Itsuki & Keiko: So this is where it happened huh?
Lunch time had arrived and back at Mato High, Kotori continues on his investigation with Itsuki and Keiko joining in to help her.
And currently they are in the rooftop where the incident occurred.
Kotori: Itsuki-chan, Keiko-chan please stay here by the door for the time being.
Keiko: Sure!
Itsuki: Could you not call us that? It's embarrassing.
Kotori: Hehe~ Sorry couldn't help it. Well then.
Kotori stepped forward and looked around the rooftop.
Kotori: This place is a lot bigger than the three, in that case.
Glow~!
Unlike Kaneki and the Sakura tree, the area Kotori was going to reverse time for is a much larger area and would be way more difficult. But not impossible.
Itsuki: Kotori-san, what are you doing?
Keiko: Woah~ So pretty~
Two huge glowing clock hands grew out of her back, she was use a copy of her Great Grandmother's powers again
Kotori: I'm going to use Demon Knight Chrono's time manipulation powers to reverse time for this rooftop. Although I'll have to make sure that Kaneki-chan, Shino-chan, Miku-chan and Yuuka-chan gets caught up in this.
Itsuki: Reverse time? Why go through all that?
Kotori: I've already found a suspicious scent and memorized it earlier before I came into school, I have a suspicion that I could possibly smell it again once I reverse time for this rooftop.
Keiko: And might have a chance to track down whoever this scent belongs to?
Kotori: Yes. Just like I explained, there must be someone else involved in this incident that made those three do what they did.
Itsuki: I see, so what will you do once you find this person?
Kotori: First of all make them confess their sins to Papa, and after that I will rip their eyes out their sockets, make them poop themselves until their large intestines burst out, force feed their poop stained large intestines to them while still attached to their bodies, and lastly rip off their heart and force feed them that too leaving them in a slow and agonizing death.
Itsuki & Keiko: !!!
Both Itsuki and Keiko were shocked by everything that Kotori said.
Itsuki: How you're unhinged.
Keiko: Yeah talk about scary.
Kotori: Hehe~
Kotori was a bit embarrassed but she then turned her focus on the more important matter.
Kotori: Alright, time to begin!
Swoosh!
She flew high enough for the entire rooftop to be in her view.
Kotori: Hands of Time: Reverse!
Spin~!
Swoosh~!
She then activated the time manipulation powers, making time for Mato High's rooftop to reverse as the huge clock hands on her back spun counterclockwise rapidly.
Itsuki: Woah!
Keiko: What's happening?!
As time for the rooftop was reversing, Itsuki and Keiko watched from the door as gust of wind blew and the rooftop changing.
Kotori: Alright, done!
And as quickly as she began, Kotori quickly stopped as she reversed the time for the rooftop to the time when the incident happened.
Kotori: Sniff~ Hm...
After she was done, she landed back on the floor and gave the air a little sniff.
But upon doing so she smelled the burning of Kaneki's body and the tears from Shin, Yuuka and Miku which made Kotori sad.
Keiko: Kotori-san?
Itsuki: Are you okay?
As the couple came out of the door, they were worried about Kotori. This was due to them seeing her tear up after landing.
Kotori: Sniff~! I'm alright. Just smelled something unpleasant, well then go search for anything suspicious. I'm going to sniff around.
Itsuki & Keiko: O-Okay?
The three them split up and started looking around the rooftop to find anything suspicious.
A few minutes later~
Itsuki: Keiko you find anything?!
Keiko: Nope! Nothing here! What about you Kotori-san?
Although a few minutes had passed and they couldn't find anything suspicious.
Kotori: Nope! Nothing- wait a minute.
Until Kotori looked at another stairway leading to the rooftop.
Kotori: Hmm...
Creak~
She looked inside it but there was nothing, she immediately looked around it and when there was nothing.
Kotori: But maybe up here?
She then turned her sights on the top of the entrance.
Hop!
Kotori hopped on top of it and immediately as she landed.
Kotori: AAAAAAAARGH!
Thud!
She was overwhelmed by a fiery pain that was suddenly inflicted on her nose, causing her to fall back and hitting her head on the floor.
Itsuki & Keiko: Kotori-san?!
The two immediately went to aid Kotori.
Kotori: IT BURNS! IT BURNS A SO MUCH! IT HURTS! IT HURTS! IT HURTS!
