Author's note:

Hello again!

I believe I mentioned last chapter that this would be my last one until September. Currently I'm on pace to release one more, so I'd like to do that before I take my break.

On the contents of this chapter though... I took some, uh... artistic liberties based on how much has been changed versus the canon timeline. Hopefully none of the changes I've made upset you too greatly. At the end of the chapter I've included a brief rational on why I thought these changes were neccessary.

Once again, thanks for the support and the kind words in the reviews.

-asdf

Chapter 7: Out of the Shadow

Friday May 20th, 20XX After school

"Still nothing…"

Looking at his phone, Yusuke found his heart wavering with uncertainty. Every day without a message from Ann only worsened his anxiety. He needed her to do this for him. She was the guiding light that would purify the darkness that he had found clouding his heart.

Even now, he could scarcely believe the words he had said to her friends. How he had threatened to call the police on them if Ann didn't model for him.

"I had no choice…"

Muttering to himself, Yusuke collapsed on the train bench, looking at his lap as it took him away, but to that small studio in which he spent his days. The long rides followed by walks that it took to travel to school and back wore on him. Each day was listless and gray, the platitudes of school life offering him no comfort from the chill of his life.

Even as those boys had offered him a way out, Yusuke just couldn't see it. He'd heard the stories. He knew what happened to people that crossed Madarame. How easily he crushed their voices and stole every shred of credibility.

"Yet he took me in after my mother…" Shaking his head, Yusuke couldn't overcome that pain in his heart. The thought of betraying the man who was his only father figure was too much. "Please Ann… Rescue me from this blurry landscape. Restore my ability to see clearly… To see the truth."

Cutting off the muttering as people began to stare, Yusuke suffered the rest of the trip in silence.

Friday May 20th, 20XX Evening

"We really doing this at night?" Ryuji asked, shifting on the overpass. "My mother's eating supper all alone now."

Usually it would be hard not to tease someone for that, but Ren only nodded in acceptance. He knew how important Ryuji's mom was to him. How responsible Ryuji felt for her well-being. "Sorry about this, but we have urgent news for you."

"Damn right we do," Morgana growled from Ren's bag. "We need to discuss this now so that we know what we're doing tomorrow."

"Sounds serious," Ann noted just showing up. "You were going to talk to the person you suspected of posting the keywords, right?"

"Yeah," Ren agreed as Ann created the perfect segue into the conversation for him. "I found them alright. It was who I suspected, Yoshizawa Sumire."

"Yoshizawa…" Ann muttered. "Isn't she one of the honor's students?"

"Hell yeah she is," Ryuji jumped up in agreement. "Her sister is the one we talked to at the buffet."

"This is going to take all night with all these interruptions," Morgana moaned.

Ren smiled, not agreeing nor disagreeing. It was simply nice to see everyone getting along well enough to share their opinions and thoughts without worry. "Anyway yes, her. She overheard us at the buffet and then followed us to Madarame's place one day. While there we dragged her into the metaverse."

"That already happened to me and we still made the mistake?" Ann sighed disparagingly. "We really need to do a better job of looking out for people."

"But dude," Ryuji commented frowning. "She must have been like… ten metres away from us. How did we pull her?"

Ren took a moment to consider the question. Ryuji's point was valid. They often had people closer than that when they slipped into mementos. "Maybe… It's because I know her?"

"Could be," Morgana sighed. "Either way, Lady Ann is right. We need to check our surroundings more carefully. Can never be too sure if anyone is watching."

"Like the student council president," Ann chuckled harshly, rolling her eyes at the same time. "Bitch always seems to pop up. Probably knew about Kamoshida as well…"

"T-That's a little harsh, don't you think?" Ren asked nervously.

"Urgh, maybe a bit… So, where were we? Being careful, check. What else?"

"Oh, wait!" Ryuji broke in, voice pitched high with excitement. His eyes sparkling with wonder. "Is she joining us!? You recruited another team member!?"

"Of course not," Ren scolded him, his words reminding him too much of Sumire's own pleas that still ate at his heart. "Getting a person to awaken is too risky. What we do is too dangerous. I'm not letting an outsider risk their lives."

"…"

Into the silence following his words, Ren tried to settle the turbulent emotions flowing through him. He was simply wound too tight right now. He needed a nice long sleep to recover from that conversation.

Her eyes.

Shaking his head to dislodge the memory, Ren forced himself to return to the present. He couldn't take the time to dwell on how determined her visage had been. How the tears in her eyes sparkled like rubies, reflecting her crimson irises. Yes, thinking at all about how cute she looked when she pouted, or the warmth she gave off when their shoulders were almost touching would be very bad.

"…Ren?"

"Y-Yes, anyway. She is begging us to change the principal's heart in order to save her sister. In short, Kasumi was blackmailed into giving public appearances to discredit the phantom thieves. Therefore, when we change Madarame's heart, there will probably be a reckoning for her. Before that then, we need to change the principal's heart."

"I'm telling ya," Ryuji sighed, "let's just forget the artist dweeb. No one effing cares about art anyway, they just want to sound sophisticated."

"Ryuji! Yusuke is suffering!"

"Shouldn't have been an asshole then," Ryuji shrugged, trying to come off as nonchalant despite the faint blush of guilt.

Morgana sighed deeply, shaking his head. "It's alright Lady Ann. Some of us, understand."

"Shut up cat."

"I am not a cat!"

"Calm down!" Ren ordered, rubbing his head against the oncoming headache. "There's another problem I've recently considered. Changing Kobayakawa's heart, especially as our second big target, paints a huge target on us. We may as well declare that we're students of the school."

"Shit!"

"Ryuji!"

"…Sorry, I just feel so god damned trap! We just formed our group, and nothing is going right."

"You have a point…" Ann muttered. "I am not modelling nude."

"What is this defeatist attitude?" Morgana scoffed down at them. "Giving up on your lofty dreams, and for what? A couple of mild setbacks? We have this."

"I agree," Ren nods strongly taking over from Morgana. "Tomorrow, it's back into the playground. I want to make a start on the palace to try to figure it out a bit. Get to the bottom of what's causing the distortion there. Kamoshida's was straightforward, even Madarame's in a sense. Yet with that place… I'm not too sure yet.

"Sunday then, we get past that door. Ann, we came up with a plan. It will require you to get inside the house with Morgana and stall Yusuke until Morgana gets the door open."

"W-Wait, you want me to strip!?"

"No." Ren told her flat out as the other boys began leering. "That would be bad since you may have to make a quick exit. You need to get Madarame to see the inside of that door. Chances are Yusuke doesn't know what's in there either, so getting him in will probably give you more time."

"I-I see… Can you really pick the lock Morgana?"

"On my life Lady Ann!"

"You bet it is!" She growled back, pointing a menacing finger at the cat. "If I lose even one scrap of dignity from this, its coming from your head!"

"Y-Yes ma'am!"

"Damn, Ann, guess you can whip guys in and out of the metaverse!"

"…Do you want to die?"

Chuckling at the theatrics, Ren tried to think of anything that he may have missed. They hadn't really addressed the issue of them changing the principal's heart. But maybe it was because they all knew it didn't matter. Even if the world discovered them, it would be worth it. The people they had helped would be worth it.

"So, we all set for tomorrow?"

"You bet!" Three voices answered happily back.

Friday May 20th, 20XX Evening

Kasumi tapped her desk with quick irritated motions. Each one created a small, sharp rap on the wooden surface. Her homework sat in a small, neat pile beside her. With it, Kasumi had completed everything for the week, including what they would be working on tomorrow.

Rather then being excited at the prospect of being finished, Kasumi felt listless. The homework had been a wonderful distraction from the thoughts swirling inside her head. Now, her vision was pulled every few seconds to the phone sitting on the corner of her desk. The urge to use it for more research on this 'cognitive psience' battled with her fear of it. An apprehension of this whole changing hearts things that somehow Akechi seems to know about as well.

"Kasumi?"

"Hmm?" Looking toward the door, Kasumi was surprised to hear her sister's voice. Kasumi had figured that Sumire would spend the night doing homework as well. Kasumi couldn't help but notice that Sumire had been putting it off recently.

"Do you have a minute?"

"Of course, I'm not doing anything."

The door opens as Sumire slowly treads in. Compared to the last time she entered Kasumi's room, Sumire strode in slightly more confidently. Sitting on the bed's edge without being invited.

"So, what is it?" Kasumi asked with a small, slightly forced smile.

