TRIGGER WARNING:
- Grown man oogaling/fantasizing about an underaged girl

Chapter Five
The Shark Tank

Monday, April 11th

As soon as Chiyo set foot into the school she saw two things, students dressed in identical uniforms of back blazers and black and red pleated skirts and trousers, and eyes staring at her.

"Is that her?"

"Has to be, she's late. The police probably caught her skipping."

"Drinking, smoking, theft, sex work, I heard that girl's done it all.

"They said she pulled a knife on her would-be client. All he did was try to help her turn her life around."

"I heard she just straight up killed the guy for that."

"No way! The school wouldn't let a murder in so casually!"

"Kusakabe-san?"

Chiyo's heart nearly leaped out of her throat as a third-year student approached her. Her brown hair was done in a blunt bob with matching blunt bangs. Her russet eyes aided in making her look fierce. She had on a black halter vest over a white turtleneck that was not issued with the uniform. But she did wear the skirt. "Y-Yes?" Chiyo asked meekly.

"I'm Makoto Niijima, student council president at Shujin Academy," the girl said gesturing to herself. She was student council president? Then why was she getting away with altering the uniform like this? "I was initially asked to help you find your way around the school if you needed it. But now I've been tasked with leading you straight to the faculty office. Do you have any idea how late you are?"

"Yes."

"I'm giving you a fair warning now; if this becomes a regular thing, you'll be expelled before you know it."

Niijima gestured for Chiyo to follow her. More whispers and stares followed them, or rather Chiyo, upstairs to the second floor. Keeping up with appearances, Chiyo hunched her shoulders, holding onto her bag like it were a lifeline, and kept her eyes on Niijima's back.

The pair walked into the faculty office before too long, Chiyo let out a sigh through her nose. She wondered if Kawakami had a full speech prepared for her. Inside, Chiyo spotted several members of students and staff doing their own thing. Kawakami was at a laptop in her designated area, engrossed in her task until Niijima cleared her throat, making the pair's presence known. "Kawakami-sensei," Niijima spoke up. "Kusakabe-san has finally arrived."

Kawakami glanced up, slowly her brow furrowed slightly. "Thank you, Niijima-san," Kawakami stood up, "you may go."

Niijima lowered her head ever so slightly before she turned on her heel and walked out of the office, leaving Chiyo with Kawakami. "Unbelievable," her teacher said through a heavy sigh. "Being over half a day late on your first day? Can you explain yourself?"

Why should she bother? Even if Chiyo did have a far more believable story, odds were Kawakami wouldn't accept it. Why did adults ask for an explanation or your thoughts on something if they weren't going to consider it? "I-I got lost," Chiyo said meekly.

"How could you have been lost for this long? It's almost lunchtime!" Kawakami paused for a moment, shifting her weight onto one leg in thought. "Well, it's probably true that you're not used to the area yet… but you're still way too late. You could have easily called the school or Sakura-san. This better not be a regular thing from you, you were given a fair warning yesterday. More importantly… I heard you were caught along with that Sakamoto-kun."

"'That' Sakamoto?"

"Don't get involved with him, okay?" Kawakami said plainly as if that alone should explain everything. "He's nothing but trouble and you're already on thin ice. Anyway, break's almost over. Classes will end after fifth period today because of the subway accident. I'll have you introduce yourself when class resumes."

Chiyo nodded before Kawakami stood up. She followed her out of the room and down the hall. "By the way," Kawakami said as they walked, "when you introduce yourself… Be serious about it even if you're lying to the class, okay. Don't say..." she paused briefly, twirling her hand in small circles like she was trying to weave the words together. "Don't say anything unnecessary."

'Don't say anything about your 'clients,''Chiyo thought snidely. As if she was too stupid to figure it out on her own.

"I won't," she murmured aloud.

"Being super late on her first day? She really is insane..."

"She looks normal enough though."

"Idiot, that's how you lure someone into a false sense of security. She'll probably slug you if you look her in the eye the wrong way."

