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[Now Playing: Tension/Chase Theme ~Hydra~]
Akihiko takes a moment to breathe.

Saya. Saya was in danger. Other people were, too.

Saya needed him. Saya needed him. No time for fear. This was it.

He cracks his knuckles. The fear had washed away, leaving only will. He knew the rumours about Akuma attacks. He knew how dangerous they could be.

He looks around, settling into what Saya would always call "fight mode".
"...yeah. Don't worry, Honda. I got this. Watch my back."

With a running start, he leads Mildred down the halls, the sounds of their footsteps echoing. Akihiko's eyes shift left and right, making sure to scan for others in the hall.

A flicker of bronze in the corner of Akihiko's eyes. His eyes widened.  He stops, suddenly, and ducks, avoiding a bronze, metallic tentacle smashing into the wall where his head had been. Another tentacle thrusts into Akihiko, only for him to smash it aside with a closed fist. The force throws Akihiko back slightly, and he winces, clutching his hand.

"What the hell...?"

Before Mildred and Akihiko stands a glowing, moon-like creature, craggly skin resembling moon rocks, metallic tentacles flailing about, a red gem-like eye in the middle, staring down at Akihiko and Mildred.

---

The sound of the tentacles smashing rock echo through the corridors to Shiro, suddenly. If she knew anything at all about the school, it was two turns to the right.

As soon as Akihiko shows up, Saya winces again.
"Oh! Hey, Aki-kun. Honda here was just...ahh..."

She winces again, rubbing the spot in the back of her neck where she'd felt that pain; where all of them had felt the pain. A worried, concerned look suddenly crossed her eyes.

Mildred and Akihiko realise, in that moment, that something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.

She stared, a look of pure fear in her eyes, at Akihiko.
"Aki-kun...what's happening to me?"

A single moment passes.

---

Shiro rounds the doorway, looking for whatever it was that was in her vision, and....nothing. Nobody. Whatever was in her field of vision had disappeared again.

Along with all of the sound in the school. No more students talking, no more cheering, no more distant cars. The entire school was filled with a faint, bluish light and a light fog, as if in the dead of night under the light of a full moon. It had shifted between moments, seamlessly, like Shiro had been looking at a normal school one moment, and somewhere else the next.

If Shiro were to look behind her, Rise and Touma have disappeared. The sky, rather than the light blue with nary a cloud it had been before, was a sickly blue, a too-bright yellow moon lighting up the sky. The city has disappeared, enshrouded by a thick fog.

---

Aika finds her words fall on deaf ears. Or no ears, really.

The cafeteria is empty, her friends and Ayaka have disappeared. A faint bluish light shines through the windows, a wispy mist filling the air. Not a sign of anyone, except a few distant footsteps.

Aika was alone in the cafeteria.

---

The same fate befalls Yui, Mori, Shoji and Masaru. One moment, they are surrounded by students, the next, the school is abandoned. Yui is fortunate; her path takes her to the entrance to the cafeteria, where she encounters Aika standing alone. Like all the others, they see the same thing; the school is lit up in a ghostly blue, a mist permeating the entire place, a too-bright moon shining outside.

While Veep has disappeared, Mori manages to run into Shoji, also dragged into this strange otherworld.

Masaru is less fortunate than Yui, Aika, Mori or Shoji; Masaru was now alone in the classroom.

---

Misa, too, finds herself plunged into this mysterious world as she and Chiyo head to the nurse's office. One moment, Chiyo was explaining to her something.
"Uniform? Ah...yes. That....you wear that at school, right. Uh, well, I-"

The next, the world turned blue, the fog filled her vision, and every other student and teacher in Hermelin had disappeared. A few distant footsteps could be heard, a distant sobbing....
...and yet remained Chiyo, a clear look of concern on her face.
"...oh no."

---

Mildred and Akihiko look around, finding themselves in the same situation.

And no Saya. Mildred doesn't realise when the weight had disappeared from her arms; Saya was here one moment, and the next, she wasn't.

