Good Day Readers! Obviously, I do not own anything connected to the Persona series in general or Persona 5 specifically, I DO own Chiba Natsumi and Anais Ouvrard, along with Natsumi's immediate family members and the original Personas that will be showing up on occasion.
This is officially the safe chapter of Kamoshida's Arc since he's had his butt kicked and we're playing the waiting game.
I would appreciate any responses that you have, please enjoy.
Chapter 22: - The Aftermath
"Whaddup!" Sakamoto's exhausted voice reached me. I turned around to see the false blonde stumble onto the Aoyama-Itchome platform, completely out of breath and favouring his left leg. "I made it," Sakamoto sighed with relief as he pushed himself up right. "I slept in, so I ran out without eating breakfast. I feel so weak because of it. After we took down Kamoshida, I just feel so spent and out of gas, you know? You get me, right?" Sakamoto explained. Amamiya nodded his head as Takamaki restrained a yawn in vain.
"Here Sakamoto-san," I stated. I held out the pastry I'd brought from Yon-Germain, Sakamoto looked at it in surprise. "Amamiya-san and Takamaki-san went through the same thing; it took me dragging one and calling the other to get them out of their beds and they had to miss breakfast too. We got some food outside, but I was up at my usual time, so I don't need it," I answered the unspoken question.
"All we can do now is wait for the board meeting," Takamaki acknowledged. With that, the train rolled into the station and we all piled ourselves onto the tin can.
*Persona 5 Royal*
It was currently dinnertime and I was out in the courtyard with Takamaki, she was slumped against the bench, seemingly tuned out of the surroundings as people muttered. I had wanted to check on her after everything we went through, especially after her seeing the cognition of Suzui. She seemed okay but I couldn't be too sure.
"Have you seen him at all today?" I asked. Takamaki opened her eyes and gently shook her head, but she seemed completely relieved at the same time, not that I blamed her for feeling that way, the man who had plagued her was missing after our actions; before I could say anything else to her, a voice reached my ears that was coming closer, I turned around as Takamaki sat up and we saw Kawakami-sensei approaching the two of us.
"Study hall will be held instead of P.E. today. I'm letting you know just in case you haven't heard. Kamoshida-san has taken the day off," Kawakami-sensei revealed. A gasp escaped Takamaki as my own eyes widened at those words, this situation could imply anything, so I wasn't about to get my hopes up; Takamaki was off the bench and came to stand beside me.
"You mean he isn't in school today?" Takamaki asked. A quick glance out the corner of my eye showed her wide blue eyes, which were sparkling with emotion that she fought hard to keep off her face, her hands were flexing open and closed as if she wanted to grab onto something but was desperately restraining herself from doing so. "Do you know what's going on?" Takamaki asked. Her voice trying to sound calm, but it cracked slightly as she spoke.
"Don't tell anyone that you heard this from me, but we received word that Kamoshida-san is placing himself under suspension. It's such an important time before the tournament too. Principal Kobayakawa went to talk to him about it, but he supposedly wasn't making any sense," Kawakami-sensei explained. Now that sounded familiar, with that message delivered our homeroom teacher turned and proceeded to walk away from the courtyard.
"It's working," I whispered. My vision was then filled with the blue eyes of my fire wielding comrade and the emotions within her eyes had bleed out onto her face which lightened its' expression but also seemed to be straining it as well. "When I previously collapsed a Palace, the Ruler's physical self when into seclusion for an entire week and I then heard from another person that, that individual was barely making any coherent sense when they spoke, but enough for the Ruler to confess," I quietly explained.
"So, you really think it's happening?" Takamaki questioned. At the moment, it certainly seemed to be going the way we wanted, but I couldn't really say what exactly was happening since I had never seen Ouvrard in that state, instead I needed to rely upon what my uncle had proceeded to tell me after it had taken effect upon her; I wasn't getting my hopes up, so I had better do the same to Takamaki.
