Heart of Justice Chapter 17
5/13
Kyoko was rather surprised by the announcement of a school assembly occurring in the middle of exam week. It seemed rather odd, as it would have made more sense to have waited until exams were over.
The young detective glanced over at Ann and Ryuji, who seemed just as curious of what the Principal had gathered everyone for. She'd chosen to keep some distance from them, however, when she'd noticed Niijima had been eyeing her the entire way into the auditorium. She'd simply returned Niijima's suspicious gaze with an impassive stare of her own before finding a spot to stand as the Principal stood before the student body on the stage.
"Good afternoon, students," Kobayakawa stated, looking around at the crowd before him. "...Ever since the... incident... many of you have voiced concerns I simply could not bear to ignore..."
Kyoko scowled, folding her arms as she listened to the man talk.
"Whatta buncha bullshit," she heard Ryuji growl nearby.
She couldn't fault him for his remark. None of it sounded sincere at all, more so when she recalled the ways Kamoshida's crimes were covered up or outright ignored by the Principal.
"...We believe the mental health of our student body is absolutely vital, so we've acquired the services of a therapist," Kobayakawa explained, glancing over to his left to the right side of the stage. "The floor is yours, Doctor."
As the Principal moved to the side, another man emerged from the curtains and stood before the microphone.
"Wow!" A girl nearby swooned.
"Isn't he gorgeous?" another asked her friend.
"I could definitely use his service!" another girl whispered, prompting Kyoko to raise an eyebrow before turning her attention back to the man as he cleared his throat to regain their attention.
He looked to be in, by Kyoko's guess, his early thirties despite his youthful features as he still held a look and air of maturity to him. He appeared to be fairly tall, with Kobayakawa barely reaching his shoulders. Despite him being presumably who the Principal had chosen as a therapist, to Kyoko he looked like he'd just gotten out of bed, with his slightly wrinkled blue dress shirt under his loose tie under his white labcoat, his rolled up khaki trousers and simple brown slippers he wore in place of shoes, and the fact his hair looked rather unkempt. Though, these traits were offset by gentle eyes framed by a pair of large, rectangular glasses and welcoming smile framed by a five o' clock shadow. All in all, even for the sake of presentation, the man's friendliness was far more genuine then any attempt the Principal made as he began to speak.
"It's nice to meet you all," the doctor said, his tone smooth and pleasent, Kyoko's violet eyes turning towards the girls who stared in awe of him while he adjusted the microphone to his height after suddenly taking notice he'd not fixed it earlier. "My name is Dr. Takuto Maruki, I want to thank you all for welcoming me to your school!"
The man gave a quick bow, neglecting the microphone that was in front of him and resulting in the doctor accidentally bopping his head on it when he'd attempted his formal gesture. "Th-there's no need to be formal with me," he explained, nursing his forehead with a sheepish chuckle as some of the students laughed. "...Though, I'd appreciate we forget what just happened there. But understand, I've been brought her to provide counseling for anyone who's interested. Call me "Doc" or whatever may help you feel more comfortable. Any assistance you need, I'll be-"
The doctor, Maruki, brushed back the heavy fringe draped over his forehead. "...Well, I wouldn't be any good for helping with money problems..."
Several students chuckled at his joke, while Kobayakawa looked rather annoyed by it and hurriedly stepped forward, pushing him aside and lowering the mic. "Thank you, Dr. Maruki," he said, his tone carrying a hint of irritation. "That will be all, students. Please return to your classes. If any of you wish, you may make an appointment with him after. Dismissed."
Ryuji gave a shrug as he and Ann approached Kyoko and the three of them made their way to the door, not noticing the doctor's lingering glance on them as they left the auditorium.
"Heh, I'm tellin' ya, still goin' by what I said," Ryuji said as the three headed out into the vestibule leading to the academic building. "Total load'a shit. You ever expect this place to actually give a damn about our mental health after ignorin' what Kamoshida did for so long?"
"Our school made national news," Ann replied. "Maybe they figured they'd look bad if they didn't do anything for us?"
Kyoko folded her arms and closed her eyes. "That'd be the most likely reason. The Principal probably wants to look as much as possible like he was unaware of any of this, and be seen as trying to make up for it as opposed to the obvious damage control it is," she remarked. "School image coming before student wellbeing."
"Yeah, tell me about it," Ryuji said, sighing. "The bastard's already managed to wash his hands of Kamoshida, prolly just tryin' to save his sorry hide as much as he can, now! Then there's that doctor... Doctor... uh... Whatsisname?"
"Maruki," Ann replied.
"Yeah, that guy," Ryuji said. "I mean, they think he's gonna do us any good after makin' a total clown of himself onstage like that?"
He noticed both Ann and Kyoko were staring. Not at him, but past him.
"What? What is it?"
"Hey there," Maruki's voice prompted Ryuji to turn around, finding the man now standing behind him. "You're Sakamoto-kun, right?" he asked, "...And you must be Takamaki-san and Kirigiri-san, correct?"
Kyoko's gaze narrowed in suspicion. "How would you know who we are?"
"Oh, my apologies!" Maruki replied, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Before beginning my tenure, here, I was informed right off of... certain students, ones who had been... previously subject to interactions with Mr. Kamoshida."
"What else do you know?" Kyoko asked. Maruki blinked in response, the girl really had quite the... piercing stare.
"Just the basics, that you were among those he singled out in particular," the doctor replied, giving Kyoko a gentle smile. "...I imagine, though, it must have been especially tough for you, Kirigiri-san, having just transferred in here."
