Akira hurls himself around the corner and onto Makoto's street. He spies her outside her building, pacing a few yards' worth of sidewalk, hands balling and releasing, balling and releasing, again and again.
A portly man stands still as a barrel beside her, phone gripped in meaty fingers, the makings a scowl on his face.
"Hey," Akira says, when he reaches her.
"Akira," she cries, and for a moment, it seems as though she'll throw her arms around him, but she doesn't, and instead grabs him by the collar of his shirt and gently but firmly shoves him backwards until they are walking in lockstep away from the man.
"What're you-" Akira starts.
Makoto interrupts. "I don't know what happened," she says. "Haru was supposed to meet me an hour ago, but I haven't heard from her. She's not here. This was the last place she was, and she's not here."
They come to a stop and Akira brings his hands up to take hold of her wrists. "Makoto, I-"
"He kept leaving her these threatening phone messages," Makoto cuts in. "They just got worse and worse. Akira, they were crazy, and I told her we should bring them to the police."
Akira's gaze flickers back to the bigger man. "Is th-"
"So I called an old friend of my father's." She jerks her head back. "That's him. Officer Hideotoshi Kagawa. He was my father's partner for years. I thought he could help. I told Haru he could help."
"Where-"
"She was messing with the app," Makoto says, voice in a sudden whisper. "Yesterday. I found her messing with it because she was so scared. She guessed his second keyword. The phone said 'Match Found,' or whatever." Her grip tightens on Akira's collar. "She was scared and I told her I could help. This is my fault."
"Makoto," Akira declares, as loud as he can without making a scene. He wants to tell her to calm down, but figures doing so would only serve to rile her up more. He glances once more, over at the man now revealed to be a cop. He watches the two of them with narrowed eyes and pursed lips. As much as he hates to ask it, he does. "How much does he know?"
Makoto glares at him, and then, to her credit, relaxes the gaze. "Only what I told him about Haru and her fiancée. He doesn't know anything about... that other thing." Akira is ready to say more, but Makoto interrupts as he opens his mouth. "We can trust him, Akira. He offered to help. Your problems aren't important right now. We need to find Haru."
He gently pulls her hands from him, and steps clear of her grasp. "You're right. I just had to know. Bring me up to speed."
Makoto summarizes as they make their way back to Officer Kagawa.
Haru was supposed to meet them at the cafe.
Haru hadn't shown up.
Haru had intended to leave directly from Makoto's apartment.
Haru wasn't answering her phone, or replying to any messages.
"The last time this happened," Makoto says, as they step up to the officer. "Was when I first encountered Sugimura."
"Everything good?" Kagawa asks, eyeing the two of them.
"Yes," Makoto says, and gestures to Akira. "Officer Kagawa, this is Akira Kurusu. He's my friend." She looks at Akira. "This is Officer Kagawa, Akira. He was my father's partner on the police force for years."
"Nice to meet you," Officer Kagawa says, then shrugs. "Wish it were under better circumstances."
"Likewise," Akira replies, although even as he says it, he can tell it sounds little more than a grunt. Kagawa frowns, but Akira ignores this and turns his head to Makoto. "You said Sugimura. Is that his name?"
"I saw him pushing her around outside Shujin a few weeks ago. That's when I first became aware of the problem. I tried to intervene, and... well, it went poorly."
"Poorly?" Akira asks. "What happened?"
"Is it relevant to right now?" Kagawa asks. Akira blinks and turns to him, frowning.
Makoto shakes her head. "No, I don't think so."
"Then, why don't we push on, yeah?"
Makoto nods, and Akira is left wondering what had truly happened that day at Shujin. "Afterwards, I couldn't get a hold of her for a while. She wouldn't call me back or reply. I didn't know what to do. It's him. It's got to be him." She shuts her eyes. Inhales a long, deep breath. Lets it out. "We need to retrace his movements. Figure out how he got to her. The distance from here to the cafe isn't that large, so it must've-"
"Whoa there, Mini-Makoto," Kagawa says.
Akira's brain stumbles at the nickname. Mini-Makoto?
"Look," he continues. "I get why you're worried, but you have no evidence to suggest this is any kind of kidnapping. Or that it's anything, really."
"She's not answering her phone," Makoto blurts, as if that were the most unnatural thing in the world.
