[26th April, Shujin]

Kasumi could feel there was something wrong with Ichijo-Senpai. Ever since that mysterious calling card from 'The Phantom Thief of Heart', Mr. Kamoshida had been absent from school, and it felt really... really weird.

But back to Ichijo-Senpai, just like how Kamoshida suddenly absented from school, Senpai had been more anxious day by day. Of course, she did hear about rumors that he's going to expelled from Shujin, and she was worried about him.

With the 2nd of May, the board meeting slowly but surely approaching, the anxious feeling started to spread from Akira to her.

"So... Ichijo-Senpai," Kasumi asked, playing with the strew of her boxed milk. "You've been very anxious since Mr. Kamoshida's absence from school..."

"Huh? Is it this obvious?" Blinking, Akira snapped himself out from some deep thought. "Well... yeah, I don't know if Kamoshdia's change of heart would work or not..."

Even though Akira didn't notice his slip up, but Kasumi raised an eye in suspicion. 'Would work or not?' She thought, quickly shaking her head to clear the thought.

"Everything is going to be alright, Senpai," She reassured him, putting on the best smile she could. "Believe in yourself!"

"Yeah, you're right..." Trailing off, the amateur writer gave her a tired smile before giving out a long and heavy sigh. "But I'm more concerned about Shiho, she's coming back on the 2nd... if Kamoshida is still the same..."

"...You seem to care a lot about Suzui-Senpai," The gymnastic dancer asked with a raised eye. "Are you two... dating?"

"Unfortunately, no," Akira sighed again with a slight frown, looking into somewhere behind her. "Not that I could just confess my feeling or something along those lines."

"Hmm? Why?"

"Well... you heard about Kimiko before, right?"

"Um... I had heard about her," Kasumi nodded. "She... committed suicide about half a year ago, right?"

"Yeah, and well... I used to have a crush on her," The amateur writer answered, leaning back into his chair. "And we're used to be very close as well..."

"Okay... I think I saw why you didn't tell Suzui-Senpai about your feeling," Kasumi murmured mostly to herself, nodding as she pondered. "You're afraid that you're using her as a replacement of Akashi-Senpai, right?"

"...Well..." Akira trailed off as if he'd been caught red-handed, lowering his head. "Yeah, after what she had been through, I just... I don't know if I'm actually falling for her or not."

"Oh, I've dragged the mood down again ." Blinking, he quickly apologized with a polite bow. "I'm really sorry for you to hear my mumbling, it's not like... I'm someone that has anything important to say, nor am I an actual good person-"

However, his mumbling was interrupted as Kasumi shook her head with a faint frown. "Actually, you are an extremely kind and brave person for me, Senpai."

"You saved Suzui-Senpai from falling off the building, and you offered yourself as my first friend when have none..." Trailing off, she deepened her frown as she leaned forward. "You did all these things when no one was willing to do so, it's enough to show you that you're not a bad person, Senpai."

"It's... actually..." Struggling to find the right word to say, Akira gave up a long and heavy sigh as he leaned back. "Well, I guess I have nothing to say against this... but... it's much more complicated than that."

"And I guess we should just drop this subject altogether..."

"I guess so..." Sighing, Kasumi quietly returned to her bento, and the lunch continued on with a shroud of heavy silence.


[Meanwhile, Courtyard]

Staring at the blazing sun shining through the rooftop, Ann sighed as she leaned forward and glanced at her phone. The wait was acting on her, but she's more worried and anxious about the future. And with their suspicion on Shiho being Swan... Everything just kept piling up on her.

However, her train of thought was interrupted as someone walked up to her with a bottle of water. "Yo, somethin' on your mind, Ann?"

Turning her gaze toward the source of that voice, the model unintentionally breathed in relief as she saw Ryuji stood beside her with his trademark grin. "Aren't you going to have lunch with Ren instead?" She asked, raising an eye at him.

