A/N:
Hey guys, it's Eliza. I'm attempting to make these chapters come out a week after one the other. I can't completely promise I'll always be on time, but just know I will always attempt to put a chapter out. Without further ado, chapter 2!
The closing of the door echoed through the empty halls of her apartment. Pure silence consuming every single thing. Makoto sighed. Locking the door, she walked back into her kitchen to sort out all the stuff that Sae had asked her to buy for the apartment. Toothbrushes, mouthwash, floss. Usual things that took their home in a bathroom and a kitchen.
Placing everything orderly into their certain spots, Makoto paced herself quickly into her room and got her sleeping clothes. The long, burning hot day which purely consisted of shopping in Shibuya drained the poor Student Council President of every last ounce of energy she had. Which also made her a sweaty, musty mess.
"This mustiness was probably another reason Akira didn't want to be around me.." The woman thought as she placed herself ever so slowly into the cold soothing water of her bathtub. The soothing and calming waters penetrated themselves in every inch of her body, turning her tense muscles from the leftover effort from Futaba's palace into marshmallows. Something that always calmed her down no matter what bothered her. "What I would do just to stay like this forever..."
Barely having her head bobbing above the water, her mind started to think of the recent things. Such as Futaba's palace. An experience she never thought could be. To have fun with a palace and love it? From the experiences of Kaneshiro's palace and from what she heard from the rest of the Phantom Thieves about the previous two palaces they faced before she was an official member, palaces in her mind were these places of utter disgusting and destructive desire. Yet Futaba's wasn't. It was a place filled with regret, and yet...wonderful. Not that she thought Futaba's suffering was something amazing, in fact, that's what drove her to ask for Akira's approval to attempt to clear the palace as soon as possible.
That push she made which led to the massive fatigue that the entire group felt was another reason why Joker wasn't the best around her. Her pushy and annoying behavior...Joker must've hated her for it...even more so since he never wants to be around her. Well, for long or interact with her for a long time...She couldn't blame him after all. It must've been hard to completely trust someone after they blackmailed you and act like an overpowered queen towards you. When you are the leader of said group.
Akira was perfectly fine with everyone else. Which made it worse more for Makoto. He was a fiercely, loyal, and passionate man that went the extra mile for his friends. No matter the cost. Yet when it came down to helping her..he always seemed so...distant. When watching movies like they did 2 weeks ago, he sat two seats away from her and didn't speak a word. Unless Makoto asked for something or sparked a conversation. Hell, when they were pretending to be a couple, he seemed so...annoyed with the whole ordeal. Quickly getting it out of the way, and rushing out of the Crossroads after their conversation.
He must've been intensely disinterested with Makoto as a person, and only did things with her because she was a seemingly important asset to the Phantom Thieves. That was the only logical explanation that Makoto could logically come up with.
Thinking of the Phantom Thieves, a sudden and important thought bloated itself into being the most important thing on her mind. Their inactivity. While she knew her rashness caused to Phantom Thieves as a whole take a much-needed break..they still needed to be on top of their game when it comes to matters of the Metaverse. Rather quickly, Makoto got herself out of the tub and dried herself quickly. With her towel over her head, she walked to the bathroom counter and grabbed her phone. Typing a lengthy message to the group chat, she pressed the send button as she placed her phone down and brushed her teeth.
MAKOTO: So, is it fine with you guys?
ANN: Sure! I'm down, I've been aching to do some requests from the Phansite and to just improve.
RYUJI: Same here. I'm still F'in tired, but I wanna kick some shadows' asses. Ya know, for experiences' sake.
YUSUKE: Agreed, plus its experience for Futaba too.
Futaba: ...
Spitting out toothpaste, Makoto looked at her phone as the group chat descended into a shitpost hell, as Futaba decided to send many memes. ...a cup of beans...? With that one movie, Cars 2?"
While being confused about Futaba's memes, Makoto also noted that Akira hadn't seen any of the messages. Which was expected since he probably just was getting to Shibuya? "I hope he isn't going to be mad at this..."
Slamming into the bed, Makoto stared up at her ceiling. He was on her mind again. "I've known you since that first day we met in the library...and yet...I feel as though I know completely nothing..."
