The door to LeBlanc chimes. Akira sits up and turns. Ryuji and Ann step inside, with Morgana bundled up in the latter's arms.

"Welcome to-" Sojiro starts, then frowns once he takes the two in. "You must be Akira's friends."

"Yep," Ryuji says.

Ann shakes her head and bows. "Thank you for having us!"

Ryuji dips his head as well. "Uh, right. Thanks."

The corners of Sojiro's lips curve up. "Well, welcome anyway. You guys going to head upstairs?"

"That's the plan," Akira says, standing. "Thanks, Sakura-san."

Sojiro waves Akira's words away. "Just keep it down, we're still open."

"Right."

The two teens join him as he heads up the steps. "Wow, dude," Ryuji says, as they climb. "This is where you live?"

"It is," Akira says, ascending the landing and gesturing to his room. "This is my room."

"Wow," Ann says, taking it in. "It's... big."

"It's a mess," Morgana says, hopping down from her arms. "I keep trying to get him to clean it, but he's lazy."

The four thieves descend into silence. Akira gestures to the couch and Ryuji and Ann seat themselves down. Akira, pulls the chair out of his desk and sits. Morgana hops up onto the desk itself, and rolls onto his side.

"So," Morgana says. "We need to figure out what we're going to do."

Ryuji opens his mouth and begins to say, "About that-" but Akira cuts him off.

"We need to stop," he says.

Everyone looks at him.

"At least for a while." He holds up his index finger and thumb, both separated by the smallest space. "We're this close to getting caught. If the Principal knows our names, then he could give them to the police at any time. That's if someone didn't already give them to him."

No one says anything until Morgana says, "You said you would help me get my memories back."

Akira nods. "We will." He looks at the cat. "I promise. But we need to be careful right now. We need to fade from everyone's minds."

"But if we do that," Morgana says. "Then we won't be able to penetrate Mementos any further. We need to be part of the public consciousness."

Akira removes his glasses, sets them on the desk alongside Morgana and rubs his eyes. "But there has to be another way, right? Another way we can get deeper into Mementos without having everyone know about the Phantom Thieves."

Morgana shakes his head. "No. There isn't."

"But-"

"Doesn't that settle it?" Ryuji asks. He leans forward on the couch. "We're gettin' Mona's memories back. That means we've got to keep being Phantom Thieves."

"I'm not saying that we should stop being Phantom Thieves. I'm saying we should lay low."

"But we've got work to do," Ryuji says, barreling onward. He tells of their encounter with Takahashi and Maehara on their way to LeBlanc. "People are counting on us. We can't just leave them in the lurch."

Akira groans. "Guys, come on. If we change the heart of another person at Shujin, it'll only confirm that we are Shujin students." He looks back at the cat, and when he speaks, his words are harsh. "You're sure? You're one hundred percent sure that there's no other way of getting deeper into Mementos besides becoming a household name?"

Morgana shakes his little head once more. "Not that I'm aware of."

Akira shrugs. "So, there could be, right?"

"This isn't Morgana's fault, Akira," Ann says, frowning. "And we all know the risks. We know it's dangerous, but we said we would do this. It's the right thing."

"I know that, but-"

"That's right," Ryuji cuts in. "We're the good guys in this, Akira. Just because things aren't looking too great right now, doesn't mean we should quit."

"It's not quitting," Akira says. "It's caution. And we don't know what we're up against. If we keep-"

Ann shakes her head. "Whatever it is, we'll beat it. We're in this for the long haul, Akira. Just like you."

"That's not-"

"We get it, Akira," Ryuji says, a smile on his face.

"No, you don't! Akira hisses, standing. Ryuji and Ann take a step back. Morgana cringes. "You think you get it but you don't. You really don't. You think that because you're doing the right thing, you'll get a good result. But it doesn't work like that! You do the right thing, and then the police come and you think, 'it doesn't matter, I did the right thing,' and they arrest you and you think, 'it doesn't matter, I did the right thing,' and then they bring you to that courtroom and you think, 'it'll be fine, I did the right thing,' and the judge says guilty and no one's there to stop it and they put you in a box and you say, 'I did the right thing,' but you're only saying it to yourself! No one cares!"

