Chapter 3 / Truth of Desire
Tuesday / April 12th, 2016 / Shibuya Station - Subway / Early Morning
Ichihara Tadashi
I yawned as I stood in line waiting for the train to show up. Turns out that Sakura-san had little time to spend bitching about yesterday. He gave me a few stern words but that was all it was. Even this morning he just gave me a "You better go to school on time today." And that was it. I could appreciate it. Well intentions and all that jazz.
I blinked and pulled my glasses off to rub my eyes. Seeing the Velvet Room last night, and Igor knowing the events I had experienced was more than a little concerning. What the fuck was even going on? Persona… Arsène… All of it was just ridiculous to even think about.
"Look, isn't that her?"
"You mean that one with the red ribbon? Uh, I guess so?"
I glanced over to see a pair of Shujin students talking somewhat close to me.
"She's so thin. It's not fair, I've got my hair in a ponytail too…" the girl student complained.
"Okay, and what's that got to do with being thin?" the guy retorted.
I have no idea what they were talking about as the train came into the station and the next moment we were piling in. I couldn't help but yawn again. Then noticing the girl that managed to snag a seat. She had long red hair tied into a ponytail with a red ribbon. No mistake that this was the girl the other two students had been talking about. She was definitely slim. Wonder why those students singled her out.
She then suddenly stood up, and looked towards an old woman, "Please, take my seat. My station's coming up."
"Are ya sure? Then…" the old woman sounded appreciative but the moment Kasumi moved to let her in the seat, the man next to me immediately plopped down into it.
"Oh wow, what speed," the red head shook her head. "I mean- Excuse me, that seat was for this lady…"
The man then immediately hung his head, either pretending to. Or actually falling asleep.
"Hey, asshat!" I grumbled, taking a step forward and forming a fist, but the redhead immediately reached over and grabbed my hand.
"No, don't. It's all right. I can understand his position as well," her eyes locked with mine, pleading with me to let it go. I sighed and relented, she let go of my hand before turning to the old woman. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help."
"It's all right, dearie. Don't you worry," the old woman said.
"Please allow me to carry your luggage, at least," the redhead took the old woman's bag.
"Thank you," the old woman smiled. "Ain't it heavy, though?"
"Not at all. I train plenty," the girl smiled. Training huh? Despite her slender appearance there was clearly more to this girl. And honestly, it was refreshing to see such an earnest girl wanting to help someone. Certainly better than the people I had interacted with as of late.
I yawned again as the ride continued on without further incident. Finally arriving at Aoyama station I got out and headed towards the exit.
"Pardon me…" someone called out to me. I turned around and saw the girl again. She was definitely a student at Shujin. She gave me a slight bow, "Thank you so much for earlier."
"When you stopped me from dragging that ass out of the seat?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Even so, you spoke up in support of me, and I do appreciate it," she stepped forward looking at my uniform. "You're a second year at Shujin Academy, correct? I'm a first-year there myself. Thanking you totally slipped my mind back on the train, and I didn't want to be rude to my senpai."
This was a refreshing moment. Considering the rumors going around the school about me. But maybe she hadn't heard about it yet. Either way, I nodded. "Don't worry about it."
"Please, excuse me," she said with another bow and then walked off.
I scratched the back of my head. Right, she's super formal, and respectful. I sighed. If all that shit hadn't happened, I wouldn't be relieved by this kind of interaction. I mean, what she did is exactly the normal kind of thing I would do. Maybe not in such a formal, polite fashion. But now… Now no one accepts any kind of good will from me. Well… Whatever. Now just to make it through the school day.
Tuesday / April 12th, 2016 / Shujin Academy - Hallway / After School
Ichihara Tadashi
I was starting to realize that I was actually ahead of my classmates in terms of the taught material. Despite being a prep school, I couldn't believe that my education in Takayama was further ahead. Then again I enjoyed learning, and delved further into subjects than what was required most of the time. It was partly because I believed just being good at baseball wasn't going to get me far in life. Plus to continue that path I would need to go to college if I wanted a chance to make a pro team.
Ah opportunities that were far gone for me now. Gotta love what an assault charge on your record can do to fuck up your future, right? I stepped out into the hall and saw the girl I sat behind being stopped by the one and only Kamoshida. Takamaki Ann was her name. Which I learned off hand just by teachers calling on her.
"Hey there, Takamaki," Kamoshida stopped the blonde pigtailed girl. She glanced at him as he kept talking. "Things have been pretty dangerous lately with all those accidents."
"Sorry, I have a photoshoot today. It's for the special summer issue, so I can't afford to miss it…" Takamaki quickly said. Her body language and tone told me that she definitely did not want to talk with him.
"Hey, now… Being a model's fine and dandy, but don't work your pretty little self to the bone. You mentioned you weren't feeling well, right? Something about appendicitis?" Kamoshida asked. I definitely took note of the little comment he made which was definitely inappropriate for a teacher to say to a student.
"Yes. I keep planning to go to the hospital, but I've been too busy… Sorry to worry you," Takamaki said. Wow, she is bad at lying.
"You must be lonely too. I feel bad for keeping your best friend at practice so often. Oh, and… be careful around that transfer student. He's got a criminal record, after all. If something were to happen to you…" Kamoshida added. What the shit? It looks like Ryuji was probably right on that one. This asshole was likely responsible for my record getting leaked.
"...Thank you. Please excuse me," Takamaki was definitely not convinced. And walked away. Seems not everyone around here was putting up with his shit entirely. Kamoshida grumbled and walked up the stairs.
I took an odd satisfaction in Takamaki denying Kamoshida at every turn. I went to the ground floor and exited the school. When I hit the front gate I ran into Ryuji, who seemed to have been waiting for me.
"Yo," he greeted me with a nod.
"What's up? Still thinking about yesterday?" I asked him, knowing he absolutely was. And at this point with my second visit to the Velvet Room and Igor I knew that none of that shit was fake.
"Yeah, I can't get that castle out of my head. I tried tellin' myself it was all just a dream… but I couldn't do it. I can't act like nothing happened. It's all connected to that bastard Kamoshida after all. I wanna find out what's up with that place, no matter what. And y'know, you're the only person I can rely on for this stuff. So, you in?" Ryuji asked me, hopeful.
Having just seen Kamoshida's interaction with Takamaki, I had little doubt that the asshole was up to something. And he hated that Takamaki wasn't bending backwards to please his pedophile ass. If something was going on, I couldn't just ignore it. I mean, fuck, my future couldn't get any worse than it was. And if something was happening, then I couldn't just turn a blind eye to it, even if the side of me that just wanted to have a peaceful time in Tokyo was crying out to forget it. Fuck that.
"Every step of the way," I said as we bumped fists.
"Nice. Okay, glad we're in this together," Ryuji grinned. "I think we should just try and retrace our steps from yesterday."
I already knew it was because of the app on my phone, thanks to Igor. "Actually, I have an idea."
Tuesday / April 12th, 2016 / Kamoshida's Castle - Exterior / After School
Ichihara Tadashi
"Look! It's the castle from yesterday!" Ryuji and I were both surprised to be standing here once more. It was hard to just dismiss what had happened to us yesterday. Especially if you think about what we had seen. And that power I had awakened to had certainly felt more than real. Still, us getting here had nothing to do with us taking a specific path… but simply using a navigation app on my phone.
So that was what Igor from the Velvet Room had referred to as the Metaverse Navigator. That would make this place… the metaverse… or rather the phrase he had said before. A Palace.
We moved closer to the castle. The things in the architecture that reminded me that this was supposed to be our school made me shiver. And the word, metaverse, was a bit too spot on if this was truly a twisted view of reality.
