Friday, May 7th
"Why are we even here, man? I was takin' such a good nap in Ushimaru's class…"
Shuffling through all of the congregations in the gym, Akira finally caught up to Morgana and Ryuji, actually seeing the latter for the first time since yesterday, "U-Ushimaru? Ryuji…you're bold as shit man."
Ryuji turned around, "Ain't that apart of my ch—HOLY SHIT!"
Morgana acted quickly and clasped his hands around Ryuji's mouth, struggling to shut him up and not draw even more attention to them, though it was a partial failure as Ryuji kept pointing at Akira's nose.
Akira's hand instinctively reached for his nose as he remembered, "Oh…right…you haven't seen my face since yesterday. Yeah. Ignore the nose."
Breaking free of Morgana's surprisingly cold hands, he spoke, "What the hell do you mean ignore—" Ryuji's eyes darted around as he remembered the gym wasn't just isolated to the three of them, catching the disgusted and confused stares of their peers, "What the hell do you mean ignore it?! I leave you alone with Iwai for a few hours and your nose gets smashed?!"
Mona breathed a sigh, "Can we just…I don't know, save this banter for later? I think this little congregation in the gym is more important."
Akira sighed, standing by his brother whilst breathing a grunt of agreement while taking his voice from a whisper, "But still…why are we even here?"
Ryuji shrugged, "I dunno man, I've been tryna find out, everyone I've asked has answered with a whole buncha nothin'. Ah…Miss Prez might've been useful here…"
Akira stared straight ahead, keeping his mind centered on the stage, "Maybe. I guess we'll never know and just have to be regular oblivious students, huh?"
Ryuji chuckled, tapping Akira on the shoulder as he moved to his next point, "Speakin' of which, can we speak after school? I got some real good shit to tell you."
"If it's about your Aigis shrine, I don't want to hear."
Ryuji choked on his spit, "H-How…how do you know about that…?"
"I didn't." Morgana could be heard trying his hardest to restrain his giggles, which only ignited Ryuji's temper even more.
Poking his head out, he pointed his words directly in the younger boy's direction, "What are you laughing at, dick-head? It's not even a shrine!"
Akira shrugged, "Honestly, Morgana can't even say shit since he had a Risette 'shrine' back in Kyoto."
Within a fraction of a second, Mona's shit-eating grin faded away, "Akira, are you fuckin—"
"SHHHH!"
Seems like we have a few attentive students in the crowd.
Guess this shit is finally getting on the road.
Promptly, Kobayakawa strolled onto the stage with Makoto not that far behind either, she had a few papers in hand.
Eventually, she stopped by his side while he took to the podium, speaking into the mic, "If everyone would take a moment to settle down?"
Although it took a few moments, the student body eventually relented, "Good. Now…I know the last few weeks at our fine institution have been…tumultuous to say the least…"
Gee.
That's such a valiant way of putting it.
"From the utterly heartbreaking events that arose from one student undergoing a serious amount of stress…"
Out of the corner of his eye, Akira could see Ryuji's fist clench. He placed a hand on his shoulder.
It was small, but for Ryuji? It was all he needed.
"…To the arrest of one of our faculty members on campus…and the introduction of some negative forces on the school."
And of course, this dickhead still can't bring himself to spit out Kamoshida's name, can he?
'Negative forces.' Is he talking about me and Morgana?!
Negative forces my ass! We should be called the…the…oh goddamn it, I can't think of a name, but we were the ones who've made things better for students while his fat ass was sitting at home watching Camen Driver!
Akira faintly started grinding his teeth.
"During this time, also, I know a series of rumors have started to circulate in the past month, which is why I held his assembly. To dispel them and create a sense of sincere honesty and trust between the staff and the students, so we don't have another incident like this on our hands. To show you can come to us at any time!" Kobayakawa, surprisingly, stepped off the podium as Makoto took his place.
Wait, what?
She took a moment to center herself, gazing amongst the crowd as she inhaled.
For a moment, maybe just a fleeting moment, her eyes connected with Akira's. But that's all it was, a fleeting moment that faded away like darkness against a light.
There it was again, that pain that Akira felt during their argument, a heaviness that weighed on his heart, his chest. It felt as if the gravity of it was getting worse and worse, almost as if it was going to slowly break through his ribcage, eventually getting to the point where it could crush his heart.
