Original Opening Note (Published on AO3 5/29/2017): We're getting closer! Today, we'll be covering the great escape's humble beginnings. A little mind games, a little nonsense, a little angst, a little psycho drama, a little fluff. It's all coming together, bit by bit. I actually don't even want to leave any chapter notes, really, I'm just very excited. Please enjoy it!
Haru was beyond shocked. Her father… Why? What had she done…
Akira was not doing much better. Had he… they… NO! What had they done…
Everyone was generally just freaked out.
No one was in the mood to hang around at Destinyland. Makoto suggested they all go home, and was met with no opposition whatsoever…
Haru: Did… did we kill my father…? Did you… trick me?
Akira: Haru… no! We don't know…
Ryuji: DAMMIT! THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY FUCKING SENSE!
Yusuke: I cannot believe this… we must have been set up!
Makoto: If that is so… then who set us up?
Haru: …
Haru: I - I'm sorry everyone. I won't be using this chat for awhile. I'll see you all at school… If you go to Mementos, please, go without me.
Ann: Haru…
Haru is offline.
Akira put away his phone. He was absolutely stunned. Was Haru going to be okay? What she had said in the chat… If she believed that she had been mistaken - that she had been hoodwinked into joining a gang of murderers… If Haru decided that - how would they convince her otherwise?
He was riding the subway back to Yongen alone… he looked around the interior of the train. Voices were flying back and forth. Everyone was talking about Okumura.
Did you see the news?!
He collapsed…
Man, that was gross!
EPIC LIKE LIKE LIKE!
Is he dead?
We don't know…
Perhaps… !
Wasn't he targeted by…?
The Phantom Thieves!
HE'S DEAD! THEY SAID HE'S DEAD!
Holy shit, dude.
Akira's mind flashed back to that day… The first day he had come to Tokyo. Two girls had been talking. About mental shutdowns…
WHAT, are you for real? A "mental shutdown?"
It's the truth!
To a person though? That's gotta be a joke…
You really love all that occult stuff don't you
He was as lonely and isolated as he had been that first day… except then, he had no idea what they were talking about. The conversation he'd overheard had held no meaning to him whatsoever. All he wanted to do was sit, be quiet, and never be seen or spoken to again in this awful prison of a subway…
But today, overheard exchanges such as these held a much greater impact. They made Akira want to get up from his seat. He wanted to stand up and punch somebody. He didn't know who, he didn't know why - but there was somebody he wanted to punch.
He swore to himself, that he would find them… and he would make them pay for murdering Haru's father. For the subway accident… for causing so much suffering… for slandering the name of the Phantom Thieves.
BAM! As Akira's gloved fist connected with Akechi's face, his chair toppled over and his coffee mug shattered upon the floor. "Ouch!" he said. "Akira, that was an admirable blow, but you've almost certainly blackened my eye. What did you do that for?!"
"My apologies, Akechi," Akira said politely, "but I've been really mad all evening, since Okumura suffered a mental shutdown and the blame was pinned onto us Phantom Thieves. I am sure you know me well enough to understand that I am most certainly not a murderer, and neither are any of my friends. It does not please me to be thought of as such."
"That does not explain this sudden violent maneuver," Akechi pointed out.
"Hold your horses, I was getting to that. You see," Akira continued. "I've been wanting to punch the person responsible. But since I don't know who that is, I decided to punch you instead. I needed to release this pent-up energy so that I could control myself. I do hope you don't mind."
"Oh, not at all," Akechi smiled pleasantly. "As a matter of fact -" There was a flash of blue, and Akechi, now in his Metaverse outfit, balled his fist and socked Akira square in the jaw. He fell to the floor, and spit out a tooth. "Come on, Akechi! I didn't hit you that hard."
"Do not worry," Akechi said, beaming at him, "your tooth hasn't actually fallen out - this is only a dream after all. Now, since you have rendered my coffee undrinkable, would you mind brewing me another?"
"Can't you just make one magically appear?"
"I could," Akechi agreed. "But it's simply more ethical for you to take responsibility."
Akira couldn't argue with that. He got behind the counter and began brewing Akechi some more coffee.
