Kurosawa answers, “Continue with your investigation. I will do what I can as well.”

Biting back a curse, you feel Kurosawa's presence vanish. With nothing else to do without further evidence one way or the other, you continue onwards towards the alleyway. When you arrive, you realise that you're not the only one to have got this idea – a figure, anonymous in their tan raincoat and broad umbrella, lurks in the alleyway. Cautiously approaching the figure, you call out a vague greeting in a low voice.

The figure jolts, startled out of their daydreaming, and jerks around to face you. “Jeez Miho, you scared the life out of me!” Ayane yelps, “When did you get so quiet, I always took you for the clumsy type?”

“Maybe you should just pay more attention,” you shoot back, “You were practically dozing off!”

“I was thinking,” Ayane corrects you, stressing that last word, “I do think sometimes, you know. It looks like we both had the same idea, coming here. Uh... maybe. What was your idea?”

“Gut instinct,” you admit, slumping your shoulders and edging underneath her umbrella, “Something didn't feel right, so I came here to see if there was anything going on.” Grimacing, you scan the alleyway with a critical eye. The puddle has grown since last night, reverting back to regular water, but that seems to be the only change. There doesn't seem to be anything notable at all about the alleyway. “Maybe I was wrong, though,” you concede, “Why did you come here?”

“Couldn't really say,” Ayane replies with a shrug, “I just got a weird feeling, just like you. It's kinda hard to put into words, but...” Screwing up her face, Ayane chooses her next words with care.

[2/3]

>>1888728
Why don't they just make portals too small for us to get through?

Make a whole bunch and flood us with little rat like thrall that pop in and out as we get near, causing havoc and chaos around us.

>>1888783
We could just get Jun to seal those. Though I don't think he's ever done that since his introduction.

File: Ayane Nakamura.jpg (150 KB, 900x900)

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>>1888775

“So, Shiori always goes to school super early – she likes to hang out in the library and read books – and my mom was away at work, also not unusual. Point is, I was alone when I woke up this morning. I was alone when I had breakfast, and I was alone when I left the house. Except all that time, I had these little warning bells ringing in my mind,” Ayane taps a finger against her temple, “Like when I hear someone lying, y'know?”

“But there was nobody about,” you point out, “So something else must have been getting you all riled up.” Frowning to yourself, you quickly explain your conflicting theories to Ayane – you're either still in the Umbra, or something from the Umbra chased you back to the real world. “So what do you think?” you finish, “Either of those sound likely to you.”

“Uh, well, both of them sound equally bad,” she sighs, “And equally possible. But, I mean, what are we supposed to do?”

>I... don't know. Keep an eye out for any trouble, I guess
>Can't your dog sniff out Intruders? If there's one out here, maybe he can track it down
>Let's see about meeting up with the others. We'll start with...
>Hey, is your phone working?
>Here's what I think we should do... (Write in)
>Other

>>1888792
>Here's what I think we should do... (Write in)
Bust shit up until this whole simulation falls apart around us, and pray we're right and not leveling the actual city.

Or see if we can have a in depth conversation with anyone that isn't one of us MG's.

>>1888792
>>Can't your dog sniff out Intruders? If there's one out here, maybe he can track it down

>>1888792
>Can't your dog sniff out Intruders? If there's one out here, maybe he can track it down
>Let's see about meeting up with the others. We'll start with...
Emi since she is the most likely to do something rash once she feels something is up.

>Hey, is your phone working?
>Here's what I think we should do... (Write in)
Try testing if we can go into Zakuro's lair. If we are trapped somewhere we shouldn't be able to leave.

>>1888792
How do we know it's Kurosawa talking to us?

We should try to go to wossernames place in the 'bra.

>>1888798
>>1888792
Anyone else second sniffing out our sweaty little flower of the flesh? Okay I just wanted to call her that.

>>1888792
>Let's try Zakuro.
>Or head for that festival place.

“Let's see if we can meet up with the others. I don't want to do this alone,” you murmur, “We'll start with Emi. She's... well, you know what she's like. I think we could both use a bit of her, uh, energy right now. Should probably call her up first, see if she's... oh hell.” Grimacing, you remember your useless phone. “Hey Ayane, is your phone working?” you ask, “Mine was freaking out before.”

“I've not tried calling anyone today, so I couldn't really say,” Ayane takes her phone out, scowling at the screen, “One bar? Are you kidding me?”

“I know, right?” you agree, dialling Ayane's number, “Here, let me show you. When I tried calling Kasumi earlier, all I got was-” When you hit send, however, you are rewarded by a shrill chime – Ayane's phone, ringing out exactly as it's supposed to. Both of you startle at the sound, with Ayane giving you a sheepish grin as she kills the call. “That didn't happen when I called Kasumi,” you insist, “Or Chiaki, for that matter. Here, you try calling someone!”

“Okay, okay. I'll call Maika, then Emi,” waving you away, Ayane speedily dials up the Kanzaki heiress. When she listens, a frown passes across her face. “Nothing, just like you said. I'll try Emi next,” Ayane taps in the new number, smiling with relief at the reaction, “It's ringing, at least. Ringing and ringing... I don't think she's gonna pick up, though. Maybe she's in school, got her phone on silent like a good little student.”

“I wouldn't bet on that,” you counter, “I guess we'll have to try her at home. Just wait a moment, though, there's one other friend I want to try calling.” Stepping neatly around Ayane, you kneel down next to the spreading puddle. Trying to ignore the cold water soaking into your trousers, you stare down into your reflection and concentrate hard on Zakuro. You can feel something, the first faltering attempts at contact, but the thoughts just won't resolve themselves. No matter how hard you try, you can't fully reach out to her – or she can't fully reach back to you.

“No answer, huh?” Ayane jokes, her voice thin and brittle, “Maybe our favourite monster is in school as well.”

Gasping, tearing your futile gaze away from the pool, you give up. The attempt at communication left you surprisingly exhausted, your thoughts clouded over with an unnatural fatigue. “Something's blocking me,” you guess, “Or something like that, at least. This is... good.”

“Uh,” Ayane's attempt at a smile falters, “You've got a pretty funny idea of good.”

“No, I mean, this is a good discovery,” you explain, “Now we know that something is messing us around. We just need to figure out what... and how to stop it.”

[1/2]

>>1888832
I mean if it's smart enough to lay this trap, maybe it's smart enough to talk it out if we call its bluff?

>>1888832

“Okay, that's great – really, I mean that. It sounds really resolute and determined and stuff,” nodding briskly, Ayane shifts her umbrella from one hand to the other, “But how do we actually DO that?”

“C'mon, help me out here!” you groan, “I'm the one doing all the thinking here. I mean, what about your dog? He can sniff out Intruders, can't he? If there's one here, he might be able to do a better job of sniffing it out than Kurosawa. He says that he can't smell anything, but maybe... maybe he's casting his net a little too wide.” Or maybe, you add silently to yourself, he's not being entirely honest with you. You can't even be entirely sure that you ARE speaking with Kurosawa himself.

“Hey, I'm doing my best here!” Ayane protests, transforming and producing her silver whistle, “Kohryu! Here boy!” The hulking dog doesn't seem to appear from any one direction in particular, simply skulking out of the thin air to stand by Ayane's side. Even before it's finished arriving, you can see that it's caught the scent of something. The hound's hackles have risen and it growls softly, its blunt muzzle shifting from side to side as it tastes the air. “Looks like he's got something,” Ayane murmurs, “An Intruder, or a really juicy steak. Seeing as how I don't see any steak around here...”

“You hear that?” you call out, letting your voice bounce off the alleyway walls, “We've got your scent, Intruder, the game is up. You're pretty smart, so why don't you just show yourself?” Waiting in silence for a few moments, you shrug and glance across to Ayane. “Worth a try, I guess,” you sigh, “C'mon, let's go hook with Emi. Maybe we just need to cause a lot of noise and fuss to chase that Intruder out of hiding, and...”

“And nobody can make noise and fuss like Emi,” Ayane agrees, “Right, let's go. Check her house first, then school. Where does she go, again?”

“Saint Amelia's,” you recall, “Wherever that is.”

-

Sticking to the backstreets as much as possible, you make your way towards the vice district. Even when you have to take the wider streets, you never really come across many other people. The few pedestrians you do pass all have their heads down, buried in hats or scarves as they hide against the foul weather. Kohryu fades out of sight whenever you enter public places, fading until he resembles a shadow or a phantom. Nobody gives him a second glance.

When you turn down the street and draw closer to Emi's home, however, you stop in alarm. Several police cars are parked outside, their lights blinking listlessly in the gloom. Lightly grabbing Ayane by the arm, you hold her back before she can hurry on ahead.

You don't like the look of this.

[2/3]

>>1888867

You wait a moment longer, waiting to see if the situation changes, but the scene remains almost perfectly still. Kohryu growls again, more aggressively this time, but you can't see any sign of Intruder activity. Sighing a little to yourself, you nod towards the gathering of police cars and steadily approach. You were just passing through, you think to yourself as you get your excuses ready, when you saw the fuss. Just two curious passers-by, that's all.

A number of things strike you when you get closer. First of all – there are no police waiting nearby. The cars are empty, and you can't hear any voices. Second of all, the door to Emi's home is hanging open, police tape limply criss-crossing the doorway. Finally, the door itself is riddled with holes.

You're no expert, but you can recognise the marks of gunfire when you see them. Abandoning caution, you hurry over and prepare to duck under the police tape. When you do, you see inside the cluttered house. The floor is dark with a broad, spreading stain, while Emi sits nearby, hunched up and leaning against a wall. Slowly letting out a breath that you hadn't realised that you were holding, you gently rap your knuckles against the open door. Slowly, ever so slowly, Emi lifts her head up and stares through you.

“Oh,” she murmurs, her lips barely moving, “Miho. Don't come in here, you'll... you'll get your feet dirty.” The young girl is silent for a long moment, her hollow gaze never straying from your general direction. “They killed him,” she adds, “Kaoru. They knocked. He answered the door, and they... they just shot him and ran.”

>I... don't know what to say
>Hang on, who killed him?
>Emi, listen to me. We've got magical girl stuff to do – I need you to hold things together
>I want you to tell me everything, Emi. Start from last night, okay?
>Emi, listen closely... (Write in)
>Other

>>1888901
>>I want you to tell me everything, Emi. Start from last night, okay?

>>1888901
>Emi, listen to me. Are you SURE that was really Kaoru? Was he acting strange before this?

>>1888901
>I want you to tell me everything, Emi. Start from last night, okay?

>>1888901
>Hang on, who killed him?
>I want you to tell me everything, Emi. Start from last night, okay?
>Emi, listen closely... (Write in)
"Emi I don't think this is real. Cops don't just shoot someone and run away, leaving their patrol vehicles in your front yard. It doesn't make any sense. Everything after the time we entered portal has felt wrong."

>>1888915
>>1888901
Plus

> We have to get back to protect the real one.

Honestly this isn't a very good trap. Hoe long did they think it would hold us? How long did they NEED it to hold us ?!?

We might have to act fast here.

What happens if we fire off our magic sealing attack?

>>1888915
Might just be talking about gang members. Not cops. Driveby style.

>>1888933
>Honestly this isn't a very good trap
I think the purpose is to engineer situations that would erode our Emotional Barriers, like they did with Emi here.

File: Emi Miyakawa.jpg (276 KB, 1215x1215)

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Looking back down at the darkened rug, you squat down in the doorway and reach out a hand to Emi. She stares at it for a long time before reaching out and gently taking your hand. Her skin feels unnaturally cold, clammy with a thin layer of sweat. Shuddering a little as she moves, Emi tentatively picks her way around the bloodstain and ducks under the police tape, emerging into the thick and misty rain. Now that she's outside, a flicker of life returns to her eyes.

“Bastards,” she murmurs, speaking to nobody in particular. Blinking slowly, Emi glances between you and Ayane, who lingers a few tentative paces away – entirely unsure of what to do. You don't have many more ideas, but you need to say something. Get the basics down, at least...

“Emi, I want you to do something for me,” you begin gently, “I want you to tell me everything that happened, okay? Start from last night and take it from there.”

“Huh?” Emi's brow furrows slightly, “We were just having breakfast, Kaoru cooked like always, and...”

“No, Emi, last night,” you correct her, “Last night, after Kurosawa told us about the Intruder. Start from there. Please Emi, this is seriously important.”

To that, Emi's frown just deepens.

-

With a mug of steaming hot chocolate in front of her, Emi looked a little more alive and conscious. Retreating to the nearest cafe had been Ayane's idea, and nobody really objected. The cafe itself is a dimly lit hole in the wall, with barely enough seating for your group of three. The owner seemed sullen and unresponsive, mechanically handing over drinks and taking your money.

“Last night,” Emi says at last, taking a sip of her drink, “We got the call. Crisis level event, maybe. So we ran to this alleyway and found the portal. A puddle. We jumped in, and then...” Her words trail off here, an expression of confusion spreading across her face. “Then I woke up this morning,” she finishes, “The cat told me this stuff about a trap and whatever, I wasn't really listening. That's the first thing I remember.”

“Missing time,” Ayane mutters, “I remember Kurosawa telling me the exact same thing, about a trap, but I don't remember anything else about that night. I just remember being so exhausted about the whole thing, like I was too tired to remember anything else. Miho, do you-”

Raising a hand, you gesture for her to wait then nod across to Emi. “I'm so confused,” the young girl whispers, “Kaoru was just there, making breakfast for us both, and then he was... gone. I guess the neighbours must have called the cops, because they showed up and took him away. Said they'd get a statement from me later, but... they never came back.” A shudder runs through her, then, and she hangs her head in despair.

[1/2]

>>1888936
I think you're right about the gang members but the cops just leaving their cars is still really weird.

>>1888952
so it's pretty obviously a trap, but....

I wonder if, the moment we get back, those gang members really ARE going to jump Kaoru.

>>1888958
I feel like they would have already if they knew his identity. Gang members aren't known for patience.

>>1888973
time flows differently in the Umbra.

>>1888952

“Are you SURE that it was really Kaoru you saw?” you ask quietly, “How was he acting before all this? Was he acting strangely at all?”

“He was just... cooking eggs and grumbling about the weather. It was making his leg hurt, he said. I joked about him sounding like an old man, and he... he was just Kaoru!” Emi whines, swiping a hand across her eyes, “I know my brother, man, I know what he's like. We've had so many breakfasts together, I could... I could tell you every fucking detail of them, every single one!”

“And you're saying that nothing was out of place?” you press, “Emi, I need you to be sure about this. Was everything normal?”

“Yeah, it was, I...” she draws in a deep, shuddering breath, “It was just a normal morning, and those bastards took him away from me.”

“Who were they?” you ask her, “Did you get a look at them at all?”

“No, I... I never did. I got nothing, not a single hint,” Emi groans, a gathering anger burning away some of her grief, “But shit, who else could it be? Those drug dealing scum, they must have found out about what we did. Must have tracked him back here, and... and done this.” Clenching her fists, she tries to force a brittle little smile. “I've been afraid that something like this would happen,” she confesses, “Ever since we... you know. Sometimes, I couldn't even sleep for worrying about it, but Kaoru... he told me not to be afraid, he told me that he'd been careful. I guess he was wrong...”

