I'm not dead! Neither this story! This took me more time that I expected, three months. Holy shit. Sorry for the delay, I will try to get the next chapter done faster. Hope that you people like it, I want to hear your opinions about the story.
Chapter 3: Azazel
It was almost midnight, he was coming out from his girlfriend's house after dinner. She invited to stay but he was very nervous to sleep in the same roof as her parents, so he walked alone to his home. There was no one but him at this hour, perhaps a stray cat searching for food in the cans. The boy decided to use the sidewalk to short his travel.
He was minding his own business until he saw two adults getting into a very expensive car. Or rather, how an adult man was forcing a woman to get into a car with him.
"NOOOOO!" The woman screamed in fear, she looked quite terrified and it was more than obvious that she want to run away. "Somebody help me!"
"Shut up!" The man screamed, for what he could see his face was quite red meaning that he was drunk. Alcohol and violence are not a very good combination. "Get into the damn car, bitch!"
"NO, let me go!" She tried to escape but the man was stronger than her.
"What are you looking at?! This isn't a school play, brat!" The drunk man realized that he was here and was trying to scare him away. But at that moment, the woman look at his eyes. She didn't say anything to him but the look of terror on her told him enough.
"No." He honestly didn't know what he did it, maybe because it was the right choice or perhaps he was a hopeless idiot. Regardless the reason he didn't back up.
"Huh?! The hell you're talking?! Do you even know who I am?!" No he didn't and honestly didn't care. He dislike he people who think that just because of social status and/or money you could do anything you want. This man was one of them. "What you're doing?! Get off me!"
"Let her go!" He struggle with the elder man, he was stronger than him thanks to his age and stronger build. Yet he didn't let his hand go. It was all a mess, all 3 of them were screaming and yelling to the point that their words were incompressible.
A rush of adrenaline keep him going, the man was getting more aggressive the more he struggle. The boy got scare for his wellbeing, so the moment the man grabbed his collar he punch him in the face. He wasn't a skilled fighter but he get into his fights at school, this was the first time that he managed to hit someone that clearly in the face.
The mas was bigger than him and yet his punch had the enough strength to make him drop. He was quite proud of manage such a feat.
*CLANK*
His head hit the safety railing when he fell, after that the man went into silence. From his head, blood started to leak from a wound. His eyes….were blanc and wide open, completely absent from life.
It couldn't be…He…..he just hit him….it was accident! He was trying to help that woman! He didn't mean it! He…..he….he….
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"AH!" He screamed, his head was killing him and his body was wet with sweat. His heart was trying to jump out of his chest. Where was he right now?
"Easy, boy." A man in a white robe hold him down. "You're in the school infirmary, you faint up at the garden. Calm down."
"W-What happen?"
"You have a stress attack. Don't worry, we contact your guardian." The nurse tell him while kindly put him to rest. "How are you feeling?"
"I wanna throw up."
"Use this." The man handle him a trash can and Ren proceed to throw everything inside his stomach. "That's it. Let it all out." He patted his back, it looked like a man consoling his drunk friend at a bar's bathroom. "Drink this."
"What is it?"
"Gatorade, you lost a lot of salt and you're dehydrated. This will help you." Ren grabbed the bottle and start drinking it, his throat was sour and his mouth taste like vomit. Thankfully the drink was taking away the taste.
"How long was I out?"
"A hour. You pass out after tainted the school council president."
"Did I do what?"
"OH yeah, you puke on that poor girl. Good lord, she was a mess. This will definitely will be the talk of all the year.
"Jesus…"
"Yeah, pray that your classmates feel sorry for you. Because they can make your life hell after what happen today."
*Knock* *Knock*
"Come in." The nurse inviting whoever was knocking. For his surprise, it was Sae. And she looked really angry and upset. "Ah, you might be Niijima Sae-san!"
"Could let us alone? I have to talk to him."
"Sure, if you need something just call me. I'll be outside." The man excuse himself and left the room. Ren stared at the prosecutor, the woman was also staring at him. He could already see all the annoyance on her face.
"Once again you're in a hospital bed. You been with us for a day and a half, and you already give more problems that a bad chase. Not only that, you make Makoto to be part of the scene that you make on the school grounds." Sae was pissed off, she should know by now that he puked on her little sister. "So? Got anything to say?"
Ren recall what happen back there….then he remember what he read on his phone and his face turned sick. He….he kill….
"What's wrong?"
"Sae-san…what did I got charge for when I go to juvie?" Sae face didn't change, she was still looking at him with no mercy. "P-Please, tell me…"
"…..*sigh* Looks what your therapist said was indeed true…." The woman was visibly annoyed. "I won't sugarcoat anything, you kill a man." Sae was ruthless, he knew that but she didn't have any tact when dropping such a bomb. "Your therapist told me about your headaches, is a secondary effect of your trauma. The psychologist said that every time that your mind tries to reminds what happen that day, your head starts to hurt in order to forbid you to remember. Looks like your curiosity got the best of you today." Ren was starting to feel sick again. "For what they say to me, you were capable to go to school. But after what you did, it looks like they make a bad diagnosis."
"BRROOOUGHHH!" Ren once again threw up on the trash can, making the woman flinch in disgust. "How….How could it be?"
"Third degree murder, in other words, unintentional. You're lucky that you have a witness that collaborate your story, still, Shido was a high profile politic. Just the act to punch him, even if you were in the right, is a crime. A year in juvie was a miracle in your case."
"Doesn't seem like it…" For what he saw in that memory, it was an accident. He didn't plan to…to….to kill him. It was impossible! When he met Shido, he just hurt him and that's it! The bastard make it look like it was assault and use all his influence to turn him down. The man portrait himself as the man of the people when in reality he just manipulated public opinion on his favor.
