Persona 5: Daywatch

Saturday, 16 July 2016
After School
Shibuya, Teikyuu Overpass

Trudging behind the part-time model, Akira came to a stop at the walkway looking out onto Shibuya traffic. Bitter envy coiled in him at the mass of people churning by with no sign of lethargy. Dark suits and a variety of different school uniforms passed, reminding him of the foam in the waves lapping in and out of a beach. He wondered if he would ever live to see a real beach and feel real sand in his fingers.

Ann dropped her school satchel against the inner walkway wall and flopped against the rail. "Exams are such a drag. Why do they have to be more tiring than the banks in the Metaverse?"

Ryuji slumped next to her. "For real."

Makoto came up behind them, looking none the worse for the wear, and paced to the track star's other side. "Could you all perhaps keep talk of castles and banks for other environs?" She checked her phone, then leaned back against the railing.

Akira set the satchel with the team leader down. "What am I supposed to do, pop off for a quick nap when there's some weird hacker threatening to leak our activity to the fuzz? You guys might be safe, I don't snitch, but all I need is a credible accusation and they'll revoke my probation and throw me in juvie." He brought up an online game of shogi to distract himself.

A terse silence settled over the group. After a few moments, Morgana popped out of the bag to pat a paw against the transfer student. "I know you're not the type to relax easily, but even you need to put things down and sleep when it's time to sleep. Can you at least promise me you'll try tonight?"

Ryuji flopped despite already being slouched. "Ugh, I totally know. It's so damn hard to hit the sack when you've got tests comin' up."

Makoto quirked an eyebrow. "I am… surprised at you, Sakamoto-kun. You must have been studying particularly hard to keep you up at night."

Akira managed to submit his turn before he beat the model to bubbling over with chuckles. "Like you were studying."

Ryuji jammed his hands in his pockets. "You just haven't tried Star Ocean. Slackin' off's way more fun."

Ann nodded, her bushy pigtails jostling. "Abso-lutely. I was cleaning until the bar down the street let out." She scrunched her face in thought. "I'm almost afraid my room's too clean. Papa and mama even noticed."

Akira moved up a knight. "Escapism has no better examples."

Ann stuck her tongue out at him.

He returned the gesture.

Makoto growled, turning on them with the crossed arms and spread footing. "You three are all childish. Have you even thought about where it's going to lead you?"

"Yeah!" Morgana piped from his satchel between the two Class D students.

Makoto glared at the transfer student. "Any further word from that phone hacker?"

Akira shook his head.

"Sweet, sounds like we got off scott-free." Ryuji tapped the heel of his shoe against the inner railing. "Hey, we outta call Yusuke. See if he's up to partyin' on Marine Day." He pulled out his cell phone and called up the artist. "Yo, Yusuke. You good for speaker?"

"I shall endeavor not to embarrass the team by proxy," Yusuke said over the runner's phone speakers.

Ann twirled at a pigtail. "But we already had our celebration for Madarame."

Ryuji flashed a grin so perfect it was annoying. "Yeah, but now we can celebrate finals bein' over. They'll be doin' fireworks an' everythin'. You're in, ain'cha, Yusuke?"

Akira submitted his next move, then spread his arms at the rest of the group. "They say the best way to be true to yourself is to be young at heart. That's why those waiting for time to heal all wounds are all sixteen."

Ann gave him a quirked eyebrow. Makoto slouched to the side against the railing with a sound of disgust.

"Ah," Yusuke's voice floated out of the track star's phone speakers. "Like the old phrase, 'If time heals all wounds, I have not aged a day in years'."

Morgana groaned. "Poets are all too depressed. Maybe we should celebrate just to remind you two that making it through tests is a milestone as much as changing Madarame's heart."

Ryuji boggled, complete with jaw drop. "Did our lustrous leader just say we all outta have fun?"

"I believe that should be illustrious," Yusuke said through the phone. His tone perked up just a shade. "However, the fireworks at Marine Day might be the perfect opportunity to gather together in all our regalia. The crowds and skies could both prove to stoke the inspiration of our inner muse."

Ryuji squinted as if it hurt to process the words.

Ann straightened from her sloppy flop against the railing. "You know what? It would be. I was just up at a fancy place for dinner with papa and mama, so I've even got a yukata out and ready."

