The Puppet on the Strings

Confessions

There I go again. No. I need to talk to Ann myself. I need to make the first move again.

"I implore that you rethink the importance of life and-"

The doors creak, soon slamming shut. I pivot myself to look at whoever entered, stumbling back a step when I saw who it was. I guess my luck ran out.

"Mr. Kamoshida, what's the-"

"I... have been reborn. That is why I will confess everything to you all..."

My skin pales. What could he be doing?

"Huh?" Ann sounds as confused as me.

"I have repeatedly done things that were... unbecoming of a teacher. Verbally abusing students, physically assaulting my team and... sexually harassing female students. I am the reason why Shiho Suzui tried to kill herself!"

Students have started murmuring, Kamoshida falling onto his knees. My heart is pounding out of my chest. What the hell is going on?!

"I thought of this school as my own castle... There were even students that I sentenced to expulsion, simply because I didn't like them... I will, of course, rescind those..."

I feel lightheaded. Is he talking about Ryuji and Akira? It can't be anyone else, I know. But it sounds so crazy. No way does anyone change at the snap of their fingers!

"I am truly sorry for putting innocent youths through such horrible acts... I am an arrogant, shallow... and shameful person. No, I'm worse than that...! I will take responsibility and kill myself for it...!"

My eyes start to water. What the hell is going on?! He shouldn't die!

Principal Kobayakawa runs out from behind the podium."Mr. Kamoshida! Please get off the stage for now!"

Why the hell does he think that's a way to react?! That's a worse response than the one he gave about Shiho!

I look over to Ann, her teeth clenched in anger. "Don't run, you bastard!" Ann's voice breaks through the crowd's murmuring, everyone looking to Ann. My head swivels to look to her.

"Shiho's still alive even after all the things that made her want to die! You have no right to run from this!" Her voice is breaking, sadness and anger evident. I wipe my eyes, legs trembling.

"You killing yourself solves nothing! Nobody wants you dead!" I cry out, tears rolling down my cheeks. My heart is pounding. He's an asshole, but not one that deserves death. Besides, his confession is all that's left to help everyone. "You dying before fixing the mess you created still hurts everyone you're apologizing to right now!"

"You're right... you're absolutely right..." He pushes himself up, looking to Ann and me. "I should be punished under the law and atone for my crimes... I did horrible things to Takamaki-san, as well as l/n-san. In return for giving Suzui-san a position on the team... I tried to force Takamaki-san into having relations..."

The crowd continues to murmur in disgust, a few students glancing at me and Ann. "When she, rightfully refused, I had tried to do the same to l/n-san..."

My face pales. So he was trying to do that to me... I figured as much, but hearing it makes me want to vomit. Still, I don't want him dead. Rumors of his confession won't help anyone.

"As of today, I will resign from my position as an instructor and turn myself in." His sobs start up again, his eyes scanning over everyone. "Someone, please call the police!"

A teacher steps into the crowd, trying to usher students out of the gymnasium. I turn to look at Akira, his gaze already locked with mine. This all feels so surreal. A confession like this would never happen under normal circumstances. A heavy conscious doesn't exist. He never felt guilty until now.

"Isn't this just like what that calling-card said...?"

A calling-card? Kamoshida mentioned a calling card the last day he seemed normal. What did that calling card claim?

"C'mon, there's no way you can steal someone's heart!"

Stealing hearts? What's going on?

"Don't they go easier on you if you turn yourself in?"

Even if that were the case, there's nothing else to prove his guilt but the confession he just gave. Besides, his remorse sounded far too real.

"But man, Kamoshida turned out to be one sick bastard."

Every student was still discussing what just happened. My head feels like it's spinning. How is this real? None of this should be real! This... I know it can't be real. Nobody like Kamoshida ever really loses. The world is a cruel place, so how did the little guy win?

~~~~~

It took around ten minutes, but the gym eventually thinned out. I never left from where I stood, looking at the now empty stage. Police had taken Kamoshida into custody. It sounded like they should be back to question students, though. I can't blame them. A sudden confession like his needs proof from victims.

I turn around. Akira, Ryuji, and Ann are still here. Akira glances over to me, giving a small smile. I approach the group, feeling like I could fall at any second.

"I'm glad for you both. Looks like those weird rumors are gonna go away," Ryuji states, looking over to me.

"Yeah, but it doesn't feel real to me."

"I get how you feel..." Ann states, looking to me. "But Kamoshida apologized about Shiho... that's more than enough for me."

"You should hurry and tell her about it then," Ryuji speaks up. Ann nods, heading out of the gym. Ryuji looks to Akira, then back at me. "So, you friends with this guy?"

My cheeks redden. "I guess you could say that." I look to Ryuji. "I didn't really pay much attention around school, so what was up with that calling card thing? I never really saw it."

Akira elbows Ryuji in the side before he can speak, Ryuji glaring at him. "A group that called themselves the 'Phantom Thieves of Hearts' said they'd steal Kamoshida's distorted desires."

"Distorted desires? What does that mean?"

Akira shrugged.

"It means they'd make Kamoshida confess what he did by getting rid of why he did it," Ryuji states, confusing me. I start cracking up.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I continue to chuckle.

Morgana peaks out of the bag, a soft meow halting my fit of giggles. "Hey, Morgana." I reach towards his fuzzy head, earning a soft purr.

"So she can pet you without you getting angry?"

Morgana looks to Ryuji, still purring as a few meows escape him.

"Shut it, you stupid furbag!"

"Whoa, what did he ever do to you?" I question, pulling my arm away.

Ryuji looks at me, then to Akira. "Oh yeah." He walks past me. "Don't forget about after school, Akira!" Ryuji runs off, heading for the main school building.

"Morgana seems to like me," I state, Akira shoving Morgana's head back into the bag. "Weird. He barely likes me."

I giggle softly, the two of us heading back to our classroom.

However, the whole thing with the Phantom Thieves and Kamoshida's confession is still nagging at me. Kamoshida had been the same way for years, but it changes after he threatens to expel Akira. It's too coincidental. Maybe Akira is hiding something from me after all.