It was just a bit over a week since Akira had watched Rem infiltrate Kamoshida's palace and reached the final Safe Room before anything interesting happened at school. It was as he and Sumire were entering the school foyer that Akira could hear heated whispers echoing around the length of the academy.

"A calling card?"

"I heard it was already posted by the time everyone got here this morning."

"Um… Akira-senpai, did something happen?" Sumire looked around quizzically at the groups of students congregating around the school noticeboards.

So... today would be the day they took Kamoshida's treasure.

Akira looked around before his vision caught sight of Ryuji, Rem, and Ann loitering around to the side, a smirk full of pride sitting on Ryuji's face. "Stay here, I'll be right back…" Akira whispered to Sumire who nodded quietly.

He quickly slinked through the students grouping around the bulletin board, swiftly moving to the front and snagging one of the calling cards before returning to Sumire. Almost eagerly, she grabbed his arm and pulled downwards so she could get a better look at what he was holding.

"Sir Suguru Kamoshida, the utter bastard of lust…" Akira read out loudly, in the corner of his eyesight he could see the trio focus in on him as he spoke, "We know how shitty you are, and that you put your twisted desires on students that can't fight back. That's why we have decided to steal away those desires and make you confess your sins."

"This will be done tomorrow…" Sumire continued where he left off, her eyes trailing down the length of the calling card. "… So, we hope you will be ready. From, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts."

She let go of his arm, looking at the card in confusion. "What… is this?" she wondered quietly, her nose scrunching cutely in thought.

Akira shrugged, "Some sort of calling card, like those things old-school phantom thieves used to send… this one's pretty terrible though…"

He found amusement in how Ryuji slumped, his soul almost left his body from the blow. If Akira were being honest though, the whole thing looked like it was made in ten minutes. At least when Yusuke joins they'd have a better-looking calling card.

COLD

"They're going to… target Mr. Kamoshida?" Sumire whispered, before looking up at Akira. "Um… Akira-senpai, what do you think about this? About these Phantom Thieves…?"

Akira mulled over his words carefully. "I… will wait to see what happens before I make an opinion," he eventually said, Sumire seeming to take comfort in his words as tension leaked from her body.

Around the school, whispers were still audible from all over.

"Did Mr. Kamoshida do something wrong?"

"Does this mean the rumours are true!?"

"Wait a sec… Is someone gonna take something from Mr. Kamoshida?"

"What's with this weird logo?"

Akira did have to admit, he never did find out how Ryuji had managed to spread well over hundreds of calling-cards over the length of the entire school in a single morning, much less make them all.

Heavy footfalls were audible from down the hallway, the man in question of the calling cards appearing as he looked at the calling cards with a severe look on his face.

"Who's responsible for this?!" Kamoshida shouted, his voice echoing as several students yelped and jumped back in fright. "Did you do this!? Or was it you!?" he continued shouting whirling around on students at random

Akira watched as student fled the scene, Kamoshida eyes whirling around on any other possible responsible party.

Oh… whoops.

Which the nearest just so happened to be him and Sumire. The trio were only further down the hall, watching Kamoshida's reaction.

"Was it you?!" Kamoshida roared into his face, Akira feeling as Sumire hid behind him.

Calmly, Akira grabbed a handkerchief and wiped the spit that had flown onto his face from Kamoshida's face and wiped it off, all the while staring down Kamoshida who was breathing like a raging bull. His left-hand drift backwards and clasped onto Sumire's giving her a comforting squeeze.

Kamoshida suddenly grabbed him by his blazer, lifting him up ever so slightly. "Do you have anything to say!?"

"If you don't wish to be reported for assault on a minor… I'd suggest you release me," Akira said succinctly staring Kamoshida down. Kamoshida's grip became tighter on his blazer, the cloth squeaking as fibres rubbed together.

Whispers ran down the hallway as students watched the interaction, surprised that someone had the gall to talk Kamoshida down. Some had even taken to video recording them.

"The new guy is crazy!"

"Isn't he the one the Saved Suzui-san?"

"Does this count as assault?"

"Mr. Kamoshida, what is the meaning of this!" a panicked voice shouted down the hallway, "Release Kurusu-san at once!"

