4/29, Friday:

Akira awoke slowly, blearily staring at his phone as it went off with several notifications at a time.

Akira grabbed the phone, squinting at the light. Surprisingly, the group chat was quiet, the real culprit being Ryuji Sakamoto.

ryuji: hey dude, wake upp

ryuji: wake up

ryuji: its bad that im up before you

ryuji: so you need to wake up

ryuji: dude

ryuji: dude

ryuji: dude

akira: i'm up.

akira: what's up?

ryuji: do you want to hang out today?

akira: …

akira: no big emergency or anything?

ryuji: no

akira: let me have some breakfast first.

ryuji: ok dude, meet me at the arcade when ready

"Jeez," Morgana sighed, glaring at the screen. "He really isn't patient, is he?"

"Seems not," Akira agreed, slowly getting out of bed. "But at least there's something to do today, right?"

"I'd rather sleep," Morgana said, stretching. "But that idiot really had to ruin that, huh?"

"No one's saying you can't," Akira said, beginning to get dressed for the day.

After getting dressed in his casual wear, Akira and Morgana went downstairs. Waiting for Akira was some curry and Sojiro.

"Have you been here long?" Akira asked, sitting down for breakfast.

"No," Sojiro said, turning on the T.V.. "But hurry up, I'm going to open soon."

Akira nodded, and began to eat the curry. Despite how Sojiro had originally seemed, he had done a lot for Akira.

A lot more than other people had, anyway.

"Sheesh kid, you don't have to eat that fast," Sojiro said, eyes widening just the slightest bit. "It's not going to go away."

Akira smiled sheepishly at his guardian and shrugged. "An old habit I guess."

Sojiro frowned but said nothing more, for once Akira could say with certainty that Sojiro's sour mood was no fault of his own.

It didn't make him feel any better though.

After breakfast, Sojiro hadn't said anything more, leaving Akira free to find Ryuji in the arcade.

It was easy to do. The arcade lacked people, and even if it was packed, Ryuji's bright hair would sell him out quite easily.

"Hey dude," Ryuji greeted, smiling. "You ready to train?"

"I get a choice?" Akira asked.

"Nope!" Ryuji said. "But it's always good to ask."

Akira shook his head, smiling despite the torture he was about to put his body through. "Alright, lead the way."

Once the two had changed into their gym gear and arrived at Ryuji's training spot, the torture had begun.

Despite how little Akira had actually trained with Ryuji, he found that running came a bit easier.

In no time I'll be the next track star, Akira jokingly thought to himself.

After a few more laps, the two made it back to the training spot. Akira sat on the ground, massaging his already sore legs.

It's a good thing I don't do more physical things, Akira thought. I'd be totally beat.

"You good, dude?" Ryuji asked, still panting.

"I'm fine," Akira said. "How about you?"

Before Ryuji could respond, three people came into the area. Not unlike Ryuji and Akira, they were also wearing their gym uniforms.

But Akira figured that they had come not to train, but instead to fight if their expressions were anything to go by.

"Ah, if it isn't the track traitor," the boy in the middle began. "Come to crawl your way back to the track team, Sakamoto?"

"Of course not!" Ryuji responded, immediately angry.

This… wasn't going to go well.

"Guys," Akira interrupted. "Maybe we shouldn't fight here?"

"You're right," the middle boy said. "We only came here for one reason, to claim this spot as our own."

"Yeah," one of the boys behind him said. "We'll be training here from now on."

"It's not like there's anywhere else to go," the other boy said. "Because of Sakamoto we don't even have a locker room anymore."

Akira frowned. If this continued, he was sure it wasn't going to be pretty. But Akira was outside of his element. How was he going to defuse a situation he had little knowledge of?

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Akira began. "But… you were all being treated unfairly by Kamoshida, right?"

"Why do you all only blame Ryuji now?"

"Of course the delinquent wouldn't understand," the middle boy said harshly. "We were all able to tolerate it because we wanted a team."

