Chapter Text
Author's Notes: I love how I said this wouldn't be out until December on my profile page, and not even two weeks after making that statement, I have it done now. The ironies of saying you'll take it slow, am I right? Again, I apologize for the absence of content; I mentioned in my Chapter 2 post for Megamon Soul/on my profile page that the last three months had not been kind to me. Yet things are calming down again, so I will try to catch up, but I aim to enter a proper content pacing for my stories here on FanFiction.
Check out my profile page if you are ever curious about or concerned about my posting habits. I update it monthly regardless of how things are going and give story updates there. With that said, I won't take up your time for this chapter, and I hope this chapter was worth the weight.
(Also on FanFiciton.Net under the same username.)
Fun Fact: Okay, allow me this, lol. A lot of these Kajik elements you're getting are a bit more new additions in the RP. If you're not familiar with the norm, Kajik was taken out within 50 RP posts pretty quickly for an RP arc boss. It came down to an issue of self-aim of how the RP was to go as it was a reboot of another RP. It wasn't really until the second arc that it would have an idea of what the story wanted, but for it to survive such chaos wobbling in an entire arc is pretty damn impressive, in my opinion, right back to the story.
Persona 5: Alternate
Chapter 5: Cracks of Pride
Part 1
Tap, tap, tap, tap...tap.
Masami repeatedly tapped the lunch table with the tips of her nervous fingers. The day prior had seen an intense moment play out with Chiyumi, reminding her too well of that night that kickstarted this mess. Unfortunately, Machiki was nowhere to be found, leaving the mosshead alone with her thoughts. This wasn't going to do anyone any good. She had one day left to figure out her shit, and rather than gain answers, she bore more questions.
She had two options on her plate at this time. One horrifyingly confronts Chiyumi, who was prepared for her on round two of interrogation and potentially "ends" her life. Or two, attempt to get some answers from Asuka Nakamura of the Shujin Journalism Club about the victims' names or the rumors about Sato.
Shiro, Tsukara, and Principal Kobayakawa were options. Yet, with how things had been... she felt too guilty to traverse two of them, and the third was a freaking hot mess she wouldn't touch with a 39-and-a-half-foot pole. There was also that Isao Yagi... ya, definitely not. Heebie-Jeebies aside that boy was on Kajik Sato's radar now, it would be a potential trip up if the boy questioned the scenario further than needed. With a lonesome sigh, Masami got up before a hand on her shoulder put her right back down on her seat. Masami could feel the tension of the grip on her as she looked up into the orange-piercing eyes of Student Council Treasurer Layuki Chiyumi.
Before anything could be said, the older student sat across from Masami, plate in hand, watching Masami's reactions. Rather prim and proper, she sat herself down meticulously, adjusting her chopsticks. She was rather calm, all things considered, which did not help Masami's nerves until the words were finally spoken.
"Is Shiro okay?"
Well, that had not been how Masami had expected this to start. The tension suddenly faded away upon the sight of Chiyumi's concerned features. There was no animosity, no hostility, and not even a single sign of contempt.
"So you were the one who placed those wet signs up that day," Masami asked. Albeit it was rude not to answer, this was the only way she felt she might get the truth, playing along with whatever Chiyumi thought was going on.
"Yes, and seeing that Shiro is still in school, I assume no one else knows what happened," Chyumi responded, a bit more impatient but giving in to what was being asked.
"She's okay. I kept that to myself, even if it was self-defense. Something tells me someone else would spin it regardless," Masami answered, causing Chiyumi a sigh of relief as the Treasurer took a few bites of her food. Masami followed suit as if the two were chatting and getting to know each other.
"How about the others? Are you helping Drivers like Koyuki? I mean no offense, but given your condition, I doubt you're a member, " Chiyumi pushed, trying to get information. Suddenly, the way Shiro spoke about this girl started to fill out a bit. Shiro had a lot of faith in this girl at one point, and something had happened to tear it all down. Yet Masami had to concentrate on the important bits available rather than a new string of theories. Koyuki had been one of the few Shiro had shouted as being a victim of Kajik's actions in the palace and was the same girl Masami had semi-saved. Maybe she could get somewhere in all this if she could find her. It seemed she hung around the Drivers and Shiro so the information would be bountifully given the save.
