Halfway through the concert, Kurusu Akira suddenly felt a faint weariness rising in his heart.
The surrounding audience was waving glow sticks in the darkness, and the sounds of singing along or cheering, along with the fatigue in his heart, surged like a tide.
Countless mobile phones, shaken by the movement, captured photos that were almost blurred into a ball of light, and the audio, whose singer was indistinguishable, blindly spun in the processor. Finally, a weak signal, like a massive army, crowded out of the venue, and the content to be conveyed was nothing more than one or two simple sentences.
But it was these simple, numerous, and noisy texts, pictures, and videos that collectively became an indispensable part of this performance, like speakers amplifying the influence of the singing to farther places.
Kurusu Akira held the guitar case, but his index finger and thumb were tightly pinched, unconsciously making rhythmic tapping sounds on the surface of the case.
The songs of the performance emanated from speakers all around, pouring like a flood over the entire venue.
Kawaragi Momoka, sitting beside him, was intently listening to the concert, while trying to mentally deconstruct the cooperation and collaboration between different instruments in each segment.
She thought, somewhat immersed, that the guitar's sense of phrasing was too strong, and the drummer was even more amazing; after every beat, a very fast… wait, that doesn't sound like drums, does it?
That sound seemed to be coming from…
Kawaragi Momoka suddenly turned her head and saw Kurusu Akira beside her, unconsciously poking the guitar case with his fingers.
The light "thump-thump" sound of fingers colliding with the guitar case, if listened to intently, perfectly matched the guitar sound in "Morfonica."
Could it be that he perfectly dissected the guitar melody in such an environment?
Kawaragi Momoka looked around, the excessive noise and clamor, and the terribly distorted guitar sound bursting from the electronic tube speakers, made her somewhat stunned.
She looked at Kurusu Akira's right hand, and all her thoughts returned to the definition of the word "talent."
Kawaragi Momoka couldn't help but lean towards Kurusu Akira's shoulder so he could hear her voice, "Did you learn it?"
"Learn what?" Kurusu Akira's right hand stopped, and he belatedly realized that he had been tapping the guitar case for a long time.
At this moment, he looked up and found Persona "Dioscuri" standing behind him, holding a pen in one hand and a sketchbook in the other.
Persona?
When did it come out?!
Then he looked at the band girls on the stage, and a current-like sensation ran from his arm through his fingertips, becoming an indescribable sense of familiarity.
It seemed that if conditions allowed, he could immediately step onto the stage, replace the guitarist named Kirigaya Touko, and, with exactly the same style and technique, become a harmonious and integral part of the band.
When did Persona get this function? Kurusu Akira stared at Persona "Dioscuri" above his head.
Its ability should be limited to the [saving] and [reading] of memories.
Soon, Kurusu Akira realized.
It was this body that already possessed unparalleled musical talent. "Amamiya Ren's" love and faith in rock music, even after his death, still flowed as the power of the "Heart" through his fingertips, becoming an inherent confidence, as if he could handle any performance.
Every detail of Kirigaya Touko's guitar playing, recorded by Persona "Dioscuri" through visuals, became an indelible memory. They poured into his body, processed by the remnants of that "Heart," and transformed into true skills of his own.
Kurusu Akira could feel his heart rate accelerating with the progression of the music.
He understood that the lingering "Heart" in his body was excited and joyful for this performance, and then Persona, born from the foundation of "Amamiya Ren's Heart," manifested amidst these intense subconscious changes.
'So, when will you experience your third awakening?' He scrutinized Persona "Dioscuri's" eyes until it slowly vanished from reality, leaving no trace.
"Why aren't you speaking?" Kawaragi Momoka, feeling ignored, poked Kurusu Akira's shoulder with her elbow, somewhat displeased.
"It seems I really did learn it," Kurusu Akira said with a strange expression. "I can play this song now."
"How did you do it?" Kawaragi Momoka's persistent question sounded particularly muffled in the noisy environment.
Kurusu Akira thought for a moment, "By listening, I naturally knew how to play it."
"At least tell me your insights."
"Have you seen 'Naruto'? It's probably like Hashirama Senju, just clap your hands and you can use any ninjutsu you want."
