Ren was in the middle of class when his phone rang. The ring disturbed the class that he had to excuse himself from the teacher and his classmates as soon as he saw the name of the caller.

"No matter." The teacher spoke. "You can answer the call right here, we're done for the day." He dismissed.

"Stand!" The class representative stated as the class followed the instruction.

Ren tuned out the class dismissal ritual in favor of answering his phone.

"Makoto, what's wro-"

"It's Ryuji." Makoto stated somberly. "He's trapped."

"What do you mean he's trapped?" Ren questioned in worry.

As if on cue, the phones of the entire class, even the exiting teacher's phone, rang. Ren noticed that everyone mirrored his expression of worry.

"Makoto, what going on?" Ren asked. "What happened to Ryuji?"

"He's trapped inside a virtual world." Makoto answered.

"Tell me everything later." Ren decided. "Call everyone else we'll meet at Leblanc."

"We're meeting there as we speak." Makoto informed. "Futaba and Sojiro are presently in Ryuji's apartment."

After a quick change of clothes and a quick message to his parents of his whereabouts, Ren immediately boarded a train to Shibuya, with Morgana in his bag.

"What's Ryuji done now?" The cat whined.

"I don't know." Ren answered honestly. "Considering Makoto's words and the current news, it's not something he's done." He explained. "It's someone else's deed."

Morgana decided to take a peek at Ren's phone and he read about the current Virtual Game news about 213 people being dead because of the virtual reality equipment. He remembered Ren and Ryuji's conversation about the Virtual Reality a few months and how Ryuji got enough money to purchase one.

"Maybe it's a prank." Morgana offered. "You know how of a jokester he can be."

"Maybe." Ren shook his head. "I don't think even Ryuji or Futaba would go that far for a joke." He added. "In any case, we'll know more once we arrive."

As soon as Ren arrived at Leblanc, he half-expected things to just be a prank. He really hoped that everything was just a prank just for him to ditch his hometown and visit Tokyo.

But no.

He arrived to a scene where everyone was somber. An inconsolable Futaba as Makoto and Anne tried to comfort her with Yusuke and Haru looking at their youngest member, unsure what to do.

Ren and Morgana also noticed the absence of one Ryuji Sakamoto.

Usually it was Ryuji who would console anyone in a heartbeat, would console Futaba in this situation, but he wasn't here.

"It's all my fault!" Futaba sobbed. "I-I-I-"

"Ren." Yusuke and Haru announced his arrival.

"Glad you could come on short notice." Makoto offered a sad smile.

"I came as soon as I could." Ren replied. "I've read the news." He continued. "Is it true?"

"Yes." Anne looked away from their leader. "Ryuji was even the first to exit the school as soon as it ended." She explained. "He said he and Futaba were going to play for a few hours."

Ren looked at the inconsolable Futaba.

"Boss managed to stop Futaba from playing the game." Yusuke explained. "As soon as the news broke out, he immediately left and went to his residence." He continued. "He left the café in Haru's care that was when I arrived here."

"Boss is at the hospital with Ryuji's mother." Haru informed. "He and Futaba managed to stop her from removing the Nervegear from Ryuji's head."

"Futaba-chan, it wasn't your fault." Anne comforted her. "You couldn't have known that this would happen."

"He told me that he'd go in first and scout for suitable leveling areas then we could party together." Futaba sobbed. "If that stupid teacher didn't hold us back for some stupid announcement then maybe Ryuji wouldn't be alone in there." She continued.

"No." Ren declared. "Futaba no, just no." He shook his head as he approached the youngest girl in the group. "If anything Ryuji would be happy that you didn't make it." He offered the young girl a smile and knelt before the girl. "If anything, Ryuji would beat himself up if you were caught up in there with him." He added. "So don't blame yourself."

"I agree." Morgana seconded. "As much as he annoys me, he's very selfless."

"It makes you think." Anne voiced out. "We almost lost him a bunch of times because of his selfless nature."

"I just hope he won't commit suicide in a misguided attempt to help his mother."

"What do you mean?" Ren's eyes narrowed. "I know he tries to help his mother by working part time." He added. "But he wouldn't go that far. Would he?"

"I don't know." Anne admitted. "Ryuji fell out of public favor since he punched Kamoshida." She explained. "Everyone who knew what happened despised him." She added. "His reputation really never recovered."

"He's told me about that a few times." Ren admitted. "He cooks for his mother, he puts his mother on top of his priorities and everything." He added. "I don't think he'd go that far, right?"

"Don't underestimate Ryuji's love for his mother." Anne countered. "He borrowed money from me just to buy his mother a souvenir." She shared. "Despite what others may think, Ryuji's aware of his family's finances." She added. "He buys his games and consoles with his own money."

"Considering the medical fees." Makoto hummed. "I can see how you'd come to that conclusion."

"If only we can change Akihiko Kayaba's heart." Yusuke voiced out. "Maybe we can save Ryuji and everyone else."

"Let's not dwell on that." Ren stated with finality." Let's just visit Ryuji and offer his mother some support."

Everyone nodded.

"It's unanimous then?" Morgana questioned.

"Yes."

Hearing about the number of people trapped inside Sword Art Online versus seeing the number of people admitted into one hospital for the same reason felt different. The former Phantom Thieves of Hearts can't place what they were feeling.