"Yes, but it's still too early to tell. The Change of Heart or the mental shutdown. For all we know, they could have similar effects at the start. We just have to wait for the end result," I answered. Takamaki nodded her head in understanding of my words, we could only wait and hope that Kamoshida's current situation led to the change we were rather desperate for.
*Persona 5 Royal*
It was the end of the school day and I was packing my stuff away when my phone buzzed, I pulled it out and opened up the Chat to see that Sakamoto had sent a message to the whole group. Now that the Palace had been dissolved, I was a little worried about how long my connection to these four would last once we knew what Kamoshida's fate was; I didn't want to be alone anymore, but I still couldn't connect to people.
Ryūji: Man, all this waiting's got me so antsy.
Ryūji: We should go on a trip or something. Whaddya think?
Ann: Sorry, I'm gonna have to pass.
Ren: How come Takamaki-san?
Ann: Well, I'm going to be visiting Shiho in the hospital after school for the next few days.
Ann: I can't do much to help her, but it'll be nice to at least see her face.
Natsumi: We understand Takamaki-san.
Ren: I'm sure she'll be okay, but you should go cheer her up.
Ryūji: Yeah, we gotcha, I hope she wakes up soon too.
Ann: Yeah thanks
Ann: I'm totally down to go somewhere once things calm down though.
Natsumi: It would be nice to go somewhere.
Ren: Agreed, we'll see what we can do.
"Hey Natsumi," Takamaki's voice came. I looked up to see the blonde was stood there with what could be a shy expression on her face. "Would you be willing to come with me to see Shiho? It's just I… I would feel better, if you were there… I understand if you don't want to but…," Takamaki rambled. It was a surprise that she had invited me to the hospital again but there must have been something she couldn't quite articulate that led to the invitation.
"I can come Takamaki-san, I don't have anything on this afternoon," I admitted. Takamaki grinned brightly and quickly hooked her left arm through my right arm, the blonde girl proceeded to guide me out of the classroom as we waved goodbye to Amamiya who was smiling at us. I'm certain that people were staring from the slight pressure that I could feel that had nothing to do with a physical weight, but it seemed that Takamaki didn't even care for the stares as she kept moving.
We made our way to the hospital and sat down in the waiting room in order to be admitted to visit Suzui. Takamaki was nervous however, her fidgeting fingers and bouncing leg were pretty big evidence to her feelings as she seemed to be darting her eyes everywhere and anywhere yet never settling on anything for long. I reached out and grabbed a hold of her hands with one hand and then rested my other upon her bouncing leg in order to still it.
"Calm down Takamaki-san. She'll be okay," I reassured. Takamaki nodded her head slightly, swallowing thickly as she did so, yet her face still seemed rather pale. "She'll be okay, Ann. I promise she will," I added on. Tightening my grip on where I held her as if to fully impart the will of my words into the world, as if we were in the Metaverse and my cognition could change anything about Suzui's condition.
"I hope so Natsumi, I really hope so," Takamaki admitted. At that moment, a receptionist informed us that we could go and see Suzui, I released my grip on Takamaki's leg but when I tried to pull my other hand back, the blonde quickly tangled it with one of her own preventing me from doing so. I tightened my grip in response to the vice like grasp that was twisted around my hand as we stood up.
Moving through the sterile halls and smelling that chemical scent of this place was starting to dreg up the memories I would have preferred to forget. The only reason I wasn't tumbling down them like an accursed rabbit hole was thanks to the tight yet steady grip that Takamaki had on my hand. It acted as an anchor for me, keeping me rooted within the present and away from the darkness of my encroaching memories.
"You should consider taking self-defence lessons by the way," I spoke up. It was something I had been considering for a little while, Takamaki proceeded to look over at me with a sparkle in her eyes as her eyebrows raised slightly. "Just because Kamoshida's cruelties towards you have stopped doesn't mean there aren't other sickos out there. I'd feel better knowing you could protect yourself from that kind of disturbed mind than be vulnerable the next time it could happen," I explained.
