Persona X TWEWY X Kingdom Hearts
Summary: Trapped in an unfair game? Fighting against society? Changing the hearts of evil adults? Save the world? Discovering oneself? Nothing out of the ordinary for these teenagers.
Chapter 8
Investigation
*Evening: 4/13: Tuesday*
*Cafe LeBlanc*
Chucking a can of soda into a trash bin nearby, Ren rolls his shoulders and preps himself for whatever came next upon entering his new home. Opening the door, he spots Sojiro sitting on a stool by the counter with another newspaper in his lap, likely doing another crossword puzzle. The older man raised his head, hearing the bell jingle.
"…you're home," he says, "I take it you actually went to school?".
"Yup. That'd probably explain why you haven't gotten a call from the school right?" Ren asked with a small smirk. In response, Sojiro lightly chuckled and remarked that Ren probably learned his lesson from yesterday. Though he shrugged indifferently claiming so long as Ren wasn't causing or getting into trouble it'd be okay with the old man. He did stress however while he doesn't know entirely what the young man was up to when he isn't in school, he was going to be in trouble if he started causing problems.
Probably a good idea to not mention what he plans on doing tomorrow then…
"Just in case you forgot, your life isn't a free one right now," reminds the old man.
"Trust me, between you and everyone else in Shujin? I'm pretty sure if I do make it through it, it'd be a long time before I'm convinced I'm free," Ren says.
This made the old man raise a brow at that, making Ren cringe as he realized the school probably didn't say anything to him about his criminal record being released to the school public. Ultimately deciding to just get it out of the way, he tells Sojiro that somehow the students know about his record, and he had no clue how or why that got out. Sojiro sighed tiredly and grunted, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Son of a bitch…of all the damn things…" he sighed, then turned back to Ren, "…how bad is it?".
"Rumours about me have already spread faster than a wildfire," Ren admits, sitting down on a stool, "Ranging from me carrying drugs, weapons to having severe temper issues".
Sojiro's eyes narrowed and made Ren assure him none of it was true with a friendly smirk. This just made the old man lecture him on the severity of his situation, that they may be rumors and for as baseless as they can be, all it takes is one person from the school in a higher position to take those speculations to heart and then all Ren can ever look forward to is another sentence even less forgiving than the one he is currently dealing with.
Just as he promises to behave as best as he can, he gets a text from someone. Apologizing, Ren opens it and sees he received one from Ryuji. Turns out he was just checking if he was still good for tomorrow with their investigation, and a few of the others have texted their thoughts on the matter tomorrow. It seemed to Ren bar a few hesitations and pleads for caution, everyone seemed eager to get going with the plan. At least they won't worry about anyone ratting them out.
"Hey, you even listening?" Sojiro sighed.
"Sorry, just a few friends texting me about tomorrow. There's going to be a volleyball rally," he revealed, "So we're gonna hang around and they'll give me some info on the city".
"You got friends here?".
"Err, I guess? I mean I met more of those transfer students and a few students from Shujin. We kind of clicked, you know what I mean?".
"Huh…just stay away from bad influences," he warned before he plants the newspaper on the counter, "I'll be heading home there. Don't go wandering off, I'm locking up the store". Ren just nodded and bids him a good night, heading to his room after a long day.
In his room, Ren plants his bag on the table and changes into his nightclothes, yawning before laying down on the bed. Tired as he is, his mind was running wild from the events of today. The Palace, Kamoshida's abuse and cruelty reaching new heights, Sora, Neku and the others, cognitions, there was so much to unpack from all this. And it was only his fourth day here in Shibuya. He wonders what his parents would be thinking if he texted them all this, would they even acknowledge his text or write him off as a lunatic?
Closing his eyes to exhale through his nose, Morgana popped into his mind. He wondered if Morgana could have left the Palace with them, or maybe he was part of that world too. That deal they supposedly made, that furball never mentioned him helping with any hair-brained scheme that small cat conjured up, but then again after all he did for them to help Ryuji, there was certainly a debt to be paid. And for Ren, the last thing he needed was to be in debt to anybody at this point. Plus if they had to go back to the Palace for whatever reason, it'd be beneficial to have him on their side.
Then his phone beeped again, and opening his eyes, he picks up his phone to see in the group chat Ryuji made for the team, a few notifications.
Ryuji: "Hey, that thingy on your phone was some red-eye icon, right?".
Ren: "Yeah, it's how we ended up in the Palace. It sort've acted like a navigator, why?".
Neku: "Hang on, red-eye? Like this?"
Neku texts an image of his home screen and below in the right corner is indeed the same app that'd plague Ren's. He hummed, remembering Igor said he'd add it to the people who were involved in Ren's journey, and the people who know about Kamoshida would've been dragged into this. Still, as he narrows his grey eyes at the icon, he looked at Neku's background image with interest. It was graffiti-style art but unlike those gaudy and even nasty ones he saw back home, this looked genuinely beautiful and even, well, cool. It was essentially a humanoid cat with sharp designs and angles with dark red messages around it.
Ren: "Yeah, that's the one. When'd you get that?".
Neku: "Just checked my phone and boom, there it is".
Ryuji: "Me too. I tried deleting it but it just redownloaded itself!".
Ren: "Anyone else got the app?".
Sora: "Same here, Riku and Kairi checked theirs and they got it too".
Beat: "Yo, me and Rhyme got this shit too! The hell is it?".
Rhyme: "If this app is how we get to the Palace, then we have no choice but to hold on to it. Sides, we can't delete it any way. I tried too and it just came back".
Ren: "Good call. Okay, we'll deal with this later, we've got a lot of work tomorrow".
He texted everyone goodnight before turning in himself.
