Wednesday, May 5th

Hm.

It…

It feels warm.

But…don't I usually keep it cold in my room?

Wait.

Warm...

Warm.

WARM?!

AW HELL NO, THERE'S NO WAY.

Akira's eyes shot open, revealing a bedroom with purple decor sprinkled around.

He was nestled deep into a rolled-up amalgamation of sheets and covers, wrapped up perfectly to the point it was a struggle for him to move.

"OH MY FUCKING GOD. WE'RE NOT DOING THIS! JUSTINE? CAROLINE? LAVENZA?!"

His cries simply fell upon the velvet accented walls, he was alone.

And he was pissed.

It wasn't a sheer boiling rage like his encounter with Kamoshida, but it was a rage constructed from annoyance.

"HELLO? ARE YOU GUYS OUT—"

The door clicked, revealing a young girl. She was around Morgana's age, maybe a little younger just off eyesight alone, she was shorter though. The girl had two neatly separated platinum blond buns, though they were partially hidden by a cuffed beanie she wore that had the letters, 'X-M-R-N' pasted across the front. Her eyes were golden, giving off an air of royalty and an…otherworldly value to her. Her outfit consisted of a royal blue button-up with a V stitched into her right breast, her trousers having a grayish tinge to them.

To anyone else, this might be a strange ethereal encounter that would lead to fear.

Luckily, or unluckily, Akira wasn't like everyone else.

"Caroline?! Oh, you little piece of shit, how did you assholes get into my apartment!?"

Caroline snickered, "I see you're still as rowdy as ever? Are all those words supposed to get me quivering in my boots?"

Akira stopped looking at her and laid flat in his little sheet prison, staring up at the velvet ceiling, "I hope you stub your toe and explode."

"Imagine being tied up by a 14-year-old, I can't imagine that's going very well for your psyche right now. Wanna cry? Shit your pants maybe? Ha, I'm like your warden and you're the little bitch who's going to drop the soap pretty soon—"

Akira snapped, "Can you please shut the hell up you overgrown waste of pre-cum?! How the hell did you get into my apartment?! I can sue, you know!"

"Ooh, suing a fledgling teenager…you sure you want to deal with that ridicule of knowing how pathetic you are?"

That's it.

I'm going to murder a 15-year-old.

My moral depravity knows no bounds.

The door clicked again, revealing another girl who looked the same as Caroline, however, her hair was a long braid instead. Her V-badge was on her left and her beanie had the letters of 'O-Y-O-O' instead. However, she wasn't the only new woman.

The oldest, even older than Akira, quickly shuffled into the room. She was sporting a dark blue cardigan with dark gray pants. Her hair was platinum blonde just like the rest of the girls, but it was short as opposed to the others. Not as short as...say Makoto, but just a tad bit longer.

Can I please just go a day without thinking of her…?

Yeah, it'll totally be eas-Holy shit what day is it?! What time is it?!

"Lavenza! Can you get your weird-ass little sister away from me!? And can you please get me out of here!?"

Justine spoke up before Lavenza could, "Did you really have to block my number, Kurusu-senpai? That was rather rude…"

...Damn it...that was kinda rude...Yeah, I was right. Ryuji is straightening me out.

Caroline noticed the hesitation in Akira's face, causing her to get irritated, "Hey! Talk to her dick-face!"

"Dick-face?! Who the hell even says that?!" Akira moved-or well shifted-his head toward Justine, "And I'm sorry, I uh...I was surprised, Justine. Poor response."

Her face soured, "Yes. Very poor."

Lavenza waved her hands, her soft voice finally blessing the room, "Girls, can you leave us alone?"

Justine nodded and left immediately, though Caroline paused for a moment, meeting her sister's gaze with a grin, "I hope you two don't...overshare with one another. I know it's been a while since you've met."

Lavenza kicked her shoved her out immediately, eventually pacing over to the immobile Akira, "So, uh...I suppose I should ask how you've been?"

"Usually, that's how conversations go after...what, six years of not seeing each other?" He couldn't give this moment up, catching up with her.

After all, who knows how crazy this shit is going to get whenever Igor appears.

Lavenza nodded as she started to unfasten the comfortable restraints Akira was, annoyingly, starting to get used to, "Give or take…"

Akira took a moment to regain his barrings, stretching while Lavenza observed him, something he thought was a bit strange for her, "Uh...Lavenza? You okay over there?"

His voice snapped her from her investigative state of mind, "Yes, I just...wow. You've really grown."

He chuckled, "Isn't that per the course of growing up? It's been half a dozen years since you've actually talked to me in person and not...you know, over the phone. Don't tell me you thought I would still be shorter than you?"

Lavenza lightly tilted her head as she entertained the thought, "You do have to admit...you were short."

"I was ten! It's not my fault your American side made you really tall!"

"Really tall? Akira, I'm only 172."

"We-well when I was a kid, that was like...a giant height."

"Shouldn't be. Especially now that you're…"

"177." For a moment Akira almost forgot his line of questions, "Wait a minute, why are we going on and on about my height, how did you guys even-"

"You know how my uncle is. Someway he found you. Plus...the twins have Morgana's number, remember?"

"Oh. Shit. You know, it's really not fair considering Igor has never done this apprentice shit with him...is my luck that terrible?"

"Considering that you know what it's like, would you even want him to undergo it?"

Akira took his hand to his chin, "Well...out of sheer karma and irony for all those years he laughed at me suffering...yeah, I would. But...considering that I'm his idiotic older brother...hell no and he hates playing trumpet, remember?"

"Right...right, it keeps slipping my mind that he's a trombone player...must've started that after I left for the states, right?"

"Yeah. Wait, did you guys also bring him here?"
"No, we knocked on your apartment door and he saw us, started groaning and spouting profanities, which surprised me."

"Just for the record, I am not the reason why he has a potty mouth now. I promise."

