Heart of Justice Chapter 7
Ryuji had not been wrong about the rush hour, resulting in Kyoko getting back to Leblanc later then she'd hoped to. Fatigue from their trip into the castle had worn her down significantly, the meal Ryuji had treated her to being about the only energy she was running on, now. As such, it was already dark out when Kyoko opened the door to the café and found Sojiro sitting by the bar table working on a crossword puzzle.
"You're home, I see," Sojiro said, looking up. "I take it you actually went to school today?" he asked.
"I did," Kyoko replied.
"Well I suppose you learned your lesson after what happened yesterday?" Sojiro asked. He gave a shrug. "Eh, well, as long as you're staying out of trouble, it's fine by me if you're back later. Just keep in mind if you screw up, it's over for you, so be careful what you do."
Discussing that she'd spent the afternoon in a castle inhabiting another dimension was not something Kyoko was about to share and would probably strain her relationship with her guardian even more after she'd disappointed him yesterday, so she simply gave a nod in response.
It was at that moment, her phone chimed, prompting the young detective to pull it out, noticing the chat app had a response. Managing to get it to open, Kyoko found an icon with Ryuji's face next to the chat message.
[Hey! I decided to message you!]
[Can you see this?]
-Yes Kyoko typed in response.
[Awesome!]
[I'll be counting on you tomorrow!]
[We came this far, just stick with me to the end of it!]
-I said I'd help. I don't break my word. Kyoko replied.
[Great! Let's save those guys! You and me!] Ryuji texted back.
"Hey, you listening?" Sojiro asked, causing Kyoko to pocket her phone and look back up at him. "Just stay away from bad influences, okay?"
Putting the crossword puzzle book on the bar table, Sojiro got up from his chair. "I'm going to be heading home, now. I'll be locking the store up so don't go out wandering tonight."
Kyoko gave a nod, and made her way for the stairs, heading up to her room.
As Kyoko started getting changed for bed, she'd barely had time to shed off her blazer when her phone started to chime again. Turning and picking it up off her bed, the young detective saw she'd received another message from Ryuji.
[BTW, what kinda chat name is HSLSleuth?]
-Could ask you the same thing, RunninRyuji16
A few seconds of awkward silence passed.
[...Nevermind. Hey, that thing on your phone, that red eyeball thing?]
Kyoko raised an eyebrow at the boy's question.
-Didn't you notice it earlier when we were in the Palace? she texted.
Another pause.
[Huh. Yeah, I did. Didn't think much on it then, did I?]
[But yeah, it's on my phone too. Guess I figured it just showed up because we were in that castle!]
[But that's how we got there, right?]
-Yes. That would appear to be the case. Kyoko answered.
[Well it's on my phone. Can't seem to delete it, either!]
[But that's how we got to that weird place, right?]
[It's gonna depend on how we use it]
[But first, let's get evidence on the beatings!
-Agreed. Kyoko replied.
[Awesome! I'm counting on you! Don't ditch school on me or anything!]
-Understood. Good night Ryuji.
As she put her phone back down and continued changing out of her uniform, Kyoko remembered how Igor mentioned granting the app to others that could provide her aid in the role he'd had intended for her to play, which made her wonder what else fate had in store for her, and if there'd be others who would get pulled into it. Ryuji had been serious and fixated on this, and Kyoko could not blame him, the injustices Kamoshida had subjected him, and many others to, had given Ryuji all the resolve in the world to stop him, a sentiment Kyoko now shared as well.
Once she was done changing, Kyoko took one last look around her attic room before switching off the lights and climbing into bed. If things went wrong, she stood to lose even this, all she had left. But to back out now and do nothing, she'd be no better then anyone else who turned a blind eye to everything she'd seen in the castle, and Kamoshida would be free to destroy more lives, a failure she could not live with any more then had she walked away that night.
It was her duty, she deemed, as the girl who would one day become Japan's greatest detective and prove a worthy successor to her family name, to expose evil and bring it to justice, especially when others would not.
Kyoko's thoughts slowly became a murky blur as she felt the warmth of her bed and the fatigue of her trip into the cognitive world, the "metaverse", caused her to drift off to sleep...
A familiar dankness hit her senses, and Kyoko's eyes fluttered open, once more finding herself in the increasingly familiar surroundings of the otherworldly prison that was the Velvet Room. Slowly sitting up on the dilapidated cot, Kyoko felt the weight of the shackles on her wrist as she stood herself up and walked herself over to the barred door, her gaze meeting Igor's impossible and unchanging grimace as the two guards stood silently on either side of her cell.
"You wish to speak with me again?" Kyoko asked bluntly.
"Indeed, I felt it best we resume our previous conversation, so I have summoned you here," Igor explained. "Tell me, what are your thoughts? Are you growing accustomed to this place?"
Kyoko looked down at the floor a moment. A fate similar to this would await her if she violated her probation. "I wouldn't say accustomed, I believe the word is "familiar" with this place," she answered.
Igor chuckled. "Is that so? From what you've experienced today, I'd say your nerves are quite resilient. Understand the goal of your rehabilitation is to thwart your impending ruin," he explained, drumming his fingers once more. "However, such a feat cannot be accomplished alone. Today, you entered a partnership with someone who awoke to the same power, did you not?"
Kyoko assumed he was referring to Ryuji. If not for his awakening, they may not have escaped. The girl gave a nod. "I did," she replied.
"You've done well," Igor answered. "Involving yourself with others is a very important foundation to your recovery. Something I believe you have spent much of your life avoiding on all but a professional, or superficial extent..."
Kyoko glared at the warden. He made it sound like she willfully avoided others as if she simply didn't like them. "I have been taught not to get emotionally attached. It can cloud one's judgement and make one unwilling to accept the unbiased truth."
"Most interesting," Igor said, his grin unwavering. "But I wonder, how much you truly believe that as the right course. I strongly advise against the mindset you have allowed yourself to follow, continuing only superficial relationships if you wish to grow and succeed," he explained. "You must open your heart to a ring of those who, by morals or faith, will lend you your strength. Those who share your own experience of having been robbed of their places to belong. In turn, the expansion of this ring will help you mature."
"Personas are the strength of the heart," Justine explained. "The stronger the bonds around you, the more power your Personas will gain."
"A bond stronger then mere convenience or mutual goals, inmate!" Caroline snapped. "There's people in this city who have talents you don't! Drop that outlook of yours long enough to connect with them, and when they come to your side, we can transform that into power!"
"Indeed," Igor stated. "You should be prepared to use even myself, or your ambitions will never reach fruition." The warden let out a soft chuckle. "Do we have a deal, then?"
Kyoko closed her eyes and took in a breath as she thought it over. She felt the warden's high expectations of her, and she could not allow herself to face failure. She thought about everything her grandfather taught her, and then what had happened that night she'd gotten arrested. If she wanted to escape this dark fate, she would do her best to follow the warden's advice for all he was willing to do for her, even if it meant doing something she'd been urged against much of her life.