*Velvet Room*
Waking up with a light gasp, Ren holds back a groan of dismay when he saw that abyss of darkness above his head with that annoying clanking of chains. Back in this dark room yet again, and of course his lovely wardens and new associate. Repeating the same process of getting out of bed and facing Igor while in chains again, he sees the crazy-eyed man at his desk with Caroline and Justine by his cell.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room," greets the weird man, "I was thinking about our previous conversation, and wanted to resume with you tonight, hence why I brought you here".
He asked if Ren was getting accustomed to this, and he simply replied he was slowly but surely becoming desensitized by the bizarreness of the whole thing. After the past two days, he was sure nothing could surprise him anymore. Igor chuckles, praising Ren for possessing nerves of steel, though the Trickster would have disagreed with it if he weren't afraid the little girl would shock him for speaking against her master. But Igor gave him a glimpse of his situation and revealed the goal of his rehabilitation.
It is to thwart the fated ruin of said rehabilitation, but he won't be able to do it all on his own. He knowingly said Ren on this day had entered a partnership with several others, one who was like him while six others stood out yet they all shared a connection. Ren mentions a few names here, but specifically, Sora and Neku, to which he sees Igor's smile twitch for a second like it was going to grow even wider if that were possible. The mad-looking man says it was for Ren's benefit that he involves himself with others because it is a foundation of recovery.
However he doesn't encourage Ren to forge frivolous bonds, rather he creates a ring of bonds, whether empowered by their strength or faith to help him. Making the ring of bonds stronger would benefit Ren in the long run, whether he knows this or not. Even Justine adds that Personas are the strength of the heart and the stronger the heart the more powerful they become. And Caroline kindly, massive air quotes on that, tells him there will be plenty of people with talents Ren doesn't possess. Speaking of Personas, Ren questions Igor about Sora and company, how they have second forms.
"Ahh yes…I believe the Guardian has finally reunited with his companions at last," Igor comments, "Know this Trickster, their hearts are far more powerful than you can imagine".
"Meaning? Not to be rude but can you give me a little more of a straight answer as opposed to a bendy windy one?" asks the Trickster.
"Create a bond with them…and you will see how powerful a bond with them will be," Igor suggests. He even offered his power should Ren desire it. A sense of expectations is planted on the boy's shoulders. Once more the bizarre man implores the Trickster that creating powerful bonds with confidants of his to help with his rehabilitation. And then Caroline orders the boy to return to his worthless real world and leave their master.
Ren wisely kept his mouth shut about him being brought here as opposed to accidentally stumbling here…
*WildKat: 12: Am*
"Note to self…never drink coffee before bed…" Kairi yawned before gulping down some water.
Finishing the cold beverage, she heaved another yawn and rubbed her weary eyes with her arm while settling down her emptied glass, Kairi leaves the kitchen and slumps back to her room. Unlike her friends, coffee was never for her to consume without the overwhelming need to use the restroom or become super thirsty. Not even with milk does it help her before bed, hence why she tries to limit consumption to during the day or even go through it without the beverage.
Wearing an oversized t-shirt and a pair of shorts for the cool night, she runs a hand through her messy red hair and walks up the stairs barefoot to her room. Everyone else was likely dead to the worlds judging by how silent the place is, not that she could blame them. If her bladder weren't so weak against caffeine she'd probably need an air-horn to her ears to wake up tomorrow, even then she doubted she'd wake up on the first blast.
She still had so many questions regarding their new home, this world in general but this Mr. H man was raising more questions. How he knew so much about her, and the others were quite disturbing along with how their rooms were darn near perfect replicas of their old rooms from the islands, the city Roxas and Xion live in, Ventus' room and even Naminé's room from the world she resides in. Not only that, but entering her room hit her with a wave of nostalgia, and even gave her a bad case of homesick.
It made her frown when she realized how long it had been since she had been home and didn't want to imagine how long it'd have been for her boys. Just thinking that however, created a warmth within her heart when she thought about one of those boys, the boy they had finally reunited with at long last. Thinking of him though, she comes to a halt just when her hand grasped the door handle to her room, a terrible feeling blossoms within her chest. She quickly spins around and eyes his door, that worrisome feeling intensifying within her.
Instinct taking over combined with that newfound paranoia, Kairi rushes to Sora's door and almost barged in. "Sora!" she calls stepping into his room. Inside his room, which again gave her that nostalgic sensation in her chest, she searches for him. Her eyes were wide with horror, there was no sign of him. She stands in the middle of his room, searching for him, only to find his bedsheets were tussled and thrown off, the window was opened with the breeze blowing the thin curtains.
There is no trace of magic or anything abnormal here, making her mind race with all sorts of possibilities. Did Kamoshida have something to do with this? Was there someone else after him? Did he sleepwalk and sneak out? Or worse, did he disappear again?
She turns to shout for someone but paused when she saw the door. She was positive she had slammed the door open enough to slam it into the wall, yet it was slightly off the wall…and then she hears a low groan of pain, and then her face turns ashen. She grabbed the door handle and pulls gently towards her and spots the missing boy with his back against the wall with a pained look on his face, wearing a black tank-top with a pair of red shorts. His face houses a bruise and a bleeding nose. Kairi drops her arm, letting the door slowly close, and stares at the boy.
"…here…" groaned the boy with a weak grin.
"I AM SO SORRY! I-I-I-I-I-I thought you disappeared o-or were kidnapped or…!" rambles and stammers Kairi, nearly clasping her mouth shut in shock for this. But as she rambles and apologizes for hurting the boy, Sora merely waved her off and asks if she could fix his potentially broken nose and the swelling bruises on his face as compensation for her mishap. At least here in the real world, her magic wasn't restricted nor is she hindered. So after apologizing more profusely and helping him to his bed, she began to heal him.
