#it starts off with shiho transferring out of shujin

[faradaykay]

if i ever write persona 5 fanfiction it will be about my extremely elaborate Kosei Kids (and shiho) plot that is so clear in my mind that i will now infodump about in the tags

[amanjinka]

Movement One

(A/N: The prelude and first movement took me 20 days to finish [I used to be able to write 2k words in less than a week] Absolutely wild from start to finish, had both a lockdown due to a potential bomb and a shooting threat at my school. Hope everyone has fun.)

The first week back in school was pretty average for me. Even though we started on the 6th, nothing happened until the 11th. That was the day of that big subway crash.

I remember I couldn’t sleep very well the night before, so I got up early to get ready. That was also the day that I emailed my boss to make sure my work schedule got changed.

```

“Thank you very much in advance,it was a pleasure to speak with you, [l/n] [y/n].”

After a quick read through, [y/n] rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and hit the enter key to send off her email. She pushed back from her simple desk and stood up, stretching deeply to further wake herself up. 

After quickly shutting the lid of her laptop, she crossed her room to don her school’s uniform and prepare for the day. ‘Did Hanabi ever bring back those nail gems of mine?’ She wondered, inspecting her faded manicure as she slipped on her ivory coloured socks.

For a brief minute, she debated styling her hair differently from normal, but after a failed attempt or two, she sighed and fell back on her usual look. A couple more layers, a bit of mascara and a spritz of perfume later and she was all ready to head out. Luckily, the walk from dorm to school building wasn’t intensive, and the mid-spring breeze kept her from feeling the slight discomfort of her new shoes as they rubbed up against her ankle. Less than five minutes later, she stood in front of the front entrance to Kosei High School. 

```

It was only a few minutes into the first class of the week and already [y/n]’s phone was being bombarded by chats from her friends. Quietly, she slipped her phone out of her bag and began to read up on all she had missed. 

☆Momo 7.57 - There’s a criminal in my class this year. 😶

☆Hanabi 8.01 - ?? WDYM 

☆Momo 8.01 - I mean theres a kid with a criminal record who’s gonna transfer to Shujin this semester. 

☆Momo 8.01 - That’s what I heard at least but he hasn’t showed up yet so I wonder if Mishima was just trying to scare us lol.

☆Yuna 8.01 - You have Mishima in your class? And the transfer student???

☆Momo 8.02 - Yeah, he looks like he went to hell yesterday. What’s going on in your guys’ practices???

☆Yuna 8.02 - He just sucks lmao. Gets hit all the time.

☆Hanabi 8.03 - Which one was Mishima again? Did we see him at the tournaments last year?

☆Yuna 8.03 - He’s the kid with the short dark hair. He never got to play so you probably never saw him. Not like you went to watch the boys match anyway. 

☆Momo 8.03 - Yeah he was at the tournaments.

☆Hanabi 8.04 - He didn’t go to middle school with us, did he??

☆Momo 8.04 - Nah, I think he went to one in a different district. 

☆Yuna 8.04 - Thankfully!

☆Momo 8.05 - Thankfully?

☆Yuna 8.05 - Hes a total kiss ass.

☆Hanabi 8.05 - Yuck.

☆Momo 8.05 - Oh yeah..

☆Yuna 8.06 - I stayed up way too late last night, about to pass out in homeroom.

☆Hanabi 8.06 - Teacher is here, one sec.

☆Yuna 8.09 - Did [y/n] fall into a pit on her way to school or something? How come she hasnt said anything..

☆Hanabi 8.10 - Lol she’s probably just actually paying attention.

☆Momo 8.10 - Omg speaking of [y/n] I still need to send her the dates for the concert lol.

☆Yuna 8.11 - Why didn’t she just ask the director?

☆Momo 8.12 - 🤷‍♀️

☆Momo 8.13 - Is Shiho in class today? I meant to ask her about her birthday plans but didn’t see her this morning. ☹️

☆Yuna 8.13 - Nah, she’s out today for a funeral. 

☆Momo 8.13 - Oh. My bad... Well I’ll text her later then.

☆[y/n] 8.20 → ☆Momo [🤷‍♀️] - I don’t know the director’s email address.

☆Momo 8.21 - It was on the sign up sheet and the like every other paper we’ve gotten.

☆[y/n] 8.21 - I don’t have any of those with me, they’re at my mom’s house.

☆Momo 8.21 - then text your mom??

☆[y/n] 8.22 - :( 

☆Momo 8.22 - Whatever. It’s the 28th, 29th, and 30th of April.

☆[y/n] 8.23 - Thank you Momo, I love you <33

“[l/n] [y/n]?” A male voice rang out from beyond [y/n]’s screen. She quickly jolted in her seat, shoving her phone into her desk and looking up to acknowledge her teacher.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you said,” [y/n] said, her voice fading as her embarrassment set in.

“I can tell,” He responded, crossing his arms. “I just asked if you could could tell me what it is called when we do geometric calculations on a non-flat surface. ”

“That’s non-euclidean, I think..” She whispered. 

“Yes. Thank you very much Miss [l/n]. It would do you good to turn off your phone before class starts next time so you could answer the first time I ask,” he reprimanded, then turned to move away from her desk and back to the front of the room. 

Shifting down further into her seat, [y/n] focused her gaze to her legs so her peers would not see how red in the face she was. What a great start to the day…

``

“[y/n] are you working this weekend?” Hanabi asked as the two walked the halls during lunch time. 

“Yeah but I’m going to be Sundays only for the first couple weeks back,” [y/n] responded then took a quick sip of her drink.

“So you're free Friday afternoon? Cause I was thinking we could go and get our nails done professionally instead of just doing them ourselves."

"I have rehearsal right after school but I'd be free after 17."

"The salon I looked at closes at 20 so we're totally fine,” Hanabi smiled,”It’s only like a 7 minute walk from the station so I’ll just wait for you there.”

After a short silence, [y/n] sighed,“I’m so not ready for that performance.”

“Momo said there was gonna three nights of it, is that for real?”

“Yeah, I’m really not looking forward to it.”

“My brothers going to be back in town pretty soon so I might take him to watch you two.”

“You’d be better off watching a bunch of crickets hop around. It would probably be more to your liking anyway.”

“Yeah well the more you say that the more I want to go.”

“Aww Hanabi, come on!”

“Oh what’s that? Is the bell ringing? Well I guess i’ll get a head start and order my tickets on the way to class! See you [y/n]!”

All I could do was sigh and head back to my class. That concert ended up pretty good, but it was overshadowed by all that stuff with Mister Kamoshida.

The rest of that day was pretty uneventful. I just met all of my teachers and walked back to my dorm after school ended. Hanabi wanted me to run over to the store with her, but I was still pretty tired so I skipped out on it. 

After changing into a more comfortable outfit, [y/n] fell down onto the edge of her mattress and laid her head back as she let her body sink into the soft blankets and comforting scents. Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, before a loud and obnoxious buzz reverberated throughout her body.

Groaning, she turned over and pulled out her phone, turned it to silent then skimmed through the notifications.

“Detective Prince Akechi on Mental Shutdowns: ‘It could happen to anyone’”

“Everything to know before watching ‘The Cake Knight Rises’”

“4 dead in subway accident, more injured. Driver comatose.”

Hah…

None of it was interesting in the slightest. 

Clear, clear, and clear!

Finally, [y/n] opened up her messages and scrolled up to check just how much she had missed after the morning.

☆Momo 13.12 - He’s real.

☆Momo 13.13 - Transfer student came in after lunch, hes honestly kind of scary looking. Like disheveled almost. He didn’t even introduce himself either.

☆Yuna 13.14 - Kizana said she saw him come into the school with Sakamato. He still hasn’t showed up to class though so maybe he’s getting chewed out.

☆Momo 13.14 - Oh so he really is a delinquent. You think they were up to something or what?

☆Yuna 13.14 - No clue, but she said the same stuff you did. Told me he looked like he was gonna snap at any moment. 

☆Momo 13.15 - 😗

☆Yuna 13.15 - stop that.

☆Momo 13.15 - 🎱

☆Yuna 13.15 - About to come over to your class and tell your teacher to kick you out. 

☆Momo 13.16 - 😱

☆Hanabi 15.36 → ☆Momo[He’s real.] - Did you ever find out what he did? 

☆Momo 15.45 - Only rumours.

☆Hanabi 15.46 - boo.

☆Momo 15.46 - Not like hes just gonna show up and say “Hi, I’m your new classmate, I’m on probation for armed robbery” or something.

☆Hanabi 15.47 - I wouldve.

☆Momo 15.47 - Sure.

☆Hanabi 15.53 - They’re all out of the good brand of rice crackers.

☆Hanabi 16.04 - Hey @[y/n] do you want me to get some of your [favorite drink UwU]? They have your flavor here.

☆[y/n] 16.07 - yes please 

☆Hanabi 16.08 - Alright. It’s buy two get one so I got a new type too.

☆[y/n] 16.08 - You’re my number one Hanabi. Forever and always baby <3

☆Hanabi 16.09 - So you’ll pay for the nail salon?

☆[y/n] 16.09 - I can if you really want me to.

☆Hanabi 16.09 - <3

☆Momo 16.10 - Thought I was your number one forever and alwats 😞

☆[y/n] 16.10 - Alwats.

☆Hanabi 16.10 - Alwats

☆Momo 16.11 - Alright what if I died in a plane crash tomorrow and that was the last thing you ever said to me.

☆Hanabi 16.11 - Then I’d be [y/n]’s number one forever and always for true and real and always and alwats

☆Momo 16.12 - Okay then bye I’m going to go die. [y/n] I will always love you, not Hanabi though she’s my enemy.

☆Hanabi 16.12 - Absolutely.

☆[y/n] 16.17 - I’m going to go do my homework you guys. 

☆Momo 16.17 - Loser.

☆Hanabi 16.17 - booo.

The rest of that week went by really quickly. I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary really. I did my best in class, did my best in practice, did my best to talk to the people around me. It felt like the year was going to be really uneventful to be honest, but all I really had to do was wait until that friday and everything really kicked off.

[cielomist]

ok more p5 suou au maruki scenario thoughts. this has become more of a plot outline than just miscellaneous thoughts oops.

takes place after the thieves fail to complete maruki's palace in time, so maruki puts akinari to sleep forever and goes forward with altering reality

to keep the thieves from wondering where akinari is and getting sad about his absence, he basically "writes out" akinari's role from their lives, or otherwise substitutes in akechi when he needs a stand-in

"now they won't be sad that their friend is gone, and akechi-san has friends now, so this is a good and logical and moral solution :)"

(^literally just me trying to keep akechi around despite it all but being stated that akechi is only in the 3rd semester in the first place specifically bc maruki brought him back to life for joker's sake, so really would akechi even be kept around in the Joker's Eternal Sleep scenario)

maruki took extra care with the thieves memories so they wouldn't be able to break out of the dream like they did last time and thus won't try to stop him again

shiho was still in sumaru up until maruki rewrote reality; she was not a part of the infiltration of his palace

(she just kinda got transported back to tokyo with no notice when maruki rewrote reality)

because of this he does not know she also has a persona and metaverse access

jun and tatsuya are immune to his actualization bc philemon already tried modifying their memories and if the Divine Guide of Humanity couldn't make that didn't stick then just a guy trying to play god can't do shit

so it is very incredibly noticeable to them when their son just suddenly drops off the face of the earth

when they go to tokyo, any time they try to inquire about akinari everyone just stares blankly at them, before shaking off their daze and smiling and saying "sorry, what were we talking about?"

except for akechi. akechi sees them, stares for a beat, and then just remembers everything because he is a cynical little man so full of anger (especially at the notion of being trapped in maruki's reality) that the second he is reminded of the name suou (and thus the very noticeable absence of one akinari suou) it all just immediately comes back to him

akechi joins the party and starts explaining The Maruki Shit to the suous

when tatsujun see shiho+ann, shiho recognizes jun bc he was her teacher when she was transferred from shujin, and for half a second she remembers that he was also the father of that transfer student everyone was talking about last april, but then that thought slips from her and she spends the rest of the day feeling like she's forgetting something really important, but whenever she tries to bring it up to ann ann just says "oh its probably nothing!" and carries on like everything's fine

when shiho does finally remember, she tries to get ann to remember as well, but no matter what she does or what she says she can't seem to jog ann's memory

she figures since the suou parents are actively looking for their son and ann can't seem to remember akinari beyond incredibly vague recollections, there must be something going on with him specifically and decides to also try to find out where he is and what happened to him

so everyone ends up at leblanc bc where the hell else do you go to look for akinari suou

wakaba is there!! yayy we love wakaba (futaba is ofc with her and they are having a lovely family time)

anyway jun and tats try to get over wakaba being very visibly no longer deceased and are like HEY SOJIRO WHERE THE HELL IS OUR SON

but same weird brushing off and non answer that they got from all akinari's friends

akechi's like Ok anyway. and just goes upstairs since that's where akinari was living. neither of the isshikis nor sojiro seems to acknowledge the existence of the upstairs and seem to stop perceiving akechi the second he starts going up the stairs

and there is akinari! he is asleep and nothing they do can wake him up, but he is most definitely breathing at least

so jun's like So if we beat this maruki guy my son will wake up. right.

and akechi's like Only one way to find out :)

anyway leblanc attic becomes makeshift hideout bc people affected by maruki's actualization can't seem to perceive it, to keep them away from akinari's comatose body

also it's very convenient to have cognitive psience expert wakaba isshiki just downstairs

speaking of wakaba. while cognitive psience hyperspecific hypotheticals aren't uncommon from the kashihara family (well. one specific kashihara), something about jun's specific inquiry causes her to realize she doesn't actually have solid memories of the last 2 years; she knows she somehow managed to find the perfect work-life balance so she has plenty of time to spend with her daughter while also being completely fulfilled by her work, but she can't seem to grasp anything solid

and then she notices the stairs to the attic and is like Huh. wonder why i forgot those are there.

so she goes upstairs while sojiro and futaba are talking and finds tatsujun+akechi+shiho+comatose akinari

and she's like Hi jun did something happen to me a couple years ago? i realized i don't have real memories of the past two years. and your questions about someone being able to theoretically overwrite reality using the cognition of the collective unconscious made me curious.

and jun's like Uh.

and akechi's internally like UH.

and wakaba's like Jun am i supposed to be dead. if yes what happened to futaba

so the party tries to give wakaba the bullet points of what's happening bc frankly if she knows what's happening she might be able to give even better insight on how to deal with whatever maruki's doing

[akechi sitting silently and awkwardly in the background not making eye contact]

so now wakaba is looped in! she agrees to look after akinari while the party deals w maruki

so then the party makes their way to maruki's palace. when they get there akechi just starts yelling for maruki like Maaaarruuukiiiiii come out we just wanna taaaaaallk :) and maybe cause grevious bodily harm :)))))

maruki appears bc he's like well akechi shouldn't remember that this is all fake. oh who are these other people.

and jun's like Hiii i'm jun suou and this is my husband tatsuya. we were looking for our son. akinari :)

and maruki's like Ah. well.

jun: and we noticed he was comatose. :) so i'd like you to wake him up please :)

maruki: i can't do that, the decision on whether to oppose my perfect reality was causing him a lot of grief so :( i had to put him to sleep so he wouldn't be burdened by that anymore :(

and jun's like this is a pretty sad excuse for a perfect reality when my son that i love more than life itself is COMATOSE.

and maruki gets all preachy about his Vision, and in doing so starts talking to/about shiho and "wouldn't it be better if everything with kamoshida never happened?"

shiho now absolutely frozen in place. maruki keeps talking, making himself bascially sound like a saint for "taking her pain away"

shiho gets fed up and snaps bc he didn't even ASK. her whole life has just been people deciding FOR her, her opinions never mattered, she's just always been expected to choke down and accept what The Adults decide is what's best for her with a smile, from her parents to teachers and coaches and every other fucking person besides ann

so shiho gets to snap at maruki for being no different from anyone else in just deciding to make important life decisions for her without bothering to consult her and then she awakens to her ultimate persona :)

anyway maruki probably fucks off around this point bc he now has four extremely pissed off and powerful persona users at his doorstep and he's like Noooo i'm a pacifist :( and he knows he's not gonna convince them to accept his reality peacefully

[shapeshifting-wildcard]

A video is uploaded. A timestamp in the corner reads January 3, 2017.

The video starts as the cameraperson climbs up a series of stairs, emerging into the Shibuya Underground shopping mall. The view pans side to side, like they're looking for something, or maybe someone. As it moves, though, it becomes apparent that there's some sort of smudge on the lens. The cameraperson seems to notice it, too, and takes off the offending pair of familiar glasses. The view gets a bit fuzzy and unfocused, but it's still clear enough to get by if absolutely necessary. A corner of the cameraperson's black shirt is used to wipe away the smudge before the glasses are placed back where they should be.

The cameraperson starts to make their way through the mall, view panning back and forth as they search. People chatter in Japanese all around them, the video picking up snatches of conversation about the people's daily lives. People trying to meet up, complaining about someone sleeping in, things like that. Banners welcoming the arrival of the new year hang overhead, though the cameraperson doesn't seem to be focusing too much on them.

As the cameraperson approaches a clothes store, with the name "Problem Child" written in English with pink neon lights, their attention is drawn to a couple of girls amongst the clothing racks. A brunette with a big puffy blue jacket and black tights, and her much louder companion, mostly hidden behind her from this angle. The only things that stick out at first are her large blonde pigtails, and her skinny jeans. As the cameraperson gets closer, their conversation becomes easier to make out amongst the din. The blonde is congratulating her friend for her accomplishments on the volleyball team, saying something about how it's about time.

The cameraperson stops, just close enough to get a good look at the girls, but noticeably hesitating behind a clothes rack. Neither of them have noticed them yet, and the blonde girl especially looks cheerful. She's all smiles and excitement.

The cameraperson turns away, maybe intending to continue on instead, but that's when the blonde notices them.

"Jou?" Jou's focus returns to the blonde girl as she excitedly waves him over. "Over here!"

There's a very soft sigh from Jou, only audible because of the camera's obvious proximity, but he dutifully steps around the clothing rack and approaches the two girls. His blonde-haired, blue-eyed friend beams excitedly at him, while the girl with her smiles and offers him a friendly nod of greeting.

"Hey, it's been a while since you've seen Shiho, right?"

"Long time no see, Inojita-kun," the brunette, Shiho, says. "Do you remember me?"

Jou digs out his phone and brings up the notepad app, typing in, "Suzui Shiho, right?"

Shiho's eyes widen in a look of genuine surprise as he holds his reply up for her to see. "Wow, you remembered me? I transferred out so early in the semester we didn't get much of a chance to talk."

"Of course he remembers you!" the blonde girl interjects, gently elbowing Shiho. "He has to remember, what with all the bragging I've done." She stands a little straighter, her face and posture practically radiating pride. "I've told him all about how amazing my BFF is at volleyball!"

"Oh, Ann," Shiho says, her cheeks slowly turning as pink as her scarf. Jou glances at her, giving her a look that causes her to turn even redder and tug the edge of her scarf over her face.

"BFFs, huh?" Jou types into the notepad and angles the screen so only Shiho can see it. Shiho's face is practically as red as Ann's scarf now.

"Shiho was the MVP at the big meet the other day, too," Ann continues, seemingly oblivious to the other two's side conversation. She keeps gushing about all of Shiho's latest volleyball accomplishments, and her plans to return to Shujin soon. Shiho's posture becomes more bashful, but she shoots Ann adoring looks between remarks.

"Everything's just perfect!" Ann proclaims.

"Perfect, huh?" Jou stares at his screen for a moment as Ann continues gushing. "I guess you don't need m"

Jou's fingers hover over the phone's artificial keyboard, the sentence half finished. He deletes the whole thing and starts typing something else instead. "Is everything fine?"

Ann blinks at the question as he holds it up for her to see. "Uhh... yeah, I think it's fine?"

"Are you sure you haven't forgotten anything?"

Ann blinks. Shiho glances between the screen and Ann, looking very confused.

"Forgotten? Uh, wait a sec, what do you mean by that?" Ann tilts her head to one side, fixing Jou with a vaguely concerned look. "Is something up? You're acting kinda weird."

It takes Jou a few moments to figure out what to say. "Didn't Shiho almost—" "Do you remember what Kamoshida—" "Don't you remember why Shiho le—"

"You're running away from the truth."

Ann scoffs, looking a little offended. "I—I'm not running away! I'm not running away from anything! Shiho's back, we're happier than ever, nothing bad's happening... what's wrong so with that?"

"Are you happy?"

"Of course I am!" Ann snaps back. "Of course it's fine! This is how I want things to be!"

Jou pulls his phone back, hugging it to his chest. Something in his expression must have changed, judging from the concerned looks Ann and Shiho give him.

"Are... are you okay, Inojita-kun?" Shiho lowers her scarf a bit as she looks him over.

Ann suddenly winces, like a painful memory just came to mind. She holds a hand to her head and looks away, just as the video ends.

[vgckwb]

P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 4: Meetings

Ren got on the train heading to school the next day. The train was really packed. Ren found herself standing near a fellow Shujin student who was sitting down. She had bright red hair in a long ponytail.

She looks at Ren. There is a shocked expression on each of their faces as their eyes meet. Both of them are too nervous to say anything.

“Ohhh.” They turn to see an old lady groaning. The student sitting down says “Um, excuse me. Would you like my seat?”

The old lady smiles. “Thank you. You’re a kind young lady.”

The student gets up, but before the old lady can sit down, a businessman rushes to take the seat. “Um, excuse me” says the student. The businessman fell asleep. “O-Oh.”

Ren looks at the situation in front of her. “Want me to wake him?” she asked.

“Huh?” says the student. “Oh. Um, I’m not sure we should do that. We don’t want to cause a disturbance after all.” She turns to the old lady. “Sorry.”

“It’s quite alright,” she says. “It isn’t your fault.”

“R-right” she says. “It’s not my fault…”

“Now arriving at Shujin Academy!”

“Well, have a good day at school you two” the old lady says. “And thanks again.”

The two of you get off. “We will!” the other student says. She bows. Ren decides to bow as well. The train closes and takes off. The other student turns to Ren and says “Sorry you kind of got dragged into that.”

Ren smiled. “Hey, I offered to help.”

“Right” the other student says.

“You seem distracted,” Ren said. “Are you doing alright?”

“Huh?” the other student replied. “Oh. Yeah.” She sighs. “I guess I’m just nervous is all.”

“Want some company on our way to school?” Ren asked.

“Huh? Oh. Sure” the other student said. The two walk close together to school. “So, how do you enjoy Shujin?” she asked.

Ren looked at her. “Well, I’ve only been here for a day, so I wouldn’t have a lot of insight.”

“Huh?” the other student says. “You’re a first year too?”

Ren shakes her head. “I’m a second year transfer student.”

“Oh. I see” the other girl says. “So, I guess that makes you my senpai.” Ren chuckled. The two reached the school gates. “Well, I’ll see you around senpai!”

Ren raised her eyebrow. “Hey! What’s your name?”

The other student got embarrassed. “Oh. Right. My name is Yoshizawa. What about you, senpai?”

Ren smiled. “Ren Amamiya,” she said. 

Yoshizawa smiled. “Well, Ren-senpai, if you don’t mind me calling you that, we shall meet again soon!” She walked into school and to her class. Ren did the same.

On her way to class, Ren was stopped by the blonde boy that Kamoshida failed to pick up yesterday. “Hey” he said. Ren looked at him. “Listen. I don’t know what Takamaki told you, but Kamoshida’s a bad dude.”

“I’m aware,” Ren said.

“Huh?” the boy says. “Oh. I just saw you riding with him is all. I thought maybe… Well, whatever. Just be careful.” He looks at Ren closely. “You know, I haven’t seen you around before dude. Er, dudette? Ugh. Sorry. I haven’t talked to many girls like this before.”

“I can tell” Ren chided.

“Sh-Shut up” the boy said. “So, does that mean you’re new?” Ren nodded. “Huh. I see. Well then, make sure to steer double clear of Kamoshida, alright? And maybe from Takamaki as well.”

Before Ren could answer, Ann walked up to the two of them. “What are you going on about, Sakamoto?”

Sakamoto looked surprised. He then glared at Ann. “What’s it to you? You’re probably trying to bring her into the cult of Kamoshida”

Ann’s eyes widened. She slapped Sakamoto in the face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Come on! Everyone knows about you and Kamoshida!” Sakamoto, rubbing his face. “It’s like the school’s worst kept secret!”

Ann was getting really furious. Before Ann could react, Ren chimed in. “Actually, Ann helped save me from Kamoshida.” The two of them looked at Ren. “Yesterday, he called me to his office, and…”

“Huh?” said Sakamoto. “Wait, for REAL?! That was you?!”

“Uh, YEAH!” Ann said. “Couldn’t you tell from the announcement?!”

“Hey! It’s not like I know everyone who goes to this school!” Sakamoto said. “And it’s not like many people are itching to be my friend anyway!”

Ann sighed. “I guess you’re right. Sorry.”