"I suppose Sakamoto just didn't care enough," the boy continued. "But of course, you'd get along with him, wouldn't you?"

"Afterall you both solve things with violence, right?"

Yeah, I just get the feeling I made this worse.

"Takeishi, leave him out of this!" Ryuji hissed, glaring at the middle boy. "It's not Akira's fault that I got angry at Kamoshida!"

"And besides, he isn't anything like that!"

"Oh really?" the middle boy, now known as Takeishi asked. "And how would you know that? You've heard about what he's done."

"It's all bullshit!" Ryuji said. "Akira didn't do anything wrong!"

"Ryuji it's fine," Akira interjected, standing up slowly. "We don't need to fight over this."

Ryuji continued to glare at Takeishi, but luckily it seemed that was all he wanted to do.

"Takeishi," one of the boys behind him began. "Maybe we should just leave, we've already claimed this spot for us."

"Yeah," the other boy agreed. "There's no reason for us to stay any longer."

Takeishi looked disgruntled and annoyed, as if he had wanted to pick a fight. "You're right."

"No need for us to stay with this couple anyways," Takeishi finished, turning away quickly. "You're free to finish your date."

Once the group was gone, Akira relaxed. The track team seemed to have odd priorities on who to resent for the disbandment of the team.

Akira would wager that even after Kamoshida's heart changed the effect he had would probably last forever.

"God damnit!" Ryuji yelled, snapping Akira out of his thoughts. "It isn't effin' fair that they brought you into it."

"It's fine, Ryuji," Akira said. "I involved myself in it and even if I didn't it wouldn't be fair for them to just blame you alone."

"Still, bringing it up is just so effin' stupid!" Ryuji complained. "And I was so close to punching Takeishi too…!"

"Maybe I am no different than Kamoshida," Ryuji said, finishing his tangent.

"That's not true," Akira said. "Kamoshida couldn't control his anger, you can. That's proof you've changed, isn't it?"

"I guess," Ryuji said. "It sure as hell doesn't feel like it though."

"Change rarely does," Akira frowned. "And it's not as if you've had a drastic change like a change of heart."

"You really think so?" Ryuji asked.

"I mean, from how they make you out, you've changed for sure," Akira said. "But people tend to be dramatic in this school, so I can't be exactly sure…"

"Yeah, I guess that's true," Ryuji said. "But wait, did he forreal just imply that we were dating?!"

"Would that be so bad?" Akira asked. "Dating me, I mean."

"C'mon dude, don't joke around like that!" Ryuji yelled.

"I'm being serious," Akira said blankly. "Should I be insulted?"

"H-huh…?! It's not like that!"

After a bit more teasing, Akira went back to Leblanc. Before Akira could go back in, he was met with his phone ringing.

"Hey lover," Akira said, smirking. "Did you miss me that much?"

"Dude, shut up about that!" Ryuji yelled. "But I mean I guess it ties into what I called you about."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Akira asked.

"I mean, I've got serious anger issues, dude," Ryuji explained. "Like I said before, I was so damn close to just punching that smug look off of Takeishi."

"You can't be expected to act calmly every single time something happens Ryuji," Akira said. "Those guys were looking for a fight."

"But luckily your handsome boyfriend was there to save the day, right?" Akira added.

"Ugh, are you even taking this seriously?!"

"I am," Akira said. "But, for what it's worth, I think you handled it well."

"Really, dude?" Ryuji asked. "Because sometimes it feels like I don't know what I'm effin' doing."

"Yeah," Akira said. "And if it makes you feel better I never know what I'm doing, so I think it's normal for us to just wing it."

"Thanks, I think," Ryuji said. "But man, I should probably let you go, huh?"

"I don't need you getting in trouble for staying out too late," Ryuji said. "I've already got you into trouble already."

"Ryuji it's fine," Akira said. "But yeah, I should probably get in."