"That's clearly wrong! How perfunctory, even the example is mistaken!" Kawaragi Momoka couldn't help but retort.
"Then it's the 'Migeiko' from 'Katanagatari'; once you see it, you can learn the opponent's moves and skills."
Kawaragi Momoka stared at him intently for a while. "You, are you really a talented male protagonist who ran out of some light novel?"
Kurusu Akira nodded calmly, indicating that he was probably indeed that one-in-a-million prodigious talent.
Ijichi Nijika, sitting on the other side, was furiously typing on her phone's numeric keypad, sharing her concert experiences with her friends at school.
Yamada Ryo, on the other hand, was quiet, holding popcorn motionless, like a statue.
Togawa Sakiko, wearing large square sunglasses, had already stood up, holding her phone high to record.
Kawaragi Momoka withdrew her gaze from the girls opposite her. "Do you have any ideas for the band's new song?"
Kurusu Akira looked at the band performing on stage, with a longing in his eyes that he himself didn't notice. "I don't know how to compose, but suddenly some melodies appeared in my mind, and I also thought of a few satisfactory lyrics."
"Hmm, let's discuss it with the band tomorrow," she said, looking at the five girls on stage, who were perfectly synchronized and smiling brightly. She couldn't help but think of her past self.
At that time, she hadn't left her original band. It seemed that when she played, she also felt an involuntary joy, just like them. It was an outburst that blended dissatisfaction with life and aspirations for the future into song, a passionate fervor that propelled the strings with a pick, as if a general with grand ambitions had found his mount, wielding weapons and charging into unknown reed fields. But there was an unparalleled synergy, an indescribable confidence and emotion—the joy unique to rock music.
A moment later, Kawaragi Momoka suddenly asked, "Are you free at nine tonight?"
"Is Kawaragi afraid to go home alone?"
"I just want to drink."
"Alright," Kurusu Akira replied readily.
"You're not allowed to drink. Minors should honestly obey the law."
"..."
The performance on stage continued.
Drumsticks struck, producing a powerful sound that dispersed the surprise the bassist's improvised solo had given the audience.
The sound of the drumbeats was excessively bright, like thunder, deliberately creating an "unpleasant" atmosphere.
It was as if in an empty corridor, someone suddenly ran in indoor shoes, their footsteps echoing in the narrow, enclosed space, causing a subtle sense of panic to rise in one's heart.
----------------
The petite and slender girl was cornered by a group of people in the school building corridor.
On a window to one side, Iseri Nina's panic-stricken face was vaguely reflected.
She clutched her bleeding forehead and stumbled backward to escape.
But someone immediately chased after her from behind, grabbing her by the back of her collar.
Immediately after, Iseri Nina was forced down onto the cold ground.
The girls had surrounded her, then came the punches and kicks mixed with curses and taunts.
Clear pain came from the wound on her forehead, which had been hit again by a fist, and then hot liquid slowly flowed down, across her face—
Iseri Nina, lying on the floor in her pajamas, scrambled up somewhat dishevelled, repeatedly wiping tears from her face with her hand.
She picked up the thermometer gun from her bedside table and pressed the switch against her forehead.
Beep beep… beep, a monotonous electronic alert sounded in the dimly lit bedroom.
"Thirty-eight point five degrees… Damn it, my fever was already starting to go down at noon."
She grabbed a tissue, covered her mouth, sneezed, and then stumbled out of the bedroom.
In the bathroom, Iseri Nina looked at her tear-filled eyes, her cheeks and ears red from fever, and felt the weakness and soreness emanating from her body, feeling very frustrated.
The band members must be rehearsing now, right?
Maybe they've finished rehearsing and are already having dinner together in Shimokitazawa...
Iseri Nina really disliked being alone.
Especially after she had experienced the horrors of being "isolated," "excluded," and "bullied," she felt even more insecure.
So, after finally making new friends, she cherished and enjoyed the warmth this friendship brought.
Iseri Nina adjusted the faucet to heating mode, then took her towel, dampened it with hot water, wiped her face, and stumbled back to her bedroom.
What are the band members doing now?
She knelt on the bed, reaching under her pillow to frantically search, and finally found her phone, whose screen was constantly lighting up with message bubbles.
