She was a giver.
Always poured
too much of love,
….
Never realized
Watering a rock
Doesn't make it soft…
Shujin Academy
"Why did they suddenly call an assembly?"
"Did something happen?"
"It was probably about the girl that tried to kill herself, you know?"
"Oh, Right."
"But why now? It's almost two weeks."
"Oh, what about that calling cards?"
"Why would the principal call an assembly for a prank?"
Akira listened on as the students beside and around him were muttering loudly. All of them are in the gym because suddenly the principal wanted to call an assembly. He's not sure what the reason was though.
"Hey."
"Hm?" Akira turned around someone touched his shoulders. "Oh, Ryuji."
Ryuji walked over to him with an exasperated face. "*Sighhh* , Do you know why they are calling this?"
"Ummmm, No?"
"Thought so." Ryuji sighed again. "I was planning to sleep through the morning class."
"Why?"
"I've been losing a lot sleep. I can't help it." Ryuji leaned closer to him. "I mean we're not sure that thing even worked or not, right?"
"Ahhh, Yeahhh." Akira looked away in worry.
After Minato arrived to help them, they defeated the shadow Kamoshida with minor difficulty. 'Morgana was right. The battle was really easy with a support persona around.' Although, that's not all the reason though.
The persona he got from Minato, Orpheus Picaro. It was strong. Way stronger than all the personas he had. And it can used fire attacks and they are also way stronger than even Panther's fire attacks. Although, they have to carried him out after the battle because he got a little overboard with spells.
'Worth it though.'
After they escaped from the crumbling castle with the stolen crown, Kamoshida, the real one had taken an absence of leave. He just…vanished. He didn't come to school. And according to rumors, he didn't make any contacts with outside. So, they have no way of making sure if their thing worked or not.
"Ah, Hey, Takamaki. Over here!"
"Hm?" Ryuji suddenly shouted from beside him. "Oh…."
A blonde haired girl awkwardly walked over towards them with some kind of sad face. "Why do you have to be so loud?" Ann said towards the blonde boy in a tired voice.
"Hey, What? It's not like you have any other place to be."
"*Sigh* , No matter. Good morning, Kurusu-kun."
"Ahhh, Go-good morning." Akira closely stared at the girl. "Annnnnn-kamaki-san."
Ann stared at the boy with a straight face for a second before her face broke into a smile. "Heh, Are you two brothers?"
"What!? I was saying 'Ummmmm'. It's my signature move."
"Pretty cool signature move if you used it all the time." Ryuji said with a grin.
"H-hey!"
"Ahahah, Don't worry though. You can call by my first name."
"O-oh, Really?"
"You too, Ryuji."
"Pass. I'm just gonna stick with Takamaki."
"Oh, Boo Hoo." Ann said with a smile. "I didn't know that Vulg-"
"I will! I will. I will call you with your first name." Akira suddenly said interrupting the girl.
"Umm, Oh, Okay. Cool, I guess." Ann said back with a awkward smile.
"Ahem." Akira coughed. "Whew…" Then looked back at the girl with his game face on.
….
Ann and Ryuji glanced at each other with weird faces.
….
"Go-Good Morning…"
"Come on, Bud. You can do it."
"Yes. Yes, I can. Mor-morning Ahhh…"
"Keep it up, Kurusu-kun."
"Ahhhhh, *Hack* , Annnnnnnnn-Kamaki-san. Nope. I can't do it." Akira admitted defeat pretty quick.
"Huhhhhh, Come on.", "It was sooo close." Both Ryuji and Ann said with equally sympathetic faces.
…before they all burst out laughing.
"Ahaahahaha…hnngh. Jokes aside though, Do you guys know anything about this?" Ann said with the smile still on her face.
"Not really."
"Maybe It's a farewell party for two of us, Hahaha." Akira said laughing.
"Dude, you serious?"
"Don't blame me. I joke in the face of adversity."
"Not with your knees shaking, No!"
Akira looked down at his legs. "…It's still a work in progress."
"Ahem!" The principal talked into the mike and everyone in the hall got quiet down. "Let us begin this morning assembly."
Akira waited worriedly for the man to speak.
After a pause, the man again spoke into the microphone. "As we all know, A tragic event took place the other day."
Akira let out the breath he's holding. 'Good. it's not about me.' He then noticed the girl beside him.
Ann looked away with sad eyes.
"And we've been informed that her condition is stable now but they are still not sure whether she will pull through or not."
Ann instinctively clutched her hands.
"And that's why I want to warn the students to not to throw their precious lives away. If you are being pressured by your studies or just personal matters, you can talk to your parents. You can talk to all the teachers here. Or you can talk to our therapist at the nurse office. Anyway, you students are members of our society. No one need have to live thro-" The principal suddenly stopped talking as the door was suddenly opened and came in a one burly man with a messed up hair.
Both the principal and all the students turned towards the man.
'Kamoshida!?', "What he's doing here?" Ann said out loud from beside him.
"Ka-kamoshida-sensei, What are you doing her-"
"I…I…" Kamoshida slowly spoke as Akira waited fearfully. 'Did he have a change of heart? He's not coming here to have us expelled, right?…Please, please, Please!'
"I…I have been reborn." Kamoshida said. "That's why…That's why I will confess everything to you all."
"Huh?" Akira and Ryuji looked at each other.
x-x
"It's so…Unbelievable." Haru said with her hand covering her mouth. "He seemed…like a really good guy."
"…."
"To think that he was…it's so unbelievable." Haru said with clear surprise as they walked back to their class. After Kamoshida arrived the gym, he suddenly confessed that everything he did. The reason every volleyball club members were hurt was because he was physically abusing them every day. And not only that, turned out he was also sexually harassing female students. And he expelled anyone who's tried to stand up to him.
'How could a man be this so low?' Haru thought to herself. And worst of all, the reason Shiho Suzui tried to kill herself was because he…He…
Haru nervously looked at the boy walking together with her who still hadn't utter a single word the whole day.
"…Arisato-san, Are you okay?"
"…." Minato shrugged.
"You were-you were close with Suzui-san, right?"
Minato stopped walking.
"Umm.", 'Ahhhhhhhh! Why did I ask him that!? Why did I say that!? It's too soon to be saying th-'
"Not really…No." Minato said without looking at her. "We just…talked sometimes." Minato started walking again.
