What is this!? Me publishing a chapter less than a month after the last one? Its more likely than you think! :)

Welcome back everybody. Surprised to hear of me? What can I say my schedule is erratic. Besides ive been working on this chapter along with the previous Round One chapter and wanted to get this out soon.

Finally were at the volleyball rally. And it only took over 100K words…

I swear I WILL make it past the Kamoshida arc one day.

Anyway you know the drill. First Guest reviews than warnings.

Guest: Thanks happy to hear, but why don't you read the author notes? I… really don't see a reason not to, especially considering that this is the only way I can reply to Guest reviews.

Guest:

Yeah I can understand why you would feel that way abut Akira. First of… that whole part about cursing was really just me wanting to make that joke about Satanael influencing him with 'curse' energy. Lame pun I know but I was way too proud of it to not include it.

There is also the fact that Akira is… well a Persona protagonist. I have seen DOZENS of different characterisations for him in some Fanfics I read. 'Crimson' has him be a lot less certain about himself and be a teenager that's way in over his head. 'Rebellion' has a much darker and rougher Akira and so on…

Hell even in canon material the Ren from the Anime is MUCH different than anything of the game shows.

There are just countless ways for people to write about their Akira's/Ren's/Joker's. No one version will ever truly fit, everyone has their own opinions about what he REALLY is and while Akira has arguably the most 'defined' personality compared to other Persona MC's, as in we can guess what he is like from animations and dialogue choices, he is still more or less a blank slate that everyone thinks differently of.

My Akira is a bit of a mixture of various things. He is a pissed of teen that wants to do good but is also a bit done with everything.

But huge bitch? Come on that's just harsh. The dude has been put through a lot and has a lot of Trauma after everything that happened. I know it may seem uncommon to have that actually addressed but TEENAGERS aren't going to be okay after getting involved in stuff like, nearly getting killed, facing maniacs and fighting mad gods. He has some deep rooted issues that I don't just want to brush over like pretty much 90 percent of any fiction involving teenagers seems to do.

About emotional and OOC well okay I can also see that. In general I am trying to show their character a bit more via POV's for example. And well… their kids and human who had a lot happen to them, I don't see why they shouldn't be emotional.

And yeah pretty much what I think too. Again everyone is gonna think differently of a silent MC. That's not a bad thing, I actually enjoy how different people can write their own Jokers. Makes it less stale since every fic can surprise you by focusing on different aspects on him.

Regardless I am happy to hear you have grown to my take on the Trickster and good to know you still decided to follow the story. :)

Rep: Happy to hear :). That was one of the reasons I ended up making the Round one chapters. There will be more of these down the line eventually.

And Were all doing fine so far here. Hope it's the same with everyone else too.

Alright! After what happened last time, lets get back onto the main chapters!

Regarding warnings… we have Kamoshida narration this Chapter so be prepared for absolute disgust.

Seriously… I felt SICK writing that shit. Curse me and my apparent inability to not write out characters thoughts.

Also another warning… you guys are probably gonna HATE Makoto after this chapter. Think you did before? Well its gonna get crancked up to eleven. She is… gonna be very extreme and MEANT to be unlikeable in the scene where she is in. I honestly worry I may have done her OOC but I go into her motivations and talk about her without spoiling in the notes at the chapters end.

AND FINAL WARNING: There are some MILD Kasumi related spoilers in this chapter. Regarding her family situation. Its nothing severe but I felt it better to say it so I don't accidentally spoil anything. Its nothing severe just stuff about her family but your warned.

"Does he sleep in the attic!?"

Sojiro couldn't help but wince.

The kids had already left an hour ago, yet the words of the Akechi girl were still echoing in his head.

"You have a residence of your own. With a bed, furniture, heating, base necessities and so on. And you do not consider to extend the same courtesy to the teenager who you were trusted to watch over. Am I understanding this right?"

"Geez." He remorsefully said to himself. Fortunately no other guests had arrived yet except the Doctor down the streets that had wanted her morning coffee.

He couldn't be angry at Akechi or resent her for what she said. Not when he could clearly see where those thoughts had come from.

In hindsight, Sojiro had not exactly been the most welcoming person. His policy was 'don't mess with me and I don't mess with you'. The kid hadn't acted out so far and considering that he made some friends already he hoped it would stay this way.

But some of the things he did could be seen as dismissive at best. An attic over a Café was not exactly that habitable. Sojiro more or less just threw a mattress in the corner, pushed things around to at least carve a path to the bed and called it a day.

At the time he had justified it with the fact that he didn't know how bad of a criminal he would take in. Giving him a place to sleep was just a favour done for a guest. They made small talk and somehow they went to talking about a delinquent that got taken into Shujin and needed a place to stay.

Sojiro wasn't sure himself why he agreed. It was a spontaneous decision.

Maybe the prospect of a homeless teenager without anyone to turn too tugged at his heart.

Sojiro sighed. Guilt had become a familiar emotion to him ever since Wakaba's death.

Wakaba Ishiki. The one woman he ever truly loved. He was a bit of a lady's man in his youth but his heart was reserved solely for her. An incredible, intelligent, loving woman.

A woman who's MURDER he couldn't prevent.

Sojiro wasn't a Fool, not back when he simply laughed Wakaba's fears off as paranoia. He was convinced there was something more to it. But he lacked any evidence and there was no saying how deep that rabbit hole went.

He has theories but that's all he had.

How badly he wished he could make up for everything. Even if it was selfish of him.

So… Sojiro took her daughter in, trying to shield her from the rest of Wakaba's family and whoever targeted her.

Though Sojiro was aware that he wasn't the best person to raise Futaba. He was incapable of it. All he really did was give her shelter and food. Nothing more. He merely let Futaba live that shut-in life.

But Futaba was haunted by her mother's death more than he ever would. He wasn't qualified to help her in the way she deserved. How do you even heal a broken heart?

All he could give Futaba was the thing she needed, or at least he hoped this was what she needed. A safe place where no one can disturb her. The one lone, unused room in his House.

So Sojiro kept his distance… he hoped for the both of them.

But taking in a violent criminal in reach of Futaba was immediately out of the question.

Even if said criminal turned out to be not as violent as he had feared. He even grew to believe the kids story of how he got here, always did if he was honest.

The kid even stood up for him and defended him. For what? They barely knew each other and yet Akira seemed to have gotten attached to him somehow. Talk about low standards.

The barista shook his head. There was no use thinking about all of this. He would ease up on the kid but nothing more. They didn't need to get too close involved.

…

Unknown to Sojiro… a certain red-haired hacker had heard every word between the two students and her guardian and was currently typing away at her computer for the purpose of research on the newcomer.

Driving into his reserved parking lot, Kamoshida took a moment for himself before entering Shujin Academy.

Kamoshida took a deep breath, clutching the wheel of his car. Breathing out he placed his hands on his forehead, going upwards…

And viciously pulling at his hair.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" He screamed in his car, which thankfully was soundproofed.

"What in the actual FUCK is going on with me lately?!" he cursed.

Something was SERIOUSLY WRONG!

First… he had a panic attack, yes an actual PANIC ATTACK, around that transfer student.

Then he had SOMEHOW passed out and needed to clean himself up.

And since yesterday afternoon his JAW WONT STOP HURTING!

It's as if someone took a mallet and smashed it over his face! But that shouldn't be possible. He would have remembered something like that. He even went to a Doctor the other day. He was in perfect physical condition! Something he used to be more than proud of but now just confused him.

And he NEVER wet himself. Why was it happening NOW!?

Not to mention that his heart constantly beat way higher than it should, even more than back when he was still participating in the Olympia. It also seemed to happen quite frankly when he thought of that Kurusu kid.

He shook that thought aside. NO! That just wasn't it! It had to be something else. Some illness or SOMETHING.

There was no way he was SCARED of that brat!

Yet… his body was quite clear in regards to that. And Kamoshida tended to trust bodies more than words or thoughts.

Akira GODDAMN Kurusu. What a pest! Even thinking of him made Kamoshida furious. He didn't need a criminal to sully HIS school. That's why he revealed his record in the first place. He hoped that kid would soon enough be sick of the torment and go run away, become a drug addict or commit suicide or something.

But it looks like the brat was a bigger annoyance than he expected.

And there was something WRONG with that scum. Something Kamoshida just couldn't pinpoint.

Kamoshida had an extended talk with Kobayakawa a few weeks beforehand. It was one of the few things that the fatty did that made him angry. Akira was an athlete. Just FANTASTIC! Yet another young idiot that would try and steal his glory.

Turns out… back in his hometown Paradaisu Rosuto, Kamoshida never heard of that hillbilly country dump before in his whole life, Akira had been among the best gymnasts in the school. A prodigy. Then Akira had been involved in some assault case and was expelled on short notice.

Kamoshida angrily admitted that he probably was himself at fault for the brat entering Shujin. Kobayakawa had long running plans on solidifying Shujin as a prestigious sports school, thanks in no small part obviously to Kamoshida and his Volleyball team. Part of said plan was to take in more gifted students.

What sort of bullshit. Kamoshida was doing more than enough to keep the schools reputation up.

Whatever 'prodigies' were taken in should have been approved by him! He was okay with some hot girls for example that wanted some guidance but he didn't want to deal with some punks.

That thought did manage to make him smile again though. The trash wasn't the only one to be taken in soon.

Another girl, Kasumi Yoshizawa, should arrive any day now. She had some personal problems but now tried her luck in Tokyo.

Kamoshida almost laughed. What a dumb slut. She had a nice body though, a slender gymnast with red hair. She liked to dance too.

He grew excited at the thought of adding a dancer to his girls.

Too bad that not all the students Kobayakawa wanted were cute girls.

Still in the Principals eyes, Akira had been perfect for that little project. The PLAN was to 'rehabilitate' a criminal back into being a good and obedient member of society. That coupled with his talents would further improve Shujin's reputation. After a few weeks of waiting Akira was supposed to be approached and 'coerced' into joining a school athlete team if he wouldn't do anything suspicious.

That bastard acted out of place.

One of these days Kamoshida would get him arrested and take over as Principal. He already had a few ideas. Principal Kamoshida had a nice ring to it for him. He liked to play with the idea, but as of now he enjoys his current role.

Anyway, that aside he had given the obese puppet a warning. Akira was going be watched like a Hawk.

And he was NOT making Kamoshida paranoid! That was impossible for more reasons than he bothered naming.

He simply… was unexpected. Kamoshida didn't really know how to work around him yet. He would go and push for him getting kicked out and thrown back in Juvie with whatever first excuse he would get.

He groaned while slumping back in the drivers seat. Calm down. He had to relax.

Today was HIS day. The Volleyball rally. Days like those were the best. He got to reexperience his glory days. It made him feel like a King!

In his perfect world every day would be like this. Praised by hordes of fans that treated him like a living god, when he was competing against the best of the World and WON. Beat them all down, dominating everyone that dared oppose him and proved himself their superior.

Of course that world would include some girls as well.

A lecherous grin came over him. He liked those fantasies. Whatever girl he wanted was HIS. Many of his girls always changed but some stood out as his favourites.

There were Ann and Shiho, his little Princesses. The jewels of his Crown. Two hot schoolgirls in need of some dick if you ask him. He always found it stupid, girls like those just needed a man. Fortunately, he was happy to oblige.

That Mishima boy was just so useful. How good that he told him about their little 'phase'.

Speaking of Mishima… the girl of the two, Yui, was also on occasion in his sights. She wasn't particularly attractive compared to Ann or Shiho, but she had her charm. However, Yuuki was more useful than she was hot. Yuuki only worked as his little rat because he told the nerd it would protect his sister.

What a 'good' big brother. So, he let her out of his grasp… well for now.

But even outside school there were girls hat caught his attention. That hot little Detective that was all over the news for example. The so called Detective Princess, Goro Akechi.

He chuckled at that. When she first made her appearance Kamoshida had already caught glimpse of her. In a spontaneous moment of humour, he had prepared a… special letter for her. In it stood a small fantasy of his with her as the main character. He even attached a small picture of the other main star.

It STILL makes him laugh thinking about what her reaction must have been like. Was she disgusted? Did it keep her awake at night or worried when she walked alone? Or was she secretly fantasizing and rubbing herself raw to him?

As much fun as imagining that was, there were far more available girls here in Shujin. For example his Ryuko-chan…

"Gah!" he groaned, hand holding his pulsing mouth.

A cold shiver came through him and his jaw started to ache up again.

That was… weird. This never happened before.

Maybe he should go see a different Doctor. There was no way he reacted like this because of Akira but there was an EVEN LESSER way for him to react like this towards that blonde slut.

