Hello everyone, it's that time of the week again!

First off, thanks to RosyMiranto18 (As always, you are a joy!) and kingdom hearts guy (Thanks for the review!) for reviewing, all 46 followers, 34 favorites and 9,617 readers!

Now...this chapter...I've had this chapter planned out LONG before we ever got to the beginning of Futaba's arc. It's a huge chapter for character development, but there is one important aspect of this chapter.

THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS A TRIGGER WARNING FOR SUICIDE! AGAIN THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS A TRIGGER WARNING FOR SUICIDE, I ADVISE ALL READERS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS NOW BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT!

Also, yes, the title IS meant to be a reference to The Great Ace Attorney 2: The Resolve of Naruhodou Ryuunosuke (Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2 in Japanese...since it's only available there...*forever angry*).

Okay...that's everything for now, so enjoy the chapter.

It was July 30th, the very next day, when the thieves made their way up the steps to the center of the pyramid to what they assumed was the final door, Chika, Ken and Koromaru at the rear once again.

What awaited them at the final door, however, gave them pause once they reached it.

Cognitive Goro stood before them, his spear in hand.

"Goro-" Joker began to say. But the cognitive brunette cut him off.

"You have made it this far, Phantom Thieves of Hearts. You have not given up once in your quest to steal my queen's heart." Cognitive Goro stated. "However, I refuse to let you pass if you cannot prove that stealing my queen's Treasure is the right course of action."

"But you're her brother! Don't you want to take her pain away?" Panther asked, disbelieving that this was how Futaba viewed Crow.

"I disagree." Cognitive Goro shook his head and then fell silent, his arm raising above his head. Suddenly, a Naga and Lamia appeared at his side. "Now, prove to me that you know what's best!"

Without another word, Cognitive Goro launched at the thieves like a bullet. Joker was frozen in shock, the idea of fighting his friend, his brother, leaving him wide open and vulnerable.

"Miku-chan!" Ken shouted as he barely managed to slide in front of Joker and deflect Cognitive Goro's spear with his own.

"Right!" Raven shouted as she quickly shot a metal edged card to throw Cognitive Goro off balance before following it with a smoke bomb card, allowing the thieves and Shadow Operatives time to gather themselves.

"Joker! You okay?" Mona asked as he quickly looked over both Joker and Ken.

"I'm fine. Thanks, Ken-kun." Joker nodded.

"Stay on your guard." Ken warned.

"Right." Joker nodded before he turned to the rest of the thieves, Chika and Koromaru, who had managed to find them in the smoke. "Everyone okay?"

"We're fine." Queen nodded as Panther and Raven quickly checked everyone over for injuries. "What's the plan?"

"Alright, I want Fox, Raven and Ken-kun on that Lamia. Mona, Panther and Queen take the Naga. Everyone else is with me and Cognitive Goro." Joker dictated.

"Right!" The group chorused just as the smoke cleared.

"Will you simply run away?" Cognitive Goro questioned as he stared at the group, Naga and Lamia at his side. He seemed at rest, but the thieves didn't relax. "If you truly believe your cause is just, then fight!"

"Oh, gladly." Joker smirked.

With that, the designated groups split apart.

"Ken-kun, blind him for us!" Raven cried.

"Come, Kala-Nemi!" Ken cried, calling for the Persona. "Hamaon!"

Light instantly appeared at Ken's call, so bright that Lamia had to shield her eyes. When it cleared, the Shadow looked up only to see both Goemon and Nimue at the ready, a veritable avalanche worth of ice floating behind them.

"It was fun while it lasted. Goodbye." Fox stated. In unison, he and Raven lowered their arms and the ice shot out, freezing the Shadow solid and allowing Ken to break the now statue in one swift strike.

Before they could celebrate, however, another Lamia appeared in the previous one's place.

"Our work's not done yet!" Raven warned.

"Then let's keep up our strategy until it is!" Ken cried.

"Understood!" Fox nodded as the three returned to work.

Meanwhile, Panther and Queen were attacking Naga in quick succession, passing the baton back and forth so quickly that it was difficult for even their own allies to tell who's turn it was.

