[ If asked, most people would have a few things they'd change about their past actions. To regret is to be human, and hindsight shines a special sort of clarity on the choices one makes. Akira, too, has things he would do differently given the chance.
Or he did, until he is. Turns out, being forced to relive the most insane period of his life is not all it's cracked up to be.
It goes like this: The night before his scheduled departure from Tokyo, Akira settles into sleep with one thought in mind. When he awakes, that wish is fulfilled in the most unbelievable way possible—no, he didn't have to leave Tokyo because he's on a train into the city. The same one he rode in on almost a year ago. An impossible date mocks him from the screen of his phone, as do the giggling voices of schoolgirls discussing mysterious mental shutdowns.
What the hell is going on?
It would funny were it not so distressing. Unsettling feelings of deja vu plague him at every turn, but apparently he's the only one feeling it. Sojiro does not recognize him. Neither does Miss Kawakami, nor Ryuji, nor Ann, nor (thankfully) Kamoshida. Not even Morgana. The prison warden smirks irritatingly at him in his dreams, inscrutable as ever. Akira hates it.
So he does what he always does: He rolls with it. There are some differences, subtle things that stick in his thoughts and make his brain itch, but isn't that to be expected? He's not the same person he was the first time around. Besides, it's nothing major, and that's probably for the best right now. Any advantage he has by knowing what's to come may be lost if he makes too big of a movement. Something about a single flap of a butterfly's wings, and so on.
That approach doesn't last long. Akira is quietly peering out the window between class periods when it hits him: Today is the day. The day Shiho Shizui jumped. How could he forget?
He's out of his seat before he can think about the potential ramifications of stopping her. There's a spike in the chatter behind him as he breezes out into the hall, but what's the point in trying to explain himself? He's the delinquent transfer student, walking out of the classroom minutes before the next class begins. They wouldn't believe him even if he tried.
Trying to find her is a waste of time when he's almost certain of where she'll end up. Akira heads for the rooftop. Halfway up the stairs, it occurs to him that he probably should've dragged Ann along. It's too late for that now, so he pulls out his phone and texts the next best person. ]
Meet me on the roof ASAP. It's important.
[ Ryuji mentioned that he knew both Ann and Suzui in middle school, so she might be willing to listen to him. Hoping the urgency will carry through in text, Akira pushes open the door to the roof and looks around. ]
[ akira isn't the only one who's got a shit ton of things on his mind around here. compared to him, though, ryuji doesn't have very much room for anything else past finding a way to get back at one suguru kamoshida. yeah, he's interested as hell about these new powers of his—ones which match akira's, from the sound of it, something he still doesn't fully understand—and this so-called other world they can access now, not to mention the guy who's gotten him caught up in it in the first place. but none of it's going to make much of a difference if they're not able to topple the king from his throne, so to speak. what else can they do if none of shujin's student body is going to cooperate with them?
it's frustrating, to say the least. more so since ryuji's vowed he'd keep searching for another alternative to what few options they have at hand. is what that damn cat said for real, anyway? getting rid of his distorted desires, whatever that's supposed to mean...would taking the risk of endangering shujin academy's celebrity coach, and themselves to boot, really be the right call here? ryuji's practically always seeing red at the sight of him, more than he can say for most people, yet even he's got to draw the line somewhere, right? he's had no shortage of mistaken labels heaped onto him without his consent nowadays, and he doesn't plan on adding scumbag to the list anytime soon. hopefully not ever, if he's got anything to say about it.
unfortunately he's coming up short every single time. there's one last lead he's on the fence of throwing out there or not, equally at odds over whether or not it's worth shooting in akira's direction. for someone with a supposed criminal record, he doesn't seem like a bad dude at all. if he's true to his word, he's gotten set up from the start. what a load of bullshit; they really are in the same boat in that regard, set up by rotten adults who were ready and waiting to take them down as soon as they spied an opportunity.
opportunities... hell, ryuji may as well fish out his phone and offer up his final theory, then. either it'll get them nowhere and they'll be back to the drawing board once again, or they'll finally carve out an opportunity of their own, a chance to strike back (and outsmart morgana in one fell swoop, take that, you furball).
that's the plan, but akira's already beaten him to it. sort of. ]
Huh?
[ ryuji squints at his phone screen, hardly paying attention to whatever the teacher at the front of the classroom's going on about. what's akira got to say that's so important he can't just put it in the chat right away? he hasn't come across as much of the talkative type, no, but he hasn't pulled his punches yet either. guy's got courage, a real lion's heart, something ryuji can't help to respect, all things considered.
better get a reply out while he can. asap is serious business, isn't it? ]
For real? Don't tell me you're thinking of ditching class too!
[ not that ryuji's one to talk, nor somebody's example to follow. regardless, he's got to think fast, got to come up with a way on short notice to get out of class and into the hallways, fast. ]
Just gimme five minutes, tops.
[ here comes the tricky part: talking the teacher into being let loose. it takes a solid two minutes of convincing, and so long as ryuji hustles, it definitely won't take him three more to leap each stair two at a time and sneak his way up onto the roof.
if it's off limits, how come you can get up here so easily, anyway? ]
[ A quick sweep of the roof confirms that she's not here yet. Good. Letting out an unintentionally held breath, Akira pauses to check his phone.
