Disclaimer: All characters and events that take place within the story are fictional. Any relations to real people or events are purely coincidental. All copyrights belong to Atlus.

Art by Zengoro on Pixiv. Thanks so much!

Warning: Deviants explores psychological disorders, thoughts of suicide, attempted suicide, sexual assault, and emotional trauma both from an intrapersonal and interpersonal perspective. If you or anyone you know are suffering from any of the above, please seek professional help.

Sunday, April 24

Early Morning

Ann's blinds were tightly shut, denying dawn even the tiniest peek into her room. She didn't even know if the sun was up. It could be noon, for all she cared. Heck, she could be dead and she still couldn't care less.

She thought she'd feel relieved, proud, satisfied, or something after yesterday... after stealing Kamoshida's Treasure. But that empty void that sat so heavily in the center of her chest that ate away at her didn't feel the least bit filled. Not in the slightest.

They didn't even know if it had worked- probably wouldn't know until May 2nd. Ann didn't feel anxious. If it worked it worked. All that mattered was that Kamoshida paid for what he did, one way or another.

But right now Ann didn't have the energy to care for… well… anything. She'd already decided to take today off from school just to give herself some space. Time to digest everything and try to navigate the tangled mess that was her emotions. That and she really didn't want to be around anyone right now. Just needed some privacy, that's all.

Ann closed her aching, heavy eyelids. She had a pretty good idea on what'd she'd see when she looked in the mirror later. A terrible complexion, heavy bags, puffy eyes, and a red nose to start. She didn't even know how many tissue boxes she'd gone through in the past week. All she knew was that her nose was rubbed raw. At the very least Ann wasn't sure if she had any more tears to shed at this point.

She took in a deep breath and held it, feeling her heart pound against her chest. Ann continued to hold it even when her lungs started to burn before letting it out as a heavy sigh. That actually made her feel a little better. A small victory.

Her phone buzzed once before her alarm went off. That meant it was 7:30.

"God, is it really only 7:30?" Ann felt like it should've been nine in the morning.

She silenced the alarm and plopped her head back onto her pillow, staring at her home screen. It was a picture of herself and Shiho on their first day at Shujin. Big, bright smiles and glittering eyes filled with hope and excitement. They had been overjoyed when they found out they'd be in the same class as first-years. The prospect of spending their first, if not all three, years of high school together couldn't have made them happier.

And yet here they were, barely a third of the way through. So much had changed. They had changed. Now Ann wondered if they'd even get to spend another day together.

Ann opened up her photo album and found the folder where her home screen image was in. She found what she was looking for and tapped play.

"Hey, Shiho! Say 'hi!'"

"Ann, are you recording? Haha, what are you doing?"

"Come on, Shiho! It's the first day of high school. At least try to be excited!"

"I am excited! Fine, restart."

"No! It's supposed to be one of those candid videos. You know, the first-take kinda thing."

"Whatever. Hi! It's our first day of high school. I can't wait to spend all my evenings in the library tutoring my best friend because she can't take good notes!"

"Hey, they're not that bad!"

Ann continued to stare at the screen for a few seconds after the video ended. She hit play again.

And again.

And again.

She'd trade anything to talk to Shiho as carefree as they did back then. To hear her voice one more time.

But right now this was all she had. It might be all she'll ever have.

Groaning, Ann groggily sat up, wincing as she did so. Her body ached all over from yesterday. Ann lifted her shirt up slightly and hazarded a glance at her stomach. The skin was discolored with yellow and purple; a bruise at the late stages of healing. And a gift from Kamoshida's Shadow. They'd received a lot of those.

"Some of them beneath the skin," Ann muttered. She corrected herself. "A lot of them."

She suddenly felt gross sitting in bed. And disturbingly cold as uncontrollable shivers shook her and gooseflesh rose.

Ann tossed the blankets off her. She needed to shower.

