9/02/17 – Friday

The train raced along to its destination, a sunny September Friday gracing its passengers. The heat was starting to relent its fury upon them. As Akira stood with his satchel in hand, all that he heard was constant mentioning of the Phantom Thieves. No doubt Ryuji would be going on and on about the hype surrounding them at the meeting he organized for after school today.

"The age group with the most belief in the Phantom Thieves seems to be… teenagers!" an anchorman displayed on the train monitor said. "We've even received messages about how the Phantom Thieves are all students talk about these days."

"Do you know about them?" Akira leaned his head ever so slightly to the side to eavesdrop on the two businessmen he perceived through his peripheral.

"They're the only thing my daughter speaks to me about." The man speaking looked significantly older and a bad rounder than the man speaking to him. "She's been glued to this… Phan-Site thing. I thought it was just an ordinary website."

"Lately they've added a polling feature to ask who you'd like to see have a change of heart. Given people's heightened expectations, it's been receiving a lot of votes."

"Huh." The older business pondered his chin as he mulled over his younger cohort's words. "Maybe I should go vote for our company president. "Change his heart so he'll raise our salaries!" Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?" From within his satchel did Morgana purr with amusement. All the people praising and speculating about them thrilled his little feline heart.

"We're the talk of the town," he said, voice muffled through the fabric. "The Phantom Thieves have the public's support. No one dares doubt our justice. Isn't it great?" Akira said nothing, eyes staring through the window as the world before him was a blur. He felt a hole begin to open in his chest. He felt so tired now, despite his good night's rest. The whole time had it been brewing along the horizon. Right beneath his nose. He should've anticipated it.

"This is wrong…" he muttered to himself.

Akira and the Shujin students arrived at their meeting spot outside the subway. Yusuke waved them over while Futaba did nothing, merely typing away on her laptop. Another mundane day in paradise. Principal Kobayakawa had gotten into some hot water after a tabloid story honed its focus on him. Better late than never, Akira surmised. The principal had made himself scarce around Shujin after word got out. What he wouldn't have given to see him squirm.

"There you guys are," she said, not even bothering to look up from her screen.

"Did you come here by yourself?" Ann asked.

"I went to get her since I got out of school early," Yusuke said. Futaba delivered a disdainful squint through her peripheral, paired with a scoff.

"What a patronizing Inari!" By no means was she a helpless child. She didn't need to be babysat by the lanky artist. Though had Akira come to retrieve her, she wouldn't have complained.

"Well then, let's get talkin'," Ryuji said with a grin. Akira already knew what was in store by judging the energetic look upon his face. "Whadda we do now? Should we go after another big target?" Akira rubbed his chin, debating on whether or not to voice what was on his mind. The emptiness and apprehension in his chest had refused to leave all day. What little schoolwork they had been saddled with he had poured himself into to halt his wandering mind. With idle time came reflection, and the reflection made him grow more and more uncomfortable with what was happening around them. The fanaticism.

"That's important too, but what about that villain in the cognitive world?" Yusuke asked. The greater mystery at large still lingered tauntingly before them.

"It's almost certain that this person exists," Makoto nodded, brow furrowed with a serious look. "What's more, they're inducing mental shutdowns. We certainly can't turn a blind eye."

"Yeah," Ryuji said with a tired sigh. "But we can't find any clues." Akira leaned on the railing by the window and stared out at the street. Dozens of civilians wandered along the sidewalks, looking like ants from this high up. His already troubled mind grew more clouded. They had no leads to pursue in regards to this mysterious masked thief running about the Metaverse under their nose. And with their eventual departure to Hawaii along the horizon, their progress would be set back even further. What little there was. "But you know how we're totes popular right now? Everyone at school's talkin' about us, and not a day goes by when you don't hear about it on TV either!" The blond placed his hands on his hips, chest sticking out proudly. "We totally made it big, doncha think?"

"True," Ann said with a smile. "The rankings on the Phantom Aficionado Website have been crazy too." The Phan-Site. Akira couldn't help but frown at the fruits born of Mishima's hard work. The more he thought about it, the less comfortable he was with it around.

