↳ CHAPTER ELEVEN:

TAKING A BREAK ↲

SATURDAY, APRIL 16| MORNING

IT WAS A NORMAL MORNING, or so Kaori thought, when she sat at her vanity that morning, preparing to go to school like everyday.

She looked at herself through the mirror in front of her. She still can't believe that this is her life now, battling shadow monsters with what are basically superpowers and trying to change the heart of that asshole teacher.

And to think it all started that week just by meeting Ren on the subway on Monday.

She didn't think that this was how her week was going to go, she reconciled her friendship with Ryuji, and started a new one with Morgana and Ann. She was so glade, they were real actual friends, friends who weren't told to be friends with her, just because of her mother and the businesses she has.

Kaori found herself smiling, it was like her entire life was waiting for this moment to happen. As if it was her destiny to meet these people and go to that palace to change Kamoshida's heart.

She still had to get used to the palace, persona and not to mention Velvet Room stuff, but with a bit of experience it could be easily remedied.

Thinking of the Velvet Room, Kaori had to wonder. The last time she was in there, Igor kept talking about how it was important that the mysterious he and her would finished their rehabilitation to freedom, or else the game would be lost.

Which game? Kaori had no clue, she didn't even know who that he was. But considering that it seemed like she wasn't going to the Velvet Room anytime soon, she put that thought into the back of her head for now.

She needed to focus on the palace and their operation. She was sure that the answer would sooner or later reveal itself to her.

Kaori put on her finishing touches on her makeup and put on her light pink lipgloss with a satisfying smile on her face.

At that moment the door to her room slowly opened, Kaori turned her head in confusion, as she was usually alone at home at that time of day.

"M-Mom? Aren't you supposed to be at work?" She asked surprised, putting her lipgloss down on her vanity.

There she stood, Saki Watanabe in all her glory.

Her dark chocolate brown hair was cascading down to the midst of her back. She wore an elegant white blouse topped with a black blazer and short black skirt, accompanied by black heels and various glittering jewellery.

Saki stepped closer to her daughter, and put her hands on her shoulder as she stood behind her.

"Good Morning Kaori, what were you planning on doing today after school?" She asked in a slightly menacing tone.

Kaori swallowed her spit and stared straight ahead into the mirror, where she could see herself and her mother behind her.

"I'm going to go to the library to do my homework," she replied simply with no real emotion behind her voice.

Saki started to roughly massage her daughter's shoulders, "Don't lie to me Kaori."

"I'm not lying," Kaori immediately replied.

Suddenly Saki squeezed the shoulders painfully hard. Kaori let out a faint whimper, trying to hold in as much as possible, not wanting to give her mother the satisfaction of a reaction.

"Well, I heard you made new friends, two delinquent boys..."

Kaori stayed silent and looked down on to her lap, nervously playing with the fabric of her skirt, wondering who told her that.

"I also heard that you're going to get expelled because of them..."

Kaori stayed silent and awaited her mother's next words carefully.

"I don't want you associating with these boys," the mother said, carefully tilting her daughter's chin upwards again, so she would stare into the mirror again, "I have an reputation to uphold, and so do you as my daughter. If it comes out that you're friends with two delinquents and got expelled from Shujin Academy, it would ruin me and my career."

She took a short pause and lifted her grip on Kaori's shoulders, leaning in closer to her ear, "So, stay away from them, did I make myself clear?" She whispered.

Kaori gulped and stayed silent.

"Did I make myself clear?" She repeated.

"Y-yes."

Saki smiled satisfyingly and clapped her hands together, "Great."

Kaori let out a sigh in relief and slowly stood up from her place, grabbing her bag in the process and trying to push past her mother to escape her as fast as possible.

"I-I need to go, I'm going to miss my train," Kaori said, avoiding eye contact with her mother.

Saki shook her head, "Nonsense, I'll drive you to school. It's far too dangerous now a days with all these mental breakdowns happening."

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The car ride to school was silent, with the exception of the radio playing softly in the background and her mother occasionally taking a call, there wasn't a lot of talking.

There was a time where Kaori could talk back to her mother like it was nothing, but the more she did it, the more did her mother punish her for it.

Kaori decided that if she didn't cause any problems, she wouldn't get in trouble and would stay clear of her mother. And it worked, until today.

Someone told her, and Kaori had no idea who it was.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 16| AFTERNOON

It was hard concentrating in class, when Kaori needed to figure out how she was to go about her little conundrum.