"Weren't you just cursing out Caroline? Granted, that's the only way she understands anything, but still. Don't act like you're a patron saint just because I'm here."

Akira gave a shy chuckle, "Yeah, yeah."

"Anyway, he gave you as a peace offering to never interfere with his sleep again."

"Huh?"

"He gave you up as a peace offering."

"Come again?"

"He...gave you up as a peace offering? Am...Am I speaking wrong? Is my Japanese that rusty or-"

"Oh...I'm going to kill that little piece of shit."

Lavenza paused for a second, both happy her tenure in the states hadn't screwed everything up, and to give Akira a wry smile.

"Shut up."

"I didn't even say anything."

"What time is it even? I assume you guys came in the middle of the night-"

"It's 9:20."

"Oh, that's not that-NINE TWENTY AS IN THE MORNING?!"

"Why are you so alarmed, Akira? To come in the middle of the night would've been disrespectful to both of your sleeping schedules, which is why we gently took you and allowed you to rest all snuggled up until you naturally woke up. Plus I just flew in last night, so I wanted to rest and allow my body to recover from the jet lag.

"Wow, that would almost be heart-warming despite being kidnapped by my mentor if, you know, I didn't have school today! Mona is such a dickhead!"

"You can calm it with yelling at me, or do I need to kick your ass again like we were kids?" Lavenza cracked a few of her fingers.

Akira nervously chuckled, "R-Right...sorry."

"But…if this day is as valuable as you're making it seem...uncle was pondering taking you to…"

"Shujin. Shujin Academy."

"Isn't that the school that's been-"

"Yes."

"...Did you-"

"Yes."

"Huh. Not going to ask how...but, good job."

"Thanks. Now, can you take me to Igor?" She gave him a look, though it took a moment for Akira to piece it together, "Right...uh, please?"

She nodded, "Follow me."

The two trekked through the halls of Igor's velvet-soaked Tokyo residence, something that Akira couldn't piece together.

"So...when did Igor...move to Tokyo? No...a better question would be why is he in Tokyo? Oh, and where are the twins now?"

"They're in their room, probably. And...he just moved. Bought this place a week or two ago. That's why I'm here, actually. I was going to come back home either way, but he called me once he caught wind of me graduating during the winter. Thought I could help with...whatever he has going on right now. Which leads me to the last portion of your question, you have to ask him. But whatever it is…" She stopped at a door and gazed at him, "You're in the center of it, Trickster."

Admittedly, Akira was a bit filled with tension, but a joke ballooned in his head, "So...you came back for me, basically?"

"Shut up."

"Noted." The two stared at each other for a moment, "Did you really just call me Trickster? How do you even know about…" It hit him, "Oh, the twins...especially Caroline…" Akira groaned as Lavenza chuckled, opening up the door to Igor's workspace.

It was filled to the brim with all types of trumpets, from ones cloaked in gold, black, silver, and even other unusual color variations. Akira even spotted some flugelhorns, Eb trumpets, C trumpets, piccolo trumpets, and even a mellophone.

Woah, a mello...God, I want to play one so goddamn bad.

Igor is such a lucky bastard to have all this money.

The aforementioned man sensed their presence behind him as his white-gloved hands danced away at his keyboard, he stopped, whirling around in his chair to meet them.

As usual, his appearance was always something vastly different each time Akira met him.

This time it was rather normal, just a black suit with polished dress shoes, although his habit of being hunched over when preoccupied with something threatened to excessively wrinkle the suit. His hair, like the sibling trio, was platinum blond, something that immediately showcased his relation to them. Like the twins, it was on the longer side and tucked away into a man-bun.

Upon fully examining Akira, Igor wiggled his long nose as he spoke, "Welcome...to the Velvet Room, Trickster."

Oh, goddamn it.

"So, I'm either irritating you, annoying you, or...this is a long shot, but something snuck up into your nose? Maybe the twins? Did you sniff too hard and accidentally absorb them up?" Lavenza stifled a chuckle.

Sweet.

I should continue on then.

"You know if you sneeze hard enough, they'll come right out. I have a feather-"

"I see you're as quick as ever with your tongue. Insufferable too."

Akira flashed a faint grin, "Not the only thing my tongue is fast at."

Both niece and uncle gave him an odd stare, "Come on, that's not what I was talking about, I was refer-of forget it, it sounded better in my head. Anyway, what the hell do you want Igor? Last time we saw each other you called me-"

"A child who defiled every technique, virtue, and skill I ever passed onto. You are a fraud, not a trickster." Igor's face darkened with a hint of regret as Lavenza's mouth was partially agape as she flicked her eyes between the mentor and student.

Akira on the other hand? His face was flat as usual, "Right. All that stuff. Though I remember you saying our mentorship was over, so that included me waking up in your home-though I should say homes. It's still insane to me mom and dad were okay with you just...doing that."

"I am a trusting person. Your mother has known me for most of her life, after all. I'm a part of the family. Though, I did say all of that and absolved our teaching relationship. I did mean it."

"If you did...again, why am I here? Why did you buy a house in Tokyo?"

Igor paused as he nodded at Lavenza, a non-verbal sign for her to depart the room. The two were catapulted into silence as the door clicked shut. Only the grandfather clock between them served as a feasible sound.

"You...broke every lesson I ever taught you. Every single moral lesson. Every single virtue I instilled within you."

"I know."

"You neglected your horn and became a cocky boy drunk off delusions of grandeur fed to you by Shido. You...you became more concerned with making a mockery of your horn than actually making art with it."

"I...I know, Igor. You think I don't think about it every ni-"

"You stood aside as evil soaked itself into your band, and only acted on it out of selfish intent. Even after our verbal spat, you did nothing with Shido until he brought Morgana into the fray."

Akira took a breath, his anger was bubbling.

He knew all of this.

