Oopsies, this is gonna be a long one. I also just skipped like... two videos apparently in the playlist I'm following? Bro when this book hits 500 votes I'll leak the playlist.

Y/N's P.O.V.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself, what's up?"

"Check the group chat. It's urgent, Y/N."

"Yusuke," I start, rubbing at my eye. "I've been awake for less than thirty seconds. How'd you get in? I also haven't unmuted my phone yet?"

"I have your key, first. Second, why do you mute your phone?"

"I like to sleep. It's a hobby. What's going-" I pick up my phone and move to the messaging app. "Oh, he's holding a press conference at eight? And... Makoto's typing at us..." I look up at Yusuke. "You think she's going to Mom us?"

"No, she wanted to get together prior. It also looks like she wants to get together on the rooftop at Shujin, so I think we'll have to sneak in."

"That'll be an adventure. Let's save it for four thirty, I'd kind of like to sleep for another few minutes if you'll kindly go do something...."

"Class starts in ten minutes."

I throw my head back, let out a long string of curse words and sigh. "Whatever. I'll be ready in five."

...

"You know, when you said flowers, I didn't really think you meant a whole bunch of flowers," I say, eyebrow raised. It's five in the afternoon and everyone aside from Futaba is decked out in their school uniforms, us girls in skirts. The only problem is I wore knee socks, not tights. 

"Ah, it'll be fine, Y/N. Just wear Morgana's jumpsuit," Futaba offers, waving her hand.

"MY WHAT?"

Ann snickers and turns to Haru, complimenting her work. "I didn't realize you grew all these yourself, Senpai."

"Oh, you guys can just call me Haru. The seasons are changing soon, so I thought it would be nice for the plants to change as well. Though, this time," Haru turns on her heel and looks toward Yusuke. "It's a Yusuke Kitagawa production."

"All I did was add some... how do I put it... aesthetic simplicity by balancing the color placement. Furthermore, Haru chose the flowers herself. It will surely be a great bed no matter the arrangement."

Makoto says something with a praise in mind while I silently wonder how gay Yusuke actually is. Forty seven chapters and sixty one parts in, I'm not fully sold on how much of a cover up I am. 

"Why don't we plant you, Mona?" Futaba giggles.

"Weren't you a shut in until just recently? You'd better photosynthesize while you're here." Morgana spits back. 

"You know, for a warm-blooded creature, you sure as hell don't seem like it. The Arctic Ocean is warmer than you." 

"God damn, Y/N. You trying to get yourself killed?" Ryuji laughs, half bent.

"Anyway!" Haru cuts in as Ryuji finishes his laughter. "Let's get started!"

It takes about forty minutes and a dirty skirt for satisfaction to fill the air. Ann and Ryuji are hovering over a pot to the back left, laughing about something. Makoto is bent down and smoothing dirt to my left, while Akira and Futaba pull at little weeds sprouting up. Morgana sits on a table while Yusuke does the picturesque thing with his hands, leaving Haru and I to take turns with the watering can.

"Perhaps the snapdragon should go two more millimeters to the left..."

Ann looks up, appalled. "That's not going to make a difference!"

"Ah, besides that," Ryuji stands and stretches his neck. "Y'know how we're thinkin' of the school festival as out celebration. Anyone else think we should have a real one on top of that?"

"I must agree," Yusuke chimes. "It would not only be a celebration, but a welcoming as well. I'd like to do something among ourselves."

"Yeah!" Ann cheers. "Let's do it then! A joint party to celebrate and to welcome Haru!"

"Oh, you don't have to do that! The school festival is more than enough." Haru stands and whips her hands together, the dirt flitting onto the roof. The rest of us stand, a couple of small groans for those with weird backs.

"How is the everyone else supposed to get excited if the star of the party's not into it?" Morgana asks, wiggling his tail as he hides his excitement.

Haru looks unsure, delicately places her hand under her chin, then shifts back into a face of neutrality. "Then, how about a night party? At Destinyland?"

"By Destinyland, you don't mean..." Makoto starts.

"-The Kingdom of Dreams..?" I finish, biting my lip to keep from making a fool of my jaw.

The caramel haired girl shrugs. "It would be a bit late, but there are some plans that allow us to rent out the park for a night."

"The ENTIRE park?!" Ann gasps. "You're talking about the Destinyland, right?"

"Didn't you say you'd like to do something amongst ourselves?"

"I did, but..." Yusuke begins to wave his hand, looking for words, only to be cut off by Haru picking her phone from her pocket.

"Hold on, I'll go check."

As Haru steps away, Ann scratches her head lightly. "She really thinks like a celebrity..."