"You mean this?" Futaba asked as she opened the Phan-Site. The lot of them save Akira gathered around her screen and watched the black and red page. Mishima had done a great job designing it. With his skill, he could turn a serious profit for companies online. To the right was the poll Akira had heard about on the train. Dozens of names were listed being voted on, each one of them trading spaces in the blink of an eye.

"Huh? What the hell!? First place keeps changing by the second!" Ryuji noted with great enthusiasm.

"People are voting around the clock, after all," Futaba noted. She had taken on the role of unofficial site monitor, taking care of the things Mishima lacked the skill to do. It helped tick away the monotony of waiting for Akira and the others to exit school.

"Hmm…"

"If we go after these guys, I'm sure we'll score some big cash at least once!" Ryuji turned towards their leader excitedly. "What would you use money like that for, Akira?"

"I don't like hypotheticals," he said dismissively. The shaggy boy was leaning against the guardrail on his arms, fingers steepled. His brow was furrowed deeply, silver eyes staring out at the orange abyss that was the sky. Ann eyed him with concern. Akira was never this detached from a conversation before. He had been like this all day, even during lunch. As she tried to strike up a conversation with him, he handwaved her away as he poured himself into his schoolwork.

"Ah, come on," Ryuji said. "Have some fun." Morgana leaped from his satchel and gathered in the center.

"We could perhaps go on an extravagant shopping spree," the cat said. The magic words.

"Ooh, yeah!" Ann declared, beaming. "Like, enjoying food across the world!?"

"For you, Lady Ann, I'll have Akira buy the most expensive goods," he purred.

"We'll make the hotel buffet look like a joke!" Ryuji said, pumping his fist energetically. Yusuke held a hand to his stomach, a warm glowing smile on his face as he thought about filling himself to the brim with delectable morsels.

"Are you fine with that, Futaba?" Makoto asked, looking down at her spectacled friend. "Even though it's related to what happened to your mother?"

"It's not okay!" Futaba said, shaking her head. "I'm definitely gonna punch that guy!"

"The culprit forcing mental shutdowns. If you think about it, there's no bigger threat than that! If we can change his heart and get a confession outta him, we'll be on top of the world for real." The blond rubbed his chin in thought as his eyes lit up. A vision of them on live television, flashing lights from dozens of cameras taking their photographs in his mind. They were superstars. "Should we reveal our identities then? I bet chicks are gonna be all over us!" A low sigh escaped Akira's throat the more he said.

"Whoa, whoa!" Ann said apprehensively. "You want us to show our faces!?" The thought of the whole world turning to them, unmasked and exposed, made her stomach feel uneasy. Though, most of Japan did seem to be supportive of their endeavors. The Phantom Thieves were local heroes that uplifted and inspired the many. Because of them, many abusive and corrupt individuals were locked away and exposed. "I guess that might be okay?"

"No," Akira stated, shaking his head. "This is a bad idea."

"If the true culprit confesses, the existence of the Metaverse will become known," Yusuke said. "There would be no need for us to remain in hiding in such a questionable manner."

"Hey, hold on," Makoto stated with a stern look. "We're not doing this to stand out, you know!" Morgana leapt onto the railing and sat next to her.

"Being "unknown" is the allure of being a Phantom Thief," the cat stated.

"But considering the hype now, it's gonna be one hell of a huge deal if we pull it off!"

"No, Ryuji, that's not-"

"Come on, Akira. Think about it!" Ryuji wrapped his arm around Akira's neck and playfully nudged his ribs with his fist. He pinched his brow and let out a weary sigh. Akira felt himself growing more uneasy with everything. No matter what was said, nothing was getting through Ryuji's thick skull. As great a couple of friends they were, his stubbornness proved to be frustrating at times. And with the stakes he was raising their situation to, it was wearing rather thin. "The Phantom Thieves living the easy life from now on."

"Ryuji-"

"Surrounded by money and women."

"If you would just listen, I-"

"The top celebrities of the world-"

"That's not what any of this is about!" The others looked at him with genuine surprise. He had declared it much harsher than he had intended. Ryuji took a step back, holding a hand up apprehensively.

"Whoa, man. Take it easy, bro." Akira sighed and pinched his brow, feeling the tension fade as the darkness of his closed eyes calmed him. As he raised his head to face them, he was met with expecting looks of concern. Ann's, in particular, was the most prominent. He pursed his lips and nodded.

