4/9

I open my eyes and hear a train announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for riding with us today. We will be arriving in Shibuya shortly. This is the last stop of this line. Please transfer here for all subway lines. The doors to your left will open."

A horn blares as I recall the scene that sent me here to start with. A girl was being manhandled by a drunk guy. She was in tears and struggling as her life depended on it. I can't just let this be. I grabbed the drunk man's shoulder and gave a slight push away. He suddenly fell and the woman looked on in horror. In shock, I just look at my hands. "Damn brat! I'll sue!" The next moment was me getting arrested. My mind blanked after that. The only thing that burned into my brain was my parent's mortified faces. They believed I did it.

I return to me on the train by overhearing girls having a loud conversation. Something about mental shutdowns and occult shit. I don't think I should worry about it. It doesn't relate to me. The train stops and I follow everyone off the train. It leads me to an open area within Shibuya. Holy shit, I hope I don't get lost. What was the name of the line I need to take? I took notes on my phone. Huh? What the fuck is the eyeball looking thing? Whatever it is, it's creepy as fuck. I tap on it as the logo just expands.

Just then, everyone stopped. There was nothing but silence. In the distance, there was a giant fire. I looked closer and saw that there was a woman in the fire. Then it changed to my face with yellow eyes. After that, everyone started moving again. OK, that was some weird shit. Looking back on my phone, it was back to normal. I swiped the eyeball-app to delete it. I opened my notes app and found out which line I needed to take. 'Yongan-Jaya'. I've heard about this place. Isn't it the backstreets? Either way, I finally found out where it was and took the train to go to Yongen-Jaya.

Time passed, and I made it to Yongen-Jaya station. Walking up, I opened my notes app again and read the place where it was. It was in a residential area, with the house belonging to a 'Sojiro Sakura'. Hmm, maybe I should ask that officer over there. "Um, excuse me, sir? Do you know where this house is?" I ask and I show him the note. "'Sojiro Sakura'? Just walk down here and take the second right. Right after the apartment with stairs. Is that all?" He seemed harsh while talking. I bow and followed the cop's directions.

On the way there, An old man was listening to the radio, something about the newer generation, I wasn't listening and he seemed pissed. A girl asked her mother about an accident that happened, but I pay no mind to it. I find a house that has the nameplate with 'Sakura' engraved on it. With no emotion, I press the doorbell which silence only followed. "Looks like no one's home..." I turn around and see a mailman

"Oh yeah... Sakura~San's usually at his cafe around this time. Well, Leblanc's in the back alley so I should make my other deliveries first... mmm, next I need to take this package too..." He trails off while reading his clipboard. Did he say, Leblanc? I go out of the residential area and find a cafe named Leblanc. It didn't take too long though. I enter and see an old couple at a booth, watching the news, and a man doing a crossword.

The news was as boring as ever so I didn't pay much attention to it. "How frightening." the old man said and I gasped. I looked at the T.V. and the title of the news was there. 'Bus Driver Psychotic Breakdown! Many Lives In Danger!'. Holy shit. "What could be going on? Didn't something like that happen the other day? " The old lady piped and that made me shocked. This is an occurring thing? Holy fuck... "Vertical is... the name for a shellfish used for farming pearls..." The man with the crossword thinks openly, "...Oh right. They did say it was today." He looks at me as the old couple leaves.

"... Four hours for just a single cup of joe. So you're Akano Kurusu huh? Red hair, waist-length hair, black eyes, soft face shape, glasses, are you Akano?" He had to mention my looks. I mean, he's not wrong but maybe he only got a description orally. Must be Sojiro Sakura. "Please take care of me." I bow at him and he seemed shocked at my gesture. "...Uh-huh. I'm Sojiro Sakura. You'll be in my custody over the next year. I was wondering what unruly kid would show up, but you're the one, huh? I guess that appearances don't matter in terms of actions." I know I look innocent and I have a criminal record, but I thought you knew that already.

"Have you been told? A customer of mine and your parents know each other and-" Sojiro stops. Wait, the only reason I'm here is that my parents are friends with one of your regulars? This is the most bullshit reason to take me in. But at least I got accepted... "Well, not that that matters... Follow me." He walks upstairs and I follow. Am I living in an attic? Better be roomy and have that 'Britain' feel. Oh, you don't know? I lived in England for half my life, with my uncle (who was Chinese European) and my aunt (who was Japanese). I learned how to speak English, Chinese, and Greek there while also mostly influenced by Japanese culture and language.

