Chapter 6

Ren keeled over, hands on his hips while he chokes in air. The blond boy fared no better, arms resting on top of his knees taking deep breaths through his mouth.

"Did… we make it?" The boy stood.

Sniffing, Ren stepped back and pulled out his phone. If they were out of the other world they should have cell service again. Just as he lifted it to check the screen, a female voice spoke, "You have returned to the real world. Welcome back."

"Huh? Returned?" The vulgar boy walked up, staring at the phone. "Does that mean we got away?"

Ren looked at the boy, up and down. He nodded.

Rather than look appeased or even relieved, the blond sagged back with a sigh. "I dunno what to believe anymore. What was all that anyways? That castle, and Kamoshida, and that weird cat! The hell's goin' on?!"

"What's with the yellin'." Two officers strolled up, one wielding a bicycle and the other on foot. The sight of them caused the two teens to jump. The officer on foot narrowed his eyes. "Are you students of Shujin? Cutting classes are we?"

"Huh? No! We were tryin' to get to school and then we ended up at this weird castle!"

Ren flinched. There was no point trying to explain the other world to outsiders. Once Yu was sent a threatening letter by the killer of Inaba and once his uncle found out he immediately brought Yu to the police station to be interrogated. Yu tried explaining how he could go into televisions and use the power of personas to save the victims kidnapped and thrown into the other world. Naturally, Yu's uncle didn't believe him. Even after the whole ordeal with the killer caught and everything Uncle Dojima admitted the story would make all the events come together, however he still didn't believe it. Now expecting complete strangers to just believe a random castle popped out of nowhere and they stumbled across it without anyone else noticing? Yeah, Ren's in enough trouble as is, he doesn't need to look like a druggie.

Unsurprisingly, both officers stared at the blond boy as if he were telling them they were kidnapped by hippo aliens. "What?" With a sigh the officer crossed his arms. "Hand over your bag. You better not be doing any drugs."

"Why would you think that?!"

Why wouldn't they think that?

The officer with the bike turned to Ren, a rather timid expression on his face. "Are you his friend?"

"Never seen him before."

The blond boy shot him a, 'I can't believe you,' look.

The timid officer reeled his head back. "Oh… you seemed quite friendly with him though. Anyways, you should go to school."

An opening, but of course the blond boy couldn't leave it there. "Like I'm tryin' to say…! I don't know what's goin' on either!"

The officer on foot crossed his arms, shaking his head. "We passed by Shujin on our way here. There was nothing out of the ordinary about it."

Ren expected this. Just like when it was with Yu, the other world had some sort of creepy copy and paste thing going on with the real world. It was similar, but the places were not one and the same.

The aggressive officer continued, "If you spout anymore nonsense, I'll contact your school. Is that what you want?"

The blond boy turned to Ren with pleading eyes. "C'mon, say somethin'."

"Thanks for your time officers."

"Uh, that's not what I meant."

Ren huffed, turning a one-eighty and briskly marching back toward the school.

"W-wait a sec!" The blond boy called out. "Is that guy for real?... Fine, I'm goin'." He stormed after Ren.

The two of them stared up at the school together. Ren looked as underwhelmed as when he first got off the train this morning, but the blond boy couldn't shut his mouth. It was the academy, just like it was yesterday. No castle, not even something resembling a castle.

"Is this for real?" The blond boy blinked.

He's been asking that a lot today.

"I'm sure we came the same way… What's goin' on here?"

No point in trying to understand it buddy.

"That's exactly what I wanted to ask you." A man in a black suit stood at the top of the stairs, his grave face shaking in disapproval. "We received a call from the police."

Considering the nature of the problem, this must be a councilor.

Ren swallowed. Yu's never needed to talk to a councilor before. He's never done anything to get in trouble... officially. Only this… Ren seems to be root of all problems. The bitter frustration snarled in his chest.

"The damn cop snitched on us after all!" The blond boy kicked the sidewalk. A vulgar taste emanating from his words. Ren had to agree.