"No, but I do want to help. Shiro rejected the thought, though."
"She does that. She has difficulty accepting a hand from others, but ironically, she will reach out to shield anyone needing one in pain. I am partly to blame for that... no, I am totally to blame for that." Masami could read the guilt on Chiyumi's face like an open book. Even with Shiro's hostility, it was evident that Chiyumi protected her. So, what was the disconnect?
"I don't know if you're working with that Yagi boy, but I will tell you this. End it... this isn't your fight, and you have clean hands. You just have to ride it out a year without complications or attention-drawing. Everyone's already well-adjusted to what transpired, and we have done our best not to let anything else happen. I'll protect Shiro from..."
"Kajik Sato," Masami interrupted, watching Chiyumi wince at that name with a conflicted stance. She had seen the same look from the other Student Council members. It was like Chiyumi was conflicted about admitting that but just as well knew that to be true. Why would that be the case?
"Just keep your head down," Chiyumi expressed, her plate finished. She stood up with an exhausted mental look before walking away, giving Masami no chance to continue the chat. A sudden realization, however, took Masami's thoughts. If no one was on Kajik Sato's side, he was somehow alone... Masami shot out of her seat, startling some of the students. She bolted out of the cafeteria and needed to find Asuka Nakamura.
When a leader was knowingly surrounded by enemies who knew but couldn't play any direct moves, the logical step was to subvert expectation and recruit the unknowing to expand their eyes view on the moves they couldn't see. The likelihood of Kajik finding out what Chiyumi had done was extremely low, but he would feel the shockwave of it already. He had planned to get Shiro expelled, with yesterday's events being his proof of why it would need to happen at the school. When he would realize that it was a failed card, he would then go on the defense of his security measures. Masami had always seen it when she had fumbled a theft in her starting career. The target would up the ante on their defenses.
From what she had seen of Kajik's Palace Ruler, he had an extreme fixation on the impact of legacy. It had to be pure; that's not something he could keep up with when he graduated, and with all the work he had done to cleanse the school, he would want it to stay that way. That guy had no romantic interest in Tsukara; Masami had read it all wrong. Kajik wanted to recruit her into being his eyes for the first few years after he left and, by proxy, make sure she would pass the torch to someone else. It made sense now why it felt so intense; he was working to romance her into his idea, given how aloof she was, making her a perfect mold for suggestions.
Masami never really had a friend she could remember; technically, she wasn't even officially friends with Tsukara. Masami couldn't explain her need for emergency over someone she barely knew, but subconsciously, she knew she wanted to protect something that could be part of her everyday life. As she got into the main school building, she slowed down, not wanting to catch anyone's attention during the lunch break, but her steps still held enough urgency for a brisk walk.
Her brain bubbled as she concentrated on two priorities: questioning Nakamura and splitting Tsukara from Kajik. The problem is that while she could be directly involved with the first scenario, she could have no hand in the second. The moment she directly opposed or blocked Kajik from his wants, she would be entirely on his radar, and like Chiyumi pointed out, that is what she needed to avoid the most. She needed to substitute a partner, an unknowing accomplice herself. Shiro wasn't playing ball, and she was nowhere to be found. After that, Masami had nothing, no cards saved up yet, and no one to tri...
"GAAH. SERIOUSLY, YOU AGAIN MOSSHEAD WHAT THE HELL," Imato yelped as Masami's calculations blinded her to what was ahead as she legality collided with the boy, causing both to back up, but thankfully not to fall. Imato watched her like a hawk, ready for whatever malicious attack she would throw at him, this time playing a thousand times in his head.
They had openly shown they didn't like each other; he was completely disconnected from her in any way, and he was already a pseudo troublemaker. Atop that, currently, no one was in the hallway. Perfect. Without warning, suddenly Masami dropped to the ground, tears quickly trickling down her face, and she cried with extremely worry-filled eyes. Imato's frustrations were killed on the spot as awkwardness took over his facial expression. He quickly looked around to see what trouble was, but when no one was around, he became even more confused and quickly pulled into the charade, thinking something was wrong.
