(Office door opens. Ryuji peeks inside)
Ryuji: Okay, we're all clear! (walks in alongside Yusuke and Akira) This must be where she posts everything. Let's get going!
Yusuke: I don't believe this is a good idea, considering Wolfie's present emotional state.
Ryuji: She's been crying in the corner for the past hour and a half, of COURSE we need to do this. Where's Goro, Miku, Ann, Morgana and Makoto?
Akira: Trying to comfort Wolfie...with her Kingdom Hearts characters too.
Ryuji: Yeesh, she's really broken up about this. Anyway...(turns to computer at desk) what's up everybody? Ryuji here, and I'm gonna be posting the chapter this week!
Yusuke: Unless Wolfie, or her Kingdom Hearts character Shaylee, stop you.
Ryuji: Like that'll ever happen.
Akira: You'd be surprised at how active the Kingdom Hearts characters are with her. So, hey guys. Wolfie's kinda broken right now, so we're gonna give you the chapter this week. Thanks to-
(Door bursts open, Shaylee appears alongside Wolfie and other Persona and KH characters)
Shaylee: Like hell you are! Get back to work, let Wolfie use this to cheer up, idiots!
Miku: Shaylee's right, now come on. (Proceeds to drag Ryuji by the ear as Shaylee drags Akira out by the arm)
Yusuke: Well then, good luck Wolfie.
Wolfie: Thanks.
(Door closes)
Wolfie: Okay then...hi guys, I'm back. Sorry for the chaos, they weren't wrong when they said KH broke me. It really did...that final trailer...but this isn't the time nor place for that.
Thanks to starpostzone (Thank you again for letting me know I messed up), RosyMiranto18 (As always, a joy) and Guest (I would LOVE to answer all your questions, but to do that, you need an account. If you DO get one, please let me know, I'd love to PM you!) for reviewing, all 47 followers, 35 favorites and 10,162 readers.
This chapter is...short. Very short. Partly due to me having finals to keep me busy and partly cause I couldn't think of anything else to put here. But it's done. So, go ahead and enjoy. I'll see you down below.
The next day finds Akira at the train station, a hollow feeling in his chest.
He still…can't quite process what happened, still can't truly believe Miku had almost killed herself. It felt like a bad dream still, honestly…he thought it was, until he woke up with Goro at his side, the two sharing Akira's uncomfortable bed for the comfort of the other being close by more than anything else.
But it was real, all of it, and Akira needed to be there for Goro, Chika, Ken and the rest of the thieves, who'd had no inkling of this whatsoever. He needed to be strong, for them…
That didn't make coming to the train station with Goro to pick up Yukari Takeba and Chika's family any easier.
"So, what does Chika's family look like?" Morgana asked, popping up onto Akira's shoulder to try and distract the two silent boys.
Goro didn't look much better than Akira felt, but he still found the strength to smile the slightest bit.
"They're an interesting bunch. You can't miss them." He stated.
"We did already meet Yuri-san." Akira nodded in agreement. "How many are there?"
"There's Yuri-san, his husband Flynn-san, their children Karol-kun and Patty-chan, Raven-san and his wife Judy-san and Rita-san." Goro listed off. "Estelle-san and Ioder-san are still overseas, so they can't come and Repede couldn't come on the train."
"I see." Morgana nodded as the train pulled up and the doors opened.
Akira was nodding in agreement when he caught a flash of white in the corner of his eye. Turning, he only managed to see the ends of white hair that became lilac at the tips before they vanished as quickly as they appeared.
A name was on Akira's lips, a name he knew, but hadn't spoken since he was ten, since he was last in Sumaru City.
"Tsu-" He started to call.
"There they are!" Morgana cut him off, his cheer an attempt to cheer up the boys.
And sure enough, Akira recognized as Takeba and Yuri approaching them, several unfamiliar people behind them.
"Goro-kun!" Takeba cried as she ran towards them, her eyes widening in her worry as she did so. "How's Miku-chan?!"
"Still not awake. Dr. Takemi says she's stable though." Goro answered.
Akira's heart ached as he thought of how many times Goro must've had to say this same thing and it hurts.
"We should be moving." Yuri urged, his eyes narrow.
