12/25/17 – Sunday

Barely slept a wink. Too busy thinking about what today would bring. How all of this would remotely pan out, he hadn't a clue. Just lying awake in bed without Morgana while trying to reason to himself that this was worth it. For the greater good. But there hadn't been a single moment he stopped kicking himself for letting Ann slip through his fingers and ruining the night for both of them. Not he was set to ruin Christmas as well. And none of them were even aware of it.

"Morning," Sojiro said with a smile. Instead of his usual pot of coffee, he was brewing up some hot chocolate. "You're up early. And all dressed up too. Going somewhere?" Akira wore a smile as best he could so as not to worry the old man. Though there was only so much longer he could put it off. Sae would be here any minute now. "Well, the others will be here in an hour. Futaba told me all about the little Christmas party you guys wanted to have. Nobody'll be coming in today so I figured why not." The knife in his chest twisted ever further. It still wasn't too late to call the deal off. Tell Sae to figure it out somewhere else and leave Shido in fate's hands. It was alright to be a little selfish to achieve some happiness, wasn't it? "What do you look so down for? It's Christmas! Cheer up!" But as the bell to the front rang, it was clear what Akira had to do. What needed to be done. "Uh, excuse me, but we're clo-"

Sure enough, there she was. Right on time. And looking just as glum about the whole ordeal as he was.

"Sojiro," Sae greeted stiffly. The old man was incredibly perplexed to see her today of all days. After all, it would only be natural to assume she'd be with Makoto. Or at work. "You ready?" Akira merely sighed and stepped forward. Which only served to further confuse Sojiro.

"What's… going on?"

"You hadn't told him?" It wasn't as though Akira had been avoiding it. Sojiro had been long gone after he had returned to Leblanc. But he wasn't exactly jumping at the bits to tell him neither. The prosecutor sighed and took the burden upon herself to explain. She owed Akira that much after making him go through with this. "We're having difficulty convicting Shido of his crimes, even with a confession. In order to make sure he doesn't go free…" The woman felt the sigh slip out and interrupt her. "I asked Akira to turn himself in and personally testify against him."

"Wh-what?!" The old man nearly spilled his drink. "You can't be serious! After everything that bastard's done, you can't slap the cuffs on him? Isn't his confession enough?"

"You know as well as I that it won't." They were both fairly familiar with the legal system from their years of work. Both sides of it. It didn't make the old man any less frustrated. "There are still people out there looking to save face by defending Shido."

"It's Christmas for God's sake! You can't wait until after?"

"I'm afraid not. The more time we waste, the quicker Shido can go free. And all of this would be for nothing." The old man shook his head and nursed his brow. This frustration on their holiday break was giving him a major headache. These kids had been through so much to get here, and now they were expected to give even more. While the adults could offer very little.

"No." Sojiro put himself between Akira and Sae, shaking his head with a stern stare. "Find some other way. But you're not taking him." Sae had known he'd protest to protect Akira. But she had also hoped Sojiro would be much more rational about this given his history with Shido.

"Sojiro, I understand that you don't like this. I don't either, but it's the only way we-"

"As his legal guardian, I say no." The old man huffed at her exasperatedly. "If his confession isn't enough to convict him, then what's the point of you guys in the first place? He's done enough. Just leave the kid be." He turned towards Akira and delivered a firm nod. "I've got your back. Head back upstairs and let me handle this." Akira had done so much for him and Futaba, and he couldn't give enough back in return. For fixing his family and for how he treated him initially.

"It's okay, Sojiro. I've made my decision." The old man was absolutely blindsided by his decision when he took his place at Sae's side.

"What? Hold on! Let's talk about this-"

"I've already committed to this." He closed his eyes and sighed through his nose, doing his best to remain composed. "This is how it has to be. I don't like this either, but we have no other choice. It's so that nobody else gets hurt. That something like what happened to Wakaba and your family will never happen again." Sojiro was at a loss for words. This teenage kid was willing to throw himself to the wolves like some sort of martyr. The old man stammered and floundered about, racking his brain to try and convince them otherwise. But his words failed him.

"What am I supposed to tell Futaba? Or the others for that matter?"

