September 18, 2042*
The day where the Higanbana girls are going to investigate a ruined Clad of Black Wings base has arrived.
Natsuki: Mmm... Bathroom...
It was still dark out and Natsuki had woken up in need to use the bathroom.
Shut!
She quietly left the room and walked towards the bathroom but upon closing the door.
Shake~
It shook behind her.
Natsuki: Hmm? Oops... Yawn~ I hope I didn't wake anyone up...
But she brushed it off as a small mistake she had done and proceeded towards the bathroom.
A few minutes later~
Shut!
Natsuki: Haa~ I feel better.
After relieving herself at the bathroom, Natsuki headed back towards Miku's room when suddenly—
Shake~!
Natsuki: Hmm?
A loud shaking sound came from Kaneki's room, curious she walked towards it.
Natsuki: Hmm~
Still sleepy, Natsuki didn't think much of it and walked towards Kaneki's room door.
Shake~!
Natsuki: Eh?
But upon reaching it, she was jolted fully awake after locking her eyes towards Kaneki's room door.
Natsuki: W-Whats going on?
She was frightened seeing that it was shaking and was hesitant on opening it, thinking there would be an intruder.
Natsuki: No...
But she thought that if someone broke into his room, some of his stuff would be stolen.
Grip!
She gathered enough courage and grabbed onto the doorknob and entered the room.
Swoosh!
Natsuki: W-Who is there?!
But upon entering, Natsuki didn't see anyone inside nor did she see any trace of anyone entering.
Natsuki: ...
But just to be safe, she looked around his room from underneath his bed to his window, to his closet. But there was no sign of anyone in the room.
After carefully inspecting his room, Natsuki got out and carefully the door before going back to Miku's room.
Natsuki's thoughts*
(Is someone pranking me?)
Though she thought someone was pranking her, upon entering Miku's room she saw that her friends were all still sleeping.
Shino: ... Kaneki... Please come back... Zzz
Chikao: Kaneki hug me... Zzz
Miku: Onii-chan... Zzz
Sachi: No... I don't want banana bread Zzz
Yuuka: Kaneki please hug me... Zzz
(Yup they're all definitely sleeping, maybe it was all just in my head?)
After seeing her friends still asleep, Natsuki dismissed what she saw as just something in her head.
(I better get back to sleep, we have an investigation after school.)
Remembering that she alongside her friends, will be investigating a Clad of Black Wings ruined base.
Natsuki went back to sleep so she would get enough energy for when she and her friends eventually get sent there.
Many hours later~
Natsuki: Mmm...
Many hours had passed and now Natsuki was at Mato High with her friends were having lunch in the classroom.
And currently they were talking about how everyone wasn't making a big deal out of the incident involving Shino, Yuuka, Miku and Kaneki.
Sachi: Thank goodness everything calmed down here at school.
Chikao: I'm surprised everyone believed us.
Sachi: We have Ai-chan to thank for! Seriously she helped us out big time!
With Kotori's help everyone understood the situation more, but everyone had mixed feelings regarding Shino, Yuuka and Miku.
Considering they now know that they wanted to fix their relationship with Kaneki for a long time, but they chose the worse possible decisions like sticking with him for three whole months.
But as of right now, the Higanbana girls won't mind everyone else's opinion.
Yuuka: I... Kinda feel guilty for making Kotori-san defend us...
Shino: Yeah...
Miku: I can't believe she went out of her way to tell everyone...
As for Shino, Yuuka and Miku they felt a bit guilty for making Kotori explain in their place.
Natsuki: Mmm...
All 5: Natsuki?
The rest of the Higanbana girls noticed Natsuki deep in her thoughts.
Natsuki: Yes?
Shino: You were quiet for so long.
Miku: Are you nervous about going to the ruined base later?
Natsuki: N-No that's not it. I just can't get something out of my mind.
All 5: Eh? What is it?
Natsuki: Well it happened I think around 1 or 2 A.M-
Natsuki explained to her friends about the strange shaking that happened with Kaneki's room door.
All 5: Eh?
Miku: Are you sure you weren't dreaming that time?
Natsuki: No. Like I said I used the bathroom at that time, so I was awake.
Miku: Maybe you were just seeing things.
Natsuki: Yeah maybe so.
Kotori: Yo!
All 6: !!!
Kotori suddenly appeared, startling the Higanbana girls.
Miku: You scared us!
