Chapter Twenty Six: A Picnic, A Stroll, and an Early Night
Though the passing of time was uncertain, it felt close to an hour. This may be how long they have been walking since the 'gate' closed behind them. Upon first sight, it seemed as if they were about to walk a long road in the dark, but that was not the case. Before their eyes began to adjust to the pitch black, wayward clusters of light shimmered around Lavenza and the Phantom Thieves. But these did not look quite like the unknown constellations back in the other world. It was more like embers, warm, humble lights that died within seconds.
These myriads of little lights could not like the path ahead. Akira and the rest relied on the blue shine in Lavenza's hand to be their guide. All eight walked in a close chain, with their Leader at the very end, watching their backs. Every now and then, he delayed for a moment, as he searched in the dark for reassurance that Nyarlathotep's realm was indeed far behind. But at the same time, he wondered why he was still feeling such a strong pull to that place, even after all the terrible experiences.
At some point, he failed to notice he tarried a longer time. If not for Lavenza's voice breaking the silence, he may have just stayed there, drowning in his own mystified thinking.
"We need to stop for a moment." The girl in blue said. "I feel the exit near. But you cannot return to your world like this."
"Like… how?" Ryuji asked. "Sweaty and frightened?"
"And exhausted, I presume." Lavenza added.
The first thing the Phantom Thieves did upon escaping was healing themselves. The injuries they suffered were undone, but nobody truly felt well. Their thoughts were countless, most of them unpleasant. Whatever relief they felt at escaping was neutralised by the awareness that they would have to go back. Nyarlathotep clearly had ominous designs, and powerful means. The fact that neither he nor his Joker pursued them had alarming implications. In their eyes, the Phantom Thieves were likely only a nuisance, one they could afford to let slide, for now. The woeful comparison of might with Akira's 'failed doubles' made it plausible since the other Joker made quick, easy and cruel work of them.
How could they hope to stand against one such foe?
Despite the overwhelming thought, the team's lieutenant dwelt on something else. Something mentioned by Susumu Kamiyama, then repeated by Nyarlathotep. Only Akira was supposed to come into this world, as per their scheme. Why was that?
To Makoto's relief, there was some visibility in this passage itself. It allowed her to scan her surroundings, and account for each of her friends. She found Akira last, noticeably further from the core of their group, as if he were not there at all. She could not see his eyes, but she suspected he was avoiding even looking at them.
"Well, I do feel rather spent myself." Yusuke said.
"Me too." Ann agreed.
"Please, sit down everyone." Lavenza called. "We may only be able to do this now."
"Huh? What's she talking about?" Ryuji said to his best friend.
"I'm not sure. But it can't hurt, probably." Akira sat on what appeared to be the floor. He was followed by the rest of his friends.
Lavenza pulled a container out of her coat's pocket, and then another, and another. "Please pass it along. I believe it's still warm." She continued to pull out containers well beyond count and necessity, along with several thermos.
"I don't mean to be rude." Makoto said as she opened one of the containers to find a steamy bundle of grilled chicken and sauces before her. "But I don't have much of an appetite at the moment." She wagered few of the others did.
"That's understandable. But you'll need energy for…" Lavenza sighed. A flavour of shame lingered at the end. "I haven't had much time to talk to you. But I came looking for you all, because I need your help."
"Is something wrong?" Haru asked.
"Extremely so." The little attendant said.
"If it ain't one thing, it's another, huh?" Ryuji remarked without humour in his voice.
"Tell us." Akira spoke.
"There's… something wrong with the Velvet Room. I… you'd need to see it for yourselves. It's something the like of which I've never seen before… and… my Master. He…" Lavenza was on the verge of tears.
"I see." The young man said curtly. And without saying anything further, he began to eat and drink. The rest followed his example in unspoken agreement.
Makoto placed her hand on Lavenza's shoulder. The little girl, in response threw herself at her and quietly wept against her chest. She, like the rest of them had to summon incredible strength to survive, with little chance to unwind. She probably could do also with some food. The young woman patiently encouraged her to eat.
