Disclaimer: I own neither My Hero Academia or the Persona series
Chapter 16
Each day that passed by with no word on Kamoshida's condition added to Izuku's building anxiety. At first he thought it would be only a few days before Kamoshida might confess to his crimes. Much to his chagrin, no one had heard so much as a peep from the perverted coach. Whenever he would ask Kawakami about it, she would simply answer that they had yet to hear any change in the coach's condition. Ryuji was feeling no better than Izuku, the two hardly able to even think of anything else even when they hung out together. Working out seemed like a decent distraction at first, but it did little to work out any of either teen's apprehension. Ann was constantly absent from the group as she was continuing her visits with Shiho each day. Morgana was the only one remaining positive at this point, trying in vain to suggest that their work was not for nothing.
So, hoping to give Izuku something else to think about, the feline suggested a change in setting.
"Do we really need to buy more medical supplies? The palace is gone now, after all." Izuku asked, looking at the cat resting on his shoulder in question.
"That may be so, but you still have to help me with my own goal, remember?" Morgana reminded him, crossing his paws over his shoulder. "When we're going to do that, we'll need more supplies. Of course, we'll wait until after Kamoshida confesses before making such an attempt, but it doesn't hurt to prepare while we have the free time to do so, right?"
"R-right… if he does confess…" Izuku mumbled with some doubt, causing the cat to groan.
"Come on, I told you to stop thinking like that. Kamoshida is going to confess. Keep thinking positive. We did everything right. Just keep having faith." Morgana said, trying to keep the green haired teen's hopes up. "Letting it eat at you all day isn't going to get you anywhere."
"I guess, it's just… hard not to think about it with what's at stake." Izuku said, giving Morgana a sideways frown. "But… back to what we were talking about, how are we going to go about helping you now that the palace is gone?"
"We'll save that discussion for another time. I want everyone to be around when I go into the details. It's a pretty complicated subject and we might as well save the explanation for Ryuji and Ann."
"Ah, that makes sense." Izuku hummed, holding his chin in thought as he looked down. "But with the few known details, I'm not sure how much supplies would be necessary to purchase now…"
"Well, at everyone's current level and factoring in the destination, I would say that so long as we stay mindful, we won't run into any trouble greater than what we encountered in the castle. Should be easier, in fact. No palace ruler and no treasure to be sought out."
"That definitely does make it easier. We'll just buy a few painkillers and perhaps some muscle relaxers. It's a good thing the medicine Takemi-sensei makes isn't addictive. It's pretty amazing that she makes her own medicine, really." Izuku mused aloud, thinking about the amount of medicine they all consumed without any habit forming side effects. Izuku had no doubt that it was thanks in part to her medicine that the group was able to finish their infiltration route as fast as they did.
"The good doctor sure knows what she's doing. It's nice to be able to get her medicine for our heists." Morgana hummed, a small but unmistakably sly smirk at the edge of his feline mouth. "Who knows… maybe over time she'll even give us that medicine we heard about?"
"Morgana-san, I already told you…" Izuku sighed, earning an eye roll from the cat.
"Yeah, yeah. You'd rather just get regular old medicine so that you don't raise suspicion, right? I got it." Morgana huffed out, Izuku only able to laugh sheepishly in response before turning his attention back forward.
"I know it sounds tempting, but what we did get should work just fine." Izuku reassured, turning a corner and arriving at the shabby clinic. "We were lucky to get what she gave us in the first place. I'd rather not push our luck."
"Okay, okay, you've made your point. While you're at it, try to find some medicine on her list that'll help Ryuji's head." Morgana said before tucking himself back within Izuku's bag. The green haired teen didn't bother with a retort, seeing Takemi behind her counter as he entered the clinic.
"Hello, Takemi-sensei." Izuku greeted, pulling the doctor's attention up to him. "Sorry if I'm bothering you again."
"Hardly. It's not like I have people lining up to see me." Takemi dryly joked, motioning with one arm to her empty waiting room. "I was wondering if you were going to come back. Did the medicine I provide come in handy?"
"Y-yes, it really did. I was able to get a lot of work done without too much hassle thanks to you." Izuku said, which was technically the truth. "That's why I thought I would come back and see if I could buy a bit more."
"Well, I'm glad to hear it helped out. Though to be honest I thought you would be asking for something else." Takemi said, flashing him a faint smile that caused Izuku to blink in question. "Alright then, go ahead to the waiting room. I'll see what I can do for you."
"Th-thank you, Takemi-sensei." Izuku said, giving a small bow of appreciation before walking into the waiting room and taking a seat in the guest chair. Morgana peeked an eye through the zipper of his school bag, curiously looking around the office.
"I have a feeling she knows we were listening that one time. Well, about you at least." Morgana whispered out, though Izuku quickly held a finger over his mouth.
"We don't know that for sure! And even if she does, I'm not going to-" Izuku said in a whisper before hearing the doorknob turn, quickly adjusting himself in his seat.
"Alright. As with last time, here's the list of medicine I can provide." Takemi said, holding a clipboard out for Izuku to take. As he reached for it though, Takemi quickly pulled it away, causing him to blink. "But first thing's first: I do have something I need to ask you about." she said, her expression looking stern as she suddenly turned the lock on the door behind her, resting her back against it as she stared Izuku down.
The green haired teen blinked owlishly up at Takemi, suddenly sweating bullets as he tried to grasp the situation. C-crap! She definitely knows! A-and she locked the door! That can't be a good sign! "Wh-wha-what about, Takemi-sensei?" Izuku asked shakily, his entire body trembling as he gave a fairly weak smile in a pathetic attempt to seem calm.
"The last time you were here, a doctor came in and talked to me just as you left." Takemi said, crossing her arms under her chest as she tilted her head to the side. "You were rather lackluster when it came to eavesdropping on us if you thought no one would notice. So tell me, what exactly did you hear?"
