Chapter 2: The Thief and The Mask
4/12/20XX Tuesday
"Who the hell were you talking to so early in the morning?" Sojiro asked Akira who was going down the stairs. A plate of curry in his hand, as he set it down the table. "There was even some banging upstairs ever since I entered the store."
"Oh sorry, my bad. I was talking to my family while cleaning my room. " Akira immediately made up a lie, sitting down on the chair in front of his meal with Arsene levitating behind him
"I never noticed earlier when I was cleaning, but this café is sublime. If I am able to consume, I would be happy to take a sip of hot coffee." Arsene said out loud, as he eyed the drawers of coffee beans.
"Try to at least keep down the noise, especially when there are customers around." Sojiro seemingly not seeing or hearing the stylish red-suited demon, poured freshly brewed coffee in Akira's cup.
"Thanks, and I'll keep that in mind," Akira replied sipping his coffee, marveling at the taste of caffeine while looking at Arsene browsing through the store.
"Anything strange happened lately, Sojiro-san?" scooping his first bite of curry, he asked wanting to confirm Arsene's presence.
Sojiro raised an eyebrow, suspicious by Akira's question. "Strange? What do you mean?"
'Guess that answers it.' Akira thought to himself, as he ate his breakfast.
"Nothing. Nothing. The curry is delicious." Akira had a smile on his face as he ate his unusual but delicious breakfast. Looking at Arsene he gave him a grin to show how much he was enjoying eating.
The persona looked at his eating user with jealousy. "How I envy you by the day, Akira." A hint of envy in the fashionable demon's voice.
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After thanking Sojiro, and flipping the CLOSED signboard outside the cafe, Akira now walked towards the Yongen-Jaya Station. With the levitating Arsene behind him.
"So normal people don't see and hear you, huh?" Akira asked, looking behind him slightly.
"Technically people who have not gone to the Metaverse, and are not aware of my presence." His persona replied, taking in the scenery as he followed Akira. "Times sure has changed, my memory of Japan has surely aged."
Akira's eyes perked up with curiosity. "Memories? You mean the memories of Arsene Lupin?"
"Indeed. When you had awakened me, you had thought of Arsene Lupin as your ideal rebel. With the rebel, you had thought of resembling a part of your personality. That is why I Arsene Lupin, the Gentleman Thief answered your call of power." Arsene explained, phasing through the electric poles.
"So in other words, we both have a common personality in a way?" Akira grinned at the sudden compliment.
"Correct. I am thou. Thou art I, after all." Arsene replied, with a grin of his own.
Thief and persona now waited in line for the train. With Akira "using" his phone to not get any weird looks. "So what common personality do we share? Except for our devilishly good looks of course,"
Arsene gave a small laugh at Akira's last statement, "Well, I do not want to give you all the answers immediately. You should find out yourself, to not spoil the fun." The stylish demon said with playfulness and teasing tone in his voice.
"And here I thought we were already close. Feels bad, man." A hurt Akira said, "You're just getting back at me for eating my fill earlier, aren't you?"
"Your words not mine." An amused Arsene replied.
Not long after, the train for Shibuya had arrived. And as soon as the doors opened, the war for first place has begun. With the vehicle already at max capacity.
Akira looked at his levitating persona with jealousy. "How I envy you by the day, Arsene." A hint of envy in the rumored delinquent's voice,
"How revenge is served sweet." Arsene had a smug grin on his face, Akira seeing this, making a mental note to drink coffee again later.
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"Seriously, how unfair is it that you get to travel so light and breezy from all that?" Akira still "using" his phone, talked to Arsene as they walked to the next station.
"Unfair enough for you to be jealous of me," Arsene said, smugness still in his expression and voice.
"Not helping. Your smug expression while watching me suffer throughout the ride didn't make the trip any better." Akira sighed, knowing that there is still one more trip.
"Think of it as moral support, my dear user." Arsene tipped his hat,
"Yeah, sure." Akira rolled his eyes,
The two gentleman thieves walked through the station. Their ears picking up the different rumors about the accident, mental breakdowns, etc. There were also a few rumors about Akira's delinquency from the other traveling Shujin Students who saw him.
"Seems like the accidents are occurring more lately. Do be careful, Akira." Arsene voiced a warning to Akira.
