The sight of the mask took them all back. They weren't sure how it had gotten there or how it came to be, but it had been strange. The mask itself had been in the form of a white, birdlike domino mask with black designs around the eyes reminiscent of full eyeliner and sharp lashes.
"What… The fuck?" Kai said, stunned.
"Ren, where did that mask---" Dide said.
Ren felt the mask on his face, as panic seemed to fill him. His instinct had been to get the mask off. But to his own shock… It was stuck to his face.
And yet for some reason… He still went for it.
Dide and Kai soon heard him let out an agonized cry; they realized what he was doing.
"No, no, no, no!" Dide shouted trying to stop him.
"Ren stop, you're gonna---!" Kai started to say before he was cut off.
With a cry---Ren ripped the mask right off his face; blood poured out of his face as the mask was tossed to the floor---
---Only for it to disappear into blue flames.
Ren's eyes turned gold, as he smiled towards the Supposed Kamoshida who was a shock for words as well as his knights.
Instantly the blood on his face vanished before the blue flames appeared again, this time covering his entire body.
"Ren---!" Dide shouted as he attempted to go and help him, but stopped.
A strange figure manifested from the flames itself as Ren---Had an entirely different outfit. Instead of his school uniform he had a black ankle-length tailcoat, a high-necked waistcoat with gold accents, cinched black pants, brown-black winklepickers boots with taller heels and a pair of red gloves.
The figure behind from top to bottom: a very tall top hat, a long-horned mask for its face a cropped red eighteenth century-esque suit worn open with the collar popped, stitched heart designs on the shoulders, a white ruffle tie, a black, tailed corset running down its torso; large, black, feathery wings starting at around the small of its back; claws; red coverings on its legs resembling pants and boots with blade-like heels.
The figure's wings spread, sending the knights flying to the wall. The Supposed Kamoshida couldn't help but cower as he crawled away.
"Wh--What the---" Ryuji said shocked.
"R-r-ren?" Dide asked.
"W-what the fuck's going on?!" Kai shouted.
"Whoa…" Haruto said, stunned.
The figure soon spoke as this time, everyone could hear him.
"I am the pillager of twilight---ARSENE!"
"... Arsene?" Dide said, "As in Arsene Lupin?!"
"I don't think that's what he means!" Haruto said.
Ren looked to himself as he realized his clothes had changed. "... What is this?" Ren asked.
"You-You tell us!" Ryuji said.
"I am the rebel's soul that resides within you." The strange figure---Arsene said, "If you so desire, I shall consider granting you the power to break through this crisis."
Ren looked to the Supposed Kamoshida before looking to his friends Dide and Kai, before turning to Haruto and Ryuji. Despite the fact he was confused by the situation… He knew his answer.
"Give me your power." He told Arsene.
"Hmmph---" Arsene said, "---Very well then."
"Who the hell are you?!" The Supposed Kamoshida said, "Guards!"
` The guards soon came over when they were called.
"START BY KILLING THAT ONE!" The Supposed Kamoshida shouted.
The Knights form seemed to have changed into the form of ghouls with pumpkins for their head. "Shit! This is bad!" Ryuji said.
"What do we do?!" Haruto exclaimed.
Ren's expression changed, as Arsene seemed to have vanished; the same white, birdlike domino mask manifested on his face. "Don't worry---" Ren said as he pulled out his weapon, which had been that of a dagger, "---I got this."
"FOR KAMOSHIDA!!" The strange ghoul creature shouted before it charged towards him.
Ren had been quick to dodge before he attacked it swiftly with his dagger causing the creature to vanish. The other soon charged attempting to attack him from behind but---
"Arsene!" Ren called out as his mask vanished.
Arsene reappeared as he thrusted his hand in the ground; in one shot the creature vanished in a set of red lights causing it to cry out in pain.
"DAMN!!!!" Dide and Kai exclaimed.
"Where did you learn to fight with a dagger!?" Dide asked.
"I took up those lessons you suggested two years ago." Ren replied casually as the mask reappeared on his face.
Dide's expression brightened, "You HAVE been practicing!" her turned yo Kai as he said "Told you Aikido triumph Street fighting ANY day of the week!"