"Talk to you later then?"

"Yeah," Akira said, ending the call.

Akira walked into Leblanc, finally feeling the ache in his legs.

"Ah, you're back," Sojiro said. "I see you also left your cat here today."

Akira nodded, "he wanted to sleep so I didn't really want to bring him with me."

"You say that as if you can speak to him," Sojiro said. "That isn't an odd quirk of yours, is it?"

"They called me a real 'cat whisperer' back home," Akira joked.

"I see," Sojiro said blankly.

That joke didn't land, huh? Akira thought. Can't win 'em all… or any today it seems.

"But it's a good thing Morgana kept you company, right?" Akira said. "I don't think he'd be interested in what I was doing."

"You still just can't leave me here!" Morgana cried from the counter. "We're teammates, remember?!"

"I don't think your cat agrees with you," Sojiro said, smiling slightly.

"You fell asleep Morgana, I wasn't about to get scratched waking you up," Akira said. "Cats usually don't like being forced awake."

"I am not a cat!" Morgana yelled.

"You keep telling yourself that, Morgana."

"You aren't going to spend the whole night arguing with your cat… are you?" Sojiro asked. "I didn't think you were that starved for friendship."

"I'm not sure what I can do," Akira admits

"You can always study," Sojiro suggested in a firm tone. "Your whole reputation depends on your academic abilities."

"I get the feeling that wasn't a suggestion," Akira said. "But you're right, I should probably be studying anyway."

Sojiro nodded, "shocked you agreed so easily."

Akira swallowed down the offense he took. He was a delinquent afterall.

After bringing a textbook over and sitting down at a booth, Akira began to get absorbed in the material.

He felt a new understanding of his schoolwork, which Morgana apparently saw as well.

"You're really getting the hang of this, huh?" Morgana asked.

Akira nodded, still staring at the textbook.

Faintly, Akira could hear the newscaster on the T.V.. Tonight's special seemed to be a study on the Inaba T.V. Murderer.

"Straight from home, huh…" Akira muttered, staring at the T.V. for a moment.

"Does that case mean anything to you?" Sojiro asked, noticing Akira's change in attention.

"I don't know," Akira admitted. "It's probably just because I'm from Inaba…"

"You're from Inaba?" Morgana asked.

"You know what Inaba is?" Akira said as he shook his head and closed his textbook.

"Of course I know what Inaba is!" Morgana said. "It's a town, right?"

"If you knew you wouldn't be asking."

"I'll just close up now," Sojiro said awkwardly. "Don't stay up too late."

4/30, Saturday:

After Akira's argument with Morgana, he went to sleep for another uneventful day. His messages were thankfully blank and he had finished breakfast with no sort of interruptions.

Akira was sure that the day would be peaceful, if the matter of expulsion hadn't hung so heavily in the air.

He had tried to ignore his fear, but once he had made it onto the subway to find a seat, he found that his anxiety had risen with full force.

"Morgana," Akira began hesitantly. "Do you think the change of heart really worked?"

"Huh?" Morgana asked, muffled from his bag. "Who are you, Ryuji?"

"I'm serious, Morgana," Akira said.

"Everything should be fine, Akira," Morgana said. "The shadow and palace disappeared, which represents the change in desire…"

"I think," Morgana finished quickly.

"You don't sound too sure," Akira said, opening up his texts. "But I'll tell the others you said everything will go well."

"Good," Morgana said. "I'm tired of repeating myself."

akira: good news, if this doesn't work we can blame morgana for being expelled.

ryuji: huh?

ryuji: did he say something

ann: yeah, what happened?

akira: i asked morgana about the change of heart.

akira: he said since the shadow and palace disappeared we should be fine.

ryuji: that doesn't mean anything, man

ryuji: that cat can't remember anything

ann: i mean, he does know his name and things about the palaces

ann: maybe whatever he was cursed with just made him forget?

akira: i think we can trust his judgement.

akira: he knows more than we do.

ryuji: but he's an effin' cat

akira: apparently not.

ann: for all we know he could be a model

Akira looked away from his phone as the announcer's voice cut played through the car. He still wasn't sure entirely about the change of heart, but he'd have to believe in Morgana. They'd done everything they could.

