Crimson

by Dowdz

Akira Kurusu. Delinquent. Thief. Leader. Hero. Who is he? How many masks can one man wear?

61. Listen

6/4

Akira stands in the alley before Shujin, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed to the pavement.

Morgana's head pokes from his bag.

Ryuji leans against the alley's brick, mouth ajar. "Kawakami-sensei?" He asks.

"Kawakami-sensei," Akira tells him. Ryuji wouldn't say anything. Despite the perception of Ryuji Sakamoto being a blabbermouth, he'd demonstrated the ability to keep it shut. Especially if it didn't pertain to the Phantom Thieves.

Still, it never hurt to check. "You're not going to say anything, right?"

Ryuji's jaw snaps shut, and his eyes widen by a fraction. "Course not, man. I won't say anything. She drives me nuts sometimes, but I wouldn't do her like that. That's crazy, though. Why the hell would she be doing that kind of shit?" He stares across the street at the school's entrance. "Guess teachers don't make much."

"I never got around to asking," Akira says.

"What's important," Morgana puts in, "is that we act like nothing happened. If Kawakami thinks we leaked her secret, she may just report us for revenge."

Ryuji nods. "Got it."

"We shouldn't say anything to Mishima either," Akira says.

Ryuji opens his mouth, as if to speak, but he shuts it a moment later, whatever he'd thought to say dying before it reached open air. "Alright. We probably don't need to worry about Yusuke either, right? It's not like he's got any link to Sensei." His lips purse and his eyes dart down the alley and towards the school. Then, he leans in closer. "So, how'd she look? Was she hot?" A grin creeps its way over his face. "Gotta admit, I'm a little jealous."

Akira chuckles. "If you hadn't bugged out along with Mishima, you'd have caught a glimpse too."

Ryuji frowns. "Don't remind me."

Akira double checks the area. "But yeah, she's pretty hot."

Ryuji groans. "I freakin' knew it."

Ryuji and Mishima had, in their boundless wisdom, decided to lower themselves off the balcony and onto the concrete below. It had worked, if you could count torn shirts, and scuffed knees and elbows as 'working.' They'd crept into the shadows of nearby shrubbery to wait, but Mishima had begun to further freak out at the prospect of a 'potential sting operation,' and the only way to calm him down had been for Ryuji to escort him to the subway station. By the time he'd returned, the commotion was over, and everyone had gone their separate ways.

Now, the blonde boy sighs. "What a bust."

"It's not like I had an awesome time," Akira says, and slaps him on the shoulder. "She mostly just scolded me. And drank a beer. It was weird." He frowns. "Actually, it was very weird. I don't know what the hell I'm going to do in class."

"Just don't make eye contact," Morgana tells him. "Keep your head down, like you always do."

Akira shrugs. "I guess."

The two boys exit the alley and head for the school. Ryuji stretches his arms overhead and yawns as they cross the road. "I was so psyched to hear about what happened that I hardly slept. Oh well. But man, Kawakamai-sensei moonlights as a maid. I'm freakin' flabbergasted." Akira and Morgana both turn to face him. "What?"

"Did you just say, 'flabbergasted?'" Akira asks.

His eyes narrow. "So? I know words and shit."

"Okay, my bad," Akira says, chuckling. They turn to enter Shujin. At least it's a Saturday.

Ryuji slaps his forehead as they reach the front steps. "Oh, that reminds me, dude. Yusuke!"

"What about him?" Akira asks, as they start to climb.

"Well, I'd say it's time to bring him to Takemi's for a checkup. You promised her you'd bring him by, and it's been a while."

Akira groans. "I know. I've been meaning to, but haven't had the time. Man, she's going to be pissed."

"Don't sweat it," Ryuji says. "We'll go with him. For moral support and stuff."

"Moral support?"

Ryuji frowns. "I know the dude's weird and all, but he's probably a bit freaked out to go back to the doctor's. I mean, last time he had to hear about how he was all malnourished and crap. Who knows what he thinks it going to happen this time?"

Morgana leans out of the bag. "That's pretty considerate of you, Ryuji. I agree. We should all go with Yusuke."

Ryuji grins. "Right? So, come on. Let's bring him then. It's not like she's super busy."

Akira nods. "Okay. Sure." They reach the top of the steps, and Akira reaches out to push open Shujin's front door. If he hadn't, he might've noticed the thumbs-up Ryuji flashed Morgana.

#

Class is not easy.

Despite Morgana's advice, Akira's eyes keep stealing their way towards Kawakami. A few darting images of her in her maid outfit pop into his head. He tries to force them away, but they burrow in, and Akira swears he can hear the word, "Master!" echo in the back of the room.

It doesn't help that Kawakami keeps glancing towards him. She sits at her desk, head dipped forward, but Akira can feel her eyes shifting towards him.

The classroom has always been a stifling place for him, but this is a different kind of pressure. Before, he could always feel the animosity and mistrust bubbling off the other students. It filled the room like the smell of rot. Now, he feels like he's in a sniper's crosshairs. Once she lines up the perfect shot, his brains will be splattered against the room's back wall.

"Keep calm," Morgana whispers.

