Friday, May 21st
Ann aimlessly wandered the halls, her body reacting like clockwork to find Shiho's room.
It seemed her parents hadn't returned from work yet, and that Ann was most likely her first and only visitor of the day.
Hearing the door open, Shiho raised her eyes from her book to see Ann's. Her face lit up with glee, "Ann!"
Ann tried giving her a sincere smile in response, but she was only able to muster up a measly grin. It was something Shiho noticed instantly as she stood by her bedside, "Ann?"
Her voice came out heavier and more exhausted than she expected, "Hey Shiho. You okay?"
"Feeling better than I did yesterday but…what's wrong?"
She gave her a brief chuckle, "Nothing Shiho…I'm fine."
"Ann…I've been in a coma for a month, the least you can do for me is not lie, okay?"
She looked at her reluctantly, finding it hard to meet her eye to eye as she finally broke down, "Fine. I um…I didn't make the team today."
Her eyes darkened as she took in her pain, "Oh…Ann, I'm so sorry…"
"I just…I just don't understand. Shiho, I did everything right. No mess-ups, all my 8-counts came out perfect, I rode the music perfectly…even Sakura-sensei said it was great…so why…"
Ann clenched her teeth as she willingly let herself wallow in her misery, until Shiho spoke up, "I don't blame him."
"What?" Her eyes rose, ready to meet Shiho with anger and disbelief, her voice taking on a poisonous bite, "How could you even say that?!"
"I didn't want to say anything yesterday since you seemed so happy but…something is off with you. You seem more exhausted, easier to anger…I mean, look at what you said to Ryuji yesterday…"
Ann paused, reflecting on her words. She had been trying her hardest to push that outburst to the deepest vestiges of her mind.
It wasn't like her.
She wasn't even sure if she meant any of that.
"Ryuji deserved some of that…"
Shiho nodded, "I agree. He did. But not like that. It wasn't fair to him and you think he hasn't been going through stuff mentally and emotionally either?"
She lowered her head, "No…"
"So, you think that was fair? To explode on him like that?" Ann could tell that Shiho was staring at her, her vision laced with such disappointment it was palpable in the air, "Exactly. It seems like you have so much…anger, rage, and disgust built up inside of you. Some of it is justified, but some of it just seems unresolved and you're letting it out on anyone." She hesitated, struggling to find footing with her next words, "It's like you don't have your head on properly when it comes to anything…and if I was able to tell that, I can imagine this Sakura-senpai was able to as well."
Ann kept hanging her head in silence as Shiho took a hold of her hand, grasping it and caressing her knuckles with so much love and passion. It gave Ann the courage to meet her gaze, only to see her eyes were filled with determination.
Not only for herself but for Ann's sake as well.
"You need to fix what's haunting you, Ann. Put your head back on straight…and take back who you are."
Saturday, May 22nd
Ann rolled out of bed and turned her alarm off.
After leaving Shiho the night before she settled on skipping school for the day.
Seeing the time, Ann also saw that it was almost nine, which meant Shujin had been in session for over an hour.
Which also meant her usual suspects also blew up her phone.
Mona: Hey, Ann you okay?
There was also a text from Ryuji and Akira in the group chat, which elicited a form of surprise from her.
She didn't know why, but she didn't expect them to still want to check up on her, especially after Thursday and how she utterly blew them off on Friday.
Ryuji: Yo! You didn't come to school today? You okay?
Akira: Ditto, you okay?
She really had no idea how to respond to them, so instead of giving herself the chance to embarrass herself or worsening the tension between the three of them, she elected to text Morgana back.
Ann: Yeah, I'm okay.
Ann: Just…wanted to take a break.
Mona: Is it about yesterday…? I heard what Sojiro did…that really sucks.
Mona: Akira said you did great too…
Akira thought I did great?
That's good to hear.
I wonder what Ryuji would've said…does he know too?
Ann sighed as she nuzzled her head into her pillow some more.
They're the Delinquents of Shujin Academy, of course he knows.
Ann: Thanks, but that's not why I'm staying home today.
Ann: Don't worry though, I'll be able to hangout for Kitagawa-san's thing.
Ann: Hopefully.
She could tell Morgana paused on the other side, clearly trying to battle through some intrusive thoughts on trying to force his way into her business, but it seemed he won against them.
Mona: Hm…okay.