Sakamoto smiled. “Don’t be. You’re just standing up for her, right? In fact, I should be the one to apologize.”

“Huh?” Ann said.

“She said you saved her from Kamoshida, right?” Sakamoto said. “I guess that means all those rumors flying around about you two are bunk, huh.”

Ann looked at him confused. “Wait! How do you trust her already? I mean, if you thought I was ‘bringing her into the cult of Kamoshida’, what makes you think she’s not already in?”

“Huh?” Sakamoto said. “I dunno. I guess I just feel something from her. Like, I can just trust her.”

“I see,” said Ann.

The bell rings. “Oh CRAP! I gotta get to class!” Sakamoto said. “Seeya!” He ran off.

“So, what’s that guy’s deal?” Ren asked.

Ann smiled. “That’s Ryuji Sakamoto. He’s kind of a friend of mine.”

“Kind of?” Ren asked.

“Well, we were closer in middle school,” Ann said. “But when we got to high school, we kind of drifted apart.” She clenched her fist. “All because of that stupid Kamoshida.”

Ren was curious. “What happened?”

Ann was shocked. “Well, uh… It’s kind of hard to explain” she said. “Anyway, we should be getting to class.” The two of you start walking. “Oh, by the way. We’re meeting up after school to discuss yesterday, right?” Ren nods. “Good. I don’t want to just ignore whatever that was.”

Ren giggled. “I don’t either.” The two went to class.

Before class began, Miss  Kawakami  addressed the class. “Alright, just so you know, tomorrow is the volleyball exhibition, which means there won’t be any afternoon classes. You are to report to the gym after lunch. Are we clear?” The class was in agreement. “Good. I don’t want to deal with any unnecessary trouble.”

After school, Ren and Ann stood up. “Hey” said Ann. “Let’s meet out by the vending machines.” Ren nodded. The two of them walked to a shelter outside with a table and some vending machines. “Great. Now, let’s evaluate what we know so far.”

Ren nodded. “We know that Kamoshida has dark desires.”

“Talk about an understatement” Ann said.

Ren continued. “It seems like those desires have affected this ‘Metaverse’ place.”

“That part is kind of hard to wrap my head around,” Ann said. “So basically, that ‘Metaverse’ is like the human unconscious, right? And because Kamoshida’s desires are so warped, they change that place? Ugh, this is like something out of a sci-fi movie.”

“Imagine not having someone there to help you with it” Ren said, wryly.

Ann giggled. “Sorry.

“It’s fine,” Ren said. She got back in thought. “If things were to have played out without interruption we’d just have to deal with Kamoshida. However, since things got interrupted, someone’s desire for revenge took over Kamoshida’s desire. And in doing so, they have vowed to kill Kamoshida.”

“I see,” Ann said. “To be honest, I still have trouble wrapping my head around things. But, we need to use that Metaverse to stop both Kamoshida and whoever took over his palace before things get bad.”

“But we don’t know who that is, or when that would be,” Ann retorted.

“Well then,” said Ren, we need to investigate!”

“Right,” Ann said.

“There you are!” a voice called out. Ren and Ann turned to find Shiho. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“Oh, hey Shiho” Ann said. “How are you doing?”

Shiho smiled. “I’m feeling better than ever!”

Ann sighed in relief. “I’m glad. I’ve been kind of worried since yesterday. So, what happened between you Kamoshida after we left?”

Shiho giggled. “I just laid down the new law is all.”

Ren and Ann were confused. “What?” Ann said.

”It’s simple,” Shiho said. “I told Kamoshida what’s what. More importantly, how are you two doing?”

Ren looked at Shiho. “Well, what happened with Kamoshida wasn’t ideal, but thanks to you two, I feel better.”

“Huh?”Ann said. “Oh. Thanks.I’ve been feeling pretty alright myself.”

“Good. Good. I’m glad to hear that” Shiho said. She smiled.

“So, what’s with that grin?” Ann asked. “And what’s this about a ‘new law’?”

Shiho giggled. “I have a plan on dealing with Kamoshida, and I’d like your help with it.”

Ren and Ann look at each other distressed. Ren whispered “You don’t think…”

Ann turned back to Shiho with an intense look in her eye. “So, what’s your plan Shiho? I’m all ears.”

Shiho smirked back. “I need you to promise you won’t tell anyone.”

Ann and Ren grew worried. “We promise,” Ann said.

“Great!” said Shiho. “So, you know how there’s a teacher's meeting coming up at the beginning of next month?”

“Yeah…” Ann said.

“Well, my plan is to organize a group of students to block all of the exits and set fire to the building!”

“WHAT?!” Ann said. “Shiho that’s CRAZY! For one, what about the other teachers?!”

Shiho got mad. “To Hell with them!” Ann got frightened. “They know about what’s going on! The constant abuse! The never ending harassment! The way he treats all the female students like they’re sex objects! And what do they do? NOTHING! So they deserve to go down with Kamshida!”

“Shiho…” Ann said.

“So, are you willing to join up?” Shiho asked.

Ann glared at Shiho. “No.”

“Huh?” Shiho said, confused.

“Shiho this is CRAZY!” Ann said, getting up with vigor. “We can’t just set fire to the building!”

Shiho looked at Ann. “So, you think he should just keep getting away with it all?”

Ann was taken aback. “Well, no… but this is too far!”

Shiho smiled. “It’s OK Ann, I get it.”

Ann looked up. “You...do?”

Shiho giggled. “Sweet, innocent Ann. You don’t have it in your heart to do this kind of thing.”

“Wha-” Ann said.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” Shiho said. She looked at Ren. “The same goes for you.” She looked down. “To be honest, I kind of wish I had your resolve.” Ann and Ren were concerned. “But I can’t. I can’t let him live. Not after everything he’s done!”

“Shiho…” said Ann.

Shiho smiled and giggled. “It’s OK,” she said. “After all, I have plenty of other people to help me. Farewell.” Shiho left.

Ann and Ren looked at each other. “Hey Ren. Let’s visit that other world. Maybe that Morgana figure might know if Shiho is the one who’s inciting the revolution in that other world.” Ren nodded.

Soon, the two found themselves in the other world. They looked around. Ann looked at Ren. “Woah, you’re back in your costume!”

Ren looked. Sure enough, she was. “I guess this world has an eye for fashion.”

“If only it were that simple” said a voice. The two turned around to find Morgana.

“Morgana?” Ren said.

“Those clothes appear when you’re considered a threat to the palace ruler” Morgana said.

“I see” said Ren.

“Wait, why don’t I have anything like that?” Ann said.

Morgana looked Ann over. “I guess because you haven’t awakened to your Persona yet.”

“Oh. Yeah” Ann said. They looked at Morgana. “Hey Morgana, have you found anything yet.”

Morgana looked disconcerted. “Well, sort of.” Ren and Ann were curious. “Some of Kamoshida’s guards have been in town putting up posters. Apparently, someone has gone missing from his castle. The guards have been searching feverishly for them. I think whoever that might be might be the one who took over the cognition.”

Ren and Ann looked at each other, nodded, and looked back at Morgana. “Hey Morgana,” Ann began, “would that person happen to be named Shiho Suzui?”

Morgana looked at them. “I was just about to begin investigating when you two showed up. Wanna come with?”

“Sure,” said Ren. She and Morgana began walking. Ren looked back to see Ann not moving. “Hey.” Ren walked back over to her. “It’s OK if you don’t want to be here.”

Ann smiled. “It’s fine. I want to be here. Let’s go!” They nodded and walked off.

Once they got into town, Morgana stopped the two of them. “Hold it!” he said. “Kamoshida’s guards are crawling all around. We bet be careful.”

Ren nodded. “If worse comes to worse, the two of us can fight them off.” Ren and Morgana nodded. They continued into town.

All over town, the group saw these posters. “Those are the ones the guards have been putting up.”

Ann wet up and took one. She was sickened by what she saw on it. It was a picture of Shiho dressed up like a bunny girl, along with the description “Missing: Shiho Suzui. Also known as Kamoshida’s timid bunny. Has been missing since yesterday.”

Ren saw Ann looking at the poster with a thousand-yard stare. “Are you alright?”

“That bastard!” Ann said.

Ren looked at the poster as well. “He is disgusting!”

“I couldn’t agree more,” said a voice. Ren, Ann, and Morgana turned around to see a figure. They emerged to reveal that they are Shiho. However, instead of being dressed up as a bunny, she was dressed as Napoleon Bonaparte. “That’s why I’m leading a revolution against him!”

Ren and Ann looked at each other and nodded. They turned back to Shiho. “Hey Shiho,” Ann asked, “what will the revolution entail?”

Shiho giggled. “Why nothing short of the death of King Kamoshida himself!”

The three of them were shocked. “Hold on, you can’t just kill Kamoshida and have it all be over!” Ann declared.

“Why not?” said Shiho.

Ann glared at her. “Don’t get me wrong, Kamoshida’s a bastard beyond redemption, but killing him isn’t the right option!”

“Oh? And what is?” Shiho said. “He’s taken advantage of everyone here. In my opinion, death might just be too lenient for him.”

Ann was shaken. Ren chimed in. “What about the next person to take advantage of everyone?!”

Shiho smiled menacingly. “We’ll just kill them too.”

Ren was taken aback. “Killing anyone who gets in your way? That’s not justice! That’s just petty.”

Ann tightened her fist. “She’s right! You chastise Kamoshida for doing whatever to get what he wants, but you’re sounding no better than him!”

“Hm” said Shiho. “I’m promising a world of freedom. A world without harassment! The opposite of Kamoshida!”

“But you’re using the same methods!” Ann called out. “Shiho. Please stop. This isn’t like you!”

“Hold on,” Morgana said. “Something’s not right.”

“What’s up?” Ren asked.

Morgana looked Shiho over. “Could it be? But how?!”

Ann took notice. “Morgana, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know how, but that thing in front of us,” Morgana said, “is like the Kamoshida of this world. She’s definitely the source of the take over distortion.”

“And that also means that if we kill her, the real Shiho dies as well?” Ann asked.

“I’m afraid so,” Morgana siad.

Ren smiled. “Well, god thing we have no intention of resorting to murder” she said.

Shiho looked at them curiously. “Oh? And what are you going to do?”

Ren continued her bravado. “It’s simple. We’re going to steal Kamoshida’s distorted desires!”

Shiho was shocked. “Hm. Good luck. That castle of his is more secure than it looks. I barely got out, and even I needed help.” Ren and the others took note of this statement. “There’s no way the likes of you are getting in there and surviving!”

“And what’s your plan?” Ann asked.

“I’m assembling a team,” Shiho said. “We’re going to overwhelm his forces and drag Kamoshida out here to the center of town! Where he will be greeted with this!” She gestured towards a guillotine. “And he’ll be put there. No hesitation. No remorse. Just dead. Then it will all be over.”

Morgana glared at Shiho. “We’ll stop that from happening!”

Ren nodded. “Right Ann?” She looked at Ann. “Ann?”

Ann was in tears. “Shiho…” she said. “This isn’t the Shiho I know. The Shiho I know is kind. Considerate. Always willing to help others.” She nervously stepped forward. “Whatever corrupted you, we will stop it! Then you can go back to being my friend! Mark my words! I WILL SAVE YOU!”

“My... It's taken far too long” said a voice from within Ann, who began struggling. “Tell me... Who is going to help her if you don't? Forgiving him was never the option…”

“You’re right,” Ann said. “But…”

“I know” the voice said. “You wish for a just punishment. For pure freedom. Such is the scream of the other you that dwells within. I am thou, thou art I... We can finally forge a contract.”

A red cat-like mask appeared on Ann’s face. “Of course!”

“There you go... Nothing can be solved by restraining yourself. Understand? Then I'll gladly lend you my strength."

And grabbed her mask. “Let’s go! Carmen!” She tore it off, blood flowing over her face. A surge of energy swept the area. Ann was now in a red catsuit with heels and pink gloves. Her Persona, Carmen, stood behind her.

Shiho was shocked by this power. “Hm” she said, regaining her composure. “Well, it seems like this is your answer.”

“Of course it is!” Ann said. “I’ll make Kamoshida pay and save you!”

Shiho smiled. “Very well. Let’s see if you can do this. You already know the deadline. Can you steal his treasure before then? We shall see”

“Hey! I think that’s her!” one of Kamoshida’s guards says. They bring some back up and investigate.

“Well, I’ll be taking my leave for now” Shiho said, running away.

“Halt!” the guard calls out. “Out of our way!”

“As if,” Ann said. “Ready?” Ren and Morgana nodded. “Then let’s go!” While they were matched in numbers, with Ann awakening to her new Persona, the fight was anything but fair. The shadows were dealt with easily, especially with Ann using Carmen’s fire powers to burn the shadows and Morgana following up with Zorro’s wind to inflict major damage.

“Wow. I can’t believe I did that” Ann said. She looked at her outfit. “Wha-What’s with this outfit?!”

“It’s your will of rebellion” Morgana calmly explained.

Ann was confused. “Will of rebellion?”

Morgana nodded. “Basically, once someone has awakened to their Persona, the outfit that is given to them is a representation of how they rebel against society.”

“Oh” Ann said. “It’s weird that it’s… well, like this… But I kind of get it.”

“That’s the spirit!” Morgana said.

“What do you think Ren?” Ann said.

Ren was a bit taken aback, but remained calm. “I think it looks good.”

“Right?!” Ann said.

“Alright, now that that’s out of the way, let’s find that treasure!”Morgana said.

Before any of them could move, Ann collapsed to the ground. “Ugh!”

“Ann! Are you alright?!” Ren said, rushing to pick her up.

“I’m… fine…” Ann said. “Just a little exhausted is all.”

“We better call it a day here,” Morgana said. “It seems like awakening to her Persona has taken the wind out of her sails.”

Ren lifted Ann up. “Are you OK enough to get to the exit?”

“Yeah. I should be fine” Ann said.

Ren looked at Morgana. “You staying here?”

Morgana thought about it. “I’ll see what other information I can gleam here. I think you two should do the same. I’ll meet you in your world when I’m ready.”

“Gotcha,” Ren said. She and Ann left for the real world.

Upon arrival, Ann said “Man, that was exhausting.”

“Wanna get something to eat?” Ren asked.

“As tempting as that is, I’d rather just head home for the evening,” Ann said. “How were you not this exhausted when you awoke to your Persona?”

“I was,” Ren said. “I just let the adrenaline carry me until I passed out on my bed.”

Ann was shocked. “That’s not healthy, you know.” Ren giggled. “Anyway, tomorrow’s the volleyball exhibition. I think that would be a good time to investigate.”

“Right,” Ren said. “See you there?”

“Of course!” Ann said.

“Can you get home alright?” Ren asked.

“I think I’ll be fine,” Ann said. “But thanks for your concern. Well, good night.”

“Good night,” Ren said. They parted ways and headed home for the evening.

[anonknows]

Hear me out:

Okay so, my brother made a joke about ghosts last night while I was playing Persona 5 Royal, and me being me, my brain came up with an entire AU.

Paranormal investigators AU for Persona 5 Royal.

Straight up, they could keep the Phantom Thieves name for the group, or, if they wanted to be punny, Phantom Sees as I came up with at 3 in the morning. No but I straight up have whole plot points for characters. Mild Persona 5 spoilers I guess because some of the AU ideas revolve around the character's original story.

Joker: A mostly normal kid who used to be known in his hometown for being able to see ghosts and performing other psychic type things, but was run out of town after accusing someone (*cough* Shido *cough*) of a crime after seeing it in a vision he had. (Shido managed to convince people he was a fraud). At first, he is the only one who can hear Morgana speak, but depending on how close he gets with certain people, some of his powers may be transferred to others, the first typically being able to understand Morgana and some of the ghosts.

Morgana: A human soul who immediately possessed a cat after passing away (not to his knowledge, he did it completely on accident after being coaxed by Igor). Has no idea he's dead and has no memory of his life before the possession, but feels that he isn't meant to be a cat deep down. As a ghost, he knows how to exorcise other ghosts and has a vast knowledge regarding other paranormal entities, yet has no clue how he knows any of this. Decides to stick around with Joker since he seems to be able to communicate with him, and decides to convince Joker to start the Phantom Sees because he feels drawn towards other ghosts (for obvious reasons) and believes them to be the key to learning his true identity, thus he persuades Joker with the promise of sharing his paranormal knowledge with Joker, which comes in handy when Kamoshida's case rolls around.

Ryuji: Mostly the same except the set-up by which he meets Joker. Basically Shujin is being haunted by one of it's old abusive gym coaches (Kamoshida) and he is somehow causing more havoc than when he was alive. Physically harming students, mostly the ones doing poorly on the volleyball team, and even sexually assaulting the female students. Him being a ghost of course, no one believes any of the students when they try speaking up. Ryuji and the track team incident was the last thing Kamoshida ruined before passing away, and ever since he has been haunting Ryuji and refusing to let him forget the whole thing. Ryuji can't actually SEE Kamoshida, but just by the injuries he sees on the other students, and the occasional degrading whispers he hears, he just KNOWS Kamoshida is the cause of everything. One day while walking to school in the rain, he sees Ann, and also sees her looking incredibly uncomfortable. Ryuji comes to the conclusion that Kamoshida is messing with her in some way, but she runs off before he can confront her about it. At this very same moment someone (Joker) asks Ryuji if he knew who "that man bothering that girl" was, and instantly (well knowing Ryuji it probably takes him a bit) he realizes this strange guy can see Kamoshida, thus, he tags along with him in the hopes of finding out a way to get rid of Kamoshida, and inevitably does with the help of Morgana, who he understands after forming a bond with Joker. While he starts to realize over the course of his time in the Phantom Sees that hunting down paranormal "D-bags" is probably the best job ever, he starts to get upset over how there isn't much glory to be had when you're hunting things most people think are fake anyways.

Ann: Ann was being forced into a relationship with Kamoshida to help Shiho while Kamoshida was alive, and thought that she was free once he died, but, much to her dismay, she could still feel his overwhelming presence. He managed to get in contact with her (by possessing her phone for a bit) and told her that if she didn't continue to do whatever he asked, he would harm Shiho more than ever before. She went through it for a long time until she just couldn't anymore, and Kamoshida went through with his... Plot to harm Shiho, thus leading Shiho to try and kill herself. Joker notices her distress one day and gets her to open up a bit about what has been going on with her, forming a fragile, but decent bond. One day she happens to notice Ryuji and the new transfer student at school plotting something, and, due to her start of a bond with Joker, is able to hear Morgana chime in as well. She immediately confronts them and, after a lot of confusion and various antics, agree to let her help them exorcise Kamoshida.

(Now I have A LOT more ideas for characters such as the tech person being Futaba, Akechi being a ghost that becomes attached to Joker after a hunt but he turns out to secretly be a demon, Shido literally being the devil himself, the "awakenings" being when any of the team members get enough psychic power from Joker to be able to see the ghosts/paranormal creatures for what they really are, Igor and the twins being fallen angels of sorts. Look, I have so many ideas for this AU and I'd LOVE to go more into depth with it, but I first want to see if people are interested in it. If they are I'll go into more detail because I really really love this idea and I would love to spend forever explaining it but I don't want it to be in vain)

[lesbiankoby]

Okay, it’s come to my attention most people don’t realize the incredible ‘juicedup14 ‘ has actually translated Maruki Takuto’s rank one and two! He only subtitled the videos up until Ann’s scene with Takuto, so if you have auditory processing issues or simply don’t want to listen to him talk over the characters while live-translating, I’ve got a transcription of RANK 1, ANN’s scene with Takuto, and RANK 2 pasted below!

Make sure to toss the actual translator a good comment! 

//

TAKUTO MARUKI RANKS 1 & 2 (translated by juicedup14 on youtube!) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_n2b6H-zOs)

[Scene: All of the students are watching Principle Kobayakawa speak on stage.]

Kobayakawa: ...After that incident, talks of anxiety among students has come to my attention. Kobayakawa: I feel that there is immediate need for care in the mental department. And so I have brought in a doctor to fulfill that role. Kobayakawa: Take it away, Doctor.

[Kobayakawa walks off to the side, away from the open microphone in the center of the state. Takuto walks on stage, behind the mic.]

Female Student: Doesn't he look kinda cool?

Takuto [slightly muffled]: Pleasure to meet you all.

Different Female Student: His voice is too quiet.

Takuto: My name is Maru... [microphone cuts off] Takuto: ['?’ emoticon over his head] ...Huh?

[He fiddles with the microphone. When he next speaks, it's louder.]

Takuto: My name is Maruki Takuto. Hope we get along!

[He quickly bows his towards the students past the stage, and whacks his head on the microphone on the way down. There is a loud feedback noise, and he clutches his head, wincing.

[Kobayakawa has the sweatdrop emoticon over his head. The students are laughing.]

Takuto: [Wincing] I-I'll be in charge of counseling...

[Question mark emoticon while he quickly looks from side to side]

Takuto: There's no need to act polite with me. We can talk about anything... Ah! Takuto: Well, anything that isn't financial help.

[The students laugh. Kobayakawa pushes him away from the mic, taking center stage once again.]

Kobayakawa: ...Thank you everyone.

\\

[The scene shifts. Ryuji, Ann, and Joker are now standing in the walkway connecting the two main school buildings. They are alone.]

Ryuji: Can't believe our school actually mentioned freaking mental care.

Ann: Well, they're on the news. They probably think it's bad to ignore it.

Ryuji: Besides... what was it? His name.

Ann: Doctor Maruki.

Ryuji: Doesn't he look like a total joke?

Ryuji: Does he really seem like he can console us?

Ann: [wincing] Ryuji.

[Takuto walks up to the three of them from off screen.]

Takuto: How do you do? Takuto: You're Sakamoto-kun, Ryuji-san. And you're Joker-kun, right?

[NOTE: The translator has his name set to Ren. He’s using Jokers first name here.]

[Ryuji, Joker, and Ann all have the '!?' emoticon over their heads.]

Ryuji: How'd you get our names?

Takuto: [Rubbing his head] I've heard a lot from Mr. Kamoshida, as well as... Takuto: From various students that had a lot to say about all of you. Takuto: Joker-kun, transferring must be tough for you.

JOKER: > [Shakes head] Not really.

Takuto: Very resilient. But don't overdo it, okay?

Ryuji: What do you need from us?

Takuto: Oh right. The counseling I talked to you about just now. Are any of you interested in it?

Ryuji: Nope.

[Takuto flinches back, with the '!?' emoticon flashing over his head]

Takuto: Eh?

Ryuji: It's not that surprising.

Takuto: I'm just surprised to be turned down so bluntly... Ah, but I have some candy in the meantime? Takuto: All you can eat... isn't possible, though. But you can have quite a lot, so?

JOKER: > Tell me more.

Ann: [Jumping back from Joker's side] Don't be swayed so easily!

Takuto: [Distressed sprite; rubs the back of his head] To tell you the truth... I was told that students highly affected by Kamoshida must take counseling no matter what. Takuto: It's sort of... the school's way of saying they care.

Ryuji: [Folds his arms] Oh they care, huh...

Takuto: I know that it's a bother to be forced to talk to someone you don't know like me, Takuto: As well as there being no meaning in forcing you to do this. I even had a merit in store for you all... Takuto: [Brightens up back into his neutral sprite] ...I got it! Takuto: If you take counseling, I'll teach you about mental training. Takuto: It'll increase your focus before tests, or make it so you won't be nervous in a date. Takuto: How's it sound?

Ann: ...How's it sound?

JOKER THOUGHT BUBBLE: ..... JOKER THOUGHT BUBBLE: Mental training... JOKER THOUGHT BUBBLE: If we put it to good use it might help us in our phantom thief activities...

Takuto: There's also sweets if you take it now...

Ryuji: [Aggravated] We've heard enough about sweets! Ryuji: [To Joker] Hey, what's your choice?

JOKER: > Talking can't hurt.

Ryuji: [Rubbing his hair] Well... it'll cause problems later on if we don't take it now after all.

Ann: Hm. That's true.

Takuto: [Excited] Really? Then I guess it's a deal. Takuto: I'll be in the nurse's office. Come by whenever it's best for you.

Ryuji: Aight, we gonna head out.

Takuto: Yeah, see you later.

[Ann and Ryuji walk off screen. It's just Takuto and Joker in the walkway, standing next to each other.]

Takuto: Thanks. I'm glad you decided to take counseling. Takuto: This means I better do my part and help you get stronger.

JOKER THOUGHT BUBBLE: The deal has been made with Maruki.

[TAKUTO RANK 1 ACHIEVED!]

//

[The screen shifts. Takuto is sitting alone on a sofa in the nurses office, in a position of thought, with his hand rested on his chin. The nurses office has another sofa bracketing the other side of a table between them. There's an open book (notebook?) spread out on the table.]

[Ann knocks on the door]

Takuto: ['?' Emoticon over his head] Hey!

[Ann enters the room, and sighs. She has a sprite cut-in, with a tired look on her face.]

Takuto: Welcome. Is this for counseling?

Ann: Yeah. Is it good to do it now?