"Not a good time to have a dick measure contest!" Kai told him.
"Seriously…" Ryuji said, "... What was that just now?"
"You little---" The Supposed Kamoshida said as went to attack. However it had been thwarted by Haruto as he tackled him to the ground; leaving him disoriented when he hit the wall.
"Whoa!" Ryuji said startled.
"You!" Haruto said to him, "Grab the key! On the ground!"
Ryuji looked around, before he noticed the keys had been on the floor; figuring they had fallen out in the scuffle. "Got it!" Ryuji said quickly swiping it. Wasting no time, the boys quickly ran out of the cell, shutting the door behind them.
Ryuji quickly locked it just as the Supposed Kamoshida started to get up.
"DAMN YOU!" The Supposed Kamoshida exclaimed.
"Phew---At least we're out of the cell now." Haruto said wiping the sweat off of his brow.
"Hey---" Ryuji said looking to Ren, "---What was that just now?! And your clothes---"
"You think I know what's going on?!" Ren said as he looked to himself, "I'm just as confused as you---"
POOF---A sound suddenly went as in an instant…
… Ren had been back in his school uniform; glasses in all.
"---Are." Ren finished as the boys looked startled.
"It went back to normal?!" Haruto said, "How?!"
Dide said as he pulled on his hair, "I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!"
CLANG! CLANG!---Went the cell Kamoshida was in as he had been trying to get out startling the boy's again.
"Crap!" Kai shouted, "We gotta get out of here! We'll worry about what just happened later!"
"Right, let's go!" Ryuji said before he tossed the keys far; they soon started to make a run for it.
"Goddamn thieves---!" The Supposed Kamoshida said before shouting, "AFTER THEM! DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!!"
The boy's soon started to run, hoping to find their way out of the dungeons as the guards chased after them.
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-Shujin Academy; Faculty Office-
Kawakami along with Murdock had been expecting the three troubled boys early in the morning when school began. However… Hours went by as they sat in there respective seats as they noticed the time on the clock.
"... It's already fourth period." Kawakami said.
"Oh boy.." Murdock said. "..I hope they're not playing hooky--especially since i had high hopes for them."
"Sakura-san said they left this morning so it doesn't make sense…" Kawakami said, "...Should we contact the police?"
"Whoa now!" Murdock immediately said, "Let's not pull that card yet. I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation as to why they're late."
"How can you be so sure?" Kawakami asked.
"Because they seem like good boys." He said, "I know you don't like this situation but they're just kids."
"Still---" Kawakami said as she sighed, "---What did I do to deserve this…?"
Murdock could only shake his head as he sighed. He soon stood from his seat "I'm gonna find them."
"What? But your class---!" Kawakami went to argue.
"I'll be back before fourth period." He said, as he got his jacket, "In the meantime, come up with an excuse for me!"
Before Kawakami could stop him he exited out of the office and went out the door. She couldn't help but let out a sigh at this, "... What in the world did I do to deserve this…?"
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-???-
It seemed like it had been a maze.
Just when they thought they got a hand on where their bearings were, they seemed to end up back in the same place. If there was one thing they were grateful for… It was the fact they were far ahead of the guards.
For now the boys had caught their breath.
"Goddamn it---" Kai said, "---Where the hell is that damn exit?"
"It's like we're in some kind of fantasy video game!" Dide said as he tried to catch his breath. "Or in this case something out of D&D.."
"Damn it!" Ryuji said as he looked to his phone, "There's still no service in here, just what on Earth is this place?!"
"... It really seems like the only way out is through that drawbridge we passed by earlier." Ren said,
"But we don't know how to get the bridge down!" Dide said, "All I saw was a statue and no lever! I'm not really seeing another way out."
Haruto soon shook his head, "We can't leave yet, my friend is still stuck in one of the cells!"
"I'm not seeing other people---" Ryuji said, "---Maybe they got out?"
"I'm not willing to take that chance!" Haruto said, "Come on!"
"Wait!" Ren called out as Haruto ran ahead.
They quickly caught up to him, only to find---They ran into a dead end. "FUCKING---COME ON!" Kai shouted.
"Damnit!" Ryuji said, "How the hell are we supposed to get out of here?!"