Mona: Be safe, okay?
Ann: Of course, when am I not?
Mona sent a meme that had a horse smiling, it was stupid and random but that's what she needed at the moment. It gave her a smile as she finally pushed herself off her bed.
Going through her typical morning routine, with the obvious exception of tying her hair into pigtails, Ann started making herself an omelet for breakfast.
It was a bit cathartic, being able to fully cook for herself without having her parents or maids pestering her about doing things in the proper way, or in the safest way.
Hell, it felt great not having them there to glue her to tracks that they deemed proper for her.
''What's best for you.''
Right.
You're barely ever here, how could you even know what's best?
Ever since her parents left for their overseas business ordeal at the beginning of February, Ann gave all the maids days off as a way to liberate them and herself.
Finishing up the omelet and gently placing it on her plate while pouring herself a drink, Ann began eating, though her eyes kept focusing on the plastic card that lay on the table.
The same one from Kamoshida's letter.
It hadn't moved an inch since she came home that night from the hospital.
Shiho's words kept bouncing around in her head as she scarfed down her food, eventually placing the plate in the sink as she popped her head inside of the refrigerator, grabbing a crepe.
Approaching the table, Ann took a reluctant bite as she grasped the card.
She reviewed its contents once again.
Hifumi Togo: T.M.P.D. Detective
XXX-XXX-XXXX
A breath laced with anxiety and hesitation parted from her lips as she took the final bite of her crepe, grabbing her phone to dial-up Hifumi.
It was a dumb idea, but it was her dumb idea.
What was the worst that could happen?
The wait for Hifumi in the police department didn't take that long, which was surprising from the stories Ann had frequently been subject to listen to. After a few minutes, Hifumi herself came from her office and brought Ann in.
Gesturing to the seat in front of her desk, Hifumi took her place behind it as Ann meekly took hers.
There was a palpable sense of hesitancy from both parties as they gave each other awkward glances that were decorated with tense smiles and chuckles.
After garnering all the exhausted willpower she had, Ann spoke, "Togo-sensei? Why did you…?"
"Just call me Hifumi. And why did I leave my business card inside of the letter?"
Ann quickly nodded, "Why?"
"I've been on this job for a long time, Takamaki-kun. Can you imagine how many cases I've seen? I've solved? I've dealt with?"
At first, Ann wanted to give a bullshit estimate, but she paused, shaking her head as she relented, "I can't imagine."
Hifumi gave her a faint smile, "A lot. In that time…I've developed a particular disgust and pity towards a subset of cases. Ones that look eerily like yours." Even though she knew she shouldn't, Hifumi kept hyperfocusing on Ann's expressions, "Usually in cases like these…the victims don't get resolutions. Typically that can fester and coalesce into negative habits or issues. Trust me, I've seen it."
The weight of her audition and snapping on Akira and Ryuji placed itself onto her face as her expression darkened, "So…what, you want to give me pity or something?"
"No…no, that's not what I left it in there for." Hifumi lifted from her chair, heading towards the door, Takamaki-kun, can you follow me?"
She didn't know where this would take her, but…if Hifumi could help her at least regain her sense of self, she had to take it.
"Yes."
The walk through the police station was mostly shrouded in silence. Hifumi had nothing else to say while Ann kept tapping away at her phone. She was mostly just trying to make sure Shiho was fine. It seemed today was the day they would start slowly pushing her into physical therapy.
Ann: You sure you're ready for today?
Ann: It's only been three days after all…
Shiho: Yeah, I know but…it doesn't matter. I change to start taking steps.
Shiho: Plus I hate sitting in this bed when I'm starving lol
Shiho: I'll be okay, alright? I wish you were here but I get what you're doing is important.
Shiho: Wishing you the best Ann! Ttyl!
Ann: Thanks Shiho…wishing the best for you as well.
Ann pocketed her phone as Hifumi stopped in front of an elevator, jabbing it as its doors were wrenched open.
The two stepped inside, silence still taking hold as a comfortable third party.
Once the elevator lowered them to the floor Hifumi was dragging Ann too, its doors opened, revealing a black door in front of them with a security desk to the side.
She turned towards the younger girl, "Hey, what I'm doing is a…risky venture, okay? You only have one chance to do this, so don't screw it up. And I can't give you that much time okay?"
