Hey guys. I hope you all have been enjoying the story so far. Last chapter kinda felt like it was being dragged around, so hopefully this chapter turns out better.

Saying Ryuji was jealous was a huge understatement. He glared daggers at the cat who had taken his friend's attention away from him.

Akira smiled softly at Morgana as she held him securely in her arms. His purring as she scratched his neck only seemed to irritate the blonde boy more.

She should be focusing more on the crap that damn cat told us.

Only minutes ago, they came to the roof so no faculty members would look for Morgana. Unknown to Ryuji, Morgana's words continued to replay in her mind.

The power to change Kamoshida and make him repent for all his wrong-doing. They could change his heart, and no one would be able to find a trace of their interference.

The perfect plan.

But at what cost?

The cost of possibly causing him to lose all his desires and lead him into a fatal demise. As bad as the man is, does he truly deserve to perish? A large part of her wanted him to be destroyed, but in the end she knew it wasn't right.

"Are you determined enough to take that risk?" Morgana asked.

Ryuji glanced at her. From the look in his eye she knew he didn't want to kill Kamoshida.

"What do you think?" He asked.

She stopped mid-scratch and pondered within her mind. Slowly, her hands dropped into her lap.

"I don't want to kill him."

A breath relief left Ryuji's lips. He was glad Akira was hesitating on this. Morgana on the other hand looked like anything but pleased. He jumped out of her lap and landed on the ground.

"Sheesh I came all this way for this? You know no one would ever find out." The cat said in exasperation.

Akira shook her head.

"No one else might never know, but I would. It's just not right..."

"Exactly! If we just snuck around doin' whatever the hell we wanted we'd be no better than 'effing Kamoshida."

The more they protested the more the feline grew annoyed.

"Pretty sure this is your only option."

"Come on! Maybe there's a better way..."

Akira wasn't so sure herself but his death wouldn't fix the abuse. Sure, it would stop but then he'd go down as an Olympian- not an asshole that abused his team. They'd never be able to prove it if he was six feet under.

"Fine. I'll give you some time to decide."

With that, the cat trailed away, leaving Ryuji and Akira on the roof alone. She stood there hesitantly as Ryuji tried to calm himself.

"Damn... I'm getting all worked up for nothing."

When Akira didn't respond, he held her shoulder briefly.

"Come on, lets get out of here."

She nodded silently and followed him down the stairs. Few students were still in the building, but it was enough for people to whisper to one another as they passed. It was beginning to piss him off.

"You go on ahead. I'll try to come up with another way." He said.

"You sure?"

"Yeah see ya."

He didn't want to shoo her away but all these rumors were beginning to get to him. He didn't give a damn about what people said about him, but the rumors about Akira were getting out of control.

People said things like she was a prostitute, Kamoshida's side bitch, a sexual assaulter, and who knows whatever else.

The ones with Kamoshida were the biggest annoyance.

He still hadn't gotten around to asking her about what Takamaki said. If Kamoshida pulled her into his clutches he'd never be able to live with himself.

"Dammit..."

Akira walked out of the school gates, making her way home. She had no plans so there was no reason to dwadle.

Well that was her intention.

As she stepped onto the subway car, Ryuji began sending her messages.

Ryuji: Hey. So apparently there's a bunch of rumors going around about that Suzui girl and Kamoshida. No wonder I couldn't get her to talk.

She body went cold as she read.

Not her too!

Although Akira had only spoken to the girl once, she had shown her kindness she hadn't seen in some time. She was too sweet to be involved with Kamoshida like that.

Akira: There's no way she's like that.

Ryuji: Yeah. It doesn't feel right. No way Takamaki and Suzui are into that ass.

Akira: What do you mean?

Ryuji: I've known them since middle school and I know for a fact that he's not their type.

Akira: You keep tabs on girls' type?

Ryuji: That's not the point. But if it's not true, who started spreading it around?

That was a good point.

Rumors often weren't true, but they stem from one event.

There's no way...

Her thoughts halted when she heard a familiar voice.

"Will you please just give it a rest?! I told you I'm not feeling up to it today."

Up ahead was a head of blonde pigtails, angrily speaking to someone on the phone.