"Today's an exception," Shrugging, the ex-runner sat down beside her and smiled. "But you don't look great."

"I know it's very obvious, but I just can't help but feel..." Trailing off, Ann sighed again as she tried to keep her emotion in check. "We don't know if Kamoshida's going to confess or not. And the uncertainty... it's killing me."

"Yeah, I felt the same way too," Ryuji nodded, gulping the entire bottle of water in one go. "Morgana didn't know whether this would work or not, but we already had no other option to deal with this asshole."

"...But Shiho's coming back on the 2nd..." The model murmured to herself, just loud enough for Ryuji to hear her. "I'm anxious about her safety... if we fail, God knows what would happen to her?"

"I... I don't know either," The ex-runner sighed, unintentionally sat a little bit closer to Ann. "But... yeah..."

"And... if we failed and Kamoshida didn't have his heart changed..." Trailing off, Ann turned her head away to hid her blushing cheeks. "I...I-I want to say something before there's no chance to do it anymore."

"Thank you... for dying your hair for me..." She murmured, playing with her twin-tails as her cheeks drowned into a deeper shade of crimson. "For everything you've done for me."

Widening his eyes in surprise, Ryuji blushed brightly as he glanced away from her. "Y-yeah, I..." He trailed off, clutching his eyes for a second before suddenly stood up from the bench, his eyes filled with determination.

"I promise you, Ann," The ex-runner said, holding her shoulder with his hands and met her looked right into her eyes. "I'll keep doin' all these things for you!"

And then, a wave of awkward silence came upon the two, then extended into the entire courtyard. As his word sunk in, both Ann and Ryuji widened their eyes in surprise, and he quickly released his grip on her shoulder.

"O-oh... u-uh..." Stammering, Ryuji blushed as he tried to find an excuse to explain his sudden outburst. "S-sorry 'bout that, I-I just..."

"No, it's fine," Shaking her head, Ann smiled in response. "But... I think I'll be counting on you then."

"Y-yeah, you can count on me!" He grinned, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

With that said, the aura of awkward silence fell upon the two again.


[2nd May]

A few more days had passed since the battle with Kamoshida, and his subsequent unusual absence from the school. For the normal students who were just living their school life as normal as any other day, today was just another day, and the day before the Golden Week.

However, the same couldn't be said for the Persona users.

Walking down the walkway toward the school, Akira kept his thought onto the music and away from any Kamoshida-related business. However, his train of thought (which lead to nothing) was interrupted as someone tapped his shoulder.

Taking off his headphones, Akira turned toward the direction of the tapping and noticed Shiho. "Oh right, you're returning to school today," He said, a slight frown crept onto his face. "And..,"

"Hey, school isn't starting yet, Akira," Shiho said with a furrowed brow, tightening her grip on her schoolbag. "Stay optimistic, okay?"

"I know..."

"...But you're still anxious, right?"

"Yeah..." Trailing off, Akira unintentionally gave out a long sigh. "But there's nothing we can do at this point, I can only have to accept the result."

"Right..."

With that said, the duo walked to the school in uncomfortable and heavy silence.

[Early Morning]

Instead of the usual class assembly in their classroom, the principal called everyone in the school to the gym for a special morning assembly. What the hell was that fat-ass principal thinking? Akira was wondering this same exact question as everyone around him.

"What's with the sudden morning assembly..?"

"I bet it's about that girl that almost jumped the other day."

"They don't have to tell us not to commit suicide or anything."

"Or it's to publicly tell everyone who's going to be expelled..." Murmuring to herself, Shiho quickly shook her head to throw this thought out of the window. "No Shiho, it's not going to happen, it's definitely not going to happen..."

Meanwhile, Ann was internally begging for the change of heart to work, Clutching her eyes shut. 'Please don't expel them... Please don't...'

However, as Principal Kabayakawa stepping onto the stage, they knew that there's nothing they could do to what happened next. Clearing his throat, the principal adjusted his tie before starting the special assembly.

