"I'm so exhausted..." Mikono huffed, sitting down on a nearby bench while Ryuji sauntered off in search of drinks after they finished explaining everything to Takamaki. Akira stood in front of the bench, peering down at her with concerned glances.

"Are you...feeling all right, Tsutsui-chan?" Takamaki asked. "You're paler than usual."

"I'm fine," Mikono replied. "Just tired, is all. I'm just glad I don't have to work today."

Morgana hopped out of Akira's bag and climbed into her lap. "Are you sure, Lady Mikono? You used up quite a lot of energy, especially after only awakening your Persona."

The inky-haired girl smiled at the cat, combing her fingers across the top of its head. "I'm sure, Morgana. Once I get some rest, I'll be back to my normal self."

Ryuji returned a few minutes later with three bottled drinks. He handed the water to Mikono before holding out the two other bottles in front of Takamaki. "Which one you want?"

"Whichever one's not carbonated," she responded.

"Uh," the bleach blonde looked between the two drinks. "They're both actually."

Before Mikono broke the seal on the bottle of water, she offered it to Takamaki. "You can have the water. I'll take one of the sodas."

"No," she shook her head. "You need it more than I do, Tsutsui-chan. I'll take this one." She snatched a soda out of Ryuji's hand and sighed when she felt the cool bottle nuzzle against her warm palm.

Ryuji handed the other soda to Akira. "Here ya go."

"What about me?" Morgana asked, its tail flicking back and forth as it sat in Mikono's lap.

"Huh?" Ryuji crosses his arms in bewilderment. "But you're a cat."

"I'll share with you, Morgana," Mikono replied.

"Really?!" The cat couldn't hide its excitement over the small gesture. "Oh, thank you, Lady Mikono!"

Takamaki stared at the exuberant feline, still puzzled as to what all was happening.

When Morgana senses her eyes focused on it, it turned its head and offered a kind smile in return. "Have you calmed down, Lady Ann?"

Her eyes widen for a second before returning to normal. "Um... Morgana, right? I really am talking to a cat... This feels so strange..." She shook her head after realizing what she said and promptly apologized. "Oh, sorry! You're not a cat, right?"

"It's only natural that you're confused. Demanding that you understand all of this right after what you went through is asking too much."

Takamaki turned her downcast gaze toward the floor. "Honestly, I still can't believe what happened... And that power...my Persona..."

"Don't worry, Takamaki-chan. You and I are in the same boat. I've only just awoken my Persona, too," Mikono explained.

"And that's why you weren't wearing your school uniform..." Takamaki deducted.

Morgana glances between the two girls. "It's the will of your rebellion, Lady Ann, Lady Mikono. With it, you both will be able to fight in that other world."

"So if what you told me is true, we can make Kamoshida have a change of heart, right?" It sounded too good to be true and she kept doubting their confidence. "Is it really possible? Can we actually force him to confess his crimes?"

"The volleyball team's keepin' quiet about this while teachers and parents turn a blind eye," Ryuji stated with a grimace. "Mikky's already tried tellin' someone about all the shit he's done to her, but everyone refused to listen and blew her off. And if guys like us try and complain, they're just gonna shoot us down, too. Goin' all in on this plan is the only chance we got."

"Then let me help too." Takamaki turned and faced Ryuji, determination etched across her face. "I want to make him pay for what happened to Shiho. He just keeps going like nothing happened, even after what he did to her... I'll never forgive him."

Ryuji blinked a few time before making sure he heard correctly. "Wait, did you just say, "Let me help"? You mean, you want us to take you along?"

The girl glared at him. "Don't act like I'm going to drag you down. Weren't you watching? I can fight, too."

Ryuji looked toward Akira, wondering what his thoughts were on the proposition. "Hey, what should we do?"

"It should be fine," Akira replied before his eyes traveled over to the exhausted Mikono, who was currently spacing out. "Now that Mikono's also awoken her Persona, we won't have to worry about her, either."

Said girl returned to reality and blinked owlishly when she heard her name. "What?"

Ryuji rolled his eyes with a groan. "You really are a space cadet sometimes..."

"Sorry. What were we talking about?"

"Whether if Takamaki should join us or not."

