Chapter 5: Meanwhile…

Velvet Room

"You know, Makoto got the better deal on that fusion" Joker huffed as he repeatedly shuffled cards in his hands.

"While I won't deny the truth of your statement, I don't understand how fusing two significantly weaker personas winds up with summoning Lakshmi" Lavenza said.

"Makoto has fortune on her side" Joker whistled.

"Was…that what humans call a 'pun'?" Lavenza asked. Joker just smiled at her question.

Igor laughed at the banter coming from his attendants, especially the former Trickster.

"In any case, I am rather impressed how quickly you learn this new role fate brought you" Lavenza said with a soft smile, "Although maybe I shouldn't be that surprised given you managed to forge a new path to the Holy Grail."

"What a remarkable feat indeed" Igor agreed.

"I can't believe I was being led by a false god" Joker shook his head, "If he hadn't shown too much of his hand, then this situation wouldn't be possible."

"Your will of rebellion burns stronger than ever" Lavenza said, "So much so you were able to ascend into an overseer of power, such as myself."

"You're a unique resident" Igor clarified, "Although you're an attendant, you're not directly tied to me."

"Wouldn't really be a rebel if I was" Joker summarized, "Speaking of which, you mentioned earlier something about 'siblings'."

"Well, that's how we explain it to our guests" Lavenza admitted.

"So, what would that make us, would you be considered my 'older sister'?" Joker hummed.

"Well…uh" Lavenza backpedaled, "Is that how you see it?"

"Just curious" Joker hummed, "Though I think we have a lot to learn from each other."

"I've learned a bit from you and will continue to do so" Lavenza nodded.

"Ah, it seems Makoto has returned" Joker noted, "Perhaps things will be smoother this time."

Back at Shido's Palace

"So, we only need the fifth letter from the Cleaner" Morgana said as they sat in the safe room.

"The fourth one was surprisingly easy to obtain" Ann noted.

"With weaknesses to Psy and Nuke, they were nothing" Futaba hummed in delight.

"Speaking of shadow weaknesses, has anyone else noticed the increased frequencies of Makoto returning to the front entrance? What is she up to?" Yusuke observed.

"Hard to say, but she seems to have inherited the same powers Joker once had" Morgana said, "As well as having Arsene as a persona."

"That bugs me, Arsene was the persona he woke up to, so shouldn't it be impossible for her to have him?" Ryuji asked.

"It should be, but it seems our assumptions continue to be rebuked" Morgana replied.

"Perhaps this is a bit far-fetched, but maybe Aki-Joker gave her that persona?" Hifumi said.

"Gave her Arsene?" Haru blinked, "I'm sorry, but can you elaborate?"

"The King may have wound up in checkmate, but a new King has come to play" Hifumi said, "In other words, Joker still exists in some form despite his death. This has allowed him to promote Makoto as the new King…or Queen rather."

"I can't deny that something has changed within Makoto, but why would she not tell us that Joker's spirit lives on?" Ann looked on.

"...Perhaps she can't? The place where he resides now might be only obtainable for her" Yusuke said. That thought was left to linger, as Makoto quick traveled back to the safe room.

"Okay, let's continue our operation" Makoto said, "Once we get the last letter, we should be able to gain access to the treasure." Everyone nodded in unison before leaving the safe room...unaware of a certain phone call taking place outside a TV station.

Outside a TV Set

Goro Akechi clicked his tongue, frustrated at the thought running in his head: Had the Phantom Thieves tricked him and Joker was actually alive?

Initially, the fact that Sae Niijima had been the first to discover the body bothered him, but he dismissed it as a coincidence. However, his remembrance of her showing the phone to him resurfaced his concerns about the affair. Then again...the morgue confirmed that the body had been sent to a crematory and the remains returned to his parents.

"Goddammit!" Akechi swore at the building stress. None of this should've happened, so how did everything begin to fall apart?

PiPiPi

Teeth gritted, Akechi answered his phone.

"Good afternoon" Akechi answered, "Every media outlet is vouching for the inevitable Prime Minister Shido. The public loves you too."

"We've only made it this far thanks to your efforts" Shido praised, "Now, there is one more thing I need you to do immediately."

"And that would be?" Akechi tentatively asked.

"I need you to dispose of the loyal customers of our shutdown business" Shido said, "I want the streets to be cleaned up of the trash before my inauguration, so doing this task before the election will be necessary."

"Is something the matter?" Akechi asked with a raised brow.

"Nothing particular, I just need the roots of all anxiety to be pulled as soon as possible" Shido replied.

"Anxiety? You never mentioned such things before" Akechi said.

"...Do you understand what it means to cross me?" Shido nearly shouted, "Just do as I ask, I will be counting on you." With that, Shido suddenly hung up.

"Tch" Akechi gritted his teeth, "This all too sudden...could it be I underestimated them?" Shaking his head, Akechi decided he needed to investigate the situation and made his way towards the Diet Building.

He completely missed the butterfly flying right past him.

Sakura Residence

It was quiet at the Sakura Residence, with only the sounds of coffee being made.

Sojiro sighed as he placed a photo of Akira on the butsudan, while keeping his urn in a safe place.

"I understand why your parents distanced themselves from you after the arrest, but to be so distant as to not to reclaim you? Perhaps I should've tried to make my guardianship permanent" Sojiro said while wiping his eyes. He went back into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee, the way Akira liked it.

Black with a pinch of sugar.

"Once this is over, I will make sure to have your urn placed in the family tombstone, opposite side of Wakaba. But uh…I still can't believe you're gone. I hope the afterlife is treating you well, kid" Sojiro said.

Taking a moment to light incense and saying a prayer, Sojiro stood up.

"I've got to run the shop for a few more hours, but I will inform Futaba about your inclusion in the butsudan" Sojiro said before making his way out the door. Once he was gone, the same butterfly that passed Akechi materialised into a more familiar form.

"Black with a pinch of sugar" Joker said after taking a sip, "Just the way I like it. Hopefully we can meet again, Sojiro."

And as quickly as Joker came, he vanished back to the velvet room.

A/N: Honestly, Sojiro comes off as a better dad for Akira than his biological dad.