Even moreso hearing about Ryuji's situation. The only person who actually saw Ryuji was Futaba, the rest of the Phantom Thieves were distraught, but no one could ever be ready for the terror they felt upon seeing their friend unconscious on the bed hooked to an IV and with his VR headset.

Their desire to change Kayaba's heart was even more apparent now that they've seen Ryuji in such state, however they can't.

They successfully ended Mementos' existence from all of Japan, even the Jails that propped up recently ceased to exist after their battle against EMMA.

"This is just wrong." Morgana whispered to himself. "Ryuji's supposed to be brash, and loud." He added. "Not this quiet, this still."

"I know." Ren acknowledged.

"Anne-chan."Someone greeted. "Are you here to see Ryu-kun?"

The woman in question had eyes that were red from crying.

"Yes Sakamoto-san." Anne nodded. "Let me introduce everyone else."

As soon as introductions were done, the elder Sakamoto allowed Ryuji's friends inside the room and lead them towards her son's bed.

"You kids are here." Sojiro commented. "I'm going out for a bit, anyone want me to buy something?" He asked the group.

"We're good Boss." Ren replied. "We ate before we rushed here." He informed.

"Hope you didn't deplete my ingredients." Sojiro offered. "I'll be back."

Sojiro gave the group one glance before leaving the room.

"So how'd you all meet Ryu-kun?" Ryuji's mother asked the group. "It's kind of surprising him making a few friends considering what happened with that teacher." She added bitterly.

Everyone else took a turn and narrated how they met Ryuji from Ren's fateful meeting on his first day at Shujin High.

Yusuke, when Ryuji stopped him from approaching Anne.

Makoto, when she was blackmailed by the yakuza

Futaba and Haru during their lowest point.

"That boy." The elder Sakamoto shook her head. "He can't really leave people alone when he knows they need help." She offered a sad smile. "Then all these misfortunes happen to him." She sniffled. "I wonder if I'm such a failure as a mother."

"N-No!" Anne immediately debunked the notion. "You know how much Ryuji loves you Sakamoto-san." She assured her friend's mother.

"B-but I can't even defend him against his father and his teacher." The elder Sakamoto now had tears in her eyes. "Now I can't even save him from this death game." She sobbed.

"Your son's a fighter Sakamoto-san." Ren assured Ryuji's mother. "I'm sure he'll fight to survive."

"I hope so." Ryuji's mother cried. "I really hope so."

"I'll be back as soon I'm rested Ryu-kun." Ryuji's mother stated before kissing her son on his forehead. "Your friends offered to watch over you for a while." She smiled.

Ryuji's mother left with Sojiro, who offered her a ride back to home. The two of them left the Phantom Thieves to watch over their friend.

"Is there some way we can help Ryuji?" Anne voiced out. "I just can't stand that for all the things he's done for us we can't do anything for him."

"If only we can use our Personas and communicate with him directly." Futaba sniffled.

"What do you mean?" Makoto asked.

"No Futaba's right." Ren agreed. "Every time Navi communicates with us, her voice, for lack of better term, are sent immediately to our brains." He explained. "We don't exactly hear her when she speaks." He finished.

"You're right." Anne's eyes widened in realization.

"Can we send Sophie?" Haru suggested. "She's still an Artificial Intelligence right?"

"We don't even know if Sophie can enter Sword Art Online." Anne sighed. "The reason she can enter Jails was that she was the prototype for EMMA."

"I don't know." Ren hummed. "Don't dismiss that idea just yet." He continued. "We need to talk to Ichinose first."

"What do we do in the mean time?" Yusuke questioned.

"Offer him some words of encouragement." Ren smiled. "Hear that Ryuji!" He exclaimed. "We're all counting on you to wake up and exit that game."

In their own way, the thieves gave Ryuji Sakamoto moral encouragement even when he's unconscious. They continued to do so and continued to converse anything and everything they loved about him.

As time went on, Sojiro returned to the hospital. He got the thieves to return home and offered to watch over Ryuji at the hospital, provided that they walk Futaba home before they did.

The thieves nodded and went to Ryuji one by one to say their farewells and promises to return the next day.

"Make sure you survive okay!" Futaba stated in tears before she gave Ryuji a peck on his cheeks.

"For all that you've done, it's time to return the favor Ryuji-kun." Makoto smiled as she kissed the boy's other cheek.

"We are counting on you to return to your usual boisterous self." Yusuke stated as he kissed the boy's forehead.

"We'll be waiting for you Ryuji-kun." Haru smiled as she kissed Ryuji's nose.

"Make sure you return okay!" Anne stated as she tried to hold back her tears. "I don't think I can take losing you the second time." She sniffled as she kissed Ryuji's cheeks.

"I haven't realized before, but you're the glue that's keeping us together." Morgana meowed as he stood on Ryuji's chest. "Make sure you return and I promise not to nag on you so much." He finished before licking the boy's nose.

"Hey man." Ren began. "I know how much effort you guys went through when I was stuck in juvie." He continued. "I knew you and Makoto lead the team and others so that I could walk away and clean my name." He smiled. "It's my, no our, turn to make sure you get to escape that death game." He added. "We're counting on you to escape that game and give us more laughs and just be yourself." Ren finished as he kissed Ryuji's forehead before ruffling the hair that was now showing its black colored roots.

"Let's go." Ren announced as he faced the other Phantom Thieves.

"We're waiting for you Ryuji."