One instant, fire would alight around the Shadow and the next, nuclear magic would go off in turn.

"You ready, Mona?" Panther cried as Queen took the baton once again.

"I think so! Give me an opening!" Mona cried.

"Of course!" Queen nodded. "Panther, with me!"

"A beautiful rose has thorns, don't you know?" Panther winked as Johanna and Carmen appeared once again and caused a mini nuclear explosion all around Naga, trapping the Shadow in a crater.

"You're finished!" Mona cried as Zorro appeared and casted such a powerful Garula that the crater began to break apart from the force of it and hit Naga as well, causing the Shadow to disintegrate.

Before they could relax, however, another Naga appeared outside the crater.

"So you still up for more?" Mona asked, holding his sword.

"Aren't we always?" Panther asked rhetorically with a grin.

"Let's continue then." Queen smirked as the three began to repeat their strategy once again.

It seemed, however, that with every Lamia and Naga that fell, another rose to take their place in an endless summoning.

It appeared, in Raven's own opinion, that Joker, Crow, Skull, Chika and Koromaru were on their own with fighting Cognitive Goro.

"Debilitate!" Chika cried as Eos appeared, casting the spell on Cognitive Goro. At the same instant, she jumped out of the way, avoiding nearly being hit by his spear. She'd already received a cut on her arm for a previous fire spell.

Right after, Koromaru howled and casted Agidyne, covering Chika's escape.

"Hey, asshole! Eyes on us!" Skull shouted as he followed up with a swing from his pipe. Bruises were forming on his face where the mask didn't cover it.

"You do realize I'm basically your friend over there, correct?" Cognitive Goro questioned as he deflected the blow, despite his singed clothes, and efficiently dodged the series of bullets Joker shot at him.

"That's not the point!" Skull argued.

"Don't let him rile you up, he's manipulating you!" Crow cried as he called Robin Hood for a Vicious Strike, allowing Skull to escape. Crow's own sleeve had blood on it from an earlier cut, as well as his leg.

"No, he's being logical, exactly like you, Crow!" Joker countered as he threw his dagger at Cognitive Goro, who simply dodged the blade and charged Joker, who was forced to block the spear's strike with his gun.

"Is this really the time to be having a conversation?" Chika sighed as she casted Salvation to quickly heal the damages caused by Cognitive Goro.

Koromaru barked, as if in agreement.

"You're correct." Cognitive Goro said. "My apologies."

Suddenly, he threw Joker to the ground and jumped back a fair distance, the farthest he had been from the group for this entire fight.

"What?" Crow gasped as he watched the cognitive version of himself.

"I believe it's time I make my true purpose known to you all." Cognitive Goro stated.

At the same instant, the who-knows-what-number Lamia and Naga vanished, returning to Cognitive Goro, and allowing the six other party members to turn in confusion. The cognitive boy then turned his spear upside down and stabbed it into the ground.

"Pharaoh's Will!" He cried.

A bright light engulfed the spear then, only to be transferred into the ground. From there, it traveled until a light glowed under every member of the Phantom Thieves and the Shadow Operatives, with one exception.

"Oh shit!"

"Everybody, jump, now!"

"Watch out!"

In unison, Skull, Joker and Mona cried out, but they couldn't escape.

"I fulfill my queen's will." Cognitive Goro stated softly.

Suddenly, the light under the thieves and Shadow Operatives stretched into columns, trapping them and not allowing a single one to move.

The only one excepted from these columns…was Crow.

"Why…why are you doing this!?" Crow demanded, his grip on his sword most likely leaving his knuckles white.

"Look at me, Goro Sakura." Cognitive Goro stated, holding his arms out wide. He wasn't attacking. "I am the cognition of how Futaba Sakura sees you. The attack I just used left you alone free, as her will sees only you as no threat. You hold the same memories as she does, the same memories that caused this tomb to form."

"I know that…so why are you reminding me!?" Crow demanded, his body starting to tremble. He barely even felt it.