Ann and Ryuji are pale. "Dude," Ryuji starts, but Akira speaks over him.

"I want to do the right thing. I want to keep doing the right thing, but you've never been there. I was. And I keep going back there, in my head, and I try to think of a way out and move towards it, but I can't, because I keep fucking up, and everyone keeps fucking up. We want to be the Phantom Thieves, but Mishima knows, and Shiho knows, and Nakanohara knows, and the Principal knows, and Makoto's investigating us, and every time I take a step it turns out I've just dropped into a bunch of shit and I don't know what to do and no one is listening!" His voice cracks at last, and he stops speaking.

He looks at the two teens. Ryuji points to his own cheek.

Akira's hand drifts up and brushes just beneath his eye. It comes away wet. He spits out a laugh, and drops down on his bed. "I know it's the right thing to do, you guys." He takes a deep breath, but it turns into a sniffle. "That's never been the question. But you don't know what it's like. To save someone, to do the right thing, and still take the fall."

Ann's eyes drift towards the floorboards. Ryuji frowns, and stands up. "You're a lot smarter than me, man."

Akira blinks. "Okay."

"So let me just say one thing. 'It wasn't a mistake.'"

"Huh?"

"It wasn't a mistake."

"What're you talking about, Ryuji?"

Ryuji shakes his head. "That's what you said, man. Remember? That first day in Kamoshida's castle, when we were about to be executed? You said, 'It wasn't a mistake,' and then Arsene exploded out of you like a freakin' nuke!"

Akira nods and drops his gaze. "Yeah, I remember."

"Do you?" Ryuji asks, glaring. "I don't know what your shadow or whatever said to you, but whatever it was got you real riled up, and your answer was, 'It wasn't a mistake.' So was it?"

Akira remembers the woman. Remembers the man. Remembers everything that happened after. "No, it wasn't," he says.

"Was Kamoshida a mistake?"

He shakes his head. "Of course not."

"And what about Nakanohara? Was it a mistake to change his heart? You saw what he was like in Mementos. He might've done something crazy if we hadn't stopped him. Was it a mistake to change his heart?"

"No, Ryuji, but-"

"But nothing, dude," Ryuji spits. He crosses his arms across his chest. "People need us."

"I know, but-"

"Morgana needs his memories back. Who's gonna help him if we don't? Madarame is abusing kids and stealin' their work. Who's gonna stop him if we don't? Maehara's gettin' bullied by Takanashi. Who's gonna stop him if we don't?" He pulls out his phone and brings up the PhanSite. "All these people are asking for our help, and now, once it gets hard, you want to 'lay low' and 'stop for a bit?'" He shakes his head. "That's bullshit dude. So, I'll ask you again, was it a mistake? Was it all a mistake?"

Akira brings his hands together, clasps them to each other as if doing so could anchor him to something he felt he could understand.

He doesn't get it.

He looks at Ann.

She doesn't get it.

Morgana.

Doesn't get it.

But can he blame them? He tries not to let his disappointment show.

A voice dances in the back of his mind. Is it such a difficult thing to talk about?

And there it is.

Akira's mouth creaks open, and when he speaks his words are little more than whispers. "I need to tell you about my father."

#

Makoto lies on her bed, and stares at her phone. She flicks her thumb and the PhanSite scrolls. I guess Principal Kobayakowa was right. The Phantom Thieves aren't done. They had apparently succeeded in changing some stalker's heart during the Golden Week break.

Makoto hadn't heard or seen Akira during that time. No alibi. At least, as far as Makoto was concerned.

She shuts her eyes and blows out a long sigh. "What am I going to do?" She mutters.

Her stomach growls.

Food. That is what I'm going to do.

She'd already eaten dinner, but it had been small and tasted flavorless. She ignores her protesting limbs and exhausted mind, and pushes herself to her feet. She trudges in her pajamas, out of her room and into the hall. When she turns into the dining room, a throat clears behind her.

Makoto jumps. Her sister sits in an armchair in their living room. Her eyes are leveled towards Makoto in a look the younger Niijima is very familiar with. What did I do now?

"Hey Sis," Makoto says, giving her a small smile. "I didn't know you were home. Want something to eat?" She begins to turn towards the kitchen.

