4/21/17 – Thursday

It had only been a single day, and Akira was already greatly impatient. He could barely focus on his schoolwork, his mind wandering to the big day. May 2nd. Judgment day. One way or another, things would change forever. How Akira would pass the time until then was still up in the air. He hated having too much downtime, being squandered by doing nothing. Becoming Ryuji's workout partner had definitely helped take a little of the edge off. Running track and dining on ramen afterward. Quality bonding time, good food, and keeping in shape. Akira couldn't complain nor would he. As long as he was moving in some capacity, things would be fine.

He had considered getting a part-time job after school and in the evenings. It would keep him busy and line his pockets with money. Sojiro's cooking was delightful and all, but he had a healthy appetite. And the store owner didn't seem too keen on him snacking. They'd have plenty of opportunity to eat like kings once it was time to celebrate. After he diverted some of the cash into upgrading their weapons and armor, as well as pilfering some medicine from that doctor Tae Takemi.

Though, he'd have to convince Sojiro to let him wander out late. Wouldn't be that hard as it would mean he'd spend less time in Leblanc and taking up his space. But one thing at a time. His attention was drawn to his phone. The group text had started to flare up again.

Ann: I went to go see Shiho, and I told her we settled things with Kamoshida. She still hasn't regained consciousness… but I had to go make amends.

Ryuji: Whaddya mean? You didn't do anything wrong, Ann. Right, Akira?

Akira: It's not your fault in the slightest, Ann. Kamoshida was the one who did wrong.

Ann: But I wasn't there when she needed help. I'm a failure as a friend.

Akira felt his heart sink at her words. It wasn't fair of her to do this to herself. Shoulder blame for something beyond her control. Then again, he'd have done the same were it any of them.

"Lady Ann doesn't deserve such injustice," Morgana said, leaning atop Akira's shoulder as he viewed the screen. "Damn that Kamoshida."

Akira: You know that's not true, Ann. What were you supposed to do? Nobody was going to help us, and they'd all cover for Kamoshida. The odds were rigged against us.

Ann: Maybe so, but I have to do all I can to make up for that, starting now. Otherwise I don't think I'll be able to move on. I'm not gonna let anyone else get stepped on because I was scared.

Ryuji: Man, I didn't know you were so passionate. I totally didn't notice that back in middle school.

Ann: I think it's because of you guys. I'm a little embarrassed though. Anyway, Ryuji, Akira… I hope we can keep helping each other out from now on too.

Akira: Don't ever apologize for wanting to improve yourself or being passionate. I admire that drive of yours, Ann. It's inspiring and serves as a good light for the rest of us.

Ryuji: You can always count on ya boys here.

Akira: Once you're in the Phantom Thieves, you're in for life. We got your back till the very end.

Ryuji: Damn right!

Ann: You guys are the best. Seriously.

Akira's attention was diverted to Sojiro as the old man requested his help with the store. In exchange for aid, he'd be taught how to brew the perfect coffee. He did enjoy cooking in his spare time, though he wasn't much of a coffee drinker. Perhaps Ann was, however. It was an opportunity he put in his back pocket for later. It would give him something to do while he waited for the days to pass.

For May.

5/02/17 – Monday

The wait leading up to today had been excruciating. It became less easy for the Phantom Thieves to retain their composure. To convince one another that they weren't worried and everything was fine. Everything was fine. But the cracks were starting to show. It was difficult for any of them to remain still and pay attention in class, not just Akira. Akira and Ryuji threw themselves into their workout routine while Ann took as many modeling gigs as she could, spending any spare time looking after the unconscious Shiho. And now things were the tensest they've ever been.

Principal Kobayakawa had organized a morning assembly to do some damage control after Shiho's suicide attempt. The students chatted amongst themselves curiously about it. Some expressed annoyance, others expressed gratitude at being absent from class. Either way, the tension was palpable for the three Phantom Thieves as they lingered in the crowds. Akira and Ryuji were farther back in the crowd while Ann had gotten herself separated farther up.

"Let's begin this school-wide morning assembly," Kobayakawa droned on. "As you all know, a tragic event took place the other day. Thankfully, we have been informed that she has pulled through, but it will take time until she recovers." Ann managed to draw some satisfaction from knowing Shiho wasn't being swept under the proverbial rug and forgotten by the Shujin faculty. There was no way they could. She wouldn't allow it, even to her dying breath. The principal continued on with his speech, something about the importance of life and thinking about the future. Reconsidering any decisions to throw it all away. Ann scoffed silently to herself. It was all an act to feign concern for them in the event something actually could be linked to Kamoshida.

Though, Kobayakawa found himself interrupted by the squeak of a door. All eyes diverted to focus on one solitary figure standing by the back entrance. None other than Kamoshida. It was a shock to see the disheveled shape he was in. He was pale, hair a messy and uneven fright. Dark circles underlining his eyes heavily. Kamoshida had been absent from school for the longest time since his treasure had been stolen.

"Mr. Kamoshida, what's the…?"