"Settle down please," Kawakami said, silencing the chatter amongst the class. She gestured to Chiyo at her side. "I'd like to introduce a transfer student; Chiyo Kusakabe. Today, we… had her attend class from the afternoon on since she wasn't feeling well this morning."

"Does Kawakami really think we buy that? Everyone says she came to school with Sakamoto."

"Wait, so Sakamoto of all people scored?!"

"She doesn't have standards, then?"

"Alright, settle down," Kawakami said. She turned her gaze to Chiyo. "Please say something to the class."

"I-I'm Chiyo Kusakabe." She lowered herself into a respectful bow. "N-N-Nice to meet you."

"She does compensated dating?"

"It's an act. Probably a ploy to draw in clients and the like. I hear some older men are into that sort of thing."

"Think that's how she lured in the sap she attacked?"

"Probably."

Sighing, Kawakami pinched the bridge of her nose. "So… Your seat will be…." She glanced towards the only empty seat in the room by the window. "Over there. The open one. Sorry, but can the people nearby please share your textbooks with Kusakabe-san for today?"

Obediently, Chiyo lowered her head and headed towards the open seat. Her eyes traveled off the floor, just for a moment when she spotted the very same blonde girl with the heavily altered uniform from the station that morning. "What a load..." she whispered under her breath.

"Huh?"

The girl's blue eyes met with Chiyo's gray ones. The girl's brow furrowed slightly before she snapped her head forward.

Shaking her head, Chiyo dropped her bag beside the desk and took her seat. The girl seated at her right turned around in her seat to speak with her friend. "Did you catch that? Do those two know each other?"

"Don't girls like that tend to stick together? Takamaki-san's probably trying to get Kusakabe-san to show her her clientele."

"That means she's cheating on Kamoshida-sensei! Well, then again, this is Takamaki-san we're talking about..."

"For real. That side of the room is totally awful."

As though it were her second nature, Takamaki turned her gaze to the gossiping girls. One of them gasped when they realized she was watching them and instantly looked down at her desk.

"Remember the volleyball rally's in two days," announced Kawakami. "Everyone's just changed classes, so make sure you use that time to get to know each other. Now let's get started. Who's on duty today?"

A boy, lacking the blazer, but otherwise still wearing the proper uniform, stood up. He looked a little ill himself as he spoke, "Everyone, please rise..."

After class let out for the day, Chiyo shrugged her bag over her shoulder and readjusted her glasses despite there being no need for it. She walked out of the classroom, rubbing one eye under her glasses. In her mind's eye, the hall morphed into a stone hallway with lush carpeting. Panicking slightly, Chiyo almost yanked her glasses off. "Is something wrong?" she heard.

Whirling around, Chiyo found Kawakami standing behind her, just outside the doorway to the classroom. "We're still at school, right?" Chiyo asked breaking character.

Kawakami eyed her with mild concern. "Are you sure you're okay?" She shook her head. "Regardless, it seems like people are already talking about you. I suppose I can't say I'm necessarily surprised, but I wouldn't have expected it to spread to the first and third years this soon." The older woman groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I can't even catch a break… Why do I have to deal with this?"

'Yeah, who cares about the subject of these rumors?'

"Anyway," Kawakami said through a sigh, "you should head straight home without stopping by anywhere. Sakura-san sounded pretty angry. And about Sakamoto-kun, don't get involved-"

Chiyo wanted to argue, not only that Kawakami had already told her the same thing before, but she never gave Chiyo any explanations of why Sakamoto was a trouble maker to be avoided. But before Chiyo could ask anything, Sakamoto walked up to the pair. "Speak of the devil," muttered Kawakami. "What do you want? I heard the police caught you cutting classes. And I see you haven't dyed your hair back to black either…"

"Sorry 'bout that," Sakamoto said coldly. He moved towards Chiyo, saying just loud enough for her to hear, "I'll be waitin' on the rooftop."