Maybe I should…
N..no…
No.
I have nothing to say. She said her piece, and I said mine.
Two different spectrums…
Akira shuttered a bit as his next thought slid across his mind,
Yeah, no I don't want Sae coming after me.
Right…
His eyes waltzed to Morgana, a faint smile etched itself into his face as he gazed at a certain redhead, completely ignoring Makoto's freshly minted presence.
Sae…
Makoto's voice brought him from his thoughts, "Good morning everyone, in the light of…" Makoto eyed Kobayakawa's wobbling form maneuvering beside her, "…this surprising initiative on the school, I will be the one to formally acknowledge the last few weeks with an address from Kamoshida-sensei."
There were numerous gasps from the audience, though the three boys ignored them as they stared at Ann, separated from them by a multitude of different students.
Ryuji and Akira's eyes met with the latter speaking up, "You uh…you think she…?"
"Knew about this shit? No. Might need our emotional support? Maybe."
"Right, shit."
Makoto started to quell the conversations in the crowd by clearing her throat with the rustling of the papers being heard also, "In light of the last few days, I, Suguru Kamoshida…"
Akira wanted to stay on track and continue listening, hoping to turn this into a potential joke between him and Ryuji, or maybe even use this as a way to console Ann.
How would that even work…?
…
Maybe I should leave that in the hands of Ryuji…
Oh so, he can screw it up, and then those two can hate each other once again?
Or I could just have Morgana—
But two voices cut through his monologue with one simple sentence.
"See? I told you Makoto would eventually benefit from this."
"'Course, that bitch can't leave well enough alone. Though it's surprising she used those jackasses to do her dirty work. A new low for her recommendation letters."
Akira started to tense up.
"Are you really? Jotaro, she's a Niijima…haven't you heard the shit her sister did while she was here? What their father did?"
"So, it runs in the family?" Jotaro gave a hearty chuckle, "Though I'm surprised she was around that delinquent so much, Shigeo. Thought she was…you know."
"Nah, probably just for appearances. From what I've heard about that kid and what Kamoshida told me? Stringing him along was probably the only way to keep him around. You saw how he looks now? It's like a lost dog, she dropped him like the garbage bag he is. Simple."
Oh for fuck's—
Akira started to pivot on his heel but Ryuji wrapped his arm around him, causing him to lean down with him, "Ryuji—"
"Shuddup. Don't go doin' anythin' stupid because of her. Just…ignore it, 'ight?"
Akira's vision was shaking as he felt Ryuji's words bouncing around in his head, eventually calming him down as he gave him a nod, "Yeah. I hear you."
Ryuji gave him a nod, "Good. Now, I've paid you back."
The two straightened up as Kamoshida's address ended, seemingly sending the student body into shock.
Makoto's voice echoed through the gym once again, her eyes seemed heavy as she gazed over the letter's contents again, "This…truly is an unfortunate series of events. For Kamoshida-sensei to be revealed as this…but…"
Kobayakawa took the microphone from her, "This will not happen again!" It was obvious that this wasn't planned in any capacity at all between the two of them, however, that didn't stop the trio from stifling a chuckle.
If we have more assemblies for Kobayakawa to make a fool of himself, I think the rest of this year can be pretty decent.
Yeah…decent.
Akira took a faint glance at Makoto as she descended behind the curtain, Kobayakawa's voice falling upon deaf ears. Akira really didn't care either way, it was probably the most typical load of bullshit a man struggling to save his reputation could spew out.
Decent.
'Thee Delinquent Trio And A Highlighter' Group Chat:
Lady Ann: Can you believe that bullshit ass letter?
Lady Ann: I can't believe those…
Lady Ann:…those damn dickheads would allow him to even send an address to us! It isn't even hidden anymore what he did! It's common knowledge why would they even give him the ability to do so?!
Blond Monkee: Ann…you know Kobayakawa still has Kamoshida's claws deep inside of his ass, so…
Blond Monkee: I just thought…I dunno, Miss Prez woulda stopped it or sum…
Lady Ann: You really thought Makoto's ass was going to do anything?
Lady Ann: I told the both of you all she cared about was getting some sort of benefit from this. This recognition? Helping Kobayakawa spearhead this stupid ass transparency between students and teachers? All that's going to do is give her a bonafide letter of recommendation.
