The Mask Shatters
Chapter 5
"The Phantom Thieves are his only recourse now… If he wishes to avoid his horrible fate..."
"So." Arthur said, in complete disbelief. "It's happening again? How odd…" Arthur remarked, in complete English. He held up his hands and gazed them over, still surprised that he donned the very same outfit he had before.
It truly looked to him that he was a walking corpse.
"But I'm still alive… What does this mean?"
"Have you come to realize this reality for what it is? Or do you still need time?" Igor asked, watching the young man for any sudden movements. For a moment Arthur said nothing, instead his voice dropped. His lips shivered - not from the cold - but from despair growing within him.
He looked around. There was no way this was real. No way this is a reality. A dreamworld, yes. But not a reality. Not his reality.
His only dreams of late were nightmares. Varying in scope, and the worst ones send him awake within a panic with tears rolling down his cheeks.
So what was the deal with this one?
He was confused, and that confusion gave almost immediate rise to anger. Then that anger tangled with fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of what he did not understand.
An episode was fast approaching.
He landed his gaze on Igor, and with a quivering voice, he shouted at him.
"Just what in the hell is this?! One time was fine and dandy, but twice?! TWICE?!" He shouted, pointing at Igor with a trembling hand. "I… I thought I left this nightmare bullshit behind in America! What is this?!" He added, his voice failing him as he shouted at the unblinking man his unspoken questions.
Igor, however, simply watched as Arthur threw himself into a fit. He didn't do anything, nor did he move. He just watched as Arthur let loose a hidden anger that his public mask hid well from both onlookers and even himself.
"I've paid my dues! Let me free of this goddamn bullshit!" Arthur screamed at Igor. He was seething at this point, near breathless as the thought of these dreams following him to Japan infuriated him to no thought he was actually making good progress by his temporary move to Japan. But it was no thought, it was reality. He knew that well, and only now did it hit its boiling point.
He was taking in as much of the frigid air as he could, and suddenly he could no longer find the strength to stand. He collapsed to his knees, with salty tears rolling down his cheeks, and he couldn't help himself but mewl in his patheticness.
"Anger." Igor remarked with a single finger outstretched. "But it is your mental instability that is the cause for this outburst, not your weariness to your dreams. Best get it out now, before you unleash it upon the public. You wouldn't want to be - as your homeland puts it - Baker Acted again would you?" Igor asked. Arthur looked up, heaving as sweat and tears rolled down his face. Surprise took over, and his eyes were wide at the man's words.
"How...how d-do y-you know abou-about that?" Arthur asked, stumbling on his words as his breakdown hit him in full force. Igor chuckled, giving him a moment to recover from his episode before he answered the rickety question.
"You will find I know a great deal about you, Arthur Frederick Williams."
"Huh…?" Arthur grunted, staring at Igor with his tear-ridden eyes.
Igor waved him off, shaking his head and leaning forward in his seat. He tapped a finger on the table, and watched as Arthur cried on the spot.
"Pathetic." He said, watching the young man wriggle and writhe on his knees. He sighed, and added "Take a few moments to collect yourself. The night does not last forever, and we have much to discuss."
Arthur, upon hearing this, shut his eyes for a moment. The tears continued to roll away, and his quivering and trembling failed to cease. For those few moments he just sat there, shaking and crying. But he did so in silence. He could no longer understand why all the nightmares continue to occur.
Arthur sniffled, suddenly wiping his tears with his coat's sleeve. It felt soft, like a fabric completely foreign to him, and he glanced up at Igor.
"I'm sorry…" He said, watching as the weird old man stared at him with his unchanging smile.
"I am not here to discuss your mental instability. In due time, you will overcome this." Igor relayed to him. "Salvation requires it."
"You...said something about "salvation" last time…"Arthur told him, struggling to his feet with absent energy. He used most of it to scream at Igor, and Igor only found amusement with his struggling. "I...I've ne-never seen a dream where…where the dream remembers…"
"So you still have not come to the proper conclusion…?" Igor asked, shaking his head further in disappointment. "And yet you are supposed to be clever… How disappointing. Tell me, does this really seem like a dream? You are completely lucid… Are you an experienced lucid dreamer?"
Arthur looked at him, still stumbling and struggling to his feet. He was having an unsuccessful time, but even so he managed to garner the strength to think. When he was able to get on both feet, he looked around in response. From his table to Igor to his hands. It was then it hit him.
