Odd One Out

Chapter 5: Persona Non Grata

Cover Image by @LinkAnd0606 on Twitter.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Persona 5. I do, however, own the rights to Samarth Katsukawa and Kayoko Nakamura.

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Thursday, April 14th

Shibuya, Early Morning

Sam squinted at himself in the full-length mirror, donning the perpetual blackness of his blazer and its cardinal red buttons. After contorting his body to see different angles of his figure, a gust of air escaped his nose and he began to furiously unbutton the blazer, pulling the white turtleneck over his head and flinging both articles of clothing onto his bed.

Now only in his plaid trousers, Sam began rummaging through his closet, picking out random collar shirts and polo shirts crumpled on the floor and replacing them after a moment's glance. He raised his eyebrows as he noticed a dress shirt suspended on a hanger in the corner, its pearl white color accentuated by the enveloping shadow cast by the closed blinds of the window. Travelling further along the row of hanging long-sleeve shirts, pairs of jeans, and flannels, his eyes halted on a lonely powder blue sweater vest. Pulling it off its hanger and examining its gleaming, golden buttons, Sam swiftly retrieved the white dress shirt and held it up with his other hand. A smirk appeared on his face as his eyes bounced from one piece of clothing to the other, and soon enough, he had picked out a black necktie from his dresser to complete the look.

With renewed vigor, Sam dutifully buttoned up the dress shirt and folded up its collar, letting it hang untucked over his belt. The sweater vest followed soon afterward with the top buttons kept open invitingly for his tie. Grabbing his glasses and returning to the mirror, Sam tugged at the knot of his tie, sliding it upward until it was secured comfortably around his neck. Finally letting his body relax and his arms hang at his sides, he admired himself and began to chuckle with delight.

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Shujin Academy

Sam strolled down the alleyway towards Shujin, his creased sleeves glowing a soft white amidst the blanket of jet black that seemed both allured to and repulsed by his presence at the same time. He turned the corner at the iron gate and looked up the stairway leading to the entrance.

Kamoshida stood there with his arms crossed, eagerly greeting students as they passed by. His eyes drifted over the soot beneath him before locking onto Sam, and what was previously an amiable smile was shortly replaced by a twisted frown.

Sam steadily proceeded up the stairs, forcing his gaze straight ahead as he passed by Kamoshida. However, an outstretched arm quickly shot into his path.

"Not so fast."

Kamoshida briskly moved towards the botanical garden next to the steps, beckoning Sam with his finger.

"Get over here, Katsukawa," he said in a stentorian voice easily heard above the murmur of the crowd of arriving students.

With a deep breath, Sam hesitantly turned and walked towards Kamoshida, who now stood with both hands resting on his hips. Clicking his tongue, he began to inspect Sam's clothing intensively.

"What's this?" he questioned as he reached out and pinched Sam's tie, "Don't tell me you think changing your outfit's going to help your case at this school."