Opening her eyes, Kyoko's gaze once again met Igor's. "I accept," she said.
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast aquired a new vow
It shall become the wings of rebellion
that breaketh thy chains of captivity
With the birth of the Fool Persona,
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power...
The sound of a chain link shattering rang in the girl's mind.
"At any rate, I assure you, you will understand it all in due time," Igor explained. "Continue devoting yourself to rehabilitation!"
Before Kyoko could respond, or demand further from him, Caroline interjected.
"Conversation's over! Get lost, inmate!" she snapped, and everything around Kyoko grew darker and darker, fading into the blackness of an otherwise dreamless sleep...
4/13
"How can they make us play at a volleyball rally right as we're starting High School?" a dissatisfied first year asked his friend on the way to school as Kyoko walked silently behind them. Such trivial matters did little to hold the girl's attention, however as they continued to simply continue their complaining. Kyoko had noticed Takamaki and a dark-haired girl with a ponytail and a slight limp not too far behind her, but decided this was neither the time or the place to confront the former about anything involving Kamoshida, electing to wait until she could get her alone, and perhaps after she'd gotten some inadmissible testimonies from the volleyball team that didn't simply fall into the line of idle gossip.
Her attention shifted once more to the first years when they mentioned how banged up the volleyball team was.
"Banged up?" the other first year asked.
"Yeah! Didn't you see 'em?" his friend asked. "They all look like they got the shit out of 'em or something! Black eyes, bruises, bandages, joint braces, you name it! What the hell goes on during their practices?!"
"Whoa, speakin' of injuries..." the second one remarked, glancing back at Kyoko worriedly. "Better watch your back, the transfer student's right there. Don't wanna get on her bad side..."
Gritting her teeth, Kyoko closed her eyes and hung her head as she took a breath while the boys in front of her quickly picked up their pace. Another, more personal reason to want to bring Kamoshida to justice, Kyoko thought to herself as she continued on her way up to the school and went inside, the dark-haired girl next to Takamaki watching her with a concerned look as she went in.
"That girl..."
"What about her, Shiho?" Ann asked.
"She's in your class, right?" Shiho asked. "Everyone's saying a lot of bad stuff about her... Ann, Does she really seem like someone who'd do any of that?"
"Kamoshida tried to say some things about her," Ann replied. "Personally, I hate rumors already, the more time passes the more ridiculous they seem to get!"
"Kamoshida..." Shiho muttered to herself, her body trembling slightly before shaking her head. "...I wonder if that girl will be alright. I really hope she isn't letting it get to her too much..."
Ann smiled faintly, putting her hand on her friend's shoulder. "That's just like you, Shiho. Always worrying about other people before yourself. Like how you've been there for me." Her smile faded as she thought about the girl they'd watched go in. "Still... I wouldn't blame her if it did..." she mused quietly to herself as she noticed a few girls walk by giving her looks and whispering to one-another.
Kyoko sat in silence as she observed the volleyball rally. Seated in a chair and donning a tracksuit while Ryuji sat on the floor beside her in similar attire, Kyoko took in every detail from the game. The volleyball team was going against the teachers, including Kamoshida who was doing the majority of the work for the latter. Her glare narrowed as it seemed like nearly every spike he made by what she could tell seemed to be calculated to strike another student rather then grant points. The most recent one hit a boy right in the shoulder, causing the referee to blow a whistle as the boy was walked off the court.
"Still sticks out, hasn't changed a bit," Ryuji commented.
"Hm?" Kyoko inquired, though not turning her gaze.
"Takamaki," Ryuji said, glancing over at the blonde who was sitting away from the other girls by herself.
"You're acquainted with her?" Kyoko asked.
"Long time ago," Ryuji replied. Kyoko gave no response.
The boy gave a loud, exaggerated yawn. "Pretty boring, huh?" he asked with a smirk, but once again getting no response from the girl seated next to him.
Kyoko paid the cheering from the school's female population egging Kamoshida on no mind as she watched him suddenly charge the net and deliver a fierce spike that sent the ball rocketing towards a boy she remembered from her class and striking him hard in the face, knocking him clean off his feet, flat on his back, and likely out cold, the ball rolling right near where Ryuji and Kyoko were sitting.
"Holy shit!" Ryuji stammered.
"He did that on purpose," Kyoko said, folding her arms glaring at Kamoshida as he quickly switched from a smug smirk to a concerned frown as he pushed away the net and ran to the boy's side and apologizing to him, ordering the others to help get him to the nurse's office as he turned him over. Blood was dripping from the boy's nose and onto his shirt as Kamoshida picked him up and handed him to several students to carry out of the gym, before turning and cheerfully ordering the match to resume as if nothing had happened.
Kyoko frown deepened at the display of apathy towards the boy who'd just gotten injured. It answered a lot of questions regarding the earlier conversation she'd eavesdropped on earlier in the morning.
"He'll pay soon enough," Ryuji snarled bitterly, tossing the stray volleyball that had landed near them back into the court as the game continued.
"That asshole really does act like a king, here, too!" Ryuji snapped as he lead Kyoko out to the courtyard. "Get to know each other better, my ass! It's just a one-man show for him to stroke his ego! And can you believe the way he put on that bullshit act like he was worried about Mishima when he smashed his face in like that? What an abusive d-bag!"
"Indeed," Kyoko replied, bringing her hand to her chin in thought. "This explains much. I overheard this morning how the entire team is often seen with a variety of injuries."
"Well then, this means it's our chance to look for the guys we saw were slaves in that castle yesterday," Ryuji explained. "All the members of the team should still be here, today. I'm sure at least one of them'll be willing to spill about Kamoshida's abuse!"
"You managed to identify them?" Kyoko asked. "I'll need somewhere to start."
"Well, one's in your class, so start there," Ryuji replied. "People tend to avoid me already, dunno if you'll have better luck since you're kinda in the same boat."
"We should just go together, then. Let's go," Kyoko said, heading out of the courtyard and back inside, Ryuji following, and reaching her classroom in no time. Sure enough, one student in particular stood out, mostly because of the fact that much of his face including his left eye had been bandaged up.
"Excuse me," Kyoko said, attempting to get the boy's attention.
"W-what do you want? You skippin' out on the rally?" he asked, he looked over, noticing Ryuji with her. "You too, Sakamoto? Jeez, you two datin' or somethin'? Guess delinquents go together and all..."
Kyoko glared at him but ignored the comment. "We just want to know if you're being abused. How did you get that injury?" she asked flatly.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" the boy protested.
"Come on! A whole buncha the volleyball team looks just as bad as you right now! You sayin' that's a coincidence?" Ryuji snapped. "...It's Kamoshida, ain't it?" The look of fear on the volleyball player's face swiftly confirmed it.
