Akatsuki: Yusuke. I'm sorry, but Haru and I likely won't be available for most of tomorrow morning.

Akatsuki: We have to deal with something.

Yusuke: I understand. Judging by your messages, it is a serious matter?

Haru: You have no idea…

Brrrrng

Brrrrng

Brrrrng

Brrrr- "Hello? This is Chadan Chad, from the Chad Medical Institution. How may I help you?"

"Chad, it's me, Akatsuki."

"Akatsuki? Well, this is a surprise, but definitely not an unwelcome one. How can I help you, kid?"

"I need you to do me a favour."

"...Javor-San?"

"No need to ask. I… I don't know what happened to that girl, but whatever it was, I know it ain't good."

"Yes… what happened to her and her friend was abhorrent… which is why I wish to ask; is it possible for any of your contacts to be called in for an investigation? Akatsuki's side of things is still dealing with Madarame, and I do not wish to disrupt the process…"

"Give me a few days. I'll get Sven on the case; pronto."

"Thank you, Sasha-San."

"You're welcome, Haru-Chan."

4/14, Thurs

Lunchtime - Shujin Student Council Office

"I… don't understand. You mean to tell me that Kamoshida-Sensei is responsible for both the physical and sexual abuse of some of the student body? And you also mean to tell me that the good teachers of Shujin and the parents of those he abused know of this… and they are doing nothing about it?"

"Yes!"

"I apologise, Mixta-San, Okumura-San, but please understand that these claims are incredibly outlandish, so much so that they seem almost fantastical; without proper evidence, I cannot report this to the principal. These are severe claims after all."

"Severe or not, Niijima-San, you should at least take our words into account and start a private investigation or something! Please. This is for the good of Shujin and its students as a whole!"

As she said this, Haru stood up and planted both her hands atop the Student Council Room's main table, with her eyes widened to their limits as she spoke. Beside her, Akatsuki leaned forwards into the table as he stared at their Student Council President, Niijima Makoto, with eyes wide with hope; hope that she'd respond to their pleas and begin an investigation of her own into Suguru, but still… it seemed that their chances were slim…

The duo were currently in the… well, as stated above, the Student Council Room, with them making use of their lunch break to speak with Niijima in regards to what they had learnt the day before.

To say that what they had learnt from Shiho was disgusting would've been an… understatement. Her claims were wide and far fetched, to say the least, but even so… the tone she had spoken in… that broken, hollow tone of voice… it had convinced the Third Years that she spoke no lies.

No one… no human…

"He always worked us to the bone… a-at first, we thought he was just doing it to push us to do better, b-but it quickly became apparent that it was for h-his own sick pleasure…"

… none would not be able to say such things out as a lie…

"T-There was a girl, Third year… s-she was harassed so much by K-Kamoshida that she left Shujin… a-and she committed suicide some time ago…"

Akatsuki's fists had tightened as he remembered Shiho's recollection of Kamoshida's abuse the day prior, so much so that the indents of his nails digging into his palms remained even now.

"H-He told me to perform s-sexual favours for him in exchange for him leaving A-Ann alone… I… I-I…"

A gasp had escaped Haru when she heard this, with her eyes growing glassy as she processed what she just heard. Horror made itself known in her chest… horror… and rage…

"I… t-there were times where I wished to speak out about it… b-but when I did, my h-homeroom teacher… h-he… he gave me detention for the day… a-and my… m-my mother… she wouldn't believe me!"

"I… wanted t-to quit… b-b-but… t-there were others he was… l-leering at… a d I… I-I didn't want them to suffer like I did…!"

"P-Please… help me…"

"Please…"

Shiho had been bawling her eyes out by the time she was done, with Haru comforting her to the best of her ability whilst Akatsuki contacted Sasha to give her a lift back home via the J-Cruiser. When he had said that they were going to drive her home, however, Suzui had requested to go to Ann's… she didn't wish to be at her own tonight. Everyone complied with this request without question, especially after Okumura had 'accidentally' let slip that Suzui's mother wasn't exactly the best, and before long, the group went their own separate ways, with the Third Years requiring a lot of time to think about what they had just heard.

Even now, they were trying to recover from what they were told. Their emotions ranged from them being sad for Shiho's situation to righteous anger towards the actions of the former Olympic Gold Medalist, and to a certain degree, they had hoped that the Student Council President would feel the same way, or at least show… some form of emotion in regards to these abhorrent things that Kamoshida had done.

But alas… the most she seemed to feel was… indifferent, really. Perhaps a little sympathetic at best, but still unmoving in regards to their claims, with her expression being that of a cold and calculating mask as she took it all in. They had told her about the bruises present on the volleyball students, how Kamoshida had been leering at a lot of the girls as they passed him and, more importantly, how Shiho (who was kept anonymous at her request) had told her about all this, but alas…

"Is it, now? I apologise, Okumura-San, but unless those that have been allegedly abused step forward and testify against Kamoshida-Sensei, then I cannot make a case against him," lamented Niijima, with her sounding so… so robotic that it hurt. Akatsuki felt ready to wallop the girl for her indifference on the issue, but he held that thought down as he scowled, with Haru following suit all the while. They had spent a good half an hour trying to tell her that Kamoshida was scum, but she had outright refused to listen.

