Disclaimer: I do not own Persona 5!
Well, this chapter did take quite a while to complete! Yusuke's arc will probably end in the next chapter. (Just in case you guys want to know, Makoto's arc has actually already started in the previous chapter.)
With that, enjoy the story!
Ann sighed. "So... is Yusuke really not going to take part in that competition anymore?"
Makoto groaned as she pulled put a few tickets and tossed then onto the table. "To think that Ohya-Sensei would have bought these for all of us... God damn it, what a waste of money."
"She went to buy tickets for everyone?!" Ryuji shrieked as he pulled up one ticket. "B-But it's a National competition! Each ticket is 2000 yen!"
"Students get a discount, not to mention that we are from Shujin," Makoto replied as she stretched herself over two benches. "She only paid about 600 yen per student, and she did say that she wanted us to enjoy the performances. But what's the point when Yusuke's not even gonna be there?"
Haru nodded. "She's trying her best to get everyone to appreciate the art of Ballet too. That includes Yusuke, who appreciates it, but is losing his passion in it."
"Speaking of which," Akira suddenly quipped in as he looked around. "Goro did say that he was going to do something about that, which is why he's not here. I wonder what his plan really is?"
"Someone else isn't here too," Ryuji noted. "Where's Futaba?"
"She's busy with her Music course," Haru said as she raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you know? Makoto and I are only here to watch you guys film your parts with Kamoshida-Sensei, so the rest of us are actually excused from coming over."
"Oh, right. I totally forgot about it."
Ann remarked sadly as she placed a hand over her forehead. "We can only hope that whatever Goro's planning to do, he actually succeeds in convincing Yusuke to stop acting like this. I really don't want to keep seeing him look so sad all the time..."
"None of us do, Ann. None of us do."
"... Häns*, the composer of Sonatina in D-minor, is a baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London, becoming well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. He was strongly influenced by the composers of Italian Baroque..."
Futaba sighed as she flipped through her lecture notes. As much as she loved composing and doing theory work, she had never liked learning about history. What was the point of learning about the lives of these composers when she came here to learn about the different types of music?!
Sleepiness soon began to creep in, but she forced her eyes to stay wide open. No, the Music Genius can't allow herself to be tempted by sleep if she wanted to do well!
"... And that's the end of the lecture. I hope you guys have learnt something about the wonderful composers and musicians of the past. Now, I'll send you your assignments through email tonight. Class dismissed!"
Snapping her book shut, the bespectacled, geeky girl sighed in relief. It was finally over. Just as she was about to walk out of class, however, her teacher called out to her. "Sakura-san?"
Futaba turned to the male with grey hair. "What is it, Iwai-Sensei?"
Iwai, though he looked aggressive, was surprisingly a very nice and polite man who had a deep interest and passion in the art of music. Futaba heard that he was going to be acting alongside them in Persona 5 as the Hanged Man Confidant for the Protagonist.
"Will you come to my office for a while?"
Curious, Futaba nodded and followed the man into the staff room.
"Wh-What?! Compete in the International Comeptition of Music, World's Cantate?!"
Iwai nodded with a smile. "That's right. I believe that out of all the students, you have one of the greatest potentials to do your best in this competition. That's why I chose you to participate in it. The fact that you're a musical genius is just the icing on the cake."
"B-But are you sure about this, Iwai-Sensei? I mean... I don't know if I can do it..."
"Have faith in yourself, Sakura-san. I know you can do it. It doesn't matter even if you don't win. I just believe that it would be great to expose you to different environments so you'll grow in experience and knowledge. Do you get what I'm saying?"
"... I get it, Iwai-Sensei. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I'll participate in it!"
"That's wonderful. Now, if you don't have anymore questions, you may head back home. Rest well, okay?"
Futaba nodded as she picked up her school bag. "Got it. Thank you, Iwai-Sensei."