Sakamoto walked off towards the stairs leading to the third floor before Kawakami could grill him any further. "See?" she asked, stealing back Chiyo's attention. "That's why I don't want you getting involved. Understood?"

'Not really...'

"Just… come to class and stay out of trouble… And it'd do you well to dye your hair back to its original color, too."

Kawakami headed off towards the faculty office. No sooner had she disappeared, Kamoshida and Kobyakawa walked up from the stairway. "Why did you allow a student like that to transfer here?" Kamoshida asked. "She's already started associating with Sakamoto. A student with a criminal record, a culprit in an assault case, no less, and with an unsavory dating history! At this rate, it'd be pointless how much I contribute to the school."

"Now, don't be like that," Kobyakawa said sympathetically. "This school counts on you, Kamoshida-kun. You are our star, after all. Still, a steady build-up is necessary behind such brilliance as well."

"Your troubles never seem to end, do they, Principal Kobayakawa? All right, I understand. I'll continue to do my best to answer your expectations of me."

And here Chiyo thought these sort of conversations should be held in private…

Circling around once, Chiyo spotted a familiar face from class, the boy who wore his uniform without the blazer. His hair was a short, spiky blue-black color. Chiyo thought he looked ill in class, but it was more like he looked downright miserable. There were a few green splotches and purple splotches on his arms and exposed neck, and a few scratches on his face. Chiyo second-guessed approaching him, but he was the only one who wasn't looking away whenever she looked in their direction. "Excuse me," Chiyo said, walking up to him.

He looked up, his eyes retracted slightly as soon as he spotted Chiyo. Immediately, he forced his gaze away from her. "I-Is there something you want from me?" he asked, his voice quavering.

"I was… just wondering if you could tell me where the rooftop is?"

Visible relief washed over his face. What, was he expecting Chiyo to just randomly beat the tar out of him? "Oh...that's all?" he asked. "Just keep going upstairs until you find the storage room."

"All right, thank you."

She waved goodbye before she headed upstairs. Heading to the third floor, Chiyo found more eyes following her as she walked by. For some reason, she was surprised to find the first-years weary of her. She did her best to ignore the whispers and stares, opting to keep her eyes open and find the storage room. Until she felt something on her backside, below her waist. Something that felt strangely like a hand.

Breath caught in her throat, Chiyo whipped around just in time to see a boy receiving high-gives and claps on the back from his friends. Even congratulating him. One of the boys spotted Chiyo staring at him. She didn't hear what he said to his friends, but the group turned and noticed. They dared to start tripping over themselves in an attempt to run.

Head down, she continued to the storage room.

"Did you just-?!"

"I'm just playing. Relax."

Chiyo stood in the middle of the storage room, she pressed a balled hand against her forehead, repeatedly telling herself not to cry. She was tired of it, plain and simple. She was tired of crying, tired of the stinging in her eyes, tried of salt. She bit her lower lip, suddenly wondering if Sakamoto was aiming to see how true the rumors were. Was he any different than that boy who just grabbed her ass?

She shook her head when she realized she was worrying over nothing. Sakamoto tried to help her when the other Kamoshida was looking at her after all.

Pulling the door open, Chiyo spotted a few desks and a couple of chairs littered across the area. On one of the desks, several potted saplings were placed, getting just enough sun. Sakamoto sat at an empty desk, leaning back in one of the seats. "There you are," Sakamoto said in greeting. "Sorry for callin' you up like this. I bet Kawakami already told you stuff like 'don't get involved with him,' huh?"

"Well, she's a little late on that front," said Chiyo. "So it doesn't really matter what she says."

Sakamoto chuckled to himself. "Well, I guess we really are in the same boat after all."

"Hm?"

"I heard you got a criminal record. Everyone's talking about your assault charge and… er… the compensated dating. And the, em… alternative..." Quickly, Sakamoto held his hands up. "I ain't judging."

Scoffing, Chiyo took a seat at the edge of one of the desks and crossed her arms over her chest. "Though, some of them rumors might've explained why you got so gutsy," added Sakamoto.