Ryuji is on his way. Another fraction of weight lifts off Akira's chest. Sure, he might think this is just about skipping class, but he's coming. If it were his Ryuji, he would've realized something's up the moment chronically lazy texter Akira contacted him first, but this one doesn't know him that well yet.
—Wait, his Ryuji? It's probably best if he doesn't think about it like that. Besides, it's not like they're different people.
Exhaling softly, he settles down into one of the abandoned chairs littering the rooftop. This place is full of memories, isn't it? Ones that haven't even happened yet. Ones that might not happen again. Weird to think about it like that.
Luckily, he doesn't have to think for long. The door creaks open, announcing the arrival of another. Akira looks up with anticipation—and sure enough, there's a familiar blond head emerging into the daylight. ]
Hey. [ Hanging out on the roof like this, he probably does look like he just wanted to play hooky. A good thing, considering he didn't really prepare a convincing excuse for why he all but demanded Ryuji join him. ]
[ to be fair, bits and pieces of this don't quite add up for ryuji, if only because he's stumped on what possibly could've coerced akira into this sudden change of heart. just yesterday he spoke of his probation, the honest student life he aspired to maintain. the wry manner of his deliver and the small upward quirk to his lips made it all sound like a joke which sailed straight over ryuji's head. better to laugh in the face of danger than bend to it, he supposes, but it's beyond him what's so funny about this entire situation.
here, it's no different. ryuji's looking around, hands wedged deep into his pockets. nothing at first glance appears out of the ordinary, and it was the same story on his way up here. it's just another school day, minus the secrets the two of them have shared so far.
is that what this is about? something about personas akira doesn't want anyone to see in case their phones end up in the wrong hands? it figures that he's overly cautious; ryuji can't fault him for it, given the thin ice he's treading on. plus, he's got no family here, no friends, no one else he can trust yet. like it or not, ryuji's all akira has, at least for the time being.
no pressure. ]
Yo. I can't focus, either...
[ who knows what the real answer is? ryuji's just going to keep running with the assumption that he and akira are of one mind, playing the parts they've been pinned as to turn into bona fide troublemakers. may as well start by cutting class early and working their way up. here's hoping ms. sakamoto won't find out about it, anyway. ]
I keep thinkin' about what that furball told us. I know there's only so much we can do about Kamoshida and all, but do we really gotta go along with what he's planning? How are you even suppose to steal someone's—
[ ryuji trails off. he's not sure what's stopped him in his tracks exactly, but the way akira is looking at him is a little...ah... ]
[ At least Akira learned the last time around that no amount of effort will change his peers' and teachers' minds about him, save for the few who consciously choose to look past the bad reputation. The only thing he has to worry about is disciplinary action, and he should be able to skirt any real danger of expulsion once or twice. Skipping class won't be the end of the world, especially when he has the material drilled firmly into his brain from all of his previous studying.
Much more important is the situation at hand. His attention is only half-tuned to Ryuji's musings, gaze slipping over to the door every now and then to check for signs of another. The distraction must show on his face, but if not, it's certainly obvious now when it takes a second for his eyes to actually focus on Ryuji again after the concerned prompt. ]
Ah, uh—yeah. Just thinking...
[ He provided a good excuse. Akira hasn't really thought about what they should do because, well, he knows the answer already. But from Ryuji's perspective, he should be considering the options, shouldn't he? Tugging at a lock of hair, he elaborates. ]
... I think we should trust him. You said it yourself, there's only so much we can do about Kamoshida. [ There's no other way to solve this, and Ryuji must know that. Kamoshida is basically untouchable in the real world, especially for them. ] No one out here is going to stand up to him, but we can't just let him do whatever he wants.
[ from ryuji's perspective, akira's quickly becoming a man of many faces, yet another thing he isn't entirely sure how to field.
it won't stop him from trying, though. to the untrained eye akira looks outwardly nervous, exceedingly so, and who better to give him a healthy dose of reassurance than his newfound partner in crime? how's that saying go, you have to fake it until you make it? they'll both be a couple of fakers here, then. ]
Relax, man. No one's gonna know we're here. The roof's the last place they'll ever look once they figure out we're playing hooky.
[ for good measure, ryuji slaps akira across the shoulder. the stumbling, wobbling should probably faze him more than it does. looks like somebody doesn't know their own strength. ]
Guess you're right, though. We'll just have to do whatever it takes.
[ ryuji'd be lying if he said he wasn't still on the fence about it, just a little. but it is what it is; they're short on options and short on time. dragging this out will just make matters worse than they are, and ryuji's both seen and suffered enough as it is. the last thing he wants is someone who's finally on his side to get dragged and pulled under too. whether or not they're the only ones struggling against the current, they'll have to fight. ]
[ Is it that obvious that he's uneasy? Akira's developed quite a poker face, but he does naturally let it slip a little around those he trusts. He considers tightening his guard a bit, just for a moment, before the comfort that comes with Ryuji's familiar, boisterous reassurance is literally whacked into him. After a moment, Akira resets his shoulders into the usual slouch, a little less tension in them, and huffs out a small laugh. ]
Thanks.
