At the hideout of the warriors of hope there was a memorial with a picture of masaru with Monica kotogo and jataro saying rest in peace.
While nagisa was of to the side with his arms crossed unconvinced that masaru is dead.
Nagisa: guys come on masaru can't be dead.
Monica: how could you be so sure nagisa?
Nagisa: well according to what the monokuma kids said masaru was saved by that black haired demon we saw before.
That caused the other two to turn around.
Kotoko: he was saved by a demon? You're joking right?
Nagisa: no I'm not trust me I asked them and they said that they said that all he did was take his keys and get out he didn't even hit him or anything.
Jataro: I might be a dummy but even I know that that's impossible.
Kotoko: yeah nagisa you're most be hearing things wrong.
Nagisa: I'm telling you guys it's the truth masaru might be still alive if we put up a search party we can-
Monica: there's no point! Masaru is dead! If he was still alive he would be here right now wouldn't he!?
Nagisa: I'm sorry but all I'm saying is that we should double check he is-
Monica: it doesn't matter if there's no body or no sign of him than he's dead don't you get that!?
Kotoko: my my. You really made Monica blow a gasket nagisa.
Jataro: heh heh heh. I guess you're gonna be the hated one now.
Nagisa just sighed in defeat if he couldn't convince Monica to at least make sure he's still alive than there's no point.
Nagisa: alright fine you win. Masaru is dead killed by the demons. There happy?
Monica: yes Monica is very happy. But quick question nagisa. Do you like me?
Nagisa: huh? What do you mean?
Monica: do you like Monica or not?
Nagisa: wait wait hold on is it romantic like? Or-
Monica's face then turned blank.
Monica: you know nagisa. The way you talk. You sound just like an adult.
That sent a chill down nagisa's spine and the other two members turned to him.
Kotoko: excuse me?
Jataro: you're an adult?
Nagisa: what!? No I'm gonna be a kid till I die.
Monica: then do you like Monica?
Nagisa: y-yeah I do. but don't get the wrong idea though! I like as an ally nothing more.
Monica: that's good enough for Monica.
She then controlled her wheel chair to get to the door.
Kotoko: huh where are you going?
Monica: Monica has some stuff to do. Don't worry I won't gone for long.
However before Monica reached the nob she turned to nagisa with a smile.
Monica: oh by the way nagisa you're the leader of the warriors of hope now.
And with that she left leaving behind a surprise nagisa.
After leaving the room the room Monica took out her pad to check of masaru's wear abouts however to her misfortune the signal was lost.
She then decided to pick up on the last thing masaru's pad picked up.
When she did she heard the voice of max and Harley shooting and running away and how max and Harley figured out that the monokumas were tracking masaru's pad and they broke it.
This was a problem but at the same time this was interesting.
The original plan for masaru was him loosing and being locked up in a cell hidden from the warriors of hope and assumed dead.
But this guy and the junko look alike girl saved him and they sounded like they were used to this especially with what she heard when max was what she can make out was running fast.
Monica: this isn't part of my plan but if Komaru is still doing what I'm expecting to do then my plan is till in the making.
She was positive that her plan was going to work and the two uninvited guest weren't going to get in the way.
After finding an abandoned apartment building max and Harley settled down while masaru was left in a bed.
The two then got to talking about their secret abilities and max was first.
He explained everything about exorcist spirits and how he can basically see ghost and have powers and how he works for an organization to keep everything in check.
And Harley's response.
Harley: I don't believe you.
Max just raised an eyebrow and got up and gestured for Harley to get up too.
The two were beside masaru and max extended his hand and two black tendril wrapped themselves around his arm and hand and he amplified it with his stocked up healing energy.
Harley saw faint black flames on masaru but she was shocked when she saw masaru's injuries closed and look like they were never injured.
Max: believe me now?
Harley: how did you-
Max: I can heal people but it doesn't recover stamina but it closes up the wounds pretty well.
They both sat down while Harley got to doing some maintenance on her guns and make sure she has some extra ammo which fortunately she does but she will have to save some just in case.
Harley: so what you're some sort of ghost hunter?
Max: no I'm basically more like police that keeps the spiritual world secret.
Harley: and why is that?
Max: why do you think? Humans are idiots World War One and two are an example of that and not to mention this incident was caused by kids with resources and image the greater damage it could cause with spiritual power? And not to mention they would experiment on spirits that used to be human mind you. And the amount of panic the public will be in knowing that they might or not become monster and not to mention the increase in cult activity would be through the roof. So that's why the spiritual side of the world is hidden because god only knows how would humanity react to it.