Kyoko's expression softened a little, the doctor did at least seem genuinely concerned for her, and did not elaborate on anything. The teen gave a small nod. "It has, but I've managed thanks to the friends I've made here," she replied.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that," the doctor said, returning with an approving nod. "Having even a little support is always a good thing."
"So, uh... whaddya want with us, anyway?" Ryuji asked.
"Right, that's why I'd wanted to talk to you three," Maruki replied. "I know I've already offered my services to the student body earlier, but I wanted to ask if any of you would be interested in my counseling?"
"Nope, not at all," Ryuji replied sharply before even a single beat could pass. Even the doctor seemed rather shocked given by how taken aback he was. "...Was it really that surprising, Doc?"
Kyoko glanced from Ryuji to Maruki as the doctor seemed to get past his initial surprise quickly and chuckled. "Not so much, it's just you were a touch more emphatic about it then I would have expected," he replied, his pleasent but genuine smile returning to his face.
"That said, if you ever change your mind and come by, there's free snacks, all you can eat!" he added, then giving a slight, sheepish eyeroll. "...Would be nice, but there's still plenty. A wide variety, too! How's that sound?"
Kyoko raised an eyebrow. "...You're trying to bribe us?" she asked, not as sharply as Ryuji had spoken earlier but with an equal degree of bluntness.
Maruki's face took a slight hint of red. "Busted, I guess," he said, scratching the back of his head again and frowning a little in embarassment. "...Thing is, to be frank, I've been explicitly ordered to provide counseling to the students who were directly involved with Mr. Kamoshida. It's in the school's interest, for its students."
"Then the school is prioritizing itself over the students' well-being?" Kyoko asked, giving the man a suspicious glare.
"Sounds like what Kobayakawa would want! Figures!" Ryuji grumbled.
"I apologize, maybe I should explain it better," Maruki replied apologetically. "Whatever the headmaster's wishes are, and as to why he hired me, is not the same as to why I accepted the job," he explained.
"The paycheck, then?" Ann asked suspiciously.
Maruki gave a lighthearted chuckle at her statement. "...On the contrary, if you saw how much I'm being paid for my tenure, you'd be asking me why I ever said yes!" he explained. "But it's not for the school or the money. I'm here because I wanted to help. I'm very sorry for... whatever it may be you've experienced, and it's unfortunate that sometimes we can only react to tragedy rather then prevent it, but then the best we can do is try to provide aid to those who've been affected by it, however possible."
"I... guess that's a fair assertion," Ann replied, unsure how else to respond.
"Look, I know asking you to be open with a complete stranger like myself is probably asking a lot," said Maruki. "...And making this mandatory wouldn't do you any good, either. That, I have no control over, so the best I can offer is to try and make it a worthwhile experience..."
The man's face quickly lit up as he looked at the three teens. "How about this? In addition to the free snacks, attend my counseling sessions and I'll teach you different ways you can improve your mental acuity!"
"Whaddya mean? I'm... not followin'," Ryuji said, raising an eyebrow.
"I mean, like, ways that'll hone your concentration during exams," Maruki explained. "...Or even not get nervous while on dates. How's that sound?"
Kyoko glanced down at the pavement a moment in thought, the man's statement about why he'd accepted the job was... relatable. It had been what the Phantom Thieves had done, and as a detective her life had been about responding to tragedy and bringing those responsible to justice... Maruki at least seemed sincere in his intentions as far as she could determine, even with the Principal's own far more self-serving agenda behind hiring him.
"I'll do it," she said, glancing back up at him. "...If anything I'm willing to humor this if it's being demanded of you. It seems the principal has put us both in a position there's no need for me to make your job difficult."
"I'm so glad to hear it," Maruki said with a relieved smile. "How about the rest of you?"
Ryuji let out a defeated sigh. "...Kyoko's right, I guess it would just cause us more trouble if we didn't go," he replied. "Fine, I'll swing by whenever."
"Yeah, I guess you can count me in, too," Ann said, though looking off to the side still a little unsure.
"Wonderful, then it's a deal!" Maruki replied. "I'll be in the nurse's office. I know Principal Kobayakawa has his expectations, but I'd prefer you come at a time of your own choosing, so feel free to whenever it's convenient for you... just don't wait too long, alright?"
"Eh, I'll figure it out. Anyways we need to get going," Ryuji said, looking over at Kyoko and Ann and clearly just wanting to leave.
"I'll see you later, then!" said the doctor, giving a friendly wave as Ryuji and Ann made their way back to the academic building, Kyoko turned to follow when she heard him call her name.
"Kirigiri-san?"
The young detective turned, curious though remaining silent.
"Thanks for taking my counseling into consideration," he said.
"It's quite alright. No need to thank me," Kyoko replied.
"I suppose, but still, now that we have a deal, I promise I'll do my best to help you..."
?/?
Kyoko ran her fingers through her disheveled mane as she struggled to keep herself coherent before the woman seated before her.
"It's rather hard to believe that a high school student could accomplish such grandiose heists," Niijima explained. "...It'd require one with a heart of steel, unaffected by outside influences and prepared to act without hesitating..."
"You... know my story, Prosecutor," Kyoko said quietly. "...I was a... detective, once..."
Niijima's gaze did not waver. "Indeed. Though you do possess an array of unorthodox talents for your age thanks to your grandfather, they'd still only get you so far in committing said heists. Extensive mental training, beyond that which a detective would even be conditioned for, least of all at your age, would be required," she explained. "...Therefore, I believe there had to be someone with expertise in those fields who helped further strengthen your mental state. Would I be correct?"
5/13
Time stood still around Kyoko as she heard the soft voice speak in her mind once more...
I am thou, thou art I...