So for the sake of the Phantom Thieves and himself, Akira would put on a calm front.

It couldn't be that hard, Akira reasoned with himself. At least he hoped so.

And with that hope Akira went through the day, paying attention to the best of his ability. It wasn't exactly his fault that the classes weren't so interesting.

But as soon as Akira got a notification, a means of distraction, he went for it. He had figured he'd done enough for the day.

ann: hey akira, after school is over do you wanna hang out?

akira: yeah sure.

akira: unrelated but have you been paying attention to class.

ann: no

akira: okay me too.

akira: but yeah where are we hanging out?

ann: you know the family diner in shibuya?

akira: i think, yeah.

ann: there i guess?

ann: i'm kinda hungry and they've got good desserts ann: and don't worry, i'll lead you there!

akira: alright, thanks ann.

After school had finally ended, Akira followed Ann to the diner. Although he wasn't really hungry himself, he figured that it would be nice to just hang out with Ann.

Once they had both ordered, Ann had begun with a somewhat troubled look on her face. "Y'know," Ann said, twirling her hair. "When Shiho wakes up she's not going to have an easy time."

"Everyone's going to know her from…" Ann said, trailing off for a second. "From that."

"That's true," Akira agreed. "But I think she's strong enough to deal with that."

"Especially with Kamoshida gone," Akira said. "And with a friend like you supporting her."

"You say that like it's so certain that we've changed Kamoshida's heart," Ann sighed. "We can't be sure until the day, can we?"

"Hey!" Morgana yelled, muffled through the bag. "Are you really doubting me, Lady Ann?"

"Be quiet Morgana. We don't need to be kicked out before we receive our food." Akira said, looking at his bag for a moment.

"But," Akira continued. "Morgana's right, no use in us second guessing ourselves. It's for the best we believe it worked than to live in fear."

"We've done all we can," Akira finished. "Now all we can do is wait and hope for the best."

"I guess that's true," Ann said. "I just hate feeling so powerless…"

"You weren't powerless when we were fighting Kamoshida," Akira countered. "You're pretty strong, Ann."

"You really think so?" Ann asked. "Because these days I just can't be sure."

"I let myself be used by Kamoshida just for Shiho's position," Ann said, shaking her head. "But I was such a damn idiot, there was no way he would've gotten rid of her position."

"You were just doing what you thought was best, Ann," Akira said. "There was no way you could've known his real intentions."

"Akira's right, y'know," Morgana chimed in. "There was no real reason to doubt Kamoshida because of his reputation."

"The fact that you two really believe that…" Ann said. "I'm kind of jealous."

"Jealous?" Akira repeated.

"L-lady Ann…?"

"You guys can just believe in what's right so easily," Ann said. "You have the strength to fight for what you believe in, it just doesn't seem fair!"

"You have that strength too," Akira said. "You unlocked your persona to get justice for yourself and Shiho, right?"

"I mean, yeah…" Ann said. "But it just seems different."

"I'd even say you're stronger," Akira continued. "You were willing to go along with Kamoshida's abuse as long as Shiho was happy."

"A normal person just couldn't do that."

"Yeah," Ann agreed hesitantly. "It just doesn't feel like it."

"But… maybe…" Ann said trailing off for a moment. "We could borrow each other's strengths!"

"I mean, we both need to improve, right?" Ann continued. "So it would be best if we relied on each other to learn what we don't have!"

"Yeah," Akira said. "That's a great idea, Ann."

"Right?" Ann said. "We'll be the best in no time!"

Akira smiled at Ann, "yeah, this'll be easy for us."