Both Akira and Kamoshida looked in surprise as Principal Kobayakawa came waddling down the hall, his bulging suit dripping with perspiration and a panicked look on his face. "Mr. Kamoshida, release him!" Kobayakawa ordered once more.

Akira noticed the fearful panic in the depth of his seedy eyes.

So… Akechi had had a 'chat' with Kobayakawa after all.

Kamoshida in a state of shock of actually being reprimanded by Principal Kobayakawa released Akira, his two feet touching the floor as he felt Sumire clutching at the back of his blazer.

"Mr. Kamoshida, may I remind you that you are a respectable teacher of Shujin Academy," Kobayakawa reprimanded him, but it was easily telling that he did it out of fear than any actual responsibility to his student.

"Why is Principal Kobayakawa only taking action now?

"Didn't the rumours say he was in on Mr. Kamoshida's actions?"

Realising that there were students watching the interaction, he quickly waddled over to shoo them away. Kamoshida gave Akira and Sumire one last look, his breathing heavy and swift as he almost growled before looking for other students to interrogate.

As soon as he began to grill the trio, Akira felt Sumire's face bury itself into the small of his back, clearly feeling her distress. "…I'm sorry I didn't do anything," he barely caught her whisper, but he'd caught it nonetheless.

He turned around causing Sumire to look up at him, a hand running through her red-tresses comfortingly. "I'd rather you'd have stayed out of the way. I don't think I would've been able to stop myself from punching him in the face if he did something to you," Akira replied honestly, shaking off her apology.

His words caused her face to bloom red like her crimson locks, her eyes averting from his in shyness but the distress clearly melting away because of his words and actions. Even with his hand running through his hair, he kept a small part of his attention on Kamoshida. His vision shifted into darkness, the only ones remaining in his eyesight being Kamoshida's shadow, Rem, Ryuji, and Ann.

Shit.

Akira held his breath for a moment, but it didn't seem like they could see him. He let go with a large exhale.

"Come… Steal it, if you can!" Shadow Kamoshida sneered at the three, Akira feeling as security within the Palace tightened exponentially until every shadow within the castle was on-guard.

Just as fast, the darkness vanished and he was back in the foyer.

"Come on," he said removing his hand from the top of Sumire's head, "We should get to class."

Sumire nodded, her blush barely fading.

Akira had a certain group to stalk… -to follow again.

Come the end of school, Rem and everyone else found themselves back in Kamoshida's Palace, stocked up and ready to steal his treasure.

"Okay, let's go! Make sure to keep your guard up!" Morgana said as they moved to the final Safe Room and began making their way to the treasure through the throne room, the place devoid of guards and Kamoshida alike.

The four entered the room containing the treasure, Rem surprised to find what seemed to be a gigantic crown floating where the shimmering cloud of desire once was. "Aww yeeeeeaaaah! The Treasure has appeared!" Morgana cheered as he approached, the other three right on his heels.

"Man, it's huge!" Ryuji let out as he gawked at the size of it.

"What do you think!? It's just as I said! Now we can steal it!" Morgana smiled looking up at the Treasure almost longingly. "Ahh… this shine brings tears to my eyes…"

Rem gave Morgana a look. He was acting peculiar.

Ann gave the Treasure a long look "…It kinda pisses me off," she said after a while of staring at the floating gleaming Treasure. "Why is it so pretty, isn't this thing meant to be Kamoshida's desires?"

It was only thanks to Rem noticing Morgana's weird behaviour that she was able to snag the yellow handkerchief around his neck as he made a jump for the Treasure. "T-Treasure…" Morgana drooled with stars for eyes as he hung limply from Rem's grasp, only staring up at the Treasure lovingly.

"Uh…. what's up with Morgana?" Ryuji asked looking at Morgana who hung from Rem's grasp.

"Is he broken?" Ann poked their resident monster-car for good measure eliciting no response from him.

"Meeeeoooooow! Mroooow!" Morgana began to make cat noise all the while staring at the Treasure.

Rem shook her head in disappointment as she hefted Morgana and began shaking him like a salt shaker. "This. Is. Not. Catnip," she said with each solid shake.