The counselor appraised Ren with a hum. "It's rare not to see you alone. Where were you roaming around until this time?"

"Uhh, a- a ca-."

Don't.

"A castle?"

Damn it.

"So, you have no intentions of giving an honest answer."

"What's this about a castle?" A familiar tone called out from behind the counselor. The real Kamoshida came strolling up and peered down at the two teens, a feigned caring smile on his face.

The blond boy balked. "K-Kamoshida?!"

"You seem so carefree, Sakamato. Quite a difference from when you did morning practice for the track team."

Track team? Ren looked over at the grimacing boy besides him. From how he ran away from the castle, he didn't seem particularly in shape for track.

The blond boy stepped back, hunching over as if to pounce. "Shuddup! It's your fault that-!"

The counselor snarled. "How dare you speak that way to Mister Kamoshida!... There's not much leeway left for you, you know?"

"He's the one who provoked me!"

Ren studied this Kamoshida. The gym clothes, the stop watch around his neck… must be the physical education teacher. Based on how earnestly the counselor jumped in to defend him, Kamoshida must be highly regarded by the staff, if not feared by.

The counselor wasn't having the vulgar boy's words. "Do you really want to be expelled?! In any case you'll have to explain yourself! Follow me!"

"What!? This is bullshit!"

Kamoshida smiled toward the counselor, "Come now. I should have been more considerate, too. Let's just say that we were both at fault."

The pseudo humility. Ren's eyes narrowed. No doubt they were dealing with a bona fide master manipulator. A sadistic one. Kamoshida was good at hiding it, but Ren spotted the satisfied glean in the teacher's eyes when the blond boy reacted to his remarks. The shadow is the true self. This man felt he was the king and can do whatever he wanted, physical violence his top list of favorites. This kind of mask was just a convenient means to hide himself.

The counselor sighed. "Well, if you say so." Facing the boys again his expression hardened. "Still, you're coming with me. It's undeniable that you're extremely late."

The boy stood up, posture of one defeated. "Fine."

Kamoshida looked over at Ren. "By the way… you're that new transfer student, correct? Ren Amamiya?" Ren was actually impressed. He didn't expect this guy of all people to know his name.

Without responding Ren watched the blond boy marching up the stairs after the counselor, the boy didn't waste any time shooting a nasty glare at Kamoshida as he passed. The gym teacher just smiled triumphantly back.

After the blond boy walked off, Kamoshida returned to Ren and his expression shifted to uncertainty. "Have we met somewhere?"

Ren blinked, the first image was of the perverted Kamoshida in the castle. Then it clicked. That girl and the rain. "I saw a girl in your car."

He nodded, scratching his head, a face of revelation. "That's right… I remember now. Well, I'll overlook this just for today. I'm sure you've heard from the principle," his eyes narrowed. "But cause any trouble and you'll be expelled. Understand?"

"Can you overlook more?"

His face fell even further, if that were possible. "Is that suppose to be a joke? I'm not laughing."

"Tough crowd."

"Hmf. At any rate, hurry up and go to the faculty office. I'm sure Miss Kawakami's tired of waiting." Kamoshida turned to head back in, but he paused and looked back with a toothy grin. "Good luck trying to enjoy your new school life."

"Already am." Ren smiled.

The grin disappeared off the man's face, only a scowl remained. He didn't respond, he just walked right into the building.

Ren let out his breath. The tension in his body left his muscles. This… different life was going to be hard.

Ren watched as the blond girl from this morning stood up and stalked off. She was far less hospitable than when they first met. To tell the short version, Miss Kawakami was nice enough to make up that he wasn't feeling well and could only come in during lunch. The girl just mumbled about him being a liar. Her lack of trust didn't surprise him, but what was more surprising was while he wrote his name on the board (almost putting Yu's name). He listened as the class were whispering to each other. About his criminal record meaning he must have anger issues or is prone to violence. He wasn't looking for approval, but he didn't expect rumors of his record to be so common knowledge before he walked in the room.