"Well… I was wondering how you were doing…"

"How I'm doing?" Kasumi responded, breaking into a full smile. It was so strange how different this scenario was compared to even a couple months ago. Yet nowadays it was Sumire trying to take care of her. Re-evaluating, Kasumi realized maybe it wasn't too strange for Sumire to come check-up on her.

"Y-Yes… I swear Kasumi… I will get you help. I won't let the principal use you this way!"

"E-Eh?" Stuttering under the force of her sister's words, Kasumi was taken aback by the determination shining in her bright eyes. Once again, Kasumi couldn't help but feel a mild jealously and awe rise inside her. Sumire is so pretty, so much better than her. A few seconds later, those feelings left, and contentment rose within Kasumi. If one of them had to take the hit, Kasumi was glad it was her. "Don't worry about me Sumire. What will happen, will happen."

"H-How can you say that!?" She squeaks back, moving closer until Sumire was almost on top of Kasumi. "I-I am going to save you! I will!"

"You are?" Kasumi asks dumbfounded. "What are you talking about? I already… Never mind. Just… don't do anything stupid."

"W-W-Well… I-I umm…" With Sumire's face going scarlet, Kasumi stared at her sister in confusion. "W-What we're you going to say? You already…?"

"Nothing," Kasumi insisted weakly, on the backfoot as her sister's face hovered a foot above her head. "I mean…"

"Yes?" Sumire pressed.

"I kind of… Well… Hired a detective…" Kasumi admitted blushing. For some reason she found herself extremely hesitant to tell her sister about Akechi. The last thing she wanted was the two of them meeting.

"A… Detective? Where did you find the money for that?"

"I'm not umm… Paying him money," Kasumi was forced to admit. There was no way she could generate the funds without asking her parents.

"Not paying, but then… K-Kasumi… You aren't… I mean…"

Tilting her head in confusion, Kasumi took a moment to try and figure out why Sumire's face was so red. It looked like a furnace, her eyes wide behind her frames as her mouth flapped, forming barely coherent words.

"I-I didn't think you would do something like that… Why not just trust me!?"

"W-What are you talking about?" Kasumi asked, slightly scared of her burning sister. "I'm just collecting information for him as payment."

"…Huh?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"You mean… you aren't…?"

"Aren't what?" Kasumi asked insistently as Sumire backed off and sat heavily on the carpeted floor.

"I umm… I thought that you were…. Well with your body… Uhh, oh god please forget about it!"

Tilting her head, Kasumi tried to think about it a little more clearly. A way of paying… "You thought I was sleeping with him!" Kasumi accused her sister angrily.

"Only because you were so vague!" Sumire whined back, looking for all intents and purposes that she wished to disappear.

As she said the words, Kasumi thought back to how she had made a similar misunderstanding during her first conversation with the detective. "I suppose that's fair. We are getting to that age."

"Huh? Wait, you don't mean… You would have done it!?"

"I can't be sure…" Kasumi admits awkwardly, blushing under Sumire's wondering gaze. "I was in such a bad state of mind… A-Anyway! Thanks for checking on me."

"Of course, I mean you are my sis… Wait a second!" Sumire pouted. "You can't just say something like that and change the topic!"

"Really? I thought I did." Kasumi teased back.

"Nope! Not going to work!"

Shaking her head in wonder, Kasumi wondered when Sumire got so strong. Where this core of determination came from. It was something Kasumi thought that she possessed. Lately, however, she doubted that. Akechi's snarky comments certainly were not helping. "Really? Because I'm pretty sure you changed the topic when you didn't want to talk."

"U-Uhh…"

Smiling victoriously, Kasumi was glad that it had worked. While she trusted Sumire… Kasumi still didn't want to explain the details to her.

"I-It isn't like I'm hiding anything from you!" Sumire insisted. "Your well-being is just more important."

"Uh huh," Kasumi replied unconvinced. "You know, the more you insist you aren't hiding anything… The less I believe you."

"H-Huh!? W-Why don't you believe me!?"

"…Seriously Sumi?"

"I-I am totally innocent! A hard-working student that isn't planning anything!"

"…"

"Stop staring at me like that!"

Breaking down, Kasumi couldn't stop the giggles from erupting within her. Within seconds, those giggles transitioned into a full-bellied laugh.

"W-Why are you laughing!?"

As Sumire continued to whine, Kasumi collapsed off the chair. Tears forming in her eyes she felt the last of her worries flow away.

"Stop laughing at me!" Sumire complained again, beginning to hit Kasumi weakly.

"S-Sorry!" Protesting the weak blows, Kasumi continued to laugh as the small fists rained down upon her.

"You. Are. Mean!"

"Haha!" Still laughing, Kasumi had no reply for her sister. Sumire's face was on fire while Kasumi couldn't restrain the laughing fit. Kasumi knew it wasn't Sumire's intention, but she had helped her a lot.

After a few more minutes, the laughter died down as Sumire fell back and silently pouted. Lying on the ground, Kasumi turned her head to smile at her sister. "Thank you. Also… Whenever you want to tell me whatever secret it is that you totally don't have… I'll listen."

"Ahh… Thanks Kas." Sumire smiled back. "I guess… The same is also obviously true for me. I really hope that I'll be able to help you… Like you always used to help me."

"Hmm… I miss those times," Kasumi reminisced. "I had so much less to deal with… But I guess I'm being selfish again. You were struggling and… I couldn't change anything."

"N-No!" Sumire denied her, diving forward once more to grab at her hand. "It was my fault! A-And you did help! That day in the rain… I really feel like you changed something that day. You helped me realize I wasn't alone."

"And you reacted by demanding you be left alone," Kasumi teased, forcing some brevity into the conversation that was quickly growing more serious.

"I-I needed to grow!" Sumire pouted again. "…And I still have more growing to do…"

"What was that?" Kasumi asked politely. She was sure that Sumire had not meant for those whispered words to be as audible as they were.

"…It's nothing." Sumire insists stand up. "Kasumi… I just wanted to tell you… I love you."

"Huh?" Lifting her head off the floor, Kasumi felt a flutter of fear as she stared into the determination in Sumire's eyes. This wasn't an apology or a confession. To Kasumi it sounded like a goodbye. Like Sumire imagined herself as a warrior heading off to combat, her survival uncertain. "What are you…?"

Kasumi's words fell on an empty room as Sumire quickly slipped out, leaving her alone. Frowning, Kasumi let her head fall back down on the floor. If Sumire wasn't going to tell her than there was little Kasumi could do except trust her sister. Closing her eyes, Kasumi finally felt the emotion she wanted again for so long swell withing her: determination. Sumire would do what she had to, and Kasumi would succeed on her end. With Akechi on her side, Kobayakawa had no chance.

Saturday May 21st, 20XX After school

"I'm back…" Muttering, Sumire looked up at that strange playground. Its dimensions deceivingly large. Swallowing, Sumire took long strides toward the front entrance. Her heart pounded in her chest with anticipation of the unknown. Each step taking her further into danger, and farther away from the reality that she knew.

In her vision, Sumire barely saw the playground as it grew larger around her; darkness wrapping around her surroundings as she entered the shadow of the building and beyond the bright light from the summit. Instead, her eyes saw two overlapping figures. Her Senpai, smirking at her from further ahead, someone she would never be able to stand beside if she didn't race forward now. The second was Kasumi. Not the strong confident Kasumi, or the laughing Kasumi from yesterday, but the Kasumi of last week. The one that had no hope left in her eyes. The one that saw all of her dreams and everything she had worked for crashing down around her.

With these two images in her mind, Sumire's feet kept her moving forward, even as the atmosphere around her continued to worsen. As Sumire stepped through the open double doors with a cheery sign above them reading: Welcome to Kobayakawa's Playground! Fun Abounds! She felt like she was in a seedy back alley. A neighbourhood where no one would dare risk walk alone.

Sumire was struck by how dissident the atmosphere and lighting were with the actual surroundings. Despite the deep darkness that casted shadows everywhere she looked, the area actually seemed to be… extremely fun. Sumire was tempted for a moment to test her balance on a rocking platform but decided better of it. She had taken Senpai's words to heart. This place could, and would, kill her if she disrespected it.

Walking a little further in, Sumire found that the first wide room at the entrance quickly ended, leaving her in a hallway. Stepping on it, she wobbled slightly. It was hard to tell in the dim light, but the floor was some sort of cushion. Sticking a hand out to the walls revealed they were the same material. At this point she couldn't keep the smile off her face as she bounded forward faster, enjoying the springing sensation with the comfort of knowing everything was padded against injury.

