Well then, I have to thank PRemington900 for the shout-out in his latest chapter (*whisper* It's Chapter 10)! If you haven't already, he's doing an OC P5 story as well called Persona 5: Trickster Vs Champion, give it a read, much better writing than mine, and he gives many shoutouts to various authors here in each of his chapters.

Chapter 4: Welcome to the Real World

As they entered the main hallways, they were quickly greeted by two students, a boy, and a girl, who was waiting for them at the entrance.

"Kotone!" She's quickly hugged tightly by her older brother, making her unable to breathe. He let go and saw she's greeted by Kaz and Makoto in front of the pair.

"The Counselor told us what happened! Are you okay?" Kaz sounding worried and relieved at the same time
"Yeah, I-I'm fine, it's what you heard, a couple of pervs being eying me and this guy. Ren Amamiya" She pointed at Ren, "And Sakamoto-san helped me to get out it."

"Damnit, I should have been there to help. I was a couple of feet away when that happened!" Kaz's feeling guilty for letting something happened to his sister.

Trust me, I don't think you could help much at the castle. "Don't worry, these two helped." Kotone trying to assure her brother as she nudged his arm. "And besides, it's me, I can handle myself, you can't be there for me all the time."
"I-I umm, but -" Kaz trying to answer.
"Dad and Grandpa made sure we can handle ourselves from creeps. Especially me." Kotone quickly reminded him.
He only breathed out in reluctant agreement. "Okay, but still, don't put yourself in a situation like that again. If I'm not there, just get out there and get help or find me."

"I told yo-" She told a deep breath. She remembered all the times that her brother was always like that ever since they were kids, he always fought off bullies who picked on her which got him into trouble with the school. While she appreciated his deeds and learned to fend off for herself, she tried to get him loosen up but to little success. Not without lack of trying.

"I'll make sure to that next time." She gave a reluctant smile.

"Well, I'll glad that you're okay," Makoto said. "Still, I am worried about the stalkers going on, there have been complaints." She said in a worried voice.

Kaz looked at Ren, tugged his tie, narrowed his eyes to analyze the raven-haired boy, he was sizing him up. He's quickly making a call to whenever or not to trust him. He crooked his left eyebrow like he's suspects something but he relented and decided to give him a chance.

"Are you the guy I saw this morning?" Kaz inquired.
"Yes, I remember, you somehow know that I'm from the country without me telling you." Ren remembering the glasses boy
"Eh, deductions through observations, your posture tells that you're a fish out of the water, and your phone is an older model, which is considered new in the countryside. Trust me, people still used flip-phones in 2011 in Inaba when many were using smartphones." Kaz casually explained.

"Funny you should mention home, Ren, here, is from Kofu, 20 minutes away from Inaba," Kotone added in. Kaz crooked his eyebrow.

"Really? Heh, what are the odds for that? Three Shujin students from the Yamanashi Prefecture?"

"Still, even though I don't like people wearing fake glasses, thanks for helping Sis out." Kaz nodded

"Wait! How you do you-?" Ren shocked that someone found out about the glasses.
"Trust me, I can tell." Kaz dismissively replied. "Anyway, thanks."

"Um, you're welcome, but Sakamoto also helped." Ren accepting Kaz's gratitude

"Sakamoto, huh? For being a school delinquent, he does have a good heart. Oh! I forgot my manners. I am Makoto Niijima, Third-Year student, and School Council President. You must be the newest transfer student. Welcome to Shujin Academy!" Makoto bowed to greet Ren while smiling.

"Kotone Seta is the Treasurer of the Student Council, who is also a recent transfer. She's able to fill the vacant Treasurer position when she enrolled. Her brother, Kazuhiro-San is the Head of the Disciplinary Committee."

"Just call me Kaz with the honorifics. And yeah, so if you act up, you have to deal with me." Kaz nonchalantly answered.
"By the way, where's the faculty office?" Ren asked.
"Just on the second floor, second door on the hallway in front of the stairs," Makoto answered while pointing the stairway. "Kotone can show you the way."

Kaz and Makoto left to go to their classroom, Kotone walked with Ren up the stairs to the faculty office. They heard whispers of Ren and his criminal record and other comments that are less than positive towards Kotone.

"Hey is that the convict?"
"Yeah, heard he nearly killed somebody."
"What's he doing with the other transfer girl?"
"Maybe she's dumb enough to trust him, you know country girls, pretty, but very naive."
"Or maybe she thinks she can handle him better than most of us. You know how high their noses are with these Gekkou students."
"Keep quiet, or else she might get her big brother."
"Of course, can't do anything without her big bro."

