CONTENT WARNING: This chapter contains multiple references to self harm and suicide. While not graphic, this content still may be uncomfortable to some readers, so please take care of yourselves.


7/25 – Monday
After School
Futaba's Palace

Ryuji glanced up at the structure towering above the Thieves as he walked, shading his eyes with one hand. "I'm starting to feel kinda bad for complaining so much about last Palace being cold. This...this ain't much better."

Each breath tasted like panic, and Ren had to force himself onward rather than turning and running back into reality. The heat was constant, unrelenting, and furious. A desert, stretching forever in every direction, and the Thieves stared down the only visible landmark. An inverted pyramid structure, somehow balancing on its smallest point, so tall it sent a spark of vertigo into Ren's gut. He adjusted the fuzzy black feline on his shoulders – piggyback, so Mona didn't burn his paws on the sweltering sand.

"We're still in our everyday outfits," Yusuke noted, fanning himself with a sketchbook. "I wonder if that tells us anything."

"Futaba's cognition doesn't see us as a threat yet," Mona mewled, his voice breaking on every syllable.

"Kaneshiro was quite paranoid," Makoto said. "His security was tight even on the edges of his cognition. It seems Futaba at least trusts us to approach."

"Less talking, more walking," Ann said, her posture slumped, bag hanging loosely from one hand.

Thankfully, it didn't take long for them to reach first the shade beneath the Palace, then the entrance proper. Twin double-doors that looked as though they had one day held strong, but were now hanging open, halfway off their stone hinges. The entrance itself was easily a dozen feet tall, sizable even at the structure's apparent pinnacle.

Ren glanced around at the other Thieves. "Alright, let's head in. Stay sharp." And he took the first steps into the pyramid. Cold air smacked him in the face, and he stumbled to a stunned halt. It took a few seconds to adjust to the new temperature, and when he did, he found his gaze traveling upwards.

If he hadn't felt vertigo before, he certainly did now. Staring up from the pyramid's ceiling at the floor far, far above. The room, sizable though it was, hardly contained the entirety of the structure's width. Ren could see what were certainly doors to other areas of the pyramid, upside-down stairs in various states of decay, and statues of various probably-divine figures turned on their heads.

"Don't s'pose this place has an elevator anyone?" Ryuji mumbled.

"Don't be stupid." Mona scrambled off of Ren's shoulders, flopping down to the sand next to him. "Futaba's not going to make our job that easy. The Palace wouldn't be here if her heart could be changed without a struggle."

"Who are you?" A voice, almost familiar, but hauntingly empty, echoing in the hollow structure.

Ren whirled, glancing up towards the source. "Futaba." The name came unbidden, instinctual. He'd never seen the girl before, but it could have been no one else.

She was standing on a jagged outcropping some five feet up from the entrance, staring down at them. Tired yellow eyes set in pale skin behind her glasses. Orange-red hair cut short and messy, with a golden serpent-decorated circlet on her head. She wore a long, aged skirt of sorts, tan cloth from her waist down, with an ornate jeweled gold sash and a similar band around her neck. The rest of her body was covered in white bands of cloth, neck and torso and arms in mummification wrap, and Ren could see a similar covering on her legs past the tattered hem of her skirt. "Who are you?" the Shadow repeated.

"Do you recognize us?" Ren asked. He took a hesitant step forwards. "I'm Ren. You remember me, right?"

Her expression did not change. "Why are you here, Thieves?"

"We're here to change your heart," Makoto said, "and save you from the distorted desires lingering in this place."

The Shadow said nothing, for a moment. "You shall fail," Futaba stated.

"Was that a threat?" Yusuke asked.

"It was not." Her gaze lifted upwards, towards the floor far above. And a tremor rocked the pyramid, some thunderous roar echoing in every brick and every grain of sand.

"What the fuck was that!?" Ryuji yelped, steadying himself on Ren's arm.