Except Kaoru was careful. He wore a mask, hid his face and left nothing that should have led his enemies back to him. Yet, Emi's fears were realised nonetheless. Trading a glance with Ayane, you see understanding forming in her eyes. She gives you a tiny nod.

“Emi, I don't think this is real,” she tell the young girl carefully, “I think this IS the trap. We're stuck in an illusion, something designed to wear us down and harm our Emotional Barriers. We need to find a way of getting out of here, as soon as possible – something big might be doing down back in the real world. We need to get back, so we can protect the REAL Kaoru.”

“You mean... you mean he might be okay?” Emi murmurs, “This isn't real?”

“That's right,” you assure her, “What you saw was just another way of attacking you, an attempt at breaking you. Come on, follow me – I think I can prove it.”

-

Leaving the bleak cafe behind you, you lead Emi and Ayane out into the backstreets once again. Kohryu pads alongside you, growling at every pocket of shadow. The more you think about things, the more convincing they are. Even Kurosawa's explanation was another layer of the trap, to lull you into a false sense of security. Yet, the imitation was fundamentally flawed – unable to completely hide the perverted nature of the Umbra.

Even so, an imperfect trap can still hinder its target.

[2/3]

>>1889007

In an anonymous stretch of alleyway, you transform into your costume and flex your fists. Crackling yellow lightning gathers in the palm of one gauntlet, building to a climax as you draw back in preparation for a blow. “Spellbreaker!” you shout as you slam your palm into the wall, the burst of energy shooting out and spreading across the surface of the wall. It ripples like a portal into the Umbra, even this unreflective surface, and visibly deforms. For a moment, the entire world seems to shift like something viewed in a trick mirror.

Almost in response, a ripple runs through the entire world as something reacts to your attack. Kohryu sits bolt upright and howls, pawing angrily at the ground as if desperate to leave the alley behind. “The memorial,” Ayane hisses to you, “That's the source of the scent, Kohryu's sure of it.”

“You can talk to dogs now?” Emi snipes, sounding more weary than anything else.

“Oh sure, because talking to CATS is fine, but talking to my magical dog is where you draw the line?” Ayane shoots back, “C'mon, just trust me – my boy helped sniff out the Intruders before, remember?”

Ignoring both of them, you launch into a sprint and charge out of the alleyway. The memorial, the memorial to your very first taste of true hardship... that the Intruder would choose that place as its lair sets a flame of anger burning within your heart. It's an insult, pure and simple, a mockery of every life that was lost. With your hands clenching into angry fists, you emerge from the alleyway and-

And something strikes into you from the side, lifting you up and throwing you a dozen paces away. Bouncing hard, feeling something rupture inside you, you hit the ground and roll to a halt. Your vision doubles and splits, wavering as you struggle to bring the world back into focus, but you can dimly see the bulky shape of a truck sitting nearby. The doors fly open and two vague figures leap out, hurrying towards you. Coughing wetly, you try to rise to your feet... only for your arm, the bones not yet reforming, to give way beneath you.

Strong arms, seemingly too many for just two men, close around you and haul you upright. Even with your awful wounds, you kick and struggle with all your might. Your struggles are to no avail, though, as a stinking rag is clamped over your nose and mouth. With no choice but to breath in the chemical fumes, you feel your thoughts retreating into some dark distance.

>Sorry about this, but I'm going to have to take a quick pause here. The next post should be up within an hour or so.

>>1889057
Dammit Moloch, you know how to do cliffhangers.
This would be the perfect scene for the commercial break in an anime adaptation of this.
Did I mention I want an anime adaptation of this?

>>1889057
The dreaded Japanese killer truck. The Intruder pulling the strings has been reading some light novels.

>>1889079
Oh no! Are we in for an isekai?

>>1889081
What do you mean "oh no"? Isekai protags always get insanely OP starts.

>>1889081
We didn't die from the impact so we are safe. Perk of having that tough magical girl body.

>>1889084
And insanely bad writing.

You know this place – it's the deepest basement of the Renko Biotech building, that maze of growth tanks and churning machinery. Like before, the place is sickeningly hot, the burning tanks filling the air with noxious, greasy smoke. This time, though, the Dolls are all awake, madly hammering on their iron prisons as they burn like candles. The sound of so many fists pounding into metal forms a maddening chorus in your head, a constant drumbeat of insanity that haunts you as you flee down blind corners and endless corridors.

Then you fall, something snaring your foot out from underneath you and sending you splashing down into the ankle deep water. As you struggle to rise, you hear a new sound – a terrible animal bellowing, the roar of a blood-drunk bull. When you manage to fumble around onto your back, you realise that you are no longer in the Renko Biotech building – you're in something far older, with a ceiling that stretches up into infinity. Above you, slowly dropping lower and lower in the sky, a terrible black sun burns. Those first tongues of fire touch your skin, and-

-

And you wake, jolting upright as best you can. Thick restraints, tight around your wrists, keep you from moving too much. You're in a bed, a hospital bed, but the other details of your circumstances take longer to resolve themselves. The walls around you are white, save for one large mirror that leers down at you with a distorted reflection of your own image. An IV stand rests nearby, with a needle thrust deep into your arm. Whatever vile fluids its pumping into you, they leave your head thick and your thoughts slippery.

But not so slippery as for you to forget why you're here. “This isn't real!” you shout, the words ripping their way out of your dry throat, “You don't fool me, this isn't really happening! This is all an... all an illusion!”

“Is it?” a voice replies dryly, “Are you certain of that?” There is a slow pause, and then the voice – a leering imitation of Kurosawa – laughs. “Look down. Look at yourself,” the voice rasps, “Does THAT look like an illusion to you?”

Gritting your teeth, you bite back an angry tirade and look up into the mirror. What you see there... no, it can't be right. A cunning distortion of the mirror, just one more illusion to add to the pile. Even so, dread slowly builds as you look down, looking from the mirror to your own body. Straining against your bindings, you look down at yourself. A white sheet – so perfectly sterile – covers you, leaving just the shape of your body outlined by the material. Your chest swells slightly, then tapering down to your waist and hips, then...

Then nothing. Where your legs should have stretched out, you see nothing but a blank stretch of cloth.

[1/2]

>>1889173

The world contracts to a single point, your focus honing in on that terrible absence. “No...” you rasp, a shudder running through your body – a shudder that grows into a violent thrashing as you struggle against the bindings. “No, no, no!” you continue, your heart hammering in your chest, “No, this isn't real, this can't be real! You're lying to me, you're... damn you! DAMN you!”

“Struggle all you wish,” the voice chuckles, “This is my world. You are a puppet dancing upon my strings – you ALL are.”

Words fail you, your protests breaking down into a snarl of purest rage and panic. Thrashing against the slowly tightening bindings, you try over and over again to transform – but each time, the magic seems to slip away from you. Every failure leaves you more and more exhausted, until you lack the strength to do anything but flop back against the hospital bed. Then, and only then, does the Intruder show itself.

At first, you mistake it for Kurosawa. The Intruder takes the shape of a small black cat, just like your patron, but it seems far more fetal. Long and straggly fur hangs down to hide the feline face from sight, no matter how the creature contorts itself. Sitting proudly upon your chest, it leans down to peer blindly into your face.

“Now answer me,” it says with a soft growl, “Who else is here?”

“What?” you whisper, the chemical fatigue reducing your word to a slur.

“Who else is here?” the Intruder repeats, growling again before changing tactics. “What did you see?” it hisses, “What do you dream of?”

An answer forms, almost spilling from your lips before you can bite it back. That blind face continues to press down onto you, a wave of malevolence washing over you.

>I'm not telling you anything!
>Where are the others? Where are my friends?
>Why don't you just kill me? Why toy with me like this?
>The... the black sun. I dream of the black sun
>Other

>>1889182
>Other
"You do this to me and think I'll play along with your twenty questions? Go fuck yourself, I'm not telling you anything.

And I don't need legs to tear you apart."

>Other
Try to reach the IV drip with your teeth and tear it out. If it works (probably won't) try transforming and using ghost hands.

>>1889182
>The... the black sun. I dream of the black sun
This went from 25 to 100 real fast.

>>1889182
>Why don't you just kill me? Why toy with me like this?
>The... the black sun. I dream of the black sun


>>1889192
>
Words fail you, your protests breaking down into a snarl of purest rage and panic. Thrashing against the slowly tightening bindings, you try over and over again to transform – but each time, the magic seems to slip away from you. Every failure leaves you more and more exhausted, until you lack the strength to do anything but flop back against the hospital bed. Then, and only then, does the Intruder show itself.

We already tried transforming many times. No good.

>>1889201
That's why I'm suggesting taking the IV out. It's obviously fucking with us.

>>1889208
The whole dimension is fucking with us. I don't think the IV is actually doing anything. It's just a prop.

>>1889182
>Do not tell about the black sun.
>Pretend we are really disgusted and afraid when the Intruder buts its mug in our face.
>Then, when it leans in close, bite his fucking nose off.
>Berserker rage is an emotion too.

>>1889182
>>I'm not telling you anything!

>>1889211
These props DO do something. Or else that truck wouldn't have fucked up our arm. And for all we know believing that it does something actually does something.

Gritting your teeth, you force back the urge to answer its question. “Why don't you just kill me?” you hiss, each word causing beads of sweat to gather on your forehead, “Why toy with me like this?”

“There will be time enough for that later, when your purpose is spent,” the Intruder replies dismissively, “You know things, human. The depths of your knowledge is still but a simple puddle, but even muddy puddles can conceal things of value. I know that you have seen things. Simply tell me what you see in your dreams, and I shall grant you the mercy of the abyss. This is more than most of my kind would show you.”

“You can't do it, can you?” you spit back, “You can torment me, show me whatever illusions you like, but you can't kill me. What, is there something stopping you or do you just lack the guts? You-” A bolt of pain rips through you here as the bindings around your left wrist tighten suddenly, your sentence sharply ending in a grunt of pain. Bones grind as the strap constricts, but nothing breaks... yet.

“Sooner or later, I will have the answers that I seek. Consider eternity, girl – then you will know how long I have to test your limitations,” as it says this words, the weight of countless years creeps into the Intruder's voice – an ancient patience, utterly inhuman and alien. “Escape is impossible. Why not be reasonable?,” it sighs, “Just tell me what you dream.”

“You think... you think I'm just going to play along?” you snarl, tasting blood in your mouth, “I'm not telling you anything, you monster, and I WILL get out of here – when I do, you'll see what I can do. I don't need legs to tear you apart!”

“This is beginning to grow tedious,” the evil cat growls, glancing aside at your left wrist. The strap, already painfully tight, snaps closed like a vice and shatters every bone in your wrist. With one final convulsion, your hand jolts open before slumping limply down. In that single, terrible moment, all your senses white out. The moment of pain is so pure, so absolute, that your mind goes utterly blank... and, like a revelation from god, an image takes shape upon that blank canvas.

Slumping back, painting the very image of defeat, you mumble to yourself. “I dream...” you mumble, “I dream of...”

“Yes?” the cat hisses, craning down to peer closer at your face. As it gets closer, you feel something squirming around inside your head. “I see something,” the Intruder murmurs, “It's close now. It's-”

Lunging forwards, you sink your teeth into the Intruder's animal face, closing your jaws around anything you can reach. This time, your enemy is the one that howls out in pain.

[1/2]

>>1889275
>As it gets closer, you feel something squirming around inside your head.

Uh oh. You shouldn't do that to Miho. She gets pretty upset at that.

>>1889275

“Fuck you!” you snarl, tasting the vile inhuman filth of its blood seeping into your mouth, “Fuck you! I told you, I don't need my legs to-”

“INSECT!” the Intruder howls, a gummy trail of black blood following it as it leaps away from you, “Despicable maggot, wretched beast, vilest spawn of man! I will BURN the answers out of you if I must!” Rage boils off the creature like a miasma as two bolts of pain slam down against your temples. Images flicker through your mind as your thoughts unravel – both innocent thoughts and grave memories. No, the thoughts don't just pass from your mind, they are ripped out and discarded, carelessly torn out as the Intruder searches for what it desires.

It's burning your memories. Not reading them, not sealing them away... burning them to ashes, and scattering the ashes to the furthest winds.

“Tell me!” the Intruder roars, “Tell me, and save what you can!” The rapid flash of images snaps to a sudden halt, pausing on Hikari's face. You can feel the flames starting to lick at your memories of her, threatening them with oblivion.

“The black sun!” you scream, the words ripped from you despite your best attempts at keeping them back.

“The black sun, I see. So the time is growing near,” calm now, the Intruder nods slowly, “Yes, all is well. Your assistance is... greatly appreciated. I will leave you to rest, now. Do not worry, we shall speak again.” The Intruder pauses for a moment, then a sickly chuckle seeps out to dance around the edges of your perception.

And the image of Hikari that you hold in your mind, in your heart, is consumed by one last spiteful tongue of fire.

-

The Intruder has gone now. Maybe it left your bedside hours ago, or maybe it was just a short moment ago. Time has lost its meaning here. Lying back, you feel your bruised mind slowly recover. Once or twice you try and move your mutilated left arm, but the entire limb feels dead and unresponsive. Groaning softly, you roll your head to the side and gaze up at the IV drip. The bag is still bulging, filled with murky fluids as if a single drop hadn't been used.

Desperation builds within you. Craning your neck, you try and snap at the IV needle with your teeth. Just moving your head is agony, and soon you abandon the futile efforts. Gathering up every last drop of your remaining strength, you reach deep within yourself and grope for your magic. So much has been taken from you, but that core of bright light remains. Sensing it, you picture your hands closing around it.

And that brilliant, blinding light just seeps out between your fingers and slips away like water.

[2/3]

>>1889326
Okay, so dude?

This is a very good quest, but there's nothing lighter toned about this quest at all.

This is a very dark quest.

>>1889333
It's fine, we'll just have another Girls' Night Out thread after this!

>>1889326
Oh you fucker, not Hikari!

>>1889326

The sound of metal squeaking is what rouses you back to your senses. Forcing open your aching, gritty eyes, you try to focus on the source of that irritating sound. Someone – a human, this time, one pushing a metal cart – enters the room and slowly approaches you. Details slowly take shape in your mind. A girlish figure, clad in an old fashioned nurse's outside. Their face is hidden behind a white cloth mask. The cart they push is covered with...

With surgical instruments.

“Shh,” the nurse murmurs, leaving the cart behind and circling you like a vulture, “This will all be over soon.”

“No,” you whisper, “I'm not giving in, I'm not done...”

“I should hope not,” the nurse agrees with a nod, reaching down and pulling the IV needle out of your arm. A spurt of murky fluid drips from the needle as it leaves your flesh, and soon you feel your strength returning. Confusion clouds your mind, even as the nurse unbuckles your restraints. “Get up, Miho,” she urges, “If you're not done, then get up. We're walking out of here.”

“Screw you,” you mutter, lifting your right hand and slowly flexing the fingers, “I'm not walking anywhere like this. You should have brought a wheelchair, not those stupid.”

“Miho,” the nurse scolds, “Look.”