"You're right," he admitted calmly. "I'm sorry, Ryuji. I didn't mean to snap." Ryuji shelved his hands in his pockets, finally quiet and off the high he was under from his fantasies. "I just…"

"Akira, you've been rather quiet throughout this conversation," Makoto said. "Is something wrong-"

"I need a moment." Akira swiftly turned and walked away from the group. The lot of them stood flabbergasted at his sudden departure. Makoto furrowed her brow in worry.

"Where did that come from?" Yusuke asked.

"He's been rather distant all day," Morgana noted, ears folded. "He hasn't been as talkative with me today."

"Me either," Ann said glumly. She twirled her twintail around her finger, wishing it was Akira's hand at work. "All he's done today was schoolwork. Like, I've never seen him work as hard on our class assignments as he did today.

"W-well, at least he's doing work, right?" Makoto joked uneasily. Ryuji leaned against the guardrail and stared down the hallway. Akira was nowhere to be seen. The blond was now positively deflated.

"Heh heh," Morgana chuckled awkwardly. "Maybe you could learn a thing or two from Akira, huh, Ryuji?"

"Not now, Mona," he responded with a sigh. The cat limply shrugged, his attempt to lighten the mood falling flat. Akira's natural charisma had not seemed to rub off on him too well.

"So, what should we do…?" Futaba asked. They all turned to Makoto for guidance, but even their student council president seemed aimless. Ann's heart ached for Akira out of loneliness and concern for what was troubling him.

"Maybe I should talk to him," she said. Their eyes fell onto her, and a sense of stage fright rose upon her neck.

"Hmm…" Yusuke pondered his chin with a solitary finger. "Perhaps. Your feminine charms do seem to possess great sway with great." A small smirk made its way back onto Ryuji's face.

"You speakin' from experience?" Yusuke side-eyed him but couldn't help but smile. The solemn tension did seem to have lessened amongst them. Ryuji was quick to bounce back emotionally. A tough one with a heart of gold and a head of concrete, it seemed.

"Yusuke is right," Morgana said, flicking his tail. "If anyone can get through to our leader, it's Lady Ann." The cat cooed as she scratched his chin and whined when she ceased.

"I'll be back with Akira, hopefully." The blonde trudged head-on with great determination. Nothing would trouble her man if she could help it. Down the corridor, she walked and turned the corner into an open space of tables, vendor stalls, and halls leading to the trains. A few scattered groups meandered about, but the population was ultimately light. Sitting at a table by himself was Akira, munching on a pretzel dipped in cheese. The salty toasted bread and cheese combination was heavenly in the boy's mouth. Since childhood had he adored these kinds of pretzels, and this train station happened to possess his favorite pretzel chain. Soft but also firm. A fluffy taste and texture that didn't fall apart in his mouth right away. The perfect combination. Whenever he could, he would treat himself to a pretzel. And he felt he needed one right about now. Eating helped him forget his troubles.

Ann tried to force herself to approach him, but her legs seemed frozen. The back of her heels as though her feet were locked to the ground. An apprehensive knot formed in her chest. Nervousness. But why? He was her boyfriend, after all. They had made a commitment of passion to one another, to support and be there whenever one needed the other. But he had been so unlike himself today. Distant and detached. He sat there so alone and forlorn. A heavy weight resting upon his shoulders. She missed the affectionate warm touch that had become a great source of comfort for her in the past month. But she had no desire to make things worse. Their promise within Mementos returned to her head. If something was bothering them, they would vent and discuss. With a stern exhale, she gathered the strength and approached his table.

"Hey." Akira looked up and saw her. A calm but nervous smile on her face. The smile that had been missing from his face all day returned, albeit subdued.

"Hey, babe," he said calmly. Her heart sped up a hair from his words. Such a simple statement of affection gave her quite the rush. He sighed and shook his head, smiling sadly. "I'm sorry about back there. Just…" The boy sighed again, rubbing his brow. "Had a lot on my mind today."

"We're gonna talk about it, okay?" In any other context, she would've asked if he wished to discuss it. And for a brief second, she second-guessed herself on if she should have. But he had given his word that they would air any grievances they had and help resolve their problems together. His word meant more than anyone else's to her, and she was determined to make him keep it.