"Agreed. Chika needs us." The blonde man holding Yuri's hand nodded in agreement. Akira assumed he was Flynn.
"Then let's get going, mateys! Chika-obasan needs us!" The blonde little girl, probably Patty, urged, grasping onto Flynn's hand and pulling.
"Miku-nee too!" The young brunette boy, Karol Akira assumed, nodded in agreement at Yuri's side.
"That's right." Takeba nodded. "Goro-kun, Akira-kun, lead the way."
"This way then." Goro gestured before he began to lead the small crowd of people out of the train station.
Akira kept a hand on Goro's shoulder the whole walk, trying to offer him any comfort and support he could as Takeba began to practically interrogate the teen about Miku's condition, with Yuri and the woman Akira assumed was Judy reminding her to hold back.
He wished he could do more, for Goro, for Miku, for Chika and Ken and everyone else who was counting on him.
But he couldn't…he was still just a kid and wholly unprepared for this situation. Being the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts didn't prepare you for a situation like this.
Yusuke sat in his dorm room, contemplating everything that had happened in the past 24 hours. It was quite the unexpected turn of events and he had no clear idea on how to proceed from here.
Goro had gained an Ultimate Persona…Mikumo had attempted to take her life…the series of events that led them all to Takemi's clinic had been shocking. Akira had informed them all this morning that Mikumo was, thankfully, stable, but she had yet to regain consciousness. Chika, Ken and Koromaru had not left her side once.
Yusuke's heart clenched, remembering the time when he had considered performing the same actions as Mikumo had. The pain of living could weigh anybody down…Mikumo…himself…even-
It was the buzz of his phone that snapped him out of his train of thought.
Picking it up, Yusuke chuckled slightly as he saw a text message from the exact person he had been thinking of.
Alibaba: How is Miku-nee?
Yusuke: Should you not be asking Goro or Akira?
Alibaba: Goro-nii gets sad…and Akira-nii wouldn't be honest…
Alibaba: I'm not saying I trust you
Alibaba: But
Alibaba: You seem as if you'd be the most honest with me.
Yusuke: I understand.
Yusuke: Mikumo is stable, though she has yet to regain consciousness.
Alibaba: …
Alibaba: I see.
Alibaba: Thank you for your report.
Yusuke: Hold on a moment.
Alibaba: …
Yusuke: Based on your description, I can see how you grew up with Goro and Akira by your side.
Alibaba: What does that mean?
Yusuke: You claim that Goro gets sad and Akira isn't honest.
Yusuke: You have just done both.
Yusuke's phone did not buzz for several minutes. He was almost worried he pushed Futaba too far, that she left as soon as she read the words.
But he was one of the people who could understand Futaba…
He had to try.
Yusuke: I understand how you feel. I am the same way.
Alibaba: …what?
Yusuke let out a sigh of relief. She was still listening.
Yusuke: I lost my mother when I was too young to realize. But I recently learned the truth of her death.
Yusuke: It felt like I lost her all over again.
Yusuke: But I did not tell my friends of this, I kept it to myself and was sad in private.
Yusuke: It is all a natural part of grief, it is nothing to be ashamed of.
Alibaba: …
Yusuke: I'm not saying you must open up to us right away.
Yusuke: But we will be here for you, and there are those of us who understand you.
Yusuke: I will support you, just as your brothers and sister do, Futaba.
Alibaba: Well, it seems my investigation in you was accurate.
Alibaba: You really are strange, Yusuke Kitagawa.
Yusuke: Shall I take that as a compliment?
Alibaba: Sure, why not?
Alibaba: So, you're the artist of the Phantom Thieves, yes?
Yusuke: That is correct.
Alibaba: Send me some of your work! I'm curious to what else you've done besides the calling cards!
Yusuke: Very well.
Somehow, this small, ridiculous conversation began to make Yusuke feel lighter, as if the darkness hanging over the thieves would pass, like all things do.
And if this is how Futaba acted behind a screen…he couldn't wait to meet her without one between them.
Even though they had all agreed to take time off to allow Miku to recover, Ann still found her thoughts returning to the silver haired girl and her poor family.
Ann hadn't even known Miku was suicidal! It was like with Shiho all over again…she was such a terrible friend to not notice when her own friends were suffering…
"Ann-san?"
