As Psykos spoke, Shinji's mind kicked into overdrive, analyzing every detail of her words and tone. But no matter how deeply he tried to make sense of it, he just couldn't bring himself to believe that he'd truly lost any memories. As far as he knew, he had never encountered Psykos before today.
And yet, she didn't seem to be lying. Her every expression, every word, was laced with sincerity. There wasn't even the smallest trace of deception. Even if she were some master actress, Shinji couldn't imagine someone as paranoid and calculating as Psykos inviting him into her personal hideout, buried 1,500 meters beneath the surface, unless she was absolutely sure about who he was.
No matter how strong her psychic powers were, her true form was still human. If the other monsters in the association discovered their so-called leader was human, the backlash would be catastrophic.
In this version of the world, where Monster King Orochi didn't exist, Psykos was the one true head of the Monster Association. But that position wasn't secure. The organization was packed with both Dragon-level and Demon-level threats, and Black Sperm alone was a top-tier Dragon-level monster who would never take kindly to being led by a human. Psykos alone didn't have the sheer power needed to keep them all in check.
And that's what troubled Shinji most.
For Psykos to reveal her identity and location so easily… it meant she placed immense trust in him, which made her story a lot harder to dismiss as a lie.
"You just said you want to wipe out all of humanity. But I'm a hero. My job is to defeat monsters and protect people…"
Shinji's voice sounded conflicted, as though he were struggling between two sides. In truth, he was only pretending, carefully playing his part.
That statement seemed to jolt Psykos out of her excitement. She let out a soft sigh. "You've lost your memories… I guess it can't be helped."
She fell silent for a moment, then asked gently, "You disguised yourself as a monster and infiltrated us, didn't you? You're here to gather intel for the Hero Association?"
"That's right…" Shinji replied without hesitation.
"You can go ahead and do that. But…"
Psykos looked at him with an unreadable expression, something between resolve and hope. "I still want you to stay. I want to help you remember who you really are."
She wasn't worried about him returning to the Hero Association with what he'd learned. The Monster Association was already prepared for war. All they needed now was a spark.
And that spark could very well be Shinji.
"I might drop by from time to time," he said truthfully. "But I probably won't be able to stay here for long."
"That's fine. I'll always be waiting for you here. Are you leaving now?" she asked.
"Pretty much," Shinji nodded.
"Alright then. I won't see you off. It's not convenient for me to leave this place anyway," she replied, her eyes dimming with quiet melancholy.
"Come to think of it, you look completely human, but you're leading the Monster Association... No wonder you can't show your face openly."
Shinji said the words slowly, testing her.
"Yes…" Psykos nodded, her voice barely audible.
It was true. If her identity as a human ever came to light, the consequences would be immediate and disastrous. At the very least, the Monster Association would spiral into chaos from within.
"Aren't you afraid I'll expose your real identity? The monsters in your group definitely wouldn't take that well."
Shinji asked carefully, gauging her response.
"You're not wrong. Most monsters wouldn't accept being led by a human," she admitted without flinching. "But I'm not afraid. Because I choose to trust you, even if you don't remember me, I still believe in you."
Her gaze softened as she looked at him, eyes full of warmth and longing.
"Even if the Monster Association falls apart… I'll still have you. Sooner or later, I'll make you remember me… remember what we once had…"
Shinji felt a sudden jolt at the back of his head, like static crawling across his scalp.
That gentle, affectionate gaze, combined with her words, was almost too much to bear. Sitting right in front of him was a breathtaking woman with killer curves and dominant older-sister vibes, and somehow, she was just offering herself to him so openly?
Any normal man would've completely lost it by now.
And the worst part? She trusted him. Believed in him. Relied on him in a way that made Shinji start to feel genuinely uncomfortable. The idea of hurting her, even unintentionally, was starting to weigh on him.
"I'll wait until I remember everything," he said, turning away. "Then we'll talk."
Leaving those words hanging in the air, Shinji turned on his heel and left the room. He didn't trust himself to stay any longer. If he did, he might actually let his guard down.
As his voice faded, his body blinked out of existence.
With both Kamui eyes activated, he teleported directly to Vaccine Man's location without a trace.
When Shinji vanished and reappeared beside Gyoro Gyoro, there wasn't even a flicker of surprise on her puppet's face. Psykos, speaking through it, didn't so much as blink.
Almost as if she already knew exactly what his abilities were.
"Oh, right."
Something clicked in Shinji's mind.
He turned back toward Gyoro Gyoro. "I forgot. My tiger-skin mask, it's still with you."
"Can I keep it?" Psykos asked through the puppet. "You don't need it to teleport anymore, do you?"
She clearly had no intention of returning it.
"Sure. It's yours," Shinji said, shrugging.
The item only cost 1 point anyway. It had served its purpose, and he had no plans to wear it again. Giving it to her was no loss.
Still… she really seemed to understand how his powers worked.
"Thanks. I hope you'll stop by often. Every day, if possible…"
The voice came from Gyoro Gyoro, but Shinji knew who was really speaking. Psykos.
"I'll try…" he replied, forcing an uneasy smile and giving her the vaguest answer possible.
Standing nearby, Vaccine Man gave him a strange look.
Gyoro Gyoro's voice was female, sure, but wasn't that tone a little... needy?
Even as a fellow monster, Vaccine Man found Gyoro Gyoro's appearance disturbing. He didn't even know what gender he was supposed to be, but he definitely judged based on looks, and Gyoro Gyoro was not it.
Shinji ignored the expression and activated Kamui again, bringing both of them home in a flash.
Once they landed, Vaccine Man couldn't help himself. "So... I thought you were into human women?"
"…?"
Shinji didn't reply at first, blinking in confusion.
Then it hit him.
"What the hell are you talking about?! I'm not into that kind of thing!"
He snapped immediately, glaring at him. Vaccine Man had clearly misunderstood and thought Shinji had been flirting with Gyoro Gyoro of all things.
As for the fact that Gyoro Gyoro was just a puppet and the real Psykos was pulling the strings? Yeah, no chance Shinji was explaining that.
"Oh, my bad."
Vaccine Man scratched his head awkwardly, looking away.
…
Deep beneath the earth, in the heart of the Monster Association's hidden base...
Psykos sat in silence, still holding the tiger-skin mask in her delicate hands. Her fingertips brushed lightly across its surface, tracing its edges as if the simple cloth were something sacred. Her eyes, usually cold and calculating, now shimmered with emotion.
She slowly lifted the mask toward her face.
Not to wear it. Just to hold it close.
Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath, breathing in the faint scent that lingered on it.
Shinji's scent.
The moment it filled her senses, a soft pink hue bloomed across her cheeks. Her lips parted slightly, and a quiet sigh escaped them, one that trembled with unspoken desire.
There was no one around to witness the change in her expression.
No audience to see the obsession, the hunger, the quiet madness swimming behind those closed lids.
In that still moment, she looked less like the mastermind of a monster army and more like a woman completely, helplessly… in love.