Takuto: [With a close eyed, happy cut-in] Of course! I warmly welcome you.

[He stands up from the couch to face her.]

Takuto: This makes me very happy. If you'd like, go ahead and take a seat.

[The scene shifts slightly, fast forwarding to both Takuto and Ann sitting on the two couches in the nurses office. Takuto has a carton of apple juice on the table in front of him, Ann has a glass of water.]

Takuto: Well then, let's get started. Takuto: Go ahead and relax. For now, let me know what you wanted to talk about?

Ann: [Eyes downcast] Yeah. Ann: ...what kind of things do we talk about in counseling?

Takuto: Well... that's a good question! Takuto: You don't have to force yourself! We can just sit down and you can have candy and go home.

Ann: [Eyes downcast] No... that's okay. I feel like I should talk about something. Ann: Maybe... I should just talk a little bit.

Takuto: Of course, you don't have to hurry. There's no rush.

[There's another scene shift, and the implication of time passing. The scene starts back up with Ann and Takuto silently chatting with each other. Takuto is writing things down on a clipboard.]

Takuto: ...I see. That kind of thing is hard to forgive.

Ann: ...Yeah. That's why I wanted to do something about Shiho. That's why I wanted to get revenge for Shiho.

Takuto: ...And, what about you?

Ann: ... Ann: After that happened to Shiho, I couldn't-- I wanted to see what it was like, in Shiho's shoes. Ann: But...

Takuto: ['?' Emoticon over his head] But?

Ann: ...It wasn't right. Ann: That wouldn't make it easier for her. It wouldn't erase her pain.

Takuto: I see... you're very collected, and quite clever.

Ann: [Wide eyed surprise sprite] Oh? That's not it at all...

Takuto: It is. I feel like you're smarter then even me. I never thought about that kind of stuff in High School.

Ann: ...It's not like I wanted to think about that kind of thing. Ann: I wouldn't have thought about that if it didn't happen, I think.

Takuto: I see. What are you thinking now?

Ann: Right now? Well... Ann: I just want Shiho to get better as fast as possible, already. ann: That thing happened... but I want to laugh together-- like before. And buy stuff, and go shopping! Ann: I feel like I don't care about what happened to Shiho!

Takuto: [Pleased cut-in] That's good! Takuto: ...you can't change what happened. We have to keep going forward.

Ann: That's true. Ann: Of course... I wish that hadn't happened in the first place.

Takuto: That's true as well. Takuto: We can't erase all the tragedies in the world.

Ann: [Close eyed smiling sprite] That's true! Ann: It'd be a very nice world to live in, though.

[THE SCHOOL BELL RINGS]

Takuto: Oh, looks like it's time already. Takuto: Let's end this for today. Thanks for talking.

Ann: No problem. I feel a bit better after talking with you. Thanks.

Takuto: Thank you for looking at it that way. Come by anytime!

Ann: Alright! I'll be off. I'll see you later, then.

//

[Scene shift. Joker is sitting at his desk in Kawakami's class. Ann sends him a text.]

Ann [TXT]: I went to counseling! Ann [TXT]: You're going to go next, aren't you?

JOKER [TXT]: > How'd it go?

Ann [TXT]: Hmm. I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. Ann [TXT]: Just go ahead and do it. Ann [TXT]: Maruki-sensei... even though he's an adult, he's pretty easy to talk too. Ann [TXT]: Well then, see you tomorrow.

//

[SCENE SHIFT: Takuto and "Kasumi" are chatting in front of the nurses office. Joker walks up to the two of them.]

Kasumi: Oh hey! Good job making it through the school day. Kasumi: Are you going to take counseling from Maruki-sensei?

JOKER: > Yes [chosen] . Are you going too as well?

Kasumi: I see. Kasumi: Maruki-sensei is a good person. Kasumi: He's helped me out before I came to Shujin Academy as well.

Takuto: Huh? Do you know him, Kasumi? Takuto: [Downtrodden emo sprite] It's not that big of a deal. Don't put up expectations that I can't reach.

Kasumi: [Laughs] I'm gonna go-- see you later!

[Kasumi bows and walks off screen.]

Takuto: Well then. Go ahead and come in.

[SCENE SHIFT. Joker and Takuto are now standing in the nurses office.]

Takuto: Welcome! I'm glad you came.

Joker: . Well, you forced me. > We had a deal. (Chosen) . I'm nervous.

Takuto: [Laughs, gains two musical notes] Oh, don't worry. I'll hold up my side of the deal.

[SCENE SHIFT. Maruki and Joker are both sitting on the two couches in the nurses office. They momentarily chat, but there's no dialogue]

Takuto: I see... thanks, now I have a good perspective on your situation. Takuto: ...Can you explain to me what happened after you transferred, and how you're doing in school?

Joker: . It's in the past. . Where's my privacy. > I'm okay now. (chosen)

Takuto: You're okay, are you... but don't overwork yourself. Takuto: ...I thought that we could have a bit of a talk. Takuto: I'm sure you're making compromises with the way you live, with the "reality" that's inside and outside of you. Takuto: The truth of this situation. And the way that everyone sees you. [Extremely vague translation] Not even adults can live like that.

Joker: ['?' emoticon]

Takuto: You see, people, they have their own way of seeing reality... they have expectations (ideals?) for how they want the world to be, don't they? Takuto: They want their test to go well! They want people to help them, they want to be helpful! Stuff like that. Takuto: But the real world, it never goes according to expectations. There's these gaps, among everyone. People are suffering because of the gap that is inside and outside of them. Takuto: Not everyone can ace a test. People can't always become heroes. Takuto: [Pushes his glasses further up his face] ...the things you want to happen, the pain you have, cause a distortion. [The translator, speaking: I think it's something mysterious like that]. The things that happened to you, and the suffering that you went through... it's not weird to think how they distort you, and distort reality. Takuto: But it seems like you're standing up against this painful reality. I think that's pretty amazing. Takuto: ...is it weird that you're hearing this kind of thing from an old man you just met?

JOKER: > It's the truth. (Chosen) . It's a bit weird. . This is uncomfortable.

Takuto: [Three musical notes] I guess I'm not being very humble. You're very strong, aren't you? Takuto: Well... sorry. It's gotten a bit late. Takuto: I feel like I can talk pretty easily with you. Takuto: ..... Takuto: ...hey, I have a suggestion to make. Would you listen?

Joker: ['?' Emoticon]

Takuto: I have a bit of research I'm doing on the side of my counseling job. Takuto: It's a bit different then counseling. It has to do with psychological therapy. Takuto: Basically, it's research to learn about the heart of a person.

Joker: [INTERESTED dash line emoticon]

Takuto: If it works, then I could save a lot of people... that's what I'm thinking! What about you?

Joker: > Tell me more about it.

Takuto: [SHOCKED cut-in] Oh, sorry! Takuto: I'm trying to ask if you can help me with my research. I just wanna talk to you, and listen to how you see things, and how you think. Takuto: Please, you can do it whenever you want. I'll even open up my schedule! Takuto: And you can eat as much candy as you want!

Joker: > ['?' emoticon] Why me?

Takuto: Ah-- ...sometimes I get stuck in my research. Takuto: There's one person that's been going well. I feel like if I can get your opinion, my research would go pretty well. Takuto: Of course, there'll be a reward. Takuto: What can I get for you... what can I give you... I can probably help with your mental training! Takuto: There's a lot of things I know, it'll be a special course for you. Takuto: The more effort you put in, your mental potential could reach father beyond! Takuto: [Pleased close eyed cut-in] All right! Looks like we have a new deal.

JOKER THROUGH BUBBLE: I feel like I've gotten closer with Maruki...

[RANK UP: RANK 2 ACHIEVED!] [The skill he gives you is DETOX-x: If you get hit by an ailment, it might disappear immediately!]

Takuto: ...ah, that's right! Let me give you my number? Takuto: You can go ahead and talk to me whenever you want?

[SCENE SHIFT. Takuto and Joker have their phones out. Evidently, Takuto has just given Joker his number.]

Takuto: ...this should be good! Takuto: Now then! I should give you something in return for this. I'll give you some mental training. Takuto: First...

[+5 SP increase! Joker has received 'gum'!] // SOME THOUGHTS:

takuto saw joker, ann, and ryuji vanish into the metaverse while they were running through kamoshida’s palace! he already heavily suspects the three of them are phantom thieves-- that, plus nobody but him ever (as far as i am aware) saying that they have to have therapy w/ takuto, and him only pulling out the ‘its mandatory’ guns after they decline, has me thinking pretty strongly that he made that up to talk to them, lol. 

i’m pretty sure ann was discussing considering joining shiho after shiho jumped. owch. 

joker is, uh, getting played like a fiddle lol. a particularly well meaning fiddle... but a fiddle. 

[shibyn]

and the wind sounds like the world’s sigh

persona 4 & 5 | shiho-centric, investigation team Near the end of May, Shiho transfers to a sleepy town called Inaba for a fresh start. However, Inaba isn’t the sleepy town her parents thought would be best for her— its on edge with unsolved mysteries, and Shiho finds that there’s a bit more behind what meets the eye regarding some of her classmates and a TV screen.

chapter 5 | 2.4k

But then she sees Chie and Yukiko and Yosuke and Souji turn to him, taking up the guy's space like it's nothing. Chie heartily slaps his shoulder and Yosuke grins something cheeky and probably says something stupid seeing the reaction it creates. They orbit around him, pulling him into their group until he can't leave. And-- he looks like he doesn't mind. It clicks: Tatsumi Kanji. Ah, she thinks, I really did have a conversation with a kid who was missing for weeks about his earrings. Huh.

From the moment she steps beyond the school gates, she know's something's up. It's in the air, thick and heavy. It's in the way there's more tight groups of people, whispering and murmuring, in the way it looks like everyone's on guard. Shiho can only blink curiously. She barely catches the tail ends of conversations as she switches shoes, but never hears enough to know what's up. It's really weird. For a school where she hears just about every spindly, prying rumor about anything, this... this thing is strangely a topic of reverence. Or maybe it's one not privy to an outsider's ears. She shoulders her bag, trying to clear her mind. It's whatever. She's never really cared about rumors prior to now, so why bother? Then again-- for a rumor to have this much of an impact? Something's either really wrong, or she's overthinking. In the end it's just weird. "Ah! Good morning, Suzui!" She looks up accordingly. Chie stands in front of her shoe locker, waving, with Yukiko by her side. Yukiko smiles politely instead of greeting, a flicker of confusion in her eyes like maybe she doesn't really know why Chie's talking to her, which is understandable. "Good morning," she says awkwardly. Honestly? She's right alongside Yukiko.  She fiddles with the strap of her bag, caught by social obligation not to flee immediately. "Uhm. You seem cheery this morning." And she is-- Chie's basically vibrating in her skin, brimming with energy. She flips open her shoe locker with more motion than necessary, looking up in thought. "I guess I am! Today just feels like a great day, y'know?" Shiho takes a long side-eye down the hall, where people are basically leering at each other, set on edge. "Sure." Chie pulls out her indoor shoes and a plethora of bandages from her locker in such a fluid motion Shiho doesn't initially realize just how many bandaids she pulled out. She glances at Chie's knees nearly instantly-- they're splotched in bruises and scrapes and cuts, some already covered in bandages, some not. Momentarily, she catches the grimace that briefly crosses Yukiko's face at the sight of all the bandages before she refocuses on changing shoes. "Did you-- did you fall or something? Some of those don't look too good," she finds herself saying, the words tumbling out of her mouth. She doesn't know much about karate or taekwando or whatever, but she didn't really think it was possible to get all cut up like that. Chie pauses momentarily. "For the most part, yeah!" Pressing down a bandaid, she motions absently with her free hand. "Most of the bruises were already there, though! This just looks worse than it actually is." It's crazy flippant for someone with shredded knees. Maybe if it were someone else, someone she were closer to, Shiho wouldn't accept that answer. But she doesn't really know Chie-- maybe she did actually take a tumble down some brick stairs, maybe not. The cuts don't look gritty enough to be something as skidding knees on pavement. "Okay," she says instead, "Just be careful, yeah?" The smile on Chie's face is nearly too sunny. "Yeah, no worries!" — Tatsumi Kanji is back. That's the whole fuss. It's a little hysterical. Someone is no longer missing, and everyone acts like Armageddon has dawned. She's got no clue if it's because he's a bad person or not, but-- Chie and Yukiko and Yosuke and Souji seem to like him, or at least think well of him. Surely he can't be that horrible. Even if he's back, she never sees him. She's-- She's not keeping an eye out for him, not really, but there would definitely be some mob behavior to indicate who he is. People would whisper and pass rumors as if he didn't have ears. People would swerve to get out of his way, leaving a open pathway, but only one made of contempt. Maybe he's just not here at all today. Maybe he's just taking the day to stay at home, where he surely would be with his family, making up for all the worry and stress. Or-- would his family even be like that...? Shiho bites the side of her thumb, pulling herself from that strain of thought. Not my business, she thinks, pushing double doors open to the breezeway. It's surprisingly empty out here even though it's lunch. She fiddles with the extra change in her hands, wandering towards where she remembers the vending machine to be. She really only saw it fleetingly-- didn't even check what was in it. She hopes it was worth coming out here for. The vending machine sits not far around the corner. It's sparingly stocked-- quite a sad sight. She shifts on her feet, looking over each can with a growing disinterest. She's never been one to drink soft drinks or coffee, not really-- being around Ann and her crazy diets that will be ruined if she even glances in the direction of a soft drink has made Shiho indifferent, but she had just enough extra change in her bag that what the hell, why not. Plus-- the loose change jangling in her bag was grating her nerves. She just absently slots the coins in, punching for a drink that's actually stocked. It whirs slowly, moving like molasses. She might get her drink before lunch ends. Around the corner, the double doors swing open with a slam, the noise echoing between the buildings. Shiho flinches and glances down the breezeway. Wonder what could've made them so angry to slam the door like that... she thinks. The student rounds the corner, strolling towards the vending machine with a gait that can really only be called a prowl. She nearly bites through her tongue. It's an honest-to-god punk. He's got the piercings, got the bleached hair, got the gakuran over his shoulders, the wide stance, the hands shoved into his pockets deeper than they actually are, the biting glare that makes people give a wide berth around him. Sure, there were delinquents at Shujin, but all they really amounted to were just Akira and Ryuji, and they're about as un-deliquent as it gets. This-- this is something else. This is the absolute pinnacle of the punk stereotype. He nearly seems to bristle, finally noticing that she's standing there. A scowl twists his mouth, nose scrunching up as his glare somehow still manages to get more intense. "What are you looking at?" he grunts, both slouching and straightening up to an intimidating height. The can clunks to the bottom of the vending machine. She doesn't move to get it. Ah, shit. She didn't realize she was staring. Shiho presses her lips together thinly-- how-- how can she get out of this without sounding like a total idiot? 'Oh, hey, I was just thinking about the delinquents at my old school, who were actually my friends and don't really deserve to be called delinquents, but high schoolers, yknow?' Yeah, right. Like that would fly over well. Would-- would he just start throwing punches anyways even if she gave him an answer that shouldn't be provoking? Shit, she really needs to be more aware of when she's staring-- "Uhm," she flounders. "Sorry, if it's, um, insensitive or something, but-- did those piercings hurt?" she blurts. Open mouth, enter foot. Absolutely incredible. The deepening of the crease between his eyebrows probably says she's a fucking idiot and will be going home with a snapped arm or something, so she continues to be stupid and keeps plowing on. "I mean, yeah, they probably did, sorry, that was a stupid question-- but, uhm, was it any worse than getting your lobes pierced?" There's a pause. It's almost achingly long and awkward, and Shiho nearly wants to just run away before it stretches on any longer. But, slowly, the punk's hand moves towards his ears, where he tugs on one of the earrings like he's trying to remember how painful it was. "They're... helix piercings," he says, his voice much less gruff than it was earlier. He speaks slowly, maybe trying to remember. "They go through cartilage, so they... hurt more, I think. They're definitely not the worst piercing, though. Just a little worse than getting your lobes pierced." "Ah, I see," she says. She presses her earlobe between her index finger and thumb, feeling for the holes. She's had her ears pierced for ages, but they're probably on the verge of completely closing up since she slacks on wearing earrings consistently enough for them to stay open. Knowing her luck, getting helixes would be a waste-- they'd close up on her since she's so crummy at keeping earrings in. "Where'd you get them pierced? Is there-- is there a parlor around here?" He scratches his cheek. "I did 'em myself." She blinks. "Wow. They look really good for doing them yourself," she says, tilting her head to see his ear better. They're nearly evenly spaced-- it's a hell of a lot better than whatever she could do. Her hand's not steady enough to even try. He makes a face. "I wouldn't recommend it. Hurt like hell, and one of them got crazy infected. Goin' to a pro would be better." "Gotcha." She stoops down, quickly retrieving the drink she's let sit longer than she should have. Stepping back, she pulls the tab and takes a sip of whatever weird off-brand soda she got. She scrunches her nose. "Sorry for keeping you," she says, trying to decide whether or not the drink is worth finishing or not. Raising a hand as goodbye, she smiles slightly, "Have a good day." He nods back, taking her place in front of the vending machine as she leaves. Taking another sip, she lets it sit in her mouth for a bit-- it's... a bland drink, to say the least. Like carbonated water with the slightest hint of fruit, almost too small to even be considered flavored. No wonder it was the only one fully stocked. She spits it out in a bush before she goes back inside. — After school ends, she sees the delinquent again. He's loitering just outside of the school building, glaring at everybody who so much as glances in his direction. Huh. He didn't seem like that bad of a guy-- er, he didn't threaten her, which really is all it takes to be a good guy in her book-- but he really is the pinnacle of the punk stereotype. Momentarily, she considers doing something-- saying a goodbye, have-a-nice-day, something like that, but who's she kidding? She doesn't have the guts to say anything, even after she had a weirdly stilted conversation about his earrings. Shiho places her indoor shoes into the locker, briefly wondering how weird it would look if she just smashed her head into the locker right now. She doesn't really get to come to an answer, though-- Chie comes sailing past her, followed by Yukiko, Yosuke, and Souji, chirping a peppy, "Hey, Suzui! See ya later!" and she's raising her hand in a belated 'see ya' like some kind of idiot. They all exit the building, wrapped up in the whirl wind of a conversation. They veer dangerously close to the delinquent, and after seeing how hostile he's come off to everyone within a three-meter radius, them approaching in at a one-meter distance makes her think he's going to start throwing hands, but-- But then she sees Chie and Yukiko and Yosuke and Souji turn to him, taking up the guy's space like it's nothing. Chie heartily slaps his shoulder and Yosuke grins something cheeky and probably says something stupid seeing the reaction it creates. They orbit around him, pulling him into their group until he can't leave. And-- he looks like he doesn't mind. It clicks: Tatsumi Kanji. Ah, she thinks, I really did have a conversation with a kid who was missing for weeks about his earrings. Huh. — Shiho wakes up at midnight to the sound of white noise. At first, she's pretty sure it's just the rain-- it's a consistently down pour, but nothing storm-like. The tap-tap-taps against the glass are rhythmic, and she's almost lulled back to sleep until she realizes there's another white noise. It's static. It's... static? It's muffled, yet still distinctly loud. She lays and waits, listening. That's definitely static. Grumbling, she rolls to her side, checking the time-- 12:00 exactly, damn-- and laments rolling out of bed. Her dad must've fallen asleep watching TV or something. He's going to have a cow that he fell asleep and left the TV on-- the electrical bill is going to be astronomical. She sits up, sighs, and stands up. Her knee protests slightly at the sudden movement. She stumbles around her room, absently flicking on her phone's flashlight. The house is quiet, aside from the echo of the rain and the hum of static. The floorboards are cold when she steps on them, careful to not wake up her father as she walks into the living room. The TV's on, the screen completely filled with static. The noise is much louder now that she's out here. Frowning, she shuffles closer to the couch. Her father's not exactly a light sleeper, but surely he would've woken up by now. Except, when she peers over the back of the couch, there's no one there. She blinks. And blinks. Okay. That's... weird. The TV surely wouldn't've been left on, especially once her parents went to bed. They would've heard whatever was playing before the signal got scrambled by the rain, and they would've turned it off. Huh. She rounds about the couch, reaching for the remote. The static is nearly suffocating out here, blaring in her ears. She fumbles with the remote for a second, holding it up. Something appears in the static. Heart stuttering, Shiho halts. There's an image of something faded in the static. It's too hard to tell what it could even be-- a room, maybe?-- before the screen fully returns to static. The static roars, hums, and then fades until there's no noise and Shiho is cast into darkness.

She swallows thickly, the thrum of her pulse in her ears now the loudest thing in the room. She clicks the power button on the remote-- the TV screen flickers on to the food channel, the one her parents always watch. There's no remnants of static on the screen, no stuttering, no delay-- nothing. Even when the wind picks up outside, the signal doesn't falter.

Shiho clicks the TV off.

[lwk3y]

Persona March! AU MasterPost: Part I

((THIS POST WILL BE ABOUT THE P5′S SIDE OF THE REGIMENT! P4 AND P3′S SIDE WILL BE POSTED IN A SEPARATE POST DUE TO LENGTH !!))

March! Is an AU wrapped around the Persona series, mostly centered around Persona 5, where the characters are members in their school's marching band regiments.

The March! Au will be setting in: Tokyoami, Japan (a more Americanized part, due to the fact that most of my knowledge is American schooling.) The March! AU is a work of fiction and will be improved more along the way. Please keep in mind that some stuff might be triggering as most of the characters storylines are the same as the game or have been changed to fit AU.  

Now here are the first two revealed regiments:

Shujin Marching Regiment- Show theme: Fairytales- Led by Akira Kurusu

Shujin is the top high school marching regiment around the country scoring a 99.23 in the JMA championships (Japan Marching Association). The Shujin Regiment is currently directed by Sadayo Kawakami, a concert/jazz band teacher. It was formerly directed by Suguru Kamoshida, however, after a planned sell-out of abuse, he got arrested for sexual and physical abuse.

Drum Major(s): Akira Kurusu, Makoto Niijima (Understudy)

Participants of Shujin Regiment:

Akira Kurusu- Drum Major- (Junior Year): Akira Kurusu was transferred from his hometown Inaba and adopted by Sojiro Sakura after a mishap that resulted in CPS taking him away. He was a shut-in for his freshman year after the incident, doing online school for a year before coming back to the public school life in the sophomore year. He applied to be in a drum major position already playing Drumline at the time of application. Band director Kamoshida took him in after seeing all the stuff he put through during band camp and helping the team. During Kamoshida’s “rein”, Kurusu did some digging about him from students. After hearing from a forgotten trombone player (Ryuji Sakamoto), a clarinet player (Yuuki Mishima), a colour guard captain (Ann Takamaki), and one of his regular “special training” victims (Shiho Suzui),  he confronts Kamoshida about the abuse. With that, both Kamoshida and Kurusu himself have a fight, to where the student council president (Makoto Niijima) walked in on them with the police behind her. He was shown capable of being a Drum Major from Kawakami, the new band director and still is to his junior days.

Ryuji Sakamoto- Trumpet Section Leader- (Junior Year): Ryuji Sakamoto is a troubled teen but found an outlet in track and marching band. Playing trombone as a kid to make his mum happy, he signed up for the regiment in freshman year. He was going through a tough time already with an alcoholic dad leaving them and his mum trying to balance out her busy work schedule, so when he started witnessing Kamoshida’s abuse to the other students, it ticked him over the edge. Confronting him after a weekend practice session, it got physical as Kamoshida attacked, resulting in Ryuji trying to defend himself. Kamoshida ended up breaking Sakamoto’s right femur, saying it was an act of self-defense then kicking him out of the regiment. Ryuji never picked up a trombone again after that whole ordeal, as well as never taking up track again after an incomplete healing of his leg. One day, a marching band regiment member (Akira Kurusu) asked about Kamoshida and the reason why Ryuji dropped out. He came clean about the truth of how Kamoshida broke his leg. With that information, Kurusu asked him to come back to the regiment. Ryuji, not believing the transfer student, said that he would if he got justice, as well as Ann and Shiho’s getting theirs. Ryuji would later see the transfer student at his locker with a trumpet case and bruises, smiling widely. Since then, Ryuji joined back as a trumpet player, playing in the concert band to improve his skills and getting additional lessons, later becoming a section leader during band camp in the junior year.

