Persona BLEACHED 2: Part 23

Chapter 23: Memories in the Rain
February 14, 2029
"Of all the days for the heavens to open up..." Rin sighed, looking out her window at the downpour outside.
"Can't be helped. The land and its children need it to grow, after all." Rose replied.
"I know that. I'm just sad for the children, is all. They were looking forward to the dance, but having them go out in this weather would be too risky. And I had my own plans for tonight..."
"You know I don't mind. A cozy evening here with you is my precise idea for the perfect Valentine's Day."
Rin giggled. "I can only imagine how many of these lines you kept saved up over the years."
"I keep pages of them stuffed in a jar I keep hidden under the bed. And that isn't even all of them."
Rin became flustered. "P-please stop, I'm actually struggling for words now."
"Oh? The great auteur, Professor Ringo Kubo, lost for words? Perhaps I've unlocked a hidden magic."
"Even when you're joking, you're flattering me."
"I say nothing I don't mean."
Rin sat on the couch. "Come here. I'm in need of cuddles."
"Happy day~." Rose giddily skipped over and plopped on the couch next to Rin.
"Careful! Don't want to wake Shizuka up."
"You know she sleeps like a rock. We'll be fine. Just..."
"What is it?"
Rose thought for a moment. "I love you. And today is such a special day, and I don't think we should hide anything from each other. Can we be our real selves, just for tonight?"
"Our real selves?" Rin looked down. "Oh. You mean..."
"I can go first if you need a minute to think." Rose closed her eyes. In an instant, her hair turned from a normal shade of blonde to platinum blonde, and her skin turned pale. Once she opened her eyes, they had taken on a golden hue. "Well?"
Rin smirked. "Still beautiful."
"I despise having to put on a disguise for people, but they would all know something was amiss. The harshest truth I've learned about humanity is how they fear that which is different. Would I be accepted if they knew I wasn't..." Rose appeared saddened.
"Please don't go there. You're as human as anyone else. I couldn't care less about how you look. Anyone scared off by your appearance isn't worth having around."
"I know you're just saying that. But truthfully speaking, I know what I am. A synthetic organism created by the God of the Moon in order to properly assess human emotion. Made in the image of his wife, the Goddess of the Sun, who refuses to look at him after he commited an unforgivable atrocity in her name." Rose put on an unconvincing grin. "A man made me so he could stare at the wife that won't look at him anymore. That someone like you could fall for such a pathetic creature as me is one of the great mysteries I've yet to solve."
"Rose...you know I'm not the perfect person you think I am. And it's not a mystery why I fell in love with you. You're wise, and you're kind, and you can appreciate living in a way most people can't. I wouldn't be where I am now without you at my side for all these years. And we'll be with each other for many, many more years to come. Not only that, but..."
Rin rubbed her arms. Rose grasped her hand. "If it's not comfortable for you, then I'll leave it at that and we can just go back to cuddling."
"No, no, it's alright. It wouldn't be fair to you. Please don't be too bad..." Rin closed her eyes. After a few moments, she reopened them.
Both of her arms were covered with faded scars.
"Well, they seem to have gotten better." Rose said.
"These arms...the permanent reminder of my lowest point. To think I could tell you how appearances don't matter, all while using my power to hide my shame..." Rin looked downward. "I'm just so disgusted by these scars. What they represent. How I almost died, miles from home at the bottom of a rainy forest. How I nearly heaped even more grief onto my mother. How it was all part of my brother's sick game. For someone like me, who can't even face their worst moment...do I have the right to be where I am?"
Rose gently placed her hand onto Rin's arm. "Do you know what I see when I look at these? I see someone who, despite all the pain and loss they've endured, has managed to carve out a wonderful life for themselves. You made it out of the forest, and you stopped Tohru. Now look where you are. An exceptional career, with excellent students, and friends that have become like family over the years. A bright, adorable daughter and...my eternal devotion. Can you really say that your arms would've precluded you from achieving anything?"
"....."
"Besides, what is it that JoJo said? 'Chicks dig scars'."
Rin snickered, and tried holding back laughter. "Sorry, I...I never thought I would hear you say 'chicks' with a straight face." 
"Well at least I got you to laugh."
"I'm sorry for dampening the mood. Suppose it matches the rain. Seems like my whole life has been a sequence of torrential downpours..."
"Remember what your mother says. 'The stronger the storm, the stronger the flower that grows from it.'"
"True enough. Mom's never wrong about flowers. Oh, speaking of which..."
