Persona 5: Shots Through the Heart

Shot 26: What Now?

"Woo hooooo! Namaste~!" That's all the reunited couple hear before Akira's baby sister hits them with an attack hug, laughing out loud.

"Whoa, hold up!" Akira shouts.

"Futaba, you're gonna make us fall!" Ann laughs. All of their friends, Ryuji, Yusuke, Makoto, and Haru, in that order, walk up with big smiles on their faces to greet their leader, who was just released from prison.

"You did it!"

"It has been a while."

"I'm glad you seem well!"

"Come sit over here!" As Akira chuckles at their warm welcomes, Sojiro starts walking out the door.

"I'm gonna head out and get some groceries," he announces with his usual grin. "I'm sure you guys have plenty to talk about." The old man leaves as the group takes their leader to his seat.

"Yeah. So… hi!" he laughs.

"Man, it went well, yeah?" Ryuji says.

"I'm so glad we didn't give up," Makoto says.

"This was truly worth the effort," Yusuke says. Everyone takes their seats, Ann sitting next to him and holding his hand.

"We didn't know what to do once you were gone," she admits. "But then, we remembered something. Even though we don't have the Metaverse or any special powers, we can still change reality."

"What was that really cheesy line you said?" Futaba asks. "It was like… "The Holy Grail doesn't have the power to grant wishes all to itself. It's shared among the masses, buried deep within their hearts, and it's something to be treasured. It ain't easy, but if you wanna fulfill your dreams, you just have to work hard enough to find it." Something like that, so that's what we did." Akira couldn't help but notice the mocking tone she was using and the way she was moving her arms as she quoted him.

"Pretty sure I didn't sound like that…" he objects.

"We were runnin' around all the places we could since the new year," Ryuji says. "It must've been over a month."

"And not just us," Haru adds. "Everyone who believed in you joined us."

"Thanks to that, we got our leader back!" Futaba exclaims. As soon as the word "leader" came up, Akira crosses his arms and shuts his eyes in thought.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Ann asks.

"Oh, nothing. Just wondering if I should look at you guys as supporting teammates I should be grateful to… or total morons I should be pissed at!" Everyone smiles and sighs as he glares at all of them, having seen this coming from a million miles away.

"Seriously, what the hell, guys?!" he exclaims. "Didn't you guys receive my last order?! I specifically told you all not to do anything! Did the old man even bother to read my letter?!"

"Yes, he did," Makoto chuckles. "It was very touching, by the way. A beautifully written tearjerker." Obviously, they couldn't have cared less, which irritated him.

"Ugh, God…" he groans while rolling his eyes. "IQ is out of the question. You guys are bunch of idiots." A short period of silence came before he sighs and smiles at them.

"... But you're my bunch of idiots… Thank you." Ryuji snickers and shakes his head.

"What're you talkin' about? You're the one who took the hit for us." Ann starts feeling up her man's torso with concern.

"They treated you fine, right?" she asks. "Actually… did you lose some weight? I think I felt some bone on you earlier."

"... W-Well uh…" Everyone hears a bear's growl coming from his stomach as he rubs it.

"... I definitely can't say I was ever full…" he groans.

"Understandable," Yusuke says. "I hear the food in prison is quite foul… So… what did you eat?" Futaba leans in, eyes filled with curiosity.

"Was it bugs? Fermented mackerel? Or even durian?" Makoto shakes her head.

"You're missing the point…" she sighs.

"No, Makoto! You're missing the point! My poor baby was starving in there!" Ann suddenly squeezes Akira tightly in her arms and gives him a peck on his cheek, much to his shock.

"Nyah~! Annie, not in front of everyone!" Ryuji starts laughing.

"Eh, you should probably let her. She definitely missed you the most." Akira turns to his best friend.

"Oh right! Sooo, you know now?"

"Well, you did say you wanted to be more open about it after winter break, didn't you?" Ann asks.

"Oh yeah. I did say that."

"Anyways, you're gonna get some good food in you soon," Ryuji says. "Boss is out getting stuff for our party right now. C'mon, everyone's back together! It's time to celebrate!" Before the mood lightened up, Futaba and Haru suddenly frown.

"Everyone…" Haru sadly sighs.

"Well… Not quite everyone…" Everyone suddenly remembers that one of the founding members of the Phantom Thieves organization is absent.

"Oh right… Morgana…" Ann says.

"He may have been the key person on this whole mission…" Makoto says. "We even considered what he would do when we were about to give up.

"Mona totally would've done somethin', right?" Ryuji says. "That cat would never quit on you…"

"He was always there to pull us forward," Haru says.

"Morgana truly was the engine of the Phantom Thieves," Yusuke admits.

"He he! He was a car, after all!" Ann jokes, though doesn't do much.

"I wanna see Mona again…" Futaba says. Akira sadly smiles as he recalls the empty feeling he gets when he isn't lugging the weight of the black cat around in his bag. That weight was what convinced him that he'd always be by his side.