Makoto had to stop herself from slamming the Faculty Office door open. The expression on her face must have been intimidating as a few teachers immediately looked away from her. She scanned the room, and, not finding who she was looking for, asked, "Is Kamoshida-sensei in? I'd like a word with him."

It was Ushimaru-sensei that answered her. "Niijima-san! Kamoshida-sensei won't be coming in today or… in the near future."

"What?"

"I'm not too sure about the details," Ushimaru-sensei admitted. "But I hear it was a personal decision to take temporary leave."

So close to the volleyball tournament? And right after attempting to-

Makoto took a steady breath in. She had to relax. Control. She was in control. "Right. Thank you."

What was going on? Yoshizawa-san had said Kamoshida-sensei had suddenly looked horrified and ran out of the PE Faculty Office. And now he was taking temporary leave? It was almost like-

"It's exactly what the calling card said," Makoto muttered, recounting word for word the contents of yesterday's 'prank' from memory. "They stole his desires- his lust- yesterday."

But how? Yoshizawa-san had been in the room alone with Kamoshida-sensei. Makoto was the first one to arrive afterwards. Yoshizawa-san had recounted the events in disturbing detail. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. No phone call, no messages, nothing.

The prime suspects Takamaki Ann, Sakamoto Ryuji, and Amamiya Ren had left school immediately, even ignoring summons to the faculty office. They hadn't even been on campus when Kamoshida freaked out. But they had to be the ones that did… something. What did they do? Where did they go?

Makoto wanted to tear her hair out from frustration. She still couldn't get an answer to what the hell was going on.

No, she wasn't only upset about that. Yoshizawa-san said Kamoshida-sensei had been asking her about Makoto and what they were doing during lunch. He'd somehow gotten suspicious of her. Was Makoto at fault for dragging her in?

She wanted to deny it. To claim that Kamoshida-sensei already had his eyes on her. But would he have acted that way if she hadn't? Had she almost been the cause and not just a bystander this time? The idea made her stomach lurch.

Was she getting in over her head?

Lunchtime

"Hey, have you seen Kamoshida around?" Ryuji asked the moment he spotted Ren.

"No," Ren shook his head. "PE was self study. The teachers haven't said a thing."

Ryuji chewed his lip, his eyebrows scrunched up in concern. "You think he's even here?"

Morgana was the one that answered. "I haven't seen him. I wandered around the school for a bit and didn't spot him."

"Ann's not here, either," Ren pointed out.

"Oh," Ryuji looked a little surprised. Had Ann only contacted him? "She didn't tell you?"

"Tell us what?" Morgana raised an eyebrow.

"She's not comin' to school today. Said she needed some space."

"Right. No, she didn't tell us. But that's good. That's good," Ren whispered, deep in thought.

Ryuji couldn't help but be curious whenever Ren made that expression. "What's up?"

Ren waved him off. "It's nothing. Just thinking that it's a good idea for her to have some privacy."

"I don't know," Ryuji sighed explosively. "She's been alone for so long it feels kinda… wrong."

"Just give her some space, Ryuji," Morgana advised. "She's not alone anymore. She has us."

Ryuji knew that. But he couldn't help but feel antsy, like he had to move. "I'll shoot her a message real quick."

Yo hows it hangin

Ryuji scratched his head and deleted it.

Hey Ann just checking up on you. You feelin ok?

"Is that good enough?" Ryuji asked himself.

"Dude, just send it," Ren answered.

"All right! All right!" Ryuji complied rather loudly. "Can't help that I'm worried."

Both their phones pinged.

Ann: Thanks you guys. I'm okay. Hanging in there. Didn't mean to worry any of you.

Morgana chuckled. "She immediately knew."

"Shut up," Ryuji growled.

Ren: No problem. Just want to make sure you're alright.

Ryuji: Kamoshida's not at school today.

Ann: What? Really?

Ann: Does that mean it worked?

"I don't know," Morgana admitted. "I wish I could reassure everyone. But this is the first time I've seen this. All we know is that we certainly did something."

Ren: We don't know. But Morgana said we did something.

