(This chapter was Edited by ChaosJeff)
As you can see… I am not dead.
Welcome back ladies and gentleman. I think you all know the drill by now. Have fun with the Chapter :)
But first some things. I rewrote some scenes in previous chapters, just because I felt like it was necessary. Sometimes you just read through an old chapter and think… I could have done that differently; I could have made that better. Then you just decide screw it and change it. I want the fanfiction I publish here to be the best I can deliver and sometimes I just realize this is how I could have done better. This could likely happen in the future. I will never change TOO much. just some small details for aesthetic and some better wording that's all. Just felt like letting you all know.
I'll also explain really quick just how Satanael was actually seen by Kamoshida last chapter. I explained it to someone called WinxPossible in a reply over on AO3 but I just explain for everyone once more.
Satanael, you know the guy strong enough to wipe out a false god with one attack, caused a lot of chaos inside Kamoshida's castle. His power was so overwhelming that Kamoshida's subconscious was being affected. There was also the fact that Kamoshida's shadow was punched half to death. It didn't completely cause a mental shutdown but it roughed him up a lot. Also, Shadow selves are on some level capable of affecting their real-world counterpart. Kamoshida's headache came from his shadows pain. Also, his shadow actually saw Akira's actual form before the thief outfit so he knows Jokers true identity.
Basically, all Kamoshit knows is that this new kid freaks him out and he felt completely powerless for the first time in his life. He has no idea WHY Akira is so dangerous to him but he KNOWS he is. The reason his reaction was 'shit my pants' extreme was because the accident was really fresh and his shadow self had no time to recover from that. It will lessen over time but he will still fear Akira.
Aside from that… there is something I also withhold still. Even in my reply to WinxPossible. And that is that Satanael… is just very strong. He is above the level to the guy who controlled the entire subconscious of humanity. Just now Kamoshida's reaction was purely because of his awakening but if this much power could be harnessed who knows just what else he could do… There are still some mysteries to be unraveled surrounding this Persona. Hell, not just Satanael but Personas themselves and some stuff about how the Metaverse in this story works. I am ITCHING to tell you all about it but I'll keep myself in check for now.
And second… Guest review time:
Guest 2: Thanks, happy you like what I've done with Morgana :). I completely understand the charm of catgirls but Morgana is gonna be male for this story. I also thank you for your input regarding the royal situation. I'll see where I can go regarding that.
Kersplunk (Thanos): This review… does put a smile on my face. :)
Oh, he is sure as hell embracing his new power. There will be more moments like that to come eventually and a lot more to discover about the Demon Lord ;) Have fun with this new Chapter Mad Titan.
Guest: well… there was shit so you're not wrong.
Happy you liked it. But I am sad to say that you will have to wait a little longer for the proper reunion. It should be next chapter though! Also, thanks for the feedback regarding royal.
TheB: As I intended it to be ;)
Nameless: thanks for the high praise. Yeah don't worry I can COMPLETELY understand your problem. There are so many harem tropes that gave the genre as a whole a bad reputation.
I could probably rant for hours about everything one should NOT do when making a harem story. Seriously there is SO MUCH SHIT I read that pisses me of. Like for example using rape as cheap drama. And before someone says I am being hypocritical for the record if it wouldn't be for Kamoshida being Kamoshida I wouldn't even have included that scene. I just felt like my hands were tied if I wanted everyone to be in character. And I intend on treating said trauma dead serious and it will NOT be brushed of that quickly. SMALL SPOILER:
Its gonna lead to some troubles when this story reaches a point where Akira and Ryuko will for the first time… you know… do it.
Instant love is so ridiculous and just… stupid. And about flirting yeah, I totally get you. My Akira isn't gonna be like that. Akira IS a bit of a teaser at times, something that is supported by some dialogue choices in the game (beep boop with Makoto, Meow when Morgana arrives and Ryuji asks him, I could go on) but no downright flirting. Akira is gonna be sometimes a troll and a bit teasing but nothing I would call flirting. The closest he got was when meeting Goro and that was still meant to be a tease not a flirt.
I also am happy to see you like my twist with the genderbending. Yeah it is a bit hard to pull off but I try my best to keep the characters as much in character as possible. A small overview of how I see them.
Ryuko: fiercely loyal, brash but kind, a bit aggressive and a hothead, surprisingly forgiving when the situation is resolved,
Yuzu: Very extrovert, highly focused on anything with art (Canon Yusuke was within days entranced by Ann simply because she inspired him so I don't see it as a stretch that she would be so fascinated by two gorgeous people like Goro and Akira meeting up)
Goro: Okay I admit her character I have changed but that was kind of necessary if I want her to be a real love interest and you know redeem her. but from canon I will also try to include her… loneliness, her desire to be wanted and appreciated, Akira is as of now the ONLY person she EVER met who she feels just comfortable around. So, this 'first time feeling' of sorts is gonna leave her confused. I am actually speaking of personal experience here so I am confident I am gonna be able to portray her well. I also plan on including some headcanons I have with Goro. That she is a touch starved for example.
Also, yeah, I get your thoughts regarding Goro's name but I just… couldn't find a better one and hey when a male cat can be called Morgana than why not let Goro still be Goro? I saw some other fics do it that have her be a girl.
And again, yeah, I get what you mean with thinking with their dick. Thankfully that won't be a problem for me for obvious reasons.
Thanks again for the review and your input regarding royal. :)
ShitpostCrusader: nnnnnng. That's a very good idea. But I already have a plan for his Velvet Room.
I also give a shoutout and thank you to ChaosJeff who worked as the beta reader for this chapter.
ll right I think that's it. Now everybody I shall leave you to the chapter.
Akira was very pleased with himself.
Truth be told, he at some point in his career (around the time of Kaneshiro) felt comfortable admitting to himself that he may have sadistic tendencies, but not the kind you would see villains express, who relish in the pain of everyone around them.
It wasn't seeing suffering itself that caused this pleasant feeling inside of him, but it was seeing Karma at work, seeing these despicable excuses of humans finally getting what they deserve. Being the one handing out the Karma made it all the sweeter.
It was a part of himself he was uncomfortable with at first, for example when he turned out to be the only one of their Team at Kamoshida's confession who wasn't shocked at the display or surprised it happened so fast. Even Ann seemed somewhat elsewhere mentally, rather than enjoying his breakdown.
However, he eventually came to terms with the fact that he just enjoyed bad people getting their comeuppance more than others. It wasn't something that happened from one day to another. It took him quite a good amount of self-reflection. He often wondered if it meant he too was psychotic in some way, but eventually he could admit this part about himself and accept it. Maybe he was just the one most convinced of the justice of the Phantom Thieves and could as such enjoy it more.
Regardless, seeing Kamoshida's downright TERRIFIED expression the second he laid eyes on him was something Akira couldn't help but treasure.
All the more when he had the knowledge that it was HIM who caused this reaction.
Call it intuition but Akira just KNEW that it was what he did to his Shadow that made him into this wreck.
Good.
A very effective way to piss Akira off was threatening or harming his friends in ANY way. After what he nearly tried to do to his best friend before his eyes…
Kamoshida got lucky that Akira was no killer and the fact that Satanael made him remember that he still needed him alive.
He could have pushed the limit more though.
What could he have turned Kamoshida into? His reaction just now was already… very pleasing to watch.
He couldn't help but think of Satanael when he started to smell as a result of his fear. He brought him into his mind like he often did Arsene when he felt troubled. It was the very moment Kamoshida started screaming, as if he had seen the Devil himself.
This brought up a few more questions for Akira. Was it just a coincidence? Could Kamoshida somehow see Satanael? The second option seemed outlandish, but then again there was so little he knew about the Demon Lord. Aside from the fact that it felt like contained rage incarnate, able to wipe out any threat the second it appeared.
He REALLY needed to have a talk with Igor.
That thought was pushed to the side eventually as he continued to walk through the school, Ryuko next to him. She didn't really show any reaction to Kamoshida just now, probably because of… everything else today just tiring her out and numbing her for any other twists. Another reason why he didn't feel like pointing out Ryuko saying the 'F Word' despite chastising him for it earlier. It would just have been really mean.
He already knew about Ryuji (and now Ryuko) being pretty much unable to say fuck, being very stubborn about it too. This morning wasn't even the first time he had seen the blonde calling someone out for it. It was kind of endearing if he were to be honest.
