Act 4: Ren Sees Disaster
Saturday.
All day Ren prime got to do whatever he needed and wanted to do: played video games, watch all the dvds he rented before needing to return them; and even did some cross word puzzles.
"Wow I finally have some time to myself. Without school in the way I'm so productive".
Later after school.
Ren was downstairs in the café reading a travel magazine. Sojiro at the counter was drying the wet coffee mug. He turned around and seemed surprised when he saw that Ren was already back from school. When did he opened the door? Did the bell even ring?
"Uh, h-hey! Why weren't you in school yesterday and today? Were you upstairs all day? Anyways your teacher, um, Kawakami, called me last night and said you didn't attend any afternoon classes or today's classes. What do you have to say for yourself mister?".
"Um…I didn't feel like myself…my stomach hurts…".
"Well tell the nurse to send you home next time. Don't forget you're still on probation. Any trouble will do you no good".
Uh oh, Ren thought to himself. Did something happen at school? Where was Knowledge?
"Sorry Sojiro", he apologized. He didn't mean to cause any trouble.
Sojiro was currently acting as Ren's guardian since his probation. Stern yet kind at the same time. He didn't yell at Ren for skipping school but gave him a father like stern warning. As in he'd better not do that again or Sojiro will kick his ass.
Few minutes later.
Ren, and Morgana in the bag, went outside to see if he could find Knowledge. And just as he stepped out of the café he saw Knowledge walking toward the theater. Ren went after him.
Inside the theater.
Knowledge had already taken his seat and the preview have started playing.
"Hey! What are you doing in the theater? You were supposed to be at school, studying so I don't fail anything", Ren said as he had just barged in.
"There's more to life than studying you know", Knowledge simply replied.
"I know that, that's why I assigned each of us specific tasks to handle and you aren't doing yours!".
"But I don't want to go back to that dumb school with those dumb people". Knowledge crossed his arms.
"Ugh, fine just-just go to the velvet room and fuse for me or something".
An usher came by.
"Shh! If you two can't be quiet, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave".
Both Rens walk out of theater. They passed by a fellow movie goer who turned his head at the sight of the two. They looked just like twins. Luckily it was no one they knew.
"You get your butt to the fusion room", Ren said, pointing at Knowledge.
"Fine. See yah". Knowledge left toward the alley where the velvet room door was.
"You should probably check on the others too", Morgana suggested. Ren nodded and headed toward the train station.
Ren went to the flower shop but the boss told him what happened.
"Sorry. I let you go. Hope you find a new job".
Ren was shocked that Kind got fired. He walked to convenient store but didn't see Kind there either. He was about to give up and go home when he saw his other self in the beef bowl window.
At the beef bowl at night.
The restaurant's walls were splattered with menus everywhere. People chatting away loudly and cups could be heard clinking as customers settled them down onto the table.
Various customer raised their hands and voices to get the only waiter's attention.
"Excuse one large natto bowl please", a young man asked.
"Medium beef bowl", a middle aged woman piped up.
"Large beef bowl for me", a gruff voice said.
Kindness in his new employment uniform, a dark blue hat, a blue shirt with two orange lines on it, black pants, and a dark blue apron, ran back and forth constantly trying to satisfy all his customers.
"Coming right up!", he shouted, "Oh! Geez!", he muttered to himself. This job was sure more exhausting that the flower shop.
He ran toward the stove, and checked the meat and put it in the bowl and he gave it to the first customer and then he ran to wash the dishes. Then he washed his hands and put new meat onto the grill to start cooking and then ran to bring the check to another customer. Luckily all the food arrived fresh from the grill to each customer and the rush started to die down a little.
Ren Prime walked in after all customers are served.
"Phew", he sighed as Kind wiped his arm across his forehead in relief.
Ren walking towards him, "There you are. What happened at the flower shop?".
"Oh that. I'm really sorry but the customer was so mean. Even if I gave her what she wanted and then the boss-".
A customer's hand went up as a voice rang.
"Excuse! I'd like my check please".
"Right away sir!", Looking at Ren Prime, "I'll be right back".
The voice belonged to Yoshida, a fellow confidant who is a slightly larger older man with a nice looking grey suit, red tie, and a green political sash hanging on him. He was currently struggling to regain his political party but he continued to tried anyways. His eyes always full of concern for the overworked youth of society, turned towards Ren and Kind who came back with receipt.
"Ren I didn't know you had a brother. Are you guys twins?".
"Yes…um, he's…Ren thought for a moment…Akira…". Guess that was the only good excuse in this situation.
"Ohhohoh, that's nice. Perhaps sometimes you and your twin brother can come to my political rally together. It's been a while since I'd seen you there".
"I'm really sorry about that Yoshida san. School's been really busy…", Ren put his hand up and rubbed the back of his head apologetically.
"I see. No worries. Put yourself and your education first. Great leaders work on their knowledge too. I should get going now. Thanks for the meal".
Kind goes back to Ren and asked, "so what's going on? Are you mad that I have a different job now?".
"No no, you're doing great. Just keep working here. I have to check the others. Some wanted…a different errand".
"I see. Well, let me give you a to go box to take home".
After receiving the food Ren Prime thanked Kind and went on to check the next clone.
Earlier that day.
Ann was modeling with Charmy again but today the manager was not feeling it today.
"Hmm, no no no! We need more passion! More energy! Hmm… try dancing, see if we can get some new poses".
"Dance um… do you know how to dance?", she asked Charmy.
"…No, but how hard can it be?".