Anyway in his fantasy Ryuko was his adorable cheerleader. Constantly excited like a puppy but with a nice rack. He fondly looked back on when she used to be his Number 1 fan.

Too bad he had to damage her. That she couldn't just behave.

Kamoshida had expected her to come crawling back at some point. Yet she just kept on resisting.

No matter. Sometime he would just get tired of playing and finish what he started. Then she is gonna enjoy the whore reputation. She just needs some of his 'special couching'.

Kamoshida had decided, he had enough fun playing. He wanted to settle his little Harem.

He would start with Ann. Or maybe Shiho? Maybe both? Nah. He would have fun with one before having both. He knew exactly how to do it.

Tomorrow he would give Ann a little call. 'Visit' him or take Shiho of the Team. If she refuses he just takes it as the Universe deciding for him to take Shiho first.

Those thoughts did make him feel better. Tomorrow he would stop the games and go hunting. Once he got to claiming his favourite girls he would get around to taking over Shujin completely.

He took a deep breath and left the parked car. Time for him to enjoy himself in his Castle!

"I have the great desire to kick Kamoshida's ass all through Japan all of a sudden." Akira thought with evident disdain.

"Is that anything new?" Orpheus replied dryly. She was just waiting for the right moment to unleash some fire herself it seemed.

"No, it's not. But today it's just greater than usual."

"How annoying. We've barely started high school, and already they're making us play at a volleyball rally? And why are they pitting us against the teacher team? Kamoshida's gonna crush us."

"We get to see his technique live and in person, though. We should totally get spiked on!" two students spoke in front of him.

…

"GEE! I wonder why!"

"Yeah, ok. You're gonna get your face smashed in. Just look at how banged up the volleyball team is. What the hell goes on during their practices?"

"Well maybe you could find out if you ACTUALLY BOTHER with it and don't just talk about it the same way you talk about bad Weather!" he snapped at the students in front of him in his thoughts.

"Rather harsh don't you think 'mon petit voleur'? They have no way of knowing what you know." Arsene questioned.

"If they really cared about the injuries enough they COULD find out 'mon prof de vol'. They just don't CARE enough. You of all people should know that I rather work on a problem than just talking about it and acting concerned." Akira countered with bite.

Many always talk big about how bad something is and that someone should help, but how many are willing to stand up and do something?

Instead they are simply…

Guilty of sloth.

The voices of the inmates, beckoning them to join their so called 'Freedom' and 'Security', rang through what might as well be the depths of Hell. An eerie red glow surrounded them as if the Prison was alive and they were surrounded by blood and sin and…

He shook his head, throwing away the memory that ignited… things in him and wiped away the unexpected sweat on his palms for NO REASON AT ALL.

Focus.

Today had already started rather… heavy. He had NOT expected Akechi to be the first thing he saw today. Let alone her ranting to Sojiro.

To think that she once called him criminal trash living in an attic. Now she had gone angry over the fact he was living in one.

Akira felt somewhat touched by the fact that Akechi worried this much about his living situation, but verbally attacking Sojiro went way too far for him. Even if Sojiro doesn't know of their time the raven himself DID. As far as he was concerned Sojiro was still the father he always wanted, even if the barista himself doesn't feel the same way right now.

And he wasn't letting him be on the wrong end of an Akechi rant.

Some of the things said really didn't need to be. Accusing Sojiro, SOJIRO of all people, of being abusive!? Oh HELL no!

Even when it was brought up by his friends in the previous timeline, during that whole 'Medjet' debacle, he got… let's say defensive over them assuming Boss could have it in him to be abusive. Akira held it over them for DAYS once the whole situation with Futaba was unveiled and why he took her in.

Speaking of Futaba… he felt a pang of guilt simply reminding himself he had yet to do something to help her. Was he being a hypocrite right now, angry that people always talk and never act but having done nothing for the traumatized teenager with a death wish?

Well it wasn't like he JUST talked. Akira had brainstormed several plans and ideas on how to help Futaba with Lavenza. Well… she helped out whenever she was not… 'occupied' as she herself put it.

Futaba's situation was… unique. Her Palace didn't even obey its ruler, instead bowing to a Cognition, and was not founded on corruption but sheer self-hatred. It made him uncomfortable just thinking about it.

Then there was the fact that Futaba needed to be INSIDE the Palace to awaken her Persona. Trying to push the Thieves in there without giving away anything (like how he knew of this Palace and so on) would be challenging to say the least.

And that is without counting the ever-present problem of how a certain black masked elephant in the room might react to the murals.

Wakaba still died, as a quick search provided, and it left… unsettling possibilities. Unless Shido had some other way to order hits Akechi could still be Wakaba's murderer. Akira wanted to believe in his Crow still, there were more options possible.

But the Wildcard that is the fellow… Wildcard aside, he needed to find a way to help Futaba without completely erasing her Palace.

Eventually he came up with a solution that might work. He would go visit the Tomb this evening.

For now, he was focusing on school though.

He was already at the gate. A part of the Trickster was curious how Kamoshida would react to him. But just as he was about to enter a voice called out to him.

"Excuse me."

A voice he did not recognized and which came from behind him.

Turning around, half expecting a new Daiji situation, he came face to face with no other than a different anomaly in the new timeline.

Yui Mishima.

There stood the sudden twin sister of Yuuki, her brother standing right next to her.

Akira hadn't taken much time to notice it, but now with them both in sight and right next to each other, there were a few major differences.

Yuuki stood uncertain, his gaze was directed towards his shoes and an arm grabbing the other. Yui meanwhile stood not as passively. Her back was straightened up, an arm stretched out as if she was about to tap his shoulder, hadn't he reacted and looking him straight in the eye.

"Yes?" he asked with interest. Akira had planned to talk to both of them but was very surprised that they would come to him instead. Or well… the sister from the looks of it.

"You are Akira Kurusu right?" the tone of her voice was an interesting one. Curious and hesitant but not scared.

"What kind of person are you?"

"In the flesh. Something the matter?" he asked right back.

Yui seemed surprised at his lack of hostility but quickly shook it of. "I just wanted to thank you for helping my brother out yesterday." Yui looked behind herself, where an ever nervous Yuuki was struggling to find words himself. "Yeah… uhm. Thanks."

"Oh that? Forget about it. It was nothing." Akira replied.

"Well not for us." Yui insisted. "Daiji tends to be..."

"An annoying, pathetic, bully who's entire existence makes me question if he is a walking cliché randomly inserted into my life?"

"Rude."

"Sure let's call it that."

"I've seen that." Akira replied instead of what he really thought. He turned to Yuuki, "If he bothers you again tell me and I deal with it okay?"

Yuuki looked at him as if he had started growing a second head that spew Agi magic. "S-sure?"

"Okay than. See ya in class." He went to close the conversation, turning around and walking a few steps, but was stopped immediately right after. "Hang on."

Turning back once more, Yuuki now stood closer too him. A bit TOO close for Akira's liking. He always wondered if Yuuki had a good grasp on what 'personal space' meant.

"Why did you help me?" There was this innocent wonder in Yuuki's eyes. Almost as bright as whenever he geeked out about the 'Phandom'.

Akira merely shrugged as an answer. "Why shouldn't I? I couldn't just not do anything."

That reply always seemed to surprise people. No different with Yuuki, who's mouth opened as if to say something but didn't manage to find proper words.

"Well…" Yui spoke up again, "it was just a surprise."

"Let me guess… because of some rumours claiming I am the leader of a Yakuza clan or something."

"Mafia actually."

Akira rolled his eyes, unwilling to even try and repress it. "Typical High school insanity. Not everything should be believed so quickly. Either way… good luck with the Rally today. I feel like it might be hard today for you guys."

THAT did manage to silence them. Both of the twins tried to say something but instead just nodded. Their bodies seemed much more tense than previously.

Yui did manage to get back her words, "Thanks."

One word to be more exact. They then walked away from the Trickster, away to the school entrance.

Neither of them noted Akira's glare… or his smirk.

"What an abusive D-bag."

"I wonder if they will enjoy seeing what we planned." Satanael chuckled.

"We'll see soon enough."

Ryuko hated EVERYTHING about this.

The gym was filled to the brim with the various Students of Shujin, each wearing these red uniforms.

The first game of the day just started. Teachers vs Students.

"They aren't even TRYING to act like this isn't meant to embarrass everyone but that false King."

Ryuko found herself agreeing with Captain Kidd.

Right in front of her, on the Volleyball field, Kamoshida just scored another point for the Teacher team. Some educator she didn't know, was high fiving him for his success.

Kamoshida acted completely normal. Whatever happened in the Palace really didn't affect him huh? They were still separate entities in some way.

That was when Ryuko saw Kamoshida rub his jaw for the dozenth time today. As if he wanted to rub some pain or pressure away.

Ryuko smirked, gleefully sadistic. Some things DID carry over.

She still remembered it like it was yesterday.

…

Wait.

"It WAS yesterday bucko."

"Yes I know Kidd!"

Either way, the recent memory of being able to just ABSOLUTELY DESTROY KAMOSHIDA managed to soothe her nerves incredibly. Enough to, just barely, endure this farce.

Still, she decided to instead look around over the other students.

Some were doing things on their phone. Others were playing on a separate field. It amazed Ryuko that Kamoshida even allowed others to play at all when he was on the field. Not that it really seemed to matter. Just about everyone was focused on Kamoshida's game… even the other players! She counted and they stopped at least three times in favour of seeing Kamoshida's 'Gold Medal Spike'.

And there was a notable group of people that acted like the bastards own effin fan club!

In one corner of the first row stood an entire group of girls, cheering for Kamoshida whenever he scored. Among them even a certain boy named Daiji, also known as his number one fan.

"Yay Sensei!"

"NICE ONE!"

"Go Go lets Go KA-MO-SHIDA!"

She clenched her teeth looking at them. How could they fall for this bullshit!?

She clenched her teeth even more remembering how a year ago she could have been part of them. A shudder of disgust went through her at the thought alone and her hands formed into fists.

Her left fist was soon covered by a hand however. Out of instinct she turned around and in the same moment remembered that Akira sat next to her.

The raven looked at her with a mixture of sympathy, as well as shared disgust and annoyance. "Dumb isn't it?"

Ryuko sighed at his words. "Hit the nail on the freakin head."

Honestly, having Akira here made this whole ordeal a little more bearable.

Though she still heard a few more rumours just because of them spending time together.

"Look at that. The Track Slut with the Shujin Devil."

"Does that make her a Succubus?"

"Probably? Who knows how many times she sucked him off by now. I'm kinda jealous…"

"Well you could just go kill someone if your into whores."

"That's not what I meant! Geez."

"I can't believe how easy she is."

"This school sucks."

"I feel like this is gonna be a running gag between us."

Ryuko leaned her head back to the wall. "Probably. But I mean… the school could just stop giving us reasons?"

"I highly doubt that's gonna happen anytime soon." Akira stated bluntly, before reaching into the pocket of his gym pants. He ended up pulling out… an effin RAZOR BLADE of all things!

"Look what I found in my shoes."

Ryuko stared at the blade. "Seriously!?"

"I know right? My bet is on it being from Daiji and in this case… I am just giving up on him. I mean seriously does he possess ANY CREATIVITY? Like at ALL? Is his bullying tactic ripped out of cliché Anime?"

"Why are you so chill about this?!"

"Ryuko this may come as a surprise but after all the stuff that's happened to me it's kinda hard to shock me anymore."

Oh right. He was already sent to juvie after all.

She glanced at him with more sympathy. There probably wasn't much more that could affect him.

Well… that and the freakin Metaverse.

Snapping out of her condolence, she snatched the razor blade away from Akira's fingers, storing it in her own pockets. At Akira's questioning face she merely said, "Don't think it's that good off an idea to have the school delinquent be seen with anything sharp and dangerous."

Akira smiled at the explanation. "They already think I am always walking around with knifes though."

The blonde shrugged simply. "Let me try and preserve SOME of your innocence. Besides you might get in trouble if a teacher sees you with it."

"I appreciate the attempt."

Ryuko smiled at that. Misery loves company huh? It was seriously comforting to have the fellow Persona user.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Ryuko caught glimpse of other students she knew. Ann and Shiho sat together on the other side of the room on some chairs, looking bored out of their minds. Shiho in particular looked annoyed, even though she actually loved the sport. It was hard to blame her for it though. After all… with who this whole festival was worshipping…

Though… the bundle of blonde hair always tended to draw Ryuko's eyes away from Shiho.

"She always stuck out. Hasn't changed a bit."

Meanwhile the Mishima's were playing on the field, against Kamoshida. What was it with his grudge against them?

Speaking of….