"Come on! Come on!" Haruto said looking around, "You gotta be around here somewhere!"
Just then---A new voice could be heard.
"Hey!" It said, "You there!"
The group had been a bit startled as they started to look around.
The voice came again.
"Blondie! Fizzy Hair!" It said, "One of you guys! Look over here!"
The group looked over in the direction of the cell, as they were quick to realize it had been coming from one of the cells nearby. Though---They were a bit startled by the sight of where exactly the voice came from.
It had been from an anthropomorphic and biped tuxedo cat-like creature with a large spheroidal head. Its fur is predominantly black, except on its limbs and tail which appear white. The bottom front half of his face or his mouth is also white.
It appeared to be wearing a mask that covered most of his face, except for his ears and elliptic eyes consisting of white sclerae, blue irises and black pupils. His eyes are slightly slanted in a downturned angle. Its eyes are vertically laid out dead center on their head, but may also be positioned higher up. Its outer ears are black with white inner ears.
They also had a lemon-colored scarf around his neck. It also had a utility belt around his hips, with two golden buttons and two bags attached. It generally has tufts of fur within the inside of his ears, around his shoulders and on his chest and they also had pink paw pads.
They noticed two more people inside the cell.
One appeared to be a tall anamorphic canine like creature wearing a simple suit vest and a white collared shirt with dress shoes and a red mask that seemed to resemble a moth, while the other had been a teenager as they noticed the people outside of the cell.
"What the hell?!" Ryuji said noticing the strange cat creature, "What is this thing!?"
"Mo-chan!" Haruto exclaimed with relief as he ran to the bars.
"It's you!" The strange creature, that appeared to be Mo-chan said, "Thank goodness you're still alive."
Haruto looked inside the cell recognizing them, "Oh thank God, you're all okay."
"Yeah---" The canine said, "---More or less."
"HOLY SHIT, IT TALKS!" Dide couldn't help but shriek, "WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ARE YOU?!"
"I get what you mean, but rude---" The canine said, "---I'm obviously a dog you know? Sides this is kind of new for me too."
"DOGS DON'T HAVE PEOPLE FINGERS AND AREN'T THAT TALL LAST I CHECKED!!" Dide shouted before he stated calmly, "Unless they're a great dane, or a St Bernard, or a---"
"Shut!" Kai said as he immediately shut his mouth.
"Those guys with you aren't soldiers from this castle right?" Mo-chan asked Haruto, "You gotta get us out of here!"
"Don't worry they're not, I promise!" Haruto reassured them.
"You know what this monster cat is?!" Kai yelled.
Mo-chan's eye twitched at this, "I'M NOT A CAT!!"
"Well hard to explain but he's our cat!" Haruto explained, earning a look from Mo-chan, "Though to be honest I don't know how he turned into this, let alone talk!"
"ARE YOU DEAF?! I'M NOT A CAT!" Mo-chan shouted, "I AM MORGANA!"
They soon heard the sound of metal clanging in the distance. "Shit they're catching up already!" Ryuji said.
"Quick! We gotta let them out!" Haruto said.
"Hold on a second---" Kai said stopping Haruto from getting the key, "---I know that guy in there is a human but those two I don't trust!"
"I can see why you would think that, really." The Canine said, "But I can assure you, I'm just as baffled by this thing as you are. I mean I was fine being a dog earlier, not a kind of person."
"That's not the issue here!" He said.
"How do we know we can trust those two?" Ren asked.
"He's got a point!" Dide said, "Not to mention, we still gotta find a way out of here!"
"You wanna strike a deal? That's fine by me!" Mo-chan or rather Morgana said, as they were taken back by his confident tone, "You're looking to get out of here right? If you let us out I'll show you where the exit is!"
"Wait, you know how to get out of here?" Ryuji asked.
"You're not lying are you?" Ren asked.
"I never go back on my word!" Morgana replied, "What do you say?"
"Agreed." Ren said before he went to grab the keys, shocking them.
"Seriously?!" Kai said, "You're just gonna trust that thing immediately?!"
With a turn of the key, Ren opened the cell doors, allowing Morgana, and the strange canine creature to come out. The young teen however stood before they nearly fell. Ren quickly rushed inside and caught them.
