Persona BLEACHED 2: Part 11

Chapter 11: Tales from the Underworld
October 22, 2028
 *knockknockknock*
Rin stirred awake. "Uggggh...knocking at this hour? On a Sunday? Seriously?" She groaned, and slowly got up. Rose, sleeping next to her, woke up.
"What on Earth...? Don't these people know I need my beauty sleep?"
"Please, like you need it. Either way, someone's getting a whooping..."
Irritation apparent, Rin went to open the door. Whoever was there hadn't ceased banging on it. "Calm the hell down, or are you that excited to get smacked..." She opened the door. Standing there panting, was her older brother Tan. "What the hell, Tan? You have any idea what time it is?!"
"Sis...there's...trouble...Mom is in...big trouble..." he said while panting.
Rin's irritation instantly vanished. "What do you mean 'big trouble'? Tan? What's going on?"
"Something crazy's goin' on...at the parlor...got a text from someone, and I can't reach Mom...I'm gonna run on ahead..." He bolted.
"Wait a second, don't just drop that and then run--dammit, Tan. Rose!" 
"Yeeeees?" 
"Get dressed, that was Tan. Something's happening at the pachinko parlor but he ran off before I could get any details. We have to go, now."
"Oh, dear. Okay. I'll try to get hold of Ms. Hana."
"Please do."
The pair got in their car. "I've tried calling three times and nothing." Rose said.
"Dammit, I told her buying that parlor was a bad idea! What could even be happening down there..."
Rose searched through her phone. "Breaking news...breaking news...oh. 'Explosion reported on the south end of Naruki'...no other details..."
"Nononononononononono..." Rin kept repeating, over and over until they eventually reached the parlor.
Police cruisers were parked in front of the parlor, a red-and-purple building with a large sign reading "Original Sin Pachinko", along with an image of someone taking an apple from a tree. "Hey, HEY! Someone want to explain what's happening here?! Where the hell's my mother?!" Rin barked at a pair of officers trying to hold her back. She caught sight of Jugo. "Hey, Jugo! What's going on here?!" she yelled.
"Aw, hell. Hey boys, let her go, let me talk to her..." he said to the other officers.
"Jugo, what's going on? I haven't been able to reach my mom, where is she? Is she alright?" Rin asked, now on the verge of tears.
"Boss, calm down, just calm down. Your ma's fine. There's people talkin' to her inside. There was an explosion out here, no one got hurt. We're still getting the details sorted."
"I need to see her."
"They're still talkin' inside. Soon as they're done, I'll let you see her, alright? Just wait here, let us do our job, and she'll be right out."
"Alright, okay..." Jugo went back to work, and Rin let out a sigh of relief. Rose grabbed her arm, and blue light began emanating from her hand. "Breathe. In and out. Everything is alright. Breathe." Rin began to calm down.
A short while later, a woman exited the parlor, resembling an older version of Rin. "Sorry to trouble you, Shijūgo. I hope you can find these miscreants soon."
"We'll try our best, Ms. Hana. We'll hit you up as soon as we've got anything. Y'all have a good rest of the night now. And tell your little girl to take a chill pill." Jugo answered.
"Oh, goodness. I see her already..." Rin ran over and embraced her mother.
"Have no fear...! DJ Tan Man is...oh, God, I can't..." Tan arrived, and was panting heavily.
"Someone needs to lighten up on the pastries..." Rose joked.
"Your urgency is appreciated, but not needed, dear." Hana said.
"Mom, what happened? I was worried like crazy." Rin said.
"Nonsense happened, apple blossom. Utter, reckless nonsense. Someone had the lovely idea to blow up the garbage can over there. Thankfully, no one was around."
"Why on Earth would someone do that? Some teenagers playing a bad joke, perhaps?" Rose asked.
"At this time of night, with an explosion that controlled? Doubtful." Rin retorted.
"I'd rather not talk about it out in the open..." Hana said.
"In the car, then. You're staying with us tonight. I won't take no for an answer." Rin asserted. "Want a ride back, Tan? You're looking a little sweaty."
"Who, me? Nah, I'm good. Nuthin' like a little...late night exer...gk!" He fell to one knee. "Leg cramp...y'know on second thought, a ride sounds good..."
"My, what a bastion of masculinity you are. How did you ever survive prison?" Rose chided.
The four got into Rin's car, and drove off. Close by, two figures emerged from the dispersing crowd. Both in suits, one with the familiar "King of the Beasts" symbolism on the back, the other with "Crazy Diamond" scrawled on the back. "Whole lotta noise over a garbage can, huh Boss?" Kaido said.
"....." Shūjo said nothing.
Rin dropped her brother off at his apartment. Then, she headed for home. "Okay, Mom. What were you thinking of back there?" Rin asked.
"You want my honest thoughts? I think it was that other parlor about a mile down the road. They've been having fits about me 'taking their business' for a while now. Can't blame people for wanting to take their business somewhere that actually looks presentable. I think that explosion was their attempt at either scaring people away, or intimidating me."
"Why not bring this up back at the parlor?" Rose asked.
"Well, between you and me, rumor has it that the other parlor is run by a rather unscrupulous group. If they happened to be around, and I accused them of something, well...there might be worse consequences than having to replace a garbage can."
"Ugh, Mom, I kept telling you buying that place was a bad idea. An unbeaten gambling streak doesn't equal guaranteed safety."
"You fret too much, apple blossom. I won't be bullied by some common thugs. And if anything does happen, you can come and avenge me."
"I'm serious, Mom. I can't lose you like we lost Papa. I don't think I could go on if that happened. Please, don't joke about that."
"I'm sorry, apple blossom. I don't mean to make you worry. I forget sometimes how wound up you can be about things. Just like dear old Kaito..."
The car pulled into Rin and Rose's house. "Okay, Mom. You know where the guest room is. I'll call Jugo during lunch about giving you security. Hopefully this is just someone being dumb, but if it isn't, I want to make sure you're safe." Rin dictated.
"I would expect no less from you, dear. Sorry again for imposing upon your love nest~."
"Moooooom." Rin groaned. Rose blushed.
"Ahahaha. Your father's buttons were just as easy to push~." Everyone went inside.
---
October 23, 2028
"You guys hear about the explosion on the south side of town last night?" Barbara asked, surrounded by Kitty, Carrie and Natalia. It was early in the morning. 
"Oh, yes. They're saying that a garbage can blew up? How bizarre." Carrie answered.
"Maybe someone has a grudge against garbage. Like their family was massacred by a gang of roving trash bins." Kitty said.
"Something tells me that isn't it..." Natalia replied.
"The report I read said it happened in front of a pachinko parlor. The most interesting thing, though, was when they quoted the parlor's owner. That owner being 54-year old Hana...Kubo." Barbara said.