Harley was a bit caught off guard by his rant but after listening she can understand why now after she was literally in a war zone caused by kids and not to mention she already experienced the harsh environment in Gotham.
Harley: I get it. And yeah you're right humans can do some stupid stuff.
She looked at her arm to see her veins they weren't pulsing green but she can still feel it.
Harley: so you're are an. exorcist right?
Max: yup my job is to make sure that things are in order by that I mean that no bad spirits aren't causing too much problems or make sure that some people like cults don't go too far.
Harley look down at the bracelet she was wearing and she remembered that max gave it to her and she felt something strange.
Harley: so this bracelet what is it?
Max: a translation charm.
Harley: a translation charm? Is that why those guys speak perfect English instead of Japanese?
Max: yeah. I figured it would be a pain in the ass to teach you Japanese so I gave you that instead.
Harley: why did you even kept this?
Max: i used it once in awhile to talk to spirits who were from different countries the reason why i know Japanese it's because my mom is Japanese herself and she taught me the language.
Harley: that's funny cause you don't look Japanese.
Max: I'm not my mom adopted me to the family.
Harley: oh. What happen to you're actual parents.
Max's body suddenly tensed and Harley could have sworn she felt killing intent for a brief moment.
Max: there dead to me.
She was briefly caught of guard but she quickly put together that his parents weren't great and she could relate.
Max shook of those thoughts and forced on her.
Max: it's your turn. I shared my powers and my world. Now it's your turn.
Harley hesitated for a moment but she remembered that she agreed to max's terms and he talked so she guessed it's her turn to keep her end of the bargain.
She stopped on her maintenance and showed her arm and tensed her muscles and green veins appeared glowing a bit.
Harley: my strength and ability come from the drug inside my body and it's called venom. And trust me it's not exactly pleasant to have. It burns like a mother fucker and it was worse when I was infused with more before half of it was extracted from my body.
Max: so I was right on it being a drug.
Harley: congrats do you want a cookie?
Max: didn't mean anything by that.
Harley: whatever. That's why I'm why I'm so strong dispite not looking like it and I how I'm so agile it's because i was kinda gifted.
Max: so basically you have a drug called venom that basically enhances your body whenever you tense your muscles but you said it burns. you don't look like you're in pain.
Harley couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh at max's comment.
Harley: that's the funny thing. I told you that it burned like hell when I was infused with it to the point that all I could do was scream but once they removed half it took months for me to get use to it and this current point I barely feel anything burning pain.
Max: I see. I can tell you don't like talking about this but I'm gonna ask one more question and you don't have to answer if you don't want. But how exactly did you get that into your system? We're you kidnapped?
Harley however didn't answer his question and stayed silent because she was remembering the person that gave her that damned drug and she shared enough.
Luckily max took the hint and kept his mouth shut from saying anything he got up and took a few steps away to give her some space and waited for Harley to finish.
After a while she was done and was ready to move on.
however there a problem.
Harley: so what do we do with the kid?
Max: don't worry I'll have someone looking out for him.
Harley: and who exactly?
Max didn't answer instead moline materialized right beside him floating in the air which caught Harley off guard.
Harley: what the hell is that!?
Moline: nice to meet you too Harl.
Max: this is my adopted sister moline and she's my guide.
Harley: you're what?
Max: a guide is basically a partner ship between a human and a spirit that basically binds thier souls together. So my sister can see what I see if we both agree on it or talk to me in my head for private conversations.
Harley: so that white thing wasn't just me seeing things?
Max: nope thanks to that tag on the chain you can faintly see traces of spiritual energy that's probably why you got suspicious of me.
Harley: huh. So what's the plan with your sister?
Max: my plan is to have moline travel with this kid and she can let me know of her status.
Harley: well considering that those monokumas were chasing him I guess that he isn't faking it. Plus this kid so far isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.
Max: well anyway case we need to find where Komaru and the others are.
Harley: and how exactly are gonna find them?
Max: I'll explain on the way.
They got out of the apartment but moline had some things to say.
Moline: hey Harl.
Harley stopped and looked back at moline.
Moline: I recall the times that you threatened my bro. Just as a warning do that again and I'll chew you up and spit out your bones. And believe me that's a promise.
Harley felt that she was serious and she just nodded she then looked at max.
Harley: your sister is nice.
Max: don't mind her she's just over protective. The funny thing is that she's actually older than me despite her looking like a kid but still calls me big bro.
She couldn't help but feel a little jealous because she didn't have any siblings and the fact that even though they weren't blood related she's willing to protect him.
Harley: that sounds nice.