Gutsy? Well, if that wasn't a first. "In all seriousness though," Chiyo lowered her arms, "you wanted to talk about what happened, right?"

"You sayin' you don't?" Sakamoto leaned forward in his chair. "I mean, what was all that? We could've died in that castle..."

"Several different ways."

"Yeah..." He tilted his head back to think. "You really saved me from Kamoshida. So yeah… Thanks, Chiyo."

Chiyo's face suddenly flushed, a little overwhelmed by Ryuji's gratitude and being referred to by name at the same time. Doing a good deed without it blowing up in her face, or at least the damage was not nearly as bad as the last time Chiyo did the right thing, it brought along the warm butterflies in her stomach. "You're welcome… R-Ryuji."

Ryuji's shoulders shook as he let out a brief chuckle. His eyes traveled to the side for a moment. "But man, that Kamoshida we saw there…" He looked back at Chiyo. "Back there he called himself the king of the castle, but it really doesn't feel that far from the truth out here. I wonder if we can go back to that castle again…"

Chiyo couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her lips. "You admitted that we almost died in that castle, yet you want to go back?" she asked teasingly.

A look Chiyo could not name flashed in Ryuji's eyes for a moment before he stood up. "Y'know, you're right. All that had to be a dream. Those monsters, a talkin' cat, that thing that showed up for you. What was I thinkin', right?"

Reaching down to his right, Ryuji grabbed his bag. "Sorry to drag you out here like this." He placed both arms through a loop each before shrugging the bag on his back. "That's all I had to say. You know, we might be pretty similar."

"You've been arrested and accused of compensated dating and prostitution?" Chiyo asked jokingly. But as soon as the words left her mouth, her heart sank. Maybe she shouldn't be associating with Ryuji. Not because of what he could to do her, but what she could do to him. There were already a few whispers about the two of them thanks to this morning's circumstances. Maybe it was a good thing her history got out as fast as it did. If she made any friends here she may end up ruining their reputations by association.

"Not quite," Ryuji shrugged, "I just feel like we're gonna get along just fine as 'troublemakers.'"

No, no, no, no! She didn't want to drag Ryuji into her mess. "A-are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked. "I mean if you hang around with me…"

Ryuji stared at her for a moment before a look of realization formed on his face. "It's not like I've never been the subject of rumors before," he said. "I stopped lettin' it bother me a while ago."

"But… this?"

"Well, no… But who cares? We know what's goin' on, right?"

Chiyo's mouth dropped open for a moment. "I-I guess, but…"

"Then we shouldn't have a problem. I'll come talk if I see you around. So don't ignore me, all right? Name's Ryuji Sakamoto."

"Chiyo Kusakabe…"

Suguru Kamoshida could understand what Kobayakawa was saying. 'Shujin took in the violent whore.' 'Shujin helped this girl turn her life around.' 'Isn't Shujin Academy great?' But it was the principal of the thing. Kamoshida's volleyball team was doing loads for the school's image already, and they had one of those Yoshizawa girls now. Admitting a known criminal, a known whore into their school… Well, when she decided to cause trouble Kobayakawa better not be surprised.

Surely the principal should have been doing his job long enough to know trouble was trouble no matter if the source was boy or girl.

Of course, that wasn't to say Kusakabe was difficult on the eyes. She was no Takamaki, nor was she a hog, but for a run-of-the-mill Japanese girl, she could have looked blander.

Kamoshida drummed his fingers on his work desk boredly. The student body was exploding with rumors surrounding the girl. The basics were all there, her attack on the man and the exposure of her dating history, her bed history. But there were a few things the student body either didn't know or cared to know that he did.

Kusakabe was said to be a skilled gymnast, not unlike that Yoshizawa girl.

At least Kusakabe wasn't as batshit as Yoshizawa…

Or at least, maybe was she batshit in all the right ways.