"Hey," Ann says, and she leans back towards him. "What's going on with you two?"

"Huh?" Akira asks.

"Kawakamai-sensei and you," she whispers. "You guys keep staring at each other."

"You can tell?"

"Uh, yeah."

Shit. "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing," Ann replies. She starts to turn towards him. "It's seriously weirding me out."

"It's nothing," Akira hisses back. He drops his eyes to his desk, and resolves to keep them there for the duration of the class.

Morgana pokes his head out. "Maybe you should tell her."

"Right," Akira whispers, at his lowest possible voice. "I should tell Ann that Ryuji ordered a maid that happened to be out homeroom teacher."

The day drags itself along.

#

It feels like there are spiders crawling around in her brain. Every achingly slow second, she expects the other shoe to drop. She expects her name to be uttered over the loudspeaker - she half expects it to be Kobayakawa's voice - or for one of the senior teachers to pop in and out her.

She'd been so careful. Her work relationships were strictly professional. Her students were kept at an arm's length. Her requests were supposed to be vetted.

Kawakami had resigned herself to another night of some old sceev's eyes traversing her body, watching her scrub or dust or any of the other things that - for whatever reason - got their jollies off. Sure, she hated it. But the money was decent, and that was what she needed. You can't repay debts on a teacher's salary. You just couldn't. That was a fact.

Then she'd walked into that apartment and it had been Akira fucking Kurusu standing there. Of all the students it could've been. Hell, if it had been Yuuki Mishima - bless his heart - she could've just intimidated him into silence. She didn't know how to handle Kurusu. He'd ditched class his first day at Shujin! But he'd done well on his tests. He was friends with Ryuji Sakamoto. But he'd gone to his study appointments with Makoto Niijima. He didn't participate in student activities at all. But he was apparently a pillar of support for Ann Takamaki, and the poor girl had come so close to falling apart after Suzui's suicide attempt.

So, what was he? Delinquent? Misunderstood?

When she'd realized it was him in that apartment, her panic had set in. She'd tried to cover it by being domineering - being in her other line of work had taught her a thing or two about domination - and had vented what she figured would be the end result. Akira Kurusu would spill the beans on her.

Only, he'd almost had a panic attack when she'd said that. Then again, maybe that was an act? But why would he have needed to act? He had her in the palm of his hand, but maybe he didn't realize that.

The bell rings, and the sound retrieves her mind from her many racing thoughts. The school day is over. The students rise, bow, and begin to make their exit.

Before she can think about whether it's a good idea or not, she calls out, "Kurusu, I'd like you to stay a moment."

The remaining students are polite enough to hold their snickers until they're out in the hall.

Takamaki casts a worried glance back at Kurusu, then speeds the rest of her way out of the classroom.

Akira Kurusu stands rigid alongside her desk. Neither of them say anything.

Then, stupidly, she asks, "Any plans for the weekend?" She had intended to say one of many other things, but this was what came out.

Kurusu blinks. Oddly enough, his bag seems to shift on its own, from where it's slung over his shoulder. "Uh," he replies. "I'm taking my friend to the doctor's."

Kawakami blinks. "Oh. That's... considerate."

He shrugs.

She feels a scowl spread over her face. She throws her hands in the air. "Oh, for crying out loud! Enough."

"Enough?" Kurusu asks, taking a step back.

"Not you," she growls. "Me." She shuts her eyes, takes a deep breath, and lets it out over the span of five seconds. Come on Sadayo! Focus! It's a technique she used to deploy back when she first started teaching. She opens her eyes. "I noticed that I still have a job."

Kurusu nods, slowly. "I noticed that too."

"I figured after our little run-in last night, I would show up this morning and find the contents of my desk tossed out onto the street."

Kurusu's face sags. His lips suck in on themselves a fraction, and his eyes take on a faraway, glazed look. She remembers this. He'd looked just like it in Kobayakawa's office, almost two months ago.

"I told you," he mumbles. "I wasn't going to tell anyone."

She sighs, and stands up. "And I guess I'm sorry that I didn't exactly believe you." She summons as much of her guts as she can, and gives him a little bow. "So there."

Kurusu stares at her. "It's, uh, fine. Yeah." A bit of animation returns to his cheeks and eyes.

Kawakami straightens. "Good. Now go and enjoy your weekend. Or take your friend to the doctor's, or whatever it is you're doing."

Kurusu nods and heads for the door.

"Kurusu."

He looks back at her.

She arches a brow. "Taking your friend to the doctor isn't a euphemism for doing drugs, is it?"

A smirk digs at the corners of his mouth. "If it was, do you think I'd tell you, Sensei?"

"Get out of here, Kurusu."

He leaves.

#

Takemi glowers. Akira has never seen someone glower before, but the look she gives him must qualify. Her feet are up on her office's countertop, and a clipboard is held between freshly-painted fingers.

She rolls her eyes, glacially, over to Yusuke, who wilts beneath them.

"Why exactly, are you all here?"

Akira wonders that himself. Ryuji had asked him to come to Takemi's by way of support for Yusuke. He'd been a bit surprised to find Ann waiting along with them at Shibuya Station. Morgana had been overly quiet, which rarely boded well.