"MROW?!"

"All right, that's enough you stupid cat. Calm down already, will ya?" Ryuji shook his head, his words causing Morgana to freeze in Rem's grip.

"Oh, um, yeah…" Morgana craned his head to looked back up at Rem, "You can let me go now, I'll be good." Rem proffered a raised brow in disbelief but let him slip back to the floor with a sheepish look on his face.

"Forgive me for showing such an insolent sight in front of the ladies," Morgana simpered.

"You were completely out of character too. What was that about?" Ann asked wonderingly while Rem just ignored his words and looked at the Treasure.

"I don't know… I couldn't stop it either. To think I'd be drawn to human desires this much…" A troubled look crossed Morgana's face before it morphed into one of delight. "…Wouldn't this prove that I'm human!?"

"Ain't that bit of a jump?" Ryuji asked with a shake of his head.

Rem snapped her fingers in front of the two of them, getting their attention. "You're getting side-tracked. We have other things to take care of right now."

"R-Right!"

"Sorry!"

The two of them snapped to salute almost comically as everyone turned their attention to the Treasure before them.

"A-Anyway, you guys need to carry it," Morgana stated as he got his train of thought back on the right track.

"Man, all you do is bark orders for a cat…" Ryuji groaned as he moved over to the Treasure. "Still, that was easier than I thought- Ow! The hell was that for!" he winced grasping his elbow where Rem had pinched sharply even beneath his outfit.

"No jinxing us," Rem said simply as she and Ann moved over to the other sides of the treasure and got a grip on it.

"His Palace will disappear of we take this right?" Ann asked as she looked up at the giant crown. "And Kamoshida will change with it…"

Ryuji and Morgana held their breath, both looking over at Rem who was staring at Ann intently.

"…That should be the case," Morgana eventually said, the tense atmosphere that enveloped the room becoming slightly stifling for the two males.

"That's fine by me then," Ann nodded, the tense sensation disappearing as a small smile appeared on Rem's face.

"Man, had me worried for a sec there you two," Ryuji admitted as the three humans lifted the Treasure and began to crab-walk over to the doorway and down the stairs of the throne room from the treasury.

"Why is this so heavy? Isn't it meant to be a manifestation of his desires? Why do desires even weigh this much?" Rem questioned with a slightly red face as they struggled to lift the Treasure and walk at the same time. She could feel her hands beginning to cramp.

"To think it'd go so well… I've even found three Persona-users in the process…" Morgana muttered to himself as he trailed behind the three and looking up at Rem. "My judgement was correct. I made the right choice in making a deal with you!"

Rem felt like her bond with Morgana was growing deeper…

Magician Arcana – Rank 2!

"Go, go! Let's go! Ka-mo-shida!" a peppy feminine voice cheered the moment the four made their way to the middle of the throne room.

"Nngh!"

The three almost fell over as the crown was torn from their grasp from something impacting it forcefully. A black shadow passed over them as a familiar hairy figure wearing pink speedos and a pink-wool lined coat adorned with flowers landed before them.

Kamoshida's shadow let out a sick grin as he held out his hand, his treasure rolling from its place on the floor before swiftly flying into his clasp having shrunk in size. A familiar scantily clad shadow of Ann ran up and clung to him.

Rem's lip curled in disgust.

"I won't let anyone take this!" Kamoshida's shadow snarled at them, "This proves that I am the king of the castle – it is the core of this world!"

"That rat bastard…" Ann growled as she took in the shadow that looked remarkably like her, "That's how he sees me, isn't it!?"

"Even though you've done everything to stay away from him, he's honestly that deluded," Rem shook her head in revulsion.

"Yo, pervert. Were you waitin' to ambush us?" Ryuji called out tauntingly.

"I just made it easy to find you," Kamoshida's Shadow responded with scorn. "I'll dispose of you myself. Right here, right now."

"That's our line, you sexually-assaultin' d-bag!" Ryuji stomped forward but was stopped by Rem outstretching an arm.

"What a selfish misunderstanding…" Kamoshida's Shadow had the gall to look at them with pity, a derisive shake of his head as he looked down at them.