"The heck's she gonna check?" Ryuji looks down, makes a satisfied noise and cracks his knuckles. Footsteps move lightly across the rooftop, Haru coming back with a wide smile on her face. 

"Guys! It looks like it'll work!"

"We're really gonna have it at Destinyland?" Ann's eyes are wide in disbelief, but they're not the only set that wide. Multiple sets of gray eyes, a couple brown, a couple blues, a set of red and my own are in not quite shock, but this is definitely unexpected. 

"N-Not like, one of the restaurants, but... the entire park?" 

Futaba clicks on her laptop at Ann, then lets out a small 'woah...' "Even just for one night, the price is insane..."

"Oh, that won't be a problem. We had originally booked it for a company party, then had to call it off because of the scandal... We'd barely get anything back if we canceled the reservation, so why not take advantage of it?"

"Wouldn't that be oddly conspicuous though?"

"Yusuke, are you just incapable of having a good time?"

Haru snickers lightly at my comment, then adds on. "It's still officially under the company's name, we needn't worry."

"In that case," Ryuji, stretching as per usual, steps in. "Let's do this. We'll celebrate twice as hard today!"

"I'm sorry for disrupting everyone. You did come to help me, after all. Let's get back to it!"

"Wait, so. How much does it cost, Futaba?" As he asks, Futaba shows Ryuji her computer screen. He lets out 'Oh!' and steps back, once more from surprise. Ann laughs at him and he shoots her a mean look, everyone else laughing at the situation at hand. 

...

"So, I think we should go on that Ferris Wheel again, the one that lights up. Not the one that creaked every time it went up and over and made me feel like I was going to get thrown over."

"I think you're overcomplicating it, Y/N. It creaked, sure, but it wasn't going to throw you over."

"No, no, Yusuke," Makoto takes a drink and comes to my defense. "She's right, it was acting up."

"Right?!"

"Makoto, you and Futaba were in another booth."

"But Makoto and Y/N are right! It rocked too much for me and I almost fall out of my rolling chair constantly. Hey, Akira, you also went on the Ferris Wheel, right?"

"Hmm? No. Ryuji took me on a roller coaster."

"Hell naw, man! You took me on that roller coaster! I almost threw up my chips because of you!"

"I just had to babysit the cat..." Ann mutters, pushing her last forkful of pasta around. 

"I don't need to be babysat! I'm a big human! And I'm not a cat!" Morgana retorts, then yelps in surprise as Haru pets him gently down his head. "You're all jerks, except for Lady Ann and Har- that feels sooooo good...."

"Either way," Makoto claps her hands. "That was delicious."

"The food was arranged on my plate as though it were paint on a canvas."

"The staff brought out this table and food just for us, huh?" Ann questions, her cat ear headband sliding down a little bit. I reach over to fix it, my own set of plastic-y mouse ears threatening to fall off. They were a gift from Futaba.

"I thought if we were to dine together, it'd be much better in a place with a view." Haru gives a small grin, standing up and moving to the head of the table. Fireworks sound off in the distance as the sun sets, pastel colors filling the dusk. Shades of red, blues and purples explode against the pink and orange of the setting sun, the temperature falling just enough to be comfortable in this October evening. 

"The VIP life is incredible! Of course, not that I'd expect anything else from a private rental!" 

"Concurred, Ann. There really is no one else here." Makoto slides her hands under her chair and pushes herself in, taking in the view of the lights coming on to brighten the castle a few meters away.

Futaba pumps her fist in the air. "We are the rulers of the Kingdom of Dreams!"

"Is the lighting for our sake as well?"

"That's right," Haru turns away from Makoto and the table, the spotlights swirling in circular patterns against the turrets. Beneath the table, a warm and slightly callused hand slides over the top of mine, fingers tracing the skin until I turn my hand over. The thumb and first three finger tips are callused on his left hand, matching lightly with my own fingers, then intertwining out hands.

"This really is an incredible view. As I've said before, there are moments in the life where whatever being above gives us a breathtaking sight. However, the most incredibly gorgeous thing here is you."

"Concussion and all?" I joke.

"Concussion and all."

"It's not as beautiful as you... That's the kind of things couples say to each other, right? That's what you're whispering to Y/N right now, isn't it?"

"Almost anyone would fall for a line like that in front of a sight like this!" Ann gushes.

"Lady Ann! This view is not as beautifu-"

"C'mon, you guys're gettin' way too excited about this stuff," Ryuji cuts in, earning a grunt of frustration from Morgana. 

"You say that like you're not tapping into your inner child too, Ryuji," Ann teases, leaning across the table to fix his ears; he has bright brown bear ears.