Kotori: Sorry hehe~ anyways. I picked a ruined base for you girls to investigate.
Shino: You did?
Kotori: Yup. And Miku-chan is a little familiar with it.
All 6: What?
Miku: What do you mean?
Kotori: Well... The base I'm sending you girls at will be the same base that Miku-chan was brought to when she was kidnapped, the same base where Kaneki killed off what remained of the Clad of Black Wings.
Hearing that they were going to be sent to such a place, the Higanbana girls looked at Miku since they weren't sure whether or not she was fine with it.
Miku: I see. Is that all?
But Miku didn't show any sign of fear.
Kotori: I see, so you're fine with it. Alright there's more, I've already sent some researchers there but we discovered that the base was a lot bigger than we thought. I've already made a map of the base and I'll give it to you girls once I sent you there.
Yuuka: So you want us to explore and investigate these unexplored areas?
Kotori: Correct. Although it's probably not likely you'll find anything directly related to the person who was involved in the incident. We might find something that could possibly even a tiny bit lead to this person.
All 6: Nod~
They nodded in agreement.
Kotori: Good, you all understand. Well then I'll see you later, I need to discuss some things with Querxes Sensei.
Kotori then left.
And after she left, Itsuki and Keiko walked up to the Higanbana girls.
Itsuki: Hey guys.
Keiko: How are you all doing now?
They were a bit worried considering how things went the previous day.
Yuuka: We're doing well, thanks for asking.
Natsuki: Although I was surprised you two knew about Shino, Yuuka and Miku being Shiita-chan, Miyu-chan and Miha-chan.
Natsuki's comment made both Itsuki and Keiko anxious.
Itsuki & Keiko: Hehe~ Well Kaneki did made us shut up.
Natsuki: Don't worry I'm not mad, although I'm still mad at them for lying to me.
All 5: Hehe...
Shino, Yuuka, Miku, Sachi and Chikao let out a small embarrassed laugh after Natsuki said that.
Itsuki: By the way, we heard that you guys are going to find the person who manipulated you three. Are you sure that's a good idea?
Keiko: Yeah if they can manipulate your actions, wouldn't that be concerning?
Sachi: Ai-chan told us this morning that she prepared something just in case that would happen.
Chikao: Yeah. Although she just told us the likeliness of us actually finding anything this person is very, very low so we have our work cut out for us.
Keiko: I see~
Itsuki: Anyhow, is it alright if we visit Kaneki?
Keiko: Yeah? We're worried about him.
Natsuki: Sorry but, it's not up to us.
Itsuki: Oh... I understand.
Keiko: Yeah. They're adding more security for his safety right?
The two were understanding of the current circumstances.
Itsuki: Well tell us when it's safe to visit him okay?
Keiko: Yeah. We're really worried about Kaneki.
Seeing how concerned Itsuki and Keiko were for Kaneki. Shino, Yuuka and Miku felt guilty once again.
Keiko: Well then, we'll see you guys later.
Itsuki: Good luck on your investigation.
Itsuki and Keiko then left.
Natsuki: Well... I hope you guys are ready.
All 5: Nod~
With that they went back to having lunch and discussing their plans for when they arrive to the ruined base.
A few hours later~
Kotori: Good just in time.
Immediately after school ended, the Higanbana girls met up with Kotori at Mato High's track field.
Kotori: I've already sent Papa and Aiya-Mama to a different ruined base with the Shirogane family accompanying them.
Natsuki: That's good to hear.
Miku: Um...
Kotori: Don't worry, they'll be safe. Anyways, here you girls should wear these.
Swoosh
Kotori threw six items towards the Higanbana girls.
All 6: Woah!
They were able to catch them and when they took a close look at them.
The items given to them were...
All 6: Bracelets?
They were surprised to be given bracelets of all things.
Kotori: These are the council's anti-ability shields, they will protect you from any ability that anyone tries to use on you hopefully even possible mind control.
Shino: Wait what do you mean possible mind control?
Kotori: We never really encountered anything as mind control, so this is just a gamble.
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: Ah....
Shino, Yuuka and Miku grew more worried with Kotori's not so reassuring words.
Kotori: This is better than not having any protection at all.
Natsuki, Sachi & Chikao: Thank you, Kotori-san/Ai-chan.
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: Thanks...
After thanking Kotori, the Higanbana girls wore the anti-ability shields on their arms.
Kotori: Now then, I'll be sending you girls there now. Gold luck.
