Ryuji walks home alone. There wasn't a whole lot of things occupying his head at the moment. Most of what was going through his mind was the Kamoshida fight. Seeing Kamoshida transform and seeing what kind of monster actually dwelled within his heart was terrifying.

Ryuji stops for a moment as pain shoots up his leg to his knee. He extends his arm to the building next to him and remains still until the pain subsides enough, and he can continue walking. I really need to start running again and stay in shape.

Kamoshida threw everything he had at them and Akira and Ann and that cat, Morgana, fought him all the same. Each person moved with ferocity and held nothing back against Kamoshida. The fact that they were able to beat him astonished Ryuji more than learning about the Metaverse or visiting it the first time that day with Akira. Though that day seems so long ago now, Ryuji can't thank enough beings above for having met Akira that day. Running into him on his first day in school had been a radical change in both their lives it seemed, and Ryuji was all the gladder for it.

Ryuji climbs the stairs to his apartment as the sounds of the city seem to get grow more and more distant. Ryuji's key slides into the lock and as he turns the handle and enters the apartment. The light still on in the small kitchen stands out immediately. Mom is still up. Ryuji removes his jacket and slides off his shoes before leaving the doorway and seeing his mother asleep on the couch. Well, she was. Ryuji sits on the chair next to the couch as his mother stirs from her sleep at his presence.

"Ryu-kun?" she says.

"Heya, Mom," Ryuji says with a small smile.

"Ryuji do you realize what time it is?"

"It's late… sorry about that."

"You're damn right it's late," she says. "I assume you've got a good excuse for what's kept you out so late without so much as a phone call?"

"I've… been helping some friends with a few problems at school. We've been together after school for the past couple of weeks."

"Who're these friends you're helping? What're you helping them with?"

"It's… umm… it's a new student named Akira Kurusu. And do you remember Ann Takamaki? From middle school? She's the other one." Ryuji's mother smiles wide.

"I do remember Ann. Sweet girl, very pretty. Always hoped you'd get with her someday," she says.

"Mom!"

"I know dear. 'We're not that kind of friends,' you always say. But let a mother dream, huh? So, who is this Akira Kurusu?"

"He's a new student. He transferred here a couple of weeks ago. And we've all been getting together to… study?" Ryuji says unsure of his own answer.

"Ryuji, I have access to your grades," she says as Ryuji blushes in the dim light of the room. "I know you're not getting together to study. Though I wish you would. So, what're you really getting up to?"

Ryuji pauses. He's always been terrible at oversharing, but he can't think of another excuse. The moments stretch as Ryuji tries to think of something, anything, that he could use as a valid excuse.

"Ryu-kun? Is it problems with Kamoshida again?" she asks him seriously.

"Y-yeah," Ryuji sighs. "He's abusing the volleyball team, Mom. Remember how I told you last week a girl tried to kill herself? Well, we think we know why. We're pretty sure it's because of Kamoshida…"

"Ryuji, I believe you. But please tell me you're not doing anything illegal or anything that can get you expelled."

"We're not doing anything illegal…" Ryuji says. His mother stands up and motions for him to do the same. As Ryuji stands, she pulls him into a hug which he reciprocates.

"I'm so… proud of you, son. I know you're just trying to help those who are less fortunate from those would take advantage of them. But please, please Ryuji, don't get yourself into trouble because of it. I know how that Suguru Kamoshida is, but if it wasn't obvious from your incident with him previously, they're keener on protecting him than anything else."

"I know, that's what's so shitty about it! Shitty adults that want to get a smidge of the glory he thinks he has from his days of playing volleyball. It sucks."

"I know kiddo. But I'm proud of you for trying to change it," she says as she releases him. "Be. Careful."

"I will," Ryuji says as he rubs his knee and sits back down. "I'm thinking of getting into running again. Might find a gym to hit the treadmills."

"Running? I'd like to see you doing that again. It was nice seeing you doing something you were so passionate about. Tell me about this Kurusu-kun then, I know Ann somewhat, but I don't know anything about this transfer student friend of yours obviously," she asks.

"What do you want to know about specifically?"

"I don't know," she says as she takes her seat again. "Where's he from, what's he like?"

"He's quiet. If you met him, that's the first thing you'd notice. He doesn't speak much but when he does it's either very short, or it's very important," Ryuji says. "But he's smart, and responsible. He's, I don't know. He's just really likable. I feel like any person would be able to look at him and see a bit of themselves in him."

"Sounds like a nice boy," she says. "What'd he transfer for?" Ryuji froze at hearing the question. Is it my place to say? Would she ever meet him to tell him?

"He got into some trouble at home. His school expelled him," Ryuji says.

"What kind of trouble?"

"He was falsely accused of a crime. His own parents practically kicked him out," Ryuji continues. "He's just trying to make the best of a shitty situation I think."

"Just be careful of who you hang around with Ryu-kun. You know how judgmental people can be."

"That's why we're friends. Rumors about him are going around making him appear to be some hardened criminal and serial killer. 'Kira-Akira' they're calling him. It's really fuc—really immature. And Ann has always had rumors spread about her and most people believe Kamoshida's story about me, so they've made up their minds about me too. We stick together because we're lumped together by most people already…"

"Well I'm glad to hear that," she says with a smile.

"Huh?"

"You find friends in the unlikeliest of places Ryuji. Sometimes friends come from those you've surrounded yourself with, while other times friends can come from individuals who you've only got one chance to build a relationship with before fate moves them somewhere else. It seems like you're happy with these friends, and you haven't talked this positively about anyone from Shujin in quite a while, so I know I'm right. Mother's intuition."

"Yeah, I really am," Ryuji says as he continues talking with his mother for another few minutes before getting a 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.

"Looks like Ann is inviting Akira and I over to meet her parents this weekend," Ryuji says.

"Oh, you should go!" his mother encourages.

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!

"Alright, I guess I have plans for the weekend now. You gonna be ok here by yourself?" Ryuji asks.

"Look at you worrying about me! Ryu-kun you'll make your wife a happy woman one day," she says as Ryuji begins blushing again. "Yes, I'll be fine here. Go spend time with your friends while you're still young. But now, you need to get to bed! It's nearly midnight and your grades will never improve until your sleep cycle does!"