"I got you." He said as he did this.
They looked nervous as they looked to say something but stopped themselves. As Ren helped them come out of the cell, that's when they saw it… A familiar star shaped birthmark on their cheek.
He looked shocked at this as he recalled where he had seen it months prior.
"I… Know you." Ren started to say before Haruto interjected.
"You're okay!!" He exclaimed with relief as he hugged them. The sudden force knocked off their hood. The boys minus Haruto were taken aback when they saw---
---Long red and brown hair. It had been up to their mid back despite it being messy as the red seemed to transition into their brown strands; they had an odd combination of green and a hazel brown. They even noticed that they had fair skin despite the fact they had dirt.
It was then it hit them.
"He's---A GIRL?!" Ryuji exclaimed, shocked.
"... You gotta be kidding…" Kai said, stunned.
Dide smacked his head as he shook before he turned to them. "This is beyond nuts..How did this happen?"
"Like I told you---" Haruto said, "---We ended up here the same as you did. And with the way that King guy was dressed, you could see why I was worried about her. I didn't want him to do anything to hurt her or worse."
Dide soon said, "That's Understandable."
The person---Or rather the girl looked nervous as she went to hide behind Haruto. "... You're Kiku?" Ren said stunned.
She—Or rather Kiku looked to Ren, her expression changed before she nodded her head. Ren soon said to her calmly, as he didn't seem to think, "I'm… Ren Amamiya. My friends and I won't hurt you, I promise."
Kiku said nothing before she took herself away from Haruto. Both seemed to be in a trance as they looked to one another.
Haruto looked confused, "Wait---How do you know her name? Do you know each other from somewhere?"
"I---" Ren started to say before they heard the metal footsteps again.
"Maybe save the Q&A for after we leave in one piece." Ryuji told the group.
"Agreed!" Morgana said, "Follow me and stay close!"
The group went to move, though Kiku ended up lagging as she felt a pain in her leg. The group looked back at her. "Kiku what's---" Haruto said before he noticed the ripped part of her pants had a large gash, "---You're hurt! Did that guy do that to you?"
Kiku shook her head and tried to take a step on it again, but cringed.
"Seriously?!" Kai said.
They heard the knights coming ever so closer. Ryuji thought of only one thing as he went over to Kiku; he soon kneeled down as he turned his back to her, "Come on, get on!"
Kiku looked surprised but climbed on his back without a second thought.
"Alley oop!" Ryuji said, picking her up. "Alright, let's get out of here!"
"Right!" Morgana said, before they started to move forward, avoiding the knights and other strange creatures that had been around them. They followed little Morgana towards the drawbridge they had passed by earlier as they noticed Mo-chan had been looking for something around the statue.
"What the heck are you doing now?!" Kai asked him.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Morgana said, "I'm lowering the bridge!"
"But I checked around there earlier! There's no lever!" Dide said, before he pointed to the Kamoshida statue, "The only thing that's here is that creepy statue!"
Morgana groaned before he looked at Ren, "You! Frizzy Hair! You seem to be a lot quicker on the uptake then the rest of these guys, no offense Haruto--"
"None taken." Haruto said with a shrug.
"---Try checking around the mouth, okay?" Morgana said.
"The mouth?" Ren said confused before he went to the exam like he said. He soon noticed something off about the statue. He saw the mouth had been loose.
"Wait a minute---" He said before he took the jaw and pulled it down.
To everyone's surprise the drawbridge lowered allowing a way to the other side. "THAT WAS A KEY THE WHOLE TIME?!" Kai shouted.
Dide shouted, "HOW THE HELL DID YOU FIND IT THAT FAST?!"
"The mouth was lose." Ren replied.
"HOW WERE WE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT IN FIRST PLACE?!" Ryuji shouted.
"Come on!" Morgana said before he started to lead the group. They didn't have much of an option as they started to run across the bridge. However the moment they did, they ran into another knight.
The boys ended up jumping back.
"HOLY SHIT, ANOTHER ONE!" Ryuji exclaimed as he nearly fell over with Kiku.