"Um...I...are...you okay," he asked hesitantly while scratching his head, showcasing what Masami wanted from him as he looked around her, looking for anything wrong... legit concern. The most essential element to play here was Imato; from the moment she met him, she knew he had a legit heroic bone in his body. He was an ass, but he was against unfair situations. Thus, if he were thrown at one unknowingly, he would cause a type of disruption that would be hard to recover from. Masami, playing well into a concerned, sickly schoolgirl's shoes, chose her words carefully.
"I think I saw someone harassing Machiki, but I lost them, and now I can't find them. Yet I don't want to get a teacher involved and ruin someone's day over a misunderstanding. I am just so flustered that I can't find her," Masami pleaded, fully sharing her plight, and the moment Imato stood straight with a twitch in his eye... she knew she had him hooked on the situation.
"Alright, I'll take this half of the school and you the other. There is enough time for us to comb this whole freaking school before lunch is over," he nodded immediately, taking off quickly out of sight as Masami took out a hand chef from her pocket, easily cleaning off the crocodile tears she had spent. As much a prick as he was, if he could lower the bar on his attitude and chat casually with a girl, Masami bet he could easily charm any ordinary girl.
"Though I think for his own safety from inflating his ego, it is best that no one tells him that," Masami chuckled to herself. She had her unwitting accomplice in play, and with any luck, he would crash into Kajik attempting something with Tsukara. Given Chiyumi's boldness at the cafeteria confrontation, she strongly felt he was up to it again. So for now, she would leave Tsukara in Imato's hands and hope she had gotten a read at what he could do best if directed appropriately... chaos.
...
"Hey, you? Have you seen Machiki? No? Okay. You Machiki? What about you?" Imato rapid-fired in question as he bulleted past many confused students, each of whom gave him a no in one form or another. He was surprised at how close the two girls were, given that Ogawa had just joined the school this year, but earnestly, he never hung out with Machiki, so maybe they were pen pals or something prior? He shook his head as he nearly blitzed a poor potted tree out of existence on a corner left turn. If someone was hazing another, what was the best place to do it without anyone noticing?
Well, it was lunchtime, so the best place to avoid it would be near the faculty office room for normies. Thus, the best spot would be the corners before it, right where the unused "haunted" room doors were. Imato jumped up the stairs like a man practicing for the Olympics long jump. Upon getting to the second floor, he dipped to the left, circling for the aforementioned spot where his eyes immediately locked onto Tsukara... nonchalantly... talking... with Kajik. The two were just chatting, with no signs of aggression.
At first, Imato felt the need to curse Ogawa's name, but he reminded himself that she had said she could have misunderstood. He couldn't precisely fault someone when they mentioned they weren't sure... it was his damn fault for getting so pumped up over nothing. Not wanting to make a scene or pull Machiki's attention or, worse, Sato's to himself, he decided to just pass them by and act like he was heading towards the Faculty Room to meet up with a teacher. Yet, given the emptiness of the hallway, he could hear their conversation.
"Come on, Tsukara, you're a good fit, and let's be honest, you know your hobo will not go much farther at the rate you're going. You hit that scene well, but the amusement of your style is wearing thin on that crowd. Besides, it concerns me you're going about it so underhandly. I am offering straight, legitimate success for your career path after school. You are smart, determined, creative, and even athletic. You know you're a popular pick and promising for the girl's gymnastics team. When you showed up, I heard you had been skipping out on practice again. Why risk something sure to be positive on your portfolio? Add that to being on next year's student council using your passion for that hobby in a proper light, and you will thrive a great deal in the real world of opportunity," Kajik laid it on thick whatever conversation he was having with Machiki. Imato felt regret going forward, not back down the bloody stairs and felt like this was a private conversation. He was about to sneak on his airpod to avoid being called out, but as he reached for them in his pocket, a pause came as Machiki responded.
