Yu sat in the dim light of the living room, around him his friends gathered. The teenagers had left some time ago and now it was just them. Yu had called for a meeting of just the adults and Akechi. He hadn't felt right that both Ren and Akechi were being forced out when he understood their destiny probably better than they did. He was about to enact a mutiny against the teens but he'd need his friends to back him up with this. He wasn't about to send two injured teens into the shadow world with no support.
"Ren and Akechi are going to sneak into the Palace while I lead the Thieves to grab the letters." Yu boldly stated.
There was silence as his friends looked amongst themselves. Out of the adults, Naoto was the only one who didn't seem shocked by the news. Instead, she just closed her eyes and leaned again Kanji. Yu already knew her stand on the issue and by the way, she had been chugging coffee could only mean she had been putting in long nights again. If she wanted to just rest and listen to what the others said, Yu wouldn't hold it against her. After they looked amongst each other everyone turned their gaze to Yu, searching for answers.
"Why?" Rise instead of asking Yu looked towards Akechi.
"Because we agreed with him too." Akechi reached up adjusting his glasses as he spoke, and for a couple of seconds, his gaze became hidden behind a tan tint. He very much enjoyed Teddie's gift and hadn't taken them off since he got them.
Yu felt the gazes of his friends upon him and knew he would need to speak up. Taking a deep breath. "This is Ren's and Akechi's destiny. Ren wasn't given access to the velvet room so he could sit back and let his friends do all the work. Akechi wasn't made to be what he was without something putting it into motion. The fact remains they were pitted against each other by something and it's probably ruin."
"How do you know this?" Chie asked.
"Because I was pitted against Adachi, and Adachi reminds me of Akechi. Because there are always two sides to any conflict and this one wanted Ren and Akechi to fight. Maybe call it a gut feeling." Yu explained.
Akechi put his hand to his chin, clearly thing about Yu's words, but not quite answering forthright but answering after a few pregnant moments. "I kind of agree. I never really got much instruction about how the metaverse works but Loki has always been kind of a guide. Yet then again he's not the best guide." Akechi's face turned grim and he shifted as if struck suddenly.
"So who is the puppet master of ruin that is behind all this; is the real question," Naoto commented still listening even if she was resting.
"I don't think this is a question we can answer until the end of this journey. Like with Adachi, Ameno-Sagiri, Izanami, Mikuratana-no-Kami, the list goes on and on. We'll find out but no doubt we." He motioned to everyone in the room currently. "Could have put a wrench in its plans."
"So this Shido asshole ain't the kid's big evil guy?" Kanji asked.
"No," Naoto stated with a sigh, as Kanji put his arm around her and pulled her close. "As Yu said there is always something more, something working from the shadows. We call it 'ruin' but it could be anything honestly. Shido is just a pawn."
"Shido a pawn?" Akechi cringed. "He is the least likely person I know to be considered a pawn, but your theory has merits if you take my powers into account. Something is calling me to fight."
"Ya think after we beat Shido up that we might get a peek behind the Wizard's curtain and see this ruin's true face?" Chie inquired.
"That's the hope." Yu offered. "But we need both Akechi and Ren to show us the way."
"Well, we faced ruin before and sent it packin'. What do we need to do Yu?" Chie smirked ready for orders.
"Chie, Naoto, Kanji; I want the three of you to back up Ren and Akechi, but we need a good excuse as to why you can't go with the main group." Yu plotted.
Everyone went silent as they thought of a good convincing reason why more than half of the adult group wouldn't be able to go with the teens. This was going to be a tense situation no matter how you looked at it. Truthfully Yu didn't want to have to lie to the teenagers but he also didn't want to interfere with the rules the teens had already established for themselves. He was more than willing to take the blame for Akechi and Ren when they were found out but he couldn't let the two that had the biggest part to play in all of this sit on the sidelines.
Yu mulled over his options. They could just simply say that part of his group wasn't feeling good. It was probably the simplest option, but it's one that would probably raise suspicion. Half of Yu's team just suddenly falling ill. Another option would be to say they returned to Inaba, which could work if they could find a decent lie as to why everyone had to rush to Inaba last minute. Still what could be more important in Inaba that one would leave the fate of a dangerously corrupt politician to a bunch of high schoolers?
"Won't the other group need a navigator?" Rise suddenly asked.
"I'm not fully aware of the degree navigators assist in battle, I've only had one for a short time. That said if we just need to get through Shido's ship that shouldn't be a problem. I already have permission to enter Shido's most inner chamber." Akechi explained.
