9/20 – Tuesday
After School
Café Leblanc

Ren's phone chimed on his bedside table as he changed out of his uniform. It took him a moment to make his way over to it, but when he did, he nearly dropped his cell.

Anachronism
Heya Joker. Guess who!
Doing a bit of hijacking here, hid this message in Nach's phone before we sent it back.
I didn't tell you. Sorry. I know you're probably grumpy at me for that.
And if Oxymoron finds out, I a lol.
But I gotta. You helped me out in a big way when I needed it, and now you need it too.
Okay lemme start again.
Hi, it's your sister.
Well, not YOUR sister. Anachronism's, to be specific.
Futaba Sakura, calling in from the future and the past at the same time.
Time travel's fucking weird lol.
So, bad news:
There's stuff I still can't tell you. I really, really wish I could.
If you find out who Oxymoron is, or what the Big Dumb Plan really is, or any of that?
It's possible things get messed up BAD.
I trust you, I promise I do. I know you wouldn't do something dumb.
But if Witch lady feels her whole scheme dealio is threatened? Boop, timeline gone, start again.
Which sucks. And I'm sorry.
But I've still got stuff I CAN tell you!
For example:
You're an enormous dork. You mumble in your sleep. You do sappy, dramatic speeches out of nowhere, and you try WAY too hard to look cool and everyone loves you for it.
And also, Okumura's heart is a trap. There's someone waiting right now for you to spring it, and once you do, things are gonna be set in motion that you can't unset. Soon as you take the guy's heart, shit is going to go very dangerous very fucking fast.
Better news than you might think! If you know it's a trap, that means you can prepare.
Means you get to choose when and how to spring it. I'd suggest taking your time.
I checked with the guy who set it, and he said you probably have a good three weeks before he'd even consider forcing your hand.
I'll leave the rest to you, I know you'll know best on that front. You always do.
And I've still got space in this message! Fuck yeah!
Okay so uhhh
Hey, speaking of sappy!
So, in this world, you trusted me. You didn't really have much of a choice, cause I'd eavesdropped about the parcels, but you never once got mad at me for that.
I don't think you've ever got mad at me. Which is like, a big deal, right?
Cause I fuck up a LOT. I'm always asking for stuff or wanting stuff or being annoying.
And you've never once made me feel bad for any of that. You always had a way of making me feel better, you knew what to say to cheer me up no matter how big of a funk I was in.
You wanted me to stay with the Thieves. Even when they were thinking about kicking you out, even when I'd kept just as much stuff from them as you did, you took the blame. You didn't want me or Mona to be without a family, even if that meant you'd be all alone.
Which is kinda stupid of you, but at the same time, you were willing to give up everything just to make sure I'd be okay. That maybe I'd be happy.
So, thank you.
And at the same time? Never pull that sort of shit again.
Don't give yourself up for my happiness, cause I'm not GOING to be happy without you.
You're my brother, Ren. I love you.
And we've got each other's backs even if no one else does.
That's all the sap you're getting out of me though lmao.
Good luck! You've got this.
Oh P.S. though, if I haven't told you about what happened between me and Kana, push me a little bit. I know it's an uncomfy thing but sometimes I just get too ashamed to tell even the stuff I really want to. I think I'd probably appreciate just a little nudge on that.


Futaba stared at Ren with wide eyes from her gargoyle perch on the couch next to Kasumi. "Future me's got guts," she mumbled.

Ren hadn't read the whole note out loud – he didn't want to embarrass his sister by sharing her sappy assurances – but he'd filled the Thieves in on the important bits. He pocketed his phone and reached up to twist a strand of hair between two fingers. "Makoto, what do you think?"

She had her chin in her hand, her other arm crossed over her chest. "Futaba – the one who sent the note – said she got info from whoever is now trying to set us up. That…I don't want to assume, but I think that points to a very specific person."

"The Persona-user in the black mask," Yusuke concluded. "You mentioned he'd joined Anachronism's Thieves, she'd most likely be able to consult him."

Futaba herself shuddered. "Dunno why I'd want to," she said, a quiet bitterness. "If he's really behind the mental shutdowns…" She let the thought trail off.

