January, Sunday 10th. 32XX

Business District, Cyber City

Morning

Akira decided to do some grocery shopping at a convenience mart while waiting on Johnny to get back to him on getting that meet-up with Anton Veruca underway. He mainly went for the essentials items and key ingredient items for his apartment. When he come upon the last box of Violet Tea, he reached out to grab it just as another hand belonging to a dark-coloured lion had reached out to grab it as well.

"Oh, were you looking for that?" The lion asks Akira, retracting his hand as he looks to him.

"It was the last one here and figured I'd grab it today." Akira turns to him. "Were you looking for this?"

"Thought I'd get something to help a friend of mine sleep a little better at night."

"In that case, you can have it."

"You sure? I mean you found at it first and all."

"Eh. I can live fine without it." Akira replied nonchalantly. 'I'd find stronger stuff than that myself to help me sleep better...'

"Ah. Well, thank you." The lion smiles as he grabs the box and puts it in his shopping basket before walking off. "Have a nice day!"

"You too." Akira said after him, scratching his chin as he goes back to his shopping. Eventually Akira would meet Vanilla who's busy shopping for her own groceries and was browsing the woman's care aisle.

"Morning Mrs. Rabbit." Akira greeted her as he went over to the mother rabbit. "Doing your Sunday rounds?"

"Oh, yes of course." Vanilla smiles. "I was just picking some things up. Figured I could save some mobiums by shopping here."

"I'm just grabbing what I need for my apartment."

"Well, I myself should probably start shopping at the actual grocery store come the next paycheck. Hopefully I get plenty of tips..."

"Tips, huh? You work as a hostess, waitress or bartender at your job?" Akira questioned, being the three jobs that comes off the top of his mind when tipping is involved.

"You could say that..." Vanilla replied vaguely. "I... Work a job that pays handsomely but also comes with the occasional tips."

"That helps to put food on the table and all."

"I do what I must for my daughter."

"She at—" Akira stopped as Cream appeared, holding a few fruits her mother had asked her to get for the basket. "Oh, hi there."

"Morning Mister Amamiya." The young greeted him with a smile and a head bow. "How are you?"

"I've been well. How about yourself?"

"Just helping mommy out today with the shopping."

"I brought Cream with me as a change of pace." Vanilla said with a smile, patting Cream on the head.

"Having fun together?" Akira asks Cream as Cheese and Chocola showed up with items Vanilla had asked them to fetch, putting them into her basket.

"Yep!" Cream beamed with a sunny smile. "When we're finished shopping, we'll be going for tea and treats. You'd like to come with?"

"I don't know. This' more of a day for you and your family." Akira scratches the back of his head. "I'd only be intruding."

"Oh, nonsense." Vanilla replied with a smile. "We would simply love the company, wouldn't we Cream?"

Cream nodded.

"Well, okay. Supposed I got time to join you for tea." Akira conceded. 'And it beats waiting around for hours.'

"Yay!" The young rabbit gave him a closed-eyes toothy smile with Cheese letting off a pleased coo. "You could tell us how your first week here's been going over tea and scones."

Vanilla smiled as well. "Good to know. Let us finish up on our shopping and we'll head over."

The five would continue their shopping for another moment before Akira and Vanilla paid for their respective groceries, proceeding to head off over to a teashop together with shopping bags in hand. Vanilla chose one of the window booth seats at the teashop as she sat facing Akira on the seat and Cream seated by her side. The two Chao would both take a seat over on Akira's side.

"Come here often?" The wolf would start off the conversation at the booth seat. Setting down his shopping bags under the table.

"Whenever we can, yes. Their carrot cake slices are absolutely divine as are their jelly-filled scones. Do you call them jelly or jam?"

"Jam without question but I'll have to try them out if they're as good as you say they are."

"Most definitely. Their tea and coffee are quite good too."

"You should try them too." Cream added.

"Not to mention that lattes are absolutely dreamy..." Vanilla said with a contented sigh. "It's like drinking a smooth, milky cloud..."

"I think I'll try one of those if you're having one too." Akira said with a smile.

