The next day passed Akira by in a blur. She had been right in assuming that it would be busy, but she didn't expect almost to enjoy it the way she did. They had been given a lien card to fund our shopping trip for their essentials. She had to say, the student representative who happened to be staying at the school over the break had been assigned to them to aid their travels around the city of Vale was quite odd. The girl with a stylish beret and shades named Coco Adel was, one could say, eccentric. Akira had to admit that she found the girl very charming. She saw how she and Ann discussed fashion as they shopped for basic clothes and felt a ghost of a smile graced her lips. Coco was unsurprisingly very knowledgeable about fashion on Remnant, and Ann looked smitten. Before the trip into Vale, the former Phantom Thieves had decided that they would only shop for basics.s. Ann had assured Akira that she would take the raven-haired girl on a good shopping trip as soon as possible. Akira didn't cry. She didn't cry, and no one had proof that she had.

The trip was relatively uneventful. Coco and the Phantom Thieves had all gotten some basic clothes to make it through the week with. Akira was quite fond of the softer fabrics and different cuts of women's shirts. She wouldn't admit it, but she adored the way the jeans now hugged her curves and hips. The one roadblock she came to was underwear, and admittedly Akira was terrified. That deep feeling of self-loathing spiked in the lady's underwear section. She had to pause her browsing to calm her breathing as her mind was assaulted by a barrage of thoughts and feelings of shame and embarrassment. She knew that she did belong there, but deep in her, she couldn't help but feel like a trespasser. Like she was someone who didn't belong and was just being a creep. Thankfully, she could get herself under control before she had a freakout in a clothing store. She picked matching sets of underwear and bras, although bras were still a bit of a foreign concept to her. She always had felt the longing to put on a bra before, but she never had.

She was utterly clueless when it came to what exactly an excellent fitting bra was. She could only recall vague recollections of the women in her life complaining about certain parts of bras. About how they felt too constricting or they dug into their shoulders too much. She decided that the best way to figure it out was to try them on. She swallowed nervously as she approached the changing room. She gave a shaky smile to the attendant before stepping in and locking the door behind her. She breathed deeply before she looked over at the mirror and, for the first time, actually got a good look at what she looked like now. And what she found in the mirror was infinitely more familiar than anything she had seen before. She had forgone her glasses for the time being, mainly due to her newly gained near-perfect eyesight. She supposed it was another benefit from traversing worlds. Akira looked at her soft face and her long, full, raven hair that went down her neck. The way her body curved, how much smaller in general she felt. For the first time in her life, she felt something she never thought she would. She felt whole.

And her wings! My god, she couldn't help but love the way her wings looked. She splayed them out entirely as she admired them. They felt so oddly natural, like a limb that had been numb her whole life was suddenly alive and well. Akira distantly wondered if Ann felt the same way about her tail as she shifted her wings in the mirror. She brushed her hand down its feathers, and she found them to be surprisingly soft. As much as her wings were growing on her, it made buying clothes for herself a severe pain. Her best option for the moment was to cut holes into her shirts. She decided just to pick up sewing in the future to make her clothes a bit nicer. After all, it wouldn't be the weirdest skill she had picked up as of late. She supposed that the ability to make good curry and fantastic coffee was a valuable skill in specific contexts, just not any that she had been recent. Akira shook her head as the girl realized she had managed to get distracted from the task at hand. She was trying on a bra. She breathed heavily as she pulled off her current loose t-shirt, revealing her bare chest. She couldn't help but blush at the unfamiliar sight in the mirror.

She had boobs. Not just any boobs, mind you; she had her boobs. Some might find that nothing special but to Akira. She couldn't help but be a little giddy at sight. How could she not? There was something magical about seeing something that she had secretly longed for years become a reality. She refocused on the new garment she held in her hands; a simple white sports bra. She knew it wasn't a big deal, but it felt like one. This was the frizzy-haired girl's first bra, for god's sake! To her, this moment was terrifying for a lot of reasons.

