Case 11 - THUNDERSTORM
The last thing Goro saw as the ATN started sending him back was Sae-san's eyes growing wide with surprise, then narrowing in what was likely anger. He couldn't prevent himself from smiling a sly smile at this; the lie had been naughty, not to mention she definitely hadn't deserved this cheeky treatment, but it was a small price to pay for erasing this horrifying history. He had no idea where he was now headed, but it couldn't be worse than this. Goro let out a long sigh of relief in response to his successful escape.
His celebration was short-lived, however. Goro thought he had grown used to it, but the dizziness overwhelming him due to the trip seemed stronger than usual. Way stronger, in fact: the vertigo left him so nauseous, he didn't realize the world had stopped spinning. His head refused to follow suit – he could practically see stars. It took him a while to recover and, trying his best to resist a sudden urge to throw up, he didn't immediately notice something on his left shoulder shaking him gently – a hand.
"What's going on, Akechi-kun? Are you all right?" a worried voice asked him, and Goro jumped at the sight of Sae-san sitting beside him, clearly concerned. Her presence had been so unexpected he completely forgot about his nausea.
"S-Sae-san?! What are you doing he—" he began in disbelief, only to cut himself off. He knew his question would make no sense, and the puzzled look she gave him only cemented the thought in his mind.
"You look very pale. And you're sweating bullets too… Do you have a fever?" she wondered as she reached out a hand toward his forehead, only to grope at empty air – he had instinctively pulled away from her.
Goro chuckled in nervousness and gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Sae-san. I just… felt a little dizzy, that's all."
This was the truth and yet, he was aware his words didn't sound convincing in the slightest. Sae-san appeared to think the same, but decided not to press the issue.
"If you say so," she muttered while she brought a glass of water to her lips, finally averting her gaze from him. Goro followed her example.
Even so, he couldn't help but cast a glance at her every now and then, as though he weren't sure she was really there. His surprise was well-justified; for a moment, he had believed Sae-san had actually traveled back in time with him, but he knew that was impossible. While S had frustratingly omitted to tell him anybody could press the ATN icon and he would still be sent back, they did inform him only he could use the application, after all. A sudden jolt of irritation struck him as he remembered his dread eating away at him, terrified at the possibility that the Another Time Navi wouldn't work if he wasn't the one to touch its icon. He made a mental note to ask S for anything they might have forgotten to tell him about the application the next time they would exchange messages.
Having now completely recovered, he finally took his first good look at his surroundings. He was sitting, or more accurately, slumped on a high chair, and he straightened up right away in a manner intended to look casual. In front of him was a small plate of half-eaten sushi, and more of them slowly made their way around the room on a conveyor belt. The place was noisy and crowded, especially with salarymen reaching out greedily for the plates of food and then wolfing them down in one go. Sae-san was barely different, judging by the number of plates piling up next to her.
"You're not eating?" she asked absent-mindedly, eyeing the conveyor belt not unlike a lioness about to go for the kill.
"Ah—yes, I am," he hastily answered, reluctantly gobbling up the little food on his plate. He wasn't hungry at all, but he knew it would be rude not to finish his meal.
He wasn't sure of today's date, but he did remember going to this specific sushi restaurant with Sae-san more than once. She sure seemed to like this place, Goro thought as he listlessly stared at the dozens of plates on the conveyor belt with a pitiful look on his face. It was quite obvious the cooks had stopped caring long ago: the sushi was shapeless, the slices of fish clumsily cut, their sizes inconsistent, and the taste was as bland as the food unappealing to the eye. Despite that, Sae-san clearly enjoyed it, for reasons Goro couldn't even begin to grasp.
"By the way, will you be okay carrying all this stuff home?" she asked, interrupting his thoughts. "How did you even manage to bring them all here?"
Confused, Goro followed her gaze to find himself staring at a pile – a small mountain, in fact – of colorful bags and boxes wrapped in cheerful paper of all kinds at his feet. The floor around him had practically vanished under them.