When the sole teashop waiter came over, they gave their orders and he went off to make their orders with Akira left to explain how his week has been going from the last Sunday to now... At least the stuff he's able to disclose except anything to do with the Metaverse or the mission to expose a gang leader's crimes. They're not involved with that discourse and he prefers it that way.

"...We then went to the arcade to play the new VR machine there." The wolf was saying to them.

Vanilla listened to his accounts. "Seems you've had a very eventful week. That's always good when moving into a new place... Most of the time. Sometimes, uneventful days can be better than eventful ones."

'Truer words have never been spoken...' Akira wondered if Vanilla had some kind of inkling about the Metaverse to say that or that's him misreading her words. "I can see your point there. Too much excitement would get tiring after a while."

"Indeed and what better world to have that point of view on than on Mobius? Never a dull moment on this planet, that's for certain."

"You ever get those exciting days yourself?" Akira props his chin up on the left hand. Almost subconsciously mimicking Mr. Hedgehog's posture.

"Well, I suppose it depends on who's attacking the city at the time or who the 'villain of the week' is."

"A Mobotropolis thing?"

"Yup. A Mobotropolis thing."

"I can't imagine how that must feel for you Miss Cream." Akira says to Cream.

"It was a little distressing at first and even having my mommy taken by that badman Dr Eggman but thankfully, Mister Sonic and his friends were there to help us. It all turned out well in the end. Even made new friends out of it."

"Company in the presence of trouble and danger make for good friends." Akira said as their orders arrived. Vanilla nodded, thanking the waitress after she brought them their orders and then daintily blew on her tea before taking a sip.

"Mmmm... So divine~" She said with a contented smile. Akira took a sip of his tea after blowing on it, letting the hot liquid enter his mouth. Slushing around the inside of the mouth for his buds to examine it's brewing and mixture before swallowing it.

He felt the tension he didn't realise he was carrying around him until he started relaxing after his first sip.

"It's good, isn't it?" Vanilla said to Akira.

"Mmm. Yes it is."

"Try one of the scones too."

Akira grabs a piece of scone and bites on it. "What do you think Doctor?"

"I'll say, it's certainly a well-made scone by my standards. Perhaps I could mathematically break them down into components..."

"Or just get the ingredients and recipe ourselves."

"That's what I said."

"I meant a recipe that's comprehensible to me."

"And I thought some of my companions were a little mouthy..."

"So were you when you started acting like a grammarian and wearing that eyesore co—"

"Don't you dare diss the coat!"

"It's as nice as you say it is." Akira said to Vanilla, ignoring his Persona's indigence. "One of the better ones I've had in a while."

"I'm glad you think so." Vanilla said with a smile. "I admit, it was often hard to find a tea shop as nice as this in my home town when I was your age."

"Used to go to a teashop like this when I was younger with my parents back in Golden Bay City with hand-crafted teas served to us by the original owner whenever we go there. Still around last I checked but the original owner's retired now and his daughter runs it now..." Akira runs a finger around the rim of his cup. "I take it your family weren't always from Mobotropolis? Your lavender dress looked to be as my mother would put it as being very southernly in styling."

"Your mommy a dressmaker?" Cream asked curiously.

"My mother was a lady of many talents. Enough to be feel like four and a half stuffed into one body with her sometimes just like my father." Akira replied with a smile.

"Believe it or not, I was raised in the Southern Baronies." Vanilla admitted to him. "Have some french ancestry in me."

"And we used to have a house in Floral Forest Village east of Seaside City til it demolished by one of Dr Eggman's robot. Mister Sonic and them were kind enough to give us a home in Mobotropolis." Cream added, tapping her chin. "Though, I wasn't brought up in the south like mommy and daddy were.

"Would that make you both partly French or fully Northamerian?" Akira questioned them.

"Partly French, yes. When I was younger, I had a distinct French accent before English took hold when I got older."

"Ah."

"From birth, I was raised to be a proper lady and even today; I am raising Cream to be a proper lady herself."

"Mm-hmm!" Cream chirped. "Mommy says good manners make the man. Though I don't quite get the meaning of it myself..."

"Manners maketh the man. Your mannerisms and characteristics make you who you are as well as judged by." Akira explains to her and gently correcting the saying for her. "Originating as a quote by William of Wykeham in Shakespeare's Hamlet."