It's clear that Ren did not like what's he's hearing despite trying to keep a calm face, he clenched his hand hard. Kotone didn't like the rumors about her either, and briefly express sadness in her eyes. He didn't notice Kotone gripped her fist in anger when she heard about her brother. Ren briefly noticed it before it went away.

"Strange, how do they know about the record? Only the faculty should know about and keep it under-wraps." Kotone's looking visibly concerned.

"And it seems you're the talk around the school as well." Ren noting the whispered towards her.

"Y-yeah, they talk about everyone here, they see me either as 'that cute dizzy country girl' or 'that Gekkou-girl' who thinks that I'm too good for them….. Or the younger sister." Kotone affirmed with sadness in her voice with emphasis on the last part. "But that's nothing compare to yours."

"One way or another, rumors will slip out and they'll- grr." Ren put his hand on his head to ease a sharp pain that occur for a brief second, he felt a familiar presence pulsating inside.

Arsene!? How?

I am your other self, I can talk to you when it's needed. Don't worry, I won't be here at your most private moments.

"Are you okay?" Kotone interrupted his thought conversation
"Yeah, must that other world after effects." Ren answered
"Hmm, maybe the three of us should talk about that after school, we can meet at the rooftops." Kotone thinking hard about their recent experience as they approach the faculty office. "Here's the office, I got to get to class. Good luck!" She gives a warm smile and give a small wave to Ren before heading to class. He watched her walk out of his vision. He somehow can't help but smile a bit. Even after she's been through, the castle and almost being killed or worse, she's able to keep on smiling.

His moment of joy quickly ended when he entered the faculty to be greeted by an annoyed Ms. Kawakami

"Ugh, Unbelievable. Half a day late on your first day? Well, I got the gist of what happened." She asked looking dead-tired. "Still, this will only work once, next time go to the police."

"More importantly, I heard that you and Kotone-Chan were caught along with Sakamoto-kun?"

"Well, he was sucked into it, you know, wrong place at the wrong time." Ren nervously answered.

Kawakami sighed loudly, shaking her head, "Both of you, don't get involved with him, OK? He's nothing but trouble. He wasn't like that when he was devoting his time to track and field though… "

"What happened to him?" Ren asked
"Hmm? Forget about that… Anyway, break's almost over. Classes will end after fifth period today because of the subway accident. I have you introduce yourself when class resumes."
"Follow me." She told Ren as she stood up walked out of the room with Ren in tow. As they approached his homeroom class, Ms. Kawakami stop to face him, "By the way, when you introduce yourself. Be serious about it even if you're lying to the class, OK? Do NOT say anything unnecessary."

"Got it" Ren nodded his head, not wanting to fan the flames of rumors going around him to be bigger.

Afternoon, Classroom

The rumors are going to get bigger even if I don't say anything. Well being late doesn't help. Ren internally shook his head as he hear more rumors about him as he entered the class.

"Being super late on his first day? He really is insane." Can't blame you for thinking that

"He looks normal though." Yes, please think like that.

"But he might slug us if we look at him in the eye." Urguh, really?

"Wasn't he with that other transfer girl?" Oh no, don't drag her into this.

"You think, they're getting it on?" NO! We're not!

"Nah, her brother would kill him before that happens."

Man, already? It's going to get worse down the line. What's next? That I'm part of the Yakuza or the Aum Shinrikyo? Ren's barely trying to keep a straight face to hide his annoyance.

"Settle down." Ms. Kawakami trying to calm the class down. "Well, I like to introduce a transfer student: Ren Amamiya. Today, we had him attend from the afternoon on since he wasn't feeling well."

Almost getting killed in another dimension and unleashing a ghost demon from within does take a lot out of you.

I'm a Persona, I am your other self! I will not be called with such impudent words!
Please, I don't want my head to get too noisy in here.

"All right, please say something to the class." She looked at Ren

"Something to the class." No, don't be that guy!

"Hello, nice to meet you all." Ren said to the class in a polite tone while bowing.

"He seems quiet, but I bet when he loses it…" *Sigh*

"I mean, he was arrested for assault right?" ugh, word travels really fast

"Umm...so… your seat will be…." Miss Kawakami looked around the class to find an open seat. "Over there, the one that's open." She pointed at the empty desk by the window. "Sorry, but can the people nearby please share your textbooks with for today?"

Ren walked to the desk among the murmurs of the class, he did his best to ignore them until he heard a familiar voice whispered to him.

"Lies" he turned to see the same blond hair girl he saw this morning.
"Huh? You were from this morning?" He whispered to her, only to be given the cold shoulder by her as he sat down.

"Did you catch that? Do those two know each other?" a brown-haired student whisper to her peer. "Does that mean he hit on her before transferring here?"
"That means she's cheating on him with Kamoshida-Sensei." The prim female student answered back. "Then again, this is Takamaki-san we're talking about."
"For real, that side of the room is totally awful." The brown-haired student agreed.

