Beginnings and Endings Part 2

"I'll say it only once more. Leave. Now." Sae Niijiima snarled.

"I have every intention of doing so. Once we've heard Mrs. Okumura's full account of events, nothing would please me more than to be far away from you and your investigation." The woman replied, her words measured but filled with an artic chill.

"Absolutely not. This is a matter for the Tokyo Police and the Prosecutor's Office. The government has no cause to interfere in this investigation. Which means you people have no business here! This is MY investigation! For once you have no clearance and no jurisdiction-" Sae said, snarling and pushing herself well into the other woman's face.

"Actually, jurisdiction hasn't been decided or announced just yet." The other woman responded, returning Sae's glare and refusing to move an inch. "For the moment, we have just as much right to question the witness and gather evidence as you."

"Don't think you'll get away with it this time! Your too late. We've already gotten our statement. We've already gathered evidence. There's nothing left for you to swoop in and sweep under the rug. No NDAs. No 'proprietary information'. No locking away the evidence involving cognitive psience. You can't stonewall me this time!" Sae screamed.

"My sentiments exactly!"

Kasumi stood peeking around the corner at one end of the block taken up by Haru's vast estate, Morgana held in her hands and both staring in befuddlement at the exchange happening between Makoto's older sister and the strange woman screaming into one another's faces.

"Senpai, do you know who that is?"

"No idea. But I've never seen Niijiima that pissed before. Not even her rants about the Phantom Thieves have ever been this bad." Morgana noted.

"....That woman she's arguing with. Is that a police uniform? Some kind of special agent? I've...I've never seen anyone outside of the Metaverse dressed that...snug." Kasumi noted.

"Reel it in, Yoshizawa. Shouldn't you be used to skin tight outfits by now? Ann, Makoto, Futaba....not to mention those leotards you wear." Morgana said.

"I know, Senpai, I know. But...that...that's...that's a lot of one person squeezed into one suit!" Kasumi gawked.

“Look, just get ready to activate the app on my signal. Freezing time is finicky if you don’t have my senses.”

Kasumi nodded distractedly.

"Well, now this is interesting. Hello again, Yoshizawa-san." Akechi said.

To her credit, Kasumi avoided screaming at the top of her lungs. Indeed, she allowed only a brief yelp of surprise to escape her lips before covering her mouth (stifling screams of shock, terror, dismay, embarrassment and pleasure was a recent skill she had honed, much to her shame), at the same time leaping from her hiding place in surprise only to twirl instinctively in midair. She found herself landing adroitly before the brown haired detective prince she had met through her father's media company. His smile was as placid as ever. But there was a strange look in his eyes.

Kasumi began blushing intensely as reality caught up to her. She had just performed a minor acrobatic feat in front of a professional acquintance and a cute male senpai. In a mini-skirt that her motions had surely transformed briefly into a something less than a belt around her waste. On the day she had given in to the devilish little urge not to wear panties.

"A-A-Akechi-san! Hello! G-Good to see you...again!" Kasumi stammered.

"Yes. We do seem to bump into one another quite often as of late." Akechi said evenly. "Quite a small world, indeed."

"I-I know what you mean! Last year you and I would only exchange pleasantries after my father's talkshow. And now...I just...keep running into you...and so many other people I know...all over the city...catching me in...all sorts of situations! Q-quite a coincidence!" Kasumi stammered, her mind filling with the sheer number of shadows and humans who had seen her naked body in the past week...seen, felt, pinched, licked...

"No so coincidental, I think. My work of course has brought me out to the Okumura residence quite often these past few days. And you, no doubt, are here to pay your respects and comfort your new lover." Akechi said casually.

"My...my what?" Kasumi stammered.

"Oh? Was I mistaken? I was quite sure you were among those girls on the evening news the other night, shortly before Mr. Okumura's incident? The 'mental stripdown' phenomena?"

"Oh. You...you heard about that!" Kasumi felt her face burning. Akechi was not the closest person in her life (indeed, prior to Ren and the Phantom Thieves the only truly close person in her world had been her sister). But he was an important business associate of the family and a casual relationship whose good opinion and respect mattered to Kasumi. And now...someone who had seen her naked body on display and publically debasing herself in the most shameful ways possible.

"Oh yes. I know every detail. Part of the investigation. I have to take careful note of any significant deviation from the 'typical' mental shutdowns. Then again, it was rather...luridly presented. All the major news channels. All across the city. All over the country." Akechi said, an unusually sinister gleam in his eyes as he watched Kasumi squirm and blush. "Granted, the next day it almost seemed as if the city forgot about it. As if it never happened."

"I...I heard a theory from the Phan Site that the city was under some kind of...of minor mental shutdown while...we were..."

"While you were naked?" Akechi asked, grinning as Kasumi blushed. "Yes. A strange display of power, if someone is deliberately causing the shutdowns. But of course despite the semi-stupor the city seems to be under when it comes to speaking or doing anything about the affair...they all remember. Like a vivid, lingering sort of dream, really. I doubt there will be any long term consequences for you, of course. But...I doubt anyone will be forgetting what they saw any time soon either."

