I own nothing. Monika does.
"So your eyes have finally opened to the bigger truth. Yet, I still sense darkness in your soul that should not be there. Are you really going to let your comrades fall, simply so you can selfishly die? Do you truly see it as a noble sacrifice for you to die defending them?"
"No! That's not…" Sayori was frozen in shock. The part of her that should have been registering the immense pain in her body only making her feel numb.
"Perhaps there is a way to fix that which has been torn apart. Think back and look deeper… Those horrible things she said to you. Tell me, are you going to remain chained by her words?" The rope around Sayori's neck was beginning to feel tighter. She was running out of time. Yet, she knew exactly what the voice was talking about.
"Oh…" Words that had been unknowingly haunting her ever since she had come here came rushing into her skull. Like a spell being broken, false tranquility shattered, and the painful words kept repeating. Not real, Not real, Not real. Sayori was launched back into her supposed reality and let out a shrill scream. "NO!"
"Then hear my words. The world will always be cruel, but there is still happiness to be found, as long as you live for yourself!" Sayori finally began to calm down, her scream going quiet. She looked up to see her yellow eyed counterpart. This part of herself that others fed off of under the guise that this would make her happy… How had it gotten so bad in such a short time? Lost memories were pouring into her head, convincing her of one thing. This couldn't continue.
"You're right," Sayori glared at her shadow, a rare hint of anger and pity showing through her features. "That's not who I want to be anymore!"
"I see. Let us work together then. I am thou, thou art I. We shall live for no one but ourselves!" A piece of gold seemed to form around Sayori's face. While she couldn't understand everything, the girl knew what she had to do. Bringing her hands up, she put her hands around the foreign mask. She let out a gasp as she ripped it off, taking a good amount of skin with it.
The others merely stared in shock as a massive, bright pink aura built up around the girl. Out of all the things they had expected to happen, this wasn't it.
"Who would have guessed?" Ryuji asked. Even though he was still tied up, he had a big smile on his face.
Just as he spoke, Sayori walked out of the dust with a look of determination. A bright light in her eyes shone, as if she had awoken from a long nap. Instead of her normal clothes, she was now adorned with a black, slim overcoat with gold accents. Her trousers and knee-high boots matched the coat in color. She wielded a silver shortsword and a white shield. These dark implements were in contrast to the brightly colored being that hovered behind her. It was massive, nearly double the size of Sayori herself. Bright red butterfly wings surrounded what appeared to be a thorax. Ghostly white gloves floated next to a ginormous white dress, detailed with flowers.
"I'm sorry… for myself," She looked at the now frightened distortion of herself. "Maybe I used to be like you, but I won't ever be again. Phsyche, let's finish this show!"
The orchestra of her imagination roared in her head as Sayori moved her hand in a grand sweeping motion. The ropes around the Phantom Thieves were disintegrated from the sheer power of Sayori's persona. Quickly escaping their bonds, they ran to join the fight.
A figure emerged from around the corner, the last line of defense between Sayori and the hideous distortion before her. Dressed in a silver wraparound dress and silky stockings, Yuri stood defiantly with a knife held to her wrist.
"Get out of the way, Yuri. This will be over much more quickly if you do," Sayori looked slightly sad at seeing this horrible version of her friend, but she wasn't going to back down either.
"No, I'm afraid to say this is the only way to keep things the way they need to be. It's time to give you a taste of true Hell!" With a single slice of her knife, Yuri had transformed into a monster, just like Natsuki. It was humanoid, orange, and had a massive mouth running down its entire figure.
"How hypocritical," Sayori said, a small sigh escaping her mouth. Immediately, the figure released a large burst of energy, knocking the shadow of her friend to the ground. "There's no more time for negotiating. I'm finishing this while I still have the chance." Sayori turned to the thieves. Now in the right state of mind, she saw through their disguises. "I'm sorry you guys, but I need your help!" The others smiled at her before nodding.
"Let's get started!" Sayori screamed with a loud battlecry.
Shadow Sayori burst with energy. Her form became that of a giant, crude crayon drawing of Sayori, hanging from the ceiling. Her eyes gushed with bright red blood. With an incredibly distorted voice, she cried out, "Yuri! Attack!" Yuri, now in monstrous form, commenced her attack. Dark green gas erupted from her massive mouth. It coated the thieves, who had no clue as to its effect. Sayori, for whatever reason, remained immune. Shadow Sayori followed up by firing massive paper airplanes at the thieves. They began to bleed uncontrollably.
"Dude, what's going on!?" Ryuji shouted.
"She's giving us papercuts!" cried Ann.