This was like that time when died in public after they change his heart. But this time is completely different. A man, a horrible man yes but a man was kill by his own hands. Even after everything Shido did to him and many more, he didn't need to die.
Why? Why was he in this place? Why is he alone? What happen? He couldn't handle anymore….
The boy started to cry, he couldn't stop himself. It was too much for him. He missed, he missed everyone. His friends, Leblanc and his home. Why? Why did this happen to him? Was this even real? Or what he remember was a lie? Nothing make sense to him.
"Here." Sae handle him a handkerchief, he honestly didn't expect such action from her. "Calm down and breath." The woman was now more kind towards him but her face still kept her stern look.
"Thank you." Ren grabbed it and clean his face. "Sorry…."
"….Don't be. Even as an accident, taking a life is a horrible weight that no one should have."
"Have you?"
"No, but I almost did once. I'm been in the police force for almost six years and the times I use my gun can be counted by one hand."
"Why did you use them?"
"To defend myself, of course. But a Police can use is gun and keep doing their work. Regardless what movies say, using your gun can bring you more troubles than making a bad arrest."
"But if you didn't…."
"I'll be death, I know. Listen, Amamiya, I don't like you at all. Yet, I understand what you're going through. If you want, I can take you to my department."
"Can I…Can I be alone for a moment?"
"Sure, but if you want to go I suggest you to hurry because I'm on duty." Sae left the room and leave him at his own. Ren look at the ceiling, tears still coming out of his eyes. He just wanted everything to be a nightmare or a palace's effect, but no, nothing of those two were happening.
What should he do? Should he keep his original plan or threw everything away? He had those weird encounters with that man at the velvet room but….why bother? Ann and Ryuji weren't here. He hasn't seen Kawakami either…maybe she wasn't a teacher in this school. The existence of Café Le blanc was also a mystery, but seeing what recently happen it was a high possibility that it didn't exist.
And without Le blanc, Sojiro and Futuba are out of the equation. That leaves Yusuke and Haru, the latter one might be here at the gardening club.
Although, if the ideal situation happen and he managed to locate every member of the Phantom thieves, he had to deal with the inevitable: they won't know who he was. Makoto confirmed that yesterday. How could get close to them if for them he was just a stranger?
When he was falsely accused, he felt alone. His parents, friends and schoolmates abandoning him. No one stand up to him back then and for what he knows they probably did the same here. But now, he was truly alone. He had no friends, family or companions. He was at his own.
And honestly, that was the most terrifying thing of all.
The reason why he was able to do all those deeds was because of his friends. They were the reason why he fight, why he made the Phantom thieves. Without them, he didn't want to be Joker.
"Pathetic."
The voice he heard two days ago reappeared. Ren look every corner of the room, even outside the room but he couldn't find his Persona. Why was Arsene appearing like this? It because he hasn't awaken his powers yet?
"Everything alright there, son?" The doctor came back to his office. "You look pretty fine." He joked. "So, do you want to go home or you stay?"
"What you suggest?"
"You can go if you want. You suffer a mental showdown because of trauma."
"You hear?"
"Yes…and all the school staff knows about your record. Don't worry, my lips are seal. In my humble medical opinion, you should go to a phycologist."
"I did back at juvie…"
"And he or she did refer you another one?" Ren didn't answer because he honestly didn't know. "Jeez, and I thought that America had a horrible medical service…" The doctor went to his desk and pull off a card. "Here, when you have time talk to him tell him that you come from my part. Oh yeah! You don't know who I am, right? I'm Tsukimori Kousuke, the school's nurse. Nice to meet you."
"Likewhise…"
"Don't be so shy! You can relax with me!"
*Knock* *Knock*
"Oh, Niijima-san?"
"Yes, Tsukimori-sensei. May I come in?" Both boy and man got surprised by that voice. It didn't belong to Sae. Tsukimori open the door and outside the room was Makoto.
"Secretary! What brings you my humble above?"
"I want to check Amamiya-kun."
"Then you are lucky because he is right here and completely conscious." The man move aside and let her see him.
"Oh god, are you alright?!" Makoto rush in. She was not wearing her usual school uniform but rather a track suit. "I was so worried! I thought that you pass out like last time." Any other girl would be mad at him for puking on her but there she was, worrying about him. "Sis, is here, she can take you home. I can talk to the principal to let you go early."
He….he didn't deserve her…how stupid can he be? Makoto…Makoto was still here….even if she doesn't know him, he does know her!
"Amamiya-kun, you're crying…."
"Ah…" She was right he was still crying but he…didn't feel as bad as before. Seeing Makoto actually calm him. "It's nothing, sorry for making you worry and for…you know."
"Oh….OHHHH. D-don't worry about it, what matter is that you're feeling okay." Poor girl, she really was forcing herself to smile. He truly felt bad for what he did to her. "Speaking of which, what are you going to do? Are you going home?"
Ren think about Sae's proposal, sure he was a mess but….he couldn't give up that easily.
"No, tell her that I'm staying."
"You sure, kid? I can write you a note and you up to go."
"Thank you but I rather stay. I already bring to much attention to me today. Leaving will make going back tomorrow even worse."
"I don't think that you should concern about people opinions over your health."
"Of course not but to be honest, I don't want to go home. This is something that I eventually have to deal, so is better if I do the first step."
Tsukimori and Makoto stared at him. The man sighed and shook his shoulders. "Do as you want. But remember, if you start to feel ill come straight to me. Got it?"
"Absolutely." He smiled at the nurse. Tsukimori was a very nice guy, something that he couldn't normally find at his Shujin. "Thank you for your help."
