Author's Note: Hey all you readers who are reading this story. I'm actually after one week, I am actually quite shocked. It usually takes me a month before I post another chapter up but this story seems easier for me to write, maybe because it's from the Persona Fandom that I can actually type better. The characters are really realistic and easy yet complex to write, I'm still trying to improve my writing skills so any tips or advice would be very welcomed as well. By the way I just noticed this but in fanfiction there are people who are called betas who help authors out. How exactly does that work? Has anyone seen the newest trailer for Persona 4 the animation? The one with the opening song? It is so epic beyond proportion that I cry uncontrollably every time I see it.

By the way I give thanks to h3AdS1aMM3r for some awesome advice and for being my first and only reviewer for this story. Thank you so MUCH!

Enough of my rambling here's Hikaru who's going to do the disclaimer!

Hikaru: …

Oh yeah, he can't talk… forget it, then here it is!

Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!

If there is someone from above; be it Buda, Ala, or Jesus Christ just please let me get to school on time. Just spare my life this one time, I don't want to die at such a young age!

I've been speeding through the streets of Tatsumi Port Island trying to reach Gekkoukan High School. I was already 4 hours late, the worst punishment I would get from the school was probably a lecture and a warning; normally a person would get a much more severe punishment like staying after school for detention or have to clean up the school field. Why is there such a difference in punishments? I don't actually know the exact reason but I think they just pity me; I'm the kid who has no parents, no money, no voice, have to take a job after school, heck the only reason I was able to go to this top-notch school was because I was smart enough for them to want me to go to their school for free. To sum it all up I'm the kid all the teachers just pity.

The way they act towards me makes me feel sick. They treat me like I actually need their help, like I couldn't do anything for myself and they think that it actually helps me. They don't really understand me or my life enough to actually judge if I really need help. I've been living my life with no one's help, and it's been working out so far if you ask me. I don't even care that much about school, I think even the teachers know that.

I don't do the work, I don't listen in class, I don't participate in activities, I don't go to any clubs or sports, I don't do anything, period. Most of the time I skip school anyway; I'm pretty sure that says how much I care for school already. The only reason I'm still in school is because my grades are perfect, ever since I went to that school all I've gotten were perfect grades in every test or project ever worked on. I don't know if that labels me a genius, I'm just smart enough to survive by myself.

Now you're probably wondering why a guy like me is rushing to get to a place that I seriously loathe. Well in all honesty, the only reason I actually go that building of boredom is for one person. She gives me one hell of a reason to keep going to school. Hey, I can't read minds but I know what you're thinking and I want you to stop; it's not like that at all so get that through your thick little skull or I'll have to beat it into you. I don't think of her that way, quite the opposite; she is probably one of the scariest people I've ever met and that is no exaggeration. I've been through things that could scar regular people for life with a straight face, she gives me nightmares on a constant basis that I might become an insomniac with sleepless nights and I like my sleep thank you very much.

By now I had reached Gekkoukan breathless, I had almost got run over by cars on several occasions but I made it. My headphones were still around my ears as sweat was dripping from the locks of my hair, by now the adrenaline rush had stopped. I felt like $#!t, I could move no problem but I was way too lazy to go any faster so I decided to walk the rest of the way to class. I whipped out my iPhone again and saw the time; 12:45...

Lunch was over by now...

DAMN IT!

I thought I could make it before lunch ended, it was one of those times that she's in a really good mood. I just lost my last chance of survival.

Taking a deep breath I trudged my soon to be dead carcass to my final resting place, which would be homeroom...

I hear Ms. Toriumi already beginning the lesson, I can also hear the groans and snores coming from the students. Composition is a boring subject no doubt, nothing can be done about it but that doesn't mean I wish it was in the curriculum. Ms. Toriumi isn't that bad of a teacher but no teacher alive could ever make any subject interesting enough for students to actually pay attention to, it's just how things go. Although I did read about a manga that involved a student who was tutored by some sadistic psychopath home tutor, the name escapes me but it seemed like a great way to tutor someone and actually make it interesting for once.

