Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction in dedication to a much grander work. As such, the author does not own the rights to any characters within this story, and any correlation between any original characters that may appear and people in the real world are merely coincidental.

Persona 5: The Trickster's Trials

2nd Trial: Velvet Dreams and Scholarly Schemes

?/?/?/?

-?-

What the fuck? What kind of freaky nightmare did I just walk into?! Ren thought in a panic as he stared at the long-nosed man in chains before him. One moment he was passed out in the attic of a coffee shop and the next he was being greeted by a freaky old creeper while being flanked by a pair of one-eyed, child sized prison guards. He had some pretty wild dreams before but this one had definitely taken the cake.

The soft, opera like music that was playing in the speakers above him did not help either

"Hahaha, I see that you are confused, young man," the long-nosed man chuckled kindly, snapping the frightened teen out of his thoughts. "Do not be alarmed, you are still asleep in the real world. I have simply summoned you, within your dreams. My name is Igor. I am delighted to make your acquaintance."

"Igor…? That's an odd name," Ren muttered, staring at the seemingly nice old man with wary eyes before one of the miniature wardens struck her baton by his feet, causing him to jump in surprise.

"Hey! You're in the presence of our Master! Stand up straight!" the one with the hair bun yelled with a menacing one-eyed glare as she held her baton over her shoulder.

"It is best that you heed our Master's words. Any distractions will be heavily looked down upon by us," the girl with braided hair stated in a soft yet stern tone while clutching her clipboard, giving Ren a cold stare that further unnerved him.

"Now, now, girls. This young man is our guest. There's no need to be so harsh to him," Igor chastised the girls lightly, causing the girls to flinch at his words before looking back at the man shamefaced, much to Ren's surprise.

"We're sorry, Master," the pair said simultaneously while bowing at Igor.

"Do not worry. You two are still new to all of this, after all. Mistakes are bound to happen, after all," the man assured before focusing his attention to the still unnerved Ren. "Pardon the girls. They are my assistants and are still relatively inexperienced, but I'm positive that they will adjust to their roles soon enough. The one with the baton is Caroline and the one with the clipboard is Justine. I hope the three of you will get along."

"...Sure?" Ren said slowly, still having trouble to comprehend everything that was happening before taking a look at his surroundings with a frown. "So… Igor-san…? If you don't mind me asking, why did you bring me here? And what is this place, exactly?"

"I don't mind at all, Trickster. It makes sense for you to be confused at the moment," Igor said, using the same title he gave to Ren earlier and further confusing the poor teen. "As I said, this is the Velvet Room. It is a place between dreams and reality. Mind and matter. It is a room that only those who are bound by a 'contract' may enter. Although there have been some exceptions in the past, such as yourself."

"There have?" The bun haired girl, Caroline, questioned; both her and the braided girl Justine turning to the man in surprise, causing Ren to look at the pair in confusion.

"Indeed. I will tell you about them some other time, girls. I'm sure you'll find it quite interesting. Who knows, maybe my tales will stir up some memories that you two may have forgotten," Igor answered in a kind tone, which seemed to bolster the girls' mood slightly from what Ren could see.

I guess this Igor guy wasn't kidding when he said these girls were new… he thought before turning his attention back to the beak-nosed man. "Um, sorry to interrupt, but you didn't finish my questions. Would you please tell me why you brought me here? I don't remember signing any contract."

"This is true. However, as I said, there are exceptions to this rule at times. You, in particular, have been…recommended to come here at the request of an old acquaintance of mine. One that you have met a few times already, though not in a traditional sense…" Igor said, his grin somehow widening in amusement before gaining a more melancholic tinge to it as the man surveyed the prison-like room. "Still, though…this is an unusual surprise. This room has taken many different forms in the past, but never a prison. Let alone one such as this. You are truly an interesting guest, my young friend."

"Um… What do you mean by that?" Ren questioned as a feeling of dread began crawling up his spine.

"According to our Master, the Velvet Room's appearance reflects the state of one's heart. Because you are our guest, this room has taken the form of a prison. Which would make you, if I am safe to assume, a prisoner of fate," Justine explained in a calm tone, causing Ren to look at her in shock before jumping at the sounds of Caroline barking in laughter.

"Wow! A prisoner of fate? You must be some kind of messed up to come up with a room like this! I think I'll be calling you Inmate then because of that! Seems fitting, don't you think?" Caroline said with a wicked grin, further shocking Ren as he turned back to Igor with an uncomfortable expression.

"I… I don't understand. This place…is supposed to represent my heart? Is that why you got those shackles and chains on your arms? Am I really that fucked up?" he questioned in an almost desperate tone in hopes of getting a proper answer.

"Who is to say? It is possible that some outside forces or events have changed the way to see yourself. Of course, it is also possible that this prison-like structure truly is the purest representation of your heart. In the end, the only one who can truly answer that is yourself," Igor answered in a cryptic tone that only served to annoy Ren before continuing. "In any case, I have called you here now to tell you about some important matters. Normally I wouldn't be so...direct when it comes to such information, but I'm afraid the situation is a bit different this time around."

"…What do you mean by that?" Ren questioned slowly, that dreaded feeling becoming stronger.

"The world is not as it should be," the man said in a calm, serious tone as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a single red card, one with the image of a crumbling tower with the roman numeral sixteen etched at the bottom of the image. "There is distortion blanketing it, and ruin is drawing near. You may have not realized it yet, but you will soon. And when the time comes, you will be forced to make an important decision. One that will decide the fate of not only yourself, but others close to you as well. Whether they be from the past, present or even the future…"

"Ruin…?" Ren repeated, flabbergasted by the severity of Igor's statement. He wanted to believe that what he heard was a lie, that everything around him was just a weird nightmare, but for some reason he found himself believing in the man's words. Whatever was going to happen was going to involve him… And it was going to be big…

"Indeed. You don't need to make your decision now, though. You still have some moments of peace for now. However, do know that you will need to make your choice very soon. And remember, no matter what path you chose, know that I and my assistants will be with you every step of the way. It is our role in this new game that we are playing…" Igor said kindly, his somber aura replaced with his original relaxed tone, yet it did nothing to calm Ren's nerves.

Distortion? Ruin? A fucking game!? What the hell is going on, here?! he screamed in his mind, wanting to talk to the mysterious man more to get answers before he felt his body suddenly grow heavy and tired.

"Ah, it seems that our time is up," Justine spoke up stoically just as the sounds of an alarm started going off, though it did nothing to alert the increasingly lethargic teen as he fell to his knees.

"Looks like it's back to bed for you, Inmate. Get plenty of rest. You're definitely going to need it," Caroline said, Ren barely able to hear her as he felt his body shutting down even faster. He stared at Igor once more just as his eyelids started to close shut, and right before he passed out, he heard the man's final call to him.