The tremor faded. "Your endeavor is foolish, and you are all doomed to fail." Her empty eyes returned to them, and Ren could swear she was staring right at him. "If you are foolish, you will all die in this place. And if you are wise, you will turn back and abandon your promise."

A little flame ignited in his chest, a little anger. "We won't abandon you," Ren replied. "We made a promise, and we plan on keeping it." He planned on keeping it.

"Then you will die," she said, as simply as anything. If there was any emotion in her voice, it was disappointment. The way a mother might scold a stubborn child.

"You could help us," Mona said, hopeful. "This is your Palace, you could help us change your heart."

The Shadow was silent. Maybe she was considering the suggestion. "I will not change my fate," she replied. "I will die here, and my bones will rot into the sand. Such is the fate of an evil thing like me."

"You're not a thing!" Ann snapped. "You're hurting, I understand. But you..." She took an unsteady breath. "You don't deserve that pain. You're not a monster, Futaba."

"My mother died because of me," Futaba said. And Ren could neither think nor breathe. "Her suicide note made that quite clear."

"Fuck," Ryuji's whisper faintly pierced the veil.

"Mother ended her own life," she continued, "as she could not handle the stress of raising me. I drove her to insanity, crushed her under the burden of my care, and I am solely responsible for her death."

"Fuck that!" And the jock's voice echoed inside the pyramid. "Kids don't deserve to die cause their parents couldn't cut it! That shit's fucked up!" Ren reached out blindly and grabbed his boyfriend's hand, squeezing it tight. Furious breathing calmed, and Ryuji choked back what might have been a sob. "It's fucked up."

Futaba's Shadow did not react to the outburst. "As penance for her death, I will die as well. An eye for an eye. A death for a death. That is what the world wishes of me."

"The world can shove it," Ann said.

"Ann is right," Yusuke added. "If the world wishes you to die, then we shall change both its heart and yours."

The Shadow tilted her head, seeming to regard the Thieves as one might an odd and squabbling beast. "A sentiment that changes nothing. You can do neither. You will fail, and I will die." With that, she stepped back and faded into nothing, gone in the blink of an eye.

Blue fire eclipsed Ren's vision. A single heartbeat later, his mask settled onto his face. A glance at the rest of the Thieves showed them in similar garb. Skull's gloved hand squeezed his, and then the blond let go.

"Alright," Skull mumbled, one heel tapping idly against the sand. "Joker, give the order. I'm ready to bust loose on this fucking popsicle joint."

Ren couldn't help but smile. "Alright. You heard Skull, everybody. Let's bust loose."


"Move move move move!" Ren shoved off the sand as quick as he could, eyes locked on the open doorway ahead of him, not daring to glance back at their very intimidating foe. Mona yelped from somewhere nearby, and a bolt of shadow clipped past Ren's ear. He grit his teeth and kept on running. "Get inside, come on!" In past the doorway and his heart dropped as ten pairs of eyes all whirled towards him.

"Oh fuck off!" Skull growled.

One Shadow advancing on the Thieves from the corridor behind them – a jackal-faced judge that Ren would really prefer not to engage if he could manage it. And in the chamber they'd just escaped into, six serpentine foes with shields raised and spears at the ready. On a higher landing, three winged beasts with the heads of lions spread their wings, and a maiden covered in golden feathers lifted one hand and traced the beginnings of some arcane rune into thin air.

Ren's mind sprung into action as fast as he could manage it. "Fox, get that door closed. Everyone else, Up and Down!"

"Got it!" came the response from any number of Thieves, he didn't care to pick apart the voices.

A rush of wind past his right ear and a burst of heat past his left, and the airborne shadows had barely taken flight before they found themselves wrapped in an inferno like a blazing sun. Skull and Queen sprinted past him, and Ren forced his gaze towards them, towards the far wall and the half dozen Shadows.

"Arsene, clear a path!" Thunderous oblivion, shadow springing up from the ground in front of the foes, cleaving a dark road through their ranks. Then, Ren darted after the two.