Kurusu 1.0: Alright, alright we hear you Ann. But uh…I think Kawakami is trying to assign a group project, so I think we should try to pay attention.
Kurusu 1.0: That goes double for you Mona, get your lil ass off your damn phone.
Mona: Yeah yeah shut up.
Blond Monkee: Yeah! Start studdyin! Exams are comin up soon!
Mona: "Studdyin"? Dude.
Kurusu 1.0: Yeah…that is why you should start studying too, Ryuji. So pay attention.
Morgana finally say his phone face down on his desk as Aoba continued writing out some equations on the chalkboard, muttering to himself as sweat drooped from his pores.
Gross.
But…Ryuji Sakamoto paying attention? I would love to see that. It would be a riveting documentary.
Holy shit, I should totally ask Uncle Hotaru if I can borrow his old video camera…I could make some serious bank off of recording Ryuji throughout the year…
HOLY SHIT I'M A GENIUS!
Gauging that Aoba wouldn't actually address them anytime soon, Mona swiftly picked up his phone as he pulled up his uncle's chat.
Mona: Hey! Uncle H can I ask for a favor?
He should be awake by now…
Morgana's attention was solely soaked into his phone as he pondered his uncle's consciousness until a small pair of hands danced in front of his face.
Though it took a few attempts, they got his attention, with one movement of his eyes, Morgana learned they belonged to Kasumi.
Gee smartass, I wonder who else sits in front of us and partially talks to us?
Speaking of which why—
"Hey!" She was trying to avoid getting Aoba's attention, although that was probably impossible.
"Uh…hey?"
This…
This is weird.
Oh god, don't tell me she found out I was staring at her earlier?
I-I really wasn't…I was just…zoning out..!
Oh god, she probably thinks I'm going to do some vile acts to her.
I'm such a stupid asshat, you gotta be shitting—
"Wanna do me a favor?"
Mona's attention snapped instantly from his thoughts, "Huh?" His hands covered his mouth with ease as a few of their classmates gave them death stares, along with Aoba mumbling becoming louder
Crap, that was too loud.
"Uhh…sure?"
"Great!" Kasumi reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, it was…battered. Surprisingly.
Before Morgana could even contemplate if that somehow showcased some biases he probably had, she shoved it into his hands with the dial pad open, much to his surprise.
"H-huh?"
"That must be your favorite word or something, Mona-san."
Did—
Did she just…
Oh man, I'm about to—
"Did you just call me…Mona…san?"
"Oh! I hope that isn't a problem!"
"What? No! That—That t-totally isn't a problem! You can call me whatever you want! Only an idiot would have an issue with you calling me by a nickname! In fact, an idiot would be having an issue with you saying anything in general! Ha…ha, ha…" Morgana pulled a page from his brother and father with the ruffling of his hair, seeing the perplexed stare Kasumi was giving him and feeling the stares of his peers, "Y-Yeah, I should probably just stop talking."
Mona quickly punched his number in, swiftly giving it back to its owner, but not before asking a pressing question.
"Yoshizawa-san? Why do you…even want it in the first place?"
Kasumi softly grasped her phone, her fingers briefly touching Morgana's before she removed it from his hands, "Oh…well…no real reason. I'll text you soon, okay?"
She quickly turned around, not giving Mona a chance to reply nor leaving him none the wiser.
Ryuji: So...can we go eat after school? It is important icl.
Frizzy-Chan: Uh…Ryuji I'm not going to tell a soul about your Aegis shrine…
Ryuji:…Right.
Ryuji: Thanks
Ryuji: But uh…that's not what I want to talk to you about.
Frizzy-Chan: I won't tell about you puking at Tae's.
Frizzy-Chan: Or your date story, or why you changed your hair.
Frizzy-Chan: Or your ringtone
Frizzy-Chan: Okay I might tell about that, that's kinda funny
Ryuji: OKAY OKAY
Ryuji: SHUT THE HELL UP MAN. SHIT
Ryuji: It's important and I just wanna share it with you. You in or what?
Frizzy-Chan: Oh, screw it. I'm in.
Ryuji: Sweet! I'm excited as shit rn!
Frizzy-Chan: Why are you as another man excited over me joining you over food?
Ryuji: Ha. Ha. 'Eff off.
Frizzy-Chan: My fault.
"Okay, so all I'm saying is…Ryudalf does sound like an awesome name."
"Hell no."