"So, do you believe I'm responsible for Okumura's death?" he asked.
"No, no not at all," Akechi assured him. "It's as you said - I do not believe you a murderer. It would violate the justice you uphold."
"Who do you think did do it?"
"Someone who has our same power, obviously," Akechi indicated, "possibly even greater powers. Additionally, someone who is watching over you, who has known about your group for some time now, who has a sinister motive. Perhaps a political one - they may mean to rise to power somehow, or assist another in doing so."
"What do you think about that?" Akira wondered. "It being political, I mean."
"Oh, I couldn't care less about politics," Akechi chuckled. "After all, you and I are both too young to vote in any elections."
"Understandable," Akira replied. He handed Akechi his coffee. "Thank you," Akechi said. "Now, I still haven't the foggiest idea who would have such motives, or why they would want to incriminate you in them. Although… yes, perhaps they are trying to cover their tracks. That must be it."
"You really have no clue what's going on?"
"Do you mean to suggest that I am deceiving you, Akira?"
Akira thought this over for a moment.
Yes - Akechi was extremely suspicious. Though Akira had come to appreciate his company, he still was very wary of the supposed boy detective. He was now pretending to like him in order to gain his trust - something that he sensed Akechi was doing as well.
If Akechi was thinking this through the same way he was, perhaps he would come to the same conclusion - neither of them truly trusted the other, and they were both working against each other with this power. It was a furious, intense game of wits, and neither boy had any clue who was winning. How, Akira wondered, would it end?
"Not at all," Akira falsely affirmed, as convincingly as he could, "I am simply surprised that you, being the ace detective that you are, have not deduced any possible suspects."
"I see," Akechi said. He smiled warmly, and stood up. "Akira, my friend - if I discover any leads, I promise you, you will be the first to know after my colleagues within the police. After all, if the Phantom Thieves are able to expose this culprit themselves, then even while I cannot catch them it may certainly make my job easier."
Akechi stood up, and looked at his coffee. "Ah, it appears I have not finished drinking this," he noted. "I will simply have to take it with me." He stood up, and turned to leave the store. "Goodbye for now, Akira. I will see you again soon, I am sure. There are many puzzles left unsolved…"
Akechi left the store. "Wait!" Akira called. "Where - and how - are you taking that coffee?!"
But he was already gone.
XX/XX/20XX
"What in the world did the police inject into you?!" Niijima Sae yelled. Akira's vision went dark…
…
…
Kurusu Akira! Wake up!
…
…
"We've arrived at your most recent target -
…
"Niijima Sae. Myself."
Sae slid the calling card onto the table… she was shaking with fear.
"Explain everything, please. Am I to be - did you - did you change me?"
Akira was silent.
Sae was quietly terrified. Her breathing slowed steadily, and her heart felt like it might fall out of her chest.
She wondered, What - what would a change of heart feel like? Would it be painful? Would it - it - or what if - What if he's lying… about what he did to Okumura?
What if I'm a dead woman walking?
The morning of 10/13/2016, Akira received a message from Haru.
Haru: Akira…
Haru: My apologies for messaging you so early in the morning.
Haru: Things have calmed down at home…
Haru: I - I wonder. I trust you - I thought about it, and I think you and the others meant no harm, but… I just can't -
Akira was unsure how to reply.
Haru: Sorry… this is a lot to take in at this hour…
Haru: Can we meet at the hideout today?
Akira: Sure. I'll let everyone know.
Haru: Okay… I'll see you all there.
"I'm sorry I'm late," said Haru. "It's been… difficult…"
"My condolences." Makoto spoke with an earnest tone of empathy.
"I have a question," Haru looked at them apprehensively, a dead serious expression etched upon her face. "Did you target the principal?"
Everyone looked surprised and confused. "Our principal?! Shujin's? Wha - what makes you think that?" Akira wondered.
"The authorities visited my home in search of evidence," Haru explained. "While they were there, I overheard someone telling a public prosecutor about a calling card in the principal's office. It was a woman named - Niijima-san."
Makoto's face fell. "Sis…" she whispered quietly. Akira wanted to hug Makoto close and comfort her, but he restrained himself. Now was not the time.
