Chapter 2

That night, Mishima ate the oatmeal. "Ate" might be too generous a word, but he choked it down for Iwai. Mishima did not go the very next day, much as he wanted to, but did return the following day.

When he walked in, it was just Iwai and himself. He was looking at a computer screen while he balanced himself on the edge of the desk with his other foot.

"Oh, it's you again. Mishima was it?"

"Yep, that's me, Mr. Iwai."

"Ugh, don't say mister. Iwai or sir is perfectly fine."

"Okay, Iwai." He reached into his backpack and removed the empty ration tube. "All finished."

"Actually ate it, huh?"

"I told you I would." His smile was bright and engaging.

"Yes, and you are a kid who keeps his word."

"Hey, I'm not that young. I'm 18. That's not a kid."

"Ever fired a gun, served in the military, ran for your life, or looked down the opposite end of a barrel? No? Then you're a kid in my book."

That uncomfortable feeling returned to Mishima. He might not have ever run for his life, but he feared for his safety many times on the team. Abuse, both physical and mental, had a way of following you wherever you went. Something of this must have shown on his face because Iwai averted his face and adjusted his hat. Mishima hardly knew the man at all, but he could already tell this was one of his mannerisms when things got weird.

"... look, kid, I mean Mishima, I didn't mean anything by it. I just get to running my mouth and acting like a big man."

"No, it's okay. I might not have ever served in the military or anything, but I do know what it's like to fear for my safety."

Iwai looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself. It was an awkward minute or two for them both.

"So, how was the ration?"

"Terrible, are they all that bad?"

"Some, and just to fess up to something, I lied. There is no curry ration. I just wanted to see if you would keep trying to get one."

Mishima smiled. "You have a strange sense of humor."

"You ain't seen nothing yet, boy."

Another tingle, this time lower down. Mishima avoided thinking about it by asking another question. "So, what flavors are in the machine?"

"If I remember right it's oatmeal, Torimeshi, fruit, Kommissbrot, vegetable stew, beef patty, and something called a D Ration."

"What's the D Ration?"

Iwai let out a raucous laugh that Mishima didn't understand. "It's something someone usually gives you. And I can just see you eating the D."

"Well, I plan on working my way through them, so maybe I will get the D."

More laughter. "Are you hungry now? Not for the D, but just in general?"

"A little, why? Are you hungry? Want me to grab you something?"

"You offering to pay?"

Mishima scratched the back of his head while Iwai laughed again. If nothing else, he seemed to be putting the man in a good mood.

"I'm kidding. But I can't leave the shop while it's open. If I put in an order for a burger, can you grab it for me?"

"Sure, but you don't need to pay for mine."

"Wasn't offering, I was just asking if you would mind grabbing my lunch. You're on your own for paying. But, if you want, you can grab something, and we can talk while I eat."

"Sure, I don't mind."

Iwai made a sound, smiled, then put in the order. Half an hour later, He was enjoying a burger with Iwai.

"Come on back here, behind the counter."

"A-are you sure, sir? I mean Mr. Iwai, I mean-" Mishima was so nervous.

"I'm sure, boy. Just don't touch anything. This is a slow time of the afternoon, so I don't mind. Tell me more about yourself."

So he did. Mishima told him all about his school, playing volleyball, his hobbies, and many other things. The only thing he steered clear of was talk of Kamoshida.

"So," Began Iwai, "What's up with the Phantom Thieves? Why are you so hot under the collar for them?"

"They are a force for justice! They stand up against oppressors and fight for the everyday people."

"Hmph, hogwash!"

"I'm serious, they really did help so many people."

"Who and how."

"Just people! They steal the hearts of evil people and make them confess."

"Kid, and I call you that this time because you are acting like one, that sounds like a fairy tale. That doesn't happen in real life. People don't have their hearts stolen. No one confesses after being confronted with the truth. Bad people justify their behavior to themselves. In their stories, they are the good guys. I bet in someone's internal story, you are the bad guy. It's all a matter of perspective."

"But it's all true! I run their fan page! I have never felt as passionate about them as I have anything ever! They are real and they do real work!"

Iwai took another bite of his burger. "So, I'm gonna ask again, why do you care so much, Mishima?"

"Because-" His words caught in his throat. "Because… because they saved me. The Phantom Thieves, changed someone's heart, someone who did terrible things. He confessed… and-" But he couldn't go on.

Iwai made a sound. "Kamoshida. Ah. And you were on the volleyball team too. I see. Saw something in the papers about that. He confessed to the abuse of his team and pushing that girl so hard that she tried to take her own life."

"Y-yeah. He was… not a good man. And I- well the whole team to be honest, we are all still trying to move past the whole thing."

"We don't have to talk about this if you don't want to."

But Mishima did. And if it wasn't to this man then he was not sure if he would ever have the courage to say these things allowed.

"It's just, you really don't know unless you were there. Everyone sees Kamoshida as this God. A man who leads his team to win after win. But so many of us suffered to get there. And it wasn't just physical, he was cruel, and the torture didn't just stop and start at the gates to the school. My phone was a constant source of anxiety to me because I never knew what he would say or do. If he ordered a private training session with you, you just knew you were- you were… well you would have to hide the marks the next day. And that girl who almost killed herself. She used to come to me, she came to me so often and just cried because she felt worthless. And I- I didn't do anything to help her because I was too-too afraid of my abuse getting worse while I watched a girl lose her will to live and-and…" But his voice was so hoarse, and he was crying even though he couldn't remember starting, but now he couldn't stop talking. "And I just stood there and watched as she fell to the ground. I knew why she'd jumped, but even then I did nothing to help her. I was a coward, too interested in saving myself. A-And-" But his voice gave out.

It took him a while to control himself. He was just glad that it was only Iwai who was here to witness his breakdown. He never tried to stop him from talking or comfort him. He just looked on, averting his gaze from time to time. When Mishima finally regained control, he felt a strong hand pat him on the back.

"It's okay, kid. I get it. That must have been really hard on you. I can see why they mean so much to you. You don't forget the people that pull you from a burning building." Iwai passed Mishima a paper towel. He used it to mop at his eyes.

"And that's why I started the fan group for them. People need to know that they had the bravery to act when others didn't. I'll never stop being thankful to them."

"Hmph, still just a kid at heart, but at least I understand you a little better. It was unfair what you went through. I am sure the scars will take a long time to heal, and I don't just mean the physical ones."

'Y-yeah. Sometimes I feel over it, but other days I feel like I'm back in that gymnasium again, being beaten and humiliated for not being like him. I hate him. I can't forgive him, ever. I'm just glad people see him for the monster he was!"

"Me too, Mishima."

They finished in silence but chatted a little more afterward. That day, Mishima went home with a can of fruit rations.