"Moral support!" Ryuji parrots.

Yusuke nods. "I admit to some trepidation given my poor state of health."

Takemi sighs and takes her feet off the desk. She stands. "You," she says, and points at Ryuji. "You." At Ann. "You." At Yusuke. "Take the cat, and wait outside."

Akira doesn't realize he's gulped until his throat is halfway through the process. He removes his bag and hands it to Ryuji, who leaves with the others.

Akira stands there, desperately wanting to move or do something, but too afraid to engage in any kind of movement.

"I don't appreciate my patients absconding in the middle of the day," Takemi says. "And I really don't like their location being kept a secret from me. Especially when they're in poor health."

"He was with me," Akira says. "He stayed with me at LeBlanc until we could settle thing for him. As for all the other stuff, I can explain-"

She holds up a hand. "Let me go first. Stop me if I'm wrong. That boy out there, Yusuke Kitagawa, is the latest addition to your little band of do-gooders. You all decided to change Madarame's heart, which you somehow managed to do. Now, you're trying to bury the hatchet with me, so I'll keep selling you medicine. I'm assuming you're running low, yes?" Akira nods. "So, you bring him here, now, all of you, as what? Some sort of apology? He collapsed Akira. And he was apparently staying with you for a full," she peers over at a calendar on the wall, "two weeks, before you brought him back?"

Akira's words tumble from his mouth. "I mean, we were feeding him, and-"

"He's not a pet, Akira. And that's not how malnutrition works! You don't just shovel food into his mouth and say, 'Problem solved!'"

"He got expelled," Akira protests. "He got kicked out of school and out of his home. We had to change Madarame's heart fast, or he would've been homeless. I know it wasn't the best solution, but it's the only thing I could think of and-"

"And you didn't think to ask for help?" She yells.

Akira shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath. He mirrors the exhale that he'd seen Kawakami use earlier. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I know I screwed things up. You were worried about Yusuke and-"

"I was worried about you!" She shouts, and slaps the clipboard down on the desk. Akira jumps. "Yes, of course I was concerned for Kitagawa. But I don't know how you do the things you do, Akira. You tell me not to worry, but I've seen you with your face half-caved in. I've seen you shaking like a leaf in my examination room. You've witnessed someone die in front of you. You've witnessed a horrific accident. And whenever I ask you what's going on, you tell me 'trust you' and then you run off and I have to hear about the latest Phantom Thief operation from the news, and then you just sort of show up later and give me one word explanations and try to play the meek schoolboy." She lifts her now empty hands and gestures towards his neck, making strangling motions. "God, you drive me crazy!"

Akira feels his jaw working, but no sounds come out. His mind is blank. Tae Takemi glares out at him from her office, face red, eyes clear. Moments tick by, and her features soften. "Have you at least found a therapist?" She looks at him, as if expecting a negative answer.

Akira thinks of Lala-chan. "Yes."

Her brows rise. "Seriously?"

Akira thinks of Crossroads. "Yep."

"Anyone I would know?"

Akira is about to say, 'not unless you frequent cross-dressing bars in Shinjuku,' but for all he knows, Takemi does hang out in a spot like that, and really, there's no reason to give her more incentive to be pissed at him.

"Probably not."

"How often do you go?"

"Once a week. On Wednesdays."

She nods. "Well... good. Good." She jerks her head towards the door. "Send Kitagawa in. I'll take a look at him."

Akira nods, and begins to back away. "I'm sorry I worried you, Takemi-san."

Tae just waves her hand through the air. It isn't until Akira's outside that he realizes Takemi never asked about Madarame's murder.

#

Akira sits in the waiting room. Ann lounges on the chair next to him, flipping through a magazine. Ryuji paces the room, a frown on his face. Morgana lays curled in Akira's lap, watching the blonde boy walk.

"Would you relax?" He asks.

"Give me a break," Ryuji replies. "I'm nervous."

"There's nothing to be nervous about," Morgana protests. "Yusuke's with Takemi. She'll take care of him."

"I know that. But what if he's got something seriously wrong with him?"

"Like what?"

"Like, I dunno. Permanent damage or whatever."

Morgana rolls his eyes. "He's not going to have permanent damage, Bonehead."

Ann shuts the magazine and groans. "Morgana's right, Ryuji. Stop with the pacing, it's driving me nuts."

Ryuji halts, glares at her, then shrugs. "Screw this, I'm gonna go check on him."

Akira shakes his head. "Don't. Takemi told us to wait here."

"Takemi's paying attention to Yusuke," Ryuji counters. "I'm just going to listen at the door."

Akira straightens in his chair. "No, seriously. That's a bad idea, Ryuji."

"It'll be fine," Ryuji replies, and heads for the exam room hallway.

Akira opens his mouth to protest further, but Morgana cuts in. "Don't worry. I'll make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." He hops down to the floor and follows Ryuji into the hall.

Akira leans back in his chair, offering a prayer to whatever god was listening that the two didn't make things worse.

Silence stretches. Akira's gaze darts over towards Ann. "So, how's Shiho?"

