December 17

Akira raised the handgun and squeezed the trigger. His mind was as cool and clear as a lake. For me, for Okumura, for the people of Japan, let justice be done. The bullets hit home, and oily black smoke encircled the Shadow. It fell onto its knees, once more looking almost indistinguishable from the real Shido. His face was mottled with cuts and bruises. Just like Akechi had been.

"How could I lose?" There was real grief in his voice. "What have I done? Oh, Goro..."

"Justice will always prevail." Makoto strode forward and knelt to look him in the eye. Her voice was quiet and deadly "You will atone, but before that there's just one thing I want to know: did you have my father killed?"

"You'll have to narrow it down. I killed many fathers."

"Shigeki Niijima, three years ago." Makoto blinked behind her mask. "You killed so many people that you don't even remember?"

"A simple proposition when your only desire is power." He coughed. "Niijima, yes. I remember. He was inconveniencing a major financial backer, and I wanted to see just how far Goro's powers extended. I'm sorry, child. I'll face whatever justice you deem appropriate. There would be a certain poetry in killing me here, don't you agree?"

The punch daggers on Makoto's fists gleamed in the light. Her father's murderer. Sae's father's murderer. Never mind what Shido had done to him; he had destroyed the lives of two people Akira loved best in the world because a detective was inconvenient. You shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. But Makoto clenched her fist. "Oh no. The Phantom Thieves don't kill. You will pay for your crimes in a court of law and everyone will know what you did."

"I accept."

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Ryuji put a hand on Akira's shoulder. "You owe our leader an apology for screwing him over."

The Shadow turned his gaze to Akira. He did look remarkably like the real Shido, only he had never seen Shido so utterly broken. "I acknowledge that I had you arrested on false charges. I am truly sorry, but I won't insult you by asking you to forgive me."

Akira had dreamed of this moment for months, even before he had known the name of the man who had intended to ruin him. He had wanted to tear Shido to pieces while recounting every moment of his suffering in loving detail. But he had left his rage behind in the church and in the café and all that remained were the demands of justice. What did you do with a Shadow that seemed truly repentant? Certainly a lot sorrier than Sae's had seemed at the time? Could Shido be capable of the same kind of reformation? Did he even deserve it?

Maybe it wasn't a matter of deserving. Maybe it never had been. "You meant to destroy me, but it seems like it all turned out for the best. Get up. We're leaving."

"Hey, buddy? Aren't you forgetting the Treasure? He's got to pay."

"Oh, he will. I bet Sae will make sure he spends every day of his life in jail. But I'd prefer he actually atone with all of himself. Maybe he'll be able to do himself some good." Contrition was the first step to reconciliation, if Shido had the good sense to realize it. "Return to the real Shido with that remorse."

The Shadow recoiled. "You're not going to take the Treasure? Thank you! I'll make the most of this, I swear. "

The ground rumbled beneath Akira's feet, and masonry fell from the walls. He looked up to where the ship's wheel still floated in midair. A Palace collapsing with its Treasure intact shouldn't be possible. Shido's voice filled the legislative chamber, echoing from all around them. "No, I won't have it! I won't be defeated by a bunch of damn brats! I'd rather die!"

Akira whipped his head around to look at Morgana. "What's going on?"

"A Palace will fall if the Treasure is stolen—or if the host dies. The real Shido would rather die than confess his crimes."

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," Ryuji said. "Let's get out of here."

Right. Living to see Sae again would be a good thing. But first… He extended his hand as the ship's wheel floated down to him. If the real Shido died without confessing his crimes at all, he would be a martyr to his evil ideology and someone would rise to take his place after he won the election. Everything Akira had done would be for nothing. He gave a last look to where the Shadow knelt on the floor. "I'm sorry."

"No less that I deserve, boy. It's time I face my just punishment." He shimmered and was gone and then Akira had no more time to think before he was running for his life.