I take another deep breath and decided to head in before I get any second thoughts. When I opened the door most of the attention was on me for no more than a couple of seconds before everyone decided to go back to doing their own thing. I quickly sat down ignoring whatever the lesson was about, I also prompted to completely ignore her for the rest of the day; or at least try to. Ignoring her was like ignoring air, you just can't.

As I was contemplating I can feel her stare just bore through me and I knew the minute class ended she would be all over me in a second. I just have to hold out and get out of here ASAP the first chance I get.

Damn it!

Ms. Toriumi stopped mid lecture when she finally noticed me and decided that lecturing me was just as fun. I swear, one of these days school will really be the end of me.

*Yawn*

Well falling asleep here wouldn't be so bad...

I woke up when I felt a tap on my shoulder, a shiver ran up my spine as I knew who it was. I was stupid enough to fall asleep, I left myself wide open and now I was going to pay for it.

Apparently I slept through the rest of the school day since there was no one except me and her. I knew it was her since no one would ever wait for me except her, I don't know why she does though.

I turned my head to face her, I knew I couldn't avoid her now so I'd have to face this inevitability. Let me introduce you to the fear in my life; Minako Arisato. She has auburn brown hair usually tied into a ponytail with Bobby pins that spell out "XXII", ruby red eyes that are very alluring and one of her main features along with her body, which was sleek and had a great shape not to mention developing. She's pretty much every guys' dream girl, not only because of her looks but also her personality. She's nice to just about everyone in school, she would even befriend a complete psychopathic stranger, she is summed up as number 1 of the nicest people I've ever met in my whole life (But in my life I've only ever met the most bullshit of people so not sure if it means that much to be number 1, but whatever...). To sum it up she's Gekkoukan's poster girl; one of the smartest girls in our school, highly athletic, most desired, cutest, great personality, you name it.

So, now I'm pretty sure your question will be:

"Alright, why are you so scared of her?"

Well for many reasons actually, too many reasons in fact that that in itself is scary.

When I saw her face I was literally pissing my pants in fear. She didn't look mad at all, she was actually smiling at me. No it wasn't some sort of sick Cheshire smile with a motive behind it or a malicious one filled with malice but a genuine smile of affection.

"Good morning, sleepyhead~!Did you have a nice dream?"

She was so bubbly and happy and... Dear God, was she actually glowing?

How?

She's too happy...

In my whole 16 years of living I've never met someone as cheerful and happy as her. I know that sounds cliché but I mean it, she probably has enough joy for the whole world cooped up in that body of hers.

"Mou~ Hikaru! Why were you so late this morning? I was SO worried!"

I just had this incredulous face on, and how could I not? I'm a guy, and as nature has ruled it; guys do not understand girls. Honestly I thought she would be mad, she's the one that bugged me to actually come to this place when I decided that I had enough of school and skipped like 2 weeks straight. How she actually convinced me I'm not going to say, but hear me out when I say that it was the worst; getting beat up by some back alley idiots can't even compare to it.

Plus she was worried about me? I don't know where you come from lady, even if you are smart you're the biggest idiot if you even tried to worry over a guy like me. I guess I'll give her an explanation if only so she'll leave me alone. I took out a worn out looking notepad and a pen.

As soon as I did her eyes lit up and her mood seemed to go up if that was even remotely possible. She looked like a kid who just met their idol face to face; it was just a damn notepad.

"You're actually going to answer me!"

Yeah, so that you could leave...

Was what I wanted to write but I knew better than that, I want to get out of here alive not commit suicide. So I just wrote three simple words.

"Slept On Train."

And shoved it in her face, when she read it she cocked an eyebrow almost like she couldn't believe such an excuse. Since she didn't believe it I thought I should write at least another word or two.

"It's True..."

Too bad it didn't get the reaction that I was hoping for.

"Hikaru~!Do you actually think I'm going to believe that you slept the whole morning off inside the train? Do you think it's okay that your missing school?"

Actually I think it was better to not go to school at all, people could probably do more with all the extra time they'd get if they didn't go. Course I couldn't say that out loud and I didn't feel like writing it all out so I just shrugged my shoulders for a response. That is and always will be my universal answer to just about everything.

