(A/N: Let's see the Mishima-bashing from a different point of view this time.

Chapter prompt: "you better leave now")

"Nishima...why are you with Futaba?"

Ryuji winced at the coldness in Akira's voice as he asked that question. He knew things could go bad, and privately wondered if Futaba set this up just to get back at Akira for something. He started wondering if he would be able to take Akira's attention away long enough for Mishima to make a run for it before things got even worse.

Honestly, he really didn't get Akira's hatred for Mishima. Sure, he had to admit that Akira had a bit of a point in that Mishima made some bad decisions. Yeah, from some point of views it seemed like Mishima could be blamed for a lot, but that didn't stop the fact that Mishima still changed. Yeah, he could admit that a small part of him would never be able to forget what Mishima caused, but he could at least forgive him since he saw the changes he went through.

Akira, he noticed, seemed to have no interest in forgiving him, let alone forgetting.

"H...hey, Akira." he said, seeming nervous. Mishima looked over toward him and Hifumi and smiled tightly. "Hey, Ryuji, Togo-san. I don't believe we've met before."

"That's right." Hifumi said, bowing toward him slightly in greeting. "My name is Togo Hifumi. I am Ryuji's girlfriend. It's nice to meet you, Nishima-san." she said, raising up from her bow. He noticed Akira smirk at what she had called him.

"It's Mishima, actually." he said, his smile still tight. "Mishima Yuuki."

"My apologies." she said quickly, bowing again. "I must have misheard Akira."

"No, you didn't." Akira said, still glaring at Mishima. "I'll ask again, Mishina...why the hell are you with Futaba?"

"Seriously...give it a rest, Akira." Futaba said, looking at him. "He's bringing me back after our date."

Though he knew it wasn't possible, Ryuji would swear to his dying day that he saw the blue flames that herald the coming of their Personas flare up around Akira.

"Bringing you back after your what?" Akira asked, his voice low.

"Our date." she said, clasping her hands behind her back. "He's smart enough to keep up with me, so I figured I'd see how a date would work out."

"Futaba...you better leave now." Akira said, his voice growing dark.

"Akira..." Ryuji said, standing up.

"What?" he snapped, causing Ryuji to sigh.

"Mishima, walk Futaba home." he said, his eyes not leaving Akira. "No arguments, Futaba." he continued, not even needing to look at her to know she was opening her mouth to complain. "And don't listen in with the bugs."

"Fine." she muttered.

"Thank you, Ryuji." Mishima said softly.

"Hifumi, I'm sorry to cut tonight short, but..." Ryuji trailed off.

"I understand." she said, her voice confused. He felt her lean up against him and kiss his cheek softly. "Call when you're finished. Maybe we can still meet somewhere."

"I will." he said, not looking back at her. He continued to glare at Akira, who was giving it back as well as he was receiving it, until the door closed. Once it did, he drew in a breath and let it out. "Okay, Akira. No more bullshit. What the eff is with you constantly hating on Mishima?"

"Everything that Kamoshida did was pushed along by him." he replied, his glare not softening. "Your broken leg, Shiho's rape, my record being leaked. All of that was caused by that coward."

"I don't remember Mishima breaking my leg." Ryuji said calmly. "I'd rather not call Shiho and ask if she remembers Mishima raping her, but I'm going to assume it wasn't. Yeah, he leaked you record, but it was under duress."

"Mishima was the one who actually revealed your record to Kamoshida." he shot back. "He's the one who sent Shiho and every other student he raped or beat to him. He can't use being 'under duress' because Kamoshida still beat the shit out of him after leaking my record."

"All I'm hearing is Kamoshida is a piece of shit who used people." Ryuji responded.

"You're seriously telling me you're okay hanging out with him?" Akira asked, his voice rising. "You're okay calling that traitor a friend?"

"Honestly...no." Ryuji admitted. He let out another sigh, closing his eyes. "Listen, Akira...you need to let this go." he said, opening his eyes to look up at him. "Enough is enough. It's been almost two years now." he continued, causing Akira to scoff. "Yeah, you're right. Sometimes thinking about what he did really pisses me off. But if he didn't do what he did, than Kamoshida would have gotten someone else to take his place."

"And yet here we are." Akira shot back. "Mishima did do those things. Kamoshida didn't have to get someone else to do them, because Mishima was right there ready and willing to serve."

"So that's how it really is." Ryuji said, shaking his head. "You're not blaming Kamoshida for his crimes, but instead blaming Mishima for Kamoshida's crimes. I really had no idea just how petty you could be, Akira."

"I'm not being petty."

"Yes, you are." Ryuji shot back. "Look at you. You just kicked your basically adopted little sister out of the cafe that her father owns, because she decided to go on a date with someone who was abused."

"I wasn't kicking her out." Akira said, shaking his head. "I just wanted her out of the way when I physically kicked Mishima out on the street. She's making a mistake dating him. I don't want her to end up hurt when he breaks her heart."

"Then she ends up hurt, Akira!" he yelled. "Do you really think Mishima would actually hurt her!? Also, are you even listening to yourself!? You're talking about physically abusing someone who was as victim of physical abuse!"

"Don't call him a victim in front of me." Akira said, his voice growing dark. "He's nothing more than an accomplice. Nothing more."

Ryuji stood there for a moment before shaking his head. He turned toward the door and started walking out. He stopped when he reached the door and turned to look back at Akira.

"Ann mentioned that she was with you when Kamoshida called her demanding she sleep with him, right?" he asked, turning back to look at him. "That was the same day Kamoshida raped Shiho. By your logic, it's Ann's fault that he raped Shiho. Only Boss and Futaba know this, but Kamoshida raped my mother as well. He went to her and said he was going to have me expelled and arrested, unless she had sex with him. By your logic, that was entirely my fault, if you don't consider it to be consensual since she agreed to it to keep me from being arrested."

"That's not the same." Akira said, his eyes narrowing. "Wha-"

"Yes, Akira," Ryuji said, cutting him off, "it is the same. By your logic, Ann and I are just as guilty as Mishima. Hell, let's say Shiho is just as guilty as well since she obviously didn't fight hard enough. Maybe we can say it was consensual as well. Maybe that piece of shit told her it was her or Ann. I don't know. I have no intention of ever asking."

"It's not the same!" Akira yelled. "Mishima-"

"I'll see you around, Akira." Ryuji said, turning away from him. He took a deep breath and walked out of Leblanc.

As he pulled out his phone to call Hifumi and make plans to meet up somewhere, he could only hope it wouldn't be for the last time.