"Kajik... you are a great friend, and I know you're out to do what's best for people. Yet, I am not interested in stuff like that now. Honestly, I am just using gymnastics to practice for inspiration in my hobby. I know it's just a hobby, but it's the first thing I have done that I have gotten into, you know. Before it, I honestly had just floated around ignoring everything, and just like that, it was pure joy, and some people loved it," Machiki smiled with the joyous beam of the sun. It was evident she enjoyed what she was doing; good for her, Imato thought as he got one air pod about to close out on this misunderstanding and make it past them without a thought.
"Stop being delusional, Tsukara," a sudden wave of disheartened heart suddenly killed the sunshine from Tsukara's face as Kajik gave her a stern, almost disappointed look. Kajik had never given her a look like that. He was usually so kind and gentle. As long as she had known him for the last year, this was nothing like him. He had poked at her taking school and more solid career options more seriously before, but this was the first time he had directly been so mean about it.
"Be realistic. You are not in it for the long haul. You are wasting your time in the most precious moments of your life. You need to be equal to or above your classmates to make it anywhere worth your name. Stop being childish and take the more mature, pure route, Tsukara. I don't mean to be so blunt, yet someone needs to fix you; you have the passion and intellect to make astute decisions. Stop wasting it on such an ugly hobby and gain back some pride," Kajik was sharp with his words, so much so they cut Machiki deeply to the point she wanted to cry as she legitly sniffled at her passion being called ugly to the fact he considered it an insult unto herself.
And it was that look alone, even though he had heard nothing of this part, having put it in his AirPods, that face alone made him go through with what was about to happen. Right before Kajik could break her down more, Imato lunged into a fall, rocketing forward, ramming into the right side of Kajik, causing the third year to slam face-first into the school walls. Machiki released a surprised yelp as she panicked back and forth between the two boys, not sure who to check on first. As Imato whiffed into the ground, intricately playing all together into his "accidental" trip.
Yet upon his descent, where he hid his cocky smile, he quickly dispersed in confusion as he temporarily caught a glimpse of the unexpectedly very demonic glare of hatred he would have never expected possible from the perfectionist that was Kajik Sato. After hitting the ground, Imato let out a very understandable groan as he struggled for a moment, having to legitimately make an impact to sell the lie he was about to pass off as an accident. As he got up, though, he quickly felt his arms grip his shirt as he was slammed back into the wall, uplifted by Kajik, whose face now held a stern scowl. For a minute, Imato felt like he was about to fight for his life, not expecting Kajik to be this strong, having no after-school sports or activities to back up this sudden show of strength.
"KAJIK SATO, LET HIM GO! IT WAS ONLY AN ACCIDENT," Tsukara yelled in the student council president's face, causing Kajik to flinch and turn to her, giving her a death glare for telling him what to do or to demand he believe what happened. Kajik was disturbingly quiet while Imato flailed his legs about, trying to gain momentum to throw a proper swing in self-defense.
"For someone so coordinated and protected by outside forces, you have quite a temper for when things you don't like come calling your name in karma," Tsukara eeped loudly, nearly jumping out of her own shoes as Isao Yagi appeared out of thin air as a slow creaking door of the haunted room could be heard closing in the background. A thud followed as Kajik dropped Imato onto his ass before turning his full attention to the real ire of existence.
"Misreading into a situation again, Yagi? Tell me you know when you get a club approved, you must have signatures turned in to keep it afloat. I read up on you, good grades and excellent attendance. Yet noted very much as a loner, a creepy kid in the corner with an unhealthy obsession. Constantly known to bother others by mumbling dark, sickly little thoughts. Tell me, who was going to join your club? Your imaginary cryptids? You might want to ditch them before they put you in a hole, even if you can't wiggle your way out. Save yourselves the embarrassment and all. Cause my outside sources are very real," Kajik cruelly stabbed and twisted the knife back at Isao. Surprisingly, the smaller boy had no immediate reaction; instead, he pulled out the pen and notebook he always had on him. Though before Isao could say anything, Tsukara stood between him and Kajik.
