October 25th.
Are the Phantom Thieves Just? 24% to 23%.
Today was the day of the school festival. It was postponed due to the police sniffing around the school and a few other factors, but they were still able to hold it. Ren and company walked into Shujin, the entrance bustling with all sorts of activity. "The festival seems to be a success," Yusuke remarked, watching all of the activity passing them by.
"There's definitely a lot more people than last year…" Ann pointed out.
"Was it not as busy last year?" Kasumi asked. Considering she was a first year, this was her first school festival. Even though the circumstances hampered the mood, she was happy to experience such a thing with a group of friends.
"Nah." Ryuji shook his head. "Prolly because this place got 'famous' within the last few months 'n all. The Phantom Thieves, Kamoshida, Principal Kobayakawa, the police. On top of that, we got Akechi as a guest."
"That makes sense…" Kasumi nodded.
Makoto took a careful look around when Ryuji mentioned the police. "There might be police in plain clothes here, too. Actually, they probably are here. We better be careful about what we discuss."
"Indeed." Hifumi said. "It wouldn't surprise me if they're eying any suspects in plain sight…"
"Acting like normal students is going to be important." Morgana commented.
Futaba was a little apprehensive about this whole thing. She was only here because of everyone else. "What do you normally do at a school festival…?" Anyone else would probably scoff at such a question, but they understood why she did ask.
Although…nobody had a clear answer for that. Ann was trying to thin of the best way to describe it. "Walk around the exhibits…and eat stuff?" Of course her mind went to food.
"There's no set rules for this kinda thing. Walk around and hang out, like when we went to the beach." Ryuji's answer was far better.
"Ryuji's right. Just enjoy yourself." Ren said.
"I think I can do it if I have everyone with me!" Futaba balled her hands into fists. If she were alone? No shot. But with this group of friends? She felt confident.
"You are so laid back." Makoto was a bit exasperated. "There's a possibility your name has come up with Ryuji's, you know."
"A number of the teachers had been questioned before, and even we were questioned the other day too…" Ann did see Makoto's point. As laid-back as she would like to be, she couldn't deny the slight tension in the school's air, even now.
"Don't let your guard down." Makoto said.
"It's true. The initial members of this group have been at it longer, making it easier to get tracked…" Morgana added.
"Well, yeah…" Ren rubbed the back of his neck. "No doubt about that. We have to stay on our toes, too. But there's nothing wrong with trying to enjoy our time here."
"I think we should make the most of this." Haru said. "We just need to be mindful about what we're saying, correct?" They had only just arrived, but Haru was trying her best to be in a bright mood. She was excited for the school festival after all.
"You look excited, Haru-senpai." Kasumi said.
"I want to go around with everyone at the refreshment stands!" Haru said earnestly.
"This'll be a nice change of pace from the nasty stuff lately!" Futaba grinned.
.
.
Ann brought everyone to a stand on the second floor. Behind the counter was a student dressed in a maid uniform. "This is the place!"
"Maid Takoyaki?" Haru read the sign.
"New customers!" Ann beamed. "I'll show you to your seats!"
"So…it's your class's stand." Ryuji seemed a bit dejected. This already wasn't looking very promising.
"It's still a refreshment stand, isn't it?" Ann huffed.
Futaba looked around at the lack of people in the hall. "It's like a deserted island here!"
"Well, I guess it's good for talking since there aren't many people here…" Makoto could see the bright side of that at least. So, everyone pushed two tables together, gathering around and sitting.
"There were a lot of rumors on the way here…" Hifumi whispered.
"And they were all bullshit." Ryuji grumbled.
"Here she comes." Morgana told everyone. "Act normal."
To that, Ryuji sighed and leaned back in his seat. "Who cares? There's nothing normal about this anymore."
"How many times have I told you to exercise caution…" Hifumi shook her head.
"Welcome home!" The student maid approached the group. "May I take your order?"
"Take my order? What happened to the maid atmosphere!?" Ryuji couldn't believe this.
Kasumi was looking at the menu, tilting her head at the list. "There are some strange choices here. Er…what do you recommend?"
"Just stick to a normal one." Ryuji suggested.