Thou hast acquired a new vow
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity
With the birth of the Councillor Persona,
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
Shall lead to freedom and new power...
Kyoko heard the sound of a chain link breaking, as reality around her once more returned to normal.
"Hey! Kyoko! Ya comin'?" she heard Ryuji's voice ask near the academic building doors.
"Oh, sorry to hold you up," Maruki said, "I should probably be heading to my new office, as well. I hope to see you soon, Kirigiri!"
Kyoko gave a nod and turned, joining Ann and Ryuji as they headed inside, Maruki watching as they left before making his way back as well.
The remainder of the school day had gone by surprisingly quick as Maruki finished with the minor furnishings of his new office, which he'd happened to share with the school nurse. This had resulted in him taking a little longer then expected to set up, even with a simple coffee table, filing cabinet, mini-fridge, and furnature to fill the vacant area that had been provided for him. The Principal's needling didn't help, either.
"Understand, Dr. Maruki, I want to know as much as possible about the three students I'd told you about," Kobayakawa stated, folding his arms as he stood by the door.
"Principal, with all due respect," Maruki replied, his tone gentle but assertive. "...We in the mental health field have a thing called patient confidentiality. Unless my patients have given me any reason to think they pose a danger to another's, or their own immediate well-being during their sessons with me, I am not at liberty to divulge anything they share with me to you. I'm sure you understand that."
The corner of the Principal's lip twitched a little as he struggled to conceal his annoyance before forcing a smile. "Of course, Doctor. Of course. That is, of course what I am very concerned about. With Mr. Kamoshida's... grave misdeeds which these three students suffered the most grievously for..."
Maruki opened his mini-fridge, taking out a small juice box. "...I seem to recall there was another, as well, wasn't there?"
"Y-yes. She's planning to transfer out, but we here still wish her a swift recovery." Kobayakawa replied, Maruki kept his back turned lest the Principal notice the look of disapproval on the doctor's face at the man's superficial concern that one of his students had attempted suicide. Luckily, Kobayakawa did not seem to. "With that and Mr. Kamoshida's confession, our school's reputation as one of the top academies hangs precariously on a precipice of ruin. I will not permit that to happen on my watch, so I ask you do your job..."
The doctor exhaled sharply as he heard the man leave, closing the door behind him and taking a sip of his juice before sitting down in his armchair. Students had the oppotunity to come see him during club hours and he wondered who would come by today, if anyone.
That question, however, was answered moments later as there was a knock at the door. "Yes? Come in."
The door slid open, revealing Ann Takamaki. Maruki blinked in curiousity as he regarded the blonde girl, concerned by the downcast look on her face as she slowly walked in.
"Welcome, are you here for the counseling session?" the doctor asked, giving the blonde a warm, welcoming smile as he gestured to the couch across from him.
The girl looked rather unsure, glancing back at the door, then at him. "Yeah... um... is this a bad time?" she asked.
"Not at all!" Maruki said, chuckling. "It's always a good time, so long as I'm not already listening to another student. Please, take a seat. If you would like a snack, help yourself!" he said, gesturing to the bowl on the coffee table. "There's also juice boxes in the fridge if you'd like."
Ann managed a small smile. "Just a juice box, please."
"Coming right up!" said Maruki, going over to his fridge and taking one out and handing it to her. "Now, shall we get started?" he asked, taking up a clipboard. "But first, know that I'm not going to pressure you into telling me anything you aren't comfortable with sharing. I'm here to listen to whatever you'd like to talk about, understand?"
"Yeah, sure," Ann replied, her tone soft as she sat down on the couch, looking down at the juice box she'd been given as she placed it on the table. "To tell you the truth, I really only have one thing on my mind right now, anyway..."
"I understand. That makes perfect sense," Maruki replied with a smile. "As I said, don't force yourself into talking with me. If you wanted, you can just grab a snack and be on your way if you'd rather do this another time."
"No, no, it's alright," Ann said, looking over at him. "I know I need to talk to someone about this, anyway... if you're willing to listen to a super-long story, that is," she said, giving a bitter, embarrassed laugh.
"There's nothing to feel embarrassed over, Takamaki-san," Maruki replied, smiling gently. "I'm perfectly willing to. It's what I'm here, for, after all. Take all the time you need."
When Ann had finished sharing her story, Maruki shook his head. "...I see... I've heard what was shared about the confession, but..." The doctor frowned as he shook his head again, trying to find the words. "...That's a horrible thing to do to someone. He deserves to be where he is, now... I'm very sorry this happened."
Ann gave a nod. "Yes, that's why I wanted so badly to get even with him, for Shiho... after what he caused her to want to do to herself... I-I saw it happen and everything a-and I couldn't stop her!" she could feel her eyes begin to water.
"Hey, it's okay. Take a moment if you need to and continue when you feel ready," Maruki replied, his tone gentle and reassuring as he wrote down notes.
Wiping the tears that had begun to form, Ann shook her head. "I-I know, my friends have told me... even I've told me... none of it was my fault, nobody should be b-blamed but him. I try and look forward because I know th-that's what she'd want me to do, b-but I still feel it sometimes..."
"That's understandable," Maruki replied. "Those feelings are a lot more common then you might think, Takamaki-san. I'm glad you have friends who support you, though."
"Y-yeah," Ann replied, rubbing her eyes. "Back then... at first I thought Kamoshida ought to face the same fate Shiho was trying to put herself through..."
"But...?" Maruki asked.
Ann managed a small smile again. "But... I realized later, no matter how much I hated him for what he did, that wasn't right. If Kamoshida ended his own life, it wouldn't undo what Shiho had gone through, and he'd have gotten the easy way out."
