Chapter 2: A Journey of a Thousand Miles...
{R}
Trickster.
Welcome to my Velvet Room.
My name is Igor, the master of this place.
The state of this room reflects the state of your heart.
It involves your life as well.
Ruin awaits you.
You must be rehabilitated.
Know your place Inmate!
Caroline.
Justine.
They serve as wardens.
Do you have the resolve to challenge the distortion of the world?
Blue.
Chains.
Prison.
You truly are a "prisoner" of fate.
Ren froze, expecting to see deep blues and even darker blacks. But instead he is greeted with the dulled out colors of early morning and his futon on the floor beside his sister's bed. He groaned and pressed a hand against his eyes. It had been just a dream. A rather realistic one where he was somewhat lucid, but still a dream.
"You okay, Big Bro...?"
He looked to see Aki put on her glasses after trying to rub the sleep from her eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a weird dream," he said.
Aki smirked, though the effect was slightly diminished with her eyes' droopy state.
"What? The kind you shouldn't be telling your little sister?"
Ren rolled his eyes but still smiled. He ran right into that one. But still...
"What time is it?" he said.
"Too early."
Ren huffed in amusement as he reached for his phone to see it was about ten minutes before six in the morning. He groaned once again. There was nothing worse than waking up mere minutes before planned and not sleeping to the maximum amount possible.
"Yeah, you're right. But might as well get up."
Aki grumbled but agreed nonetheless as she followed his example and they both got up. They did their routine as best as they could, Aki taking her medicine as they took turns using the restroom downstairs to change into their uniforms and do their business. When it was Aki's turn to use it after he finished, he decided to wait for her in one of the booths, getting their breakfast ready, once again cup noodles as Aki bought enough yesterday for such. Thus he saw, to his surprise, Sakura-san come in the café, dressed in a white suit and fedora.
"Oh, you're awake," he said when he came in.
"Good morning, Sakura-san," he said, putting on his stoic but polite mask.
The man raised an eyebrow but still said, no doubt only out of politeness as well, "Good morning." Then he saw what was in front of Ren. "Is that your breakfast?"
Though he felt that was obvious, Ren nonetheless said, "Yes."
The white suited man stared at it for a while. Ren could only imagine what he was thinking before he sighed, his posture suddenly lax. Then he said,
"Well then. I'll be waiting outside. When you two are done, I'll drive you to Shujin."
"Drive...? You're going to take us to school?" he said.
Though when he spoke, he wished he hadn't as Sakura-san's cold façade, stern gaze and displeased frown returned.
"Just for today. Don't take too long. I'm a busy man."
And just like yesterday, he left the café with little fanfare. Ren sighed and pushed up his fake glasses. He would admit it only to himself, but Aki was right, the man was confusing. He was acting cold and yet took them in. He didn't dwell on it long as his little sister came out of the restroom. Ren told her about what Sakura-san said so that they finished breakfast quickly and soon they were in his car. When he saw it, he couldn't help but be surprised of it, its condition pristine despite clearly being an older Porsche, the yellow paint and cloth on the seats not showing any age, giving no discernible scent. Which was good considering the last thing he wanted was having to argue over the smell of the car and Aki refusing to go in because she didn't like it.
Ren sat in the back while Aki rode shotgun, to Sakura-san's curiosity if his expression was any indication. But he didn't ask, and Aki certainly didn't feel like talking so the trip to Shujin in Aoyoma-Itchome was silent and made it feel even longer than the several minutes it took to get there. After parking, they were at the gate and Ren found that the building wasn't too noteworthy, despite its name in kanji.
The whole thing reminded him of office buildings, all practicality and no aesthetics, except not as tall or as small. The building was merely grey and square, like the windows marking each floor. A wall surrounded the place, just high enough that it would take a tall student to reach its top but not so tall it obstructed the view of the main building. At the metal gate entrance was a plaque on the right side simply saying "Shujin Academy".
Before they passed the gate, Sakura-san stopped and turned to them.
"Do me a favor and behave yourselves, all right?" he said, though it was clear it was more directed at his sister with his gaze.