But on the other hand, it was exciting, like the first step toward something new and different. A remarkable difference, Akira thought, but one that was scary to move toward regardless. She tentatively started to move the bra up to her chest. Clumsily, she inserted her arms into the correct holes and fiddled for a few moments with the hooks in the back. She kept fumbling with it, the clips getting frustratingly close every time, but it refused to hook. Eventually, she got it, and she couldn't help but like and dislike the feeling the sports bra gave her.

On the one hand, it gave her loads of pleasant warm fuzzy feelings as she looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't, like she feared, see a boy wearing a bra with his shoulders too broad and flat chest. Instead, she just saw a decently pretty girl (if she could say herself) with a bra on. It also was comfy and snug in a way she wasn't expecting. On the other hand, it was constricting in uncomfortable ways, as she had thought it might be. She imagined she'd get used to it eventually, but it still bothered her a little. She looked at herself at different angles, and Akira had to admit, she liked had she looked with it on. She found herself nodding in appreciation before begrudgingly taking it off. She still had to buy it after all. She quickly put her shirt back on, finagling with her wings before they fit into the rough slits she had haphazardly made. She stepped back out and found a slightly concerned-looking Makoto.

"You certainly took your time. Are you alright?" The ruby-eyed girl asked. The concern in her voice made Akira's heart pang a little with an odd unidentifiable feeling.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. I just… It's a lot. I was so scared of trying on a piece of clothing, but once I did, I found myself loving it? Which might be hard to believe, but I like it." Akira admitted, shifting her view down to her feet. Makoto chuckled at the newly minted girl's reaction.

"It's alright, Akira, and I think I understand why you feel like that. It was a big step for you, right?" Makoto gently questioned. Akira nodded a little, a fierce blush appearing on her face again. She couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, even if it was true. Makoto gave her another chuckle. "You know, you're adorable when you blush like that." Akira looked at her in surprise for a moment before her face managed to become redder. She briefly saw Makoto's face contort as she processed what she had said before her face exploded in a blush. The frizzy-haired girl looked down, doing her best to avoid eye contact. She had a distinct feeling that Makoto was doing the same. After that slightly awkward moment, Akira decided to shuffle over to the checkout counter, where she bought a few pairs of the sports bra she had tried on in different colors. She stammered a thank you to the cashier before she moved back to the front of the store to await her friends.

Akira took this moment to calm herself down after getting so flustered. She was certainly not expecting Makoto, of all people, to say something like that to her. She managed to have herself calmed down as the others came up to the front of the store. The others seemed to have similarly successful shopping trips, even if Ann looked disappointed at the essential selection of clothes she had gotten. Coco soon retrieved them and took them to another part of their shopping trip, buying scrolls for each of them. Akira had found out that it was essential for each student to have a scroll to learn at Beacon. It was odd to her, having come from an environment that did not approve of phones at school to one that actively needed an equivalent. But as they all went to buy a scroll, Akira started to notice more and more of something she was unfortunately used to. Hushed whispers, frightened faces, and angry eyes directed at her. Hell, there was even some pointing at her. It certainly wasn't the majority of people, but there was a good handful. She was worried for a moment that they could all somehow see through what she is now, but she noticed something. They were doing it to Ann too.

That's when it clicked in Akira's mind. They were about their newly gained Faunus traits. Her wings were pronounced and prominent, a bit of a spectacle. It explained many of the looks directed at her. Hers was far more apparent at first glance than Ann's. That, unfortunately, didn't mean that they didn't notice Ann's tail. She still got the same treatment as Akira did, and the frizzy-haired girl could tell it was bothering the blonde. Akira gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder which Ann gave her a thankful look.

"Thanks, Akira. I thought I'd be used to stares after what happened with Kamoshida, but… Is this what it was like for you?" She asked, a sad lilt in her voice.

Akira nodded, "At Shujin, it was a lot like this. The whispers and looks I got no matter what I did to prove them wrong. Even if it's about what we are instead of something I did, it's still the same in the end. Just know that I'm here for you, Ann." The girl in question smiled at her leader before returning to focusing on their walk.