And here I thought I would just be coming to Tokyo for a quiet year of mindless school work, not making metaphysical dives into some other world through a fucking phone app. Not to mention manifesting some kind of ridiculous power and fighting creatures trying to kill me.
"We made it back. That means what happened yesterday was for real too," Ryuji nodded to himself.
"I don't know if I would rather this be true or me legitimately just going fucking nuts. You do realize that no one would ever believe us, right?" I glanced at him.
"At least we know that we aren't crazy," Ryuji commented. No, Ryuji, I think there is a chance that I'm goddamn crazy for coming back.
"Oh good. So if you want to go ahead and get killed because of a mostly naked egotistical psychotic abusive wannabe king, then at least we know we aren't insane," I can't help but say sarcastically.
"Yeah but you... yeargh! Those clothes," Ryuji was looking at me and I looked down at myself. And sure enough I was in that weird outfit again. Red gloves, a black trench coat, black pants and a dark gray button up shirt… and I knew without feeling for it that the mask was there on my face. Glasses that I wore were replaced by them. Yet I could see perfectly. If there was one thing I enjoyed it was being able to see without my glasses. "That happened last time too, huh? What's with that outfit?"
"I would presume it has to do with that Persona crap from yesterday. But why don't you take a guess. You know about as much about this shit as I do," I shook my head. What was crazier in this situation? Was it me being able to summon another being to attack another equally terrifying creature… or the fact that an app on my phone had transported us to some other world that both resembled but also wasn't our school. Or maybe the Velvet Room and Igor's extremely long and unreasonably so nose. Honestly it was hard to choose. There was more than enough crazy to go around.
"Shit man… I don't get it either. None of this makes any effin' sense at all," Ryuji shook his head.
"Hey!" And of course… Why not add more to it? Morgana appeared next to us. "Stop making a commotion. The Shadows started acting up so I came here wondering what it could be. To think you guys would come back to the entrance when you barely managed to escape."
Ryuji questioned the strange cat-like creature named Morgana, "What is this place? ...Is it the school?"
Morgana gave a surprising straight forward answer, "That's right."
"But it's a castle!" Ryuji pointed at the building as if he needed to more clearly dictate the problem in logic.
Metaverse Navigator… no way it could be something as crazy as that right? How would any of that even be fucking possible? This just became more ridiculous with every passing moment.
"The castle IS the school. But only to this castle's ruler," Morgana was trying to clarify the point but it was just leading to more questions.
"The castle's ruler?" Ryuji shook his head.
"I think you called him Kamoshida? It's how his distorted heart views the school," Morgana was now putting up another reason. One that fit in line with the name of the app… the Metaverse Navigator. A metaverse would literally be a world seen through perception. Meaning if the teacher saw the school as the place he ruled over… as a King… then it would literally show up as a castle in the metaverse. That is some kind of bullshit. What should I be more pissed off about? The fact that the metaverse exists? Or, Kamoshida seeing himself as a King and the school his castle?
"Kamoshida... Distorted...?" Ryuji couldn't wrap his head around it. "Explain it in a way that makes sense!"
"I shouldn't have expected a moron to get it..." Morgana sighed.
"What'd you say!?" Ryuji glared at Morgana. But his anger was interrupted by the sound of a loud scream coming from within the castle. "What was that?"
"It must be the slaves captive here," Morgana answered simply.
"For real?" Ryuji looked to the castle and another scream could be heard, in apparently a lot more pain. "Oh, shit... It's for real! We saw other guys held captive here yesterday... I'm pretty sure they're from our school."
"Most likely on Kamoshida's orders. It's nothing out of the ordinary; it's like that every day here," Morgana explained. "What's more, you two escaped yesterday. He must have lost his temper quite a bit."
"That son of a bitch!" Ryuji now was glaring back up at the castle.
"Ryuji...?" Morgana was concerned about Ryuji. Yeah… Ryuji's attitude had certainly changed from a moment ago. He was angry. I had no idea why though. Likely something about Kamoshida. It was obvious since I had first met Ryuji that he hated the teacher.
"This is bullshit!" Ryuji then smashed his shoulder up against the side of the castle. "You hear me, Kamoshida!?"
"Doing that isn't going to open it, you know..." Morgana looked at him for a moment. "Still, it seems you have your reasons."
"Hey, Monamona!" Ryuji moved to Morgana suddenly.
"It's Morgana," the strange cat creature corrected him.
"Do you know where those voices are comin' from...?" Ryuji asked him.
"Oh hell, Sakamoto… are you really going to suggest what I think you are?" I groan and put my hand to my forehead.
"You want me to take you to them?" Morgana guessed the real question Ryuji was asking. "...Well, I guess I could guide you there. But only if he comes with us."
"Me? Shit," I turned away. There was another scream. I knew why Ryuji wanted to go. And as much as I wanted to walk away and ignore all of this bullshit... I couldn't. I knew that I needed to find out the truth of this situation before I made a decision either way. Still, I looked at Morgana, "Why me?"
"I just want to get a better look at your powers," Morgana said earnestly. He had no reason to lie to me at this point. "Even if you don't agree, I bet this guy'll go on even if he has to do it alone. Are you gonna leave him?"
"Are you trying to fucking guilt trip me or something? I never said I wasn't going, I just wanted to know why you were making that stipulation. Whatever. let's just get this shit moving," I groaned and scratched the back of my head.
Yeah sure, go to Tokyo. Serve your parole, keep your head down, don't be noticed. Just get through it so that maybe you can live a normal life. But wait, that's fucked anyway because your permanent record is now shit. So who cares? Get involved in some supernatural bullshit. Potentially get in over your head and maybe find a way to fuck up your life even more! Nice job, Tadashi. You've managed to find a way to pile up even more shit and make life more fucked.
"It's settled then," Morgana nodded.
"For real? Thanks, Ichihara. I know this is pretty selfish of me," Ryuji looked at me.
"I told you before, right? I'm not the kind of person to leave someone behind to save myself. And if something messed up is going on here… then I think we should find out exactly what… and if there is anything we can do," I said and we both nodded in agreement before looking back to Morgana.
"All right, let's do this. Follow me," Morgana then led us back into the castle.
At the end of the day I couldn't stop myself. No matter how fucked up my own life could become… would I ever be okay with standing by and doing nothing? Could I turn my back on something as fantastical as this? Maybe. If no one was in danger, if no one was suffering, then yeah I could. But… What was this place? And what was the truth behind Kamoshida's view of this school? The true purpose of the Metaverse… That will determine what I decide.
Tuesday / April 12th, 2016 / Kamoshida's Castle / After School
Ichihara Tadashi
"Dammit! This is bullshit!" Ryuji said as we were looking through bars into a large room. There was a volleyball court but the volleyball players were currently being beaten by the guards. The knights in full armor. They were yelling out in pain. Yeah, this was all kinds of bullshit. But the truth of this situation was complicated.
Morgana had referred to this place with the same terminology I heard from Igor last night. This place was known as a Palace. A location that belonged to the teacher Kamoshida Suguru. And was a castle because that was how he viewed the school. His personal castle that he ruled over and could do whatever he wanted. That was the general description that Morgana had given. Which I had more or less pieced together myself before now based on the limited amount I heard from Morgana and Igor before it.
So… it was tied to the real Kamoshida but it wasn't like he was aware of the existence of the castle. It was fucking weird. But it seemed like Ryuji had personal reasons as to his feelings about the former Olympian Kamoshida. Definitely sat in the why don't you just fucking die category in terms of how he felt for the PE teacher. I had no knowledge of why he felt that way but I doubt Ryuji was one to feel that way without reason. All the talk around school made it seem like Ryuji wasn't someone you would want to hang around with. But something felt incredibly off about it based on my own interactions with him. Considering people are garbage and making snap judgments on others… Ryuji could be more like me than I thought.