"Did you do - did you -" everyone looked at Haru expectantly. She breathed hard, then turned and said, in a forceful and interrogatory tone: "Did you kill him? Did you make him have a mental shutdown?!"
Everyone nearly jumped in surprise. Then, they all started yelling at once.
"WHAT?!" Ryuji was appalled. "You - are you accusin' us? Just like everyone else?!"
"That couldn't be!" Morgana mewed indignantly. "I - no - I'm sure - I'm sure! We only took the Treasure - nothing else!"
"Haru!" Ann said. "We - we - we didn't trick you into killing your father! You saw what happened! We were as confused as you were!"
"I am above such senseless acts as cold-blooded murder!" Yusuke protested. "How could you -"
"We - we didn't!" Makoto nearly cried. "I can't imagine ever having any - is this what Sis thinks?" She placed her face in her hands and sobbed. "Sis…"
Futaba said nothing, but she was clearly unnerved.
"Haru," Akira said, slowly, carefully, kindly - "We couldn't have. We would never be able to live with ourselves if we became killers. We're just not those kind of people. We would never lie to you. Please believe us."
Haru's face was pale. It seemed she was sorry she'd said anything.
"Are you still doubtful of us?" Akira asked.
Haru paused a moment, then said - "No. No, I don't think so. I was in a lot of emotional turmoil when I said… what I did. I'm sorry. I don't think you deceived me or that you are the ones behind the mental shutdowns." She took a deep, cautious breath. "Thank you for answering my question…"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, all looking at Haru again. Makoto wiped tears from her face. "Thank you, Haru," said Ann. "I feel better knowing that."
"Are you tired?"
It was 10/16/2016, the day before exams. Akira was studying with Makoto in the library. He had been doing so for a good few hours. She should have been the one asking him that, but instead, it was her own concentration that was waning. "Yes…" she said. "I'm not feeling very okay. Can we go to Leblanc?"
Upon arriving at Leblanc, the first thing Makoto did was lie down in one of the booths and close her eyes. "I…" she said slowly, "I miss my sister as she was."
"I've been thinking, if you want to change her heart - perhaps we can do it by ourselves?" Akira suggested. "Just the two of us, in secret, without the others."
Makoto shook her head weakly. "No… no, we can't. That would be too dangerous. I don't want you to get yourself hurt for my sake."
"I understand," Akira said kindly. "I don't want you to get hurt either…" he offered her a cup of coffee.
"mm mm," Makoto murmured negatively, her eyes barely opening, holding out her exposed palm to signal refusal of the drink. "I don't need coffee…"
"What do you need?" Akira wondered, deciding to drink the coffee himself.
"You, Akira… come here… please?"
Akira set aside the coffee and moved to sit next to Makoto, who adjusted her position to place her head in his lap.
"Akira?"
"Yes, Queen?" Makoto smiled softly at being called by her thief name.
"Joker… let's… stay here…"
"Sojiro will find us."
"Upstairs…"
"Fine by me." Akira got up and carried Makoto. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders firmly and buried her face in his chest…
"I think… I think I may want to tell the others… soon… but not now"
"About?" Akira sat on his bed and let Makoto down into his lap, gently stroking her face and hair.
"My sister…" Makoto groaned softly. "I don't want to let it be anymore. I don't want to let my sister… ruin herself… ruin me… you… all of us - but… it's difficult… what would I say… how?"
"I can help you."
Makoto smiled and murmured what sounded like a grateful "thank you."
"When?"
"When… when I'm ready… I'll tell you…"
"We can do it anytime."
10/20/2016
Makoto had been thinking about it for awhile now. Despite her sleepy vow to Akira that she would tell the team about her sister's Palace, she was having second thoughts. She'd told Akira as much, and he didn't mind, but -
She was scared. What if Sae found out? What if Sae's change of heart went bad? Or - or if she was targeted and killed, the same as Okumura. And - what would Sae think? Would she think she was going to be killed? Or what if she knew…
"She can't know… that I'm one of them…"
The door opened and closed.
"I'm home," said Sae. She sounded exhausted, like she had had a very long, draining day… as usual.
