Chapter 1: The End of a Friendship

It was your typical afternoon of summer classes at Shujin Acedemy as 16 Year Old Ren Amamiya a boy with black frizzy hair, wearing black framed glasses, a white t shirt, red and black checkered pants, and black boots; was finishing up the daily assignment and accompanying him was his cat companion Morgana who remained in his carrying bag. Ren had just put his pencil down and closed his text books and placed them inside of his bag without exposing Morgana to the classroom as Ren handed his paper to his teacher Ms. Kawakami.

"Well you completed your assignment, well you are free to go now, be careful on the way home, there have been reports of muggings near Shibuya." Ms. Kawakami said as Ren nodded and walked out the door of the classroom as he was greeted by an arm around him by a boy with blonde spiky hair wearing red t-shirt that had the words "NO MO RULES" on it, red and black checkered pants rolled up slightly past his shins, and black and white sneakers.

"HEY BRO, HOW'S MY BEST BRO IN THE WORLD DOING?" The boy said as Ren just glanced at him.

"I'm fine Ryuji, anyways i'm heading out now." Ren said as Ryuji looked dissapointed.

"So you're going to dip without hanging out with me, come on bro let's go get something to eat." Ryuji offered as Ren looked slightly annoyed.

"I'm not really that hungry Ryuji, besides I need to get back to Leblanc and help out Sojiro." Ren said as Morgana could tell Ren was obviously lying but couldn't say anything because he didn't want anyone noticing him, and just when Ren was about to leave his stomach started growling.

"I hear your tummy rumbling man, come on dude let's go get some Ramen." Ryuji said with persistence as Ren feeling defeated went ahead along with Ryuji.

"Fine Ryuji." Ren said as Ryuji raised an eyebrow.

"What's crawled up your ass all of a sudden?" Ryuji asked being concerned about his friend's unusual attitude.

"I'm just a little stressed is all." Ren said as Ryuji smiled.

"Bro we can relive stress together, now come on i'm starving for some Ramen." Ryuji said as the two boys walked inside of a Noodle Restaurant in town as both boys ordered Ramen as Ryuji took his chopsticks onto some Ginger and placed them in Ren's Soup as Ren looked slightly annoyed.

"Ryuji you do know I can put my own ginger in right?" Ren asked as Ryuji smiled.

"I was just trying to get enough in to enhance the flavor, come on eat up, I know let's see who can eat their's the fastest." Ryuji said as Ren was ignoring Ryuji and slowly eating his Ramen despite Ryuji's attempt at making a challenge. "You could have waited until I was ready to start the challenge."

"Well that was Good Ramen but you put too much Ginger in anyways I better get to the station, i'll see ya later Ryuji." Ren said as he left his money on the table to pay for his meal as Ren made his way towards the Subway to take the train to Yongen-Jaya as Morgana popped his head out of Ren's carrying case looking concerned for Ren who normally enjoys being around Ryuji but is acting rather unusual.

"What's gotten into you, you and Ryuji are usually enjoying your time together and having fun but it looks like you wasn't having fun and you acted like you didn't want to hang out with him, what going on Ren? Morgana asked out of concern but Ren stayed Silent up until the Train made it's way to Yongen-Jaya Station as Ren made his way inside Cafe Leblanc to be greeted by him Foster Father Sojiro Sakura.

"You made it home, well do you want to help brew some Coffee?" Sojiro asked, he wore a pink polo shirt, with khaki pants, and white loafers as he had just finished washing dishes as Ren took his jacket off and put on an Apron to brew some Coffee as a News Bulletin aired on the TV.

"We now bring you a Breaking News Alert as a Convenience Store employee in Shibuya was rushed to the Hospital after a vicious attack from a Gang of Street Thugs, the Thugs have yet to be identified and if they are please report them to the Police." The News anchor said as Ren didn't pay much attention to the tv.

"Must be those Phantom Thieves." Sojiro said as he picked up his keys. "Well i'm heading home now, don't forget to lock up, goodnight." Sojiro said as he left the Cafe after Ren finished making the Coffee and made his way upstairs as Morgana looked very concerned about Ren.

"Ren you're not your usual self what's going on, normally I get annoyed with Ryuji but you acted like you didn't want to be around him, why?" Morgana asked as he sat on the Matress in Ren's room.

"Ryuji gets on my nerves, all he does is stand there every day after class wondering what I have planned, asking me to train, or eat Ramen and piling so much goddamn ginger that I can hardly eat it." Ren said as he stepped out of his clothes now wearing a black tee shirt, black boxers, and black socks as he laid down to sleep despite the summer heat and just as he was about to fall asleep his phone began to ring. "Must be Dumbass." Ren said as he was right it was Ryuji calling him.

