I emerge from Talbot's class with a pained grimace. This guy sucks, blows and spits all at the same time. Talking a mile a minute, writing and wiping the blackboard just as quick, he acts just like a fucking drug addict. Which he is, but details.

His weird obsession with me didn't stop either. The guy constantly barked my name like I was the only student in the class, something that was kind of funny at the start, but became aggravating the more it continued, to the point that even my classmates switched from amused to ticked off. Rin in particular looked like she was two seconds away from getting up and socking the professor right on the nose.

She didn't, luckily for everyone involved, which means that I'm fairly sure we dodged a bullet by the skin of our teeth. PE was the only period left, to my explosive relief, which is a damn surprise for me, considering how I've never been the athletic type. But Jason was, so I guess it kind of makes sense.

Besides, I finally get to make fun of Meg today, as such all the pain from these last days will absolutely be worth it. Just like last time, I chat along with David a bit as we reach the gym.

"So, your father is back?"

"Yeah. Only for a couple of days, but it's nice to see him again after three whole months…"

I still have difficulty wrapping my head around that bit of information. Not that I blame Elias, work is work after all, but damn this is a brutal family situation. Being stuck alone with Julie for so long must have been hell…

David pats my back.

"You got it man. You're not alone, remember? You, Feng and I. We are a team, through thick and thin!"

"You wouldn't let me forget it even if I wanted to. But thank you, I don't know where I would be without all of you". And I don't mean just those two. I also mean the rest of The Legion and all the other friends that I or Jason made. They must have all pulled their weight in helping him… he'll have a lot of people to thank once he's back, no doubts about it.

He grins as we make it to the lockers of the gym, we change and then split off at the sound of Zarina's whistle. She approaches me, smiling.

"Good to have you back Jas. No detention this time around?"

Of course she's going to bring that up… I don't even know why I'm surprised, honestly.

"Oh yeah, I did get detention… I just got bored of it and skipped".

She blinks, staring at my deadpan expression, before snorting.

"I almost believed you for a second as well. I never learn, do I?"

Hey, you said it, not me. She shakes her head.

"Regardless of that, I must ask for the usual at this point. Run with her for a couple of laps, then you're free to do whatever you want. See you later!"

Zarina waves, whistling suddenly while Susie passes by, making her jump like a cat. Laughter bubbles up from my throat while the poor girl tries to catch her breathing. She's hilarious, even if I do feel a bit bad. No time to help though, not this time.

I sweep my gaze around, which finally rests on our local Meghead. Her grin when she sees me approach is massive and infectious.

"There you are, finally! I thought you had gotten busted for the second time in a row!"

Nobody is ever going to let me live that down, huh? And here I am, naively thinking that only the tyrant would have been annoying about it. I never learn either…

Ah well, you know what they say: like babysitter, like kid… or something along those lines.

"I was heavily considering it, but then I thought that you would have missed me too much. You didn't cry yourself to sleep yesterday, I hope".

"No, I didn't! But I was a bit disappointed…"

Great, now I feel bad. Megan, you were supposed to snark back at me, you know?!

"Well, I'm here now! What do you want to do, race? Or jog? Your pick".

She grabs her chin with two fingers, in a thinking pose.

"How about… one lap of jogging and one of racing afterwards? We got a bit of catching up to do, after all".

I give her a thumbs up.

"As my Meghead queen commands! Set the pace and I'll follow".

She looks a bit ticked off at the nickname, but she quickly shrugs it off and starts going, not too slow but not actually running yet. I match her pace easily, now more used to my much better trained body.

"So, how are things going? Your sister is still riding your ass for literally everything?"

I snort. Not a very ladylike language, but what can you expect from her, honestly?

"Yeah, Julie is a pain in my ass. But I don't mind too much, I wouldn't want her to be anything else. But at least I'll get a grace period, since dad is back home".

"He is? For how long?"