Ann doesn't reply right away. "She fell the other day during physical therapy."

"Seriously? Is she okay?"

"She's upset, but she'll get past it. She's tough."

Akira nods. "You didn't say anything."

Ann's lips turn downwards, ever so slightly. "I told Ryuji. It wasn't a big deal."

Akira runs his tongue over the back of his teeth. But you didn't tell me.

He opens his mouth, but Ryuji and Morgana burst back into the room.

"Guys!" Morgana shouts.

"We've got a problem!" Ryuji blurts.

Akira and Ann stand. "Is it Yusuke?" Akira asks.

"No, it's worse," Ryuji replies, and motions for them to follow. "Come on."

"Hurry," Morgana hisses.

"What's going on?" Ann asks, as the four of them charge into the hall.

"You'll see," Ryuji says, leading the way. He takes them away from Yusuke's room, towards a room near the end of the hall Akira hasn't been in before. "It's in there."

"In where?" Akira asks.

Ryuji throws the door open and holds it for them. "Hurry, get inside. You'll see when you get there."

"What-?" Ann start, but Morgana interrupts with, "Get in already!"

Akira steps inside, followed by Ann. He looks around. "Is this a storage room?" He asks, and his question is answered by the slamming of a door, and the click of a lock. He turns around. "What the hell?"

He shares the room with only Ann. The girl stares at the newly shut door, wide eyed. "Ryuji, what are you doing?" She walks up to the door and grabs the knob. It doesn't turn.

"It's for your own good," comes Ryuji's voice from the other side. "You guys aren't leaving until you hash everything out."

"What?" Akira shouts, and joins Ann at the door. "Are you insane? Let us out!"

"No!" It's Morgana this time. "You guys have been on the outs for weeks, and we're sick of it. I'm sorry Lady Ann, but we can't stand by and watch this happen any longer."

Akira tries the knob again. Nothing. "Guys, seriously. Open the door."

"Not until you guys settle all your bullshit," Ryuji replies. "Sorry, bro. But this goes beyond us. This is about the Phantom Thieves. We can't keep doing this. Besides, it sucks hanging with you guys when you're like this."

Akira and Ann glance at one another, then quickly away. "Ryuji," Ann cries. "I swear, if you don't open this door right now-"

"You can yell at me all you want, Ann. I ain't opening it."

#

Takemi removes the stethoscope from her ears. "What was that noise?" She asks, turning towards the door.

Yusuke clears his throat. "I believe that was the beating of my heart, yes?"

She shakes her heart. "I know what a heartbeat sounds like, Kitagawa. And that came from down the hall and-"

"Oh!" Yusuke cries, and throws an arm up against his forehead. "I suddenly feel very faint. Please, Doctor, continue your examination. I must be made well!"

Takemi looks back at him, then to the door, then back to Yusuke. She sighs and says, "Fine."

Yusuke nods. Best of luck, friends. I'll keep her here as long as I can.

#

They stand silent together.

Akira suddenly finds it important to take inventory of the room's contents. He notates the boxes of empty vials. The felt tips. The plastic wrapped syringes. To the wrong person, this could be a dangerous room.

Ann shoves her back up against one of the few spots along the wall not adorned with shelves and boxes, and slides down until she sits. "Well," she mutters. "This is awesome."

Akira hums in agreement, and his eyes fall to a window in the back of the room. It's your standard, regular window. It's not high off the ground. It's not intricately locked. It's a simple window. "We can get out this way," he says, and walks up to it. Outside is an alley, leading down to one of Yongen-jaya's main throughways. "Come on."

He yanks on the window's latch, and it loosens. Given that this plan was devised by Ryuji and Morgana, he isn't surprised they overlooked a critical detail such as this. That he isn't surprised worries him.

"Wait a second," Ann says. Her voice is hollow and faint.

Akira's hands pause against the windowpane. "What?" He turns back to her.

Her knees are brought up to her chest, and her arms are wrapped around them. She glances towards the door. "This is stupid, but they're not wrong."

Akira opens his mouth, and closes it before any words get out.

"I've been wanting to do this, for a while. But I haven't... I haven't figured out how..."

Akira sucks in as much air as he can, and lets it out in a long, loud breath. "Ann, we don't have to do this." He knows it's a lie, but for now, he doesn't care.

Ann glares up at him, some of Carmen's fire behind her eyes. "Yes we do."

She looks very small, seated there, but Akira knows all about how looks can deceive. He steps back from the window, and sits cross-legged on the floor across from her. He turns his hands over until his palms face the ceiling and says, "Makoto."

She nods. "Yeah." The silence stretches once more. Now that it's out there, the air feels heavier for it. "It feels like forever ago."

Akira isn't sure which 'it' she refers to, but he can't bring himself to agree. The rush to the hospital. Ann's ultimatum. The lie that felt like a knife in his ribs.

"She still suspects us," Akira says, dragging the words out. "She still thinks we're the Phantom Thieves." He is about to say, 'Your lie didn't work,' but it's his lie too, so he says, "She went to Iwai's shop not too long ago, asking after me."

Ann frowns. "So we didn't fool her?"

Akira shrugs and shakes his head.