"Don't you see?" Cognitive Goro demanded, his face clouding with frustration. "Your memories match the distortion of the tomb! You are blind to the truth you claim to seek!"

"No! I would never look away from the truth!" Crow protested, trying to move, but finding his feet refused to move as Cognitive Goro calmly approached him.

"Even if that truth is painful?" Cognitive Goro asked. Suddenly, his spear was at Crow's throat. "You, Goro Sakura, are looking away from the truth, because the implications of the truth terrify you. The trauma of losing your mother fed that fear and made you susceptible to being led away from the truth. You know this!"

"I…" Crow whispered.

"You claim that your sole concern is uncovering the truth." Cognitive Goro stated. "If that were true, you wouldn't be blind to the truth hidden within my queen's heart and, I suspect, in your own as well. And anyone who's unwilling to face that truth has no right to save Queen Futaba, not when your actions could cause her to end up like yourself!"

At that moment, Cognitive Goro pulled his spear back to make the final blow, to kill Crow.

Will I…see Mom soon…? Crow thought. Would Futaba and the others…really be better off…without me…?

"Goro!"

Crow looked up and his eyes shot over to Joker's. The frizzy haired boy had pressed himself as close to the light column containing him as possible.

"Don't you dare give in! We still need you, and Futaba needs you even more than we do! You think you can't look at the truth? You're one of the strongest people I know, I know you have what it takes to face it head on! So do it!" Joker shouted.

"Akira…" Crow whispered, eyes wide.

"So what if your memories are messed up?! Everyone has memories like that!" Raven added, in the same position as Joker was. "But if you face them, you can accept them and get past them! You just have to take the first step and I know you're strong enough to do it, Go!"

"Miku…"

It was then that Crow looked around, at all his friends. They were all staring at him, belief in their eyes.

"Hell yeah you can do this! You're our senpai!"

"You're stronger than you think, Goro-kun! Don't give up!"

"We'll stand by you no matter what happens, just like you stand by us! You can do this!"

"The past is painful to face, but it only can lead to a stronger and brighter future!"

"We're all with you, so don't lose hope! We believe in you, so just believe in yourself!"

They all believed in him…even…

"Goro-nii…"

Even Futaba.

Just then, the spear came charging at Crow. Without a single thought, he reached out and grasped the spear, preventing it from making contact with his neck.

"You're right." He nodded, staring his cognitive double directly in the eyes. "I have allowed the trauma of my past to taint my memories. But I will no longer do so. I will face the past, face the truth, no matter how painful it turns out to be and I will use it to make myself stronger, so I can become a detective and reveal the truth to others who sorely need it as well as well as protect those in need. I won't hide anymore!"

"It appears you have found your resolve, my other self." Robin Hood said from within Crow's mind.

Suddenly, however, the voice changed.

"You who carry the weight of the world proudly, a Titan banished from Olympus and a prince abandoned by the king. Call my name and confront the weight you carry with all the strength you withheld."

"I will face the truth and I will save Futaba! I can promise you that!" Crow shouted as he used his free hand to pull his black, crow wing like mask off his face. "Come, Atlas!"

Just as it did in his Awakening, blue flames surrounded Crow and floated in the air above him, taking form of his new, Ultimate Persona.

The Persona was a man with black skin, with white almost electronic looking lines running along his skin and white stars appearing to dot it. He wore dark blue armor and had white hair to match the electronic lines and stars on his skin. His eyes were closed. The feature that stood out the most, however, was the sphere on the man's back. It was huge and covered the expanse of the man's back, his arms and back seeming to support it. It appeared as if it was the night sky itself, colors changing as the stars twinkled and electronic looking lines ran across it.

"You claim to be how Futaba sees me, correct?" Crow questioned, entirely calm.

"That is true." Cognitive Goro nodded. It…almost looked like he wanted to smile.

"Very well then…Atlas, Eigaon!" Crow cried.

From the sphere, a twinkling star suddenly shot out. As it left the sphere, it became the black veins of curse magic, wrapping around Cognitive Goro's body and forcing him to the ground.

