[Evening, Akira's apartment.]
After staying in the park together for a few hours, the two decided to go back to their respective homes. Putting his schoolbag on the couch, Akira smiled as he heard the lovely purring of Paff.
"I'm home, Paff-Chan!" He smiled as the small puppy jumped onto him and started licking. "Haha... You really missed me, right?"
Laughing, Akira could forget about Kamoshida for a second, even just for a split second. The two played for a while longer before he remembered that he needed to call Mitsuru for their weekly video call. Sighing, he had to put Paff down and entered his room.
Turning on his laptop, he opened his video call and faced a worried-looking Mitsuru. "...Um... What's with that look, Mitsuru?" He asked with an awkward grin. "It's not like I'm dead or threatened to be expelled-"
"No, I'm just concerned," His cousin cut him off with a serious tone, promptly shutting him off. "It's been... a little more than half a year since Akashi..."
"You don't need to remind me..." Akira trailed off, resting his head in his palm. "...I still miss her, Mitsuru."
"I know how you feel, it's just like what happened with... him."
"Right, Minato-San... We all miss him, after all these years," He sighed. "Speaking of him, I'm sorry that I didn't come for the anniversary..."
"You can visit him anytime, Akira," Mitsuru leaned back into her couch, brushing her bangs aside. "It's not like Port Island is a that far from Tokyo..."
"This aside, Yamagishi told me that she missed you, maybe you should visit her shop when you have times,"
"Ah right, I should visit her again..." Trailing off, Akira struggled to find anything to talk about when he felt something curling against his leg. "Hmm? Paff, you want to talk with Mitsuru too?"
"Paff?"
"Oh, it's an abandoned puppy I found a few days ago," He answered, picking the puppy up and showed it to the camera. "Paff, this is Mitsuru, my older cousin. Say hi!"
Before she could react, Akira suddenly changed his voice to an overly sweet tone and high pitch, holding the puppy's tiny legs and waved to the camera. "Hi! I am Paff the puppy, nice to meet you~"
Even though surprised by his sudden change of voice pitch, Mitsuru couldn't help but chuckle. "...Well, nice to meet you, Paff."
The puppy purred happily and licked Akira's finger, earning a shy laugh from him. "Paff, it's ticklish!"
Mitsuru smiled at his sudden laugh, brushing her bangs aside. "...It's been a while since I heard your laugh, Akira."
"Huh? Well, something... positive happened today."
"Something positive... good for you," The president of Kirijo Group nodded, noticing her room's door opening. "Kikuno? What happened?"
"It's nothing, Mitsuru-Sama," Saikawa Kikuno, Mitsuru's personal attendance and her childhood friend replied, closing the door behind her. "...Oh, am I interrupting your call with Akira-Kun?"
"No, you can join in too, Kikuno."
"Um... I have other business to attend, so I can not be here for too long," Shrugging, Kikuno leaned over the couch and waved at the camera. "Long time no see, Akira-Kun."
"The same goes to you as well, Kikuno-San," Akira waved back, holding Paff's tiny legs and waved at the camera as he changed the pitch again. "Nice to meet you, Kikuno-San! I am Paff the puppy!"
The personal maid of Mitsuru giggled at Akira's action, holding a hand over her mouth. "...It's so refreshing to see you being like this, Akira-Kun."
Akira pouted and lowered his head, lowering Paff's leg as well. "Aww, Kikuno-San is ignoring me for my stupid owner..."
This time, both Mitsuru and Kikuno laughed softly, taking a short while before recovering to their usual calm self. "Okay, this is going to be someone I couldn't unsee if this kept going," The president of Kirijo Group sighed, shaking her head before looking back to the camera. "Anyway, I hope you'll be fine..."
"Huh?" Raising an eye from her word, Akira put Paff on the ground and let the puppy continue on his business. "Well, to be honest, I don't have too many things happened for this week..."
'Other than I just fought with a monster form of Kamoshida, yeah, nothing really happened.' He added in his mind.
"The same goes for me too," She nodded, glancing at the clock on the laptop. "Well, I think we should end it here, I hope you would have a good week, Akira."
"Yeah, me too,"
With that said, Akira ended the call and gave a heavy sigh, leaning back into his chair and stared at the ceiling. And the memories of what happened earlier today started to surface in his mind...
[Earlier today, the hallway of Shujin's second floor]
Right after Ren and Ann left the classroom and went to their hideout, Akira quickly packed his bag and ran to the front gate at full speed. However, he was stopped as he almost bumped into someone around the corner.
Stopping right before crashing with that person, he took a few split seconds before realizing who that person was.
