I'm back earlier than before! Hope you enjoy the chapter! Remember, Fav, Follow, and Review! I accept any criticism (but be courteous).
Chapter 8: Rally Fail
4/12 After-school
"I'm home," Kaz announced as he opened the door entering the house He was greeted with a very pouting Rei who ran up and stood on a couch to reach his height level and looked at him angrily in the eyes.
"Ummm?" Rei only flicked him on the forehead. "Ow! Hey! What was that for?"
"You're late!" She yelled. "You said you'd be home after school and you stayed there without telling me!"
"Sorry, I had a club meeting at the last minute, forgot to tell you about." Kaz apologized nervously.
She only frowned. "You should have called!" She jumped on the couch upset. "Daddy isn't home and I was worried! I thought you left like Mom!"
"Hey, hey, hey." Kaz calmed his little as he picked her up from the couch back to the floor. He kneeled down to her eye level. "You're right. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you that I had a change in plans today. The last thing I wanted to do is have you worried." He brushed her hair to confront her and proceed to hug her. "I made a promise that I never leave you. Remember?"
Her muscles relaxed, anger gone, her act gone, she hugged him back, smiling contently. She couldn't bring herself to stay mad at her brother for too long. He was always there to take care of her ever since she was a baby and was there to look after her after the divorce and the times her father worked late. Perhaps, she is the only girl in the world that Kaz would never argue against.
"I remembered, Kaznii-chan." She answered as she hugged back. "Why were you late today?"
"Can I say it?" Kotone cried out from the kitchen. "I love telling stories of Kaz's screw-ups."
"No, you will not." Kaz intently replied as he stood up. "I had to go to a meeting for the archery club, today."
Rei gasped in excitement. "Archery!? That sounds so cool! Can you fire your arrows really fast like Feather Pink?"
"There's more to that. It's not like the TV shows."
"Eh… the main actress actually did archery in high school.-" Kotone interjected
"What was her name again? Take-something? Did she go Ken-kun's school? I don't remember." She quickly whispered to herself.
"Anyways." She went back on topic. "That's how she got the gig in the first place." Kotone resumed.
"So that's the club, Niijima-senpai signed you up for, huh? You do like to shoot." She knelt down to face Rei. "She signed him up without telling him. Why? Because he was too lazy to do so himself."
"Kotone!" Kaz cried out while scowling at her. "She doesn't need to know about that."
"Oh, don't wie to our pwecious wittle sister." She countered back feigning sympathy, she pinched Rei's cheeks lightly. It earned an annoyed grunt from the grade school student. "Each Council member has to be in another club, but Kazzy here didn't bother to do it himself." She stood up. "And so the president had to sign him up herself and I assumed she dragged you to the practice building and made sure you were actually participating." She smiled devilishly.
I hate you. "Yes. That's what happened." He confirmed her comments through his teeth.
Rei turned and scoffed at her older brother. "You were lazy at school!? You shouldn't do that! Do you remember the deal I made? If you get the highest grade in the class, I'll give you a reward!" She scolded him.
"Y-yes. I know." He sweatdropped. "I remembered, and haven't forgotten about our deal, and I won't let you down"
"I know you wouldn't," Kotone said as she held up her phone. "Because Makoto texted me about your academic predicament that she had partaken in."
Veins appeared around Kaz's forehead. It was bad enough that Makoto was there to nag him to improve his studies and now she recruited Kotone to do so?
Makoto, you damn witch.
"How much did she tell you?"
"That you need to improve your grades and maintained club attendance to keep you on the Council." She told him blankly.
"That's the gist of it." Kaz only sighed. "I'm guessing dad's not home?"
"Nope, work. I'll cook something up for dinner." Kotone responded.
"No, you will not." Kaz took off his blazer and set on his chair of the dinner table and rolled up his sleeves. "I'll make some ramen for the three of us." He turned on the stove and filled the saucepan with water. "Oh by the way, what else you did you told Ren about me!"
"Oh just how much you're a Rise fan."
"I-I'm not that big of a fan!" He vehemently denied while sporting a large blush across his face.
"Suuuuuure, you not." She and Rei said at the time with the same smug tone.
"And that time, there was that weird blackout at night with that weird red fog."
"It was scary looking," Rei said.
"I told you guys before, it was just some with weird weather phenomenon and maybe someone tripped over causing the blackout because he couldn't see through that red fog." Kaz rationalized the strange event during Golden Week a couple of years back in Inaba.