"I'm sure you had your re-reasons," Kasumi said, scooting a little closer. "A year is a lot of time, after all."

"I guess." Futaba sighed. "Still feels super gross, thinking future me is buddy-buddy with the guy or something."

Haru let out a little thoughtful hum that dragged Ren's attention to her. "The phrasing implies that it was that man's intention for you to target my father in the first place. I'm not quite sure how he could have predicted that."

"Your dad's like, funding An-So though, right?" Ryuji offered. "I mean, it makes sense that we'd try and hit the guy for what he knew."

"I suppose," Haru said. "But would he have known that you all were aware of An-So in the first place? Or, that you would connect a lobbyist group to the mental shutdowns?"

Ann blinked. "Shit, wait. Haru's right. Ren heard about An-So from Mitsuru first. The only reason we looked into them is because of that."

"I think," Morgana said, shifting uncomfortably on the bed next to Ren, "it would make the most sense if Black Mask was a Thief, or in the SRU." The entire room seemed to flinch at the implication.

"No," Ann said, immediately, "no, that's not possible. None of us would ever do something like that. Besides, there's only four guys in the Thieves, and all of them were there when we ran into Black Mask in Kaneshiro's Palace."

Ren pursed his lips. He trusted the Thieves. He trusted his friends. But how much did he trust the SRU? Even if he could put faith in Naoto, and Mitsuru, and the rest of their friends, he most likely hadn't yet been face-to-face with every member. It was a distinct possibility that one of them could be causing the mental shutdowns.

"When all you knew was the blood on my hands. Would you ever believe you could stand by my side? Would you believe anything from someone so obedient to that man?"

"Even if that's the case," he said, "I don't think it changes much. I still haven't trusted Mitsuru with our plans, she doesn't know we're going after Okumura. There's no one in the SRU who could keep that close of an eye on us. Whoever it is, and however they knew to plant that trap, the important thing is how we move forward." And beyond that, there was still the distinct feeling that Ren was missing a rather enormous piece of the puzzle.

"I believe future-Futaba's message was quite explicit on that front," Yusuke said. "She suggested we wait. At most, we have three weeks to devise and execute a strategy."

"When's the next p-parcel?" Kasumi asked. "Maybe we'll learn more from that."

Ren didn't even have a chance to respond before Morgana chimed in. "Third of October."

"That's, uh," Futaba counted on her fingers, "about two weeks?"

"Okay," Ren said. "Let's put this on hold until then. I'll call another meeting after that parcel, and we can figure out our next move."

Makoto shifted in place. "Haru, are you comfortable waiting that long?"

All eyes turned towards her. She smiled, but there was something forced to it, and the sight made Ren's heart churn in his chest. "That should be fine," she said, light and fake. "I'm sure…" Haru hesitated. Like she'd caught herself. "It's a difficult thing. I can't quite ask you all to risk your lives, or rush into something unprepared to indulge my impatience. I want my father back–" Her voice broke, and she cleared her throat. "I can wait. I've lasted seventeen years, after all."

"You won't be alone," Ryuji said. "Like, even if we're trying to figure out this whole Black Mask thing, we're still teammates. You're still a Thief, and we're not leaving you behind for nothing." Then he started. "Oh, I mean, like…you're, uh…" He gestured at nothing. "You know?"

Haru burst out laughing. "Yes, I know. Thank you, Ryuji."

Ann grinned and leaned over to nudge the girl with her shoulder. "We're on a first name basis now, huh?"

"Oh." Haru blinked, like she'd surprised herself. "I suppose you all are." She frowned slightly, the shadow of a thought across her face. "I recognize this is somewhat of a foolish question, considering how cold I have been up to this point." She brushed a strand of hair behind one ear, pursing her lips. "I still cannot trust you all completely, but I believe that you are earnest. I have no reason to doubt either the veracity of your actions or the sentiment behind them. As such, I feel as though…" One breath in, one breath out. "A heroine of justice who saves only herself is hardly a heroine at all. And when all of this is over, and my father's heart is changed, I would like to try my hand at being a Phantom Thief, to help others as you all have agreed to help me." She smiled softly. "Would you allow me the chance to do so?"