Nijima Makoto.
Widening her eyes before tearing the glance away, Makoto awkwardly looked away. "O-oh, it's you, Ichijo."
"Nijima," He murmured coldly, pitching his nosebridge to keep his emotion from overflowing. "...Just, today's not the day, okay?"
"...Huh? I'm only passing by-"
"I mean don't ask me anything about Shinji, I haven't talked with him for over a half a year now," He said, taking a step back as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "And no, he's not coming back, just get over it."
"Ichijo, you know I'm trying to-"
"Then why didn't you do anything about Kamoshida?" He interrupted her, giving her a rage-filled glare. "You're the Student Council President, don't tell me you're just going to follow the teacher's order and turn a blind eye."
"Wha- I'm not turning a blind, Ichijo," She mumbled to herself, clutching her arm with her hand. "It's just... everything just... I just feel tired-"
"Oh, you're 'tired'? Tired from thinking about how things would be if Shinji's still here?" Akira cut her off again, intensifying his glare at her. "Kimiko died because of Kamoshida, and Shiho almost followed the same path as her. And you're just 'tired' from doing anything."
"...Do you know you're just putting an excuse, Nijima?" He gritted his teeth, desperately trying to hold himself from snapping. "For god sake, just do something useful in your life."
Even though he knew that he was stepping the line here, but the amateur writer couldn't help but said those words. In return, Makoto only stared at him with wide eyes, before clutching them shut. "...You're right, I'm not useful at all, to anyone," Murmuring to herself, she quickly walked away without a word.
Akira didn't bother to look back at Makoto, and continued on his way to meet Shiho. After all, there was a more important business in play here.
Blinking, the amateur writer found himself back in his room again, darkness filled the entire space as he didn't bother to turn on the light. Now everything seemed to back on track (if there's even one to begin with), he couldn't help but cringe at his attitude toward Makoto.
"Why the hell did I imply that she's useless?" He asked out loud, more to himself than to anyone. "...You should know how she saw herself, why would you even dare to stomp another foot to her?"
However, he knew that her problem would only worsen if things keep going on like this. "...Should I tell Shinji that Makoto is basically in depression because of him leaving?"
Staying silent for a while, as if waiting for any answer, Akira sighed and pinched his nosebridge. "Probably not... He's probably moved on in Kosei anyway, I shouldn't hurt him by appearing in his life again."
Standing up from his chair, he was about to move to his kitchen when his head suddenly exploded in pain. "AHH!" Clutching his eyes, the amateur writer collapsed onto the floor.
Before he could realize, images suddenly flashed in front of his eyes.
"...Why? We didn't kill the shadow, right? Why would he just die at the conference?!"
"I... Why? Why father? Keigo, did we do something wrong?"
"It's Haru's father we're talking about! Ren!"
"Wha-"
"Not me."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Just... I should've seen it coming, it's my fault that he died. You guys are just... crashing along the ride with me... straight to a cliff."
"W-what do you mean?"
"I... I shouldn't let you guys involved with this shit, especially you."
"H-Huh?"
"That's it, just... leave the business to me. Just... forget about everything and this life, okay? I'll take full responsibility for everything."
"What in the world are you talking about? Mitsuru didn't send me here to see you like this-"
"But nothing is in our control now! I saw too many things before it happened, but no, it just stops working for this fucking time!"
"...I'm sorry for snapping... it's just..."
"I guess this would be our last meeting, see you... never-"
"AHH!" Opening his eyes wide, Akira found himself back in the room again, still the same as thirty seconds before. "...W-what the hell is that?"
Pushing himself off from the ground, he quickly shook his head and cleared himself from those odd images. Using the walls as support, he walked over to the kitchen and grabbed some instant noodles from a plastic bag.
Today was just rollercoaster, and it sucks.
[25th April, Morning, Shujin]
Kamoshida didn't come to school today.
Yes, it did ease Akira and the thieves' heart for a bit, but it's making them anxious for what to come. What if Kamoshida came back and was still the same as ever, or would he just die in his home?
Shuddering at the final though, Ren quickly shook his head to toss the thought into the void. "Just believe in yourself, Amamiya Ren," Murmuring, he could notice Morgana's worried glances at him.
"Morgana?"
"You look anxious, Ren," The feline sighed, hanging his head low and curled further into the drawer. "Nervous for the change of heart?"
"...I don't know if we did the right thing or not in the palace."
"We did, I believe that we did..."
"Yeah..." Ren trailed off, resting his elbow on the table as he closed his eyes in thought. "But... I want to discuss something with Ryuji and Ann."
