Chapter Text
4/12
Wednesday
Early Morning
“Frizzy Hair! You need to get up!” A voice demands, too close to Akira’s ear, forcing him awake.
“What?” Akira slurs, forcing his eyes open.
He can make out a blurry black blob mixed with bright blue, warm and slightly heavy on his chest. It slowly clears until Akira can make out Morgana glaring down at him. “You need to wake up. Your phone’s been buzzing for the past ten minutes,” Morgana repeats.
Akira sighs, forcing himself up as Morgana hops down onto his mattress. “I’m up, I’m up.”
He stretches, grabbing his gym uniform before he turns back to Morgana with a smirk, “…you know you can call me Akira, right?”
“Akira?”
“My name. It’s Akira. I’m sure it’s a little easier than Frizzy Hair,” Akira teases.
He motions to the stunned Morgana to turn around so he can quickly change, before he grabs his bag and phone, seeing a message from the group chat that he ignores for the moment.
“You can come back out now.”
“Are we leaving now?” Morgana asks, tilting his head at Akira.
“Yes. I have to get to school before I’m late. That’s why my phone was buzzing,” Akira frowns, looking at Morgana. “You need to come with me to go to the hideout, but you’ll have to hide in my bag again.”
“But why?”
“Because if the school sees you, then I’ll get in trouble, and I…I can’t get in trouble with the school right now.” Akira hates the way his voice still stutters over the words. He should be over it by now.
“You can’t?”
“No,” Akira sighs, tugging on his bangs before he opens his bag. “…It’s a long story, but I’ll explain later, okay?”
“Alright, getting around in cat form is pretty inconvenient, but I guess I’ll just have to make do.” Morgana hops into his bag, burrowing against Akira’s book before he nods up at Akira, and he zips up his bag just enough to hide Morgana.
He hurries down the stairs once he checks the time, catching Sojiro off guard. “Have a good day, Sojiro.”
“Early start?”
“Yeah, I promised a few people I’d get to the school early so we could hang out before class,” Akira nods, relaxing as Sojiro’s face warms, something kinder in his eyes as he looks back at Akira.
“Have a good day then, kid.”
“Thanks, you too, Boss,” Akira says, slipping out the door as he heads down the street.
Akira leans against the wall, waiting for the train, drowning out the overbearing noise of the station with his headphones as his phone continues to buzz.
“You guys send messages to each other with that thing, right?” Morgana whispers, peeking his head slightly out of Akira’s bag. Akira shifts, blocking the sight of Morgana against the wall as he lets the not-cat crawl up slightly.
“Yeah, this is called a phone. They can do a few different things, but they’re frequently used for messaging,” Akira agrees, keeping his voice down/
“What are they saying?”
“See for yourself,” Akira says, tilting his phone for Morgana.
────────────
Ann added Shiho
Ryuji:
that red eyeball icon thingy is on my phone now too
i dont even remember installing it!!
Shiho:
It’s on mine now too. It wasn’t there before last night.
I think so at least?
Akira:
That’s creepy.
Ann:
Where does it even come from?
Akira:
A weird old man.
Ryuji:
very funny dude
anyways about today whatre we gonna do?
Shiho:
I’m going to be in the volleyball rally.
Ann:
Kamoshida didn’t take you out of it???
Shiho:
No, Yuuki and Souji both agreed that he was definitely angry, but because there was an actual reason, he can’t do anything.
I mean, that could change today, since I won’t have any reason to be missing practice, but it doesn’t really matter anymore, does it?
Ryuji:
you sure?
Akira:
Are you going to be alright?
Ann:
Are you sure?
You love volleyball
Shiho:
Wow, two in one?
I’ll be alright, I promise. And I’m sure he can’t keep getting away with this, and if I really want to, I’ll rejoin after he’s gone. I won’t be in Nationals, but he can’t keep hurting us, and I’ll still have Yuuki and Souji.
Ann:
You better be safe.
While Shiho’s playing, I’ll be in the gym since someone would notice if I vanished. Which leaves you two to go around, asking anyone who’s not playing about Kamoshida
Ryuji:
yup!
i totally remember the guys who were slaves too, so we can find them and ask a few questions before the day ends
Shiho:
You two should be able to get through everyone then, but…I don’t know how cooperative most of them will be with you two. It’s worth a try, though.
I’d recommend talking to Souji—Kimura, he’ll be more willing than most of the others because of his sister, but he’ll still be a little on edge around you two.
Akira:
Do you have anyone else we should try to talk to?
Shiho:
Yuuki, that’s Mishima—he’s in your and Ann’s class, Akira.
He’s been off recently since his lesson with Kamoshida on Monday, and you might figure out why.
Ann:
Is that why he was so weird in class yesterday? He kept looking over at Akira with this *look*…it’s hard to describe, but he looked scared? And almost like he was sad about something
Shiho:
Probably.
Ryuji:
alright so Mishima, Kimura, anyone else?
Shiho:
You can try the other members. You said you remembered them, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. We were all warned to stay away from you by Kamoshida last Friday, and your reputations precede you two.
Ann:
God, he’s the worst.
Wait!!
What about Satō? She’s in your class and she loves scoops of any kind. Would she know anything?
Ryuji:
she won’t talk to me
cant be seen talking to the punk of Shujin right?
Shiho:
Ann’s right, though. She probably knows or has seen something. You know that she’s super observant, and I’ve seen her try to talk to Souji a few times.
Akira:
She won’t be likely to talk to me either then, will she?
Would she talk to you or Ann?
Shiho:
Possibly, I can play it off as wanting to recheck my notes. I’ll try before we’re sent to the gym today.
“She’s right. That would probably be our best bet if this Satō won’t talk to you or Ryuji,” Morgana chirps in his ear.
Akira nods in agreement, typing out Morgana’s agreement.
Akira:
Morgana agrees that would be our best bet.
Ryuji:
he’s reading this!?
Akira:
Yes, he’s reading over my shoulder right now.
Ann:
You brought him with you?
Akira:
We’ll be up at the hideout later discussing everything, so he’s hiding in my bag before the school day ends, that way he doesn’t get caught trying to sneak in.
Shiho:
That makes sense. Just be careful in class.
But hi Morgana!
Akira:
Morgana says hi Lady Shiho, and that he’ll be like a thief during a heist.
Akira puts his phone away as the train pulls in and people follow to its doors, eager to begin their days.
He darts on, mindful of his bag and Morgana as he avoids crashing into anyone until he finds a free seat, and pulls his bag into his lap. Morgana stays quiet, a comforting weight as he resettles. Akira leans his head back, turning up his music as he relaxes.
“Okay, listen up, everyone,” Kawakami starts, waiting until everyone quiets. “As you all know, today is the volleyball rally. Head to the gymnasium once you’ve changed. Got it?”
They all stay quiet before she nods, gesturing for them to head out. Ann falls into place beside him as they head out, rolling her eyes at the continued whispers following them.
“God, I wish they would get a life,” she growls, glaring around them.
“What would they do if they couldn’t whisper about us?” Akira replies, grinning. “Do you mean…they could exist in their own lives? For shame, Ann-san, then they would be bored.”
“You’re as bad as Shiho, I can already tell I’m going to regret ever letting you two meet,” Ann rolls her eyes, act breaking as a grin that lights up her face.
“I’m telling Shiho you said that.”
“You wouldn’t,” Ann replies.
“I absolutely will,” he says, ducking as she moves as if about to hit him.
“I swear, Akira,” Ann groans, shaking her head, hitting him with her pigtails. “By the way, drop the san. You can just call me Ann. I never really adjusted to the whole honorific system.”
Akira nods, forcing himself not to grin as he replies. “As you wish…Annie,” he laughs under his breath as she tries to whip around to him. Ann stumbles, missing him as he ducks, pulling her onto the outside patio, void of any students.
“What are you doing?” She asks, shooting him a questioning look as he ignores it, gently pulling off his bag.
“You can come out,” he tells Morgana, who pops his head out, curiously looking around the small area.
Ann’s smile brightens as she looks at Morgana’s sleepy form, quickly becoming alert as he hops out of the bag.
“I thought you said I couldn’t come out?”
“You couldn’t come out earlier when I was coming to school, so that nobody noticed I snuck you in-”
Ann cuts him off, “and because Akira didn’t want to pay the pet fee.”
“Pet fee?” Akira repeats, frowning.
“Yeah?” She looks back at him with a similar expression, “…we didn’t tell you. Dammit, I forgot you’re not from Tokyo. There’s a pet fee if the train attendants find out you snuck a pet on or you pay upfront to bring an animal on.”
“I am not from Tokyo. I’ve lived in Inaba my entire life until four days ago. I haven’t even really been out of Inaba,” Akira objects, blinking over at Ann.
“Trust me, country boy, I know. Your accent’s not like Ryuji’s or Shiho’s,” Ann reassures.
“Why are we out here?” Morgana reminds, redirecting Akira and Ann.
“We’re out here so that you can go sneak somewhere else, we’ll be in the gym for a little before Ryuji and I can sneak out and I’m sure it would be too much for you in there if it’s anything like Yasogami’s games.” Akira explains slowly even as Morgana's ears pull back and he glares up at Akira.
“I can handle it!” Morgana retorts, glaring up at him.
“Akira’s right, Morgana. It’s…a lot, and there will be at least three balls thrown out of bounds on accident,” Morgana frowns, stubbornly staying still before Ann’s voice shifts, taking on a different tone. “…And you could sneak around to see if you could find anything.”
“Find anything?” He repeats, ears perking as his attention focuses on her.
“Yeah! While Akira and Ryuji go around asking the volleyball members about Kamoshida, you can see if anyone knows anything by sneaking around.”
Morgana nods, hopping down onto the ground before he looks back up at them. “I’ll let you know what I find later…but how will I know when it’s time to meet back up together?”