"Hey Bro, we should meet and talk about taking out those thugs who have been attacking people in Shibuya, they half to have names we can take down in Mementos. Anyways i'll see you tomorrow, Good night Ren." Ryuji said hanging up as Ren tried to get to sleep.

The next day Ren made his way to School without seeing Ryuji but heard another familiar voice to him greet him.

"Good Morning Ren." said a girl with blonde hair tied in pigtails wearing a white Shujin Top, with a blue jacket tied around her waist a plain skirt, black knee length socks, and brown loafers. "Hey are we all going to gather today to take down those Thugs in Shujin?" Ann asked as Ren had a very unsure look.

"I really don't know Ann, anyways i'll see you in Class." Ren said as hehad already walked away As Ryuji walked beside of Ann.

"Hey Ryuji, um something is wrong with Ren." Ann asked as Ryuji looked at her and nodded.

"We hung out yesterday and he acted like he didn't want to hang out with me; I wonder what his problem is?" Ryuji wondered as Ann looked at him.

"Something isn't right, you guys have always been close, I hope he comes back to his senses we need to stop those Thugs from hurting anyone else." Ann said as she and Ryuji made their way inside the Academy. After classes had ended for the day Ann tried to approach Ren but Ren was already making his exit. "Ren where are you going?" Ann asked in confusion as Ren was exiting the Classroom and as he was about to descend the staircase a familiar voice called out to Ren.

"Hey man where are you going?" Ryuji asked as Ren just glared at him.

"None of your damn business Ryuji, can't you all see I need some personal space." Ren said angry as Ryuji looked a bit hurt as Ren made his way down the stairs with Ryuji and Ann following him.

"Bro, what is your problem?" Ryuji asked as Ren was making his way towards the door ignoring Ryuji and exited the Academy. "What the Eff has crawled up your ass as of late, I thought I was your best friend?" Ryuji asked wanting answers for Ren's constant avoidance towards his friends as Ren finally turned around and looked at Ryuji with anger.

"Ryuji i'm so sick of you, you are so annoying, you never give me any personal space, you're always dragging me along to your track shit that doesn't give me any benefits, all you are is a goddamn pain in the ass." Ren said as Ryuji looked very hurt as tears started to drip from Ryuji's eyes as then Ren almost in an instant regretted everything he said about his best friend or now former best friend.

"So that's what you think of me after all we've been through, after all the times I had your back, had been there for you, and you think of me as that? Fine Ren we don't half to be friends anymore." Ryuji said as he covered his face and ran off as Ren tried to follow him.

"Ryuji come back 'm sorry for everything I just...said." Ren said as he fell to his knees and punched the ground as tears began to form in his eyes. "What did I just do, I just completely destroyed my friendship with Ryuji." Ren said as he looked up and saw Ann who delivered a very hard slap to Ren's Face almost causing his glasses to fall off.

"HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT ABOUT RYUJI, HE WAS YOUR BEST FRIEND, HE WAS LIKE A BROTHER TO YOU." Ann said berating Ren as the raven haired boy was instantly regretting everything he said as Rain began to pour from the sky. "I wasn't there for Shido when she tried to commit Suicide but you decide to say all of those mean things and hurt Ryuji's Feelings and destroyed your friendship with him. I really don't think I can continue being a Phantom Thief with you, you good for nothing heartless jerk." Ann said walking away from Ren as Ren was now in tears after ending his friendship with Ryuji and having Ann now hate him.

Ryuji was sitting in an alley looking at pictures of him and Ren together as the spiky blonde haired boy was crying after Ren had ended their friendship. "How could...he say...those...things about me? Am I...*sniff*...really just a...pain in the...ass?" Ryuji asked as he looked at those pictures as a song could be heard in Ryuji's mind as he thought about his and Ren's Friendship that has just been destroyed.

When somebody loved me, everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together, lives within my heart
And when he was sad, I was there to dry his tears
And when he was happy, so was I, when he loved me.

As Flashbacks of Ren and Ryuji and the times they spent together whether it would be racing eachother or anytime Ryuji would be there for Ren especially since he was the new kid who transferred to Shujin and had a Criminal Record and Ryuji was the first friend he made and as for Ryuji; Ren was always there for him wether it be when they took down Kamoshida or whenever anyone would try to attack him; Ren was there for him, but now that was starting to fade away.

Through the summer and the fall, we had each other, that was all
Just he and I together, like it was meant to be
And when he was lonely, I was there to comfort her
And I knew that he loved me.