For the time being she decided to go about her regular life, putting the words and warnings of her mother in the back of her head until Kamoshida was dealt with. She needed to change that bastard's heart no matter what, he hurt too many people, including herself and Nozomi. Not to mention that Shiho tried to kill herself because of it.

But in doing so she could get into serious trouble with her mother, and that was something she wanted to avoid.

Kaori sighed and tapped her pink pen against her textbook nervously, her mother already found out that she was friends with them, she'll surely know that she ignored her words.

Maybe she should stay clear of the gang for a few days, until she dealt with... everything. They can certainly take care of themselves in that palace.

The sudden vibration underneath her textbook made Kaori snap out of her thoughts, she quickly and unnoticeably took out her phone.

R⃣y⃣u⃣j⃣i⃣: Hey, we're meeting up at the hideout after school, right?

A⃣n⃣n⃣: Don't text now. We're in class.

K⃣a⃣o⃣r⃣i⃣: Does it matter? We're not paying real attention anyway...

A⃣n⃣n⃣: Yeah, I guess you're right. None of it is really sticking today...

R⃣y⃣u⃣j⃣i⃣: I know, right?

R⃣y⃣u⃣j⃣i⃣: Anyways, hideout after school?

A⃣n⃣n⃣: Where exactly is this "hideout"?

R⃣e⃣n⃣: The school roof.

A⃣n⃣n⃣: Wait, we can still go up there?

R⃣y⃣u⃣j⃣i⃣: Yeah, I'll let you in.

R⃣y⃣u⃣j⃣i⃣: Welp, I'll be waiting. Just come on up once school's over.

K⃣a⃣o⃣r⃣i⃣: Kay

R⃣e⃣n⃣: Gotcha

R⃣y⃣u⃣j⃣i⃣: I'm gonna find you if you're late!

Kaori closed her phone with a sigh and hid it under her book again, only to be surprised by Mr. Ushimaru throwing a piece of chalk directly at Ren.

She winced at the sight of it, that must have hurt.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 16| AFTERSCHOOL

After school the group met on the rooftop like discussed. Everyone settled down on to the desks that were scattered across it.

"Looks like we're all here. Mkay, let's get goin'!"

"Hold on, it's still too early for us to head to the Palace," Morgana spoke up.

"But why? Don't we just gotta steal that Treasure thing?" Ryuji asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't underestimate the dangers of that place. We need to prepare."

"Ain't that Persona shit we got enough to deal with it?" Ryuji questioned.

"That's exactly what I mean when I say don't underestimate it. You'll die if you mess up in there. So again, we need to prepare before we head in."

"But... how exactly are we supposed to do that?" Ann asked.

"I'm glad you asked, Lady Ann. First, we'll need to find better equipment for all of you," Morgana explained.

"You talkin' about weapons? I know a kick-ass place!" Ryuji exclaimed exited.

"In that case, you can handle that side of things. The only other thing would be stocking up on medicine. Fatigue is unavoidable in a Palace..."

"And where can we get medicine?" Kaori asked, looking around the group.

"Don't worry, I know just the place, I hope you look forward to it, Kaori. Now then, Ren and I have some business in Yongen, so let's head off for today!"

"Uh, what business...?" Ren questioned Morgana.

"Just come with me! I won't be able to get close enough by myself!"

Ren nodded and turned to look at Kaori, "You want to join us?"

Kaori's eyes widened in surprise, she thought about it for a moment. Her mother's words echoing in her mind, "So, stay away from them, did I make myself clear?"

"Oh, I-I'm Sorry. I can't, I have this thing I gotta to do."

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"I am an idiot, why did I do that? I should have just went with them," Kaori mumbled to herself, while walking through the gigantic and bustling Shibuya subway station.

It wasn't like she wanted to go there, she just didn't know any other place to go to. She didn't want to go home yet, and school right now with the chance of running into Riko and/or Kamoshida, wasn't looking attractive either. So the station it was.

She walked around for a while now with no intention of going home soon. The brunette sighed, Why did life have to be so complicated? Why couldn't the solution to all her problems just run into her and tell her what to do?

At the exact moment someone ran into her and unintentionally tackled her onto the floor.

Kaori couldn't even begin to comprehend the situation, when the stranger who tackled her, quickly grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her around the nearby corner.

When she finally could take a breath, she realised that it was the same brunette boy she ran into the other day.

Kaori opened her mouth to say something, but was quickly stopped by his hand covering her mouth. She looked at him confused, while he only smiled apologetically and mentioned with his head around the corner, where a crowd of girl ran past it.