[ And just like that, Ryuji acquiesces, leaving behind his indecision, at least the outward traces. Akira would like to think it's trust, but those months of shared history exist only in his memories now; likely he's just accepting the lack of options on the table. They are well and truly backed into a corner, and if they don't act soon, that space will only tighten with the threat of expulsion. Even if they manage to stop the inciting incident today, it's only a matter of time before Kamoshida tries to get rid of them. ]
Let's go back there to—
[ His suggestion is cut short by the sudden clamp of his mouth. Akira thinks for a moment that he was only imagining the sound of footsteps on the other side of the rooftop door, but then it opens with a creak.
A familiar figure begins to step through, gaze shifting from over her shoulder as if just checking behind her, only to land on the two of them. Shiho Suzui pauses, the glumness of her expression giving way to something markedly more disconcerted at the sight of others on the roof. "Oh, sorry..." She apologizes with a forced smile, like she just walked in on a diligent study session, not two delinquents cutting class. "I was just... looking for someone. Don't mind me."
Not a particularly convincing lie, but it's not like she can state why she was really up here. She ducks her head a little, expression downcast, and turns to head back through the doors. Crisis averted—but Akira knows that it might not be enough to shake her resolve, only delay it. Instinct takes over and opens his mouth. ]
Hey, wait. You can stay if you need a breather. [ Better to just ignore the flimsy excuse than to back her into a corner over it. ] The roof's big enough for three.
[ He casts a glance towards Ryuji, eyebrows raised behind his mess of hair, subtly beseeching. Please, for the love of all the shitty gods that apparently love to screw Akira over, let him read the vibes correctly and not think this is a misguided attempt to hit on this poor girl or something. ]
[ it's a little of column a, a little of column b. when it comes down to it, how can ryuji not have at least a basic level of trust towards the guy who quite literally pulled his fat out of the fire? with no questions asked, his resolve firm and steel in his eyes (which should probably freak ryuji out more than it has so far), this frightening and notorious transfer student's done a lot more for shujin already in the last couple of days than ryuji's seen his whole time here. that's worth something, a hell of a lot.
chances are that no one's ever going to know the real story, though. then again, no one'll know them about akira, either, so it's just as well. there's no way these rumors are all true...anyone willing to stick their necks out like this can't possibly be a genuine criminal.
there's nothing for it right now. they can both worry about things like reputation and societal standing once they've gotten their business out of the way. business, a mission, a real and solid goal to work towards and bring this king of his not-so-metaphorical castle down. ryuji's getting jumpy just thinking about it, all puffed up while akira's ready to lead the way. he can't possibly concentrate in class for the rest of the day any more than he has. once the bell's rung and everyone's packed up, cleaned up and dispersed, maybe they can track down that cat and get around to— ]
Woah—
[ shit! it's mid-morning and ryuji completely forgot how much higher the odds are of the staff snooping up here than when it's after hours. they should have blocked the door, not been so out in the open, or something. someone's on their way to bust them for sure; the boys shouldn't have wasted so much time when they're expected back in their regular classrooms.
should they run? ryuji's rusty, still, but he's made his mind up long before the door opens all the way. it takes a faintly-familiar voice to throw off his clumsy stride, stumbling in what hopefully looks like surprise. without akira here he'd fall flat on his face for sure. ]
Eh? [ looking for someone? he blinks at akira, then back to...what was her name again? takamaki's friend, right? ] Whaddya me—
[ akira beats him to it, though not in how ryuji ever expected. what's the deal with inviting a girl into their manly private affair? they shouldn't just brush her off, no, but if she's up here for a reason, maybe one of them should at least— ]
—?
[ crap. akira's looking at him. really looking at him, as if expecting him to play along with...what, exactly? does he know something ryuji doesn't? that'd be business as usual on a normal day, but the tension in the air's gotten awfully thick all of a sudden.
actually... ]
... [ oh. now that ryuji's getting a better look at her, he can see why he couldn't really recognize suzui at first glance. her face, and her swollen eye especially is, well... ] Holy shit, dude, what happened to you...?
[ and this is why ryuji can't pick up girls. crass language aside, he doesn't mean to stare at the girl, mouth agape, but this is beyond vile. even he can put two and two together now on both the causes and the culprit of how she's gotten so beaten and battered. it's turning his restless energy sour, and before everyone else can get another word in, he's got a fist balling up.
ryuji doesn't need to hear a real explanation. all signs point to kamoshida. ]
[ Well, it could be worse. Suzui flinches subtly at the tactless question, but she doesn't run away. Relief flits through Akira's mind; a moment later, he feels silly for even doubting. Ryuji always comes through when it really matters, doesn't he? Even here and now, he can count on that.
She's saying something, another flimsy lie about how injuries during the practices before a big tournament are just part of the deal. Play hard, and all of that, but the two boys are well aware of the true culprit. It makes Akira sick, and judging by the surly expression on Ryuji's face, he feels about the same.
A thought occurs to him right then. Rather than let Ryuji go off, he shifts his bag in front of him and begins rifling through it in search of something. Luckily, with his nifty little gift of clairvoyance, Akira's been stocking up on the essentials for their inevitable trips to the Metaverse: drinks, snacks, tools, and (most importantly) medical supplies. While he might not yet have the funds nor enough of Doctor Takemi's trust to buy the heavy-duty stuff, even her basic ointments are nothing to sneeze at. He finds the tube, along with a couple of bandages, and offers them to her. ]
Here. This stuff is pretty effective.