"Got it, thanks." Nodded Akira from the warning.
"So you were involved with the illegal poaching of elephant horns in Africa, so I have heard?" Arsene held his chin, thinking of how Akira did it.
"Only been to school for half a day, and I've already been to Africa? Maybe give them a week and I'll probably be in space next time." Akira shrugged tiredly, with Arsene laughing again from his words.
The two now waited in line for the train towards Shujin Academy. Akira's eyes suddenly noticed the Shujin student that was unique from the other students. Her red ribbon, complimenting her red hair that was tied up into a curly ponytail.
"Look, isn't that her?" A random ponytail student muttered to her friend, which was enough for Akira to hear.
"You mean that one with the ribbon? Uh, I guess so?" The sleepy friend replied,
"She's so thin... It's not fair, I've got my hair in a ponytail too..." The ponytail student said, a hint of jealousy and bitterness in her voice.
"Okay, and what's that got to do with being thin?" Her sleepy friend said, earning a glare from the ponytail student.
'That's true...' Akira thought to himself his attention now at the red-haired student. 'Her hair is beautiful though...' he adjusted his glasses, removing his stare from her.
"Oh? Had something or "someone" caught your eye, Akira?" Arsene levitated in front of him, another teasing grin on his face.
Akira just shrugged at his persona's comment. "No. I just like the color red..." he looked at his persona, his eyebrow raised as Arsene just stared at him with his grin. "...It's true."
"Is that so~?" A mocking tone went through Akira's ears.
"Yes. Now, shut up." Akira said sternly, not wanting to engage in another battle with Arsene while there are students around. With his class records already being exposed, and strange rumors already surrounding him. He doesn't want to add the "mentally crazy into the mix". Especially with the recent cases of mental shutdowns.
And soon enough, the trains towards school had arrived, and Akira immediately entering the transportation device to escape Arsene's teasing.
"It would be fate if you two get acquainted with each other." The persona commented, looking at the fully maxed crowd of the train.
'Yeah, I don't know about that. It's probably impossible.' Akira thought as a reply to Arsene's comment.
...
...
And as fate had foretold, two stations later, in front of Akira was the red-haired Shujin Student who was luckily able to save a seat in the train.
"It seems it is fate." The demon said beside Akira, a teasing tone in his voice. Even though the demon was phasing through the crowd the demon still had his hand grabbing the train handrail.
'Oh, shut up.' Akira thought sighing tiredly, as he looked away from Arsene. He wittingly fixed his glasses, as his eyes slowly drifted towards the Shujin Student with red hair. Akira noticing that she also had red eyes to match her hair, ribbon, and shoes. The only things that weren't red on her were her black uniform, her fair white skin...and her pink lips.
Arsene was staring at Akira with a devilish grin.
'...What?' Noticing this, Akira looked at his persona with a slight blush on his face.
"It is nothing. Continue." Arsene waved with his hand, amused by what he was watching.
'Continue what-' And before Akira can retort the student with ribbon in her hair suddenly stood up from her seat.
"Please, take my seat. My station is coming up," she said politely, offering her seat to the old woman standing in front of her.
'Our station is still a long way ahead...' Akira thought seeing the kindness of the student with the ribbon.
"From that alone, you can sense that she possesses a kind heart." Arsene sensing what Akira thought, agreed with Akira's opinion.
The old woman felt joy from seeing the student's kindness, as she smiled gently. "Are you sure? Then..." And the moment the red-haired student stepped out of her seat, it was immediately snatched by a nearby citizen.
Akira and the girl with red hair eyes widened, impressed. "Oh wow, what speed." She voiced out her impression, before taking in the situation. "I mean- Excuse me, that seat was for this lady..." she said politely to the seatnapping citizen.
The seatnapping citizen only looked blankly at the student, before taking a "nap".
"Oh..." The red-haired girl only muttered out, slightly disappointed.
"Want me to "wake" him up?" Akira air quoted, a light and joking tone in his voice.
'I do have a teasing invisible demon by my side.' He looked at Arsene, earning a snicker from the persona.
The red-haired student's eyes blinked a few times, then gave a small giggle. "It's all right. I can understand his position as well." she gave Akira a small smile of appreciation, before turning to the old woman with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help," she said, with a sad tone.