Quickly approaching the corner, Sumire beamed as she found a trampoline laying in wait. Leaping straight at it, Sumire felt it absorb her momentum and shoot her back out around the ninety-degree turn. The world spinning slightly in her vision as she tried to compensate for the quick change in direction.

"Oof!" Crashing into something, Sumire felt herself fall to the ground. Instinctively looking up, she was surprised to see people. That surprise quickly faded however as dread took its place. These weren't people, they were whatever beings populated this world. Rather than the generic children in Shujin uniforms from before, these had a bit more uniqueness to them.

It was as if someone had taken every stereotype for a bad student and stuck them into this group. The one she ran into was an angry looking boy, his hair poorly dyed blond, uniform messy and ripped. A broken tooth was prominently displayed in his sadistic smile. Behind him were two girls. One of them overly pretty, make-up maxed out with bright flashy accessories and clothing. She was even chewing bubble-gum. Sumire half expected the word Gyaru to be painted on her forehead. The other girl, Sumire didn't really understand. She looked like a normal jock. The track outfit sitting snug around the girl's fit body. Why she was considered a delinquent, Sumire didn't know.

Two men were behind them. Despite all five of them being child-sized, these two were still large. Sumire had no other way of describing them, even if she was a good six inches to a foot taller than them, the two 'children' had thick arms and bodies non-befitting their stature. More so, their sleeves were torn off midway down the arm. It didn't take Sumire long to connect them with the word 'thug'. There really was no other way to describe them.

"Well, well, well," the lead boy spoke, his voice a drawling sneer. "Looks like the rumours were right. Someone new did come in to play."

"H-Hi?" Sumire answered quietly, still sitting on the ground, unsure if she should stand up.

"You're walking on the turf of the fearsome five," he continued, leaning closer to Sumire. "When someone does that… they got to pay up."

"P-Pay? What to you want?" Scooting backwards away from the child, Sumire's fear of this strange situation battled with an inner instinct telling her that they're just innocent children. A harsh word should be more than enough to send them crying to their mothers.

"A game."

"Huh?"

"You can challenge any one of us. If you beat them at their game, you can leave. If you lose…"

"Yes?"

"We tie you up and you leave you until… they come past."

"W-Who are they?" Sumire asked frightfully. At this point all delusions about these children had fled her mind. The boy's eyes gleamed with a sadistic gleam she had never seen before. None of the adults in the real world had sent the same chills down her spine.

"The monitors…" The boy breathed in response.

"Ugh, they like totally kill the mood, you know?" The Gyaru added on.

"To put it bluntly, they roam the halls and devour anyone they find that doesn't obey the rules." The jock added on, well-spoken words falling from her mouth in an orderly line.

"D-Devour!?" Sumire screeched, backing up further. "B-But I haven't broken any rules!"

"You see," the boy chuckles, "I forgot to mention that. But the state in which we leave you tied up will… Break some rules."

"Hehe," the gyaru giggles. "You are so naughty to the girls we find! Why don't we get to play with the boys more?"

"Shut up," the leader growls. "My gang, my rules."

"Whatevs…"

"Hruck, Hruck."

The sound like rocks breaking startled Sumire until she identified it as a laugh. The two thugs in the back, with their sunken eyes were laughing at her.

"Remember why you came…" Whispering to herself, Sumire placed a steadying hand on the wall. Not willing to allow these strange children keep her, Sumire stood up, drawing herself to her full height. Once there, the mood shifted slightly. The lead boy took an uncertain step back as Sumire looked down at him, more than a head taller.

"Grr… You aren't a monitor… Or one of the chosen… So why? Why are you so tall!?"

Answering the screamed words with what Sumire hoped was an imperious sniff, she tried to keep her words haughty. "I'm not from here. Now, stand aside and let me pass."

The group shifted for a second. With a faint glimpse of hope, Sumire wondered if they would actually do it. After a second of indecision though, the group stabilized, their nerve returning. "Ha, you wish. Besides, if you aren't from here, you have nowhere to go."

"That's not true," Sumire answered, unhappy about their continued resistance. "I'm heading to the top."

With this the group took another synchronized step back, their courage almost deserting them entirely. The thugs in particular looked like Sumire had told them she was going to kill them. Their faces were blanched as their previously sunken eyes bulged with terror.

"Y-You're one of the… Wait no, that doesn't make sense…"

"She doesn't know what awaits her up there…" The jock murmured. Following her words, the tension faded.

"Ha! Fine then," the lead boy continued, his smile deepening. "How about this, if you win two games against us… we will show you the passage up to the second floor."

"…Very well." Sumire accepted seeing no other way around it. "I am a skilled gymnast… I can win…" muttering, Sumire tried to convince herself of the fact. As long as the games were athletic based, she had a chance. Glancing around the group, Sumire tried to pick out the easiest opponent. It was hard though without knowing what they were going to be doing. Even with her height advantage, Sumire doubted she would emerge victorious in something like wrestling against the thugs. The lead boy as well had a smile she didn't care for. An expression simply begging her to pick him. "I pick… you!"

Perhaps it was predictable, but Sumire pointed her finger at the Gyaru girl. Everything about her, from her clothes to her expression were vapid. Empty. Sumire was sure the girl had never once had a hard day in her life.

"OMG! I'm soooo lucky, I finally have an opponent!"

"Huh?"

"…Most people know better than to choose her." The lead boy shook his head almost sadly. Disappointed he wouldn't get to face Sumire. "Her game is her domain. You have no chance."

With those chilling words, the five of them turned around and led Sumire down the hallway. The gyaru girl finally displaying what seemed to be an honest emotion: anticipation.

Briefly debating fleeing, Sumire decided she would save that for if she lost. Right now, she needed to focus on winning. But, Sumire just couldn't think of what the game could possibly be. In a playground, what were the choices? All Sumire had been able to come up with were races or physical competitions. Neither of which fit the warning that she had been given. As the apprehension peaked, Sumire was led around a corner into an extremely different area. Here the room was actually lit. Little lamps in the four corners illuminating two large wooden tables that consumed most of the space. Stacked on each table were tens of boxes.

Moving closer, Sumire quickly realized what the game would be. In each of these boxes resided a 'game' Sumire hadn't thought about in a really long time: a jigsaw puzzle. "Are we… doing a puzzle?"

"That's right!" The girl responded happily. "You two! Clear off the tables and find the safari themed one!"

"Is that wise?" The lead boy whispered to her, just loudly enough that Sumire could hear. "That's one of the hardest puzzles here. You struggle with it."

The gyaru beamed back at him, "that's why I chose it silly! I don't get a match as often as you. I need to make it last more than five minutes."

Five minutes!

The time frame sent a chill down Sumire's spine. Looking back at the boxes that were getting obediently cleared off by the thugs, Sumire almost fainted as she confirmed what her memory told her. Each of these puzzles were at minimum 100 piece. Sumire highly doubted she would be able to assemble the outer frame in five minutes, yet alone solve one of these.

With the tables cleared with the exception of one box, Sumire found herself roughly pushed forward. Turning her head to look behind her, Sumire felt despair close in around her. She had let herself get trapped in a small room with only one exit. Now, with the other four expecting her to lose, they surrounded her table, waiting for Sumire's attempt to flee.

"Okay!" The gyaru exclaimed, "you have one minute to study the box, then the assembling begins!"

Swallowing, Sumire nodded her understanding. All of her confidence had fled. She was competing in a puzzle assembling competition against someone who had solved the puzzle before. Multiple times apparently. She was at a severe disadvantage. Looking at the puzzle art did nothing to help her either. It was 200 pieces with a large, mostly sky-blue upper half. The bottom half was a bit more varied with animals in different sections of the long grass, a pair of gazelles drinking at a pond. Still, Sumire understood why the boy had called it challenging. Many of the pieces would look the exact same.

"Start!"

"Huh!?" Surprised as the time ran out, Sumire was already five seconds behind as she struggled to get the box open and dump the pieces onto the table. Taking glances from the corner of her eye, Sumire tried to pick up any tricks of the trade from the girl beside her. Yet as Sumire watched her, she couldn't figure out what the girl was trying to do. She seemed to be quickly sorting through pieces. Throwing them in random directions.