Goro took a curious look at their contents. His curiosity then vanished as fast as it took over him and he swallowed hard – in those bags were enough boxes of chocolate to feed an entire family for months, but his astonishment didn't end there. There were dozens of other surprises waiting for him, such as a teddy bear that was, according to the note attached to it, apparently handmade. A beautiful and likely expensive fountain pen was neatly stored in a transparent box, and there was even a huge bouquet of flowers wrapped in clear paper amidst the pile. Only now did he notice his silver attaché-case concealed beneath the extravagant bags.
The sight of Goro growing more and more confused seemed to amuse Sae-san, for she let out a quiet chuckle.
"This sure is a successful Valentine's Day for you, isn't it? And to think those came only from the girls at your school… I bet your other fans have left quite the big pile of presents at your front door."
Her expression changed slightly. It was like she was gazing into space. "Making chocolate… This sure is something Makoto would never do."
"Yes, I have a hard time imagining your sister doing something like that…" Goro agreed absently, his head cluttered with thoughts (to the point he could almost hear gears turn). Today was February 14th 2016, no doubt, and the realization opened something inside his mind, letting a memory from that day emerge from its depths. He had gone to school that morning, only to get practically assaulted with presents by his fans, but his scheduled meeting with Sae-san at lunchtime had helped him endure it all. What did he do after that again…?
"That's strange, Akechi-kun…. How did you know I was talking about my sister?" she inquired, wariness written all over her face. Goro tensed slightly, only now realizing he had slipped up. "It's as though you have already met her before, but I think this is the first time I've ever mentioned her to you."
"Ah, um… That's…" he stammered clumsily, desperately looking for an acceptable reason to explain his impossible knowledge. "I… heard some girls in my class mention how a girl named Niijima Makoto was the favorite for the position of Shujin Academy's student council president next April… and since 'Niijima' isn't that common of a surname, I suppose I just put two and two together…"
Sae-san peered at him for a moment that seemed to stretch on forever, while Goro made sure to look as innocent as possible. In the end, it seemed he had managed to salvage the situation, for her features softened ever so slightly. "You know, Akechi-kun, your detective instinct really amazes me sometimes."
"Wha…?" he said blankly, only to perk up and seize the opportunity she had offered him. "Ah, yes, that's right… And this is why I had a hard time imagining her doing something like making chocolate. I pictured her as the very serious type, you know?"
Sae-san's lips curled into a very small smile, but Goro could detect a hint of sadness behind it.
"She sure is the serious type. She spends all her time studying, so much that she doesn't have any friends. This might be my fault, actually… Perhaps I've been too hard on her lately."
Figuring this was not a conversation to be pursued (Sae-san had more or less mumbled to herself), Goro silently reached for the water pitcher. Sae-san rambled on, a faraway look in her eyes, almost as if she wasn't aware of his presence anymore.
"To be honest, things are rather hectic at the moment… I am buried in work, and I've neglected Makoto a lot as a result…"
Goro took a tiny sip of water, unsure whether he should reply or not. A foreign feeling he couldn't put his finger on washed over him. For a moment, Sae-san had sounded like a mother…
Eventually, he made up his mind. The beginning of dark circles under her eyes, which he had noticed right away, convinced him to speak.
"…You look tired. Maybe you should go home and rest?"
A little smile appeared on her face, the kind reserved for someone who just said something silly. But as amused as it looked, it seemed to conceal something darker, like bitterness.
"Do you really think I can afford to rest? If I don't work, I can't produce results. If I can't produce results, I fail to meet the expectations. And if I fail to meet the expectations…"
She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning behind it was clear.
"Besides, how can I rest when incidents about people causing all sorts of trouble without any explanation are reported practically every week? I'm starting to wonder if we will ever get to the bottom of this…"
For a split second, Goro stiffened.
"Of course we will, Sae-san," he assured her, making sure the words didn't sound fake. She didn't answer.