In almost a blink of an eye---Ren's clothes changed into the other set in a set of blue flames, mask in all. The strange canine soon stood in between them along with Mo-chan.
"Tch, you amateur! Stay there with Kiku!" Morgana said, before he turned to Ren, "Hey, you can fight right? Let's do this!"
Morgana raised his paw before he called out----
"Come… ZORRO!!"
Just like that a strange figure manifested just behind Mo-chan. It had been a large man, holding a saber as they wore a mask.
"WHAT THE HELL?! THE CAT HAS IT TOO?!" Dide exclaimed.
"Not a cat!" Morgana said.
"Mo-chan! That is so cool!" Haruto said as there had been sparkles in his eyes.
"Isn't it?" Morgana said smugly.
They soon noticed more Knights had showed up. "Oh crap, not good!" Ryuji said as he stood up while still having Kiku on her back.
"Let's take care of them Frizzy Hair!" Morgana said, pulling out a sword of his own, "I'll back you up!"
"Got it!" Ren said getting his dagger out again.
Thus, Ren and Morgana went towards the Knights as they morphed into strange creatures again. This time one of them looked to be a fairy of some sort. The two creatures attacked Ren and Mo-chan simultaneously; luckily they were both quick to dodge.
With a call of its name, Morgana's strange being summoned winds that blew back both of the creatures in an instant; however it still pressed forward as it went to attack as it attempted to get him from behind.
Ren had been quick to intervene as he sliced through the ghoul like creature in an instant causing it to shriek before it vanished.
"BEHIND YOU REN!" Dide shouted as the pixie-like creature went to attack with a strange red glow.
This time Morgana had been quick to block the attack. "Heh---" He said, "---I knew you were an amatuer. This is how it's done!" Mo-chan soon pulled out a slingshot before hitting it on the head, as the strange being shrieked.
"ZORRO!" Morgana called out once more. Zorro manifested before it used a powerful gust of wind finishing the fairy off instantly.
The group couldn't help but sigh with relief as Ren and Morgana stood triumphantly. "That was incredible!" Haruto said, amazed, "What in the world was that?!"
"Yeah… What was that anyway?" Kai asked.
"It's called a Persona!" Morgana replied.
"... Persona?" The group, minus Kiku, had said.
"What in the heck is that?" Ryuji asked.
"You saw how Frizzy Hair ripped off his mask when he summoned it didn't you?" Morgana said, "Everyone wears a mask deep within their heart. By removing that---"
POOF!
Before Morgana could finish they were taken back as Ren's clothes changed back to his uniform and glasses.
"It happened again?" Dide said.
"Why does it keep doing that?" Kai said.
"Huh---" Morgana said, "---Looks like you don't have full control over your powers yet. The transformation shouldn't dissolve like that. After all--"
"Gah!" Ryuji soon groaned, "That's enough! This crap doesn't make any sense at all!"
"Finally someone making sense!" Kai said.
"Hey!" Morgana said, "Can't you just sit still and listen!? Blondie?! Yankee!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING YANKEE?!" Kai shouted, "IT'S KAI HIGUCHI DAMN IT!"
"And I'm not Blondie, it's Ryuji Sakamoto!" Ryuji stated.
"Is this really the time for a lecture right now?" The canine person said.
It seemed to have hit Morgana as he jumped, "Oh crap, you're right! We gotta go!" He soon ran ahead before telling the group, "Come on, it's not much further!"
The group started to follow Morgana up the stairs, passing by every cell. It hadn't been long before they passed a cell in particular; Kiku noticed it had been of a young teen wearing a sports uniform, looking beat up and worn out and looking dejected.
She didn't have time to let the group know as they made their way up the stairs and back towards the foyer.
"How much further is it!?" Dide asked.
"It's not much farther! It's just across from the entrance hall!" Morgana replied, "Keep up now!"
"The entrance hall!?" Ren said, "But won't there be more of those---guys see us!?"
"Never mind them, just keep following me!" Morgana told him.
With no time to argue, the group ran across the lobby towards the other hall that had been there. As they hurried inside, they had found---
"A DEAD END?!" Dide shouted.
"Goddamn it!" Kai shouted, "Did you trap us you damn cat!?"