"Hi Sis," Makoto called out. "Should I warm up dinner for you?"
"No, it's okay."
"How about a bath?"
"No need," Sae said curtly, entering the room. "I only came home to get a change of clothes."
"Are you going to stay at work then?" Makoto inquired nervously. Sis… it's the middle of the night… why? What's so important now?
Sae hesitated to speak.
"I've been entrusted with a very important task."
"You look awful…"
"As an adult, there are times when failure is not tolerated. It will be all over for me if I can't win this!"
"But if you were to collapse from exhaustion -"
But Sae was having none of it. "This is my one chance to get a promotion!" she shouted forcefully. Makoto recoiled at her tone.
Sae looked regretful at having raised her voice. "I heard detectives are coming to school… that must make it difficult to focus on your studies. Don't worry. It'll all be over soon."
Over… ?
"What do you mean?"
"I'm going to catch the Phantom Thieves myself."
! but - Why - Sis!
"Is that the important task you mentioned?" Makoto asked, doing her best to keep her face straight. I can't betray my true feelings…
"It's none of your concern!" Sae said. She turned around and left without getting the change of clothes she had been seeking.
Makoto had felt so confident and comfortable with the thought when she told Akira about Sae's Palace. When Akira had held her to his chest, when she had whispered it to him… Anytime , he had said. But… but how was she supposed to tell them?!
I need to get over this fear… we need to change her - no, save her heart! I need to tell them… why can't I let go of this feeling of -
"This is bad…" she whispered to herself… "I need to let everyone know!"
Akechi? Why was he here?! Thankfully, he had choked on an evidently very spicy piece of takoyaki and fled. Akira had never been more thankful for poorly made food. But - he had come to check out the venue? Really?
No, of course not. Akira knew the real reason - he was monitoring them. But he couldn't tell anyone he knew that… could he? None of his teammates would believe that Akechi was invading his dreams. It would be too much for them to swallow.
But he was coming back today, for the panel. Akira was incredibly stressed. How was he supposed to tell his team the truth about Akechi?
It was the morning of the 26th now, and Akechi was coming back today. Akira needed to stay cool, and keep his head down. They were going to talk to him. He couldn't tell anyone he knew, because he couldn't tell anyone how he knew - but this was not going to play out well.
"I'm sure you all would've been happier to have a singer or a mascot appear, wouldn't you say?" Everyone in the audience of the festival panel laughed. "You're so funny, Akechi-kun!" someone called out from the audience. Akira watched from the balcony with Ryuji, Ann, and Yusuke. He was already irked enough by Akechi's facade, but he was even more bothered seeing people falling for it.
"How much do you think he knows?" Ann wondered.
"Probably quite a bit," Akira said. "He may not have evidence, though. Let's hope we don't have to worry…"
"This is unsettling," Yusuke commented. "He talks of how the Phantom Thieves are dangerous - yet says they haven't committed any murders. What is his true agenda here?"
"Come on Makoto," Ryuji whispered (for a change), "you gotta get it out of him!"
Makoto asked Akechi a number of questions about his investigation. The progress, the murders, their guilt or innocence - all expected stuff. They had talked for a good short while before Akechi made a critical comment which caught Akira's attention: "If the Phantom Thieves are the ones I know of, I can't imagine they would possibly kill anyone."
WHAT?! Akira was dumbfounded. I'm perfectly aware you know who we are - but you're going to tell people here? Akechi! You have no evidence! We made an agreement -
He felt violated somehow. Even though he hadn't exactly trusted Akechi fully, he had considered that distrust an inescapable condition of their game, a game of wits, of mystery, driven by how little they knew for certain about one another. Akira had agreed to attempt to evade Akechi, Akechi had agreed to attempt to catch him. Akira had respected that agreement. He hadn't even told his teammates of it.
Akechi was now saying to an entire roomful of people that he knew who they were, with nothing on which to base that claim except his own personal knowledge. He was breaking the rules of their game… He was pulling the false shogi piece out of his pocket.
"Your comment just now - does that mean the police have identified who they are?"