Izuku sighed in defeat, knowing that lying to her was pretty much futile at this point. Scratching the back of his head, Izuku let his gaze fall to the ground. "Well… just about all of it… I'm sorry. I just got really curious, is all…"
Takemi raised a brow, humming in response as she tapped her chin with a pen. "Curiosity killed the cat, you know." Izuku could hear the faintest peep of fear from Morgana, "But I guess its natural for someone your age to be curious about it. I just suspected that the reason you would come back would be to find out about the medicine."
"N-no, Takemi-sensei! That's not it at all!" Izuku quickly dismissed, waving his arms around. "F-from what he was saying, they just sounded like rumors! I-I was happy with what you gave me before and wouldn't bother you with something that's just made up!"
Takemi raised a brow, letting out a low hum of understanding. "I see. Color me surprised as most would have assumed such rumors were true. Most walk in here because they think I'm some evil mastermind that's concocting these miracle drugs left and right. Though I suppose in this particular situation, they would be right."
Izuku blinked, looking up at Takemi in shock. "R-really? You… actually have made a drug like what the doctor mentioned..?"
"That's correct. It still needs some testing, but so far the samples I've put out have been successful. Though to be honest, I've been meaning to toss that medicine out anyways. I was a little eccentric with its creation. The other problem is that I lack a guinea pig for any further tests…" Takemi trailed off, her last sentence more to herself than to Izuku. Looking back at him from the side, Takemi gave a small smirk. "Would you like to get such a drug for your 'studies'?"
Izuku widened his eyes at the offer, opening his mouth to reply before hesitating. His brow knitted in thought, tilting his head down and holding his chin as he began to think it over. "As amazing as something like that might be, I doubt I could afford it with what money I have. Prescription drugs are never cheap. I can barely afford what drugs I've purchased so far. Getting only one would really be a waste as well because that would mean it's only good for one use. Still, I can't help but be curious as to what benefits could be gained from such a supplement…"
"Wow. And people say I'm a quack." Takemi giggled suddenly, dragging Izuku back to reality and causing him to fluster up. She pushed off the door and unlocked it, seeing no further reason for her interrogation. "You're not wrong about the price, though. You could buy a cheap car for the cost of this drug. It might take you a while to save up money for that, even with a part time job."
"Yeah, and I don't have a job either." Izuku sighed in resignation, his previously budding curiosity over Takemi's superdrug beginning to wane.
"Don't have a job, huh? Are you in any clubs, perhaps?" Takemi asked, to which Izuku shook his head. "What do you do when you're not working on exams? Or are you just constantly studying?"
"N-no, nothing like that, I just…" Izuku felt a bead of sweat trail down his brow, unsure how to answer that. He couldn't say he was invading the cognition of a perverted school coach, after all. "... just studying, working out, hanging out with my friends… n-nothing of note…"
"I see. Would you say you're too busy for a part time job, then?" Takemi asked further, causing Izuku to raise a brow.
"Well… no, I guess not. I have some spare time for one here and there… why do you ask?"
Takemi stared at Izuku in silence for a moment before her gaze lazily trailed to the side as if pondering her next words carefully. "Oh, why not…" She muttered to herself before looking up at Izuku. "Then how would you like a job here at my clinic?"
Izuku blinked, completely shocked by the offer to say the least. "R-really? You want me to work here?"
"To be honest, I've been looking for someone around your age to help me out. But help has been hard to find, even when I've put ads up for the job. You look pretty healthy, and you say you work out on occasion, so I can assume you have a bit of stamina, at least. But before I get ahead of myself, do you think you'd be interested?" Takemi asked, crossing her arms under her chest.
Izuku wasn't sure how they had gotten to this point, blinking at Takemi for a moment. Looking down at his feet, Izuku started to think over the offer. It would be good to have another means of income, he supposed. And it would definitely make access to Takemi's medicine much simpler. "I… wouldn't be able to come in all the time…"
"That's fine. Just come in when you feel like. I won't tie you down with a set schedule." Takemi waved off casually.
"... what exactly would I be doing?"
"You'll find out after you pass my own little exam." Takemi suggested, a small smirk of amusement playing on her lips. "I don't want to scare you off before we even start, do I?"
Izuku began to sweat again, knowing that Takemi was only saying such things to scare him. Though it was very much working. "... O-okay… I'll do it." He finally agreed, deciding to take the plunge and dive in. This could be fairly beneficial to their work in the Metaverse, whatever Morgana might have planned for them. There were definitely benefits to accepting this position.
"Alright, then. Now before we get started, do you have any health problems I should know about? Allergies or heart conditions?" Takemi asked, causing Izuku stare in disbelief.
"N-no… why would you need to know that?"
"Oh, you'll see. I'll be right back." Takemi chuckled with a bit of veiled mischief, causing Izuku to begin rethinking this newfound job.
"See, Izuku? I told you coming here was a good idea!" Morgana whispered out from his bag, peeking his snout out.
"We'll see about that… I still don't know what she wants me to do…" Izuku pointed out, gulping his building spit as he waited for her nervously. Takemi was back a moment later, bringing a tray of slim vials containing some unknown liquids inside. She set the tray down and lined the vials up on a stand in single file.
"Do you… want me to drink those?" Izuku asked, unsure of the idea of drinking the contents of unmarked test tubes. Takemi seemed like an… okay person, but Izuku had some reservations when it came to what he put in his body.