"You cannot be serious, Niijima-San! As things are right now, you're just letting that… t-that… man do as he pleases without restraint!" proclaimed Haru as a final bid to get Makoto to do… something, anything to see justice be done. It took every ounce of willpower within her to not call that man anything less, and it showed. "The people he's hurt… the students he's harassed… Kamoshida Suguru's actions are beyond reprehensible! Does he not deserve to be brought to justice?!"

And upon hearing the word justice… Makoto's eyes sharpened to match Akatsuki's heated gaze and Haru's desperate stare.

"True justice can only be attained through the truth, Okumura-San. I apologise once more, Mixta-San, Okumura-San, but it is not within my right to tell a teacher of this institution what to do, and once again, unless those abused by Kamoshida-Sensei step forward and speak out against him, nothing can be done about the matter. Perhaps if your source would step forth and testify against him, I could start a formal investigation, but until then, I cannot do anything about this."

Her doggish beliefs, paired with her tenacity, made it impossible for them to change her mind, not without getting Shiho into a messy situation anyways, and they knew it… and with matching scowls, the duo grit their teeth and left the room in defeat. They would not be able to convince Niijima into taking justice into her own hands, it would seem… very well then, it wasn't as though this mattered in the long run, they supposed.

Sasha was already doing his best to pull one of his prosecutor friends to Tokyo to begin a private investigation into Kamoshida; them going to Makoto for help was just Haru and Akatsuki trying to speed things up a notch, though evidently, that didn't work whatsoever.

Whilst leaving, Makoto had the gall to thank them for bringing the issue up to her, and in response to this, Akatsuki slammed the side of his fist into the doorframe before slamming the door shut, shaking the room, twice, with his barely contained fury all the while. Haru… didn't even have the energy to feel sad at the moment as she followed her friend out into the closest stairwell, and once they were there…

"That fucking… GRAAAH!" growled Akatsuki as he punched the wall closest to him, cracking it on impact as he walked on. To his side, Haru frowned as she lightly set a hand atop his back, calming him down a little all the while.

"C-Calm down, Akatsuki-Kun… don't forget that Javor-San already has a contact at the ready… Niijima-San was not the be-all end-all in this situation," smiled Haru encouragingly, and to this, the blue eyed boy exhaled sharply before he crossed his arms tightly.

"I… I understand. But it's just… her indifference. It fucks with me," admitted Akatsuki bitterly, with him scowling as he spoke. "How can someone… anyone be so calm when presented with such a horrible claim!? She didn't even look shocked…!"

"That much is true… hey… d-do you think that…"

"Okumura-Senpai! Mixta-Senpai!"

"...?"

Whatever Haru was about to propose was quickly caught in her throat, however, when they heard a single individual calling out for both herself and Akatsuki. Turning to face the speaker, the duo saw none other than Takamaki Ann racing towards them, with Suzui Shiho in tow and with her twintails bouncing with each step. A small smile graced Haru's lips as she watched them close in on them, with Akatsuki remaining decidedly neutral as he observed in silence as the girls stopped in front of their seniors.

"We've been looking for you, Senpais. Where have you been?" asked Shiho lightly, with her sounding more… carefree as she spoke. That was certainly a relief to her seniors, but even so, the relief didn't do much to mask Akatsuki's lingering anger, and to this, Okumura thought it best to speak up in his place..

"We were in the Student Council Room… we were trying to tell Niijima-San about what you told us, but she just wouldn't listen…" lamented Haru, with her voice shivering lightly in anger as she clenched her fists tightly, only to unclench it a little when Akatsuki's knuckles lightly rapped against hers. Ann noticeably deflated a little whilst Shiho glanced down at her feet, seeming sad but not surprised at this unfortunate outcome.

"I see… we-"

A pause, with Akatsuki staying Ann's words with a raise of his hand.

"Not here. The roof, with us, now," instructed Akatsuki as he motioned for the duo to follow them up. They saw no reason not to, and with matching nods, Shiho and Ann jogged up to the roof alongside their seniors. Once up, Akatsuki shut the door with a soft thud, and thereafter, he motioned for Takamaki to speak her mind.

"Well… as I was saying, I appreciate you going out of your way to do this for us, Okumura-Senpai, Mixta-Senpai. Niijima-Senpai is… she's not one to be cooperative, but still, the fact that you tried to help us is very much appreciated," smiled Ann in appreciation, and to this, the two Third Years smiled, flustered, as they nodded.

"Duly noted, and considering how you're speaking to us about this, I am to believe that you have you told Takamaki-San about what happened, Suzui-San?" asked Haru as she smiled sadly, and to this, Shiho perked up and nodded, with her smiling a tiny bit all the while.

"Yes… I have. It was the first thing I told her when your chauffeur got me to Ann's home, Okumura-Senpai. It felt strangely nice, to get that all off my chest… and she told me a thing or two about what happened on her end too," mused Shiho with a genuine smile, and to this, Akatsuki and Haru smiled as well, happy to see the girl genuinely happy for a change. But still…

"It made me feel awful, though. All this time… I was putting up with Kamoshida's bullshit, thinking that he'd keep away from Shiho… but in reality, he was abusing the both of us behind our backs. I was played like a damn fiddle…" bemoaned Ann, with her slouching her shoulders as she spoke. Akatsuki scowled at this, with him shaking his head all the while.