Mikono's eyes gleam with excitement. "We should! It would be nice to have another girl around. The more the merrier!"

"Seriously?" The chocolate-eyed boy sighed. "Even you're on board with this...?"

"I agree as well. We are lacking in manpower, after all." Morgana glanced between the two girls, revealing its sharp teeth as it smiled. "Don't worry, I'll protect them both!"

Mikono couldn't help but smile. She picked up the cat and nuzzled her cheek against its own. "Who knew my knight in shining armor would be so adorable!" It purred, closing its eyes as it rubbed its cheek against hers and enjoyed her warmth.

"Even if you said no, I'd just go in alone," Takamaki stated once looking away from Mikono and Morgana.

Ryuji's brows knitted together once remembering she had the navigation app on her phone. "Oh right, she can go by herself... I guess it'd be more dangerous turning her down..." He thought for a few seconds before growling, "Rgh, fine..."

"Then it's decided. Well, I hope we get along!" She gripped the bottle tighter, her cheerful expression turning to one of determination and hatred. "I'm going to make Kamoshida atone for what he did. Not just for Shiho's sake...but for everything he's done. I won't let any more people suffer because of him. I'll do whatever it takes! Just let me know when you're heading back in... Oh, wait! We don't have each other's info. Hey, give me your number and chat ID."

Akira pulled out his phone and shared his information with Takamaki. He added her number to his contacts and invited her to the group chat. "That should do it."

Takamaki then turned to Mikono. "Tsutsui-chan, could we...?"

"Y-Yeah!" Mikono scrambled for her phone and promptly gave away her phone number. Once the new number was added, she stared down at the screen for a few seconds before smiling up at her classmate. "You can call or text me anytime, Takamaki-chan."

The taller girl nodded, her own smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"You're my first female friend!" Mikono accidentally proclaimed louder than planned.

"Uh..." Takamaki was startled by the girl's sudden outburst.

She realized what she said and hung her head with a sigh. "That...sounded sadder than I thought it would."

The blonde smiled back as she double-checked the number to make sure she had typed it in right. "It'll be nice to finally get to know the model student everyone talks about. I can already tell most of those rumors about you aren't true."

"I'm kinda curious... What all have you heard about me, Takamaki-chan?"

"U-Um, well..."

Mikono knew by that reaction none of it was good. "...I see. Well, I'm not surprised you've only heard bad things about me. I doubt our fellow classmates will change their view of me anytime soon. I just let them talk and ignore them. After all," she placed Morgana on the ground, stood up from her seat, and flung her arms around Ryuji's and Akira's necks. She pulled them down to her height and squished her cheeks against theirs. "I've got these two and what they think about me is all that matters."

Takamaki glances between the two boys and smiled in amusement when they began blushing. "Sounds like you're in good hands, Tsutsui-chan. I better get going. I'll see you later." She waved farewell before vanishing into the crowd.

Mikono released Ryuji and Akira, their embarrassment going unnoticed. She placed a hand against her head when a sudden wave of dizziness crashed over her. She fought against the dizzy spell and faced her friends with a smile. "We better get going. We wouldn't want to miss our train, Akira."

"Before we split, we should figure out how all of us can get together quick from now on," Ryuji stated.

"True," Morgana agreed. "Our best option would be to make a secret hideout where we could discuss these things."

"A secret hideout, huh?" The blonde smirked, intrigued by the idea. "I like the sound of that."

"The school rooftop would work," the cat suggested. "It seems like nobody goes up there. For the time being, that will make the perfect hideout. I can't contact you from inside a Palace, so I'll stay in this world. That being said, I'll need someone to take care of me. I nominate Lady Mikono as my caretaker!"

"Huh?" Mikono hummed in confusion.

"Oh hell no!" Ryuji grabbed the cat by the nape of the neck and hauled it into the air. "You may be a cat, but that doesn't mean you're not gonna do anythin' weird to her!"

"Nyah-let me go!" Morgana thrashed around in the boy's grip.

"Here, you take care of it," Ryuji groaned, tossing the animal toward Akira.

The bespectacled boy caught Morgana, peering into its piercing blue eyes. "Uh..."