Haru looked at him with sympathy before following him. "Wel-well, Uh, whether you two were close or not, It's good that the man behind this is finally caught, righ-right?"
"…."
"An-and, Niijima-san was really angry, wasn't she? She basically shouted at the principal, Ahehehh."
"…."
"Hmm, I wonder why he suddenly revealed all of this though? Was those calling cards really true? Are the phantom thieves rea-"
"Okumura-san"
"Hm?"
Minato stopped in front of their class. "'I'm not feeling well today…So, can you tell Niijima that I'm going home early today?"
"Hm? You're not feeling well?"
"Just a headache." Minato said still not looking the girl in the eyes. "I just need to take a pill and sleep. Don't worry about it." *Slides* Minato opened the door and walked aside.
"Ar-are you sure it's okay to go home alone?" Haru asked following after him.
"I'm sure."
"Real Sure? Really, really sure? Do I need drive for you?"
Minato stopped putting his things and looked back at the girl. "…You can drive?"
"No. But I can call my chauffeur."
….
"…I don't think so."
x-x
After school…
Rooftop
"It worked…Did you see that!? It worked!"
"Stop shouting, Ryuji. Lady Ann already told me what happened." Morgana said while licking his paws.
"Yeah! But, I'm not sure it was gonna work this well. We don't even have to lift a finger. He literally confessed all of those!" Ryuji said loudly with a grin.
"I mean, He was planning to kill himself. Takamaki-san has to intervene. So, we actually have to lift a finger." Akira said from beside the boy.
"Yeah. It was really worth it. I hope that bastard got a life sentence."
….
"…Coooool." Akira and Ryuji nervously talked to the girl.
"Ahem, Anyway." Morgana said. "Why were you guys so worried? I already told you this is gonna work as long as we don't kill the shadow self." Morgana said in a smug voice.
"Ummm, I'm pretty sure it was Arisato-senpai who said that, not you." Ann said to the cat with a smile who started to sweat profusely.
"N-n-no, Lady Ann. I-it-it was me who said that."
"No. Arisato said that to you and you said that back to us."
"Sh-shut up, Ryuji. Nobody asked you. Nobody care what you think. You suck, Ryuji. Ryuji sucks!"
"What the HELL was that!? Do you want me to dump you in the trash can, you stupid cat!?"
"Oh, I like to see you try, You vulgar ape!"
"Guys! Guys, Calm down." Akira said to the two. "We have an important matter to discuss, Remember?"
"What?" Ann asked with a tilt of her head.
"I was talking about this." Akira took out gold medal from his bag.
"Ohhhh, That." Ryuji said examining the medal.
Yeah, It's a medal. After they beat the shadow Kamoshida and escaped the castle with the crown in hand, the crown suddenly turned into a golden olympics medal when they reached the real world.
And according to what Morgana explained, what they have was just a fake. the real was still in Kamohsida's possession.
"Just throw it away. I don't want that bastard things. Besides it's fake." Ann said looking away.
"Yeah, But I was thinking maybe we can sell it?" Akira said uncertainly.
"But it's fake."
"Fake maybe but it's still well made. I mean it's supposed to be same as the real one. " Morgana said.
"But who's gonna buy thi-", "No way! Thirty thousand yen!? That's all this thing worth!?", "Huh?" Ann looked at the boy who suddenly shouted.
"What's wrong with it? Thirty thousand yen is a lot than what we have." Akira said checking his pockets.
"Yeah but just that much? It's a gold medal!"
"A fake model. But now that I think about it ~Ryuji~" Ann turned to the boy with a sly smile. "Remember that 500 yen you owed me back in the middle school?"
"Huh?", "Shoooo! Takamaki, Not now!"
Akira weirdly looked between the two. "Didn't you say that it was Takamaki-san who owed you?"
"What? No. It was hi-", "I get it. I get it! I'm gonna pay you back now. It was 500 yen, Right?"
"You know 500 yen is a lot for a middle schooler."
"How much do you want!?"
"Guys, calm down." Akira said that again as the two settled down. "I was thinking about giving that money back to Senpai."
"Hm?"
"True. One eye gave us a lot of medicines to us. He even paid for our equipments. I mean those things cost a lot."
"Hmm." Ryuji thought to himself. "I always thought he's loaded."
"I don't think so. In lunch breaks, he only eats those cheap sandwiches."
"Yeah, he really like that sandwich. It's the only thing he eat."
"Or maybe, he's only eat that because it's cheap?" Akira and Ann said to each other.
"Talking about him, where is he?" Morgana said looking around the place.
"I heard that he left early because he wasn't feeling well." Ryuji said scratching his head.
"Poor senpai.", "How do you know that, Ryuji?" Akira asked.
"I kinda know someone who's, uhhh, Kinda like a stalker to him." Ryuji said with a sour face.
….
"Are you talking about that girl fro-", "Yeah, Don't ask.", "Got it."
Akira and Morgana looked at the two weirdly. 'Did I miss something?'
"Anyway, I agreed with giving him back.", "Yeah, Me too."
"Oh, Okay. Then I'm gonna call him and gave him the good news." Akira took out his phone. "Maybe He will feel better after this."
"Are you sure? He doesn't like someone or just about anyone calling him." Ryuji said.
"Don't worry. He likes me."
"Yeah." Morgana said from beside them. "Akira and that other girl with pink suit are the only ones he's nice to."
"Hmm, I'm kinda jealous."
"Don't be."
"~I won't~" Ann said back to Morgana.
….
Akira kept looking at his phone.
….
"Kurusu-kun?"
Akira kept looking at his phone.
"Uhhh, Just to be sure that we're on the same page." Akira said looking at his friends. "We're giving him back the money because we're thankful and care about him…not because of we're not sure where he got all the money and we don't want to get tied to whatever illegal things he's doing, right?"
….
"Definitely because we're cared about him.", "Of course. It's because we cared about him. I don't know about you guys but I'm really cared about Senpai.", "Yeah, I'm really grateful to one eye."
Akira weirdly looked at his three friends who's smiling a little more than necessary.
….
"Okay, I'm going to call him." Akira tapped his phone and put it on speaker.