Makoto let a cute little smile slip across her face. She fiddled with her fingernails. "It… has been a long time since I've had the chance to dress up. Dad would always take us with him to the police ball on the Emperor's Birthday, but Big Sis has always been too busy."

Yusuke let out a breath either of affirmation or struggling with something on his side of the phone. "I would have to retrieve mine from the atelier, but I do not suspect the police would have confiscated the students' old clothing."

Ryuji tilted his head. "Wait, you've got one?"

"Of course," Yusuke explained. "Sensei taught us that formality is part of the respect we must show the world before we may find respect for ourselves. Appearance was the first step of that." He let out a hum. "Looking back with the clarity I now have, I should have realized he valued the ability to put on airs more than the freeing fluidity of art itself."

Akira hit 'end turn' and returned his focus to the team. "I dunno, there's a grain of truth to that. I seem to recall Teal'c saying that those who did not look like servants of the gods were sent to the front lines."

Makoto clasped her hands before her, not quite looking him in his grey eyes. "W-well, do you have one to wear?"

He looked back down to his game. The opponent just captured his bishop with a knight. So much for the left flank. He set up his counter and hit 'end turn'. "Nah. Mother had a shit-ton of all sorts of styles of kimono, but she never wanted to be seen with me so it's not like I've ever had an event to wear one to."

Ann gasped and reached out to grab his sleeve. "We are so getting you one to wear to the fireworks." She glanced down at her grip and let go. "I mean, you can clearly handle long sleeves."

Eyebrow arching, Ryuji glanced about the group. "What's so special about those stuffy old clothes?"

Hifumi in a decadent kimono patterned in forest themes sprang to mind. Akira felt his face warm. He wondered what she would say if she saw him in the somewhat archaic garb.

Brushing back a lock of dark hair, Makoto let out an amused chuff. "It's about the opportunity of presenting oneself in a new light, Ryuji. And sometimes to a new crowd." She looked up to the transfer student. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about it. Yusuke's proof that dressing up isn't just for ladies."

Grinning, Ann clapped. "You'll have to come along, Senpai. I'm sure they'll have something good at Takenoko Street. It'll be an outing!"

Ryuji looked between the girls, then turned a glare on the transfer student. "Dude, how do you get all the chicks without even doin' nothin'? Back me up, Yusuke, we were s'posed to talk 'bout what the Phanto—"

Makoto elbowed him.

"Er…" Ryuji retreated from the glaring student president, but bumped into the blonde. "What we're gonna do next? We're fin'ly gettin' big, we gotta capitalize on it."

Yusuke said, "Marine Day is in two days, and the fireworks are just after sundown. We will have to make it soon."

Thoughts of joining Hifumi at a date in one of those fancy sit-down tea houses swirled through Akira's head. Would she like a light kimono like the bright ones she tended to wear in those photo shoots? Or would she prefer him in something dark to contrast her own style? His throat felt parched as he croaked, "W-well, I've got work at the convenience store tomorrow."

"Guys," Ryuji whined.

"Then we shall have to do it the day of," Yusuke said.

Ann hopped on her feet, her academic-induced fatigue gone. "It's a date!"

Saturday, 16 July 2016
Late Evening
Minato-ku

The homeless man tapped at the shipping container behind him as he took in the transfer student. The old man wore no shirt in the oppressive July heat, making the scars of at least one knife fight clear against his leathery skin. Despite the lack of accommodations, his wiry white hair looked well-trimmed, making it easy to see the similarities to the almost fifteen-year-old photo Iwai showed from days in the Hashiba clan. "Young'uns like you got plenty 'a better things to be gettin' into. Can't'cha find anything ya need on the internet?"

Akira crossed his arms, the moist air blowing up from the harbor making the parking lot scattered with shipping containers feel that much less bearable. "No. I'm not here looking for something on the internet. I'm here for… knowledge that can only be found on the streets. Knowledge about business with Tsuda and the Hong Kong mafia."

The name drop sent a flash through the homeless man reminding the transfer student of Kurosawa's film 'Red Beard', despite a lack of color in his stubble. "Who sent you?"