It's Takamaki.

Akira began inching closer unconsciously as the girl continued on.

"What!? That's not what you promised!"

As she came closer, the distraught on Takamaki's face grew.

"And you call yourself a teacher!? This has nothing do to with Shiho!" She yelled.

The person on the other line must've said something insane. Takamaki was rendered silent suddenly before staring at her phone.The blonde's eyes bore into her mobile device until she sank to the ground, wallowing and murmuring to herself.

Akira looked at her crouched figure for a while before deciding to gently approach her.

"Takamaki?"

Her head turned to face who called her. Tears were ready to fall until she realized who was in front of her. She jumped to her feet and glared at Akira.

"You were listening weren't you?"

"Yeah. You kinda were screaming into your phone after all..."

"Don't you know anything about privacy?"

Akira wanted to point out once more that she was practically broadcasting what she was saying to everyone nearby, but decided against it. Ann wanted to yell and scream, but held it in. Akira didn't deserve to be at the brunt of her anger when it was Kamoshida's fault.

After all, Kamoshida was chasing after her too.

"Sorry. I was out of line."

She wipes her eyes, steeling herself.

"It's fine but... I heard you arguing with Kamoshida."

The blonde nodded sadly. She didn't say anything but the spectacled girl already had an idea of what might be going on.

"Hey, can we talk about Kamoshida?"

"Can't you just leave me alone?!"

Akira shook her head.

"I can't. I want to make sure you're ok."

Takamaki's eyes widened. She took a hesitant step back, unsure of what she truly wanted. She had heard awful things about Akira, but everything she's seen has told her otherwise.

"Let's go to a private place to chat." Akira suggested.

She didn't answer but followed Akira nonetheless. It was better than wallowing alone in the subway station.

Shiho...

The girls had walked to a nearby cafe and took seats near the back. For a while, they sat there in complete silence. No one could speak yet they had the same person was on their mind. Takamaki couldn't bear the silence anymore. She leaned forward, playing with the napkin on the table.

"I honestly don't have tell you anything. It was just an argument." She mumbled.

As if.

"Sounded much more serious than your typical argument. That was Kamoshida wasn't it?" Akira said.

The blonde tensed slightly. All the stress was weighing down on her mind. She was gonna go crazy if she kept it all in any longer.

Her gaze locked onto Akira.

I can trust her, can't I?

Something in her mind must've agreed because within a second she spilled. She told Akira everything. Finally, Akira understood what was going on.

Kamoshida was trying to force Takamaki into a relationship in exchange for Shiho. The girl was trying to be selfless for the only person she could call a friend in the school. In fact, that call from him was an attempt to bed her. As Takamaki went on, Akira struggled to compose herself. Her nails dug into her palms.

Angry didn't even begin to describe how she felt.

Watching Takamaki struggle to hold back her sobs and tears was agonizing.

"Tell me... what should I do?"

Her words caught in her throat. Akira was powerless to help her right now.

Her mind drifted back to Morgana's offer.

Is that truly the only way?

Maybe I should've just agreed to Morgana's plan...

Her lack of words didn't surprise Takamaki. Instead, she dried her tears and caught her breath.

"What... am I doing? I've barely even talked to you before and here I am, dumping my problems on you." She sighed.

Akira gave her a crooked smile

"It's fine. I don't mind being a shoulder to cry on."

Her comment made Takamaki smile a bit. She takes hold of the glass of water, watching the liquid move the ice.

"You know, you're weird. Usually everyone just ignores me. Are you really as bad as the rumors say?"

"I'm bad to the bone." She replied in monotone.

Both girls perked up a bit. Sure, Akira knew it was a terrible joke, but it did help a bit.

"You don't seem so bad. I had a feeling those rumors were exagerated." Takamaki grinned.

Her heart surged as the words left Takamaki's mouth. One less person believing the insane rumors was like a godsend. The blonde could'nt see it, but Akira's legs had bounced happily a few times before settling.

"You know, you seemed lonely- like you didn't have a place to belong..."

"Not completely. Ryuji seems to accept me, but other than that yeah."

The blonde nodded, swiping her pigtail off her shoulder.