Rin got up and went to her room. She re-emerged holding a bouquet of blue-colored roses. 
"Oh my goodness, Rin..."
"These are incredibly hard to come by. Mom managed to get her hands on some seeds, through I assume whatever underground network Dad used to get his more...unique fruits."
"My word...I've never seen blue roses before. They're lovely, Rin. Thank you."
"Beautiful blue roses for the most beautiful blue rose in the world. Happy Valentine's Day, my beloved."
Rose took the bouquet, and she and Rin kissed. "I love you."
"And I love you."
"I'll go put these in water. I think you've earned some extra cuddles~."
"As good of a return gift as I could ask for."
---
"You sure you're all right to head out there, Barbie?" Kitty asked.
"I'll be fine. Nimue'll keep the rain off of me." Barbara replied while applying her makeup.
"I'm really sorry Mother Nature had to go on a crying fit. Know you had today circled on your calendar."
"I can't say that I'm not disappointed, especially after I spent all that time practicing with Keeb. But I'm going to look at the positives. Now instead of a big crowd, it can just be the two of us. I have something in mind for what we can do."
"That's the right way to look at it. Big booming get-togethers aren't really my thing."
Barbara finished putting herself together, and grabbed her bag. "Okay, I'm off. Got any plans for your night?"
"Ah, nope, nada, got nothing in--"
There was a knock at the door. Barbara looked at Kitty and raised an eyebrow.
"...okay I have something in mind." Kitty uttered. She went to open the door. Max was there, and he was holding an umbrella, and dripping water.
"You'd think with my Persona being an actual Thunder God that I'd be fine with a little rain. Nope." Max shook his head.
"Well come on in, silly, and get that jacket off." Kitty said.
"Oh, hey Sis. You got plans for the night?"
"Same plans as you, from the looks of it. Only I'll make sure to dodge the raindrops. Have fun~." Barbara chimed.
"Hey you tell Keeb to keep his hands to himself, y'hear? You know how he is about his wood." Max quipped. Barbara elbowed him as she walked past.
Kitty shifted in place. "Hey."
"Hey. So, we got any plans for the night? We just gonna watch some anime, or...?"
"I did have something in mind, but...oh, you're gonna think it's so stupid." She began blushing. "This may actually be the stupidest idea ever and you're seriously gonna want to break up with me when you see it."
"Kitty, I survived you telling me you were a thief. I think I'm well equipped for whatever you can throw at me."
"God I hope that doesn't age poorly. Oookay, so I know you're big on superheroes, and I'm big on...playing trash games on purpose. For laughs."
"Uh-oh."
"This is my worst idea ever. You're not ready for the full Kitty Experience."
"I've seen my fair share of crap. Don't know if I'd say it's romantic, but..."
"So the other day I went by Quiet Man's game shop, and I asked him, 100% seriously, 'What's the worst superhero game you have? Like worst in the so-bad-it's-good way.' And then he gives me that kinda grumpy look that he gets, and then he pulls out this ancient-looking box."
"Did you buy one of those Creepypasta games, Kitty?"
"Guess we're gonna find out together. I present to you..." She pulls out a small cartridge, bearing an image of Superman pulling back his disguise. "...Ring-Flying Simulator 1999."
Max blinks twice. "Oh, Jesus."
"I thought it'd be fun to, you know...subject ourselves to it and make fun of it. Together. On Romance Night. You hate me right now, don't you? I'm the actual worst and you want to go out that door and back in the rain cuz it'd be way more fun than having to play an awful game with me--"
"Kitty, Kitty, calm down! I didn't even say anything."
"Your eyes say plenty. Any other girl would want to sit down, watch some cheesy romcom and daintily fall asleep on their boytoy's shoulder. I'm about to show my affection through literal torture."
"Kitty, I am well aware that you are not 'any other girl'. But that's part of your charm. Yeah, it's not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of a romantic Valentine's Day. Or the second. Or third. But it's absolutely your idea of a fun time. So it's fine by me."
"Sparky..." Kitty uttered. "So good! He's SO GOOD! I HEAR THE BELLS, BARBIE!" she thought.
"One thing, though...isn't the N64 pretty old? How are we gonna play it?"
"Oh, I've got that covered. Quiet Man lent me his just for tonight. I've got it all hooked up."
"Super. Well...let's start the pain train, I guess."
The pair set up in Kitty's room, with Max having the controller. The title screen appeared, showing Superman fighting Braniac.
"Now before we get started, I'm just gonna let you know something. Keep this in mind while you're playing. This game sold over 500,000 copies." Kitty said.