Ann Takamaki- Colour Guard Captain- (Junior Year): Taking up dance when she was little, it was easy to sign up for colour guard in her freshman year. Her audition shown her potential in becoming one, so easily she got the spot along with her best friend, Shiho Suzui. She enjoyed the long practices and hanging out with her friend Shiho as well as hanging with Ryuji when it was lunch or in classes together, it took her mind of her busy parent always overseas. However, in sophomore band camp, Kamoshida, as well as the colour guard director, came to her that due to her passion and hard work to improve the show, she would be promoted to colour guard captain. Excited, she began improving more and showing leadership to bring the team together. However, more and more into her position, she realized more about Kamoshida. That Kamoshida was treating her differently than all the other members. She brought it up to him that she wasn't that person and it was wrong, he pinned her into a corner, however. Bringing up the fact that Shiho would be dropped from the regiment if she doesn’t agree. Manipulated, she was forced to let the treatment go on to keep Shiho on the team. However, she noticed her best friend missing practices, always tired and showing up with bruises most of the time, until one day, she didn’t show up at all. Along with that, Ryuji wasn’t showing up either. Her fears became reality as she later found out the Shiho was in the critical care unit in the hospital to a confirmed attempted suicide. Ann was devastated, however staying strong for Shiho, she continued colour guard. A week after, she was approached by the Drum Major Understudy, Akira Kurusu. He asked for information about Kamoshida and Suzui, saying that Ryuji directed him to her. She came clean too, saying that she didn’t wanna play games anymore and that she wants her own justice as well as Shiho's. Kurusu promised that he would help as well as “he was right though, you do make an excellent colour guard captain.” Hearing that from someone else, she was hopeful that it would turn out better in the future, which it did. Another week later a new band director introduced themselves as well as a proud Akira Kurusu stood on the podium to begin the sets for the day.  Ann began hanging with Ryuji again and opened up more to her new group of friends, including becoming stronger for Shiho to keep her happy as she returned back to school.

Makoto Niijima- Flute Section Leader/Drum Major Understudy- (Junior Year): The student council president was not very open to the marching band. Knowing about Kamoshida’s abuse, she didn’t want to be near the band. Makoto was already unlikable due to her harsh thinking and her unlikeable personality. Her mind opened up more however when she met the new transfer student in her sophomore year that claimed to be the new Drum Major Understudy. Akira Kurusu held a normal conversation with her, no taunts or disrespect shown like she usually gets. She was able to connect to someone which made her open up about Kamoshida and how she wants to take care of the problem. Akira tells her about the risky plan he set for the next day and how she could help. Makoto hesitantly agrees, saying she would do her best to help the students. The plan was set into action, resulting in Makoto calling the police and arresting Kamoshida. Along with that was a beat up Akira. Grateful, Makoto helped Akira sorting out the marching band as they try to find a band director. During her time, she fell in love with the way an instrument was played. She asked Akira about what it was and as Akira explained more and showed her, she fell in love with it more. Over the year, she learned to pick it up and how to play. Later, trying out for section leader and wowing Kawakami and Kurusu. She got the position as well as applying for the Drum Major position, soon becoming Akira’s right-hand man with him.

Futaba Sakura- Set Design/Tech Work- (Sophomore Year): Futaba went through a rough time since her mother, Wakaba Isshhiki, passed away due to a mysterious death (reported suicide)  in front of her. With that, she was passed around her families before ending up in Sojiro Sakura’s house. She went through rough times with her uncle before her switch to Sakura’s house, however, resulting in trauma and her becoming a shut-in for two years. She has a strong case of social anxiety which resulted in her only talking online, thus creating a hobby of her being a tech nerd. Sojiro let her live that lifestyle due to his guilt of not protecting her from that trauma. She thought she was going through dark and murky water, no place to turn but down, however, she found the light of the tunnel when someone other than Sojiro dropped off dinner for her. The mysterious stranger introduced himself as Akira, the same name she heard Sojiro speak of over the year. He spoke simple conversations through the door, just telling her about his day or how the weather is like. Soon, he told his own story about what he's gone through when he was a shut-in. She begins to communicate through text with him, how she was blamed for her mother's death, how she sees her mum , etc. Over the year of where she would have been a freshman in high school, Sojiro called from outside the door, saying that Akira asked her to text him. Texting out of curiosity, she reaches to him, getting a text about the case of Wakaba, how it wasn't reported as a “suicide” like she was told. It was reported as a planned poisoning. She connects the pieces together about how the note seemed out of place how she was deluding herself. She texts him how she was realizing now and that her mum really loved her, however, she never got a text back. She waited till morning, still not getting one back until she heard him outside of her door, giving her some breakfast. In a last-second decision, she opened her door and dragged him in. She thanked him, saying that he’s helped her to realize a lot and is in debt to him. She began opening up more, going outside the house, meeting friends through Akira, and even going back to school at Shujin as a sophomore. Even though she still suffers from anxiety, she is more at peace with herself and about her mum. She bonded with Akira even more, to the point where she joined the Marching Regiment at Shujin as a design helper and audio technician if the show needs it.

Haru Okumura -Flute- (Junior Year): Haru learned how to play the flute ever since she was little from her grandfather. Her dad encouraged her playing the flute along with her grandfather. However, a falling out in her family made her not see her grandfather or any other family members besides her father. She still played music, however, getting reminded of the good times her grandfather and her played together. She joined the concert band in her freshman year at Shujin. Her father doesn't fully support her decision to join, however, he allowed it as she does help him with his company. As she turns sophomore, her father becomes a bit more selfish about his business and himself. Being forced into a relationship for a business partnership, Haru was forced to missed shows and practices, making time for forced time with her “boyfriend” Sugimura, an abusive senior football star. Akira, the director of the concert band sometimes, notices the constant absences of Okumura which leads him to the rooftop gardening center. He asks her about the attendance and if she was okay, she brushes him off, saying that she's “busy, that’s all.” He encourages her to come to the after school practice tomorrow, she agrees. Later that night, she and Sugimura are having a verbal fight in an alley near the sushi restaurant they were supposed to have a date at. Started by Haru by asking for some time to herself that next day, they argued for 10 minutes before it got physical. A nearby group was able to stop, that group being Akira and the rest of his group. (Yusuke, Ryuji, Makoto, Ann, Morgana, and Futaba). Akira and Ryuji chase the man off while the rest of the group stayed with Haru. They all lead her to a cafe that was near them, calming her down as she seemed in a state of shock of how many people care about her safety. Akira and Ryuji come back and they all talk as a group of how Haru is stronger then she believes herself, and that she has her own voice in her own decision. Haru, inspired by the group's words, takes more control over her own life. She fights with her father that she never loved Sugimura and that she will be going to more of her band shows if he likes it or not. After days of fighting, her father finally agrees to her wishes. She thanks Akira for the help and encouragement and is grateful for the support. She decides to join the marching regiment at the end of her sophomore year.

Morgana-Band Cat: Found by Akira Kurusu when he was beginning the sophomore year, he followed Akira to school and to home until Akira just took him as his own. Mona was with Akira the whole time; Kamoshida’s rein, trips to the store or clinic, or just midnight walks. Mona became sorta a comfort animal to him and to some of his friends as they hang out more. When Futaba was introduced to him, she made a device that was able to translate his meows to human words with a wired bandana that she made for him. With his new voice, he became more talkative. There might be some wrongs in the translation, however, he still gets his points across. He began becoming more aware to stuff too, noticing panic attack signs (After living with Akira for a long while) or feeling drops if something bad is about to happen. Morgana travels with Kurusu in school in his backpack, making him known as the cat in the bag. Nobody really minds because the cat usually keeps quiet in classes. Mona was introduced to the Marching Regiment after Futaba gave him the bandana, he became a helper to Aki when he was swamped with work or to just go around and help the other members of the regiment feel at peace.

The outfits can be found here:

Kosei Marching Regiment- Show theme: Society- Led by Goro Akechi

Kosei was one of the top regiments at the time with the highest score being 99.21. However, they are now placed in second highest tied with Yasogami due to Shujin taking the place of first. The band director has not been announced or kept a secret to the Kosei ears only.

Drum Major(s): Goro Akechi

Goro Akechi-Drum Major-(Junior Year): Goro Akechi is secretive and not open to the idea of friends. Nobody knows a lot about Akechi, only know that he was an orphan in his childhood before being adopted by a politician. His birth mother reported dead and that his dad was never to be seen. He was taught to grow up, stop acting like a child. So his personality is strict yet prince-like. He has a tv show like appearance, probably use to the fame he got when being on papers about Kosei’s regiment in the schools rise to fame. He can also read people easily, making people sometimes uncomfortable or amazed. He was a trombone player before he applied to be in the Drum major position. He ended up getting the position his sophomore year and being top of his class. He then meets Akira Kurusu, who also just got accepted into being a Drum Major. It felt like fate, Akechi found someone that he didn't despise as much as he does to a lot of people. However, when Kurusu took 1st in the JMA championships, a rivalry started between the two, creating the tension whenever Drum Major summits take place or when they see each other in public. He tries his best to let it go, trying to create a bond with the Shujin Regiment team, however, he has a tough time and only wants the best for his future.

Yusuke Kitagawa-Clarinet-(Junior Year): Yusuke was orphaned when he was young, with both of his father and mother gone. He was adopted quickly by Ichiryusai Madarame, a famous artist and well-known oboe player. Through the years, Yusuke learned the ways of painting by going under the wing of Madarame, as well as playing a clarinet/saxophone on his free time. With his free time, he also created sheet music for the clarinet. As he grew to his Sophomore year, he was hesitant to join to the high schools marching regiment. He was already in the jazz band at the time as he took mostly painting class. He was in one of Madarame‘s art galleries and played his clarinet outside to get fresh air as well as also finish his piece. After playing, a stranger complimented his piece, saying that the melody of it was peaceful and that it was good so far. Yusuke was shocked that someone even complimented a piece he made, Madarame didn’t even do that. The boy introduced himself as Akira Kurusu, a marching band Drum Major at Shujin. He was curious and asked how the marching band was to the frizzy-haired boy. “An escape, a way of expressing yourself without even realizing it” The way the boy described it peaked Yusuke’s interest. The newfound friend he made gave him his number as a way to contact, wishing him luck in the piece he was making. He was awed and signed up for an audition at Kosei’s Regiment. He got approved a week later and was to start at the beginning of junior year. He kept it a secret from Madarame as he kept painting for him during his time available. However, Madarama found out about his involvement in the band, prompting him to give Yusuke more work to due to his “artist block”. A few weeks after the situation, Yusuke contacts Akira, asking to meet up for them to talk. Akira agrees and the go to a cafe where Akira works at. Yusuke talks about how he wishes to continue marching band however he is struggling between a block of sorts. Akira encourages him to keep talking and to keep creating even if the block is dark deep down. Yusuke took his words into heart and continue making music and art for himself, cutting ties to Madarame after doing some digging and questioning. He now lives in the Kosei dorms. Along with that, he is friends with Akira and the Shujin Marching group he has. Even if they aren't in the same team, he doesn't see them as enemies, even on the field.

Outfits can be found here: 

This is a summary of how everyone came into the regiment and how it brought them together. My writing isn't very well so I hope I got the point across of how it started. I was in marching band myself for a short while before I was forced to leave due to injury. So, I know the process of a marching band, however, I might change a bit of stuff depending on story. but other then that, thank you so much for the support on my last post about it!! I’m still researching and changing some things to make accurate!!

There will be no metaverse in this universe, however, if there was to be one, Akira wouldn't be in the Phantom Thieves til later on. The people who have shadows will be the drum majors. (Including P4′s and P3′s Drum Majors have one)

 Akira Kurusu: Castle Dungeon (Shadow form- A thief prince)

Goro Akechi: Tv Studio (Shadow form- Tv Reporter)

You can ask me questions if you would like too!! I like to talk about my au and explain more!! I have some ideas for drawings and comics that I will get done soon hopefully!!

[cant-icle]

:D Thank you for answering my question!!! Okay this prompt might be a little strange and a little spooky. But what if Akira could see ghosts and the phantom thieves were literal phantoms. Akira goes to tokyo and People r cruel. But on first day at Shujin he meets a blonde kid and befriends him. Rumors about the scary transfer happen but now people also say that he goes off into corners n talks to himself.He finds the only living person at shujin who likes him isnt really a living person at all..

He says his name is Ryuji.

No one else can see him; Akira’s barely able to some days,with how translucent and wavery he looks. He stands at the stairway leadingdown to the first floor most days, shoulders against the wall and cold fire inhis eyes until Akira’s out of class. It took him three days to realize thatRyuji, as much as he wears the uniform like everyone around, probably isn’t astudent of Shujin Academy anymore.

Honestly, Akira prefers his company, even more so when Ryujishows him how to break onto the school roof. It’s less breaking than it isRyuji stepping through and fussing with the lock—the perks of being a phantom,Akira guesses. Lunches and afternoons are much more bearable with a secretplace to retreat to and a new friend to talk to.

Ironic, isn’t it, that the only person in this fucking citythat isn’t afraid of him is already dead?

Ryuji’s pretty talkative for a dead boy. He walks with alimp, and sometimes out of the corner of his eye Akira sees splashes of blooddripping down from his temple to stain his shirt. He scowls fiercely when Akiraasks about it, though, and the music Akira has playing from his phone cracklesin time with his voice when he details how Kamoshida Suguru, the gym teacher,crippled him with a blow to the leg and then, when his back was turned, whenRyuji was trying to crawl away, another to the back of his head.

He was never charged; the school passed it off as“justifiable self-defense,” and Ryuji’s been stuck haunting these effin’ hallsever since.

“He treats this place like it’s an effin’ castle and he’sthe goddamn king,” Ryuji tells him seriously, pale and washed-out in thesunlight; he’s so much easier to see indoors, but he likes it out here on theroof with Akira; Akira gets the feeling that Ryuji’s been trapped in thosehallways for longer than he wants to think about.

Sometimes they’re joined by another pair of flickeringshadows, neither ever as clear as Ryuji or as talkative—in fact, he never hearsthe black-haired one speak, and the second blonde only glares when Akira triesto address her. Ryuji tells Akira not to take it to heart—Suzui Shiho is justanother one of Kamoshida’s victims, and Takamaki Ann is tied to her like aguideline—wherever one goes, so does the other, and Shiho is stuck here untileither she’s removed or Kamoshida gets his just desserts.

Akira aches to help them. He watches them shimmer in thelight like an oil streak, watches them pass through walls and doors; if hesquints, he can almost see the moment when they fold through reality to do it.

It’s stupid, but he wonders...

The next time Ryuji passes through a closed door, Akira putshis hand on it and shoves, just lightly. Of course it doesn’t move, but Ryujipokes his head through and laughs at his efforts, making a joking grab for hishand as if to—

it connects

Akira goes straight through, wispy and insubstantial as acloud, and suddenly it’s Shujin thatlooks like an oil slick smeared across the world and Ryuji who looks solid and real and as shocked as Akira.

But then he grins with a smile full of daggers, because thepossibilities here are endless.

They test it out again; another touch from Ryuji has himshivering back onto the physical plane. They can do it three or four timesbefore Akira starts getting nauseous, and while he’s intangible, while he’s aphantom, no one can see him.

He walks through the school in wonder—almost everything ismuted but for a few people, bright and sparkling in his vision; Kawakami-senseiis one, and when he passes by her he catches an uneasy aura around her, full ofgrief and guilt. Kamoshida, on the other hand, feels neither of those things,and flares red and angry in Akira’s sight.

He doesn’t like that. Not at all, not with Ryuji behind himwith blood on his face, not with Suzui behind Takamaki, their eyes blank whitevoids, their mouths gaping snarls. There’s a bright core to Kamoshida a samethrobbing red as his aura, and something in Akira yearns to reach out and touchit.

So he does.

Kamoshida shudders at the touch, shoulders hunching in as helooks around nervously, and something flares bright-hot-angry in Akira’s veins. It’s not right, what he did, what he’sstill doing. It’s not right.

He curls his fingers around that bright hot core , and he yanks.

For an instant he can see two Kamoshidas, one solid and real, one wavering and intangible,and in that moment the three ghosts behind him strike.

Lightning crackles up and down Ryuji’s arms as he leapsforward, his fist impacting straight into the phantom-Kamoshida; Suzui andTakamaki are barely a second behind, Takamaki little more than a pillar offlames, Suzui a form barely held together with wind. They strike withconcentrated force hard enough that the tangible Kamoshida rocks back and away,Akira losing his grip on the core of Kamoshida’s being, and the phantomflickers out of existence.

That’s okay. He knows what to do now.

With Ryuji’s help and Takamaki and Suzui’s encouragement (“Callme Shiho,” Suzui murmurs to him shyly, smiling a little when Akira grins ather) he writes a card, a calling card detailing each and every one of Kamoshida’scrimes and sliding it under his office door.

He signs it, “The Phantom Thief of Hearts.”

As soon as he’s read it Ryuji grabs onto Akira, and Akiragrabs onto the core and lets Ryuji, Shiho, and Takamaki (“Ann!” she says withvicious satisfaction after she lands another blow, “I think at this point wecan go to Ann.”) get to work.

The phantom-Kamoshida is reeling by the time they’re done;the tangible Kamoshida is in tears. They leave it at that, unwilling to makehim a ghost and tie him to the school as well.

There’s an assembly three days after that. Kamoshida confesseshis crimes in front of the entire school, and that afternoon when Akira leaves,Ryuji follows like an untethered balloon grinning wide and wild and free.

  They don’t stop there.

Shiho and Ann bring him rumors of a number of ghostsspiraling endlessly around an old ramshackle house; turns out it’s the abode ofone Madarame Ichiryusai, who (according to the ghosts, who to a one arecomprised of his old students) worked his students to literal death and stoletheir works for his own. The newest ghost, a tall, stick-thin boy whointroduces himself as Kitagawa, tries to make a case for his old sensei, butfaced with Ann, who is literally steaming, and Shiho, hair tossing in an unseenbreeze in her agitation, cuts himself short.

“He killed you,”Akira tells him, not ungently, not without sympathy. “I’m not here to getrevenge on him; I’m here to bring him to justice, for you and everyone else.”

Somehow he gains another ghost tethered to him, and Yusukebrings the north wind with him, an icy, howling gale that freezes the phantom-Madaramewhere he stands when all five Phantoms appear in front of him.

Madarame confesses his guilt on live television, andattributes his change of heart to the Phantom Thieves. Rumors spring up hereand there; eventually, Akira starts seeing more and more ghosts pop up at thecorners of his eyes, though it takes a long time for one to grow bold enough toapproach him on its own.

In his spare time now he flits through the metaphysicalreality with his new friends; the ghosts come to him, and he regains justice ontheir behalf. The rumors of the Phantom Thieves grow, and grow, and grow.

In June he meets the student council president of ShujinAcademy, one Niijima Makoto, who questions him fiercely; since she can’t proveanything, she lets him go, and he thinks nothing more of it until Shiho comesto him, frantic, and tells him that Niijima has gotten in way over her headwith an actual Mafioso.

It turns out that phantoms can do a hell of a number on aroom now; Ryuji shorts out the lights in delight, making them flickerominously, while Shiho flips cups and sends papers scattering everywhere.

It turns out that Akira can pass on his intangibility; hegrabs Niijima’s arm and drags her into the metaphysical with them. It turns outto be a fantastic move, as with her help the six of them bring Kaneshiro to hisknees.

He confesses everything to the police. The name of thePhantoms grow and grow, and this time Akira gains a friend that the rest of theworld can see.

He gains another not a month later; the ghost of one IsshikiWakaba materializes in front of him outside the café one day and all butdemands his help. It’s a bit of a struggle to break into his current guardian’shouse, but well worth it when he lays his hand on Sakura Futaba’s arm and letsher reunite with her mother, at least for a few moments. Isshiki-san had beenmurdered, it turns out, and Futaba had blamed herself and shut herself away inher guilt; this meeting goes a long way towards relieving her of it, enough sothat she shows up in the café later that evening to Sakura-san’s clearsurprise.

Between Futaba and Makoto, between Ryuji and Ann and Shihoand Yusuke, Akira’s days and nights are full; he’s content, if not happy, untilhe comes across a man that sends alarm bells blaring through his skull andmakes Isshiki-san howl in a way that sends chills up his spine.

Shido Masayoshi is surrounded by the ghosts of those he haskilled; Shido Masayoshi is the reason Akira is in Tokyo in the first place, renouncedby his parents and shunted into a city he doesn’t know for a crime he didn’tcommit.

Each and every one of Shido’s ghosts has heard of Akira’scoming. Each and every ghost cannot wait to see him fall.

Akira is so, so eager to oblige them.

[taintedkibou]

beauty & vice - part one

[baton touch] - summary of the predecessor fic  [the transfer, the thug, & and the artist] 10,000k+ predecessor fic 

Mishima made sure to remove the Shujin blazer this time, stuffing it into his locker at the school’s entrance. He was late for his first class, but being in the top fifteen percentile of well-tested students meant his tardiness would be overlooked.  He had new footage from his old school that he wanted to share with Sakamoto and Kurusu.

 Lunchtime was out of the question, so Mishima asked if he could see them after school. The roof was taken by third years that looked ready to become yakuza after graduation, but Mishima had another location. A tool shed near the abandoned greenhouse that once belonged to the Gardening Club; he’d done his research. They set up outside, Mishima dragging a table from the greenhouse. Getting caught coming out of a place so cliché would cause more suspicion than any of them needed. It wasn’t ideal, but it would have to do.

Ryuji glanced at the small figure fiddling with his phone and couldn’t help but wonder how Mishima managed to sneak into Shujin to capture this video. Each classroom lined up accordingly, so there would be no place for him. Unless... “Did you bribe someone?” Ryuji muttered before he could stop himself.

Mishima blinked at him, his brown eyes large and unassuming. “I might have,” he admitted casually. 

“Look at how much our little boy has grown,” Akira laughed, tousling the already unruly dark hair. Mishima didn’t shy away from the touch. If anything, he leaned into it.

“Stop corrupting him!” Ryuji slapped Akira’s hand away, pulling a surprised Mishima behind him. “And who the hell would have a kid with you?!”

Akira pouted, placing a hand against his heart. “Ryuji. You wound me.”

“Stop it,” Mishima sighed, stepping out from behind Ryuji to continue his previous ministrations. When his phone refused to balance, he dug around in his school case to find the stand he rarely used. “Remember that ransom note Kamoshida received a while back?” he muttered as he connected the acrylic pieces. “I think the sender actually went through with it…” Making sure he had the other boys’ attention, Mishima tapped his phone so the video could play.

The steady camera angle was tilted to accommodate the doughy figure of the principal as he walked across the stage and up to the podium.

Ryuji took note of the blond twintails near the front of the row, but then focused his attention back on the Principal once the man started speaking.

“As you all know, a tragic event took place the other day. Thankfully, we have been informed that she has pulled through, but it will take some time until she recovers.”

Ryuji freed a hand from the pocket of his school slacks to tap Mishima on the shoulder. “Is that true?”

Mishima fiddled with his hands. “She’s in a coma. The worst of her injuries have been taken care of, though, so I guess it is true on some level.”

Ryuji huffed out a sound of disgust. Even in a dire situation as this, adults still lied. The principal was forced to cut his speech short a loud bang of a closing door interrupted him. The blond that piqued his interest before let out a startled gasp at the appearance of someone off to the side. Ryuji didn’t need any guesses to figure out who it was, and gritted his teeth after the camera found him. Kamoshida.

“I… have been reborn,” Kamoshida stated pitifully, his broad shoulders uncharacteristically slumped.

Akira snorted, muffling any forthcoming sounds with his hand after being elbowed in the side.

With heavy steps, Kamoshida made his way along the side of the gymnasium, climbing up onto the stage to join the astonished Principal. He didn’t need a mic for the student body to hear his confession. “I have repeatedly done things that were… unbecoming of a teacher. Verbally abusing students… physically abusing my team, and sexually harassing female students.”

Mishima’s left hand rose, gripping his right arm, both Ryuji and Akira tracking the movement. Akira covered Mishima’s hand with his own, whispering in his ear, words of comfort that Ryuji couldn’t hear.

“I am the reason why Suzui Shiho tried to kill herself!”

The video feed became shaky as the camera holder was jostled by the alarmed student body. Words and slurs flew back and forth, but the camera’s main focus was the proud man, now down on his knees, bowing and crying his sins. “I thought of this school as my own castle… There were even students that I sentenced to expulsion, simply because I didn’t like that…”

Ryuji ignored the whispered gasps of his name. No one cared then; why should he care what they thought now?

“I am truly sorry for putting innocent youths through such horrible acts…”

Ryuji opened his mouth to yell a retort at the video, but caught Akira’s warning gaze. Mishima was with them. Mishima, who knew nothing of the other world where they’d beat Kamoshida’s Shadow into submission.

“I am an arrogant, shallow, and shameful person. Now, I’m worse than that…” Kamoshida slumped onto the stage, his towering figure now curled into a prostrating position. “I will take responsibility and kill myself for it…!”

“Fuckin’ coward,” Ryuji spat.

Someone else agreed with his assessment. Above the yelling faculty and wily students filled with unrest, a voice rose. “Don’t run, you bastard!”

The camera focused on the blonde, now standing ahead of the line of students. Her face went unseen, but her stiff body language filled in the nonexistent gaps her angry, accusing voice didn’t leave behind. “Shiho’s still alive ever after all the things that made her want to die! You have no right to run from this!”

“You’re right,” Kamoshida whimpered, a sniveling sound. “I should be punished under the law and atone for my crimes. I did horrible things to Takamaki-san as well,” he sobbed. “I tried to force her into—”

“Shut up!” Takamaki screamed. She fisted her hands over her ears, hair obscuring her face as she ducked her head.