Kotori's thoughts*
(It hurts so much! Compared to earlier, this one was a lot stronger! Wait does this mean?)
Splash!
Kotori: AHHH! Huh? What?
Keiko: Phew~ It would worked!
Itsuki: Sorry we didn't really have any other options, you did say it burns.
Itsuki and Keiko had poured water from their bottles onto Kotori'a head which somehow relieved her of the pain she was experiencing.
Kotori: It's alright I can dry myself anyways, thanks.
Itsuki & Keiko: No problem.
Itsuki: So what happened over there?
Kotori: Well I found a matching scent, and it was a lot stronger compared to the one I found earlier.
Keiko: That's good right?
Kotori: No... There's a problem, judging from how I would react it would be very difficult to track when I'm in constant pain.
Itsuki: Damnit... Looks like we're in a dead end.
Kotori: And one more thing.
Itsuki & Keiko: Hmm?
Kotori: It seems like whoever this person was, they were watching the incident happen.
Itsuki & Keiko: What?!
Kotori: When I first reversed time for this rooftop, I got a whiff of Kaneki-chan, Shino-chan, Miku-chan and Yuuka-chan's scent earlier and because of how strong the one I just smelled it. It safe to assume whoever this person was, was watching everything happen.
Keiko: Damn... This is so much trouble.
Itsuki: Wait... I think I have a suspect in mind.
Kotori & Keiko: You do?
Itsuki: Yup. We should see if it was that guy.
Itsuki & Keiko: !!!
They already knew who Itsuki means.
Crack!
And Kotori was got even more pissed off thinking of the possibility of it being him, Itadori Ryueki.
Kotori: I see... IF IT IS HIM HE'S GOING TO PAY!
She was ready to absolutely destroy him.
Itsuki: Before that, let's go back we'll head there after school.
Kotori & Keiko: Got it.
Keiko: Alright then, here take my hand.
Kotori: Thanks.
After helping Kotori up, the three of them started heading back to their class.
But on their way, both Itsuki and Keiko noticed that something was missing.
Itsuki: By the way, Kotori-san where's your mother?
Keiko: Yeah you had her earlier, and now she's gone.
Tohru wasn't with Kotori.
Kotori: Oh nothing, her help is just needed at the moment.
Itsuki & Keiko: What?
Meanwhile~
Chikao: Okay so the plan is, go to Natsuki's home later at dinner and talk to her right?
Back at the treehouse, most of the Higanbana Girls were discussing what they are going to do once they arrived at Natsuki's home at dinner.
Miku: Yeah that's the plan.
Shino: And... We have to be completely honest with her.
Sachi: I'm surprised her parents actually came to you guys.
Yuuka: They most likely came to talk to Uncle and Auntie about it.
Miku: Man I still can't believe despite hearing how much we've hurt Natsuki, her parents were still very kind to us.
Shino: Yeah. Let's not disappoint them.
Miku & Yuuka: Yeah.
Chikao: I wonder if the Beast Knights know about the incident yet?
Yuuka: Heikei and the others probably heard about it from Kotori-san by now.
Miku: Once we're done talking with Natsuki, let's face them and then...
Sachi: That's right, Atsuo-san and Aiya-san.
All 5: Nod~
Miku: Are you guys ready to face Natsuki?
Shino: Yeah.
Yuuka: I'm a bit afraid, but if I can face these two then. Then yeah.
Sachi: I'm ready.
Chikao: Let's do our best.
With all five of them ready.
Miku: Alright let's do this.
They patiently waited for dinner time.
A few hours later~
After waiting a few hours, the time has come.
Yuuka: You girls ready?
Sachi, Shino, Miku, Yuuka and Chikao were ready to talk to Natsuki at her home for dinner.
All 4: Yeah.
Swoosh!
Yuuka: In that case, let's go.
With all five of them prepared to face Natsuki, Yuuka took out her Darkness Travel Watch.
Press!
Splash~!
Upon pressing it a huge pool of black goo leading to the front door of Natsuki's house appeared on the treehouse's floor.
Yuuka: You girls first.
Sachi: Thanks.
Splash!
And so one by one, the girls jumped into the pool of black goo and were instantly transported to the front of Natsuki's home.
Shino: Wow... It's been a while since we last came here huh?