However, as she stepped out of the staff room, Futaba could feel a strange, horrible gut feeling inside her. She clutched to her stomach as a frown creased upon her face. What was happening?
"Yo, Futaba-san!"
Shocked, she turned towards the voice, only to sigh in relief. "Oh, it's you, Chihaya."
Grinning at her little cousin, Chihaya pushed her blond hair out of her face as she slapped Futaba's back. "So you've gotten a chance to participate in the World's Cantate, I see! That's awesome news, Futaba! Let's go tell your parents about it!"
"Wha-?!"
"Come on!" Chihaya continued as she grabbed Futaba's hand, ignoring the fact that she was absolutely flustered. "We gotta go and have a feast! What more than to celebrate this opportunity, right?!"
"CHIHAYA! I don't even know if I am really going to participate! I need news from Iwai-Sensei before I can do anything!"
Chihaya's face crumpled into one of disappointment. "Aw... I wanted to tell Yuuki-chan about the news too..."
"... Chihaya, there's no need to tell your boyfriend about that."
"Come on! I'm just proud about you, y'know!" Chihaya screeched before she sighed. "Then again, I've been losing my appetite recently too. I'm so tired after having to work on so many essays."
Futaba looked at Chihaya as a concerned look grew on her face. "H-Hey, Chihaya, are you sure you're alright? You've been panting a lot recently too. Don't you want to see a doctor just in case?"
"Nah, I'm fine. I'm just really tired thanks to my stupid teacher who's been giving me so much work to do," she chuckled. "Come on, let's go home and rest. Isn't the Ballet competition in two days?"
Yusuke stared through the one-way glass of the Ballet studio, watching as the rest of the girls had their intense training to prepare for the competition in two days time. He envied them - they didn't need to put up with the discrimination that he faced when people knew about his passion.
He could still picture himself dancing on the slippery, wooden floor of the studio, gliding in the air gracefully. He loved that feeling when the air breezed past him. He loved it when he lifted his arms and allowed himself to be lifted into the space.
But he couldn't do it anymore. Not now, at least. Maybe next time, but he knew he had to hide it from his father.
A sinking feeling filled his heart. He spent so much effort on the two dances, yet he had decided to quit. It was a huge shame, Yusuke had to admit. But it was one choice he had to take if he didn't want to let his father down.
"Well, well, well! If it ain't the Ballet student, Yusuke Kitagawa!"
Frowning at the sound of that familiar voice, Yusuke turned towards the guy who towered over his already tall self. "... Hideki Yamamoto, what are you doing here?"
He shrugged with a sinister smile. "Well, I'm just here to... you know, catch up on your payment."
Yusuke sighed as he handed an envelope over to the blackmailer. "Fine. Here's the cash. Now where's that video? Delete it: it was part of the deal."
"Alrighty, alrighty, I'll delete it right now," Yamamoto grinned as he fished his phone out of his pocket and showed Yusuke his phone. Going to his gallery, he deleted the video of Yusuke practising his routine. "And the deal is done."
Yusuke frowned. "... You sure there's no catch?"
"Oh, don't worry, Kitagawa. I always fulfill my part of the deal," he replied as he placed his phone back into his pocket. "Oh, and about where the video is... it's on my YouTube channel."
Yusuke nearly felt as if a bolt of lightning just struck him. "It's on your what?!"
"On my YouTube channel, of course!" Hideki Yamamoto cackled madly as he turned back towards Yusuke. "I didn't say anything about uploading it, did I?"
"You... you fucking asshole! You said you would delete the God damn video!"
"I didn't say which video, did I? Don't worry, Kitagawa - you still have a chance to redeem yourself. I've only uploaded it just a few minutes ago, and I haven't gotten much views. If you could still spare some cash, maybe I'll take down the video..."
"'Maybe'?! That basically just means 'never', doesn't it?!"
