Akano's POV

With a heavy heart, I made it to Leblanc. Sojiro was there as usual, asking me why I'm late. I didn't even realise that it was this late. "I was protecting someone who a thug was bothering." That lie was the best I could do. He sighed, telling me not to go crying to him if I get arrested. "By the way, you haven't been hanging around any bad influences lately? I'm not asking about that boy from yesterday but... his appearance..." I don't blame you, I normally wouldn't hang around people like Ryuji. But if it wasn't for what happened at the castle, I wouldn't have friends here. "I actually made another one." Ann's sad smile flashed in my head, forcing a small smile out of me. "I'm surprised people would want to hang out with you. How well do you know that boy?" He closed his newspaper, waiting for my response. "Ever since the first day. Aside from his delinquent-like appearance, he's a good guy..." He worried about me enough to make sure I got home alright and even saved me. I never thought I would meet someone like that after Akiro, "Anyway, I'm going to bed. Night." I waved and walked up the stairs.

Ugh, guess I have to write in this again, right?

I made a new friend! Her name is Ann Takamaki and she is super nice. She has some baggage but I want to help her let go of that stress. I'm also... no, it's not that important to be written here.

Morgana's deal rang in my ears. After hearing Ann's troubles, I'm still at a crossroads. He's hurt so many. Ryuji, Mishima~Kun, Ann, Suzui, the entire volleyball and the ex track team. My thoughts drift me off to another world, I didn't know what I was doing in real life. "Aka~Tan?" I was brought back to me holding my phone to my ear. I looked at it and I was calling Ryuji. Putting it on speaker, I speak. "S-Sorry Ryuji... this whole thing has got me a little shaken up. Especially after hearing Ann pour her heart out. I don't know what to do and it's pissing me off!" "Same here. Don't worry, we'll think of something. We won't kill him but make him confess." Ryuji's words gave me comfort. "Thanks. I guess I needed to hear that. I gotta get to bed, night." I hung up and did my night routine. I couldn't sleep, knowing that this asshole has done this much and isn't repenting makes me... I don't even know now...

4/15

Another day at school and Mr. Ushimaru still happens to piss me off by his voice, Ann was staring out the window, I doodled in my book, and Morgana was in my desk. Wait, Morgana in my desk? "Have you made up your mind? No matter how much thinking you do, there's only one option. You'd be better off listening to me." This cat... no matter how pissed off I am that he scared me... it's too cute. "How the fuck did you get in there?" I whispered to him but Mr. Ushimaru heard him. We freaked out until he stopped, telling the class to shut up. Okay, I need to talk to this cat in private. "Um, Mr. Ushimaru? Can I go to the bathroom?" My arm raised up and awaited his approval. He did as Morgana jumped into my bag and I took it with me. I closed the door and looked straight forward. A scene I would never want to play on the roof. "Morgana, find Ryuji. I'll be on the roof." I guess he understood because he left. And with that I ran to the roof.

Ann's POV

"Hey... what's that...!?"

Of course Mr. Ushimaru got offended, telling him to sit down.

"Wait... she's going to jump...!"

The class got in an uproar. Who is it?

"Suzui...?"

No... "Shiho...?" I can't just sit back, get the fuck out of my way! I made it to the window and saw her standing on the edge. Wait, someone's there...!

Akano's POV

"Shiho Suzui, STOP!" I barged the door open as I saw her turn around and face me. "Huh...? Kurusu...? Why are you here?" Tears fell off her face. No... I won't let this happen...! "I'm here to stop you! You can't do this!" I walked up to her, "I know what you're going through, Suzui. Wait, no. Shiho. You may see me as a stranger, but I won't let anyone go like this. Never...! Please... tell me what's wrong!" Her gasp was high pitched but I didn't care. "He... he took everything away from me...! Volleyball... my body... my parents concern... everything!" Is she talking about Dog Shit...? Dog Shit did this...? That... "NO ONE CARES FOR ME SO I MIGHT AS WELL JUST DIE NOW!" She turned around, about to jump, but I grabbed onto her arms. "You're wrong! Shiho, I care about you! We may not know each other properly, but I want to! Other than Ryuji, you were the only one was still kind to me no matter what the rumors said! You weren't afraid of me! It's not just me who's with you, Ann too! She... she's dating Mr. Kamoshida so that you can have a spot on the team!" I can't let her die like this. "Wh-what...?" "I'll be with you! I'll protect you! You won't go through this alone, Shiho! I won't let you die... never!" I pulled her up while also seeing that all the students are out of their classes, observing us. She was safely on the roof, hyperventilating. At least it's a better sight than before. "C'mon, let's go Shiho. Anywhere is better than here, anyway." I tried to make her happy by smiling but it didn't work. I helped her walk towards the door slowly. "I'm sorry... Akano..." Was all I heard in my ear as a strong force pushes me down. Once I hit the ground, I looked up and saw Shiho with a face full of despair. "I'm so sorry Akano... but I can't...!" She closed the door and I rushed up. Dammit! She locked it. "Shiho! Please... please don't do it!" But no matter how much I called for her, she never opened the door. Unconsciously, I go to the closest window. The scene unfolded before my eyes... Shiho... I backed up with wide eyes until my back hit the wall. First years ignored me and ran to the courtyard. The scene played in my mind again, and again, and again, and again. "SHIHO!?" I cried out as I slid down the wall into a ball on the ground. I lost track of time

