Winter Troubles a Persona 5 fanfiction
Rating: M
Pairing: Sadayo Kawakami/Protagonist

Summary:
Winter has come to Tokyo leading to Akira and Sadayo not having so much time together. Thanks to his new business, Akira hasn't been sleeping much nor has he been home and it's begun to take a toll.

Notes:
This story is set six years after the game and roughly a month and a half after my story "November Rain". This is a slice-of-life fiction. Nothing really game related. It's mostly about how they adjust to life after the game and the tolls relationships, family, and even having to deal with the fact that you can't relive the past.

These are just my own speculations about how this particular version of the relationship might go. It's all ideas in my head and how I feel my version of the protagonist would react.

Atlus owns all in game characters and the plot. I own nothing nor profit!

Also….I know about the laws in Japan regarding consent (as much as a non-lawyer can). Many people have….commented that I am mishandling it. I can see how that is but truth be told it's all been planned and this chapter will have one of the last few mentions of it. I am allowing characters to express themselves in ways that they may have with limited knowledge. Such as the version of Kawakami's parents I created, being overly judgmental, controlling, and occasionally misinterpreting the consent laws. I'm making them seem like human people and having actual flaws and not knowing everything. That's it...that's all it's meant to be and if you feel the need to talk to me...please do. PM me and approach me in an adult manner and I will be happy to talk with you about my views.

I'm sorry for those who've read this and I've turned off...that wasn't my intent I am just trying to create a story with human elements.

Chapter 1

Winter finally came to Tokyo.

A freak blizzard had hit at the start of December, blanketing the city and several prefectures. Trains in and out of the city had been limited for several days leaving many people to work from home, and even the occasional school closure. However Akira didn't have the luxuries many people were enjoying.

With the holidays coming, and some of his clients owning businesses, shoplifting and burglaries had become their primary concern. While this was a decent business boost, Futaba had gotten them wise to the level of credit card theft that happened leading to many wanting upgrades to equipment and the two of them had been working nearly nineteen hour days thanks to the increased travel time and all the upgrades. Akira had taken to leaving the office work to Futaba while he went with his employees to run installations and deliveries.

He actually enjoyed this part of the job more than he thought. He got to slink through tight spaces, find weaknesses in the buildings and pick locks. The familiar adrenaline rush as he proved his theories to the owners and dropping in on them unsuspectingly seemed to fill a vacant space in his soul. He felt like his old Joker self and it took all of his willpower to maintain a calm visage as he gave them his suggestions.

"I don't know how you do it," exclaimed Hanako as they climbed back into the van. Hanako was one of their few full-timers and she'd proven herself a valuable asset. A competent electrical engineer, she'd joined the company on a whim wanting to see what Futaba and Akira were capable of. She was roughly ten years older than Sadayo, solidly built, black hair, with bright grey eyes, and a constant grin on her face. Akira remembered when they'd interviewed her, amazed at the level of experience she had and asked why she was leaving her more lucrative career for a small start-up.

"I'm bored," she said with a blasé tone. "I was at my previous company for a long time. I've got a good savings and investments and I felt it was time to try something new. My only request is that you live up to my expectations. If you fall through I'm out the door."

So far they had failed to disappoint her.

"What are you talking about?" Akira added his old dismissive air from his Phantom Thief days, but inside he was laughing.

"I've set up buildings like this for security and fire hazards for decades and I've never seen people who find the weaknesses you do." They pulled slowly into the traffic and drove for a few minutes before coming to a red light. She lit up a cigarette and inhaled deeply before continuing. "You and Futaba just seem to know where everything is. I've worked with people who have decades worth of experience that don't even think like you twerps."

"Maybe it's just a generation gap." Akira gave her a sly smirk and wiped some fog from his glasses. "Different generations just have different perspectives. Hell, I've had Sadayo point out things I've missed while going over floor plans."

"Maybe impending motherhood is somehow channeling her inner architect." Hanako exhaled a large cloud of smoke and groaned as they once again hit a red light. "I swear to all that is holy these fucking politicians don't give a damn about road work."

"You got plans tonight?" Akira scratched at his newly formed beard and grumbled. He'd barely been home the past few weeks and when he was it was to quickly eat, shower, and get to sleep. Sometimes he slept in his office due to the weather and spent hours on the phone with Sadayo on those nights. He kind of enjoyed those long conversations. They reminded him of the old days, back when they had to sneak around, or when they'd make plans for those weekends when they could get some privacy and be alone.