Shadow Sayori began to raucously laugh. "I shall destroy you puny thieves!" The crowd behind her cheered louder and louder. "Everyone! Think happy thoughts, and give your power to me!"
Sayori was confused as to how she managed to avoid the bleeding. What did I do different? She called upon her persona, feeling the name of a technique in her heart. She raised her shield and shouted, "Physche!" Suddenly, a magical shield was erected around Akira.
"What is this!?" He shouted.
"I don't really know, but it seems pretty powerful to me!" replied Sayori.
Akira smiled at Sayori's enthusiasm. He looked towards the rest of the team and commanded, "Everyone, focus on Yuri! This air is causing us to bleed out easier!" How he managed to intuit that was unknown to the rest of the thieves.
"Okay!" They shouted in unison. "PERSONA!"
One by one, the thieves' personas arrived in the arena.
"Captain Kidd!"
"Zorro!"
"Carmen!"
"Goemon!"
"Physche!"
A spectacular fireworks show of elements combining into one massive attack descended upon Yuri. The pain was unbearable, and soon Yuri disintegrated into nothingness. The air remained, but Akira was sure that it wouldn't last much longer.
"You accursed thieves! How dare you kill my friends!? You have the nerve to call yourself noble, in the face of such despicable crimes!?" Shadow Sayori cried.
Shadow Sayori's noose began to glow. She gained a bright red glow as she began to increase in power.
"This power… it's crazy!" shrieked Morgana, astounded.
She raised her arms up and pointed them towards the thieves. The blood on the tips of her hands, which were boiling with her rage, became sharp, hot projectiles.
"Everybody, dodge!" ordered Akira. The thieves leaped out of the way, but Akira could not escape. He was prepared to take the brunt of the damage, but he felt nothing. Sayori's shield had protected him.
"Thanks for that!" He gave Sayori a thumbs up. "Now, time for the show! Take-Minakata!" A massive horned creature with long blonde hair, wielding a sword appeared behind him. "Assault Dive!" The creature swiped with his sword as the air in front of him was seemingly cut. Shadow Sayori recoiled in pain. The rest of the thieves took advantage of the situation as they focused their attacks yet again.
When the team-attack ceased, Shadow Sayori was enraged. "NO! I WON'T LET YOU WIN! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" The shadow's noose started to glow even brighter, as her face grew fierce and angry. She began to focus her energy as she started to form something powerful above her.
"What the hell is she doing?" inquired Ryuji.
"Whatever it is, we better get ready for it!" clamored Akira. "Everyone, we can't block this one! It's too strong! We're gonna have to try and dodge!"
"But, that thing's enormous! How will we get out of the way!?" shouted Ann, panicked.
Sayori felt something in her heart yet again. "I've got you! Masukukaja!" Her persona appeared yet again, casting a green burst of energy onto the rest of the thieves. They suddenly felt far more limber and fast. Sayori had raised their agility.
A massive pink notebook, as long as the stage the battle took place on, appeared above the shadow. On the front cover was nothing but a percent sign. "YOU FOOLS! WITH THIS ATTACK, I SHALL DESTROY ALL OF US, EVEN MYSELF!"
"She's going for a suicide attack!?" exclaimed Morgana.
"It's alright! We'll have no problems dodging now, thanks to our new friend!" smiled Akira, coolly.
"DIE!" cried the shadow as she launched her ultimate attack. The pink notebook began to descend from the ceiling. The thieves were below it one second, but gone the next. Their dodging plan had succeeded. True to her word, Shadow Sayori was crushed beneath the book. As it disappeared in a puddle of red and black ooze, her paper form lay crumpled on the stage. However, her noose began to glow yet again.
"Looks like she ain't done after all!" shouted Ryuji.
"She's gonna recharge!" cried Ann.
Yet, as soon as they finished speaking, the shadow's noose seemingly sliced in half. The wind was disturbed by some force in the air. The thieves couldn't pin down a source, but they didn't mind. At long last, the battle was over.
Goro Akechi was working his way to the palace's exit when he heard it. A haunting, familiar scream seemed to echo through the halls.
"Sayori?" He whispered, before he practically launched himself back the way he came. The detective dodged each and every obstacle in his path. Swerving around each and every shadow he passed, not really caring if he was spotted at this point, the young man managed to find a decent hiding place hidden from view to see what was going on.
His mouth dropped open in shock. He was hardly in the right state of mind, judging by the first thoughts he had as he witnessed from afar the transformation his roommate had made.
He knew the picture of her wearing the all black attire of a true noble was going to be ingrained in his memory forever. The calm look that gave off an air of protection only making him further convinced of this. It made him happy. The person she was, underneath all of the heartache and pain she endured, was every bit as amazing as the happiness she tried to project into the world on a daily basis.