Akira’s eyes widened. Even through a recorded video, he saw it. The slight distortion that surrounded Takamaki in that moment of emotional distress. She had a connection to the cognitive world. The amount of times they visited Kamoshida’s Palace before toppling it probably made her more susceptible to its influence. Could she be an ally? Akira pulled himself from his thoughts just in time to see Kamoshida grovel across the stage, pleading for the police to arrest him. He smirked. A job well done.

Mishima stepped out of Akira’s embrace to end the video and collect his items. “Takamaki recognized me after they dragged Kamoshida off the stage. I escaped during the chaos.” He closed the flap of his school case, lifting the bag from the table as he turned and faced his classmates. “Just like that note said—he really did confess his sins. Is this… real?” Mishima let out a frustrated groan, hiding his face behind his bag. “Why am I asking you guys? You probably don’t know any more than I do!”

Ryuji pushed the bag down to grin at Mishima. “Do you have someone whose heart you want to change?”

Mishima’s hopeful look didn’t go unnoticed, but he made a valiant attempt at hiding behind a lopsided smile. “No.”

Ryuji arched an eyebrow, making his skepticism at the response clear, but dropped the issue before it could grow into unwarranted suspicion. “As much as I hate leaving you with this guy,” He jabbed a thumb at the innocent Akira standing off to the side, “I have to meet a friend. Stay out of trouble, Mishima.”

Mishima watched Ryuji walk away over the top of his school case. “He blames himself because I got transferred. He stood up for me—for the whole volleyball team. Why am I telling you this?” he sighed with a strong shake of his head. It was the past and that was where it needed to stay.

“How ‘bout I treat you to Big Bang?” Akira hummed, pushing Mishima’s bag lower so the shorter teen could look at him.

“I prefer going to the dinner…”

“Steak and coffee, then!” Akira’s declaration was accompanied by a triumphant fist pump.  

Mishima smiled at the other’s endless energy. It makes one wonder what he did in his past to end up at a dump like this. Again: the past stays in the past. Falling in step with the transfer student, they left the school campus and headed for the station.

Akira was a busy boy for the next week. He prowled the streets in search of clues that would help them take down their next big target. If he took care of a few smaller problems along the way, who could blame him? Too many corrupted and violent citizens were being ignored.

He always loved seeing them cry. Even babies had more tact whining for an attention than an adult blubbering about forgiveness for his sins.

The universe obviously decided Akira had played around long enough, shoving Ryuji into his path like it was wont to do when he strayed too far.

—

"Wanna go to the gym?"

Akira wasn't expecting such a polite tone from the blond, considering they were still in class, and was stunned to silence. Was this in celebration for the downfall of Kamoshida, or was his fellow classmate trying to be civil?

Ryuji's brow creased as the seconds ticked by, a scowl taking hold of his frown. "Forget I asked," he snapped, already turning on his heel to go back to his corner desk.

Akira snapped out of his stupor and gave chase, as short a distance as it was. "Sorry. I would want nothing more than to spend time with you, but..." His hand rose, but never made it to his bangs, and fell back to his side. "Yusuke invited me out."

It was Ryuji's turn now to be surprised. Yusuke hadn't mentioned anything of the sort to him, but then Yusuke was also his own person and probably had a reason. "Whatever. If you see me loitering around, I have free time, so ask me if you want to hang out."

Akira kept his elation to a minimum with a small smile and a quick nod. "Okay." He watched Ryuji pack his school case, backing up when the blond walked by him to get to the door. Akira exhaled the breath he'd been holding, his shoulders slumping when he did. The more time they spent together, the more he limited his teasing and gave in to the flustered behavior that comes with a crush.

Akira walked back to his desk to finish his own backing so he could head out. He was supposed to meet Yusuke at Shibuya's underground walkway.

Considering Madarame's "house", it was easier to go in from Central Street. When Akira descended the stairs, and turned the corner, he realized where his nervousness was coming from. Yusuke stood at the end of the wall, hands folded behind his back in an elegant, yet relaxed pose. Winning over Yusuke would be his biggest conquest.

Yusuke lifted his head, brushing his bangs out of his face, and Akira's stomach attempted to somersault up to his throat. The taller teen didn't smile, but he did acknowledge him with a nod. Akira adjusted his bag strap after coming to a halt, tilting his head questioningly. "Where are we going?"

"Madarame has a Palace, doesn't he?"

Not the greeting he was expecting. Not a date, then. Akira tried not to let his disappoint show by feigning nonchalance with a shrug.

Yusuke's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing. "He... doesn't?"

"He probably does," Akira lied. Madarame had a hideous Palace, but it wasn't time for Yusuke to see it yet. "But it will take me some time to figure out how to get in." He tilted his head, glasses catching the station light and obscuring his eyes from view. "Was that all you wanted?"

"Yes." Yusuke cast his gaze downward after his soft admittance, studying the floor tile. “I saw the news about Kamoshida and hoped that we would be able to do the same for sensei.”

"At least you're honest," Akira sighed, feeling sorely disappointed. He could've been spending his time with Ryuji.

"Of course he's honest, asshole."

The bump from behind sent him stumbling forward. Akira caught himself before he fell, already knowing who the culprit was. He heard the voice every day (except Sundays).

Ryuji took his place at Yusuke's side, glaring at the bespectacled teen. "I wasn't jealous, just bored, so I followed you. Since we're all here and near that guy's shop, maybe we should have another talk."

Akira smirked, a quip on the tip of his tongue. He swallowed it, knowing he wouldn't win any points with Yusuke if he disrespected his boyfriend in front of him. "Too early," he said instead. "Even though I helped Mune-chan clear his name, the cops sometime stop by to see if he's still on the straight and narrow."

"...why do you call him that?" Ryuji wondered aloud. "He scares the shit out of me, and I've only seen him once!"

"His reputation precedes him. And I do it because I know it pisses him off," Akira laughed. "He can't lay a hand on me."

"You like flirting with danger," Yusuke surmised.

Akira's eyes found Ryuji's as he replied with a soft "yes". Ryuji looked away, biting his lip to hide his own amused reaction.

Yusuke was no fool. Being an artist meant he had to be aware of every detail, no matter how obvious or obscure. He was also unconcerned with Akira's advances, but knowing Ryuji—Ryuji would beat himself up for thinking he was being unfaithful. In that moment, he realized why Akira's mood soured before Ryuji's appearance. "You wanted to spend time with me."

"Idiot," Ryuji scoffed, bumping his hip against Yusuke's. "Anybody would."

"Nobody wishes to spend time with me other than you. Not even sensei."

Ryuji wrapped an arm around the taller teen's neck and pulled him down to his height. Akira noted they now had the attention of the gossiping housewives nearby; the worse kind to provide new material for.

Yusuke easily slipped free of Ryuji's hold and moved around him towards the stairs. "You two have fun together. I forgot that there's the upcoming art exhibit." He pressed his fingers to his temple. "Things have been so hectic." Even Akira could tell the smile was forced and he hardly knew the artist.

With a soft farewell, Yusuke disappeared into the hallway that led back to Shibuya's central street.

"Shit...!" Ryuji sank into a crouch, fingers tangled in his blond hair. He stayed down for a while, muttering curses and other phrases Akira chose to ignore. When he finally rose, a glare furrowed his brow.

"Yen for your thought?" To prove he was serious, Akira pulled the coin from his pocket and tossed it in the air.

Ryuji snatched it up before it could fall into the waiting palm. "Gym's across the street," he grumbled, kicking the grimy station floor once before leading the way. Akira followed with a wide smile. 

xxx

Ryuji had the best laugh of his life after Akira climbed on a treadmill. He was still snickering even after he stepped off his own machine to squat next to the crumpled heap of a teen. "Pathetic," he snorted. "Why are you so great over there but shitty here in the real world?"

"You think... I'm great?" Akira pushed himself up, his arms trembling even though he'd been working on cardio.

"Don't get cocky. You suck. You're gonna be wasting the protein I gave you if you quit after this." Ryuji's grin was almost malicious. "I'm not done with you, Joker."

Akira felt a different kind of energy course through him and collapsed back onto the foamed floor with a whimper. He wasn't expecting Ryuji to hoist him up and over his shoulder. Akira scrambled to keep his glasses on his face, his legs flailing to find something solid for him to stand on. A slap to the back of his thighs made him go completely motionless. Ryuji froze after a few steps, the reason pressed against his collarbone.

"I'm sorry," Akira whispered. "I..." He had no excuse.

"Wanna take care of it?" Ryuji mumbled, his ears a cute shade of pink. He was the reason for Akira's arousal. It was a nice feeling, knowing he could turn on not just one, but two people without trying (and making a fool of himself in the process).

Ryuji carefully made his way to the locker room, his cheeks growing hotter with every little sound Akira released as he was jostled. Once they were in the privacy of the benched area, he set the brunet down onto the floor and Akira wobbled his way into the nearest stall. Ryuji took a seat on a nearby bench, covering his ears with his hands as he bowed forward. He chanted Yusuke's name in his head, stopping only when he felt a light touch to his shoulder.

Akira stood behind him, flushed, and trying to hide behind the collar of his black jersey. "I guess I really am a pervert," he chuckled in an attempt to make light of the situation.

Ryuji lifted his shoulders in a faint shrug, not sure how to address the situation. Akira obviously liked him, but did he like Yusuke as well? Should they be having this discussion in a place like this? He offered the brunet a weary smile. "Wanna try the treadmill again?"

Akira glared from behind his glasses. "You obviously want to see me make an ass of myself." The tension eased from Ryuji's body and his smile grew into a grin. "It's nice, knowing that you suck at something. Let's test out a few other exercises and work out a routine."

"Aye, aye, captain." Akira gave a mock salute and waited for Ryuji to rise from the bench before they walked out of the locker room together.

Once they were back amongst the machines and reclaimed their own, Ryuji set Akira's for a brisk pace while giving himself a jog. After fifteen minutes, he felt a telltale twinge in his right leg and dialed down his speed. If he pushed himself, Yusuke would never forgive him. He let himself glide along the belt to the back of the treadmill and then stepped off. Ryuji performed a few stretches to loosen his limbs, gritting through the slight pain, and stood tall when Akira stepped off to join him.

"Let's take a shower together," the blond declared with a carefree grin.

Akira's fingers dug into the hem of his jersey jacket, eyes wide behind his glasses.

Ryuji doubled forward, hands braced against his knees as he laughed. "Oh, gods! I can't believe I found your weakness! This is great." He lifted his head high enough to smile up against the brunet. "I'm not making fun of your feelings, just so ya know. I'm doin’ this for your own good. Can't have you poppin’ a boner on the train during rush hour because I’m pressed up against you." Ryuji’s gaze followed Akira’s hands as they folded together in front of his crotch. “Again? I’ll give you this, you have some amazing stamina.” He pushed at his knees to stand straight. “How about you use it to work out the rest of your body?” Ryuji guided Akira back to the locker rooms with a light hand against his lower back.

They showered, two stalls apart—Akira’s took longer than Ryuji’s, and dressed in nondescript jerseys. Their school uniforms were tucked away in their bags.

Akira shoved his hands into his pockets once they were outside in the street, hunching his shoulders up to his ears. "Untouchable, or are we going our separate ways?"

Ryuji thought about his choices and realized he actually enjoyed spending time with the transfer student. When he wasn’t being a pain in the ass. Without an audience, Akira seemed more docile, and so fun to tease. "Separate ways," Ryuji sighed. "But..." He looked to the end of the street, watching the cars drive by. " Despite the shit you told Yusuke, Madarame has a Palace, doesn’t he? I know you know how to get there."

He turned back around and Akira felt his lips spreading into a wide grin. Those eyes were alight again. 'Skull!'

"Can we go to Madarame's Palace tomorrow? I feel like Yusuke's not telling me something. I wanna help him. Maybe I can find something that geriatric bastard is hiding."

"Geria..." Akira trailed off into laughter, hands curled around his midsection. 'The things you say—I can’t help loving you!'

Ryuji's eyes widened, the blond taking a surprised step backwards, and Akira quickly realized his mistake; his thoughts had been spoken aloud. He cleared his throat, freeing a hand to push his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "I do. If you feel my confession will make tomorrow awkward, then just pretend you never heard me. I have part time jobs at the underground mall that I can be doing."

"No," Ryuji mumbled with a shake of his head. "I'm... I feel happy? I don't know what this is, but I still want to go to his Palace."

"Fine." Akira dropped his hand and executed a curt bow before spinning away sharply.

"Ah..." Ryuji watched him walk away, feeling something akin to disappointment. "What the hell just happened?!" he growled to himself.

While Ryuji berated himself for his actions, Akira doubled back using another as a shield to hide him from sight. He made his way through Central Street until he was staring at the rundown hovel Madarame called a home. 

Tomorrow, an annoyed voice reminded him. Akira bared his teeth at nothing, angrily kicking at the guardrail. Yusuke was trapped and Akira couldn't save him by himself. Ryuji was willing, but... Were they enough?

Yes, we are.

Akira found himself relaxing into an invisible embrace.

Soon, we'll have a third. They'll grow so strong—we'll be unstoppable.

Akira bit back a moan and imagined Arsene's wings draping over him. He closed his eyes to feel their gentle, comforting embrace. Unbeknownst to him, a pair of sharp gray eyes watched him wrap his arms around his midsection from the darkness of a second-floor room.

Ryuji had yet to drag his desk back to its original row, and the teacher stopped asking weeks ago. Akira chose to harass Mishima instead of the classroom's other resident delinquent, obviously ignoring the blond.

'Who's making things awkward now, asshole?!' Ryuji pushed his chair away from the desk, purposefully scraping the legs across the floor to create a noise that could rival nails on a chalkboard. Akira never once glanced over his shoulder and that only served to piss Ryuji off even more. Mishima was just a toy to the transfer student. 'You said you loved me... Pay attention to me!'

Mishima released the shudder Akira fought so hard to repress. He attempted to look behind him, but Akira's fingers guided his head back around. The gentle, yet forceful touch vanished when his classmate was snatched out of his seat and dragged from the classroom. Mishima covered his face, muffling his whimpers.

 "Don't ignore me!" Ryuji snarled, tossing the brunet across the bathroom. He'd taken them to the nearest one and now proceeded to lock them inside.

Akira made a soft sound—a derisive chuckle—as he smoothed out the wrinkles in his uniform. "Isn't that what you've always wanted me to do?"

"Not after you go and confess to me! You didn't even give me time to think about it, and you act like you've already moved on."

"Maybe I have." Akira's smile was sickening to look at and Ryuji wanted to wipe it off his face. "Mishima is cute, and he'll listen to everything I have to say. Unlike a certain brute I know."

Ryuji stalked forward, crowding into Akira's space and forcing him to back up until he hit the wall. No. He wouldn't hit him; that wouldn't bode well for either of them. The predatory gleam in Ryuji's eyes, along with a sharp grin froze Akira in place. His eyes widened when the blond sank to his knees before him.

"Ryu—"

"This is what you wanted, isn't it?"

"Yes, but—"

"We've been dancing around each other since the fall of Kamoshida." Ryuji's fingers undid Akira's belt and buttons before slowly pulling the zipper of his fly downward. "I'm not easy, and I sure as hell feel like I'm cheating on Yusuke, but..." He tilted his head to stare at the teen above him, eyes bright with a strong resolve. "I want to do this."

Akira swallowed thickly and nodded. Ryuji grinned and returned to unwrapping his treat. Akira's head slammed against the wall, fingers clawing at its hard surface as he was enveloped by a warmth that brought him to a full hardness. He couldn't help but wonder how many times Ryuji did this with Yusuke—the blond was too good. Akira brought a trembling hand forward to rest atop the golden crown, but it was slapped away.

Ryuji pulled off and Akira whimpered at the loss, his hips thrusting forward pathetically to reclaim it. "I'm actually glad you don't see Yusuke every day like you see me. You'd be arrested for indecent exposure." As he talked, Ryuji arranged Akira's pliant body to his liking. He pulled both of his arms behind his back, using the weight of Akira's own body to keep them trapped there. "Or maybe you'd die from the blood constantly rushing here."

With both hands pressed firmly against Akira's hips to keep him from moving, Ryuji licked the twitching erection from base to tip, sucking the head back into his mouth. Up above him, it almost sounded like Akira was crying. 

—

Akira had cried—from absolute euphoric bliss. There was no hiding the tear tracks when he stumbled back into the classroom well past the lunch hour. He was easing himself into his chair when Ryuji sauntered into the room shortly after, slamming the sliding door shut behind him. His grin was triumphant and the students remained quiet, only speculating on what happened between the duo.

There was always a power battle in class 2-2 between their worst delinquents, and on rare occasions, Sakamoto Ryuji would end up victorious. This was one of those occasions.

Sakamoto would never ask the faculty anything, a fact he'd made clear during opening ceremonies of his second year. Security had to drag him from the stage as he screamed how he felt about adults and authority. So it was no surprise when the blond stopped at Mishima's desk to ask about the current lessons before making his way to the back of the room. He ignored Kurusu on the way there, not that the transfer student would have noticed.

Kurusu's head was resting on his desk, atop folded arms that acted as a pillow. He was currently working his way up the rank of test scores, so she would allow him to rest this once. Whatever Sakamoto did had obviously been brutal. 

x

Akira woke with a start, a hand pressed over his pounding heart. A golden arrow had been lodged there, courtesy of one "Robin Hood". It hadn't felt like a dream, though, which meant trouble was brewing. 

[part two] [part three] [part four] [part five] [part six]

[petaldancing]

twitter drabbles

wrote some drabbles in response to prompts on twitter! you’ll find:

ann/shiho, haru+yusuke (p5) houtarou/chitanda, houtarou+mayaka (hyouka) tsumugu/chisaki (nagi no asukara) lucina+chrom (fe:a) pearl/platina (pokespe)

Ann/Shiho, “crepes”

Shiho’s in town and they find themselves at their usual haunt, a small and cosy crepe café located in a quiet corner of Harujuku. The place is almost always empty, not just because of its location, but because of the not-so-friendly staff here. Ann had stopped wanting to come here ages ago, and yet, she finds herself breaking the rule when she’s with Shiho. She wonders if Shiho feels the same way, wonders why she hasn’t complained about the service or the artificial sweetness of the cream and the canned peaches. It must appear on her face, because Shiho laughs—a soft hum that makes Ann’s skin bristle—before whispering, “Some things never change, huh?”

She might be talking about the bad crepes. All Ann could think about was that this was their secret hideout, back before Akira transferred to Shujin, before she dared to dream that she could change her fate. A lot of things had changed since then. The one thing that hadn’t was how tightly Shiho held her hand whenever they sat in this very booth.  

Haru+Yusuke, “painting”

“… What’s the real reason behind your invitation, Haru-san?” Yusuke asked the moment he set up his canvas and poured out the paint. Beside him, Haru sat diligently in front of a bare canvas of her own.

“Well, I’ve always wanted to learn how to paint,” she says, her lips curved into a small smile. “Please let me know if this is too much of a bother, Yusuke-kun,” she added quickly, her hair bouncing as she leaned forward.

Haru wasn’t telling the truth, that much was clear. To not be able to discern her true motive was somewhat disconcerting, and yet, Yusuke knew that whatever it was, it was not an ill intent. Her house was large, easily thrice the size of Madarame’s abode, and yet, he felt much less alone here than when he lived with his ex-master. Haru seemed to have that effect on whoever she met. And so, he chose the paints deliberately—warm hues, like the plants she cared for, and soft colours, to match her gentle words. Haru had never seriously painted before, and Yusuke didn’t want to go too far and say that she had talent, but he could tell that she was careful with every stroke she left on the canvas, as if it were another one of her flower beds.

When all was said and done, Haru did not allow him to leave just yet. “Hold on, Yusuke-kun! As thanks for your teaching, shall we have dinner together?”

Yusuke’s empty stomach didn’t allow him any opportunity for polite refusal. He found himself seated at the longest dining table he’d ever seen, with a dizzying array of food laid out. His fingers were still stained with paint, but so were Haru’s, and so they ate without needing to scrub away at their hands.

“I really enjoyed myself painting, Yusuke-kun. Perhaps we should make this a regular affair, no?” Haru proposed as they wait for dessert to be served.

“A regular affair?” Yusuke repeated, and then realised why Haru asked him for lessons in the first place.

“Yes! Between friends!” Haru said with a soft laugh and a resolute nod.

“Friends…” Yusuke repeated once again. Ah. It had been a simple reason all along.

“Yes, alright. Thank you.”

Houtarou/Chitanda, “conflict”

 If there was anything more distant than the sun and the moon, it would be Houtarou and conflict. This is why he lets Ibara taunt him, batting her barbs aside like flies in summer. This is why he tells Satoshi ‘maybe next time’ whenever he gets an invite to the arcade. But then, in comes Chitanda, toppling his perfected balancing act over and over again like it’s nothing more than a tower of jenga blocks. She pulls him close, her cheeks flushed, an insatiable curiosity burning in her eyes. Houtarou squints as he considers his option before realising that he’s screwed either way. Should he risk conflicting with his mantra, or with Chitanda Eru? Before he can make a choice, Chitanda tugs him along, makes him traipse up and down hallways and stairwells, leads him to and from scattered puzzles, buys him a drink, lends him notes for homework, pushes her bike next to him until they part at the intersection and waves, her hair tossed in the wind and her hand ready to catch his soft goodbye.

Houtarou wonders, faintly, if perhaps the best way for him to avoid conflict from now on would be to change his mantra.

… Nah.  

Houtarou+Mayaka, “tipping points”

The door to the geography prep room opens with a loud bang. Houtarou doesn’t need to look up from his book to know that it’s Ibara, and that she’s in a bad mood. She’s the only one out of the four of them whose loud emotions bleed into even louder actions, a trait that Houtarou doesn’t think he’ll ever understand. He only ever feels a quiet prick of sadness when he finds the corners of his paperbacks bent, or an ant bite’s worth of irritation when his pen runs out of ink. Anger is tiring.

Ibara throws her bag onto the table, nearly knocking over his cactus companion. When she pulls a chair out, she deliberately lets it screech against the floor. Houtarou winces. He lifts his eyes up from his book, careful not to look at Ibara’s expression. He keeps his gaze low so all he can see are her shaking fists.  

Being in love is probably exhausting.  

“Look me in the eyes, slug.”

Houtarou feels a shiver run down his spine as he straightens his shoulders and meets Ibara’s demand. When had he become so obedient to her? Actually, strike that, don’t answer that question.

Her eyes aren’t red or puffy, which frighten him more than it should.

“You’re going to be my witness.”

“… Don’t I get a choice here?” Houtarou tries his luck.

“No.”

Well, at least he tried.

He places his book aside, tenting in on the table before leaning back to regard Ibara properly. “What did Satoshi do this time?”

“Nothing,” she starts to say, “and that’s what pisses me off!” She hammers her heel onto the floor to make a statement, her shoulders shaking and her voice cracking. He’s never seen her get so worked up, not since that fateful Valentine’s Day, and he wonders what she needs a witness for. She would only need a witness if she was going to declare something that needed a second party to back up. Something she couldn’t take back. His finger taps against the table and he shifts uncomfortably in his seat. Before Ibara can say her piece, he decides that he’ll expend just this bit of energy.

“What are you going to do then?” he sits up and asks, wondering if that is enough.

Ibara pauses, her entire tirade washed away for just an instant. She always had a habit of focusing on others instead of considering herself. Houtarou wonders how she can live like that, and doesn’t know if he means that as a compliment or a shame.

She tightens her jaw, her eyes shining with emotions that are too strong, too much, too different from anything Houtarou can ever feel. And yet, it’s because of this that he can’t look away, not just yet.

“… Something,” Ibara finally says. She brings her hands up to slap her cheeks. Hard.

Then, she turns back to Houtarou, her lip quivering with hesitation. “Thanks, Oreki,” she sputters out, shifting her eyes away sheepishly. She gathers her things and leaves the room just as quickly as she came in, but closing the door softly this time.

Houtarou collapses over the table. He hopes that whatever he just did was the right thing to do, and that Satoshi will forgive him in time to come. Being in love is an exhausting thing, after all.

But, that’s why Ibara’s probably the only one who can see it through.

Tsumugu/Chisaki, “symmetry”

After the world turns cold and white, Chisaki shivers, not because of the ice, but because of the frightening realisation that she’s alone. She folds into herself, wishes she could hibernate here, on land, and that if her skin dries and shatters into shards, it is enough of an apology for having left everyone behind.

The light in the room turns on. She closes her eyes tighter, trying to savour whatever darkness she can. She doesn’t budge, not even when she feels a hand—coarse from weaving and pulling at fishing nets—on her shoulder. Instead of forcing her to sit up, Tsumugu bends to match her, and Chisaki doesn’t need to open her eyes to feel that he’s aligned himself next to her in perfect symmetry.