"Akira Kurusu," Sae says.

Makoto's feet freeze, and she feels a flush spread through her whole body. "Huh?"

"I met him today," she says, and tilts her head to the side.

Makoto does not understand what is happening. She shakes her head and says, "Wait, what? You did? How?"

"I'm an acquaintance of the man who has taken him in."

The man who has taken him in? What does that mean?

"I stopped by his cafe today," Sae continues. "It's a small hole in the wall in Yongen-jaya. LeBlanc. I rarely see any customers there. Imagine my surprise, then, when I see a young man in a Shujin uniform, sitting at the bar. It would seem he lives in the attic."

Akira... lives in an attic?

"He told me to tell you, 'hi.'"

"Oh. Um-"

"What is the nature of your relationship with this young man?"

Makoto blinks. "Relationship?"

"He told me you tutor him. Are you aware of his record, Makoto?"

"Wait," Makoto says, shaking her head. "I do tutor and I know about his-"

"You know about his record?"

"Yes, but-"

Sae sighs and shakes her head. "You do not have time for this, Makoto. Your studies are supposed to take priority. Your work."

"The teachers asked me to help him."

"And you have. Time to cut the cord. You shouldn't be wasting what precious time you have on some delinquent boy."

"He's not a delinquent."

Sae reaches into her black bag, and withdraws a manila file. "That's not what his record says."

"You... you have his record?"

"Did you think I wouldn't? Did you honestly think I wouldn't find out all the information I could on someone who apparently knows my little sister so well he refers to her by her first name with no honorifics?"

Makoto sits down on one of their couches, across from Sae. "Sis, please. Calm down for a second and let me-"

"Read it," she says, and throws it onto their living room table. The edges of a few pages creep out from the confines. Sae nods towards it when Makoto makes no move. "Go on."

"No," Makoto says, and shakes her head.

"Excuse me?"

"I don't care what it says."

"He assaulted someone, Makoto!"

"I know that." Makoto's hands shake.

"You do not have time to waste on this boy."

"I'm not wasting time," Makoto whispers. "You don't... you don't know."

"What?" Sae asks, shrugging. "Tell me what I don't know, Makoto."

Makoto suddenly feels very cold, and shivers. "K-Kamoshida."

Sae's eyes narrow. "That bastard pervert who assaulted that girl?" She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "What's he got to do with Kurusu?"

"H-he..."

"What?" Sae demands.

"H-he..." And then Makoto is in that room again.

"So why don't we talk about how exactly you can help me, help you."

And then he is coming towards her and he's wearing that smile and the fire alarm will ring but what if it didn't and she knows it only lasted a moment and she knows that nothing happened but she knows something could've happened and in that long moment before the fire alarm went off she was so fucking scared and didn't know what to do.

And the tears come.

She wraps her arms around herself, hugs herself tight, and whispers, "He tried to..." and she can't say the word, but she does manage, "with me." She dips her head and short, wet sobs break from her and she doesn't want to be doing this because she's a Niijima and Dad never cried, even when he was scared, but she can't stop.

And as Sae watches her, realization spreads across her face. She pales. And then Sae stands and barrels her way across the room and drops down next to Makoto on the couch. She reaches out and takes Makoto's hands in her own and she rubs her thumbs across the backs of them like she used to when they were both much younger.

"Makoto," she whispers, and all the anger is gone. "Makoto, it's alright. Tell me what happened."

And Makoto looks into her sister's eyes and sees that it is her sister, her real sister, Sae Niijima, and not the one that's always around and she hates that it's taken this to bring her Big Sis back.

Sae lets go of one of Makoto's hands and pulls her into a hug. Makoto snuggles her face into her sister's shoulder and cries some more.

And cries.

And cries.

And then she tells her what happened.

She ends it with, "He pulled the fire alarm. He got me out of there." She looks down at the file, still unopened on the table. "So, I don't care what that says about him."

She remembers the Principal and his instructions. God, was that only this afternoon? "Everyone thinks he's horrible, but he's not. Even the Principal thinks so. He wants me to investigate him."

"What?" Sae asks. "Why?"