"I... I told you! I have no idea what you're talking about! Don't be ridiculous!" the boy replied nervously.
Ryuji's expression softened. "Look, I ain't gonna tell anyone you squealed. Just tell us what he's doing to you."
"S-seriously! I'm telling you, you got it all wrong! H-he didn't do this!"
"What are you afraid of?" Kyoko asked, taking a step forward as her gaze met the boy's remaining unbandaged good eye.
"N-nothing!" the volleyball player insisted. "You're both talking nonsense!"
"Stop tryin' to hide it!" Ryuji snapped, his patience beginning to wear thin. "We already know!"
"Know what?" the boy asked. "You got proof of anything? Just go away, you're really bothering me!"
Kyoko folded her arms and looked over at Ryuji. "We're wasting our time with him. We'll need to ask someone else."
Ryuji sighed. "Yeah, guess you're right. Let's go."
As the two left the class and got into the hallway, Ryuji spoke up again. "That injury ain't normal! Why won't he fess up?"
"Are you familiar with the term "snitches get stitches"?" Kyoko asked, bringing her hand to her chin as she weighed the other possibilities. "Even still, the school turns a blind eye to him, they may feel it won't make a difference, or the people he is victimizing believe his clout is worth it to get them into the college of their choice. As an Olympic gold medalist, his name would carry a great deal of weight in such a thing"
Ryuji growled, but then gave a conceding nod. "You may be right. At the rate we're going, the rally will be over before we find out anything!"
Kyoko looked around the halls, then back at Ryuji. "Perhaps it is time we split up," she said.
"Yeah, I guess that would be faster," Ryuji replied. "I'll go head over to the practice building and check around for any of 'em before clubs start. You stay here and ask around the classroom building. I remember one of the guys I saw was a third-year, he's in room 3-C, I think. I'll hit'cha up if I find anything!"
Kyoko gave a nod. "Good luck."
"Thanks. Seeya!" And with that, the two parted ways to begin their new mission.
[Hey! No luck on this end so far! How'd it go with the third-year?] Ryuji's text read on the chat app. Kyoko scowled, recalling how well that had gone.
-He wouldn't talk. Insisted they were from practice. Said not to believe you. Kyoko replied.
[Figures]
[Hey, I think one of the guys I saw was a first-year]
[Maybe he's not caught up in Kamoshida's bullshit yet! Think you can find him?]
-I'll look.
Pocketing her phone, Kyoko headed up to the third floor where the first years were milling about the halls and took notice of a boy leaning against the wall nursing a bandaged wrist.
"Excuse me, are you on the volleyball team?" Kyoko asked, approaching the boy and stopping in front of him, arms folded.
"M-me? Yeah I'm on the volleyball team, so what?" the boy asked.
"How did you get those injuries?" Kyoko asked, the boy trembling slightly from her question and the intense stare she was giving him.
"P-practice, of course! Volleyball does that, you know!" the boy insisted. Kyoko took a step closer.
"Did Kamoshida do that to you?" she asked in a quiet tone, her gaze falling on the boy's bandaged wrist.
"What? N-no! of course not! Look, Mr. Kamoshida's real strict but we play on national level after all! It's how all the sports teams go..." The boy looked away a moment, revealing a bruise on the side of his face. "Th-though he might'a gone a little too far with the special coaching he gave Mishima-senpai..."
"Hm?" Kyoko's gaze narrowed.
"F-forget I said anything! I don't know anything! I'm probably wrong, anyway! Just leave me alone, alright?" the boy protested.
Sighing, Kyoko turned to leave him. "I apologize. Thank you for your time," she said, walking away just in time for the school announcements to chime overhead declaring the volleyball rally over and urging the students to go home.
Her phone chimed a second later. Taking it out, Kyoko saw Ryuji had messaged her again.
[Damnit! Outta time! How'd it go?]
-He wouldn't talk, either Kyoko texted back.
[No good, here, either] Ryuji replied.
-There is one clue, though. He gave a name. Let's meet back in the courtyard. I'll wait for you there
[Cool! Seeya then!]
Pocketing her phone again, Kyoko made her way back downstairs to the courtyard.
Kyoko had arrived first, Ryuji seemed to be running late. As she waited, the young detective had elected to take the time examining the different beverages the vending machine offered, none of which sounded particularly appealing at the time. Kyoko suddenly heard footsteps behind her.
"Can I talk to you for a sec?" the voice was not Ryuji's, or a boy's, for that matter. Turning, Kyoko found herself face to face with Takamaki.
Folding her arms, Kyoko regarded the girl in curiosity, wondering what she could have wanted. "What is it?" she asked.
Ann was taken aback a little, the girl didn't come across as threatening, but the way Kyoko just seemed to stare into her soul like that was a little unnerving to her.
"A-anyway," Ann began, trying to think of how to start the conversation. "Um, what's with you? Like, how you were late the other day was clearly a lie and all..."
"I don't see how that's any of your business," Kyoko replied, her tone blunt but not aggressive.
"Hey, I didn't... mean it like that, sorry," Ann replied. "I guess, also there's this weird rumor about you and all..."
Before Ann could go any further, or Kyoko could remark on it, Ryuji arrived. "What's this all about? What do you want with her, Takamaki?" he asked.
The blonde girl quickly got defensive. "Right back at you! You're not even in our class!" she replied.
"...We just happened to get to know eachother, alright?" he asked.
Ann looked back and forth between the two of them. "Are you guys a couple or something?" she asked. "People have seen you two around eachother quite a bit the past two days..."
"Nothing like that," Ryuji replied flatly. "Now, what is it you want?"
Ann's expression then hardened. "What exactly you're planning on doing to Mr. Kamoshida."
"What?" Ryuji asked in surprise, but shock quickly turned to suspicion. "Oh, I get it. You're pretty close to Kamoshida, right? Buddy-buddy an' all?"
"This has nothing to do with you. Sakamoto!" Ann protested.
"Seriously, Takamaki," Ryuji growled. "I dunno what you see in that creep, but if you knew even half the stuff he did behind your back you'd dump him in an instant!"
"B-behind my back?!" Ann asked, shocked. "What are you talking about?"
"-Tch!- You wouldn't get it!" Ryuji muttered, shaking his head.
"Is that what this was about?" Kyoko asked.
"I said people have seen you two around eachother a lot, lately," Ann replied. "People are already talking about you two. You've been going around, pestering the volleyball players, is what they're saying, asking them about Kamoshida abusing them?"
The blonde folded her arms, glaring at the two. "You need to realize, whatever you're up to, no one is going to help you," she explained. She opened her mouth to speak again, but went quiet and shook her head, her expression softening as her arms fell to her sides. "J-just... forget about it, alright? I'm only trying to warn you, that's all."
Without another word, Ann walked back towards the classroom building and went inside. Once she was gone, Kyoko turned her gaze to Ryuji.
"You mentioned during the rally you knew her?" she asked.