It took Ann a minute, but she was able to piece together Hifumi's implication, giving her a nod of agreement, the two set off towards the door with Hifumi turning to the security guard, "Hiroto-san? You mind doing me a favor?"
Uyama straightened himself out, "Sure, what can I do for you, Togo-san?"
She lowered her voice as she pointed toward Ann, "You know that case that happened at Shujin Academy?"
His face darkened, "Yeah…my niece goes there. Why?"
"That girl was Suguru's latest victim. The source of his lust. I…I just want to give her closure, you know?"
"Right…cameras?"
"Yes. And can you mess with the feed for the interrogation room down the hallway also?"
He nodded his head as Hifumi returned to Ann's side, "You see that door down the hall? Go inside and sit down, okay? I'll be in there momentarily." Ann gave a nod as she followed her orders, with a buzzer going off as Hifumi stepped inside of the holding cells.
Stepping inside the interrogation room greeted Ann to the sight of a typical one, a table sat in the center of the room with an observation window to its left. Ann took a seat and waited with bated breath.
This was it.
Her moment.
It was a far-off idea that had been silently plaguing her thoughts ever since last night.
It was seemingly taking hold in reality.
Akira got to do it.
Ryuji got to do it…
So, why shouldn't she get her chance to finish what had haunted her for months? To finish what had plagued her nightmares and thoughts endlessly?
This was something she had to do, and she had to do it alone.
Ann gave a shaky exhale as the knob twisted, eventually revealing the dragging of chains behind Hifumi. The two women met each other's gazes, with Hifumi giving her a reluctant smile.
Holding the door open, he finally stepped inside the room.
Kamoshida hadn't really changed since his arrest, the only notable difference in his appearance was that his hair was messier and unhinged.
It made sense, he wouldn't be able to hide the monster he really was while locked away in a cell.
It seemed Hifumi didn't tell him who wanted to see him, as his face took on a twisted smile as he saw Ann.
It made her uncomfortable and harkened back to memories of Shiho jumping…but she didn't allow her hesitation to weaken her.
Shiho's determination from the day before came back into her mind.
Another shaky breath came from Ann as Kamoshida took a seat right in front of her.
She had to see this through.
Hifumi stood idle in a corner next to the observation window, her vision trained on Kamoshida.
Even if he was in prison and confessed to his crimes…his voice still contained that disgusting snarl, "You missed me?"
Ann, somehow, managed to suppress the urge to spew endless vomit in his face, "Why would I ever miss a disgusting piece of shit like you?"
It seemed as if he was getting comfortable in his seat as he slouched, his grin never disappearing, "Why else would you want to be blessed with my presence? Do you miss my voice? My touc—"
Hifumi perked up, seemingly wanting to put Kamoshida in his place but Ann spoke before she could, "Shut. Up." Her eyes narrowed with a wave of sizzling anger.
It seemed everything she was hiding was beginning to coalesce at the forefront.
There was a moment of brief hesitation on Kamoshida's part, it seemed he was surprised at the presence of Ann's backbone, but he didn't let it show for long, "You're lucky I always did listen to
you every once in a while."
She snorted, "Yeah, every once in a while is the cornerstone of being a good person. Don't you dare try to play with me as if we're friends. You're a monster."
"A monster? Me? After all I did?"
Ann clenched her jacket as his words provoked her, "After what you did? Touching children? Making them feel less than?! Using them?! Hurting them?!"
If he felt guilty over his past transgressions, Ann could not tell. Only a satisfied smirk continued to sear itself onto his face as he continued, "Marks of weak children. Look at what I did…I brought Shujin to the finals. I gave children chances and propped them up! I gave that worthless monkey Sakamoto a chance before he ruined it!" His delusions of grandeur began to engulf him whole as he started to rise from his chair, almost lurching over the table, "I gave you and that worthless doorstop of a girl chances." He lingered in Ann's eyes for a moment, "Don't you dare forget that when you came to Shujin…nobody wanted to even be around you. To give you the time of day. They all just thought you were that little mixed whore with the pretty blue eyes!" He paused, a sickening chuckle sliding from his lips, "But I didn't. I saw your potential…what you were…how you could be perfected…I gave you a little opportunity and you leaped into my arms like a little puppy…You knew what you were signing up for…I wanted what I was owed and you two decided to cry and whine! She just couldn't take it and decided to force herself into a coma for the rest of her life!"