"Yeah, I guess, and Grandpa did make a surprise visit. Apparently, some of his old students visit there as well." The second-year huffed. "Besides the point, just so you know, I'll be cooking dinner sometime in the future I get through the cooking club." Kotone confidently affirmed.
"Heh, it'll be a miracle if you can make that doesn't make me puke." Kaz snidely retorted as he gathered the ramen packs.
"Oh FU-"
"Kotone!" Kaz yelled at his sister. He pointed at Rei to remind her to mind her language when a nine-year old's around.
"I know what she's going to say," Rei explained. "I've heard it before and I can hear your whispers."
"..." He just looked at this sister stunned.
"Just…. don't say it out loud." He sweatdropped. "You go on ahead, clean yourself up for dinner." He ordered her which she obeyed.
"Rei, have you finished packing for the hospital visit soon?" Kotone reminded her. "It's three days from today."
"Oh, yes! I'm almost finished packing." After a brief moment, her smile faded. "How long will I have to stay?"
"Ummm, depends what the doctors say. A couple of days, a week a most… maybe?" Kotone reassured her.
"Okay. But you two will be there, right?"
"Yes, the two of us promised." Kaz guaranteed as he put the ramen in the boiling water.
"What about Daddy?"
"Even though he's busy, he will visit you," Kotone answered as she kneeled down and look at her straight into the eyes.
"But Mommy won't come." Rei sadly replied. It left an awkward silence in the home with the water boiling being the only source of noise. Anger built up inside of Kaz, boiling up to the point he could burn water, clenching on the chopsticks tightly, almost breaking. The subject of their mother was still an uneasy topic to discuss, especially for Rei and Kaz.
"No." Kaz bitterly replied in a low tone. "She won't."
"Yeah." Kotone softly followed. "She's… very busy in Port Island. She's a hardworking teacher there."
Maybe busy with another man. Kaz scathingly thought.
"It's roughly an hour away from here. But I assure you." She held her younger sister's hands, squeezing them tightly. "She knows you get through this. You did this many times before, you are a very strong girl, and mom knows this. She believes in you, and misses you, because she loves you deeply."
"Still, it'll be nice to see her again." Rei dejectedly replied as she looked down. "She was with Dad until I came."
"NO!" Kotone and Kaz yelped out.
"It's not your fault." Kotone confronted her.
"There were other circumstances to the divorce," Kaz explained. "And most of it was Kazuko's doing."
"Kaz..." Kotone warned his brother that it was not the time before she turned her focus to Rei.
"Hey, you meet her soon enough, I'll set up a video chat for you talk to her." Kotone held up Rei's head to see a hint of tears coming from her eye ducts. She proceeded to hug her tightly. "I promised you, I'll get to mom visit you on your birthday. That's my promise to you."
Rei only smiled softly in response, trusting her older sister with no doubt in her mind.
"Now wash up and get ready for dinner okay?" Kotone asked her and kissed her on the forehead before she headed off to the bathroom. When Rei went out of the hearing range, Kaz turned on the TV for ambient noise.
"Ichiryusai Madarame's art exhibition will be open to the public in Tokyo next month. The artist himself will be there on opening day, May 15th." The newscaster informing the viewers of an upcoming event.
"Moving on, stocks fell on the low side all around, notably with the Kirijo's Group losing 5 points, while the Nanjo Group maintain a consistent rate of losing 2 points."
"She will hold on to you for that, right?" Kaz coldly told her as he ignored the TV. "Don't make promises you can't keep."
"I will." She answered back with a seriousness in her voice. She was determined to make her promise real. "You're not the only one who wants Rei to be happy."
He only huffed sharply through his nose as a reply as he cracked an egg into the pot. "That is if Kazuko-"
"Mom"
"Kazuko's not chasing men in Port Island."
"That's an exaggeration and you know it!" Kotone angrily snapped back. "She doesn't do that anymore!"
She let out a tired sigh. "We're not having this argument again. Besides, you said we needed to talk about earlier in school."
"Yes, we should." He said as poured the ramen into a spare bowl and ready the second pack. "Care to explain that outburst?"
"Yeah, I was going through emotional Hell. Have you heard what the students said about you and me?"
"I don't care for what they say. I know what I am and that's good enough."