"How many times do I have to tell you to keep your voice down?" Morgana said in an elevated whisper.
"But this is beyond messed up," Ryuji shook his head and was not checking the cage in front of us. "How do I open this...?"
However, two volleyball players approached us from the inside of the prison room. And gave quite different answers than a sane person would expect.
"Stop it!"
"Leave us alone... It's useless," Each of them had a tone that indicated they were resigned to their fate. Like there was no other choice. "If we stay obedient, we won't be executed like you guys!"
"You're tellin' me you wanna stay in a place like this!?" Ryuji couldn't believe it. Neither could I… but judging from the expression Morgana had, it wasn't that simple.
"Wait a minute... Were you planning on taking these guys out of here?" Morgana seemed like the idea was utterly ridiculous.
"We can't just leave 'em here," Ryuji quickly countered.
Morgana shook his head, "How stupid can you be...?"
"What!?" Ryuji glared.
"These are only humans in Kamoshida's cognition," Morgana said simply. "They aren't real humans that have entered from reality. They're different from you two."
I knew it had to be something like that. It still doesn't make it any less fucked up of a situation though. Was that it then? It was this way because he saw the volleyball players this way? People just to be tortured? Just how screwed up was it at school? It's bad enough that I had to be charged for assault against an asshole that openly abused a woman. But now there was a teacher that saw school as his personal fucking castle? And that he could just do what he wanted? Why the hell was that allowed to go on? Screw that crap.
"Cognition?" Ryuji didn't really understand.
"It means there's no point in saving them. They're different from the real ones in the real world. You could say that these are extremely similar-looking dolls," Morgana did his best to simplify it.
"The hell? Why's it gotta be so complicated?" Ryuji shook his head.
"Considering how absolutely insane all of this to begin with, it at least makes some kind of sense. I mean why the fuck would it be a castle to begin with? What bothers me is if it means that the real students in our school have to take abuse like this from Kamoshida," I try to move the conversation forward.
"Tch… The school is a castle, and the students are slaves... It's so on point that it makes me laugh. This really is the inside of that asshole's head," Ryuji's words gave me little doubt that it was the truth.
"This is horrible. I'm sorry to say but if that's how it is here, then likely he must treat them as slaves in the real world too," Morgana confirmed it, not that it made me feel better being right in this instance.
"In the real world too...?" A thought must have come to Ryuji. "Wait, I know these guys... They're members of the volleyball team-the one Kamoshida coaches for!"
"They must be physically abused every day... There's no way they'd be so beat up normally," Morgana was definitely glum about the subject. But if it was the truth... and this was something happening at our school… we couldn't just pretend we didn't know. There was a problem though. If it had been going on for a while… that meant for one reason or another… it was being allowed to happen. Fuck, I really did find a new shit hole to fall into.
"Don't tell me... They're going through similar shit in reality!?" Ryuji shook his head. Yeah, it wasn't an easy thought to just accept.
"Most likely. I mean, this proves that Kamoshida thinks of them as slaves," Morgana confirmed.
"So it might be for real..." Ryuji hung his head. "I had heard that Kamoshida's usin' physical punishment. They're just rumors, but... If they're true, wouldn't this be somethin' to report to the police?" Ryuji looked at me.
"Normally, I would say yes. But I doubt it's that simple," I sighed.
Ryuji pulled out his phone, "We can use these guys as evidence. If it all goes well, we can take down that asshole Kamoshida." He frowned as he looked down at his phone. "It's not workin'!? So we can use the navigation app, but the camera's a no go?"
"A navigation app?" Morgana was the one to be confused this time.
"That's what we used to come here," Ryuji somewhat explained before looking up at me. "What about yours?"
"I doubt I am going to have a different result," I reached into my pocket and retrieved my phone. I opened the screen and tapped the camera app, but like I imagined it wouldn't open. "No good. Honestly, you think we would have thought to try and take pictures of this place yesterday."
"Whatever you do is fine, but we're gonna get caught if we stand around like this. We need to head back," Morgana must have heard something for him to suddenly be concerned about this considering how long we had been standing here and talking about this.
"Hang on a sec," Ryuji turned back towards the large cell with the volleyball court. "There's no other way... I'll just memorize their faces before goin' home."
All things considered, that is actually a pretty impressive skill to be able to do. My main concern was the fact that this had been an ongoing thing for a while and nothing had been reported to the police. There was something worse going on here. That meant even if we knew who was being physically abused, it would mean nothing if nobody wanted the help. People that stood there and accepted abuse because of... why? Why would that bullshit ever be acceptable? I can't fathom there to ever be a good enough reason. Tch, fuck my probation. If I can take the asshole down, then I was going to help Ryuji every step of the way to make it happen.
Tuesday / April 12th, 2016 / Kamoshida's Castle / After School
Ichihara Tadashi
Really? We can't even manage to escape this place without getting ourselves into more trouble? Of course...why should it be any different than the way my luck usually fucking goes. God dammit. Shouldn't expect anything less considering we have to cross the damn main hall to get to the exit. We might as well had left out of the big fucking doors. I mean...what was the point of sneaking in if you just openly walked through the main entrance hall to begin with? Fuck, fuck, fuck!
"You knaves again?" Kamoshida was there to cut us off. No… from what Morgana said, this was actually Kamoshida's Shadow. His subconscious and how he really feels about the world. All of this was his creation. "To think you'd make the same mistake again. You're hopeless."
"The school ain't your castle," Ryuji had no problems talking back to the Shadow. "I've memorized their faces real good. You're goin' down!"
"It seems it's true when they say 'barking dogs seldom bite.' How far the star runner of the track team has fallen," Kamoshida glowered at Ryuji.
Star of the track team? Ryuji? Oh shit… what the hell happened? I realized that Ryuji probably had a real good fucking reason that he hated Kamoshida. One I hadn't really considered.
"The hell are you gettin' at?" Ryuji narrowed his eyes on the Shadow of Kamoshida.
"I speak of the 'track traitor' who acted in violence, ending his teammates' dreams. Oh, I can only imagine the pain of the others who were dragged under with your... selfish act," Kamoshida sure seemed smug.
Ryuji didn't say anything but I think I had an idea.
"I'm guessing this is part of the history you have with this asshole and also why you hate him so much," I said, trying to be objective and not allowing my guard to be lowered. Shadow Kamoshida had a contingent of guards with him after all. He might be trying to just get an opening.
"What a surprise. So you're accompanying him without knowing anything at all? He betrayed his teammates and crushed their hopes, yet he still carries on as carefree as ever," Shadow Kamoshida made it sound like I would give a shit about it.
"That's not true!" Ryuji called out. Of course it wasn't, the bastard was clearly twisting it to get under his skin and cause doubt. Like I was going to fucking fall for that. I'm sure Atsuhiro is saying the same thing about me even now. That I ruined the club's chance to go to the Summer Koshien. Ryuji and I have more in common than I thought.
"You've come along with this fool and are now going to end up dead. How unlucky of you," Shadow Kamoshida then turned his back. "Go. Kill them all. Don't sully my castle with garbage." He gave orders to his knights.
Two of the knights pushed forward and bursted apart into their true Shadow form.
"Goddammit," Ryuji hung his head.
Morgana and I stepped forward, "Ryuji, move!"
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you 'cause King Kamoshida told us! I'll kill 'cause that's what he wants!" The Shadow quickly declared.
This fight didn't look good. They looked much stronger than the Shadows we had faced before. Even though Morgana had been helping me get used to combat… we weren't ready for this. "Morgana, they are going to quickly surround us if we don't do something."