Back with moline.
A few minutes after max and Harley left moline notched that Masaru was waking up.
She decided to make herself visible instead of being an invisible guard for this kid.
And she's planning to do something about his idea of driving humanity to extinction with their stupidity.
When masaru glacéd her way he freaked out and fell off the bed.
He then got up and took steps to back up away from her.
Masaru: wha- what the hell are you!?
Moline: I'm the one who my brother told me to watch over you.
Masaru: huh.
He then remembered fighting the black haired demon but in reality he was more flailing than anything.
Masaru: you're related to that black haired demon?
That gave him a glare from moline and masaru felt a chill down his spine.
Moline: call my bro a demon and I'll make sure you wish it was the monokumas who shred you to pieces.
Masaru: what are gonna do-
Moline in the blink of an eye appeared before him and she had her claws right near his throat.
Moline: I'll kill you. That's what I'll do. My bro did you a favor and saved your ass from death so don't make me be the one to explain why I killed you. And trust me I'll do it.
Masaru decided to stay quiet while he was trembling in fear and moline re tracked her claws and backed up from him and sat on the bed.
Masaru was quiet for a while until he finally spoke.
Masaru: hey what are you? You look like a kid but you act like an adult. And why do you even look like that?
Moline: that's simple I'm a spirit. As for why I talk like I'm older than I look. That's because I technically I'm older than my bro. I died as a kid and I developed the mindset of an adult. But I'm a kid at heart.
Masaru: if you're a ghost then how can I see you?
Moline: I can make myself invisible to you and you be able to hear me either.
She demonstrates by disappearing from masaru's sight and walk right behind him and pat him on the shoulder which In response masaru felt a chill on said shoulder.
Moline made herself visible once again sitting on the bed.
Moline: I just patted you're shoulder. Don't freak out.
Masaru: hey. Why do you follow the orders of an adult? Their evil and their the enemies of kids!
Moline: do I look like I give too shits about a paradise for kids? I've grown out of that phase along time ago and as for why I do whatever my brother tells me it's because I have trust and respect for him and he respects me back.
Masaru: that's all adults do it's manipulate kids to do what they want your bro is-
Moline: shut up. You don't know my brother he was the one took me in when I had nowhere to go and he introduced me to a family that accepted me and all they did was show me support. Sure we fought a couple of times but it was mostly harmless and my bro cares for me.
Moline glared intensified.
Moline: so stop talking like you know everything about adults because you don't know anything about my brother or my family.
That hit hard Masaru because hearing someone talk so passionately about their adults was a complete foreign concept to him because to him all adults were demons.
And hearing moline talking about that black haired demon felt alien but..why did he felt jealous.
Moline analyzed masaru's body language and she can tell that she struck him right where it hurts and then she remembered how he had an emotional episode where he mentioned pain and alcohol smell and she can piece together what's he's been through.
Moline: you freaked out at that arena saying things about alcohol and pain.
That froze him up.
Moline: let me guess your parents were drunken abusive parents that took their anger out on you for just existing?
Masaru started to shake.
Moline: and you pretend to be tough but your scared of adults themselves. Right.
Masaru then started to cry and this time he didn't fought with his own pain. Because what was the point?
The paradise plan was a lie and he was abandoned by Monica who gave him hope to avenge big sis junko was a lie.
What was the point of pretending to be strong when someone you trust just abandons you like trash.
Moline looked at masaru's crying form and she just waited for him to let it out.
After a while of crying Masaru suddenly asked something.
Masaru: what am I supposed to do now? Monica lied to me and left me to die and if I go out the monokumas will kill me.
Moline: well we have two opinions. Wait here or roam around while I make sure to keep those damn bears off our backs.
Masaru: how exactly are gonna fight the monokumas?
Moline: I have my ways.
She made her way to the door but Masaru asked something else.
Masaru: hey that black haired guy.
Moline: max.
Masaru: yeah him. Why did he saved me? I would have thought that after what we did he would have left me to die.
Moline: that's because you reminded him of himself when he was a kid.
Masaru: huh?
Moline: I'm not gonna say much. Because it's not my right. But max's parents were scum and they almost got him killed it's a miracle that he's still alive and he was lucky to run into a woman that took him in because what happened left him with amnesia.
Masaru: amnisia?
Moline: it's basically memory loss. And in a way it was a blessing in disguise.
That gave Masaru some thought because he thought that all adults have it easy and just abuse kids but hearing what max went through just made him feel. Guilty?
He just shook it off and followed moline out the door.
With max and harley.