"Ren, I'm literally sitting in front of you," Ann deadpanned, glancing behind and sighed. "So lunchtime, in our hideout?"
"Yeah," He nodded, pulling out his phone and texted Ryuji about their meeting as well. "Now we have some time to recollect ourselves... There's something that keeps bugging in my min-"
"AMAMIYA, HOW DARE YOU TALKING IN MY LECTURE!"
Shivered from Mr. Ushimaru's yelling, Ren didn't have any time to react as a white chalk hit his forehead like a bullet. Caressing the reddened spot in his forehead, he hastily apologized with a nod. Sighing, the two decided to drop the topic until the meeting.
Meanwhile, internally thanking Ren that he was shielding him from Mr. Ushimaru's wraith, Akira returned his gaze at his phone he hid in the drawer. Smiling at the text Shiho sent him.
Shiho: So, now we have about a week before... you know, the DAY.
Shiho: Maybe we should go somewhere after school?
Akira: Oh, a date?
Shiho: In your dream :P
Akira: Ahh, I'm critically wounded...
Shiho: No you're not, it's too dramatic to be believable XD
Akira: Anyway, what about Ann? I think you two haven't talked for a while now.
Shiho: Don't worry, we've actually texted each other a lot in the nights. And she knew I'm coming back on the 2nd too.
Akira: Oh, speaking of the 2nd. It's really weird for you to return the day before Golden Week.
Shiho: Right! I forgot about Golden Week!
Akira: I guessed so.
Shiho: Any plan during the week?
Akira: Well, Yu-San and Nanako-Chan are coming from Inaba. So I'll probably be accompanying them for the entire week.
Akira: ...And I have somethings to deal with on the 5th too.
Shiho: ...Oh, okay then.
Akira: I'm sorry, I'll make up for it later.
Shiho: You promised, now get back to your lesson, Akira.
Akira: Okay, okay, I'll do it, mom.
Sighing, Akira put his phone back in his pocket before meeting with Mr. Ushimaru's death glare. "Ichijo, you're lucky that this is my last chalk, and I don't want to waste it on someone like you," He coldly said, sending chills down his spine.
"Y-yes, Mr. Ushimaru," Shivering, the amateur writer nodded and scrambled to his notes. Unironically, he could felt a few years of his lifespan literally left his body and into the abyss.
[Lunchtime, Rooftop]
Once lunchtime arrived and texting Ryuji to come, the thieves quickly gathered to talk about something (It was mostly Ren's suggestion)
"Yo, Ren, Ann!" Bringing a few sandwiches and juices for them, Ryuji grinned as he opened the door toward the rooftop. "So, why are we all here?"
"Thanks, Ryuji," Ren smiled in return, taking a sandwich a box of apple juice from his hands. "So, I called everyone here because I wanted to talk about something."
"You said that already," Ann deadpanned, taking another sandwich from Ryuji's hand too. "Just get into the point, okay?"
"Yeah yeah, I'm getting to the point right now," Shrugging, the delinquent lifted his glasses and took a bite of the sandwich. "It's about Jester and Swan."
"Oh, them," The ex-runner sighed, leaning against the wall behind him. "They just showed up from nowhere and... help us?"
"Yeah, especially Swan... I don't think she talked a lot too," Morgana added, resting in the school bag. "Before the battle, she kinda acts like a background character."
"Speaking of Swan... she just felt... similar," Ann said, crossing her arms as she pondered. "She felt like someone I knew..."
"Now you've mentioned it, Swan did look very familiar..." Ren trailed off, the memories of a certain volleyball player suddenly surfaced in his mind. "What if... it's Shiho herself?"
"Swan bein' Suzui? For real?!" Ryuji exclaimed in surprise, coughing heavily as the sour milk stuck in his throat. "But.. lookin' back... Swan looks a lot like Suzui..."
"And that would explain why she didn't talk a lot," The leader nodded, lifting his glasses. "If she talked too much, we would instantly recognize her, especially Ann."
However, Ann only shook her head in denial. "No, it's impossible that Shiho is Swan. There's no way that she would be this... vulgar and violent."
"...Right," Ren nodded again in agreement. "Even though I only have a few moments with her, but she never felt like someone who would even fight..."
"Yeah, I felt the same too," The ex-runner nodded, leaning back against the table. "It's just so out of character for her."
"Especially that kicking and stomping after the battle..." He murmured, shivering at the memories of what Swan did. "Even now my nut felt phantom pain from that..."