[ There's clear hesitation on her part—and for once, it's not because he's the oh-so-scary transfer student—but Suzui is, thankfully, a fairly obliging person, at least when caught in a situation like this. She steps forward to accept the supplies with a murmur of gratitude. Akira relinquishes them with a few more words. ]
Keep holding on. [ A pause as he picks over the thoughts in his head, trying to figure out how to phrase his reassurances. It is, after all, a girl's wellbeing at stake. ] If you can endure it a little longer, things will get better.
[ There. Hopefully it's unambiguous enough that it doesn't sound like baseless platitudes, without being so pointed that it sounds like they plan on jumping Kamoshida after the last bell. Not that he thinks she would really mind the latter, all things considered. Best not to implicate themselves when they're already on some seriously thin ice, though.
Akira doesn't crack a smile or anything like that, but he does turn his gaze back to Ryuji, looking for a little more of that backing. ]
[ ryuji knows these cues, these subtle signs like the back of his hand. he's more perceptive than his peers tend to give him credit for, and for as much as he wants to hurtle downstairs and clobber the volleyball coach senseless, he also doesn't want to subject suzui to any of that, no matter how small of a glimpse into his rage it may be. akira too, really, though he's had a front-row seat already to how low the depths of his new friend's anger can go.
still, he was raised better than this. to cause a scene now would prove everyone right, prove he's turned out just like—
no, never mind. there's bigger issues at hand here, and ryuji's got to focus.
akira has the right idea, anyway, full of gestures of goodwill ryuji never would have thought of. it turns out he's full of a lot of things, actually; although it's there and gone in a second, ryuji swears he's seeing more in akira's schoolbag than all his books and daily essentials. he's not stocking up for the palace, is he? was his mind made up long before this was brought to his attention today?
as expected of a leader. all these and more leave ryuji's mouth clamped shut, and he blinks stupidly at the exchange while his mind catches up. he's only half-listening, jerking upright once he's the center of attention again. sorry, akira. he'll catch on. ]
Er, yeah...
[ the sweaty palm rubbing the back of his own neck is nothing short of sheepish, but ryuji's following along. mostly. he really is staking it all on charging through this castle of kamoshida's, huh...
if their minds weren't otherwise made up, it would be now. for suzui, the rest of the volleyball team, for all of shujin, they've got to do it. this can't get any more widespread than it has. ]
[ While it may not be overflowing with confidence, the affirmation seems to be enough. Suzui gives them a small but more genuine smile before excusing herself. This time, Akira lets her disappear through the doorway. He gets the sense that their reassurances haven't fallen on deaf ears; it may only buy them a short time to resolve her problems, but that's all they need.
When the tension bleeds out of him, it leaves him feeling spent, like he's just come to the end of an exercise session with Ryuji. (They should do those again. Maybe he should be the one to suggest it?) But exhaustion is something Akira is used to hiding, so aside from the subtle softening of his bearing, shoulders slumping gently, he doesn't display much of it.
After a beat of silence, he picks up that lost thread of thought from before Suzui joined them on the rooftop. ]
Let's go today.
[ He's prepared for it, both in supplies and mental state. And today's the day Ann joined them, isn't it? Without the suicide attempt acting as a catalyst, things won't play out the same, but she still has plenty of reasons to want Kamoshida out of the picture. ]
[ all or nothing, then. not only is akira's determination contagious, but it's one of the core tenets that'll help to keep his ragtag group going and growing alike in the weeks to come.
and come they do: the impulsive leap into kamoshida's castle quickly snowballs into a full-blown heist. between everyone's extensive planning and akira's—well, joker's—seemingly bottomless well of supplies, this too plays out in what practically feels like no time at all. on paper it's fantastic news, an outcome more than worthy of celebration, but it leaves ryuji feeling...antsy, anxious, ready for more action that morgana constantly chides him isn't around the corner just yet.
he can't help it! this phantom thief thing is a blast, and kamoshida's confession has helped to clear the names of shujin academy's star athletes, suzui, even ann, to name a few. why stop at their school and leave this as a one-time thing when there's so much more they could be doing? thinking of the good their team can do and the uses they can be put to brings such a huge spring to ryuji's step, he doesn't need to blame his clumsiness on his bum leg anymore.
now's not the time to worry about any of those, though. golden week is wrapping up, shujin's unsung saviors have just become thirty-thousand yen richer (supposedly; ann said their fearless leader has everything well-in-hand, and there's no reason for ryuji to doubt that one), and they've got every excuse to party hard, as it were.
he knows he's probably killing ann's vibe while they both lie in wait for the man of the hour to arrive. it's not as if he skipped breakfast on purpose, or anything...or is itching just to be out, to be active, to be close again with the guy who's dragged them all into and through this. it's not something ryuji can really put into words, a gut feeling which has only just begun to bloom since the mission's over and the dust has settled.
akira's just...for lack of a better way to phrase it...a really likable dude.
look, it's a work in progress, there's been a lot going on, cut ryuji some slack.
speaking of the devil, ryuji's up on his feet and rushing over to greet him the instant he spies that frizzy mop of hair out in the crowd. any and all of ann's complaints as she lags behind him sail straight through one ear and out the other. once he eventually realizes it he'll make it up to her later on. teammate or no, she's not the stuck-up and strange girl everyone else (used to) say she is, and ryuji does kind-of-sort-of owe her. on a technicality. from middle school. nothing to worry about. ]
All right—! Now the party's really gettin' started in here!
