Brody's POV

*Next day-4/23-after school*

Once classes where over Ann send a text to the group chat that she wont be available after school since she'll be seeing Shiho at the hospital so I decided to go out with Ryuji.

"Ugh, dammit! I wanna move better, but I just can't..." Ryuji said panting "I was trainin' for nationals back in the day....but now I totally suck balls" he said "What the hell do ypu thonk you're doing?" Someone asked as three students in the gym uniform like us approached us and Ryuji was suprised "Nakaoka....Takeishi..." Ryuji said ".....running huh? I saw you from the window" Nakaoka said "What, you gonna try to come crawling back to the track team?" Takeishi asks "Huh? H-Hell no..." Ryuji said "Sure..." Nakaoka said ".....speaking of which, this was your secret training spot, wasn't it?" He asks "Well it's our spot now" he said "You know, us. The former track team" he said "we don't even have a locker room anymore, thanks to someone I know" Takeishi said and Ryuji looked down staying silent "Let's not fight" I said "We ain't fightin'..." Ryuji said "Yeah, this isn't anything like a fight. Not even close" Nakaoka said "Hold on, aren't you that transfer student? You're really gonna hang around with this loser 'Prince'?" He asks "You better watch out. He'll hit you the secondhe gets pissed off" an ex-track team member said "I heard his dad was the same way. Like father like son right? Now that's some scary shit" he said 'dude...' I thought "That don't got anything to do with this..." Ryuji said defensive "Calm down Ryuji" I said and Ryuji looked at me and nodded "....You're right" he said "Look, back then, I...." he said "I don't need to hear your excuses" Nakaoka said "Everyone was going through the same bullshit with Kamoshida" he said "The beatings, the impossible exercises...but we put up with all of it for the track team" he said "But no. You had to go and fuck all of that up!" He said "Man I was stupid for ever thinking you were my teammate" he said ".....That's all I have to say to you. I'm outta here" he said and the three of them left.

"....I nearly smacked him when he was talkin' about my dad..." Ryuji said with a sigh "I haven't changed at all.." he said "But y'know...you actually helped me calm down a little" he said smiling "I'm glad you were here with me" he said "Thanks man!" He said and we high five.

*I feel like my bond with Ryuji is growing deeper

Rank up!

Confidant Ryuji Sakamoto

Arcana Chariot Rank 3

New ability!

Follow up: Chance to perform a follow-up attack if Brody's attack does not down the enemy

"....Let's call it a day" Ryuji said and I nodded as we left.

*Back at Leblanc-Evening*

As I got to leblanc I bought a ctr tv from the store next to leblanc and the owner also gave us a dvd player for free and said he'll deliver it to Leblanc. When I got inside Ann texted the group and said she told Shiho we settled things with Kamoshida even if Shiho wasn't concious still and she'll make up for failing her and we ended it on that.

"Hey, got a minute?" Sojiro asks and I nodded "Somethin' I wanna ask you. C'mere, let's have a chat" he said and I walked over to him "Care to have a little chat with me? What, it's just some small talk" Sojiro said

*This may be a good opportunity to deepen my bond with Sojiro

"Let's talk" I said "Good. There're a lot of things I want to ask you" Sojiro said "I'll clean up, so just wait there" he said going to the kitchen.

When he finished he came back "Hey, how's school?" Sojiro asks "You're not causing any trouble, are you?" He asks "I'm not" I said "Good....look I've gotta report to your probation officer twice a month" Sojiro said "It's already a pain in the ass as is, so please don't make me have to write even more crap" he said "Got that? This society is kept in check by laws and authority figures" he said "You can go and get yourself killed if you want, but don't go dragging other people into your mess" he said 'It's hard to keep me dead though...' I thought "The last thing we need is more idiots like you roaming around." He said and his phone rang and picked it up "Hm? What's wrong?" He asks "Yeah, I'm heading out now. Sorry about that" he said "....I know the usual right?" He said "Ok, I'll see you later" he said hanging up "As you can see, I'm pretty damn busy both at work and in my private life" he said "If you could lend a hand, it'd really be a great help..." he said "I'd be glad to" I said "Now we're talking" Sojiro said "Either way, I won't ask you to work for free. If you agree to help me, then....I'll teach you how to make the perfect cup of coffee. Not a bad trade, eh?" He asks "Sounds interesting" I said "All right. Looks like we've got ourselves a deal" Sojiro said.

*The distance between me and Sojiro seems to be closing slightly

*Back to the present-interrogation room*

"You may call yourself a phantom thief, but you're still a minor. Someone had to support you" Sae said  "Furthermore, they did so knowing you were part of that group...." she said "....Isn't the owner of that cafe an accomplice of yours?!" She asks as I look away.

*Back to the past*

I am thou, thou art I...
Thou hast acquired a new vow

It shall becomes the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity

With the birth of the Hierophant Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power..." a girl said and a card appeared infront of me.

Confidant Sojiro Sakura

Arcana Hiero. Rank 1

The card then vanished into my soul.

"I'll be counting on your help" Sojiro said "see ya later" he said as he left and I closed the store and went I upstairs.

As I did my phone rang and I look to see it's a text from doctor Gaster so I sat on my bed and look it up.

Dr. Gaster: Evening prince Brody. How are you doing?

Brody: Hi mr. Gaster I'm okay. How are things going over there?

Dr. Gaster: It's been alright Brody. Alphys, Sans and I finished the project to use the core as a unlimited source of electricity.

Brody: that's good to hear

Dr. Gaster: has anything interesting happen over there?

'.....I should refrain from involving them in my mess' I thought

Brody: no it's okay, just some gossip about me because of my "criminal record"

Dr. Gaster: Right...I still find it unfair what that human did.

Brody: it's fine I'm not letting other's comment bother me

Dr. Gaster: Training with Undyne and Sans really paid of huh?

Brody: yeah

Dr. Gaster: well I shouldn't keep you up for long, goodbye prince the others will probably text you soon

Brody: I'll be waiting, goodbye doc

Dr. Gaster: and.....thank you for what you did for me.

Brody: it's nothing

Dr. Gaster: you have a heart gold Brody, goodbye.

And with that the talk ended and I got on bed with Morgana ready to sleep.

FILE SAVED.