After they had received a scolding from their peers, Ren, Kai and Dide went off to their designated classes. Though as they ventured to their classes, they couldn't help but wonder why everyone had been looking in their direction; they even noticed the expressions on their faces as they gave them odd looks.
They did their best to ignore them.
It hadn't been long before Ren and Kai reached their classroom with Kawakami, which had been Class 2D.
Kawakami soon stood at the front of the students as she cleared her throat, "Allow me to introduce the new transfer students. These two are Ren Amamiya and Kai Higuchi. They were late today because they weren't feeling well."
"... Nice to meet you." Ren said as he bowed his head.
"Hi or whatever." Kai said.
They soon heard the students conversing.
"Is that them?"
"They look harmless but I bet once they snap they can get violent.
"Yeah---Best to stay away from them."
Ren and Kai looked surprised before they each exchanged a look of perplexity. It hadn't been long before they heard Kawakami again. "Let's see---" She said, "---Higuchi, you'll be sitting behind Mishima-kun."
Kai looked over and noticed the one named Mishima, whom had spiky blue-tinted black hair, black eyes; he noticed bandages on his face as he seemed to avert his gaze from him and Ren.
"And as for Amamiya-kun--" Kawakami said as she looked around before she noticed an empty seat, "---You'll be sitting behind Takamaki-san."
Ren and Kai went to their seats. However just as Ren reached his seat---
"Lies." The girl---Takamaki said softly as Ren flinched, "I saw you and your friends at the station this morning."
Ren soon took his seat before he greeted, "Ni-Nice to meet you Takamaki-san."
The students started to chatter again, noticing the interaction.
"Did you see that?"
"Do they know each other?"
"No way! Does that mean she's cheating on Kamoshida?!"
"Alright, alright settle down." Kawakami said as the students quieted down, "Let's get started with the lessons for today."
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The school day soon came to an end as Ren and Kai went out of the classrooms; both of them looked mentally exhausted.
"Fuck… Finally that lecture is done and over with." Kai said as he leaned against the wall, "This is literally not how I expected the day to go."
"Kai?" Ren said, "Did you notice that everyone was… Talking about us?"
"Yeah." Kai replied, "That was weird. Do you think someone tipped them off?"
"I'm not sure." He said, "I mean---This is our first day, no one is supposed to know about our situations."
Kai pondered on this he grunted, "Damn it--It's bad enough we had to deal with---Whatever the hell that was but, now we got a leak. I thought this was under lock and key!"
Ren soon had a thought, "You don't think people know about Dide do you?"
Before Kai could answer---They're heard various squees coming from down the hall. They looked over, noticing Dide had been running towards them at full speed.
"DIDE~!!" They heard the girls shriek.
"DIDE! PLEASE DATE ME!" Another called out.
"I LOVE YOU DIDE!" A second one yelled.
"SIGN MY DVD!!" A third shouted.
"CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!" Dide shriekd.
"What the hell?!" Kai said stunned by the crowd.
"Dide?!" Ren exclaimed shocked.
Dide soon took the boys, "HIDE ME NOW!"
Before Ren and Kai could say anything, Dide put them in front of him as the girls came over, all of them looked perplexed. "Oh no, where did he go?" A girl asked.
"He just vanished!" Another said.
"Oh! Maybe he escaped to the cafeteria!"
The crowd of girls went in the direction of the cafeteria, allowing Dide to breath a sigh of relief. "Thank God…" He said, "... That was a close call."
"Jesus Christ, your fans are crazy!" Kai said as he groaned.
"Dide, don't tell me the same thing is happening to you too!" Ren said.
"Oh it was terrible!" Dide said as he looked traumatized, "I don't know HOW they saw through my disguise, but the minute I said my name, I got the lustful gazes from all the girls in my class and then some!
"What?!" Kai said, "Wait, how is that a bad thing?"
Dide soon shook him as he shouted, "IT'S A BAD THING WHEN YOU WANT TO AVOID STALKERS! I SAID IM DIDE INOUE! SOMEHOW THEY MISTAKE IT WITH MY GOVERNMENT NAME! HOW DO YOU MIX THAT UP! IT'S LIKE SAYING SOMEONE'S NAME IS KEN TAKAKURA!"
"THAT'S WEIRDLY SPECIFIC!" Kai exclaimed.
"The same thing happened to us just now." Ren said, "Everyone seemed to know us and started talking about us."