"I… have been reborn." His voice was very low. Soft and calm, though the exhaustion that lingered at the back of it could be felt deep in their chests. He couldn't even raise his head to face them, instead staring down at his own two feet. "That is why I will confess everything to you all…" Ann felt her heart seize in her chest, Akira and Ryuji way behind her catching the breath in their throats.

And he did. He confessed. All of it. Every single detail about his misconduct with regret and despair dripping from his voice with each syllable that left his mouth. Verbally abusing students, physically abusing his team, and sexually harassing the girls. Most of all, Shiho. Loud and with great shame did he admit his sexual violation of her and the push to commit suicide. With the words finally leaving, he fell to his knees and wept in shame. The gymnasium was in a complete uproar with the students proclaiming their shock, anger, and offense at what they had just heard. Kobayakawa was in complete damage control mode as he tried to convince Kamoshida to leave the stage, but the coach wouldn't budge. The teachers looked in in absolute shame and disgust. None of them had any idea of what Kamoshida had been up to on account of his secretiveness, the students' silence, and Kobayakawa's efforts to keep it under wraps. The castle that seemed to be Shujin was crumbling down.

Kamoshida didn't stop, no matter what. He pressed on and poured on the confessions. Threatening students with expulsion, some even actually expelled. Breaking Ryuji's leg and sabotaging the track team. Even past students having long since graduated had been victims of his abuse. It had gone on for far too long. But not anymore. This would be the last time Kamoshida ever tainted Shujin with his presence.

"I am truly sorry for putting innocent youths through such horrible acts! I am an arrogant, shallow… and shameful person…" He just heaped on the self-loathing and self-deprecation for all the school to see. Ann could barely process that this was happening. Even after watching his shadow disappear before her very eyes, she still had trouble believing it. Part of her even felt this would just end with nothing at all. But she was wrong. Dead wrong and couldn't be more satisfied with it. "I will take responsibility and kill myself for it!"

The gymnasium flew into an even bigger uproar at Kamoshida's declaration. Nobody knew how to feel about anything anymore. The shock and upset at Kamoshida's misconduct was still prevalent, but this movement to take his own life left everyone conflicted. Akira and Ryuji whispered among themselves with surprise and confusion in their voices.

"Is this good? Is this bad?" Ryuji pressed. "Is this what we wanted?"

"You're asking the wrong guy," Akira said in turn. "I mean, I've never wanted to push a person to suicide, but now I apparently have. What do we do about this-"

"You don't get to decide that!" The panic of the teachers' orders to calm the kids and the students' bewildered mutterings were swiftly silenced. All eyes fell to Ann, who stood proud and tall. The students stepped back and watched her unleash her frustration out. And she would, no stopping this time. No more holding back and pretending everything was fine in Shujin. "You'd just be running away from your shame if you killed yourself! Don't run, you bastard! Shiho's still alive even after all the things that made her want to die! You have no right to run from this!" The silence Ann had rendered was deafening. The boys themselves were taken back by her passion and anger. Akira swore that she might summon Carmen right here and now. Principal Kobayakawa stood frozen in shock at her bold declaration, hands hovering over Kamoshida in an attempt to pull him up and off the stage. Though he remained still like a deer caught in the headlights.

"You're right." The principal's gaze shifted down to the volleyball coach. Though after this, he wouldn't be anything at this school anymore save for an unpleasant memory and a stain on their sterling reputation. "You're absolutely right." Despite Kamoshida's reduction to a pile of tears, he would gain no sympathy from either Ann or anyone else. "I should be punished under the law and atone for my crimes. I did horrible things to Takamaki-san as well. In return for giving Suzui-san a position on the team, I tried to force her into having relations." With that, the crowd sparked up again and voiced their disgust for Kamoshida and sympathy for Ann. A lot of the people that spread rumors of ill repute about her now found themselves repenting. But the blonde paid them no heed. She was instead focused on bringing Kamoshida down. For Shiho and everyone else. "As of today, I will resign from my position as an instructor and turn myself in. Someone, please call the police!"

The teachers attempted to organize the chaos that had befallen upon them, but nothing would get accomplished today. Kobayakawa made an impromptu decision to cancel the school day and send the students home early. No doubt an attempt to save face when the police start investigating. As the students began flooding out, the rumor mill began its work once more. Everyone remembered the infamous calling card situation from before. The Phantom Thieves had some legitimacy to them. The future of the volleyball team and many of the staff's positions were now up in the air. Once this took to the news and the internet – and it would in a heartbeat – Shujin would be underneath the spotlight for a few months' time.

Akira, Ryuji, and Ann had managed to slip away unnoticed, lingering out of sight until the gym was completely empty. The three of them conversed in utter surprise among themselves at the turn of events.

"Wow… I can't believe it…" Ryuji breathed silently.

"I had my doubts too," Akira confessed, scratching at his shaggy mane of hair.

"His heart really did change…" Ann whispered. To herself more than them.

"Seems like it." Ryuji leaned on his bad leg, hands shelved into his pockets as he mulled it all over. They had seen the entire turn of events together, and yet it all still seemed like a dream. "But was this really for the best?" Akira seemed blindsided by the rather odd question.