Akihiko's blood froze.
"....Honda. What...Saya was just here a moment ago. Where's Saya? Honda, where is she?!"

A distant sobbing can be heard, coming from the front of the school. Akihiko looked to Mildred.
"....that's Saya. Honda...we have to get to her. But...where's everyone? What happened? Wasn't it daytime just now?"

Momo drifts to the ground, landing next to Miyako.
"Really? You're gonna try to dissuade her of all things? You should know she's pretty bull-headed."

Tomoe clenches her spear tighter.
"It is easier for you to say that, Tanigawa. You didn't have to deal with her wrath. She didn't take it out on me, but those under my command."
Clearly angered by whatever the Empress did to her men, she doesn't say much more, nor further condemn her. Another part of the Curse, it seemed.

Kensuke nods at the soldier, before looking back at the party.
"Alright then. We'll see in a week, after you've delivered the message. Good luck."
....
Elsewhere in the camp....
As Kamisato troops gather in preparation of nearby Imperial troops, Hiroyuki, spear in hand, rides up to a group, spear in hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Spears at the ready! The enemy is at our door! We must repel them! I need one of you to come with me."
He taps one of the soldiers on her shoulder. She was a recent arrival; a mercenary, a Gnosis in hand, like many disgruntled by the policies of the Empress.
"Amano. Come with me. We shall ride out and meet the enemy together. The rest of you, on your feet! This woman has more fight in her than you all do! Follow her example!"

Sakurako Amano has joined the party.

---

[Now Playing: Momo Theme ~For Treasure~]
The party makes their way back down the road they came to Sangonomiya, a few pack horses carrying their belongings. It becomes apparent when they have finally arrived, because a mass of soldiers is lying, groaning on the road, their armor and weapon rent apart by the wind. Momo is standing closer to the party, the winds beneath her running around and carrying her adrift into the air, a feat barely manageable by even the strongest Aura Gnosis users.

She grins cheekily at the group.
"Glad you could make it, everyone!"

However, a young woman stands still in the middle of her fallen men, armor un-rent. Her pose remains unmoved in the face of surging winds. She shifts her stance, spear in hand. The Cursed immediately recognise who this is.

Tomoe Todayama, Cursed Boar of the Zodiac.

"Momo, do not make this more difficult than this has to be."
"Come on, catch me already!"
"You are outnumbered! And you can't fly forever."
"Product of an unproductive imagination, Tomoe-chan. Don't you want to be as free as the rest of us? Aren't you chafing under the Empress?"

Tomoe's grip on her spear tightens.
"....you know why I can't disobey."

Hiroyuki suddenly arrives, Sakurako in tow. His eyes light up.
"Well, if it isn't the young Todayama! As I live and breathe! Young lady, you've grown so well. Friends, I've brought you a new ally. Amano Sakurako, one of our finest."
Tomoe stares at her old master, and at this, her spear falters.
"...H-Honda-sensei? I....we thought you were....missing."
She pauses.
"....wait. You were Cursed....that's not possible. You were the Ox when..."
She shakes her head.
"....no. The Empress' orders on us are absolute. Even if I don't....I don't want to do this, Momo. Please, don't make me."

Saya nods slowly at Mildred.
"....I...I don't know."

Saya suddenly hisses loudly, hand on her temple.
"Ack! Headache....I think I might need to see the nurse. Could you get Aki-kun? I'm really sorry, Honda, I wasn't....hoping to disrupt your lunch like this..."

---

Mino and Hisa find absolutely nothing to indicate anything out of the ordinary on the back of Yui's neck. If Sasanuma had intended to do something to Yui, this wasn't it.

---

The girl looks around, before she shakes her head. She frowns slightly.
"I didn't see anyone nearby...not here, I don't think."
"I don't think we've met yet, no. People call me Chiyo. Is there a....nurse? Is that the right word? Yes, nurse. Is there a nurse we need to take you to?"

