A/N: Hey everyone. This chapter and quite a few before this one were updated to correct inconsistencies in the story. As Ruler of the Elements pointed out to me, I got Shiho's surname and given name mixed up pretty badly on quite a few occasions. To those of you who read this chapter and were confused, I apologize. I'll make a more diligent effort in the future. Thank you to Ruler of the Elements for pointing this out to me. Full disclosure, I sent them a message explaining why I thought they were incorrect and why it wasn't an issue only to realize the further I looked into it I was wrong and had to send a second one apologizing again. I'm only human. Thank you all for reading and stay tuned as Ann's parents will be arriving very soon!

4/28

Akira wakes up the next morning slightly groggy as he rolls out of bed. He stretches and groans as the pleasurable sensation descends down his spine. Akira walks over to his cardboard box and removes a shirt and socks. As he's pulling his school jacket over his shirt, Morgana stretches and purrs slightly.

"Morning," he says. "Ready to go see Kamoshida again?" Akira gives him a smile and nod as he finishes buttoning up his jacket. "Then let's go see what we did to him."

XXXX

Akira walks towards Shujin admiring the slight breeze that is present again today. The breeze ruffles his hair and gives it a more disheveled appearance than it usually possesses. He pulls his phone out to check the time and sees class is about to begin and returns it to his pocket as he begins to lightly jog with the rest of the student body towards the school. As he's jogging, he spots Ryuji just ahead of him moving at a walking pace. Akira slows as he gets near Ryuji and matches pace with him.

"Oh? Oh hey, what's up dude?" Ryuji says with a smile.

"Not much," Akira replies. "How're you doing?"

"Good. I nearly overslept but my knee hasn't been bothering me as much today. I was able to get some stretching done on the train but got some looks for it. Feels a lot better after it though."

"I'm glad to hear it," Akira says as Morgana pokes his head out of his bag.

"See what we can find out today about Kamoshida. You may even have to stop by his office during lunch if necessary, to seeing how he's doing," Morgana says. Both boys nod in response as they step inside the building and begin heading to their classrooms.

XXXX

Akira steps out of the classroom for break to see Ryuji standing in the hall near the door.

"Have you seen Kamoshida?" he asks.

"No," Akira replies as he shakes his head.

"You really think he changed?"

"I don't know. I hope so."

"Oh, perfect timing!" a feminine voice says. Both boys turn to see Sadayo Kawakami facing them. "Study Hall will be held instead of PE today. I'm letting you know just in case you haven't heard."

Ryuji gives a sideways glare at Akira as Akira tries to give him a sideways glare telling him to stop.

"Mr. Kamoshida has taken the day off," Ms. Kawakami continues.

"He ain't here?" Ryuji asks with some surprise in his voice. Ms. Kawakami shakes her head and leans in slightly towards Akira.

"Don't tell anyone that you heard this from me… But we received word that Mr. Kamoshida is placing himself under suspension. At such a time before this tournament too… something serious must have happened. Principal Kobayakawa went to talk to him about it, but he supposedly wasn't making any sense."

"A suspension?!" Ryuji gasps unable to hold it in any longer.

"NOT SO LOUD," Ms. Kawakami hisses. "And yes. The talks about your expulsions may be put on hold too. I don't know much about it though…" she says with a sideways glance at Akira. "Well, I was sent to relay what's going on to you, and I think I've relayed."

As Ms. Kawakami walks away, Akira turns to Ryuji unable to hide the grin on his face.

"Looks like something happened," Ryuji says as his smile grows to match Akira's. "And it sounds different from a mental shutdown."

"Agreed," Akira replies.

"I guess all we can do now is wait until Monday," Ryuji says as Ann walks up to the two of them.

"Did you two hear the news?" she asks.

"Just did," Akira responds. "And discussions about our expulsions may be put on hold as well. Seems like we got something done."

"I want to celebrate but I feel like it's too early still," Ann says. "Still, we did manage to get him to not come to school which is already a relief for most."