Kamoshida went for another spike, looking ever so smug while doing so. Three students, one of them Yui, tried to stop it but Kamoshida was just too fast.

From his hand the ball shot forward like a rocket, propelling towards Yuuki. Before the boy could even dodge or do ANYTHING to save himself, the Volleyball shaped kill missile hit his head with full force.

Ryuko watched, flinching with pity, as Yuuki slowly fall backwards. Without a word, just falling like a sack full with rice, Yuuki crumbled with his body limp. A small groan was the only thing indicating he was still conscious.

The Volleyball used to harm the kid rolled towards her, slightly bumping of at her feet. Before coming to a halt. It may as well be the leftover remains of a bullet as far as Ryuko was concerned.

Yui, always trying to help her brother, immediately ran and kneeled next to him, looking him over without much words. Only NOW Kamoshida acted himself. The 'Sorry' from his mouth sounded so fake it was laughable. What was he trying to do? Score brownie points with Yui? Keep up the façade of 'I just want the best for my students' before breaking another bone?

"This man is a dishonour to the title of Captain!"

"Not the words I'd use but couldn't have said it better myself!"

What an abusive D-bag!

"What an abusive D-bag." Akira growled next to her.

Ryuko scoffed, laughing lightly, but agreed with the raven, "What are you a telepath? But yeah. Get to know each other better, my ass. It's just a one man show for him to stroke his ego."

The blonde picked up the Volleyball mere inches away from her. It was pumped up way beyond necessary and hard as a rock. She couldn't even so much as bend the material so much air was in it. It reminded her more of a cannon ball than anything else.

Her gaze came over to Kamoshida again. He just send Mishima away to the nurses office, but Yui still stayed on the field at his 'kind request'. What was it with his obsession with the twins? Ryuko couldn't help but think he held some special animosity for them.

Afterwards his eyes turned back towards the spectators.

For a split second they locked eyes…

And Kamoshida grinned!

She tightened her grip on the ball in her palm, still not enough to put a dent in it.

"Ryuko-chan," There was it again with the CHAN! She hated how it sounded whenever it came from his mouth. "Could you be a dear and-"

"And WHAT!? Suck your dick? Cheer your name? Be your perfect little groupie!?"

"Remember we broke his jaw. We broke his jaw. It felt good to break his jaw didn't it?"

Goodie who knew Personas could be useful for keeping your cool!?

"Give us back the ball?"

Well how could she refuse after all he's done to pillorize her?

She threw it back, congratulating herself for not aiming for his crotch and he caught it and resumed the game. As if he never hurt Yuuki at all.

At least he had to rub his chin again.

"R-Ryuko." Akira wheezed out from her left. Wondering what could be wrong, he beat her to the punch, "If you press any harder my hand I might need to be amputated."

"Huh?" Ryuko let out a small gasp and looked at what he was talking about. At some point she must have changed her fist to hold Akira's hand instead. However, said hand has reformed into a fist again. This time however it kept Akira's own hand in its grasp and was restricting it like a Boa.

"Oh shit! Sorry!" She immediately let go, leaving Akira to let out a sigh of relief and rub his hand gently. "Don't worry about it. No severe damage done. Do you know how strong you are?"

"…I do train from time to time. Still sorry."

Akira merely brushed her off with a nod. "Again, its all good. I get why you would be angry. Must be hard to watch him be worshipped like a-."

"King?" she interrupted, knowing where his thoughts went. "Yeah it sucks…" she grumbled beneath her breath.

"Well… try and look at the bright side," the delinquent tried to lift her spirits, "If today goes well this might be the last time you have to sit through this."

"…You're right. He'll pay soon enough."

Oh, the sweet, sweet taste of revenge! Never before did Ryuko think it could be so near… or even exist at all! They just need to wait for a break and then start their investigation. Just a few trustworthy statements, some second coming of the Detective Princess magic and before she could say 'Kamodoucha' that jerk would be in a Police car.

Was it just her or did time went slower today?

Still…

"I just wish someone could for once, ONCE, destroy him in this stupid game he thinks he is such a god at."

She looked into Akira's silver orbs with that said. It was not a request or an expectation, just a wish. One that she knew was fruitless. It's not like any of the students here could actually beat an Olympian Athlete in sports.

For a moment she saw sympathy in his eyes.

Then it seemed as if a light came over him, an invisible lightbulb having sparked up in his brain…

And then… there was no other way to put it Akira looked downright evil. A wicked smirk on his face, silver eyes burning with such an intensity and glee, as if they were seeing something she wasn't.

"Good idea."

Akira went to stand up from his sitting place.

Ryuko IMMEDITALY pulled him back down, hard enough for his ass to make a noticeably loud thump.

The former track runner was completely willing to admit she may be slow sometimes but even SHE saw what Akira was thinking of doing,

And even SHE thought this was the dumbest idea anyone in this school ever had! Quite an achievement considering she overheard things like 'burning down houses' in combination with the guys name who's arm she was NOT GOING TO LET GO!

"Are you nuts!?" Ryuko energetically whispered to him, low enough for no one else to hear but still more than clear for the one it was addressed at. "Kamoshida may be an ass but he can actually back up some of his claims! He won gold in Olympics. GOLD in the thing were athletes from ALL OVER THE WORLD participate in!? You'd get slaughtered, marinated and eaten in 10 seconds tops!"

Akira looked taken aback by that to say the least. It took a good minute before he managed to reply.

"That's an… oddly specific warning."

"I am hungry but that's beside the point! Listen, don't take this the wrong way because I like you but… you go out there you end up next to Mishima in the infirmary worst case scenario."

"But you just said you'd like to see him be beaten in this game." He didn't look like he was going to budge from this anytime soon

"Akira I was joking!"

"I wasn't." Nope. Definitely no budging. If anything her trying to talk it out made him even more determent!

Ryuko sighed, all the rage she had left over shifted to worry. This wasn't the Metaverse. And the last time she tried to score a victor against Kamoshida without that other world…

"Do you trust me?"

Ryuko blinked at the question. Where did THAT come from? She glared him right in his eyes instead, not as a reply but as a warning that she was serious. He reacted at first hesitant but then…

He started to smile?

It was not easy to describe what that smile was supposed to be. A strange mix of sinister and at ease. He just did so and his eyes…

Did… did they gleam red just now?

Suddenly Ryuko felt like she was back in the Metaverse. The moment where she bore witness to Satanael awakening. The raw power that the Persona gave off from his body. It was overwhelming, but also comforting in some odd way.

The sensation passed as quickly as it came. Ryuko was once more in the Gym, clutching at Akira's arm. But her grip had softened, she noticed absentminded.

What… what was THAT just now!?

"I appreciate you worrying about me but don't." Akira's voice ripped her out of her thoughts, "I have a plan."

He looked as confidant as ever. Just like when he fought these Shadows.

But still…

In spite of her better judgement, Ryuko released Akira's arm fully. "Okay. Then I trust you."

The raven nodded at her, appreciation for her trust in him. He stood back up, this time without Ryuko holding him back. He turned a last time to her.

"You might wanna film this."

And then he walked on the field, right towards Kamoshida.

Ryuko hoped she didn't just make a gigantic mistake.

"Hey Kamoshida!"

Suguru Kamoshida froze, for but a moment, before his head snapped towards the one that dared to call him.

THIS BRAT AGAIN!

His mouth went dry as the delinquent walked straight towards him. There was not the slightest bit of hesitation in his stance. He seemed as confidant as they come.

Kamoshida glared at the brat in warning. One that was ignored. No he was NOT nervous! Deciding to show just that, the Athlete walked towards the criminal, making sure to keep his body under control.

They met soon after, with Akira looking up to him. Just like he should be. That filth was beneath him.

"Kurusu!" Kamoshida greeted overly cheerful, giving of a friendly vibe to everyone present and occupying is own thoughts with anything BUT what happened two days ago. "What is it? How can I help you?"

Ah there they were. The first rumours and rumblings from the students. First claims of how great he was for a teacher to give trash like that a chance.

Youth was so utterly stupid.

Akira laughed at his greeting, mirroring his own faked cheerfulness. "Well I couldn't help but admire your skill just now. You have an AMAZING spike!"

Kamoshida found it hard to breath for some reason. Usually he BASKED in compliments and praises. Now however, deep down a whole set alarms rang constantly.

"Is that so?" he asked in a tone he practiced for years. The one of a humble Idol. At the same time he relaxed his own stance, taking another step towards him.

"Yeah." Akira crossed his arms, unimpressed. What was WITH this scum!?

"I hoped that you could show me, and US," he stretched his arms as if to include the entire school, "what you really got?"

Kamoshida raised an eyebrow, "Where are you going with that?"

"I was thinking you and me." Akira pointed to him and then himself, "One game. 1 vs 1. First to score 15 points wins. No other students. No other teachers. Just an Olympian Medallist showing what he's got without anyone holding him back."

Kamoshida stopped thinking for a while.

But once his brain processed the request… it took all his power to not burst out laughing!

REALLY! Kurusu wanted to challenge him? HIM!?

This kid had a death wish!

Actually, this was perfect! FANTASTIC! He could show of that annoying garbage in front of the entire school and prove he was better. That there was no reason to be worried about him and that he was superior. That what happened last time was just a freak coincidence and didn't had anything to do with the garbage.

"Well than Kurusu." He smirked at him, crossing his arms, "Since you already asked me so nicely…. I assume we could put our match on hold for a while."

He faced the masses, who were silent like mouses during their conversation the second it started. "Is that okay with everyone?"

Cheering and applauding came as the only reply. Some he could even hear him beckon to destroy the delinquent.

Oh, he was going to enjoy this!

"Looks like its Showtime." Akira spoke beneath his own breath, unheard by any as he took up a stance and prepared himself for Kamoshida's ball.

The whole field was empty. Just him and the false King. Yui acted as the referee and point announcer at Kamoshida's 'offer'.

Lavenza's wisdom was all that stood between the most satisfying thing in all of school sports and the biggest humiliation in Shujin history.

"Okay Lavenza I REALLY hope you are right." He reminded himself of their conversation.

"As you know a World Persona holds an immense amount of power." Lavenza told him, sitting in Akira's lap, and hugging him while he needed to catch his breath. The Velvet girl could be quite… draining. "Enough that it is even possible for their power in the Cognitive realm to overlap with reality."

"What powers exactly?" he asked her with complete curiosity.

Lavenza smiled as if she was a teacher about to lecture a student. "The results can vary greatly but there are some common factors to consider. Like with many other Persona one of the World can subtly act as an influence to your Cognition. But you already discovered that didn't you 'mon amour'?"

She put a kiss on his cheek as if to underline the last part. "You know French 'mon trésor de mon Coeur'?" he smiled at her, which she returned swiftly.

"Surprised?"

"Not really in all honesty. After seeing you literally split in two there is hardly anything you can do that surprises me."

Lavenza smirked as if to take that as a challenge but continued with her explanation.

"Most commonly one who possess a World Persona instinctively knows when they are in the presence of another. Their power is like a 'scream' in the subconscious but on a frequency only noticeable by others of their kin. With some practice this can be masked however as the Persona user gets accustomed to their power. On occasion, in moments of great emotion, some of it might… how to put it best… 'leak out'. Just for a mere moments however and unless one knows about the Metaverse they are going to brush it off as a mere daydream so no need to worry about that. A common way of this manifesting is a brief change of eye colour."

He nodded. That did make sense. With all the various frequencies in the world that are outside human perception, Personas functioning similarly wasn't too farfetched. Though he wasn't sure how to feel about the possibility of there being other World Persona users just hiding from him.

"Secondly there is an ability that is unique to the World Persona and what it stands for. Some like to call it a 'Trump card'. One that can be bestowed to the Persona user and is more or less a superpower. What this manifests as is completely u to chance but can be interpreted by ones struggles and believes. The man that was your predecessor for example could force out the truth."

"So, he was a living lie detector?"

"It's more complicated than that. He could sense a lie but he could also make it impossible for you to lie at all. When he used it simply became impossible to tell him anything but the truth."

Okay that DID make Akira uncomfortable. Someone who could ask you anything and you couldn't even ATTEMPT to deceive him?

Given that his main job relied in secrecy and being undercover that was unsettling to say the least.

Though an 'World ability' was very intriguing. He really wanted to know more about what of these abilities existed. "What was Minako's?"

Lavenza's face turned into deep thought, not of disbelief but of trying to find a way to explain it. "Her ability was… odd. She really was an unique one even by our standards. Fitting I guess when you fight the moon."

"Wait did you just say fight the moon?"

"I guarantee we would be sitting here for way to long if I explain you THAT whole mess."

He choose to believe her and let her continue.