"Good idea. Got any recommendations?" Takamaki asked. Before I could answer, we reached the door that would lead into the room that Suzui had been given, at the door however I managed to wriggle my hand free of Takamaki's grip once it loosened. The model turned to face me, but I simply motioned my head to the doorway that led inside, Takamaki nodded her head and swallowed her nerves down before going inside; Suzui could only be allowed one visitor at a time so waiting out here was as far as I could go. Really, I think this is what Takamaki had needed me for.
Once the girl had walked through the doorway, my green gaze drifted over to what I could see of Suzui. Her eyes were still closed and her mouth covered by an oxygen mask, an IV stand was positioned near the bed she lay upon with tubes hanging down to connect to the girl's prone form. Nutrients and fluids were no doubt contained within and allowed to keep the girl alive in her comatose state.
But the longer I looked, the more Suzui's image started to change. Her hair became shorter, her face somewhat younger and sharpening from feminine to masculine, the bruises faded but were replaced by a peppering of cuts that slowly oozed blood. I took in a shuddering breath as I backed myself up against the wall of the corridor, closing my eyes as if to banish the last memory of my brother but that only seemed to make the focus on it sharper as I recalled the people rushing about trying to save his life.
"Natsumi," Takamaki's voice came. I jerked upright as my eyes drifted open to see that Takamaki had returned to my side and she was looking at me with an odd gleam within her eyes; she swiftly moved over and gently lay a hand upon my arm. "Are you okay?" Takamaki asked. Her voice was soft, as if she thought speaking any louder would cause me to break apart, though perhaps in a way she was right.
"I'm… just experiencing some bad memories Takamaki-san, nothing to concern yourself over," I answered. I had debated lying, but I figured that it was a pointless endeavour when she had seen me so clearly disturbed by something, ergo she would call me out on the lie. I did not however wish to dwell too long on these darker memories.
"Would you like to talk about it?" Takamaki offered. I blinked in surprise at her words, that incident wasn't ever brought up, hell I resented having to mention it because of Morgana's snooping the other day, but someone offering to talk about it was something unexpected; even so, I shook my head… it wouldn't do to dwell so heavily on those days, especially with what was coming this Sunday, I would need my strength and focus for that day so best not to waste it beforehand. "Well, how about we go get some food," Takamaki decided.
"That would be nice," I agreed. With that the two of us left the hospital as I started to pack my memories back into the box, they could wait to overwhelm me on another day.
*Persona 5 Royal*
Takamaki had brought me to a rather relaxed restaurant somewhere in Shibuya, it had a pleasant atmosphere that was very different to the hospital's almost cold aura. We had made an order of food and were currently waiting for it to arrive; I was mindlessly looking around and admiring the place since I'd never been here before, but I could sense Takamaki fiddling with her hair which was starting to become almost like a nervous tic.
"Um… Natsumi," Takamaki called. I dropped my gaze onto the blonde and saw she had her hands clasped in front of her now instead of fiddling away but that didn't mean her thumbs weren't rubbing against each other in consistent circles. "Thank you for coming with me to see Shiho these last two times. I know I haven't been making much sense when I've been asking you to come with me, so I'm really grateful," Takamaki admitted.
"Of course, Takamaki-san. there's nothing to thank me for. You must have your reasons for asking me," I responded. I wouldn't have been against receiving comfort back on that dark day, so knowing that someone was reaching out a hand for that same comfort in their own darkness… well there was no reason for me to not reach my hand back out to offer it to them, no matter what that comfort might be.
"Yes, I do. The truth is… I'm probably using you as a crutch," Takamaki admitted. I silently raised my eyebrows in surprise at her words as she looked down at her hands with a thin frown spreading across her lips. "When Shiho jumped, I was so scared that she was going to die. And you were there. I know you probably think you didn't do much, but to me you did. You were almost like a soothing presence and… at the moment… I just… I don't think I'm strong enough to see Shiho in her current state without that presence there," Takamaki admitted. My expression softened at her words.
"I see. If you want me to keep coming with you, I'm not against it. It's not that much-," I began to speak. However, my voice was silenced when Takamaki's hands suddenly shot over and grabbed a hold of my own, I blinked in surprise down at the clasped appendages as confusion rose within me at Takamaki's sudden and rather unexpected interruption of my words; lifting my gaze up I saw a tense but complicated expression twisting across her face as her eyes started to mist up suddenly.
