I own nothing. Monika does.

The sound of a weeping woman was all he heard at first. The first thing he saw was the city buildings, dirty with a sticky brown substance, being stained by a violet light. When he dared to breathe, the scent of rot filled his lungs, and the young boy sat up in alarm. He recognized the crying, and he saw that the horrid brown, dry blood was familiar, and even though he wasn't sure how, the violet light was as well. With this realization came the awareness that he was now moving around, getting closer to the light. He looked up to the dark, starless sky of Tokyo. But it didn't need stars, because the boy could see two shadows in the sky, one of which was engulfed in the violet flame, obscured from his vision, and lighting the sky like a sun.

But it was the other shadow that interested him more, for she was a figure from his past… as well as one of his motivations for the justice he had been seeking for so many years. When she finally stopped weeping, her voice filled his ears, as beautiful as the sky at dawn, but also the saddest sound he had ever heard.

"Please… I'm dead and gone by my own hand… I already know the fate I'm destined for. Do you really think I care what happens in the afterlife if I'm willing to condemn myself? I don't care what happens after death. I just want a happy life for him now!" The woman howled, and the figure facing her remained quiet for a few moments, before extending a hand towards her.

"So you would sell to me… whatever I asked… in exchange for a happy life for the one you left behind?"

"Don't twist my words!" she screamed, falling to her knees. "I know those like you would twist my words into a monkey's paw! I don't want a happy life for him because of selfish and sinful desire! I want him to be surrounded by loved ones… Good and honest people who care for him and will lead him onto a better path…" All of a sudden, the woman laughed… a bitter chuckle, "Not that a being like you would know anything like that…"

"That would be difficult to obtain. It is already so hard just to come into contact with a soul like yours… My power is limited…"

"Please! I will beg if I have to! I can't let myself be used as a motive for this… Please give me a chance to save him! Please…" The woman began to weep once again, and the violet figure held a hand up to silence her.

"On your feet. Someone like you… must never beg. I will make this deal with you. The terms will be fair… Or as fair as they can be. But I must warn you that you will pay a hefty price, and I can only do so much."

"Just do whatever you can…"

"Very well." The being reached out a hand, and the woman took it. They were shaking hands when the woman let out a scream of pain, and the boy below strained desperately to see what was happening to her. Before he could, his vision began to fade, and he sank into a deep slumber as he heard the being say one last thing.

"Feel my hatred… and suffer."


Goro Akechi let out a weak yelp as he jolted up in bed. Sweat fell down his face in heavy drops, and he couldn't help but release a pathetic whine in annoyance. Those odd dreams had returned to him once again, this time with a vengeance. Instead of giving him cryptic messages in odd rooms, they were now mocking him with fake visions of someone long dead.

He sniffed a little at the memory of the alleyway. Hadn't those blood splatters looked eerily similar to that day? Still, it was a dream, and dreams were supposedly made of memories.

I don't remember anything like that happening, though… The detective thought to himself grumpily. He was rather tired of these strange dreams. Not enough time had passed between this one and the last one he had, and with the new direction they were going in… if he never had one again, it would be too soon.

Goro blinked a few times, feeling incredibly tired now that the adrenaline of the dream had worn off. A part of him, silent and unremembered, protested the very idea of it. It seemed to have the idea that he wasn't supposed to remember something like that, because those memories never existed in the first place. But the fact was, it was obvious that two figures floating in the sky was something no one in reality could witness, so the epiphany was ignored. The young detective found himself sinking into an uneasy sleep, memories being dredged up of a bloody alleyway with a broken body. He couldn't help but remember that her eyes were still open, unseeing as they gazed up at the empty sky. As he thought about that, he glanced over to his open bedroom door, where Sayori was sleeping calmly on the couch. He found the thought that at least Sayori hadn't gone through that reassuring enough to fall back asleep.

Still, even in this reality, just because you can't remember some things… that doesn't mean that they never existed. Sayori Matsu was learning this too, as she twisted and turned in her sheets at a vague recollection of a hidden memory, tucked and hidden away in a dream.


The world was small and broken. The only places the children had access to were the large facility that belonged to the mean adults, a single street, and one or two houses on that street. Other than that, the world was empty, except on days like today.

The four children looked at the newly bloomed flower field in admiration and excitement. An obscured figure in the distance sat in the middle of the field, leaning against a Sakura tree. Her face was obscured by a large, tan hat. But the second oldest was not afraid. None of them were, actually. The woman gave off an aura of kindness and comfort, which was a trait that most people here lacked greatly in.

It was here in this flower field that the four little girls spent a few hours each month getting a bit of playtime. They sat in the colorful flowers and read books and wrote down their thoughts under the woman's directions. It was here that they ran around and ate sweet food that she brought. This safe haven was not to last.

Strong hands gripped her little arms and dragged her away. The woman could only watch as her small paradise… the beautiful garden she had brought with her, was burned.

And all the little girls could see for a long time after that was red. Whether it was the scary red lights of the rooms in the facility, or the scary red hazard waste buckets in the doctor's office, or the scary red sticky substance the little girls would sometimes find on themselves when they awoke from those horrible games the doctors all played… Red was all they saw.


Sayori blinked a few times as she came to. She brought a cautious hand up to her face, relieved to see it was clean. She sat up for a moment, feeling so tired as her mind tried processing the already fading memories she had been given. From her own, more aware, viewpoint, she knew that this new dream she was having was possibly related to the ones she had not long ago.

Not only that… But there was also something very familiar about the events occurring in this particular dream. She couldn't be sure of the specifics, but it felt familiar enough to conclude it was a possible memory. Still, she couldn't be too sure, simply because it contrasted with the reality of the home she already knew.

Sayori looked around at the cozy apartment and sighed to herself. Things were never as they seemed. She should know that first hand. Already, her memories of the dream were fading, and Sayori found herself hesitantly trying to hold on. That was an example, because why would she want to hold on to such horrible dreams?

That woman… seemed familiar…? Sayori thought to herself, trying to justify the action. Not to mention, the atmosphere of the dream reminded her of the atmosphere of her Palace.

That eerie similarity made Sayori cringe. She began to wonder if there was something wrong with her mind, to have disturbing epiphanies about reality, and "remember" such horrifying events, and seeing some strange figure as familiar, even though she had never met such a woman.

After a while of pondering, Sayori began to silently weep. She wished Yuri, Natsuki, and Monika were around. Did they know about any of this? They had been in the dream, and also in her Palace… And they would honestly just be a source of some much needed company. Sayori glanced at the entrance to Goro's bedroom, which was open again, for once. She didn't know why, but it was comforting to see him there, and after a while, Sayori fell back asleep, met with dreams that were thankfully empty.


The next morning dawned bright, the sun streaming in through windows everywhere, blinding anyone who was unlucky enough to open their eyes in that general direction. Annoying alarm clocks rang as one annoying, whiny voice everywhere, breaking through and crushing the dreams of hopeful youths. Dreams fled from freshly woken minds, leaving only the barest trace that they had been there in the first place.

Sayori sat up as she heard the loud ringing of Goro's alarm. She stayed like that for awhile, listening silently, waiting for the telltale groan of her roommate as he always did. His bedroom door was open, and she could see him lying there, too tense and still to actually still be asleep. She wondered if he had the day off for a moment, and felt a strange sadness well up inside her. If he did, she would be too busy to spend time together.

A few minutes passed, and the detective still made no move to get up. Sayori sighed as she noticed her phone light up with messages from the group chat. They were going into the Palace today, with the goal of making as much progress as possible. An entire week had passed since Haru had told them what would happen if they failed to steal her father's heart, and each day the stress levels of the group grew tenfold. They couldn't afford to waste anymore time.

Sayori slid off the couch and over to the bathroom, where she had laid out an outfit for the day. She quietly closed the door, before she began to get dressed in her most plain clothes. She was going to be in the Metaverse today anyway, so why bother trying to put in the effort? That thought only lead her to wish that she did have an opportunity to wear the cute clothes that had been piling up for so long, which then lead to her thinking about other things she wanted.

My back is feeling sore. I don't want to sleep on the couch anymore. I want to sleep… somewhere else, Sayori thought glumly to herself as she clipped in her red bow and declared herself ready for the day. She silently opened the door and went to her school bag in the corner of the room. Everyone had decided long ago that letting her keep her model weapons would be a risk too big to take, but she still had some more innocent supplies hidden in the bag. When she was sure she had everything, she slung it over her shoulder and quickly left the apartment.

Moments later, Goro rose, watching as she left with deep sorrow. His head and heart were both pounding as a painfully anxious feeling rose in his gut. He had been caught by Yaguchi the other day, making the situation painfully sensitive. Now his own private thoughts were a danger. He couldn't afford to leave Sayori alone no matter what now. He couldn't afford to leave this situation alone no matter what.

The detective sighed, standing up on the hardwood floor and quickly getting dressed. It was random and not at all like his usual detective style, which would make for a very good disguise. Still, as a last minute precaution, he found an old red hoodie laying in the deep recesses of his closet and slipped it on. He had no time to get stopped by fangirls or associates. He had to trail the Phantom Thieves closely, which meant none of the security of the apartment.

It barely took him a minute to get ready, and when he was, he quickly caught sight of Sayori, struggling through a crowd of business people rushing to their jobs. He counted himself lucky for that as he began his silent trek. All the while, he chastised himself. Practically stalking her was not something he had ever thought would be necessary, especially outside of the cognitive world. A primal, hormonal urge to catch up to her and have a casual morning walk buzzed persistently in the back of his head, but he easily ignored it.

He found himself wanting that walk nevertheless, even though he restrained himself. The space between them was unbearable. Selfish thoughts and desires hovered over him like a cloud. He absently wondered if there was any possible way to close this horrid gap before all of this chaos he had created finally caught up to them.

Enough of that, Goro thought, snapping to attention as he found himself in the underground walkways. It would become much harder to follow Sayori here, though he already had an idea of where she was going. He made sure to seat himself as far away from her when the subway began boarding. This trend of behavior continued all the way on the journey to Leblanc.