Akira frowns, pulling out his phone as he checks the time. It’s just hitting ten thirty now. “When it hits the end of the day, there will be a bell. However, if you finish before that, you can go hide on the rooftop. It’s all the way up on the fourth floor of the classroom building—the building we just came from.”
Morgana nods before he turns, running off.
“We should get going now. I really want to sit next to Shiho before her game,” Ann says, waiting until he pulls his bag back on before they join the crowd of students. “I’d offer for you and Ryuji to sit with us, but…” Ann trails off.
“It’s alright, just let Shiho know I’m cheering for her?” He asks as Ann nods before slipping away.
He immediately hates the noise already echoing in the gym. It’s nearly as bad as Central Street. He’d rather go back to Kawakami’s classroom or even Ushimaru’s if it meant he didn’t have to deal with it all.
“Akira!” The excited voice is a balm to Akira’s overwhelmed state, as is the arm that wraps around his shoulders, pulling him close to a broad chest. He startles for a moment, unused to the touch, before he relaxes back into Ryuji. “Where’s Ann? I thought she’d be with you.”
He shakes his head, letting Ryuji lead him to the far wall close to the secondary doors where there are fewer students as the rest steal the chairs closer to the match. “This is easier than having any of the teachers notice, and she’ll be closer to the game for Shiho.”
“Right,” Ryuji tenses beside him as a cheer goes up at the sight of Kamoshida running in, widely smiling as students and a few of the teachers surround him. “How does anyone fall for this bullshit…?”
Ryuji grumbles under his breath as he focuses on the ground, avoiding the sight of Kamoshida as Akira tries to relax beside him. “How long are we staying?”
“Shiho’s game, then we’ll be able to head out. Players usually head out after their game’s done, so that’s our best bet.” Ryuji explains, yawning as he stretches.
Akira regrets not grabbing his headphones before they entered the gym only fifteen minutes later as he tries to block out the increased cheers that burst with Kamoshida’s every move. He swears everyone’s blind to the malice that sits behind Kamoshida’s attempts at concerned frowns as volleyball members, Kamoshida’s team gets struck down at least once by Kamoshida’s strikes hitting just a little too perfectly, striking them down one after another.
“This one’s Shiho’s game,” Ryuji says, straightening as Shiho heads onto the court with two boys.
Akira recognises the one from Kamoshida’s palace yesterday, the bandages wrapped around his fingers identifying Kimura Souji while the other has black hair, almost blue underneath the lights with matching eyes; Akira recognises him as Mishima Yuuki once he remembers Kawakami calling out for him to take his turn in class yesterday.
The game doesn’t start out well as Kamoshida’s moves become more visibly targeted, “accidentally” hitting Shiho a few times but more often than not finding Mishima.
Ryuji tenses harder beside him, his hands turning white as he clenches them, holding himself back. Akira feels himself tense too, hiding his eyes underneath his bangs as he glares at Kamoshida, wanting to pull Shiho and even Mishima out of the game. Neither of them deserves to deal with Kamoshida not being able to handle his own anger.
Akira winces, biting down on his tongue as the volume crescendos again as Kamoshida lands another strike, hitting Mishima, who falls to the ground. Nobody except for Shiho and Kimura moves to help him as the rest look away and the teachers’ team surrounds Kamoshida with their own cheers.
“Nice toss!”
“Man, you’ve still got it, Coach!”
“Thanks. Let’s get ready for one more!” Kamoshida says brightly as they spread out back into their spots.
The students cheer again as the whistle rings out loud and clear with the sound of the referee’s command, “and go!”
“Pretty boring, right?” Ryuji says, yawning.
“It’s…not quite what I expected,” Akira replies, choosing his words carefully. He turns back as the sound of startled shouts takes over the cheering.
Mishima’s already on the floor again, body splayed out as a ball jumps over him.
Ryuji jabs him with his elbow to get his attention as he nods over to Kamoshida, who’s glaring at Mishima’s fallen form before he masks it with a look of worry as he runs over. “Hey, you alright? Someone, take him to the nurse’s office!”
Akira watches as Kamoshida none too gently lifts Mishima into the arms of another student, who helps guide him out of the gym. Ryuji growls under his breath at the sight, yanking the ball from where it landed as he tosses it back to the other students. “He’ll pay soon enough…”
“Alright! Let’s resume the match!” Kamoshida cheers, running back onto the field.
“Now’s our chance,” Ryuji states as he stands, waiting for Akira before they slip out. “That asshole’s actin’ like a king over here too…Get to know each other better, my ass. It’s just a one-man show for him to stroke his ego. And how he acted like he was worried about Mishima! What an abusive d-bag!”
“Calm down…” Akira replies, waiting for Ryuji’s irritated sigh before he continues, “like you said, he’ll pay soon enough and then he won’t be able to hurt anyone else.”
“Right…” Ryuji nods as he runs his hand through his hair, “so anyway. Now’s our chance to go look for the guys…Shiho said we should try talkin’ to Mishima, but we probably shouldn’t be seen in the nurses’ office, so we should save ‘im for last. Shiho and Kimura are still playing, so we should start with the guys we saw were slaves yesterday. All the members of the team should be here today.”
Akira nods. “Where are we starting?”
“The first one that popped out was a guy from Class D, so let’s start from there.”
“My class?”
“Yeah, hopefully you can get him to talk without any issues…Everyone’s been avoidin’ me lately, so…”
Akira deadpans, waiting until Ryuji gets it, rubbing his neck with a sheepish smile.
“Oh, right…You’re kinda in the same boat, huh? If only Ann were able to sneak out, she’s a shitty liar, but she can get anyone to talk.”
Akira grins, letting out a laugh as head back to the classroom building. “So that’s not just me?”
“No, she’s always been a shitty liar,” Ryuji says, rolling his eyes. “You should ask Shiho about when we tried to sneak out in middle school. She always tells ‘em better than me, but Ann was the worst whenever we got caught, always giving us away.”
Akira smiles, mood lifting at the image of a younger Ann messing with her hair as she tries to lie, with Ryuji rolling his eyes behind her as she fails, and Shiho hiding her laughter.
He follows Ryuji back to his classroom as he catches wisps of a faint conversation between two younger girls.
“When I was on the first floor…I saw someone who was all bandaged up…”
“Oh, I bet it was someone from the volleyball team…the third-years get worked hard.”
“That’s the guy I was talkin’ about, all the way in the front. His name’s Nakamura Minato.”
Akira can understand why Ryuji remembers the other teen so vividly as he spots the stark white bandages covering half of Nakamura’s entire face, leaving only one of his eyes and his mouth visible.
Nakamura turns to them as they get closer, stiffening as he glares.
“What?” He demands.
The irritation is thick, but Akira doesn’t believe it’s real, more like a facade than anything as Nakamura sinks, trying to make himself smaller, his eye darting between Akira and Ryuji.
Shiho wasn’t lying about how they–at least Nakamura feels then.
“Are you skipping out on the volleyball rally?” Nakamura studies Akira for a second, recognition ringing before he adds, “I guess I should’ve expected it from you, transfer…you too, Sakamoto? What do you guys want?”
Akira keeps his face impassive at the insult as he blocks Ryuji. “That’s a pretty bad injury. I don’t think I ever got anything nearly as bad during gymnastics practice. How did you get it?”
“It’s from practice! You two are friends with Suzui-san. You should understand! What does it even have to do with anything?”
“...Kamoshida did it, right? Look, we won’t tell anyone you squealed,” Ryuji states.
Nakamura stiffens, his arms folding as he leans away from them. His voice shakes as he tries to respond, “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Akira debates for a moment before he replies, “are you afraid?”
“I’m not! You guys are talking complete nonsense!”
“Don’t try to hide it. We already know,” Ryuji shoots back.
Nakamura’s posture loosens as he looks between them for a long minute before he answers, “you…you know? You have proof?”
Akira can feel as Ryuji stutters, before Akira gestures, nodding his head. “Sort of…It’s why Mishima-san and Shiho have private ‘lessons’ with him, right? And why Mishima’s been odd since I arrived all of three days ago, right?”
Nakamura hesitates before he leans back in. “...What do you want to know?”
“How bad is it?” Akira lets Ryuji ask the questions now as he leans back, his eyes circling around his classroom.
“Depends…sometimes he’s not too bad, other times he’s-”
Ryuji cuts him off, nodding along as he asks. “How’d your eye get the way it is?”
Nakamura’s hand lifts, gingerly touching the bandages as he looks down. “A few weeks ago, he was pissed, and he…he threw a ball too hard down and it hit me right in my eye. I tried telling my parents it was nothing, but they-they didn’t believe me, so they took me to the doctor, and apparently it was a fracture.”
Ryuji softens, anger loosening as he looks back up at Nakamura with a frown. “He did it on purpose, didn’t he?”
“...Yeah, I don’t know why he was so angry, but I wasn’t doing good enough and he-” Nakamura’s voice cracks as he looks away from Akira and Ryuji.
“It wasn’t your fault, man,” Ryuji replies.
“But-”
“But nothing, he’s nothin’ more than an abusive d-bag who takes out his feelings on all of us,” Ryuji snarls.
Akira puts his hand on Ryuji’s shoulder, waiting until he calms down to let go. “You and Shiho don’t deserve this—neither does Mishima nor Kimura. The first-years don’t either…and I’m gonna stop him.”
“How, Sakamoto? You remember what happened last time.” Nakamura questions as Ryuji flinches, hand falling to his leg before he shakes his head.
“Trust me, I got this. Do you know anyone else who’d talk about it?”
“Suzuki-senpai might. He’s best friends with Yamaguchi-senpai.”
“The guy on the football team?”
Nakamura nods, “yeah. They’ve been friends since middle school, and Suzuki-senpai was really upset when he found out about Yamaguchi-senpai losing his recommendation because of him...Don’t tell him I told you, but he almost quit that day.”
“Thank you, Nakamura-san, really,” Akira says as the other teen shakes his head.
“Don’t. Just make sure you guys actually get him, alright?”