"I'm so sorry, we sold our last normal one to the previous customer." The student maid said.
"Oh, okay, um…" There went Kasumi's idea.
"Then I'll have the mentai cheese takoyaki." Yusuke said.
"I'm sorry, we're out of cod roe." The maid replied.
"Then how about the squid-" Haru started.
"Um, I'm sorry, we're currently out catching squid. I think it'll take another five or six hours." The maid said.
"That doesn't even sound remotely possible!" Ryuji exclaimed. "Ain't this whole menu just a sham!?
"…Do you have anything here?" Hifumi wasn't hungry, but she was glad about that now. Apparently they weren't getting fed at this place.
"Actually, we spent most of our budget making the maid costumes look nice." Ann smiled. "We didn't put much effort into the squid."
"I wish you did…" Said Kasumi, the heaviest eater out of all ten of them.
"Okay. So…" Ren spoke up. "What do you have here?"
"Russian Takoyaki." The maid said.
"We'll have that, please." Haru said.
"This will take some time." The maid nodded and walked off to prepare the Takoyaki.
"Well…that was eventful." Ren didn't think they'd go through so much trouble just for some food…
"Let's forget about the squid and get back on topic…" Ryuji leaned in once more now.
"Ugh…" Ann already felt sick. "Hearing Kamoshida being treated like a victim makes me wanna eat my stress away…" After everything that teacher had done, Ann was dumbstruck that there were people who felt sympathy for him.
"I've even heard conjecture that the principal was targeted for reasons like 'he knew too much'." Morgana said.
"That's not impossible…" Hifumi wasn't going to rule out that possibility.
"I kept hearing about Goro Akechi's popularity." Yusuke said.
"All thanks to the Phantom Thieves." Futaba rolled her eyes.
"Didn't Akechi-san agree to come because he thinks the Phantom Thieves are innocent? Er, well…at least in the recent incidents…?" Kasumi said.
"That, or he may simply enjoy large gatherings." Yusuke suggested.
"Oh, true. He didn't seem like he minded being pampered by the media at all." Ann shrugged.
"We plan on stealing intel, but we might fall into another trap. I'm gonna be bummed if that happens…" Morgana would be frowning now if he could.
"It's possible…but we can't let that stop us." Ren wasn't going to deny the possibility of that happening. It was a necessary risk.
"We don't know what Akechi-kun is planning…" Makoto needed to find a way to make that known to the group.
Ding!
The maid returned with freshly made Takoyaki. "Here you go!"
"Ooh, freshly made!" Ann grinned.
"Lies! I heard a microwave go off!" Futaba said.
"I heard it too." Kasumi then stared at the takoyaki in front of them. She was counting them and… "There isn't enough for all of us."
Ryuji pretty much gave up on the takoyaki. "Well, I wasn't expecting crispy takoyaki at a school festival. So, what makes this one Russian?"
"Well…one of these is special." The maid said before leaving. She was referring to the red takoyaki that sat upon the rest.
"Um? But…there's not enough for…and she's gone…" Kasumi just sighed.
"Why is that one red…?" Hifumi cautiously pointed at the red one.
"Don't tell me Russian means…" Ryuji trailed off. Everyone could tell that the red one was going to be very, very spicy.
"I'd prefer the most beautifully shaped one…but all of them are misshapen." This was much to Yusuke's disappointment.
Haru looked around. It didn't look like anyone was going for the spicy one. "Don't you all want to eat? I think I'm going to go for the special one."
"You can have it. I probably shouldn't eat something like that." Kasumi admitted, already reaching for a Takoyaki. She was hungry, and wanted to get a piece while she could.
"Oh, is this everyone?" That voice belonged to Akechi, as he walked towards the group, much to their surprise. Everyone turned to see him, their expressions having surprise written all over them.
"T-The panel isn't until tomorrow though…" Makoto stuttered, unable to get over the initial surprise of seeing Akechi here.
"I came to check out the venue." Akechi explained. "I can't make any mistakes, since there will be a lot of people watching."
"Someone's eager." Futaba remarked.
"But, people ended up recognizing me. Everyone bombarded me with questions." Akechi looked a little disappointed.