….*Ring, Ring*
….*Ring, Ring*
….*Ring, Ring*
….*Ring, Rin-"You have six seconds before I cut the call."
"Huh!? Ahhh-Ummmm-Uhhhhh." Akira suddenly fumbled around.
"Six seconds? I only got two!" Ann said with wide eyes.
"At least you got two. He didn't even pick up my phone." Ryuji said scratching his head.
"Ahhh-Ahhh-Umm-"
"Four left."
"I was saying…Uhhh, Huh? What was I saying!?"
And so…!
"…I see. So, you want to pay me back for the medicines."
"Yeah. I mean those things cost a lot, right?" Ann said.
"…Yeahhh. I have to sell my body out to get those."
….
"Dude, do you know what that sounded like?"
"Don't worry about it though. You don't need to pay me back. Think of that as an apology from me.…After all I didn't help you guys that much when you guys search for the treasure."
"Not really, One eye. We would never get past those puzzles without your inputs."
"…Ahhh, that's true."
"At least try to deny it more than once!"
"Anyway, forget about paying me back. If you guys wish to thank me…hmm, Take me out to a restaurant."
"A restaurant?"
"Yeah. You could think of that as my thank you meal and also as your celebration. After all, you guys successfully change a human's heart…for better or worse."
"I seeeee." Ryuji said thinking to himself. "So, what are you thinking? Ramen?"
"Sakamoto, Don't be cheap.", "Ryuji, Don't be cheap!", "Thank you, Ann."
"Wait, he called you Ann?" Akira asked the girl.
"Yeah. He said that's because my name is long." Ann said twirling her hair. "Kinda a nice feeling. I'm the only one who he called by the first name."
"Hey, Dude. Then what about me?" Ryuji asked.
"…No."
"Why the hell not!?", "Yay! I'm still the only one!"
"Senpai, should I change my name to Ren Amamiya?"
"…Just so I call you Ren?"
….
"Just tell me what to do!"
"Anyway, if that's all then just message me when you guys decided on where you gonna eat."
"Senpai, do you want to go now?" Akira asked something to Ryuji. "I mean we all are kinda free." *Ring*
"Hm?" Ann took out her phone.
"…Tomorrow, Maybe. One of you might be a little busy today."
"Who?", "No, I'm sure that we all are fre-"
"No Way!" Ann suddenly shouted.
"Woah, Takamaki. What's wrong?" Ryuji asked the girl in surprise.
"Shiho…Shiho regained consciousness!" Ann practically shouted with Tears bumbling in her eyes.
"Huh, Really!?", "For real!?", "That's great news, Lady Ann!", "…."
"Her-her mother texted me." Ann said with tears flowing down. "Bu-but I have to call. I have to make sure."
"Lady Ann, Please calm down."
"Sor-sorry. Yeah. I have to calm down." Saying that Ann turned around calling her dear friend's mother.
"Dude, You hear that!? Suzui regained conscious! She's not in coma anymore."
"…Yeah. I heard."
"Senpai, you should be more happy. Doctors were ready to give up on her. Thank goddess. Takamaki-san was feeling down before." Akira looked up at the girl who's speaking on her phone with a big smile although tears are still flowing down. 'I guess she will be smiling much more now.'
"Yeah, Thank God. It's a miracle." Ryuji said with a big smile.
"Yeah. It's a miracle."
"Then, Thank…god, I guess." Minato said weirdly from the other side. "Can you two ask Ann if she's gonna go to the hospital?"
"Oh, Okay. Hey, Takamaki!" Ryuji called out to the girl.
"Ahh, A moment, Miss Suzui.…What's wrong?"
"Senpai wanted us to ask you if you gonna go to hospital or not?"
"Of course. I'm gonna go to the hospital! I'm gonna go right now!" Ann said with a smile.
"There's your answer, Arisato."
"…I see."
"Senpai, You should come with me. Shiho would be really happy to see you."
"…Uhh."
x-x
?
"Senpai, You should come with me. Shiho would be really happy to see you."
"Uhhh…" Minato cast his eyes downwards, towards the floor as he walked on a white corridor. "…Maybe…Maybe next time."
"Huh? You were really sick?"
"…Tell you later. Say hello for me though." Minato closed his phone quick and pocketed it as he finally reached the door and he walked through it pushing the glass door open..
He walked past some other people walking inside the building and turned to the side…
…To come face to face with a golden eyed woman in a blue velvet suit.
"…."
The woman stared at him with an impassive face.
Minato looked away and walked past her.
But before he reached far, he stopped.
"…I'm sorry."
The woman slowly turned towards him. "Why are you apologizing?" Margaret face broke into a small smile. "Did you do something wrong?"
Minato rolled his eyes. "*Sigh* , I'm sorry…that I used up the arcana we got from Kurusu."
"And you think you should apologized for that?" Margaret said walking over to him and looking at his face.
"It's not?"
Margaret let of a soft laugh. "Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, it doesn't matter. If you can establish a social link with the wildcard then it stands to reason,that you would be able to do with other people now too. This will be nothing but a minor setback."
"…I see." Minato said nodding to himself.
"Oh, Before I forget…" Margaret took out something from the bag in her hand and Minato also finally noticed that the woman he's talking to has a bag in her hand. "Here."
Minato looked at the thing Margaret was giving him. "What?"
"It's a burger. A Chicken Burger. From that store you like so much."
Minato stared at the burger before looking back up the woman. "…Seriously? You too?"
"I'm sorry?" Margaret asked back with a tilt of her head.
"Never mind. You know…" Minato took the burger. "I can eat everything. It's doesn't exactly has to be from that store. *Munchhh*…It's fish."
"Oh." Margaret looked back inside the bag. "I must have made a mistake."
"It's okay." Minato turned around and walked. "Like I said, I can eat everything. *Munch*"
Margaret also with the bag still in her hand followed closely from beside him.
….
They didn't speak the whole way.
Until now, that is. Until they reached the train station.
"Makoto-sama, How are you doing?"
"Fine. Why wouldn't I be? Everything is working out after all." Minato said shrugging back.
"*Sigh* , Makoto-sama, I told you. You don't have to lie to me…I mean us."
