We're all trapped in a maze of relationships

[kotoritori]

Who: Mato Kuroi, Misora Hibiki, and Colin Locke
When: March 5th, after school
Where: Guidance office of West Burbank Junior High
What: Infiltrating Saya's Palace
Warnings: Content warning for mental illness

[It's been a week or so since the Phantom Thieves' victory in Todd Woodrow's Palace, and Mato's starting to feel anxious about her guidance counselor's Palace. So over the weekend, she contacts Misora and Locke - the two she's told the most about her situation at school - and makes plans to meet them after school on Monday. She slipped a calling card under the office door earlier in the day, and it's gone now, so she figures they're good to go. After making sure Miss Saya is out of the office, Mato quietly leads them to the guidance office, slipping inside and waving the others in after her.]

...Okay. This is it. Get ready, everyone.

[Taking out her phone, she speaks the keywords.]

Saya Irino. Guidance office. Asylum.

Beginning navigation.

[As the response ring out from Mato's phone, the world begins to warp around the three thieves. Once their surroundings have stabilized, they're standing in the reception room of an old style lunatic asylum - the kind from before mental health regulations existed. There are desperate screams and unhinged laughter echoing from inside, the voices sounding around Mato's age. She flinches for a moment, squinting her eyes shut before shaking her head and dismissing the fear from her thoughts.]

Let's get as far in as we can before she notices we're here.

Comments

[returnher]

No problem.

[Hunter will flip Roll up the same way and then jump up himself once they're clear]

[kotoritori]

[The great Phantom Thieves, nearly defeated before they began because two of them are shorties. But at least things are moving now.]

Okay, follow me. I dunno where this goes, but at least we'll be inside.

[Raincrow crawls along in the vent for a little while before reaching an apparent exit.]

Looks like it leads to one of the cells... there's someone in there. It's not a demon.

[returnher]

Might be some kind of shadow. Can you check it out?

[lyrids]

[Roll follows right behind Raincrow. When the other girl comes to a stop, she does her best to squeeze into the space beside her, in an attempt to get a decent look herself.

So how wide is this vent, exactly?]

[kotoritori]

[Not super wide, but thankfully the girls are both somewhat slight of build. So it's tight, but they can both squeeze in next to each other to look. Down in the room, a girl that looks like one of their classmates is sitting in the corner crying.]

I... I don't belong in here... w-why?

Apparently I forgot to track this sorry!

[returnher]

[Locke hangs back - he could probably squeeze through but he doesn't want to jam up the vent if the other girls need to get out in a hurry.]

Hey, is someone crying?

[lyrids]

[Roll inhales sharply at the sight.]

Yeah, it... looks like one of our classmates is locked in there...

[kotoritori]

...I'm going in.

[Apparently she's made up her mind, because she jumps right down. The girl screams, backing into the corner.]

G-get away! Miss Saya said not to trust you!

[She doesn't turn into a shadow, though, so...]

Miss Saya is lying to you! She lied to all of us! We're here to help you!

[The girl looks around suspiciously, still looking afraid.]

...We?

[returnher]

[Locke whispers down the grate]

You ladies OK down there?

[lyrids]

That's right, we.

[As soon as Raincrow descends, Roll follows her without hesitation.]

She's telling the truth — we're not here to hurt you. Why would we?

[kotoritori]

I can't trust anyone. You're all out to get me! I bet you're always talking about me behind my back.

Whoa, whoa, we're not doing that at all! Miss Saya's just trying to turn us all against each other.

[Raincrow extends a hand, smiling from behind her mask.]

I'll definitely be your friend. I promise.