"Yes and no. First I have to mix them up. To do that… I use my Quirk." Takemi explained, uncapping each vial before dipping her fingers in each one. Izuku widened his eyes as he saw the liquids drain, each one soaking into her fingertips like a sponge. Once they were emptied of their contents, Takemi held up her hand to show Izuku. "You can call me a bit of a human sponge. Though liquids I absorb only remain in the skin of my palm and fingers. A bit bizarre, isn't it?" she chuckled, looking at her hand and flexing her fingers. Each liquid could be seen moving around in her fingers and palm like a waterbed jiggling around. "I can make sure to absorb the exact amount needed and mix as I please. I don't feel the effects of whatever I soak in, even if it's something like poison. I think that's about done…" She muttered, holding up a measuring cup in her opposite hand before squeezing her hand gently. The now combined liquid was wrung out like a wet towel, all of its contents emptying into the beaker.
"All done. Now…" Takemi stretched her arm forward, holding the cup out for Izuku to take. "Drink up."
Izuku looked down at the cup slowly before looking back up at Takemi, his eyes as wide as plates as he took the beaker in his shaky grasp. "Eh?"
"Come, now. If you're going to be working for me, you're going to have to drink obscure and unknown medicines like this. Your primary job is being a test subject, after all." Takemi explained, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs. "Is that too tough for you?"
"B-but you… but I… you just… I… your hand…" Izuku sputtered out almost incoherently, the implications both worrying and a bit flustering for the green haired teen, looking between the doctor and the cup in his hand with no small amount of nervousness. There was no doubt that drinking the unknown medicine was worrying in and of itself for Izuku, but there was also the fact that Takemi had literally mixed them within her hand. Right in front of him. A very dizzying idea for the teen.
"My hand?" Takemi repeated with a raised brow before realization dawned on her. "Oh~, I see. You seem like the type to have trouble with girls. I can see how this might be a bit much for you." She chuckled teasingly, her words causing Izuku's cheeks to flare up. "If it's any consolation, none of my blood or actual skin touches the medicine. The pouches in my hand are different from the rest of my body. So really… there's only a small taste of me in the medicine."
"Wh-why did you have to word it like that?!" Izuku exclaimed as his face was quite literally steaming now. Takemi could only giggle as her amusement seemed to increase from his reaction.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it. With your personality, you make it fairly easy." Takemi said, a small smirk at the edge of her peach lips. "But all joking aside, this will be part of your work here. I need to know you're willing to be my test subject. Being roundabout with it won't do either of us any favors. If its too much for you, feel free to hand me back the cup."
Izuku bit his bottom lip, looking back down at the medicine in hand. There were quite a few things strange about this situation no matter how he looked at it. Trying not to focus on the fairly forward teasing from the doctor, there was still much to be feared when it came to the medicine. He doubted that the doctor would give him something potentially fatal, but he wouldn't rule out some sort numbing medicine as a sort of joke.
"Go on. I'm waiting." Takemi further egged him on, not bothering to hide her amusement as she chuckled.
Even so… if we're going to need her medicine in the future, it might be the best way to keep our relationship functioning. Izuku mused to himself, inhaling a deep breath as he summoned his courage. I-I'll do it! We're going to need this medicine! I'll-
"Thank you for the drink!"
With those words, Izuku quickly chugged the medicine. His eyes tightened as he tasted the sour and bitter medicine. It was definitely a bit off putting, but it wasn't unbearable for Izuku. When he was sure that the beaker was empty, he lowered the drink and took a deep breath, trying his best to ignore the taste on his tongue.
"Okay… wow." Takemi mumbled, her own expression fairly stumped by his sudden bravery. "You actually drank it… color me impressed because I honestly didn't think you had the guts to do it. You're definitely braver than I thought… or dumber."
"I… I would like to keep purchasing what I can from you. It's fairly important, Takemi-sensei." Izuku admitted, setting the beaker down. "Do I pass the test?"
Takemi stared at him for a moment longer before raising a brow. "I suppose you do. To have no reaction yet is a bit impressive as well. I guess you're a bit tougher than you look."
"Ye-yeah, I guess-wait…" Izuku blinked, looking back up at Takemi with owlish eyes. "Reaction?"
*BADUMP*
The most nauseating smell suddenly filled Izuku's senses. The scent was so strong that it filled all of his senses. His entire world started to spin before his eyes, his head thrown into turmoil as he was unable to think straight. It was one of the most unpleasant feelings in Izuku's life. But thankfully for him, his mind was going blank and after a small tumble out of his chair, his vision started to go dark. As unconsciousness soon took him, he heard the doctor utter one line before fading to black:
"Oh… um… game over, I guess…"
The moment Izuku began to wake up, he could still feel his head spinning. Opening his eyes, he had trouble focusing his vision at first but not for long. It started to become clear, the first thing he could see being a white ceiling above him.
"Finally awake?" Takemi's voice echoed, causing the green haired teen to crane his head to the right and see the doctor sitting at her desk. She was currently typing away at her computer, looking back at him in the corner of her eye. "Good to have you back. And here I thought you might have actually died."
"Wh-what?" Izuku mumbled out in shock, only for Takemi to quietly laugh.
"I'm kidding. Though you were definitely in a short coma after ingesting the medicine." The doctor admitted, causing the green haired teen to stare at her nervously. "You did wake up a couple times, in case you forgot. You just fell back asleep right after."
"I… I don't remember…" Izuku admitted, rubbing his face as he sat up on the comforter and slouched over his knees. "How long was I out?"
"Only a couple hours. Nothing to be worried about." Takemi said, spinning in her chair to face him and crossing her legs. "In case you were wondering, it was the smell of the medicine that caused you to faint. Once the liquids hit your gastric acid, it produces a foul smell similar to Surstromming."
"The smell..?" Izuku repeated, some of his memory of his apparent knock-out coming back. The smell was gone, but the memory of it filling his nostrils and mouth were enough to cause him to shudder, his face going pale. "I-it was really foul… I've never smelled something that bad in my life… or had it knock me out for that matter…"
"Well perhaps you could have avoided that had you not taken that drink." Takemi pointed out, her brow hardening as she sighed. "Are you out of your mind? We've met only twice before this and you just accept some strange medicine from me? Only an idiot would drink that."