"How is it a misunderstanding!? You were doing things that you kept in secret from others!" Ann yelled in indignation, bubbling fury boiling in her chest.

"People around me were the one who kept it secret," Kamoshida smirked. "Adults who want to share in my accomplishments, students who have the drive to become winners… they willingly protect me so that we all may profit from it."

Ryuji and Morgana took a step back as a small area around Ann turned to ash, the red royal carpet blackening into soot from the rage that emanated from the blonde.

"So that's it huh…? That's the excuse you're going to use even though you sexually assaulted Shiho!?" Ann shouted, Carmen springing to life as her mask dissolved, wild emotion tearing off her mask and bringing her Persona to life. "You really are a grade-A scumbag!"

If Kamoshida was intimidated, he didn't show it. If anything, he only seemed to get even more uppity of himself. "Drop the attitude, you mediocre peasant! There's nothing wrong with using my gifts for my gain!"

"There isn't."

Ryuji, Ann, and Morgana looked to Rem in shock who stood there with her hands in her pockets staring up at Kamoshida's Shadow.

"Using your own gifts to help yourself makes sense after all…"

"See, that one there seems to get it-"

"But you didn't use it for yourself. You hurt so many other people just because you didn't like them," Rem interrupted him as she languidly removed her hands from her pockets. "And none of us will be letting you continue, right everyone?"

"Right!"

"Tsk," Kamoshida's shadow clicked his tongue derisively. "I'm a cut above all other humans, what does it matter what you say to me?"

"'Above'? You mean beneath!" Ann corrected him angrily, "You're a goddamn demon obsessed with your sick desires!"

Apparently that was the wrong thing to say as a red light began to pool beneath the feet of Kamoshida's Shadow as he chuckled menacingly.

"That's right. I'm not like you…" Shadow Kamoshida's voice became distorted as he spoke, clutching the scantily-clad Ann close to his side. "I am a demon who rules this world!"

Akira watched from his perch high above the throne room, observing as Kamoshida's Shadow turned into his Sinful Form. A six-armed deformed figure with a head larger than its torso, bulging yellow eyes and a set of ram horns that curled over a head of curly brown hair. Sitting between the two horns atop his head was the Treasure of the palace.

"Suguru Asmodeus Kamoshida… the demon of lust," he mused as he watched the fight begin in earnest.

The four began to attack the demon of lust.

It was evident this time around that Ann was barely able capable of keeping herself focused, her emotions heavily influencing a Persona that wielded fire. Anywhere she stepped turned the carpet around her to soot and ash, it was stunning that with the anger leaking out of her that she hadn't burned Rem or Ryuji who were beside her.

"You goddamn, no-good, shitty brats! Haven't you been taught not to point at people!? Huh!?" Asmodeus crowed with his distorted voice.

He watched as Kamoshida's minions sent a wave of volleyballs at Ryuji, pelting him with cognitive sports balls. It wouldn't harm him too much, but it would tire him out.

It was interesting to see them fight, specifically Rem. Her weapon turned out to be a set of twin chain-nails that she seemed to use with a surprising amount of efficiency. Add to that her Persona, Selina, she was certainly a force to be reckoned with never mind her status as a Trickster.

A small conflagration of flames burst from Carmen as Ann tore off her mask, sending a wave of Agilao at Asmodeus burning it, a wave of darkness, thunder, and cutting wind following suit as the other joined in.

Akira quietly watched while he pulled out Tyrant Pistol, and from the pocket of his duster withdrew a custom-made silencer that had taken him four hours to craft.

Rem backflipped over a swing by Kamoshida's baton but was quickly smacked down as the arm holding a fork smashed into her. She shook it off with a slight wince but quickly got back into the fray sending wave after wave of Eiha's at Asmodeus.

Off to the side, Morgana was playing support and healing the group alongside Panther whenever she would remember between sending balls of fire at Asmodeus while Ryuji was using a combination of lightning and his shotgun to damage him.

This continued for a solid while, the group slowly whittling down Asmodeus' health. Rem switched between Selina, Berith, Jack Frost, and the weird cat thing with the scimitar and boots as she fought but it was quickly becoming evident that the group was on the losing side.