"We're the same in that regard... I guess that's why it was so easy talking to you."

Akira shrugged and took a sip of water.

"But... is there really no way for me to help Shiho?"

"Be there for her."

Takamaki nodded and sighed softly.

"I wish he'd just change his mind. Forget about me and everything..." She mumbled.

"It's possible."

Akira resisted the urge to smack herself. Why she didn't keep that to herself, she didn't know. Luckily, the blonde seemed not to take it literally.

"I wasn't asking for a serious answer, but it made me feel a little better. Thanks."

The gratitude warmed her heart as she nodded.

"I'm gonna head home but before that..."

She motioned for Akira to lean in, to which she complied.

"Be careful around Kamoshida for now. I think you might have caught his attention." She whispered.

The poor girl paled at the chilly warning. It was true that Kamoshida seemed to act different around her, but she assumed that's how he treated all girls.

"Just be careful and don't trust him."

Takamaki picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder, picking up her cup as well. As she passed Akira, she turned to face her once more.

"Don't tell anyone about this, ok? I'll try to persuade Kamoshida... And thanks for the talk."

Once the girl nodded, Takamaki made her way to the door and disappeared into the streets of Shibuya.

I should start going as well.

Akira began collecting her stuff and left the restaurant as well.

TAKE YOUR TIME

"Damn it!"

The volleyball coach slammed his fist into his desk. He had tossed his phone aside after receiving a text from Takamaki-san. The phone now had a large crack in the center. Luckily, the screen was still legible.

Ann: Sorry, but they suddenly asked me to fill in for an absent model for the next week. Maybe another time?

How could she reject him?

After everything he's done.

He was the famous volleyball star.

He made Shujin a top notch school.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE WITH EVERYTHING HE WANTS!

It was annoying enough that Sakamoto had begun tainting his Kurusu-san, but the two had teamed up to investigate him.

He'd have find a way to separate her from him. But right now, Takamaki had taken over his mind.

"That blonde bitch..."

Rage coursed through his veins, but soon enough it would subside.

After all, he had sent Mishima to go fetch Suzui for him.

She'd be a good stand in...

He grinned when a knock resonated in his ears.

"Come in Suzui-san."

TAKE YOUR TIME

Sojiro didn't look pleased when she came through the door.

"You're late. Where have you been?"

"Well... the trains were delayed." She said.

Akira was pretty sure he didn't believe her due to him sighing pretty heavily afterwards.

"Just don't come crying to me when you arrested..."

She nodded.

"Oh and you aren't hanging out with any bad influences right?"

"O-of course not! I made a friend though." She said, pushing her glasses up.

Now I really can't bring Ryuji here...

A smirk formed on his lips.

"Huh, they gotta be pretty strange to want to be your friend."

You have no idea.

She gave him a small smile.

"Be careful who you become friends. If you're not careful, they could ruin your life."

Sojiro always seemed to give her that type of advice. He meant well and that's all that matters to her.

Tough love.

The older man yawned and stretched as he stood up.

"Seriously, look at the time. You should be more considerate of me. After all, I wait for you to come back."

"Sorry, I'll try to be back sooner."

He nodded and made his way to the door.

"Hey I'm leaving. Don't do anything stupid when I'm gone and try not to come back so damn late."

Akira sighed but complied.

Tough love indeed.

She made her way up the stairs and prepared for bed. As she sat on her bed, her hands went to work, untying her braids. Despite her fingers weaving through her dark hair, her mind was elsewhere.

Kamoshida was a serious problem, and he was forcing other people to get wrapped up into it.

Morgana's plan seemed to slowly be the best idea they had at the moment. As much as she disliked the idea of possibly killing someone, she didn't know how long Takamaki and Suzui could hold on.

From what the blonde had told her earlier, he seemed to be getting restless. It was a matter of time before something really bad happened.

Her eyes glanced at her phone.

Without thinking twice, she snatched it from its original position and dialed Ryuji's number.

As the phone rang, she realized this was the first time she had called him first. Usually, he was the forward one. The thought made her giggle and that's what Ryuji heard once her answered.

"Um...hello?"

"Oh! Hey Ryuji."

"What's up?"