"Yes!?" Ann startled, her head shooting up so her eyes met Hifumi's own. Hifumi tilted her head in curiosity.
"It's your turn." She explained, nodding down at the shogi board between them.
"Oh…right." Ann nodded as she did exactly that, examining the board before she did so.
Hifumi had invited her to the church and, with Miku recovering, Ann had accepted, if only for the distraction. And it had been doing well, Ann had been having fun.
But…her thoughts started turning to Goro, to Miku and Akira and how all of them were handling this.
She wished she could be with them, but…this was a family situation. Not a friends one.
"Is there something on your mind?" Hifumi asked once Ann finished her move.
"Oh, uh…no, I'm fine." Ann lied, giving the shogi player a large smile. "Say, you're gonna be in the photo shoot next week, right? Me too! Maybe we'll get to work together!"
"Ann-san…you're not a good liar." Hifumi said, her face empathetic as Ann winced in response to her words. "You can tell me what's on your mind, it may help ease your mind."
"It's just…it's not my story to tell." Ann explained.
"I see…but this story, whoever's it is, you're worried about them?" Hifumi asked, not taking her next move.
"Yeah…I just hope they feel better…sorry, I'm just using you as a distraction." Ann admitted, ashamed of herself.
"Don't be. We all require a distraction in difficult times." Hifumi smiled slightly. "In fact, since you mentioned the modeling assignment we are both in next week, may I confide in you?"
"Sure." Ann nodded in agreement.
And that was how the two girls found themselves confiding in each other, Hifumi about how she truly felt about her modeling jobs and her mother's influence over them and Ann about Mika and her latest string of modeling jobs being hijacked by the fellow model (it helped that Hifumi, too, knew her).
And it served as the distraction both of them needed while their game became even more lively as Ann started picking up on Hifumi's own jargon for the game.
It had been fun and nice to relax, despite the strife and worry that refused to leave Ann entirely.
Makoto sat on her couch, a book in her hands as she read it.
"Makoto-chan? Is something wrong?"
"No, of course not. Why would you say that, Kuro-kun?" Makoto asked, looking up at Kuro, who sat in the chair next to the couch. He had a day off today and had agreed to meet her to work on their summer reading together, since they couldn't go to Leblanc after all. His hair was down today…
"You've been reading the same page for the past fifteen minutes, my own lief." Kuro smiled.
Makoto blushed at the affectionate nickname. It was a fairly new habit of Kuro's, using his love of Shakespearean English to tease her.
But still…not even that could distract her anymore than her book could.
Mikumo…Mikumo was…and Makoto hadn't noticed again and she'd almost…almost…
That scene from the bathroom flashed through Makoto's mind once again and she could feel herself pale. That…had been so very different from what she witnessed of Suzui-Shiho's attempt. It had shaken her more than she admitted, even more so as it was head strong, outspoken Mikumo who'd…
"Wow, you really are distracted if you aren't calling me out for calling you 'my dear'." Kuro commented as he leaned into Makoto's space, his wholly concerned face stopping Makoto's blush…until he gently touched her forehead with his hand. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine…just distracted by an…incident." Makoto shook her head. "I can't tell you anymore."
"I see…" Kuro nodded, his eyes sharpening. In an instant, the soft, familiar Kuro Makoto knew was gone and the Second Coming of the Detective Prince was in his place. "So this has to do with your friends."
"Our friends." Makoto corrected instantly. "By now, they are your friends just as they are mine."
"Right, of course." Kuro nodded, barely affected by the correction. "Considering how they all were acting the last time we all were together, it's more likely that the way you're acting involves either Goro or Mikumo, considering how off balance the two of them appeared last time."
Makoto felt herself wince the slightest bit.
"Or it could be both." Kuro smirked coolly. "Shall I go on?"
"Stop." Makoto shook her head. "I can't tell you, Kuro-kun."
"Makoto…" Kuro whispered as his detective mask fell, leaving the honorific off her name.
"It's their choice to tell you or not, not mine. I'm sorry that it's effecting me." Makoto bowed her head.
Silence fell over them then. Makoto almost thought Kuro was going to leave, no matter how irrational the thought was.
Then…
"Why don't we go out?" Kuro suddenly said.
"What!?" Makoto cried, her face turning bright red at the suggestion.
