Author's Note: What a way to celebrate Valentine's Day! Everyone's out there exchanging chocolate, going on dates, and getting some ass. Me? I'm just a lonely, fanfic author virgin here publishing an new chapter of another one of my projects. Hahahaha!

…

Oh just shut up and enjoy the new chapter. T-T

Persona 5: Shots Through the Heart

Shot 31: Troublemaker at Heart

White Week: Day 3

It's officially the day where everything that was given on Valentine's Day by the girlfriend to their other half must be returned by the other half in full three times over. The long awaited White Day has come. And certain criminal intends to give back four times more than he should to the woman daring enough to call herself his.

xxx

It's a beautiful early Tuesday morning in Tokyo. Akira is in the kitchen making a delicious extravagant pancake breakfast for him and his love before they head off to school. That's when he hears the sound of footsteps.

"Oooh~! Look at you working hard in the kitchen." Akira chuckles as Ann struts into the living room.

"All for my Red Panther Princess of the day," he says. After he finishes making the last part of the White Day breakfast, he turns around to receive her warm embrace and passionate kiss. Sweet moans and happy purrs escape her mouth as her tongue runs along every inch of his mouth and her bombshell body rubs tightly against his muscular one.

After she pulls back out, escaping the teeth that tried to trap her inside, she stares at her boyfriend with her narrow sky blue eyes which are filled with the some the most affection and longing they've ever had.

"Happy White Day, Ann-pan," Akira whispers. Ann kisses him again before nuzzling her face into his shoulder.

"Why can't I just spend all day right here, nice and snug in your arms~?" she whines. Akira rolls his eyes.

"Cuz Shujin just had to have finals this week," he groans in annoyance while patting her head. "Don't worry. You'll have all day after school to hold me as long as you want." Ann giggles and licks her lips, salivating over the breakfast spread.

"Then again, I wouldn't be able to dig into all this!" she exclaims. Akira laughs as she eagerly grabs a plate.

"It's enough to feed a cow, so it's enough to feed you and still not expand your stomach. Chow down to your heart's content." Ann quickly makes her plate so she can wolf down as much as she can before she has to go to school.

xxx

At the Aoyama-Itchome Station, Makoto steps out of the train cart and sees a disheartened Ryuji walk out another door.

"I assume your studies didn't go too well last night," Makoto says. Ryuji shakes his head.

"Nope. Not even close," he sighs.

"I would've helped you, but as I said, I still needed to work on my speech." As the two are talking, Makoto sees Akira rubbing Ann's stomach as he walks with her.

"Good morning, you two," she greets. "Um… Ann, are you alright?"

"She gobbled down too much of the White Day Breakfast I made for her," he chuckles. Ann calmly breaths in and out to ease her bloated feeling.

"Best. Breakfast. Ever," she says with a smile.

"Try not to puke, alright?" Ryuji and Makoto just follow the couple up the stairs.

When they finally reach the school gates, Akira leaves Ann to Makoto and Ryuji.

"Alright. Digest that spread," Akira says to Ann. "And I'll see you later for the best date of your life." Ann nods as Makoto and Ryuji guide her into the school. Akira walks away to begin his trip back to the apartment.

On his way down the street, warning bells go off in his head as a dark presence passes by him. When he looks around to look for it, all he could see was the usual bustle of students walking by. Convinced that his senses were off, he continues walking.

xxx

Back at the apartment, Akira is getting ready for his and Ann's big date. He pulls out his phone and makes a call.

"... This is the Wilton Hotel Restaurant. How may I help you?"

"Hello. I'm calling to check on a reservation made a week ago. 5:30 pm under Akira Kurusu?"

"One moment, please… Ah, yes. Akira Kurusu; Top Lux Table for 5:30. Any concerns?"

"No. Just wanted to make sure it was still there."

"Very well. We'll be expecting you." Akira hangs up the phone and slips on the Phantom Thieves leather jacket that Ann gave him for his… their birthday. Afterwards, he turns on the TV and switches on the news to check the weather. To his relief, it looks like their date will go on without a drop of rain. It's one of their last big dates before he goes home, so of course he wants it to go off without a hitch.