Igor was right. Arthur was lucid, just as last time. He even remembered last time clearly, despite chalking it up to a weird one-off dream. Everything is so clear, so real… The clothing he wore, the temperature of the air, the cold metal of the table he was now leaning on…
The fear of the unknown man...
It all felt real.
Seeing is believing, and Arthur was slowly beginning to believe what Igor was telling him.
But part of Arthur didn't want to believe. He was a man of science, and this being real would go against everything science taught him.
Arthur didn't speak, he just let out an exasperated sigh and a shake of his head told Igor that the seeds have been planted in Arthur's mind. That was enough for Igor to be satisfied.
For now.
"While there is no need to believe it all for now, you must eventually come to accept this reality. Salvation requires it." Igor repeated, much to Arthur's meek chagrin. He used the word "salvation" again. Arthur couldn't help but wonder what the meaning behind the word was.
"What is this "salvation" you keep mentioning?"
Igor slowly chuckled deeply, much to Arthur's discomfort. Any joy or amusement Igor took in Arthur's confusion was off putting. It didn't help Arthur any with the fact that he just had an episode and his mind is jumbled, although the episode was rather minor compared to those he has had. Igor knew this, and Arthur knew this.
But Igor also knew there was no need for Arthur to understand what he must achieve just yet.
"You will find out in due time, dear Arthur." Igor told him, eliciting a huff from the young man as he cast his eyes to the blue flooring below. For a moment they sat in silence, a peaceful music that deafened all who would hear it.
Igor, meanwhile, placed a card on the desk in front him. Slipped from his sleeve, and then did nothing more.
The card was depicting a shield. A shield protecting a group of people in the background from an imminent, unseen threat. The design looked unique, but Arthur didn't know what it meant. It could've been a fancy playing card for all he knew. But something stood out to him.
Foreign words were emblazoned on it, in a fancy font:
Le Gardien.
Arthur huffed, unsure of what it meant as he turned his attention on Igor.
"Why am I here, then?" He asked the bizarre old man, wiping away a rogue tear from his eyes. "Why are you taunting me with these… dreams?"
"You mistake the nightmares as my doing. It is not so." Igor told him, unfolding more cards onto the table before him. All of them with different unique designs and depictions. Stars, the moon, the sun, a pope, a man hanging upside down. But the shield card was at the head of them all. "The world is not as it should be, dear Arthur. It is filled with distortion, and ruin can no longer be avoided." He told him, watching Arthur for any reaction to these words.
The only emotion Arthur betrayed was complete confusion.
Igor took his silence as an invitation to continue.
"But…" Igor slid his hands over the neatly placed cards, and a good number of them had disappeared into his palm. "A group of rebels, led by a prisoner of fate, have opted to refuse this fact. Instead, they choose to rebel against fate, and are fighting at this very moment. Fighting against the coming ruin, fighting against the extreme distortion commonplace in your world."
Arthur didn't understand any of this, but he knew he had no choice but to listen. Igor continued, extending his arm towards the shield card.
"The Chariot." Igor said, laying a card next to the shield card.
"The Lovers." Igor continued, setting a card opposite of where he laid the Chariot card.
"The Emperor." Igor placed another card, this time next to where the Chariot card sat.
"The Magician." This card went next to the Lovers, forming a neat row of cards going across the table.
"And The World." Igor set this card above the shield card and it looked, from Arthur's point of a view, like an arch of some sorts, with the shield card forming the foundation and The World card forming the actual arch.
Arthur leaned off his table, stepping forward towards Igor to get a better look at the cards. Igor observed eagerly, and gestured to the cards before him with his unfailing sadistic looking smile. "These cards represent those rebels."
"But…." Arthur asked, leaning on the desk before him and examining each card physically. It told him nothing, and he wasn't familiar with any of these cards. They didn't look like playing cards, either. "Who are they, then? These tell me nothing…"
"I believe your world calls them "The Phantom Thieves"…." Igor answered. Arthur gasped, surprised to hear that even this bizarre man knows of the Phantom Thieves. Arthur shot his gaze up at Igor, lost in shocked disbelief. "You know of them, you've spent your entire first week in the land of the rising sun searching to satiate your curiosity in this occult topic. I brought you here because I believe you are ready for the first step."
Arthur couldn't say anything, mainly because he knew Igor was right. He spent a lot of time so far trying to figure out what they were about and what the media frenzy surrounding them meant. The internet and Ichisake could only tell him so much, though.