"We've been cooped up too long, let's head outside and get some fresh air." Kuro smiled as he pulled on Makoto's hand and brought her to her feet, her book clattering to the floor. "Besides, this'll be exactly the thing you need to distract you from what's weighing you down!"
"What about your fans?" Makoto asked. It was a token protest, but the only one she could think of. His fans were the reason they started this arrangement in the first place, after all.
"They don't recognize me with my hair down!" Kuro brushed her concern off. "You know that!"
And indeed, she did. Rarely were they ever bothered if Kuro wore his hair down, as the Second Coming of the Detective Prince was known for his sharp dressing sense and his pony tail. When off the clock, Kuro preferred to wear dark colored polo shirts and jeans with his hair down.
Like that, he was an entirely different person.
"Oh…fine." Makoto agreed. Not like she had much of a choice, in the end. When Kuro made a decision, he stuck to it to the end. She was doomed the moment he said, 'let's go out'.
Of course…his particular phrasing had a part in that.
"Say, Haru…"
"Hm? What is it, Ryuji-kun?"
Ryuji hesitated as Haru turned towards him.
The two of them were in Inokashira Park, Haru tending to a flower bed while Ryuji watched her, an abandoned manga in his hands.
"Do you think…it's possible to find hope in a hopeless life?" Ryuji finally voiced. It had been weighing on him all day, how Miku must feel if she was willing to take her own life. She must've felt so hopeless, so filled with pain…he wanted to believe she would be fine, that she would be okay.
But he had no true idea…he needed another opinion.
"I…don't know." Haru admitted, leaning back and wrapping her arms around her knees as she pulled them to her chest. "But…I think the strongest people are the ones who can take a hopeless situation and improve it."
"You think so?" Ryuji asked.
"Yes, I do." Haru nodded. "What brought this up, Ryuji-kun?"
"Just…something happened, something that seems pretty hopeless." Ryuji admitted. "I wanted an outside perspective if things could turn around. Though it sounds like you have some experience with that."
"Oh…yes, I do." Haru admitted, her voice soft.
"I know you'll turn it around." Ryuji grinned. "You're Haru, after all!"
"Thank you, Ryuji-kun." Haru smiled slightly. It wasn't her normal smile, but it was real and Ryuji found himself relaxing at the sight of it. "And I think everything will be okay for you as well."
"Yeah…" Ryuji nodded. "Say…you know you can just call me 'Ryuji', right?"
"Oh…" Haru whispered, her eyes widening.
"We're friends, aren't we? Besides, I just call you 'Haru', it's only fair if you do the same." Ryuji grinned as he reached over to nudge the auburn haired girl, smiling softer as she loosened out of her tense ball.
"Well, only if you insist…Ryuji." Haru smiled, releasing her legs and leaning further back so she was against Ryuji's legs.
The position caused a blush to form on Ryuji's face as he laughed.
But even still, in the back of his mind, his thoughts were still on Miku. Thinking a friend was going to die once scared him. Going through the same thing again terrified him on a whole different level. He didn't want to believe this, that Miku had been willing and almost succeeded in taking her own life. This was a whole different level from Shiho and obviously had years of buildup behind it.
But even so…Ryuji could remember Shiho looking much better than she had at the start of school. He could only hope…that Miku turned out that well as well.
And he would be there for her, would support her, just as he knew all the thieves, unofficial thieves and her family would.
It was over the next several days that everyone who knew Mikumo Sakuraba waited and prayed.
Mr. and Mrs. H, Kai and Aoka all came to visit Miku and talk to Chika and Ken. The former members of SEES were there every single day as well. And Chika's own family rarely left her side.
(In Rita's own words: "why the hell would we leave when you need us here?" That proceeded to get her teased by Karol about caring, something Raven jumped on right away. Rita then blushed bright red and protested, even more so when Yuri mentioned Estelle was a good influence on her.)
Maki and Takemi never left either, always tending to either Miku herself (whether through medical means or talking to her) or to Chika and Ken (Takemi making sure they took care of themselves and Maki getting them to talk about the situation and helping them as well).
The Shadow Operatives all offered prayers and belief in Miku, though the bulk of them couldn't come visit due to the small size of the clinic and due to how often at least one Phantom Thief was there, usually Goro and Akira, who only left when forced to by Sojiro and Takemi combined, occasionally with some help from Chika as well.