This was not lost in Akira, as the same thing came to his mind. Normally, he would've dismissed his problems and kept them to himself. His troubles were no one else's to try and fix. But he valued his word above all else about himself. Plus, after that scene in front of the others, he couldn't just up and pretend it didn't happen. The boy gave her a slow acknowledging nod.

"Take a seat." She smiled and sat across from him, a warm blush forming on her cheeks when he took her hand. A soft little kiss was planted on her hand, earning a schoolgirl giggle from his lover. Akira sighed and leaned his forehead onto her cool skin. "It's been troubling me all morning, you see. All this talk of Phantom Thieves. The Phan-Site. Ryuji's wildest fantasies. It's just…" Another sigh escaped him. "I think all this fame is making people lose sight of what's important." She gave him a perplexed stare as she tried to figure out his stance on the matter. "Like what Makoto said. This isn't to stand out. It's to help people. I think Ryuji's letting this get to his head. Now, I'm not saying he doesn't care about helping people. I would never question that after Kamoshida, but he takes every opportunity to talk about how everyone should worship us as heroes. That's not what this was about. That was never what this was about." Ann pursed her lips in thought, a slow deliberate nod bobbing her head back and forth. "Like, I don't doubt you guys. There's no one I would trust more to be on this team. Especially you, Ann. But all these people constantly praising us. The fixation on fame and money. It's not healthy. Don't you agree?" He looked up to receive an understanding nod from her.

"I kinda see what you mean. "Power corrupts" and stuff like that, and we shouldn't lose sight of what's important. But don't you think we're allowed to be proud of ourselves? That we should want to be acknowledged for our good deeds?" Akira nodded and rubbed his cheeks with his fingers and thumb.

"Everyone wants recognition for something they've done. It's only natural that people want to be appreciated. But you shouldn't demand or feel like you're owed it. We chose to be Phantom Thieves. No one asked us to. We're the way we are because no one else can wield the power of the Persona, and that makes us the most qualified. We do the right thing as Phantom Thieves because it's the right thing to do, not because we want a pat on the back or a fat cash payout, you know?" Ann sat in silence, bottom lip pursed as she mulled over his words. He spoke with such conviction, in that way that only a strong leader could. "Ryuji doesn't seem to understand the consequences of it all. We're vigilantes. Technically, what we're doing is illegal. If we unmask ourselves, we go to jail. Criminals. Anonymity is our greatest weapon. It allows us to hide in plain sight. Without it, our friends and family are in danger." Ann felt a twinge of uneasiness spike in her chest as her thoughts drifted to Mishima. If the government pushed hard for capturing them, he'd be the first to fall, being the one who organized the Phan-Site. The last thing she wanted was for someone to get into trouble because of their actions. "And that website's bugging me too." Akira huffed gruffly as his mind turned back to thoughts of the website, to the men conversing on the train. To a lot of the students in their class and in the halls. There were also stores and kiosks selling "official" Phantom Thieves merchandise. As though they were a commodity to be profited off. "Sometimes, I wish he never made that thing." Guilt rose in his chest at how ungrateful his words sounded. Mishima had put a lot of work and heart into that website, and he only viewed it as a burden. Though its existence had allowed them to resolve much smaller situations within Mementos, the fans and the polls troubled him significantly. "I don't like this following we have. This… Phandom." He grimaced and shook his head in disgust. Their supporters donning an internet label might have been charming to others, but Akira found it infantilizing. "We're not some anime or television show to be worshipped. We're people spearheading a serious organization of vigilantes dedicated to justice." He scoffed at the word again, particularly the pun that had just made itself apparent in his mind. "Phandom. I hate that word."

"Well… I mean, they're just showing their support for us, right? That's not necessarily a bad thing." Akira nodded in agreement. If there's one thing he admired about Ann, it was that she challenged him. By no means a mere doting blonde to fawn over him. She was smart, smarter than she gave herself credit for.