Ann swallowed in disgust as Hifumi lurched from her spot, "Sit your ass back down, Suguru."
He complied and recomposed himself, "Shujin isn't anything without me. That fake they put in my place? That Sojiro Sakura fellow? The Kurusus caretaker? His incompetence will be his undoing and you will all wish I was still there." Hifumi briefly raised an eyebrow as he narrowed his eyes, "You aren't shit without me, Ann. Just admit you miss me at my castle."
She scoffed, "You know what? I did miss you at Shujin." A brief expression of shock formed on Hifumi's face before she continued on, "Only because I didn't get my chance to slap the shit out of you that last day. So I could have that twisted satisfaction."
Ann paused after taking a hefty breath, "But that's in the past. The days when I couldn't do anything. Where you thought you controlled me. Where you had more control over my body and sense of self than me…when you thought Shiho was weak and a pawn for you…to control me." She dropped her gaze for a moment, "But it's not like that anymore. And yet…you're still stuck there. Everyone is gathering the strength to move forward…to be better."
Her mind briefly harkened to Ryuji as she stood up, never breaking her contact with Kamoshida, "If Shiho had the strength to break out of her coma and begin physical therapy…then I shouldn't be stuck in the past and allowing my hatred of you…just you in general to control me. To keep me locked there."
Maybe she was taking a page out of Shiho's book since her eyes were lit with determination. It was a gaze that disgustingly put the fear of God into Kamoshida.
It was the same hopeful and determined gaze that Ryuji Sakamoto met him with from the moment they met.
The same one that defiantly burned itself into his brain when Ryuji came into his office and rejected his advances to ruin his life.
It was the same one the Kurusu siblings shared.
And here it was, once again, burning endlessly within those beautiful blue scintillating orbs of Ann Takamaki.
He didn't know what it was, but something deep within him reawakened. It was indescribable…incomprehensible. It was a feeling he thought he lost a long…long time ago.
Ann jabbed her finger near his face, "I might not be shit without your pathetic abuse of power…but at least the path I'm carving forward now is of my own will. Any mishaps or wins I have…are because of me. Because of my willpower and faults. Not because someone's blackmailing me…or trying to picture the perfect path for me. I'm looking forward to my future." She paused, gathering another breath, "I don't think the same can be said for you." Ann straightened herself out as she walked past, grasping the handle to exit the room, "Have fun in the past, Suguru."
The door slammed shut behind her, leaving Hifumi with a faint smile as she went to escort Kamoshida back to his cell.
His mind was a blank slate from her words.
He couldn't think of anything to piece together at all…except for one thing.
That feeling…
It's…
Remorse…?
Ann: Hey, do you think you can give me Sakura-senpai's number?
Akira: ?
Akira: Huh? Why?
Ann: I just want to talk to him, that's all.
Akira: Ann I already tried talking to him…
Ann: Shut it Frizzy-Chan, just give me the damn number.
Akira: please stop with that damn nickname…
Akira: And fine. Here.
Akira: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Ann: Thanks.
Akira: Are you still coming?
Ann momentarily ignored his text as she quickly put in Sojiro's number, sending a text with ease.
Ann: Um…Sakura-senpai? Hi, it's Ann Takamaki? Akira gave me your number.
Sakura-Senpai: Ah, Takamaki…if it's about your audition then…
Ann: It is.
Ann: But…I think I know why you rejected me.
Ann: And…I think I've finally dealt with it.
Ann: If it's okay with you, could I have another audition? I want to give it my all this time.
Sakura-Senpai: That's what I wanted to hear.
Sakura-Senpai: How could I say no? Tomorrow at Shujin? I have the keys to the band room so you could just audition there!
Ann: Perfect, just give me a time and I'll be there!
Ann pocketed her phone, a smile on her face as she made her trek to the train station.
For the first time in the new year…her shoulders felt lighter.
It made her so happy.
She felt as if she was finally blessed with her real self.
And nothing was going to take that away from her.
A/N:
Not even going to lie to you, this chapter kept bringing me to a complete and total stop once I got to the latter half. I was so worried about properly portraying Ann and Kamoshida's interaction. I hope I did it some justice.
Anyway halfway done with next chapter maybe I can finish it tonight let's goooooooooo
I hope you all enjoy next week's chapter. It's shaping up to be one of my favorites.