"It's awesome man c'mon, stop bein' a hater."
"Just get in the damn diner man." Akira shoved him into the diner, this conversation just kept reinforcing that it was a bad idea to tell Ryuji about his last visit to Tae's as a way to pass the time.
Almost stumbling over the steps, he found his footing with Akira following behind to a booth tucked away in the back.
Much like his previous visits, a server instantly came and started them off with some drinks.
"A water with lemon, please?" She nodded her head whilst jotting down Akira's request.
"Water? C'mon man…get a real drink." Ryuji shook his head as he turned towards the woman, "Yeah so like, if you don't mind can I get the Matcha Fusion?"
Akira snorted as she waltzed off, "So an espresso is a 'real' drink?"
"You wouldn't get it, you Kyoto-types aren't used to our awesome taste here in the big city."
The raven-haired boy quickly put his hands up, "Wait, wait a damn minute don't call me a Kyoto boy…I'm from Mihama, Ryuji…"
A few snickers came from Ryuji's lips, "There's no way you said that as if it's better…congrats…you're a Chūbu boy from Fukui."
"Oh kiss my entire ass. You're just mad because my dialect is distinct and sexy…it's a part of my wondrous Kurusu charm…no woman can hear me mutter a word without crossing their legs."
Ryuji gave him a disgusted glare, "There's no way you're bein' deadass right now."
Akira leaned back into the cushion of the booth, a grin etched into his face, "The deadest of asses."
"Oh, you're disgustin'."
"Just the nastiest."
Unexpectedly, the waitress came up to them, placing their drinks down gently. Her eyes connected with Akira's before Ryuji grasped his drink, enraptured by its glare as he began to speak, "Y'know this is such a great, like…color. Almost as great as—"
She was gone.
And in her absence came chuckles from Akira, "This is what I have to learn from you Kantō people? Yuck."
Ryuji flipped him off, "Screw you…plus I wasn't even bein' serious."
Akita took a sip from his water as he gave a totally reassuring nod, "Mhm."
"I'm bein' serious! I have no reason to!" His confidence started to draw a smile on his face, "Because you see…Thee great Ryuji Sakamoto has a girlfri—"
Akira couldn't even remotely hold his laughter back, drawing the entire attention of the diner as tears began to slide from his eyes.
Though Ryuji couldn't understand the humor of the situation at all, "What? Is that so hard to believe?"
Akira started to recover, wiping a lone tear from his eye, "Alright now man, you can stop with the joke now."
"Akira…"
"No, seriously, I needed that laugh after earlier, thanks."
Ryuji just stared at him with a flat expression.
"Ryuji…?"
He shook his head.
"Oh." A sigh drew itself from Akira, "Oh…"
"What?"
Waving away Ryuji's concerns, he spoke, "Nah…nah it's nothing. I just owe Mona some money."
A dumbfounded expression formed on his face, "You gotta be 'effin me…"
" But. There is a but, he probably owes my uncle or father money also. So…maybe that can be a little catharsis, right? He's suffering too—"
Ryuji narrowed his eyes, "I don't like either of y'all. But that might make it a little better."
"Oh, how I know you so well." Akira took a sip before continuing, "So uh…Ohya?"
"How did you—"
"Oh please, I'm not an idiot. Well, not fully. Like a seventy-thirty split."
"Reverse that."
"Nah."
"Twenty-eighty?"
"Sixty-forty."
"C'mon man."
"Fine, fifty-fifty?"
"You—fine."
Akira sighed as he took a swig of water, "So, what happened? What made her wanna take you back?"
Ryuji rubbed his neck, a little chuckle coming out, "Y'know, I doubt she even knows herself. She was tryna explain it, but it didn't make a lick of sense…but I think it's because this Kamoshida stuff kinda showed her a different side of me? I dunno man."
"You know…I would be surprised if you did know. This is very on-brand."
"What the hell does that even mean?"
"Never change, Ryuji. That's what it means. But god…this means you—"
"Have a better relationship with a woman than you. Huh."
Akira started mocking Ryuji, "Shut the hell up man."
"What was that shit you said at my house? The path of Electric Relaxation? I guess it failed. But worry not my ward, you will be under the guidance of Sir Ryuji Sakamoto."
Akira cringed harshly, "Don't ever say that shit again. I'm being so serious."