Akira hesitated. Dropping Iwai's name might get the story he was looking for, but if the most recent photo he had was more than ten years old, that meant he wasn't in. And as much as he tried to hide it with that gruff front, he cared about that idealistic son of his. Family were the first link of vulnerability in a family man, and if this Hashiba business went anywhere hot that could mean dead sons. "I'm just a drifter. You and me might belong here, but people with that innocent spark in their eyes… they don't deserve to get dragged in with us. All I'm looking for is a way out. For them."

Red Beard squinted, but his dark eyes lingered on the transfer student's even as his shoulders hunched forward. "Brother?"

The guarded searching quality in the old man's eyes set off warning bells in Akira's mind. Still, the old man's stance indicated interest. It reminded him of that Amagi woman's warring of suspicion and pity when Akira spilled his story to Big K. And this wouldn't be a total lie, Kaoru was as good a kid as Makoto. Could go far if he had the breathing room to set up a life outside the yakuza's shadow. "Nephew. If I can just buy his way out, nothing else matters. But the only way I can do that is through the Hong Kong deal two years ago."

"Would you look at that? A kid who follows the code." Processing and recognition flashed through Red Beard's dark eyes. "Two years ago? Hsun-chi Woo was here back then, but Tsuda dropped the shipping container off at Shibaura. Left with their… I think it came to the equivalent of a hundred million yen." His hand rubbed his chin. "I suppose it was a little strange they didn't have a drinking party to celebrate. Was supposed to be a turning point against the Kaneshiros, but their old boss disappeared and the new one didn't play by the rules. Ended up bein' a long slog." He shrugged. "I guessed at the time they just spent that extra dough leasin' a higher-end club to keep it private."

Akira blinked. Despite having been in Kaneshiro Junya's heart and seen thousands of yen fluttering down all over the place, amounts like a hundred million yen went past his ability to even imagine. Maybe Hifumi would have some idea, though she hadn't responded to his texts since that strange call yesterday. What exactly did she mean by 'help'? Help who?

Akira shook his head. He couldn't let himself get distracted by that. Studying with Makoto helped, but she had family to attend to. This investigation was supposed to keep himself from worrying about another brilliant girl too good for this world. She was fine, he had to believe that. Iwai needed his help now. "A hundred million? How'd a deal like that go under the rug? If Tsuda got his hands on a hundred million worth of somethin', he should've been able to corner the market on… tons of stuff."

Red Beard shrugged. "Buncha us Hashiba foot soldiers were hopin' it was gonna be enough firepower to push the Kaneshiros out. Their old boss had just disappeared and the new one didn't play by the rules, but he always seemed to know when and where we were gonna hit. Always had just enough guns to cut down the clan muscle, and never spent his own clan's blood doin' it."

That would fit the man for whom money was both the end and the means, and no target was too sacred. "So he must've had an informant of his own."

Red Beard nodded, but let the silence stretch on until the transfer student offered another strawberry fruit bar with a five thousand yen note wrapped around it. He stuffed it into the folded jacket he sat on. "Impossible to say who it was, though. Could'a been one'a the guys we thought got cut down in an elevator knife attack or alley gun fight. Bun'cha guys threw in the towel, too. Or had kids poisoned all'a the sudden. Hard to blame 'em after Noriyuki's baby died of arsenic in the formula."

Swallowing, Akira wiped his forehead. How close did the Phantom Thieves come to that?

They went back and forth a little more, Akira having to yield another ten thousand yen when his tongue proved not quite silver enough, but Red Beard had nothing else related to the Hong Kong deal. After splitting, he tried putting Hsun-chi Woo into the Nav, but the guy had a palace and without a location or clue they wouldn't have any chance to break in. Maybe Makoto could learn more from her sister. He shot a message out to the class president before getting on the train. He needed his sleep if he was going to match Hifumi wit for wit tomorrow.

Sunday, 17 July 2016
Morning
Kanda Catholic Church

The service and holy communion passed, leaving the lingering worry that somebody would see through his paper-thin disguise. Being that boy from another city, coming to Mass without a family already left some distance between him and the other parishioners, but these were actually devout and pure. Would they talk about him like Shujin did?