"....No. I guess they won't."

"Congratulations, by the way. On the confession. At least, I presume you and Amamiya have discussed your feelings? Mental shutdown or no you don't seem the type to just steal away his entire circle of lovers without his consent."

"Oh. Th-thank you, Akechi-Kun. It...went well. V-very. So...you knew about my feelings."

"Yoshizawa-san. I mean no offense, but your feelings towards Amamiya were easily the worst kept secret you've ever had. At least the worst kept when you clothes were on." Akechi smirked.

"Akechi-Senpai!" Kasumi said in a pleading tone.

"Yes, all right. I'll refrain from teasing you. For now. But in fairness, you can't entirely claim innocence in the matter, can you? Not when you've chosen to forgo a bit of your ensemble all on your own."

"That...I was...the panties were...I...I just....S-Sorry, Senpai!" Kasumi stammered.

"I didn't say you did anything wrong." Akechi noted dryly. "As it happens, I think I understand you a little better after today. You've always seemed so...rigidly polite, unflinchingly studious and respectful. The ideal student, daughter, athlete...it always felt a bit...off. Disingenuous? Not quite the word for it. Empty. Hollow. Like you were living out a script of someone else's life. No offense intended."

"None taken. You aren't wrong." Kasumi said softly.

"Nothing in particular wrong with living that way, of course. We all have a little mask or two we put on every now and then. A little smile for the cameras, a laugh or two for the audience. But there isn't anything quite like letting the mask slip off a little...is there, Yoshizawa? Finding that one place or that one moment where you can be a little more free..free, indulgement...and little more perverse than what the world is allowed to see."

"Akechi-kun?" Kasumi whispered.

"Apologies. Did I frighten you?"

"No. I...I agree. This past week was...so embarrassing! Humiliating! But...I've never felt more like myself. More alive. Before that the only thing that came close was...being near Senpai. And before that...sis..."

"The only time you can feel alive. Yes. Exactly." Akechi mused.

"Hm."

"Something wrong."

"No. I just...I've never seen you quite like this, Akechi-San. You are a much more intense sort of person than I realized." Kasumi mused.

"Well, it would hardly do to let the public see their detective prince acting so...intensely, now would it? There's a certain amount of charm and purity they want to see in their defenders of justice, after all. Does that frighten you, Yoshizawa. Being this 'intense sort of person' in private."

"....No. You aren't the first person I've seen without a mask."

"I'm sure. But maybe you should be frightened. That Senpai. Amamiya. You know he has a record."

"Really, Akechi-san. Of course I know about that. We both know why he has one, too."

"Yes. Very noble. Attacking an adult to protect a victim of ****. Very noble. And very stupid. He charged headlong into a fight with no regard for the consequences. And you've seen what it cost him. His public image is ruined, his classmates shun him, his own parents have all but disowned him. Every time I see him in public his head is down, his eyes are hidden behind those fake glasses he wears."

"Senpai has ways to take off his mask, too, Akechi-san."

"I'm aware. But your missing the point. What he is under his mask hasn't changed. He's self-destructive. He can't abide letting people suffer around him. He can't help but intervene. And he doesn't care what the consequences will be for him. Or the people who gather around him. I don't have any hope left for him, I'm afraid. But you don't have to be dragged down with him. Severing those ties now would be in your best interest."

"....."

"Yoshizawa?"

"That might be true. But that sounds like the hollow me would do. Running away. Pretending to be someone else...pretending not to want what I want. I'm tired of that mask, Akechi-san. Aren't you?"

"...Tch."

",,,Akechi-san. I'm sorry if-"

"Quite all right. I've said my peace. It seemed like the courteous thing to do. But if you want to live a life without any...masks...to wear, that's entirely your choice to make. And just like him the consequences will be on you to bear."

"Akechi-san?"

"Are they still at it?" Akechi nodded towards the tall woman bickering with Sae. "You'll have to excuse me. This is clearly going to take awhile."

"Err...Akechi-kun! Who...who is she? The woman talking to Niijiima-san?"

"Her? Heh. An old annoyance stepping back into the spot light. Just to give you a brief sketch...if you've ever wondered who Sae cursed before she cursed the Phantom Thieves, or who she blamed for every setback and dead end and investigation that went nowhere...look no further. We've been investigating the mental shutdowns for several years now, certainly much longer than the Phantom Thieves have been operating. And any attempt to learn more about cognitive Psience or any related fields has persistently been stifled or hindered by one certain woman. We assumed she'd finally given up...whatever it was she was trying to hide from us. She all but vanished from the public spotlight earlier this year, just as the Phantom Thieves were making their debut. I have no idea what's brought her back out into the open. In any case, Yoshizawa-san, take a good look at the most hated Nemesis of Sae Niijiima outside of little band of heart thieves. Mrs. Mitsuru Kirijo."

"Mitsuru...Kirijo." Kasumi repeated softly, almost as if she were tasting the name on her lips.

"In any case, I'm taking my leave. Good luck with the rest of your evening, Yoshizawa-san." Akechi muttered. "Your going to need it."