"What's going on with your parents?" Ryuji asks as he blatantly changes the topic.

"I finally called them last night, told them everything about Kamoshida and Shiho. They said they wanted to come back and spend time with me so they got a flight and should arrive early tomorrow morning. So, tomorrow night you guys are coming over for dinner…" Ann says as her voice trails off and she looks upwards at nothing.

"What is it?" Akira asks.

"I… I haven't told them you're boys. I haven't actually told them anything about either of you. I didn't have a chance."

"Well we'll be on our best behavior, right?" Ryuji says elbowing Akira.

"Ryuji, please for the love of god, behave when you're with my parents," Ann says with a sigh that causes Akira to laugh.

"You're worried about me?! What about the guy with a talking cat that introduced us to another dimension where we—"

Ann smacks Ryuji on the back of his head.

"Keep. Your voice. Down!" she hisses. Akira chuckles.

"Do you want us to bring anything?" he asks.

"No that's OK. We've… we've got more than enough for just 5 people," Ann says with a small smile.

"You sure you're OK with us coming over?" Akira asks.

"Yeah, I am. I'm just nervous because the only person before you guys who really knew about my family and things like that was Shiho. It's awkward to have people over and having them look around in awe at what I just look at as ordinary."

"I've never been to a penthouse apartment before, I'll bet it's huge!" Ryuji says. Ann waves her hand in his direction.

"See?" she says with a genuine smile.

"It'll be fine, Ann," Ryuji reassures her. "We won't judge you just because your family is loaded."

Akira facepalms at Ryuji's comment.

XXXX

Akira walks into Café Leblanc after school. Sojiro sees him walking in and furrows his brow.

"I thought you said you wouldn't be home early today?"

"I thought I wouldn't be," Akira says with a shrug. "Would you teach me how to make Leblanc coffee anyway?" A large smile spreads across Sojiro's face as he throws a towel over his shoulder.

"Sure. Wash your hands and get an apron on," Sojiro says as Akira goes to put Morgana and his bag up in his attic room.

XXXX

Ann walks into Shiho's room again. Mrs. Suzui is in there along with Mr. Suzui standing by Shiho's bed. They turn to see who entered and smile at Ann.

"Good evening Takamaki-chan," Mr. Suzui says with a bow.

"Good evening," Ann says as she returns the bow. "How's she doing?"

"Better," Mrs. Suzui responds. "Her brain activity is getting stronger and they think she'll wake up within the week!"

"Th-that's amazing!" Ann says choking back tears. "I can't wait to tell her all about everything at school."

"Dear," Mrs. Suzui says to Mr. Suzui, "Takamaki-chan is here with her. We can go get some dinner now and a change of clothes?"

"Yes, let's do that," Mr. Suzui replies. "Takamaki-chan, would you sit with Shiho in our absence?"

"Of course!"

"Thank you," he says with a small bow. "We'll be back in a couple of hours." The Suzui's collect their things and leave Ann and Shiho in the room with that eternal rhythmic beeping of the monitor. Ann hated that noise by now, but she knew if she ever didn't hear it it'd be worse than having to hear it now.

Ann sits down and grips Shiho's hand. A feeling of giddiness possesses her at the news.

"You're never going to believe it Shiho, but we did it. We fought our way inside the castle for the final time. We had stocked up on medicine from Dr. Takemi and went in to steal Kamoshida's heart. And we got it! It was this giant crown that we tried to carry out before Kamoshida ambushed us! He transformed into this hideous grotesque monster that we had to fight.

And we kicked his ass! He kicked ours too, but we came out on top. My shoulder is still sore from it and I think I'll schedule a massage or something while my mom's back in town. Oh, and my parents are coming back tomorrow. I finally called them and told them everything about school and what happened with you. I didn't mention Kamoshida, to my parents or yours. I kinda feel like since I'm doing something about it already I don't them to get involved.

