↳ CHAPTER FIVE :

ESCAPE TO REALITY ↲

TUESDAY, 12 APRIL |AFTER SCHOOL

KAORI, REN, RYUJI AND MORGANA EASILY DEFEATED THE LAST OF THE GUARDS WITH THE HELP OF THEIR PERSONAS.

Once they defeated them all, Ryuji and Ren ran towards Kaori, who was bent over and panted heavily from exhaustion.

"Are you-", Ren tried to asked, but was cut off by Kaori collapsing. Luckily he caught her just in time.

"I'm fine," Kaori answered in between breaths, knowing exactly what he wanted to ask, "More importantly, what was up with Kamoshida and Takamaki? And my clothes? And what are those things we were fighting?"

Ryuji came to the other side of her and draped one arm over his shoulders, while Ren took the other arm.

Morgana also ran towards them and said, "Those are perfectly valid questions, but for now we gotta get out a here before more of them come!"

The three teens nodded and all of them started running towards the outside of the castle.

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Soon enough the four of them arrived outside of the castle, more exhausted than ever.

"Anyway! You look totally awesome Kaori !" Ryuji exclaimed looking at Kaori's new clothes and trying to lighten up the mood.

Ren nodded, "It looks good on you."

Kaori looked at her clothes sceptically, "uh, thanks, I guess."

"Hey, at least it ain't as bad as his," Ryuji said pointing towards Ren, who took silent offence to that.

"Did you find them !?" A random guard asked.

"Quiet!" Morgana whispered, scolding the three teens.

"No. Search that way," another one answered.

After they were sure the guards disappeared, Ryuji started talking again, "So what's goin' on? I'm completely lost, man...!"

"Same here!" Kaori exclaimed raising  her hand that was resting on Ren's shoulder.

Morgana sighed in annoyance, "I told you before. When a Persona-user opposes a Palace's ruler and becomes a threat to them, this happens. It's to prevent you from being affected by distortions."

Kaori just scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion, after all, this was all weird brand new information for her.

"Is this... a skull?" Ryuji asked about his mask.

"Your appearance reflects your inner self. It's the rebel that slumbers within... Not that you'll get it." 

"Nope..." Ryuji answered honestly, putting his head down in defeat.

"Then stop asking questions and accept what you see for what it is." 

"Easy for you to say," the blond then realised something and gasped. Kaori looked at him questioningly.

"Wait, we're in deep shit!" He said rather loudly.

"I said to be quiet!" Morgana scolded again.

"We might've gotten away here, but we're still screwed with Kamoshida at the real school..." Ryuji continued.

"That's quite sharp of you! ...For being an idiot."

"Wait, what do you mean ?" Kaori asked still confused.

Morgana shook his head slightly, ignoring Kaori, "Relax, the Kamoshida in reality can't possibly know about what happens here. A shadow is the true self that is suppressed- a side of one's personality they don't want to see."

"... So we're OK?" Ryuji questioned.

"Did the Kamoshida in reality remember about the execution?" Morgana asked in return.

Ryuji stayed silent for once.

"There you have it," Morgana said.

"All right! Now that we know that, all we gotta do is-" Ryuji started, but was interrupted by Morgana.

"Wait, I guided you as promised. It's your turn to cooperate with me." 

Everyone had a confused look on their face, not getting what he was trying to say.

"That's why I was super nice about teaching you idiots everything," Morgana continued upon seeing their faces.

"Huh? Cooperate ?" Ryuji questioned.

"Don't you remember? I originally came here for an investigation. I need to erase the distortion from my body and regain my real form! That's why we must delve deep into Mementos and- " this time Morgana was cut off.

"Whoa, hold up. What've you goin' on and on about? We never said anything about helpin' you out," Ryuji exclaimed.

"Buuut it would be the nice thing to do..." Kaori commented, taking her arms off of the two boys and standing by herself again.

"Why would agree to help him? You barely know him!" Ryuji asked her.