Coco sidled up to both of them, speaking lowly. "If you want, I can kick their asses for you. I'd do the same for my partner Velvet anyway." She offered. Ann shook her head.

"While I appreciate it, I think Akira and I will be okay. I'll let you know if I do change my mind, though, if that's alright." Ann answered, a light blush coating her cheeks. Akira shook her head mirthfully before continuing their trip to pick up a scroll. They all eventually arrived at a shop that Coco had directed them to. At first, Akira wanted to get a cheap model, but the Beret-wearing girl insisted that she and the rest of the Phantom Thieves get the best models they could. Akira felt a little guilty using that much money provided by the school but eventually relented. It's not like she would mind having an excellent device anyway. She fiddled with the scroll for a bit as they got checked out, though Akira wished she could ignore the stink-eye that the cashier was giving her. Thankfully nothing came of that to the frizzy-haired girl's relief. She was no stranger to suspicion and outright confrontation, but it still got under her skin. So much for a clean slate.

They all decided after that to stop for lunch. Coco led them all to a charming and very Faunus-friendly restaurant that she knew. To Akira, it was odd seeing how similar yet different a restaurant in Vale was like in comparison to what she learned in Japan. She, Coco, and the remainder of the Phantom Thieves sat at a cozy corner booth and handed their menus. Only in this moment of calm as Akira read through her menu did she finally realize something wrong. She nudged Makoto, who had sat next to her. The ruby-eyed girl looked at her, confused for a moment, curious as to why she had been tapped.

"Makoto, I might be stupid only to notice now, but after reading through the menu… I can't be the only one who realized we weren't reading Japanese, right?" Akira whispered, her voice nervous.

Makoto nodded after a moment, "I noticed the other day while looking through some of the books in our room. I didn't find it important enough to mention as we've had a lot to deal with lately." She sighed sadly. "I'm sorry for not bringing it up earlier if that helps?"

Akira gave her a gentle smile. "Of course. I'm not upset, just a little surprised, and if I'm honest, caught off guard. I suppose it makes sense. After all, it seems we were changed to be proper inhabitants of this world but still… I thought that after gaining wings and receiving a magic sex change, I'd find it easier to believe." Makoto giggled before she looked back to her menu. Akira smiled at the brunette before looking at her menu to do the same. The food here was different from what she was used to, but she eventually found something she thought would satisfy her. She was fortunate that she wasn't too particular with her food, or else she imagined that this situation would be an absolute nightmare. For her drink, she opted for just water. While Akira wasn't partial toward sodas, she didn't drink them all too often. Ryuji was more the soda drinker of their group anyway.

She decided to leave that train of thought behind immediately. Any thoughts about the friends she had left behind would certainly only bring down her mood. She was having a good time today, and she wanted it to keep it like that. It wasn't often that she could talk to her friends with such brevity, especially over the last couple of months. Their time had been constantly occupied with their plan against Akechi and then bringing down Shido. There wasn't a lot of room for fun or just carefree times. At least, that's how it felt to Akira. She always felt the heavyweight of her position as leader of the Phantom Thieves during those times. She and her friends had gone through a lot, Akira especially had. She tried her best not to think about her time in police custody, but it still came to mind on occasion. She especially tried not to think about how close she had been to being murdered by Akechi. The detective prince was one she had a complicated relationship with. On the one hand, she had always enjoyed his company. He was a bit of a damaged soul in her mind.

On the other hand, however, he was a cold-blooded murderer who was too focused on revenge to understand his actions. She found herself often wondering whether or not if he actually was a good person deep down or if he was always wrong. Akira chided herself lightly as she realized she had done precisely what she didn't want to do. She had gotten lost in her thoughts of the past, and it put a damper on her mood. The others hadn't seemed to notice, most likely due to the former Phantom Thief leader's flawless poker face. She smiled as her friends spoke amicably with each other and Coco. She added to the conversation where she could, but she preferred to enjoy the moment simply. Her friends smiling and laughing again brought her a warm fuzzy feeling that she desperately grabbed on to. They continued talking as their food was brought out and promptly devoured. Akira found the taste good, indeed not as good as Sojiro's curry, but still good. They all continued talking, even after dessert was brought up, and promptly refused. The frizzy-haired girl didn't mind at all.

