MAY 2ND (MONDAY 05/02/20XX)(EVENING)

Akira and I made it home, happy with the turn of events. My phone vibrated in my pocket, so I checked it.

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Red Kitty🐱💃💋: Is that gold medal real? When did it get inside his Palace...?

🤓The Ultimate Bro🤓: Kamoshida has the real one.

Troublemaker Blondie💀: What...? You're telling me Kamoshida's still got the medal?

You: Eh, didn't want it anyway. It has his germs on it.

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: Who cares? What matters is that we changed his heart. 

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: And anyway, if we had taken the real thing, that'd be stealing!

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: I don't think he'll be proud of that medal anymore regardless.

Troublemaker Blondie💀: You let go of stuff pretty easy, huh? Wanna forget about my debt?

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: That's different. Five hundred yen is a lot of money for a middle schooler, you know.

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: Do you even still have that dolphin anyway?

🤓The Ultimate Bro🤓: Dolphin?

You: Did Ryuji buy a plush dolphin or something?

Troublemaker Blondie💀: Stop digging that up!

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: Back in middle school, we went on a field trip to the aquarium.

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: But Ryuji had to spend all his money on a souvenir, so I lent him some for the train fare.

Troublemaker Blondie💀: I said I was sorry... That was for my mom.

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: Well, I guess I can call it even after all we've been through.

Troublemaker Blondie💀: ... Thank you.

Troublemaker Blondie💀: Anyways, we don't gotta worry about selling that medal off if it's a fake!

Troublemaker Blondie💀: End of story!

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"Kamoshida will never be proud of that once-in-a-lifetime gold medal ever again. Depending on how you look at it, that punishment might be even worse than death for him.", Morgana popped out of Akira's back after we finished texting. I silently nodded since Sojiro was there.

"Must be nice to have so much time off starting tomorrow... For me, it just means more customers and even more work.", Sojiro sighed.

"Well, I'm off to hit the bathhouse.", I muttered and left the cafe. I made it to the bathhouse and had a relaxing time, helping me unwind after all the stuff that happened. After that, I went back to the shop and slept the night away.

MAY 3RD (TUESDAY 5/03) (EARLY MORNING)

I was about to leave to go pawn the medal, but Sojiro ruined my plans, as well as Akira's, by making us help him with the cafe.

"Hey, you two can hear me, right? You don't have plans, do you? Come help me out, instead of sleeping your lives away.", Sojiro called.

"We do owe it to him...", Morgana mumbled with a scowl on his cat face.

"I guess we just have to help him if we want to stay here... *sigh* This is such a waste of time...", I grumbled as I put on my work clothes and went downstairs.

--TIMESKIP TO DAYTIME--

"Heh, sorry I kinda pressured you into doing this.", Sojiro chuckled as Akira and I were busy cleaning dishes and checking ingredients.

The man is never sorry.

Work makes you efficient.

Shut it, Ezio.

The TV on the wall had the news on, and it caught my attention.

"And now our next topic... Fall from Grace: The story of a dishonored Olympic medalist. Just recently, a high school coach admitted to his school that he had been perpetually abusing students. Given his prior Olympic achievements, this has caused quite a stir. What caused this habitual offender to suddenly confess these heinous crimes to his entire school? The police are hoping that the upcoming interrogations will bring light to this question.", the reporter relayed.

"Hm? Isn't this...?", Sojiro mumbled.

"My friends would come back from practice with bruises all the time... It was scary, but I'm relieved that the abuse is finally going to end now."

"He would touch me and stuff all the time... I'm glad I don't have to deal with that sexual harassment anymore..."

"There were always rumors, sure. Not many people believed them though. Like... I'm totally shocked they were actually true. At least now I can go to school without worrying.", A few students answered a few questions without showing their faces.

"I knew it. This is your school, isn't it?", Sojiro asked us. I turned to Akira and signaled him that I was gonna answer.

"It is. We don't really put our noses in these things, Boss. We just transferred anyways.", I shrugged.

" *sigh* Things might be getting turbulent at school, but you two need to just keep your head down, all right?... More importantly, keep those hands moving. I've got some more stuff I need you to do.", Sojiro ordered.

"You got it, Boss.", Akira said with a small smile, but I could tell that he really didn't want to be there.

--TIMESKIP TO EVENING--

Akira and I finally finished our work, causing me to collapse on his bed with a huff.

"That's *my* bed, you know?", Akira sighed.

"I'll get up... when I can.", I mumbled. Akira sighed and sat down next to me. Morgana jumped onto the bed with a grimace on his face.

