Monday, April 26th

"Aw crap." Ryuji lifted his eyes to lock with Akira's, "Dude, whaddya wanna do?"

Makoto turned her inquisitive gaze toward the de-facto leader of…whatever this could be considered, his brow furrowed as he contemplated whatever it was Ryuji was worried about.

She couldn't help but be a little worried, "Akira? What is it—"

He shot up from his chair, "Ryuji, doesn't he always wear that tracksuit and white shirt?"

The blond was obviously a bit confused, "Yeah? Why?"

Akira rubbed his chin as the pieces in his head finally fused, "Go get some grape juice from the cafeteria, Morgana, you're with me."

Morgana excitedly shot from his chair, "Oh, hell yes! But wait…how is that gonna—"

Akira raced to the roof door, "I'll explain more on the way, just c'mon you two!"

Answering Akira's call, the two remaining boys started running downstairs, leaving Makoto and Ann blindsided by well…everything.

Though, Akira raced back up, poking his head out, "Hey, you two stay here, just for now. And Makoto?" He fully had her attention now, "Tell me more about that cousin you have after this. I might have an idea."

She nodded, albeit a little confused, as Akira fully disappeared.

…This is strange.

Makoto couldn't help but nervously fidget in her seat as silence soaked itself into every pore available between the two girls.

She glanced over at Ann, who was tapping away at her phone as she gazed into Ohya journal as if she was writing down some of the information.

Ann was relaxed and oblivious to Makoto's unnerving disposition.

Maybe Akira was right.

Maybe I just have to try to talk to her normally since it's just us two.

Oh…but what can we talk about?

Maybe how classes have been going? That's normal, right?

Right.

Makoto cleared her throat as she straightened out, "Takamaki-chan? I just wanted to know how cla—"

Ann lazily slung her head towards the Student Council President, "Just because we're alone, Niijima-senpai, doesn't mean I want you to talk to me."

Makoto stumbled with her words for a bit, finally finding them, "We-Well I didn't mean any ill—"

"Actually, you know what? I've been itching to get this off my chest, I don't know what you did to get Akira wrapped around your finger, but it's not going to work on me."

Hearing her accusation both made Makoto blush and get horribly confused, "Takamaki-chan, what do you—"

"Somehow, you've gotten him to believe you won't be an issue and you'll actually help. Hell, you got Ryuji believing it too. Maybe it's just because the two of them are idiots, or Akira just doesn't know you and he's mystified by your looks, but I do." Ann placed her phone flat on the table, "Even last year…all you did was sit under Kobayakawa's fat ass and be his little pet. Even to all of the teachers. Even…him. You never cared or tried to hear Ryuji out after February, started being buddy-buddy with Kamoshida once school started, and I'm suddenly supposed to believe that you care about everything? About us? About Shiho?!"

Makoto couldn't speak.

"I don't know whether Kobayakawa has you doing this, maybe you're doing this for a recommendation letter? Maybe to get all of us in trouble after Kamoshida's gone?" Ann lightly shook her head, "I don't know, and I don't care, but don't pretend as if you have noble causes." She went back to grab her phone, but she paused, turning back towards her senior, "But after this is over? Stay away from us. Stay away from Akira and Morgana. And stay away from Ryuji."

She turned in her seat, opening to another page of Ohya's journal as she jotted down some notes in her phone.

Makoto on the other hand…started shrinking and shrinking. Her eyes were downcast towards the floor as she gritted her teeth.

She was right.

She wasn't doing this for noble causes.

Not to improve Shujin.

Not to make everyone feel safe.

Or to make things better for Shiho if she returned.

She was doing this simply to prove Akira wrong. That they could do this in a way without breaking the rules.

And she hated knowing that truth.

Thursday, April 29th

Makoto couldn't really tell as to why Akira texted her so early in the morning, but she had a feeling it was important.

Albeit, sluggishly, she reached out to grasp her phone from her desk.

Kurusu-Kun: Can you swing by my apartment this morning?

Kurusu-Kun: Oh, and don't worry, you won't be late for school. I promise.