After what felt like a few hours, they had been interrupted by Coco, who insisted they needed to continue with their trip. Akira found herself understanding, although sad. She hoped that they would all get more moments like that in the future. Although, Ann, Haru, and Makoto soon learned that their trip would be a bit more complicated.

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"The next part of our trip out here is certainly the most complicated." Coco began, "While most students would have already forged their weapons, you don't seem to have that benefit. I don't know wherever you're from, but until you can forge your weapons or pay someone to do it for you, you're going to have to get something temporary." Her hands rested on her hips. "From what I've been told, you all have weapons already. If that's the case, then I imagine that we can probably work with what you've got." Ann, Haru, and Makoto nodded, but Akira found herself a bit hesitant.

"I think I might need something a bit better melee-wise. My dagger isn't quite up to snuff anymore." Akira spoke, pulling out her dagger to show. She traced her finger down the crest of the blade. It would hurt to replace something that had carried her so far, but she knew it was necessary. No amount of sentimentality would change that fact. The Grimm of this world was very different from the shadows she and the Phantom Thieves had faced before. They required utterly different tactics and different weaponry. She was sure she and the others could adapt, but it was certainly not going to be a painless process.

Coco nodded and hummed in thought. "So what exactly were you thinking of replacing it with? I imagine you want something simple that you can use until you're able to forge something, right?" Akira nodded in response. "I imagine that if you wish to continue using something similar that a sword would be a good fit. Besides that, I am hopeful that your guns will be able to use dust-infused bullets."

"They should, as long as we find the right caliber," Makoto replied. She pulled out her revolver 'Judge End,' scrutinizing its cylinder. She handed the pistol over to Coco. "Do you think you'll be able to work with this?"

Coco looked it over before nodding, "Yes, I think I know exactly what will do the trick. I gotta say, love your style with this Makoto." She said absentmindedly before clearing her throat. "I imagine the rest of your weapons are similarly high quality? If so, then I think this is going to work beautifully!"

Akira admittedly started to tune Coco out as they all made their way to the local weapons shop. She never enjoyed shopping for weapons, even after she had bonded with Iwai. She always worried that she'd be caught and have her probation revoked. It never happened, but that worry was always present. Now the grey-eyed girl could shop in relative peace, although she had to be more careful of where she shopped. It was utterly ridiculous to her that even now, in another world with practical superpowers and a never-ending struggle against literal creatures of darkness that racism would still be prevalent. And from the little she had heard, it was worse than it had been on their modern-day Earth. It was times like this that she wished she still had access to the metaverse. The navigator's absence on her phone when she had checked the other day had been unsurprising yet somehow disappointing. With it, she had a feeling that she and the Phantom Thieves could have done a lot of good in changing society, stealing the hearts of shitty adults.

Instead, here she was. No longer Joker, the Wildcard, the leader of the Phantom Thieves. She was just Akira Kurusu, and honestly? She was relieved. But now, she found herself throwing her life into another life of battle. But she reasoned that it was okay this time because it was her choice. And at least her friends had decided to join her. This time at Beacon would be suitable for them, she thought. They'd make new friends and learn to be protectors of the people. She supposed they already were as Phantom Thieves, but… This was so very different. Akira mused that if Makoto had the chance, she probably would've become a police officer. She admittedly was never fond of the ruby-eyed girl's desired future career, especially after what happened after the casino.