She curled her lips into a pout and she seemed annoyed, remember annoyed not pissed; there's a difference.

"Hikaru! You promised me that you wouldn't be late or skip school! Remember?"

Oh I remember, I remember every little detail of that day. And as I can recall I never promised that, all I agreed to at that time was that I'd actually go to school. I don't make promises that I don't plan on keeping, you are probably the only person who thought I'd actually do any of that crud. I was going to argue with her when she dragged me out of my seat and out of the classroom by my arm. I didn't know what compelled her to do it, at least not until she started to talk.

"For breaking your promise with me your gonna treat me to dinner at Hagakure!"

...

Okay if anyone actually understood any of that could you run that by me? Cause I didn't understand any of it. Why do I have to treat you to dinner with my hard earned money, on a promise that I never actually agreed to? Her sense of logic makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

I would normally flip the person off and then just leave, but with her I could never do anything to her. It's either that I'm too scared to do it or the fact that she's actually amazingly stubborn that in the end I'll just end up losing; so why try?

I tapped her shoulder to get her attention than gave her a note.

"I'll go, just let me change shoes."

She just smiled at me while giving me a nod. Of course she still decided to drag me throughout the halls by my arm anyway. Good thing there weren't a lot of students in the hallways, bad thing that there were students in the hallway. I could already hear the rumor mill turning. Just what I needed...

We finally reached the entrance and she finally decided to stop cutting off my arm's circulation. She can be too much most of the time. I just hope that I'll be able to sleep later...

...

Well I guess this is normal.

I was at the shoe locker rack, obviously standing in front of my shoe locker. Sadly though, the locker was vandalized beyond recognition. Strewn all over it with red spray paint were things like:

"F*** you, you freak!"

"Get the hell out of our school you monster!"

"Just drop dead you f***** demon!"

"Your just a d*****d asshole!"

"DIE!"

This is just a daily occurrence, I don't mind any of it at all.

Guess that can cover my social life at school I think. Yeah everyone hates me, you'd have to be brain dead not to notice that. Since day 1 of school I've been constantly insulted, beaten, excluded, harassed, picked on, etc. I could probably go on and on for as long as I could but I won't. I'm pretty sure that I haven't done anything specific to earn the scorn of just about every student, but it seems everyone just hates me. There's no sugarcoating that, like I've said before time and time again that's just how it is. They could hate me for any reason and I wouldn't give; hate my hair, hate my guts, hate my looks, hate my silence, hate my personality, hate my life. That's all there is but it works my way too, I don't have to say $#!t to anybody and I like to keep it that way. If you want to know how bad it is, the only student to ever talk to me without having to frickein' hate my existence is Minako. A little bit sad, though who cares?

I opened my screwed up shoe locker only to find about a ton of letters in it, I don't even bother with them since they're all hate mail and I rather not waste my time. I took out my shoes completely disregarding the letters that now litter the floor and put the ones I wear for school in. I was about to slip on my shoes before I took a moment to think about something, I proceeded to inspect my shoes only to find a couple of thumb tacks meticulously placed in them. I sighed, it's really getting on my nerves what people decide to do me though I just disregard that thought. After making sure that my shoes were tack free and on my feet properly I was ready to go until I spotted Minako just staring at my locker with a solemn expression on her face.

I said before I couldn't read minds but I knew she must of been thinking of the reason why people treat me that way. With the way she is she probably feels responsible for it somehow even though it has absolutely nothing to do with her. That's one thing I do know about her, she feels that she is responsible for everyone around her and she would always try to help shoulder you when you needed it most. She's cheerful because she wants other people to feel that way too, and that's just how she is.

I put my hand on her shoulder to get her attention. She still has that look on her face, I sigh while holding up another note one that read:

"It's okay, I don't mind..."

She didn't really seem to like that answer that much. Her usual energy was gone and her voice wasn't as outgoing, she seemed a tad more serious than usual.

"But... But..."