"How long have you known about this?" She asks.

"A while."

"And you didn't say anything?" There's no accusation in her voice. Just exhaustion, and a hint of hurt.

Akira nods. "I didn't." He doesn't say he's sorry.

"If Niijima's still investigating us, it affects me. Right?"

"Yeah."

She speaks slowly, as if choosing her words with care. "So, how is you keeping this a secret from me, any different from when I kept Yusuke's identity a secret from you?"

Lightning flashes through Akira's mind. He wants to say that this is completely different, but he can't get the words out.

Ann is wrong.

But she's wrong about the wrong thing.

Because, as Akira runs over the two situations in his head, he realizes that what he's done is worse.

Ann kept Yusuke's identity a secret, but ultimately it only inconvenienced Akira at the time.

Akira keeping Makoto's investigation a secret exposes them to a larger amount of danger.

And he kept it quiet from Ann, because he was mad at her.

He was mad at her.

Akira pushes himself to his feet with a tired groan.

"What're you doing?" Ann asks.

Akira walks to the window, sets his hands on the pane, and pushes it up. A pulse of air fills the room, mixed with the typical smells of Yongen-jaya's alleyways.

"Are you leaving?" There's something desperate in Ann's voice now.

Akira turns to her and beckons her forward. "No, we both are. We're not doing this here. Not in some storage closet our friends locked us in. Let's get some coffee."

Ann stares like she doesn't understand, then a small smile lights her face. She stands, takes his hand, and he helps her out the window.

#

Morgana and Ryuji both press their ears against the door.

"I don't hear them," Morgana whispers.

"Me neither."

"You think they're still in there?"

"Of course, where else would they be?"

"Then why are they so quiet?"

Ryuji glares down at him. "How should I know?"

Morgana's eyes widen. "What if... no!"

"What?"

"What if they're... doing stuff?"

"What stuff?"

"Stuff, stuff."

Ryuji rubs his eyes with his fingers. "Dude, start makin' sense. What stuff are you-"

"What if they're making out, Bonehead?" Morgana hisses.

Ryuji's eyes widen. "Wh-what? No way! Don't be an idiot! They aren't... they're not like that!"

Morgana stares at the door as if it terrified him. "What if we misread the situation? What if we've misjudged!"

Ryuji reaches down and snatches the cat off the ground, who howls in protest. "Listen," he growls. "You better quit it with all that 'Akira and Ann making out' bullshit. I'm tellin' you, they're not like that. You're panicking, and you're making me panic, so chill the hell out!"

He lets Morgana drop to the floor, then presses his ear back to the door. Okay, but seriously, what's going on?

#

LeBlanc is empty, save for Sojiro, evidenced by the clatter he makes in the kitchen.

Akira and Ann sit in one of the booths, across from one another. Each has a cup of coffee set before them. The walk was short, and Akira had spent it psyching himself up. "I'm sorry," he finally says. He takes up his cup, and starts to lift it to his ace, then sets it back with a sigh. "I'm sorry, Ann." He looks over at her. "I hate this."

"The coffee?" She asks.

He rolls his eyes. "No, the fi-" Then he sees the small smile on her face. "Very funny."

"I hate it too, Akira," she replies. "Sometimes I'm so mad at you I want to scream and strange you. Other times I just want you to do something silly or say something weird so I can laugh like I used to." Her giggles lasts little more than a second. "It's crazy. I've only known you for, like, two months, but it feels like forever."

"Given what we've been through," Akira replies. "That's understandable." He stares down at the coffee. "I'm sorry for what happened with Shiho. That's my fault." Ann opens her mouth, but Akira keeps talking. "I could've been honest. With Makoto. With you. I wasn't. And it just kept getting harder and it kept snowballing."

"She was investigating us," Ann says.

Akira shakes his head. "I know you're probably going to get mad at me for this, but Makoto's not a bad person. She isn't." He remembers Lala-chan's words. "If I'd been honest with her from the start, we could've avoided all this."

Ann frowns. "What about the file?"

"I know. I know. But we never did learn the context for it. We both know Kobayakawa was a piece of shit who knew about Kamoshida. Maybe he made Makoto do it. It's dangerous to assume things. I know that. But I think she would've helped us." He doesn't say that after everything they've put her through, after everything he's put her through, that he can't be sure of what her intentions are now.

Ann takes a sip of her coffee. "When all that stuff at the hospital went down, I was so mad." Her eyes narrow. "No, that's wrong. I was scared. Terrified. All I could think of was Shiho stepping off that roof. I was afraid she'd get out of bed and go to the hospital's roof and try again." The index finger of her left hands taps the ceramic mug in a slow rhythm. "I know because of everything you've gone through with Makoto, you like her." Akira moves to speak, but Ann shoots him a look. "Just let me talk. You've studied with her. You've talked with her. You've flirted with her." Ann shrugs. "Honestly, I'd say it's pretty clear that she likes you too. That's your Makoto Niijima.