Everyone looked towards Akechi as Naoto leaned forward and turned to Akechi who was on her left. "Goro-Kun are you telling us we don't need to acquire the other three letters of introduction?"
"Correct." Akechi nodded.
"You probably should have told everyone in the meeting about that. That honestly changes everything." Rise sighed.
"Oh. Forgive me. I didn't think I'd be going so I didn't bother mentioning it. After all, I have to be there for the door to open." Akechi looked to the floor.
Naoto reached out to pat Akechi's good shoulder. It was a clear move to signify that she didn't hold anything against him for not revealing the information sooner. It had surprised Yu how quickly Naoto formed a bond with the other Detective Prince, considering how Naoto wasn't the most socially adept of their group. That honor probably rested with Rise or possibly himself. But Naoto's commitment to turn Akechi on the correct path seemed to stir something within Akechi himself. From what Yu understood; Akechi never really had friends nor did he have a family, so when Naoto told him that they would be family from that moment on, it frankly touched the young man. It was human nature to want to connect with other people and Akechi was no different. Naoto just happened to be one of the first people who were willing to accept him, despite his crimes. Ren was the other.
"I don't know if we should let the teens know." Naoto started already thinking several steps ahead. "While it might change their decision regarding Goro-Kun, I don't think it'll change their mind necessarily about Ren. Also, there is the fact that we can't just attack Shido's cognition without a calling card. If we are unable to steal his treasure, all this will be for nothing."
"We didn't steal Goro-Kun's treasure and he's seemed to have a change of heart." Rise pointed out.
"You did, the parts of myself that I locked away could effectively be considered a treasure and you managed to collect them. I became aware of you interfering in my Palace and thus a calling card wasn't needed because I was already aware my treasure was threatened. I triggered the conditions for a change of heart without needing as many steps." Akechi enlightened everyone.
"Goro-Kun are you alright? You look a little pale." Naoto suddenly asked and Yu noticed it too, the teen looked like the color had flushed from his cheek and possibly in a bit of pain.
"I'm fine. The medication is just wearing off." Akechi smiled towards his mentor but that smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Something was indeed wrong.
Naoto shot the teen a look before she continued the former discussion. "So we'll still need a calling card for Shido," Naoto affirmed before she leaned back into Kanji's embrace.
There was a silence that enveloped the room again before it was interrupted by Rise's phone. Rise gave the group an apologetic look before a worried look appeared on her face as she looked at who was calling her. Instantly she answered it. Yu could hear the sound of a panicked voice echoing from the other end of Rise's line. Getting to his feet, Yu instantly realized something more was wrong.
"Futaba-chan calm down." Rise tried to soothe the voice on the other end. "He isn't here but how do you know he is missing?" Rise locked eyes with Yu, and instantly Yu knew just how serious the matter was. "Yes… Okay. Don't worry we got two detectives we'll help you find him, just calm down. Deep breaths. Are you sure he's just not out with anyone else? Oh…"
By this time everyone had got to their feet having sensed the sudden emergency unfolding. Yu pulled out his phone and found several messages in the group chat about Ren's whereabouts. No one knew where the leader of the Phantom Thieves was at the moment and Ryuji, clearly upset, was blaming everyone for kicking him off the mission. Like the boy who probably understood Ren the best, Yu couldn't say Ryuji's speculations were incorrect, but this seemed out of character for Ren. To just abandon everyone and walk away. Unless he had been grabbed again. Yu's heart sank at that thought.
"Alright, Futaba we'll start to look for him. I'll let you know if we find him." Rise ended the call, her eyes searching over her friends' faces. "Ren is missing and his phone is off."
"We have to find him." Yu went to grab his coat as his friends moved to get ready themselves.
The only one who didn't move however was Akechi. He remained still before his words broke everyone out of their rush. "I think I know where he is."
Yu turned to look towards Akechi, his gaze hard. "Where is he?"
Akechi seemed to not want to speak. "He's not in any danger but I don't think he wants to be found."
"Goro-Kun what do you know." Naoto calmly pressed.
"He thinks he failed as a leader." Akechi started, his eyes flickered to Yu. "While everyone looks up to him, he looks up to you, Narukami-san and he feels he just doesn't compare."