---

Rise lifts an eyebrow.
"It might also be because you scare people off with your presence. No offense meant."
Rise sighs.
"Sorry. I know I'm being blunt. You remind of Demura sometimes, and....he can be somewhat of a handful. But then, I sense you're a person who prefers that kind of approach. No sugarcoating, but no hate either. Would I be wrong?"

As Rise speaks, Shiro catches a glimpse, just a brief glimpse of something strolling past them for a mere second. Something not quite human....but also....familiar. Like looking in the mirror.
"......"

The moment Shiro blinks or moves to approach or signal that it exists, it disappears from her vision.

---

Ayaka takes one look at the gaggle of people, then back at Aika.
"If you would allow me. I understand the feeling."

She strolls past Aika and Naoki, before, in her loudest voice....

"I THINK I SAW MISHIMA KANADE OUTSIDE!"
Almost immediately, the vast majority of the crowd hounding Kaede dissipates, sprinting towards the window. Aika, of course, was a big name, but Kanade Mishima was about as famous locally. After all, she was the heiress of the man who had revived the city. Ayaka smiles lightly at Aika.

"That should buy you some time."

Suddenly, a cold, painful sensation shoots through the back of Aika's neck.

"Shizu...ko?"
That is all that Shoji hears as she runs. The pain has almsot gone, but she can't help but feel there's something still up.

---

Kanna simply stares at Mori as he helps her up. Before she responds, Mori calls Otoya in, and Otoya pokes his head in, eyes widening.

"Sakurajima! What are you....you said you wanted me to meet you in the music room to practice for next week! What gives?"
"You took too long! I got bored and went to find something down here!"
"Hey, Nanami-sensei had to talk to me about last week's test, okay?"

Kanna simply crossed her arms, pouting. Then, in a cheeky tone of voice....
"Hmph. You're still late. You owe me moon cake now."
"Again? You really like moon cake lately. Last month, it was caneles. Really taking a toll on my wallet...."
"A free spirit like me can't be held down to one kind of delicious pastry. Now come on, let's go! We gotta practice, right?"
"...Tadano sent me down here to find you in the first place to find....you know what, never mind. I'm just glad I found you."

Kanna ambles over to Otoya. Otoya nods at Mori.
"Sorry about that. I promise, we'll get out of your hair right now. Come on, Sakurajima."
He walks out of the room. Kanna hangs back, waiting for a few moments. Then....
"....thanks, by the way."

With that, she leaves the room.

A cold, sharp pain suddenly runs down Mori's back.

---

Futaba drops the budget on Masaru's desk. She looks as if she was about to say something in response to Masaru's rudeness, but if she was, she thought better of it.

"....understood."

As she walks away from Masaru, an unpleasant cold feeling, like frozen steel, shoots through Masaru's back.

---

Saya sighs, again.
"....I figured it was something like that."
She nods at Mildred.
"I just....it's been on my mind, that day. I should've been there with Aki-kun. He and I go way back and....I know you're tough, but....it should've been my job to protect him. It's not your fault, don't worry about it, I just feel like I should've.....you know, done something."

---

Sasanuma quietly nods to acknowledge Mino and Hisa, his eyes fixed on Yui.

His expression betrays.....is that awkwardness? Guilt? The captain extends an envelope to Yui.
"....here. Read it in private. It's not a love letter."
He quietly stalks off.

As Yui examines the envelope, a metallic, cold pain shoots through the back of her neck.

---

...huh....you seem like a dreaming type, don't you? Someone like your heroes, who can always get out of trouble.
A voice pierces through Misa's mind, drawing her attention. The voice, clearly female, has an echoing quality to it.
You won't...you won't turn into a monster. I believe in you.

A girl enters Misa's vision.
"Are you okay?"
She looks....familiar, despite not wearing a Hermelin uniform. Her voice sounds identical to the one she'd just heard, but it isn't echoing at all; it sounds normal, like any other student.
"Did something hit you in the back? Do I need to get a nurse?"

Rise nods, waving her hand.
"Forgotten, Akari. Now, shall we eat? You must be hungry. Also, if you don't mind, Riku's coming up here to join us soon."
Touma lowers his hands and keeps his eyes fixed squarely on Shiro, awkwardly.