"Ryuji, you don't need to say it out loud," Ann deadpanned, stopping her drink for a second. "Great, now you've burnt the image in my head..."
"Ryuji, you're really..." Morgana trailed off, lowering his head and sighed. "I don't even know what to say anymore."
"Wha-"
"As a member of the same sex, I understand you on an emotional level," Ren smirked, knowing that his next word would be a straight roast. "But no, I can't relate to you on an intelligent level."
"Renren! Why!"
"'Cause I want to," He shrugged, widening his smirk as Ryuji's hope and dream basically visibly shattered right in front of them.
"Dammit, I HATE BOTH OF YOU!"
"No you don't," Ren shrugged, glancing at Ann at the corner of his eyes. "Ann, you would never hate him, right?"
"What?! Why you're dragging me into it?!" The model exclaimed, her cheeks flushed in a deep shade of crimson. "And no! I'm not going to take the bait!"
"Well, you acting like this IS taking the bait," The delinquent chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Ryuji, see? Ann won't ever hate you~"
"REN!" Ann exclaimed again, burying her face in her palms. "I-it's embarrassing!"
Ryuji just looked away from her faces, mumbling about how to get revenge from Ren as he blushed deeply. Meanwhile, Ren just giggled at their reaction, nearly choking with his own drinks.
"Lady Ann..." Morgana trailed off, his eyes kept switching between Ann and Ryuji. "Wait, we're sidetracking! We're here to talk about Swan and Jester, not... this!"
"Morgana, I think we've gone off the rail and crashed to an entirely different place now..." Ren answered, playfully patted his head. "But hey, this is much more interesting to watch."
"I should've called you 'Jester' when we're deciding our codename... I really should..."
[Afterschool, frontgate]
Once the bell rang and announced the end of school, Akira stretched as he walked down the stairs. Now all of them could only wait, there was really nothing they could do. Maybe he could test the medicine again at Takemi's clinic... it had been a while since their last session.
However, an unfamiliar voice stopped him in his track.
"Excuse me, are you Ichijo Akira?"
Taking a moment to realize what just happened, Akira blinked for few times before nodding. "Yes, it's me."
It was Hinaki who was standing right in front him.
She smiled at his response, taking a few steps closer and held out a hand. "I am Higashikuni Hinaki, the Student Council president of Kosei High School."
"..." Akira was dumbfounded to say at least, widening his eyes in disbelief. Why? Why would the Student Council president of Kosei out of everyone had an interest in him? No, the fact that ANYONE would be willing to meet him was weird.
"N-nice to meet you, Higashikuni-San." Awkwardly coughed, the amateur writer took her hand into a handshake.
However, their focus was drifted into the whispers and murmur around them.
"Wait a sec, the student council president of Kosei is looking for Ichijo?!"
"The plot thickens..."
"She was cute though, maybe she's interested in him?"
"Of course the Rumor Mill starts blowing as soon as I make a breath..." Hinaki sighed, glancing at the school building and narrowed her gaze. "A school that cares more about reputation than students... What a disgrace of an academy."
"U-uh... Higashikuni-San?" Akira shuttered, quickly releasing her hand and coughed awkwardly. "I know it's kinda awkward... but why did you come here and find me?"
"Oh, I apologize for gazing off, I just... have some opinion of this academy," Quickly smiled, the student council president lifted her glasses as her eyes scanned him. "You're just as polite as Izumo-Kun mentioned... such a shame that you had to go through all those events..."
"Izumo? You mean Shinji?"
"Indeed, even though he didn't ask me to come, but I came here because of his situation," Sighing, Hinaki smiled soberly at the mention of Shinji. "Ever since his transfer to Kosei, his mental health... no, his entire body had psychologically worsened as time goes on."
"Shinji..." Trailing off, Akira uncomfortably moved his headphone who was hanging around his neck. "So... what can I do about it? I mean... we haven't been talking for about half a year now..."
"To be honest, I know it's coming from nowhere..."
"But actually, I would like to invite you to be a student of Kosei High School."
Akira was... completely speechless at her sudden request. If today hadn't been a weird already, this just turned the entire day 180 and turned it 180 again. "U-uh... Excuse me? D-did I heard that right?"
"Yes, you didn't hear that wrong," Hinaki nodded, lifting her glasses again. "I think maybe... you being a Kosei student would help Izumo-Kun recover, mentally."
Pondering, the amateur writer stayed silent for an entire minute. Yes, he could take the offer and transfer to Kosei, and then he would have a second plan if Kamoshida's change of heart failed. However... there was still Shiho, he couldn't just leave her alone with Kamoshida. He had tried to sexual assault (and this was an understatement) her if not for him coming in...