Aki frowned in confusion and Ren had a feeling she wad about to speak. But Sakura-san seemed to have guessed what she would say as he then said,
"Don't get the wrong idea. I just don't want you causing me any trouble."
Once he turned his back to them, his sister rolled her eyes, and he couldn't help but be amused at her mood. That made her glare at him but that left as they went inside, which wasn't much better than the outside. It wasn't ugly by any means, the doors to the various rooms were of equally varying colors, the floor were smooth wooden planks, and the walls were pristine, but it almost felt like he was walking around in a hospital or, again, an office building.
Though, perhaps, it was for budget reasons as the principal's office was almost like a rustic but professional oasis in the sea of rigid conformity. Which made the principal himself stand out all the more and Ren had to do everything in his power to not show his discomfort at seeing the bald and obviously chubby, if not outright obesse, man. He didn't even have a neck. It was like he was wearing a collar of flesh. And paired with the checkered suit, the man reminded him of ventriloquists and contrasted with the surroundings. He nearly didn't notice the woman in a light orange shirt and the man in a black suit with a yellow scarf to the principal's left.
Pleasantries were said between the principal and their caretaker before they were signing papers for the school, the last one being done by Sakura-san. When that was done, the overweight man said to him and Aki,
"To reiterate, just so we're clear, you will immediately be expelled if you cause any problems."
Aki just nodded while he said,
"Yes, sir."
Then the principal said, "Honestly, I hesitated on accepting someone like you but there were some...circumstances...on our side..."
Only loud enough for him to hear, Aki said right beside him,
"Probably a sponsorship from a food company..."
Ren nearly snorted at her comment and sent her a glance in warning. It might be blocked from his view, but he knew Aki was smirking at him under her mask.
"You might have done a variety of things in hiding in your hometown but you will behave yourself here," the principal said, making Ren return his attention to him. "If you are thrown out from our school, there will be no place for you to go. Keep that in mind."
He was sure Aki had another comment in mind from the quiet strangled scoff he heard from her.
"Yes, sir," Ren said.
Aki nodded again.
The bald and wide man stared at them for a moment before gesturing to the two people beside him.
"This is the teacher in charge of Class 2-D, the one Ren Amamiya shall be in," he said towards the woman before moving on to the man. "And this is the teacher in charge of class Akira Amamiya shall be in, 1-A."
"I'm Sadayo Kawakami," the woman said.
"And I'm Kiritsugu Shimizu," the man said.
Ms. Kawakami held up two IDs as she said, "Here are your student IDs."
She put them down on the desk for them to get. Ren was about to reach for them, but he stopped and frowned. What was that pink paper under the IDs? Whatever it was, Ms. Kawakami noticed as well and was quick to grab it. He glanced at Aki, confirming that he did see it. But as curious as he was, he would have to let it slide for now. So he took both of the IDs and handed Aki's to her.
The floofy, wavy haired woman continued, pretending as if nothing happened.
"Be sure to read the school rules. Any violations will send you straight to the guidance office. And, if by chance you cause any problems, I won't be able to protect you at all."
Ren's face twitched as he stopped his expression from changing, now even more curious of the woman with her choice of words. He noticed Aki stared at her because of that, so he guessed she thought the same as well.
Ms. Kawakami looked to the seated bald man as she said, "That is your promise, yes, Principal Kobayakawa?"
The man nodded. "He is responsible for all of his actions."
This time Aki did react noticeably, but thankfully it was just a snort so it was ignored.
The orange shirt woman frowned and said, "But really though, why me...? There should've been a better candidate."
"It was a sudden transfer, and your class was the only one that had an opening."
Before Ms. Kawakami could say more, Sakura-san said, "If you're done explaining things, mind if we get going?"
Finally, the man, Mr. Shimizu, spoke, looking almost disappointed when he did.
"Do you not wish for a tour of the school?" he said. "It would be helpful for Ren-kun and Akira-chan to become familiar with the layout."
"I got a store to get back to."