"Until monday. Then he's off to Italy for more work. He says that this trip will be much more brief, but you know how it is. Anything can happen".

She nods, while I try to remember something about her to talk about. We spoke about my family, so it stands to reason that now it would be her turn.

If I'm not mistaken, she should only have her single mother…

Who is sick and can't actually be cured. Yikes, that doesn't sound like a good topic. But, supposedly, we are friends, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue to ask…

"What about you? How do you feel with… you know…"

I don't have to finish my sentence. It's obvious what I'm trying to imply. Understandably, her expression falls.

"I… I'm doing just fine. I've had time to think about it and digest everything. I'm over it, I promise… r-really".

Uh-huh. And I'm supposed to believe that? Even beyond her face, her tone of voice and her stuttering all tell a very different story. I don't have to look at a mirror to know that I'm frowning.

"Meg, you don't have to…"

She interrupts me suddenly.

"We're going to up the tempo now. Try and keep up, if you can!"

She sprints ahead and I'm forced to seriously start pumping my legs to keep up. Damn woman, slow down! It feels like she's trying to lose me! But, somehow, I manage to keep up. And while I do, my mind wanders a bit, like it usually does.

I remember the first time we spoke, in my point of view, two days ago. That aura of loneliness that she seems to exude is still there, like before. And… I can't say that I don't understand why.

She has her mother, sure… but for how long? And once she's gone… what is she going to do? Where is she going to go? I think that I'm right when I say that I am currently the only friend that she has… what is going to happen to her?

I shake my head, clearing it from these dark thoughts. I gotta focus on running now… but I can't shake my mind off the topic. There's something that she's not telling me, I know it!

I'm gonna have to corner her after school. Simply asking her kindly won't do, I know that much.

After the running lap, Zarina reaches us and gives her usual criticism (she obviously reiterates again on the fact that I should join the Track Team. Talk about a damn broken record…), and allows us to go do our thing. Meg goes right back to running, while I decide to indulge in some table tennis with Dwight, just because. The entire time though, my gaze is set on my friend, while I get more and more worried each lap that she clears.

The end of the lesson comes quickly after, and I basically race to locker room to get a quick shower and change, messaging the rest of The Legion to go home without me, my anxiety at an all time high. There's something seriously wrong with Meg… and I want to know what it is.

Why am I so concerned? I have absolutely no fucking idea. I just know that she needs someone to listen to her… call it a feeling deep in my guts.

And that someone is supposed to be me.

I wait outside in the cold for almost 10 minutes, ignoring my phone buzzing in my pocket, when she finally emerges from the gym. She has that one skin with the yellow jacket and the heavy pants, obviously without the enormous backpack. She even has her hair down, flowing along her back. Appropriate for the temperature, I suppose. I walk up to her and meet her halfway, much to her apparent surprise. But it's while I go and take a better look at her that I realize something.

I hadn't noticed last time, both because I was still heavily reeling from everything and because… well, it's freaking Meg Thomas. But, now that her hair is down and out of her usual pigtails…

She's a redhead. I gulp lightly. Not really a good time to realize it, (not so massive) brain!

Come on me, this is important! Go to her and make her tell you what's up!

"Jason? What are you doing still here?"

"W-we need t-to talk…"

Damn it, I stuttered!

She tilts her head, looking somewhat aggravated.

"About what? Look, I'm sorry, I really need to go, we can talk another ti…"

She's trying to escape. I can't let her do it, otherwise there won't be a "next time" regarding this topic. I momentarily forget about my weakness to redheads, overcome by worry.

"Nope. Sorry Meg, but we gotta talk now. Let's go somewhere quieter, I promise that it's important".

I start walking, and after a light huff, she follows me. We end up at the back of the gym, a place where I'm sure nobody is going to interrupt.

Meg crosses her arms, impatient.

"Well? Speak up, I don't have all day".