Yu didn't know how to respond to that. He had more experience but clearly, his getting involved in Ren's group had unwittingly shaken the teen's confidence. Yu knew Ren looked up to him but in a way, Yu felt as if he had betrayed Ren somewhere. His desire was never to take Ren's authority from him, simply to be a powerful force behind him to help guide him. Still somewhere that all got twisted. This needed to be fixed.
"Where is he Goro?" Yu's tone was level, but there was a hint anger to it, not anger at Akechi at all but anger with himself.
Akechi got to his feet, he seemed to be thinking before he once again looked at Yu. "If you promise me only you will go after him, Narukami-san. You are the voice he would probably listen to the most in this situation."
"Alright." Yu nodded.
"Mementos. Probably not the beginning but my guess is he is down a few levels. Maybe a rest area." Akechi started but Yu was already grabbing his coat and heading for the door.
Before anyone could say anything to him, Yu left.
The silence of Mementos was deafening. Except for the occasional groan of a shadow or the hum of the trains blazing through, Mementos had no real noise. Yu had never really noticed before as every time before he had been here with other people. Conversations and the general miasma of being with other people had filled Mementos with a familiar white noise as not to show its true silent nature. The sounds of his footfalls echoed off the enclosed walls as he moved swiftly through, plunging deeper to find Joker. No shadows dared approach him as if instinct told them that the force he could bring to battle would be their swift undoing if they dared try. They scattered at his presence, fleeing deeper into the silence. Yu almost wished they would turn and fight. At least that would break the endless silence.
Half an hour ago Yu had entered Mementos alone. A quick talk with the twins by the blue cell door confirmed Akechi's theory that Joker was here. They explained that they saw the 'inmate' alone and dart deeper into Mementos without talking with them. While they treated Joker harshly, Yu was a different animal to them. They regarded him in an almost bored manner as if he was taking up precious time. They answered his questions swiftly and clearly as if trying to get him to leave faster. Yu didn't mind, but it was an interesting note none the less.
As he plunged deeper into Mementos, something caught his eye. It looked like a gemstone, black and red in color. Yu had never seen one before and could only believe it was some sort of rare shadow. As Yu moved to take a closer look at the strange shadow it burst into a ghostly figure hovering above a large rectangular stone. Yu didn't know what to do before he was assaulted by a rush of fire. Before Yu could command it, Izanagi-no-Okami sprang into action and stood between Yu and the move. The Persona easily took the move with no real damage to Yu.
If that how this thing was going to play.
Yu threw out his hand silently commanding Izanagi to attack. Having a natural affinity to lightning, that just happened to be the first attack. The strange shadow took it and only stared back with a dull unblinking stare. Yu was used to crushing shadows so the fact that it still stood was a bit surprising. The shadow responded to the attack with one of its own, this time bufula. Izanagi shrugged off the attack as it had before silently waiting for another command from its user.
"Arsene, Eigaon!" Came a voice from the darkness of Mementos.
There was a flash of dark energy that streaked across Yu's vision only to collide with the strange shadow in front of Yu. The energy caused the creature to yelp and fall back putting it in the downed state and giving Yu a prime opportunity to attack. Not wasting time with elemental differences, Yu went for the kill quickly. Megidolaon ended it as the almighty attack broke through all defenses.
"Joker!" He called into the silence of Mementos only to have his call echo off the walls unanswered.
Once the shadow was out of the way, Yu quickly rushed to the location he thought the Eigaon had come from only to find a split in the road. Sweeping the area quickly, there was no sign of the Phantom thief he had heard only moments ago. There was no evidence to which direction in the fork Joker could have taken so Yu hedged his bet on the right and started down the path.
The path leads to a dead-end, discouraged Yu turned around and headed back to the fork. This time he took the left path. The left path didn't lead to a dead-end but opened up with several more ways to go. Taking the path right in front of him he started down it but after a few steps, he caught a flash of red on black dart across behind him. Spinning around Yu started to follow it down another hall. But as he rounded a corner a large shadow loomed. This one was seemingly unafraid of the difference in power levels.
This shadow melted into a team of three separate shadows, all ready to fight. Once again Izanagi took to the field, but unlike before Yu didn't bother trying anything but the most effective attack. Another Megidolaon took out all of the shadows in one go and left Yu standing in the middle of Mementos no closer to tracking down Joker. At least with Izanagi's victory cry ability the constant Megidolaon wouldn't be an issue. If it had been any of his friends, they would start feeling the effects of all the spiritual power-draining under the constant weight of the heavy spiritual cost of Megidolaon. The fact was Yu could do this all day, but did Joker realize that?