"Oh right! The volleyball rally is in two days. Everyone just changed classes, so make sure you use that time to get to know each other." Miss Kawakami address to the students. "Well then, let's get class started. Who's on duty today?"

A well-behaved blue-haired boy in a white turtleneck with bruises and a bandage on his face stood up. "Everyone, please rise… " He told the class.

It was going to be a long day.

After School

To Ren's surprise, he somehow felt even more tired after school, putting up with endless rumors about him throughout the class seem to be more enduring than the castle. With each passing second, they tend to be more exaggerated than the last. Normally, he would shrug it off but it starting to affect his planned peaceful school-life. He was at-risk or rather already being ostracized from many of his peers at the start of the school, putting him further into isolation, a situation all too similar to him back home.

This is crazy, I know rumors will spread but at this pace? Can I even join any clubs at all? I really want to join the Cooking Clu-Urgh

He clutched his head as he stopped in front of his classroom door and see the hallway changed to have a red carpet and green couches on the walls. A very similar decor to the castle he was in a couple of hours ago. The image quickly changed back to normal but he still experience some head pains.

"What's wrong?" Miss Kawakami asked Ren as she saw him in that state when she left the classroom.
"School… Castle?" Ren spoke under his breath as he turned to his teacher.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Miss Kawakami asking again.
"Yeah, I am, just a headache, that's all." Ren wanting his teacher not to worry much.

She let out a tired sigh and scratch the back of her head. "Okay, but it seems people are already talking about you, but I'm not the one who told them."

"So it was leaked, that explains it." Ren state with a hint of annoyance.

"I guess so, ugh, I can't catch a break. And I have to deal with this." Miss Kawakami looked in disappointment. She looks up to Ren. "You should head straight home without stopping anywhere. Sakura-san sounded pretty angry."

Ren nodded in compliance. Shit, he already have a low opinion of me, and THIS does not help at all.

"Hey" a familiar feminine voice caught his attention. Kotone walked up to the teacher and student.

"Oh, Kotone-Chan, nice to see you alright. Since you're both transfer students here, I want to warn you both. Don't get involved with Sakamoto-Kun. He's -" Before she could finish her sentence, Ryuji suddenly walked up to the three and three pairs of eyes turned to him.

"Speak of the devil." Miss Kawakami remarked in a sterner voice. "What do you want? I heard the police caught you cutting classes today."

"Ugh.. It was nothing." Ryuji muttered in annoyance while looking away.

"And you haven't dyed your hair back to black either." She looked at his hair.

"Sorry about that… and besides, it's what those two said, we were chased by some weirdos. Right?" Ryuji grumbled as he looked at the two.

"Yup" both answered and nodded in unison.

"Sure" Miss Kawakami rolled her eyes in response to his answer, maybe she didn't buy it.

Ryuji turned to the pair and quickly whispered, "I'll be waiting on the rooftop." He walked away to the intended meeting place.

Miss Kawakami only sighed in annoyance, she warned the two about Sakamoto again before walking away. As the two are alone together, Kotone looked at Ren and tilt her head to the stairway indicating to meet up with Ryuji now. Ren silently nodded and as they were both about to start walking, the saw Kamoshida walked up the stairs with Kobayakawa and stopped in front of them, unaware that the pair are listening in behind them.

"Why did you allow a student like him to transfer here? He's started to associate with Sakamoto and bringing down the other transfer. How did we went from a girl from one of Japan's top private high schools to a student with a criminal record from the boonies and the culprit of an assault case.?" Kamoshida complained to his boss. "At this rate, it'd be pointless how much I contribute to the school." His hands on his hips while shaking his head.

"Now, don't be like that." Kobayakawa attempt to appease the coach. "This school counts on you, Kamoshida-San. You are our star. Still, a steady build-up is necessary to bring Shujin to the ranks of the top schools. A couple of transfers are doing well in school and I am planning to get new teacher here as well. He's an old and very odd man but a brilliant scientist who worked with various groups from SEBEC, Nanjo Group, and Kirijo Group for starters and oversees groups as well. Also, he was a teacher for Gekkoukan High 7 years ago."

"Huh, sounds like he's a bigger bigshot than me." Kamoshida replied with a hint of jealousy
"Like I said, a very odd man with a questionable past. He has some run-in with the law, and various… unlawful people. He can be jaded from what I heard. I'll set you up a meeting with him to see who he is."

"Your troubles never seem to end, do they, Principal Kobayakawa? Alright, I understand. I'll continue to do my best answer your expectations of me." Kamoshida seemingly satisfied.

The two went their separate ways, the two transfers attempted to make themselves incognito when they appeared in Kamoshida's vision, unfortunately, he noticed them and walked up to the pair.