"Exactly." Vanilla agreed with a nod, impressed he knows of the quote's origins. "I make it my daily goal to teach Cream how to be a proper lady so that in later life she'll be a sophisticated young woman and be able to marry if she so chooses."

"I'm sure she'll be a lot like yourself in several years when she gets there." Akira would say as he petted Cheese on the head and giving some to Chocola too. "Good-natured and caring. Any worth their salt would treat her well if she's looking for a partner but that's her call and same for her career path."

"Chao!" Cheese purred with a contented smile under his gentle petting.

"Yes indeed..." Vanilla said with a nod. "She'll make someone very happy in sickness and in health someday..."

"Miss Cream. Where do you see yourself in several years?" Akira would ask Cream.

"Hmm... Well, I see myself continuing to help my friends in the Freedom Fighters and being allowed to be out on the frontlines more."

The wolf nearly swallowed his drink wrong for a moment. "Hang on. Let's back up for a moment, okay?"

"Okay."

"You said you'll continue to help your friends in the Freedom Fighters."

"Yep."

"The Freedom Fighters as in the Knothole Freedom Fighters?"

"Yes." Cream nodded nonchalantly. "My best friends Miss Amy Rose and Mister Big Cat are apart of it too."

Suddenly having a load of questions on his mind, he'd ask; "Wait, the Am—"

"Oh look, it's the Red Mutt." Came the unpleasant voice of Migu Veruca as she appears alongside Hud Veruca like a bad case of migraine or a runny nose. "And he looks to be chatting it up with someone else other than the Scarlet Slut for a change."

"Good morning to you too Migu and Hud..." Akira greeted her like he wasn't annoyed by the Verucas' unwanted presence, putting up a civil front. The more times he meets Anton's family, the sooner he wants to get him dealt with to not have them keep crashing in on his mornings.

"Excuse you..." Vanilla said to Migu, scowling at her. "There is a child present, so I would appreciate you not using that kind of language in front of her."

"Like I'd totally listen to a nobody like you." Migu rolls her eyes. "She's gonna like learn all that bad language when she's like my age or someting like that."

'Who crank up the annoy on her this morning...' Akira mentally groans, wondering what did he ever do in a previous life to attract someone like Migu who can't even something right. "It's something Migu, not someting."

"Whatever. Doesn't change the fact that you're like a no-named peasant hanging around with like another woman behind your girlfriend's back. What, she like can't stand your company or someting today? Seeing as you've like been hanging with that hussy a lot since coming here."

"Because unlike you, I've got an actual life?" Akira leaned back in his seat. "I hang out with her yes but you also forget we share classes too and have common interests. Like normal people. People that don't go around spreading lies for laughs like you and you're one to be talking about company."

Vanilla glared daggers at Migu. Then suddenly stood up out of her seat and stood in front of Migu, towering over her with her height. "I would strongly suggest you adjust to a different attitude miss. I will not let you talk like that in front of my daughter or treat other people who have done you no wrong with the height of your bad manners."

"Don't get your panties all twisted..." Hud stepped in between the two women and speaking in a condescending tone. "We're only just bantering with him here. College stuff, you know?"

Vanilla gave Hud a very fierce, very angry glare as if nonverbally telling him to back off and walk away. Hud just gave her a smarmy sneering grin that psychologically pisses off Akira on a deep level from just looking at it; "I dare you to try anything on us bitch."

"Of course... That's if you're willing to like deal with social services for like having violent conduct towards minors and that." Migu smirked smugly with a hand on her hip. "Deeming you totally unsuitable to be caring for a child with such behaviour like that. Are you really, really going to like risk that on her life or are you going to be like a good mommy there and sit back down?"

"We got people here to vouch for us." Akira retorted harshly.

"Don't count on them to be on your side in court buddy when money's involved." Hud scoffs with a snidely chuckle. "Especially when you're an out of towner and the claimant, us having the funds to get the best attorney around to prove your mistress' guilt to the city's judge. Particularly as we happens to be have the connections to curb-stomp this hoe in court with ease and she has to start putting her body to work if she wants to survive winter this year. Might give her work with us if we want to show some curtsey."