"He thinks Kurusu might've had something to do with Kamoshida's confession. That he made him to it, somehow."

Sae strokes Makoto's hair and lets out a hmph noise. "Please. The boy I met today couldn't make anyone do anything."

Makoto rolls her eyes. "That's because he was talking to you. You're really scary sometimes."

Sae shuts her eyes and a small little laugh escapes her lips. "I suppose I can be... a bit harsh, at times." Then, she refocuses. "Makoto, why didn't you say anything?"

Makoto doesn't answer for some time. "I wanted to be like Dad."

Sae stiffens. "Oh, Makoto."

Neither says anything for a time.

Then, Makoto asks, "What should I do?"

Sae sighs. "I am, obviously, happy that this young man protected you. But. He is still a criminal."

"Sis, I-"

"No, Makoto," Sae cuts in, but her voice is soft. The prosecutor has not returned just yet. "I need you to focus on what's important right now. I know that may not seem fair, but it's the hand life dealt us. Exams are coming up for you. We can talk about this once those are through, and you have some more breathing room. For now, focus on those." Makoto opens her mouth to speak, but Sae continues on. "And don't worry about the Principal. I'll take care of him."

"Wh-what are you going to do?"

"Have a friendly chat," she says.

They stay that way for a little longer, until Makoto realizes she is starving.

"No," Sae says when Makoto tells her she'll make something to eat. "I'll get it." And she stands and moves to the kitchen.

Makoto sits on the couch, feeling light and sleepy and hungry, but better than she has since...

Well, since Akira gave her his number.

She stares at the file. She doesn't care what Kobayakowa thinks. She doesn't care what anyone thinks. I'm going to help, she thinks. Somehow, I'm going to help. First things first, she needs to find out if Akira actually is a Phantom Thief. He won't just tell me. I'll have to deduce it on my own.

She thinks of Sae, and the implication she had laid out just a few moments earlier. Makoto knows her sister, and while Sae may have become more sympathetic towards Akira, her message was clear. Stay away from Akira Kurusu.

Makoto crosses her arms while Sae pulls some dishes from the fridge.

Like hell.

#

The door to LeBlanc shuts behind them, and Ryuji stretches is arms over his head. "Maaannnn, I'm beat. Can't believe how late it got."

Ann nods, frowning. "We talked about a lot of stuff."

"Yeah," Ryuji says, and holds out a fist. "But, hey! We got a plan!"

Ann smiles and bumps fists with him. "Nothing ever gets you down, does it?"

Ryuji rolls his eyes. "Plenty does. Just not for long. C'mon let's get to the station."

They head down the alley towards the Yongen-jaya station, past the small, shuttered shops and few pedestrians stalking the night.

"Hey, Ryuji?" Ann asks.

"Yeah?"

"What Akira said, about his dad...?"

Ryuji shakes his head, and sticks his hands in his pockets. "Pretty messed up, huh?"

"Do you think it's true?"

Ryuji stops. Ann takes a few more steps before she realizes he's not walking alongside her anymore, and turns to face him. "What?" He asks, his voice heavy.

"It just seems so... neat."

Ryuji blinks. "Neat?" He shakes his head. "What's 'neat' about his dad leaving Akira and his mom? What's neat about his dad being a conman who tricked his mom into falling in love with him?"

She shakes her head. "I'm not saying it's not horrible, but didn't it seem a little odd?"

Instead of answering her, Ryuji spreads his hands in a shrug. "Are you gonna do this every time?"

Ann cocks her head. "Do what?"

"This. This whole, 'I wonder what Akira's really thinking,' thing. It's kinda shitty, not gonna lie."

"Shitty?" Ann asks, voice rising. "How is it shitty to worry about a friend?"

"Because it's like you don't believe anything he says. The night of the party, you did the same thing."

"Uh, hello, Earth to Ryuji! Akira just told us that he definitely wasn't okay the night of the party."

"Yeah, I'll cop to that, I didn't notice. But the whole reason he was freaked out about becomin' a Phantom Thief was because he didn't want to become a conman and liar like his old man. He just told us what was wrong, and the second we get outside, you act like he's lying."

"I don't think he's lying!" Ann shouts, and shakes her head. "I don't know, maybe I'm reading too much into it. But there are definitely parts of that story that don't make sense."