"Is that so?" Maruki asked with a smile as he took down notes. "You know, you're quite the wise, level-headed young woman, Takamaki-san," he complimented.
Ann blushed lightly. "Uhhh, I dunno about that, sir. Trust me, I'm not..."
"Don't sell yourself short, Takamaki," Maruki replied with a light chuckle. "...You're wiser then I was at your age. Believe me, back then, I wasn't anywhere near as mature as you are, now."
"...It's not like I did anything special, though," Ann replied, looking down at her lap again. "...Nothing except... feel this way... I probably wouldn't be as mature as you say if I hadn't gone through my own share of hell..."
"I see," Maruki said, continuing to take down notes. "So, what's on your mind, now?"
"Right now?" Ann asked, taking a moment to think and sighing. "I guess... I'm just hoping Shiho will get better, quickly. We've both suffered a lot, but... I just wanna get back to laughing and having fun together like we used to... at this point, I don't give a rat's ass about Kamoshida!" she explained.
"Well, I think that's a healthy outlook!" Maruki said, smiling and giving an approving nod. "You've accepted you can't change the past, but you still want to keep your chin up and press onward, is that the gist of it?"
"Yeah," Ann said with a nod of her own. "That sounds about right..." the blonde sighed and looked down again. "...I mean, it'd definitely be better if none of this happened at all... but that isn't what happened. Maybe it's just... when she's better... maybe I can completely be, too. Maybe then I'll be able to fully listen to what my friends tell me, and what I tell myself."
"Well, unfortunately it's impossible to wipe every tragedy from history," the doctor replied.
"Everyone would be so much happier if we could, I bet," Ann said with a laugh. "But you're right, that is impossible, so no point in dwelling on such a thing, right?"
"Probably not," Maruki replied. "Still, I believe you're off to a good start, you have a solid group of friends who are there to support you, and I'm sure Suzui-san couldn't ask for a better friend to support her! Remember that whenever you doubt yourself."
The bell chimed, and Maruki looked at the door, frowning apologetically. "...Sorry, it seems I lost track of the time," he said. "I guess we should wrap things up for today, but thank you so much for coming to see me."
Ann, however, just smiled brightly. "No, thank you. I feel better now that I was able to get this off my chest."
Maruki smiled, nodding in response. "If you ever feel the need, stop by any time. Even if it's just for snacks or some more apple juice," he said with a playful chuckle.
Ann laughed a little, giving a nod of her own. "Will do!" she said as she stood up and gathered her things. "I'll seeya around, doctor!"
Kyoko felt her phone hum and switched it on, noticing a message from Ann.
[Hey, I went for the counseling, and honestly it wasn't as rough as I expected.]
[Why don't you go, give it a shot?]
-You think I need counseling already? Kyoko messaged back.
[Dr. Maruki's easier to talk to then you'd think] Ann replied.
[And honestly? With all you've been dealing with, why not give him a chance? What have you got to lose?]
Kyoko thought it over for a moment as she processed Ann's question. She'd been raised to withold emotions, and not be particularly open about herself as her grandfather stated emotion and openness were weaknesses enemies would use against her, and hinder her skills as a detective. Despite this, and remembering the times others had shown concern for her that she'd mostly brushed off or left vague aside from the circumstances that had brought her here in the first place she'd shared with her fellow Phantom Thieves, reading Ann's words again did give the teen a small, yet noticeable sense of... heaviness... in her heart thinking over all that had happened in so short an amount of time that she couldn't explain.
Taking a breath, she typed in a response.
-Very well. I'll see if he's still around.
[Great! He should still be in the nurse's office in the Practice Building! :) ] Ann replied.
[Anyway, see you tomorrow!]
Switching off her phone, Kyoko brushed back her hair as Morgana poked his head out of her bag.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked.
"I guess I'm seeing the new counselor I told you about," Kyoko replied, looking over at the door leading out of the classroom and into the hallway.
"Guess I'll see you when you get back, then," Morgana said. "Good luck!"
Taking another breath, Kyoko stood up and made her way to her destination.
Kyoko paused as she approached the nurse's office, noticing Dr. Maruki having a conversation outside with a familiar face.
"Oh, hello, senpai!" Yoshizawa said, smiling as she noticed Kyoko and turned to greet her as she arrived while Maruki turned but remained silent. "How have you been?"
"I've been fine. I see you're taking counseling as well, Yoshizawa?" Kyoko asked. After Kamoshida's confession, and how Yoshizawa had responded to it, the young detective could see why the redhead may have sought counseling over it.
"Yes, I am, actually!" Yoshizawa replied with a nod. "He's wonderful, I've actually been seeing him for a while even before he came to Shujin!"
"Oh?" Maruki asked, "I didn't know the two of you were already acquainted!" He ran his hand through his hair sheepishly at the girl's compliments. "...Still, no need to oversell me so hard, Yoshizawa-san. I'm nothing special!"
"If you say so, doctor!" Yoshizawa said with a giggle. "Anyway, I need to get going, please excuse me," she said, giving a bow to both before heading off down the hall.
Kyoko turned and watched in curiosity as the girl left, Yoshizawa seemed overall rather well-adjusted with her sincere and carefree attitude as well as being on the honor roll that it did make her wonder what she'd need to be referred to a therapist about prior to the Kamoshida scandal.
"Well," Maruki said, breaking the silence and causing Kyoko to glance back at him. "...Shall we get started? That's what you came for, yes?"
"It is," Kyoko said, folding her arms.
"Right this way, then," the doctor replied, gesturing to the doorway leading into the nurse's office and ushering her in. "I appreciate you coming, by the way."