After a few more minutes of idle chatter, their waitress appeared with their food. Akira had ordered their nostalgic steak while Ann seemingly went wild with the sweets they had in stock.

"...I see you enjoy cake," Akira teased as Ann dug into what was on her plate.

"Hey, don't knock my eating habits!" Ann said. "I'm just enjoying myself!"

Akira just smirked before he began eating his own meal.

Before long, both of their plates were cleared, with Ann finishing at an alarming rate. Akira knew he should be worried, but he figured that Ann knew her own body better than he did.

Still, her metabolism must be amazing, Akira thought. It's kind of scary, actually.

"Well, that was fun, right?" Ann asked.

"Yeah," Akira agreed. "It was just a bit worrying to see you eat all that cake though."

Ann giggled, "I hope you were impressed."

"Thoroughly."

Before Ann could say anymore, her phone began to ring, and her face turned into one of shock once she saw the caller and she quickly picked up.

"Hello?" Ann asked quickly. "Yeah?"

"I'll be there right away," Ann said, ending the call. "Sorry Akira, it's about Shiho."

"Is it good news?" Akira asked.

"I'm pretty sure, they asked for me to come," Ann said. "I'll pay you for my food later!"

"It's fine," Akira said. "Tell Shiho I said hi, alright?"

"I promise!" Ann said, quickly rushing out the door.

"Lady Ann seemed determined, didn't she?" Morgana asked, quickly peeking out from out of the bag.

"Yeah, she did," Akira said. "Shiho is the reason she went into Kamoshida's palace afterall."

"Still, if it's bad news, she'll be crushed, won't she?" Morgana said.

"I don't think they'd tell her if it was something bad," Akira said. "They'd tell Shiho's parents first."

"And even if it's bad news, Ann'll make it through," Akira finished. "She'll have us behind her."

"Especially me!" Morgana said. "Nyahaha!"

Akira just rolled his eyes. Morgana's crush on Ann was a bit weird…. But if Morgana was really human, it wouldn't be too bad, would it?

It's probably best not to think about that too much… Akira thought.

Once Akira arrived back in Leblanc, he felt the day's exhaustion greet him with full force. Akira decided that his best course of action was to call it an early night, but before he had even made it in halfway, his phone started buzzing with activity.

"You didn't get into a fight, did you?" Sojiro asked, staring at Akira warily.

"Nope," Akira said, glancing at his phone. "It's just my friends talking about schoolwork."

"You have friends?"

"Thanks for the support," Akira said blankly. "It's a real boost of confidence."

"I'm just saying with your reputation I figured you'd have a bit more trouble, kid," Sojiro said, looking back down at the counter.

ryuji: we're going to die.

ann: well, i'm not

ann: shiho's awake so i'm pretty happy!

ryuji: well sorry you're not getting expelled

ryuji: oh god we're getting expelled

ryuji: oh god we're so screwed

ryuji: how many days do we have left?

akira: what are you talking about?

ryuji: the meeting kamoshida is holding is soon isnt it?

akira: yeah, but we changed his heart.

ryuji: yeah but what if it doesnt work

akira: or it could.

"Sheesh, that idiot really worries a lot, doesn't he?" Morgana complained, looking at the phone. "Also, tell Lady Ann I wish Shiho the best!"

akira: morgana said not to worry.

akira: and also he wishes shiho the best.

ann: aww, thank you mona!

ryuji: that effin' cat has no reason to worry

ryuji: he isn't the one getting expelled

akira: i didn't know you cared about school that much.

ryuji: thats besides the point

ryuji: do you want to get expelled?

akira: we aren't.

ryuji: but can we really be sure?

akira: yes.

ann: jeez ryuji, if only you cared this much about school normally

ann: akira's right tho, it's going to be fine

ann: and if it isnt, at least we tried!

akira: thats the spirit.

ryuji: well… if you guys say so

ryuji: but if this goes bad im blaming you guys!

akira: thanks.

ann: how sweet.

