Another Episode: Ryoji's Sin

Ryoji sat in his room at the edge of his bed, staring at the ceiling to ponder what he had heard. Honoka, a person he had come to somewhat trust, was actually Lorraine? Ryuu and Honoka were covering it up for her sake? Kojiro, too?

He had to tell someone. Aya? Of course. He didn't want to sell his friend out, but this was dire. Who else? Out of respect, he should invite Ryuu. And Naoya? Certainly. Ryoji planned to wait by the central gate that morning, take them to the old workshop out back, and discuss this. If Ryuu exploded on him, he'd do what any real man would do and hide in the bathroom.

...

Daylight broke as Naoya woke next to Kotoko, running a hand through his wet hair from the morning dew. "Hey, sleepy head... Wake up." Naoya chopped Kotoko lightly on the forehead.

"Owwie!" Kotoko recoiled in pain, "Naoya, what the heeeck!?"

"It's dawn. We have to get back to the school or we're screwed," Naoya spoke plainly, gathering his things. Noticing a small nick in his back tire, he sighed, "Damnit... Already? These roads are not meant for this beast."

Kotoko agreed, "It's like a war machine."

"That's an... odd comparison," Naoya shook his head, "Whatever. Come on," Opening the door on her side, he motioned for her to get inside.

Kotoko folded her arms as she seated herself inside, "So you can be a gent..."

Opening up the driver side door, Naoya hopped in, "A gentleman?"

"Y... Yeah, that," Kotoko shuddered in discomfort as Naoya pulled the clutch back into reverse and began pulling out of the parking spot and straight into an awkward silence.

...

"Aya, have you seen Ryuu or Naoya?" Ryoji asked as they waited at the front gate.

Aya looked around, standing on top of the gate, occasionally glancing back to make sure Ryoji wasn't staring, "Not yet... Wait, there he is!"

Ryuu approached the gate as Aya jumped down. Ryoji stepped forward, "You have time to talk?"

"What is it?" Ryuu asked, coming to a halt.

"This is... about you, and Honoka," Ryoji spoke up, "Oh, and your Nantendo Swap was broken. Hiro accidentally-"

"Fuck I did," Hiro spoke, glaring down at Ryoji.

Ryoji jumped, "When did you get there?!"

Hiro folded his arms, "You broke it when you tripped on the chair carrying it near the stairs."

"You threw the chair!" Ryoji yelled back.

"You've dodged cars, right? Shoulda been easy!" Hiro argued back.

Hiro left in a huff, leaving the trio.

Ryoji awkwardly laughed, "So... Ryuu?"

"Ryoji..." Ryuu glared back menacingly.

Naoya walked up to the gate with Kotoko trailing behind, "Why is there a cracked Nantendo Swap with scotch tape in the trash?"

Ryoji turned to Aya, "That was your big fix!?"

"What do I know about technology? Just ask Ryuu!" Aya retorted.

Thunder boomed as rain began to fall on the four young people as Kotoko hurried past them, running inside.

"So Ryuu... This is about Hayato... Care to take a seat in the workshop with us?" Ryoji finally got to his point.

"Hayato..? Fine... Better than out here in the rain." Ryuu nodded and went into the workshop.

...

Ryoji swiftly explained what he had heard, as Ryuu sat silently, likely waiting to create his response.

Naoya stood in the corner, holding his wet coat out to dry on a small rack for weights, "That bitch brought him back... What is it, Sheena?"

"The biologist?" Ryoji asked.

"I found out after grilling Shinji. Turns out she brought my mom back to life and ruined my childhood. Guess she brought Hayato back to grill him about the killer," Naoya explained.

Aya frowned, having gone silent when Ryoji explained what he had overheard, "Ryuu... If we're friends, why would you not tell us? Did you not trust us?"

"To be fair, it's the day after," Naoya intervened, "he may have broken eventually, or planned on it. Though with what Ryoji heard... Care to explain what you're doing here with that sixteen year old girl?"

Ryuu sighed at the situation. "Well, Mr. Hansen, I have reason to believe that I'm not the one who should be telling you guys. Also, I think I trust Shinji's threats enough that if she were a danger to us, you wouldn't be here questioning me." He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts further.
"I... Was going to try talking to her about it again. Tell her if she told everyone, I'd tell everyone I defended Pepper. I can't expect her to put herself on the line of fire if I'm not willing to do the same, can I?" Ryuu shook his head. "It's not sitting right with me for Kojiro to take all the blame and abuse, either..."

Naoya stepped closer for a moment, "Clarification before we move forward. When you say, you wouldn't be here questioning me, could you be more specific? Because it sounded like a threat or promise."