"Takamaki insisted I come," Kyoko replied, looking around the office with her arms still folded. "...Though, to be frank with you, I don't know exactly what you expect to gain out of this, or how open you expect me to be, despite the agreement we made."
To her surprise, Maruki just laughed. "Well, I'll just have to do my best, and make sure this was worth the trouble, of course!" he said with a warm smile and gestured to the couch. "Just take a seat right there, and if you like I can grab you a juice box."
Kyoko shook her head. "That won't be necessary, thank you," she said with a dismissive wave as she sat down.
"You sure?" he asked, getting a box from the mini-fridge for himself and glancing back at her.
Kyoko was silent for a second, before quietly conceding with a nod. "Very well, I suppose one won't hurt."
"I thought so," Maruki replied with a chuckle as he took a second box out and handed it to Kyoko as he took a seat in his armchair. "Having something to drink can make a person more comfortable, after all."
"I often prefer coffee, honestly," Kyoko said, placing the straw in her juicebox and taking a sip.
"Well, I dunno if I can sneak anything like that in here, least of all for a student, unfortunately," Maruki replied with an apologetic smile. "Hopefully apple juice is good enough, I've always been a fan of that particular brand."
Kyoko gave a small, but reassuring smile. "It'll do."
"Now," Maruki said, taking up his clipboard. "...Why don't we start from the beginning, whatever you feel okay with sharing, I'm all ears."
Kyoko's attention turned to the small juice box in her hand, her smile fading. "If you were asked to approach me for mandatory counseling, I'm certain Principal Kobayakawa has already told you the details behind why I transferred here..."
"A brief rundown, yes," Maruki said, frowning. "...His opinion of you isn't exactly... very kind towards you, I'll admit, but personally I believe there is more then one side to the story, and I'd like to hear it from you if that's alright..."
Kyoko closed her eyes, setting the juice box down on the coffee table. "He has no reason to think otherwise. For a student from a family of high repute to go from honor roll at one of the top prep schools in Tokyo with no criminal history to a delinquent with an assault charge on probation... it's hardly surprising he'd be wary of me when my performance will make his choice to accept me appear either admirable or foolish..."
"I suppose that concern can't be argued with," Maruki replied. "However, as a counselor, I make my assessment based on my interaction with my patients. I'd rather learn your side of the story before I see any reason to think of you the same way he does. There are many times what is assumed of people is nothing like who they truly are."
Kyoko took in a breath as she thought it over. The doctor seemed honest enough by her perception. "...As you wish..."
"Well," Maruki said as he finished his notes when Kyoko had finished her tale of what had transpired prior to her coming to Shujin. "...I had suspected as much upon meeting you, Kirigiri-san. Some may see your actions as impulsive, but I can understand your reasoning. I believe you had good intentions and it's unfortunate this happened to you. The world can be very unfair, sometimes."
"You believe me?" Kyoko asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I have no reason not to, Kirigiri-san. I may not be a detective, but I'm still quite insightful towards others," Maruki replied with a playful smirk. "...Furthermore, your dedication to your intended career as a detective at your age tells me you do carry a very strong sense of justice in you, and a drive to uphold your family's image, and to have the necessary merit to make it into the most pristigious school in Japan, which is no easy feat. That's remarkably well-adjusted of you, honestly. You'd be amazed how few kids your age have already set up such a clear path for themselves, many adults are the same way... not exactly things associated with someone who'd fit the bill of a delinquent."
The doctor took a sip of his own juice box. "You have a very solid conception of the person you strive to be. Your "internal reality" so to speak."
"You mean my path to becoming the successor of the Kirigiri lineage and following the tradition as a detective?" Kyoko asked.
"Exactly!" Maruki said with a nod. "Even with... what happened... you have not allowed it to make you lose sight of your goals, when, I'll be frank, many might have given up. All too often, the idealized reality a person imagines for themselves, and the one in actuality can be quite far apart, and this gap is responsible for many peoples' pain, and cause them to lose their way in life."
Maruki put his juice box down and interlaced his hands at his lap. "The harsh truth is, not everyone can ace every exam or every subject, and not everyone gets to be the heroes they wish they could be. Sometimes it's due to something outside their control, like they may lack the resources or the opportunities necessary that others have... and people tell them to not be so unrealistic and just accept their "place", ironically only causing them more pain."
"You think I'm like that?" Kyoko asked. "I assure you, I'm not."
"I never thought of you as such, Kirigiri-san. That actually brings me to another circumstance that can widen the gap and affect peoples' belief in the actualization of that idealized self. Often, another circumstance that is outside their control would be a particularly life-changing form of adversity," Maruki explained. "You've been through a lot in such a short amount of time, Kirigiri-san. That kind of suffering I've described can be enough to twist people into some pretty dark places, actually. I commend you for not having let that happen to you."
Kyoko looked down at the table where her now empty juice box sat, unsure how to respond to that right away. Maruki took notice, however.
"I apologize. It's probably a little weird hearing all of this from someone you've just met, huh?" he asked.
"It just made me think about things," Kyoko replied, still keeping her gaze on the juice box. "...My only option to get back on the path to that idealized self,and get back what I lost... is to bide my time."
"That's understandable," Maruki replied. "It can be frustrating when the only option you're permitted to coming closer to that actualization when a gap has been widened is to do nothing. You're very driven, and a problem-solver by nature, Kirigiri, so to essentially be told to sit still and wait something out goes against that..."
Kyoko raised an eyebrow at the doctor as she took in his words. A lot of them made sense, many of them felt they had a strong ring of truth to them. The young detective once more found herself unsure how to respond to that, it was as if, in some ways, he may have known her better then she knew herself, and her normally frosty demeanor could not keep out his insight.