"Oh, boy. So you're saying that the Prof's related to someone that owns a gambling joint on the wrong side of town? Is there any part of this town that she doesn't have connections in?" Kitty questioned. 
"It's interesting, to be sure. The thing I'm wondering is this: there's a group out there targeting the Professor and people close to her. What if those people are behind this? Trying to let her know 'we're around, and we could hurt anyone.' They've been quiet since our kidnapping last month. What if this is them trying to get the Professor's attention?" Barbara asked.
"When you put it like that, it's certainly possible. I'm sure the Professor may well suspect the same. Maybe we should ask her." Carrie said.
"About that. I was thinking we should try to investigate on our own. Without the Professor's involvement." Barbara said.
"Wait, what?! You mean, go to the shady part of town...by ourselves?!" Natalia questioned.
"I know it sounds drastic. But we've had these abilities for over two months now. We can't keep relying on the Professor to bail us out of danger. We should be able to stand on our own. I want to show her that her training is working." Barbara asserted.
"Barbie, I get what you're saying, really I do. But you know what goes on in that part of town, right? That whole part of town is rumored to be Yakuza Central. We'd be a bunch of schoolkids walking into crime city. You really sure this is a bright idea?" Kitty asked.
"It's absolutely risky. But we've come to a point where we're going to have to take risks to get to the bottom of whatever's going on. And, besides. We have one very good crime deterrent on our side." Barbara turned to Carrie.
"Well, I'm certainly not one to shy away when my friends are threatened. And you are correct, Barbara. Now is the time for risks. And if we are looking for shady characters, there may be no better place to look." Carrie said.
"If Care's going, I'm going." Natalia asserted.
"Oh, we're doing this again? The 'rah rah camaraderie' thing? Uggggh. This is peer pressure. Y'all are seriously bullying me right now." Kitty said begrudgingly.
"Well well well, no better sight than my four favorite ladies gathered in one place~." Sahir walked in, and was promptly booted from behind by Kenji.
"Don't you have an off switch?" Kenji groaned.
Max walked in behind, putting his palm to his face in irritation. Kibō came in after. He locked eyes with Barbara, and gave a light wave. Barbara waved back. She turned back to the other girls. "I'll try to get the boys on board at lunch. From there we can air out the details."
Rin walked through the door, and yawned. "Morning, everyone. Just a heads-up, I had a long night. I apologize if that affects anything today."
"Oh, I'm sure it was a long night." Barbara said under her breath. She motioned for the other girls not to say anything, and took her seat.
Lunch period came. "The South District? By ourselves?" Kibō questioned. He sat at a table with the rest of the group.
"If someone's targeting the Professor's family, we have to help. We can prove that we've learned from what happened last month. And we'll be watching each other's backs." Barbara replied.
"We should let the police handle this. For all we know, it could just be some thugs playing a joke." Kenji said.
"But what if it isn't? We've got a cult chasing after us, and then a garbage can just happens to blow up in front of a business run by the mother of their hated enemy? It's too bizarre to be a coincidence." Barbara argued.
"You really think we're good enough on our own, Barb?" Sahir asked.
"Only one way to find out. The Professor is strong. Inhumanely so. But at some point, we should be able to get by on our own power. Otherwise what's the point of even having these abilities?"
"Well, good enough for me." Sahir said.
"It's that easy to convince you?" Kenji asked. "Well in that case, I suppose I have no choice. Someone must be around to ensure nobody does anything foolish."
"I'm in. I'm no coward." Max asserted.
"Spoken like a real hero of justice, Sparky." Kitty teased. Max rolled his eyes.
Everyone stared at Kibō. Barbara put her hands together, as if she was saying "please". Kibō sighed. "Alright, fine. Someone has to do the right thing here, so why not us? But we have to prepare. If this is going to be secretive, I want everyone to wear hooded jackets. Don't have anything in-sight that would point to us having something valuable. Carrie, that means no jewelry. Stay in a group. If you're alone, you're vulnerable. If we play this smart, we might be able to walk out of there with our skin intact. We'll meet in front of the boys' dorm after school. Everyone in agreement?" Everyone nodded. 
"We're going to prove something. One way or the other." Barbara assured.
---
"This looks like the place, alright." Kibō said. The group stood around the site of the blast, covering their heads with hoods.
Max looked over it. "Small blast radius. No one got injured. Unless someone really hated this one particular trash can...this looks like a scare tactic. I'm starting to think this might not be our masked gang. They didn't seem like the types to just destroy one tiny little bin. If they hate the Professor as much as they say, this would've been a bigger blast. And they would've waited til her mom was near it."
"So someone wants to scare the Professor, but it's not those creepy guys?" Natalia asked.
"I'm starting to think this might not involve Teach at all. Maybe just her mom." Sahir suggested.
"Who would hold a grudge against her, though? Everything the Professor's mentioned about her mother portrays her as being a lovely woman." Barbara pondered.
"I have a theory." Carrie began. "My aunt and uncle own a casino in Monte Carlo. From what they tell me, rival casinos tend to have gripes with each other over business. Could there be another parlor close by?"
"A quick search should answer that..." Kenji searched through his phone. "Hm, well what do you know. There's another parlor about a mile down that way. You think this might be a matter of competition going a tad too far?"
"It's as good a lead as any. Lead the way." Kibō replied.
The group eventually made their way to another parlor. It appeared older than the first, with a faded red paint job, and a worn-out sign reading "The Crimson Flower". "Well. Certainly looks like a place that'd be worried about spiffier competition coming in." Kenji said.
"Now, how do we get ourselves in there? None of us look particularly close to the age limit." Kibō pondered.
"Leave it to me, Keeb." Max said. He took something out of his pocket--a fake moustache. He put it on, and took off his glasses. "Howdy there, friendorinos, my name's Chuck Plant." he said in an even deeper Southern drawl.
"Do you just...carry that with you?" Kenji asked.
"This is one of the stock acts I use for auditions. I should be able to sell this. Kitty, come with me. Follow my lead." Max said.
"Wait, what? I never agreed to--oh, boy." Kitty muttered, and the two went in.
"This cannot possibly end well." Carrie said.
Inside, the parlor showed signs of age, the colors on the walls and machines faded. There was a large flag on the wall. "Is that...Cambodia?" Kitty pondered.
"Hey, what's the big idea? She can't be in here." a bald man in shades and a suit confronted the pair. "What's this girl, fifteen?"
"Oh, apologies, friend, this is--" Max began, before being interrupted by Kitty.
"Oh, hi there handsome!" Kitty exclaimed in a Valley Girl-esque voice. She wrapped her arms around Max. "I'm, like, SO sorry, it's my skin cream! It makes me look twenty years younger. Only the best for my Chuckie, ahahahahahahaha!"
"It's skin cream? Really?" the man questioned.
"Oh yeh, absolutely. My Kathy's real specific about her skin care. Women, right? People call her my daughter all the time!" Max replied.