The old woman just gave a gentle smile to the girl. "It's all right, dearie. Don't you worry." the old woman said to her, still feeling joy at the kindness shown by the young student.
"Please allow me to carry your luggage at least." The red-haired student then offered her hand,
The old woman's smile widened, as she offered her luggage. "Thank you. Ain't it heavy, though?"
Accepting the luggage, the student with red hair beamed her a smile. Showing how easily she lifts the luggage. "Not at all! I train plenty." And soon, the two had engaged in small talk with each other.
"The world should be filled with people like her," Arsene commented, watching warmly at the scene.
'Yeah... It really should.' Akira agreed with his persona.
And soon enough the train had landed at the next station. Akira counting the map, the Shujin Students should have at least 3 more stations to go. As the train doors opened for those to leave, and enter the train a seat beside the seatnapping napper suddenly became vacant. The red-haired student and old woman not noticing it immediately because of the enjoyment of their small talk. Greedy eyes were glaring at the opportunity of the heavenly seat. Noticing this Akira, and Arsene went into action.
"Arsene," Akira muttered to his persona, and his persona responded in kind.
"My pleasure." Arsene opened his wing, blocking all the other passengers in front of the vacant seat.
"Huh? What is this? I can't move?" The greedy citizen asked himself as he tried to move forward, but was unable to for some reason.
"What is this...? Feathers?" A random passenger muttered to himself, feeling the invincible feeling of feathers in his hand.
And as more and more people became more suspicious, the red-haired student finally noticed the open seat.
"Oh! Here, ma'am. Please sit for now." she gently guided the old lady towards her seat.
"How lucky for us to be able to find one so quickly." The old lady smiled towards the student, finally able to rest her feet.
"We sure are lucky." The red-haired student replied with a happy smile of her own.
Akira smiled and sighed relief, as Arsene tucked away his black wing, and returned to his position.
"Wow, fast reflexes back there, Arsene," Akira muttered out his impression to his persona, a cool smile on his face.
"You flatter me too much," Arsene replied with a tip of his hat.
And for some reason, the red-haired girl's eyes went towards the frizzy-haired student with glasses. Mysteriously feeling gratitude towards him for some reason. 'I wonder why... Why do I want to say thank you to him?' The girl then smiled, as she saw him taking out his phone and grinning from the conversation he was having. 'He must be a good person.' she thought, before returning to her conversation with the old lady.
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"Sweet, sweet freedom..." Akira stretched his arms and legs as he got out of the train. Finally arriving at the station of Shujin Academy. "Better go." Checking the time on his phone, he immediately started walking towards the academy, not wanting to be late.
"I do say, riding the train is was an enjoyable experience for me. I will easily get used to that kind of transportation." Arsene said, levitating behind Akira.
"Says the persona that can phase through everything, and invisible to the naked eye," Akira remarked to his persona, using his phone as cover again. "About that, earlier in the train. How come you knew what I was thinking?" he asked, curious to learn another fact about his persona again.
"It is because we share the same mind in some way. The same line of thinking to be exact. I do not read your mind, but I do know what you are thinking." His persona explained, grasping his chin. "I do not know why I know of such things, but that is the knowledge I possess."
'Wow... What a convenient ability.' Testing it, Akira thought of a reply.
"It is indeed." And Arsene agreed, knowing what Akira had thought.
Akira put away his phone, as he adjusted his glasses. "Now I don't need to worry about looking like a complete lunatic when talking to you."
"Well, I think there are already rumors about you being one already." The persona chuckled as he remembered the amusing rumors circling his user.
"Well, there goes my normal high school life." The persona user tiredly shrugged his shoulders as he continued walking to Shujin Academy.
And there, his ears picked up a rush of steps going towards him.
"Pardon me..."
And there she is, the student with the red ribbon.
"Oh?" Akira stopped in his tracks as he turned to face her. "Hi there." he greeted her, with a small smile.
The girl replied with a smile of her own. "Hello too." she greeted back, and then suddenly bowed her head towards Akira. "Thank you so much earlier."
'...Wait what?' Akira sweatdropped. 'Did she sense you in some way Arsene?' he thought towards his persona.