Akira smirked as he focused on the golden trophy directly in front of Asmodeus, an arm wielding a golden fork inching towards it. Extending his arm and taking aim, he fired. The sound that left the Tyrant Pistol was akin to the flap of a butterfly's wings, light and silent. Over the din of battle, it was unheard.

The bullet flew through the air so quickly that all anyone would see was the cup suddenly shattering from some unseen force. Akira grinned as he watched the fight continue, no one the wiser since he'd timed it perfectly. As far as anyone was concerned, one of Ryuji's attacks had missed and had hit the cup.

It wouldn't do much in the long run, but it would at least prevent Asmodeus from regenerating his wounds. For now, the rest would be up to them.

"Ack!" Asmodeus slumped over, looking at the now broken trophy. "No way… This was from when I won the national…"

"Huh, maybe you actually can do something right Skull!" Morgan stated as the four rushed Kamoshida, holding him up at gunpoint.

"You think that you can get away with doing such a thing? Do you realise who I am!?" Asmodeus roared as he stared down at them, two eyes looking in different directions. "I am Kamoshida, don't you get it!?"

The hall fell silent as he looked down at Rem.

"What you are is scum," Rem spat out in disgust as she looked up at the purple demon.

"Mmmm... four out of ten in terms of one-liners," Akira rated as he sat back down in the rafters, "Ten out of ten in terms of truth, however."

"You dare?! I'm the goddamn king of this castle!" Asmodeus shouted, but it would soon cease to matter as the group went for an all-out attack, jumping and hitting him from different directions, wounds quickly accumulating on his body as they landed back on the ground.

"How dare you keep defying me… Looks like I gotta bring out the big guns!" Asmodeus snarled causing Akira to lean forward in interest. He didn't recall this last time. "Slaves! Bring over you-know-what!"

Akira watched as the tiny little orange slaves with the metal bullet-like heads scurried off, their chains detaching from the golden ball at Asmodeus's feet. "Time for my kill shot from when I was active and rockin' it! Kill shot… as in I'll make the kill!"

There was a brief period of emptiness when nothing happened, Rem and the others continuing to unload physical attacks into Kamoshida and saving up their energy.

"What's the holdup? Where's my ball!?" Asmodeus bellowed.

A figure scurried forward with a volleyball in hand.

"I'm so sorry, King Kamoshida! I-I have it right here!" the figure proffered the ball high above him.

"Too slow Mishima, worthless chump!" Asmodeus said dismissively "Good, Mishima – now pass it to me! Don't tell me you can't even do something as simple as that!"

Akira legs clamped on the beam beneath him the moment he saw Mishima. He was right to do so as seconds later Sandalphon tried to force his way to the surface. "Grrrr… no!" he whisper-shouted as his hand flew to his mask and kept it in place the other keeping his balance on the beam beneath him, "He's not our Mishima!"

Even then his words were barely enough to placate the Angel of Mercy and twin of Metatron. He huffed in exhaustion, the effort of fighting a piece of himself taking a lot out of him. Akira leaned back as the cognitive version of Mishima sent the volleyball in his hand hurtling into the air, Asmodeus leaping after it and slamming it down with enough power to create a small explosion, heavily injuring the team.

Akira's hand flew up to his face once more, physically holding back Ishtar, Chi You, and Futsunushi as they lurched momentarily at watching Ann, Ryuji and Morgana respectively come to harm. He was quickly realising that maybe watching them fight was a bad idea, he was getting mentally exhausted just by holding his Personas at bay.

"Tch, I knew I couldn't go all out with Mishima providing the backup. Hey, shit-for-brains! Get off my court!" Asmodeus ordered, Mishima quickly scurrying out of sight.

Akira felt as Sandalphon skirted the edges of his mind, not manifesting but roiling beneath the surface of the Sea of Souls wishing to be called upon.

"Next slave, get out here! Hurry up with my damn ball!" Asmodeus ordered once more, a slap of his riding crop slammed against the floor.