Igor swiped his hand over the cards on his desk, and they vanished without so much as a trace. As quickly as they came, they had left. Leaving Arthur confused and scared.
This whole experience was a frightening one at that. If this was a dream, he didn't know what to make of it.
"Seek out these Phantom Thieves. Befriend them." Igor commanded him, snapping his fingers as he spoke. Arthur, even though he didn't understand what all this meant, nodded as he backed away from the desk. Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion hit him like a large stone, and his eyelids began to grow increasingly heavy. Igor chuckled, amused that the young man was putting up a fight to the sandman's spell. "When you have done so, we will meet again. Do not tarry. This step is crucial in avoiding your horrible fate, dear Arthur."
Arthur, the exhaustion becoming too heavy to handle, bent and fell backwards.
But he didn't feel any pain from the fall, instead he felt as if he was falling through thin air. He couldn't open his eyes, nor could he find the will or means to scream in terror.
Instead, he just fell. Fell through darkness, and through cold air.
A terrifying freefall in the freezing cold, sinister and mysterious as he perceived Igor to be.
Then, as quickly as that feeling washed over him, everything went still.
The cold air vanished, replaced by a warm, cozy feeling.
His lips no longer quivered.
And he no longer felt fabric on his hands.
A door opened, and he heard a voice call to him.
"Arthur, get up kid. I made some breakfast."
The train was crowded as always.
So many different people, of differing ages, of different backgrounds and with different roles in society, all crammed together in such a tiny, fast moving tin can. Like anchovies, only they weren't destined for a pizzeria.
Arthur sighed, rubbing his head and staring at the phone in his hands.
Ichisake had texted him, told him that he had missed the train and he might be late since it'll be a while before it comes back around. His parents aren't home to take him either, so he has no choice but to wait.
Arthur sighed. It seemed today was going to be a quiet day by himself.
The rumors that are apparently following him being his only companion when no one else would step up to the plate.
As he thumbed up a reply, he couldn't help but think of the dream he had last night.
The bizarre old man...
The episode he had in his own sleep; something he remembers clearly.
This supposed "salvation" he is supposed to achieve…
He didn't understand it.
He was instructed to seek out these Phantom Thieves…
"A Chariot?"
"An Emperor?"
It didn't make sense to him.
But he has had this dream before, and the bizarre old man named Igor seemed to have remembered their previous exchange. Dreams do not remember the past incarnations, Arthur knew this much. A man of science, Arthur was stumped. But he tried not to let it get to him.
A dream was a dream. Nothing more.
Dreams do not foretell the future.
Dreams do not warn of an imminent danger.
Dreams do not carry the weight of prophecy.
He shook his head, trying to get the thoughts out of his head. The dream has come and gone, there was no need to expound on the thought any longer.
As he sent his text, he was unaware of the young man sitting next to him.
He was equally quiet, and equally invested in his own texting.
By his side sat a bag with the Shujin emblem on it, and occasionally it would move as if something living was inside of it. Arthur didn't notice it. Nor did he notice when the young man glanced over at him. He looked away briefly, his stare landing back on his phone as if he didn't particularly care about Arthur's presence. But suddenly his eyes shot up, and slowly he panned his gaze back at the young American. Arthur continued not to notice. At least, not until the young man said something.
"I've heard about you." He said, his voice sounding average and for a split moment Arthur wasn't sure he was talking to him, or someone nearby was speaking to someone else. Arthur's eyes swiveled to the edge of his sockets before he faced him entirely, realizing he was indeed speaking to him.
The young man looked rather hip, and sorta familiar, with black framed glasses and frizzy black hair, dark grey eyes, and a Shujin uniform that looks very much like Arthur's.
"You're that American foreign exchange student?" He asked, cocking his head at the question he posed. Arthur, for a moment, didn't say anything. He just looked at him, trying to figure out where he had seen the young man before him in the past. Unfortunately no memory came to light, and he simply nodded at the question posed to him. "I thought so, you don't look like you're from around here."
Arthur continued to stare at him, unsure of what to say.
The young man's grey eyes suddenly went wide, realizing that he was coming across as a weirdo. "Oh, my apologies. I'm Ren. Ren Amamiya." He extended a hand towards Arthur, one that Arthur took, although uneasily. "I'm a second year at Shujin, and from the looks of your clothes, you are a third year."