He had asked Ryuji once about his reason, why a so vulgar person like him just refused to say fuck, and it was a simple one. His mom didn't like it. While Ryuji was a very vulgar person, he could not bring himself to say something his Mom didn't want.
Though when the blonde was in a REALLY emotional situation, really frustrated or pissed even she would say fuck, her own code regarding the curse word slipping from her mind momentarily. However, it was worth noting that when it came out of her mouth it REALLY meant something. (Given today it made sense for her to say it).
Last year he only heard Ryuji say it five times in total. One time was against Kamoshida during his awakening. The second time was when seeing the murals in Futaba's Palace and seeing just how bad the girl had it. A third time was per message after Sojiro found out about their activities. Number four against Shido on Akira's behalf, being just THAT ticked off at the politician for ruining Akira's life. And the last time was when…
…
When…
…
"YOU KILLED MONA YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" Ryuji screamed in righteous fury at the mechanic Monstrosity before him, unaware he would be the next to fall to the false God.
Akira violently shook his head, trying to push the Memory aside.
"You okay?" Ryuko asked him.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just a little bit dizzy from before." He lied.
Thankfully she didn't notice or didn't feel like continuing the topic. She did, however feel like doing some small talk, a very appreciated distraction for the Wildcard. Turns out another change to the timeline was that they were in the same class, meaning they both had to see Kawakami.
They found her soon after, just as break was ending and Akira told her the same story he told these policeman. She seemed not entirely convinced though, even hostile to a degree. Thankfully she let it slide because it was his first day, but she did give Ryuko a stern look. Something the blonde just took, probably being used to it by now, which was just very sad in itself.
At least Kawakami had the decency to not say he should stay away from the 'delinquent' while Ryuko was in hearing range.
Like last time, she said the school would close after fifth period and that he would introduce himself.
Ryuko was told to get inside sooner, while he would only introduce himself later. Through the window he could see that her place was right behind where he was supposed to sit. He felt pretty content with that, not only because it meant having one more of his closest friends in his class, but also because it probably saves the sanity over the last guy who sat behind him.
He was… let's say freaked out by Akira pretty often. There you make ONE lockpick in the class and you are being treated like a psychopath.
Okay it was probably because of the rumors mainly but still.
He felt better knowing he won't be freaking out said student.
…
What even was his name?
Wait… how does that work? How can he sit in front of someone for almost a year and not know his name?
Well it doesn't matter anymore.
Remembering what Lavenza told him about Mishima, Akira peeked to where he was supposed to sit, bracing himself for another surprise that threw normal concepts of gender out of the window.
He wasn't prepared for what he saw.
For starters there was… MISHIMA!
MALE Mishima!
This somehow managed to confuse Akira even more than him being a girl could have done. Then he saw who sat next to him…
The girl sitting to his right had the same hair colour as him… the same size as him… wore the same school clothes as him only for girls… the only notable differences where the fact that she did have more feminine features, that her hair was a messy kind of bowl cut and the slightly visible B-Cups.
…
How does that work?
No seriously HOW DOES THAT WORK?!
Did Mishima get cloned or something?!
Cloned and then made into a girl?! Didn't Lavenza tell him he was a girl? There was no warning about there being two of them! Did she make a mistake? What the fuck happened this ti-?!
…
"Just stop trying to see reason Akira." He told himself.
Something different he had seen however were the bruises on both their bodies.
That was all it took for any confusion to fade away.
He could feel a slight rage growing inside of him. So Kamoshida abused both Mishima's? All the more reason to take him down.
"Don't worry you two. It will all be over soon enough."
Kawakami turned towards him again. Oh boy here we go again. Be serious. Don't say anything unnecessary. Not to forget the unspoken 'Please don't burn this school down'.
Akira was again made painfully aware of just how much it could suck to time travel.
He could already see how this would go. He would stand in front of the class while everyone just chatted about him. Akira could already hear them through the walls.
"Being super late on his first day? He really is insane…"
"He might slug us if we look him in the eye."
"Slug?! I heard he bit someone's nose of just for breathing in his direction!"
Akira was annoyed already.
He wondered how he could change this whole thing. Last time he tried to be nice and welcoming but of course no one believed him. This time…
He had an idea.
"All right, please say something to the class." She would tell him.
"Hehehe… how was it? Don't say anything unnecessary?"
The Trickster inside him felt like challenging that and he could feel Arsene approving. They wanted to see him as a Devil? He could give them something.
"Hello! My name is Akira Kurusu but you can also call me by my nickname Satanael Morningstar! It all began when I was just a small baby and my dad the unholy demon Lord Lucifer send me to this planet so I may rip out hearts for my amusement. I was born on the sixth hour of June 6th during a thunderstorm. My favorite past times include summoning Demons and the already mentioned ripping out of hearts. I hope we can all get along!"
Every single students jaw was wide open in shock.
It was a funny little fantasy. Oh, how BADLY he wanted to see the faces of everyone in this room if he went through with it.
But he should just get this over with.
Still it managed to pass the time, thinking about these kinds of scenarios while he was waiting to be called in. A small part of him wondered why he even was outside rather than just standing in front of the class. Guess such small changes could happen during this time travel, fate twisting, universe resetting, however the hell you wanna call it, trip too.
"Settle down." Kawakami demanded in this little tone of hers. The one that made Akira wonder how they even listened to her in the first place. Still they obeyed and Kawakami began to introduce him.
"I'd like to introduce a transfer student: Akira Kurusu. Today we… had him attend from the afternoon on since he wasn't feeling well."
"I DID have a very bad case of awakening."
Awakening Satanael properly was… not fun. Not at all. It was about a hundred times worse than the pain he felt when he summoned Arsene for the first time. The only reason he wasn't screaming in pain was because he was just too pissed to care, once they left the Metaverse though it hit him again full force. It felt like someone rammed an axe in his head and switched his heart with boiling magma.
"Akira. Please come in." she called him inside.
Akira opened the door and entered the room.
And everything froze.
No one chatted with their neighbor or murmured about him. Instead… it was quiet. Eerily quiet, like a calm before the storm. If one would have dropped a needle the metallic clang would have been the only thing to hear.
This… unsettled him somewhat. Akira just stared at the crowd in front of him, analysing them.
They looked terrified. Of… him?
How… how on earth did that happen? Last time people didn't like being around him. They tended to avoid him and some believed the nastier rumors and were unsettled. But… it had never been to a level where an entire class stared at him in fear!
"Please say something Akira." Kawakami snapped him out of his thoughts.
He acted like last time, smiling at the masses, "Hello. Nice to meet you all."
They didn't take it. At all.
If anything, they seemed even more freaked out!
Why on earth did they act like this? What was different tha-…
…
Kamoshida.
The ringing of a cell phone caught everyone's attention. Kawakami was the one who made the ringing stop and answered it. She seemed bored at first but than her expression shifted to one of shock, wide eyes and a small 'what' followed by a 'I understand' ended the call. She turned to the Mishima's and addressed them.
"Yui, Yuuki I am supposed to tell you that Volleyball practice won't be today. Mister Kamoshida isn't feeling well and had to take the rest of the day of."
Yuuki and who he guessed to be Yui had wide eyes at that, nodding at their teacher. The other students meanwhile looked even MORE freaked out. Some even had the urge to whisper.
"I-Its true? The new kid really did something to Mister Kamoshida!?"
"Oh god he really is a psychopath!"
"Don't talk he can hear yo- OH SHIT he's looking here!"
Some small whimpers and the three students went quiet like mice trying to hide from a cat.
Turns out it was just like he guessed. Word about Kamoshida had already made the round. And immediately people started to form a connection that he must be responsible.
For once a rumor at this school was right.
"Alright Kurusu, please go sit down. There is a seat still free behind Takamaki."
He obeyed the teacher and walked towards the seat…. And noticeable the two only people who weren't freaked out by him. Ann looked at him… with some semblance of awe and as if she was trying to evaluate him and Ryuko was even looking at him with some small form of appreciation.
He nodded towards the future Panther with a smile, one that she returned surprisingly. Even if it seemed… fake somehow. Just what was she currently thinking of him?
But of course, some students on the other side already started with the whispering again.
"What the. Do these two know each other?"
"Shut up man! Do you wanna die!?"
Akira… just sat down on his new place. Let them whisper. Let them think. It's not like he cared that deeply about their opinion of him. He gave another smile and nod to Ryuko who returned one much less fake and concentrated on the lesson.
Still this was all probably something he should keep in mind.