In any other situation, her mind might've gone into overdrive with her overthinking, but she was still a bit groggy.

Sloppily, she replied.

Makoto: Mhm thats fhine.

Kurusu-Kun: Uh, you okay?

Makoto scolded herself, she didn't even notice her grammatical mistakes.

He probably thinks I'm an idiot...

Makoto: Yes, I'm fine. Just exhausted.

Kurusu-Kun: Don't tell me you're worried about this Kamoshida stuff? I told you not to worry about it.

At this point, Makoto had already started her morning routine, erasing the plaque from her teeth.

I hope he doesn't find me rude for taking so long to reply…

Luckily for her guilty conscience, Akira didn't say anything.

Although her morning blues still had a thick grasp over her, it seemed as if she was back to her usual self as she stepped in front of Akira's door.

Before she got the chance to knock on it, it clicked open, revealing Akira barely dressed with sheer exhaustion on his face.

Yawning, he shuffled his hand through his short pockets to reveal two phones, "You said that cousin of yours is a…"

Makoto couldn't tell whether he was still exhausted or drawing a blank, but she spoke up, "Detective. Hifumi. She's a distant cousin, but she keeps an eye on Sae and I." Her eyes lowered, "More like me to be exact."

Akira sucked his teeth, "Well…let's have her keep an eye on you one more time. Can you contact her today?"

"Of course, she's not that far away after all. We can meet—"

Akira quickly perked up, dismissing her suggestion with his hands, "No!" His voice caused Makoto to flinch, "I mean…no. Me, Ryuji, and Morgana…we have something…Sojiro wants us to do." He rubbed his cheek, "So, that'll take up all of my time after school."

Makoto's eyes gleamed with suspicion. Sadly, Akira still wasn't immune to her glare just yet, "Sakura-san? I thought he was gon—"

"He texted me last night! Just uh…just some maintenance work he wants on his…house in Yongen-Jaya!"

She narrowed her eyes some more, making Akira steadily weaker, "Well…if you want, I can just leave the phones in our mailbox downstairs, she has a spare key."

Akira nodded, bypassing her glare, and placed the phones in her hand, although hesitating not soon after, "…make sure she doesn't connect you nor any of us to this."

A simple nod came from her head as she grasped the phones, "I'll see you at school then?"

Before he could give a simple answer, Morgana came up behind him, "What are you two lovebirds doing? We have school!"

Akira shoved him back into the apartment, "Yeah I'll see you at school. Don't let us make you late, though. Get going."

"Right." As she started to leave, she spoke up, "Good luck with working on Sojiro's house."

Slipping into the elevator, Morgana popped his head out of the door, "Lemme guess, you lied to her again?"

"Shut up, man."

Friday, April 30th

Ryuji's stomach was killing him.

At first, he thought it was just him starving, so he scarfed down the entire breakfast his mother whipped up in an instant, and yet the pain was still persisting.

Actually, it wasn't even pain, just a serious discomfort he hated.

With the continued discomfort, Ryuji only thought of one other thing.

The same thing as before, more food.

He had gotten lucky since he stumbled upon both Kurusus and Makoto, who had oddly packed a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in her bag.

Who the hell am I to complain?

Ima eat the shit outta this!

Ryuji took two of her sandwiches, eating the first at a snail's pace as he kept overhearing her and Akira going back and forth.

It seemed as if he was apologizing for something.

Sheesh. I hope she…nah, there's no way she knows.

We should be fine.

God, this jelly is bussin' all in my mouth…it's so good I could cry…

That's not worth me sayin' pause…

Docking at Aoyoma-Ichome, the group of four made their walk to the front gates of Shujin, only to be greeted by—

Kamoshida. Shit.

His usual fake-ass smile was beaming, with everyone else eating it up and not being any wiser to the monster that laid behind.

And that's when it finally clicked.

It wasn't hunger or a stomach bug, it was Kamoshida. He was the pit that was forming in his stomach.

Today was a make-or-break day.

Everything had to go perfectly.

Or else everything and everyone around them would crumble into dust.

I gotta…I gotta calm down.