"Well, hello there, how's your time at Shujin?" the coach asked the two but it was clear he was focusing on Kotone.

"Ummm, good so far." Kotone politely answered.
"Fine." But, Ren was promptly ignored.

"Heh, I know it's not like Gekkoukan High, but we're getting there. Still, you'll have a good time here. If you associate with the right people." completely focusing on the girl.

"Oh, I read from your transcripts, you used to be on their volleyball team last year, right? I remember beating you guys at Nationals last year. Maybe, we did met. You would make a fine addition to the team, if you like." Kamoshida cheerfully informed her.

She tensed up upon hearing that fact, she knew what he was doing, trying to get her under his wing. That trip to the castle was more than enough to get her to stay from him. It must have been an act of God for her to decide not to join the team this year.

"Y-yeah, last year, I didn't do much, just another player. I-"

"No, I remember, you were the most cheerful player, rallying the team to play hard, jumping around and cheering. I won't forget that." Those last words had so many implications

"You know, I played a bit of baseball back home. Is there-?" Ren tried to divert attention away from Kamoshida

"Never had them, budget cuts." he bluntly cut him off without even looking at him. "You can get far, if you join, you may get the starter position. I assure you, it'll be much better than hanging with those pair of low-lifes you seen with." He didn't even care if Ren heard that.

"I-I decided not to because, I want to expand my horizons!" Kotone attempted to get out of this situation.

"Come on, you shouldn't waste your-"

"She. Does. Not. Want. To" Ren said in a firmer tone, his face harden. That got the coach's attention, he looked at him with a grim face.

"Listen. Don't interrupt your teacher. Kid. Unlike you, she has a chance to excel in this school. Being with you will only bring her down."

"It's why I am with him!" Kotone butted in. "He needs a positive influence. If fact, I was going to take him to the Student Council room to get him to join a club with me!"

"Really?"

Really?

"Yes, Ren, you said, you were going to join the -?" Kotone's raised her eyebrow in hopes he played along.

"Ummmm, yeah! The co-cooking club! I wanted to join the cooking club!" He got it.

"Besides, my brother's the head of the Disciplinary Committee, he won't get into trouble."

"Hrmm. Very well, consider yourself lucky that she's willing to help people like you. Her brother won't be there all the time." He walked away slightly agitated. Once he left their sight, the pair left out a breath of relief.

"Jeez, he's almost as bad as he was in the castle." Ren muttered.
"Tell me about it. Now he wants me just like the other guy. Oh, do you really want to join the cooking club? Sorry for putting you on the spot like that, I needed a way to get him off our backs. Guess you have to sign up so he wouldn't get suspicious."

"Actually, I want to join the cooking club, but you know, the rumors and all that."
"Well, I think Senpai can help you with that. You know, I wanted to join that club as well! And do you really play baseball?"

"Yeah, just for fun, but nothing too serious. Anyway, Ryuji said, we should meet up with him on the roof." He smiled softly

Kotone nodded, "Come on, I show you the way. I already told my brother to wait for me for a bit." Ren followed her as the two walked up the stairs to the third floor, walked down the hallway to another set of stairs leading to the roof. They see Ryuji sitting in a chair, leaning back on it, balancing on its back legs while Ryuji's using his foot holding himself up on the desk.

"There you guys are." He looked at the two.

"We got held up, besides, I heard students are not allowed up here." Kotone told Ryuji.
"Yeah, well, it's not that hard to get around the locks and besides, a third-year student uses the rooftop to plant a garden." Ryuji pointed at a small garden bed full of Forget-Me-Not flowers near the edge with his foot.
"Huh, didn't know that. Maybe I should ask Niijima-Senpai if she knows about that."

"Sorry for callin' you up here like this." The two only shrugged in response. "I bet Kawakami already told you two stuff like 'don't get involved with him.' huh?"

"Yeah, she was talking about you until you showed up." Ren answering Ryuji's question.
"Figured as much. Then again, we're in the same boat." Looking at Ren. "Heard you got a criminal record. Everyone's talking about it."
"Ugh, we know already, don't need to remind us." Kotone groaned.
"No worries, it's no wonder he's so gusty." Ryuji leaned forward getting the chair down on all fours.
"Can we talk about what we came here for?" Ren asked as he proceed to sit on a desk.
" Yeah, what was all that that happened? You know, how we were almost killed at a castle. It wasn't a dream… right? You both remember it, yeah?"

"I don't think it's dream but I do remember it." Ren said with his eyes closed remember what transpired. The beatings, the scream, his Persona, and the talking Cat, all seems like a dream but it felt so real, the injuries and the pain of ripping his mask off. He hasn't felt anything so real in a dream since the Velvet Room.