Scowling one more time, you glance down at the foot of your bed. Where there had been flat, empty sheets before, you now see the outline of two very normal legs. Blinking away your amazement, you turn your eyes to your left arm and find it equally intact. New hope blossoms in your chest. If your physical wounds have been undone, then perhaps... Closing your eyes, you tentatively grasp for the memories that were burned away. Slowly at first, but soon becoming a flood, the images rush back to you.

“Nothing more than illusions,” the nurse assures you, “The creator of this sacred space is both powerless and infinitely powerful. Here, you will see your body mutilated, your family butchered and everything that you sought to protect brought to ruin... but it cannot truly harm you. Such is the power of the Tyrant of Terror.”

“So it IS a Tyrant,” you mutter, clenching your newly intact fists before looking back up to your rescuer, “But... but who are you?”

Laughing softly, the nurse reaches up to her mask and pulls it down to reveal her softly glowing face. “This is my finest work yet,” the puppet announces proudly, “What do you think?”

“It's very impressive,” you assure her, “...Zakuro.”

>I'm going to have to pause things here. I'll continue this tomorrow, and if anyone has any questions I'll answer them as best I can
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today!

>>1889410
holeee fuuuuuck

I'm hype

this is some good shit

thanks for running senpai

>>1889410
Hey I guess our attempt at contact worked a little.

Thanks for running Moloch.

Can't wait to get our hands on Terror. We need to do a thorough interrogation of our own.

>>1889410
So how much did we lose? Did all our memories of our sister get destroyed? Or was that another mind trick?

Zakuro stays being literally our best possible ally.

>>1889424
I think you misread the previous section.

We gave him what he wanted when he got to Hikari cause we didn't want to lose her. We never lost her even in the illusion sense.

And right now all our memories that we 'lost' just came back.

>>1889410
Zakuro best giiiiiiirl! Thanks for running!
So when do we find out Zakuro wants us to repay our debt by destroying Sentinels or eliminating Kurosawa or something?

>>1889430
Seems like you misread too guy

>And the image of Hikari that you hold in your mind, in your heart, is consumed by one last spiteful tongue of fire.

>>1889437
We'd probably strongly consider it if it was the former, and the only big reason I could see us hard no-ing would only be due to Pietr. The latter would be more divisive in general.

>>1889450
That I did. My bad

>>1889455
>Wanting to eliminate Tanaka
>Wanting to eliminate Shaw
Even Jun is not so bad.

File: Nrh6CeJmsl8.jpg (145 KB, 708x1024)

145 KB JPG

>>1889410
Well. He done fucked up.

He's on our radar now, and we're gonna track him down.

Pity he couldn't have been more reasonable like Zakuro.

Best girl.

>>1889410
>but it cannot truly harm you. Such is the power of the Tyrant of Terror.
You hear that, Tyrant? We know what's behind the curtain! Your tricks won't work on us anymore!

>>1889487
They're all living on borrowed time as it is.

We could probably have them work for her instead. After all, she's just a human merged with an Outsider same as them.

They're all under an eventual death sentence.

> A lighter tone

>>1889424

Yes, just for confirmation. Our memories were "hidden" rather than being destroyed - one of Miho's biggest fears being further loss of her memories. Now that we've shaken off the illusion, we've regained everything that was taken from us.

>>1889437

Can't a good girl like Zakuro lend a hand without wanting anything in return?

>>1889517
Who knows. Maybe after we kill the Source they can survive off the remaining Intruders til they die of old age as long as they don't use their powers.

#WishfulThinking

>>1889550
I mean we supposedly have a God on our side.

Perhaps Monad can do something.

Or Zakuro. We could give her the power of the source. Sure she might rival the Gods but with Sacrifice and Duty working beside her she could probably become the Good Guy.

>>1889564
>We could give her the power of the source
Probably not a good idea.

>>1889587
Who says good ideas are the best solutions?

File: Zakuro.jpg (713 KB, 1080x1080)

713 KB JPG

“I heard you calling out to me,” Zakuro explains as you're rubbing your aching wrists. The mutilations might have been fantasy, but the restraints had been real enough – and your Emotional Barrier is in tatters right now, barely fit to repair the bruising and chafing that they left behind. “I tried to reply to you, but this place was hard to breach. It took me a great deal of time to find a way inside,” the puppet tilts her head to the side, her fluffy hair bouncing ever so lightly with the motion, “It took me longer still to find you. Perhaps I could found you faster, but it would have alerted the master of place for sure. Already, he suspects something.”

“Well, I wouldn't have minded if you got here a little sooner than you did...” you grumble, “But hell, any rescue is better than no rescue. C'mon, we gotta get out of here before... ugh!” Your first few tentative steps end in a stumble as your strength falters and your balance fails.

“Your body requires rest,” Zakuro chides, stepping quickly in the pull you upright once again, “But this place is not safe. I have some power here, but not much. First, we must leave this building and seek shelter.” Leaving you to lean against your bed, Zakuro crosses over to the cart of medical instruments. Searching for a moment, she picks up a scalpel and turns the blade back and forth so that it catches the light. “Yes, this shall suffice,” she murmurs to herself, “Do you need my help to walk?”

“I just need a minute,” you insist, waving off the puppet's hand. Closing your eyes, you turn your attention inwards and find that shard of light within yourself. Grasping it tightly, you feel your magic spilling out and wrapping you in a warm embrace. Just the feeling of your costume forming around you brings a rush of new strength to your weary body. Hikari's old sash, wound protectively around your neck, reminds you of what you're fighting to protect.

-

“Stupid question,” you ask quietly, “But I assume that you can't just break us out of here, right?”

“Correct. It is far harder to escape from a sealed space such as this than to intrude upon it – especially when the creator wished to draw in their prey,” Zakuro answers, “This doll, if it was destroyed here, would not inconvenience me. It may be my best work, but this too is nothing more than a disposable pawn. You, on the other hand, do not have that privilege. Physical destruction is just one form of death. Had your Emotional Barrier collapsed completely...”

“I don't think I want to know,” you mutter, “...What would have happened?”

“A lesser child of the abyss could have claimed your body for itself,” the inhuman being explains, “And a new Tyrant would have been born.”

A shudder runs through your weary body.

[1/2]

>>1893179

“Wait,” Zakuro hisses, holding up one hand, “I feel...”

“What?” you press, “What do you feel?”

“The master of this place is no longer here,” your companion replies, “Here, in this building. It has retreated to its lair, to meditate upon what it has learned.” An impressively natural expression of deep thought passes across the face of Zakuro's puppet for a moment. “We cannot allow ourselves to relax, however. This is still the domain of a powerful enemy, it still controls this world,” she adds, “It will have its own guardians and servitors in place. They still pose a threat to you.”

“Like those guys who ran me down with their stupid truck,” a scowl furrows your brow as you recall them. They had seemed human enough at a distance, but when they had grappled with you, the illusion had given way to a more loathsome reality. Silence falls between the two of you as Zakuro leads you down the featureless hospital corridors. There's nothing really to look at, here, and no indication of where you might be going, but Zakuro seems confident in her directions. Soon, the corridor opens up into a more open hall, one bathed in a sickly red light. Pillars - glass bodied but filled with thick ropes of pulsating organs - line the hall, while a heavy iron door waits at the far end. With Zakuro stalking by your side, you hurry towards the door.

When you find it locked and sealed, well, it really shouldn't come as much of a surprise. It might not be surprising, but it's still infuriating. Scowling hard at the offending door, you draw your fist back in preparation to simply smash it open. Zakuro, though, catches your arm.

“I urge you to reconsider,” she says quietly, “That would attract a great deal of unwelcome attention.”

“I'm not afraid of a fight,” you tell her, “Hell, I could do with one. A bit of good honest violence, that might-”

“That is not what I am concerned about. I fear for your colleagues,” Zakuro corrects you, “There are two of you that remain lost, within the Tyrant's clutches. At the moment, they are of little use to it – but they may serve as hostages, and suffer greatly, should the Tyrant be forced into action.” Gently letting go of your arm, Zakuro steps away, lowering herself to the ground and concentrating. “The abyss echoes, and I hear it,” she whispers, “There is a passage beneath here. Tunnels, born of a constricting fear. A key, above us, to unseal this door... although, I sense an ill aura about it. Curious.”

Only Zakuro would be curious about an “ill aura”.

>Fine, we'll go high and look for this key
>We're going down, through these tunnels
>We can't waste any more time. I'm breaking this door down right now
>Other

>>1893183
>>We're going down, through these tunnels

>>1893183
>We're going down, through these tunnels
Guess it's best to stay incognito until we get a better idea of the situation.

>Other
"I know where his seat of power is. If I Spell break there or directly on Terror would this illusion break for everybody?

>>1893183

>Fine, we'll go high and look for this key

>>1893183
>>Fine, we'll go high and look for this key

Frowning to yourself, you reach out and rest the flat of your hand against the door. It's far warmer than bare metal has any right to be, causing you to pull back with a low gasp of revulsion. Involuntarily wiping your hand clean, as if the brief moment of contact had left it coated in a fine layer of filth, you give the door a sour look. Some petty part of you still wants to smash it down, just for the sake of it, but you force down your anger. Breaking it down would require touching it again, after all.

“We'll go down low,” you decide, “Get out through those tunnels. We're better off staying incognito for as long as possible.”

“It is so,” Zakuro agrees, nodding and gesturing for you to follow her, “I suspect that Terror senses me, although it does not yet realise what they are sensing. Another of your kind, perhaps. Whatever it suspects, Terror will be looking for anomalies.”

“It did mention something like that, actually,” you recall, “It asked me who else was here. I didn't realise that it was talking about... you.” Frowning, you stop short as Zakuro leads you to an elevator, the doors standing ever so slightly ajar. It feels good to wrench the doors open, a reminder of the strength you possess. What lies beyond the rusting doors is not an elevator but an empty shaft, yawning downwards. “Oh boy,” you sigh, “Down there?”

“Down there,” Zakuro confirms, nodding solemnly.

-

The descent isn't as bad as you expected, although the ladder you're forced to use is less than reassuring. Every time you shift your grip on it, flakes of rust peel free from the metal and rain down. Gloom swallows you as you reach the bottom, with just a faint crack of light shining through the doors. These doors are more stubborn, resisting your first attempt at prying them open. As you shift your grip to try again, something above you groans and rumbles. It sounds almost like-

Desperation bolsters your strength. Tearing the doors open with a burst of wild might, you grab Zakuro by the collar and leap through out from the elevator shaft as metal screeches. The screech grows to a piercing climax as the elevator plummets down, smashing into the now-empty shaft and spraying out a hail of twisted metal shrapnel. Dust swirls around you as an uneasy silence descends, broken only by your dry coughs.

“I had a nightmare like that once,” you manage to say, clearing your throat and spitting out a mouthful of gritty dust, “Only, I never managed to get the doors open before the elevator dropped...”

“This world is stitched together from nightmares,” Zakuro intones, picking herself up and shaking dust out of her hair, “A tapestry of fears, a maze for men to lose themselves in.”

“I am SO sick of this place,” you mutter.

[1/2]

>>1893260

“So, when we get to the heart of this place, the seat of this thing's power, what should we expect?” you ask, thinking a moment before clarifying yourself, “I mean, if I was to disrupt the magic there, or on this... Terror directly, would that break the illusion for everyone?”

“To an extent, yes, although not completely. This space would remain under the control of its creator, but it would be able to exert far less influence over your companions. They would be spared the worst of its illusions, although the obstacles that this world represents,” Zakuro taps the wall to indicate what she means, “They would remain intact.”

“Well, we wouldn't want things to be TOO easy,” you sigh. Scowling, you gesture for Zakuro to stay close as you prowl down the corridor. Without any anonymous doors or branching paths, there's no need for your inhuman companion to lead the way – so you take point, spotting the tunnel entrance first. When she said “tunnels”, you hadn't been expecting something quite so... small. The entrance hole, mounting incongruously in the middle of a nondescript wall, is easily big enough for you to fit inside, but still narrow enough to be an unwelcoming sight. A vile smell seeps from the hole, causing you to falter and take a step backwards.

Then, taking a moment to pull your scarf up and over your face, you approach the hole and climb carefully inside. The outer rim is metal, but the tunnel itself is cold and clammy stone, damp to the touch. Shuddering at every new sensation, you begin to crawl forwards.

-

The further you crawl, the narrower and narrower the tunnel grows, while the walls... change. They get softer, somehow, and warmer. When you start to feel the ground shifting beneath you, you realise just what has happened – what started as a cold stone tunnel has become something more organic, like a vast length of intestine. As if reacting to that thought, the fleshy walls begin to press in around you, pulsing with a terrible vitality and flooding your senses with a new wave of stench. Blinking away a veil of tears that film your vision, you hasten your pace.

“How unexpected,” Zakuro remarks from behind you, “And to think, I was just starting to feel a little homesick...”

“Yeah, that's...” you begin, pausing as you hear something rumble off in the distance. When nothing changes, you frown and press on. The ground, you notice, is taking on a downwards gradient, becoming a gentle slope as you push forwards. Not so gentle either, with the grade slowly growing steeper and steeper as you crawl. Another rumble sounds, this time accompanied by a wetness forming beneath you. Looking sharply backwards, you blurt out a sudden curse.

A wall of filthy, brackish water is tumbling towards you.

[2/3]

>>1893332

The water slams into you, sweeping you off your hands and knees to carry you along in a stinking wave. Shooting through the gradually widening tunnels, you scrabble at the walls for some purchase to halt yourself. Even just slowing down would be enough, but the slick walls offer no handholds. Even digging your fingers into the fleshy surface doesn't seem to achieve much, with the meaty walls peeling apart rather than slowing you down at all. Ahead of you, a bright disc of light grows larger and larger.

“Hell!” you shout as you flash from the darkness of the tunnels to the searing brightness of the open sky. Finally, just as you are shooting from the mouth of the tunnel, your hand slams into something solid – the metal rim of the exit hole. A shrill cry hits your ears as Zakuro plunges towards you. Just as she is flying past, you lunge out with your other hand and grab her wrist, sharply arresting her plunge.

And then the world becomes still, your thoughts finally catching up with you. The tunnel has vomited you out into a featureless expanse, an empty void yawning out beneath you. Dangling by one hand, Zakuro's slight but nagging weight hanging from your other hand, you feel your abused muscles cry out in protest. Even as countless plans and ideas flicker through your mind, you feel your grip slowly give way. One finger after another peels loose until you're just barely hanging onto the edge of the tunnel.

That too, eventually gives way. Yelling out a wordless cry of protest, you feel yourself slipping back and falling into the void. The world seems to spin and reel around you as you fall, a hideous disorientation swallowing up your senses as-

As your back slams back against solid ground. It's not even a bad fall, not bad enough to break anything. A featureless, milky sky stretches out above you, while unyielding earth rests beneath you. Doubting your own senses, and for good reason, you slowly sit up and look around. Zakuro lies nearby, seemingly unharmed, and the tunnel you just plummeted out from sits a few feet away, set deeply into the floor. Staring at the hole, you try and figure out what the hell just happened.

“I wouldn't think too hard about it,” Zakuro suggests, “Logic and rationality have little power here.” Standing carefully up, she holds out her hand. “We should take care here,” she urges, “It will be easy to get separated.”

Frowning in confusion, you take another look around. The place is a perfectly empty plain, with just one noticeable landmark – the memorial, the seat of Terror's power, rising perversely out of the ground. How could anyone get separated in a place like this?