"It is my job after all. If you want to stay go ahead. That said, Niijima-san if you see him starting to feel bad. Bring him to me, it doesn't matter if he doesn't want to."
"Of course, you can count with me."
"Good, and now…I don't want to be rude but if you feeling better…"
"We'll leaving now, sorry for the inconveniences." Ren and Makoto bowed and left the room. At the hallways was Sae waiting for him. "Niijima-san."
"What are you doing, Makoto?" She asked to her younger sister with a stern. Makoto flinched, it look like she was caught doing something bad.
"She came to check on me. Don't be mad at her." Ren decided to stand up to her, the last he needed is to Sae to start shitting on her because she was a good person. "Also, I'm staying. Sorry for making you waste your time." The elder Niijima didn't say nothing for a couple of seconds.
"Very well. I'll leaving then. But if this happen again, forget that I'm going back."
"I'll do my best to not repeat it."
"Have a good day." Makoto waved her sister but she didn't seem to notice it. The secretary was down, something that he didn't enjoy.
"So…..in which period I am?"
"The last one, but are you sure that you want to go back? People are going to stare at you."
"They're gonna stare at me anyways, so is the same if they stare at me today or tomorrow. Also, is better if you don't accompany me. Your sister doesn't want you to be close with me and is better that our classmates doesn't see us together."
"I don't care for what they say."
"I know but after what happen today, is better to finish the day as calm and quiet that we can. There's enough shit for a day."
"Language."
"My bad….sorry, I'm going to my classroom. But if you want, you can show me the volleyball team after class."
"Of course, it will be my pleasure." Makoto smiled at him, recovering her good mood. They both wave each other and return to their classrooms. Ren sighed, it was going to be a very awkward situation but he had to deal with it.
So he returned to his classroom where the class was still in session. The moment he open the door and step in, everyone eyes were into him.
"Amamiya-san! Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, sensei. Sorry for making you worry." Ren put on his best smile to give the best impression ever. "May I come in?"
"Of course, take your seat."
Ren went to his seat, trying to ignore all the stares. A feeling of daja vu of his first day back at his own Shujin appeared on his mind. But there were 2 differences, they weren't gossip about him and….the two blonde sibling on his classroom.
If he wasn't wrong they are Lio and Zeta Fotia. Makoto told him that Shujin has an exchange program with plenty of countries and for their looks they were definitely foreigners. For a second he thought that she was Ann only to be surprise by this girl. She resemble Ann a lot, physically. Ann at his first day wasn't that friendly and relax, well, also because Ann was being abused by Kamoshida.
"Welcome back~~~~!" Zeta greet him a cheerful smile. She look very happy to see him for some reason. "Feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you for asking….Fotia-san?"
"Call me Zeta."
"Amamiya-san! Fotia-san! Stop talking." The teacher scold them both, Ren took a glance at her brother who didn't react at just scolding toward his sibling. The boy was focus on the lesson. It was Story. This teacher was very good and for what he could see, it was a high level lesson. "Alright, Amamiya-san. Do you know what happen to the catholic priests that recede in Japan after the fall of Nobunaga?"
"The death of Nobunaga caused by the betrayed of his allies at the so call 'Honnō-ji Incident' in june 21, 1592. One should remember that during Nobunaga's rule, the catholic priest were allowed to spread the word of god in the lands without repercussion. Mostly because he believed that Japan should abandon its all ways and embrace the world. Unfortunately, after his death by the hand of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who succeed his rule. Started to be suspicious about Europeans, who wanted to conquer Japan by showing its advanced warfare and slowly introducing Catholicism in Japan. During his rule, priests and those who converted into Catholicism were persecuted and executed, mostly by crucifixion. Because of this action, Amakusa Shiro led the Shimabara Rebellion, which fail. All this conflicts and dead, concluded in the making of the Sakoku edict that close the country from the rest of the world for 250 years."
The classroom went into silence, completely amazed of his answer. This was the result of being a top student for an entire year.
"Very good. Indeed, during the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu imposed multiples reforms to all Japan in order to regulate the people." Their teacher decided to keep the history lesson. He choose that overly long answer because it was for the best. By saying such thing, he secure that they would focus on his knowledge and not what transpired before.
"(He also pukes information.)" Someone whisper behind his back, something that he was used to and he was honestly expecting. He honestly didn't care, he just have to prove them wrong like he did last time.
Monday 4/4, afternoon:
"Class, dismiss." The teacher finished the day and everyone bowed to the teacher. Students exit the classroom to go to their respective clubs. Ren have to meet with Makoto so that they could see Kamoshida. So he stand up from his seat but he was interrupted by not-Ann.
"Heya, where you going, newbie?"
"I'm going to meet with someone."
"For what?" Zeta was very pushover, he knew that she probably didn't mean wrong but….
"My friends is going to introduce me to the volleyball team."
"You want to join in?! I'm the manager of the club! And my lil' bro is a member as well." Ren looked at her brother, he was….very young. "You thinking that he is looks very young, right?"
"Eh…"
"Don't worry, everyone thinks the same when they see him. He is that young, he skipped grades in order to get here. Even with that height, he is the ace of the valley ball team. I know! What if we help you to get in?"
That—was very good for him. He knew that things wouldn't be the same like last time but to have the volleyball manager and the ace in the same class? That's something that he didn't expect.
Should he go with them or with Makoto?
"If you two are going to keep flirting, I'm off." The young boy said behind them, completely ignoring them.
"Hey, wait you brat! Sorry for his attitude, He is not very friendly."
"None taken." He didn't know if this was the best choice but it could benefit him more if he played it well. "And I accept your offer."
"Cool, follow me."