Skull took point, head down, sliding to a halt in front of the far wall and bracing the red pole in both hands. "Ready for ya, Queen!" The Phantom rider took a running leap, her mask shattering and Johanna manifesting under her feet, only to spring off the motorcycle and onto the pole. As soon as she did so, Skull tensed and then swung with all his strength, sending his ally flying up towards the ledge.

"Got your back, Skull!" Ren slid to a halt and drew his knife, ignoring the explosion on the ledge above them and facing the foes, Arsene's attack starting to flicker and die down. One of the Shadows had gotten caught in the torrent, but the others seemed largely unharmed and very angry.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, Joker," the blond replied. He could hear the grin in Skull's voice, and then the blue fire at the edge of his vision, Ren's own hand flying to his mask.

"Captain Kidd!"

"Tam Lim!"

Rampaging force, furious blows slamming against manifested flesh, multiple shrieks of pain drowning each other out. Dark bodies into black dust into nothing at all. Ren's mask reformed, and fatigue dropped like a million tons onto his shoulders.

"Joker, look out!" Mona's frantic voice, and an ozone crackle from just outside his field of view. He couldn't move. He wasn't–

A shriek, and Ren whirled to see one of the serpent shadows falling to the ground, and Fox beyond it, sheathing his sword. "You looked like you could use some help," the artist said with a little smirk.

"Thanks for the save," Ren mumbled, smiling back.

A thump onto the sand next to him, and Queen brushed herself off. "All Shadows eliminated. Well done, all."

Ren jerked a thumb towards himself. "Hey, still the leader."

Queen just rolled her eyes.

"Everyone alright?" Ren glanced towards Panther and Mona, who seemed tired but unharmed.

Panther, sure enough, raised a thumbs-up.

Skull slumped against Ren, letting out a long breath. "Fuuuuck, she's really not going easy on us, is she?"

"Traps on traps on Shadows on Shadows," Fox mumbled, walking to them. "And not a single Safe Room in over two hours."

"I don't like it," Mona added, scrambling over as well. "Not only is Futaba's Palace on high alert, but there are barely any gaps in her cognition."

"What does that mean, exactly?" Queen asked.

Mona looked down. "I'm not sure, but it's not good. Whatever she's going through, it's very advanced. And her distortion seems more self-aware than most."

"Joker!" Panther yelled, and he glanced over to see her pointing up to the ledge. He backpedalled, following her shocked gaze, right to the Shadow sitting up above them.

"Why fight so hard?" Futaba's Shadow asked, her voice steady and neutral. Her feet over the side, kicking slowly. "I've told you, I deserve this fate. I do not understand."

"And we already told you we don't buy it!" Skull shot back.

"We promised we'd save you," Ren said. "We're not going back on that."

"Stubbornness, then." She let out a long breath. "There's no use in struggling against fate. There can be no other outcome."

"Futaba," Queen said, then paused. She seemed to be struggling with her words. "Did you love your mother?"

"Yes," Futaba's Shadow said. "I did love her. That is why I am willing to die for her."

Ren felt Skull tense again next to him, but Queen continued before he could say a word. "And do you think your mother loved you?"

Futaba seemed confused at that. "Why does it matter?"

"A loving mother would never tell her daughter to die for her. She would never want that." Queen stared at the Shadow, stoic and obstinate. "And what about Sojiro? Do you think he would want you to die?"

"He..." The Shadow trailed off. She said nothing, for a moment. Something flickered across her face, some moment of emotion. A ripple across the sand. And the pyramid shook once more, a mighty tremor that nearly knocked Ren on his ass.

"Not this again!" Panther wailed.

Then, as sudden as before, it stopped. "You all look tired," Futaba's Shadow said. She raised one arm, with two fingers up. Then, she flicked them down. And a section of the wall against the side of the chamber slid into the sand, exposing a rippling upside-down doorway set into the wall.

"It's a Safe Room," Mona said, shocked.