The detective watched as Sayori went into the cafe, before getting out his phone and quickly activating his MetaNav. He would beat the Thieves there, giving him a few precious minutes to find a good hiding place. As the world blurred and twisted with streaks of red, Goro had the oddest memory of blood on the nearby building walls. He quickly realized his error, though he once again felt the sensation of having forgotten.

Inside Leblanc, Akira activated his own Nav after a few minutes of brief discussion. Sayori looked around, a small shudder rippling through her as red invaded her vision. She closed her eyes to stop herself from growing dizzay. Foggy recollections of her dream last night played at the edges of her mind. But this time she ignored them. The Phantom Thieves had a job to get started on, and she was determined to play her part.


"Oh, just one moment! I can fight too!"

The Phantom Thieves were about to get on the elevator when their newest team member got everyone's attention. Everyone turned to look as she looked at them with hopeful eyes. "Please, let me join you in battle!" Beauty Thief asked, doing her best to strike an imposing figure.

"Your Persona is too weak to fight safely at the moment. Just leave that side of things to us for now," Mona replied sternly. He looked around the room they were in, his ears pricking involuntarily. Something felt… off today. Before he could question it though, Valiant decided to break the awkward silence caused by Beauty Thief's disappointed "Oh…"

"Hang on for just one second. We could make her Persona stronger if we let her join us in battle… Right?" Valiant asked, wondering to herself how this would turn out.

"If we wanted to build her strength, we would have gone to Mementos," Joker explained, before turning back to the elevator's console. "We can do that later. We need to cover as much ground as we can today."

"Alright…" Valiant looked down, feeling disappointed that she couldn't help her friend. They all stepped onto the platform and Joker pressed the button for them to descend. When they finally reached the lower floor, everyone began to step off. When it was Valiant's turn, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Beauty Thief smiling kindly.

"Thank you for trying. But for now they are right. I want my father's heart changed in the best quality possible. I'm counting on you guys." The girl took her hand off of the girl's shoulder and began to follow the group. Valiant stood there for a couple more seconds, before managing to smile and follow.

I will make sure that you get that quality you're looking for, Haru. I won't let anything bad happen to any of the people I care about… Valiant thought to herself as she ran through the winding metal hallways. She felt her determination grow, which was warranted. Barely a minute after they started running, the Phantom Thieves found themselves in the middle of a battle. They fought well on their own, never aware of the hidden detective that kept careful watch from afar.


Goro watched calmly as the Phantom Thieves seemed to tear their way through every battle. He had already been on the lower floor, safely hidden from their view by the time they had even gotten on the elevator. From there, he could easily see as they descended, with Sayori looking particularly sullen. One of them, with a black Cavalier hat, said something he couldn't quite catch, but Sayori seemed deeply affected. The detective felt embarrassed for himself as he felt his face heat up at the girl's… how the hell could he describe this? Cute wasn't exactly right…

However, the moment was over, and he found himself trailing them silently as they ran through the metallic hallways. They engaged in quite a lot of fights, with the detective watching each time with his breath held. He knew he couldn't step into help them… not in these closed spaces where staying hidden was so difficult. The very group he was trailing was using all of the good hiding spots as a matter of fact.

Still, it was much easier than he thought it would be. He was still allowed access past the door with the biometric scan, probably due to the fact that Okumura still trusted him as a member of the Conspiracy, even if he didn't trust him as a person. This made things much easier, as Shadows took less notice of him. Though perhaps they were also more distracted by the Phantom Thieves roaming through their halls.

However, even if he did have these connections that allowed others to unlock that door, Okumura still wasn't going to stand for a traitor. This was what Goro found out when he nearly entered the hallways filled with Phantom Thieves and Shadows, including the Palace Ruler himself. The detective dove behind the wall of a nearby corner and pressed his back to it. Fortunately, Okumura had not noticed him, and neither had the Thieves. They were too occupied with facing off against each other. Goro peeked around the corner and began eavesdropping.

"I thought I told you not to associate with vulgar people!" The Shadow of Okumura said haughtily. Everyone of the Phantom Thieves looked at the being with disgust, except for the newest member, who only stood in stunned silence at being addressed. Seconds later, another being walked out from one of the hallways and stood by the Shadow's side. The Phantom Thieves looked even more repulsed.

"That bastard…" Ryuji growled, looking prepared to pounce on the Cognition. Goro could remember seeing the real world version of it on the news not long ago. He was the son of an influential politician, who had recently been engaged to…

Ah… I see now. They are right to look at him like that then, Goro thought to himself, before turning to look back at the group. The newest member was Haru Okumura then, though he had already figured that out when he saw her carrying around that cat. From behind the stunned girl, Sayori, Ann, and Makoto looked ready to intervene. Not to say that the other members looked less so, but the blonde and brunette looked ready to scratch the man's eyes out, while Sayori had the most hateful expression the detective could have thought possible on her face. His hands curled into fists as he thought about how Sayori could possibly have a reason for that. Has she met him before? Did he do something to her? If this turns out to be something like what Kaneshiro tried to pull, I'll-

"What are you mumbling about?" Shadow Okumura suddenly yelled, interrupting the Phantom Thieves, who had been talking amongst themselves.

"Do you recall what I said before? That I would do my best for you?" Haru yelled, before shooting out her arm. "This is my answer to that." She took a defiant stance, taking a few steps towards her father's Shadow. The Phantom Thieves all stepped forward in a clear sign of support, and to further explain the girl's explanation. This caused Okumura to finally notice them.

"Are those… the rumored Phantom Thieves?" The Shadow of Okumura asked. He smiled as his mind connected all of the wrong dots. "...I see! You're handing them over to me as a plea for forgiveness!" The Palace Ruler had a maniacal smile on his face, and Goro felt himself grow sick at the thought. Asking forgiveness from someone like him? What a crock of shit.

"'Overcome failure at any cost, even if it means betraying others…' You truly embody the Okumura motto!" Okumura praised, causing Haru to tense, displeased by her father's words. "Very well. Join me!" He finally shouted, and Goro found his words-his sickening motto-to latch on like a parasite at the part of his brain he was trying hard to ignore.

"Why do you only ever think about gains and losses?" Haru shouted at him angrily. "That's why the company has a bad reputation… All because you treat people like they're tools!"

"To gain, you must give… One must be resolved to give even more if they wish to stand above others. We are on vastly different levels… And soon, I will rise to a new stage-the political world!" The Shadow preached, his distortion becoming more clear as he went on. "The cold reality of kicking people down is a part of business! Virtue and sentiment are for losers." He chuckled, before raising his arms up in a dramatically villainous pose, "Okumura Foods shall be the foundation of my victory!"

"His company is just a stepping stone…" Makoto realized, her voice somber and alert.

"What is he trying to win that would warrant…all of this," Sayori whispered, looking around at the spaceport with a troubled expression. The detective moved back into his hiding spot before her eyes could land on him, feeling troubled by this himself. This must be another reason Shido wanted Okumura gone… He wanted to get rid of competition.

"Mr. Okumura, we don't need a girl who's been soiled by thieves. Unless you make some compromises, I can't introduce her to my father," the Cognitive of Sugimura decided to butt in. Akechi gritted his teeth. Even though he could only hear the man at the moment, his voice seemed to grate on his ears.

"She needn't be your lawful wife anymore… Take her as your lover, or whatever it is you desire," Okumura's Shadow said calmly, untroubled by the notion of practically selling his daughter.

"Very well… I accept," Sugimura replied, and the detective felt the inexplicable urge to go and beat that stupid smirk he could tell the man had. He wasn't the only one, as he suddenly heard the very pronounced sound of weapons being brandished.

"Lover?" Haru choked out, stunned by the broken trust she was now experiencing. "I was raised under this company's wealth… I even accepted a political marriage for you. This is not what we discussed! Father! You want me to be that man's plaything just to satisfy your own ambitions?" The detective looked back once more to see the girl take another step forward, her hands now balled into trembling fists.

Shadow Okumura grunted nonchalantly. "Why fret? You should be overjoyed that you're fulfilling your role as an Okumura daughter. That is the only value you had from the very beginning."

"So… even his own daughter's life is a commodity to him," Yusuke commented, his words piercing a hole into the hearts of all of his companions, as well as the detective crouched around the corner, barely able to contain his own reactions.

"How could someone do that… to their own family?" Sayori whispered, her words standing out in the quiet but tense atmosphere of the room. She put her arms around herself, hugging herself tightly as if no one else would want to. She looked down at the ground, and Goro wondered just how many times the girl had been made aware of such an occurrence while she was with the Phantom Thieves.

She's already experienced it at least once… from me…"

"I…" Haru seemed to absorb the meaning of what she had just heard, from her father and fellow thieves, collapsing onto her knees as she finally understood who in this world truly stood by her side.


"Now, why don't you come… to my place?" Sugimura asked, a vile smile on his face. The black shadowy plumes seemed covered his body and consumed him, growing larger until he stood at more than twice of Shadow Okumura's height. An eerie red glow suddenly shone near the top, and the shadows dissipated to reveal the Cognitive's new form.

The robotic monstrosity, though ridiculous in design, was still very intimidating. Sayori could feel its power building even as it drawled out in a ridiculously monotone voice. "Let's have fun! I'll play with you until I get bored! A high school fiancee… What a turn on!" Sayori raised her defenses and drew her shield and sword, ready to make good on her threat of being a jawbreaker. She may not be able to beat up the real deal, but it was fair game in this world.

"So vulgar…" Haru mumbled from her spot on the ground, not at all afraid of the enemy that loomed above her. Its crane like hands rotated in their sockets, making a move to reach down and pluck her off of the ground.

Morgana looked panicked, and began to run forward. "No! Haru's Persona won't stand a chance against that-"

"Don't worry!" Futaba interrupted, her red goggles reflecting the robot's glowing red screen as she analyzed what was about to happen. As if to prove her point, the robot bent forward to attack, only for a blue light to send out a massive shockwave, knocking the Sugimura-bot back upwards into a standing position. "She hadn't awakened to her real power, that's all!"

