Like I expected, this chapter was long and took awhile to write,,,
After I posted the last chapter, I think I got creative burn-out. I couldn't seem to write for the other two stories. I barely finished the revamp and scarcely touched the other story. lol
Anyway, I hear y'all crying over Akira. Stuff starts to look up for him at the end of this chapter and will for a while. Don't worry. Yet. :)))
Anyway, to answer Guest's question,
"Did they get a request to look into the protag, or are they looking out for Yuuki? Both? Are they keeping an eye on him in general?"
The phansite didn't exist at the time, as Mishima hadn't made it yet. As to answer your other questions, those will be answered in the next, next chapter. ;)
Akira is so fucking anxious.
It's the middle of the night and instead of being lulled into sleep by his tired brain or heavy eyelids, he's bound awake by ricocheting thoughts of worry. His mind feels like a bottle of BB pellets some kid shook around violently until the lid ripped off by force alone.
Guess that's probably not the best way to put it.
He sits up in bed and crumbles his blanket into a ball, throwing it to the very edge (a tad too close, it's probably going to fall) and lies back down. There was just so much that could go wrong. Even back when Akira was leading the team, they were ways to fuck up. Lots of them. It would only be logical to assume the risk was even greater now, right?
Failure was the biggest fear plaguing his mind. He had failed time and time again, to the point existence almost felt like a joke to him. (He doesn't even know what he's gonna do with himself once he finally does win this rigged game. Though, that was a midlife crisis for another day.)
What happens if they fail? Tomorrow's the most important day he's going to have for awhile. He's banking on it. The Phantom Thieves will steal Kamoshida Suguru's treasure, and if they don't succeed… What happens when you miss a deadline? The concept is absolutely terrifying because he doesn't have the slightest clue.
The only time he didn't finish a palace was because he died in it.
If that bastard gets left to his own devices and goes unpunished for his crimes (not even taking into account who's going to be expelled this time around), Akira will just… Well, start the next loop early to be frank.
Obviously this timeline isn't going to work out like he wanted and it's not like this is the first time his efforts go unhailed. He doesn't even know what he was thinking when planning what to do in this redo, as if he could have a break from this stressful Hell.
Or maybe not. Maybe, just maybe. Everything will turn out fine.
Akira highly doubts it. Nothing is fine and if he has learned anything from this debacle of a situation it would be that not a single goddamn thing in this world was sacred. All were contenders for rust and ruin. Himself included.
Needless to say, he ended up working himself into a corner for most of the empty night.
Akira kept his head down and ears shut, but not listening in class also meant chalk.
He still dodges it, but since this was the first time it happened the whispers he got were more annoying to him then usual. He bites his lip to hold in his urge to snap at the class. What he did wasn't all that impressive. It was just spatial awareness. Gezz. They act like he's some anime ninja…well, actually maybe they aren't technically too far off, but still. These people really need to shut up. They're so starved for anything interesting at school that everything he does gets turned into a whisper feast.
He just can't wait for class to be done.
Mishima isn't around during lunch and he gets a text confirming so.
Contact: Mishima
Mishima: Sorry, won't be available during lunch.
Mishima: We can hang after school though.
Akira stares at his phone screen, formulating the perfect response in his head.
Akira: Sure.
Ah, perfection.
He spends his break loitering at the back of the school, not bothering to eat today. He feels that if he tries to stomach something, he'll just throw it back up. He couldn't possibly eat in leisure. His stomach was performing jumps and tying itself into knots. It could be signing up for the Olympics with that kind of shit.
He found himself passing the time by reading some random article around wheat when he hears a fight break out between two female students. The two of them are causing quite the ruckus. Enough so that Akira rips his gaze away from his phone to stare up at them.
The fight is a couple of yards away. Close enough where he can see them for sure, but hearing them clearly is more out of the question.
His simple curiosity is piqued and he wanders over to watch with the thin forming crowd of students who were also outside. He discovers as he gets nearby that this is a true catfight indeed. Hair-pulling, slapping, clothes yanking, more space between them than necessary, and fast punches with their elbows out.
Hmmm, he's never noticed this type of stuff happen here before. Was he just not paying attention to this type of stuff previously or…?
"Should somebody break them up?" He hears a nervous voice ask. When he looks over to the owner of said voice, a familiar face is paired with it. It's the Green Pencil Case Boy again. It doesn't seem like he was talking to another in particular. Just an open suggestion for anyone to take.
Which no one did.
In fact, some in the small herd began to pull out their cellular devices to film the altercation.
Akira's nose wrinkled in disgust.
"Wow… Seriously?" His classmate sounded exasperated and slightly defeated at the actions of their fellow students.
Akira has to agree. Maybe he should help break it up.
Actually no, he's barely been here. The student body only seems to grow bored of him and move onto better gossip at the 3 month mark. If he intervenes and people show the footage out of context…
A scowls paints his face as he watches on as the girl with black hair seems to overpower the brunette. He wonders what led up to this fight. Were they friends beforehand? Just classmates? Bully and victim? The latter of which got tired of the other's shit?
Surely he'll hear talk of this later. But finding out which information is right might not be something he'll be privy to. It truly is a game of telephone around here.
After school his pace is leisure as he heads out. Hands in his pocket, head down, walking past groups of students excitedly talking about Kamoshia's 'supposed reveal' tomorrow.
Cool on the outside, not on the inside. Like magma. Comparatively.
He stops at the lockers and waits for Mishima to haul his ass over. The raven was giving the shorter boy space to talk to his other friends. (Which he would bet his right hand on that he knows exactly who they are now.) And the waiting game is one he's used this. This is his bread and butter after all.
When Mishima does finally arrive he is greeted with lukewarm enthusiasm, which Akira reciprocates. Seems like neither of them are particularly energetic today. They don't exchange any more lines of dialogue as they walk out together, hearing still more students gossip about trivial shit.
One thing in particular hits Akira in a different way.
"Hey, isn't that the transfer student?"
"Yeah, pretty sure it is. Little lackluster though."
"Who's the kid he's with?"
"Uhhh, some dude from the volleyball team."
"Oh. What do you think he's doing with the transfer student?"
"Pfff. Who knows."
"You think they're selling drugs? I did see him with a group of people behind the-"
Akira spins on his heel and glares coldly at the gossiping offenders. He's awfully aware how plain he looked, the only shining feature of him being his eyes. They were an uncommon gray color, not to mention how sharp they looked. That's why he's wearing glasses after all, he doesn't need them. They just soften him up. Regardless his sudden action made the two shut their traps.
And honestly? He was just about to turn around and walk out the door with his buddy, but one of them has the gall to glare back.