Makoto thought as she turned her alarm on for the morning, and turned onto her side to sleep. Another thought about her leader popped itself into her mind. "...what is it...Akira Kurusu..."
A few more thoughts around her leader wrapped themselves around her brain before she finally closed her eyes permanently.
A loud buzzing vibrated through Makoto's bed, stirring the brilliant tactical mind to wake. A little groan erupted from her mouth as she rubbed her hand all over her bed to find her phone. Her hand seemingly couldn't find the phone, the buzzing starting to irritate her.
Finally, her hand grasped her phone and clicked her alarm off. She rose her head and looked at her phone. It was 10 AM and it seemed that the shitpost that Futaba had started last night when late into the dark. With everyone joining, including Ann of all people. Although she sent a message threatening everyone to go to sleep immediately afterward.
Makoto chuckled reading all the messages as she started to do her morning routine. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she walked into her kitchen, looking into her refrigerator for something she can eat before she had to get to Leblanc. Alas after investigating every single inch of the fridge, there was nothing she could eat without spending a while on eating it.
Ah...I'll just get some Big Bang Burger." Makoto sighed as she grabbed a water bottle, and grabbed her bag, walking out of her door, locking it behind herself.
MAKOTO: Are you guys ready?
ANN: I am!
Before Makoto could reply, she heard something that took her interest. While walking towards the Big Bang Burger, she heard something from a conversation outside from seemingly the manager, and an employee.
"Sir-Sir you can't be serious.." The younger worker chuckling nervously as sweat dribbled down his face.
"You...think I'm joking, Shiro?" The manager started to grind his teeth, his speech coming through closed and gritted teeth. "That...that...boy is disgusting...he willingly masturbated in our stalls and...all over the door...disgusting bastard.."
Shiro struggled to keep his laughter in check. While it was disgusting since he was a worker at the restaurant, he understood where this young kid came from and sympathized with him.
"So...Sir..why tell me?" While this was a story he enjoyed and wanted to tell his friends at Shujin, there was no reason why he should've been the one to be told about this.
"Because—"
Before Makoto could hear the rest of what else the two men had to say, she walked out of hearing range. Although, that was enough for her. "A disgusting boy pleasures himself in a public stall? Utterly disgusting."
MAKOTO: Sorry, I had to do something really quickly. Are you ready to go get Futaba?
ANN: Are you at the train station?
MAKOTO: No, I'm just passing Big Bang Burger.
ANN: Oh, I'm at the diner actually, needed to catch a bite to eat before getting over there.
As Makoto read that message, Ann walked outside of the diner, smiling at Makoto. "Hey."
The brown-haired girl jumped a bit at Ann's voice. Quickly regaining her composure, she looked at Ann, smiling back. "Takamaki-San! Jeez, you scared me."
Ann chuckled, "Well, sorry. But...you ready to get Futaba?"
"Yeah, the train should be in the station right now."
The train ride was...stiff if that was the word to describe it. Japan's subway system was always crammed as expected, which added to the stiffness. Although the main factor was Ann and Makoto themselves.
Not to say the two women had something against one another, it was moreso...a thing Makoto had against her. While she hated to even think she hated something about Ann, there was no other way she could phrase it. Ann was..simply...perfect. She was everything that Makoto wanted to be. Takamaki's ability to simply act normal and be another one of the guys with the male side of the Phantom Thieves was magnificent, something Makoto thought barely possible. After all...she could barely even talk to the other members of the Thieves. They were...odd. Maybe it was due to Makoto's social retardation, and maybe boys regularly acted similarly, but they were just..too odd in comparison to anything Makoto was used to. Ryuji was brash and loud, something she was in fact used to from the experience of being the Student Council President, but he was also a goldmine of territory she didn't know how to navigate properly. His jokes? She barely understood the comical basis behind them, his posture, what he did and didn't like, and his multi-layered ness with his personality. It was..a living hell trying to be around him outside of Phantom Thieves stuff. The same was with Yusuke but boosted up to 200%, he was just like a piece of art. Naturally mysterious and complex in nature, puzzling nearly everyone around.