"But there is truth in it. You must have known that the Principal wanted to replace you with me after you lowered your grades." Kaz remained silent, he remembered what Makoto said to him earlier. He wanted you out when Kotone-san was transferred here. Another unintended consequence of his actions, he didn't want her to be a trophy for the Principal, but that was the result when his choices.
"You have always been there for me and Rei. I get taking care of Rei, but me? I appreciate it, I truly do, but I felt I've been too dependent on you on everything."
He stayed quiet intending on listening in to Kotone's statement while a bit confused. Wasn't that the duty of the older brother? Taking care of their younger siblings something that he taught to do since he was young?
"I know what you're thinking. Yes. The oldest brother has to take the responsibility, but you're not the only older sibling here." She answered for whatever question Kaz was thinking of.
"I want to make a name for myself, at Shujin and here in Tokyo, I can't be in your shadow forever. It doesn't mean I'm not talking to you at school. I just want some 'me time'" She explained.
"Heh. Okay." He nodded. "You do your thing. It's not gonna be easy, I've done this for a long time. I can't just break this overnight. It's the big city now, not Inaba, there are guys out there lusting over girls like you."
"I know how to fight, all that training that dad and grandpa taught me won't go to waste." She assured him. " And yes, I know it's hard to break your sister-complex you developed over the years."
"Hey. It's not that bad." He unwittingly denied. "And also, why? From our text conversations, you did made quite a name for yourself back in Gekkou High" He leaned back at the counter with his arms crossed looking at Kotone with incredulity.
"You could have been Vice President this year had you stay there. And yes, I heard what the students said, Gekkou Snob, Seta's Sis, etc, etc. Surely you must have expected that when you came here. You knew Gekkou High is infinitely better, for God's sake, Shujin doesn't even have a pool! Kazuko's a teacher there and according to Dad, so was Grandpa, you had a foot in there. So why threw what you had in Gekkoukan High away and put yourself this shitheap of a school like Shujin? Hell, I should have gone to Kosei High but we didn't have the money. Hell, it's a goddamn Catholic School!"
She only remained quiet. Kotone knew the reason why. It was the catalyst that helped her awaken her Persona. But she didn't answer his question immediately, she doesn't want to, this was something personal to her and doesn't want Kaz to know her reason was -
"I'm back!" Rei skipped to the kitchen with a change of clothes that was more casual than her school uniform. "Is the ramen ready?"
"Yes, the first bowl's yours." Kaz set the bowl on the table as Rei took her seat. "I made sure that I didn't break the egg, and didn't put in too much spices."
"Yay!" She cheered as grabbed the chopsticks and started digging in. Kaz poured another pot of ramen into a larger bowl and handed to Kotone.
"You tend to have the bigger bowl." He said as readied to make the ramen bowl for himself.
"After this, you should get to studying. Niijima-senpai did text me to keep an eye on you." Kotone smiled mischievously.
"She's right, don't forget our deal, Kaznii-chan!"
Damn you Makoto "Yes, I should do that." He grumbly replied as he made the third bowl for himself.
"And that's it for the news. Up next, Who's Who by Trish! And after that is a new episode of Nightly Talk with Uesugi!"
4/12 Evening
After the three went their separate ways, as much Ren wanted to explore Shibuya, he feared it would take too much time that would make him late when heading back to LeBlanc, so perhaps it was best that he looked around Yongen-Jaya backstreets near the cafe. Since it wasn't that big of an area, he had time to take note of various stores available. A supermarket, a second-hand shop called 'Yumenoshima' a place where it sells used but functioning items that reside across from the Cafe. He found a laundromat and bathhouse nearby which he could use since the cafe doesn't have those besides a bathroom to keep up with his hygiene. To his dismay, a closed movie theater, guess he had to find one in Shibuya, Takemi Medical Clinic, and to his joy, a batting center, at least his batting skills won't get rusty in the following year.
Before he decided to head back to the cafe, he stopped in front of Sojiro's house took a decent look at it. Ren wondered why Sojiro didn't let him stay in his house instead of living in a dusty cafe attic. The place seemed big enough to house two people, or three, he had to have a spare room or least room for a makeshift bed. Maybe, it was too risky to have a complete stranger with a record to stay in one's house.
Ah well, beggars can't be choosers. He thought he headed back to LeBlanc.
Unknownst to him, a window curtain moved and a small girl with orange hair wearing glasses was observing Ren walking away from the house and moved away from the windows once he went out of sight.
