4/15

"Good morning, Miss Prez."

"Good morning."

"Morning Niijima-senpai!"

"Good morning."

Makoto stands outside Shujin's front gate, with her bag is tucked under her arm. Her posture, refined. Her hair, immaculate. She ate well. She is well-rested and clear-headed.

The students greet her warmly. She smiles and returns their salutations and waits for Akira Kurusu.

Her mind is better. No more rambling thoughts about Kurusu. Nothing about his lean frame. Nothing about his dark eyes. Nothing.

She had enjoyed telling him off yesterday. Watching Sakamoto squirm under her gaze had been satisfying, but seeing the sweat bead on Kurusu's forehead, then slide down his cheek as she spoke had been exhilarating. Makoto still was unsure why he had been smiling near the end of it, but it didn't matter. She had made the nature of their relationship clear. She was in charge.

She spies Akira making his way down the road towards Shujin, shoulders slouched and hair loose in his face. "Good morning, Kurusu," Makoto says, and the boy halts mid-step.

He glances up at her, and she is thrilled to see him pale. "Morning, Niijima-senpai."

"I wanted to catch you before class and tell you that our study sessions shall begin after school today." She waits for a single beat before she narrows her eyes and drops the bomb. "Unless, of course, you plan on ditching me again."

Kurusu gulps. He actually gulps. Tables turned. "No," he says.

"Good." His lips curl upwards, and she feels her pulse quicken. She turns before it speeds up any more. "I hope your day goes well."

"And yours," he calls after her. There's a lilt to his voice, a slow, smooth inflection. No, I'm imagining that. But Makoto's mind rebels once more, and as she winds her way through Shujin's halls, she cannot help but find one word to describe how he'd said his two. Flirty.

#

School ticks by until someone screams, "Oh my god! What's she doing?"

Pandemonium. Everyone stands and stares. From Akira’s position near the back of the class, he cannot see where they are looking. Despite their teacher's protests, students shove their way towards the door, out into the hall.

"I think she's going to jump!"

"Who is it?"

"That's Shiho Suzui!"

Ann leaps from her desk, and a gasp dies in her throat. She sprints to the door, and Akira follows.

Out in the hall, Ann presses herself up against the window, eyes wide, mouth agape.

Shiho stands on the roof overlooking the courtyard. She does not appear to be looking anywhere but ahead. Akira cannot see the expression on her face, but her body is slack.

She does not jump. She simply falls forward and plummets.

"SHIHO!" Ann screams.

He does not hear the impact but imagines a thick thud when she collides with the ground. Ann's scream continues as she tears herself from the window and runs for the stairwell.

Akira makes to follow and feels a hand on his shoulder. He spins into the face of Ryuji. "Dude, what's going on?”

"Suzui just jumped off the roof!" Akira says and turns to follow Ann.

"For real?" Ryuji asks, but Akira doesn't answer. The two race downstairs and out to the courtyard.

They find Ann near the back of a crowd. A vast circle surrounds the fallen and broken body of Shiho. Ann, pale and quaking, is trying to push her way through. Akira hears the click of camera phones, the excited whispers of the students. No one moves for Ann. Above the other students, Akira spots a retreating mop of black hair. Kamoshida, his face hard, is slowly making his way out of the crowd of students and teachers and heading back inside.

Ryuji takes a look at the crowd and shouts, "Out of the way, you assholes!" And charges. He plows directly between two first-year students, reaches out and grabs Ann's hand, then drags her into the fray. Akira runs in their wake and presses forward as Ryuji elbows and shoves their way towards Shiho.

They clear the crowd, and Ryuji drops Ann's hand. She runs to Shiho's body and kneels next to it. "Shiho, Shiho, oh my god!"

Akira is close enough to see the girl's eyes slide open, and the noise of the crowd dims just enough for him to hear her say, "I'm sorry, Ann. I just can't take it anymore." Her eyes close.

