alaude hibari: It gets updated on the 28th of every month.
Keytoviktory: Patience.
Metal face: Fuck off.
jmcdavid: Hey, I thrown in plenty of LupinRanger references to! But Joker, Skull, Wind? We HAD to!
Frosty Wolf: It was a year ago.
StevieBond: Possibly.
kombatant88: I wish!
mgasmsms: Because we moved Levenza to be 'The World' because time travel nonsense.
Here are some reviews answered by Ghost:
Firem78910: Yeah, we can't really do Strikers since it's new and we can't do the impossible.
Shadow Joestar: Yeah, Fox is joining the group fully now.
Xerzo LotCN: We've got plans involved for them.
mgasmsms: Um. Time travel stuff.
Mewtwo-TheLoneShadow: Yeah, it's good to see it here.
BeyondLSD: Um, it'll happen soon. Not yet, but soon.
kombatant88: Yeah, it'd be nice.
Frosty Wolf: He's human, he can't remember everything.
Keytoviktory: They're still late teens who're still getting into relationships.
Disclaimer: We do not own Persona 5. That belongs to Atlus.
Co-written by GhostKaiser23
AUTHOR'S NOTE
And once again we return!
This months chapter dealing with the aftermath of the corrupted painter.
Now let's see how this all goes, guys!
Things are starting to heat up!
Persona 5 New Game Plus, Joker's Second Chance
Chapter 16: Awaiting the Confession, Bond Growth!
"Urgh, that was the worst!" Ryuji groaned as he, Ren, Ann and Shiho walked up to the side of the building. They sat down in the small seating area, surrounded by vending machines
"Yeah." Ren nodded
"I think I've done my worst during that test." Shiho admitted.
"Why'd you think that?" Ryuji asked as Ren bought them drinks.
"Just that... I haven't had much time to study." she admitted "I'm worried I didn't revise enough."
"Fair point." Ryuji nodded, as Ren passed drinks to them.
"Thanks." Each responded.
"Hey, what's going on over there?" Ryuji asked, opening his can as they saw a girl with light-auburn hair outside wearing a track-suit and bottoms with sneakers trying to pull a trolley filled with bags of dirt.
'Haru.' Ren thought
"No idea." Ann admitted
"She's cute though." Shiho admitted, which got Ren, Ann and Ryuji to look at her in shock. "What? She does look cute." she commented calmly, catching the groups attention. Shiho was blushing like mad as everyone looked at her "What?" she asked with a blush
'Shiho thinks another girl... is cute?' Ann thought in shock
"Anyway..." Ren redirected the conversation. "I'm going to help her."
"Huh?" Ryuji blinked
Ren was already walking away, heading towards Haru. The girl struggled as she tried to get the last bag of dirt onto the trolley, Ren going in front of her and helped her put it on. "Need a hand?" He offered, lifting it up for her.
"Huh?" she blinked in shock. There in her vision, she saw Ren. The 'Bad-Boy' of the school and also the year below her. Though with his spiky black hair and glasses... something inside her felt her heart thump.
"Would you like some help?" he asked with a smile
"Um. Y-yes. Yes, I would. Thank you." She responded, the two lifting the dirt onto the trolley. She was blushing a bit, the 'bad boy' looking like a kind knight
"Is this all of it?" Ren asked as he carried most of the weight.
Haru nodded sheepishly in response. "I-I'm Haru."
"Ren." He smiled back "So, where are we taking these?"
"I need to take these to the roof, the gardening club meets there." Haru explained.
"There is a gardening club?"
...
"Well... There is me." she blushed
"Ah. I see." He nodded. "That sounds really nice."
"It does?"
"Yeah, I honestly do." Ren nodded. "Fresh vegetables almost every day, caring for something you put time and effort into. It's a good thing."
"Thank you." she nodded shyly
"No problem. Maybe I'll see you later?" Ren asked
"Yes, I'll maybe see you later." She nodded
Ren gave a simple wave and headed back to his friends, while Haru managed to pull the dirt into the elevator. As he arrived back, he saw Ryuj, Ann and Shiho looking at him in shock.
"Dude. The hell?" Ryuji called
"What?" Ren responded
"What was that?" Ryuji asked
"What was what?" Ren inquired.
"That right there. What was that?" Ann asked.
