Begin

~Normal POV

The surprise Zenkichi gave them was paying for their stay at a luxury hot spring hotel. Sophia informed them that a single night here averaged 40,000 yen per person. And that was with him getting them all their own rooms. (Though he also joked aloud that he was sure not all of them would be taking advantage of it.) They even allowed pets and had bathing accommodations for them! It was an immensely generous offer. He dropped them off there and left to head to his Osaka appointment.

At the moment, everyone was checking out their rooms. Akira watched as everyone went about looking excited and content. It was a fancier place than he was ever used to, but he had to admit, it was nice. He felt a hand on his arm and saw Ann had approached him.

"Well? What do you think?" She whispered. "Isn't this awesome?"

Akira looked around again and smiled. "Yeah… it is…"

~...

That evening, after everyone had a chance to relax in the hot springs, Akira kicked Morgana out of his room so he and Ann could have some more alone time. To which the cat wasn't happy about, but he was used to this by now. So the couple was taking full advantage of their precious time by making out on the bed.

"Didn't you get enough of me in Fukuoka already," Ann teased.

"You know I can never have enough of you." Akira answered slyly, moving to kiss her neck.

"Mm… Hey, you were right… We did get to stay in some hotels after all."

Akira chuckled, pulling away for a moment. "You sound surprised. I thought you knew I was right a lot."

"I guess you are…" Ann sat up and pushed him down onto the bed, to switch their positions. "But tonight… I want you all to myself…"

~...

Out in the common area separating their bedrooms, Futaba was working on her laptop with Morgana snuggled up on a cushion beside her. Makoto was in her room for the night. And she didn't want to think about what the two couples were doing in their respective rooms.

"Ah, even the showers here are so refreshing." She glanced over her shoulder to see Yusuke had come to join them. He was drying his hair with a towel.

"Preach, Inari." She replied.

"Hopefully after my next contest win I'll have enough to bring Mei here for a trip." Yusuke pondered softly.

"Ooo, very romantic," Futaba said, grinning.

"By the way, what are you doing?" Yusuke asked.

"Top secret. Can't tell you." Futaba answered, without taking her eyes off the screen.

Yusuke rolled his eyes. He should have known she'd say that. Oh, well. He wouldn't have understood it anyway. He sat down beside her and went to work on his sketching. While he did, she tapped away on her keyboard. After several minutes a news notification alerted her attention.

"Hey, Mona, Inari, check this out…" She said, getting the two to look up. It was an urgent news broadcast.

"Earlier, Akira Konoe, better known as the CEO of Madicce, held an emergency press conference. During which he announced that EMMA, the company's latest virtual assistant, will cease service for the time being."

"What?!" Morgana yelled.

"First, let me start by addressing our users, and apologizing for any inconveniences that may affect you. EMMA's servers were indeed hacked. That much has been confirmed. Even more regrettable is the fact that some of your personal data was leaked in the attack. For that, I'm deeply sorry. As a company, we understand how valuable your privacy is, and have taken appropriate measures to remedy this breach. That's why our company is suspending all instances of EMMA until further notice. As for who was behind this horrendous attack… It was the Phantom Thieves- the very same terrorists causing all sorts of mayhem as of late. In addition to their heinous crimes, they've even murdered one of our very own, all to steal his research. From there, they had everything they needed to break through EMMA's defenses. It seems we're the latest victim in what appears to be a string of related incidents. There are several other cases in which these criminals stole information and used it to harass their victims. If the Phantom Thieves are listening, I have a word for you cold-blooded killers… We will not succumb to your threats. Not me, not my company, not EMMA. You claim to want justice, yet you steal precious data and leave our finest for dead. I can't wait to see the day you're punished!"

"The police have been notified regarding this case, and are looking to arrest the Phantom Thieves as soon as possible."

"Shit!" Futaba shouted. "We gotta get the fuck outta here!"

"Hurry, we have to warn the others," Yusuke said, quickly.

~...

Futaba opened Akira's door, having to jimmy the lock first. Akira and Ann were curled up in bed together and the two immediately sat up at her sudden entrance.

"Futaba?! What the hell!?" Ann shouted, covering herself with the blanket. "Maybe try knocking next time?"

"There's not gonna be a next time if you two don't hurry up! The police are coming! Konoe's put a hit out on us!" Futaba said, frantically. "We gotta get outta here!"

Akira felt his heart drop into his stomach. Beside him, Ann went pale with fear. "Go get your stuff, we'll be out shortly." He commanded. Futaba left the room to do as she was told.

The police… The police found them. Dear god, what was this vacation coming to?

"Do you… do you think-" Ann tried to ask while the two got dressed and gathered their belongings.