Immediately after the weather section ends, something TV catches his attention.

xxx

At Shujin Academy, it's the middle of second half of the day. In Class 2-D, Ann is in deep concentration mode as she battles through the exam of her hardest subject: Math. After countless tutoring sessions with her boyfriend, she feels more confident in her ability to get through this test.

With her tongue sticking out of the right side of her mouth and her momentum carrying her through the difficult questions, the blonde model blazes through the test with the greatest speed she's ever gone.

Woo! I am destroying this test, she thinks. I love, love, love my amazing tutor!

… That's when a long noise pierces through the silence, changing the current atmosphere of the entire school drastically.

…

*BANG BANG BANG*

xxx

We have breaking news! A hostage situation has just arose in Aoyama-Itchome district of Tokyo. A group of armed assailants have invaded Shujin Academy and taken over the entire building. Based on their behavior, the police have deduced that they are the same criminals that failed to rob the Shinkin Trust Bank a week, leading to the deaths of a handful of staff members and civilians. The hostages this time include all staff and students currently inside. Negotiations are to begin soon.

xxx

Inside the school, everyone is trembling in fear and ducking in cover after hearing the news that there had been a threat on the building. All of the teachers instructed all of the students to gather together in a corner and stay as quiet as possible. The only things that can be heard are the tapping of footsteps through the halls, most likely the hijackers.

Then, there was a loud thud of someone kicking a door open. A man with a head bandana and a cloth covering his mouth wielding an assault rifle peaks his head into the room. He looks to his left and sees the group of students huddled together in the farthest left corner away from the windows. He turns back to the two men with him.

"Found some! You guys stay out here and keep watch!" He then looks at the students with evil eyes.

"... You all will do just fine…"

The classroom that has been raided is 2-D… which means Ann is among the group of students huddled together in the corner, along with Mishima.

xxx

Multiple police forces are gathered outside the school gates trying get a handle on the situation, requesting the demands of the criminals.

All the while, a yellow cab… Sojiro's cab, to be more precise, pulls slowly up to the right side of school walls. Sojiro groans, far from on board with the idea of his passenger in the back.

"You know, I still don't completely get all that stuff you kids did as Phantom Thieves," he says. "But I do know that the rules you had then don't apply to the real world. Long story short, this is really stupid." Akira, wearing the clothes he used to wear when he went into hiding back during late November and the first half of December, readies all the equipment he had Sojiro bring from Leblanc.

"Then why are you helping me, old man?" he asks with a smirk on his face. Sojiro sighs.

"Cuz your friends and your girl are in there. You'd go no matter what, so you might as well have back-up so you have a better chance at not getting killed."

As soon as he saw the hijacking on the news, Akira's mind instantly went into Phantom Thief Joker mode. The first thing he did was try to contact everyone in a group chat.

Akira: Roll call. Everyone in the school, put your phones on silent. If in danger of being compromised, text "!".

Futaba: Here.

Ryuji: Yo.

Yusuke: Here.

Makoto: Present.

Haru: Here.

Akira: ... Ann's not responding. You guys in the school know the sitch?

Makoto: I heard they rounded up some hostages in a class.

Yusuke: If Ann's not responding, it's probably her class.

Ryuji: Shit. What do we do?

- !

Makoto: As much as I want to help her, we're not Phantom Thieves anymore. We can't just go sneaking around and picking a fight.

Akira: Maybe we can…

Haru: Akira-kun?

Akira: Futaba, can you hack into the school's surveillance cameras?

Futaba: I'm reading you loud and clear! You need eyes, I'm your girl! ;)

Makoto: You're about to do something reckless, aren't you?

Akira: No one threatens my friends on my watch.

- Plus, I'm not gonna let this little kids game mess up my big day with my Ann-pan.

Haru: Always one to run headfirst into danger when it comes caring for people.

Makoto: It's what makes him Joker. :)

Haru: True. :)

Yusuke: Would you like me to accompany you?

Akira: No. Less people moving around, the better.

- … But I have a different task for you. Head over to Boss's house and meet up with Futaba. Then wait for further instructions.

Yusuke: Roger.

Ryuji: We're counting on ya, man.

(Chat between Akira and Futaba)

- Futaba, tell Boss to grab my gear from my room. My knife, my pistol, and few of my stun guns and smoke bombs.