"I really supposed to believe this crap?"
"Sol, enough. You keep interrogating the customers, we'll have no business." An older man, with graying hair, and walking with a cane, walked in. "Leave them be."
"...yes, chitea. Apologies." He backed off.
"Forgive my grandson's rude behavior. I clearly haven't taught him about proper hospitality." the old man said.
"Ah, don't worry 'bout it, 'sall water under the bridge. Right ba--babe?" Max said.
He looked and saw Kitty glaring over someone playing pachinko. "Like, omygawd, this looks like, so super fun, ahahahahahahaha!"
Max turned back to the old man. "She is quite the handful." the old man said.
"You can say that again. I'm gonna take a shot in the dark and guess you're the one runnin' this place."
"Indeed. My name is Dai Son. I have owned this building since 1981."
"Wowzer. That's some dedication, friend."
"It is all that I have. I am thankful to have this, after the hell that was my life beforehand. I spent several years under the thrall of those demons named the Khmer Rouge. Within just a few years, my homeland was ravaged. Hundreds of thousands slaughtered. I count myself lucky I was able to escape. Ah, but you cannot be here to hear an old man's misery."
"Nah, nah, it's fine. This place must mean a lot to you."
"It does. But as of late, it has come under a bit of turmoil. Another parlor recently opened, not far from here. Business has...slowed as a result."
"Oh yeah, me and Kathy passed by on the way here. Had some police tape around it, though."
"Ah, yes. Just last night. Some miscreants blew up a garbage can. That type of behavior is sadly common around this part of town. Though I won't shed tears over a rival business being slowed, that is a terrifying thing to experience. One I bore witness too far too often back home."
"Kind of a crazy prank to pull, though, gotta admit."
"Hm. I can tell you precisely who was responsible. The one at the center of most of the crime that occurs in these parts. If you and your wife intend on remaining here for a long period, you would do well to hold caution. A scoundrel of the highest caliber dwells in the shadows, commanding legions of loyal thugs that keep this section of town under their thumb."
"Higashikata. The Underworld Boatman."
Kitty, still listening in, bore a surprised look.
"That man...he runs the fishery and boating service down by the docks. But his ties are an open secret. Him, and all of his employees...they are Yakuza. Every single one. He has eyes and ears everywhere. That kind of intimidation tactic is exactly the kind of act he would pull. Take my advice, Mr. Chuck...beware the words 'Crazy Diamond', and the demon with one eye. He is the most disgraceful of animals...the kind who believes themselves noble."
"Uhhhh, hey Chuckie! I just got a call from Stacy! She's meeting us down the street in about five minutes! Gotta get a move on!" Kitty exclaimed.
"I'll be right there, babe! Thanks, uh, for the heads-up, Mr. Dei. I'll see if we can't pop in again later." Max said.
"No need for rush. Enjoy your freedom. It is all we have, in the end." Dei responded. Max and Kitty left.
They met up with the others down the street. "Well?" Barbara asked.
"The old man in there doesn't seem overly concerned about the bombing. Still, looked harmless enough. It's the guy he pointed the finger at that I'm worried about." Max said.
"Shūjo Higashikata. He runs the businesses on the docks. And, according to the old man, runs most of the seedy stuff that happens around here." Kitty added.
"That name sounds familiar..." Barbara pondered. 
"Rumor has it he has some serious Yakuza ties. We're talking some real dangerous people. Thing is...I don't know if he really has anything to do with this." Kitty said.
"Why not? You said yourself he's got major criminal ties." Kibō asked.
"Yeah, well, he's got some other ties that make me think otherwise. It was his mansion we cornered my sister at. He's old friends with the Prof."
"Wait, seriously?!" Sahir exclaimed.
"Why would the Professor be friends with a criminal? Especially one that sounds so scary?" Natalia asked.
"Beats the hell out of me. But if they're really that tight, him threatening her mom doesn't make much sense. She's not someone you'd want to make an enemy of." Kitty answered.
"Didn't she say her own brother tried to kill her?" Kenji said. "People are capable of anything. Especially ones that have the sort of reputation we're hearing about."
"It's something we have to look into. Let's head over to the docks, then." Kibō said.
"If it's no trouble, I'll stick around here with Sparky. I wanted to look into something." Kitty responded.
"It's your call. Let us know if you find anything." Kibō said, and his group left.
"Got the same gut feeling as me, huh?" Max asked.
"Yeah. Something about that old man felt...off. My instincts usually aren't wrong. He's hiding something." Kitty responded.
"Definitely. Let's do some digging. Guy who's been here almost fifty years has to have a trail."
"Right. Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Lose the moustache. Please."
Max sighed. "Fine."
---
Kibō's group arrived at the docks. Fishing boats and larger freighters lined it. Large crates dotted the place. "Everyone look sharp. This is not a good crowd we're dealing with. And this man, Higashikata, was one of the Professor's troupe. He has a Persona, and might not be afraid to use it." Barbara said.
"I just don't want to believe it. This guy's the Professor's old friend, yeah? Threatening her mama just doesn't fit." Sahir said.
"If he really holds dominion over this part of town, he would be the sort to send a message about who's in control. Wouldn't want to look like he's playing favorites, would he?" Kenji proposed.
"Probably not." Barbara said. "Okay, gang. Time for our best Mystery Inc. impression. Let's split up and look for clues. Kenji, Carrie and Sahir, search the docks. There are a lot of shipping containers around here. Perfect place to hide materials for a bomb. Natalia, you're with me and Keeb. That looks like the main office over there. We'll need help getting in."
"What?! You want me to...help you break into someone's building?!" Natalia protested.
"Morally questionable as it is, the one place a Yakuza kingpin would keep his secrets is his own office. Even if he had nothing to do with the bombing, who knows what could be hiding in there? Please. It's for the Professor's and everyone else's safety." Kibō explained.
"I...okay." Natalia uttered reluctantly.
Kibō's trio went to the front of the main fishery building. "Hmmm. Hopefully no one comes in for work early." Kibō said.
"Okay, Nats. Do your thing. You've got to be brave." Barbara said.
"Right...I've gotta be brave. Gotta be brave, gotta be brave, I've gotta--I've gotta be out of my mind. I literally just remembered I have to go home, bye!" She tried running off, but Barbara grabbed her.
"Come on. You've got this. Be brave." Barbara said in a comforting manner.
"Okay, okay...let's get this over with." Her eyes turned yellow. "Lilith." A red-skinned, winged demoness wearing a dark hood manifested behind her. It wrapped its wings around the trio, dispersed into shadow particles, and reconstructed itself inside the building. 
"Good job, Nats. Now let's get to searching." Barbara said.
"Uggggh...and so begins my downward spiral into crime..." Natalia mused.
The three began sifting through the office. Kibō gazed at numerous miniature, but muscular figures on shelves. A katana was placed in a plastic case, suspended on the wall. "Not the most subtle man, is he?"