"It is to me! I'm sorry for using you in that way, but I feel like I really need you there or I might break down! And yet I'm causing you pain just by bringing you to the hospital!" Takamaki declared. My mouth opened but not a single sound escaped from me as I was stunned into silence over the words that had escaped from Takamaki's lips, I certainly couldn't have anticipated her saying such things. "Please, you can speak to me about anything Natsumi. You don't have to hide away from your pain," Takamaki pleaded. Her blue eyes were still misted quite brightly as they stared into my own green gaze as if trying to get the answer from the organs instead of my voice.
"Thank you for your concern, Takamaki-san, but truly I'm alright," I insisted. I tried to bring a smile to my face to add extra assurance, but I couldn't make my lips move in such a manner, the upcoming day of dread was no doubt already sapping my will to smile or perhaps Takamaki's unexpected plea had momentarily stunned me into being unable to bring such a muscle movement to fruition.
"You're pretty stubborn you know that," Takamaki huffed. In response, she released the grip on my hands and slouched back into her seat – somehow making it look graceful, how did she do that so easily? – as she crossed her arms and started to pout slightly; but then she seemed to have a lightbulb moment as she sat up straight and rested her elbows on the table while using the backs of her fingers to support her chin. "Well, if you don't want to talk about the hospital…," Takamaki continued. She trailed off as our food was brought over and Takamaki proceeded to spear a piece of dessert on her spoon and then lifted the utensil to point it and the still jiggling pudding at me. "You are telling me more about the things you like!" Takamaki decided. She was grinning brightly as she spoke before taking a hearty bite of the portion she'd scooped up.
"If you insist, though I don't have much to talk about. Books will be the main thing," I admitted. A soft giggle lacing my words as I took a bite out of my own meal.
*Persona 5 Royal*
The conversation me and Takamaki had, had over food ended up lasting much longer than I had ever expected a conversation to last. Eventually we had taken note of the dying light and proceeded to split up to return to our homes. I slipped into the empty house I had come to start to resent, my life seemed to have become so loud and noisy lately that the deathly quiet of my house was becoming a burden.
A vibration on my phone snapped me out of my spiralling dark thoughts, I pulled it out and opened it up seeing a Chat notification had come in. I quickly opened it up and found that the person who had started it this time around was actually Takamaki, I lifted a single eyebrow as I wondered what she could have to say after such a long conversation. I opened up the Chat and felt my confusion fade to a soft sort of sadness.
Ann: I went to see Shiho today.
Ann: And I told her we settled things with Kamoshida.
Ann: She still hasn't regained consciousness… but I had to go make amends.
Ryūji: Whaddya mean! You didn't do anything wrong, Ann.
Ryūji: Right, Ren? Natsumi?
Natsumi: I agree. You were not at fault for what happened.
Ren: It's not your fault, Ann. This is Kamoshida's doing.
Ann: But I wasn't there when she needed help. I'm a failure as a friend.
Ann: I have to do all I can to make up for that, starting now.
Ann: Otherwise, I don't think I'll be able to move on.
Natsumi: I… can understand what you mean. I had a friend who suffered something awful, but I couldn't help her through it.
Natsumi: We lost touch. I hope the same fate doesn't befall you and Suzui-san.
Ryūji: Man, I didn't know you were so passionate, Ann.
Ryūji: I totally didn't notice that back in middle school.
Ann: I think it's because of you guys. I'm a little embarrassed tough.
Ann: Anyway, Natsumi, Ryūji, Ren… I hope we can keep helping each other out from now on too.
Takamaki seemed to be blaming herself for what happened to Suzui, perhaps too harshly in my opinion. I could only hope that when Suzui woke up, she'd be able to reassure her friend that Takamaki was not to blame for Suzui's actions. I also hoped that Kamoshida would go through his Change of Heart and confess all his decrepit sins.