Akira and Ryuji both nod before they turn back. Before they can leave, Nakamura draws attention back to himself again. “And, Kurusu-kun, I’m really sorry about the comment. You’re definitely not like the rumours said you are.”
Akira can’t find the words to thank Nakamura properly, but Ryuji saves him by nodding before he pulls Akira out of the classroom.
“I wasn’t actually expectin’ him to fess up, thanks, man.”
“He just needed the right words to make him relax enough,” Akira brushes off before Ryuji rolls his eyes.
“Take the thanks, dude. He would’ve never fessed up had I said anythin’,” Akira shrugs as Ryuji sighs, irritated. “Why are you so stubborn? Nevermind, not important. Suzuki’s a third year. I remember him from the castle. He’s in class C… but at this rate, the games are gonna be over before we talk to everyone.”
“What if we split up? I can talk to Suzuki and see if he knows anyone else,” Akira suggests as Ryuji brightens, grinning at him.
“Yeah! I’ll check the Practice Building for people before clubs start. You handle the classroom building. Anyway, I’ll hit you guys up if I find anything. Seeya!” Akira nods, giving Ryuji a wave as the blond runs off, heading back down the hall.
He waits a minute before he heads to the stairs, down to the first floor. He ducks his head, hiding his face as he tries to blend in and listen to the conversation going on near him.
“Let’s get changed and head to karaoke. Should we invite that other guy? I think I saw him somewhere over there…”
“He can’t. He said he had to go to practice.”
“Seriously…? They just had like five games—the volleyball team is something else.”
Akira knows Shiho mentioned practice today, but he’s still surprised that they’re having another practice when all the players got some in throughout the day during the games.
How doesn’t anybody question this? It can’t look normal to anyone.
“Akira!” He lifts his head to find Ann and Shiho waiting as they look back at him.
“How did it go?” Shiho asks as he walks closer.
“Nakamura-san was helpful after Ryuji let it slip that we knew. I added to it by telling Nakamura-san that we knew it’s why Mishima and you had private lessons with Kamoshida.” Shiho nods, her face brightening at his statement. “He mentioned a third year, Suzuki-senpai, who was angry with Kamoshida because his best friend, Yamaguchi-senpai, had lost his recommendation to him.”
Shiho nods. “I remember that. Suzuki-senpai was ready to quit on the spot, and it was only because Yamaguchi-senpai calmed him down later that he didn’t.”
“Would either of you like to join me?” Akira asks as they both shake their heads.
“Probably for the best that we don’t—Kamoshida’s livid, and I only just managed to avoid him,” Shiho explains.
“He tried to talk to me no less than three times the entire time we were in there when he was taking a break,” Ann rolls her eyes as her nose scrunches in disgust. “I thought we could head up early and see if Morgana managed to find anything.”
“Stay safe,” Akira replies.
“We’ll do our best,” Shiho promises before she gestures at the hall. “Suzuki and Yamaguchi-senpai are down that way. Suzuki-senpai will have a leg brace like mine with a lot of bandages covering him.”
Akira smiles gratefully. “Thanks.”
He finds a taller boy with dark hair standing next to a boy with lighter hair as they chat to one another.
He wanders down the hallway as Ann and Shiho sneak up the stairs.
He looks around, trying to find someone with Shiho’s description before he spots a tall boy almost towering over the students as he chats with another boy with light hair and a similar jersey. Akira can see the bandages Shiho mentioned, wrapping around his wrists and hidden partially by the red leg brace he sports. Which probably makes the other boy, Yamaguchi then. “Suzuki-senpai?”
They both turn to him with curious looks before Suzuki irritatedly responds. “Eh? Whaddya want?”
“Can I talk to you?”
“About what?”
“Why do you need to talk to him?” Yamaguchi asks, apparently the calm to Suzuki’s storm.
“I talked to one of your teammates, and they told me you almost quit the volleyball team about a week ago because of your recommendation.” Suzuki quickly stiffens before Yamaguchi puts a hand on his arm, calming him.
“What about it?”
“Why did you almost quit? Wouldn’t that recommendation have helped you out?” Akira starts.
“If one of my teammates told you about that incident, then shouldn’t you already know?” Suzuki practically snarls.
“I want to hear your side,” Akira says as Suzuki grows even angrier, almost ready to lunge at him.
“Why? What, you wanna hear about how he took that from Ei even though he’s worked so hard for it? That the only reason I stayed was because Ei didn’t want me to lose everything I worked for?” Suzuki’s anger dims again quickly as his friend subtly brushes their shoulders together.
“What do you want, transfer? What do you get out of this?” Suzuki’s friend questions, shooting him a suspicious look.
“Answers,” Akira shrugs, lowering his voice so that fewer people don’t overhear. “How were you injured, Suzuki-senpai?”
“…Practice.”
“Was it really practice?” Akira replies.
“Which teammate?” Suzuki deflects.
Akira contemplates his options before he answers truthfully. “Nakamura-san, I was talking to him a few minutes ago.”
Yamaguchi’s face twists, shock replacing the anger before he looks over Akira again. “How’d you convince him to say anything?”
Akira shrugs again, letting himself grin as he responds, “told him we knew.”
“We?”
“Is it that important?” Akira deflects, his grin widening as Suzuki nods.
“Do you…” He mutters before he nods again, “fine. It was practice. Kamoshida was upset about my almost quitting and made me redo my practice with him after everyone else left last Monday. Ei helped bandage me up and convinced me that quitting wouldn’t end well,” Suzuki nods back to Yamaguchi.
“Does he do things like that frequently?”
“Yeah. I’m sure you’ve seen Mishima-kun’s injuries since you’re in the same class, and Shiho-chan seems to be becoming close with you, so you’ve probably already seen some of hers. Hell, even Souji-kun gets pretty severe injuries, especially last January.”
Akira nods, giving his seniors a small bow in thanks. “Thank you, Suzuki-senpai, I appreciate your help.”
“Not a probably, kid…though if you manage to do anything about this, drop the senpai, won’t you? I’m pretty sure I’ll owe you,” Suzuki suggests with a grin. “And if you want to go talk to anyone else, try the first years. They’re a little less scared of him and might open up.”
“I’ll keep that in mind…and thank you, truly. I hope your recovery goes well,” Akira says before he wanders off. He’s right on time, it seems, as his phone buzzes.
Ryuji:
how’d it go
Akira:
Suzuki and Yamaguchi were open once I told them about Nakamura telling us about him. They suggested talking to the first years since they’re not as scared of Kamoshida as the older students.
He also mentioned something about last January with Kimura getting more injuries?
────────────
Shiho:
Oh.
That’s um about Kimura’s sister. She *died* during winter break, and Kamoshida was furious at Souji because of it.
Ann:
He treated him like that when she had *just* died???
What is wrong with him!
Ryuji:
a shit ton
but I heard the same thing
the guys I tried talking to were all freaked out over Kamoshida but I was able to still get a lead on a first year the newest member
Shiho:
I think I know who you mean. They’re probably talking about Tanaka-kun. He just joined within the last few months. They’re right that he’s not as scared or angry as the rest of us. He doesn’t get the worst brunt of it.
Ryuji:
really?
Shiho:
Kamoshida doesn’t really pay attention to him unless he messes up, and he’s been getting better recently. Plus, all the older players try to keep him out of it if we can.
Akira:
Thank you, Shiho.
Shiho:
Not a problem, I’d suggest stopping with him though. Morgana heard some news, and it could turn out badly.
Akira:
Got it. I’ll be up as soon as I’m done then.
Ryuji:
I’ll head up now
everyone’s too freaked over Kamoshida for them to be helpful
────────────
Akira shuts his phone off as the three continue to message back and forth.
First years are upstairs. Hopefully, he’s not too hard to find.
Akira shakes the thought off as he heads up the stairs, heading to the third floor. The hall’s filled with students all eager to go home.
Akira finds Tanaka reading over a pin board. He looks to be the least injured of all the players with only a loose bandage wrapped over his hand.
“Huh?” Tanaka turns to him, tilting his head as he looks back at Akira. “What do you want?”
“Are you Tanaka-kun?” Akira asks.
“Yeah, what about it?”
“I just have a question for you,” Akira replies, slouching, so he’s smaller than Tanaka.
“Fine, what?” Tanaka allows, gesturing for him to hurry.
“How did your hand get that way?”
“What—I had practice, you do know that I’m a volleyball player, right?” Tanaka questions, frowning.
“Fine. Have you seen anything odd during practice?” Akira tries as Tanaka shrugs.
“What do you mean, odd?”
“Any weird injuries, any rumours, stuff like that…”
“Why?”
“I just want to know,” Akira tries to think of what the best response would be. How do you convince someone to give up answers?
…By using someone else they know and probably look up to.
“Suzuki-senpai recommended trying to talk to you,” Akira adds with a shrug. “He said that you were a lot more…truthful than others.”
Tanaka stills, looking at him before he looks down the hall. “Did he? Fine, it’s not a lot—the others are always trying to keep me from seeing the worst of it since he doesn’t really notice me and they would rather keep it that way. But I’m quiet, you know? No one really notices me when I’m just sort of there, and sometimes I’ll overhear things.”
Akira nods in understanding, watching as Tanaka sighs, gripping his hair. “I overheard one time when he…he was trying to talk to a female player and he was being suggestive. A few days ago, he pulled Mishima-senpai aside and told him to put something online. He handed him this paper, but I wasn’t able to see what was on it.”
Akira frowns before he smooths it out, looking at Tanaka. “Thank you.”
“Yeah…why did Suzuki-senpai suggest you talk to me?” Tanaka asks.
Akira marvels at the difference in Tanaka between now and only a few minutes ago. He was just trying to be tougher, and now he just looks so young and tired. They’re not too different from each that way, even if Akira doesn’t think he’s ever felt as young as Tanaka looks. “He thought you’d be more open to sharing information since you haven’t dealt with him for long.”