It was nothing like the last school. He got an earful for 'staring at that girl by the window' from King Moron, the homeroom teacher. At least, someone saved him from further torment. Chie. She asked if he could sit next to her. A kind gesture that spared him from a further tirade. She even kept engaging him in conversation. It was thanks to that he developed his first friends. The best he could ever ask for… the best Yu could ask for.

Now he was the classroom monster in all the eyes darting away from him. They didn't want to upset 'that kid.' 'He could hurt you if you look at him funny.' All sorts of absurd and random comments… was this how Kanji felt? Unlike Kanji, Ren didn't have Yu. Yu was there for Kanji, helping him regain his image and moving away from the delinquent life. A life of ostracization and discrimination. Ren may have never expected to be able to keep his whole record concealed… that didn't matter now. What did were these rumors, everyone knew way too sudden. It was as if someone leaked it all over school.

His eyes rolled over the crowd before resting on a boy sitting near the front. He was covered in bandages, and one of the only students who seemed unperturbed by the rumors flying around. If anything, the way he looked down almost seemed guilty. The boy even kept sending him glances every now and then, and when they made eye contact the boy would stiffen and turn away in a hurry. A boy with a heavy conscious would be Ren's guess. Maybe he had something to do with the rumors, but why? Guilt would imply no hard feelings, but then why do it?

Ren shook his head and peeled his eyes away from the boy. He shouldn't go assuming things. He was no detective and had no right judging others based on supposition… Just thinking that hurt. He was no detective… but there was no denying it. He was a criminal. The kind… Naoto hunted and threw away.

Swallowing back the tears, Ren stood up and made his way toward the exit. Kawakami seemed to want to talk about something and now that the final student was filtering out he and her were the only ones left. The last thing he needed was a rumor about him and the teacher. It'd be safer in the hallway.

He stepped out and leaned up against the doorframe to wait. A wave of vertigo slashed through his skull, the walls became marble and the wooden floorboards morphed into red carpet. Ren shut his eyes and clasped his skull. The wooziness fleeted, and when he opened his eyes the school was as it should be.

His teacher stepped out, eyeing him with a sense of worry. "Hm? What's wrong?"

"Is this place… a castle?" He knew it was stupid, but he couldn't make sense of it. It was like… he was in the castle again, but it didn't work that way, right? When it came to representing the real world the other world would show something darker, more twisted. Not something completely different.

Kawakami looked exasperated. "Are you sure you're okay?" The disinterest was palpable for. "Also… it seems like people are already talking about you, but I'm not the one who told them." Ruffling her hair she drooped her shoulders. "I can't even catch a break… why do I have to deal with this?"

Ren's chest heaved. YES. He gets it. He was a nuisance. Why does SHE have to keep bringing it up. This is sounding like a pity party and she was the honored guest.

He took a deep breath and cleared his mind. The anger just wouldn't leave, but that was no right to be taking it out on this woman. Sure, she was being rude, but he can't just blame her for everything happening. He had more important things to worry about. Like, how did he get into that castle in the first place. He had to know how to enter into the other world. Everything hinged on that, so it must be his main focus.

Kawakami eyed him sympathetically, "You should head straight home without stopping by anywhere. Sakura-san sounded pretty angry."

Who?... Oh, Sojiro. Damn, they called him? Of course they did. It wouldn't be this wonderful new life if they didn't grant him no leniency. No doubt there was an earful waiting back 'home.' Probably about how he would be kicked out onto the street if he keeps this up.

"Oh," Kawakami broke his train of thought. "About Sakamoto-kun. Don't get involved- Speak of the devil."

Ren looked over his shoulder. The blond boy was strolling up to them.

Kawakami crossed her arms. "What do you want? I heard the police caught you cutting classes today."

The blond groaned, looking away. "It was nothin'."