"Like I said, years ago. We went to middle school together, that's all," Ryuji replied. "But that doesn't really have to do with anything we're here about. What'd you find? You mentioned a name?"
Kyoko gave a nod. "Yes, Mishima. The first-year you sent me to find mentioned his name, and something about "special coaching" that he received."
"Yeah. The one who took a ball to the face during the game," Ryuji replied. "I think he's in your class."
"He is," Kyoko replied. "He's always covered in bruises."
"Probably from that "special coaching", I bet!" Ryuji said. "Can't imagine what that asshole's been doin' to him. With school over he's probably gettin' out of the Nurse's office by now, so we should try and talk to him before he leaves."
"Agreed."
Mishima struggled to carry his bag in his left hand, his right arm having been bandaged up and occupied holding gauze up to his nose, which still smarted from earlier. All the boy knew, was, the sooner he got home, the sooner he could put this day behind him and enjoy some brief few hours of peace in his otherwise turbulent life.
"Hey, got a second?" Ryuji's voice called out from behind him, causing the boy to pause and look to see him and the new girl from his class rushing over.
"S-Sakamoto? M-Miss Kirigiri? Wh-what do you two want?" Mishima asked nervously.
"C'mon, we just wanna chat," Ryuji insisted. "Not here to hurt'cha."
Kyoko folded her arms and looked at the injuries the boy had sustained, also noting his very anxious demeanor.
"Did Kamoshida hurt you before?" she asked.
"Heh, what are you talking about?" Mishima asked with a frightened smile, beginning to sweat.
"He's been "coaching" you, huh?" Ryuji questioned. "You sure it's not just physical abuse?"
"N-no! Of course not!" Mishima insisted, stepping back from them.
"What're you bein' all polite for?" Ryuji asked. "We saw him spike you right in the face, today! You were bleedin' all over the place when they took you to the Nurse's office!"
"No! Th-that wasn't his fault! I'm..." the boy grew quiet. "I'm not good at the sport..."
"And yet he still saw fit to single you out for that?" Kyoko asked. "From my observation, it seemed he intended to humiliate you."
"I-it's nothing like that! I'm just... I wasn't fast enough!" Mishima protested.
"What about those other bruises? They didn't come from the game."
"From practice! That's all!" Mishima insisted, growing increasingly nervous.
"Is Kamoshida makin' you keep quiet?" Ryuji asked, stepping closer to the other boy.
"What's going on here?"
Kyoko, Ryuji, and Mishima promptly turned to see Kamoshida walking towards them. "Mishima, where do you think you're going? Isn't it time for practice?" he asked, giving a stern glare to the shaking boy.
Mishima nursed his bruised nose, the memory of what happened at the rally fresh on his mind. "I-I'm not f-feeling well today," he stammered, looking down at the floor.
"Is that so? Maybe you're better off just quitting, then," Kamoshida replied, the condescending tone more then evident in his voice as he put his hands to his hips, making Mishima feel two inches tall. "You're never going to improve that crappy form unless you show up to practice."
Gritting his teeth, Ryuji stormed up to him. "Didn't you hear? He ain't feelin' well!" he hissed.
Kamoshida ignored him, keeping his glare on Mishima. "Well, you coming to practice or not, Mishima?"
Giving a timid nod, Mishima continued to stare at the floor. "I'll go..."
"See to it you do, Mishima! I don't like being disappointed, you know!" Kamoshida replied with a grin. His grin faded however as he turned towards Ryuji with a cold glare. "As for you, any more trouble and you'll be gone from this school for good, you got it?" he said quietly.
Ryuji let out a low growl, turning his head away and saying nothing as Kamoshida looked past him, his expression softening to a look of superficial concern.
"Kirigiri, I dunno why you're hanging around someone like Sakamoto. You realize nothing good's gonna come of it, right? As you can see he's nothing but a problem," he explained. Kyoko saw Ryuji's fist clench. "The offer's still open for joining one of the sports teams I coach, you know. Come on board and I'm sure people will think differently of you. I'll even put in a word for you to the Principal."
Kyoko narrowed her gaze at the man. "I'll pass," she replied in an icy tone. It brought her some satisfaction to see Kamoshida attempt to conceal his anger.
"-Tch!- Well, suit yourself, then," he replied coldly. "If you don't wanna take the chance to improve your time here then I suggest you remember the principal told you to keep in line, and think twice about who you hang around. All these unsettling rumors are making the students anxious, after all..."
"That's your own goddamn fault!" Ryuji snapped, glaring lividly at Kamoshida.
Kamoshida shook his head. "This won't get us anywhere. Let's go, Mishima!" he ordered, gesturing down the hall. Mishima bit his lower lip, a nervous look present on his face. "Shujin Academy is a place where this with aspirations come to learn, you know," Kamoshida stated as he preparted to leave. "Unworthy students like yourself have no place, here, Sakamoto. And Kirigiri, I'd think twice about throwing your future away. You both need to get with the program..."
Without another word, Kamoshida walked down the hall to the practice building. Ryuji shook his head in disgust watching him leave.
"That asshole," Ryuji snarled. "He's gonna pay for this. All of it!"
"There's no point..."
Kyoko and Ryuji looked back at Mishima.
"Proving he's physically abusing us? It's pointless," the boy said. "The Principal, our parents, they all know. And they keep quiet about it."
"You're telling us they're all covering this up?" Kyoko asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Look, don't be a pain! You two have no idea what I'm going through!" Mishima snapped, then looked over at Ryuji. "And you, shouldn't you of all people know nothing's going to help?!"
Gritting his teeth, Mishima fled down the hall after Kamoshida without another word.
"Damnit!" Ryuji snapped, stomping his foot in frustration as he watched the boy leave.
"Are you going to give up already?" Kyoko asked.
"Hell no! I ain't givin' up!" Ryuji replied sharply. "I'll try one more time to persuade the other guys! That's..." He looked down at the floor. "...That's all I can do, now. You should get back home, I'll check in with ya later..."
Traffic had once again resulted in Kyoko arriving home after it'd gotten dark. Giving a polite nod to Sojiro as she headed upstairs, the young detective prepared to get changed for bed when her phone chimed once more. Taking it up and turning on the screen, Kyoko's guess was on the mark as she saw Ryuji's familiar profile with a new message for her.
[Still no good] the message read.
[Mishima wasn't kidding]
[I'm thinking the principal and parents do know about the abuse]
[What the hell, Kyoko?! Why tf doesn't anyone speak up?!]
Kyoko scowled. As a detective uncovering the truth was the most important thing, but she had all the suspicion and theories right there before her. Not one of them was at all pleasant to imagine.
-Kamoshida's fame and status benefit them she replied.
-Because of that, they turn a blind eye
-With no one to help them, students become afraid to speak of it
[Yeah, that's gotta be it]
[He made the volleyball team like nationally famous and all!]
[But that don't give him the right to do whatever he wants damnit!]