“He did?” Tanaka slowly nods, shock turning to determination. “What do I do if I see or hear anything else? I want to help.”
Akira blinks, surprised before he thinks about it. “Do all of you have each other’s numbers?”
“Yeah, just in case anything happens,” Tanaka says, showing Akira a group chat filled with reminders and time changes.
“Good, if you do, then text Shiho-san. She’ll be able to help,” Akira says before he takes a small step back.
Tanaka gives him a small nod as he turns back to the board, hiding his wet eyes. “Thank you, senpai.”
“Of course, and for their sake at least, try to stay safe?” Akira suggests before he heads down the hall, sneaking up the stairs.
“There you are!” Morgana exclaims, looking up at Akira from the table.
“Yeah, Tanaka-kun had a few more questions,” Akira says, stealing the last seat beside Ryuji.
“He had questions?” Ryuji repeats, his eyebrows raised.
“Yeah, don’t be surprised if he messages you, Shiho,” Akira shrugs.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ann sighs, frowning as she clenches her hair before she looks back at Morgana. “Before we get into that, Morgana found a rumour…and if it’s true, then this isn’t good at all. Morgana?”
Morgana straightens, his ears lowered as he turns to them. “I went and listened around to see if I could find any information, and two ladies were talking about how they were upset that Kamoshida was showing an intent interest in one of the first years.”
Ryuji sputters, “who!?”
“They didn’t mention who,” Morgana says.
“But, I think I know who it is. We’re close to summer break, which means that this person has to be new and well known,” Shiho adds.
“It does?” Akira questions.
“Yeah, after we went into his palace the first time, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Kamoshida started trying to get me to be his girlfriend,” Ann says, as Shiho grabs one of her hands, pulling Ann away from her hair. “He…he started by trying to talk to me, you know? He was nice, and he didn’t mention how I was ‘the foreigner girl’, and then it was small touches and little things. He really only ramped up his attention after winter break.”
Ann gives a wet sigh, huddling closer to Shiho as she takes over. “When the girls would talk about who Kamoshida ‘dated,’ they’d also talk about how Kamoshida always chooses some during their first year and keeps his eye on them usually until their third, then he starts pulling away. He also usually chooses typically the more well-known girls, Souji’s sister was already becoming a well-liked student in her first year, everyone knew her and Tanaka-senpai was quickly plucked up by the student council and the teachers all really liked her, not to mention how she was an honours student too. Which means, this person has to be well known, but talented first years are always heavily talked about, so it’s odd that there’s been no mention of her before,” Shiho explains before Ryuji erupts, slamming his hand against the table.
“Goddammit!”
“Do you know which student it is?” Akira asks once Ryuji calms down again.
“Yeah, Satō-san brought it up earlier when I was talking to her. Alongside you, Akira, there were supposed to be two other transfers-”
“There was?” Ryuji interrupts.
“You’re as hopeless as ever, Yuji,” Shiho rolls her eyes, affectionately before she explains. “Yes, we were supposed to have three transfers. Their family name’s Yoshizawa, and they’re both really well known competitive gymnasts and sisters or twins, I’m not sure which. I also know that they were both also going to be honours students. To be both, on top of being transfers, it was a big deal for Shujin.”
“Supposed to?” Akira repeats as Ann frowns, answering for Shiho.
“Yeah, they both were supposed to, but last month one sister died in a car accident.”
Akira nods slowly as they all quiet, before his mind turns the information over again. Gymnast and an honours student…wasn’t that why those Shujin students were looking at the girl on the train yesterday?
“Didn’t they say she wears ribbons like a lot?”
“I’ve met her. We got on the same train yesterday. A few of the other students were talking about her.”
“Alright, so you know what sh looks like, that’s good,” Morgana chirps.
“We should probably deal with Kamoshida as quickly as possible so that he stops threatening and punishing Shiho, but if he’s also looking at other girls…” Ann trails off, fear and panic in her eyes before she shakes her head. “We can’t let that happen.”
Akira nods, making sure Ann looks back at him as he gives his agreement. “So we’ll have to find his…you called it his treasure, right Morgana?”
“Yes.”
“So that means we’ll have to find and get it as soon as possible, then.”
“Right. Last night, Morgana, you mentioned us needing to get armour and medicine, then we’ll be all good to start?” Ann confirms, waiting for Morgana’s approval before she stands. “Let’s go get them, then. The day’s over in a few minutes, anyway.”
“Before you do!” Morgana cuts in, halting them. “Akira and I are going to go get the medicine today-”
Akira looks back at Morgana, confused. “We are?”
The not-cat rolls his eyes, ignoring his comment as he talks over Akira, “which means you, Blondie, have to go get the armour and equipment since you know where you’re going.”
“My name’s Ryuji!”
Shiho speaks up, distracting Morgana from retorting. “Can I come with you two? We still need to talk to Souji and Yuuki, right?”
Akira nods as Morgana perks up. “we do. Just to get as much information as possible.”
“Aww, I was hoping you’d join me today, Shi,” Ann playfully pouts before she smiles again. “Can I join you, Ryuji? I’d like to see what they’re selling, and I still have leftover money from my last modelling shoot.”
“That’s fine with me,” Ryuji shrugs, shouldering his bag as he walks over to Ann.
Shiho interrupts the two quickly, getting distracted. “How are you going to get that here tomorrow, Ryuji? If anyone sees that stuff, you’ll immediately be suspended.”
“I can come to school early tomorrow, like when I was still in track, and hide ‘em up here so that no one finds it. It’ll be fine.” Ryuji waves her off even as she glares up at him.
“Fine, but please be careful.”
Ryuji and Ann both melt at her words, something softening in them as they pull her up into a tight three-way hug.
“One of us will text the group chat once we’re there and after we’re done, don’t forget to tell us what Mishima and Kimura say,” Ann says, pulling Akira into his own hug before rubbing Morgana’s head as Ryuji follows with a fist bump before they both vanish down the stairs.
Shiho sighs, her face falling into exhaustion before she shakes it off, looking back at him. “We should get going too. We won’t have much time to talk to Souji or Yuuki before practice starts.”
Morgana agrees as he silently hops into Akira’s bag, watching both of them before Akira gets up, closing his bag just enough before they head out the door.
Akira lets Shiho take the lead as she creates a path back to the Practice building and down the stairs to the second floor, where she leads him past the gym. She’s quiet, distracted as she messes with her phone before she tugs him into an empty room.
“Where are we?” He asks, looking around the blank walls and rows of black desks with two chairs at each. He can see a few posters on the walls, but the writing has faded, leaving them grey.
Shiho hops onto the teacher’s desk, gesturing for him to sit before she answers. “This was one of the science labs a few years ago. The teacher quit, and they never really found a use for the classroom again. Well outside of study hall and detention on rare occasions, but after classes no one comes in here so Yuuki, Souji and I use it when we want to talk privately.”
Akira smirks, looking back at her. “You know, you’re oftly the rule breaker.”
“I have to get my amusement in somewhere,” Shiho snickers, grinning back at him. Their conversation stops as the door opens and two figures sneak in before they look up at Shiho and Akira.
Mishima pales, eyes widening as he catches sight of Akira, involuntarily taking a step back before his eyes flick to Shiho. Akira allows his attention to shift to Kimura as Mishima and Shiho have their own conversation.
Akira recognises him as the first boy who had tried to dissuade Ryuji from doing anything yesterday in Kamoshida’s palace. He looks different here though, brighter as his dark eyes shift between Akira, Shiho and Mishima in a constant loop. His posture is straighter, chin jutting out slightly even with the bandages that are tightly wrapped around his left hand and leg…but the ones around Kimura’s leg aren’t a stark white anymore. They’re covered in small doodles from markers, making for an interesting mosaic around his leg.
“Shiho…? What’s going on?” Kimura asks finally after a minute passes without a word.
Shiho sighs before she shakes herself out of it, gesturing to the desks. “We need to talk, and we don’t have much time.”
Kimura raises a brow, giving her a disbelieving look even as he pulls Mishima to two desks.
Mishima speaks up, his voice shaky as he settles into his chair. “What…what do you mean? What do we need to talk about and—-why is he here?”
Shiho shuffles, her hand moving down to her knee as she messes with her brace. “He’s here because we need to talk…” Her voice lowers, eyes fading before she presses down against her brace, pulling herself back. “Because we need to talk about Kamoshida.”
Kimura snorts, shooting Akira an amused look. “Why does that involve the transfer?”
Akira shoots his own look at Shiho, tapping against his bag lightly as he hopes she understands.
She nods, thankfully understanding before she straightens, watching them with a curious look. “If you could get rid of him, would you?”
Kimura snorts, giving her a teasing look. “Is that a question? Like a serious one?”
“Souji!” Mishima cries, looking between them all as if he can’t believe either of them. “We shouldn’t get rid of him.”
“Yuuki!” Kimura replies, watching Mishima with a furrowed brow.
“What’s going on, Yuuki? You’ve never been this pro…him,” Shiho adds, levelling him with her own look.
“Nothing, nothing’s going on!” Mishima tries before they both give him deadpan expressions that make him shrink.
“Are you that afraid of him?” Akira asks, swirls of worry for Mishima and whatever’s going crumbling his silence.
“Why would I be afraid of him?”
Akira rolls his eyes before he gestures at Shiho and Kimura’s many bandages. “I don’t know. Why would you be afraid of a man who targets you during ‘friendly’ games and hurts your friends? It’s not like you got injured and had to be taken to the nurse today, right?”
Mishima shrinks, almost falling out of his chair before his eyes slide to Shiho and Kimura as he reluctantly speaks, “…he said if I told anyone, I’d get expelled. You know what my parents are like. I can’t.”
Shiho and Kimura share a look before they both turn to him simultaneously with matching looks of growing anger. “What did he make you do?”
Mishima shakes his head, looking back at Akira before he shakes his head even harder. “I can’t.”
────────────
Why did Yuuki look at Akira?