And for a moment he's impressed. He finds that he ends up scaring kids by walking by them, much less taping them politely on the shoulder and quietly inquire about something. But his feelings of being impressed quickly devolved into being peeved. Is this guy serious right now? "Could you two possible whisper any louder?" For some reason a pause rings by them, then the two students scramble off. Akira rolls his eyes and grunts at their silly display. That was probably the loudest he's been in a while.
Oh wait, no. He shouted yesterday. Or at least, something that he would count as shouting. (But he has a problem with being loud when not in the metaverse, so don't take that at face value.) When he turns to look at Mishima the boy was raising an eyebrow at him.
"Somebody has pretty good hearing." He quips like he didn't just hear them himself.
"I have big ears."
He laughs and goes on to walk. "Do you now?" He's humoring him, but Akira always jumps at the opportunity to have a meaningless conversation about nothing.
Smirking, Akira shifts some of his bangs to the side. It is a fruitless effort for they fall right back into place at the next step he takes. "Move my hair and find out."
They're at the door when Mishima pretends to mull it over. "I think I'll pass." Is his final decision.
"Suit yourself."
The conversation slowly dissolves into discussion of where they should hang out. After a bit back and forth they reach their olive branch—hanging at a nearby park. Akira pretends to feign ignorance to its whereabouts and lets Mishima guide him. When they finally arrive is when Mishima seems frustrated with the nothing talk Akira keeps offering. He drags a real conversation out of him all while maintaining an innocent air about him.
It has Akira reeling. He doesn't know if he wants to laugh or call Mishima out on his bullshit.
He opts for inaction instead.
"You know, I'm not trying to pry or anything, but you've seemed kinda anxious." The boy sits down at an unoccupied bench and Akira follows. He slides his bag into the space between him and the end. Stretches his arms behind his back before dropping them.
Akira places his own bag on his lap, still not used to how light it's become. He hums in acknowledgment. "Pot meet kettle."
"Hey!"
He raises an eyebrow at the shorter boy.
"Okay fine."
The raven laughs.
"What's so funny?"
He shakes his head. "You're calling me anxious? You're anxious. You're always anxious. It might as well be your middle name."
His brows furrow. "But…middle names are for foreigners."
"You act like that matters."
"That-" Mishima pauses and shakes his head. "You're steering the conversation."
"I always steer the conversation, I'm a professional."
"Uh huh." He says, totally convinced. "Sure you are."
Akira feels like this conversation should've been done backwards and shifts uncomfortably in his seat because of it.
The bluenette looks ready to confront him about something, but deflates and turns to look at the ground. His eyes are downcast and a thin line of a frown appears.
This piques Akira's interest and he leans to his eye level. "Something's up?"
"Of course something's up. You remember how I told you what Kamoshida was doing?"
Akira frowns. Oh shit. "Yes."
Mishima locks his jaw and glares at the grass between his feet. "It's horrible that so many people know and yet they sweep it under the rug. Enable his behavior and protect him. And for what? The reputation of a shitty school?" He turns to look at him. "I hate him. I hate him so much."
Akira can't stop his eyes from widening at the uncomfortably raw honesty his friend was baring.
"He's done so much crappy shit and I know it's escalated recently." He looks away and clenches his teeth. He faces the sky as if he blames it for all the horrible transgressions made by the topic at hand. "You joked that there were 3 types of reactions to the Phantom Thieves' challenge, right? Well I'm the hopefully idiot–"
"Mishima-kun-"
"–because I hope to God that they're real."
Akira shuts in an instant. Wondering and confused. He had thought that Mishima was friends with them —the Phantom Thieves or was even one himself. But this declaration...sounds like he might not be.
Or maybe this is just his way of hoping the others are successfully stealing Kamoshida's treasure today.
Then why isn't he with them right now? Why is he hanging around me instead? There's too many holes in his logic; in his brain. He doesn't know what to think anymore. Although it makes sense that he doesn't know because he never really was in control.
Maybe one day he will be.
"I…think I understand, Mishima-kun." Said boy turns his head back at him. "That shitstan needs to pay for his crimes and while I'm not sold on the existence of these guys... I'll hope they are for your sake."
It feels so freaking weird to act like he doesn't give a shit about the Phantom Thieves or even thinks they aren't legit. But that's how he portrayed himself to be in his texts to Mishima after school yesterday and it was best to distance himself from it all anyway.
Probably wasn't the brightest idea to befriend the world's #1 phanboy, but Hell. You do what you gotta do.
The look he gets flashes with a moment of pity, then with an underlying layer of 'I know more than you do', all topped with a bittersweet smile. "Thank you. Let's…hope together." And just to be so daring, he shoulder bumps him.
Akira vehemently agrees.
If you consider how Akira was feeling yesterday to be anxious, then he never wants to label any anxiety he gets as being anxious ever again. Because nothing will be able to top off what he's feeling right now.
It's absolute fucking dread.
And you know the worst part?
He doesn't need to feel like this! He probably even shouldn't. Yet in the early hours of the morn' on May 2nd found him cold and living. Nauseous and dreadful. Prepared yet not in the slightest.
He found himself to be a living contradiction! Neat.
This shouldn't be such a big deal. It's not like he's banking on this going well or anything. (The hypocrite. ) He can always just…"reset" if push comes to shove, but he'd rather not. What he would like is for this year to play out nice with him finally out of the limelight for once.
This isn't his biggest or worst problem. Just one that couldn't help but make him feel ill with worry.
Getting to school was fairly uneventful and by now he doesn't bother eavesdropping on the students as they gossip and walk by him. He just briskly walks to class and hopes for the bare minimum.
It's harder to be disappointed if your expectations are already rock bottom.
The first couple of minutes into class he can already tell that Ann is visibly excited, restless, whatever you want to call it. She's like this everytime Kamoshida is about to confess. However, there's something different about her body language this time, something more…relaxed...no, solemn? Solemn is the word I would use.
Down below, he catches glimpses of Morgana staring off longingly into the great big void. He's not sure what to make of it. Another unknown factor.
Oh boy, this redo is going to be unexpected and new, full of unknown variables and boring. All at once.
He couldn't wait.
Minutes morph into an hour and Akira realizes why something feels so wrong and off to him. The assembly. Suzui never jumped this time around, so there was no reason to hold an assembly… Then how is Kamoshida supposed to…? His stomach sank. Ah, crap. He didn't think this out, did he? He was too hasty in his actions. Then again, he didn't have time as a luxury back then. That bastard has to come in anyway. Maybe he's going to confess over the intercom? Perhaps, but then how is Ann supposed to…
He stuffs his hands into his desk, squeezes his eyes shut, and takes a deep breath.