"One of Minako's core values was always saving and living. It really wasn't unexpected for someone who's World Persona is named Messiah. Either way, her ability allowed her to… 'save' someone?"

Save someone? "That's an… odd phrasing."

"It's difficult to explain without being at the receiving end of it."

Akira decided to just let it stand like this and refocus on a different ability.

"So what you and Satanael told me yesterday…?"

"Exactly." The Papillon nodded, "For you the ability seems to manifest from your rebellion. Your desire to don't bow to others and your willingness to punish those you deem deserving of such."

"Fair enough I guess." He tried not to let the statement stroke his ego too much. "But just if I get it right… I could basically manipulate someone's mind with mine?"

Lavenza nodded. "If my assumption is correct you should be able to manipulate the surface level thoughts of someone by looking them in the eye, change their cognition subtly but who knows how it might evolve or continue to manifest. I recommend you to practice when you have the time."

"Noted. Anything else I should know about?"

Lavenza smiled deviously. "I have one more thing about World Personas that I think you would enjoy greatly to hear."

"Which would be?"

"A way for you to humiliate a certain King tomorrow."

At the mere mention of the event Akira mirrored her wicked grin. "I am all ears."

"Later, first… I feel quite hungry."

"You can feel hunger?"

"This type of hunger definitely."

Turns out she COULD still surprise him.

Either way… the last thing she told him about was going to be put to the test.

"Satanael do not let me down."

A dark and satisfied growl came from the depths of his heart.

His eyes flashed red. Time to show Kamoshida his reign was over! He focused on his third eye and time around them seemed to slow down. What worked for Baseball and Darts should also work for Volleyball.

Kamoshida threw the ball in the air, high enough to nearly reach the ceiling. He waited till it descended back to him, before jumping up smashing his hand into the pumped up missile.

There was enough room for him to react, his senses and perception being put in overdrive.

The Ball was reaching towards his portion of the field with enough velocity to break his nose.

Now was the time to do it.

Akira felt Satanael. He felt the entirety of the Persona within him. In his veins, in his flesh, in his bones. A dark and cursed feeling that in a way resembled home at the same time.

The source of this force was his very own heart, which he felt was being put in overdrive. Pumping repeatedly and with intense speed.

Time continued to move… and Akira acted,

He ran towards the net, jumped up and crushed the petty projectile with his own hand, causing it to recoil.

It happened all so fast. Kamoshida had no time to react, never expecting Akira to be able to parry. He could only watch with eyes as wide as dinner tables as the ball came back to his field. Desperately he tried to grab it again but missed it by a few inches.

When the volleyball hit the field… the whole gym was dead silent.

What?

What?

What!?

WHAT!?

No.

No.

NO.

NO!

NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO!

NO!

"WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?" This was the only thought that managed to occupy Kamoshida's thought. Not just occupy. Utterly dominate them and infect them with sheer disbelief at something that just COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!

He could not have just LOST A POINT!

He just couldn't!

There… there was no way.

"Again a World Personas power is capable of drifting the veil between Cognitive World and your reality. As such it is possible for a small fraction of said power to become released even outside the dimension made of humans psyche."

"Are you saying I could… use Satanael in the real world!?"

"Not quite. Sorry but your not going to throw around spells and fly through the air."

"Mildly disappointing but okay. What do you mean then?"

"I mean that with some small effort you could harness a miniscule fraction of the power you wield in the Metaverse in reality. I've seen it be done before by your predecessors. An increase in strength and speed and so on."

"By how much?"

"Enough to defeat a retired Athlete in his favourite sport I would assume. But if you want more concrete values… id say about two to three times what your normally capable of. Nothing quite superhuman but bordering on the absolute limit of the human body. You could easily outmatch those that trained their bodies for decades."

"That's amazing! How do I do that?"

"You more or less… need to let Satanael fill your body."

"…Fill my body?"

"You need to try and force the sensation you feel whenever you summon a Persona flow through your body instead of immediately going outward. You must channel it through your muscles, bones, veins, every part of your body. It's a lot easier than I make it sound I promise. Combine that with your third eye and you should be able to run circles around that 'King'."

"Perfect! Thanks Lavenza."

"Your very welcome. Let me warn you though, the process can be very exhausting if repeated over and over and/or done for extended periods of time. So how about I... help you train?"

"I think I have a good idea what kind of training you want to do."

"You know it~."

"Honest question… are all of your siblings like this too?"

"Honest answer… I am likely the most composed of my siblings when it comes to… carnal things."

He shared his quiet sympathies with his predecessors.

"It worked." Akira thought as the only reaction.

"O-One to zero. Akira leads." Yui announced, surprise evident in her tone.

It actually worked!

"HAHAHAHA! TAKE THAT!" he allowed himself to cheer at his point. By god the look on Kamoshida's face alone! As if he was a goldfish that was just robbed of his water!

Or a King who started to realize he was going to get violently torn from his throne.

On the inside he cheered and laughed. Wow did this feel good! "Take that you fuc-."

He stopped that thought before it got too out of hand. He really wanted to try and get his new constant cursing, courtesy of his Demon Lord, under control.

But hey if that was the price he needed to pay in order to shame Kamoshida, it was a very good trade.

It was just than that Kamoshida seemed to regain some of his senses. His bewilderment turned into rage and his head whipped towards Akira.

The Trickster only gave a smile of complete confidence, crossing his arms. "Would you like to continue? We do play till 15 points right?"

Kamoshida was silent, but his mouth wavered with unspoken curses. What was he fantasizing about for his revenge now? Break his legs? Spread even more rumours?

"Your move your 'Majesty'." Satanael challenged from within.

Kamoshida went from hatred, to putting up a painfully fake smile. "Impressive technique Kurusu."

He picked up the Volleyball, rolling it towards Akira, "But you haven't seen anything yet."

"Neither have you."

He stopped the object with his foot and went to serve the ball. It went high into the air till Akira lashed out and shoot it towards Kamoshida.

This time he managed to catch it, pushing it up high before readying himself for a spike. A spike aimed directly at his own head, Akira noted dully.

Already resorting to violence? That must have hit a nerve.

Akira managed to parry it with both hands, keeping the ball in the air but was mildly impressed at being pushed back. Credit where credit is due Kamoshida earned his Gold Medal it seemed. Still that didn't stop Akira from once again smacking the Volleyball with all his Satanael enhanced might, shooting it forward, too fast for Kamoshida to react. The Athlete watched helplessly as he was countered yet again.

Not that he didn't try to still catch it. Kamoshida reached out almost desperately, a small gasp escaping his lips as he tripped over his own legs and fell face flat on the ground. The Volleyball had escaped him still, a decent amount of inches away from his hands.

His Personas laughed gleefully.

"Two to zero."

"Really Kamoshida? Is that all you have to offer? I mean I know age is eventually going to catch up to all of us but I expected more." He couldn't resist the sweet temptation over gloating before this lustful tyrant.

Said tyrant, pushed himself back up. Akira caught glimpse of his eye twitching rapidly.

Akira smirked.

And Kamoshida flinched.

"This is getting good!"

How.

"Ten to zero."

Was.

"Eleven to zero."

This.

"Twelve to zero."

HAPPENING!?

"Thirteen to zero." Yui announced again and Kamoshida wanted nothing more but to shut her whore mouth!

This had been going on for the entire game! This kid just… outplayed him! Everyone of his spikes was taken in stride and fired back, all of his defenses failed.

"This isn't possible. This isn't happening. I am the KING!" the thoughts rang through his head in alarm.

"I AM THE KING! I CANT BE BEATEN! I HAVE TO WIN!"

The brat had to serve the ball again. Kamoshida was determent not to lose another point!

He parried and threw it over the net, but so did Akira. Over and over did the ball go. Kamoshida ran towards the net, intending to spike as close to Akira as possible.

With full force he swung his arm and connected.

But Akira had the same idea.

He also ran towards the net, he also jumped.

And at point blank range, Kamoshida changed his target.

He twisted his hand and before Akira could react or dodge, Kamoshida SMASHED the Volleyball into the scums face, his own hand still connected to the ball.

The sound of the brats face connecting with the pumped up ball was music to Kamoshida's ears.

He had expected Akira to fall to the ground and crumble into a pathetic pile of flesh.

But instead…

He took it!?

Oh, Akira still went to the ground, but he didn't fall down. Instead he landed on his feet, the Ball having bounced of the raven-haired delinquents head.

He just stood there, Kamoshida had hoped for pain and a cringing face. But that wasn't what he got.

Instead, with a gigantic red mark all over the boys face, he still… only… SMIRKED. No sign of being hurt or even affected at ALL!

"Was that all? I had expected you to manage a stronger spike."

Kamoshida couldn't even form words, his mouth agape and only able to close with an insane amount of required self-control.

He just… TOOK the ball! That was the amount of force Kamoshida used for punishment! He had broken several noses with this spike! Even a tooth went out once! Why did the brat look so CALM!?

"Fourteen to zero."

Wait WHAT!?

Kamoshida searched for the ball…

And it was in his own field.

The damn brat had parried with his head!

"That's… IT!"

Kamoshida about had it with this bloody, vile, demonic, little INSECT!

He stomped towards the Ba-… no… weapon.

This was his weapon now and he was going to crush that brat. He thought THAT was all he had!? As if!

He picked it up, eyes cold and rage burning in him. This was it. The brat would have to go into infirmary after this!

"Let's see him take this."

He went into position, as did his target.

He blocked out everything, only focusing on Kurusu. Who still… only… SMIRKED!

A pit formed in Kamoshida's stomach, a pang of worry coming out of the hole. He pushed the feeling aside. No. NO! He was going to crush him. End him. Destroy him!

The warhead flew high, descended just as quickly.

Here it comes.

"GOLD MEDAL SPIKE YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

Kamoshida's arm was thrown with more force than he hadn't used in years! This was the spike with which he won Gold! Nothing could save him now!

The weapon rocketed towards his victim (HE was the victim not Kamoshida).

…

The victim parried it again.

…

What.

"What?" he didn't think but spoke this time, in slow disbelief.

He did it.

He… took his Gold Medal spike?

Akira had pushed the weapon, his weapon, back into the air. Kamoshida could only stare, not force his body to move. Just stare.

"How… can… this…"

In a fraction… he saw them again.

Red…no… crimson BURNING eyes that tore into his very soul and filled him with dread.

And then… pure pain erupted on his head.

Akira watched as Kamoshida was hit right in the head from his own spike. A high-pitched scream of pain came from the 'King' as he crumbled to the ground, holding his nose while squirming around like a crippled insect.

Some of the teachers came to his side, "Mister Kamoshida are you…?"

He was interrupted by a scream that was an odd combination of pain and rage. Kamoshida forced himself back up, still holding his face, of which now Akira saw blood came out and flew between his hands.

Akira broke Kamoshida's nose.

"TIMEOUT!" Kamoshida howled. "BREAK TIME! 20 minutes!"

With that murmuring came from every corner of the gym.

Satanael and Akira went to enjoy the sudden break, satisfied with a job well done.

"Lavenza I love you." Akira thought fondly. Blessed be his Velvet attendant.

"BWAHAHA! You should think of a good way to reward her. Hahaha!" Arsene told him between mad giggles. The Thief was the only one of his Personas that managed to form out words.

On the inside he joined the mad chorus of laughter.

On the outside however… he felt like a WRECK.

Lavenza wasn't kidding when she said it would be draining to do. All of his muscles felt sore, as if he had just ran a marathon for hours instead of spending like half an hour playing Volleyball.

The physical boost came at this price, in favour of being able to outdo Kamoshida. That was good to know for the future.

Future options of utilizing this aside, the tension in his limbs was a very small price to pay for what it earned in return.

The 'price' being that the personas weren't the only ones that giggled rapidly and loudly.

Ryuko… couldn't. Stop. LAUGHING.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! BWAHAHAHAHA! PFFT! BWAHAHA!"

The blonde Chariot outdid the Personas within him by far. Not even Chi You laughed as much as she, fitting all things considered.

They were surrounded by vending machines, the same area where Akira and she had first met Morgana outside the Metaverse, he subconsciously noted.

"That was just glorious! Hahahaha." Ah yes, the sweet sounds of joy from Ryuko. It was nothing but pure music to the Trickster. After all Kamoshida had put her through, his Skull deserved this moment.

She was holding her stomach, almost ready to collapse next to him. Akira himself was already sitting, his muscles just too tired to stand and his back leaning against one of the vending machines.

Again… a good deal all things considered.

