Akira steps through the chime of the door, and the eyes of all three girls swivel toward him, from where they've remained seated in the booth. Whatever haggard look he is sure he wears, it is enough for Ann to slip her seat and - head tilted forward - speed her way to him.

She stops and blocks his body from Makoto and Haru's eyes. "Hey," she whispers. "You okay?"

Akira turns to the bar, and slumps both his forearms across it. "I'm guessing you heard all of that?"

Ann shrugs and smiles, but says, "Well, just the yelling part."

He lowers his head until it rests on his arms. The frames of his glasses push into his skin. "Why'd I do that?"

She settles a hand on his shoulder. "You're really stressed. It didn't help that she showed up today, of all days."

He rolls his head and stares up at her. "She's my friend. Sort of."

"Akira," Ann says, voice stern but low. She glances back towards the two girls, faces a mix of confusion, concern, and a bit of impatience. "Listen. I think we should tell them."

Akira whips his brain back into focus. "Seriously?" He whispers.

"They've got a point," she continues. "They know about the Metaverse. They know about Morgana. I think there's less stuff that they don't know about than stuff that they do." She frowns, as if unsure of what she's just said, then nods. "I mean, why wouldn't they just turn us in?"

He looks past her to the two girls, bathed in the soft light of LeBlanc's late afternoon. "What about Shi-"

"I haven't forgiven that," Ann cuts. "But I don't know, Akira. I don't think they'll hand us over to the cops."

Something shifts loose in his chest, but he reminds himself of what he has to lose. "I don't think they will either. But how can we tell? How do we know?"

"I mean," Ann starts, and drifts off, casting for the right thing to say before giving up and sputtering, "We don't. I just think it's time for this whole thing between us to end."

Akira pulls his phone from his pocket. "Maybe we should've asked Ryuji to lock us all in a closet."

Ann giggles, then asks, "What're you doing?"

Giddiness jitters through him. "I agree with you," he says. "We can tell them, but only if everyone agrees to it first." He smiles at her. "This is me running things by you guys."

He sends out the message, then nods towards the two girls. "Mind waiting with them for a few more minutes, while I get everyone together?"

"Sure. That won't be awkward." Akira opens his mouth but Ann pats the air. "It's fine, it's fine. I'll do it."

"Thanks," Akira sighs. He pushes himself away from the bar, and faces the two girls. "I know this is going to seem suspicious," he tells them. "But I'm going to step outside for another minute. I won't be long, and I promise I'll be right back."

Haru's glance at Makoto defers to her, and the latter hesitates a moment before, "Alright."

He turns and marches outside, without looking back.

#

Morgana harbors the only doubts, aside from Akira's own. "You just want to tell them?" He asks. "Just, come right out and say it?"

Akira reiterates Ann's argument. "The only thing left to tell is the truth," he concludes. "Then we can be done with this."

The three boys, plus cat, huddle in one of Yongen-jaya's many abandoned lots of cracked concrete and sprouting weeds. Somewhere nearby, a radio broadcasts what sounds like a baseball game, but Akira cannot spot the source.

Ryuji heaves out a long sigh. "Honestly, dude, I'll just be glad when this shit is over."

"Indeed," Yusuke declares, and nods his consent. "We are still without clues regarding Sensei's killer. Perhaps the information these two possess could point us in the correct direction."

Akira doubts Makoto and Haru's intel is that good, but he sees no reason to state - in this mind - the obvious.

Ryuji turns to Morgana. "Besides, if we tell em the truth, then we don't have to make all these batshit plans anymore."

Morgana settles back on his haunches and frowns. "Well, it would be nice to actually get back to some Phantom Thieving. Preparing for Mementos would be easier without the threat of Makoto and Haru hovering over us." He spreads his paws into the approximation of a shrug. "Fine. But this better not backfire."

Akira hunches over so the cat can leap up onto his shoulder. "Don't worry," he says. "I'm sure it'll backfire somehow."

His phone vibrates. He straightens and pulls it out to find a message from Ann.

ANN: Boss just showed up!

"See?" He asks, and shows the text to his friends.

The Thieves beeline from the vacant plot and turn the corner towards LeBlanc.

When they enter, they find the three girls not in the booth, but seated at the bar.

Sojiro mans it, a savvy smile on his face. Akira can smell the beginnings of a pot of curry.