"Time marches on in the real world, Trickster. I suggest you heed Caroline's suggestion and rest well. We will meet again in due time. Until then, farewell…"

4/10/Early Morning/Overcast

-Leblanc Attic-

That dream… What the hell was that all about? Ren thought as he sat on the edge of his new bed, fully clothed in his Shujin Academy uniform as brief flashes of his unusual dream appeared in his mind. That Igor guy went on about ruin and distortion, but I have no idea what he meant by that. Hell, I can't believe I woke up in a damn prison cell of all things. They said that blue place or whatever it's called reflects my heart, so does that mean my heart is like a prison? Is it because of my arrest? Dammit, this is getting too confusing…

"Hey. Looks like you're up," a gruff voice spoke up, causing Ren to look ahead to see Sakura by the stairs in his usual pink shirt and khakis, but now with a white jacket and a white fedora with a tri-colored ribbon on the brim. "Well then, let's get ourselves properly introduced to the staff about your transfer. I'm sure Niijima-san and her little sister are already there, so let's not waste anymore time."

"Gotcha, sir," Ren nodded as he got up from the bed and followed his guardian downstairs, stuffing away the memories of his dream for the time being.

"The school you're going to is in the Aoyama district. The train's the fastest way to get there, but you'll have to pay to get in, and the route transfers are a pain. I'll drive you there, kid, but only for today. The rest of the trips will be done by train. You got that?" Sakura said as the two reached the restaurant's entrance.

"Not a problem," Ren agreed readily before turning back to the stairs for a moment. "Hey, Sakura-san? If the route transfers are as much of a pain as you're saying, why don't I take the bike in the attic?"

"I wouldn't recommend it, kid. The school's pretty far from here. Even if you use a bike, you'd just end up late regardless. Not to mention you would be bumping around way too many people and would slow you down even more. Just stick with the train. Now hurry up. We'll be late if you keep asking questions," Sakura answered before walking over towards the front door while shaking his head. "Sheesh, men aren't usually allowed in my passenger seat."

Quirking an eyebrow at the man's statement, Ren sighed and followed him outside and toward his home, where a yellow buggy was parked nearby. His dream popped up in his mind as he entered the car, but he stuffed the memory aside for the moment. He had to get ready for something that many would consider to be much worse than a possible impending apocalypse…

High school.

Morning

-Shujin Academy Entrance-

Makoto Niijima sighed to herself as she stood before the entrance to her school while brushing away a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Dressed in her school uniform, she, along with her older sister Sae, had got up early in the morning to meet up with the prosecutor's new charge along with his guardian and she was, admittedly, a bit nervous to see them. Even though she was assured that Amamiya wasn't a bad individual, she was still somewhat unsure about meeting him. Not only that, Sae had also received a call from her boss to come in early, which meant Makoto was going to be alone with the two males for the majority of the day. It wasn't the most ideal situation for her, but she would make due. Shaking her head, she pulled out her phone to check the time, frowning at the time, before putting it away and turned to her sister.

"Sis, it's almost time to meet up with the principal and they're not here yet. Should we contact them to see what's taking so long?" she asked.

"I just got a message not too long ago from Boss saying they just left. It doesn't take too long to get from Yongen to here. They should arrive at any moment," Sae assured, prompting Makoto to nod at her before turning her head to the school behind her and giving it a look over.

She had been a student of Shujin Academy for a good couple years now, with this one being her third, and even now she still found it sort of ironic how much the building fit its name in a phonetic sense. It was, admittedly, a bit awkward at first to attend a school that looked like a prison, with it's large fence, it's lone entrance, the clock at top, and the overall design. She got over it soon enough, though. Despite its appearance, it was one of the top prep-schools in the city, and getting a recommendation here would no doubt allow any graduate to attend whatever college or university they desire. Especially Tokyo U. It was why she worked so hard during her first two years and was now considered the top student at the start of her final year. The fact that her sister was a Shujin graduate and helped get her into the academy as well also fueled her drive. She wanted to repay her sister for everything she had done to support her, and succeeding in school and getting into college was the only way she could accomplish that. It wouldn't be an easy feat, what with her increasing workload with studies and student council duties, but she would persevere through it all.

She had to, for both herself and her sister.

"Looks like they're here. And just in time, too," Sae's voice said, catching Makoto's attention and prompting her to turn to see a teenage boy around her age with messy black hair following a disgruntled looking older gentleman in a white coat.

"Look, do me a favor and behave yourself, ok?" she heard the old man talk to the boy in a gruff tone. "Don't get me wrong-I don't care what happens to you. Just don't cause any trouble or I'll send your ass straight to Niijima and have her deal with you on your own. You got that?"

"Understood, Sakura-san," the teen, most likely Amamiya, droned in an almost defeated tone and Makoto couldn't help but frown. Criminal record or not, there was no reason to be so rough with him, especially if the man was making him stay in a dusty old cafe attic of all places. She might not have known him personally, but if Sae said that he was a good person, then he didn't deserve to be treated like such a burden. With that in mind, she resolved herself to help the troubled teen and make his stay as comfortable as possible. It might mean more work for her, but she had a feeling that it would be worth it.

Especially since the teen's tone and expression somewhat mirrored her own during her darker moments…

"Glad to see you two made it," Sae said once the two men approached the gate, snapping Makoto out of her thoughts. "Boss, Amamiya-kun, this is my younger sister Makoto; third year here at Shujin and the student council president. Makoto, this is Ren Amamiya, who you will be checking in on during school hours, and Sojiro Sakura, his guardian."

"Hey. Nice to meet you, little lady," the older man, Sakura, said with a lazy smile and a nod.

"Hello, Niijima-senpai. It's a pleasure to meet you," Amamiya greeted with a slight bow, causing Makoto to smile slightly at his polite mannerisms before bowing as well.

"It's nice to meet you two as well. Sis has told me about you both. I hope we can get along," she said, turning to Amamiya in particular at the end with her smile growing more gentle in hopes of assuring him. What she wasn't expecting, though, was for him to look at her in slight surprise for a moment before turning away bashfully. It was…a bit disheartening to see, admittedly, since it showed that he wasn't used to being treated with such kindness. It made her wonder what else has the teen gone through to warrant such a reaction.

"Well, now that introductions are over with, let's get going. I have to get to work as soon as I can, so I'll most likely leave as soon as my part of the paperwork is done with. Boss, you will most likely take Makoto home if this meeting takes too long," Sae said while turning to the annoyed man before briskly making her way to the school, causing Makoto to stare at her for a moment before turning to Sakura with a mix of worry and sympathy.

"Of course… I had a feeling something like this was going to happen," Sakura groaned while shaking his head.

"I-It's ok, sir! You don't need to take me home! I can just take the subway instead! I don't want to be a burden to you!" Makoto said, her tone flustered as she tried to placate the elder.

"Huh? Oh, don't worry about it. What kind of man would I be if I let a young lady like yourself go home alone? The city can be a dangerous place after all," Sakura said while pointing his thumb behind him, where Amamiya was looking back at the man curiously. "If you insist on taking the subway, I can at least take you to my cafe and have the kid walk you over to the one in Yongen. At least that way you have someone to either watch over you or use as a meat shield if things go rough. Hell, he could even take you all the way to your house with the bike that he found. He's been wanting an excuse to use the thing all morning, you know."

"I only asked about it once…" Amamiya grumbled with his arms crossed and head turned, looking so pouty that Makoto couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

"I see. Well, if you're sure that it won't be any trouble, then I don't mind. Besides, it could give us a chance to get to know each other some more. We are going to be spending a lot of time together, after all," Makoto said while giving Amamiya another kind smile, somewhat enjoying his slightly flustered expression before turning towards the school. "Well then, let's head in. We can't keep Sis waiting for too long."