[That asshole is beating kids up and they just gotta endure it?!]
[And his little follower Ann Takamaki doesn't give a shit!]
[It can't end like this!]
[I'll try one more time to find someone who'll talk during break tomorrow]
[I ain't giving up! Seeya then!]
With that, Kyoko plugged her phone in and continued to get changed for bed. When she finally switched the lights off and got between the covers, Kyoko stared out the nearby window in silence. Before all of this, she probably could have gotten an investigation underway and have brought the police down on Shujin, but now she was just a delinquent with an assault charge who was several hours tardy on her first day as far as everyone was concerned. Her family name meant nothing here, and her face only meant trouble to the whole school so other then its most well-known delinquent, no one was going to vouch for her if she tried that here.
It felt like justice truly didn't exist, here, she thought to herself.
Did the answers lie within that other world...?
The great detective was truly stumped. Ryuji was right about one thing, however: without testimonies from enough of Kamoshida's victims, this would get nowhere, especially when people in positions of power leveraged their authority to keep something covered up...
4/14
Kyoko blinked in surprise as her phone hummed in the middle of class. Glancing up at Miss Kawakami as she droned on her lecture while looking half-asleep, the young detective deduced the likelihood she would be noticed would be lower then it would otherwise be today. Sliding her phone from her blazer, she tucked it on to her lap and carefully alternated between looking at the message app and Kawakami.
[So about witnesses] Ryuji's message read
[Maybe we could get something out of Takamaki?]
Before Kyoko could answer, another message popped up.
[Before you say anything, hear me out!]
[We couldn't get a thing out of the volleyball team, right?]
[Maybe we could from someone who knows them]
[Takamaki's BFFs with a starter, girl named Shiho Suzui]
[Tried to talk to her during break but no luck]
Kyoko looked at Kawakami, who didn't seem to be paying attention to her so much as trying to pay attention to her ability to stay awake.
-You're suggesting we ask Takamaki to speak to her for us? Kyoko replied, glancing ahead at the blonde in question sitting in front of her. The girl wasn't paying attention either, instead she was staring out the window, a noticeably grim look on her face.
-After our last encounter with her? Unlikely she'd cooperate. Kyoko responded.
She seemed very uncomfortable the times I saw her with Kamoshida, however... the young detective mused to herself. Still, with how she'd talked to them earlier, their chances of getting anything out of her let alone any favors came off as extremely unlikely.
[Good point. We may need to come up with something else] Ryuji responded.
[Gimme the rest of class I'll figure something out]
"Kirigiri, are you paying attention?" Kawakami's voice prompted Kyoko to look up from her phone as she carefully slid it into her desk, waiting for class to end.
Ann had endured another day of school. The rumors she could tolerate, Kamoshida's advances, she'd done her best to endure and always think of a good excuse to get him to back off. What was at the forefront of her mind was her friend that was seated next to her on the courtyard bench.
Or moreso, the rather nasty black eye her friend was now sporting that she was trying her best to hide behind her hair.
"Hey, shouldn't you be heading to volleyball, Shiho?" Ann asked, looking concerned for her friend.
Sensei! Please! Don't do this!
Shiho's hand immediately and instinctively came up to nurse the bruise around her eye, as if what had caused it had just now happened. "...Uh-huh..." she said softly, taking a deep breath and trying to avoid trembling as memories from the other night flashed through her mind.
"That bruise, did that... come from practice?" Ann asked hesitantly.
Please! Stop! You're hurting me!
"Yeah... it... it did," Shiho answered, hurriedly brushing her hair back over where her bruised eye, her gaze slowly falling to the bandages over her right wrist. "Please... don't worry about me, Ann. I'm okay," she said, forcing a smile. "Volleyball's all I'm good at, anyway..."
Before Ann could give an answer, her phone suddenly chimed.
"Sh-shouldn't you get that?" Shiho asked, finally turning and looking at her friend.
"It's probably just my part-time job, they can wait," Ann replied, her concern growing for her friend. "Are you... sure you're okay?"
Shiho did not answer, only giving a silent nod as she stood up and made her way towards the gymnasium. Looking at her phone, Ann's frown only worsened as she answered.
"Yes? ...No, today won't work, I'm not feeling well," she answered, hanging up before she could get a response as she watched her friend disappear from sight.
Shiho closed the door behind her, taking a moment to catch her breath as she looked at her phone. She wanted nothing more then to just go home, but her gut told her that it'd only make things worse. Lying to her parents hurt her deeply, lying to her best friend when she was so worried for her, perhaps the only one truly worried for her, hurt her even more.
"Shiho Suzui?" a girl's voice asked, prompting the girl to look over, seeing the pink-haired transfer student standing there before her. Ann hadn't been kidding when she said the girl had a rather intense stare, though Shiho had seen far more frightening.
"C-can I help you?" she asked. "I'm... I'm not in the way, am I?"
"That looks rather serious. Did someone hurt you?" Kyoko asked.
"Um... well..." Shiho looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment, and what she gathered the girl had also taken notice of. "Hey, you're that transfer student from Class D, right?"
Kyoko folded her arms, the girl was clearly dodging the subject, an action which only confirmed the young detective's suspicions, and she'd seen enough cases like this to know trying to pry further would be a lost cause for the moment. "...I am," she replied simply.
"Well, this may not be any of my business, but don't let the rumors get to you, okay?" Shiho answered.
"I manage," Kyoko replied.
"Good, that'd be for the best," the other girl said, trying to manage a gentle, but genuine smile, one of the few Kyoko had seen since coming here from anyone else. "My best friend, she's often misunderstood, too, because of her looks..."
The girl looked down at the floor, the smile gone and replaced with a look Kyoko recognized as not much different then that she'd seen on Mishima or the other volleyball team members when they'd tried to speak to them. That same broken, fearful look of someone who had nothing to look forward to but more pain.
As if noticing this, Shiho quickly looked back up at the girl, a smile back on her face though one that looked significantly more forced. "Look at me, droning on like that. I apologize, I should be getting to practice, right now..."
With that, the girl walked past Kyoko and down the hall, leaving the young detective standing in the hall alone with her thoughts, quickly interrupted by the chime of her phone.
[Hey, meet me in the courtyard]
Kyoko took one last look at Shiho's retreating form before pocketing her phone and heading outside.
"It's no good! Everyone I talk to says the same stuff Mishima did!" Ryuji protested, slamming his fist on the nearby vending machine as Kyoko stood before him, her arms folded and watching him rant.
"Suzui didn't cooperate, either," Kyoko replied.
"You saw her?" Ryuji asked. "And she didn't say anything?"
"She had a rather noticeable black eye she tried to hide, and a bandaged wrist," Kyoko explained. "When I tried to ask her about it, she changed the subject. Like the others, she won't admit to anything. It would seem Kamoshida has broken her as well."