Hmmm, why was he at the front of the house? What is he planning? A sound of a doorbell came from one of the computer monitors that caught that her attention.
He's back the cafe! The glasses wearing girl rushed over the series of monitors to observe.
"Oh, you're home." Sojiro looked up from the newspaper that he was reading to greet his ward. "I take it you actually went to school today?"
"Of course, nothing happened today," Ren replied honestly, except for the whole castle or Personas.
"Good, as long you're not causing any trouble, it's fine by me," Sojiro said. "Still, I don't know what you've been up to, but trust me, you'll be gone if you start causing problems."
Eleven He counted again.
"In case you forget, your life is not a free one right now." He went on.
Oh trust, I won't forget about that
Before Ren could say the standard "he knows" reply, his phone vibrated, signaling him that he got a text message from his Sony Xperia phone. He looked at his Sony Xperia XZ1 and saw it was Ryuji texting him.
RS: Hey I decided to go ahead and message you. Can you see this?
RA: Nope
RS: Oh very funny. So you can read it.
Ren could only imagine how annoyed Ryuji was.
RS: I'm counting on you two tomorrow, ok?
RA: We will
RS: Thanks, you're a bro.
RS: Welp, see you tomorrow.
RS: Let's save those guys who've been getting abused. You, me, and Kotone.
RA: We should set up a group chat.
RS: Right, on it.
Ren put his phone away and Sojiro only shook his head.
"Sheesh, you weren't even paying attention to me. Just stay away from bad influences, okay?"
He nodded to acknowledged his advice and headed to the stairs.
"Hey, I'm heading home. I'm gonna lock up the store, don't wander off okay?"
"Got it." He replied as he walked up to the attic.
Bad influence, Ryuji's ain't that bad, definitely not Kotone.
He set his bag on the table and changed out of his uniform into his sleepwear, he sat on the "bed" and checked his phone one more time. His Sony Xperia XZ1 vibrated showing that Ryuji texted him again.
RS: Yo, I set up a group chat who you and Kotone. You guys got it?
RA: Present.
KoS: I'm here, just finished dinner.
RS: Cool, Ren, remember the red thingy on your phone was that some red eyeball icon?
RA: Yeah.
RS: We ended up at that weird place when we used this nav app, right?
RA: You have it too?
RS: Yeah, I found it.
KoS: Let me check.
KoS: ….
KoS: Holy Crap, me too.
RS: I don't remember installing this!
RA: Same here, I tried deleting it but it didn't work.
KoS: Scary
RS: For real, what is this thing?
KoS: Malware
RS: But still, we can go to that weird place with it, right?
RA: Yeah we can.
RS: Basically, it's gonna depend on how we use it
RS: But, first we gotta find evidence for the beatings.
RS: I'm counting on both of you, all right? Don't go ditching on me.
RA: You can count me.
RS: Kotone?
RA: Seta?
KoS: Sorry, had to tuck Rei in. I'm with you.
RS: Cool.
KoS: Guys, I need to tell you something.
RA: What is it?
RS: What about it?
KoS: Have you noticed the guys tortured at the castle are only boys from the volleyball team?
RS: Yeah, I remember now, they're all dudes.
KoS: There's a girls team right?
RS: Well, the volleyball team is integrated but yes.
KoS: And Kamoshida coaches them too?
RS: Yes…
KoS: Where are the girls?
RA: …. Wait, what?
RS: Haven't thought about that.
KoS: Remember how his Shadow…. wants me?
Ren's eyes widened, let out a brief gasp. He remembered how Kamoshida asked that Ann girl for a ride and that time he talked to her and Kotone. Those female volleyball players.
RS: Oh no.
RA: This could be bad.
KoS: We have to stop him.
RS: We will Kotone
RA: I promise you that.
KoS: Thank you
Ren set his phone aside and thought about what Kotone suspected, she was right, he remembered seeing a couple of pictures of the girl volleyball members, and there were no girls at the torture cells, they were nowhere to be found. As much he hated how much Shadow lusted over Kotone, he did wanted her to join the volleyball team, and that cognition of Ann. Kotone might be onto something but they need evidence first.
Let's hope we get lucky to stop him. I won't let Ryuji and Kotone down. They're… the only... friends I have. An image of him eatingbeef bowl with them earlier from today, smiling, chatting, it was the first time in a long time since his arrest that he had fun. The image remained with him until he went to sleep.