"Maybe she isn't that good…" Hope returning a little, Sumire tried to focus on what she was doing. Setting the picture up as a reference, turning the pieces picture side up. Then when that was done, she set about finding the edge pieces. A completed border would enable her to quickly fill the rest in… Hopefully.

"Over already," that boy sighed. "We never do get much fun from these matches."

"Huh?" Baffled by the statement, Sumire sent a glance to the other table. Taking in what was happening over there, Sumire's jaw dropped. The random throwing was nothing of the sort. She could almost see a rough picture already. The blue sky at the top, the grass at the bottom. This girl was far beyond Sumire's slow methodical approach. She sorted the pieces based on pattern impression alone. Able to match it with its required location in an instant.

From the table, Sumire's eyes were drawn unto the girl herself. Now in proper light, Sumire was able to appreciate how well the girl's outfit came together. It wasn't just flashy, it fit. It drew attention, but every piece had its purpose, its location that it fit to make a whole picture.

"Ohh…" Muttering, the reason behind the girl's skill came skill to Sumire. She may come off as vacuous, but the gyaru had an eye for patterns. An ability to see how different pieces would come together before they did.

Daunted by her opponent, Sumire turned back to her own wreck. Compared to the girl, Sumire's pieces were scattered everywhere. The only useful thing she had done was turn them all face up.

"Urgh… What would you do Senpai?" Biting her lip, Sumire's hands moved, trying to be productive, but her mind was off somewhere else, trying to generate a strategy. A method of actually coming out victorious. Unfortunately, Sumire didn't know what Senpai would do if put in this situation. Most likely, he would have avoided it entirely somehow. "Kasumi…?"

Speaking her sister's name, Sumire didn't have to think long before her sister's style came to mind. Just like in gymnastics, Kasumi would dive head in. Joining the pieces she could find. Willing to abandon previous sections when something caught her eye.

"Urgh… I hate this part…" The gyaru complained from beside Sumire. Looking over at her, Sumire was shocked to see the girl holding a piece unsteadily between long fingers as she tried to connect it to another one. Her previous sorting dexterity appeared to have disappeared under the more refined motions required to connect the pieces.

"Let's do this…" Not on quite the crunch Sumire had initially thought, a smile overtook her face as she dove forward, hands flying as her eyes scanned the pieces in their entirety. Using a 'kasumi-esque' strategy, Sumire quickly found two pieced on opposite edges of her sprawl that went together. Dropping them in their approximate location, Sumire kept going. Hands flying as her eyes took in the minute details. Eyes trained to see the slightest imperfection. The slightest dip in a leg, or bend in a knee.

In no time at all, Sumire had a pile of fully assembled animals, their curves and colourings making it a joke to assemble them. Smiling from success, Sumire started doing the sections between them. Connecting them in a few careful clicks to create a bridge across the middle of the puzzle.

"Hey… It's getting close." The jock warned.

"Close? What do you…" The lead boy snapped back before his words cut off.

Maybe alerted by the words behind her, the gyaru for the first time looked over at Sumire's puzzle. "Hey! You're not so bad at this! Let's both try our hardest, K!?"

"You can bet on it," Sumire smiled back at the girl. The thrill of competition filling her, Sumire focused again on the puzzle. It was a thrill Sumire hadn't felt in a long time. One that she lost at a certain point, after realizing that no matter what she did, Kasumi won everything. Now though, in a strange world, building puzzles of all things, Sumire felt her face aflush as a drive to win filled her.

Despite the burst, Sumire found herself slowing. The rest of the pieces were too similar. Kasumi's strategy that she had tried to emulate was finding itself struggling. There were no obvious connections grabbing her attention. Nothing to latch onto and build.

"Hmm… So, you can only do shapes. I guess this is the end then."

"Grr…" Gritting her teeth in frustration, Sumire sent a glare at her competitor and confirmed what she already knew. While Sumire was getting fewer connections, the girl was moving at the same pace as before. Unconcerned for the difference between animal and grass. "I need a new strategy… I need a… shape…"

Jerking upright with a revelation, Sumire didn't know how she hadn't seen in before. Picking up a piece she marveled not at the picture that was on it, but at the four sides. How each one was distinct and had its own matching counterpart.

It had only been a few minutes ago that Sumire had appreciated her ability to recognize lines. Whether it was the angle and shape of an arm, or of a puzzle piece, it shouldn't matter. Completely ignoring the picture upon the pieces, Sumire began working again.

In no time, her pace improved. The once identical grass fell into place in seconds. How the knob was at such an angle that it could only accept a certain acceptor. Practically giggling, Sumire tore into the puzzle large sections falling into place. Even as identical sounds rang out from beside her, Sumire didn't pause. Looking at her competitor would only slow her down.

"Done!"

"Finished!"

"W-What!? How could this happen!?"

Panting, Sumire shot a smile at her opponent. The gyaru looked stunned for a few seconds before she jumped to her feet. "Wow! That's the most fun I've had… Ever! Thank you!"

"Huh?" Not ready for the response, Sumire stumbled slightly as the gyaru launched herself at Sumire and held her in a tight hug.

"I guess I lost!" The girl admits, with a large happy smile. "You get to pick your second opponent now!"

"W-Wait!" The leader sulked. "That was a tie! You can't just say that…"

"Oops!" The gyaru exclaimed in false surprise as as she ripped off her corner tile. "I guess I never finished."

"…"

"Teehee!"

"Thank you…" Sumire said to the girl, slightly abashed. She couldn't believe she was getting taught a lesson in sportsmanship from a child in another world. The very concept was extremely bizarre.

"Don't bother! Like I said, I had fun! Besides, maybe this way you'll come back someday, and we can have a rematch!"

"Haha, I doubt I'd win a second time, and I really don't want to get devoured."

"Next time it will be for fun!" The girl promised.

"No…" The leader growled. "We are the fearsome five! We maintain the bullying badge for the first floor! We can't let this… this do-gooder, take it from us!"

"Oh right…" The girl sighed. "You wanted to reach the second floor…"

"Huh?" Muttering, Sumire was lost as the conversation went on around her.

"W-What if you give up on going higher! Stay down here with us! We can become the sexy six!"

"I can't," Sumire answered with a shake of her head. "I need to take down Kobayakawa."

At the name, a series of gasps rang out from around her. The gyaru feel down where she stood, like a puppet with its strings cut. The others fared little better. The thugs wrapped each other in a shared hug, their expressions full of fear as they stared at Sumire like they expected her to kill them right now.

"You can't," the jock answered, less affected than the others. "He is the pinnacle. Everyone answers to him: the monitors, the chosen. Even if you got to him, it is rumoured that he is undefeatable. He is the ultimate bully."

Giggling, Sumire never expected to hear that line said so seriously. "The ultimate bully? Isn't that nickname really goofy?"

"Tch, you're too naïve, outsider," the jock bit back. "We're the first-floor bully pack. Our jobs are to keep the others in line and guard the way up. No one can progress unless they prove themselves tougher than us. Kobayakawa is keeper of the light and Bully of the ninth floor. If you can barely deal with us, you have no hope of even clearing the second."

"You may be right…" Sumire admits. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to quit now! I choose you as my second opponent to gain access to the next floor." Dramatically sticking her hand out, Sumire pointed straight at the jock.

"Huh, so despite having the others cowering currently and not in their right state-of-mind, you're challenging me instead. You've got guts; I'll give you that."

"What's your game?" Sumire asked back, not joining in on the banter.

"You'll see. It's extremely straightforward."

Taking her word for it, Sumire nodded as she followed her to the next challenge. She knew she should be scared, but Sumire felt like she could still feel Kasumi with her. The girl's boldness pushing her on. No doubt Senpai would be grateful for the information she'd gathered already, but it wasn't enough. She still needed to find this 'awakening', or whatever it was.

"We're here."

"I see…" Smiling, the objective was instantly clear to Sumire. It was a pseudo obstacle course. However, most of it appeared to be climbing. There were series of ropes and ladders and metal bars. On top of that, there were uneven platforms. Rather than strength, this course appeared to rely on dexterity and balance. It slotted into Sumire's strengths perfectly.

Glancing to the side, she realized that it also suited her opponent perfectly. An opponent that was currently going through a series of stretches, preparing herself for the course.

Turning her gaze to herself, Sumire frowned at her outfit. She was wearing her school uniform. While not uncomfortable, she wished she had changed to her gym clothes before coming. Her flats weren't awful for movement, but after a moment of consideration Sumire took them off. With that done, she set into her own stretches. However, even as she did them, Sumire found them pointless. Her body was ready. With her adrenaline soaring, Sumire was ready for this competition.