"And that's true," he admitted. "Their empathy isn't lost on me, but it feels…" He sighed once more, nursing his brow as he struggled to form an explanation. "Okay, so how about this? Like, the debacle with Kamoshida was a big personal thing that affected a lot of people at Shujin. We stopped him from torturing any more kids. We saved lives, and the locals have expressed gratitude. But you have a ton of other people on the outside that have never heard of this or were directly affected by it, right? To them, it was just another day. Same with stopping Kaneshiro and Madarame. A lot of people rooting for weren't at all touched by the events here. The only thing that came close was Medjed." He stopped himself once again to sigh. In his head, he swore at himself to stop sighing, annoyed at his self-interruptions. "I dunno. Maybe I'm being silly or I'm just overthinking it. It just feels a bit impersonal when those that weren't involved in some way become so invested in us to the point where we have fans. It feels more like they hop on it because it's trendy and popular rather than because they genuinely care for justice. Like, I've seen Phantom Thieves merchandise being sold, and it just feels dishonest for them to take advantage of our fight for justice to profit off it. You get me?" Ann nodded and proceeded to ruffle his shaggy head of hair. Akira gave a cheeky smirk in response.

"I think you're overthinking it, to be honest," she said. "I can sort of understand where you're coming from, though. Like, I understand your issue with merchandise and people treating all this like it's fun. But if people support you, shouldn't you be happy with that? Use that to keep you motivated and moving forward?" Akira leaned back in his chair and nodded, lips pursed in contemplation.

"You may be right, Ann."

"As usual," the blonde replied, cheekily sticking her tongue out at him. Akira mockingly stuck his back, earning a giggle from his love.

"Another thing that bugs me a lot is that whole voting poll thing," he continued. Ann straightened up and listened intently. "I think it sends a bad message by having such a thing. That we judge people via popularity contest." Ann chewed on her bottom lip as she considered his words. In that context, it did seem rather shifty, prone to lynch mob mentality.

"I suppose, but those people wouldn't be voted so highly if they weren't somewhat guilty, right?" she reasoned. "Like, corrupt politicians and others."

"Yeah, but where do we draw the line? It starts off with corrupt leaders, and then it might shift to a celebrity people feel should give away all their money and not keep any for themselves despite working hard for it. Charity is important, but you can't force people to do it. Unless they're actively abusing someone like Kamoshida, Kaneshiro, or Madarame were, the Phantom Thieves shouldn't get involved. And then there's the feedback we get from our fans on the forums. Pretty much all of it is mindless fanboyism. Little actual constructive criticism and anyone that doesn't conform gets harassed and shouted down. I don't want people to just praise something without thinking because it's popular and others like it. Offer us something concrete. Ways to improve our methodology or philosophy, you know."

"I know what you mean." Ann gingerly took his hand in hers. The soft coolness of her skin was therapeutic to the boy. "You've thought about this a lot, haven't you? Not just today." He nodded.

"I don't think Ryuji really sees that. He's just fixated on the hero part. He's got a good heart and a lot of conviction, but his mind really hasn't considered all these angles." The girl giggled to herself.

"Sounds like typical Ryuji." Akira chuckled dryly at her little jest. "I feel like you need to share your thoughts with the team, not just me. We're all in this together. The Phantom Thieves need to be on the same page, even if their philosophies differ. I mean, look at Futaba. She might have her own goals, but she's still got our backs. And I think you can get through to Ryuji. Even if you apologized, snapping and keeping your thoughts to yourself doesn't help." Akira gave a sleepy smile and slowly nodded.

"You're a fucking genius, Ann."

"I know," she said with a shrug and a teasing smile. Akira playfully flicked the tip of her nose, and the blonde covered her mouth while she laughed.

"I admit that's not the best habit. After my arrest all those months ago, I trained myself to keep my thoughts to myself. Keep my head down and mind my own business."

"Thank goodness you didn't," Ann said, leaning in closer. "You wouldn't have saved Shujin."

"And I never would've met you," he purred in response. The two shared a brief deep kiss before reluctantly breaking it, necks growing hot as they remembered their place in public. Both teenagers skittishly surveyed the area. Nobody was looking, and they recognized no one from their schools. They shared a sigh of relief, another close call. Ann rose from her seat and took Akira's hand.

"Let's go, you nerd."

"Lead the way."