For now though… he had to write some messages.
The last lesson of the day had just started.
And what for a beginning it was.
She never expected that these hyenas could ever STOP talking. After constantly being so gleefully spreading all kinds of bullshit… she couldn't help but think of it as cathartic.
Beating up Kamoshida, summoning Demons, making him scared shitless…. And now this.
Akira really was something else.
If that was his first day how would tomorrow turn out to be?
Well whatever would happen tomorrow, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of pride seeing him. She allowed herself to indulge in it for a minute before finally doing what she dreaded to do.
It wasn't exactly allowed to type in class but Ryuko just couldn't care for that rule. It's not like anyone here but the prez cared.
Ryuko: Hey how are you?
Ryuko: Kamoshida didn't do anything right?
Ann: Just the usual. Some side eyeing, gross talking, nothing too extreme.
Sometimes even the most obvious things can, when pointed out, be incredibly calming. Sure, Ryuko was convinced that nothing severe would happen but… it was still good to hear.
Ryuko: Alright good to hear. Sorry for being so late. I didn't mean to keep you waiting and alone with that ass.
Ann: I know. It's fine really.
Ryuko: And how's your girlfriend?
Ann: Shiho is fine too. Nothing unusual either.
Ann: Still thanks for asking.
Ryuko: I can make it up to you.
Ryuko: How does Crepe tomorrow sound?
Ann: Like I don't have to worry about my sweets for one day. :)
Ryuko smiled at the little emoji. It was kind of adorable how sweets could always cheer Ann up.
Ryuko: We both know you'll take some with you anyway. ;)
Ann: You know me so well.
Ann: Okay now with that out of the way.
Ann: Is there something you wanna tell me about?
Ryuko: What do you mean?
Ann: Well for starters you're late.
Ann: Even more than usual when you don't feel like wasting away here.
Ann: Than there is also the fact that you came at the same time as Akira.
Ann: And there are already lots of rumors about you two.
Ryuko: Oh god what did they think up now?
Ann: Take a wild guess. They think you two are some sort of couple.
Ryuko sighed. Why couldn't a girl and a guy stand next to each other WITHOUT people immediately assuming they're a thing?
Ryuko: What do you think?
Ann: That I WANT to tease you. In fact, I have waited so long for this opportunity.
Ann: But I can't because mostly I'm worried.
Ann: What happened between you two?
Ann: And then there is that rumor concerning Kamoshida and I don't know what to think. Was he… really scared of Akira?
Ann: So. What happened? Why did Kamoshida flip out this much?
Ann: Not that I care about him. Honestly that was the best news of the week.
Ann: But still… I would like an explanation.
Ryuko was trying her best to form a response, but she had no idea what to say. She wanted to tell Ann. If there was one person she could tell this too than it was her.
She already had the words typed out.
Kamoshida almost ra- [DELETE]
Akira saved me and sum- [DELETE]
There was a Cat and a Cast- [DELETE]
But… she just couldn't.
She didn't know how to say it. Or if she should just now. There was also the fact that there was no telling what Ann would do once she heard about it. Seriously, the girl was capable of a lot more rage than one would expect of her.
The blonde finally decided to just stick with Akira's plan and only tell Goro about the Palace.
Maybe some other day she would tell her.
But what about the thing with Akira? How could she explain that? It was undoubtedly that Akira caused this reaction in Kamoshida.
Maybe she… could just write it of as a coincidence?
Okay lets start small. First stick to the story.
Ryuko: We saw a Cat on the way here and searched for its owner.
Ann: …A Cat?
Ann: Since when are you a Cat person?
Ryuko: Who doesn't like Cats?
Ann: Fair enough.
Ann: And about what happened with Kamoshida?
Ryuko: Dunno. Probably a coincidence.
Ryuko: A funny coincidence.
Oh, it was sure as hell not a coincidence.
She saw what that… Satanael thing could do.
Ryuko: What do you think of him actually?
Ann: Akira?
Ann: Like I said I don't know.
Ann: I think the rumours are exaggerated. He seemed pretty nice. He even wanted to stop me from getting into Kamoshida's car. Until I told him some lies.
Ryuko: What? Why?
Ann: Think.
Ann: I didn't want to get him too wrapped up in his affairs. There is no telling what Kamoshida would do to him.
Ryuko: Oh yeah about that. Akira was freaking out when I told him.
Ann: Wait what?
Ryuko: It was a misunderstanding. I cursed "pervert teacher" and he questioned what I meant.
Ryuko: I snapped at him and he ended up being angry at himself for not being able to stop it.
Ann: He believed you?
Ryuko: I know right? Looks like Kamobitch's brainwashing isn't affecting everyone.
Ann: Well I'm going to talk with him after class about it. Coincidence or not.
Ryuko: You don't have to.
Ann: I want to though. I want to know why the guy who saw that Kamoshida was suspicious immediately suddenly managed to freak him out this hard.
Ryuko: Like I said it was a coincidence.
Ryuko: Besides don't you have a modelling shoot?
Ann: I can let that slide for once.
Ryuko: What? No!
Ryuko: Come on. Look everything is fine. Have some fun with Shiho.
Ryuko: I mean when was the last time you two managed to spend a peaceful day together anyway?
Ryuko: Trust me. Everything is good.
Ryuko: Besides we have plans.
Ryuko: We are going to meet up with a friend of his regarding the cat.
Ann: Fine.
This was the sudden end of their conversation.
And there was no way Ann believed her about the Cat thing.
Ryuko just shrugged to herself, this would be a problem for tomorrow, before she noticed a still unread message on her phone. And scowled at the name displayed.
Makoto: Where were you?
Ryuko ignored the message. There was no way she would willingly deal with HER today.
The lesson was over sooner then he had expected. Not that Akira minded.
True to Kawakami's word school had ended and the other students were on their merry way to go home, their part time job, a Karaoke bar, or whatever it was they choose to do. He had meet up with Ryuko soon after and the two, on Ryuko's insistence, hurried through the school and to the rooftop.
And the school ate it up. Rumors were spreading quicker than a flame in a dry forest in the school. They all tried their hardest to not say anything too loudly though. Probably fearing something like that he would stab their tongues if he heard anything they whispered about him.
He did do that once.
Well to Kamoturd's Shadow.
Who used his tongue like a whip.
After he had stared at Ann and his tongue did a weird… rolling thing.
The Metaverse was crazy sometimes.
"Holy Crap is that the new kid? And… he's with Sakamoto?"
"Well delinquents stick together. But that she would be interested in someone THAT crazy is insane."
"She hates Kamoshida though. And haven't you heard what he did to him? Probably made her fall for him straight away."
"He's done it all. Drugs. Weapons. Theft. I heard he even has ties to the Yakuza!"
They weren't wrong with the Theft and Yakuza part.
"He… is really hot though. I mean… damn! I get why she would try that."
"For real?! Geez you are a freak."
…
Huh. That was… new.
Now it wasn't THAT new to him. He had overheard a few people crushing on him or finding him attractive before. Probably due to the 'Bad Boy' thing people expected of him.
But even if not for that it may be because of his physique, something he was actually proud of.
He wasn't Bodybuilder levels but he had some defined muscles, even a six pack.
Even if not for the regular workout he did in the last year and occasional sparing with Makoto and Iwai that left him quite toned, his Gymnastics already did a number on his body before stepping foot in Tokyo.
Akira had done Gymnastics and Parkour for years, never really stopped it. It was some of the only times in his childhood that he really felt… free. It was to him what running was to Ryuko and Art to Yuzu. Something he was passionate about.
And he was good. The best at his school. The best in his Gymnastics Team. His Coach had high hopes for him and for a while Akira even considered trying to use his skill to become an Olympian Athlete.
Then the assault happened, causing pretty much everyone in his live to turn on him. Or turn even worse than before.
His school, his team, his coach, his parents, his girlfriend.
In hindsight he wondered if any positive thing he had with these people was real. He should have probably listened to this small feeling in his gut that constantly told him this was fake.
Well none of it was important at the end of the day. He had found people who ACTUALLY cared about him and he felt A LOT better ever since.
He never was THAT passionate about becoming an athlete anyway. What he used these skills nowadays for was far more suited for him.
Besides Kamoshida's actions had made sure to destroy any desire for him to join the Olympics.
He sometimes wondered though if Kamoshida bothered him so much because he had somehow heard about him being on his schools' Gymnastic team. The lustful bastard had a reputation of crushing aspiring Athletes after all.