"Do you not have any pants?"

"Huh?" Glancing at her soon to be opponent, Sumire didn't know why it mattered. "No, I don't."

"Ah, so you're a… exhibitionist is it? I hadn't expected that."

"Huh?" Confused, Sumire looked back at her outfit again. She was showing barely any skin. Why would the girl… "Oh no…" Blushing deeply, Sumire stole a horrified glance back at where the three boys were leering at her in expectation. The striped skirt that Sumire rarely paid attention to would cover nothing as jumped and climbed her way up the course.

"…I would lend you a pair… But they wouldn't fit. Are you going to forfeit?"

"…No." Sumire decided after a second. "The outfits I perform in are just as revealing. I'm not embarrassed."

"…If you say so." The jock replied. Sumire just caught a satisfied smile on her face. "If you are ready, the goal is to reach the top and hit the button first. We start in three, two, one, now!"

"Ah!" Caught slightly off guard by how quickly the girl started the race, Sumire dashed forward toward the right structure. While she was half a second behind at first, her longer stride quickly overcame the shorter girl.

Planting her foot, Sumire launched herself at the first rope ladder. The rough straw tearing at her hands as she struggled to find the steps. Each one bending beneath her feet as she propelled herself up. Looking up, Sumire prepared herself for the next obstacle.

Trying to plant herself on the platform, Sumire staggered as she realized the thing wasn't stable. It was held up only at the center and the rest of it was able to tilt up to almost 40 degrees. Staggering back down to the ladder, Sumire analyzed the obstacle quickly and launched herself forward. Stopping right in the middle, Sumire quickly leapt to her feet, muscles flexing beneath her as they made countless minor readjustments to keep her upright and stable.

"Not bad." The jock said from the course to Sumire's left. "But don't think you've won just yet!"

"Wouldn't dream of it." Watching the jock leap off the platform to the next in wonder, Sumire focused on her own course. Tensing her muscles, she attempted to duplicate the feat. The long distance between the platforms made worse by their rickety nature. Sumire stumbled on impact, struggling to keep her balance. Glancing to the side, she groaned as the jock powered through, long legs taking her from platform to platform.

Picking up the tempo, Sumire was able to complete the last two jumps decently, transitioning between them. Coming to a rope wall, Sumire began to pull herself up. Behind the rope net was a rock-like wall, the corners of the squares somehow attached. Each gap in the net was so small, the whole thing was almost stuck to the wall making it hard to get a grip.

Nonetheless, Sumire gritted her teeth and began to pull herself up. Her fingers scraping against the wall as she dug in for purchase. The rough rope cutting into her bare feet as well as she forced her body higher.

"Impressive… What sport do you do?"

"Gymnastics…" Sumire replied, grunting from effort. "Rhythmic. You?"

"None… At least… not anymore."

With that the jock pulled herself over the lip and unto the next challenge. "Hiyah!" Yelling with effort, Sumire did the same, her loose hair flying around her as she did so. Rolling once on top of the wall, she found the path. Branching away from the mirrored course, it was a balance beam. The ten-centimetre-wide surface would have intimidated most people. Sumire, however, merely smirked at it. Even the ninety degree turn in the middle did nothing to daunt her as darted across the obstacle to another net. This one was free-floating in the hair, suspended by wires Sumire guessed. Despite its free-floating nature, this net was actually far sturdier. Spread and held tight while its holes were the correct size for Sumire's limbs.

"Why did you quit?" Sumire shouted over to the other net. At the same time Sumire was able to see the girl's progress. Sumire was dismayed to see that she was only neck-in-neck. She had thought that her speed across the beam would give her an advantage.

"I didn't, I was kicked."

"Ah," Sumire replied, trying to force herself faster at the same time. Her answer explained why she was with a gang of miscreants. "What did you do?"

"I spoke up. If you keep talking, you'll lose."

"Well," Sumire smiled back at her. "If you keep replying then we're even." To her surprise, Sumire received an answering smile.

"I suppose."

After that, the pair continued on in silence across a few more obstacles. As her muscles warmed-up, Sumire's confidence continued to grow. The course seemed to be designed to be doable for the average person. Doing it quickly, however, was still a challenge.

Coming up on the next challenge, Sumire revised her opinion about it being doable by anyone. Over an empty gap, there were four pillars with discs on top pointed inward. The intention was to have the person jump quickly, back and forth between them. No way to slow down, no do-overs.

"For Kasumi…"

Whispering, Sumire threw herself face first into the obstacle. Maybe there was a safer way to do it, but Sumire didn't care. A safer way would be too slow. She needed to win. Her left foot landed solidly in the center of the first target.

Sideways momentum keeping her there, Sumire pushed off, launching herself right, at the second one. Her speed had dropped too far, Sumire's foot landing on the back on the platform. Panicking slightly, Sumire tried to bring herself together, giving up on an instant kickoff. As she did, her body began to slide.

"Hyaa!" Crying out, Sumire's body reacted instinctively. Her training preventing her from falling while doing nothing. Pushing hard off her right foot, Sumire floated in the air for a second before landing on the third. Not letting her momentum fail she leaped for the fourth. Hitting it dead in the center, the push off to the end platform was easy.

"I was a volleyball player," the jock's voice came from just behind Sumire.

"Wait…" Sumire muttered stopping briefly to cast a terrified look at the girl. "So… you played under Kamoshida?"

"DON'T SAY THAT NAME!"

Flinching under the force, Sumire was taken aback at the raw anger and emotion in the girl's voice. Until now she was almost emotionless. Reacting less than any of the others.

"He took everything from me!"

"What happened?" Sumire asked sadly, climbing through the final few obstacles. She could see the final pedestal at this point.

"I was a player… I spoke out against him… The other girls… I thought they would help. That they would add their voices to mine…"

"You got kicked off for accusing him." Sumire summarized.

"IDIOTS!" The girl exploded once more, dashing easily over the pillars. "All they cared about were their college recommendation letters. If we fought together, we could have gotten a new coach! They abandoned me…"

"I'm sorry," Sumire replied. "Kamoshida admitted to his crimes though."

"Did he?" The girl muttered staggering over an obstacle. "That's… That's what you're here to do to Kobayakawa, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"I see… Good luck on the second floor, you'll need it."

"Huh?" Finishing the final obstacle, Sumire was surprised to see that the jock had stopped moving, a satisfied expression on her face. Tracking her eyes to the button, Sumire tentatively pushed it.

"Thank you."

The words were faint to Sumire's ears. She strained to catch more before a loud, ominous groaning came out of the structure next to her. The other course.

"No!" Sumire's scream did nothing to change things as the course collapsed in its entirety. The jock disappearing beneath the wreckage. "No…" Repeating the word, Sumire fell to her knees, tears in her eyes. "Why…?"

Nothing answered Sumire as she found a rope on the other side of the button. Climbing down it, Sumire reached the floor that she had started on. The rest of the gang was nowhere to be seen, only a childish looking badge remained on the floor.

First floor squad.

Picking it up, Sumire shook her head at it. The thing didn't make sense. This was the key to get to the second floor? "And I won it from killing a child…"

Sniffing, Sumire felt herself at the brink. If she took a break now, or let herself stop, she probably wouldn't start again. Senpai had been right. She understood none of this. Only that the corruption at the school hadn't been purged with Kamoshida's confession.

Taking rough steps, Kasumi walked like a zombie down a dimly lit path. It looked more important than the others, taking her past the obstacle course's remains, the path opened up into a larger room. At the center was a plastic staircase, like one would find on a playground, heading up and up to a door. Assuming that was the second floor, Sumire staggered her way up.

Once there, she found a slot, star shaped. Pressing the badge against the indentation, a soft groaning emitted from the door before it slowly slid open. Walking through, the first difference to Sumire was the light. While it certainly wasn't bright here, there was far more than the first floor.

"Well, well," a familiar voice called out, "look who it is. Come to take down my master."

"Kasumi…" Breathing the name of her beloved sister in fear, Sumire stood in shock before a younger version of her sister.

Saturday May 21st, 20XX After school

Joker stared up at the playground that had repelled them last time. Already they were wearing their rebellious outfits, proof that Kobayakawa saw them as a threat. A mix of apprehension and excitement swirled within him. Joker would be lying if he claimed not to enjoy the infiltration. Carefully picking off different shadows and progressing further without being seen.