Sprint sounds from far away fill the empty hall so I looked in that direction. It was Mishima~Kun. "Mishima~Kun... why did this happen!? You must know!" I got up quickly and began shaking him. Tears continued to fall heavy. "I-I-I don't know!" "Aka~Tan, don't let him go!" I know that voice anywhere, Ryuji. That's all I need. I shoved Mishima~Kun to the wall and pinned him by kicking the wall. "I finally caught up to this guy. Aka~Tan, he knows! Why'd you run like that? Huh!?" We need answers and he's the only way. "I didn't run..." Now that pissed me off. I move my foot to his stomach, putting pressure on it. "She jumped and tried to kill herself!" Ryuji was just as fuming as me. "... l-leave me alone..." Realization hit me. He's been through enough, he doesn't need this. I placed my foot down on the ground as he looked at me in relief. "I'm sorry Mishima~Kun. This is just... getting to me deep down. Can you please tell us? We won't say you peeped." "She's right." I take hold of Ryuji's hand, in case the information is worse than what we expected. "Suzui... she was called out by Mr. Kamoshida!" Kinda guessed it by how she spoke but of course Ryuji got caught off guard. "I was called by him a number of times too... to the teachers room. It wasn't just me or Suzui either. He'd nominate someone when he was in a bad mood... and hit them." Confession right there. "So the physical punishment thing was for real." I can't believe it, even though I doubted them when they told me it was nothing. "But yesterday, he called Suzui out of the blue. She didn't make any mistakes or anything... he seemed really irritated that day, so it must've been... worse than usual..." He... he couldn't... he wouldn't... after Ann told him no... "He didn't... THAT SON OF A BITCH!" Ryuji ran off. "RYUJI!" I called out for him as I chased after him. Mishima~Kun did the same. "Where is he going?" I asked behind me, "The PE faculty office, that's where Kamoshida is." Oh shit, Ryuji's gonna do something.

PE FACULTY OFFICE

"You bastard! The hell did you do to that girl!?" I don't blame Ryuji. If I were to open my mouth, I would say foul things too. Probably fouler. "What are you talking about?" You've got to be fucking kidding me. You make a girl jump, and you can go on without a care in the world!? What kind of monster are you!? "Don't. Play dumb with me." The blond student kicked a nearby fold-able chair which made the older person snap. "What you did... wasn't coaching...! You... you ordered me to call Suzui here... I can only imagine what you did to her...!" Mishima~Kun, yes! Stand up for yourself! "You're going on and on about things you have no proof of... basically, you're making these claims because you can't be a regular on the team, right?" He stood up and crossed his arms. "Who the fuck cares about volleyball!? This is more important than some sport team drama!" I got into a protective stance in front of Mishima~Kun and all he did was chuckle. "Even if it is exactly as you imagine it to be, hypothetically speaking... what can you do? We just received a call from the hospital." Oh god, what? Wait, he just admitted it, right? "Suzui's in a coma, and her chances of recover are slim... how would someone like that make a statement? There's no chance of her getting better, I hear... the poor girl." You've... you've got to be fucking kidding me... right? RIGHT? Shiho... no...! "You goddamn...!" Ryuji's about to snap. "This, again...? Does this mean we need to have yet another case of, 'self-defense'?" No, if this keeps up... "You shut your mouth, you son of a bitch!" he goes to swing.

I want this man hurt.
I want him to call out for help like a pussy.
I want him to suffer.
I want him to see the same view as Shiho.

... but not like this...