Not falling into this hole again.

As expected, Kamoshida's eyes locked onto the four, Akira directly, "Kurusu-kun."

The older Kurusu flashed him a glare and tried to push forward into the school, only for Kamoshida to step in front of him. The rest of the group tried to step in front to try something but Akira stopped him.

Something Suguru noticed, "Oh? Trying to protect the trash around you again? I don't know why you still want to try…come Monday…the three of you are gone. And…" He lifted his eyes over Akira's head to gaze at Makoto, who was directly behind the raven-haired boy, "I'll have easy access to the rest of my pickings."

She immediately got the insinuation. Her face twitched with disgust.

It took Ryuji a few more seconds than the rest of the group, but he got it too.

Oh hell no!

Once again, he tried stepping forward but Akira jutted his hand into his stomach, stopping him in his tracks.

Akira—

Ryuji threw his eyes over at his best friend, he could tell that anger was coursing through his veins. It seemed as if he was going to burst and rip Kamoshida apart over the Makoto comment, but…he took a massive breath. Then exhaled.

He straightened himself and turned around, "Come on everyone, we have class today."

Partially, Mona and Ryuji were surprised at the restraint, although they knew why. Makoto on the other hand? Completely dumbstruck.

They passed the aging band director, who shared Makoto's sentiment on his self-control, to which he shot his hand towards Akira's shoulder, digging his fingers into his skin to force him to stop before yanking his uniform towards his face. He could barely contain his…disgust at not getting a rise from Akira, "Why are you so calm…? Does it not anger you? How you're a little chess piece on my board that I utterly obliterated? That I'm going to get away with everything? That the Niijima bitch is going to be my next plaything like Shiho and you can't do anything about it?"

Akira yanked his uniform from his grasp, his anger coalescing in a silent glare consumed with fury.

And yet, it still hadn't overtaken him still. "Good day, Suguru."

Ryuji had walked up behind Akira, faintly reassuring and calming him down some more by placing his hand on his slightly battered shoulder, "C'mon dude."

He nodded, turning around as Ryuji gave Kamoshida one last look, flipping him off in the process.

Mistress Reporter: You guys ready?

B.D. Tora: Yeah, Iwai told me last night he finished his portion of the plan.

Ryuji: nice…nice. Alright. Let it loose, Ohya.

Aki-Chan: This is it, everyone.

Strange Creature (Mona): Good luck. Play it easy for the rest of today.

Iwai-Senpai: Yeah yeah. Don't be idiots, that's simple.

Mistress Reporter: Not for Ryuji.

Ryuji: I'm just gonna ignore that.

Hmm, maybe I should change Akira's name back to Frizzy Hair…or maybe Frizzy-Chan…

Hmm…

Ryuji started ruffling his hair whilst ascending to the stairs.

If things did go how they were supposed to, he had no issue celebrating in the one place he considered home at Shujin.

If it didn't and things horribly backfired, being in his home wouldn't hurt.

He wasn't sure if Akira was fixing on coming, same with Morgana and Ann. Hell, despite Ann not knowing, she shared her serious energy with the Kurusu brothers as opposed to his lighthearted disposition.

It wasn't due to a lack of caring or a lack of understanding the situation, it was simply due to the fact that Ryuji had been down this road of ultra seriousness before. It didn't do him any good.

Gently kicking the door open, Ryuji routinely walked through his favorite spot, finding his favorite chair, and slouching in it in his favorite position.

Only way to make this a lil bit better…would be…

Grabbing his spare headphones from his bag, Ryuji plugged them in as he revisited one of his all-time favorites.

Ah.

Today Was a Good Day.

I can't ever go wrong with this shit.

It's like a weird good luck charm.

I don't really believe in that shit though, but it's the closest thing to one.

I mean hell, this song is the reason why I pushed through that first day and met that frizzy-haired asshole so.

Might as well consider it one.

…Please bless us once more.

Almost instantaneously, Akira kicked open the door, trudging over to his usual seat and flopping into it as he unleashed a flurry of yawns, "You okay?"