As much as she wanted to tell him about what Takamaki said, she decided against it.

"I'm... I'm worried about how this'll go down."

His line went silent for a moment.

"You thinkin' about Morgana's offer?" He asked.

"...A little?"

"I don't really know about stealing desires and stuff, but Kamoshida goin' brain dead if we mess up isn't good."

"...Mhm. I don't like him, but not enough to kill him."

"Yeah, that's too much." He agreed.

Silence ensued as she struggled to think of something to say.

"Akira? You still there?"

"...Yeah."

"Don't worry, we'll figure something out ok?"

Once again, his confident tone shook her core. Even though he couldn't see her, she nodded and a smile graced her lips.

"Yeah, thanks Ryuji."

Ryuji himself grinned. Hearing her sound so grateful made him warm inside.

"Yeah no problem."

I can't let her down.

"Good night. See you tomorrow."

"See ya Akira."

Talking to him always seemed to calm her, despite how idiotic he can be. With her mind settled, she could allow herself to sink into a deep sleep.

When she woke, it was raining pretty bad. She should've figured it wouldn't be a good day. Breakfast and Sojiro's concerns were the same. As was the walk to Shujin.

"Good morning Kurusu-san."

Damn it.

As soon as she stepped into the building, Mr. Kamoshida walked up to her, a grin plastered on his face. A bunch of student looked at them and whispered.

Double damn it.

"G-Good morning Mr. Kamoshida." She said quietly.

"It's raining pretty bad out there huh? You take the subway here right?"

She nodded. Akira didn't trust her voice to speak well enough.

"I bet traffic gets pretty bad too. Next time, I'll give you a ride here."

Shivers went down her spine.

"Oh thank you, but you don't have to do that."

His hand reached for her shoulder and grasped in tightly.

"I don't want you to show up late when you're trying so hard to be a good student."

Students were beginning to stare and his hand was beginning to feel like an iron grip.

"Alright. Thank you Mr. Kamoshida."

He got the answer he wanted and released her shoulder. He bid her farewell and she quickly went to class. Once in her seat, she fiddled with her glasses anxiously.

The students came in one by one until it eventually filled up. Takamaki showed up as well, but she didn't say anything or even look at Akira. She just sat down and stared out the window.

As classes droned on, her gaze stayed on the rain soaked window.

Mr. Ushimaru went on with his lesson nonetheless. Akira was only listening a little.

"The National Diet is the legislative, the Cabinet is the executive, and the Supreme Court is judicary." He said.

"This division of power provides checks and balances, which ensures no single branch becomes too powerful." The man droned.

Akira twirled her one braid around her finger. Suddenly, she felt something shifting around in her desk. Out of nowhere, Morgana popped out.

"Have you made up your mind?" He whispered.

A panicked expression appeared on her face.

"How did you-"

"No matter how much thinking you do, there's only one option. You're better off just listening to me." The cat purred.

"Shush! Be quiet!" She mumbled.

She hadn't said it quick enough.

The teacher looked around suspciously.

"Is that a cat I hear?"

Both Morgana and Akira panic.

"Me-Meow!"

"Shut up!" She hissed.

Mr. Ushimaru eventually gave up and continued his lesson. As he turns back to the board, her phone pings in her pocket.

Probably Ryuji.

And she was right. He was still having trouble figuring out another way to stop Kamoshida. She didn't blame him though. After all, she couldn't think of anything else either. He really didn't want Morgana's plan and he didn't hesitate to voice his distaste.

Little did he know, said cat hissed at his texts.

"If only he knew I was reading this too..."

Akira petted Morgana, holding back a mischievous smile.

Said smile soon disappeared as another student jumped out of his chair.

"Hey... What's that!?" He yelled.

The teacher was quick to scold him, but another student joined in.

"Wait... She's going to jump!" A female student shrieked.

Murmurs broke out around the room. One by one people stood up to get a better look. Mishima stood and his face grew pale.

"Suzui..?"

At the sound if her friend's name, Takamaki jumped out of her seat and bolted out of the room. Akira didn't hesitate to follow.

The teacher attempted to keep everyone inside but it prived futile. Soon, the hallway was crowded with students gazing out the window. People called her name out and others watched in horror.

