Thursday, May 6th
Akira: Did you really have to call in the favor this quickly…?
As expected, there was no response. Since he truthfully expected it, there was no point in Akira feeling any semblance of irritation.
Though, a different feeling was forming inside of the young lad.
Confusion.
Ryuji completely flaked on him.
Before school had let out, once Ryuji caught wind of Iwai finally cashing in on one of his favors, he proclaimed how he would stick to the poor lad like glue…and yet once the bell rang, he was nowhere to be found.
Not even a text!
Well so much for being best friends!
Damn dickhead..
Okay, okay, that might be a little too much.
He probably has a good reason.
Right?
No.
This is Ryuji I'm talking about.
Oh, what does it even matter? I don't need him!
All this is…is just a simple counter job. Just gotta take a few orders from customers, sit behind the counter and do fuck all.
What's the worst that could—
Before Akira could continue his monologue, a door jammed itself into his face. More specifically his nose.
The pain, of course, was sharp and quick. Leaving a trail on Akira's nerves of sheer burning irritation.
Did I just—
Akira stumbled back a bit, his eyes clenched shut as he struggled to gain his bearings on the wall behind him. The jolting pain kept twitching, alerting the boy to a fear he kept trying to avoid.
Maybe he was wrong, maybe it wasn't that hard of a hit.
Until he brought his hand up to his face.
Akira didn't even get a good chance to touch his nose before he felt a sheer waterfall of blood on his fingertips.
Oh, fuck me.
Cupping his free hand over his broken nose, Akira pushed himself off the wall in order to stand where he was moments before his door assault.
"F-Fuck! Jesus goddamn Christ Iwai! You stupid piece of—"
For a moment, Akira was able to open his eyes through the way, hoping for once to scare Iwai and give him a sense of how angry he was.
Oh, it worked. Just not on him.
Where he would've usually been in relation to Akira's sight was empty. Still clutching his leaking eruption of a crimson tide that could just barely be identified as his nose, Akira dropped his eyes lower…and lower to a kid, probably a few years younger than Morgana, staring up at him in fear and ever-present regret.
Oh…
"Shit."
Quite honestly Ryuji didn't wish to abandon Akira, but whatever Ohya needed him for seemed to be a more pressing concern.
If it wasn't and he just abandoned his best friend for nothing when they were already on partially shaky terms from the day before?
I'll…just come up with some super convincin' bullshit.
He'll believe it.
Besides, it's Iwai what's the…
I shouldn't even complete that thought…I can feel chaotic forces ticklin' my ass to prove me wrong.
A sigh drug itself from Ryuji's lips as the infection of Akira Kurusu was making itself more apparent in him. The train came to a stop and within seconds, waves of people started shuffling out and inside of the car with Ryuji being one of them.
No matter how used to trains I get, I swear to Yukari's left toenail I will always hate gettin' off these bitches…
Eventually, Ryuji made it to the top of the train station, beholding Shinjuku and all its peak horniness in the radiating sun. For his second visit, it seemed as if the secrets of the 'infamous' district couldn't hide in the shadows as easily as before.
I mean duh genius, it's the middle of the damn day, of course it's more professional or whatever.
Aw shit…I should've changed out of my uniform before coming…
Shit!
While Ryuji couldn't do jack-shit about his pants, his best course of action was to simply stuff his jacket in his bag and proudly wear his favorite shirt that he wore every day without fail.
Did I wash the shirt last night? I'm pretty sure I did…yeah, 'cause of that damn hot sauce stain…
Ryuji gave his shirt a quick glance, lamenting at the fact that the stain was still there and not confirming whether or not he actually washed it.
After a few minutes, Ryuji passed by a small booth, tucked away in the alleyway. A faint voice called to him.
At first, Ryuji thought he was definitely going insane with the lust of Shinjuku finally seeping into him. Although, to him, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
A few head turns eventually revealed a girl sitting at the booth, soaked in the shadow of an overhead cloth.
Seeing the confused expression on his face, she spoke again, "Hi. Can you, um, spare a bit of your time? I promise it's nothing weird."
This can't be that bad, right?
Maybe I should've just asked Akira to come with me...He's better at these random encounters than me…
But flaking on Iwai? Oh man, I would've gotten him killed...