"The chief really worked us hard...", Morgana grumbled. I was just annoyed at the fact that I couldn't pawn the medal, but there was time tomorrow. Ryuji sent a text on the group chat.

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Troublemaker Blondie💀: Did you see!? It was on the news!

You: You mean the Kamoshida thing? Yeah, we did.

Troublemaker Blondie💀: No way the school's gonna be able to play dumb after that.

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: I saw it too.

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: Shiho's name didn't come up, right?

Troublemaker Blondie💀: Not that I saw. I'd bet they wanted to keep that part quiet.

You: Probably not a good image for the school if they mentioned it.

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: I'm so glad...

Troublemaker Blondie💀: It's finally over then...

Troublemaker Blondie💀: All we gotta do now is eat some tasty shit and put all this crap behind us.

Troublemaker Blondie💀: I'm totally looking forward to this celebration party.

Red Kitty🐱💃💋: I'll try not to let you guys down!

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"All right, you need to go sell the gold medal tomorrow. Even if the chief wants your help, make sure you turn him down, OK?", Morgana advised me.

"Got it. Goodnight.", I waved and went back to my room for some good night's sleep.

MAY 4TH (WEDNESDAY 5/04) (DAYTIME)

(OUTFIT OF THE DAY)

Sojiro stopped me as I was about to leave, much to my annoyance.

"Make sure to do the dishes.", Sojiro advised.

"I'll finish them up once I'm back from my errands. I don't have time now.", I sighed.

"Just do it. Don't get cocky with me.", just when I was about to counter him, someone walked in. I turned and froze for a second; it was Sae Niijima, the prosecutor I saw the other day when I teleported on the first day of school.

I never thought I'd see her again, let alone so soon.

Life has its surprises, Young Assassin.

"Welcome.", Sojiro greeted, while I just nodded my head in acknowledgment.

"Am I interrupting something?", Sae asked.

"Not at all.", Sojiro dismissed, prompting Sae to sit in the closest bar stool. The news was on, showing a recent story.

"The cause of the runaway-train incident in the subway the other day still has not been found. Police are hurrying to solve the matter as it may relate to the rise in psychotic breakdown incidents.", the reporter relayed.

"Oh, is that the thing everyone's been talking about?", Sojiro asked.

"Doesn't it make you curious? People who were living normal lives suddenly went mad or deranged out of the blue... Not to mention that it's happening one after another... Could they really be coincidental?", Sae explained her suspicions to Sojiro, confusing him even more.

I mean, she isn't wrong... It is pretty weird.

A mystery that might be solved in our near future...

"Hmm... Leaving that aside... What'll you have?", Sojiro asked, changing the subject.

"......I'll have the house blend please.", Sae ordered her coffee, cueing Sojiro to get to work. Sae then turned to me with a calm aura surrounding her. "Are you a part-timer? I'm surprised this place can afford one."

"Uh, that's exactly the case...", Sojiro interjected.

"I can speak for myself, Boss...", I sighed.

"Are you a high school student? Where do you attend?", Sae asked.

"... Shujin Academy.", I answered plainly.

"Oh...? Someone I know goes there as well. I've heard that things are rough right now. A teacher named Kamoshida confessed his crimes like he was a completely different person, supposedly. And it happened "all of a sudden" one day... Can a person's mental state change so easily?", Sae questioned.

She asks many questions, this woman...

A good trait to have if you want the truth.

"Maybe... I heard a bunch of rumors about what happened to the guy, but I never really cared for the man...", I shrugged.

"...Huh.", Sojiro hummed in thought.

"Is my drink ready yet?", Sae asked.

"... Coming right up.", Sojiro smiled and went back to work. I took this as my cue to leave and quickly power walked out of the cafe and to the streets. I made my way to the weapons shop to finally sell the medal. I went into the shady alleyway, seeing two men outside the store, whispering to one another.

That doesn't look good. Why are they here...?

Maybe they need information?

From a shady alleyway...?

I slipped past the men and went inside, this time without my mask. The guns in the cases intimidated me, but I swallowed the lump in my throat and went forward. I knew the guy seemed trustworthy enough to know me. The surly manager looked up from his magazine and quirked an eyebrow at me.

"... Huh? You again? What do you want?", the manager asked.

"I want to sell this.", I pulled out the medal and put on top of the counter.

"Huh? A gold medal? Why do you have this? We don't buy any fake or stolen goods here, kid... Hold on a sec. Lemme see it.", the manager took a look at it and narrowed his eyes at me. I quirked my head in silent questioning. "I'm just... not gonna ask where you got this. How's 30,000-yen sound for it though?"

"Works for me.", I nodded.