[BGM Aria of the Soul]
Eyes snapped wide opened, he was no longer in the attic anymore as he was staring at a blue ceiling, he felt cold metal around his wrists, his clothes changed to a standard prison outfit again. He immediately got up and walked to the cage to see a couple of familiar faces.
Back to this place again. And who is doing that singing? And playing that piano?
"Welcome to the Velvet Room" Igor greeted the prisoner with a smile that never seemed to go away. "I thought about resuming our previous conversation tonight. That is why I have summoned you."
"What are your thoughts? Are you becoming accustomed to this place?" He asked.
"It's okay."
"Glad to hear it seems like you have nerves of steel." sounding pleased.
"Your rehabilitation determines if ruin can be stopped. Yet, such a feat cannot be done alone." He continued. "But today, you entered a partnership with someone who awoke to the same power, haven't you?"
"Ryuji? Kotone? You knew?" He was surprised that Igor somehow knew about the awakening of those two.
"Involving yourself with others is an important foundation for your recovery. You've done well." He praised Ren. "That said, I am not advising the formation of superficial relationships."
He continued. "It must not be of frivolity, but a ring of those who would, by morals or faith, lend you their strength. In other words, they are bonds who have been robbed of their places to belong. The expansion of said ring will, in return, help you mature as well."
Form bonds. Not just Kotone and Ryuji?
"Personas are the strength of heart," Justine explained. "The stronger the bonds that surround you, the more power your Personas will gain."
She flipped through the pages and two cards emerged from her clipboard. A picture of a king with two horse appeared on one card with the number VII on it and the other card had a unique design, it had golden edges around it with a drawing of a bird-like figure with the number XX on the bottom. However, both have a faint glow on them.
"As you see, the bonds you recently made are represented by these two cards, the Chariot, and the Aeon. It's best for you to deepen the bonds with these as it will help become stronger as well. And there are more than just two here. It is advisable for you to form more bonds and deepen them as well."
"There are countless people in the city who have talents that a weakling like you doesn't." Caroline made clear with more of an attitude. "You better rack that noggin' of yours and get them on your side. We'll change that into power."
So that explains the voice in my head when I was with Ryuji and Kotone.
"Very well, it's nice to make more friends." Ren smiled a bit at the twins.
Justine looked at her clipboard for a moment thinking, confused about a certain aspect. She turned to Igor.
"Master, I have an inquiry. I checked the list of bonds the prisoner could form and I found that there are more than the standard number of the deck. The Aeon is one such."
"I noticed that as well." Igor acknowledged. "Do not worry, there were arcanas that exceeded the number in the past before and the Aeon was one of them, they are… an unique arcana. The last Velvet Room guest form bonds with the Aeon and Jester Arcana. Such outliners as such are a likely occurrence in the future."
"I understand now." Justine turned back to Ren. "At least, you have more bonds to help you grow stronger now."
"Indeed. You should be prepared to form bonds even here or else your ambitions will not come to fruition." He chuckled briefly. "We have a deal then."
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
that breaketh thy chains of captivity
With the birth of the Fool Persona
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power.
All right, another one. After hearing the voice again, this time, signifying his deal with Igor. Although he just meet him and it was the third time, he felt he could trust him in aiding him with the metaverse and to prevent whatever ruin that should come. And there are other people out there who will help him on his journey and in turn, help them as well.
"Well, you will understand it all in due time. Continue devoting yourself to your rehabilitation."
"This conversation is over. Now get lost, inmate." Caroline scoffed.
"Wait, I got-"
4/13/2016
"Gyah!" Ren immediately shot up from the bed wide awake. He's back to the real world, he checked his phone, it's a Wednesday, at morning time. Best he should get ready for school and meet up with Ryuji and Kotone to take down Kamoshida.
During his walk to school, Ren overheard two first-year students chatting with each other about the upcoming volleyball rally.
"How annoying. We've barely started high school, and already they're making play a volleyball rally? And why they're pitting us against the teacher's team? Kamoshida's gonna crush us."
His friend who was more optimistic than his peer. "Yeah but we get to see his technique live and in person, though. We should totally get spiked on!"
Yeesh, I doubt you want to. Ren thought as he remembered the dungeon with the cannon firing volleyballs at the players' face.
"Yeah. OK. You're gonna get your face smashed in. Just look how banged up the volleyball team. What the hell goes on during their practices?"