"Straight in the front door?" Skull asked, his voice betraying his mirrored excitement.

Taking a look around the party, Joker was sure they all felt it as well. Each of them wanted another crack at the place which had repelled them so easily last time. "Yeah, the front door will work."

"Can't say I'm a fan of it," Mona sighed, "but we don't have any other options."

Striding quickly through the lawn, Joker caught sight of cognitive beings playing on the equipment out front. Seeing the Shujin outfit on the small children was a little unnerving. Nonetheless, it wasn't long before he opened the front door and slipped through the large double doors.

"Hmm…" Looking around, Joker realized how confusing this place would get. Especially in the dim light, Joker didn't doubt that they could spend an hour roaming about finding different contraptions and toys and hallways.

"We found maps in both Kamoshida's and Madarame's," Panther reminded him. "If we look around, I'm sure we can find one."

"True…" Taking off down a random passage, Joker quickly put together how the different areas were laid out. There appeared to be four types. A main room with multiple different toys and games. Then there appeared to be individualized rooms. A smaller area built around a single concept. One of the ones Joker passed simply held a table tennis table with balls and rackets. These were the only rooms with any type of illumination. The last types were the hallways. There were the slightly illuminated ones that Joker had taken, and the smaller dark ones that split off in random directions. Each of those were fully padded and meant for playing in.

As he kept walking, Joker was struck by a single thought. How empty it was. Every palace before now had been teeming with shadows. Guards of some type to keep order. But besides the cognitive beings outside, Joker had seen nothing.

"I can't believe we lost…"

"Do you think…"

"…We done for?"

Holding up a hand to stop his party, Joker gestured to an adjacent hallway and hid behind it. Peering around with practiced stealth, Joker watched as four kids came into view. A depressed, melancholy air hung above them. The boy leading the children had a stunned expression. The visage of someone what witnessed a horrible accident and is unable to come to terms with it.

Before he could consider otherwise, Joker stepped out from behind cover and confronted them. "You four. Do you have a map to this place?" Despite them being cognitive beings, Joker knew that they weren't ordinary. There was something special about them.

"W-Who are you!? …Wait a second… You're the intruders? But then…"

"…Who did we lose the key to…"

"…" Blinking at them, Joker found himself at a loss for words as the rest of his party filed out behind him. Staring them down four on four, Joker felt little threat from them. Even with the two kids in the back with surprisingly large arms felt weak. His persona could dispose of them easily.

"We are the fearsome five! Pick one of us to challenge at their own game or we will tie you up and leave you to be devoured!"

"Huh?"

"What the hell is that kid prattling about?" Skull complained. "This is why I hate kids, they're pitchy and annoying. Just give us a map of this place and scram!"

"W-Who do you think you are!? We are the fearsome five!"

"Uhh… But there's totally only four of you…" Panther pointed out.

"Well that's… She'll be back… Eventually… Wait! That's not important! Choose your opponent!"

"No one." Joker interrupted, fed up with this. "You clearly aren't worth our time. Move."

"…In that case…"

With a growl, the leader began to transform, his exterior appearance melting away. When the energy solidified, Joker was staring up at the creature. It still vaguely resembled the kid, except he was demonified. The red skin covered with swirling tattoos. His original rebellious look had been taken to a new level because of it. Following shortly after, the mean looking kids in the back became even larger versions. The two were mirror images of each other. One black with yellow patches, and the other yellow with black patches, their upper bodies leaning over from the sheer mass they possessed.

The last one, the girl with her excessive ornamentation struck a pose. "I wasn't really in the mood, but here we go! Traaaansfoooorm!"

With an extended shout, she twirled in place as the energy consumed her and then shattered off in stunning fashion. Leaving behind a more elegant demon, her skin glowing a bright pink.

"What the hell," Skull spat again. "Looks like it's coming down to a fight anyway."

"So it would seem," Joker agreed. While the whole situation was strange to him, there was little else her could do. And despite the dramatic changes to their stature, he didn't feel like they gave off any additional feelings of power. Almost reluctant to do so, Joker removed his mask. "Come, Jack Frost."

A moment later, the lovable little snow persona showed up, a mirage of power floating above Joker's head. With an innocent 'Heehoo', the persona twirled and sent a wave of icy power at the four shadows.

"Gragh!" Crying out in pain, all four of them toppled to their knees severely injured. Joker merely pursed his lips at them. It seemed almost unfair, but there was nothing else to do.

"Finish them."

"You got it! Captain Kidd!"

"Zorro!"

With a pair of explosions caused by their personas, the four shadows melted away into nothingness, their power far below what the thieves had accumulated up until this point.

"That was umm…" Panther mumbles, the only one that didn't bother attacking.

"Pathetic?" Skull growled. "Damn kids should have just scrammed."

"Aww, it sounds like you care for them," Mona teased. "I thought you had learned that cognitive beings are nothing here."

"I'm worried," Joker spoke. Stepping forward, he claimed a piece of parchment from the ground. The only thing left behind by the shadows. Unfurling it, he tsked at the crayon drawing. Endless lines weaving back and forth. Flipping it over, there was a similar yet different drawing on the back. "They called themselves the fearsome five and mentioned losing as well as meeting someone else."

"Yeah, that was weird," Mona spoke not really caring. "Is that a map you found?"

"It appears to be the first two floors," Joker agreed, allowing himself to be sidetracked. Flipping it back over, Joker located a '1' printed in the top right corner. "It's messy, but it should work with a little effort. Going back though, I think Sumire may be here."

"What!?"

"No!"

"Why would she…?"

Holding up a hand for silence, Joker got it after a second. "I may have underestimated her desire to help. Let's hurry to the second floor. She may have been able to beat these people without a persona, but if the floors keep getting stronger, I doubt that will keep up."

Without waiting for an answer, Joker finished his studying of the map and took off. Based on what he could tell, they were actually close to the stairs already. His lucky guess paying off.

"AHHHH!"

The piercing scream cut through the hallway easily. Face blanching, Joker sped up. His worst fears were realized. Sumire had come back in all alone despite his warnings, and by the sounds of things, was on the verge of death.

Saturday May 21st, 20XX After school

"N-Noooo… This can't be!" Staggering back a back step, Sumire felt her whole world compressing on one point. Kasumi, smiling menacingly down at her, her uniform and hair perfect as always.

"Well… Look at you. If I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes, I would have assumed you stole that badge by claiming to be one of the chosen... Of course, no one would really believe that. You may resemble one, but you don't have the potential."

"W-What are you talking about Kasumi!? I don't understand! H-How are you here… Why are you a child now!? I don't…"

"Shut up idiot." The girl glared down at Sumire. Jumping off the raised she platform she was observing Sumire from, Kasumi fell gracefully to the floor ten metres below. Despite the dizzying height, Kasumi barely bent her knees to absorb the impact.

"W-Why would you say that!?"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up!?" Kasumi spat back, eyes narrowing in anger. "God, I could almost believe you are my sister the way you prattle on with senseless comments and useless questions really pisses me off."

"K-Kasumi…?" Crumpling to the ground, Sumire couldn't keep up. All she knew was that her beloved person, her sister that she looked up to more than anyone… hated her. The truth of that was in her every imperious gesture.

"Much better. Try not to scream too loudly while I kill you."

"W-What…?"

"I didn't mention?" Kasumi smirked as her heels clicked across the ground as she approached. With each step Kasumi grew, changing from this child form into the appearance Sumire recognized. As she did, her uniform changed. The Shujin outfit melted away to reveal a dancing uniform underneath. To Sumire's eyes though, it looked almost metallic. More like armour than a normally leotard. Even the nude leggings glimmered with a thickness that wouldn't be allowed in a normal outfit. It wasn't a colour Sumire had seen before though, it was stripes of silver and black. The contrsting colours giving Kasumi an almost ethereal beauty. The only other difference with it was the sheath hanging on her hip. As Kasumi took another step, she drew the weapon forth. What emerged was an elegant dual-edged rapier. One side shimmered a perfect silver and the other a jet-black. "I watched your match against that fool. You declared your intentions to dethrone my master. For your impudence, your sentence is death."

"You… You can't be serious…" Sumire mumbled back, still unable to move, even as Kasumi came within five metres. "W-We're sisters! I-I'm here to save you from Kobayakawa!"

"Shut up!" Kasumi commanded once again. Rapier flashing forward, Kasumi let it hover centimetres over Sumire's throat. "You disgust me for wearing my sister's face, imposter."