Still, Zakuro hasn't steered you wrong yet. Grabbing her hand, you take one single step towards the memorial.

[3/4]

>>1893392

The world changes around you in the blink of an eye. What had been a flat expanse suddenly distorts, infinitely high walls appearing to either side of you. A maze, a labyrinth, with your goal at the very centre of it all. Growling with frustration, you continue your march forwards... only to stop yourself after a single pace. With every step you take, the world changes and distorts, walls reforming and reshaping themselves. An open corridor becomes a sharp left corner, that corner becomes a junction, that junction becomes a dead end...

It's enough to drive a girl mad. Glaring hard at the dead end, you draw back your hand and slam a Spellbreaker into the wall. The terrain ripples and distorts, but all too quickly regains its solidity. You feel something respond, a faint but malicious will stirring ever so slightly, but the sensation doesn't last. Somehow, it leaves you with the impression of a sleepy animal shaking away a troublesome fly before going back to its nap.

“Shit,” you sigh, unable to muster up the anger to properly curse, “What IS this place?”

“This is Terror's final line of defence – an infinite, impenetrable maze. Your companions, I suspect, are scattered throughout,” Zakuro muses, “Terror has raised this barricade in order to shield itself, so it can focus upon its meditations without any... undue distractions.”

“That's great,” gesturing around at the walls surrounding you, you give Zakuro a weary attempt at a smile, “But how do we break through it?”

“I have an idea. If I reveal myself, my true nature, I believe that Terror will be forced to take notice. It will, in all likelihood, try and destroy me for this intrusion – but as I have said, the destruction of this puppet will not trouble me much. While its attention is fixed on me, you will have your chance to attack,” Zakuro considers her plan for a moment, “It is not much of a plan, is it?”

>But it's the one we've got. Go for it, Zakuro. Reveal yourself
>To hell with that. I'll kick up so much fuss that Terror will HAVE to take notice!
>I want to discuss something first... (Write in)
>Other

>>1893526
>But it's the one we've got. Go for it, Zakuro. Reveal yourself
"Talk about the Black Sun. Pretend to share information. That seemed to get his attention. That way you can buy some time without being destroyed while I get ready for the sneak attack."

>>1893526
>>I want to discuss something first... (Write in)
Black sun. What is it and why the Terror might be so interested in it.
Also where's Maika and Kasumi.

>>1893526
>But it's the one we've got. Go for it, Zakuro. Reveal yourself

It's hard to resist the urge to pace back and forth as you think. Each step, you remind yourself, would recreate this awful place from scratch. It's not like you could get any more lost, true, but each successive transition has left you feeling increasingly dizzy and disorientated. No, this is one situation where you need to sit still and think, no matter how much it irritates you. An idea occurs to you, then.

“This black sun business,” you ask, “Just what's that all about? What is it, and why is Terror so interested in it?”

Zakuro takes a moment to think about this before holding out her hand again. Taking it, you step closer together – shuddering as you feel the world rearranging itself once again. “The sun – your sun – is a potent symbol,” Zakuro begins, her voice so low that you can barely hear it, “A symbol of, among other things, sacrifice. Every day it rises above the sky and gifts men with its warmth before dying and sliding beneath the horizon. The black sun is a perversion of this – a denial, a refusal. It hangs endlessly in the sky, and it bathes the land in naught but death.”

Closing your eyes, you see a flash of your dream playing back – the image of that tainted sun hanging heavily above you. “Okay, I'm listening,” you murmur, “Go on.”

“The abyss has taught me much of late. It is no uncommon thing for creatures such as I to dream of the black sun, but for one such as YOU to dream of it...” Zakuro fixes you with a level gaze, “It is an omen of great change, of things to come. Destruction mostly, of your world being plunged into the abyss. Such a fate would be a welcome future for Terror and its ilk. Now that it has seen the signs and heard the portents, Terror is likely trying to learn if it can hasten this fate.”

“Can it?” you ask after a moment.

“Perhaps,” Zakuro answers, tilting her head to the side, “But it won't get the chance.”

Zakuro's explanation brings new ideas to mind, an alternative to her destroying herself to buy you an opening. “So Terror might welcome the chance to trade ideas with another, uh, another Tyrant, yeah?” you wonder, “Especially a scholar like you.”

“An intriguing idea,” your companion nods slowly, “Yes... I believe it would work. Even if I must share a few secrets, I suppose it will matter not – Terror must not survive our discussion.”

“Exactly. When the bastard starts talking, I'll tear it to pieces,” you promise, “But we can't start yet, I need to ask you something else. Kasumi and Maika... where are they?”

Zakuro stares at you for a short moment before closing her eyes and concentrating hard, her lips forming silent words. “I can feel them,” she whispers, “They are... close, and yet so far away.”

[1/2]

>>1893544
>>1893526
>Other
"If your puppet is still alive by the time I attack would it be possible for you to reach out to my team and tell them to get here?"

>>1893655

“I see the Pariah,” she intones, “She is immersed in the bowels of a great machine. It is burning, plastic and metal melts faster than it can be repaired. She struggles hard, but the machine cannot be saved. The Pariah knows this, but she cannot bring herself to face the truth. This is her greatest fear – that the machines she has built her life around will fail her, destroying themselves and the order she has created. You have felt this fear as well, have you not?”

Thinking back, you recall your phone and the television in your apartment – even then, even at the very start of this nightmare, the world had been coloured by Maika's fears. “And Kasumi?” you ask in a hushed tone, “What about her?”

“The Temptress hides herself away. She stares into a mirror, staring into her own face,” Zakuro murmurs, “She is... deformed. No man, no human, will ever be able to look at her without revulsion. No matter how sweet her words may be, they will fall upon deaf ears. You too have tasted this, correct?”

The illusion of your shorn legs surfaces briefly in your mind. “I don't understand, are you saying...” you begin, “Wait, they're both trapped inside something, aren't they? And... they're too caught up in their fears to realise what's really going on.”

“It is so,” Zakuro nods, “They are here, but have not yet realised that they are here. Until they can rouse themselves – or until you can break Terror's hold on them - their pieces have been removed from this board.”

“I think I get it now,” you lie, “Okay, I'm ready. If your puppet it still intact by the time I begin my attack, will you be able to reach out to the others and tell them where we are?”

“I can do such a thing,” Zakuro nods again, a small smile stealing across her face, “But I do not think it will be necessary. They will find you, I suspect.” Her smile widens a little at that, growing secretive and knowing. “And now, if you are ready, we shall begin,” she adds, holding her purloined scalpel aloft, “Please, do not be alarmed.”

“Wait, hold on, wait,” you blurt out, “Alarmed by-”

Your words are cut short as Zakuro lifts one hand above her head and slashes her palm open with the scalpel. Hot blood drizzles out in a broad arc, hanging in the air above her like a macabre rainbow. A charge of magical power builds in the air as the blood twists and forms illegible glyphs – sigils of no human origin.

“Behold!” Zakuro cries out, her voice piercing the air, “I am the [Scholar of the Abyss] and the [One True Herald of the Black Sun], and I have come to parley! Reveal yourself, Terror, and we may speak as equals!”

“So,” Terror's sickly voice replies, “The anomaly reveals itself at last...”

[2/3]

>>1893803

The world distorts around you as Terror rouses itself and focuses on Zakuro, a terrible curiosity bearing down upon you. The maze that once imprisoned you fades from sight, leaving you first in the middle of that vast emptiness, and then... and then the world contracts, sinking in on itself. Distance that once separated you from the memorial is banished, leaving you – along with Ayane and Emi – to glance around in sudden confusion.

“You offer to speak as an equal,” Terror continues, “But you and I are NOT the same. You are an anomaly, you do not belong here or in any other world. What could YOU know about the black sun?”

Shaking off your confusion, you look around for any sign of the Tyrant. Still nothing, nothing but a voice in the air. Gritting your teeth, you focus on anything that might be important. To come this far, only to be foiled by one last delusion...

“I stand with one foot in each world,” Zakuro counters, “And thus, I see more than you will ever know. You have wallowed in your mud and filth for too long to see anything else. You will never-”

“Shut UP!” Emi howls suddenly, shaking off her confusion and transforming. Slamming her massive sword down into the stone tiles beneath her feet, she points an accusing finger at the memorial. “I am SO sick of you!” she rants, tearing her blade out of the shattered ground, “So just FUCKING DIE!”

“Emi, no!” Ayane protests. Ignoring her, the young girl launches herself into a furious sprint that closes the distance between her and the memorial in the blink of an eye. Bellowing a warcry, she swings her blade around and cleaves clean through the pristine white stone. As the monument shatters, a wave of invisible force blasts out and knocks everyone from their feet, static rasping through the air. Your vision distorts as reality itself seems to split apart for a moment, peeling apart as the scar left by Emi's blow causes the world to collapse. The memorial vanishes, replaced by...

Replaced by the dusty ruins of a fallen sandstone tower. A dull, leaden bell sits nearby, with a pallid figure squatting atop it. Pale and emaciated, with a tangle of white hair hiding its face from sight, the creature waits impassively. Moving sluggishly, as though deep waters were tugging at your limbs, you approach the loathsome creature. It's even more repulsive up close, with brownish sores marring its pallid body.

“Do what you must,” the creature – Terror – says with a hissing sigh, “This changes nothing. The black sun will rise regardless. Savour what little time that you-”

Lunging forwards, you grab the Tyrant by the throat and cut its tiresome threats short.

[3/4]

...yeah, that's pretty Emi for you.

>>1893908

As you grab the Tyrant and pull it close, that curtain of hair falls away to reveal something that is not quite a face – just the vaguest impression of one, smothered behind a thick layer of rubbery white skin. “No more games, no more tricks, and no more of your goddamn illusions,” you spit, “It's time to wake up – this nightmare is OVER.” Twisting savagely around, you hurl the Tyrant back down to the ground, feeling a cruel satisfaction as it bounces to a sprawling half.

With no more illusions to protect it, the creature is weak – defenceless, even. As it is struggle to rise, struggling to heave its emaciated body up, Emi slams her foot down onto the creature's back. Pressing down harder, she crouches by the Tyrant and speaks, her voice just loud enough for you to pick up her words. “Now, I know that none of this crap was real and all,” she murmurs, “But this here, this is for Kaoru.” Rising to her feet, she lifts her sword up and brings it sweeping down in a brutal arc, hacking the Tyrant's head clean from its body.

Execution.

-

With the death of the Tyrant, a new change seems to sweep through the world. It loses colour and definition, everything that once surrounded you fading away until nothing is left but a soft white void. A perfect stillness descends, but it doesn't last – a familiar voice, rough with panic, rips into your mind.

“Miho!” Kurosawa – the real deal this time, you're sure of it – barks, “Miho, are you there? Executioner? Any of you, anyone who can hear me, answer me!”

“I can hear you,” you reply, wincing at the force of his desperation, “Things got a bit, uh... confused there. We took care of it though, everything is okay now... I hope.” Looking away in revulsion as Emi drops to her knees and begins to toy with the Tyrant's severed head, you glance across to Zakuro. She smiles, shaking her head ever so slightly before touching a single finger to her lips, hushing you. The ground beneath her feet opens up, a sickly red light shining out as she sinks out of sight, returning to her own domain.

“I'm pulling you out,” Kurosawa decides, “Prepare for emergency transition.”

“Just make sure we really go back to the real world this time,” you murmur, smiling faintly to yourself. For a split second, you feel Kurosawa's desire to question your words, but then he gives up and lapses back into silence. A restless feeling builds in your stomach, and then-

Transition.

>I have to pause here, take a short break. Next post should be up within an hour or so. Sorry about the delays today

>>1894092
We didn't forget the key did we?

File: Kasumi Sato.jpg (604 KB, 1080x1080)

604 KB JPG

Waking up with a jolt, your first thought is one of purest confusion – you have no idea where you are. You're lying down on cold, wet ground, with a soft rain falling on your face. You're... you're in an alleyway, if the tall buildings either side of you are any indication. No, not just any alleyway, you're in THE alleyway, the very same alleyway where all this started. The former portal, a regular puddle once more, lies close by.

A shiver runs through you as you sit upright. One last fearful thought – can you really be certain that this is the real world? - flashes through your head, but you shake it off. This FEELS real, you'd bet your life on it. The others stir themselves as well, sitting up with equal expressions of confusion and dread playing across their faces. Well, there's one person who doesn't share your dismay.

“I killed that pile of shit,” Emi gloats, grinning broadly, “I killed it GOOD.”

“You sure did,” Ayane grunts, rubbing her eyes and shivering, “But I gotta ask, what the hell were you doing with that severed head? You weren't doing anything... weird with it, were you?”

“Nah, nothing weird,” Emi assures her, “I was kinda... kinda sorta taking a trophy, that's all. Like cutting off an ear, y'know?”

“That's pretty weird,” Ayane insists, “C'mon Miho, that's pretty weird, right?”

“It's NOT weird,” the young girl butts in, before you can offer a comment. Digging down into her pocket, her eager grin turns into an expression of dismay. “Hey, what the hell?” she blurts out, “This isn't my ear!” Scowling, she holds out something that is definitely not an ear – instead, she offers out a key, made from unadorned lead. She glares at the key for a moment, but then her expression clears as realisation dawns.

“Good work, Emi,” you tell her, “That's far better than an ear.”

-

Maika and Kasumi take longer to rouse themselves than the rest of you, still burdened down by the delusions they almost lost themselves within. Kasumi, in particular, can't stop glancing at herself in a little pocket mirror, turning her head this way and that as she examines herself from every possible angle. “You look fine,” you murmur to her, while Ayane quietly explains the situation to Maika, “It was just a bad dream.”

“My, but it was a terribly persuasive one,” Kasumi admits, “I still keep expecting to see...” Trailing off, she shudders a little at the memory of her nightmare.

>It was tough, I know, but we're fine now. Let's all head home and meet up tomorrow, okay?
>Hey, everyone. Why don't we go back to mine?
>You look pretty shaken up, Kasumi. Why don't I walk you home?
>Other

>>1894324
>Hey, everyone. Why don't we go back to mine?

>>1894324
>Hey, everyone. Why don't we go back to mine?
To say we are all shaken would be putting it mildly. Let's all have a nice dinner together or something. And when I say nice I mean greasy Chinese takeout or something.

>>1894324
>Hey, everyone. Why don't we go back to mine?

>>1894364
Movie night and something healthy. Kasumi might feel uncomfortable about eating garbage food what with her whole trauma about being deformed.

So say good Sushi, and a dessert that makes up for its small size with its decadent ingredients.

And maybe some low alcohol drink. Sangria or something. Enough to get a nice buzz but not drunk.

Then we can all talk it out and support each other. We can share about our memories being destroyed and how much that messed us up. To the point we broke a little.

Like that's a big thing. Our while deal has been duty + sacrifice compelling us to endure. We've also kind of been the one to always reach out to support the others, so this is a good experience to remember that we don't have to do it all ourselves. They can reciprocate, and also help each other without us.

That's why I picked "let's all go to my place".

>>1894402
Yeah you're right. Sushi sounds much better.

>>1894402
This is a very nice idea.