Instantly, the columns of light faded and the rest of the party surrounded the guard.

"It's over." Joker stated.

"What is your verdict?" Crow asked.

And just like that…Cognitive Goro smiled.

"I believed you could prove me wrong." He said. "You have what it takes to save my queen…my sister. I shall allow you to pass." He stood up then and paused before he vanished. "Oh, and congratulations, real me. You've overcome the strife in your heart."

And with that, Cognitive Goro vanished, as if he was never there to begin with.

Crow let out a sigh of relief, collapsing against Raven and Fox, who were standing closet to him.

Not a single person spoke, the silence cloying.

"Well…that happened." Ken summed the situation up.

Instantly, Koromaru began to bark and everyone let out a laugh as the stress from the previous battle finally abated.

"Well, shall we continue?" Mona smiled.

"Let's." Crow nodded.

The large door before them opened at last and they were met with the original door they saw.

Skull walked up to it and began to feel it.

"Hey, this ain't openin'…think there's a way to open it somewhere else?" He asked.

"Hm? This door…" Queen trailed off.

"It looks familiar…" Mona nodded in agreement.

"That's because it's the door to Futaba's room." Crow confirmed.

"That's it!" Mona cried in realization.

"Why ain't it openin'?" Skull asked, confused.

"It must be her cognition that nobody can enter it." Mona explained.

"I'm surprised that you made it this far. And defeated my guard." Shadow Futaba said as she appeared. "Beyond lies the Pharaoh's Chamber."

"So the Treasure's through here?" Skull asked, tilting his head.

"Indeed. However, you need my permission to open this door." The Shadow Pharaoh elaborated.

"Then open it for us." Skull stated.

"I cannot. You must have her invite you in." Shadow Futaba shook her head.

"You mean the real Futaba." Crow supplied. "Because her cognition is that nobody can get through, but if she lets us in, then we may enter."

"That won't be easy." Raven sighed.

"Considering that you made it all the way here, you may be able to do it…" Shadow Futaba said before she floated in the air and vanished once again.

"Looks like we'll have to return to reality to continue." Panther stated.

"But Boss, Raven and Crow have all said that she won't let anyone in." Queen said.

"Right. She's a serious shut-in." Skull nodded.

"How will we convince her to allow us entry?" Fox questioned.

"We'll be able to figure something out." Joker promised. "Crow, Raven and I can work on convincing her. Fox, you may be a good option too to help."

"Oh?" Fox tilted his head.

"I can see you emphasize with Futaba…you understand her." Joker explained.

"Futaba might not listen to us, but someone who understands her, she might." Crow added, thoughtfully.

"Alright, then Fox, help me with the calling card when you can. The one Alibaba sent us." Skull requested.

"Very well." Fox nodded.

"Alright, we've got a plan." Joker smiled. "Everyone clear on it?"

"Yeah." The thieves chorused.

"Alright, let's head back." Joker nodded.

The way out of the Palace had never felt better for Crow, mentally. He'd found his resolve, he could do this.

He could save Futaba.

When the group returned to reality, it was with little surprise that they all headed straight to Leblanc, where Sojiro happily served them coffee, despite his surprise as his eyes landed on his adopted son.

"Is something wrong?" Goro asked, curious as to what that look was for.

"No…I just haven't seen you like this in a while." Sojiro smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You look…at peace with yourself. I'm glad."

"Sojiro…" Goro whispered.

Sojiro simply smiled and pet Goro on the head, like he was a dog or something. Still, Goro didn't mind, smiling at the sign of affection.

"It's because you Awoke to your Ultimate Persona." Chika quietly explained as Sojiro stepped away from the table the thieves and Shadow Operatives sat at.

"What does that mean?" Akira questioned, his voice just as soft.

"Gaining an Ultimate Persona means you've found your resolve." Ken explained. "If a person's heart is strong enough, their Persona can evolve to reflect that. That's what your Persona did, same as mine and Chika-san's."

"So those aren't the Personas your started with?" Makoto asked, curious.

"That's right." Chika confirmed.

