Nine

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"Okay!"


We walk up the stairs to school, and head to class.

*Timeskip*

"I'm the social studies teacher Mr. Ushimaru. I'll be teaching you the rules of society this year. Hmph... you all look like you've been spoiled growing up. Before we learn society's rules, maybe I should start with the rules of being a decent human being. Hey, new kid." The teacher called on Akira, who was dozing off a second before. "The Greek philosopher Plato divided the human soul into three parts. A soul is composed of appetite, spirit, and what else?" I knew the answer, but didn't want to blurt it out.

"Logic." I sighed in relief when Akira said the correct answer. "Correct. So you knew that, huh? Plato's teacher, Socrates, said that evil is born from ignorance. People who've been babied, taught that evil is due to individuality, can only become society's scum." The teacher said, and I heard murmurs. "Wow, he got it right... is he really a delinquent?" "He seems like a punk, but maybe he's actually serious about studying?" I heard students whispering. I looked over at Akira, who looked a bit proud of himself, and you chuckled softly.

"Bizarre incidents have been occurring frequently. Those are but the actions of such scum. We don't need crude people like that in this school. Understand?" The teacher continued with the lesson.

*Timeskip*

Akira and I exited the classroom, and saw Kamoshida walking towards Ann. "Hey there, Takamaki. You looking for a ride home? Things have been pretty dangerous lately with all those accidents." The perv says. "That pervert... Ann doesn't deserve having to deal with him." I grumble under my breath. "Sorry, I have a photoshoot today. It's for the special summer issue, so I can't afford to miss it..." Ann said. "Hey now... being a model's fine and dandy, but don't work your pretty little self to the bone. You mentioned you weren't feeling well, right? Something about appendicitis?" Kamoshida asks. 

"Yes. I keep planning to go to the hospital, but I've been busy... sorry to worry you." Ann replies. "You must be lonely too. I feel bad for keeping her at practice so often. That's why I asked you out in the first place. Oh and... be careful around that transfer student. He's got a criminal record, after all. If something were to happen to you..." Kamoshida trailed off. "... Thank you. Please excuse me." Ann said before running off.

*Timeskip*

I met up with Ryuji at the school gate and we waited for Akira. Soon we saw him walk out of the gates. "Yo." Ryuji greets. "Hey." I say. "What's up?" Akira asks. "We wanna talk about that castle from yesterday." I start. "I tried tellin' myself it was all just a dream... but I couldn't do it. I can't act like nothing happened. It's all connected to that bastard Kamoshida, after all. I wanna find out what's up with that place, no matter what." Ryuji added, and you nod. "Yeah. I wanna know if Ryuji and I can do the same thing you did yesterday, y'know, awakening our Personas? And y'know, you're the only person we can rely on for this stuff. So, you in?" I ask.

"Sure, what next?" Akira asked, and I high fived him. "Ooh... looks like I managed to talk some sense into you." Ryuji said. "I think we should just try and retrace our steps from yesterday." Akira said, and I nodded. "In the meantime, you're walking to the station, right? Let's go together. Lemme know if you notice any other weird buildings on the way." I say, and we start walking. 

Pretty soon, we stop walking. "If a huge castle like that really exists, I'm sure we'll find it in no time. When'd they build something like that though?" Ryuji comments. "Maybe no one built it. Remember how yesterday when we escaped the castle, Akira's phone said something about 'returning to the real world'? Maybe that has something to do with it. Maybe we went into some alternate world. Or maybe I'm just crazy. Who knows." I suggest absentmindedly. "We walked that way from here, right?" I say, not noticing the blank and surprised looks on my friends' faces.

"Let's just go home." Akira says, and I look at him. "Don't be like that. It'll be over quick." Ryuji said. "Yeah, don't be a chicken. You don't wanna be a chicken, do you Aki?" I jokingly teased the raven-haired boy. "Alright, this way. Lemme know if you notice something." Ryuji says, and we start walking back towards Shujin.

We arrive at the academy pretty quickly, and I'm slightly disappointed when I see that it's still normal and not a castle. "Huh? We're at school..." Ryuji, once again, states the obvious. "Yeah, no shit Sherlock." I say. "Fuck you, Watson. There wasn't anything out of place along the way, right? I didn't see no castle either... agh, we must've made a wrong turn somewhere. Let's try again." Ryuji says. "Again...?" Akira and I say simultaneously. "Don't worry, I won't mess up this time. Let's go." Ryuji assures, and we follow him again. 

"For real?" Ryuji whines when we end up at the school once again. "Is it smaller than we think it is? What do you two think?" I ask the boys. "Check on your phone." Akira suggests. "We already did that." Ryuji says, and I nod. "I didn't see anything like it around here." I say, and Ryuji's eyes widen, like he just thought of something. "Huh? Phone... hey, that reminds me - didn't you have a navigation app thingy on back then?" I facepalm at what Ryuji says. "Hey, that reminds me, didn't I say almost the exact same thing like, ten minutes ago?" I ask sarcastically. "Navigation app?" Akira asks. "I dunno if it was or not, but I heard stuff that sounded like one comin' from your phone. Y'know, didn't it say stuff like 'returned to the real world' or something like that? Lemme see your phone for a bit." Ryuji said, and Akira handed him his phone.

I looked over Ryuji's shoulder to see what he was doing. "What's this eyeball lookin' thing?" Ryuji asked. "I can't delete it..." Akira said. "Me neither. It just keeps coming back." I say. "Wait what? What a weird app. Oh wait, this is it! I knew it - it IS a navigation app! There's even your search history! Oh man, I'm such a genius! Let's try usin' it." Ryuji suggests, and I look at Akira. "But I don't know how." The raven haired boy said. "Then I'll do it." I say, snatching Akira's phone from Ryuji's hands. I didn't even touch a button before a voice came through. 

//Kamoshida... Shujin Academy... Pervert... Castle... Beginning navigation.//

"There we go! Then, we went in a certain direction, and-" Suddenly Ryuji was cut off by... something weird that I can't quite explain. The sky darkened, and I handed Akira back his phone. "Hey, what are you- ... huh? What the hell?" Ryuji said, and I took a glance at Akira's phone, which had a weird eye symbol that was constantly glitching. I looked up at the school right before it turned into the castle. "Look! It's the castle from yesterday!" Ryuji exclaimed, and started sprinting ahead, and I barely noticed Akira's outfit changed before we went running after Ryuji. 

"We made it back... that means what happened yesterday was for real too... yeargh! Those clothes! That happened last time too, huh!? What's with that outfit!?" Ryuji exclaimed, and Akira noticed what he was wearing. "You jelly?" Akira teased, and it took all of my strength not to bust out laughing, even then I could only muffle my laughter. "I-I ain't jealous!" Ryuji stuttered. "Ahah, yeah, toootally not jealous." I giggle. "What's going on here!? This makes no effin' sense at all..." Ryuji yells, and I turn my head at a familiar voice. "Hey!" Morgana called. I greeted him, "Morgana! Hey!"


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Hey hey hey! I'm back from my hiatus! Sorry for the wait, I hope you guys didn't wait too long for this chapter! School has really taken a toll on me, so I should be able to update once a week. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter, and keep an eye out for more chapters! Byyeeeee!! <3


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