Ryuji was seated next to Makoto, in her own hospital quarters, gently caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, softly brushing her hanging hair to the side, while showing no reaction to his hand motion, as she was in a combat-induced coma herself... only serving in breaking the blonde troublemaker's heart, even further. He may be on the way of self-reconciliation and finding forgiveness in his heart, however... The situation with the rest of the Phantom Thieves has not been resolved yet. He was still fighting with himself, wondering if they even deserve an OUNCE of forgiveness for what they had done to him, since Day 1... he really felt no reason being there for forgiving anyone. And yet, knowing Makoto will be fine and that she selflessly defended him, so many times already, there was a small silver lining on the horizon, indeed, as the thug sighed out loud, feeling self-conscious about his own decision.

Ryuji: "Man... why is this so hard? Am I actually starting to MISS my team? No, no way in hell. I made a decision and I stand by it, like an adult... heh... "like an adult"... who am I kidding here, anyway? What happened between us is not how adults solve their problems... but it leads me to ask: Who was the bigger villain in this fairy tale? Me? Or the team? They knew that I don't respond too well to physical trauma, so why did they take it so damned lightly, to a point where it seemed KNOWINGLY tonedeaf, because hey! I am Ryuji Sakamoto! Phantom Thief extraordinaire and a clown to boot as well. Fuck this. They brought this on themselves, why should I forgive them, when they repeatedly wanted to wipe this beef between us under the carpet? Just by doing that, they confirmed already that they DID know that it bothered me and yet they still refused to speak up about it, let alone apologize."

But he gradually was starting to have self-doubts about his own anger. He softened up, as he remembered... Right after Makoto lost her Persona, which he learned through Ann, the latter had decided to visit him, every single day, while he was still in a coma. Refusing to leave his side, in spite of the differences they had.

Armed with this knowledge, his doubts really began manifesting, wondering if he was just being far too harsh himself...

Ryuji: "I told them to leave me alone... but when I was out of the game, they still came to visit me, especially Ann... even with Futaba and Sojiro visiting my mom... and Yusuke speaking prayers at the shrine for me, praying that I will make it... you guys, man... you really didn't have to go that far with me..."

He was genuinely touched by these gentle gestures, as he began covering his eyes with one hand, trying to hold back his tears... but he couldn't. He really began to understand that whilst his pent-up anger towards his friends was more than justified and that he had every reason to leave... he still loved them all so, very, dearly. Emphasized by how he was willing to risk his life a 2nd time for them, when Mishima stupidly tried to blow his own Palace up to go Kamikaze on his own team...

Ryuji: "Damn it, though... they sacrificed so much time for me, even with me having told them to stay out of my life. Did I really make them feel THIS dreadful for what they have done to me...? I guess...? After all, they refused to leave me alone..."

His gaze then fell upon the unconscious Makoto...

Ryuji: "...especially you, Makoto. You were even willing to fight with me to settle the score and prevent me from making possibly the worst mistake of my life. Geez, man... you're something else, Mako. You really are worthy of the title of "Fist of the Phantom Star". Eh, I shouldn't do this, she may later hit me in the shoulder for that, hehehe...!"

As he wiped his face dry, an idea was beginning to dawn upon him... unlike his case, Makoto seems to be in much better condition than him, when he was in a coma of his own. She truly was one tough cookie... and since she is the Queen, Ryuji figured: A sleeping queen better be taken out of bed with a blast.

Ryuji: "OK then, Mako... maybe you won't be waking to my word alone... so what if I make my message ever more clear, via my specialty? ...you know EXACTLY what I mean. I have been practicing the guitar for quite some time... hope the crowd won't be too big, otherwise, Mako may kill me. Heh. It will be so worth it, baby!"

Then he casually decides to give Sae Niijima a call, via Makoto's phone, to let her know about something that he had planned for this occasion.

Being overprotective of her sister, especially in the helpless position that she was in, she denied this borderline outrageous and nutty plan, but when she heard Ryuji's reasoning for it, slowly realizing how deep his passion for Makoto runs... and because he is the only person she truly responds to via pulse, as proven by the doctors... She agreed to follow along with it. Albeit hesitantly. However... She loved her younger sister dearly and if it meant bringing her back up to snuff through Ryuji's plan, she gave this idea a chance.

Later...

Ryuji was on-stage inside a nightclub in Tokyo, backed by a favorite band of his, with himself in front of the mic, with a guitar in his arms and dressed as though, he is a typical punk rockstar, dressed in nothing but a long-sleeved black skull t-shirt, a yellow open button shirt and wrecked denim pants, with a rock guitar dangling in front of himself, as he takes the mic to make the crowd hyped with his speech...