"Wow…that's so cool that you got your Ultimate already, Goro!" Ann grinned.

"Hell yeah, nice job, dude!" Ryuji added.

"It was quite a beautiful sight to witness." Yusuke smiled, serene as usual.

"Thanks." Goro smiled, looking down so his hair could fall around his face and hide his blush.

"Aww, we embarrassed him!" Akira laughed, causing the rest of the group to join in as Koromaru happily barked in agreement.

Goro simply shook his head at all of them as he smiled…only to realize they were missing someone.

"Where's Miku?" He asked. There was a very real fear in his voice, causing the rest of the group to fall silent.

"She went to the bathroom when the rest of us sat down." Morgana answered, sounding concerned.

"Why? What's wrong?" Ann asked, confused and worried.

"Shit. We need to move!" Ken urged as he and Goro were instantly on their feet and running for the bathroom.

"Sojiro! We'll need you!" Goro shouted as they ran. Chika stood up then and followed after them, fear prominent on her features and Koromaru at her side.

"What's going on?" Makoto asked, confused.

"Goro?" Akira cried as he followed the frantic teens and scared woman, the rest of the thieves on his tail.

"She locked the door." Goro reported, frustration leaking into his voice as he tried to open the bathroom door.

"Of course she did." Ken growled as he began to push against the door.

"Why do ya have to get inside?" Ryuji asked, horribly confused.

"Sojiro-san, the key!" Chika shouted, desperation in her voice. "If we take too long-"

"Don't finish that thought!" Ken and Goro shouted in unison.

"I've got it, I've got it!" Sojiro said, his own worry and fear clear on his face as he finally got the door opened.

What was on the other side of the bathroom door shocked Akira, Morgana, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke and Makoto into complete silence.

There, laying on the bathroom floor, was Miku, her hair sprawled around her as if it came loose when she fell. In one of her hands was a knife, loosely held and the blade creating a small puddle of blood. Her other arm, however, laid against her stomach…and had a cut running from her wrist to her elbow, the blood freely flowing and staining both her clothes and the white bathroom floor.

The contrast was so startling…it looked like they had stepped onto a murder scene, Miku was so pale.

While they all had been talking in Leblanc, she had been attempting to take her own life…

It was the first time any of them had seen her suicidal tendencies in person and it shook them to the core.

If Goro hadn't realized she was missing…if Ken hadn't urged them to move…if Sojiro hadn't gotten the key…they could have lost their friend…

"Akira, come with me to get towels!" Goro cried as he ran out of the bathroom as quickly as he entered.

"R-right." Akira stuttered, following Goro as instructed.

Ken walked into the bathroom, carefully avoiding the blood and knelt down beside Miku. Gently, he removed the knife from her hand, his eyes sad and pained, before he passed it to Sojiro, who in turn passed it to Chika as the barista took out his cell phone to call Takemi.

Chika clutched the knife tightly, biting her lip and looking…so much younger than she was. She was twenty four years old…and she felt like that sixteen year old kid on top of Tartarus all over again, helpless as she watched someone she loved…watched his beautiful aura fade away and then, again, only a month later, she could only watch as he fell asleep and simply…left, gone off with the other boy that held both of their hearts and another's as well.

A second later, Goro and Akira returned with several towels. Instantly, Ken and Goro had taken one each and pressed them against the extensive wound, applying as much pressure as possible.

"There isn't anything else we can do until we get her to Takemi-san's." Ken sighed, his voice regretful and pained.

"Is…is Mikumo gonna die…?" Makoto whispered, her voice shocked and faint.

"She hasn't lost enough blood for that yet. If we get her to Dr. Takemi soon, she'll be fine." Goro stated, an 'I hope' whispered under his breath.

"How did you know this was going to happen?" Yusuke asked, his voice soft.

"Miku never goes off on her alone without telling anyone…unless she plans to attempt this." Chika explained.

"I thought I hid all the knives from her…" Sojiro sighed as he hung up. "Dr. Takemi is preparing a bed for her, we need to move her."