When he opens them class is running like usual. His hands still shake, albeit a bit less. He doesn't feel any more prepared then he was before.
Within the next 20 minutes his prayers are answered. The intercom crackles to life and out of it comes the voice of Principal Kobayakawa. "Everyone please head to the gymnasium for an assembly by your coach. Yes, he's returned. Teachers, tell your class to leave their stuff behind and remember to lock your doors."
Akira raises an eyebrow, but has been doing this long enough to know not to look a gifted horse in the mouth. Neato.
He gets up and pushes his chair in because he's not a heathen. The boy prompts to wait for some of the other teens to file off first just so he won't rub shoulders with them. He's found that they don't really like that. And good decision at that because he overhears Ms. Kawakami mumble, "He's back already…?" The downside was that she noticed this. "What are you looking at, Kurusu-kun? Go join the others in the hallway."
He dips his head and partially glides out of the doorway. Once in the hall with other students from this and that class making their way to the gym, he spots him.
Mishima Yuuki has been leading him on a wild goose chase.
But now he knows.
He can see as clear as day the shorter boy converse with Ann about…something. He's too far away to hear them, especially with everyone else talking right now. But it's obvious they are familiar with each other, more so then they should've been at this point if this was a more normal redo. Whatever they're discussing gets interrupted by Ann looking over the boy's shoulder and catching Akira's eye. She looks away immediately and says something to Mishima as the boy then turns around and spots him.
Akira pretends to not notice any of this.
His eyes widen comically and gestures to Ann about some other thing and leaves her side. The girl gives the boy one more look before disappearing into the madness of the crowd.
Said boy weaves his way over to him. "Kurusu-kun! Sorry, I was talking to someone else-"
"You're friends with Takamaki-san?" Shit, why did that come out of his mouth!? He was supposed to pretend he didn't notice them. What a loser.
Mishima winces but nods. "Yeah, I am. I can introduce my friends to you."
He shakes his head. "Nah, It's fine. I don't like people." Which is a big fucking lie. He loves people, he's just quiet. He'd rather observe.
Mishima nods his head like he knows exactly what he means and the two of them head to the gymnasium together.
Once there he can spot Ann in the crowd. It's not a hard feat considering her blonde hair. As expected Suzui is standing alongside her. His eyes scan around once again and after a couple more seconds of searching, he spots Ryuji all by his lonesome. Aw, poor guy.
Murmurs and whispers from the sea of students fill his ears.
People are even more confused than usual about the assembly. Usually the things he heard would pertain to the event relating to Suzui's attempt on her life or of the faculty being nervous about the calling card.
Now it was just people voicing their annoyance (or lack thereof) at the surprise assembly or general talk about the calling card.
Really, it's the little things that does it for Akira.
Like for example, both Kobayakawa and Kamoshida were on stage. The large heavy-set man clears his throat before speaking into the microphone. "Good morning students. I'm sure you're all wondering what this is about, well, I'll hand this over to Mr. Kamoshida. As he was the one who wanted this, he must have something important to announce." The bald man steps back to let the other man speak at the podium.
Kamoshida looks dazed out of his mind and goes to lean into the mic. "I… have been reborn. That is why I will confess everything to you all… I have repeatedly done things that were… unbecoming of a teacher. Verbally abusing students… physically abusing my team, and…" The ugly bastard sighs. "Sexually harassing female students. I even… forced myself onto a male student recently."
Akira squeezes his eyes shut at this. He can hear the footsteps hit the wood and the man falling to his knees at the front of the stage. They open again when he feels a hand placing itself on the small of his back. Slight shock is printed on his eyes when he looks at Mishima, who flashes him a small reassuring smile.
The crowd of students whisper in shock, horror, and disgust of the teacher's sudden confession.
"I thought of this school as my own castle…"
He notices Mishima giving the man a partially nasty glare at these words. Probably didn't have fun being tossed around in his palace, huh? He dryly thinks to himself.
"There were even students that I sentenced to expulsion, simply because I didn't like them…"
Huh, so Ryuji and Mishima still managed to egg him on. Wonder what they did…
"I will, of course, rescind those… I am truly sorry for putting innocent youths through such horrible acts…"
His nose wrinkles in disgust. Bullshit. He only feels like this because he was partially brainwashed.
"I am an arrogant, shallow… and shameful person. No, I'm worse than that…" At this he bows his head to the ground, the next words that leave his mouth carry heavy intentions with them. "I will take responsibility and kill myself for it…!"
The whispers are crazed at this. People are confused, shocked, and repulsed all at once.
"Mr. Kamoshida! Please get off the stage for now!" The principal pleads, trying to save face for the sake of the school. His plea goes unheard however.
Like a certain someone's.
"Everyone, return to your classes!" A teacher in a sharp blue suit shouts. He's standing nearby Ryuji, who, like everyone else, just ignores him.
"I—"
"Don't run, you Bastard!" A female voice cuts off Kamoshida's pity party. "You claim you're truly sorry for all the things you've done to hurt people?! Then face the consequences of your actions! You have no right to run from this!"
Akira shivers. Right, Ann yells at him at this part. Of course, it's different now. But there's a certain type of pride he had for his old friend who sticks it up to the man even when it's less personal now. She's still doing the right thing because Ann is a good person.
Can the same be said about him?
"You're right… You're absolutely right…" he sounds weepy at this, "I should be punished under the law and atone for my crimes…I did horrible things to Takamaki-san, as well, in return for giving Suzui-san a position on the team… I tried to force her into having relations."
Shock and horror mostly. People expressing how bad they feel for her. Others in disbelief that the rumors weren't true. Yeah no shit.
"As of today, I will resign from my position as an instructor and turn myself in. Someone, please call the police!"
Now it's teens freaking out about him wanting to have the police called.
"This morning's assembly is over! Return to your classes immediately!" The teacher in a suit still tries his best to get the students in line. He goes largely ignored as the talk gets louder and louder.
Too loud in fact.
Akira can't stand it.
"Kurusu-kun, are you alright?"
No, he's not. People won't shut up.
"Return to your classrooms at once!"
Shut. Up.
Akira wanders out of the gym with the first chunk of students who actually bother listening to the teacher's instructions. His friend is hot on his heels. He's rubbing his temples to help with…the nausea? He feels nauseous. Huh. That's weird. Why's that?
Guess that doesn't matter because he hangs back from the rest of the thinly stretched crowd at the first garbage bin and holds onto it.
"Kurusu-kun, what's-?"
He throws up.
His friend makes a surprised noise and he can hear some girl he doesn't know ask if he's okay. But he doesn't feel like talking. His throat is burning and his stomach is doing flips. And not in the cute way.