"You think he did that so she would blow him?"
"Could be? I mean in the rush they are he probably didn't even need to as-."
Okay THAT was the limit for him!
"Hey!" He sent a glare at the girls commenting who immediately shrieked up and stared at him, eyes open wide. It took approximately five seconds for them to realize their mistake and run the other way as if they were hunted by a Predator.
Ryuko looked at him appreciatingly, "Thanks."
"Don't worry about it."
Ryuko didn't elaborate and he didn't want to push the topic.
They soon reached the rooftop and once they made themselves comfortable on the long-forgotten tables Ryuko had started to tell him about her theory. Of how the students in Kamoshida's Palace could be connected to the rumors of his abusive behavior. All things Akira already knew very well. What did surprise him though was that Ryuko suggested that the Detective may help them uncover his abuse and be able to put an end to it. To that he merely told her that she already got his message and would meet them both at a diner in some minutes. They went over what to tell her a last time in detail. No word about Ryuko almost getting raped, but other than that they would tell her everything else. About the Personas, Morgana, Kamoshida, Satanael, Arsene, the Nav.
Honestly Akira couldn't wait to see Goro's reaction.
The Wildcard was very well aware though of the fact that he would essentially pour a bunch of gasoline over the game he was about to play and light it on fire.
And that was putting it mildly.
There were COUNTLESS of possibilities, new variables, new outcomes.
Best case scenario? He would manage to talk Crow into becoming a founding member of the Phantom Thieves.
Worst case scenario? Masayoshi Shido will be gunning for his head before they wrote the first calling card.
In the latter case Satanael would have to ready that gun of his.
He wasn't afraid of Goro beating him. If anything, he was worried about killing her should it come to a fight.
After all, last time they fought he came out on top without the Persona equivalent of bringing an Atomic Bomb to a Knife fight.
Was it a stupid idea? Maybe. But he would hate himself forever to not at least try. Even if it was something he came up with a few Hours ago (the threat of being killed can focus the mind wonderfully).
Akira was completely gambling on the idea that the Universe and the concept of fate that guided it would be in his favour and that the heart that was underneath all that hate and despair would let him in, let Akira steal it and show it some semblance of a bond. Then he would have a chance of preventing Akechi to die such a pointless death, having only lived the life of a puppet to society and Shido.
But at the same time… call it a gut feeling but Goro just… he had the feeling Goro may not be as evil as she was last time. Who knows maybe she never even killed anyone?
Maybe it was a foolish thought… but the Fool WAS his Arcana after all.
Besides while it was on his mind, he really found it unlikely for Goro to report him to her father. She was never really on his side anyway. She loathed the man almost as much as Akira did Yaldabaoth. And that was saying something.
Hopefully she would find herself relating to him. Seeing him as the same lost kid suddenly among demons and creatures from all folklore and mythology.
Goro was a later problem though. What now was important on his mind was Ryuko.
Akira really wanted to know about what Ryuko's personal past with that insult to the career of a Teacher was. What almost happened grinded on his nerves more than a little. Over the whole lesson he couldn't stop thinking about what Shadow Kamoshida said:
"I told you, you would regret denying me back then. This could have all been a lot easier. If you just behaved. But I guess better late than never."
Akira did not like the sound of that.
At all.
He had to use the mental image of Kamoshida soiling himself to keep himself composed in class.
What had happened between them this time? He already figured Kamoshida still broke Ryuko's leg, the way she walked was more evidence then he needed. But 'back then'? It sounded like there was a lot more going on. Did Kamoshida attempt this with her before? He had to talk with Ryuko in depth about this.
Just as they were standing up to leave and he was going to try his luck in getting his best friend to open up to him once more…
A familiar voice called out for them, belonging to a certain girl skilled in Aikido.
"Ryuko Sakamoto. Akira Kurusu."
"Ah Queen. How I missed that commanding voice of yours."
True enough, as they turned no other than Makoto Niijima was waiting for them, glaring with an intensity that she would reserve for some rather difficult Shadows in some time. Glare or not, to see her like this, standing and breathing, was nothing but downright beautiful to Akira.
This was… a deviation from the script however. He had meet Makoto briefly during the whole Kamoshida mess. She was absorbed in her studies, never stopped them for coming this late to School. What was she already doing here?
Ryuko soon announced that she did not at all share Akira's sentiment. The blonde met the red eyes of Council President with brown of her own, sounding annoyed to say the least. "What do you want Prez?"
"I would like to know just why the two of you were entire periods late for school. You didn't answer to my messages either."
Wait… they had each other's number? How'd that happen? Just what went down between them?
Nevertheless, he should step in before things get out of hand. "We saw a cat on the way to school and searched for its owner. That's it."
"Really?" she eyed him with weariness and alarm. If he didn't know any better he would even say that there was a slight amount of fear in those red iris'. Makoto turned back to Ryuko, as if she was refusing to acknowledge him. "Ryuko-chan. Please consider with who you want to spend your time with."
The blonde scoffed at the words, "Thanks a LOT for the advice Prez. Reeeeeally helpful. But I think I am just fine with Akira."
Was that a twitch in Makoto's eye? It happened so quickly it was hard for Akira to notice. Makoto took a deep breath in and putting on a steely mask of authority. "Ryuko, I am saying this as not only your Senpai but as your friend-"
"We are not friends."
The air on the entire roof seemed to freeze at this line. Akira could see that behind this Mask of false authority Makoto… was seemingly hurt by that comment and tried to collect her bearing as best as she could. "What makes you-."
"Friends actually believe each other when they try to go to them for help."
Makoto inhaled deeply, tightening her hold on the books she carried. "Do we HAVE to talk about this in front of him?"
…
Yikes.
And here he thought the last time they got involved was under bad circumstances! He would take being blackmailed to take care of the Mafia over this any day.
What probably unnerved him the most was that he had no idea what they were talking about! Regardless of that it felt like one wrong word could light a bomb, but what was he supposed to do?
Ryuko clapped her hands together, giving her a look of contempt. Fortunately for him she didn't had any desire to continue this conversation. "We don't have to talk at all actually Niijima-senpai." She spat the honorific like it was an insult, "Me and Akira were just about to go on our way. We have a meeting to go to. Thanks for the showing SO MUCH worry about my wellbeing though. Don't you have some teacher's ass to kiss?"
"Okay what in the actual fuck!?"
Since when was Ryuko talking like that to Makoto!? This wasn't just hostility; this was downright antagonistic.
Makoto took the harsh words also WAY differently than Akira expected her too. There was no lecture about showing manners or something similar. She only was giving HIM a warning glare before walking down the stairs again, leaving them alone again.
The awkward silence was soon broken by the Fool. "What was that all about?"
Ryuko sighed, as if she was asked about a distant memory that still gnawed on her heart, "Long story. Now come on, that friend of yours is probably waiting."
With that Ryuko led him from the roof and out of the building, ending the attempt of him to elaborate on the 'long story'.
He would just put that in his 'to be investigated further' folder for now.
Akira: Goro you there?!
Akira: Something completely crazy just happened.
Akira: I need to talk with you ASAP!
Akira: I almost died just now and need help please?
Goro: What do you mean with you almost died!?
Goro: Are you okay!? What happened!?
Akira: I have been better honestly. I mean I guess I am fine now but kind of feeling exhausted.
Akira: Very exhausted actually.
Akira: As for what happened. Its… complicated.
Goro: Complicated? Akira you can't text me you almost died and expect me to be satisfied with a 'It's complicated'!
Akira: Well sorry but that is the best I can give you right now!
Akira: I just am beyond confused right now and really need that Detective brain of yours.
Goro: Tell me where you are. Are you still in danger!?
Akira: I am fine now. Just entered class.
Goro: Hang on. You JUST entered class?
Goro: It's already 5th period.
Akira: It's complicated alright!?
Goro: Okay just calm down. What the hell happened? And just what do you mean with confusing?
Akira: Well it involves a talking cat for starters!
Akira: Goro!? You still there!?
Goro: …
Goro: Akira I know that you are in a difficult situation but drug use is not a good option for coping.
Akira: I AM NOT HIGH!
Akira: RYUKO IS MY WITNESS!
Goro: Wait who is Ryuko?
Akira: Someone else who almost died just now and who is just as confused as me.
Akira: Look can we PLEASE meet up? Boss is gonna give me an earful when I come back and I am still very much NOT OKAY!