"You were played, but I have a feeling you won't be any more, Takamaki-San," mused Akatsuki, and to that, Ann smiled sternly and nodded, with her telling them a few details pertaining to her side of the story all the while.

Apparently, whilst she was headed home yesterday, she had gotten a similar phone call from Kamoshida, earlier than Shiho, with that… man having asked her for a… favour, if you could even call it that, but despite agreeing to it for, at the time, Suzui's sake, Takamaki had been overheard by the transfer student, of all people, who had bumped into her by chance by Shibuya Station all the while.

"Amamiya… his name is Amamiya Ren… he happened across me calling Kamoshida and chased me all across the station just to wring the truth out of me," chuckled Ann humorlessly as she recalled the events that had transpired whilst also introducing the transfer student by name. She had told him about the harassment she suffered under Kamoshida's hand, all the rumors and threats regarding Shiho's safety and how he'd take her off the team if she didn't comply… she thought herself doing something noble for her friend by sacrificing herself at the time, but considering how he had almost immediately gone for Suzui after she had failed to show up at his doorstep, Takamaki now found herself highly doubting that fact in its entirety.

Hearing that the transfer had gone out of his way to actively pursue Ann to uncover the truth from her surprised the upperclassmen quite a bit, with them sharing a look before they smiled at one another. It seemed as though they were right to reserve their judgement of him until later, and if at all possible, they now wished to praise the transfer, nay… they wished to thank Amamiya Ren for what he did for Takamaki. His act of selflessness was not to be brushed aside lightly.

Still, though…

"You were very brave, Takamaki-San… at the time, it might not have been a smart move, but you showed yourself to care greatly for Suzui-San through your actions," smiled Haru, with her smiling when she saw Ann lightly squeeze Shiho's hand.

"Well, if it's for Shiho, I'd gladly move mountains to keep her safe…" admitted Ann without a shred of hesitation, eliciting a blush and a smile from Shiho as she spoke. The Third Years found themselves believing her words as they smiled at this, though they didn't comment much more on this as they nodded, and moments later, Akatsuki crossed his arms and exhaled sharply.

"... commendable, but it won't be enough… we don't know what Kamoshida will do next, now that the two of you have defied him," stated Akatsuki with a scowl, with him using air quotes when saying definied. "Blackmail and manipulation will likely be inefficient against either of you, now that you're aware of what he's doing behind the scenes, but the fact remains that he still has power over the two of you… and until such a time where we can kick him out of Shujin and into a prison cell, permanently, neither of you will be safe…"

"I know…" muttered Shiho sadly as she clasped her hands together tightly, with Ann setting a hand atop her shoulder as she offered her some emotional support, but even so, not long after she said this, Akatsuki smiled and reached into his pocket. Fishing out a small envelope, the boy whistled at the two lowerclassmen girls before flinging the letter towards Suzui in particular.

"Think fast, Suzui-San," grinned Akatsuki as he threw the letter at Shiho, who managed to catch the spinning envelope with minimal difficulty. Thereafter, she read that it was addressed to her specifically… from the Chad Medical Institution… one of the most prestigious medical institutes in Japan…! Why did…

'O-Oh, right… I forgot that there's more to him than meets meets the eye…' thought Shiho after she remembered just who Akatsuki really was, and after remembering this, she hastily tore the letter open and read through it with Ann, who, like her, widened her eyes at what the contents were of.

"An… extended leave from all co-curricular activities… as approved by Chadan Chad, head of the Chad Medical Institution, subsidiary of Hanatsu…" read Ann as she widened her eyes in shock before glancing over at Akatsuki and Haru in amazement.

"The duration of which is… unspecified?!" added Shiho, with her eyes bulging out of their sockets as she glanced over at Akatsuki in shock. Had he really used his position as Hanatsu's founder's son to get her something this… miraculous? It would seem so… and knowing this made Suzui feel warm inside as she felt her mouth going limp, hanging loosely as she processed this info.

"Yeah. I know you want to protect the other members of the Volleyball Team, but considering what Kamoshida tried to do to you yesterday, I think it would be best if you stayed out of his way for a bit. Your passion for Volleyball is apparent, so outright quitting is a no go, so this is the better alternative for all of us," stated Akatsuki seriously. "If he's going so far as to try and coerce you into having intimate relations with him… who knows what'll happen next, especially after neither of you showed up at his doorstep yesterday."

"Fair point… though what's stopping him from going after someone else on the Volleyball Team…?" asked Shiho, with her looking down whilst Ann lightly grasping at her hand as she said this. "And me taking an extended leave won't do anything to stop the abuse either… so it wouldn't change anything in the long run…"

"Perhaps… but I have someone coming in to work on this case as we speak!" stated Haru, with her bouncing into the fray as she spoke. Hearing this caused both Takamaki and Suzui to perk up as she continued. "One of my… uh…"

"Haru-Chan's got connections, basically," stated Akatsuki for his friend; Haru really didn't wish to oust her chauffeur as someone that was more important than his status would imply, so her friend's interruption was much appreciated!

"Y-Yeah! A connection of mine has confirmed that a well trained investigator and prosecutor will be on the case within the week! Kamoshida's reign will not last for long, you can count on that, Takamaki-San, Suzui-San!" smiled Haru encouragingly, and to this, Shiho and Ann could only blink in hopeful surprise as they intertwined their hands with one another, hoping beyond hope that Suguru's downfall would come sooner rather than later.