"That is correct… I'm Arthur. Arthur Williams." Arthur told him. He gripped Ren's hand tightly, tight enough that Ren had to retract it and even shake off the discomfort. That was enough to get Arthur to smile through his uneasiness with this encounter.
"Forgive me, senpai." Ren said, ignoring the tight grip he faced. "But your accent is atrocious." He noted, giving Arthur more cause to smile even though it was a joke at his expense.
"Please, uh, don't call me senpai. Williams is fine." Arthur waved him off, looking back at his phone when the notification sounded off. Ren paused a moment to allow Arthur to answer his text before saying anything further.
"As you wish, Williams-san." Ren said when Arthur sat his phone down. "I didn't think I'd meet you myself, honestly. I guess we live in a small world."
"I guess." Arthur hesitantly agreed. Something was on his mind since Ren said something to him and perhaps even before that. Ren said that "he had heard" about Arthur. Coupled with what Ann said yesterday and the behavior of the students of Shujin around Arthur, a question sprung to mind. "Uh, you said you had "heard" about me….? H-how exactly?" Arthur asked him suddenly, causing Ren to just go "Huh…".
"You… You haven't heard the rumors? They've been spreading around like wildfire Williams-san." Ren informed him, quite surprised Arthur wasn't in the know about this. It did concern him, after all.
"Yeah, a girl told me about that yesterday…." Arthur sighed. He shut his phone off and slid it into his pocket. "Not even my buddy could tell me about them, I think he's caught up in the rumors too…" Arthur vocally deduced, since Ichisake knew nothing of the rumors himself in the first place.
Ren nodded, confirming Arthur's suspicions. Ren looked as if he were genuinely upset at the turn of events plaguing Arthur, and Arthur noticed. It was a relief seeing that Ren didn't think any less of him with what's going around the school.
But he couldn't help but wonder what's being said behind his back. He narrowed his eyes at the very thought.
"I'm sorry that this is happening to you." Ren apologized, turning away from Arthur with the intent to check his phone. But Arthur stopped him.
"What's been said?" Arthur asked, watching Ren for any reaction to the question. Ren just opened his mouth, unsure of what to say. It seemed odd to him that Arthur doesn't know anything about the situation, as Ren himself had gone through a similar ordeal not that long ago. He knew of the rumors himself, and had heard many many many different things just by walking the halls.
But Arthur seemingly knew nothing.
Ren was more than surprised. He was downright befuddled.
"Uh…" Ren went, unsure of how to answer at first. But it looked to him that Arthur was genuinely curious for his answer, and Ren simply shook his head. In his eyes, either Arthur was blissfully unaware, or he didn't pay attention. "Well… People are saying you are….crazy?"
Arthur's eyes opened wide at this revelation. He wanted to not be surprised by this, as he had been labeled back in the home country for his instability. He didn't think it would follow him here.
"That you…attack people who mention your parents… That you've been institutionalized in a mental ward… Some say the only reason Miyara-senpai is friends with you because he triggered you and now he's afraid of you… But that's to the extent of my knowledge." Ren added, wording each admittance carefully. Arthur could tell he wasn't trying to offend him, but at the same time he knew Ren was watching his steps.
Arthur actually appreciated it. For, deep down, he felt a sudden tingle of anger and depression at this news. Arthur couldn't help but grunt, and he rested his chin in the palm of his hand a moment as he thought over the ramifications of all this.
"That's…." Arthur mumbled, unsure of what to say. There was nothing he could say, really.
"That didn't take long…" Arthur thought.
Ren just watched him, completely unsure of what Arthur was thinking. He was just sitting there, staring at the floor holding his chin. He had no expression, no tell. Just a blank slate that could go in any direction.
"How did word get out about that….?" Arthur asked himself. "I haven't told anyone about the Baker Act…. Not even Himura…"
"If it's any consolation, I don't believe in the rumors." Ren piped up suddenly, disturbing Arthur's thoughts. He shifted his eyes towards the black haired boy, who was offering him a kind and gentle smile. "I was the subject of vile rumors myself for a good while before. It'll pass, and they'll all move on to some other big thing." He offered his comforts, before adding "Like a fight, or a local scandal."
Arthur nodded, unsure if anything like that would come to light anytime soon. But the thought, to Arthur, was enough to calm his ailing mind. He was always the subject of rumors back in the home country. True or not, the rumors never bothered him. He was indeed upset to find that they had followed him here as well, but he is already a slave to too much. He would now allow himself to falter to anything else, especially meaningless gossip.