"I'm saying if she wasn't under threats from Shinji to stay in line, she probably would have killed me. I'm still surprised she even got close to me, considering I protected Pepper."

"Same here," Naoya's eyes flashed silver for just a moment, "I don't even know what to say or do with you. From my experience, you'll hate yourself more than I could ever hurt you."

"Naoya?" Aya tilted her head in curiosity.

Naoya glanced at the scars on his fingers, "Unlike you, I think the others should know. I don't care what Kojiro wants but I'm not for lying on anyone's behalf. Especially since all it got you was this mess."

Ryoji stepped in, "But if we did that, Honoka might-"

"Defend herself, probably. And worst comes to worst, we can expel her," Naoya argued back, "Not that I want that, considering what I know... Okay, I'm next. Kotoko's the Fighter from the Warriors of Hope and she killed innocents in Towa City."

Nothing clicked for anyone in that moment.

"What?" Aya nearly shouted, "What did you say!?"

Naoya glanced at Ryuu before facing her, "Kotoko killed people as a child manipulated by Junko personally. And she was supposedly reformed by Headmaster Naegi and his younger sister. Also, we're a couple."

Ryoji smiled for a moment, "Congratula-wait, you're dating a killer!?"

"So you yell about it to me but Ryuu gets a calm reasonable talk around cookies?" Naoya pointed to the cookies Aya had baked for her class that day that Ryuu was at that very moment still eating.

"That is pretty messed up." Ryuu set the cookie aside. "So, do you plan on telling everyone about Kotoko soon? Will you try to get her to tell everyone?"

Naoya looked up from his phone as he hit the mass text, "Hm?"

Ryoji picked up his vibrating phone and read it aloud, "'Yo, it's your boy, Naoya. Kotoko's a Warrior of Hope, that child killing gang from Towa City. Also, if any of you dumbasses try anything, the Darkness will take you.' Naoya, what the hell!?"

"Sorry babe." Naoya looked up after texting Kotoko individually, "What's up?"

"Well that's one way to put your money where your mouth is... What's with that 'Darkness' line though?" Ryuu asked.

Naoya eyed him carefully, "They don't know Latin," Naoya left it at that, giving no explanation like a late-game horror movie sequel.

Ryoji sighed, trying to think how to say what he meant, "Ryuu... What are you gonna do now? Want us to give you time at least?"

"We would if you asked," Naoya followed up. Aya sat there in silence, contemplating what she had just been overloaded with

Ryuu sighed. "Considering the bar... Give me 3 days to get her to talk on her own. I at least want to talk to Kojiro before I try to pull what Naoya just did..."

Naoya glanced up from his phone, "And if you don't, I'll just send a text."

"Why did you text this?!" Kotoko burst into the workshop, having heard his voice, "What did you think would happen if I was away!?"

"Kotoko, honesty is the best policy. Ryuu here knew that it's actually Honoka who masquerades as Lorraine," Kotoko stopped her angry tirade in shock, "Since I want him to be honest, I went first. And I promised to protect you, right?"

Kotoko raised a fist at him, "But why did you send the text we made to send together without me!?"

"You were gonna send it anyway, huh?" Ryoji raised an eyebrow with a sassy smirk, "So Ryuu didn't bring this on?"

"But Kojiro... He's taking the fall?" Kotoko realized.

Naoya walked over to her, "Yeah, he is. I'm going to try and help Ryuu with this, though. Now hurry to class or we'll get distracted making out again."

Kotoko slapped him on the cheek, "Naoya!"

"Honesty will set you free!" He rushed to the window and opened it, "Vive la revolution!"

Kotoko ran out the door after her companion, leaving the three friends behind, exasperated.

"He found love in a... strange place," Ryuu commented, staring at the shattered window.

Ryoji sung to himself, "He found love in a hopeful place..."

Ata stood up from her seat and headed for the door, "Come on, we have class to attend. Let's just sit on this for now, okay?"

"Okay, Aya. Whatever you say," Ryoji joked, "Can we get distracted like those two?"

Aya blushed and left the room hurriedly as Ryoji followed with a confident wink to Ryuu.

"Well, things are certainly lively, huh?" Ryuu sarcastically said as he contemplated how to break the news to Honoka or Kojiro.

*Memo*
Ryoji's intentions may have been pure, but all roads that lead to hell are usually a group effort. Telling Aya and Naoya and confronting Ryuu were all part of his plan to resolve this situation before it spiraled out of control for both Kojiro and the class. Little did he know that his actions were so counterintuitive that classmates of his would die in the end.

That's the fun part. Some of you, should you die here, are done for. Who? The ones Shinji have been locating are the ones made to watch. So if any of them don't come out, you know what happened, right...?