Ann does not know what to do with her hands. One moment, they dart towards Shiho, then stop and collapse back over her mouth. She is sobbing, calling her friend's name, and no one is helping.

Akira looks at Ryuji and says, "Ambulance! We need an ambulance!" He turns to the crowd. The first face he sees is Makoto Niijima's. She stands at the edge of the circle, eyes full in horror, her hand clamped over her mouth. She meets Akira's gaze, but there is no recognition there.

Someone must've called an ambulance because a pair of EMTs soon arrive with a stretcher. Even then, they need to push and shove their way to the girl's side. Ann demands to accompany them to the hospital. Only then do the teachers take back some control and insist on all the students returning to class.

Few listen.

Ryuji grabs Akira's arm and drags him from the courtyard. His eyes are hard, his teeth set. Akira does not ask where they are going.

They find Mishima by his locker, his face pale, his hands shaking, back pressed up against the wall for support.

Ryuji marches right up to him. "You have to come forward," he says. "About everything."

Mishima shakes his head. "I can't."

There is something cold inside Akira. "A girl just tried to kill herself."

Mishima stares at his feet, and when he speaks, his words are barely more than a mumble. "Kamoshida called her to his office yesterday. He..." The word goes unspoken, but all three men hear it still. It floats around them like poison in the air.

Rape.

Kamoshida raped Shiho.

The longer you don’t do something, the worse he’ll get.

Akira looks at Ryuji. It takes him a moment to explain what Ann had told him yesterday. He finds it disturbingly easy to explain. "He must've gotten tired of waiting for Ann."

"So he-" Ryuji starts, then stops. "That... that..." Then he is sprinting down the corridor towards the stairwell.

Akira and Mishima glance at one another and follow. They catch up to him the moment he enters Kamoshida's office.

The man sits at his desk, back to them, unperturbed. "Stand up," Ryuji says, his voice just above a whisper.

Kamoshida turns and regards the three with a bored expression. "Huh? What'd you losers want?"

"I said, 'Stand up.'"

"Ryuji," Akira whispers, but Ryuji shakes his head.

"No. No more behind-the-scenes bullshit." His voice rises as he speaks. "Shiho just tried to kill herself because of you!"

Kamoshida sighs and shakes his head. "I'd like to see you prove that. The poor girl was just disturbed, that's all.”

"You're lying." Kamoshida, Akira, and Ryuji turn to Mishima, who stares at the ground in front of Kamoshida's feet. "You told me to get her. Yesterday, after practice. You told me to get her and bring her to your office. You-"

"I suggest you shut that mouth of yours, you sniveling little runt," Kamoshida says, finally standing. His indifference is gone. Cold, hard anger washes over the three young men. "Because you can't back up a single thing you're saying. I just heard from the other faculty. Suzui's in a coma. She won't be saying anything for a while." He looks at each of the boys in turn. "And neither will you. You're all expelled."

"What?" Ryuji asks.

Akira feels his blood go cold. It shames him, but fear has suddenly settled in his stomach. Expelled? No, no, I can't be! Not again! They’re going to put him back in a box—a box with no windows and sterile white walls and a door that locks from the outside.

"You can't do that!" Mishima cries.

Kamoshida’s voice turns silken. “I most certainly can.” He casually lowers himself into his chair and crosses his arms. “Sakamoto, you assaulted me last year. Everyone will believe you’d try it again. As for you,” and he nods at Akira, “well, you already have an assault record. I could march you right out the front doors, and no one would give a shit. And Mishima,” he grins as the boy cowers before him, “you should be ashamed of yourself. Posting Kurusu’s criminal record online like that.”

Akira turns his head to Mishima. Ryuji does too. “That was you?” Akira asks.

“He made me do it!” Mishima shouts, looking first at Ryuji, then at Akira. “Please, he made me! Told me that if I didn’t, I’d get abused all the more!”

Kamoshida shakes his head. “You always were a whiny bitch, Mishima.”

How far? It is a small voice in the back of his mind.