"Oh no, the police haven't gotten that far yet. But I have made my own personal conclusion regarding their true identities."
The audience murmured excitedly. Meanwhile, the Phantom Thieves were panicking. Ryuji, Ann, and Yusuke expressed confusion and disbelief. Down below, Haru and Futaba, sitting in the audience together, exchanged frenzied whispers. Akira, meanwhile, was panicking as well - but for a completely different reason.
Onstage, Makoto kept her cool, but Akira had known her well and long enough to know that inside, she was freaking out. Akechi turned his attention to her curiously. "Are you going to ask who they are?"
"It may have repercussions on the investigation. Are you sure you can share that with us?" Makoto said.
"Oh, it's only my personal opinion. Announcing that here wouldn't pose a problem. The identities of the Phantom Thieves are -"
RING RING
Saved by the bell, Akira mused. How convenient… too convenient.
"Ah, I apologize for the interruption, but I can't turn my phone off due to my job," Akechi told the audience. "Would you mind if I step away for about ten minutes?"
"Very well," Makoto said, "I'm terribly sorry, but we'll be taking a break. The panel will resume in ten minutes, everyone!"
"Please don't troll me online for this interruption, okay?"
As the audience alternatively complained and chattered, Akechi walked over and whispered something to Makoto. "What the hell is going on?!" Ryuji groaned.
"I think we're in trouble," Ann said. "He's going to do something to us…"
Their phones all buzzed.
Makoto: Akechi wants us to grant him an audience. Meet in the PE faculty office.
"What do you want to talk about?" Makoto said apprehensively. In response, Akechi pulled out three printed photographs of Yusuke and Ann, each one progressively showing more of them phasing out of existence in front of Okumura's corporate headquarters. Traveling to the Metaverse…
You - you - YOU - Akira was utterly dumbfounded. FUCK YOU, AKECHI!
Not only had Akechi publicly announced that he knew the identities of the Phantom Thieves, he had not told Akira there was any proof of it! This was supposed to be a fair, honest challenge! Akechi had been hanging onto these for a month? And never told him? How was Akira supposed to make a move, if he couldn't see where all the pieces were on the board?
Akira was furious. What little trust he had in Akechi's ethics had now vanished. Very well, Mr. Ace Detective. If you don't play fair, then neither will I.
"All of you can go to that other world, yes?" Akechi continued. Akira snapped out of his angry reverie - he hadn't been paying attention the last couple moments.
"What world?" Akira asked, pretending not to know, keeping his temperament under control carefully.
You taught me, Akechi, how to hide myself, Akira said. You will never catch me. I will anticipate your every move. I will win your game. I will have the last play.
"You know what world," Akechi insisted. "It's because of those mysterious powers, isn't it?"
Akechi pulled out his phone and showed it to them - the Metanav was there. "I found out about that world a month ago… this had been installed onto my phone without my knowledge."
"Dude, it's the Nav…" Ryuji was shocked.
Bullshit! Akira thought. You've been in my dreams AND the Metaverse, chasing us, for the better part of the year! Don't think you can get away with feeding my teammates some dumb story and not expect me to say anything!
But that was exactly what the boy did. Akira played along, but inside he was freaking out. Akechi had the upper hand - he knew full well that Akira had no evidence on which to base any claims of his untrustworthiness. Did he? Akira could say that he was simply suspicious… but -
He calmed down. He was being foolish. Akechi was being foolish as well - he was underestimating this team. He was going to get outsmarted.
And all of a sudden, in the blink of an eye - Akira knew how.
He would never see it coming.
"Hey," said Morgana. Akechi had finished talking and everyone had left. "They're going?"
Akira simply stood and looked at Morgana knowingly, and urgently. Morgana shared the same intuition. "You realized it too, then," he said.
"It was our conversation about pancakes, right?"
6/9/2016
A charismatic young boy with a clean brown suit, black gloves, and a suitcase with an "A" emblem intrudes upon one of their conversations.
Akechi: Oh, am I mistaken? I thought I heard something about delicious pancakes.
Akechi laughs nonchalantly.
Akechi: No matter. Well, see you tomorrow.
Niijima Sae is flabbergasted by Kususu Akira's latest statement.