"Helping Haru with her Gardening Club stuff?" Ren answered with a casual shrug
"You looked like you knew her." Shiho added.
"... Did you want to talk to her?" Ren asked making Shiho blush again
"Did I miss something with you guys?" Ryuji asked
"Long story." Morgana answered
"Well, what do we do now?" Shiho asked
"I wanted to check on Mishima. The guy looks down." Ren admitted
"He's normally in Shibuya when it gets late." Ann commented
"Then I'll be there." Ren answered.
"Do you think Madarame will confess soon?" Ryuji asked
"I think so. There's been no word from his agents or the police." Ann answered.
"Time will tell." Shiho agreed.
"How's Yusuke doing?" Ann asked
"He's looking healthier. That much I know." Ren responded.
"That's a relief." Ryuji sighed and rubbed his head.
"I'll see you guys later; okay?" Ren asked
"Sure. No problem." Ann and Shiho answered
...
"Sooo... That girls cute, is she?" Ann asked Shiho as the group split up a bit
*time skip*
As Ren left, he headed to Shibuya. If Mishima was there, he had to make sure that he hadn't disappeared again. That guy was often on his own, so it might've helped. 'There he is.' Ren thought as he walked over. "Yo, Mishima." He waved
"Huh? Oh, Amamiya. What're you-?" Mishima asked, his stature looking better since Kamoshida was locked up. Though he looked a little...disheartened.
"I wanted to come and see you. Catch up with some things." Ren answered, not lying but not the whole truth either.
"W-well... It's been... tough. Running the Phan-Site and everything." He admitted.
"Hey, why don't we get a coffee at the cafe? My treat." Ren responded
"W-wait. Are you serious?!" Mishima double-took.
"Yeah." He nodded.
"Um, yeah. Thanks." Mishima responded and followed Ren to the cafe, shocked to see the 'Leader of the Phantom Thieves' actually wanted him around. As they entered, Ren and Mishima sat down at a booth and relaxed... well, Ren relaxed. Mishima was a bit exhausted. "How've things been? You know, with the... 'special activities'." He asked before he yawned. "Oops, sorry about that. I haven't been getting a lot of sleep lately. I've been managing the Phan-Site all night, every night. I think it's called 'PR'?"
"'Phan-Site'?" Ren asked, playing dumb, though he knew -long- in advanced what it actually was.
"Yeah, the Phantom Thieves Aficionado Website. Or 'Phan-Site' for short." He explained. "You need a catchy name to get people to notice you. This is all a bit of P-Thieves propaganda!"
"Your drinks, sirs." The waitress placed drinks down for the two.
"Thanks." Ren responded politely.
"It's so people know who takes down the bad-guys. Names to faces and all that." Mishima explained. "Getting them in a positive and popular light."
Ren nodded, knowing that it was the help of the people that helped them win last time. "You've done good, kid." He answered
Mishima chuckled nervously and happily as he heard that. "I guess this makes all those all-nighters worth it!" Ren nodded and drunk his coffee, leaning back as he relaxed. "Though actually I want to know how you punish people."
Ren coughed a little, almost spilling his coffee as he heard that, not wanting to bring Mishima into this.
"I-I'm not gonna ask. It wouldn't be any fun if you told me."
"G-good." Ren coughed, wiping his lips.
"... I wish I could be like you guys though." He admitted
"Hmm..." Ren mumbled as he heard that, knowing that Mishima was impressionable.
"Don't worry, I'll still be able to draw the right kind of attention to the stuff you do." Mishima reassured. "Leave it to me." He smiled "Your popularity is gonna be at my mercy... Or uh, I mean my fingertips."
"It'll be like I'm your strategic image management representative, so to speak." Mishima awkwardly laughed.
"You're... hyped for this." Ren answered cautiously.
"Heh... Just you wait." He smiled humbly. "I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure that title isn't just for show." Before his energy came in the form of a mouth covered yawn. "... This is gonna take a lot out of me; managing the Phantom Thieves' reputation... The forum gets loads of weird posts and tons of things unrelated to reforming society."
"Maybe you should take five minutes for yourself?" Ren asked, thinking for Mishima's health.