"It felt too real to be a dream. And even if it was a dream, it's more of a nightmare. And that Kamoshida wanted to… " Kotone looked away, arms across her stomach, crossed her legs, she didn't want to finish her sentence, not wanting to think of the implications. "Ugh" she shuddered in disgust.

"Hey, it's okay, dream or not, Ren saved us both from him." Ryuji attempted to comfort Kotone. "And you did give him a good kick to the nads, three times actually."

"Yeah, I don't know why, I just lost control." Kotone turned away embarrassed.
"Eh, no worries, he deserved it. To be honest, you were way scarier than that Red Ghost Thing." Ryuji complimented the redden girl.

In a way, she was.
Oh yeah, she's the type of people you don't want to piss off.Ren agreeing with his Persona.
I can sense that intense fire still burning inside of her, begging to be unleashed with all its strength! Hmmmm, perhaps.
What are you implying?

"Stil, thanks man." Ryuji thanked Ren that interrupted his inner conservation. He must be referring to his awakening that save the pair.

"Heh, sure-thing." Ren gave a small smile and a nod.

"Still, that Kamoshida we saw there." Ryuji looking spooked from his experience.
"I'm trying to forget his bulging speedo." Ren cringed when he made the comment.
"Damnit, why you gotta remind us about that?" Kotone tapping her head, trying to forget that image.

"Anyways, you too probably don't know about it but there are some rumors about him." Ryuji's trying to stay on subject

"Kamoshida?" Ren asked
"All I know is he was an Olympian turned gym teacher who coaches volleyball, but other than that I don't know much about him. My brother doesn't care much." Kotone giving some knowledge about him.

"Oh yeah, that ripped mopehead who is all full of himself at the castle. No one say anything against him cause he's some medalist who took the volleyball team to nationals ." Ryuji explain in disgust

"I remembered that, Shujin got big because they beat Gekkoukan High at the Nationals. Unfortunately, that was when he remembered me. Never knew that was him." Kotone nervously informed.

"Shit, he did?" Ryuji sounded shocked. "Wait, you played volleyball?"

"He tried to get me to sign up, but I declined." Kotone answered before he said the question. "And yeah, used to last year for Gekkou High but I want try something different."

"Oh good, anyways, the way Kamoshida was king of the castle felt crazy real because of that." Ryuji took a moment to gather his thoughts. "I wonder if we can go back to that castle again."

"You want to go back?!" Kotone sounding shocked. "We almost died! I know that Morgana and Ren fought them off but still, it dangerous."

Ryuji shook his head and stood up from his chair. "I said, 'wonder' not wanted. Eh, forgot it. It has to be a dream."
"Well, that's one dream I don't want awaken to." Ren mused out loud. The Velvet Room is at least better than that.

Ryuji only chuckled in response. "Sorry to drag you two out here like this. That's all I have to say."
"It's okay Ryuji-kun. We needed to talk about this after what happened." Kotone gave him a warm smile.

"Thanks." Ryuji looked at Ren. "You know, we might be pretty similar. I feel like we might get along just fine as 'troublemakers.'"
"So, I guess it's my job to keep you two idiots from getting into trouble." Kotone interjected amusingly.
"Come on, we're not that bad." Ryuji replied.
"Well, Morgana likes me more than you two, so that counts for something." She gloated. Ryuji gumbled a bit before changing the subject.
"Back to topic. If she hasn't told you. I'm Ryuji Sakamoto. I'll talk to you guys if I see you around, don't ignore me, all right?"
"We're in the same class, Ryuji-Kun and you sit behind me. Won't be too hard. But sure, the three of us can talk right?"
"Right" Ren agreed
"Besides, us country-folk gotta stick together, right?" Kotone said to Ren who smiled softly in response
"Cool, seeya." Ryuji left the roof to do his personal business for the rest of the day.
"I should be going, I'm going to eat out at Big Bang Burger. Wanna come?" Kotone looked at Ren.
"Sorry, I think I should head straight home. My guardian's already pissed for being late." Ren sadly declined.
"Oh" sounding sad. "Well, see you two tomorrow!" Kotone perked up and walked towards the doors.

After a spending brief moment alone, Ren decided to head back to Leblanc and face the music from Sojiro.

"There you are! What did you have to do?" Kaz asked his sister when she approached the gate.
"Oh, I talked to Ren-Kun and Ryuji-Kun. They're nice people if you get to know them." Kotone gave a semi-true statement.
"Maybe but it didn't have to involved being chased by a bunch of gang-bangers." Kaz retorted. "So, Big Bang Burger?"
"Yep," Kotone replied cheerfully. "Even though I think Wild-Duck Burger is better, let's eat! You show the way."