"Lead the way," Sakura said while gesturing to the school, prompting Makoto to nod in response before making her way inside with the men in tow.

I guess Sis was right. Amamiya-kun doesn't seem to be all that bad. Very quiet, but also pretty polite. He does seem a little downtrodden, though, but that could simply be a result of his situation. He doesn't look like he wants to cause trouble, at any rate, Makoto thought as the three of them entered the building and walked towards the path to the principal's office before frowning. In fact, it doesn't seem like Amamiya-kun's really threatening at all. At the very least, he doesn't appear to be someone who would assault someone. Sure, looks can be deceiving, but I just can't help but feel like he's the type of person who wouldn't harm anyone for any reason. There's probably more to the case than what Sis told me… I suppose I can ask about the details later on. For now, though, it's best to focus on getting him acquainted with his homeroom teacher and Principal Kobayakawa. Even with his record, I'm positive they will treat Amamiya-kun fairly once they see how well-mannered he is.

-Principal's Office-

...Well, this figures. Should've guessed it'd be like this, Ren groaned internally as a…wide-bodied man in a tacky gold colored suit-jacket over a white dress shirt and red tie stared at him in contempt while Niijima and Sakura were filling out the paperwork that was on the large desk before them. One one side of the large man stood Niijima's younger sister while the other stood a tired looking woman with messy brunette hair, a striped yellow shirt and a long denim skirt. While his new student council president seemed apologetic towards him, something he was quite surprised about, his new teacher seemed just as annoyed as his guardians and looked like she just wanted to go home.

As bothersome as her attitude is… I can't exactly blame her. I'd be ticked too if I was forced to come in on my day off, he thought before narrowing his eyes at the woman slightly. …In fact, she looks even more tired than I thought. Hell, she's practically dead on her feet? Is she putting in a lot of overtime or something?

"To reiterate, just so we're clear, you'll be expelled immediately if you cause any problems," the principal spoke up, snapping Ren out of his thoughts. "In my opinion, you're nothing but a liability, but we had our circumstances to consider… You may have done a variety of things while hiding in your hometown, but you will behave yourself while attending Shujin. If you are thrown out of our school, there will be no place for you to go. Keep that in mind."

"I understand, sir," Ren nodded solemnly, his face stoic while trying to stuff the annoyance that was growing within him.

"Good," the large man nodded before turning to the tired woman to his right. "This is the teacher in charge of your class. Try not to be too much of a nuisance for her."

"I'm Sayado Kawakami. Here's your student ID and a copy of the school's code of conduct. Be sure to read the rules. Any violations will send you straight to the guidance office. And, if by chance you cause any problems, I won't be able to protect you," the instructor introduced herself as she gave the increasingly irritated teen his new card along with a small pamphlet before turning to the principal. "That is what you promised, Principal Kobayakawa. Right?"

"Mmhmm. He is responsible for all his actions," Kobayakawa nodded, causing Kawakami to look even more tired.

"But why me, though? There had to have been better candidates than me. Mr. Ushimaru and Mr. Kamoshida would've been much better choices," she complained.

"It was a sudden transfer, and your class was the only one that had an opening," the big man explained with a shrug, which nearly caused the teen to roll his eyes.

At least act like I'm here, you two… Geeze, are all the teachers here gonna be like this? At this rate, juvenile hall is starting to look more appealing with each passing second, Ren scoffed mentally before turning his attention to the younger Niijima, who was openly wincing at the two instructors before turning back to him with an apologetic expression. At least Niijima-senpai hasn't said anything damning. Not coming to my defense, yes, but considering the people here, I don't think they would hear her out. Not to mention we hardly know each other at this point. Then again, she's been surprisingly friendly to me, even with her knowing about my arrest… I kinda hope the others here would be just as open-minded, but I'm not holding my breath. Hell, knowing my shit luck, my record's probably gonna be leaked almost as soon as I start tomorrow. It wouldn't surprise me at this point…

"If you're done explaining things, do you mind if we get going? I have a restaurant to open and Niijima has to get back to work pronto," Sakura spoke up, causing Ren to turn to him in near gratitude when Niijima cleared her throat.

"Before we leave, I wish to make a request regarding Amamiya-kun's time here. Do you mind, Principal Kobayakawa?" she said, causing not only Ren, but also the others in the room to look at her in either surprise or confusion.

"What? Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Weren't you the one who insisted that-"

"I don't mind at all, Miss Niijima! What kind of request would you like to make? It's been quite some time since such a distinguished graduate like yourself has graced our school! Whatever you have in mind regarding Amamiya-kun will surely be the best for us all!" Kobayakawa exclaimed joyfully, causing Ren to turn to him bewildered.

…What the hell? Why is Principal No-Neck hamming up to Niijima-san like she's the next prime minister? The one-eighty personality swap nearly gave me whiplash… Ren thought, the glare on his glasses hiding his narrow eyes as he noticed his new schoolmate turning to the man with a surprised expression herself. Hell, it looks like Senpai's weirded out by this, too. Kinda reminds me of that creeper coach in middle school that praised Sumi for her gymnastics skill in that weird, overenthusiastic way of his. Really glad we don't have to deal with him, anymore. But still, what the hell is Niijima-san pla-

"I would like for you to add Amamiya-kun to the student council. Either a full position or an aid to Makoto if there aren't any available roles," Niijima said, her words causing Ren's mind to completely shut down for a moment before he slowly turned to her with a fearful expression.

"…You want me where, now?" he asked quietly, desperately hoping he heard her wrong.

"Um… A-Are you sure that is a good idea, Niijima-san. N-No disrespect to you or anything, but Amamiya-kun is a delinquent, remember? Do you truly think an individual like him would be a proper fit in Shujin's pristine student council?" Kobayakawa asked in a nervous tone.

"I'm more than sure. Him being a part of the student council would make it easier for you to keep tabs on him and for him to be near Makoto, since she will more or less be his retainer during his time here. It is the perfect position for him in spite of his situation," Niijima explained easily before reaching into her bag and pulled out a folder. "And if you're worried that he doesn't meet the qualifications for any of the roles, then don't. Amamiya-kun was a part of his previous school's council as a request from one of his middle school instructors and has done quite well as Treasurer. In fact, he was going to be a member of Gekkoukan's student council as Vice-President at the current president's request were it not for his arrest. Combine that with his relatively high grades throughout his school life, I'm positive he is more than qualified to be a member. If you don't believe me, I have a copy of his school record here for you to read."

Oh, of-fucking-course Coach's joke was gonna bite me in the ass like this! Ren thought, his stoic mask hiding his fury as everyone else in the room read the file that was now on the desk. I am so punching him in the gut again for signing me up for that stupid treasurer position! And the only reason why I even accepted the vice president spot was because I was guilt tripped by Sumi and Captain! Why does my life have to be so damn cursed!?

"Huh… Well… After looking at his records, I will concede that Amamiya is…qualified enough to be a member of the council. I will allow him to join with the title of President's Aide, since all of our roles have been filled. I just need to have the necessary paperwork filled out, if you please. Since it's such a sudden change and considering Amamiya's position, I'm afraid that this is necessary," Kobayakawa said in an obviously reluctant tone as he handed the folder back to Niijima.