Ryuji could only faintly read his lips, popping out one earbud he tried to translate, "Fat hoes fighting over BBB Orgy Cards?"

I've been thinkin' too much about Mishima. There's no way that's even close to what he said.

He rolled his eyes, "Dude what the—No man, are you okay?"

"Oh. Nah don't worry about me man, I'm just coolin' like always."

"Hm. Must be nice."

"So uh…how's Ann?"

Akira waved away his concerns, "She's the same as usual. A bit more jittery but I calmed her down. Still haven't told her, just waiting for this to actually go through before I tell her."

"Right. Right. Can I uh…tell her instead? I think she'll like it instead if I tell her."

Akira gave him a bit of a smirk, "Oh?"

The blond groaned, "Oh go gag on Makoto's jelly man, it's not like that."

He tilted his head, "Makoto's jelly…? Why does that sound worse than it should be…"

"I dunno, probably because it makes you horny." Ryuji started mimicking a ghost as he stood up, steadily getting closer to a blushing and a rapidly increasing angry Akira, "Oooo…Makoto's 'jelly'! So powerful! So enrapturing! It'll make any man shit and cum!"

Akira swiftly removed one of his shoes and threw it at Ryuji's face, but he narrowly dodged it, "Ha! Gotcha you asshole I knew you were gonna pull that shit ag—"

Like before, he nailed Ryuji in the head with a pencil, the force sending him back into his chair. He popped his head up, mediating the pain with rubs on his forehead, "Dude!"

"Shut the hell up, man!"

"Don't get mad at me because I can withstand the jelly while the awesome badass Aki-chan can not!"

Akira shot from his chair, the name Aki-chan threw him into a cold sweat, almost as if he had seen an actual ghost, "Why the hell did you call me Aki-chan?! Where did you hear that?! Nationals?! Have you been talking to anyone from Kyoto?! Mika!?"

Ryuji couldn't help but burst out laughing, he struggled to get his sentences out while doubling over in the chair, "I guess Mona was right! You really do hate that name!"

Akira pointed an embarrassed finger at him, "Oh, piss off!

Ryuji's laughter was cut off with the slamming of the door, this time not being associated with a friend, but instead a bitter enemy.

Oh.

Showtime.

Kamoshida stomped over the two boys, a phone clutched in his hands, almost cracking from the force. He jerked it into their faces, his rage spewing from his mouth, "What the hell is this?!"

Ryuji pretended that he was too far to see as he hung his head over the back of the chair, "I dunno what that is, I can't see. Can you, Akira?"

Akira hunched over, fixing his glasses as the glare from the scene hid his eyes, "Nah…I can't see. Why can't you just tell us instead, Suguru?"

His face twitched, "You little shit-eating brats! You broke into my house!? Took my prizes!? Plastered them all over the internet! You think this shit is funny?!"

Ryuji couldn't help but snicker as he released himself from his Ryuji-Sakamoto branded chair, "Mind if I take this?"

Akira hopped on the table, taking a seat as if he was an enraptured viewer, "He's all yours. I said what I had to say."

"I dunno about breaking into your house because we weren't there, but all of this? You deserve it. You deserve to see your little castle…this fake ass bullshit you've forced down our throats crumble around you. You talk a big ass game about watchin' all our moves and that we're pawns in a game, but for someone who talks so much shit…you were never in our sights. Nor on our chessboard or whatever the hell you said earlier."

"Watch it—"

"Or what? You'll break my arm again? Shatter all my bones in it again?! Cause someone to try to kill themselves, again?!"

Faintly, Ryuji could hear multiple footsteps rushing up, Kobayakawa's voice not that far behind, he was pleading and protesting.

Akira commented once he connected the dots, "Huh. That's quicker than I thought."

Ryuji quickly took this moment to just do one thing he had been itching to do forever.

He balled his fist up and threw it towards the towering bastard.

He didn't care if Kamoshida would charge him, or try something, he just wanted to settle things in his own reckless way like he wanted months back.

Was it childish? Yeah.

But…he needed it.

Or so he thought.

"Ryuji!"

Shit.

Not again.