[ a sliver of shibuya now knows it, too. no apologies. ryuji's pumped, beaming brighter than sunshine, which might be a bit of a stark contrast to his next move, considering: ]
Hey, so like...you've got it, right? [ not suspicious at all, the way he crowds in next to akira in front of ann, the shibuya crossing, god and everyone— ] You know...
[ the money. he's talking about the money, their actual meal ticket, the fruits of their labor, of course. never mind ann rolling her eyes next to them, the muttered oh my god underneath her breath. it's cool. everything's cool! ryuji just wants to make sure everything's on the level. ]
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Or he did, until he is. Turns out, being forced to relive the most insane period of his life is not all it's cracked up to be.
It goes like this: The night before his scheduled departure from Tokyo, Akira settles into sleep with one thought in mind. When he awakes, that wish is fulfilled in the most unbelievable way possible—no, he didn't have to leave Tokyo because he's on a train into the city. The same one he rode in on almost a year ago. An impossible date mocks him from the screen of his phone, as do the giggling voices of schoolgirls discussing mysterious mental shutdowns.
What the hell is going on?
It would funny were it not so distressing. Unsettling feelings of deja vu plague him at every turn, but apparently he's the only one feeling it. Sojiro does not recognize him. Neither does Miss Kawakami, nor Ryuji, nor Ann, nor (thankfully) Kamoshida. Not even Morgana. The prison warden smirks irritatingly at him in his dreams, inscrutable as ever. Akira hates it.
So he does what he always does: He rolls with it. There are some differences, subtle things that stick in his thoughts and make his brain itch, but isn't that to be expected? He's not the same person he was the first time around. Besides, it's nothing major, and that's probably for the best right now. Any advantage he has by knowing what's to come may be lost if he makes too big of a movement. Something about a single flap of a butterfly's wings, and so on.
That approach doesn't last long. Akira is quietly peering out the window between class periods when it hits him: Today is the day. The day Shiho Shizui jumped. How could he forget?
He's out of his seat before he can think about the potential ramifications of stopping her. There's a spike in the chatter behind him as he breezes out into the hall, but what's the point in trying to explain himself? He's the delinquent transfer student, walking out of the classroom minutes before the next class begins. They wouldn't believe him even if he tried.
Trying to find her is a waste of time when he's almost certain of where she'll end up. Akira heads for the rooftop. Halfway up the stairs, it occurs to him that he probably should've dragged Ann along. It's too late for that now, so he pulls out his phone and texts the next best person. ]
Meet me on the roof ASAP. It's important.
[ Ryuji mentioned that he knew both Ann and Suzui in middle school, so she might be willing to listen to him. Hoping the urgency will carry through in text, Akira pushes open the door to the roof and looks around. ]
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[ akira isn't the only one who's got a shit ton of things on his mind around here. compared to him, though, ryuji doesn't have very much room for anything else past finding a way to get back at one suguru kamoshida. yeah, he's interested as hell about these new powers of his—ones which match akira's, from the sound of it, something he still doesn't fully understand—and this so-called other world they can access now, not to mention the guy who's gotten him caught up in it in the first place. but none of it's going to make much of a difference if they're not able to topple the king from his throne, so to speak. what else can they do if none of shujin's student body is going to cooperate with them?
it's frustrating, to say the least. more so since ryuji's vowed he'd keep searching for another alternative to what few options they have at hand. is what that damn cat said for real, anyway? getting rid of his distorted desires, whatever that's supposed to mean...would taking the risk of endangering shujin academy's celebrity coach, and themselves to boot, really be the right call here? ryuji's practically always seeing red at the sight of him, more than he can say for most people, yet even he's got to draw the line somewhere, right? he's had no shortage of mistaken labels heaped onto him without his consent nowadays, and he doesn't plan on adding scumbag to the list anytime soon. hopefully not ever, if he's got anything to say about it.
unfortunately he's coming up short every single time. there's one last lead he's on the fence of throwing out there or not, equally at odds over whether or not it's worth shooting in akira's direction. for someone with a supposed criminal record, he doesn't seem like a bad dude at all. if he's true to his word, he's gotten set up from the start. what a load of bullshit; they really are in the same boat in that regard, set up by rotten adults who were ready and waiting to take them down as soon as they spied an opportunity.
opportunities... hell, ryuji may as well fish out his phone and offer up his final theory, then. either it'll get them nowhere and they'll be back to the drawing board once again, or they'll finally carve out an opportunity of their own, a chance to strike back (and outsmart morgana in one fell swoop, take that, you furball).
that's the plan, but akira's already beaten him to it. sort of. ]
Huh?
[ ryuji squints at his phone screen, hardly paying attention to whatever the teacher at the front of the classroom's going on about. what's akira got to say that's so important he can't just put it in the chat right away? he hasn't come across as much of the talkative type, no, but he hasn't pulled his punches yet either. guy's got courage, a real lion's heart, something ryuji can't help to respect, all things considered.
better get a reply out while he can. asap is serious business, isn't it? ]
For real?
Don't tell me you're thinking of ditching class too!