Shiho studies Yuuki, trying to find another tell that might explain everything, but before she can, Yuuki’s phone blares, signalling practice. Yuuki’s up and out of his chair lightning fast, ignoring her and Souji as he darts out of the door without even a goodbye.
“…Well that was weird,” Akira, the genius, quips as he looks back out the door.
Shiho gives him a look, rolling her eyes as he grins, unrepentant. “You don’t say.”
Souji cuts in before Akira can respond, giving her a serious look. “Were you serious? About being able to get rid of him?”
Shiho shrugs, playing with her knee brace again. “Maybe? We’re not really sure, but…we can’t keep living like this, can we?”
“Have we really been living?” Souji shakes his head as he gets up, hands tight on the edge of the desk. “I’ll watch Yuuki, make sure he’s okay…just…just make sure he pays for this, Shi, I-” Souji chokes, his voice growing thick before he cuts himself off, his sarcastic and jaded mask collapsing for a second as it reveals pain and the echo of distant memories.
Shiho gestures for him to come closer before she responds. “I will. I promise, Souji. For us, for her, for everyone he’s hurt. Shiho responds. Souji pulls her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her neck. It’s nice, warm as she hugs back, pulling him even closer as she revels in the friendly contact. Souji stays, rebuilding his mask before he finally pulls away.
“Thank you…and stay safe, however you’re doing this. I can’t lose you too,” he whispers. She nods, unable to find the words as Carmilla grows, the feeling of waves crashing against rough rocks with the syllables of her promise.
“Text me later?” Souji asks, voice lighter once more as he heads over to the door.
“Of course,” Shiho watches as he waves before slipping out the door.
Akira thankfully understands she needs a minute without her telling him as he waits, gently petting Morgana. She finally wipes her eyes of the last of her tears before she turns to them.
“Are you alright, Lady Shiho?” Morgana asks, voice soft as his wide eyes watch her.
“I’m as alright as I can be, thank you for asking though, Morgana,” Shiho tries to reassure, half-heartedly smiling at the not-cat. “Anyway, are we going to go get the medication now?”
Akira looks down at Morgana, who nods, hoping back into Akira’s bag, leaving only bright blue peering back at them.
Akira sighs, rolling his eyes as he exasperatedly says to Morgana. “Where did you even find a place for medication? You’ve been with me almost the entire time that you’ve been outside the Metaverse.”
Morgana mimics Akira’s expression, looking unimpressed as he chirps. “Unlike you, Frizzy Hair, I know how to find sources. Now, come on! We shouldn’t linger much longer.”
Shiho giggles at Akira’s deadpan expression as he zips his bag before they walk to the door. She can feel her exhaustion and the creeping numbness fading away as he pulls open the door with an over dramatic bow to her, “ladies first.”
“Why thank you, kind sir,” she curtsies in return before they sneak back out of the school, falling silent as they both watch out for Kamoshida.
Shiho:
We weren’t able to get any information out of Yuuki, outside of Kamoshida making him do something and threatening him with suspension.
Ryuji:
whyd that make him so scared
that ain’t expulsion or anything
Shiho:
Yuuki’s parents would blame Yuuki for it. They don’t have a good relationship with each other, and Yuuki’s always worried about making them worried.
Ann:
So we have another reason to deal with Kamoshida then. I wonder what Kamoshida did to Mishima…
Akira:
I might have some idea, actually. I forgot about it, but when I was talking with Tanaka. He mentioned that Kamoshida had pulled Mishima aside a few days ago and gave him some sort of file to put online.
Ann:
Tanaka wasn’t able to make out what he was talking about, was he?
Akira:
No, it was too far away.
Ryuji:
i think i know what was in it
Ann:
You do?
Ryuji:
yeah
Hey, Shi, you said that Kamoshida warned you about Akira last week?
Shiho:
Yeah, last Friday, why?
Ryuji:
Kamoshida told you to enjoy the school year when we came late, Akira. What’re the odds *Kamoshida* had Mishima do his dirty work and leak Akira’s file?
Akira:
Why? I haven’t done anything to him?
Shiho:
No…Ryuji’s right
that is something Kamoshida would do.
Ann:
They’re right Akira
And…you *did* do something to him
You lied about me showing you the way to Shujin when he offered a ride
Ryuji:
Dude!
She’s for real
That bastard would absolutely take that and use it to justfy leaking your file
Shiho:
It’s justify, but they’re both right…If Kamoshida thought you slighted him, he would absolutely leak your file. Who’s going to do anything, and who would believe Yuuki even if someone did?
Ann:
I think I’m starting to see your point of view, Shiho. He absolutely needs to pay. I know we were already going to take his heart, but I don’t care about the consequences anymore. He needs to pay for everything’s done and still doing
Ryuji:
For real
Nobody’s ever going to do anythin about him and that’s bullshit.
Akira:
Alright.
Shiho and I are on our way wherever Morgana’s trying to take us to get medicine, and then we can get to work tomorrow.
Ryuji:
Cool!
ann and i’ve got a few things for all of us, just some protective pieces
Ann:
I was able to get a new whip with some of my leftover money and I also got you a nice quiver of arrows, Shi. Iwai has a *lot* of replica weaponry and we even found some of the bows similar to yours, along with a bat for Ryuji.
Shiho:
Really? Thank you for that
Ann:
Of course, anything for my darling best friend.
Ryuji:
quit the flirtin Ann
Ann:
Shut up, Ryuji!
Ryuji:
then stop flirting!
ANYWAYS
I got a bat with nails! It’s friggin awesome and we found a few knives for you man but werent sure which one you wanted
Akira:
Thank you for looking around. How many pieces of armour did you get?
Ann:
We got something for all of us! Including a nice cat sweater for him that has some sort of magic boost
Shiho:
How did you figure that out?
Akira:
Really?
Ann:
I don’t know??
It was just some sort of like *feeling* and I convinced Ryuji we should get it
Ryuji:
was totally weird ann just kinda blanked before she pointed at it saying we needed to get it
Shiho:
Interesting…We’ll have to look a little more into that at some point. I wonder if you’re able to sense other things like that?
Akira:
We can ask Morgana tomorrow at some point, but we have to go. Our stop is next.
Ann:
Alright!
Have fun!
Shiho:
We’ll do our best, but I doubt it will be too much excitement
Ryuji:
Seeya
Morgana directs Akira through muffled orders to the train, telling Akira to get off at Yongen-Jaya. “Where are we going, Morgana?” Akira asks once he’s led Shiho to the backstreets like Morgana demanded.
“Remember that customer you met yesterday? The doctor who prescribes medication after a quick examination?” Morgana responds, fishing for Akira’s response.
“You met a doctor?” Shiho cuts in, looking at Akira with curiosity.
He nods as he explains, “I remember. She was drinking a cup of coffee when Morgana and I got back to my guardian’s. She was wearing an interesting outfit, and my guardian explained who she was.”
Morgana chirps up before Shiho can respond. “If she’s the kind of doctor who gets sketchy rumours like that, maybe she’ll help us out now.”
“Wait, sorry, you met a sketchy doctor and want to get her to help us,” Shiho cuts in again, her eyebrows hidden in the cut of her bangs.
“Sketchy rumours, doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s sketchy herself,” Morgana defends, popping his head out of the small air hole in Akira’s bag. “We need medicine and a steady supply of it. She’s somewhere in the neighbourhood, right? Take me to her.”
“I think I know where she is,” Akira agrees as he leads Morgana and Shiho over to an alley past Leblanc, white steps leading to a door with hiragana labelling “Takemi’s clinic”.
“So, this was the palace that the chief mentioned…” Morgana falters as he looks between Akira and Shiho. “…How are we going to get them to give us some medicine?”
Shiho sighs, a long drawn-out breath as she huddles in on herself. “I might be able to get her to.”
Morgana’s eyes narrow, ears falling back as he looks at her. “You can, Lady Shiho?”
Akira watches her, watches the way her hands drift around her bandages before she nods. “The reason that Ann probably demanded you bring me in is because of my-my knee. I’ve been wearing the knee brace for a few months, and it’s bothered her, but I kept telling her it was fine, I was fine.”
Akira nods, not pushing the issue as he reaches out to her hand, giving it a quick squeeze. “Alright, that could work. It would be better than us lying at the very least…Do you want us to leave you alone?”
Morgana swivels his head to Akira, but he can’t make it out from this angle.
Shiho also looks up at him in surprise before she shakes her head. “No, it’s alright…I’d actually feel better if you came in with me.”
“Well, I guess this is the only actual option we have. All right, let’s step inside.”
Akira doesn’t respond as they head up the steps, nor does he make any sign that he notices the way Shiho grips his hand tightly outside, giving it a small squeeze for reassurance as they head in.
They step into a cramped office, made up of greys varnished into white with its fluorescent lights. Posters and papers crowd the walls and scatter around the chairs lined against the walls. Akira’s eyes look up, finding a window with the woman from last night. As he walks closer, he can make out a similar dress to last night, black lace harsh against her clinical doctor’s jacket.
Her amber eyes meet his, narrowing in curiosity as she looks over at Shiho, analysing them. “…Hello there…Hm? I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before,” she mutters, staring at Akira.
“We met at Leblanc last night. I came in right as you left,” Akira supplies.
“Right…well whatever, what are you two here for today?”
Shiho nods as she moves forward, taking control. “…My friend wanted me to get my knee checked out..she’s worried it may be hurt and Akira-kun recommended you when we were talking today.”
Takemi nods, looking down at the brace-covered knee before she looks up. “Right, please head to the exam room,” she directs to Shiho before she turns to him. “Please wait out here while I examine your friend. It shouldn’t take too long.”
Shiho shakes her head, her ponytail hitting him as her grip on Akira’s hand tightens. “…I’m sorry, I know it’s unconventional, but could he come in with me? I don’t…” Shiho drifts off as she hides her face.