"Let's begin this school-wide morning assembly." He said, scanning the crowd to make sure that no one's talking before continuing his own speech. "As you all know, a tragic event almost took place the other day."

Just as those words came out from Kobayakwa's mouth, there were a few clear groans in annoyance. After all, who would want to stand and hear some boring speech from the principal? Especially THIS principal out of anyone.

"Thankfully, our brave students were able to save her and she's fine now."

Tightening her clutched fist, Shiho tried to best to keep her emotion in check. 'So no mention of Kamoshida, huh?' She thought sarcastically.

"Everyone here has a bright future ahead. I implore that you rethink the importance of life and-"

Before the principal could finish his sentence, the exit door suddenly slammed open, interrupting him and startling everyone in the hall.

"What the..." Akira murmured, narrowing his gaze at the opened door.

"Who is that?" Shiho asked, mostly to herself.

However, as the figure walked out from the shadow, there was a crowd of audible gasps spreading through the students, and Ann was the loudest of them all.

It was Kamoshida.

Instead of his usual proud and up straight self, the PE teacher was visible slouching, and the 'fire' was missing from his eyes, replaced with emptiness. Taking every step slowly, he walked up to the stage and faced the students before him.

"...What the hell is wrong with Kamoshida?" Ryuji asked out loud, mostly to himself.

On the other hand, Ren only narrowed his gaze at Kamoshida. "Did he... really has his heart changed?"

"Mr. Kamoshida." Principal Kobayakawa greeted the man hesitantly, looking at him with uncertainty. "What's the-"

"I... Have been reborn." Interrupting Kobayakawa, the PE teacher fell down to his knees, his gaze kept locking on the ground. "That is why I will confess everything to you all…"

"...Huh?" Ann breathed, looking at him wide-eyed.

"Could this be..." Shiho whispered, also looking at him with a look of disbelief.

"I have repeatedly done things that were... unbecoming of a teacher." He said out loud, kept avoiding the curious gaze of the students. "Verbally abusing students...physically abusing my team, and… Sexually harassing and assaulting female students."

Widening his eyes at Kamoshida's word, Akira felt relieved from the bottom of his heart. "We did it..." He murmured to himself, just loud enough for himself to hear. "Kimiko... we did it..."

"I am the reason why Suzui Shiho tried to kill herself!" Sobbing uncontrollably, Kamoshida shouted at the top of his lung, surprising everyone in the hall. "Not only that... I am the reason that Akashi Kimiko killed herself, then... then I used someone else as my scapegoat, blaming my crime on him."

Shocked from the revelation, some students quickly connected the dot, and Akira could felt a few pairs of eyes landed on him.

"So Ichijo is innocent this whole time..."

"Fucking hell... This is fucked up."

"That's why Mr. Kamoshida couldn't kick him out... it was all Mr. Kamoshida's crime!"

"I felt bad for him... losing his friends and being blamed..."

"That means... Kamoshida was the one who raped Akashi-senpai..."

"I thought of this school as my own castle...There were even students that I sentenced to expulsion, simply because I didn't like them..." Kamoshida looked up from the ground, his eyes were blurry from the tears. "I will, of course, rescind those…"

"I am truly sorry for putting innocent youths through such horrible acts..." The teacher clenched his knees in anguish. "I am an arrogant, shallow...and shameful person. No, I'm worse than that…"

"I will take responsibility and kill myself for it...!"

The crowd engulfed into panic chatter again, students who were horrified for what their idol had done, and more horrified that Kamoshida was going to kill himself. Meanwhile, Kobayakawa quickly rushed to his side, grabbing his shoulder and pleaded.

"Mr. Kamoshida! Please get off the stage for now!"

"Everyone, return to your class!" A teacher yelled, panic clearly written all over his face.

However, before everyone could react, Akira yelled at the top of his lung, interrupting everyone.

"Don't you dare, Kamoshida!"

