Sudden encounters after sudden encounters

From behind one tree popped out one blond twin-tailed girl.

Ann was having conflicting emotions. She just saw Shin helping another girl, and it looked so... intimate.

One one hand, there was a certain unpleasant feeling seeing Shin aid someone else like that. It felt like it took away from her uniqueness.

However, those selfish thoughts weren't the main cause of concern.

The girl noticed the looks Shiho was throwing towards the black-haired boy, yesterday, after they exited Mementos, and back at the celebration, too. It was almost painfully obvious to realize what those meant.

Ann couldn't help but feel bad for Shiho, as she assumed that Shin was already in a special relationship with the brown-haired girl whose hand he held until a few minutes earlier.

Obviously, Shin didn't give the girl time to sort out her emotions, as he went towards her, his ever-present teasing smile sitting on his face.

"You know, it's bad to spy on people. We just dealt with a stalker, and it'd be a shame if we had to deal with you too, Ann."

The girl was a tad too distraught to respond as she would usually to his teasing. Instead, she simply asked him.

"Are the two of you together?"

"Hmm. Worried that I'm already taken? Don't fret, she is just a friend." he replied.

Ann gave a small smile of relief.

"I see... Sorry to have bothered you. I'll be on my way now." the girl turned around to leave.

"Hey, wait a second." said Shin, grabbing Ann by the wrist.

The boy spun her so she was facing him, and pulled her closer.

"You didn't tell me why were you following me in the first place."

"I just... saw you two while I was shopping, and I got curious."

"Uh-huh." said Shin, doubtfully.

Nevertheless, he let her go.

"I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow, I guess." said Ann awkwardly.

-INTERMISSION-

Something amazing happened to Shin when he was going back home.

"Give me your wallet or I'll hurt you!" said a ruffled man, holding a knife.

He was being mugged! Him! In all honesty, he was barely keeping his calm demeanor together, seeing the almost blunt kitchen knife the man used to threaten him, but his twitching mouth gave him away.

The mugger would've felt bothered that Shin was amused instead of scared, but any idle thoughts he might've had went away the moment his legs were sweeped from underneath him. His back impacted the concrete heavily, and his breath was momentarily knocked away.

Shin swiftly grabbed the dropped knife, and held it with the tip pointing downwards.

"At least sharpen the goddamn knife if you plan on mugging someone. I feel insulted that this is the most you could come up with." said Shin with a frown.

The mugger didn't respond, instead opting to scramble up on his feet and try to run away. He didn't get far, though, as his knife whizzed past the tip of his nose, and he felt his knees weaken.

"Tch, I missed. I was wondering if I could take off your nose just like that. It seems I need more practice throwing knives." commented Shin.

Suddenly, their attention was taken by the sudden shout that came from the direction the knife flew. It looked like it lodged itself to the handle into a wall.

The shriek must've been the owner of that wall, as part of the blade of the knife could be seen coming out of the wall.

The mugger fell on his knees in fear. He intended to shout for help, until he remembered he tried to mug Shin in the first place. The man just grabbed his knees and stood in fetal position, dreading what Shin was about to do.

But that thing never came, as a red-haired youth stood up to defend the poor mugger.

"Stop!" he said.

The man spread his arms, trying to cover the trembling mess of a man behind.

"Robbing people isn't good!" said the youth.

At which, Shin simply shook his head.

"I think you got this wrong, Mr hero of justice. That guy tried to mug me first. Look how the tables have turned. Or is it how the turns have tables..." contemplated Shin.

"Still, you shouldn't do this to weak people." said the red-haired man.

"Should've used a sharp knife at least. Maybe that way, it would've flown all the way through that wall." said the teen.

The mugger was feeling quite awkward. On one hand, the scary teenager kept insulting his abilities as a mugger, while on the other hand, the man who tried to protect him also insulted him.

He really wished he just stayed in bed that day.

"You seem like a troublesome person, so I'll just leave now." said Shin, sighing.

"You shouldn't threaten others anymore!" shouted the youth.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

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Confidants:

Igor (The Fool) - Rank 2

Morgana (The Magician) - Rank 3

Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) - Rank 3

Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) - Rank 5

Ryuji Sakamoto (The Chariot) - Rank 5

Tae Takemi (The Death) - Rank 3

Saki Yoshiko (The Moon) - Rank 2

Shiho Suzui (The Hope) - Rank 5