"... we will bring him to justice, one way or another. Give us some time; we'll start an investigation into this bullshit and it'll be before you can say Final Fusion has been Approved," encouraged Akatsuki as he snapped his fingers to emphasize his point. "We already promised to keep you safe yesterday, Suzui-San. We won't go back on our word, and the same applies to you, Takamaki-San; Kamoshida will pay for what he's done."

"I… t-thank you, Mixta-Senpai…" thanked Shiho in earnest, but even so… the Third Year students weren't done just yet.

"Likewise, Suzui-San, please come to either myself or Akatsuki-Kun if Kamoshida is ever trying to do something to you; both you and Takamaki-San. Who knows what Kamoshida would do to either of you, especially after you both defied him yesterday," added Haru, with her almost grinning sadistically as she spoke.

Shiho's worries were obvious to her as she opened her mouth to speak, only for Okumura to cut her off as she asked for her and Ann to hand her their phones. They did so with some reluctance, and after some fiddling, both devices had Haru and Akatsuki's numbers logged onto them.

"If he ever corners you for one reason or another, contact either me or Akatsuki-Kun right away, and we will be there. I rarely ever flaunt the name of my father to get what I want, and I doubt that Akatsuki-Kun would be willing to start a scene in Shujin, but an exception must be made on occasion… for the greater good," advised Haru, with her sounding deathly serious as she spoke, only for Akatsuki to chuckle lightly.

"Shino-Ojisan tried to teach me how to get a girl's number in the past… but I don't think he meant it in this way," chuckled Akatsuki with a cheeky grin, something that eliciting a light blush from both of his juniors whilst Haru simply pouted and lightly shoved her friend's shoulder, seeming just a bit annoyed at him. "Heh… but either way, the point still stands. Just give us an emergency ring and we'll be there, regardless of the situation."

"Unless we're out of town, anyways."

"Uh… yeah. Unless that occurs."

"I see… thank you, Okumura-Senpai. You as well, Mixta-Senpai. This… everything you've done for not just me, but the volleyball team as well… even if it's still a work in progress… it is more than anyone else has done for the past year at least. So thank you… t-thank you…" thanked Shiho, with her feeling close to tears as she dabbed at her eyes with her wrist. Ann smiled and held her friend close, muttering sweet nothings into her ear all the while.

Akatsuki and Haru could only regard the sight before them with sadness… these poor girls deserved nothing more than the best, especially after what Kamoshida had put them through…

"It's no problem at all, Suzui-San. We'll do our best to bring Kamoshida to justice, we promise!" yelled Haru, prompting Shiho to nod, acknowledging the girl's kindness all the while. She really was a natural born angel, huh?

"Please don't be too hard on yourself, Okumura-Senpai. The fact that you're even thinking of doing so is good enough for me…" assured Shiho, and when Haru smiled, she continued. "Also, please, just call me Shiho… I… would prefer it if you did so, especially after all you've done for me."

Smiling lightly at her head at her upperclassmen, Shiho made her request without any shred of hesitation, and though they were apprehensive at first, Haru and Akatsuki eventually nodded in acknowledgement, prompting Ann to fistpump and add on.

"Well, you guys can call me Ann, then! If Shiho trusts you this much, then I will as well! And besides, it beats having you guys say the mouthful that is my family name!" added Ann, with her smiling the smile that shone of five thousand suns as she spoke. Akatsuki had to shield his eyes before he could be blinded by the grin, and at the same time, Haru smiled a smile that shone as brightly as five hundred thousand suns, blinding him further.

"Well, in that case, please call me Haru! I… prefer it that way!" insisted Haru, with Akatsuki humming whilst he kept his arm up to keep himself from going blind.

"Yeah, you can call me Akatsuki as well, if you want to, I guess."

And with that, a new friend group was established, and as if on cue, the bell signalling the end of lunchtime went off, causing the kids to tense up as they realized how much time had passed thanks to their conversation. Ann and Shiho were quick to bid their new friends farewell. Likewise, Haru and Akatsuki parted ways with them and returned to their own class with matching smiles, content that they were able to help their new friends in some way.

After School - Shujin Gates

At the end of the day, Ann and Shiho were leaving Shujin grounds with a steady stride. Thanks to Akatsuki's letter from the Chad Medical Institute, the two were let off the hook for their Co-curricular activities with very little pushback. They were grateful for that, but still…

"Yo, Suzui-Chan, Takamaki-Chan! Mind if I ask the two of you something?"

Not everything could be perfect, they supposed, and before long, a grimace made its way onto Shiho's face as both she and Ann heard Kamoshida speaking so calmly as they turned to face the aforementioned man, and when they did, the duo frowned when they saw that slimy face of his. The guy was so obviously fuming underneath his friendly facade, but even so… he hid it well as he approached the Second Years with a steady stride.

"... what do you want, Kamoshida-Sensei?" asked Shiho, with her frowning heavily as she instinctively moved to step in front of Ann protectively; she refused to let Takamaki be further harmed by this scum, and upon hearing her tone of defiance, Suguru smiled, with him very much enjoying the defiant tone that the otherwise meek Suzui was putting on, but before he could capitalize on this to tease one of his prizes, the horn of a nearby car parked by the driveway cut him off, prompting everyone to turn and spot a somewhat nondescript white car with goofy looking decals close by.