"I'll be fine. Besides, I've found some worthwhile things about our very school." Mishima smiled
Moon: Rank 2
"... Man. I'm exhausted. If you weren't here talking to me, I'd fall asleep right on the spot." Mishima admitted
"Take your drink and we can go. It's been...enlightening talking to you, Mishima." Ren answered.
"You sure? Okay later man!"
"Bye." Mishima yawned as Ren left with Morgana in his bag.
"That went... well?" Mona commented
"Yeah." Ren nodded gently
"Who would've thought Mishima was so passionate about the site." Morgana continued
"I know... But that comment. I'm a bit worried." Ren admitted as he left for LeBlanc.
"Oh?"
"It's just... Something about it. I can't remember." Ren admitted. "It's fuzzy." He sighed, picking up the payphone as he and Sojiro shared a nod
Ding.
The door closed, the cafe locked, and Ren dialed a certain maid service
*time skip*
Ms Kawakami, or at this point she was called 'Becky', was sitting with Ren in his attic room with bowls of instant noodles emptied. "Well... did you enjoy the 'Maid's Cooking' and 'Together with a maid' services I provided today?" She asked with a bubbly smile.
"Well..." Ren hummed, trying to think of the best way to say this
"I guess high-end noodles help make this a bit better." 'Becky' added.
"... Yeah. They do." He answered, trying to think of the correct wording.
"I thought you'd agree, Master." She smiled with her eyes. "... They are pretty complicated though. It says 'drain the hot water once and leave the sauce packet on the lid to get warm'. Don't request me if you're going to complain." Her smile slowly turned to a neutral look. "Why did you request me again? Even after I warned you."
"I wanted to see you." He answered honestly.
"Hmm... Are you sure that's the really the reason?" Ms Kawakami inquired before she sighed. "I guess I'm in no position to complain, seeing as I'm making money from it." She gave a small yawn, before shaking her head gently. "I'm so tired. Those faculty meetings last so long. And the news of these Phantom Thieves, they've been making the students really restless. Teachers can't agree on what to do with them and the Phantom Thieves." She slumped a little and rested her head in her hand. "I wish they'd talk about our bonus instead. There've been talks of cuts to teachers' salaries... I'm sick of it."
"I'll request you more often." Ren answered, wanting to help.
"Really?" She asked in shock, smiling as she heard that. "I'll continue to serve you with all my might, Master!" Before she felt reality sink back in with a sigh. "I'm going to be in trouble if I don't pick up more shifts."
Ping
Ping
"Excuse me." She apologised. "Hello?" She answered her phone. "What? How much?! I can't-... Yes, but... That's true. Sure." She sighed heavily and frowned. "I understand it's my responsibility after all."
'I... Remember this.' Ren thought to himself, recalling a faint memory... and feeling guilty he couldn't do more than before. An entire year, it gets rid of the small details of each day and interaction. It was so frustrating! Add to that the months he has been back, and the chaotic hecticness of last year and the time travel stuff... it was like he was going into a test with only half written notes
"Oh, did-did you hear that? I'm just a little behind on my sister's medical bills." She laughed awkwardly.
"You have it rough." Ren frowned as he heard all that.
"It's. It's some crazy and incurable disease. The charges and fees are through the roof." She explained, though Ren had a suspicion she was lying. "That's why it'd help if you requested me more." This part Ren knew she was telling the truth. "What am I going to do?" She muttered under her breath, before she looked at Ren again "... Feel free to call me to do housework. It doesn't have to be through the maid service. I live close by so it's not a problem for me."
Ren nodded as he heard that, relieved to know that this 'master/maid' thing was still going.
"And if you have friends over, I can leave through the back way." She added with a gentle smile.
Temperance: Rank 3
She turned around and talked to herself. "This wasn't how it was supposed to go... I need to tell my boss about giving me extra shifts. Goodnight." She bowed and left before his hand grasped her wrist softly
"Mr Amamiya?" She gasped as she felt his hand on her wrist.
"Everything is going to be okay." he assured
Ms Kawakami looked at him, hearing the sincerity in his voice and some small tears wanted to form before she held them back. "If. If you think so."
Ren nodded, gently releasing her hand and letting her walk away
"You do your best, leader." Morgana assured
"I hope so." Ren nodded. He got ready for bed, laying down. It was hours after Kawakami had left, he and Morgana alone in his dark room
"Hey, Ren... what's the date again?" Morgana yawned
"May 29th." Ren yawned and opened his book "He should confess in two days... if the pattern is the same."