Everything that moline heard and thoughts were passed on to max who now had his suspicions confirmed this take over isn't what it seems. There's a bigger plan going on.
Harley: so how exactly are we planning on finding them.
Max: well I can sense the spiritual signatures of people and so far there over there.
He pointed at a tower that looks like a rotating puzzle.
Max: looks like their there and fortunately they are together. Let's go.
The two got moving and when they got there they saw them surrounded by monokumas.
Max: looks like we might need to give them cover fire.
The two got out thier fire arms and shot the monokumas luckily there were a fewer monokumas thanks to Komaru and genocide Jack and yuta.
After finishing off the remaining monokumas max and Harley parkored their way down and they meet up with the others.
Komaru: max!? Harley!? Is that really you?
Max: why do you-
Before he could finish Komaru launch herself at both of them and she hugged them tightly.
Komaru: do you have any idea how worried I was!? I thought that you guys were dead!
Yuta: yeah where were you?
Harley: we were over ran by monokumas who were dancing for some reason.
Toko who was back in control thanks to shock in her brain.
Toko: well you sure took your damn time! I was starting to think that you two were lost causes.
Max: sorry but we had to lay low for a while until the dancing hoard cleared up.
Harley: speak of which where were you three?
Komaru: I'll tell you on the way right now we have to get to towa tower. So that we can contact future foundation.
Harley: with what?
Komaru took out her back pack and she showed them the laptop made by future foundation.
Max: I'm guessing that your goal is to the top?
Yuta: huh? How do you know?
Max: just a guess in situations like this the signals are usually down and hard to get a hold off.
Harley: so your plan is to get to the top of this thing and contact the organization and get help huh?
Toko: yeah.. that's the plan.
Harley noticed that Toko looked hesitant and as much as the girl gave her the stink eye she herself was acting really damn suspicions.
Yuta: come on we wasted enough time here we need to get to the top and call future foundation for help.
With that they went to towa tower and when they got inside they saw two things that stood out.
Harley: uhh I might be blind but I see one monokuma statue and another that's fallen over. But why the hell are they here?
Yuta: maybe the kids ordered the monokumas to put them there? I don't know.
Max: whatever the case let's go.
However max kept a note of the monokuma statues on a towa associated place. Yeah anyone with a brain can see that this is suspicious as hell.
They walked pass an elevator like structure and Komaru checked it out.
Komaru: hey why don't we use the elevator?
Toko: I highly doubt it will work knowing our luck.
Harley checked it out and came to a conclusion.
Harley: well good news. The thing isn't broken.
Yuta: and better new?
Harley: more like inconvenience. The damn thing needs a key card.
Max: welp the elevator is a no go. So let's go.
After saying that they made their way to the stairs and max asked Komaru of what happened on their end.
Back with moline and Masaru.
Moline and Masaru were in a store with snacks because Masaru was hungry.
As for why moline was eating despite being a spirit a being that doesn't need Normal food.
Well sue her and other spirits but they enjoy the taste of normalcy.
Luckily being a spirits doesn't mean loss of taste buds and she can't get hungry.
Masaru was eating chips while looking at moline with a bunch of questions.
Masaru: hey you're name is moline right? If you're a ghost then why are you eating this?
Moline: sue me. I enjoy the taste of normal food once in a while.
Masaru: okay so what else can you eat? That isn't this?
Moline: I basically do cannibalism.
Masaru: what is canobalism?
Moline looked at him like he was an idiot of saying it wrong. But she then remembered that Masaru was the type of kid that probably doesn't pay attention to big words.
Moline: cannibalism is basically humans eating other humans. Thought in the case of spirits we each each other to get stronger.
Masaru was stunned by the new bit of information.
Masaru: you eat other ghost!?
Moline: well I mostly eat the ones that attack me and my bro or my family in general.
When she said family again Masaru felt like that should be wrong adults were nothing but demons that abuse kids and hearing who's not exactly a kid but enough to pass as one was talking highly of adults like they were idols and he didn't even know why but his mouth talked without his control.
Masaru: what's your mom. like?
Moline:mmm? Oh she's the best,she works for an organization that makes sure the world doesn't go to hell but she's actually retired but stills provides help when they ask her. And not to mention her tails
That peeked his interest.
Masaru: tails?
Moline stopped eating to give of the impression that he let that slip but in reality she planned this from the beginning to get through this kid's skull that some adults aren't bad it's just that sometimes their personality just suck.
And plus she already revealed that spirits existed she couldn't exactly take it back.
Moline: oh yeah. Mom isn't actually human she's a kitsune spirits and she's really great with kids in total I have 2 siblings my mom takes care of.