And though nobody openly said it, they did relish on the food and drink. And each ate a bit more eagerly as the minutes went by. Even graceful Haru literally starting biting more than she could chew. It turned out that Lavenza was correct in her theory; the food she provided did more than satisfy a neglected appetite – it reinvigorated them, little by little until they eventually would be back at full potency.
"You've been quiet, Mona." Futaba spoke with her mouth full. "Sup?"
"Um… he said his name was Nyarlathotep, right?"
Lavenza stopped chewing.
"I feel like I'm supposed to know that name." Morgana said.
"Well, this guy Lovecraft wrote about him, so… that's why?" Futaba said before gulping down Calpis water.
"No, that's… that's not what I mean." The feline sounded strangely confused.
"Weird." Ann also spoke with her mouth full. "Oh God, this is so good."
Makoto felt the moment when Lavenza's shoulders went stiff.
"Is something wrong, Lavenza?" She asked.
"I feel the same way… Nyarlathotep. That name sounds… peculiar."
"We'll get to the bottom of that." Ryuji responded to the sudden tension in the air. "It's like you said, right? You need us at full strength to help you, and we'll need that to mess that Nyancat guy up too."
"Y-yes. You're right." The girl in blue nodded, still somewhat unsure. She continued with some hesitation.
There was little chatter during this improvised, unplanned picnic. But something else hung at the end of what little words were spoken, and all throughout the pervading silence. Of the many things of likely import that Nyarlathotep said, one stuck forebodingly in their memories. His Joker was begotten from Akira's shadows.
That was an oxymoron, based off the things they knew about Shadows and Personas. But there was doubt that he said this gratuitously. Makoto approached Akira as the hasty dining approached its end. She hoped her company would do him good, as ally, friend, significant other; if there was such a response in him, it was well-buried beneath the expression on his face.
Makoto said nothing. She did not hide her concern and her sadness. But she did not walk away either.
Akira let out a sigh. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, an affectionate way of appreciation for her concern. But no words for her alone.
By now, she knew him well enough to imagine what he was doing.
"Alright. Let's wrap this up." He called out. "Lavenza, we'll help you with whatever you need. But first, we need to return to our world for a moment."
"True. There are people waiting for your return. If I understand correctly, it has been close to a week since your disappearance.
Everyone turned to look at each other, enduring each the brunt of realisation. The temporal disparity was certainly a shock. But that was not their main concern. There was no way they could chalk this up as mere incident. An uncomfortable flurry of explanations awaited them all.
"Dude." Ryuji nudged at Akira. "What're we telling our folks?"
The young man blinked. One could easily picture the cogs turning frantically in his head.
"Sojiro's gonna be pissed." Futaba thought out loud, echoing Akira's fears. Makoto was of the same mind, already dreading Sae's response once the relief wears off.
"This could be a problem." Yusuke nodded. "I could easily tell my guardian at the conservatory some falsehood, but…"
"D-do we have to come up with an explanation right now?" Haru spoke with uncharacteristic apprehension. Though her father was no longer alive, there were still people whom cared for her, who likely awaited her return anxiously. On the other hand, there was still the inevitable portent of a meeting with the board at Okumura Foods, and that summoned a different kind of dread altogether.
"I'm not sure if it would be such a good idea, but… the truth is an option." Makoto suggested.
"I guess?" Ann cursed the timing of this event. Perhaps if it had occurred two weeks before, she may have been let off the hook. But at present, her parents were in Tokyo. She still remembered the colossally awkward moment when she gave herself away as soon as the topic came into discussion. She planned to keep that secret for a long time, if not forever. But her parents read her like a book – they knew she was a Phantom Thief. She could not even imagine what they would say now if she told them about this latest 'event'.
"I'm not sure if the board would take that well, or believe it all. Nobody in the company knows about… um, me." Haru said.
"Yeah, and… I haven't really told my mum either." Ryuji scratched the back of his head.
"What? You haven't told her?" Ann scolded her boyfriend.