Without pause, the car's window rolled down, allowing a familiar, to Shiho at least, individual to peer out and salute her with two fingers. Her eyes widened when she made eye contact with Sasha Javor, who grinned at her as he unlocked the back doors, and to this, Kamoshida raised a brow.

"I apologise for interrupting this conversation, but Okumura-San told me that the two of you needed a lift back home, especially with your medical leave, Suzui-San. Please, hop in, both of you. I'll get you two home in a pinch," stated Sasha kindly, with Ann appearing somewhat uncertain at first, though Shiho seemed to lighten up at the sight of the man, having remembered him, prompting the guy to prop his glasses up higher onto his face as he nodded in her direction.

Kamoshida, however, responded to this less positively as he huffed a little whilst eyeing the J-Cruiser warily.

"This seems rather suspicious… why should I trust you with the safety of these fine young women, especially if you don't have proof in regards to you being a servant of Okumura-San?" asked Kamoshida, clearly agitated by Sasha's words. He honestly knew that Javor was Okumura's chauffeur, what with him having seen him frequently out here in the past, but even so… his pride refused to let him back down, even if he knew that this man could probably sue him into the ground for one reason or another, and to this, the bespectacled chauffeur simply chuckled.

"A fair question, but here; my card," stated Sasha, with him whipping out his identity card as he spoke. Said card was furnished with a silver trim, which more or less made it authentic in Kamoshida's filthy eyes, though the fact that his status was that of employee of Okumura Foods more or less made Suguru recoil in defeat, and with a scowl, he threw the card back at Javor, who caught it between his index and middle fingers. "Believe me now?"

"Yeah, just about. Lemme just talk to these two real quick, yeah? It won't-"

"I… would rather not, please… I'd like to go home…" muttered Shiho almost immediately, with her hugging herself lightly as she spoke. The discomfort was obvious in her voice, and to this, Kamoshida grimaced lightly as he got ready to say something else whilst also getting himself ready to curl a snaky arm around Suzui's shoulder, readying an excuse about her volleyball performance all the while and how she should totally revoke her medical leave if she wished to do better, though before she could do so…

THMP!

… Sasha pulled out a Nerf Gun out from the boot of his vehicle and fired a suction cup dart at Kamoshida's head, sticking it comically onto his forehead and disorientating Kamoshida slightly as he recoiled in shock. He took a moment to recover from that, and when he did, he glanced over at the shooter and saw him looking somewhat smug as he lowered his toy gun, and likewise, both Ann and Shiho seemed very much amused as they watched him rip the dart off his forehead and throw it onto the ground.

"Kamoshida Suguru, it is very obvious to me that these girls do not intend to go anywhere with you, so I suggest you leave before I file a report to my little boss about you harassing these two individuals," smiled Sasha, with his silent threat very much made as he eyed Kamoshida. The hostility in his voice was made very much apparent to everyone present, and with a scowl, Suguru, knowing better than to butt heads with an employee of Okumura Foods, left without another word, eliciting two sighs of relief from the girls whilst the chauffeur himself laughed briefly yet happily at the outcome. "Ah… good grief. You girls alright?"

"Y-Yeah… we are. Uhm… who are you…?" asked Ann warily. It wasn't that she didn't trust this guy; she just didn't wish to make any mistakes, especially after what had almost happened the day before, but much to her surprise, rather than tell her who he was directly, he instead turned towards Shiho with an annoyed look on his face.

"Suzui-San… you didn't tell Takamaki-San about me?" asked Sasha, with him pouting lightly as Shiho gave him an awkward it might've slipped my mind, to which he sighed and handed Ann his identity card whilst introducing himself. "Dang, I'm heartbroken… but either way, lemme introduce myself formally for a change. I'm Javor. Javor Sasha. I work for Okumura, mainly by driving his daughter around Japan, as you can probably guess."

"Huh… well, it's nice to meet you, Javor-San," smiled Ann as she returned the card and bowed to him lightly, something that Sasha smiled at as he jerked a thumb to the back seats of his vehicle.

"Likewise. Though, with that being said, my offer still stands. I'm free to give you girls a ride back to your homes if you wish," offered Sasha kindly. "And before you think it, I have a reputation to keep as a chauffeur under Okumura, and under him, I make more money than most of the teachers in Shujin per year, combined, in a single month; I have no need for kidnapping or whatever. I'm just following my little boss' wishes in keeping you two safe."

"I never doubted you to begin with, Javor-San. Anyone with relations to Haru-Chan is a friend in my book," assured Shiho as she lightly pulled on Ann's hand, urging her to follow her into the vehicle all the while. The blonde didn't seem too excited, though she trusted her friend enough to do just that… though before she could do so…

"...?"

… Ann caught a glimpse of Ryuji, Ren and… a cat standing by an alleyway close to Shujin, and judging by their expressions, they seemed to be planning something.

Frowning lightly at the sight, the blonde glanced between the car and the alleyway, with her silently pondering what her next move would be. She could just leave to her home with Shiho, but at the same time…

'They're planning something against Kamoshida… I know it…'

… after everything she's seen those two do; them interviewing the Volleyball team during the rally, Ren pursuing her yesterday and Ryuji himself almost coming to blows with Kamoshida over him leering over Shiho some time back… it told her that they had something in mind that could potentially bring that rotten man down.