That's what we're trying to figure out.
"Hey!" a girl's voice came from behind him. Kotone and Kaz were approaching from behind with the second-year sped up to walk to Ren's side.
"I'll be going now. We need to meet up with the council for the final rally preparations. Just a friendly reminder." Kaz told his sister as he walked away, holding on to his satchel.
"So you know what we should do today?" She told Ren, reminding him of their plans to investigate Kamoshida. "Ryuji's ready to go."
"I know, we need to bear the rally for a bit before we can head off," Ren replied as they arrived at the entrance.
After they went their separate ways, Kotone head over to the third floor to the student council for the last minute meeting to organize to rally. She was the last member to arrive as she saw the rest of the council already seated.
"For once, I'm not the last guy to arrive." Kaz declared out loud with false enthusiasm as he leaned back in his chair. Kotone briefly stuck out her tongue at him as she took a seat.
"At least, everybody's here." A council member said. "So pointers for the rally?"
"Well, for starters, it'll take place in the gymnasium, so it's required to wear gym uniforms when attending the rally," Makoto spoke up.
"Thank you Miss Obvious," Kaz replied. "Two council members had to supervise the rally, making sure which Class and Year are arriving, also we'll switch out."
"And there are no classes during then, some council members had to patrol," Kotone added on.
"Right, here are your assignments for the rally." Makoto handed out some papers to the members. "And let's enjoy our time at the rally today, okay?"
"Yeeeeaaaaah, sure" Kaz "agreed" as the council stood up and left to return to their respective classes.
Good, I get to patrol the school around the same time with Ren and Ryuji Kotone thought as she saw her assignments.
The volleyball rally was anything but a shame, it was just Kamoshida and a group of teachers paying a game against the students, doesn't matter if they were on the team or not, Kamoshida would pick anyone and play against them. The whole rally was a sham, most of the students just sit and watched the massacre unfold. Most of the students would just chatter on while the game was happening, some cheered for Kamoshida, just he intended, oblivious of his true nature.
"Man, you still got it, Coach!" One of the teachers praised his teammate.
"Thanks, let's go for another round!" The coach said, ready to set up again.
At the end of the court, near the student team, were Ren and Ryuji sitting on the wall bored out of their mind. They were wearing the standard gym uniforms meant for boys with Ryuji ditching the jacket. Near to them on the sidelines was where Ann and Kotone sitting next to each other on the chairs. Both wore their gym girls uniform with shorts instead of long pants and Kotone decided not wearing her jacket. Kotone was just watching the game with disinterest and Ann wasn't paying attention just twirling her pigtails. They didn't notice that Ryuji was looking at them.
"Still sticks out huh?" Ryuji muttered, but it caught Ren's attention. "Haven't changed a bit." most likely he was referring to Ann.
"Huh?" confused by his statement.
The blonde only let out a loud yawn. "Pretty boring. Right?"
"Yeah, it is." He responded, he looked at Kotone and Ann sitting there. He remembered Kamoshida wanted her to join the team due to her background and worried if she'll be called up to play. Perhaps, by showing off her skills in the front of the school would cause her peers to pressure her to join.
Across from the court, behind the teachers' team stood Kaz and Makoto leaning on the wall observing the rally as it was one of the council's assignments throughout the event. The Council President wore her gym outfit with her jacket zipped all the way up. Kaz just had his jacket zipped up half way.
"Tch told you so. It's a slaughter out there." Kaz tugged his undershirt until he realized he wasn't wearing a tie.
"Yes, I know. Don't rub it in." Makoto grudgingly agreed as she huffed while holding a first aid kit.
"That blue haired kid keeps getting spiked on," Kaz observed. "Does the coach have a grudge on him or something?"
"I don't know. But it is a sad sight."
"Don't have to tell me twice." He curtly replied. "Oh, by the way, a volleyball match as a rally? Seriously? Where's the marching band? The cheerleading squad? Things for a damn rally?"
"You would like to see the cheerleading squad here, won't you?" She smirked as she replied while observing the match without turning to him.
"Tch, oh don't think let that!"Kaz rolled his eyes as he denied whatever Makoto was implying. "A marching band and a cheer squad are usually at a rally to hype up the crowd. It has nothing to do with my impured desires!"
"Ssssuuureee, it doesn't" She did not sound convinced.