Aw fuck it, I'm basically near Ohya, she won't mind.
Ryuji walked up, finally seeing the woman in her full appearance. The first thing that instantly stood out to him was her soft purple eyes. Her gaze...softened him, even making him blush as she stared into him.
For a moment, he forgot about his problems and the oncoming rendezvous with Ohya. Though, immediately it came back, along with him noticing her other features. Her blond hair, which reminded him of Ann, which...wasn't something he wanted to think about.
Especially now…
Another thing was her abnormally large headband.
Jeez...she got a big ass forehead, doesn't she?
Do...do I have a thing for women with big ass foreheads?
No—oh God.
"Hello?"
Ryuji quickly snapped back to the material world, "H-Hi, how are you?"
"I'm fine, thanks for asking. Do you know why I called you here?"
"Uh...to harvest my organs?"
"No..." Concern formed on her face, which made Ryuji feel like a bit of an idiot, which wasn't anything new. "I'm a fortune teller and you…" The lady reached out, grasping Ryuji's hand, "You interest me…"
Admittedly this was making him a bit special, but confusion was the only expression apparent on his face, "Uh…lady—"
"—Chihaya."
"Uh…right, Chihaya-san, I'm kinda in a rush and I don't really—"
Her eyes peered into his, "I promise it won't take anything but a second. Just…listen to me."
Another statement wanted to slip from his mouth, but a sigh came out, "Ight, ight. Fine. Just go work your magical…whatever. This better not be a scam either!"
Chihaya reached out with her other hand, wanting his other hand to meet with hers. He obliged, "I promise, Ryuji."
"How'd—"
"Sit down please."
As much as he wished to question her more, it would only take up more time, and avoiding a highly likely death from Ohya was his number one priority.
Ryuji took the seat with ease as Chihaya spread her tarot cards out, eventually flipping one with a man and a woman.
Chihaya's eyes were closed as she started to recite her visions, "I…I see a great flurry of darkness crashing against each other, filled with much hatred eventually breaking away to form a radiant light…"
Nonchalantly, Ryuji nodded his head, "Uh-huh."
"Seems to be that love will be coming your way soon, Ryuji."
Ryuji couldn't help but give a huff of faint laughter, "Right. Anythin' else then?"
Chihaya closed her eyes once more, reaching out and grasping a card, this time a man graced it. He was at an edge of a cliff, laughing while seemingly at his wit's end with a dog trailing behind him. Although it was, from Chihaya's perspective, upside down.
It was something that made a pit form in her stomach.
Upon grasping it, she instantly dropped it as her eyes shot open, fixating as she swapped between it and the boy.
Admittedly, it lightly scared the shit out of Ryuji, "What? Chihaya-san what is it?"
It took a few moments as she pondered telling the boy, but her voice came out in a whisper, "The…the threat of losing a loved one forever is hanging over you…just...please exercise caution in these coming months."
A groan came from Ryuji as he couldn't believe he fell into her lure, "Oh yeah sure, then you're gonna tell me my friend Morgana is actually a cat from another world! All that life threatenin' shit is just that…shit."
Chihaya narrowed her eyes, "If it was just…manure as you put it, then pay up."
"Huh?"
"Pay up!"
"Hell no!"
"S-Sir! If you would please just give it a chanc—"
A simple dial tone, as expected during this session, rang throughout Makoto's ear as failure dripped into her brain. A series of groans came from her lips as she took a page from Akira and laid her head on the table.
This was her 17th time reaching out to anyone of notable director reputation and her 17th time getting hung up on, rejected, or just sent straight to voicemail.
It was incredibly discouraging and it wasn't made any easier by Kobayakawa's incessant yammering in her ears every two seconds it felt to her.
It didn't help that Makoto didn't really have anyone to express her frustrations to since Kobayakawa made it clear that no one could find out about her task the day prior.
I guess it was a good thing I didn't tell Kurusu-kun anything…
The youngest Niijima sister raised her head from the table as she took a pen to her paper filled with many names from her director pilgrimage, crossing off the names that corresponded with the last two numbers she dialed.