Akira turned his phone off once it seemed like the group chat was finally done for the night.

"Seems like the schoolwork problem is finally solved," Akira said as an explanation. "So I'll probably be going to sleep now."

"At least you're not a delinquent in your sleep schedule," Sojiro said. "I'll be locking up now, then."

Akira nodded as he made his way upstairs.

"Make sure you don't scare your friends off," Sojiro yelled before finally leaving. Akira shook his head, smiling slightly.

At least he's friendly enough to tease me, Akira thought.

Once Akira was upstairs in the safety of his attic, he changed quickly, ready for sleep to take him in its warm embrace.

Although he was sure he should be worried about the change of heart, he was much too exhausted to care.

As soon as Akira's head hit his pillow, he found himself in a dreamless sleep. He'd later figure that wasn't a bad change of pace.

5/1, Sunday:

Akira awoke surprisingly early, at least for it being a Sunday. Stretching in his bed, Akira slowly began to untangle himself from his sheets.

"Is it morning already?" Morgana asked from the bottom of the bed. "We don't have to wake up now, do we?"

"We probably should," Akira said, reaching for his phone. "But it seems we're the first people up."

"Finally," Morgana said. "You guys really have to stop questioning me!"

"Questioning you…?" Akira asked. "This isn't about the change of heart, is it?"

"Of course it is!" Morgana said. "You guys keep worrying about it even though I've told you it's going to be fine!"

"It's not that we don't trust you," Akira began. "But a lot is on the line for us."

"Getting expelled wouldn't be great for Ryuji and I," Akira continued. "And Mishima's future is also on the line…"

"I can get that, but still!" Morgana said. "You guys just need to have a little more faith in me!"

Akira smiled at Morgana, "it's not that we don't trust you, it's just a scary situation."

"I guess," Morgana sighed.

Before Akira could comfort Morgana any further, his phone rang with a notification.

Takemi: Hello, my little guinea pig.

Takemi: Would you be free for an experiment today?

"You should probably accept her offer," Morgana said, squinting at the screen. "We're going to need her 'special' medicine."

"The only reason you're willing to accept so quickly is because you're not the one being experimented on," Akira said. "I could tell her my cat is interested in joining the experiments."

"I'm not a cat!"

"She wouldn't know that."

akira: yeah sure.

akira: just give me a few minutes to get ready.

Takemi: Not a morning person, are you?

Takemi: Hm, well arrive soon then.

"I guess that's decided then," Akira said, turning off his phone. "I don't think you need to come, Morgana, so you're free to sleep some more."

"Good luck with Takemi," Morgana said, already making himself comfortable on the bed. "Remember to be on your best behavior with her."

"It's not that hard," Akira said, beginning to change. "I doubt I'll be conscious for most of it."

After having a quick breakfast courtesy of Sojiro, Akira made his way to the clinic. Although he wasn't excited to try Takemi's medication, Morgana wasn't exactly wrong with how helpful she was with Phantom Thieving.

"Ah," Takemi said as soon as Akira walked in. "You've finally arrived."

"Sorry," Akira said. "Did you wait long?"

"No," Takemi said. "But if you're ready to contribute to your half of the deal, please head to the exam room."

Akira nodded, walking into the examination room.

Let's hope this experiment goes a bit better, Akira thought. But… it probably won't.

"Alright," Takemi said as she came in. "You might want to make yourself comfortable."

Akira nodded once again, sitting on the bed in the examination room. "Is this one going to make me pass out again?"

"It might," Takemi said as she grabbed a cup. "But that's why you're here, isn't it?"

"I suppose so," Akira said.

"This has to be perfected," Takemi said, handing Akira the cup. "So drink it up, guinea pig."

Akira frowned at the liquid before quickly downing it, giving himself no chance to hesitate.

"Wow," Takemi said, eyes widening. "You're really determined, aren't you?"

