Chapter 2: Marie Antoinette
"Where am I? What is going on?" Makoto asked.
"This is the Velvet Room, a place between dream and reality, mind and matter" the odd looking man said, "My name is Igor. A twist of fate has granted you access to this place."
"Dream and reality? Am I dreaming?" Makoto said.
"You are dreaming, this is how we contact our guests" the small girl said, "I am Lavenza, one of the velvet room attendants here and now his teacher."
"Teacher?" Makoto blinked in confusion.
"It's a long story and one I will tell in time, but the gist of it is that my will of rebellion has brought forth a new path. A path that must be walked by the person who carries my torch" Joker said.
"I don't follow" Makoto answered. Joker palmed his hand near his chest, revealing a blue tarot card.
"This is the Wild Card, whoever possesses it shall walk down a journey of strife" Joker began to explain, "Everything up to now was my journey, until the arrival of my death. That should've been the end of it and the world doomed to ruin. However, I refused to be swept away and forged a new path. This is the path you're destined to walk, if you choose it."
"Why must I walk down this path? What about yourself?" Makoto asked.
"I can't. I died and I am no longer attached to the mortal plane" Joker shook his head, "To put it lightly, I'm no longer human. I'm a velvet room attendant in training and Lavenza will be assisting me on my transition."
Makoto looked down in sadness, the weight of everything coming down on her. She felt her chin being lifted up.
"You're cute as ever, even in grief" Joker teased, "Don't ever forget our special bond, my dear Queen."
Makoto took a step back, her face red with embarrassment.
"Back to the topic at hand" Joker continued, "You have been granted the special privilege of swapping fates with me and becoming the Wild Card that reforms society. The enemy is still out there and must be dealt with."
"Who?" Makoto asked, "Who is this enemy we must face?"
"One that is too powerful for you to handle at the moment, not without taking up my torch and further training" Joker cryptically said, "But... you're close to the mastermind in my death."
Makoto remembered their conversation last night, Futaba had a lead that she would investigate.
"So, what is your answer?" Joker asked politely.
"I will carry your torch and bring about the world we fight for until it's realized" Makoto nodded with a firm gaze in her eyes. Joker smiled as her fate card, Priestess, was exchanged with his. The priestess card in his hand morphed into the Priest Arcana, indicating his role in her journey.
Makoto took a deep breath, taking in the power of the wild card and the bonds connected to it.
Ring!
"Looks like it's time for you to wake up" Joker hummed, "My phone's passcode is 9338, which has all of my important contacts. Tell them the truth about my fate and connect with them. My confidants shall become yours. I will assist you with that when needed, it's time for you to wake up. Oh, take this with you, it's the key to the velvet room. You're a guest, so it would be rude if you didn't have a key."
Makoto took the key just as she returned to consciousness.
Makoto opened her eyes and realized she was back in her bed. Sitting up, she decided to take a shower and digest her dream.
"So Akira is truly gone, yet he will be my aid moving forward" Makoto to herself, "And this power...it's overwhelming. No wonder why he became a natural leader."
There was so much information that Makoto needed to process, including the fact that Akira was no longer human.
With a sigh, Makoto realized she would need to keep much of this to herself. It would be impossible to explain at the moment, even to her teammates.
After she finished her shower and got ready for school, she spotted her sister reading a newspaper.
"Good Morning" Sae said, "How are you feeling?"
"Reality of the situation is starting to sink in" Makoto said, "Hey Sis, you wouldn't happen to have Akira's phone with you?"
"You mean this thing?" Sae said, "Is there something you forgot to tell me?"
"We had a contingency plan in case something bad happened" Makoto lied, "Akira told me to gather his contact information and notified the others associated with him. He gave me instructions on unlocking his phone."
"I see" Sae said as she handed over the phone, "I will be off to work, call me if something comes up."
"Will do, sis" Makoto answered. When she left, Makoto opened up Akira's phone and noticed a text from Kawakami.
SK: I heard you went home, so I reported it during homeroom.
SK: Are you OK?
Makoto frowned, so the school covered up his association, how predictable.
AK: This is Makoto speaking, Akira has given me his phone.