Akira: And you just so happen to be the smartest person I know so I am gambling on the small hope you could help us figure this whole insanity out!
Goro: Okay.
Goro: We can meet up at the diner after school is finished if that's alright?
Akira: Thank you! Works perfectly!
Akira: It's about time I treat you anyway.
Goro: Meet you there in an hour then.
She reread the messages for the third time. It still seemed somewhat… unbelievable.
What on earth could have reduced Akira into such a wreck? He was perfectly fine yesterday. How did that change so quickly?
"Okay hear me out kid. What if the boy got mugged?" Loki tried to give an explanation, "It would explain the whole 'Almost died' thing if the thug had a gun or something."
"I find that rather unlikely Loki." Robin argued back, "This is the same boy who had been arrested for protecting someone. I don't think a simple robber could have this much of an effect. Besides it's not exactly 'complicated'. Neither does it involve a talking cat."
"…Fair enough."
"That part is by far the most confusing." Goro thought to herself and her two Personas.
They have been trying to make sense of this ever since reading these messages. But no solution they thought of made any logical sense whatsoever.
And just who was Ryuko? While that question didn't concern her as much as the 'Almost died' thing she was… for some reason irritated.
She tried to read some messages of Yuzu to get her mind of it. The artist girl was surprisingly talkative. While she didn't make too much sense, she was rather… extroverted and constantly went on about art and how she was inspired by looking at their natural beauty the other day and if they were considering her offer, she seemed like a good person. Too bad these kinds of people don't make it that far in the world and are pretty much doomed.
Speaking of good people doomed by the world, she just heard the diner door open.
After what felt like an eternity Akira had finally walked into the dinner, looking nervous but thankfully unharmed. That alone managed to calm Goro somewhat, still she was more worried than she would like to admit about his well-being. On the other hand, who wouldn't when their friend writes them things like this!?
Huh… that word still sounded somewhat off for her.
Next to him stood a girl Goro had never seen before. Ryuko she assumed. She looked rather… delinquent like but most notably she seemed even worse than him.
Both of them had an expression on their face that were uncomfortably similar to those of the victims she would sometimes see in her investigations. Just what had happened?
"Over here." She called out to Akira who immediately turned to her. Pointing for the blonde next to him they walked towards her and Goro began to really get a good look at him. He looked more exhausted than she was after a mission in the Metaverse.
"Akira you look horrible." She stated with worry obvious.
"Well I feel horrible so you're not wrong." He told her while sitting down on the seats opposed to her, the blonde with him following suit.
"And you are?"
"Oh right sorry," Akira said with some haste, "Ryuko Sakamoto, Goro Akechi. Goro Akechi, Ryuko Sakamoto." Went the quick introduction.
Ryuko nodded in understanding and turned to her "So you are the Detective he told me about? Great nice to meet you. I really hope you can help us figure this shit out."
"Well someone is vulgar. Whatever."
"Nice to meet you too. I would help you if you would actually tell me what happened."
Ryuko scratched the back of her head, looking even more anxious for some reason, "Oh right… well its… Akira do you wanna start?" she asked turning to the raven. So, whatever happened she was involved too, but left even worse than him for some reason if she couldn't even try and explain what happened.
"Oh right. Hang on a second." Akira pulled out his phone. Did he make a picture of whateve-?
…
…
…
"Goro… is that what I think it is?" Loki asked in a deadpan voice.
The Metaverse Navigator was being shoved into her face.
"… Well this is unexpected!" Robin Hoods voice came forth.
The Metaverse Navigator was on Akira's phone.
"Uhhh… kid? You okay?"
Akira Kurusu had the Metaverse Navigator.
"Ms… Ms Akechi? Are you not feeling well?"
Akira Kurusu had the METAVERSE NAVIGATOR!
"Ähm… Loki? What do we do?"
"I dunno. This never happened before. I think the news may have broken her somewhat-."
"WHAT IN THE MOTHERFUCKING SHIT IS THAT!?" she thought in Panic.
"Oh. Well that was vulgar."
"DON'T FUCKING SASS ME LOKI!" she snapped at the Trickster God.
Meanwhile back in the outside world Goro Akechi's face was frozen as she continued to stare at the screen in front of her. One could make the assumption she experienced a great inner peace, even though she was rapidly blinking.
Oh how wrong that assumption would be.
More precisely… Miss Akechi's brain suffered a small breakdown. Completely… incapable of processing the given Information.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!" she screamed mentally.
"Mylady./Kid."
"HE HAS THE APP!"
"Mylady!Kid!"
"HE HAS THE APP! HOW THE FUCK DID THAT HAPPEN!?"
"MYLADY!/KID!"
"WHAT!?"
"We… will figure… this out." The two Personas spoke simultaneously, trying to calm her down.
It wasn't working.
How in the World did THAT happen?! How in the name of whatever deity was watching over her life did Akira gain access to the World of Cognition!?
Robin and Loki tried their best to send peaceful things into Goro's mind, trying to make her recollect herself. It was proven itself fruitless so far.
"He has the App! Just… just how!? What the hell has happened!?"
"Alright girl I get that you are currently having a crisis. But please keep in mind that the two Kids in front of you are trying to have a conversation with you."
Loki was right. She knew inwardly, she did not have the luxury of being allowed to have a freak out. But STILL!
She gained her thoughts the best she could and eventually managed to bring words out, sounding MUCH more collected than she really was.
"I'm sorry Akira but… what is this?"
Maybe she should consider a career as an actress.
Akira pulled his phone back, glaring at it with a rage. As if the device had become sentient and had kicked his pet in front of him. He had this shock, anger, cluelessness and even slight… fear in his eyes. "This THING appeared on my phone for the first time when I arrived in Tokyo two days ago. I tried to delete it but I just can't get rid of it. At first I thought it was some Virus that isn't doing anything for some reason. Until today! Its some… Navigator of sorts, it picked up codewords and then Shujin suddenly became a castle-!"
"Okay, okay just slow down!" she raised her hands trying to stop him talking himself into too this rapid state too much. He gave her a sigh as a reply "Sorry. It's just still kinda hard to make sense of it all. Ryuko can you take over?"
"Sure," the blonde nodded, "Okay to start from the beginning, there is this guy at our school called Kamoshida. You probably heard of him, famous Athlete turned PE Teacher and all this shit. Brought our school in the top twenty of the country with his Volleyball Team. Anyway he is actually a straight A bastard and he drove a friend of mine, her name is Ann, to school. I was pissed, cursed pervert teacher, me and Akira talked about it and… somehow that Nav thingy picked up what we were saying!"
Well that was just fantastic! Suddenly strangers could enter Palaces on complete CHANCE!? The knowledge of the Navigator and the Metaverse was already in… less then preferable hands. What kind of anarchy could break out!? If Akira and the girl here managed to land in a Palace what is too say some Psychopath who kills out of boredom couldn't enter!?
Thoughts for later. Remember to act.
"It… picked things up?" Goro questioned, trying her best to act clueless.
"Yeah," Akira took over again, "It recorded the words, Kamoshida, Shujin Academy and Castle. Then there was this weird thing happening and we both got a headache. We ended up walking to school together but when we arrived Shujin had become a Castle."
He sighed, as if he knew he was sounding ridiculous. "Sorry I know this all sounds insane and you probably don't believe-:"
"I do, go on." She reassured him with merely four words. She HAD to know just how much Akira and this girl had seen of the Metaverse. And more about the Palace itself.
On a related sidenote, their teacher had a Palace? That alone already sounded like nightmare fuel. After all what could a Highschool teacher surrounded by minors POSSIBLY have for a distorted desire!? Goro had seen enough Palaces in her life so far and at some point you could guess what distortion surrounds certain individuals.
"Perhaps we should pay this Kamoshida a little visit once this talk is over." Loki brought up, clearly picking up on her thoughts regarding him and a certain… sadism in his voice.
"I agree God of Mischief. We cannot allow a distorted individual like Kamoshida to remain and possibly do ill towards innocent youth!" Robin Hood agreed, ready to go into battle.
"Make it three but can we talk about that later? I need to know what else happened."
Akira continued soon though. "Well we ended up entering the school and were confronted by some guards."
"REAL ONES!" Ryuko shouted out. "I mean… you ever saw a Medieval like Movie? Like those, all armoured with REAL Swords! They just… knocked us around like nothing and we ended up getting knocked out and thrown into some… Cell."
Ryuko looked even more uncomfortable saying that, crossing her arms in a subconscious defence.