"That's good." Morgana nodded, curling into a fluffball "Night."
"Night buddy." Ren smiled, putting his book away and letting sleep overtake him... and his soul drifting from his body
*? ? ?*
Ren felt the world change around him. His soft bed was replaced by a hard mat, his ankles and wrists felt weighed down by heavy chains... which felt tighter than before.
CLANG!
"Wake up, inmate!" Caroline ordered
"Whoa!" he blinked in shock
"It's been a while since we've last met." Justine responded. "What have you been doing?"
"... Working." he shrugged
"Well then, I doubt you've been creating Persona with the correct abilities?" Caroline asked
...
"Wait, have you two missed me?" he smirked charmingly
"D-Don't be ridiculous!" Caroline blushed and covered her face with her hat.
"Did you bring the Persona we require?" Justine asked.
"'Flauros' with 'Tarukaja'? Yeah. I've got the materials." Ren answered, closing his eyes before focusing his hands out to the guillotines; summoned within them.
First was a dark grey knight on a red horse, wielding a golden trident as a lance. Berith.
Second was a red bodied humanoid with a blue owl's head and wings with yellow feathers depicting a beard and on his tips. Andras.
And third was a red armoured knight with horns on a black steed with a silvermane and a spear in his hand. Eligor.
The girls looked at the sacrifices and nodded. The Personas looking at Ren and understood.
"For you, Our Joker." The Personas nodded and allowed themselves to be transformed into their new form.
The combined into a large burst of energy, the new Persona forming above them
There summoned before them, was a strange humanoid creature. Black armoured feet and arms with bronze toes and spiked knuckles, two towers jutting from his shoulders, a panther's head in the centre of its chest with a sword stuck into its back. "I am Flauros. I shall become a fiery mask of thine, with my powers to see the past and future." It spoke up as its form began to change and shift, shooting into Ren's face and merged with him.
Ren almost fell back, but the bars kept his stance... as he felt the Persona's power flow through him. "Ah! Ha... How's? This?" He asked, letting them to check Flauros' power.
"Well... you did it, Inmate." Caroline blinked
"Thanks." He gave a cocky smile.
"You've grown considerably since we first met." Justine commented.
"True... I guess we have to admit to that." Caroline added "Your Personas are getting stronger as well."
Justine gasped gently to herself as she began to realise something. "Is... fostering Personas... truly rehabilitation?" she whispered, her sister barley hearing her
"Why do you say that? Of course that's what it means." Caroline responded
"It. it was just a fleeting thought." She answered. "Will he be truly rehabilitated if we help him cultivate power?"
"Keep it together, Justine. This is the job our Master ordered us to do." Caroline pointed out.
Ren was silent as he heard this... and hated what that damn Cup had done to them.
"Are you going to disobey our masters orders?" Caroline asked
"No, that's not what I meant." Justine frowned, hugging the clipboard.
"Let's just focus on helping him achieve the pinnacle of his 'Wild Card' thing and make him work hard doing it." Caroline added.
"The... Wild Card?" Justine whispered in realisation.
"What is it?" Caroline asked
'The Wild Card. The one who had the potential to change the world.' Ren wanted to explain... but he daren't answer it.
"Its writer must've known that the one doing these tasks had possession of the Wild Card." Justine explained
"Who could possibly know that?!" Caroline asked, Justine was silent as a response. "How could our Master not know that he had the Wild Card within him?"
"... Are you confused?" Ren asked almost cheekily.
SLAM!
"Shut up! No-one asked you!" Caroline snapped, kicking the door. "Either way, your trials aren't over yet. Justine, give him his next task."
Justine quietly nodded and looked at her clipboard. "This one will push you to your limits."
Strength: Rank 4
"Try and harbour an 'Ame-No-Uzume' with 'Dodge Psy' within you. If you can manage that." Justine asked
"Oh, you mean this?" Ren grinned, summoning another Persona behind him
"What do you-? Wha...?" The two girls asked before they sensed the power of the Persona locked away in him and their jaws dropped.
"Th-that is-? How did you-?" Caroline asked
"Some time ago." He responded.