Masaru: I guess she decided that 2 were better than just one huh?
Moline: oh we aren't related at all.
Masaru stopped eating at that.
Masaru: what?
Moline: my bro and I aren't related at all we're actually adopted siblings no blood relations or anything.
This was news to masaru because he had never heard of that.
Masaru: wait! wait! wait!! Hold on are you telling me that and you and that max guy aren't related at all then how did your mom even-
Moline: oh that's the thing. Spirits don't exactly have internal organs just special body parts like how I have two stomachs but more importantly my mom who's a kitsune can't have kids because she doesn't have organs or genetals to do the dirty.
This whole thing blew his mind because he never knew that non blood related kids and adults can be taken care of by other adults that weren't their own parents.
Moline looked and she can quickly get that this kid has never heard the concept of adoption.
If moline was being in his position and if her parents were abusive she would have killed them a long time ago and sure she would seen as a monster but they will quickly be seen that it was justified.
Now it was moline's turn to ask the questions.
Moline: so tell me who exactly planted the idea that it's okay to kill adults? Oh and don't get the wrong idea I don't plan on defending your scum bag of a parents but I'm just curious because normal kids wouldn't be able to do all of this?
Masaru looked at her and molded over the question and then he had an idea that just clicked in his head.
Masaru: hey! If you're a ghost then did you see her!? At all!?
Moline was a bit caught off guard by masaru's eager expression.
Moline: hold your horses who exactly are talking about?
Masaru: who else!? I want to know if I can talk to big sis junko!
Junko? As in junko enoshima?
Moline was quiet for a while and she stared to get the picture of what was going on.
Moline:(god fucking damn it)
Back with max.
Komaru explained how they found a save haven full with adults and they were helped by a rebeling monokuma named shirokuma which is pretty damn suspicions.
a monokuma going rogue? Yeah he's not buying it.
And then haiji towa came in and he's the supposed leader of the resistance but not doing a good job of that and also the name towa definitely rang many bells in his head.
While he was listening to Komaru's story he received new intel from moline and apparently the kid was associated with junko enoshima.
Actually speaking of junko now that the he saw Harley he can see the similarities however there's still some differences but still this means that these kids were inspired or manipulated by junko to start this riot.
However back in reality they were walking up the stairs and Komaru,yuta and toko were getting tired with dealing with monokumas and it's clear that taking the stairs are gonna take hours.
However max sensed someone ahead the next stairs but they weren't a threat.
How's there!?
That made Komaru and yuta jump which led to Komaru accidentally knocking Toko off the stairs.
The stranger got up and max can see that he was a man with glasses and plain clothes like a professional.
Wait. Your not with those-
However he noticed that they were armed and panicked.
Wait don't shoot!! I swear I'm not gonna do anything to you guys.
Max: we weren't exactly gonna do anything unless you did something first.
Oh I see.
Toko managed to climb back up though she was obviously hurt by her fall.
Toko: and why are you doing in a place like this? Ow. It's pretty suspicious if you ask me.
Oh that. Well you see I came her to keep myself safe from the kids and monokumas and I took one of the computers to take this stupid wrist band off.
Max: I'm guessing you were trying to hack it?
Yeah basically but as you can see it's not exactly going well.
Komaru: wait did you say wrist band?
Huh? Yeah this.
He rolled his sleeves to show his wristband and it was the same as Komaru and yuta.
Yuta: no way. You Are also put through this crazy game too?
Huh?
Both yuta and komaru showed their wrist bands which caugh the man by surprise.
Are you serious? So it's not just me. I'm really sorry if I had found some way to remove it I would have helped.
Yuta: don't worry about it let's just be glad that we found a fellow survivor.
Yeah. But are you guys doing here?
Komaru: oh about that. We came here to get to the top of the tower to contact future foundation for help.
Why the top? No actually that's a stupid question it's because of the jamming waves isn't it?
Yuta: yeah mostly.
Harley: we could have used the elevator but the damn thing won't work with out a key card.
A key card? Mmm actually I might be able to help.
Toko: what? You have one?
No I don't but I might be able to hack it that way it just a shot straight up.
Komaru: that's perfect.
Yuta: we will have to go back to the first floor though. Man what a pain.
Harley: suck it up sports boy. No pain no gain.
Oh wait I don't think I introduced myself. I'm taichi fujisaki.
Toko let out a gasp at that and looked away which max and Harley noticed.
They each introduced to taichi and they got moving to the first floor when they got there taichi hooked up some plugs and connected to the card reader and started tapping away to get the elevator running.
Taichi: this might take some time. I'm good but I'm loosing my edge at my age.