Niijima Sae: What was so important about pancakes?
Kurusu Akira: …
"I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU!" Akira shouted.
"WHAT?!" Makoto's voice sounded unusually high all of a sudden.
"Now THIS is drama! A boy caught in the throes of bittersweet youth! A stunning confession of love!"
Makoto and Akira had now escaped to the rooftop.
"This may be a little rude to say, but you're surprisingly reliable in a pinch. My sister if I get married, my husband should be someone dependable like that -" Makoto gasped. "Oh, um… uh… forget what I just said!"
Akira smiled gently. "Could you say that again?"
"Oh… um… urrrgh!"
Akira laughed. "I'm sorry, never mind that."
"It's not that I don't want to… uh… think about it… it's just -"
"Seriously, don't worry about it. Anyway, about Akechi…"
"What about him?"
"He doesn't seem right. Morgana and I had a chat…" He told Makoto all about the pancakes.
"Oh," said Makoto. "Yeah, I thought there was something off about him too. Everything he said."
"Keep a close eye on him, alright, Makoto?"
She nodded. "I will do just that."
"Oh, and by the way -"
She handed him a small plain white box labeled "MAKOTO DONUTS." Based on the smell, the contents were aromatically delectable.
"'Makoto Donuts' - Like, your special donuts? For me? That's adorable!" Akira said. He opened the box and peeked inside. "These look delicious! Thank you so much!"
"I… I wouldn't say… 'special' donuts," Makoto told him, "I'm not a very experienced pastry making person."
"Don't worry," Akira grinned at her sweetly. "You made them, so I'm certain they're incredible."
"I hope you enjoy them."
Akira was tired…
Sojiro had found him out…
What was going to happen?
He fell asleep…
"I apologize for lying to your friends," Akechi said regrettably. "But I couldn't explain our dreams, now could I? If I told them I'd known about you all this long, it would have incited more questions."
"..."
Akira wasn't certain how to respond without giving away his position…
"We agreed to keep this between us, didn't we? Besides, they would never believe you if you told them I had intruded upon your dream world."
Why did Akira believe this? Was it really true? Were his teammates so closed-minded that after witnessing a world of Palaces based on people's hearts that they would refuse to consider the possibility that dreams could be invaded, used against people, mined for information?
But he decided it was necessary to play along with Akechi for now. "You're right," he said. "It wouldn't do us any good to tell them." Akira maintained his usual pleasant facade - same as Akechi. He couldn't know anything was up - it would be the same as usual.
10/28/2016 in Leblanc.
"I'll be blunt," Akechi said. "I'm thinking of triggering a change of heart in Sae-san. I've already discovered that she has a Palace."
Makoto shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to hide her shock. What? He knows? She was not happy with this turn of events… she had wanted to change Sae's heart anyway, but like this? With Akechi?! Why was this happening to her? She wasn't ready…
I see. Akira was impressed. So this is the way you'll get us. Impressive. I wonder what your plan is, exactly. How are you going to corner us in the Metaverse?
"My objective is to find the true culprit," Akechi explained. "I assume the same can be said for all of you as well. However, the current state of affairs is bleak…"
True enough.
Akechi continued on for a while longer, answering the occasional questions from the team as he went.
After Akechi concluded, Haru asked, "Why are you willing to do this, Akechi-kun? Why do you seek justice?"
"I want to know that too," Akira seconded. "Ann was sexually preyed upon by a teacher. Yusuke was abused by his sensei. Ryuji was kicked off the track team and labeled a delinquent. Futaba was lied to about her mother's death. Makoto's father died fighting for justice. Haru was used as a tool by her father to attain power and influence, and I…" Akira sighed.
"I was charged for a crime I didn't commit, all at the whim of some arrogant shithead with connections to the police. We all have reasons why we're doing this. We were all wronged by by an unjust society, all because of a bunch of assholes. We all have stories. Why don't you tell us yours?"
"I suppose that is a reasonable request," Akechi agreed. "Very well…"
"When I was a small child, my father killed my mother. They had… differences…. between them. I don't know exactly what. My mother was terribly depressed. She drunk all the time, and couldn't care for me very much, but she was the only one willing to raise me - she was all I had. When she died, my father refused custody of me, and I was handed over to a foster home."