>>1894324
>Hey, everyone. Why don't we go back to mine?

Not good to be alone after that.

Clapping your hands lightly together, you cause all eyes to turn to you. “Hey everyone, why don't we all go back to mine?” you offer, “It's been a hell of a day, I know, so I think we could all do with a little break. My place is the closest by, I think, so...”

“Crap, what time is it?” Ayane blurts out suddenly, fumbling her phone out and frowning down in confusion, “Huh? We were only in there... like, less than an hour. That doesn't feel right.”

“Time moves strangely in the Umbra,” Maika reminds her gently, checking her own phone to be certain. She cradles her phone like a frightened mother holding a sickly child, as though the little device might break apart at any minute. Considering what her nightmares had been like, you can hardly blame her for being skittish about it. A faint guilt touches you at the thought – an uneasy, voyeuristic feeling.

“So we've got plenty of time to have a nice dinner or something,” you continue, raising your voice a little, “We can pick up some takeaway or something, since... well, since it's a safer bet than trusting my dad with the cooking. We can call it a victory dinner!”

A murmur of agreement rises up from the group. Nobody really objects, but the spirit isn't there. Even Emi's enthusiasm has been dampened down a little, her rush of excitement fading to a more contemplative silence. “I gotta make a call first,” she mutters, taking out her phone and fiddling with it, “I'll catch you guys up, yeah? I'll eat anything, so order me something good.” Nodding furtively, she scurries away down the alleyway. “Hey, Kaoru?” she says, her voice fading as she retreats, “C'mon, I just wanted to hear your voice. It is NOT cute, you jerk! I don't know why I...”

“There's a pretty good Chinese place near here,” you announce, trying not to eavesdrop too much, “Although... I think we should treat ourselves, get some properly decent food. Sushi, maybe? The good stuff, I mean. I don't know a whole lot about what's good, though...”

“Good food is good for the soul,” Kasumi murmurs, “I don't often get the chance to...” Cutting herself off sharply, she gives you a tiny nod. “I agree, Miho. I think we should all take a little time for ourselves,” she concludes stiffly, “Lead the way, then.”

-

You've never really bought sushi before but Kasumi and Maika, between the two of them, are able to advise you on what to get. It's very fresh, which is apparently good, but your money doesn't stretch very far. Once you add in a few fancy puddings, your haul looks more like a snack than a meal. Still, quality is more important than quality... or so you've heard. On your way out of the store, you bump into Emi.

“What's that, Sushi?” she asks, looking at the boxes you carry, “I would've preferred greasy Chinese.”

“Hush, you,” Kasumi scolds gently.

[1/2]

>>1894486
Honestly why don't we get Eligor to hook Kasumi up with a job? I mean she has great people skills as it is, and her ability would be invaluable in negotiations.

He's one of the more decent sentinels as it is and honestly her living situation is just . . . Bad. Risky.

It's not like it would be a handout or anything either. She'd earn her keep. And he could help her resolve her documentation issues.

>>1894531
...Wow, now that I think of it, that's kind of a no-brainer.

>>1894486

Akito is still around when you arrive back, although he's trying very hard not to look worried. The television is on – you feel a little more normality creep back into you at the sight – but the sound is muted. Just the same boring news, some kind of ecological disaster in India. When you close the door behind you, he jolts up and switches the TV off. “Miho!” he blurts out, “I... I mean, ah... Did your work go well?”

“Not really,” you admit, “But we survived. Just another tough day at work, you know?”

“I've had a few of those myself,” Akito sighs, his gaze wandering down to the boxes you carry, “Is that sushi? I'm more partial to Chinese food myself, but...”

“I told you,” Emi chips in, “We should've...”

“You know, I'm no expert, but I've always read that sushi tastes better with a little drink on the side,” Akito muses, “Now, if your mother was here, she would kill me for suggesting this, but... why don't I pop out and get a little something? You're responsible enough not to go crazy, I'd say. Well, most of you.”

“Hey!” Emi protests, “What's that supposed to mean?”

-

Akito's swift retreat seems more to give you a little space than to get a drink, but you appreciate it all the same. You've got a few things to talk about, and it'll be easier if it's just shared amongst yourselves – for now, at least. That voyeuristic guilt surfaces again, spurring you to speak. “I don't know what the rest of you saw or felt in there,” you begin, “But I... I guess I need to talk about it, get some stuff off my chest. Terror, that Tyrant in there, it threatened me with everything it could. The things it made me think...” Faltering for a moment, you fumble for the right words.

“Take as long as you like, Miho,” Kasumi murmurs, “But you don't have to say anything if you don't want to.”

“No, I need to say this,” biting your lip, you force the words out, “It took away my legs, snapped one of my arms like a twig, and I didn't break. Then it... it started to burn out my mind, my memories. One by one, it took them from me. When it came to Hikari, though, I... that was the one line I couldn't let it cross. It... it broke me.” Clenching your hands into tight fists, you feel a tight ball of emotion – rage, terror and grief, all tangled up together – rising up from your gut. “And then it burned her anyway,” you conclude, forcing the words past the choking lump in your throat, “I almost lost her again!”

“Shit...” Ayane whispers, awkwardly glancing away from you, “I don't know what to... just let it out if you gotta, okay? You've more than earned a bit of, I don't know. Whatever you need, any way I can help, you just ask, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Emi agrees, “We're here for you, chief. Just say the word.”

[2/3]

>>1894564
Well we didn't really have the relationship with him before that we do now. Like it would have been weird to ask Maika to get her a job, and Eligor being one of the Sentinels would have been an issue as well.

But with the whole trust relationship we have with him after he destroyed the blackmail, as well as having established ourselves as capable and effective allies that are valuable if not outright necessary to fight the Intruders, and finally being trustworthy to help with the EVE situation, he has multiple reasons to help Kasumi.

Honestly even if he wasn't an option I would have proposed that Maika use her resources to provide a Safe House for us in case something goes down. We can't afford for one of our team to get arrested, or shot in a gang war, or robbed, or otherwise be put in a position that they can't fight Intruders.

Besides, Maika and Eligor seem to have Spodermoon Syndrome. As in they believe that they have their power because they're the most capable of wielding it, and have an obligation to use it when they can make things better with it. They aren't all powerful so they have to decide where it will do the most good, though.

So yeah. Honestly we should also get Eligor involved in Kaoru's gang shit. Partly because Emi is also a valuable resource, partly because the whole "negative energy spawns Intruders", partly because Eligor has the resources to do so . . . Thoroughly, without making things worse. And just a little bit because there seems to be some sketchy nano-AI-brain enhancer-perception of reality changing drug thing going on with the criminal element in the city that we should probably nip in the bud.

>>1894675
The gang members and Kasumi's tenants are all symptoms of those eco terrorists I'm pretty sure. That plot is probably coming to ahead very soon at the festival.

>>1894633

“When I was lost in that nightmare, I saw SAE's core – her true body. She was... breaking down, her systems were overheating and destroying themselves, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Any repairs I could make, they were just postponing the inevitable. I was trapped in there, confronted with the fear of losing someone that I... care for deeply,” Maika begins, her voice low and serious, “So Miho, you're not alone – that vile creature found a way to break us all.”

“Man, this is going to sound dumb as hell,” Ayane groans, “But that maze stuff freaked me out the most. Ever since that first Tyrant, that crap back at Mizuhashi Reserve, the thought of getting lost in the Umbra has scared the hell out of me. Like, you could just... vanish in there. So when we ran and ran, never making any progress at all...”

“You two know about Kaoru,” Emi adds, voicing her own fears, “It made up some image of him, a totally perfect imitation, and it... it just fucking killed him, right there in front of me. Seeing that happen, I thought the whole world was just gonna end there and then. It pretty much did, far as I was concerned.”

“My my, this is awkward. I'm going to sound like the vainest woman alive,” Kasumi laughs delicately, “But I was made to see myself as... deformed, disfigured and forced to live as a pitiful exile. Terrible, I know, but it really is the worst thing for me – does that make me sound selfish?”

“Nah, you're okay,” Emi chuckles, “I'd worry about losing my looks and all, if they were all I had.”

“You're awful!” Kasumi protests, giving everyone a look of wide-eyed victimhood, “Isn't she simply wicked?” Even she can't keep up the façade for long, and soon everyone is laughing – letting all the tension and terror bleed away. Just then, at that very moment, Akito chooses to return.

“Well!” he laughs, gesturing towards you with a carefully wrapped bottle, “What did I miss?”

>I'm just going to close things here, I'm kinda dead today. I'll continue this tomorrow, and if anyone has any questions I'll answer them as best I can
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today, sorry for the early finish!

>>1894790
Thanks for running!

Don't worry dad, you only missed the part were we where shown our worst nightmares. No biggie.

>>1894790
Thanks for running Moloch.

So is it possible we can go fight the Source right now? Seems kind of early with that Festival thing on the horizon.

>>1894790
A good run! Hey can you bring up employing Kasumi / looking into the gang violence next thread?

>>1894864
I thought we needed two more keys. One more now that we got a key from ToT.

>>1894790
Now that I think about it, was there a way to beat ToT without Zakuro's help? That maze seemed invincible.

>>1894903

That was on the agenda, yes. It'll give me something to build the next section around.

>>1894864

I don't want to spoil too much, but the very least we could open the next seal and explore the next layer of the Umbra. That wouldn't commit us to anything, yet.

>>1894904

Without Zakuro around, things would have been pretty different. Things would have been a bit more direct - rather than throwing up a maze and going on the defensive, the Tyrant would have been more focused on hunting us down. Certainly, things wouldn't have been impossible without Zakuro.

>>1894995
This fight reminded me a little bit about the first fight in Maverick Hunter Quest. Where the first thing the target did was cut comms.

Then burst the MC's eyeballs.

>>1896694
...wait, what?

That's gross.

In a nod towards responsibility, Akito limits you all to one glass of white wine each – half a glass in Emi's case. “It's a Koshu,” he explains, “The man at the shop said that it went well with sushi. It might be a little too adult for you...”

“We'll be fine, I'm sure,” Kasumi assures him with a demure smile.

“Uh, right. Well...” Akito glances around the table, lost for words, “Why don't you tell me a little about your work? Miho has explained most of it - most of the, uh, details - but I'm still curious about what it's like.” Frowning for a moment, he takes a sip of wine and picks at some of the sushi. “What does it feel like?” he asks, “Does it feel... good? I'm not trying to judge you or anything, I just... I have an inquiring mind, you see.”

“It's kinda fun,” Emi offers, “It's like, I feel strong when I'm doing it. When I'm swinging around a big-ass sword, there's nobody lording over me and pushing me around. Like, I know it's dangerous and all, it's not some stupid game, but there's this... rush. Same reason why some folk do extreme sports and junk, I guess.”

“Hmm, I see,” nodding slowly, Akito muses over her words, “Sometimes when I'm working, I get a rush like that. The thrill of discovery, the excitement of breaking new ground... I'm sure it's the same kind of feeling!”

Emi just glances across at you as he says this, as if asking you how serious he is. You give her a tiny shrug in reply – just humour him, your shrug might as well be saying, he's trying his best. “We didn't really take it very seriously at first,” you confess, “But, well, that changed pretty quick after we got a real kick up the butt. Now, we're a lot more focused.”

“It's funny to think about it, back then,” Ayane sighs, “I mean, we didn't work all that closely together. Hell, we weren't even all that close – we kinda moved in different circles, y'know? Maika had her own stuff going on, I was busy getting in trouble with guys, and Miho... well, she was kinda...” Awkwardly hesitating here, Ayane just gives you a weak shrug. “Well, my point is that a whole bunch of stuff has changed since then,” she finishes, “And that's before we get into the messed up conspiracy stuff.”

“That IS a factor, yes,” Maika agrees dryly, taking a small sip of the wine.

“I see, I see,” Akito nods to himself, “Well, I'm going to turn in. So long as you're quiet, you can stay here as long as you like. There's a spare futon in the other room, and the couch has room, but... well, you're free to work that out however you like. Just remember, it's a Monday tomorrow!”

“Wait, I thought it was Tuesday,” Emi frowns, “Isn't it Monday today?”

“No, it was Monday in the horrific nightmare world. It's still Sunday here,” you correct her, glancing at the clock, “For like... an hour.”

“Two Mondays in one week...” the young girl grumbles.

[1/2]

>>1897870

“I think your dad is scared of us,” Ayane remarks after Akito has retreated to the other room, “I mean, I guess I can't blame him too much. Even without the whole “magic” thing, it can't be easy for him to talk with a bunch of teenage girls.” Sighing, she takes a deep sip of her wine – drinking more for effect than taste. “My mom's okay with it, but that's different. Like, she'd probably be a mess with a gang of teenage boys,” pausing for a moment, Ayane shudders, “Actually, I don't want to think about leaving my mother with a bunch of teenage guys. Just... ugh. Anyway, speaking of guys, anyone got any hot gossip?”

“You're optimistic, I'll give you that,” Maika sighs, “Not to mention determined.”

“A proper lady would never stoop to gossip,” Kasumi tuts, “It's rather uncouth to casually-”

“Pietr sorta asked me out on a date,” you muse, “I, uh, I thought he was joking at first, kinda laughed him off. Now that I think about it, that was... kind of a rude thing to do. I mean, we'd both been blown up by an Intruder not so long ago, so I wasn't exactly thinking about a fancy dinner...” Taking a drink of your wine, you think back. Considering Pietr's help with EVE, you DO owe him a favour. It might be nice, and it's not like you'd be proposing marriage or anything...

“Not gonna lie, I really want to tease you about this, but I'm being very mature right now,” Ayane says, fighting back a smile, “So I'll just say this. You should go for it. Then you should tell us all about it, so I can tease you properly.”

“Wow, okay, I'm changing the subject,” you reply, folding your arms and giving her a very serious look. “Uh, Kasumi, you look pretty thoughtful,” you continue, glancing across to her, “Something on your mind?”

“Hmm? Oh no, nothing really. I was just thinking about the future,” she replies with a faint sigh, “All that I want is a handsome, successful husband and a charming little home. Is that really too much to ask for?”

“Uh... kinda, yeah,” Ayane laughs, “I mean, there's nothing wrong with aiming high, but you gotta keep things in perspective. Like, maybe we should focus on magical girl stuff for now?”

“Gotta agree with Ayane here,” Emi nods, “I'm not too hot on the whole “long term planning” thing. Or the whole “planning” thing, now that I think about it...”

“Jeez,” you sigh, “Why don't we talk about something else?”

>Ugh, forget it. I'm too tired to think straight today
>What kind of job would you like, Kasumi? I hear that guys like successful women these days
>Any advice for going on a date, Ayane? What do you... do?
>Maika, are you free tomorrow? I'd like to check on EVE, if possible
>We can talk about... (Write in)
>Other

>>1897873
>What kind of job do you want Kasumi?
>Any dating advice for me, Sensei Ayane?

>>1897873
>>Maika, are you free tomorrow? I'd like to check on EVE, if possible

>>1897873
>What kind of job would you like, Kasumi? I hear that guys like successful women these days
"It's kind of weird but there is always Eligor if you want a stable job that'll allow you to do Magical Girl stuff without getting into trouble. If he can find something for you I mean."

>Any advice for going on a date, Ayane? What do you... do?