Akira felt his lip turn downward in revulsion and down below it seemed he wasn't the only one as he witnessed a sexy bunny suit-wearing cognitive version of Shiho make her way into the throne room, a volleyball in hand. Ishtar joined Sandalphon, feminine fury growing as the Lover's Arcana writhed.

"King Kamoshida, I've brought you your ball, just like you asked," Cognitive Shiho said demurely.

"Now there's a good girl, Suzui," Asmodeus purred with a perverted grin, his large tongue lolling around outside of his mouth while both of his bulging eyes focused on the scantily-clad black-head. "Yeah, all women should obey my orders like this – ain't that right, sweetheart?"

"You bastard… after everything you've done to Shiho…" Ann growled, smoke curling from Carmen as she looked at the Cognitive version of Shiho.

"Dammit, even Suzui too! You've gone too far, you piece of shit!" Ryuji cursed at Asmodeus far below him.

"…Ah, I get it! You want to see my kill shot again, don't you?" asked Asmodeus as he began to ready up another kill shot.

"What do we do?" Morgana looked at Rem for orders.

Rem pointed a chain-nail at Shiho. "Focus on the fake Shiho."

Akira watched, surprised as the team began to attack the cognitive Shiho. Rem and Ryuji using Selina and Captain Kidd to send physical attacks hurtling towards Shiho while Ann and Morgana attacked with their whip and sabre respectively. The Cognitive Shiho crumbled into black dust being weak to physical attacks, dissipating from the battlefield.

"Hmm, even Suzui was useless. Looks like I'll have to give her some special instructions later… One-on-one!" the demon of lust said with a lecherous leer to his voice.

"Kamoshida, you asshole… burn!" Ann yelled, wave after wave of Agilao's being sent recklessly towards Asmodeus.

While she was doing that, Rem quickly ordered Morgana to ascend a nearby pillar and go for Asmodeus' Treasure atop his head. Rem and Ryuji began to support Ann's reckless attack in order to divert Asmodeus's attention from Morgana who scurried over to the pillar and began to climb.

"What's the matter slave, hurry up and bring more some more volleyballs! I can't serve up my kill shot without any balls!" Asmodeus looked around, only to quickly realise that no one was coming to help him. "Huh!? Did I just… Am I really out of slaves!?"

Rem began to play healer of the group, bringing Pixie forth while Ryuji became support, increasing Ann's literal firepower with a Tarukaja before sending bolts of lightning towards Asmodeus.

"Argh, you brats! The only reason this school exists is because I'm around. You're the only ones that don't respect me, you know! You and that transfer brat!"

Morgana continued making his way up the pillar. Ann, on the other hand, quickly grew fatigued from having used her Persona so much, switching over to her whip and sending slicing strikes at Asmodeus.

Akira smirked at that. It seemed he'd made an impression in the morning.

"You're misunderstanding it all! I haven't sexually harassed anyone!" Asmodeus refuted. "They came on to me because they wanted to get on my good side!"

"Sh-Shut it you bastard!" Ann shouted, exhausted but angry, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "I saw the x-rays! The fractures! You raped Shiho!"

The fight came to a sudden end as Akira watched Morgana leap from the banister of the throne room over Asmodeus' head, swiping the Treasure from between his horns in an impressive feat of acrobatics. The treasure cluttered to the ground as Asmodeus flailed petulantly, the sinful demon of lust dissolving without the core of this Palace sustaining him.

"Noo! My… my precious…" he slumped over dejected.

"Carmen!" Ann stood on shaky feet, her already exhausted mind teetering on the brink as she summoned her Persona once more. One final wave burnt Kamoshida's sinful form to a crisp, leaving Shadow Kamoshida in its place.

The giant crown that tumbled to the floor after Morgana swiped it from Asmodeus' head glowed for a moment, before shrinking.

Akira watched as Rem began walking towards it with Ryuji beside her. A hairy form rolled over the crown, grasping it to his chest as Kamoshida scurried around in his own throne room.

"Ah!" Ryuji shouted in surprise as the group chased after him, his scurrying leading him to a nearby balcony that only led to a long drop to the bottom of the palace.

"Nngh!" Kamoshida whimpered as he looked for a way to escape.

"What's wrong… not going to run away?" Ann stalked forward slowly, Carmen forming behind her.