Dide looked shocked, "Really? Oh shit, this is bad!" He soon looked perplexed, "But---Who in the world could've told them?"
"Was it Blondie from this morning?" Kai asked.
"No, it couldn't be." Ren said, "Sides, he was trapped in that strange place with us and he didn't recognize Dide."
"He's right." Dide said, "And it couldn't be from those other two. They don't seem like they go to any kind of school. And Murdock-sensei is a genuine nice guy."
"But if it wasn't them… Then who was it?" Kai asked.
"Hey."
The three of them looked over and noticed Kawakami had gotten herself out of the classroom.
"So… It seems like people are already talking about you." She said, "But I can assure you, I'm not the one who told them."
"Then, do you know who could have?" Dide asked.
"No, I'm afraid not." Kawakami said, "In any case you shouldn't let what they do or say bother you. You three should also head straight home without stopping anywhere. Sakura-san sounded pretty angry over the phone."
"Shit, he knows!?" Kai said.
"So much for that fresh start…" Dide said as he slumped over.
"Oh and by the way--" Kawakami said, "---I was told that you three were with Sakamoto-kun. You should do yourselves a favor and not get involved with him."
The teens looked a bit surprised at this.
"Why?" Ren asked.
"It's because---" Kawakami started to say before she noticed a familiar face approach. It had been Ryuji.
"Speak of the devil…" Kawakami said, "What do you want? I heard the police caught you cutting class today."
Ryuji grunted, "... It was nothing."
"And you haven't dyed your hair back to black either." Kawakami said, shocking Dide in particular.
"Sorry 'bout that." Ryuji said. He soon went to take his leave, but not before he said to the boys softly only one thing.
"... I'll be waiting on the rooftop."
With that Ryuji left as they each had a curious expression on their faces. Kawakami sighed as she shook her head, "See? That's why I don't want either of you getting involved, understand?"
"Right…" Ren said.
Soon Kawakami went away as they each pondered what they should do in that situation. Though it seemed Ren took the initiative. "Come on." Was all he said to Kai and Dide as they soon followed him up the staircase, towards the roof of the school.
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When the three of them arrived on the roof, they found Ryuji sitting at one of the desks that had been left up there, leaning against the chair. Dide shut the door behind them as they approached him.
"There you are--" Ryuji said, "---Sorry to call you guys up here so suddenly."
"Don't worry about it." Dide said, "We couldn't just turn down your invitation."
"I bet Kawakami already told you stuff like, 'don't get involved with him' huh?" Ryuji said.
"She did." Ren replied, "But for the record you don't seem dangerous."
Ryuji looked surprised though he seemed to smile, "Thanks. It seems like we're pretty much in the same boat. I heard you two got a criminal record---" He soon gestured over to Dide, "---And I heard you got into a fight with your director from the guys in my class."
Dide flinched before he said, "Well that's HALF of the story."
"Half?" Ren asked.
Dide hissed through his teeth as he said "I also punched a famous anime director too."
"SERIOUSLY?! WHO!?" Kai exclaimed.
"....Hanno Ideki." Dide said, shocking Ren and Kai.
"ARE YOU FOR REAL?! THAT GUY BASICALLY MADE OUR CHILDHOODS!" Kai shouted. "What's next, you put a toku director in a headlock?!" Dide turned his head as he whistled.
"Still, it explains why you were gutsy back there." Ryuji said to Ren in particular.
Kai soon took a seat at one of the desks, setting his bag down, "So, what did you call us up here for?"
"I… Wanted to ask you about that castle." Ryuji soon said, as the boys flinched, "It wasn't a dream, right? You guys remember it too, don't you?"
"... I do." Ren said, "But I'm not sure if I want to believe what I saw."
"All of that didn't seem real---" Kai said, "---But we almost died in there."
"And not to mention that guy---" Dide said as he shuddered, "---Seriously he was all kinds of red flags."
"You mean Kamoshida?" Ryuji said as the Dide looked to him, "Yeah, I didn't want to believe it either. But it was definitely him---" Ryuji's expression soon turned into a sneer, "---I'd know that ripped mop hair cut anywhere."
"You seem to know him on a personal level." Ren pointed out.
"Well you guys wouldn't know it---" Ryuji said, "---But there are some rumors about him."
"What kind of rumors?" Dide asked perplexed.