"…Yeah, that didn't feel right." The two shivered in silence for a moment, "But on a serious note, don't be down. Maybe…maybe somethin'—"
"Ryuji…"
"Look, all I'm sayin' is, you had a whole ass BDSM portion of your drug trip about her. You almost did somethin' dumb today over her bein' disrespected."
"Are you really gonna use the drug trip? The same trip where I fought younger versions of myself over asses, feet, and titties where I had to rely on you for help? Where, in that same sequence mind you, she and Kawakami snipped my damn balls off?!"
This has to sound terrible out of context.
My life is weird man.
"Okay…okay, when you put it like that—"
"And I didn't get mad over her…I got mad over the fact those assholes called me a lost puppy as if…as if I needed her. Plus it's the bare minimum to get a little irritated over people disrespecting someone you know, even if you don't talk to them." Ryuji tried to get some words again once again, but Akira quickly cut him off with a hand, "And for the love of God, I don't have any romantic feelings towards her."
God, let me take a drink.
Ryuji gave him a face that just screamed he was full of shit but relented as he sighed, "Fine, what about that Lavenza chick?"
On queue, Akira choked on his water, "L-Lavenza? W-What about her? I told you, just a childhood friend. Come on Ryuji, it's like you think every girl I'm around wants to violently disrobe me to get a mouthful of the Kurusu Cannon—"
"Morgana told me."
"That miserable little shit—"
"Anyone could've pieced that together man."
"Piss off."
"Ever since y'all were kids, huh?"
…
He already knows man, just talk.
He sighed as he spat out a nod along with a, "Yeah."
"Okay…she went to the states for six years?"
Akira nodded again.
"And how was it, hangin' with her for all that time?"
He shrugged, "I don't know, like clockwork?"
"She got anyone back in America?"
"Nah, she said there was no point with her coming back here."
Ryuji took one final swig of his drink, slamming it back down on the table, "Okay? So what's the problem then? It seems like you two are hot and primed for some lovin'!"
Akira wanted to pinch his nose from his words, but he knew that would only put him in an even more annoyed state, "Another thing on my list for you to ever say again, and just…no."
"Oh c'mon that wasn't that bad. And why? It seems like the pieces are there if you ask me!"
Akira snickered as he mumbled under his breath, "Asking you is exactly the problem."
As expected, he perked up, "What was that?"
"Nothing. Nothing. But it's just that…I don't know, it's been six years. When she left, I was just that little kid she knew that was like…a little brother. There's not much that would change her perception of me. Only thing that's different is that I'm an idiotic kid who's like a little brother that happens to have a mean streak here and there."
"Dude, are you seriously gonna let your fear screw you up? Seriously? After—
"Kamoshida doesn't remotely compare to the affairs of getting laid and falling in love."
Ryuji took a moment to contemplate, "Y'know what? Yeah."
"And besides, it felt like the good old times. I kinda need that right now so…why screw it up, you know?"
Ryuji gazed at Akira for a few seconds, the two sitting in silence as he eventually surrendered a few chuckles while slouching into the booth.
"What? What is it?"
"Nah it's nothin', it's just…this feels…oddly normal, y'know?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well…I guess just…this. Just us talkin' about ordinary shit. Stressin' over girls, bein' idiots and jokin' normally. I mean hell, just two weeks ago, I doubt either of us could've imagined this conversation."
Akira huffed a short chuckle, "Two weeks ago I was assuming that by this time we'd be kicked out or arrested." The two exchanged some laughter as Akira stared at his reflection in the glass, "Yeah, I get what you're saying. For the first time in a while, for both of us, we're finally normal teenagers. No complicated plots around bringing people down…no stealth missions, no creepy ass teachers, no fights, no weight of the entire world on our shoulders…none of that."
The two locked eyes and muttered the same words, "It's weird."
A few minutes of silence ballooned between the two.
Until Akira spoke up, "Ryuji?"
He was typing away on his phone, presumably to Ohya, "Hm?"
"Mind if I ask a question?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"Uh…since things are, well kinda, returning to normal, you ever thought about…maybe when they find someone, you'll rejoin the band?"
Ryuji looked up, his eyes meeting Akira's. He paused, taking a moment to center himself as he plopped his phone on the table. A sigh soon followed.
"You always wanted to know what that dickhead did to send me over the edge, right?"