"I know, I know! Crap! Look out! There's more of them. This is bad..." Morgana said. There was no time to react and thankfully Ryuji had gotten a good distance from us from the fight but the Shadows quickly pinned both Morgana and I to the ground.
"Son of a fucking bitch," I grumbled as the strength of them was more than I had anticipated. "Not that I expected it to be a fair fight but God dammit this is fucking frustrating."
Shadow Kamoshida laughed and moved forward putting his foot on the back of Morgana. Morgana groaned, "You piece of-" His voice was cut when Shadow Kamoshida twisted his foot on Morgana's back.
"I bet you simply came here on a whim and ended up like this. Isn't that right?" Shadow Kamoshida was looking at Ryuji, who was the last of us that had any freedom.
I looked at him. I could see it… the frustration in his eyes of how he had to stand by and watch as Morgana and I got taken down so easily. It wasn't his fault though. Ryuji didn't have a Persona… and was trying to fight a Shadow without one… Ryuji shook his head, "No..."
"What a worthless piece of trash, getting emotional so quickly. How dare you raise your hand at me. Though it was only temporary, have you forgotten my kindness in supervising track practice?" Shadow Kamoshida was gloating now at Ryuji?
"Wasn't no practice-it was physical abuse. You just didn't like our team," Ryuji replied back fiercely.
"It was nothing but an eyesore. The only one who needs to achieve results is me," Shadow Kamoshida's laugh had a dark edge to it. "That coach who got fired was hopeless too. Had he not opposed me with a sound argument, I would've settled it with only breaking his star's leg."
I blinked… had I just heard that right? Kamoshida had not only gotten the coach fired but also broke the track team's star's leg? That star… it had to be Ryuji.
"What?" Ryuji glared back.
"Do you need me to deal with your other leg too? The school will call it self-defense anyway," Shadow Kamoshida confirmed it for me. Kamoshida had previously broken Ryuji's leg. And likely had done so under the guise of 'self-defense'. I could see it… he had likely goaded Ryuji into attacking him or something like it. Then he could injure him and call it self-defense. In one move he would ruin the track team as well as get motivation that ended up getting the old track team coach fired. This asshole was just as calculated as he was selfish.
"Dammit... Am I gonna lose again?" Ryuji looked to the floor. "Not only can I not run anymore... the track team is gone too 'cause of this asshole."
"So that's why," I heard Morgana realize a moment after I had.
Shadow Kamoshida twisted his heel in Morgana's back, "Once these two are dealt with, you're next." He laughed.
"Ryuji!" Morgana called out.
"Don't you fucking give up Sakamoto! You faced him before, right? So get your Goddamn ass up and stand up to him now!" I yelled at him before the Shadow on me drove its heel into my own back.
"You're right. Everything that was important to me was taken by him... I'll never get 'em back," Ryuji admitted to himself.
"Stay there and watch," Kamoshida taunted. "Look on as these hopeless scum die for nothing because they sided with trash like you."
Ryuji got to his feet, "No, that's what you are. All you think about is using people. You're the real scumbag, Kamoshida." Ryuji boldly stepped forward.
Shadow Kamoshida turned to his guard, "What are you doing? Silence him!"
"Stop lookin' down on me with that stupid smile on your face!" Ryuji pointed at Shadow Kamoshida and yelled defiantly at him.
"You made me wait quite a while," a mysterious voice came from nowhere as Ryuji stumbled and he brought his hands up to his face.
Wait… was it happening… is it really happening? Just like with me.
"You seek power, correct? Then let us form a pact. Since your name has been disgraced already, why not hoist the flag and wreak havoc? The 'other you' who exists within desires it thus. I am thou, thou art I... There is no turning back. The skull of rebellion is your flag henceforth!" As the mysterious voice finished… Ryuji's face was then half covered… with a mask. Similar to mine… but different. This was it… Ryuji, you son of a bitch. Kick his ass!
"Hmph, what can you do?" The Shadow on top of me seemed hardly amused. "Cower in fear and watch!" I couldn't see the Shadow on top of me… but I imagined he was about to kill me. Hurry the fuck up, Ryuji!
Ryuji grabbed the sides of his mask and while screaming… he yanked it off his face. The swell of power pushed the Shadows back. Off of both me and Morgana. I looked up to see Ryuji, now clad in a different attire… mostly black… yellow gloves and a red scarf around his neck. Standing above him was definitely a pirate, and even stood on a mini-ship. That is weird but it was definitely Ryuji's power. I felt it was pretty damn fitting of him.
"Right on... Wassup, Persona... This effin' rocks," Ryuji grinned. "Now that I got this power, it's time for payback. Yo, I'm ready."
Morgana and I quickly got to our feet with the Shadows thrown off of us and moved to Ryuji's side.
"Don't mock me you brat!" the guard in gold armor suddenly turned into its true Shadow form. A knight in red armor on a large horse.
"Blast him away! Captain Kidd!" Ryuji called out.
"What troublemakers that bother King Kamoshida with trifle matters," The Shadow scoffed.
"Kamoshida's cognition ain't changin', right? Then I'll act like the troublemaker I am! Let's do this, Captain Kidd," Ryuji said, ready to fight.
"Stay focused, Sakamoto," I called out to him.
"You got it. But it's about time I let loose. I've let you do the fighting enough up till now," Ryuji then unleashed a bolt of lightning towards the Shadow that hit it hard. I wasn't about to complain about a show like this.
The Shadow summoned more to his side to fight against us. More of the same from before. This time though Ryuji's lightning attacks were more than enough to overwhelm the Shadows. They must have been weak against it because the two he had summoned to help were easily smited down by Ryuji. And the last one could do nothing as Morgana and I quickly overwhelmed him with our combined attack. Having Ryuji here, had flipped the situation on its head into our favor.
"I am... a loyal subject... of the glorious King Kamoshida... So why... have I lost?" The Shadow muttered as he began to collapse.
"Are all Shadows this stupid?" I mutter.
"It just proves that Kamoshida ain't anything special," Ryuji says as the Shadow collapses back and onto the ground.
Shadow Kamoshida stood there with wide eyes as he watched his Guard Captain be defeated by the three of us.
"Whoa... So Ryuji had the potential too..." Morgana was surprised.
"Even if you apologize now... I ain't forgivin' you,'' Ryuji makes a fist toward Kamoshida.
Despite the surprise a moment ago, Shadow Kamoshida just grinned, "I told you this is my castle. It seems you still don't understand." Then from nearby a girl with blonde hair pigtails in a two piece swimsuit with a cat ear accessory stepped out from nearby to go near Shadow Kamoshida. Takamaki Ann!?
"Wh-Takamaki?" Ryuji is alarmed. Does he know her? I certainly hadn't been able to really talk with her, other than a mere word. Our teacher had introduced me saying that I hadn't been feeling well and so I showed up half way through the day… which Takamaki had known was a definite lie. If this was how he saw her, and this was a cognition of her… then that interaction I saw between them earlier made a whole lot more sense.
"Wha... What a meow-velous and beautiful girl..." Morgana spoke. Really didn't have time to deal with that. Even as good looking as this girl was, she was obviously just another cognition of this Shadow. And I didn't like that one fucking bit. Especially when the next moment she has her arms on Shadow Kamoshida and cozying up to him. Fuck this guy.
"What's going on?" Ryuji had a blank look on his face.
I had heard rumors about the girl in my class. Mostly because the girls sitting behind me wouldn't shut the fuck up. And they were not too flattering about her either. But I would assume that this girl was likely another victim of Kamoshida… albeit a different kind of victim. And those thoughts only made my blood boil that much more. "This is all kinds of fucking wrong," I swore.
"Yeah, now that you mention it... But why is she even here?" Ryuji muttered but as he said it Shadow Kamoshida turned and put his hand on Takamaki's cheek. "Hey! Let go of her, you perv!"