>Maika, are you free tomorrow? I'd like to check on EVE, if possible
"Oh yeah by the way since we are in private now. We rescued EVE from Nebrios and put her in a Doll. She's over at Maika's right now."

>>1897873
>>What kind of job would you like, Kasumi? I hear that guys like successful women these days
>Maika, are you free tomorrow? I'd like to check on EVE, if possible

File: Maika Kanzaki.jpg (272 KB, 1080x1080)

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“Speaking of the future, actually, that makes me wonder. What kind of job would you go for, Kasumi?” you ask, an idea slowly forming in your head, “I hear that guys like successful women these days.”

“She's right,” Ayane chips in, “It's like, the three C's. Confidence, competence and... something else, I can't remember the last one. It's probably not important. Point is, you gotta have market value, y'know?”

“Well, I must confess that this is an awkward subject. Considering that my education has been, shall we say, informal at best... I'd be at a significant disadvantage in whatever field I chose to focus on,” Kasumi sighs lightly, rolling the stem of her wine glass between two fingers, “But I have given some thought to it. Something with a lot of personal interaction, maybe in public relations. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I think I'd be well suited to that sort of work.”

“It's not as easy as you might think,” Maika warns, “Father is always complaining about it, probably because it's something that can't really be automated... yet. With the way that our AI development is progressing, I'd say that it's only a matter of time.”

“Nah, I gotta disagree there,” Ayane argues, “That sort of thing is always gonna need a human touch. People start hearing a machine telling them what to do or what to buy, they won't like it. There's always going to be a need for good salespeople.”

“And a lack of them,” the heiress bemoans.

“Well, maybe you can help each other,” you suggest, looking between Maika and Kasumi. “It's kind of weird, I know, but hear me out. I reckon Eligor might be able to give you a stable job, and he knows about this magical girl stuff – you wouldn't have to worry about keeping it a secret from him,” you shrug, “It's just an idea, at least. Something to think about.”

“Maybe so, maybe so,” Kasumi nods thoughtfully, “I don't wish for a handout, though. I'm more than capable of earning my place. Still, it's an idea worth considering. There would be a certain... prestige in working for a large company like his. Well then, here's to the future!” Smiling warmly, Kasumi offers her glass to you. With a muted clink, you taps yours against hers.

“Here's to the future,” you echo, “Now then, uh, Ayane. I've got a question, maybe you can help me with this. Any advice you can give me for going on a date? I mean, what do you... do, exactly?”

“Well first off, you have to stay safe,” Ayane begins, “Always remember to use protection, and-”

“I said a date. A date!” you stress, “Not... whatever you're thinking of!” Sighing wearily, you shake your head. “C'mon Ayane, take this seriously,” you continue, bowing your head low, “Please, sensei!”

[1/2]

>>1897840
he got better.

>>1897926
wonder if the girls would like to drink with Zakuro sometime. She's getting good at those puppets.

>>1897926

“Well, since you said please...” Ayane muses, “Honestly, there's no big secret to it. Find some common ground and build from there. If you've got a hobby or something that you share, great. If not... I dunno, just try to relax and have fun. It's not gonna go well if you're stiff and worried about the whole thing.” She pauses here, waiting to see if anyone else at the table is going to contribute anything before continuing. “Really, it's not that big of a deal. Just remember – any guy would be lucky to have you,” Ayane finishes with a smile, “And if he tries to drag you into one of those tacky hotels...”

“Ayane, please,” Kasumi sighs, “Have a little class, would you?”

“Class, that was it!” Ayane replies, triumphantly snapping her fingers, “That was the third C!”

“No wonder you forgot what it was,” Emi mutters to herself.

-

Your impromptu party continues for a while longer, with the conversation descending into the usual irrelevancy, then you clear your throat. “Maika, are you busy tomorrow?” you ask, “Only, I kinda wanted to stop by and check on EVE. Just see how she's doing, yeah?” When several pairs of confused eyes turn your way, you laugh awkwardly and continue. “Oh right, I never explained...” you begin, “Short version is, we dumped EVE in a spare Doll body, and now she's on the run from Renko Biotech. Once she's been checked over, she might be living here for a little. It's... uh, it's not as insane as it sounds.”

“I doubt that,” Emi chuckles, “But sure, okay.”

“That shouldn't be a problem,” Maika confirms, nodding her agreement, “I'm sure that EVE will be happy to see you, if she's up and about again. We can head to my home after school. I can't say whether or not Father will be home that early, however.”

“If you don't mind, I would like to accompany you,” Kasumi asks, “To discuss the prospect of a job. I don't mind waiting, if the situation demands it.”

“Sure, okay. I can't see a problem with... with...” a massive yawn cuts your sentence short here. “Maybe we should turn in soon,” you decide, “Uh, but it's like my dad said, there isn't really a surplus of beds here.”

“I was thinking of heading back to mine,” Ayane muses, “I wanted to do some personal stuff, make a few calls. No offence ladies, but I'd rather do that in private. So that's one less body you gotta deal with.”

“And I promised Kaoru that I'd be back before midnight,” Emi adds, “I'm already... shit, I'm already late.”

When Maika and Kasumi murmur their agreements, the matter is closed. “Well, make sure you all get home safely. We'll do this again soon,” you promise everyone, “Maybe we can visit Zakuro!”

The others, you note, look somewhat less enthusiastic about the idea.

[2/3]

>>1897981
We should offer Maika to share our bed. See how serious she was when she seemed so excited about the idea of us checking her all over when she started doing those tests.

>>1897998
Maika is for SAE.

>>1897981

When the time comes for everyone to say their goodbyes and head their separate ways, Maika is the last to leave. As she lingers, you repeat your offer of the spare futon. You can see that she's tempted – sorely tempted, in fact – but then she shakes her head. “While I appreciate the offer, I'll have to decline,” she sighs, “I don't think Father would really approve. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Uh, okay,” you agree, nodding slowly, “I don't really get it, but okay. See you tomorrow.”

Maika gives you a thin smile, bowing shortly before seeing herself out.

-

Alone once again, you slump back in bed and relax. The small amount of wine you drank wasn't really enough to get you drunk, but it does loosen you up a little. Sighing, you briefly consider running yourself a hot bath before abandoning the idea – it's just too much work. Besides, a faint shift in the air alerts you to a new visitor.

“A close call,” Kurosawa says gravely, “But a victory nonetheless.”

“Largely because of Zakuro,” you point out, “She really pulled my butt out of a tight spot back there.”

“Yes. Yes she did,” the cat nods, appearing at the foot of your bed, “In your culture, this is what you would call a “I told you so” moment, is it not?”

“Don't worry, I won't gloat,” you assure him, smiling softly to yourself, “Much.”

“See that you don't,” he replies, feigning grumpiness. “Miho?” he asks after a long moment of silence, “Are you... okay?”

“It... it took a lot out of me, y'know? After everything that's happened, after only just getting Hikari back, the thought of losing her all over again...” shivering a little, you pull your bedsheets around you like a shroud, “I guess everyone had their weaknesses, and it knew exactly where mine were. It knew exactly how to hurt us, and it... it enjoyed every minute of it.” Kurosawa's eyes bore into as you lapse into silence, unreadable but not quite impassive. “I guess you called it right. It was a close call, but we still won,” you finish, shrugging within your cocoon of blankets, “That's the end of it. Bring on the next problem.”

Holding his silence, Kurosawa studies you with those curious eyes of his.

>Goodnight Kurosawa
>Were there any problems while we were away?
>Zakuro told me about the black sun. Do you know anything about it?
>I had something to ask you... (Write in)
>Other

>>1898050
>>Goodnight Kurosawa

>>1898050
>Were there any problems while we were away?
>Zakuro told me about the black sun. Do you know anything about it?
>I had something to ask you... (Write in)
"The Magical Girl who took the Source's offer. The Saint of the Abyss. Who was she?"

>>1898050
>Zakuro told me about the black sun. Do you know anything about it?

Seconding custom question in >>1898058
not the problems while we were away though, it only lasted like an hour.

>>1898050
>Zakuro told me about the black sun. Do you know anything about it?
>Other
We've got another key but I want to give girls some time off before jumping into the next layer. Terror hit us where it hurts.

>>1898050
>Is this what it was like for Hikari? I have friends, but this was the first time I felt so....alone.

>>1898066
Eh, some weaker Intruders might've passed through the portal while we were indisposed. That said though, Kurosawa probably would have said something already.

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When the silence draws out for a while longer, you feel the urge to say something – anything, so long as it breaks the silence. “We weren't gone for very long,” you begin, “Still, were there any problems while we were away?”

“There was an Intruder. A Demon, perhaps sensing weakness. However, it did not last very long before it was destroyed. When I could not contact you, I alerted the Gravetender and sent her to confront it,” Kurosawa pauses, “The False Witness was also present, perhaps sent by her masters.”

“Megumi and Sionann,” you sigh, “Did it go... okay?”

“They managed not to kill one another,” the cat remarks drily, “I am willing to call that a success. It is not an incident that I am particularly proud of, let me leave it at that.”

“Jeez,” sitting up, you try not to imagine how much of a disaster their meeting must have been if that's the best that Kurosawa can say about it. Best not to think too hard about it. “Zakuro told me about the black sun,” you ask, tactfully changing the subject, “Sort of a prophecy amongst the Intruders or something like that. Folklore, I guess. Do you know anything about it?”

“Their ways are not known to me,” he answers stiffly, “But I do know the term. Among my kin – my former kin – the black sun has always been linked with great shame and failure. It represents a betrayal of the most severe kind.”

“Like... a Heavenly Child who took the Source's offer?” you suggest, “That happened once before, didn't it? What was her name?”

In the darkness, you see Kurosawa's eyes narrowing to pale slits. “Corinna,” he says at long last, “A maiden who lived more than two thousand years ago, in the region that you now know as Greece. Destiny was not kind to her – she fought alone, and her life was spent in a time of great strife. Night after night, she was called to battle, and yet she never refused the call. Even as bitterness corroded her from within, she carved a path deep into the Umbra... and then she failed.”

“Why?” you whisper, “What happened down there?”

“I do not know,” Kurosawa shakes his head slowly, “It was hidden from me. I would not lie about this, Miho, I would not conceal this from you – not after everything that has happened. She refused her duty and bent her knee before the unclean source. What was once a bright and glorious sun was stained black with foulness.”

A grim scowl passes across your face. Once again, it comes down to this – a lone girl, breaking under the weight of the responsibility piled upon her shoulders. This is a story that you've heard far too often.

[1/2]

>>1898119

“Is this what things were like for Hikari?” you ask quietly, “I mean, fighting alone for so long. Now, I know that I've got friends, I've got people who have my back, but what I felt back there in Terror's illusions... I've never felt so alone, or so close to breaking. Did Hikari feel the same way, when she was fighting on her own?” Swallowing hard, you force yourself to voice the dark idea forming in your mind. “If Hikari had reached the bottom of the Umbra,” you whisper, “Do you think she would have-”

“Miho,” Kurosawa interrupts, his voice hushed, “Hikari fought for a higher purpose. Not for her duty, but to protect those she loved. Even in her darkest moments, she fought for the good of mankind. No matter what else happened, you must not forget that. She did not... fall from grace as ancient Corinna did. She never would have done so, not while she had bonds tying her to this world.”

“I see,” nodding to yourself, you pull the blankets a little tighter around yourself. “Well... either way, we've got another key,” you state, “But I want to give the girls some time to rest. Like I said, Terror pushed us hard. We all need to take some time out.”

“I understand,” Kurosawa intones, “And I agree. The world has survived for countless years, a number of days will not lead to disaster. Take as long as you think you require before delving deeper into the Umbra – that is an order.”

“Understood,” smiling wearily, you flop back down, “Goodnight Kurosawa. Don't be too hard on Megumi... or Sionann, I guess.”

-

For once, you get what feels like a good night's sleep – no jolting awake in the middle of the night, no awful dreams, nothing like that. It's not much, but it feels like a miracle after your experiences in the Umbra. After everything that Terror put you through, nightmares in the real world are the last thing that you needed. When you throw aside your curtains and see bright morning sunlight outside your room, you feel a weight lift from your shoulders.

Sure, it might be a Monday morning. Sure, you might already be late for school, but it's still a welcome sight to see.

-

The normality of a simple school day goes a long way to soothing your ragged nerves. By the time you're finished for the day and you meet Maika at the school gates, a perfectly natural smile takes shape on your face. “Hey!” you call out to her, “Let's go!”

“You're awfully cheerful today,” Maika points out, smiling at your show of enthusiasm, “Not that I'm complaining, mind you.”

“There's no point moping around, is there?” you reply with a shrug, taking out your phone, “Let's meet up with Kasumi, and then we can head over to yours.”

[2/3]

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>>1898179

When you're escorted into the Kanzaki compound, SAE is there to greet you. [Good afternoon Miss Kanzaki. Good afternoon Miss Tsukada. Good afternoon...] the AI falters when it comes to Kasumi, falling abruptly silent.

“Sato,” Kasumi prompts, frowning a little, “Kasumi Sato.”

[Miss Sato,] SAE agrees, a faintly guarded note stealing its way into her synthesised voice, [Master Kanzaki is not currently home. He is away on business. However, he instructed me to tell you – our guest is waiting in her quarters. Approximately eighty percent of her systems have been examined and deemed safe. All predictive models indicate that the remaining twenty percent will also be safe.]

“That's encouraging,” Maika says, “But don't cut any corners. Omit nothing.”

[Yes Miss Kanzaki,” the AI confirms, pausing a moment before adding, [I have received a message from Master Kanzaki. He will be returning shortly, with Doctor Fujiwara accompanying him. They have business that they wish to discuss with you.]

Trading a glance with Maika and Kasumi, you feel a faint sense of unease forming in the pit of your stomach.

-

When Eligor Kanzaki returns, he does so with remarkably little fanfare. There are no blaring sirens or advance guard of soldiers sweeping for threats. He just walks in the front door, with Doctor Fujiwara scurrying quickly beside him to keep up with his long stride. When he notices your little group, he seamlessly alters his path and approaches. “I understand that you were out late last night, Maika,” he begins, “You didn't arrive back here until early this morning.”

“Urgent business, Father. I didn't have the chance to inform you,” Maika replies quietly, bowing her head, “I apologise. It was an unavoidable situation.”

“Hm. Doctor Fujiwara wished to speak with you,” he continues, nodding slightly to the slightly breathless looking woman, “A new series of tests, I believe. Perhaps it would be best if we discussed that later, however – I can see that we have guests.”

“Uh, yeah. Hey,” you dip your head awkwardly, with Kasumi offering a rather more graceful bow. Other than to bow, however, she seems frozen in place – a rare attack of nerves, perhaps. “Yeah, last night took us all by surprise,” you add, “But hey, we all survived.”

“I see. Very well,” Eligor carefully glances between all three of you, “Do you have other business here?”

>I came here to see EVE, that's all
>Have you discussed that business with the Oracle?
>We thought that you might be able to offer Kasumi a job. Right Kasumi?
>There was something, yes... (Write in)
>Other

>>1898333
>>We thought that you might be able to offer Kasumi a job. Right Kasumi?

