Aki staggered back at the sight of Rena’s summoned Persona, observing with dismay that the slim chance of the whole ‘summoning monsters’ part of yesterday’s ordeal being a hallucination had been rudely dashed. The cheery expression on the heiress face did absolutely nothing to hide the murderous intent she clearly had. When she finally noticed Aki’s presence, he prepared himself for the worst. He wasn’t prepared for the guilt in her eyes though, the sorrowful expression that made his heart feel something peculiar.

[color=82ca9d]“Uh, it’s nothing. I’m fine, really!”[/color] he stepped back, out of equal parts intimidation and awkwardness.

She saved his life yesterday, after he saved hers. He wasn’t sure how to address this situation. On one hand, he should have been pissed that he had gotten himself burnt because of her carelessness. But on the other hand, for some strange reason, he couldn’t bring himself to be resentful. Because of her, he did something heroic that Aki never thought he’d be able to do. It felt… weird. And now, he didn’t know what to do. He knew what he needed though.

[color=82ca9d]“If you want to help, you could always buy me a new uniform or three,”[/color] he laughed as if he was joking. He wasn’t. If a yakuza heiress really wanted to help him then he wasn’t going to let that opportunity pass.

One by one, the others arrived. Takahashi came with an offering of junk food. Aki declined the food with a polite smile and shake of the head. Disgusting stuff. The grease and sheer fat content of those burgers always made him feel ill, even from the sight alone. However, he did note with faint surprise the slight blush in Takahashi’s cheeks when they spoke to Maeda. Huh, guess he should’ve seen that one coming. He decided not to speak of it for now.

Then Yamamoto spoke. And it was everything Aki dreaded. The Drama Club president looked absolutely drained and Aki felt the tiniest pang of sympathy. Unfortunately for Yamamoto, Aki had already made up his mind.

[color=82ca9d]“I was afraid you would say that,”[/color] Aki replied, sounding reluctant, [color=82ca9d]“That’s why I came here, actually. I needed to tell you that…”[/color]

That he didn’t give two shits about the Drama Club. That there was no way in or out of Hell that he’d ever go back into that place. Sure he felt bad, but nowhere near bad enough to put his life on the line for Yamamoto.

[color=82ca9d]“…I’m not going back there,”[/color] he said firmly, [color=82ca9d]“I’m sorry about your friends but following after you yesterday was a mistake that I’m not going to repeat.”[/color]

[@demonspade64] [@Crimmy]