"Bad ones!" Ryuji replied, "But no one around here says anything or goes against him 'cause he's some medalist who took the volleyball team to nationals. The way Kamoshdia was King of that castle felt crazy real 'cause of that…"
The boys looked a bit surprised at this.
"That PE teacher? A Medalist?" Kai said.
"That would explain why most of the teachers look up to him." Dide said, before he recalled Murdock's reaction towards him, "But--Murdock-sensei doesn't seem to like him."
"He's probably the only teacher in this school that doesn't." Ryuji said, "I heard that he and him go WAY back even during his first time here. They say Murdock witnessed him coaching the softball team and apparently he didn't like how he was treating them. Not to mention, the microaggressions he usually gives him. They were friends one day, and enemies the next before anyone knew it."
"Wait, what would make him hate him that much?" Dide asked.
"I'm not really sure myself." Ryuji said, "Like I said they're rumors."
He couldn't help but ponder aloud to a single thought, "... I wonder if we could go back there…"
"Back there?!" Dide said, "You mean that castle!? But we almost died in there!"
Ryuji groaned again, "You're right, forget I said anything." He soon turned to Ren, "By the way, I wanted to say thanks for saving me back there. I think you and your buddies and I are gonna get along as a couple of troublemakers." He soon patted Ren's shoulder, "You're gonna see those two at the hospital right? Give them my regards yeah?"
"Sure." Ren said as he nodded.
Ryuji soon took his leave as he went to take his bag, "I'll see you guys tomorrow, so don't ignore me okay?"
The boys watched Ryuji take his leave, though Dide couldn't help but smile. "I'm liking the dude already!"
"Seriously, you only just met him." Kai said
"Yeah, but he's a cool guy." He said.
"We should go and check on them." Ren said.
"But what about heading straight home?" Dide asked, "Kawakami said---"
"I know…" Ren said, before he thought back about the appearances of Kiku and Haruto, "... I just have a feeling about those two."
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It didn't take long for Ren and his friends to arrive at the hospital, and it didn't take long for them to figure out the room that they were staying in. They had reached the third floor, where they found Haruto and Kiku up and about. Though in the room itself, they were also being talked to by a doctor.
This doctor was also an african male in his late 30s wearing a navy shirt and jeans as he was looking at his clipboard.
"Other then the scraps you have a clean bill of health." The doctor said to them, "Though I don't recommend you go back to where you two were living if you want to recover from that wound."
"But we don't have anywhere else." They heard Haruto say, "And we can't go to the shelter…"
"Well being out in the streets isn't healthy for you two." The doctor said, as Ren, Kai and Dide looked shocked, "Seriously, if you don't want me to call the home you were staying in or the police, where in the world are you going to stay?"
Haruto soon replied nervously, "Uh---Manga cafe?"
"...Yeah Sure, That'll be a teenager's dream come true." The doctor said.
"Hey, you said we needed a roof and technically a Manga Cafe has a roof!" Haruto argued as Kiku nodded.
The doctor shook his head as he told them, "I meant an ACTUAL place with food AND bedding and you can't just survive off cafe food alone. It's not good for you, not to mention fattening and high in carbs."
Ren soon cleared his throat to get the attention of the doctor; he finally turned to them. "Ah, you must be the students from the academy Murdock works. He did say you were coming."
"You're Murdock-sensei's friend?" Dide asked.
"Yep, the name's Lenard Powell MD." Lenard said as he bowed, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise." Dide said.
"So---How are those two doing?" Kai asked.
"Well other then the fatigue, and the wound on her leg---" The man, Lenard replied gesturing to the teens. "---they should be okay with--one exception...They have no where to go."
Ren looked to Kiku and Haruto, "You're both homeless?"
"Hang on what about your folks?" Kai asked.
Haruto's expression saddened, "... Kiku and I---Don't have parents."
At this the boys were even more shocked at this. "You two are orphans?" Dide asked shocked.
"Huh, that explains why you two don't have last names." Kai said.
"I was just telling these two that they can't go back out on the streets." Lenard said, "Unless they want to reopen any wounds they have had like her scrap."
"... You really don't have anywhere else to go?" Ren asked them.
Kiku looked to Ren before she shook her head; she couldn't help but hug her dog Shiro as he went to comfort her.
"Well---" Ren said as he approached Kiku, "---What about the people that you were staying with? You know a Foster Home. Don't you have anyone like that?"