And if they were capable of doing so… then Ann would want in on this whole debacle.

"Takamaki-San? Is something-"

"Shiho… I… I might've forgotten to get something in my class. Do… you think that you could maybe go on ahead of me?" requested Ann lightly, and to this, Shiho blinked in surprise, seeming a little unsure of how to respond to this, but still, she ultimately nodded, with her seeing a fire in her friend's eyes as she did so.

"I… alright, Ann. Please be careful, though. Kamoshida's still…" began Shiho, only for Sasha to scoff.

"Don't worry about him; little boss and her boyfriend are still on school grounds. They won't let Kamo-Shit-Lord get close to Takamaki-San if they can help it," grinned Sasha confidently. Ann and Shiho shared a quick chuckle at this, though at the same time… "Still though, you want me to stay behind to wait? Just in case I mean."

"No need! This might take a while; Shiho knows where I hide a key outside my apartment, so she can get in!" assured Ann with a smile and to this, Sasha nodded. He didn't like leaving this girl in a place so close to scum like Kamoshida, but he could tell that she wouldn't back down from her decision; he's taken care of Haru long enough to know when someone would stand their ground until the bitter end, and with a sharp exhale, he nodded and motioned for her to go on.

"Very well then, stay frosty, kid."

"I will. Thank you, Javor-San. And take care, Shiho."

"I will, Ann."

And, much to the surprise of Sasha, Shiho leaned in to kiss Ann on the lips before she shut the door and waved at her friend, who mirrored the gesture with a smile. Javor was taken aback by this, though he quickly got over it with a wolf whistle as he kicked down on the acceleration.

"Whew~ You and Takamaki-San, huh?" grinned Sasha as he peered over at Shiho via the rearview mirror, prompting the ponytailed girl to blush lightly as she buckled herself in and tapped her fingers together.

"Y-Yeah… don't tell anyone, please?" pleaded Shiho, eliciting a chuckle from Sasha as he pantomimed zipping his lips.

"So long as no one asks, you'll be fine. Now strap in; this ride'll take a while, depending on the traffic."

"Hm… I hope that Ann gets home quickly. I'd like to spend the evening with her today…"

"Eh, who's to say. For all we know, she'd take an hour to find whatever it is she lost!"

And although that was meant as a joke, a sinking feeling in both his and Shiho's stomachs told them that would not be the case…

My... It's taken far too long…

Her eyes widened as an unfamiliar voice sang through her mind… and then… she flung her head back as a pain unlike any other overwhelmed her senses.

Her situation was a complicated one, and it left her in a state of confusion and panic… but even so… this sudden surge of agony had overwritten everything else the moment it had come.

Tell me... who shall be the one to avenge those whom he has defiled?

Tearing through her mind, the agonizing pain that came with her allowing that manthing to attempt to seduce her flooded her senses. Shame, humiliation and disgust… all of it came pouring down upon her like a torrent of flame…

… and thereafter, the rage that came with her heart finally understanding that she had been used, manipulated into doing what he wanted her to do… how she had almost sold her body to him for the sake of her significant other… it had caused the anger within her to burn.

And burn it did, with it blazing into a supernova as her inner flame roared for vengeance.

Forgiveness was never an option... such is the scream of the other you that dwells within...

Breathing in deeply, the girl did her best to hold strong against this pain, even as she remained bound to an X shaped restraint. Around her, friend and foe alike stepped back preemptively…

Around her, flames danced around at her feet, rising with each pained breath she let out. Higher and higher did they rise, never to stop, even as the pillars of flame reached the ceiling, singing them with minimal difficulty…

"I… I understand… no more… no holding back…! For both my sake… and FOR SHIHO!"

There you go... nothing can be solved by restraining oneself. It seems as though you finally understand…

The raging flames melted the restraints that were holding the girl in place, and as they were turned to slag, she was allowed to fall forwards, landing on all fours, and as she did, the pillars of fire descended upon her. The decidedly friendly individuals all gasped when they saw this…

… though moments later, they stopped when they realized that they were not hurting her… rather…

We can finally forge a contract…

… they coalesced upon the girl's face, forming a blazing red Panther mask that took form in an instant.

I am Thou, Thou Art I...

Reaching up to her mask, the girl began to pull on it, with her screaming with each tug. Skin peeled, flesh was ripped and through it all, her other self chuckled softly with her attempts.

Good… now then, I shall gladly lend you my strength, and with it…

And with a single, swift motion the mask was torn off, and her inner rebellion rose to the surface in a blazing torrent of fire.

ALL WHO HAVE WRONGED US, SHALL BURN!

Standing tall with her other self behind her, the blonde glared at the false self of the man that had attempted to ruin her with his actions.

Fueled by adrenaline, the girl made use of a disarmed Knight's blade and cut down her cognitive self in but a second, and moments later, she discarded her weapon in favour of another created by her rebellious soul, brandishing it out towards the source of her hatred all the while.

"I'm not some cheap girl you can toy with, you scumbag…"

"You tried to steal everything from Shiho and I… you tried to destroy us… and for that… I will rob you of EVERYTHING!"

"I've had enough of you… no one is going to stop me now… LET'S GO, CARMEN!"

4/15, Fri

After School - Shujin Rooftop

Yusuke: I still find it difficult to believe that someone like Kamoshida would be capable of such acts.