"G-Good work Inmate." Justine blushed and whispered.
"I didn't think you'd keep up with this. It's not even mandatory." Caroline added, acting all 'high and mighty'. Though she was deeply impressed.
"Oh?" Ren smiled
"You're... kind of interesting." Caroline continued
"I must say, as Caroline stated, this list is quite well thought out... but your ingenuity to think ahead and your persistence to push forward is astounding." Justine added
"I... Guess so." Caroline responded. "Hey, Inmate. What do you think of these tasks?"
"They're pretty tough." Ren admitted, trying to remember all combinations of Persona and how they could be increased.
"Such as the response of their true difficulty." Justine smiled gently.
"We should give him another one. One a little harder." Caroline responded "... It. It feels like I've seen this list before."
'Lavenza?' Ren thought, thinking this was their true self coming out.
"Do you mean the penmanship?" Justine inquired.
"... Yeah. Damn it. Do you remember it, Justine?" Caroline asked, as he fellow guard checked the pages.
"'Compliment him after he finishes the next task. Don't spoil him though. Do it just as you practiced... with an intense glare and entangled hips'?" Justine repeated and questioned
"Those aren't my notes!" Caroline blushed "I-No, I mean-!"
"It seems you've been looking forward to his return." She smiled. 'As have I.' She thought to herself.
"Never mind that. I mean the handwriting itself! Stop yanking my chain!" Caroline answered, making Ren chuckle to himself.
Justine looked at it again and began to ponder. There was something familiar about it.
"Can I see?" Ren asked politely.
"Keep out of other people's business, Inmate!" Caroline snapped.
Justine was quiet. Holding her head gently, like some form of deep thought. "This feeling. The list and the way he talks. It seems like some sense of Deja Vu. Who made this list... and why?"
"'Why'? It's to train the Inmate of course." Caroline responded.
"Beyond that. What's the point of training him at all? What's the purpose?" Justine inquired.
Caroline was silent, trying to think of an answer...but she shook her head and sighed. "Let's just assume it's for a purpose we don't know about."
Justine smiled at that. "Hearing that from you is like a cool breeze on a sweltering hot summer day."
"You didn't need to say that!" She huffed and stomped her foot, making Ren chuckle.
"Now that you have done this for us, we will grant you the Guillotine Booster." Justine responded
"You can use more Persona to fuse together. Up to five or six." Caroline answered, informing him.
Ren smiled at that as he heard this. He could feel their bond deepen. And with this new power... the strongest Personas were nearly before him.
Strength: Rank 5
Not that he required that power now, thanks to his first run around with Lavenza the Compodium was almost entirely full.
"Would you girls like to get out of here again?" Joker asked
"Huh?" The two asked in shock.
"Y-you'd let us come with you again?" Justine asked
"Yeah, it must be lonely being here all day every day." Ren responded "Where would you like to go this time?"
The two hummed in unison, looking at each other and wanted to go somewhere new. "Perhaps... Tokyo?" Justine asked
*time skip, Tokyo*
The two looked around the location. Their eyes widening as they saw the lights and sights. It was magical. And a vastly better place than the Velvet Room.
Yeah, the two prison wardens where enthralled
"So~!" Caroline's eyes widened
"Cool~!" Justine followed up.
"What's this? What's that? Can we go here?" Each began to ask, almost flitting between one place and another.
Ren laughed, his hands in his pockets as he stood behind them
"What's that over there?" Justine asked in shock and smiles, looking at a bar.
"That's a bar." Ren commented
"Can we go?" Caroline excitedly asked.
"Well yeah, but since we are projecting from the Velvet Room we can't be seen or heard." he shrugged "Remember? So don't expect any drinks."
"Yeah, that's true." Caroline pouted as she heard that, while he walked inside.
The twins followed, mumbling
Inside the bar, it was lit up with neon-pink lights, a sign that was the name of the bar, a large bar stand and a jukebox in the corner.
"Wow!" the twins gasped
The two walked inside, seeing the place for themselves as they took in the atmosphere... it was making them kind of giddy.
...
"You two okay?" Ren asked
"We're just soaking up the atmosphere." Justine answered, looking around with a small giggle, her cheeks red
"You're so lucky to be here, inmate." Caroline added. "Getting to be in places like this."