"That's cuz you were sloppy." Ryuji was being very petty about this.
"I grew tired of all the baseless accusations, so I escaped up here." Akechi took a step closer, reaching over to grab the special piece of takoyaki. "I'm going to have one of these. Consider it my performance fee." And then he put it in his mouth.
"Um…!" Kasumi opened her mouth to speak. She was too polite to not try and warn Akechi about it.
"The special one…!" Haru pouted. That's the one she wanted.
"Sssh!" Ryuji turned to the girls, smiling widely. "It's fine!" If nothing else, Ryuji was really glad he was about to witness Akechi eat it, both literally and metaphorically.
"Mm, it's quite…" Akechi couldn't finish his thought. His throat started to burn after swallowing the spicy takoyaki. "NNNNNNGH!?"
"I…It's really spicy…" Kasumi said with a frown.
"Eating it in one bite is a bad idea…" Ann could barely look.
"Ngh…my throat…it burns…" Akechi was struggling now. "This is…! Oh….ohhh my stomach…it burns…"
"Are you okay? Are you alive?" Hifumi asked in a panic.
"I-I-I'm fine…!" I just love….uh…spicy – spicy stuff! Ahahahahaha…" Akechi struggled to stand, let alone speak. Nobody needed Hifumi's power to know that he was lying out of his ass right now.
"Akechi-san, you're shaking…." Kasumi said.
"I think he broke." Futaba whispered.
"W-Well then…I-I'll see you …a-all tomorrow…" Akechi somehow managed to smile, before walking, er no, waddling off.
"I respect him for trying to hold it together." Ren adjusted his glasses.
"But…did he truly come to simply check the venue?" Yusuke asked the others. "Ugh, this isn't good. I keep suspecting every little thing…"
"I feel the same way." Makoto shook her head. "I need to do my best tomorrow. We need to somehow get him to be our source of intel. I'll do this no matter what!"
Futaba was stuck on something. It didn't make sense when she thought about it more. "Hey…didn't he ask 'is this everyone?' when he came closer? Everyone…?"
"You're…you're just imaginin' things…." Ryuji said dismissively.
"No…I heard it too." Hifumi shook her head. Hifumi doubling down on this did make it get more attention. "He phrased it as a question…and while I don't want to make any conclusions…I think we should assume the worst…"
"Are you saying he might know? But that's…!" Ryuji started.
"I can only assume." Hifumi shook her head once more. "At the very least…he isn't sure. It's worrying, but…we have to press onward regardless." It wasn't something anyone wanted to hear, but Hifumi was right. Tomorrow was a make or break day…
.
.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day, so the group decided to break off for now and go home. Yusuke stayed behind, because there was one person that he wanted to talk to while he was at Shujin. He found Maruki in the courtyard, trying to decide what he wanted from a vending machine. "Excuse me – you are Dr. Takuko Maruki, correct?"
"Huh?" Maruki turned, blinking in surprise at the unfamiliar face. "Oh! Um, uh, yes!"
Yusuke took a step forward. "My name is Yusuke Kitagawa. I am a second year at Kosei High. Apologies for interrupting your day, but ever since Ryuji and Ann first spoke of you, I've grown quite intrigued. Now I wish to speak with you as well."
At first, Maruki had no idea what Yusuke was talking about. "Ryu…? Oh! Sakamato-kun and Takamaki-san?" The fact Yusuke used their first names confused Maruki for a moment. "Well, I'm flattered you've taken an interest in me. I assume you're here about my counseling?"
Yusuke took another step forward. He was really giving Maruki no room, quite literally backing the therapist into a corner. "Correct. Now, teach me how to unshackle the human heart and glimpse into its endless abyss!"
Maruki was sweating a bit now. Yusuke was really, really close. "Hold on now…! I think there's a serious misunderstanding about what I do."
"I apologize, I was unable to contain my excitement. Would you still permit me to witness your counseling skills in action?" Yusuke asked.
"That's not really allowed…" Maruki stroked his chin. He couldn't have Yusuke sit in on a private conversation…however he did have another idea. "I got it. How about you try my counseling out yourself? It's free of charge of course. You just have to chat with me for a bit."