"Wait, seriously?"
"Yes. That's not a joke. Half-a-million people experienced this game when it came out. Let that sink in."
"And Keeb wonders why the world's messed up."
The game began with Superman flying through a trail of rings. "Wait, what did Lex say? 'Solve my maze'? This isn't...this isn't a maze." Max uttered. "Wow, this controls...not very well. At all. Huh?" Superman flew into a bridge and became stuck. "Wait, what the hell? How am I stuck?"
After a while, Max was still on the first stage. "Boy, this thing really doesn't fool around with the time limit. What's up with this green fog, anyhow?"
"Oh that's 'Kryptonite fog', according to the developers. In reality, it's there to hide the awful draw distance. Without it this game would actually look worse. Hard as that is to believe."
"Buuut isn't this a world of Lex's design? Couldn't he just make Supes really weak?"
"Sparky, please don't question it."
A short while later, Max passed the ring stage, and was met with a 15 second stage involving oncoming cars. "The hell, what's going on--oh, it's over already? I didn't even get a chance to--WHAT?!" He was taken back to the ring stage. "I don't get a second chance?! I'm back at these godforsaken rings again?!"
"Yeeeep."
"Oh, this is ass. This is so ass."
Eventually, Kitty took over playing. "I don't get it, how do you make something this terrible? I know 3D was still in its infancy back then, but this is a whole other dimension of awful." Max said.
"Well, when you're dealing with WB, these things tend to happen. Early on, they had new executives coming in, and they hated Titus from the get-go. So they made their dealings as unpleasant as possible. They couldn't get anything in this game without going through prolonged arguments with the WB big wigs. The whole virtual world thing is because, I kid you not, WB had a problem with Supes causing property damage."
"Yeah, because Superman would never cause untold amounts of property damage...or break a guy's neck..." Max rolled his eyes.
"I mean, I don't think this thing was ever gonna set the world on fire, but corporate interference really didn't help. The whole story's actually pretty fascinating."
"You know, it's nice to hear you just be geeky over video games. Even something as ungodly as this thing."
"Yeah, well, that's just a master going to work, Lin."
There was silence as Kitty slowly realized what she'd said. "...oh, no. I just called you Lin, didn't I? Dammit, and everything was going so good..."
"Hey, don't worry about it. It was a slip of the tongue. It used to be her sitting here with you, huh?"
"...yeah. I told you I followed her lead on everything. Gaming was the one thing we shared that wasn't illegal. It wasn't the Snake Queen tutoring her partner in crime. It was just two sisters having fun with each other. I miss that. I dunno, you sitting here just reminded me of the good old days. I'm not calling you a thief or anything."
"Well, for what it's worth, this has actually been pretty fun. Experiencing something together is way better than doing it alone. I might've thrown the controller out the window if I was by myself."
Kitty chuckled. "It's only fun cuz you're not the one playing it."
"For real, though. I wouldn't mind this being a regular thing. Having you around makes even the worst game in the world fun."
Kitty smiled, and sat up next to Max. "Y'know, Sparky...I was wrong. About you not being a thief."
"Huh? Why's that? What did I steal?"
Kitty turned red. "My heart, you goof."
"Oh, uh..." Max stuttered and began blushing.
"...woooooow that was cheesy! Just forget I said anything!"
"I can't do that. It's etched into my brain."
"Well then un-etch it, you jerk!"
"Did you mean it?"
"Huh?"
"That I stole your heart. I hope you meant it. To be honest, I've felt that way for a while now. You're funny and cool on the outside, but I've seen how much you care about other people. At the risk of sounding overdramatic...I'm entranced by you."
"Sparky...even knowing what I've done, you're okay with saying that?"
"I'm going by what I've seen with my own eyes. I see a genuinely good person. No asterisks."
Kitty, touched, stood up. "C'mere, you dork." The two embraced. 
"Sparky...Max...I love you. No asterisks. Just the truth. I love you, you nerd."
"And I love you, crazy girl."
"....."
"...are your glasses fogged up too, or is it just me?" Max asked.
"No, no, I'm pretty much blind now."
"Okay then, let's just, uh..." The pair let go.
"So, um...you wanna just find some sappy movie to watch?"
"You nuts? I have to see how bad this game gets."
"Music to my ears. You haven't even seen the combat yet..."
---
"I'm sorry to impose on you like this, Sahir-san. I should've called ahead." Sakuya said, dripping wet.