Kiku immediately shook her head as Ren noticed the fearful expression. "We---Had a little disagreement with people like them." Haruto added.
Lenard sighed as he said, "Well since you kids are here--that leaves us with only one option."
"... And that option is---" Dide asked before he noticed the expression on Lenard's face, "---Wait, do you mean---"
"What choice do you have?" Lenard said, "I'm not about to send them back out on the street."
"But we're already in enough trouble." Kai said, "Especially with what happened today."
"I'm sure they'll make an exception." Lenard said, "It's getting late, I suggest that you get back home. I'll let Murdock-kun know the situation."
Ren looked to Kiku, and then to Haruto, only to come to the conclusion that… Lenard had been right. In that moment, there was only one thing they could do. Ren soon stood before he held his hand out to Kiku.
"Come with me."
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"You---Are not serious."
Before they knew it, Ren, Dide, and Kai returned to the Leblanc before the sun set. Though to Sojiro's and Yukihara's shock---They had Kiku and Haruto with them. Shiro had been hiding behind Kiku as he had been wagging his tail.
"They don't have anywhere else to go." Ren explained, "And they can't afford to stay in a hotel. So can they stay here?"
"That's out of the question." Sojiro said, "You three are in serious trouble with showing up late to school today! And just when I thought you had your acts together."
"We would've shown up honest---" Dide said before he came up with an excuse, "---But we noticed they got jumped on by a couple of thugs, trying to steal their stuff." He soon nudged Haruto, "Right?"
"U-U-Um, yeah!" Haruto replied nervously, "It was not a pretty sight. They even gave my friend that wound on her leg."
"Thugs, huh?" Sojiro asked
"You two must've been scared." Yukihara said to Haruto and Kiku, "Why don't I prepare you guys some food?"
Kiku immediately nodded as did Haruto.
"Take a seat over at the bar, I'll set it up in a second." Yukihara said, as Kiku and Haruto did just that.
"Hey!" Sojiro said, as Yukihara went to the kitchen area to get some ingredients, "Don't encourage this!"
"What? You want me to turn down hungry kids?" Yukihara said.
"That is not the issue!" Sojiro said, "We should just leave them for the police to handle---"
"NO!" Haruto suddenly shrieked, making them jump. He immediately calmed himself, "I mean no please! Just no police."
Sojiro raised his eyebrow as he sighed, "Okay we won't call them--For now. But you must have somebody you can call."
Haruto shook his head, "No sir. We---Don't have anyone else."
"..wait, you don't?!" Sojiro asked.
Haruto nodded, "It's… Always been just us. We've been together since we were babies so we're all we got."
Kiku couldn't help but hug Haruto out of comfort as he in turn returned the hug. Sojiro sighed as he rubbed the back of his head, "Well, where were you staying, before these troublemakers found you?"
"Hey!" Kai said offended.
"In the park in Shibuya." Haruto replied, "We've been camping out there for the past few months. It's not much but it's home."
"You were staying a place like that?" Yukihara said shocked as he served them both some beef and vegetable soup which Haruto and Kiku happily enjoyed, "What did you do for money?"
"We mostly scrounged around for anything that could be fixed." Haruto said, "Then afterwards we sold it over at a pawnshop."
"Goodness, that must've been tough for you kids." Yukihara said, "Well don't worry, you can stay here for as long as you need."
"H-Hey!" Sojiro said shocked.
Haruto and Kiku only looked surprised by this. "Really? You sure we won't be imposing?" Haruto asked.
"Of course not." Yukihara said, "You can bunk with these three upstairs."
"Now just a second--!" Sojiro said, "---They can't stay here."
"Why not? They're just kids, Sojiro-kun." Yukihara said.
"That's not the issue, but we have one major problem---" Sojiro said, "---You're talking about sticking a young girl with a bunch of guys. That's four red flags there.."
Dide began to blush as he shouted "W-what are you saying?! I can control myself!"
"Yeah, tell that to the many co-stars you locked lips with on Television and movies." Sojiro told him as he flinched. "Not to mention your 'fanclub'. I read some things I'm better off not knowing."
Dide exclaimed "WAIT THAT STILL EXISTS?!"
"... You have a fanclub?" Haruto asked, shocked.
"As much as he annoys me, he isn't gonna try anything like that." Kai said, "And not me either. Sides---She's not my type." He soon looked to Kiku, "No offense."
Kiku only shook her head to Kai.