"Dude…" Ryuji looked genuinely sorry.
"The evidence surrounding the investigation of her death was laced with red tape by some unknown person or group, obviously one with political sway," Akechi continued. "Her death was labeled a suicide, my father disappeared, and he never faced justice. I lived a miserable life - until I realized how good I was at making deductions."
Akechi wore a melancholy expression. "By sheer luck, I was granted audience with a man who had… connections, and he gave me a job as his private detective, solving personal cases for him. Before long, I earned attention from another person involved in one such case, and he offered me another job with the SIU. I found myself in a real investigation unit, being labeled a prodigy - a prince - an ace - a hero - a number of other distinguished titles.
"But I didn't truly know why I was doing this. It wasn't until I solved a case the police had struggled with, eerily similar to mine - it was quite a shock. A woman's body had been found buried in a ditch on the side of the road, with nothing on or near the scene to trace back to a perpetrator. Her child had been abandoned at a gas station several miles away. Professional detectives struggled to solve the mystery, but using my deductive skills, I uncovered the culprit - her husband - with ease.
"I then realized, when reflecting upon the similarities between this case and the incident which placed me into a life of misery, that I wanted to solve cases like that. Cases that placed unjustly innocent people in harm's way. I began to solve bigger, and bigger mysteries. Before long, I became the famous Ace Detective you see today."
Akechi straightened his tie. "But even as my life has taken a great turn for the better - I cannot forget the day my mother died. That's why I keep going. I can't make my father atone for his crimes, but I can prevent others like him - such sickening human beings - from walking the streets freely. And that," he concluded, "is why I am so bent on upholding justice in this world."
"Doesn't he remind you of us… ?" Ann wondered aloud.
"So we're similar, hm?" Akechi mused. "I guess that's why I thought I could ask this of you all. So, what do you say?" He turned to Akira. "Won't you cooperate with me on the mission to change Sae-san's heart?"
Akira considered this carefully. It certainly didn't sound like a lie, but it didn't sound like the full truth, either. And it wasn't like there was a choice - so he held out his hand welcomingly. "Thank you, Akechi, for telling us that," he said, smiling warmly. "You're one of us now."
And despite all that was between them… he wasn't sure, but Akechi's story had made him feel sympathetic, even if it wasn't entirely true. His feelings appeared genuine. Perhaps - perhaps Akira really meant it.
Makoto was quite shaken. I have to tell them now…
"I never brought it up… but the reason I joined the Phantom Thieves is… is… because I wanted to change my sister's heart."
Makoto felt her face melting, her eyes moistening. There it is… the cat's out of the bag. "I was hoping it's never come to pass. I've also known for quite some time that she has Palace."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Ann asked.
A whole host of reasons… But Makoto only gave one.
"I - it was too selfish."
"Why don't we try going there now to scope the place out?" Akechi suggested. "A lot of this will be new to me, so I'd like to get myself accustomed to it too."
Today?! I - I don't. Whatever horrors lie in that place - I can't take it today. But how am I supposed to say that… Urrrgh, Akechi was never very tactful.
"I'm sorry. I actually have plans today…"
Everyone looked at Makoto with looks of either confusion, concern, or some mix of the two. "I see," Akechi replied, "that's unfortunate."
"Are you going to tell your sister?" Haru asked.
"Of course not… it's just…"
"Mako-chan…"
"You seem awfully evasive today," Yusuke pointed out, "Is something the matter?"
"I - I just can't today," Makoto was distraught.
"Let's call it a day then," Akechi suggested, "and resume this tomorrow."
Oh thank goodness…
"I'm sorry, everyone."
"You… you told them…" Akira swallowed, looking at Makoto with deep empathy. "Do you want to talk?"
"I can't," Makoto told him. "I'm sorry, Akira… I'm just not feeling good. I'll see you tomorrow."
Akechi emerged out of the toilet just as everyone else had left - which Akira considered odd, as he had not heard it flush. Akechi isn't even trying anymore… he thinks he's just as good as won this game.