A noise not too far off drew his attention. It sounded like an attack a Persona would do. It echoed from the tunnel behind him and wasn't any of the monotonous sounds he had grown to hate about this place. No, this was a new sound and it was drawing him towards it. Yu let himself take the bait. If Joker wanted to run him around than Yu was more than willing to play the game. Yu took off after the sound, backtracking down the twisting hallways of Mementos, catching only a glimpse of Joker as he darted just out of view once again. He moved like an actual Phantom and Yu was beginning to realize just how accurate the Thieves' name could be in reality.
Yu followed into a large wide-open square space with four large pillars holding up the ceiling. Joker stood in the middle of the room, hands in his pockets causing Yu to be instantly drawn to him. However, some part of Yu's battle-hardened instincts sent his internal alarms ablaze. Joker smirked as Yu approached, and it was at that moment Yu noticed the teen's mask was gone. He had a summoned Persona somewhere. Joker pulled his hands from his pockets and gave a lavish bow before Yu was forced to take cover as a large shadow appeared from behind one of the large pillars drawn out by Arsene.
Yu was forced into battle.
Vainly Yu tried to keep an eye on Joker but the shadow spawned several monsters that got the upper hand on him. Izanagi once again was called to take most of the blows that came his user's way before he got a chance to retaliate. Another Megidolaon and the enemies fell before him, but during the chaos, Yu had once again lost Joker. The teen could be as elusive as a cat if he wanted to be and Yu might have been impressed by that if his frustration at Joker's game wasn't growing.
"I can do this all day! What are you trying to accomplish?" Yu yelled into the dead silence after the battle had ended.
From the darkness to his left Joker emerged, once again hands in the pockets of his waistcoat. The intensity in the younger man's dark stare caused Yu to pause. As before, Joker wore no mask which meant Arsene could be lurking any were. Yu leveled his stare at the teen as if expecting him to speak but no words came. Instead, Joker turned away, blue fire sweeping across his gaze as his mask returned to his face.
"This isn't like you. Your friends are worried that you just disappeared on them!" Yu called to the teen.
"Tsk" Joker clicked before his hand turned to his mask. "HORUS!"
A blinding light took over the area in a flash. Yu had no choice but to look away from the bright light. As it faded Joker had once again disappeared. Blinking the spots from his eyes, Yu tried to look around to gain any type of clue were the teen had gone but all that he found was the emptiness Mementos brought with it. Not even the sound of footfalls could alert Yu to the direction Joker had taken off in. The kid was like a shadow or the more aptly named Phantom. Gritting his teeth in frustration, Yu turned to leave, hoping to locate the kid once again. This time, however, Joker wasn't toying with him. Yu was left to search a seemingly empty Mementos. Yu became aware of how well the teen could hide if he wanted to. After 20 minutes and there not being a sign of the errant teen, Yu in desperation moved down to the next level. The next level was one of the rest areas and that was where he found Joker.
Joker was sitting with his back against the glass waiting booth, a hand propped up on his elbow shielded the side of his face from Yu's gaze. Yu let out a sigh of relief as soon as he spotted the kid, glad his gamble to descend deeper into Mementos had paid off. If Joker had not been here Yu didn't honestly know what he would have done. Joker didn't even regard him in any matter as Yu took a seat next to him. Yu just let the silence hang in the air as his own mind tried to think of something proper to start a conversation.
"Why?" Yu asked carefully.
The teen once again said nothing.
"Joker please!" Yu pleaded.
That got a reaction. Joker quickly scrambled to his feet and cast a dark glare at Yu. However, the movement must have injured his side, for the looked didn't last long before Joker let out a hiss of pain and clutched his side. The kid wasn't fine and no doubt all those sneaky moves he had been pulling off only made things worse. Yu shook his head, no matter how tough Joker wanted to be, his weakness was on display and it wasn't just his side.
"Fine, go. Runaway from everything. Why should I care?! I can handle this all without you!" Yu changed tactics and got to the heart of the issue. "Because let's face it, I'm a better leader."
Joker just looked away unable to face Yu. It was clear the words stung but regrettably, no words came from the teen. Yu fixed the teen with a stare letting him work out his issues. His words affected so Yu figured he'd just wait for the teen to open up. Several long minutes passed before Joker took a seat next to Yu. The movement must have caused the teen some distress as he grunted in pain before settling down next to his mentor.