- I'll send him Ann's apartment address. Oh, and make sure he brings Mona.

Futaba: Gotcha! I'll have him bring you an earpiece too so we can communicate!

Akira finishes gearing up in the car and turns on his earpiece.

"Futaba, we ready to go?" he asks.

"These eyes got ya covered all through the school!" she says confidently. Akira nods and opens the door.

"Alright. C'mon, Morgana!"

"I'm ready to roll!" Mona hops out of the car and Akira follows him.

"Don't do anything too crazy!" Sojiro calls out. Akira closes the door behind him and smirks at his guardian.

"Hey, it's me we're talking about!" Sojiro drives off, leaving Akira to carry out his mission to take back the school.

"Alright, climb over the walls and let's get Operation: White Day Demolition underway!"

MISSION START!

Akira and Morgana vault over the wall to set foot on the school grounds, then rush into the shadow covered bushes for cover.

"Futaba, gimme the lowdown," Akira requests.

"I heard there's someone in the surveillance room," she says. "So I used my magic to put all of the camera feeds on an endless loop to keep them from finding you. I'm the only one who can see you."

"Cool. Now, where is everyone?"

"Most of the students and staff were taken to the gym. A few classes were taken to the Main Building as hostages on-hand… Looks like Haru and Ryuji are in the gym and Ann and Makoto are in the on-hand hostage group."

"How many thugs are we looking at?" There's a short silence before Futaba gives him the enemy count.

"It's a grand total of 35. 15 guarding the gym, 10 patrolling the Main Building, the one in the announcement room with two guarding it, and 7 looking all around. The 7 are the most heavily armed with assault rifles. Giving you all their locales now…" Morgana starts hissing while Akira readies his stun gun and model pistol, both of them ready for action.

xxx

In class 2-D, the man in the bandana looks out the window, smiling at the news helicopters flying overhead.

"Looks like we're gonna be TV stars again, boys!" he laughs.

Somebody, please! Help us!

The thug sets off a shot to silence the hostages.

"Keep your fucking mouths shut if you don't wanna die!" All the girls were in tears, the boys just sat there, frozen in place, and the teacher tries to keep them calm. The thug sees an oddball among the group and steps up to them.

"Hey. You watch who you shootin' that stink eye at, Blondie." After dealing with mafia bosses, corrupt politicians, monsters, and even Satan and a god, this guy didn't give Ann the slightest reason to be afraid, even when she's without her powers or a weapon.

"Just so you know," she says. "You and your friends are in for a world of hurt." The thug slowly leans in towards her with a cocky grin.

"Like the cops can do jackshit. What makes you so sure this won't go our way?" Ann's been feeling her phone vibrating for a while. She had taken a quick peek earlier and saw that Akira was contacting everyone. Knowing him, he's coming up with some reckless attack plan.

"... Just a hunch…" Mishima, who remained silent, smiles a little, knowing that she means that the Phantom Thieves are getting to work again.

xxx

Near the PE storage shack, a hooded thug with an assault rifle is patrolling the vicinity. He stops when he spots a scared little black cat a short ways away.

"Hey there, little guy," the thug calls out. "What's goin' on?" The kitty scurried away behind the shack and the thug follows him.

"Don't sweat, lil' man. I won't hurt'cha. Though, you really shouldn't be walkin' around here all by-" With a sudden hiss, the cat pounces on the thug's face, doing a number on his eyes before leaping off him.

"AGH! What the shi- Mmph!" An arm sudden wraps around his neck and someone whispers in his ear before they pull him in.

"All the little birdies on Jaybird Street…" The thug is throw against the wall before the head of a stun gun is placed on his neck.

"Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet." The tazing of the thug's neck knocks him unconscious.

After dragging into the shack, tying up the thug, destroying his walkie talkie, and relieving him of his gun and bullet proof vest, Akira emerges from the shack with rifle in hand.

"You sure you're gonna be able to handle that?" Mona asks as he emerges from the bushes. "Your specialty is one-handed pistols, after all."

"This guy is wearing the same conspicuous clothes I'm wearing right now," Akira explains. "I'll be in disguise if I carry this around. Besides, things are gonna get hairy, so I need to make due with what I got. If it comes down to it, I won't kill anyone. Just disarm them, even if that means shooting their legs and feet." Futaba contacts him.