"First of all not a cat---" Morgana said, "---Second of all don't jump to conclusions!" He soon went to one of the doors, before he opened it with ease, "Over here!"
The group looked confused before they ran inside the room that looked practically empty.
"Great how are we supposed to get out of here?!" Ryuji said, "There aren't even any windows!"
"Ugh, you amateur…" Morgana said as he shook his head, "... This is the most basic of basics."
"What does that even mean?!" Kai said.
Ren and Dide soon looked up noticing a grate in the wall. "Of course!" Dide said, "A vent!"
"Bingo!" Morgana said, "So you're a natural like Frizzy Hair here."
Dide told Morgana, "I did play an understudy in a spy movie once."
"Wait, wait, you were in a movie?" Haruto said stunned as Dide immediately flinched.
"Uh well--" Dide said before he gave Haruto a look, "---You didn't hear that!"
"What? But you just said it out lo---" Haruto started to say before Dide smacked his mouth shut.
"Anyway----" Morgana said awkwardly, "---The vent leads all the way outside, so you'll be able to get out of the castle."
"Thank goodness." Ren said relieved.
"Hey man---" Ryuji said to Kai, "---Help me get this metal mesh off."
"Don't tell me what to do!" Kai said though he followed Ryuji anyway. They both climbed up on the shelf before they pulled as hard as they could. Eventually they managed to get it off---
---But the force from the pull ended up knocking them both over with shriek.
"... Ow…" Kai groaned.
"Crap!" Ryuji said, "Did anyone hear us?!"
Dide quickly went to the door, cracking it opening before he looked around, "Sounds like the coast is clear."
Each of them sighed with relief at this. "We're finally gonna get out of here!" Haruto said, "Thank God!"
"Maybe celebrate after you get out of here!" Morgana said, "Now get going!"
"You don't have to tell us twice!" Dide said.
The group went to climb out the window, but---
"Wait---" Haruto said stopping, "---Aren't you coming Mo-chan?"
"No, I still have something I need to do." Morgana said, "Just get Kiku out of here!"
"Mo-chan…" Haruto said.
"Come on--" Dide said as he took his hand, "---We gotta go."
"You heard him! Let's go!" Ryuji said as he helped Kiku to go through. Ren had been the last to go out, as he turned to Morgana, "Don't get caught again."
Morgana chuckled, "You take care of yourself too. See ya!"
With that, Ren went through the vent as Morgana watched him leave. Though he looked intrigued especially since he had seen earlier from the battle.
"Those guys seem useful… Especially the frizzy-haired one, if my judgment's right..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a flash of the strange red light, Ren, Ryuji, Kai, Haruto, Kiku and what appeared to be a dog or rather Shiro fell on top of each other. They didn't realize it, but---They were back in the streets from where they first started, as it startled a lot of passerbyers.
"Ow…." Ryuji said as he looked up and finally noticed, they were back in the city, or more specifically the Aoyama-Itchome district, "... What the--?!"
"Are we--" Dide said as he felt himself before feeling the floor, "---Are we back!?"
They soon noticed Ren's phone which had been out of pocket and in front of them. They could hear a strange automated voice speak up.
"You have returned to the real world---Welcome back."
"Returned?" Kai said, "Does that mean we---WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!"
The moment Kai and the others looked over, they saw that Dide had been kissing the ground.
Dide couldn't help but cry with relief as he said, "WHAT?! I'M KISSING THE FLOOR! WE'RE BACK IN THE REAL WORLD!"
"DUDE, THERE'S PEOPLE AROUND!" Ryuji exclaimed as he got him to stand up, "QUIT THAT!!"
They soon heard a thud just next to them. They looked over, finally noticing that the girl Kiku, had been on the floor unconscious.
"Hey! Kiku!" Ren said as he went to her side; upon closer inspection he noticed she had been breathing softly. "She's asleep?"
"Ki… Ku…" Haruto said tiredly, he went to stand however he immediately collapsed to his knees.
"Shit, hey!" Kai said as he went to catch him, "You good?"
"... I don't know why, but---" Haruto said as he yawned, "---I feel sleepy… All of a sudden…"
"Hey hang in there!" Ryuji said.