The next, an easily recognizable name, elicited no different feelings from her other 17 encounters.
Another name, another disappointment.
Even if this was a suggestion directly from Kobayakawa-sensei.
A few taps transpired and before she knew it, Makoto was once waiting for the slight statistical possibility of getting answered this time.
The ringing transpired for a while, eventually getting to the point where she almost hung up herself...
Until this Igor person answered.
"Hello?"
Oh! He picked up!
Crap…there's no point in me getting excited…I know how this ends.
"Um…hi, this is Igor, correct?"
"I'd sure hope so…who would have the gall to impersonate me anyway…would be a fruitless joke."
Oh…okay…?
Igor continued, "But who is asking, if I may?"
"O-oh! Um…I know this'll most likely end this brief conversation but…my name is Makoto Niijima and—"
"Niijima? As in having some sort of relation to Sae Niijima?"
As expected…
Even this connection hasn't even been helping me like usual…
"Mhm, I'm Sae's little sister.."
Igor took a very audible pause, "Ah…I see. And what do you know about me, Niijima-san? I doubt Sae would enjoy having to recant the stories of how my Gekkoukan High utterly obliterated Shujin back to back to win at JMBA?"
A little chuckle came from Makoto, "Of course not, but that's exactly why I'm on the phone with you, Igor-san, as a band director and a musician you have a…historic presence. You're a legend. From your years working at Gekkoukan to your year-long legendary tenure at Yasogami…not to mention your countless musical accomplishments!"
A hearty chuckle came from the man, "I see you've done your research on me, little one. But…that doesn't really serve as a satisfying answer. I guess I should tweak it, instead asking why you're calling me."
The faint joy in her eyes dimmed as the answer to Igor's question reignited itself in her mind, "Right…so…speaking of Shujin Academy, I'm the Student Council President there…"
There was a pause, at first Makoto thought he hung up but an interested grunt soon broke through, "Ah…Shujin you say?"
"Yes sir."
"Interesting." Igor sucked his teeth, "As much as I would personally love to enjoy the possibility of helping, I'm retired as you should very well know."
It was a bitter pill that she had already swallowed, but the faint possibility of Igor breaking his retirement was something she still had to pursue.
"I know…I know…I was just hoping."
"That hope, my dear girl, is a good quality to have. I truthfully do believe a miracle shall fall gracefully into your palms, Niijima-san."
What a load of bull—
"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more service. But once again, I extend the best of luck."
"Thank you, Igor-san."
The familiar dial tone filled her ears as she scribbled away Igor's name, pessimism engulfing any other emotion she felt.
This…
This is all so pointless…
Damn it…
"Ann?"
She perked her head up from Shiho's resting form, "Hm? What's up Mona?"
Morgana waved his phone by his head as he gripped the handle, "I'm getting a call from my uncle, mind if I step out for a bit?"
Ann yawned a bit, "Of course, you didn't have to ask, you know."
Sliding the door open, he took one last look at her, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Ann waved her hand nonchalantly as a way to shoo him off. He took it.
The clicking of the door signified to Ann that she finally had some alone time with Shiho. Her parents usually were by her bedside along with Ann on these days, today was an exception as they had obligations to take care of. Ann nor Morgana wanted to press the two of them and allowed them to be on their way.
It's something.
Even if it is one-sided…
Although it took a few seconds and it felt as if it was going against her better judgment, Ann reached into her school bag, shuffling a few of her possessions around as she eventually found the source of her search.
"Here we go...Shiho…"
Two sealed letters found themselves in her palms. It was disgusting.
The fact she hadn't destroyed them was a testament to her willpower. At least in some capacity.
Despite how Ann had been carrying herself in the past week or so, it had been a struggle for her to attempt to seem fine. Keeping the mask on...especially in front of the boys...it was tiring to put it as simple as possible.
It was the least she could try to do, Akira, Ryuji, and especially Morgana had more pressing concerns breathing down their necks, she could wait.
It wasn't anything new either.
Dealing with things alone is mything.
Nothing new nor nothing special.
Ann stood up, taking the letter with Shiho's name and placing it inside of the nightstand, leaving it with the vain hope that she would be able to wake up and make her own decision with it when the time came.