"I told you I had a plan." He commented, regaining some of his breath, as did she. Ryuko wiped some stray tears from her eyes. "Yeah you did. Lesson learned. Looks like I should trust you a whole lot more. But how did you even do it!? Catching chalk is one thing but you just dominated Kamoshida!"

Akira shrugged in reply, almost teasingly so "I'll explain you some other time. But first I gotta know…"

"Yes, I recorded the whole thing. I'll send you a copy."

"Appreciated but not what I meant. Considering that it's all free now, should we start looking for the guys we saw at the castle?"

As he said it, a glimmer of recollection seemed to come over her. Ryuko stopped laughing, but remained upbeat nonetheless. "Oh, your right. All members of the team should be here too. I'm sure we find someone that can spill about Kamoshida's abuse."

"Anywhere in particular you wanna search?"

"There is a guy I know of in Class D. I think it's worth starting…"

"HEY ASSHOLE!"

A loud and very obscene voice interrupted the blonde, demanding attention. Akira immediately recognized it and could only sigh.

"This guy again?"

Yep… there he stood. Daiji, his two lackeys nowhere in sight however.

He gave a quick glance at him, as did Ryuko, before deciding to ignore him. "hat was that about Class D-?"

"Don't ignore me jackass!" Daiji shouted offended.

Akira simply rubbed his eyes exasperated. "Well how can I when your mouth is louder than a bloody siren."

"The hell did you just do?"

Akira gazed at him, faking a look of unknowing. "Play Volleyball? This IS the Volleyball rally right?"

"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!"

"Hey how is it my fault when your idol is so out of shape?"

Now that seemed to make the barrel overflow as the bullies face became a deep red. A glare was send his way, definitely meant to appear intimidating.

It reminded Akira more of a… no he wasn't going to give this… pitiful thing a comparison.

It seemed that some coherence managed to remain within the blonde boy however, since some of the red managed to fade away and the boy himself spoke again. "You. Me. We're playing a game. NOW!"

So THIS was what he was going for. Avenging his precious 'Kamoshida Sensei'. Somehow he must have believed to be able to beat what his 'Sensei' couldn't. Like this was some sort of Sports Anime where the hero, obviously Daiji because why shouldn't anyone ELSE be a Hero BUT Daiji and maybe Kamoshida, came back to avenge their mentor in a GLORIOUS DISPLAY OF SKILL!

So this was it. Daiji's GRADIOUS MOMENT OF DOMINANCE!

…

God why did bullies all think the same way? It wasn't even really infuriating. Just… so annoying.

"Pass." Was all Akira answered with.

"EXCUSE YOU!?"

Ah yes… there it was. Pure and utter bewilderment. Being denied a chance of revenge could be even worse than failing to get it.

"I said pass." Akira repeated. "Who said I HAVE to play with you?"

"You…. You can't just NOT play! I mean… you just played with…"

"Will you just back off?" Ryuko now intervened, having enough of staying at the sidelines it seems. "Kamoshida didn't need to accept either. He lost. Deal with it and move on."

Daiji turned to her with a deep seated frown. "What? You wanna defend your boy toy 'Track Traitor'?"

Akira had to suppress a growl at the mention of the title.

Ryuko herself meanwhile just glared all the more intensely at him. "Defend? Please as if I had to. We all already heard what your first reaction was yesterday."

That seemed to have triggered some small sense of shame, as the bully took a step back. "He… surprised me… that's all."

"Making excuses now?" Ryuko shot the attempt to save face down. "Listen how about you just leave NOW. Your just embarrassing yourself."

Daiji stayed silence for a bit, changing looks between the two of them quickly.

Then he, still faint shades of red on his face present, allow himself to smile smugly. One of these smiles that just, there was no other way to describe it, invited a fist to the face.

"Oh… I see… am I interrupting your 'special time'." He made a motion with his fist near his face, shaking it as if to put something in his mouth. "You wanna 'reward' him? If you need dick so much I could also-."

Ryuko definitely had some retort for that. Ryuko definitely could have taken this little 'face off'. Akira was sure of it.

But at the same time this was when Akira officially decided Daiji overstayed his welcome.

He stood back up immediately, all soreness gone and walked up to Daiji, making himself tall and imposing. This time Hideki didn't stumble backwards, to give him SOME small credit.

But Akira didn't miss the sudden fear in his eyes. The realization that he must have crossed some unspoken line.

And then… Akira did nothing. He simply stared him down with his eyes alone. With every second spend like this he could see how the blonde grew more tense and tense, even his breathing got heavier.

"I think it's time for you to leave." Was all Akira said.

"Is that a threat?" Daiji shot back.

"You wanna find out?"

At that question no answer came. His mouth opened but it seems Daiji either didn't know the right words or decided to simply let that one go. Or, much more likely, whatever loyalty induced bravery was in him left him at that challenge.

Daiji went to walk away, backwards as if to never let Akira out of his eye, lest he may be attacked from behind.

As if Joker needed to use such cheap tricks for small fry.

"I am going to make your life her a living nightmare Kurusu. Remember that. I don't know how but believe me I will end you." With that said and enough distance made, Daiji turned to leave stomping away like a brat that just was told to go into his room.

"Well I can only say GET IN LINE. Your somewhere after a false deity but good luck anyway pal!"

He mentally commented on the attempt at intimidation.

Every single interaction he had with that bully felt like he was losing braincells. Was that Daiji's 'Masterplan'? Rob Akira of his IQ till it was in the double digits?

Likely one more digit than Hideki would still have if you would ask him.

Akira turned his attention back to Ryuko, who looked at him with a look he couldn't quite read. A mix of appreciation but… disappointment maybe?

"Thanks but… I could handle that."

Oh. Okay THAT was what he saw. Should have figured. Obviously Ryuko would tire of him constantly trying to help her.

Maybe not quite annoyed. But maybe… undermined? That wasn't his intention… but may have appeared so now that he was thinking about it.

"I know you could. Doesn't make me wanna do something about it any less." Akira tried defending himself. "It's a habit. Sorry."

His Skull sighed in reply. "Its fine. Let's just… forget about it. Anyway… as I was saying that boy in class D…well OUR class…"

Ryuko and Akira were on their way to the Class D in silence.

Not a comfortable one for once though, to Ryuko's chagrin.

It's not that Ryuko didn't appreciate someone standing up for her for once. She had to fend for herself so long it was refreshing. But… it was just tiring her somewhat?

She figured by now Akira must have at some kind of tendency to step in at every single event. It wasn't something she disliked either, the complete opposite!

It's just… Ryuko may not be able to do much, until recently, against Kamoshida but she was NOT failing against Daiji. She always had some sort of snarky comeback for him at least. The asshole really only annoyed her, not fill her with dread like a certain teacher.

The how many time was it that Akira had stood up for her now? She DID need his help most of the time, to her great frustration, but at least ONE time when around Akira she didn't want to have to let him handle her bullshit.

Awakening or not she was starting to feel like some sort of damsel in distress. Hell maybe her awakening even had something to do with her growing irritation at being helped.

Thank god Akira wasn't the type to keep bringing up stuff like that. She didn't want to feel weaker then she already did around him.

It was a… weird kind of weakness though. Not the one she connected with the Track torture or harassment or Kamodoucha. Like… a weakness that felt like knowing you could be weak? For the first time in at least a year? A nice type of weak that made her feel all squishy?

Somehow that made her even more frustrated! And again she didn't want Akira to suddenly turn into her bodyguard or something!

Not that she didn't appreciate it! She just didn't want to-!

…Was she repeating herself?

"Yes… yes you are." The Persona sounded for some reason smug.

"Leave it to your other self to call you out I guess."

Maybe she was just acting weird. Delayed side effect of ripping your own face off or something who the hell knows. Maybe she just needed to eat.

Small contemplation aside, they just entered the door to the Class. And there the boy stood, right in front of the chalkboard. "There he is." Ryuko announced to her partner in crime.

"I am going to take a wild guess and assume it's the one with the bandages on the face."

"Jackpot. He is one of the guys we saw at the castle. Let me try to start, then you push with the abuse."

"Sounds good."

The plan formed, the two began to get to work, walking towards the scared Volleyball player. As if he had sensed them or something, the boy had turned around and faced them. The immediate second she could see him tense up. "What…?"

"Hey man… how are ya?" Ryuko opened, trying to sound open.

The bandaged kid blankly stared at her. "Fine?"

"Really you sure?" Ryuko pushed again. "Your in the Volleyball team right?"

"So what?"

Ryuko put her hands in her pockets, no reason to be on edge. "Did something happen during your last training?"

"Practice happened. What do you even want?"

Akira chimed in, good timing all things considered. "Are you being abused?"

Sometimes the best way forward was to just run through.

It at least got a reaction from him. His one good eye widened, as he stuttered out excuses "What!? Wh-What are you saying? Of course not."

"Kamoshida did it right?" she took over again. Maybe just a little more pushing. "Look, we ain't gonna tell anyone you squealed okay? Just tell us how Kamoshida abuses you."

"I don't know what you are talking about!"

"We already know! You don't need to hide it." She barked back.

Any protest died almost instantly. The player looked weirdly at them, almost hopefully. "You…. You know? You have proof?"

"Well…"

"Does proof from other dimensions count?"

She doubted it.

"We can make it stop." Akira instead said. That was some confidence! It seemed to have worked because the bandaged boy was really looking hopeful now. "You… you can-?"

He seemed to want to say something more but his attempt died in his throat, as he looked at the two of them accusingly. A complete shift in tone. "Oh… I get it. Your joking right? What… you win one game and think you can just do whatever?"

Akira frowned. "No that's not it. You ever heard of the name Goro Akechi?"

The reaction to the name of the Detective Princess… wasn't something Ryuko had hoped for. She had expected a relieved sigh at the medias newest star detective.

Instead… the member of the team looked like he was just taken away some chocolate cake. "Seriously? What the hell do you bring up her for? Please I'm pretty sure she got other things to do then look into training of a high school team."

"Listen just here us out-." Ryuko tried again.

"Look you're really bothering me! Just leave okay!?"

The two Persona users shared a look, quietly sighing in defeat and retreating, back out from their classroom.

"Well that didn't work the way we hoped." Akira stated the obvious, downcast expression.

"You said it," Ryuko sighed exasperated. "That injury ain't normal and he still won't fess up… I had hoped bringing up Akechi would have changed something."

"To be fair…" Akira scratched his head, "I would be sceptical too if the 'school delinquents' were to tell me they know the medias newest darling."

Letting that thought sink in, Ryuko nearly felt like slapping herself. Yesterday it still seemed like a good idea. But yeah… it was likely hard to believe that the two school delinquents personally knew a Star Detective.

"Anyway…" she decided to push thoughts of cracks in their plan aside for now. Cracks or not it had to work out with SOMEONE… right? "We should try to hurry up. At this pace we won't get any progress done at all."

"Then why don't we split up?" the raven offered. "That way we could cover the most ground."

"…Guess that'd be faster." Ryuko replied after some seconds of thinking. "Then I'll check the practice building. You handle the classroom building. I remember a third year on the Volleyball team. I think he's in 3-C. He was getting beat pretty badly at the castle so he is likely having some bad injuries here too."

"Kurusu."

Their talk was interrupted by someone Ryuko really didn't expect. Walking up to them was no other than Miss Kawakami of all people.

"Huh?" They both said at the same time. "Something the matter?"

Kawakami nodded but didn't do much else. Ryuko was surprised she approached them at all. From all the teachers at Shujin Kawakami was the one most withdrawn. Outside of classes she barely spoke with anyone. "I was asked to make you go to the Principals office."

Wait… Kobayakawa's office? The hell…

Oh. Oh CRAP!

Ryuko was suddenly finding it hard to swallow.

"What?" Akira asked, with genuine confusion, "Why?"

"Kamoshida is trying to get him kicked out already!?"

"He just told me to get you that's all. If you would please go."

After a pause, the raven nodded, apparently enough for Kawakami who went her own way. He turned to her. "That's… odd."

"No, its not!" Ryuko shrieked in alarm. "He's gonna expel you!"

Akira raised an eyebrow. "I didn't do anything yet."

"But you just showed Kamoshida off!" Ryuko mentally threw around the insult Idiot a few times at herself. She SHOULD have stopped him! "When there is one thing that Kamoshida hates than its being trumped in sports or overshadowed. Believe me I know!"

On Akira's face Ryuko could see how her words were slowly starting to sink in. Eventually his own face became alarmed as well, only to be covered up in an instant. He took a deep breath. "Okay don't worry I got this."

"HOW!?"

"I… I don't know but I think of something." Akira raised his hands, rubbing his eyes and wiping his foot, as if he was suddenly forced to think up a war plan. May not be so far off from the truth. He eventually just sighed. "I'm just… gonna go there and see what he wants. After that I go search for the other students okay?"