An elegantly dressed, pink figure, with a fan for a head held it's pincer back. "How dare you!" The Cognitive shouted, or the closest thing it had to shouting, as a monotone robot. Haru glared up at him with tears in her eyes, until a sudden pain inside of her shook her to her very core.

Words of awakening that nobody else could hear echoed through Haru's head, calm but full of enthusiasm. They were strong, yet the tone was so delicate and kind to her. A question was asked, and Haru looked on calmly as she answered. "My heart has been set… You should know." Her tears seemed to evaporate as she glared at her father's Shadow and her fiance's Cognitive with piercing gold eyes. From her words, a contract was forged as Haru stood up confidently. Her Persona's skirts opened up, revealing a multitude of heavy artillery.

"Geez!" Ryuji shouted, jumping back.

Haru held the brim of her hat and raised her other arm up in a dramatic pose, finally feeling like one of the heroes she admired. "Farewell, dear Father. I am no longer your subservient puppet!" She opened her eyes and pointed an accusing finger at him, glaring at him as the newfound courage to stand up to him filled her being.

"Then so be it… You're worthless," Shadow Okumura said with a grunt. He turned away from the group and looked at the Sugimura robot. "Deal with them how you wish."

"You poor thing… I'll toy with you until you break!" Sugimura droned on, making a few mechanical beeps.

"I suppose it's safe to say that what I said in the real world was never a threat," Sayori shouted, pointing her sword at the Cognitive. "It was a promise!"

"I don't expect you to come to reason at all," Yusuke said, though he wasn't going to try to reason with him anyway.

"Uh-huh. We shoulda just told you this from the start, asshat," Ryuji raised a fist and pulled out his spiked club.

"We are the Phantom Thieves, here to take your bride!" Morgana shouted, standing with the group as they started the battle.


Goro watched the fight for a long time, until it was clear that the Phantom Thieves' victory was assured. Haru Okumura was doing a lot of the work with her new awakening, wiping the floor with the robotic husk that was supposed to be her fiance. That was not to discredit the other Phantom Thieves, as they each fought with the same determined fervor. It was like watching a fireworks display as the power of their Personas lit up the hallway they were in, accompanied by the occasional sound of a blunt object clanging against the metal of the failing robot, as well as guns being shot. It wasn't long before the members of the group all converged at once, putting all of their effort into their last attack.

The Cognitive of Sugimura released a groaning creak, as the same shadowy matter from before covered him. "How could I have lost?" It asked as it faded away.

The detective smiled as he watched Sayori give Haru a tight hug without hesitation. Haru didn't seem to mind, pulling away only to give the girl a high five and revel in her achievement. Goro listened as Haru dubbed herself "Noir" for her new code name, and the group began to continue on their merry way.

Doing the same as before, the detective trailed behind them, doing his best to stay far enough away to avoid detection. He knew from observation that Futaba was a navigator, and would probably figure out he was there if he wasn't careful. Hopefully, the Shadows in the area would be distracting enough, as long as he didn't use his power. He wasn't there to fight, anyway.

For the next hour, the detective watched as the Phantom Thieves further invaded the space station. They fought through many frustrating battles, and avoided several close calls and dead ends thanks to Futaba's efforts. For all the puzzles and challenges they faced, Goro felt more and more like a straggler. They were the ones solving the puzzles, and all he did was take advantage. Though it was necessary in order to not lose their trail, the detective also found himself thinking too hard about something that, in the end, felt needless for his current objective.

Overcome failure at any cost, even if it means betraying others… How ironic that I have to hear that from the man I'll betray and murder later, Goro thought to himself, his mouth set in a grim line. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath, leaning against a metal wall for a brief period of time. The Phantom Thieves had just entered a safe room, which gave him the opportunity to rest as well. He would have to take his chances out here, with Shadows lurking around every corner, but he still found himself with enough silence to contemplate such pointless thoughts. Hopefully, he would be able to finish, and kill the thought dead in time to resume tracking.

I'm planning on betraying everyone eventually… Even Sayori is going to be betrayed by me when all is brought to light. But what failure would I even be overcoming? He looked down at his black gloved hands and clenched them into fists, before flashing a bitter smirk and closing his eyes. Of course, he already knew the answer to that question. He was going to overcome the failure of his existence, by standing above Shido. He would burn the man's livelihood and legacy to the ground, and destroy his reputation. The unwanted child that everybody hated would finally stand victorious. That had always been his revenge scheme, and even though he was starting to care more about living, he still wanted Shido to pay for his crimes.

Goro opened his eyes at that thought, a weary sigh escaping him at the knowledge that this debate was still going on inside his head. What is more important to you?

The detective blinked for a moment as he realized that thought hadn't come to him voluntarily this time. A small piece of paper lay on the ground, with those same exact words written in stylized print. It only took a second for him to recognize the handwriting, before releasing a growl of frustration and reaching for the note, using his clawed gloves to tear it to shreds. How many times had it been now that he had received a note from this person. The first one had claimed they weren't interfering!

He only had a second to recover from his fit of rage, as the door to the safe room slid open easily, the hiss of an airlock his only warning to hide. Goro slid behind a corner and waited until the sound of running had faded enough. When he was sure he could follow the group safely, he stepped around the corner and made sure to stay close to the wall, ducking and hiding in different rooms and connecting hallways whenever one of the thieves decided to look back. At one point, he decided to stick to the high ground, climbing up a precariously high metal shelf and hopping along rows and rows of different supply crates.

It was while waiting for the Thieves to move on, watching Akira, Makoto, and Futaba consult a map, that a strange thing happened. He thankfully saw it first, floating down towards the ground from somewhere above, like a leaf falling from a tree. The detective slid out of his crouching position behind a crate and plucked it out of the air, before quickly going back to his hidden position. The shock of what he had found made him freeze in his place. Turning the piece of notebook paper around in his hand, his eyes skimmed over the short message carefully scrawled on it.

Is this the choice you believe in?

It was just as cryptic as the message from before, and it did just as good of a job at pissing him off. Akechi crumpled the piece of paper into a ball and dropped it on the platform he was standing on. Instinct told him to throw it away from him, but logic stated that the Phantom Thieves could possibly notice the paper and realize they weren't alone in this Palace. Besides, he didn't need to stand there and stare at the crumpled note for long, as the Phantom Thieves had finally figured out the path they should take for now. The detective continued to trail after them…

...And he found more notes.

Some were folded into paper airplanes, others looked like torn pieces of a large page. Small, large, fancy, scrappy. They were taped on the falls and left on the floor every few feet, yet when Goro looked ahead, they were never there when the Phantom Thieves passed by. He followed their path almost perfectly, and nothing came out to put those notes there. The detective's head began to ache as the notes crossed his vision. He barely got a split second to look at them, and for many, he never saw more than a couple letters of each message, yet he could understand them all perfectly as if they were being read aloud.

Do you really want this?

Aren't you tired?

The strings are being cut.

Choose the path you really want.

Love or revenge?

Is this truly your justice?

His eyes burned with unshed tears as he slowed down, trying to soothe the raging pain inside his skull. The same questions that he had been battling over for so long forced themselves to the front of his mind, pounding like a war drum. He was blind, trying so desperately to see. His ears felt numb with the constant dead sound blaring inside his eardrums, and he found he'd give anything to make the deadness be filled with something alive. He didn't know if he was being quiet in his suffering or if he was shrieking in pain, but either way, no one came for him.

"Please…Make it stop," Goro whispered, his voice a pathetic whisper as the inside of his head seemed to boil.

One more note lay in front of him. Accept what you have forgotten… The words were whispered in his ear, though no one was around to whisper it. The detective crouched there for what felt like a long time, mulling over the words with whatever leftover concentration he had. Slowly, he tried following the advice he had been given, though he had no idea what he was supposed to accept. So he started with what felt most obvious to him, and thought over what he had learned over the summer. His mother was friends with Futaba's mother. He had killed Wakaba Isshiki, and there was no going back from that.

He remembered one of the last days of the summer, spent at the beach with the group of people he was following… the group of people he was eventually going to have to betray in order to achieve his goal of revenge. This was the same group of people he was trying to make friends with.

He felt more than thought about the loving embrace of a woman from his past, and recalled that he had realized how pointless his revenge was anyway. That woman had always loved him and wanted him, but in the end it was her choice to leave… to disappear from the world forever. She left, and no one else gave a damn about him for the longest time.

And then someone did. She crashed through his walls like a cannonball and invaded his life. She refused to acknowledge the obvious conflict that should have divided them a long time ago, and instead played the role of a mediator. It was as if she had been born for that role. She had also felt the need to love him truly and without any pretense. This was also something she could have been born for.

With memories of her beginning to fill his head, he finally began to reflect on what had started this internal debate he had been going through. Ever since he had been given the official orders to do things that would hurt her and her friends, with the consequences of failure being her safety, he had been arguing with himself. He wanted out, and that same debate had lead him to a breakdown in…

Faint memories of Kobayakawa's Palace buzzed through his head now. Like all Palaces, it was a place that never should have existed, yet this one felt specifically like that. Even trying to dredge up the memory of walking through the fading, washed-out school building was difficult, yet his mind continued to think back on that fight he had with the Palace Ruler. Eventually claiming Kobayakawa's life, something had happened during that fight that had shaken the young detective. Memories and realizations he didn't even realize he had experienced trickled through his head like running water. They washed away the agony and suffering he had been experiencing, and dripped out the other end, leaving him with a calm, empty feeling.

For now at least, he had accepted what he had forgotten. But still, the realization of the truth in that empty Palace would remain forgotten.

Goro Akechi sat up from the dead end hallway he had managed to hide himself in, his headache gone, now only to be replaced by confusion. He looked around for a few seconds before he had a much smaller realization. Cursing, he got up onto his feet and began running back into the main hallway. He berated himself for taking a nap, as he had now lost track of the Phantom Thieves. Now he had to go find them, to make sure he hadn't been left behind. If they had already gone back to the real world, than that could be especially bad. Then he would have to wait until the next time they entered the Palace to resume trailing them.