"Don't sweat it. I would've called you to come hang out if it wasn't so bad out there. Plus with you here, it won't just be me and Kenny." Sahir answered.
"Oh, Kenji-san is here too?"
"Yeah, Keeb's using their place for his romantic rendezvous with Barb. And with Maxie over at Kitty's dormroom, we decided to celebrate our crushing loneliness together. It was setting up to be an...awkward night."
"Well I'm happy to break that awkwardness." She shivered. "Sorry, I need to get out of these clothes. I brought extra ones with me. Is there somewhere I can change?"
"Sure, just use my room. Kenny's using the bathroom."
"Oh, I couldn't, that wouldn't be appropriate..."
"Nuh uh, not gonna hear it. Can't have you shivering out here while Kenny takes his sweet time with...whatever he's doing. I don't mind. Just make yourself comfortable, I'm gonna go run and grab some extra towels." Sahir sprinted out the door.
"O-okay, just be--and he's gone. Not one for patience, is he?" Sakuya walked into Sahir's room and closed the door.
Kenji stepped out of the bathroom. "The Valkyrie's cooking habits strike again. Ugh..." He looked around. "Thought I heard some voices out here. Where did he go?"
He noticed that the light was on in Sahir's room. "Now what could he be doing in there...something inappropriate, surely." He went over and knocked. "Sahir, what are you doing?" He opened it slightly.
"W-wait! Don't open the--" Sakuya protested, but it was too late.
Kenji looked inside, and his eyes widened. Sakuya looked mortified. Kenji quickly shut the door and backed away slowly, shell-shocked. 
Sakuya bolted out, fully clothed. "Kenji-san, wait, it's not what you--"
"What the hell...kind of game are you playing at?!"
"Please, just listen! I'm not trying to deceive anyone, I--"
"Sakuya...I'm going to ask you this once, and once alone. Was I seeing things just now...or are you really a--"
"Don't say anything more, please! I don't...I don't want to hear it..." She fell to the floor, and took the fetal position.
".....you didn't...see anything...there's nothing to see...I'm a girl. Whatever you saw doesn't matter..."
"...does Sahir know?"
"I could never! He's the absolute last person I would tell this to. Even putting aside his flirtatious ways, you know about where he's from, don't you? Do you know what they do to...people like you and me? At best we would be thrown in jail, at worst we would be..." She shook her head. "How could I ever tell him this..."
"First of all, we aren't in Nigeria right now, are we? And as far as Sahir himself is concerned, I don't think he has a hateful bone in his body. Otherwise he wouldn't invite me over whenever he feels lonely. Our own Professor is in a relationship with another woman. Given what I've heard about where he grew up, I'm frankly curious as to why he doesn't think that way."
Kenji groaned. "I'm not going to hold a knife to your throat and order you to tell the truth. Your reasons are yours alone, and you're entitled to your privacy. Still...the bigger the secret, and the longer it's held, the higher the chances are that reactions may not be positive."
"....."
"By the way, about the other day--"
Sahir walked back in. "I'm baaaack! Huh, hey, what's wrong?"
Sakuya stood up. "Oh, um, I..."
"She was still a little cold from the rain, so she was just trying to warm up." Kenji interrupted.
"Oh, jeez. Should've come back quicker. Here, take this."
He handed Sakuya a towel. "Ah...thank you." She blushed.
"So what's on the menu for tonight? I'm cool with anything."
Sahir and Sakuya pondered how the night should be spent. Kenji sat in silence.
---
The sound of rapturous applause echoed out from Kibō's television.
"...wow." Kibō was sitting on the couch. Barbara lay next to him, halfway covered by a blanket.
"Les Miserables is a classic for a reason. Oh, to be part of a huge performance like this..." Barbara mused.
"That's the big goal for you, isn't it?"
"It is. I'm at home when people are watching me sing and dance. Getting to do that in front of hundreds of people on the biggest stage...that's my dream."
"Dream..." Kibō thought for a moment. "Hey, Barbara...have you thought about what's going to happen when we graduate? I mean...with us? When we see each other every day it's easy to forget that eventually we'll be scattered all over the world. You'll head back home, and I'll still be here."
"Well...I can't say I haven't thought about it. But it's still a long ways off. I mean, we're only in our second semester. Who knows where life's gonna take us? I do know one thing, though." She grasped his hand. "When I'm finally on that big stage, and I look out towards the crowd...I want you to be the first person I see."
"I'll do everything in my power to make that a reality." He sighed. "I'm just so envious of you all. Everyone knows what they want to do with their lives. I still don't know what I should do...what my dream should be."