"I wrote a letter." The boy retrieved it from his coat pocket and handed it to the old man. He had worked harder on penning it than any of his school assignments combined. "It'll explain everything." Sojiro couldn't bring himself to read the parchment. No doubt whatever he had written would crush the old man's heart. It had been quite the journey. Back in April, he only saw him as another chore on his list. Now, he viewed the kid like his very own son. The son he never had.

"You don't have to do this…" He placed a hand on Akira's shoulder, looking at him pleadingly to step away. "It's not your fight anymore. If you do this, they'll send you straight to juvie."

"If I don't, then no one else will."

"I'll do everything in my power to look after him and make sure Shido is locked away for good. You have my word on that, Sojiro." The two adults locked eyes, neither one willing to look away. Sae's eyes burned with such intense resolve. It clearly ran in the family if Makoto was anything to judge by. Sojiro's jaded visage sized her up accordingly. It was a very high standard she was expected to live up to, and he would hold her to it every step of the way. "I don't know how long he'll be incarcerated for, but I can assure you I'll get him out if it's the last thing I do." Sojiro let a weary sigh escape him. If Akira trusted her with this, then he had to as well. It didn't diminish the pain of helplessness any. All he could do was offer his support. And his hand.

"We'll be waiting for you, kid." But Akira didn't take the handshake. He instead embraced the old man, a shudder escaping out as he resisted the tears. Sojiro let his wall descend and hugged him in return. It was one of the hardest things he had to do in letting him go. The energy had left him, causing him to lean on the bar as he watched Akira and Sae depart through the doors into the cold. Reading the letter Akira had written knocked the wind even further out of him. Wiping a tear from his eye, the old man sipped from the flask he kept under the bar to take the edge off. Not since Wakaba's passing had he felt so strongly. Or this helpless. The bell ringing had yanked him from his sulking immediately, the old man hoping Sae had changed her mind. Instead, it was Makoto leaning against the doorway, panting as though she had just run a marathon.

"Where is he?" she finally managed. Though the look on the old man's face already relayed her the answer. All night had she fought with her sister to reconsider and eventually had succumbed to exhaustion. By the time she had finally awoken, it was too late.

"He's gone, kid…"


"Merry Christmas!"

It certainly didn't look like it. Ryuji's proclamation of praise was met with silence. Sojiro glumly polished glasses at the bar while Futaba slumped against it, weeping softly. Makoto was strangely there before them, sitting in a booth all by her lonesome with a downtrodden defeated look about her. Ann, Yusuke, and Haru all hovered curiously behind the blond.

"Huh? Why do you look so down? What're you cryin' about, Futaba? You guys get in a fight or something?" Futaba had no strength to answer, instead just wearily shaking her head while remaining on the table. Sojiro nursed his sore eyes as the kids stood bewildered in the doorway. It had already been enough of a struggle breaking the news to Futaba. How he was even going to remotely get through telling the rest of them, he had no idea.

"Hey, Ryuji…" Ann hadn't slept a wink last night. Spend the rest of her Christmas Eve crying her eyes out after catching Akira in a lie. And with him absent from the café, it only fueled her worries.

"…What's up with this gloomy vibe?" It was really bringing his Christmas mood down. It was a time for celebration, not feeling sorry for oneself. "Where's Akira?"

"Mako-chan, what's wrong?" Haru asked. Makoto hadn't looked up from her table even once since they entered. Like Sojiro, she too was languishing in pained silence trying to figure out how to tell them. What could she tell them?

"It's okay," Sojiro assured her. He looked down at the letter on the table, laid flat and folded up. It was hard to even touch as the old man thought he might accidentally rip it. "I'll explain. You all might want to… sit down." They all nervously took their seats by Makoto, with Yusuke pulling up a barstool. Sojiro took another sip from his flask to dull the nerves. Had been a long time since he had hit the sauce in such a way. "Akira's… gone. Officer Niijima came for him earlier today." They all called out in shock and surprise at his words.

"What for?!" Ryuji asked.

"Why?" Yusuke huffed in anguish. The old man rubbed his temples apprehensively. He wasn't quite sure he had the strength to keep this up. He truly had let himself get soft.

"According to Niijima, they didn't have enough evidence to convict Shido so they needed his testimony. He… turned himself in."