As one, the four turn to him.

"About time you got back," Sojiro growls. "You just up and left the place unattended?" He nods to the three girls. "No offense, ladies."

"None taken," Makoto answers, in a cool voice. "I agree. It was very irresponsible."

Akira keeps the biting remark behind his teeth, gathers his thoughts, and says, "I thought you weren't coming home until later?"

Sojiro jerks his head towards two bags of groceries that lay slung upon the bar. "It is later, kid. I said I would be gone for the afternoon. Not the whole day."

Akira slides out his phone and checks the time. It is getting later.

Boss' smile grows, and he says, "Oh, Yusuke. Didn't see you there. How've you been?"

Said boy steps free from the group and inclines his head. "Very well, Sakura-san. Thank you. I trust you have been keeping up with your studies?"

Akira blinks and turns back to his friend. "Studies?"

"Ah, yes. I forgot to mention it to you. Boss expressed some interest in the arts, so I assigned him numerous texts with which he could educate himself on the finest of all-"

"Wait, wait, wait," Akira says, and waves his hands through the air. "Seriously?"

"Something wrong with that?" Sojiro asks, then softens his expression. "Sorry, Yusuke. I didn't get a chance to peruse any of them. I'll be sure-"

Yusuke stomps a single foot forward. "They are not meant to be perused! They are to be consumed!"

Morgana hisses in Akira's ear. "We're getting off topic here."

"Right." He claps his hands together and smiles at the girls. "Sorry about that. Guy talk and all. Now that Boss is back, maybe we should continue our study session upstairs?"

Makoto stiffens for a moment, before she physically relaxes herself and gives a nonchalant nod as if to say, 'Fine by me.'

Haru stands and says, "Certainly." She turns to Sojiro and bows. Makoto stands and follows suit. "Thank you for having us, sir."

Akira powerwalks his way down the length of the bar, but as he passes Sojiro, the man asks, "Study session means study session, yeah?"

He affixes his best, most earnest smile, and says, "Of course."

Akira, Morgana and Ann - who hops off her stool - lead the way up the stairs. Makoto and Haru follow, with Ryuji and Yusuke bringing up the rear.

#

Makoto knows she is in Akira Kurusu's room. She accepts this. She does not let this mean anything to her. She knows there are more important things to consider. Nonetheless, she drinks in as much as she can before the meeting continues.

There is not much to see.

He really does live in an attic.

Haru's eyes nearly sparkle. "I love it," she exclaims.

"Seriously?" Akira asks, his face a slight and delightful red.

Haru pumps out a few vehement nods. "It's got such personality!"

Say something! Say something! Makoto coughs her throat clear. "There is a certain décor to it, I suppose."

The truth is, she doesn't understand what personality Haru refers to. There's little decoration, aside from the Sayuri copy in the corner. A bed with store brand sheets. A desk with little on it. Shelves void of anything. And though she cannot see it from her present angle, she is sure she spied a box marked, 'Clothes,' shoved under something as she entered. She finds this sad, for some reason.

A smile fishhooks the corner of Akira's mouth. "You don't have to mince words."

She flattens him with a look, and readies a scathing volley, but thinks better of it and just shrugs.

The grin fades from Akira's face, and he gestures towards the couch. "Please. Have a seat."

They do, and Makoto forces her mind to re-focus. "I believe," she declares, before Akira can start. "Introductions are in order." She looks pointedly towards the boy who stands before the replica of the Sayuri. The same boy they had passed on their way to LeBlanc. The one who had been studying the skyline through a box he'd made of his fingers. The same boy Sojiro Sakura had named, 'Yusuke.'

Akira glances over at him. The boy meets his gaze, his face blank. "I'm pretty sure," Akira says. "You've already figured out who that is."

Makoto can feel Haru turn to her. "Mako-chan?"

She leans back on the couch and crosses her arms. "You may be giving me too much credit. I don't know who he is specifically. But, given where he's standing, and seeing as how he seemed rather animate about art, I'd guess that he's one of Ichiryusai Madarame's apprentices."

Akira opens his mouth, but Yusuke speaks into it. "Former apprentice," he declares, and bows. "I am Yusuke Kitagawa. And you are Makoto Niijima and Haru Okumura. Permit me to say that your beauty - well-espoused by Akira, here - is truly something to behold."

