Chapter 15

Diary Entry : Declaration of War

Date: 04/16

"What the hell is this..?" Ryuji questioned. His brows knit together and eyed the a pink slip resting on the clubs's table. The room was in disarray and a collection of gasps filled the room as papers and prints were strewn about and shredded beyond recognition.

Who the hell would even do such a thing…?

"It's...a citation notice from the school's administration. Kamoshida had requested a hearing for the next board meeting—we're getting shut down." Kaede voiced wryly.

"What?" Ryuji growled. "Why on earth would he do that? Even if you guys tried filing a case against him, what does that have to do with the club?"

Kaede shook her head and spoke in a flat tone. "He plans on making a counter-sue. Saying we are guilty of defamation and he's going as far as framing Mishima-kun for leaking Akira-kun's info. He's two step ahead of us. Coach Kamoshida must have thought of the possibility of mutiny for those working for him."

"He thinks of the students as nothing more than pawns and cannon fodder. Things just keep getting more bleak by the minute." Akira murmured.

"I'm afraid that's not all..." Haru added. "Everyone here is being charged with defamation and slander. Not only does he plan on damaging our student records, but he wants to go further to press for our expulsions and perhaps federal charges."

Haru and Kaede went on to explain that Kamoshida had suspected the odd nature of the Journalism club's newest members. He must have put two and two together and realized we were plotting something behind his back.

Normally Kaede would have had things under wrap about our joining the club, but she suspected whistleblowers were giving him the update.

To the staff members of the school—he was practically an icon and above all else; he was a charming son of a bitch. He knew how to play the students and his fellow staff pretty damn well.

He knew how to play the game —to coax those in higher standing to get exactly what he wants.

He could easily blame Akira for the uprising students were playing a part in.

It riled something within me knowing he'd use our curly haired leader as nothing more than a scapegoat.

I mean—Technically we were planning a coup, but that wasn't out here in the material world.

"Don't give up on hope just yet. If we could get something more solid, we would be able to turn the tables." Akira replied.

Hearing his voice so firm and sanguine was enough to pull at my heartstrings. I mean, here he was being dragged around by calamity and misfortune and yet he managed to bring us all together to fight back.

Akira, you sure are something...

"We don't intend to, it's a major blow to our case, but Haru-chan and I will keep at it. In the meantime I'll have you four contribute to keep the printing presses running. You can show Ann the ropes and have her work on editing the material." She gave us an intense look and I could feel the gravity of her tone. " Do not instigate against Kamoshida. Chances are he could use that against us and hinder our investigation. Understand?" She voiced curtly. Her eyes darted towards Ryuji and Ann, seeing as how they were the most careless when it came to their emotions. My twin flinched and bobbed his head in defeat.

I also gave Ryuji a knowing look and he let out a gruff sigh. "Yeah, yeah —whatever you say Prez."

Confronting Kamoshida would certainly work against us and we didn't need the whole school board on our backs before the conference took place.

Our school would not hesitate to terminate us from the system, after all, this academy was the pride and joy of Tokyo. It was highly expected of us to be exemplary students.

Everything was working against us.

Getting Kawakami-sensei to sign her club application had been as swift as ours had been. Kaede had that sort of reign against people and in I was far too grateful than I was creeped out.

During lunch we cleared and cleaned the club room and we ran through the basics of the school press. Much to her dismay, there was a lot of proofreading and actual typography that was necessary for all our members to know. Giving Ann a solid alibi would be best.

She was on our side right now and we needed her just as much as she needed us.

Kamoshida was going as far as declaring a counter-sue...it was the modern equivalent of a war. The bubbling anxiety in my belly seemed to fuel my growing pessimism.

What was the palace going to look like now? Would the drama in the material world worm its way into the meta-verse? Would Kamoshida view himself as an unstoppable force and be impossible to defeat?

My brain mulled over the dreary future laid out before me, before a thin manicured nail slowly poked my cheek.

"Hello? Earth to Ryoko-chan 'ya in there?" Ann asked in an unnaturally jolly tone. I said nothing bedite blankly looking at her with a baffled look. "Ryuji is skipping P.E to stock up on supplies for the infiltration today. I know he's trying to take one for the team and all, but doesn't his bad boy faze bug you at all?" Ann asked in a

"I can't really blame him...he doesn't even want to see Kamoshida even in painting. You weren't there, but last time he turned his porcelain bust into nothing more than cinder back in the Meta-verse."

"So you think he'll get back on track once the whole situation is settled?" She asked.

I pursed my lips and twiddled my thumbs before resting my gaze on the tile pattern beneath my shoes. "Ryuji isn't really a delinquent, but everyone doesn't see it that way. In his mind, if the entire school system will always see him as such? Why fight it when he can do what he has to to get by?"

"—But, he's letting everyone else think they're right about him." She retorted.