It was Ijichi Nijika, Yamada Ryo, Kawaragi Momoka, Togawa Sakiko… even that awful Amamiya had sent a message proactively.
[Ijichi Nijika: Nina! The Morfonica concert was truly spectacular! (Uploaded "Concert Recording".mp4)]
[Ijichi Nijika: Are you feeling any better?]
[Yamada Ryo: (Expressionless selfie.jpg), (Concert live photo.jpg)]
[Kawaragi Momoka: When you're sick, you can try singing in your dreams. I heard it helps a lot.]
[Togawa Sakiko: Be sure to go to the clinic and ask the doctor.]
[The great cosmic being is so scary: I heard that fever is a precursor to awakening a Stand. Did you find a ghostly figure in your room?]
[The great cosmic being is so scary: Oh, by the way, the phone system seems to have updated recently. Why don't you check the "Metaverse Navigator" on your phone? Maybe it will work now.]
[The great cosmic being is so scary: Speaking of which, I still can't open that inexplicable APP. You must be the same, right?]
[...]
Iseri Nina quickly grabbed another tissue, sneezed, and then coughed several times in a row.
So cold, so uncomfortable… She rolled over, annoyed, wanting to cover her head with the blanket and scream loudly, but she didn't have the strength.
She could only sullenly scroll through all the photos and videos in Line.
Finally, she stared at Kurusu Akira's chat box, and couldn't help but switch to the phone's main interface, looking at the software icon composed of a bewitching and eerie eyeball.
"AR navigation software independently developed by AU company…" Iseri Nina sniffed, muttering, then pressed it with her index finger.
Just as she was about to think that this "Metaverse Navigator" would remain unresponsive as usual, she saw the radial patterns around the eyeball suddenly enlarge—
There was no location acquisition prompt from a navigation software, nor did a map or search box page pop up.
Instead, she saw dozens of sharp, crimson spike-like color blocks enlarge and elongate without warning, quickly surpassing the confines of the application icon, occupying the entire screen until they pierced through the phone, breaking through the constraints of space and time. It was like a large net, covering her completely without question.
Thud.
The phone fell onto the empty bed, emitting a faint light.
The "Metaverse Navigator" on the screen had disappeared.
A moment later, in the dark house, the mysterious room at the end of the second-floor corridor opened its door.
A slightly hunched girl tiptoed out of the room, somewhat like a rat in a dark sewer trying to evade a feline predator.
She moved very slowly towards the stairs.
During this process, she stared intently at the guest room at the bottom of the stairs, carefully distinguishing every sound in the silent atmosphere.
After confirming that the noisy creature named "Iseri Nina" was definitely not in the house, the girl finally relaxed, then boldly walked down the stairs.
She wanted to go to the kitchen refrigerator to find a drink.
But as soon as her hand touched the refrigerator door handle, immense fear instantly pierced through her entire body.
Iseri Nina had a high fever and should have been in bed all day.
She had clearly heard the sound of water coming from the restroom downstairs just now...
Sakura Sojiro's daughter, the girl named Sakura Futaba, immediately fled back to her room in a panic, slamming the door shut with a bang and locking it.
Then she took out her phone, found Sakura Sojiro's number, and tremblingly sent a text message asking for help.
----------------
After the concert.
The band girls went home, each having gained something.
Togawa Sakiko gained inspiration for new songs, Ijichi Nijika received grateful thanks from Morfonica fans in her class, Yamada Ryo gained excellent sleep quality...
Kawaragi Momoka gained a male high school student willing to accompany her for drinks.
Of course, she drank alcohol, and Kurusu Akira drank cola.
It was that aged white van again, bumping along the highway outside Shibuya.
Through the car window, the green belt was almost a blur, stretched into afterimages. It was an empty highway; on a weekday night, only a few cars occasionally sped past in the warm, cool breeze.
Pollen from Yoyogi Park permeated the air, making one's nose itch.
This was likely "cedar pollen" released by cedar trees in artificial forests during their spring and summer flowering season, which is very prone to causing allergic reactions in humans.
It is said that over 40% of people in Japan are affected by this pollen, leading to "hay fever."