"I'll respect with whatever she needs." Ren said.
"I've been doing that since we were kids sir." Haruto said.
Sojiro looked at the boys as he looked back at Kiku. he only sighed as he said. "Well As long as you keep it in your pants, that's fine."
"WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME WHEN YOU SAY THAT!?" Dide shouted noticing Sojiro had been indeed looking at him.
"Need I remind you of your last show?" Sojiro asked.
"IT WAS A FRIDAY NIGHT DRAMA!" Dide exclaimed.
Yukihara chuckled, "Oh shoot, I forgot to ask your names, that was rude. So, mind sharing?"
"Oh!" Haruto said, "I'm Haruto! Just Haruto sir!"
"Haruto, huh?" Sojiro said.
"How about you?" Yukihara asked, as he looked to the young girl, "What's your name?"
Kiku stayed silent at this, as the boy's looked to her with worry. "Oh, she doesn't---" Ren started to say intending to answer.
However, Haruto remained unphased as the others looked surprised…
… When she spoke.
"... Kiku." She said to Yukihara, her voice sounding soft yet, beautiful like that of silk, "... It's Kiku."
Yukihara smiled, "Kiku… What a pretty name."
Kiku turned red as she fixed her hair a little, "... Thank you, sir."
Ren, Dide and Kai's jaws couldn't help but drop.
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In just a short time, Haruto, Kiku and Shiro had been escorted to the attic of Leblanc, settling the stuff they had in a corner of the room. Once they did they had a look around the place as Ren, Dide, and Kai remained stunned by what had just occurred.
"Well---It's not exactly the best place---" Haruto said, "---But it beats sleeping outside doesn't it?"
"Agreed." Kiku replied, "Maybe tomorrow we can grab some of our stuff from the park."
"Yeah, assuming the police didn't throw it away." He said before turning to the three of them, "So---Where are we sleeping?" Haruto had been taken back by their silence, "Um---Hello? Anyone in there?"
"SHE COULD TALK THE WHOLE TIME?!" Kai shouted.
"YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT NOW?!" Haruto yelled.
"You mean to tell me the whole time in the castle, you could talk?" Dide asked.
"L-Last I checked I can." Kiku replied awkwardly.
"But---Why didn't you before?" Ren asked.
"Well, you guys are strangers and before…" Kiku said, "... Well, it's a bit complicated."
Dide had a sigh of relief as he said "Oh Thank god."
"Wait, why are YOU relieved of that?!" Haruto asked.
"Being a celeb is cool but to have EVERYONE know who you are, it's tiring." Dide said.
"Does it surprise you that much?" Haruto said.
"Heck Yeah! Thank god you guys didn't know who i was up till now!" Dide said.
"Honest to God, we thought you were a mute or something!" Kai said.
"To be fair, you guys didn't ask if I could talk in the first place." Kiku said awkwardly as she tapped her index fingers together.
"... Touche." Ren said adjusting his glasses slightly.
"Still---" Kiku said looking around the room, "---You guys have been rooming up here? Doesn't it get cramped with all this---" She soon looked to the book shelf and the workbench in the corner, "---I wanna say, stuff?"
"We technically we've been staying here for the past two days---" Dide said, "---I'm gonna get that bookcase cleaned up, come Sunday."
"Go easy on the cleaner this time." Kai told him, "I can still smell the damn bleach."
"No promises." Dide replied.
"I'm just surprised you could fit three beds with the amount of things in here." Haruto said, "Where should we sleep?"
"I think Sojiro-san said their a couple of futons over---Oh geez." Ren said before stopping himself when he saw the futons on top of the book case. Though their had been one small issue…
… They both had dirt and looked to be covered in dust.
"... You gotta fucking kidding me." Kai said as he slouched over.
"Exactly how long has it been since people were up here?" Kiku asked.
Dide's eye twitched before he took a deep breath, "Guys---Mask up."
Ren noticed that tone as he immediately masked up.
Kai on the other hand groaned as he said. "Oh Not agai--"
Dide gave him a gas mask as he forced it on him before he got his cleaning tools ready as if he was a trooper.
"...Kill me." kai said as Dide kicked the group down the stairs before they could hear sounds of him cleaning while giving a warcry.
Sojiro looked at them as he said "Huh? What happened now?" he soon took a whiff as he asked "And why does it smell like bleach?!"
"That would be Dide---Deep cleaning." Ren said removing his mask.