Sojiro opens the door and reveals a big, rustic, dusty attic. Well, it does have a 'Britain' feel to it so I guess that's a plus. "This is your room. I at least got you sheets for your bed." He turns around and sees me gaping at the room. "You look like you want to say something..." Sojiro looks at me with a look saying, 'tell me now.', "It's bigger than I thought it was going to be..." I stop looking around the room and looked at Sojiro. "It's on you to clean up the rest. Anyway, I'll be leaving after I lock up each day. You'll be alone at night, but don't do anything stupid. I'll throw you out if you cause any trouble." Well, I'm not going to do anything stupid. I'll do my own thing. "Yes, sir." I bow slightly as he nods.

"Now then... I got the gist of your situation." Oh god, another person that I did a stupid thing. Here we go. "You protected some woman from a man forcing himself on her, he got injured, the sued you. Right?" I nod as Sojiro sighs. "That's what you got for sticking your nose in a matter of two adults. You did injure him, yeah? ...And now that you got a criminal record, you were expelled from your high school. The courts ordered you to transfer and move out here, which your parents also approved. In other words, they got rid of you for being a pain in the ass." Yeah, yeah, same old story. I still find it unbelievable that my parents thought I was in the wrong. Now I got a parole officer named Kenny, who is a fuckboy, who is also a friend of my dad.

"It's best not to say anything unnecessary. I am in the restaurant business, you know. Behave yourself for the year. If nothing happens, your probation will be lifted." "A whole year, huh? Government sure as hell fucked up my life. Even after this probation is over, I will only be a mailman." I chuckle as he looks at me with a pitiful look. "Just to keep you in the loop, you will be sent to juvie if you cause any problems. We'll be going to Shujin tomorrow as well." "Shujin?" Tilting my head, he sighs yet again, "Shujin Academy - the school you'll be attending. We'll introduce ourselves properly to the staff there. There's rarely a place that'll accept someone like you, you know. What a waste of my Sunday" He drones on and leaves.

Thank God, I was getting tired of being reminded of that event. I just want to go to Europe and be with my aunt and uncle. Nothing good came from coming to Japan. Except for Akari and Akiro. Akari is my little sister and she is so cute. She has long black hair and black eyes, like me before I dyed my hair, and she was up to my hips in height. Akiro is a friend I was able to make here. We treat each other like brother and sister and Akari does the same. When the event was retold by the cops, they were in denial, saying I would never do that. They're the reason why I'm still here, what was upsetting was that they couldn't come to Shibuya with me.

But I guess I have to deal with it. Even though my future, reputation and, dreams were taken away from me, I guess I have to suck it up and deal with all this shit on my back. Gah! No time for thinking about this stuff. This room needs to be tidied up, and Casper ain't going to do it. Before that, I should get out of the Shujin Academy uniform before I get it ruined from all the dust and soot everywhere. Sojiro said my luggage arrived in the box in the room, that one? Meh, I'll find out. Opening the box, the first things that are made apparent is my clothes.

Rummaging through, I find a white knitted sweater, a plaid skirt, and black stockings. These are the clothes I got from a friend of mine from England, Nicole Everleigh, who wanted to be a fashion designer. She made these for me a month before I left, saying these clothes were made by her mother and the reason why she wanted to be a fashion designer. The next day she was put in the hospital. She had a disease called 'Friedreich's Ataxia' which was incurable, but manageable. She past away not too long after. She had long red hair that ended at the middle of her thighs, blue eyes that was bright as the sky, and would always wear a black ribbon in her hair, even if it was against school regulations. Nicole's explanation about it all was elaborate and out of the box. It was, 'I need it so I can have the strength to go on. A reminder of my future in the void'. I never understood it til now.

With a sad smile, I take it out, fold it, and put it back neatly. I am not getting these dirty. After five minutes of looking, I found my over-sized dark blue sweater, white high-waisted ripped jeans, and a white scarf. This may be boring but it suits me. I put them on and I spot a roll of thick black ribbon. What the fuck? I didn't pack that. Wait, black ribbon? No, can't think about it now. Should I do it? You know what, sure. I'll wear it everywhere. I look around and see a pair of scissors, trim it to the length of my forearm, and tied it in my hair as a half ponytail. Now let's get cleaning. No more thinking about the past, I have to get this year over and done with so that I can go back to England and live there.