"Me?" Yusuke didn't even waste a moment thinking about it. "Very well. You and I shall go head to head."
Again, Maruki found himself sweating. Yusuke was definitely an interesting case… "I'm not sure what you think happens in counseling, but, uh…there won't be any of that."
.
.
October 26th.
Are the Phantom Thieves Just? 23% to 22%.
Today was the day of the panel with Akechi. A number of students gathered in the auditorium, while Makoto and Akechi were on stage. Haru and Futaba were sitting in the audience, while the others were watching from above. This was going to be a huge day and ironically, everyone was paying attention for the same reason: They all wanted to hear what Akechi was going to say. "Well then, we will now begin today's panel." Makoto said to everyone. "Our guest of honor is Goro Akechi."
"I feel kind of bad considering how many people have gathered here." Akechi was being very modest. "I'm sure you all would've been happer to have a singer or mascot appear, wouldn't you say?" The audience laughed in response to his words.
"We'd appreciate it if you could tell us about your experience with the notorious Phantom Thieves." Makoto said. "It'd be wonderful if you could let us hear more about your actual investigative process." She wasn't wasting any time getting into the heart of the matter.
"I'm not used to being the one interrogated, so please go easy on me." Akechi replied jokingly, and once again, people laughed.
"How much do you really think he knows…?" Ann asked the others.
"That's the million dollar question, isn't it…?" Kasumi was curious herself, though. Since she committed to being a Phantom Thief, this included her just as much as the others.
"He talks of how the Phantom Thieves are dangerous, yet he says they haven't committed any murders…" Yusuke said. "Either he has an idea who the true culprit is, or…"
"There is a chance he knows who the Phantom Thieves are." Hifumi crossed her arms, her green eyes focusing on Akechi. Even now, listening to him speak…that strange feeling never went away. Her power continued to have a reaction to Akechi, a dull, lingering sensation that kept tugging at her. It wasn't something she could ignore, yet it wasn't something she could bring up either. It was something she just had to keep close to herself. "But worry not…if he tries to pull the wool over our eyes, I'll see right through it."
"We're counting on you, Fumi." Ann said with a slight smile.
"Don't let a single lie slip past you." Ren nodded.
"If he does know the Phantom Thieves identities, I wonder if he knows about me…I haven't been one very long…" Kasumi said to herself, but her voice carried a little and the others heard her.
"Hm…?" Hifumi blinked once at that. Kasumi did make a good point…
"C'mon, Makoto! You gotta get it outta him…!" Ryuji said.
"As much as you're allowed to say, would you tell us how far your investigation has come along?" Makoto asked Akechi.
"Getting right to the point I see?" Akechi laughed. "Well, if it's as much as I'm allowed to say, then everything on TV and the internet is all of it. We don't have any leads and the methods behind their crimes are still unclear."
Not what Makoto wanted to hear. She was going to have to try something else. "I see. Even with this country's power, arresting them is proving to be difficult. Isn't that the case?"
"I wouldn't put it that way…but, well…something like that." Akechi responded.
"Thank you for answering that question." Makoto smiled curtly. "By the way, it seems you've denied a correlation between the Phantom Thieves and the murders…Why the sudden change? Until now, haven't you upheld the stance that they're dangerous? How are you so certain that they haven't committed murders?"
"Aren't you a little too comfortable interrogating people? Why, it's as if you're a prosecutor." Akechi could make this joke, since he knew Makoto was Sae's younger sister.
"Ah, excuse me…this is something I've personally been interested in, so I couldn't help it." Makoto said. "But won't you tell us? What reason is there that you'd claim their innocence when you previously stated they were unjust?"
"Mako-chan's really pressing him for an answer…" Haru was surprised at Makoto's questioning.
"She's really pelting him with questions…" Futaba remarked.
"Every person whose heart they changed have truly been criminals, including Okumura." Akechi began. "Why, then, did he needed to be killed?"
"Why is that?" Makoto asked. She felt herself getting warmer; Akechi was talking more now and she had to keep this momentum going.