The 3 students left the classroom and walked towards the gym, he later would explain Makoto that they invite him to join. Either ways, she will definitely be upset for plant her. That poor girl couldn't take a break…
"Soooo, where you from?" Zeta asked, trying to break the ice.
"Japan."
"Ja-ja, for real, where you come from?"
"I'm from Chiba, I attend the Amakatsu high school back then. I recently move here because personal reasons."
"Is that so….well, welcome to Tokyo! Hope that you like our school!"
"Thank you. And you? Where you two from?"
"We're from Greece but we live in Japan since kids. We merely spend time in that country."
"The only time I leave Japan was to go to Hawaii."
"Really? I always wanted to go. Is nice?"
"It was very fun, I went with a group of friends. Although, we just stay in the resort."
"Probably because you didn't want to see where the native live." Lio commented, the first time he talk since they went out. "Not surprising, showing poor people and precarious houses certainly doesn't help to bring tourist."
"Hey, don't be an ass, Lio! You can be a little friendly, you know?"
"And you should stop to be so 'friendly' towards boys. You lucky that you're not pregnant."
"What you say, you brat?!" Zeta grabbed his head and start to strangle him while he try to push her away. He knew that it was a family thing but.
"Stop it, you two." Ren split the two siblings, Lio looked very annoyed by what he did. "And you shouldn't talk to your sister like that." The young boy started at him with anger in his eyes.
"I'm going first." Lio didn't say nothing and rushed towards the club, ignoring his sister. Zeta crossed her arms, she look that she was about to kill someone.
"That kid, I swear he is being a pain of the ass ever since he enter puberty." She said with frustration. "Sorry for his behavior. He has been like that lately."
"It's okay, we all go through that phase."
"JAJAJAJA, dude that's so lame!" Zeta laughed. "Tell me, what you want to join the team?"
"I like Volley and I'm very good at it."
"Just that? You don't have a promise that you make to your childhood friend or being a medal Olympic winner?"
"You do?"
"No way, I don't even like Volley!"
"Then why are you the manager?"
"Because is the best way to annoy my little brother. Imagine having your big sister as the manager of your team. The face he put when he learn about was priceless!"
"You join for that?"
"Yeah, you got a problem with that?!"
"At all."
"Well. Here we are."
The gym was just like her remember to be, the only difference it was that the crowd seats were bigger. But overall, there was no changes. Inside the gym, the volleyball team was doing warm up exercises.
"Hello guys, good job!" The blonde hair scream, all the members stop their training and wave their hands. She looked at them and ask. "And Lio?"
"He is in the changing room." A team member said, then all the team look at Ren. "And who is this guy, Zeta-Chan?"
"Amamiya Ren, 2nd year. And I wish to join your team!" This was part of his plan, to be the most respectful and well behave member of team so he doesn't bring any bad attention.
"What is with all the mess?" Then Ren hear a familiar voice….no that would mean that the person was someone close to him, more than familiar it was a voice that he knew. A man who is capable of unspeakable things toward their students.
The former volley gold medalist and the P.E teacher of Shujin: Kamoshida Suguru.
"Kamo-Sensei, I bring you a new recruit!"
Ren turned his head back to see Kamoshida, the man was exactly like he just remember but something catch him off guard: His left eyes was completely blind. It lacked color and it didn't reflect the light. What happen to him?
"Hmmm, a new guy?" Kamoshida look at him, it was quite disturbing to see such a wound on his face. "Who you might be?"
"A-Amamiya Ren, nice to meet you sir."
"OOOH! I heard about you! You just got transfer today, didn't you? My name is Kamoshida Suguru and you can guess that I'm the coach of the volleyball team." He wink his blind eye, it was very odd but…he knew Kamoshida and how he act.
"He wants to join, what you say coach?"
"Well….we're not currently looking for new members but in a couple of weeks we're going to do a test for new recruits. Come back when the try outs are on."
Shit, he didn't expect that answer. He just assumed that he could join in like any other club. No, he didn't need to despair. He still have time.
"Oh c'mon, Kamo-sensei! Can you make an exception for this guy?" Kamoshida stared at the girl for a moment, something odd coming from him. What was he thinking?
"….alright, only because of you, Zeta-chan." Ren find odd how all the members call her by her first name and a diminutive, but thanks to her he was able to get what he need. "But not today, come back tomorrow after class and I will make a try out for you, ok?"
"No problem, sir. I promise to don't disappoint you."
"Jajaja, I like your attitude! I'll be waiting for you tomorrow." Kamoshida laughed like a stereotypical coach. He had to admit, he was very good at playing this role.
"Thank you very much. Zeta-san, thank you as well and I see you tomorrow."
"Don't sweat it, break a leg tomorrow." Zeta punched him in the arm as a good luck charm. "Alright, guys! Time to work!"
"Zeta-chan, I'm the coach not you! Alright, guys! Time to work!"
Ren silently left them alone and he was starting to get suspicious about the volleyball team. They look….happy, too happy. Something that he never connect with Kamoshida. Speaking of the devil, Kamoshida never had such a visible disability before. Ryuji told him that he got suspended because he attacked Kamoshida after he provoked him. He didn't see Ryuji yet, maybe instead of being suspended he was expelled.
Ryuji back them punch him and Kamoshida responded by breaking his knee, but what if Ryuji this time was able to get the upper hand and hurt him so badly that left blind his eye? IT wasn't impossible, depending on the wound and the force apply to it, one could lost its sight. He read about cases of people losing their sight after a crash, so is not impossible that he got repeatedly hit the same eye and lost it.
Although they were other variants: For example, Ryuji didn't need to be the culprit because that could only work if 1) All the events from his timeline were the same. 2) It implies that Ryuji attendant this version of Shujin.