"...Yeah," I acknowledged with a small bob of my head. "I never said it was the best way to handle it... He's probably just baiting his time to prove them wrong. Whether it's out of spite or not, I can't say for sure…"

My words seemed to instill some deep thoughtfulness on her part and nodded quietly and during the day I had a very hard time following along with the lectures. I got called out on it by one of the teachers and experienced a crushing blow to my ego.

I always hated math...and apparently my teachers hated the answer "I don't know."

"Careful Sakamoto-chan, lest you end up like that no-good brother of yours. Now take a seat and pay attention."

"Sorry." The apology was hardly genuine, but then again —I hardly cared.

Mishima wasn't even meeting me eye-to-eye anymore and it was very difficult to try to help someone when their situation was as dire as his. He had his faith in us for a brief moment, but that ended terribly for him.

I wished deeply that I couldn't do any more for him.

"You look tired." Akira stated. To confirm his words I simply drew in a deep sigh and grabbed my tote From the hook of my desk.

I didn't even attempt to deny it. I was certainly feeling the pressure eat away at me bit by bit. "...The sooner we get to that treasure the better. We're walking on thin ice. The volleyball teams, the Journalism club and you are all the mercy of that bastard." I replied in a small, but exasperated voice. Ann acted slightly uninterested in our conversation but it was a ploy, she leaned on my desk and eavesdropped on those around us.

Kamoshida had ears everywhere it seemed.

"This is just some game to him —it's frustrating." I added on. Ann simply rubbed my shoulders in a weak attempt to comfort me.

"Took the words right out of my mouth." Morgana said. His eyes reflected the light beneath the zipper line of Akira's tote. "Akira-kun wanted to talk to you privately."

"...We can talk about it after school, I need you to come with me to Yongen-Jaya." Akira coughed nervously before muttering lowly. "Alone."

"Ah, might I get an idea as to what you two are up to?" I asked feeling a bit antsy. Wasn't Yongen his new province?

"Secret."

"That...sounds very reassuring." I said.

"I'll say, you aren't plotting something are you Akira-san?" Ann rebutted. My head shot up from the sound of her voice. I had almost forgotten she was there.

Akira shook his head. "Please trust me. It's nothing bad."

"Is it illegal?" I joked. He seemed to stiffen slightly and cleared his throat. Somehow, that sign was not very promising.

"Secret."

Dammit Akira. What are you up to?

Ann gave me an incredulous look and raised an eyebrow as he excused himself back to his seat. He was being quite quite vague. "Is he always like that? I had the impression he was super intimidating and cold." She looked unimpressed as she probably scrutinized his appearance. "He's not at all what I thought him to be. He's just a dork." She muttered flatly.

I snickered and avoided to spare a look in his direction. "He also has terrible luck." I added. "He's a great guy, really. It's a shame everyone has it out for him." I voiced earnestly.

"I'm sure he is. It's no wonder he made friends with Ryuji-kun."

"A pair of dorks." I said while fighting a smile.

We both shared a small laugh and the school day came to an end shortly after. The four of us grouped together and headed off towards the station. Akira remained ambiguous about what he needed me for and I stopped trying as soon as the subway stopped beneath Shibuya.

"I can pick you up after I finish gatherin' some supplies for our thrip through the Meta-verse tomorrow. Ann needs some equipment and we have to find the right stuff for her." Ryuji saidiu. "Can't have her runnin' around the castle empty handed."

"Alright. I can probably text you through Akira-kun's cell when we finish whatever he has planned for us." I said as Ryuji and Ann began to exit the train. The number of students pouring out of the vehicle was insane. My palms began to sweat and wiped them on the hem of my school blazer.

"Sounds good," Ryuji said. He pulled my into a small and brief side hug. "You let me know if he pulls anything funny okay?"

I scoffed and tutted in response. "I'm more worried for Takama —I mean Ann-chan than I am about myself. You better behave."

"Hey!" Ryuji squawked. "Who do you take me for Ryo?"

"A pervert." I replied flatly beneath my breath. His eyebrow furrowed and I thanked the heavens his fellow —and natural blonde companion pulled him away.

"Ryuji-kun! Let's go! I have to meet with my agent later today. I'm on a tight schedule as it is!" Ann remarked before grabbing my brother by the collar and began to exit the transit station.

Fewer people boarded the train and the numbers of passengers had dwindled considerably. I didn't feel as suffocate as I had been before and thought it wasn't as packed, our trio was still left standing.

"Damn shame. We just left a metropolitan area and I still can't get a seat here." I muttered.

Morgana peeped his head out. Without really thinking about it I took a quick stroke of his head, his fur was soft and shiny. No doubt Akira was taking good care of him. Morgana pawed angrily at my hand and growled. "Don't treat me like some domestic pet!"

"Quiet Morgana. The train attendants will hear you." Akira voiced all too casually.

"Do you hate it when people touch you Morgana? I always figured you were messing around when you clawed at us." I voiced before raising an eyebrow at Akira's tote.

"I don't like being patronized. I am a man..!" Morgana answered as he huffed indignantly. Akira shook his head in what appeared to be a form of disapproval.

"Morgana, she meant no harm. It's a just gesture of affection." Akira defended.