"I freaking hate you." He muttered as the volleyball was set up for another spiked by Kamoshida, this time he spiked it harder than before with a very audible sound of the ball smacking as his hand slammed on the ball hard. It flew down so fast straight to Mishima's face causing him to fall flat on his back. The court went silent after seeing such a hard fall occurred.
"Oh my God." Makoto cried as she ran over to the second year student.
"Jesus Christ." Kaz cursed under breathe as he followed ran for as well. As he ran, he took a brief sideways glance as Kamoshida, who stood there briefly before heading over to the injured student, his posture, and facial expression doesn't look like showing concern and regret spiking a ball hard on a student.
"Sorry." He reached over to Mishima and saw the two Council members. "Oh good, you two can take care of him."
"Of course, we will sir," Makoto replied as she and Kaz lifted Mishima up on to their shoulders.
"Hang in there man." Kaz consoled Mishima as the two guided him to the nurse's office.
After staring at her general direction for a bit. "Alright! Let's get back to the match." It was like he completely forgot about the spiking incident. "Anybody want to join in?"
He turned and point at Kotone. "What about you? Just one match?"
"Eh?" taken aback as Kotone sat up straight.
Damnit called it. Ren hated it when he was right this case. Kamoshida's putting her on the spot in front of the crowd pressuring her to play. Trying to find a way to have join the team and it would lead him to do…. obscene things.
"I'm sure the former Gekkou High volleyball player would have no problem here." Revealing her past in front of the students adding the pressure which caused some whispers.
"She used to play volleyball?"
"Didn't we beat them last year?"
"If she used to play why didn't she join?"
She took a deep sigh. "Fine." She resignedly accepted. She stood up and enter into the court.
Well, if she's forced to play in this match, might as well that she didn't have to play alone.
"I like to join in too," Ren spoke out as he stood up, removed his glasses and handed to Ryuji to the surprise of everybody in the gym and Kotone's relief.
Oh good, at least I won't have to endure this. She thought as she get ready to play.
"Huh, a volunteer?" Kamoshida smirked. "Very well, someone else has to sit this one out."
Ren approached the court and stood next to Kotone among the whispers from the students.
"Jeez, he thinks he can take him?"
"He'll totally get owned."
"Think he's all tough now?"
"Thought you're more of a baseball guy?" She whispered to Ren.
"It's good to try new things." He smirked. "It's your call, you do this more than me."
"Fine, first foremost, they rely on him for the finishing spikes get there before him, and we'll be fine… kinda."
"Kinda? That's assuring." A student sarcastically commented.
"BEGIN!" The referee called out with one of the teachers serving.
The ball was set up for a spike for Kamoshida to take, as he slammed down the ball, Kotone was able to dive to prevent it from striking the ground giving her a team a chance to continue playing.
"Guys! Keep up the pressure!" She yelled out as she got up. A ball passed to her, she bounced the ball to Ren.
"Set me up!" She told Ren as she ran to the net.
Okay. He thought as he pushed the ball at an angle towards the net. Kotone made a leap to make a spike at the other team. Unfortunately, she overshot the spike and landed out of bounds much to the groan of the students.
"Damn, we were so close."
Not bad, not bad at all. The coach thought as she got the students to regroup.
For the next couple of matches, the student was able to put up a decent defense, able to block off from Kamoshida's potential scores to the joy of student team, and to the hidden frustration of the coach. Soon after, all the spikes Kamoshida made were starting to land on Ren.
Damnit! He's targeting me like the last guy! Guess we're pissing him off.
Oh no, he's doing it again! Need to stop it!
"Guys! They're setting it up, block it!" Kotone yelled out as she and two other students attempt to block the spike but his spike went over them straight to Ren's face. A loud smack echoed throughout the gym, causing him to lean back, head flying back.
"SHIT!" Ryuji yelled out.
"Ren!" Kotone cried worried.
But to the school's surprise, he slammed his right back foot down, stopping him from falling, fists clenched, and brought his head back to position giving Kamoshida the most intense glare that even shocked Kamoshida.
"U-ummm" Trying to save face. "Are you okay there? Kinda went too far again, haven't I"
"No," Ren replied. "Didn't feel a thing."
For that brief moment, he sounded like his other self from the castle, that same look he cast on the coach, the same eyes he cast at the king.
It was rather… impressive.
"Umm w-well, if you're sure you are okay, then we can resume the match."