Sighing, Akira took a few breaths before shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but no. I can't take this offer."
Nodding, Hinaki pondered and looked down on the ground for a second and met his gaze. "Why? This academy is-"
"I know what it means, Higashikuni-San," Akira interrupted her, a long and heavy sigh escaped his mouth as he turned around and gazed at Shujin. "To be honest, if you asked me a month earlier, I would definitely take this offer."
"However, now I have... at least a certain someone that I need to protect."
"A certain someone..." Hinaki trailed off, sighing and nodded. "I respect your choice, Ichijo-San. But the offer is still open for you. In case if you change your mind."
With that said, she left the front gate with a polite bow. However, Akira just stared at the spot the student council president stood on, staying silent for a while before giving out a long sigh. "...Shinji, what the hell had you got yourself into..."
Shaking his head, he left the school and continued on his original plan of testing the medicine for Tae. But a few steps behind him, Makoto stood there with widened eyes, her grip on her schoolbag tightened to a point where it started to tear.
Clutching her eyes and tried her best to keep her emotion in check, she quickly shook her head and went on her way. Quickening her pace, she reached the station before she realized, and a droplet of tear trailed along her cheek.
It's just... too much for her, Shinji already left her along in this joke of a school... And now the Student Council president of Kosei wanted to take the only tie left between her and Shinji...
"Why..." Frustrated for her inability, Makoto could only murmur to herself, tears started to overflow from her eyes.
[Meanwhile, Kosei High School]
Staying behind to study for the upcoming exam, Shinji tried to keep every distracting emotion and stuff from interrupting his session. Today just felt weird for him, but he didn't know why.
To be honest, the exam was about a month away at least, but he just had nothing to do. Would he try picking up the sticks and started drumming again? No, that would only bring up those painful memories of them...
[A years ago, Big Bang Burger]
"Hey, how about we form a band?" Kimiko asked with a bright smile, taking a bite of her burger as she glanced between Shinji and Akira. "I'm confident in my singing skill, so don't worry about the main singer!"
"Uh... this came out from nowhere, Kimiko," Akira awkwardly smiled, his eyes landed on Shinji as if he's begging for help. "Besides, I'm not good with my guitar-"
"And I'll pass," Shinji deadpanned, "I started to play drum because I want to join a Jazz band, not a rock band or anything-"
"But c'mon! It would be extremely fun!" The ex-captain of the volleyball team pouted, using her best puppy eyes to persuade them. "Have you watched K-on? It look so fun to form a band together!"
"First, a band is much more than just fun, okay?" Akira argued, giving out a heavy sigh and leaned back. "Second, you watched K-on because Naoko basically forced you to watch it."
"Well, she like watching yuri stuff..." Kimiko trailed off, resting her head in her palms. "But pleeeeease~ Let's just form a band together!"
Back to the present, Shinji quickly shook his head to clear himself from those memories. However, the whispers from students around him overtook his attention.
"Wait, Higashikuni-Senpai just went to Shujin? Ain't she the number 1 person who hates that school?"
"I don't know, maybe it's like that time half a year ago..."
"I always had a weird feeling about that school, especially those rumors about Kamoshida..."
"Shujin?" The drummer murmured in confusion, looking up from his material. "Why would the president just... go there?"
"Wait a sec, you mean that Higashikuni-Senpai is looking for someone else to transfer to here?!"
"Transfer...?"
Even though he didn't want to admit it, but... what if Hinaki was looking for Akira?
Shaking his head, Shinji quickly cleaned his head again and focus on his material.
Preview:
As the day of meeting closes, the thieves are about to face the outcome of what they've done.
Of their change of heart.
Of their battle. The dethroning of the king.
However, a sudden meeting, a sudden revelation comes.
Next Chapter:
"End of Tyrant"
Stay Tuned!
Well, this is much faster than the last chapter, so... Yeah XD
First, if you don't understand what the hell was happening during those images that Akira saw, it was intentional so both him and us would be confused. But it would make sense when the time comes.
So Kamoshida's confession would happen in the next chapter (as mentioned in the last chapter's AN), and the influence would affect these characters as well. But to be honest, it's not really just fillers, but more putting down threads for the stories down the road.
This aside, now the thieves are becoming suspicious toward Shiho... would they find out her true identity? Or would Shiho and Akira confess their true identity?
Review response:
crazycarzom: Thank you! And I'm happy that you like my changes to the boss battle!
All and all, I hope you enjoy the story so far! Reviews are welcome!