"You know...when Ryuji gave me these letters yesterday, I felt so...so gross. I know it was a bit idealistic, but I was sincerely hoping that after everything they did, Kamoshida would stop having a direct line into our lives. I mean, of course, he would still have a general presence at Shujin...but he wouldn't be breathing down our necks anymore. The thought of that in this last week was...honestly peaceful. But here we are again...with him weaseling his revolting pathetic ass back into our lives." Ann kept her exhausted eyes on Shiho as she continued on, "I was even thinking about ripping up both letters last night the second I got home. I just...I dunno, it feels like as long as these exist, he still has a sort of tether over us. Over me." Her eyes lingered on her own letter.
"But then I realized that isn't fair to you. I know you're probably going to rip it to shreds, but at that point, it'll be cathartic since it's of your own volition as opposed to it being me by proxy."
Ann shook her head a bit as a faint chuckle came from her mouth, "Or at least I think...I'm not really sure if any of that made any sense. I've been around Morgana a bit too much lately…"
Ann gently caressed the side of Shiho's face as she returned her eyes back to Kamoshida's letter, "But with all of that being said...I should go through with my choice and not be a hypocrite."
Pulling her free hand back to the letter, Ann finally gave herself a sense of exuberant peace as she took her sweet time ripping through each portion of the letter.
It felt…good.
Unnaturally good.
Although…it felt as if Kamoshida's hold hadn't fully disappeared.
Shit.
The clatter of something plastic hitting the ground took Ann out of her potentially damaging thoughts.
"What the—"
It seemed like a plastic card, probably hidden away in the folds of the letter, finally let loose with the tearing. She reached down, picking it up with the intent of throwing it away too until her eyes saw something interesting.
The door opened once more as Morgana stepped in, partly scaring her as she nervously stuffed the card in her jacket pocket.
"Ann? You okay over there?"
Putting a few strands behind her ear, she gave Mona a sincere smile, "Yeah, why?"
He looked at her with a clear sense of apprehension but gave it no mind, "Well, if you say so."
"Y'know, I think you did a wonderful job today, kid." Akira didn't even need to see to know a sardonic smile was beaming on his face, it was sickeningly apparent in his voice.
A nasally voice slid from the 'kid', "Ha, ha. Thanks. Who knew being a babysitter was such a daunting task.."
Iwai finished locking up Untouchables and turned around to his free babysitter and little brother, "What? Oh, right, yeah good job on watching Kaoru. I was talkin' 'bout bein' a bleedin' and oozin' mess for the customers! I think it really meshed well with the aesthetic here."
Akira flashed Kaoru a look as he touched the bandage on his broken nose, the younger child was tucked away at the opening of the alleyway, guilt was still on his face.
Goddamn it kid.
"Oh, shut up Iwai." Iwai walked past Akira as he eventually motioned for his underclassman to follow him, "Wait, I can't go home yet?"
"Nah."
"…Why?"
"Because your favor ain't over yet?"
"…How is it not over? Didn't I just babysit your little brother with a broken nose, mind you?"
Kaoru meekly spoke up, "I…I'm sorry about that, sir."
A little lang of guilt hit Akira, "Aw shit, kid it's fine I promi—"
Iwai's voice cut through Akira with ease, "Don't start all that cursin' in front of him, we already established this, and stop askin' questions, it's annoyin'."
"But—"
"Zip it."
"BUT—"
Iwai pivoted on his foot, stopping in front of Akira and staring him in the eye as pressed his index finger against his lips, "Shh."
What—
Why—
Oh, fuck it.
Disgustingly, Akira gave a nod as they trekked through the sunset-soaked streets of Shibuya purely in silence.
Even if his nose was killing him, it wouldn't stop Akira from taking in the sights around him as the views of Shibuya reminded him of a Claude Monet painting, though the slight enjoyment in that dissipated the second he remembered Iwai in front of him.
After a while, with the sun fading away as it was replaced with the haunting chill of the night and the waning moon, the trio of boys eventually made it to Iwai's house. Well, more accurately his uncle's house.
It was a high-end place, at least three stories with a color scheme that vied between grey and black.
Admittedly? Akira wasn't expecting it.
Is that bad?