"But I've known Makoto since starting Shujin. And in all that time, before you showed up, we never said more than two words to one another. She was always so... aloof? I think that's the right word. Yeah, aloof. And proper and quiet and a good little student council member." Ann's fingers tighten on the cup. "When I got bullied because of my looks, she didn't do anything. When Kamoshida showed up and started throwing his weight around, she didn't do anything. When Shiho jumped? She just stood there, and didn't do anything." She looks up at him. "So, I'm sorry, Akira. But from where I'm standing, Makoto Niijima isn't some magical, incredibly awesome, beautiful girl who can do no wrong. She's just... Makoto Niijima. For crying out loud, she punched you in the face after, like, a week! And after all that, you expect me to take your word that she's some kind of great person?"

Akira frowns. It takes him a moment to realize he's rubbing his jaw.

"I don't have many friends," Ann continues. "You know that. Until you guys, Shiho was my only friend. My only real friend. Think of it like this, and I know it's a shitty thing to say, but just deal, okay? Imagine if Ryuji or Morgana had been seriously hurt and traumatized. Hell, imagine if it had been Makoto."

Akira remembers the red thoughts when Kamoshida had entered the library. He remembers the animal panic. The hate. The acid in his chest. The words bleating in his skull like klaxon alarms. Have to stop him. Have to stop him. Have to stop him.

"Now, imagine that when they're trying to heal, someone else, who has no business doing it, bursts into their hospital room and makes them relive the bullshit all over again."

And he tries. He tries to picture what it would've been like, how it would've felt, to learn that that had happened to Makoto.

And then it snaps into place.

And he gets it.

He looks up at her. "I would've killed them." It's not puffing himself up. It's not alpha male preening. It's truth. "Not just for her. If it had been Ryuji. Or Yusuke. Or Morgana." He feels something sink in his chest. "Or you."

Ann's lips curl, and she reaches a hand away from her cup, and wraps it around one of Akira's. "Shiho's my Morgana, Akira."

He cannot help himself. "She's your cat?"

She pulls her hand back, and stands. She leans across the table and smacks him on the top of his head. "You ass," she says, but her face is brighter than he's seen it in ages.

Something shifts in him, and he laughs. Then, Ann does too.

"Can I ask you something?" She asks, after they've both calmed down.

He nods. "Sure."

"That first night with Yusuke. When you were so set on taking him to the atelier."

Akira feels a familiar crawling sensation in his guts. He doesn't want to talk about this. This is ugly. But if there's a time for it, it's now. "Yeah?"

"You did it because of me, right?"

Akira doesn't answer right away. What can he say? That mere days after Ann's threat to leave the Phantom Thieves, Akira had seen an opportunity to increase their ranks? That he had gambled on Yusuke awakening a Persona, and with him on board, Ann's departure could be hedged against? That he had put Yusuke in danger, to gain a potential replacement for her?

"Yeah."

She nods. "I figured. You're always so anal about security. That's why I thought it was so weird that you would bring him along. It kinda felt like you baited him." She shrugs. "And Yusuke would be grateful for being shown the truth. Ryuji would be on your side. Morgana, when push comes to shove, would side with you too. I'd have been left out in the cold."

Akira feels his cheeks redden. "That was... I mean, that was the general idea, sure. But I didn't want it to happen. I didn't want you to leave, I just thought if you did, and we had Yusuke, we'd be okay."

"And the obstacle between you and Makoto would be gone, right?"

Akira sighs. "You're wrong about the others, you know. Ryuji can be a complete... well, you know. But he'd never betray you."

"Even if it meant going against you?"

Akira can't stop the smile. "Well, if that did happen, he'd probably just lock us in another storage closet until we got past it."

Ann barks a laugh. "I can't believe that was the best idea they could come up with."

"See, this is why they need us. Both of us. I'm sorry, Ann. I'm sorry for the lies. I'm sorry for being an asshole. I'm sorry for the past few weeks. I fucking hate this."

Ann lets out a long breath. "I know. I'm sorry too."

Akira rubs his temples with his fingers. "I don't know what I'm doing, Ann. I'm trying to really hard to make this all work, but it feels like whenever I figure something out, two more crazy issues pop up."

"Akira, you don't have to figure it all out. You've got us too. We can help. Run things by us. Maybe we won't be able to help much. I don't think any of us are as clever as you. But, sometimes you miss things. You focus on one group of things, and forget about others."

Akira remembers the strange, nightmare image of his father saying as much. "I know." He looks at her. "No more lies, Ann. Not to you. Not to them." He swallows, and she stares at him, expectant. When he opens his mouth, his throat is dry. "You want to know about my father."

"I-" Ann starts to shake her head, then stops herself. "Yes. I do."

He nods. "Okay." He drums his fingers on the table, trying to figure out where to start. "Please understand that it isn't because I wanted to hide anything from you. I just... strongly dislike him." He looks at her, trying to convey why this meant he couldn't speak of him. "But people love him. They adore him. But he's awful. My father never hit me, or touched me, or any of that gross stuff. He never did what Kamoshida did to Shiho, but I guess it's in the same vein. So, please get it. When I can't talk about my father, it's not because I don't want to. It's because whenever I do, it feels like someone is filling my chest with battery acid." His mouth works in a few soundless circuits. "I don't want to lie. It's just what I snap to whenever he's brought up. I gave you segments, because telling it all is hard."