Ryuji is shouting something and cocking his arm back. Akira moves in front of him before he can think about it. Ryuji’s eyes bulge, but he hesitates, and it is long enough for some of the fight to leave him, for a bit of his arm to go slack. Akira closes the distance between them, giving Ryuji no room to maneuver.

Kamoshida chuckles. “Good move, Kurusu.”

“Dude!” Ryuji growls. “What’re you-”

How far?

There’s another way! His brain screams this, but when his mouth moves, no sound comes out. The walls of Kamoshida’s office are a sterile white, and they are closing in.

Akira is not looking at Kamoshida, but he can almost hear the smile in the man’s voice when he says, “Sakamoto, Mishima, leave. I want to talk to Kurusu alone.”

“Like Hell,” Ryuji counters, and he makes to move around Akira, who still blocks his path.

Akira grips his friend’s arm and squeezes. He can feel Ryuji’s pulse through the rolled-up sleeves of his uniform. “Don’t,” he begs.

Ryuji meets his gaze and gives him a knowing look. Akira can only imagine what Ryuji is trying to convey is what he has also realized. Morgana’s offer still stood. Akira does his best to return Ryuji’s stare and hopes his eyes send the message that his friend just needs to get out before things get worse.

“I’ll be outside,” Ryuji whispers, and Akira does not feel relief but a lessening of pressure behind his eyes.

“I said, leave,” Kamoshida repeats. Ryuji takes a step back, and with a scowl, turns for the door. Mishima follows.

A part of Akira thinks that there is no way Mishima will obey. This young man will not just slink off like some dog, not after Kamoshida has ruined his life. Only moments ago, he had stood up, found courage, said something. But Akira watches as Mishima’s eyes droop. The boy’s shoulders slump, and he shuffles towards the door and follows Ryuji out.

Revulsion churns through Akira as Mishima shuts the door behind him.

“Sakamoto hates me,” Kamoshida says calmly. “Which shouldn’t be much of a revelation. Even if I made this proposal to him, he’d tell me to go to hell. And Mishima? Well. The little faggot wouldn’t be much use for what we’re going to discuss.”

Akira turns to face and focus on the man before him. Something seems to switch on within his brain, and the seconds appear to slow down as every twitch and shadow the man casts hits Akira’s eyes like so much actinic radiation.

What can’t your eyes see?

Akira blinks his head clear.

Kamoshida’s grin is wide and awful, and he stretches his arms into the air and then rests his hands behind his head. One leg sweeps up and crosses the other, and the man leans back in his chair, content.

“Despite what I’m sure Sakamoto has told you, I’m not an unsympathetic person. Not many people get second chances, and those that do typically waste them. It would be tragic if your time in Shujin ended after only a few short days.”

Many words boil up in Akira’s throat, but he applies more willpower than he imagined he had and stays quiet. Say nothing, a voice in his head snaps. See where this is going. He remains still, his heart hammering away, his blood like white noise in his ears.

“You’re in Ann Takamaki’s class.” It’s not a question. “I saw you two standing together the other day, out in the rain? Are you well acquainted? Close?”

Akira’s lips remain still.

Kamoshida’s eyes narrow. “This is the part where you answer.”

“No,” Akira replies. “We’re not close. I hardly know her.”

Kamoshida nods. “That’s too bad. I also find that odd. I couldn’t help but notice that both you and Sakamoto helped Ann through the crowd to her best friend’s side. Now, as you’re a piece of shit criminal, I don’t see you doing that out of the goodness of your heart for a stranger, so I think you do know her, and I think you should stop lying to me.” The pace of his words increased as he spoke.

“I’ve only been here a few days, but I do sit behind her in class,” Akira mumbles. “We’ve spoken before.”

Kamoshida waves his hand through the air. “Close enough. See, we have an arrangement. Takamaki comes to me for specialized guidance. Extracurricular work. For school. But, lately, she has not been taking advantage of my generosity, and it’s reflecting in her academic performance. I care about her wellbeing. She’s a good kid. I don’t want to see her falling behind.