"How many times must I tell you until you understand? This is MY castle-a place in which I can do whatever I want. Everyone wishes to be loved by me. That is, everyone besides slow-witted thieves like you," he turned fully back to us.
"I am not a Goddamn thief!" I growl.
Ryuji instead focused on the girl, "Takamaki! Say somethin'."
"Calm down, Ryuji. It seems that girl isn't the real one, She's the same as those slaves-a being made of Kamoshida's cognition of her," Morgana was trying to calm Ryuji down from doing something stupid.
"Are you jealous?" Kamoshida asked point blank. "Well, I'm not surprised. Women aren't drawn to problematic punks like you." Shadow Kamoshida looked away for a moment and gave an order, "Clean them up this instant!"
Shadows suddenly appeared in front of us. This is no good if he can just summon them that quickly.
"We're outnumbered... Let's scram before we get surrounded," Morgana advised. Yes some fucking common sense for once. Even with Ryuji's new power we were at a disadvantage here.
"We're not gonna do anything and just run?" Ryuji didn't want to.
"I understand but do you think you're gonna accomplish anything if we get ourselves fucking killed here? The real Takamaki could be in some real trouble in the real world!" I pulled on Ryuji's arm.
"Fine," Ryuji looked at Shadow Kamoshida. "We'll expose what you really are, no matter what! You better be ready for us."
Shadow Kamoshida laughed, "I was beginning to get bored of torturing the ones here. Come at me whenever you want, if you don't care about your life."
"Ignore him, let's go!" Morgana said as we quickly turned and made a mad dash toward our exit in the side room. The Shadow Kamoshida didn't follow us. All we could do was get out of here for now. But just what the fuck were we going to do from here on out?
Things just get more fucked up every day.
Tuesday / April 12th, 2016 / Shibuya - Beef Bowl Restaurant / After School
Ichihara Tadasy
"The hell, man! How much shittier can that asshole get!?" Ryuji yelled after I finished a very brief recounting of how I got the assault charge. I enjoy the candor of his reaction though. Been a while seeing someone being angry and taking my side of it.
"You're fucking right. But not like I can change what's happened," I shrug before stabbing my chopsticks into a piece of meat in my bowl.
"God, that story pisses me off. And because of that you had to spend most of the last term in Juvenile corrections and wait for them to make the arrangements to come here," Ryuji guessed.
"Right on the money," I said before shoving more food in my mouth.
"Huh, We might be more alike than I originally thought," Ryuji noted.
"I'm positive the rumor around the school involves me assaulting the man unprovoked. Or that I took it too far," I chuckled. "Whatever."
"Yeah," he confirmed. "You see, Kamoshida was goading me. I realized that shit too late. But he bad-mouthed my Mom and…"
He stopped but I understood what he was saying. His Mom was probably important to him, and Kamoshida intentionally stirred that pot to get that reaction. Me… what did I have? Parents who threw me to the curb the first moment I wasn't their shining example.
"Anyway, seems like we're both treated like a pain in the ass by the people around us, like we don't belong," Ryuji spoke up again. "The place your livin' now is in… Yongen, right?"
I had told him that, so I nodded.
"It's rush hour on the subways. I suggest you kill some time before headin' home," Ryujit then looked at my food, which I had only barely gotten into. "What the hell, man. You barely touched your food."
"My appetite isn't what it used to be," I admitted before I took another bite. "It's good though, but seeing all that shit and that Kamoshida looks at students the way he does, just makes me goddamn angry."
"Yeah, for sure," Ryuji agreed.
"I saw him interact with Takamaki when I left class today. He was hounding her, and she threw a bunch of excuses to get out of his way," I told him.
"Takamaki? She did that?" he eyed me.
"I feel like you know something else about her," I raised an eyebrow.
"Well, rumor has it that she and Kamoshida are an item," he said.
"Fuck that," I shook my head. "Don't tell me you believe in that bullshit. If Kamoshida leaked the info about my criminal record, he's probably got other rumors going around to try and manipulate and isolate students."
"Shit, you're right," Ryuji hung his head for a moment. "All the more reason we get the volleyball members to give us the facts. If we get enough of them we can call the cops and get him out of the school before you know it."
I nodded and took a few more bites of my food. I had to imagine that there were other girls that were victims of a pervert like him. But if it was true, why was nobody speaking up? Even Takamaki was simply avoiding a direct confrontation. The only conclusion I could come to was that there had to be a reason. Some fucking thing that Kamoshida had power over that made it impossible for people to speak up about.
"Oh yeah! Tell me your number. Chat ID too," Ryuji said. I mindlessly pull out my phone and swap information with him. "Just you wait, Kamoshida. We're gonna start right away tomorrow. First, let's hit up those guys that were kept as slaves. The volleyball rally's tomorrow. Shit's recommended by Kamoshida. Makes me wanna gaga. But thanks to that, we got no classes in the afternoon, and we can walk around unnoticed."
It was a plan. Convenient timing too. "Just be careful when you're talking about it."
"Yeah, good call. We can figure out the details as we go tomorrow," Ryuji said.
I went back to my food. I had a feeling that things were not going to go smoothly. After all, things had only gotten more bizarre and fucked up since I've arrived in Tokyo.
Wednesday / April 13th, 2016 / Shujin Academy - Courtyard / After School
Ichihara Tadashi
What an absolute shit day this had been. Last night hadn't been exactly grand either. Ryuji and I had been determined to find some evidence against Kamoshida and the abuse he was likely inflicting on the volleyball team. And even though we had asked around while the volleyball rally was taking place, it hadn't gotten us much of anywhere. There had to be a loose thread somewhere. Someone had to be willing to stand up and testify against that asshole. But I had a feeling that this might be a practice in futility. Son of a bitch.
I put my phone back in my pocket and mindlessly kicked a nearby vending machine. "Mother fucker." It wasn't like there wasn't evidence of it. The members of the volleyball team all had various injuries. Generally small, mostly bruises, but guess what is the main injury someone has when being physically abused? Yeah, fucking bruises.
"Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?" a voice called out. I turned to see a girl I recognized. It was hard not too considering she sat in front of me. Blue eyes, and blonde hair put into pigtails, not to mention red tights on her legs, and the hoodie she wore under the school jacket. Takamaki Ann had a very unique look compared to most other students. I didn't know much about her but I did know that she was possibly a victim of Kamoshida. Considering the cognitive image of her in that castle, it would be hard to imagine she wasn't. If what Morgana has said to us was spot on. Maybe this could be a lucky break.
"What is it?" I keep it simple, but my anger from before likely affected my tone.
"It'll be quick," she assures me. "Anyway, what's with you? Like, how you were late the other day was a lie and all. There's that weird rumor about you too."
"I'm sure you understand how it goes. They like to keep their image all squeaky clean. And nobody cares to listen to the truth… they just stick to what makes it easy for them," I looked away from her. "Glad to see not everyone is so easily taken in by their bullshit."
"And the rumors about you?" Takamaki pressed.
"I wouldn't know. I don't make a habit of caring what a bunch of people I don't know say about me. No one knows the first thing about my situation anyway," I tell her bluntly. Strangely I think she liked that answer.
"Whaddya want with him?" Ryuji asked as he approached us. Takamaki looked at him.
"Right back at you. You're not even in our class," Takamaki made a valid point.
"We just happened to get to know each other," Ryuji answered.
"Do you remember a couple days ago? You got a ride to school with that teacher, Kamoshida I believe," I could at least try and direct this conversation to something beneficial. And I suspected that Takamaki was talking to me for a reason. "After you left with him I ran into Sakamoto. We unfortunately got into a bit of an incident and we ended up together for a while. It's also why I was late."