Morgana raised an eyebrow at that, "Huh? Don't tell me... Are you not going to repay the hospitality I showed you? Especially you!" He pointed towards Ren with his cute paw-hands, "You're going to up and leave, even though you're already part of my master plan?"

"What plan ?" Ren questioned.

"Is it because I'm not human...? Because I'm like a cat...? Is that why you're making a fool of me !?" Morgana continued, ignoring Ren's question.

"We're busy!" Ryuji answered, and crouching down to Morgana's level, "Thanks for everything, cat. You've got guts, bein' a cat and all! See you around !" Ryuji exclaimed, before running off back into the real world with Ren and dragging Kaori unwillingly with them.

"Hey! What the hell? Ugh, seriously?! Why're you wrapping this up like everything's all hunky-dory!?
Oh hell no! Get back here! ... Grr... GRAAGGGHHH!"

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TUESDAY, 12 APRIL |AFTER SCHOOL

"You have returned to the real world. Welcome back."

The three teens were back in the alley from where Ren and Ryuji entered the castle in.

"... Thank god. We're back" Ryuji exclaimed in relief. He looked at both Ren and Kaori, "I dragged you around a lot, huh? ...Sorry, man. And you too Kaori, I'm sorry you got dragged into this. Ugh, I'm dead tired... How you holdin' up?" 

"I've been better," the brunette answered, rubbing her arm.

She still couldn't believe that they just left that cat there, well that and everything else that just happened.

"Eh, I'm fine," Ren responded.

"That's impressive. I'm exhausted even though I used to do track..."

"But damn, if what we saw was for real, this is gonna get going," Ryuji exclaimed, changing the subject, "I totally remember the faces of the guys Kamoshida was treatin' like slaves. Once we make 'em fess up to any physical abuse. Kamoshida will be done. So... wanna help me look for those guys or any witnesses?" Ryuji asked the two dark haired teens.

"Sure, I'll help," Ren responded.

"I'm still very confused about everything that just happened..." Kaori replied with a bit of hesitation in her voice, "...but sure, anything to pay Kamoshida back," she said with a smile.

"Now that's what I'm takin' about!" Ryuji yelled happily.

Ryuji turned his attention back to Ren,  "Hey, so... if you're thinkin' of layin' low 'cause you got a record, I don't think that'll help... Everyone already knows. They totally got you pegged as a criminal."

"How'd that happen ?" The frizzy haired boy wondered.

"Someone leaked the information."
"Kamoshida opened his damn mouth!"

Kaori and Ryuji said at the same time, they both looked at each other and smiled. 

"A teacher did that...?"

The blond boy turned his attention back to Ren to explain his point, "No one else besides a teacher could've leaked it that fast! It doesn't matter if it's a student or a club; that asshole just wrecks thing he doesn't agree with. Just like he did with me...!"

"... and me," Kaori mumbled, looking down on to the floor.

Ryuji paused and sighed, "No one'll take anything I say seriously. Still, those rumors about him gettin' physical might be real. And after seein' Kamoshida's distorted heart thing in person, there's no way I can just sit back!"

"Of course," Ren agreed, while Kaori nodded to agree.

"I'm countin' on both of you! Don't worry; I'm hyped about this too!"

All of the sudden the three were interrupted by Kaori's stomach rumbling.

She smiled embarrassingly and rubbed the back of her neck, "Sorry, I haven't eaten anything since lunch."

Ryuji nodded understandingly, "Yeah, I'm hungry too. It'd be weird splittin' off now, so why don't we grab a bite somewhere?"

Kaori and Ren both nodded and the together the three started walking.

"What kind of food ?" Ren questioned.

"Meat, man. Just follow me. I mean, I totally gotta hear about your past!"

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After a short walk, the trio found themselves at a Ramen restaurant.

They all sat next to each other, Kaori and Ryuji listened intently as Ren told the two about his past while they ate.

Although Ryuji devoured his bowl rather quickly, Kaori found herself barely touching hers, even if she was the reason for them to go grab something in the first place.