Clutching his fist, the amateur writer took a deep breath before continuing. "Even though Kimiko died, Shinji transferred to Kosei, and everyone in this school hates me to the gut for all this time... I'm still here, not going down and run away."

"If you even dare to think the idea of killing yourself, you're just running away!"

"Don't run, you bastard!" Ann added, her glare straight-up burnt hole in him. "I won't let you take an easy way out!"

"Even if I almost jumped from the rooftop, I'm still here and face it head-on!" Shiho followed, gritting her teeth in rage. "You don't deserve to runaway through death!"

"You're right...You're absolutely right..." Kamoshida nodded. "I should be punished under the law and atone for my crimes..."

"I did horrible things to Takamaki-san, as well." He admitted, straightening up as he scanned through the crowd. "In return for giving Suzui-san a position on the team... I tried to force her into having relations."

"As of today, I will resign from my position as an instructor and turn myself in. Someone, please call the police!"

Seeing that no one was going to do the necessary, Ren sighed before taking out his phone, calling to police. Meanwhile, Ryuji only stared at the scene with widened eyes, unintentionally glancing at Ann a few rows away.

"This morning's assembly is over! Return to your classes immediately!"

Surprised from the teacher's yelling, most of the students quickly returned to their classroom, including Shiho and Akira.


[After school, Kosei High School, Student Council Room]

"This..." Trailing off, Hinaki sighed as she tapped on the news article, eyes widened as she read through the article line by line. "...Those crimes are worse than I thought."

"H-how... How can Shujin hide something like this?" She murmured, staring at the phone's screen with a horrified face. "T-this is..."

The news of Kamoshida suddenly confessing his crime was... shocking to say the least for her. Remembering the cases with Kimiko and Shinji, she gave out another long sigh.

However, her train of thought was interrupted as the door suddenly slammed open, revealing a rage-filled Shinji. "I didn't remember I told you to go to Shujin and ask Akira to transfer here," He said coldly, burning holes with his glare.

Startled from his sudden appearance, Hinaki shuddered before quickly trying to recollect herself. "Izumo-Kun, how did you know-"

"I overheard a few students talking about your sudden appearance in Shujin," He said, slamming his palms onto the table. "And I just connected dot as the news broke out."

Avoiding his glare, Hinaki paused for a moment before nodding. "R-right, but he refused the offer-"

"When did I ask you to 'take him to Kosei too'? Or did I even say so?" Shinji asked sarcastically, leaning toward the president.

"I was just trying to do the best for you," She tried to explain, still avoiding his glare. "You told me you're not happy because of your lost friends, so if I can get Ichijo to Kosei as well-"

"Why would you think our relationship would just magically be fixed itself if Akira and I are in the same school?" He slammed on the table again, pointing at somewhere behind him. "Look at Naoko!"

"I-"

"Just stop with your bullshit for a second, okay? I thought you're satisfied with taking me in here, but it seems that I was dead wrong."

"I'm not having any satisfaction in taking you to Kosei! I just... I thought that you and Naoko would understand each other and help each other on recover-"

"So I'm just a tool for Naoko's recovery, and 'I just want to help'," He interrupted her, laughing somberly. "Wow, joke of the year material, Higashikuni."

"Let me tell you something, Naoko blames me for doing nothing about Kimiko's death," He continued. "What in the world did you think it's a good idea to put us on the same goddamn school!"

"I..." Knowing that Shinji was actually right on this front, Hinaki could only look away in guilt. "I apologize for my decision, I did think that-"

"Let's be honest, I hate you, Higashikuni," Raising his voice, Shinji stood up straight and took a step back. "Just disappear from my life, you've nothing but worsening the entire situation."

With that said, he left the student council room with a loud 'bang' on the door, leaving Hinaki there alone, speechless. "...What should I do..." Murmuring to herself, the memories of one of their old confrontation surfaced in her mind.

"Ichijo would visit Akashi's grave every month?"