Booting up his computer, Kamoshida clicked on his go-to search engine. He typed in 'chiyo kusakabe gymnastics' and clicked search. The first video Kamoshida pulled up was uploaded about two years ago. As Kawakami suspected Kusakabe did indeed dye her hair. The girl's natural color was dark brown, closer to Kawakami's hair color.

In the video, Kusakabe wore one of those tiny, form-fitting leotards with blue sequins down the front in the style of blue fire. The leotard had a small skirt that barely covered her thighs. The backside of the outfit was made of a nude-colored material decorated with rhinestones. Her hair was out of her face and she wasn't wearing those nerd glasses she had on today, allowing Kamoshida to imagine what she looked like without them.

The video went on, showing off Kusakabe's prowess, Kamoshida was unable to look away. Watching Kusakabe fold her body in ways even Takamaki couldn't pull off. And… God, fuck those legs! Long compared to Kusakabe's torso, but they had to firm, they certainly looked shapely. And that ass…!

The aching yearns that were plaguing him for the last several days now were getting unbearable. Damn it, Takamaki!

In the video, Kusakabe leaped into the air, performing a perfect split in the jump. Fuck, fuck, fuck…

And then Kamoshida thought about the men Kusakabe must have fucked… God!

Chiyo felt like a normal kid on the rooftop with Ryuji. It amazed her how fast that feeling was replaced with dread as soon as she began to make her journey back to Leblanc. She did not doubt that Sojiro had a lecture rehearsed for her. There wasn't any way Chiyo could explain herself, not without sounding insane anyway.

If she acted like the innocent school girl at Shujin, should she just act like the delinquent Sojiro was expecting? But then again, if Chiyo took that act too far she wouldn't put it past Sojiro to kick her out.

The most Chiyo could hope for was a bit of business in the shop by the time she got back. Then maybe Sojiro would put off the lecture for an hour or so. That was far from the case when she arrived back at Leblanc. "I got an interesting call from your school today," Sojiro said as soon as Chiyo walked through the door. "It's only your first day and you're already showing up hours late?"

Fuck…

"It was an accident," Chiyo muttered.

"You accidentally didn't show up for most of the day? You asked me what you should do if you got lost on the train."

"Because it really was an accident."

"Look, just behave yourself tomorrow. Your life's forfeit if anything else happens You understand the meaning of probation, right?"

"Noooo!" Chiyo replied flippantly, making exaggerated hand gestures. "I only heard it like fifteen fucking times. Explain it to me again, maybe it'll stick on the sixteenth time."

Shit, that actually came out of her mouth…

A week ago, Chiyo would have flinched at the dangerous glare Sojiro gave her, at his strong stance with his arms crossed over his chest. A week ago, Chiyo would have kept her mouth shut and let the adults say whatever. But goddamn it, she was tired of it. Tired of the tears, tired of being silent while adults hurled verbal abuses at her.

So Chiyo matched his glare, matched his stance. She was only going to take so much. "Your parents may have appreciated that mouth, but I don't," Sojiro said firmly, there was a deep timber underlaid in his tone. She pushed a button, good. Maybe Chiyo felt like pushing more buttons. "I also don't appreciate that language, especially in the store."

It was laughable. Sojiro didn't appreciate her mouth? Didn't appreciate her language? Well, there was a lot Chiyo didn't appreciate, yet she was expected to just suck it up. And Sojiro had done nothing but berate Chiyo since she got here. Who cared if she cursed? Truth be told, Chiyo thought it was the least she was owed.

The sudden bout of mechanical ringing snapped Chiyo out of her doldrums. Just like that, the matter was abruptly dropped when Sojiro fished out his phone. "Hey, what's up? …Yeah, just closed up shop. I'll be there in an hour." Sojiro lowered the phone and placed a hand on the mouthpiece. "You hear that? If you need to use the bathhouse, I'd get a move on if I were you."