Akira had never regretted telling her how he felt. What he did regret was the pressure his confession put her under. How after he'd graduated high school and moved in with her, the few people on staff that found out began spreading rumors about how he'd gotten his grades. There had once been an investigation after their relationship became public knowledge, but there was substantial proof to prove that she hadn't manufactured his grades. Even when she'd given him some free time he usually spent it reading or doing his homework and several people testified that they'd never found them alone together or doing anything immoral when he attended the school. Though she'd been cleared people occasionally still voiced their displeasure but unlike her previous school, she'd taken to defending herself and chose not to run.

Smirking at a memory from the previous term when Ryuji had to help calm Sadayo down when ripping into someone voicing their opinion of her, he felt his phone vibrate and her face accompanied by her name and a text.

Hi,

Just thought I'd let you know that I'm home safely. Baby is looking good and Tae says my vitals are strong. Took over two hours to get home by the train and the baby didn't make it easier. I'm worried about you, I haven't seen you in a couple of days and I miss you. Ann has been staying with me to make sure I'm okay and she's a decent cook, but I want you home. Please try to come home tonight, the bed is cold.

I love you.

He took a deep breath and sighed loudly at the message and sent a reply.

I'm sorry you're lonely. I'm going to make it home tonight, I promise.

I just finished a consultation and installation with Hanako and we're stuck in traffic. The roads are a nightmare and it's going to take a while. I miss you too and I'm sorry the bed is cold.

Tell Ann hi and give her my thanks.

I love you too.

"Everything okay little man?" Hanako was putting out her cigarette in the ash tray as they came to yet another red light.

"Not really." Akira felt a tinge of pink in his cheeks at her using her nickname for him. "Sadayo got home okay but she's worried about me making it home."

"Think you'll make it?" She pointed at a clock that showed it was past ten and he was stuck in Shinjuku traffic at the moment. "I mean I can drop you off at a station if you want to try? Eiko knows I'm going to be late so it's not like I'm in a rush." Hanako waved her arms at the traffic. "Besides Yoyogi isn't too far from here you might make it in a reasonable amount of time."

"That works for me." Akira yawned and scratched his cheek again. "Just head straight home. I'll find a way to mark down the gas as an expense given the weather. Shouldn't be too difficult." He took out his phone to compare his virtual schedule with his notebook only to find his virtual had been cleared for several days. Concerned about what this might mean, he dialed Futaba and felt relieved when she answered.

"What's cooking, Akira?" Futaba sounded a bit too happy given the amount of work they'd been putting in over the past several days.

"What happened to my appointments? My phone schedule doesn't match my notebook." He'd hoped his phone wasn't on the fritz. He couldn't afford the time it would take to get a new one and prayed that he figure out a solution.

"Fur af 'ood, awker," Futaba said through a mouthful of what he was sure was instant yakisoba.

"What do you mean I'm 'all good'." Akira was too tired for her happy go lucky attitude and felt his blood pressure rising. "We're supposed to be booked solid for three weeks but now my phone is showing we don't have a single appointment."

"People asked to be pushed back due to the weather." He could hear Futaba take a large gulp of some sort of drink. "We've got enough coming in now to where we don't have to worry, but January is gonna be booked. I'm going to work on updates for our on-site servers and let the suppliers know, but right now we got a nice two week break to enjoy. I'm gonna crash hard!" She let out her trademark yawn and smacked her lips. "Maybe I'll buy a new game and go on a binge. I know Kana has some free time from school soon so I'll hit her up. Want to meet up somewhere outside of work if you and Sadayo can find the time?"

Akira felt both relieved and frustrated at this news. While he didn't enjoy having January suddenly fill up, the last few weeks had been tough on him and with Sadayo's winter break coming up he'd at least have time to spend with her.

"We'll see." Akira felt like he would sleep through the next two weeks and knew that the first thing he would do when he got home was find Sadayo and put his head in her lap. "I want to spend some time with Sadayo before anything else."

"OHHHHH!" Futaba gave a lecherous chuckle. "You two gonna put your dongle into her USB slot?"

"Christ Futaba." Akira began laughing so hard his stomach began to ache. After years of friendship he'd gotten used to her unusual idioms but somehow they always made him laugh. "Where do you come up with this stuff?"

"Long years of pervy assholes and socially unusual hobbies." He could just imagine the malicious grin on her face. "If you want I can give you a few to use on Sadayo."

"I think we got the bedroom talk covered, Futaba." Akira could see Hanako shaking her head and trying not to laugh. "Besides, I can't steal all your best material. If I take it how're you going to hit on people at the bar or in the chats?"

"Most people are intimidated by me," she stated matter of factly. "Genius, exceptional memory, and the ability to destroy major computer systems with a few keystrokes tends to limit the dating pool."

"Well let me know if you ever need a good wing man." Akira noticed the street signs and began looking for the nearby station. "I gotta hang up in a minute but I wanted to ask if you're going to be okay getting home."