He forced himself to repress the sigh threatening to escape his lips. Going back in time meant erasing everything that happened afterwards, meaning Sae-san never heard his confession in the interrogation room…
His heart tightened a little. It had felt surprisingly welcome to share the secret he had concealed for so long, and it was almost a shame it technically never happened. He had been barely aware of it back then, but laying bare the truth of his crimes had left him genuinely relieved, not unlike a sinner finding solace in admitting their mistakes at the confessional.
This is when Goro pledged: he would never, ever cause a mental shutdown again. At least making someone go berserk, while it could cause disastrous collateral damage, didn't always guarantee their death. Or anyone else's, for that matter…
"Anyway, I'd rather be buried in work than in your shoes," she teased, earning a confused look in response. "What are you going to do with all those boxes and bags? You'd need a truck to carry them all."
Goro's face fell a little. He had already forgotten about this little issue. "Um, I suppose I won't attend classes this afternoon and take them home instead. I'm sure I will be able to manage by myself."
"Are you going to miss classes again? Isn't it the fifth time already this month?" she responded, in a manner very like a mother scolding her son. Goro winced, but she would have none of it. "Don't skip school so much. You might get a free pass because of your job, but the consequences will catch up to you sooner or later. I know your grades are good, but how long will it last? What if you failed the university entrance exams because you neglected your studies?"
Goro fidgeted nervously on his chair, letting out a chuckle that wasn't any less awkward. "…I'll be more careful from now on."
For a moment, none of them spoke. In an attempt to distract himself, Goro took a plate of sushi from the conveyor belt. After dipping one in soy sauce, he took a bite, and instantly regretted his decision. Was that fish even fresh? The taste sure seemed to suggest it wasn't…
"Akechi-kun? What's this on your neck?" Sae-san suddenly asked, causing Goro to drop his chopsticks and hastily yank his collar up as a wave of realization hit him head on. Even though being tattooed against his will didn't happen yet, S did tell him his current body would travel back in time with him, no matter how paradoxical this could be. Suddenly, he felt seeds of gloom growing inside him. In what state would his body be when all of this was over? Assuming it would ever end one day…
"Just a bruise, Sae-san," he said in a pleasant but firm tone of voice. "Don't worry about it."
She opened her mouth, likely to argue, only to simply shrug. Goro couldn't help but feel grateful.
"Hm? What is it?" she wondered, curious about the sudden joy brightening his face.
He didn't answer right away. He had several reasons for feeling at peace: he was happy she spared him the embarrassment of explaining what exactly was under his collar. He was happy to have successfully escaped the nightmare that, from his perspective, happened less than one hour ago. He was happy that Sakamoto's death had been undone, he was happy to have erased any trace of his forgetfulness that had earned him his father's wrath, he was happy he never got caught by the police, and finally, he had appreciated confessing his crimes to Sae-san and getting them off his chest. Not even the reminder of the marks tainting his body could truly dull his newfound serenity.
"…The sushi didn't taste as bad as usual today," he said with a smile as he stood up. Of course, he knew he couldn't share any of his real reasons, and this is why he had lied, to the woman who didn't deserve to be lied to.
Sae-san looked like she was trying very hard to get angry at him for giving her such a childish reply, but the hint of amusement showing on her face betrayed her. "You really are a kid."
His smile merely widened in response.
"I should really bring those bags home. I'll leave the money on the counter, all right?" he told her while mentally calculating the price he had to pay for his plates, and then reached into his pocket for change. His cell phone was there, too. "I promise I'll go back to school afterwards."
"All right. Don't forget your umbrella before leaving, it looks like the bad storm they warned about on the weather report finally hit," she advised, gesturing toward the entrance of the restaurant behind her. Sure enough, Goro was greeted by the sight of thousands of droplets dripping off the giant, misty window. It wasn't a rain so much as a downpour, knocking on the glass so hard, he was surprised that the chatter inside the restaurant had managed to drown out the incessant sound of the water pounding against the hard surface.