>>1898333
>Have you discussed that business with the Oracle?
"I think ZOE might have it out for you Doc. She was trying real hard to throw you under the bus in front of Jun on her last 'screw up'"
>We thought that you might be able to offer Kasumi a job. Right Kasumi?
>How's EVE doing Eligor? Can I see her?

>>1898333
>I came here to see EVE, that's all
>Have you discussed that business with the Oracle?
>We thought that you might be able to offer Kasumi a job. Right Kasumi?

>>1898333
is SAE.....jealous? If we get Kasumi this job, is she gonna worry that Kasumi will steal Maika away?

>I came here to see EVE
>Have you discussed that business with the Oracle?
>We thought that you might be able to offer Kasumi a job. Right Kasumi?
I'm still not clear where their HR situation is so delicate that they'll pull in supernatural specialists. Renko seems to be the one with loopy employees.

....no offense, Miho.
>There was something, yes... (Write in)
>You have the means to make replicas of our abilities, right? Couldn't you have done that with the Oracle's.....data gatherer?

>>1898333
>I came here to see EVE, that's all
>Have you discussed that business with the Oracle?

Kasumi can ask for a job herself. We don't want to seem like her parent.

>>1898333
>I came here to see EVE, that's all
>Have you discussed that business with the Oracle?

“Well, you see, we thought that you might be able to offer Kasumi a job,” you begin, diving straight into the deep end, “Isn't that right, Kasumi?” Your voice snaps Kasumi out of her trance, causing her to snap back to reality.

“Yes, that's correct!” Kasumi agrees, her voice just a little bit too loud to be fully natural. She was probably working out her own way to raise the difficult subject, obsessing over precisely the right words to use. “I understand that I don't have any formal qualifications or references,” she continues, “But I'm certain that I would be an asset in whatever-”

“A job,” Eligor says quietly, cutting her off with a firm gesture, “You have powers that only a tiny section of society share, but you're here asking me for a job.” Thinking over the offer for a moment more, he studies Kasumi through narrowed eyes. “What are you proposing?” he queries, “What skills would you bring to the table?”

“I have excellent interpersonal skills, I'm a very quick learner, I can read people's hearts and learn their most shameful desires,” Kasumi pauses briefly, “I'm also very neat, with good organisational skills.”

“That sounds like a secretary you had once,” Fujiwara points out, smiling a little at Kasumi's pitch, “She had these piercing eyes, I could swear she was looking right-”

“Very well. You've made your point. If it's not too inconvenient for you, would you be able to wait until later? I would keep this matter until I can give it my full attention,” Eligor taps a finger against his chin as he thinks, “I might be able to find a use for someone like you. Someone who can sit in while I meet with difficult clients and take notes. As Doctor Fujiwara says, you could consider it a kind of... secretarial work.”

“I understand,” realisation blossoms in Kasumi's eyes, her lips lifting in a cynical smile, “That does sound like the sort of work that I might be well suited to.”

“We can discuss the specifics later,” Eligor states firmly, gesturing to a nearby set of chairs as Bradley appears with a tray of coffee cups. “You'll have to excuse me, my mind is still on other things,” he continues, gratefully taking a cup for himself, “I have only recently-”

“Have you come from a council meeting?” you ask, glancing between Eligor and Fujiwara, “Did you get the chance to discuss that business with the Oracle?”

“I have, and I did,” Eligor answers, frowning a little at your interruption, “The matter of the Oracle was very much a minor part of our meeting, but it was discussed. In light of recent events, questions have been raised about Doctor Fujiwara's competence.”

“I'm not so sure about that,” you muse, “I think ZOE might have it out for you, doc. The last time that the Oracle screwed up, ZOE seemed pretty keen to pin the blame on you, and your “alterations”. Seems awfully convenient to me.”

[1/2]

>>1898434

“My competence...” Doctor Fujiwara groans, sinking down into one of the seats. She looks like someone who's had a terrible day, one that might just get worse at any minute.

“Nobody seriously doubts you, Rei,” Eligor assures her, an uncommonly gentle tone entering his voice, “But these things must be investigated thoroughly. You know that.” Looking back to you, his eyes hardening to their usual steely glare, he continues. “That's why I asked the council to grant me – and a team of my specialists – permission to meet with the Oracle and thoroughly test her systems. That permission was granted,” he explains, “My specialists, of course, will include you and your companions. I have reason to believe that you are deeply involved in this – the Oracle's abnormalities, after all, have been centred around you.”

“And I want to see her as well,” you agree, “There's one of us down there. I want to make sure that she's okay.” Sitting down, and gently ushering Kasumi down into the seat next to you, you glance across at Fujiwara. “I don't get why you never tried to replicate her powers,” you wonder aloud, “I mean, you can do that, can't you?”

“At first, there were doubts about Noriko's... condition, as well as my own powers. We were worried that she was too fragile, or that I might harm her. At the time, the risk was deemed too great,” Fujiwara explains, her eyes widening a little, “Oh, but she was never in any danger! We know that now, now that we have a greater understanding of... of a lot of things.” Sighing softly, Fujiwara busies herself with a cup of coffee. “Now, uh, there are other factors,” she adds, wincing and shooting Eligor a pleading look.

“There are those in the council who believe that the Oracle should not be interfered with – they believe that Monad has specifically chosen its vessel, and will not accept any other,” Eligor explains bluntly, “Superstitious nonsense, in all likelihood, but inexplicably persuasive. Just securing this access to her is significant progress.” Scowling briefly, Eligor is quick to smooth out his expression. “But no matter. Maika – I believe Doctor Fujiwara would like to speak with you,” he glances across to you, “Miss Tsukada, would you care to see EVE?”

“Yeah, uh, right. That's why I came,” you agree, “How's she been doing?”

“For security's sake, she has been mostly kept in a deactivated state. If you visit her, she can be woken up, however,” the Sentinel explains, “SAE will lead you to her room.” Turning brusquely away from you, he gives Kasumi a hard look. “Now then,” he tells her, “About that job...”

You know a good line to exit on when you hear one. Rising from the chair and bowing quickly, you leave the pair to it. Maika, accompanying Doctor Fujiwara, hurries off in a different direction.

[2/3]

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>>1898515

[Take the first door on your left, Miss Tsukada,] SAE explains as you walk down the featureless corridor, [This door here, yes.]

“Okay,” you reply, hesitating at the door, “SAE, you seemed a little.. off with Kasumi earlier. Is there anything wrong?”

[A momentary failure of data retrieval. Her records could not be automatically accessed,] SAE explains, [A possible anomaly in the central administrative system. If her family record has been previously altered, there may be inconsistent details remaining within the system.]

“Oh, I get it,” sighing a little, you glance around at the empty corridor, “Do me a favour, SAE, and don't dig too deeply. I don't think Kasumi would like it.”

[Confirmed,] SAE replies.

-

Seen from a distance, with a cloth covering her body like this, EVE could be a regular human girl, fast asleep on a table. Tentatively, you approach her and pull the sheet down to banish the illusion of humanity. The dull gloss of her metal body is marred with the occasional smear of oil or an opened panel, colourful wires running into her body. A nearby computer displays a scrolling tide of information, so complex as to be meaningless to you. Pulling the sheet further down reveals-

[You pervert,] EVE whispers, one of her eyes flicking wide open, [Do you make a habit of exposing young girls while they sleep?]

“SAE, tell Eligor that his guest is insane,” you call out, glaring at EVE, “Totally, irreparably insane.”

[Voice pattern analysis indicates insincerity,] SAE replies, [I do not think you mean that, Miss Tsukada.]

“Of course you'd take HER side,” you protest, looking up at the ceiling. SAE doesn't have a physical body for you to glare at, but you try very hard nonetheless to look accusing nonetheless. Sighing, you slump your shoulders and look back to EVE. “So how's that body working out for you?” you ask, “Seems like you're making yourself at home in it.”

[I'll be happier when I can walk about. My motor functions have been temporarily disabled,] EVE laments, [Eligor acts like I'm some kind of troublemaker, can you believe that? Let me read some of his note. He said...] EVE falls silent, then, with Eligor's voice slipping out from between her lips. “I've experienced some personality quirks,” Eligor muses, “But I don't believe these are dangerous or derived from any malfunction. She's simply... obnoxious.”

“Congratulations, EVE,” you announce with a smirk, “You've finally found someone who understands you!”

[How rude!] EVE squawks.

>I'll see you later, EVE. Don't cause any trouble, okay?
>There's something I'd like to speak with you about... (Write in)
>Other

>Sorry for the delay. Hit a bit of a block

>>1898688
>>There's something I'd like to speak with you about... (Write in)
>Do you still have any of your AI powers or are you pretty much a human with a robo-body now?

>>1898688
>Don't worry about it, you're still just a little baby, only a day old. There will be plenty of time for us to raise you into a respectable /little/ girl...

>>1898688
"It's looks like you've got being a smartass down. Who taught you sarcasm? Wait it wasn't me was it?"

"Looks like you almost have a clean bill of health. Which means you'll probably be living with us soon. You okay with that? We never actually asked you."

“Well, it looks like you've got the sarcasm down right,” you sigh, “But just who taught you that crap, anyway? It wasn't me, was it?”

[There was a time when I had access to the collected data of almost every employee of Renko Biotech,] EVE explains, one eye dipping into a sly wink, [That was a lot of e-mails. A lot of bitchy gossip, passive aggressive jibes and outright filthy jokes. My education was not what you could call “politically correct”, I'm afraid.] With the grin that EVE gives you, you suspect that she wouldn't have it any other way.

“I suppose it's not too late to teach you some manners. You're, what, less than a week old?” reaching down, you pull the sheet back up over EVE's mechanical body, “There's still plenty of time to raise you to be a respectable little girl.”

[Less of the “little” stuff!] the AI shoots back, [I'm taller than you are, don't think I didn't notice!]

“Not that much taller!” you protest, “And anyway, I'm sure that I'll hit a growth spurt soon. We'll see who's laughing then. Uh... your body can't grow, can it?”

[Sadly, no,] EVE laments, [Although if I got someone to build a few improvements onto it...]

“But man, I don't even know what you're capable of. I mean, do you have any fancy AI powers or anything?” you ask her, “Or are you, like, just a regular human in a weird mechanical body?”

[I'm sure that if I could be connected up to a computer – a proper networked computer, I mean – I could do all sorts of fancy AI things. Just... that would be like lighting a flare and yelling “here I am” to that fat swine. After all the trouble that we went to, I'd rather not get his attention again,] sighing angrily, EVE gives you a rather familiar frown – almost an exact copy of your own. [Maybe one day, I'll be safely able to dive into the digital world again,] she ponders, [But until then, I'm only a little bit less human than you are. I don't have any magic, so maybe I'm more human!]

“Hey, c'mon, I'm perfectly human!” you begin, cutting yourself short before you launch into a rant. “Well anyway, it looks like you've almost got a clean bill of health. That means you'll be leaving here soon enough,” you tell her, “The current idea was that you'd come and stay with us for a little. Is that... uh, are you okay with that? We never really had the chance to ask you.”

[Ooh!] EVE gasps, [Are we going to be roommates?]

“Good lord no!” you splutter, “We cleared out the spare room. It's got a bed and a power outlet, that's everything you need, right?”

[Good enough, I suppose,] she sighs, [I'll have to look into decorating, of course. One of our... your father's colleagues had a taste for interior decoration. I have seen SO many carpet patterns...]

As if she had been waiting for the chance to vent, EVE launches into a baffling spiel.

[1/2]

>>1898837

Your mind is still whirling with carpet patterns, curtain styles and all manner of decorative minutia as you're leaving EVE's “quarters”. She certainly seems eager enough to get settled in at your place, although you're still utterly clueless as to how you'll break the news to Yui. You'll leave that unenviable task to your father. He's got a few days to prepare himself before she comes back from her “time alone”.

...If she comes back.

“She will,” you murmur to yourself, “Of course she will.”

-

When you arrive back at the entrance to the Kanzaki compound, you find a pair of unexpected visitors. Jun is speaking with Eligor in a hushed, deferential tone while Pietr lingers nearby, shifting nervously from one foot to the other. When he sees you, he breaks away from the senior Sentinels and casually strolls across to meet you. At least, he was probably aiming for “casual” - he just ends up looking like he has poor posture.

“Hey,” you greet him in a low voice, nodding across to Jun and Eligor, “Something wrong?”

“No, we just came to deliver some paperwork. Doctor Fujiwara forgot some of her things, so we came here to deliver them. She is, uh, here, right?” Pietr shakes his head, “Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. I get the impression that she forgets things pretty often. Here or there, they'll find their way back to her.” Scratching his head, Pietr checks that Jun and Eligor are still deep in conversation. “Hey, that favour you asked me to do,” he murmurs, “You think you could explain a little more?”

“We should be safe to talk here,” you tell him, gesturing to the rich leather seats. “See, you know how you were chasing down splinters of EVE, right?” you explain, “Well... I wanted to save one of them. The original EVE, in her complete form. She disconnected herself from the network, so Nebiros wouldn't be able to find her. Only you'd be able to track her down, so... I asked you not to.”

“Oh,” Pietr pauses, “Nebiros really wouldn't like that, if he found out.”

“No he would not,” you agree gravely, “Are you going to tell him?”

For a moment Pietr looks like he's seriously considering it, but then he shakes his head. “Nah,” he decides, “I didn't like Nebiros very much. As far as he's concerned, I got every last trace of EVE out of his systems. My job is done. I'll... I'll keep your secret.”

>Thank you, Pietr. I owe you one for this
>Thanks Pietr. Why don't we go out and do something to celebrate?
>Other

>My internet is looking kinda shaky. Sorry for any interruptions

>>1899146
>>Thanks Pietr. Why don't we go out and do something to celebrate?

>>1899146
>Thanks Pietr. Why don't we go out and do something to celebrate?

>>1899146
>Thanks Pietr. Why don't we go out and do something to celebrate?
it's time for HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS

>>1899146
>>Thank you, Pietr. I owe you one for this. Why don't we go out and do something to celebrate?

>>1899146
>Other: Want to meet her? Fair warning, though; she'll probably talk your ears off about interior decorating if you make the mistake of bringing up any related subjects.
>We should go do something to celebrate after. Or instead, if you'd rather not meet her.

>>1899146
>>Thank you, Pietr. I owe you one for this

>>1899146
>Thank you, Pietr. I owe you one for this
>She's right over here if you wanna meet her?

>>1899146
>Thanks Pietr. Why don't we go out and do something to celebrate?

>>1899146
>>Thank you, Pietr. I owe you one for this
All those 1 post shotafags

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“Thanks Pietr,” you breathe, breaking out in a relieved smile, “Why don't we go out and do something to celebrate getting one over on Nebiros?”

“Something?” Pietr repeats, a smile playing around his lips as he gives you a look of wilful ignorance, “Did you have anything in mind?”

“Well, there's a lot of stuff to do out in the city. Some stuff to do here as well, now that I think about it,” you muse, glancing back towards EVE's temporary quarters, “You want to go meet her? I mean, you've got as much right as anyone, since you helped us. Fair warning, though, she'll talk your ear off about interior decorating if you let her – she's got, uh, strange interests.”

“Interior decoration?” this time, Pietr's disbelieving look is all too real, “But... sure, I guess? I don't really know what to expect. Aren't AIs a little... strange?”

