The Phantom Thieves have to deal with the consequences of opposing DIO.


Despite trying to continue the battle, the remaining Phantom Thieves paused their assault once they heard Ryuji's screams for help. Both DIO and Akechi knew this was an opportunity for escape, the latter jumping from the apartment and landing with the help of Loki.

Only Jotaro was able to try and stop them once DIO activate The World, sprinting after an extremely weakened DIO as he carried Akechi through the frozen time. Unfortunately, the half second he spent looking back towards Futaba and DIO's ability just being that much more powerful than his own now meant he couldn't hope to reach them in time. After time resumed, they'd already turned a corner and escaped into a maze of alleyways.

Though he could try to pursue them, Jotaro realized there was something much more important to do right now. Out of energy to use healing spells, the low-level spell Ann was able to cast left them all in a state of frenzy trying to figure out what they could do to help Futaba.

"Should I cauterize the wound?" Ann suggest, trying to keep herself from crying.

"There's no wound to cauterize anymore!" Morgana told her. "Does no one have any spells left? Any supplies? Just...anything?"

"He just wouldn't stop, so we had to keep fighting," Makoto said, forcing herself to stay composed. "How did this happen? Futaba can't be..."

"I could try to shock her awake!" Ryuji said. "You know, like the paddle things on TV! Would that help?"

Jotaro moved through the group, holding Futaba in his arms. "Don't do anything that could kill her," he said. "We need to find a hospital. Use your phone things to see where the closest one is. Star Platinum can get me there in less than a minute if it's close enough."

They all retrieved their phones and began furiously searching for the nearest hospital. "It's not that far," Yusuke said, handing his to Jotaro so he could read the address.

Jotaro nodded. "Meet me there." Star Platinum's legs materialized over its user's, rocketing him into the air with a jump that sent him several yards away. It was almost like he was flying with each successive jump.

"We can't just stand around," Makoto said. "Let's hurry."


"Where is she?" Sojiro shouted down the hallway as he came sprinting into the hospital. The other Thieves and Jotaro were standing in the lobby, none of them looking forward to trying to explain what had happened.

He looked to each of them to try and get an answer, but none of them could speak. "You said...you said Futaba was hurt. What happened to her? Where is she? Someone explain what's going on!"

Makoto tried to speak, but Jotaro put a hand on her shoulder. "It's my fault," he said. "We found the man we were searching for. One of his allies was able to attack us and Futaba was caught in the crossfire. I should have been able to stop it, but I was too slow. I'm sorry."

Sojiro was silent for a moment, trying to process what he'd said through the vague way it was spoken. "But...where is she?"

"In surgery," he replied, closing his fists inside his pockets to try and contain his own emotions. "The doctors said there's a good chance she's going to be fine, so you don't have to worry yet. The kids probably saved her life with what they were able to do to help her after it happened."

"We didn't do anything," Ann said dejectedly.

"I'm so sorry," Haru said as she began to cry, Makoto trying to reassure her while keeping herself from doing the same.

It was at that moment the reality of this situation hit Sojiro with full force. He'd always known the Phantom Thieves were doing dangerous work, but until this moment, he never actually thought any of them could die. Maybe that was just the result of one of them faking his own death last time and coming back completely fine, but even the initial shock of that incident hadn't prepared him for the idea his own daughter might be caught up in something that serious.

"How could you let this happen?" he asked Jotaro, his voice low. "You said you'd look after them. You said...I didn't have to worry. You have them all those weird tools, too. It was supposed to protect them." In a move that shocked even himself, he grabbed Jotaro by the collar and screamed, "How? Tell me how?"

"I can't make excuses," he finally said. "I shouldn't have gotten any of you involved."

"You said you had a daughter, too. How could you let this happen to her? I thought I could trust you to keep these kids safe, but you let this happen." His gripped loosened as he fell to his knees in tears. "I shouldn't have let this happen," he said to himself.

Ren and Ryuji helped him to a seat, thankful that no one was trying to come and intervene after they'd made such a scene. Morgana wandered into the hospital to sit next to him, knowing he could at least offer some emotional support even if they couldn't understand each other.

Jotaro took the rest of the kids aside, telling them in no uncertain terms that their partnership was over. "None of you should try to get involved with this anymore," he said. "You shouldn't have from the start."

"Dude, you were gettin stomped before we showed up," Ryuji said. "You need our help."

"I was careless," he said, referring to the entire fight. "I should have known better than to let you come. DIO is too dangerous for me to let anyone else get hurt."