"Hey, chill! Why would I?" He sighed. "She worries enough as it is." He turned back to Akira. "Boss knows what went on, but do your folks, you know… know?"
"No." Akira spoke slightly embarrassed.
"I think you should plead ignorance." Morgana chimed in. "None of us really understand the full nature of what's going on, so it's not necessarily a lie. Besides, you don't want to get compromised. Just… um… chalk it up as a… freak occurrence?"
"A freak occurrence." Ryuji sounded unconvinced.
"It's not such a bad idea." Akira nodded. "Strange things happen. We may just get away with it."
"If we've been missing for a week, I suspect we're deemed disappeared, victims from a legal standpoint." Makoto spoke. "We may even be spared heavy pressure as long as we all stick to the same version."
"That sounds kinda devious!" Ann smirked.
"Yes, it does. I like this idea." Akira smiled. The sight was a refreshing one.
The Phantom Thieves discussed their alibi for a few minutes until they all agreed on the simplest version. No ambiguities, save for the feigned uncertainty of their disappearance. It may not serve as effectively when they were to brave back into the other side, but they would cross that bridge when the time came.
Nobody looked forward to that. In face of dreaded inevitability, the moments in between were usually a solace. But from where they stood, even that time loomed with trouble.
The eight continued to follow Lavenza for around five more minutes until the tiny fragments of light began to coalesce together. The darkness they had been navigating slowly became undone, revealing there was no path at all. In their eyes, it was as if they walked on thin air.
"We're almost there." Lavenza's voice trembled slightly. "Things may get slightly… odd." Unbeknownst to Akira and the others, Lavenza's ordeal began much earlier than having to defend herself against scores of wayward Shadows. She only had remnants of the young's man presence as a guide. It proved a very thin lifeline across a path of uncanny sights, even for her.
Suddenly, a sound exploded above, slightly drawn out, faded quickly. Something akin to a heartbeat, followed by a gargantuan flash of amber light.
"Whoa! What was that!?" Ryuji exclaimed.
"Please, keep walking." Lavenza's voice was strained.
A second 'heartbeat'.
Then another. The pulse of the in-between quickened, grew erratic, unstable. And soon, it felt as if some catastrophe would fall upon their heads anytime soon.
"Guys, this is freaky." Futaba instinctively clung to Makoto's arm.
The group's lieutenant held the young girl tight as they advanced. Without a word, her free hand reached out to Ann's, whom reached out to Yusuke, and so forth until they formed a tight chain. Akira was still at the very rear of the group, with Morgana hitching a ride on his shoulder. His eyes no longer glanced behind. Instead, he focused on his friends ahead. Despite their increasing worry and fear, they kept going, even as the flashes of light converted into a constant ominous shine. Everything was illuminated; soon his friends' silhouettes were devoured by the light.
Akira's heart skipped a beat.
He no longer felt Morgana on his shoulder, nor Ryuji's hand in his grasp, or his friends ahead. No Lavenza as a beacon to follow. No Makoto to calm his rising pulse.
A thought snuck in uninvited. A parallel, of sorts. For the present sight of all-consuming light summoned a memory of all-consuming dark – beckoning, inviting, welcoming, sheltering. But it should not be.
It was for only the briefest moment, but Akira felt as if long, squirming tendrils constricted his limbs, pulling him back. Why was his body not eluding or resisting them? Why did it feel like it did not want to?
In the midst of the amber, the young man started to make out vertical lines, which came together into a more distinguishable shape – one he grew to loathe: red curtains at his sides, fashioned like a corridor in crimson; swaying, resisting the overwhelming intensity of the light.
"No more… no more." Akira pushed forward, against the pull. A snarl of defiance bubbled in his throat, soon to become a furious growl. His eyes cast a decidedly spiteful look at the scenery. For this disaster began with the image of red sneaking into his field of sight, the call of a dark beyond penetrating his life, and now that of his friends.
The curtains shook violently, in a much deliberate fashion. The velvet hue gradually turned darker, and the fabric began to swirl into another shape, into thick, fleshy, black tendrils – into tentacles lashing wildly as he continued to advance.