"That's just 'cuz Futaba kept naggin' me to put them on!" He retorts, receiving a glare from the orange haired girl in question. "I did not!"

There's a sound of disbelief. "You said somethin' like that!"

"Ryuji," Akira playfully warns. "You're the adult."

"Well, yeah, but..."

"Woah! Look at you being all obedient! Is the Destinyland charm rubbing off on you?" The platinum haired girl laughs, a small snicker from Makoto in the background.

(Hi, I'm cutting the heartwarming part out because that's cheesy as shit. Also, we're getting into some creepy ass shit in about two minutes and if you're not a big fan, I'll let you know when to come back.)

"-I really wanted to see the parade, but the staff couldn't get enough people on hand in time." Haru says, her face flattening.

"Maybe next time," Makoto offers, leaning her head in her hands and smiling. It's one of those supportive ones, where there's nothing in the world that can wipe the happiness from her face. 

"Either way, this party's totally the best one so far! It's freakin' amazing!" Ryuji throws his arms in the air, stretching out and grinning ear to ear.

"Are you sure? I kinda liked the one where you were hit on the head with a folding fan."

"Nah, that was me, Y/N. Yusuke's a bitch," Akira jokes.

"How rude! I prefer 'slightly off'!" 

"That happened? I'd like to hear it. Inari seems slightly overbearing in the protective department." 

"Futaba!"

"Go to hell, man. You know I'm right."

"Anyway, I'm glad you're all enjoying it!" There's a look of pure thrill on Haru's face, brighter than the pink of her sweater. Morgana says something about luxury and it's ignored by the group as a whole, earning an 'mmm' from Akira. 

There's a collective banter form everyone in the group, all of us smiling and catching up on school things. Morgana hops onto the table and prances to Futaba, who squishes his cheeks and laughs at a joke made by Akira. Ryuji and Ann have a quick chat with Makoto about test scores and other things while Ryuji throws his head back at the latter's playful warning. I tell Yusuke about something I dreamt up while on my weird ass meds and he makes some witty comment as I finish. We all have a really nice time until Haru's face falls. Her bright hair adds to the darkness on her face as the chattering stops, concern filling the joyous mood moments ago.

"Still... How do I put this? I met Mona-chan, I got to know you all... Isn't everything going a little too perfectly? It's actually a bit frightening...."

"You worry too much," Morgana calls from Futaba's lap. I shrug at her in agreement with the cat.

Haru rolls her shoulders and lifts her head, a half smile on her face. "I must be overly cautious because of my circumstances up until recently. I'm sorry for bringing it up."

Ann suddenly reaches into her back pocket, checking for something on the screen. "Hey, isn't it almost time? You know, for the press conference."

"Perfect timin'," Ryuji says as he takes his phone from his jacket pocket. Multiple jackets rustle as phones are brought out. Yusuke tilts his screen so I can watch with him. My phone's at home, dead on my desk.

"Father..." Haru mutters, looking at her screen and fiddling with her volume.

Our phones send out multiple waves of static, then a camera provides video footage. There's a table with a white tablecloth hanging over the edge, holding fifteen microphones. Kunikazu Okumura sits on the opposite side of the camera, his head bowed and hands on his legs. There's brief moment of his mental preparation, then he stands.

"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to gather here. Today," Okumura's hands clench and unclench as he takes an uneasy breath. Haru lets out shaky gasp. "I'd like to elaborate upon the whole truth behind my company's labor situation."

Cameras shutter and click as the people around me take a breath of anticipation. We've all been waiting for this, four of us waiting on this since April. Ryuji takes Ann's hand as Morgana shifts to Akira's lap.

"How my employees were forced to work under severe conditions, how... lax we were with sanitation. And," his face contorts with discomfort. "How my corporation acted as a whole to... cover up every facet of this scandal. For all of this, I wholeheartedly apologize."

Okumura bows the full one eighty as cameras click and shutter again, reporters asking questions I don't quite catch; they're too fast and too squished together. One, however, makes it to the top of the noise. "So are you saying all of this was done under your order?"

The man in question comes up from his bow, nods once and mutters a "Yes... I am solely responsible..."

I look away from the phone momentarily and notice my friends have been fully sucked into the conference. Haru's biting nail after nail while others fall into their nervous habits. Ann chews her hair, Ryuji's cracked his knuckles so much they don't crack anymore. Makoto has her face stuck into a thinking look while Futaba picks at a hangnail she has. Akira pushes his glasses up his face then pulls them down while Morgana raises his leg to scratch his ear, then decides against it. Yusuke drums his fingers on the table, pulling me back to the conference.