Ren found himself matching her smile. "All in favor?" He raised his hand, and so did the rest of the Thieves. Even Morgana sat back on his haunches to strain a paw over his little head. "It's unanimous." He chuckled. "Welcome to the Phantom Thieves, Haru."


9/20 – Tuesday
Evening
Café Leblanc

"You're not usually this late," Ren quipped. "Out sightseeing or something?"

Akechi glared at him as he sat down at the counter. "Coffee," he said. The bags under his eyes were obvious – even through the television makeup he must have been wearing – and something about his movements seemed somewhat forced, like a puppet dragged around on his strings.

Ren waited for the rest of the young man's order, but Akechi declined to give it. "I suppose I should know your preference at this point," he mumbled, heading farther down the counter to pour the Prince a cup. Silence fell, with only the faint sound of Sojiro turning pages in his newspaper from his spot in one of the booths. Alright, so being cordial wasn't getting the young man's attention. "Guessing the talk shows are out in force, cause you look like shit."

Sojiro sent a glare over the newspaper, but Akechi didn't so much as react. "Yes," he said, almost absent-mindedly.

Ren couldn't help the scoff that bubbled out of him. "Akechi, seriously, what the fuck is going on?" He sugared the coffee – a little more than two spoonfuls – and placed the cup in front of him. "I mean, you ghosted me for almost a month, and now you're just…" He gestured to the young man.

Akechi lifted the cup to his lips, breathed in the steam, and took a long sip. "Perhaps I simply wished for some peace and quiet," he said, his voice barely more than a mumble.

"Okay," Ren said, massaging the bridge of his nose. Why did he feel so fucking impatient? So close to both bitterness and sympathy. "Peace and quiet. Sure." He sat down on the stool behind the counter. "You can talk to me, you know."

"I fail to see what sort of purpose that would serve." His words were no less sharp or bitter than they always were – at least when the boy had dropped his bullshit TV persona – but the tenor of his voice was distinctly steady. Like he was simply too tired to bite.

"Never hurts to try." Ren offered a little smile. "Like, as much shit as I give you, we're still friends."

That got a reaction. Akechi started in place, blinking at Ren. "We are," he said, and Ren wasn't quite sure if that was a confirmation or a question. Akechi took another sip, like he was stalling for time. "I'm under a nondisclosure agreement. Even in an environment such as this, I still would rather not break such a legally enforceable binding. I'm sure you understand."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you working on some sort of new project or something? You're a detective, not an actor."

Akechi laughed. An honest little chuckle at the statement, as if he'd found some sort of amusement in it. "Quite. But nevertheless, I will have to decline your request. I will say only that it has kept me busier than I would like to be."

"I know the feeling." Ren let out a little breath. "Been pretty busy too. Between what happened to Kobayakawa and just…everything, time's passed really quick."

"I see." The detective hummed into his cheek. "I don't suppose the Phantom Thieves have contributed much in terms of lightening your load?"

Ren's spine chilled to subzero. "How do you mean?" he asked, keeping his voice even, his tone confused rather than fearful.

"You are one of their 'avid supporters,' are you not?" Akechi smirked. "The Thieves haven't so much as indicated their next move in over a month. From what I've seen, the Aficionado site is quite quiet as well. I would expect that puts you and your friends in an unenviable position."

"I dunno," Ren shrugged, trying not to let on how relieved he was. "It's mostly just hard to wait, but I've got faith." He tapped his fingers against the countertop. "I think you've gotta work on your sympathy voice. You just sound happy when you talk about how much I'm struggling."

"Oh, my apologies." He laughed and took another sip. "I suppose I have been enjoying watching some of the Phantom Thief supporters come to see things my way. I can only hope that trend will continue." Akechi's smile turned somewhat wry. "I'm not the kind of person who likes being proven wrong."


9/21 – Wednesday
After School
Shujin Academy, Maruki's Office

"This is probably going to sound crazy," Ren prefaced. "I just can't think of a way to explain it that doesn't make me seem absolutely batshit."