Before Makoto could continue with her mental essay thoughts on her fellow female member when Makoto felt a thigh bump into her, it was a fellow passenger. She opened up her mouth to apologize, but the thought was quickly eliminated as she noticed the man's eyesight was locked onto something in front of him that made him not notice. That, something, was Ann's figure. She was sitting down on a seat since she was quick enough to get one, to which she offered it to Makoto, but she quickly declined out of pure kindness. Makoto looked back at the man, starting to get irritated at him from staring at Ann like a pervert.
"Oi," Ann spoke simply, light scaring Makoto and making the man jump. "Do you really think I wouldn't notice a 30something businessman staring at me?" She moved her eyes to lock with his, an intense and disgusted expression painted itself onto her face. "Go screw off you nasty bastard."
Promptly, the man looked away with swear dribbling down his face, moving into the crowd of the train. Makoto looked back down at Ann, the blond girl gaining a smile. "Dude was a creep. Still good to know that I haven't broken my promise, and it seems that Ryuji has rubbed off on me.." A little chuckle slid from her mouth.
"Yeah...That is right.." Of course, Ann wouldn't let anyone treat her like an object after what happened in April with Kamoshida, the catalyst of the formation of the Phantom Thieves. With this, Makoto was reminded of her subconscious issues in Ann that made her feel like shit...her attitude and body. Her body was one to die for, something a model would have. Something that men, like Ryuji, Yusuke, Morgana, and..even Joker would pine over. Then there was her, a girl who considered herself flat. With, in her eyes, seemingly no sex appeal, which explained why she never was lucky enough to have a boyfriend. Except for Akira, but that was just a fake plan for Aiko's sake...
Ann's body also broke way for her to gain a powerful amount of mental fortitude. Since her looks made her an outcast and hated by other girls of the school. It never made her waver in what she wanted to do, something Makoto couldn't say she never had happen to her.
Ann was just...better than her. The only reason why Joker and the rest even hung out with Makoto was that she was apart of the group. She...was—
"Makoto! Hey! The train stopped, let's go!" Makoto snapped from her trance. She looked around, seeing the chunk of people exiting the train. Quickly, she looked down at Ann, nodding that they should leave.
While leaving the train station, Makoto pulled her phone from her purse and quickly typed up a reminder to Akira to wake up, and for Futaba to remember they were coming. Makoto sighed as she sent the messages, and suddenly piped up. She was still...oddly tired for some reason. Taking a breath in, she reenergized herself as she placed her phone back into her purse.
Ann didn't let this go unnoticed, she had taken note of Makoto's dreamlike absent-mindedness, and wondered if, somehow, she wasn't getting enough sleep. "Makoto...are you getting enough sleep? You keep dreaming and your mind seems to be wondering off.." Makoto looked surprised, gazing at Ann with a face fill of nigh confusion. Then, remembering the question, she thought back on things recently.
"I...think so...? I think it's just the still leftover effects from Futaba's palace...plus combined with me and Akira being out so late last night..." The brown-haired girl rubbed her temple in irritating as she once again became annoyed with herself for nigh forcing Joker to accelerate the progression of the palace's clearing. Which again caused her to have thoughts of Akira disliking her...
That last sentence, however, made Ann's eyebrows perk up in curiosity. "Akira and Makoto aye? Ohoho..."
"Oh..? You and Akira? And what were you two doing last night..?" Ann teased.
Makoto was taken aback by the implications, she had never..thought— "W-We Just—" Her face started to become blazing red, much to Ann's amusement.
"We..we just went shopping, since Sae needed some things. Afterward, he came back to my apartment where he left...really quickly." Recounting the events quickly brought her mood down again, Ann glanced over at her, seeing the visible disappointment in her face. She knew this face well, for it appeared every time after she had done something with Akira.
"...He's still acting weird towards you?" Ann maturely spoke, all the humor in her voice disappeared.
Makoto eyed Ann, her expression painting seriousness. This was expected as Ann knew that Akira always acted odd towards her, and she hated how he made her felt. Since he acted normal towards everyone else. "Yeah...He just up and left. I know he said he had Sojiro waiting, but I just wanted to treat him to some food..or just something for helping me with everything yesterday.."
Ann looked at Makoto and gazed forward at Jongen-Jaya. She placed a hand around Makoto shoulder, comforting her. "Akira...is a strange person. You think you know everything that he is planning to do, but she suddenly does something unexpected. He always has a trump card. He...is an unreadable person. I'm sure there's...some really,..really important reason he must be acting like this." Ann breathed it out, she normally hated giving advice like this, but Makoto was a friend. An important friend at that.