"I tried to stop her! I really did!" Makoto insisted frantically. "I spent all night trying to convince her not to, b-but then I fell asleep! When I woke up, she had already-"

"Makoto!" Ryuji interrupted. "We ain't blamin' ya." Even so, the student council president couldn't shake her feeling of guilt by association. Their eyes all turned at the motion of Futaba handing them the paper.

"R-read it," she uttered. She barely made it through herself. Makoto took the letter and unfolded it before them. It was Akira's handwriting, alright. In its barely legible and glorious chicken scratch. The one thing he hadn't managed to improve on. But they had all come around to deciphering it after so many months.

To my good friends,

If you're reading this, then I'm already gone. Sae Niijima had contacted me last night about Shido and how there wasn't enough evidence to convict him without my testimony. In order to ensure everything we did wasn't for nothing, I had to go and turn myself in. By now, I'm probably in juvenile hall since I was arrested on probation charges. No way I was going to just get a slap on the wrist as a Phantom Thief.

I've made a lot of promises I couldn't keep. I promised to help Morgana become human. But I couldn't. And I promised that if something like this would happen that we'd all go down together. I couldn't. Forcing you all to give up your lives and potential futures would be unfair. And I know you'd have fought me every step of the way if I told you I was going to do it. I'd have done the same in your shoes, which was why I kept it secret. You're probably incredibly angry and upset at me for my decision. Maybe you might not even want to be my friend anymore. I'd understand completely. For all your trying to convince me to stop doing too much to be a hero even at my own detriment, I couldn't listen. I sacrificed myself so the rest of you wouldn't have to. I've seen what the police are capable of firsthand. There's still corrupt cops with a grudge in there. A grudge against us. Sae herself even told me they might try whatever they could to try and smear us. I was faced with potentially life in jail when they had me in that interrogation room.

I don't know when I'll be out or if any of you will be around to want to see me when I'm out. I wouldn't blame you for wanting nothing to do with me. I'm not a good friend. I've lied and kept this a secret from the people who care the most. Which means I'm also a terrible boyfriend too. But everything I've done was for the best intentions. I only ever wanted to protect you guys and do the right thing. I won't try and convince you that you're wrong for the pain and anger you're no doubt feeling.

But just know that I will always treasure your friendship and our time together. For the rest of my life. There's so much I'd like to say. I'm glad it's on paper because there's no way I could say it out loud without losing my composure.

Ryuji, you were there before anyone else. Had my back when it was just the both of us against the world. The only thing thicker than our bond is your skull. I admire your dedication and resolve, how you always wanted to kick our asses into gear when the going got tough.

Yusuke, your sound reason and stern head on your shoulders has kept up on the straight and narrow through so much. I'd never have imagined we'd be on the same side one day when I met you on the city streets. You're already such a great artist, and you'll be even greater in the future. Greater than Madarame ever was. He never defined you and never will.

Makoto, please don't blame yourself for Sae's choice. She gave me the option to walk away, and I took it of my own free will. It's easy to see what kind of man your dad was by how you two turned out. Such strong and dedicated people with a sense of justice. He'd be very proud of you. I know I am. Don't ever lose sight of that sense of justice.

Futaba, you've come so far out of your shell since we changed your heart. None of us could've made it this far without you. You and Sojiro. The both of you are like my family away from family. Here in Leblanc, I truly felt home. Wakaba would be so proud of both of you. There's not enough I can give back for your kindness to me. This is the best I can do.

Haru, we could use more people with your tender touch and understanding in this world. You see where you've come from in life and use your experience to empathize with others and help them. That takes such great maturity. Anything you touch will radiate kindness and responsibility. We do because of it.

And to you, Ann. I can't apologize enough. I'm sorry I broke my promise you made me swear, I'm sorry for lying to you, and I'm sorry for ruining Christmas for you and everyone. Nothing I can say will really make this better. But know that you were literally the best thing that ever happened to me. My light, my sun, my moon, my stars. The wind beneath my wings, the foundation I stood upon which took me higher. You are in my very soul, driving me forward. You are strong and kind and brave. I love you with all my heart and always will, even if you might not anymore.