She wasn't sure whether to feel uneasy or impressed.
"Still," Maruki said. "While having a strong motivation helps us move forward, one must also be cautious that it's not one that will only lead to more pain, or that actualization may feel less gratifying then it should be in the end."
"And what's your assessment of mine?" she asked.
Maruki simply smiled. "It's a strong one, that's for certain, and as long as it's what you want for yourself, I again commend your ability to not lose sight of your idealized reality..."
The clock chimed, and Maruki gave a small, embarrassed laugh. "...My apologies, I guess the conversation really took on a life of its own, and went on longer then expected, didn't it?" he asked. "...To be honest, I do have one last request before you go, if that's alright..."
"Yes...?" Kyoko asked, glancing at him in curiosity.
"I'm actually also conducting certain research along with my duties as a counselor," Maruki explained. "It's not quite like counseling, but more of a psychological treatment. Basically, it's a project to learn more about peoples' metaphorical hearts. Essentially... what people think, and more importantly, how they feel. I believe if I can get far enough with it, I think I'll be able to help a lot of people. So...?"
Kyoko stared back, remaining silent as she raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Right, sorry, I should have been more clear!" Maruki replied guiltily. "I mean, I'd like to ask you if you'd be willing to help me with that research!"
"What use would a disgraced high school detective enduring a year-long probation be able to provide for such a project?" Kyoko asked.
"When you're free to come by, I'd like to have you listen to my theories," Maruki explained. "While doing so, you can tell me if they spark any ideas or realizations on your end. As someone whose chosen career path requires a great deal of insight, I think you can be very helpful in that regard, so there's something you can use your talent for in a way, right?" he said with a smirk. "I can work around your schedule. Plus, free snacks!"
Kyoko once more raised her eyebrow, bringing her hand to her chin. "You really do push the snack thing, don't you?"
"Heh, I guess you're right," Maruki replied, embarrassed. "I just think you could be a big help. I already explained why. How about this: In return, remember the exercises I mentioned when I ran into you and your friends outside? My research is partially built around them, centered around mental training. I'm actually very well-versed on them, and I can cook up a proper regimen for you. If you're dedicated enough, I'm sure you can unlock your full potential, and they can be of help later down the road for you as well."
Kyoko looked down a moment, she'd already made a deal with him earlier, and his request would give her something else to do that made use of her set of skills. While acting as a thief in the metaverse had certainly provided a great deal of accomplishment already in turning things around for everyone at school and for others, she wasn't exactly doing it at all times and her detective license was suspended until her probation was up. Maruki had been right in his assertion that regarding her sentence she was practically being told to sit still and do nothing. "Very well," Kyoko said with a nod. "I accept."
Maruki grinned. "That's great! I guess that's our second deal, then!" he said with a warm chuckle.
"I'll do my best," Kyoko replied, and she heard the sound of another chain link breaking in the corner of her mind.
"Thank you, I really appreciate this!" Maruki replied, "Oh, one last thing, if it's alright that we could trade contact information? This way it'll be easier to let you know when I'm free to continue my research and get your input, as well as allow me to work around your schedule, better."
"Of course," Kyoko said, taking out her own phone, relieved she'd since gotten better at navigating through the menus and showed her contact number to the doctor. After a moment, the task was done.
"That should do it," Maruki said with a satisfied smile. "...Now I'll do my part and repay you. Let's discuss mental training and presence..."
"Wow, you sure stayed late talking to Dr. Maruki," Morgana said as he rushed over to Kyoko when she emerged from the office. "Was it worth it?"
"I think it was," Kyoko replied, glancing back at the office door as she scooped the cat up into her bag. "His methods of mental training are different from my grandfather's... more oriented towards meditation."
"I see," Morgana replied, poking his head from the bag as Kyoko carried him down the now empty hallways and out the door. "Well, if you think it was worth it, then I'd say seeing him again isn't a bad idea. Either way, we should probably turn in early with the last day of exams being tomorrow..."
Kyoko responded with a nod, another thought from her conversation with the doctor still clawing at the back of her mind.
"...As long as it's what you want for yourself, I again commend your ability to not lose sight of your idealized reality..."
It made her think of the way her grandfather raised her, and reasons she'd given herself for why she wanted to transfer to Hope's Peak. It made her wonder how much control she had even before her encounter with that man that got her on probation...
Lost in her thoughts, Kyoko did not notice the brunette girl lurking around the corner, watching her intently as she left.
5/14
Kyoko turned in the subway at the sound of a loud yawn as she saw Ryuji approach.
"Hey, 'sup, Kyoko?" he asked before another yawn. "Sorry... kinda pulled an all-nighter once I realized today's the last day of exams!"
"I don't recommend cramming, but I'll give credit for your effort. Did nothing from our session stick?" Kyoko asked.
"Ehhh..." Ryuji flushed in embarrassment. "A little... kinda...?" he sighed in defeat. "...and nah, I sorta gave up after an hour and played video games all night, and before I knew it... it was light out."
"Heh, I thought as much!" Morgana said with a chuckle from Kyoko's schoolbag. "You and studying don't exactly mix!"
"Hey, can it, cat!" Ryuji snapped, rubbing his eyes. "...It's what I always do, no matter how many times I fail, nothin' changes."
Another yawn caught the attention of the three as Ann approached. "...Morning," she said, her tone weary.
"Yo, look who else is yawnin'!" Ryuji said with a laugh and looking more awake.
"Well, exams are almost over, so I thought I'd try and put in one more bit of effort at the finish line!" Ann replied.