"Why do you think I'm lying?" Minato asked back and Margaret just simply stared at him back with a straight face. "…Fineeee. But You are still not my mother."
"Great." Margaret elegantly pulled her hair back. "So, I will ask again. How are you doing?"
"…Fine."
"Makoto-sama."
"*Sigh* , I'm not lying per se." Minato said in a exasperated tone. "You might not know this because you being an avatar of power but…Do you know how humans sleep?"
"Does this have anything to do with why you're lying through your teeth to your closest ally…I mean allies?"
"…Yes."
Margaret stared at him for a moment. "Okay then the answer is you shut your eyes."
Minato lips curved into a smile. "True. But the point I'm trying to make is…if you want to fall sleep then you have to pretend to be asleep until you actually are."
"…." Minato looked to the other side.
"And if you want to be…well, fine then you have to pretend that you are fine…until you actually are."
….
"So, forget about it. I'm fine." Minato said turning towards her with a smile.
'Why…?'
"Anyway, Is Caroline still angry with me?"
Margaret stared at him for a moment. "Yes. She is actually really mad. She and Justine really put their all on that persona."
"Well, I'm sure the wildcard will used it well."
"Maybe but they made it for you And plus, Theodore also made a costume."
"I told you. That blue suit gonna look ridiculous with my blue hair."
"Doesn't matter. They all stayed up all night to give you that."
Minato made a sour face. "Is that supposed to be impressive? They don't even sleep in the first place."
'Why…?'
"And you said that to Caroline. That's why she's angry."
"Doesn't matter." Minato took out his phone. "The wildcard sold that trinket we got from the palace and he said…they are gonna take me out to a buffet."
"A buffet?"
"Yes. And I'm gonna take back something for you guys and her of course. She liked Puddings, right?"
"Cakes. Puddings is Justine."
"Right. Doesn't matter. I will just take all of them." Minato shrugged back.
"Please wait, Makoto-sama." Margaret said. "You are saying that instead of admitting your fault and apologizing…you are gonna buy back her trust with pastries?"
"Exactlyyy. Pretty elegant solution, right?" Minato stopped leaning on the pillar as the train arrived.
Margaret watched as the boy walked over to the counter. And she watched the back of the Messiah walking away from her again.
"See you at home."
"Makoto-sama, wait."
"Hm?" Minato stopped and turned around.
"I know it's just a celebration but…still be careful."
Minato weirdly stared her back. "Why do I have to be careful? It's just a buffet. Besides, It's tomorrow, not today." Minato turned back around and walked towards the train as Margaret again watched his back.
Margaret didn't turn away as the Messiah kept walking away from her.
'Why do you keep lying to me, Makoto-sama?
….
Margaret kept looking even though the boy was gone.
….
'And why does it bother me so much?'
x-x
Rooftop
"Okay, He gave the OK." Akira said checking his phone.
"That was fast. Did he even read it?" Ryuji said swinging up his bag to his shoulders.
"I'm sure that he didn't." Morgana said looking at the phone from Akira's bag. "But, it doesn't matter. Lady Ann chose that place after all. There's no doubt that it will be good." Morgana said smugly for some reason.
"I hope it is. That was hella expensive." Ryuji said as he walked ahead.
"Well, like Morgana-san said. It doesn't matter." Akira pocketed his phone. "Besides, we got another reason to celebrate."
"Yeah, that's true. All right. We're gonna eat until they kicked us out!" Ryuji said with a smile.
"Ahahaha. I don't think they will do that. It's a buffet after all."
….
"They won't, right?"
x-x
The Night After the Buffet…
Margaret stared at Minato with wide eyes and with her mouth hanged open.
"Ahh, Tjat hurt…"
"Please, try to bear it. Makoto-sama." Justine said examining the Messiah.
Minato sat, leaning on the wall with blood seeping from his nose as Justine closely examining his face…particularity his nose. Theodore sat beside him fanning the young Messiah and with a box of tissue in hand. Caroline was beside them trying her best contain her laughter although she's failing miserably. And Margaret…She was staring at the Minato with wide eyes and with her mouth hanged open.
….
"Makoto-sama, Care to explain again?"
"Ahh, Whatss there not to uundersand(understand)?…I nouched(touched) a girl's nyest(chest) and nother girl nicked(kicked) me in ny face."
"BWAHAHhhhhHhhh!" Caroline lied down on her back and laughed out loud holding her chest.
"Yep." Justine said after examine the wound. "Yep, Your nose is broken."
"Sheroushy(Seriously)?"
"AhhHAHaAhAHA!" Caroline laughed smacking down the floor.
"And it's bleeding because you probably burst a blood vessel."
"Oh Nod…."
"Ahahhaha, Oh my god, My chest. It hurts! My chest! Ahahhaha! Someone, sav-Ahhhahah. Convict! I'm begging you! Stop talking! Hahahha!"
Minato and the others stared at the girl.
"Makoto-sama. What is wrong in your brain to touched an another female's chest?"
"Ahh, Natss not wat inpotant(Important) here."
"Someon-someone! Save me! I'm going to die! Ahahahha!"
….
Minato called the boy beside him and told quietly in his ear.
Theodore nodded back. "Makoto-sama said that he's gonna stop talking out loud because he felt like Caroline was making fun of him."
"She was definitely making fun of you."
Minato whispered to Theodore again. "What Makoto-sama saying is that we shouldn't care about patchin-", Minato smacked the boy's head. "Oww, I meant touching that girl's chest. But we should be concerned about how a girl kicked the Messiah's face?"
"Oh, Ohhh, Oh! Maybe she was a Kung-fu matser with inner power! Like who know how much force they have to put by instinct."
….
Theodore listened in again. "He said grow up, Caroline."
"Do you want to get punched, Punk!?"
Margaret and Justine thought for a moment. "It's true. Makoto-sama was unhurt even when he was hit by a car before." Margaret said out loud.
"Hmm, this is just my theory but is it possible that your grace is falling out because you became so prevented?"
….
Everyone stared at the Justine as soon as she said that.
"Wat? Ish that Poshibble?"
"Makoto-sama. It's not true. Justine, don't put weird ideas into him. Besides, knowing him, he probably thought the girl was a mannequin."