He knew.

"Come on Igor, just get to the point." A signature sigh came from Akira as he gazed into his former teacher's eyes, "We already went through this, you think I'm the worst idiotic child to pick up a horn under your guidance who's deserved the last few months to happen to him, right?" Igor's eyes faltered for a moment as he saw the faint light in Akira's eyes dim, "I'm a failure who—"

He raised a hand, "If you would let me finish...With all of that being said, I...I'm here because...if my assumptions aren't wrong...you had something to do with that perverted teacher, right?"

"Yeah. I...I couldn't stand aside while he just did what he did."

"Then...you aren't entirely the childish boy I said you were. That's a start to you deserving that Trickster nickname."

"That's all? Really? That's why I'm here?"

Igor gave him an unnerving smile as he stood up, his towering stature always threw Akira off, "Don't you have to get to school?"

"Ig-Yeah. I do."

He passed him, "Come along then, I'll have Lavenza call the driver."

Akira absentmindedly nodded until he realized he was still in his sleeping clothes, "W-Wait! Igor, I don't have my uniform and I don't have my card to get into my apartment. I could...I don't know-"

Igor stopped, turning around and giving the 16-year-old a gaze as he figured out a solution, "I know a way I can fix that."

Morgana couldn't help but shiver in his momentary respite between classes.

The craziest part was the fact it wasn't even because of the temperature. The building was lukewarm, a style of heat he thrived and loved so much.

And yet, considering that, something felt off and he couldn't piece it together.

Ryuji walked in front of him, peeping the shivers from the younger Kurusu, "Dude, are you okay?"

"Me? Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"You're shivering like a crackhead, are you sure? And…" The blond looked around, making sure his base observation was correct, "Where's Aki-chan?"

Realization violently smashed against Mona's brain.

Oh.

Right.

I keep forgetting I auctioned him off to the twins and Lavenza…

Nah, he's fine...he loves Lavenza and being around her. Plus it's been like...six years since he last saw her! He should shower me with praise after this!

Wait...

...but can that outweigh the current day twins and Igor…? Who knows how he'll treat him now considering….

Oh shit.

I'm dead.

Morgana's face became twisted with dread as Ryuji stared at him with utter confusion, "Dude?"

He waved away a hand, "It's...it's nothing...He uh...he has some business to deal with."

"Right...so uh...did...did you get a lecture from-oh shit, right you two live alone." Ryuji slapped himself in the forehead as he groaned, "So neither of you probably know…"

Morgana's face reformed with confusion as a basis instead, "What? Don't do this vague bullshit Ryuji-"

"Hey! I'm not doing it, you dick-head!"

"You're mighty obsessed with dicks, Ryuji."

"That-wha-that's not what-" Ryuji started to grumble angrily as Morgana started chuckling.

Once again, I win and dunked on this numbskull.

At least if Akira kills me today, one of my final acts was the complete obliteration of Ryuji.

Morgana's idiotic grin was wiped clean off his face as a woman stepped in front of him, a vaguely familiar face he caught a glimpse of Friday afternoon. Though her face was quintessentially unknown to him outside of brief recollection, her glare wasn't.

Ryuji whispered underneath his breath, "Shit."

She spoke, nothing in her voice but a harsh centered tone, "Morgana Kurusu? Mind if we have a discussion?" She pointed her eyes towards Ryuji, he was visibly tense at her suggestion, "Don't worry, I'll get to you later. I hope the other one is with you."

She turned around, departing while leaving the boys in a state of disarray.

Morgana sighed as he gave Ryuji a gaze slathered in exhaustion, 'Shit."

Akira was finally away from 'The Velvet Room' and driving towards Shujin.

For this part of the day, things were technically going fine.

Although...Igor's solution to his uniform issue was...something.

Akira's hair was slicked back. Of course, his glasses were nowhere to be found since he left them on his nightstand the night before. He was wearing a white t-shirt with the words 'Aruarian Dance' emboldened in gray, though a royal blue jacket complimented the shirt. On his feet were also royal blue shoes that completed the outfit.

"Did you seriously have to slick my hair back?"

"If you're borrowing my clothes, Trickster, then you can abide by my rules of course…"

Igor's words turned Akira's face flat as he sighed, "Right."

The radio was playing a jazz tune, something that irritated Igor as he told his driver to turn it off.

"You okay over there?"

Igor waved away his concerns, "Yes, I can't fathom why people enjoy the playing of that 'Jazz Prince', his playing just feels...it's nothing deserving of that title. Naoto would wipe the floor with him if she cared enough to do so."

"You and my best friend would get along well with that combined disdain you two possess for that kid. I don't even know anything about him, to be honest."

Lavenza eyed Akira with disbelief, "Really? I haven't stepped foot in Japan for six years and even I know of him."

Akira raised a finger, "First off, you're half Japanese. Second off, your uncle is Igor, of course you care and hear so many things relating to jazz."

Lavenza cracked her index finger using her thumb, "Shut up."

"Noted."

After a few seconds, silence took hold of the limo. It made sense, especially since they were stuck in traffic. Which was something that fiercely irritated the young man since he left his phone, like his glasses, on his nightstand.

I'd much rather deal with the trains than this snail-paced bullshit.

"You always used to ramble on when you got irritated, I assume that's gone now?" Lavenza softly gazed into his eyes.

"Nah, I just do it inside of my head instead. Just like most things."

"Hm...how have the last six years been? How was your stay in Kyoto after I left?"

"Eh. I hated having to deal with the twins so much whenever I went over to practice."

"You had to deal with them when I was there, though?"

"True...but I had something to look forward to each time I wanted to practice."

She chuckled, there was a hint of shyness behind it, "I see...what else?"

"I eventually started bringing Morgana over each day after classes. I had a feeling he was a perfect matching for the girls. I was right, they bothered each other and drained the energy out of one another with ease. So, practices were a little less torturous than before."