"Have Makoto fill out the necessary parts in my stead. Also, have Amamiya-kun take a tour of the school before he leaves so he could better familiarize himself with it. I'm afraid I've been here for too long. I must head back to work, now. Take care," the silver-haired woman said in a tone that left no room for argument before briskly leaving the room, leaving behind a room full of confused, and somewhat annoyed, people.

"…Has she always been that forceful?" Ren asked bluntly, breaking the awkward air that was suffocating the area.

"Yes, sadly. I'm sorry about that," Niijima's sister said in a sympathetic tone.

"She always has to have it her way in the end, doesn't she? It's the school festival all over again," Kawakami muttered while scratching her head.

"Ah… Well… I suppose we will just finish without her. Gentlemen, Niijima-kun, if you please?" Kobayakawa said while clearing his throat before pulling out the paperwork from inside his desk, much to Ren's annoyance.

"That woman seriously gets on my nerves, sometimes…" Sakura scoffed quietly as he started signing, with Ren nodding slightly in agreement as he followed suit.

And I thought Gramps was a hardass… No wonder he picked her as my probation officer. She's definitely one of his pupils. Here's hoping Niijima-senpai isn't like that… he thought while glancing at the remaining Niijima, who was also diligently working on the papers.

He'd like to have at least one person in Tokyo that wasn't a dick to him, but knowing his luck, chances are that are slim to none at best. Just like everything else…

Afternoon

-Shujin Academy Courtyard-

Phew. That took longer than expected. I didn't think giving someone a tour of the school would be so time consuming. I hope Sakura-san and Amamiya-kun weren't too annoyed by it all, Makoto thought as she walked towards a nearby vending machine and purchased herself a drink.

She had just exited the principal's office and couldn't help but feel a little exhausted mentally. Ever since Sae left her alone with both Amamiya and Sakura, she and her old teacher Kawakami were busy getting everything ready for Amamiya's transfer. On top of the paperwork needed to get him into the council, the principal also went along with her sister's suggestion and made her give him a brief tour of the school so that he wouldn't get lost. It was a good idea, admittedly, but considering how much Sakura was complaining about being late to open his business, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty. It didn't help that, after the tour, the principal requested to talk to the guys alone before dismissing them, preventing her from properly apologizing to the two until they were done.

"I hope they don't take too long. It's starting to get late. Sakura-san might not even be able to open his restaurant at this rate," Makoto said to herself as she took a drink and tried to relax before noticing Kawakami walking nearby and mumbling to herself. "Ms. Kawakami is looking very tired as well. More-so than usual, anyways. I suppose that's understandable, considering it's Sunday…"

"What a troublesome situation…"

"I can't believe they pushed someone with a record on me. A male teacher would be better suited for this…"

Makoto's eyes went wide when she heard a male voice talking to Kawakami, nearly coughing out her drink in the process. Turning her head, she saw that the woman was now accompanied by a tall, stocky man in a white shirt, dark blue gym shorts and curly black hair. Her surprise turned to annoyance when she recognized who exactly the tired teacher was talking to.

"Mr. Kamoshida… What's he doing here on a Sunday? The volleyball team isn't supposed to be meeting right now. It's their scheduled rest day," she muttered to herself as her eyes narrowed towards the two instructors.

"Why in the world was someone like that admitted here?" the man questioned, causing Makoto to realize that the two were talking about Amamiya.

"Who knows? It was the principal's decision. I was told that it's for the school's reputation, but that's it," Kawakami said while shaking her head.

"I would've thought that my volleyball team has contributed more than enough to cover that," the man said, his words forcing a quiet scoff from Makoto.

"Your 'contributions' aren't exactly what we need here in Shujin…" she muttered, her annoyance building as she continued to watch the two converse.

"Well, just be careful with the guy, ok? I ran into Niijima not too long ago and gave her the same warning, but she just brushed me off. I'm honestly surprised she got roped into looking after a criminal, considering how busy she is with her work and looking after our hard working student council president. She really does have a lot of burdens to carry," the man mused while rotating his arms, causing Makoto to look at him in surprise while Kawakami sighed to herself.

"She does what she wants and no one can stop her. She's a very headstrong individual for sure. We learned that quickly when she visited Shujin last year for the school festival…" the woman said before turning to Kamoshida with a weary expression. "Is it bad for me to think that I sort of wish for the transfer to not attend school. I'm supposed to be a teacher, but…"

"Ah, don't worry about it. It's only natural to think that when the student you're taking in is a criminal," the man said with an easy smile that made Makoto's blood boil. "Well, I should get going. I'm in the middle of a practice session right now, so I better head back."

"Oh right, the tournament's coming up. I was wondering why you were here during a scheduled break. Working hard to keep them at the top, I'm assuming," Kawakami questioned.

"That's right! Having such high expectations placed on you by others is quite the problem in itself. Plus, we have to work hard to make up for the track team, too," Kamoshida said with a wide grin that further bothered the teachers' silent onlooker.

"I can't hear any more of this. If I stay any longer, Kamoshida will notice me. And I do not want to deal with him today…" Makoto said before looking down at her drink, wincing slightly when she noticed it was crushed slightly, before getting up and tossing it into the trash nearby. As she made her way towards the exit, she turned her attention back to the teachers once more, sighing to herself as they split apart, before leaving the courtyard and making her way towards the school entrance where both Sakura and Amamiya were at.

"Damn that annoying woman. She may be one of my best customers, but she is seriously a handful. If you're smart, kid, you better not piss her off," she heard Sakura grumble to Amamiya, who was nodding in agreement.

"No argument there, sir. Women in law-enforcement are scary when they're angry. Dad and Aniki found that out the hard way with my birth mom and Aneki," Amamiya said with a shudder, causing Makoto to shake her head at his words while Sakura chuckled slightly.

"Every man has their type. Don't be surprised if you end up sharing that type, too. You look like the kind of kid who'd go for women who can kick their ass," the man said, prompting Amamiya to shrug in response before the two noticed her presence. "Ah. There you are. Was about to send the kid to look for you. Ready to head out?"

"I am. Sorry for taking so long. I needed a quick refreshment. The tour was more tiring to me than I expected," Makoto said while bowing to Sakura, who waved her off, before turning to Amamiya. "I also wish to apologize to you, Amamiya-kun, for both Principal Kobayakawa's words and my inability to defend you. Sis has informed me of the details regarding the incident and I think it was admirable. You're not a liability, and I wish I was able to say that without stepping out of line…"

"Don't worry about it, Niijima-senpai. I've heard worse from other people. I'm more or less used to things going wrong at this point and this is no different," Amamiya said while shrugging once more, causing Makoto to look at him in concern while Sakura grunted in the background.

"Guess that explains why you were so nonchalant when it came to your probation. I guess your past really does follow you wherever you go," the man muttered out loud before turning to Amamiya with a glare. "Speaking of your probation, you better behave yourself while you're here. You step out of line and get expelled, I'm kicking you out."

"Sakura-san!" Makoto gasped, shocked to hear the man say such words so harshly, but faltered when Amamiya nodded back at him as if he was unaffected by his words.

"I'll keep out of trouble, sir. No worries," Amamiya assured before turning to her. "Relax, Senpai. Sakura-san is just telling me to be careful in his own way. I'm not bothered by it."