That was assuming he wouldn't get expelled on the spot. Guilt and worry started to rage in Ryuko's belly. What to do!?

"Kidd you got any plans?"

She asked her Persona, but no reply came. Only a shared sense of worry. Not at all reassuring.

The boy grit his teeth, "Okay listen, " he looked her straight in the eye, putting his hands on her shoulders, "I am NOT getting expelled okay? I'm not leaving you to deal with Kamoshida alone. I think of… something. Just… go continue your search for now."

At that… the blonde didn't know much to say. She had not 10 minutes ago decided she needed to trust Akira more so… maybe he could think of something? Ryuko really hoped so.

She nodded, giving him her okay. Appareantly enough reassurance for now as Akira returned the nod and walked towards the Principals office.

Ryuko was starting to feel weak again. And NOT the comfortable kind of weak.

In hindsight… shaming a control freak in front of the people he sought to control probably wasn't the best idea Akira ever had.

Hilarious and satisfying? Absolutely, 10 out of 10 would humiliate again.

Smart and allowing you to fly under the school radar? Not at all.

Well… hindsight is always 20/20. He should definitely remember to hold himself back more.

So that's how he got here, sitting on an harsh and uncomfortable chair in Kobayakawa's office, with Kamoshida standing next to the Principals table, bloody bandage over his nose, both looking utterly furious.

Okay. He could do this. He got out of WAY WORSE situations. Just… react and see what they do.

But they hadn't done anything for the last 5 minutes. Principal No neck merely gestured for him to sit and after that he and the 'King' glared daggers at him, not saying a single word. It was an intimidation tactic, Akira figured. The oldest in the book. Silence in the face of someone who KNEW they did a 'mistake' in their eyes. Fell out of line. Didn't do as he was supposed to.

They tried to unsettle him. Not a bad tactic to their credit.

Too bad for them… Akira didn't do 'beaten down and submissive' very well. So he merely sat as well, lazily in the hardest chair of Japan it looked like. No reaction.

He couldn't work with this.

What if he used that weird ability of Satanael?

"I would discourage you from doing so Trickster. You have already used up enough of the power I can use in your world today. Not even beginning to mention that you never so much as trained that power before." Satanael advised.

He sighed inwardly but relented. He had to do this without Persona. Maybe provocation in small doses could work?

So he leaned back, crossing his arms and legs in defense.

That worked. Hopefully not too well. Kobayakawa leaned over the table in a display of authority. It looked more comical than anything else and only served to make Satanael growl. "What in the world did you think you were doing?"

"Playing Volleyball." Akira answered truthfully, playing dumb.

A muscle in the Principals face pulsed. They were likely reaching for ways to frame it all in a way that would make him look bad.

"Look at what you did to Mister Kamoshida. Look at it!" he gestured towards the gym teacher. Kamoshida's face was an odd mix of fear and hatred. It reminded Akira of a caged animal. "We almost needed to call an ambulance! Are you proud of what you did today?"

"Immensely."

Calling an ambulance? Oh PLEASE. Stop overreacting just because you felt vulnerable for the first time in your life!

"The tyrant in his natural habitat. Trying a pitiful attempt of dominance in the face of its natural predator."

Predator of Tyrants? That was a title he liked. He briefly wondered how Minako and his predecessors all gained their various titles. Through events like these or with their Ultimate Personas making them?

"I did not intend to injure anyone." He lied to their faces. "I simply wanted to play the game."

What about Kamoshida's spike directed at his face!? Had it not been for Satanael he would have passed out or had his own nose broken! That had HURT!

And what about Yuuki!? He had been send to the infirmary not half an hour before Kamoshida had his little wound.

"I talked it out with Kamoshida beforehand and he accepted the match. I wanted to see how I compare against an athlete like him. I expected him to be good enough to dodge or catch it."

"So its supposed to be my fault now you little shit!?" Kamoshida dared to step foot out of the cage.

Akira and Satanael looked at him…

And soon enough Kamoshida showed more hesitation and stepped back in.

"Do I have to remind you that you are on VERY thin ice!?" Kobayakawa took the word again, trying to keep in control. It was almost adorable how Kamoshida had to hide behind him. "In case you forgot…. Shujin is your FINAL CHANCE! There is no other school that will take you in."

And he needed to stay here too. One action and it all could have been ruined! DAMMIT.

"I swear to Igor if Kamoshida actually manages to take me out because of this I will lose it."

"He will not." Satanael stated bluntly and with certainty. The Demon Lord was dominating his Heart right now. All the other Persona merely watched. "They will fall before us. Our purpose is to slay the false god. We will not be stopped by anything in our path."

He agreed with Satanael word for word. Something about the bond they shared was… different. Even when compared to Arsene.

Kobayakawa and Kamoshida had no idea who they were messing with.

"I am well aware. I am also aware off the accident that happened because of me. It was not my intention. I was in shock myself that it happened."

"As if! Daiji had reported to me already that you and Ryuko Sakamoto had laughed at Kamoshida's injury."

Daiji?

DAIJI!?

Oh come the hell on!

"And you believe his words? I asked around and apparently Daiji and his lackeys have caused some grief for the other students. One Yuuki Mishima?"

"Daiji is one of the best athletes we have. The actions you try to comment on are already being investigated by Kamoshida himself and according to him its merely a result of competitive spirit. It's no way as bad as you make it sound."

Competitive spirit? Oh please! He glanced at Kamoshida, on his tongue the question if Kamoshida could tell so himself.

"Even if how can you say that with how you have been terrorizing the student body!"

Hang on… what!?

"Terrorizing?"

"Don't play dumb with us! We have from reliable sources that you have been causing nothing but unrest and fear in our students."

"From Daiji?"

"From the student council president herself."

Akira stopped.

He stopped thinking, acting, speaking…

…what?

Ma-Makoto? His Queen? His Advisor? His Priestess?

The moment of weakness must have been present on his face.

"She came to me herself and told me about several unnerving events. You picking a fight with Daiji Hideki for one. Intimidating Yuuki Mishima into running away. All the horrific rumours around your person. And worst of all your interactions with Ryuko Sakamoto. Are you aware that the girl is on thin ice herself? Frequent interactions with you will only worsen her state."

A pain shot through him. Past timeline or not he felt so… betrayed.

Makoto had thrown him in front of Kobayakawa?

"How… how could…she…"

"Trickster FOCUS!" Satanael demanded. "We can contemplate that later."

Of course. The Demon was right. He needed to get a grip.

It was slipping.

"Don't get all cocky just because I normally behave myself! I am DONE playing nice!"

"Thank you for all your help. Must have been difficult babysitting the uptight Miss President right?"

"I… I will win. Even if it means going up against the entire world!"

"JOKER!"

NO. Focus. He needed to focus. Forget about Makoto. Calm down. Stay collected. Stop sweating. Stop breathing so hard. Why was he breathing so hard!?

Kamoshida spoke up again. "Ryuko-chan is in an extremely vulnerable state. I assume it must be because of some twisted sort of crush. If you drag her down even further I am afraid I won't be able to help her."

Akira exploded with rage. How… DARE HE!?

He shot up, tackling Kamoshida to the ground, tearing at his face till flesh and blood and screams were all that remained. He smashed his skull on the ground till..

…

Calm down Akira.

Calm down… just… don't let them push your buttons.

Pushing his daydream aside, he took a deep breath. Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm.

It was so hard to do when all he desired in this moment was to destroy.

"I do not intend to cause any students grief."

"You have to prove that a bit harder! I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, that we could rehabilitate you back into society but this was the last straw. Injuring Kamoshida like that was unacceptable. You will apologize to him this instant and then I want you to tell me why I shouldn't expel you on the spot. Keep in mind… all I need to do is ONE CALL and you will be thrown back into Juvie."

Apologizing to Kamoshida!? Juvie!? Begging for mercy!?

Akira let the silence hang in the air, fighting with every bit the wrath boiling up within him.

That was… when Satanael reached out for him, sensing his emotions. "Maybe we do not have the luxury of conserving our power. This needed to happen sooner or later."

Akira instinctively knew what Satanael was talking about.

"If my assumption is correct you should be able to manipulate the surface level thoughts of someone by looking them in the eye, change their cognition subtly but who knows how it might evolve or continue to manifest."

Those were Lavenza's exact words.

Maybe… he would be able to get out of this mess using it. Surface level thoughts. So no deeper cognitive changes like a change of heart but enough to change what the opposite party was now thinking about.

"…Let's do it."

Satanael confirmed… and Akira felt…

PAIN.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Akira screamed in his mind.

Sheer, utter, vile pain erupted from his eyes.

Akira grit his teeth, doing everything in his power to supress his actions. But it was impossible. His eyes… dear god his eyes. They felt as if thousand needles were injecting magma into them. His hands clutched on the fabrics of his pants, threatening to tear it to pieces.

He didn't know how long this agony lasted. It couldn't have been more than a minute, but it felt like an eternity.

When it was finally over, Akira was breathing heavily, his face hung, tears cascaded down his cheeks, some stray sobs stuck in his throat and his breathing was heavy. It must have been so satisfying to see for these two vile, disgusting…

Everything stopped. There was no pain anymore, at least for the moment.

Instead… even if Akira couldn't see it he knew his eyes were a crimson red. A deep, constant colour, not just a brief shine. The burning red consumed all of his Iris, powerful enough to even seep into parts of the pupils and sclera.

He felt… powerful… but in a different way then he did on the Volleyball field. No… this felt much more insidious.

Then… he turned to Kobayakawa… after some moments of deep thinking, looking him in the eye.

He did so with his trademark Joker smirk.

"You are not expelling me."

Kobayakawa stuttered, enraged. "Wha-!"

"You will not expel me." Akira continued, saying as if he was peace itself. "It would be very bad for Shujin's reputation if word got out that they gave up on one of their students."

The looks on Kobayakawa's and Kamoshida's faces were priceless.

"Got you." He smiled to himself.

"Wha-What do you think you allow yourself too-!"

"Isn't this why you took Ryuko back in? Shujin! The best school in Japan. Home of the greatest Athletes. We never give up on your students. No matter if their reputation is one of a whore or their past is drenched with crime. We will whip them back into shape into children you can be proud of. Join now!"

He announced with a sheer joy that must have seemed utter alien to the two rotten adults. Like an announcer making a new add.

Akira had realized something.

Shujin didn't control him.

AKIRA controlled SHUJIN.

If he really DOES get expelled… the entire public image of Shujin that they worked so hard for to gain would be destroyed if they would become known as a school that was the home of a criminal, one that gave up on their students.

They were held hostage just as much as he was.

The implication was one the two never seemed to have grasped but now they noticed the flaw.

Of course it wasn't a perfect truth. There was probably something Kamoshida could do to get him expelled without damaging Shujin's reputation. Lots of things probably if he only bothered to think. But as of now… Akira wouldn't allow it.

And he only needed an opening. A moment where they would be uncertain so he could play their strings.

Satanael was so proud.

"This is a fantastic goal to have." He stood up, smiling brightly now, with not even a hint of malice. "It's a goal worth pursuing. So for that the reputation of the school needs to remain impeccable right?"

He turned to Kamoshida, who stood there completely dumbfounded, he grit his teeth before continuing, looking him straight in the eye. "Now I am truly sorry for causing any unwarranted injuries." Just saying that made his skin curl. Alas, he would have to go through with it. "But I truly did enjoy playing with you! You have an amazing spike! I would happily join your Volleyball team if you let me."

That would have usually lightened Kamoshida's spirit, Akira mussed, the prospect of another victim to control. But as Akira suspected, the likelihood of another event like today occurring was too great a risk for him.

However the showing just now was 'submissive' enough to be tempting.

"I mean…" Akira turned to Kobayakawa, "another athlete could only improve Shujin's reputation."

Reputation. That's what it all came down too didn't it? With the Thieves, with the targets, Holy Grails, it all came down to how other people thought of you.

How ridiculous.

But it worked now. They were shocked and mouths hung open, unable to reply.

Silence took over the room again. Only this time he wasn't at the receiving end.

"Now…" Akira spoke again, clapping his hands together, "Gentleman… I really do apologize for this unfortunate event. I promise I will do my best to hold myself back in the future for sport events. So…"

He reached out his hand to Kamoshida in a matter of 'make a deal'. "Let's just let bygones be bygones. No one needs to get expelled or hurt."

Pause. None of them dared to do anything, Satanael doing his work on their cognition.

Then… Kamoshida, shaking head and forced smile, spoke "Of course." He reached out for Akira's hand, shaking it. It was a surprisingly lose grip.