Makoto sighed. "I'm just adding needless stress upon myself at this point. Let's go get Futaba." Makoto started to pace herself a bit faster, annoying Ann for it was out of the blue. Suddenly, she turned around with a little sincere smile on her face. "...Thanks, Takamaki-San."
A smile appeared on Ann's face.
Before they knew it, they were standing in front of Sojiro's house, Makoto placed a foot forward as she gently knocked on the house door. Behind her stood Ann, who sent another text to Futaba just in case she wasn't ready yet. "Damn it...Makoto you sent her texts before right?" The brown-hair tactician nodded. "Damn it Futaba..."
Makoto sighed as she turned back around, raising her hand for another series of knocks, but they were suddenly stopped by the creaking of the door. "...Futaba...?"
The little orange hair hacker prodigy stuck her head out from the creak in the door. "You two didn't have to slam on my door or blow up my phone...I just wanted to finish this cup of ramen..." She poked her hand from the crack, showcasing her cup. "Aw well..I'll just eat it and throw it away when we get to Leblanc." Futaba walked out from the house, something Makoto recalled being the first time she'd seen it, and locked it behind her.
Within seconds, and within a few last steps of Leblanc, Futaba demolished her cup of ramen. Something that shocked Makoto, and sent Ann into a fever dream of tasty food...Before Makoto could even question how that was physically possible without severely burning her mouth, they stepped into the shop of Leblanc. Well...they were outside of the door, but Sojiro considered this area being inside of Leblanc. He needed those customers after all...
"Wait...where's Ryuji and Yusuke...?" Ann uttered, causing the two girls to look around.
"It...It seems they aren't here, Ann.." Futaba nearly whispered.
"Yeah...that's strange.." Makoto muttered...a little thought struck itself in her head. "...What if Akira himself wasn't ready...?" Quickly it vanished since Akira wasn't that careless. He was their leader after all...
Ann, however, wasn't taking the fact of the boys being MIA very happily. "Those...annoying..." She started to grind her teeth, helping her phone to the point where it could've broken. A little gust of wind, with the intensity of a fiery explosion, blew through the streets.
Makoto chuckled as Ann was shaking with irritation. Opening the door, the smell of freshly made curry and coffee forcefully burrowed itself within the girls' nostrils, pleasuring their deep freshly made love for those two things. The bell started to ring, signifying to Sojiro some new customers had arrived. He turned around, expecting some old patrons, getting a pleasant and confusing surprise from seeing the group. Futaba confusing and surprising him the most.
"O-oh—It-It's you guys...Futaba what are you doing here?"
"I-I wanted to come just so I can..have some fun and get along with some kids my age.."
Sojiro shot Futaba a look of confusion, quickly eyeing Ann and Makoto with questionable eyes. "Ah...I see...Well, don't let these two make you do anything you don't want to. Alright?"
Futaba nodded. Sojiro turned his head to the two girls, "Are you two alright?"
"Yeah." Ann enthusiastically said as Makoto nodded her head. Makoto wasn't..the best around Boss recently, as due to her sister.
"Ah, so I guess this is a little group hangout for Futaba's sake? You guys have really gotten interested with her..." Sojiro narrowed his eyes for a bit, thinking of something, quickly his eyes widened again before he would've gotten lost in thought. "Ah..as long as Futaba is enjoying herself and having fun, that's what's important to me. Be careful you three."
The three girls nodded their heads, Sojiro gave a little sly but kind smile. He glanced over at Makoto and opened his mouth. "He's awake, you know. He hasn't been down yet, but he's awake. I've heard his footsteps and other sounds this entire time."
Makoto slightly jumped when she heard Sakura's voice being directly beamed at her, her worries and nerves were quickly calmed when she understood he was just informing her about Akira. She gave him a nod once again and began to walk towards the stairs.
"You..and Akira don't do anything unsavory now." He chuckled out as the girl walked off, much to her embarrassment.
Walking to the base of Akira's stairs, Ann asked a question for Futaba, "...You've never been in Joker's room have you Futaba?" Ann started to say as they trekked up Akira's stairs.