Arthur sat back in his seat, contemplating how the rumors began. There are only so many ways they could've started.
"Now approaching Aoyama-Itchome Station. Doors will open on the left."
"Seems this is our stop…" Ren noted, standing up from his seat with his bag in hand. Throwing it over his shoulders, he turned towards Arthur. A warm smile was still on his lips. "It was nice meeting you." He offered.
"We go to the same school, Amamiya-kun." Arthur pointed out as he stood up. He still didn't have a bag, as he hasn't really been able to find one he liked neither in the underground mall of Shibuya Station nor on Central Street, although he hadn't looked very hard there. "Why don't we walk together?"
Ren watched him for a moment, and then expressed a small smile at Arthur's intentions.
The walk to Shujin was not a dull one, full of conversation between the two young men.
An American foreign exchange student, and a native Japanese student.
It was mostly Arthur speaking, however. Ren mostly walked alongside him and listened, occasionally offering input where it felt necessary. When he spoke, it was in short utterances. But Arthur didn't mind. It felt good being able to speak to someone who didn't bombarde him with question after question.
The students around the two were noticeably on edge, and the closer they were the more antsy they seemed. The students who trailed behind them kept their distance, while those in front of them were quick to speed walk away. The students they passed just stood in place, whispering to each other. Ren either didn't seem to notice this behavior or didn't care about what was going on. When Arthur commented on it all, Ren just kept his eyes forward. When he replied, he seemed very confident in what he said.
"It's because they see us together."
Arthur couldn't argue with that logic. Ren did say rumors flew around about him at one point. The fallout of such actions would be long lasting. Arthur knew that much.
"So… Why did rumors circulate you?" Arthur asked as they entered the school's alley. He was quite curious as to what happened on Ren's end, as Ren seemed like a normal school student.
Ren didn't answer for a moment, he just glanced at Arthur from his peripheral before saying anything. Arthur noticed the continued silence and cursed himself mentally for bringing up the topic. He thought, for a moment, Ren was sensitive towards it. But Ren opened his mouth quite suddenly, taking Arthur by some level of surprise.
"People misunderstood my actions. That's all." Is all he had to say on that topic.
Arthur shut his mouth, unsure if to say anything further would be considered rude, so he just nodded and left it at that.
They stopped, standing before the school gates. Students from all different years were passing them, and Ren only looked up the stairs at the massive building before them. Arthur wanted to turn and bow to him, but he knew that bowing to a second year was not appropriate and so simply thanked him for the company. Arthur stepped past him, moving to enter the school and prepare for the day ahead of him. But Ren's voice stopped him before he got even five feet away. Turning, Ren had closed the distance between them so suddenly that Arthur nearly jumped.
"Things may look bad now, Williams-san." Ren said, sporting a calm and collected composure the likes of which Arthur was surprised to see anyone have. "There is always negative in the world; always will be. The best thing you can do to fight it is by living strong and bravely. Do not falter in your path, stay stalwart. The negative can only affect you if you let it."
Arthur blinked at his words and for a moment just stared at Ren, who in return stared at him right back. Behind those glasses of Ren's, Arthur could see the eyes of someone who has been wronged, but doesn't allow it to hurt him. He seemed strong, and he seemed stalwart, just as he asked Arthur to be.
Arthur was surprised. Not even Ichisake offered such inspiring words. He just gave the usual dribble about ignoring people that most people and teachers would give.
Then, for a moment, everything seemed OK.
Even his uneasiness with the rumor's source seemed to vanish with Ren's words.
Arthur, realizing he was staring, curled his lips into a welcoming smile. Ren returned it to him. Nodding as he did so.
The young American turned to fully face the black haired kid, and offered a right and proper bow to him, much to Ren's surprise.
Some students stopped to see the exchange, completely confused as to why a third year was bowing to a lowerclassmen. Ren simply shook his head in response, crossing his arms as he watched Arthur rise back up.
"That was unnecessary." Ren remarked. Arthur only kept his smile as a response before turning away.
"I'll see you around, Amamiya-kun." Arthur offered over his shoulder.
With that said, he walked on into the school. He was faced with the alienation from his fellow students, but he ignored it like he had before and walked on. Even with the whispers and the rumors flying behind his back.
He maintained his smile, happy that some people in this school seem to sympathize with his own plight.