Igor laid against the soft padding of his seat with his eyes closed, "Torturous?"

"Don't act surprised."

Igor breathed a chuckle, "Why of course.

Lavenza tugged at Akira's sleeve, "Continue on."

"Well...everything was okay I guess. Still had to get used to the whole urban blood the city had. Hell, even now I still struggle to get used to it."

"Still missing Mihama, fish boy?"

Akira smiled as he thought of his hometown, "Yeah. There's something so simple and relaxing about that place. No matter how comfortable I became with Kyoto...it still wasn't the same."

"After eight years, it still wasn't the same? Jeez...maybe you should take me there sometime."

Akira huffed, "Maybe."

"How's Tokyo been for you?"

Memories of the past month danced around Akira's synapses, making him voice one word, "Eventful. But you have to be more specific, everything involving the abusive pedophile in my school or everything outside of him?"

Wait, does that joke even work? I mean, everything in the last month pretty much has something to do with Kamoshida so…

Well, that little moment with Makoto didn't really-

Goddamn it, stop thinking about her you jackass! Think about Lavenza! She's sitting right in front of you! You've been wanting this for years, man...

Hyperfocus Aki-Chan!

Oh my god.

Lavenza sighed a bit, "I'm assuming everything in the last month has pretty much encompassed him, so again, how has Tokyo been?"

"Ah, you know me too well. Anyway, outside of him...it's been something. I've met people, good people I'm happy to know surprisingly. Especially this one guy, his name is Ryuji. He's not too bright, and he's been screwed over but...despite everything, he has that good heart."

"Sounds like you admire him. Secret lovers?"

Akira had only registered her first statement at first, "Yeah, I resp-Wait, what?! Lavenza?!"

She struggled to contain a bout of laughter as she tried to maintain her seriousness, her hands coming up in defense, "Look, Akira everyone loves in their own way, it's nothing to be ashamed-"

"Wha-Ryuji and I both love women and only women.."

A doubtful expression formed her face as she pushed on with this bit, "Are you sure? When you were younger you never told me about any girls you liked or were interested in."

Of course I didn't...

"For your information, I had a girlfriend last year! Igor, tell her!"

Igor snuggled into the cushion more, feigning sleep.

Oh, for fucks sake.

"Hmm...a girlfriend, hm? How about now? Don't tell me you're an eligible bachelor."

"I mean, I guess. Not really anyone I'm overwhelmingly interested in. Only been a month, after all. You?"

"Same here. Besides, being back here would squish anything I did have."

Akira clicked his teeth, "Right...speaking of here...I assume Margaret is still in the states?"

Lavenza nodded, though she became a bit tense at the mention of her older sister, "Yes. She was too swamped with her work and findings to spare anytime here. She did want me to tell you she sends her warmest regards."

"Huh. Good to know I left a good impression that one time...another person who can stomach me." Akira started to mutter under his breath, "If only all older sisters were the same…"

Lavenza gave him a bit of a look, only vaguely being able to piece together what he mumbled, "Oh...and before you ask...no. We haven't heard anything from Elizabeth either."

Ah. That's a shame...I only met her once.

I think...during the summer of '14, right? She and Igor briefly came back from...where did they go? Miki? Ako? Takasago? Ah, wait I think it was Iwatodai or some shit I think.

Akira shook himself free of his thoughts, "Isn't she doing all that research to unlock a cure to cancer or something? It's a shame she doesn't try to keep in constant contact, but at least she's spending her time doing something good for the betterment of the world."

Lavenza's face faintly darkened, "Yeah. For the betterment of the world."

What is that face for?

Unbeknownst to Akira, the limo had continued its drive through the traffic, perfectly pulling right in front of Shujin. Akira took a simple gaze out of the window, initially noticing a few extra cars but thinking nothing of it when he felt the car jolt to a stop.

"Oh. Nice, we're here."

Lavenza peered out the window, "Woah...this is a pretty nice place."

Akira huffed, "Sure, from the outside it looks like it. It's an ugly bitch on the inside though."

Igor's voice reverberated as he stepped outside, "And yet the news works tirelessly to seemingly make it seem pristine from its depths." Igor yawned before continuing, "I should still be on your authorized guardian list, right?"

Akira took a moment to ponder, "Considering how fast everything has moved...I doubt mom and dad did anything else to the list besides adding Sojiro to it. So...best of luck."

Igor gave a hearty chuckle, "Come on Trickster, take me to your principal."

"You can possibly think I'm going to allow this…this child to freely parade through the halls, bluntly disrespecting the rules and laws of my institution! This is blasphemy!"

Akira faintly groaned as Igor continued going back and forth with Kobayakawa, his disinterest with the situation leading him to Lavenza, who was sitting in one of the vacant chairs. He took the one right next to her.

"I told you it would be like this. Igor should've just listened to me and taken me to the apartment, I could've figured...I don't know, something out."

"Honestly, I agree but if uncle wanted you to look like this...then I'd assume it's for a reason."

Akira gave a quiet chuckle, "To make me look like one of the attendants of the 'Velvet Room?'" He gave air quotations.

She smiled, "It's a good look on you, I must say. Maybe you should ask Igor to let you intern."

"Intern to watch him torture other kids like he did me? No thanks, plus I don't work for free."

Lavenza's face flashed with doubt, "Akira, I doubt you work at all."

Akira defaulted to his usual response and clutched his heart, "Now that's just a low blow-"

"Kobayakawa-san, are you sure there's no way to resolve this problem easily?"

"I'm not going to disrespect the rules of Shujin that have kept this institution in key for decades just for a...delinquent child who probably destroyed his uniform! Take him home or else I'll be forced to-" Igor flashed a check in front of the larger set man, shutting him up with ease.