Using a low-tier spell was enough for superficial wounds like this was a cakewalk for her, and Sora could sense her mana had barely taken a hit from the use which only furthers his confidence in her. She apologizes again for basically smashing his face in with his door, clasping her hands, and twiddling her thumbs. But Sora just laughed it off and waved his hand kindly, claiming she just surprised him when he had his guard down. He also teased she had gotten a lot stronger since the last time they fought together, even suggested she'd bring a door with her next time they go to the Palace.
They both snickered at the image of Kairi standing over Kamoshida with a door with the same crazy smile everyone had before their Personas awakened.
"So how come you're still up?" Sora asks, rubbing his sensitive nose.
"Coffee before bed does nothing for my bladder…should've thought of that before I took it from Naminé," Kairi confessed, "But then I got thirsty and wanted some water".
She lowered her hand and rest them both on her knees, sighing peacefully before she turned to Sora, inquiring why he was still up himself. This made the boy's smile falter and become smaller as he looked down at the floor, her smile fading away. She leaned forward to get a look at him to try and gauge what was going on in his head, yet his eyes had a shadow within the deep blue like he was trying to sort things out in his mind.
"…can't sleep…" he confessed, "You're gonna laugh…".
She gently puts a hand on his knee, kindness, and warmth seeping into him. He nearly sighed in relief and utter bliss from this simple gesture, his body and mind had been deprived of warmth from another for such a long time he had almost forgotten what it was like to have someone there for him. To listen to his woes, to help him face whatever was coming his way, to strengthen his resolve against whatever came his way. But that time in the world of endless sea and sky, he knew a part of the old Sora had withered away from the lack of someone, anyone, besides him.
When he glanced at Kairi's beautiful eyes, he sees there is no mockery or even amusement, but genuine concern and something else he couldn't place but it made his heart speed up. "Whatever it is, it's enough to keep you up. What's wrong?" she asked softly. Sora looks away as if ashamed of this sudden weakness appearing but Kairi cupped his cheek to get him to face her and rests her forehead against his. "Come on, we used to tell each other all our night woes, what's stopping you now?" she asked.
"…I'm scared," he confessed.
"About taking on Kamoshida? Oh come on, you fought worse…wait, is it because we can't use keyblades or…?" she pressed.
"No, I'm not scared of that loser…I'm scared that…if I sleep when I wake up…you'll be gone".
Kairi's eyes widen at this, a sudden chill raced down her spine as well as a terrible tingle on her back, nearly making her gasp as if she had been splashed by a bucket of ice-cold water. She used all that mental training Aqua had taught her to reframe from scaring him and musters her cracking will to maintain her composure. Not now, now is not the time to display weakness to Sora, who was the one who needed her strength. He looked down at the floor, confessing that all his time in that place had messed him up.
Convinced that if he sleeps, he'll wake up in that place again all alone, away from the people who he cared for dearly with all the warmth in his heart. Having Riku being here alone he was thanking his stars for every moment, but now with her, Naminé, Roxas, and the others with him even with Neku and Ren and all the others, he truly felt so much better. Yet all of that could be just him losing his mind, that maybe he was so desperate to not be alone anymore that he must have imagined this whole world.
"And every time I look at you…every time I see you laughing or smiling, it feels…too good to be real," he sighed.
Kairi lowers her gaze, realizing slowly the severity of her most cherished friend's state of mind and heart. The guilt of his "death" grew heavier on her heart, the sins of her incompetence costing her…everyone, Sora's existence. She had a clue that wherever Sora had gone to it couldn't have been a place where he would have at least someone there, just to help him cope with wherever the realms deemed fit for somebody who had committed the biggest taboo in all worlds.
But…to hear it from him, hurt more.
He chuckles and scoffs at himself, saying he was wimpier than she must have remembered. She frowns at him, before taking one hand and boldly places it on her heart. He blushed deeply, cheeks glowing in the dark as he was just a few inches away from her chest, and seeing the dash of red on Kairi's cheeks only made him dry up his throat and blush even deeper. Kairi placed her hand on his flattened limb against her heart, looking at him with a glow.
"Can you feel that? The beat of my heart?" she asked.
Sora looks at where his hand-laid, and closing his eyes, he could feel the steady yet quicken beats of her heart. The warmth of her pure light enveloped his hand, like her warm and gentle yet powerful hands were closed around his. Always guiding him, always there to give him that small assurance that he was better than he ever believed. The beats sent a warm glow into him like she was filling the void that was left in his heart.
"Does that feel like a dream? Or even a figment of your imagination?" she whispers.
No amount of imagination nor any dream he could conjure up could even compare to this sensation, there was no one else like Kairi. Nobody could replicate this warmth, not even another princess of heart or even a newborn light. Sora hiccups, shoulders shook slightly as he lowered his head, his eyes burning with something that he hadn't done since… he lost her. But this wasn't a dream, no. Kairi was here, Riku was here, his friends were all here.
Gently, Kairi envelops Sora into a hug and lets him rest against her, rubbing his back soothingly. "It's okay…you are not alone anymore". Sora whimpered softly as he buried his face into her shoulder, not realizing how tired he is, physically and emotionally. It made the princess truly wonder when he did allow himself to just let go of being strong, when did he ever just let out how all this affected him, or worse when did he ever show anyone how he was enduring such an ordeal.
Not anymore though, she was not going to let him go through with this pain alone for any longer.
"…stay…with me?" he whispered so low Kairi wasn't sure if he said it to himself or was too shy to ask her. She does blush deeper, however, unable to recall when they last shared a bed. Maybe back when they were children but that was so different then, plus Riku was always there. But after his confession and this moment where he exposed his weakness to her, leaving him alone was the last thing she could do.
"I'm not going anywhere…I'm not leaving you alone anymore," she promised. They shift into the bed, the sheets thrown over them as they embrace each other and held tightly onto one another. Sora resting his chin on her head while she snuggled into his chest, her eyes heavy as Sora stills into a peaceful slumber. For the first time since he disappeared, since he escaped that world, Sora and Kairi fell into a peaceful slumber at last.