"All that's evidence of, is that she's not answering her phone." He gestures to himself. "You say she was on her way to meet us. Maybe she got cold feet. Maybe she's scared. I'm not saying everything is fine, but maybe everything isn't a complete disaster."
"No," Makoto states. "No, she wouldn't do that. She would've showed up. She was afraid, but she was still going to show up."
Kagawa stares up at the sky, folds his hands across his belly, and taps it with his thumbs. "Alright. But we should rule out that she went anywhere else. Where does she like to go?"
Makoto cringes. "She's been staying with me these last few days. I don't-"
"The flower shop," Akira suggests. Kagawa swivels his massive head towards him. "She works at a flower shop. Rafflesia. At Shibuya Underground."
"And you know this, because...?"
"Because I work there with her."
"And was she scheduled to work there today?"
Akira shakes his head. "We've got the same schedule, so no. But I know she likes it there."
Kagawa checks his watch. "It's been an hour since the meeting, and it'll take a bit to head there and check it out. One of us should stay here in case she comes back. That should be you, Makoto."
"There's no time," Makoto says, and throws her hands into the air. "You didn't hear the messages he left for her. If Sugimura does have her, then there's no time to be going around the city looking for her."
Akira clears his throat, and pulls his phone from his pocket. "Why don't I message the others?" He suggests. "They're probably hanging around Shibuya today. They could go check Rafflesia for us."
Kagawa nods. "Good idea. Go for it."
Akira frowns and pulls up his messenger app. Haru should've just come to us. Even with that errant thought in his head, he hopes this cop is right. Maybe Haru did just get freaked out and run off.
Or maybe not.
Haru and Makoto already confirmed Sugimura to have a Palace. That meant he was dangerous, possibly even crazy.
The Phantom Thieves needed to find out the last keyword, and fast. And if we do? The guy's Palace was, according to Makoto, a car. Akira hadn't even had time to process that yet. How the hell are we supposed to get inside a Palace that moves? It wasn't like the atelier or the school.
He types out his message.
One thing at a time, he tells himself. One thing at a time.
#
Ryuji tosses down the gun with a cry of, "This is bullshit!"
"Wow," Morgana says, from where he perches on Yusuke's shoulder. "You really suck at this game."
"Can it, cat," Ryuji mutters.
Yusuke nods, sagely. "I must concur. Though, I believe it was your pursuit of the highest possible score that led to your downfall."
"News Flash, bro. That's the point."
Yusuke shakes his head. "Those terrorists, dressed in yellow were worth an extra five thousand points, yes?"
Ryuji shrugs. "Yeah, so."
"So, their bright colors drew your eye, and having spotted them, you attempted to shoot them for more points. This, ultimately, left you exposed to the other enemies that were already on screen. Who, I believe the expression go thusly, 'pumped your guts full of lead.'"
Ryuji thinks this over. He did get shot a lot when the yellow bastards popped up. Is that why I never win this game? He thinks, then shrugs it off. "Whatever dude, let's get a soda."
Yusuke's face brightens. "Ah, sugar! Yes, let's." They leave the game behind and head towards the snack bar, and as Ryuji leans across the counter, waving down the attendant, his friend continues with, "I suffer something similar when I craft my art."
"Oh yeah?" Ryuji asks, only half paying attention. "You shoot a bunch of yellow guys when you paint?"
"You know," Morgana says. "Maybe if you listened to Yusuke more, you'd learn a thing or two, Ryuji."
"For so long," Yusuke says. "I have striven to paint something for the ages. Yet, whenever I make such an attempt, I find that I fall far short of where I hope to arrive."
Morgana tilts his head. "So, by trying to paint something amazing, you end up painting something not amazing?"
"To put it ineloquently, yes," Yusuke replies. "It is a lesson I must force myself to relearn, again and again. Art must be pursued for art's own sake. Not for the sake of that which might come with art."
The attendant brings them two sodas, eyes the cat on Yusuke's shoulder, shrugs, presents a receipt. Ryuji slides some yen across the counter. Exact change. "What's 'that which might come with art,' or whatever, supposed to mean?"
"Fame, fortune," Yusuke says, before taking a sip of his soda.
"Doesn't sound so bad to me," Morgana replies, and Ryuji concurs with a grunt.
"But look at what end those pursuits brought to Madarame."
A quiet falls over the trio.