"Assault rifle bogie, inbound! Coming from your left!" Akira just calmly walks towards the aforementioned bogie. They meet in the courtyard.

"Anythin' funny?" the thug asks. Akira just shakes his head, not wanting to risk the chance of his voice giving off suspicion.

"Alright. Switch with me. I'll take over your area." Akira nods and keeps walking around the Main Building, getting a feel of the place before making his move.

xxx

Later on in class 3-A, Makoto is sitting with the rest of her classmates and her teacher with one of the thug guards watching over them. All of a sudden, everyone hears a rapid tapping at the door. To everyone else, the sound that followed was a loud meow, but to Makoto, it was someone calling out to her.

"Makoto! Get ready to jump him!" The graduating Student Council President, knowing she had no time to be confused, prepares herself as the guard walks towards the door. As soon as he opens the door, Mona immediately attacks his left leg.

"GAH! What the hell?!" Mona runs away as quickly as he came and the guard tries to chase after him.

"Hey, you little bastard, get back- Ugh!" As soon as he steps out of the room, Makoto sneaks up behind him and knockout chops him. She then drags him into the classroom and towards the group of students, who are obviously shocked.

"Restrain him!" she orders. "Quickly!" Everyone snaps out of their surprised trances and pin the man to the floor. Makoto hides the gun, then meets Morgana outside the classroom.

"Is it just you?" she asks. "Where's Akira-kun?"

"We split up after we took care of most of the guards in the Main Building," he says. "By now, he should be heading towards-" The announcement speakers start sounding off everywhere.

"Oh. He's already there."

xxx

After taking care of the seven assault rifle guards without the use of the borrowed rifle, Akira split up with Mona and made a beeline towards the school's announcement room. The three cronies there were nothing he couldn't handle without causing too big of a commotion. He uses his earpiece to contact Futaba.

"Alright, I'm in," he says. "You two ready?"

"Ready Freddy!" Futaba shouts. "Hook your phone up to the speakers, hit the music, and let's do this thang!" Akira chuckles as he disconnects the microphone from the speakers in exchange for his phone, puts his phone on speaker, turns on the all of the school's speakers, and whistles into his phone before putting on the music (Wake up, Get up, Get out there!), the sound being heard all throughout the school.

Akira: Hello there~! What is up, Shujin Academy and the assholes taking it over?!

In class 2-D, the guard is slightly panicked and most of the students are confused. Mishima, who is sitting next to Ann, chuckles, knowing who the voice belongs to.

"A Phantom Thief through and through," he whispers to himself. Ann just smiles, happy that her man still never fails to disappoint.

Futaba: How's it going?! Good? Fantastic! So, from what we can tell, it seems like there's one heck of a party going on down here! Well, as much as we love a good dose of fun…

Yusuke: The party is over. Release the hostages, then lay down your weapons and surrender. This is your one and only warning.

All of the thugs were in a state of confusion. One of the two guarding the door to 2-D starts shouting.

"If you think you can scare us off, y'all are as dumb as rocks!" the thug with the ski mask shouts.

Futaba: Hey, ski mask idiot guarding 2-D? You might wanna contact the 7 guys who were supposed to be patrolling the whole school and ask THEM if we're as dumb as you think.

Confused by her statement, the thug pulls out his walkie talkie.

"Hey, Shark squad, what's your status?" There was no response. Beginning to panic, he tries again.

"Shark squad, come in! Do you copy? Respond! Come in, dammit!" No response.

Akira: I think you'll find them quite… "indisposed" at the moment. And by that, I mean they're sleeping in the storage shed outside.

"You little- Just who the hell do you guys think you are?!" Akira chuckles into the mic and speaks into the mic in a deep tone.

Akira: Tell me… Does the name "Phantom Thieves of Hearts" mean anything to you?"

As soon as the infamous vigilante group's name finishes echoing through the halls, the criminal gang is struck with lightning bolts of fear deep within their hearts.