Their hands locked…
*Early Morning: 4/13: Wednesday*
With a loud groan from her bestie, Shiki rolled her eyes at the girl complaining about another day of school full of tests and other garbage, lamenting more on the volleyball rally. She curses that rally was nothing more than an opportunity for Kamoshida to flaunt his ego and be a massive pain in the ass, which nobody could argue was the case. Meanwhile, as her friend continued about how today was going to suck, Shiki would glance back to watch for Shiho and Ann Takamaki talking, though she laments at the state of the former girl.
Shiho's condition had certainly gotten worse over the few months since she joined the volleyball team, and every time they hung out it seemed like she was just a struggle to stay awake and even looked stressed beyond any normal teenager. Shiki, Rhyme, and Eri are friends with her and Ann long before they even went to the same school, thanks to Eri and Shiki's fashion hobbies getting noticed by the same magazines Ann works for.
They bonded with Ann, introduced their other friends, and eventually start to hang out with them whenever she wasn't with Neku. Yesterday after school they all gathered around in the schoolyard to catch up, minus Rhyme who stayed behind for something, she can't remember. Shiho was having trouble sleeping lately, saying every time she closed her eyes she keeps thinking of so many things, like how the nationals were coming up. She even wondered if someone like her should be on the starting line-up.
If there was one thing Shiho was known for, it was her severe lack of self-confidence. Something Shiki could relate to on a certain level, yet all four of the girls would always vouch for her, that she was so much better than she or anyone could believe. Nobody was more confident in Shiho than Ann however, she was always the first one to back up her best friend, that her skill was recognized because nobody worked harder than her, which was true. But that only made Eri and Shiki worried about her state, and if those rumors about Kamoshida were true…
How much of her hard work was her own…or because of him?
But even Ann's attempt to cheer her up only seemed to bring out another issue with Shiho's confidence issues, that volleyball is all she has going for her. Then came the injury she sustained in the latest class of volleyball, again only making the two fashion designers wonder if that wound was sustained from the physical exertions of the volleyball or worse. Then Mishima, another student on the volleyball team, came up to them and said Kamoshida "told" him to come and get her.
None of the two girls would ever forget the terror in her eyes and the expression poisoning her beautiful face. He wouldn't even tell the messenger why he wanted to see her, though Ann tried to deduce it may have something to do with the line-up. Yet nobody believed it, not even Ann. The poor girl left with a small apology and headed for the meeting with Mishima, leaving the other three behind.
"Ugh! Why so freaking soon too? I mean start of the year and we get this?" Eri groaned. Her complaint broke Shiki out of her reminiscing and to reality, the slightly older teen girl tapping on her phone. This makes Shiki pull out her cell phone, preferring to use old school phones when going to school, and pulled up Neku's messages that they exchanged yesterday.
He had texted her last night about what happened to him and the others after school, saying he wants to meet up with her and Eri at the schoolyard because he's got something on. She did inquire more about the subject, but he insists she needed to see it to believe it. "He still not giving you the deets?" Eri asks.
"Nope, really insisting we just meet up," Shiki sighed, "Hope that Ryuji guy didn't drag Neku and the others into something stupid…".
"Yeah, that guy's got real beef with Kamo-dickhead," Eri hummed, "Pfft, then again who DOESN'T have issues with that creep?".
"Principal Kobayakawa?".
"Potato head doesn't count".
Shiki snickers and stuffed her phone back into her pocket as they arrived at Shujin Academy, spotting Neku and Beat at the school gates. The plush-carrying girl jogged up to them with a skip in her step, while Eri smirked behind her. Morning greetings were given along with them giving Ann and Shiho a polite nod before the two girls headed into the school building. Neku informs them Ren and the others had already entered the building with Rhyme giving Sora's friends a quick tour before their classes were assigned.
"Sora's group? But it's only him and Riku," Eri says with a raised brow.
"Yeah about that…uh, turns out Spike and Silver? They've got friends coming here too," Beat revealed, scratching the back of his neck, "More transfers".
"…are they-
"Hot? Yes. Two guys, three girls," Neku groaned.
"OOOOOOOH! Even better! What are we waiting for?" Eri squeals with delight.
*Class D*
She's been the worlds beyond her own, seen places that shouldn't exist, she even set foot on sacred grounds that are a remnant from a war that had taken place a thousand years ago.
And yet somehow being in a classroom was still the most bizarre place to be in.
Kairi and the others were introduced to the principal, their homeroom teacher and of course, Kamoshida, to which Xion almost pointed and screamed "Pervy pantsless person" and probably would have attacked him with her keyblade had Naminé not stopped her. Immediately that perv was eyeing the three girls, yet she felt more disdain for the principal. How could a person whose duty was to help his students feel safe and grow in his school allow such a monster to prowl in his school was beyond her, but she just chucked it up to being a terrible person.
Her teacher, Ms. Kawakami wasn't awful by any means. She was certainly better than those two but Kairi couldn't help but feel a certain dispassionate vibe from the woman, like a part of her light had greatly diminished. Why she didn't know, but better to have someone like her than Kamoshida as her teacher. But apart from teachers, the school was certainly a mixed breath of fresh air and pressure.
Seated near Sora while having Ren on her lower left followed by Ventus in the far corner, she was already feeling a bizarre out-of-place sensation. Sure she did go to school and was in her fifth year before all the madness of the worlds called her to forgo future educational plans but to be back in something so mundane and normal was still taking time to adjust to. The uniforms were a trial to manage themselves, and this might be because of her being used to wearing clothes that didn't restrict her and felt far better to don.