And it's your call on whether or not you want to tell people. I'll let you make that decision when you wake up. But yeah, my parents are coming back and I'm super excited to see them! But they invited Akira and Ryuji over for dinner one night without knowing much about them. I mentioned they were my friends but not that they were boys. I don't want my parents to think I spend all my free time with boys, although it wouldn't be an inaccurate statement given events of late," Ann says as she giggles.

"I had also told the boys about how much money my family has and what kind of place I live in and I'm just as nervous about showing them as I was when I showed you for the first time. I don't know, it's probably not a big deal," Ann says as she trails off to silently stare at the setting sun outside the window.

"I'm sorry Shiho. I'm sorry I didn't listen earlier. I'm sorry I didn't try harder when I knew you were in trouble and looking for some help. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you when you needed me most. When you wake up from this, I'll support you in any way I can. I'll always be there by your side whenever you need me. We finally got him, but if we'd have gotten him sooner, we could've saved you.

But we got him eventually. I think that's what you'd be happy about. He wasn't at school today and rumors say he's placed himself on suspension. People are wondering when he'll come back to teaching if he comes back at all. I think we've really done it. It might still be too early to tell but dammit, I want to be hopeful. Hope that it wasn't all for nothing. Hope that you'll get the justice you deserve in some fashion.

I'm just sorry we couldn't get him earlier," Ann says as she squeezes Shiho's hand slightly. "Ryuji and Akira are going to come visit you with me sometime this weekend hopefully now that all of that stuff is seemingly over. I really really can't wait for you to wake up and really get to meet them. They're definitely not what the rumors paint them to be."

Ann sits with Shiho silently for some time. She never tires of this, just sitting and watching the sun set outside Shiho's window. The annoyingly soothing beeping of the heart rate monitor lull Ann into a light sleep as she continues to grip Shiho's hand. Ann is woken by gentle shaking from Mrs. Suzui. She thanks Ann for sitting with Shiho and gives her a hug and peck on the cheek before Ann departs.

XXXX

Ann arrives home and sits on the couch in the middle room. It's late again and Ann wonders what it is she used to do with her free time before visiting Shiho or the Metaverse. She pulls out her phone and instinctively opens the messages app to Akira. Why? What should I say? She asks herself. Ann switches to the group chat and sends a message.

Ann: I went to see Shiho today.

-And I told her we settled things with Kamoshida.

-She still hasn't regained consciousness, but I had to go make amends.

Ryuji: You didn't do anything wrong Ann

Akira: That's right. This is Kamoshida's doing

Ann: I know. But I wasn't there to help her when she needed it.

-I have to do all I can to make up for that, starting now.

-Otherwise I don't think I'll be able to move on

Ryuji: I didn't realize you were so passionate

-I totally didn't notice that back in middle school

Ann: I think it's because of you guys. I'm a little embarrassed though…

-Anyway, Ryuji, Akira… I hope we can keep helping other people and each other from now on too

Ryuji: Totally!

Akira: Agreed

Ann stares at his name. Akira Kurusu. Why do I want to message him again? No, I can't. I'll seem too forward. Too clingy or desperate. I'll wait until tomorrow to see how things play out here. Ann heads to her room with the intent of going to bed as soon as possible. Today has been a long day.

XXXX

"That's the end of the day," Sojiro says as the last customer walks out the door. "Hey, you did good work today, and your coffee ain't bad at all. Another day or two and I'd say you can make it as good as me."

"Thank you," Akira says as he clears the table at the booth.

"Tell you what, you can just drop those in the sink," Sojiro says. "I'll finish cleaning while you go and feed that adorable cat upstairs," Sojiro says as he pushes a plate of cold sushi towards Akira. "And call it a night while you're at it. You seem like you've been busy these past couple of weeks so why don't you take a day for yourself and head to the baths just across the way."

"I might do that," Akira says as he grabs the sushi. "Thank you, Sakura-san."

"Hey! What'd I say? It's Sojiro or Boss. You can pick which, but it has to be one or the other."

Akira smiles as he heads upstairs with the plate of sushi which is nearly knocked out of his hands by Morgana who obviously heard about it from the stairs.