He wakes up in the nurse's office. What the fuck ?! When the Hell did he pass out?! He doesn't remember that! Not at all!
Oh, that weird nurse is there again. He tries to speak to get said nurse's attention, but all that comes out is a weak moan. Truly, this boy is on par with Shakespeare.
The nurse turns around at the sound of the noise regardless and eyes roll. A quip is made about him finally being awake and how his guardian has been contacted to pick him up soon.
"What-?"
"Ask your father once he comes and gets you, we already informed him." And just like that the nurse disappeared behind the curtain. The sounds of shoes on linoleum got fainter and fainter until Akira's world became faint too. What the Hell? Was the last thought he had before his brain said no.
His next thought in the waking world was, Sojiro isn't my dad. He turns his head to the side and blinks a whole bunch to get his eyes to adjust. It's Sojiro at the wheel of the car. He furrows his brows. Wat? His sleepy brain relies. He inspects down on himself to see that he's in the passenger seat and that he got a seat belt on. Oh. Oh shit.
Did…did Sojiro carry him out of the school like a baby? Or was he just not lucid enough when he walked him out of there?
Either way he felt his face heat up in embarrassment.
"Oh, you're awake." A gruff voice noted.
Oh God, he did carry him here, didn't he? "I, I think I am."
There's a sigh from the driver. "Look kid, don't get cheeky with me. What happened? I got a phone call out of the blue. Said you...got sick and passed out."
Akira isn't sure what to say. He just felt the noise of the gymnasium get to him and suddenly felt nauseous. The last sort of clearly defined event he recalled was emptying the contents of his stomach into a trash bin. At least I didn't throw up all over the floor and myself. That would've been…not pleasant. "Uhhh, not sure?"
Sojiro turns his head slightly to look at him. "What do you mean not sure?" His eyes narrow and he turns his attention back to the road, as it should be.
"I don't remember passing out?"
He could hear Sojiro mumble something about a 'problem child' under his breath.
It made Akira want to smirk. Now that was something he was more familiar with. "Sorry."
"Don't apologize, you're acting like you did something wrong. If you weren't feeling well this morning, you could've just said so."
But he was feeling fine this morning, physically anyway. "I felt fine earlier-"
Akira got startled when the man honked his horn.
He mumbled something about shitty drivers and beckoned him to continue.
"I uh, not sure why I got sick all the sudden."
Sojiro looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He shook his head in dismay. "Either way, I'm taking you to a clinic. Can't risk getting sick from you." As dis-concerned as he tries to sound, Akira knows better.
He nods, knowing he'll probably be taken to see Tae. It's been awhile since he's last seen her anyway. He wonders how she'll act now that she has to be completely professional with an adult present. It won't last for long though if he keeps visiting her…
Wait no, that doesn't make sense. He has no reason to constantly visit her and make a trade-off.
Then the Phantom Thieves are without a good portion of their medical support.
He hopes that one of them stumbles into Tae's clinic by the grace of some nicer being out there. It's no fun to watch a game if everyone dies early. He makes note to try and lowkey put her on their map. He's not gonna interfere or anything, he still doesn't wish to be pulled into that nonsense; but there's no harm in helping out a little. Probably.
Surprise, surprise! He turns out to be right on the nail. The clinic is empty of any other patients and Tae is absent from the small window. He is instructed by Sojiro to take a seat and the old man rings the bell at the front desk. It takes a few minutes, but eventually she is summoned like Bloody Mary. "Hello there, sorry for the wait. I was organizing stock in the back."
This is the third time she's flash a light in his eyes. He wonders if she's just messing around with him and this is her subtle way of doing it. Granted she would have no motive behind doing it, but he'll take the reasoning of deja vu at this point. (Even if no one ever seems to get it.)
"Hmmm, nothing seems wrong. I think this was all stress included. Overstimulation and high levels of stress mix as well as alcohol and painkillers." She sails away from the examination table like a great ship at sea. The doctor fumbles in her coat pocket for a pen and scribbles something down on her clipboard. She then rummages through one of her drawers before pulling out a small bottle of pills. "Here." She declares, handing the bottle to Sojiro. "Have him take these for nausea. If this behavior continues to persist, come see me."
"Thanks Doc, is there anything else-"
That's all he hears before the door to the examination room closes as the two adults discuss something out of earshot.
"Ugh." Akira just wanted to go to sleep.
When they arrive back at LeBlanc, Sojiro asks him if he thinks he can hold down solid food. "You have to have something with these." And he fumbles with the top to dig one out.
Akira nods his head. "I don't feel nauseous anymore." He feels tired and a little vibratey? That's an odd feeling.
He gets handed the medication and a couple of granola bars are shoved his way.
He eats, takes it, drinks water, and heads upstairs to mimic a comatose state.
That shit knocks him the fuck out. He never even got the chance to change into his pajamas.
The raven wakes up to nothing. There are no glow in the dark stars litting his ceiling, there was no noise that startled him awake, and there was no pressure anywhere on him indicating a cat was dozing off into the void of the dreamscape.
Nah, there was just…nothing. His body had woken himself up on its own volitation.
It's fucking dark. He shifts off the bed, realizing he had slept with no blanket on; and slowly wanders to the desk across his bed. He feels his way over the tops of the book stacks (each one he's read a couple times over and isn't really for another round) until he finds the spot he placed his phone.
With the press of a button the screen reads 10:39. He's checking his phone out of habit. "Great, it's the middle of the night." Text notifications litter his screen as well. They're from Mishima. Afterall, the only two phone numbers he has stored on his phone at the moment were Sojiro's and Mishima's.
But he has all his friend's numbers memorized by heart already.
He goes to sit down on his bed and check his texts.
Contact: Mishima
Mishima: Are you still in the nurse's office?
The next text is sent a few hours later.
Mishima: Did you go home?
The next series of texts were sent an hour after that.
Mishima: I asked the nurse so I know you got picked up early.
Mishima: I hope your not sick too bad. D:
He used the wrong form of you're. Akira tsks. Forshame. I believed in you.
Mishima: Kinda ironic you went home early and I stayed after school with my friends. :P They really wanted to talk about what happened.
Mishima: Especially since I know both Ann and Shiho…
Mishima: Oh, Shiho is Suzui btw
Mishima: Anyway I hope you're feeling better. :)
Mishima: I'm free for the break just not on the 5th
Mishima: If you wanna hang I mean.
Mishima: Only if you're feeling up to it!
Why is he busy on the 5th? He turns off his phone and tries to decide whether or not he wants to reply right now or tomorrow morning.
Screw it. He'll reply right now, it's not awfully late anyway.