"What other option did we have? Today could've ended with you, me, and Mishima getting shitcanned. Ann would've been here all by herself with Kamoshida." Ryuji nursed the back of his neck. "This was the best possible outcome. We don't get expelled, and Kamoshida goes to jail."

"Yeah… it's gotta be. But things are happenin' way too fast." Akira took off his glasses and retrieved the microfiber cloth from his satchel. Even with his blurred vision, the stand where Kamoshida had his fall from grace was clear as day.

"Maybe that's for the best," he said, voice falling to a low and serious pitch. "We have the power to make real change now. Everything's gonna catch up and fix itself, whether people like it or not." Ryuji remained silent and instead opted to mull over his words. "Huh?" Ryuji's curiosity drew the interest of Akira and Ann, who turned to see the people approaching them. "What the…?" It was none other than Mishima and two other girls from their class. One taller and with long brown hair, the other with short black hair.

"Takamaki-san! I'm sorry!" Mishima gave a humble bow of reverence to the perplexed blonde. "We all knew, but we pretended we didn't. We were scared he would hurt us or cut us from the team, but we just kept our mouths shut. You and Shiho had to suffer in silence for it. And you too, Ryuji."

"Takamaki-san, I had you all wrong!" the taller girl proclaimed. "I'm sorry that I spread rumors about you! I was disgusted by seeing you and Kamoshida together but had no idea!"

"I didn't know at all," the short-haired girl added. "None of us did. Kamoshida was forcefully pushing himself on you. It must've been so hard for you! And I can't believe what he did to you either, Ryuji!" The blond boy merely shrugged and played it nonchalant. Sure, it felt nice to finally be vindicated by the student body. But he was content to let Ann have the limelight. A trait Akira found quite admirable.

"I'm sure there's a ton of people who want to apologize to you. We're so sorry!" Ann found herself quite overwhelmed by such grandiose displays of sympathy on her behalf. After wanting justice and validation for so long, it felt so foreign to finally obtain it.

"No, it's okay," she replied in an attempt to pacify their upset. "The same goes for me too. Besides, that's all in the past now." Ann wasn't one to linger on what happened before. Only to look to the future with hope that thing will improve. And with Kamoshida gone, they certainly would.

Akira nodded to himself as he watched Ann meet Mishima and the girls on common ground. She was both level-headed and headstrong. Then again, so was he. One of the teachers caught them lingering and hurried them out of the gymnasium. The girls uttered another apology and went their separate ways. Mishima offered his sincerest apologies to Akira as well, for leaking his criminal record at Kamoshida's behest.

"I can't apologize enough for what I did to you. I swear I'll make it up someday."

"Not your fault," Akira said, hands shelved into his pockets. "Kamoshida twisted your arm. Plus, the record is technically true so I can't be too upset. Don't beat yourself up over this, alright, Mishima?" But the frail boy would hear none of it. He continued up and down about his promises to do right by Akira, who merely resolved to let him have his sense of vindication. At the very least, it would give him something to strive for. But Akira wasn't looking for any sort of reparations. Seeing Ann and Ryuji get theirs, seeing Kamoshida be kicked to the curb. Being seen as the criminal and problem child of Shujin still stung, but there was the real victory.

The hospital doors slid open, and Ann walked along through the intensive care unit. Despite all the good news coming their way, Shiho still wasn't conscious. The one thing that seemed to dangle victory out in front of her was the wellbeing of her best friend. It robbed the satisfaction of the confession and the resulting apologies. The one singular piece to her puzzle was still absent. And it might just be that way for a while. Their string of good luck could only stretch so far, after all.

Though what Ann wouldn't give to arrive at Shiho's room and see her up and conscious. To tell her everything that happened, that Kamoshida had confessed to everything. The blonde would've given literally anything in the world for just one more miracle today.

Luckily, she wouldn't have to.

Her heart nearly seized up in her chest as she approached the window, her friend lying in the bed hooked up to machines and surrounded by nurses. Her eyes wide open as she conversed with them. A familiar twinkle in her eye Ann feared had been long since snuffed out by Kamoshida's exploitation. And only lit up brighter when she turned to see Ann staring at her through the glass. A warm beaming smile found its way upon her soft angelic face. Like that, Ann felt everything crawl to a standstill and broke down.

She fell to her knees with tears welling up in her eyes. Tears of joy, happy sobs escaping the blonde. All the troubles, trauma, and tension she had shouldered for the months that Kamoshida had lauded over her evaporated in a single second. With one smile from Shiho, the smile that weathered the storm. Shiho was strong. Stronger than strong even. Strength even Ann doubted she possessed. She wanted to burst right into the room and embrace her. Hold her tight and never let go, but there was no way she could face Shiho in such a state. She hated people seeing her cry. To reveal that weakness of herself. But she let herself be weak in that moment. She had earned it.

Ann tried to fumble with her phone to text the others that Shiho was okay, but she couldn't see the screen through her watering eyes. The blonde was way too much of an emotional incoherent mess to text them anything. Instead, she just let herself weep. It was a good weep, for once. Of victory, acceptance, and peace. For the longest time, Ann couldn't remember being this happy.

And she never wanted it to go.