He hadn't see him nor Ann, hell, Miho and Mishima were absent as well! Nothing point out that they assist here or they knew Kamoshida. Actually, his blind eye could be the result of something completely unrelated to volley or Shujin.
Ren sighed in defeat, this was too troublesome for him.
"Amamiya-kun."
Oh dammit, he forgot about her. "M-Makoto-san…" Behind his back was Makoto with her arm crossed. Somehow, she remind her of Sae. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good, thank you for asking. How about you? Did you talk with the volleyball team went well?" Oh crap, she knew it. "I went to look for you at your classroom, but your classmate told me that you went with the Fotia siblings to the club."
"I'm sorry! I said to Zeta-san that I want to join the-"
"Wait, did you say 'Zeta-san'? As Zeta Fotia?"
"Yes, she guide to the club and get me a trial for tomorrow."
"I see…listen, I don't blame if a member of a team invite you to join in. I admit that I'm a little mad that you plant me but I must warn about one thing." Makoto look at his eyes with complete seriousness. "Don't get close to Zeta Fotia, she's bad news."
Makoto wasn't a judgmental person, as a matter of fact, she is someone who values the truth. But to warn him about someone else, they have to be a good reason for it.
"May I know why?"
"Fotia…do you know how old she is?"
"She is the same year as me so….seventeen or eighteen?"
"Nineteen." Ren wined his eyes in surprise. "She didn't hold back a year, no, she was a first year in Shujin 3 years ago. But she dropped two months in for no reason. But last year she reroll."
"And what's wrong with that?"
"Do you know how many people does reroll after dropping this school? It's cero. Shujin is a high demanded school and getting in is too difficult outside the entrance test. It incredible difficult to get into Shujin, much alone getting in twice." Ren didn't say anything, he was dumbfounded for what he is hearing. "Normally, when you heard that a girl sleep with many boys is because is a baseless rumor made to ruin a girl's life. But with Zeta Fotia is a reality that she confirm."
"Hold on, how's anything of that has to do with me?"
"Because she uses men to get what she wants! I can't stand that! A lot of people work hard in order to get into Shujin and she gets in sleeping with men like….like….!"
"Calm down." Ren grabbed her shoulders. "Don't worry, if I see that she is using me I'm dropping the team immediately."
"Don't, is not worth it. Just….just be careful, ok? I don't want you to get hurt…" Ren didn't say anything, he nodded in silence.
Neither of them say a word until home.
4/4, Monday. Night:
"She's getting late…" Makoto commented on the dinner table. Ren decided to cook dinner for what happen today. She oppose at first but he insisted and end up cooking. She was quite surprise for how good he cook.
"Does this happen often?"
"Sometimes, mostly when she gets a lot of work."
"Poor woman, thank god I save some curry just in case."
"Sorry for making you work for us…"
"Even if I didn't….do 'that', I will probably end up doing this."
"Amamiya-kun, do you like to cook?"
"Is more a habit than a hobby, but I kinda like it. Do you cook?"
"A little, we mostly eat prepared food or delivery"
"But they don't compare with homemade food."
"Absolutely." Makoto took another bit to her food. "You know, if Volley doesn't work out you can always join the culinary club."
"Thank you for the cheering, secretary."
"Sorry…" Ren chuckled, it was nice to be with her alone. It remind him when they date. Honestly, having Makoto was good for his sanity. Thankfully, Makoto hasn't change for what he remember.
"I'm home." Sae entered the room, the woman looked really tired and upset. "I see that you were having a good time."
"Welcome home, sis. Amamiya-kun made dinner for us."
"I see." Sae looked at him. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you for asking and sorry for the mess." Ren grab a plate with curry and warm it in the pot. "I save some from you in case you were hungry."
"Thank you." Sae took a seat, Ren pass her a dish full of curry which she eat. "This is surprisingly good."
"I thought the same. Amamiya-kun is very good at cooking!"
"Shouldn't you being resting after what happen today?"
"I'm fine, really. Besides, think of this dinner as an apologize for today."
"I hope that this won't become a regular thing, Amamiya."
"Don't worry, what happen today won't happen again, Niijima-san." No, because from this day forward he will do his best to go forwards, starting with Kamoshida.
"Welcome back."
Ren open his eyes and he was again crucified. He looked what was formerly the Velvet room, the unknown man was also here but this time he was in front of a small table, playing with cards.
No…he recognize those type of cards, they were tarot cards. The same ones that Igor used when he talk about his fate.
"Quite a number you did back there. That girl is a saint, not everyone will so forgiven when someone throw at their face." Shit he knew about that. "Changing subjects, I found this deck when I was cleaning the room. I'm not a superstitious person but what I learn about Tarot today is quite interesting." His blue orbs leave the table and focus on him. "You want to see an example?" Ren nodded, the man threw a card on the table. "Ah! I was expecting this one for you; the fool. The beginning of a journey, a card that you're pretty familiar with. So I won't stay long on this one and go for the next one."
The next card was one that he didn't expect "The death, a quite ominous card. Your journey will be a dangerous one, more than you can imagine. Be careful with your choices because a wrong move will be your doom." He pull of another one. "And connected with the death is the devil. You will face a terrible foe, one that will put you in horrible tests and make you questions your very being. If you want to succeed you must never crumble." Another one. "That's why you must never lose your faith in yourself and your companions."
"In order to succeed, you must find strong companions. Not only on power but in resolve. This is not like last time, kid. If you go thinking that everything will be the same then death will come faster than you think. Don't disappoint me."