Natalia looked at the desk. "Hey, isn't that..." She looked at one framed photograph, a group shot. "It's the Professor, and Ms. Rose. Mr. Officer's there too." 
"Friends in the police force and organized crime. Her network would make some politicians envious." Kibō said.
"Everyone looks so happy...could he really stab her in the back?" Natalia asked. She looked at the other framed picture on the desk, this one solely a glamour shot of Hiyoko. "Wow...she's really beautiful. She's in the group picture, too. Guess this is his girlfriend or his wife."
Barbara examined a wall display, showing numerous maps showing the best spots for fishing. "Now if I were a crime boss, where would I keep something hidden...aha!" The display was rigged to flip over, and Barbara did so. On the other side, numerous photographs were tacked onto the board. Arrows pointed between the photos. The photo in the center was of a middle-aged man, with slicked-back, dark hair, and a serious expression. Written over the man's face was the name "Kagetora". Crudely written beneath the photo, with a dark red marker, were the words "20 years = Old Bastard Now".
"What's with this board? This guy looks creepy..." Natalia said.
"Looks like our gangster's looking for him." Barbara added.
"Kagetora...that name sounds familiar..." Kibō wondered.
"There's a note here...from Ms. Rose. 'Dear Shūjo, I've tried everything I can. If he isn't in the Metaverse, I can't track him. I'm sorry I can't be of more help. I can help manage Hiyoko's discomfort. She worries about you so much. Please reconsider whether your time and effort would be better spent with her. You have sacrificed enough. - With love, Rose'." Natalia read. Beneath the message, scrawled in red ink, were the words "Everything I do IS for her."
Barbara paused to think. "Guys...I think we're barking up the wrong tree. This guy clearly respects the Professor and Ms. Rose too much to risk breaking their friendship. And look at this board. He has more important things to deal with than just randomly destroying some property."
"I think you're right. There's a mystery here, and he might be up to something shady. I don't think he's the one behind our mystery, though." Natalia added.
"....." Kibō was lost in thought.
Outside, Kenji's group were on board one of the freighters. "No open crates, no explosive materials or devices. Starting to think we're not on the right track here." he said.
"Agreed. But if he's as serious a gang lord as they say, would he really leave evidence out in the open?" Carrie questioned.
Sahir looked out, and his eyes widened.
Shūjo was walking towards the office.
"Shi--guys, we gotta run!" Sahir panicked. 
Kenji looked. "Oh, bloody hell!" He began dialing his phone.
Inside the office, Barbara's phone began buzzing. She picked it up. "Kenji, what's up?"
"We're out of luck! Higashikata's headed your way! You need to move!"
"Uh-oh." Barbara murmured. She quickly flipped the board back over. "Nats, get us out of here!"
"Wh-why, what's wrong?" They heard the door unlocking.
"Looks like our investigation's over. Natalia, do your thing!" Kibō pleaded.
"R-right!" She summoned Lilith, and teleported the others out.
The door opened. Shūjo, on the phone, looked puzzled. "Did I leave the light on last night?" he wondered. "Oh, sorry babe. Nah, it's nothing. Guess I left the lights on before I left. Happens when you don't get enough sleep, I guess. Alright, I gotta go. See you in the morning. I love you. Bye." He hung up.
Outside, Kibō's trio appeared behind some crates, out of view from passersby. "Close one. That could've been disastrous." he said.
"Please never make me do that again! I'm gonna start liking being a criminal!" Natalia griped.
Kenji's group ran over to them. "Good, you got away." he said.
"We didn't find anything. No bombs, no weapons...nada." Sahir added.
"We came up empty on the bomb end, too. But from what we saw, I don't think he's our guy. He respects the Professor too much." Barbara said.
"Looks like it's back to the drawing board. Let's go find Kitty and Max. Hopefully their search is going better than ours." Kibō said. The others started walking. "Barb, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"You don't need my permission, silly. What's on your mind?"
"I agree that Higashikata isn't our guy. But that doesn't mean he isn't a guy. Heavy rumors like that don't pop up for no reason. I don't like to think this about someone close to the Professor, but there's clearly something going on with him. And that board...Kagetora. I swear I've heard that name before. There are too many questions around Higashikata to ignore."
"My curiosity's rubbing off on you, huh? I was thinking the same. Once we've got the bombing issue figured out, we can refocus on him. 'Everything I do is for her'. Given his reputation, 'everything' might mean something bad. If one of the Professor's friends is up to no good, we can't just let it be."
"Agreed. For now, let's tackle one mystery at a time. Now let's go before the others start wondering where we are." They went in the direction of the rest of the group.
---
Kitty and Max were in the alley next to the Crimson Flower parlor. Kitty was looking through her phone. "So many articles...'Survivor of Cambodian Genocide Opens Pachinko Parlor', and the like. Seems like a model citizen. No records of an arrest, nothing." Max said.
"My gut's never wrong, Sparky. The guy was making my skin crawl. He said himself he wouldn't be upset about the Prof's mom losing business from this. You felt it, too." Kitty responded.
"Yeah, I know. Something felt so off. And he was so quick to point the finger at someone else, even when we hadn't accused him once. But you can't accuse someone based off of a gut feeling. We need hard evidence."
Kitty thought for a moment. "When did he say he came here? 1981?"
"That's what I heard. Came here to escape the genocide. Can't even imagine what he must've been through."
Kitty typed. She started nodding her head. "There it is. My BS radar is never wrong. Look at this." She showed him the historical website she was looking at. "The Cambodian Genocide ended with the Khmer Rouge's defeat in 1979. This guy says he was escaping a massacre that had been over for two years."
"Brilliant detective work." Max and Kitty turned around. Standing there was Dai Son, along with two large men. "Doing well, I see, Mr. Chuck. A quick shave?" The pair turned to see two more bodyguards at the other end of the alley.
"Got you in a lie, you old coot. You didn't escape the Genocide at all, did you?" Kitty questioned. "Wonder what else you're lying about."
"How interesting. You believe you have the high ground. Do you not see that you are surrounded?"
"What are you gonna do, kill a couple of kids? Think no one'll question it?" Kitty asked.
"No one will question two delinquents being dealt with for breaking into an adults-only establishment. You were turned away, you became violent...the girl in the highlights drew a knife..."
"You seriously think you could get away with it?" Max questioned.
Dai Son chuckled. "Dear boy. I have escaped retribution for far worse, for far longer than even your parents have been alive. I am untouchable."
"Far worse? You mean you've..." Kitty came to a grim realization. "You didn't survive the massacre. You...you perpetuated it. You're Khmer Rouge."
Dai Son put his finger over his mouth, making a 'shhhh' noise. "Here is what's going to happen. I have a rather lovely package to deliver to the parlor down the way. Far less subtle than the one before it. You two are going to deliver it for me."
"Like hell." Kitty asserted.