Ryuji: "Good evening, everybody! Are you ready?!"

The crowd cheered "Yes", but then he yelled out loud, with a smirk:

Ryuji: "Louder, I can't hear y'all! ARE YOU READY?!"

They did it louder indeed and Ryuji cheerfully added:

Ryuji: "I am so freaking glad that I'll be having the chance tonight to deliver a performance to remember. Maybe all my guitar lessons will finally be paying off... but let us not get distracted with the details! You're here tonight and I'll be sure to deliver!"

He then looks up at the ceiling, pointing out to the crowd something important.

Ryuji: "Oh, and also... before we start, I want to point out, above all of you, pointing in my direction, is a camera that I had set up. This works like a gaping window for one of my loved ones to look through, back at the hospital... who is sadly unable to attend my big moment tonight. But... since I love her dearly, and I cannot imagine my life without her anymore, I couldn't bring myself NOT to do this. All for her."

Meanwhile, back at the hospital...

Sae had ordered a flat-screen TV to be brought to Makoto's hospital quarters and as demanded by Ryuji, she switched to the channel on which the band, he is playing in, will be broadcasted to the entire country.

Sae: "This is total lunacy... as if this is going to work. I don't even have a bachelor's degree in medicine and yet even I can say with absolute certainty: Comatose people can't be woken by loud noises. What is Sakamoto thinking? ...is he thinking at all?"

But then, her heart stopped beating the moment Ryuji, live on camera, actually dropped the bombshell:

Ryuji: "Oh, and also... before we start, I want to point out, above all of you, pointing in my direction, is a camera that I had set up. This works like a gaping window for one of my loved ones to look through, back at the hospital... who is sadly unable to attend my big moment tonight. But... since I love her dearly, and I cannot imagine my life without her anymore, I couldn't bring myself NOT to do this. All for her. ...Makoto."

When Sae heard that name, her jaw dropped at least 10 feet to the ground. "Love", "All for Makoto", this ridiculous plan and all the money he had scraped together from his own small money bank to convince an entire band to let him perform on-stage for the sake of waking her sister... it all fell into place.

Sae: "Now... this makes a whole lot more sense... he is in love with my sister. Of course, he'd go to extra lengths to "wake her up", love makes everyone's brains stop working. Oh, these two owe me some answers! As soon as this is over, Makoto has some explaining to do and I won't let her leave until she gives me the answers I desire."

However, this wasn't a threat. She may be a perfectionist, which she normally also loves applying to a future love partner, but... having met with Akechi again, having fought by his and Zenkichi's side and realizing that this perfectionist attitude of hers was beyond hypocritical, coming from someone like her, who used to have no problems forging and half-assing evidence, just to win big in court cases, which also had caused her to end up in a really bad spot in society, causing so many people to despise her... she ended up dropping most of her previous mindset in favor of wanting to be a far more open minded person. And after all that had happened, back while Makoto was still in high school, she didn't feel like ruining her relationship with her sister any further, desiring to be a true family with her, at long last... However, she still needs to know how this came to be with Ryuji. So she was curious...

Sae: "Heh... Sakamoto-kun of all people... I guess, you may never truly know what life will throw down onto your path. I admit... This is a really cute gesture, but... him? But I suppose, having read my fair share of novels and manga in my youth... this is one instance of "opposites attract", eh? The yankee troublemaker and the police girl... so unlikely and yet so... fitting. For the lack of a better word... oh, they are starting!"

And through the TV, Ryuji got ready and gently said through the mic:

Ryuji: "Makoto... this is all for you... don't you give up on me, because I sure as hell am not planning on EVER giving up on you... the same way you did for me."

The music starts kicking in... and immediately, Ryuji's epic guitar solo kicks in, as he then sung into the mic:

I know how she feels at night standing all alone

Would you tell me what's real and right

'Cause I don't know anymore

And all this is starting to kill me inside

To see these walls are crashing down

The heartless acts and the selfish sounds

With all that trying, she stopped fighting

While darkness, darkness it took her away

Oh I tried, but I couldn't stop the pain

And as he said the last few lines, he said them, as two huge tears left his eyelids, feeling her emotional pain, penetrating deep within his soul, knowing all too well what it's like being forced to live, mostly isolated and alone... wishing, if only, he had met with her, years earlier to make her life a lot less miserable.