"I-I… I just wanted to show you how serious I was. Getting the medicine really helps." Izuku explained, his gaze falling to the ground. Taking the leap of faith he made was rather reckless without full disclosure of the consequences. But if it meant being able to further support the group with the necessary medicine, Izuku was willing to take the leap.
Takemi studied him for a moment, biting on the edge of her pen in thought. "Fine. Whatever you say." She said, sounding only half convinced of his answer but accepting it regardless. "What matters is that, thanks to your reckless stunt, I was able to gather some valuable data."
"Wait, th-that wasn't just a joke by you?" Izuku asked, blinking in mild surprise.
"Not at all. I needed to see what you'd be willing to do if you were going to take the job. But I also needed to test that. So I decided to kill two birds with one stone." Takemi explained, leaning forward as she jotted down some notes. "That's why I waited for you to wake up. If our little experiment hasn't scared you off, you've got the job."
While Izuku wasn't sure how he felt about getting rendered unconscious, it was his own fault for jumping in head first. "Thank you, Takemi-sensei… is there anything I need to know?"
"Yes. I don't want my original medicines to be known by the general public. Whatever testing we do stays between the two of us. You're strictly prohibited from disclosing our tests to anyone… understood?"
"Y-yes, sensei."
"Good. With that said, I'll pay you for each clinical trial you partake in and, so long as you get them from me, I'll discount the medicine you purchase." Takemi said, causing Izuku to widen his eyes in shock.
"R-really? You'd do that on top of paying me?" Izuku asked, shocked but no less thankful.
"That's right. In fact, if you stick through it long enough I may even add more medicine to the list of what you can buy. But considering how stupidly brave you are, I have a feeling you will." Takemi chuckled, but offering the slightest smile of assurance. Izuku couldn't help but smile as well, bowing his head in appreciation.
"Thank you for the opportunity, Takemi-sensei!"
"Don't thank me just yet. You'll have to survive through the future testing to come, after all." Takemi teased, causing Izuku to sweat a bit at the promise. "But you've been full of surprises since we've met. I'm sure you're tough enough to push through."
Despite the cryptic nature of her words, Izuku couldn't stop smiling. With this arrangement, he would be able to provide more medicine for the group in the future. And with the promise of even more medicine available, Izuku couldn't be happier with the results of coming here today.
*SMASH*
The darkening vision and the cracking chains in his ear pulled Izuku from his thoughts, suddenly reminding him of another advantage gained from this deal.
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Death Persona,
I have obtained the winds of Blessing
that shall lead to freedom and new power…
A card bearing the title of Death appeared before him, fading away as time resumed. Izuku could only sigh, unsure how often the arcana formations would keep materializing like this. Still, there was nothing he could complain about. In this case, Takemi was benefiting from this as much as he was. Not to mention the fact that he would still be taking such sketchy medicine in exchange.
"Alright, with that all settled, you can head home for the day." Takemi said, beginning to turn in her chair back to her computer. "I look forward to continue working together, my little guinea pig." She said, giving him a sideways smirk before chuckling.
"G-guinea pig?!" Izuku exclaimed, the word reminding him of a certain eccentric UA engineer.
Despite the temporary coma that he had been put in, Izuku wasn't feeling too bad after leaving Takemi's clinic. If he didn't have to be home by a specific time, he'd likely be willing to go out and do something. "Maybe if Sakura-san lets me, I can go out for a jog…" He muttered, holding his chin as he looked down in thought.
"You could always just do some muscle training. But I can see how you'd feel pretty limited in that room. You don't have any workout equipment aside from those dumbbells." Morgana hummed in thought. As they rounded the corner toward home, Morgana made sure to stuff himself away into his bag. Pushing open the door leading inside the cafe, Izuku was mildly surprised to see a now slouching Sojiro leaning on the edge of his bar, weariness evident in his posture and movement. He looked up at Izuku, his face both tired and thankful.
"Goodness, I thought you were another customer…" Sojiro muttered, pushing up from the counter and sighing. "I am just about ready to call it a day and it's not even closing time…"
"Are you okay, Sakura-san? You look tired." Izuku asked curiously, having yet to see the coffee shop owner in such a state. "Did something happen?"
"Nothing bad, technically. I just had a strange flux in customers today happen all at once." Sojiro admitted, bending backward and stretching his spine with a satisfying crack. "It's happened before, but its not common enough that I'm prepared. Guess I've gotten a little too used to the complacency that this shop is used to seeing." rolling his neck, Sojiro let out a yawn. "Mind watching the shop for me for a quick sec? I'm gonna go get some smokes from the corner store. I'll make sure to set it to closed until I get back."
"Oh, no problem, Sakura-san. I can do that for you." Izuku agreed, setting his bag gently down on one of the stools by the bar.
"Thanks. I won't be long, so just keep an eye out." Sojiro nodded in appreciation, moving around the bar and heading out the door.
Izuku moved to the inside of the bar, taking a good look around as he leaned against the wood. "It's strange but this bar is actually kind of comfortable to stand in."
"It is a cozy little place. I can see how the boss would prefer to have a quiet crowd rather than a bunch of people taking up the entire shop." Morgana said, popping out of the bag and looking around. Izuku took a small look around, his eyes grazing over the kitchen. Looking at the sink, he could see a stack of cups and plates inside, pushing off the bar and moving into the kitchen.
"Wow, he really was busy today. I haven't seen so many dishes stacked up in here before."
"Do you know how to make coffee? I've been pretty curious about tasting it since I've started living here." Morgana asked curiously, watching as Izuku rolled up his sleeves.