The argument between the two women had drawn a sizable crowd, including stray popparazi hoping to catch a photo of the mourning Okumura scion. Kasumi watched the shouting match unfold, a little dazed that any woman had the tenacity to stand up to the sister of Makoto Niijiima (who had instilled in Kasumi's mind an image of pure ungodly terror when it came to her older sibling).

The attack came without any warning or preamble. One moment, the two women were snarling in one another face, the next an audible 'shrip' filled and Sae embroidered black buisness jacket suddenly burst open, the clasp clearly severed down the middle.

"What...what on Earth? Kirijo, what on Earth do you think you doing?" Sae roared.

"Me? Just what are you-" Mitsuru began, only to gasp in shock as an extensive portion of hardened leather running from the elbow on her right hand to her shoulder and half her neckline burst apart as a sudden series of slashes appeared along the seam, leaving only bare skin and the nylon material underneath the thicker suit that clung even more tightly to her curves.

"What are you-" Sae began, only to scream as her black pants burst apart and fell to her ankles, exposing her black satin panties.

"We're under attack! Get behind me!" Mitsuru exclaimed, drawing a strange looking rapier with a reddish glow thrumming along the length. Her defensive stance proved negligible another length of black leather hugging her left hip down to her ankle burst apart exposing a sizable amount of her outer thigh and shapely butt.

"This...this cannot be happening!" Sae declared, bending forward to reclaim her pants, only to find the back of her black undershirt reduced to tatters. She looked desperately left and right, trying to comprehend where the culprit had come from. A second later the front of her shirt seemed to disintegrate into threads and tatters, as if a thousand knives had torn it to shreds in the blink of an eye.

"We have to get out of the open before-" Kirijo said, moving forward even as she felt the remaining leather of her arms and legs like chunks of masonry falling from a collapsing building. Aside from her leather belt and holster for her Evoker the herself reduced to leather gloves, high heels, and a thick mesh of leather around her stomach that looked more like a one piece swim suit than proper armor. The rest of her costume was a random mishmash of form fitting nylon and bare skin.

"Whoever you are I swear I'll-" Sae screamed, only to redouble of volume as she felt black satin bra pop open followed by her daring satin panties. Mortified, the tokyo prosecutor desperately hugged her jacket to hide her naked body.

"Niijiima! Sae-san!" Mitsuru screamed, rushing to the humiliated woman's side. With her free hand she attempted to hold the remaining leather in place. All for nothing, she found her hand moved inexplicably out of the way as her remaining armor fell to pieces. The red haired woman blushed profusely her naked body was visible beneath the pieces of nylon that made up her under costume. As was her habit, the Kirijo scion had forgone undergarments to avoid any uncomfortable chaffing from the form fitting costume.

"This...this isn't happening! It has to be a nightmare!" Sae declared. Even as Mitsuru attempted to clutch at the other woman protectively, a lightning quick series of slashes destroyed the rest of Sae's jacket. Mitsuru felt the material covering her substantial breasts torn to ribbons, even as the rest of her nylon ensemble was cut apart leaving her skin bare and reddening. Between them Sae now wore nothing but her black high heels and the necklace around her neck while Mitsuru had only her leather gloves, black leather high heeled boots, and the swordbelt around her waste and the evoker strapped to her hip.

A moment later the two naked women found the last of their personal space gone, their ample breasts squeezed against each other and their legs entwined. Both women found the handcuffs they had been carrying on their person now repurposed towards shackling their limbs together in a humiliating pose. The news media was loving the scene, the air pulsing with the lights from camera flashes all around them.

The entire event had taken place in mere moments. Kasumi watched like a deer in headlights.

"Kasumi! Use the app now! Someone's attack them from the metaverse. They're using the frozen time to humiliate their opponents." Morgana cried.

"R-Right!" Kasumi stammered, ransacking her school bag for her phone. But just as she had it in her grasp it vanished. Kasumi spotted it yards away in the street. But even as she ran for it she felt her poor skirt suddenly sliding off her hips as an invisible slice cut it in half.

"No! Please no!" Kasumi begged, hiding her nether regions even as she felt the back of her shirt cut apart. The back of her sleeves were the next to go. Kasumi attempted to cling to the pitiful remains of her shirt, hugging the tattered remains even as she felt her poor bra sliced apart and cut from her shoulders.

"Please. Its...its only been a week!" Kasumi begged, even as the last of her shirt seemed to disintegrate in her hands. "Please not again! I don't want to be naked in public!"

Alas her wishes were arrayed entirely against the reality of her situation. Aside from her red heeled shoes Kasumi Yoshizawa found herself completely and utterly naked in the middle of downtown Tokyo. Hunching over in utter humiliation, the red haired freshman tried feebly to hide her shaven mound and ample breasts behind her hands. She closed her eyes, feeling tears of mortification welling up even as a familiar wetness pooled between her legs and her nipples stood at attention. Kasumi whimpered in humilation as the laughing papparazzi gamely added her nakedness to the reel of shame they had collected of the other women.