"This sure is a bad storm…" he muttered while hanging as many bag handles as possible on his forearms, allowing his hands to freely carry the remaining huge boxes. Sae-san completed the pile by putting his attaché-case on top of it.
"Thanks, Sae-san," he said in gratitude as he faced the exit. The structure was worryingly unstable and tall, blocking Goro's vision unless he twisted his neck around it. But as long as he was careful, he figured he would be fine.
"How about going to another restaurant next time?" he couldn't help but ask.
"What's wrong with this one?"
Sae-san didn't seem excited by the prospect.
"Nothing at all," he hastily muttered as a resigned smile showed on his lips.
She merely focused her attention on the conveyor belt again in response. She appeared to be in deep concentration, possibly wondering if taking one more plate would be reasonable.
"I'm going back to work after this. I'm sure your fans at the station will be disappointed to find out you didn't come today… Make sure to drop by this week. I do not want your presents to clutter my office for days."
The corner of Goro's smile twitched and, without a word, he headed for the front door. A tall and wide umbrella stand was there by the entrance, crammed with dozens of them. He nervously reached out for his own, his busy hand shakily supporting the weight of the boxes. Some way or another, he managed to pull the door open, only to be greeted by a strong and cold draft. With a sigh, he stepped outside.
It didn't take him long to get his bearings. This part of town was very familiar to him; his home was only twenty minutes away from the sushi restaurant. Even so, the prospect of walking under a storm wasn't exactly appealing, but he still got a move on nonetheless, making sure not to bump into the rare passersby that made their way through the street. The downpour was now closer to as a waterfall; a bolt of lightning lacerated the sky, followed by a roar of thunder ringing in the distance. Goro shrugged it off and, without knowing why, he found himself thinking about Amamiya.
It had been a while since Goro last saw him. If he recalled correctly, Amamiya had come to Tokyo around April of this year, and started his activities as a Phantom Thief right away. Come to think of it, how did he even get his powers anyway? Goro had shown no sign of it back then, of course, but discovering Amamiya could summon multiple Personas had left a very strong impression on him. When he found out about this shared ability between them, Goro had felt something wash over him, something he still couldn't put his finger on after all this time. Was it confusion? Annoyance? Relief? After all, if Amamiya had the same power as Goro, wouldn't that make the latter no longer special? But on the other hand, wouldn't that mean he was no longer alone, now that somebody else shared his power?
He wasn't sure what to think or feel anymore. Who was Amamiya to him anyway? Was he an enemy? An acquaintance? A rival? An ally? …A friend?
No, of course I don't consider him a frie—
Goro's pace slowed down slightly. He felt a bit light-headed all of a sudden. He knew, in that moment, that he was lying to himself again. His mind tried its hardest to deny it, but his heart couldn't be fooled any longer – it knew what Goro really wanted. The prospect of being Amamiya's friend sounded cleansing, in a way. It sounded almost surreal as well. Could he really become his friend, after everything he did? Or perhaps, he thought as his heart leapt in his chest, did Amamiya already consider him a friend, no matter how foolish that decision was?
A sudden impact jolted him awake from his daydreaming, leaving him stunned for a few seconds. The pile of boxes in his arms, as well as his umbrella, dropped onto the practically flooded sidewalk. He just stared, feeling angrier by the minute as his entire body, left at the mercy of the storm, was now dripping wet. The rain was so strong, he could have jumped into a swimming pool and the result would have been the same. Something had apparently crashed into him: something turning out to be a young boy wearing a raincoat, accompanied by who was likely his mother trailing behind, a big umbrella held tight in her hand. She wore a distressed expression on her face as she trotted toward him.
"I'm so sorry, are you all right?" she immediately asked as she began picking the boxes up, already spoiled in the rain. The way she looked at her son was almost scary. "Apologize right away!"
"Sorry…" he muttered bashfully. The apparent sincerity in his apology managed to wash away practically all traces of Goro's annoyance.
