Chapter Text
Ryuji leaned against a wall, deep in thought while waiting for his train. Akira's phantom outfit was different than usual too. What did that mean?
He didn't notice Akira walking up to him. "Ryuji?"
Hmm. Was this just another change to show this loop was particularly more special than the rest? Even after all these years in these loops, he did sometimes need things to be spelt out for him. He wasn’t as sharp as Joker or Queen.
Oh well, he’s sure Joker will lead them to kicking that false god’s butt again in no time and hopefully end these time loops.
“Hey, Ryuji!”
“Gah!” Ryuji jumped when someone tapped his shoulder. “Oh shit, sorry! Didn’t notice ya. I was kinda thinkin’ ‘bout stuff.”
“Hmm. Palace stuff?” Akira asked.
“Something like that, I guess.” Ryuji said, to which Akira nodded appreciatively. Ryuji wrapped an arm around his shoulder and led them towards the train that had just arrived. “Oh, here’s our train, let's go!”
Ugh, class was boring as usual, Ryuji couldn’t wait to go to the Palace to explore more with Akira and Morgana. But his stomach was churning with dread for some reason, was he forgetting-- Ah! Shiho!
It was around this time or a few days later that scumbag will… He had to keep an eye on her. Who knows if these changes would affect when but he knows for sure that it will happen. He always tries to stop Kamoshida before he preys on her, which usually landed him the deadline for expulsion a lot faster than his first few loops.
But that’s a price he’s willing to pay, he’d never forgive himself if he did nothing while knowing perfectly well what was about to go down.
“Alright, let’s settle on codenames. It’d be safer to use a codename to help hide our identities.” Morgana instructed.
“Dibs on Skull!” Ryuji puffed out his chest. “How about Mona for you, Morgana? It's based on the island believed to have held Captain Kidd’s legendary treasure, you know since we’re after treasure ‘n all.”
“Oh! I like it!” Morgana said with a purr and a swish of his tail. He turned to Akira, who was tapping his chin. “Alright, did you pick a codename yet, Akira?”
“...Joker.” Ryuji could barely contain his gasp. “It kinda just popped into my head. ...For some reason it feels familiar.”
Ryuji quickly pushed down his giddiness and pumped a fist to show his support. “I like it, we’ll be counting on you, Joker!” In his excitement he missed how Akira shivered slightly when he said his codename and turned his head away with a blush.
Just one last Shadow to defeat to get a key they need. They held the petite, fairy Shadow in a hold up, ready to finish her off when she suddenly pleaded for her life. “You want this key, right? Just take it and spare me!”
“Whoa!” Skull managed to catch the key that was sent his way. “Oh, uh, thanks.”
He lowered his shotgun, the Shadow did just give them the key without too much of a fight so might as well keep up their part of the bargain. Joker and Mona followed and lowered their weapons too.
The Shadow smiled, grateful for the mercy they showed when she started glowing. “Oh! Now I remember. I drift around in the sea of souls, my name is Pixie. I shall become a new mask and grant you my power.”
Skull yelped when the Shadow shot towards him and disappeared into his mask. With a shaky hand, he gripped his mask. He could feel Pixie in the back of his mind along with Captain Kidd. This… this was not how it was supposed to go! This power should be Joker’s!
Mona and Joker ran up to him, eyes wide with interest. They weren’t aware of the panic Skull was slipping into. Skull remembered in a previous fight how Mona got injured and subconsciously pulled his mask off, summoning Pixie. “Dia.” He still couldn’t quite believe it, even though his new Persona did as he asked and healed Mona.
“No way! You can wield multiple personas?! I’ve never seen this before!” Mona said, still slack jawed.
“That’s amazing, Skull!” Joker nodded at him with a smile. But his expression turned more concerned when Skull failed to respond. “Are you alright? You look kinda pale.”
Skull could feel a slight shock from Kidd, the pirate urging him to get it together and he swallowed heavily. “I-- I’m fine. Let’s keep going, yeah?” He said with a shaky smile.