"I guess." he nodded
"Tokyo is amazing. Thank you, inmate." Justine responded... And suddenly they heard yelling from outside
"What was that?" Ren turned in shock, running outside to help and saw a small brawl breaking out "The hell? Oh no." Ren wondered and then his eyes widened as he saw random people fighting outside the bar
"Oh." Caroline blinked
"Is-is this what people in the cities do?" Justine followed up. as both looked... Doubtful
Ren wanted to give a hopeful lie... but what could he say? "This is rare." he said sadly
The two looked at each other and nodded gently, hearing Ren's concern and sadness in his voice. As they looked on they saw people come to help, to break up the fight
"And sometimes, there are those who want to help. Trying to keep the peace and stop the violence." Ren continued, feeling a little bit more hope as he put his hands on their shoulders
"But some just stand there and watch... Why?" Justine asked
"That's the 'bystander effect'. The more people about, others will think that they'll do it instead of them." Ren answered.
"How can they just stand by?" Caroline asked
"Why is this even a thing?" Justine added
"Because people can be scared. Scared of helping, scared of doing the right thing." Ren answered
"But what about you, Inmate? What are you?" Caroline asked
Ren looked down at the ground... closed his eyes... and began to think. Recalling all the things he had done, thinking about the first time around. How many people he wanted to help and did help... His friends. Reaching out to them.
*time skip*
Ren had woken up and was now back in the real world. The date he had with both Justine and Caroline had concluded and he felt heavy "Huh?" he muttered weakly. He rubbed his face slowly as Morgana was on his wheel, keeping fit for the early morning.
...
"Really man?" he laughed softly
"Hey. Morning." Morgana panted as he stopped, almost losing his footing when getting off.
"Morning." Ren chuckled
"You looked troubled in the night; everything okay?" Morgana asked
"Yeah, just... I had a heavy dream. It's okay though." Ren responded, not lying but not telling the full truth again. Not wanting to worry his friend "We better head off down to School."
"Yeah... Don't forget-" Morgana began
"Okay, one time I forgot to wash my face." Ren rolled his eyes with a chuckle while rubbing his friends head
"Mrow~!"
*time skip*
"Hmm~! That train ride was tight." Ren commented, sitting in school.
"You okay?" Ann asked in worry, seeing him roll his shoulders in discomfert
"Yeah. Don't worry, I'm fine." Ren responded, rubbing his eyes. "You know how the train can be."
Ann nodded, sighing lightly "Can we talk outside with the others? I want to talk about something." She asked
"Sure." Ren nodded, smiling at his girlfriend. The two got up and out of their chairs, heading outside to talk to Ryuji and Shiho who had just left to stretch their legs.
"Hey." Ren waved
"Yo! Had the same idea?" Ryuji waved back
"Basically." Ann nodded
"Is everything okay?" Shiho asked
"Yeah, I just... I wanted to talk with all the group." Ann answered
"Oh." Ren nodded, having thought Ann wanted to speak to him as a girlfriend to her boyfriend... Oh well.
"Sure; what's up?" Shiho asked
"It's about... Madarame." She answered. "I'm just worried how long this'll all take."
"Don't worry. Today is the last day of the exhibition." Morgana assured
"Meaning tomorrow is the day he might confess." Shiho understood.
"If we are lucky." Ryuji added
"All of this, it's nerve-racking." Ann admitted as she rubbed her sleeve.
"I get it. It's not easy. I remember Kamoshida, but seeing him put in jail...it feels great." Shiho answered. She reached out and held Ann's hand, smiling
"Ah, jeez. This is embarrassing." Ryuji muttered to himself. "So, since school's gonna be out... wanna hang out, dude?"
"Sure, Ryuji." Ren answered "We have some business to take care of after all, right?"
"Yeah, exactly." Ryuji answered. "I'll bring your boyfriend back in one piece." He told both Shiho and Ann.
"You better." The two answered in a tone that actually had Ryuji feel a bit afraid
"Let's go." Ren patted his friend's back, leading the two away.
"Right." he nodded and followed
The two friends, and their cat, left the school and headed down into the train station.
*time skip*
Ryuji and Ren had arrived at a ramen restaurant, dressed in their casual clothing after stopping off at their houses for a quick change. "Okay, this is the place." Ryuji spoke up.