"I think it'd be like in our best interests that we don't like have to resort to that." Migu added, looking up to Vanilla with a shit-eating grin. "Especially if it has a traumatic effect on your child seeing you lose your cool over some mere words~"

Vanilla glared at Migu, then looked at Cream for a moment before sitting down with a more calmer expression on her face. The two Chao does not like the Verucas' presence but they especially dislike the vibe Hud is carrying. Their angry expressions tells the whole story.

"That's a good housewife. Doing exactly as you're told and knowing your place. Leave the fighting to men like us." Hud said in a smarmy, smirking voice before adding with an unpleasant looking grin bordering on uncomfortable; "Though I must say, I can see why Four-Eyes is hanging around with a hot cougar like you. I'd certainly like to give you my "C—"

"Can you two like get lost now?" Akira says to them, cutting off Hud mid-sentence and deciding to mimic Migu's way of speaking to mask his anger at the pair; deciding against smashing his ceramic cup in the male Veruca's face since a child is present. "You're like really sucking the vibe out of all this and like."

"Keep talking like that loser and it'll be your teeth that'll get lost." Hud pointed his nostrils down at him, trying to look big and loud to others watching. "You're just some spineless schmuck who'll end up stuck working a dead-end job in his fifties as another office drone or caught looking up a girl's skirt like a creep. I hear your kind are all about that and committing sudokus when you screw up."

"Leave him alone!" Cream spoke up with a furrowed brow and having enough of his badmouthing. "He's not a nobody and he's a nice person too! Far nicer than you are!"

"What would a stupid annoying bratty cunt like you know about anything?" Hud looked at the young rabbit in disgust, treating her like a stain on his shoe and intimidating her with his mean mug. "You'll be some pushover pick-me bitch whenever you hit eighteen and start—"

"Your problem's with me, not with them." Akira spoke up sharply, the sudden slam of his fist on the table able to psyche out the unruly pair and feel his piercing gaze. "Unless either of you got something meaningful to say to me beyond being a nuisance, then you both should leave us all be. Please. Before I stop being patient with you and show your wannabe tough guy brother here who the real loser between us."

"...Tch. I was getting bored of this anyways." Migu tutted as he and Hud decided to finally start leaving. "Enjoy hanging out with cougar here and paying for her child. We have better things to be doing than arguing with you."

"That child will never call you daddy. Though if you're nice enough to her mother, she'll might let you get randy with her in bed... If she doesn't make you call her mommy first haha!" Hud called out inappropriately with those words before disappearing through the tea shop alongside Migu. That finally cemented Akira's disdain for him as a person.

Vanilla glared daggers at the two as they left, growling a bit as she did so. "What a pair of absolutely beastly people. Especially the brother."

"And that's not even the half of it..." Akira took his glasses off to run a hand over his face, trying to calm himself down. "I'm sorry you both had to experience them like this."

"What I wouldn't give to call that girl's mother and tell her what those two did right now..."

"She's with the Cyber City P.T.A group and their father's a head chef to Mayor Fumfer. It'll be your word against her children I'm afraid." Akira sighs. "She's also a rumourmonger at the college I attend. Happen to fall victim to it only two days in along with a fellow student."

"It's still appalling how they're able to just get away with that and behave that way..."

"You and me both."

"And her language… It's like she was raised in a barn. Don't even get me started on him too; he definitely belongs in one with his attitude."

"If only I came up with that one first." Akira smiled a bit at the barn comment. Wondering if Vanilla is really witty under her lady demeanour.

Vanilla sighs, rubbing her eyes like she's had her energy drained by the pair and feeling a little soured. "And the fact that they can get away with acting like that in front of a child no less... My child..."

"Very rude people." Cream said to them, soothing the two Chao. "No manners in either one of them."

"That much is true." Akira agreed before giving her advice; "They're the types of people you should not be taking after nor be hanging around with. Rude beyond compare. They'll leave you holding the bag and take the blame when they get in trouble if you choose to associate with them. They're the kinds of friends who'll willingly stab you in the back and sell you out..."

"Yes indeed." Vanilla said, looking to Cream. "I don't ever want to hear you imitate those two's language, understood sweetie?"

