Ann walks home alone. In its own unique way, Tokyo at night is oddly calming. The city is never truly quiet but when Ann walks along the sidewalk to her apartment building, she's filled with a feeling of spiritual oneness. Like there's nothing wrong with the world. But Ann knows better, she knows there's a lot wrong with the world.
It's not everyday a couple of high school students steal the personal desires of their perverted gym coach. While Ann felt satisfied at the job they'd done, she was also filled with a depressive weight on her heart. Shiho was still in the hospital, and while she wasn't fighting for her life anymore, she'd yet to wake up. Ann just wanted to speak with her and tell her how much of an inspiration she was to her.
Ann arrives at her apartment building and greets the desk manager as she makes her way inside to the elevator. She steps inside when it arrives and punches her floor's button. The ride up the elevator is silent and long. Ann is left only with her thoughts as she is brought higher and higher. Images of Shiho jumping from the Shujin roof flash by in her mind, followed by images of Kamoshida and his shadow transformation into Asmodeus Kamoshida in the palace. Images of Ryuji and Akira fighting him with all their might take over as she remembers the battle they'd fought and the blows they'd taken to get as far as they have.
The elevator dings and stops at Ann's floor as she steps out and fishes for her keys in her bag. She gets her key and inserts it into the lock and opens the apartment to find it quiet and dark as always. Maybe this isn't a nice as it seems… she thinks to herself. Ann drops her bag off on the counter and her keys next to it and goes to the bathroom to run a bath. Her body aches as she bends down to turn the knob to the right temperature. As the water pours and Ann begins to disrobe, she sees finally the results of the battle with Kamoshida.
Small cuts along her neck and chest adorn her body. Large welts and bruises appear on her back, knees, and elbows. The muscles in her abdomen are sore to any movement or stretching and her head aches with most movement. She feels her eyes water as she presses on a bruise on her hip to test how sensitive it is. Kamoshida really did a number on us, huh…
Ann removes the last of her clothes and gingerly sits down in the tub and turns off the faucet. The slightly hot water soothes some of the bruises and burns some of the cuts. She removes her twin tails and sits in silence; soaking in the relaxing nature of the bath. Something she'd said to Akira and Ryuji earlier comes to mind. 'I haven't called them since everything with Shiho… it's been almost two weeks since my last call.'
Ann reaches for her pants on the ground and grabs her phone. As she unlocks the phone she smiles as the last thing she'd seen on it remains on screen.
Akira: Ryuji might be late to the meeting.
-He forgot to do an assignment and might have detention again
-Morgana and I'll meet you there
Ann closes the app as she chuckles slightly. Leave it to Ryuji to nearly get detention on the day we were supposed to get into the Metaverse with no delays. She pulls up the phone app and dials in her mother's number. Ann hovers her thumb over the green phone button. What should I say? How can I explain all of this? Ann bites her lip as she presses the button and hears the phone begin to ring.
"Hello?" a female voice answers.
"M-… Mom?" Ann says.
"Ann? Ann! Hello dear! It's been so long since you've called, we were starting to get worried," she says. "Dear?! Dear, Ann is on the phone!" she shouts to someone in the background. "How've you been sweetheart?"
"Oh, me? Yeah, I've been… OK," Ann says, unsure what to say.
"Hello darling," Ann's father says as he joins the call next to her mother. "How's school going?"
"School's fine…" Ann says.
"Dear," her mother says. "You sound upset. Are you OK?"
"*sniff* N-No," Ann says as she immediately begins to tear up. She was doing so well until they just had to ask that question. Ann begins to quietly sob as finally gets to let it all out.
"Sweetheart," her dad says, "tell us what's wrong. Please?"
"I-It's… It's Shiho," Ann says. "She… She tried to kill herse-he-he-helf," Ann says as sobs rack through her body.
"Oh my god… Ann, are you alright?" her mother asks.
"I-I don't know anymore," Ann says as she continues to cry. "I knew she was hurting and upset-t about som-something. Bu-but I didn't make an e-effort to listen or be th-there for her. N-not as much as I sh-should have."
"Oh Annie," Ann's father says in a gentle tone. "I'm so sorry… We know you did the best you could have. Like you always do."
"That's right," her mother adds. "I'm sure whatever happened to cause Shiho to do that wasn't your fault. How is she doing?"
"Sh-she's still in the hospit-tal. The doctors put her into a c-coma to reduce swelling on her brain. She hasn't woken up y-yet."