"I… am very sorry to hear that. That all sounds… incredibly traumatic."
Goro meant every word. She couldn't blame them. This explained A LOT about their current condition and Akira's messages. Of course Akira would be freaked out by visiting the metaverse! Hell she was inches away from a total mental breakdown after visiting a Palace for the first time. And she had LOKI! She had a Persona, her personal guardian to comfort her and help her out of this whole mess.
This raised a very important question though. She nearly died even with Loki. How did THEY get out?
"Oh you don't know the craziest thing yet!" Ryuko exclaimed, looking at Akira as if to give him an unspoken signal. The innocent criminal picked up on it and talked again.
"We where in this cell and out of nowhere Kamoshida appeared. But also… not Kamoshida. he looked like him but wore a cape, flip flops and underwear. And he had these… twisted yellow, golden eyes. There were also more guards with him. He started rambling like a madman and wanted to kill us. He wanted to start with Ryuko but I couldn't just let that happen! Then…"
He stopped, as if he was trying to collect what happened. As if he tried to understand something completely impossible.
"I heard this voice."
Goro's heart nearly stopped.
He heard a voice!?
Like… like she had heard Loki!?
She still remembered the words her Persona told her that faithful day.
"What is the matter kid? Are you just going to give up? Are you willing to die here, on this twisted cruiser!?"
"Of… of course not! But... who are you?"
"Not important right now just listen. People like your father will never give up. They will always crush whoever they want. He never cared about you, never will. The World is full with people like him. But that does not mean they can go unpunished. As of now… you are helpless against them. Just a brat… an annoyance at best. But we can change that. Do you want to survive? Do you want to bring your father to his knees, make him pay for what he has done to you and countless others? Do you want to have Power over people like him!?"
"…Yes. YES! How do I do that!?"
Her whole body was in agony as Loki answered her.
"Perfect. Then let's forge our contract.
I am thou. Thou art I.
Thou who will no longer be powerless against the scum of humanity.
Bastard child, abandoned by the World, take the life you wish for!
Now embrace your true self and let all against you cower before thy!"
The next things she remembered was the worst pain she ever felt in her life, fire surrounding her and herself calling upon a name she just… instinctively knew.
"Arise… Loki!"
Its been so long since then.
"What… was the voice saying?" she asked, unable to fully hide her amazement. To think there was another Persona user she never even knew about.
Akira, thankfully, didn't seem to mind her sudden curiosity and continued telling his tale.
"It talked about how people like Kamoshida are tyrants, and that the World is full with them and if I want to change it. I told him yes. Next thing I knew… was a lot of pain, but at the same time… I felt strong. I… I never felt anything like this before!" he spoke those words with an almost childlike fascination. One she could relate too. An awakening is not something you could ever forget.
The heat of the flames when they dance on your skin. The anguish brought by tearing of skin alongside the mask. This raw energy of the elements your Persona commands pouring in your veins, the Element itself fueling your connection even deeper. The first sight of your true self… how it just feels right to stand next to it.
Using Loki, this raw power and Chaos of the Trickster God… it always was a high she didn't want to get down from.
It was sometimes difficult to get her bearings again after letting lose.
Akira continued his tale. "It was like I was possessed and just blended the pain out but… it's hard to describe really. Point is I ended up completely destroying the guards and then above me was it. A Persona. Its name was Satanael and it looked like Satan had decided to go on a warpath, which he pretty much did against these guys. It had all this armor and a Gun in his hand. It was beyond crazy but it felt… amazing. Addicting. As if this was meant to be. It just felt right to have this power. And Kamoshida lost it completely! He begged me for forgiveness, and I could just punch him through the entire castle."
"HEY HANG ON FOR A SECOND!" Loki shouted suddenly. "DID… DID THAT KID SAY SATANAEL!?"
And Goro immediately knew something was wrong with her Persona.
Loki sounded scared.
Loki was NEVER scared.
"Loki do you know something about his Persona?"
Loki tried his best to answer but stammered uncontrollably. What was causing this? What had Akira awoken with that caused him to be this distraught!?
"Kid… Satanael is… a World Persona." He finally forced out, which did nothing to give her a solid answer.
"What… is that?"
"Let me explain Mylady." Robin Hood took over, sounding more amazed than scared. "You know of the way of the Arcana by now don't you? That every Persona and every Shadow is aligned with one specific Arcana, the means by which all is revealed. The first arcana is the Fool, the beginning of all. The one of every Wildcard like you possess and it embodies infinite potential and the start of a Journey. The final Arcana of the deck is called the World. It embodies Infinity itself and the end of a Journey if you so will."
"Okay but what has all of this to do with.-"
"THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE AWOKEN TOO! THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW! NOW CAN WE PLEASE GO!?" Loki snapped in again, sounding even more anxious and beckoning them to leave.
"Calm down Loki!" The noble Thief told him, "There is no reason to fear. Sure it is unnatural to happen but by all means Akira does not seem like an evil person. Who knows maybe it is a good omen."
"I am just not comfortable knowing we are within inches of a Persona that could use me as a toothpick!"
"What are you even talking about?"
"I shall finish explaining. Personas of the World Arcana are… to be blunt the most powerful of all Personas. They are Gods to other Gods. Unstoppable. Uncontainable for anyone but the one who they belong too. If a Wildcard is one in a Million, one possessing a World Persona is one of a Million within a Million, occasionally called a Trickster. There is nothing they CAN'T do. They are told to appear whenever the World is in danger to save it from certain ruin."
"How… many others are there?"
"Nobody knows. All that is known are certain names of Personas belonging to this Arcana and whenever one appears… you know how you instinctively knew Loki's name? Its like that. Once you encounter one you know it is a World Persona. Some I do know of are the saviour Messiah and the truth seeker Izanagi-no-Okami. And now… the first Rebel Satanael."
"In other Words, your friend here has a goddamn KILLING MACHINE!"
Akechi was… taken aback to say the least.
There was an Arcana above all other Arcana? Belonging to Personas that were the strongest of them all? And Akira, the first person to see through her masks, the first person who she called a friend, had one?
She wasn't sure what she was feeling. It was no fear like Loki that was for sure. But it was still… remarkable.
Was she proud maybe? That the first person to have such a strong emotional effect, in a way no one made her feel before, on her turned out to be someone who could truly change the World? Someone who even wanted her around, not caring for her title or reputation. Perhaps… her equal?
She choose to remain silent and think about these feelings later. Thankfully it was now that the Waitress came and took their orders so her long silence wasn't visible to anyone.
"It was an absolute beast!" Ryuko exclaimed as the Waitress was out of hearing range, in the kind of voice a child would talk about a superhero. "It… it was like Akira went Super Saiyan or something. Only with more demon than Saiyan. He just… stomped them like it was nothing. We managed to escape because of him and found Morgana."
"Morgana?" Who was this now?
"Remember the talking cat I wrote you about?" Akira answered before she could wonder too much. "That was Morgana. He was like us imprisoned there and we freed him. In return he led us out of that castle. Want to know what's even crazier? He had one too. Its name was Mercurius and it took out some guards that stood in our way.
"Then there was also your second Persona." Ryuko mentioned.
Second Persona!?
Thankfully she didn't need to ask Akira to elaborate. "Yeah right. Okay so you know what nickname you gave me? Lupin? And the book I told you about? Turns out its more fitting than you thought. His name was Arsene. Like… THE Arsene Lupin. He told me about essentially sticking by me even if I was chained to hell itself in my head and next thing I see him dominating some Guards that snuck up on us. He pretty much looks like a Demon trying to dress like a Gentleman." Akira rubbed his forehead in exhaustion, as if retelling their little dimensional trip had reminded him of the exhaustion.
"Anyway we ended up leaving the Palace, I lied to some Policemen about searching for a cat and we arrived late for school."
They let all he information that was told so far sink into the room. Allowing themselves time to breathe and to reflect. Till Ryuko spoke again, "So. What do you think? What are your thoughts on all this?"
Excellent question.
What ARE her thoughts on this?
She had no idea how to think about any of this. How was she supposed to know that going out of bed this morning would get her here!? If someone would have told her yesterday 'Hey by the way someone else can use the Metaverse you didn't know about', she would have… oh who knows what she would have done!
The two Shujin students stared at her, as if they were expecting a reply from her. What did they expect? A laugh? Ridicule? Most likely.
So Akira was not only a Persona user, but he could use more than one! This… this was all… A LOT to take in.