Tsumugu doesn’t say anything. He gives her her silence, just like how he’s given her a roof over her head and three square meals a day and warm saltwater to bathe with. Chisaki can’t fool herself into thinking she’s alone anymore, but Tsumugu lets her do even that.

She wonders how kindness can be so soft and yet so sharp.  

Lucina+Chrom, “teaching/learning”

There were many things her father never had the chance to teach her—how to ride a wyvern, how best to sheathe her sword, how to swallow fear like a bitter pill. Lucina let herself be childish for just this moment, allowed herself to wish she could unlearn her swordplay so that she could feel what it was like to have her father's hand over hers, showing her the way. Instead, she finds herself parrying his blade and knocking him off his feet on the training grounds. She wonders if this is what growing up means.

But, when she feels the warmth of her father's hand as she hoists him onto his feet, when she catches the words “Teach me” wreathed with a wry grin, she wonders if perhaps she hasn’t grown up much at all.  

Pearl/Platina, “home/cooking”

“You were just checking the cookbook, weren’t you?”

“No I wasn’t,” Missy replies curtly. She even pushes the book she’d been peering at just a second ago further away to make her point.

Pearl has known her for so long—he’s battled against her, stood beside her during contests, stayed awake under trees and stars for her, and even saved the world with her—and yet, some things about Missy still elude him. He doesn’t think he’ll ever understand her fully. Perhaps that’s why he’ll always stick around.

“Y’know, I can show you how to cook if you want,” he offers, scratching the back of his head. It would certainly be a nice change of pace. He’s feeling restless waiting for Dia to return from the store with snacks to get them through the night. They had to practice for a Double Act routine that was going to happen at Hearthome city—and though Dia was perfectly at peace with how their act was going to go, Pearl knew that he was going to lose sleep over his nerves alone.

Missy’s face lights up at his suggestion, but she very quickly brings her wide smile under control. Just barely. “Yes, I suppose that sounds acceptable. I’ve always wanted to learn how to cook,” she says, clearing her throat to hide the excitement in her voice. The fact that she’d left the cookbook out on the coffee table had been an obvious enough hint to Pearl, but he chooses not to tease her this time.

“Well, why haven’t you ever learned? You got a whole line of chefs who could very easily teach you.”

She pauses a moment, her cheeks flushing. “I’ve never had anyone I wanted to cook for before,” she says, in a hushed whisper. Then, she stands up and heads for the manor’s kitchen, not giving Pearl a chance to catch her expression.

He sighs to himself, but gets up from the sofa and follows her anyway.

“Dia and I love riceballs!” he says with a laugh.  

find me blabbing more on twitter! (also petaldancing) 

[nefastustenebris]

tell me you don’t want to fool around - p5 - canon!vers

@ vraileretif  TW: bullying

She only had a few seconds before students came back in from the supposed “fire alarm scare”.

Kobayakawa’s office was not that big and thus finding information about a recently retired teacher should not be this hard. She assumed karma was at work, considering she flicked her lighter underneath a fire alarm until it went off - ensuring the evacuation of everyone. Messing with legal forces like that must have made some deity pissed at her because she could not find any dirt on Kamoshida.

Mercy must have been bestowed on her, she found the file tucked away behind a book.

Sitting low into the ground so that no one would be able to see her, she reached for her phone and snapped pages from it.

There was one name in particular that came up - Ryuiji Sakamoto - a boy in class 2-E. He was apart of the track team that was recently disbanded for some unknown reason. He and this teacher seemed to have the most run-ins. Ryuiji was disciplined more than a dog, it seemed.

Ryuiji Sakamoto was now considered suspect #1.

Another name, Akira Kurusu appeared towards the end. He was apparently faced with expulsion, along with suspect #1. Other than that, he doesn’t appear much. Which seemed odd that he would try to expel a student who just transferred. According to the rumours floating around Shujin, Kurusu was considered to be a new transfer student with enough checkers in his past that he could have been considered a king. She hasn’t gotten the specific details about what he did that was so gut-wrenchingly nauseating. Some students mentioned that he peddled drugs, others mentioned that he had problems with aggression. She has seen Akira Kurusu and she could not believe that someone as lithe as himself could be capable of peddling drugs or even landing a well-deserved punch. She had been around criminals, hell, she considered herself one - each criminal had a look so that they would easily network with each other, Akira didn’t fit in that particular pocket of subculture. That left the other girl that hung around Akira - the blonde named Ann. Girls in bathroom frequently talked about her, in less than amorous words. According to many students, Ann was dating Kamoshida and her friend Shiho jumped off the building because of their relationship. 

“Who pulled the goddamn fire alarm?!” 

Kobayakawa was a man who had a loud voice. When she first met him, she took an instant dislike to him to save the trouble of disliking him later. He was a man with an unrelenting, and annoying, moral compass. Dressed up as a washed-up Pee Wee Herman, he managed to rule the school with both complete vigour and indifference. He did not care what happened to students, but he made sure that his school looked the best at whatever angle its’ viewed from. This Kamoshida incident took a damper on the schools’ reputation, not to mention accepting a convict that apparently managed to become school’s scapegoat in under one day.

He made sure that in under no certain terms would he make her feel welcome. He only allowed her to stay after an elaborate story made up by the man who was blackmailing her. Her blackmailer was a police officer, who immediately got on Kobayakawa’s good side.

“I bet it was that Kurusu kid.” She heard him get slightly closer. Putting the file back in its’ place, she went to the door and opened it slowly so as to not make any noise. She sprinted across the hall and hid behind some lockers. She felt guilty that her so-called elaborate ruse managed to put yet another mark on Akira’s back, but guilt dissipated quickly. She checked her person to make sure she disposed of her lighter. Students began to enter the building slowly. Some were excited at the thought of skipping an entire period and going straight to break, and some were annoyed that this even happened. Some whined about not having sunscreen, some whispered that Akira was really smart to have pulled the fire alarm. She heard some students whisper amongst themselves.

“Kurusu was with us in the class all day, I bet it was the foreign exchange student. She’s really scary, and did you see the way she disrespected that teacher? Plus the fire alarm prank sounds like something an American would do...”

 She was more annoyed that they thought she was America. She didn’t know that students thought she was disrespectful. Upon being introduced in the class, the teacher asked her where her books were and she replied that she wouldn’t be needing them as she wouldn’t be sticking around long enough.

 Her teacher was Kawakami, a woman with so many eyebags she was the personification of a bloodhound. She was exhausted, the air around her was stagnant and she frequently went on soliloquies about how crap her life was, she made it very clear that she did not appreciate being given yet another problematic student. She felt this was better handled by a male teacher and she shouldn’t have to play babysitter to kids who may or may not start their own underground fighting ring.

 Ethelinda Mallory was, as the vernacular described, a bastard.  On her first day of school, she set off the fire alarm causing an uproar, just so she could get her hands on a teachers’ file. She had decided from then on out she would blend into the background like her desk mate Yuuki Mishima, a boy so soft-spoken she swore he had a permanent halo attached to his skull. 

Blending in with the incoming students, she managed to avoid any suspicion from the staff.

It would be a free period soon, and she was hungry so she might go down to the bread store and try and connect Ryuiji, Akira and Ann to Kamoshida.

She stopped by the staircase and looked down. She was hearing pained moans and groans.

“...Please sto-hng!”

She blinked and walked down a couple of steps and craned her head to see what was happening. She saw Mishima being held by two students; they both looked older than he was - they might have been third years. There was another student, balling his hand up like a fist. He could hear chuckling as Mishima was struggling to get free. The boys’ face was red, and he was struggling to hold back tears.

“Oh fuck no,” she growled under her breath.

The boy with the balled fist raised his arm above his head. Mishima was an easy target, it was even better that the staff here didn’t care about him. Mishima got Kamoshida kicked out, that meant his volleyball scholarship was as good as dead as this bastard was going to be, he hated the way he looked like a wounded deer every god damn time something happens. He’s going to permanently fix that. He was about to swing his fist before something stopped him. He looked behind him and saw a short hair, with long black hair and midnight-coloured eyes. She had freckles on her nose, and a scratch under her eye, on the bridge of her nose and near her mouth. She also had three large marks across on her neck - deep. red - as if something was trying to rip her neck. She looked at him, with narrowed eyes. He wasn’t expecting her to be that strong, her fingers began to turn almost bone-coloured.

 “The fuck are you doing?” She whispered. She forced him to look at her. “You have a problem with Mr. Mishima here?” No one answered her. She threw the boy with the fast, hard, against some lockers. “Ya’ll supposed to be prep school boys, so fucking act like it.”

 One of the boys who was holding Mishima lunged at her, but she was faster than him and elbowed him so hard in the gut he almost vomited. She spun and kicked him in the cheek. The other boy was about to bolt before Ethelinda clutched the back of his pants and forcefully dragged him back to look at her. 

“Where are you going? Hmm?” She asked him. “Look, you and I are reasonable people. So I’m not gonna hurt you, or your little crew. I went easy on you guys because it’s my first day and I know how awful first impressions can be -” she looked at her guy currently trying to stop his cheek from pulsating “however, this dude is a classmate of mine and you were holding him down - not really a fair fight is it?” She looked at Mishima.  “So I’ll cut a deal - you touch him again, or even so much as look at him weirdly,  I’ll hurt you. I’m not talking about superficial hurt here, I’m talking like that your own mother won’t even recognize you and she’ll have to hire several plastic surgeons just to fix at least one part of you. Don’t do anything to Mishima, or any kid in this school, and I’ll walk along. Oh and..” She forced him to look at her again. “You tell a teacher about this, I’ll break your jaw.” She grinned and gently patted his face.

 “Oh and, I’m hungry so can you spot me some money for lunch, and my new friend Mishima.” She smirked. After stealing the bullies lunch money, she let them run off. She turned around and helped Mishima pick up his books. He took them from her gently. “I know I kinda disrespected the teacher back then but... I have some money and I would like to buy you lunch.” She grinned. “Remember, I saved your ass.  Not that it should matter but I really wanted to ask you some things, if that’s alright?”  Mishima blinked and nodded. “Sure, I think that’s alright. Plus I’m pretty hungry, could you believe someone pulled the fire alarm?”

 “Pfft, what a disgrace. Wasting governmental resources like that.” She hoped the Lord wouldn’t strike her down. 

“I know, right. Before I go to lunch, I needed to go say hi to my friend and give him something - you can come along if you want.” He wanted to tell Akira about a new request that he saw at the Phan-site. “I’m meeting Akira Kurusu.” 

The kid who almost got expelled, and the young little criminal around here. She nodded. “Isn’t he the uh..” 

“Oh, yes the rumours aren’t very kind to him but he’s actually very nice. Or well, to me he is. I’m sure he’ll be nice to you too. So coming?”

This was the first time someone invited her along for something. She grinned and nodded and followed him back up the stairs. She slipt her phone out the pocket and got a couple of messages from her blackmailer. She was ready to put her phone back in her pocket when she noticed something odd - a new app installed itself on her phone.  She always kept her phone plain. Devoid of pictures, music, and personal mementoes. Aside from the fact she never had friends, any information that will connect this phone to her was considered a liability. She needed to frequently change and destroy phones - putting too many memories in temporary things was a wasteful wish. She only downloaded one game in her life - Candy Crush - so this app being there made her blink. 

The app itself had a name called METANAV. It was a red icon, with a white eye looking at her. She tried to move it to delete it, but her screen froze. The app itself started to enlarge itself, taking up half her screen.

“Hey Mish-” she stopped. He was frozen, mid-walk. Everyone else was frozen too. A girl was leaning down to catch her falling pencil case. She turned around, everyone was a standstill. 

She looked towards the end of the fall and blinked. There was a fire. She wasn’t entirely sure if this was karma flipping her off again. The fire seemed strangely contained. Just burning at the end of the hall. Soon it began to take shape. She could make out long arms and legs. Horns began to form, wings began to outstretch from its’ back.

She wasn’t sure, but she swore that the fire began to even form a mouth and eyes. They were grinning at her. In the middle of the flames, there was a silhouette of a woman. Long black hair concealed her face. The fire-creature began to lift up its arms with palms outstretched, it waved at her. She looked back at the woman, whose hair slowly began to blowback, revealing her face.

It was her, manically grinning. Sickly yellow eyes open wide, her mouth fixated in a snarl position.

The fire creature bent backwards slightly before lunging forwards, sending streams of red-hot flames after her. The flames began to twist on themselves, coating the entire hallway.

“Are you okay?”

She blinked. She looked up from her fetal position and saw Mishima look at her. She blinked and looked past him. Everyone was moving again.

“Uh yeah...”

“You just suddenly dropped down - you’re not sick are you?” “No, I’m..” she kept looking behind him. Everything was normal, no fire marks on the ceiling. She saw a girl pick up her pencil case whilst silently chastising herself.

 “I’m fine... I dropped my..” she looked on the floor. “Candy wrapper.” She dragged an old wrapper from the ground and showed it to him. “Recycling, man. It’s a ..  it’s a rush..” 

“Well, Akira is right down the hall so I’ll go and speak to him - wanna join?”

 “I’m.. I’m good. I’ll hang back.” She got herself up from the cold floor. She watched Mishima walk towards the black-haired boy. He was talking enthusiastically. She checked her phone again, the app was still there. She sighed and pressed on it and dragged it over to the trash icon.

There, gone.

[thepathsofdestiny]

Small Steps

~*~ Shiho Suzui is more than people think she is. She's more than a student. She's more than a victim. And she's certainly more than Ann Takamaki's best friend. While the Phantom Thieves were out there trying to change the world, the girl in room six was learning to walk again. This is her story. Read it on AO3 here.  ~*~ I keep having this dream. I’m sitting across from a girl, at a table lined in velvet. Everything in this place is blue. The sky, the light, the tablecloth, her dress. Everything except her eyes, which are a vivid gold. She swipes a gloved hand across the tablecloth, and three cards appear, face down. She reveals them in turn: The Tower. Disaster. Revelation with a cost. I cringe. For me, it might as well be ‘The Rooftop’. The Lovers. Choice, and coming of age. Adam and Eve at the gates of Eden. Finally, Strength. A woman taming a lion. Strength within, and without. “In the wake of disaster, you can still find hope,” she says to me, her voice strong, though she wears a child’s face. “Find yourself. Find your love. Find your strength.” I don’t know if I can. Right here, right now, I feel the furthest I’ve ever felt from ‘strong’. Thou art I, and I am thou… ~*~