"Something happened?" She looked back at me. She seemed to be appreciative of my somewhat honest answer, although it was incredibly vague. However, she obviously had a purpose as she quickly switched gears and went right to the point. "Look anyway. What're you planning on doing to Kamoshida-sensei?"
"Huh?" Ryuji was surprised for a moment. "...I see. I getcha. You're all buddy-buddy with Kamoshida after all." Huh? Was that true? I mean she did get in a car with him. But considering what we saw in the castle it had to be a lot more complex than just that. And I told Ryuji my suspicions about her involvement to begin with.
"This has nothing to do with you, Sakamoto," Takamaki got a bit defensive.
"If you found out what he's been doin' behind your back, you'd dump him right away," Ryuji boldly says.
She's actually alarmed, "Behind my back? What's that supposed to mean?"
Actually… Can we back up to the fact that Ryui is implying that Takamaki is dating Kamoshida… that is all kinds of wrong. Unless...
"You wouldn't get it," Ryuji said bluntly.
She shakes off that comment and looks between the two of us, "Anyway, people are already talking about you two. I don't know what you're trying to pull, but no one's gonna help you. I'm warning you, just in case. That's all." She stopped and looked at me for a moment… then down to the ground before walking away and leaving the two of us alone.
There was something else she wanted to say, but Ryuji's presence is what stopped her. Something was definitely up.
"Why's she gotta be so aggressive all the time?" Ryuji watched her leave.
"She did come to warn us. And I think she meant it," I commented. She had no reason to go out of her way to talk to me. She didn't seem to be one that was easily taken in by lies and rumors. It felt like she was under a lot of stress though. "You know her? You were giving her a hard time."
"We just went to the same middle school," Ryuji waved it off.
It came off to me as if he just didn't want to talk about it. And from my viewpoint it seemed like he had deliberately driven her off rather than being honest with her. Not that we could tell anyone about the castle. Nor would she believe us if we did. God, what a pain in the ass.
Ryuji shook his head, "Anyways, that's not what we're here to talk about. I had no luck on my end. What about you? Did anything like someone's name turn up?"
"Yeah, the last guy I talked to, mentioned someone named Mishima. Said he had been getting special coaching from Kamoshida himself," I gave him the quick version. The guy hadn't really meant to let the name out either. Hadn't I heard the name Mishima before? Still… after witnessing the fact that the whole volleyball team was keeping quiet… I was starting to wonder if this was a lost cause.
"True. I always see the guy covered in bruises. Let's go talk to him before he leaves then," Ryuji said before we headed off. We didn't have to go too far before we caught up to Mishima. I recognized him as one of the kids from my class, no wonder why I had heard it before. Now that I think about it… I did find the amount of bandages he had on my first day I came to school a bit odd. No one can get that many bruises and scratches just from volleyball practice. "Hey, got a second?" Ryuji called out to him.
"Sakamoto?" Mishima seemed alarmed, looking at him and then me. "And you, too?"
"C'mon, we just wanna chat," Ryuji said. I hope he realizes he just comes off as a bully talking like that. At least try and sound more friendly, Ryuji. Aren't the two of us already labeled enough at this school? Ryuji didn't waste any time getting to the heart of the matter. "Kamoshida's been 'coaching' you, huh? You sure it's not just physical abuse?"
Goddammit Ryuji. You are about as subtle as a sledgehammer and I appreciate that. No tip toeing around subjects with him it would seem.
Mishima took a couple steps away, "Certainly not!" His eyes were looking to the ground. He was lying just like the rest of his teammates. Unable to make eye contact. Unwilling to tell people the truth of what was clearly happening to them.
"What're you talkin' all polite for? Anyways, we saw him spike you today. Right in the face during the rally," Ryuji and I had been pretty close when we saw that. And I swear there was definitely a moment before Kamoshida spiked the ball, where he had definitely picked his target. Then again Mishima hadn't looked like he was going to even participate. Something about that felt off. Maybe Mishima had been told he was supposed to do nothing… and just take the hit in front of everyone. If that was true… then that display had been meant to be a public shaming for Mishima. A punishment.
"That was just because I'm not good at the sport," he turned his head further away.
"Liar," I called out directly. Mishima winced. "Don't give us that bullshit."
"It also doesn't explain all the other bruises you've got," Ryuji pressed.
"They're from practice," He said immediately.
I sighed, "This is pointless, Sakamoto. I didn't realize the volleyball team would be just a load of cowards. Can't even stand up for themselves." Mishima winced again… and I noted his hands turning to fists but he didn't correct me. Likely because he couldn't refute my claim.
"Is he forcin' you to keep quiet?" Ryuji still took a chance of pushing Mishima again.
"That's..." Mishima looked away. That wasn't a no. It would have to be enough as the asshole we are trying to get dirt on makes his appearance.
"What's going on here?" Kamoshida asked and approached us. "Mishima, isn't it time for practice?"
"I'm not feeling well today," Mishima spoke and kept his eyes to the ground.
Ah, shit. We must have inadvertently stopped Mishima from being able to skip out on practice. I silently apologize to him. I certainly hadn't meant to do this.
"What? Maybe you're better off quitting then," Kamoshida said matter of factly. "You're never going to improve that crappy form unless you show up to practice."
"Didn't you hear? He ain't feelin' well,'' Ryuji turned to Kamoshida.
Kamoshida ignored him though, "Well, Mishima? Are you coming to practice or not?"
This mother fucker was pulling a veiled threat on his player right in front of us? Even out here in the open in front of other students? Just how fucking arrogant could this asshole be? Dammit! Now I'm pissed even more.
"...I'll go," Mishima says, his tone of utter defeat.
"As for you, any more trouble and you'll be gone from this school for sure," Kamoshida looked to Ryuji.
"Bastard," Ryuji says under his breath.
"Same goes for you," Kamoshida looks at me. "Didn't the principal tell you to keep in line?"
"What are you going to do? Kick me out of school for talking to a classmate? Whatever, I'm out of here," I turned to leave.
"Hmph, just don't get in the way of my practice. All these unsettling rumors are making the students anxious, after all," Kamoshida was once again flaunting the fact that the rumors were going on because of him. This was just a display of his power, that he controlled us. Well, he could think all the fuck he wants.
"Let's go, Mishima," Kamoshida directed Mishima to follow him. "Shujin Academy is a place where those with aspirations come to learn. Unworthy students like yourselves don't have any right to be here." He glared at Mishima. "Get with the program!"
"Yes, sir," Mishima, defeated, just kept his head lowered. Kamoshida, thankfully, walked away and towards the gym.
"I think breaking his face in would make breaking probation worth it," I grumble under my breath. At least then I would actually have assaulted someone.
"That asshole," Ryuji added. "He's going to pay for this."
"There's no point," Mishima surprisingly spoke up. Ryuji and I both quickly looked at him. "Proving that he's physically abusing us is meaningless. Everybody knows. The principal, our parents. They all know, and they all keep quiet about it."
"This has got to be a joke," Ryuji shook his head, not wanting to believe it.
"Don't be a pain. You don't understand what I'm going through," Mishima said after a moment. "Shouldn't you of all people know that nothing's going to help?"
The last statement was directed at Ryuji, and about what happened to the track team. Yeah, if anyone was going to really understand what Kamoshida was capable of, it was Ryuji. Even more now that we had seen his palace… the place that showed his distorted desire. The truth of his twisted goddamn personality. Mishima then ran off towards the gym.
"Well… what a fucking day this has been," I shake my head.
"Dammit," Ryuji stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"What should we do now? We don't have many options. We got confirmation from Mishima… but it looks like it isn't going to get us anywhere," I felt so incredibly frustrated that people would just be okay with this. To just go along with being abused. This was so fucking stupid. Is everyone at this school just idiotic or a coward? Does anybody not have the ability to stand up to shit that is so obviously fucking wrong?