Miku was in a coma for five days when she woke up on August 4th.
The first thing Miku was aware of was the feeling of the familiar, starchy linens of Takemi's clinic bed.
The next was utter disappointment.
The rest of her senses came back slowly after that, as soon as she could move her hand, she did and she felt someone else's grip holding it tightly.
"Miku…"
That was…Chika's voice…
Finally, Miku opened her eyes to the brightness of the clinic, only to squint them closed so she could let her eyes adjust.
"Miku?" Ken asked, his voice soft with disbelief.
"I'm…here…" She whispered in answer, her throat sore and scratchy from disuse.
"Take a sip of this, mouse, you've been out for five days." Takemi said and the next thing Miku knew, she was given a straw to drink from, which she did without complaint.
"Miku-chan…how are you?" Maki's calm voice asked.
"Horrible." Miku answered, her voice sounding somewhat closer to normal now as she carefully pushed herself up, Takemi's hand supporting her. It was then she looked around the room, noticing it was just her, Takemi, Maki, Chika, Ken and Koromaru inside, instead of an entire party.
It also meant she could elaborate if asked. And that was exactly what Maki did.
"Could you explain?"
"I wanted to die." Miku stated plainly. "I wanted to close my eyes and sleep and never wake up. I wanted to stop hurting so much every second of every day. I wanted to see Mina. I wanted to prevent anyone else from being hurt because of me."
"Miku, that's not true-" Chika started to protest, as she always did.
But Miku wouldn't listen this time.
"Yes, it is!" Miku shouted, cutting her off entirely. "Everyone I have ever loved and saw as family is dead! My parents are dead! My aunt and uncle are dead! My cousin is dead! My brother probably is dead! If I don't die soon, everyone else I love will be in danger! I can't stop it, I've tried! So why won't you just let me die?!"
The clinic was silent for several heartbeats. Miku was hardly aware of the tears falling down her cheeks as she gasped for breath.
"Because if you die…you'll only be causing more pain. The cycle will continue." Ken stated, his voice soft with past experience.
"Dying doesn't solve your problems…it's running away from them." Maki added, her voice flowing with guilt and understanding and past experience. "Let us help you face them, Miku-chan."
"Please…we can't lose you too, Miku." Chika softly begged, her voice soft with tears and old memories and scars, healed over but still so raw.
Koromaru whined, resting his head on the bed.
"Come on, mouse. We're not giving up on you." Takemi stated, her voice clear with conviction.
It was all of their words combined that caused Miku to double over, sobbing and screaming, each one suffused with pain and hopelessness. Everyone else remained silent, letting her have this.
If she didn't get this out now, after all, she never would and her next suicide attempt would come much sooner than any of them wanted.
But even still, the root of the problem still remained. Miku had no will, no reason, to live. In her mind, she was a curse and always would be.
Unless she died, there would never be peace, not for her and not for those she loved.
And there we are.
Kuro: Wow, you really are as bad as Makoto in this chapter. That game must be something special.
Wolfie: You have no idea. But, there are some notes for this chapter, regardless.
The person Akira saw is a new side character I have created. They are not a main series Persona character, so most of you will not know them by the description I gave. And that's okay, I've got plans for them that will be fun!
The people that showed up with Yukari are all from Tales of Vesperia, specifically the PS3/Definitive Edition versions of the game for Patty. They're just here to add a dimension to Chika and for some fun side characters I can reference back. They last appeared in the Fury Sparks chapter, which was a reference to their game.
Now, the scenes with all the thieves were meant to show how each of them is trying to handle this situation and distract themselves from it, as none of them knew Miku was suicidal. I hope everyone seems in character. The reference to Ann and Hifumi's Confidants was meant to show that they are all proceeding.
And Miku's scene at the end. I've seen her mindset as this for quite a while now, considering everything she has going on.
Kuro: That'll be it for now! Leave a review to let Wolfie know what you think and we'll see you all in a week (hopefully with a peppier Wolfie).
Wolfie: Kuro, don't you dare follow in the KH characters' foot-
Kuro: Bye everyone! Parting is such sweet sorrow!
Wolfie: Goddammit!