He was so caught up in his panicked thoughts, that he didn't figure out he had already been caught by the Shadow standing behind, long before he had even woken up. But he would soon receive a wake up call, as the cylindrical droid would ram into him and send him flying into the wall, shedding it's metallic disguise and turning into a grotesque monster.

Goro groaned and fell to the floor, leaving behind a decently sized dent in the wall. He got up on unsteady feet, which he forced to be firm as he glared at the Shadow before him. "You asked for it, you piece of shit," the detective growled, before ripping off his black mask and screaming, "Loki!"

The black and white striped monster materialized behind him. Akechi sighed in relief, expecting the fight to be over with quickly. However, his Persona only seemed to float there, it's pointy teeth gnashing. It somehow looked… unsure?

"What the hell?" Akechi screamed, before the enemy Shadow lashed out at him, leaving a deep cut on his left forearm. The detective let out an almost animalistic whimper of pain, before managing to get his wits about him. "Robin Hood!" He shouted this time.

The colorful, gallant Persona appeared now, standing calmly as if awaiting his orders. Some confidence was restored that they could now win this battle. However, when he ordered Robin Hood to attack, nothing happened. The Persona also floated there, looking incredibly confused. Loki appeared beside it, and the two seemed to lean on each other, back-to-back.

Of course, the Shadow didn't waste this opportunity either. Goro was down on his knees in a second, blood flowing from his legs. The detective looked at his Personas helplessly, confused and terrified about what was going on. Why were they just floating there, acting as if he wasn't about to fucking die because of a cocksure droid-Shadow? His vision faded in and out a bit, and the two Personas became blurrier too, the line where they were leaning now tangling together.

"Come on… Please just… kill it," `he whispered. Goro knew he was going to fall unconscious, and a sense of self pity and self hatred engulfed him. Why was this how he had to go?

As he closed his eyes, he heard the distant sound of the Shadow groaning in perceived pain, before fizzling out of existence. It would be only a few minutes later that he would wake up, his supply of healing items scattered all over the floor as if picked up by a rabid animal. Though he still felt groggy, the black-masked boy decided to at least find where the Phantom Thieves were, before he allowed himself to rest. With everything going on, he couldn't afford to lose any other advantage.


The Phantom Thieves spent a longer time than they expected in the safe room. Joker, Queen, and Oracle had been planning and replanning their strategy ever since they entered the Palace, and were now discussing it even more. The rest of the team was getting some much needed rest. Noir was already starting with a lower amount of energy than everyone else because of her run in with the Sugimura Cognitive, and the others were still recovering from harsh and difficult enemies they had already come into contact with. It seemed that everyone could agree that this Palace was a particular pain in the ass.

Not to mention I honestly feel so bored that I could fall asleep standing up," Valiant thought to herself idly, rocking back and forth in the chair she was sitting in. She twiddled her thumbs and tried to lay her head down on the cold metal table, but found no success in trying to rest. Despite how tired she was, the girl was also restless. Worried thoughts had filled the numb space in her head that had been taken up by her boredom. Now all she could do was try to relax and ignore the thoughts, though they still came anyway.

All of this business with Okumura has made me realize just how soon it's going to be… I have to talk to Goro about this… confront him… Okumura is probably going to talk about the deaths of all those rival companies when his heart is changed, Valiant frowned and groaned in frustration. That had to be what she hated most about living in such a large place now. Before, when it was just the Literature Club, there were only five people whose feelings you had to consider. Not to mention, it had always been for mundane literature club activities, like performing their poems at the festival. But here, in a city filled with people, even if they were mostly faceless extras, there were so many complicated perspectives to keep in order. Even if Futaba and Sojiro could forgive such a grievous murder of someone they loved… What about the general public?

The more Valiant thought about it, the more she questioned just what that was in the sense of this game she was in. In a large sense, none of the general populace had enough agency, free will, or even character to establish a truly unique opinion. Whenever Sayori dared to look too close, she often found that she couldn't make out their eyes. The opinions they did share about the Phantom Thieves, and Goro, were all random or superficial. So… with such a shallow depth of character, would they only consider the basic law when it came to dealing out sentences for crimes?

Or am I thinking about this entirely wrong? After all, people like Okumura have avoided punishment for a long time. But that could be because no one knows about it either… Valiant released a heavy sigh as the thoughts seemed to overload her. She couldn't help but blame herself for ignoring everything until now. Enjoying the time spent with her dear friends was fine in the moment, but not only did she feel unprepared for the situation ahead, doing so had created such a rift. She was stuck in the middle, between the Phantom Thieves and Goro Akechi, and siding with either one felt so impossible!

Just focus on one thing at a time for now, Valiant reminded herself, taking a deep breath. She wasn't willing to lose Goro, especially to something like the public's opinion. She would find a way to help each of her friends out of this mess. They were all walking into a trap as they continued infiltrating Okumura's Palace, it's just that one of them would be the one who sprung it on them. So she would find a way to stop that from happening first.

I just need to find out what that trap is.

"This is really weird," Oracle said offhandedly as she sat beside Valiant, tapping the red lenses on her goggles.

"What is?"

"Well, I think we're being followed. But for some reason, I'm blocked from figuring out what exactly is following us," The navigator groaned in frustration. "It's just a giant question mark on my screen."

Valiant froze as she thought about the possibilities of what it was. While it was just as likely to be some dangerous Shadow, from a more detached perspective, it was just as likely to be the answer she needed. Trying to appear casual, the black clad girl leaned further in her seat and asked, "Is it hostile?"

"No… While it is hiding its presence so much that I can't get an exact reading on its behavior, it would have engaged us by now if we needed to worry about it."

"I guess that's why you, Joker, and Queen keep stopping to rethink our plans…" Valiant guessed, getting a nod of confirmation.

"Everyone else already knows about it. We're going to keep going for now, but we'll probably call it a day soon," Oracle looked nervously at Valiant.

"I'll be fine. We've been here for more than enough time today," Valiant assured, getting up and stretching. Everyone else had gathered by the door, so the two girls went to join them.

"Are you alright?" Fox asked offhandedly as Valiant went to stand beside him. "You've been deep in thought since we entered this safe room, and the look on your face has been troubling everyone."

"Sorry to worry you all, but I'm fine," Valiant replied, only to get a stern look from the artist. "No, really!"

"I'll pretend to believe you while we're here, but if I catch you zoning out again, I'm going to be much more insistent," Fox replied tersely, before getting into a running stance.

Valiant followed suit, drawing her weapons for good measure. It felt wrong to continue lying, but she held fast to her belief that it wasn't her place to say anything for now. Besides, with the new information she had just gotten, she was beginning to draw a better conclusion of what this trasp was. They were being followed, most likely by Goro, judging by the fact that he was hiding his presence. He wasn't looking for a fight with them, but had been following them closely.

He's waiting for something, Valiant thought. She couldn't be sure what that something was, but it was most likely an opportunity that was available for a limited time, and the Thieves would be involved. The more she thought about it, the more an aching pit formed in her stomach. She shook the feeling off before anyone could notice.

Joker pushed the doors to the safe room opened, and everyone quickly ran out. Valiant pushed the thoughts out of her mind for now, knowing it was better to focus on the task at hand. But she knew she was close to figuring out what was about to happen, and what she could do to disable the trap. That was the only thing she was willing to consider. Confrontation of any kind would come later.


The Phantom Thieves were engaging another Shadow by the time he finally managed to find them. They hadn't gotten too far, though it felt like ages with his already dwindling energy. At this point, all the detective could do was observe. No thoughts of interfering or doing anything besides follow them even entered his mind. He trusted Sayori enough to take care of herself, but worry still invaded his mind nevertheless. Goro hated that he was at this point, his body about to collapse. All because he had gotten so distracted by this useless being who was just trying to mess with him now.

The Phantom Thieves finished this fight with a bang, leaping together at the Shadow and practically tearing it apart. They continued to move through the Palace, and Goro had no choice but to follow, doing his best to hide and not get caught up in another fight. As he struggled to keep his achingly tired body moving, he allowed his mind to drift, making the pains in his body easier to ignore because of the pain in his heart.

As had been the case ever since he had gotten the assignment from Shido, the detective thought about what it would mean to kill Okumura. The Phantom Thieves would be blamed, and at that point it would truly be the point of no return. Still, that thought made him laugh, because even though there were people who wanted to help him now, they had come far too late. There had never been a place to return to.

Perhaps it was at Kobayakawa's Palace, when he had put the bullet in the man's head, that he knew it was hopeless. In the time before that, and in the time after, he would hold out hope for a way out, but when it came down to it he always made the wrong choice in the end. So there was no reason to do anything other than continue his pursuit of revenge.

But then he continued to argue with himself, that he could do something. Goro Akechi could right wrongs and escape his self-inflicted fate. He could made an abrupt turn and simply sit down with Sayori and her friends and fix everything that he had done wrong. If not that, he could do something to stop Shido on his own. Shooting him probably wasn't such a bad idea, especially since the detective didn't care whether he lived or died anyway.

But there was something stopping him from doing that. By dying, he would leave Sayori stranded. Even with so little progress made, he knew he could get her home if he only stayed around long enough to find what this note-leaver was trying to tell him, whoever they were. He didn't think Sae or the Phantom Thieves had gotten a message from this being, or else he would be more at ease to leave it to them. But for now, he had to stick around, and sticking around meant continuing to play this game with Shido.

Not to mention… he knew that his mother wouldn't want him dead. She wouldn't want him to be getting revenge either, but he knew some things took priority over others. This revenge scheme had always been about both of them. To avenge how she suffered and died, and how he suffered and continued to live. But now he knew better. His mother wouldn't want that revenge. And taking revenge for himself felt hollow when his own suffering felt so minimal these days.