*Snap*
Tuesday, 5/4, afternoon:
The second day at school was way better than the first one, thankfully no one bother him or Makoto about what happened yesterday. Today he got Math, geography and literature. He rock all of them. For some reason, everyone was always surprise when he answer a question. Although he could already fell some bad gazes at him. IT was obvious that some people felt intimidated by him, a new student comes in and it end up being very smart was bad for a lot of students who wanted to exceed.
And then were the Lio's groupies, who were angry that he didn't let him answer the questions. Like he was the only allowed to answer.
Thankfully the day was over and his plan to get closer to Kamoshida started.
"Ready for your try out, Renny?" Zeta said to him with a big smile. He remember what Makoto said about her yesterday but he didn't believe it. Because there could be more than people know.
"Renny?"
"It's sound funnier that way, don't you think? And where do you think you're going without us, Lio?!"
"To practice."
"Then wait for us and we all go together, jeez." The girl scolded her little brother. "Shall we?"
Ren followed the siblings, he had to admit that he didn't dislike their company even when Lio could be a little antisocial. "Any tips for today trial?"
"Go all out and don't be scare of showing off. The most you stand out, the more are the chances that you get in. Ah, if they make you play a spar match be careful about Fujikawa receive and Todo attack."
"And what about if the make me play against Lio?"
"Then pray any good you believe that he goes easy on you"
"You are good, Lio-kun?"
"Accordingly to the coach, I am. And is Fotia for you. We're not friends." The youngest of them said without even making eye contact. But then he got smack on the back of his head. "That hurt!"
"We have the same conversation yesterday, why don't-?"
*BEEEPPP*
Her cellphone notification bell ringed. "Sorry, is from the team." Zeta took out her phone and read the message. Suddenly, her face went totally pale. She looked at him but….something was wrong.
"Something happen?" Zeta didn't say nothing, even Lio looked a little worried. "Zeta?"
"AH! Sorry, I space out. It was the coach, he told me that the director didn't allow him to make exceptions. Sorry, but you have to take the trials outs with the others."
That was very convenient and obviously a lie. She read something that scare her and she was making an excuse. "Is that so? Well, at the very least I can watch the team practicing."
"Nah, it will be boring. You don't want that. Let's go, Lio." Zeta grabbed his brother, who was confused by all of this.
"Hold on." Ren tried to stop her, he didn't even grab her, he just merely touched her arm and then she-
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" The twin tail girl slapped his hand away, she looked terrified. All the students stopped and watch them. She didn't say nothing and took her brother with her at full speed.
He didn't understand why she reacted that way, is like she was seeing a….a….oh god, could it be?
*BEEP* *BEEP*
*BEEP*
*VRRRRRMMM*
*BEEEP* *BEEEP*
*BEEP*
*BEEP*
*BEEP*
*BEEP*
*BEEP *
*BEEP*
*BEEP*
*BEEP*
He heard the sound of notification coming from all the students, everyone took their phone and read what it came to them. Ren was terrified, he had to run away from here. But whenever he go all those beeping sounds follow him.
When he started Shujin, his record was already leaked by Mishima. Meaning that it was days before his arrival to Tokyo but he never knew how they got the record. Today, he knew the answer.
It was suffocating, he feel completely trapped.
"Amamiya-kun!" Makoto screamed his last name, she didn't look terrified or scare but worried. "Something terrible just happen!"
"How could this happen?!" The principal was bursting in rage, inside his office was all the teaching staff, Makoto and Ren. "Do you even know what does this mean?! The Prosecution office would be onto us for putting a minor in danger!"
"Sir, with all respect, we have nothing to do with this!" One of the teachers said. "For all we could know it could be from the prosecution office itself!"
"Are you insane?! Why would they leak his record?"
"Perhaps someone inside that office leaked. Maybe for accident or an angry employee."
"Riwa-sensei, don't ever say that ever again. You're lucky that no one of the justice department heard that."
The teachers were throwing darts at each other, trying to end this mess as quickly as possible but no one know what happen. But they don't understand, the damage is already done. Even if they found out the culprit, everyone already knew what he did.
Makoto was sitting at his side, trying her best to comfort him. When she got the message she knew that she had to help him. She knew about his crime, her sister told her. It was terrible, he was just trying to help someone and his life went down. She read the message, it says who he killed but now why he kill him. The mail had a lot of info about the trial, his name and his condemn. Whoever leak it, had a lot of information about Ren. To say she was mad, was too little, she was completely livid. This was unforgivable, he didn't do anything wrong and people were acting like he was some kind of monster.
She couldn't believe the luck of this boy. Every day something bad happen to him, but this….this was beyond evil.
The teachers were still arguing about it, not reaching solution or conclusion. It was quite pathetic to see all her teachers pointing fingers like each other, ignoring what happen to Ren.
"Excuse me, sorry for being late." Kamoshida-sensei enter the room, he was the last teacher to come. "I hear about what happen and I want to talk with Amamiya."
"Why is the reason, Kamoshida-sensei?" Kamoshida ignored the principal and went straight where Ren was sitting.
"What did you do to Zeta?"
"What?!"
"Kamoshida-sensei! What're you talking about?!"
"Zeta Fotia and her sibling came into my class running, she looked like she was having a heart attack. I heard from some students that you tried to grab her."
"I didn't do anything to her!"
"Then why she looks so terrified? I'm sorry, kid. But forget about joining my team."
"Why?! Kamoshida-Sensei, he didn't do anything!"
"Even if he didn't, my team doesn't want him close. Sorry, but my team is first."
The fact that those words came from Kamoshida make him boiled in rage, he had no right to say that. He wanted to beat the shit out of him! He knew that he was the one who leaked his record!
He stood up and get out of the room. If he stayed he will end up killing him. Makoto tried to stop him but he tossed her away.
He wanted to be alone.