I should start with mopping. There are a mop and bucket in the corner as well as some bleach that smells like ylang-ylang. It expires next year. Meh, good enough. With this, I start mopping up the floor until it shined and reflected my face. Wait, I have to move my box. Shit. Reluctantly, I lift the box and slipped it onto the bottom shelf. Holy fuck, that was heavy. I look around and the bed caught my eyes. It was also dusty as hell. With a sigh, I walk up to it while gasping on a duster on the side. I used it to dust the bed until it showed clear white sheets. The windows are filled with soot, guess I have to dust those too. I don't know how long this took but the sun had already set. At least it looks better than before.

"What the heck? I heard you making all sorts of noise up here but I didn't think you were cleaning." I turn around to see Sojiro there. "Actually, the place doesn't look too bad." he goes on about how I should go to bed and leaves. It is late. Even though it's Sunday tomorrow, my schedule is full. I really need to make a good impression on the school and the way to a first impression is by looking awake and focused. Now, where're my pajamas? Wait, it's in the box... I have to pull it out again? Shit, it's heavy. With a sigh, I pull it out and start looking through it. Finally, I found it. It was a pink and light blue ombre nightie.

I take my normal clothes off and replace it with the nightie. The nightie had long sleeves, ended above my knees with lace at the bottom and the collar was a white Peter Pan type. With that, I flop on the bed. Tons of thoughts fly through my head. Arrest... Trial... Criminal record... Flashes of that day go through my mind as well as his words. "Damn brat! I'll sue!" Why did this happen to me? Nicole, I'm sorry that you're seeing me like this. I'm weak. I'm hurt. I'm... broken.

*BZZZT. BZZZZZZZZT. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZT.*

Huh? My phone? I reach out towards it and turn it on. Wait, what! Why is that eyeball thing on there? Didn't I delete it!? Well, I don't care. I've got more important things to think about. I'll delete it again and again if I have too. My mind trickles back to that day. I just finished a late meeting with the music club and was on my way home. I wasn't in uniform since, after club meetings, I change into normal clothes so I don't have to worry about it when I get home. I was just two blocks away too when I heard screaming. Rushing towards the scene, I see a man forcing himself on a woman. "Just get in the car!" The man looked drunk, "Stop it!" The woman was fighting as much as she could. I walk in its direction more.

"How dare you cross me!"

"Stop it! Let me go! No..."

"Don't give me that shit..."

"Ow! P-Please, stop...!"

She's in danger... I can't let this go on. With determination in my eyes, I dart closer to them.

"Tch... what a waste of time. You think you're worth causing me trouble? Huh?"

"I-I'll call the police!"

"Heh, call them if you want! The police are my bitches. THey're not gonna take you seriously."

"No... stop...!"

Just then, sirens start flaring off and the man looked annoyed.

"Someone called the cops, huh? Get in the car! Incompetent fools like you just need to shut your mouths and follow where I steer this country!" He turns around and sees me. I put my guard up just in case he tries something.

"...What're you looking at? Get outta my face! This ain't a show. Get lost, kid. See? This is all because you're so goddamn slow! Get in the car!" he turns around to the woman and begins to force her in the car again.

That was all I need just get my rage flying. With a grunt, I pulled on his shoulder to pry him off the woman. Whoever this fucker is, he's a fucking asshole. But, what if I did nothing? Is this really the best outcome for both me and her? Maybe, I read too much into the situation? No! Whatever the situation was, that act is unforgivable. Forcefully pushing anyone, be it, man or woman, into something they don't want to be apart of is unforgivable. I hate this, why can't I just end it here and now? With a sigh, I know why I'm still alive. Aunt, uncle, Nicole. There are more. Akiro, a friend of mine back in my hometown, and Akari, my little sister. Those five people believe in me. My happy thoughts made me drift off into sleep.

Hey guys! If you guys are wondering, no, Akari, Akiro, or Akano's aunt and uncle won't be appearing in the story, only mentioned. They are just implemented to give Akano more of a backstory. Maybe I'll be making a prequel to this where it explores the relationships they have with Akano. Now, in future chapters, you will get what kind of person Akano is. She isn't that different from her male counterpart except for the fact that she is more aware of the things around her and is more rebellious. Oh! One more thing, I changed her initial persona to reflect on how she's feeling. Don't worry, she still has Sataneal as a final persona, it's just that Arsene isn't her initial persona. You will find out what it is later. Anyway, bye-bye!