Yamamoto shrugged as he began to turn and walk away. "Well, it's your choice, Kitagawa! Prepare to get your cover blown, then. Don't come crying to me once everyone mocks you for what you do!"
Yusuke was seething mad. Not only was he so easily fooled by this bastard, but the secret which he had been hiding for years was going to come to light! How was he supposed to accept this?
"Clack! Clack! Clack!"
That was it, wasn't it? Now everyone was going to laugh at him for being such a sissy. He was going to be a huge disappointment, and it didn't help the fact that no one in this world likes to be bullied in the first place. Tht included him.
And was it just him, or was that the ominous sound of high heels loudly clacking on the concrete floor...?
For some reason, he could feel a dark aura wafting into the air, as if someone had just triggered a sleeping monster from the deep to wake up from his slumber. Yusuke suddenly felt the urge to run away from whatever it was, but...
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the blackmailer..."
Yusuke could only stare with wide grey eyes as the figure stepped out from behind a corner of the hallway and started advancing on the two of them.
"... What in the - Akechi?! What the fuck are you wearing?!"
There, standing in all of his glory, was Goro Akechi, who was wearing what looked like the red gown that the Queen of Hearts wore in Alice in Wonderland, the tallest pair of red stilettos he had ever seen, and a crown perched on his head. Goro was even weilding a long golden staff in his hands and even had makeup on his face, giving him the aura of a queen no one should mess with.
Goro turned to Yusuke and smiled, causing a shiver to run down his spine. "Don't mind my appearance, Yusuke-chan. I was just standing in for the girl acting as the Queen when I thought I heard a commotion outside. Looks like I was right..."
Hideki Yamamoto glanced at Goro for a moment before he snorted in amusement. "Heh, what do you want, Drama Queen?"
"Nothing, it's just..." Goro continued with the same serene smile on his face as he used his left hand to support the top of his staff, "Don't you feel a little ashamed of what you're doing, my dearest? You seem to be... well... a bit of a jerk, don't you think? Blackmailing people for doing what they like... isn't that disgusting?"
Yamamoto started chuckling. "Isn't that how the world works? The moment you have someone's secret in your hands, all you have to do is to manipulate that person to your own liking. That's what the big companies do too, don't they? Kind of like... your lovely father."
Yusuke gulped in horror when he saw Goro's grip on the staff tighten. Mentioning his biological father, Masayoshi Shido was one of Goro Akechi's berserk button.
"My father may be the head of a media company... but that doesn't mean he's as big of an asshole as you are, Hideki-chan..."
His eyes widened in surprise. Well, that wasn't the reply that Yusuke had expected from Goro. What he wasn't surprised at, however, was when the drag queen walked over to Yamamoto and smacked the back of his knees with the staff, causing the blackmailer to yell loudly in pain and fall to his knees. Scowling, Yamamoto turned towards Goro.
"The hell was that for, Goro Akechi?!"
"This is for bullying my friend here, Hideki Yamamoto," he replied as he stepped closer towards the tall man on the floor. "And don't even try to complain and whine to someone else. You know very well that you deserve this for causing hell in Yusuke-chan's life!"
"Akechi, that's exaggerating-!"
However, Goro ignored Yusuke. "Now, I want you to take that video down from your YouTube channel right now, on your phone. Do it. I want to see you do it. And return the money to Yusuke-chan as well."
"F-Fine, God damn it..."
Snatching his phone up, Yamamoto tossed the envelope back to Yusuke, quickly went to his YouTube channel on the app and went to the edits to his account. Seeing this, Goro quickly snatched it up, causing Yamamoto to yell in surprise.
"Who knows if you're really going to take it down if I let you do it?" Quickly, he pressed a few things on the screen, and the video was deleted from the account. "Interesting, looks like no one actually watched it yet."
Smiling, he handed the phone back as he whispered in a dark tone, "You'd better be glad that I decided not to use these red stilettos on your face."