"...No, I don't think so..." She quietly replied.
Finally making it up the stairs, Makoto started to announce herself, "Akir—AAH!" Makoto screamed, along with the rest of the girls.
"Sh-AAHHHHHAH!" Akira screamed back at them, the raven-haired boy was wearing nothing but his thin boxers that..really left nothing to the imagination, and within those boxers...contained a solid beast...
Quickly, Akira launched himself under his covers, sending a sleeping Morgana into a series of yowls. Makoto could barely move, she could barely even...believe this could be happening...
"Ugh! Come on Makoto!" Ann grunted as she pulled Makoto by the collar downstairs.
Needing a breather, Makoto gently placed herself against the frame of the backdoor of Leblanc. Breaths shakily exhaled from her mouth, her face a deep searing red. A red she had never experienced before in her life. Makoto raised her eyes to look at the others, seeing how they were doing.
Ann was simply red as a tomato, something you never really saw with her, it was...so odd for Makoto to see the usually confident powerful Ann...be embarrassed by something like this.
Futaba on the other hand...was a jittering mess. Ann was holding her as she kept muttering something about The Master Sword, and it having full hearts. Morgana pounced down the stairs, questioning and explaining them. Quickly, Makoto explained the meeting, in which Akira nervously walked down the stairs.
"Y-You...can come up now.." He said, his voice barely being audible. Although it took a second, the girls walked up his stairs. Makoto felt an intense flare of nervousness in her, as she subtly eyed her leader. Mona trailed behind since he wanted to talk to Akira about something.
Upon entering his room, Ann walked Futaba over to Akira's couch, the two sitting down with Ann comforting her. Makoto couldn't will herself to sit down, various thoughts shot themselves throughout her head as she tried to remain calm and collected.
"A-Akira...'s..thing...oh god, why didn't I announce ourselves before coming up..."
"...Makoto..." Ann said with hesitation and softness in her voice, "Are you alright...? Sit down and calm yourself.."
Taking note of her advice, Makoto sat on his futon. Deep breaths kept entering her mouth in an attempt to regain herself. This shouldn't have been...unnerving for her..frankly it was embarrassing for her to be like this when she should've kept her attention on Futaba, who was in a worse state.
Akira popped his head into the attic, his face still flushed and filled with shame. He quickly explained he needed to step outside, which was the best choice of action.
After a few minutes of complete quietness with Futaba's teeth jittering, Akira ran back up the stairs, hastily explaining he had to go do something quickly before they would set out to Mementos. His rushing footsteps pattered against the marble floors of the café.
Makoto slammed against the futon, laying down to rest her nerves. They were better than before, but embarrassment still ravaged her. While laying on Akira's futon, her mind started to wander to other places in an attempt to make all her worries disappear. A sensation she hadn't felt since her third year started. If she was being honest with herself...even as far back when her father passed...
Before she could even make progress, Ann's voice reached out to her spaced out mind. "...You...saw it fully right...?" She said, standing over Makoto as she started to open her eyes. Her eyes filled with embarrassment, much like Makoto imagined herself looking right now.
"...What..?"
"She's...not talking about...no..." Makoto quickly started to prop herself up, wanting to understand Ann. "Ann wh-what are you talking about?"
"...Akira's..thing...w-what do you...think about it.."
"...Wh-Why you asking me..?" Her face became drenched again in red, her ears were set on fire. This...this wasn't good, she was getting so nervous that she felt puke slowly driving itself up her throat.
Suddenly, that's when everyone's phone started to vibrate.
RYUJI: So uh...we're going to ask you guys to get to Mementos. We won't be able to make it back quick enough...we'll explain everything in Mementos alright?
Looking from her phone, she noticed that Ann was once again gripping her phone with the anger of a thousand raging men, quickly replacing her apparent embarrassment from mere moments ago. "These...assholes!" Anna started to stomp her footsteps as she walked towards the stairs, "Come on you two!"
Makoto sighed as she pulled herself off the futon, but before getting Futaba, she grabbed one of Akira's lockpicks that had fallen onto the ground from the incident that ensued earlier. She, then, grabbed Futaba and started walking with her.