He returned to the real world and to the feeling of something cold and crunchy under his feet. Snow, real snow. Large, fat flakes that stuck to the ground and practically begged him to make snowballs. Tokyo had been bathed in white while he was gone. Ice coated the tips of the wrought-iron fence. Nature itself celebrating the city's freedom, his victory. His shoulder ached from cold, but what did it matter? He'd won!

He'd won. Oh, God. He'd won.Shido would go on live TV and confess everything he'd done. Japan would no longer be seduced by his illusions of national glory. His conspiracy would be broken. Akira would go back to school and kiss Sae senseless and... Joy and relief bubbled through him and he trembled. His vision wavered and his eyes were wet with tears. "Sorry."

"It's okay, bro. You beat the bad guy, so you're allowed to get all emotional. It's like a rule of hero-ing."

"Thanks, Ryuji." He wiped his eyes. "I meant what I said back there:: if the arrest was the only way I could meet you guys, then I'm glad it happened."

"Hey, no mushy stuff now." He ruffled Akira's hair. "Let's see the Treasure!"

Akira put a hand in his pocket, and pulled out a small, golden chrysanthemum badge. "Nobody's going to give much for a legislator's pin. Looks like this celebration is going to be on the cheap." During that celebration he would tell the others about how he was planning to restrict the activities as Joker. He would take Sae by the hand and tell them about the kiss. He really hoped Makoto didn't deck him for that.

And how great was it that those were his biggest problems? His cellphone buzzed. "I'm back, kid." Sojiro sounded tired but unharmed. "They just let me go all of a sudden. Does that mean that you stopped that bastard?"

"Yeah, it does." He'd won the war and lost nothing in return. Finally. "I'll be right home. Sojiro's okay."

Makoto's phone went off. "It's Sis. She threw the investigators off the trail and she's leaving work early because of the weather. She wanted to know if it's okay if she stops by Leblanc for a cup of coffee on the way home."

Futaba snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure the coffee what she wants. Akira, are you ever going to finish your romance sidequest?"

Oh, if only she knew. "Let's go to Leblanc. We'll have the real party tomorrow, but right now I just want to make sure everything's okay. "

"Sojiro's always okay. And your girlfriend's pretty scary." Futaba sobered. "It's over. It's really over. Mom..."

"Father..."

"Dad..."

Makoto, Haru, and Futaba bowed their heads. Shido had killed or destroyed so many people during his rise to the top, left so many grieving families. Even now that he was defeated, it would take years for the scars to fade, if they ever did. At least now, justice could be done in the light of day. He palmed the legislator's pin and held it out to Makoto. "Do you want to tell Sae about Shido and your dad or should I?"

"We'll tell her together." Her eyes were hard. "I appreciate you trying to be noble, but I hope Shido rots in prison. Or hangs."

By the time the train deposited them in Yongenjaya, the streets were a veritable winter wonderland. Shops had been closed early. Most of the adults appeared to be safely inside and warm, but a few enterprising children too young to be in school were stomping around in the snow and screeching. Just like home. Akira had spent more than one winter building snowmen like he saw on TV—or pelting bullies who thought the astronomy thing was just a little too nerdy even for an honor student. But right now he just wanted to walk through the door and be reunited with the man who might as well been his father and the woman he'd fallen in love with almost without noticing.

Leblanc was a blessed warmth. And they were there, Sojiro and Sae, looking worried but not at all injured. He laughed again and wished he could hug them. But Sojiro had never been much of a hugger and Sae...well, he had promised to be discreet. He was starting to regret that. Her eyes lit up and she smiled. Not the small, private one that he was used to, but an actual grin that made her look young. "You got him. You really got him."

"Yep." It took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to forget everything he had told her about sneaking around and kiss her right there. But he was a gentleman thief, so instead he slammed the legislator's pin down on the booth before her like a knight presenting the head of a dragon to the princess. "You've been avenged." He and Makoto looked at each other, and she nodded. "Akechi did kill your Dad. Shido confessed to everything."

She exhaled. "I knew. I think I knew from the day Akechi was babbling about it. Now that he's dead, I doubt Shido will ever be able to be convicted for the Metaverse murders, but it helps to know. To have some closure." Her hand covered his. "Thank you."