Makoto feels the heat in her neck rising to her face, but Haru seems nonplussed. "Thank you very much, Yusuke-kun," her friend replies.

Kitagawa throws his hands wide. "Now that pleasantries have been exchanged, I propose-"

"Nope!" Sakamoto shouts, and stands from where he'd been sitting on the bed.

"I beg pardon?" The boy asks, looking affronted.

"You ain't gonna ask them to be models right now, bro." Sakamoto fixes him with a glare. "We've got more important shit to talk about."

"Seriously," Takamaki puts in. The two blondes have planted themselves side by side on Akira's bed. They'd been sitting much closer than Makoto would've pictured them. I wonder if Sakamoto really did ask Takamaki out.

Even the cat pipes up. "Mrrow," he mewls, scowling at Kitagawa. "Mwrh."

The boy huffs, and turns back to the painting. "Profaners. The lot of you."

Akira, silent through this exchange, pushes up his glasses and rubs his eyes. "Yeah, so that's Yusuke. He used to live in one of Madarame's ateliers."

"Which explains," Makoto says. "Your connection to him."

A soft smirk. "Close." He lowers his glasses, reaches up, and strokes the head of the cat who still remains perched on his shoulder. "And you've already met Morgana."

"Mrrrow. Prrrr."

Haru glances at her feet. "Yes, it is good to see you again, Mona-chan."

"Wait," Makoto puts in. "Did he just say something?"

Haru looks over at her and blinks. "Oh, that's right. You can't understand him. Yes, he's been talking this whole time."

Makoto swallows and turns back to the animal. It meets her look with one of its own, almost daring her to say something. "It's nice," she starts. "To, um, make your acquaintance, Morgana." I can't believe I'm doing this.

The cat replies with a steady string of high-pitched mewls. Sakamoto chuckles from where he sits, and Takamaki hides her grin with her hand. Akira smiles, and looks at Haru, who has turned a bit red. "Do you want to translate, or should I?"

"Perhaps it would be best if you did," Haru squeaks.

"Alright. Morgana just pointed out that this is technically the third time you've met. The last time, you tried to kidnap him."

Kitagawa titters. "Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say, catnapped?" The room turns to stare at him. His delighted smile twists across his face. "You understand? Catnapped, yes? Similar to kidnapped, but I replaced the first part with-"

"We get it, Yusuke," Akira cuts in.

Makoto straightens in her seat, but tries not to do it too quickly. "Well, that may be true. But the first time we did meet, he stole my notebook."

Akira smirks. "You mean the one you used to keep tabs on me? That's not a point in your favor."

"Regardless, I-"

"Hold it." Akira holds up a hand. "Let me say something first. Okay?"

Makoto frowns and makes to cross her arms, but realizes they already are. "Very well."

Akira holds her gaze, and - his face utterly blank - says, "We are the Phantom Thieves."

In the pregnant silence, Makoto doesn't allow herself to blink as she searches Akira's face for the newest deception. "You're the Phantom Thieves." It is not a question.

Akira nods, without breaking eye contact. "Yes, we are."

Ten seconds pass.

The breath that leaves her takes with it all her strength, and she dips forward and drops her hands to her knees to steady herself. Haru's hand is on her shoulder in a heartbeat, and she whispers, "Mako-chan," before Makoto can assure her she's fine. She can't hear the words she uses.

I was right. About everything. Sis. Dad. I was right.

A cocktail of relief, exhaustion, anger, and bewilderment rockets through her bloodstream, but she remains seated. When she finally does look back up at Akira, his face is expectant and timid. She can't tell if it makes him look younger or older.

"Tell me," she says. "How?"

#

Akira tells her the truth. Most of the truth. A significant portion of the truth. He begins with his first day in Tokyo, and as the tale unfolds from his mouth, he realizes just how long and outrageous his last two months have been. Discovering the Metaverse. Morgana. Kamoshida. Mementos. Madarame. He skips over the subway crash. The dying man in the hotel. He downplays his reluctance to become the leader of the Phantom Thieves, to the point where it's barely detectable throughout. He leaves out Takemi, and his relationship with Ohya is described in the simplest of terms. Nonetheless, it is a lengthy, twisting, bizarre tale, and more than a few times, his friends need to correct his reiteration with minor details. But he tells her the truth. Kamoshida. Nakanohara. Madarame. Daisuke. The lies. Morgana's eavesdropping. Their attempts to throw Makoto and Haru off their trail.