Ryuji grit his teeth, his fists clenching tightly as he struggled to keep his calm. "That son of a bitch... her too?! This is SO effed up! There has to be something we can do! We can't just attack him... not without getting caught and we'd be done for... the police'll never believe us, either. What's left that we can do?! We can't just let this keep happening!"
Kyoko brought her hand up to her chin in thought. Memories of her conversations with Igor, and what that creature Morgana had explained circulated in her mind.
"I believe," she said at last. "Our means lie in that other world, and taking down the King..."
"The other Kamoshida?" Ryuji asked. "I never really thought about it..."
"THERE YOU ARE!" a boyish voice suddenly shouted from behind them, prompting both Ryuji and Kyoko to turn towards the source of the voice.
All they say was a black and white tuxedo cat with a yellow collar, looking up at them with bright blue eyes. Before either could wonder or entertain the notion that the voice had come from somewhere else, the cat opened its mouth again.
"Sorry, but don't think you're getting away without paying me back for helping you!" it spoke, hopping on to a nearby table and glaring at them as much as a cat was capable of such a task.
"Morgana?" Kyoko asked, staring down at the cat in surprise as she looked it over. Despite its attempted angry look and indignant tone of voice, she couldn't help but find him rather... cute.
"How dare you! Up and leaving me like that the other day!" the cat snapped.
"The cat... it's talking," Ryuji stammered.
"I am NOT a cat!" Morgana protested. "This is just what happened when I came into this world when I went after you!"
"How did you manage that?" Kyoko asked, "I find it doubtful you have the app, let alone a phone, to access the other world. Are there other means of accessing it?"
"Only when you're at my level," the cat replied, licking its paw. "Though I'll admit I got pretty lost when I made my escape and tried to track you two down."
"Okay, but how can you talk if you're a cat?" Ryuji asked.
"How should I know?" Morgana asked indignantly. "But anyway, I believe I overheard you two talking about "witnesses", correct?"
"Yes," Kyoko replied.
"Seriously?! How the hell are you always able to stay so calm?!" Ryuji cried out, looking back and forth between the talking cat and the girl who had managed to maintain her stoic demeanor the entire time.
"So you also plan on going back into that castle, if my ears did not deceive me?" Morgana asked, his tone having gone from indignant to mockingly inquisitive. "You, Pink-hair, are on the right track already. And I happen to know a thing or two I could tell you about what can be done about Kamoshida, should you decide to do that..."
"Did you hear a meow just a moment ago?" a teacher asked another teacher as they were walking by.
"We'll find the stray cat eventually. Just check every nook and cranny... can't believe we gotta do this," the other teacher responded as the two of them disappeared into the class building.
"Meow?" Ryuji asked as soon as the two faculty were gone. "Are we the only ones who can understand you or somethin'?"
"Looks like," Morgana replied simply.
"So what you said, about being able to do something about Kamoshida, it's all for real?" Ryuji asked.
"You're quite the skeptic for being an idiot. I'd have expected that from her, honestly," Morgana replied.
Ignoring the insult, Ryuji pressed. "Just tell us more," he began, pausing and looking around. "Then again, this probably ain't the best place..."
Morgana let out a loud yelp as Ryuji suddenly lifted him off the table by the scruff of his neck, even Kyoko's eyes widened noticeably in surprise from Ryuji's sudden and unexpected action as he held the cat out to her. "Here, tuck 'em in your bag! He should be just small enough to fit. Let's continue this on the rooftop."
"Don't you dare...!" Morgana protested.
"He has a point," Kyoko replied, opening her school bag as Ryuji lowered the flailing and very unhappy feline in before they headed back inside.
Gently setting Morgana down after the three of them reached the school rooftop, Kyoko crouched down, looking the cat in the eyes. "Now, explain what you meant about how you knew of a way to deal with Kamoshida," she said sternly.
"It's exactly as you said. You have to attack his castle!" Morgana replied matter-of-factly. "Remember how we discussed that the castle is how Kamoshida views the school? Well, he doesn't realize what happens there, but it's still deeply connected to the depths of his heart," he explained.
"So, if we destroyed it, or took out the Kamoshida there...?" Kyoko began.
"...It would naturally impact the real Kamoshida!" Morgana finished.
"Impact him, how? What'd happen?" Ryuji asked.
"A Palace is a manifestation of a person's distorted desires," Morgana explained. "...so if that castle were to disappear..."
"Those distorted desires would, too," Kyoko observed, standing up and putting her hand to her chin once more.
"Precisely! You're very sharp about this stuff!" Morgana replied happily.
"Comes with her being a teenage detective," Ryuji said, smirking, earning an impassive stare from Kyoko. "So... let me get this straight, we do this, he's gonna turn good?" the boy's eyes widened in shock. "Are you for real about this?!" Ryuji blinked, as another thought crossed his mind. "That's... not really getting back at him, though, is it?"
"Erasing a Palace essentially means forcing the ruler to have a change of heart," Morgana explained. "However, even though their warped wants disappear, the crimes they committed remain! Kamoshida will become unable to bear the weight of those crimes, and he'll confess them himself!"
Ryuji's concern was immediately gone and replaced with delight in a single beat. "You for real?! We can actually do that?!"
"And since the Palace will no longer exist, he'll forget what we did there, as well!" Morgana replied.
"So, not only can we deal with Kamoshida," Kyoko deduced. "But there'll be nothing to link us to it."
"Exactly! There'd be no trace of our involvement since everything we do to cause this happened in that cognitive world!" Morgana said.
"This is awesome! You're amazing for a cat!" Ryuji cheered.
"True, EXCEPT FOR THE CAT PART!" Morgana hissed, his fur bristling.
"One final question," Kyoko stated, looking down at the cat. "How do we go about getting rid of this Palace?"
"I was getting to that," Morgana replied. "...you get rid of it by stealing the Treasure within!"
"...Treasure?" Ryuji asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"I'll tell you more once you agree to go ahead with this. It's my most valuable, secret plan, after all!" the cat replied. "So here's the deal, you help me out, and I'll gladly teach you. What's your call?"
"We don't have much of a choice," Kyoko remarked, glancing over at Ryuji.
"Yeah, I mean, our luck's pretty much run dry on tryin' to get any witnesses," Ryuji replied. "We can't beat him here, so our best shot is beatin' him there, right?"
"It would appear so," Kyoko answered, turning and looking back down at Morgana. "Very well, you have a deal."
Morgana gave a nod. "Good, but before you go along with this, there's one more thing you need to know," he explained, his tone becoming more serious. "Understand erasing a Palace means erasing distorted desires... but desires are what we all need in order to survive. Even the will to sleep, or eat, or fall in love... or even live. All of them are desires. If all of those yearnings were to disappear, they'd be no different then someone who's shut down entirely. They'd become completely apathetic to everything around them, to the point they may even die if not properly cared for..."
Kyoko remained silent. Ryuji's enthusiasm deflated quickly to complete shock.