Splash!
All 6: Woah!
Splash
A pool of black goo from darkness travel appeared beneath their feet and the Higanbana fell into it.
Splash!
Natsuki: Argh.... Where are we?
As they emerged at the other side, they found themselves near a mountain in a grass field.
Miku: Oh... It's this way.
Miku immediately knew they were close, she began to lead them towards the entrance to the base.
The rest followed her untill they found a huge hole in the ground with metal on the sides.
Natsuki: So this is the place?
Chikao: That's... So deep.
Yuuka: How are we supposed to get down there?
Since Miku doesn't really know where the actual entrance was, their only option was the huge hole.
But without any equipment they were basically stuck.
Natsuki: How re we supposed to go down there?
Splash!
As they were wondering about how to get down, another pool of black goo appeared and Ku-kun emerged.
Ku-kun: Hey everyone!
All 6: Ku-kun?!
Ku-kun: Hello! Kotori told me to help you guys on your investigation.
Yuuka: Shouldn't everyone else be with us though?
Ku-kun: Well they were needed for something, so I'll be the only one here for now.
Natsuki: Really? Well can you help us out? We need to get down there.
Ku-kun: Let me see.
Buzz~
Ku-kun approached the hole and looked down to see how deep it was.
Ku-kun: Oh~ I see~ alright then, just a moment.
Swoosh!
Poof!
He flew down into the hole and grew bigger.
Ku-kun: Get on!
He grew big enough for his head to cover the hole.
Following his request, the Higanbana girls got onto his head and they started going down.
A few minutes later~
After slowly going down so to not damage the base any further, the Higanbana girls and Ku-kun had reached the bottom most floor.
Poof!
Ku-kun: Oh yeah! Here's the map as well!
After they got off Ku-kun's head and he shrunk back down, they were given a hologram map of the base.
Natsuki: So we'll need to follow this line?
Yuuka: Yup. Let's go to this spot. it seems to be the most spacious one so we'll probably find a lot of things.
Natsuki: Alright then, you take the lead.
Yuuka: I will.
After giving the map to Yuuka, the Higanbana girls and Ku-kun began exploring the ruined base heading towards the unexplored areas.
Chikai: I'm surprised this place was clean. Didn't you say that Kaneki killed everyone in here, Miku?
Miku: Onee-chan probably cleaned out the corpses of that cult.
Yuuka: Yeah it would be hard to study this base if it was filled with corpses.
Natsuki: Are we there yet?
Yuuka: No we're still far.
A few minutes later~
After walking through many room, they finally reached the entrance to the huge unexplored area. Although...
Shino & Sachi: Um... Isn't this just a wall?
But they only found a wall.
Yuuka: It says here that this was the entrance... Maybe it's a secret-
Poof!
Ku-kun: Screw this!
Bash!
Not wanting to waste any time, Ku-kun grew big and pierced his mandibles through the wall before bashing through it.
Ku-kun: We're in!
Yuuka: Ku-kun! You could've broke something! Don't be reckless!
All 5: Don't do that you idiot!!!
The Higanbana girls scolded Ku-kun for his recklessness.
Ku-kun's thoughts*
(Hehe~ well it seems like they're getting along again)
Although he was just happy to see them getting along again.
All 6: Geez...
Ku-kun: It doesn't look like I broke anything, c'mon let's go!
The Higanbana girls them followed.
But immediately after entering the room, they found...
Chikao: Hey... Doesn't this place seem like?
Yuuka: Yeah... It looks like a plac of worship right? Like a church?
There were many seats similar to those seen in churches.
But since it was dark they could barely see anything.
Sachi who had separated from the group after entering began touching the walls when—
Sachi: Hey look I found something! It looks like a switch!
All 6: Sachi Wait!
As everyone tried to get to her before she could flick it.
Flick!
They were too late and she flicked it.
Flash!
Everyone: Argh!
The room quickly was filled with a bright blinding light, but as soon as their eyes adjusted to the brightness and their vision returned.
Natsuki: W-What?!
In front of the many rows of chairs, was a podium and behind it was...
Yuuka: W-We definitely found something!
Sachi & Chikao: What is that?!
Shino & Miku: Scary!
They saw multiple murals, all depicting a burning landscape, giant monster devouring people and the center mural depicting a Demon and a Human standing side by side.
Each mural had text that they could not read.
What could all of these murals mean?