As the both of them returned, a feeling of relief washed over the others at witnessing the calm smile and demeanor of their leader. Akira apologized once more to Ryuji and let his voice be heard, with their little group having a lengthy conversation about the ethics and principles of what it means to be a Phantom Thief. Akira had made a lot of headway in his discussion, and they all offered valid criticisms and counterpoints, even Ryuji at times. After a while, they all came to an agreeable conclusion on pride and humility before going their separate ways. The lot of them had grown a little more mature that day.

And Akira and Ann had grown a bit closer.

9/03/17 – Saturday

The days counting down towards the Hawaii trip were narrowing faster than expected. It hadn't fully set in for Akira yet that they'd be gone. Futaba was given the illustrious task of playing babysitter for Morgana while Akira was away. The boy had gone into extensive detail into how to care for him and listed several nearby vets that could help if Morgana grew ill. Much to his chagrin. The orange-haired girl only half listened in on what Akira was trying to tell her, instead hyper-fixated on sifting through all the data Makoto had managed to pull from her sister's computer. All while the others discussed what their trip would consist of.

"Aww, look at this one!" The lot of them were reading the stack of brochures Ryuji had pilfered from school. Being out of the country for a few days was the perfect opportunity to lay low. A good alibi and would give them a chance to unwind. "Gigantic sea-turtle sightseein' on some beach."

"Come on, food's more important than some turtle," Ann dismissed while eyeball deep in another brochure. "You really don't find steak this big and thick in Japan." As expected with teenagers, it always looped around back to food.

"I mean there's always turtle soup," Akira commented. The two blonds gagged at his suggestion, earning an amused chuckle out of the boy. It was hard for the trip to hold his attention with the hefty amount of information Futaba now had on hand. Straight from Prosecutor Niijima's computer. Anything could be a tip on finding out about this mysterious black masked intruder and the mental shutdowns. Futaba's mom, the connection between Madarame and Kaneshiro. There had to be one, Akira surmised. They saw the same person so how could there not?

"Also… mahi-mahi? Is that some kind of fish? Think it's good?" At the mention of exotic seafood did Akira find himself tuning in. If there was one major sect of food Akira had an unabashed love for, it was seafood. What he wouldn't give to try his hand at cooking some. Beef, chicken, and even venison he could turn out like no one's business. But fish was something he rarely got to work with. He could just imagine it, seared to a golden brown in a skillet with sea salt, garlic pepper, asparagus, lemons, butter, olive oil. In his little black book were dozens of recipes, not just coffee brews. Maybe he could find some time to cook some. With Ann as his newly christened girlfriend, he had a greater motivation to cook again.

"It seems that it's the season for schools all around. We're going on our school trip as well."

"Yeah, where you guys goin'?"

"I believe it's Los Angeles."

"That doesn't suit you at all, Yusuke!" Ann said between giggles. "I bet you wanted to go somewhere like Nikko or Nara."

"Anywhere is acceptable," the artist reasoned. "Natural mineral pigments used for Japanese art was also originally imported."

"Hawaii and Los Angeles, huh?" They were both places Ryuji felt he could get lost in and enjoy the tourist life. Food and women for miles. It was hard to pick where he'd rather go more. "Which would you wanna go to, Akira?"

"Leblanc," he jested, his gaze having settled back onto the computer. A half-sarcastic answer. Though it seemed to have flown right over Ryuji's head.

"…What country's that?" His confusion was so earnest that Akira had nearly lost it right then and there.

"Our place, Ryuji." Futaba's eyes didn't leave the screen for even a second. The realization that he had been played hit the blond like a truck.

"Oh, goddammit! That's not a real answer!"

"Come on, Akira." Ann playfully nudged his hip with her head, winking at him. "Why do you gotta be so hesitant to go? Are you scared of airplanes or something?" He scoffed with amusement at her teasing insinuation.

"Just still having to get used to leaving this place for a few days is all."

"Hey man, you wanted us to lay low. Stay out of the public eye and stuff. Can't get any farther than Hawaii. Just relax, bro. We earned this." Perhaps Ryuji was right. They had undergone so much to get to this point. There wasn't anything wrong with wanting to treat yourself, if only for a little while. "Though I gotta admit that Los Angeles is hard to pass up on. I'd fit right in there."

"You?" Ann asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Totally. I mean, don't I seem like an LA guy? Like, a total gangsta?" Akira nearly spat everywhere from trying to suppress the snickers slipping through his lips.