Before he could hit him, I took hold of his upper arm. "Why're you stoppin' me...?!" We looked into each other's eyes. His was full of rage while mine were stained with red from crying with concern in them. "... if you hurt him now... the same thing that he did to you would repeat... if you hurt him now... who will avenge Shiho!?" Tears begin to fall as his gaze softened. "Kurusu~San? You're protecting me?" I ignored that comment as he went back to his chair. "Everyone present right now... will be expelled. I'm reporting all of you at the next board meeting." His words sent me and the other boys in the room shock and bewilderment. "You can't make a decision like that...!" Mishima~Kun stood up for all of us, but was quickly shot down by Kamoshida's words. "I kept you on the team due to the fact you can post stuff online and get tons of views on it. And not only that, but you act like a victim. But you're the one who leaked Akano Kurusu's criminal records, right? It's all over the internet, correct? How terrible..." What did he say...? "Mishima...?" "Y-You're the reason why... people are doing this...?" I can't believe this. "He told me to do it... I had no choice..." Mishima~Kun... "You're done for. Especially you, Kurusu. Juvie will be your next home." I... I can't take it... I left.

Ryuji's POV

"Akano!" It's been a while since I called her that. "Ryuji..." She dropped to her knees and began sobbing loudly. All I could do was hold her close. "... I had her... I had her yet... I let go... Ryuji, listen to me, I wanted to save Shiho!" Her voice was muffled by her face being dug into my chest. After a minute or two, she got her head up and looked at me. "Shiho... I know that dark, dark place she was in... I want her to be smiling other than that expression full of absolute despair she had when she locked the door. But, I wasn't able to save her! Now I'm gonna go to juvie, I can't do this!?... Ryuji... help me." I was surprised by her request. "Help me... steal Kamoshida's desires... steal Kamoshida's treasure...!" But she knows that... he might die... is she willing to take that risk? "Someone's life was almost taken today by him. I will do whatever it takes if it means no more suicide attempts. Suicide is nothing to be taken lightly. So will you help me?" Her resolve is strong. Looks like crying is therapeutic. But... like always, she's right.

"So have you two made your decisions?"

It was Morgana. Akano pulled away and firmly nodded her head. I took a while just to think about everything.

He broke my leg...

Made mom feel like she disappointed me...

Broke off the track team...

Physically abused the volleyball team...

Forces Takamaki into a relationship...

Pushing Suzui to suicide...

Making Akano relive those dark moments in her past...

"I'll help..."

Meanwhile...

Ann's POV

She... she stopped her... Akano stopped Shiho... thank you! "Wait, she's going back!?" What...? I look back and see that Shiho is back in the place where she was before. And in no time whatsoever, her entire body fell forwards. "No.. why...? Shiho...!" With tears rolling down my face, I made it to the courtyard. Students got in my way but I shoved them away. Paramedics shortly came and all I could do was watch them strap Shiho into a hospital bed. "Ann..." she called out to me and I ran up to her. "Shiho! Shiho I'm right here!" I clasped her hand tightly. "T-Tell Akano... I'm sorry... she tried... to help me... I shoved her... down the stairs.. please... please, Ann...!" I was right, Akano tried to save her. "Shiho, who did this to you!? Who made you want to do this...!?" She noticed the tears streaming down my face and tried to wipe them away. It didn't help. She whispered her answer to my question in my ear. The answer made me go wide-eyed. "Kamoshida...!?" "I'm sorry Ann. I... I can't take this... anymore... it hurts..." And with that, her eyes closed. "Shiho!". "We need someone to go with her... are there any teachers around?" The teachers didn't care, they all thought it wasn't any of their business. "I'll go!" I stood and went into the ambulance. The workers brought Shiho in and all I could do was hold her hand tightly. "Do you know her parents, miss?" I looked up to see an adult across from me. "Yeah, I should call her mom..." I dialed Shiho's mom and told her what just happened. I could hear her crying over the line. "D-Don't worry, Mrs. Suzui! We're on our way to the hospital, I'll meet you there." I hung up, her sobs made me cry. Shiho, please... please get better soon...!

~Timeskip~

I'm back at school because I forgot my bag in class. Ms. Kawakami rang me to tell me I left it there. Guess the situation took over my thoughts, huh? Sigh, Shiho's in the intensive care unit. They said she's lucky to have survived the fall because of her being fit, but it was still a close call because of all the bruises on her body. Mainly her back. Akano was right, the bruises on her back were horrible. She sustained a bruised spine, fractured leg, and a cracked pelvis. This has led to paralysis within her legs so when she wakes up and is ready, she will need physical therapy if she wants to walk again. Shiho...