"Well done, Lady Ann!" Morgana said approvingly. "Unlike the stupid monkey I know!"
"Hey, what'd I say about givin' me that crap?" Ryuji growled. "My brain's way bigger then yours, you damn cat!"
"What good is size when there's nothing inside?" Morgana replied in a teasingly dismissive tone.
"Can you please knock it off before you make me forget everything I memorized?" Ann snapped.
"Yes, besides, you're going to make a scene," Kyoko added, folding her arms as she glanced around at a few people in the subway who were now looking their way.
"So, uh... you definitely don't look tired at all, Kyoko," Ryuji said.
"I went to bed early, and before that I did some mental exercises Dr. Maruki taught me when I saw him yesterday after school," Kyoko replied. "I admit they... actually worked quite well."
Kyoko recalled Sojiro noting she looked noticeably more refreshed and alert when she'd come downstairs that morning.
""Huh... maybe I shoulda asked for those," Ann mused aloud, rubbing her eyes, which suddenly went wide. "...Am I imagining things?" she asked, turning, prompting the others to look as well.
"What is it?" Kyoko asked, looking around for what Ann could have been looking at.
"Nevermind... probably nothing," Ann replied, blushing in embarrassment. "Let's go..."
"Oh no... he is following! He got off, too!" Ann stammered, looking behind her as the group rode up the escalators among the Shibuya crowd.
"Who?" Kyoko asked, glancing back.
"The tall one. White shirt. Fleur de lis emblem. Dark hair parted to the side. Very thin. Looks about our age. Staring right at me!" Ann whispered. "Y-you see him?"
Kyoko did a brief scan and her gaze took notice of the boy in question, he certainly did stand out the way everyone else seemed to be glued to their phones while the boy seemed to be staring straight upward at them as he boarded the escalator himself. She turned and faced forward once more.
"You said you felt like you've been getting followed. I take it that's him?" Kyoko said quietly.
"Yes! That's him!" Ann whispered. "He's been following me a lot lately! He never comes over or tries to talk to me or anything, though! I don't know what he wants!"
"Then let's find out," Kyoko replied, beginning to walk up the escalators. "Follow me and do exactly as I say, we won't have much time..."
In moments Ann found herself standing alone in the street by traffic light, the crowds having dispersed as she looked down at the pavement.
Kyoko... Ryuji... I'm counting on you...
She heard footsteps approaching. They were hesitant, but rushed, accompanied by the faint jingling of a set of keys getting closer and closer...
"Can we help you?" Kyoko's voice snapped harshly. Ann immediately turned as she saw Kyoko and Ryuji standing between her and the boy that'd been following them, who now stood frozen in place with his hand stretched out as if he were about to tap her on the shoulder, and a look of surprise on his face, likely from the two that had ambushed him. Kyoko folded her arms, her gaze like an eagle's while Ryuji had his hands at his hips with a glare of his own.
The boy's astonished look did not last, as he lowered his hand and his expression quickly faded to a more neutral one, proceeded by a confused tilt of his head.
"Is there... something you want?" the boy asked.
The glares the three people in front of him wore now turned to looks of confusion as well.
"You sure this is him, or ya just that self-concious?" Ryuji whispered, glancing at Ann.
"Yes it is!" Ann snapped, pushing herself past Kyoko and Ryuji and storming up to the boy. "And YOU! That's MY line! YOU'RE the one who's been stalking ME!"
"I believe you owe her an explanation," Kyoko said, her stern gaze returning. Up close, Ann's description had certainly fit. He was quite tall, with dark hair parted over his left eye. The emblem on his white dress shirt looked to be from a school emblem, and he wore a ring of keys hooked to his belt. Also of note was how he was rather pale, and had a build she could best describe as "rail thin", though he had rather soft, effeminate features to his confused face as he regarded Ann's accusation without even so much of a flinch.
"Stalking..." the boy muttered, his tone low yet soft as he brushed back the fringe of dark hair over his eyes. "...How preposterous."
"Don't give me that! I KNOW you've been following me for days!" Ann protested.
"My apologies, you see, it's because..." the boy's reply was cut by the abrupt honking of a horn, causing all four of the small group to turn as a black car pulled up next to them, its back passenger window sliding down to reveal an older man in faded black and yellow robes seated in the back. By Kyoko's guess he looked maybe in his late sixties or early seventies, with a thin white beard and mustache and his gray hair tied back in a ponytail.
"Oh, my goodness!" the man said, an amused smile forming on his gentle features. "I was wondering why you'd suddenly left the car! Is this where your passion led?" he asked with a chuckle.
"My apologies, Sensei," the boy said, bowing to the older man, who closed the window up again to give them privacy. The boy then looked back at Ann. "And to you as well. I saw you from the car, and I just couldn't help myself from chasing after you! I didn't even notice Sensei calling to me, but thank goodness I caught up to you!"
"...Okay...?" Ann asked, raising her eyebrow in confusion and curiosity.
"What was this all about, exactly?" Kyoko asked, still gazing at the boy with suspicion.
"I suppose it is only fair I explain," the boy said, tensing up and balling his fists, then sweeping his hand to his side dramatically as he faced Ann and spoke in an equally dramatic tone. "You're the woman I have been searching for all this time! Please, I ask only this, won't you..."
Before Ann could speak, the boy sudden stepped forward, with even more dramatic flair. "Won't you please... be the model for my next art piece?" he implored.
All three standing before him were left completely speechless for a second before Ann finally found her words.
"Model...? Is this some kinda metaphor for asking me out or something?" she asked.