"No!" Sumire bit back, some anger rising in her despite the sword at her throat. "I am your sister! You helped me with my homework! When I couldn't land a jump, you were there at my side, encouraging me! You… You love me…"

"SHUT UP!"

"AHHHH!" Screaming in pain, Sumire held a hand to her cheek as she rolled across the ground moaning in agony. She had barely seen the blade as it swiped across her face, launching blood in an arc behind it. "K-Kasumi…"

"Do you understand now, bitch!?" Kasumi raged back stalking forward. "Don't you dare try to pretend to be my precious little sister. My darling Sumi."

Sumi.

The word awoke a memory in Sumire. A long time ago. Almost before they had attended that first gymnastics practice together. They had been so young at the time. So happy just to play with each other. To have meaningless competitions.

"Yoo, Sumire, hurry up!"

"You're running too fast!"

"Hehe, you have to keep up!"

Running on ahead of Sumire, Kasumi was like the wind, dashing forward in an uncatchable whirlwind. Her young legs already lithe and nimble. Each step taking her further up the stone staircase and away from Sumire desperately trying to catch up.

"N-No! Don't leave me behind!"

"Haha, I bet I can run faster backward than you can forward!"

"Wait! Don't do it Kasumi, you'll…"

"Ow! Waaah!"

Lying on the stone steps, Kasumi bawled as she held her head between her hands. A faint red liquid starting to ooze out between her fingers.

"K-Kasumi! Are you alright?" Hurrying to her sister's side, Sumire didn't know what else to do except sit and watch as Kasumi cried.

"A-Am I going to be okay? M-My career isn't over… Is it?"

"N-No! You're fine! Just keep pressure on it and you'll be right as rain in no time!"

"R-Really!? Thank you… My darling Sumi."

"Hehe anything for you… My Beloved Kas."

Blinking away the images, Sumire put a hand on the ground to stabilize herself. Despite the pain, Sumire pushed herself upright. "If you think killing me will help… Then please do… My darling Kas."

"W-What…? What did you say!" Levelling her rapier at Sumire, Kasumi held it in shaking hands. "Y-You shouldn't know that… You can't know that!"

Swallowing, Sumire felt like the danger was past. Despite the blade still between them, it was starting to drop. It's point close to the ground now as Kasumi's hesitation got the best of her.

"Sumire!"

"Get away from her!"

Instantly the rapier was back up, point levelled towards the stairs. "So… You are an imposter. Sent here to confuse me by these… thieves!"

"N-No!" Sumire tried to plead as she turned between Kasumi and the newcomers. As she faced them though, her heart got stuck in her throat. "S-Senpai…?"

"It's alright now Sumire. We won't let her hurt you."

With no further explanation, he stepped in front of Sumire, drawing a knife as he faced off across from Kasumi. The other three that Sumire had seen before fell in formation around him, turning it into a four on one.

"T-This... This is good, I can kill all the thieves at once… Fulfill my master's wishes. Yes…"

The prattled words sounded slightly unhinged to Sumire. Like Kasumi was trying to convince herself that this was what she wanted.

"Yoo Joker…" The other man spoke, "what's up with this shadow? Why isn't it transforming?"

"I think…" Senpai replied, "that this is the shadow's true form. She's just another cognitive being."

"The principal must see her as a powerful pawn. That makes her powerful here as well."

"God, he is so messed up."

Not really tracking the conversation, Sumire finished standing up on shaky legs. Looking back and forth between the five figures, Sumire couldn't figure out what would happen next.

"Let's go."

"Zorro!"

"Captain Kidd!"

"Carmen!"

"Wha…Whaaat!?" Following back to the ground, Sumire stared wide-eyed at Senpai's friends summoned some sort of monsters and attacked Kasumi.

"Guh!" Hearing the grunt of pain from her sister, Sumire's heart stopped beating.

"No! Stop it! You're hurting her!"

"Don't worry about it," Senpai assured her, his voice still calm. "She's just a shadow. Your real sister is home safe."

"Huh? T-The people here… They aren't real?"

"No. This is the world inside Kobayakawa's heart. This is simply how he sees the school. He sees your sister as his pawn, and therefore she is here."

"B-But that… That's not true!" Yelling Sumire heaved herself to her feet. She felt so drained, so stupid for not figuring it out sooner. She should have known that the real Kasumi would never hurt her. Kasumi took care of her.

Yet… Despite Senpai's words clearing everything. From Kasumi's actions to the death games… Sumire still felt restless. She didn't want to see her sister die. Not as an obedient puppet for the principal.

"Watch out!"

"Shit! She's fast!"

Sumire wanted to smile with pride despite the situation. This was Kasumi they were fighting. Her body had been meticulously honed to obey her every command.

"I am… Yoshizawa Kasumi… Chosen of the High Bully! I. Will. Not. LOSE!"

"Huh?"

Covering her eyes at the blast of force, Sumire squinted through the barrage to try and track what was occurring. In a four-on-one, the fight had turned into a one-sided slaughter, and not for the four. Kasumi's perfect movements dodged their every attack by the slimmest of margins. Her counterattacks were deadly, each one hitting an unguarded area or weak spot.

As the gale subsided, only one figure was left standing, Kasumi. She looked worse for wear, her uniform torn in a couple places, as she stood bent over, panting heavily. Her rapier creating sparks as it slid heavily across the floor.

That was nothing compared to the others though. They were groaning in pain, their bodies unresponsive. "S-Senpai?" Calling out his name, Sumire took one hesitant step toward his prone body. "Senpai!" Screaming this time, Sumire threw herself on top of him.

"…Move."

"H-Huh?"

"I-I don't know who you are… But leave. Just this once I'll let you live."

"Sumire…" Senpai coughed weakly. However, as she locked eyes with him, his gaze was as strong as ever. "You aren't less than her."

"!?"

"Move."

"Ah!" Sumire found herself rolling along the floor. Kicked to the side by Kasumi. Stopping with a jolt, Sumire looked up as Kasumi held her rapier in a backhanded grip, its point hovering over Senpai. "Stop… No…" Voice muttering weakly, Sumire felt it. That same weakness that always inhabited her. The one that stopped her from living up to Kasumi's example. That dark fog on her soul.

"I believe in you."

"Huh?" Despite the words in her ears, Sumire knew there was no way she could have heard Senpai say anything. His lips had moved, and she knew what he meant. "I can't…"

"I can't watch you die!"

Rushing forward, Sumire threw herself at Kasumi who had begun the death stroke. The attack that would take her precious Senpai away from her.

"Gah!" Colliding roughly, Sumire locked her hands around Kasumi's wrists and pushed. It felt like going up against a rock wall. Without even a height advantage, Sumire found herself sorely outmatched.

"…What? You can't stop me."

"Yes… I can!" Sumire groaned back, being pushed to her knees as the sword inexorably sank closer to Senpai.

"No. Not once have I ever lost to Sumire. If you claim to be her, then I will win this contest as well."

"!?" Going rigid with shock, Sumire felt herself lose more ground as the sword pushed her down again.

"I let you go… Why do you fight for them?"

"Because… I love you."

"W-What!? That makes no sense! Idiot!"

Despite Kasumi's enraged answer, Sumire found that she had stopped losing ground. They were locked in a stalemate. The massive force against Sumire was daunting, but it was no longer unholdable.

"The Kasumi I know helps people. I care about you too much to watch you do this. Also… If it's to save Senpai… Then all the more reason!"

"…Fine. Then die with them."

"No!" Sumire gritted back as the force on her increased. The edge of the blade cutting into Sumire's other cheek as Kasumi increased the pressure. "This time… This time, I will win! Prepare to lose, Kasumi!"

"So, have you finally decided to step into the light?"

"Gah!"

"Grrr…" Blown back by a shockwave of force, Kasumi's blow was stop as she skidded to a stop, glaring at Sumire all the while.

Sumire wasn't paying attention though. Not to her temporary victory, or Kasumi's glare, or her injured Senpai. All of her focus was directed inward, to her pounding head.

Gripping it with two hands, Sumire moaned as wave after wave of indescribable pain assaulted her, brought on by the voice. Staggering to her feet, Sumire bent over as she listened to it, the force tearing through her skull mercilessly.

"If your conviction is firm, then together let us abolish the shackles that contain us and become the beacon that guides others!"

"This voice… I hear you…" Taking a knee, Sumire began to regain control of her body. The waves of pain hadn't faded, but she felt like she was now in tune with them. On the same rhythm such that they fizzled out with no effect.