Akira could only bow.

"All right, enough with this serious stuff." Ryuji slammed his fist lightly on the counter. "We just beat the bad guy once and for all. We should do something fun."

Sojiro held up his hands. "It's going to take time to get stuff together for a party, and I was just detained. Give a guy a break."

Haru looked out the window. "It's a shame we can't go to the park. The snow is so lovely."

"Yeah, perfect for a snowball fight." Akira shrugged. "I guess you don't have enough open space to do that here."

"Oh, you can," Sae said. "Dad got very elaborate when I was younger. Ambushes, traps. He told me he was teaching me 'urban pacification tactics.' I think he just wanted me to do something outside."

"I remember that. You always got me before I got a shot off."

"Why am I not surprised that Niijima is a good shot?" Ann asked. "I want her on my team!"

Sae's eyes went wide. "I couldn't possibly...you can't be..." She looked at Akira, desperate for help. "It's a children's game! And I'm not a child!"

"We just took down a half-naked purple demon who punched the air so hard it shook and now you're pulling the adult card?" Ryuji groaned. "Morgana can't throw a snowball, so we need an extra person to keep the teams even. Unless you want to join us, Boss?"

"Don't look at me."

Akira smiled to himself. The nice thing about dating someone after you'd spent three weeks running around their subconscious was that you learned a little about what made them tick. Sae needed to let off steam as much as the rest of them. "It's okay, Ann. You wouldn't want Sae on your team anyway. All those years slaving away in an office. I bet she couldn't hit Yusuke at ten paces."

A muscle in Sae's cheek twitched. "Excuse me?"

Akira made his voice syrupy-sweet. "I know a lot about mechanics and motion and I spent an hour every day during the summer at the batting cages. Ryuji and Futaba play a lot of shooters, and we both know how fierce Haru and Yusuke can be. She'd have no chance."

Sae was half out of her seat. "No chance? I may not be summoning lightning, but I can still beat you in a snowball fight."

"It just wouldn't be fair."

Sae yanked her coat from the space beside her and charged for the door, her face red. "All right, that does it! When I'm finished with you. Akira, you won't be bragging so much about physics. You going to be begging for mercy."

Sometimes, it was almost too easy. "Shall we pick teams, then? Ryuji, Yusuke, Haru, you're with me."

Thieves and prosecutor spilled out into the snowy streets. Even with the pain in his shoulder, Akira was still a good shot, and he supposed he should thank the detective for messing up his nondominant arm. The balls came as fast and furious as the bullets they fired in the Metaverse. He supposed it would look like war to a casual observer, they fought with such intensity. He'd almost forgotten what it was like to pretend-fight instead of being locked in a battle to the death, to just be normal.

Ann was first out, clipped on the shoulder by Ryuji. "Who's the greatest? Who's the gr-"

Makoto hit him flush in the chest, and Morgana let out a cheer. "Nice one. Lady Ann is avenged.

A white blur sailed towards Akira's face, and he ducked just in time. Sae. Her eyes flashed, and she was already readying a second snowball. Her chinks were pink with cold, exertions, and excitement. He wished he had time to just look at her like that. But even Phantom Thieves in love didn't go down easily. He let fly a snowball of his own as she was rising to her feet. She twisted, almost overbalancing herself, but dodging all the same. "That was almost like rule-breaking," she said between pants.

"I didn't know snowball fights had rules."

"No rules, huh?" She smiled. "You're going to regret that." She hit Yusuke in the leg and laughed. It was a warm sound that did funny things to his insides. Her face was smooth and radiant. This, he thought, was how she was meant to be: fighting hard and smart and having the time of her life.

Only he, Haru, and Sae remained. One combatant standing between him and victory. Except he couldn't seem to find Sae. She had disappeared after the volley that had taken out Makoto. "It's not like her to just quit. She must be planning something." He pointed north. "You go that way. I'll go this way." He and Haru set off.