"...I'm not sure... but yeah, ever since Kimiko's death, he would go to her grave... every single month."

Widening her eyes in realization, the president quickly checked the only few new stories concerning Kimiko's death. Even though the incident faded from the public's memories mere days after her death... but there were a few public television and official news articles mentioning her death.

'Highschool student committed suicide this morning.'

Trying her best to hold her frustration from the nonchalant title of that news story, Hinaki quickly scrolled through the story and landed on the day it reported.

"...So it's only a few days away..." Muttering out loud, she changed into the calendar app and marked down the date.


[Evening, Akira's apartment]

Sighing in relief as he entered his apartment, Akira placed his school bag on a stand he recently bought along with his school jacket. After changed into his casual wear, he went into his kitchen for dinner. However, he was about to change his clothes when his doorbell rang.

Widening his eyes in realization, Akira quickly rushed to the front door and opened it. Before he could realize, a young girl suddenly rushed forward and took him into a tight hug.

"Big bro Akira! I've missed you!"

Releasing him from the hug, the young girl took a step back and smiled brightly. Even though it had been four years since their last meeting, but her twin-tails and bright smile were still recognizable.

"Me too, Nanako-Chan," Akira smiled in return, noting a young man walking up with a small smile. "And hey, Yu-San!"

"It's been a while, Akira," Narukami Yu greeted him with a smile, patting Nanako's head as she walked back to his side.

"Well, how's Inaba doing?" The amateur writer widened his smile, stepping aside to let them enter the apartment. "I heard about the Amagi Inn on the news yesterday, they got mentioned in some famous magazine, or something like that."

Walking into the apartment with Nanako, Yu shook his head with a light sigh. "Well, Yukiko told me that she got a lot busier than usual ever since they got mentioned on Matcha... so there's that."

"Hmm... good for her, at least the inn is doing well," Akira said. "But um... how's everyone else doing? I heard that Naoto-San and Kanji-San weren't in Inaba."

"Oh... they went to Ayanagi City a while ago," Giving out a long sigh, Yu rested his arms on his wrist. "I remembered that they're investigating on some mafia case or something..."

"A mafia case... Well, I hope that they're doing wel-"

Before he could finish his sentence, a loud groan suddenly sounded from Nanako's stomach, interrupting the two. "O-oh, I'm hungry," Nanako said with a bright blush, rubbing her stomach with an embarrassed grin. "Can we go somewhere to eat?"

"Of course!" Akira nodded without any hesitation, rubbing his chin for a second before he clapped his hand. "I know a place for excellent curry, and you're going to love it."

"Really?" Yu raised an eye in curiosity, resting his hands in his pocket. "I'm all for your idea, but... uh... curry kinda reminded me of some... unpleasant memories."

"You mean that 'Mysterious Food X' thingy Yosuke-San told me before?" Akira smirked, using his finger to emphasize the 'Mysterious Food X'. "Well, I'm surprised that Yukiko-San and Chie-San are THAT bad on cooking..."

"Uh... yeah, that one," Gulping, the silver-haired boy had to pinch his nosebridge to keep his memories in check. "Well, Chie's cooking improves a bit after she started dating with Yosuke... since Yosuke forced her to attend an actual cooking lesson."

"But... ain't Yosuke-San the dominated side-"

Widening his eyes in shock, Yu instantly covered Akira's mouth before he could finish the sentence, leaving a confused and hungry Nanako glancing at the two. "D-don't finish that sentence, Nanako is only 11!"

"O-okay!" Shrugging the hand of his mouth, Akira coughed before giving out a long sigh. "But you still haven't answered my question, Yu-San."

"Well... think of it as a rare moment where Yosuke finally steal the spotlight."

"You mean the only moment, right?"

"Probably... On second thought, you're probably right."

As the conversation concerning the old investigation team continued, Nanako furrowed her brow before stomping her foot on the ground, gaining the duo's attention. "I'm hungry, big bro. Are we going to stay here?"