"Not with the equipment Sakura-san has. His looks more professional than anything I've ever worked." Izuku said, giving an apologetic smile to the cat. He grabbed an apron from the counter and wrapped it around his waist. "Would you mind letting me know if Sakura-san arrives? I'm going to wash some of these for him."
"That's awful kind of you. Trying to get some points with the boss?" Morgana smiled, his tail wagging back and forth.
"Nothing like that. He just seems tired enough, so I'm sure he doesn't want to do these on top of everything." Izuku dismissed, grabbing a sponge and a bottle of soap and filling the sink with water to soak the dishes in. "He was kind enough to take me in and gave me the chance to keep going to school. It's the least I can do for him."
"I guess that doesn't surprise me. You're that kind of person, after all." Morgana chuckled, crossing his paws under him as he watched the green haired teen start cleaning.
"In other news, Heroes begin to watch the trains for any suspicious activity after several unexplained crashes."
Morgana's ears perked up, eyes glancing up at the television hanging in the corner of the bar. Izuku continued to wash the dishes, but he tilted his head ever so slightly to the side to listen better.
"The train drivers experienced some unexplained mental breakdowns in the middle of their shifts, causing the trains to crash with great property damage and injury to many of those onboard or in the station. It's still undetermined whether it was the cause of some Quirk or mere happenstance."
"I've been hearing about that everywhere. I hope no one was too seriously hurt…" Izuku murmured from the kitchen, focusing back on the dishes in hand.
"It's a miracle no one's been killed so far. There's definitely something suspicious about the number of occurrences and the mental breakdowns that each driver suffers while at the wheel. It would probably make a great target for the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, don't you think?"
"That's if someone is really behind it. Though the chances are pretty high. But with all the attention going to it, I'm sure the heroes will figure it out." Izuku suggested hopefully, putting each dish in the drying rack.
"At least they're reliable with the things that they can't ignore…" Morgana offhandedly remarked, causing Izuku to pause.
"I-I know that they've been absent in the case with Kamoshida but its not their fault Morgana-san. A lot of things factored into it…" Izuku rebutted, feeling a bit defensive over the statement.
"I'm sure there are, but because of their absence, we were forced to take the route we did. We had to step up when no one else would for the students under Kamoshida." Morgana reasoned, causing Izuku to shift uncomfortably.
"I-I know, but… heroes still do a lot of good. But they can't be everywhere, Morgana-san. And they don't know every terrible thing done in the world." Izuku said, causing Morgana to hum.
"I suppose so. But perhaps that can be our objective from here on." Morgana declared, causing Izuku to blink and turn back to him. "If they are the heroes of the seen, we can be the heroes of the unseen."
"What do you mean?" Izuku asked curiously, but before Morgana could give him an answer, the front bell of the coffee shop rang. The cat quickly ducked back into the bag and Izuku peeked his head out of the kitchen to see who it was. As expected, Sojiro walked in with a lit cigarette in his mouth. "O-oh, hey Sakura-san. Just give me a minute, I'm halfway through."
"Gotcha, I appreciate-wait what?" Sojiro blinked, walking around the bar to look inside the kitchen. "You're… doing the dishes?"
"You looked like you had a tough day, so I thought I would chip in. I hope you don't mind." Izuku explained, shooting him a small smile before focusing back on the dishes. Sojiro watched him for a moment, as if in a state of disbelief though Izuku couldn't imagine why.
"Well, if you feel so inclined, go right ahead. I appreciate it, kid." Sojiro slowly said, moving to the inside of the bar and working on the smoke in his hand. "Let me know when you're done and I'll take a look at your work. I have to make sure they're cleaned thoroughly, okay?"
"Understood." Izuku continued from there, making sure to be as thorough as needed be. It didn't take long for him to finish up, untying his apron and ushering Sojiro to come and check the dishes for himself.
"Not bad at all. You did a good job." Sojiro admitted, flashing Izuku a faint smile. "It might not seem like a lot of work, but it certainly took a load off my back. Thanks for the help."
"I don't mind helping when I can. Just ask me if you need something, Sakura-san." Izuku said, reaching over and grabbing his book bag, preparing to go back up the stairs.
"Hm. I might have to take you up on that offer, kid." Sojiro chuckled, putting out his cigarette as he spoke. "How are things going at school?"
"O-oh, just fine… still trying to fit in I guess…" Izuku mumbled sheepishly, unsure if informing him of his current situation was the best idea. It definitely didn't seem like something the coffee shop owner wanted to hear about.
"Good. So long as things go without too much noise with you, I won't complain." Sojiro said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Just keep from making any reckless heroics again and we should be fine. But as things stand, I'm a pretty busy man. I have to report to your parole officer twice a month, manage the shop and some personal concerns to worry about of my own. So having you pitch in with the dishes or perhaps cleaning the floor would certainly make it easier on me."
"I can help out more if you'd like. In fact, do you want me to clean anything else right now?" Izuku asked, eyes glazing over the tables of the shop.
"Not right now, but thanks. You doing the dishes was good enough for today." Sojiro reassured, giving him a small smile. "I know that you're going to be busy with a few of your own things as the school year goes on, so I won't ask you to do some work every day. But what little you can do would definitely help. Of course I won't ask you to do this for free, though I can't rightly pay you…"
"Don't worry about that, Sakura-san, I-"
"Nonsense. You might be well meaning kid, but don't let yourself get conned by others into doing stuff for free all the time. People will abuse that kindness until you've rightly run out." Sojiro cut him off, shaking his head. "I know you might feel some obligation to help since I took you in, but I get paid for it by the state. It's not like I'm getting nothing out of the deal. So in exchange for what help you can give me, how about I…" Sojiro looked around the shop before an idea suddenly came to him, smiling confidently. "Then I'll teach you how to make the perfect cup of coffee. Not a bad deal, eh?"