"Okay, okay! I get it!" Yamamoto screeched before he quickly walked away, muttering, "Ugh, what a creep..."
Yusuke could only stare at Hideki Yamamoto's vanishing figure in shock. Did that really just happen? Goro Akechi deleted that cursed video of him from Yamamoto's account! But... why?
He was in a daze as Goro quickly strutted over and asked in a worried voice, "Are you alright, Yusuke-chan?"
Yusuke frowned at his cross-dressing schoolmate. "What's your motive for doing that to him?"
Goro shrugged as his playful smile grew on his lips. "You can say that I just wanted to teach him a lesson. That man has been a huge ass to many others too. No one should get away with such acts, don't you think?"
He snorted. "Huh, hypocrite. You were the one who revealed it to them. Why would you help me over such a matter?"
He watched as Goro's playful smile became one of sincerity. "Let's just say that I'd prefer it if people were to be true to themselves. No one deserves to be picked on for doing what they like."
Seeing that the blue-haired boy was giving him a look of skepticism, Goro chuckled and continued, "I know how it's like when people diss you, Yusuke-chan. I've gone through that stage in my life too. I guess I've just come to accept it and just do what I love, which is acting on a stage, regardless of the roles, you know? Anyways... you've really decided to quit, huh?"
Yusuke sighed. "Even if I regret it, there's barely a chance to turn back, is there? I mean, the competition is two days away. There's no way I'll win."
"That isn't what I'm talking about."
He turned to Goro in confusion. "Hah?"
Goro turned such that his back was facing his friend. "I'm talking about Ballet itself. Are you really going to give up on your passion just like that?"
Yusuke found himself at a loss of words. Seeing his reaction, Goro started to walk back to the Drama Club Room.
"Do what you want, Yusuke-chan, but I'd really love to see you dance in front of everyone without fear someday."
Stepping into their little apartment, crime and mystery genre actress Sae Niijima was surprised to see her little sister angrily slamming herself into the punching bag that they had at home for her to train with.
"Goodness. Makoto, are you alright?"
Sighing in what seemed like frustration, Makoto stopped and turned to look at her grey-haired sister with her red eyes. "I'm fine. I just feel really pissed off about what happened in school today. I'll tell you more about it later if I feel like it."
"It's best if you take whatever's on your chest out whenever you have to," Sae agreed before she placed her handbag down on the couch in the living room and headed to her own room. "I'll be going for a shower first. Today's been a rather long day for us."
Her younger sister nodded. "Got it."
After Sae stepped into her bathroom, Makoto paused herself from punching the training bag and wiped the beads of perspiration off her forehead. Noticing her wet and sticky shirt, she groaned again.
"Ugh, I really gotta change out of this singlet…"
Turning, the girl with the braid hairband stepped into her bedroom and shut the door. Grabbing a clean set of clothes out of her drawer, Makoto pulled off her singlet and dried herself with a towel before she stepped into the bathroom which was connected to her room. After hanging her clothes out and cooling herself down for a moment, Makoto pulled off her hairband and headed back into her room to place it on her desk.
It was then when her eyes caught that blasted letter that she had received from the school about her role in the action movie. She had auditioned for it a few weeks ago, and it didn't really have much to do with her acting in Persona 5. She took one deep breath to calm herself down before stepping back into the bathroom to shower.
Yet as the cold water cascaded down her back, it wasn't enough to cool her down from the rage that she felt. Makoto had very nearly wanted to punch the marble walls down, but she knew better than to attract the attention from all of her neighbours.
"Out of all the roles I could get, why the hell did I have to get the role of the damsel in distress…?!"
Author's note: *Häns is a reference to George Frideric Händel, the composer of Sonatina in D-minor in our world.
EDIT: Hello guys! So I'm here for some updates: Unfortunately, I won't be uploading much from now on because I'm busy with concerts and other projects. I'll try to get back to writing as soon as possible, but I hope you guys can understand. Thanks!