"Don't you berate people's passions? You're kind and helpful, Kajik; you've done nothing but help me since I arrived here last year. You even gave my hobby praise originally. So why are you being like this now? Why are you being so cruel to others out of the blue," Tsukara demanded as Isao slowly poked out into view from behind the girl's left side like a reporter waiting for an answer. This gave Kajik a legit pause, as he seemed to calm down and get ahold of himself. He took a deep breath and looked at Tsukara with remorse. Isao and Imato watched Kajik as Tsukara spread her hands to protect Isao.
"You're right. I've been letting the Board of Learning's Elite Program Evaluation day get to me. I shouldn't be getting under my own skin. I am sorry, Yagi, Makage. Most of all, you, Tsukara..."
"Machiki. You'll have to earn that right back after you cool your head off," Tsukara corrected with a grunt followed by a nod demanding Kajik use her last name. This caught him off guard as Imato noticed the student council president grip his fists. Before anything else could be said, footsteps and mumblings could be heard as students came up, trying to figure out what all the shouting had been about. Not too far off, Mr. Ugway could be heard demanding what was happening. This caught both Isao and Tsukara's attention, causing them to look away.
That was when Kajik reeled up for a punch, causing Imato to dive up, trying to jump into an uppercut swiftly. Yet, as a foreign foot rammed into Imato's left leg, the chunni took an uncontrolled step forward for a brief moment; Kajik gave him a look that clearly stated they had won this bout as Kajik took the hit headbutting into it, causing Imato to redirect to the left. At the same time, Kajik quickly grabbed and pulled Tsukara out of harm's way. while Imatos's fist impacted Isao's unexpecting face, causing both boys to fall over.
It looked like Isao and Imato had been in a huge fight that Tsukara had been trying to stop, and Kajik had come to assist and immediately grabbed both boys by the shoulder, the teacher demanding to know what had come over the two as other students watched, confused and unsure of what had happened. Coming in right at the apex of the punch, the teacher was only left with one route of question.
"What's going on here?"
"THAT COCKY ASSHOLE IS TRYING TO CONFUSE AND MANIPULATE MACHIKI INTO SOME INSANE PROPOSITION TEACH," Imato howled.
"More like stalkerish trying to lull her into a hut, never to be seen again after a complete breakdown of her will. Much like an Amphivena with its two heads feeding off guilt and fear... he is the very two-faced of demons, Mr. Ugway. Lock him up," Isao pointed an accusing finger at Kajik Sato, causing the student around to have a shaken expression that didn't stay long when Mr. Ugway looked to them for answers. Though Imato gave a confused "what did you say", look to Isao who had mumbled all of that in a weird eerie whisper. The teacher could tell something was wrong, so he turned to what he assumed was his only legit innocent witness.
"Ms. Machiki, what happ... are you alright, young lady?" Mr. Ugway asked as the sunshine-haired girl seemed to lose her never-ending panic, and her face appeared extremely conflicted about everything. Kajik's behavior, Isao's bizarre appearance, and Imatos' sudden abandoned reckless violence left her utterly conflicted, unable even to put together what was going on. Yet most of all, it was the eyes all on her that made her feel overwhelmed. Her hands seemed to reach for something imaginary around her neck, trying to pull it down, but she bolted for the stairs when nothing came from it.
Imato watched her run off, which caused him to wrestle out of Mr. Ugways grip, wanting to indent the side of Kajik's face like it was the last item on his bucket list. Yet a few other teachers showed up and quickly wrestled the boy away as Kajik Sato watched with a soft sigh, shaking his head. "We were warned he could violently blow up at any time by the psychiatrist when he enrolled. I was hoping he was getting it out with his small fits, but it seems we should have taken them as signs of worse storms to come," Kajik spoke with much concern in his voice to Imato's lively complications, implying something a few students had heard about.
As Imato was dragged away, Isao followed peacefully. The principal's booming voice demanded what everyone was doing in the hall as the school bell rang. Yet even with all that, Isao's curious eye never left Kajik Sato, which caused nothing but a scoffing smirk to appear on the victorious student council president's face.