Once the girls reached the window, their stomaches clenched. Akira herself felt faint.

Before them stood Shiho Suzui.

On the edge of the rooftop.

Staring down at the ground.

Her eyes appeared empty and her body tilted forward.

Akira screamed along with many others in the hall. Her body laid crooked on the ground, unmoving. Panic and fear filled the area.

"She jumped! SHE JUMPED!"

Teachers called for their students to return to their classes but their calls fell in deaf's ears.

Especially to her blonde best friend.

Shiho falling down replayed over and over in her mind.

Roof. Air. Splat.

Roof. Air. Splat.

Roof. Air. SPLAT!

She backed up slowly, her hands over her face.

"No... Why?"

Tears formed in her eyes.

"Shiho...!"

And then she ran. Right past Akira and down to the courtyard. Akira, however, was still frozen on the spot, her knees quivering under her.

We made the wrong choice.

She moved away from the window, her view of Shiho's battered body leaving her field of vision.

We should've agreed.

We should've listened to Morgana!

Her thoughts were interupted by Ryuji running up to here.

"H-Hey! What's going on!?"

Her mouth refused to move, but she turned towards the window. Ryuji followed her gaze, his eye size doubling at the sight.

"Wha-What the hell!? Come on! We should head to the courtyard." He said.

Akira didn't respond. She looked as if she was in a trance. But they didn't have time to waste. Ryuji grabbed her hand and pulled her through the throng of students til they reached the overcrowed courtyard.

Ryuji pushed through the crowd til they could see.

By now an ambulance had come and Shiho was now in a stretcher. Teachers were panicking and students were recording the events transpiring around them.

Assholes.

Ryuji glared at them in distain.

"What the hell is wrong with these people?!"

Takamaki sat besides her best friend, worry written all over her face.

"Shiho...why...?"

The poor girl's head raised slowly at the sound of Takamaki.

"Ann..? I'm sorry. I... I can't take this... anymore..."

"Shiho...?"

Before slipping into unconsciousness, she whispered into her friend's ear.

The lights of the emergency vehicle blared to life as they took the two away. The courtyard was buzzing, but Akira's head was buzzing louder.

Guilt weighed on her mind.

Too much for her to handle.

So much that before she knew it, she and Ryuji had somehow ended up in a corridor of the school. Mishima was up against the wall.

"She was called out by Mr. Kamoshida!"

His confession brought her back to reality.

He...

HE DID THIS!?

"Wait, what!?"

Mishima spilled the truth behind Kamoshida. He'd call his volleyball members to the teacher's room and hit them whenever he was in a bad mood.

"Mr. Kamoshida seemed really irritated that day, so it must've been... worse than usual..."

Worse than usual...

It suddenly hit her.

Kamoshida wanted Takamaki over his house yesterday.

But she said no.

He didn't...

"That son of a bitch...!"

Ryuji ran as fast as his bad leg could take him.

"We better stop him before he does anything stupid." She said.

Mishima nodded and followed as Akira made her way to the PE faculty office. She was struggling to hold in her anger, but there was no way Ryuji could hold in his rage. She had to stop him before he acted out.

She slid the door open and ran in. Luckily, Ryuji hadn't done anything yet.

Kamoshida turned to them.

"Huh?"

"You bastard! The hell did you do to that girl!?" Ryuji yelled.

Disinterested, the man turned back to his work.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me!"

He kicked a chair down angrily, which in turn irritated Kamoshida.

"What you did... wasn't coaching..!" Mishima said.

Ryuji and Akira were surprised at Mishima's words, but were proud that he was finally speaking up.

"What did you say?"

Kamoshida glared at Mishima, but the boy refused to back down.

"You... You orderrd me to call Suzui here... I can only imagine what you did to her...!"

Kamoshida spoke as her rose from his seat, his body looming over them.

"You're going on and on about things you have no proof of... Basically, you're simply making these claims because you can't be a regular on the team, right?"

Akira frowned at his accusation.

"That's not what this is about!" Mishima said, raising his voice.

Kamoshida tsked, his gaze looking over all of them. He lingered on Akira a little longer, a smirk forming.

