( although akira picks up on that wording... he doesn't press the issue. he, too, knew it could be different... difficult, to adjust to this place without your trusted comrades. your friends from home. )

Hnhm. ( it's a chuckle, as he seems to reminisce. ) It was the same for me. Maybe not with card games but— my friends and I found ourselves on the teachers' black list quite a few times. Even the student council president was on our tail for awhile. ( before she joined them, at least. ) Even the principal. ( before he... well... )

But none of it was so bad, since... we were always in it alongside each other. ( and there's a pause— ) Actually before Ryuji... I don't think anyone even wanted to take a chance talking to me, let alone be seen with me.