Ren glanced from the door back towards the Shadow. "Thank you, Futaba," he said.

"When you leave," she said, "do not return." Then, she vanished once more.


Skull groaned into his melon bread, then swallowed. "Come on, for real? We've barely made any progress today."

"I know," Ren replied. The Thieves were sitting in a loose circle on the ground – as the normal Safe Room table was firmly stuck to the ceiling – each of their masks loose on their foreheads. "I don't want to leave any more than you do, but I'm pretty sure we're all running on empty, and Futaba's Palace isn't getting any easier to navigate. I think I'd collapse if I tried summoning Arsene again."

Panther nodded. "I haven't been this exhausted since Kamoshida's Palace, and we were under-Thieved and crazy incompetent then."

"I wasn't incompetent," Mona mumbled, and Panther reached over to give him a few pets.

"Of course you weren't," she said. "I meant, us working as a team."

"It almost feels as if we're doing something wrong," Queen said, holding her chin in one hand.

"Any ideas what?" Fox asked. "It seemed to me as if we were proceeding as normally as we could."

"Well, we didn't give the other Palace's rulers so much heads up we were coming," Mona said. "We warned Madarame we might target him, but Futaba's cognition is probably just on the highest possible alert."

Ren nodded. "Even if it's kicking us in the ass, I still don't feel comfortable keeping her in the dark about our process. She deserves to know."

Skull ran a hand through his hair. "Shit. Kind of a no-win situation, huh?"

"We'll just have to find another method of proceeding," Queen said. "But I agree with Joker. We can't risk going any farther today."

"There's a parcel tonight," Mona said, "maybe that'll have something we can use?"

"Maybe," Ren said. "Either way, let's all meet up tomorrow afternoon. First day of summer vacation, so we can take as much time as we need to plan."

"I hope it doesn't take too long," Panther said quietly. "I don't want to keep Futaba waiting."

"Me neither," Ren agreed.


7/25 – Monday
Evening
Cafe Leblanc, Attic

Ren stared down at the rectangular object in his hand. Without looking away, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and held the two side-by-side. "They're identical." The phone from the parcel was the same model, with the exact same fake-metal case, the only difference was a slightly more worn-down screen with a few more chips on its edge, and a piece of paper tapped to its back.

"So, Oxymoron sent you Anachronism's phone." Morgana's tail flicked back and forth against the bed. "Why?"

Ren pocketed his phone. "Maybe she'll tell us." He peeled the tape off and unfolded the paper. "When the time comes," he read aloud, "bring her with you." He and his feline friend were both silent, mulling over the words.

"What do you think that means?" Morgana asked. "And who's 'her' supposed to be?"

"No clue," Ren admitted. Placing the paper down, he unlocked the phone and began to scroll through it. "No downloaded apps and no Metaverse Navigator." He opened the text app. "And the only text is...to me. Back in May, when he told me to go to that beef bowl shop."

"He sent that message when the phone was still in the parcel," the not-a-cat mumbled. "That doesn't sound possible."

"He could have scheduled the text somehow," Ren said. "I don't think my phone can do that, normally. Might have been a modification or something." He checked the photo app and then burst out laughing, holding the phone out so Mona could see. "Hey, check it out."

"That's the framed photo from earlier!" Morgana exclaimed.

All the Thieves, present and future, standing in front of that wall in...in Mementos. "Wait, holy shit." Ren glanced down at the phone. "If this took that photo in the first place, then..."

"It can function in the Metaverse," Morgana said, awed. "Do you think that could help us in the Palace investigation somehow?"

"Not sure how." Ren regarded the phone, turning it over and over in his hand. "But...maybe."


7/26 – Tuesday
Afternoon
Cafe Leblanc, Attic

Unknown Number
How long do you think it'll take?

Makoto let out a long breath. "Kaneshiro's Palace had roughly four safe rooms spaced throughout it. If we keep going at the same pace, and expect the same number, then it should take another three or four infiltrations before we can make it to your Palace's Treasure. And if each outing is as exhausting as this one, we'll need at least a day to rest between each infiltration."