I mean…
That kinda showcases my hypocrisy…I gotta reevaluate my personal biases…
Oh man, I feel like a dickhead…
Iwai slouched over, tapping his younger brother on the shoulder, "Hey, go inside 'ight? I got somethin' I need to talk to him about."
Kaoru's eyes jumped between them, with his look at Akira lingering a bit more before he turned around, showcasing a surprising amount of speed as he zoomed inside of the house.
With it just being the two of them, Iwai took a moment to yawn and stretch, eventually taking an impromptu seat on the steps.
Eventually, Iwai took a lollipop out, a green apple-flavored one this time.
"So uh…you gonna sit down or somethin'? Don't really like the idea of you just starin' at me."
"Iwai, why am I here in the first pla—"
"Maybe if you took a goddamn seat you jackass you'd be able to find out."
"You know what, fine. But I'm only honoring this since we're in front of your place."
"You would've done it anyway, kid."
Akira took his seat beside Iwai, waving away his words, "Oh kiss my front butt."
"Wha—"
"Don't ask."
"…okay…but uh, yeah," Iwai started fishing for something in his jacket pocket, "Here, this is just some…compensation." It was a rolled-up wad of yen. Something that, at the moment, Akira might've needed.
Hm…I'm not really sure, I was just gonna go to Takemi and just…
Vivid memories of Sunday crossed through Akira's mind with disgusting ease.
Yeah. No.
I'll just see if Morgana has any more vials.
If not, fuck it.
I'm still going to take the money though.
Iwai dropped it into Akira's grubby little hands, with the latter faintly showing his momentary peace, "Look at you feeling sentimental! You are human after all…"
"You don't need to nut all over the money man." Iwai seemed repulsed at Akira's gleefulness over the yen.
Akira gave the yen a brief spread as he gave his rebuttal, "I just got paid this much for babysitting a kid for like three hours? I will nut all over this bitch with no hesitat…" His voice drowned out as Iwai gave him a strange look, "Yeah…I'm just gonna…gonna pretend as if I didn't say that."
Iwai disconnected his eyes away from him, "Good idea. Didn't want to shove my fist up your ass."
"Oh, but you can say that!?"
"Just take the damn money, kid."
Akira shoved the bills into his pocket, "Fine, fine. Thank you for this awfully kind transaction to the Akira Kurusu fund of buying a Risette branded sin slit," He paused for a moment before turning towards Iwai, pretending to have a microphone, "Now, would you like to also donate to the Ryuji Sakamoto school of hoelessness—"
Iwai's face was as flat as a board.
"C'mon Iwai you gotta continue on with the bit…I can't just do it one-sidedl—"
"Kiss my entire ass. The back one."
"Ha! You do listen to my shitty jokes. And you know, that implies you have to asses, completely with assholes…does that mean you have no dick? No balls—"
"For the love of God, fuck—"
Good to know I still have it in me sometimes...
And he deserves it!
Akira pulled himself up from his stone seat, "Fine, fine, my bad. I'll just be on my merry little way."
Iwai clenched his jaw, breaking the lollipop with ease and presenting the gum for his chewing pleasure, "Aye, before you go…"
"Hmm?"
"You finally get what I meant last week? When we were outside of your door?"
Akira's demeanor clearly lessened, his shoulders slouched, and Iwai couldn't see but he knew the faint light in his eyes dimmed as well, "About all the bullshit coming our way? …yeah."
The silver-haired senior slouched a bit on the stairs, "Good. I heard about your meetin' with Hifumi."
Akira turned around, eventually finding a spot on the side to lean against as he eyed Iwai, "I imagine everyone's heard about it. What style was it this time? Did someone tell you it was because we shot someone? We stabbed someone? Killed them? Threw shit and piss at Kobayakawa's pig-shaped ass?"
"Ironically I heard the last one in the hall, actually. Apparently, y'all caught Kobayakawa lackin' in Shibuya and became apes. Which…wouldn't make sense on why Hifumi was there but—"
"—Kids are idiots."
The two nodded in rare agreement, "But I heard it from Ohya. You know, she heard it from—"
"—Ryuji. 'Course."