More flashbacks entered Ryuji's head as he remembered over the Sumemr the two of them hanging out at Leblanc every day, because Ryuji always wanted to make sure Ren had company and the two of them had a fun time and laughing while reading manga or gaming together.

So the years went by, I stayed the same
But he began to drift away, I was left alone
Still I waited for the day, when he'd say "I will always love you."

Lonely and forgotten, never thought she'd look my way,
And she smiled at me and held me, just like she used to do,
Like she loved me, when she loved me

Ryuji was crying his eyes out knowing he just lost his best friend and he did nothing wrong as he now feels like Ren hates him now after always being a good friend to him; just like every friend he had left him and now Ren Amamiya was the latest friend to abandon him.

When somebody loved me, everything was beautiful,
Every hour we spent together, lives within my heart
When she loved me.

"Ren Why?" Ryuji said in tears as three shadowy figures appeared behind the spiky blonde haired teen.

"Awww what do we have here, a widdle baby crying." said a very obnoxious voice as Ryuji stood up and turned around to come face to face with three street thugs all with Mohawks of different hair colors, tore up clothing, and body piercings.

"Just leave me alone, can't you see i'm having the worst day of my life." Ryuji said as the three thugs laughed.

"Leave you alone? WAAAAHHHH is the widdle baby crying, did your girlfriend dump you, did your friends abandon you, do you want your mommy?" The Thug said as Ryuji balled his fist as he punched the thug in the face.

"Don't you ever talk about my mother you asshole." Ryuji said but that punch would be a big mistake as the gang of thugs all looked at Ryuji with anger.

"You just made the biggest mistake of your life Schoolboy." Said one thug as he grabbed Ryuji by the shirt and and held him against a wall as Ryuji tried to punch the Thug that was holding him, the third one had punched Ryuji in the head and before long all three thugs began violently assaulting the teenager as Ryuji began spitting up blood. until a familiar voice called out to Ryuji it was Ann.

"Stop it leave him alone." Ann said as the Thugs turned her attention to Ann.

"Who are you his Girlfriend, you better get outta here widdle girl."

"Have you guys heard of the Phantom Thieves?" Ann said as she began to step away.

"Phantom Thieves, pfffttt yeah like we're afraid of those losers, we can take them."

"Then can you tell me your names so if I was to let say find them than maybe..." Ann said in fear as the Thugs kept creeping closer to her.

"Now why would we want to give you our names, are you saying you know them, or could you be perhaps be one of them?" The Thug said as Ann tripped and fell on her ass on the sidewalk.

"Because we thought the Phantom Thieves would like to know, just please leave me and my friend alone." Ann begged as the thug had an evil smile on his face.

"Fine ya want to know my name, it's Hotaru Daimonju and my partners Kenji Misawa and Yamato Yakamoto we are the Shibuya Street Gang. Hotaru said as Ann typed those names into her Phone as Police Sirens could be heard.

"If the Phantom Thieves don't show up in tow days we'll kill you and your boyfriend." Hotaru said as he kicked Ryuji in the ribs as Ryuji was coughing up blood as she came to his aid as the group of thugs made their Getaway as Ann got on the Phone to call for an Ambulance.

That evening Ren Amimya had finally returned to Cafe Leblanc with a hurt heart and a mind full of regret as he was greeted by his guardian Sojiro.

"Hey Ren do you think you can help make some Curry?" Sojiro asked as Ren shook his head.

"Sorry Boss, i'm just not in the mood." Ren said as the only thing he wanted to do was apologize to Ryuji he even sent a text to him but Ryuji never replied.

"What's wrong did you have a bad day at School, you better not have caused any trouble." Sojiro said as a News Bulletin aired on TV.

"This is another Breaking News Report, today the Gang of Thugs who have been terrorizing people around Shibuya known as the Shibuya Street Gang or SSG for short had violently assaulted Shujin Academy student Ryuji Sakamoto this evening as he was found by fellow student Ann Takamaki and was taken to the Shibuya Hospital with several injuries." The News Anchor said as Ren looked shocked and so did Morgana as Ren looked at Sojiro and made his way towards the door.

"Sojiro I need to go to the Hospital right now and go see Ryuji; we had a fight this evening and I said some things that I regret saying and because of me Ryuji got attacked by those thugs and I wasn't there for him." Ren said as Sojiro looked at him.

"Ren you idiot, you're supposed to be his best friend how could you desert him like that; come on i'll drive you to the Hospital and I get to let Futaba know as well." Sojiro said as Ren's mind and heart were both bruised and all Ren could think about was making things right, saving his friendship with Ryuji, and getting revenge on the thugs who attacked Ryuji.

To Be Continued