He may not be bothered by it, but she was, but she couldn't voice it, fearing she might be overstepping her boundaries. She barely knew him, after all. Regardless, it was wrong to see him be treated like such a nuisance by not only his new instructors, but his own guardian as well. It made her feel sick just seeing someone being mistreated so much, criminal record or no. She just hoped that she would be able to make his time in Shujin, and Tokyo in general, a little more bearable. He deserved a chance, and she was going to give him one.

"Hmph. School never changes, huh…" Sakura said softly, snapping Makoto out of her thoughts as she saw him walking towards the exit and motioning towards her and Amamiya. "C'mon. Let's get back to the cafe. Hopefully I can get back in time for some business. I'll even treat you for dinner before you go, Niijima-chan."

"Huh? Oh, um, thanks, Sakura-san. I…I appreciate that," Makoto said, internally cursing herself for fumbling with her words before following both males outside and to a yellow buggy, where she entered the passenger seat at both Sakura's and Amamiya's insistence. The beginning of the drive was silent and awkward, which was to be expected, but soon the air in the car grew a bit more hostile when the roads started to get cluttered.

"Gah. Traffic's not moving at all! That's it, you're taking the train starting tomorrow!" Sakura said harshly to Amamiya, causing Makoto to wince at the tone.

Does he have to be so strict to him…? She thought while turning her head slightly to see Amamiya looking seemingly unbothered by the scolding. At least he isn't letting the words affect him negatively. Though he did say that he has heard worse in the past. I wonder if it's rude of me to ask how his childhood was that made him so...resilient to everyone's scorn?

"So, how was it? The school, I mean. Do you think you can handle it?" Sakura spoke up, snapping Makoto out of her thoughts.

"Hopefully," Amamiya said with a disinterested shrug, causing Makoto to stare at him sympathetically before speaking up.

"Well, I'm sure you'll do well in Shujin, Amamiya-kun, even with your record. Sis told me that you are a good person and from what I can see, she's not wrong. I'm sure your classmates will see that as well. You'll also be a part of the student council with me, so if you have any problems, let me know and I'll do my best to help," Makoto assured while smiling lightly at her new aide, who was looking back at her in surprise while Sakura chuckled beside her.

"Well, looks like you have one person willing to sympathize with you. Good luck finding anyone else, though," Sakura said dryly, causing Makoto to stare at him briefly in disbelief as he continued. "If rumors about your arrest start flying around, people might start saying stuff about me, too. What a troublesome kid I've taken in…"

"Why did you take me in, Sakura-san?" Amamiya asked, both him and Makoto looking at the man curiously.

"I was asked to and I…just happened to agree to it," Sakura answered, his tone sounding a bit defensive to the two occupants, before shrugging. "Besides, I've already been paid by your father. A surprising amount, actually, for a single parent raising two kids."

"That's not surprising. Dad's shop gets a lot of business, especially with all those fancy custom orders he does. Kinda glad I took those extra sewing and crafting lessons at Auntie's place so I could help him out more…" Amamiya said, almost to himself, and Makoto couldn't help but to turn to him in surprise at the little tidbit about his past. It was then that he seemed to realize what he said and went pale considerably as his eyes locked with both her and Sakura. "...Shit. Um, forget I said anything."

"You sew? Heh, now that's surprising," Sakura chuckled as he focused his attention back to the road while Makoto settled into her seat with a contemplative expression.

If she were to be honest, she found it impressive that Amamiya knew how to sew. She tried her hand at it before when she was younger but could never get a good grasp at it. It required good dexterity and a strong eye for detail that she didn't have. She wanted to ask him about his craft, but it was clear that he didn't want to talk about it, which sadly made a bit of sense. Sewing was considered a more feminine skill and there were still many people who would look down on men who had such skills. Maybe she could talk to him when they have a moment alone…

"Hey, did the radio just talk about a subway train being derailed? Geeze, talk about scary," Amamiya's concerned voice spoke up, causing Makoto to snap out of her thoughts.

"It did. No wonder traffic's so crowded. It's been one accident after another lately," Sakura said while shaking his head before turning back to the road while Makoto frowned at the news report.

Sakura-san is right. Tokyo has been in a dangerous state as of late. I can't help but wonder if there's a root cause to all of this… Is everything connected in some way? she thought before sighing quietly to herself. No… I should stop thinking about this stuff for now. I already have enough to worry about as is. Besides, Sis is working on these cases. I'm sure she'll figure out the cause of all this distress. It's only a matter of time.

…I suppose this also means that Sis will pull another all-nighter. I hope she doesn't push herself too hard with all of this.

Evening

-SIU Director's office-

Sae watched silently as the news report went on about the recent accident while standing near her boss; the Director of the SIU. While relieved that nobody was seriously hurt in the incident, she still couldn't shake the feeling that something else was at work. There had been more and more of these incidents as of late, and she knew they had to be all related in some way. These psychotic breakdown incidents started only two years ago, along with the mental shutdowns. If things keep going as they are now, then not just Tokyo, but probably all of Japan will suffer as a result. If only she could find one clue… One thing that could tie everything together…

"It's less of an accident and more of crime by the company and the government…" the Director, a balding old man with grey hair on the back of his head, a distinguished blue suit and rectangle-framed glasses on the bridge of his nose, stated seriously, Sae listening as she continued to watch the report, "Site inspectors apparently reported all of this six months ago; deterioration of the tracks and the ATC. Seems a railway company and the Minister of Transport both turned a blind eye to the truth. There's no way they can hide. This will go all the way to the top."

Sae said nothing as the report went on to talk about the psychotic breakdowns, still contemplating on what she should do. At the moment, she couldn't come up with anything, no matter how much she tried. Thankfully, she managed to call in someone for a bit of help. The person in particular wasn't exactly her first choice, but he was the only one she knew that was available at the time and was also working with her on the cases. Maybe exchanging ideas with the guy would help her find the connection between everything.

"Everything's linked. That's what you're thinking, correct?" he guessed correctly, looking at the semi-distracted prosecutor with a raised eyebrow before sighing in mild amusement. "Oh well. Are you free? You and I haven't gone out for a drink in a while."

"Thank you, sir, but I have another meeting to attend. I must be going," Sae declined with a small smile. She honestly wouldn't mind a drink at the moment, but she had other things she needed to take care of at first. She turned to her boss and gave him a respectable bow before she prepared to leave.

"I understand. Stay safe out there," the Director said with a small smile.

Sae nodded in response, happy that she didn't offend her boss with her refusal. While the man appeared cold and harsh most of the time, he was someone who had worked tirelessly to get to the position he was in, and she could honestly respect that. With that thought, she turned towards the door, grabbing her book bag as she was walking, and was about to exit when her boss called out to her again.

"Sae, before you go, I want to ask you something really quick," the old man said, making Sae pause with a hand over the doorknob. "I recall this morning that you came in late. Later than what you said you were. Did something happen on the way here?"

"Nothing important, sir. Just a run in with an instructor from Shujin on my way here," she answered while turning to him, frowning when the conversation she shared with the teacher popped in her head.

-Morning, Shujin Academy-

"Darn it, I spent too much time here. I need to hurry to the office before traffic picks up," Sae muttered to herself as she walked out of the principal's office while looking into her phone with a wince. "And there's another accident as well. This time at the subway. Looks like the meeting with the Director is going to be a long-"

"Well, well! If it isn't Sae Niijima! Haven't seen you in a while!" a cheerful voice called out, and Sae turned her head briefly to see a tall, buff looking man with unkempt black hair, a plain white sport shirt and black trousers walking towards her with a smile on his face.