"It's…" Akira said, before being cut off by a pulse in his head.

Looks like I won't be awake for much longer… Akira thought.

Before Akira could say or think anything else, he found himself lying on the bed, vision darkening.

"That didn't take long," Takemi said, voice already far away.

When Akira awoke again, there was another man in the examination room. From the look on Takemi's face, it was easy to tell that this man wasn't exactly a welcome guest.

"I'm telling you, officer, you've been sent on a wild goose chase," Takemi said.

"Then tell me what that kid is doing here!" the officer demanded, apparently not one for calmness in an altercation.

"I'm chronically ill," Akira said. "I'm seeing Takemi-san to see if she can help improve my symptoms."

The officer looked disgruntled. Apparently Akira's lie had gone over well.

"If you don't have anything else to ask, officer," Takemi said, crossing her arms. "You're welcome to leave."

"I'll be back next time, Takemi," the officer promised, glaring daggers at both Takemi and Akira.

Once Akira was sure the officer was gone, he looked over at Takemi with a confused look. "What did he want?"

"I'm sure one of my colleagues was just trying to stop my research," Takemi said, sighing. "It's nothing 'The Plague' shouldn't expect though."

"...The Plague?" Akira repeated.

"A nickname given to me in the medical community," Takemi said, looking away. "I don't mind, it gives me more privacy."

She… doesn't seem like she wants to share any more information, Akira thought. She's barely agreed to this deal as it is… I probably shouldn't ask anything else.

"Still, don't you find that annoying?" Akira asked.

"It rarely happens," Takemi said. "But if you're well enough to ask questions, you're free to go."

"Alright," Akira said, slowly standing up.

"Text me when you get home, guinea pig. I still have a few more questions," Tae said, looking down at her clipboard.

Once Akira arrived back at Leblanc, he went straight for the attic seeing as Leblanc still had guests.

"Welcome back, kid," Sojiro said gruffly. "You might want to head upstairs."

"Alright," Akira said, quickly heading upstairs.

"Finally, you're back," Morgana complained.

"You're the one who wanted to stay."

In the safety of his attic, he pulled out his phone and began to text Takemi.

akira: i'm back home, nothing bad has happened yet.

Takemi: Yet? Are you expecting something to happen?

akira: there have been horror stories about clinical trials.

Takemi: Well hopefully you don't get to join their ranks.

Takemi: It would be a shame to lose my guinea pig so early.

Takemi: But as long as you're feeling fine, I won't hold you up any longer.

"You're allowed to come down now," Sojiro yelled from downstairs.

Akira, with Morgana in tow, came downstairs quickly. "You said I could go out at night, right?"

"As long as you lock up," Sojiro said. "You're free to stay around this area."

Akira nodded.

"What are you planning on doing?" Morgana asked.

"There's a bathhouse nearby, right?" Akira said. "I think it'd be nice to relax there for a bit."

"Don't stay out too late," Sojiro warned.

"Alright," Akira said. "I'll be back before you know it."

"I won't be here by then," Sojiro said.

Akira said nothing as he left Leblanc once more.

"A little freedom is nice, right Morgana?" Akira said, slowly making his way to the bathhouse.

"This isn't freedom, I'm still getting dragged around everywhere!"

"Oh well," Akira said.

Being in the bathhouse, as Akira would find, wasn't as relaxing as he thought. According to Morgana, the bathhouse had some sort of medicinal herb in it, meaning everyone was trying to get in.

Akira didn't mind too much, but the silence even with all the people was sort of unnerving.

And he was sure that at least a few people were giving him weird stares.

But even just ignoring the people… tomorrow fate is decided, isn't it? Akira thought. Kamoshida's heart… if it isn't changed.

There isn't much to be done now, and it'd be a little hypocritical of me to continue to doubt Morgana's judgment after repeating it was going to be okay. Akira thought. In the end, I can only hope for the best, right?