One of the bodyguards went for his handgun. Dai Son stopped him. "Hold on. There are less direct ways we can make our point. You two are aware of the security cameras inside the parlor, yes? I could very easily call the police, and tell them how a pair of ne'er-do-wells used deceit to enter our establishment. What a criminal record could do to a pair of promising youths..."
"Twisted old--" Max growled.
Dai Son raised one finger. "You have one day. If you don't agree to be my delivery service, I will show the police our security footage. Go to the police yourselves and accrue the same result. Think carefully. There are consequences for intruding into a world you are too young and dumb to comprehend. Enjoy the rest of your day." He said those last words with a snicker. He and his bodyguards dispersed.
Kitty started after, but Max grabbed her. "Let go, Sparky."
"Don't do something stupid."
"He's gonna have us blow up a building! To hell with keeping quiet! He's a complete monster!"
"Who are the cops gonna believe, him or us? What proof do we have besides our word? We've got zero advantage here."
"What are we supposed to do, go along with it?! Look at our options, Sparky! Go along with it and become terrorists, or ignore him and get bagged for trespassing? We'll get kicked out of the academy, I'll get shipped back to Seoul with a nice, Lin-esque record, I'll never see you again..."
"I don't have the answer for that, Kitty! This is as no-win as no-win gets, we--" Max looked to the entrance of the alley. The rest of the group were staring at them. "We've got a problem." he said.
Max and Kitty explained everything that had happened. "This is bad. No way around it, this is bad." Barbara uttered, rubbing her eyes.
"So what are we supposed to do, cave in to a mass murderer's demands? Last I checked, 'Accomplice to Genocide' is a far worse crime than walking into a casino while underage." Kenji argued.
"It's his word against ours. We've got no evidence. He does. But there's no way we're going to help him murder the Professor's mother and a bunch of innocent people." Max said.
"M-maybe we should tell the Professor about this, after all. She'll know what to do!" Natalia suggested.
"If that psycho gets a feeling he's being ratted out, he'll probably blow up the parlor himself. It'll all be for nothing." Sahir replied.
Kitty thought for a moment. "Why don't we go inside the Metaverse? Do the whole heart-changing thing, make him stop this?"
"How would we travel there? The only ones that know how to get there are the Professor and her friends." Carrie pointed out.
"I don't know, I don't know, okay? But we can't just sit on our asses and do nothing! He's destroyed, he's murdered, and he's gonna kill even more people unless we stop him!" Kitty yelled.
"What do you think we should do, Keeb? What can we do?" Barbara asked.
Kibō paused. "What can we do...? What can we do...we're a bunch of kids going against someone who's been performing evil acts longer than we've been alive. But he can't get away with it..."
He closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was in a large, velvet-colored room. "What the...where is this?" He looked around. It resembled a ballroom. 
"Greetings, young performer." A voice echoed out.
Kibō looked around for the source. A person teleported in. They looked older, were somewhat short in stature, wore a dark suit, and had an impossibly long nose. "My name is Igor. Welcome...to my Velvet Room."
"Velvet Room...who are you? Where is this?"
"This place is located in the space between the conscious and the unconscious. Reality, and fantasy. All those chosen to partake in the fated game will eventually find themselves here."
"Fated game...? You're not making any sense. I have to get back home. My friends are in trouble."
"You already possess the power to manifest your true self as a Persona. What you have only just begun to realize is that this power is not merely a projection of your innermost self. It is the spirit of rebellion. The rejection of reality as it is now. You seek the power to change the status quo. Having awoken to your true self, you already possess this power."
"You know all about Personas...then tell me how to get to the Metaverse. I have to change the way things are. I can't keep letting the strong trample the weak. Monsters like that parlor owner have to learn that there are consequences to their evil. But I can't begin to do it on my own without a way to change people. Please...tell me how to do it."
"Hehehehehe...that can be easily arrange. I will return you to your companions, with the knowledge you desire. And now, at long last..." Igor snapped his fingers, and Kibō teleported away. "...the game can, properly, begin."
Kibō woke up, panting. "Keeb, what's wrong? You were zoned out for a minute there." Barbara asked.
A notification sounded out on Kibō's phone. He looked, and saw that an app had been installed. "This is...the same app Ms. Rose uses...Guys. I think we can go ourselves now."
"Wait, you've got that app now? How'd that happen?" Sahir questioned.
Kibō clicked on the app. "Palace Detected" popped up under the notifications. "We can go inside this guy's heart. We've got the power. We're going to beat him, and make him confess to every sick, monstrous thing he's ever done. No more getting to act like he's untouchable. No more feeling powerless to change anything. We can finally start fighting back."
"Keeb...that's right. Now we've got the power. We're not gonna just sit around and let another tragedy happen. We can stop it." Barbara said.
"I'm not gonna let this old freak think he has the high ground on me. We're gonna crush this psycho, right Sparky?" Kitty proclaimed.
"Damn straight." Max assured.
"We don't have a lot of time. Let's make it count." Kibō said. He pushed a button, and a portal opened up. The group stepped inside.
---
The students reappeared in front of the parlor, which had been completely transformed. The building took on a stark, crimson hue. Draped over every window were flags bearing the image of a golden temple against a red background. "Hmph. Certainly looks like the stronghold of a madman." Kenji commented.
"That flag...I saw it while we were looking into him. The banner of the Khmer Rouge. In the span of four years, they murdered nearly two million people. Ethnic cleansing, differences in political beliefs, hatred of intellectuals...the reasons people have started wars since the beginning of time. Any horrible thing you could do to another human being, they probably did. That's the kind of enemy we're dealing with here." Max explained.
"It's really scary, but...he's an old man now, right? How much can he really do?" Natalia asked.
"Remember, this world is of his making. He holds the power here. It won't be as easy as kicking his cane out of his hands." Carrie said.
"He ain't holding the power long. Not when I'm done with him." Kitty proclaimed. She went to open the door, but it refused to budge. "Seriously? Fine, whatever. Guess we're going in through the window--" She looked under one of the flags, and the window had been covered with iron bars. "Oh, for..." Every window the group checked was being guarded in this manner. 
"No use. It's locked down like some sort of bunker. It can never be easy, can it?" Carrie said.
"There is one thing we haven't tried..." Barbara said. Everyone began staring at Natalia.
"W-wait, me? But I...I can't teleport too many times too quick...and I've never tried moving this many people..." Natalia said nervously.
Kitty ran to her and grabbed her shoulders. "Listen to me, Hoodsie. If we don't get in there, people are gonna die, and me and Sparky are gonna be criminals. I can't be a criminal, Hoodsie. So stop being a chicken for five seconds and get us in there already!" She was shaking Natalia as she spoke.
"Stop it, Kitten, you're just scaring her even more!" Carrie protested, separating the two. "It's unlike you to be this unsettled."