"I must admit…I couldn't deduce a reason." Akechi said. "That's why I believe that case should be thought of as if a different party is responsible. And if – this is all hypothetical mind you…if the Phantom Thieves are the ones I know of, I can't possibly imagine them killing anyone."
"…!" Hifumi couldn't help but gasp at that comment.
"Is he lying…?" Ann hastily asked.
"N-Not so far…" Hifumi shook her head. While she was the one that told the others to prepare for the worst, the possibility of it happening here and now had her a bit shaken.
"Your comment just now…does this mean the police have already identified who they are?" This was an important question that Makoto needed an answer to.
"Oh no, the police haven't gotten that far yet." Akechi clarified and people laughed once more. "But I have my own conclusions about the true identities of the Phantom Thieves." And now the students began to murmur.
"He's gotta be bluffin'…!" Ryuji scoffed.
"Pipe down…!" Ann spoke in a hushed whisper.
"…." Hifumi didn't like the direction this was going.
"Do you think he's lying…?" Haru whispered to Futaba.
Futaba took a very quick glance at Hifumi. The look on Hifumi's face told the story. "I don't think he is…if this is the truth…"
It had been a little too long since Makoto spoke. Akechi left the bait out for her to take, and the fact she didn't jump on it intrigued him. "You're not going to ask me who they are?"
Makoto had to tread very lightly here. "It may have repercussions on the investigation. Are you sure you can share that with us?" Truthfully, she would have liked to avoid getting an answer to that question. But if things continued at this rate…she would've had no choice but to follow through.
Akechi nodded. "It's only my personal opinion, so answering that now shouldn't be a problem. However…there is a possibility that everyone here will hear the truth."
"What's he planning on saying..!?" Futaba whispered.
"I don't like the direction this is going…" Kasumi frowned.
"That's quite the confidence you have." Makoto said. "If that's so, very well then…Id' like to ask you: Who do you think the Phantom Thieves are, Akechi-kun?"
"You idiot…!" Ryuji barely restrained himself from shouting. This was exactly what Makoto kept saying she wanted to avoid, yet here she was walking right into the danger she was so anxious about.
"No…there's no way he could have any evidence…" Yusuke felt his heart drop. If the truth was revealed here and now…..
"They're people you all know quite well." Akechi began. "The identity of the Phantom Thieves are….." As if by fate, his phone began to ring loudly. So he pulled it from his back pocket. "Oh, it's mine. I apologize for the interruption. I can't turn my phone off because of the job. Would you mind if I stepped away for about…ten minutes or so?" Naturally, there were some people complaining since they were at the cusp of a reveal. Even though it was only Akechi's personal thoughts, anything on the Phantom Thieves at this point was huge and his word may have been taken as fact, no matter what the circumstance.
Makoto felt a wave of relief wash over her. But she was able to keep herself composed and didn't let it show. "I apologize for the interruption, but we'll resume the panel in ten mintues."
"Please don't troll me online for this interruption, okay?" Akechi's lighthearted joke made the audience laugh again. That eased the tension a bit. He then stepped away from the podium and walked to Makoto. "Is there a room I may use?"
"There's the PE Faculty office." Makoto said.
"Perfect. There's a matter I'd like to discuss with you. Bring your friends, too." Akechi said.
Makoto's eyes widen. "Did you set this up…?"
"We only have ten minutes." Akechi walked off.
Makoto furrowed her brow for a moment before sighing and pulling out her phone, texting the group chat.
Makoto: He wants to meet with us in the PE Faculty office. We only have ten minutes.
"Damn…" Ryuji read the text and scowled.
"…I don't know how this is going to go…" Ren slid his phone into his pocket.
"We have to be ready for anything." Morgana silently remarked. Everyone started to reluctantly walk to the meeting room.
"We shouldn't keep Akechi-san waiting, huh?" Kasumi started to follow behind.
"Wait." Hifumi turned to Kasumi. "Can you stay behind?"
"Huh? Why, Hifumi-senpai?" Kasumi blinked. "Doesn't this concern me as much as you?"
"It does. But something Akechi said yesterday has been nagging at me." Hifumi explained. "You haven't been with us for very long…neither has Haru. You both joined roughly around the same time, but you came after Haru. So…there's something I want to confirm. Can you trust me for a little bit? It will make sense."