Ann blinks and looks away. "I-"

"I didn't lie," Akira says. "He made my mom fall in love with him. He got her pregnant, but never married her. The way she used to tell it, for a while, the thought of being a dad excited him. He was going to settle down and we would be a family. And then she went into labor. And then he wasn't there. The day after I was born, she found a note in her hospital room. Know what it said?"

Ann shakes her head.

Akira feels his lips curl into a snarl. "It said, 'I'm sorry. I can't do this.' That's it. That's all my father had to say to the mother of his child. That's all he had to say to me."

"Akira," Ann says, but Akira presses on.

"I've met him. He' pops up once every few years. Says he wants a relationship. Wants to teach me things. It usually ends up with my telling him off." He feels some of the vitriol leave him. "The last time I saw him was… well, he's out there. He always is. I never know when he'll show up. It's almost a relief to see him, because then I know I won't see him again for a while. I-" He starts, and then the words dry up. "I'm sorry. Can I stop?"

Ann's hands return to his. "Yes, yes. I'm sorry, Akira. I'm sorry. I never meant to bring that up. I just thought it was-"

"You thought it was strange. You thought I was lying." He smiles at her, and feels his own fingers curl around hers. "I was." He has never articulated this to anyone. He's said it into the air and over the hiss of a shower. But never to another soul. Not his friends here. Not his false friends where he used to live. He looks at Ann Takamaki then. Really looks at her. Then, he feels his cheeks flush once more. Because in that moment, he realizes that had things gone differently, if an entirely separate series of circumstances had unfolded since his coming to Tokyo, Ann Takamaki could have occupied the place in him that Makoto Niijima now resides.

He squeezes her hand tighter. "I'm sorry, Ann."

Ann stands up, moves around, and sits down next to him in the booth. She rests her head on his shoulder, and Akira lets her, and she says, "Me too, Akira. I'm sorry too."

Akira's voice is tentative, but he doesn't bother to do anything about it. "Can we be friends again?"

She nods, an awkward sensation against his shoulder. "Yeah."

They sit together then, in the silence save for Sojiro's noise-making. It continues for a time, until the older man pokes his head out the kitchen, spies them sitting there, and says, "If you two are going to make out, do it somewhere else."

#

Ryuji and Morgana sit with their backs to the door. "The Doc sure is taking a long time to examine Yusuke," Ryuji mutters, and pulls out his phone to check the time. "It's been like, a freakin' hour."

"She's a professional," Morgana replies. "She's probably making sure. And you know how he was malnourished. Maybe there's extra precautions." He rolls his head back towards the door. "I seriously don't think they're in there anymore."

"Then where could they have gone?" Ryuji asks.

"We're right here." Ryuji and Morgana snap their heads towards the sound. Akira and Ann stand in the hallway, smirks on both their faces.

Ann has her elbow resting on Akira's shoulder. "Have you guys been there the whole time?"

Ryuji stands, eyes wide. "What? How?"

"Dude," Akira says. "We went out the window."

"The window?" Ryuji spins to the door, and unlocks it. His mouth gapes.

"I told you, Bonehead!" Morgana shouts.

"When?" Ryuji asks.

"We left like, forty-five minutes ago," Ann says, then laughs. "Did you honestly think we were still in there?"

Ryuji's face flushes. "Well, uh-"

"I didn't," Morgana replies. "But this one here didn't believe me."

"Traitor," Ryuji spits. "And you thought they were making out."

Morgana's jaw drops. "Why would you tell them that?"

Akira and Ann glance at one another, then both throw back their heads and laugh.

Morgana and Ryuji frown. "Hold up," Ryuji says. "You two are friends again?"

When Akira can, he says, "Yeah."

Ann nods. "Yep."

Ryuji turns to Morgana. "That means it worked, dude!" He holds out his hand, palm open. "We did it!"

Morgana stares at the hand, then rolls his eyes. He leaps off the ground, and smacks his paw into Ryuji's palm. Once he lands, he mutters, "I can't believe that worked."

"So," Akira says. "Was the whole, 'let's take care of Yusuke' just a trick?"

Ryuji rubs the back of his head. "Well, no. I figured it'd be better if we all came, but he was in on it."

A throat clears behind them. Akira turns to find a sufficiently pissed off looking Tae Takemi standing in the hall, and a docile looking Yusuke alongside her.

"Hi," Akira says.

"Apologies, friends," Yusuke mutters. ""I was forced to admit my involvement. The plan is exposed."

"This place," Takemi growls. "Is not a teenage summer camp, where relationships are made and repaired. It is a clinic. A place for healing. A place for me to diagnose what's wrong with sick people." She takes a step closer to Akira. "And shame on you, for using your friend's condition as an excuse to set this all up."

Akira lifts his hands in defense, palms out. "Hey, wait! It wasn't my idea."

"True," Yusuke puts in. "The fault must lie with myself and Ryuji. Primarily, Ryuji."

"Dude!" Ryuji shouts, eyes wide.

"Um," Ann puts in, raising her hand. "Is Yusuke, okay?"