Akira turned away from him to the principal. "Do we have a deal?"

Kobayakawa forced his mouth to close. He took his hand as well. "Okay. You may leave my office."

Akira swayed his head to the side, as if beckoning him to continue. "And about me getting expelled?"

"None of this will happen. Please enjoy your day."

Akira smiled, nodding at the mans words and turning around.

As he did so… a pressure almost seemed to leave his eyes, like a thorn being pulled out and the relief that came from it.

He left the office with a smile, Satanael at peace.

Kobayakawa sweated. This really didn't go well.

"What the fuck where you THINKING getting him enrolled!?" Kamoshida screamed at him.

He tried his hardest to defend himself, "I merely intended to further improve our schools reputation!"

"Improve!? You ruined it!" Kamoshida shouted back, his golden goose was furious. "You heard the brat! He got us at the balls! Is this even possible!?"

The principal frowned. He did think to remember that Kurusu's previous school earned some fire in the media for their connections to the brat. He found so out at his research for new promising students.

However the risk seemed minimal. Kurusu was supposed to be fearful, this was his only chance to finish his education after all. Kobayakawa had never considered that Shujin may suffer from this decision. He was supposed to be grateful!

Even if not… the idea of expelling Kurusu simply… seemed impossible right now. He couldn't pinpoint why but it seemed simply… not something he was going to do.

"M-Maybe. Listen I am sure there is a way to rectify this."

"HOW!?"

"I THINK OF SOMETHING!" Kobayakawa shouted back. "Hell we wouldn't even be in this situation if YOU hadn't lost a game against a STUDENT!" he bit back.

This made Kamoshida straighten up. His gaze almost seemed to spark fire. "What?" he asked, lowly and threateningly.

Kobayakawa felt his throat dry.

"That… may have come out wrong."

"You… blame ME… for getting us involved with this SHITSTAIN!?"

There was definitely some line Kobayakawa had crossed, some mistake he made. But it was true wasn't it? He was the one who had to clean up after Kamoshida.

"Said… 'shitstain' was supposed to be another benefit for our school."

"Well your BENEFIT is a…"

"I KNOW!" he interrupted the Olympian athlete. "I am aware that my plan didn't work so well."

"And you know why? Because you did it without MY permission!"

"Okay OKAY!" the principal tried to calm him down. "I… understand. I… I will think of a way. Listen Mister Kamoshida, Yoshizawa is due to arrive any day. Your free to do with her as you please okay? I recommend her to you for private couching or whatever it is you want."

This seemed to be a decent enough offer for the medallist. Girls always were a good way to please his star. It was another reason why he eventually let Sakamoto back in school as well. He figured the Medallist would be happy about having her within arms reach.

But whatever enticement there was in the option couldn't fix what happened. Kamoshida made this clear with every fibre of his being. "I want this brat taken CARE of! If we can't expel him find some other way. There to be a way to get rid of him without expulsion. Or find a way to make him cooperate. Just do… SOMETHING."

That was all he told him before storming out of the office, likely to seize whatever there was left of his day. A day Kobayakawa gave him as a show of appreciation. A way to show him he valued his achievements.

And now… everything got complicated.

Kobayakawa rubbed his forehead. All he wanted was what he deserved. To lead the best school in Japan. Nothing more nothing less. To become the greatest educator the country has ever seen. Parents would claw and backstab each other just for a chance to get their children to HIS school.

With a tired hand, he reached for the locked drawer in his desk, twisting a key in the hole. Opening it, he retrieved a bottle of precious sake alongside a cup. A fine drop to help him through these tiring times. Maybe it would be a good way to relieve of his stress.

He downed a cup with one big gulp, feeling the burning sensation in his throat.

He had been SO CLOSE. Just a few more achievements, a few more remarkable students.

But because of one… ONE student… it all was threatened.

"How DARE he." Kobayakawa thought with contempt.

Kurusu was not supposed to be difficult! He was supposed to be easy to manipulate! A toy! A tool! Not whatever he was being now!

There had to be a way Kobayakawa could fix this. There HAD to be!

…

Wait.

Maybe there WAS.

No… of COURSE there was!

Kobayakawa steeled his nerves, his blood pumping in anticipation. He was not going to fail everything he had worked for till now.

Not when he had powerful friends. Friends for whom he was ready to… guide the students of Japan into a certain future. Manipulate the next generation with careful hands. Friends who had arranged Suguru Kamoshida for him and not some other school but HIM.

Friends of who he knew a number to call.

Next to the small ring in the wood where the bottle of Sake stood was a cellphone. A small, black phone with only one number in it. He was told to only and ONLY use it in emergencies or when there was something he needed urgent.

Something inside him made him reconsider.

Then he remembered the disappointment of Kamoshida, the smirk of Kurusu and the threat to his wishes.

He picked up the phone immediately. He held it in front of his face, staring at it with almost fondness. He gulped. He had gotten involved with very dangerous people over the years. How exactly he wasn't completely sure anymore, but not that it mattered.

Kobayakawa was a man to be taken seriously.

He was going to reach for his rightful place. Who knows… maybe he could eventually arrange his own place in a higher part of the group.

But to do so he needed to succeed. He couldn't fail because of some deranged delinquent!

He started the phone… smiling all the while.

Akira Kurusu had no idea who he had messed with.

Akira: Okay good news and bad news.

Akira: Good news I ain't getting expelled.

Ryuko: FOR REAL!?

Ryuko: YES!

Ryuko: Ｏ()Ｏ

Ryuko: That's great! How did you do it?

Akira: A mixture of luck, skill, blackmail and a Demon Lord.

Ryuko: … you know what? I am just gonna stop thinking that there is something you CAN'T do. I don't even wanna know in detail.

Ryuko: But… I'm very glad to hear that.

Akira: Thanks.

Akira: Bad news however is that the kid from Class C refused to tell me anything.

Ryuko: Him too? Man everyone is freaking out about Kamoshida.

Ryuko: I still got one more lead though. A first year, new member.

Ryuko: He just joined so he might not be all wrapped up in Kamoshida's web of bullshit yet.

Akira: I see what I can do.

…

Ryuko: Were starting to run outta time. How'd it go?

Akira: Take a wild guess…

Ryuko: So you didn't have any luck either :/

Akira: Seems I spend all my 'bullshit your way through this problem' points for the day.

Ryuko: Too bad.

Ryuko: Lets regroup for now. See you in the courtyard?

Akira: I'll be waiting.

Akira put away the phone.

As always the students were too afraid of Kamoshida. As always they didn't dare to step out of line.

Even if it DID help him in his own goal of creating the Phantom Thieves, there was still something aggravating about it.

Currently Akira was leaning against one of the vending machines in the courtyard. There was still some time till Ryuko arrived so he had the chance to think.

How in the world did he just do that? He still couldn't believe it worked. At least he wouldn't have to worry about expulsion for now.

But more importantly…

"Why didn't you warn me it would hurt so much!?"

"You never asked. Besides we didn't had much of a window for talking back then now did we?" Came Satanael's reply.

Akira bit back a snarky comment of his own. "A warning would have been nice still. Seriously ouch."

"Well you already used up most of my power for today. Your SP is bound to be running low."

"My SP?"

"Of course! Did you think what we did today was so easy to do?"

"Obviously not. But I didn't think it would drain my SP as well."

"You know now. I recommend you to not fight in the Metaverse for the rest of today at least. And give your thanks to the Messiah. The Universe sitting around here made it a LOT easier to pull off."

Akira shared his mental thanks to Minako before continuing.

"Okay then… anyway that was our ability? The whole, surface cognition warping."

"Indeed. It's a useful skill to have for sure."

That was an understatement. He had basically done a mini change of heart!

It was something he needed to use sparely however, not just because of the SP drain and it being an literal eye sore in an extreme way.

Still… what an incredible ability this 'Trump card' was. With a simple gaze-.

…

"Oh. My. God." Akira thought in mixture of disbelief and sheer amazement.

"What is it Trickster?" Arsene now chimed in for the first time in a while.

Akira cheered in his mind.

"Say… how is a criminal that despises other criminals supposed to live his life?"

"Oh… okay I understand what you think of."

"Uh… what? I don't…" Orpheus now asked, "What is he doing?"

"Just roll with it. Let him have his fun." Arsene intervened.

"What's wrong? Why not expel me? Destroy my life? Or have you finally realised that the only ones who should make others suffer are those prepared to endure suffering!?"

"No seriously what is he talking about now?"

"Again just sit back."

"I, Akira Kurusu command you…now all of you… CONFESS TO YOUR SINS!"

"…Oh. Okay NOW I get what he is doing,"

"That was the turning point. Since that day I lived a lie. The lie of living. My past, my future, all lies upon lies."

"He really likes that series huh?"

"You have no idea. I am seriously questioning why he awoke to me instead of say Zero."

"I was sick to death of a world that couldn't be changed!"

"And now you know WHY he is such a fan."

"But even in my lies, I refused to give up in despair. But now this incredible power. Its mine."

Joker smirked the most glorious smirk he could muster. "Well then."

"Am I right to assume that his sense for theatrics is also due to that show?"

"Oh no he was always like this."

"I have a bloody Geass!" Akira stated one more time for sure, unable to hide his inner fanboy.

He put his smirk away for now, not wanting Ryuko to question why he had the face of a feral animal. Some pain was a very mild price to pay for the power of the King.

Speaking of… Ryuko should have arrived any second now…

But before she did, there was Ann. At least last time. He wondered if today would be the same. How was Ann's reaction to today? Or Shiho's? So many new questions.

He heard footsteps approaching him, with quick step. Maybe it was Ann wanting to ask him how he had done it? He turned around with a friendly and open smile…

"Akira Kurusu."

Only for the smile to immediately drop, along with his mood. His heart aching of betrayal.

Makoto Niijima stood in front of him.

"We need to talk."

Makoto glared daggers at the delinquent.

"Akira Kurusu. We need to talk."

The boy looked at her… strangely. As if he was hurt or hesitant. His eyes were soft, not as wild as they were when she had observed him earlier today. Kicked puppy eyes? What a cheap trick to use. Makoto almost felt disappointed.

"I'm busy." He replied in an… honestly weak attempt to block her off.

"Not busy enough for me."

"Listen…" Akira tried again, "I'm about to meet up with someone so if you…"

"No."

She immediately stopped it. Makoto felt one of her eyes twitch knowing who he was referring too.

The sudden interruption seemed to make him comply however, his tone calm. "Okay what do you want."

Makoto still glared at him as the words left her mouth. "Akira Kurusu. Hometown, Paradiso Rosuto. Son of Akimitsu Kurusu and Masako Kurusu. Both highly respected members of their community."

She stated from sheer memory, enjoying the bewildered and unsettled way his face distorted as if trying to grasp for breath or a Tiger that realized the Zoo was in fact a cage and not their own personal playground.

"Akira Kurusu meanwhile? Known troublemaker. Often got involved in fights or troubles. Whenever there was a conflict at Akihito Academy, your name was sure to come up. That in spite of your grades which were always top of the class."

Makoto had stayed up all night last night doing research, contacting teachers and students, twisting every rock that could hold some information for her to use over the criminal. She wasn't even sure if she had slept at all last night.

But it was all so worth it. Like her studying her work always payed off. This time with the stance of the criminal becoming weaker by the minute. That's all it took to make him go weak? It almost seemed too easy.

"Boyfriend of Kasumi Yoshizawa who was the sibling of Sumire Yoshizawa. The three of you often ranked very high in gymnast contests. In an national contest for juniors you reached third place while Kasumi reached first and Sumire second. You were all set for a bright future for any path you wanted to pursue."

The name Yoshizawa must have triggered something unwanted, his silver eyes widened and hands clenching to a miniscule degree, very likely to miss. Good.

"According to eyewitnesses Kasumi broke up with you in rather clear manner after you continued to harass her and stalk her into school. That right after you were arrested for assault too and already expelled. The judge sentenced you guilty on all charges, upon which you spend three months in Juvie, where you had served a week in solitary confinement for a fight with a fellow inmate."

She continued to dress him down, he almost seemed to shrink within himself. Very good. He shouldn't be thinking he was having any leeway with her or that there was something she didn't know. There was NOTHING.

"There was one thing you weren't accused of however. Something that was rumoured by several classmates who knew you and got leverage after police reports stated that the female eye witness was found with dishevelled clothing."

"Stop it." Akira requested. His tone of voice was urgent and he seemed to get more and more distressed. She allowed herself to smile.

"No one ever accused you of sexual assault, as such it was never brought up in court and the eye witness never brought it up either. However, some people believe you weren't punished for every crime you were guilty of."