Before anyone could say anything else a hoard of monokumas came at them from the outside.
Max decided to use his black arms fortunately they were invisible to them all but Harley and max pulled on the walkway and pulled it down to block the monokumas from coming at them.
To the point of view of the others the walkway seemed to give out and it fortunately blocked the monokumas.
Yuta let out a sigh of relief.
Yuta: thank god I thought we would have to deal with those bears.
Max: guess god decided to give us a break.
He sent Harley a knowing look and she just looked back with a blank face.
After a while taichi finished and they waited for the elevator.
Taichi: you know I'm starting to feel some hope come back to me thanks to you guys.
Max felt a bad feeling and he decided to vocalize that.
Max: step back I have a bad feeling about this elevator.
Toko: you're just paranoid.
Harley: no he's not kidding I feel it too.
They weren't sure if they should do but they decided to trust them.
After the elevator came down and when it opened two beast monokumas came out and instantly Harley and max got out their pistols and shot at the bears with a rain of bullets.
The beast monokumas weren't prepared for a rain of bullets and each bullet pierced through its body and eventually hit critical points and it shut down.
They stopped firing and saw the scrap heap of two beast monokumas.
They others were wide eyed at this.
Taichi: I guess it was a good thing they told us to back off.
Toko: I keep forgetting that you two have guns.
Max: let's go.
Harley: hold it!
Everyone stopped and they saw Harley picking up the scraps of beast monokumas and putting it in her bag.
Max: what the hell are you doing?
Harley: you kidding this thing didn't explode and now I get to see how these damn bears tick.
Max just shrugged.
He can tell that Harley was skilled with maintaining her weapons and judging by her less than pleased demeanor she had custom made weapons and now she's basically starting from square one.
Toko and Komaru looked unsure especially Toko.
Toko: should we really let her with that?
Max: funny enough I trust her enough to know that she's got magic hands when it comes to weapons or anything that is weapons related.
The elevator ride was silent to say the most Harley was tinkering away at the scraps while taichi was looking at a picture of chihiro when he got accepted to hope's speak.
Yuta was spinning his pipe while Toko was in her own corner looking more and more hesitant by the minute.
Komaru however was felt nervous because if things actually go according to plan then they will finally have a guarantee chance of survival.
Max was beside Harley watching Harley tinker away.
Taichi then spoke.
Taichi: hey you're name is max right? Thanks for saving my Hide back there I could have died if I didn't back up.
Max: don't worry about. Besides I can tell just by looking at you that you're a nice guy.
Taichi: thank you.
It was quiet once again but this time it was Toko who broke it.
Toko: hey omaru.
Komaru: what is it?
Toko: about future foundation maybe we should-
Before she could finish the elevator suddenly stopped and everyone was a bit taken aback.
Toko: huh!? Why did it stop?
Yuta checked numbers and they saw that they were just one floor away from getting to the top.
Yuta: are you kidding me!? We're just one floor away!
Max checked if the doors can be open and luckily the gaps are separate enough to open.
Max: Harls give me a hand.
Harley gave him a look like he was an idiot.
Harley: you can do it yourself dum-
Max gave her a blank look in return and it took a moment for her to realize what he was getting at.
Use little strength to open the doors.
They did just that and when they opened it they saw that they were once again in an area.
Max: ah hell.
Jataro: hey. Why did you guys run here? Did you think you could escape by being somewhere reeeeeal high up? Well too bad. The faster you run the closer I get. Because the world is round. Right?
Harley: who's the kid?
Taichi: I think his name is jataro kamuri. He's supposedly an ultimate in art.
Jataro: so? So do you feel having someone waiting for you? Are you more grossed out? Or do you hate me more?
Toko: I already told you. I hate you enough already.
Jataro: no. That's a lie. When adults look at things they really dispite their eyes are not weak like that. I know it. I've seen those eyes since the day I was born.
Yuta: great another one of the kids that has an excuse.
Toko: yeah. Let me guess you're hiding your face because of some trauma or something. Well not that it matters I'm just curious.
That seemed to make him nervous.
Jataro: no!! You can't see!! Anything but that!! If you see my face your eye balls are gonna rot off!!
Taichi: that. Doesn't make any sense.
Jataro: it's the truth!! There really gonna burn right off!! But if not then why did she force me to wear this mask? Why was I forced to wear this stuffy mask every single day?
Max noticed that komaru's body language was rigid like she was ready to explode.
And he can probably guess it's because of the refugees underneath she probably felt like the kids went too far.
Jataro: oh I get it. I'm just so ugly and hated. More than anyone else on earth.