The pair headed to the train station, and took a quick trip to Shibuya and walked towards the Big Bang Burger's entrance.
"You go ahead and get a table, and order for me, I got something else to do." Kaz told his sister.
"Okay, let me guess, the meat lovers kind?" Kotone looked at him.
"You know me too well." Kaz headed out to the bookstore.

He decided he needed more reading materials for the subway ride and any free time he would have. Kaz has no preference for what kind of genre…. actually he despised those high school romance novels especially the one with vampires. He browsed around through the fantasy section, picked up Swords and Deviltry and past the philosophy parts, and decided to pick up a few historical fiction novels, The Old Man of the Mountain, Shimabara, and Shiroyama. As he walked out of the store after paying, he sensed someone familiar when a young girl around his age walked past him, he lost sight of her when he turned to see her, he tried to remember her description, brown hair much lighter than his and Makoto's, a bit more puffy, maybe she was wearing pink? He couldn't remember. Decided to drop it he head back to the restaurant.

As he walked over to the Big Bang Burger, he stopped to see his sister through the window texting and smiling. It made him happy as he knew her smile was not a fake that she used to mask herself but a genuine one. He entered the restaurant to greet her.

Meanwhile (Roughly the same time)

"Okay, let me guess, the meat lovers kind?" Kotone looked at him
"You know me too well." Kaz said as he went on to do his thing.

Kotone waited in line to take two orders for a bit. When she finally reached to the front. "Welcome to Big Bang Burger, open 24 hours a day because there's no day and night in space!" The female employee greeted Kotone with fake euthisatism.

No wonder, Kaz didn't want to wait in line here.

"I like to get the jumbo combo and the meat lovers combo with bacon, and it's for here." Kotone giving her order.
"Very well, here's the cost." Kotone's eyes widen and had a sudden realization.
THAT Bastard! He skipped out so I have to pay for BOTH MEALS! Oh, oh, OH! He is going to pay me back and more!

"Actually, I like to make the combos extra large." Kotone smiled devilish.
"Okay then, here's the new cost." the waiter obeyed.
"Excellent." Kotone gladly paid the cost and went to the booth at the corner waiting for the meal and kept the receipt close. During her wait, she received a text message. She could only smile when she saw the name of the sender. It was her friend from her old school.

KA: Hey, sorry I didn't text to you earlier. I was busy with life. How's Shujin?
KoS: It's okay Senpai, at least you didn't forget me. Shujin's nice but it looks so plain and dreary.
KA: Sorry to hear that, but it's a good school, and one of our old teachers is going to teach there. He was very helpful to me when I was younger. Are you still in Student Council?
KoS: Yeah, as Treasurer like before. The President's nice, devoted to help the students. Don't worry, I'm sure you're better than her.
KA: Haha, I'm doing my best for the students here, thanks for the vote of confidence. Too bad, you couldn't be here. You would have been a great Vice-President.
KoS: Oh, don't flatter me. ;P Anyways, how's my mom doing?
KA: Shiomi-sensei is very passionate to teach the students, she's very lively. More normal than most of the teachers here. She's also the new Student Council Adviser.
KoS: Good, she seems happy. I feel bad for leaving her. You know why I left, but still...
KA: It's okay, she understands why, she still loves you.
KoS: How's Koro-Chan?
KA: He misses you a lot. Misses the walks you give and hugs.
KoS: But not my cooking :'(
KA: Even with my help, he still doesn't like it. Sorry.
KoS: Still, he looks so cute in that orange jacket! Can't believe you used to wear that when you were 10! You must be adorable!
KA: Heh, I remember I didn't like to be called that.
KoS: Judging from the size, you must short.
KA: …
KoS: Hello?
KA: Don't remind me, I drank milk to get taller.
KoS: Aren't you lactose intolerant?
KA: Yeah, not my brightest moment.
KoS: Haha, still thanks you contacting me, glad that some people in Port Island remembers me.
KA: It's no problem Kotone. We miss you and hope you would visit sometime in the future.
KoS: I'll keep that in mind. Speak to you next time, Senpai.
KA: Please, call me Ken, and I hope we will, Koto-Chan.