"Alright. Do you mind helping us, Sojiro-san?" Ken asked.

Sojiro said nothing, simply helping the two teenage boys lift the unconscious girl. Without being asked, Akira and Ann stepped forward, replacing the now blood soaked towels with new ones, taking on the task of keeping pressure on Miku's wound.

"Let's go." Chika stated, her voice only slightly steady as she turned and led the group out of Leblanc. Her grip on her cane left her knuckles white. It truly was the only thing keeping her standing…

Once they reached Takemi's clinic, things seemed to get both even more hectic and even more worrying.

Instantly, Takemi ushered them to a bed where they lied Miku down before she set to work.

The first thing she did was order anyone not deemed family (adopted family counting) out, leaving only Chika, Ken, Sojiro, Goro and Koromaru (how she was convinced to let the dog stay, none of the thieves knew, excluding Goro).

Next, she had Chika and Sojiro continue to keep pressure on the wound with some sterile gauze while she grilled Goro and Ken about everything that happened. Koromaru stayed at Miku's none injured arm and licked her hand, trying to comfort the pained girl.

Once Takemi had all her information, she kicked out the teenage boys and then proceeded to wrap Miku's arm in a tight bandage now that the bleeding had slowed down. Then Chika, Sojiro and Koromaru were kicked out as she started an IV.

The rest, not a single member of the group knew. All they knew was the worry and fear that refused to leave them and the blood that was stained on Goro, Ken, Sojiro, Chika, Akira and Ann.

It felt like an eternity before Takemi finally met them in the waiting room.

"It was touch and go for a while, but mouse managed to pull through." The punk doctor reported.

Collectively, the group released a sigh of relief.

"I have her on a blood transfusion right now, you're lucky I have a large supply of O blood on hand for her." Takemi sighed. "Sakura, I've already contacted Maki about what happened and I suggest the rest of you let all parties know what happened."

"Right." Sojiro nodded before he, Ken and Chika all stepped out, their phones out as they dialed phone numbers.

Akira didn't know what happened, but the next thing he knew, he was sitting beside Miku's bed, her hand in his and Morgana on his lap. Goro sat next to him while Ken and Chika were on the other side of the bed, Koromaru beside them. Sojiro had to head back to Leblanc, since it wasn't closed, and the rest of the thieves had been pushed out by Takemi, saying her clinic was already going to be busy enough as it is with all the incoming family members and Maki Sonomura.

"I wish I could've done something…" Morgana whispered, hanging his head as he stared at Miku's bandaged arm.

"There was nothing you could've done." Akira softly calmed the cat, carefully petting the top of his head.

"I…I know…but if we brought her to the Metaverse right after we found her, I could've healed her. I'm the healer right? What good am I if I can't even help Miku?" Morgana asked, frustrated.

"Except it wouldn't have worked." Chika shook her head. "Healing in meta space isn't always successful, especially with serious injuries."

"Without medical care for some of these wounds…we could die." Ken added, his eyes filled with shadows and remorse. "Miku-chan's wound, for example. If we had gotten her here late, she would've been gone."

"You've seen someone die from healing magic failing before, haven't you?" Goro softly asked, though they all knew the question was rhetoric.

"Yes." Chika answered anyway. Ken looked even sadder, if that was possible.

Silence fell over the group then, until Takemi pushed the curtain covering them with a sigh.

"Last I heard from Maki, she seemed to be doing better. Even with summer starting on top of it…" Takemi mused.

"She has been doing better." Goro confirmed. "She hasn't attempted anything since the very beginning of April, before Akira came here."

"I wonder what changed…" Ken sighed.

"Wait, Dr. Takemi, how do you know Sonomura-san?" Akira questioned, turning to said doctor in question.

"Oh, you didn't hear, guinea pig? Maki Sonomura's my wife." Takemi smirked as Akira, valiantly he might add, attempted to keep his jaw from dropping. He hadn't seen that coming. "We've been married for a year now."

"I…didn't see that coming." Akira admitted sheepishly.

"Hm. Now, get out, guinea pig, I need to discuss her condition with family and family only." Takemi shooed.