She's a lot more… frigid than usual. Probably because she hadn't appreciated my question earlier, nor my attempts at digging a bit further.

Oh boy, do I have bad news for her on that front!

"I'm not gonna be here and pretend that I'm an expert at everything revolving you… but today, you were a lot more distracted than usual. If there's something bad going on, you know that you can talk to me, right…?"

Her shoulders size up, her expression turning into sorrow for a moment, before going back to normal.

"Don't be ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with me at the moment…"

"Is it about your mother?"

The look in her eyes turns thunderous. Seems like I hit the nail on the head.

I'm not being the slightest bit delicate at the moment, I know. But neither Meg or I like beating around the bush. If brutal honesty is the way to get what I want, then that's what I'm going to use. Even if it makes me an asshole… again.

"It's none of your fucking business, Kostenko! Now, leave me alone already!"

She tries to walk past me, but I step in her way. She attempts to bypass me, but I continuously block her with my body (am I... sandbagging her?), until she growls at me.

"What the hell do you want?!"

I don't even hesitate in talking, my face neutral.

"I want you to tell me what's eating at you. I want to know what is giving you so much grief that is making you scream at me, of all people".

Her snarl doesn't let up.

"Don't be ridiculous! You don't care! Our schoolmates don't care! Our teachers don't care! Nobody fucking cares!"

Tears start to gather in her eyes, a couple of them falling down her cheeks while she continuously mutters "Nobody cares".

I reach out with my thumb, drying the small drops of water on her face.

"I do. I care. I wouldn't be here if I didn't care, right…?"

The anger disappears, replaced by sadness… and a tiny bit of hope.

"Why…? Why do you want to know so badly? Why do you care so damn much?!"

I smile at the, in my opinion, dumb question.

"Because I'm your friend. And friends always help and support each other, no matter what…"

Meg encircles me with her arms, her forehead pressed against my cheek, and I hug her right back. She stays silent for a couple of minutes, while I patiently wait for her to gather her courage.

"My mother… went to the doctors yesterday. It was a last ditch effort to try and find a cure for her illness…"

She stops, a sob escaping her. I don't comment, opting to simply stroke her back.

"There was nothing that could be done… t-the doctors s-said that… they said that she only has a c-couple months l-left, before she… b-before she…"

Meg can't finish her sentence, overtaken by her sorrow. I just let her use me as a giant tissue and teddy bear at the same time. I can't help the small tear that also escapes one of my eyes.

What is this feeling…? It's like…

Like I failed at doing something.

I held her for what felt like hours, but was only a handful of minutes, before she finally lets go of me. I can't stop her from leaving this time, but I made sure to tell her to call me, if she needed anything at all.

I didn't tease her at all today… but her smile after I say that, while small and teary, is worth all the pain nonetheless.

After parting ways with the third redhead of my life (even if Mikaela is more of a ginger… and Susie is more of a pinkette…) I whip out my phone from my pockets, to check the messages that I received.

Let's see… first is Rin, it would seem. The message was sent around fifteen minutes ago. I consider if I should even bother answering her, both because of her grandfather… and for my own sanity. In the end though, I start typing back.

.

Rin: Hey, are you okay? You looked rather agitated after PE.

You: Yeah

You: All good

You: Just needed to talk to a friend

Rin: That's nice to hear. Say, are you free on friday after school?

You: I think so

Rin: Excellent. We're gonna hang out then. See you *wave emoji*

.

What… just like that? She's not even going to give me a choice? What the fuck did I get myself into…?

Next one is… Yui?

.

Yui: Hello? Is this Jason Kostenko? I'm Kimura Yui, the one with the motorcycle. Remember me?

You: Of course I remember

You: How are you?

Yui: Rather well, all things considered. I just wanted to tell you that the shopkeeper contacted me. The piece should come on saturday, around two in the afternoon. Would you like to accompany me?

You: Sounds good

You: When and where do we want to meet up?