Wednesday, 6/4. Morning:
Ren didn't see Makoto since yesterday, he spend all the night inside his room without talking. He heard how Sae was screaming at her cellphone, she was beyond livid. Although it wasn't because of his situation, because the fact that someone leaked the record from the Police's archives. Again, the adults only care about their jobs rather than the victims.
All night long, his cellphone got notifications. They were all from unknown numbers, somehow people knew his number. It was all hate mail that he didn't bother to read. He turn off his phone and still haven't turned on.
Makoto went to school at her own, she tried to convince him to come with her but he didn't say anything. Sae went to her work as well, not once she try to talk to him.
Somehow he managed to get out of his room and went to school, but he decided to walk alone. He avoid trying to go in the train or bus so no one of Shujin see him. Funny, every time he had the resolve to go on something horrible happen to him to put him down.
First he wants to reunite his team but only to realize that all his friends weren't here and to top it, he was a murderer. And when Makoto help him and managed to get close to Kamoshida, everyone learns about his record.
It has to be Kamoshida again. Is too much of a coincidence that the same day he had a try out and just before he gets there, every single student got his record. And to top that, the bastard had the balls to act like a caring teacher!
This is how Ryuji felt when he saw him? He couldn't blame him to beat the crap out of him.
If he wanted to get revenge he needed to go back to the metaverse but he didn't know how to get back. He didn't have the app yet so he couldn't get into his palace but still, going solo was a suicide mission.
He needed Persona users to help him, but where to find them?
Then he saw someone, someone who he needed to talk. Makoto warned him about her but she was the best way to get close to Kamoshida:
Zeta Fotia.
She was currently alone, not sign of her brother being with her. He needed to talk to her but her reaction yesterday shows that she wasn't fond of him.
Now….how to approach her? He couldn't just talk to her like that…..or maybe he could?
Well, it was all or nothing.
"Zeta-san."
"Hmm?" She turned to see him, the moment he saw him her face went totally pale. She was speechless, terrified.
"Can we talk?"
"L-Listen, if this is about the try out. Kamoshida and the team voted for not doing it, I have nothing to do with. I swear." She looked nervous, she took his record too seriously.
"I'm not here for that…" Before he could say anything, she punch him in the face and put him to the ground.
"Do you think I'm a little bitch easy to target?! Well, I know how to fight, you murderer!" He was surprise of how strong and feisty she was.
"Hold on! I'm not want to hurt you!"
"Then what you want?!"
"I want to apologize for yesterday. You run away before I could say something."
"What do you expect?! You are fucking murderer!"
"Listen! L-Let me explain and I won't bother you anymore. Zeta, if I was a dangerous then I wouldn't be in Shujin."
"Bullshit! A lot of this kids get into trouble and their daddies pay so no one knows what they did. Unless you have a scholarship, you don't get into Shujin."
"And you? AHHH!" Zeta twisted his arm, he touch a very sensitive nerve.
"You know shit about me! Get away from me and my brother. Understand?!"
That's it! He was done with being nice! Ren moved his body and get out of her grab. Now he was again standing. Zeta didn't look scare anymore but pissed off. She was a lot of fight in her.
"You want to keep doing it?! Or you want to hear me?!" Zeta stared at him, she was piss. He honestly didn't want to fight her, he couldn't allow himself to fight a girl. "Well?"
"You have five minutes, if you get close to me or try to do something funny, I'm calling the police, ok?"
"Fine by me. Listen, I want you to know that I didn't plan to do anything to you or your brother. I swear to god that I didn't have ulterior motives, I just wanted to join the volley team."
"That's it? I don't care want you want to join in or not, I don't want you to be close to me or my brother!"
"Please, calm down. Listen…I know what you read is bad…"
"So is true? All of it?"
"….yes…." Zeta flinched at his confession. "I…I tried to help someone but instead of doing it, I make things worse…."
"Killing a guy seems very extreme to me." Ren flinched at her comment, he didn't think that it was going to be this hurtful. "Listen, sorry if I overreact yesterday. So let's do this, I will leave you alone and never bother you with this again in exchange you leave me and my brother alone, understand?"
"….alright, I'll leave you two alone."
"Good, that's all I wanted to hear. But let me tell you something, if you touch a single hair of Lio, I'll fucking kill you." Zeta turned his back at him, leaving him completely alone.
Honestly, that could go worse. He didn't blame her to distrust him, is not easy to open up to a criminal. What should he do? He was completely lost, he didn't have a single clue of what to do next.
Should he try to talk with Makoto or the principal? But what tell them? He never felt this clueless since he first enter the metaverse.
*Thump*
He stopped walking when he dump with Zeta. The girl was froze before him, not saying a word.
"Hold on." He remember this situation it was the same when he and Ryuji went….."Oh god…" It was….Kamoshida Palace's entrance.
The colors, the lack of blue sky, the medieval setting. It was his Palace
H-How could this be?! He didn't have the metaverse's app nor were they talking about Kamoshida! How was this possible?
"The hell is this?" She said with arced eyebrow and he was as confused as she was. He immediately took out his cellphone: No signal. Meaning that this place was the metaverse…and he doesn't have a Persona to fight the shadows.
"Fotia-san, we shouldn't be here."
"Wow that was fast. You could even last 5 minutes without leaving me alone."
"Listen to me, this is…"
"Hold it right there." The twin tails girl took out her phone. "I'm a click away to call out the police, if you take another step your ass will be back at jail."
"….You know, your phone has no signal."
"Eh?" She look at her screen to check what he said. "W-What?"
"Fotia-san, I know this sound weird but you need to trust me. We need to go before-"
"HALT! WHO GOES THERE?!" A voice interrupted for talking, behind them where two knights. "Identify yourselves!"