Without a word of complaint, Akira complied, sitting in the waiting room instead.

"Hey, stop feeling guilty." He quietly chastised Morgana, noticing the look on the cat's face.

"I can't help it. I should've been able to help her." Morgana insisted.

"Hey…we all wish we'd noticed what Miku was gonna do sooner and stopped it. But that doesn't mean we could've cause she gave us no signs." Akira whispered. "You're still the best damn healer we've got and don't you ever forget about that or question yourself. You're a Phantom Thief, after all."

"Thanks, Joker…" Morgana smiled before he burrowed into Akira's lap to sleep. The unspoken threat of what would happen should Akira mention this to anyone was heard loud and clear.

Akira was distracted as the clinic door opened and a woman stepped inside.

The woman had dark brown hair, which was in a pixie cut, and warm brown eyes, as well as a mole on her chin. She wore a white coat with gray intersecting lines over a gray shirt, a gray skirt, black leggings and white boots. On her shoulder rested a black bag that seemed rather full, if you asked Akira.

The woman stopped in front of him.

"Are you Akira-kun?" She questioned, tilting her head slightly.

"Uh, yeah, um…" Akira nodded, startled out of his thoughts.

"I'm Maki Sonomura, I'm Miku-chan's therapist." The woman, Sonomura, smiled. "I'm also a member of the Shadow Operatives and a friend of your parents."

"Ah, so you're a Persona user too?" Akira asked, relaxing slightly.

"I am." Sonomura nodded with a smile. "Though there are a couple Shadow Operatives who don't have Personas."

"If you two are done discussing Maki's second job," Takemi's voice interrupted before Akira could ask more questions (which Morgana seemed to agree with if the way he perked up was an indication). "the mouse is waiting for you."

"Of course." Sonomura smiled. "I don't know why you refer to Miku-chan that way, Tae."

"It's a nickname." Takemi shrugged with a smirk as Sonomura moved to kiss her on the cheek.

And just like that, Akira's worry for Miku crashed down onto him once again.

"Hey…she'll be okay. I'll make sure of it." Sonomura said as she squeezed Akira's shoulder, her voice serene.

"Right…thanks." Akira nodded as Sonomura smiled one last time before following Takemi back to see Miku.

It wasn't long before Tatsuya and Jun showed up, with a lot of people on their tail. Considering Akira recognized both Mitsuru Kirijo and Aigis, he assumed the rest were all people Miku considered family. He was a bit surprised when he recognized Akihko Sanada too, but he was quickly distracted when Jun gathered Akira in his arms and hugged him tightly.

That was the straw that broke the camel's back, it seemed, because Akira broke down crying in his papa's arms right then and there, with his dad coming up on Akira's other side to hug them both.

And when Goro came out a couple moments later, giving Chika and Ken time with their friends, he was instantly enveloped as well, joining Akira in finally crying.

Akira had known Miku was suicidal, he knew that, and yet…he'd never thought he'd ever see her attempt to take her own life.

He never thought he'd come so close to losing her…and he almost did. He and Goro both almost lose Miku today.

That, more than anything else, was a terrifying thought that only made both teenagers cry harder as they were held in Tatsuya and Jun's arms.

That night, Chika did not leave Miku's side at all, despite Mitsuru's best attempts. Ken and Koromaru stayed with her while Chika herself forced Goro to return to Leblanc to stay with Akira, if nothing else. Sojiro didn't say a word as his adopted son and charge had a silent sleepover in the attic of Leblanc.

Every member of SEES did come right after Chika and Ken called, excluding Yukari, who got on the first train she could in order to get to Tokyo as soon as possible.

And that night, Chika received several phone calls from her own family in Iwatodai. From Yuri, his husband Flynn and their children Karol and Patty. From Raven and Judy. From Rita. Even Estelle and Ioder, overseas as they were, made sure to call to check on her once they heard the news.

And even besides that, every Shadow Operative made sure to call her or Ken, letting them know that they were all praying for Miku.

