Kasumi woke up to Sojiro calling her from the kitchen.
"Kid! You better not make us late for this!"
Kasumi quickly got up and got everything ready for the day. She felt a bit nostalgic putting on the Shujin Uniform. Sojiro drove her over to Shujin where she was again treated like a criminal. It was a little more exhausting than the first time but at least she knew that there would soon be people who would have her back fully. She knew that she wasn't alone and that gave her hope.
Near the end of the tour, Kawakami gestures over to another tour that is going on.
"Now we expect you to behave yourself, we don't expect you to be like the student council president over there, who is giving a tour to another transfer, but please be on your best behavior."
Kasumi nodded on instinct, she was overtaken by the nervousness of having to reintroduce herself to Makoto, she didn't even notice who Makoto was giving a tour to. Kasumi decided to worry about re-meeting Makoto another day and hurried off to find Sojiro, who was still chatting with the principal, and get back home.
"I hate Traffic so much, starting tomorrow, you're taking the subway to get to school!"
Sojiro and Kasumi sat in the Tokyo traffic hoping it would budge soon enough, but it didn't look like that was going to be the case anytime soon. Sojiro was getting tired of the silence and kept trying to start a conversation.
"I cleaned out my passenger seat from this, though it wasn't bad to start I guess."
Kasumi nodded. "Thanks again for the ride." She was a bit concerned at when she would meet Makoto properly for the second time, she kept going through possible scenarios in her head but nothing felt right.
Sojiro decided to turn on the radio for help with the silence. News of a freak subway accident was being broadcast on every station.
Kasumi's eyes went wide. 'I forgot that was today' she thought to herself. 'I should discuss with the other two how to deal with these events.'
Sojiro winced. "Uggh that's nasty stuff those freak accidents." A thought occurred to Sojiro and he turned off the radio. "Hey kid you doing alright?"
Kasumi nodded, a little confused.
"I just figured this topic may not be the best given your, er, past."
Kasumi's eyes widened. 'He knows about Sumire, I guess it makes sense for Father to share that.'
"I appreciate it Sojiro, thank you."
"No Worries kid."
"Hey so, why did you take me in?"
"I got paid well for it, and I mean, while what you did was foolish, I could have seen a young Sojiro doing the same thing. You're still on thin ice as far as society is concerned, but I hope that changes kid."
They reached Leblanc shortly after, Kasumi reminded Sojiro to close up the store properly and promptly passed out.
Kasumi woke up in the morning oddly refreshed. She got dressed and was greeted downstairs by Sojiro who had prepped her some Curry, she also noticed a Shujin Student helping themselves to some Coffee, they had scraggy hair and the standard male uniform. Once they say Yoshizawa they called her over to the booth, she grabbed her meal and joined them, curious.
"Yoshizawa-San, good morning!"
"Good Morning, um, have we met before."
The student gave her a smirk, "I guess we haven't in your timeline. The names Ren Amamiya, I saw you in the Velvet Room."
Kasumi gasped. "So that was you! Sorry I didn't recognize you, not used to appeareance being that different for a phantom thief in the metaverse."
Ren chuckled, "That's 100% fair... so, I'm trans, but I transitioned during my time in the, er, group. I have to restart that sadly but I think it will work out, at least I don't have to crack my egg anymore!"
Kasmi smiled. "Nice to meet you Ren-Chan, I'm familiar with transitions, my sister dated a trans man before and after transition, and it taught me a lot about how pronouns and just the general process works."
"That's great to hear! Hey so, I'm sorry to pry, but could you give me your name?"
Kasumi nodded. "Akechi had a similar question, I'm Kasumi, sadly we lost Sumire a couple years ago..."
"Ah, sorry to hear that happened in your timelines. Wait, you spoke to Akechi?! Are you ok?"
Kasumi tilted her head out of pure confusion. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Ren remembered to calm herself. "What day are you from in your timeline?"
"September 12" Kasumi was glad she chose to write that down after her meeting with Akechi."
"You missed a lot of stuff then, so you know the man in the black mask, who is the one causing mental shutdowns?"
Kasumi gasped, "You mean?"
"Yeah, it's Akechi, I've been avoiding him, so I figured I would talk to you first to get timeline differences."
"I see, um, let's head to school and talk on the way."
"Right, sure thing Kasumi-San"
Ren told Kasumi all about the events that occurred with Akechi post Okumura's Palace, and his eventual death in Shido's palace. Ren also suggested that theyh should hide what they know from Akechi.