Akira found that the rest of the trip passed in a blur, a bit of a slog as they meticulously picked out the proper dust-infused bullets and ammo for their weapons, with varieties of different elements to them. Haru was quite pleased with the combination of rounds she could now have for her grenade launcher. Akira also picked out a rather dull-looking sword that transformed into a more compact shape for carrying. Unfortunately, she found that even if it became smaller, that did not make it lighter. Akira found it a little ridiculous that she was disappointed at that fact, but she was. What? She was allowed to be disappointed that the engineering miracles that these weapons were couldn't bend physics. Coco made a passing comment that Akira would look better with dual-swords and the frizzy-haired girl decided to catalog that idea for later. She idly found herself wondering how easy it would be to have swords that turn into pistols.

Akira found the trip back to Beacon no more interesting than before. She got the same stares and the same comfortable silence from her friends. She thought to herself idly that she didn't mind this kind of life.

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Akira found herself thoroughly exhausted after they had returned. Sure, she and the rest of the Phantom Thieves had some time to relax before dinner was served, but that did little for the girls' exhaustion. Akira and the others found themselves in the cafeteria seated at a table with Coco and her partner and girlfriend Velvet. Velvet Scarlatina was a bunny-eared faunus girl with a bit of an odd accent. Akira couldn't quite place what accent it was, but it still was familiar. Akira found the conversation they had over food was generally pleasant, though she was admittedly a little more shy than usual. Ann, on the other hand, was hitting it off with Coco and Velvet. She was laughing and generally looking happy. Akira even noticed that the blonde's cattail was sticking up. She found herself smirking at that sight. Her friend was more cat-like than she initially thought. 'Thank god Morgana isn't here,' she thought idly.

Akira felt a little bad for thinking about the cat like that. Sure he had some flaws that could make him very uncomfortable to be around (especially Ann), but he was still a good friend. Speaking of good friends, Makoto seemed to be minorly distant from the dinner-time conversation. Akira could tell that the ruby-eyed girl had something on her mind. More worrisome to the frizzy-haired girl was Haru. She seemed much quieter and more reserved than Akira was used to. The best way to describe it would be 'pensive.' Akira found herself periodically looking at the fluffy-haired girl with concern as said girl quietly ate.

Eventually, dinner came to an end, and they all went their separate ways. Ann somehow managed to be invited back to Velvet and Coco's dorm. Akira wasn't too surprised. The newly made cat faunus had gotten along amazingly well with Coco. After those three left, Makoto announced that she would be making her way to the library. She wanted to do some research. Akira offered to come with, but she politely declined. After she made her exit, Haru and Akira stood awkwardly before they both decided to go back to their dorm. Akira could admit that she wanted to look around campus, but Haru needed someone right now. The walk back was a silent affair, which only caused Akira to worry even more. By the time they made it back to their rooms it was unbearable for the girl. As Haru sat the raven-haired girl began.

"Haru, what's wrong?" Akira asked quietly.

The girl startled. "Huh? Oh, it's nothing Akira-chan."

Akira made a sound of disbelief, moving to sit next to the brown-eyed girl. "If it really was, you wouldn't be like this," She motioned to Haru. "It's alright if you don't want to talk to me but… I'm here for you alright? We all are."

Haru sighed. "Thank you. It's just… You and Ann-chan weren't the only ones changed when we transported here. Before I never had the surgery down there. Father really pushed that I needed to, especially with how he was trying to marry me off. But when I came here I found that my… Faculties had been changed and now it feels like something was stolen from me." She took a shuddering breath. "It's stupid right? I should be happy that I got a fully cis body but it's not me. I never had the choice, instead it was forced on me just how Father wanted it to be. It almost feels like my transness was erased." A little sob escapes her throat as tears begin to trickle down her cheeks.

Akira is a little shocked, but she leans over and hugs Haru regardless. The fluffy-haired girl buries herself into the other girl's shoulder. "I'm sorry Haru, I had no idea. I may not be able to fully… understand but I can empathize. It's okay to feel that way." Haru nodded and continued to hold Akira for a while.

"Thank you, Akira-chan." She mumbled. "Thank you, for everything."

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By the time Ann and Makoto made it back to the room, they found Akira and Haru asleep in each other's arms. Makoto only felt a slight pang of jealousy.