As he writes up his response a thought comes to mind. The 5th is Children's Day, huh? Oh…that's the day we eat out to celebrate completing Kamoshida's palace.
He chuckled to himself for not realizing it sooner. He does wonder who's going to pawn off the metal though… Ryuji's probably going to accidentally reveal them by pawning it online. It's a silly thought but knowing that Mishima is a Phantom Thief (or at the very least he's more involved than he was previously), he's probably going to slap some sense into him.
Hopefully.
The next day Akira wakes up feeling fine and dandy. Well, not really, but at least he doesn't feel nauseous anymore. He probably doesn't need to take any medicine today. It's not that he has it on hand anyway, Sojiro's holding onto it.
He still doesn't trust him, huh? It's still far too early for that.
He changes into some fresh clothes considering he slept in his uniform last night like an animal. He stretches and sits back on his bed to go on his phone.
He just be vibing.
Mishima texted back only twenty minutes earlier so he decided to shoot him a text his way. The boy gets back to him immediately.
Sheesh, doesn't he have something to do? He should be busy with the Phansite by now…unless that doesn't exist.
Curiosity getting the better of him, he exits out of the texting app and straight to Google.
He tries to look up the site and to his relief, the webpage pops up at the top of the search results.
Is it weird that he felt relief at that? Wasn't he supposed to not give a shit? Guess I can't help but want to root for them even though I don't want to be a part of it anymore.
At least not for now.
"Hey, you can hear me, right? Are you feel better now? If so come help me out, instead of sleeping your life away."
He forgets Sojiro makes him do chores for the next two days after the first palace. Not even being sick the other day can save him from doing work it seems.
Oh, the humanity!
He walks downstairs before backpedaling and texting Mishima a quick 'brb'. Now the start of his exciting adventure of washing the dishes truly begins.
An apron is tossed at him as he goes down and he doesn't even bother catching it. It just kinda…lays flat on his face.
This gets a chuckle out of the older man.
He takes the garment of clothing and properly puts it on this time. "...Thanks."
"Heh, sorry I kinda pressured you into doing this."
Akira shrugs and turns on the water and grabs the sponge. He actually likes doing the dishes, it's very lethargic.
Perhaps Sojiro is about to say something else, but he doesn't find out what since the TV grabs their attention with 'breaking news'.
"And now to our next topic… Fall from Grace; the story of a dishonored Olympic medalist. Just recently, a high school coach admitted to his school that he had been perpetually abusing students. Given his prior Olympic achievements, this has caused quite a stir. What caused this habitual offender to suddenly confess these heinous crimes to his entire school? The police are hoping that the upcoming interrogations will bring light to this question." The newscaster reported.
Akira rolls his eyes.
"Hm? Isn't this…?" Sojiro mumbles when a photo of a certain school is shown.
"My friends would come back from practice with bruises all the time… It was scary, but I'm relieved that the abuse is finally going to end now." A male student whose head was cut off recounts.
He wonders if Mishima recognized the guy's voice. He knows he's watching the news right now, maybe even more intently than before.
A female voice filters through the TV's speakers. "He would touch me and stuff all the time… I'm glad I don't have to deal with that sexual harassment anymore…" She ends her comment with a soft relief.
"There were always rumors, sure." Says a rougher female voice. "Not many people believed them though. Like… I'm totally shocked they were actually true. At least now I can go to school without worrying."
"I knew it. This is your school, isn't it?"
"Seems like it." Comes Akira's lackadaisical answer. He doesn't look away from his task at hand.
There's a sigh coming from the counter. "Things might be getting turbulent at school, but you need to just keep your head down, all right?"
Akira nods dumbly. This is a rather familiar script. Then he's going to tell me to keep working and that I have more chores to complete. He's anticipating this comment when Sojiro surprises him with something else.
"Wait a minute… a few weeks ago…"
Akira stiffs up. Oh shit. Right, he was there. He saw the marks. He's gonna piece it together.
"You came back after I closed shop and the next day I saw you had bruises." His chair creaks as he stops leaning back to sit properly in it. "He fought you, huh?"
His shoulders loosen up. He still thinks I got into a fight. "I had to intervene…" He's not technically lying…
He could practically hear the man rubbing at his eyes in annoyance. "I'm starting to think that you can't ever not stick your nose where it doesn't belong. Sheesh Kid, one day that is gonna get you killed."
Akira stays quiet.
(He's right, he's absolutely fucking right.)
There's a big sigh and it fills his lack of a response. "Well, at least you're okay now, I've got some more stuff I need you to do."
Today's another day and Akira's actually gonna go outside! Mishima wants to hit up the arcade and who is he to say no to that?
Nobody really.
Is it weird that that was refreshing to say?
Less responsibilities, less over-exerting tasks, less traveling all over Tokyo to talk to confidants, less fighting tooth and nail, and less…well everything that made his life before.
Now he was just some guy. He always looked the part, but now he is the part.
Now only if he can get pass Sojiro and Sae's little discussion, that'd be great. He wants to skip that part like in a video game.
Unfortunately, he is not a video game. There is no skip (or quit) button.
He nearly traverses down the stairs with his bag slung over his shoulder. Ha! As if he needs that. Everything he has to bring with him is in his pockets.
Wallet (which he was essentially only bringing with him for his ID, he ran out of cash already and Mishima had offered to pay), phone (which was powered off in case it interacted with Mishima's), and key (which Sojiro has yet to collect from him, weird).
When he finally got downstairs he was stopped by Sojiro's wise words of wisdom.
"Make sure to do the dishes."
The raven rubs the back of his head. "I can't right now…"
"That's fine, just do then when you get back."
He nods dumbly and fidgets in his stance. The older man raises an eyebrow.
"I uh, don't have any more cash for the train fare…"
"You ran out already?"
He nods. Last week. His parents didn't really set him up when they shipped him off.
There's a slight smirk on Sojiro's face and he pulls out his wallet and yanks a 10,000 yen note and Akira freezes.
"What-?" He was expecting him to pull out a 1,000 yen note, not 10,000!
"Just take it, think of it as allowance."
Akira stares at the note dumbly and pockets it. "Thank you."
"Ah, whatever. Make sure to feed yourself when you're out."
The doorbell jingles, catching the both of theirs' attention.
"Welcome."
"Am I interrupting something?" Sae walks in and her maroon eyes flicker between the two people.
"Not at all."
Content, she goes to sit down at one of the bar stools.
"The cause of the runaway-train incident in the subway the other day still has not been found." The TV announces, making its presence known. "Police are hurrying to solve the matter as it may relate to the rise in psychotic breakdown incidents." The male newscaster read almost robotically.