He finishes and Makoto remains seated. She hardly spoke during his story, though she did ask a qualifying question or two. Her nod is slow and solemn. Haru stares up at him, wide-eyed.

"So, are you going to turn us in now?" Akira asks.

Haru's amazement morphs into a glare. "How many times must we say, 'No?'?"

As Akira thinks up a response, Makoto speaks into the silence. "You do realize," she says, face focused on some problem only she could see. "That your earlier point about not killing Madarame is rendered moot by Kitagawa's presence, right?"

A strangled noise escapes Yusuke's throat.

"Your argument," Makoto continues, "revolved around your connection with Kamoshida, and your lack of one with Madarame." She waves her hand in Yusuke's direction. "But there's your connection."

Yusuke takes one staggering step and growls out, "I resent that accusation! We had nothing to do with Sensei's death and-" Makoto holds up a hand. Yusuke's words sputter out.

"It wasn't an accusation," Makoto says. She pats the table before her. "Let me see your phones."

"Why?" Ann asks.

"There may be a way to prove you didn't kill him." No one moves. No one even reaches for their pocket. Makoto rolls her eyes. "You're all the Phantom Thieves, yes?"

They turn to Akira, who watches her, lips a tight line across his face. "We are."

"And you're all of them? There aren't any secret Phantom Thieves hiding elsewhere?"

"We're it."

Makoto pats the table once more. "Let me see your phones then."

Akira takes his from his pocket, and sets it on the table. Yusuke follows suit. Ryuji and Ann glance at one another, then stand together and place theirs' on the table with the others. Makoto shifts them all around, so they face her, and begins to flip through them.

Akira watches her work, her face tight in concentration. She pulls up the app on each of their phones, holds it closer to face to read them, and then glances at the others. Again and again and again.

"Mako-chan?" Haru asks, and Akira can see the girl is starting to look confused. Apparently, Makoto hadn't told Haru she was going to do this. "What're you doing, exactly?"

Makoto leans back, smiling, and says, "You can take them back now." The four Thieves step forward and reclaim their property. "You didn't kill Madarame."

"Uh, yeah," Ann retorts, and spits out a laugh. "We already told you that."

"What makes you so sure?" Akira asks.

"The history of each Navigation app. Each of your phones contained a unique history, or a record of when you were in the Metaverse. Given what you've explained of Palaces and how they work, I imagine that it may be possible to time-delay a confession or a desired reaction. However, the only Palaces you have ever entered are Kamoshida's and Madarame's. The last time you entered Mementos was some time ago - save for when you, Akira, jumped into the Metaverse to escape from Haru. The time before that was roughly around when Daisuke had his change of heart. So, either you were able to set up Madarame's murder from that long ago, or you had nothing to do with his death."

It is Ryuji who whistles. "Damn. You figured all that shit out?"

Haru beams. "That's really smart, Mako-chan."

Akira grins at her. She glances at him, reddens, and looks away. His heart does something akin to a somersault, but as Makoto goes on about how it wasn't really a big deal, and that she just has a good memory, all he can think is, No mention of Kobayakawa. Had she harbored suspicions over that too? It was difficult to say.

"You believe us, then?" He asks, content to let the matter sit until another time.

Makoto nods. "I do."

"Good," he replies, and crosses his arms. "Now, about that information exchange?"

Makoto blinks. "Oh, of course."

Haru, a concerned look on her face, asks, "Would you like me to tell it, Mako-chan?"

"That's alright," Makoto counters, and pats her friend's hand. "I'll explain." She sweeps her gaze over the four teenagers. "The SIU has officially begun its investigation into the Phantom Thieves."

"What's the SIU?" Ryuji asks.

Makoto blanches. "The Special Investigations Unit? They're an elite unit of detectives and prosecutors under the umbrella of the police."

Ryuji blinks. "Oh, shit."

Akira frowns and leans back against the empty shelves. Only one place she could've gotten that information. "I'm assuming you heard this from your sister?"

Makoto shakes her head. "No, actually. We heard it from someone else entirely."

#

It was Goro Akechi.