Hay fever season begins in February each year, sharply worsens in March, and lasts until June before subsiding.
The symptoms of hay fever are similar to a cold but worse, typically including an itchy nose, nasal congestion, runny nose, continuous sneezing, and for some, itchy eyes, throat, or even headaches. Persistent hay fever symptoms can make one feel "worse than death."
This is also considered Japan's "national illness."
According to the current world history, local cedar trees in Japan were extremely rare. It seems that this country only began large-scale planting of cedar trees after World War II. At that time, Japan was in ruins, with construction needed everywhere, and a desperate need for timber.
Thus, cedar, a timber with a short growth cycle, straight trunk, practical and durable, and widely applicable to various construction projects, was immediately favored and began to be promoted and planted on a large scale nationwide.
But at the time, people were unaware that cedar trees would produce large amounts of pollen after growing, causing allergic harm to the human body... By the time the government became aware and tried to curb this phenomenon, it was already too late.
Decades passed, and artificial forests, primarily composed of cedar, came to occupy a large proportion of Japan's forest area. Due to the implementation of free timber import policies, the price of local Japanese cedar plummeted, and with a lack of forestry labor, no one harvested the trees. Cedar trees were allowed to grow unchecked, leading to a grand and overwhelming burst of pollen every year.
The only thing the local government could do was to produce masks with tears in their eyes, then urge residents to buy more packs for backup at home during the annual pollen outbreaks, and to wear masks when going out, while also promoting various "pollen protection kits."
Several times, she wanted to sneeze, but that volcanic eruption-like feeling quickly cooled down after a tremor at the tip of her nose, becoming an embarrassing and uncomfortable "edge-of-completion" sensation—Kawaragi Momoka turned on the car's air conditioning.
"I almost thought I was going to catch a cold too," she couldn't help but complain.
Kurusu Akira wasn't much better. "Hay fever is really troublesome."
It was late April, already peak hay fever season.
Coincidentally, nearby was Yoyogi Park in Shibuya Ward, with its dense artificial forests releasing plague-like cedar pollen... Every time passersby breathed, it was like taking a direct hit from a spilled can of pollen. How could they not cough and sneeze?
Kawaragi Momoka parked the car by the roadside, then opened the central armrest box, took out a mask and handed it to Kurusu Akira, and took out another one for herself.
"They were so greedy, those politicians back then."
"Every year when hay fever breaks out, everyone seems to curse a bit like that."
"Does Kawaragi live very far away?"
"Ah... Iwamotocho in Chiyoda."
At this moment, Kawaragi Momoka, who hadn't studied for almost four years, belatedly realized, "I should take you home now. You seem to have school tomorrow?"
"It's fine. Tomorrow is Friday. The school is holding a 'Campus Safety Training,' so classes are suspended for a day."
"Right, I remember now, it was the 'Ishihara disappearance case' that caused such a stir, wasn't it?"
"That's right. Anyway, after negotiations, the school management compensated Ishihara's family and apologized sincerely. I heard that many reporters will be live-streaming when this 'Campus Safety Training' takes place, and I'm not comfortable in such situations."
"Planning to take a day off?"
"Definitely taking a day off."
As the conversation reached this point, Kawaragi Momoka's guilt lessened.
The van drove away from Yoyogi Park, crossing the bridge over the bay.
The deep black sea surface folded continuously in the evening breeze, like coffee swirling in a Moka pot, reflecting the star-like lights of the distant city.
Kawaragi Momoka's voice suddenly broke the prolonged silence in the car.
"Let me state this first: minors absolutely cannot drink alcohol!"
"Got it, you nagging adult."
----------------
The sky was already dim, and the moon was faint in the thin clouds. At this time, Chiyoda displayed an even more poetic and prosperous beauty. Crowds thronged the streets, and beneath the retro Showa-style sign of a taiyaki shop, a clerk skillfully filled bean paste into dough, then pressed it into a special mold. Two or three travelers held colorful round fans, parading through the streets, a riot of flowers reflecting the red-light district's neon on the right, while to the left were skyscrapers reflecting dazzling light like prisms.
Kurusu Akira and Kawaragi Momoka carried a crate of beer together, walking deep into Kitanomaru Park.