Sachi: I'm pretty sure it was only been a week or so.
Yuuka: Girls focus.
Shino & Sachi: Y-Yes!
Miku: I'll go first.
Chikao: Sure.
They allowed Miku to ring the doorbell first.
Ding~ Dong~
Creak~
Immediately after ringing the doorbell, they were greeted by Natsuki's father, Mizutani Satsuki.
Satsuki: Oh you girls made it just in time. Come in, come in. Once you girls take your seats I'll get Natsuki.
Both Sachi and Chikao stared in shock as they saw how kind Natsuki's father was to them despite knowing what had happened.
Miku: Thank you Uncle, alright everyone let's go.
Following his invitation, the rest of the girls followed and came in.
Satsuki: Take off your shoes and put them on the side over there.
Shino: Thank you for allowing us to visit Uncle.
Satsuki: It's alright, anything for our daughter and her friends. Well then go take your seats. My wife cooked up some very good salad and hamburg steak for dinner.
Chikao: T-Thank you.
Satsuki: No problem.
And so after taking off their shoes, the girls walked to the kitchen by the dinner table where Katsuki was waiting.
Katsuki: Good evening girls, welcome.
Bow~
Upon seeing Katsuki preparing the dinner table, the five girls bowed their heads and greeted her.
All 5: Thank you for having us
Katsuki: Ara~ Thank you for coming, now then take a seat.
Following her words all five of them began to sit down around the table leaving only three seats unoccupied.
Katsuki: Me and my husband will be getting Natsuki now, be back in a minute.
Katsuki then joined her husband to get Natsuki.
Miku: Okay... Haa~ I'm so nervous.
Chikao: There's no turning back from this, let's see this through.
Shino: Yeah.
A few minutes later~
Natsuki: Sigh~
After a few minutes, Natsuki's parents were able to convince her to come out of her room for dinner.
Natsuki: I already told you two I wasn't hungry-
But after going down the stairs, she saw them.
Natsuki: What are you doing here?
With an fierce gaze and an angry tone, she questioned the girls to why they were in her home.
Miku: W-Well...
The atmosphere was very tense between them, but just then.
Clap!
Katsuki & Satsuki: Sorry Natsuki-chan/Natsuki we're the ones who called them here.
Natsuki's parents immediately confessed to being the ones who had invited them.
Natsuki stared at them confused for a few seconds before asking.
Natsuki: Why?
Katsuki: Well we noticed how upset you were... And since you were looking at all of your goldfish, the ones you and your friends got.
Satsuki: We figured it would have been related to them, so we went to Kaneki-kun's home to ask his parents of something happening between you kids.
Katsuki: But we encountered... Shino-chan, Yuuka-chan and Miku-chan in Kaneki-kun's home, and they told us everything that happened.
Natsuki was surprised upon hearing this.
Natsuki: Everything...
Katsuki: Yes... We know what happened to Kaneki-kun.
Natsuki: ...
Natsuki went silent for a few seconds before questioning her parents once more.
Natsuki: Then why did you invite them here? They have hurt Kaneki so much and even...
Satsuki: Well simply because what they said to Kaneki-kun that had sent him to the hospital doesn't make any sense.
Natsuki: What?
Katsuki: Yeah the things they said to Kaneki-kun, they all were very childish and doesn't fit their personality at all.
Satsuki: That's right, even Miku-chan the youngest doesn't act that way doesn't she?
Natsuki: Th- ...
Natsuki's thoughts*
(Wait...)
Upon hearing their reasons, Natsuki solely focused on the part where they mentioned that the things they said to Kaneki.
Looking back to how they acted it didn't made sense, including Miku despite being somewhat childish to certain things she never acted in a bratty manner like from the memory.
(...)
She didn't know what else to think.
Katsuki: I know you probably won't believe them, but... Please talk or at the very least listen to what they have to say.
Natsuki: ...
Katsuki: Please dear, they wanted to talk to you.
Natsuki: ...
Looking back at her parents who were looking very concerned about her, reluctantly she agreed.
Natsuki: Fine.
But obviously she wasn't comfortable with sitting beside the girls yet.
Natsuki: But I rather eat in the living room for now.
All 5: !!!
Katsuki: Natsuki-chan...
Understanding that her daughter wasn't comfortable yet, Katsuki agreed.