---

Riku recieves the pile, sighing relievedly.
"Thanks so much! Man....Demura would kill me if I lost all the budgets he worked so hard on....and Rise would be disappointed if I lost all the other stuff. You're a lifesaver, Shizuko."
He takes the pile, arranging it further, rifling through it. He seems noticeably relieved when he catches the envelope, unopened and untouched, but doesn't mention it to Shoji. He nods back at her, smiling brightly.
"Well, if you ever need anything from the Student Council, just drop me a line! You really did me a solid."

As Riku moves to leave, a sharp, cold pain runs down the back of Shoji's neck.

---

While Veep and Mori discuss things in the Theatre Room, they receive a brief knock on the door, before the student lets themselves in.

A black-haired bespectacled youth walks in, a frown on his face. Mori recognises him immediately. The young man was Miyazono Otoya, the proverbial Red Baron of Japan's youth music scene, undefeated in numerous youth cellist competitions, until he retired for a few years before high school. Rumours spread, some saying it was his mother's sudden death in a car accident, other more fanciful theories stating he'd been blackmailed by his rivals into quitting, while others still stating he'd simply grown tired of music.

Of course, if the rumours were to be believed, another phenom in the music scene, Sakurajima Kanna, a fellow student of his and renown for her own skill on the piano, had roped him back into music. Certainly, they'd won more than their fair share of competitions since they'd met up at the beginning of their first year. The rumour pool even went around that they were dating. Of course, with Sakurajima showing up at school less and less lately, and Miyazono looking more withdrawn, the rumour mill went on.

For now, of course, Otoya was here. He nodded at both of the students in the room.
"Hey. Have you guys seen Sakurajima somewhere? Tadano said she went into the Theatre Room about ten minutes ago looking for something but-"

A loud crash ensues from the room next door, closer to Mori and Veep than Otoya.

---

Meanwhile, in the classroom Masaru is studying, someone knocks on the open door frame to get people's attention. A familiar face pops in.

"Is Demura in? I just completed the budget requests for the Computer Club."

The young woman was Futaba Tomoe, President of the Computer Club and one of the three rumoured Yagami Fuukas. Masaru would be, of course, familiar with her; all club presidents were required to submit their budgets at some point so the Council could allocate them, and she had always been punctual with hers. She was nice enough, if distant. Nobody of real concern.

---

"The more the merrier, right! Come on, Honda, we can catch up! Us girls need to take care of Aki-kun, after all."

Suddenly, Akihiko's phone begins to ring. He fishes it out of his pocket, frowning.
"Damn. I gotta take this. Sorry. I'll be back in about five minutes. You two go get started without me, okay?"
He moves the phone up to his ear, heading somewhere quieter. Saya waits until Akihiko is out of earshot, before turning to Mildred.

"Honda, do you mind if I ask you something? Just between us two."

---

As Aika and Naoki flee, they suddenly find themselves in the path of an elegant-seeming young woman. She manages to stop herself from colliding into them.
"...I'm sorry."

She would be known by reputation, of course, if not personally. Fujimura Ayaka, one of the alleged three Yagami Fuukas, manager of the Tennis Club. If she was a musician, of course, she didn't let on, but then, not much was really known about the circumstances of Yagami's retirement.

Regardless, there she stands, giving Aika and Naoki a look, her expression unreadable. She looks back at the crowd being valiantly held back by Kaede.

---

As Yui's gaggle of friends make to flee, they eventually run into a large, athletic student. They definitely know who he is.

Sasanuma Eisuke, captain of the football team. He was involved in an incident with another student last year, which by virtue of the rumour mill was known to be Kasuga Akihiko. Calls to boot him off the football team were made, but never ultimately followed up on. In any case, he had grown distant from his fellow footballers, and rumour had it he had severed ties with most of the other students involved in the incident, particularly one Kaneko Daiya, his former best friend and one of Akihiko's fiercest opponents.

He stares at them briefly.
"...."