They weren't awful (her taste in colors aside) and gave her a nice sense of maturity that she feels like she had been missing but still, the jackets were a bit tight on her. At least she didn't have to worry about wearing a tie.
As soon as the five split to go to their respective classes, she was already under the eyes of all the boys who were eyeing the new girl, probably because of how different she looked compared to the other girls maybe, not seeing anyone else with red hair and her eyes maybe be a part of her "exotic" looks. She watches Ventus in the corner of her eyes and tries hard not to giggle at the awkwardness the boy is surrounded with. He was so shy when he introduced himself and pulled off his goofy Sora smile.
This somehow got every girl in the class to eye him up and now that he was placed in the middle and behind the girls, they were all cooing him and chatting with him, making him turn redder and redder with each compliment and question about his transfer. Luckily before they all got up, Riku and Naminé had come up with the alibis they needed to remain incognito of this world, and they practiced the questions on the way here.
She hears her phone vibrate and after Sora gave her a quick nod to keep their teacher's eyes off her, she glanced at her screen and sees Neku messaged the group chat.
Neku: "Remember, we're all meeting up at the schoolyard before we start the investigation".
Kairi: "That's after the volleyball rally right?".
Ren: "That's right. Remember, even if Kamoshida knows nothing about the Palace, try not to get his attention".
Kairi: "Easier said than done…".
*Afternoon*
Gathering everyone up in the yard was a bit of a trial considering how large the gang was, but after the rally was finished, Neku gathered Eri and Shiki along with the others. While they weren't filled in on what happened yesterday, Neku reasoned with the others the more friends in on their investigation the better and figured they may as well introduce Kairi and the others to one another just so there isn't any more time wasted.
The rally itself was just like the boys had described it to the party, nothing more than Kamoshida's ego getting stroked by his adoring fans while he systematically beats the living crap out of a few students with some very harsh volleyball. One student got it worse, someone Shiki knew as Mishima, was not only struck in the arm once but then got a lethal spike to his face. How he didn't have a bone fracture, or his nose broken is beyond the spectators, and just witnessing Kamoshida acting all sympathetic and concerned made those who see his true side sick to their core.
The only positive thing that's occurring is Eri and Shiki meeting the rest of Sora's friends, gushing over the trio of girls. Instantly she clicked with Xion, sharing the same hyper energy while complimenting Kairi's hairstyle and admiring Naminé's seemingly swan-like grace and elegance. The blonde kept her smile on but secretly asked Riku what a swan was, her knowledge on birds on a tight budget of knowledge. The two "twins" she greets with the same look she gave Sora and Riku, to the ire of a certain raven.
"Okay, now that everyone knows who's this and that, let's get started," Ren says wanting to speed things along quickly. He reminds everyone they have a very short period before the rally ends and classes resume, meaning the bigger the group the quicker than can interrogate the victims.
Rhyme places the victim book on the table and after a quick scope of the area for anyone who might be a bit too nosy for them, she opens it and goes through it with everyone who could be on the volleyball team currently. Thanks to Ryuji's memory, he manages to pick out the ones he's seen in the jail in the Palace while Eri points out a few girls on the girls' volleyball team, remembering a few of them were wounded in their sessions too. It disturbed most of them with how many victims were in this book, and even more so worried when they can't recall last seeing a few faces here and there.
"Alright, so how are we gonna do this? I mean if we gang up on one of those victims, somebody is gonna rat us out," Eri asked.
"Simple, we'll split up. Boys interrogate the boys, girls vice versa," Riku says while Rhyme sends everyone pictures of the victims, "But we do it smart and fast".
"And maybe keep an eye out for Kamoshida too," Roxas said, "If that jackass gets wind of this we're screwed".
Nods and confirmations while nobody voicing any issues with the plan, the gang split up in pairs, again while trying to look like they were just part of the school's free time.
Ren and Ryuji's first attempt to get a confession went poorly. The boy they went to talk to, who had nearly his entire head and face wrapped in bandages, was on guard instantly. Even mocking Ren for missing the rally, as he expected from the transfer student. Coldly Ren rebuked he could at least watch the event if he so desired with both eyes, gesturing the student's wounded skull. Ryuji did remind Ren that he was the same student they saw, forcing Ren to reel back any more sass for this jerk.
He gently asked how he got injured, and the student just said in volleyball like it was obvious. But the four-eyed teenager rebuked that excuse, gesturing the amount of damage on his head that nobody should have gotten that level of damage to their heads without someone going out of their way to make it happen. He even asked if he was afraid if he talks, adding he and Ryuji, as well as others, know about Kamoshida's abusive nature. Unfortunately, he pulled the worst question to ask, and that was if they have proof, to Ryuji's dismay they had none.
Deciding that this was going to be fruitless and a waste, Ren and he left the student, texting the others they had no luck. They texted the others about it, to which Roxas laments that while it was very likely nobody could sustain an injury like that student in any other normal volleyball training, he was likely too scared to talk about Kamoshida.
Unfortunately, Kairi and Rhyme had no luck on their end either, but to the degree of the boys. They did meet a girl who was in a brace for her leg and had a terrible black eye, yet she still clammed up when they asked her about it. Kairi had tried to be as gentle with the girl and with Rhyme using the trick of rumors and speculations that have the transfer student worried to try and gauge the girl. All they got was the girl exclaiming there was nothing about abuse from Kamoshida, but she also pleads with them to be careful and stay away from him.
Not a lot, but it was more than what Ren and Ryuji got as the former points, confirming the girls were as many victims as the boys.
Hearing Kairi's side, Naminé and Xion tried a different approach. They met with two other girls who were just as visibly harmed as the others and Naminé played on naivety. She used Xion as a way in by asking them if they were looking for new members and bragged that Xion was a skilled player and needed to make friends here. But to their surprise, they pleaded with her not to join. They say they just can't afford to train a new girl (despite what Naminé said) and stressed they were so busy with the line-up.