"Even if it is exactly as you imagine it ti be, hypothetically speaking... what can you do?"

Satisfied with their silence, he went on.

"We just received a call from the hospital. Suzui is in a coma, and her chances of recovery of recovery are slim... How would someone like that make a statement?"

Akira gasped and fought to hold back tears. The boy were shocked as well.

"No..! She's..." She mumbled.

His grin grew at their dismay.

"There's no chance of her getting better, I hear. The poor girl."

"No..." Mishima said.

Ryuji's hands were balled in fist, but his body shook with unbridled rage.

"You goddamn..."

"This again? Does this mean we need anothee case of self defense?"

That was it for Ryuji.

"YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

Akira felt the same, and watched his fist raise.

She wanted this.

She wanted him to suffer.

But not like this.

She reached out and grabbed his arm, hugging it against her chest. At her touch, Ryuji stopped immediately. His hard gaze stared at Akira's soft one.

"Why're you stoppin' me...!?"

She shook her head and his body relaxed.

"This isn't the way... Calm down."

She let go and his fist relaxed into open palms.

Kamoshida grinned at her, his mind processing an interesting plan.

"Oh? You stopped that brute to protect me Kurusu-san?" He smiled.

"Shut the hell up!" Ryuji yelled.

"I don't think so. You can't do anything against me."

He smile suddenky faded as he returned to his swivel chair.

"Everyone present in right now will be expelled. I'm reporting all of you at the next board meeting."

"What!?"

"You can't make a decision like that!" Mishima said.

At a school like this, it seems he can...

"Who would listen to scum like you. You threatened me, all of you, so you're just as responsible."

His face paled and he was rendered to silence. He remained silent as the asshole berated him harshly. Mishima only spoke when Kamoshida said he was the one to leak her criminal record.

His face crumbled as Akira gazed at him, her glasses reflecting the hurt expression on her face. In shame, he sank to the floor.

"He told me to do it. I had no choice..." He whispered.

Kamoshida's laughter echoed in their ears until they all left the office. Mishima apologized to Akira for what he had done, and left promptly after.

The girl didn't blame him. After all, Kamoshida was the reason he really did it.

Ryuji and Akira made their way through the relatively empty school. It was break, but surely students had left after such a scene or found shelter in their classrooms to gossip.

Shiho...

Suddenly, all her thoughts crashed down on her. Her body just gave out under her.

"Akira!" Ryuji yelped.

He lunged for her, stopping her body from slamming into the ground. Her glasses clattered to the ground and her eyes glazed over. No one was around luckily so the two were alone.

Ryuji shook her shoulders madly.

"Hey! Akira!"

Shiho...

Suicide...

Expelled...

Prison...

Why didn't I listen to Morgana?

It's my fault...

It's my fault Suzui...

"Stop saying that!"

She blinked. She didn't mean to say any of her thoughts aloud. Unconsciously, tears slowly fell from her eyes.

"Don't blame yourself for what happened." He said softly.

"But it is... We should've just done what Morgana-"

"To hell with that!"

He brought her closer to him, his eyes staring into hers.

"We can't change the past. We can only change the future!"

She remained silent.

"Maybe we should've gone along with that furball's plan but we chose not too. And even if we did, we don't know if that would've saved Suzui."

He was right.

"...Yeah."

He reached for her glasses and put them in her hand.

"Come on. We can't give up yet."

She nodded and wiped any lingering tears on her face, followed by putting her glasses back on. Ryuji stood and offered his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her off the ground.

"Thanks Ryuji."

He grins and scratches the back of his head.

"No problem."

"You two done yet?"

The pair looked down at Morgana.

How long he had been there, she didn't know.

"Ready to make a decision?"

Akira released Ryuji's hand and scooped Morgana up in her arms. The blonde understood what she meant.

"Let's talk somewhere else."

The suicide scene in the game really hit me hard. I had actually lost a friend to suicide as well due to bullying years ago but this scene made me feel the same as I did back then. Cold and guilty. That's why I chose for Akira to be very emotional and act the way she did. I hope I didn't trigger any of you but still made you feel something. I hope you all enjoyed and happy late Thanksgiving! Have a nice day.