Minato thought to himself before whispering back to Theodore. "Oh. Umm, Makoto-sama said that he was a little bit attracted to the girl."
….
Justine and Margaret suddenly snapped their heads at the boy. Caroline also stopped laughing and stood up straight.
….
"Come again?", "Excuse me?", "What did you just say!?"
….
Theodore listened as Minato spoke again. "He was uhhh, Attracted to the girl because she looked exactly like him." Theodore finished interpreting.
….
"Come again?", "Excuse me?", "What did you just say!?"
x-x
Hours Ago…
Minato stared at the phone in his hand. 'Hmmm?'
"Senpai, here."
"Hm?" Akira called out from beside him, giving him plate filled with all kinds of foods. "Ohhh."
"Heheh, this is what fine dining truly is, One eye." Morgana smugly said from Akira's bag.
"Is that so?" Minato looked up what's on the plate. There's fish, meat, rice, cakes and…"Did you guys just put everything you see?"
Akira stared at him for a moment. "Yeah."
"Oh, but well, it's better than that beans thing Ann and Sakamoto pulled up."
"You're so mean, Senpai." Ann said from beside him eating a cream frosted cake. With other types of cakes in front of her. Actually all she's eating was cakes.
"…Aren't you supposed to be some kind of model?" Minato asked.
"I'm not some kind of model. I'm A model!" The girl quickly corrected him.
"You're gonna become a fatty if you eat this much calories." Ryuji said from beside him. They both were kind of similar. Whereas Ann only eat cakes, Ryuji only ate meats and other assorted meats.
"Shut up, Ryuji."
"Yeah, Shut up, Ryuji." Morgana said. "Why do you only keep eating meats?"
"Meats are great!"
"Yeah, but why only meats?" Akira also asked with a smile as he took the seat, placing the plate on the table. "Don't you two like other foods?"
"Nope, Cakes are enough for me. Mmmmm."
"Yeah. I gonna eat every steaks I can find."
"*Sigh*" Akira and Minato sighed in unison.
"Oh, Kurusu. Got those puddings?"
"Right here." Akira said taking out a bag.
"Forget about those puddings, we gonna still have to eat all of this by ourselves, One eye."
"Yeah. Senpai, which do you like to eat first?" Akira asked as Minato gave him an empty plate.
"Whatever's fine."
"You can't do that, Arisato. You have to have a favorite." Ryuji said nudging him.
"…I can literally eat everything."
"Oh. Oh. Oh! Senpai, try this! This Yougurt cake is so good." Ann said giving him a ridiculously creamy looking cake.
"Uhhh, N-no."
"Come on, just a bite. Please, just a bite. just a bite, please." Ann said cutting a small piece. "Say 'Ahhhhhh'."
"…What?"
"Ahhhhhh…."
"I'm not going to do that."
"Come on, we are going to meet Shiho tomorrow. And you have to know how to spoon feed someone."
"N-no. She can't only move her legs. Her hands are fine."
"Yeahhhh but you have to feed her. She's gonna really lov-Huh?" Ann suddenly stopped talking. "Senpai, how do you know about that?"
"…Huh?" Minato asked with a deadpan face. "Know about what?"
"Hm?" Ann thought back to herself. "Ahhhh, Nothing. Sorry. Come on, open wide. 'Ahhhhhh'."
"*Sigh* , Fin-fine." Minato awkwardly opened his mouth. "Ahh-Ahhhh…"
"Lady Ann! No!", "I'm kinda jealous." The two said looking towards them.
"*Munch*" Minato ate the offered cake.
"What do you think?" Ann asked with a wide smile.
"…Seriously, you gonna get fat if you keep eating these."
"Come on, Senpai." Ann said pouting.
"Dude, it's my turn now. Say 'Ahhhhh'." Ryuji said while taking a big slab of meat with his fork.
"Really? You gonna make me eat pork after a cake?"
"They go well together."
"Yeah. They go well together." Ann and Ryuji said as the boy looked between them.
"…Kurusu, Help me."
"Huh?" Akira said in surprise as he was suddenly called out. "Ahhhh, well I have rice here?"
"At least that's better than meat." Minato said giving Akira an empty plate.
With that All of them laughed a little and kept stuffing their face with every foods they can find. Except for Minato who kept checking his phone.
"Dude, what's wrong? You waiting for a call?"
"Not really." Minato awkwardly answered back. "But you know what?" Minato put his plate back down. "I have to go meet someone." Minato stood up.
"Huh? Who?" Akira asked eating a large portion of fried rice.
"…Just someone."
"But One eye, we still have to eat all of this." Morgana said pointing at the plate Akira brought that didn't seem to get thinner even after they ate a lot.
"I'm sure you guys will manage it. Ryuji's helping too."
"Ahhhh, But, I'm really full." Ryuji said back holding his chest in pain.
"*Sigh* , Ann, help them a little." Minato said to the girl.
"No way! I have enough on my plate."
"And on your face." Minato took out a tissue and gave it to the girl with an annoyed face. "You're a girl. Have a little decency."
"~Help me~"
"Nope." Minato unceremoniously dumped it to the girl's face. "Owww, Come on.", "It's gonna be quick. Sorry for this, Kurusu."
"Uhhh, it's okay." After that, Minato went out with his phone in hand.
"Hmmmm, Did he seem weird to you?" Ryuji asked towards Akira.
"Yeah, he seems…mellow." Morgana also said.
"Yep." Akira also said, thinking.
"You guys are worrying over nothing." Ann said wiping her mouth. "This is more better. He's been so nice to me!"
"That's why we said he's weird.", "One eye's never this nice to anyone.", "That's true, Takamaki-san. Something must be terribly wrong."
"Boohooo, Kurusu. You're just jealous because he liked me a lot more than you."
"N-no! I'm sure I'm his favorite."
"What are you guys even arguing for?'' Ryuji said with a sigh.
x-x
And So!
"Ahhhhh." Akira held his head in pain. "I feel weird."
"That's because we ate a lot." Ryuji said in a painful voice. "I'm feeling it too."
Behind them, Morgana was looking at his chest while covering his mouth. "Ahh-Ack-We really ate too much, Aren't *Gasp!* We?" Morgana said in an equally painful voice.
"Blergh. Ahhh, which floor is the restaurant again?"