"Hmph. 30,000 it is then.", the manager handed me the money in cash, and I gave him the medal with a handshake to seal the deal. The manager suddenly glared at the door and mumbled. "It's almost time...", he suddenly grabbed a bag from under the counter and shoved it in my hands. "Here, take this with you. It's a thanks for sellin' me that medal. But, uh... best not to open it. Just bring it with you next time you come back here."

"Hm, fine. It better not be nudes though...", I teased with a smirk.

My word...

I couldn't help it.

"Y-You brat... it's not that, just... They're here.", just as the manager whispered that line, the two men that were outside barged in.

"Munehisa Iwai, yes? There are some matters we'd like to discuss with you today.", one of the stern men said with a serious tone.

Munehisa Iwai...

"... Go, kid.", Iwai shooed me away. I stepped aside and walked to the door, but I didn't leave. I still wanted to hear the rest of the conversation.

(Iwai -- Stern man -- Vulgar detective)

"Do you know why we're here?"

"I dunno, lookin' for evidence? You tell me, Detective-san."

"Watch your attitude!"

"Well, you guys gonna search me? Go on, do what you gotta do."

"...What was that?"

"An upstandin' citizen's supposed to cooperate with the cops, right?"

"Hey, you sure that lead was legitimate?"

"I could've sworn it was..."

"Can you two hurry it up? I got a business to run here."

"You bastard... Hey, you!", the vulgar detective turned to me, looking mad as hell. "What's in the bag, huh? Show me!"

"... The kid's just a regular ol' customer. You can check the tapes if that'll convince you. They'll show everything that's gone down here today.", I didn't want to be there when the detectives checked the footage of me with that damn medal, so I had to compromise and get out of there as fast as possible.

"I won't let you get away that easy! Show us what's in the bag!"

"Do you have a search warrant?", I asked.

"Of course, we do!", the vulgar detective sneered.

"Oh, excuse me, what I meant was, do you have a search warrant that involves searching me?", I smirked.

"W-What?"

"A search warrant that warrants you to search me as an individual, do you have that? If not, then you are out of luck. So sad...", I muttered. The man tsked and turned to his partner, who just shrugged at my sound logic.

"Heh.", Iwai looked at me from the corner of his eye and smirked.

"Hey, the kid has a point. Besides, she's not the one we're here to see."

"Urgh..."

"That's right, Detective-san. Maybe next time try not harassin' my customers, see how that goes."

"Yeah, I feel disrespected. And I looked up to detectives before...", I fake-pouted.

"Grrr..."

"Safe trip home, kid."

"See you around, Mr. ", I waved and left the place. I went to a private restroom and sat down on the covered seat with a sigh.

What was up with those guys...?

Aren't you curious about what's in the bag?

I mean, why do you think I went inside the restroom? Let's open this bad boy!

I opened the bag and almost shrieked; it was a gun. I pushed it away from me and began to take slow breathes to calm myself. It was just a model, but it freaked me out. It looked a lot more intricate than the ones Ryuji brought to the Metaverse.

Maybe with time, you can buy these from the puzzling man... It will do well for the others in the Metaverse...

I'll keep it until then... But I feel left out, I don't really have a way to upgrade my swords...

Say no more...

Just then, time shifted to a stop, most likely from Ezio.

Come outside.

I walked out of the restroom that was hidden away in the dark alley, and I saw Ezio floating outside.

Here, I have something for you.

Ezio extended his arms and, in a flash of light, two new swords materialized in his hands.

"Wow... these are mine...?", I gasped.

Yes, use them well.

I grabbed them, but they seemed to fade and enter my body in a flash. Ezio slowly faded away, and time resumed.

-TIMESKIP TO EVENING-

I went to my room and changed into something comfortable.

My phone rang, causing me to groan and answer it.

"Rika speaking."

"Oh... Hello, it's me.", Ann greeted.

"What's up?"

"I saw the news. You know, about Kamoshida. It's getting a lot of coverage..."

"... How do you feel?"

"I don't know... The reaction's been bigger than what I was expecting... I guess I'm just... surprised. I don't think we did anything wrong though. I wonder if we helped those people speak up about it..."

"We did, no doubt about it."

"That's pretty amazing, huh? I didn't think we'd actually be able to do it! And yet look at us now! This calls for a celebration! Let's meet in front of Shibuya Station at noon tomorrow. Don't be late! Oh, and did you pawn off that medal? You didn't forget, right?"

"Yep, I got 30,000-yen off it."

"Good to hear! I already made reservations! You should be really excited about the place I chose, by the way. I'm sure everyone's gonna love it! Well, see you guys tomorrow!", the phone call ended at that happy note.