"Like I said. You have plenty of time to think. It's a question for the future. Right now..."
Barbara stood up, and worked with her phone. She placed it on the kitchen table, as opera music began to play out of it. 
"I believe you and I were meant to have a dance tonight."
"Heh. Yeah. I believe you're right."
He got up, took her by the hand, and they began to slow dance.
"...I meant what I said before." Barbara uttered. "That I want to sing for you forever. I know that's a long time, but I meant it."
"I know. And I meant it when I called you an angel. I could never get tired of hearing you sing. Even when I'm asleep..." He paused. "No matter where the future takes us...I never want to stop hearing your voice. I want to be there once your dream's been realized. Even if we're on opposite ends of the world, I'll make it happen."
Barbara was blushing wildly. "Well, the impossible happened. Somehow I'm even more in love with you than I was before."
A short while later, they were back on the couch. Barbara got an alert on her phone. "It's from Max. 'Still raining like crazy. Gonna stay here overnight and head back first thing. Stay put there. We'll get up early so no one sees.'"
"Wow. Still that bad. We'll need to coordinate, then. Give ourselves enough time before class. Guess I'll have to let Kenji know..."
"Fine by me. I didn't feel like leaving anytime soon, anyway~."
"As long as you don't mind using Kenji's bed--"
Barbara put her head on his shoulder, took off her glasses, and made herself comfortable before closing her eyes.
"...or this. This works too." Kibō conceded.
---
February 15, 2029
"Good morning, girls~." Barbara chimed to the other girls in the classroom.
"Well, now. Looks like someone had a pleasant night." Carrie said.
"Ahehe." Barbara giggled.
"Kitty, is that a joyful glow I'm seeing out of you?" Natalia asked.
"You losing sleep again, Hoodsie? I think you're seeing things." Kitty averted her gaze.
In the corner of the room, Kibō moved his arm around. "Finally getting...some feeling back..."
"You weren't doing anything freaky last night, were you?" Max asked.
"Of course not. Your sister just decided to use my shoulder as a pillow..."
"Care to repeat that?"
"I-it's not what you're thinking, really."
"I'm just messing with ya, dude. Long as Barb is happy, I'm happy. Do anything to upset her, though, I'll make you solve a maze as punishment."
"Do I want to know the context of that?"
"No. No you don't."
"Hey, boys." Kitty called out to them. "What's up with Kenny and Kicks? They sick or something?"
"I don't think so. Nobody was there when I got back to my room. I thought they'd already left." Max answered.
"Hunh. Kenji never came back to our dorm, so I just assumed they were running late. But I guess that isn't the case." Kibō added.
"That's...weird." Natalia uttered.
"I did notice one thing. On the kitchen counter, there was a bag with women's clothes inside. I know Sahir has his...interests, but I think stealing a girl's clothes and neatly folding them inside a bag is a little extreme even for him." Max explained.
"Not to mention Kenji wouldn't put up with that sort of thing. My guess is they had a girl over." Kibō added.
"If there was any girl they had over, it would've been Sakuya. Let me try calling her..." Barbara said.
"...hello?" Sakuya picked up.
"Hey, Sakuya, good morning. Were you with Sahir and Kenji last night? They haven't showed up for class, and my brother says he saw a girl's belongings in his dorm when he got back."
"Ah, yes, I was. Kenji-san woke up a little while ago with stomach cramps, so we took him to see a doctor."
"Oh, no. That's awful. Is he doing alright now?"
"He's, uh, doing fine. He's just getting some rest. Sorry, I have to go, the doctor's coming..."
"Okay, well, just keep us poste--"
"*click*"
"...huh. That was odd."
"Barbie." Kitty said. "Did you notice anything wrong with that?"
"A few things. You'd think Sahir would've let one of us know that Kenji wasn't feeling well." Barbara replied.
"Not to mention, I didn't hear any background noise. In all the time I spent in the hospital, I rarely went a moment without hearing a nurse or some kind of machinery." Carrie said.
"Could just be in a smaller office. Still, you'd think they would've left a note or something." Max said.
Rin entered the room. "Morning, everyone. Hm? Aren't we missing a couple?"
"I just got word that Kenji's at the doctor over a stomach bug. Sahir's with him." Barbara answered.
"Hm. Usually they would email me if something was amiss. But if it was urgent, I can understand why they wouldn't. Hopefully it's nothing major."
"Barbie. I don't have a good feeling." Kitty whispered.