"This isn't just your fight," Ann said. "Akechi is there, too. We can't just let him-"

"This isn't an argument," he said, taking on a rare fatherly tone. "I'm telling you that we're no longer working together. If Sakura-san asks, tell him he won't have to worry about any hospital bills. The Speedwagon Foundation is taking care of it. It's the least I can do for everything I've done to all of you."

Though they all tried to say something, Jotaro was already leaving the building. No matter how dangerous it might be, he resolved to defeat DIO on his own this time. His adventures in Morioh had convinced him that others might be able to help him going forward, but he knew now that he was wrong. This enemy was simply far too powerful to let anyone else risk their lives stopping him. He'd be on his own again.

This left the rest of the group to console Sojiro as they waited to hear from a doctor. Fortunately, it was only around an hour or so before one came out to speak with them. "The good news is the operation went off successfully," the doctor said. "But all we can really say right now is that she's stable. Frankly, we don't really know how this happened."

The doctor rubbed her chin as she explained, "It looked like minor trauma kind of like a knife wound or maybe a bullet, but there was no external injury that would make something like that. It's not something any of us had ever seen before. We're allowed to be optimistic, but we also don't know what's going to happen going forward."

"Can I see her?" Sojiro asked, worry dripping from every pore on his body.

"She's stable, so alright. Fair warning, it looks much worse than it seems with all the bandages and wires, so just remember that she's no longer in the danger zone." Despite these words, Sojiro was still brought to tears upon seeing Futaba hooked up to machines, precautionary as they were. As darkly appropriate as that might have been, it was anything but reassuring.

"It might take her some time to wake up, so try not to work yourselves up too much. If any of you need anything or you're concerned, just flag one of us down." The doctor left the group there, not wishing to linger unnecessarily with other patients waiting for her attention. They likely needed a moment, too.

Slowly, the rest of the group allowed Sojiro some time to himself, figuring it would be best if he had some privacy to work through his emotions. None of them had much to say to each other as they sat in the lobby, trying to process their own feelings on everything that had happened.

More trouble appeared not long after as a pair of police officers entered the hospital. Talking to a receptionist, they were pointed towards the Phantom Thieves. "Excuse me," the older and gruffer of the two men said. "You're with that girl that was just admitted, right? The one who came here from the backstreets?"

"You need somethin?" Ryuji asked dismissively, not in any mood to talk to the cops.

"A few hours ago, there were plenty of reports of what sounded like explosions in that area. Our guys found a ton of damage to an apartment and the street. According to your story, you were there around that time, so we're wondering if you could give us an idea about what happened."

"Look, man, we don't-"

"My clients are in no condition to give statements, officer." Sae marched through the lobby, standing defiantly between the two groups.

"Nijima," the officer said, disdain evident in his voice. "You realize you're impeding an investigation, don't you?"

"You think insuring my clients have proper representation is obstructing justice?" she scoffed. "You have no reason to suspect these children have any connection to your investigation as anything besides victims. If you want to question them, I suggest you talk to someone who can grant you that authority. For now, make yourselves useful and try to find some actual evidence before you start demanding answers from teenagers in a hospital."

Reluctantly, the two officers were forced to leave them alone, calling into the station to try and find out what anyone on the scene may have found since they last spoke. "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner," Sae said. "Makoto texted me and said something happened to Futaba and you might need help. Can you tell me why the police were trying to question all of you?"

"Sis," Makoto said, finally letting her tears fall freely. "We really screwed up."

"We've been operating as the Phantom Thieves again," Yusuke admitted. "A dangerous man arrived in town, so we felt compelled to stop him."

"We finally found him, too," Ann said. "But during the fight...we almost had him, and then Akechi shot Futaba. They both got away when we were distracted."

"Wait, Akechi? As in, Goro Akechi? He's alive?"

"He is," Ren said. "He's working with that man."

"Why didn't any of you tell me this before? You know you can count on me to help however I can."

"We didn't want to worry you," Makoto said, Haru stroking her hair as she tried to get her tears under control. "We didn't know it would get this dangerous."

She sighed, trying to think of what they could do now, both for an enemy so strong as to recruit Akechi and for the police's coming questions. "Well, first thing's first, we should get your stories straight. After that, we should tell the police about this man. Discretely, of course."

"No one would believe us," Ryuji rightly stated. "Besides, what are the police going to do against a vampire that stops time?"

"That is...not something I have a response to. I see your point, though." Sae shook her head, unable to find any satisfactory answer to what they could do now. "For now, you've all earned some rest. I can take you home."