Kotone shook her head to get herself back into reality and ran over to Ren.
"You sure you're okay?" She whispered.
"I'm fine," Ren replied stilling using that same alluring voice he had when he fought the Shadows in the castle. "I want to beat him at his own game here. You got a plan?"
Kotone was taken aback by his complete change in attitude. She refocused herself on the game.
"Yeah, I do have a plan, it's an old trick we did back in Gekkou High." She gathered the rest of the team and proceed to tell them her plan with Ren smirking in response.
"Risky, but I like it."
"Okay? Everybody! Let's go!" The group broke up to get into position with Kotone in the back serving and Ren in front closer to the net. After a series of back and forths between the two teams. As the students passed the ball to each to set up a spike. Kotone gave them the signal, and one of the teammates launched the ball way high into the air to the net. The teachers and Kamoshida were confused on the technique but the coach was more than happy to take this opportunity.
Do they think they'll get the ball before I'll do. This'll be a cinch! He smirked briefly as he readied himself for his signature spike.
"Ren! Now!" Kotone commanded him as she ran towards him at the net. Ren dropped to one knee, hands on top of each other. She leaped to him with her right foot landing on his hands and prepare to jump and at the same time, Ren quickly stood up and pushed his hands upward, launching Kotone high up into the air.
Everybody in the gym was at awe to see her so high in the air just at the right time where the ball started to fall down.
Wait, what? N-no NO! Kamoshida knew what was to come next.
"KIIIYYYYAAAAAAH!"
She yelled as loud she could as she smacked the ball with all her strength straight at the other team, falling right past Kamoshida's head, hitting scoring a point for the students. Everybody fell silent to see the Olympic Gold Medalist outplayed by the two transfer students, hated for different reasons, the Gekkou Snob and the Criminal.
"Hell, yeah!" Ryuji cheered as he saw Kamoshida's face of complete loss.
Wow, Ann thought in awe.
Yes Yes! Kotone cheered I did it! I…. am FALLING! Gravity took her, she curled up, eyes closed tightly to brace herself for impact. For a couple of seconds, she wait for the impact of hardwood on her body but she felt something different. A pair of arms under her broke her fall, under her legs and on her back. She opened her eyes and look around in confusion and looked up to her rescuer, to her surprise, it was Ren carrying her, he must have caught her when she was falling.
"Looked I like I saved you again." He smiled. Kotone immediately turned red due to how really close they were right now.
"Wyyaahh!" She nervously cried out, flailing her arms to get out of his arms. She took a couple of steps back as she got back on her feet.
"I-I think we're good now! W-we-we can leave now!" She hurryingly ran to the doors with haste leaving Ren a bit confused.
"Dude!" Ryuji put his arm around Ren's neck when he approached the door. "That was effin' awesome!"
"Thanks. But that was mostly Kotone's play." Ren thanked him when they left the gym. "We should meet up with her to get ready."
"Right" Ryuji let go of Ren and hyped himself up. "I'm so pumped up for this. Let's do this!"
"It's showtime," Ren whispered as tugged his sleeve.
That's the chapter, I wanted to add in the investigation but figure it would be too much so I'll save for the next chapter. That whole Ren playing volleyball against Kamoshida came from PRemington900's P5 Fic Trickster vs Champion. Hope you enjoyed the extra interactions with my OCs and more of young Rei in the first part and hope you enjoyed some of the callbacks of past Persona games. Also hope you enjoyed that small cameo of a certain little NEET.
Reviews:
Remington: I made starting to write chapters with fewer words now. That's one secret Kaz wants to keep hidden.
Rosy: This is going to be a list here.
1. No, she doesn't, it's just one of those events that she remembered despite not knowing the person.
2. Are you implying she haven't made food of Mystery Food X caliber before?
3. I told you in PM, Izanagi is God in Shinto, Kaz has knowledge of that religion.
5. This is still a dilemma for me. I still don't know who to ship.
The ships for Kotone are Ren, Ryui, Yusuke, and Akechi
While Kaz's ships are Makoto, Haru, Ann, and Hifumi.
Part of me wanted to have a close male/female friendship that doesn't end up being romantic.
7. Maybe they did but they just didn't know nor remember, at that time they were pass-by strangers.
10. I told you in the PM but Kazuko is the name of Kaz and Kotone's mother, Kaz decided to call her Kazuko after the divorce.