"That makes no sense at all," Yusuke stated. Once more, Ryuji was sandbagged.

"Hawaii's more of a resort place than LA, so I'd rather go there," Ann chimed in. Not wholly unexpected. She was the type of girl who just wanted to relax and get away from it all on vacation. Shop til she dropped, indulge in some delicious seaside food, soak in the sun, and ogle cute boys in their bathing suits. Though there would be only one boy she'd have her eye on this time…

"You guys all in Hawaii and Yusuke in LA. So we won't be seeing each other for a while…" Akira wasn't the only one troubled about their departure. Although Morgana's was for different reasons altogether. The cat had been sulking for a while now about the prospect of being left behind. Not Akira's choice but there wasn't any way to smuggle a cat onto an airplane crowded with students and teachers. And they didn't need any heat on them now, of all times.

"Don't look so down, Morgana," Ann said with a cheery smile. "We'll make sure to buy a souvenir for you."

"Ooh, here comes some interesting data…" All attention shifted immediately away from Morgana and onto Futaba. The computer was lined wall to wall with text boxes of black and green. "This is just from a quick glance, but it says "perpetrated" and "connected." Hmm…" Makoto narrowed her eyes and glared at the computer screen. Things were a lot more complicated than previously imagined.

"It means that mental shutdowns aren't coincidence – that this is a "case" with a culprit behind it."

"Actually, it's not just about people having shutdowns. Looks like she's inferring that the psychotic breakdown incidents are connected to the same case." Akira felt the hairs on his neck stand on edge. He remembered hearing on the news that the subway crash had been caused by a mental shutdown. And there was the assassination of Futaba's mother. How far back does this Metaverse business go?

"Go, Makoto's sis!" Ryuji was living for this revelation. They were slowly dragging the facts out of the dark, which only made the inevitable takedown of the perpetrators all the sweeter.

"How long do you think it'll take to analyze it?" Makoto pressed urgently. The sooner she could keep up with her sister, the better.

"There's a lot so it's not happening overnight. But I'll manage by the time you guys get back. I demand souvenirs from Hawaii and LA for my reward." So now they had an endgame. A further point to jump off from instead of just flying blind. Futaba was more capable than Akira had anticipated. With somebody watching their back at home, he felt a lot more confident about this trip.

"I don't really get all this, but you're as amazing as always, Futaba!" Morgana felt his gut twist as he was subjected to hearing Ann dote on about how talented Futaba was. Ever since she joined the team and supplanted him as navigator, she had been steeped with praise. The cat didn't understand much in the way of technology so their approval of her talents was lost upon him.

"Hey, we're the Phantom Thieves, so it's not that big a deal. I mean, I can turn into a car and stuff too…"

"C'mon, don't try and compete with her," Ryuji jested with a grin. "She's got computers and thumbs. You're totally outclassed." The cat vocalized his indignations at the blond, but he was sandbagged once again. They were all too engrossed in what revelation Futaba's datamining could uncover.

"You're fine the way you are, Morgana. Like, you're cheeky cute?" Morgana felt his eye twitch from her words. What sounded like glass shattering echoed in his ears. He had always viewed himself as some dashing hero that Ann just couldn't see the appeal in yet. But to designate him as just…

"Cute? Lady Ann, I…"

"Welp, we'll continue this when we get back from the trip!" With nothing to tide them over in the meantime, the Hawaii trip sounded as appealing as ever. "I can't wait to see how much the Phantom Thieves' popularity has increased by then!" The cat merely sighed, talked over by Ryuji once again.

"We should head out before Sojiro gets back. Come on, Morgana." Akira carefully lifted the cat and placed him in his satchel. Morgana didn't even put up a fight. They all slipped out through the front door and dispersed. It was rather late in the day anyhow. Though nobody took notice that Ann had slipped away with Akira. An opportunity he took advantage of. "Say, Ann…"

"Yes?" she asked coyly, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"How about tomorrow you come over to Leblanc? I'll cook you up something special." Her blue eyes lit up at the prospect of finally being able to taste his cooking. All the meals he had described had haunted her taste buds with their allure. She could barely contain her excitement at accepting his offer. Morgana too sensed an opportunity for a new experience.

Something completely different…