Once dark, then light, now a harrowing chiaroscuro. Strange figures began to form ahead; their features Akira could only get hints of through the squirming appendages. He knew well what they were within seconds, even if he could not see them – even if he would not. May have been a year ago, give or take some days, or weeks. These six figures were the same as back then. They were bathed in dark. But now, under the revealing light, there was no denying or forgetting them and the night he saw them.
The night of the blackout. Where it all started. Where he was to return.
Akira closed to his eyes, devoted to keep going, but he still could not lay eyes on the figures. He walked past them, feeling their touch grazing him.
He could swear one of them grasped at his coat. The young man held back a scream.
Though his eyes were closed, he felt the light intensifying through his eyelids.
A sound came slowly into clarity, a distinct voice he recognised.
"Boss! Boss! Get here! Quick!"
Yasunori Kujo.
"What the…!? That's… that's a kid!"
Sojiro Sakura.
"Look, is that…?"
The light faded all of a sudden, a breeze clashed against his face at the same time his breath escaped his lungs, and his thoughts disappeared without warning.
[ ]
All was a blur in the moment Akira opened his eyes. He mostly saw darkness, but the angle of objects and surfaces had him realise he was not standing. There was a source of light in the corner of his eye, it barely lit the surroundings, but it was bright enough to make him wince. His head felt heavy, as did his eyelids, but his only concrete thought in the moment was a necessity to stay awake. He noticed his hand was against a soft surface, and as the sense of touch returned to the rest of him, he realised where he was.
His room. Back in LeBlanc. He lay on his side on top of the mattress.
Weakened, Akira struggled to turn face up. Then, he realised he was not alone in his room. Futaba was sitting in his chair, with his back against him, quietly doing something at his desk. Next to him, in the mattress, he caught sight of two pale, bare feet. Makoto was next to him, sat up on the mattress, sleeping without comfort or peace. He barely needed to scrutinise the setting to know his girlfriend and his little sister were both looking after him.
Then came the sound of paws against the floorboards. Morgana climbed up the stairs, and found him awake.
"Akira!" The cat said, making Futaba turn quickly.
"Did we make it?" The young man groaned.
"Yeah." Futaba sounded like she was about to fumble with her words. "How do you feel?"
"Terrible." He tried to convey a little humour through his voice, but the attempt seemed futile.
"You took a while to come out. When you finally did, you looked like…" Morgana started.
"Like you were sleepwalking. You literally keeled over when you did come out." Futaba said. "Good thing Sojiro was there. He caught you."
"Damn it." Akira felt ashamed. "Is everyone else okay? Are you two?"
"Yeah." The feline answered. "Um, actually they're all downstairs. Sae too, and your buddy from Juvie. Want me to tell them you're up?"
"No. I'll…" The young man made great efforts to sit up, taking special care not to wake Makoto. "I'll come down… in a bit." His eyes fell sadly on her.
"Alright." Futaba stood up, stretching her back and arms. "You coming, kitty?"
"Yeah…"
It took Akira a bit over five minutes to summon the strength. In that length, he looked at Makoto, unsure of what to do. On one hand, he wanted to get her to lay in a comfortable position, so that she could gain some of the rest she probably forewent to watch over him. But at the same time, he did not wish to risk her waking up.
He did not feel he could look at her in the eye.
Akira made his way down the stairs, as quietly as he could manage. His strength was returning, slowly but surely.
To his surprise, LeBlanc was fuller than he had ever seen it, even on a busy day. Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, and Haru were there, alongside Morgana and Futaba. Sojiro and Yasunori were also present, which he expected by Futaba's words. So was Sae, which he could have easily surmised. Tae, which made sense from a sensible point of view. And then Yuuki, Hifumi, Sadayo and Iwai. All of their eyes were on Akira, fixing him to the spot on the middle of the stairs. Their quiet concern was almost painful on him.
Makoto's hand on his shoulder broke him off from his transfixed state. With both hesitation and want, he turned his head and met her eyes. She looked at him warmly, with a patient smile that looked so belonging, so natural and true.