"They might DIE?!" he asked, a look of horror on his face. "Then... if we did this to Kamoshida and that happenes... his death would be our fault..."
"Aren't you determined enough to face those risks after what he's been doing?" Morgana asked sharply.
Ryuji stayed silent a moment, before looking over at Kyoko, who had not changed her pondering stance. "Hey, what's your take on this?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm thinking it over, " Kyoko replied.
"For real?!" Ryuji asked, now shocked. "Like... you mean you're actually considering it, now?"
"It's not like anyone would find out," Morgana insisted.
"That's not the point! We can't just go around doin' whatever we want like that, or we're no better then Kamoshida!"
"At this point, we've exhausted all other options, Ryuji. You said so yourself, there's nothing we can do to him, here," Kyoko replied sternly. "What else can we do at this point if we're going to bring him to justice and put an end to this?"
"Look, I'll come back later, give me your answer by then," Morgana explained, turning and scurrying back for the door and disappearing down the stairs.
After watching Morgana leave, Ryuji looked back at Kyoko, who returned the favor with her sharp gaze. "Look, I'm gonna try and come up with another way... there has to be one!" He let out a sigh, looking down at his feet. "C'mon... let's get outta here... it's gettin' late."
"Ever notice how Takamaki doesn't look happy when Mr. Kamoshida talks to her?"
"She probably just doesn't want everyone to know she's got him wrapped around her finger!"
"I wonder if Takamaki and Mr. Kamoshida have gone all the way yet?"
"I hear Mr. Kamoshida's new girl is Suzui! Betcha Takamaki would be so jealous!"
"Would explain how she's a starter. I mean she's good, but man you see how beat up she looks after practice?"
Kyoko involuntarily eavesdropped on the rumors of the gossiping students leaving clubs as she made her way down the street to the train station, each one no less pleasant or appealing as its predecessor but the overall theme seemed to be that as Ryuji had implied earlier during the rally that Ann Takamaki and Kamoshida were an item, and peoples' surprise that Shiho Suzui was in the starting position. Ann and Shiho were best friends, Kyoko had already learned. Ann was allegedly dating Kamoshida, Shiho had a position others weren't entirely certain she was suited for with the injuries she was getting, though Kyoko was certain now that they weren't all from sports training especially after Kamoshida's aggressive playing during the rally. The young detective's hand found its way to her chin as she processed all of this as she descended into the crowded train station.
"Will you please give it a rest?!" Ann's voice protested nearby, causing Kyoko to pause and look in her direction. The blonde was on the phone with someone, and she looked very upset.
"I told you! I'm not feeling up to it!" she snapped. Her expression quickly changed from anger to shock as she listened to whoever she was talking to. "Wait, WHAT?! That's not what you promised! And you call yourself a teacher?! This has nothing to do with Shiho!"
Whoever she was talking to hung up in response, leaving the blonde speechless as she stared down at her phone, slowly crumbling to the floor in a fetal position. From what she could see of the other girl's face, Kyoko was certain she looked ready to cry.
"Shiho's... starting position..." Ann stammered to herself, before her sudden feeling she was being watched was confirmed when she saw her pink-haired classmate standing nearby, looking at her. "W-were you... eavesdropping?" she asked timidly. "Haven't you ever heard of privacy?"
Kyoko folded her arms. "It wasn't on purpose."
"How much did you hear?" the blonde asked, hurriedly wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
"I heard arguing, and you mentioned a friend of yours?" Kyoko asked, deciding the best approach was to remain vague as she considered the notion that perhaps her earlier assumption of the other girl may have been wrong after all.
"Shiho..." Ann looked down at the floor a moment, her eyes tearing up again and prompting her to quickly wipe them dry once more. "I-it's nothing, alright?" Kyoko could see tears forming once more despite the girl's efforts. "It's n-nothing. D-Don't w-worry about it..."
Squeezing her eyes shut, Ann shook her head, then ran off further into the subway. Taking a breath, and recalling Morgana's offer versus what Ryuji had said, Kyoko elected the best option would be to follow and see if she could get anything out of the girl.
Searching around the crowded tunnels, Kyoko finally spied blonde hair and rushed over to where she was. Ann was leaning against a column, taking several breaths and trying her hardest not to cry and failing.
"Takamaki," Kyoko stated, attempting to get the girl's attention. She didn't need to wait long.
"Stop following me!" Ann protested as she spun around glaring, her eyes wet with tears.
"What happened back there?" Kyoko asked.
"It's none of your business!" Ann snapped.
"It was Kamoshida, wasn't it? What was he calling you about? What does it have to do with Shiho?" Kyoko asked, taking a step and staring the girl down, her expression slowly softening as she could see how much the other girl was hurting. "Takamaki... please tell me what is going on..."
"I-it doesn't... it d-doesn't make any difference...!" Ann sniffled, struggling to hold back her tears. "Don't... worry a-about me... please...!"
It was all she could take, as Ann promptly cupped her hands over her face and sobbed, slowly collapsing to her knees. Crouching next to her, Kyoko slowly reached over and took Ann's hand.
"We should go," the young detective said. "Is there anywhere in particular you know of we could go to in the area?"
Tears running down her cheeks, Ann looked up at the other girl. "What the heck...? I really don't get you..." she sniffled. "...Th-there's a... burger place, it's right in the central street. F-follow me..."
"In here," Ann directed, pointing to the doors of a rather cartoonish-looking fast food restaurant with a rather silly-looking burger mascot adorning its front titled Big Bang Burger. Kyoko's gaze narrowed at it, having not been one for western food and its infamous overall lack of nutrition, but if it would help ease Ann's emotions, she would not argue.
The crowded inside gave the smell of salt and grease, causing Kyoko to wrinkle her nose as she entered and quickly miss the savory smell of Sojiro's cafe as Ann lead her to a booth and sat down, ordering water for them. The change in location, however, had done little for Ann's demeanor.
"I don't have anything to discuss with you," Ann stated sharply. Her expression softened quickly after, however. "It was... just an argument..."
Kyoko folded her arms as she sat across from Ann. "With Kamoshida, correct?" she asked.
"You heard every last word, then," Ann replied, staring down at her glass of water on the table. "And I take it you've also heard the rumors, right? About me and... Mr. Kamoshida?" she asked, tracing her finger along the table as she could barely bring herself to look at the girl sitting across from her. "That we're... getting it on..."
Ann's voice barely contained the bitterness as she said those words. "But that's... it's not true..." The girl stared down at her fingertip, her frown deepening. "You're right, that was him on the other line... I avoided giving him my number for the longest time. Now he wants me to come over his place..." Her hand gripped tightly around a napkin, her nails digging into it as she grit her teeth. "I'm sure you know exactly what he wants..."