Father Sugiyama read a passage of Luke where Jesus rebuked Martha for focusing on the cooking when her sister Mary ditched the kitchen to listen to Jesus' lesson. So soon after finals, the transfer student wondered if God was up there having a chuckle at him. As soon as the priest finished the benediction, his phone started buzzing in his jacket.

Perplexed, Akira drew it. "The hell? I turn this off for church." A message waited for him in the text messenger.

Alibaba's ID stared up at him. [Why do you delay? I gave you your target. Her heart is not changed. Have you forgotten the stakes?]

"Excuse me," the woman to his side said.

"Oh, sorry," Akira said, standing up and taking to the aisle, pressing his phone against his chest to keep anyone else from seeing. He sidled to one side to press against the side of a pew as other parishioners left. As soon as he had an opening, he texted, [We haven't had a chance during finals.]

[Academic diligence is admirable, but this mission is not a triviality to be brushed off.]

A firm finger tapped him on the shoulder.

He jumped and spun about to a giggling Hifumi. She stood there in a soft purple dress with translucent green sleeves. "Good morning, Akira-kun."

Akira slapped the phone against his chest to hide its screen. "Hifumi-san!" He felt sweat break out across his skin.

As if God decided things weren't complicated enough, Father Sugiyama came up from the altar, folding his stole in his hands. "Kurusu-kun, Togo-chan. Good morning. Has the week after finals left you feeling better?"

Hifumi gave a small smile, though there was something stiff, practiced to it. "I feel fine, Father."

His phone buzzed in his hand. Akira swallowed. "Oh, uh… mine just finished. I would love to stay and chat, but I uh… need to clear this up. Real fast. Is there a private place on the grounds I could have for a few minutes, Father?" His hand squeezed on his phone as if it was that hacker's neck. He had just worked himself up to telling Hifumi and this would just add fuel to the fire.

Father Sugiyama's pale brown eyes swiveled up for a moment, then back down. "The Meditation Garden is small but should do. Take the right door just before my office."

Akira gave a swift bow to the priest, then the girl with eyes greener than any forest, then shot off. Before the fogged glass door swung shut, he bared a snarl down at his phone. "Bastard."

Alibaba had sent, [Ah, Togo. Match fixing and betting fraud. You are investigating the clients of money launderer Nakao Hiromi after you changed her heart. So you found Kaneshiro by following the money and are still cleaning up.] Another just seconds ago added, [I looked into Kaneshiros stooges while investigating you, but those shall have to wait.]

"The fuck do I care about your hit job?" Akira growled. [The vote has not yet been made to change Sakura Futaba's heart. We just started investigating her.]

[I gave you the target on Monday. Have you done NOTHING?]

"Entitled prick," Akira muttered. [Investigations don't conclude overnight. We don't have a location or distortion to narrow down targets.]

[Distortion? What are you talking about?]

Akira rolled his eyes. "Like you'd understand even if I explained, dipshit. We're not going to change your rival's heart, or some cashier who shorted you five yen at the grocers' or whatever." [Changing hearts takes time.]

[Do you think this is some kind of game for you to brush off? Apparently I need to show you how seriously you need to take this.]

Then nothing. Akira scratched the side of his head, then straightened his glasses. When almost a minute passed he sent, [So… what?]

Another minute passed before he growled and stuffed his phone into his jacket, then marched back into the halls of the neighborhood Catholic church. Hifumi waited for him at the hallway intersection, their gazes met, but she swallowed as if nervous. "I-I've been looking forward to sharing a good game for days. I had a practice match on Wednesday, but one quick game hardly counts as good exercise for the week."

His phone buzzed. "Aw, c'mon." He brought up his phone, but this time it was an email from the bank warning him he would face a fine for having an account balance of zero yen.

The bank he kept his laundered money at.

The one with sixty-eight thousand yen before he added the last deposit from sales to Iwai, then distributed them to the other Phantom Thieves' dark money accounts.

Akira clapped his phone against his chest and he looked back up at his beautiful rival, sweat bringing a chill to his skin. He bared a smile at her and hoped it didn't make him look like an angry gorilla. The twitch under her eye did not reassure him. He forced a laugh and cringed at how close to Ann's acting it sounded like. "J-just… one minute."

He raced back into the tiny meditation space just as the shishi-odoshi bonked against the stone in the corner. The running water did nothing to help the sense of coiling tension.