Sliding the check towards him, he softly spoke, "Is that enough, Kobayakawa-san?"

What did I say? Money only talks depending on how much you want to?

Some weird shit like that, I think.

And yet it's always proven.

It always does.

Kobayakawa nodded, "I'm glad we could conclude on a positive note. This...hefty donation to Shujin will serve us well. However, just make sure that Kurusu-kun doesn't come out of uniform ever again."

Igor nodded, "Of course, he'll-"

"Kobayakawa-sensei? You know, you were right about destroying my uniform, is it possible I could get an extra?"

Igor and his niece both eyed the teenager with Lavenza leaning over in his ear, "What are you-"

Kobayakawa was a bit vexed, but granted his request, pressing a button on his landline, "Tsunehiko-san?"

"Yes?"

"Can you bring a uniform? The sizings are…" Akira fed him his measurements, putting the conversation to end as Kobayakawa gave him one final bit of speech, "You'll get your uniform at the end of the day...and oh, I assume Sakura-san told you about today?"

Wait, what?

"Don't act a fool and be truthful."

Igor and Lavenza filed out of the office while Akira held the door for them, confusion was faint on his face but...he really didn't feel like talking anymore with Kobayakawa.

Just talking to this jackass makes me feel like I'm gaining weight with each syllable uttered.

"Right." Akira nodded his head and closed the door behind him. Spinning around, he was met by the niece and uncle dynamic duo waiting for him at the base of the stairs to the second floor, "Uh...You guys do know you don't have to wait for me, right? Y'all could just...oh no."

Igor responded, "Yes. Give us a guide around your prison."

Akira couldn't help but feel sheer depression fill his lungs, it was apparent in his words and how heavy they felt as they were ejected from his mouth, "I...I really hate you two."

Lavenza was a bit dejected, "Come on! It might be fun!"

Akira completely ignored her as he refocused his attention back to Igor, "Don't you have some kids you should be torturing right now? Some kids to suck up in your nose you wicked warlock of brass?"

Igor waved a hand, dismissing Akira's remarks entirely, "Did you forget I'm only here to rehabilitate you? Since that's my purpose...let me see where your mind is being cultivated."

Lavenza maneuvered herself closer to Akira, locking arms with him which sent a pink flush onto his face, "Laven-"

She gazed into his eyes, "C'mon… it's the least you can do for a childhood friend you haven't seen in so long."

Stop it boner.

A sigh came from his mouth, "Fine. But-"

The bell rung, signifying lunch, which only gave Akira a euphoric wave of relief, "Maybe next time, Lavenza."

An expression of annoyance painted itself on her face, but she quickly gave a smile at the prospect of another time, "I'll hold you to that."

She drew Akira into a hug, signaling that Igor and her were leaving.

Oh man, this is nice.

She feels soft.

Smells nice too.

Wait...but this is in the middle of Shujin...around all these annoying ass kids...

I wonder what gossip this will cause…

Plus this whole getup?

Oh hey, there's Makoto.

WAIT

OH MAN.

Makoto was making a trek down the stairs when she spotted Akira, their eyes locking for a moment for the first time since Friday.

But that's all it was, just a moment.

She tore her eyes away as Ryuji and Ann came into view, B-lining straight for Akira.

Akira detached himself from Lavenza as she shuffled by his side, Ryuji being the first to speak, "Woahh...mind introducing your uh...friend to me, Aki-chan?"

Ann shoved her elbow into his ribs, instantly making him double over as she kindly flashed Lavenza a smile while reconstructing his sentence, "Hi...and what he means to say is that his name is Ryuji Sakamoto. I'm Ann Takamaki."

Lavenza was obviously worried for Ryuji's wellbeing but attempted to flash Ann a smile back. She turned to Akira, "Ah...that's the one you have your erotic infatuation with?"

Ryuji grunted in confusion while Akira instantly shut her down, "Please let it go, Lav. I'm begging you."

A brief chuckle came from her as she started her introduction, "It's a pleasure to meet two, my name is Lavenza, as you can tell."

"Lavenza? Ain't that like...I dunno, foreign or somethin'?"

"I am foreign or something." Lavenza mimicked Ryuji's tone only to giggle afterward, which was something that, oddly, Ryuji found cute. "My parents met in the states, with my dad being born there so..."

Ryuji perked up once hearing something about America, "Hey! Ann is like...half American too! You two would probably get along, I think."

Once again, she jabbed Ryuji in the ribs, though he saw it coming and subtly moved out of the way, "I'm a quarter. But, where is your dad from?"

Lavenza flashed her a devilish smile, which Akira took as a sign to groan and turn toward Igor, who sadly already departed from the hellish campus.

Oh my god, she's speaking to her in English. Why would she just randomly start doing this shit…

Ann swiftly replied.

I knew Ann was mixed but she's speaking so fluidly in it...that...that explains why she's so good in English…

Ryuji, zoning out once hearing the two mixed women speak, came back to Earth and took Akira to the side, "Hey uh...so what's the story behind her? And why haven't you been picking up your phone? It was really-"

"Childhood friend, haven't seen her since she's been in the states for six years. Basically, I got kidnapped in my sleep so I didn't have my phone, so you can thank Morga-wait, where is he?"

Ryuji's face darkened, Akira was already becoming too acquainted with seeing it, "Aw shit...that's...that's the thing. Uh…" Ryuji nervously rubbed the back of his neck as usual, another sign of either impending doom or him being an idiot.

"Ryuji…"

"Yeah so...your brother got snatched up,"

Akira paused for a moment as he spat out a simple response, "W-What?"

"You uh...remember that cousin of Miss Prez? She came here with a few other detectives. You were supposed to be told last night I think, at least that's when my mom told me. Apparently, they just wanna talk to us."

Lavenza caught Akira's eye as she departed, waving goodbye as she exited from the campus, "I can't imagine why."

