4/16

Ryuji stood outside "Untouchable" waiting for Akira to arrive. They had planned on going shopping on Sunday since they wouldn't have any school but decided everything with Kamoshida was more important. Even if they didn't go to the metaverse today, they should at least get their supplies in order. Ryuji stops people watching as he receives a text.

Akira: Hey I'm sorry I won't be able to make it to shop with you today. Mona wants me to get medicine for the trip.

-Do you have money to cover for now? Ann and I can pay you back on Monday or something.

Ryuji: thats fine

-do u no what Ann wants?

Akira: No. Try something small and compact, easy to carry around but not visible.

Ryuji: ok

Ryuji pockets his phone as he walks into Untouchable. The shop is small and cramped with as much merchandise as it can hold. Behind the counter sits an intimidating looking man with drabby clothes and ear protectors on his head. Ryuji gulps slightly and walks up to the counter.

"Can I help you?" the man asks without looking up from his magazine.

"I'm looking for something real looking? Preferably a shotgun and something that fires a lot," Ryuji says.

"You talking an automatic?"

"No, a gun. Why would I be talking about cars?" Ryuji asks, a little upset the man tried changing the topic on him.

The man sighs, "Kid, an automatic is a gun that shoots as you hold down the trigger. Is that what you're looking for?"

"Y-yeah I think so. As long as it's small," Ryuji replies.

"I'll be honest if any of my regulars were in here, I wouldn't be helping you out," the man says as he puts his magazine down and gets up, "but considering you bought something here last week and now you're back; I may as well help you out. But do me a favor, try not a be such a casual, ok?"

"I'm not a casual!" Ryuji shouts.

"Right, and I didn't just explain to you what an automatic is."

"Can you just help me out?"

"You said shotgun and small automatic right? Give me a sec," the man says as he turns around and goes behind a curtain behind the counter. Ryuji takes a moment to admire the various things on display. American rifles and grenade launchers hang on the wall while fake body armor hangs on the racks. Memorabilia of all kinds is displayed everywhere else from posters to targets.

"Here," the man says returning to the counter, "I think these are what you're looking for." The man places two model guns on the counter, one a large single barrel pump action shotgun, and the other a small submachine gun.

"They're made as accurately to the real things as possible and can put BB's down range up to 50 yards without wind."

Ryuji looks at the two guns on the counter with wide eyes. They look so real he can see his reflection in the metal they're made with.

"They're perfect, how much?" Ryuji asks.

"Five thousand yen," the man says with a straight face.

"FIVE THOUSAND ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

"Kid you shout in my face one more time and I'm going to break your face, you got me?"

"Y-yeah, sorry about that," Ryuji says as he begins digging in his pocket. "Here you go."

"Alright, let me get a bag for you to put these in, and remember don't go pointing them at people. And if the police ask where you got them, it wasn't from me."

"Yeah I remember, you gave me the same spiel last time."

"And I'll give it to you every time until I'm sure you've got it. Have a good one kid," the man says with a small wave.

Ryuji walks out of untouchable with a bag slung over his shoulder and another in his hand. He sends Ann and Akira a quick text in their group message telling them he got the 'stuff.' Man, that guy was kinda an asshole, Ryuji thinks to himself and he begins his walk home.

XXXX

Ann stands outside the hospital where Shiho is currently admitted. She looks up at the tall building with all its windows and floors. It seems daunting to Ann that Shiho is even higher up on a floor than when she was when she jumped at school. Ann pushes the thought from her mind as best she can and goes inside to find the elevator up to Shiho's floor.

Ann steps out of the elevator and turns walking towards Shiho's room. She knows she isn't awake yet, but the thought of Mr. and Mrs. Suzui having to sit all alone with their daughter makes Ann anxious. There's nothing they can do, and Ann knows that the rest of Shiho's friends on the team don't dare visit her while under Kamoshida's watchful eye. Ann arrives at the room and as she enters sees Mrs. Suzui sitting by the bed holding Shiho's hand.

"Oh, hello Takamaki-chan," Mrs. Suzui says. The tiredness in her voice is evident, and she looks as if she hasn't slept for days.

"Good afternoon," Ann bows at her. Ann pulls up a chair on the other side of the bed and sits down. "How is she doing today?"

"Better," the woman replies, "her condition has stabilized, and her signs look normal. All things considered. But they still don't know when she'll wake up."

Ann listens to what she says but doesn't know what to say in response. She has so much she wants to tell Shiho, but she can only tell her if she's alone or Shiho is awake. Ann doesn't want Mrs. Suzui to know she's joined two delinquent boys at the school to go into an alternate reality and steal the desires of the teacher who caused this. It wouldn't make sense and most people wouldn't believe it anyway.

Ann grabs Shiho's other hand and sits in silence, looking at her friends face with tubes and wires in her mouth and attached to her body. The soft rhythmic beeps of the heart rate monitor alongside the bed provide and ambient soundtrack to this depressing hospital room. Ann feels the emotional numbness return to her body as the minutes tick on and on. How could someone as innocent as Shiho be subjected to what has happened to her? Who deserves this?