Instantly, Chiyo raced upstairs and came back down moments later with her bag discarded and replaced with a towel and her wallet. Normally, Chiyo loved a good soak after a long day, and a day like this would have certainly warranted it. But given the time limit, Chiyo thought she made an impressive, personal record for the quickest bath. By the time Chiyo returned to Leblanc, Sojiro had just finished cleaning dishes. "Want me to flip the sign?" Chiyo asked as she walked through the door.

"Since you're there."

Chiyo flipped the sign around to 'CLOSED' and crossed paths with Sojiro on her way back upstairs. She had just gotten her sleep shirt off when she heard the tinkle of the doorbell. Once again, she was on her own in the attic.

She changed into her pajamas and ate a couple of energy bars as she wrote her first entry in the diary. Writing down the truth was not an option, so she wrote what she was sure Sojiro and the officials were expecting. That she cut half the day of school, doing what she could to avoid getting caught. And then she was. A cut and dry situation.

When she finished the entry, Chiyo closed the book lazily. She put it beside her cookie tin and laid herself down on the mattress. Initially, she was fully expecting another uncomfortable last night, alone in the silence. But as soon as she laid back down, Chiyo found herself relaxing and exhaustion seeped in. If it meant Chiyo got to doze off faster and not dwell on the lonely silence she would take the chaos of this morning as a blessing in disguise.

Drip… Drip… Drip…

When Chiyo opened her eyes, she was met with a blue ceiling. Turning her head, she found herself in the very same cell she was in the other night. Sitting up, Chiyo swung her legs over, feeling the manacle attached to her ankle instantly. "Ten-tion!" Henry shouted from the other side of the bars. His arms were held behind his back, which was straight as a board, glaring at Chiyo. "Finally decided to join us, have you? On your feet! The Master wants a word with you. Open your ears and pay attention, Maggot!"

Biting back a curse, Chiyo stood up, her hands weight down by her manacles as she walked to the bars. In the center of the room, Igor sat behind his desk. "First off, let us celebrate our reunion," Igor said in greeting. Steepling his fingers, the ever-present smile on his face twitched slightly. "And it seems you've awakened to your powers, special ones at that. Your rehabilitation can finally begin."

"What exactly do you mean by 'my powers?'" asked Chiyo.

"There is no need to understand it all for the time being. For now, focus on training the power of Persona, which you have awakened to. Personas are, in other words, a 'mask' - an armor of the heart when confronting worldly matters. I have high expectations for you."

"If that's the case, why exactly can't I understand it all now? You're just saying words and I don't know what to make of them."

Igor chuckled briefly. "You will learn when the time comes," he said, causing Chiyo's shoulders to sag. "By the by… have you come to appreciate the Metaverse Navigator? Using it will allow you to come and go between reality and Palaces."

"Metaverse… Navigator…?" Chiyo repeated stiltedly. Her brow furrowed as she thought. "Wait, you mean that app I can't get rid of?!"

"The very same. I bestowed it to you as a means to train you as a thief."

"I thought it was a virus!"

Without warning, Henry's baton slammed against the bars, hitting Chiyo's knuckles. "The Metaverse Navigator is a gift from the Master, Maggot!" he snapped. "You do know the meaning of 'gratitude,' don't you?" Chiyo had taken a step back when the baton hit her hand, trying to soothe the pain, she shot a defiant glare at the boy. "Devote your training from here on out. Do that, and you may become a decent thief."

Chiyo list her head to the side. Now she was supposed to be a thief? What happened to her rehabilitation? "It must be disheartening," Igor spoke, "to make use of the Metaverse Navigator alone. Should there be others who would prove beneficial to you, I will grant it to them as well. This is all for you to grow as a most excellent thief…"

Wanting to voice her confusion, Chiyo opened her mouth, but the sound of the siren cut her off before she could even ask. "Looks like it's time," Henry said sounding somewhat irritable for whatever reason. "Better enjoy whatever rest you might have left…"

Authors Note: Why, yes, that Kamoshida scene did indeed make my skin crawl. And I originally conceived it to be slightly more suggestive too. Nothing graphic, but the implication would have been more blatant before the scene cut.