The notes had continued to fall around him, even after he had gotten back up. One of them landed on his forearm and he picked it up, eyeing the message skeptically. Get justice instead of revenge, it said, and the detective smirked. Like it was so simple…

His mind continued to wander back and forth as he followed the Phantom Thieves for what seemed like hours. By the time Akira turned to the group and announced that it was time to go home, the black clad detective felt ready to pass out. His injuries were gone, but the pain was still there.

Before he left the Metaverse himself, he took note of the tired but happy look on Sayori's face. She was obviously looking forward to getting some rest, but he also liked to think she would be happy to see him, even if she was basically avoiding him these days. It was small and selfish, but it was nice to see her smile, and observe the tired but happy faces of the rest of the group. They had made a lot of progress today, and were satisfied with their work. He felt happy for them, and giddy at seeing their expressions. But the happiness quickly faded as he left the Metaverse, knowing he had no right to feel that way when he was going to be the one to snatch away that happiness in such a cruel way.


It was as if fate truly hated Goro Akechi today. The second he got home and collapsed on his bed, his phone rang. Dread filling him, the detective quietly got his phone out and confirmed that it was Shido. He let out a silent curse, hitting the button to answer the phone in the same moment that he got up to close and lock his bedroom door. "Good afternoon, Shido-san," Goro greeted politely, making his voice sound innocent and peppy, as though his stomach weren't roiling with disgust.

"I trust that you haven't been slacking." The voice was curt and to the point, which annoyed the detective to no end. He was trying to be polite, and yet this man was only interested in one thing.

"I am preparing as well as I can. But I cannot do anything to Okumura until the Phantom Thieves send their Calling Card. If the public is to believe they are responsible, they must know for sure that the Phantom Thieves have answered their call to action," the boy replied, using his best "Detective Prince" voice to explain the process.

"Don't patronize me," Shido said, his voice low and angry.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Shido-san. We've been working together for so long now…It hurts that you wouldn't know what to expect from me," Goro replied, switching back to the fake sugary sweet voice he normally kept reserved for interviews and fangirls.

"There are a lot of things I wouldn't have expected from you," Shido replied, and Goro could practically see the sneer on his face. "Remember what we talked about. Do your job, and you'll get the recognition you deserve."

Goro felt his face twitch, though he couldn't tell why. Was it to sneer as well? Or maybe to grit his teeth and keep quiet. Or was it some animal reaction he always had to the promise of praise and recognition? It was disgusting, if that was what he meant to do. He didn't want the elation that came with doing what this horrible man said. Perhaps in order to remind himself of that, the detective cleared his throat and said lowly into the phone, "and if I don't…" It wasn't phrased as a question, more like him trailing off blankly, in memory of a threat that kept the brunet up at night.

Just as he had anticipated, Shido took the bait, none-the-wiser about the detective's intentions. "That's right. Stick to what you're good at detective, or you may prove that your little girlfriend is more of a liability than she's worth. We don't tolerate liabilities." Such a horrible threat to hear, but strangely enough, it did keep the detective in his center. It was a reminder of why he despised Masayoshi Shido. Though it was also a reminder that he was kept on a short leash, the threat urged him to get to a position where he wasn't under the man's thumb.

"You know her name, Shido-san. Stop calling her such things. It's hard to take you seriously," Goro replied, his voice calm and feigning sweetness. He heard a grunt of frustration from the man on the other line, and couldn't help the cocksure smirk that stretched its way across his face.

"You want me to treat the brat with respect? You have to show me she's worth more than the dirt you walk on, Akechi. You can do that by doing your damn job." The line went dead, and Goro finally released his bedroom door knob, which he only just realized he had been holding with a death grip. He walked over to his bedside, dropped his phone onto his desk with perhaps more force than he should have used, and fell back onto his bed. The detective let himself curl up on his side allowing self pity for only a few moments, before his posture straightened and he flipped onto his back and stared at the ceiling.

What can I do? The detective asked himself, closing his tired eyes as one of the last few rays of sunshine gleamed through his window. There were a few major factors that he needed to consider. Would he, or would he not kill Okumura? Where would his actions put him? Where would they put Sayori, as well as all of her friends?

It was easiest to tell what would happen if he did kill Okumura. For the most part, things would continue on as normal. Sayori would not be in danger by associating with him, and Goro could continue on as he had for most of his life. He would seek revenge, though that revenge would lead to his own eventual downfall anyway. However, that would not happen until much later, after Shido becomes prime minister. The biggest problem at this moment is the amount of danger Sayori would be in by associating with the Phantom Thieves. She would be blamed for Okumura's death, just like the rest of them. The only solutio Goro had to that would be to convince her to quit. But not only would that be impossible with her stubbornness to help others, it would also put himself in a disadvantageous spot. Sayori would definitely figure out he was deceiving her, simply because he had pretended to believe she had not come into contact with the Phantom Thieves since her own Palace.

Of course, there was also the option of sparing Okumura, which presented him with even more unpredictable factors. He would be due to actually kill the man right after the Thieves had stolen his Treasure. At that moment, not pulling the trigger would cause an immediate reaction that he would only have days to prepare for. Goro would be starting everything from scratch, instead of comfortably continuing on his path of revenge. He would undoubtedly be harshly punished, and most certainly killed. Those two possibilities had a certain probability of happening depending on Sayori's situation. If she was well within reach of Shido's cleanup crew, Goro would be punished with her facing the consequences of his actions. But if Sayori were out of reach somehow, she would be safe, and Goro would probably face his death.

That is the preferred situation. I may value my life more than I did a while ago, but not enough to risk her. I'd have to live with her blood on my hands in the other scenario, and that is a fate worse than death… The detective told himself firmly, though he still trembled at the thought of dying. So if he wanted to get Sayori out of reach, he had only two options. After all, with his limited relationships, there were really only two people he knew, and each of them had qualities that made that sort of thing impossible. Sae, as a cop, would be the best option. However, the woman's distorted heart made him worried that Sayori would not truly be safe there. She would be a Phantom Thief living under the roof of one of the officers most determined to catch her.

The other option was Sojiro, but he didn't seem qualified for this kind of situation. He was Akira and Futaba's guardian, but keeping Sayori safe from corrupt officials and "cleanup crews" and all of Shido's other goons would probably be a touch more difficult. Still, the detective could see him hiding her in the cafe or his house. Futaba had remained in there for so long that no one even realized she was in there. However, the thought of Futaba reminded him of another issue with this plan. She and Akira lived with Sojiro, and Makoto lived with Sae, and Goro could admit to liking all five of these people easily. Though he believed he could trust them with Sayori's safety, he also worried for all of their safety as well. In a way, he would be making them face the consequences of his actions as well, and he wanted to avoid that, if possible.

What a fine mess… I need to find out what to do with Sayori then. Unless a miracle happens and I finally find her home, she's not going anywhere, Goro thought, frustration building at that thought. The memory of those notes following him everywhere, but nothing being done to help angered him. How can some messenger be so arrogant to say that Sayori's home would be found when the time was right, yet disregard her safety and encourage him to make the right choice?

The detective growled, anger burning hot and bright in his blood. His mind raked over desperate possibilities, wondering what the best option would be. After what felt like hours, his mind finally zoned out as his body rested, though he was far from sleep. All of that scrounging around, and there had barely been a dust mite sized spark of anything remotely plausible. Besides, he still had to consider what he was going to do in the first place before he took any counteractive measures.

Kill or not kill? Die or live? Revenge or…

Goro sighed in defeat as he thought of her. He had cared for Sayori and protected her, and had felt something he hadn't felt for a long time. He wanted to keep protecting her, and he knew he would do anything to accomplish that. With that goal in mind, he knew he could do the unthinkable, the unforgivable, once again. But all the same, he knew there was another part of caring for someone on such an intimate level. Even a love-deprived fool like him could figure that out.

It's not just about keeping her safe… It's about what would make her happy. The choice concerned her as much as Goro, himself. Anyone would say that she ought to have a say in what happened to Okumura because of her unintentional involvement. But not only was the thought of telling her about all of his mistakes terrifying, he could practically hear her decision as if she were yelling it directly into his ear.

"Don't kill him! Haru needs her father. And I don't want anyone to die because of me!"

He could see her tear streaked face as she begged for him not to end Okumura's life. He could feel her clammy hands, normally so gentle, holding onto his hands so tightly that her knuckles would turn white. All of this to save a despicable man who would sell his own daughter to a pig for a higher political standing. Goro gripped the blankets between his hands as he thought of it. The consequences of that would be more than he could bear. Because now he could see Sayori, young and lovely and surprised and dead. Unseeing eyes staring right through him at a world that would mean nothing to either of them. If this were ever allowed to happen, even if Goro were still breathing, his life would be gone. Those thoughts cracked whatever resistance he had left.


His dazed mind slowly cleared, and he felt thin trails of tears beneath his eyes. The question of when he had started to cry was in his mind for a few fleeting seconds before he had moved on. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, already moving towards the bathroom to wash his face entirely. The boy kept his mind carefully blank as he did so, staring at himself in the mirror for a few seconds before turning away.

Don't think about it. Just do what needs to be done.


Over the next few days, Goro continued to surveil the Phantom Thieves as they made their way through the Palace. The messages that had plagued him on that first day began to dwindle, until he no longer saw them at all. While that did put him on edge, he had no time to focus on it. It was easy to become enamored in the Phantom Thieves, watching them find out the true depths of all the wrongs Okumura had committed. Blankly, the detective wondered how they would react to finding him out, but shook his head out of thought. There was never any time to lose focus, and the detective lived by those words every time he stepped into this Palace after that first incident.

Over those days, the detective observed the Phantom Thieves travel across the export line, and battle their way through the disposal line. He was admittedly jealous, watching them float through space, no matter how brief that time was. Still, he had a shortcut he needed to use to continue trailing them, as there were no places to hide in that empty vacuum. However, it did not matter, because Goro knew they were nearing the Treasure. The black-masked intruder was quick to start trailing along at a safe distance as the others discovered the vanishing door.

When they finally entered, Goro went back a few hallways, before turning on his MetaNav. There was no reason to stay any longer. When the Calling Card was sent, he would be ready.