Takemi frowns. “You aren’t wrong. It is unconventional, and I shouldn’t…but fine.”
They both look at her surprised before Shiho gives her a bow that Takemi waves away as she gets up. “Go through that door,” she directs, pointing at the blue door beside them before she saunters out of view with the sound of a door click.
Akira pulls on Shiho’s hand, pulling her back as he whispers. “Are you sure? Morgana and I can stay out here.”
Shiho clicks her tongue, denying him. “No…I could really use you in there. I know we haven’t known each other that long…but you’re a lot like Ann and I…I could really use that right now.”
Akira nods, squeezing Shiho’s hand as he tries to find a way or any words to convey the emotions building in him. Akira doesn’t think he’s ever been trusted so quickly; always too volatile when he was young then too numb and blank faced and yet somehow when he was exiled from his home, he’s found four people who already trust him and that he already trusts in return.
Akira’s pulled out of the memory of Tae’s office as Niijima clicks her tongue, watching him in suspicion.
“Muscle and threats don’t always work to get the answers you would need for your targets. Sometimes you have to be truthful or at least appear that way. And with what you’ve already said, is anything truly impossible for you? You must have had someone who could convince others to help you. Am I wrong?”
Akira grins at her, clarity shining through with the memory of Shiho giving him her trust. He can’t help the snarky retort that falls from his mouth, twisting the words to distract her. “Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it, Niijima-san?”
She glares at his response, almost growling at him with her anger, but he continues speaking over her unspoken threat.
Ethereal blue colours his vision with the feeling and sounds of the tide, pushing and pulling, before it fades, creating the mirage of a card with a woman. Her back is straight, commanding as her otherworldly yellow eyes look down at him. Her grip is tight around a jewelled cup and a small baby suckling at a bottle. Underneath the woman stands a man, gazing up at her. The tide clashes, becoming a typhoon that wisps with the words la charité.
I am thou , thou art I…
Thou hast acquired a new vow,
It shall become the wings of rebellion
that breaketh thy chains of captivity,
With the birth of the Charity Persona,
I have obtained the wings of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new
power…
The airy voice echoes, fading away with the sound of the tide as the ethereal blue wraps around him and Shiho in a mimicry of a hug. Akira shakes his head to get rid of its final echoes before he turns back to Shiho.
“Come on, slowpoke, let’s get this over with,” she says, trying to smile as she pulls him into the exam room.
Takemi looks up at them before she gestures at the seats in front of hers. Akira slides onto the stool in front of Takemi as Shiho gingerly sits on the table, flinching at the crinkling sound it creates.
Akira tunes out their conversation, wanting to give Shiho some semblance of privacy. Instead, he looks around the room, taking in its sterile white walls coloured only by the x-ray and medical posters scattered across. A curtain cuts off Akira’s view of the rest of the room, with an iv helping to hold it up.
“It seems you just have a meniscal injury, likely from a hard strike at practice. However, it’s not too bad,” Takemi reassures as she writes on a clipboard. “I would recommend resting, icing your knee once a night, and continue wearing your brace. If it doesn’t begin to feel better, I’ll look it over once more and see what the best course of action would be. I’ll also write you a prescription for loxoprofen, which you can use when your pain levels are too high. Please come back and let me know if you deal with any abnormal side effects.” Takemi trails off as she looks up at them, directing a serious look to both Akira and Shiho before she continues. “I will be willing to refill your prescription if and only if you can explain where your other injuries come from.”
Shiho flinches, arms wrapping around herself. “They’re from practice.”
“Yes, but this many bruises implies you’re overworking yourself or someone is doing that to you. Which is it?”
Shiho stays silent, looking down as she refuses to answer.
“Fine…I will also write you a certificate so that you may rest for at least a week. Continuing to practice will not help your knee. It will only further your injury. However, I must ask whether you’ll be safe if I do this.”
Shiho blinks up at Takemi with wide eyes, something almost like awe shining in them. “Yes. I promise I’ll be safe…soon at least.”
Takemi nods reluctantly as she stands. “That is all I can ask for. Your examination is all done, and you are free to leave. I’ll have your certificate and prescription up in a moment.”
Shiho and Akira stand, but as he reaches out to his bag, a raised hand stops him.
“Before you leave though, I promised your guardian to look at the bruising around your neck if I had the chance. And what better time than now?”
Akira blinks, stunned as he responds. “Sojiro did?”
“He did. May I borrow him for just a few minutes?” Takemi rhetorically asks as Shiho looks over at him, waiting for his response. He finally nods, uncomfortably brushing hand against the back of his neck.
“Wonderful. Are you alright with Suzui-san waiting outside?” Takemi waits for his answer before she gestures languidly at the door.
“Would you take my bag out too, Shiho?” Akira asks, prickling at the thought of her or Morgana hearing about any injuries.
Shiho doesn’t verbally respond, just walks around him as she gives his hand one last squeeze before she picks up his bag with Morgana and slips out.
“Over there, please,” Takemi directs toward the table as she moves around, looking for something. “Now, over the past few days, have you dealt with any sort of pain from it? Has your voice been impacted? Any trouble with raspiness or coughing?”
Akira shakes his head before he remembers she can’t see it and adds, “no I haven’t dealt with any of that. Just some bruising.”
Takemi nods, finally moving over to him as she pulls on a pair of gloves before her hands gingerly touch over his neck. Akira flinches, as if he’s been burned at the touch, and Takemi stills, eyes catching on it even as she stays quiet.
She waits for Akira to relax again before the feeling of latex roams around his neck, pushing back Akira’s collar to get to the mix of green-tinted bruises that wrap around his throat. “They’re healing well, and you don’t seem to be in any pain from them, which, all things considered, is a good sign. Nothing seems to have damaged your throat either, which means you’ll only have to wait a few more days for the bruises to heal fully.”
Akira nods, moving to get up, but before he can, Takemi moves back, staying in front of his path as she blocks his exit. “Now, why don’t we stop beating around the bush?”
Akira blinks up at her, lost again. “What do you mean?”
“No one would recommend me to go to. I have quite a reputation, and I know Sakura-san likely warned you about it after I left. I’m not as dumb as I look, you know. However, your friend is injured, and I’m sure those are from less natural causes even if she won’t confirm that. Am I right?”
Akira shuts his mouth with a click, refusing to respond.
“That’s an answer of its own, but I admire the dedication to your friend…So, you are here because of the rumours, correct?”
Akira sighs, tugging on a curl before he responds. “Are they true?”
Takemi shrugs, falling back onto her stool. “Who’s to say? But as a result, I get patients with ulterior motives now…I guess high school kids have it tough nowadays too, huh?”
Takemi doesn’t seem to want an answer as she continues. “I’ll prescribe you some medication, though not the kind your friend got.”
Akira jumps, staring at her. “You will?”
“Yes, but only medication that will help you recover your health. You seem pretty earnest, and you don’t look like you’re much trouble.”
“Much?” Akira feels himself relax as he playfully pouts at her. “I prefer none.”
Takemi smirks, amusement rolling off her. “I guess we’ll just have to see over the year then.”
“You know…?”
“Sakura-san and I are on friendly terms. I heard about you before you arrived in Tokyo. That’s unimportant, though. This is my private practice. Almost all the medicine I dispense is original outside a few edited painkillers. I have a license to make my own formulas. You’ve likely seen them being sold at various hospitals.” Takemi rambles, moving around her desk as she grabs random blue coloured bottles. “It’s your responsibility to take care of yourself. So if that’s okay with you, stop by anytime.”
“I can do that. It would really help.” Akira agrees.
“Great. It’s nice that you’re so quick on the uptake…Saves me the hassle…You’re a pretty weird kid, you know? I wonder what you and your friend plan to use the medicine for…”
Akira slouches, hiding from her too knowing eyes before she brushes it off.
“Well, as long as you don’t cause me any trouble, it’s not my problem…This is all I’ve got right now.” Akira’s eyes widen at the understatement, finding eight bottles of different medications in front of her.
He looks up at her, refusing to touch them yet. “My wallet’s in my bag, I just have to-“
Takemi holds up her hand, silencing him. “This time’s alright. Consider it a small gift if you want.”
Akira feels himself tensing, Arsene’s wings falling like a shadowy blanket around his shoulders as his suspicion rises. Nothing’s ever free, especially not from adults. “What do you want in return?”
“For this time? Nothing, again, it’s a gift…But, if you want, I’m willing to work out a deal for another time with you,” Takemi replies.
“What kind of deal?”
“Let’s wait a little before then, okay? If you do want to make one with me, come back in…let’s say this Sunday if you’re available or in a week if you’re not and we can discuss the details then. For now, what did you want?”
Akira looks up at her, his suspicion lingering before he reluctantly gestures, remembering Shiho and Ann’s grief, Ryuji’s anger. He brushes aside the worries and suspicion as he looks, pointing until he gets pretty much two bottles of everything and two clear liquids that have tubes attached to them.
“You’re all good to go…I do hope that you consider my offer,” Takemi says, dismissing Akira as he stands.
“Was everything alright?” Shiho asks quickly as he steps out the door.
“Yeah…” Akira trails off as a man in a blue suit walks in, glaring between Akira and Shiho. They both stiffen, watching the man who ignores them, shoving past into the exam room where Takemi still is.
“Is he-“
Morgana shushes Shiho, trying to gesture silently at the door. Akira listens to the demand, moving slightly closer to the door as he tries to listen in.
“What’s the reason of…” He can make out Takemi’s voice and takes a step closer to hear a little better.
“Do you have a cold? Stomachache?…Athlete’s foot? Whatever it is, you’ll have to take a number-“ the man cuts off Takemi with a snarl.
“Enough of this! You’re the only who could have developed that kind of medicine.”
“I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Takemi’s voice grows colder, like a warning as she responds.
“Don’t play dumb with me,” the man orders. “Rumour has it, it’s a drug so potent it can give a person unlimited power.”
“Really…? That’s news to me,” Takemi says, deadpan with her disbelief.