A shocked expression came over Akira's face, "W-What? I-I mean, yeah…but you don't have—"
Ryuji waved a hand to cut him off, "I want to tell you."
Respecting his wish, Akira simply shut up and gave Ryuji his full attention.
The latter sighed as he figured out where to start, "Hmm…so…"
Friday, March 5th
"That day, we didn't have any practice."
"Why?"
"At the time I wasn't sure why, maybe it was because Kamoshida was still feelin' like shit due to our blowout. But now…"
"Oh…"
"But uh…there was nothin' to do so everyone went home. Well, almost. I had to stay behind with Aoba to make up some work."
"Doesn't Morgana have Aoba too?"
"Yup, and I wish him luck. That man is an asshole through and through. But anyway, after I finally got released from the shackles of his bullshit, I wanted to go to Big Bang Burger, had a little food date with Ohya. Started rainin' right as I got out, luckily I had an umbrella though."
Ryuji took a few steps, trying his hardest to avoid stepping in puddles and dealing with soaked and sticky socks for the rest of the journey home, until…
"Y'know that alleyway that's outside of Shujin?"
"Yeah? The one that has the vending machine, right?"
"Well…"
A familiar voice entered his ears, a few sobs and sniffs meeting his synapses. He knew who it was instantly.
Ann Takamaki.
She was tucked away in the corner of the alleyway, shielded from prying eyes as she struggled to keep herself calm. There were a few mutters she spat out, but she seemed to be high strung. So much so she didn't even notice Ryuji.
He dropped his umbrella, running towards her shivering balled-up form on the pavement. Her eyes were unfocused, erratic almost.
Ryuji gently shook her, "Ann? Ann?!" One thing was for certain, she wasn't okay. At all. Her jacket had been ripped and her wrist had a clear bruise on it.
Ryuji gently grasped her wrist, examining it as a wave of protective anger surged over him.
"W-Who…who—"
Sensing his anger, she finally snapped back to reality, "R-Ryuji?"
"Ann? I need you to tell me who—"
"I-It's fine. I promise it's fine."
"No the hell it ain't! Who did this to you Ann?!" He peered into her eyes, her shaken and vulnerable eyes.
She could never resist trying to lie to Ryuji when he peered into her own, his gentle mocha orbs that carried so much sincerity to them. It was a fruitless effort.
She broke the contact, shivering with one more sob slipping from her quivering lips, "F-Fine, but can…can you take me home? P-Please?"
"Y-Yeah, of course, of course, I got you." He quickly grabbed his umbrella once again, shielding her from the pelting rain whilst he took the brunt of it. Walking through the streets once again, Ryuji took a few anxiety-riddled looks before centering back on her, "I'm gonna always have your back, Ann."
"I found Takamaki in the back of the alleyway, shakin' and scared half to death. Her jacket was ripped, she was cryin' and her wrist was bruised like hell."
"…was that—"
"Yeah."
"Shit…"
"After a little convincin' and her wantin' to go home, I finally got her to tell me what had happened."
"Which was?"
Ryuji took the key from Ann's shaking hands, opening the door to her house and slipping inside, being delicate with Ann to make sure she didn't trip or something similar while guiding her to the couch.
He was a soaking mess and sure to become sick within a day's time, but he didn't care.
She was his only priority.
Ryuji rushed through her house, its contents and placements were rich and familiar to his presence. The first stop was her bathroom, luckily he was able to find some gauze. The second was the kitchen, brewing something hot for Ann was the best choice he could piece together outside of bandaging her wrist.
After finishing up her wrist and giving her coffee, he crouched in front of her, "Ann?"
Her eyes were still distant.
He shook her gently once again, hoping to instantly get her attention again, "Ann?"
They centered on him, "Hm?"
"Didya get into a fight or somethin'?"
She hesitated as her eyes darkened.
"Kamoshida had…attempted to try and get some from her, y'know? He cancelled practice that day just for that. I guess he couldn't control himself any longer. He had texted her sayin' the shit was urgent and important, so she came. God, if only she didn't."
"So he tried to force himself onto her and she got away?"
"Yeah, but that wasn't before he said…"
"Said what?"
"He…he threatened her…with me…"
"What?"
"Y-Yeah. Durin' finals I had gotten scouted by some big wig assholes from TUA. Damn near a full-ride and all of that. He threatened if she didn't…eventually come around, he'd ruin everythin' for me."