She likes to look at the bottle from the bottom

Every time she looks in the face of the bottle from the bottom

She sees a life that was so much different when she was a young girl

She could stand on top of the hill side screaming

To the world

To stop the curse

She begged and prayed that someday she'd see a change

She spoke those lyrics with so much conviction and passion, even Sae could sense it through the TV screen, she felt herself getting chills, knowing too well how much her little sister has been truly hurting, while she practically abandoned her to get further in her job...

She said I always knew the truth and never told anyone

I just closed my eyes and it was done

Now when the lights go out I see what going on

And with all that fighting, she stop trying

To get away from the terrible sounds

Of the heartbreaks

And earthquakes

Her life seemed so far away

Ryuji, once again, knew all too well what he was talking about through the lyrics, knowing too well... acting like all's fine, everything is cool and like, he wasn't angry or sad, when really, he was quite literally shrieking in agony on the inside, unable to express how he really felt, because nobody understood him. And would he ever be honest or upfront about something, everyone would either laugh at his expense or joke about how "dumb" he is for "being too honest"... ironically, Makoto was the same way, as she would spend most of her time always keeping to herself and never being open about anything, which only served to add more fuel to the fire, that was her own social anxiety and the blonde thug felt her so. Very. Deeply. On this.

She likes to look at the bottle from the bottom

Every time she looks in the face of the bottle from the bottom

She sees a life that was so much different when she was a young girl

She could stand on top of the hill side screaming

To the world

To stop the curse

She begged and prayed that someday she'd see a change

Sae suddenly, who was gently holding Makoto's hand this whole time, felt a grip around her own hand and it was a tight one... realizing in one brief instance... Makoto has woken up, albeit, still really weak and somewhat groggy...

Makoto: "S-Sis..."

Sae: "Makoto! You're awake! Thank god!"

Immediately, without hesitation, she tightly embraced her sister like there was no tomorrow, crying herself ugly, feeling so relieved to see her one and only family member still alive and well... and Makoto returned it, with no questions asked...

Makoto: "Sis... I... I am back..."

Sae: "And I... I hope you don't have to say that, ever again... say no more..."

But when Makoto's gaze fell upon the TV screen... Sae could sense her younger sibling being frozen in place, and this is when she understood: Ryuji's crazy plan must have actually worked... because she pointed out:

Makoto: "Is this... Ryuji...? Was that... his voice I have been hearing all this time...?"

Sae: "Y-Yeah, he... he had this idea of wanting you to have a warm welcome, as you awake from your comatose slumber... in the form of a live rock concert performance... and I still deem this overkill... not to mention, only a degenerate genius would come up with this..."

Comatose people are still capable of hearing everything around them and considering the live performance was quite loud enough for her to hear it so clearly in her head, though mildly muffled...

But because of her having been able to hear most of the lyrics... it felt to her as though Ryuji had entered her subconscious to drag her out of the shifting sands, represented by her impending fate and her declining emotional health, dragging her out by the hand...

And she really felt the tears coming, as she heard more of it and connected with the lyrics, wanting to drown in Ryuji's loving words...

I know how she feels at night

Standing all alone

And I remember a dark September

Where they came and made her surrender

They took her to a place that we could never say

Makoto: "Ryuji... you really didn't have to... what did I ever do to deserve you...?"

She likes to look at the bottle from the bottom

Every time she looks in the face of the bottle from the bottom

She likes to look at the bottle from the bottom

Every time she looks in the face of the bottle from the bottom

She sees a life that was so much different when she was a young girl

She could stand on top of the hill side screaming

To the world

To stop the curse

She begged and prayed that someday she'd see a change

And with this, the song ended with the crowd cheering very loudly and Ryuji returning the guitar to the guitarist of the band, thanking him with the utmost sincerity that he could muster, before then speaking into the mic, one final time, pointing at the camera... as though he is pointing at Makoto, directly.

Ryuji: "Well, Makoto... I really hope you enjoyed the show... I dedicated this song all to you... you may not be able to see it with yourself, but rest assured, I DO see you for what you are... a person, who has changed my life. Thank you. For everything."

The young brunette was really balling her eyes out at this point, sobbing out loud on the spot in joy, covering her mouth with both hands, being on the verge of just wanting to fly away into the skies for how free she felt... she wanted to get up, but Sae rushed in to help her up, asking in a mildly panicked state:

Sae: "M-Makoto! What are you doing there? You're not fit to leave the hospital yet, what is it?"

Makoto: "I-I want to see Ryuji! Call him over, I beg of you! I, I just- I just want to see him! Could you please do that for me? I HAVE to meet him, even if it has to be here!"