“Developing experimental drugs, medicines and herbal remedies violates all health regulations,” the man’s voice drops with suspicion as he continues. “Could you be attempting to create a super-stimulant? A drug like will only become a social issue.”
“You’re really persistent, you know that?” Takemi’s voice drips with bitterness and mockery at her next words. “I’m just a quack, remember?”
“…” The man seems to make some sort of sound before he changes directions, “the police may not be taking action but I imagine the media will soon pick up on it….You intend to try and ruin my reputations again, huh? You’re a disgrace to the medical community.”
“Tch,” Takemi replies, all traces of anything amiss gone.
“What’s with the look? That was your mistake, was it not?” The words are loaded with something, some sort of past that Akira’s missing. “I won’t be responsible for your criminal actions. Dispose of that so called medicine immediately and resign. The name ‘Takemi Tae’ will never-“
The man cuts himself off before his voice becomes clearer, closer to Akira. “Hey, is somebody there!?”
Shiho tugs on Akira’s sleeve as they quickly desert the clinic, moving until they’re against the alley wall across it. “That was close,” Shiho says with a grin before she hands Akira back his bag.
Morgana pops out, comfortable as he tilts his head at Akira. “Too close. They almost caught us. Tomorrow I’ll have to teach you about how to sneak around better.”
Akira looks down at Morgana, curious. “Is that part of our deal?”
“It is, plus we can’t alert too many shadows to our presence.”
Shiho tilts her face, dancing with open curiosity. The tilt of her head blends with the dwindling sunlight, dappling her in its warm caress. It turns eyes into glittering shards of amber, emphasised by the slope of her eyelashes shadowing her pinked cheeks. Her smile is just as warm, hugged by the shadows of her smile lines that hint at days of mischief and happiness. Akira thinks he might already be beginning to understand why Ann would do anything for Shiho. She’s like the Samegawa Flood Plain during spring, blooming grass and trees around it as the water shimmers with the sun.
Akira shakes his head, forcing himself to focus back on Morgana’s explanation. “-If a shadow catches us before we can sneak up on them, the security level will rise, and if it rises too far, we risk attracting Kamoshida’s attention.”
“So, you have ways to sneak up on them?”
“Yes. I showed Akira, Ryuji and Lady Takamaki one way, but there are a few others that we can also use to surprise them.”
Akira fights back a laugh at the way Morgana’s preening at Shiho’s curiosity and undivided attention, instead choosing to ask another question. “How come you didn’t show them yesterday?”
Morgana mimics a shrug, instead catching himself on the strap of Akira’s bag. “I wanted to wait until Ryuji and Lady Shiho had gotten their Personae.”
“You knew they would get their own Personas?” Akira repeats, surprised.
“Yes, Ryuji was showing signs of it the day we rescued Lady Takamaki and Lady Shiho…kept doing it as well yesterday,” Morgana tries to explain as Shiho shares a look with Akira.
Magic talking cat who can sense when someone gains a Persona…Totally normal.
“Does that mean you can sense people with personas?” Shiho questions.
“Sort of? It’s faint with you two, but when we’re in the Metaverse, the feeling is stronger, almost like a…” Morgana trails off, struggling to find a word.
“Like a beacon?” Shiho suggests, adding at Morgana’s lost look. “It’s usually like a bright light that signals something being in that area.”
Morgana nods, almost vibrating with his excitement. “Yes! That, it’s like a beacon that allows me to tell where other Persona users are. Granted…it’s mainly only because of you four that I know this. There don’t seem to be many Persona users.”
“Mainly?” Akira and Shiho ask in unison, shooting Morgana twin startled looks.
Morgana slouches, like he’s frowning as he hesitates in his response. “There’s been one…I think? It occasionally appeared when I was searching for something that would hopefully rid my form of its distortion, but…it’s never around for long.”
Akira sighs, shifting Morgana so that he can tug on a curl. “I-I need a cup of coffee for this,” he sighs before looking up at Shiho. “My guardian’s cafe is around her, would you like to join me?”
Shiho nods, her brow furrowing. “Your guardian owns a cafe?”
Akira freezes, feeling himself stiffen before he nods. “I promised Morgana an explanation this morning,…I guess I should probably explain it to you too.”
Shiho shakes her head, giving him a serious look in return. “You don’t have to do that. That’s still your business, even if the school would like to believe otherwise.”
“No, I’m sure it will come up at some point. It would be better if you heard about it now instead of having to deal with any surprises later,” Akira explains as he gestures for her to go on. “Besides, I have to make it up to you for keeping you out here longer than anticipated.”
“You don’t,” Shiho retorts even as she follows him out of the alley.
“Agree to disagree,” Akira says, ducking underneath the hand that Shiho reaches out with.
“You’re terrible.” Shiho says with a drawn out sigh even as she continues to follow him down the backstreets into the small alley with Leblanc.
────────────
Shiho knows Akira had done something. She had noticed how Akira had panicked and become unresponsive yesterday at hearing there were rumours going around about him, discussing how he was a criminal. Akira had looked as if he had seen a ghost, like Ann when she had first started hearing the rumours about her and Kamoshida.
While she knew that on some level, it hadn’t clicked how much Akira had been impacted by whatever had happened to him until now, as Akira leads her back to a cafe that he was apparently living in. She hadn’t missed how Takemi and Akira hadn’t used any familiar terms about his guardian either, not a parent but someone Akira was living with.
It leaves her wondering, wanting to know what happened. How had Akira wound up as a transfer student in Tokyo when he had an accent that’s obviously farther from Tokyo?
A meow pulls her out of her thoughts, and she looks down to see a grey tabby cat looking up at her with wide green eyes, pleading for attention. “Oh!” Shiho exclaims, crouching as she allows the cat to sniff her hand before they rub their soft head against it. “You have cats in your area!?”
Akira smiles, shouldering Morgana, who looks exasperated as Akira joins her in petting the tabby. “There’s a few around here. They like attention,” he frowns, giving the cat a small scratch behind its ear. “It’s a shame I couldn’t bring any cat treats here. I need to get a job before I can get more for them.”
Shiho blinks over at Akira, questioning once again how he’s a criminal with behaviour like that. “You carry cat treats on you?”
“Yeah, in my hometown—Inaba, we have a ton of stray cats, and I wanted to be friends with all of them when I was younger. One of my younger classmates would help and hang out with me after her cousin,” he rolls his eyes, mouthing a few words that Shiho can’t read before he corrects himself. “Sorry, her big bro moved back in with his parents, and I continued the habit with her for a long time.”
Shiho grins, reluctantly pulling away from the soft tabby cat as she stands. “That sounds like there’s a story in there.”
Akira joins her, giving the cat one last rub before he stands and moves to the store behind them. Shiho looks over the small building, taking in the blooming plants hiding its window with a black sign detailing coffee and curry.
“I mean, yeah? That’s how stories work. They’re not just adventures,” he quips, pulling open the door as he gestures her inside.
She steps in, closing her eyes as the smell of coffee mingles with the sweet scent of fresh curry. She opens her eyes again, finding an older man with a pink shirt and thin glasses watching her before his eyes swing behind her, focusing on Akira.
“You’re later than I expected,” he comments noncommittally.
“I’m sorry, Sojiro, we were at Takemi-sensei’s, and she wanted to check out my neck…you mentioned it to her?”
Shiho frowns, stepping further into the cafe as she looks back at Akira. His voice is different somehow. Something’s changed in it, but Shiho isn’t able to put a finger on what changed.
Sojiro rubs his neck before he responds, his voice gruff. “Yeah, well, I couldn’t have you dealing with worse injuries while you’re here in my care, could I?” His eyes turn back to her, thoughtful as he studies her. “You both were there?”
Shiho answers before Akira can, plastering a small smile on her face. “Akira offered to show me to Takemi-sensei’s clinic so that Ann would stop worrying about my knee so much.”
Sojiro nods before he seems to fully recognise her. “You were there with the other two when I picked Akira up. However, I don’t think we were introduced. I’m Sakura Sojiro, this one’s guardian.”
“He’s my guardian for the year while I’m staying in Tokyo,” Akira adds, watching them as he messes with one of his curls.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sakura-san. I’m Suzui Shiho. I was there with them since my mom picked up Ann,” Shiho explains before he nods.
“Right, why don’t you two sit down. The trains are probably still packed for now, so it will be some time before you can likely head home,” Sakura suggests, gesturing for them to sit.
“Are you sure?” Shiho asks in unison with Akira.
“Yeah, it’s on the house,” he agrees, turning away from them and their objections as he pulls two plates out.
“Come on,” Akira says, nodding to the corner table.
Shiho follows along, facing the wall as Akira steals the seat facing the door. “So…”
Akira seems to regain his previous amusement as he responds, “soo….”
“Really?” Shiho shakes her head at the ridiculous boy in front of her before she continues. “Why did you correct yourself to big bro when talking about your friend’s cousin?”
Akira’s smile brightens, widening into almost a grin as he responds, “my friend, Nanako-chan. She began calling her cousin big bro when he was living with her dad, his uncle, and every time I mess up, she corrects me. Nobody can deny her anything, and I’m no better, so I correct myself.”
“That’s sweet. It sounds like she means a lot to you,” Shiho says in response as Akira nods. Shiho can see the tips of Morgana’s ears beside Akira’s arm, perked as they listen in.
“She is. I have to text her soon actually, otherwise I’m sure she’ll either send her big bro after me or come to Tokyo to get me herself.” Akira ducks his head as Sakura places two plates, thick with steaming curry and fluffy rice, in front of them.
“Thank you again, Sakura-san,” Shiho says, inhaling the scent of the spices.
Shiho says quickly before she shoves a bite of curry into her mouth to stop talking about Kamoshida.
Shiho takes a bite of curry before she blinks down at her plate, enjoying the flavours bursting in her mouth. She quickly shovels another bite of curry mixed with rice into her mouth as her stomach grumbles, reminding her how long it’s been since she’s eaten.