Streetlights cast warm tones on the cold, dim street. Unlike the distant hustle and bustle, here it was quiet, with only occasional rustling sounds as stray cats rummaged for food in the nearby bushes.
Deep black water flowed like ink, carrying specks of light—the reflections of the great metropolis on the opposite bank of Kitanomaru Park, a scene lit up with countless lights. On both sides of the wide, time-worn road were deep green lawns, and ancient cherry trees with gnarled, thick trunks draped their dense branches towards the artificial lake below the lawn, cherry blossoms burning like flames on the branches.
Yachts, one after another, slowly approached the distant city on the star-lit artificial lake, accompanied by the hum of engines. Large and small ripples pushed pink cherry blossoms to drift everywhere. The lights and the night sky reflected in the black lake surface, shimmering with waves and appearing like smoke and clouds, creating a magnificent and dreamlike beauty that touched the soul.
Click. The pull tab of the can was torn open, and bubbles along with the aroma of wheat rushed out of the small space, making Kawaragi Momoka narrow her eyes in a somewhat intoxicated manner.
"You're not drunk, are you?" Kurusu Akira sat down beside her on a bench by the artificial lake, looking down at his phone to explain to Sakura Sojiro that he would be staying overnight at a classmate's house—in reality, he planned to return to LeBlanc very late, but that would make people worry too much, especially since he was still a minor.
At this point, the benefits of being the top student with almost perfect scores in all subjects became apparent.
Whether facing the parents of other classmates, or teachers at school, or even his own guardian... whatever Kurusu Akira said carried extremely high credibility.
How could someone who achieved such monstrous grades be a delinquent high school student who didn't come home at night?
Of course, if it were Sakamoto Ryuji with those grades, staying out past midnight would likely be met with a barrage of phone calls from his mother.
Kawaragi Momoka raised her beer and took a large gulp, tilting her head back.
"Don't worry, I can hold my liquor very well."
"Really? Can you really hold your liquor well...?" In Kurusu Akira's impression, almost everyone who boasted about their drinking capacity would be passed out on the table after two or three bottles, or would have terrible drinking manners, easily getting angry or committing embarrassing gaffes.
"40% guitar, 40% part-time work, 20% alcohol—that's my life in Tokyo!" After saying that, Kawaragi Momoka chugged the remaining half can of beer in one go.
Kurusu Akira estimated that she spoke two sentences, then drank six hundred milliliters of beer.
'But why... why am I out drinking with her?'
The Phantom Thief began to self-reflect.
It must be because he wasn't at ease with this woman, whose dream was so pure it couldn't tolerate any impurity, drinking alone outside.
The beautiful, young twenty-year-old lead vocalist of a formerly famous rock band, drunk and collapsed on the street... it's best not to overestimate human self-control.
Thinking this, he looked at Kawaragi Momoka with a hint of complaint, "Can't you just drink back at your own rental apartment?"
"No, cleaning is too much trouble. And it's not very airy, so drinking too much makes me hot," Kawaragi Momoka said lazily.
A night breeze blew by, and a few cherry blossom petals drifted down onto her head, sticking to her hair.
She looked at the large lake in front of her, the mist in her eyes growing thicker. "Amamiya, you live alone too, right?"
"I said so during the day."
"Mm-hmm, I remember now, you live in the attic of a coffee shop, right?"
"The bed is a disassembled sofa, the desk is a raised wooden box, clutter is piled up like a small mountain, and there's a workbench for processing furniture, and a bookshelf with some manga and two potted succulents."
"Tsk." Kawaragi Momoka suddenly made a very unpleasant clicking sound.
Then she put her arm around Kurusu Akira's shoulder and leaned in to ask, "Do you feel lonely and scared?"
"What's there to be scared of?"
"In a vast city, alone, tossing and turning in bed unable to sleep, filled with uncertainty about the future—does that happen?"
It really did happen in the first few days after he transmigrated, but now he can sleep and rely on Lavenza to his heart's content in his dreams.
Kurusu Akira looked at Kawaragi Momoka's eyes, full of stories, and still nodded.