"That sounds just like him…oh god."
Ryuji couldn't help but stare at Ann as his brain struggled to digest all of this information.
It was vile.
It was disgusting.
And most of all? It made him angrier than he'd ever felt before.
How could Kamoshida, as a teacher…a mentor to young minds, even dare to do this? To do this to Ann?
Ryuji shot up, pivoting in an attempt to go to the door. Maybe if he was fast enough, he could get lucky and Kamoshida would still be there. Maybe Kobayakawa? Niijima-senpai?
But it didn't matter anyway.
Her soft hand gripped his, stopping him right in his tracks. A simple head turn had his eyes locked with hers, her vulnerability and fear still apparent. "R-Ryuji. Don't. Please, please don't do anything stupid."
"Ann—"
"Don't."
"B-But you…I'm not lettin' that asshole touch anymore! Screw all of that about my scholarship, he's not gettin' his gross ass way!"
"Who said I was gonna let him? Ryuji…" He looked away partially, "Look at me, Ryuji."
He did.
"I promise…I promise we're going to find a way to get out of this. He won't do anything else to me, nor you. But if you do something stupid, things would be so much worse, okay? So just…be patient with me and let's put our heads together."
"Ann—"
"Promise me you won't do anything. Please."
Ryuji stared her in the eyes as he struggled to swallow his pride. With a scowl on his face, he reluctantly nodded, "F-Fine. Are…are you gonna tell Shiho?"
Ann hung on to his question for a moment, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles, "I will. Just…gotta find the right time. You know she's been really stressed lately so…"
His face was a little pink, "Right…Right…"
The two gazed into one another's eyes for a few seconds as the patter of the rain against the windowsills filled the room.
Eventually, Ann spoke up, "Ryuji?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Could you uh…stay?"
"Duh! Why would I leave you alone?"
She gave a shaky smile as her face became flushed, "N-Not like that…I mean…can you stay overnight…? With me? I…I'm just…" She kept running her thumb over his knuckles as she struggled to piece together her words.
"Y-Yeah. Like I said…I got you." He stiffly took a seat right beside her on the couch, eventually becoming more comfortable thanks to the soothing atmosphere of the rain. Though, Ann resting her head on his shoulder did help also.
"After she told me that, I felt so much anger and all that typical bullshit, but she made me promise not to do anythin'."
"…But you did."
"Hey don't try to pass some type of judgment on me 'cause you did the SAME shit!"
"I wasn't—just continue the story man."
"Yeah, yeah. But uh…the next day came, and I went to school late."
Somehow, Ryuji and Ann had fallen asleep laying down, with the latter laying on top of the former. Seeing Ann's sleeping face on his chest wasn't anything he was planning on complaining about though.
It was a peaceful sight, even if she was snoring too.
But any semblance of peace faded away once he remembered the previous day's events.
He muttered underneath his breath, "Shit."
Gently freeing himself from her sleeping clutches, Ryuji paced over to her door, his hand inches away from the knob.
"So…what made you go back on your promise?"
Ryuji gazed back at Ann's resting form on her couch. A bittersweet grin on his face.
"I…I just didn't wanna see her hurt again. That's all. Plus, I thought I could talk to Kamoshida, maybe I could make a deal or somethin'? Me and him were on kinda good terms before everythin' happened so…"
"Right…right…"
Ryuji hastily ran up Shujin's steps, dodging and giving replies to some of his classmates as they commuted to their next classes.
"R-Ryuji! Hey—"
He rushed past her, "I don't have the time, Ohya!"
With one swift turn, he was marching his way to Kamoshida's office.
"Y'know, lookin' back…I get why Ann is how she is right now. Totally and fully. I didn't trust her to deal with shit on her own."
"You sound like me and Morgana."
"I guess we're both screw-ups."
"I remember…bustin' into his office, slammin' the door behind us. It was a flurry of bullshit from the both of us. Him sayin' anythin' and me replyin'. One thing was clear…he wasn't gonna make any deal or make anythin' easier. He was dead set, and that made me want to puke."
"Jesus man, he really did think of us as one in the same didn't he?"
"Eventually…he started talkin' about my moms…then my dad and how he was right to leave…that I was nothin' but a disappointin' screw-up that even an alcoholic couldn't love. But…it wasn't gettin' to me. I mean, sure I was angry and seein' red but I kept calm. I thought…maybe I could go back to Ann, maybe we could work somethin' out. Maybe we could just…come up with somethin'."