[That would all be a matter of perspective,] SAE offers, [But EVE is strange by any standards. Incidentally, Miss Tsukada, I could provide you with a list of viable date locations, sorted by location and public ratings.]

You feel your cheeks heating up at the AI's suggestion. “That won't be necessary, SAE,” you mumble, “But thank you for the offer... I think.”

“So when you said we should do out and do something...” Pietr says with a slight smile, “You meant a date kind of thing?”

“We shall see,” you reply, aiming for a cool air of mystery. You... don't really manage it.

-

[So this is the one who was chasing down my disposable little shards?] EVE remarks when you show Pietr into her quarters and explain who he is, [How interesting! I wasn't sure what to expect – a yapping little lapdog, perhaps. ARE you a lapdog? Perhaps not, if you're willing to keep this a little secret.] Her eyes narrow slightly, her lips forming a tight line. [I suppose I owe you my thanks as well,] she adds, [So... thank you.]

“Not so fast,” Pietr replies, smiling a little despite his best efforts at looking serious, “I'm starting to have second thoughts about all this.”

“Amazing how often that happens,” you add, “People go out of their way to help you, only to change their minds when they actually talk to you.”

[I feel like you're implying something here,] EVE snipes, [But I can't imagine what that might be.]

“It'll give you something to think about while we're out having fun, then,” you tell her, patting the AI on her mechanical shoulder, “I'd tell you not to cause any trouble, but even you can't start a fight with an empty room.”

[Oh yeah?] the AI laughs as you're leaving, [We'll see about that!]

Even after the door closes behind you, you can still hear her ranting away to herself.

[1/2]

>>1899146
>Thank you, Pietr. I owe you one for this

>>1899294

Before you can leave, there's a few things you need to take care of. Eligor and Jun are just finishing their impromptu meeting when you return. He studies you and Pietr for a moment, fixing you both with an inscrutable gaze, before gesturing to Jun with a curt nod. “It's time for you to leave,” he says bluntly, “Your business here is over, I believe.”

“That's right. I was about to head back,” Jun agrees, in a more diplomatic tone, “Come on, the car's waiting.”

“Actually...” Pietr clears his throat, “Could I get the rest of the evening off? I'm still a little worn out after helping Nebiros with that computer stuff. I've working hard lately, so...”

“So you think you deserve a little time off?” one corner of Jun's mouth twitches up in a small smile, “Well, I think that can be arranged. Don't come back too late, though, and don't get in any trouble!”

“I won't!” Pietr promises.

-

Just before leaving, you check with Eligor about the others. Maika and Doctor Fujiwara are still busy discussing... whatever these new tests are supposed to be, while Kasumi is going to be staying a little longer – clearing up a few “administrative complications”, apparently. That last part concerns you a little, but you let it lie. You're not Kasumi's mother, after all, and she can take care of herself. Bidding Eligor farewell, you accompany Pietr out of the compound. You're not going anywhere in particular, you're just... walking.

“It was awful, working for Nebiros,” Pietr groans as you walk side by side, “He would constantly pace behind me, or peer over my shoulder. Whenever I found a big clump of infected systems, he'd laugh like some pantomime villain and gloat about how he was bringing EVE to heel. It was so... creepy. He was enjoying it, thinking that he had her cornered.” Disgust colours Pietr's face, although it's soon replaced by a more carefree smile. “But man, when he heard that there had been a fire, and all those Doll things had been burned up...” the boy chuckles nervously, “I thought he was going to have a heart attack, there and then. He went purple – actually purple!”

“No way!” you laugh, “People don't really do that, do they?”

“Apparently so!” he insists, “I've never seen anyone so angry. That other guy was with him, and he kept trying to calm Nebiros down. He was all “the damage can be undone” and “this isn't a complete disaster”. Oh man... I was glad to get out of there.”

“Yeah, I knew that would hit him where it hurts,” you agree, “Wish I could have seen it for myself, though...”

“Oh, wait!” fumbling in his pocket, Pietr pulls out his phone and brings up a photograph. It looks like it was taken covertly, with the phone hidden behind his fingers. The picture shows Nebiros leaning against a wall, his sagging face breathless and furious.

“You have GOT to send me that,” you insist, grinning from ear to ear.

[2/3]

I think that picture alone probably earns Pietr a peck on the cheek tonight, at least.

>>1899403
Seconding sincerely.

>>1899403
Rejecting sincerly.

>>1899403
stop this

>>1899403
Thirding sincerely.

>>1899374
I vote for a spontaneous kiss. Then we should tell him that if he sends to Eligor he might give him a kiss too.

>>1899442
Nah. Too spontaneous for Miho. At least wait for the date.

All these girls coming out of the woodwork

>>1899475
Man it's almost like we are playing as teenage girl or something huh?

>>1899475
We were always here. You were just blind.

>>1899496
More like teenage pedo.

>>1899506
Isn't there only a 3 year age gap?

>>1899506
2 year age difference isn't very uncommon anon. Hell that's the same gap my parents have.

>>1899525
It's less a gap than my parents were.

>All this forced romance.

>>1899374

Conversation wavers from one thing to another, but eventually you find yourself recounting your most recent struggle against Terror. Time has taken much of the sting out of your memories, but your tone still darkens as you explain the things you saw – the things you thought you saw.

“Memories are all I really have left of my brother,” Pietr says, when your story comes to an end, “Memories, and... what I am now. I don't think that I could bear it if I lost my memories of him. Waking up every morning, sharing my skin with a stranger... ugh.” Slowly rubbing his arms, Pietr thinks to himself for a moment before shaking his head. “What I'm trying to say is, I think I understand how you felt,” he continues, “We've got quite a lot in common, now that I think about it.”

“Common ground,” you muse, thinking back to Ayane's advice. Maybe she actually knows what she's talking about.

“Let me explain - we've both lost siblings. We're both caught up in magical business, at great personal danger...” he flashes you a quick smile, “And we're both being pushed around by people higher up on the ladder.”

“That last one could apply to a lot of people. Most people in Ark City, even,” you point out, “But I get your point.” Sighing with contentment, you allow your gaze to wander around the streets surrounding you. Even with a few puddles here and there, the scene is still a picturesque one, with the street lights twinkling merrily away. With the festival approaching, there seems to be a determined effort to lift the public spirit. “This is nice,” you murmur, slowing to a halt beneath the soft glow of a street light, “I hope that festival goes okay, I kinda want to-”

Your words are cut off as Pietr leans sharply forwards and kisses you, his lips lightly brushing against your cheek for a moment. As you blink in shock, he pulls back and gives you a giddy, nervous smile. When he sees your reaction – a frozen silence, with your thoughts still lagging behind – all the blood drains from his face.

“I didn't...” he stammers, taking a tentative step backwards, “I just thought...”

And then, before either of you can say anything else, he turns and flees away into the gathering night.

“Wait!” you call out, jolting from your shocked silence, “Pietr, wait!”

The only response you get is your own words, echoing back to you.

>I'll close things here for this week. Our regularly scheduled bonus episode will be slightly delayed – maybe half an hour or so
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today!

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>>1899574
>when everyone thought Miho would kiss Pietr
>but Pietr kissed Miho

Hah! Not today, villain!

Aw. Poor kid.

>>1899574
Thanks for running! We need to work on our reaction times, so we can kiss back.

Should we be worried about Zakuro calling herself the one true Herald of the black sun?

Bonus episode should be up soon, just had to finish off a few details.

>>1899702

I wonder! It does sound pretty sinister, doesn't it?
Full disclosure, that was just to get Terror's attention and make sure it took her seriously.

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Ark City, Independent Territory
One night ago

With a quick and confident step, Megumi Eto marched down the streets of Ark City. Streets that had once seemed alien and unknowable to her were rapidly becoming ingrained in her memory. Patrolling the streets, like she had once done in Los Angeles, did wonders for learning the area. Her patrols rarely led to her finding anything significant – neither an Intruder or an interesting sight to see – but that okay. Sometimes, she went looking for something specific.

Tonight was one of those times. Abraham – Kurosawa, she corrected herself – had sent her after an Intruder, barking terse instructions into her mind without even a greeting. He had been unable to contact his usual team, he claimed, and that had him worried. “Worried” had been an understatement – Megumi had never heard him so stressed out before. He really had grown attached to his young prodigy, in a way that he had never cared about Megumi or any of her friends.

Megumi didn't mind a little extra hunting – indeed, there was something nostalgic about it. In the long years since she had “retired” from Kurosawa's service, she had tried her best to get on with her life, but there had always been something missing. Now that she was making a tentative return to active service, she finally felt a little more complete.

Not entirely complete, though – there was still something missing. It wasn't the same, going out on a patrol alone. Felicia, Fleur and especially Noriko... she missed them all. The thought of Noriko, the thought that she might really be within this very city, sent a stab of anxiety into Megumi's heart. So close, and yet still so far away.

“Focus,” Kurosawa ordered, “You're close. An alleyway, around the next corner.”

Nodding sharply, Megumi forced all doubts and worries from her mind as she broke into a run, taking the corner at speed.

-

She arrived just in time to see the Intruder emerging from a window, like a maggot burrowing its way out of a corpse. The thing almost looked like a great corpulent bear, a mass of insects swarming over its hollow skull. When it moved, drops of some thick liquid spilled out of the Intruder's head, splashing gelatinously against the ground. The liquid smelled sweet, almost like honey, but there was an undercurrent of rot and decay to it.

Grimacing as the thick cloud of insects spread out to engulf her, Megumi drew her sword and prepared for battle. Seeking a quick end to the fight, she dashed in close and sliced her blade through the Intruder's gut, cleaving through layers of fur and blubber. As if driven into a frenzy by the bloodshed, the swarm of insects tightened around Megumi and covered her eyes. By the time she had shaken them loose, it was just in time to see the Intruder's massive paw sweeping down towards her.

[1/3]

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>>1899723

The blow caught Megumi on the head, tearing her scalp open and throwing her down to the ground. Already the swarming insects were probing at her wound, nipping at the torn flesh. Angrily swatting them away, Megumi rose to her feet just as the Intruder swung at her again, the blow passing overhead as she ducked. Before she could strike back, the creature stiffened and stumbled forwards, all of its fury and momentum stripped away. As Megumi darted around behind it, she spotted the reason for its sudden change – a dagger, buried in its back. With no intention of wasting the opening, Megumi slashed out again. This time, she parted the Intruder's head from its shoulders.

The beast fell, and a stillness descended. Then, slinking out of the shadows like a stray cat, another young woman revealed herself. With her cloak of feathers glinting oil black in the rain, Sionann Attwood looked like something the shadows were reluctant to give up. “Careless,” she told Megumi with a smirk, “Maybe you're getting too old for this.”

“Just the woman I'd been hoping to see,” Megumi replied, not rising to the bait, “I wanted to talk to you, about Noriko.”

“Oh yeah? I'm not really in the mood to talk today,” the assassin mused, already turning to swagger away, “I'll see you around. Can't promise that you'll see me, though.”

Megumi's composure slipped for a moment, a deep frown creasing her brow. Gripping her sword tightly, she marched past the Intruder's decaying corpse and hastened after Sionann. The assassin paused, one hand slipping out of sight, and Megumi readied herself. Just as she anticipated, Sionann spun around and lashed out, hurling a dagger at her pursuer. With a flick of her thumb, Megumi slid her sword from its sheathe and brought the world to a sudden halt. The dagger froze in mid-air, suspended in the middle of its flight. Gently grasping it, Megumi shifted the dagger to a new position, then allowed time to resume its normal flow.

The dagger, still gifted with a fearful momentum, shot forwards and speared through Sionann's ankle, causing the assassin to blurt out a curse – more from surprise than pain. She crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath her.

“You should be able to heal that easily enough,” Megumi murmured as she approached, “Or maybe not. Your Emotional Barrier is in a rather poor shape, isn't it? Behind all that arrogant swagger, you're not a very happy person, are you?” Hauling Sionann to her feet, Megumi pushed her back against the alley wall. “I want to be absolutely sure about this,” she hissed, “You've told me everything you know about Noriko, leaving absolutely nothing out?”

“Yeah,” Sionann spat, “That's right.”

“Fine. I believe you,” Megumi decided, letting her drop back down to the ground, “Then we're finished here.”

[2/3]

>>1899730

“What the hell?” Sionann groaned, picking herself up and glaring at Megumi, “You stabbed me in the bloody leg for THAT?”

“And why not?” Megumi countered, “I understand that you've stabbed people for far less.”

“Well... I can't really deny that,” the assassin conceded, tentatively putting some weight on her slowly healing leg, “You're not so bad, you know? I thought you had a real stick up your arse before, but you're alright.”

“High praise,” Megumi sighed, offering Sionann a shoulder to lean on, “For what it's worth, I don't really think you're that much of a bad person.” Waving Megumi's offer of aid away, Sionann scoffed quietly to herself. “In fact, you remind me of an old friend. She was stubborn and belligerent as well. But do you know what the difference was between you and her?” Megumi paused for a moment, waiting to see if Sionann would answer, “She had people she was willing to die for. Can you say the same?”

“Me? I don't plan on dying,” Sionann chuckled, “And if I have to, I want it to be nice. Dying at the age of one hundred, in the world's comfiest bed. That's how I'd like to go.”

“Well, you might very well get that wish,” nodding slowly, Megumi pursed her lips slightly, “But you'll be alone. I don't think you'll be nearly as comfortable as you'd like to think.”

“Oh great,” rolling her eyes, Sionann slumped back against the wall, “Is this where you give me some life advice?”

“Yes it is, and you're going to listen,” Megumi said, her voice firm but patient. “First of all, you need a hobby – one that doesn't involve causing trouble for people. Also, you need some friends – actual friends,” pausing to dig a notepad and pen out of her pocket, Megumi scrawled some details down, “This is where I'm staying, and my number. You're welcome to call me, if you ever want a little more advice.”

“You know, my boss would love to meet you,” Sionann pointed out with a sly smile, “I could give them these details, get you in all kinds of trouble...”

“You could do that,” Megumi agreed, nodding slightly, “But you won't.” Patting the younger woman on the shoulder, Megumi brushed past her and started to stroll away. “Goodnight Sionann,” she called back, “Don't go getting in any trouble, okay?”

>This concludes this week's episode of Heavenly Child Quest. Tune in next week for another episode!
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today!

>>1899737
Aww, crows getting dragged into the world of socialization and friendship

Too bad Emi's gonna have to kill her. Not like someone who's murdered multiple people can be redeemed.

>>1899737
>tfw Sionann and Megumi's little fight went better than Pietr and Miho's night stroll.

Ah awkward teenage feelings. Kid's got some iniative I'll give him that though. Just needs better timing.

Thanks for running Moloch.

Has EVE already ordered a department store's worth of decorations for her new room?

Can Megumi visit Noriko along with us when we go?

>>1899856

Megumi will be able to join us, yes. We've got a pretty good degree of leeway about what we can get away with. It's not even much of a lie to say that she's an expert in dealing with the Oracle!
As for EVE, well, it's a good thing she can't hop online yet. Internet shopping can be dangerous, after all

>>1899737
Thanks for running Moloch!

How many drones will Maika send after Pietr when she hears what happened?