"T-Tell Akano... I'm sorry... she tried... to help me... I shoved her... down the stairs.. please... please, Ann...!"

What happened up there? Why of all people, was Akano stopping her? It... it should've been me... no. I can't think about the past like this. If I want answers to that, the only person I can get it from is her. If I'm right, she's still here. I looked around each floor but no one was in sight. All the teachers were gone too.

Sobbing

Huh? Someone's crying? I peer over a corner and see Mishima sitting there. How did I miss him? Whatever. "Mishima? You okay?" I ask as he looks at me. "Takamaki...? Yeah, I'm fine... just, something happened... are you okay? Considering the circumstances..." he knows I was close with Shiho, he knows I'm hurting. I try to hold back the tears, "I'll be okay... for now... have you seen Akano?" He was shocked to hear me say that name. "So, you two are close?" Oh right! This is the first time I said her first name in front of him. I nodded in affirmation while he sighs. "If you're that close, I want to tell you something. I leaked her criminal record because Mr. Kamoshida made me. I can't look her in the face now, especially since she knows. It's not just that... Sakamoto, Kurusu and I are getting expelled at the next board meeting..." You've got to be kidding me. It's that bastard's fault that Shiho jumped. And now he's gonna expel students who are innocent? Akano is a good person and so is Mishima. Sakamoto, I knew him in middle school. All I know is that he hasn't changed a bit. "Where's Akano?" I asked again as he told me and ran off. She was still in the practice building with Sakamoto. I hope I get there in time. "Let's go! There's no one here so we have this time to go there!" Wait, that was Akano! She was pulling Sakamoto outside of the school and in an alleyway. What are those two doing? "Ready?" Wait, are they...? No! How can they TODAY of all days!? I know Akano's smart, they must be plotting something.

"Kamoshida... Shujin Academy... Pervert... Castle... beginning navigation."

What the- The world is warping...

Akano's POV

Back in this hell hole. And I'm in the outfit again. I like it though, it suits me. "Okay, we're in the clear. The security's gone up a bit but it isn't that bad. Anyway, before we head in, we need code names." Morgana just so casually said, leading Ryuji to question it. Now that just ticks me off, how dumb is he? "Oh my god, it's a classic! Why would any thief in particular use their real names! Oh wait, fuck. I forget, you're not from the West. There might be thief anime (Persona 5 Anime), JRPG's (Persona 5 & Royal) or even other stuff but I've mainly seen it in Western media. Sorry about that." I croseds my arms as the other two laugh. "Well, at least you're a step above this monkey, Joker!" Morgana yet again jumps on my head to cheer me up. It works. But wait, he didn't call me 'Lady Akano'. He called me- "Huh? Joker? Why Joker for her?" Thanks for finishing my thoughts, Ryuji. "Because she'll be our trump card. I can sense great power from you, Joker. You just haven't realised it." OKAY DESTINY, I GET IT. MAGICAL DESTINY AND I'M THE PROTAGONIST OF SOME SHOUJO MANGA. (You're so close, Akano. So close.) "What will he be?" I began to think of a name for Ryuji. "Thug." Morgana spoke in monotone which made me laugh. "I like it!" "Hell no! There has to be a better name!" Ryuji whined as I sighed. "What do you want it to be?" This will be a more stupid name than, 'Thug', right? "What about I name me after this?" The blond boy gripped his mask making both Morgana and I look at him with disappointment. "Okay, you're Skull." The moment I said that, he got all excited. "I don't trust Skull to give me a good code name so, I put my trust in you Joker." Don't worry Morgana, I got you... Well, the fact that he's a cat needs to play in on this. Cats... whenever that comes to mind, I always think of the cats in those chat rooms. I think there was a cat named Morgana but a few letters are missing. Oh, wait! I've got it! "Mona will be your code name!" Both of them looked at me like I said something weird but Morgana chuckled. "Okay. From today onward, we are Joker, Skull, and Mona. The Phantom Thieves." Yay! I always wanted to be a Phantom Thief. Of course, Skull doesn't know what they are so Mona and I have to explain it to him.