Now Ren was sure the younger man was disappointed, as well as apologetic, as his shoulders slumped slightly and gave a small smile that reflected his mood.
"Ah, my apologies then."
The white suited man turned to leave but then Mr. Kobayakawa said,
"Sakura-san, please keep an eye on them. Don't let them cause any trouble outside..."
"Well, I'll be sure to have a serious talk about the situation they're in."
Aki stare turned flat, likely resisting the intense urge to roll her eyes. Ren gave her a smirk.
Ms. Kawakami then said, "Come to the faculty office when you arrive at school tomorrow. I'll show you to your classroom."
Followed by Mr. Shimizu. "The same goes for you as well, Akira-chan." Then he said, his tone surprisingly gentle, "And tell me if there's anything I need to know about the what medications you need to take so I can do my best to acommodate you."
Ren stared at him in surprise, much like his little sister.
"Oh uh...thank you, Mr. Shimizu. I'll keep that in mind," she said.
Though the principal didn't like that as he sent a stern glare at the man while Ms. Kawakami looked surprised at his words. Not that Ren was surprised at their reactions, seeing as Mr. Shimizu was being nice to outcasts who had shamed their family. Ren could only hope he would be able to keep it up, but seeing as the the man with the yellow scarf gave an apologetic look for his behavior, he kept his expectations low, if not outright non-existant.
"All right then, let's go," Sakura-san, already walking out.
Not wanting to get left behind, they followed their caretaker. It was silent on the way down. Though he briefly reminded them that he would kick them out should they misbehave before they were back in the car. For the most part, it was a repeat of this morning. The main difference was how long it took to get home, the traffic being as bad as the a clogged drain, to the disgruntlement of their driver.
"Gah, traffic's not moving at all..." Sakura-san said, fingers tapping on the steering wheel. "That's it. You're taking the train starting tomorrow."
Ren already knew that, considering Sakura-san had more or less said that this morning. But he wasn't going to mention that.
Then, to his surprise, though it was somewhat awkward, Sakura-san then said,
"So...how was it? The school I mean. Think you can manage?"
"Yeah," Aki said. "Probably."
The fedora wearing man gave her an inquiring, if somewhat suspecting, gaze.
"Probably?"
"Hopefully," she said, the tone of her voice giving the impression of a cheeky grin.
Sakura-san's frustration returned as he frowned. "Do you even understand the situation you're in?"
All mischief left Aki as she said, tone heated like a furnace, "What? That no one wants us around?"
Ren nearly missed it, but the man's face twitched and his hand on the steering wheel tightened for a brief moment.
"You were expelled once before. No one would think you would enroll in a different one. It's not like anyone will be sympathetic with you," he said.
He could've been imagining things again, but his tone sounded weary, almost as of speaking from experience.
Then Sakura-san sighed and mumbled, almost as if he forgot the car was rather cramped compared to more modern ones.
"If that's what it's like at the school people, might say stuff about me in the future too," he said then sighed. "What troublesome kids I've taken in..."
And before Ren could stop her, Aki said, ticked off, "Then why'd you agree to take us in?"
Sakura-san didn't answer right away. He looked elsewhere, back at the traffic which had moved just a bit. He inched the Porsche forward and then stopped. Ren thought he wouldn't answer at all. But then the man said,
"I was asked to do it, and I just...happened to agree to it." And like an afterthought, he added, "I've already been paid for it after all."
Once again, Ren readied to calm his sister, but as if to break the tension as well as answer the man's earlier frustration with the road, the radio announced that another train accident has occurred, the most recent of a string of them.
Aki shuddered. "Train accident...?"
Meanwhile, Sakura-san said, "So that's why it's so crowded." His posture relaxed with that but then he said, his tone somber by the end, "There's been a lot of those lately. In fact, there was a real sad one just last month." He took a deep breath. "If I remember right, the girl that passed away was only fifteen."
The silence became much more heavier with that, the words reminding Ren of how he met, and saved, Aki all those years ago.