Ann shuffled up, "You know, that girl is really nice. But good on you for taking my advice so soon...it almost brings a tear to my eye, Aki-chan!"

Akira looked at Ann with sheer disgust, seeing the idiotic grin on both their faces, "I hate the both of you. And it's not even like that at all..."

At least it seems they're getting better…? Right?

I'm not sure.

They're so weird.

Weirdos that I begrudgingly respect and like being around.

Shit.

"Advice? Dude, you went to her instead of me?! I thought we were best buds! The ultimate bonkers!"

Akira had nothing but sheer confusion, "What the hell is an ultimate bonker?" Ryuji's phone vibrated in his pocket, which he knew as an ill omen.

The limitless energy he usually possessed drained from his face as he took a gander at his phone, "Aw...crap."

Akira couldn't help but feel crushed, "Ah yes, the patented Ryuji Sakamoto 'aw crap', we're screwed huh?"

Ryuji read off the text, "Morgana says that he just got released by her, and that we need to be in student guidance."

"…Another meeting with another terrifying woman inside of that place…the universe just loves throwing me into precarious situations huh."

"…precarious? What does—"

"Don't worry about it, Ryuji." Akira turned to Ann, "I'm assuming you didn't get an elegant invitation like we did?"

"You forgot my parents are still not home? Besides, she would've said something to Ryuji about me like she did with you. Seems like you two are on your own."

Akira groaned as Ryuji's hand grappled on his shoulder, "Hell yeah! Another side adventure with the Delinquents of Shujin Academy! This can make up for your betrayal with Ann too…"

"Even if we're going to be tortured in that room?"

Once again, his demeanor visibly dimmed, "True but…hey, it's us."

Akira flashed a gaze at his friend, a sincere smile on his face, "Oh screw it, you're right." Turning his eyes back to Ann, "I hope you have a good day while we do battle against authority again."

She flashed him a smile, tugging at both of their cheeks, "Aw, you almost make me want to tag along. Good luck, you two. Don't do anything that'll get you arrested, Ryuji."

Ryuji idiotically smiled as nodded, "Course—wait, why did you single me out?!"

Ann continued her trek back towards class as Akira snickered, "Come on man, let's get this out of the way. Maybe it'll be fun."

"There we go! That's the spirit dude!"

Don't let this day become more of a mess than it already is…

"Izuru-san, do you mind stepping out for these interviews?" Hifumi took a sip from her coffee, her sunglasses omitting Akira the displeasure of staring her in her eyes.

Yay, I don't have to undergo another version of the infamous Niijima-stare.

Or I guess it would be the Togo-stare now…

Well, I mean isn't Sae older than her? I'd assume—

Stop.

You're rambling on in your mind again…shit, I must be really nervous huh?

I mean, what is there to be nervous about? There's no way anything has been traced back to us, and I'm pretty sure Kamoshida's words are being viewed as a bunch of bullshit that's being uttered by a vile man who desperately doesn't want to own up to his evil deeds, right?

Right.

Hifumi's partner reluctantly looked at her before turning his eyes to the boys, his eyes laced in hints of pity. He exited swiftly.

Well, that's not a good sign, is it?

The cousin to the terrifying Niijima sisters placed her coffee down, releasing her eyes from the shielding of the glasses with her free hand, leaving Akira desperate to find anything to latch his vision onto.

Anything would suffice instead of meeting her glare.

While his best friend was struggling to meet her gaze, Ryuji couldn't help but be enamored with it.

Holy shit.

This side quest might really be an adventure…

Ryuji straightened his posture and attempted to ooze charm as he cleared his throat, "So, what's bonkin'?"

Hifumi eyed him, a look infused with a sense of disbelief at the child, "Ryuji Sakamoto, I'd presume? I see my assumption from last week wasn't too far out."

Feeling his charm's failure, Ryuji sheepishly replied, "R-right…"

She turned her eyes to Akira, alerting him that he couldn't escape any further, "And of course, Akira Kurusu."

Akin to a child, he raised his hand meekly upon hearing his name, "H-Hi."

A bit of silence permeated the room as Hifumi shuffled through a couple of documents, eventually coming back to the nervous duo, "Before I start, everything in this room is not recorded since I need parental presences for that and we are not in a police station either way. But, do you two know why you're currently with me?"

"Uh…because we're both attractive young men?"

Hifumi actually surrendered a chuckle to Ryuji's remark, "Cute…but not quite."

"O-Oh so you—"

Akira waved a hand, "Shut up, Ryuji."

"Noted."

"As you two do know…Suguru Kamoshida, your..well, now, former band director, was arrested on the grounds of possessing child pornography, soliciting nudes from a minor, and many different abuse charges."

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Quite frankly, I'm happy a monster like that isn't around you children anymore…soon, he should be tried and locked away, never to be seen again. He deserves the worst of the worst."

Ryuji gave a huff of amusement, "Preachin' to the choir."

Akira was momentarily amused until he spoke up, "Now detective, isn't that a bit…biased of you? Aren't you supposed to be neutral and critical whenever it comes to any cases?"

Hifumi took another sip of her coffee, "Forgive me, I do get ahead of myself sometimes. Although…I knew from the start Kamoshida was something grimy. If you two don't know, my cousin goes here so I've met him on and off whenever I had to come for meetings on her behalf. He always rubbed me the wrong way."

"So, you were always biased against him?"

Hifumi started encircling the rim of her coffee with her index finger as she nonchalantly continued, "You could say that…but I'm always like that in any of my cases. I always read people. It's what you do in this profession after all. I read them…get a feeling from my intuition and…it's never wrong. I've been doing this for close to a decade and yet…I'm always right. Which is why despite this case being so open and shut…my gut is telling me something is amiss." Her eyes rose from the coffee to meet Akira's gaze.

It was cold, calculated, and tempered with an inhospitable edge.