In the main hall, the 'King' had gathered most of the guards there to discuss about us. He wants our heads. As if we'd give him what he wants. There was a way we have yet to explore so we went there. To Skull's surprise, there was a guard. He saw us and began to chase us around the room. "We need to fight it! We can't keep running like this because of our energy and there may be reinforcements!" Mona was right. I threw my knife at the guard as it dissolves into black goo and revealed a girl in a one piece and knee high boots along with brown hair and wings. "Joker! I've got an idea!" I turn to Mona, who has his slingshot out, "Let me, I've got something to show you!" He proceeds to put the shadow in a 'Hold Up' like how we would use for an 'All Out Attack'. "Okay, so now we've got the enemy in a 'Hold Up'. Instead of initiating an 'All Out Attack' like last time, we can bargain with them. Shadows are beings born from people's hearts, so they can talk too. What we can ask them for are items or money, since they don't want to die. Joker, it's up to you." Thanks, Mona...

"So you guys are the thieves King Kamoshida was talking about. What are you doing? Cornering a cute girl like me, you need to be insane! It makes it worse that the majority of you are boys... hey girl! Are they putting you up to this?"

"They aren't putting me up to anything. If anything, I'm their master. Look, I need something from you. Be it money or a useful item, I don't care."

"Really? You'll let me go if I give you something? Well, let me see... huh? Holy crap, I don't have anything..."

"Um... Mona? What are we gonna do now?"

"Hmm... I wasn't planning on this happening. Well, time to go to hell!"

"Please... please don't kill me! You have to believe me, I usually have something on me... let me go!"

*smirk* "I'll let you go... go to hell!"

"Wow, that was so lame! But, I say lame stuff like that all the time. We're pretty similar... huh? What is this feeling...?"

"Mona... what's going on?"

"I wished I knew, Skull..."

"Now I remember! I am not a slave of Kamoshida. I live in the sea of humanity's souls. My true name is... Pixie! I am thou, thou art I. My power now belongs to you."

"Gah! What the-" Before I could say anything else, Pixie turned into a mask shape and was absorbed into mine.

"Yo, Mona. What happened with Joker's mask? It just absorbed that thing..." My thoughts exactly, Skull... "I don't know! This is new to me! Joker, do you know what you did?" Mona asked and I responded by shaking my head, no. Just then, another shadow came into the room. It transforms into two of those horses from the other day.

"Since my power now belongs to you, you may summon me whenever you wish. Now, switch from Jeanne to me."

Pixie? Is that you? Ugh! I'll figure all of this out later. Hold on...

"Persona!" Pixie appeared behind me. I could see her moves. Zio. "Pixie!" I called as a lightning strike hit one of the horses.

"What the hell...? Is that the shadow from earlier? Did you just... take on it's appearance of a shadow and changed it into a persona?" I don't even know, Mona. Is this what Nose was talking to me about? Maybe...

Once again, Pixie gets the job done. "Don't hold back everyone!" The three of us got into our 'All Out Attack' sequence and I ended it with style by pulling down my glove tightly on my hand.

"What was that all about Mona?" Skull, none of us know what it was. "Maybe this is the great power I sensed from you. This is amazing! I haven't known anyone who can wield more than two personas... you might even carry more..." Morgana's eyes were sparkling which made me giggle and put him on my head. I've gotten used to it by now. "This is amazing Aka- I mean Joker! We'll definitely kick that asshole in his dick." Heh, he's still getting used to calling me Joker. And his wordplay has yet to not make me chuckle, ever since he took me to Ore No Beko. Skull... Ryuji Sakamoto... he's different from what I initially thought of him, who would've thought?

MEANWHILE...

Ann's POV

Where the hell am I? What the fuck happened to the school!? WHAT'S UP WITH THIS CASTLE!?!?!"

"Princess?"

Huh?

"PRINCESS!?"

Gah! I tried to fight back but they all carried me into the castle.

"What are you doing?"

I looked up to see a familiar face. Pale as ever, eyes dark as night and hair, red as fire. But something was different about her. She was wearing a Playboy bunny suit with bunny ears and a bunny tail. Her legs were covered in black tights while also wearing 7 inch black heels.

"Akano...?"

Confidants

Fool Arcana= Rank 1

Magician Arcana= Rank 0

Priestess Arcana= Rank 0

Empress Arcana= Rank 0

Emperor Arcana= Rank 0

Hierophant Arcana= Rank 0

Lovers Arcana= Rank 0

Chariot Arcana= Rank 1

Justice Arcana= Rank 0

Hermit Arcana= Rank 0

Fortune Arcana= Rank 0

Strength Arcana= Rank 0

Hanged Man Arcana= Rank 0

Death Arcana= Rank 0

Temperance Arcana= Rank 0

Devil Arcana= Rank 0

Tower Arcana= Rank 0

Star Arcana= Rank 0

Moon Arcana= Rank 0

Sun Arcana= Rank 0

Judgement Arcana= Rank 0