Izuku opened his mouth, tempted to offer without such a payment before stopping himself. Sojiro had made it clear he would rather give him something over nothing, and would likely not take no for an answer. Sparing a glance at the curious beakers that Sojiro brewed his coffee in, Izuku returned his smile.
"Okay. I'll try to learn what I can from you, Sakura-san." Izuku said, reaching a hand out to shake.
"Alright, then. We have a deal." Sojiro chuckled, reaching out and taking Izuku's hand into a firm shake.
*SMASH*
Izuku released a breath, half expecting the link to be formed this time.
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Hierophant Persona,
I have obtained the winds of Blessing
that shall lead to freedom and new power…
Izuku watched as a new card materialized before his eyes, but paid it little mind. With this new bond formed, the green haired teen was beginning to understand what the requirements were to have a Confidant Link established. Igor and the twins words were beginning to make more sense. So it starts with something mutually beneficial… but its development into something more is what is more personal?
"You alright? You look a bit dazed." Sojiro asked, raising a brow curiously and bringing Izuku back from his mess of thoughts.
"O-oh, it's nothing. I'm gonna head to bed, Sakura-san. I'll see you later." Izuku quickly said, excusing himself and leaving the shopkeeper to his work.
"Sure, see you later." was his response, Sojiro simply shrugging off his odd behavior. Izuku marched up the stairs and headed straight for his bed, gently setting down his school bag next to him as he sat down. Morgana popped his head out, beginning to climb out of the bag and take a seat.
"Freedom~! I'm getting used to staying in the bag for so long, but nothing beats being able to stretch out." Morgana chuckled, stretching his forepaws forward on the bed before looking back up at Izuku. The green haired teen seemed to be deep in thought, causing the cat to tilt his head. "Something bothering you? Or is it the usual Kamoshida anxiety?"
"Hm? Oh, no, not that. I just…" Izuku wasn't sure how to describe it. These relationships that he had established were not purely for the benefit of their Confidant Link. That was never even at the forefront of his mind until the strange oath echoed in his ears. But with their establishment, it made Izuku feel like he was just using those he had forged a Link with. This, coupled with the fact that he had so few people he could call his friends in the past, was making him overthink it all. His experience with others outside of his mother, Makoto and Katsuki was fairly limited. So all of these different links being established so closely was becoming another source of anxiety.
"Am I… making real relationships with those around me?" Izuku muttered out, unable to find any other way to describe the questions scratching at his brain currently.
"Of course you are. Why wouldn't they be real?" Morgana asked in confusion, causing the green haired teen to breath out.
"I… I don't know… it's nothing." Izuku sighed, unsure if explaining the Confidant Links right now was the right thing to do. He wanted to tell the others about it as well.
"Look, the deal with the doctor and the boss aren't out of sole benefit to you. It's a mutual benefit." Morgana reminded him, his tail wagging behind him as he spoke. "You're a smart guy Izuku, but you definitely overthink things sometimes. Ryuji and Ann look to you because they trust you. Because we all know that you're genuinely concerned and kind. Whatever doubts you have about the friends around you, you need to shut them out. Heck, sometimes friendships start out with mutually beneficial deals, don't you think?"
"... You think so?" Izuku muttered, looking back down at the cat in thought.
"Of course! If you want an example, me and you fit the mold perfectly. Sure, I started our partnership purely for the advantage of gaining another Pesona user in my quest. But at this point, I can hardly call you just a partner. I think it's safe to say we're friends at this point, right?" Morgana asked, causing Izuku's expression to brighten as he looked down at the cat.
"Morgana-san…"
"Of course, our deal is still in place and I plan to benefit from your help, but that doesn't mean we're not friends." Morgana chuckled, somewhat shattering the image of kindness he had painted with his words for Izuku. Still, the green haired teen was touched by his words, thankful for the cat's reassurance.
"You're right. I do overthink a lot of things… I'll try to get rid of any future doubt." Izuku declared, flashing a grateful smile at the cat. "Thank you, Morgana-san."
"No problem… now be a pal and get me some milk and tuna, would you?"
Izuku almost fell flat on his face from the request, but merely gave a sheepish laugh before doing as the cat asked.
"Geez… over a week now and still nothin' on Kamoshida." Ryuji complained, yawning loudly as he walked in line with Izuku to school.
"Today was supposed to be when he was going to expel us, too. At least that isn't happening as far as we can tell, but… its about to be a week long break. Which means if he does decide to confess, we won't know until we're back from break." Izuku hummed, rubbing his right arm anxiously.
"How the hell are we gonna even enjoy the break if we're worryin' about it?! Damn it, this effin' sucks…" Ryuji grumbled bitterly, slouching over as he walked.
"Hey, guys." The two heard Ann call out to them, both boys turning back to see the platinum blonde approach. She quickly stepped in line on Izuku's left, now matching their pace. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, the usual depressin' crap. Just how silent that bastard Kamoshida has been since we took him down." Ryuji said, causing Ann to chuckle.
"I honestly think you guys are worrying too much. I decided to stop worrying and keep believing." Ann declared, causing the two teens to perk up in surprise.
"See? At least Lady Ann is having faith." Morgana said, his voice muffled through the bag's zipper. There were too many students around for him to poke his head out.
"You've been in a pretty good mood every time we see ya." Ryuji commented, showing a bit of surprise in his voice.
"It's been that way since Suzui-sempai woke up, right? How is she doing?" Izuku asked with a small smile.
"I'll admit, it's been rough on her. Recovery girl has been there almost every day for a check up. She's still pretty down, but she's pushing through." Ann said, looking forward as they approached the school. "I'm just happy to see her up and alive. Once Recovery Girl is satisfied, she'll be ready to move again."
"That's good to hear. I'm glad that bastard couldn't take her away from you." Ryuji suggested, giving Ann an encouraging grin. "Let her know we're all hopin' she's back on her feet soon."