Ren entered the school just the same as him, going in the opposite direction as Arthur. Ren looked over his shoulder to see if he could spot Arthur. But could not manage to do so in the crowded hall.
Meanwhile, nearby, a red eyed girl huffed in degrading annoyance as she watched them part ways. She was curious, but also wary.
"What's he got to do with Amamiya...?"
The day had felt longer than usual.
And the lecture by his teacher did nothing to captivate the attention of Arthur.
With Ichisake around, he would have someone to talk to and kill time with inbetween class changes and during lunch, but lunch had already come and went. Ichisake never showed up.
It was only Arthur today. He had barely said a single to word anyone after his meeting with Ren. No one else wanted to talk to him and he never had a reason to go upstairs. He didn't notice Ren or Ann at lunch either, which had bummed him out as that meant he had to sit and eat alone while everyone watched and murmured around him.
On some level, though, he couldn't complain too much. He had time to think with all the quiet and alone time he had, and even now all he did was think. Even with the teacher speaking at the front, and the occasional glances from his classmates, he just thought. Lost in his own mind, in his own little world. The teacher didn't seem to notice, and neither did anyone else.
During his time thinking his mind fell back to the calamity he befell during his sleep.
Not the false rumors spreading around the school.
But instead of the nightmares he's been having.
He's only been here a week, and they haven't stopped.
They varied in scale, from minor bumps in his sleep to panic inducing events that would cause him to wake, curl up in a ball, and cry until he fell back asleep.
Himura hasn't noticed the behaviour, nor has Arthur told him about it.
Arthur hasn't told anyone really, not even Ichisake.
But two dreams stood out to him in these fruitless nights of rest.
Nightmares they were not.
But instead odd anomalies within his norm.
The long nosed man named Igor…
The Velvet Room…
His own clothing reflecting that of a corpse in a morgue…
Arthur, no matter how long or hard he thought on it, could not make sense of it all.
He could remember every vivid detail, every word said to him, and even the smallest of things about Igor himself. His fear-inducing smile, his bloodshot, bulging eyes…
He could even remember the cards Igor presented to him and their designs clearly…
"But what were they?" Arthur thought.
The more Arthur thought about it, the more he began to contemplate.
He didn't want to believe these dreams meant anything, but he never - in his entire life - had a dream that remembered the last incarnation. He has had recurring dreams, but these dreams would play out the same as before. They would never play out in a second act. In the end, he would see his therapist and learn the meaning or cause behind the dream and its occurrences. But dreams shouldn't be able to foretell of future events, or act as prophecies.
So why did Igor come to him in his sleep, beckoning him to find this concept of "salvation"?
This term, itself, was also very much confusing to Arthur.
Igor never elaborated on the meaning behind his usage of it, what it meant for Arthur, or this "horrible fate" that was coming for him. He instead dodged the questions left and right entirely, justifying the evasion with the idea that Arthur didn't need to know just yet.
Arthur wanted to chalk it all up to dreams being dreams, but Arthur was a sharp young man, he knew having a dream like that couldn't be coincidence.
Something was there, and gave those dreams merit.
But what is it?
Why does Igor want him to find the Phantom Thieves?
Why does Igor want him to befriend them?
Arthur shook his head, not being capable of finding answers by staring at the chalkboard.
But would further thought yield any answers?
Arthur couldn't answer his own questions, and he had many.
"...That'll conclude today's lecture on the Shimabara Rebellion everyone." Mr. Sakutaro said, eyeing the room before him. "I know many of you were paying attention… But for those of you who weren't…" He eyed Arthur with a dubious glare. "...I'm not repeating myself. Good luck on the test."
Arthur gulped. He got caught daydreaming.
The bell suddenly rang, and today was the last class of the day, so that bell meant Arthur could go home. He sighed, standing up and balling up the papers he had since he didn't have a bag. He was intending to throw them in the trash.
The other students began vacating the room as well, drowning the end of day announcements with their chatter. The teacher leaned on his desk and called out to Arthur, rising above the voices with his own.
"Williams. Come see me before you leave." He demanded. Arthur looked over at him and nodded, weaving his way past the idle students and excusing himself whenever he bumped into another.
Nearby, the red eyed girl kept her eyes on him a moment before leaving the room herself.