They tried waving their arms around and swinging their hips. Charmy grabbed her hands and both started to spin. All was going well until Charmy tripped over his shoe, accidentally let go of Ann's hand and started falling backwards. He crashed into the food table and the punch bowl splashed the lights, destroying them. The manager was not pleased.
"Grr… stop! That's it! You're fired!".
Present time.
"Ann what's wrong?", Ren prime asked. He had just arrived at the little studio where Ann's modeling gig was.
"What's wrong? You're the one who went all crazy dancing and breaking everything. You gotta be more careful! What happened to your grace like form when you're Joker? Sigh, never mind, I'll talk to you later. I've gotta clean up all this and then take more photos to make up for it".
"I'm sorry Ann…".
How bad can things get?
"I thought you were going to electric town for something? To buy new light equipment maybe?".
"I was?".
"Ms. Takamaki?", a staff member called.
"Coming." Ann shouted back to them. Turning back to Ren, "I'll see you around".
Ann left to help. Leaving Ren dumbfounded by his clone's mistake.
"Hey we should get back to the café and go to sleep. It's late. You can go to Electric town tomorrow", Morgana said as he popped out of the bag.
Sunday.
Akihabara, also known as Electric town, was bustling with people today as usual. With so many things to look at in such a small area.
In that small area was a maid café.
There was pink everywhere. Pink checkered pattern floor, pink walls, pink wall paper with cutesy light colored polka dots added the finishing touches. Maids frolicked around with cat ears and scurried about to and from customers with coffee, tea, omelets, and apologies for their clumsiness.
Famous detective prince Goro Akechi, donning his recognizable tan pea coat and silver suitcase, could be seen all the way in Electric town today. It seems the pricey menu didn't intimidate him. He also doesn't seem to mind the high probability of a maid messing up his order. Akechi was determined to check out a new pancake place for his food blog.
The detective prince sat down. Like his title the waitress, or waiter, treated him like royalty instantly.
"Hi I'd like one order of pan-", he looked up when he recognized that dark frizzy hair, "Amamiya san? What are you doing here?".
Charmy was dressed up in butler suit, complete with a monocle.
With a warm friendly tone, he replied, "I work here". Then without missing a beat he turned his voice into a very charming one, "so how may I help you today?".
Though Akechi was unfazed. In a business-like manner he asked, "What kind of pancakes do you recommend here?".
"Well, there's blueberry, chocolate crisp, banana nut….".
"I'll have the blueberry".
"Of course. Anything to drink?...".
A few minutes later.
Akechi thinking in his head, I don't even like blueberry. Why did I buy this?... But he did make it sound so good.
He tried a bite.
"Oh It's tasty!".
Whispering to himself, "gotta put this on my food blog".
He started typing away on his smartphone to talk about his latest food discovery.
Meanwhile just outside the café.
Ren Prime went up the stairs a little but ducked away when he saw Charmy and…Akechi?
He was heading down the stairs when he saw Makoto. She seemed ticked off though.
"There you are! I've been looking for you". She marched toward Ren.
Slightly startled he dared to ask, "You…have…?".
"Yeah what's the matter with you? Making us grind in the metaverse till death point?! We had no SP but you keep on insisting that we can just use our melee weapons to defeat shadows. And who in their right mind would dare to challenge the reaper?!".
She pointed at him in anger, right into his face as she lectured him.
Ren put his hands up in a "you caught me red handed" pose as she leaned in closer, then he slowly lowered his hands and said, "I'm sorry Makoto, um…".
Not wanting Charmy and Akechi to hear them he directed Makoto away from the café.
"Why don't we discuss this on the train home. Come on or we'll miss it!". He started to push her towards the train station.
"You were being a very irresponsible leader".
Switch to Akechi view.
He saw two figures leaving. Akechi was confused as he could have sworn he saw Amamiya outside with someone.
Later.
Makoto took the remaining train home and Ren went into the metaverse to talk to G.
"Hey G".
"Sup Prime? Ready to train? We can go to the metaverse as a duo attack team". G was just getting ready to go to the deeper floors to fight shadows.
"Uh yeah, that's what I wanted to talk to you about".
"You have… suggestions for what personas to fight with?".
"No, but Makoto was really mad at me, I mean you, err us…ah mostly you. She said that you were way to reckless".
"But we have to be ready for the next palace", he whined as if what he was doing was a bad thing.
"The way she was mad; I don't think they can even make it to the next palace! You're making me look bad! Like a fitness maniac! Ugh, just go into the velvet room. Knowledge is in there fusing personas. Go help him or something".
"…Ok. Let's see what crazy awesome combo moves I can make the personas learn! Heh heh this sounds fun!".
Meanwhile in the fusion room.
Knowledge has just fused yet another persona, as he had been doing all day through the guillotine. He sighed heavily.
Igor sat at his desk with his chin resting on his hands. With a deep voice he asked, "What's wrong? You seem dispirited. Has the guillotine gotten too gruesome to watch?".
"No it's just-…no one seems to appreciate my intellect in the real world. Even the real Ren doesn't use his-I mean our, brain enough".
"Perhaps you should put yourself back together".
"How?".
"If you remove the "mask" of each body until one remains, the one remaining shall be the true Ren Amamiya".
A sly smile creeped up on Knowledge's lips.
G came in.
"Yo! Sup dude?! Prime told me to come help you fuse".
"Hey there. Actually…can we step outside for a second? I want to test something".
"Sure. Hope it's a new move!".
They stepped outside and appeared near Iwai's store Untouchable.
G had his back turned to Knowledge and slowly turned to face him.
"So what did you want to test-hey?! What are you-".
Absorbed.
Knowledge was the only one standing in that alley.