Yusuke: The Media spoke highly of him in the past, and at one point in my life, I had admired him for his abilities, but now, I can only look at him in disgust.

Akatsuki: You and me both.

Yusuke: Still though, it is not too far off from the heinous crimes of Madarame. In all honesty, they are somewhat similar; Madarame was praised by the general media for his greatness, but behind the scenes, he was truly a deplorable man.

Yusuke: It seems as though many great men and women hide who they truly are behind the mask they construct for themselves, and the masks that the populace puts unto them. Were it not for your miraculous discovery, I would never have suspected Kamoshida of such depravity.

Akatsuki: honestly, I've always thought that something was off with that guy, but I never thought that he'd be a perpetrator of sexual harassment, much less against minors.

Haru: … in truth, I did catch a glimpse of Kamoshida's depravity a while ago.

Yusuke: Explain.

Haru: It was a few weeks prior, when Akatsuki-Kun had to leave early. I too was about to leave when I bumped into a lowerclassmen. I believe his name was Mishima?

Haru: Regardless, I took note of his injuries and wished to assist him, but he declined. Out of respect for him, I kept this quiet.

Akatsuki: You're kind, Haru-Chan, but there's such a thing as being too kind.

Haru: I apologise… I was simply unsure on whether or not I would be doing the right thing at the time. This will not happen again, I promise!

Yusuke: I believe I speak for both myself and Akatsuki-Kun when I say that we believe you.

Yusuke: That aside, however, if necessary, I must ask if it would be possible for you to call off the investigation into Madarame in favour of beginning one on Kamoshida.

Yusuke: Whilst Madarame's actions are abhorrent, currently, he is not hurting anyone with his work. Kamoshida's harassment and abuse of his students should be a priority now more so than ever.

Haru: You have a point, but worry not! Javor-San has an investigator friend coming in about a week's time! He's a good investigator and prosecutor, so he should have the case closed quickly!

Akatsuki: Yeah. I researched the guy Javor-San's talking about. He's part of a small-time business named Phantom Pain. Bayang Cal Sven… an investigator of six years. He's infamously named Noire thanks to how many dark cases he's closed in the past.

Haru: Hmph! He's stealing my codename!

Akatsuki: Probably, but that's besides the point. He should have the matter resolved quickly.

Yusuke: I see. That is a relief.

Yusuke: However, if at all possible, may I change the topic at hand?

Haru: Go ahead, Yusuke-Kun.

Yusuke: Thank you.

Yusuke: To put it bluntly, I have been thinking hard about my current situation with Madarame. I am still officially his pupil, and that in itself bothers me greatly, and after a great deal of time pondering the matter… I have come to a decision in regards to what I wish to do about this.

Akatsuki: And what would this decision be, Yusuke-Kun?

Yusuke: I wish to officially leave my position as Madarame's student.

Haru: !

Akatsuki: Really?

Yusuke: Yes… I have put much consideration into this matter, and I fear that my tolerance for him might not last until the end of the investigation regardless, and if at all possible, I wish to sever my connection to him before such a thing happens.

Haru: You are aware of the potential consequences that will follow with your defiance, correct?

Yusuke: Indeed.

Akatsuki: And you're still willing to go through with it?

Yusuke: Yes.

Akatsuki: … when do you wish to do this?

Yusuke: This coming Sunday. Why?

Haru: We will accompany you. We do not know if Madarame will try anything when you leave his side, so it would be best if we stood by you just in case.

Akatsuki: We'll also provide moral support if you need it, but at the end of the day, the choice to leave or stay is yours.

Yusuke: Have faith in me, my friends.

Yusuke: My days of being a Pupil of Madarame are coming to a close.

"He's getting braver," chuckled Akatsuki as he turned off his phone, with him turning his attention back to the soil all the while. To his side, Haru suppressed a giggle as she nodded in agreement, and thereafter, they went back to work on tending to their plants.

The school day was already over, and the duo were back at it with their plant related antics. They had initially hoped to meet with Yusuke once more, though his message to them made them reconsider; he would need some time to mentally prepare himself for Sunday…

"I'm glad, honestly. Yusuke is standing up for himself now, and regardless of the outcome of this Sunday, I just… I'm proud of him," smiled Haru as she buried a few seeds beneath the soil, and to this, Akatuski nodded firmly.

"Likewise, Haru-Chan. Likewise…"

Either way, right as they were finishing up for the day, the door to the roof opened, if only by a little, allowing Ryuji to peek in. He was quick to make eye contact with Akatsuki and Haru, who both waved at him as he entered. They were used to seeing him up here, after all, but still, they were more used to seeing him leave the roof when they had marched in rather than vice versa… meh, there was a first time for everything, they supposed.

Surprisingly enough, however, he wasn't alone in entering the roof as, moments after he entered, Ann had followed him up, with her grinning and offering them a peace sign as she walked in, and likewise, Shiho came in next, with her waving lightly at the duo all the while, and finally, Amamiya Ren walked into view, seeming… perturbed when he took stock of his Seniors, though his bespectacled gaze did shine with recognition either way. Vice versa, however, both Akatsuki and Haru didn't seem to mind his presence; unless he wished to start a fight, they would be cool with him.