Even with everything I've written, it just doesn't feel like it's enough. Nothing ever will. But pen can only capture so much. Just please take care of each other and help bring good to the world like the Phantom Thieves always were supposed to, even if we aren't truly Phantom Thieves anymore. I hope one day to see you again. But now, I have so much I need to do.

I'm sorry.

Sincerely, with all my heart,

Akira Kurusu

None of them had the strength to say anything. Every letter – down to the syllables – could they sense the unbridled passion Akira put in. He had a natural talent for the written word as well as the spoken one. It was like he had touched each of their souls one by one. Even after having read it twice, Makoto had to cup her mouth to bury the soft sob that tried to choke out. Though none of them could compare their pain to what Ann felt.

The blonde had stood in stunned silence since Sojiro's reveal. Her heart having stopped completely, the breath hanging in her chest. It was hard to breathe, hard to even focus. Like the whole world was spinning around her, she felt so dizzy.

"I knew it…" She couldn't hold back the tears leaking down her face even if she wanted to. "I knew something was wrong. I can't believe that he'd lie right to my face!" And with that, she could remain calm no longer. The sobs burst right out of her yet again. A whole night of crying and she still had more tears to shed. "Dammit! How could he do this to me?!" Her heart was splintering onto the floor. The man she loved had left her behind after promising to take her with him. To take them all. Instead, he had gone where they couldn't follow, leaving them behind to pick up his pieces on Christmas Day.

"N-now hold on," Sojiro attempted. "He was just doing what any man would do for his woman. A true man does what he has to in order to protect his loved one-"

"I don't wanna hear the macho bullshit!" Ann snapped through her tears. "He lied! We made a promise!" Sojiro rubbed his forehead as Ann continued to cry. He couldn't blame her for her upset. But the old man didn't want Akira to have lost anything. Not after having given so much for all of them. He probably would've done the same for Wakaba if he could. The initial shock from the letter was starting to wear off, and the others could feel the surge of emotion hit them full force.

"What the hell!?" Ryuji shouted, delivering a punch to the cushioned seat in frustration.

"I don't comprehend," Yusuke gestured from his barstool. "The hero who saved this nation is now living in juvenile hall?" If this was a joke, the artist wasn't laughing in the slightest.

"It's just how the system works," Sojiro huffed in frustration. Hypocritical it was as he had been trying to push Sae back and bludgeon through the rules set before them. But without Akira here to defend himself, he felt compelled to do it in his stead. Save him some face and keep his friend group together. "Don't let it get to you." Makoto shook her head, fighting off her own tears.

"I did my best to discuss the options… but nothing I said could change the outcome." Sojiro didn't expect them to embrace or even understand the rules. They had operated outside the law for the longest time so their perceptions were rather skewed. Plus, they were still rebellious teenagers. He was the same way in his youth.

"Dammit!" Ryuji slammed his fist against the seat once more. This feeling of helplessness while Akira was locked up was eating away at him. Like he was under the heel of Kamoshida once more. "This can't be happenin'!"

"Are we supposed to just agree to this?" Ann snapped through her tears. "Lay down, suck it up, and pretend everything will just be okay?" She was distraught at what Akira was putting her through. But equally upset that the police would incarcerate him despite their corruption and all of his contributions. Akira was a hero. Her hero, not some criminal to be locked away by a skewed system. "I can't do that!"

"Me neither!" Futaba stated.

"I must object as well." After Yusuke, they all threw their hats into the ring. Frustration, heartbreak, anguish, worry, righteous indignation. They were all sharing it this day, for Akira and for the system.

"Wanting to interrogate him makes sense, but the measures following were questionable at best." Haru was definitely understating her critique of the police's brutality. Soft-spoken in word and tone but her stern gaze showcased a great irate flurry within.

"All that crap about his record and probation was bullshit! He didn't do any of that!" Though Ryuji was starting to think maybe he should've laid into the real Shido. For all the torment Akira had been put through, he was definitely owed some bare knuckle action.

"I don't understand!" Ann cried out in anguish. "Won't everything just cancel out if Shido tells the whole truth!? He's already confessed! Why isn't that good enough?"

"That won't be enough," Makoto answered. "Remember what my sister said before? In order to overturn a sentence, you need definitive evidence that proves the subject's innocence."