"I didn't come here to run away. I came here to think." Joker's eyes lingered back to the tracks.
"About?" Yu quietly probed.
Joker's face tensed giving him a slightly pained look and Yu knew it wasn't from his side. A lingering silence enveloped them for several long minutes before Joker seemed to find the words to speak again. "I know them, I know myself, but I feel they don't know me." Joker reached up and took off his domino mask and just held it in his hands.
Yu shifted, pulling up his leg and resting his arm against it. He had a feeling this was going to be a long talk. A talk that needed to happen. "Why?"
"It was Naoto's words. They do hold me on a high pedestal like I'm some sort of otherworldly being than get frightened the second I show I'm mortal. I get being concerned about my welfare but I feel they are overreacting. I managed to make it down here with little problem." Joker's gaze shot to Yu a second before returning to his mask. "Managed to throw you off a bit."
Yu would give him that, the teen could be elusive if he so desired. No doubt Joker could have completely lost Yu at any point during that all. Joker let Yu find him, but if he didn't want to talk he could have disappeared deeper into Mementos and Yu would have had no way to track him.
"Why here of all places? You could have thought about this without freaking your friends out." Yu motioned to Mementos as he spokes.
"Joker is me. Ren isn't as much." Joker reached up running his hand along his neck. "It's easier to think as Joker."
"Why does Joker have to live in just this world?" Yu felt as if they were getting close to the heart of the matter.
"Joker can't be Ren. Ren is who society, and by some extension, what my friends, want me to be. To break character seems…" Joker went silent as the word he wanted to find didn't seem to find him.
"Painful?"
Joker's shoulders fell at Yu's word. He had hit home. Yu inhaled sharply, trying to collect his thoughts. Joker needed some words and Yu knew what he was going to say, but he spent several minutes perfecting them before they seemed right enough to speak. Getting to his feet, Yu reached down and pulled Ren to his feet.
"It's time to let your friends help you mature. You are too caught up in your duality. You need to let Ren and Joker find common ground and build yourself from there. Your friends will accept you. I mean your bonds are deeper than just the surface, aren't they?" Yu explained. "If it helps, stay Joker around me. I prefer Joker."
Again there was a long pause, as Yu saw Joker's eyes deeply searching. It was the kind of look of someone who was digging deep in their soul for answers. Yu let the time elapse. He'd give Joker all the time the boy needed. Slowly something seemed to click. Joker smirked this cocky kind of spirited smirk that made it up to his eyes.
"It's that simple Yu-senpai?" With that Joker slipped back on his mask.
Yu returned Joker's smirk with one of his own. "It's that simple."
Suddenly Joker started to chuckle, it was a deep almost soul freeing sound. He had never heard Joker laugh like that and Yu doubted his friends had either. It was almost like when Yukiko finally lost it, but this was Joker's release. Finally letting down of all the defenses he had no doubt built up over his life. Joker could be Joker if he wanted to or he could be Ren if he desired. Yu wouldn't judge him whatever face the teen wanted to show. He was free to decide.
As the chuckle died away, the sounds of footsteps coming from the floor above echoed in the safe area. Yu glanced up just as several people headed down the stairs. Instantly the group spotted both him and Joker standing next to the glass waiting station. The group consisted of Skull, Queen, Mona, Crow, and Oracle. No doubt with Crow had told the rest of the group Joker's location. As soon as Joker was spotted, Oracle broke from the group and darted directly for him. Yu heard Joker grunt in pain as Oracle embraced him in a hug. At that moment, Yu was reminded of Nanako as he looked at Oracle.
"You idiot!" Oracle was the first to speak but her words were slightly mumbled by Joker's waistcoat as she buried herself in Joker's chest. "I hate you…"
Joker wrapped his arms around his little sister in a comforting gesture. "No, you don't. You're just mad." There was an understanding to Joker's words.
"You promised… and I was soo scared.." Oracle's voice was shaky as if she was on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry I'm an idiot. I didn't consider your feelings." Joker soothed.
It was then Oracle burst out into tears in Joker's arms. Yu turned away from the pair, letting them have this private moment. His attention turned to the other Phantom Thieves. Crow was looking away as if he was the awkward third wheel in this. Queen looked just plain pissed. As someone in a relationship, he understood that look well. Rise had directed it at him a few times, it was the 'I love that guy but I currently think he is an idiot and want to punch him for it' look. Joker was going to have to make this up to his girlfriend. Skull and Mona just looked relieved. No doubt they didn't hold it against Joker for the stunt he just pulled but were both just glad he was okay.