Goro noticed something just as exciting, but also disheartening as he chanced another look at the new battlefield. He was willing to bet anything the people beside her were the Phantom Thieves. As the battle began, the detective continued to watch. He sincerely hoped that it wouldn't come to pass, but he fully intended to step in if needed.
The battle was nearly finished, but Goro knew that Sayori would need a little more help. As the massive shadow crushed itself with its powerful attack, he finished the job for Sayori and her team. The shadow's noose was sliced, its power source gone for good. He smiled as he thought of the fact that Sayori was now safe. He was sure they would find each other later, hopefully without the presence of the Phantom Thieves.
Shadow Sayori fell to the ground, a sad smile on her face. "I suppose this is my punishment, right? I failed to make them all happy. She was right all along."
"No. You both are wrong. I was too, by extension. The two of us being miserable isn't making anyone else happy. At least not anyone that matters. Depression is a truly horrifying monster. It was always there, and it probably always will be, and we chose to let it grow," Sayori kneeled by her shadow, a sad but gentle look on her face.
"This place isn't a representation of this depression I carry. I understand that now. It's here because it was so bad. Stealing the treasure will only serve to get these feelings back under control." She said this part for the benefit of the thieves behind her, who were sneaking backstage in hopes of finding whatever item might be in there.
"And there was more we were wrong about. We forgot that our actions have consequences. We were wrong to think that the people who cared about us, who loved us, would be happy to have us gone."
The shadow of the girl mulled over her words. For a moment, a bright smile crawled onto her face. "I can tell that the job is done. You truly are aware now, aren't you? The club president will be pleased," Shadow Sayori trailed off, already starting to fade. Skull's mouth fell open in shock.
"What's that supposed to mean? You're the club president!" He was looking for confirmation that could not be given. The rest of the thieves emerged from backstage, carrying the only thing they had managed to find, a black notebook. The Shadow looked at it in confusion for a second, before a brief look of realization crossed over her.
"What a sneaky leader. I suppose it's time for my farewell, too. I hope you use your new knowledge wisely… I hope we do," With a final chuckle, she faded away.
Sayori looked at the spot where she had disappeared, her mind barely processing the subtle hints that she was still missing something. A rumble over everyone's heads alerted them to the immediate danger.
"We need to get going before this place starts collapsing!" Mona exclaimed. All of the other thieves nodded in agreement before they began to hurry after the cat creature. Sayori was about to follow when one more memory slammed into the front of her mind.
Oh, no! I forgot about…
"You guys go on ahead. There's one more thing I need to do. Anyway, see you all in school on Monday, bye!" Sayori spoke the last sentence before sprinting away from them, and out the door.
The thieves stood for a moment in shock. Ann looked like she wanted to follow after her, only for Ryuji to pull her along in the opposite direction. "Shouldn't we—"
"This is her palace, right? We should listen for now," Ryuji interrupted. Ann nodded hesitantly before they ran to catch up with the group.
"Goro! Goro! Where are you?" Sayori was in the back of the auditorium building. Guilt was eating her insides as she ran through the crumbling building. The thought that she might be too late making her scream louder as the seconds passed. Finally after what felt like a lifetime to the girl, she spotted a lone figure at the end of the hallway.
"Goro! There you are!" Sayori quickly ran up to him and grabbed his arm. "We need to get out of here!" She didn't falter even as she internally questioned the red mask and costume he was now wearing. Right now she could only think about the danger they were now in.
"Sayori, what's going o–ugh!" The detective was suddenly slung over Sayori's shoulder as she dodged the question.
"No time! We need to keep running," Sayori didn't show any signs of slowing down as she saw the auditorium exit. She forced herself to speed up even though her legs felt like they on fire.
"That's kind of hard to do when you're carrying me like a sack," Goro grumbled. He heard the doors slam open as Sayori made a mad dash for the front gate. That was when the detective noticed the crumbling ground beneath them.
"We're almost there…" Sayori trailed off as she reached the few feet left to the door. Slamming it wide open, she leapt through, throwing her room mate ahead of her using her remaining strength. She closed her eyes as her face approached the ground.
Sayori barely felt something break her fall as the apartment came into her view. She looked at the wide open doorway of the apartment where the groceries still sat. Even as she looked at it, she couldn't help but let out a sad sigh. Is this world… fake? She let her head drop down to whatever had broken her fall and let out a small whimper. No...
It was only when Sayori felt two arms wrap around her that it occurred to her that she didn't know exactly what had broken her fall. Lifting her head slightly, a blush spread across her face as she confirmed her suspicions. She was laying on top of Goro Akechi. He had her arms wrapped around her with a light grin on his face. The ten second long unbreakable eye contact they held was only broken when Sayori numbly put her head back on his chest.