"I won't." Cream nodded, feeling like she's learned a major life lesson today. "So vulgar though..."

"I agree completely and the fact that their parents are in such high ranked occupations. It's unbelievable..."

"...If I told you that those two has an older brother who runs a gang over in Geno City, would you believe it?" Akira said to the older rabbit. Phrasing it like it's a rhetorical.

"Honestly, I think I would at this point just based on that meeting alone."

"I've met the other children including their older brother Anton. There's one named Tod who according to a friend of mine often receives abuse whenever he displeases his older brother and basically his punching bag..." Akira sips his tea. "The other day at the Dynamo Galleria, I heard him calling Tod useless in front of me and another fellow student Migu was referring to. I think he might have a learning disability himself but that's just my assumption."

"That's horrible..." Vanilla was disgusted at the fact. "He treats his own brother like that? Absolutely deplorable..."

"I haven't seen enough of their relationship firsthand myself to be certain but it seems to be the case. I wouldn't put it past him to be awful to him."

"I am certain that someday justice will be done. I don't know how or when but I'm certain it will and they'll get punished for being such terrible people. I know a few lovely people that gets an unfair rep because of what they are because they don't match society's standards."

"Would serve them right for letting two of their ones talk to you and your daughter like that."

"You're right, it would."

"If you hadn't stood up to them there, I would have stood up to them instead when they dragged you both into it." Akira says to her. "Especially when they had the nerve to make insinuations about us just because I'm sitting here with you. In front of Cream no less."

Vanilla brushed her hair aside. "I did kind of go into mama bear mode there, didn't I?"

"Given their attitudes, I don't blame you for it. She's bad but he's even worse."

"It was not nice of them to call you a loser." Cream spoke up. "You're not a loser Mister Akira. You're a good person and both our Chao thinks so too."

"Agree completely." Vanilla added, nodding to him. "You are by far the nicest, most real person I've met in this town."

"Nah. There's others who could claim that title..." Akira shook his head.

"Are you certain of that?" Vanilla asked. Coyly raising a brow.

"Aye..."

Vanilla then checked her watch to see the current time. "Well, Cream and I better get going. We don't want the milk we bought to spoil by staying out too long."

"I should be going as well." Akira nodded as he got up from his seat. "Perhaps we'll see each other again next time."

"Perhaps so." Vanilla said with a smile. "It was nice while it lasted."

"Hope to see you again Mister Akira!" Cream smiled to him as her, Vanilla, Cheese and Chocola headed out of the tea shop together with Akira heading on out soon after. Heading on his way.

"...Mommy?" Cream would ask her mother as they walked together. "He seemed hard on himself. He didn't seem to accept the compliment you gave him there..."

"I'm certain he's just being modest dear." Vanilla assured her. Surprised that she could sense it from him too but then that's to be expected when she doesn't mind Shadow's company much.

"I guess so... What do you think?"

"I think he is quite kind and modest. A gentleman."

"Just like daddy was..."

"…Yes…" Vanilla wistfully utters. "Just like daddy was…"

"I'm sure he'd have like Mister Akira there..."

"I think he would have…"

"Mmm..." Cream hummed to herself, thinking of how the two guys would get along and how her father would have handled those two party crashers at the teashop. Same for how he'd gel with Sonic, Sally and all the others she's got for friends including Vector the Crocodile. She can make friends outside of school but struggles to make one in school.

Vanilla knew that fact all too well and also knew that without her beloved, raising Cream alone has gotten more and more difficult without him around. Especially in the finances to support her as the sole breadwinner in the house. Fortunately, her new job pays well although she prayed someone she knows comes in and sees her at that workplace; adding further salt to the injury.

"Um..." Cream spoke up, thinking of something from earlier. "Mommy, what exactly did that rude boy meant about Mister Akira getting Randy with you?"

"I'll... I'll tell you when you're eighteen..."

"Don't understand what a Randy has to do with you, him and a bed..." Cream murmurs, innocently thinking that Hud was referring to a guy named Randy rather than the other definition much to her mother's relief. "Or why Mister Akira would call you mommy either if you're not his mother unless you adopt him."