"I've been home since seven," Futaba replied with a small snort. "I got the hell out of dodge the moment the appointments got pushed back."

"All right." Akira climbed out of the car and gave Hanako his thanks before heading to the train stop. "I'm gonna hop on the train. I'll see you in a few days all right?"

"TTYL, Akira!"

Akira hung up and then immediately called Sadayo. It didn't even get to the second ring when she picked up.

"Hey!" She sounded excited and breathless. "Where are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." The cold seemed to melt away at the sound of her voice. "I'm in Shinjuku right now and I'm about to get on the train."

.

"What happened with Hanako?" He heard the sound of a drawer opening and her rummaging for something.

"She's going to drive herself home. Traffic's really bad and I'm going to try and catch a train instead of fighting it."

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Her voice sounded muffled and he hoped it wasn't a sign the towers were dropping the signal. "I'm worried you'll end up stranded. I want to see you."

"I want to see you too." He felt a small pain in his heart at the loneliness in her voice. "I checked the schedule and I might be a bit late, but they're running the trains a bit longer so I should be able to get home. If I have to get a hotel or something I'll be sure to call."

"Okay," she took a deep breath and he heard her wince. "I think the baby is worried about you, I've been having some stomach pains today."

"Did you call Tae or Furuya?" He knew that discomfort was bound to happen, but given the scare in November he was always on guard.

"Tae did an ultrasound today during my appointment and said everything looks good, probably just digestive issues." Sadayo winced again and he heard her shout a request for some tea. "Ann is going to stay the night again and I think Makoto might as well if she ends her shift on time."

"Okay," he felt his nerves settle a bit at this. All of their friends had long since been informed of the restrictions Sadayo had been placed under and knew what to do to help. "I'm sorry I haven't been home, but we had a bunch of clients push back their appointments so I'll have time off this month but next month is going to be hell."

"How long do you have," there was an anxiousness in her voice he hadn't heard in a while.

"According to Futaba, two weeks. Maybe longer depending on the weather." He heard her laugh happily at the news. "Just know," he hated having to be realistic but he wanted to keep a focus, "that the longer we don't have work this month means the more I'll have to work next month."

"I'll take what we can get." She laughed and he could hear the bed creak beneath her. "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to try and change your mind about returning to work."

"I accept that challenge." His train had arrived, almost half an hour late, but he was grateful regardless. It was nearly empty and he took a seat a few aisles away from the door. "You didn't happen to get a picture of the ultrasound did you?"

"I did and it's in an envelope like we agreed." He could hear the anxiousness in her voice. "I know we agreed not to find out, but sometimes I just want to rip open the envelopes and take a look."

"Well we got the name thing figured out. Toys and clothes are pretty much taken care of along with the furniture. All we gotta do is wait for the baby to show up. We'll worry about everything else then."

"I know," she let out a loud yawn and he heard her sit up. "Ann made a really good steak tonight. Do you want me to get some warmed up?"

"I'll let you know when I get closer to the house. I'd rather your cooking, but Ann makes some good food." He rested his head against the cold window and stared at the lights of the city. The train wasn't moving too fast but he was at least going faster than the traffic. "Is there anything specific you want to do? Christmas is coming up and I know you'll have to go into work a few days, but maybe we can go to a resort after the holiday if the weather permits? Futaba double checked my math and it looks like we'll be in the black for a bit. Nothing fancy, just some place….quiet."

"If my schedule allows it." She sounded frustrated but hopeful. "I have planning for the new term to get finished so I might have to bring work with us."

"That's fine." Akira felt himself drifting off a bit, but jerked himself awake. "I just want some alone time with you. Maybe a nice hot bath, a big room with a cushy futon, and some of those nightgowns Ann got for you. "

"Then let's take some time and make a plan. It's been a while since we took a break." He heard a longing in her voice that he was all too familiar with. "I do want to show those off for you." He could hear the pent up frustration behind her words. "I mean Morgana helps keep some of the bed warm but that's it."

"I'll be home soon." He looked at the map and saw that they had barely moved. "Just keep it as warm as you can and I'll be your personal furnace tonight."

"I like the sound of that." He could just imagine her biting her lower lip and the look of want in her eyes.

They spent a bit longer talking until Sadayo said Makoto had showed up and she needed to play hostess. When they hung up, Akira felt his eyes grow heavy and as he blinked, he felt somebody prodding him in the shoulder.

"Hey, kid."

His eyes shot open and he had to keep himself from bending the persons wrist back. Looking up he saw that it was a disgruntled looking police officer.

"Is there a problem?" Akira yawned loudly and looked at the map and saw he had arrived at his stop.

How long was I asleep ?

"The conductor called me in to wake you up. Seems you've been keeping the train delayed."