"It is pretty odd, but there's nothing to be done for now. I'll check back in during lunch." Barbara replied.
---
The school day ended, and there was still no sign of the missing students. The remaining students gathered in Max's dormroom. "Nothing different from this morning. Doesn't look like anyone's been here." he said.
"This is bizarre. What kind of stomach cramp keeps someone at the doctor all day?" Kibō asked.
"Unless some kinda alien hatched in Kenny's gut, this is way too long of a wait. Doesn't explain the radio silence either." Kitty added.
"Sakuya hasn't answered you back?" Natalia asked.
"No. I tried at lunch, I just tried again...just goes straight to voice-mail. The boys haven't picked up. Her professor never got an explanation from her, either. That's not like her at all." Barbara explained.
"Carrie, do you think you can track down their phones?" Kibō asked.
"Certainly. I'll just need Sakuya's number." Carrie answered.
A few minutes of laptop work later, Carrie had a map of the city pulled up. "The boys aren't coming up anywhere. Almost like they've vanished off the face of the Earth. Ms. Tsumomo, on the other hand..." A dot appeared on the map. "Right there. Her phone is...not very far from here."
"Zoom in for me." Barbara requested, and Carrie did so. "That's...that's her room."
"Look at her last few calls. All of them were made from her room. Nowhere near a doctor's office."
"She sounded scared on the phone. Do you think someone was threatening her? Like, they took the boys and they're having her make up a story about Kenji being sick?" Natalia asked.
"If that's the case...there's only one group that could pull this off." Max surmised.
"Death's Hand." Kibō stated.
"Dastards probably aren't too happy about us taking down another of their elites. This could be their method of payback. With poor Sakuya caught up in it." Carrie said.
"Let's get to her room, then. The kidnappers might've left some sort of clue." Kibō ordered, and the group departed.
They stood in front of the dormroom. "Locked. That's odd...does she have a roommate?" Kibō asked.
"No. It's a one-bedroom apartment. No one else would have a key except for her." Barbara replied.
"Guess this is where I come in." Natalia said.
"Hold on a sec, Hoodsie." Kitty took a hair pin out of her pocket. "Much as I don't like to admit it, I've got some experience in breaking and entering." She put the pin inside the keyhole, and began fidgeting with it. A minute later, the door unlocked.
"Aren't you glad I'm using my powers for good?" Kitty joked.
The group entered the dormroom. "Her phone should be here somewhere. See if anything looks out of place." Kibō said.
"Well, pink, pink and more pink. Honestly, the place reminds me of your setup, Barbie. Just switch out all the pink for light blue." Kitty said.
Carrie picked up some papers. "She seems to write quite a bit. Maybe there's something here that can help."
She and Natalia sifted through Sakuya's words. "She sounds so sad..." Natalia uttered. 
"'I am a creature of many masks. Most forced upon me by a sick, ugly world. Why must I have shame heaped upon me, simply for being who I am? I never asked for this body. Any time I am forced to look upon this...thing, I must suppress the urge to wretch. This cruel goddess the people worship...if I am indeed her creation, then why was I 'gifted' this form that I despise so much? Why be forced to live a life of judgement and persecution, of living in fear of being uncovered? People...they don't see you for who you are. They see you for what you are.'" Carrie read.
"Wow...she sounds like she really hates her body. I can relate to an extent, but this feels so much more visceral..." Natalia said.
Carrie presented the notes to the rest of the group. "Nothing that can tell us where they are, but reading these sent a chill down my spine. Sakuya clearly has deep-seated resentment towards a lot of things. People, the world, the gods...but especially herself." she explained.
"'No one expressed their disgust quite like Father did. I wasn't even of the same species, as far as he was concerned. I was a demon that needed to be exorcized from this world. For a man as devout as Father, my existence was unacceptable. So in hopes of squeezing the sin out of me, I was made to dwell in a charm-covered basement. 'O divine walls, remove these impure delusions from this tortured creature'. The gods humanity serves so fervently punish those who don't fit their molds. Yet wasn't it through their own forge that I was brought unto the world?'" Barbara read.
"'I will follow whichever path leads to my own acceptance. Whoever can change this disgusting world, for the better, so that I won't have to live as an abnormality...'"
"...what is she even talking about? She's going on about how people see her as something unnatural. She's always seemed like a normal girl to me." Kitty said.
"Sis...do you know why she's so upset?" Max asked.
".....I really shouldn't. It's her secret. She trusted me enough to keep it close. But...the way everything is looking, it's not right to keep you all in the dark." Barbara explained.