"Sayori… Are you alright?" The detective began trying to set them both upright, still keeping one arm wrapped around her as he did so.
"What just happened?" She whispered. Goro tightened his grip as he lead them both to the couch.
"I'm not quite sure myself…" As always, the lies easily came out of his mouth. He looked down at the girl in front of him. It honestly felt like he was seeing her for the first time. Her increasingly red face now had new meaning other than embarrassment.
"Still… I'm glad you're safe. That place seemed dangerous. If something had happened in there…" He trailed off as Sayori started to tremble. Afraid he had said the wrong thing, he gently pulled her off of him to look at her more closely. What he saw shocked him.
Even as tears were rolling down Sayori's face, a bright smile lit up her face. "I'm… I… I'm so happy you're safe too, and I'm happy that I'm safe, but I'm confused too. That place… whatever it was… revealed things I never wanted to know. Yet I feel so much better about everything now," Sayori's bright smile seemed to lift a large weight off of Goro's shoulders. He resumed their embrace for another few moments, his own thoughts were whirling around in his head at top speed.
Sayori calmed herself down, and mumbled something incoherent into Goro's jacket. "What did you say, Sayori?"
"I said that we should probably go get the groceries," she separated from him to point out the pile that was long abandoned outside the front.
Slightly disappointed, the detective released her. "I suppose you're right. I was thinking… maybe after we finish we could watch a movie? It is a weekend after all…" Goro Akechi felt his own face heat up as he ran out of things to say. There were a number of reasons why he wanted to watch this movie, but the most prominent was to gauge her reactions. Now hyper aware of her emotions, the detective knew he needed a source to draw from. He didn't ever want to neglect this girl again.
"Oh, that sounds nice. Also, I just remembered something I wanted to ask you. What were you doing on your phone, before that weird vortex thing that made my head hurt showed up?" Goro Akechi froze as he made his way over to the groceries.
Crap, she knows! Resuming his pace, he struggled to pick up the groceries. "We- well, I was reading something aloud that suddenly popped up on my phone. It was really strange. Hey, Sayori, I was wondering something too. Who did you run into in that place? I could have sworn I saw a couple of people who matched the descriptions of the friends that you told me about."
Sayori shuffled her feet nervously as she picked up a few bags. "I ran into a lot of things. They were all so scary. When one of them attacked me I got that costume you saw me in earlier. I assume that's how you got yours?" It wasn't a total lie she was telling, more like an unspecified truth. The detective frowned in response to them.
"I suppose we can save this conversation until tomorrow. We will both be a lot more clear headed too. Perhaps the place we went to will lead to the progress we need to move forward in your case," Goro was reminded of the item he had taken from the palace as he said this. He would see in better detail what it was when he was alone.
Sayori fidgeted as the movie they were watching continued. Goro knew from experience that this simply meant she was bored. He was glad he could tell at least that much. His own mind was on everything else but the movie. New plans were forming in his head as he watched Sayori out of the corner of his eye.
It wasn't nearly as devious or risky as his other plans, but they were also something he would have far more control over. He had to admit that they excited him just as much too. As soon as he got his next paycheck, he would set it in motion.
Sayori, meanwhile, was lost in her own little world. Struggling to at least get comfortable as the movie in front of her blared aimlessly was almost impossible. Her own mind was going a million miles a minute as she tried desperately to grasp the things she had learned today. Shock had kept her from processing it earlier, but now she had nothing to do but think.
Her own reality was nothing but an illusion. And in that illusion, people she considered friends were the Phantom Thieves. The only other person she harbored deep feelings for was out to capture them. How could she possibly handle all of this? What was even going to happen now that she knew about this?
These and a million other questions ran through her head. Still, one constant hope was that she could use her newfound knowledge to take a more active role in where her own story was going to go. It was really the only thing she had to hold onto. The thoughts and memories of what happened, and what could have happened, when she had so little control made her determined to change things now.
As the credits began to roll, the two roommates were both incredibly tired. Sayori's head plopped limply on her pillow. Goro's eyes had started to drift shut as soon as the climax was over, finally closing fully as the white script came up. His head leaned back on the couch cushion.
For both of the teens, the morning would come far too quickly.
Well, I hope you all liked the chapter. Being thrown back into school will probably be the cause of a possible new update schedule, in order to maintain the level of quality we attempt to give you all. Also, for Sayori's thief outfit, I actually have a nice visual reference you can look up. Her design in based off of Ludis Mergas from Noblesse. Anyway, please read, review, and we will see you all next time.