Akira's Tyrant Pistol was in his hand faster than he could think, trailed on Kamoshida's head. "Don't do this, Ann… it isn't worth it…" he whispered as he watched Ann continue to stalk forward, his finger hovering over the trigger.

"Dammit!" Akira quietly cursed as he remembered that Kamoshida wasn't meant to die. If he died, Ruin was inevitable. Ishtar screeched in his mind as the Tyrant Pistol was aimed at Ann. At least her calf. It would hurt but she'd live.

"Why don't you run? Aren't you a great athlete?" she taunted as she moved closer and closer.

"It's always been like this… all those goddamn hyenas forcing their expectation on me!" Kamoshida's Shadow shouted. "I'm doing this all for them! What's wrong with demanding a reward for that!?"

"Now you're makin' up even more excuses? We'll be doing something about that distorted heart of yours…" Ryuji said shaking his head. To his side, Rem quickly rushed forward and held Ann back from taking another step towards Kamoshida.

"Hrrk…" Kamoshida whined.

"Scared? Right now, you're seeing the same view Shiho did…" Ann asked as she shook Rem off, Carmen preventing her from moving forward. "I'm sure she was scared too… except she had no choice to jump… someone came to save her… but will anyone come for you?"

She stood a small distance away but stared Kamoshida down. "What will you do? Will you jump? Or would you rather die here?" she asked, eyes narrowed.

"Don't do this Ann…" Akira whispered, his aims sighted on Ann, the Persona of the Lover's Arcana revolting in a near blinding migraine. Even then, he pushed on. He couldn't allow Kamoshida to die here.

Balls of flames erupted in Carmen's grasp.

"Do you want to finish him off? It's your call," Morgana said, Ryuji holding Rem back whispering into her ear.

"Believe in her, okay?" Ryuji muttered. He slowly let Rem go, their leader looking at Ann and Carmen in hesitation.

"Come on Ann… you're better than this…" Akira muttered from his perch, hoping that things would go just like it had in his own, the current event near identical to his world. The contingency was in place if it didn't, his finger hovering, twitching over the trigger.

"No please no! Just forgive meee!" Kamoshida pleaded in the face of death.

"Shut up. I bet everyone told you the same," Ann snarled and hurled a fireball forward. "But you took everything from them."

Kamoshida's Shadow screeched in fear as the fireball impacted just beside his head. "I-I accept defeat… Do you want this? Take it," he said throwing the Treasure towards Rem who caught it. "Go ahead and finish me of… you do that… and my real self will go down too. You have that right since you've won…"

Akira saw Ann's hand clench, her other arm raised forward sending another fireball hurtling towards Shadow Kamoshida.

"Ann!" Rem yelled.

BOOM!

The floor beside Kamoshida exploded into marble dust.

With the tinkle of broken glass, blue flames erupted over Ann's face as her mask reappeared. "If his mind shuts down, he can't admit to his crimes," Ann's lips curled in scorn as she spoke.

"I've lost. You're through when you lose…" Shadow Kamoshida slumped to the ground, "What am I- What am I supposed to do now?"

"Atone for your sins," Rem said, placing a hand on Ann's shoulder and giving her a comforting squeeze.

Kamoshida looked at them. "All right… I will leave now and return to my real self… I'll make certain that I-" he whispered, his body glowing with light before vanishing cutting himself off.

The Palace began to shudder with tremors, the lack of a core to sustain causing it to crumble

"We need to get going now!" Morgana advised, the group nodding before running off.

None of them noticed the bullet hole just left of where Ann's feet had been.

With a shaky hand, Akira lowered the Tyrant Pistol, wisps of smoke wafting from the barrel as he slumped over in the rafters. A wave of relief flew through him. He'd been so afraid the Ann might have actually been tried to kill Kamoshida that he pulled the trigger.

He grasped his mask and pulled.

Ishtar silently appeared, looking down at him.

"…Thank you," he said. It was thanks to the Ultimate of the Lovers Arcana that he'd missed. His Persona gave him a silent nod and a smile before coalescing back into his mask.

Grasping his pendant, Akira disappeared from the crumbling Palace.