"No, I think we should be upfront with him, if he really became the way he did because he's alone, than this would just fulfill that prophecy, we can't undo Wakaba's death, but we can stop Okumura's and Kobayakawa's, maybe fly under the radar until we have enough power to defeat Shido."
Ren was impressed by how quickly Kasumi caught on to their situation. "Damn, you definitely are the right choice for the leader of the Phantom Thieves in this timeline, hey are you single?"
"Sorry, someone else has my affection, I hope she feels the same way though..."
Ren gulped. "Is it Ann?"
"Makoto."
"Ah she is cute too I guess, good luck, I wish you the best, if you want me to put in a good word just let me know, or if you want an excuse to see her I can help with that too."
"I'll think about it, thanks."
"So... back to Akechi, I'm thinking Wednesday we go and sit down with him, at a diner to prevent retaliation just in case?"
Kasumi nodded. "That sounds like a plan, and even if he doesn't join the group right away we gained an ally, at least for now."
Both girls were so consumed in their conversation that they didn't realize they were about to bump into Ann, literally. Kasumi quickly sidestepped and mini-twirled around Ann in order to keep her balance, surprising the other two young women around her.
The blond Shujin student beamed. "Ah that was very smooth, I haven't seen you before, are you new to Shujin?"
Kasumi extended out her hand and Ann quickly shook. "Yes I just transferred here, Kasumi Yoshizawa, second year."
"Nice to meet you Kasumi-Chan, the name's Ann Takamaki, also a second year at Shujin." Ann turned towards Ren. "Hey, nice to meet you too, you are?"
Ren shook her hand. "Akira Amamiya, second year."
The three were interuppted by a car that pulled up close to them, the window was lowered revealing Kamoshida, smirking at Ann.
"Hey, need a ride?"
Ann reluctantly waved at her two new classmates and started walking over to the car. Kamoshida signaled Kasumi as well.
"You can join us as well young lady." Kamoshida turned to Ren with a stern voice. "Sorry dude, got no space for you have gym stuff to take to school."
Kasumi felt an immense rage boil inside her but she barley managed to mask it with a smile. "Thanks for the offer but I'm going to walk today, they are more than free to take my place though!" She gestured toward Ren who quickly walked over to keep Ann company, and essentially forcing Kamoshida to allow this. Kasumi could tell that he had to mask his rage here as well.
As she started to recover she heard a familiar voice.
"Effiin Prick! Who does he think he is?"
Kasumi looked around and saw Ryuji looking at where Kamoshida had parked the car. Ryuji looked over at her, furious.
"Are you friends with that asshole?"
Despite being the subject of his ire, Kasumi was so glad to see him, she hoped they could become best friends again. Ryuji was so dependable, even listening to her audibly brainstorm if she should ask Makoto out, and then cheer her on, sadly, this was right before she was sent back to the start. Kasumi walked over to Ryuji.
"No, he's an ass, and I hope he gets what's coming to him."
"Yeah, that's the spirit! Say, you seem new here, you a transfer student or something?"
Kasumi held out her hand and Ryuji tried to fist bump her. "Kasumi Yoshizawa, second year, just transferred in."
"Ah I think I heard about you, they said we were getting a gymnast soon!"
"Ah yeah, I retired from gymnastics though, but I'm sure I'll find a new group soon!"
"Oh Crap, We're gonna be late! Well come on we gotta sprint if we're gonna make it!"
Ryuji and Kasumi hurried off to Shujin, once they arrived at the campus, Kasumi noticed Ryuji favoring his leg, just like he did in the previous timeline. 'Ok so it seems that most things before 4/9 are the same.' Kasumi Pondered.
"Hey Ryuji, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I just injured my leg a long time ago, it broke like a year ago but it didn't heal right. It's not a problem most days." Ryuji gritted his teeth, remembering the incident like it was the day before.
Kasumi instinctively reached for her leg, knowing the pain of an injury a fraction as bad as that one, but still gruesome, she could only imagine the agony Ryuji went through.
"I'm sorry it must be tough. I hope the pain goes away soon though!"
"Thanks, see you around!"
Ryuji ran off, not remembering that his leg was going to make him regret that.
Kasumi got to her homeroom and noticed Ren sitting in the seat behind her.
"You took my seat it seems, now the real question is who gets Morgana?"
"I'm sure Futaba would side with me due to Morgana being so close to me."
"Just going to assume that you live closer?"
Kasumi raised an eyebrow at her and Ren gave in.
"Fine you got me, yeah I don't live in Yongen-Jaya which has really messed up my muscle memory in the subway station."
"Where do you live then Ren-Chan?"
"Well... That's a long story..."