"If that is the case then, she would have been suspicious of me earlier." Arsene grasped his chin, analyzing the situation. "It seems that she only wants to thank you for wanting to be involved. What a truly polite lady." The persona said, truly impressed by the girl with the red ribbon.
Hearing the opinion of his red-suited partner, Akira then focused his attention on the bowing girl. "Please raise your head. I didn't do "anything" to deserve any thanks." he air quoted, trying to make the situation lighter and casual.
The student with the red ribbon noticed this and gave a smile again. "But you did try to do "something"." she copied him, earning a chuckle from Akira. "You did try to speak up when I offered my seat on the train."
'A simple action like that, deserves gratitude from her? How well-mannered is this girl?' Akira thought, getting more interested in her by the day.
"Ohhhh~?" And the red demon grinned maniacally as he levitated behind the girl.
Trying his best to not beat up Arsene here and there. He focused his attention on the student with the red ribbon.
"And for some reason, I wanted to thank you personally. I don't know the reason why I really wanted to though." she gave him sheepish smile,
Both Akira and Arsene just gave a grin to each other.
"Well if you're going to thank me then I'll do the same. Thank you." Akira bowed his head towards her.
The girl with the red ribbon fumbled on her words as she saw him bow at her. "P-Please, you don't have to thank me too, senpai."
The bowing Akira raised his head towards her. "Senpai? Are you a first-year?"
"Oh yes, senpai. I just transferred here to Shujin Academy." The girl with the red ribbon breathed a sigh of relief. "It's a good thing that I sensed that you were older, I would have been embarrassed if I called you senpai for nothing."
...
"Well, am I really "older" than you? Maybe I am a first-year too." Another air quote came from Akira as he had a teasing tone in his voice.
The student with the red ribbon pouted, sensing the tone in Akira's voice. "Very funny, senpai. And you are not a "first-year" student, senpai. Since your pants have a different pattern than the first year's." she air quoted, before pointing at his pants.
Akira looked at his pants and then compared them to the other students. "And here I thought you had good senses. I feel so "betrayed"." Akira air quoted again, earning a giggle from the girl.
Suddenly the student with the red ribbon's eyes noticed the timer at the top of the station. Checking her watch, her body suddenly switched into rush mode. "Oh no, I need to talk to my homeroom teacher about my routine!" she fixed her posture as she politely looked at Akira again. "Excuse me, senpai." she bowed her head as she went on her way. But after fast walking for a short distance, she turned around and gave a sweet smile at Akira. "Thank you again, "senpai"." she finished with an air quote as she rushed towards Shujin Academy.
Akira absorbed what happened and then a small smile painted his face. "Guess I'll be late too if I don't rush." he power walked towards Shujin Academy, reminiscing his encounter with the student with the red ribbon. "I didn't ask for her name, huh?" he muttered to himself, not knowing that a fashionable demon heard him.
"Fate would find a way for a reunion." he voiced his advice, earning a nod from Akira.
"So, let's leave it to fate then." And Akira replied, relying on the whims of fate.
And Akira then walked his way towards Shujin Academy, a better mood than ever. Excited for what it is to come on his high-school days, a thief, and his mask by his side.
"So..." Arsene suddenly started a conversation. "Are the young ones your type, Akira?" the persona asked, with a devilish grin on his face.
And Akira instantly left Arsene by his lonesome, as he rushed towards Shujin Academy. Making a mental note of drinking a lot of coffee later.
Chapter 2: The Thief And The Mask END
A/N: And another short chapter yet again! Sorry for posting a short one again ehe! At least it's 1000 words more than the last one's! I promise that the next one will really be long, to compensate for the first two chapters. Thank you for reading as usual everyone here's to hoping that you guys enjoyed it, and have an idea on how I write the story. Leave a review if there's any criticism you would like to offer. Every review helps :))
Review Replies:
TonytheInfernape19: Hello there fellow Split Personalities fan! Thanks for the support, dude. Really keeps up my motivation hehe. And yes, I agree. There are not many fics about this kind of concept. Really one of the reasons why I started to write since it's too good of an idea to pass up. And maybe there would be more authors to use this kind of concept. Here's hoping for a good future! And yes I am thinking of something with the other personas of Akira's Wild Card. I'm in the process of thinking how though. Hoping that I would think of an idea soon. Thank you, and please continue supporting me :)