"Thanks for keeping an eye on him." Queen's gaze was still sharp but Yu knew it wasn't directed at him.
"Don't be too mad at him. He needed a chance to clear his head." Yu looked at Joker's girlfriend.
"He could have done that any other place, could have done anything else besides disappearing." Queen's voice was harsh yet firm and clear, this was not the soft-spoken Makoto. It was truly Queen.
Yu smirked to himself at that revelation. Even Joker's friends expressed their selves differently in this other world. It was subtle and hard to catch but apparently, Joker wasn't the only one that did it. Yu wondered if all Joker's friends did that or it was possibly the reason Joker was attracted to Queen. They both shared that duality to their hearts.
"This is the only place he could think freely. He honestly doesn't feel you guys know who he is." Yu countered.
Skull shouldered his club tapping it ever so slightly. "Whad'ya mean? Joker is Joker."
"Is Joker Ren? Or is Ren Joker?" Yu asked as he pushed his glasses up; a green tint shielding his eyes for half a moment.
Silence. They didn't have a good answer to that question while the weight of it made them think. Oracle's sobs died down as she finally stepped away from Joker, rubbing her eyes with the back of her sleeves as she did so. Joker put his hand on top of Oracle's head and offered her a small smile. Taking a deep breath, Yu watched Oracle collect herself before looking towards the rest of the group.
"Ren isn't Joker, nor is Joker Ren. They are different parts of him, they make up the sum of his whole personality but are two distinctive parts." Oracle sniffled before looking up at Joker for confirmation.
Joker smiled at her and nodded.
"Huh," Skull walked up to Joker and put a hand on his shoulder. "Sorry I've been such a shitty friend and didn't notice sooner. I thought fixin' my problems made us best friends, but that was wrong. We're still good, right?" Skull had an emotional maturity to him that no one had realized.
"Yeah, we're good Skull." Joker nodded.
"Good, because yer coming to help us kick Shido's ass. Screw the vote! Yer our leader, you deserve to be there." Skull announced as he threw his arms around Joker's shoulders.
"Skull, you can't just overturn the vote," Queen interjected.
"I change my vote." Oracle suddenly said. "That would make it a six to five in favor of Joker coming with us."
Queen sighed. "You can't change your vote Oracle…"
"I just did, Joker you are coming with us!" Oracle nodded to her brother figure before looking at Crow. "Oh, that means you too Light Yagami."
"Really?" Crow asked in a surprised tone. "Wait. Light Yagami?"
"I kind of have to stand with Skull and Oracle with this. It wouldn't be the same without Joker! I switch my vote too!" Mona purred as he stepped up to Joker, his ears folded against his head. "Sorry leader…"
Joker nodded to both Mona and Crow, clearly pleased with this turn of events. "Thanks, guys."
Oracle grinned. "Heh, four to seven! In favor of Joker!"
Queen shook her head. "Fine. Looks like I can't stop this." She turned and started to head back up the stairs. "We should head back, some of us have school tomorrow morning."
No one argued and they slowly moved to leave. Queen may not have been the leader, but she was respected enough as the advisor to be a good second in command. However, Yu saw something starting that could easily spell the end of Joker's relationship with his Queen. Yu didn't have to be there to understand it was probably Queen's words that swayed so heavily against Joker. She was worried about him, clearly cared deeply about him. But to have this all go down like this no doubt hurt. Joker would need to approach her and mend this forming rift before it festered.
"I need to talk to Joker alone for a minute, it won't take long," Yu called to the Phantom Thieves.
There were a few looks exchanged, but Yu had earned their trust enough to allow him to be alone with his younger protégé. Joker slipped his hands into his pockets as his friends disappeared up the stairs of Mementos before his attention turned to Yu. Curiosity peeked on his face and clearly, he hadn't realized how much thin ice he was currently skating on. He didn't have the type of experience in relationships Yu had, that kind of ignorance was expected.
"You will let Queen cool off than talk to her tomorrow. Alone." Yu advised.
Joker glanced up the stairs as if a few things seemed to click for him. "Alright. What do I say?"
"I can't answer that question," Yu explained as he walked past Joker and towards the stairs. "Good luck."
Yu could feel Joker's eye on him before they all headed home.
The next chapter is a bit shorter I hope to have it out late tomorrow. If I can get a review I'll try and get it out tomorrow morning. I hope ya are having a good day.