Stepping within the oppressive, and the depressing world of Mementos, the girls were granted with the appearance of the boys. Ann immediately started walked angrily to them, but Makoto didn't care. Her mind started to zone out, staring at Akira, as her mind started to rediscover the shame she felt from Akira. He glanced over at her, in which she quickly looked away...
With another one of Akira's great displays of power, they started to set off into the depths of Mementos.
While on the trek through the deep red, purple, and black halls, silence injected itself within the Phantom Thieves' car. Ann was still mad with everyone, and Makoto herself couldn't will herself to talk to Akira.
Woah...Joker! Your little coat-flap thing is so cool!" Futaba started to gush as she started to play with it as Akira sat in the passenger seat.
Akira looked back at Futaba with a look of enjoyment, Makoto could tell he was finally relieved with Futaba seemingly talking normally. Especially after her past and today.
"Come on...Come on...say something...it'll make him feel better...although he probably hates me for coming up unannounced...but...Come on!"
For the first time in a while, Makoto finally spoke. As much as she wanted it though, it wasn't towards him, but it was still worth it. "I have to agree with Futaba. It looks difficult to run and walk around with, but Akira makes it look stylish and easy."
Akira eyed Makoto and chuckled as he started to speak in an attempt to explain how he makes it work. Remembering she was at the wheel, she turned back to the road, in which her eyes widened.
Slamming her foot on the breaks, Morgana came to halt, sending everyone nearly flying. While it was a concern in her mind whether or not everyone was fine, it was a little thought in the thing was had full control of her attention. A tower...in the center of a big empty room. Everything seemed to mute itself as Makoto uttered, "What the hell...is that..?" She noticed Akira said it in near unison.
Things were still muffled as she investigated nearly every inch as the others decided on going into the tower. Suddenly, Ann slapped her shoulder, "Hey, come on. We're going into the tower. If anything goes wrong..blame Morgana."
Quickly, upon entering the tower, Akira claimed the higher levels for him and the rest of the boys. While, of course, the lower levels were handed to the girls.
While walking down the stairs, something entered Makoto's mind. Something she hadn't paid full-fledged attention to.
"..Futaba...are you okay? How are you coping?"
The orange-haired girl looked back at Makoto, her laptop basking her with a deep blue hue. "Oh? ...I've...been fine...The Master Sword scared me and walking has been making me hurt...but...I've been enjoying this. I guess."
A faint smile appeared on her face, while the change was ever so subtle...Futaba was changing. Taking a smooth breath in, Makoto looked around the floor they had walked onto.
"So..as expected..nothing." Ann breathed out in annoyance. "Why did we listen to Morgana..."
Makoto chuckled, "I wish you guys didn't. Alas if I wasn't zoning out, I could've avoided this waste of time."
"Mona hasn't been wrong about anything before!" Futaba confidently breathed out. Ann and Makoto glanced over and stared into Futaba's eyes after she said that. She looked back at the both of them confused, as she waited for them to say something. Silence engulfed the room, making the youngest member feel unsettled.
Then, they burst out laughing. "Yo-You have no~ idea about the stupider things Morgana has done in the past haha~" Makoto struggled to spit out from her nearly uncontrollable laughs.
Ann, who was hunched over holding her stomach, struggled to pull herself back together. "M-Morgana literally got me, Ryuji, himself, and almost Joker into this trap that would've ruined everything if our leader wasn't the quick thinking force he was."
"...really..?"
"He...was..so entranced by Ann one time he forgot to accurately give us information..which led us being chased by...a shadow for at least an hour when we were doing a request from the Phansite."
Ann finally composed herself and put her arm over Makoto's shoulder. "Yup. Eventually, Mona ran out of energy from his car form, in which he was being carried by Akira."
"Why couldn't you guys just fight it?"
"...You see...we were fighting this other shadow as he forgot his information, this shadow had long ranged attacks, in which we were in cover...the thing is...never be in Mementos for too long. Alright, Futaba?" No matter how she tried to spin it, the warning was intimidating.
"W-why?"
"Don't think about it, nor do you ask. Just...always pace yourself quickly in this...dark place." Ann piped in.
Makoto took a breath in, and started walking back down the stairs, "Let's stop talking before we have a repeat of that day again."
On seemingly the bottommost floor of the tower, finally contained something of worth. A simple..chest with a big lock.