"Evidence!? How're we gonna find anything like that…!?" Ryuji was racking his head to try and find some sleight of hands trick they could use to get Akira out. To clear his name like it rightfully deserved. But none of them knew the name or even the face of what the woman Shido had tried to assault look like. No doubt her identity had been obscured by the records for privacy reasons. All while Akira's was plastered all over the local internet by Kamoshida. "I mean, the police were in on all that crap soo, so any proof they got's prolly been destroyed."

"Futaba," Yusuke snapped, surprising the girl with his sudden jolt of energy. "Is there any way you can use your computer to find information?" At his words did all eyes fixate on her. She felt the butterflies kick back up in her stomach from stage fright, made worse from Akira's absence.

"I'll do what I can. But don't put too much faith in it. It's not some kinda almighty device." After Shido's public calling card, they no doubt scrubbed the servers clean. There might have been some trace remnant or backdoor entrance she could scour, but they'd definitely have been thorough. And it would be difficult to get back into the system remotely. She could always have Makoto plug one of her drives into Sae's computer, but unless she rearranged the code into a new format, odds are that the security measures would recognize the old format and bar her out.

"The Metaverse doesn't exist anymore either…" Their best bet and only evidence of Akira's innocence and Shido's guilt was up in smoke. But Haru measured the ethics of exposing such a world to the public. Even if they could enter it, it would be heavily exploitable if made known worldwide. "Boss, can't you think of another means by which we can help him?" All he could do was shake his head. Any contacts Sojiro had from his old days were long gone now. Especially with Shido now in jail. They truly were at a brick wall now. The fluffy-haired girl stared down at her little hands glumly. It felt like being at her father and Sugimura's mercy yet again. Nothing she could do, no matter how much her heart ached. "I wonder what Mona-chan would say if he were here right now…" Yusuke delivered a sad huff of air through his nose as he reflected upon their missing feline companion.

"He'd likely laugh and tell us how foolish we all are."

"And he would say it in that high and mighty tone of his…" Makoto added. They were all greatly in the mood for a joke or two right about now. Anything to bring some semblance of a smile back to their faces. Ryuji leaned forward on his hand as he could just imagine himself and the cat getting into it yet again.

"That guy was real annoyin', but now that he's gone it feels… y'know…" He never was good with words. Or expressing emotional gratitude to other people. The blond was always too nervous that he'd make himself sound like an idiot. But he'd take that opportunity now. If only to hear Morgana's high-pitched little voice call him a carnal blond monkey one more time. "Guess we really did count on him a lot."

"The hope of humanity…" Futaba echoed. Lavenza's true words. Their little furry friend had been their most powerful ally all along, and none of them could see it.

"I wish I could do something to help our leader…" The artist clenched his hands in frustration. The tools that could create beautiful landscapes now taunted him with their uselessness now. They all seemed to truly be at the end of their ropes. Each and every suggestion or backdoor method they could brainstorm was shot down by cold crippling reality. Once again backed into a corner, as was their lot in life.

Ann had been too caught up in blubbering silently to herself to offer much more. They were down three people, including the love of her life. Light of her light. Fire of her soul. Someone who believed in and reached out to her when no one else did or could. Sure, she was frustrated and hurt at his lie, at his breaking of their promise to be in this together. When she saw him again, he'd definitely be in for it. But they had to get him out first before them. Not leave him at the mercy of the corrupt courts. That's what Akira would say to them if the roles had been reversed. What Morgana would say.

"Hey!" The blonde forced herself up and slammed her hands onto the table. Sojiro worried for a split second that she might just cleave it in half. "Morgana'd be ashamed of us sitting around here moping like this!" They could just imagine him pontificating to them, urging them to cast aside their tears and rise up against the odds. All in that cute high-pitched voice of his. "Honestly, I don't know what we should do… but if we give up, we'll never save Akira! Didn't he save all of you!? Of us? If we aren't gonna act now, when will we?" Ann shook her head fervently. It wouldn't end like this. It couldn't. She wouldn't allow it no matter what, even if she had to go it alone. "We gotta do something!"

They all stood in silence at her outburst. Her fiery passion, the fierce look of determination in those ocean blue eyes of hers. Ann had that touch of Akira in her soul now, and they could see it manifesting through. Ryuji was the first to rise to his feet.