One of them even said she'd be better off never joining the volleyball team.
Next Roxas and Ventus found the other student nearby Ren's class and asked too. The student was quite assertive and even tried to intimidate Ventus, but Roxas quickly put a stop to that by stepping one-foot closer, making him quickly cower in fear. Ventus calmed his "brother" and apologized, saying they were new here and were very curious about the volleyball team, saying they heard a lot of amazing things about it.
He showed genuine worry about the injuries of the student, claiming he knew volleyball can be dangerous but never knew injuries like his could occur in training. This made the student hesitate with an answer before his friend chimed in that he saw him hanging out with Sora and Sakamoto, making them narrow their gaze. They accused the two of snooping around for dirt on Kamoshida, and Roxas scoffed that based on the stories they heard it wasn't that hard. The student with the wounds bragged/defended himself by claiming their volleyball team's performance was at national levels, so obviously, wounds like his would happen.
They even brought up Ryuji again, stating they shouldn't believe everything, if not anything, that boy says. Roxas however throws in the fact the track team went down in flames ever since Kamoshida joined the school and even brought up the coach leaving after one meeting with their coach. The two went silent and this made Roxas press harder, asking them if what they are enduring isn't abuse and just national levels of training. The injured one weakly denies it, but his friend stepped in, saying if they were friends with Sakamoto, then they were friends with the criminal.
Roxas huffed and dragged Ventus away, calling those two wimps while his brother shakes his head. Once they were out of sight, they reported back to the others what they got, and every one text their worries, confirming that without a doubt the students are being abused in the team. Naminé texted back claiming another girl was the same, trying to defend her wounds by bragging their training was more difficult and demanding yet when Xion innocently asked about getting hurt beyond training she went silent.
Neku and Beat were able to meet with a first-year student who only recently joined the volleyball team yet looked like he had been stuck with them for years based on his wounds. They managed to corner him near the bathrooms but where Beat actually looks like the school bully, Neku put on his charm and easily swayed the new guy's worries. He puts on fake sympathy and genuine worry for him yet still maintained his stand-off-ish attitude, asking him straight up with Kamoshida was abusing him.
The student tries to downplay it by arguing most sports teams probably got through the same amount of training as theirs and even admits Kamoshida was harshly strict. Beat barks that were a load of bull, no training can be strict enough for people to look like they were just beaten within the inch of their lives. But Neku stopped him, looking at the student and flat saying the boy isn't stupid, no matter how you paint it or pretty it up, Kamoshida was abusing them and he has every one of his team just taking it.
When the student denies it again, even weaker, Neku slammed his hand on the wall and pinned him there, staring daggers into his soul. He simply asked the student to look him dead in the eyes and say: "Kamoshida isn't abusing them".
The student looked away, utterly crushed.
With one more sigh, Neku pulled back and tells him to go. The student flees in fear and Beat looks at Neku.
"The hell man? Why'd you let him go?" he asked.
"Because he won't talk. Nobody will. Everyone we've talked to says the same thing, and unless we've proof, why would they believe us?" Neku asked. He lectures Beat that they could interrogate everyone in that book and get the same result, everyone is too scared of Kamoshida. "Dude! If we get them all to confess together, then the school's gotta do something right!? Mean, ain't there a saying about united voices or some shit?" he asked.
"And who the hell is that fat ass of a principal gonna believe? His students or his gold star teacher?" Neku rhetorically asked. Beat lets a growl out and punched a locker nearby, cursing lowly at their situation. Neku leaned against a wall in thought, frustrated. Suddenly the student came back, and after looking around frantically for Kamoshida, he looked at Neku and says that among all of them, Mishima was the one who was getting the worst from Kamoshida's special training. Neku looked at him and he squeaked that was all he knew before running away.
Neku texted the others, saying they might have a lead, and texted Mishima's name to everyone. Luckily Sora replied and says he and Riku saw him just about to leave, they'd be able to catch up to him before he goes home. It might be their last ace in the hole…
*Afterschool: 4/13: Wednesday*
While Sora and Riku went for Mishima, Ren was back in the courtyard buying a drink for himself, hoping to clear his head. The announcement came earlier that all matches had concluded today, so everyone was readying up to go home. Reluctantly Ren texted everyone that their investigation was going to have to end for now, as likely the other students have left the building before they'd get a chance to ask about Kamoshida. Minus Sora, Riku, Shiki, and Eri, everyone else agreed to resume tomorrow. Himself he just needed some downtime for himself before he goes back.
"Hey, can I talk to you?".
Ren turns around and sees Ann approaching him. He raises a brow, shrugging, and asked what she wants with him. The girl promised him it'd be quick, yet her stern gaze and tone told him quick was a poor way to describe the length of questions she's got in store for him.
She folds her arms and looks down slightly like she was debating to herself whether to talk to him about whatever was going through her mind. She nodded, however, steeling herself for whatever response he's got for her. "Anyways, what's with you? Like, how you were late the other day was a lie and all. Plus there's that weird rumor about you," she says. Ren rolled his eyes and lets out a sigh, sick of that rumor.
"Which one? The drugs? The knife? The fact I attack anybody if they so much as a look at me funny?" Ren asked with a grunt, "Or is there something in particular, you wanna talk about?".
"Okay smart ass, how about that lie you told?" she accused.
"I don't see how any of that is your business," Ren argued back, opening his canned iced tea, "I don't owe you an explanation as to why I was late".
Ann's glare grows darker while his eyes went steely, that rebellious spirit he nurtured came to him at full force. This girl was giving him a bad vibe all around, her animosity towards him was both unwanted and undeserved. He had barely interacted with her at all since he came here, and now she demands answers from him like this?
"Look here, you-
"Oi, what are you doing?".