Kasumi just smiled earnestly. "I'll trust you, Hifumi-senpai. I don't know what you're thinking, but you're a smart and a quick thinker. So I know I can trust you."
That was a relief to hear. Hifumi let out a silent sigh of relief. "Thank you, Kasumi…"
.
.
Everyone, excluding Kasumi, met up with Akechi in the designated room. When they arrived, Akechi couldn't help but furrow a brow. "…?"
"Is something wrong?" Hifumi asked, raising a curious brow.
"Oh, this is everyone then?" Akechi asked for clarification. He couldn't press the issue. This would have to do.
"Yes. What do you want to talk about?" Makoto asked.
Akechi placed several pictures down on the table. What did these images contain? Ren, Ryuji, Hifumi, Ann, Yusuke, Haru, Makoto, and Futaba wandering out of the Metaverse in front of the Okumura Foods building. "These."
"That's gotta be shopped!" Ryuji immediately denied it.
"I have video evidence too. That's where those photos came from." Akechi said.
"H…how did you get these?" Hifumi asked.
"Don't feign ignorance." Akechi said. "All of you can go to that other world too, yes? I happened to get pulled in and I can only surmise that you all were nearby when it happened."
"We were sloppy…" Makoto grit her teeth.
"Which world?" Ren asked for clarification.
"It's not just all of you. I am aware of that world too." Akechi replied. "I also know that when you traverse over there, your appearance changes as well. Likely due to those mysterious powers, correct? I found out about that world too, about a month ago." He pulled out his phone, showing the MetaNav. "This had been installed onto my phone without my knowledge."
"The MetaNav…" Futaba said in shock.
"A month ago…?" Hifumi thought to herself.
"When the app activated on its own, the scenery around me suddenly changed." Akechi said. "And frankly I still believe it myself. But from the look of those photos, all of you seem quite used to it."
"We've been listenin' to you blab on 'n on now, but you're just being delusional…!" Ryuji objected.
"All of you are acting as Phantom Thieves in the Metaverse. I can say so with conviction because I have the same power as you." Akechi said with that aforementioned conviction.
"…..That's right." Ren admitted it. There was no proof in denying it. Akechi had proof.
"So you admit it." Akechi seemed pleased with himself. "In all honesty, I've been curious about you since the time of the Madarame case. But to think it would end up like this…"
"We didn't kill anyone!" Haru said.
"I believe that." Akechi nodded.
"How are you so sure?" Makoto needed to know. Akechi continued to insist that he knew that Phantom Thieves were innocent, at least in regards to murder.
"Because I saw another. The true culprit." Akechi said calmly.
"Who was it!?" Ann quickly asked, because that was the question they needed to know the answer to.
"I couldn't identify his face – he had a mask on after all." Akechi sighed. "Actually, when I took these photos, I entered that world too. That's when I saw someone else moving about, besides all of you. It looked like he was following you. He shot at me the moment he noticed me.
"It must have been Black Mask." Yusuke surmised. "We did encounter him and the battle was not in our favor…"
"He is likely the one who killed President Okumura." Akechi nodded. "If you were in contact with him, then it must have been after that. I was almost killed by him. I can't die here. I need to determine the truth. When those thoughts overcame me, I awakened to a power most unusual. A most fortunate accident.
"This guy has a Persona too…?" Morgana said aloud.
Akechi turned at the voice, his gaze meeting with the cat's. That voice…did he hear that somewhere before? No, that's impossible… "This cat…I swear, it just talked…"
"That's Morgana. Our teammate who told us about the Metaverse." Ann explained.
Akechi recoiled from the information. "I see…wow, I can hardly believe it. So you were the one who told them how to steal people's hearts?"
"We can get back to hat later!" Ryuji exclaimed. "We're in this mess because of Black Mask! If he killed Haru's dad, he's gotta be behind the other ones too!"
"I can agree with that statement. All you do is simply reform people, however…" Akechi looked at everyone. "The police have decided that the Phantom Thieves did it. They'll arrest you at this rate."