"Ahhhhh." Akira thought back before shaking his head in pain. "It's no use. My head is filled with foods. No matter what I think it all goes back to food."
"We went up? So, I think it must be on lower floor." Morgana then meowed tiredly. "Poetic. That place is a literal hell."
"Stop whining." Ryuji wobbly walked and hit the button. "Whew. Didn't believe myself to stan-Woah!" Ryuji didn't finish speaking when he was suddenly pushed to the side. "What the!?"
"Ryuji!" Akira quickly caught the boy. "Ohh!", "Don't you dare open your mouth!", "So-sorry."
Ryui steadied himself and angrily looked to the one who pushed him. "Hey, what the hell was that for!?"
"Huh?" The man in a black suit and black sunglasses glared at them. "What do you want?"
"What do you want!? You pushed me and cut the line. I want you to back off, dude." Ryuji angrily said that but Akira pulled him back. "Ryuji, calm down." Saying that Akira pointed at the man…and the equally burly black suited men who're surrounding a bald man with glassess like bodyguards.
"Who the hell are they?" Ryuji said when suddenly…
"What's wrong?" The bald man asked in a curt voice.
"Ah, Nothing, Sir. It's just a kid." The ones who's talking with them before politely said, bowing to the man.
"Kids?" The man looked at them coldly. "Hm, It seems that the customer base has changed since I was here last. Have they started a day care?"
"What did you just say!?", 'Wait…that voice.'
"Sir, the elevator's here." The sunglasses man said.
"Is that so?" Saying that all of them went into the elevator.
"Hey, Don't ignore me!" Ryuji said walking towards them but the man from before barred him.
"Stand down, Kid.", "Don't bother with them. We don't have time for this." The man said to his (probably) bodyguard in a commanding tone.
"My deepest apologies, Sir." Saying that the man also went into the elevator.
And as the door closed the eyes of Akira and the man met and a flicker of recognition flased across the man's face.
"You are-" *Ding*
….
Akira held his head and steadied himself. 'He felt familiar…could it b-'
"Right, Akira?"
"Huh?" Akira looked towards the boy. "Right what?"
"You weren't listening to me!?" Ryuji said with wide eyes. "That's cold, man."
"Forget about that. We should hurry back to Lady Ann." Morgana said sighing. "Walked slowly though. I'm still dizz-Hm? Is that One eye over there?"
"Huh?", "Senpai?" Akira and Ryuji looked towards the blue haired boy as Morgana pointed out.
"Uhhh, so he was here."
"Senpai!" Akira called out to the blue haired boy and of course he ignored them just after taking him one look.
"That jerk. I know he saw us." Ryuji said with a sour face.
"He's probably pretending not to know us because of that stunt you pulled, Ryuji."
"Aheheheh. Morgana-san, don't make him more angry." Akira said with a sheepish smile but instead of getting angry, Ryuji's face broke into a grin.
"Hehehehe. I just got a great idea."
"And I just got a bad feeling."
"Don't worry. Just follow my lead." Saying that Ryuji skitted over to the blue haired boy with a big grin then suddenly slumped his hand over the boy's shoulders.
"Heyyyy, ~Buddy~"
Ryuji's attack was so sudden that Minato can't say anything back and just look at him with wide eyes in surprise.
"Uhahhaha, Ryuji." Akira also awkwardly walked towards the two.
"So? SO? Did you meet her? Did you meet our future best bud? Hm? HM?"
"Hu-huh?" Minato said with wide eyes.
"What do you mean Huh?" Ryuji said smiling from ears to ears. "Of course, I'm asking about your new girlfriend! Pfft, Heheh…"
"Gir-gir-girlfriend!? No-no!" Minato argued back in a shaky voice. "I-i don't know what yo-you are talking ab-about. Yo-you must have mistaken me f-for someone else."
"Nyahahaha. One eye's so flustered that he's even speaking full sentences." Morgana said from his bag. "Don't let him up, Ryuji. He's still trying to play dumb."
"Yeah, What are you trying to play dumb for?" Ryuji said painfully nogging Minato's head with big dumb grin.
"Wh-what are you doi-doing?"
"Hehehe."
"Ryuji. Come on. Cut him some slack." Akira said looking towards his Senpai. "I think giving a noggie is going ove-" Akira stopped talking and he suddenly remembered what Morgana said.
"One eye's so flustered…One eye's…One eye…"
….
The boy in front of him wasn't One Eye.
….
'Shit.'
"Ryuji-kun, Ryuji-kun."
"Here. Here. Here!"
"Wai-wait. Plea-please stop! What are y-you doing?"
"Give him hell, Ryuji. Make him rue the day he ever sat beside Lady Ann."
'Why are you two ignoring me!?', "Ryuji-kun, please slowly retra-"
"…What're you two idiots doing?"
Ryuji stopped his furious assault and Morgana stopped cheering as a voice cold as ice blew over.
….
…*Cre-creak*…*Blink, Blink*
Eyes looking at them like everyone they see are just idiots. Eyes are opened but too generous to be called open. Back hunched like an lazy jerkass he was.
…*Cre-creak*…*Blink, Blink*
Eyes that any normal sincere human beings should have. Eyes fully opened and looking at them with tears glistening. Back's straight like a proud hardworking member of society.
"Excu-excuse me for a moment." Ryuji suddenly ran over him.
"What the hell! What The Hell!"
"Ca-calm down."
"You calm down. We made a mistake. They both have blue hairs and are wearing the same white shirt. So we made a…" Ryuji looked back to see the two blue haired boy staring them with two different expressions.
….
"No. No. No. No! It was not our mistake. Those two really look alike. What the hell? Are they brothers? But one look like demon overlord and another look like an angel straight outta heaven!"
"Ry-ryuji, You're bumbli-"
"Of course, I'm bumbling! What the hell! What is wrong with their mother!? Or is it the father's fault!?"
"Ca-calm down. Nobody said they are siblings."
"They are siblings! Are we looking at the sam-…Where is Morgana?"
"Huh?" Akira looked at his bag. "Ahh, He went back in as soon as real Senpai came."
"That Backstabbing Littl-"
"Sorry about them." Minato said slowly walking over to the boy. "I hope they didn't do anything weird." Minato apologized.