Morgana tries to break it. "Madarame's desires got all twisted up and distorted. What he wanted wasn't a natural thing."
"Yeah," Ryuji says. "Mona's right. I don't think there's anything bad with wanting to be rich and famous. Just don't be a dick about it."
Yusuke fixes him with a frown. "And how does one not 'be a dick' about it?"
Ryuji scratches his head. "Like, I dunno. Just don't be an asshole. I mean, it's not that hard."
"You could start by feeding your apprentices," Morgana suggests.
Ryuji cringes, but Yusuke chuckles. "A good, solid idea, Morgana."
Their phones vibrate at the same time. The two slip them free.
"It's from Akira," Ryuji says, and his eyes widen.
AKIRA: Emergency! All hand's on deck, everyone!
Ryuji glances up and meets Yusuke's gaze. "So much for taking another crack at the high score."
Yusuke nods. "We shall have to tilt at windmills another day."
Ryuji blinks. "What's that mean?"
His friend shakes his head. "Nothing. Never mind. We should go."
#
The car pulls out of the garage, punctuated by the shrill squeal of a tire's echo.
Kaneshiro stares after it, flanked by his men. He turns to them, and thinks but doesn't say, This is very bad.
"Spread out. Find her."
Muzaki and Nanashi nod and split apart in silence. The former heads back inside, and the latter jogs in the direction the car took. The other three cast worried looks at one another, until they realize Kaneshiro still stares at them.
They scatter in a half-dozen directions.
He will join the hunt in a few moments, but for now, in the silence of the parking garage, he lets himself think.
Could Sugimura be so crazy that he only thought he took the girl? The kid had seemed almost manic when he arrived, despite his wannabe tough-guy words. Did he imagine the whole thing? Is his brain so full of holes that he thinks he took her, when he really didn't?
Kaneshiro's short, stilted laugh rebounds off the concrete walls.
Am I that fucking lucky?
He doesn't fear the Sugimuras.
He doesn't fear the Okumuras.
But there's a difference between fear and stupidity. Antagonizing either would wreak havoc on his plans. Antagonizing both would be even worse. Do I have enough clout to stand up to both, if they bring their respective groups into play?
He recalls what Toko had said to him.
Liabilities.
Kaneshiro is willing to gamble big and risk a lot, but only at his own table. Getting yanked into this situation between the Sugimuras and the Okumuras was lunacy.
Not to mention, Sae Niijima could become involved. Which meant the SIU could as well.
If she's here, I need to find her and get rid of her.
He wonders if it wouldn't be a smart move to rid himself of Rin Sugimura as well. Kaneshiro doesn't know if the Sugimuras are part of this thing, and therefore privy to the knowledge of mental shutdowns. If he requests a shutdown on the son of someone involved, it could have serious repercussions down the line.
But Rin Sugimura was tearing up Shibuya in his search for Haru Okumura. He was losing what tentative grip he had on reality by the second. Not taking care of him could have even bigger consequences.
"Fuck this," he says to no one.
He turns and heads back into his compound. A few minutes later, he finds one of the men from the garage, searching through the lower rooms.
"Anything?"
"No, Boss," he says, with a shake of his head. "Sorry."
"Don't be sorry," Kaneshiro spits in response. "Find her."
He heads upstairs. The place is big, but not that big. He has enough people to cover all the exits. If she was inside, she wouldn't be able to slip past anyone.
One of the kids he'd poached from Shujin stands near one of the backdoors. "You," Kaneshiro growls. The kid jumps, and stands rigid.
"Y-Yes, Boss?"
Kaneshiro delves his brain for the kid's name. "Sakoda, right? Seen anyone pass through her? A girl?"
The kid swallows. "A girl, Boss?"
"Yeah, kid. A girl. She wouldn't look like one of the others. She'd look more put together." Wait, Haru Okumura goes to Shujin. "Anyone you recognize?"
"R-recognize?"
"Kid, I swear, a yes or no answer better come out of your mouth in the next two seconds or I'll-"
"No!" The kid shouts. "No, Boss. I haven't. Sorry."
"Keep your eyes open," Kaneshiro replies, and turns to head deeper inside.
He walks the length of his compound. Checks in with Nanashi and Muzaki. Checks in with the others. Nothing.
Soon enough, he finds himself in his lounge, arms thrown across the back of the couch, a scowl on his face.