“I want you to convince her to resume our sessions. If you do that, I won’t have you expelled.”

He LIES. The voice that thunders through Akira’s head is that of Arsene. The sound of his own voice replies within his thoughts. Ann hasn’t slept with him yet. She doesn’t want to touch him.

“Wh-” Akira starts to say, then stops. Careful, a new voice warns. He makes a small show of clearing his throat and begins again. “Why do you need my help with this?”

Kamoshida laughs, full-bellied and loud. “Kurusu, I don’t need your help. I’m trying to be generous here and give you a break. One you desperately need. Sooner or later, Takamaki will recognize what’s good for her, and our sessions will resume. But I don’t want her to slip too much. I think persuasion from a friend might serve to spur her along. Light a fire under her, so to speak.” He claps his hands together and stands, suddenly towering over Akira. “And why are you even considering this, Kurusu? As I said, I can march you right out of here whenever I want. All you have to do is play ball, convince Takamaki, and you get to stay. No expulsion. I’ll even let your friends stay in school too, but I’m guessing you don’t care too much about what happens to Mishima since he leaked your information.”

Kamoshida steps up to Akira. “I’ll give you two weeks. That should let you get in with Takamaki and convince her what’s best. If you take any longer, you’ll be out on your ass. And don’t think there’s any such thing as a third chance in this life, Kurusu.” He begins to extend his hand, then pauses. “Oh, and before I forget, you do realize that this conversation never happened, and if you ever speak about it to anyone, it’ll be your word against mine, correct?”

On this, Akira can agree. He nods.

“Perfect.” Kamoshida resumes the outstretching of his hand. “Well, then. What do you say, Kurusu? Do we have a deal?”

Akira stares down at the pale, splayed thing that is Kamoshida’s open hand.

How far are you willing to go, Trickster?

THOU WHO ART WILLING TO PERFORM ALL SACRILEGIOUS ACTS FOR THINE OWN JUSTICE!

Akira raises his eyes to the King’s own. They are not gold here, but dark, dark brown.

Fuck it.

“Yes,” Akira says and shakes the man’s hand. “We have a deal.”

#

“I think I’m gonna puke,” Ryuji mutters. His skin is a bright pale, and he sits slumped on a bench in Shujin’s courtyard alcove. Upon leaving Kamoshida’s office, Akira had placed his hand on Ryuji’s shoulder and led him away from the silent Mishima, who had watched them go but not followed.

Akira had intended to escape out into the courtyard and get some fresh air, but Morgana had been waiting for them. He had been sitting on the table as if he belonged there. “I heard about what happened,” the cat had said. “Did a girl really try and kill herself?”

Ryuji had ignored the question and prompted Akira to reveal what had happened in Kamoshida’s office. Akira relayed his instructions.

“We have to tell Ann,” Ryuji blurts out.

“No, we don’t,” Akira replies.

“What’re you talking about, dude? We’ve got to warn her and-”

“She already knows,” Akira counters. He lowers himself onto the bench next to Ryuji. “I met her going home yesterday. We wound up talking. She told me about Kamoshida’s advances on her. That’s what he meant by ‘extracurriculars.’ He just didn’t want to say ‘sex’ out loud.”

“We-” Ryuji begins, but then they hear the familiar clicking noise of footsteps coming around the corner. “Shit!” Ryuji shoots up and grabs Morgana around the scruff of the neck and shoves him inside Akira’s bag.

“Hey, wha-!”

“Quiet,” Ryuji whispers, as Makoto Niijima rounds the corner.

"Oh," she says when she sees them. "I thought this place would be... never mind."

Akira looks at her face and remembers the look of horror she'd displayed earlier. Her skin is still pale, and red rims her eyes. He looks away.

Makoto clears her throat and straightens. "I suppose this works out. I'm afraid, Kurusu, that I'll need to cancel today's study session. I'm... I'm not..."

"I understand," he says. "I'm not feeling well, either."