"Yeah! Now's not the time to be hangin' our heads!" Even with her rousing speech, they were still quite limited. Just ordinary teenagers again confined to ordinary lives.

"Hm…" Yusuke rubbed his forehead in thought, the proverbial gears starting to chug along. "What can we do without using the Metaverse?"

"Maybe…" Haru trailed off in thought, thinking about the box they had been put in. "Maybe we'll be able to find something if we search around." As to what was anyone's guess.

"Let's just calm down and think about it," Makoto reasoned. Once again taking on the sort of mom role for the team. That Niijima intuition at work yet again. "We've escaped death countless times before. There's no doubt we can do this!" She too was beginning to see the forest through the trees, parting the fog of doubt and worry like the Red Sea. They faced a god. Stared a divine being in the face and walked away triumphant. They could do this. They will.

"That's right!" Futaba said, rising from her barstool. "Let's go!" This Christmas wouldn't be spent moping about or shedding tears. Ann had already done enough of that in her despair, and she was sick of feeling like the damsel in distress. He believed in them when no one else did. Even when they didn't, huddled inside the Velvet Room cells. This time, they would save him.

"We're gonna save our leader, no matter what it takes!" They all rallied behind Ryuji's declaration. Even if it took them years, they would make sure their friend earned the freedom he so rightfully deserved. The freedom he had given them. Sojiro folded his apron and tucked it beneath his arm, joining the kids on the other side of the bar.

"Count me in too. He saved Futaba's life. I'll be damned if he's gonna spend the rest of his time locked up in some jail cell because of Shido!" For too long had the old man spent his time with his head ducked in the sand, shutting out the world and chanting that everything was fine. Even trying to stifle Akira for attempting to do good by the world. If these kids were stepping up to the plate, it was his turn as well.


12/28/17 – Wednesday

"So you're the leader of the Phantom Thieves, huh?"

Akira was escorted to where he'd be residing for the rest of his indefinite stay in custody. Juvenile hall. He finally made it. No doubt his parents would have a lot to say when they contacted him. They were the least of his concerns right now. All he could think about was how the others were reacting. They all probably hated his guts. Especially Ann, for lying to her face on their Christmas Eve together. He singlehandedly stole Christmas from the Phantom Thieves. It stung worse than anything he had ever done. And he was a liar now too. His spotless record of honestly now tarnished. He could never go back and reclaim it. The bitter taste it left in his mouth refused to go.

"Quiet type, eh?"

The guard pestering him generously guided him to his cell. Second time he had found himself in handcuffs. It was hard to make out much of anything as they wandered the halls of the juvenile correctional facility. They had confiscated his glasses as a safety measure so everything just looked like a blurry mess. Not that there was much he needed to see. Without his friends, there really wasn't anything in the world to bear witness to. Sae had given him a pep talk on their way over here that she would keep a close eye on him here and keep the entire staff under her thumb. But he barely gave her a breath of acknowledgment. Having believed that his friends now hated him for lying, ruining Christmas, and abandoning them had robbed him of his willpower. The spark in his silver eyes had twinkled out. All that he could take comfort in was that he could hopefully bring Shido to justice. Perhaps that would be enough to keep him sane.

The guard finally uncuffed him and opened the door to his cell, firmly guiding him in. He closed it right in his face and sized him up like an animal at the zoo.

"You don't look so tough to me, kid. That innocent act might have worked at your school, but it won't fly here. You're gonna do time. Hard time." With that, he left Akira to get situated. It was a barebones little area, bleak in coloration and meager in accommodations. At least he had a toilet. The boy sat on the bed and leaned into his hands. A life, friends, and a woman who loved him. He had given it all up. Now he was alone.

It was the right thing to do. For the greater good. But it didn't feel like it. Akira felt himself going back to when he had first been arrested. The realization that everything he had was going out the window. To have come so far only to lose it, let it slip through his fingers like sand. His only comfort was that he transcribed his thoughts onto paper to read. In the hopes they might somewhat understand and see his point. And they were still safe, their identities hidden from the law. They could still walk free even if he couldn't.

And there was the real victory all along.