Kawaragi Momoka forced a smile uglier than a cry. "It really makes you feel sad, you know. Leaving friends you depended on, leaving the small house four of you rented, wandering alone in Tokyo, no matter where you live, you can't seem to find a sense of belonging, and no matter how hard you work, you can't figure out how to pick yourself up again."
"Come to think of it, Kawaragi never really said how she left 'Diamond Dust'."
She took another sip of beer, and a layer of mist slowly welled up in her eyes. "We were independently producing CDs, performing, and our official debut was just around the corner, and then I quit."
"That's it?"
"The deeper reason was probably that the record company asked us to change the band's style and positioning... We were asked to wear idol costumes for performances, pose like idol girls, and do some simple dances. The band was too poor back then; everyone was working hard, but we still couldn't put on a slightly larger concert, so we accepted the company's arrangements."
"But, in the end, I just couldn't stand those performances..." Kawaragi Momoka extended her right hand, gesturing broadly in front of her.
That hand, which should have been beautiful, slender, and delicate, was marred by some darkened calluses, breaking its inherent beauty.
Then she reached into her pocket, pulled out a phone with a cracked screen, opened the album, and displayed a group photo.
The photo showed four girls with sweet, radiant smiles, exuding happiness and innocent romance.
Kurusu Akira didn't know when he had also picked up a can of beer, pulled the tab, and took a sip.
"We used to be members of the light music club in the same high school. Like-minded, mutually appreciative, incredibly passionate about rock, and then we discussed dropping out together to form a band."
Kawaragi Momoka was completely immersed in her own world, reminiscing so much that she didn't even react when Kurusu Akira took another sip of beer.
"We all promised back then that even when we became old grandmas with white hair, we'd still play in the band together, never quit, never pursue musical styles or personal agendas... That was the band's only goal."
"As we changed and accepted various suggestions from the record company, they always said things like, 'Let's endure it for now,' 'Keep climbing up,' 'Someday we'll be able to do what we want'... They kept trying to convince me until the very end. Despite that, I still chose to quit."
Kawaragi Momoka tossed the empty beer can to her feet.
Kurusu Akira also cooperatively tossed his empty beer can onto the ground.
Amidst the clinking sounds, Kawaragi Momoka stood up, spreading her arms as if to embrace something incredibly vast but untouchable.
A hysterical scream was caught in her throat.
Kawaragi Momoka's expression became very dejected and weary.
The evening breeze swept past her, making her clothes rustle.
She bent down, picked up a can of beer, and plopped back down beside Kurusu Akira, unreservedly putting her arm around his shoulder.
"Life is truly cruel; our simple wishes are shattered again and again. Dropping out of high school, no income, four of us tiredly crammed into a small room every day, lying on the sofa discussing the future... it was as if all the hardships and difficulties we were experiencing became less unbearable."
"That was truly the happiest time of my life."
A somewhat unpleasant smell of alcohol wafted from Kawaragi Momoka.
Even when adults shed tears, it's filled with suppression and restraint; only the sleeves wiping the corners of their eyes gradually become damp.
The Phantom Thief, who instinctively wanted to push her away, now merely restrained this physical and psychological aversion, enduring it calmly, and quietly listening to Kawaragi Momoka's outpouring.
"Life here is too fast; the city is clearly vast, yet it always feels crowded. I saved over a hundred thousand yen, but I couldn't bear to spend it, nor did I dare to. The money stayed in my wallet, and several times I walked into a Livehouse, but I didn't even have the courage to ask the owner if I could perform..."
"You know, I've actually wanted to leave Tokyo many times," Kawaragi Momoka finished a can of beer, tossed it into the empty plastic basket, and then looked at Kurusu Akira, who was close by, with dull, tear-filled eyes. "If you hadn't suddenly invited me to join a band, I probably would have left here alone, gone to a smaller place, a place closer to them."
"Is it Kyoto?" Kurusu Akira, who had also finished a can of beer, looked up at the dark night sky.
A very drunk Kawaragi Momoka shook her head. "It's Kawasaki. Life there is slower, prices are lower, there are no highways going up and down, and no tall buildings as dense as a forest blocking out the sun... We took our first steps as a band in Kawasaki."