"Where is he?"

"I swear I saw him just a moment ago!"

"He must have gone that way!"

The girls left in a hurry, and the boy lifted his hand from her mouth.

"And so we meet again, I'm so sorry about this I would have hoped that we meet under better circumstances. Usually I try to avoid dragging people into this," he said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

Kaori only smiled, "It's okay, but what's this all about? Are you like famous or something?"

The stranger chuckled, "I'm surprised you haven't found out by now. Or maybe I'm just surprised that someone doesn't know who I am."

"I'm sorry, I truly have no idea who you are," Kaori replied awkwardly.

"No worries, my name is Goro Akechi," he said, holding his hand out for her to shake.

Sudden realisation filled Kaori's face as she remembered her mother and father talk about him. The second coming of the detective prince, a simple teenage boy able to solve almost unsolvable cases. Praise always filled her parents mouths when they talked about him, even her mother, who usually doesn't.

Akechi chuckled after the lack of responds from Kaori, "I take it you do know who I am."

Kaori snapped out of her daze, "You're the-the detective prince. My father often told me about you."

"Ah yes, I remembered him. You're father was a really nice man. I had such luck to be working with someone like him."

Sadness filled her eyes as she remembered her life before he moved away, "Yeah, he is amazing," she spoke, tearing her eyes away from Akechi.

The detective prince noticed her sudden change in demeanour, but decided to not comment on it. Somethings are better left unsaid.

He cleared his throat, making Kaori's attention swivel back to him, "Well, I'm sorry I ran into you, I'm sure you're busy, so-"

"Actually I'm not," the small brunette interrupted.

Kaori usually isn't superstitious, but after what happened this past week, she learned that life has a mysterious way of working and when she asked for answers to her life's problems and he suddenly runs into her, it definitely has to mean something.

She's not saying that he's the answer, but he is something.

"I was just walking around, killing a bit of time," she continued.

Akechi smiled, "That's... wonderful, I was just on my way to get something to eat, would you like to join me? You do intrigue me, Kaori. I would love to get to know you."

Kaori returned the smile, and couldn't help but feel a blush creeping up her cheeks, "Sure, What are we getting?"

"I was thinking pancakes, so shall we?" He held out his arm for her to take in a jokingly manner.

Kaori laughed and looped her arm around his, "We shall."

The two teens started to leave the station and for one moment in Kaori's life since a while, it seemed like she forgot all about that craziness and actually felt like she had a fairly normal life.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 16|EVENING

Ren laid in his bed of the attic at Leblanc, staring at the old and dusty ceiling. His one arm was laying underneath his head on his pillow, while the other played with the middle part of his fringe. A habit he had when ever he was thinking about something.

He was thinking about something, but not the things someone would expect him to think about. Not about Kamoshida or the palace, nope about a small teenage girl he met about a week ago.

Kaori has been acting strange today, it has been as if she was avoiding him and the others, and when she was with them she rarely talked, which on it's own was actually very normal, but the fact that her voice lacked any cheerfulness like the days before was odd.

Ren was sure that Kaori was sure that she wanted to steal the treasure, but her actions today made him doubt that. But she could have just told them if she didn't want to take part in their plan anymore.

He sighed, he didn't know what to think.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Morgana's boyish voice called out. The black cat jumped up onto the bed and onto his chest, walking a few circles before finally resting on it.

"Don't you think that Kaori was acting strange today?" The boy asked his cat.

"Stranger than usual? On second thought, she did seem to be a bit off today..."

The frizzy haired boy frowned, "I hope she's alright, she seemed like she didn't want to go through with stealing the treasure."

"I'm sure she's alright, everybody has those days, right?" The cat asked reassuringly.

"I guess you're right," Ren replied with a sigh.

"Now, you should better go to sleep, we have a big day ahead of us!"

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↳ A/N:

Okay, hello! Sorry for the short chapter, I just- *sigh* it's a filler chapter that's what it is. I didn't know what to do so I made a short filler chapter so my updates won't drag so much. I'm probably going to do this a lot, so...

Anyway what I also wanted to do was thank everyone who has voted, commented or just simply read the book. Never in my mind did I think over a thousand people would view this. So thank you so very much for everything!

Also I just have to put this in here, because I don't know where else to vent.

My two boys!!! Ahhh!!!

And with that I hopefully update soon and I hope to see you next chapter!

-Bye