Joker looked like he didn’t believe him but gripped his shoulder. “Alright, but don’t push yourself too hard. You can lean on me if you need. I’m here for you.”
Skull smiled genuinely this time. “‘Course. Thanks, man.”
They made it back to the real world, time had passed and it was late afternoon. The school was still open. Ryuji stretched trying to will the exhaustion away for today, he still had time to check on Shiho.
“I’m gonna hang around here for a bit. Where will you go, Morgana?”
“Huh? I was thinking I could crash at your place.” Morgana laughed.
“What?! But my apartment doesn’t allow pets!”
“Gah! I am not a pet!”
“Aww, Morgana it’s alright.” Akira said, stroking him in an attempt to make him feel better.
“How about you, Akira? Could he stay with you?”
“Me? Uh, I’m not sure Sojiro would…”
“Don’t worry, Akira!” Morgana said, already hopping into his bag. “I’ll be on my best behavior, he won’t be able to resist my charm.”
“But, he runs a cafe…” Akira said, voice tinged with worry.
“Hey.” Ryuji called out to Akira and grinned warmly at him. “I’m sure it’ll be fine but if not you can call me and… I’ll sneak him into my apartment, err, somehow.” Akira returned his grin with his own and waved as he set off for the train station.
Ryuji ran to Kamoshida’s office, he had to check there first, just in case. He gasped as he saw Kamoshida grab Shiho’s arm and try to drag her into his office while she was pleading for him to stop.
Ryuji sprinted as fast as he could and rammed into Kamoshida.
“S-Sakamoto?!” The bastard sputtered.
Ryuji reached out and held Shiho’s hand. “Come on, let’s go please!” When she nodded, he led her to the gates of the school. He skidded to a stop and rushed them both behind a corner. Kamoshida! How did he cut them off--?
“I'll distract him. Try to sneak around him and get away from here.” He whispered to Shiho. She looked scared but nodded.
The moment Kamoshida spotted him, he stalked up to him, a sneer plastered on his face.
“Shit!” Ryuji thought Kamoshida would taunt him or something but he kept getting closer. Ryuji started to back away but the coach grabbed his collar before he could retreat.
“I just wanted to release some pent up frustration.”
“You’re sick.” Out of Ryuji’s peripheral vision he could spot Shiho sneaking behind Kamoshida. He focused a glare at Kamoshida, trying not to give her away.
“But I guess you’ll do, I should’ve broken your other leg too.” And he threw Ryuji to the ground.
Before Kamoshida could get any closer, he was suddenly shoved aside. “Ryuji! Are you alright? Can you stand?” His savior helped him up. “C’mon Shiho’s safe with Morgana.”
His savior was Akira! Ryuji ran with him while Kamoshida threatened them with expulsion by the next faculty meeting.
Once they were quite a distance away from the school and they saw Shiho safely to the train station, Ryuji gathered Akira in a big hug. “Dude! You are the best!”
“It was nothing.” Akira chuckled softly, pink lightly dusted on his cheeks.
“Wait a minute. What were you doing back at school?”
Morgana climbed onto Akira’s shoulder. “We spotted Mishima and he was acting fidgety. We confronted him and he admitted that he told Suzui to go to Kamoshida’s office. So we rushed back to check on the situation. And good thing we did!”
“No kidding, you two saved our necks! Thanks!”
“Don’t worry about it. I was worried when I saw him grabbing you, are you sure you’re alright?” Akira asked.
“Aww, I’m ok. No worse than taking a hit from a shadow.” Ryuji said, rubbing his arm which slightly hurt from landing harshly on the ground when Kamoshida threw him.
“But it seems we have a deadline now that Kamoshida will expel you two.” Morgana warned.
“Shit, sorry for dragging you into this, man.”
“Don’t apologize, you didn’t drag me into anything. I chose to help. I want to help.” Although his voice was soft, Ryuji could feel his determination.
“Hell yeah! Let’s change that bastard’s heart.”