"O-oh right! That place is just around five minutes walk from here," Quickly coughed and cleared his throat, Akira rushed into his room and changed into his streetwear. "Anyway, let's go! I'll guide you there."


[A little while later, Leblanc]

"A cafe?" Looking at the sign placed beside the door, Yu raised an eye as he turned to Akira. "Um... why would this place have curry?"

"I don't know either," Akira shrugged. "But anyway, trust me."

Entering the cafe, the persudo-sibling was greeted by the cozy and relaxing atomsphere of Leblanc. There weren't any customers right now, and Sojiro was making a cup of coffee when he noticed them. "Hey, Akira. Didn't expect you to come here now."

"I know, boss," The amateur writer greeted him with a smile. "But they are new to Tokyo, so I want them to be introduced to your cafe," He said, gesturing the two to sit by the booth with Nanako in the middle, Yu at the right and Akira at the left.

"Three plates of curry, please," He ordered, and Sojiro nodded with a faint smile.

"Comin' right up."

With that said, Sojiro disappeared in the back kitchen, out of the trio's sight. As they waited for their dinner to arrive, the wind bell suddenly rang beside them.

Ren entered the cafe with a tired expression, pinching his nosebridge to keep himself from falling asleep. "Jesus... It sucks to work in that beef bowl shop..." Murmuring to himself, the delinquent lifted his glasses as he noticed the trio sitting by the booth.

"Oh, hey Ichijo," He greeted them nonchalantly, stretching his arms up into the top. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Well, I'm introducing Boss's curry to them," He explained, gesturing to Yu and Nanako. "Yu-San, Nanako-Chan, this is Amamiya Ren, my classmate who lived here."

"Big bro Akira's classmate?!" Widening her eyes in surprise, Nanako came down from the seat and held out a hand. "I am Dojima Nanako, nice to meet you!"

Taken back by the enthusiastic attitude of Nanako, Ren could felt a sweat dropped from his forehead before quickly recollected himself. "N-nice to meet you, Dojima-chan."

At the same time, Morgana popped out from the delinquent's bag and meowed, capturing the little girl's attention. "Oh, Amamiya-San, you bring a kitty to your school?"

"Uh... yeah, it's my therapist animal, his name is Morgana," Trying his best to hold his smirk, Ren held the cat on his stomach and handed him to Nanako. "Here, you can play with him."

"Really?!" Her eyes lifted up in excitement, Nanako quickly held the cat in her hand and caressed his head. "Wow, a real kitty-"

"I'm not a cat! Ren! Get me out of here!"

Interrupted by Morgana's sudden outburst, Nanako could only stare at Morgana with widened eyes. Normally, she would only hear some loud meowing coming out from him, but...

"Big bro..." The little girl trailed off, glancing at Yu with a confused look. "Did the kitty just talked?"

Just as Nanako finish her sentence, a heavy silence came upon the entire cafe, both Yu and Ren only stared at Nanako with a shocked face. Meanwhile, Akira quickly acted as if he's totally confused about her question, even though he could hear Morgana talk. And a sole thought occupied his mind.

'What the hell is going on?'


Preview:

As old friends from the past visit, Akira is able to leave his mind away from the past.

A break from the tragedy.

As their trip through familiar places, he is faced with new discoveries and wholesome moments.

However, the break is still short.

Next Chapter:

"Golden Week"

Stay tuned!


With that, chapter 11 of Another Thief: Royal Fool ended with a cliffhanger :P

I know you must be confused that how did Nanako could hear Morgana talk, but Nanako did enter the 'shadow realm', the TV World in her case for a considerable amount of time. So even though she didn't see Morgana's Metaverse form, but she could still hear or see anything that only a Persona user could see or heard (even if she doesn't have a Persona).

And the next chapter would be centered around the first two days of the Golden Week, especially with Akira, Yu and Nanako.

anyway, I hope you like the story so far, reviews are welcome!