As if to avoid it, Aki sighed and took out a familiar and well-worn book from her bag, Phantom of the Opera, and read it. Ren looked out the window to see that the compression of cars wasn't going to filter away any time soon. He leaned against the chair and closed his eyes. School hadn't even started and already they were having difficulties.
This was going to be a long school year.
(A)
Yesterday had not helped her impression of Sakura-san, nor allayed her hesitance in going to school. Sakura-san had been as confusing as before, mostly dismissive of them and doing his job, like giving them a journal so they would record their activities and their "talk" in the car. Yet there were brief instances of warmth that looked like accidents, like the fact he drove them in the first place and that he, apparently, trusted them enough to ask them to flip the sign and close up the café at night. The school was much the same during their first visir, the few people there dismissive, with only Mr. Shimizu having any hint of human decency. But even he seemed cowed by the principal. Put all of that together and Akira didn't feel like going at all.
But she didn't want to bother her brother more than she already has with her attitude towards Sakura-san, so when Ren's alarm sounded, she did her medicine without a fuss, coming down with him to wait on the ground floor while he used the restroom first. However, as soon as they stepped down, they both stared.
Sakura-san was there...right in front of a pot over a lit stove.
He noticed them then and said, "Good, you are going to school."
"Sakura-san...?" Ren said, voicing both of their confusion.
"Aren't you getting ready? Go on. I'll feed you two when you're done. Just make sure to finish it before the customers come in," he said then returned to his cooking.
He and Akira stared for a few more moments before his little sister said, "You first or me?"
That snapped him out of it and he said, "You go first."
Akira nodded then went inside the restroom. While inside changing and washing up her face, she heard Ren and Sakura-san talk.
"Curry?" Ren said.
"Have a problem with it?" Sakura-san said, tone grumpy as usual.
Though she couldn't see, she knew her big brother was smiling in amusement as he said, "Not me. My sister. She's a bit of a picky eater."
So she said,
"I heard that!"
Knowing full well he would smirk. What she didn't expect, as she did the final touches on her uniform, she heard Ren said,
"I think she'll like this though."
Followed by Sakura-san in a less grumpy but still rough tone.
"Well good, because that's all I'll be cooking for you two for your breakfast."
"Thank you, Sakura-san."
If their caretaker said anything more, she didn't hear as she went out and told her big brother she was done. She waited before she ate he changed into his uniform and fixed everything else up. When he was done, they ate their curry breakfast, which she liked as Ren guessed, and then put the dishes in the sink.
"Thank you for the food," Ren said again.
Not wanting to disappoint him, and actually liking the food, she too said, "Thanks for the food."
All Sakura-san said to that was, "Hmph. So you really do have manners."
I could say the same to you, you grumpy chef, she would've said and she opened her mouth to do so. But then he continued.
"Now get going. You'll be late if you stay any longer."
Quickly followed by Ren. "Did you double-check everything, Aki?"
Momentum lost, she did as told and made sure she had her medicine, water and extra masks.
"Yup," she said, pulling up the mask she had put on earlier.
"All right, let's go."
At the door though, before they left, Sakura-san said, "Flip the sign to 'OPEN' on the way out."
Ren looked to him, confused. "You're open this early?"
Which Akira shared, considering most restautants, cafés and the like only started opening at ten in the morning.
However, Sakura-san acted as if that was a stupid question.
"Hmph. Early? If anything, I'm running late. Now go, flip the sign, and don't get lost. This isn't like the countryside."
"No kidding, Sherlock..." Akira said, her mask muffling it.
The city and the countryside were like night and day to her.
Her brother patted her back, telling her he heard and said, "Okay, Sakura-san, we will. Good-bye."
And finally, after doing what Sakura-san asked of them, they left for school. The streets were just as bustling and the trains just as packed as the last two days, making the trip feel cramped when they rode the subway and she was grateful when they were out of it. However, just when they left the underground station...
It rained.
"Oh come on!"
They ran to the nearest roof, which was the front of a clothes store. Akira took deep breaths, bracing herself on her knees, and hoping she didn't have to pull out her inhaler. Thankfully she didn't and she was back upright again, glaring at the rain.