He then started to ramble about how his face looks from under his mask, clearly showing that he never seen himself in the mirror.
For most of Jataro's ramble max and Harley blocked him out and waited for him to be finished while the others aside Komaru just look disturbed.
Harley and max remained unconvinced
Harley: let me guess he's actually normal looking under that mask?
Max: likely.
Jataro: that's why I'm not wrong!! I'm totally,totally right!!
Toko: jeez I just brought up the subject and you went off the handle. So basically you want revenge on the adults for that right?
Jataro seemed to be puzzled before he slumped and seemed figure out what Toko was saying.
Jataro: oh- ohhh, I see you're just mistaken, it's not something as cheep and silly like that, we just want to change the world. We don't really need to understand, aren't needed in our world anyway. It's fine, fine,fine,fine,fine,FINE!! We're gonna make a kid only paradise!
Instead of cheering the kids bood at him which he guess is what he wants since he instantly noticed that he took pleasure in being hated.
Jataro mold over how the kids even seemed to hate him and max noticed that Komaru looked ready to explode.
Komaru: unforgivable. No matter what reason you have whether you're an adult or a child. You guys killed people! Innocent people! Like it was nothing! I'll never forgive that! Ever!
Instead of being offended Jataro seems to enjoy that response.
Jataro: that's it! Those are the eyes I was talking about! Those eyes that scream "hate"Heheh. Big sis seems to be disgusted by me for real.
All Komaru did was shake her fists in barely contained anger.
Jataro: I don't know what you mean by what you said comparing like and dislike and good and evil. I mean we're trying to change the world. That's why there's nothing wrong with us, no matter how much you hate us. We,aren't,wrong!!
Komaru: what..are you? You killed people and laughed about it!! And claim that you aren't the ones in wrong!? Unfor-
Before she could finish max grabbed her shoulder and gave her a restrained look.
Max: don't bother. Saying that you won't forgive him will just add fuel to his fire more than it already is.
Jataro noticed that max looked at him with a strange look. It wasn't one of hatred nor disgust. It was nothing.
There's no disgust no anger none of were there he just looked at him blankly and he felt a shiver down his spine because all he ever experienced was hatred towards him and he learned to enjoy being hated because it mean that there's no pretending.
But seeing someone looking at him with a blank expression he couldn't tell if it's scares him or worse.
However his thoughts were interrupted when the children seemed to cheer at max's words.
Which understandably baffled jataro.
Jataro: huh!? Whyyyy!? Why are you cheering for the enemy!?
He slumped again.
Jataro: oh I guess is that I'm even hated by the kids too.
The point is proven with the kids once again being proven with the kids booing at him again.
Jataro: see they hate me. They really hate me. Heh.heheheheh. I'm so happy! Heheh. If I'm hated this much then theirs no point in pretending and trying to be liked. I'm free, to do whatever I want.
He then Stuck out his arm as a sign and one of the kids threw his controller at him and that was max's cue to get his sister to deal with this.
With moline.
Her and Masaru were currently sitting on the stair of towa tower masaru wound not stop with asking if moline knew were junko was and she was getting annoyed at this.
Moline: for the last time, no I never met nor know her.
Masaru: how could you not!? She's-
Moline: yeah yeah she took care of you while no adult did and I'll give you the same answer as all the other times you asked I never met her.
Masaru seemed to slump at that.
Masaru: so you really never met big sis junko?
Moline: no and if I'm being honest I don't think I do.
Masaru: why not?
Moline: well from what I've heard she basically brought the end of the world and that's honestly stupid and suicidal.
Masaru: why's that? She revolutionized the world!
Moline: alright than lets me ask you. Where are you gonna live?
Masaru: huh?
Moline: if by revolutionize the world means destroying it that basically means that you're killing the planet no food no resources nothing so then where exactly are you gonna live or do to survive?
Masaru: that's not gonna happen we will-
Moline: and thanks you killing the trees you don't have any oxygen so you will die without it.so basically no matter how you look at it she's basically planned to drive the planet to extinction.
Masaru: that's not true we-
Moline: what? You will find someway to survive? Face reality kid your dragging yourselves to extinction and plus you guys don't understand how the world works,Humans are flawed by nature and that's honestly the main reason why the spiritual the spiritual side is hidden from the world because humans beings can do something stupid. And right now I'm looking at one and that's you.
Masaru tired to come up with a comback but nothing was coming because when he for once actually thought about it this whole paradise for children was never gonna happen in the first place.