"Whoa! What is it? A play?" No, it wasn't. He remember those knights like it was yesterday, they were the shadows that protect Kamoshida's Palace. "What's with these outfits?"
"Fotia-san we shouldn't…"
"Silence!" One of the knight stomp on the floor. "You two are intruders, you'll be apprehend until the King decides your sentences."
"Listed, bud. I'm not in the mood so just move around and…"
"Silence, intruder!" The knight push her.
"Hey! What the hell, man?!"
"Fotia-san, don't fight them!"
"Hush you too!"
"URG!" Someone hit him from behind. At their back, more knights appeared. Surrounding them. Ren looked at the Shadows, they were restraining Zeta against her will. The girl was kicking them but it was useless, she couldn't hurt them. "I had…I had to help her."
"Hey, what all this ruckus?" A man asked, Ren immediately recognize that distorted voice.
"Everyone, salute the King!" The knights raise their weapons to salute their ruler. Say ruler as a middle age man wearing a pink fur cape and a speedo.
"K-Kamo-sensei? W-What are you wearing?" Zeta said, the girl didn't know that he wasn't the real Kamoshida. It was his shadow. "Is this some kind of prank? If it is, I swear I'll be madder than the Hulk."
"Zeta-chan, what are you doing outside the castle? This is not place for you." The man smiled at her, but it wasn't the smile that he used back at school. No, this was a perverted smile. His true smile. "No, no. I can't allow such behavior inside my domains. Sorry, but as the King I must punish your behavior."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Silence!" Shadow Kamoshida slapped her. "Don't you dare to speak back to me! Why can't you be like your little bother? He knows his place in my castle."
"What the fuck did you just say, you impotent bastard?" Ren cached something in Zeta's voice, like a venom in it.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" The shadow punched the girl in the stomach. "NO ONE! NO ONE SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT!"
"Jaja….even your punches are impotent…" She mocked him, Kamoshida responded by grabbing her hair.
"LEAVE HER!" Ren tried to save her but the knights immediately restrain him. If he only had a Persona.
"Hmm?" Kamoshida turned his eyes towards him. "Knights, why is this murderer here?"
"He enter your palace without your permission, your highness."
"Then why are you waiting for? Kill him." A shill went through his spine, he needed to-
*Split*
Ren felt something pinching his chest, he look down and saw a sword stabbing his heart. The knight pull out the sword and blood spill all over the floor. He heard someone screaming but his ears could merely heard at the moment. This—This shouldn't happen, he didn't supposed to die. He needed to defeat Kamoshida and prevent that he and Ryuji to get expelled….where's Ryuji? He should be here, he should be yelling at Kamoshida for all he did.
But he wasn't here.
Neither was Ann.
Morgana
Yosuke.
Futaba.
Haru.
No one was here.
He was alone.
"Jesus, you look like shit." The white haired man talked to him. He was on the floor, chocking in his own blood. "Look at the mess, I just wax the floor." He frowned in disappointment. "You thinking that you shouldn't die, that this wasn't supposed to happen. You and me both, kid." The man turned his back and walked away.
"Being stabbed in the back, that's a shitty way of dying if you ask me". He came back, carrying a box on his hand. "No one deserves to die like that and no offense, but you are going to die." He open the box. "Unless we do something about it."
From inside the box was a weird worm. It was large and slime, with tons of legs. "Even if I heal your wounds, you will still be defend less against the shadows. So I will give you a little help to get out of there alive." He drop the insect to him. The bug get inside of him from his eye, the thing was digging deep inside his body.
And then it bit him.
"What should we do with the body?"
"Do as you want." Shadow Kamoshida discarded the corpse and focus on the girl who was in shock. "Don't worry. Your punishment won't be that severe, but if you apologize right now I will call it off." He looked closely to the girl, his hand gently touched her face. "Or not." The shadow open her shirt and exposed her bra.
"NO! PLEASE NO!" Zeta was shaking, trying to escape but the knights were too strong for her. "IF YOU TOUCH ME, I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"
"No, you won't. No one can touch me. I'm the king and this is my kingdom." He grinned like a sicko. "Those who doesn't understand their place will end up like that brat over-"
"Gaaaa….." A growl interrupted the king from acting. All the shadow present look at the body of the currently deceased Ren. "GAAA!" His body started to contort in weird ways, his limbs were pointing to ways that weren't possible for a human body. Smoke started to come from his upper body, his jacket and shirt were turning to ash.
"Look at you, so pathetic."
"W-What's happening to him?"
Tattoos were starting to cover his body. They were black with neon green boards, they have rectangular form and were extending all over his upper body.
"You were at the top of the world.
Fighting against evil and having all you wanted in your hand."
"Don't stand there! Kill him!"
"But not anymore.
You fall like never before.
Drowning in your own misery."
The knights raised their weapon ready to strike him down.
"You wanted to do the right thing.
To help the helpless.
You give your heart and body?
And what you got as a reward?
Nothing.
You lost everything you fight for and now you are alone.
No one will help you.
Not your family.
Nor your friends."
Before they could strike, the floor cracked. All the knights lost balance and drop their weapons.
"But I can.
I have a thing for pathetic beings like you."
"Kill him now! KILL HIM!" Shadow Kamoshida commanded. The knights recovered their stance and restart their action.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ren screamed and all the shadows were on fire.
"EEEGGGH!" King Kamoshida dropped to the ground, almost pissing himself. "W-What?!" The shadow look in terror how the wound of the boy was gone. Ren was standing in his two legs, staring at him. With eyes that resembles his.
"I will grant the power you need.
Because I am thou and thou are I.
You just need to call me."
"Rip their hearts….AZAZEL!"