"Explain to me why we're doing this?" Ren asked curiously.
"You know the new gym teacher? How he's been 'looking after' us? He's a bad guy, he's almost as bad as Kamoshida." Ryuji explained.
"Say no more." Ren answered seriously. No hesitation, even for a moment. They had been planning this for a week or two in secret, ever since Ryuji got wind off another student
"Okay; remember the plan?" Ruiji asked.
"We go in. Spy on them. Get recordings and head out." Ren nodded as they entered and saw two people at two chairs.
"Shit!" Ryuji whispered in shock and fear. "I know that guy. I-I gotta-!"
"Bathroom. Head to the bathroom." Ren calmly instructed. "I'll handle this."
"Are you sure?" Ryuji asked
"You said it yourself. Explain over text." Ren reassured. "Table for two, please." He asked the waiter. "And where's the restroom?"
"Of course." The waiter answered, showing the way.
"Thanks." Ryuji sighed in relief and left, giving Ren much less restrictions and much more freedom to drop in on them.
As Ren sat down at the empty table next to the teachers, seeing the two talk. 'I better seem like I'm ordering to make sure.' He thought.
VRR!
Ren pulled out his phone and saw Ryuji's text.
The teacher who's with him has shit on me too. Sorry about bailing to the bathroom, but I can't let him see me.
Ren typed back, saying he understood and that it was his idea.
Okay, just leave your phone on so I can listen in.
Ren nodded as he responded. He then quickly phoned Ryuji and set it to speaker while turning the volume to zero before leaving his phone on and put it by his side, having the 'phone mode' on the main screen.
"Wow, hic you can hold your liquor, Yamauchi." The fellow teacher commented, a little tipsy already.
"Hmm. I've had some experience." Yamauchi responded confidently. "Back in my college days, we'd rent a yacht for the weekend and have massive parties. I must say though... the sake's been tasting particularly sweet lately." He smiled smugly.
'Oh god.' Ren's eyes rolled as he looked into the menu.
"No surprise there, things have been calmer without Kamoshida. Those were some dark times for Shujin though; huh?" The teacher responded. "But now that he's gone. How it's your time to shine; your chance that you deserve, Yamauchi!"
Yamauchi chuckled as he heard that with a victorius tone. "Don't flatter me. He had his strengths, sure... But that bastard. Because of him, our volleyball team will be forever scarred. The only real option now is to abandon it completely."
Ren's eyes widened as he heard this. They were going to drop the entire team? That... OH THAT ASSHOLE! Thy where going to DEAL with this!
"There's a way to bring Shujin back into the limelight though. That's where I come in." Yamauchi explained
"You mean with the track team, right?" The fellow teacher asked.
Ren's fist clenched under the table as Morgana was growling angrily but softly as he heard that. '... No!' he thought angrily
"The students who suffered under Kamoshida's brutal and horrifying ways will be saved by the rising caring new advisor. A rebirth of a team that clawed its way out of the depths of despair. The media, the public, they'll love it." Yamauchi answered. "Despite my knowledge of track and field, I'll form a tight bond with the students. I'll be the protagonist of my very own tear-jerker. And of course, all the praise for reviving them will go to me: their incredible, loving advisor. I'll need to hire a great coach in order to pull this off though."
Ren's anger began to rise as he heard all this. How low can this go? He saw the waiter coming over with the notepad in their hand and he silently asked for two bowls of the house ramen and water.
"You're going to pretend to coach the team while someone else does all the legwork? Amazing, Yamauchi!" The fellow, drunk, teacher quietly clapped and cheered.
"Such stunning achievements will look great when the time for bonuses comes around." Yamauchi smiled confidently as he praised himself.
Ren gulped to swallow his anger and fury. He could only imagine what Ryuji was going through right now.
"I won't stop there, either. I'll publish books, give motivational speeches..." Yamauchi began to list off, thinking about hisimagined future.
"But what about all the troublemakers on the team? The 'Nakaoka' kid is especially bad." The teacher asked
"'Nakaoka'? The student who wanted to bring the pre-Kamoshida coach back? Don't worry; I've taken care of that." Yamauchi answered confidently. "This other boy, Takeishi, he has nothing going for him. But the right words in his ear, making him team captain, we can get rid of Nakaoka...And I might've mentioned that Nakaoka was working with Kamoshida too." He rubbed under his nose. "Subtly, of course."