"Again…" Kai said with a groan.
"Deep cleaning?" Sojiro said.
"He was always like that when we were kids." Ren replied. "It started when Kai's sister ran into his room with mud on her feet, the other time it was when he was stuck on cleaning duty in middle school, i think what broke the straw was that game show that dared people to do things that were impossible or even gross--what was it called?"
"Wait--He was on Ichika Bachika?" Sojiro asked. "That Insane game show?!"
"Yep, that one." Ren said.
"Sounds to me like he's gonna be at it for awhile." Yukihara said, "How about I take these two to the bath house down the street, while you and Kai get them clothes for the night and the next day at the department store nearby?"
"Bathhouse?!" Haruto and Kiku exclaimed as their eyes sparkled.
"I haven't been to one in ages!" Kiku said.
"We could never afford to go to one in the last few months!" Haruto said in happy tears, "Oh what a day!"
"There's a department store here?" Kai asked.
"Come on, I'll take you there--" Yukihara said, "---Luckily I know the owner so he can arrange a private bath just for the night." He soon handed some money to Ren, "Here, these should help with their clothes expenses. I'll take them out shopping first thing tomorrow."
"Got it." Ren said.
"Yikes isn't that a bit much for clothes?" Kai asked.
"It's enough." He said.
"You certainly are prepared for this." Sojiro said.
"Well---You have to be when you're looking after youngsters." Yukihara said, "Come along now you two."
Kiku and Haruto happily went to follow Yukihara out the door; Shiro was about to as well, till Kiku stopped him. "Stay boy." She said, before she noticed Dide's Chicken and Rooster, Momodu and Harumi Keeki "Why don't you make friends with them?"
Shiro turned to the chicken and rooster now as they were now on the tables.
"Hey, hey! Get off of there!" Sojiro said shooing them off, "Costumers eat off of that!"
The duo flew off as they continued to walk as the gave clucks. Shiro soon gave them a sniff before he started to give them a playful bark; his tail wagged as he wanted to play with them.
Sojiro sighed as he said "two birds was enough but now a dog? I must be out of my mind."
They soon heard a crash upstairs.
"DIE COCKAROACH! DIE!!" They heard Dide shouted.
"...Adding Neat Freak to the list." Sojiro said
"Well… We might as well head to the store." Ren said, "Come on Kai."
"Fine---It beats listening to all of that." Kai said as he gestured upstairs. They soon heard another crash up the stairs before Dide could be heard shouting again. "SHOO YOU DANG DUSTBALL! SHOO!"
Ren and Kai soon went out the door and proceeded to the department store.
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It was a semi-busy day at the department store as Ren and Kai had been going through the various options. It had been almost crowded to the point where Ren and Kai found themselves pressed against each other like a can of sardines.
They had reached the checkout after picking out a couple of outfits for Kiku and Haruto to wear.
"I'm surprised you're an expert on sizes for girls." Kai said.
"It's not that hard." Ren said, as the person behind the register scanned the outfits, "It's the matter of simple math."
"You're too smart for your own good, you know that?" Kai said.
"That'll be 7,500 yen." The young lady said.
As Ren went to pay, they soon heard a commotion coming from the the register next to them.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO PAY 8,000 YEN?! FOR JUST ONE SHIRT?!"
Ren and Kai looked over and noticed a young woman wearing a short red dress and looked to have a designer purse. "Ma'am---You're disturbing the other costumers." The Cashier said.
"ME!? YOU'RE ROBBING ME!" She shouted, "YOU THINK I HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY!?"
"What the hell?" Kai said with a look.
"Ma'am, Please--"
"NO! I'LL NOT BE SLIENT!" The woman shouted, "WHERE'S YOUR MANAGER?!"
"Geez, what a bitch." Kai said softly, "Did you pay for those clothes yet?"
"Yeah---I did." Ren replied as he got the bag and receipt.
"Then let's go." Kai said.
The boys went towards the exit, though not before Ren bumped into the woman. "HEY!" She shouted, "WHAT WHERE YOU'RE GOING KID!"
"Oh sorry." Ren said.
"YOU BETTER BE!" She yelled, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH THIS PURSE COST ME?!"
"HEY! HE ALREADY APOLOGIZED LADY!" Kai shouted, "SO BACK OFF!"
The lady glared as she shouted, "DID YOU JUST BACK TALK TO ME?!"