"Shush." Akira said, quietly, cupping her cheek comfortingly. "Don't worry about what might happen. Just concentrate on escaping so that it doesn't happen."

Ann stared into his warm grey eyes and nodded shakily. He was right. Worrying about what could go wrong would only make it harder on her. Akira was their leader; he would make damn sure that none of them were ever caught or die trying.

~…

Upon gathering all their belongings and warning everyone, the police had already arrived. Morgana was the only one who could look out the window safely. "Zenkichi is with them too!"

"That son of a bitch sold us out…" Ryuji whisper-shouted.

Akira silenced him. "Just get moving- out the back and over the hot spring fence." He commanded, quietly. "Once you're over, bolt to the car and wait for everyone else."

Meanwhile, Zenkichi was out front of the hotel with Kaburagi, who was leading the squadron. The whole alley was covered in huge squad vans preventing any exit from the front door.

"Commissioner, I told you at Okinawa!" Zenkichi pleaded. "The Phantom Thieves have absolutely nothing to do with the change of heart epidemic! So how could something like this happen?!"

Kaburagi gave him a stern look. "It's as Mr. Konoe stated. The Phantom Thieves are under suspicion for hacking into EMMA and murdering the director of Madicce's research center."

"And you're going to take him at his word?!" Zenkichi shouted. "Where's the proof of any of this!? Be honest, do you think they'd ever sink so low as murder?! That director had died before they even-!"

"You seem awfully concerned about a group of criminals, Inspector Hasegawa." Kaburagi interrupted. "Have you forgotten they've been our leading suspects from the start? Put your feelings aside and focus. We cannot let these crimes go unpunished. What's more, I'm under direct orders from the Commissioner General. Disobedience is not an option."

"The Commissioner General?! What does he have to do with any of this?! Don't you sense something wrong here? There has to be more to it-!"

"Like when your wife died?"

Zenkichi paused from the sting of those words.

"I thought I told you back then." Kaburagi continued. "This organization is as rotten as it is immense. One cannot simply bend it to their will. Now, if you want to follow justice, learn to exercise restraint. Besides, you made a vow: that to stop any atrocity, you'd endure any hardship. So endure for now… your time will come."

"But they're not even…"

"Once I am at the top, I will bring the corrupt to their knees." Kaburagi said, firmly. "Let my justice be your justice."

"They're not even criminals- They're kids!" Zenkichi shouted.

"I've already made myself clear." Kaburagi said, ending the discussion.

"Commissioner…"

"If someone is suffering, it's only right to provide aid when possible."

"We know the world isn't neatly divided into good and evil. We've even had targets that proved us so already. But we will continue fighting. With or without anyone's approval. Because if we give up now, then the people who are counting on us, the people you can't help, won't have any hope left. And I fucking refuse to let them down. That's why the Phantom Thieves exist: we're the only ones who can help. And we gladly dedicate ourselves to doing so. Putting ourselves into the very real danger of the Metaverse for people who have no other options."

"Whaddya say, feel like you're a Phantom Thief now?"

"I gotta say you're the weirdest looking family I've ever seen."

"We look perfect to me."

Those words kept coming back in Zenkichi's head. These kids… They weren't criminals… They were good, honest, kids who'd been fucked over by society so much that they wanted to fix it… And they stepped outside the law to do it. He looked around at the squads of armed officers who were ready to shoot on command. This wasn't what those kids deserved. Not in the slightest.

"Let me handle this." Kaburagi said, bluntly. "I believe you have a daughter who needs you."

"My daughter…" Zenkichi mumbled.

"Why dad?! Why don't you even listen to me?! You know who the real bad guy is! Aren't the police supposed to do what's right?!"

"It's time. Everyone ready?" Kaburagi lifted her hand, "All units, move-"

"RUN! RUN FOR IT! ALL OF YOU!" Zenkichi screamed at the top of his lungs.

Kaburagi sighed. "Idiot… You're under arrest! Interfering with an officer is punishable by law!"

Zenkichi didn't even put up a fight as the nearby officers cuffed him. All he had going through his mind was hoping beyond reason that the kids made it out ok.

What he didn't know was that by the time the order was given, the gang was already well over the back fence and most of them had sprinted to the camper parked in the back. Akira had been the last one over and had heard Zenkichi's words as he ran.

~...

Once the car arrived at Zenkichi's bar, they moved quickly and silently. Only grabbing the essentials, as much as they could carry, to bunker down inside for god knows how long. After they were all safely inside, Yusuke bolted the door shut behind them. Everyone was completely out of breath from panicking. Definitely feeling as though their lives flashed before their eyes. They all stood in the bar's center, huddled together to try to calm down.

Akira did a mental headcount as he set up his phone on the counter. He was relieved to see everyone was safe.