[ not that ryuji's one to talk, nor somebody's example to follow. regardless, he's got to think fast, got to come up with a way on short notice to get out of class and into the hallways, fast. ]
Just gimme five minutes, tops.
[ here comes the tricky part: talking the teacher into being let loose. it takes a solid two minutes of convincing, and so long as ryuji hustles, it definitely won't take him three more to leap each stair two at a time and sneak his way up onto the roof.
if it's off limits, how come you can get up here so easily, anyway? ]
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Ryuji is on his way. Another fraction of weight lifts off Akira's chest. Sure, he might think this is just about skipping class, but he's coming. If it were his Ryuji, he would've realized something's up the moment chronically lazy texter Akira contacted him first, but this one doesn't know him that well yet.
—Wait, his Ryuji? It's probably best if he doesn't think about it like that. Besides, it's not like they're different people.
Exhaling softly, he settles down into one of the abandoned chairs littering the rooftop. This place is full of memories, isn't it? Ones that haven't even happened yet. Ones that might not happen again. Weird to think about it like that.
Luckily, he doesn't have to think for long. The door creaks open, announcing the arrival of another. Akira looks up with anticipation—and sure enough, there's a familiar blond head emerging into the daylight. ]
Hey. [ Hanging out on the roof like this, he probably does look like he just wanted to play hooky. A good thing, considering he didn't really prepare a convincing excuse for why he all but demanded Ryuji join him. ]
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[ to be fair, bits and pieces of this don't quite add up for ryuji, if only because he's stumped on what possibly could've coerced akira into this sudden change of heart. just yesterday he spoke of his probation, the honest student life he aspired to maintain. the wry manner of his deliver and the small upward quirk to his lips made it all sound like a joke which sailed straight over ryuji's head. better to laugh in the face of danger than bend to it, he supposes, but it's beyond him what's so funny about this entire situation.
here, it's no different. ryuji's looking around, hands wedged deep into his pockets. nothing at first glance appears out of the ordinary, and it was the same story on his way up here. it's just another school day, minus the secrets the two of them have shared so far.
is that what this is about? something about personas akira doesn't want anyone to see in case their phones end up in the wrong hands? it figures that he's overly cautious; ryuji can't fault him for it, given the thin ice he's treading on. plus, he's got no family here, no friends, no one else he can trust yet. like it or not, ryuji's all akira has, at least for the time being.
no pressure. ]
Yo. I can't focus, either...
[ who knows what the real answer is? ryuji's just going to keep running with the assumption that he and akira are of one mind, playing the parts they've been pinned as to turn into bona fide troublemakers. may as well start by cutting class early and working their way up. here's hoping ms. sakamoto won't find out about it, anyway. ]
I keep thinkin' about what that furball told us. I know there's only so much we can do about Kamoshida and all, but do we really gotta go along with what he's planning? How are you even suppose to steal someone's—
[ ryuji trails off. he's not sure what's stopped him in his tracks exactly, but the way akira is looking at him is a little...ah... ]
—hey, uh. You good?
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Much more important is the situation at hand. His attention is only half-tuned to Ryuji's musings, gaze slipping over to the door every now and then to check for signs of another. The distraction must show on his face, but if not, it's certainly obvious now when it takes a second for his eyes to actually focus on Ryuji again after the concerned prompt. ]
Ah, uh—yeah. Just thinking...
[ He provided a good excuse. Akira hasn't really thought about what they should do because, well, he knows the answer already. But from Ryuji's perspective, he should be considering the options, shouldn't he? Tugging at a lock of hair, he elaborates. ]
... I think we should trust him. You said it yourself, there's only so much we can do about Kamoshida. [ There's no other way to solve this, and Ryuji must know that. Kamoshida is basically untouchable in the real world, especially for them. ] No one out here is going to stand up to him, but we can't just let him do whatever he wants.
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[ from ryuji's perspective, akira's quickly becoming a man of many faces, yet another thing he isn't entirely sure how to field.
it won't stop him from trying, though. to the untrained eye akira looks outwardly nervous, exceedingly so, and who better to give him a healthy dose of reassurance than his newfound partner in crime? how's that saying go, you have to fake it until you make it? they'll both be a couple of fakers here, then. ]
Relax, man. No one's gonna know we're here. The roof's the last place they'll ever look once they figure out we're playing hooky.
[ for good measure, ryuji slaps akira across the shoulder. the stumbling, wobbling should probably faze him more than it does. looks like somebody doesn't know their own strength. ]
Guess you're right, though. We'll just have to do whatever it takes.
[ ryuji'd be lying if he said he wasn't still on the fence about it, just a little. but it is what it is; they're short on options and short on time. dragging this out will just make matters worse than they are, and ryuji's both seen and suffered enough as it is. the last thing he wants is someone who's finally on his side to get dragged and pulled under too. whether or not they're the only ones struggling against the current, they'll have to fight. ]
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Thanks.
[ And just like that, Ryuji acquiesces, leaving behind his indecision, at least the outward traces. Akira would like to think it's trust, but those months of shared history exist only in his memories now; likely he's just accepting the lack of options on the table. They are well and truly backed into a corner, and if they don't act soon, that space will only tighten with the threat of expulsion. Even if they manage to stop the inciting incident today, it's only a matter of time before Kamoshida tries to get rid of them. ]
Let's go back there to—
[ His suggestion is cut short by the sudden clamp of his mouth. Akira thinks for a moment that he was only imagining the sound of footsteps on the other side of the rooftop door, but then it opens with a creak.