The sound of a departure bell suddenly echoed throughout the train station. Ryuji grinned before waving farewell and dashing off. Akira, Mikono, and Morgana watched as he rushed down a flight of stairs to reach one of the many loading platforms.

"Well then, we better catch our train, too," Akira stated, placing the cat in his school bag.

Mikono glances down at her phone and checked the time. She gasped and promptly snatched up her bag. "We have to hurry! Our train departs in two minutes!"

<------<<<<<

Arriving at Shibuya Station, Mikono tried to part ways with Akira, but he refused. She stared at him, puzzled as to why. She wondered if everything was all right, but she wasn't able to question him as he explained himself. "I want to make sure you get home safe. You're still pale and I saw how you almost tripped earlier in the station."

"I appreciate your concern, Akira, but I'll be fine. You're going to miss your train," Mikono replied.

"I won't take no as an answer," he declares.

The young girl stared into his obsidian eyes for a few seconds before sighing. "Okay, but you have to let me pay for your taxi."

Akira smiles fondly, remembering how she paid for his taxi on the day they first met. "This'll be the second time you've paid for my ride."

"I have a tenancy to spend my own money on other people. It's kinda a bad habit I've developed since moving to Japan. Ever since the rumors began, I tried to use money to get friends. It worked for a little bit, but in the end, it turned into more rumors." Mikono fell silent, replaying the horrid memories of how students would pretend to be her friend only because they knew how rich her parents were. "I was such a moron... And still kinda am."

"You were that lonely?" Akira frowned sorrowfully.

Mikono tore her gaze from his melancholic one. "Yeah, I was. All I wanted was friends, but in return, people started gossiping about how I'd bribe people with my parents' money to get the attention I craved. Honestly, it's the truth. But once I became friends with Ryuji, all those rumors no longer bothered me. Besides my parents, he's the only one who really cares about me. He didn't become my friend just to use me. He...actually wanted to know me and spend time with me. I tried so many times to pay for lunch or a movie, but if I did, he'd always pay me back. I tried to refuse, but he'd always sneak the money into my bag when I wasn't looking." A smile graced her face as she lifted her gaze and locked eyes with the boy once again. "Now, I have another person that cares about me. Oh, and I can't forget about Morgana! I know I've said this before and I know this won't be the last time I say it, but...thank you for giving me a chance, Akira, Morgana."

The cat popped its head out of Akira's bag with a sniffle. "Lady Mikono...!" It jumped out of the bag and into the girl's arms. It rubbed its head against her cheek affectionately.

She giggled at the ticklish sensation. "If I could take you home, I would. Unfortunately, my parents wouldn't like it if I brought a stray cat home. No offense, by the way."

"I could never be mad at you, Lady Mikono," it replied.

"Now then," Mikono readjusted Morgana in her arms. "Let's head to my house."

<------<<<<<

Akira stood on the stone pathway leading to the front door of Mikono's house, staring wide-eyed at the large structure before him. "Wow..."

The girl beside him snorted with laughter. "Ryuji had the same expression on his face when he came over for the first time, too. Since you came all this way, do you want to come inside for some tea or coffee? I could even make something for Morgana so you don't have to worry when you get home."

Akira rubbed the back of his neck, unsure of how to respond. "Um..."

"Do you have tuna?" Morgana eagerly questioned.

"Yeah," Mikono answered.

"Then we'd love to come in!"

The inky-haired girl grabbed Akira's hand the second Morgana leapt out of her arms when she saw he was frozen in place. She pulled him into the house and guided him to the living room. Once he sat down and got comfortable on the couch, she took his drink order and sauntered off toward the kitchen with Morgana by her side.

While the water boiled, Mikono prepared a small portion of white rice and slices of tuna on a small plate. Once done, she placed the plate on the floor and allowed Morgana to eat. "If you're still hungry after you finish that, I'll gladly give you more, Morgana."

The cat lifted its head, revealing the pieces of rice stuck to its fur around its mouth. "A woman after my own heart~!"

Mikono shook her head with a grin. "I'm gonna take that as a "yes" to seconds."