Akira: No one knows who we really are… No one knows what we can do… Each of our targets were taken care of before they had a chance to see us coming. Trust me… You biteless dogs will be no different…

Over the last year, that name alone became its own super power. Mentioning it even once makes innocent people cheer for the band of misfits in their souls while the sinners tremble in fear. Very similar to the world that Yaldabaoth offered the leader with the one crucial difference of everyone having the freedom to choose and the drive to be more than what they are.

All that aside, the name is being used very well as the thug gang becomes disorganized with two words.

Akira: … Start. Running.

xxx

From the school gate, the cops could a whole bunch of screaming before most of the thugs start rushing out unarmed and hands over their heads, begging them to take them away.

Hurry the fuck up an' cuff me!

Arrest me! Please!

Anything's better than dealing with them!

Utterly confused, the police proceeded to make the arrests one after another.

xxx

Three thugs charge into the announcement room trying to find Akira, but they end up rushing straight into a trap. Hidden smoke bombs go off, fogging up the room so that Akira can jump out of hiding and knock the three out with no trouble at all. Afterwards, he looks outside the window to see the thugs running for their lives, much to his amusement.

"How many do you count, sis?" He asks Futaba.

"Gym's been cleared out," she says. "But there are three stubborn ones guarding 2-D."

"Tell Makoto to meet me there." Akira sends Ryuji and Haru a message.

Akira: You two keep everyone in the gym until I give the word. I still need to get my girlfriend back.

Ryuji: Gotcha.

Haru: Understood.

xxx

Back in 2-D, the three thugs are looking out the window, watching their crew frantically escape the scene.

"Chicken shits! All of 'em!" the bandana thug spits.

"H-Hey, let's bail too!" the thug with a ski mask says. "This job's gone straight to hell!"

"You're not really thinkin' of takin' on the peeps that took down Shido, are ya?!" asks the thug with hood. As the leader is growling in frustration, Ann starts snickering.

"You can't say I didn't warn you~," she gloats. The leader points his gun at her forehead.

"Say one more goddamn word! I fucking-" Everyone suddenly hears banging at the door, followed by Akira's loud whistle. The thugs freeze in fear for a moment, realizing that there's no way out, before the leader locks and loads his gun.

"I'm at least takin' one of those bastards with me! C'mon!" The other two reluctantly follow him as he marches towards the door and outside the room. They level their guns down the halls, seeing someone running down the stairs to the left. As soon as they try to go after them, a mine field of smoke bombs go off under them. Having their vision cut off, they are left open to a surprise attack by the two most capable in aikido.

Everyone in Class 2-D could hear the racket from inside the room. It goes on for about a minute before the sound of guns being snapped in half warrants a brief moment of silence. Afterwards, Makoto and Akira walk into the room.

"President?! Kurusu!" Mishima shouts

"Is everyone alright?" Makoto asks. All of the classmates look on in amazement. Akira looks among the group to find his woman and smiles confidently.

"Annie baby. You've been a good girl?" he asks teasingly. Ann chuckles with glowing pink cheeks.

"If you promise to behave to a teeny bit longer, sweetie pie," he continues. "I'll even buy you some takoyaki." Makoto sighs and shakes her head.

"You really insane," she says. Akira starts walking over to her. But then…

*SLAM*

The sound of a wooden bat hitting slamming into a skull makes Akira turn back, shocked by the sight of the leader thug getting the drop on his senpai.

"Miss President!" Mishima shouts.

"Makoto!" Makoto falls to the floor as the leader charges at Akira with murderous intent.

"YOU LITTLE BRAT BASTARD!" He came so quickly and out of nowhere that Akira didn't have any time to react. All he could do is endure the body check that makes him fall on his side. What came after was a sound that was completely unexpected…

*CRASH*

Akira slowly sits up, completely confused about what transpired. The thug came charging after him from the front... so how did he get body checked from the side? Did someone push him out of the way? And if so…

He turns around to find his horrid realization had come true. The thug had tackled the one who protected him and they both crashed through the window. He hurries to his feet and looks out the two story shattered window… What he saw was the last thing he expected and the last thing he wanted to see.

The thug was curling up in a ball on his side in pain while the victim was lying face down unconscious. What really horrified him… was who it was.

"... ANN!" The thug slowly gets up, grabs his bat, and raises it over his head, glaring at Ann.