Standing face to face with a teacher never felt nerve racking before. Arthur always got on well with his American teachers, but in Japan? His homeroom teacher, who also happened to be his history teacher, was openly hostile to him and a couple other students in the room. He was glaring a hole at Arthur on his approach and even stayed silent a moment when Arthur addressed him. He had his arms crossed, and barely blinked as he watched Arthur closely.
"So, Williams." Sakutaro deadpanned. "Daydreaming in my class now, are you? You do this in the other teacher's classes or am I just that special?" He asked.
Arthur gulped and didn't say anything at first. He knew that, no matter what he could say, it wouldn't make his situation better. But he knew that Mr. Sakutaro was angry with him and decided it was best to remain silent and listen to the music.
"It's fine. Don't say anything then. Doesn't make me suddenly forgive you." He said, shaking his head at Arthur's reticence. The young American blinked, and nodded at the teacher's words. "I've noticed, Arthur, that you catch on quickly to things. You've aced your first test last Thursday with a one hundred and most of the topics on the test you weren't here to cover. Not only that, but I've seen you around the school, keeping a low profile around everyone. It's obvious why, but let me get my point across." Sakutaro offered, scratching his chin as he spoke. "If you piss me off, I won't hesitate to have you removed from my class. You're a huge inconvenience and I'm not gonna slow my curriculum down to accommodate for your problems, understand me? You better catch on to that as fast as you catch on to everything else."
Arthur nodded again and said nothing. Despite this, he kept his head high and, even though he was nervous, he didn't let his hesitation show. He just listened and kept silent, doing his best to show respect to his teacher.
No matter how much of a bastard he is.
"Now. I got two more things I want to tell you and then you can get the hell out of here. Firstly, what the hell did you do?" Sakutaro asked, keeping his angry glare up at Arthur. He was looking the young American directly in the eyes, and all Arthur felt was animosity from the stare.
But Arthur was also confused at the question presented to him.
"Uh, excuse me?" Arthur asked, unsure what his teacher meant.
"Don't play stupid, Williams." The teacher rubbed his temples, annoyed he had to explain what he meant. "I'm sure you know as well as I do about the rumors circulating you. What the hell did you do? Even Miyara is caught in them, and people are saying you hurt him or something."
Arthur shook his head quite suddenly, catching even the teacher off guard with how quick he was to respond.
"Did no such thing, sir." Arthur told him matter-of-factly. "I'm as confused as you are about the rumors. But I've been doing my best to ignore them."
"I better not hear anything about you breaking the law, Williams. This school is already in some deep shit. Dragging us down with your perceived behavior will also hurt us, not just you. Best remember that if these rumors turn out to be true."
"Understood, sir." Arthur told him, nodding once more to Sakutaro's words and threats.
Sakutaro huffed and shook his head. "At least you're agreeable… Hmph." He said, eyeing the floor. He sighed a moment and scratched his head before continuing.
"The other thing I wanted to tell you - and you better goddamn thank me because I didn't have to tell you, I just assumed no one's told you because of the rumors - but don't come to school on Monday. There is an event going on at Inokashira Park. School's doing a cleanup event for some reason, God only knows why. Go to the park on Monday in your gym clothes and just do what they tell you, alright?" He said leaning off his desk and organizing a bunch of papers on it. "That's my piece, now get out of here."
Arthur blinked, as he was fully unaware of such an event. Ichisake hasn't even told him, but it was unlikely Ichisake even knew since he claimed no one spoke to him anyways.
"Inokashira Park, huh…?" Arthur mumbled, trying to think if he's heard of the place before. The teacher just huffed and looked at him, confused as to why Arthur was still standing there. Arthur, realizing he was looking like an idiot now, bowed to him. "Thank you, Mr. Sakutaro." Arthur offered him before leaving the room entirely.
Sakutaro watched him exit and simply huffed quietly, shaking his head at the idea of Arthur being as crazy as everyone says he is.
"Nice kid…." He mumbled under his breath, clicking a pen to begin grading the classwork he had passed out earlier. "Hard to believe he's the subject of all those goddamn parasitic rumors…"
Arthur had exited the school the same as everyone else, albeit without Ichisake being there to accompany him. He had his hands in his pockets and was simply following the horde of students out the doors.
He was well aware of the looks he was receiving, but ignored them to the best of his ability. To his surprise, there was not a single murmur that he heard from anyone he passed.
But no murmurs meant silence.
Did that mean the students themselves are too afraid now to even speak near him?