"If I could make a wish on the Holy Grail," he says. "I'd wish for that without a second thought…" As everyone is in mourning, they hear the sound of the door opening.

"Oh, that was quick, Boss-" When everyone looks towards the opened door, they don't see anyone.

"Huh?"

"... Ahem…" Everyone looks down and stares at a stray black cat… and before they even had time to deny it…

"... Someone call for me…?" Their eyes couldn't have widened more with shock.

"... It… talked…?" Akira mumbles. After a few seconds of processing this moment, everyone jumps from their seats, knowing that there's only one cat in the world they can actually understand.

Ak+R+An+Y+M+F+H: "... MONA?!"

The Metaverse cat sheepishly laughs as he pads into the room.

"W-What're you doing here?!" Ann shouts. "I-I mean… didn't you disappear?!"

"Looks out the only "me" that disappeared was the one in the Metaverse," Morgana says.

"So… you stayed in reality as a cat?" Makoto asks as he hops onto an open stool.

"When I woke up, I was out in Shibuya looking like this…"

"And this was… when?!" Akira asks.

"Around the time you guys got back."

"That don't make any sense though!" Ryuji says. "I mean, if you were alive, you shoulda come back right away!" Mona scratches his head with his hind leg.

"I uh… It just… It was right after I had said goodbye… It would've been super awkward to come back so soon…"

"It appears he's finally learned to be tactful," Yusuke observes.

"He's grown!" Futaba gasps.

"I knew you guys had found your witness, so I was just waiting for Akira to get discharged. Well done on that, seriously. You guys pulled it off even without my help." Makoto couldn't help but glare at Mona when she notices his usual high and mighty tone.

"You've already returned to your normal conceited self?!" Mona snickers.

"I'm sorry I worried you all… Oh! Can I get a shower before you all rush to hug me? I've been stray for so long, I think I might smell." If he were in his Metaverse form, Mona would undoubtedly be have a huge grin on his face, anticipating everyone to be crying tears of joy for their mentor's miraculous return…

Attitudes like that are why he irritates them half the time. Even more so now.

Ryuji: "THIS AIN'T THE TIME FOR A GODDAMN SHOWER, YOU STUPID CAT!"

Makoto+Haru: "YOU VILLAIN! GIVE US OUR TEARS BACK!"

Yusuke: "You are unforgivable!"

Akira+Ann+Futaba: "C'MERE, YOU FURRY LITTLE…!"

In the end, Mona is met with a shower, all right. A shower of painful animal abuse by the hand of the free man, his lover, and his sister.

"NYAAAAAAAAAH~! ME-YEOOOW~! S-S-SHTOP ITH!" They stop when his fur is completely frizzy.

"Ugh… Talk about a harsh welcome." Done being mad at him, everyone gives him a warm smile.

"This is how things should be," Makoto says.

"Matters are finally back to normal," Yusuke says. Everyone laughs with joy, just like how they used to before.

"It's great that you're back and all," Ann says, "But what're you gonna do now?" Mona wags his tail in thought.

"Hm… Well, I've been thinking…"

"About what?"

"How to become human, of course."

"Oh… really?" Makoto asks.

"I may have learned I'm not a human now… but that doesn't mean I can't turn into one! Plus, I think there's a reason I survive like this."

"Regardless, I'm glad you're safe," Yusuke says. Mona looks around the room at everyone.

"Now, this is just a theory… but I think I stuck around because you all remained cognitive of me. Even when the world's distortions disappeared, you kept me in your minds… Heh… That means you must think there's a place for me in the real world." Futaba and Akira give their feline friend a big smile.

"Of course!" Futaba exclaims. "This is where you belong, Mona!"

"No matter what you are or your purpose is," Akira says. "Your home is here with us." Ryuji suddenly remembers something.

"Oh yeah! Uh, sorry for buttin' in and all… but speakin' of which…" He turns to his bro with a sad frown.

"Akira… We heard from Boss … you're goin' back home next month?" The mood suddenly becomes gloomy at Ryuji's question. Now that Akira's been let off the hook, he can go back to his hometown, if he so wanted. There's no doubt that he has an amazing life here and he wants to stay forever.

Still, Akira sighs and nods as he scratches his head with regret.

"Oh… uh… Y-Yeah… That was the plan from the beginning and… it hasn't really changed…" Everyone frowns at him.

"C'mon, man. Can't you stay here?" Ryuji asks. "Sure, we proved you're not guilty, but people are still gonna label you there, aren't they? Ain't it just gonna be uncomfortable goin' back?" Akira sheepishly smiles.

"Well… you're definitely not wrong… It's probably gonna be brutal…" Ann grips his hand tighter and slides closer to him, rubbing up against his side.

"Then stay!" she demands. "You have a way better life here. You've got friends all over the city and at school. You've got Haru and Makoto. Yusuke and Ryuji. Mona, Boss, and Futaba… And you've got me." Akira chuckles as he grips her hand harder in response.

"You say that like I don't know that. I do. Really. I love living here… but…" He sighs again and shrugs.