"Fucking bitch!" A sudden furious roar prompts him to look up before a livid Akira plummets down from the two story window, slamming him into the ground. After beating his face into a bloody mess, the angry rebel then knocks him unconscious with a stun gun to the neck.

After confirming the subjugation of the enemy, he rushes to his unconscious girlfriend and rolls her on her back to find a few cut on het cheek and a thick trail of blood gushing out of the large wound on her forehead. The memory of the last time someone took a fall at this school made his heart drop like an anchor.

"... Oh god…!" he gasps, choking up a bit. "... O-Oh my god, no...!" He tries to shake her awake, but to no avail, her head hanging all the way back.

"Ann! Annie, hey! C'mon, wake up!" He pushes two fingers on her neck to check her pulse. It's steady, but he had a feeling that could change at any time. He hears the stampeding sound of police starting to swarm into the area and turns to the incoming squad.

"H-HEY! GET AN AMBULANCE!" he desperately shouts. "PLEASE! SOMEBODY GET AN AMBULANCE!"

xxx

While the rest of the assailants were being arrested, Ann was immediately rushed straight to the Aoyama Hospital. Akira stuck to her side like he was super glued to her, riding with her in the ambulance car and walking beside her stretcher, right up until she was taken into a room.

A few hours had passed. In that time, the rest of the Phantom Thieves and Sojiro had come, waiting for any updates on Ann's conditions with the terrified and worried Akira.

Akira presses the palm of his forehead, recalling the last moments of the assault.

"I'm such a dumb ass!" he curses. "I can't believe I let my guard down like that!" Makoto, who was quickly treated to, lays a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't shoulder all the blame," she says. "I let my guard down too."

"Are you sure you're okay, Mako-chan?" Haru asks.

"It's just a bump on my head. I'll live."

"Well, I'm glad that the rest of you are safe," Yusuke admits. "And that Akira's rescue attempt succeeded, for the most part." Mona snickers.

"Of course! I was backing him up, after all!" he boasts.

"It was a pretty stupid move though," Sojiro bluntly points out.

"Even so, I couldn't help be feel relieved once Akira-kun announced that he was on his way," Haru says. Ryuji puts on a smug grin.

"That's our leader for ya!" he laughs. "Still, wasn't it awesome how those a-holes started runnin' as soon as they heard that the Phantom Thieves had raided the place?!"

"I just believed in the power of the name," Akira says. "It became so well known over the year that any old fogey of a criminal would run at the mere sound of it... Not like I care right now." Futaba, who's barely managing to keep herself together, tugs on Sojiro's shirt.

"H-Hey, Ann's gonna be okay, right?" she stutters. Akira clasps his hands together and prays as hard as he can.

To any god who's willing to help me out, I'm begging you with all I got! Please! Please let her be okay!

As soon as he finishes that prayer, the door to Ann's room finally opens. Everyone jumps from their seat as the nurse steps out of the room.

"Well?!" Akira shouts. The nurse gives them all a warm smile.

"A slight concussion, a dislocated shoulder, and a sprained ankle," she says. "Other than that, she's going to be just fine." Everyone breaths a huge sigh of relief, happy that their friend is going to be okay.

"OH MY GOD!" Akira shouts before covering his face and laughing. Futaba rubs the tears from her eyes and smiles.

"I was so scared!"

"She'll be favoring her shoulder for two days at max," the nurse says. "You can come take her home tomorrow. If you want to see her for a few minutes, go right ahead. She's wide awake."

"Thank you very much," Sojiro says. Ryuji pats Akira on the back.

"You go ahead," he says to him. "I'm sure she'll wanna see you first."

"We'll come by her place to see her tomorrow," Makoto says. Akira nods and the nurse stands aside to let him through. He walks in and sees Ann sitting up and facing the door with a bandage wrapped around her head and a cloth supporting her left arm. Of course, even with her injury, she still smiles at the sight of her lover.

"... Hey there, hero," she says sweetly. She reaches out her right arm to him as he walks up to her, expecting him to give her a caring embrace… but got an angry thwack on the head.

"Hey, owww!" she cries. "My head's already rattled! What did you do that for?!" Akira angrily gets in her face.

"What kind of air-headed moron falls from a two story window and has a stupid smile on her face?!" he shouts. She rubs her head in pain, then Akira pulls her right hand aside, kisses the bloody spot on her bandage, and hugs her tightly.