"ARE YOU DELUSIONAL?!" Kai exclaimed.
"Kai, calm down!" Ren said softly as he pulled him back.
"Quick! Someone call the police!" One of the staff workers said.
"Crap!" Kai said.
"Come on, we should go!" Ren said as he pulled him to the exit.
"HEY! I'M NOT DONE TALKING TO YOU YOU BRAT!" The woman shouted as she grabbed Ren's arm. Though one of the staff members managed to grab her and hold her back.
"That's enough!" one of them said. "This is the 4th time you're causing problems again!"
"Quick! Call the cops!" Another said.
"Chance!" Ren and Kai said before they ran out of the shop.
They managed to reach the street before they caught their breath. "What in the fuck is wrong with that lady?" Kai said, "She was raging like some lunatic."
"... No kidding." Ren said as he looked to the bag, "At least we got what we needed. I'll go meet Yukihara-san at the bathhouse."
"Are you sure you want to do that?" He said, "I mean she is a girl."
"It'll be fine, as long as I don't enter the section." He replied.
Ren soon went over towards the direction of the bathouse, "I'll meet you back at Leblanc."
"Yeah, yeah…" Kai said before he walked back towards Leblanc.
It didn't take long for Ren to reach the bathouse. Upon entering, he found Yukihara speaking to the owner as he had been shaking hands. Haruto had been seen with a robe, looking cleaner then before; though he looked to be squinting.
"Thanks again for doing this." Yukihara said, "I'll be sure to pay you back."
"Oh please don't worry about it." The Owner said, "It's the least I can do for taking care of that drunk costumer for me."
"Ah, it's no problem." Yukihara said, before he paid him, "Here you go, for your troubles."
He soon took notice of Ren, "Ah there you are! I see you managed to find everything okay."
"I did." Ren said, as he handed Haruto his clothes, "Here Haruto-san."
"Thanks---" Haruto said as he squinted, "---Dide?"
"It's uh---Ren actually." Ren said, "Are you okay?"
"Sorry, I broke my glasses earlier." Haruto said, "I can't see very well without them"
"Hmm, I don't like the sound of that---" Yukihara said, "---I'll take you to an eye doctor tomorrow too."
Ren looked around, "Where's Kiku-san?"
"She's just finishing up." Yukihara said, "You can take her clothes to the locker area, she should be dressed."
Ren went over to the locker area, as he knocked on the door. "Kiku-san? I'm coming in." He said.
He soon came inside, and found Kiku just putting on the robe. Immediately he turned his gaze, though he soon noticed, a peculiar scar on her shoulder. As she wrapped the string around her waist she soon noticed Ren.
"Hey---" She said, "---Amamiya-kun right?"
Ren immediately turned back to her, "Yeah. Sorry, I brought your clothes for you."
"Thank you." She said as she took the bag she had been handed by Ren, "Sorry for all the trouble… Really…"
"It's okay." Ren said, "I couldn't just leave you or Haruto-san alone. Especially with that castle."
Kiku thought back to the castle, and not to mention the king, "... That place… Wasn't a dream right?"
Ren stayed silent at this, recalling the events that had transpired earlier that day. It hadn't been long before Kiku said something rather shocking.
"I remember seeing that man---The King I mean."
Ren looked a bit surprised at this.
"Haruto-kun and I were around the area looking around one day." Kiku said, "We saw him, yelling at students. They all had wounds too, and they were in pain. The thing was… After seeing what I saw in that castle, I don't think they were accidental."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"That other boy---" She said, as Ren realized she had been referring to Ryuji, "---Please tell him too, but I saw people in cages. I think they go to Shujin too. He might recognize them if he sees them for himself."
Ren looked surprised, "... You saw other people in there?"
She nodded, "There's something else---"
This time he looked confused by this sort of statement.
"That man---Or at least the King had someone else with them." She told him, "I---Think she goes to your school too. But---I think she's in danger of that man."
"Why?" He asked, "What makes you say that?"
Before Kiku could say, they soon heard a knock. "Kiku!" They heard Haruto say, "Amamiya! Yukihara-san says that we have to get going! That boss from LeBlanc is about to close up!"
"Kay!" Ren and Kiku said.
"I'll let you get changed, excuse me." Ren said before he turned to leave. Though not before he looked over his shoulder, "Thank you for telling me about this, Kiku-san."
Kiku looked back to him before she gave a small smile, "... You're welcome."