"To a pet maybe —but I don't see you touching anyone else's hair. It's still rude if you don't let them know you're about to touch it." The small feline replied.

I paused and sighed. I hadn't really thought about it that way. "He has a point… I should have been more aware of that. I'm sorry Morgana, I had no idea."

Akira glanced at me briefly before eyeing over his shoulder within his tote. Morgana peeked his head out from the bag and frowned sadly. "...No, it's fine. I should have let you guys know before hand that It bothered me. Assuming you would all understand was pretty childish of me. You always see me as a cat so I understand you can forget without meaning to."

"I forget at times you're still trying to find out who you are. A lot like me…"

The three of us remained quiet and I realized the tone was headed down a path I didn't mean for to head. "Sorry —I didn't mean to bring it up." Morgana sputtered.

Akira looked uncomfortable but kept from meeting my gaze as we began to turn into the residential he and Morgana were living at.

"Ah, it's fine. Forget I said anything." I murmured sheepishly. "Now isn't the time to mope around." I said cheekily, it probably came out a bit unnaturally high-pitched, but it seemed to work. Either that or they had preferred to use it as a segway to move on to more positive things...or rather more urgent details…"—Akira-kun…? Mind filling me in?" I whispered trying to be as discreet as possible. Before he could answer, Morgana cut him off and relayed the situation.

"The local Pharmaceutical Doctor is rumored for having created her own unique concoctions. Akira has a reason to believe those rumors are true." Morgana replied.

Akira shot his head up and looked surprised. Odd. "You mean "you" —I could have sworn this was your idea..." He shook his head in a form of disapproval at the small feline.

"Details." Morgana said in a dismissive tone.

"This was your idea?" I asked as my interest began to peak. He simply waved me off dismissively.

"We can pin the blame on Akira when this is over, for now, we need your help. Maybe you can convince her to give you the infamous prescription everyone out here talks about." Morgana paused before adding. "I think she might be able to prescribe you something for your memory if it really is true, but we need something to repress the drowsiness and work as a painkiller."

"Morgana will go in with you. He should be able to give you advice when you're in the examination room."

Akira led us into a small and dainty clinic. The space was incredibly small and by the looks of condition of the area…it was clean, but the wear and tear of the many years of practice was visible.

The walls were so thin you could practically hear the filling conversation with a current patient. Morgana quickly scurried into my bag before an older man checked out of the clinic.

The usual social anxiety kicked in and I quietly shuffled towards the Doctor behind the receptionist counter. She had me fill out an application before she saw me.

My experiences with doctor were always positive and though the clinic and it's primary operator was rough around the edges it still gave off a warm and calm vibe.

Before I knew it I was sitting across the fair skinned woman. Her voice of clothing was questionable since she wore black stilettos with a heel high enough to impale a good sized melon and a latex corset underneath her lab coat.

She was as pale as paper and she had the look of a gothic model. From what I gathered on her medical I.D tag her name was Tae, Takemi.

She gave me the basic run of the mill examination and asked me the big question.

"Why are you here today Miss Sakamoto?" She voiced in a hollow tone.

Morgana spoke softly to keep from drawing attention to himself. "We need sleep suppressors and painkillers...create a situation that would call for them."

"My family is a low income home, I need to work in order to help provide for them. My medication, my financial situation and my studies burden me. I need a sleep suppressor that won't agitate my heart like the way that caffeine does."

She stayed quiet but her fingers typed in chaotic rhythm.

"—I understand you suffer from Retrograde Amnesia. How is the medication your primary doctor prescribed you."

"It's fine, they're just meant to work as painkillers and are supposed to prevent seizures." I replied.

"Did you bring them with you?" She asked as she behind her computer and typed furiously.

I hadn't even known we'd be stopping by, but I had remembered the names of my medication by then.

"If it's also possible...I'd like for pain medication that won't burn a hole through my liver." I joked. A small stifled chuckle reverberated from the opposite wall and I smiled slightly.

"I'm a Doctor not a miracle worker." She shook her head in disbelief. She grabbed a clipboard and flirted through the sheets with finesse. "I can prescribe you something to stimulate the neurons in your system to help with studies and something else to vitalise your liver."

"M-my liver?" I sputtered.

"Yes, your liver has a lot to do with your metabolism. It's what breaks down fat and produces energy you need for the day."

"Will it be okay to take with medication?" I asked. My concern was trying to make sure this type of medication would be risky to share…

"If you're willing to take your chances I can perform a few tests and come up with an alternative to the latter." She offered.

I honestly had to weigh my chances right now. Should I gamble with my health so precariously? Would it ultimately be a life-saver in the Meta-verse? Would Ryuji kill our leader if he found out he and Morgana brought me here?

Probably.

"Is it going to hurt?" I asked her in a nervous tone.

She looked away and a cold smile warped on her face. "Terribly so." I sincerely hoped she was being sarcastic, but her tone remained passive and level.

"...Crap."

Boys, what on earth did you get me into?