"Akira-kun?" her muffled voice reached through the fogged-glass door, though she did not open it to step through.

His phone buzzed and a new message awaited him from Alibaba. [Have you constructed the calling card? You have your target's name. If you do not change the target's heart, I will expose your identity to the world and police. We will speak again after you change the target's heart.]

He tried to send back, [We aren't puppets to sic on your enemies,] but when he hit the send button an undeliverable message error popped up.

A soft knocking on the glass made him jump and spin around, heart hammering in his chest.

"What?" he snapped, hauling open the door.

When he didn't step in, Hifumi stepped out and let the door close behind her. Her gaze never left his, a tension in her jaw. Her hands clenched over her travel shogi board. "Is everything okay?"

Heart still thudding in his chest, cortisol muddled his mind and he snapped with the same anger he still felt at the hacker, "It's nothing!" His stomach clenched, Hifumi didn't deserve his anger.

She flinched, but held her ground. A momentary tremble passed through her hands before she reached to set the travel shogi board and box on the small stone bench. Hifumi blinked, but as fast as her regal posture recovered he still saw the way her eyes welled up. She swallowed once before her lip trembled and the whole act collapsed. She surged at him, wrapping her arms around his torso like it was the only thing keeping her from falling off the face of the earth, and tears spilled down her face.

The scent of patchouli shampoo suffused his nostrils, intoxicating, as a thrill zipped up his spine. He wished anything else could have brought them close enough to indulge in it. Akira felt sparks gushing in his head, but his arms closed around her, one hand rubbing in circles at the small of her back.

After what felt like hours but must have just been minutes, Hifumi's tears slowed and sobs stopped. Her voice still cracked when she said, "M-mother and I f-fought." Her breath caught for a moment. "She l-loves me. We… we've never fought." Her arms tightened around him and her face pressed against his shoulder. "When papa collapsed, I was just entering middle school. I th-thought the world was going to end, at that hospital. I couldn't imagine life without papa. So for hours, while her husband was undergoing treatment inside that horrible place, she held me and did my hair, undid it, then did it again, quizzing me on math to keep me from thinking about how close he might have been to dying. When they had to hold him to be sure the blood clot treatment didn't have complications, she took off work to make me Delhi Tofu."

Long moments passed as she just breathed. After he decided she had her breathing back, Akira decided to ask what she was leaving off. "What changed?"

Hifumi's arms tightened around him. She sniffled once before answering, "Fame." She took in a long breath before loosening her grip, though still held onto him. "She'd been proud since I won a competition in primary school. The principal called me a prodigy after I beat not only all the other students, but also the faculty in a primary school shogi tournament. But she's changed these past few years. Kosei's student newspaper put me on the cover for winning a full math scholarship and finishing qualifications to join the Shogi Players' Association. My class representative had a copy of the school newspaper and got everyone in class to sign it in exchange for an autograph." She sighed and her arms lowered to clasp her own wrists, keeping him held close. "Mother saw how many classmates signed the Kosei Gazette for just giving one autograph, so she said I could do more like that to help pay for Papa's treatments after the complications started. She kept the gazette – said something about all those phone numbers the boys left."

Akira stopped the hand on her back. "That's when the interviews started?"

Her voice regained its steady quality when she spoke. "The photos, first. She said people don't truly believe in something unless they can see it, but I think she knew the effect of a photogenic young woman. I wanted to help Papa any way I could, so I said yes right away." She leaned against him as if the effort of standing on her own became too much, her soft curves pressing against him. "I had no idea things would snowball so much in a year and a half. Photos in quaint, traditional garb is one thing, but then came the dresses and this week she started scheduling me for swimsuit shoots. I ca… I can't…" Leaving her hands clasped behind him, she leaned back to look him in the eye.

Even with tear streaks smudging what little makeup she had on, or the red eyes, Hifumi's beauty would have taken his breath away on its own. Then she said, "Let's change her heart."

Akira's mouth drifted open and a hot July breeze wafted through.

Hifumi unwrapped her arms, grasping his hands as she stepped back. "You changed Kitagawa-kun's heart. He went from trudging around campus to humming marching tunes. You changed Madarame's heart." She looked him in the eye, back straight and eyes shining with hope. "I know we can do it!"