"Let us bathe this world in purifying light! …I am thou. Thou art I… Accept this divine burden and let us cleanse this land together!"

"Let's do this, Jeanne!" Sumire daintily stroked the mask that had formed on her face with two fingers. Its long surface stretched past her ears in both directions and left her face unobscured. Its surface glimmered with the sheen of pure ivory, marked with etchings of gold. Ignoring its beauty, Sumire knew what she had to do. Twirling, she grabbed it under the lower edge and ripped.

Pure agony assaulted her mind as she did so. The pain did not come from her face to which the mask was attached. Sumire felt it in her soul, a weakness that she had for so long taken to be fact. As she ripped, that part of her ripped as well. A facet that was inconsolable to the power that she had awakened to.

Finishing the rotation, Sumire let the mask go into the sky. Completing one then two rotations, it landed perfectly back into her hand, like a baton in her routine, before vanishing in a shower of light.

Around Sumire, her new outfit took shape. Thighs bared to the world, similar to her performance outfits, she wore a white leotard, skin-tight around her body. Swirling behind her was a cape of ivory, the edges tinged with gold. The outfit was resplendent. It was something Sumire would never have been brave enough to wear normally. Even the sleeves were spectacular. The frills on the end touched with the same gold lace as the cape. The gloves on her hands matched her ivory cape. Her hair that was usually hanging around her was pulled back, tied with a gold ribbon that matched Kasumi's silver one.

Looking back, Sumire took in the being floating behind her head. It resembled the ones from earlier, but it was different. It was hers. Its form was of a woman, or maybe a teenager, only a few years older than Sumire herself. Her hair was pure gold, the exact same shade as the colour on Sumire's outfit. Unlike Sumire though, the persona was wearing a set of armour covering the rest of her body. It shimmered brightly with the light of burnished steel. Engraved in the armour were markings of blue and gold, a giant fleur covered the breastplate and the back of each glove. In her right hand she bore a decorative longsword, and in her left a golden flame.

"…You may have awoken to a new power… But it won't help!"

Facing Kasumi, Sumire felt a brief flicker of that old darkness. The old fear which would have robbed her ability to face Kasumi. Now though, it was dispelled easily.

"No Kasumi. This time… For the first time… I will beat you!"

Dashing forward, Sumire drew the rapier that she found sheathed on her hip. The entire blade glowed with a faint white light. It was slim and elegant, and Sumire loved it the moment she first laid eyes on the blade. It fit into her hand with a natural grace. It was a little heavier than the baton she used as a prop, but it behaved better to her commands.

"Hyaa!"

"Hiyah!"

Yelling out with twin roars, the girls collided like twin shadows. Their mirrored blades clashing in a frenzy of sparks. From the collision a singular note rang out, like the ringing of a bell.

"You claim to defeat me… With just this? I suppose I should have expected anyone imitating my sister to be hopelessly naïve."

"Grr…" Sumire wanted to shout something back, but she could feel the truth of Kasumi's words. Every second, she gave a little more ground. Even with the newfound power she had awoken too, Sumire couldn't best Kasumi in a contest of strength.

Will you not use my power?

As the voice rang in her head, Sumire smiled. Jumping back, she disengaged the contest. "I'm sorry Jeanne. Let us show this pretender the truth!" The already awoken persona held out her left hand, the ball of golden fire expanding into a column, consuming Sumire with its light.

Instantly, Sumire felt the power inside her increase. She didn't quite know exactly what her persona had done, but Sumire felt the toll it had taken on her mind to perform the deed. Power revitalized, Sumire dove back in for round two.

"You dare call me a pretender!? I'm one of the chosen! You're the outsider!"

"Maybe…" Sumire grunted, somehow finding herself locked in that match. "But! I am fighting to save the ones I love!"

"Huh?"

With an ominous crack, the fight shifted. Groaning from the strain, Sumire pushed one final time. Her rapier gaining ground as she pushed Kasumi back.

Crack!

Again, but louder this time, Sumire saw the spiderweb cracks coating Kasumi's blade where their swords touched.

"I'm… going to lose?"

"I'm… going to beat Kasumi?"

Muttering in twinned confusion, Sumire locked eyes with the girl from a short range. Even now, Sumire struggled to see her as a cognitive version, a fake. Once she had grown from her child-like stature, Kasumi's appearance was identical to what Sumire knew it as.

The brief moment of calm was shattered a moment later as Kasumi's blade broke into two pieces, the force of the confrontation too much for the sword to handle.

"Gah!" Crying out, Kasumi fell backwards, her body completely vulnerable.

Drawing back her blade, Sumire saw her chance to end it. One swift strike and the fight would be over. Her sister couldn't take much more after her fight with the thieves.

"…I'm sorry." Apologizing as she did so, Sumire's hand began to move. The sword leaving a faint trail of light behind it as it travelled to strike down the imitation of her sister.

Clang!

"Huh?" Rapier thrown back from a surprise blow, Sumire stumbled away. Staring at the newcomer, Sumire's jaw dropped as she stared at herself. Or well, a version of herself. This Sumire was hiding behind those glasses, large coats on as if to protect herself from a storm. Even as she bore a shield which she used to protect Kasumi, it shivered in her hands. Sumire couldn't help but be struck by how helpless this version of her looked. How frail.

"Let's go sis!"

"…Thank you… Sumire."

"Ack!" Calling out in surprise, Sumire leapt back as her counterpart threw something at the ground between them. From the cylindrical device, smoke poured out obscuring the area. Retreating, Sumire felt her persona retreat inside of her. With the mask reforming on her face, Sumire felt like an idiot. Of course that power had been available to her the entire time. Having used it once, Sumire felt it pulsing through her body like a second skin. A protection from attack and also a power that let her pull off feats she would have only been able to dream about before.

Touching her ivory and gold mask, Sumire sent a single thought through it. Thank you, Jeanne.

I need no thanks, after all… I am you.

Smiling, Sumire felt that power which she had took for granted leave. Unceremoniously, Sumire toppled to the ground. Sticking her hands out in front of her, she never connected.

"You're an idiot, you know that?"

"S-Senpai?" Sumire asked quickly, struggling to raise her head. After a second, she felt her lower body touch the ground again. Only her upper body was still propped up by a strong arm underneath her.

"Despite that… Thank you. We would have died charging in headfirst."

"Hehe… See Senpai? I told you… I told you I could help."

"You did."

Smiling Sumire felt a singular tear roll down her cheek. "Those copies of us… Why were they so real? So… Lifelike?"

"I can't really answer that," Senpai denied her with a shake of his head. "They should have been cognitive beings, acting and behaving exactly as Kobayakawa imagines them to. But… It like you changed it somehow. Enforced your own cognition on the place and began to overwrite Kobayakawa's influence."

"…Hey Senpai?"

"…Yes?"

"Before I pass out… You won't leave me behind anymore, right? I get to fight by your side? I mean… I finally found the light… My light."

"Yes Sumire. We will be glad to have you."

Wearing a contented smile, Sumire's mind fled, the exertion of the day too much. From now on though, Sumire knew that she would walk a new path. One of her own choosing. Not reliant on others to light her way. She didn't need them anymore with the shadows surrounding her banished. Now, Sumire was the one that brought light to them.

Post word:

So, in summary I changed Sumire's persona from Cendrillon to Jeanne and altered her thieves outfit.

There's a review from NamelessPassionate back on June 2 that covers basically my thoughts on the matter exactly. Cendrillon is of course cinderella and many of her themes are used in the original P5R story. Basically how 'Kasumi' is essentially a dream, a mirage like Cinderella's dress in the story. There are more of these elements woven in, but none of them really work all that well here.

Well, why Jeanne? Yes, I get that she's overused, but as someone who isn't history buff, she just seemed to fit the themes I was going for really well. In particular the whole depression and cloud of darkness that hung over Sumire and the fight to remove it. Jeanne is a figure that strove to take back her country from oppression during the 100 year war. She was in every sense of the word, a light that lit the way for her country. The same way that she lights Sumire's way out of the darkness as she finds her own path.

The new outfit is meant to reflect this. Honestly, Sumire's original black outfit seemed to be created with the intention of pairing nicely with Joker's. While this new one loses a bit of that, I thought it was fun to have a character whose outfit was blatantly different in the same kind of way Panther's red really stands out and Akechi's first outfit.

Once again, I hope this summarizes my thoughts and calms any anger that this chapter may have created. Later! :)