"Uh… yo, Mixta-Senpai, Okumura-Senpai. I uh… don't mean to be rude but… me and my pals over here kinda wanna discuss something on the down low. Can we maybe get a bit of privacy, please?" requested Ryuji, perhaps as politely as he could whilst kicking at the ground, with him gesturing to the three others present all the while, and to this, the Third Years blinked before Haru giggled lightly.

"No worries, Sakamoto-San. Akatsuki-Kun and I were just about to leave. I hope you and Shiho-Chan are doing better now, Ann-Chan," smiled Haru, with her adding in a little more near the end as she turned to address Ann and Shiho, both of whom smiled lightly as they nodded in her direction, with their hands lacing over one another all the while. Akatsuki didn't say much, though he did nod at Shiho as a way to assure her that things will be fine, and to this, the duo left, allowing the thieves to discuss whatever they wished in confidence.

Before they left, however, the two momentarily stopped beside Ren, who seemed a little uncomfortable with their sudden pause, though moments later, Akatsuki raised an arm up and lightly patted his shoulder before speaking.

"I heard that you helped Ann-Chan with Kamoshida a while back. Nice going, Amamiya-San," hummed Akatsuki in approval as he released the younger yet taller boy's shoulder and left the roof, with Haru smiling and waving farewell as well.

And though their words didn't mean all that much in the long run, they still stuck with the transfer for quite some time.

"Ooooh… someone's getting flustered!"

"Shaddup, Morgana. We have more important things to talk about…"

Useless… so useless… she should've remained back in Shujin like they asked. As things were now, she was just a liability… someone that couldn't even provide moral support against this… thing…

Standing before them, wielding twin tonfa and with a ferocious, masked face, the Shadow had fought the others to a standstill with its skills alone. The accursed Shadow PE Teacher had asked for it to do battle with them, with him claiming this entity to be his personal bodyguard.

It had shown its prowess by downing all that stood against it, and finally… it turned its attention towards her, and as it did so, her knees trembled and buckled, another showing of just how… weak she was.

A tonfa was swung at her, though it never connected, stopped by the whip of The Lovers as she desperately tried to hold her back, and as the personal bodyguard to that accursed man overpowered the Panther…

How abhorrent…

A voice found itself echoing through her head, sounding incredibly similar to her own… and upon hearing it, a powerful shockwave tore through the room, and moments later, a sharp stab of pain tore through the girl's mind as she shrieked in agony, clutching at either side of her head.

The pain refused to stop, even as tears fell from her eyes, but even so, the voice remained uncaring as it continued to speak…

Even now, the hearts of men remain constantly blinded by lust… and he who stands before us is the most repugnant one of them all…

Pain shot through her skull as she heard those words echo through her mind, with her doubling over as she felt it reverberate through her skull. Spit and tears fell to the ground as her shame at failing to protect her dear friend struck her in full, causing her to squeeze her eyes shut as she slammed a fist into the ground.

Her friend in red rushed over to check on her whilst the Pirate with the Skull mask and the Gentleman with the Domino mask focused on keeping their foe at bay, but her presence was barely acknowledged, and by all means, when her knuckles hat hit the ground, those around her paused briefly in shock when her fist had created a hole in it.

Tell me, do you intend to allow these vermin to do as they please? Such malignance is unbecoming of one such as yourself…

The gasp of her friend was drowned out by the sound of combat, and beyond even that, the rage that filled her body surpassed even that.

Anger… hatred… fury… all of this was felt by the girl, even as she forced herself back up to her feet and grit her teeth together tightly, and with all her strength, she clenched her fists tightly, to the point of drawing blood, and scowled heavily.

Does this silent existence not bring you shame? Do you feel… regret, perhaps? Anger?

Do you not crave vengeance?

"I… I do!"

Her cry caught the attention of her friend, who flinched as indigo flames licked at the ground around her, and that scumbag in that disgusting speedo stepped back upon hearing this.

How breathtaking… very well, you have shown me your conviction…

And so… let us initiate our partnership…

The worst of it had fallen upon her in an instant, with the girl screaming as she fell to one knee and grabbed at her head. Psychic power manifested around her as balls of multicoloured energy hovered around her, coalescing towards the upper half of her face until they formed a shape that would shield her heart for years to come.

The screaming had never stopped, even after the psychic energy solidified, becoming the mask that would protect her forevermore.

I am Thou… Thou art I…

Shock clouded her friend's vision as she watched a masquerade mask fully manifest itself onto the girl's face in an eruption of azure, and without hesitation, she reached up and began to rip it off, regardless of just how much pain that act caused.

Scream… scream with all your strength, with all your rage and with all your might…

Scream, as, from this day forth…

And after some resistance was shown, the girl ripped the mask off her face in a shower of blood and gore… and seconds later…

YOUR TORMENTORS SHALL KNOW THE AGONY BEHIND YOUR CRIES!

Azure flames and indigo chains manifested themselves around the girl, only to be brought down ever so slightly as the girl's Persona itself took shape alongside her armaments and cognitive thief attire.

Weapons held at the ready, the girl stared down at herself in awe, and moments later…

"So this… t-this is the power of…"

"Ann… I won't allow you to fight all of my battles for me. Put some faith in me for a change!"

"You've toyed with enough people, Kamoshida… your reign is coming to an end… let's do this, MATA HARI!"

Hey so this story has like 50 chapters written as of me posting this. I just legit forgot to update the FF.N ver until now lmao.

All 50 chapters can be read on AO3.