Ryuji: Im sure it worked. It had to.

Ryuji didn't know if he looked as confident as he wanted to. He had to at least appear confident to Ann. Like Morgana said she had them to rely on.

Ann: Yeah…

Ren: Don't worry about it. Take your time and come back whenever you're ready. We'll let you know if the situation changes.

Ryuji: Yeah we got your back.

Ann: Thanks again. I'm planning to go see Shiho later.

Ryuji felt a small part of him cave in. He tried not to recall any memories that the three of them had had from middle school and failed.

Ryuji: Tell her we say hello.

Ann: I will. I'm sure she'd like that.

Ann: Anyways, I have to get ready and I don't want to take up any more of your lunch break. I'll message you guys later, kay?

Ren: Be safe.

Ryuji: Later.

Ann: Will do.

"Awww fuck," Ryuji sat down and slide down the chair.

Ren huffed a single laugh. "What?"

"Can't help but be worried 'bout this shit," Ryuji admitted. "What if we fucked it up somehow? Or it didn't work? We're gonna get expelled dude."

"We'll deal with that if we have to." Ren didn't look too confident either, though.

"Ha. Guess so," Ryuji sat back up. "Anyways, want to hang out after school? Grab somethin' to eat?"

"Nope!" Ren immediately answered.

"What've you got goin' on?" Ryuji wondered.

"He's broke," Morgana rolled his eyes. "He got a part-time job at a convenience store."

"Seriously?" Ryuji groaned. "Guess that's fair. We spent a lot of money to prepare for this."

"I'll take a raincheck," Ren either didn't notice or ignored Ryuji's perplexed look. "When Ann feels up to it we'll all go."

Any disappointment Ryuji felt was immediately dispelled. "Yeah, yeah that sounds good."

Monday, May 2

Early Morning

The past week had been strange. After three weeks of absurd circumstances and scenarios the abrupt return to a somewhat normal routine threw Ren off. It was bizarre. No more Shadows, death-defying encounters, or supernatural phenomenon going on after school. Just studying, working part time, and helping out at LeBlanc every now and then.

Occasionally the anxiety of whether or not the change of heart occurred would come over him; likewise with the other two if their text message history was any evidence. And today they might get that answer.

Kamoshida had yet to make his reappearance at school. All of the numerous rumors floating around as to why he was gone were hardly answers. But given that today was the board meeting Ren and Ryuji would find out whether or not they'd be expelled.

Maybe, just maybe, Kamoshida would show up today. He had to if he was going to expel them as he was the one pushing it forward. If he did show the change of heart might not have worked. If not it most certainly did.

Ren didn't dare bring up the subject of expulsion with Sakura-san or his parents. The former provided the roof over his head and the latter he hasn't spoken to since he walked out of the house he'd grown up in. Sakura-san would throw a fit if he knew that Ren, barely three weeks in a new school, was possibly going to be expelled. His parents… Ren didn't even know what they'd think. As sour a taste in his mouth that it left, Ren doubted they could be any more disappointed in him.

Ren shoved that line of thinking deep into a corner of his brain. It wasn't easy.

Ann would finally be coming back to school claiming that she couldn't miss today. She'd taken all last week off, though she still remained in daily contact with them. She seemed to be improving by the day but occasionally she'd have a small relapse and they'd somehow manage to drag her out of it.

"Nervous?" Morgana asked, venturing.

Ren spared Morgana a glance before straightening his blazer and getting to work on the buttons. "A little. It's make or break, isn't it?"

"Ren," Morgana spoke in a gently tone that Ren couldn't help but make eye contact. "You're shaking."

Ren's hands went from buttoning his jacket to combing through his hair. He knew it was a rhetorical question but asked anyway, "How can I not be, Morgana? My expulsion is on the line."

Morgana still spoke in that comforting tone. "So what? It's just an expulsion. You can transfer to a new school. It's not like it's the end of your life."

"No, you don't understand. If I get expelled I'm going to juvie."