"Good evening, Niijima-san," he says. A pleasant expression adorns his face, and one gloved hand is raised in greeting. "I apologize if I startled you."

Makoto shakes her head. "No, it's fine. I just didn't know you were there." The people of Shibuya continue to drag their feet, oblivious to the three teenagers.

A pained look crosses his face. "Ah, well, I suppose that's my fault. I saw you and came over to say hello, but I should've called out first." He shrugs. "If you don't mind my asking, are you alright? You look somewhat pale."

Given that Makoto and Haru had just exited Mementos, she figures this is a very natural way to look.

She clears her throat. "No, I'm quite alright. Just a bit tired." She turns back to Haru, who watches the exchange with heavy-lidded eyes. "Haru, this is Goro Akechi. He's a detective that works with my sister." She glances back at him. "This is my friend, Haru Okumura."

"Okumura?" Akechi asks. "As in Okumura Foods?"

"That's right."

Akechi blushes and bows. "I'm sorry. That was very rude of me. I was caught off-guard. I had no idea you traveled with such austere company, Niijima-san."

Haru gives a short bow of her own. "If you don't mind my saying, Akechi-kun, I feel as if I've seen you before."

"He's been on television," Makoto states, before Akechi could start his self-effacing. "He's something of a progeny."

Akechi sighs. "I really wish people wouldn't use that word about me. It comes with all kinds of expectations. I do the work I can to the best of my ability. Nothing more, nothing less." He snaps his fingers. It makes an unsettling, muted sound through the glove. "Oh, but you know, there was something I wanted to ask you."

Makoto feels her brows rise. "You had something you wanted to ask me?"

Akechi nods, then glances around, as if afraid of being overheard. "Is your sister doing alright?"

Makoto feels the blush of adrenaline through her skin. "What'd you mean?"

Akechi pats the air with his hands, placating. "It isn't as if she's been off her game," he tells her. "But she has seemed a bit distracted as of late. She lapses into these long silences and I've seen her staring at the same page of notes for significant stretches of time. Ever since the SID opened their investigation into the Phantom Thieves, she's-"

"What?" Makoto asks, at the same time Haru says, "Huh?"

Akechi's eyes widen. "Oh no." His gestures become manic. "Please, please don't tell her I told you that. That's supposed to be confidential. And don't let anyone at Shujin know. The investigation may led there and the last thing we need are students panicking and..." He trails off, then slaps his forehead. "Oh, I'm such an idiot! Forget I said that. Forget I said anything." He lowers his hands, and flashes them both a tired look. "So, um, how have you been? We've that college entrance exam coming up. I trust you've been studying?"

#

Akira listens to Makoto finish her reiteration, and stays silent.

The SIU has started to investigate the Phantom Thieves. Sae Niijima is somehow involved, as is Goro Akechi. Plus, they've still got their eye on Shujin Academy.

He keeps his eyes on the floorboards. "Did he say anything else?"

Makoto shakes her head. "No, he didn't."

"What're you thinking?" Morgana asks.

Akira needs time to piece this all together. He can't do that if Makoto and Haru are here. They may have been in on the secret now, but they weren't Phantom Thieves. He pulls out his phone. It's getting closer to his shift at Rafflesia. Haru's shift too.

The thought of Haru overturns a stone Akira can't believe he hasn't addressed yet. "I'm thinking," he continues. "That we've got one last thing to talk about." He looks over at Haru.

She answers. "And what would that be?" But she wears the face of someone who knows very well what it will be.

"I think it's time you told us about the guy that attacked you that night."

Ryuji chuckles. "You mean the guy Mona thrashed?"

Ann's eyes widen. "Hey, yeah. What's the deal with that?"

Haru glances at the floor, and Makoto wraps an arm around her. "That wasn't part of the deal," she says.

Akira feels his face scrunch up. "After everything we've told you, I would've thought you'd want to tell us. Maybe we can help."

Haru twitches at the word, and glances up at him. Her eyes are wide and a bit - if he's reading them correctly - hopeful. "Mako-chan," she mutters.

Makoto looks at her, then nods. "We need some privacy."

Akira looks around. "Uh, you know this is my room, right?"

Makoto jerks her head towards the corner. "All of you, go to the corner. And cover Morgana's ears. He's obviously got excellent hearing."