"What is it, Kamoshida? I'm very busy right now and I'm running late. Don't you have a volleyball team to train?" Sae questioned curtly, causing the man to stop short and stare at her with a sheepish grin.

"Aww, c'mon, Sae, just call me Suguru. We're nearly the same age, after all. Besides, all I want to do is catch up. Haven't seen you since the school festival last year," the energetic man said cheerfully.

"The only reason why I was there in the first place was to see what kind of stand Makoto and her class was doing and I happened to have some free time. I didn't even stay that long," Sae stated as she checked her watch, "Look, I'm extraordinarily busy at the moment. In fact, I'm only here to finalize the transfer of someone I'm watching over. I need to get going."

"Wait, transfer? But the only transfer student we're getting is…" Kamoshida paused, his expression growing troubled as he walked closer to Sae, much to her annoyance. "Sae, please don't tell me you're looking after the punk transfer. I know you're with the SIU but looking over a dangerous criminal on your own is not a good idea. Especially since you have your sister to take care of as well. You don't want to burden yourself any more than you have to. Why don't you find someone who's more experienced in dealing with little crooks to look after him, huh?"

"Shut it, Kamoshida, I don't want to hear it," Sae grumbled as she pushed the tall man away, much to his surprise. "Look, the 'punk transfer' you're talking about is under my care, and as his probation officer it is my responsibility to make sure his rehabilitation goes smoothly. It's true that watching both him and Makoto will be difficult for me, especially with how busy I've been, but they are both my burdens to bear and I will not let anyone tell me how to do my job. Now, if you excuse me."

With that, Sae walked out of the school as fast as she could, not turning back to see Kamoshida's reaction to her words. She had other matters to attend to, after all, and she didn't need her precious time wasted on some coach that couldn't take a hint.

He's been so persistent ever since we met during Shujin's school festival. Not to mention I missed nearly a whole day's worth of work as a result. I shouldn't have let the old man convince me to accept Makoto's invitation to her festival… Sae thought irritably as the memory faded, unaware of the amused expression from her boss before hearing him chuckle.

"Haha, seems like what kept you late bothered you more than you let on," the Director said, snapping Sae out of her thoughts to see him wave her away. "Well, I won't ask for the details. Go off and do what you need to do. Just don't work yourself too hard. I heard from the others that you're the probation officer of former Chief Amamiya's grandson. I wish you luck on that, by the way. If that boy is even a hair similar to that old goat and his late daughter, then you're in for a rough time."

"You're acquainted with Kenichi and Akira Amamiya, sir?" Sae questioned, a bit surprised to hear his boss talk about his mentor's family in a casual sense.

"In a way. I'm more familiar with Akira than Kenichi. She made quite the name for herself in the military and was quite the marksman and skilled investigator during her time with them," he explained with a fond smile, piquing her curiosity. "An acquaintance of mine was friends with her and I had a chance to know her a little while she was active. Last time I talked to her was nearly seventeen years ago, when she was being discharged for maternity leave. You…know what happened not long after that…"

"…Yes. I do." Sae muttered, looking down sadly as she tried to repress an old, bitter memory of a painful phone call and her father panicking around the house with her then five-month-old sister in his arms while her late mother was gripping her hand and practically in tears.

It was the first time she ever met Kenichi Amamiya in person, and to this day, she dearly wished her first meeting with the man that helped so much in her life was in better circumstances.

"…Sorry for bringing up any bad memories, Sae. You're free to go." the man said, looking much more solemn than earlier, before she nodded back to him and left his office.

Sae's mind began to buzz as she climbed down the stairs. Memories of the call aside, her talk with the Director did bring up something that she was wondering about for a while. The Amamiya family did have a bit of history with law enforcement, much like her own, with her mentor being the former Chief of Police of Tokyo and his daughter being a part of the navy of all things. Normally that would've gotten the boy a little bit of leeway when it came with the terms of his arrest, especially in regards to why he got arrested in the first place. That just made her wonder how powerful the man who sued the boy was. To be able to successfully sue the grandchild of the former chief of police and son of a late military agent with such ease, and even making sure that their name wasn't mentioned at all…

Just who did the boy get involved with?

Sae paused her stride for a moment and shook her head slightly to get rid of those thoughts before continuing on. None of that mattered at the moment. She may be curious towards her ward's arrest, but she had other things to worry about, namely, her case and making sure the boy didn't cause any more trouble. She was thankful that she had help on both her responsibilities. She can trust Sojiro to at least keep the boy fed until it was her turn to take him in, and Makoto would be able to watch over him during school to make sure nothing happened. In regards to the case…

"Ah, Sae-san. There you are. Did you request me?" a young man's voice up before her near the bottom of the stairs, and Sae looked down to see a fairly tall teenager around her sister's age with shaggy brown hair and curious dark brown eyes, standing around in a beige suit over a white dress shirt with black trousers, a striped monochrome tie, black gloves and steel briefcase with the English letter 'A' embroidered on it.

"I did, Akechi. Follow me, we got something to discuss," Sae nodded as she walked briskly down the stairs.

"Is it a case?" the young man asked as she walked by him.

"Just wanted your opinion on something," she responded, stopping for a bit to allow Akechi to catch up.

"Sure. Your judgement is quite often, correct though," Akechi said with an easy grin, Sae mentally rolling her eyes at the obvious attempt at buttering her up as he walked up towards her with a bit of a pleading expression, "Can we discuss this over sushi, perhaps? You're making a student work late, after all."

"Conveyer belt only," Sae answered promptly before continuing down towards the exit, smirking slightly at the sound of Akechi whining a little behind her. She couldn't help but be amused whenever she shot down the young man's hopes every now and again. As the pair neared the door, she couldn't help but wonder how she could get such a reaction out of Amamiya. With how stoic the young man is, it might prove a little difficult, but she was sure the reaction will be hilarious nevertheless.

That reminds me, Amamiya-kun is most likely going to have to take the subway to school from this point on. I doubt Boss will have the time or patience to take a child to school every day, Sae thought as she and her partner exited the building. The train schedule is going to be a mess for a while. I better tell Makoto to take him to school these next few days once I get home, just in case…

-Café Leblanc-

"Damn... To think that there'd be so much traffic… . I wasn't even able to open today. I'm going to get a few angry regulars asking about that tomorrow…" Sakura complained as he entered his store, with Ren and Niijima-senpai following close behind.

"I can see why you want me to take the subway. Is traffic normally like this?" Ren asked. He had some experience with traffic, but not to this extent. It was ridiculous in his opinion…

"Sometimes, but not this often. All these accidents have been screwing everything up, lately. Didn't used to be like this a few years ago," the man grumbled before scratching the back of his head with a contemplative expression. "They've been happening in nearby cities too, now that I think about it. The one I remember the most involved a girl over in Nikko at the beginning of the year. She was just about to turn fifteen, from what I recall. I feel for her parents…"

Ren tried very hard not to show any emotion as he nodded at the man's statement. He was well aware of the accidents that have been plaguing Tokyo as of late. It was, after all, one of the multitude of points his family brought up regarding his sentence to the big city. He also knew exactly what accident his new caretaker was talking about, but he didn't want to voice it. He had enough on his mind already; he didn't need to dwell on a tragedy that happened not so long ago… Taking a quiet breath to clear his mind, he turned to the other occupant in the cafe, curious as to why she was silent, only to see her looking down at her phone with a concerned expression. "Niijima-senpai, is something wrong?"