Ann and Ren look to see Ryuji, Neku, Beat and Kairi coming over, the leader glaring at Ann accusingly. Ann replied with a scoff and asked him the same question, reminding him they weren't even in the same class. Neku coldly rebuked Ryuji wasn't the one accusing him of lying, and by her tone, it sounded she was harassing the new guy like everybody else. Ann kept her eyes on Ryuji, who rubbed his neck when he noticed she wasn't letting him off the hook.
"What? They're my friends," Ren answers, "Ryuji knows the rumors are bothering me so he came to check on me, as well as the others".
Ryuji looks at Ren, surprised but Kairi just smiled back, adding in she brought him a drink and then teases his patience was worse than Ryuji's, gesturing his tea. He replied that she was taking too long for him, nearly dying of thirst. Their fun banter was stopped by Ann, questioning them regarding if they had something planned against Kamoshida. This made the gang look at her, surprised. But then Ryuji sneered at her, saying because she was all buddy-buddy with that perv. She argued this has nothing to do with him, but Beat says she was bothering their friend, and of course, it had something to do with them.
Ryuji says coldly if Ann knew what that bastard was doing behind her back she'd dump him without a second thought. Kairi blinked and looked at him with shock, the first she, and likely the others, have heard of that. When Ann presses him for more answers, he just sighed, and she wouldn't understand. Ann shook her head and told them the whole school is talking about them, and that nobody is gonna help them with Kamoshida. She was only here to warn them just in case, and then darkly reminds Ryuji he had already ruined his track team's hopes, so he should strongly think about the people he's dragging into this mess before leaving.
"Man…why's she gotta be so aggressive all the time?" Ryuji huffs.
"Because you were all sunshine and rainbows with her?" Neku asked dryly.
"Hold on a second before we get into the investigation, what were you talking about?" Kairi asked, "Dumping Kamoshida? Are you telling me he and Ann are…dating?".
"Well, I…I mean, that's what everybody's been saying. Mean, she's so friendly with that guy and, ya know…" Ryuji argued. Kairi shakes her head and sighed, that was something for later. She tells everyone she and Rhyme had no luck on their end, and from what the others texted her, nothing else. Neku laments the only thing that could help them was Mishima, but he left that to Sora and Riku. Ren helpfully suggested that maybe those two can work something out, given how friendly Sora is and how trustworthy Riku can be.
Ryuji slumped and groaned out a "hope you're right".
*School Entrance*
"Excuse me!" Sora called out to Mishima.
The blue-tinted black-haired student turned to Sora jogging up to him with a slowly walking Riku approaching him. They both hide their expressions regarding his wounds and try to chat him up. Instead of being blunt like Ryuji, Riku just asked about the volleyball team's rigorous training regime, while Sora asked how Kamoshida deals with injuries like these happening so often. Mishima weakly admits that it was a harsh regime, and then Riku asked if it was just straight-up abuse.
"C-Certainly not!" denies the volleyball player.
"That so? So why did he smack you dead in the face with that spike? You're telling me that was an accident too?" Riku accused, "Because I dunno about you, but I'd expect a professional to know better than to smack a ball with that much force into someone's face".
"Yeah! If he could have hit any harder, I think you'd swallow that ball," Sora chimed in. Mishima glumly defends this by saying he was just not good at the sport, but Sora challenged this excuse with the other bruises he got today. Even if god forbid that spike was indeed a harmless accident, how does he explain all the other bruises? Once more Mishima excuses it with "it's from practice". Riku gently asked Mishima if Kamoshida forcing him to keep silent.
"What's going on here?".
They looked to Kamoshida approaching them, both guardians holding back their glares while Mishima cowers. The coach asked the boy about practice, reminding him he had one today, even with Mishima whimpering about not feeling well today. In response, the teacher casually suggests he was better off quitting the team then, that he will never improve his crappy form without showing up to practice.
"Are you kidding? Look at him," Riku says, "Apart from not feeling well, he looks like crap too".
"And just telling to quit? That sounded like a threat," Sora added.
"Hey now, no need to jump the gun there spiky," Kamoshida laughed, "You wouldn't get it, but Mishima is a harder worker, just needs a bit more motivation to get started". Mishima looked away for a moment before he faced his teacher.
"Why not quit then?".
Teacher and students looked to Riku, arms crossed and eyes stern yet sympathetic. "Look at you, beaten and sick, and here's your coach saying you're better off quitting because being unwell is no excuse to not go to practice today. I dunno about you, but sounds to me like he's got no faith in your improvement, so why force yourself to put up with something like that?". Mishima looked at Riku with a bit of glow in his eyes, as if hope had been reignited within his heart.
"Riku's right. I mean forcing yourself to something important is one thing but…" Sora agreed.
"Pfft, you two been hanging around Sakamoto way too much. Looks like his worthlessness has rubbed off on you spectacularly," mocks the teacher. Riku and Sora turned their eyes back to the teacher with renewed fire, startling the teacher. Riku even stepped forward despite being an inch shorter than the man, and narrows his gaze, challenging him to say that again. Kamoshida scoffed, stating this wasn't getting them anywhere, that Shujin is a school for those with aspirations, unworthy students like them, Sakamoto and Ren have no place here.
"I'd be more careful you two, those students look like bad influences," he sneered. Then with a smirk, he brought up their friends, namely the girls. "That Kairi girl…she'd make a great addition to the volleyball team-
Sora instantly stepped forward and pushed him back, nearly making him fall. "You even THINK of going near her or the others, and I don't care WHO you think you are, you're gonna regret it" snarled Sora. Kamoshida's smugness died and much like his shadow counterpart, they see the pure genuine terror in his eyes he had his arms up like he was ready to defend himself from being mauled by Sora. Riku's eyes were burning with anger, fists clenched, and shoulders squared.