Maki and Takemi stayed the whole night with the two Shadow Operatives, Takemi observing Miku for any changes and Maki gently talking to both the unconscious Miku and the worried Chika and Ken.

Koromaru never left Miku's hand, licking it gently as if to comfort her in her unnatural sleep.

The day, which had soared so high in the afternoon, ended on a sad and hollow note for the Phantom Thieves. The only solace they could find was Futaba making sure she messaged them all to let them know that she would wait for them to steal her heart once Miku recovered.

Goro wouldn't admit it, but they all knew he was terrified of Futaba having to bear witness to such a scene.

However, without fail, the sun set that day and all who had been affected by the suicide attempt of Mikumo Sakuraba had an uneasy sleep that night.

And that night, as the moonlight lit up the clinic and landed on Miku's sleeping form, two ghostly figures knelt by her side.

Both were crying, though one was sobbing much more than the other. This same figure was clutching Miku's hand, as if he could will her to come back to life with his tears and his grip, the silver of his headphones catching the moonlight. The other figure was crying silently, his hand resting on the back of the other figure in an attempt to remind him that he wasn't alone, and his face was pained as his intense, unnatural blue eyes stared down at Miku.

The only words whispered in the clinic that night were the unheard ones of the sobbing ghostly figure.

"Live…you have to live…that's all I ask of you…please…if these are my last words all over again then I'll still give them to you…live…"

RANK UP!

Goro Akechi/Goro Sakura

Justice Confidant Rank 7

And there we are.

So, some notes.

First off, Goro's Ultimate Persona. I chose Atlas, not as a reference to Atlus, but because Atlas is the brother of Prometheus, Futaba's Ultimate Persona. To convey that, I tried to give the Persona Atlas a technological design, if that makes sense. That's what all the lines are about, in any case. For those who don't know, Atlas was a Titan that rebelled against Zeus and was then tasked with holding the sky aloft for all eternity as punishment. Depending on the myth you read after that, either Atlas tricks Heracles into taking his task for a time OR Heracles frees Atlas along with freeing Prometheus.

Now, Miku. I have been planning on this for quite a while, because if nothing ever happened, then I felt as if the story, and Miku as a character, lose the element of realism. I want Miku to feel like a real person to all of you, just how she feels to me. So, it fell here.

Moving on to Maki and Takemi. This may seem completely random and such a strange pairing, but the more I thought about it when I had the random thought for it, the more I liked it. So, Maki and Takemi are married here!

Speaking of Maki, I recently finished the P1 manga, so I now have a better grasp on those characters, which is why I wrote Maki here as I did. I also have plans for other P1 pairings (well, two at the moment). They'll be one off mentions here, but I will eventually write the P1 characters in their own arcs in this universe where those relationships will be developed (probably in the same series that follows Akira's childhood).

Also, I'm assuming all of you can guess who is in the last scene. Yes, this is in reference to the movie and how I plan to change it. Certain people know of this plan, so it'll probably be easier for them to spot.

And finally, Goro's Rank Up. This is in response to him gaining his Ultimate Persona. The last few will happen as the story goes on until he reaches Rank 10. And this is the last time he will be referred to as Goro Akechi/Goro Sakura there. From now on, in Rank Ups, Goro will be referred to as Goro Sakura.

And now for the last note. So, I have finals for the next couple days, so currently chapter 37 does not exist at all. And it will not be started until Wednesday night at the earliest. But I do plan to have it up by next week, so no worries there folks!

Okay, that's everything! I'll see you all next week then-Ah!

(Akira slides in, after pushing me away)

Akira: And don't forget, everyone! I'm going to be in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate! I hope you all enjoyed my sneaking into the Game Awards Theater! I know I did! I bet none of you saw that coming!

(Miku comes in and hits him over the head)

Miku: Stupid! You're not supposed to steal the AN from Wolfie! That's her job, not yours! And quit breaking the fourth wall by referencing you being in Smash Bros and referencing Last Surprise, you're not funny! (Drags complaining Akira away by his ear)

Wolfie: (Straightens up) Well, now that that's over with, bye everyone!