"...Asking you out?" the boy asked, once more tilting his head a little in confusion but seeming to relax. "...No... Such trivialities would only distract me from this spark I've received the moment I saw you. Understand that all I've drawn until now has been utterly lacking, but I feel a passion from you unlike anyone else!"
Kyoko raised her eyebrow once again as the boy's speech became rather theatrical again, yet the look on his face made it evident he was completely serious in what he said, as strange as his words were, causing her to exchange a glance with Ryuji.
"This sounds like some kinda shady business recruiting if ya ask me..." Ryuji muttered.
It was at that moment, Morgana poked his head out of Kyoko's school bag. "This guy's extremely shady! Don't do it, Lady Ann!" he protested.
"Will you cooperate with me? What do you say?" the boy asked, his tone now pleading as if his life depended on Ann's approval.
"Why don't you at least have the courtesy to tell us who you are, exactly?" Kyoko asked. "I see you're wearing an emblem but I'm unfamiliar with the school."
The boy immediately stepped back. "Oh, where are my manners? I attend Kosei High, I am a second-year and in their fine arts division! My name is Yusuke Kitagawa," the boy, Yusuke, explained. "I'm Madarame-sensei's pupil, and I am being allowed residence at his place. I'm striving to become an artist, myself."
Ann's eyes widened in shock. "The Madarame who was on "Good Morning, Japan" the other day? The super-famous "Master of the Traditional Japanese Arts" who's been recognized around the world?"
"The very same," Yusuke replied with a nod. "That was him in the car, just now."
Kyoko brought her hand to her chin, recalling the name from elsewhere but remaining quiet. A quick, concerned glance between her and Ann made it clear to the young detective the blonde also recalled where else they'd heard that name very recently.
The car's passenger window suddenly opened once more, the older man, presumably Madarame, smiled over at them. "Yusuke!" he called out. "We should be going, come along, now!"
"I-I'm sorry, Sensei! I'll be right there!" Yusuke replied, before returning his attention to Ann. "Madarame-sensei's exhibition will begin at the department store near the station tomorrow, I'll be helping out for the opening day. It'd mean so much if you'd come by!"
"I... uh..." Ann stammered.
Madarame chuckled from the window of his car, reaching for something inside and then extending his hand holding several slips. "Here, Yusuke. Why not give them these. On me!"
Yusuke gave a nod and took them, handing one to Ann. "Here, it's a free ticket to the exhibition. I would appreciate if you could give me your answer regarding being a model for my next work, then!" He glanced over at Kyoko and Ryuji, both of him eyeing him with suspicion. "...I'd assume neither of you are interested in the fine arts, but I'll give you these as well," he said curtly, passing the remaining two tickets to them and made his way to the car, opening the door on the other side.
"Forgive my pupil's... bluntness. When he becomes inspired, he lets nothing stand in his way!" Madarame said with an apologetic smile as he addressed the group. "At any rate, I certainly hope you'll attend!"
"Heh, you ask me, that boy's as easy to read as a book!" Ryuji muttered as the car drove off.
"That said, it may be in our best interests that we go," Kyoko said. "Nakanohara's Shadow mentioned a Madarame when we confronted it. It'd be worth it to investigate him and find out if he's the same one."
"I second that!" Morgana said, his fur standing on end as he emerged halfway from Kyoko's schoolbag. "I won't let that Yusuke guy be alone with Lady Ann if I can help it!"
"C-Crap! We're gonna be late!" Ann suddenly shouted, looking at her phone. "We can discuss it all after exams! We'd better hurry!"
Ryuji let out a sigh as Ann was already running off ahead. "Right... man, at least they're almost over..." he grumbled as he went on ahead as well, Kyoko following in the back as she thought over what Nakanohara's Shadow had told them in Mementos, and the man they'd met in the car just now.
...This can't be coincidence...
?/?
"So you're telling me you became acquinted with Madarame's pupil purely by chance?" Niijima asked, folding her arms and raising her eyebrow in disbelief as she looked at the girl seated across from her. "That's quite a coincidence..."
"Coincidence... or not," Kyoko said between breaths as she tried to think straight from the dizzy spells. "...It's all true."
"So be it," Niijima replied, looking over the files. "...But what I want to know most is your method. Madarame turned out to be an unforgivable criminal who cultivated his own fame and fortune by sacrificing the livelihood of children, worthy of the scorn thrown at him..."
Looking back at Kyoko, the woman continued. "...Still, he'd been successfully covering his tracks for roughly thirteen years! How was it you were able to uncover the truth in such a short time span?"
"...I've... already explained it to you," Kyoko replied, gazing back at her despite her exhaustion.
"Fine, let's go with this claim you've given that you can change peoples' hearts by stealing a "Treasure". If that's so, then a different suspicion arises," Niijima explained. "There is still the cases of people going completely mad, or losing consciousness and never recovering, like the subway incident last April. Depending on how you look at it, that could be taken as a phenomenon for a sudden change of heart as well, you know. Were you related to those incidents as well?"
Kyoko looked down at the table, trying to think, her mind getting fuzzy again.
Niijima's iron gaze softened slightly, before glancing at her watch. "I understand what was done to you, Kirigiri, but you need to keep talking to me. Let's return to the subject of the Madarame case. Keep it concise and stick to the facts.
0 - The Fool: Rank 3
I - The Magician: Rank 2
V - The Hierophant: Rank 2
VI - The Lovers: Rank 2
VII - The Chariot: Rank 3
XII - The Hanged Man: Rank 1
XIII - Death: Rank 3
XVIII - The Moon: Rank 2
1 - The Councillor: Rank 2
Kyoko's Personas: Agathion, Cait Sith, Saki Mitama, Genbu, Succubus, Berith