A pain snuck into his pulse at the wrist, a bite of guilt from the heart, and his legs gave way under him. He managed to break his fall with the wooden railing, but the moment was enough to draw everyone gathered in the café closer to him.
"It's okay… I'm okay."
He raised his head, and instantly saw Makoto's sister only a few centimetres away. The sight made him recoil with instinctive fear. But despite his expectations of blame upon him, he saw something else in Sae's face. She was worried, not only for the situation that snatched her sister away, for him also. That was the last thing he expected, having somehow sensed that she blamed him while on the other side. That was not the only thing he sensed: he felt Sojiro's fathomless torment, and Yasunori's unease. And Akira felt responsible for it all.
"Sae… I'm sorry…" His voice shook.
"Sshhh… Do not be." Sae placed both hands on the young man's arms. She looked immensely relieved.
Akira himself could not know it, but he was the only one who emerged back into the second floor in Arancia in his state. While the rest were standing, albeit spent, he was in some kind of vegetative trance. His face was frozen in an expression between sorrow and horror, the same expression Yusuke saw during that unsettling morning in LeBlanc. Sae arrived to Arancia a few minutes afterwards. Her heart nearly broke out of her chest upon seeing her sister. The two sisters wept in their embrace, nearly as much as Boss did when holding his daughter, and Akira's unconscious body.
The very fleeting glance of the latter snatched Sae's attention suddenly. She tightly held Makoto's hand, as she approached the young man. It was then that she identified his expression as a cold reprisal of a moment she long wished to forget: Akira Kurusu's interrogation.
Somewhere in the midst of it, the drug-addled youth broke the flow of his testimony with what appeared to be a moment of silent realisation. He said nothing of it. But the break itself clashed with the tone of everything he said, with his certainty and his unyielding conviction.
It lasted only eight seconds. And then, his speech returned, wholly oblivious to whatever unfolded in his mind.
She could not bring herself to blame him at the end of the interrogation back then. She could not bring herself to blame him now. Much like once before, something or someone took callous advantage of him now. Even though they were missing, she could feel both Makoto's resolve from a great afar, her friends' struggle. And Akira's own pain.
Sae Niijima could not begin to guess just how correct she was in her assumption.
"Strider." Yasunori approached.
"Partner." Ryuji stood up from his seat at the booth.
"Akira." Makoto sat the bottom of the stairs, next to him, locking her fingers with his.
Everybody present, those he expected to see, and those he did not – all approached to let him know he was not alone.
Akira quietly grasped for words until he finally decided on the most important thing for the time being.
"… How much do you know?"
"We know the version that the police and the media involved will hear. We know you are the Phantom Thieves…" A sigh of defeat. "We know you plan on returning to… wherever you've been these days." She raised her eyes towards her sister's. "You do know we cannot let you do that… not like this."
"Sis…"
"Please, Makoto. Listen." Sae's voice rose in volume. "You already saved us all once. And I cannot bear to think of how it almost cost you everything, and that you had to do it alone for most of it. If you have to do this again… let us help you."
Akira lowered his head, feeling uncertain that there is anything Sae, or even his friends could do to help. He said nothing, but his thoughts were oriented in a very particular direction: the task of undoing this horror fell square on him.
Meanwhile, Lavenza sat alone, hidden in the café's restroom. Back in this relatively more tranquil world, the link to the Velvet Room felt more vulnerable. It was getting worse. But that was not all: the more she thought of the name Nyarlathotep, the more foul it sounded. Despite her profound learnings, there was key knowledge she could not adhere to the name. All she possessed was an instinctive awareness she could not shape into finer terms.
She wondered if this sinister personage was responsible for the Velvet Room's current state.
Her Master, Igor, would surely know. She could not talk to him now, much to her grief and desperation. But there had to be someone else in the azure realm between the conscious and the subconscious. Someone beyond her siblings, whom she could not reach. Someone who knew who Nyarlathotep truly was.
Lavenza's eyes lit up as the idea came into her head. It was not a certainty. A blind guess, but it was better than nothing.