"Hmm? Oh, sorry. I was just looking at the news report about the subway incident that happened recently," she explained while showing the phone to him, causing him to wince at both the video and the details below. "I'm pretty sure Sis is looking into this incident right now and I wanted to know more about it after we heard about it from the radio. It says that over eighty people were involved. No one was severely hurt, but there are a lot of people in the hospital right now, not to mention the damage to the railways."

"Wow, over eighty people? Talk about a gruesome accident," Sakura spoke up from behind the teens, also looking a bit uncomfortable at the news.

"I know. And because of the incident, it looks like the train schedule for today and tomorrow is going to be completely off. If I want to get home before curfew, I have to leave now. I'm sorry, but it looks like I won't be sticking around for dinner, Sakura-san," Niijima-senpai said sadly.

"Eh, don't worry about it. I wouldn't have any time to whip something up right now anyways, since it's so late. The most I would've been able to give you are some leftover apples that I have in the fridge," Sakura said dismissively before turning to Ren, "Kid, I take it you know how to get to the station?"

"Yup. Want me to take her there?" he guessed, smiling a little at the glint of approval in his guardian's eyes.

"That's right. Can't have a young lady like herself go to a subway station on her own. It's not that far, either, so don't stay out too late. You may not have that many restrictions in your probation outside of following the rules, but I'd rather not stay here all night and wait for you. I want to get home as soon as possible," Sakura nodded when his phone went off, excusing himself for a moment to answer it while Niijima-senpai walked up to Ren with an uncomfortable expression.

"Amamiya-kun, you don't have to walk me to the station. I'll be fine. I can protect myself too; I know self-defense," she insisted, causing Ren to raise an eyebrow for that last statement before shaking his head.

"It's fine. It really isn't not that far from here and I don't have anything else to do tonight," he assured with a small smile. "Besides, this'll be a good opportunity to get to know each other a little. We're going to be spending a lot of time together thanks to Gramps and Niijima-san, so it wouldn't hurt for us to hang out every now and again."

"…Alright. If you're sure." she said with obvious reluctance just as Sakura showed up with a small black notebook in his hand.

"Ok, looks like there's been a change of plans. I gotta get home right now, so I'm going to be locking up the shop as soon as you two head out. I'll be leaving the key under the mat outside so you can get inside, kid, and I expect to see it there when I come in this morning," the man explained while focusing on Ren, glaring at him towards the end. "If it isn't, I'm handing you right to the cops. Get it?"

"Got it."

"Good. I also got you something. A 'gift' from Niijima-san," Sakura said as he handed the teen the notebook. "It's a diary. You're going to need it to fill in your daily activities. I'm obligated to report on you, so I'm going to have to see it every now and again so I can let your probation officer know how you're doing under my care. Kinda pointless if you ask me, since I know she's gonna be taking you in every now and again, but there's nothing I can do about it."

"Thanks, Sakura-san. I'll make good use of it." Ren nodded before turning to Niijima-senpai with a small smile, "Shall we get going? We're going to miss the train if we don't leave soon."

"Of course," she nodded before turning to Sakura with a bow. "It was nice meeting you, Sakura-san. I'm sure we'll see each other again soon."

"Call me Boss. And I'll be looking forward to your company," Sakura said smoothly with a smirk before turning to Ren. "Same to you, kid. I might be having you work around the shop a little during your stay here, so it'd be best for you to call me Boss to make things easier. Also, give me a call on the public phone when you get back so that I'll know you dropped off our guest."

"You don't want me to use my phone to call you?" Ren questioned with his head tilting slightly in confusion.

"Nah… I make it a habit to not save guys' numbers on my phone," the man shook his head, causing Ren to stare at him oddly before shrugging in response.

"Alright, fair enough. See you in the morning, Boss," Ren said before leaving the restaurant with his Senpai in tow.

The air around the two teens was about as awkward as the car ride as they slowly made their way to the station, passing by a bathhouse and a few small bars on the way. Ren wasn't lying when he said he wanted to get to know the older girl a little more, but he didn't know how to start it. It also didn't help that he let slip one of the more embarrassing things about himself on the trip back to Leblanc. He had a bad habit of letting little bits about himself slip into conversations, and while most of them weren't too bad, his sewing skills always ended up getting him teased and judged. Even by some adults. He hoped that Niijima-senpai wouldn't bring it up as some kind of conversation starter. It was bad enough he might get hazed by it from Sakura in the near future, he didn't want to have a potential friend-

"So…when did you learn how to sew?"

...Of course that's the first thing she asks. Why did I even hope otherwise? Ren thought in dismay, his body stiffening to a stop as he placed a hand on his rapidly reddening face. He hated the fact that he blushed easily at times…

"Oh! Uh, s-sorry! I didn't mean to offend!" Niijima-senpai spoke up in a rushed manner, causing him to open his fingers slightly to peek at her. "I think it's actually impressive that you know how to sew! Honest! M-Most people I've met think it's not something men should know, saying it's too feminine, but I believe it's very useful to know such a practical skill in life! I actually tried sewing myself when I was younger, but I couldn't get a good grasp at it! You should be proud of having such a useful skill!"

Ren dropped his hand from his face and stared at his senpai in disbelief, watching as she herself started to blush in response to her, rather loud, statement. It also didn't help that her little outburst caught the attention of the other people in the area, which only served to further her embarrassment and prompted her to cover her own face with her hands and let out a quiet whine. The sight of her being so flustered was such an amusing sight that he couldn't help but chuckle at it. He felt his own embarrassment wash away as a result, now replaced with a sense of ease that he hadn't felt in months. He couldn't help but feel even more grateful towards his senpai, and the fact that she was not only ok with the knowledge about his sewing prowess, but praised him for it, was icing on the cake.

"…Heh, I guess Aniki wasn't spouting bull after all when he said I'll find someone who'll think our family skill is cool," Ren muttered to himself, a wry smile on his face before turning his attention back to Niijima-senpai, who's face was still slightly red but was now looking back at him in mild annoyance. "Sorry for laughing. Anyways, to answer your question, I learned to sew from my dad. He comes from a long line of tailors and his sister owns the family shop in his hometown. He went off to college to learn new tricks and get a business degree so he could open his own shop. It's a nice little general store that also doubles as our house. It has all sorts of stuff to sale, but our biggest hits are the custom clothes and toys that Dad makes, and I ended up getting interested enough to try my hand at it. I'm nowhere near as good as him, my aunt, or my cousin, even after getting extra lessons from them all, but I do well enough. It really came in handy when my little sister started taking up gymnastics and needed the proper clothes for the sport. Leotards and ribbons and stuff like that can get really expensive, so I went ahead and made them for her so she wouldn't waste any money on that stuff."

"I see. That makes a lot of sense. And it's good to know that you're also a dependable older brother. Helping your sister like that is quite admirable," Niijima-senpai said kindly, causing Ren to look away with an embarrassed blush on his face as she continued. "You know, I'd be happy if you could teach me how to do it some time. As I said, I never really got the grasp of sewing, but maybe you could help me learn?"

