With a hard jolt, Akira resurfaced from his nightmare. He didn't scream, but as air rushed into his lungs, a burning formed in his throat. He scrambled from his room in a panic, barely making it to the bathroom in time before he tried to cough up anything that was left in his stomach. More often than not, his night terrors ended like this.

Akira wasn't sure how long he was in there, shakily throwing his guts up. When he could breathe again, he rolled off to the side, laying limp in the floor. It was cold in the bathroom, so he brought his arms up to wrap around himself. His fingers brushed over bruises and swollen cuts, and he was almost thrown into panic again when he remembered what caused them. Arisato attacked me earlier. Akira knew they had both been in the wrong, but his pride kept him from admitting it.

Fatigue washed over him at once, and with it, the blue walls of the Velvet Room. Akira couldn't keep the groan out of his voice. First a night terror and then this? He forced himself to his feet though, staring down Igor. It was oddly quiet here, especially considering the twins weren't here to yell at him. "What do you want now? Can I have my compendium yet?"

Igor simply chuckled. "Patience, trickster. You are not ready for your other Personas just yet, not when you are stuck in your head. Do not worry though, the door will open for you three in due time. I have only summoned you here to warn you, in place of my attendants."

Akira felt a prickly feeling wash over him, and his body threatened to rebel again. When the Velvet Room residents gave warnings, he knew it was something bad. "A trial is fast approaching, one that will test your abilities as a wild card. You must adapt quickly if you are to overcome it." With those final words, the walls faded from Akira's vision, leaving him back on the floor of the bathroom.

"Dude! Are you ok?"

Ryuji was in front of him, waving a hand in front of his face. Akira coughed a few more times and sat up more. The blond helped him, using a towel that he brought to wipe the disheveled teen's mouth. They sat in silence for a moment.

"I had another night terror, but this was worse than normal." Akira leaned on Ryuji, despite the sting from his bruises. He just wanted the physical comfort. "It was like the feeling when we dissolved away, but more drawn out and painful." He shivered. The floor is really cold. "I felt too alive when I woke up. I don't know which part was more terrifying."

"And then when you came here, you went to that weird blue place, right?" Ryuji carefully held Akira's hand. "I don't really know much about whatever that all is, but I've known you long enough to tell when you've gone there." Akira felt tears starting to prick as his eyes a little. He still couldn't believe how lucky he had gotten with his Thieves.

Akira was still so tired. He almost fell asleep on Ryuji, but the blond carefully helped him up. "Let's go to your room before you sleep on me, at least." The dark haired teen would have protested, but Ryuji was so warm. The two plodded back to Akira's room, where the leader curled up in Ryuji's lap and fell back asleep.

To say that Kouji was upset the next morning was an understatement. Akira woke to a hard knocking on his door that Ryuji was dutifully trying to ignore. He snapped irritably at whoever was on the other side, who responded by flinging the door open. The Thief jumped out of the blond's lap with a shriek. Kouji was glaring at the two thieves with anger.

"I do believe the rules state that you must pass all people staying the night by me. I don't think this is your room, Sakamoto." Ryuji was blushing rather brightly, stuttering and trying to think up some bullshit to tell Kouji. Akira recovered from the scare, then turned his dark gaze to match Kouji's green glare.

"My apologies." Akira hated kissing ass like this, but if he and Ryuji were to get out of this without trouble, he'd have to sell this hard. "I tend to have night terrors, and Ryuji found me in the bathroom, throwing my insides up." He sniffled a bit, and gently shifted his sleeve up to reveal the injuries. Even if they were inflicted by Arisato, they're going to prove my point now. It seemed to be working too, as Kouji's gaze softened more.

The RA shook his head. "You should have told me about these night terrors, Kurusu. But I am glad you're ok." Kouji turned to leave the room. "Next time though, please come to me instead when you have these problems." The door shut with a click, and Akira all but slumped to the floor.

"Ugh."

"You got that right." Ryuji hopped down and crouched by Akira. "We have the day off, so what do you say we go meet Mishima at Leblanc?"

Akira perked up instantly. The promise of perfect coffee and curry was more than enough to chase away the bad dream. "Absolutely." He grabbed his phone from his desk to text the Thieves.

Phantom Thieves, we're meeting up at Leblanc today. Be there as soon as you can.

The two boys watched the messages flood back in, confirming the meetup. Akira found himself smiling. Even if he didn't get along with the other groups, he still had his Thieves. And they trusted him.

Akira and Ryuji stepped out of the room after everyone had given their confirmation, only to be greeted by Yosuke and Arisato. Ugh. Akira felt anger blaze through him, especially since Arisato had a shit-eating smirk on his face.

"Kouji chewed you out, huh?"

"I talked my way out of it." Akira returned the glare, feeling the red flickering at the edges of his vision. "I used the bruises you gave me as leverage, so thanks for that." He knew that wasn't what Arisato was expecting, and it showed. "Kouji thinks I'm some soft, innocent, broken boy now."

"Shut the hell up Kurusu." The blue haired boy walked away, spitting more words over his shoulder. "Next time you and Sakamoto have your 'fun times' or whatever, do it in his room. I don't want to hear you."

Yosuke rolled his eyes with a small chuckle. He nudged Ryuji playfully. "Do you not know how to stay quiet?"

"Oh you be quiet Yosuke."

Akira laughed and pulled Ryuji out of the dorms. The two stumbled to Leblanc, a few of the Thieves already there. Sojiro welcomed the two with his grumpy smile, and Akira felt warmth spread all throughout him. He sat down in one of the booths with Ryuji, and soon a steaming mug of coffee and a plate of curry was sitting in front of him.

"You causing trouble with your thieves again, Akira?" Sojiro's tone was both teasing and concerning. The teen didn't respond until he was halfway done with his curry, missing the delicious taste.

"Not too badly this time. I don't think."

"You don't think?"

Before Akira could respond, Mishima burst into the cafe, waving a notebook in the air. "Phantom Thieves! I have the next suspect in the cases!" He stopped yelling as soon as he noticed Sojiro and put the book over his mouth in embarrassment. "Oh, s-sorry, forget I said anything…"

Sojiro laughed and turned to the coffee maker. "Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

Mishima shook his head and sat next to Yusuke. "Sorry for intruding on your shop." He set the notebook down and opened it. Akira leaned over to get a closer look, though he realized he couldn't make heads or tails of it.

"Mishima, what is-"

"I haven't slept much recently, I've been too excited to." Mishima flicked through the pages until he got to what seemed like a profile of a red haired woman. "Zurui Habisune. She's a police officer in the city. Several cases point to criminals she's in charge of going missing before turning up dead." Akira leaned over further, his eyes struggling to read the scrawling handwriting. "There haven't been any recent murder cases to tie back to her though…"

With an even louder slam than the one Mishima gave, the door to Leblanc swung open. Standing there, with the most terrified look on his face, was Narukami. Akira first felt irritation, then concern. What the hell happened to him?

"Hello, can I get you something to-"

"There's a dead body in the alleyway!"