"Isn't it wonderful?" Akechi said, "strange and baffling, that such a small place in which you have only lived for such a brief period of your life became the center of your dream world?" Akechi smiled at Akira. "Leblanc must hold a special place in your heart. You must have made many impactful memories here in a very short time…"
"I suppose that's true." Akira looked around the store pensively. Yes… Akechi raised a valid issue. Why, oh why, was this place of all places where all his dreams began and ended?
It was not a question that Akira had difficulty answering. "After all… this is my home. This is where I live, eat curry, have coffee, meet my friends. My castle, in a way."
"Your castle? As in, you are the king of this place? I thought you were above such self-centered thoughts." Akechi laughed.
"Not in that sense," Akira clarified. "It's a fortress - a safe place of sanctuary. That's why my dreams are all centered around an unwanted guest entering - my worst fear, besides time, is that someone with ill intent will breach my sanctuary."
"I see…" Akechi said. "That certainly makes sense. Anyway, I stayed because I wished to return this." He pulled out a familiar coffee cup. It was the one Akechi had taken with him out of Akira's dream. "This didn't technically exist in this world before I took it out with me - but it belongs here. You should keep it."
"No, Akechi," Akira refused, gently smiling. "You keep it."
Akechi had not been expecting this. "Are you sure?"
"Please," Akira said, "We have plenty of coffee cups here - we do not need another. Consider it a souvenir - a symbol of our friendship."
"I see. In that case," Akechi put it back in his bag.
"Thank you, Akira, for our friendship."
"You're welcome."
The two boys shook hands earnestly, and Akechi departed.
Akira had not been lying to Akechi. Leblanc was his castle. But not just Leblanc - Shujin, Shibuya, the church, the arcade, inside Morgana's bus form. In fact, anywhere except where he fought Shadows in the Metaverse. Anywhere where he grew his bonds, where he found himself… home.
After half a year of living here, Tokyo was his home - more his home than his hometown had ever been. He had found his home, within his prison, and he was grateful to all the people who had helped him find it.
The true culprit had intruded upon his sanctuary. And it was not just he who was being threatened. Akira was going to protect his home - and his friends. He was going to defend their castle.
"We should probably get going soon," said Akechi. "After all, people like us loitering here is quite unnatural. Well then..." He retrieved his phone and was about to open the Metanav, when all of a sudden Futaba gasped. "That's -"
"Huh? What about my smartphone?"
She snatched it from him excitedly and looked at it like an early Christmas present. Akechi yelped in surprise.
"That's the model I wanted! You're so lucky… !" Futaba pretended to be impressed with it.
Everyone groaned. "I'm sorry…" Ann said apologetically, "until recently, Futaba was a… well…"
"It's okay, Sae-san told me the gist," Akechi said pleasantly while Futaba continued staring at his phone with wide eyes.
While Futaba looked at his phone, Akechi discussed with the team their plan for maintaining communication.
"Well then… I hope we get along," Akechi said, and Futaba handed back his phone, beaming at him. "You've got good personality AND good looks? Talk about cheating!"
As Akira and the team had their phones open, figuring out the Palace keywords, Futaba discreetly sent Akira a text.
Futaba: His phone sucks! It's very archaic and outdated; I wouldn't recommend it. He also doesn't look all that great.
Akira chuckled to himself. Akechi had indeed cheated at their game, but now was Akira's turn - and the first stage of his defense was underway.
Original End Note (Published on AO3 5/29/2017): Don't have a lot to say today. Very proud of all this.
When Okumura's Shadow got shot, that was the most heart-pounding moment of the game for me - It was pretty terrifying to think of what all would happen when they found out. I was particularly scared of how Haru would react, that she would turn on the team or something. Except, while the implication was there, nothing really happened like that. I decided to make it a bit more explicit.
About Akechi's story - I thought it would be cool if he made something up about his motives to get on their good side. Yes, I know Akechi's mom killed herself. He's just saying his dad killed her cause that's what he'd like to believe. As for the rest of it, well, I tried my best to make it sound like he was twisting the truth to his advantage. Feel free to interpret it all however.