Yes exactly. She knew EVERYTHING. HE had no way to hide and it started to show.

What… did Kurusu REALLY think he could just go to Tokyo and it would be a big reset button? No. Oh no. Not with that kind of rep sheet.

And definitely not if he was going to interact with Ryuko.

She may hate her right now… but only over Makoto's dead body would this DISEASE upon society harm her.

"That's…. that's not true." He was visible having problems keeping his voice collected.

"Then what is true? What of the things I said was a lie? That your girlfriend left you because she realized you were psychotic? That your parents disowned you because you were a disgrace to the Kurusu name? That your hometown branded you as a…"

He reached for her shoulder? An attempted attack? So there was a violent tendency.

Makoto grabbed the arm and with a single throw over her shoulder, Akira lay on the ground with a grunt escaping him.

She decided to keep him there, putting her knee on his spine, making him wince.

"Your hometown branded you as a violent, deranged criminal?"

She didn't say anything else, letting the statement stay in the air. There was no reaction from Akira other than him looking up at her form the ground, with those silver eyes that reminded her of a snake.

Only that they held… a lot more pain than she expected. Either way this was all just smoke and mirrors. The younger Niijima was at least willing to pay her respect for the dedication to the performance.

"What. No reply? No witty comeback? Nothing you want do to convince me of thinking different with your charm?"

Sae had warned her of people like Kurusu. They looked good, were intelligent and charming and could easily ensnare anyone that lowered their guard for even a second. Many times did Sae came home after an interrogation and could tell her tales of murderers, rapists and kidnapers trying to woo her in hopes of playing her like a puppet and save themselves.

Each and every time Sae had CRUSHED those attempts, reduced them to weak, sobbing, pitiful worms that regretted every decision they made in their life just because it led them to her.

She stayed collected. In control. Domineering. Giving of an Aura of absolute authority.

And Makoto decided she would become like Sae upon confronting Kurusu.

Control. That's what mattered. She had it. He didn't. She had all the cards.

If she didn't one could likely find Ryuko on the streets within two weeks, whored out to pay the debts of her 'boyfriend' for breaking something in some shady nightclub.

She would have only gotten there because of Akira's insistence, 'come on babe it's just a night club you trust me right?' And of course Ryuko would, because she was always too naïve and impressionable. She would just follow the Lion in the den, unaware of the slaughter about to happen. They would probably force her to try drugs because 'what is ONE TIME after all?' Then she would get addicted, becoming desperate for another shot but no she first needed to get to work. 'It was only a nightclub after all nothing serious. Please babe just do this one favour for me. I swear the guy is gonna be really kind to you.'

And of course Ryuko would help him because she just has that kind of heart. That kind, fragile heart that vile INSECTS like Akira Kurusu were all so eager to play with like predators. Before she could ever hope to realize how deep she was in she dropped out of school and would spend the rest of her live as a complete wreck covered in bruises, just another girl that Akira Kurusu had ruined the life, youth and soul of.

"Gah!" Akira winced as she tightened her grip and pressed his spine further down.

Just the thought made Makoto want to break his bones. Every. Single. One.

Doing so wasn't so hard once you figured out how and actually applied yourself. Bones could be very fragile.

There it was, just a glint but there was a sign of surrender in these silver snake eyes. It filled her with a satisfaction she couldn't compare to anything else. Good. Now he knew WHO was going to stop him if he dared to hurt Ryuko.

"I am only going to say this once." Makoto took the word again, tone complete serene but an underlying threat that was unmissable. "I may not be able to keep her away from you but remember this. If I ever find out you are harming Ryuko in any way… I WILL destroy you. That's not a threat, it's a PROMISE. It's MY promise to YOU. Anything you may do to hurt her I will find a way to do to you a thousand times worse. Believe me I can make your life VERY difficult-."

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS BULLSHIT!?"

Alarm coursed through Makoto.

She looked up from the criminal, just in time to see a fist connecting with her face.

The punch ached through the skin of her left eye, with enough force to knock the wind out of her and throw her backwards into the vending machine. Makoto was disoriented, her head spinning wildly and pain paralysing her back and face.

When she finally managed to regain focus, she was face to face with the one thing that pained her most, the one thing that she dreaded above all else.

Ryuko stared at her, with those brown eyes that used to be soft and fond for her…

With sheer, raw, hate.

Wow that escalated quickly.

I mean… this got out of hand really fast.

Alright than… time for the final notes.

I felt physically sick writing Kamoshidas narration. Like… seriously. I felt the pit in my stomach trying to turn into a Black Hole. But well… writing means you have to be able to fully get in your characters heads. Even if those are HORRIBLE places to be in. The things you do for a story…

From there we also found something interesting about Mishima. Now I know that people tend to be divided in regards to Yuuki (not as much as Akechi but still notable), either he is a favorite or people hate him as a leech that rides the coattails of the Thieves. One of the things I wanted to do was make those divided characters more easier to sympathize with and more likeable, even to ones that might dislike their canon selves.

So instead of having Mishima be Kamoshidas spy for a spot on the volleyball team in combination with abuse, he is a spy to protect his sister.

I hope that makes him more… well not heroic but more sympathetic. Even if he arguable does even worse things for such a role (like giving Kamoshida even more leverage).

And side note… were about to meet Kasumi soon!... probably. Its likely gonna take a few more chapters.

And I did reveal something else here. Something many of you managed to pick up on. That's right… Kasumi in this story is Akira's ex. I have a lot in my mind for when she gets ivolved so look forward to that ;)

Also as you can see that was the spoiler. She has a sister. I know its really minor but I just figured I should mention it since it IS something new about the character.

Either way we FINALLY got to see Kamoshida get owned. This was something I was so eager to write you have no idea :).

However… Kamoshida was obviously not going to take that lying down. So… we got the whole principal scene.

And in between we also got some filler with Daiji and Ryuko thoughts. Quick question… did I turn Skull into a damsel? Ive been looking back and felt like I might have done so since she needed help pretty frequently ever since I introduced her :/. I felt like addressing that a bit.

Back to the principal scene… something I feel people ignore when it comes to bashing Kamoshida is the fact that doing so would usually lead to… well consequences. I wanted to also address something like that since its in line with Kamoshits character to flip at any single thing that stands in its way.

This did gave me a chance to include the other abilities that Satanael can grant to Akira. It was something I planned to include since the very beginning. I just like the idea of Personas somehow affecting the real world.

The first one, the whole physical boost, is not as strong as it may sound. Its really only a well trained athlete level at best. While Akira DID beat Kamoshida one needs to keep in mind that Kamoshida hadn't properly trained in years and while he is still fit he has never been really pushed or had the desire to improve.

The boost IS however pretty draining on Akira and can become very exhausting.

The second ability is one I teased for a while. Now I know it sounds broken but its not so much. While I did compare it to Lelouchs geass that was Akira fanboying mainly and me just trying to make it easy to explain.

The thoughts Akira can change with it are only surface level ones that are present in the actual moment. He can erase the thought of making one want to expel him in the moment but not rewrite something in the past or their personality in major ways. And it's a PAIN to use. Literally.

Also no he did NOT use it on Ryuko when he convinced her to let him play. Those scenes are merely Satanael sort of… 'leaking out'. I really wish I knew a better way to describe it. Akira using his 'Trump card' will always be foreshadowed by the pain he felt.

And Kobayakawa… well he is a bit more evil then the game showed. The guy is part of the conspiracy after all you know? And if he cant expel him he will just try another way of getting him under control. Some slight mind manipulation.

Hmm… it would be VERY BAD for him if the person meant to do that would refuse because she just so happens to be Yandere for the 'Target' wouldn't it?

Okay… now… lets talk Makoto.

Honestly I am worried about what her scene will cause for reactions in the reviews.

Let me say it again. I do NOT hate Makoto. I love the Queen! I even romanced her in one of my playthroughs.

I don't see Makoto as a villain either. Yes not even with how she acts here. Just very, VERY misguided.

Just put yourself in her situation. After falling out with your best friend, someone you care VERY DEEPLY for because you tried to fix her school situation and speak with her about it, you drift apart. The girl who used to be your closest confidant wont even look at you anymore, despite of that you still care a great deal for her.

THEN a criminal comes to your school. He is smart and good looking, two traits that are VERY dangerous for every criminal to have. He IMMEDIATELY gets in touch with said former best friend. Your best friend whos school situation is already shattered and who is likely vulnerable. And your still protective of her for the record no matter how much she hates you.

Then add in that your sister has seen some of the greatest scum Japan has to offer in her job as a prosecutor and told you about some off it, causing you to be constantly paranoid.

And again you do some research on the CONVICTED CRIMINAL around your former BEST FRIEND. You find out some about his situation, about how he appereantly stalked his ex and was a known troublemaker on top of getting arrested for assault. On top of THAT you heard rumours of him being a bloody RAPIST.

Suddenly Makoto doesn't seem so crazy anymore huh?

Listen… WE know what Akira is like. WE know he is NOTHING like the monster Makoto sees in him. That's why it hurts to see and/or makes us angry to see him get treated like this.

Makoto just doesn't know. She is just doing what anyone would do in this situation, trying to keep someone she cares about away from a GIGANTIC RED FLAG.

I mean… imagine if instead of Akira it was Sugimura who Makoto dressed down this chapter or that suitor of Eiko. We would be CHEERING for her.

For Makoto this is all pretty much a horror show. One of her worst nightmares.

Now I am sure some of you think she may be acting OOC. Lets address that.

While I can totally get why you might think that, there is a facet of Makotos character that I don't often see people actually talk about.

Before she joins the Thieves she is… well… not exactly nice.

Like seriously… take a look at every interaction she has with the Thiefs before she joins.

It's a constant string of acting superior, heartless, cold and when she blackmails them smug.

She is constantly giving of a complete tone of superiority. Expecting the Thiefs to go along with her every word. When Ryuji calls Joker and lets it spill that they are having a meeting, she smirks and asks him in such a thin tone to be lead to his friends.

Or how she organized Jokers phone number and stalked him through all of Tokyo?

Or how she thinks she can order the bloody Mafia? Okay that last one was in part due to her being unhinged due to Sae but still….

There is a very controlling and… pretty disturbing as well as vengeful part of Makoto before she joined the group.

Anyone here read a fanfic called 'The Evil Queen'? It's a very well written AU about Makoto being the first target of the Phantom Thieves after she got rid of Kamoshida. Its one of the few fanfics that actually emphasizes her control and tendency to go extreme on people that oppose her. Now OBVIOUSLY 'The Evil Queen' plays it up to eleven but its not exactly unbelievable how she turns into that character.

Now when Makoto REALIZES she did wrong she IS trying her hardest to atone for her mistakes. We saw that in game and we will see that in this story I PROMISE! I… pretty much do a lowkey redemption arc with her. We WILL see her realize the errors of her mistakes and we will also see her doing her best to atone for everything she did wrong.

Till than I have to… guide her through all of this. I wanna do so in a way that is still fitting with her character traits and believable in the story. So we just gotta get through this.

The scene also served to prove something that I wanted to remind everyone of. Akira is NOT invincible.

Now he HAS become pretty OP, but in ways I wanted to keep justified in universe. Justified OPness you know? Satanael is an insta win button and he has other high tier personas just ready and waiting. This chapter I showed him possess two other very useful abilities thanks to the Demon Lord.

He can still very much be hurt however. He isn't invulnerable and the best way to hurt him is through his confidants.

The people who can hurt us the most are the people we hold closest to us. That's the double edged sword called love. You can feel great with it but need to take the risk of being hurt. Akira is in this weird position where he already developed so strong bonds with people… who don't actually KNOW him. He still thinks of Makoto as his badass biker priestess who DIED for him, while she doesn't know of ANYTHING like this and only sees him as a threat. That's just a recipe for getting hurt.

There are also some other weaknesses in his soul. The fact that someone brought up what happened in his hometown would have bothered him a lot already but that it was MAKOTO bringing it up really got too him. I will eventually dive deeper into Akiras past cause there is a lot to cover.

I haven't had much time to show it yet but my version of Akira is the most hurt by betrayal. Betrayal of society. Betrayal of his friends. Betrayal of his mentor. It has been happening over and over again over the course of the P5 story. The woman he defended, society and law siding with Shido, Akechi, Yaldabitch. The kids been through a lot and betrayal is a very sore spot for him.

Okay with that all being said, next chapter we will continue the rally and get to see Ryuko and Akira meet up with Akechi, as well as more of Ryukos reaction to Makoto.

Spoiler warning: she is pissed.

I was going to add more to this chapter but we had so much happen already I felt like it was right to cut it off here… at roughly 20K.

Alright then. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and see ya :)