"What?" Morgana didn't hide his confusion. "What do you mean you're going to juvie? Why the hell would an expulsion send you to prison?"

"I didn't bring it up because it wouldn't change what we did. It wasn't important to the group's decision- my decision." Ren took a deep breath in and out, working up the nerve to speak. "I-I'm on probation. If I get expelled, there is no second chance for me. A permanent criminal record."

Ren could see the cogs turning in Morgana's eyes.

"Is that why there are those rumors about you being a delinquent at school?"

Ren nodded.

Morgana asked the question Ren didn't want to answer. "What'd you do?"

Ren could feel his palms shaking against his face. This would be the second time he'd answer this question since coming to Tokyo. First was with Ryuji in a beef bowl place, the second with Morgana in the attic of a coffee shop. Ren couldn't help but chuckle a little. He was talking to a cat about his life's problems.

"I 'assaulted' someone," Ren made air quotes with his hands, a grim smile plastered on his face. "He was forcing himself onto a woman, intoxicated, and wouldn't let up. I stepped in and… well… to be honest I don't really remember. He was on the ground, bleeding from a head wound and I was charged and found guilty."

Morgana's brows tightened in anger. "But you didn't do anything wrong!"

Ren blinked rapidly. Hearing those words spoken so passionately, like the speaker truly believed it, made his heart jump into his throat.

"The guy went after you with criminal charges? And he won?!"

As Morgana's frustration grew and grew, Ren found himself feeling lighter, calmer, and a little bit happy. Hearing someone else get emotional about something he himself should be was strangely comforting. Perhaps reassurance for what he was feeling was all he needed.

Morgana's fuming reached a peak. "Why the heck are you smiling?"

"Sorry," Ren tried to wipe the smile from his face. "It's just nice to hear that someone isn't blaming me."

Morgana opened his mouth to speak but snapped it shut, suddenly seeming embarrassed. "It just irks me when the person doing the right thing is punished."

"Well," Ren stood and quickly buttoned up his blazer with steady hands. "I can confirm it sucks being that person. C'mon. Let's see if I'm sleeping outside tonight."

"Let's begin this school-wide morning assembly," Principal Kobayakawa's voice reverberated throughout the gym in a way only a mediocre speaker system could. "As you all know-"

Ann sighed. Every opening speech was the same. Something about a bright future.

"-a bright future ahead."

Followed by the importance of education.

"Education is the highest responsibility for students."

And then how Shujin takes pride in being a part of the student's life.

"Here at Shujin, we take immense pride and joy in guiding the youth in their journey of life."

Ann inwardly sighed. Empty words, all of them.

Focusing on something that actually interested her, Ann glanced around the gym as surreptitiously as she could. Homeroom teachers stood by their classes, making a point to look attentive to the speech and their students. Ann hadn't seen the giant form of Kamoshida when she entered and the same applied now. Ann wondered if she should breath a sigh of relief or worry. She couldn't help but feel antsy.

Ann watched Ren, who stood next to her, from the corner of her eye. Hands in his pockets, large, round glasses that showed clear eyes paying rapt-attention to the speech, and the relaxed posture showed anything but nervousness. If anything he looked strangely at ease. How did he manage that?

It was then that Ann noticed just above Ren's head on the balcony of the gym was a familiar black cat sitting on the railing, its tail slowly curling back and forth. Morgana noticed her gaze and gave a small wave.

Ann would have chuckled and returned the gesture if the gym doors hadn't opened, revealing the imposing figure of Kamoshida.

Or rather, it would have been imposing if Kamoshida didn't look like such a mess. With puffy eyes, red nose, quivering lips, sagging shoulders, it was like looking in the mirror this morning before she put on her makeup. The expression on his face was downcast and fragile; a far cry to the arrogance that she was so used to seeing.

It was plain to everyone present that this was not expected as Principal Kobayakawa said, "Kamoshida-sensei, what are you doing here?"