A familiar figure begins to step through, gaze shifting from over her shoulder as if just checking behind her, only to land on the two of them. Shiho Suzui pauses, the glumness of her expression giving way to something markedly more disconcerted at the sight of others on the roof. "Oh, sorry..." She apologizes with a forced smile, like she just walked in on a diligent study session, not two delinquents cutting class. "I was just... looking for someone. Don't mind me."
Not a particularly convincing lie, but it's not like she can state why she was really up here. She ducks her head a little, expression downcast, and turns to head back through the doors. Crisis averted—but Akira knows that it might not be enough to shake her resolve, only delay it. Instinct takes over and opens his mouth. ]
Hey, wait. You can stay if you need a breather. [ Better to just ignore the flimsy excuse than to back her into a corner over it. ] The roof's big enough for three.
[ He casts a glance towards Ryuji, eyebrows raised behind his mess of hair, subtly beseeching. Please, for the love of all the shitty gods that apparently love to screw Akira over, let him read the vibes correctly and not think this is a misguided attempt to hit on this poor girl or something. ]
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[ it's a little of column a, a little of column b. when it comes down to it, how can ryuji not have at least a basic level of trust towards the guy who quite literally pulled his fat out of the fire? with no questions asked, his resolve firm and steel in his eyes (which should probably freak ryuji out more than it has so far), this frightening and notorious transfer student's done a lot more for shujin already in the last couple of days than ryuji's seen his whole time here. that's worth something, a hell of a lot.
chances are that no one's ever going to know the real story, though. then again, no one'll know them about akira, either, so it's just as well. there's no way these rumors are all true...anyone willing to stick their necks out like this can't possibly be a genuine criminal.
there's nothing for it right now. they can both worry about things like reputation and societal standing once they've gotten their business out of the way. business, a mission, a real and solid goal to work towards and bring this king of his not-so-metaphorical castle down. ryuji's getting jumpy just thinking about it, all puffed up while akira's ready to lead the way. he can't possibly concentrate in class for the rest of the day any more than he has. once the bell's rung and everyone's packed up, cleaned up and dispersed, maybe they can track down that cat and get around to— ]
Woah—
[ shit! it's mid-morning and ryuji completely forgot how much higher the odds are of the staff snooping up here than when it's after hours. they should have blocked the door, not been so out in the open, or something. someone's on their way to bust them for sure; the boys shouldn't have wasted so much time when they're expected back in their regular classrooms.
should they run? ryuji's rusty, still, but he's made his mind up long before the door opens all the way. it takes a faintly-familiar voice to throw off his clumsy stride, stumbling in what hopefully looks like surprise. without akira here he'd fall flat on his face for sure. ]
Eh? [ looking for someone? he blinks at akira, then back to...what was her name again? takamaki's friend, right? ] Whaddya me—
[ akira beats him to it, though not in how ryuji ever expected. what's the deal with inviting a girl into their manly private affair? they shouldn't just brush her off, no, but if she's up here for a reason, maybe one of them should at least— ]
—?
[ crap. akira's looking at him. really looking at him, as if expecting him to play along with...what, exactly? does he know something ryuji doesn't? that'd be business as usual on a normal day, but the tension in the air's gotten awfully thick all of a sudden.
actually... ]
... [ oh. now that ryuji's getting a better look at her, he can see why he couldn't really recognize suzui at first glance. her face, and her swollen eye especially is, well... ] Holy shit, dude, what happened to you...?
[ and this is why ryuji can't pick up girls. crass language aside, he doesn't mean to stare at the girl, mouth agape, but this is beyond vile. even he can put two and two together now on both the causes and the culprit of how she's gotten so beaten and battered. it's turning his restless energy sour, and before everyone else can get another word in, he's got a fist balling up.
ryuji doesn't need to hear a real explanation. all signs point to kamoshida. ]
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She's saying something, another flimsy lie about how injuries during the practices before a big tournament are just part of the deal. Play hard, and all of that, but the two boys are well aware of the true culprit. It makes Akira sick, and judging by the surly expression on Ryuji's face, he feels about the same.
A thought occurs to him right then. Rather than let Ryuji go off, he shifts his bag in front of him and begins rifling through it in search of something. Luckily, with his nifty little gift of clairvoyance, Akira's been stocking up on the essentials for their inevitable trips to the Metaverse: drinks, snacks, tools, and (most importantly) medical supplies. While he might not yet have the funds nor enough of Doctor Takemi's trust to buy the heavy-duty stuff, even her basic ointments are nothing to sneeze at. He finds the tube, along with a couple of bandages, and offers them to her. ]
Here. This stuff is pretty effective.
[ There's clear hesitation on her part—and for once, it's not because he's the oh-so-scary transfer student—but Suzui is, thankfully, a fairly obliging person, at least when caught in a situation like this. She steps forward to accept the supplies with a murmur of gratitude. Akira relinquishes them with a few more words. ]
Keep holding on. [ A pause as he picks over the thoughts in his head, trying to figure out how to phrase his reassurances. It is, after all, a girl's wellbeing at stake. ] If you can endure it a little longer, things will get better.