"So, like a week?" Ryuji said, doing quick math on his fingers.

"Assuming we don't run into any further complications," Makoto said.

Unknown Number
Oh.

"We're going to do our best," Ren assured. "We're heading back in tomorrow, and we're going to do our best to figure out a way to speed up the process while we recover. We're not giving up on you."

Unknown Number
Sorry, I didn't meant to doubt.

"It's 'kay Futaba!" Ann chirped, a big smile on her face. "I know it's hard to wait. You're doing a great job."

Unknown Number
I've just been sitting around.
You guys are the ones risking your lives for me.
I don't know.
Maybe it's not worth it.

"Miss Sakura," Yusuke said, his voice stern, "please do not give up hope. We are committed to your rescue, and we will not abandon our task, no matter the hassle. We are Phantom Thieves, and defeat is not within our playbook."

"Just keep hanging in there," Ryuji added. "We're not goin' nowhere."

Unknown Number
Thank you.
I'll do my best.


7/26 – Tuesday
Evening
Kanda Church

Ren glanced up from the board, towards Hifumi. "Can I ask you for some advice?"

"I am not your shogi tutor," she chastised with a little smile.

"No, not game advice." He moved a pawn forward with a resonant click that echoed through the empty church. "Unrelated stuff."

"You can ask," Hifumi agreed as she contemplated her next move.

"Me and a bunch of my friends are trying to help someone out," Ren said, choosing his words carefully, "but it's turning out to be way harder than we expected. It's gonna take us way longer than we thought, and if someone goes wrong, we might need even more time on top of that."

Hifumi took one of his pawns. "And?" she prompted.

"I guess I'm just wondering if you can think of anything that might help." Ren returned one of his rooks to the board. "It'd be too complicated to explain the situation, but...I don't know. Any 'basics of strategy' come to mind?"

She raised an eyebrow as she advanced her knight. "I can't exactly advise strategy that could apply to any task. I need a little more detail."

Ren bit his lip, shifting his king to a safer position. "We're sort of...trying to help her break down some bad thoughts. Like, come to terms with stuff. She's struggling to do it on her own, and asked for our help."

"I see," Hifumi said. She slid her rook to the far side of the board, then flipped it over. "Check."

"So," Ren said, quickly taking her rook with his bishop, "any ideas?"

"In what way is it more challenging?" Hifumi asked. She studied the board carefully.

"I guess it's like," Ren said, "she's way more on edge. We knew this was gonna be tough, but she seems like she keeps...shutting us down. Like we can't get close without her pushing us away." It wasn't one-to-one, but it was the best analogy he had.

"She asked for your help, yes?" Hifumi moved a gold general forward and to the left.

"She did." Ren moved his own general to block Hifumi's. "And I've been doing my best to make sure she knows as much about what we're doing as she can. Not pushing past her boundaries, not forcing her to do anything; stuff like that, too."

"Would it be possible to make things more comfortable for her?" Hifumi asked. She finally looked up from the board, towards Ren. "If she is panicking, or anxious, maybe a more familiar setting could do her good."

"I dunno," Ren mumbled. Futaba was probably most comfortable in her own room anyway, it wasn't as if he could could bring that comfort into her Palace somehow. Maybe it was just anxious, waiting for them, waiting for her heart to change. Knowing someone was rooting around in her subconscious. But they couldn't...exactly... "Oh shit."

Hifumi smirked. "Inspiration, Amamiya?"

He smiled back. "Yeah. I think so. Something worth trying, at least."

"Good." And her smirk widened into a triumphant grin. "And now, I will crush your hopes."

"Pardon?" Ren replied.

Hifumi snatched her rook from off the board and raised it above her head. "You have sewn the tapestry of your own defeat, and I will plunge my blade deep into the sanctity of your assumed safety. Watch in vain as your orchestra plays the song of your own demise!" And she slammed the piece down on the same line as Ren's king with enough force to jar the other pieces. "Burning Cage of Hell!"