"So what you mentioned to me...it's true, isn't it?" Kibō asked.
"Yeah. Sakuya...was born a boy."
The other students looked stunned. "Whaaaaat?!" Natalia exclaimed.
Kitty felt to make sure her headphones weren't on. "Okay, I'm not mishearing. That's actually a thing you said."
"I don't believe it...I never would've guessed." Carrie uttered.
"Did Sahir know about this?" Max asked.
"I don't think so. Sakuya only ever told the rest of the theater club, and I only told Kibō. She doesn't want too many people knowing about it." Barbara replied.
"I can see why. From the sound of those letters, her life must've been hell." Kitty said.
"She only wanted people to see who she is, instead of what...poor girl..." Carrie said.
"What could this have to do with Death's Hand taking her, though?" Kibō asked.
Kitty was skimming the letters. Her eyebrows raised. "Um, guys. I think I found exactly that."
Barbara began to read it. "'Then one day, I was liberated by my king. He freed me from my bindings, gave me a place where I could escape from judgement. He gave me power. All he asked for in return was what I had wanted myself: to help him punish the goddess that had held sway over this land for too long. The same one that molded me, and cursed me to a life of discrimination. Her servants were the ones perpetuating the suffering of people like me. Their hearts were born and lived through cruelty. And I believed him wholeheartedly. But recently...'"
Silence, as the students came to a horrible realization.
"...We've read this completely wrong." Kibō uttered.
"Sakuya...she wasn't taken by Death's Hand." Barbara began. "Sakuya...is..."
The door opened. The group's eyes all darted to the sight of Sakuya, standing in the doorway, dumbfounded.
She turned and ran.
"Oh no you don't!" Kitty yelled, and the students gave chase.
Sakuya ran as fast as she could down the hall. As she got close to the stairs, she was suddenly hit from behind. Kitty had leapt into the air, tackling Sakuya down the stairs. Upon reaching the base, Sakuya attempted to flee, but Kitty held her in a grapple hold.
"What's up, girlfriend? Finally done with the doctor? You getting a puke bag for Kenny? 12-hour stomach cramps are no joke." Kitty questioned.
"Let...ngh, go of me!"
"Sakuya." Barbara stared down from the top of the stairs, the others behind her.
"S...Senpai..."
"Don't 'senpai' me. We read your letters, Sakuya. You're part of Death's Hand. You were from the beginning. That's right, isn't it?"
"....."
"You really have nothing to say? You spy on us for your cult friends, and now that it's game over you're just gonna clam up?" Natalia argued.
"I had thought you a lovely person. Now I don't know what to think. These people you've sworn fealty to, do you even know what they are? Thugs, rapists and murderers. One of them nearly killed me. I might feel the effects of it for the rest of my life. You truly would sacrifice us to satisfy people like that?" Carrie chided.
"I trusted you. Whenever you asked me for advice after practice, I was happy to give it. I really thought you were a kindred spirit. Was all of that an act? A puppet show put on for your 'king'?" Barbara questioned.
"Sahir and Kenji. What did you do with them? And don't feed us more of that 'doctor's office' BS." Max demanded.
"...let go of me." Sakuya uttered.
"Fat chance." Kitty retorted.
"Fine, then." Shadow energy emerged from beneath the girls. "You'll just have to come with me." 
"Huh? What the--" Sakuya vanished with Kitty.
"Kitty!" Max exclaimed.
"This is bad. We don't know what she has planned. We have to find them, and fast." Barbara said.
"Something about her demeanor felt off...every Death's Hand member we've faced so far was more than eager to take us out. It felt like she wanted to explain herself." Carrie said.
"And her letters...it sounded like she was having doubts." Natalia added.
"We can't think about that now! Every second we're dawdling around, it's another second they're alone with her!" Max angrily said.
"He's right. There's no time to waste. I'll key in on their signatures." Kibō brought up the Metaverse app. "There. Kitty's in the auditorium. And there's Kenji and Sahir close by, along with...hunh."
"What's wrong?" Barbara asked.
"This other signature close to them. It's obviously Sakuya, but it's...different. It's not like the other Death's Hand members that show up as Shadows in the Metaverse. Hers is reading like one of ours."
"One of ours? So does that mean..."
"In all likelihood, she's like us. She has a Persona. If that's the case, she'll be even more dangerous. We need to move, fast." 
Kibō pressed the button, and they teleported to the alternate version of the academy. 