"You don't have the umbrella with you, do you?" Ren said.
"Nope," she said. "You?"
"No, unfortuantely."
She groaned. "So we double checked everything...except the umbrella."
"Mmhmm."
"Of course it's the umbrella... What's the fun in it raining if you don't get wet, right?" she said, sarcastic.
"Not fun at all," Ren said, smug amusement in his voice. "After all, what other time would it be perfect for a water fight?"
She glared at him.
As she thought he would, he just gave a cheeky grin.
She groaned again and ignored that. They had more important things to worry about.
"Damn it..." she said. "How we gonna get to school now? It doesn't look like it'll let up soon..."
"Hmm... Maybe..." And then Ren said, "Huh?"
And Akira saw her brother looking at his phone...and a red-and-black app with an eye on it was on the screen.
"I thought I got rid of this," he said.
"What? It keeps coming back?"
Ren hummed. "This is the fourth time it's popped up already."
"Geez... I hope it's not malware..."
"The virus scanner didn't detect anything, and I hadn't opened any spam, so I doubt it is."
"Still creepy. And still need to get rid of it."
Before further discussion was done, the sound of footsteps made their gazes follow someone who ran under the nearby roof just like they did. Once under, the person pulled down the white hoodie they were wearing, revealing that it was a girl, about their age more or less. She was about her height, if not a couple inches shorter. And her hair was platinum blonde. She leaned out a bit and looked around, likely also checking if the rain will let up soon, at least until she noticed them. To Akira's surprise, when she did...
...she gave them a smile.
The blonde girl didn't do more than that though and returned to looking at the streets. Seeing she wasn't going to make small talk, Akira turned to her brother to talk about that app, or maybe even back to trying to decide how to get to school...only to find he was still staring at the girl.
"Oh you've got to be..." Akira took a deep breath and then she said in a sing-song manner, "Big Bro..."
"Yes, Aki?" he said, not moving.
"You're staring."
"Huh?" That snapped him out of it. "Oh uh..."
"Please don't tell me it's love at first sight or I'm calling bullshit."
Her brother's expression turned flat.
"Really?"
"You were the one staring, not me."
Before it could turn into one of their sibling banters, there was a giggle behind her and Akira couldn't help but turn to see that the girl was, indeed, finding their antics funny.
"Oh great, now she thinks we're crazy," Ren said.
Akira gave him a sideways glance. "And whose fault is that?"
Another giggle and the girl's smile got brighter. However, a car that Akira thought would pass actually stopped before them and the window rolled down to reveal a man with poofy hair, a square chin, and wearing what looked like a gym school uniform. As soon as the blonde girl saw that, Akira could've sworn her smile turned more strained.
"Hey, you're gonna be late in this rain. You want me to give you a ride?" the man said.
"Oh, uh, sure," the girl said and went in.
But as soon as she did, Akira saw her deflate, like she wanted to be anywhere but there. She was tempted to ask if they could get a ride too. After all...
"Oh, you can come along too."
...the man was offering. But when she pulled her mask down and took a deep breath, she nearly retched. Ren's hand was on her back, rubbing it in circles. She groaned. The one time she wished she didn't hate new car smell. If she felt like throwing up from this distance, then there was no way she would be able to stand staying in that car. Akira tried to speak, even with her breakfast threatening to come out, but thankfully her brother did it for her.
"No thank you," he said. "My sister is sort of allergic to the smell of new cars."
Both the poofy haired man and the platinum blonde girl looked confused, but the former seemed to realize what Ren meant as recognition was on his face.
"Ah, I see," he said. "Well, don't be late then."
With that, the window rolled up and they watched as they went off down the road, Akira wondering if the girl would be all right.
"God damn it!"
Akira jumped and then a boy with bright blond hair arrived, stopping only a foot to their left.
"Screw that pervy teacher," the boy said.
"Pervy...teacher...?" Ren said.
It was then the boy realized he wasn't alone and turned to them. Akira thought he kind of looked a bit like a delinquent with that blond hair, his blazer open and his undershirt being yellow with the word "ZOMG!" on it. That was definitely a shirt she wouldn't mind wearing.