What the fuck is going on?
#
Makoto and the other kid - Akira, that was his name - continue to have their little whispered sidebar. It's nothing to Kagawa, really. Whatever secret they want to keep, they can.
He doesn't seem the type Mini-Makoto would go for, he thinks, then feels a pang of guilt. He has no real idea what kind of guy she would go for.
Akihiko had made him promise. "If things go sideways with these bastards, and something happens to me, you've gotta look in on Makoto and Sae, yeah? Sea, especially."
Only, he's hardly kept in touch. And 'hardly' was pushing it. He'd had his own family to watch out for, his own problems he needed to fix.
Fine job I did there, he thinks.
Makoto looks like she wants to cry, but is refusing to. He doesn't want her to worry, which is why he's tried to talk her down. Make her see reason.
Problem is, Kagawa doesn't buy it himself.
If those messages Sugimura left Okumura were as bad as Makoto says, then the guy might be so far gone as to do something stupid. Really stupid.
Kagawa brings his phone back up to his ear, and calls the station. "It's me," he says, when his friend picks up. "Do me a favor. I need some information. Rin Sugimura. Yeah, I'll wait."
He stands and watches as Akira continues to send texts, giving orders to his other friends about where to look. It's a good plan, but one Kagawa fears won't resolve anything.
His friend returns with plate numbers. "Okay," Kagawa says. "Do me another favor. Why? Where have you got to be? Yeah, yeah. Look, spread those plate numbers around and tell everyone to keep an eye out for the car. If anyone sees it, I want them to let me know where it is and where it's going. Right. Thanks."
He hangs up.
Akira slides his phone back into his pocket.
Kagawa frowns.
Where are you, Haru Okumura?
#
The spotlight swivels towards her, and Haru ducks back behind the sandbags. Hidden, she takes the moment to seize back her breath, and reaches to pull her phone from her pocket.
Then, she hears the barking.
The dogs, those twisted black and masked things, tear from the nearest building and towards her. Haru swallows a sob and sprints away.
Fortress.
That had been the final keyword.
Sugimura thought of his car as a Fortress.
His Palace was a great, massive complex bordered with barbed wire fences, troop barracks, helicopter pads, command centers and guard towers, all shoved together on a platform that bumpily rolls its way through a thick mist.
At the height of her pursuit, Haru had considered scaling the fence and jumping off - regardless of the sharp wire at the top - but the black fog beneath the rolling fortress summed up the image of twisting tendrils, and she had kept on.
She hadn't been given a chance to use her phone to escape. Always, those shadows tailed her, just seconds away from laying their hands on her.
Truth was, she didn't know what to do. Escape seemed like the most obvious choice, but if she did that, she would be back in Sugimura's car. Had he left the garage yet? She had no idea how much time had passed in the real world. And what if he had left? What if he left and they were speeding along a highway, or stuck in traffic? What if she left Sugimura's Palace, and found herself sitting next to Sugimura himself? Not only would he punish her, but the secret of the Metaverse would be out.
The spotlight bathes her and alarms ring. More Shadows leak from the closest, half-circle shaped barracks. They are dressed in army fatigues and carry rifles slung across their shoulders.
"Halt," they scream at her.
She does not.
A shot rings out, and Haru feels something whizz by her ear.
"What're you doing?" She hears from behind. "She belongs to the Commander!"
Haru hurries down a dark alley between two buildings, sprinting for her life. They're shooting at me! They're really shooting at me! What would happen if she got hit here? Would it behave the same way as a gunshot wound? If she died here, what happened to her body? Would it never be found? Her father, Makoto, Akira and the others. They'd never know.
"I can't stay here," she heaves, and stops before she exists the alley. "I've got to get out of here." She rips her phone from her pocket, and pulls up the app.
Another shot rings out, and Haru's hands snap back. There is the sound of shattering plastic, and Haru lowers her gaze to the ground.
Her phone lies in a few pulverized pieces on the gravel.
"No," she whispers.
Two Shadows muscle their way into the alley.
"I told you not to shoot," one growls.
"It's fine," the other replies. "I'm a top marksman!"
Before she can even think to move, they seize her, and drag her from the ruined remains of her only chance at escape.
##
A/N: Hey everyone, thanks for all your well wishes!
Things are still a bit up in the air, but that shouldn't affect things here too much.
Thank you for reading!