"I will, thanks. Maybe when the time is right, we can all do something with her together." Ann suggested, earning nods of acceptance from Izuku and Ryuji. "I don't see it happening very soon, but I'll try to have her keep an open mind." The three turned through the front gates, climbing the stairs and approaching the main hall. As they opened the doors though, they could see a crowd of students being herded together, causing them to blink in confusion.
"The hell's goin' on?" Ryuji asked, only for Izuku and Ann to remain silent, both equally oblivious.
"Hey, you three. Get moving." They turned to see Kawakami approaching them, the tired looking teacher waving for them to move forward. "The first half of first period is going to replaced by a morning assembly. Please head to the gymnasium with the other students."
"Wh-what's the assembly for, sensei?" Izuku asked, turning to Kawakami in question.
"Not sure. Though if I had to hazard a guess, it's likely related to what happened with Suzui." Kawakami explained, releasing a tired sigh. "I'm sure it's strange to have to do this on the day before break, but the principal wants to keep student morale up. Just bear with it so you can all go on with your day, okay?" with that, Kawakami walked past them, calling out for students at the entrance to head to the gymnasium.
"Tch. An assembly to keep morale up. I bet the principal thinks somethin' like this can help him clear his conscience for not doin' shit." Ryuji huffed out in contempt.
"Forget it, Ryuji. They were bound to do this after what happened. I hate it too, but like Kawakami said, just grin and bear with it." Ann sighed, her mood suddenly soured by the idea of attending an assembly like that. Izuku remained silent, no less enthused than either of his friends about attending the assembly than either of them. Following the crowd to the gymnasium, the three stuck together as they found a spot to stand. The assembly was truly a last minute decision, as there weren't even seats for any of the students to sit. The three remained silent, having nothing to say as they waited for the assembly to start and end.
"Do they really need this? I get it, a girl just jumped off the roof, but its not like they need to have some big talk about it. Not like it would do any good." A random student commented with a huff, causing Ann to wince slightly. Izuku and Ryuji shot her a concerned glance, but she merely shook her head, signaling that she'd make it through just fine.
Izuku didn't bother her any further, deciding to glance around the gymnasium for nothing in particular to kill time. Some ways away, he spotted Mishima with his head tilted down miserably. It seems he was in no mood to enjoy the assembly anymore than they were. Izuku moved on from the average looking teen, continuing to look around before his eyes landed on a certain brunette. His eyes lit up somewhat, swallowing a lump in his throat. It had been some time since they last talked. Makoto had been avoiding him since their previous talk, obviously upset at being kept in the dark for so long. Izuku couldn't blame her, part of him regretting the fact that he had in the first place. Maybe I have waited too long to tell her…
Her gaze seemed to move around the gymnasium as well, the third year likely no more thrilled than he was. Before he knew it, their gazes met, causing Izuku to visibly fidget in place. Raising a hand, Izuku shakily waved at the third year, hoping for some sign that maybe she was now over it. That hope was immediately dashed when Makoto narrowed her eyes, quickly turning her head away from him and closing her eyes. The green haired teen's shoulders slumped in depression, his gaze cast to the ground.
"Pretty rough, man. But I'm sure she'll get over it." Ryuji chuckled, reaching over and gripping his shoulder in reassurance.
"So long as you tell her the truth. Any less and I have no doubt she'll feel inclined to ignore you." Ann added in thought, not thinking before she spoke.
"Thanks guys…" Izuku muttered, their words hardly doing anything to reassure him.
"Attention, everyone. Attention. Today's morning assembly is now underway." Kobayakawa announced from the stage, tapping on his microphone to grab the students attention. Slowly the students began to quiet down, allowing for the principal to speak. "Thank you. I know that the past few weeks have been a bit strange for us all, but I wanted to bring you all here to give you some encouragement."
"You wouldn't need this shit if you did somethin'..." Ryuji growled bitterly under his breath, Ann nudging him to make sure he wouldn't keep talking.
"In fact, I bring good news regarding Shiho Suzui. Thanks to her strength of heart and to the hard work of rescue hero Recovery Girl, Suzui-san is on her way to making a full recovery." Kobayakawa announced, spurning a small bit of chatter and cheer among the crowd of students. Ann was at least thankful for some of the support she heard from the students around them. "But let us not forget the tragedy that could have ended much worse. With Suzui-san's survival, I implore you all to keep your heads up and-"
*SKREE~*
The principal paused for a moment, heads turning to the side as the gymnasium entrance opened suddenly and very loudly. Tilting their heads to the side, Izuku, Ryuji and Ann immediately inhaled a breath. At the entrance of the gym, none other than Suguru Kamoshida stood there. His expression was tired and depressed, bags under his eyes like he hadn't slept in days.
"K-Kamoshida-san? What are you doing here?" Kobayakawa asked, almost as if forgetting that he was still speaking on the mic.
"I've… come to terms with what I am." Kamoshida declared, slowly looking up at the crowd of students. "And in doing so, I have decided to admit to my crimes. To every single one of you."
Murmurs of confusion erupted through the gymnasium, though the three phantom thieves responsible could only watch him in disbelief. To see him here after waiting for so long felt like a strange dream. They spared one another a glance before quickly following his movements toward the stage. Ann blinked, a thought suddenly occurring to her. She fished her phone from her pocket, quickly searching through her contacts.
"What are you doin'?" Ryuji asked in a whisper, eyes darting back and forth between Ann and Kamoshida.
"If this bastard is doing what I think, then there's someone who needs to see this above anyone else." Ann declared, quickly tapping the number on her phone and activating her video chat. Izuku and Ryuji immediately knew who she was referring to, watching her screen as they waited for an answer.