Moline: you said that junko is the only adult that showed you kindness. Well guess what you were just a pawn in her plan to destroy the world and it seems that this Monica girl is carrying on her influence and the fact that she threw you out like garbage says that much.
He thought back at that moment at the rooftop when him and the others were gonna jump but junko showed up. He then realized that his life was manipulated from the very beginning and he wasn't even loved not by his dad or junko. And not even Monica.
He then started to cry the reality of it all was hitting him hard and moline just let him get it out of his system.
However she received a signal from max and she floated up.
Moline: hold on I'll be right back.
Masaru peaked up with tears still in his eyes.
Masaru: wait don't leave me here!!
Moline: you'll be fine.
She spat out a bracelet that is basically a protection charm and threw it at masaru who caught it.
Masaru: what is this?
Moline: think of it like a lucky charm or to if want me to be mysterious it's magic.
She then flew of into where max was at leaving Masaru in the groun with him looking at the charm unsure to trust moline.
Realizing that all the people he thought he could trust the most were just lying he doesn't know if he can trust anyone anymore.
But looking back on his talks with moline he didn't feel anything hinting that she was manipulating him.
He looked at the bracelet again and with some hesitation put it on. And he instantly felt something odd but it was a good kind.
Moline flew close to a window and he saw that Jataro had his controller which means another robot encounter.
Moline: great.
She heard something from behind and she turned around and she instantly flew to the side to avoid getting ran by jataro's robot.
Inside the group covered their head from the glass while the robot landed on the ground.
Jataro: before your bodies become pretty objects let me tell you one more time, No matter how much we're hated, no matter how much we're shunned, we're definitely not wrong. That's the real truth. Because big sis junko said so.
Toko did a double take on the name she didn't expect to hear from these kids.
Toko: big sis..junko?
Jataro: big sis junko. The only one who loved me. The only one different than other people. Big sis junko the one that gave us our sparkling hope. Those adults took her away from us and say that she was the bad one.
There the filthy ones, there the ugly ones, THE DISGUSTING ONES!!!
The group was getting ready well all but Taichi who didn't have anything to defend himself.
Moline decided it was her cue and she transformed into her snake form and she wrapped herself around the robot and started crushing it.
Jataro: huh!? Why is my robot not moving!?
She put more pressure and that was enough indent it and she twisted the head to snap its neck and when she was done it was a crushed mess.
The robot started to spark and then it exploded.
Jataro just gaped he didn't even get the chance to even throw a bomb.
However his moment of shock was interrupted when the kids appeared behind him and grabbed him.
They were pilling on him and the kids started to pull away at his mask and was restrained so he couldn't fight back.
When they removed his mask instead of being an unsightly boy he has normal in appearance.
He was in a state of freedom and being free from the mask felt good really good.
However his moment didn't last long because the kids dragged him to beat him up.
He stuck out one arm in a desperate plead for help which was unexpectedly answered by max pulling him out of kid dog pile and throwing him out the window the robot crashed into.
He obviously did that with a plan in mind which moline followed up on by flying out the window to catch Jataro.
However to the group it looks like max just sent him to his death.
Toko: why did you do that?
Max: he'll be fine.
Toko: uh, no dumbass he won't, we're really high up there's no way anyone can survive a fall like that.
Taichi: I don't agree with the kids but you practically killed him.
Komaru however responded with an unexpected response well expected from max and Harley.
Serves him right.
The three were shocked by that response and Komaru just walked back to the elevator.
Yuta: I can't blame her the kids started this. And they're gonna face the consequences.
With that they each followed Komaru to the elevator which was running again.
Harley was beside max and asked.
Harley: did you actually planned that?
Max: yeah I did first get the kid out of sight and then moline would save him from going splat.
Harley: you're scary. Guess being an exorcist gives a lot of battle i.q
Max: yeah. They sure do.
The elevator rang and they were finally on the top level.
Taichi: Komaru, the laptop please?
Komaru handed him said laptop and he got to work on booting it up. And to say that the group was anxious was an understatement.
But once Taichi was done the network was still a little weak but it's enough to make contact.
Hello? Hello it's anyone there? This future- future foundation 14 devision.
Taichi: yes we can-
However he was interrupted when Komaru got close enough to see the screen and the voice was the cause of her behavior because she recognized it despite a year in a half.
I repeat future foundation 14 devison. My name is Makoto naegi.
Komaru: Makoto!!!?
The caller Makoto did a double take on his caller and he wasn't expecting that it was his sister who he hasn't seen in a while.
Makoto: Komaru!!?
Max and Harley looked at each other with questioning looks and looked back at the screen.
Max/harley: well this should be interesting.