"What time is it?" Akira rubbed the sleep from his eyes and saw the cop shake his head.

"It's midnight, kid." He and his partner both looked annoyed at Akira's absent-mindedness. "Conductor has to get this train back to the main terminal for the night and we'd like to get back to our station as well."

"My apologies." Akira grabbed his bag and made sure everything was still in it. When he confirmed his belongings were still where they should be, he bowed and excused himself from the train and headed up the stairs. He yawned again and wandered off toward a twenty-four hour store about six blocks from their house.

Entering he began looking through the aisles and began picking up snack foods. The restaurants near his offices were mostly built for health conscious people and while he enjoyed the food, lately he'd been craving some junk food, even if he'd been eating mostly instant yakisoba the past week. Out of reflex he began grabbing some of his and Sadayo's favorites before heading toward home.

As he wandered the streets he took in the sights and felt a bit of holiday spirit seep its way into him. Everywhere he could see lights up in the windows, late night businesses offering holiday discounts, the smell of bar food lingering in the air made his mouth water. He hadn't eaten much that day; couple of sandwiches at the most and drank mostly coffee or water. As he passed by the late night oden stand he waved to the owner who waved back asking if he wanted to warm up but he politely declined."

"Don't make me beg, Kurusu-san," teased the lady who owned the stand. "You haven't been by in weeks, you or your fiance."

"We'll come by soon," he laughed after taking the small cup of broth she offered to warm him up. It had the right amount of salt and had the lingering taste of sweet potato. "My friend Ann has been staying with her and apparently she made steak tonight."

"Oh fine." The woman gave him a dismissive wave but smiled all the same. "I know when I've lost. But you bring that young lady around when it gets warmer and that baby when it's born."

"I'll be sure to." He said goodbye to a few neighbors he recognized and made his way back home, a gentle warmth in his stomach from the broth.

He could hear music and some of the night owls in the neighborhood celebrating the weather as a sudden windfall of vacation and a reason to live it up. He began thinking about the possibility of a party until he heard somebody shout at him. Turning he saw a couple of officers approaching him. They looked miserable and had bundled up in thick winter coats and scarves.

"Excuse me sir," the voice belonged to a woman, but given the thickness of their clothes he couldn't tell who was who. "We need to talk with you."

Akira rolled his eyes, expecting to hear the usual complaint about how someone might have recognized him due to hearing a friend in the department letting slip about his record and involvement with Shido. He'd been dealing with the fallout for the past several years and he knew Shido's old allies still pestered him by siccing unsuspecting rookies or colleagues on him. Holding his ground, Akira looked between the two officers, preparing for them to bring a list of trumped up charges against him.

"What can I do for you, officers?" He was beginning to feel the snow sink into the gaps of his boots and soak his socks which only added to his annoyance. His desire to get home outweighed his vexation and he decided to play nice and let the farce run its course.

"Were you just at the convenience store a couple of blocks back?" This time it was a man who spoke and he heard it come from the shorter of the two officers.

"I was." He set the bag down and crossed his arms. "I went in to grab a few snacks for my fiance and I and then left. "

"At this time of night?" asked the female officer.

"I've been working a lot of hours due to my job. I figured it'd be a nice little surprise."

"Understandable," the female officer removed her scarf and he could see she had a tooth missing and a small scowl on her face. "We know what it's like to work long hours, but we don't normally let that keep us from following law."

"What do you mean?" Akira gave them both an indignant look; as far as he knew he hadn't done anything wrong. "I haven't done anything tonight that constitutes you accusing me of breaking the law."

"Not to our knowledge sir," said the shorter man as he wiped his nose on a handkerchief, "but the employee at the convenience store claims otherwise."

Akira raised an eyebrow and snorted. "I didn't do anything in the store except grab some snacks and pay for my food."

"If that's the case sir," the female officer raised her finger and pointed to where he'd set his bag, "then why is your food still in a basket and not in a bag?"

"What are you..." Akira turned his head and felt his stomach drop. Instead of the bag he thought he'd been carrying he saw a black hand basket. He looked between the officers and the bag, his brain running through everything in the store. Him walking through the store, finding the things he wanted and putting them in the basket, and then paying for the food. But his memory stumbled at this juncture as he asked himself, I did pay right? He couldn't remember, he thought he had, he remembered walking up to the counter, but had he walked up or just walked by? He rubbed the fatigue from his eyes and knew he couldn't trust his memory.

"Sir?" The female officer pointed at the basket again and asked, "Are you sure you paid for these items?"

"I'm not sure." Akira gave them a defeated grin and picked up the basket. "I assume this is where I follow you back to the store?"

The officers nodded and Akira took the lead, praying that he'd make it home.