"The doctors say she was sexually assaulted," Shiho's mother says. Her eyes turn to Ann and hold the gaze, "Do you know anything about it Takamaki-chan? Do you know who did this to my daughter?"

"No…" Ann lies. Mrs. Suzui holds the gaze a few moments longer before returning to look at Shiho. "But I promise you, Suzui-san, I will find out. I'll make sure the world knows who did this to her."

Mrs. Suzui remains silent as if she hadn't heard Ann's reply. But she removes her hand from Shiho's and moves to grab Ann's hand. She grasps it and begins to cry.

"Thank you dear. I know your words can't mean much in reality but knowing how much you care helps me remember that my daughter is the victim in all this."

Ann looks at her with a shocked expression. How could you think differently? As if she heard the thought, Mrs. Suzui continues.

"She had it all, a spot on the team, excellent grades, a beautiful face, and until recently I guess… friends. I didn't understand why she would do something like this. Why couldn't she come and talk to us about it? We would've listened… or maybe we should have been the ones to ask… We saw the bruises but thought they were from a tough workout or training session. And then she began to eat less, and we assumed it was for the team, that she needed to stay in shape or something. I feel like we've failed her as badly as the world has…" Tears continue to stream down Mrs. Suzui face. Ann could see how broken her heart was as if she wore it on her sleeve. Ann's eyes begin to tear up as she responds.

"I asked her about the bruises," Ann begins. "She said they were from practice, but I think I knew better. I'm sorry Suzui-san, I've failed her too. I think I knew she was going through some stuff, but I didn't be the friend to her she needed. I tried, but I didn't try hard enough. I always assumed there'd be tomorrow or the day after that to talk to her. If I could go back and try again, I'd give anything to do it."

"You were there after she jumped?" Mrs. Suzui asks. Ann nods her head, tears falling from her chin onto her chest. "Then you were there for her Ann. You were there when she needed somebody, anybody, in her darkest time. You haven't failed her, and we're not upset with you."

Ann begins to 'ugly cry' as her mother used to call it. Her face shapes itself to how her heart feels as she cries and breathes and sobs. Ann lays her head down on the bed near Shiho's hand and sobs harder and harder as the weight of guilt and grief wash over her. She feels Mrs. Suzui hand leave hers and a moment later she's walked around the bed to put her arm around Ann. A gentle pull brings Ann to a standing position as Mrs. Suzui embraces her and the two women stand there, holding one another as they cry.

Minutes pass until the two women are able to stop their crying. Ann sits back down as Mrs. Suzui leaves to go find some Kleenexes. Ann looked back at Shiho's face and sees how peaceful she seems to look under all that hospital equipment.

Ann leans down to Shiho's ear and whispers, "I've got some friends to help me get back at him. Hang in there until we do, OK?"

Mrs. Suzui returns to the room and hands Ann a few tissues which she uses to wipe her face and shirt with. Ann thanks her and throws the tissues away in the wastebasket near the bed as she stands and begins to collect her jacket and purse.

"Thank you again, dear, for visiting," Mrs. Suzui says with a small smile on her face. "I know she'd appreciate it. She spoke of you often."

Ann smiles back at her, "She's my only… one of my only friends I've got at that school. I can't imagine going there without her."

Ann hugs Mrs. Suzui one last time before giving Shiho's hand one last squeeze as she turns and leaves the room.

XXXX

Akira entered Leblanc Café in the late afternoon. He'd just been out on a shopping spree with Morgana, visiting different shops in the Yongen-Jaya district looking for things to clean that attic room and things that would help in the metaverse. They had also stopped by that clinic with the doctor that was in Leblanc yesterday as per Morgana's suggestion. A woman by the name of Tae Takemi was the doctor at that residence and she was as strange in personality as she was in her style of dress. Akira had tried to purchase medicine from her with some excuse about studying for exams, but she saw through it immediately.

Instead she made him an offer, Akira would be her medical guinea pig and she'd sell him medicine without asking too many questions about why he wanted it so as long as she believed he wasn't an addict of some kind. Akira had agreed and had spent most of the day passed out on her medical couch. Upon awaking Akira got some painkilling medication that had a bit more strength that what he could find over the counter, exchanged contact with Dr. Takemi and was on his way back home.

Sojiro stands behind the counter cleaning the last of the day's mugs when Akira walks in.

"Hey, you're back. Mind washing your hands and helping me with dishes so I can get out of here a little earlier?" he asks. Akira nods his head and drops his bag into a booth as he moves behind the counter to wash his hands in the sink in the small kitchen.

"How's business?" Akira asks.

"Don't really see how it concerns you," Sakura-san shoots back. After a brief pause, he continues, "It's all good as long as the shop doesn't fail. I'm not gonna go wearing a fake smile."

"What if it does fail?" Akira replies. Sakura-san seemed short and upset with Akira, but it doesn't seem like he wants to be. Seems to Akira he's putting on some kind of an act.

"Who knows? Maybe I'll end up living out on the streets. But as long as I'm here, the world leaves me be." Sakura-san says. "No annoyances or troublesome people to deal with. It's like my own personal hideaway. I'd be kinda screwed if I lost it, but I guess you would be too," Sakura-san says with a small chuckle.