"No, I wouldn't need to guess," Kyoko replied, recalling what she'd seen in the castle, and what Kamoshida clearly thought of the girl seated in front of her. "I've seen him approach you, and I've suspected you don't share those sentiments. But why allow it?"
Ann squeezed her eyes shut, taking a breath as she held back tears once more. "Because if I turn him down, he'll take my friend off as a regular on the volleyball team..." Her voice began to tremble more and more with each word as she slumped back in her seat. "I-I... I keep... telling myself th-this is all for Shiho's sake... but I can't take it anymore!"
Kyoko watched as the girl wrapped her arms around herself, shaking. "I-I've had enough of this!" she sobbed. "I've put up with the rumors! I've let people believe what they want... b-but I don't want anything to do with Kamoshida! I HATE HIM! I'll never EVER lower myself to doing that for him!"
Kyoko was at a loss of words. Consoling others was not her strong point, but did her best. "I've met Suzui, she doesn't seem particularly happy on the team, either. Why let this continue?"
"She's my best friend," Ann replied, sniffling. "She wants to make it to nationals, win championships, th-this is her only chance at this... Once we graduate, it'll be over, right? Wh-what else can we do?! We're all eachother has in that sorry excuse of a school!"
Fresh tears ran from her eyes as she wept, Ann she gave Kyoko a pleading look, fear and desperation on her face. "Please... tell me... what should I do?!"
Before Kyoko could give an answer, Ann quickly grabbed the napkin off the table and wiped her tears away. "S-sorry... I shouldn't have asked. It's not your problem, I don't want to drag you into this..." She let out a defeated sigh. "Why am I even telling you this? I don't even really know you, do I? I've barely talked to you..."
"Sometimes there's things you can only tell a stranger," Kyoko mused aloud.
"Maybe you're right," Ann conceded. "Everyone usually just avoids me, or whispers things about me. My parents travel a ton so I hardly ever see them. And Shiho... she can't know. If she ever found out I know she'd quit right away, and then any chance she's got is over... and she'd never forgive herself for letting it go on this long even if she didn't know... and I can't do that to her..."
Kyoko looked Ann in the eyes, her gaze growing more stern. "I don't think it's in either of your best interests to continue things as they are."
Ann looked down at the table again as if thinking it over, but then shaking her head. "I-I don't know... he's got the whole damn school wrapped around his finger, what good would it even do at this point? What if he just... goes after someone else? Am I supposed to just ignore it... be glad it isn't me anymore?"
Kyoko looked down at her own glass of water, realizing she'd not touched it, and proceeded to pick it up and take a sip, unsure how to respond to that. The question Ann had asked brought forth unpleasant memories, memories of what had completely derailed her own life and goals.
"Hey," Ann said suddenly. "I keep hearing all the rumors, but you don't seem like a bad person, honestly..."
Kyoko stared, an impassive frown on her face. "I do my best to ignore them. Some times are easier then others. But it's for more personal reasons then you may think," she answered.
"I will admit, you do come off as kinda cold in some ways," Ann remarked, looking the girl over as Kyoko continued to wear an unreadable expression.
"I don't intend to come off as cold," Kyoko answered. "Would I have chosen to spend time with you if I was really so distant?" she asked.
Ann blushed, worrying her remark may have offended the other girl. "Yeah, sorry... it's true... you were there for me when you didn't have to be... I'm glad you were," she said with a faint smile. "For what it's worth, I had a feeling the stuff in class and the hallways were all exaggerations. It wasn't the vibe I got with you when you first came, either."
"What do you think, then?" Kyoko asked.
"I think... you seemed lonely, almost like you don't belong anywhere," Ann replied. "I know that feeling, maybe we got something in common, there... maybe that's what made me feel like I could talk to you..."
Kyoko's neutral frown remained in place, but her eyes gained a hint of softness to them Ann picked up on that made her feel a little more at ease, until another thought came to mind.
"...But Shiho... is there really nothing I can do for her?" she asked.
"I honestly don't think it's worth it to let him control you like this, and you said if Shiho knew, she'd likely quit. How do you expect her to feel if she ever found out about all of this later?" Kyoko asked.
Ann sighed, nodding in response. "Maybe you're right... God, I wish Kamoshida would just... change his mind, if he'd just stop this and forget about me..." she laughed bitterly at the thought. "...As if that could ever happen, right?"
Kyoko thought about what Morgana had said earlier. They could make that happen, but it came at a risk. Kyoko had been for the idea, but Ryuji had opposed it. She could see his reasoning as said risk occurring would be comparable to murder, yet at the same time it felt like they were running out of options quickly. Indeed, it seemed as if justice had abandoned them at this point, as it had abandoned her that fateful night...
"...I couldn't say," Kyoko replied.
Ann shook her head. "I guess it would be asking for too much, wouldn't it?" she asked. She gave Kyoko a small smile. "Still, talking to you... getting to finally just tell someone... it's helped me feel a little bit better. I think I'm gonna head home, now. Guess I have a lot to think about..."
Taking her glass and finishing it, Ann gathered her bag and got up from her seat to leave. "Oh, and please... don't tell anyone what I told you, okay?" she asked. "I-I'll try to make something work..."
"Very well," Kyoko replied, her tone neutral. "I... hope things work out for you," she said, her gaze falling back to her drink on the table.
"Yeah. Thanks again, for listening," Ann replied with a smile before heading out the door, leaving Kyoko alone with her thoughts.
"Suzui?"
Shiho turned around, Mishima stood there, his head hanging and barely able to look at her. "Mishima?" she asked, growing concerned by the solomn look on his face.
"A-are you heading home?" he asked.
"I was, yes," Shiho replied. "What's wrong?"
Shame quickly came over Mishima's face. "Mr. Kamoshida's asking for you. He needs you to come to the P.E. Faculty Office."
Silence passed between them as Shiho felt a sense of dread build up inside her. Finally mustering the courage, the girl spoke. "What... what did he say?"
"I dunno. He just said to hurry up," Mishima replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I-I need to get going..."
As Shiho watched the boy rush off down the hall, her anxiety grew. The memories of yesterday still fresh on her mind as her hand slowly came up to her left eye again, a soft whimper escaping her.
Her phone rang. Taking it from her pocket, she saw Ann's name on the screen, but could not find the will to answer, let alone keep Kamoshida waiting and give him more reason to...
"Ann..." the girl took a deep breath. She couldn't give up, not when her best friend was rooting for her...
...No matter how much she wanted to...
Shiho felt her body trembling with every step as she made her way to the office.
A/N: And another chapter done!
I do hope to do all the confidants, possibly having whole chapters dedicated to several ranks in between the Palace crawls, but yes the "essential" ones(the Thieves, Sae, Igor, the Twins, the new ones from Royal, etc) will definitely be in, as daunting a task as that may be but I think it's worth it to try. I was initially going to but ultimately chose not to keep cutting back to the interrogation room every time a new confidant starts to keep it from getting too redundant. I'll get working on the next chapter soon