"Yes, we've found it! This is it!" Mona shouted with a gleeful hop. The group ran up to the Treasure, trapped behind a glass case and glowing mysteriously. Valiant wondered what it could possibly be to have inspired this difficult, exhausting spaceport to manifest.

"But we haven't found any information on the mental collapses. That bothers me…" Fox commented, putting a hand to his chin, which caused Valiant to freeze in place a bit. Thankfully, nobody had noticed.

"Oh yeah, you're right," Panther agreed, looking down in confusion.

"Maybe he's hidin' it?" Skull theorized. "We got this far. Wouldn't it be better to just squeeze the truth outta the guy?" The blond put his hands behind his head in a relaxed gesture, clearly proud of his idea.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Valiant said, her voice and expression kept blunt. When everyone stared at her quizzically, she was quick to reply, "We can ask him these questions when we come back for the Treasure… But no matter what we try doing to get him to talk, I don't think he'll have a straight answer for us."

Joker looked down in consideration for a moment."We'll worry about that after we change his heart."

"That plan is fine by me," Noir consented, feeling more than ready to steal away her father's distortion.

"Let's send out the calling card and take his Treasure then," Mona said, a grin on his face as he looked back at the glowing mystery object. "You can decide when we do so," the cat said, nodding to Joker. The black-clad leader nodded back, before looking at Valiant.

"Is there a certain time you would want us to come back here?" Joker asked seriously, causing Valiant to startle and take a few steps back. The other Phantom Thieves looked at her with concern, as her eyes glistened for a few seconds with unshed tears.

However, Valiant only closed her eyes tightly and shook her head, before giving them all a grateful smile. "Thank you guys for helping me. I don't think there's a single way I can repay you for all you've done. We can steal the Treasure whenever you want. We can always go to Mementos, anyway."

Everyone nodded, accepting the girl's answer. With that clear, Joker gave the command to move, and they all turned around to head back home. Everyone felt extremely proud of themselves for finally establishing a secure route to the Treasure, though all the same there were those in the group who had conflicted feelings about their victory.

Noir, though happy to finally help her father and herself in a way that mattered, was worried about what the results would be. Would changing his Heart fix everything? Would she finally be able to dump Sugimura and prepare for a brighter future? What's more, if her father did reveal what he knew about the mental collapses, where would that lead him? He would be an accomplice to murder afterall. The thought made her shiver, but she merely gritted her teeth and sped up her pace.

Meanwhile, trailing behind the back of the group, Valiant thought of what might happen when they stole the Treasure. Over the past few days, she had put more time into thinking about the trap they were walking into. Each thought had led her to scarier and scarier conclusions. Whatever trap they were heading into would most likely occur when they went to steal Okumura's Treasure. Coming to that conclusion had guided her to the obvious. After all, that would be the perfect time to…

Valiant took in a large gulp of air as they went through an airlock, landing on the ground only moments later. She shivered at the thought. But that would be the ideal timing to wait for, and something-someone-had been following them. Even though they disappeared off of Oracle's radar, Valiant knew they were still being followed.

Questions of loyalty plagued her every waking memory. Yet, no matter how much a part of her was saying the right thing would be to tell everybody, a larger part said to deal with it herself. If Goro was involved, she would convince him to stop whatever he was doing. And no matter what happened, she was going to make things right. Her own self knew it as well as she knew the truth of her reality. Despite all that had happened, Goro belonged with the Phantom Thieves. He belonged with Akira, Ryuji, Ann, Morgana, Yusuke, Makoto, Oracle, and Noir. He belonged with her.

As the Palace faded back away, replaced by a busy Tokyo street, Sayori vowed to make Goro see that.


A few days later, in the morning, Goro Akechi's phone rang with an aura of menace. The detective fumbled grabbed his phone and looked at it, scowling when he found that it was the SIU Director. He got up quickly from the couch, leaving Sayori behind to draw a quick conclusion. When he had shut and locked the door to his bedroom, and retreated into the farthest corner of the room, he finally answered it and put it up to his ear.

"The calling card was sent last night. You know what needs to be done."

"Yes," Akechi replied, even though the man had already hung up. He took his phone away from his ear and allowed himself a moment to shudder. After that, he went to work getting everything ready. He would have to get out his gun and burn any evidence he might have after Sayori leaves. Though for now, he could at least make sure everything was in the right place. When he was certain everything was in the best place it could be for the moment, the detective nodded to himself and exited the room.

However, as soon as he stepped foot past the door, Sayori seemed to launch herself at him, before capturing him in a very tight hug. It was so startling that he nearly pushed the girl away, but immediately stopped when he heard a soft whimper, followed by the sounds of sniffling. Goro immediately lifted his arms up and wrapped them around Sayori, rocking back and forth as she cried for a reason he did not yet know.

"Goro, I love you. You know that… Right?" Sayori whispered against his chest.

Goro, not knowing where this conversation was going, rested his chin on top of her head. "Yes. And I love you…"

"Are you sure?" Sayori asked weakly, her hands grasping his jacket tightly. She kept her head buried, unable to meet his eyes as guilt gnawed at her for doubting him.

"Yes… I'm sure. Is something wrong, Sayori?" The detective took his chin off her head and tried to tilt her face towards him, only for the girl to remain stubbornly where she was.

"No… Yes. Goro, I know that it may seem hard… But please!" A sob wracked the girl's body, and her roommate felt every single tremor in her body as she wept. Sayori suddenly felt the detective shift his position. Only seconds later, she felt him rubbing calming circles into her back. She took a deep breath, before finally gazing up into his concerned eyes.

"Please, Goro. I need you on my side."

The detective felt himself go incredibly tense as Sayori gazed up at him. A million panicked thoughts ran through his head, clashing with a wave of guilt, sadness, and slight nausea. Simply asking the question had made Sayori cry harder, and Goro found it in himself to focus.

"Sayori…" He put a delicate hand under her chin and tilted her head up, putting his head against hers so that their forehead and nose were touching. It wasn't exactly the most romantic gesture, but the thought of kissing her right before killing Okumura made him feel disgusted with himself. "Believe me when I say that whatever happens, I will always be on your side. Even if it does not seem like it, I am always thinking of you, and have your best interests at heart. But before anything else, I want to keep you safe. That is the responsibility I have." All of this was said in a low whisper, and he couldn't help but feel shame building within. While he was doing what he was doing to protect her, there was still that angry part inside of him that was doing this to make Shido hurt like he had made Goro and his mother hurt. That part of himself would likely never go away, because that feeling of abandonment and neglect would never fade either.

Slowly, Sayori's tight grip around him loosened, and she held onto his hand as it shifted to cup her cheek. "Thank you, Goro. I… will be on your side, too. But please, I can take care of myself, and I want to take care of you. I do not want you to do something that you will regret, just because of me." The girl looked down at the ground, and a resolute smile formed on her face as she wiped her tears away.

"This might be bold of me to say… but when you think of me, think of what you want."

Goro should have really expected the kiss that followed. Their lips were barely a centimeter apart. All Sayori had to do was close that gap, and of course she would. Still, that faint musing didn't mean anything, as he found himself kissing her back desperately. He held her close to him, and took her advice. What he wanted… was her. All the happiness and love and kindness that she gave away freely. He wanted it so badly that it hurt.

And it hurt when he felt her phone vibrate in her shirt pocket, rumbling so lightly against his own chest as well, yet strong enough to pull them apart. Sayori sighed when she saw the message, but smiled sweetly once again when she looked up again. "I have to…" She trailed off, before stepping up to the detective and grasping the sides of his face. Her thumbs brushed away more tears that Goro hadn't registered were there. "I'll see you tonight. No matter what happens, I want you to know how happy you have made me. How happy I am, because of what you've given me."

"What do you mean?" Goro asked, genuinely confused. His head seemed to spin out of control, as all he could think of was how those words reminded him of the final words spoken to him by a woman long dead. How horrible he felt to always go back to that night when she was taken away from him by her own hand.

Sayori giggled softly. "You saved me. I don't like to think about what might have happened if you hadn't taken me with you that night, and I don't like to think about what might have happened if the Phantom Thieves hadn't intervened back then… But I know it wasn't just them that saved me," she said, her voice slightly nervous as she gave that small admission. However, her nerves settled as she hugged him once more. He had brought her here before anything else had happened, and he had been in her Palace. He couldn't have done nothing while he was there. "You're my hero, Goro, and I'm so proud and thankful to have you in my life…I need you."

More tears trailed down his face, and Sayori began to wipe them away as well, only for Goro to stop her, reaching up and holding her hands gently. Those words seemed to floor him. He was needed. He was her hero. Someone who needed their hero wouldn't just go away, even if they had to leave for now.

"I need you, too…" Goro Akechi whispered, before heaving a heavy sigh, knowing what came next.

"I'll see you when you get back."

Sayori smiled, nodding slowly. "It's your day off today, so why don't you stay here and relax." There was so much hope in her expression, which was very telling. Inside Sayori's mind, she was begging him to stay right where he was. To sit and relax, read a book, watch TV, play chess, or darts, or anything to get him to remain here, where the world couldn't hurt him. She wanted so desperately for him to stay where he didn't feel like hurting the world in return.

The detective smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. Sayori looked at him nervously, and he wondered what was going on in her head. After a few more seconds of silence, she turned and grabbed her backpack, before walking towards the door. It opened and closed, and Sayori was gone.

A few more seconds passed with the detective waiting. He didn't know if he was waiting for Sayori, because a desperate, childish part of him still waited for his mother to come back, even though she couldn't ever come back. No one could return from death.

That thought spurred him into action. He grabbed his pistol, got rid of any evidence he needed, and packed a bag for himself. When he was done, he went to the door and grabbed the handle, turning to look back at the apartment briefly.

I'm sorry, Sayori. But this is the only way to stay on your side. I can't do that, if you are not here to stay with me. Not if you are dead… That sobering thought brought his sentimental thoughts crashing down.

The door slammed behind him as he left, too.