"Crap!" dide said. "We gotta do something or--!"
"Hey!"
The boys flinched before they noticed, it had been a pair of officers, "What do you think you're doing? Skipping school?"
"Shit, just what we needed!" Kai said softly.
"Oh Double Crap!" Dide exclaimed. "Hey Officers, this isn't what it looks like!"
"Oh?" The officer said eyeing Dide. "And let me guess, you put them up to this?"
"What?! No!" Dide exclaimed.
"We just got trapped in a castle and they ended up like this!" Ryuji said.
The Officers looked perplexed. "A castle?" One of the officers said.
His partner sighed, "Hand over your bag. You better not be doing any drugs."
"DRUGS!?" Dide shrieked looking offended, "How dare you sir! Never have I ever touched that stuff in my life! If it ain't medical then I ain't going near it!"
"Is this really the time to point that out!?" Kai said softly.
"Woah calm down, kid." The officer said.
"No! That's a literal microaggression you're doing!" Dide said. "I CAN ACTUALLY SUE!"
"Dide, calm down, you're not helping!" Ren said softly.
"You there---" The officer soon said, turning to Ren, "---Are you their friend?"
"I am." Ren replied.
"Then you better take them and head to school---" The Officer said before he looked at Kiku and Haruto, "--You best leave those two to us."
Ren looked to Kiku before he noticed despite how tired Haruto looked---He had a look of fear. Ren was about to speak up until---
"There you boys are!"
They looked over, noticing a car had pulled up. The driver had been Dide's homeroom teacher, Murdock.
"Murdock-sensei!?" Dide asked.
"Geez, You're giving me a heart attack, Playing hooky on the first day?" He said.
"STILL not what it looks like." Dide said.
Murdock turned to the cops as he said "At ease, I'll take them from here.
"You're their teacher?" The officer asked.
"Yep." Murdock said. "Come on boys, in the car. And---" He soon gestured to Haruto and Kiku, "---Bring those two here. I'll take them to a clinic nearby."
"Really?" Ren asked, looking hopeful.
"Yeah, from the looks of it, they're not looking so hot." Murdock said. "And hurry, your teachers are waiting for you."
"But---" Ryuji started to say before Dide took his hand.
"Come on, let's just go." He said as he pulled him to the car.
Kai soon helped Haruko up as he looked like he had been on the verge of sleeping, "Come on, stay with me."
Ren soon helped Kiku to stand despite her unconscious state before he went to the car; he set her sitting upright in the car seat as Murdock started the engine before driving off; he had already set in his GPS for a clinic that had been close by.
"Seriously, what were you boy's doing?" Murdock asked as he drove, "Where did you find those two kids?"
"Uh---A castle?" Ryuji replied awkwardly.
Murdock looked to Ryuji who had been sitting in the front seat with him, before shaking his head, "... Well that sounds unbelievable."
"But it's true, I swear!" Dide said as he had been sitting in the backseat.
"Yeah, and what's next? You found a magical sword that gives you powers?" Murdock asked. "And you're tasked to fight the demon king?"
"... That sounds weirdly specific…" Kai said.
"Though something like that did happen---Kind of---I think---" Dide said, before he groaned, "GAH, I DON'T KNOW!!"
"Maybe I should get you guys checked out by the doctor." Murdock said.
Dide shook his head as he said, "NOPE! NOT NECESSARY! WE DON'T NEED THAT!"
"Hmm? What are you afraid of Doctors?"
"More like he's afraid they'll know who he is on the spot." Kai said before Dide smacked him.
"Look, it doesn't matter what happened---" Ren said, "---All that matters is, these two need help."
Murdock noticed the expression on Ren's face as his look softened. "Don't worry---" Murdock said, "---I've got a friend who's willing to take walk-ins. And they'll treat them for free--" He soon looked at Haruto and Kiku's appearances, "--From the looks of it, they don't have much on them."
"A friend?" Dide said.
"... Do you think they can stay there?" Ren asked.
"Well, obviously that's gonna have to be an option for them---" Murdock said, "---They'll stay until after school, and we'll---Figure out what to do from there."
"Then---You're not gonna suspend us Murdock-sensei?" Dide asked, looking hopeful.