"Oh, is that the thing everyone's been talking about?" Sae catches their attention once more. "Doesn't it make you curious?" She starts a conversation like nobody's business. "People who were living normal lives suddenly went mad or deranged out of the blue… Not to mention that it's happening one after another… Could they really be coincidental?"
"Hmm…" Sojiro pondered her question for all of a moment before deciding he doesn't care. "Leaving that aside… What'll you have?"
She scans the wall behind him, looking at all of the beans before making her decision. "...I'll have the house blend please." She then turns to Akira, who was anticipating this. "Are you a part-timer? I'm surprised this place can afford one."
And to Akira's delight Sojiro sputters. "Uh, that's exactly the case…"
She nods at the confirmation before berating him with questions. "Are you a high school student? Where do you attend?"
"Shujin Academy." He answers honestly. He twirls a part of his bangs between his index and thumb.
"Oh…? Someone I know goes there as well." She relays, referring to Makoto. "I've heard that things are rough right now. A teacher named Kamoshida confessed his crimes like he was a completely different person, supposedly. And it happened "all of a sudden" one day… Can a person's mental state change so easily?"
"...Huh." Sojiro noises.
The public prosecutor sighs. "Is my drink ready yet?"
The man turns around. "...coming right up."
That's Akira's cue to get the fuck out. He worms his way around the train station and stops by a vending machine for a quick snack and drink once at his destination. He finds the street he was supposed to meet Mishima on and tries to sneak up on him.
"Oh, you're here!"
He fails.
"Who are you?"
His friend rolls his eyes at the question and pockets his phone. "Ha ha. You're sooo funny." He smiles. "It's nice to see you're in a better mood though," the smile wobbles, "but are you sure last time was just because of stress?"
"That's what the doc said. Unless I have some underlying disease and won't survive the winter." Akira rerolls one of his sleeves back up the way he likes it.
Mishima gives him a look like he wasn't expecting the joke and chuckles. "I think you'll be fine."
"That's what you say now, but just wait. When the first winds of winter blow, I'll crumple up like a napkin and die."
Mishima laughs and nods like he gets what he's saying. "If you say so. I'm just glad you didn't get lost finding me. Shibuya's pretty big…"
Akira looks around at the crowd of scurrying people. All of them minding their own business. Carrying around shopping bags, purses, or briefcases. Talking and laughing and living it up. It made him sonder for a moment, looking at all these people. He had been so wrapped up in trying to save the world for the past few years that he never got the time to truly relax. Every time before was a quick distraction before he had to inevitably slip back on his shoes and run. Now he could dick around without having to worry about financing and leading a group of vigilantes. "And crowded."
He nods. "Yeah. Anyway, the arcade's this way."
He has nothing to do on the 5th and it wasn't like he needed another reminder that his life has been revolving around the Phantom Thieves and his confidants. Now with no use of either previous groups, he had more free time then he had things to do.
Lie. He had lots of things to do. But what was something he could do that was new and different ?
Being a friend to Mishima wasn't new, but he had always been the 'cool mysterious leader guy of the Phantom Thieves' Mishima would get giddy over.
Now he felt like Mishima was dragging him around because of…pity?
What a weird feeling.
It felt less like they were friendly business partners and were now just, well, normal friends with normal lives.
Akira smirked at his thought process. Maybe neither of them could really claim to have normal teenage lives at the moment.
Nevertheless, he slept most of the day away until Sojiro came up to check up on him and dragon shouted him outta bed.
When school finally crawled back to him the next day, Ms. Kawakami had something to announce.
"Like you heard last week, gym class is canceled today. Instead, I'm supposed to give you some guidance." Students look at each other with unimpressed eyes. "The gist is, don't go around talking about the incident. That's all. The police are still investigating Mr. Kamoshida, so I can't say anything myself."
She sighs deeply and rubs her forehead. "As a teacher though, I'm ashamed for not having noticed that a student was suffering like that…"
Akira sank into his seat. His eyes couldn't help but notice the way Morgana's ears folded flat to his skull. He had the urge shoot through him to pet his friend in that soothing way he knows he likes.
But that would be foolish of him.
Ms. Kawakami shakes her head before continuing her train of thought. "I'm not defending him, but as a colleague, he just seemed like… well, a normal person. Honestly, it still doesn't feel real. I guess people can have multiple sides to them…"
He hears the soft sounds of a certain cat. Must be him expressing how sorry he is for her.
Ms. Kawakami goes on to talk about the 'inner' personality and what she's heard about it and blah blah blah. She's basically talking about personas without even knowing it. The class starts to shape the fuck up and be attentive for once. Ann clearly becomes intrigued by the way her posture straightens up, her elbow is removed from the desk, and how she leans ever closer. When his glaze cuts 'cross the classroom, Mishima is a dead giveaway as well, mincing the same shit Ann was.
Akira though? He stops listening to be honest.
He only snaps out of his stupor by Morgana's kid voice. Ann whispers something back to him and Akira has to take a moment to roll his eyes in a playful manner. Oh course, if Morgana couldn't be with him, he'd choose to be with Ann in a heartbeat.
Mona couldn't help the feeling of camaraderie he felt towards him, after all, he was made by
Igor in a last ditch effort to help out his master's trickster. Now that Akira isn't in the picture he's no doubt getting fed better (since Ann has money) and is sleeping in a bigger bed and, you know, lives with the person he has a puppy crush on.
The raven wonders if his little furry friend was happier like this…
Akira leaves as soon as the school days come to a close, knowing that today Mishima should be telling him he's the one that made the Phansite that popped up a few days ago and how much he wants to help. So, he deduces reasonably, that instead some Phantom Thieves business will get discussed in its place and yeah…
He just wants to take a fat nap.
Upon getting to LeBlanc, he does not in fact get to take a fat nap.
Instead he is met with policemen talking with Sojiro about...something? He should've really anticipated that they would've been here, he's not blind. He saw the police cars. Though, here was also the slim possibility they could've been somewhere else nearby.
Unfortunately neither God nor anime was on his side today.
"Akira!"
Akira jumps out of his skin and yelps at the harsh voice. His eyes are wide in surprise and his heart's thumping against his ribs. He's fought a 'god' before sure, but he's never had to deal with Sojiro directly shouting at him like that.
He sounded genuinely angry…
"Get over here."
And like a dog he complies and walks adjacent to where Sojiro was standing behind the counter. The three police officers stayed quiet throughout.
He gestures toward the boys in blue and with a disappointed face says, "They said they wanted to talk to you regarding something they're investigating. I don't know what the Hell you did Kid, but you better tell the whole truth to these guys, got it?"
Akira wants to cry.