Akira rolls his eyes. "Look, let's cut the crap and-"

"Now," Makoto states.

The Thieves shuffle over towards the steps, and Makoto and Haru duck their heads together. Akira buries his hands in his pockets and tries not to look anyone in the eye.

"What'd you think they're talking about?" Ryuji asks.

Ann lightly jabs his shoulder. "Duh. They're talking about whether or not to tell us about the guy who attacked Haru."

Ryuji rolls his eyes. "Yeah, I got that. But why?"

"Perhaps there's something personal in this?" Yusuke suggests.

Morgana whispers, "It did seem like the guy knew Haru. I didn't get the impression that it was some random jerk off the street."

"Family member?" Akira asks.

Morgana shakes his head. "I didn't get that impression either." Akira remembers Makoto's orders from a second ago, and reaches up to earmuff the cat. Morgana glares at him.

"It's a little weird they stuck us over here," Ann puts in, a frown on her face. "Seeing that this is your room and all."

Akira shrugs. "What can you do, right?"

Ann mirrors the shrug. "You could say, 'No, this is my room. You can't just shove me in a corner.'"

Akira shakes his head. "Something tells me that wouldn't have gone over well."

The girls break apart and nod at one another. "You may come back now," Makoto states, and the Thieves separate and approach.

Akira remains silent as he resumes his spot near the shelves.

"The man you saw me with," Haru says, begrudgingly, "is my fiancé."

For an eternal series of moments, no one says a word. Then, Ryuji blurts out, "For real?"

"Yes," Haru declares. "And what's more, we know he has a Palace."

Another silence, one not even Ryuji can break. Eventually, Akira manages, "You used the app?"

Haru shakes her head. "We didn't even know what a Palace was until you explained it to us. All we said was his name, and the app replied, 'Match Found.'"

"What's his name?" Ann asks.

Haru opens her mouth, and shuts it again. Makoto replies for her. "Understand, that we're hesitant to give that to you."

"Why?" Yusuke counters. "You've already established that we are not killers. What downside is there to giving us this disgusting individual's name?"

"We believe," Makoto puts in, "that there are other ways of-"

Akira cuts her off. "We explained what a Palace is, right? It's what happens when someone's desires become so distorted that they become a danger to others. If this guy already has a Palace, that means he's as dangerous as Kamoshida was."

Makoto glares up at him. "As you know, my sister is a Public Prosecutor and-"

"Then why hasn't she done anything yet?" Akira asks. "If she's an all-powerful Prosecutor, and part of the SIU, why hasn't this asshole been arrested?"

To this, Makoto doesn't reply.

Morgana hops down from Akira's shoulder, pads across the floor and jumps onto the table. He settles down before Haru.

"I was there," the cat murmurs. "I saw what he did. He was crazy. A guy like that is only going to get worse. Much worse. People with Palaces don't just come down on their own. Not unless something drastic happens."

Ryuji stomps his way up to the table. "It's no use dodgin' the questions," he grunts. "You just told us he's got a Palace, so if we have to, we'll follow you around until he shows up again. Mona thrashed him once, he can do it again. We'll get his name."

Morgana glances up at Ryuji, then back to Haru. "That's right. So why don't you save us the trouble and give us the name?"

A frown crosses Makoto's face. "So, even if it goes against her wishes, you'd still try to involve yourselves?"

Yusuke steps forward. "I didn't ask the Phantom Thieves for their help," he says. "But I cannot deny being better off because of it."

Haru remains tightlipped, and Akira watches as she tries to drill a hole through the floorboards with her eyes.

"This is your decision, Haru," he tells her. "No one else's." She looks up at him, and opens her mouth to speak, but Akira keeps going. "You can trust in the system and see where it gets you, which is nowhere so far, or you can let us help you."

Haru sighs. "You're very smart, Akira-kun, no matter how you act sometimes. I'm sure you've thought of this already. My fiancé is not involved in any other crimes. None that I know of, anyway. If I were to request a change of heart on him, it would be another finger pointing at Shujin. At you." Akira doesn't say anything. He has thought of that. But what else is there to do? "But," Haru continues. "If we seek to involve the police and-"

He can't help himself. "And what good are they?" He shrugs. "You're the daughter of a rich CEO, which means the guy you're supposed to marry is probably stratospherically wealthy too. Guys like that don't get dealt with by the police. The cops just look the other way."