She nods. "Very well. I'll let you know when we will continue." Her voice cracks on the last syllable, and she turns around quickly and begins to walk away.

He does not know why, but he calls out. "Niijima-senpai?" She pauses and looks back at him. He tries to smile. It sort of works. "I look forward to it."

She smiles as well, but there is little behind it.

#

With Makoto gone, Morgana pokes his head out of Akira's bag. "Stop shoving me in here!" He yells at Ryuji.

Akira slides the bag from his shoulder and sets it on the table. "Where else was I supposed to put you?" Ryuji asks.

"You have a bag," Akira points out.

"Hey!"

Both boys stiffen as Ann's voice echoes in the little alcove. "Crap!" Ryuji snaps and shoves Morgana's head back into Akira's bag.

"Oh, come on!" Morgana groans as Akira whispers, “Don’t tell her,” before Ann turns the corner.

“H-hey, Takamaki,” Ryuji manages, glancing everywhere but at her.

“I want in.”

Akira and Ryuji look at each other. Both shrug, and Akira asks, "In on what?"

"Drop the airhead act," Ann says. "Whatever you're going to do to Kamoshida, I want to help."

"We're not-"

"Don't lie to me," Ann yells, her voice breaking. Her hands are fists, and she squeezes her eyes tight. "I just got back from the hospital. Shiho's in a coma. That twisted bastard did this to her because I..."

"Stop it," Ryuji says, his voice hard. "That's not your fault."

"You don't know that. If I'd done what Kamoshida had wanted, Shiho wouldn't have tried to kill herself! I have to make it right!"

Ryuji lets out a sigh and takes a few steps closer to her. "Ann, don't do that. Kamoshida is going to get what's coming to him, okay? You should be with Shiho right now. She needs you."

"She needed me when he was doing those things to her, and I wasn't there! So stop trying to make me feel better and let me help, Ryuji!"

Akira stands. “No.”

Both students turn to him. “You can’t-” Ann starts.

“Kamoshida is going to expel us,” Akira states. Ann’s eyes widen. “He already knows we were trying to get people to testify against him. If he knows you’re helping us, then you’ll get expelled too.”

“Do you think I care?”

“I can see that you don’t, right now,” Akira tells her. “But you should. Like Ryuji said, Kamoshida is going to get what’s coming to him. So for now, just stay out of his way and don’t screw up your future for this.”

We can’t tell her about Kamoshida’s deal, a voice in his mind whispers. Who knows what she’d try to do? We can’t explain the Palace or the Treasure, so as far as she’s concerned, we can’t do anything to stop him. We don’t have time to bring her up to speed.

There was also the issue of Kamoshida’s potential mortal demise. It wasn’t as if anyone could prosecute them for the crime. But Akira would know. They all would know.

Ryuji looks at him imploringly. “Akira, dude, maybe-”

“No,” Akira snaps. He looks at Ann. “Back off, Takamaki.”

Ann looks from Akira to Ryuji, and the tears start anew. "You guys are assholes." But she turns and marches off.

Morgana pops his head out of Akira’s bag, but the three remain silent for a few moments before Akira sighs and says, “That did not feel good.”

Ryuji shoves his hands in his pockets and says nothing.

Morgana shimmies his way out of the bag and stretches his legs. "So, I take it this means you guys have changed your mind?"

"Yeah," Ryuji says, turning to the cat. "I don't care what happens to him. This shit has got to stop."

Morgana’s gaze makes Ryuji flinch. “You realize what you’re saying, yeah? Because the other day, you two were very wishy-washy about this. I want you to understand that if we steal Kamoshida’s Treasure, it may end up killing him.” Morgana looks at Akira. “Are you okay with that?”

How far are you willing to go?

Far enough.

“Yes,” Akira declares. “We take Kamoshida down. Come what may.”

Ryuji’s hesitation lasts only a moment. “Yeah,” he says. “I agree.”

Morgana bobs his head in a nod. "Alright then."