"The other students might fear you, but we're not," he warned, "Back away from our friends and keep picking on people who can't fight back, it's pretty much all you CAN do". Kamoshida backed away and growled at them to just stay out of his way before marching off, like a dog with its tail between its legs.
Sora growled and punched his hand into his fist, both angry at that perv and himself for losing his cool so quickly. Sure his previous enemies have done garbage like this just to get underneath his skin, but when that man said something so filthy about Kairi, it took all his mental fortitude to not maul that man. Riku patted his shoulder and promised him the moment they get the proof they need to expose that man, he'll never hurt another student again.
Except Mishima laments that there was no point in doing this. He confessed everyone knows its abuse, the principal knows it, and worse, their parents know it. The two were shocked, and Mishima even goes below the belt and says they wouldn't know what it was like. Riku however turned to him and said: "Maybe not…but that's because myself, I wouldn't even entertain the idea of letting scum like him rule over me".
He walks off, calling Mishima a coward while Sora gave him a "sorry" look before following his best friend, letting Mishima go to his daily training…
*Outside of School*
Sitting on the bench awaiting Ann, Eri and Shiki, regretfully, had Shiho backed into a wall. After hearing so many girls suffering the same fate as the boys, Eri realized that Shiho was probably another victim as well, and while Rhyme couldn't find her in the victim book, Shiki and her best friend had both come to the same conclusion that she might be special or something more important to that lecherous man. So while the others were focusing on the other students, Shiki and Eri went for Shiho.
"You two…you're acting ridiculous…" Shiho comments, looking away from Eri.
"And you are being stubborn! We balance each other out, so come on!" Eri argued, "We all know damn well those wounds aren't from volleyball practice!".
"Shiho…please, we just want to help you," pleaded Shiki, kneeling in front of her, "You look awful, your body looks so stressed out, and…your bruises aren't going away".
Shiki is no doctor but even she could see several splotches of purple and yellow on the girl's exposed body parts, around her legs and arms alone were almost enough for a visit to a clinic. She didn't want to imagine what was underneath her uniform. Shiho looked away from her friend, her eyes were so weary and defeated as her soul had died long ago. It crushed her spirit to see her friend like this, and she feels the more they push the more closed off she'll become.
"Damn it, Shiho! What's he got on you? Your diary? Your social media password? Your family history? What the hell is he doing to make you stay quiet?" Eri interrogates.
"Leave her alone".
Ann comes down from the stairs and pushed Eri aside, helping Shiho up, shooting the two daggers. "Why are you both ganging up on Shiho like this? Can't you see she's not able for your crap?" growled Ann. "A-Ann, it's fine-
"No, it isn't! You should have told them whatever they think it is, they're wrong!" assures Ann, glaring at her friends. Shiki shrinks but Eri stepped up to Ann's overprotectiveness of Shio with her mama-bear protectiveness of Shiki. "And what do you think it is? Sure as heck no volleyball practice that's caused her to be in this state!" challenged Eri. They argue back and forth, both of their friends trying to stop from fighting before Ann shouts they don't know what they're talking about and should feel ashamed to bully Shiho like that.
Eri bites back with: "Well since you're buddy-buddy with Kamoshida, you'd noticed that he's nothing more than a filthy pervert who beats his students because he can! And lookie here, even your best friend is no exception to that rule!".
With words traded, they both storm off with their friends in tow. Once out of earshot, Shiki stepped before Eri and lashed out. "That was completely out of bounds, Eri! You know what you said about Ann is nothing but baseless rumors!" she lectured.
"Oh come on! She should know what Kamo-dickhead is doing! But she won't even protect Shiho and keeps pushing her to stay with the volleyball team!" Eri argued, "Why didn't you back me up?".
"Because…! B-Because…you…you went too far…" Shiki says, looking down and away from her best friend. Eri groaned at this lame excuse, saying she was so used to being quiet and a pushover, it was a miracle she wasn't a target. Shiki defensively says she's not Eri, she respects boundaries and knows the best time for pushing and when to lean back. But Eri calls it a cope out, that she'd rather stay quiet than risk something.
"I know you're not me! You're supposed to be Shiki, apparently the mouse," she berates before storming off home, leaving her best friend alone. Alone in the streets, Shiki looks to Eri's shrinking form before she's swallowed up by the people in the streets. She looks at her feet and yanked out Mr. Mew from her pack, cuddling him and allowing herself to hiccup a small sob.
"…stalker?".
She squeaked and looked behind her to see Neku walking over to her. She frowns at his old nickname for her, but his smirk evaporates into concern when he sees the tears in her eyes. He quickly approached her, growling for the person who made her cry, and asked if she wanted him to make them disappear. He had the navigator app, he had alibis.
She giggles and shakes her head…lamenting she and Eri had a blowup with each other and Ann, now they're all mad and not talking. That…and she needed someone to help her. The orange-haired teenager sighed, understanding, and offered she come to his place for the night. Unthinking, she nodded and follows him.
Even if they hadn't succeeded in exposing Kamoshida's crimes, they all swore they will next time. But unfortunately for the teens, the price may be too high for them…
A/N:
Here we go! We have the investigation going!
Next time we're gonna have more Neku time, just to flesh him out more, more school stuff and finally the straw that breaks the camels back.
QUESTIONS:
Q1: Thoughts on this chapter?
Q2: How'd you like the fluff moment?
Q3: The investigation?
Q4: What do you wanna see next?
Q5: Shiki and Eri?
Q6: The text dialogue? Will this work for future?
Q7: Would you hate me if I changed up Ren's powers?
Unfortunately there won't be another update for a little while due to work obligations, so apologizes for that! But after the next chapter, for real the Possibilities update will come next!
Thanks for reading everyone! Stay awesome but more importantly stay safe!