"But he got into your head."
"….yeah."
Ryuji had his fingers on the knob, primed to leave as he turned Kamoshida's words into loud noise.
It wasn't going to work on him.
Not today.
"So you're just going to walk away? Like the little coward, you are?"
He opened the door, "Goodbye, Kamoshida."
"Do you really…truly think you can stop me from doing what I wish with Takamaki?"
Ryuji froze in the doorway.
"Oh? How naive…you're just a pitiful little boy against me. Me, of all people. It's such an unfair matchup…no one's ever going to believe you two, you know. Suguru Kamoshida…the band director who rejuvenated Shujin! Brought unprecedented help and profits into the school and led the near-dead band program to Nationals! Being called a monster by two useless children. It's almost comical."
Ryuji slammed the door behind him.
"I'm going to do whatever I desire to Ann. Explore her all over, in ways you never could. Ways you could only dream." Kamoshida walked closer to Ryuji, "I'm going to become intensely intimate with every orifice she possesses. I'll make sure you're gone and…" He dropped his voice down to a whisper, "I'll make her mine. And leave your name a distant fragment in her memory—"
"Y'know the deal, he said some shit about Ann and it just…"
"Made you snap."
"Y'know what's the funniest part of this is?"
"What?"
"Ann didn't go to school that day. I told her not to the night before. And yet…when I grabbed that dickhead by his collar and had him against his desk…I had all the reason in the world to bash his head in. To absolutely become everythin' he has I was. To—"
"Remove yourself as someone he could use to manipulate her?"
"…yeah. Even with all of that rushin' through my brain…I remember hearin' her."
"Ann?"
"Yeah. She told me to stop. So I did."
"..huh."
"What?"
"Nah…nah it's nothing I just…nah. It's nothing."
"Ight you weirdo. But Kamoshida…he was disappointed with my restraint. So he started yellin' and screamin' as if I actually beat on him."
Ryuji loosened his grip on Kamoshida as he started yelling, his fear on clear display, "W-What the hell are you doin'?!"
He momentarily paused, "Tsk…tsk, such a shame you aren't as much of an idiot as I thought." Suguru grabbed Ryuji's right hand, pinning it onto the desk as Ryuji struggled, "But…you can still get a participation trophy for being a good sport."
"W-What—"
Friday, May 7th
Ryuji waved his right hand, showcasing his scarring, "I know you've been curious ever since we met how a percussionist's hand became like this…he thought it would be appropriate. Some nerve damage and scarin'…just a perfect gift for tryin' to do the right thing and rebellin'.
Akira shakily swallowed, "Ryuji, I'm so—"
"Ah, ah it's fine. I've already met my peace with what happened. But…that's why I haven't given it much thought. Returnin', I mean. My hand and how…I don't deserve it. If I had just listened to Ann that night…maybe this could've all been avoided. Me not doin' anythin' band-related is…well, my punishment. It's my atonement. Every day I look at my hand and get reminded of that."
Akira took one final gaze at Ryuji's hand before giving a brief chuckle, "Hmph. I guess we're in the same boat, huh? Two idiots who are atoning for our sins."
Ryuji gave a grin, "I guess that's why we're best friends, right? Even if you, y'know, went to Ann for help instead of me."
"You have got to let that go, man."
"Never."
Akira stuck his fist out with a faint smirk on his face, "But in any case…here's to being normal teenagers."
Ryuji gave him a fist bump, "Normal teenagers."
A/N:
I wanted to write Akira's backstory here soooooo goddamn bad but I have to stick to my outline man lmaooo.
I wanted this to be a dual-upload for Christmas tomorrow but since exams fucked me over and then all this holiday prep and shopping...as you can tell that wasn't possible. Sorry, everyone. But, in any case, 18 will be up next week since half of that chapter was actually in this one before I scrapped it since this last little section took a life of its own.
Speaking of which, I...I have no idea how to feel in terms of the way I formatted the flashback sequence. I need to figure out if that's the best way to go since we have a...lot more flashbacks to go through throughout the fic, I can't lie. I'd love some feedback on this chapter and that section specifically.
All and all, I can't wait to move forward in terms of plot. Eighteen should be really enjoyable.
But anyway, happy holidays everyone. I wish you all the best!