"Well excuse me for being worried about having my future ruined. Maybe I should start seeing the bright side of this. I could be the first streamer to broadcast from a prison in Cuba!" Kitty griped.
"That won't be necessary. Natalia, I'm sorry to ask this of you, but I don't think we have another option. We could spend the next twenty-four hours trying in vain to break down the door, or you can try to dig deep and get us in there quietly. Can you at least try?" Kibō asked.
"...I don't know what's gonna happen." Natalia muttered.
"It's alright. I'm here. I know you can do it." Carrie gently rubbed Natalia's shoulders.
Natalia swallowed. "I'm gonna regret this, I know it..." She summoned forth Lilith, and enveloped the entire group in its wings. They all disappeared into shadow.
They reappeared inside the parlor. The inside, much like the outside, was radically different. The space was decorated with more flags on the walls, and at the center of the room was a stone statue of an authoritative-looking man sitting in a chair. "Pol Pot" was inscribed on its base.
"Alright, we're in. Good job, Nat--" Kibō began.
Natalia was on the ground. "Natalia!" Carrie exclaimed.
"Is she breathing?" Barbara asked.
"Yes...she's unconscious. Poor thing must have overexerted herself." Carrie answered. 
Kitty knelt down next to her. "I'm sorry, Hoodsie." she uttered remorsefully. "If there was another way, I would've gone for it. Let me just do this..." Kitty carefully hoisted Natalia onto her back.
"Um, Kitten, are you sure you don't want me or someone else to carry her?" Carrie asked.
Kitty's legs were wobbling. "No, I've got her...I'm waaaay stronger than I look..."
"Kitten, please. I don't mind." Carrie assured.
"I'm the one that pushed her, I should do it. Seriously, there's no problem..."
"Halt! How did you get in here?" Three shadowy figures manifested in front of the group. Their heads were completely dark save for two glowing dots for eyes, and they wore black, military-style garb, bearing the symbol of the Khmer Rouge. "Commander Dai Son will not be pleased. Whoever lapsed on the building's security will be found and terminated. Before that, we must exterminate these intruders immediately!"
"Should've guessed there'd be a welcoming committee. Get ready, everyone!" Kibō proclaimed.
"Mindless drones. I have no need of you." Kenji stated. "Come, Eligor." A figure clad in stark red armor, riding astride a dark-colored horse and wielding a lance, manifested in front of him. "Only three of them. How boring." The horseman swatted the guards away with its lance.
Several more guards appeared. "Oh, Kenny...they're evil henchmen. There's never just three of them." Kitty said.
Barbara took a second to think. She looked up at the ceiling, and noticed a sprinkler system in place. "I've got an idea. Sahir, can you set those sprinklers off?"
"Um, okay I guess? Dunno how giving 'em a bath is gonna help..." Sahir answered. "C'mon, Amadioha!" The Persona appeared, and it blew out a stream of fire around the sprinklers, setting them off.
"Perfect. Now that you all are covered in water particles..." Barbara raised her hand, and all of the guards did the same. "I'd love for you to show my friends my dance routine." Her eyes turned yellow.
She got in front of the crowd of guards, and began performing a graceful dance routine. The guards followed every single move exactly. "At my core, I'm not a fighter. I'm a performer. I want to bring people relief, not pain. So when I see something bearing imagery that represents pain and horror to so many...I feel the urge to vent. Through my lyrics, or my movements. I know you're just soulless puppets of an even more soulless master, but I figured I would allow your existence one beautiful moment..." She put two fingers to her throat. "...before it came to a fitting conclusion." She made a swiping motion, and every guard's throat was cut, letting loose a torrent of blood. The guards all dissolved into shadow after that.
The others gave light applause. Barbara took a bow. Kitty scribbled on her phone's paint app, showing the number ten. "Ten." she said cheekily.
"You know, when you said you had killer dance moves, I didn't think you were being literal." Kibō said.
"Let's hurry out of here. If more show up, I'm not so sure about an encore." Barbara replied. The group forged ahead.
The path forward led to an enormous room, with a stone floor, and a stage usually reserved for speeches. The podium bore the Khmer Rouge flag, of which many hung from the rafters. "Doesn't look like there's any other path out...but there's nobody here." Max said.
Natalia stirred awake. "Mmmmmm...did I do it right...?" she said groggily. Kitty let her down.
"Oh, you're up. You did great, Hoodsie. But you were out for a bit. Sorry. Guess I pushed you too hard." Kitty said.
"I'm just happy to help...I don't want you or Max to get in trouble...it'd be like breaking up our little family..." Natalia uttered, still half-asleep.
Kitty was taken aback. "My next action doesn't leave this room, hear me?" she said while blushing. She gave Natalia a hug. She let go after a few seconds. "Y'all didn't see that."
"Hey, Kitten. How about you go with a comfortable bear costume next time?" Kenji said with a sneer.
"How about you die in a fire, Kenny." Kitty said bluntly.
As the rest of the group snickered at the show of affection, more sinister-sounding laughter broke out. "Oh, boy, creepy pedo laughter...supervillain entrance in 3...2..." Kitty uttered.
A trap door opened up on the stage, and a figure rose up to the podium. This was the figure of Dai Son, now garbed in a dark trenchcoat, with a crimson scarf bearing the Khmer Rouge emblem on both ends. His eyes, as with any Shadow, were yellow.
"Welcome, children, to my humble fortress. Where the values and traditions of the once-great Khmer can be upheld, without the judgement and interference of outsiders." he said with his voice distorted.
"Judgement, interference? You help murder millions, and you're acting like you're the one being persecuted?!" Max yelled.
"Silence! I'll not tolerate such insolence from a pup that's barely experienced life. Did the beasts that spawned you never teach you to respect your elders?" the Shadow said.
"There's nothing about you to respect, you old coot. You help support a dictatorship, then run off and pretend to be another victim. Now after playing nice for this long, you start playing the bully role again?" Kitty retorted.
"'Again', you say. Hehehehehe...you speak as if I only just decided to drive away my competition. Do you have any idea how many competitors I've 'persuaded' to move elsewhere over the years? A bomb threat here, a mystery arson there...all to drive away anyone who dares threaten the life I've built here. That wench and her new parlor are only the latest to incur my attention. You think you two louts are the first naive children I've gotten to do my dirty work?"
"And how many of those kids did you ask to commit murder?" Kibō questioned.
The Shadow snickered.
"You...I should have guessed from how easy it was to order us. This isn't your first time." Max said.
The Shadow laughed again. "Shall I show you my handiwork?"
He pressed a button on the podium. Then, the walls all began to open up, revealing a startling sight: row upon row of human skulls, all lined up and organized as if they were collector's items.
"Oh...oh my God..." Sahir uttered.
"These are...all the people you've killed...?" Carrie added.
"How many hundreds...no, thousands..." Kenji responded.