"We're supposed to just run home with our tails between our legs?" Ryuji said, punching his leg. "Damn it, we were so close!"

"It pains me to say it, but there's nothing else we can do at this time," Yusuke told him. "We're in no condition for another fight after losing this much."

"Still," Ann said, "it feels awful just leaving Futaba and Boss here all alone."

"Where is he?" Sae asked. "I'd like to talk to him for a minute." They directed her down the hallway to where Sojiro still stood, forehead pressed against the window to Futaba's room. It took him a moment to realize she was there, at which point she greeted him with a, "Hello, Sakura-san."

"Oh, hey. Sorry, the shop's closed, so you'll have to get your coffee somewhere else for right now."

She gave a laugh at his joke, empathizing with his desire to try and keep others from feeling the same pain as he did during this horrible time. "I'm sorry about what happened. Everyone just told me."

"It's all my fault," he said.

"You know that isn't true. It's the fault of the person who attacked her and the rest."

"I knew they were the Phantom Thieves again. I could have stopped this from ever happening after how dangerous things were last time."

"None of those kids are very good at listening to adults. I doubt Futaba would have done what you said even if you did try to stop them."

"I should have tried, though." He held his head in his hands, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. "I wanted to blame other people, but it was my responsibility as her father. I should have kept her safe somehow."

"We all have regrets," Sae said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Making yourself feel bad won't help her, though. She needs you to be strong right now. They all do."

Sojiro nodded. "You're probably right about that."

"I'm going to take everyone home soon. Do you want me to bring you anything from your house? Clothes? Food?"

"I'll be alright. I've always wanted to try that hospital food everyone says is so good."

She smiled, nodding. "Don't be afraid to call if there's anything I can do." As she started to walk off, she turned back. "I know you might feel helpless right now, but there's something you should remember. Right now, Futaba and the others are all fighting as hard as they can, and even if it might not seem like you can do anything...what's the incentive of coming home safe if there's no one waiting for them?"

He nodded. "That's pretty good. Where'd you hear that?"

"I can't remember," she admitted. "It might have even been my father, but knowing him, he probably heard it from an old procedural." She left the hospital after that with the rest of the Phantom Thieves behind her, making a trip to each of their homes to save them a long and uncomfortable train ride.


Three days passed. Ren had the house to himself with only Morgana for company, though neither of them was feeling very talkative. Jotaro's things had vanished from Leblanc's attic at some point since they returned home that night, no sign of where he could have gone. Other than the occasional message to see how the others were doing, the group chat was silent, as well.

Feeling restless, Ren put on his shoes to head out. "Are you heading to the hospital?" Morgana asked. He shook his head. "Oh. Okay. Want me to come with you?" He shook his head again. "Alright, I guess. Don't get into any trouble."

He went to the station, riding the train into Shibuya and making his towards Iwai's shop. It wasn't guns he was after today, though. Turning the corner into the alley, he saw the blue spectral gate just as it always was, Lavenza standing beside it.

She was seemingly aware of what had happened, a look of sadness having overtaken her normally cheerful demeanor. "Would you like to come for a visit?" she asked as Ren approached. He nodded, the door opening for both of them.

"Welcome back, Trickster," Igor greeted. "May we both offer our sincerest condolences for what has happened to your ally." Lavenza nodded solemnly. "How may we be of assistance to you?"

Ren looked side to side. "Where's Philemon?" he asked.

"Our master has left," Igor replied. "He stated that he is currently looking for a means of helping you further. Unfortunately, I can't tell you when he may return."

Ren placed a finger to his chin, thinking over his next move. "Okay," he said. "Instead, I need to perform a fusion."


Basically just tossing these up whenever they're done now. Everything hurts.

Did you catch that title? It, like, works on so many levels, man. It's for the fallout of what happened in the fight, but also the fallout between Jotaro and the rest gang. Pretty highbrow stuff, I know. Pass the blunt, Elon.

The reports of Futaba's death may have been greatly exaggerated in the last notes, but she's still not in a very good way right now. Neither is Sojiro. Almost took a swing at Jotaro.

You can really get a sense of Sae's new rebellious spirit since she left the prosecutor's office. Telling off cops and helping the Phantom Thieves make a convincing story if they get questioned, plus doling out some cool words of wisdom. I hope I can work her in again before the end.

Next chapter is...whenever. Wonder what Joker's going to fuse. Thanks for reading. Share with a friend if you like it. Always remember to get some counseling for traumatic events like this.