"Does that mean I'm not an annoyance, Sakura-san?" Akira asks. He hadn't intended anything malicious behind the question but at the same time wishes he hadn't asked the moment it leaves his mouth. The words hang in the air as Akira finishes drying another plate and puts it on the shelf next to him.

"No, you're not an annoyance. In fact, you've been a lot better than I expected. You've been closing up shop nicely at night when you're out late, nothing has been stolen or broken and I haven't had any calls from your school about your grades or behavior. Hell, it almost feels like I've got two—" Sakura-san stops himself.

"Never mind that. You're not too bad here, kid. Tell you what, if you'd like, and I'd like it if you liked it. I could use some help around here some days. Someone to help me run behind the counter and attend to the regulars as they come in. I'd like you to work here with me while you're staying here. I'll even toss some money your way now and then for the work you do. What do you say?"

"I'd like that," Akira says as a smile creeps itself onto his face.

"Good. Well, that should be everything. Thanks for the help, I've got something to get back to at home. Don't cause any trouble," Sakura-san says with a smile and tilt of his head. He turns and puts his apron on the counter next to the phone and heads towards the door. As he walks out, he stops for a moment before turning around.

"Oh, and Akira. It's just Sojiro. The only people calling me 'Sakura-san' are the people who's money I'm taking for coffee." He smiles again as he turns and steps out the door.

Akira heads upstairs to his room and is glad to see the bags he asked to be delivered to the café were already delivered and even brought up here. He fishes out some air spray and gives the room a spraying down as Morgana hops from his bag and stretches on the floor.

"That was awfully nice of Sojiro to say that and offer you that job," he says. Akira nods his head in agreement as he opens a window near his bed a crack and begins to undress for bed. "Seems like he's warming up to you a lot more since even I've started living here. Must be my natural charm wearing off on you."

Akira gives a small laugh as he tosses his shirt onto the cat. He hears his phone buzz from a pocket in the pants on the floor. As he sits on his bed to read the text and respond, Morgana moves onto bed next to him and props himself against Akira's shoulder to read with him.

Ann: So, I went to see Shiho in the hospital…

Akira: How is she?

Ann: Her condition is stable.

-They don't know when she'll regain consciousness though.

Akira: That's scary! But I'm sure she'll be ok. She's got you there supporting her.

Ann: Yeah. She'll get better, I know it.

-I've just got to believe in her.

-But I'll never forgive Kamoshida. Every day I get more and more ready to make him pay for what he's done. No matter what.

Akira: Me too. We'll get him.

Ann: I know we will.

-Mind if I ask you a question? And don't tell me I just did.

Akira: Shoot.

Ann: Would you want to hang out after this is all over?

-Ryuji too, if you'd like.

-Up to you.

-Just wondering.

Akira reads the messages and can feel his heart beating in his chest. Is she asking what I think she's asking? No. Can't be.

"She seems to like you…" Morgana says with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"You think so?"

"It's right there on your screen…"

"You alright? Are you upset about it or something?"

"Well, no. Kind of? I don't know," Morgana says. "I like her, I think she's the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on. Her presence lights up the room she's in…"

"Tell me about it," Akira agrees. "Well would you like me to say 'No?'"

"What? No! Don't be a moron, I'm a cat right now anyway. Even if I had wanted to be with her, not like I'd be able to really. But if you don't get with her or things don't work out or something, you'd better stay out of my way."

Akira chuckles lightly. This cat, this guy, is really quite the personality. "Thanks for your approval."

Akira: Yeah that sounds nice. I'd really like that.

Ann: Awesome!

-Well that is all I had to say.

-I'll see you in class on Monday then?

Akira: For sure. Goodnight, Ann.

Ann: Goodnight, Akira.

Akira smiles as he plugs his phone into its charger and sets it on the ground next to his journal. It's been awhile since he updated it, but that's a problem for another day as he lies down in bed and gets ready for sleep.

XXXX

Ann feels like her heart is about to burst out of her chest. She sits in the tub in her apartment staring at his message on screen.

Akira: Yeah that sounds nice. I'd really like that.

She can't believe he actually said 'yes.' She regretted hitting send on the message the moment it was sent but there it is. He replied 'yes.' He wanted to go out on some kind of thing together with her. Was it a date or just two friends hanging out? Is it too soon to call them friends yet anyway?

Ann climbs out of the tub and wraps herself in a towel as she begins to pull her hair out of its tails. If my life keeps going the way these past couple of days have gone, I'm going to have an aneurysm. Ann smiles as she continues to not believe her luck and stare at herself in the mirror. She looks into her own blue eyes as her wavy golden hair falls across her chest and shoulders. A thought creeps into her head that begins to upset her as the idea takes root. He didn't just say yes because of my body, right?

Ann begins to feel a bit down as she frowns twisting her body in the towel, viewing her skin and body from various angles that're visible. Well, don't worry about it now. If Morgana is right and we can die in that place, I can't afford to be thinking about what boys think of me if I'm going to survive.

Ann tries pushing the thought from her mind as she begins making her way to her room to change and go to bed.