Valiant was glad that her body had adapted to the rigorous physical activity inside the Palace. However, that didn't stop her lungs from burning as they chased Okumura's Shadow. Everyone was suspecting that he was luring them to a specific place, where he could fight them on his own terms. None of them minded very much. If the Shadow felt more confident about obtaining victory, perhaps he would be more willing to indulge in their questions about the mental shutdowns. Still, they had a limited time to get there before Okumura boarded the SS Utopia, out of their reach and beyond the reformation they could give him.

From above the place where Okumura planned to battle them, Goro Akechi crouched, hidden on a ledge made of metal rafters on the ceiling. He watched intently as the Phantom Thieves finally caught up to Okumura. The detective frowned when he noticed a discreet smirk on the Shadow's face, before quickly disappearing as he turned to face the group.

"Welp, looks like we caught up to you, Mr. CEO," Skull said cockily.

"I…" Okumura stuttered, looking incredibly nervous. Sweat gathered on his forehead as he suddenly kneeled in front of the Thieves. "I'm sorry! I've had a change of heart! I'll prove it!"

"Father…" Noir trailed off, gaping in shock.

"Haru, you were always so agreeable. Whether it was in school or after, you only ever did as I said…" Okumura lamented. "You've become so admirable…" Goro actually grit his teeth at that. He had the lucky opportunity to have an audience's perspective, and the stupid act the Shadow was putting on only made his resentment grow.

"What's gotten into him?" Queen questioned nervously as the Shadow trembled, practically begging at their feet.

"I don't like this," Valiant whispered. They hadn't taken his Treasure, so Okumura shouldn't be acting like a reformed man. She took out her shield, looking around nervously, waiting for something to shoot at them from the darkness.

"Ah, yes. Do you remember, Haru?" Okumura asked solemnly, his eyes closed in perceived pain of the memory. "You cried your eyes out when my work kept me from attending your first sports day. It was then that you stopped talking back to me. Honestly… You had me worried." The Shadow then smiled, as if he were proud. "Still you stood up to me and became an independent young woman… Nothing could make a father happier than seeing that!"

"You still remember something that happened so long ago?" Noir asked, avoiding eye contact with her father. "Back then, you poured your heart into making delicious food. You wanted to bring joy to others…" The girl looked up sadly. "Why did you change?"

"F-Forgive me, Haru…" Okumura said, voice full of grief, "But I would never last if my Treasure was stolen! Please don't do it, I'm begging you!"

From his hiding place, Akechi froze, wondering if this was all part of the act. It was probable that Okumura knew he was here, but did he know why? That thought put the hitman on edge enough to make him back into his hiding place just a little bit more. He couldn't afford to get caught up in the battle and have his identity exposed. Still, he cursed that he hadn't interfered when Noir bought the act, walking up to her father's Shadow with the intent to extend an olive branch.

"Father…" Noir whispered sadly. "Let's… Let's end it here…" She looked down at her father, whose forehead was bowing so low that the top of his head was just barely touching the ground.

"Ah… Haru…" Okumura whispered, only to look up with a cruel smirk. His voice became cold as Noir took a cautious step back. "You foolish girl." In a flash, he had a control in his hand, and pressed a button with an "Up" arrow on it. Mona barely managed to jump away from the group as a glowing blue forcefield trapped the rest of the Phantom Thieves. Skull gave it a defiant punch.

"What?" Noir shouted, looking back at her friends in shock and fear for them, before turning back to her father pleadingly.

"'Overcome failure at any cost, even if it means betraying others'... That is our family motto!" Okumura shouted, that same smirk twisting his features into something almost unrecognizable to his daughter. "The cold reality of kicking people down is part of business! Virtues and sentiments are for losers. What happiness can be found in acting with justice but losing the battle?"

"What happiness can be found through profit gained by crushing the hearts of others?" Noir fired back, sweeping her arm back in a defiant gesture.

"Better that than fail! I'd much rather destroy others than wallow in the misery of debt!" Okumura shouted angrily, before spreading his arms out in a grand gesture. "Regardless, I shall soon set sail into the political realm. To the upper echelons of the world! To utopia! My name shall be etched in the annals of history!"the Shadow boasted, sounding more deranged with every word. In only a second, his face cleared, and he looked at Noir with a look that was equally cold as his words. "Make your decision, Haru. If you cast them away, I'll let you join me on this ship. Stay, and you will be incinerated along with this entire base. Now then, what is your choice?"

Noir's eyes watered. She had already made the decision, and knew how she had to answer, but it didn't hurt any less to be put on the spot like this, by her own father. She closed her eyes briefly, and her eyes immediately dried. Bowing her head, she turned her back on her father.

"You fool…" Okumura growled. Noir didn't pay attention, walking closer to the cage her real allies were trapped in. Mona had turned around, too. Neither of them noticed that Okumura had reached into the holster at his hip. An inane looking gun that looked more fit for an arcade game appeared in his hand and was aimed at his daughter.

"Noir!" Queen shouted in warning, and the fellow thief's eyes widened as Valiant pointed behind her. Noir was quick to turn around and put her hand at her own side, where a gun was also resting.

Okumura grunted, raising the tip of his gun away from his daughter, ending the standoff. "What about you there?" the Shadow asked, looking down at Mona, the same confident smirk returning. "Don't you want to get out of here alive? Want to board my ship? You're fighting against the others, are you not?"

"So you were spying on us," Mona replied, matter-of-factly. However, his glaring eyes betrayed his disgust as he put his hands on his hips.

"You'll gain nothing by staying with them… That's what you believe, isn't it?" Okumura said, switching back to being cold once again. "You are absolutely right. Sell them out! Cut them off for your own personal gain! I'll even give you the switch once we take off. So, do we have a deal? I'll give you ten seconds. Time is money, after all." The rest of the Phantom Thieves glared at Okumura, though there was some humor in their eyes as well. Did he really think it was that easy to manipulate Morgana? It was disgusting, but hilariously pathetic all the same.

Mona seemed to think so, too. He began to chuckle in amusement. "Don't take me for such a fool…" he looked up at the Shadow with a deadly glare. "Everything's gains and losses for you, isn't it? I pity you, Mr. CEO." Noir looked at him with gratitude as the cat took a few daring steps forward. "You lived with Haru for seventeen years and you still haven't realized? In this world, there are tons of things that money and fame can't buy! What point would there be in only saving myself?" All eyes were on Morgana as he made his last declaration. "Nobody could replace these guys, period! You know what that means? Your offer was a no-go from the start!" In a flash, his slingshot was in his hand, and the control for the cage was sparking on the ground, knocked away by a lucky shot from the shortest Phantom Thief. The cage surrounding the Phantom Thief was lowered immediately. The Phantom Thieves looked around in shocked amazement, all except Queen. In one accurate shot, the controller was rendered useless, blown to bits by her precise aim.

"What?" Okumura shouted in surprised fury.

"Whoa, it hit! Way to go, me!" Mona shouted, congratulating himself. Oracle, Skull, and Valiant all ran up to him to congratulate his victory.

"Wowza! You're so cool, Mona!" Oracle said, patting his fuzzy head.

"You stole the show, man!" Skull commented with a wink, before sending a congratulatory thumbs up to Queen, who nodded seriously.

"That was awesome, Mona!" Valiant added. "You deserve some sushi after this battle is finally over." The cat blushed in response, about to give a humble reply, but the rest of the Thieves brought them back to reality. Joker glared coldly at Okumura's Shadow, and everyone got into a fighting stance.

"Father…" Noir mumbled sadly, watching as the Shadow backed away in cowardice.

"So much for the negotiation…" Okumura said, though it was clear he could care less as he grunted. "You rebels! There is time before launch… I will crush you all!" A mechanical throne came up from behind. He took a seat on it and put his chin on his clasped hands.

"Very well then," Fox said, his voice full of cool confidence.

"Bring it!" Panther shouted, pounding a fist into her hand.

"Let's see how far you get, Okumura," Akechi commented from his hiding place. He got out his gun to examine it one last time, expecting this battle to be over quickly. From his hiding place in the rafters, he had a clear view as the Phantom Thieves all got out their weapons with one hand, and put the other over their masks, prepared to attack at any time. He made a mental note of the formation. Akira, Haru, Makoto, and Sayori took the front line, while Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke and Morgana stayed back for support. Futaba hovered above them within her UFO Persona. He couldn't help but admire the formation. From what he had gathered, Sayori's specialty was shielding attacks and taking blows. Joker was the leader, and by far the strongest, with Makoto a heavy hitter as well. For Haru, being in front was personal. Ann and Morgana were healers, and Yusuke and Ryuji served as reserves in case someone in the front was knocked out. All very genius, and the detective found himself eager to observe the battle.

"You little…!" Okumura growled, before his voice raised to a nearly manic scream. "You won't get out alive!" He pressed a button on the arm of his chair, and an army of robots swarmed in, coming down from shoots on the ceiling. The fight began, and the Phantom Thieves of Heart went to work.


Goro Akechi watched in interest as the Phantom Thieves worked with all they had in the time limit. He didn't need to lift a single finger as the group fought through an entire army of robots in barely fifteen minutes. Still, he couldn't say he approved of every decision made. Sayori was the one who needed the most healing, which caused Ann to focus her attention on that, while Morgana took care of the rest of the team. However, he would admit it was effective, as the others only got hit by an occasional spell that would cause them to back out of battle to recover from being agitated, scared, or sleepy.

In barely any time at all, Akechi had to keep himself from laughing. Okumura's employees had abandoned him, or there were simply none left. All he had to defend himself was a fancy floating chair. It took only two well placed attacks from Haru and Akira for the chair to abandon the Shadow, too, dumping him onto the ground and leaving him laying there, vulnerable to the Phantom Thieves'- and Akechi's- mercy.

"In the end, I am just one more in a lineage of failures…" Okumura lamented. He glanced up at Noir weakly. "I will contact your fiance and rescind the marriage offer. This may be the end for Okumura Foods…" The man bowed his head on the floor in remorse. "Forgive me, Haru…" And then he began to cry.