"Uh," Ren said, glancing between the board and his enthusiastic opponent. "So, I lose?"

Hifumi, seemingly composing herself, straightened back up and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Yes. Well, I...er...yes." Her cheeks flushed, she glanced away. "I'm sorry. I tend to blurt out my own thoughts when I get excited."

He found himself grinning. "You're telling me you think that every time you play?"

"I do," she replied, meekly. "Well, not exactly that. But...similar declarations."

"Gotta be honest, that's kinda awesome." He slid her rook back to her side of the board and began setting up. "Got time for another game?"

Hifumi seemed a little taken aback, glancing back towards him with a puzzled expression. After a moment, she nodded. "You don't think it's odd?"

Ren shrugged. "Sure," he said, "but it's still cool. Honestly, I can't wait to see what other techniques you've got up your sleeve."

And she smiled. "Alright. You'd better brace yourself for them. I don't plan on going easy on you."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," he shot back.


7/27 – Wednesday
Afternoon
Sojiro's House

Ren
Hey Futaba
Just wanted to give you a heads up
We're going to be trying something a little different today

Futaba's bedroom door had two stripes of yellow 'caution' tape across it, with a sign reading: Do not enter! So rather than let himself in, Ren knocked. "Futaba," he called, "it's me, Ren. Uh, I don't know your knocking code thing, but you can text me." Sure enough, his phone buzzed a moment after.

Unknown Number
I thought you were going to infiltrate again today.

"Yes and no," he replied. "Everyone else is in the Palace already, but I'm going to be sticking around here for today." It was a pretty hard decision and an even harder sell, but for the first time since the Thieves formed, they'd gone ahead with an infiltration without their leader. Ren had granted temporary leadership to Makoto, entrusting her with his playbook and the phone from the parcel. With any luck, the latter should allow them to stay in touch easier.

Unknown Number
What?
Why?

"It's sort of a hunch," Ren admitted, "but I figured keeping your mind off of the infiltration might calm your cognition. And I also guessed you might feel safest around me, out of all the Thieves. Considering you probably heard the most of me over the listening device."

Unknown Number
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for listening.

That took him by surprise. She'd apologized before, but he hadn't expected it to still be weighing on her. "I forgive you," he said. "It doesn't bother me that you listened. I would have liked to have known sooner, but I'm not mad."

Unknown Number
I don't understand.
Why not? Why aren't you mad?

"I don't know for sure," he said. "I guess, because I know what it's like to be lonely." He sat down, his back against the nearby wall. "When I was in prison, I used to listen to other people's conversations. I was alone there, didn't have anyone looking out for me, so it wasn't as if I had people to talk to. It felt nice sometimes, to just listen in. Like I was part of the conversation too, but still safe." He leaned his head back, looking up at the ceiling. "I think you're like me, like it takes a lot for you to trust people."

Unknown Number
I'm trying, I promise I'm trying.

"I know you are, Futaba," he said. "I promise, I know."

Unknown Number
It's really hard.
It's hard to even trust Sojiro, sometimes.

"Same here." Ren let a long breath. "Do you trust me?"

Unknown Number
I'm sorry.

"It's alright," he assured, "I'm sorry for asking. I don't mind if you don't, or if you trust me with some things but not others. There's nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with needing to take your time."

Unknown Number
Do you trust me?

He blinked. "I think so," he said, slowly. "I never really thought about it." Did he trust Futaba? There was still so much he didn't know about her. But, the more he mulled it over, the more he felt confident in his decision. "Yeah. I trust you, Futaba."

Unknown Number
I'm glad.
I want to trust you.

Ren didn't have much to say, but he forced himself to think of something. "Is there anything you'd like to know about me? There's probably still some stuff that hasn't come up yet."

Unknown Number
Did you pick your own name?