"And you haven't dyed your hair back to black either…"

"Sorry 'bout that." He dismissed before quickly strolling up to Ren and whisper, "I'll be waitin' on the rooftop." Then meandered off to where he came.

Kawakami shook her head, looking to Ren. "See? That's why I don't want you getting involved. Understood?" Without waiting for a response, she walked briskly away, slouched in dejection.

Ren watched her go. It seems… she has a good heart after all. There was certainly a hint of concern for him. If only she met Yu. If he only didn't have a criminal record. Sorry, Kawakami. Society made it impossible to befriend anyone other than someone like 'Sakamato.' In such a case he should go meet him. If memory serves right, strong friendships fueled his power allowing him to receive stronger personas. He couldn't sacrifice this for his own sake anymore. If only… Yu's friendships could have carried over with his memories.

'Off limits,' a poster posted on the rooftop doors. Ren's brow twitched. Yeah, this was going keep those pesky teenagers away. The door wasn't even locked!

Sighing, the teen pushed open the door and stepped out into the fresh air. There the blond boy sat, a top of some discarded chair placed behind some discarded desk. It was like a trash pile up here. The chair the boy was on was chilling on was pressed onto its back legs.

The teen looked up as the door creaked open, and he visibly relaxed seeing Ren. "There you are. Sorry for callin' you up here like this. I bet Kawakami already told you stuff like 'don't get involved with him, huh?"

"Nah, you're an angle."

The boy scoffed. "Yah, sure… Ya know, we're pretty much in the same boat. I heard you got a criminal record. Everyone's talkin' about it. No wonder you were so gutsy."

Ren's nostrils flared, and he took a deep breath to calm the tempest.

Distracted and unaware the boy continued, "… What was all that that happened? You know, how we almost got killed at a castle… It wasn't a dream… right? You remember it too, yeah."

Of course he would want to know the answers. It was like that for everyone who Yu and the Investigation Team saved from the other world. All victims couldn't believe what they went through, or how they got there. Right now, to him at least, they were in the same boat.

Ren nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, just 'cause we both remember it doesn't mean much though…" A small smile formed on the boy and he sat up, looking up at Ren. "I mean, even if it was a dream, you saved me from Kamoshida. So yeah… Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Really, don't.

"But man, that Kamoshida we saw there… You prolly don't know about it, but there are some rumors about him."

Ren kept silent, this wasn't surprising. The truth is never easily hidden. A fact Yu and his team proved back in Inaba.

The boy continued. "No one says anything against him 'cause he's some medalist who took the volleyball team to nationals. The way Kamoshida was king of that castle felt crazy real 'cause of that. I wonder if we can go back to that castle again."

Ren flinched. There was most certainly a way, but he didn't want to drag this guy into the mess. Due to these psychotic breakdowns that has been happening, Ren has to go back there. He needed to see if he can find clues, build up his strength. Unless this boy gains persona powers, Ren wasn't chancing it.

The blond stood up, shaking his head. "Ugh, forget it. Must've all been a dream! It has to be! Sorry to drag you out here like this. That's all I had to say." The boy looked jovial. "You know, we might be pretty similar. I feel like we're gonna get along just fine as 'troublemakers.'"

Ren shifted on his feet. That didn't really sound good.

"I'm Ryuji Sakamoto."

Ren nodded. "Yu… My name is Ren Amamiya"

Ryuji nodded with a cheeky grin. "I'll come talk if I see you around. Don't ignore me, all right?"

Something told Ren he couldn't even if he wanted to.

"Seeya." Ryuji walked over to the doors and entered the building.

Ren on the other hand turned and leaned up against a desk, staring out over the city. He closed his eyes, trying to sooth his mind. Troublemaker… that's who Ren was. Was Yu still out there somewhere?

Yu shook his head, pushing himself off the desk and standing tall looking over the skyscrapers. He was Yu. He had to be. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance were stranger than anything he'd dealt with before, but there was no doubt. He was Yu, and he was going to fight for his life back.