Arthur honestly didn't care, though. Like Ann and Ren had told him, they would find something else to gossip about in time. The lifecycle of a rumor always ended in the fading of the rumor from memory, but the implications the rumors made would be long lasting. All Arthur had to do was bide his time if he wanted the rumors gone, at the very least.
He was content in doing this, he did it back home too. But when he was in the home country, his ne'er-do-well friends at least had his back when he was confronted by the rumors from time to time. Here he had no one but Ichisake, and Ichisake didn't seem like a fighter.
Arthur smiled, that was actually one thing he liked about Ichisake.
He stopped just before the stairs in front of the school, noticing a familiar sight at the bottom who was staring at his phone. A black and white cat was peering over his shoulder, half of its body vanishing into the student's bag.
He quickly realized who it was, but did nothing for a moment as he was surprised to see that Ren had brought a cat to school in his bag.
The cat, as if on cue, turned around and looked up at Arthur. It's eyes were a bright blue color, almost like they were gems. They locked for a moment before the cat opened its mouth wide, and was so loud Arthur could hear it from where he was standing.
"Mroooooow!" Arthur heard, and the cat quickly sunk back into Ren's bag, with Ren looking over his shoulder at Arthur.
Ren slid his phone into a pocket and turned to look at Arthur, surprised to see him standing there. "Oh, hey." Ren greeted him, maintaining a very indifferent expression despite the fact he was caught with a cat in his bag.
Arthur chuckled, and climbed down the stairs to meet with him. "So Shujin allows pets in the school, huh?" Arthur asked him, jokingly. "Did not know that."
Ren shook his head in response. "No, but I can't leave him home alone. He'd…. Uh…" Ren stumbled a moment, as if he was trying to remember what the cat would do. "...Uh… He would break things… He's very destructive when he's lonely."
The cat cried out from his bag quite loudly, causing Arthur to chuckle at the well timed call.
"What's his name?" Arthur asked, finding himself quite curious. He didn't have any pets back home, but regardless he loved pets. Cats in particular. There was just something about them that Arthur loved, whether it was the cute actions they would commit or when they would go into, as the internet culture called it, "dumbass mode" and run all over the place.
"Morgana." Ren answered, as if the name didn't sound odd. Arthur only looked at him and for a moment just stared at his bag in regards to the name of the cat. The cat poked his head out and looked back at Arthur. It's tongue was sticking out in between its teeth.
"Well, if that's what you picked… Not what I would've called him… Eh." Arthur mumbled, but loud enough so Ren could hear. Ren couldn't help himself but smile at that lighthearted jab. "So, going home are you?" Arthur asked him, moving past the cat issue. He didn't particularly care that Ren brought a cat. He was just surprised by it.
"No, actually." Ren answered, matter-of-factly. "I'm heading to Shibuya. My guardian had called me not too long ago and told me a certain someone he knows is there and doesn't seem to want to leave, so he told me to not come home for a bit. Gonna kill some time on Central Street."
"Ah." Arthur grunted, understanding the circumstances. His father had gone through something similar sounding a few years ago before cutting that person out of their lives entirely. "Well, my guardian doesn't come home 'til about six in the evening, so if I go home I'll have nothing to do but either play on my laptop or watch TV. I'm bored of both right now honestly…" Arthur relayed to Ren, crossing his arms and cutting his eyes to the pavement below. He wasn't sure what he was going to do until Himura came back. He also wasn't sure if he wanted to seclude himself alone in the apartment again.
"Oh… Well.. In that case, wanna come with me?" Ren offered, surprising Arthur with the invitation. "I'm not doing anything in particular, though. Just bumming around." He quickly admitted.
But Arthur smiled, finding the fact he was invited at all a warming prospect. Not even Ann had offered to hang out with him, and Ichisake was the only friend he really had at this school. He didn't even need to think on the offer, he accepted it readily.
"If I'm not a bother, then sure. I'll come with you."
"You won't be a bother, Williams-san." Ren told him, turning his back on the young American. "Well, we should get going. We're gonna miss the train and have to wait for the next."
Arthur agreed and jogged to catch up with him.
Nearby, a red eyed girl hid behind a manga comic.
She was watching the two boy's interaction and quickly moved to follow them down towards the station when it became apparent they were about to leave with one another.
She squinted, wondering what two supposed problem students wanted with one another.
Post-Chapter Author's Note
Proof read and edited by a friend named Frozen Foe on my Discord server.