"It-it's okay. It was also my fault." The boy also furiously apologized. But he suddenly looked up. "Ahh, Have we…have we met?"
'It's happening. It's happening!', 'I told you they are not siblings!' Akira and Ryuji talked among themselves.
"I don't think so."
"Ah, are you sure? I definitely remember seeing you somewhere." The boy said carefully looking at Minato.
Minato shrugged. "I don't think so. If we have met before, I would definitely…or 50/50 remember you." He then turned towards them. "Hey, you two, Come and apologize to the Lady."
….
'Oh, we're dead.', 'Yeah, we're so dead.'
….
"Huh?" The boy looked at Minato with almost his eyes popping out.
"What are you doing? It is not good to keep a lady wai-", "HEYYY!" Ryuji and Akira ran towards Minato like mad men.
"Why are you making this more awkward!?", "Enough. Enough, Senpai. The boy has suffered enough!"
"…Are you two idiots? This is clearly a woman."
"I told you, Enough!", "Senpai, please stop! Sto-"
"Umm, It's true. I'm a-I'm a woman."
"Noohoho. It's okay. You don't have to lie for him. This guy is clearly an idiot.", "Yea-yeah. He's just like to fool around. Please, Apologize to him, Senpai."
"I told you it is a her." Minato said starting to get annoyed.
"Ahh, Yeah. No. Actually it doesn't matter." The boy said interrupting them and walking over to Minato. "Ahhh, Mister, Is your name Makoto Yuu-"
Minato whipped around. "If you do not believe me, Look at this. See, She has boobs."
….
The boy…the girl slowly looked down to see a hand…on her boobs.
…. *Squish*
….
Akira and Ryuji slowly craned their heads.
"Hey, did you just…."
"Hmm, They are rather big."
'He didddddd!'
"Huhhhh-HUUHHH-HUUUUUUUHH!" the girl face started to redden furiously. "Sono-Meega-Wa-watashi-Ahhno-"
"Aki-akira, we should ru-", Before Ryuji could finish, a loud voice suddenly echoed throughout the place.
"HORAAAAAAA!"
"Hm?" All three of them looked up.
"What. Are. You. Doing. To. My-", The blue haired girl couldn't stand it no more and ducked down covering her red hot face.
"Hm?" Minato looked down. "What's wr-", "-FRIEND!" Minato looked u-*BAMPP!*
"AH!", "What the f*ck?", "Huh!?" Akira and Ryuji said in surprise as something red and some lady shoe flied through their face.
"Ahh…Ahhh." Minato covered his nose, making very painful noise, slowly backed away before he fell over in pain.
"Senpai!", "Dude." Akira and Ryuji ran over to him.
"Nao-chan!" The brown haired girl in high heels also ran over to the blue haired girl.
"What the f*ck!? High heels!? You could have killed him, You bitch!?" Ryuji angrily shouted over.
"Huh!? What did you just say, You punk!?"
"Ahhhh…Ahhhhh…AAHHHHH!", "Nao-chan!"
"I know we're in the wrong here but don't just keep shouting, Miss!" Ryuji also shouted towards the blue haired girl.
"*Gasp* , Hnngh, Ahhh." Minato paifully gasped oot for air. "I-I Ahhhh, I can't breath."
"Senpai! You're bleeding!"
"What?" Minato removed his hand and looked at it. "N-no. They must be the…coffee."
"Coffee ain't red, You idiot!" Ryui turned back and shouted again.
"Huh?" As Minato removed his hand, Akira clearly saw how much he was hurt. "Sen-senpai, You-your nose."
"Huh?" Minato slowly touched his nose. "Ahhh! That hurts!"
"Freaking HELL!"
Akira also angrily turned towards the girl who hurt his senpai. "How dare you do that to someone!? We're going to call the police!"
"I'm the police, You idiot!"
….
"SORRY!" Akira apologized with his forehead almost touching…No, it's clearly touching the ground.
"Chie-san!" Another girl with sunglasses and twintails ran over towards them and she saw what state Minato's in. "Oh my god, Chie-san! What did you do to that poor boy!?"
"He's no poor boy, Rise-chan. He's a pervent!", "Ahhhhhhh!", "Look what he's done to Nao-chan!"
"Stop shouting!" As Ryuji said to the blue haired girl, Akira suddenly stood up. "Right now, Did you just say…Rise?"
"Uck!" The brown haired girl suddenly started to laugh in a weird voice. "Huh? Did I say that? Noo. Why would I say that? Risette is clearly not the one beside me. Hahaha."
"Chie-San!", "Ah, Crap!"
"It's real. It's Real Rise-chan!" As Akira suddenly shouted, people watching towards thier group also realized who the girl was.
"No way!", "Risette is here?" Before suddenly everyone around them starting to ran over towards the Rise and brown haired girl.
"Rise-chan, Is it true that you are doing a concert with Kanamin?", "Rise-chan, wjy are you in Tokyo?", "Which porducts do you use, Rise-chan?", "Rise-chan, Can you give me a Handshake?"
"Hold up. HOLD UP! I have to go arrest a pervent.", "Ch-chie, don't leave me he-No, wait. Grab Naoto!", "AHHHH!-Huh? AH, who? Ahh!"
"Good. This is our chance. We should escape first, Arisato." Ryuji said picking the boy up.
"Ku…kurusu.", "Huh?", "…Kurusu." Minato pointed with his shaky hand.
"Rise-chan! Rise-chan! I'm your biggest fan! Please give me an autograph!"
"What the hell is he doing!?" Ryuji ran over to the group of people to pulled out his friend.
Minato leaned over to the hall, still covering his nose. *Ring Ring*
"…?" He took out his phone. "*Click* , Hel…Hello?"
"Senpai! Where are you?"
"Ann?"
"Hey, I want to ask you. Do you watch weather news?"
"…What?"
"You wouldn't believe who I met. It's Marie-chan! Marie-chan is here! You know, Marie-chan from morni-"
"Okay. Your two seconds is over."
"Huh? Senpai, Wait! No fair. Kurusu got si-*Click*"
Minato pocketed his phone and looked towards the crowd.
…
'…I shouldn't have come here.'
x-x
Present
"Ahehehe." Akira laughed a little while he was washing the dishes.