One of the officers steps forward and with a tone that attempts to be easy, (but falls below the bar) interrupts with a, "We can assure you he's not in trouble, Sir."
Sojiro relaxes a tad bit, but nowhere near enough for Akira to do the same.
The same officer continues. "We have reason to believe that your ward here may have been in direct contact with someone we're…" He trails off and glances at his colleagues for something. "Currently having an investigation about, as he was referenced by name from the person of interest." He waves a hand towards Akira.
His stomach starts to sink further as he grapples onto the realization of why they're here. Were…were they this fast about the investigation in the other loops?
How the Hell would he know!? It's not like the police had to track down Shiho, Kamoshida had openly admitted what he'd done to her, but…Akira's name must've been told post-arrest.
He's glad the police are taking this seriously (they're forced into doing this since it's become so public) and they're trying to get statements from victims (they wouldn't even bother with this sort of stuff half the time), but Akira knows one thing for sure.
He hates cops.
Nothing that has happened in the past few years have painted a partially good picture for him nor rooted a fondness for them. If anything he has a disdain for them.
He also knew he wasn't up for being in a small room with several cops, alone. It doesn't matter that they wouldn't be integrating him like...that, but he knew how the police force tends to handle sexual assault cases. They make it so…
Horrible.
He doesn't want to go with them. He wants to crawl under a rock and pretend nothing ever happened.
Another officer pipes up, breaking whatever inner turmoil Akira was stirring up in his skull.
"We'll like to take him in for questioning if that's okay with you." The officer asks out of obligation.
Sojiro strokes his chin, visibly calming down as he started to grab at the pieces he was given. "A statement, huh?"
He makes eye contact with the teen, only to pause as he notices how pale the other has become.
Akira's sure he's not pulling a pleasant face. He felt tense enough to be stone.
The man hesitates at his next question. "So you just want a statement from him then?"
"Yes." The third officer, who hasn't spoken until now; answers with annoyance and hast.
"I see…" He replies, less polite than before. "Kurusu." Akira snaps his attention back to him, the name change indicating that the man wasn't so angry with him anymore. "You want to give a statement, don't you?"
He was glued to his spot. Technically, yes, he did. He wanted any horrible action that man had taken against children to be put into the list of offenses that man would be slammed with in court.
But he also didn't. He didn't because in the end this won't matter. Because he'll have to deal with this bastard one way or another next year.
Well, maybe 'next year' wouldn't be the proper terminology.
He knew the humiliating way the police would treat him or just the fact he'll have to be in an enclosed room with them wouldn't justify it for him. This redo was nothing more than a time for him to lay low and rest. He's not actively trying to save the world or anything.
This holds no weight to it, so at the very least; it didn't have ramifications to meet the end.
So for all intents and purposes, no. He did not want to make a statement.
Officer 2 sighs rather impatiently. "Come on kid, this would aid us in our investigation. Besides, he's already admitted to what he's done. We just need you to come in and confirm it with us."
Sojiro follows the officer's parlor car with Akira seated quietly in the passenger seat. He had refused to get in with them and had partially whisper begged Sojiro to go with him once the men waited outside.
Akira can't express how much better it made him feel when Sojiro told him to give him a minute to close up shop.
There was no talk on the ride there and for that, he was grateful.
He stood in a room with a few other officers, all of them different from the ones who gave the café a visit an hour prior. All but one.
His jaw was clenched and he hated how he had to be alone with them. Knowing that Sojiro was just outside the door (as he wasn't allowed to go in) didn't help calm him as much as he would've liked.
They had a life sized doll in the corner of the room.
He knew what it was for unfortunately.
When he saw Sojiro again, he was shaking. Silent tears plotted his face and he took off his glasses as to wipe them away. The old man looked alarmed, stressed, and concerned all at once.
He's been in this loop for barely a month and he's already giving Sojiro gray hairs, no doubt.
Sojiro got up from his chair and headed over to him. They met in the middle.
"Kid, are you…?" He doesn't finish his inquiry, already painfully aware of the answer. "Here…" He offers him an unopened water bottle which Akira accepts with shaky hands.
This is oddly familiar. A sense of déjà vu washes over him and he scrunches his nose.
He sits down to take a breath, but he knows he can't truly calm down until he gets the Hell out of here. When he opens it he only dares to take a small sip to let his body take it in. He wouldn't want to end up choking. Can't cry and drink at the same time. On second thought, he takes a gulp of his drink.
Vaguely, somewhere; he can hear Sojiro's voice. Though he is struggling to focus on much of anything at the moment. His brain refuses to hear clearly as it was intended, so all he can make out is simple nothings. He can only deduce that Sojiro seems to be discussing something with the other officers.
He sounds…mad? Upset? He's definitely raising his voice.
Akira rests his eye on his palm, hunches over and waits to leave.
He really wishes he could replace his brain.
Sojiro returning to his side feels like a miracle.
Oh man, how he could really use one of those right now.
But to be honest, he had gotten one 3 years ago. It lingers…as this.
He had started doubting it to be a miracle when Goro's blood painted his metaverse outfit. They had been so sure…
And yet in the end they had been weak, and paid the ultimate price. Too bad Akira lives on, and remembers.
He hates it. More than he hates this place.
"We're leaving."
The tired boy wanted to cry tears of relief at those words.
There's a moment where Sojiro goes to place a hand on his shoulder, but hesitates. "Please don't." Was it a whisper or a whimper? Doesn't matter because Sojiro gets the message and retreats his hand. Akira does appreciate the gesture though, he truly does. He just doesn't want it though.
It feels like he's on autopilot as he follows his guardian out of the police station. Into the car. A silent drive back.
Akira's eyes and face are dry by the time they exit the vehicle.
He knows he's probably just going to fly up the stairs like a cat and knock himself into a coma, but what he really yearned for is to shower until his skin was raw.
Unfortunately you can't do that in the bath house.
He's surprised when Sojiro sits him down on one of the stools and stands next to him. He looks up at him with uncertainty, but he's pretty sure he's managed to school his expression by now. He doesn't like the way the old man was looming over him.
He might have conveyed this a bit too clearly, for Sojiro puffs and takes the seat next to him. Akira stares at him, waiting for a question to spill out. It does, and Akira talks and answers, but not enough. He holds the certains words and feelings and memories in himself, not ready to bare his exposed ribs.
It was enough for Sojiro though. He looks appalled at the situation, but his eyes show pity. "I'm sorry."
Akira stops burning holes into the wooden floorboards long enough to give him a perplexed look. "What for? You didn't do any-"
"I accused you of getting into a fight back then."
Akira squeezes his eyes shut and pitches the bridge of his nose. "That, that doesn't matter."