"That's the perfect example of what I meant. On the first day no less. Plus I know you feel all the peerin' eyes at you. Starin' deep and never disappearin'."
For once, a sigh came from Akira, "Yup. Been hearing so much shit about 'The Delinquent Trio'" Akira gave air quotes and a quick chuckle, while Iwai lingered in his eyes, "What?"
"Nah…nah it's nothin', just heard somethin' involvin'…Makoto too."
Iwai studied Akira intensely, trying to get a gauge of his face, where his headspace was at.
There was something…but he couldn't tell what it was. It was an indiscernible expression on his face, perhaps a mix of a few emotions. Regret? Disgust? Overwhelming impartiality? Hatred? Lust? Iwai couldn't get a semblance of what it meant…
But whatever it was, it faded just a quick from his face, leaving Iwai none the wiser.
He leaned slightly, his hearing obviously more attentive, "Oh? What was it about?"
"Nah…it wasn't nothin' serious. No direct linkin' between y'all and her. No need to worry."
There was a burden of weight partially lifted off Akira's shoulders, even Iwai could sense that. A signature sigh came from him as he leaned back to his initial position, "Guess that's good to hear. Don't really need her annoying me anymore with fear and nervousness…"
"If you say so."
Slight confusion was apparent in both his face and voice, "What does that mean?"
"It can be whatever you want it to be, kid."
"Oh, cut the bullshit, I don't have the time for any more introspective reflection, Iwai."
"I just kinda find you funny."
"Gee, what a shock. Funny how? Through my scintillating wit?"
He waved away Akira's attempt at sarcasm, "That's not what I'm referrin' to you damn asshat. A week ago, you were gloomy and depressed about Niijima, worried about her, but now you're not showin' a care in the world when her name is mentioned in all this bullshit?"
He hesitated for a moment, "Mak-" Akira but his tongue.
Fuck.
"...Niijima-senpai isn't my concern anymore…and why do you even care? Last week you had this was an eventuality either way…"
"Yeah, the shit could be seen from a while away. But you actin' like this ain't normal. Unless...I was wrong with how I read you. For her to seemingly be this unimportant? Brushin' her off must be easy then." Iwai noticed Akira's jaw clenching, "Who cares about Niijima-san anymore? She's a big girl, right? She played her part well for you?"
I'm not buying into his bait.
I'm not.
I can't.
Akira shook his head as he started gently touching his bandage, he could feel some blood pooling. "It doesn't matter…Morgana is my main worry anyway."
Iwai gave a humorous huff of air from his nostrils as he lifted himself up, something that didn't go past Akira, "What?"
Taking steps towards the front door, he stood still the second he grasped the handle, "No…no, just…the older brother who doesn't know when to stop." Taking a final look at Akira, Iwai continued, "Y'all usually are the ones who become the biggest danger to your little brothers."
Conflict welled up inside of Akira's face, "Wha—"
Opening the door and stepping inside, Iwai left Akira with one statement before locking the door, "Just keep that in mind, kid."
For a moment, Akira just stared at the door, partially hoping for Iwai to come back out, but he knew that wasn't the case.
And he knew, to some varying degree…Iwai was right.
And honestly? That was the hardest thing to swallow.
But Akira couldn't get caught up in the introspective nigh self-destructive reflective thoughts he knew were congregating inside of his brain, it was getting late, and standing in front of Iwai's house was the last thing he wanted to do.
As always, a sigh released itself from his lips as he walked off.
Maybe for once, Sojiro's apartment would serve as a good moment of reprieve.
Just maybe.
A/N:
Okay! It seems like we're back to our usual schedule, and it seems like I've been thrust from the depths of writer's block as well as this chapter took only three days to truly finish. Chapter 17 is already underway too! It should be fun with the things I do there.
I'm sorry if the pacing is rather weird or some plot points are boring currently, but I promise once we hit the 20s, things will ramp up once again as I'm excited to detail my versions of Madarame and Yusuke.
Also, sometime in the coming weeks...I should have another fic up and running. It's been something I've been working on for...three years at this point, a massive passion project relating to Persona 5 that I hope people will enjoy.
Outside of that, I hope everyone has been well. Take care of yourselves, everyone. 'Till next week.