"I am but a loyal soldier. The brush with which Pol Pot would create the ideal land. Free of the outside ideas and different ideologies that continue to ravage the world to this day. Children naive to the ways of the world could not possibly understand such a vision."
"We may only be children, but we can understand that there's no benefit to mass murder." Kibō retorted.
"You claim that you were trying to make an 'ideal land'. All I see here is another tyrant, trying to justify killing people because they weren't like him." Barbara added.
"Hmph. Why do I even waste my breath on mere pups? Still don't comprehend what I'm capable of? Were my earlier demands not enough for you? Then let's try again." The Shadow snapped his fingers. Two cages suddenly appeared, one around Kibō, Barbara and Kenji, the other around Sahir, Carrie and Natalia.
"H-hey! What's going on?!" Kitty questioned.
The Shadow presented a remote control with three buttons. "One of my favorite things to do is force life-and-death decisions onto kids too stupid to fully understand the consequences. I could regale you with tales of how many children I had execute their parents. I could even show you their specific skulls. But there are more urgent matters to take care of. Namely, which of your companions' skulls I get to add to my collection."
"What the hell have you done?!" Max demanded.
"Silence! You are lucky we aren't in the old country, otherwise I would have had you executed before even finishing your thought. Now, onto my proposal." He pointed to the buttons. "Button 1 will disperse the cage to your left. Button 2, to your right. Choose which of your friends will walk away. Whichever cage you don't choose...will immediately detonate, surely killing the ones inside."
The students in the cages all reacted with shock. "Sick bastard! You think we're just gonna go along with this?!" Kitty yelled.
"Oh, you will. Otherwise, I will push Button 3. That will send all six of your friends to their grave. I will not hesitate to do so. Think I have never ended a child before? I littered the Killing Fields with brats much younger than yourselves. Many of them after I had them kill their--"
"Shut up, shut up, shut UP! How can you just stand there and boast about killing thousands of people?! Like it's no big deal?! I'm not gonna be made to be part of your sick game! Me and Sparky are gonna give you the beating you should've gotten a long time ago!" Kitty yelled.
"I thought my dad was an evil bastard. But you...you make my old man look like Ghandi. You're not gonna force either of us to kill anyone. The only one getting punished today is gonna be you!" Max exclaimed.
The Shadow put his finger over the third button. "I will press this button. Don't think I won't."
"Hey, Sparky. My BS sense is tingling. If this guy's such a hardened creep, he would've pushed that button as soon as we gave him lip." Kitty said.
"You got that right. Almost like he's just playing mind games." Max added.
"Silence! I will destroy your idiot friends, mark my words!" the Shadow boasted.
"Do it, then. My gut's never wrong. I'm calling your bluff. Push it." Kitty said.
The Shadow hesitated.
"Sparky. Do you trust me?" Kitty asked.
"You bet I do." Max answered.
"Give the old man a jolt, then."
Max's eyes turned yellow. "Strike him down, Thor!" A ghostly man wearing viking-esque armor and wielding a large hammer appeared, and called forth storm clouds. Lightning crashed down next to the Shadow, knocking him away from the remote. The remote became electrically charged.
"Should I?" Max asked.
"Do you trust me?" Kitty repeated.
Max nodded, and used his power to push the third button. The Shadow looked afraid. At once, both cages disappeared. 
"You did one smart thing, you senile old psycho. Giving us an audience of your victims. Now they can all watch you get what you deserve. Courtesy of a bunch of stupid kids." Kitty proclaimed.
The Shadow got to his feet, and started backing away. He re-composed himself. "I've not survived this long just to be undone by the likes of you. Now, you runts. I introduce you to my pet!" A large shadow appeared on the ground, and a great deal of energy erupted from it. This energy coalesced into a large, emaciated creature, bearing the head of a monstrous horse, and garbed in a crimson farmers' hat and cloak. "Eat your fill, Kumbhanda! Send these ingrates to their graves!" The creature let out a horrible roar.
"I'm, uh...just gonna go ahead and faint again." Natalia uttered, before promptly falling over.
"Wha...she can just do that on command?" Kibō questioned.
"Priorities, people! We've got a big, spooky monster to deal with!" Kitty exclaimed.
The creature's eyes began to glow green, and the group all began to feel weak. "Why...what's this feeling...?" Barbara questioned.
The Shadow cackled. "That feeling is of your very souls being ripped from your bodies! Sustenance for my most loyal of minions! Hehehehehehe...are you beginning to see the error of trying to fight back? Let me see it...the looks of regret on your idiot faces! This feeling of ecstasy...knowing you've exerted your dominance over a bunch of overconfident children...younglings like you could never understand!"
"I understand one thing...you freak..." Kitty began. Reflected in her glasses was the Spell Select screen. She selected "Fire 15/15 MP". "You villain types...love hearing yourselves talk...way too much." Arianrhod appeared behind her, and unleashed a fireball, striking the creature. It reeled back, and began to panic upon realizing its cape had caught fire. "I don't think it's...good enough, Sparky...wanna give me a boost?"
Max obliged, and the creature was struck with a bolt of lightning, strengthening the fire to the point where the monster was completely engulfed. It fell to its knees, in agony. The Shadow could only watch in shock. Kitty began to approach him. Annoyed with the creature's screams, she put her headphones on. "S-stay back from me!" The Shadow panicked.
Kitty walked past the creature, which had now begun to crumble away. She climbed onto the stage. "P-please! Have some mercy!" Dai Son begged. Kitty pointed to her headphones. "You would ignore the pleas of an old man?! Are you...are you going to kill me...?"
Max blinked several times. "Is this guy being for real right now?"
Kitty grabbed the Shadow, and flung him into the creature, causing it to completely disappear. Dai Son began to whimper, as the other students circled him. "Please...please wait! You don't have to kill me! I take back everything I said! I-I-I-I'll delete the camera footage, get rid of the bomb, cease threatening the other businesses! You want gold?! I can give you gold! W-what do kids these days like, DRUGS! You want drugs, I can--" 
Max kicked him in the face, knocking him out. Kitty walked over. "I wanted him to see how it felt." She looked around at all the skulls. "For him to beg, and plead, and bargain for his life. And for the one threatening him to ignore everything he was saying."
"This can never undo all the horror he took part in. At the end of the day, he was right about one thing. He was just one soldier. There were hundreds more like him. Some paid for their crimes, others didn't. But if we did anything today, we made sure that this one soldier would never hurt anyone else." Max added.
"So...what happens now?" Natalia, who had since regained consciousness, asked.
"Now? Now we wait. Once this place crumbles away, every last ill deed he took part in will start weighing on his heart. The guilt and weight of what he's done will become too much to bare. And he'll confess to it all. What happens after that...that's for the world's justice to decide." Kibō surmised.
The Shadow slowly faded away. The Palace began to shake. "I think that's our cue to leave. Keeb, you know how to get us out of here...right? Right?!" Sahir asked.