Yui: How about… at eleven, in that park that we crossed the other day?

You: That sounds perfect

You: See you then!

.

I smile like a fool. I got a date with best girl… today is a good day, all things considered.

Last one… is someone that I honestly wasn't expecting.

.

Bastard: come to the rooftop after you're done with your friend

Bastard: we need to talk

You: Why should I?

Bastard: it's about julie

Bastard: hurry up

Bastard: i don't have all day

.

And so… my good mood is officially ruined. But if it's about her… then it has to be important.

I hurry up back inside the school and up to the roof, where Frank Morrison is standing with his arms crossed, looking at me.

"There you are. Took you long enough".

"What do you want, Morrison?"

He uncrosses his arms, stalking right up to me.

"As I said, it's about your sister. She's… getting concerned. More than usual, at least".

"Concerned? Her?"

He glares at me.

"Yes. Her. She's not as carefree as she looks. She's constantly worrying about you, your father, her friends or whoever else. She just pretends that she's okay… but I had no doubts that an idiot like you couldn't catch that".

My expression matches his, but internally… I'm impressed. Julie is nothing but an amazing actress, she's almost scarily good at faking emotions she doesn't actually feel. For him to not be fooled by her acts… either he's extremely perceptive, which is possible if he has some remnants of canon Frank's personality… or…

He just cares so much about his girlfriend that he manages to see right through her.

"Get to the fucking point already".

"The point, Kostenko, is that our… little argument is weighing on her mind. A lot. She's afraid that, one day, she'll be forced to choose between you and me, because the two of us are incapable of getting along. This spat of ours has her on constant pins and needles".

She… she is? I mean, I figured that she probably doesn't enjoy her brother and her boyfriend constantly being at each other's throat. And if what Elias said is true… this has been going for quite a long time.

The look on my face must have been telling, because his face also relaxes.

"On that note, I have a proposition for you".

I nod, ready to listen.

"I don't like you. And you don't like me. But neither knows exactly why the other feels like that. As such, I want us to take turns and tell the other the reasons for our mutual dislike… and hopefully move past it. If not for each other, then…"

"... for her".

He nods, and I feel a sense of déjà-vu, when Jason's father told me… basically the same thing.

"All right then. Can I start?"

He gives me the "go ahead" gesture.

"I don't like you… because I think you're dangerous. Because, for as long as I've known you, you have always been driven by your anger! All of those kids that you bullied out of town… all those times you passed the night in a cell… all of those times you got sent to the hospital because of a fight… and all I could think about, was an image of Julie with a black eye or something along those lines, on the receiving end of your short fuse! I'm… afraid that, one day, you will end up hurting her, physically and emotionally! This is why I can't stand seeing you and her together".

For the seemingly millionth time, words tumble out of my mouth without my input, driven by something beyond my control. Like… instincts.

Frank's face scrunches up, like he just bit on a lemon. For a moment, I'm afraid that he's going to explode…

But then he sighs, eyes cast down.

"You… you're right. I am a person driven by my anger… I have hurt… a lot of people since I came here in Ormond. And nothing will ever be able to cancel what I did. But… your sister knows. And she's been helping me. Once a week, she accompanies me to my appointments with my therapist, she's been doing everything she can to help me move on from… from a lot of things that happened in the past. I can't promise that your fears won't become reality, one day. But I promise you… I love your sister. And if it is for her, I will do my best to become someone worthy of her".

O… K. That… that happened. I still struggle to believe him… but his eyes are honest. He has been changing… changing for her. I… I guess I can give him the benefit of the doubt.

"All right then. If Julie believes in you… then I will believe in her. Your turn now".

He nods, grateful, before speaking.

"The reason why I don't like you is fairly simple. You're running away… you are still running away, even when it's obvious that both your father and Julie need you. You are a coward, plain and simple".

A coward…? What does he…

He continues talking, his voice raising up in volume while he goes.