---
"Please stop fidgeting." Sakuya finished binding Kitty's hands behind her back. "I don't want you to have any discomfort."
"How considerate of you. You're awfully polite for a psycho fanatic." Kitty griped.
"Is that how you see me? As some kind of mindless deceiver?"
"You certainly wore the veil of secrecy well enough." Kenji piped up, also restrained close by. "If it weren't for a slip of the tongue, I never would've suspected you. This past Sunday, when I asked you to remind Kitty of her manners, you said that 'maids can't give orders to the Master'. I had thought that wording was strange, and it nagged at me for the days since. Now I know that it was your subconscious expressing devotion to your liege."
"....."
"...how long." Another voice spoke up. It was Sahir, also bound by rope.
"How long, what?"
"Were you one of them from the beginning? Was the whole reason you decided to hang out with me because you were told to spy on us?" He looked despondent. "Were we ever really friends?"
"I can answer that, Kicks. No way in hell. Knowing who she's pal-ing around with, I'm debating whether she even has a soul or not." Kitty said.
"I don't want to believe it. Sakuya...you know who you're working for, right? I can't believe that you're really like them. I know that you aren't." Sahir insisted.
"You don't know the first thing about me. You never even realized my worst secret." Sakuya replied.
"No, I didn't. And I feel like a jerk for not making you comfortable enough to tell me about it. It's a shock, yeah, but I'm about letting people live how they want. I'm not gonna judge something when I can't even begin to understand what it's like to be in your shoes."
Sakuya paused. "Why aren't you disgusted?"
"Why would I be?"
"My king--the Master--told me that the goddess' servants are all judgemental hypocrites. That they're the reason why someone like me could never truly be accepted. Everyone I ever met saw me as some sort of freak. Then I meet you all. Pupils of the goddess' servant. You should be the most close-minded people of all. But then...I saw differently. People of different backgrounds and creeds, getting along and being completely accepting of each other. Even after I told Barbara-senpai about my true nature, she still welcomed me with open arms."
"And then there's you. You confound me most of all. I've heard the stories of what your homeland is like. People like me are stoned to death! You, more than anyone else, should find me sickening and unacceptable! My own father saw me as disgusting and unnatural! How could you not?!"
"Heh. You're right. Where I'm from, a lot of people think that way. Most of my family thinks that way. And to be honest, up until a couple years ago, even I thought that way. But then I spent a whole summer in England with my uncle, working out for a bunch of football clubs. He left home a long time ago to work for an English club. I saw a different way of living when I was there. He said to me, 'football is the world's sport. On the pitch, and in the stands, we're all equal. People from different places, coming together because we all love the game. We're all just people, in the end.' That got me thinking for a good long while."
"Then I came here and saw how Teach is with her partner. It might be the most genuine, heartfelt love you can ever see. Who am I to say that's wrong? I can't judge someone when I haven't walked in their shoes. My uncle was right. We're all just people. Where I come from doesn't mean anything. I am who I am, not what I am. Just like you. I believe that you're not like those murdering monsters. I feel like I do know the real you. Anything else makes no difference."
Sakuya was in tears at this point. She crouched down in front of him. "Thank you, Sahir-san. I'm sorry for this, truly. When this is done...I hope we can still be friends." She dried her face and started walking away.
"Wait, seriously? After all that you're still gonna fight them?" Kitty asked.
"You know now that we aren't the enemy. Why go through with this?" Kenji questioned.
"I have known no other worldview save what the Master allowed me to see. I believed that the path he laid before me was the only one that would bring about the world I desired. That only his justice could change humanity. Yet, I have seen the true nature of those he has enlisted in his cause. If you and your friends' justice is the truest path to that vision, I must see it for myself. If you all have the strength to make a just and kind world...then that is the world I wish to live in." She walked away.
"Let her go. I've said all I could. It's up to Keebs and the others to break through to her. They just have to convince her that we can make a better world than the mask brigade. Sakuya...I hope we can still be friends, too." Sahir said.
---
Kibō and the other students arrived in the auditorium. "Hey, over there!" Barbara exclaimed.
A lone figure was perched on her knees in the center of the stage. She had her back turned to the group. She was garbed in a black hooded robe, the hood of it down, revealing a dark head of hair tied back with a pink bow. On the back of her robe, an image of a pink magnolia. She got to her feet, put her hood up, and a mask appeared. She turned to the group, bearing a black mask with a stitched up mouth drawn on, and covered said mouth with one of the long sleeves of her robe.
"Well, then...shall we?"