I wake up, and I don’t feel any less helpless than I did in dreams. My eyelids are heavy. My arms are cold. My legs are numb. The hospital tag is a shackle around my wrist, and the IV line running into my arm might as well be iron chains. Here, I’m not a student, not a headline, not a volleyball player. Here, I’m not in anybody’s shadow. And I’m certainly not a shattered heap in the Shujin Academy courtyard. Here, I’m Shiho Suzui. The girl in room six. I’m here. I’m awake. I’m alive. And honestly, I don’t know if I really want to be any of those things. There are people in my room. I can just barely make them out. They’re just shapes and shadows, blotches of color. My vision wobbles and heaves, like gelatin slapped onto a plate. A hand closes around mine, warm and steady. I take a deep breath. The nausea passes, and my vision settles into place. Blonde hair. Sky blue eyes. “Ann,” I whisper, my voice hoarse from disuse. “Shiho,” Ann smiles, and my heart skips a beat. Ann Takamaki. My best friend, and not just from lack of competition. She’s the one bit of warmth in this, cold, sterile hospital room. She’s a fire in my hands, warm and alive. And her eyes- there’s something about her eyes. Ann looks through me, into me. Back at Shujin, the other students barely even noticed I existed. Even here, the doctors only spare me passing glances over the tops of their clipboards. Ann saw me when I was invisible. That’s why… I want to get up. I want to jump out of this bed and throw my arms around her neck, and I wouldn’t care at all who saw us. But I can’t. I can barely even lift my arms. It’s all I can do just to turn my neck and meet her eyes. Ann lifts my hand for me, and brushes my knuckles against her cheek. “I’m glad you’re awake,” she smiles into my hand. “I have great news.” There are two other people in my room- shadows on the edge of my vision. One of them is the new boy, the transfer student, his gaze quiet and calculating. The other is Ann’s friend from middle school, the rough-looking boy with bleach-blonde hair. When Ann lifts my hand and presses it to her cheek, he fidgets and looks away. Maybe he doesn’t want to watch something so personal, so intimate. Maybe he thinks he’s intruding. I don’t mind. Honestly, I don’t. Because in that moment, with Ann leaning over my bedside, clutching my hand like her life depended on it, I can barely even remember that there’s anyone else in the room. It’s just me. Just Ann. The glow of her smile. The warmth in her hands. And her voice, like light through the clouds. “We got him, Shiho,” Ann whispers to me. “We finally got him.” My vision shatters back into shapes and shadows. I feel my heart race, my breathing quicken. I hear the rapid beeping, the curtains thrown back, the nurse rushing in. I feel the panic rising in my chest, see his face flash across my eyes. I feel the wordless terror surging through my limbs. But then I feel Ann’s hands squeezing mine, pulling me back from the brink. In the sea of shadows and swimming color, something catches my unfocused eyes. A butterfly. A white butterfly, out on the windowsill, silently flitting away. Thou art I. And I am thou. ~*~ Days go by. I don’t always remember all of them. They’re a jumble in my head. Shapes. Shadows. Splotches of color. White noise in my ears. Today, an orderly in red scrubs wheels me to the head of the parallel bars and kicks down the locks on my wheelchair. Beside me, a physical therapist in a wool sweater is explaining to me how the parallel bars work for the umpteenth time. I don’t always remember every detail of every day, but I remember this speech. It sounds scripted, textbook. I wonder if they remember that I’ve been in this room, and heard this speech, a dozen times before. I wonder if it’s just procedure, to explain the exercise at the start of every session. I wonder, if I didn’t have this tag around my wrist, if anyone would remember who I was at all. There’s a TV mounted on the wall in the corner of the room. They’re playing the news. Something about a scandal at a local high school. I grit my teeth and look away. I’m not fast enough. Someone mentions his name. His face flashes onto the screen and across the insides of my eyelids. I feel the world around me shift and destabilize. I see the growing shadows, hear the static crackling in my ears. I clench my hands into fists. “Miss Suzui?” A voice is calling me. “Miss Suzui?” I release the breath I’m holding and remember where I am. I’m upright, between the parallel bars. I’m leaning my weight on my arms, my hands, gripped around the poles so tightly my knuckles are white. “Miss Suzui?” My physical therapist is asking. “You’re doing great. Remember what I talked about. You’re just making a circle with your hands. Push up, move your hips behind your wrists, and come down. Nice and slow.” Irritation flashes up my arms and across my eyes. It’s easy for her to say. All she has to do is lecture me. I’m the one doing all the work. I push down on the bars, lift my feet up for the next step. But I don’t lift them quite high enough. My toes snag on the carpet. I stumble forward, slamming my knees into the floor with a shriek of pain. The jolt to my legs brings tears to my eyes. My therapist kneels down in front of me, the orderly rushing up from behind. “Miss Suzui! Hiro, help her up- Miss Suzui, are you alright? Can you stand?” What do you think? I want to snap, but pain screws my jaw shut. The orderly curls his arms up beneath my armpits and hoists me upright. I grab the bars again, my forearms trembling. Sweat slides down my brow, and drips off the tip of my nose. I’m panting, struggling to catch my breath. I don’t want Ann to see me like this. But I still wish she was here. “Small steps, Miss Suzui. Nice and easy. We’re almost at the end of the bar, and then we can turn around and get you back to your chair. Does that sound good? Can you do that for me?” I screw my eyes shut. I know what she wants me to say. I know what she wants me to do- what the girl with gold eyes and the blue dress wants me to do. Endure. Persevere. Be strong. I take another halting step. My arms are shaking. Sweat mingles with pained, frustrated tears. The voices are telling me to keep moving forward. Well, screw them. I can’t do it, alright? I can’t. ~*~ Some time later, I receive a visitor, though it’s not the one I’m hoping for. Yuki Mishima is sitting in the chair beside my hospital bed, his back ramrod straight, his hands clasped in his lap. He’s almost painfully polite. I’m just in pain. My arms are still throbbing from yesterday’s physical therapy session, and my legs ache. They’re sensitive, now, and sting to the touch. Even my blanket sliding over them is enough to make them sting. I almost wish they were numb again. I miss when they were just dead weight. The TV on my wall is playing the news. I would change the channel, but the only alternative seems to be some morbid documentary of what life was like in prison. Between the two, I’ll take the news. They’re talking about an exhibit that’s just opened up in town. Ichiryusai Madarame, the artist famous for his use of traditional Japanese ink painting. I don’t really have a mind for classical art, and I don’t know if Ann does, either. Still, I would’ve loved the thought of going to an art show with her. Instead, here I was, shackled to my hospital bed by the tag around my wrist. Mishima stares down at his hands. He works his jaw, as if about to say something, before stopping and reconsidering it. He looks so young. Haunted. Lost. “Suzui-senpai,” he begins at last. “I… wanted to apologize.” He bows his head. In the harsh white light, his dark hair looks almost blue. “I’m so sorry,” Mishima says, his breath catching in his throat. “I’m sorry that it came to this. I’m sorry for what… what he did to you.” The world blurs and begins to drop away. I grit my teeth, forcing myself back. “It’s okay,” I finally manage. “It wasn’t you.” “Yes it was!” Mishima snaps, jumping to his feet. I’m not ready for the sudden fire in his voice. “It was all of us! It was our parents, the teachers, the whole damn volleyball team! We all knew what was happening, but none of us spoke up! None of us said a damn thing! We just stood back and let it happen! If it wasn’t for Kurusu-” Mishima catches himself. He swallows hard, and looks away. Kurusu? Akira Kurusu? I’m not sure what the transfer student had to do with any of this, although Ann seems to have been getting to know him lately. It doesn’t matter. I’m ready to listen to whatever Mishima needs to get off his chest. What I’m not ready for, though, is when he gets down on his knees. No. Mishima, no. Don’t do this to me. This wasn’t your fault. This wasn’t any of our faults. Mishima bows as low as he can go, touching his forehead to the ground, the lowest sign of humility a Japanese man can make. He sits up on the floor, gazing up at me, his eyes brimming with tears. “It shouldn’t have gone that far,” Mishima said, swallowing the lump in his throat. “We could have stopped it… if I had said something… if any of us had just said something…!” I take a wavering breath, my cheeks wet with my own tears. Even now, with Mishima prostrating himself on the floor beside him, with the weight of his guilt driving him to his knees at my bedside, I can hear a selfish voice whispering in my ear. I want to agree with him. I want to blame him. I want to hate him. I want to slap him across the face and scream at him that yes, it was your fault. You put me in this hospital bed. You let him do this to me. I want to throw my off my blanket and show him my legs, swollen with blood, only now regaining their feeling after weeks of physical therapy. I want to hate him for being able to play volleyball when I don’t even know when I’ll be able to walk again. Part of me realizes that he’s not here for me. He’s only here to soothe his own damn guilty conscience. Well, good. Because another part of me, an awful, selfish, deep down part of me, wants him to feel guilty. I want him to be so overwhelmed with guilt that he climbs up to the school roof and does the same thing I did. I want him to throw himself off that roof, and endure the pain of recovery. I want him to experience, firsthand, what his silence cost me. I gasp, partly out of shame, partly out of horror that I could entertain such a vengeful, gruesome thought even for a second. I take a deep breath. I push that poisonous anger somewhere deep down. I reach out. I place my hand on Mishima’s head. And I forgive him. For his part, Mishima seems just as shocked as I am. He stares up at me through teary eyes, gazing at my hand on his head. Like a pat on the head from an older sister, or a benediction from a saint. Mishima glances past me. An orderly in red scrubs, Hiro, is standing awkwardly in the doorway, waiting to take me to today’s physical therapy session. “Um,” Hiro mumbles. “I can come back later.” “No, no, no, that’s okay,” Mishima stammers. He stands up, wiping his tears away on his sleeve. “I’m sorry. I should be going.” “Thank you for coming by,” I manage a smile. “Yuki.” He blinks. Nods. Hiro helps me into my wheelchair and prepares to wheel me out the door. “Senpai,” Yuki calls out after me. Hiro and I stop in the hall. “You’re so strong, Suzui-senpai,” Yuki smiles, though his eyes are red. “I hope I can be like you, someday.” I don’t feel strong. Quite the opposite. But I know he means every word. ~*~ Another day. Another walk on the bars. As grateful as I was for any excuse to leave the maddening isolation of room six, physical therapy was never something I really looked forward to. Progress was never as fast you wanted it to be. But things were inching forward, both in this room and out in the world. Ann went to go see that art exhibit; she said it wasn’t all that special. Then two weeks later it turned out Madarame was a talentless hack who’d been stealing art from his own students. What a disgrace. If I ever get to take Ann to an art gallery, hopefully it’ll belong to an artist worth their salt. I grip the bars tight and take another slow step forward. My legs are heavy, and burn with every step. I stop, reaching up and swiping my sleeve across my brow. “C’mon, Shiho!” Ann shouts, her hands cupped around her mouth despite being only a few feet away. “You’re almost there!” Oh, Ann. There’s the other reason my heart is racing and my face is red. My arms are starting to shake. I take another, slow, painful step. My palms are slick with the sweat from my brow. I adjust my grip for just a moment and my hand slips from the bar. I stumble forward, crying out in alarm. I hear Hiro running up behind me. But Ann catches me first. “Miss Suzui-” Hiro calls out. “She’s okay,” Ann says. She smiles up at me. “I’ve got her.” Her arm is around my waist. If her arm was any higher she would hear my heart, pounding in my chest. She’s so close. So warm. And her eyes… Ann lifts me up until I’m fully upright again. And, maybe I’m just imagining things, but she doesn’t seem too eager to pull away. That’s absolutely fine by me. For a single, blissful, selfish moment, I wish I could just stay there, curled up against Ann’s shoulder, forever. But then a voice whispers in my ear. That deep, dark, hateful voice. Are you just going to let her carry you for the rest of your life? A chill runs up my spine. I shove the treacherous thought away, and inadvertently shove Ann along with it. She stares at me, but her expression is of worry, not indignance. She probably thinks I almost fell again. My vision is still clear, but I hear the static in the back of my mind, the hateful whisper in my ear., quickening my temper, putting me on edge. I felt the same thing a few weeks back, when Mishima got down on his knees and laid his guilt at my feet. “Shiho,” Ann looks me over. “Are you alright?” I take a breath, and another step forward. “I’m okay,” I nod. “I can do this.” And as I say that, not quite believing it, the voice in my head echoes: I can do this without you. Just what the hell is happening to me? ~*~ Days go by, and I don’t hear anything from the voice. I don’t abruptly feel like snapping at anybody or biting their heads off, and I certainly don’t have any sudden desires for people to throw themselves off buildings. I looked it up. There are things called ‘intrusive thoughts’ that are, apparently, perfectly normal. Healthy, even. I’m not convinced. The sudden anger I felt towards Mishima, the sudden resentment towards Ann… it didn’t feel that healthy. Not at all. Feeling slightly more healthy were my legs. Physical therapy was progressing to the point where I could just about limp to the bathroom in my hospital room and make it back to my bed without wanting to kill myself. I’m sitting on the edge of my bed after one of these thrilling expeditions, massaging my burning calves. A talk show is playing on TV. They’re interviewing some detective who’s also a kid in high school, as implausible as that sounds. Why anyone would want to pursue criminals on top of keeping up with schoolwork is beyond me; but then, I am- or was- a student athlete, so maybe I’m not one to talk. There’s a knock on my doorpost. “Visitor,” Hiro announces, poking his head in the door. He ducks out, and a moment later, someone else pops in- Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann’s friend from middle school. “Hey,” he says, lingering in the doorway, a shopping bag in his hand. “Ann says she’s sorry she couldn’t make it today. Her agency called her in at the last second and she went runnin’ off to a photo shoot. But, uh, she wanted me to give you this.” He pulls a magazine out of the bag and lays it flat on my lap. Ann’s right there on the cover, with a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a white dress caught in the summer breeze. Pride swells in my chest, and before I know it, I’m flipping through the catalog, grinning from ear to ear. “Hot off the presses,” Sakamoto says, looking about as proud as I feel. “Just in time for the summer.” I pause at a two-page spread of Ann standing on the beach, gazing out at the sea, her hair shining gold as it catches the sun. She’s… “...Amazing,” I breathe out. “God, just look at her.” “She’s a hell of a girl, huh?” He beams. “My best friend is a model…” I sigh, dreamily. “Hell, your best friend’s a covergirl,” Sakamoto chimes in. “Thank you for this,” I smile up at him. I gesture to the chair beside my bed. “Would you like to sit down?” He hesitates, looking down at his clothes, as if worried he’s not dressed for the occasion. And, well, he’s not- he’s still in his Shujin uniform, for one thing, and it’s hardly to code, with the pants rolled up and a red T-shirt instead of the white polo. I don’t know what he’s so worried about. It’s not like my hospital gown and therapeutic compression socks are going to be starting any trends. And compared to Ann… I suppose he sees the look I’m giving him, because he shrugs and plops down into a chair soon after. “I’m sorry we’ve never really talked before. How long have you known Ann?” I ask. “You must be close, if you call each other by your first names.” “Not that close,” Sakamoto shrugs. “We were friends in middle school, but that was… I don’t know.” “Proximity?’ “Yeah. Calling her ‘Ann’ is a recent thing. We’ve been spending more time together, lately.” “I’ve heard,” I grin. “She says you’re becoming ‘almost tolerable’.” “I’ll give her something to tolerate,” he rolls his eyes. For an odd moment, the jocular grin fades from his face, and Sakamoto looks up at me, completely earnest. “Hey. Realtalk?” “What?” “I mean, like, honestly, sincerely. Looking at you two- you and Ann, I mean- you two are kind of… amazing.” I scoff. It’s a reflex. “I’m nothing special.” “Come on,” he presses. “Y’know, some time back, I broke my leg. I had to go through physical therapy, too. That shit hurt like hell. But look at you. You’ve got it twice as bad, but you’re doing it. You’re powering through it. And look at Ann. All these photo shoots, trying to jumpstart her career even while she’s still in high school- she’s doing it for you. She’s doing all this for you. I think she’s real lucky to have you as a friend.” “Are you sure you don’t mean that in reverse?” “Hey, I’m being serious here,” Sakamoto says. “When she found out about-” Oh no. “-what-” Don’t say it. “-that bastard-” Don’t- “-did to you...” Shapes. Colors. The world starts sliding, slipping away. I grit my teeth and screw my eyes shut. I pinch the skin of my wrist, let the pain act as an anchor, a focus. “She was furious,” Sakamoto says. His words swim in the air around me. “Me and Kurusu, we had our own reasons, but Ann went after him because of you. You should’ve seen how driven she was. She- uh- hey… you okay…?” I force the world steady. By the time I’m able to pull myself back, Sakamoto’s on his feet, and I’m gasping for breath. “Hey,” he asks, urgent. “Should I call a nurse, or something…?” “I’m fine,” I lie, grinding a knuckle into my temple to will the dizziness away. “What were you saying?” “I was talking about how, when we went after him-” “You’re not making sense,” I mutter. “What did you do?” Sakamoto stares at me, caught in the headlights. I don’t have time to worry about his secrets, and how well or not he keeps them. I’m more concerned with keeping my vision focused and my breathing steady. “...Never mind,” he groans. “Look. The point is, I think Ann’s lucky to have someone she cares about so strongly. You should’ve seen how angry she got. If looks could kill… shit, she would’ve burned him alive.” “Maybe she should have,” I murmur, darkly. Sakamoto looks at the floor, searching for a response, coming up empty. Defeated, he scoops his school bag up and slings it over his shoulder. “It’s gettin’ late,” he says, edging around my bed. “I oughta go. I’m sorry if I said somethin’ stupid.” “It’s okay.” I shrug. “Good talk.” “Yeah,” he smiles. He hesitates in my doorway. “...Y’know… for what it’s worth, I’m glad Ann has someone like you. No matter what happens, I hope she’ll always have her best friend.” Sakamoto means well. I know he does. But something about that choice of words doesn’t sit well with me at all. He waves goodbye and heads down the hall, a telltale limp in his leg. I watch him leave, and feel that whisper, deep down- a tightening in my chest, and a crackle of static in my ear. ~*~ Before I knew it, it was time to say goodbye. When the announcement came, my room was a blur of activity. It was hours and hours of medical staff barging into my room and making arrangements with my parents, setting me up with an outpatient program, talking about me like I wasn’t even there. But today’s the day, and suddenly, it’s quiet again- the calm before the storm, or perhaps, the stillness just after. One signature, and I get to walk- well, limp- out of here for good. My parents are coming to pick me up, soon. But Ann is already here. It’s a habit of hers, being here for me when my parents won’t. I can’t wait to get out of here. There are too many things I miss- real food, for one. My clothes, for another. But there’s something I’ll miss, more than anything else. I just don’t know how to tell her. Ann is standing at the window. She’s an angel, haloed with sunlight. Somehow, even on the cusp of typhoon season, the day today is almost painfully bright. “Ann?” I eke out. She turns to me, her hair catching the light. I suck in a breath. “Ann, there’s something I need to say. Something I should have said a long time ago.” I stand up, unsteady on my feet. Ann’s already making her way towards my bed, and some part of me, some hidden, stubborn part of me, is determined to meet her halfway. I don’t. Not even close. I take two halting steps before I all-but fall into her arms. I brace myself on her hands- solid, secure. She’s more steady than the parallel bars ever were. Her eyes are so bright. Bright enough to almost melt my resolve. Brighter than the improbably cloudless day outside. Such a beautiful sky blue… “Ann, I-” I only get two words out before anxiety clamps my jaw shut. I have to tell her. My parents are arriving soon. It’s now or never. Say it. Say it! “Ann… I…” I can’t. She’s so close, and my head is spinning. I can’t, I- Just say it! I can’t! I- “Shiho?” Ann asks. Maybe it’s the light, but I swear she’s blushing. Damn it! Just- “I’m transferring schools.” Ann blinks. “What?” What? “My parents don’t want me going back to Shujin,” I explain tonelessly, my mouth on auto-pilot. “My parents found some other school, out in the countryside. Maybe they thought I could use the peace and quiet. But that means, even though I’m leaving the hospital today, I… I’m not coming back.” Ann takes a deep breath. Lets it out slow. “...Oh. I guess… yeah. Yeah, that makes sense.” “I’ll call,” I stammer, my cheeks suddenly wet. “I’ll come visit. There has to be a train-” “I get it,” Ann smiles. “Parents. What can you do, huh?” “You don’t understand,” I say. I’m not smiling. “I want this, too.” Ann blinks, taken aback. “You do…?” “I need to get away. From him, from Shujin…” From you. “I can’t go back,” I continue. “How could I? To them, I’ll always be Shiho Suzui, the girl on the volleyball team. Shiho Suzui, the girl who jumped off the roof. Shiho Suzui, the girl who was ra-” “Don’t!” Ann hisses. I squeeze Ann’s hands, and the world doesn’t dissolve. I take a shuddering breath. “...Shujin’s full of people who read a headline and think they know me,” I sigh. “Maybe it’ll be good to go somewhere where nobody knows me at all. Maybe it’ll be good to be invisible again.” Ann sighs. She squeezes my hands, as if to remind herself I’m still there and not already gone. “...I don’t want you to go,” she murmurs. Because you want me all to yourself? The bitter voice whispers in my ear, but I push it away, bury it deep. “I need to go,” I whisper, as much for myself as for her. “I want to be more than K- h- his victim. I want to be more than Shujin’s almost-suicide. I want to be more than your best friend.” I wince. Poor choice of words. “So… this is goodbye, then?” Ann whispers, dabbing at her eyes. “Don’t say it like that,” I murmur. “And don’t cry. If you cry, I’m gonna…” Who am I kidding? I’m already crying. Ann is, too. And before I know it, she’s pulled me close, and now I’m getting tears all over her Shujin summer polo. I wrap my arms around her waist. The world shatters around me- shapes, colors, shadows. Ann is a light, a star in my hands the color of her hair. She’s so close. I can feel her- I can feel the streak of tears against my neck, feel the hitch in her chest, feel her fingers in my hair. “I’ll miss you,” she says, her words drifting in the air. “I’m going to miss seeing you at school.” “You were the only one who did,” I whisper into her throat. “You saw me, when I was invisible.” I don’t know how long we stayed like that, framed by the setting sun, holding each other like our lives depended on it. And, for me at least, it did. That’s why I was doing this, right? That’s why I was transferring schools? Vaguely, I become aware of people behind us. I sigh. It’s time to go. I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to let go. I just want to stay in that moment forever; holding Ann, and her holding me. But I have to let go. I have to. I give Ann’s hands one last squeeze before I turn away- from her, and the light streaming in my window. I shuffle towards my parents, my doctor. They beam at me with each shaky step. I bask in their pride, smiling through my tears. I wonder if this is what it feels like, to stand on my own two feet. Is it supposed to be this frightening? Is it supposed to hurt this much? ~*~ Ever since I left the hospital, I keep having the same dream. I’m sitting on a subway platform, dangling my legs off the edge. Everywhere I look, there’s an ominous red light. It’s stifling down here. Hot. Musty. The air is thick, with smoke and other things- anger, fear, frustration. The urge to throw myself onto the tracks as soon as I hear the train coming. The poisonous whisper in my heart. The lies I tell myself. The things I cannot say. I promise myself that I’ll tell her. Not now. Someday. As soon as I get out of here. I have to get out. I’m not alone down here. There’s a girl here with me. She’s not the fortuneteller from before, the girl in blue with butterflies in her hair. This girl looks just like me. But her eyes are a vivid gold. Thou art I. And I am thou. ~*~

[shibyn]

and the wind sounds like the world’s sigh

persona 4 & 5 | shiho-centric, investigation team Near the end of May, Shiho transfers to a sleepy town called Inaba for a fresh start. However, Inaba isn’t the sleepy town her parents thought would be best for her— its on edge with unsolved mysteries, and Shiho finds that there’s a bit more behind what meets the eye regarding some of her classmates and a TV screen.

chapter 3 | 5.7k | ao3

She doesn't know if she's envious or glad for them.

Maybe she's envious because her teammates weren't given the same slack. Not in the slightest. She wonders if Yui's arm was set properly, or if Inuoka's shoulder healed fully. She wonders if any of them can be in the gymnasium without feeling a phantom ache in their joints. Wonders if any of them are better now that he's been shipped off to jail. Wonders if they can still play volleyball and still be able to breathe.

