The Phantom Thieves of New Game

by El Pepe

A collection of short one-shots and drabbles following Akira Kurusu on his various times through New Game . Sometimes, his changes can lead things to be better. Most times, however, his changes only lead to more problems. Originally posted on AO3.

16. Solitary

The Phantom Thieves of New Game+

a collection of Persona 5 one-shots

Chapter Sixteen

"Solitary"

(A/N: Once again no beta - We die like a time-looper's concept of time.)

For most people, being locked in solitary confinement would be a nightmare. His first time through, when he woke up from the fake world only to find himself in solitary, only proved that. Though he only had memory of a week and a half of his time in solitary, his body had shown all the signs of being stuck in it. He was malnourished, complete with his muscles having lost definition.

That first time through was ten years ago, now.

Compared to everything else he had gone through, he now relished this week and a half of being locked in solitary. It allowed him to review the year he had spent in peace. He could process what changes he made, and more importantly what changes he could still make in order to try and escape this nightmare.

He knew solitary confinement was a true nightmare. He would never argue against that. However, after reliving the same year ten times with no idea how, or even if, he could escape, well...

...solitary had nothing on that.

(A/N: So, this one did not go at all like I had originally planned. It comes down to a matter of perspective for Akira. Yes, solitary confinement sucks, but ten days of it pales in comparison to having to relive the same year ten times in a row.)