"I'll try one more time to persuade the other guys. That's... all I can do," Ryuji took a deep breath and walked off.
Goddammit. Fuck Shujin Academy. Fuck the principal, and massively fuck that Kamoshida. There has to be something… anything we can do about his distorted desires and shove it up his Goddamn asshole.
Wednesday / April 13th, 2016 / Natsu Diner - Shibuya Location / Late Afternoon
Natsukawa Naozumi
"Onii-chan, what are you doing here?"
I'm greeted by the questioning stare of my younger sister Natsukawa Shiori. Her dark brown hair, which was the same as my own, was done up in a braid and hung on her shoulder in front of her. She was wearing the dark green uniform that went with the Natsu Diner. She didn't look annoyed at seeing me, only that she wasn't sure why I was here.
"I was close by after leaving class," I said as I moved up to the bar of the diner and sat down as my sister moved behind it. I looked around and saw that we weren't busy at all. I expected this but it was still depressing to see. I put my bag on the counter and sighed. "No improvements, huh?"
"I think you need to contact that marketing company again, because I don't think our advertisements are actually making it out there. I don't know, Onii-chan. Even a lot of our regulars aren't showing up anymore," Shiori said as she placed a glass in front of me and then put a couple cubes of ice into it. Then she pulled a bottle out and popped open the cap and then poured it into the glass.
"I can't stand talking with them," I sighed thinking about the last time I called that marketing company. Something hadn't sat right with me then.
"Well, you are Natsukawa Naozumi, heir to Natsu Diner. The sole propater of-"
"-It's proprietor," I corrected.
"Yeah, sole proprietor of the family business. And the one Dad left in charge of it after he passed on. Even over Jii-Nii," Shiori smiled as if truly proud of this as she slid the full glass of soda to me and placed a straw into it.
"Nii-san would hate it if you called him that. And that only happened because Jiichiro wanted nothing to do with the family business and took off when he graduated high school. And orange cream soda?" I raised an eyebrow but didn't turn it down. "Any particular reason why?"
"What? I can't serve my onii-chan his favorite soda?" she gave that not so innocent smile. I knew she was just about to ask for something that I was probably inclined to turn down.
"Without an alternative motive? Unlikely. What do you want, Shiori?" I asked her as I took a drink from the orange cream soda she had just served me.
"You don't happen to have your notes from math from your senior year do you…" Shiori wasn't used to asking for something like this. It explained her going out of her way like this at least.
I scratched my head, she rarely asked me for anything, and my notes didn't have literal test question answers but could help her study. "Yes, I do. Just remind me when we get home and I'll dig them out of my closet for you."
She smiled big, "Thanks, Onii-chan. Oh, I better go see how my tables are doing. Be back in a bit." I watched as my sister ran off towards the few customers that were in the diner.
The lack of customers was a problem. This place was one of four restaurants that my family currently owned. We used to have a long chain of places when my Father was still alive. However, sometime after his death we were bought out by Okumura Foods. Well, it wasn't as simple as being bought out.
We resisted the deal, of course, but Natsu Diner had been a publicly traded company. What had happened was a hostile takeover. Almost overnight the available shares of Natsu Diner had been bought, making them the majority owner. I couldn't fathom how they had managed to do so in such short order, but they had. In the aftermath, we came to a deal. The only deal we were offered was from Okumura Foods.
Natsu Diner became a sole proprietorship and would only retain four of its thirty locations. All other locations would become part of Okumura Foods and be rebranded as its newest line of restaurants… Big Bang Burger. That was what happened to the 26 locations that had been started by my Father. Now they were franchised and repurposed for the corporate juggernaut that is Okumura Foods.
I took another drink from the orange cream soda as I looked down to the TV at the end of the bar. Looks like the news had something on about those increased incidents. There was a horrible subway incident the other day. It's a good thing that she doesn't take the subway.
Natsu Diner has been the pride and joy of my family line. It was started generations ago by my Great Great Grandfather but it only had a couple locations until my Father took over and started looking for ways to expand. His goal was to show the world how great our family diner was. His confidence swelled as he charged into business to find ways to expand and increase exposure. It led him to opening a lot of locations, and then the biggest change of all… becoming a public traded company. That meant that the business was no longer owned by the family, but it was really the best way for the company to grow. And it did. After all, we had thirty locations and each one was self sufficient. So… how did things end up this way? Honestly, I've thought about it so much it makes me sick. And mostly because I am pretty sure I know exactly why things happened as they did.
As if seeing into my thoughts, a commercial for Big Bang Burger comes up on the TV. A company owned by Okumura Foods, a conglomerate giant in the food industry. It's primary shareholder was Okumura Kunikazu. Not to mention the father of my childhood friend, my best friend, Okumura Haru. Not exactly the easiest friendship to maintain when you believe that her father was the one responsible for a lot of the strife you've experienced in your life. But she isn't stupid, so I know she was definitely aware of my suspicions.
What a depressing topic. How we got to this point isn't important for the moment. The immediate problem was that most of the stores were in the red this month. There was only so much I could do while I was in college though. So… what could I do?
As I thought this a buzzing came from my jacket pocket. I pulled out my phone and saw a message from the person I had just been thinking about, Okumura Haru.
Haru: NAAOOOOO-CHAN!
Naozumi: You do realize that typing in all caps or even texting my name is pointless right?
Haru: Boo… . You're no fun.
Naozumi: Did you finally leave school?
Haru: Just checking the flowers before I leave. Are we still planning to meet up in a couple days?
Naozumi: Whenever you're available.
Haru: I'm hungry now. I demand ice cream.
Naozumi: Vanilla, double fudge. Yes, I know. Maybe after you get an actual meal.
Haru: :-P
Haru: Nao-chan, let's go out today. Where are you?
Naozumi: The diner in Shibuya.
Haru: Ooo… Wait for me! I'm on my way! :-D
Naozumi: Be careful, things have been dangerous you know.
Haru: It's fine, I'll have my driver take me. ;-)
I sighed as I shook my head and placed my phone on the counter. There was no arguing with that girl. Having Haru around could give me an idea on how to increase customers. It wouldn't be easy. Then again, when has anything ever gone my way?
Shiori came back over not too long after, "No plans for today?"
"Actually, Haru says she is on the way," I informed her as I took another drink from my soda. "Says she wants ice cream."
"Yeah? So are you taking her somewhere?" Shiori raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe," I knew where she was going with this. I didn't care to entertain any of those sorts of thoughts right now. "After she gets a decent meal. Could you put in her usual order? And add some celery or cucumbers to it. Haru has a bad tendency to not drink enough water."
"You're such a worrywart," Shiori giggled as she wrote down the order on her notepad.
"I wouldn't have to if she took better care of herself," I say this but I didn't believe it. She just didn't have a father that cared much about her. Not even checking the nanny or whoever he hired to watch over her looked after her properly. I first met Haru because she had a nanny that didn't really pay attention to her.
Shiori went to the kitchen to put in the order.
I pulled out a notebook from my bag and placed it on the counter. I flipped it open and looked over some numbers I had been running for a while now. No matter what I did, I couldn't figure it out. Natsu Diner was going to go under unless I could somehow flip it around. Well, it wasn't so dire that it would close any time soon. If numbers stayed as they were they could still manage to stay afloat for about eight months. That was more because of the money we had got from the deal with Okumura Foods.
I could arbitrarily increase the longevity by closing all but one location, but that was only a temporary problem. Not to mention losing part of the customer base in the process. That wasn't an acceptable outcome, not for a business that had been in my family for longer than I have been alive. Longer than my parents.