"Nope, But consider this your ONLY warning, Boys." Murdock told them as they flinched, "So no more playing hooky."
"Y-Yes sir." Dide and Ryuji said.
"We weren't playing hooky…" Kai said softly.
Ren felt a sudden weight on his shoulder before he noticed Kiku had been leaning against him. He couldn't help but have an awkward look, though in the end, he didn't bother pushing her away.
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-Shujin Academy-
Once they had checked Kiku and Haruto into the clinic, with their dog Shiro, the boys had returned to their school. To Ren, Kai, Dide's and Ryuji's surprise… The school had been normal. They didn't see any sights of the castle. It had all been normal, right down to the sign.
"...Is---This for real?" Ryuji said.
"It's all normal…" Dide said stunned, "... But--Where did that weird castle go?"
"Are you sure you're not on anything?" Murdock asked Dide with concern. "It sounds like you have first day jitters."
Dide immediately shook his head, "I didn't take any drugs!"
"We came through that way---" Kai said, "----But, gah just what the hell is even going on?!"
"That should be my line."
The boys and Murdock looked up the steps to see it had been one of the counselors of the school.
"We received a call from the police." The Counselor said.
"That damn cop snitched on us after all!" Ryuji said.
"Fucking hell---" Kai said with a twitch of his eye.
"It's rare not to see you alone." The Counselor said, "Where were you roaming this time around?"
"Let me handle this---" Murdock said softly before he told the counselor, "--There was an incident with two street kids so that's why they were late."
"Is this true?" The Counselor asked the teens.
"Yeah!" Ryuji said, "But that was after we found them in that bizarre castle---"
"Shut up man!" Dide whispered, "He's not gonna---"
"What's this about a castle?"
The teens looked surprised as they saw who had appeared at the top of the stairs. It had been Kamoshida.
"Kamoshida?!" Ryuji said, shocked.
"That guy---!" Kai said.
"But---He's not dressed in that God awful outfit." Dide said.
"You seem so carefree, Sakamoto." Kamoshida said, "Quite a difference from when you did morning practice for the track team."
"Shuddup!" Ryuji said, "It's your fault that--!"
"How dare you speak that way to Mr. Kamoshida!" The Counselor said cutting him off before sighing, "There's not much leeway left for you, you know?"
"He's the one that provoked me!" He said.
"Sakamoto-san---" Murdock said as he gently pulled him back, before saying to Kamoshida, "Kamoshida, give him a break. He's just a kid."
"Murdock, come on!" Kamoshida said. "Don't tell me you're getting soft on these kids!"
"So what if I am?" Murdock said, "I am a teacher afterall. We should treat the students as if they're people too."
"Come on, Tough love never hurt anyone." Kamoshida said with a smile as it made Murdock's eye twitch.
"In any case---" The Counselor said, "---Sakamoto, come with me. It's undeniable that you're extremely late."
"Fine…" Ryuji said with a look.
"Go on now---" Murdock said, before he took Ryuji up the stairs, "---There's no need to start anything." He soon turned to the boy, "As for you three, go to the faculty office."
"Right." Ren said.
Murdock soon escorted Ryuji to the counselor's office with the Counselor himself. Kamoshida soon turned to them, "Haven't I seen you guys somewhere?"
"... We saw you with a girl." Ren soon replied.
It soon clicked for Kamoshida, "Oh yeah, you were at the station with Takamaki. Well, I'll overlook this just for today but the next time if you step out of line you'll be expelled."
He turned to Dide as he added "Especially you, since you're the eldest. You best watch it, Because I'm sure being expelled for you will be worse on you rather than them,"
Dide looked a bit shocked, though eventually replied, "I understand, sir."
"Now then---To the faculty office!" Kamoshida said before he said with a sickening smile, "Oh---And welcome---To Shujin Academy."
For one brief moment, Ren, Kai and Dide seemed to see him as… The King. Though the moment had soon ended within a blink, he had been back to normal as he entered the school.
"... Did… You just see that?" Ren asked Kai and Dide.
"... I did… And I don't want to believe it…" Dide said.
"Just---What in the fuck is going on…?" Was the only thing Kai could ask.