"It's been a full year. A year of your sister doing everything she can to support you after your mother ran away and you haven't lifted a finger to do the same for her! You think that she's not hurt like you are?! This is the entire fucking reason the two of you argued the other day, and you've been content to just… ignore it and let her steam in her own pain! You have any idea how many times she would call me or Susie in the middle of the night, crying because she misses her mother?! How many times I had to listen to her because her own brother couldn't be bothered to talk to her?! You have any idea how selfish you have been for a whole. Fucking. Year?! This is why I hate you. You are selfish. A coward. A child".

I… what…? That… that was the reason for… their argument? Was I… was Jason so stuck in his own head that he couldn't even see his own sister being in pain?! Frank is telling the truth. The whole of it. I can feel it, deep within my bones. Jason Kostenko lived in fear for a whole year… while his sister suffered like an animal, trying to bring him back… while he refused to do the same.

"Or at least… that's why I used to hate you".

Frank's anger fizzles out.

"But… in these last two days… something changed with you, even if you talk and act the same way. Your eyes are different… sharper. Like you're free of your shackles. You want to make up for everything that you haven't done in this last year, don't you?"

I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

"Good. Then, I suppose that I have no more reasons to hate you. And you... still have reasons to dislike me, admittedly... but you know my stance by now. How about we start over then?"

He thrusts his hand forward.

"My name is Frank Morrison. I'm Julie's boyfriend… and I would do anything to make her happy".

I stare at the appendage, before clasping it with my own. I... I see it now. The reason Frank Morrison is the leader of The Legion. The reason why our group looks up to him so much. I couldn't before, too blinded by my hatred... but it's crystal clear now.

"I am Jason Kostenko. I'm Julie's brother… for real, this time around. No more running away".

He smiles at me, looking proud. Like I was, at last, truly one of them in his point of view.

"Perfect. Then let's do our best to get along… for her sake".

I feel a new determination surging through me. A new reason to work my ass off in bringing back the real Jason. Not for my own sake, but…

"For her sake".

Hello?! Is this thing on?! It is?! Noice.

Welcome back, dudes and gentleladies, to another episode of AIOS, the show where the pain train never fucking stops.

I will admit… I had a bit of difficulty with this chapter. For a moment I was afraid that I wrote myself into a corner, even if I knew what I generally wanted to do, but putting everything into words was harder than I thought. But I think I managed pretty damn well. And yes, Julie is my favorite Legion member, how could you tell?

We are slowly but steadily approaching the end of the first arc. Yes, all of this heavy character and story development and we're not even out of the first part of the story. And the second one will be even longer and denser!

Why the hell is an Isekai story the one with the most drama, among the ones that I wrote…? Not even Auraborne reaches these levels of feels straight through the gut.

And now…

Review responses! Yup, I decided to finally start answering questions and… you know, interact with you guys. Better late than never, me thinks. This will only be for the last two/three chapters, as to not be too redundant.

WhyareUsernamesTakenAlready: Yui got a cameo and a date for her next appearance, which I can't wait to write, because poor girl only showed her face once and is severely underdeveloped when put in comparison to everybody else. I got plenty in store for her.

RamenGoblin: Updates are regular once every two sundays at around 11/11.30 am, CET. And no, I don't write anywhere else, all of my shit is here on this site.

NazgulBelserion: Survivors and Killers are basically equal in this story, so there isn't really much reason to make a distinction. But now you got me thinking about how a Survivor version of The Legion would work.

A Petty Theif: … Uhm, yeah, about that. Seriously though, Meg will have her "good end", I promise.

superhamburglarize: Well… I mean, Mikaela was afraid that our protagonist got swallowed by a book last chapter. Does that count? Good luck with the rest of the story, I hope that you enjoy your stay here! Also, sorry for slightly screwing your name, but the Doc Manager apparently doesn't like dots in between words like that.

That's all folks! Ta-ta for now!