And despite all of that, Akira remained in her eyes with an unwavering spirit.

Shit.

I can't flinch or fold. I have to keep this same energy through and through, or else she'll have a reason to investigate.

Damn it, I have to cover Ryuji's bases too…he shouldn't say anything too bad, he's smarter than he looks after all…

But wait…who knows what she asked Morgana? She's probably doing a form of cross-examination right now!

Aw, goddamn it! I wasn't thinking, I should've asked him what she said before we came!

If I don't commit to anything I say and keep being general with my answers, I think we should be fine…

No…that still won't work. She's a seasoned detective and a Niijima-girl technically, she's probably calculating every move I might make as I'm contemplating right now…

Her first move probably is trying to trip us up, instead of focusing on Ryuji or me…

Which means I have to trip her up first. But how…?

"What do you mean?"

Hifumi returned her eyes back to her documents, opening up one to reveal Akira's face, "What I mean is that it's fairly interesting how less than five months ago, you were the prized jewel of Kyoto Tachibana. You and your band director practically bulldozed through all of the competition to win at JMBA's National Championship. And yet instead of sharing his probable interest in going back to back, you're here."

I can't show any emotion.

Akira shrugged her statement off, "So? I just got tired of Kyoto. That's all."

Her eyebrow rose, "Really? I didn't know being tired of school constituted abruptly leaving, dragging your brother across the country, and leaving your parents behind while you stay with Sojiro Sakura."

"Well, my parents are pretty laidback and nonchalant. Pretty progressive too, you could even call them hippies if you wanted to use some outdated lingo. Point is, they trust us and put us in the care of Sakura-san."

Hifumi pursed her lips, "Does Sakura-san know you were late to school today? Did he even relay to the both of you that I would be coming to Shujin today?"

Ryuji leaned forward, attempting to shield Akira from her barrage, "Excuse me lady, I dunno much about law but I don't think you can randomly have us here without a reason! And what the hell does Akira's personal life have to anythin'?!"

The seasoned detective eyed Ryuji with a hint of surprise and perhaps interest, "Ah…right. My apologies. I just have a few questions for the both of you."

Akira took a few seconds to readjust himself in his seat, "Which are?"

Shuffling around her documents once more, she pulled up a notepad, reciting her questions from it, "What was your relationship with Suguru Kamoshida, Kurusu-kun?"

"Me? Why ask? After all, I'm still the freshly-minted transfer student…"

"Answer the question please."

A sigh drew itself from the fledgling young adult, "Well, I didn't have a whole lot of encounters with the man. But from what I saw, it was the same as your intuition. I didn't like the vibe he gave off, so I stayed away."

Hifumi jotted something down quickly.

Shit.

Made the wrong move…

She pointed her pen towards Ryuji, "And you?"

Ryuji's already depleted energy lessened even more, "Don't you have my file? Why are you askin'? I thought detectives were supposed to be super smart?"

"Just because I have a file that says you two got into a fight doesn't mean I understand what your relationship was to the man. And with everything being brought to light, maybe this will be a chance for you to clear it up with a non-biased party."

Akira held in a little chuckle as he thought.

Non-biased my ass. If that was the case, we wouldn't be here, would we?

Ryuji, after a few seconds of contemplation, relented, "Fine. I guess me and King Dickhead were…actually decent last year? Me and him never really interacted on anythin' meaningful unless I was around Ann or Shiho." His eyes darkened, "I guess that should've been a sign."

Hifumi jotted down another note, "Continue."

"…I guess after everythin' that happened after Nationals, I just stayed to myself with everythin' and everyone. Avoided bein' around him."

Hifumi drew her eyes from the notepad to catch Ryuji's stare, "Hm…if that's the case, how did you two meet then? Considering your past experiences and your encounter at Nationals, it's a bit strange to imagine you two kicking it off."

Ryuji started to speak up but Akira's voice cut through, "Morgana had been an idiot and ruined his food, so I took him out and treated him to ramen. Simple as that."

Another note.

Another penalty and another fuck up.

"Hm…now, how would you describe your relationship with one another? Strong? Best friends even? Or just acquaintances?"

"Uh…best friends?"

She took another moment to scribble away at her pad, while her eyes were still locked to the sheet of paper, she spoke, "Interesting…do best friends usually get into a verbal and borderline physical altercation?"

Akira stiffened, "What?"

"According to my notes, the day your classmate committed her attempt—"

Ryuji perked up, "Shiho. Her name is Shiho." His eyes gained a bit of fire back in them.

Something Hifumi, of course, noted.

"Right, right. My apologies. When Suzui-san attempted to end her life that day, it was stated that you two got into an altercation beforehand, why was that?"

"What the hell does that have to do with anythin'?"

"You do remember how I'm here to ask questions correct? The more cooperative the two of you are, the sooner you can return to classes."

Ryuji opened his mouth, trying to piece together some sort of lie but nothing came to fruition.

Silence tried to creep into the room until Akira drew upon another sigh, "It wasn't anything. I was not in a proper mindset and Ryuji snapped me out of it. That's all. Now—"

"Was this mindset relating to Morgana's disappearance and last sighting with Suzui-san?"

"I-I beg your pardon?"

"Kobayakawa-san told me when I mentioned how I wanted to converse with you three that Morgana was the last person to be seen with her. And his subsequent disappearance. He seems to think that's why Suzui-san threw herself from that building, but I don't think so."

S-Shit.

There's no way she didn't ask Morgana about this.

What do I say?

The truth?

Do I lie?

We're trying to keep up the image we weren't around Kamoshida too much, right? But how is that going to work when she is right on the nose about Morgana and Shiho?

Who knows what else she might've heard from Kobayakawa…

This is a losing game.

She continually has the upper hand, I need to even this playing field before things become fully bleak.