"We heard that dozens of your employees were forced to resign due to mysterious illness. Furthermore, these happened to be officials who stood against your proposal for overseas expansion. The same thing also happened to executives at competing companies who were looking to expand abroad. Is all of this true?" The journalist from before asks the elaborated question, his monotonous tone is unnerving.

"Yes."

"Was it all coincidence?"

Okumura looks away as the journalist presses for answers.

There's a breath that comes from the man being interrogated. He gazes back at the camera and prepares himself. "About that... I have a critical piece of information to announce here today."

"Here it comes..." Morgana whispers. I slide my hand back into Yusuke's and squeeze as hard as I possibly can. "Okumura's going to say who's really behind all the mental shutdowns."

The camera slowly focuses on Okumura's face. He's sweating lightly, though he refuses to wipe at it. "I...." 

He lets out a grunt and clutches at his heart. His face goes from pale to bright purple in a few seconds, eyes widening and slowly losing color. Okumura throws his head back and cries out, hands hanging onto his shirt, now physically pulling at the fabric. Another groan is heard and his eyes irises slide into the back of his head, all sound ceasing. Head smacking the table, the first few microphones squeaking with feedback. 

Three droplets of blood hit the table

"Okumura-san?"

His right hand clasps the furthest edge of the table, knuckles paling as his left hand pulls a good amount of the tablecloth upward. His slowly comes upward, revealing a slackjawed, blood covered face. It trickles from his nostrils, his eye sockets, even the corners of his mouth. 

Screams fill that conference room, an assistant falling to the ground while cameras on tripods shake. Different warnings appear on the screen as another man in a suit waves at Yusuke's phone screen to cut the feed. It cuts to a cartoon of a puppy playing in a field, chasing a butterfly while the left corner reads something along the lines of 'Technical Difficulties!'

Chairs were pushed back, Morgana leaping onto the table. Headbands are torn off as each one of us falls into a defensive stance. Hands shake, eyes wide and gasps fill the air.

"Huh?" Ann starts us off, bringing a quivering hand to her open mouth.

"F-Father?!"

"Wh-Why did he collapse?" Ann's hands have yet to stop shaking.

"That didn't look right at all. Don't tell me..." Makoto's head snaps up from her phone.

Haru demands answers from Morgana, gaining a twitching ear and a "That's impossible!"

"What happened?" Akira asks, sliding his phone in his pocket to attempt levelheadedness.

"That's what I wanna know! We made sure we just took the Treasure too..."

"I should call home!" Haru panics, hands moving all over her sweater for her phone.

"This... This isn't our fault, is it?" Platinum pigtails are shook back and forth as the owner searches for answers, repeatedly pressing buttons and slowly falling into panic also. "It's been okay all four times so far-- even with Kamoshida!"

"If we let the Shadow live, the real person won't undergo a mental shutdown, right?" 

"That's how it should work..." Morgana nods.

"Yeah... it's gotta be..." Ryuji says. He's not feeling it; none of us are.

Futaba makes a noise of exasperation as Haru mumbles quickly into her phone. She's come to a realization. 

"What's wrong?" Yusuke tries.

"Th-This is the same... I remember now... It's just like.. what happened to my Mom...."

"So this is the moment the mental shutdown occurs." The blue haired boy tsks as I come to a realization of my own. I shot at his chair once. Did I shoot him by mistake?

"But why did they target Okumura-san?" 

"Someone..." Oh God, I know what I want, it all makes sense. "Makoto, he knew who it was. He was going to tell Tokyo who the culprit was..."

Ryuji overshadows my words. "Dammit! What the hell's goin' on?!"

"Um, I-I have to go. I'll talk to the staff before I leave. Feel free to take your time..." Haru takes off in a sprint to the exit. Ann calls after her, but I take it a step further. I let go of Yusuke's hand and follow, hoping to catch her before she can make it through the gate.

"Wait!" I call, shoes clicking beneath me. I'm running out of light to follow, but the sound is ever so clear over my own blood pumping. 

"Y/N!" It's not Haru's voice and I don't want it.

"Haru, please!"

Metal clangs as Haru exits the park. I hit the ground knees first as footsteps catch up to where I am, the owner of those feet skidding beside me. "Y/N, come on." I know who it is by the depth of the voice. 

A burst of purple lights up the sky, followed by red and pink. "It's so ironic, isn't it?"

"Y/N, you're still concussed and we have exams tomorrow, please-"

"How a moment so dark is going to be remembered in a place so bright."

God damn, honey. Look at you, bein' so smart.