"Father…" Noir said, staring down at him. She sounded sad, but she also sounded resigned. She felt so tired, having to fight with her father in this way. Once the girl had looked up to him, and admired him. Now, she only felt pity, accompanied by familial love that now felt so bittersweet. She found she couldn't say anymore as the Phantom Thieves had to question the Shadow about one last thing her father was guilty of… Or at least, he was partially guilty of.

"You were behind all the breakdowns and mental shutdowns, weren't you?" Skull asked, his voice a strained yell as he walked up to the pitiful man. Valiant found herself frozen, wondering if this was the moment where things would start to change. Would she lose everything because she had tried to have both the friends she cared for and the boy she loved?

"I admit, I spent large sums of money to help my company grow, and to crush business competitors…" Okumura confessed, avoiding the topic with a nervous expression.

"Answer me, dammit! Did you do it or not?" Skull shouted with a stomp. He was so unbelievably frustrated. If Okumura had really been responsible then they had just fixed everything. But if not…

"Skull…" Valiant whispered sadly, her eyes darting around nervously. That pathetic cage from earlier definitely wasn't the trap… So it was very likely it was about to spring on them. It was also true that she didn't want them to find out this way… Not from Okumura…

"N-Not personally! I had a contract. All I did was make the requests to have them eliminated." Okumura actually seemed offended at Skull's words. He had still been responsible for the deaths of innocent people, and for possibly making a teenager do all of his dirty work for him.

No wonder all of this is happening to you… Valiant thought, feeling a strange detachment from the situation. Maybe… Maybe Goro had done these horrible things, but the mental shutdowns and breakdowns had been happening for so long… He would have been so young… Fifteen at most. She found her fists clenched in anger at the thought. Why did none of these adults try to stop him? They shouldn't have seen this as a chance to use him… They should have been concerned!

"Requests?" Mona asked, looking at the man with a brand of stern disgust that was so uniquely Morgana. "Then there really is a mysterious criminal in people's Palaces after all!" The cat suddenly jumped up in shock and worry.

"So it's true..." Queen whispered, tilting her head down in thought. The strategist of the group began to consider their options, now that they knew this part of their jobs wasn't done.

"What kind of contract did you form… and with whom?" Noir asked. She felt so sick… so horrified. However, her questioning only made the Shadow cry, for he already seemed aware how much he had disappointed his daughter. The shame for his actions was engulfing him. Soon enough he would disappear completely and return to the real Okumura. Valiant found herself looking around nervously. If something were going to happen, it would happen very soon… Before the Palace collapsed.

"C'mon, stop cryin' and tell us!" Skull shouted, just as a rumbling groan travelled through the space station. The ceiling rafters began to get very shaky, and Akechi had to move very carefully to get to a safer spot.

"Dammit, why now? Mr. CEO, can't you stop that thing?" Mona asked, pointing at the SS Utopia, as well as the Palace collapsing in general. The Shadow continued to cry, and the cat looked around nervously, before sighing in resignation. "Oh well… We can't just throw our lives away like this." The cat suddenly felt that sharp sensation in his senses and hopped up enthusiastically, as if on instinct. "Look! Up there!" He pointed just as a glowing ball, the Treasure, floated down from it's capsule in the UFO. He hopped up once more and grabbed it, before glaring at Okumura. "We've taken your Treasure."

"Huh?" Panther suddenly seemed very confused, putting her hand to her chin in thought.

"There's one more thing you need to tell us," Mona continued sternly. "Have you seen this criminal's face before?"

Valiant decided then to speak up, not wanting them to stubbornly stay here when the Shadow didn't have it in him to answer. "It's… It's obviously going to be the same answer if he has seen him…" She said nervously, "'The one with the black mask,' or something like that." Everyone sighed in response, because they knew she was right.

"Besides, we don't got time to get that outta him!" Skull shouted as the ceiling started to cave. From the outside, the space port looked like a can getting crushed, as if the pressure of Okumura's guilt was weighing it down on all sides.

"We'll just have to inquire about it in the real world," Queen said with finality. Most of the Phantom Thieves nodded in agreement, turning to the exit and bolting. However, Mona and Noir looked at the girl's father, wanting to say something in private. Panther was still standing there, thinking deeply about something. Valiant also stood there, but instead of the resigned, sharply focused look of the other group members, the pink haired girl was looking around the room nervously.

Please don't be here. Please prove that I was wrong. Please… Don't do what I think you're going to do. Valiant tried so hard, but Akechi was too good at hiding. Her eyes passed right over him, but she remained rooted to her spot for a little longer. Inside, the girl was thinking exactly what the detective feared she might do. I'll stay here until Okumura fades.

But that was not to be.

"Panther! Valiant!" Queen screamed at both of them, pulling on their arms and jarring them out of whatever stupor they were in. Panther looked up and nodded, before running in the direction the other Thieves were going. Valiant wanted to resist, but she suddenly remembered a promise she had made. She had to pull her weight. She couldn't have her friends carry her out of here…

"Sorry… I was just… looking." Valiant said sadly. Giving the room one more look around, the girl sighed in defeat, before running after Panther. She felt too numb to notice the tears trailing down her face as she felt like a failure once again. Please… I need you on my side. I need you to think of our promise… of what you want.

"Shouldn't we bring Father with us?" Noir asked finally, one of the last ones in the room. The Shadow was still slouched on the ground, now on his knees. He may have a space helmet on as part of his distortion, but he wouldn't survive getting crushed by a self-imploding building.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine! We'll end up dead if we're not out of here soon though!" Mona assured, before running off as well.

Noir gave her father one last look. She had wanted to say these words ever since discovering this Palace, but she could only ever say "Father…" Now she had her chance.

"Only you can follow through on your own responsibilities… That is what you've taught me, Father…"

The girl began to run, only to look back and sigh one last time. There was still more she wanted to say… Haru shook her head, before following after her friends.


Goro Akechi sighed as he drew his gun once more. The Palace was falling apart, and he only had seconds to act. I think I would like to regret what I did, as opposed to what I didn't do. Unlike before, he was surprisingly calm as he walked over to the slumped Shadow. It would only take one shot, and he could be done. He had done this plenty of times already. He could do it again.

What happiness can be found in acting with justice but losing the battle? Okumura's words rang in his head from earlier, and he growled in frustration at once again following the philosophy of this pathetic coward.

He raised his gun up as he noticed that Okumura was already beginning to fade. The safety was off. All he had to do was point and…

Is this the choice you want to make?

A stabbing headache made the hitman's breath hitch. He noticed the piece of paper laying on top of Okumura's body, having fallen there from somewhere up above. When he looked up to see if he could finally find this mysterious messenger, another note landed on his face, filling the visor of his helmet. Scraping slightly at the red tinted screen with his clawed hands, he peeled the message off of his helmet and glanced at it.

Pull the trigger. I dare you to do it.

Well, so be it then. The detective crumbled up the paper slip and tossed it to the side, before taking aim once more. Yet he had barely put pressure on the trigger when a third, fourth, and fifth note landed. They seemed to cut off any attempt he could make at concentrating, frying the edges of his mind as they beckoned him to read them. They screamed the words written onto them into his ears, into his brain. Akechi covered his ears, but it was no use. The sound was inside of him now.

It's all pointless.

Why aren't you making your move?

Has she really been so unhelpful that it's taking this long?

Make a choice.

What is your choice?

Aren't you supposed to be deciding what you want?

The messages kept repeating themselves, endlessly collecting. They rained down on this little platform, unseen by all except the recipient. Goro had expected these messages to blur together and become meaningless noise, but they remained distinct as ever, and even more insistent. It seemed as though the past few days without these cursed notes was so they could build up, because there were even more. And they just kept coming.

The boy swatted at them, trying to take aim. He felt ready to faint, even at the knowledge that the Palace was collapsing around him. However, one message stood out from the rest, fluttering down randomly among all of the other pieces of notebook paper. There was nothing unique about the way that it was presented. The only thing different was the message, which presented an uncomfortable subject the detective could not bring himself to accept. It spun lazy arcs in the air, before landing perfectly on the detective's head.

What is more real to you?

With that note, the detective couldn't take it anymore. He could barely even register the meaning of it. It was nothing more than the sound of a dog whistle in human ears. But it was meant to pack a punch, and so it did. The meaning of it was clear. Was the concept of revenge more real? Did it mean more to him than the love that was offered to him freely? The choice became more and more obvious. The reality of his situation was clear. He could not kill out of some notion of love for Sayori, because she would never accept that.

In the next instant, his gun was on the ground. Goro kicked it away from him for good measure before collapsing on his knees. A chunk of ceiling narrowly missed hitting him, but the detective found he couldn't care less. Because even though he had finally made the right choice, he was almost certain it was going to get him killed in less than a week. He couldn't think of anything else other than that. He was going to die for nothing. A scream tore its way out of his throat, because he truly did not want to die a meaningless death.

But, at the same time, tears flowed freely down his face as he was already beginning to accept that this was most likely going to happen. It wasn't meaningless, because he was going to die so Sayori would not. There was a freedom that chilled him to the bone with that thought. He could die doing the right thing. He felt more free than he had in a long time.

The Palace was collapsing, and would soon be destroyed completely. The detective got up and quickly left, grabbing his gun along the way. He didn't want it to somehow fall into another person's hands, so he would keep it safe from others in the apartment. Goro felt like an emotional wreck as he ran with reckless abandon towards the exit of the Palace.

He did not look back as Kunikazu Okumura's Shadow faded away.

"My… uto… pia…" He said, taking in labored breaths. A second later, he dissolved into nothing.

Happy 50th chapter, guys! We're almost to the part where things get crazy. Also, I feel bad about only mentioning this now, because I just now noticed this, but a few chapter's back, I wrote something that the site decided to exclude, probably because it looks like a link. If you didn't already get it(and I plan to correct it) Futaba sees Sayori's character file curing her arc. Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter. Please review and let me know what you thought, even if you are normally shy about that. It could be a milestone present, or something like that. See you next time!