Akira's furrowed brow as he was deep in thought wasn't unnoticed by Hifumi, "Kurusu-kun? Don't tell me I finally caught you off guard? That's a shame considering Sakamoto-kun was seen going towards Suzui-san before her attempt, or that you two were seen running towards Kamoshida's office, or that you two were constantly seen baiting and arguing with him both on that day and afterward." As expected, the two of them kept quiet, "Doesn't really seem like the two of you were trying to avoid him as much as you say."

Hifumi placed her notepad down as she slouched a bit in her chair, rolling her neck to expel any discomfort. She took one more look at the duo as she stood up, walking in the side of the table before sitting on it, directly in front of Akira, giving him a faint smile, "Now look, I'm not saying that you two had anything to do with what has transpired over the last few weeks, but it is paramount that you two tell me what you do know. Kamoshida's personal belongings disappearing? Shiho Suzui's phone being missing from her person? Photos being plastered all around social circles the day of his arrest?"

That's it!

"Personal belongings? You mean his phone? Yeah, I remember he kept saying that both of us had something to do with it…even started berating us until Niijima-senpai came to us. She cleared our names with surprising ease." Hifumi tensed a bit at the mention of her younger cousin, to which Akira kept pushing on, "But speaking of which…I'd assume you do have his phone, correct? How else would you have him on charges of soliciting? Now…correct me if I'm wrong, but if you gained evidence through someone stealing his phone, won't that cause a problem? Isn't that illegal?"

Akira couldn't see, but Ryuji eyed him with a hint of hesitation.

Was this too far?

Maybe.

Hifumi's smile steadily started to disappear while the teenager continued, "Though, I guess it's a good thing it was an anonymous tip right? You'd probably be able to have the prosecution use it with no issue since you're such a trusted source and I expect any arguments the defensive council could use would be thrown out of the window if you have any alibis. I doubt they could paint a story of you stealing his phone since, by his own admission, Kamoshida lost his phone here." Akira's confidence was slowly manifesting once again as he took a slight lean in his chair, "Unless…someone knew who turned it in, of course. I can only imagine the legal shitshow that would cause, especially if…I don't know, they knew you or had a prominent connection to you."

Hifumi narrowed her eyes, her stare was arguably more terrifying than both Sae and Makoto combined.

It was truly a miracle Akira hadn't shitted himself yet.

Her voice came out in a restrained tone, almost as if she had barbed wire around her vocal cords, trying their damnedest to stop her from becoming a spewing eruption of rage, "Are you threatening me, boy?"

Akira kept his relaxed demeanor, "How is that a threat? I'm just wondering about the possibility, that's all."

The two lingered in each other's eyes.

Until, Ryuji's voice rose from the silence, "Is that all you wanna ask us? I'm already failing my next period and I'd hate to miss it 'cause you're bullshittin' with us."

Hifumi didn't break her eye contact, "Fine. You two can go. But…" Hifumi went back to her documents, brandishing two letters that she slid across the table, "Take those. They're for Takamaki-san and Suzui-san. Hopefully it'll make Takamaki-san a little better…and maybe Suzui-san will have the chance to read it in the near future."

Akira examined the letters, seeing kanji at the front of both that spelled out their names respectively. Ryuji pocketed the letters as he looked at his best friend, sharing the same thought.

This can't be good…

Akira attempted to shake his negativity away as he stood up, reestablishing eye contact with Hifumi as a smile came from his face while he bowed, "I hope we were helpful, Togo-san."

Silence emanated from the woman as the duo left, a statement that told Akira he pulled off his idea perfectly.

Taking their sweet time to classes by taking a detour to the roof, Ryuji finally spoke up at the base of the steps near the door, "Dude, what the hell were you doin' back there?!"

Ryuji's slight outburst staggered Akira, latching him to the stairs as he stared upward, "What..?"

"You know that shit wasn't cool man!" His voice lessened as he restrained it into a whisper, "Tryna throw Miss Prez under the bus? I know I'm not her biggest fan but-"

"But what? I wasn't going to throw Niijima-san under the bus but…using her to get us out of that was the best choice."

Ryuji's face twisted more with disbelief, "You just thought it was good to play with people's lives? What if it would've backfired?! C'mon man, that shit ain't cool—"

"So you just had little faith in me? After this last month? You didn't seem to have a problem when I did this Kamoshida!"

At first, Ryuji was tripped up by his words, his mouth partially agape as he still looked down onto the older Kurusu.

Finally, they came back.

"You think Mona did that same shit to get out of that situation? Would you be okay if he did the same thing you just did? Using Miss Prez? Throwing her under the bus? Or what if it was Ann instead? Mishima? Me?"

Akira clenched his teeth, "Morgana knows better."

"And you don't? You're his older brother! You bastards were raised together! You never want Morgana to be this or that, or to be involved in things and yet you throw yourself into shit or do shit with ease! How can you expect him to be better when you don't do it yourself?" A little sigh came from Ryuji as he departed down to the step Akira was planted on, "We…both did what we had to do with Kamoshida to make things right. We did some things we wouldn't usually do. But we never dragged people into it nor tried to throw them under the bus." Ryuji placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, staring into his eyes, "Just because she said you were like Kamoshida…doesn't mean you actually gotta become like that dickhead."

Ryuji's view became obscured as Akira hid his eyes away using his hair.

He knew he was right.

Ryuji detached his hand as he continued down the stairway, leaving Akira on his lonesome.

It was what he deserved.

A/N:

Yeah...this hiatus was not planned. My computer broke for a bit...had to get a new phone, took a trip to NYC for my birthday at the beginning of October...got swamped in organization duties and I started doing college applications. It's been a hectic two months honestly, however, I think I'm going to have a helluva lot more free time going forward, but I can't promise anything yet. Enjoy the chapter everyone.

It feels great to be back, and I hope to see everyone again for chapter 16 also.