"Look, I'm sorry, but… I just gotta go home… I wanna go home… And you all should know by now what it means when I say my mind's already made up." Almost everyone hangs their heads, knowing that their leader is dead set on heading back to Kamakura, regardless of how much he loves it here.

"What's the matter?" Makoto says. "We were all so excited just a moment ago…" Ann shakes her head.

"Your boyfriend didn't just tell you he's moving back home…" Akira wraps an arm around her shoulders, knowing she already had a hard time dealing with Shiho moved away.

"Annie, c'mon. It's not like we won't see each other. I told you. Kamakura's only an hour train ride away."

"Yeah, but still…" Makoto smiles.

"How about this? If our leader is leaving, that means the Phantom Thieves are truly disbanding, correct? So today, we can celebrate his release… and commemorate the day of our disbandment." After everyone stares at het for a bit, the happy couple break the silence by bursting out laughing.

"Pfffffft ah ha ha ha ha ha ha! What?!" Akira shouts.

"What kind of commemoration is that?!" Makoto glares at them.

"I was serious when I said it." Haru smiles.

"It sounds like a good idea to me."

"I guess you're right," Ryuji chuckles. "We just gotta double our excitement for today!" Morgana clears his throat loudly to get everyone's attention.

"I know this is sudden… but I've decided to go with Akira," he announces to everyone's surprise. Slight dismay for Akira.

"... I'm sorry. What?" he asks.

"He's pretty special, after all. If I stick with him, I might be able to figure how I can become human too. Plus, we need to someone there in case he turns back into a delinquent." The word "delinquent" sets the boy off.

"A deli- What the- Hold up! I've never been a delinquent!" Mona tilts his head.

"Really?" Akira glares at him.

"Were you not paying attention to my story at all?!" Everyone chuckles.

"Either way," Mona continues. "I want you guys to add my farewell party to the one we're having tonight!" Ryuji rubs his chin in thought.

"I dunno… Is that important?"

"You're not leaving for another month, right?" Haru asks Akira.

"Right. March 20th."

"Then it is far too early for a farewell party," Yusuke points out.

"That'll just muddy the purpose of this celebration," Makoto explains. Akira gives Mona a narrow eyed look.

"Yeah. And I don't feel like celebrating that when all it means is that you're just gonna be free loading off me more." Even if cats can't show emotions with their faces, Mona's irritation is shown clearly on his, like always.

"Then it can be my comeback party!" he shouts. "Nobody can complain about that, right? I demand sushi! SUSHI~!" Akira groans and scratches his head.

"God, I can't believe I actually missed annoying little fur ball!"

At that moment, Sojiro walks in with plastic grocery bags in hand.

"Man, you guys are as loud," he sighs. "I can hear you from outside." He immediately notices the furry extra head in the room.

"Oh! I was wondering why I heard meowing! The cat's back!"

"Chief~! They're so mean~!" Mona cries. The old man walks up to him.

"Loud as always…" Mona back away.

"Hey! I'm not some… normal cat!" Sojiro pulls out a piece of food from the bag and stuffs it in Mona's mouth.

"I can't understand what you're saying to me, y'know. Here."

"No! I would much rather have sushi than something like… Hmpfh?!" Mona's eyes sparkle as he chews.

"... This is delicious!"

"What an assertive little guy… Wonder where he got that from."

"Definitely Akira," Futaba says. "He's with him all the time, after all." Yusuke turns to Akira.

"Come to think of it," he says. "If Morgana become human, he may end up just like Akira." Everyone turns to their leader as his eyes pop.

"... Say eh?" he says.

"Oh, I can see that," Haru says.

"Totally possible," Futaba says.

"Me, be like him? … Well, that wouldn't be so bad," Mona says. "I definitely don't want to be like Ryuji though." The person in question jumps from his seat and glares at him.

"What was that?!"

"It's things like that. You get angry fast. Oh. And you're vulgar."

"You little…! Why don't you go disappear again?!" Ann glares at the two.

"Ugh, shut up! We're supposed to be celebrating, not fighting!" Makoto shakes her head with disapproval.

"They're at it again…" she sighs.

"The world's changed," Sojiro says. "But you guys are the same as ever…"

"Seriously. That weirdo Inari," Futaba says, to Yusuke's irritation.

"Who are you calling a weirdo?!"

"C'mon, guys!" Akira laughs as he pounds his chest with pride. "Like anyone could ever copy the one and only unstoppable Joker!"

"Ohhh no! That's definitely happening now!" Mona says. "Besides, if I become like you, I'll finally be able to steal Lady Ann's beautiful heart!" There's no way Akira could be more irritated as he glares at the cat.

"... Know what? Let's get you that bath… Futaba, get me a bucket of ice, please." Mona fears for his life.

"Kidding! Kidding, kidding!"

"Those jokes ain't gonna fly anymore, got that?!" As Ann sheepishly laughs and the party kicks off, the free man basks in warmth of his closest friends surrounding in the place that he loves.

After all, he only has a month left with them.

Target: Hit