With shaky feet, Kamoshida stepped up to the podium, ushering the Principal to the side.

"What the hell's he doing?" Ann muttered.

"I have recently come to realize that I have made grave mistakes unbecoming of a teacher. I have… come to confess everything." Kamoshida's voice was wavering, and occasionally cracked.

Ann couldn't believe what she was hearing. It worked?

"I have verbally and physically abused my team… sex… sexually harassed and… and… assaulted… female students," Kamoshida broke into tears, sniffling. "And I am the reason why Suzui Shiho tried to kill herself."

Whispers broke out around the gym as tingles ran from her toes up to the top of her skull. It worked.

"I believed that Shujin Academy was my own castle… I have put forward students for expulsion simply because they stood up to me. I will, of course, withdraw those."

Ann heard Ren let out a sigh of relief.

Kamoshida bowed his head, whether in apology or shame Ann wasn't sure. "I am truly sorry, from the very core of my being, that I performed such horrible, sick acts to innocent youths. I am an arrogant, shallow… and shameful person. No, I'm worse than that… I'm among the worst humanity has to offer. I will take responsibility for my actions… and kill myself for it."

The gymnasium broke out in shouts from both the student body and faculty. The students were too busy talking to each other as the faculty visibly panicked.

"Kamoshida-sensei, please, get off the stage for now!"

"Is he really going to kill himself?"

"Holy shit, so the rumors were true?"

Ann ignored it all.

Her hands balled into fists. What the hell did he mean he was going to take responsibility by killing himself? She thought of Shiho clinging desperately to life in a hospital bed. Shiho didn't want to die. She just wanted the pain to stop. And here Kamoshida wanted the easy way out?

"Don't you run from your pain, you bastard!" Ann shouted clearly over the pandemonium. "Shiho's still fighting for her life after what you did! Even when she made that choice to jump, she's still fighting! You think you can take the easy way out when you're at fault for this? While she's still suffering?!"

Somehow her voice reached him.

"You're right…" Kamoshida barely raised his head. "You're right. I… have done terrible things to Takamaki-san as well. I tried to force her into having relations. As of today, I will resign from my position as an instructor and coach at Shujin Academy and turn myself in. I should be punished under the law and atone for my crimes… for the rest of my life."

Kamoshida was forcefully removed from the podium by a few teachers that had made their way on stage, Principal Kobayakawa visibly shaking in panic.

Ann gasped for air like she'd just run a marathon, her head rushing and struggling to keep up. They'd done it. They'd actually done it.

She felt someone clap their hand onto her shoulder and pull her in. Ryuji was between them, having run over from his class, and pulled them close. "Holy shit! We did it! We actually freakin' did it!"

"Yeah," Ann breathed. "His heart really did change."

Ren placed a hand on her shoulder, making them form a small circle. He didn't say anything, but the wide smile on his face and laughter of disbelief were contagious. Soon enough they were all laughing uncontrollably.

They'd done it.

Ann felt her phone vibrate against her leg. Still laughing, she wiped away her tears as she disentangled herself from her friends. Seeing the caller her world froze.

"Hey," Ren shook her.

Ann looked at him.

"Tell her we say 'hello.'"

Ryuji gave her a thumbs up.

Ann sniffed, nodding. She answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Ann…"

The tears that Ann didn't know she had flowed freely down her face.

A/N

Holy shit… the Kamoshida arc is finally over. A short chapter to wrap things up here, as I really can't end this on a better/higher note for the gang.

Thanks to everyone for sticking with my sporadic updates for this arc since this adaptation's inception. I really do want to work on this more often as it's therapeutic, cathartic, and an absolute joy to write, especially scenes like the last one. Sometimes it's a slog, a drag through the mud, and a stressor, but it feels good.

If there's anything you peeps have to say, be sure to let me know somehow. I'd love to hear it so I can continue to improve and deliver my story to all of you as we move on to the next chapter of the narrative.

As always, thanks for reading. Love you all, and I'll see you next time.