[ There. Hopefully it's unambiguous enough that it doesn't sound like baseless platitudes, without being so pointed that it sounds like they plan on jumping Kamoshida after the last bell. Not that he thinks she would really mind the latter, all things considered. Best not to implicate themselves when they're already on some seriously thin ice, though.
Akira doesn't crack a smile or anything like that, but he does turn his gaze back to Ryuji, looking for a little more of that backing. ]
Right?
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[ ryuji knows these cues, these subtle signs like the back of his hand. he's more perceptive than his peers tend to give him credit for, and for as much as he wants to hurtle downstairs and clobber the volleyball coach senseless, he also doesn't want to subject suzui to any of that, no matter how small of a glimpse into his rage it may be. akira too, really, though he's had a front-row seat already to how low the depths of his new friend's anger can go.
still, he was raised better than this. to cause a scene now would prove everyone right, prove he's turned out just like—
no, never mind. there's bigger issues at hand here, and ryuji's got to focus.
akira has the right idea, anyway, full of gestures of goodwill ryuji never would have thought of. it turns out he's full of a lot of things, actually; although it's there and gone in a second, ryuji swears he's seeing more in akira's schoolbag than all his books and daily essentials. he's not stocking up for the palace, is he? was his mind made up long before this was brought to his attention today?
as expected of a leader. all these and more leave ryuji's mouth clamped shut, and he blinks stupidly at the exchange while his mind catches up. he's only half-listening, jerking upright once he's the center of attention again. sorry, akira. he'll catch on. ]
Er, yeah...
[ the sweaty palm rubbing the back of his own neck is nothing short of sheepish, but ryuji's following along. mostly. he really is staking it all on charging through this castle of kamoshida's, huh...
if their minds weren't otherwise made up, it would be now. for suzui, the rest of the volleyball team, for all of shujin, they've got to do it. this can't get any more widespread than it has. ]
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When the tension bleeds out of him, it leaves him feeling spent, like he's just come to the end of an exercise session with Ryuji. (They should do those again. Maybe he should be the one to suggest it?) But exhaustion is something Akira is used to hiding, so aside from the subtle softening of his bearing, shoulders slumping gently, he doesn't display much of it.
After a beat of silence, he picks up that lost thread of thought from before Suzui joined them on the rooftop. ]
Let's go today.
[ He's prepared for it, both in supplies and mental state. And today's the day Ann joined them, isn't it? Without the suicide attempt acting as a catalyst, things won't play out the same, but she still has plenty of reasons to want Kamoshida out of the picture. ]
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[ all or nothing, then. not only is akira's determination contagious, but it's one of the core tenets that'll help to keep his ragtag group going and growing alike in the weeks to come.
and come they do: the impulsive leap into kamoshida's castle quickly snowballs into a full-blown heist. between everyone's extensive planning and akira's—well, joker's—seemingly bottomless well of supplies, this too plays out in what practically feels like no time at all. on paper it's fantastic news, an outcome more than worthy of celebration, but it leaves ryuji feeling...antsy, anxious, ready for more action that morgana constantly chides him isn't around the corner just yet.
he can't help it! this phantom thief thing is a blast, and kamoshida's confession has helped to clear the names of shujin academy's star athletes, suzui, even ann, to name a few. why stop at their school and leave this as a one-time thing when there's so much more they could be doing? thinking of the good their team can do and the uses they can be put to brings such a huge spring to ryuji's step, he doesn't need to blame his clumsiness on his bum leg anymore.
now's not the time to worry about any of those, though. golden week is wrapping up, shujin's unsung saviors have just become thirty-thousand yen richer (supposedly; ann said their fearless leader has everything well-in-hand, and there's no reason for ryuji to doubt that one), and they've got every excuse to party hard, as it were.
he knows he's probably killing ann's vibe while they both lie in wait for the man of the hour to arrive. it's not as if he skipped breakfast on purpose, or anything...or is itching just to be out, to be active, to be close again with the guy who's dragged them all into and through this. it's not something ryuji can really put into words, a gut feeling which has only just begun to bloom since the mission's over and the dust has settled.
akira's just...for lack of a better way to phrase it...a really likable dude.
look, it's a work in progress, there's been a lot going on, cut ryuji some slack.
speaking of the devil, ryuji's up on his feet and rushing over to greet him the instant he spies that frizzy mop of hair out in the crowd. any and all of ann's complaints as she lags behind him sail straight through one ear and out the other. once he eventually realizes it he'll make it up to her later on. teammate or no, she's not the stuck-up and strange girl everyone else (used to) say she is, and ryuji does kind-of-sort-of owe her. on a technicality. from middle school. nothing to worry about. ]
All right—! Now the party's really gettin' started in here!
[ a sliver of shibuya now knows it, too. no apologies. ryuji's pumped, beaming brighter than sunshine, which might be a bit of a stark contrast to his next move, considering: ]
Hey, so like...you've got it, right? [ not suspicious at all, the way he crowds in next to akira in front of ann, the shibuya crossing, god and everyone— ] You know...
[ the money. he's talking about the money, their actual meal ticket, the fruits of their labor, of course. never mind ann rolling her eyes next to them, the muttered oh my god underneath her breath. it's cool. everything's cool! ryuji just wants to make sure everything's on the level. ]