His heart hammered in his throat. "H… Togo-san…" Akira squeezed his hands, if he were standing on his own he would have been clenching his fists. When she squeezed back instead of letting go, his resistance crumbled. "I don't even know your mother's na—"

"Mitsuyo," she said, her regal posture back and her features determined. "Her full name is Togo Mitsuyo." Her hands squeezed tighter on his. "It won't… it doesn't hurt, does it? Kitagawa-kun seemed fine. I'll do anything to help—"

"No!" Akira paused to breathe in. After the spike of fear at the possibility of seeing her in the Metaverse passed, he felt the corners of his mouth quirk up. When was the last time someone believed in him? She never even saw the Metaverse, and she didn't show a shred of doubt that he could help. "I'll have to bring it to the others to vote on. Changing hearts isn't a one-man job. But I'll do everything in my power to save your mother."

Hifumi yanked him closer, wrapping her arms around him as light glinted in the corners of her reddened eyes. "Thank you, Akira!" She jerked back to look into his eyes, standing taller than he'd ever seen her. "Can I help? Mother's done so much for me, for the family… it's like she's gotten sick. I just don't know how to cure her. How do you do it?"

Akira pulled his gloved hands from hers. "We steal an anchor of her twisted desires from her mind. Even that much sounds crazy, I know, and I've done it, but…"

She took his hands again, her grip clenching over his digits. "But it will bring Mother back? The way she used to be?"

Letting out a long breath, his gaze dropped from hers. "I don't know. Up until Madarame I thought it was only a process that worked on really sick, evil people. But Madarame's stumbling block was his fear of being left behind by art and the world. All of his crimes followed from that." He pushed her hands back at her. "Leave this to us. It's dangerous. But we'll find the Treasure corrupting her heart."

Hifumi nodded and wiped at her face with a pocket tissue. They walked out of the church and crossed the street in a warm, companionable silence before Hifumi realized she left her travel shogi board in the Meditation Garden. She sent him on and dashed back to get it, leaving Akira alone at the steps down to the subway.

He pulled out his phone and brought up the Metaverse Navigator. Sure enough, Togo Mitsuyo gave a hit, and chimed once he typed Mementos into the keyword. He brought up the new group chat and typed out, [I'll be back with Morgana in half an hour. When's the soonest we can get together for a new strategy meeting?]

A minute passed before Makoto's ID joined the chat. [I've been falling behind. Between homework and paperwork for student council, I don't know if I'll even be able to join you all for kimono shopping tomorrow. Big Sis has been noticing, I don't want to give her cause to investigate.]

Yusuke joined a moment later. [Text us if you can make it. You have an intensity that makes you a powerful ally to behold, but much like the fire your Persona wields, it can burn if held too close. Make sure you have time to enjoy yourself.]

Yuuki's ID lit up next. [No luck on basic internet searches for the target, I'm going to have to head up to the court house for public records.]

Ann followed next. [Does that mean you can't join us for Marine Day? You need a day off almost as much as Akira. Neither of you two seem to understand the meaning of rest and relaxation.]

Ryuji joined the chat. [Dudes, what are you all blowing up my phone for this early in the morning?] A few seconds passed before he texted, [Let me guess, Akira. You went off doing something dangerous and found a new heart we have to take care of in Memento?]

[Actually, yes.]

[Memento,] Ryuji sent. [Dam, I hate my phone's autocorrect.]

Yusuke texted, [Is there someone in immediate danger?]

Akira pursed his lips. [Technically no, but the sooner the better. Could we do this now?]

Ann texted, [I'm working today.]

Yusuke sent, [I am likewise indisposed. Perhaps Ryuji is correct. Akira and Makoto, you both have a tendency to overwork yourselves. I saw Madarame wear out many fellow students permanently, you two should not follow them. My work load can be shuffled, however. I am available any day this coming week. Oh, Akira, have you decided between kinagashi or the more formal haorihakama style?]

Ryuji sent, [I'm up for Tuesday. But I vote a hard no to anything until after we party. Marine day's reserved for blowing off steam.]

Yusuke followed up with, [And there's a lot of blowing to be done.]