Katsuki: Fine, but talk to them after you're done eat okay?
Natsuki: I will.
Katsuki: Okay then, I'll go get ready your plate.
Natsuki: Thanks...
Katsuki then went to the table and began preparing Natsuki's plate.
Natsuki: ...
While Natsuki stared at the girls with a complicated expression before going to the living room and sitting down on her sofa.
Katsuki: Here dear.
Natsuki: Thanks...
After handing Natsuki her plate, dinner was about to begin.
Katsuki: Okay everyone! Let's eat!
Everyone: Itadakimasu~
Natsuki: Itadakimasu...
And so they all ate dinner.
30 Hours later~
After eating dinner, Katsuki and Satsuki started cleaning the dishes.
Katsuki: Okay girls time to talk, don't mind us okay?
Satsuki: And be very honest with each other okay? And Natsuki.
Natsuki: ???
Satsuki: If you feel angry at them, you're allowed to shout and yell as much as you want but try and listen to them okay?
Natsuki: I'll try...
After her small talk with her father.
Natsuki: So? What do we have to talk about?
With a cold look on her face, she turned to the girls who were now in the living room with her.
Kneel!
Natsuki: Hmm?
Immediately after she turned towards them.
Miku: We're sorry for lying to you for so long, Natsuki!
Yuuka: We were fools for lying and using you, but we want to make things right!
Shino, Sachi & Chikao: So please listen to us!
They all knelt and beh for her to listen.
Natsuki: Do you really think I'd believe you guys? After lying to me for so long?
All 5: ...
Natsuki: DO YOU REALLY THINK I'D BELIEVE YOU?!
As she was lashing out, Natsuki thought of Kaneki.
"Of course not, besides they are good people."
"I mean I would want you to know them better, so you can see that they are good people."
Natsuki:...
Remembering what Kaneki had said, tears began to fall from her eyes.
Even though Kaneki wasn't really completely honest with her.
Natsuki: Even though Kaneki hasn't been completely honest with me regarding you three... I could forgive him because he truly believed you were all good people.
He truly believed they were good people, which made it easy for Natsuki to forgive him.
But for Natsuki, in contrast to Kaneki they had only mostly used her to get closer to Kaneki again.
Natsuki: But you all just used me to get closer to Kaneki... You lied to me for so long.
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: ...
But compared to when they started talking, Natsuki was a lot more calm.
Natsuki: If you three really wanted to apologize to Kaneki... If you three really wanted to fix your relationship with him... Then why didn't any of you just told me? If you were desperate and had no other option then why didn't you just tell me your situation?
Facing her question Miku looked up and answered.
Miku: I'm sorry... I was desperate at the time and I couldn't think of anything else... And when I learned that Onii-chan told you of us and how you hated us. I was afraid that once you learn that we were the ones who had hurt and abandoned Onii-chan... And pursued someone else for no reason... You wouldn't let us get close to him again.
Shino and Yuuka then added.
Shino: We knew what we did was very wrong, we felt so guilty for what we've done but couldn't tell you because of how far we've gotten.
Yuuka: But we've eventually decided to stop lying to you, so once we've apologized and completely reconciled with Kaneki, we'd confess everything to you.
Natsuki: You were?
Natsuki listened to them carefully and unlike the previous day where she didn't care about anything they said.
She began thinking after hearing Shino, Yuuka and Miku out.
Natsuki's thoughts*
(Are they telling the truth?)
She still doubted them, so to confirm whether they are truly genuine or still lying.
(There's only one way to to confirm it)
She used her ability to see the colors of their souls.
She activated her ability and stared at them for a few seconds.
(They are telling the truth...)
And she saw the colors of genuine remorse and honesty.
Natsuki: I see... I guess those things you said to Kaneki and your behavior that time really wasn't like you.
Shino: U-Um...
Natsuki: Do you have something to say? Shino?
Shino: Well... It's a long story... But Kotori-san suspects that someone else was involved in all of this.
Miku: Yeah, she and Tohru-Mama looked into my memory where went to school very early yesterday, where I saw some strange dark figure and when we tried looking further to when we got to the rooftop and we were knocked away for some reason.
Natsuki: Huh?
Natsuki couldn't believe the absurd things she was hearing but once she checked their souls again.
(She's their telling the truth.)