She realizes very quickly there is very little to do in Inaba. Not for the first time and certainly not the last, Shiho longs for Tokyo. She doesn't think a lifetime spent in Tokyo would be enough time to do everything there. The city's always bustling, always changing, always growing-- there's always something new, something to try. Ann was there, too, always bounding by her side, leading her to a new place to go to. Inaba has a river, a shrine, an inn, and a market. There are plenty of mom-and-pop stores, plenty of tiny businesses that take up a sixteenth of a street block. In a week, Shiho has already scoured through nearly all of them. It's probably something her parents overlooked, too. They're restless, itching for more motion and more activity and just more than what this tiny place offers. They're no different from her-- they lived in Tokyo longer than she's been alive, and they've been through the growth of Tokyo. There's no way they don't long for the gray and musty streets over the clear and small roads here at least every now and then. They're making friends with the locals, because that's all there really is to do. They get jobs, her mom at an antique shop, her dad a carpenter. Maybe they're getting used to the rural air, maybe not-- she wonders if they've considered moving back to Tokyo once she's graduated and shipped off to a college, or if they'll come to like this place and live here from now on. They find their own ways to burn the day away. It unluckily lines up with the time Shiho has school, and they're home whenever she gets to the house. In the late afternoon, their house is quiet even though there are people in it. She wonders what her parents think when she gets home later and later, purposely avoiding being in a house where guilty gazes weigh down on her shoulders, the tension in the air that makes her suffocate. With little to do in Inaba, she very quickly runs out of things to keep her occupied while she prolongs the time she gets home. There's only so much a friendless, penniless teenager could do. Maybe she could get a job to get money and to take up time, or maybe even join a club at school, but then it'll tie her down to this place. Frequently, she wishes Ann was here. She'd be able to make the best of this place. Even with the cheerful chatter and encouraging words from the near-constant buzzing of her phone, it will never match up to being actually with her. She's a little envious of Ryuji and Akira, who get to see her daily. She's glad they're friends. More often than not, she ends up hanging around the school grounds. She's already gone through the town, but she doesn't have money of her own, and she doesn't want to deal with the off-chance she'll come across her parents in public. It's past the end of the day, and the other students head off to club activities or to head home. Usually she's left in peace. She finds some place to burn time in-- usually its the library (she finally found it-- it was on the second floor this whole time, she just passed it by mistake), where few students linger in after hours and even fewer try to speak to her. Other students still keep trying to talk to her, and she knows she should try to act like a normal person and respond properly, but her tongue feels like gauze when she opens it and her stomach sinks because she can't even act like she wants to be here. The library gives her the solitude she needs from the other students, but it's also too quiet, too soundless, too similar to the home she's avoiding, and it closes a couple hours earlier than the school does. So then she wanders around until she knows its safe to enter town without seeing her parents, or until school closes. Around this time, very little students are around, the only ones being in clubs or practice for sports. She can wander without interruption until her legs begin to ache, the pain beneath her kneecaps too strong, and usually ends up sitting on a bench until they decide to work like how she wants them to. She wears the knee brace. It makes no damn difference whether or not she wears it-- the weather and the hills are a killer combo. She only wears it because her parent asked it of her. She'd rather go without it, even though she knows she wouldn't be able to move as much as she is, because her classmates will peer at it and she can see the questions on the tips of their tongues. She rubs her knee absently. The sky's clear for the most part, spotted with occasional clouds. The bench she ended up on has a clear view of the practice building and the lot in front of it, one that the Soccer team is using for a practice game. Some seem dearly invested in their little game, some don't. Something settles heavy in her gut. It's something like dread, an itch-- it's not a good feeling, and she shifts restlessly to quell it. They're... They're not trying. Won't their coach be angry that they're not trying--? She looks around, but there's no coach scrutinizing the players. No coach barking out orders that are do or die. They're allowed to slack. A breath leaves her in a rush, one she didn't realize she was holding. She doesn't know if she's envious or glad for them. Maybe she's envious because her teammates weren't given the same slack. Not in the slightest. She wonders if Yui's arm was set properly, or if Inuoka's shoulder healed fully. She wonders if any of them can be in the gymnasium without feeling a phantom ache in their joints. Wonders if any of them are better now that he's been shipped off to jail. Wonders if they can still play volleyball and still be able to breathe. But maybe she's glad-- they don't have to experience what Shujin volleyball players went through. She's glad some of them look like they're enjoying what they're doing. There's claps on the backs, encouraging shouts, beaming grins. She wishes those were a part of the volleyball practices she was in, but finds that she's glad someone else can enjoy themselves. — Ann [7:43 P.M.] u remember that time u said my art was shit Shiho [7:43 P.M.] you never let me forget Ann [7:43 P.M.] :/ ANYWAYS i think ive gotten better being around yusuke has like,, helped me realize im better than u say Shiho [7:44 P.M.] we were seven of course you were awful Ann [7:44 P.M.] STILL!! Shiho finds herself rolling her eyes. Yusuke was a recent addition to Ann's mismatched group of friends-- an eccentric artist who goes to Kousei rather than Shujin. It's a wonder how they met, more-less even meet up outside of school. She's glad there's another to the list of Ann's friends-- even if it was a bit rocky in the start, if what Ann's told her is true. The neighborhood is quiet for the most part. Well. It's always quiet, really. But it's particularly silent today-- absently, she realizes that she's coming home later than she usually would. The daylight's already waning, and people have already retreated home for dinner. She wonders if she's missed dinner herself. Her parents haven't said much about how late she's been getting home. She doesn't know if they think she's in a club or something, or if they know she's just loitering instead of coming home. They don't say much to her these days. She's not sure if they've finally gave up on idle awkward conversations or not. Shiho [7:44 P.M.] is his overflowing creativity influencing you?? Ann [7:44 P.M.] hopefully maybe ill send u a nice ole portrait, yeah? Shiho [7:45 P.M.] it better be done in glitter pens or I dont want it!! The house isn't quiet when she steps in. The TV is on for once, after a week of frustrating difficulty with hooking it up properly. There's the sound of dishes moving in the kitchen, clinking of porcelain on the counters, and ah. She hasn't missed dinner. "Is that you, Shiho?" her mom calls out. She peering down the hall and directly spots her, standing in the foyer uncertainly. "Welcome back. We're having japchae." "Ah. Alright," Shiho says absently. Japchae's a sit down meal in this household. She can't escape to her room with a bowl of it-- she'll be stuck at the table. She feels guilty with the way her shoulders tense and her legs don't move, because family dinner shouldn't stress her out this much. You're worrying over nothing, she thinks forcefully, and quietly takes off her shoes and sets down her bag. Both of her parents are in the kitchen, her dad working on the setting the table, her mom with the japchae. They're seemingly content, weaving around each other and keeping pace in a conversation. They like this kitchen much more than their old one-- much more space, apparently, and the countertops are a lot prettier than the dull tan of the old apartment. She feels out of place, standing there, so she takes a seat even though she's antsy. In no time, everything is set out on the table. Her parents sit across from each other, and she's stuck in the middle of them. The TV's volume has been lowered at some point, to a level that it's just a background noise that keeps the house from being overwhelmed by silence. It's quiet at the table, though the dishes move and clink, and brief words of 'can you pass me the plate' and 'do you want seconds,' its quiet. There's no continuation of the conversation they were having in the kitchen earlier, even though it seemed like it could span on longer from what she could hear of it. Shiho's skin prickles at the silence, cause it's not exactly tense-- it's more calculating, more waiting for the proper time to speak and not seem off about it. She wishes that eating her food quick wouldn't be seen as rude, or as a way to escape. "So, how's school been, kiddo?" Her dad starts, breaking the ice. He actually makes eye contact with her. He doesn't glance away, avert his eyes-- it throws her off. There's very little guilt in his eyes, the kind that she's seen so much of in the past month. She can't tell if this conversation is genuine, or if he feels bad for not talking to her as much as a parent should. Shiho feels her phone buzz in her pocket. It's probably Ann. She breathes in. "Like... Like how school normally is, I guess. Not interesting?" Her mom blinks at her. "So you haven't had any problems catching up?" Two months. She missed two months of school. (Her life, too). It's two months of stuff for all of her classes-- and the curriculum is different here. It would be basically starting from scratch. She struggled, and is still struggling-- it takes a lot to cram so much stuff missed into the time she has, and on top of that, learn what's being taught at the moment. She hasn't told them she's basically given up on catching up. "Not really," she smiles something sheepish, something not really a smile. It'll work out most likely. She'll just have to cram more for the exams. "Just a little splotchy, I guess. There's a few things here that they learned that they didn't teach at Shujin." "Ah. Have you asked for help from classmates or teachers?" Her mom questions. She's paused from eating. Not a good sign. She wants to have a conversation, now that she's got Shiho trapped under obligation for family dinners. She debates lying. She's kept away from talking with anyone at school. It doesn't feel right to-- she doesn't exactly want to see their faces shift ever so slightly when she asks, coming something closer to pity towards her. She doesn't want to start, because then they'll come across the face that she doesn't know all that much anymore, and they'll ask why, and she cannot. Cannot. Let any of these students know of why she left Shujin. But her parents know she's been getting back late. They might want her to come home earlier to study more if she says she's avoided getting help. "Sometimes," she settles with. It's an answer that'll keep them from pushing. The atmosphere shifts. She doesn't know if its for better or for worse, or if her parents are coming onto something. The dining table feels more like an interrogation table, and she just wishes that it wasn't rude to get up, clean her dishes, and flee. "Have you joined any clubs, yet? Maybe considered any?" her dad prompts, because her mom is gnashing her teeth quietly, maybe trying to see if there was any underlying context or hints in her single word response. They know she can't play sports anymore. They know. It's a blaring reminder on the forefront of their mind, every breathing second they look at her, because they see the old bruises and bandages and the leg brace when they didn't see before. They also know she can't paint, she can't sing, she can't act, she can't play an instrument, she can't do much of anything except volleyball and that had been torn from her hands. "Um, no, not... not really," Shiho trails. She sees the question between the lines in bold text. Why are you coming home so late. They know she doesn't have anything to do. She doesn't have Ann here. There's nothing in town to do. She's not in a club, she doesn't have a job. They probably have the sneaking suspicion she doesn't have friends, either. She doesn't know if they're blaming themselves for that. Her phone buzzes again, quietly, like a reassurance. She tries to harbor the confidence Ann has for her. "I've. I've been helping around the school n stuff." Her mouth tastes like ash. She hasn't. She hasn't given Yasogami more thought that it deserves. "Kinda... y'know, helping organize the library." If you stretch it till its paper thin, you could possibly call it a truth. Occasionally she'll pick up an left behind book and put it back where it belongs. She really only sits and burns time in the library rather than voluntarily go out and help around. But its so far from what she's saying, and her knuckles creak on the edge of her seat. "Ah, so a library helper!" Her mom latches onto this, eyes twinkling. Shiho smiles sheepishly. "Sure. Yeah. Somewhat." All she can taste is ash, and she tries to eat some more, but it tastes like nothing. It's good to lie sometimes, right? Some lies are good. White lies. Her parents have been so cautious around her-- she doesn't think she can handle them if she was truthful. She doesn't think she can handle their gentle words, their encouragements, their earnest pleas of please try because she can't help simmering on the idea that they're only trying so hard to make up for when they overlooked bruises that couldn't have come from just volleyball practice. To make up for not realizing that one morning she planned on not returning home that day. The rest of dinner fades into the back of her mind. Her dad starts talking about his old job as a librarian years ago, and her mom bounces back with stories of her own. She eats absently, her arms and legs and body so heavy with the brush of guilt. After washing the dishes, she leaves politely, having dipped out of the conversation a while ago. Her legs ache when she goes to her room and flops onto her bed. For a moment, she just lies there, letting her nerves settle into something manageable. She mourns for the time she could eat peacefully with her parents. She pulls her phone out absently. The case is peeling. She might need a new one soon. Ann [7:45 P.M.] as if i would draw with anything else that's not glitter u insult me jfjlsdfj just got takoyaki its crazy good ill drag u here to get some its?? not greasy enough to kill my appetite for once !! Shiho [8:01 P.M.] sorry had to eat damn who convinced you to eat takoyaki usually you'd look at me like i was asking ya to die if i suggested it :// Ann [8:01 P.M.] yusuke wanted to try some dude only eats cup noodles, can u believe it!! i feel like... completely obligated to expand his horizons Shiho [8:02 P.M.] holy shit only cup noodles? how has he not died of sodium?? Ann [8:02 A.M.] art jesus might be lookin down on him well maybe not he aint doing a good job keeping yusuke from spending all his goddam money on art. supplies thats the only reason he really eats cup noodles he broke i might have to teach him the ways of budgeting Shiho [8:02 P.M.] ah yes you takamaki ann the one who most definitely does not spend all of her allowance on clothes the day she gets it Ann [8:02 P.M.] why cant u let me dream — Maybe the best part about being quiet and fading into the background is that she learns a lot about the people around her. She knows her seat mate plays clarinet and really sucks at science, the boy in the front row two from the window works with his parents at an old liquor store and may or may not have brought some to school, the buzzcut boy who comes in during lunch to eat with the boy directly in front of her is crushing hard on a third year and plans on asking her out, and the girl with the red cardigan in the middle row is the daughter of Amagi Inn and was missing for a week just last month. She seems fine and dandy for having been missing. Shiho doesn't know if she can take it as a sign that Tatsumi Kanji will be found and be okay-- if she's fine, he might be too, right? It doesn't help that in the same line of conversation she's listening in on she learns of two recent murders of a news reporter and a student at Yasogami. With the way people of Inaba are so gossip-y, she's kinda surprised and alarmed she didn't hear about this from day one. She only learned of Tatsumi from a policeman-- would she have never heard of him if it weren't for that encounter? And-- the policeman didn't say anything about the murders. She personally thinks that would be the number one thing to tell people, especially those who just moved there, that yes, there was most definitely someone going around Inaba killing and kidnapping people. Two murders and two missing cases. Nothing happens here-- shouldn't that be the talk of the town or something? Maybe everyone was so used to each other that they just couldn't believe that someone decided to turn a new leaf and go nuts, or they're all just very good at acting like there was nothing disrupting their quiet routine of the countryside. Shiho wonders if her parents are even vaguely aware of this. They-- they have to be, right? They talk with the townsfolk much more than she does. It could be that the reason Shiho didn't know was because she just doesn't talk to people. But-- they still let her roam free after school (though she isn't doing what they think she's doing). Her dad had been so tense after the encounter with the police officer, too-- the prospect of kidnapping and missing high school kids is one hell of a detour from the fresh new start they thought Inaba could provide. Surely that would have made them more worried--? And, now that she thinks of it; she doesn't know how much it affects Inaba overall. She doesn't know how many students go straight home after school, or how many families are on edge. She doesn't know if relationships are more tense, because the killer and kidnapper is somewhere, but who? She feels like a creep for glancing over to the girl with the red cardigan, but what the hell. She laughs with her group of friends, eyes crinkled and nose scrunched until her laugh becomes closer to an ugly laugh. Would she have seen whoever it was? She-- she had to, right? Shiho adverts her eyes. This town is weird, is what she settles on. "Ah-- Suzui-san?" Startled, she looks up. It's her seat mate's friend. She has long hair and teardrop-shaped eyes, and distantly reminds Shiho of a classmate from Shujin. It's enough to make her long for that goddamn school, with its stupid cursed hallways, cursed classrooms. "Yes?" Shiho says belatedly, realizing a moment late that she's meant to respond. The girl doesn't seem to mind, though-- she smiles politely, and Shiho tries to not feel silly. "Have you joined any clubs, yet?" she asks airly. Shiho pauses and wonders why is this the question of the week. She misreads Shiho's brief silence as something else, and adds on quickly, "I, uh, I've got the responsibility of recruiting for the girl's soccer team, and if you're interested..." Ah. Shiho smiles, even though she becomes conscious of the thudding ache in her legs. She's touched, honestly, even though it's a thing she can never partake in, because the other still asked and that's really really nice of her. She wanted to try playing soccer, once. "Ah, um. I'm sorry," she starts, and the other deflates slightly. "I-- I would, honestly, but the weather around here's been making my legs act up. I don't think I'd be able to play reliably..." The other girl smiles sheepishly and grows flustered. Her seat mate blinks in surprise, having listened in but not disruptively. "No, I totally understand! Leg injuries are awful-- sorry, I didn't realize..." she rubs the back of her neck. Shiho waves away the apology, "It's no problem, I, I don't exactly wear my knee brace as much as I should." The doctors told her to keep from doing too much physical activity, as it always had the chance of old wounds becoming agitated and unbearable. The hills around here were enough of a hike to strain the idea of physical activity. "Woah, what did you even do?" her seat mate asks, too blunt and a little too loudly. It brings the attention of some students, who look over curiously to what she's asking. She glances down openly towards Shiho's knee, the one with the brace fit snuggly over it. Her friend swipes at her arm, chastising her, saying its rude. Shiho's shoulders pull in at all the attention. She shrugs. "Bad fall." — It definitely says something when one of the biggest things in Inaba is the department store. Especially one that has possibly the most grating jingles around. She doesn't know where to start. Clutched in her hand is a grocery list from her mom, who had smiled sheepishly and handed it to her a handful of minutes after she got home. Junes was only a long walk away, it's not like she could refuse. It wasn't a long list, but this place is fairly huge-- she hopes she doesn't spend more than an hour here. She must've come in at some kind of rush hour-- there's enough people in here that she occasionally has to wedge by a couple people standing and chatting in the middle of the isle, which really sucks because sometimes they're standing in front of the things she needs and she does not have the guts to tell someone to take their conversation elsewhere because they're standing in front of the stupid chives. Tthe further into the store she gets, the less people she sees. Then again, she feels like she's getting more and more lost-- this place is impossibly big. Its so dim and spacious and the music is so distant if she didn't know any better she'd think she was in a twilight zone of some sort. Must be the lighting or something. Maybe the music? Or maybe the way that every isle looks basically the same? It definitely competes with the 777s she used to visit in the middle of the night. Now those were definitely liminal spaces. Even though 777s were gross and small and usually understocked, it was probably the place Shiho went to the most besides home and school. It had the food her parents sent her out to get last minute, and it was the place where the slushie machines were. Although she swore up and down that she was on a terrible strict diet, Ann always wanted to get some kind of slushie at the 777 if they weren't around the crepe shop in Shibuya. The cashier recognized them, even told them what flavors were out when they came in. They weren't even that good-- they just happen to be cheap and sweet, and that's all it really takes to be a godsend at one in the morning. Wasn't there some sort of food court near the entrance of this place? Maybe they have a slushie machine? Hopefully they're not too uppity about the machine so she could make unfathomable combos of flavors that should not be mixed. Even if those slushies make her teeth ache from artificial flavoring and gross amounts of sugar, she's craving one now that she's thinking about it. Shiho sighs, grabbing a small bag of rice and absently checking her phone. It was quiet, the screen devoid of messages from either Ann or her parents. Her parents' silence she could understand-- they preferred to call. But Ann? Ann's been crazy busy recently-- modeling gigs usually don't take all that long, do they? Shiho wonders, looking up in thought. She once wanted to tag along and watch what its like, but Ann had been so adamant on her not going because her coworker was a bitch or something along that line. Maybe some days the shoots are longer...? And it crosses her. I wonder if they have any magazines with her in it around here! She thinks, smiling at the idea of it. There's probably magazine stands near the check out, or somewhere else in this store. She just needs to get two more things and then she can go--! There is a child down the isle, looking up longingly towards some pudding cups that are most definitely out of her reach. Shiho stops. And she looks. Looks for a while. What the hell. This kid cannot be older than six, and she is standing alone in a department store. Alone. Sure, the store's full of cameras and people to witness, but isn't it dangerous to leave a kid unattended? Maybe she's lost? No-- she looks surefooted, somehow, for a six year old. Maybe her parent stepped into another isle, accidentally leaving her to linger in front of the pudding...? She is giving the pudding the look of a life time-- there is so much longing in her eyes. How in the hell can there be so much want in a kid's eyes? The only way she would be able to reach the pudding is by climbing the shelves, and she looks too nervous to try, but Shiho knows the kid seriously considered doing it at some point. Shiho shuffles her feet. She's got to do something about this kid being alone, right? It's the proper thing to do, isn't it? It wouldn't sit right in her stomach if she left the kid to her own devices if she actually was lost or left behind. Ah-- but what if she freaks out? Shiho doesn't think she looks scary, but children are unpredictable and being approached by anyone when scared is a catalyst to a meltdown. Then again, this kid doesn't look scared or lost. So, maybe... "Um," she finds herself starting, a bit weak. The girl didn't hear her. "Uh. Do you need any help?" Large brown eyes turn to her. The little girl has pigtails and possibly one of the most mixed emotion looks she's ever seen. It's caught somewhere between distraught and sorrowful, and it's probably because she's maybe two feet too short from being able to reach those pudding cups. She looks back towards the top shelves slowly. "Um. If it wouldn't be much trouble..." she says, voice quiet and high and looks away shyly. She looks really put out from her inability to reach up that high. In three long strides, Shiho stands next to the little girl and reaches up, shifting the basket in her arms so it doesn't knock into the kid's head. "These?" she asks, hand hovering just in front of the special, limited edition chocolate swirl pudding. The girl nods a yes, and Shiho hands it to her. She holds it like its made of pure gold, and it's really cute to see how enamored she is with it. "Hey, um," Shiho starts, pulling the girl's attention from the pack. It's some kind of social obligation to help lonely kids in stores, right? No one really had a protocol to follow when doing it, and she doesn't want to scare the kid off. "Are you alone?" Shiho asks, trying not to feel awkward under the curious look of this kid. She winces, because that sounded really weird, much weirder than she thought it would be. The little girl, surprisingly, frowns, like she's not sure of the answer. "No. Yes. Kinda? Big Bro said I could get some pudding if I wanted to. He's at the check out right now." "He let you come all the way here by yourself?" She isn't sure what kind of brother this dude is, but honestly? Would it kill him to come with his younger sister to get some pudding? It couldn't be that much of a pain to do. The girl looks to the pudding pack in her hands sheepishly. "I said I could. The lines were long at check out and I didn't want to lose our spot so I said I could find it..." What the hell are kids. What the hell is this kid in particular, for she's being crazy grown-up for her mere age of possibly-six. Shiho looks to the basket she's carrying. She still hasn't gotten panko or oats, but she can put that aside for another day. She kinda wants to just help this kid now. "Um. I was just about to go to check out. Do you want me to walk with you back to find your brother?" she asks lightly, hopefully not being creepy. Thankfully, a small, shy smile comes onto the girl's face, and she nods. The girl looks around absently as they go through the isles, eyes lingering on brightly-packaged items. She clutches the pudding like a life-line, though sometimes she looks like she wants to grab something else but quickly retains herself. Shiho is quite honestly charmed by how bright-eyed she is. "Is that your favorite flavor of pudding?" Shiho asks in lieu of conversation, though they shouldn't be far from the check-out. The girl blinks and looks down accordingly to the packaging. She looks at it with an intensity to it, as if she's thinking deeply about the question. "I dunno! I haven't tried that many, but I do like this one." She looks up with blinking doe eyes. "What's your favorite, miss?" They walk out of the isles, and ah, good, there's the check-out. Thank god she remembered the way to the check-out. The girl wasn't wrong-- the lines are pretty lengthy. She wouldn't want to give up a spot in the queues either. "I think I like the caramel chocolate ones," Shiho says absently, peering towards the lines, trying to see anyone who may be this kid's 'Big Bro.' The little girl seems to be doing the same, bowing over and swiveling her head around, and then perks up. "I see him!" she nearly squeals, and hurries down towards the line. Shiho follows at a much slower pace though she probably doesn't need to, but she just wants to make sure the girl's alright. She watches as her brown pigtails bounce as she turns into a register lane, watches as a bright smile grows on her face. The girl stops in front of someone, who had just started putting the things in their basket onto the conveyer belt. Shiho looks up, and-- Small world, huh, she thinks, but then feels dumb because it's a small town and of course she's going to see her classmates outside of class at some point. It's the silver-haired boy, the one that sits in the middle of the classroom. He's friends with the red-cardigan girl, and the two brunettes who stood up for Kanji Tatsumi the first day she was at Yasogami. She doesn't know anything about him. The girl beams up to him, and he smiles something soft back to her. Taking the pudding pack with deft fingers and placing it on the conveyer belt, he nods and listens to the girl chattering to him. After a moment, the girl spins around, easily spying Shiho as if purposely looking for her, and waves. Shiho waves back and then gives a thumbs up, which seems to make the little girl more excited. She looks up from the girl and makes eye contact with her classmate. He blinks-- either in surprise, or maybe she's just trying to read too deeply into things that don't mean anything. He bows his head towards her, perhaps in thanks, and then turns back to the register. Shiho bows back even though he's not looking at her, feels stupid, and since she's already here, steps into the queue.

[shibyn]

and the wind sounds like the world’s sigh

persona 4 & 5 | shiho-centric, investigation team Near the end of May, Shiho transfers to a sleepy town called Inaba for a fresh start. However, Inaba isn’t the sleepy town her parents thought would be best for her— its on edge with unsolved mysteries, and Shiho finds that there’s a bit more behind what meets the eye regarding some of her classmates and a TV screen.

chapter 1: inhale | 2.4k | ao3

Maybe this is hell. It's a white ceiling, off-white walls, bright white lights, white bedsheets. It's the bland meals, kind but insincere conversations, background noise of the news. Sad, prolonged looks from Mom, regretful frowns from Dad, the overall lack of feeling from her legs. The monotone beep of the heart monitor and drip of the IV. Hell can't be dark and fiery and the screams of the damned-- it has to be this. 

Ann is a light in this place. The blonde of her hair offsets the white entirety of the room, the radiance of her smile breaking the solemn air that's been stagnant. She can't always visit, but Shiho looks forward to the times she can. She's the inch of normalcy left in Shiho's life-- she tells her about things that have been going on in school, a cool photoshoot she was in, a dumb thing Ryuji was up to, a shiny A on a test that she only passed because Akira helped, a new restaurant the three of them went to-- she's glad, so glad that Ann hasn't let this change her, hasn't let the wobble of her lips when she looks towards Shiho's legs keep her from looking her in the eye and talking as if they weren't in a hospital. More often than not, Ann isn't there. She isn't there, and sometimes Shiho thinks it may have been better to land differently, breaking more than just her legs. She's confined to bed, confined to sleep and watching tv and staring at the wall. She's stuck, legs basically useless, and she has to sit through looks of pity from the doctor, her nurses, her physical therapist, her parents. Her skin crawls whenever her parents visit. They know what happened, but they don't know. They're so quiet when they visit, so sad, so pitying, and she has no idea what they're thinking. She hopes and hopes for the door to slide open whenever they're here, hopes the doctor does a checkup on vitals or the therapist takes her to learn how to use her legs again or Ann to come bounding in and dispel them. She's not lucky. They stay and they speak of things so mundane-- at least it's nice to talk with Ann, but with her parents it all feels awkward and forced and Shiho wishes she had the gut to tell them to stop, they don't understand, don't act like you understand. They aren't in the room the day Ann enters, eyes both bright and watery. Ann basically crashes in the seat next to her bed, grasps her hand so tight she's momently scared it'll snap, and tells her it's all over, he's in jail, he got what he deserved, he's gone. Shiho cries and Ann cries with her, and maybe, just maybe she'll be able to walk those wretched halls again and graduate side-by-side with Ann like they imagined and maybe she'll meet Ryuji and Akira and give them the biggest hug possible and hopefully hang out with them at Big Bang Burger or the Arcade. Her hopes soar, and she wishes she could stand so she could hug Ann and leave this awful room. Her parents walk in the next day, faces drawn in, and tell her we're going to move when you're released from the hospital. We're sorry, Shiho. Shiho doesn't cry. She just hopes her legs will stay broken, so she can still at least stay here and see Ann regularly.

—

Her legs ache the moment she steps off the train into the Yaso-Inaba Station. They've ached the moment she stepped on the train and throughout the whole ride. Shiho takes this as an ill omen. The car ride to the house is in a terse silence with occasional awkward conversations between her parents, similar to the train ride over. Inaba, her parents had told her, was a tiny rural town. A big difference from the metropolitan style of Tokyo. A good place for a fresh start, they said. Shiho can see between the lines and know they chose this place because nothing happens here. (She knows that they think if it's a peaceful place, there's less of a chance of her ending up in an ambulance midday and missing two months of her life. If it's peaceful, bad things won't happen. They won't.) It takes less than twenty minutes flat to drive to their house-- in Tokyo, on good days it would have taken twenty minutes to drive a mile. It's a small house, different from their even smaller apartment in Tokyo. They actually have a backyard. It's on the edge of Inaba and supposedly not too far from her new high school. Unpacking is quiet aside from the occasional 'put that in the kitchen' and 'can you help me carry this?' Thankfully it's cloudy outside, so it isn't too much of a chore. Most heavy things, like furniture, were delivered before hand, which cuts the labor. They apparently make enough noise for a neighbor to come out and greet them. Her mom ends up side-tracked talking to them, so she and her dad finish unpacking to avoid being dragged into the conversation. It's a single story house, small kitchen, small living room, two small rooms, two small bathrooms, and yet its still more spacious than their old apartment. Shiho claims the bedroom facing the backyard. Her dad helps bring in some boxes and offers to help set up furniture before Shiho shoos him off. Her room slowly comes together. She slowly puts things on the dresser, on the wall, in the closet, until it looks vaguely like her old room. It has all the same elements, but it doesn't register in her mind as her own yet. She goes about it in a detached sense, like her body is on autopilot. One year, Shiho thinks, this is my home for one year. She comes across her next uniform that her parents snuck in her boxes-- a black seifuku with a glaringly bright yellow ribbon and houndstooth patterned skirt. It's... something, to say the least. Not the worst uniform she's ever seen, but... well, it's definitely something. She guesses she can call it stylish for a school uniform. She lays it out on her bed, smoothing it out absently. There's no true blazer, so she can't exactly get away with just wearing the undershirt. She misses the plaid of Shujin, regardless of how ugly she thought it was at first. Her first day is... tomorrow, maybe? The day after? Her mom had told her, but it felt like fuzz in her ears. She doesn't want to think about school. Belatedly, she takes a picture to send it to Ann later. Ann was at a photoshoot right about now-- she couldn't exactly check her phone every now and then and respond to her. The lack of consistent buzzing from her phone made the whole unpacking process more quiet. Half-way through the next box, her dad reappears at the doorway, leaning in a casual way against the frame. He whistles in awe at the progress she's made, saying, "Wow, already this far? Sorry, sweetie, but you're gonna have to do the kitchen and living room at this pace." She rolls her eyes. "Sure thing. It'll probably be useless, though-- you'd probably reorganize it to your liking." He shrugs. "It's going to take weeks before your mother and I find an equilibrium in that kitchen. Ya close to a stopping point? I was kinda thinking bout getting dinner." She isn't, but the dust is starting to get to her. Besides-- this is might be the first time he's looked her in the eyes in a week. Maybe things are turning for the better. "Sure. I think I saw a take out place not too far away on the drive here." In a blocky motion, she pulls herself to her feet. Getting up to her feet was no longer easy. It was a struggle, even after so much physical therapy. She liked to think it was okay now. Yet-- her leg twists and twinges painfully, her breath catching in her throat as her world tilts. There's a flash of movement from the corner of her eyes in her dad's direction, but she manages to catch herself by slamming a stabilizing hand against the wall. Shiho swallows thickly, breathing slowly to calm the spike of her pulse at the sudden feeling of falling. She glances up warily. Her dad's hand is halfway towards her, as if to catch her if she didn't regain her footing, with the other braced against the door frame with white knuckles. There's a pause, a bit deafening, and her father retreats his hand and crams it in his pocket. A scowl sits on his face, the corner of his mouth twitching with unspoken words, and he quickly pulls on a grin that doesn't fit his face. "That was close," he laughs, a bit wheezily and with a tremor in the undertone. He shifts awkwardly, maybe debating to check if she's fine or to let her be. I wonder what went through his mind just now, Shiho thinks, throat tight, did he see my leg breaking? or them shattered, beneath hospital blankets? or maybe-- "Ah, you may have to start wearing your brace more often, kiddo. It's kinda hilly and rainy around here." Grimacing, she nods. "I'll put it on before we go." It's on her dresser, where she threw it after taking it off earlier to give her leg some air. She hates that thing-- it's hot and sweaty and itchy and it always seems to get disgusting in less than an hour. It's going to be miserable to wear it in the rain-- it'll become soggy and she'll have to deal with the spongey feel of it the whole school day. A moment passes. Her dad still lingers by the doorframe. He clears his throat and scratches his arm absently. "Are you going to be alright?" he asks, looking anywhere but her. "Yeah," she says quickly, and back tracks. "Yeah. I-- I'm alright. Just a little sore from the ride." Her legs are never not sore nowadays. Not that they need to know. There's a solemn look on his face. Shiho grits her teeth and thinks please don't. He nods-- she can't tell if he's satisfied with that answer or not-- and leaves. For a second, she just stands and breathes. Everyone around her has been walking on eggshells since she landed in the hospital, and she's so tired of it. She wonders how long it'll take until it's all gone and done for. Her mom trusts them with dinner, saying that she's in unpacking mode and doesn't want to drop out of it now that she's in it. The car ride is quiet for the most part, with the two of them peering out the window to spy a places to eat or figure out what something is. There's plenty of tiny mom-and-pop stores just a walk away from their house, and the Main Street isn't too far of a walking trip, either. Shiho has a feeling she'll become familiar with these streets in due time. The sun had set enough to the point where it was fairly dark out with the overcast. The clouds aren't lit up orange with city lights, and there's an underwhelming amount of obnoxiously neon signs on these streets. Some store signs aren't even lit up-- just how rural is this place? Oh!-- then, maybe when the nights aren't cloudy, she'll be able to see the stars? They end up parking at a brightly-lit grocery store and wander to a nearby takeout restaurant. The air's thick with rain soon to come and is quite chilly for spring-- the warmth of the restaurant they slip into is more than welcoming. It's a small place-- a few tables are set up inside with a couple tables occupied. Shiho very pointedly avoids their wandering curious stares. Three boxes of noodles ends up being the price of a single nice meal in Tokyo. And even better, from what she could peer at in the restaurant, they're possibly the best looking noodles she's seen in years. Not grossly greasy, or dangerously overcooked. The chunks of beef and chicken shine with just the right amount of sauce, and the vegetables don't seem still half frozen from the freezer. Sweet n Sour, General Tso's, Teriyaki-- the smell makes her want to crack a box open in the car, and from the pace her dad walks at, he wants to, too. Ah. The lack of city lights also makes the lights of a police car much more stark. Both her and her dad falter-- they aren't near their car, were they? God, what if the police around here were crazy strict about parking between the lines. Her dad didn't have a great streak with being completely center, and the parking lot was empty, so he didn't exactly try-- what luck would that be, not even six hours in Inaba and they've already gotten a ticket. But as they step closer, the car is parked in a side street close to the market. Her dad's shoulders drop in relief when there's no-one  by his car. There are some standing outside the police cars, like there's something going on. One glances up and spots the two of them ogling. He smiles disarmingly at them, nods to his companion, and approaches. "Good evening," the officer says kindly. His hands are neatly tucked into his jacket pockets, posture open yet with a tension along his shoulders. "Sorry to bother the two of you this evening. I'm required to ask anyone I see, though— have you seen any suspicious activity nearby, recently? Biker gangs, suspicious figures, anything?" "No," her dad says curtly, his eyes drifting in the direction of the side street with a confused frown. Biker gangs? Suspicious people? Shiho thinks absently, shifting the bag on her arm anxiously, wait, didn't they say— didn't they say nothing happens around here? "We moved in today. Is something wrong?" A dawning realization crosses the officer's face. "Ah. No, not-- not necessarily. We're just keeping watch." The officer seems to mentally juggle what he should say. He ends up frowning and says, "Well... a first-year at Yasogami by the name of Tatsumi Kanji went missing recently, last seen by his mother's textile shop. He's possibly involved with activity in biker gangs. If you hear anything about him or see any activity, be sure to report it, yeah?" The smile her dad gives the officer is tense. "Understood. Thank you." Dinner isn't going to be as pleasant as she thought it would be.