Kurusu Akira asked her, "Do you think we're the same kind of people?"
Kawaragi Momoka shook her head again, her voice becoming very soft. "Of course not."
"Because, you're actually very dazzling... A diamond is a diamond; even if it falls into the dust and deliberately buries itself, it will still shine brightly."
Kurusu Akira was about to say something else when he realized Kawaragi Momoka had fallen over and was leaning on him.
She was blackout drunk.
He looked at the empty beer cans scattered on the ground and realized that this rock vocalist had a pretty good drinking habit; even when drunk, she could control herself.
Just as he was thinking this, a warm, soft sensation bloomed at his waist.
Kawaragi Momoka hugged Kurusu Akira's shoulders like a koala, then, treating him like a pillow, she wrapped her legs around his waist and buried her burning cheek in his neck, murmuring like in a dream.
Kurusu Akira immediately prepared to throw her to the ground.
"I'm sorry..."
A moist breath reached his ear; it was this kind of dreamlike murmur. He didn't know if it was for Kurusu Akira, or for her former bandmates far away in Kawasaki, or perhaps... for her past self.
Kurusu Akira ultimately softened.
He pushed aside Kawaragi Momoka's hands and her soft thighs tightly wrapped in black pantyhose, then turned around and carried her on his back.
The empty cans on the ground would just wait for tomorrow's sanitation workers to clean them up.
These could probably be sold for a lot of money if recycled.
Kurusu Akira supported Kawaragi Momoka's bent legs with both hands and walked along the streets of Kitanomaru Park.
"Let me tell you first, if you dare to throw up, I'll abandon you on the street."
Kawaragi Momoka lay on his shoulder, mumbling a response.
Fortunately, she had mentioned where she lived when she was driving.
Iwamotocho, huh... Kurusu Akira summoned the Persona, Dioscuri, in his mind.
"Memory Read, I need a detailed map of Chiyoda."
Kurusu Akira issued a silent command to Dioscuri.
----------------
As the stars dimmed, Kurusu Akira carried the gradually sobering Kawaragi Momoka on his back, walking on the streets of Iwamotocho.
The industrial park was nearby, and the environment here was worse than expected.
Kawaragi Momoka, who had finally regained consciousness, immediately flushed with shame and wanted to get down and walk herself.
But as soon as her feet touched the ground, her knees instantly went soft, almost performing a "New Year's bow" from a neighboring country's custom for Kurusu Akira.
Kurusu Akira picked up the flushed Kawaragi Momoka again. "Hurry up and tell me the way, my arms are about to break."
Kawaragi Momoka stammered out the location of her residence.
After nearly ten minutes.
The two parted ways at the bottom of a somewhat old apartment building.
After returning to her small room in a daze and locking the door.
Kawaragi Momoka, who had blacked out from drinking, tossed and turned sleeplessly on the bed, feeling an irresistible urge to rely more on the "reliability" she had felt from that high school student.
'What... what's wrong with me?'
Kawaragi Momoka pinched her burning earlobes, self-deprecatingly burying her face in the pillow.
Some memories from when she was drunk began to leap into her mind, making her heart pound as if it could play "Flight of the Bumblebee."
The time on her phone just happened to jump to "0:00."
----------------
[April 25, 2022.]
[Time until the Kawasaki trip begins: Two days remaining.]
[Phantom Thief's current funds: 122,050 yen.]
Passing by an izakaya in a nearby apartment building, a group of tattooed men were already noisily walking down the street with liquor bottles.
Kurusu Akira ignored them and paused by the door for a while, because the TV in the izakaya's lobby was broadcasting the finals of "2022 Intel Extreme Masters," the highest StarCraft 2 tournament.
The commentator's emotions were so stirred that he even spoke with a Kanto accent.
"Ricardo's Zerg swarm is still advancing! He's broken through Maru's defenses! The toxic mist is spreading in the sky! The massive Zerg swarm has locked down Maru's Terran forces in this narrow choke point! Ultralisks have broken through the front lines of Marauders and Thors! Zerglings and Banelings are rolling through the Ghost and Tank forces behind them! Maru can't wait for his next buyback! His remaining forces can't wait for their next rally! A Nydus Worm has opened in Maru's main base! Ricardo is destroying his base!!!"