"If I remember correctly, I just need to..." Kibō opened the app, and pressed a button. The group were teleported out of the Palace, and back to the real world.
---
Later that night, Rin was getting ready for bed. "A tad earlier than usual, is it not?" Rose asked.
"Well after our little adventure last night, can you really blame me?" Rin retorted.
"Fair enough."
Rin's phone rang. She picked it up. "Mom? What's wrong? Not another bomb, I hope."
"Turn on the news, apple blossom." her mother answered.
Rin did so. 
"Our breaking news for tonight, a local pachinko parlor owner has turned himself in to police in connection to the attempted bombing of another parlor. 80-year old Dai Son, owner of the Crimson Flower parlor, has also confessed to other illicit acts in connection to several other businesses over the years."
"Even more shocking, he has also confessed to police that he was a member of the Khmer Rouge, the militant guerrilla faction responsible for the deaths of over a million Cambodians during the late 1970s. With crimes ranging from ethnic cleansing to crimes against humanity, it is believed that Naruki police will turn Dai Son over to the custody of the United Nations, once his confession has been corroborated..."
Rin could only stare in stunned silence. "He confessed to everything. I'm hearing that he had an even more potent bomb in his building. He was planning on blowing up the parlor completely...and probably even worse." Hana said.
"Oh my God, Mom...this is insane."
"It is. Apparently he's been getting away with this for years...he always seemed like an average old man. To think such a horrible monster could be hiding in plain sight. But, I also called to thank you."
"Thank me? I didn't do anything."
"Why would someone like this just confess to everything after hiding for almost fifty years? He's undergone a complete change of heart, just like that. If it wasn't you and your friends, who could it be?"
Rin gained a serious expression. "I don't know, Mom. But I'm glad it's all worked out. It's one less monster on the streets."
"That it is. I have to get back to business. Talk to you in the morning, apple blossom. I love you."
"Night, Mom. Love you. Bye." Rin hung up. "Rose...did you do...that?"
Rose shook her head. "I've been with either you or Ms. Hana all day. Everyone else was either working or I knew what they were doing. Maybe he just changed on his own. Stranger things have happened."
"Hmmmmm. Only other explanation would be...no. How could they even get there without one of us? But...it's the only thing that makes sense."
"You think it was your class?"
"I don't know. I'm going to have to talk with them tomorrow. If this was them...I'm going to have a lot of questions."
---
Barbara was in front of her mirror, brushing her hair. She got a message on her phone. It was in the class' group chat.
"Old coot confessed!!! UN might be coming!!! We got it done!! - Sahir"
"All over the news. Suppose we're famous now. - Kenji"
"Wait, FAMOUS?? Are we gonna be on TV?? I can't do cameras!! - Natalia"
"I'm pretty sure it was a joke, Natalia. - Kibō"
Barbara began typing.
"Great job, everyone. First of many wins, hopefully."
More messages came in.
"We should totally have a name for ourselves!! We can be superheroes for real!! - Sahir"
"I wouldn't mind. Could help with the air of mystery. - Carrie"
"We should use the night to come up with ideas. We'll see where we're at during lunch. - Kibō."
There was a knock at the door. "I've got it." Barbara got up and answered it. Max stood at the door.
"Oh, hey Max. What's up?"
"Hey Barb, sorry to come so late. Um...is Kitty around?"
"Kitty? Sure is."
Kitty poked her head out of her room. "I heard someone summoning me. Oh, Sparky. You needed me for something?"
"Yeah, just wanted to talk. Could you come outside for a minute?"
"Okay, I guess..."
Kitty stepped outside. Barbara gave Max a knowing glance. "Don't give me that look." he said. Barbara said nothing, and closed the door, a cheeky grin on her face.
"Alright, Sparky. What's swimming in that noggin of yours?"
"Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm not lying on my couch coughing, am I?"
"It's just, today...you seemed different. I've never seen you getting upset like that. You're usually so calm. Even after we got locked up, you weren't nearly that angry."
"Getting blackmailed into being a terrorist and seeing the old freak boasting about his kill count can do that." Kitty sighed. "Truth, Sparky? Before coming here, if I'd heard all of that craziness, I might've just brushed it off with a joke. Maybe even gone along with it. Ever since meeting y'all, I don't know...I've been feeling more emotional. I see this guy talking about what an awesome evil dude he is, and I just...I couldn't stand it. Whenever my sister would tell me about how she managed to break into a place, I would think it was cool. The more time I've spent with you guys, though, the less cool it sounded."
"The longer you're away from that kind of influence, the more you can step back and see what's wrong with it."
"Helps when I'm around a hero of justice like you, Sparky. I'm serious. You're the first person to ever call me out for doing something wrong. You're the type of guy that can't stand seeing someone flaunt their evil around like a badge, right?"
"You see the wrong behavior from someone for so long, you get a better appreciation for why it's so wrong. That blackmail stuff was seriously wrong. Seeing you upset like that...I knew you'd changed. That you weren't just the class joker. That you didn't want to cause anyone else trouble."
"You thought I didn't have feelings, Sparky? That hurts."
"That's not what I meant! I wasn't trying to offend you."
"Hehe, I'm just kidding. I know by now that you wouldn't offend me on purpose. You're not that type of guy. It's why I like being around you so much. Well, that and cuz we still have that otaku kingdom to build. And your impressions are seriously killer."
"I appreciate that, Kitty. You weren't half-bad at it yourself back there. Maybe if the otaku kingdom doesn't work out, you could go into acting with me."
"You'd really want me around when you're working, Sparky?"
"Why not? It's fun having you around. A big part of acting is having a good rapport and sense of trust with whoever you're in a scene with."
"Trust...I seriously can't believe you trust me that much. If I was wrong about that button today, that could've gotten everyone killed. Including your sister. And you did it anyway."
"I did. Your gut hasn't done us wrong yet. With how critical a moment that was, I wasn't going to start second-guessing you. Haven't given me a reason not to yet. And it got us the win today. So, yeah. I trust you completely."
Kitty was stunned. 
"Anyway, I just wanted to see how you were doing. I won't hold you up any longer than I have to. See you in the morning." Max turned to leave. Kitty grabbed his arm, and twisted him around. She kissed him. After a few moments, she let go.
"I'm gonna go, uh...un-steam my glasses." Kitty said, blushing.
"Yeah, uh...same." Max stuttered, also blushing. Kitty went back inside her room.
Barbara was waiting for her. "Sooooo?" she said.
"Your brother's my boyfriend now. Deal with it." Kitty walked back to her room and shut the door.
"Hey, that's it?! Don't walk away from--"
"Turnabout's fair play, Barbie." Electronica music began coming from Kitty's room.
"Oh, come on!" griped a dejected Barbara. "Ugh...fair enough, Kitty. Fair enough." She went back to her room.