"Seriously?"

"Yes! Like, if Akira hasn't heard from his dad in years, why is he so concerned with becoming like him? How would he even know what his dad is like?"

"Huh?" Ryuji asks, brows knit together.

Ann lets out a frustrated groan. "I don't know, you've got me all flustered. I just can't tell if he's being serious or not."

"See? That's what I mean! He seems upset to you, and you question him. He admits that he was upset, and tells you why. Then you question him again, about his reasons. When's it gonna stop, Ann?"

"I'm not doing it to give him a hard time," Ann replies, angry now. "I'm doing it make sure he's okay."

"But when's he gonna be okay, Ann? When you say so?"

"What?"

"Look man, you want his story about his dad to make sense, but you can't even tell me what you think is messed up about it. What'd you expect? That it would all be easy to understand? Shit like that isn't." He lets his hands fall. "My dad left me and my mom, but not before he beat us up a bunch of times. Take it from me, Ann, nothing about this shit is easy to understand. Sometimes it's just a big effin' mess and that's all it is."

He walks past her and starts heading to the train station.

"Ryuji," she says, and follows him. "Come on, I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories for you."

"I know," Ryuji says. "And I ain't sayin' you did. But I know what it's like to have a shit dad. It doesn't have to make sense. One way or another, you don't ever want to be like him." He stops. "On television the other day, I saw a beer commercial. It didn't even have any dads in it. It was just a bunch of guys, in a bar, talking to some girls. That was it. I've seen a million more just like them. But for some reason, it just made me so mad. All I could see was my dad and the beer he used to drink. It wasn't even the same brand! Does any of that make sense? Because it doesn't to me. But there it is."

Ann stares at her feet, hands clasped behind her back. "Sorry, Ryuji."

The blonde boy stares at her for a few moments, then shakes his head and lets out a groan. "And here I was, all amped at having a sick ass plan." Then, he smiles at her. "Whatever, man. Let's get going."

Ann nods and starts to follow him. "Hey," she says, as they near the station. "Let's stop somewhere. For food. I feel bad."

"For real?" Ryuji asks.

She nods. "Sure. My treat." A grin spreads across his face. "What?"

Ryuji turns his attention from her and focuses on the sleeves of his uniform. "Two dates in one day, not bad."

Ann's eyes widen and her cheeks flush. "Sh-shut up!"

#

Makoto shuts the door to her bedroom, crosses the floor and collapses into bed. Her eyes still feel puffy from the tears, but beyond that, she's just exhausted. She buries her face into her pillow, but doesn't shut her eyes.

There's one thing left to do.

She rolls onto her back, and accompanied by a sniffle, picks up her phone. She bites her lower lip, and begins to type.

MAKOTO: I understand my sister was at your residence today. I'm very sorry.

She doesn't expect a response. Akira is probably furious with her right now, and she can't blame him.

A minute after she sends the text, her phone vibrates.

AKIRA: It's alright.

Makoto scowls and writes back.

MAKOTO: No. It isn't.

MAKOTO: She had no right to harass you like that in your own home. Or at all. I'm very sorry.

She stares at the screen, unwilling to put it away. A few dots appear on the screen. She holds her breath until the message arrives.

AKIRA: I think she was just concerned about you. I'm a dangerous criminal after all, who calls you 'Makoto.'

Makoto smiles, then frowns. She thinks of the file Sae had tossed onto their table. Her heart beating faster, she writes out a series of messages.

MAKOTO: Do you think you could maybe tell me about that?

MAKOTO: Sometime? Not tonight.

MAKOTO: Obviously.

MAKOTO: Only if you were okay with it.

MAKOTO: Obviously.

She shakes her head. God, I sound so stupid.

There's no response for a time, then another vibration.

AKIRA: It's not a fun story.

MAKOTO: I didn't think it would be.

AKIRA: Maybe one day.

Makoto nods. It's not a yes, but it isn't a no either.

MAKOTO: Okay.

Then something occurs to her.

MAKOTO: Did my sister, by chance, say anything in particular?

AKIRA: Like what?

MAKOTO: She's a bit bossy. So, anything that might've sounded like... orders?