"It did at the moment."
His hand drops. He has no rebuttal. He has nothing to say.
Akira wakes up to Sojiro moving a stack of books off the desk and onto the floor. He picks up a saucer placed on the floor with a cup of tea steaming on it. When it fills the free space he just made, he turns. "Morning."
"Good morning." He slurs. Akira is not a morning person. Unlike his friends who are somehow demons. Oh, other than Ryuji. He's normal in that regard.
Oh wait, they're not his friends. He doesn't have any. Except for Mishima.
Not really something he ever thought would happen to him. Look at him now past selves.
"Now that you're awake, we can discuss school. Like I said yesterday I already contacted the school saying you needed a couple of days off."
He nods, remembering that discussion last night. He slides off his makeshift bed and trots over to the cup.
"Careful, it's hot."
"'kay, thanks." The scent that wafers off the hot beverage tickled his nose. It was peppermint tea. He doesn't mind the flavor, but as a plain person himself, his favorite was green tea. Just straight up throw the leaves in some boiling water and brew that shit, it'll win him over for sure. "How long will I be out?" He innocently asks, blowing on his tea so it won't attempt to burn him from the inside out. He was anticipating maybe 2, 4 days? Something like that. He probably shouldn't be missing too much school just for attendance alone.
"2 weeks."
Good thing the tea was hot, otherwise he would've spilled the tea. Pun not intended.
"2 weeks?!" He suddenly felt a lot more awake and aware of his surroundings.
Sojiro frowns, obviously expecting the opposite reaction. "It can be shorter if you want."
The boy shakes his head, putting down the cup in fear he might drop it. "No, that's okay. I'm just surprised you're pulling me out that long." He's going to have to text Mishima later about this lest his friend thinks he died or something.
"Yeah, about that…" The man trails off, stroking his beard. Akira perks up at this. "I was thinking about moving you out of here." Akira's heart misses a beat. "That's why I thought 2 weeks was a good-"
"You're kicking me out?" His question might have been quiet, but the response he got was not.
Surprise runs across Sojiro's face. "What?" Disbelief stumbles his words. "No, Kid!"
Akira's brows furrowed, not really getting it at the moment. "Then where am I-?"
"I'm moving you into my place. That's why I chose two weeks. Enough time to move whatever you have into there and get you situated and used to the place."
Akira was still reeling from the whiplash as the man continued.
"If you don't feel comfortable with the sudden change, I understand."
"No no." The words spill out as he was thunderstruck. "I'd like that." In all his time being here, in Tokyo; he has never managed to be invited into the Sakuras' household. Well, not like this. He was welcomed as a guest and even got to sleep over a few times on the 2nd, but he never lived there.
Until now. Wild.
"But why?"
Sojiro passes a questioning glance to him at his inquiry.
Akira scrambles for the right words to elaborate with. "Are you sure you want me living at your house?" He is startled by the bark of laughter that the other person lets out.
"Are you kidding me? You're not a threat, you look like the sort of kid I'd bully when I was your age."
Akira finds an assumed smile worm its way onto his face. That's what you think, Old Man.
"Besides," he continues, "I want you to be in an environment where you can feel more safe. I know this is my café, but this place is no good." He gestures at the wooden walls around him. "Too drafty."
Would he feel more safe there? He's definitely familiar with the place. And Futaba is there. Which would be a plus, she only gets involved with their group because she spied on him. And since he's not involved...she would just be vibing there, for a better lack of terms.
Yeah, he could deal with that. Not having to deal with the metaverse and still being able to get to know Futaba? He can't see the immediate downside to that.
The Phantom Thieves will be without their navi.
They'll be fine, they have Morgana after all. And if they can clear out a whole palace without him, they could cope without her.
"Unfortunately you'll still have to attend Shujin. Since they were the only ones who'd take you…" He scratches the back of his head, but Akira doesn't mind the fact. He'd be more alarmed if he managed to transfer out.
"It's fine. I want to stay despite it all." He picks up his drink and takes a sip. Almost lukewarm.
"And why's that?"
He tilts his head up. "I made a friend."
He gives the raven a small smile. "That's good."
((I did some research into how Japan's police force handles sexual assault cases or rape cases and basically every source I read said this-
They are shit at it.
Like, I got upset reading into this. And the way the gov defined it as? Like, the fuck? Like, sure, they changed the def recently but still… :( They're useless?
That's why I choose to have Akira be so not okay with having to go with the police, besides the obvious thing that he's traumatized by them? Like, when you have to sign the contract lots of places in Japan make you do in order to use their services, Akira's hands shake in game and Mona even comments on it?
I wasn't comfortable writing those scenes, and I didn't want to make y'all feel that, so I went with the very vague few liners-sudden flashes of text approach. I hope it wasn't too jarring with the shift in writing style. ^^"))
See? I told ya'll things would start to look up for Akira. :) He's going to start seeing a therapist in chapter 6, I promise. And no, it won't be Maruki. No P5R stuff. It wouldn't make sense for the narrative. (Sorry bro, but I ain't putting your new best girl into here. lmao)
Damn, this was a long boi. This is the longest chapter I've ever written, ever. XD Anyway, I have both chapter 4 & 5 already plotted out (I only have the first half of chapter 6) and chapter 4 should be on the shorter side (unlike this monster of a chapter lol), so I'm probs gonna work on that right now and post it in a week or 2?
I was supposed to update that 'other' story I keep talking about back in June,,,so yeah, I'm a 'little' late on that… ^^" I'll be working on that before I start tackling chapter 5.
Alright, enough about that, I have 2 shoutouts to do and I'll shut the fuck up.
1st things 1st, I know some of ya'll are Mishima fans (same fam) and I stumbled across a fic I thought you guys would like. I love it and it's criminally unappreciated. Like, what do you mean it only got 600~ hits? That's BS! It's called Waning by EclecticSpaghetti and it's a pegoshima/shuyuu story. Plz,,,,show it some love ya'll it's snazzy af,,, Mishima got a palace and oh boi, am I all for it.
2nd thing, shoutout to TheBestRobin1 on Wattpad, you were super sweet,,,and tysm for shouting out this story,,,you and your buddies were so nice! Your guy's comments were making me blush,,, Ya'll killing me here. XD And like, such coincidental timing too? Literally the day before you came out of nowhere, I was actually contemplating deleting my Wattpad account (and maybe Quotev) cuz it's not very active besides like, two stories and I basically never go there to read, and especially after how they handled that security breach,,,,but ya'll just swooped in and I didn't have the heart to go through with the idea anymore,,,so…thanks? Guess I'll stay on that hellsite.
Okay, bye! See ya'll in 2-ish weeks!