"Sure did," Ren replied, smiling. "Way back when I was a kid, like real little. I think it was my Aunt got me this little blue glass bird statue, with a plaque that said it was a 'Wren.' W-R-E-N, but I just fell in love with the name, I called it my Ren-bird, demanded that everyone start calling me that instead."

Unknown Number
That's adorable.

Ren burst out laughing. "How about you?" he asked. "Did you come up with your name?"

Unknown Number
My mom did, actually.
I asked her what she would have named me if I was a girl, and she said Futaba.
So I started signing my name that without even telling her.
She got really confused.

"That's pretty adorable too," he chuckled.

Unknown Number
I guess, hehe.
I don't think I really understood why she got so emotional about it.
But she never called me her son after that.

His chest ached. Both for her, and for himself. "She really loved you, huh?"

No text from Futaba.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories again. We can talk about something else."

Unknown Number
It's not your fault.
Dumb brain thing being dumb again.
I was the one who brought her up.

"Doesn't mean you deserve to hurt," Ren insisted. "You deserve better than that."

Unknown Number
I don't know.

"You do. You deserve so much better." He took a long breath. "I deserved better than to hurt like I did. And you do too."

Unknown Number
But I
hhh
I don't know.
Ren?

"Yeah?"

Unknown Number
Do you ever hurt yourself?
On purpose, I mean.

He was holding his phone, but Ren brought his hands closer together, fingertips brushing against his left wrist. "Not since I got out of juvie. But I have, yeah."

Unknown Number
Okay.
I'm sorry.

Before he had a chance to say another word, Ren's ringtone went off, making him jump. "Sorry, I think it's that's the Thieves. One sec." He picked up the phone. "Ren speaking."

"Yo!" came Ryuji's slightly-too-loud voice on the other end, clear as day. "Renren, guess where we are right now!"

"In the Palace?" he replied.

"We're in a Safe Room!" Ryuji said. "Two down, two to go!"

"Skull," Makoto's voice now, muffled slightly, "stop fucking shouting."

"Sorry Queen." He sounded it. "Yo, Ren, putting you on speaker." Something brushing against the phone.

"Can you hear us okay?" Morgana asked.

"Loud and clear, Mona," Ren replied. "How's the infiltration going?"

"Slow and steady," Yusuke said. "As Skull mentioned, we managed to make it to the second Safe Room with energy to spare."

"We're all going to rest up here," Makoto cut in, "and then continue on, see if we can make it farther."

"That's awesome," Ren said, breaking into a grin. "Great work, all. Wonderful to hear you've got this leadership thing down, Queen."

"I promise you," she said, sounding a bit bashful, "that I'm not nearly as capable a leader as you. But I am doing my best."

"Queen's just being modest," Ann said. "You're both kick-ass leaders in your own ways."

"Oh, by the way," Ryuji added, "we saw a bunch more of Futaba's Shadow today."

"Yeah?" Ren prompted.

"She's been observing us from different vantage points as we go," Yusuke said. "I don't think she's been aiding our progress much, but she hasn't been hindering it either."

He nodded, entirely for his own benefit. "Alright. Well, stay safe, guys. Futaba's doing amazing out here, by the way."

"Tell her we said hi!" Ann said.

"Will do," Ren laughed. "Make sure to pace yourselves, and head back if you're running low. I'll make sure Futaba's got good company till then. Best of luck."

"Ciao, Renren." And Ryuji hung up.

"Infiltration is going smoothly," Ren said, switching back over to the text app, "and Ann says hi."

Unknown Number
Ohh.
You don't have to stay with me the whole time.

"I know I don't have to stay," Ren said, "but I want to. Do you want me to stay?"

Unknown Number
I don't want to ask that.

"You're not asking," Ren said. "I'm asking. So, do you?"

Unknown Number
I'd like it if you stayed.

"Then I'll stay," Ren said, staring at the door, at the girl he knew lay beyond it. "As long as you'd like me to be here, I'll stay.