"I'll... Also tell you about that when you're eighteen..." Vanilla responded embarrassedly. Trying to purge the thought of either scenario with the red wolf right now. The same being done on his end.

"Okay."

Vanilla knew that making regular trips to Cyber City from Mobotropolis meant risking Cream getting exposed to the less innocent aspects of the world but she made it her goal to keep Cream's innocence intact until she was old enough to understand the less-pleasent aspects of life as well as society's many vices. It didn't help when the likes of Migu come and start speaking with such foul language in a very casual manner no less.

The fact she's one of those bullies who's got the connections to get away with their bad behaviour feels unfair to her. At least there's folks like Akira around to counter their negative presence, even if they're also being harassed by the likes of her and Hud.

Akira was heading on his way home til he got a notification from Johnny about finally getting back to them and hurried on over to the hideout to get on his masquerade disguise. He knew it was time to get the plan underway.

Manic and Little John's Hideout, Geno City

Lunchtime

"...Annnd there, Grady O'Wolf's mother wouldn't tell you apart from him." Little John says to Akira after Manic finishes up transforming the red-furried bespectacled wolf into a gray-furried beanie-wearing thug through a make-up job. "Should be hard for Anton to know you're an imposter as long as you keep the act up and nobody knowing of the switch."

"Not that he's a difficult guy to impersonate for a former homie of yours'." Cortez remarks, sitting on the couch with his arms crossed.

"Yeah. What can ya really do, huh?" Manic mused, admiring his handywork a moment.

"Guy was a conceited asshole then and still is now." Little John commented. "The ideal Anton pal. He's also good pals with Hud which tells you a lot about what his taste in women are."

"That should probably give you a good grasp on his mannerisms and whatnot other than what we've already told you."

"Simple enough to do." Akira said, trying out his slightly nasally-sounding voice the real Grady would have. "That close enough?"

"Pretty spot-on."

"Then once I head on out of here, you and Cortez should on head over to Anton's Palace to wait at the elevator."

"Right-O." Manic said with a nod.

"She still asleep?" Akira asks Little John.

"She was last I checked. When she wakes up and asks where you gone off to, I'll make up something." Little John replied, fixing his cap. "You should get going."

Manic nods, grabbing his things, "Let's do this."

"Okay." Akira nodded as he got up. "Just make sure you both get those ID cards and get us access into the Anton Levels. Oh and I think your mask in the Metaverse might have a special ability too."

"Special ability?" Little John questioned.

"Like how my mask can hold several Personas at once, Manic's must have a special attribute attached to it." Akira explained quickly as he was heading out. "I'm guessing he could disguise himself as another being in the Metaverse maybe? Maybe?"

"He'll have to figure it out when he's there. Good luck to you and Johnny."

With that, Akira was gone from the hideout. Off to go into the viper's den.

"Huh. Did you know about that?" Little John asks Cortez.

"Huh? Oh, no." Cortez replied after he was thinking of something following Akira's statement. "That's new to me. Probably never thought about it."

"An ability, huh?" Manic mused, feeling curious now. "Welp, no time like the present to find out once we're in the Palace."

"We shouldn't be wasting time then."

"Right. Let's get to it..."

Shōga Street, Geno City

Afternoon

"...Stupid lazy ass couldn't check his own house himself. Ugh, why did it have to be me..." A grey wolf groans to himself as he was heading through a street in the city with hands in his pockets. Kicking away a can on the ground.

A white van was following the wolf, the driver's cab windows of it tinted with black reflective glass. "I've got better things to thi—"

"You Grady O'Wolf?" A modulated voice calls to him before the wolf suddenly has a bag over his head and being dragged into the back of the van. Quickly stripping his clothes off to give them to a near identical-looking "Grady O'Wolf" as the latter exited the van and said vehicle quickly driving away once he got out.

He went somewhere to change out of the old clothes he was wearing and change into the new ones from the other wold, dumping the old clothes into a bag behind a nearby dumpster. The other Grady O'Wolf aka Akira Amamiya took out his phone.

Akira: Grady's gone out of town atm...

Johnny: Good. Meet me over at the place Manic told you that Grady goes to often in Shōga Street.

Akira: Got it.

To Be Continued...