They were once again telling the truth.
Natsuki: I see...
But Natsuki still in a bad mood.
Natsuki: Fine I'll believe you.
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: !!!
Shino, Yuuka and Miku felt so happy hearing that Natsuki believed them.
Natsuki: But just this once, after all you all still lied to me for solomg and... I doubt I'll forgive you all for that easily...
Seeing how much that Natsuki's trust they have broken. Shino, Yuuka & Miku felt sad and ashamed but even so.
Miku: It's alright!
Shino & Yuuka: We understand!
They accepted it.
Natsuki: Sachi, Chi-chan.
Natsuki then faced Sachi and Chikao.
Natsuki: Don't you have anything to say as well?
She wanted to hear them out as well.
Sachi: Well... I'm sorry! I did told them that their plan was horrible and... Well...
Sachi had trouble talking as she was completely panicked.
Chikao: Natsuki... I'm sorry I deceived you for so long, I knew that they were trying to fix their relationship with Kaneki but I didn't do anything to steer them on the right path, and even though I knew that lying to you was wrong I didn't do anything to stop them or even tell you the truth, I have no excuse for my actions. And once again I'm truly sorry for deceiving you all this time.
After Chikao's apology, Sachi was able to apologize as well.
Sachi: I'm so sorry Natsuki, I have nothing much to say. When I learned of what happened to my friends I just wanted to help them, and I agreed to their plan withoutuch thought of how wrong it was... I hope you can forgive me...
Natsuki: I see, I'll forgive you two for your dumb decisions. But I won't forgive you just yet for deceiving me.
Just like to Shino, Yuuka and Miku. Natsuki hadn't forgiven Sachi and Chikao completely for deceiving her.
Sachi & Chikao: We understand...
Sachi and Chikao accepted it.
Natsuki: And I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday.
And suddenly Natsuki began apologizing as well, which caught everyone by surprise
Everyone: Eh?
Natsuki: I yelled and insulted your efforts yesterday, even though I was angry at you guys. Mostly at you Miku, Shino and Yuuka...
She looked towards the three and continued to apologize.
Natsuki: You three really did out in effort to try and fix your relationship with Kaneki, and I overreacted.
Miku: N-No you don't need to apologize for it Natsuki!
Yuuka: Yeah your reaction was justified!
Natsuki: Even so, I've insulted your efforts all because I believed you orchestrated all of this to hurt Kaneki, even though you all loved him so much.
All 5: ...
Natsuki: Y'know when I first learn of "Shiita-chan, Miyu-chan and Miha-chan." I thought they were horrible people who deliberately abandoned Kaneki for no reason, but Kaneki always talked about you in a good way. Calling you guys his heroes and such.
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: ...
Natsuki: But little did I know they were standing right beside me, and even though I've lost my trust in you now. You definitely did prove Kaneki right about you all being good people... Well to some degree at least.
Shino: What do you-
Natsuki: You came here to apologize and confess your wrong doings towards me.
All 5: ...
Natsuki: Listen, it will take time for me to fully trust you all again but all of us loves Kaneki right?
Upon hearing Natsuki's question the five of them nodded.
All 5: Nod~
Natsuki looked at their colors and saw that they were all genuine.
Natsuki: Good, since we all love him and he definitely loves us. I'm willing to slowly fix our relationship, but just know it will not be easy.
Miku was surprised to hear that Natsuki was willing to fix their relationship after everything.
Miku: Why?
So she asked, and Natsuki answered honestly.
Natsuki: Why? I love Kaneki, but aside from that I love my friends as well. Despite how much you've hurt me.
Miku: Natsuki...
Shino & Yuuka: ... We're so sorry...
Shino, Yuuka and Miku were in the verge of crying because of Natsuki's words.
Natsuki: You guys are my first ever friends alongside Kaneki, I... I honestly don't want to lose you as well. So from now on let's make a promise. To never lie to each other again and be completely honest no matter what.
They were surprised by Natsuki's suggestion, but accepted it without any questions.
All 5: We promise!
Natsuki: Good.
And so their talk was now over.
Meanwhile~
Itsuki & Keiko: So this is the place huh?
While they were talking in Natsuki's home.
Kotori, Keiko and Itsuki had arrived at the house nextdoor.
Kotori: Let's interrogate that piece of poop.