A flash of black and violet caught his eye a few minutes later as Sae ducked into the alley behind Leblanc. Aha. He readied his snowball and gave chase. Sae was waiting for him, holding the largest snowball he had ever seen. Not a bad plan when these narrow streets made it so hard to dodge. Shame the last few months had done wonders for honing his reflexes. He dropped to a kneeling position as if he were firing the handgun as the snowball sailed harmlessly overhead. "Not a bad plan. Just not good enough."

Sae met his gaze, regal and defiant. "Get it over with. You've got-" She went rigid and pale. "What's that?" she asked in a small, terrified voice.

Akira half-turned. There was nothing there. Of course. Only an idiot would fall for tha- Something cold and wet hit him in the neck. A snowball. A really tiny snowball. "I'm an idiot."

Sae's eyes shone red. "What was that you said about 'not good enough?'"

The way she was looking at him, he would have happily been pelted with a dozen snowballs. "Faking out a one-armed cripple to win, Ms. Niijima. You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

"You're the one who said there weren't any rules. I never could stand to lose, in either world." She looked suddenly uncertain. "That's all right, isn't it? That I still like to win and I'm still a trickster?" That doesn't make me her, right? lingered in the air, unspoken.

Akira closed the distance between them. "A trickster? That's what Igor—remind me to tell you about him—calls me, so I think you're okay. I wouldn't like you nearly as much if you couldn't keep me on my toes. We're..."

"Partners in crime?" she offered. "You've been quite good at corrupting me lately."

Partners? He had wanted a partner. Had prayed for it the day he had found Shido's codeword. The day he had really started falling for Sae. He loooked heavenward. You aren't remotely subtle, are You? But I'll try to be good. "Partners."

His fingers swept along her side, earning a slight gasp. Such a gift to be able to touch her without holding back. "Something occurs to me," he said casually. "This is the closest we've been to alone in two days. And we only have ninety-three more. We ought to make the most of this."

"Should we now?" He was close enough now that he could make out the flakes on her cheeks, her long eyelashes. She traced the muscles of his arms, mindful of his shoulder. "And what exactly should we do?"

Nevermind. He was going to spontaneously combust long before March got here. "Hm. Let me think." Her lips were cold and soft on his. He had kissed people before, but Akira didn't remember the electric shocks that raced over and through him. Maybe it was that she was the most beautiful woman in the world maybe or that he was finally kissing her without Shido hanging over his head or maybe that he loved her or maybe all three. The little noises she was making...he was doing that, in this world, with an injury and no Wild Card power.

There was a high-pitched squeal somewhere behind them. Akira and Sae broke apart to find seven Phantom Thieves blocking the alley and staring at them. Makoto had lost all her color. Ryuji and Ann had wide eyes. Futaba had a fiendish and not-at-all shocked grin. And Akira? He politely waited for the pavement to swallow him whole. They were supposed to find out tomorrow at a very respectable celebration, not like this. Not...not catch him and Sae en flagrante. Sae was frozen in his arms.

Haru recovered first. "Oh, I am so happy for you guys!" She rushed forward to envelop them in an embrace of her own and a warm babble of chatter washed over him.

"All, right pay up!" Futaba cackled. "I win!"

"Hold on a sec. We don't even know if this was their first kiss. Was it?"

"That's none of your business," Sae snapped. "And what do you mean 'pay up?'"

The others shared a look. "We created a betting pool about when you two would act on your attraction," Yusuke said as if he were discussing the weather. "I may have been rewarded quite handsomely."

"Betting pool?" Sae spluttered. "You were betting on us? All of you? Even Makoto?"

"I don't know much about love, but I know when you're happy, Sis."

"Then you...you're okay with this?"

"As long as you're both happy." She thought for a moment. "And I never accidentally walk in on anything. Ever again. You're ruining my mental image of the two of you."

Sae chuckled. Akira could get used to that sound. "Deal."

Akira disentangled himself. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to get cleaned up and go to the vigil Mass while the trains are still running and while I still have a shred of dignity." He did, after all, have so much to be thankful for.