Truth, Perjury, and Sacrifice

Loose Strings

Kyoko adjusted her rear-view mirror as she released the brakes, listening to the slow crunch of the tires rolling over the concrete. She glanced at Byakuya, who was staring straight forward and unfocused. "Her temper has shortened."

Byakuya blinked, then nodded. "She hasn't expressed such anger in quite some time since she's come home."

"She isn't as hysterical as she used to be, that much is true." Kyoko revisited the memory of when they had received the news about Byakuya having been taken as a hostage. She could recall the fragile strings of sanity snapping behind Karen's widened gaze. The blistering crimson bled through her blue eyes in popping flakes. Thankfully, no one had needed to intervene. By that point in their time at Future Foundation, Karen had learned to stay out of despair's grasp. "She mentioned a drug addiction. Have you spoken with her about that?"

Byakuya sighed, "I had no idea. Looking back, there were signs and I should have realized when she frequented Seiko's office more than her own."

"What's your plan of action?" Kyoko clicked the blinker on, turning into the security check lane. The security guard glanced in the vehicle, ready to collect identification, until he spotted Togami. With a nod, the guard pressed the button to life the barricade.

"That depends. If my suspicion is correct, then we need to find those associated with the anonymous group that sent the email." Byakuya and Kyoko glanced at each other, and nodded.

"Come on, Karen! Stop and think about this. Tomorrow morning? When we have no idea of who was behind the email or phone call?" Nagito pressed his hand over the piece of paper Karen had been scribbling speech ideas on.

"So, you want to wait until we're exposed? The press would have a field day with that, I'm sure." Karen rolled her eyes, standing to stretch. "I can see the headlines now. Future Foundation Doubles Down on Double-crossing the Public. Oh, no, even better: Ultimate Despair's Former Friend Smuggles Remnants Back onto Homeland." Karen waved her hands in front of her, envisioning the news segment titles.

"That would be stretching the truth a little, don't you think?" Makoto said.

Karen bit her tongue, "Remember when they called me a two-timer with Nagito and Byakuya? I don't think they care, Naegi." She sat back down, pulling the sheet of paper form under Nagito's force. "We're approaching the post-despair part of this whole shit show. There is an anonymous group that is targeting Ultimates and those affiliated with despair. If anything, this will turn into a witch hunt and we'll be caught in the middle of it."

The boys glanced between themselves, watching Karen scribble, dot, and underline. "Do you think giving this speech will prevent that?" Hajime asked.

"No. Tomorrow will be about taking the advantage from the group's hand. We're playing chess, guys. Three tier chess. And I'll be damned if I lose now."

<Any progress?> Kyoko typed to Alter Ego. The computer AI had been keeping an eye out for everyone as Future Foundation's security screening system. Initially, the surviving group discussed releasing Alter Ego to become the city's security operating system. However, no one understood the program quite like Chihiro had, and after Junko's AI malfunction in the Neo World Program, they decided it was better to keep Alter Ego hidden for the time being.

<Sorry, it seems that the call came from an old cell phone that no longer is in operation.> Chihiro's face whimpered on the screen.

Byakuya stepped in. <What about the email and photo?>

<According to the screening sequences, the email was sent from a laptop towards the outer parameters of the city. The photo was taken with a cell phone owned by a Kaede Akamatsu>

Byakuya and Kyoko paused. "Does that name sound familiar to you?" Byakuya asked.

"Not at the moment. But that's not what I'm concerned about. What would this person have to gain from following Karen and purposefully use a cell phone that could be traced?" Byakuya began to pull out his phone, prepared to message Karen. "Don't do that. From now on, until we figure this out, don't send any messages or emails with crucial information. We're being monitored and need to keep a low profile."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" He snipped.

"First, we need to build a profile on this Kaede Akamatsu, including their social connections. They might lead us to the group that's been causing other forms of trouble." Kyoko's phone beeped. Her eyes widened, then steeled at Makoto's message. "And we need to stop your fiancée from blowing our cover tomorrow."