“It’s really good, isn’t it?” Akira agrees, taking a quick bite of his own as he watches her.
“Definitely, thank you so much, Sakura-san. It’s delicious,” Shiho agrees, not hearing the older man’s reply as she gets distracted by her food.
“Hungry, aren’t you?” Sakura questions, looking down at her empty plate.
Shiho laughs lightly, a little self-conscious as her hand falls down to her brace, messing with the firm material. “Just a little bit. I forgot how hungry I was after the game today.”
“Game?” Sakura asks, grabbing her plate from the table. “Would you like a second plate?”
Shiho nods, forcing herself to breathe as Sakura moves closer to his small kitchen. “Yes, please. And I’m a volleyball player. Our coach a few years ago talked to the principal into creating a volleyball rally that happens close to summer where all the students get to play against the teachers.”
“That sounds like an enjoyable way to spend a school day, better than endless classes at least, right?” Sakura says, but it sounds more like a joke, and Shiho allows herself to smile at it, gratefully accepting the warm plate from him.
“Do you still want to talk about it?” Shiho asks later when Sakura’s stepped out for a smoke break.
Akira nods reluctantly, messing with his spoon before he clenches tight around its handle and drops it onto his plate. “Last year…I was running late from my study club and there was screaming…” He starts, quickly trailing off before he shakes himself out of it.
Shiho opens and shuts her mouth, unsure for once how to reassure someone that it’s okay.
How does she tell him it’s okay when she doesn’t know what happened?
“Suddenly, there was the sound of screaming, and I was running in the direction of it. Something in me was responding to the woman’s screams, that I needed to help whoever it was and I found a woman…She was backed against a car and a man was towering over her, he was gripping tight onto her wrist and was slurring about how she needed to get into the car…I startled him into stopping and he stomped over to me, he fell over his own feet and then the cops showed up and he told me that he would sue…” Akira rolls his eyes, throwing off his glasses as he fidgets with them. “He did. Half a year later, I lost the case and was told that I could either go to juvie or do a year of probation away from Inaba. My parents sent me here because a distant friend of theirs apparently knows Sojiro, who agreed for some reason to take me in.”
Shiho pulls Akira’s hand away from his glasses, gripping it with hers as she sees Morgana lean against his side. “That’s awful, Akira, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s alright…” Akira waves it off, flashing her a small smile. “I met you guys, and now I have a French-talking entity in my head, so I’m pretty sure it’s worth it.”
Shiho laughs at the deflection before she squeezes his hand, allowing her amusement to fade into concern. “Sojiro just took you in?”
“Yeah, he’s apparently getting paid for it, and it’s not bad. I get curry for breakfast and apparently dinner, and I get to live in the attic without having to pay for my schooling or any rent like my parents threatened.”
Shiho opens and closes her mouth, unsure how to respond. How does one even begin to reply to any of that? How do you reassure someone who’s been framed that everything would be okay when their home would never let him live it down?
Akira seems to understand as he shakes his head with a squeeze to her hand. “Really, it’s alright. Tokyo is a lot, but I don’t hate it as much as I thought I would.”
────────────
Akira pulls his hand away from Shiho, going back to messing with his curls as he tries to ignore the uncomfortable feeling of Shiho and Morgana’s piercing eyes.
Shiho continues to further his theory of being an angel as she grabs her phone, quickly texting as she gives him a break.
“It’s getting late and the rush hour should be over now, so I think I’m going to head home,” Shiho says, standing with a big stretch. “I still have to finish Ushimaru-sensei’s homework unfortunately, but really thank you for coming in with me and also telling me about that. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but I have your back…and whenever you tell Ann and Ryuji, just know they’ll feel the same.”
Akira impulsively stands and pulls her into a hug that she happily reciprocates, giving him a minute before she pulls back and moves to Morgana, gently rubbing his head. “I hope you two have a good night.”
“Goodnight, Lady Shiho,” Morgana replies as Akira mutters his own, leading her out of the store.
After she vanishes from Akira’s view, he allows himself to slouch, resting his head against the door as he tries to keep his breath under control. He can’t believe he admitted to two people what happened, how that man had ruined his life and made him lose everything. Akira was sure he would never speak of it, and yet after he had begun, the words seemed to pour out of him, one after another, as he allowed himself to let go partially.
It didn’t make sense to Akira, but the place where the golden-eyed figures rested for each of his friends. They created a feeling of safety and warmth in Akira, pushing him to trust them.
They are yours, ma moitié. They are your bonds. Your bonds are the key of your heart.
Arsène croons softly, the rustling wind of a raven’s wing in the chilled air of dusk. Akira nods, filing the words away. That sounds similar to what Igor had said, which meant these bonds were more important than Akira had realised.
Ask Igor about Akira’s bonds soon.
Akira brushes aside the questions that already begin to fill his head as he heads back in, to the impatient Morgana waiting with his tail brushing back and forth against the table.
“You took forever,” Morgana complains, jumping onto the table as Akira moves closer.
“You should get down before Sojiro spots you. I don’t know how he’ll react even if you seem to be his favourite,” Akira suggests as he gathers Shiho’s and his plates to take back to the sink.
“But I’m human! I should be able to go where I wish,” Morgana yowls, unhappily dropping back onto Akira’s bag.
“I don’t disagree, but Sojiro can’t understand you and I can’t tell him about what’s going on without him possibly deciding to tell my parole officer,” Akira gently explains, ignoring the soapy water to shoot a look not filled with his objections or irritation at the not-cat.
Morgana nods, settling as his ears fall. “You’re right…I shouldn’t be risking our mission, I just…” Akira nods in understanding as Morgana drifts off, falling silent as Akira continues his mission of washing the dishes.
The bell ring breaks their companionable silence, but Akira feels himself relax slightly as it just reveals Sojiro, who stops, only moving to shut the door before he blinks at Akira. “What are you doing, kid?”
“Shiho and my dishes? She had to leave since rush hour was over, but you hadn’t come back, and I didn’t want to leave you with dirty dishes,” Akira explains confusedly, not understanding what the odd part about this is.
“Go upstairs, kid, you should get some rest for school tomorrow, and I need to get home. I’ll close up for the night, but you’ll be doing part of this tomorrow.” Sojiro says, rolling his eyes as he gestures for Akira to move.
Akira gives in, moving to grab his bag with Morgana before he turns back to Sojiro. “Thank you for dinner and everything, Sojiro…I hope your night goes well,” Akira rushes up the stairs before the older man can respond, a complicated weave of emotions reducing Akira’s ability to socialise.
Morgana doesn’t question the shift in Akira’s behaviour as Akira sets his bag down on the couch before Morgana jumps down, hopping up onto the table near the stairs.
“We’re just about ready to head into the Palace. We just need to assemble some infiltration tools. Clear off that desk back there, so we can use it.”
Akira nods, heading down the stairs so he can wet a rag before he heads back upstairs, moving to the desk as he pulls off its tarp. Akira resists the urge to sneeze as it creates a foggy cloud of dust.
It reveals a wooden desk with a metal shelf hanging above, scattered with miscellaneous junk that Akira wipes down before he moves it over to the covered bookshelf. Akira allows himself to fall back into the meditative state of cleaning, releasing the feelings that had consumed him earlier when he was talking to Shiho and Morgana, telling them about his situation.
It’s peaceful and relaxing as he dusts everything off before Akira fixes the small lamp beside it, finding the new lightbulbs that had originally been on the desk so that it shines with a warm yellow light.
Morgana interrupts as he chirps, “great! Now you can make things whenever you want!”
Akira nods, looking back over at the not-cat as he calms his racing heart. “What exactly am I making?”
Morgana hops down as he joins Akira over at the desk, hopping onto the space beside Akira. “You’ll be making infiltration tools. They’re useful in various situations whenever you’re in a Palace. For example, if we found a locked chest and we had lock picks, we’d be able to break into it and steal its treasure. Whereas if we ever quickly needed to leave a Palace, goho-m’s allow us to escape down to the first floor without issue.”
Akira raises a brow at the not-cat. Those sound handy. Am I learning how to make those first?”
Morgana shakes his head, pushing a few random things closer to Akira. “No, for now I’ll start out with showing you how to make a lock pick. If you mess up, they don’t have quite the same destructive tendencies. For now, since this is a tutorial for you, I’m providing the materials. You’ll be able to gather more materials for these and later infiltration tools from shadows.”
Akira nods, picking up the yarn and tin. “Can I get more materials from stores?”
“From stores?” Morgana repeats, looking lost.
“Yeah, all the buildings that we’re surrounded by for the most part are different stores. They sell various things, depending on where you go,” Akira tries to explain to the not-cat.
“Interesting…would you take me to some different shops at some point?” Morgana asks quietly.
“Of course, you show us the Metaverse and we’ll show you Japan,” Akira agrees before he picks the yarn and clasp back up to give Morgana a break. “Now, how do I make this?”
Morgana preens as he moves closer. “Everyone starts off a little clumsy. Don’t be sad if it doesn’t go well at first, okay?”
“Okay,” Akira agrees.
Over the next few minutes, Morgana explains to Akira how to form a lock pick. Akira tries his best to form the clasp into the right shape with the yarn, but by the end it’s still half-deformed.
Morgana does his best attempt at a hop in his cat body, almost falling into Akira’s lap before Akira saves him and settles him back in his spot. “Thank you, and this is a good attempt! We should be able to use this.”
Akira feels himself light up, confidence settling back across his shoulders as he gives Morgana a small smile.
“We should be ready now. We’ll be heading into the Palace tomorrow, so we should get some sleep.” Morgana tries to suggest, but it comes out more as an order as he hops down, moving over to Akira’s mattress.
Akira can feel himself agreeing as his eyes flutter shut, and a yawn escapes him, before he reluctantly stands, moving around as he prepares his bag for tomorrow before he goes to get changed and head to bed.