"Hm? What's so funny?"
"Ahhh, Sorry. I'm just remembering something." Akira quickly apologized to Sojiro.
"Really have fun, today?"
"Ahhahaha, Kinda. It was a disaster though." Akira said with an awkward laugh.
"Today, We have a tragic news of an P.E teacher from the famous shujin Academy. Suguru Kamoshida was an olymlpics gold medal winner but after confessing all the crimes he committed at the school, including but not limited to sexual assaults, the teacher is under fire from both the public and the media. The police is still investigating whether all these charges are true or not but Kamohisda himself has confessed to everything he did so, it's pretty clear what the outcome will be. But we're still not clear on why he suddenly decided to confess though. Based on what the people say about hi-"
"Hey, You are also a student at Shujin Academy, Right?" One of the customers called out to him.
"Hm?" Akira turned around to see a handsome young man with some kind of school uniform and a briefcase in hand. "Excuse me?"
"At there, do you see anything weird about that Kamoshida man?" The boy asked with a kind smile.
"What do you mean, detective-san?" Sojiro asked the boy back. 'Wait, he's a detective?'
"Ahhahaha, I'm just a little curious. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy that he's now behind bars but…." The boy looked at the TV. "Don't you think it's strange? From what the students said, the man is a shallow man. Always trying to wiggle out by lying or blackmailing but now,…his personality changed completely. It's like his entire character…No, It's like his entire heart has been stolen."
"Heart?"
"Ahhh, Sorry. Sorry. I'm just thinking out loud. Don't mind me." The detective said taking out his wallet. "Coffee was really great. I must thank Sae-san. This place is really nice."
"Tch, That woman is the one who sent you?"
"Noo. She didn't send me. She didn't trust me enough to do her job. Ahaha. I'm just like to come and drink something in peace. So, thank you. I will definitely come here again. You too, Bye." The detective also said to him with a smile.
"Ah, Thank you very much for coming." *Jingle…Jingle*
As the boy went out, Akira looked back at the TV. It's still showing news about Kamoshida. Suddenly his face changed into a smirk.
With one thing and another, they had finally changed Kamoshida heart. He had friends who he can trust now. He had powers that no normal humans have now.
'Yeah…this is just the start. The phantom thieves are not done yet. Joker is not done yet. I will not stop until this whole corrupt nation is fully reformed. This is my promise.
….
The phantom thieves of hearts will come again.'
-x-x?
….
….
Akira recounted with a small smile on his face. "Sometimes, I wish I could go back to those times. When everything was so simple. When it's just us against the world."
Sae didn't say back anything.
"When we were still happy-"
"So, is that true?"
"Hm?" Akira looked up to the woman.
"So, You can really change that people's heart without getting psychotic breakdown."
Akira looked away.
"They will not become like that if you make that palace ruler accept himself?"
"…."
"Then tell me." Sae looked up with tears flowing down her face. "Why did you…Why, you his friend, could do such a thing to him?"
"…." Akira didn't say back anything and looking down the table.
"Answer me, Kurusu!" Sae slammed down the table. "Why did you leave…why did you leave my Minato-kun in that condition!?"
….
….*Beep beep*
The machine made a low whirling noise. A blue haired boy was tucked in a bed with many pipes and needles connecting him to machines around him.
The boy's eyes are open but they are pitch black, looking at the ceilings but clearly seeing nothing. The boy was breathing but he didn't look alive.
A red haired woman was sitting beside the boy, holding his hand.
"Makoto…I'm here." The woman said in a teary voice. "I'm here. So, please." The woman cried holding his hand. "Please look at me." The woman pleaded in tears but the boy was unresponsive. He's just looking at the ceilings with lifeless eyes. But, the woman wasn't discouraged and kept holding the boy's hand like if she let it go, the boy would vanish from her life.
…*Slides*
Someone suddenly opened the door. "Mitsuru-sama."
"*Sob* , What's wrong, Kikuno?" Mitsuru Kirijo said back to her maid.
"Umm, Mr. Okumura called again."
"…."
"He wants her daughter's body back."
Mitsuru's face turned into a scowl. "That man is a fool. I told him that his daughter isn't dead yet. Souless doesn't mean dead."
"My apologies but It's hard to explain what souless mean to someone who has no idea about shadows." Kikuno said in a calm tone. "But, Mitsuru-sama, if we were to believe what Shirogane-sama said,…It's not really possible to get her soul back."
Mitsuru didn't say back anything and kept clutching the blue haired boy's hand.
"I mean…if Yuuki-sama was the one who took her sou-"
"Stop." Mitsuru said in a harsh tone towards the woman. "Don't speak if you don't know anything.…There's no way he…there's no way Makoto would do such a thing."
x-x
Present
Akechi closed the cafe door behind him and walked out towards the streets with his briefcase in hand.
"You asked me why we did that to Minato-senpai? The answer is simple.…It's beacuse we are humans."
Akechi took out his phone and walked without paying attention to anything.
"Humans are weak. They are scared of things they didn't know."
Suddenly someone brushed past him. "Ah, sorry." Akechi quickly apologized but that someone suddenly grabbed him. "Huh?"
"We didn't know…How broken he was. We didn't know how heartless he was."
"Ahh, Can I help you?" Akechi asked the stranger who suddenly grabbed him. He then slowly turned towards the stranger. "Ah!?"
"We didn't know what lies beneath his impassive mask."
As Akechi looked who was it, he saw a blue haired boy with bandages on his face glaring at him with his sliver one eye.
"We didn't realize…how good a pretender he was."
-x-x-
A happy chapter and a happy ending to Kamoshida's arc…(it's happy, right?)
And I know I'm really bad at writhing actiom scenes. You guys would know if you read this chapter. I'm terrible at the describing scenes. The most trouble I have writing this chapter is decribing that Minato is in hospital bed. But anyway, I will try to improve over time. I now read new books or I now tried to read new books because it still doesn't amount to anythimg based on this chapter. But still, Please keep reading my story and Sorry in advance.
I like to point out that Minato didn't tell back Margaret and the others what happened at the buffet. So, techanically he lied to all four of them with a straight face.
Oh and I didn't think of the quotes. I just found them on internet.