Makoto shakes her head. "The law is the law, and you can't know that the police will just turn a blind eye and-"

"I can know that, actually," Akira replies. He jerks his head towards Ryuji and Ann. "Just like everyone in this room. The police didn't give a shit about Kamoshida until he confessed. The same with Madarame. People like Shiho, Yusuke, all of Madarame's other apprentices? No one cared until we stepped in and did something about it."

"The police," Makoto counters, her voice low and wary, "are not some Gestapo henchmen who do whatever the rich and influential want. They-"

"They're what? Defenders of justice? Maybe for some people, but not us. They're like your sister." He regrets the words immediately once they're out of his mouth.

Makoto's eyes narrow. "You have something to say about my sister?" Her tone demands, and rises in volume. "She solves crimes. She puts criminals away. She put Kamoshida away."

Yes, he regrets. But he finds he cannot back down. "Sure, after we did all the heavy lifting. After we changed his heart. After he confessed. Your sister throws her weight around to help herself and you. You know what she's said to me. And apparently she can't help Haru either."

"Guys," Ann says, standing. "I think we're getting off track here."

"I agree," Haru states.

"My sister isn't like that," Makoto counters. "And neither are the police. They-"

"Yes, they are."

"No, they're not!" Makoto shouts, and shoots out of her seat. Akira stiffens. Absolute fury burns on her face. "Stop talking about them like that! Stop talking about my family like that! Sis isn't like that, and neither was my dad!"

Silence.

Akira feels sandpaper against the inside of his throat. Dad?

Haru stands up alongside Makoto and rests a hand on her shoulder. "I think we should all calm down. A lot of emotions are coming to a head today, and that's no surprise given what we've all seen and been through." She gently coaxes Makoto back down onto the couch. When her friend is secured, she straightens her back. "However, I would appreciate it if you both could stop coloring my situation with your own personal prejudices."

Akira blinks. Makoto reddens.

"Because," Haru continues. "As you've pointed out, Akira-kun, this is my decision."

Makoto bows her head. "I'm sorry, Haru."

"Yeah," Akira says. "Me too."

The other Thieves remain quiet.

Haru nods. "I appreciate both of your positions. I do believe, Mako-chan, that law enforcement is in a position to help with my situation, but I've yet to see any real progress on that front." She looks up at Akira. "And, Akira-kun, I know if I gave you his name, you would act upon it, but doing so would be like raising a red flag in your direction. We both work at the Rafflesia, after all." She pulls out her phone. "Speaking of, it is almost time for our shift." She stands, and brushes her skirt out. "I think we should get going."

Makoto stands with her. "Are you sure?"

Haru nods. "I am. I would like a little more time to think about this, and then I will make my decision."

Makoto and Akira glance at one another. They both nod. "If that's what you want, Haru," Akira tells her.

"It is," she states, firmly.

With nothing left to discuss, the group turns and heads downstairs.

To find that Sojiro has prepared a few dishes of curry. "It's getting late," he grumbles. "A few of you should at least eat something before you head home." He nods towards Akira. "I know he's got work."

"And I as well," Haru puts in, and bows. "Thank you very much for your kind offer, sir."

Makoto bows as well. "I'm afraid I need to get going too. I've some tasks I need to see to."

Ryuji clears his throat. "Uh, is it cool if I stay?"

"Sure," Sojiro says, and gestures towards the nearest stool. "Have a seat. Ann? Yusuke? How about it?"

"Sure," Ann says.

"With pleasure," Yusuke replies.

Both teenagers finds their seats next to Yusuke.

Morgana, in Akira's bag once more, looks wistfully at the group, but elects to head to work with Akira and Haru.

Everyone says their goodbyes to one another, and Akira can't help but find it all strange. He's never pictured this group together like this. Even after everything said upstairs, after airing all the spats and frustrations, something about it feels right.

The three teens, and cat, step out into the street and Akira nods down the alleyway. "This is the fastest way to the station. Let's go."

Makoto and Haru nod, and follow him into the night.

##

A/N:

Hey everyone, I'm back.

Thanks for your patience. I plan to return to a regular posting schedule, with two posts a week, Monday and Friday.

I sure did miss you people. As always, thank you so much for reading Crimson!