"Ugghhhh~...We don't have any lockpicks do we...damn it.." Ann muttered.
Makoto walked forward and pulled out the lockpick she was able to find earlier. Quickly, the lock seamlessly fell from the chest. Opening it, the three girls were in awe...it was a dagger with carvings engraved on the sides of the blade. Along with the wilt. The blade itself was blood-red with the engravings glowing a deep blue akin to Futaba's laptop.
Gripping the blade, Makoto felt...herself getting weaker. As if it was a curse itself. It felt as if it was getting progressively heavier and draining her more the longer she held it. She started feeling lightheaded, and the blade dropped from her hand.
Her movements became sluggish, she staggered back, with Ann quickly moving behind her in an attempt to be her pillar of support.
Futaba quickly spoke, "Ar-Are you alright Makoto?"
"Ye-Yeah...just a bit dizzy and light headed...I don't think...I don't think anyone can just..wield that dagger.."
"..it looks like a cursed weapon from a JRPG..." Futaba subtly muttered as she investigated it.
"I-I uh..I'm fine now, Ann, I can stand."
"Okay."
Looking at the dagger, she grabbed the chest it was once in and dropped the dagger back in it. "Futaba?"
"Hm?"
"Do you think you can hold this?" Makoto pulled the chest up to her chest, in front of Futaba.
"I...thin—"
"GH-GHAGHHHHHHAHGGGGG!"
Akira's bloodcurdling scream echoed throughout the entire building. Akira's scream sent shivers throughout Makoto's body. Her only thought?
"W-WHERE IS HE?!"
She dropped the chest and ran at full speed towards the higher levels of the tower. Ann and Futaba trailed behind, dragging along the chest as it might've been important later.
The first to make it to the floor the scream emerged from, was of course Makoto. She slammed her foot against the floor, as she first walked onto it. Her eyes shot everywhere as she investigated the large room for any trace of Akira. Her worst fear was...that they were taken away or..critically hurt. Not seeing Akira immediately worsened this..but eventually, she wished she hadn't seen what happened.
As Futaba and Ann caught up, Makoto finally latched her eyes upon the boys.
She saw how..battered and wounded the boys were. "Ryuji...?" Ann mouthed, disbelieve evident in her voice.
Then...she saw a man crouched over Akira, his hand gripping his face. All the color seemingly evaporated from Akira's face. Akira was in much worse condition than the rest of boys. Especially evident with his dagger plunged deep into his shoulder blade.
For some reason, she couldn't explain, anger surged to the forefront. Taking control of her entire body, similarly, Ann was in an intense state of anger.
"HECATE!"
"ANAT!"
Ann and Makoto sent their personas flying at the man, snatching Akira and the rest of the men, pulling them back to where the girls were standing, as Makoto unleashed her entire revolver rounds at him. They all phased through him, shocking Makoto through her anger.
"...Ah. So you must be the one. You know your leader is a pretty disgusting bastard..?"
Makoto quickly reloaded and aimed her revolver back at The Being. "What the HELL do you want?! Why did you attack them?!"
"Oh...I don't want much. Just want to punish some...unsavory people." The Being chuckled out. "I see my music has run out...so why I wanted to accomplish...has been set in motion."
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Guide those bastards through this trial. Make sure they don't destroy themselves. Bye-Bye." He vanished in a mist of dust as Makoto quickly tried to at least wound him with one of her bullets. Alas..it was in vein.
Realizing that he really disappeared, the girls ran towards the boys broke bodies. With Makoto trying every possible thing to make sure that Akira was alive and breathing. He was...just barely...a sigh of relief exploded from her mouth.
"Ma-Makoto..." Makoto shot her head up, Ann eyeing her with big eyes of concern. "..Is he..."
She nodded her head, a small smile carving itself on her face. Making Futaba and Ann feel much relief.
Getting off her knees, she stood up with the rest of the girls. Looking at the boys...a sudden realization popped into her head...
She looked over at Ann, "H-How...the hell are we supposed to get them out of Mementos..?"
Pants blew themselves out of Ann's and Makoto's mouth as they placed their hands on their knees as supports.
Ann thought about it for a second, as Futaba took another second to look at the broken boys. Everything the blonde, she summarized in one simple word.
"...Shit."