He turned it into a feint as decided to kick Kamoshida in the chest, sending him to the ground.

It was still stupid, but at least it wouldn't send him into a rage of beating him to a bloody pulp.

For once in Kamoshida's pathetic life, he had to look up to someone.

That someone being a useless…percussionist he brutalized a few months ago. Someone who was at the bottom of the carefully constructed social hierarchy he spent years crafting at Shujin.

Someone who wasn't even looking at him in sheer anger, but someone who was giving him the same look as before.

A look of determination and an uncontrollable fire of hope.

It was something Ryuji and Akira both shared.

And something Kamoshida despised them both for.

No matter how hard he tried, it never dissipated.

The flames of their wills engulfed everything around them, spreading and linking throughout their little group, synthesizing until it drew closer to him. But instead of being a flame of hope, it was a flame that razed Kamoshida. One that shot through Kamoshida, burrowing and digging into his skin, viciously ripping into his entire being. It would keep twisting and contorting through until it consumed him whole. Leaving his castle and power all faint charred ash blowing in the wind, soon to be banished away into the annals of Shujin, becoming a story connotated with disgust and vile anger. Only to be replaced with a story of whoever would take his spot.

Whoever would dare take Shujin away from him.

He was going to be replaced, tried, and thrown to the sands of time, forced to rot until he wasn't known nor feared by anyone anymore.

All because of two teenagers and their determination he couldn't ever figure out how to crush.

He hated that feeling.

Finally, the door burst open to reveal a handful of police with Kobayakwa at the back, there was a detective at the front. A woman with a disinterested gaze, her hair jet black and decorated with a roped three-leaf clover.

Ryuji thought it complimented her dark green eyes well, but he quickly shook his head as she spoke up, "Suguru Kamoshida?"

Still looking up at Ryuji on the floor, he shot his head towards her, "Y-Yes?"

"I'm Hifumi Togo. I'm a detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. You are under arrest for soliciting nudes from a minor, being in possession of multiple pieces of child pornography, and threatening a minor."

Kobayakawa finally spoke up, "What?! Th-These are lies! They're fake photos! False accusations! All lies by…b-by these two!" He pointed his chubby index finger at the two boys, Hifumi brushed him off as she grabbed her cuffs, approaching Kamoshida.

"N-No! I didn't do anything! I…I—!"

The first cuff wrapped itself around his wrist, "Just cooperate, it'll make things easier."

Kamoshida threw his head back towards Ryuji, "S-Sakamoto! Help me! I promise I'll…I'll make everything better! I'll do anything! Please!"

Ryuji only looked at him with sheer disgust now, "That beggin' shit…is that what Morgana said that night? Mishima? Is that what Shiho said to you so many times?!"

The hatred in his voice kept spilling out, catching Kamoshida and even Akira off guard.

Ryuji took deep breaths as he stared with all his hatred at the man who ruined everything.

Only one thing was on his mind.

"Screw your promises." He nodded at Hifumi who was waiting for him to finish, she hoisted Kamoshida up as Ryuji uttered his final words, "Fuck you, you abusive douchebag."

Woah…I haven't said that in years…

The police started to clear out as Kobayakawa kept at their heels, leaving the two boys alone on the rooftop. Silence kept its presence for a few minutes as Ryuji struggled to contain his rage. Akira knew the feeling but was proud of him. He was making progress.

Much to his surprise, Ryuji turned on his heel, "Since today was a good day...do uh…do you want to throw a party?"

A/N:

I hate back to school shopping I swear. At least I got a mad cool hoodie today.

Anyway, sorry for the short chapter, this one and twelve are the shortest but it's for good reason and pacing. Everything should go back to normal in thirteen so...

But now, we're onto the more interesting stuff going forward!

Aw crap, I just remembered I forgot to put it in this chapter also, but Akira unlocked Kamoshida's phone by remembering the date on the defunct marching band magazine back in chapter three. I can never find the right moment to put that into a chapter without it being disorienting, my apologies. That's actually the reason why I put emphasis on that. Well...there's another, but that's beside the point, we're not there just yet.

Be safe everyone!