"Did- Did they ID the car…?" Makoto asked, shakily.

"N-No… we got away clean…" Futaba said, hugging herself.

"Man, that… that was close…" Ryuji said, trying to smile. "I- I totally thought we… we…" Within seconds, his facade of trying to brighten the situation snapped and tears ran down his cheeks. "Shit- they had guns! Real fucking guns!"

He wasn't the only one who was scared to the point of tears either. As within moments everyone else let out the tears they'd been holding in too. Angry, scared tears from a gang of teens devoted to justice. Even holding each other for comfort in the most desperate situation they'd ever been in outside the Metaverse. Even Akira couldn't hold back his tears any longer. He'd rarely ever been so terrified in his life.

Their lives as Phantom Thieves were content in many ways. But when it came to moments like this, they were brutally reminded how fragile it all was. That no matter what they did to help the public, their enemies would always find a way to turn the world against them. It was the painful price of using the Metaverse: they were never the only ones who could…

"Th-This-" Futaba sniffled, "This is all Zenkichi's fault…"

"No, it isn't." Akira said, firmly, wiping his eyes behind his glasses.

They all stared at him in shock. Never in a million years did they expect to hear Akira say such a thing. He had been warmer to Zenkichi since they left Sapporo, but they were fully aware that he still had reservations about putting his trust in a cop. And when the moment came where it appeared Zenkichi had turned on them at last, Akira was the one defending him?

"I heard him, as we were leaving, he told us to run for it. They arrested him for aiding us." Akira explained. "Whatever caused them to come after us wasn't because of him. I was wrong… We all were…"

Zenkichi Hasegawa protected them, just like he promised.

~...

It was quite a letdown to have to bunker down in an abandoned bar for the night instead of their luxury hotel suites, but they tried to make the most of it. Akira said he'd stay up to listen for any trouble outside. Though he shouldn't need to. They could hear cops patrolling the city looking for them but without the car being identified, it'd be difficult to track them down.

Akira had Ann curled up against him in her sleeping bag; he was gently petting her hair to comfort her. He looked around the room. Ryuji and Haru were trying to sleep too. Makoto, having realized that she left her Buchimaru-kun plushie in the car, was now holding Morgana under her arm. He had sweetly offered to be a suitable replacement for the night since she wouldn't be able to sleep otherwise. Akira had moved his phone closer to him just in case Sophia wanted something.

"Yusuke…?" He heard Futaba whisper. (It was so dark in here that it was difficult to tell who was still awake.)

"What is it?" Yusuke replied, quietly.

"C-Can I sleep next to you?" Futaba pleaded.

"If that will help you feel better, then of course." Yusuke said, gently. He then moved to allow her to sit beside him on the floor.

Futaba sat down beside him and curled up in her blanket. "Oh- wait."

"What's wrong?" Yusuke asked.

"You shouldn't be on that side…" Futaba said, worriedly. "It's closer to the door… What if-?"

Yusuke smiled gently, though she couldn't see it, and patted her head. "I'll be fine. Nobody knows we're here. Just get some rest."

Futaba smiled gratefully and tried to fall asleep. Akira smiled to himself while listening to that. He knew nothing would happen, but it was nice to see Yusuke cared enough to protect Futaba if anyone did come through that door.

"Akira…?" Sophia spoke up quietly, without her usual chime to not wake anyone.

Akira grabbed his phone. "This kinda isn't the best time, Sophia. What's wrong?"

"You have a text message from your mother."

Akira opened the message. It read simply, "Are you all ok, sweetie?" Clearly, his parents had seen the news, and their first instinct was to check on them.

He typed out a two word reply of, "Everyone's safe." And closed the message app.

"I want to ask you something…" Sophia said, curiously. "I do not understand. The Phantom Thieves have such immense support online… Yet the police take only one man's word that you are the culprit. Why do they not listen to the majority? So many people are jumping in to claim our innocence at this very moment…"

Akira frowned. "It's… a lot more complicated than that… Just get some rest… I promise we'll get through this."

"Ok… good night." Sophia said, before his phone went dark once more. He put his phone aside to charge it.

The thief leader looked around the dark room once more and saw all his family sleeping as comfortably as they could in their makeshift hideout. They were stuck in here, but they were all safe. He would have to do some serious apologizing to Zenkichi when they saw him again… This whole time during their deal, he'd been waiting for the knife in his back. But now, at the very moment where that knife should have come, Zenkichi saved them.

He knew exactly where the inspector was now because of this act, and it wasn't a fate he wished on anyone.

~End of Chapter

Side note: If you have to ask why that second hot springs scene isn't here, then you really haven't been paying attention. Sorry if you're disappointed.