Unbeknownst to the feline and girl, the front door opened and two figures walked into the house. The woman sighed as her exhausted feet carried her to the living room. She failed to notice the boy sitting on her couch as she sat down next to him. She opened her tired eyes and looked to her right, locking gazes with Akira. She offered him a smile before her eyes widen. "A boy?!"

Akira jumped in his seat at her sudden shout. He wasn't sure how to address the woman as he had no clue to whom she was.

The short-haired woman flew to her feet and accidentally stepped out of one of her high heels when she took a step back. "Darling, there's a boy in the living room!"

"What?!" Another voice screeched. Akira's eyes darted to the doorframe as a man with blonde hair and blue eyes stomped into the room. The tall man lumbered toward him, causing him to shrink back into the cushions of the sofa. "Who are you and what are you doing in our house?!"

The short-haired woman smacked the man. "Don't be so rude, Isaac! Look at his uniform."

Isaac examined the boy's uniform and noticed the familiar insignia on his blazer. His cerulean eyes widen in realization. "Shujin Academy? Does that mean...?"

"Mom! Dad! What're you doing to him?!" Mikono bellowed as she stepped into the living room with two cups of tea on a tray.

"O-Oh, Honey!" Ichika gasped in shock. "Did you... Is this...?" She gestured to the tense Akira.

The blonde man's eyes widen when he knew what his wife was implying. He shook his head in disbelief. "Impossible! Our baby girl can't have a boyfriend!"

Mikono's cheek ignite a bright red as she placed the tray down on the coffee table. "H-He's not my boyfriend!" She tried to fight against her embarrassment, but her cheeks remained the same crimson hue. On the bright side, she was able to keep herself from stuttering a second time. "This is Akira Kurusu, the new transfer student AND my friend. I invited him in for some tea."

Isaac was relieved while Ichika clearly was disappointed at the revelation. She pouted as her husband sighed contently.

When Mikono glanced over at Akira to check on him, she saw his cheeks were also red.

The girl's mother noticed and her pout morphed into a giddy grin. "Oh, please! Don't let us intervene! It's a pleasure to meet you, Kurusu-kun! I'm Ichika Tsutsui and this is my husband, Isaac Blackwell. Please, address us by our first names." She grabbed her husband's hand and tugged him toward the stairs. "If you need us, we'll be in the study. Just pop in or call for us if either of you need anything!"

"I-Ichika, wait...!" Isaac protested as the woman yanked him up the stairs.

Once they were out of sight and out of earshot, Mikono groaned and covered her face with her hands, her words slightly muffled. "I am so sorry about that, Akira. I thought they wouldn't be home until a little later."

Akira cleared his throat while adjusting his glasses, looking back and forth between his friend and the floor. "I-It's okay, Mikono." He could feel the heat radiating off his cheeks as he placed his own hands over the reddened skin.

The cerulean-eyed girl lowered her hands. "While Morgana's enjoying another round of tuna and rice, we can enjoy our tea."

"R-Right..." Akira gingerly picked up his cup of tea and took a sip. His embarrassment was shoved aside when the gentle, smooth taste of the tea covered his entire tongue. "This is actually...really good."

Mikono smiled when she heard he was enjoying the warm beverage. "I know you were having issues choosing between coffee and tea so I went with a blend my father enjoys. He loves tea as much as he loves coffee."

The boy lowered the cup, placing it back on the tray. He looked over at Mikono with concern. "How're you feeling?"

"I still feel a little dizziness, but that'll subside once I get a proper night's rest. I'm just glad we don't have homework to worry about," she sighed. "I'd be too exhausted to even look at it."

"Me too," Akira huffed out a chuckle.

<-------<<<<<

After a couple of hours and a few cups of tea later, Mikono and Akira saw how late it was getting. She called him a taxi and waited with him and Morgana by the street until it arrived. When it did, she paid the driver as the boy and cat hopped in the backseat.

Akira rolled down the window and delayed his departure for a short while to say a proper farewell. "I'll see you tomorrow at the train station, Mikono. I hope you feel better in the morning."

"You're such a worrywart, just like Ryuji," she smiled. "I'll be fine. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Good night, Akira."

Her smile was contagious as usually and Akira found himself smiling back. "Good night, Mikono."