"Hey, texting to someone from Port Island?" Kotone looked up to see her brother back from his errands.
"I won't tell you his name." Kotone softly smiled.
"Oh, it's a boy huh? You know the vetting process, me, Dad, and Grandpa." Kaz crooked his eyebrow.
"You're more of a hardass than Dad, when it comes to boys. I still remember that summer festival involving the fire ants and honey." Kotone shook her head.
"He was two-timing you and he deserved it." Kaz retorted nonchalantly.
"It was because he found out that I'm-" Kotone shut herself before she would revealed anything more. "Forget about it, let's just say he did it out of petty revenge."
"Here is your order. You two enjoy your meal." the waitress walked to the table to hand out the meals.
"Thanks." Kaz waited until the waitress was out of earshot range. "What the Hell? Extra Large? Do you know how hard I'm going need to workout to burn this off?"
"My stomach is a black hole, you should know that. And instead of going Dutch, I had to pay for the whole thing because you bailed out. So, I decided to indulge myself and you have to pay me back." Kotone said in an annoyed look as she took a bite of her burger.
"You do eat a lot, I'm surprised you not fa-" Kotone gave Kaz an intense glare, daring him to finish his sentence." He knew that look all too well and learned that the hard way during the Christmas Feast. The horrors of what she could do with a spoon.
"Okay, okay, I'll pay you back. That wasn't my intention to trick you to pay for the food. How much?"
Kotone showed him the receipt. Kaz quickly yelped out in surprise before covering his mouth after seeing the price.
"Damn you, Big-Bang Burger" His head slowly fell to the table in despair while holding the receipt. Kotone smugly watched his suffering while eating her meal.
"You're gonna eat that?" She nonchalantly asked.

Kaz sweatdropped heavily in reply.

"We're home!" Kotone cried out as the pair enter their home.

A sound of small feet running coming closer to the pair.

"Kaznii-Chan!" Rei shouted as she jumped to hug her brother. He simply smiled and patted her head as she was squeezing him tightly as possible.

"Aww, what about your Big Sis?" Kotone teasingly asked while making a pouting face. Rei replied only by hugging her as well.

"How was school?" Kaz asked as he kneed down to her eye level.

"It was great! I was able answered all the questions right every time the teacher asked me to!" Rei answered excitedly.

"Keep it up, and you'll be smarter than him." Kotone pestered
"She'll be smarter than the both of us, well I think she's smarter than you." Kaz retorted
"Hey! I was in the Top 3 of my class last year!" She shouted.

"No, I don't think I would, Big-Bro has to be smarter if he has to look after you and me." Rei looking up to her siblings. Kaz similed at her admiration, Kotone briefly looked away in sadness looking hurt.

"That is if he can get out of his "slump" in school." Samuru informed his daughter while walking to his three kids. "Rei, set up the table." She nodded and turned to her older siblings. "I have an idea, if you two get the highest test grade, I'll make you both a present! Promise?"

"That'll be sweet, Rei." Kotone smiled with Kaz nodded in agreement.
"Promise." The two answered in unison.

"Oh, Kaznii-Chan, aren't you going to wear your glasses? You promised you would wear them more when you're at home."

Kaz's eyes widen in surprise, remembering the promise he made a couple days back. Unfortunately, he didn't hold it up, while he did wear them only prior before bed, only to prevent himself from accidents, he still wore his contacts around the house. Guess, he had no choice but to follow through, he had to bear it.

"Umm, yeah, s-sure. I just forgot about it, with lots of things going on. I'll go to the bathroom to switch it out okay?"

Rei smiled widely as she went to set up the table. Kaz slowly walked to change his eye wear.

"You know, he always get high grades whenever Rei promises him a reward." Samuru told Kotone after Kaz left.

"Oh, you're catching on, huh?" Kotone replied.

"He can do so much more. But I digress, so, I got an interesting call about one's tardiness that involves some questionable people?" Samuru turned to his daughter.
"Eh, yeah, I guess you know the story, but it's all okay! I didn't get hurt or anything. Sakamoto-Kun and Amamiya-Kun helped me!" Kotone quickly attempt to explain her mishap in school while putting her hands in front of her defensively.

"I get it, some beat cops at work told me as well, I'm just glad that you're okay. Still, your brother should have been there or at least get him to help." Samuru asked in a concerned manner. She silently grunted at that comment, it was the second time she heard that today.

"Besides, did you have to do the kicks I taught you?" He asked amusingly. She nodded in agreement.

"Good, all that lessons that both your grandfathers and I gave you didn't go to waste. Well, that's all cleared up, get ready for dinner. Oh by the way, your grandfather is coming to Tokyo."
Her face lit up in joy. Her grandfather, the army retiree, Samuru's father, who lived in Inaba when she grew up who enjoyed her and her siblings' time with him was taking a trip to see-
"The other grandfather, your mother's father." Samuru corrected her with a sweatdrop.

"Gyah!" Her face darken to learn that the other grandfather, crazy, drunken scientist was coming to visit. They were all quite aware of his eccentricities and his… outbursts and his slips of tongue revealing small but disturbing bits of his life, some were not legal.
"Heard he might be a teacher here as well, I don't know where. So, he will be staying in the city."

She yelped in horror, they knew his visits were uncomfortable enough and they now they had to deal with him living near them!

"Is he going to teach at Shujin?" Kotone wondered.