She poked her food with her chopsticks, and even though she was hungry, nothing would agree with her. Not after the events that happened today.

Ren finished telling his story and as one could imagine Ryuji reacted not well to it, "WHAT!?", he yelled, "The hell, man! How much shittier can that asshole get!?"

"Calm down," the dark haired boy told Ryuji.

"But just hearin' your story makes me angry !" Ryuji yelled before he started to eat again.

Kaori agreed, the story was pretty sad. How a noble act was turned into a crime, it reminded her a bit of her story. She sighed quietly, something is seriously wrong with society.

"So... you left your hometown, and... you're livin' here now, huh?" Ryuji asked with his mouth full, "We all might be more alike than I originally thought."

Ren raised his eyebrows in confusion, "How so?"

"Uh, it's not exactly "how", but... y'know. I guess it's how we're treated like a pain in the ass by the people around us, like we don't belong," Ryuji glanced at Kaori before continuing, "Kaori and I did something stupid at school before, too."

He then proceeded to quickly eat the rest of his Ramen, "The place you're livin' now is in... Yongen, right ?" He asked.

Ren nodded in responds, swallowing some of his food.

"Cool, Kaori lives there too. It's rush hour on the subways. So, I suggest you two kill some time before headin' home."

The two nodded, and it was then Ryuji noticed their food.

"What the hell, you two barely touched your food. -And weren't you the one who was hungry?" He asked directing the last part at Kaori.

"I'm sorry, okay? After what happened today I can't get anything down," she replied, pushing her bowl away from her, "You can have it if you want to."

The blond boy shrugged, and took the bowl eagerly. He then looked back to Ren's barley touched food and all of the sudden started to put more stuff into it.

Kaori and Ren watched him both in confusion, "What are you doing?"  Ren asked.

"Just lemme do it. I gotta thank you for helpin' me. Anyways I got both of your backs like you got mine from tomorrow on," Ryuji informed, "As long as we do something about Kamoshida, I'm sure we'll feel better about bein' at school."

He then got another idea, "Oh, yeah! Let's exchange numbers, Chat IDs too."

All three of them got their phones out and in a matter of minutes they all exchange numbers.

Ryuji smiled triumphantly, "Just you wait, Kamoshida... We're gonna start right away tomorrow. First, let's hit up those guys that were kept as slaves."

"But isn't the volleyball rally tomorrow?" Kaori threw in, remembering Ms. Kawakami mentioning it yesterday.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. The shit's recommend by Kamoshida. Makes me wanna gag. Hey, but thanks to that, we got no classes in the afternoon, and we can walk around unnoticed..." Ryuji explained.

"Well, I guess we can work out the details tomorrow..." The blond than added as he took another look at Ren's bowl.

"C'mon, you gotta eat more. There's tons of ginger here."

Ryuji then started to added more ginger to Ren's bowl, as Ren Just watched quietly and Kaori quietly giggled.

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TUESDAY, 12 APRIL |EVENING

Kaori and Ren waited by the subway station for their train to come. After Ryuji left them, the two didn't really know what else to do or explore, so they decided to just simply wait at the station.

They sat on the floor next to a few vending machines, to random stranger walking past them they must have looked ridiculous.

Kaori had a bottle of soda in her hand, that she bought from one of the vending machines.

The two teens sat in for silence for a while, secretly taking glances at each other without the other knowing, until Ren asked, "How do you know Ryuji?"

Kaori perked up at that question, "Well, uh we went to middle school together. We actually were friends in middle school, our mother's used to be friends too."

"What changed?"

"Nothing and everything, I guess. We got separate into different classes, not to mention that our mothers had a fall out. -Oh, and the things we went through with Kamoshida."

"I've been wondering about that actually since the castle. If you don't mind me asking, what exactly happened between the two of you?"

"It's a kind of long story," she replied, avoiding eye contact for a moment.

"We have plenty of time," he replied smartly with a smirk.

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