What would Shido think whe-?
No.
No way in hell.
She could not let Shido find out about this.
Akira would be dead.
That girl next to him too.
Everyone they were remotely close to!
He would try and talk her into setting it all up and it was getting harder and harder to convince him that there were better ways of dealing with people than killing them.
She only wanted to know her father's blood on her hands… no one else's.
But if Goro wouldn't say yes… someone else would.
She was feeling sick just imagining it.
Even if Shido would decide to for some reason not use the Metaverse he had many connections. It was impossible to name every horrendous fate that could befall these two.
Akira's body would probably end up being found in a few months underneath some bridge, dismembered beyond recognition and with obvious signs of torture.
Ryuko may end up drugged and sold to some Crime Boss, until every word she said would sound like broken mumbling from a hollow shell.
These two had no idea in what kind of danger they're in right now!
The only thing she was certain of doing right now was to make sure NO ONE would find out they visited that dimension. She had to somehow keep them alive for now before thinking about how to fix this mess.
But aside from that what should she do?
While she was contemplating her situation her own secondary Persona spoke to her, in a very amused voice.
"Isn't that an interesting turn of events?"
"What is that supposed to mean now?" she questioned his intentions.
Robin merely continued to chuckle. "Doesn't this scene remind you of something?"
At first Goro was about to ask again… until a memory took up the center of her mind. A memory of herself, panicking after narrowly escaping that accursed ship. The hopelessness, loneliness she felt being suddenly thrust into this different dimension. How long it took for her to regain her bearings and ultimately form a plan surrounding the Metaverse.
The same confusion she had was now within Akira and Ryuko.
The same App that brought her to where she was, was on his phone.
The same ability she had, to wield more than one Persona, was the same as his.
Just like him Akira fell victim to a corrupt World.
"He is… just like me." She realized in astonishment.
Was this why she found herself thinking about him so much as of late? Why she was so focused on him? Why she felt this… inexplicable connection?
"Perhaps your meeting truly was fated my dear. Maybe he is who you have been searching for all along. A true comrade."
She couldn't help but agree with Robin. Speaking of… this revelation was putting the Leader of the Merry Men in a new light too. Wasn't he appearing right after meeting him? One of the most famous Thieves of all time, an almost perfect rebellious Hero… awoken by this one boy who had no idea what kind of World he had entered.
And what did Robin say again yesterday regarding Akira? About him being the root for his being?
Was… Akira on his way of becoming Robin Hood?
Or was she thinking about this too deeply?
God her head… it was all over the Place. This… he just… she couldn't think straight anymore!
"Just… who are you?"
Akira was more nervous than he would like to admit.
Goro's expression was pretty much unreadable. It was hard even for him to figure out what she may be thinking. His heart was pounding fast, his brain racing too find solutions and ways to counter anything that would approach 'worst case' scenario.
Waiting for the doomed Wildcards response was downright agonizing.
The detectives face, after what was probably only a minute but felt like hours for him, finally unfroze and she spoke in a voice that almost sounded intimate. Nervous even. As if what she was about to say could change everything. Oh, how little she knew about that being true.
"Akira, do you believe in fate?"
That was an odd question. He kind of had to. He tore it apart after all. "Well… yeah."
"So you believe certain things in life could be fated to occur? Like the two of us meeting."
"Could be." He shrugged. "Where are you getting with that?"
"Please let this go the way I hope it does."
The next thing Goro did made Akira nearly jump in joy. She pulled out her phone, unlocked it with slightly shaking fingers…
And the Metaverse Navigator was looking back at him from the screen.
"YES! BEST TIMELINE HERE I COME BABY!"
"Maybe it was fate that allowed us two too meet."
Akira did his best impression of memorization and shock, twisting his face to suit his needed state and hide the joy he was feeling.
It was… amazing. Better than he had hoped for! That Akechi would really allow him such knowledge with this look of utter trust. She entered the Metaverse years before him, of course he knew that. There was no surprise gained from the knowledge alone but by the fact that she WANTED him to know.
But for as shocked as Akira acted, Ryuko was even more shocked than him. "YOU-!"
"SSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!" Goro reacted immediately on her shouting and pressed her hand on Ryuko's face, looking around the room to check if anyone witnessed her outburst. She looked like she was o high alert, as if the reaper himself was about to enter the Restaurant. In a weird way it was touching to see her this worried.
She slowly took of her hand from Ryuko's mouth, speaking to her in a low warning. "You can't just scream this out in the public. Understand."
The hint of steel in Akechi's voice was enough to make Ryuko's eyes widen and become as quiet as a mouse, having understood not to scream immediately.
Akira though still had to address it. "You have it too?" he questioned her.
"Yeah." She admitted, putting her phone away again, likely for secrecy, "I had it for some time now. I never used it that much. I don't think I ever entered a Castle"
"That's a gigantic lie and we both know it. Well you don't know I know it but still."
"So do you have a Persona too?"
She played with her gloves as if to distract herself. "Yes, I do."
"Well who is it?"
Akechi looked as if in deep thought before answering, "Well it is not just one actually."
Huh. Well that was another surprise. Akira knew about the Wildcard but didn't expect her to admit to it. Then again, she had no reason to keep that a secret when she already revealed possessing the App.
"What are they called?" Ryuko asked, now very intrigued about the Guardian entities she may have.
"My first one, the one I had awoken to, was Loki. My second one is Robin Hood."
"Loki?" Ryuko questioned. "As in Avengers villain? Your Persona is Tom Hiddleston?"
Akechi rolled her eyes, "Loki as in Asgardian God."
"Yeah I know that!" Ryuko defended," Just… does he look like Tom Hiddleston?"
"…No. No, he doesn't look like Tom Hiddleston." She answered in a… for a lack of better term passive voice with a look in her eyes that showed she questioned a lot about the blonde.
Akira chuckled at that, which seemed to snap Goro out of her current act. "Wow. I mean I kinda expected Herlock Sholmes but that is also a good pick."
A sly smile danced on the edge of Goro's lips. "It is Sherlock. But then again it would have fit your Arsene Lupin… but given Robin Hood I guess that still connects somewhat."
She leaned back into her seat, eyeing the two of them, "I am surprised though that you two are taking this information so lightly."
"Why shouldn't we?" asked Ryuko again. "If it is because of the whole Persona thing and there being more of them… I saw a lot of crazy shit already today so it's kinda hard to surprise me anymore."
"Fair enough," Goro agreed before turning to him, waiting for his answer in a hard to read look. As if she was worried? Akira only shrugged, "Are you expecting some different reaction?"
"Well… Loki was the evil God. He started Ragnarok."
"Considering I awoke to the actual Devil as one of my Personas, I would be one hell of a hypocrite if I would judge you by that. And even if not, I actually always liked Loki the most in the Asgardian myths. I felt really bad for him when the Gods made a snake drop venom on him for thousand years."
"Really?" she raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
"Yeah. I have a thing for Trickster Gods. They bring the excitement in life. Also correct me if I am wrong but isn't Ragnarok also seen as a sort of new beginning? As if you press the Reset button on a Game?"
"I… suppose you're not entirely wrong."
Ryuko interrupted their little talk fairly quick before they could get even more of course. "Not that I mind you arguing about ancient Gods but could we please get back to the whole Nav thingy?! You were there before?"
"A few times yes but I never met a talking Cat or the like."
Akira gave a small laugh, "So… how did you awaken Loki?"
Akechi hesitated again, understandable for the Trickster. Such a thing was very personal after all.
She eventually relented, biting her lip. "It was similar to you two. I one day saw the App on my Phone and tried to delete it only for it to keep coming back. I even changed my phone itself and the App kept on following me. Like some sort of Shadow. One day it picked something up from what I said. My curiosity was than driving me to find the rest. You need three keywords you see. A name, a place and a distortion of sorts. Ryuko must have gotten lucky with her King of the Castle comment."
"I don't feel really lucky." Ryuko murmured, earning a look of sympathy from Goro.
"Relatable. I didn't either when I was suddenly transported to some gigantic cruiser."
"… A cruiser?"
"A CRUISER!?"
The first Palace Goro found herself in was… SHIDO'S palace of all people!?
Given their backstory this shouldn't be TOO surprising but… that place was a NIGHTMARE to get through. And he had Months of training, multiple Personas and a full Team of other Persona users. For Goro to just land there without any preparation… even if he wouldn't have felt bad for the Detective before he definitely felt now.