"Maybe, he was a teacher at Gekkou High, but before your mother went there." Samuru confirmed her suspicion. "I think, he helped to get her that job. He told me about that. He doesn't like to talk too much during his time there around 2009."

"Son of a - I overheard the Principal was talking about a new teacher." Kotone was surprised that she never knew her grandfather was once a teacher at her old school, not even her mother nor Ken-Kun told her. He need to remind herself to ask him at her Grandfather.

"Don't worry, he found his own place, well knowing him, built his own place. But we should expect to see him more often." Samuru said a cautious tone. Both of them sweatdropped, knowing they had to brace themselves for his upcoming arrival.

"Hey! The table's set up! Dinner is ready!" Rei yelled out to them.

Kaz went to his room and approached to the bottom drawer of his desk with reluctance and anger. He pulled out a glasses case that has his old but functioning glasses. He has always been near-sighted since he was a child in elementary school and wore them ever since. He decided to switch to contacts a year prior. His reasoning was that he wanted to try something new. Well… that's what he kept telling himself.

He walked to the bathroom to put his contacts away. He stared at his glasses laying on the counter. Triggering a memory from his past.

"You look very handsome with your glasses."
"I look dumb. You're just saying that because, you're my m-"
"Kazzy, I'm not lying. Don't let what others think of you. This is who you are, embrace it and they won't hurt you. If they can't see that. Then they must have poorer eyesight than you!"
She chuckled at her own pun. Kazzy only frowned at the lame joke.
"I wear glasses too when I was a little girl too. It's one of the reasons your father noticed me!"
"No lie?"
"I won't lie to my only son. He said, I looked very beautiful with it and prefer that I wear them."
"Besides, I won't be the only one in the family who glasses too! I won't get too lonely, and that makes me happy that there's someone else who wears them too!"
The young boy smiled softly in response. He putted on his glasses with acceptance, happy that he made someone he loves happy. He was wrapped in an embraced in loving arms which he promptly returned.
"I'm so happy that you'll wear them. You know that I love you, right?"
"I love you too. Mo-"

Kaz slammed his fist hard into the mirror in anger, fortunately, it didn't break. His fist was squeezing so tight that his nails might pierce his skin. His head hung down, short breaths of anger simmer through his grinding teeth, a few tears felled from his eyes to the bathroom sink.

"All. Lies. Damn you. Babylon." He bitterly whispered.

Cafe LeBlanc Evening

Ren entered the cafe only to meet with a frustrating look from his guardian. He has preparing himself for an inevitable scolding from him, especially this early on his probation.

"Hey, I got an interesting call from your school today. It's only your first day and you're already showing up hours late?" Sojiro asked

"Sorry, it was an accident." Ren answered while looking down, not wanting to make the lie again about being chased by perverts, feeling there had been enough on the plate.

"Yeah, that's what everybody says. Your life's forfeit if anything happens. You understand the meaning of probation, right?" The barista explained. Ren only nodded in agreement.

Tenth time, I've been told.

Sojiro's cell phone rang, breaking the tension, as he answered it, his mood completely changed, his stern, no-nonsense face soften to a smiling caring person as he talked to whoever on the other side.

"Hey, what's up? Yeah, I just closed up shop. I'll be there in half an hour."

He seems happy. Total shift change Ren thought while looking him

"Hey, what're you standing around for? Go hurry up to bed." He looked up to Ren, seemingly annoyed.

"No, I just hired a part-timer." He resumed his conversation as Ren obeyed and headed towards the stairs. Part-timer? Well, I guess living in the attic is compensation enough.

"Don't forget to lock the doors and turn all the lights off, okay?" He reminded the glasses boy. "... Yup, I'm leaving now. I told you, he's a part-timer." Ren let him be as he get ready for bed upstairs. He was feeling extremely exhausted, presumingly from all the weird stuff with the castle and mask transformation. He quickly changed into his sleepwear and crawled into bed. Moments later, he drifted into unconsciousness.

A/N

Okay, that book hint was a bit too easy in the last chapter, now I give you 4 books to guess now! And maybe, they all could just be red-herrings. Well, it seems Koto-Chan made friends with a certain brown-head, dog-loving, spear-wielding Gekkoukan Student. ;) (Fun fact, he IS around the same age as the Third-Year Phantom Thieves).

I hope I added a bit more interactions between the sibs and the family.

To a couple of reviews.
Samantha: Hehehehe, Kotone has that rage inside of her, when she's pissed, don't get in her way.
RosyMiranto18: ... ... Maybe ... ...
JayH120: Thanks man! I've been enjoying your fics as well. I'm doing my best to write Kaz and Kotone well along with their family and I'm glad they're getting well-received. Well, you gonna have to wait awhile for Kaz but Kotone's will be coming soon.