Takemi frowns. "That's between myself and my patient. If he wants to tell you, there's nothing I can do to stop him."

Yusuke nods towards Ann. "Thank you for inquiring. I have low triglycerides, which I must remedy. Some vitamin deficiencies too."

Akira pales. "So, you're not okay?"

"On the contrary," Yusuke replies, shaking his head. "I'm much better than when last I was here. Doctor Takemi suggested a varying of my diet, and frequent checkups."

Ann's eyes brighten. "Oh, you need to vary your diet? That's great. There's this new crepes place I've been meaning to try and-"

"No," Takemi says. "No crepes. Nutritional value. Say it with me."

No one does.

Takemi scowls. "Does it look like I'm joking? Say it! Nutritional value."

The Phantom Thieves all glance at one another, and stammer out, "Nutritional value."

"Fine," Takemi says, and waves her hand towards the exit. "Now get going. I've got other work to do than dealing with you lot." When Akira turns towards the door, she holds up a hand. "Not you."

"Not me?" Akira asks, and swallows.

Takemi smiles. "Not you. The next iteration of my medicine is ready. And since you're already here..."

Akira sighs, and looks over at his friends. "I'll see you guys later."

#

"I trust," the woman says. "That this won't happen again?"

Rin's father nods. "Of course, Niijima-san. Please, you and yours at the SID need not trouble yourselves."

She stands. "I'll take my leave then." Her eyes flash across the table and land on Rin's. He feels his throat constrict at the looks she gives him, and the shame infuriates him.

He stands along with his father. They go through the proper motions, until the woman is gone.

Rin Sugimura sits down as his father does. The old man doesn't look at him. He just keeps staring at the door Sae Niijima has just left. "How many times?" He asks.

"Sir?" Rin asks.

"How many times do I have to tell you to keep yourself in check?"

"I didn't know she was the sister of-"

"That's not the point." His father's voice is quiet, but it silences his. "The point is that your little activities have landed me on the radar of the SID, which is a place I do not wish to be."

Rin shakes his head. "What do we care about them? We've our protections and-"

"Protections can be lifted. They can go away. If we become a liability." He finally looks over at Rin. "I do not wish to become a liability. And you do not wish to make me a liability."

Rin scowls. "How was I supposed to know Haru had-"

"What? Friends? She's the daughter of a rich man. Powerful people come with powerful friends."

Rin narrows his eyes. "I thought you said Okumura was a jumped-up peasant who didn't know his place?"

"That doesn't mean he isn't powerful. He thinks he'll gain political clout by joining with us. He doesn't foresee that we're using him as much as he's using us. Or maybe he does and doesn't care." His father shakes his head. "That's not something you need to concern yourself with. The point I am trying to make, son, is that you need to keep your proclivities private. I don't care what you do to the Okumura girl, so long as she's able to marry at the appropriate time. But keep it out of the spotlight."

Rin wilts beneath his father's gaze. Under the table, his hands curl into fists. If that bitch Haru hadn't made such a scene, none of this would've been necessary. He'll be sure to remind her of that when next he sees her.

#

Akira sits on his bed, his phone in his hand.

Takemi's latest batch had tasted like cinnamon on his tongue, and gone down his throat like sludge. It roiled in his stomach. He doesn't think he'll get to sleep for a while.

Morgana lays curled in his little spot, either napping or down for the night permanently. The cat had – once it was just the two of them – wanted Akira to understand that 'Operation Repair the Rift' had mostly been his idea, and really, Ryuji had just tagged along.

Akira gave all his assurances.

He thinks about Ann, and the things he had told her. If he's honest with himself, and he is, he feels lighter. All that feel good talk people always use, about weights lifting off chests, it felt true.

And yet.

And yet, even as he'd told her the truth. Even as he'd said, "No more lies," he'd kept things back. It wasn't that he still bore a grudge against Ann. That had faded as their conversation progressed. But some part of him, some animal or instinctual part of him, had clammed up even as he spoke more about his father than he ever had before.

His mind races, but it's nothing but noise. A white blaring.

He looks down at the phone. At the message he'd typed out.

AKIRA: I want to talk to you.

His thumb hovers over the 'Send' button. He could do this, couldn't he? Hell, he could call her right now. This whole time, and she'd only been a button-press away. He could talk with her about everything. He could tell her the truth. Every bit of it.

And maybe, if he was very lucky, Makoto would listen, and she'd believe him, and she'd tell him her truth. That the investigation was all a big misunderstanding, that she didn't oppose the Phantom Thieves, that – if he wanted – they could continue their study sessions in the library.

He glances over at Morgana. The cat's chest rises and falls in steady rhythm.

His father's voice cuts through the noise. But you've never been lucky, have you?

"Dammit," he whispers. He deletes the message, and sets his phone back up on the windowsill.

Because there was a chance.

A chance she wouldn't listen. Wouldn't believe him. That her truth wasn't a good one. That the investigation was just what it sounded like, that she did oppose the Phantom Thieves.

A chance they'd take him away again. Put him away again. Back into a box.

Another box.

##

A/N: And thus concludes Crimson's longest chapter. Thank you very much for reading.