"Let's congratulate Ricardo M. Lu from China for successfully defending his crown! This is his third time winning the IEM championship this year! This scene, this moment! He is becoming an insurmountable milestone in the history of StarCraft!"
Lu Mingfei... wasn't he the keyboardist in that world-class rock band?
Kurusu Akira watched the big boy on the TV screen lift the trophy, smiling somewhat awkwardly and embarrassed, hastily answering the questions of the full-figured European and American host, and then quickly ran off the stage. A muscular Italian man and an unkempt German man cheered and rushed over, giving him a hearty bear hug...
It was hard to connect this shy, introverted guy with the fierce, brutal, and insidious Zerg player from the broadcast just now.
His wandering thoughts late at night were suddenly interrupted by his phone ringing.
The contact listed was Sakura Sojiro.
Oh no, a check-up.
Kurusu Akira looked left and right, then answered the call.
He feigned a tired and sleepy voice, "Sakura-san, it's so late, is something wrong?"
"Iseri is missing. She should still have a fever, but she's not in her room." Even through the receiver, he could feel that the middle-aged man's tone was unprecedentedly serious and angry.
"I specifically went to the Police Department to check the surveillance, and there's no sign of her leaving Yongen-Jaya!"
"...Huh?"
"You haven't seen Iseri today, have you?"
Kurusu Akira's eyes narrowed slightly. "Of course not."
"Sorry for disturbing your rest. Get some sleep early..." Sakura Sojiro said, then hastily hung up the phone.
Kurusu Akira put his phone into his pocket.
He thought of the "Metaverse Navigator" on Iseri Nina's phone, and his expression grew increasingly dangerous.
So he looked at the bathroom beside him.
...
Crimson patterns spread across the walls, like blood vessels running through muscles and organs. They glowed intermittently, pulsing as if breathing.
Iseri Nina hugged her knees, trying to curl herself up in the construction room beside the train tunnel, not daring to make a sound.
On the tracks just a wall away from her, a man in white royal attire and a red crow mask casually cast his gaze towards the small door of the construction room.
"The game's over, Iseri-san."
The man said, "That monster who came back from the dead is already terrifying. If someone like you is destined to become part of his wings, we'll never have a chance to win—constantly strengthening his power through the bonds and emotions of others, hmph, that sounds truly evil."
Beneath the long-beaked red crow mask, a pair of dark golden eyes filled with indifference stared at the arched doorway. "...I must 'trim' you before he enters that palace."
Just then.
The sound of a train speeding through the tunnel suddenly echoed.
Wheels collided with the tracks at high speed, sparks erupted, creating a deafening roar.
The man immediately stepped back, jumping into the waiting area.
The cars of the dark blue train passed one by one, emitting a huge noise that wore down patience and constantly incited irritation and anger.
But when this somewhat strange dark blue train completely disappeared from the man's sight.
A young man in a school uniform was already standing in front of the arched door of the former construction room.
He opened the arched door and carried the curled-up, feverish Iseri Nina in a princess carry.
Seizing this opportunity, the man unhesitatingly took off running.
Kurusu Akira looked up at his retreating figure, and azure flames burned in his eyes.
...Words have power.
Just as a Kamen Rider shouts "Henshin" before transforming, a magical girl also chants lines like "In the name of the Moon, I will punish you" when transforming—
A simple phrase, yet through the form of "self-suggestion," it can ignite the will to fight in the shortest amount of time.
At this moment, another voice in Kurusu Akira's body said, "You can go."
So he responded to this voice—
"Persona!"
Azure flames instantly burst from his eyes, spreading wildly across his face into the shape of a flying bird!
Wings spread high, then fluttered downwards, intertwining like chains...
A white bird-shaped mask, a black Phantom Thief suit, crimson gloves, and a pistol and dagger tucked into his waist.
The azure flames slowly extinguished, replaced by a blood-red demon rapidly spreading its huge, pitch-black wings behind the Phantom Thief.
Iseri Nina, lying in the Phantom Thief's arms, slowly widened her eyes.
This was another Amamiya Ren she had never seen before, completely different, yet somehow familiar.
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