Sae: "I'll do it, don't worry! But please, don't get up just yet, until the doctors say so! I'll call him, I promise. Give me your phone."

She did so, shakily handing her own phone over so that Sae could give her sister's boyfriend a call...

...and sure enough, he took the call and is now rushing straight back to the hospital, being so very overjoyed in hearing that Makoto has actually woken up. He could not hold back anymore. He has to get to her at all costs. He was so overjoyed, all he could do was run, run and run, until he got to the floor where her room is located and the moment he saw Makoto, waiting for him in the hallway, in her hospital gown, him being capable of withholding his tears was a pipedream. As he rushed for her, both of the two lovers began crying like crazy...

Ryuji: "Makoto!"

Makoto: "Ryuji!"

And surprisingly, Makoto is the one to tackle Ryuji to the ground first, as the two lovebirds laid on the ground, laughing and sobbing like mad people, melting in each other's embrace, refusing to ever let go, ever again.

At last, at long last, the lovers are reunited. They had their struggles and it all had seemed hopeless, but they managed to end up on top, having overcome any obstacle that had been thrown down their path to reunion and there they were, embracing each other so tightly, not wanting to ease the grip as though they feared this to be nothing but a dream and they could wake at any moment, simultaneously... but it wasn't.

Ryuji: "Makoto... I am so glad you're OK... you really almost gave me a stroke when I learned that... you were in a combat-induced coma...! Don't you ever dare doing that to me again, alright...?!"

Makoto: "Never...! What do you think of me...?! What you did back there for me... was the single most precious thing... one has ever committed to doing all for me...! Your voice... dragged me out of the void... I will never forget this... I'll keep this memory until I pass on...!"

Ryuji: "I sure hope so... don't let a physically handicapped guy like me work too hard..."

Makoto: "Oh, you...!"

The two then ended up staring at each other for one brief moment... before completely giving in to the passionate vibes and... sharing a kiss, at long last.

Once that happened, Makoto snaked her arms around Ryuji's neck, getting lower to be on the right altitude to share the kiss even further with him and sure enough, likewise, he snaked his arms around her lower backside, just wanting to savor the moment for as long as they can. But understandably, with both being really inexperienced, the kiss was mildly awkward in movement and timing, as they constantly stopped for one brief moment to catch their breath before continuing like ferocious beasts, wanting to taste each other's lips to the best of their ability... until they stopped completely and Ryuji gently said:

Ryuji: "I... really wouldn't mind... getting greeted like this, every time I would return home..."

Makoto: "Me neither..."

And Sae just stood there with her arms crossed, feeling mildly nostalgic as she muttered:

Sae: "Time sure does fly... they grow up so fast..."

The relationship has now become intimate. There is no going back now...

Ryuji and Makoto are officially a couple...

Priestess & Chariot Arcana! Level up! Level 9!

Level Up: Both combatants can now take mortal blows for each other!

Sae: "Hate to break the silence between you two lovebirds, but... you'll have some explaining to do, Makoto. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to dictate over who you are allowed to date, I just, uhh... I lack context to all this. This is all surprising to me... bear with me, OK?"

Makoto: "I'll explain everything in due time. But for now... mind giving me some privacy, sis?"

Sae: "Of course, I am really sorry! I really didn't mean butting in like that, I was just so confused, my bad... I am just as inexperienced as you are, in fact... hope you can lend me an ear later. And either way..."

She gently petted Makoto on the head, looking at her with warm and welcoming eyes, before embracing her again, with her sister happily returning the gesture.

Sae: "...I am so freaking happy to know, you're still alive and well. I don't know what would have happened, otherwise..."

Makoto: "Oh, sis, it's alright...! Please don't cry... I will be back home soon, don't you worry..."

Sae: "I sure hope so... well, goodnight, I'll leave you two lovebirds to it."

She said with a wink, before leaving... and Ryuji playfully decided something mindblowing for Makoto. He stood up and then casually picked his girlfriend up, bridal style, making her blush an adorable shade of pink, before carrying her to her hospital quarters again.

Ryuji: "Oh, I'll be TREATING myself tonight...!"

Makoto: "C'mon, don't say it like that, it's embarrassing!"

He gently put her back onto the bed and playfully climbed right onto her bedside and stared down on her, saying:

Ryuji: "You're so cruel, Makoto... or should I say, my "Queen". You shouldn't leave me hanging like before..."

Makoto: "Oh, you...! Just you wait, I'll show you something very close to the word "hanging"...!"

And then, the two playfully started "wrestling" on her bed...

THE END