Makoto shot back, [Not you too, Yusuke!]

[What did I say?] the artist texted.

Ann's ID lit up. [I'm already on the way to a shoot for my agency. If there's an emergency we could drop the shopping trip tomorrow, but I was REALLY looking forward to it.]

[Tuesday, then?] Makoto sent.

[Fine,] Akira texted. [Fireworks Monday, Mementos Tuesday?]

The others added eager assent. He leaned against the tiled storefront wall and forced a breath in and out. He wanted to argue, but pissing off Makoto and Ann might hurt their willingness to help. "Tuesday," he said to assure himself, "We'll save her on Tuesday." That was enough to settle his nerves so he could head to work early.

Sunday, 17 July 2016
Evening
Shibuya, Central Street

Akira stepped out of the convenience store, the churning mass of people feeling even more choking than usual. He took the first alley he came to in order to lean back against the brick wall and catch his breath. His hands shook in his pockets, but strange movement drew his eyes down. A calico cat hopped with a lurching motion, holding a hind leg off the ground as it scuttled away from the transfer student and behind some trash bins.

Akira took in a deep breath, then pushed his way through the seething crowds to Station Square. It wasn't until he got onto the train to Yongen before he felt like he could breathe again. With seats available, he took one. The hope in Hifumi's gaze came back every time he closed his eyes to blink his whole shift in the convenience store, but the team was behind Ryuji.

The train trip to Yongen felt slow, but he arrived with plenty of time to get some work done.

Once he reached the top of the stairs, Morgana looked up from amid a scattering of metal scraps on the crafting workbench. "There you are. I missed you between your return from church and heading out to work. Is everything okay?"

Akira slipped his long-sleeved shirt off and tossed it in the laundry basket. "I found a new name for us to change in Mementos." He swallowed against a lump in his throat. "You in?" When the team leader gave a simple nod, Akira sighed and the weight of a continent lifted from his shoulders.

Morgana nodded. "Pull up the Phantom Thief chat and you can bring up the nomination in my stead."

Akira hesitated. "I… kind of already made the nomination." He pulled out his phone to let the team leader review the chat logs. "I did say you still needed to put in your word, but I wanted to get the ball rolling."

Morgana swiped at the smart phone. "When were you planning on telling me about this? Alibaba threatened you!"

Akira started setting up the shogi board on the table in front of the couch. "Kind of a small deal next to changing Togo's heart."

"There was a hundred fifty thousand yet in that account before you distributed to the rest of the team!" Morgana's tail twitched. "Joker, this is serious!"

"This is normal."

"This is clear escalation!" Morgana pounced across the room and onto the shogi board, scattering a couple tiles. "Joker, how can you play off a big threat like this?"

Akira grit his teeth for a beat, but sitting in front of a shogi board helped remind him to take in a breath and keep his head or he'd lose the match before it started. "Nothing that wasn't already the case yesterday. Fuck, this is usual. I had more to worry about at Blue Cove or Smiling Mountain. I'm not happy about the cash, but we can't do anything about it until we can meet as Phantom Thieves and go into the Metaverse. As long as we can change her heart, things will work out."

Sighing, Morgana hung his head. After a beat he returned to the chat. "Any breakthroughs by Nishima?"

"Mishima," Akira corrected. "Mishima Yuuki. And no luck yet, he said he'd be spending tomorrow heading to the courthouse to access name registries. I already asked the others when the soonest we could convene for a strategy meeting and they said Tuesday. Sounds like Ann and Yusuke are as eager as Ryuji to celebrate on Marine Day. If just in completely different ways."

Morgana nodded, his black ears flicking. "Good. In the meantime, the leader of the Phantom Thieves orders you to get the bathhouse! They've got an herb infusion that's supposed to help reduce stress and make you more charismatic. If there's anything I need, it's a porter who isn't on edge all the time."

Akira nodded. "Yeah… Hey, wait a sec. Porter?"

AN: Akira's line "I seem to recall Teal'c saying that those who did not look like servants of the gods were sent to the front lines." is technically incorrect, SG-1 implied but never talked about Teal'c's makeup. Though the fanfic Morning Rituals by Nixa Jane does go straight into the idea in both hilarious and straight canonical manner.