Chapter Text
"Just a few more hours and I get a break" Ren thought as he heard the students talking like he wasn't there (or they just didn't care which was more likely) for the millionth time this week.
"I heard he brought a knife to school"
"Do you think he's a part of the yakuza?"
"Do you think he really sold elephant tusks?"
That particular one was his favorite, he mused, due to the sheer absurdity.
His bag suddenly shifted "Are you holding up well?" Morgana asked, poking his head out.
"It's nothing I'm not used to hearing Morgana" He replied, and unfortunately that was the truth.
"I was just wondering since you seem to be tense" Morgana clarified, he hasn't known Ren long but is already becoming a mentor figure in his life.
"It's no problem Mona, I won't let them get to-"
"I heard he raped someone."
"Woah really? Do you think it was that chick who jumped off the roof last week?"
"It has to be, right?"
They think that was my fault!?
He thought of the woman he rescued from that drunk guy which led to him getting arrested. I wouldn't do that to anyone, how could they think something like that?
He could barely hear Morgana's protests as he ran to the roof for some air "Hey are you okay? Don't listen to them Ren."
Once he got to the roof he sat against a wall, and breathed heavily.
How could they accuse someone of that? What has he done to them to deserve this? "All I want is to have a quiet year after we take down Kamoshida, can I not even get that?" Ren thought to himself.
He pulled Morgana out of his bag, uncaring if someone saw him, and held his head to the cat's fur. "Is that a kitty?" an unfamiliar voice asked, he looked up and saw a girl with short fluffy hair, and a pink sweater. Suddenly she gasped and her eyes went wide, "Are you alright? Your eyes are red, have you been crying?" He didn't even realize, he hasn't cried in years.
"I'm Sorry" he began, "People were talking about me and I just-" He stopped, remembering why he ran up here in the first place, and it all came back to him. They think I'm a rapist, for no reason other than having a criminal record. I never did anything.
He didn't register the girl telling him to stay as she ran for help and he put his face back into Morgana's fur, "It'll be alright Ren, I'm sure once we get Kamoshida the rumors will die down" Ren couldn't tell who he was trying to reassure. He couldn't think, or breathe or do anything, "I just tried to help someone and this is what I get? A school filled with people who hate me?" What's the point of helping if he gets treated like the villain? Why does he even bother? Why is he even-
"Hey it's okay just breathe for me alright?" A new voice said, "Breathe in deeply, count to three, breathe out, and continue until you're feeling calmer." He hadn't realized he was breathing so fast and heavily, so he took the voice's advice and started taking slow deep breaths.
He brought his head back up to look at Morgana who sat there patiently throughout it all, then suddenly a hand came into view, "Are you doing better?" He looked up and saw that the hand belonged to a girl with short brown hair, with what looks to be a braid up top, but that wasn't the first thing he noticed about her. Instead it was her eyes, a deep shade of red he hadn't thought possible, they were striking but he felt it was rude to get lost in them after she helped him so he took her hand and stood up with her help.
"Thank you uhh" He trailed off, not knowing the girl's name.
"Oh I'm sorry, my name is Makoto Niijima, I'm the student council president here at Shujin Academy. Are you alright? Haru-chan here suddenly came running down the stairs and bumped into me before asking for help. She said there was a student having a panic attack."
He looked over to the fluffy haired girl from earlier who he now knew the name of, "Thank you and I'm so sorr-"
"Let me stop you right there" Niijima interrupted, "It is my duty to help fellow students, you have nothing to apologize for, I'm just glad you're okay and that Haru was the one to find you. May I ask what happened?" She raised a brow and looked at him in concern.
"I should start by introducing myself, I'm Ren Amamiya."
"The new transfer student?" Asked Haru
He nodded "I'm sure you've heard the rumors about me with my record and all, right?" He paused to take a breath. "I'm usually good at ignoring them but there was one that I just couldn't" He grit his teeth and pulled his hands into fists before continuing. "They said I'm a rapist, and that I'm the reason Shiho jumped off the roof" He heard the two girls breathe in deeply but didn't look up. "I didn't do any of that okay? All I did was try and help, but I was too late."
"I'm so sorry to hear that, and I know I'm a stranger but for what it's worth I believe you." Said Niijima "Do you know the students who said those things? Perhaps I could talk to them an-"
"All that'll do is cause the rumors to get worse and for you to get dragged into them with me. I'm thankful for your help though"
Niijima looked down uncomfortably for a second "It's no problem at all, I'm just happy you're alright, and it's Haru you should be thanking since she told me about you"
"But she wasn't the one who helped calm me down, you were. I owe both of you a lot."
Niijima shifted again, as if she was uncomfortable being thanked for some reason. "It's really no problem, listen I have some duties to attend to but if you ever need anything come to the student council room and let me know." She said before bowing her head and walking off.
"She really is kind isn't she?" Haru said
"Thanks for getting her, and for helping me. Are the two of you friends?" Ren questioned
"It's no problem at all, I just came to water the plants then saw the kitty and then you." That explains why those plants up here aren't dead. "And no we aren't, the two of us just share some classes, and since she's the council president I thought she might be more helpful than I was."
"You were plenty helpful Haru, don't worry about it, I owe the two of you a lot, I wish I could pay the two of you back somehow"
Haru shook her head gently "You don't owe us anything Ren-Kun" Ren-Kun? That's new.
"Still there has to be something I can do for the two of you as thanks"
Haru gave a soft smile "Well I could use some help with the plants today." She offered. He nodded in agreement and the two got to work as Morgana watched from the bag. Almost an hour had passed by the time they were done.
"If you need help again just let me know"
"Will do" Haru said" And..."
Ren raised a brow at her trailing off "And what?"
"Well you still feel as if you owe Mako-Chan correct?"
"Of course, do you have any ideas?" She let out another soft smirk before continuing
"Well you didn't hear this from me, but there's rumors that today is actually Makoto's birthday." Ren raised both eyebrows, She helped me on her own birthday?
"Do you know if she has anything planned" He asked eagerly Maybe I can get her a gift as thanks he thought
"I'm not sure" Haru frowned "She hasn't mentioned anything about it and she's been glancing at her phone before frowning in what looks to be disappointment every few minutes."
Ren frowned, So does she have no one to celebrate with? "Do you know what she'd like as a gift" He asked Haru
"All I know is that she has a pencil case with a cute cartoon panda on it" she said. Pandas? I can work with that.
He looked back up at Haru and smiled "Thanks for letting me know" before taking his bag and walking back down the stairs calling Ryuji.
"Sup"
"Can you do me a favor and look after Morgana for the night? Please?"
"Ugh I guess, but why?"
"I'll tell you later I promise"
"Fine"
"Thanks Ryuji, I owe you one" He said before hanging up.
"Why are you making me stay with the Bonehead?!?" Morgana asked in horror.
Ren looked down at the (not) cat and smirked "Because I have a surprise Birthday to plan."