"Yeah. It does sound weird right? I had no idea what was happening and when I asked a Guard for help they started to shoot at me." She winced at the Memory.
"It was… terrifying… I really thought I would die there. That was when Loki talked to me and I SOMEHOW managed to fight my way out."
"I am glad you survived." Was Akira's reply to Goro's small tale. It wasn't anything big, but it gave away what he wanted to say. What else could he have done?
Akechi blinked at him surprised, before letting out a relieved laugh of sorts. Her voice was still shaky as she spoke again.
"Sorry it's just…I never actually TALKED about this with anyone. This whole thing was… IS scary. I needed an entire week to even function somewhat properly again. And here I am treated like someone who knows."
His eyes softened. That was more than understandable. If he hadn't gotten the support from Ryuji, Morgana and Arsene he would have probably started to think he belonged in an Asylum.
The same thing counted for Ryuko who looked at her with both shock and empathy. "Shit. How did you do it even? I mean… I had Akira and some weird Cat for company and I still thought I was going crazy."
"Same here." Akira agreed.
"Yeah it was sometimes… difficult." The Fool could see that there was still a lot more Goro wanted to say, but didn't allow herself too.
"Well at least we can all figure it out together," Akira offered words of encouragement, "And once we find that Cat again he might have some answers too."
"You plan on going back?"
"Well…" upon hearing that word Goro shot him an accusing, clearly non-amused look. Akira couldn't help but be weirdly touched at this act.
"Okay look, I know it probably sounds crazy-."
"You want to revisit a different dimension using an App that appeared out of nowhere on your Phone, with a power you didn't even know existed two days ago on search for a Monster Cat that MIGHT have answers. Yes, it sounds very crazy."
"Point taken but hear us out on this." He raised a finger to stop any other complain Akechi might have. A sign for Ryuko to unpack her rest of the story, which she did with a sigh.
"About Kamoshida there are more rumors. He… abuses students, the members of his volleyball team. In the Palace there were more Cells, filled with other students. They were roughed up and the Cat said they were Cognitions of sorts. This whole Castle, Cells and everything else, it's how Kamoshida sees the Students. NO ONE at School is willing to do anything against him."
"That is bad but-."
"No hear us out." Akira intervened her attempt of a protest and spoke up himself. "What if… there is a way we can change all of this?"
"Change? How would…"
"Will you let me talk please?"
Seeing his insistence Goro finally carved in and let him speak, releasing an exasperated sigh. Akira still took the opening. He faked to be uncertain, even sounding somewhat desperate… desperate to act.
"What if there is a reason I awoke to Satanael and Arsene? Maybe the reason why I have Personas, WE have Personas, and the App is so we can change things. Save the students somehow. Nobody is willing to make a stand. The entire school adores him, the adults do nothing. I hoped… I could change this."
Akechi sighed once more, hands coursing through her hair in… not annoyance but worry. She looked him deep in the eye once more, yes definitely worry. "You could have died in there. You realize this right? Even if you would survive going back in there how would you change things?"
"That's what I am going to ask the Cat for."
"You think a Cat has an idea how to affect a Castle?"
"He must have been locked up there for a reason!"
Her eyes scanned him, trying to come to a conclusion. Ultimately…. There was a defeat of sorts in her eyes and she turned to Ryuko. "And you are with him on this?"
Ryuko rubbed the back of her head, "Well yeah. Kamoshida didn't seem to recognize me so no one would even know except us. And if there is a chance to stop this asshole I am NOT gonna let it pass by."
She scanned her too, with trained, sharp eyes. They found, if Akira were to guess, the same thing they found in him. Determination to explore the depths of the Teachers twisted mind and put an end to his abuse. Akira could also see however that Goro wanted to ask her something. That she probably had a feeling there was something more personal.
Akechi hung her head in defeat, as if giving in to a negotiation and told them her offer. "Alright fine but… please wait. Until tomorrow at least. Then we will all go together if you are THAT stubborn about it."
He gave the Detective one of his Joker like smiles, "Real talk? Ever since you told me you're a Persona user I was hoping for that reply."
She just… looked at him, expression blank before shaking her head, her lips slowly curling into a smile as she showed him her approval. One that he returned.
"You truly are beyond my comprehension."
…
…
…
"You truly are beyond my comprehension."
"Don't misunderstand. You're the one who's going to disappear!"
A bullet forced the Cognition to his knees. Another narrowly missed his ear, instead hitting a button behind them. A watertight bulkhead door rose up, sealing his fate.
"Let's make a deal… ok? You won't say no… will you?"
"…Farewell… Akira."
"Are… you alright?" Akechi slowly asked.
What was up with him now? He seemed so… out of it. As if his mind was somewhere else, this look in his eyes… betraying a sadness?
Akira snapped out of it was soon as she asked, rapidly blinking as he rooted himself back into their conversation. "Oh. Yeah, yeah I'm… fine. Just… thinking about the Castle that's all. Happy to have you on board."
Was… that a Mask he wore right now?
"Well… I am not the best at making friends so I might as well try to keep the one I have alive."
"Thanks a lot for your help. Seriously." Ryuko told her in appreciation. But Goro could tell from the look in her eye she noticed this… shift in Akira too.
Before she could think about it more their meals were being served and what little discussion was left over disappeared as they ate and did less serious small talk.
Still… she couldn't help but wonder.
Ufff… What a chapter.
Okay this has to be the longest chapter yet. Over 12K words without any author notes. 28 pages. Wow.
Honestly? I wanted to add even MORE. I thought about ending it when Akira and Morgana reunite but I also thought since the Goro talk was the highlight of the chapter maybe I should put an end to it there. Besides I just wanted to have this chapter done.
Honestly… this was a hard one for me to do. I don't really know why. Maybe its because I just included so many things. Sometimes the dialogue and so on felt a bit of for me. But I also didn't want to change it. And I rewrote some parts so many times… at some point you just have to call it quits. I am still not 100 percent satisfied with this… maybe I rewrite some stuff later… but I think I am okay enough with it to publish it.
Now a lot happened here.
First of about two scenes. You guys didn't REALLY think Akira is gonna be okay after all the shit he has been through? At least one of these things is gonna give him some sort of PTSD. This guy has some Trauma behind him that sparked up some… bad flashbacks. One time through a random thought just escalating… another time because of bad choice of words. Poor Akira.
I intend on treating that trauma seriously.
Now to the other parts of this chapter. We got a glimpse into Ryuko's relationship with Ann and found out Ann and Shiho are a couple. I couldn't resist doing that and you guys can expect a scene of the two of them in either the next chapter or the one after that. I did say there will be Poly elements before. Embrace the gay.
Now actually making Ann's reaction was another difficult thing. Of course she would be happy about any misfortune that hits Kamoshida but at the same time... what happened was very extreme and she just doesn't know how to properly react. Was it all just rumours? Or is this stranger actually freaking the person who tormented her and her friends so much? She just doesn't know how to feel… which I thought to be an appropriate response for someone who hears their tormentor suddenly… made so small.
Speaking of reactions Akira's reputation at Shujin is VASTLY different. Rumours are REALLY going wild about him this time around and people don't just avoid him they fear him.
Except for… some people. That was probably something I could have cut out but I thought some exposition regarding Akira's pre assault life would be good and I needed some tie in to lead there.
Besides I think we all know one person like that.
And regarding the Mishima twins. Well you see while I wrote the story I got a better idea than just genderbending Mishima. Something I heard about Yuuki is that people either hate him or love him. Personally I am fine with him but I wont deny that he could be annoying at times. I think you might find interesting what I have in story for him and how I change his part in the story. About his sister… she is in the Harem instead of GB Mishima…. Well she kinda is still GB Mishima being his twin but… you get where I am going.
Besides I feel like an important part of a good harem story are also male characters who act as a support cast of sorts. Now being filled out by both Yuuki and Morgana.
Now another thing some may wonder about is Makoto. What happened between her and Ryuko? Well at this point in the game Makoto was still trusting adults to be… well decent. I feel like she only started to question them once the Phantom thieves hit the scene. This… lead to some conflict between her and her friends at some point which will be explained in the future.
Now to Goro… enjoyed her freak out? That was purely for comedic effect. And don't tell me she wouldn't have this reaction.
Robin also gave us some exposition and some more insight into the dynamic between Robin, Loki and Goro.
I think I went over all the major things in this chapter so I will leave you guys with that.
Until Next time:)