I quickly jotted down my words to tell her:

"I really don't mind, cheer up..."

This time she only nodded as she slowly followed behind me when we left our school for the day.

Okay...

About half an hour ago I had a depressed girl with me who was silent the whole way here, ten minutes later she regains all her energy the minute she starts to eat. And in the last twenty minutes she was able to devour eleven extra-large specials.

Eleven of them...

She manages to eat up the money I spent a month saving in less than half an hour, to be able to do that is no feat a human could ever accomplish; this was one of the many things that utterly terrifies me. She doesn't even seem to get any bigger at all, I'm starting to wonder if the saying that one has a bottomless stomach is true.

I guess from now on I'll have to eat bread until I make back the money that I just spent, I hate my life...

"Mmmmm, that was delicious! Hikaru~! Can I have another one?"

I stare at her with the most shocked face I could possibly wear. She still wanted more! Forget bottomless stomach, I'm just wondering where the he'll does all the food go!

"*Giggle* I'm just messing around with yah! I don't want you to spend too much money on me!"

...

Is a comment really necessary now? Cause I'd just rant the whole time, for now I'll just forget she ever said that.

I paid the ungodly amount she ate (How do you eat ¥20 000* worth of ramen!), and we left the quaint restaurant. I had to walk her halfway home since it was getting late. The walk was mainly silent buy Minako would always try to stir up a conversation yet it would always fail since I refused to reply back. She ate my wallet dry, I have the right to ignore her.

"Well this is where I have to go..."

Is that a hint of sadness I hear? Probably just my imagination...

"I'll see you tomorrow Hikaru, in fact I'll meet you at the train station tomorrow so you're not late! Bye!"

She ran off into the distance and into the crowd. I turned around and started to head home. With no more company I started to listen to my music again, at max volume like always. The night sky was beautiful, sure I couldn't see any stars but the blank dark blue sky was nice enough already. By the time I finished listening to "Burn My Dread", I was already home sweet home.

Naganaki Shrine...

I climbed up the steps to the shrine with my music turned off and just basking in the silence of the night. This place is usually quiet so it's a nice place to sleep. I find the bench that's right next to the playground and just lay still. Yup! Nothing more like it...

I guess I should explain things a bit more, eh?

I know I said I had a home at one point or another and this is it. I define a "home" by "a place in which a person returns to for their basic necessities...". For me the only basic necessity I need is a place to sleep. Normally one would most likely rent a room of some sorts if all they wanted was a place to sleep, I would too but I got a few problems mainly revolving around money and age. First, I'm still a high-school student so no one would be able to take me for a full-time worker and I'd only be able to take small part time jobs that don't pay much. Secondly if everyone remembers, I'm voiceless; almost every job needs a person to talk at some point and that is impossible for me. So that pretty much narrows down the jobs I can take, in the end I probably can only make about ¥2000 a week. Not enough to rent anything.

The money problems don't end there either, I usually spend my money on food which is expensive enough as it is so I don't waste any money on clothes at all. I only joined Gekkoukan because they are the only high school around that gives out free uniforms, I remember writing the entrance exam in only a t-shirt and shorts in the middle of winter.

My only possession is this old modeled iPhone 4. Even though I found it at such a deal it cost me about a whole year's worth of working all kinds of part-time jobs and I still had to bargain to be able to barely pay it off. I don't know why I bought something like this, but I'm glad I did, it helps me isolate myself from the world. I probably would've gone crazy without it.

Yeah...

My life seems like such a $#!t hole

I play around with my iPhone to pass some of the time before I nod off, I usually go to sleep by now.

Sleep...

That reminds me about my strange dream about Igor this morning. The dream that cost me ¥200 000. It felt too realistic to have just have been a dream; those cards especially. I can still vividly remember how I felt when I touched those cards.

Street lights were now on and I realize that it's really late. I look at my iPhone to see the time

11:59

April 6th, 2020

It's almost Midnight…

Tick...

Tock...

Tick...

Tock...

*Growl...*

To Be Continued…

Notes:

¥20 000- about more than $200 Canadian

¥200- about $2.50 Canadian