But then he frowned and narrowed his eyes.
"What?" he said and stalked up to them.
Ren stepped forward and Akira stepped behind him.
"Are you guys plannin' on rattin' me out to Kamoshida?"
[I]What the hell, man?[/i] Akira thought. She was tempted to say it but the last thing she wanted was getting in trouble on their first day.
"I don't know what you mean," Ren said, his voice level.
And then all of sudden, the punk's hostility evaporated, replaced with confusion.
"Huh? In that car just now. It was Kamoshida." He looked away, grtting his teeth, and said, "He does whatever the hell he wants. What does he think he is? Some king of a castle? Am I right?"
"I didn't see a crown," Ren said, flat.
Akira snickered.
"Huh? No, that's not... Wait, you don't...know Kamoshida? Are you for real?" he said. "You're from Shujin, right?"
"What makes you think that?"
"What? Come on, no other school's got a uniform like this."
"Well we're new here, so I didn't know," Ren said.
"Oh? You're a transfer student then?"
Her brother nodded and relaxed. But he still stood in front of her, just in case, she figured.
"No wonder you don't know him..." the stranger said, likely just thinking out loud from his tone.
But still...
Thank you, Captain Obvious, Akira thought but still kept shut.
It was very tempting though.
Then the punk did a once over on Ren and her.
"A second-year and first-year huh? You two siblings?"
She and her brother nodded.
"Huh, you guys are lucky to be in the same school." Akira really felt like laughing at the irony of that but thankfully she didn't when he said, "Well, how about followin' me? I know a shortcut to school. We'll be late at this rate."
"But the rain..." Akira said.
The loud punk looked at her. "Hey, it ain't too bad."
"Still don't wanna get wet."
Ren added, "And it wouldn't be good for her asthma if she got wet."
"Asthma?" he said, surprised.
Akira felt her brother tense and she herself was getting ready to talk back but then he said,
"Well then, here."
And he took off his blazer and offered it to her.
"It's not much, but it's better than nothin', right?"
Akira didn't move. She actually felt her jaw dropped, not that anyone could see it with her mask.
"But what about you?" her brother said. "I don't mind giving my sister my blazer."
The blond boy grinned. "Heh, I'll be fine. 'Sides, you need to keep yours more than me, right?"
Her brother was silent for a few moments. Then he said with a smile,
"Thank you."
"Heh. No problem. Come on, let's go."
That was when Akira finally shut her mouth as Ren put the stranger's blazer over her like a blanket. Though as soon as he did, Akira felt another wave of nausea, but with the added thump of a headache. She groaned. She was starting to wonder if fate was making fun of them or something.
"Ugh... My head hurts..." the boy said. "Damn it... I wanna go home..."
Despite the mundaneness of it, the fact he had one too felt odd. But Akira didn't say anything, it was likely a coincidence after all, as they followed the kind punk down the streets. They weaved between the buildings, going through a couple of pretty narrow alleys. It reminded her of home actually, how they would usually go a seemingly roundabout way between houses to get to plenty of places. But with each step, a strange feeling kept nagging at her. It wasn't quite nausea, or even an itchy nose. The closest she could think was the feeling of being watched, like being self-conscious of every movement.
Ren stopped and Akira nearly bumped into him.
She was about to complain but the look on his face silenced her. He was looking behind them as if checking if they were being followed.
"You feel it too?" she said.
He didn't answer right away. Instead their attention was caught by the punk as he said,
"What the!?"
Akira had to agree when they caught up to him. That was a succint way to put it.
Author's Notes: I'll admit I was tempted to use an existing teacher as Akira's homeroom teacher but I had difficulty finding out if Japanese high school teachers taught in other grades besides their own, as that is how high school works for my country. So, to be on the safe side, I just made someone up.
Also I made Akira's class 1-A for one reason only: a reverse A1, as in A1, as in A1 Studios, the one who did most of the Persona 3 movies.
Also also, for my own sake more than anyone else's, Sojiro's car is a modified, yellow Porsche 356.