"Ann? Is that you?" Shiho's tired voice yawned through the speaker of Ann's phone. Izuku and Ryuji couldn't see much, but they could see she was still in a hospital bed. "Why are you calling me so-"
"Shh." Ann hushed her, putting a finger to her lips. Shiho blinked on the other end in confusion but waited patiently. Tapping on the settings of her phone, the view of Ann's phone flipped, switching from facing her to facing forward, now showing Shiho Kamoshida on stage. The brunette gasped in disbelief, her body tensing as she saw him. But much to her confusion, she couldn't help but wonder: why was Kamoshida on his knees? Before a crowd of students no less.
"I… I've done terrible things to many different students. All for my own sick personal enjoyment…" Kamoshida declared, gasps of shock sounding through the crowd as murmurs of confusion began to pick up. Shiho remained silent, but her eyes could be seen widening in disbelief ever so slowly. "Verbally and physically abusing students both on and off my volleyball team… sexually harassing female students who couldn't fight back…" his voice started to crack, his words trembling as he spoke. "I… I even sexually assaulted a student, much to my shame. It… it's because of me that Shiho Suzui tried to kill herself."
The murmurs rose in volume, sounds of shock and disgust echoing through the gymnasium. Izuku could hardly believe his ears. When Morgana said that Kamoshida would confess to his sins, he hadn't realized to what extent he meant. Hearing and seeing the perverted coach now, it was almost like something he could only imagine happening. Heck, even a Quirk with mental manipulation could never be so accurate. At least as far as any recorded Quirks had gone. He spared a glance at Makoto to see her reaction. Much like he was, she could only stare at Kamoshida in disbelief, her jaw slack as she processed exactly what was happening on stage.
"I… I had made this school into my place to rule. The only students willing to stand up to me, I-I promised to expel! But of course I-I won't pursue such selfish thoughts." Kamoshida continued, Ryuji and Izuku immediately feeling a small sense of relief overcome them. Though at this point, any expulsion put forth by Kamoshida would mean nothing either way.
"I… I'm so sorry for the terrible things I've put students through. I'm a cruel, shallow and… and a hateful man. No… no I'm worse than that. I'm not a man. I'm just… scum." Kamoshida broke down, his head hitting the wooden floor of the stage as he trembled. "I… I will take responsibility for my actions and… will kill myself to serve as penance. Perhaps that will… be enough to make up for my crimes." Those words immediately roused the entire crowd to almost an uproar. Many were calling him names and shaming him, while others would spew out their personal disgust of the coach. Izuku though could only tremble in fear. Kamoshida killing himself in response to those thoughts really was no better than killing him through a mental breakdown. No… was it a mistake after all? Did we… Did I-
"Don't run away from this, you bastard!" Izuku was quickly snapped out of his thoughts, he and Ryuji turning their attention to the furious blonde along with the crowd surrounding them. Ann was grinding her teeth in frustration, eyes glaring daggers at the crumbled up coach on stage. "You think killing yourself will make up for what you've done?! It's just running away! You have to answer for your crimes! Take responsibility by facing everything you've caused! We deserve that justice! Shiho deserves that justice most of all!"
"Ann…" Shiho muttered from the other side of the phone, her hands over her mouth as she struggled to fight back her own tears.
"Ann-sempai…" Izuku muttered, biting his bottom lip. He looked at the stage, seeing Kamoshida rise from his slouched over position to sit on his knees again.
"You're… you're right. Among the people I hurt, Takamaki-san was one of the worst." Kamoshida admitted, hands shaking as he gripped his pants. "I blackmailed her into having relations with Shiho's spot on the team… But I still ended up hurting that poor girl…"
"What..?" Shiho muttered, causing Ann to tense up as the truth came out. She wanted to be the one to admit it to Shiho, but that was obviously out of the question now. The entire truth of the matter was being laid out for all to see.
"I… I will do as she says and turn myself into the police." Kamoshida declared, falling back on his hands again and breaking down in tears. "P-please, call the police! I-I'm going to confess my crimes and take responsibility for it all!"
Students broke out in an uproar, their confusion building up by the moment. Izuku and Ryuji glanced around the crowd, amazed by the response and the result of their work. The teachers moved through the crowds, ordering all the students to return to class. It would take a while before anyone would listen, as they were too busy building on the conversation of why this happened and how. Through the murmurs, one thing stuck out to Izuku and Ryuji:
"So those phantom thief guys are actually real?"
Izuku spared Makoto a glance, seeing that the brunette was watching him from the side in apprehension. Izuku wasn't sure would be enough to say it from this distance, but he gave her a single nod. This was what they had been waiting for all along. It was finished.
Ann took a deep breath as she felt a wave of relief wash over her. Waiting for this day had been a burden of its own. And to have it all come crashing down so quickly, she couldn't help but feel like a weight was lifted from her shoulders. She looked back at her phone, giving a small but sad smile as she changed the perspective to face her. "It's over, Shiho."
On the other end, the brunette buried her face in her palms, soft sobs echoing through the speaker. She had set her phone down to the side but her words could still be heard.
"You-you guys… you really really did it… I-I'm so… thank you, Ann…"
To be continued…
Quick thanks to nitewind once again for his hard work now that he's the beta of two of my stories :)
Alright guys, I'm gonna call the chapter there. I think ending it on the most important point of the chapter is probably best. So expect the next chapter to start moments after this big event.
And so ends the reign of Kamoshida. Now that the more personal quest is over, it is time for the Phantom Thieves to take a step forward. Things have been pretty close to the original story of Persona 5 with moderate changes but, perhaps sooner or later than you thought, things are going to begin shifting. How or in what way, well… you'll just have to see :)
With that, I bid you all farewell until next time. Please leave a review, a follow and a favorite if you'd be so kind. I'm always thankful for the support of my readers. Have a good day!