"They're going to treat me as my father's murderer!?" Haru couldn't believe this. That was the last thing she needed.
"I can't overlook such a grave mistake. That's why I want to strike a deal." Akechi was extending his hand in a metaphorical sense. "I want you to work with me and investigate the truth."
"And if we decline?" Hifumi asked. She had been quieter than usual during this important conversation.
"Then I think I'll have to inform the police about all of you, including that video I mentioned." Akechi replied plainly.
"Ngh…a heavy handed tactic…" Hifumi practically shrank at that reply.
"This ain't no deal, it's blackmail!" Ryuji shouted.
"Say what you will. This is the method that I believe is correct." Akechi was unfazed by the looks of disdain he got from everyone. "The justice I uphold will not tolerate people who kill people at their leisure."
"Justice…" Haru repeated that word.
"You are aware that Sae-san is the one spearheading the investigation on you Phantom Thieves, correct?" Akechi went on. "The higher ups are only concerned with solving this case. They want to put an end to the commotion, which is where the pressure on her is coming from. I can only imagine her impatience and the pressure that comes with it…"
Makoto glanced away. She thought back to the other night with Sae. Her sister looked so tired and worn out…yet determined for all the wrong reasons. Makoto had seen what the pressure did to her sister already. "…"
"But what evidence do they have against us?" Yusuke asked.
"Even if they do not have a method, it's over once causality is explained." Akechi turned to Yusuke. "If Sae-san were to be cornered…I can see her making up a confession."
"Make it up…!?" Makoto's jaw nearly dropped. Her own sister would resort to forging evidence? No…Sae would never do that…
"But we didn't kill anyone!? They'd still try to arrest us!?" Ann gasped.
"So they're just gonna make it all our fault?! Just cause they feel like it!?" Ryuji asked. "That's bullshit! None of this makes any sense!"
"You'll be found guilty if you're caught. They're treating it as a very serious crime." Akechi then frowned. "And unfortunately, there's nothing I can do now to stop the flow of things. Not alone, at least."
"And that's why you asked for our cooperation?" Makoto wished to confirm this.
"Yes. If you help me, I will turn a blind eye to the things you've done." Akechi confirmed. "However…I also ask that you disband the Phantom Thieves. Those are my conditions. We may not be able to apprehend the one you've called Black Mask, but I can at least help you escape from this unfavorable situation."
"…What should we do, Ren…?" Futaba turned to Ren meekly.
Ren didn't have an answer immediately. Akechi's tactics left him at a loss. "…You're demanding a lot. Let me think it over."
"You don't have to answer right away. I know it's difficult making a decision when put on the spot like this." Akechi said. "You're allowed to think it over. But considering it's you we're talking about, I'm sure you'll come up with a favorable reply." He smiled at Ren, before turning to Hifumi. "Oh, and I hope there are no hard feelings, Togo-san. I do enjoy our little outings and hope they can continue, even despite that."
"…It may take me a while to get over the blackmail." Hifumi admitted, and Akechi just laughed to that.
"I must say, it's been quite some time since I've spent meaningful time like this. It was definitely worth coming – for various reasons." Akechi was smiling, but who knows for why. "Oh…and apologies about the panel, but can we end it here? The reason you called me in the first place is because you wanted intel, yes? My business is concluded as well."
"I'll deal with it." Makoto nodded. Akechi then made his exit.
Ryuji was visibly frustrated. "Damn it! He had complete control over us!" He hated every aspect of that conversation. Akechi was just dragging them around at his leisure and they had no choice but to be at his every whim. They had no choice but to break for the day…
Everyone left, but Ren, Hifumi, and Morgana lingered behind. "Hey, they're going." Morgana told the two of them.
"Wait a sec…" Ren turned to Hifumi. There were multiple things that bothered him about this conversation… "Hey, Hifumi…?"
"Mhm." Hifumi nodded slowly.
She opened her mouth to speak…but it was all hazy. Ren was retelling the chain of events to Sae, and this event was a little too recent for him to recall clearly. Damn it, Ren, think…! Ren forced himself to remember this conversation, as it was extremely important to everything that happened from that point on. Hifumi started her sentence off with…
"It's just as I thought."