"And? What happened?" The drunk teacher asked
'That's what I want to know too.' Ren thought to himself.
"Apparently, Takeishi chased him away. The plan worked perfectly!" Yamauchi beamed happily. "And the best part is, Takeishi's parents are loaded and his mother's president of the PTA."
"So...he's a great pawn." The drunk teacher nodded
"Exactly; A nothing like him could never captain a successful championship-winning team. He might have an unfortunate 'accident' at practice one day. Until then, he can show the others the value of obedience." Yamauchi answered, before raising his hand to bring down the check. "Check please."
Ren was silent. His hand shaking in silent anger. 'Ryuji. Damn it.' He thought as the teachers left and Ryuji arrived just in time for their meals.
As Ryuji arrived to the table, Yamauchi and his 'friend' were long gone... and he looked like he had expended all his anger in the bathroom. He slumped down into his chair and looked down at the table. "... I. We gotta do something quick. Yamauchi's going to get rid of Takeishi too. God damnit!"
"... Should we change his heart?" Ren offered, thinking it would be the quickest way to end this.
"I really wanna. But that'd mess up the team's comeback. I don't want to add problems to that." Ryuji admitted. "So... They're gonna have to decide it on their own."
Ryuji rubbed the back of his head while the waiter came over with their meals. "Track's not a team sport... at least sprinting wasn't."
"What do you mean?" Ren asked
"You've got teammates, sure. But you're really just looking out for your own time." Ryuji explained. "That's why I never thought about asking people for help or tryin' to solve problems together. But this... I can't ignore it. Even if we had our own goals and shit, we were still runnin' together. We suffered together, gritted our teeth together. Honestly, because of them I was able to run at all. So. I ain't turning my back on them now. Right?" He smiled "I know it's not the coolest thing to say, but it's how I feel."
Ren sighed in relief and chuckled. "I think it's cool, Ryuji."
"W-wait, for real? Thanks man!" Ryuji double took in shock
Chariot: Rank 7!
"And... Thanks for ordering. The best thing I've seen other than the god-damn toilet." He chuckled.
"Itadakimasu." The two spoke together and tucked in.
*Time Skip*
Ren arrived home with sigh watching as Sojiro left. "Hi, Sojiro." He waved.
"Ah, have a good day?" He commented, seeing Ren's exhaustion and thought it was something fun.
"Yeah." he nodded weakly
"Ah, the joys of youth." Sojiro chuckled. "Try not to go to sleep too late."
"That's not a problem." Ren chuckled as he walked inside. "I think we have a good day coming tomorrow."
"If you say so. I'll see you tomorrow." Sojiro took his word for it and waved, heading back home.
"Night." Ren responded and locked the door behind him, walking calmly inside as Morgana leapt from his bag.
"Well, it's been a long day. Better go to bed." Morgan a stretched
"Yeah, I want to do-" Ren began
"Nope. No lockipcks tonight." Morgana deadpanned as he looked at his friend.
"Oh, come on." Ren groaned.
Morgana pointed with his paw. "Bed. Now."
Ren chuckled as he was being given orders by a cat of all things "Fine, fine." he smiled, scratching behind Morgana's ear. He couldn't argue with the figure who was basically his little brother
*time skip*
The group were hanging out in Shinjuku. The day had finally come. Madarame's confession. At least, they hoped that he was going to confess.
They where all together, a small cluster in the streets
"I have to be honest. It has been nerve-wracking since we did what we did." Yusuke commented as he was with his friends with the others nodding in agreement
"Look, we did what we could. We've just got to believe that it'll be alright." Shiho commented when, suddenly, the large TV screen turned on...
Revealing Madarame
CONFIDANT RECAP:
Fool: Rank 10
Magician: Rank 10
Chariot: Rank 7
Lovers: Rank 6
Lust: Rank 6
Strength: Rank 5
World: Rank 5
Death: Rank 4
Sun: Rank 4
Strength: Rank 5
Hierophant: Rank 3
Temperance: Rank 3
Emperor: Rank 2
Moon: Rank 2
Hanged-Man: Rank 1