AKIRA: She told me to stay away from you.

She feels something rise up within her, and before she's even realizing what she's doing, she's replied.

MAKOTO: No.

AKIRA: No?

MAKOTO: Unacceptable.

She reads over the last few lines, and feels her cheeks redden. She types out a hasty message that sounds hollow, even to her.

MAKOTO: After all, there are the study sessions to consider.

AKIRA: Right. Obviously.

MAKOTO: Why don't we agree to set a date for them? You check your schedule. I'll check mine.

AKIRA: Alright. Sounds good.

Makoto smiles. Now how to wrap things up?

MAKOTO: Wonderful. Smiley face.

His response takes a few seconds longer than she expects.

AKIRA: You know, you don't have to write out 'Smiley face.' You can just type : and ).

Makoto stares at the phone, puzzled. Then she tries it.

MAKOTO: :)

MAKOTO: Oh, I see! Thank you for correcting me.

AKIRA: No worries.

AKIRA: I wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself. Like how you just did.

Makoto feels the heat in her chest rising. A smile on her face, her eyes narrow, she types out her response.

MAKOTO: Tell me something.

MAKOTO: Is there a series of keystrokes that indicate a fist moving towards a face?

"Got you," she says to her phone.

AKIRA: ;)

"Huh?" Makoto asks.

MAKOTO: I thought you said it's :)

AKIRA: That was a wink, Makoto.

MAKOTO: Oh.

Her eyes widen. "Oh," she says.

AKIRA: It's been a really long day, we should get some sleep.

MAKOTO: Right. Then I'll speak to you again tomorrow. About the study sessions.

AKIRA: Sounds good. Goodnight.

MAKOTO: Goodnight Akira.

Makoto smiles as she sets her phone down on her nightstand. This day has been trying for her, but she's set in her task. And she was looking forward to the next study session.

#

Akira sits in his room, and shows Morgana the phone. "This sendoff works," he says.

The cat nods. "It does." Then his eyes drift up to Akira's face. "Are you okay? I know that must've been hard for you."

Akira shrugs and sets his phone on the windowsill. "What's hard about it? She's investigating us. So, I'll keep doing the flirty thing and toss her a few study sessions to alleviate suspicion. Easy."

The cat frowns. "Yeah, but Akira, you like her."

Akira glares down at his friend. "That doesn't matter anymore," he says. "She's investigating us, Morgana. You heard it yourself."

"I know, but-"

"But nothing," Akira replies, and lies down. "We should get some sleep. We've got a busy day tomorrow."

"O-okay," Morgana replies, and curls up next to him.

Akira shuts his eyes, but he can't sleep. His thoughts turn to his lies, his many lies, throughout the day. He thinks of Mishima. He thinks of Sae. He thinks of Makoto. He thinks of Ann and Ryuji. Ann didn't buy everything I said about my dad. Well, that was fine. He'd told the truth, or a fragment of it. The whole of it didn't matter, all that mattered was that he do the job they'd given him.

He was the leader of the Phantom Thieves. If that meant he had to lie and cheat, so be it.

And in the back of his mind, he hears the voice of his father, smoky and sharp and with a humorous lilt to it. There you go. That wasn't so hard, was it, son?

##
A/N:2+ months.

30 Chapters.
100K words.
It's hard to believe. To be honest, when I started writing Crimson, I figured each month would approximate at 40-50K words. And yet, here we are, at the end of May 6th, with twice that. Lol, perhaps that speaks to my poor plotting.

With this chapter, I take my leave. I'll be getting married next Saturday, and then it's off to Akira's adopted home for our honeymoon. Provided I survive, I will be back in October. When, exactly? Honestly, I'm not 100% sure, as I've also just started my capstone project for Grad School. (My Professor is PISSED that I'm missing three weeks, lol.) I'll probably drop a line in the comments over at Ao3 (this is directed to everyone at ) stating when I'll be back, and if you comment or leave a review, I'll do my best to reply.

Thank you, so goddamn much for reading Crimson. Thank you for reading it, talking about it, reviewing it, liking it, favorite-ing it, and binge-ing it. It means a lot more to me than I could ever say.

You people are simply the best. I'll see you in October!