"…I can try. Not sure how good of a teacher I'll be, but I'll do my best. However, in return, I want you to help me with whatever duties I'm going to have to do when I'm in the Student Council with you. I really didn't do all that much back in my school's council, so I'd appreciate any help for it if you don't mind," Ren offered as his embarrassment gave way to amusement when he saw her eyes shine in excitement.

"Of course, I'll help you! You're going to be my assistant during the year, and I'll be more than happy to show you the ropes," she said eagerly before giving him an analytical gaze. "Although… If you don't mind me asking, how did you end up being a member of your school's student council? No offense, but you don't exactly look like one who would enjoy being a part of such a group and I couldn't help but notice that you didn't seem all too happy when Sis mentioned that part of your old school life."

"Oh, I'm surprised you caught that. I thought I hid how I felt pretty well," Ren said in slight surprise before sighing. "But yeah, I don't blame you for thinking that. Being a part of my old school's student council wasn't my idea in the first place. My old coach recommended me to the staff as a joke and they ended up giving me the Treasurer position since I'm good at handling money thanks to helping Dad out with the shop. Being a part of the council was not fun back then, and I have a feeling this time won't be any different. Hopefully being your assistant will make it at least a little more bearable than being the one to work on the school budget."

"I'll try to make the work you have to do more exciting, then," Niijima-senpai said with an amused smile, causing Ren to nod back with a short laugh before she continued. "Well, since I asked about your past, feel free to ask about mine. It's only fair, after all."

"Really? Well then, mind telling me what kind of self-defense you know? You mentioned it back at the cafe and I can't help but feel curious," Ren asked as the two started their walk to the station once more.

"I know Aikido. It's a good martial art to know when it comes to dealing with predators and it's good stress relief. I'm pretty skilled at it, but I'm nowhere near as good as my sister," she said modestly, causing Ren to let out an impressed whistle.

"Aikido, huh? That's cool. I know a few things from Gramps but nothing like that. You'd probably kick my ass six ways to next Sunday with your skills," Ren admitted with a grin, getting a giggle out of Niijima-senpai in response.

The talk grew more casual and comfortable as the two neared their destination and Ren felt that he bonded with his new senpai pretty well. He even learned a few things about her, such as her love for action movies and dislike towards anything relating to horror. It was nice to finally have someone he could get along with outside of his family. However, all good things eventually come to an end, and very soon, the two made it to the station just as the last train was pulling up.

"Well, looks like it's time for me to go home." Niijima-senpai said as she stared at the train before looking at Ren with a smile. "I had a nice time talking to you, Amamiya-kun. It's been a while since I've had a talk like this. It was pretty refreshing."

"Tell me about it. You're really fun to talk to, Niijima-senpai. I'm actually looking forward to working with you in the council if it means we can keep talking like this," Ren said with a grin.

"Haha, well, most of our talks will be work-related, but I can't deny that I'm looking forward to our discussions as well," she agreed as she pulled out her phone. "Let's exchange contact info really quick. I know we just met and all, but if we're going to be spending time together, it'd be best to get it done soon so we can get ahold of one another when needed."

"Good idea. Best I give you my number now instead of having you somehow dig it up on your own. Something tells me that would be something you'd do," Ren stated teasingly as he brought his own phone out, smirking when he saw a faint blush on the girl's face.

"…You're a tease. Of course, you'd be a tease," she sighed as she began the exchange.

"Only when I'm comfortable around someone, Niijima-senpai, and because of you, I feel relaxed for the first time since my arrest. Thanks," Ren said gratefully with a soft smile, causing Niijima-senpai to look at him in surprise before her lips parted into a gentle smile herself.

"You're welcome, Amamiya-kun. And please, call me Makoto. I think we can consider us friends now at this point," she said kindly as she brought her hand out, prompting Ren to immediately do the same and clasped it in a friendly handshake.

"Only if you call me Ren. Fair's fair, after all," he responded in kind when he saw the last of the people in the station start entering the train. "Well, looks like you better head out. Get home safe, Makoto-senpai. See you tomorrow, yeah?"

"Of course. I'll be around early to show you the quickest way to Shujin. Have a good night, Ren-kun," Makoto said kindly, getting a happy nod from Ren before heading into the train. Ren himself was sending his new friend off with a wave as he watched the train doors close and as soon as he saw it depart, he made his way back to Leblanc in a much better mood than what he had in the morning.

I can't believe how much of a high note this day is ending, Ren thought with a content smile as he walked down the streets of Yongen with his hands in his pockets and an aura of happiness around him. Woke up having dreamed of a possible apocalypse happening, about to go to bed with a new friend. Sure, the principal and teacher weren't all that great and I spilled about my sewing lessons again, but all in all, today wasn't all that bad. Hopefully the rest of my time here ends just as smoothly.

The happy teen ended up humming to himself as he drew closer to Leblanc. As soon as he reached the door, he reached under the mat and found the key he was told would be there and unlocked it before putting it back. He also noticed that the sign was still set to open, Thinking that Sakura forgot about it on his way home, Ren went ahead to flip it over to close before heading inside and locking the door. Nodding to himself, he reached into his pocket to let Makoto know he managed to get home without any problems when he saw something that made him stop in his tracks.

It was the crimson app from before. The very one that he deleted twice now. Back in the very same spot that it was before it was removed.

The strange app is back? How the hell does it keep showing up? I know I deleted the thing last night. I was super tired, but I definitely remember getting rid of it, he thought, unable to wrap around the mystery that was the crimson app, before he let off a tired sigh and moved it into the trash bin once more. I should reboot my phone as soon as I send Makoto-senpai a message and say goodnight to Dad and Sumi. Maybe that will get rid of the thing for good.

With his good mood gone, the young man let off a tired sigh and sent his message to his new friend before going towards the yellow public phone on the counter to let his guardian know he was home. Satisfied with his two main objectives finished, he headed towards the stairs to his new room and prepared to go to sleep. He had a feeling that tomorrow was going to be a very long day.

And his feeling was right on the spot. Only problem was, he severely underestimated how hard tomorrow, and the rest of his life after it, was going to be.

Author's note

And here is rewritten chapter 2, Tricksters. Hopefully it looks at least a little more refined than how it was initially. As you can see, there are a few changes made to the chapter that, hopefully, are for the better. The initial plan had me tying P5 with characters the previous games, but initial plans had them be involved too much, so I decided to ultimately scrap it. I do have one idea that I still want to implement from the initial plans, but other than that, the cameos from the previous persona games will be limited than initially.

Another change that I made, which has started from the previous chapter, was the implementation of a new character for Ren's family; a sister. I initially set to be a character based on someone from PQ, Rei, but that changed after the announcement of P5R. As a result, the idea stayed the same, but the character was changed to someone else. Like the individual who was introduced in the end of the Sae scene, the identity of Ren's sister sort of obvious, especially when you check the name Ren calls her, but I'll keep the reveal of it until later for those who don't know. The other changes are more subtle, but suitable.

With that said, thank you all for reading my works, everyone. I hope you all have a wonderful day and I will see you all in the next update.

Until next time, Tricksters, Farewell.