"Nao-chan!" I turned to see my childhood friend, rushing towards me. Wearing her Shujin Academy uniform but over it she had on a pink turtleneck cardigan with short puffed sleeves with the normal white long sleeve Shujin Academy shirt underneath it. Her hair, light auburn in color, was incredibly curled. Her hair had always been naturally curvy so it made sense she would embrace it. She was smiling big as she threw her arms up around me and if I hadn't turned and prepared for it I would have been knocked out of my chair. I hugged her back briefly but then pushed her off and towards the chair next to me. "Did you miss me?"
"What kind of question is that?" I sighed as I pulled my bag off from the table and placed it on the floor next to me. "You already know the answer."
"So you did miss me," Haru settled in the seat next to me. Her smile had faded though as she looked at me. "What's wrong, Nao-chan? You're usually more playful than this." She leans over and looks at my notebook as I'm running over the numbers again. "Is this-"
I closed the notebook and sighed, "Yeah it is. Things aren't looking good but there is still time on that front. Nothing you need to worry about. How is school?"
She eyed me for a moment and went to speak but stopped herself. Shaking her head she answered my question instead, "It isn't bad, I suppose. For me, anyway."
"Well, that's good isn't it?" I raised an eyebrow.
"I've heard rumors. The volleyball team has a lot of injuries… but it's… too many. It isn't normal to have a black eye from volleyball. I mean, not unless you're really unfortunate," Haru's tone was really concerned about the events that had no doubt occurred.
"But it is clear there is a problem," I pulled her back.
She nodded, "Yeah. As an upperclassmen I feel like I should be able to do something. But the volleyball coach, Kamoshida… he seriously creeps me out. So I've stayed away from him and tried not to call attention to myself in PE."
Kamoshida? The gold medalist? That's right, he had become a teacher when I had gone to Shujin a few years ago. His coaching has definitely made results on the volleyball team, but it wasn't until they hit the nationals after I had graduated that had really drawn the most attention. I didn't think anything of it at the time. I was too busy dealing with the death of my father and everything else.
"Haru-nee!" Shiori came out and placed an Italian style dish of spaghetti and salad and placed it down in front of Haru, but then placed an identical dish in front of me.
"Shiori-chan!" Haru jumped up as the two both navigated around the bar and hugged each other. "I still can't get over how cute you look in your uniform." The Natsu Diner uniform was dark green, and my sister wore the version with a skirt and button up long sleeve shirt. I wasn't about to comment on my sister's cuteness but she did look good in it.
"You've been saying that forever," Shiori giggled. "I need to go check my tables but I'll be back."
"Alright," Haru and my sister separated and she moved back to the seat next to me. "I see you have already ordered for me. Thank you."
"Want to wait for Shiori before we grab ice cream?" I asked her.
"That would be great. Maybe you could take me home after?" Haru asked, looking towards me. I met her gaze and for a moment I couldn't look away. Haru broke first, the hint of a blush on her cheeks.
"Of course, you sure that's okay?" I picked up my fork and turned to my meal.
"Why wouldn't it be?" she countered and turned to her own food, going for her salad first. I could see her smiling a bit from the edge of my vision. "Hey, Nao-chan."
"What is it?" I wasn't sure what she was getting at. The whole situation at her school was clearly bothering her. "Is there anything I can do for this whole Kamoshida thing?"
She shook her head, "I'm fine but I just thought that maybe we could spend more time together. Dad doesn't really notice me lately and I'll be graduating soon so I'll have more time."
I couldn't respond to that. I would never say no to spending more time with her, but Haru had always been more assertive, she never really gave me a choice. So her asking me like this was completely out of character from our usual interactions.
"Sorry, I'm being weird, aren't I?" Haru took a bite of her salad.
"Do you think I would ever say no to that?" I shrugged and turned to my own food. There was so much that both of us were clearly leaving unsaid. But I couldn't do anything for her right now. No matter how much I desired to say so much more to her.
First things first, dealing with the restaurant's decline in customers though. I can't help Haru with anything if the livelihood of the family business is failing. I hope nothing horrible is happening around Haru though. I wished for that more than anything else.
"Hey, Nao-chan?"
"Yeah?" I glanced at her.
"I know you're busy, but think you could come meet me at school sometime?" Haru asked.
Considering what she had told me was happening with the volleyball team and her concerns, I was thinking about this already. "Yeah, I think I can."
Haru smiled, "Thanks, Nao-chan."
I wish I could do more, but this will have to do. At least for now.
A/N:
So obviously, big thing here is the introduction to Naozumi. He is a couple years older, and meant to add another perspective and viewpoint as the story unfolds, and give more view into Haru's situation. Part of my inspiration of Bitter Fool was in large part of how Haru's section is one of the weakest parts of the game. At least in my opinion. So generally with adding a much stronger personality to the main character and fleshing out Haru's background was two of the things I find important.
I think realistically, that the Persona games do a great job at giving you a tale that is coupled with a slice of life progression. But from a narrative that not setting things up properly, characters and other things start to fall apart on closer inspection. Is it realistic that a student council president doesn't have any friends? Is it realistic that a kid being wrongly accused wouldn't have any friends or adults that would defend him based on what they knew of him? Would people really do nothing to defend their teammate from an abusive coach? There are always questions like this for nearly every character in a Persona game.
At the end of the day, they are all characters in a game. It takes time to craft the world and the story and the characters that inhabit it. How do you effectively design it, tell the story you want to tell while also having the characters make the decisions you need them to that also make sense for them. But this is why certain tropes exist in fiction for this reason. Because sometimes it requires a character to suddenly make a decision that might be uncharacteristic for them. Idiot Ball trope is pretty damn prevalent in it being one mistake that just seems out of character. The whole thing with Makoto, who acts pretty non-assertive leading up to Kaneshiro, and then being incredibly bold and putting them all in a very dangerous situation is kind of one example of that. So there is a question of what was the alternative? What was the method or reason that would cause someone to do a dumb decision? I mean, just because something is dumb doesn't mean it has to be out of character.
I think a lot of what gets missed is how much better these moments could be if they were exploring a weakness of the character instead. Why does Makoto feel so determined that she marches in on the obvious den of a drug lord and sex trafficker? Why couldn't it be related to the death of her Father? And why does the death of her Father get mostly relegated to a side mention and only elaborated on in her confidant? There is no reason to hide these details, why not use them to better explain those seemingly out of character moments. Because that is how you make a better rounded character.
There are a lot of small things that can be done to improve the narrative, but it also is about the story and intention you want to tell. This is why I still love the Persona series. Yeah, they could do a ton to improve the story. They could make the main character named, with a well defined backstory and voice. They could better incorporate the confidants to be more ingrained and influential to the story. But those are also choices that would greatly impact the game, the time it takes to develop and the experiences people have with it.
One example of the kind of things I see people wish they did are around what character you might decide to date in the game, and how the main story completely ignores that for the most part. Imagine if they didn't though. If they wanted to bring it up, that is dialogue that has to be done, voice work, animations, even the placement of where the characters are in scenes would want to change, just to reflect that you are in a relationship with someone. The amount of variations and things to get the details and everything would quickly balloon to a ridiculous amount of extra things to check in an already massive game. So while I wish there was that detail and I think it would be greatly appreciated by everyone, but I also understand there is a massive amount of hours in development/quality assurance for every variance that is offered.
So I turn to fan fiction to scratch that itch in how I would envision those changes. While people might disagree with my own choices and changes I might do. I hope you can appreciate what it is that I am going for. Fan Fiction, by its nature is decisive. What one person seeks to gain from ventures like this is always different. But I hope you can enjoy my little slice of Persona 5 in my small corner of the internet. Anyway, hope you enjoy and see you next month with the next chapter!