"... You scared the living shit outta me," he whispers. Ann smiles and embraces him tightly.

"I wasn't scared, y'know," she says. "I knew you'd come charging in like hero you are once you found out what was happening."

"After all the shit I've gone through," he says. "No street thugs are gonna scare me out of keeping you safe." Ann feels a sharp pain in her shoulder when his grip tightens.

"Ow! Shoulder!" Akira quickly pulls away.

"Whoops! My bad!" She stares at her arm and lets out a deep disappointed sigh.

"So I'm seriously gonna be stuck here for the rest of the night?" she asks.

"Yep," Akira says. "Doctor's orders, so don't bother asking about our Wilton reservation. I already called to cancel."

"... Sorry." Akira pats her on the head.

"Uh-uh. Don't worry about it," he says. "I'm just glad you're okay. Your injuries should be completely healed by Friday, so we can make up for today then." Akira reaches into his bag.

"Hey! I know what'll cheer you up! It's that time again~!" Ann's face immediately starts beaming.

"On third day of White Week, my true love gave to me~!"

"Ha ha ha! I never get tired of that." He pulls out an accessory box and opens it to show her a diamond encrusted black hairband with a red rose.

"Remember when you said you'd let me see what you look like with your hair down?" he asks. "Well, I wanted you to do it today. And I thought this would look good with it." Ann picks up and admires the hairband with eyes filled with awe.

"I barely let my hair down, so I never really used these," she says. "But this is really pretty." Ann blushes as she turns to him.

"Do you… want me to do it now?" Akira shakes his head.

"N-No, that's okay," he says. "I'll save it for Friday now."

"Alright." The two hear a message via the hospital speakerphones.

Attention. Visiting hours are now over.

"... Well, guess I'd better get back," Akira sighs deeply.

"Think you'll be okay without me tonight?" Ann asks teasingly.

"I'll try my best." Akira leans in to kiss her deeply, starts walking to the open door. When he gets to the doorway, he turns back to her and winks.

"Night, Ann-pan!" She waves back to him as the door closes.

And so, with the safety of the entire school and Ann's confirmed well-being, the results of White Day Demolition are concrete:

Operation: Success

Spiraling deep down in a veil of darkness…

The malicious masses' mercilessly chatises…

Banishment from places he usually resided…

And the worst of the worst, his desperate cries to one whose dark aura is trying to blow him away with full force…

… Mo... ook.. e… C'mo… ok at me…

...

… om, don't just… ere, look at me…

…

Mom, don't just stand there! Look at me!

SAY SOMETHING, GOD DAMMIT!

*THUNDER CLAP*

"GYAAAAAAAAAAH!"

After jolting awake from a horrifying nightmare, Akira sits up in bed, sweating beads and gripping his heart, as he tries to catch his breath. He wipes the sweat off his faces, then rubs his eyes of the tears before mumbling something.

… After everything... Why…

…

... Why wouldn't you look at me…?

Target: Hit

Author's Note:

2 things.

Tiara: Even though I've been hearing that recently, the game doesn't do a good job of selling it if that's really what happened. The position of Ann and Joker's heads being the major thing. If Joker really did kiss her then, he must've kissed her cheek or her ponytail cuz she was turning away from him. Plus, her head stays in the same position when she says "I guess we're more than just friends now". If he's kissing her, how is he talking? His head should be pulling back if it's just the case of him stopping. As for the case of her covering her mouth, I guess that could be him trying to, but she breaks away and does it to stop him.

That's just how I see it though. Maybe they did kiss on the roof. Still, this is a fanfic, so I'm free to interpret it however I want. Sorry if I'm coming off as mean. I'm just stating my opinion. :\

J: You are NOT wrong, sir. Fight and action scenes are hands down the hardest thing for me. The reason mine have excess edge is a result of me trying to make them exciting. I don't know exactly how to make them exciting. How do you make the scenes sound as exciting as they are in the game? One of my questions that is still left unanswered.

So yeah. Sorry about the overly edgy fight scenes, ma dude. I can easily admit that those are my worst area. I'm gonna keep doing them in hopes that I get better. I just hope they don't ruin the overall story for people.