"Dear, we should call her parents. God knows it's been too long since we've spoken with them as well," Ann's mother muffled voice says to her father. "Oh, Annie… I'm so sorry you're going through that. Do you know what caused Shiho to do that?"
"N-no. Not really. I wanted to ask when she jumped. She jumped off the roof at school, I saw it, Mom. I saw her jump and I held her hand and rode with her to the hospital," Ann says as she finally gets her sobs under control. The tears won't stop, and her breathing is strained from the emotional and physical pain of everything.
"Ohhh dear…" her mother's voice says in a somber tone. "We should come home. We'll cancel the next show in Sweden, we need to be with you."
"N-no Mom. It's OK, really. I know how long you've been planning the show in Sweden, you can't cancel it," Ann says. She wants to see her parents, but she's never wanted to get in the way of their work. Their dreams. They were her inspiration.
"Ann… it's just a stupid fashion show…" her father says. "You are the most important thing in our lives. If you need us, we'll be there for you."
"It's not that, I just don't want you guys to drop everything for me."
"Sweetheart, we'd give the world for you," her mother says soothingly. "What if we came back for a couple of days and visited Shiho with you?"
"I… I'd like that," Ann says as she smiles for the first time since the phone call began.
"Alright," her father says. "We'll be back this weekend to see you and the Suzui's. We'll take it from there about everything, OK?"
"Ok," Ann replies weakly.
"Listen to me Annie," her father says. "You're a Takamaki and a Mäkinen. You've got the best of both your mother and me. You're a strong, intelligent young woman. Whatever adversity comes your way in life you will overcome because it's who you are. Do you remember when you were little, and you were upset you couldn't swim at the American house?"
"Y-yeah," Ann chuckles as new tears run down her face. "I was upset you wouldn't let me swim alone in the pool because I didn't know how to swim."
"That's right. And we had to listen to you beg us 24/7 to go out to the pool with you so you could swim. But you wouldn't ever want us to teach you!" her mother says. "You wanted to learn to do it all by yourself."
"Not the safest way to learn I guess," her father says with a chuckle. "But by god you did it. You taught yourself how to swim because you wanted to. It was a challenge you'd come across and you were going to overcome it. You're still that way, Ann. I know that when Shiho wakes up, you'll be there with her as much as you can be. You'll support those closest to you."
"I know I will. Thanks Dad," Ann says.
"Are you going to be ok tonight sweetheart?" her mother asks. "We can call your sofubo stay with you for a couple of days until we arrive if you'd like."
"No, that's ok. I'll be fine. This all happened last week, I just was so caught up in everything I hadn't thought to call you guys. I'm sorry," Ann says.
"It's ok sweetheart. We're just glad you're doing alright for the most part. We'll be back on Friday if we can an early enough flight, OK?" her mother soothes.
"OK," Ann replies.
"Dear? We would like it if you got some sleep tonight, ok?" her father says. "If I'm right, it's got to be almost midnight over there. You can sleep in and miss a day of school if you'd like, we would understand."
"I'll get some sleep, I promise. But I've got some new friends at school I want to go and see. They've been helping me out with Shiho and everything since it's happened."
"Well we'd love to meet them, if they're available this weekend, alright?" her mother asks. "Anyone who has stood with you during something such as this deserves a place at our table."
"I'll-I'll ask them and see what they're doing," Ann says nervously. What would they think of two boys showing up?!
"Good," her father says. "Annie? Try and get some sleep ok? We'll be back before you know it."
"Ok, I love you," Ann replies.
"We love you too, Dear," her mother responds. "We'll see you soon, ok? Call us if you need anything before we arrive alright?"
"Ok, see you guys soon."
"Goodbye, sweetie. We love you," Ann's father says as the phone call ends.
Ann takes a moment to sit back and relax. That was… nice. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I really, really needed to hear that. Ann finishes her bath and steps out of the tub and dries off. The soak had helped but she was still sore all over. She dug into her bag under the sink to find the painkillers she kept there for that time. Ann takes a couple before she heads to her room to get dressed for bed.
As she lies down, she shoots the two boys a final text message.
Ann: Hey, I just got off the phone with my parents. They're coming home this weekend and said they'd be interested in meeting you.
-Since you guys have been with me since everything with Shiho has happened.
Akira: That sounds nice.
Ryuji: Yeah, totally. We'll all be on our best behavior!
Ann: I appreciate it you guys. I'll text you the details later or tell you at school.
Akira: Sounds good. Have a good night everyone.
Ryuji: Back at ya!
Ann: Goodnight!
Ann plugs her phone in and spends a few minutes finding the most comfortable and least painful position to fall asleep.