"My son never pays attention to his surroundings... I always tell him to stop running off, but I might as well talk to a brick wall," she explained as she stood up, earning a look of reproach from the little boy in return. "Here, your umbrella. And, about those boxes…"
"Don't worry about it," he muttered magnanimously with as much dignity as possible while accepting his umbrella back, unwilling to let his perfect facade slip. He then retrieved his attaché-case that was laying in a big puddle, hanging it on his wrist so as to keep one hand free. Even though the time frame between dropping his umbrella and retrieving it hadn't been long, it still had been enough to let the cold rain penetrate into his skin, and a shiver ran down his entire being. Suddenly, he let out one, two, three sneezes, and the woman looked at him with what could only be described as pity. She then gave her son an accusatory glare.
"Um…" the young boy began sheepishly in response, "in this anime I watched the other day, they said you should always give a present to someone when you apologize to them. So, um… I want you to have this."
He eagerly reached for something inside his backpack. His hand came back out with what appeared to be a small cupcake, safely protected by clear wrapping paper. The sight was confusing.
"You want to give him a pastry?" the woman said, clearly sharing Goro's state of mind. "Do you want to weird that poor boy out?"
"But Mom, that's what they said to do on TV!" he retorted, shoving the cupcake into Goro's free hand.
Forcing his body to stop shivering so much, Goro flashed a practiced smile as he thanked the boy. Without thinking, he took a closer look at the present. It was elaborate, its icing quite intricate and covered with star-shaped sprinkles. He stuck his umbrella under his arm and gently unwrapped it to take a tiny bite. It was way too sweet.
Still, he forced himself to finish it – the little boy was looking at him expectantly.
"It was delicious. Thank you," he merely said, more out of politeness than sincerity, earning a beaming smile in response. Just like her son, the woman had apparently failed to detect his lie.
"Oh my, what a polite boy. Be grateful to your parents for raising you so well."
Goro felt his heart flip.
"Again, I'm very sorry for your belongings…" she murmured as she closed a firm hand over her son's, still torn between embarrassment and anger.
Goro didn't bother replying; he didn't care about the ruined presents at all. He just stood there rooted to the spot, watching this family grow smaller and smaller as they walked away. It took him a while to realize that a pang of envy, of all things, was piercing his heart like a white-hot blade. The woman appeared to be quite strict, but it was obvious she cared about her son. The little boy seemed well-groomed and happy, clearly enjoying a normal life.
If his own mother was still there, could Goro have enjoyed a similar way of life? He figured that yes, he could have, and something inside him stung, almost as though poison was spreading through his veins.
The Another Time Navi didn't allow gloom to settle inside his mind, however; the hour had now elapsed. He squeezed his eyes shut, both eager and anxious to find out where he would be sent this time. When he sensed that the uncomfortable sensation of traveling in time had ceased, he opened his eyes again.
The first thing that greeted Goro was seven pairs of eyes staring at him. All of them reflected various levels of surprise in their depths, and it took him a few seconds to realize those eyes belonged to the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. The schoolbag next to Amamiya was shaking suspiciously, as if there was an animal inside, but he chose to pay it no mind. He was way more concerned about the obvious attention on him.
"Is… something wron—" Goro began in confusion, only to unwillingly interrupt himself mid-sentence as his eyes opened wide. A split second later, he was doubling over.
Saying his mouth, throat, and stomach burned would be an understatement. More than burning, something was actually scalding the insides of his body – he could have drunk white-hot lava and the result wouldn't have been too different. Every last inch of his skin was drenched in sweat, to the point he was absolutely convinced his body had been set ablaze from the inside, imagining sickening, searing blisters covering the delicate inner membranes. He felt like a fireball had taken up residence in his mouth and yet, it was going almost numb, so much that for a moment, he wondered if his taste buds had been permanently burned off. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop himself from shaking, his body convulsing so much he feared his legs might give out any moment now.
Near the edge of the table surrounded by the Phantom Thieves was a small, boat-shaped plate of takoyaki.