AK: The school is covering up his association with them.
AK: The truth is….Akira died of a heart attack two days ago.
SK: ….Jeez
SK: ...May we speak in private around lunchtime?
SK: I have...questions.
AK: That will be fine, let's meet at the PE Faculty office.
Makoto sighed, Kawakami was one of his confidants? Well, she will find out at lunch, now she needed to head to school.
Shujin Academy
"So...you're also a phantom thief?" Kawakami sighed, "Explains why an honor student was suddenly hanging out with "delinquents"."
"That wouldn't be a wrong connection" Makoto admitted, "I grew past the ideal honor student because of them, Akira even more so. He...was my first boyfriend and kiss, so the news isn't easy to digest."
"To think they would drug and beat up a kid" Kawakami said as she wiped tears off her face, "And then to report it as a suicide…"
"It was an ochreasted cover up" Makoto said, "Someone out there is pulling the strings, we will find out who and bring them to justice."
"...Do you think that is wise?" Kawakami asked, "Aren't your own lives at risk as well?"
"That is a possibility, but as far as the authorities are concerned the case is closed" Makoto responded, "We're out of the spotlight, so to speak."
"I see" Kawakami said as she sipped some coffee.
"I don't mean to pry but...care to explain why you have Akira's contact information" Makoto asked politely.
"..." Kawakami sighed, "I suppose it won't hurt to tell you. Not too long ago, I was moonlighting as a maid to make some extra money...for some greedy parents of a kid I was mentoring. He found out about my secret, although in a manner that would get him in trouble, So we struck a deal: I would provide maid services for him while he paid me and kept my maid job a secret. He made good use of our deal too."
"What did you provide?" Makoto asked.
"Well besides allowing him some free time in class, I provided maid services such as cooking and cleaning" Kawakami said before growing a bit red, "And gave him massages on certain days."
"Massages?!" Mokoto said in shock.
"...He came home really exhausted, so I helped him rest up a bit before late evening" Kawakami said.
Extreme exhaustion? Like how they felt after infiltrating a palace or mementos?
"Whenever we conducted our missions, we came back extremely exhausted so that must be why" Makoto explained.
"I see" Kawakami said, "So...you said you guys were going to avenge him, right?"
"That's right" Makoto confirmed, "We will be discussing our plan of action this afternoon."
"...Then perhaps I may transfer over my services to him, if you wish" Kawakami suggested.
My bonds are your bonds now.
Makoto realized the depth of his words, she was taking up his mantle to the fullest extent. Besides, she could use those massages so she could study afterwards.
"That is fine by me" Makoto admitted, "But ah...let's be discreet about this. It would be a scandal if anyone found out."
"I already know" Kawakami said, "It's time for you to head back to class."
Makoto nodded and bowed before heading back to her home room. Once the day was over, she headed straight for Leblanc to discuss the next plan of action.
Pipipi
That was Akira's phone going off, she checked the text message.
YM: Hey it can't be true can it? Tell me your Ok!
AK: Unfortunately, it's true. - Makoto
AK: Akira has entrusted this phone to me in case something went wrong
YM: Makoto? You're serious...
YM: Danm it all, to think he would commit suicide
AK: It wasn't suicide
AK: I will email you the details later
AK: The Phantom Thieves will be discussing what to do next
YM: I hope you avenge him. He was my best friend…
YM: This sucks all around
AK: Yes...it does
With a sigh, Makoto put away Akira's phone and entered the cafe.
Everyone was gathered around, their expressions serious and angry.
"I see we're all here" Makoto said, "Let's get down to business."
"We have the target" Futaba said with anger in her eyes, "Diet member Masayoshi Shido."
The man responsible for Joker's demise
A/N: Two things. First, yes Lavenza is whole again and real Igor is the master over the velvet room again. I will write about why this is later.
Second, I'm aware in canon that Akira's Guardian told the school he was on leave. In this story, the conspiracy runs deeper in school and isn't limited to the late principal. So someone got wind that Akira = Leader of the Phantom Thieves, thus leading to a cover up.
Besides, the school officials don't need anymore attention from police and the media.