"Alright," Maruki said, slowly. "Your explanation doesn't have to make sense to me, you know. It's always helpful if I understand, but I'll do my best to give any advice I can even if I don't. And," as if sensing Ren's hesitation, "I swear to you, I will not take any action on whatever you tell me. I will point out to you the boundary between reality and delusion, if I feel you do not recognize it, but there are no consequences for 'sounding crazy' in this room."

Ren nodded. "Okay." Deep breath in, and out. "I just recently formed a friendship with someone who I have memories of, but I barely know her. Like my brain says we used to be together, like she used to one of the most important people in my life, but I just look at her and I see this stranger, this person I barely even know."

Maruki nodded, taking a sip of apple juice. "I'm with you so far."

"I guess I'm just not even sure how I feel," he continued. "Like I still want to be around her, because she seems like a good person, and someone I could see myself being with, but at the same time…like we just met, and I still don't trust her all the way, and she clearly doesn't trust me all the way, and I think I'm kinda worried that I might do something stupid."

"Do you know if this person thinks something similar of you?" Maruki asked.

"I know she doesn't have those memories," he said. "Which sounds insane, I know. I think she's just focused on her own stuff, and she probably doesn't notice…yeah."

"Hm," the therapist said. "To be clear, when you say you remember the two of you together, you mean romantically?"

Ren looked away. God this felt fucking miserable. Stupid and embarrassing and shameful. "Yep," he said. "I don't think I feel that way about her right now, but it's possible."

Maruki nodded. "And when you said you were concerned about doing something ill-advised, are you worried you'll push the friendship in a direction she doesn't want it to go?"

"That's part of it, yeah," he replied. "But at the same time, it's also just…it'd be bad to assume some sort of intimacy that isn't there, right?"

"Assumptions can be dangerous things," Maruki said, "but that doesn't mean they have to be. The longer you leave them silent, the more chances they get stuck in your head and cause problems. But even those issues don't have to be catastrophic. Misunderstandings and assumptions are part of every relationship, romantic or friend or otherwise."

"I guess." Ren ran his fingernails against the arm of the couch. "I still don't like the way I'm acting towards her without thinking about it."

Maruki tilted his head. "Could you speak more on that?"

Ren shrugged. "I think I might be showing her favoritism or something. Like putting her needs above other people's, or my own, without even really realizing." He hadn't even stopped to evaluate if Haru was the sort of person to be trusted with something as volatile as a mental shutdown, and yet he'd told her he'd allow that without consequence. Ann, Ryuji, Yusuke, and Makoto had all shown themselves to be trustworthy long before that was even close to being on the table. But he'd offered to risk the safety of the entire Thieves without so much as consulting them, for the sake of preemptively absolving Haru for whatever fate she judged her fake fiancé worthy of. Would his friends take his side if they found out? Or would that be yet another betrayal he should have been better than?

"Do you show favoritism to your boyfriend?" Maruki asked.

Ren blinked. Okay, that had thrown his train of thought firmly off the tracks. "Uh, I guess so. I mean, a little. We go on dates and stuff, and I give him more attention than some of my other friends sometimes." He thought about it. "If I had to choose between taking his side and taking someone else's, unless I thought he was being stupid, then I'd probably take his."

"And do your friends seem upset with that?"

He shook his head. "No, not really. I guess…they probably understand. And, some of my friends do that with each other too." He was pretty sure Makoto would have taken Ann's side over most anyone else's, and Futaba would have taken his. Or maybe Kasumi's, it was hard to tell.

Maruki smiled. "Then I think you might be overthinking things again, just a little. I would advise trying to trust yourself a little more." He leaned back in his seat. "Even if your friendship with this person doesn't go further in any way, that doesn't mean that the decisions you make regarding that friendship are incorrect. It's easy to get stuck thinking about actions in terms of their outcomes, but sometimes you can do everything right and still end up in an unfavorable situation. Or, sometimes you can do everything wrong, and things can still turn out fine." He chuckled. "The world is an odd place like that. Sometimes we have to recognize that our actions have value regardless of the outcomes that result from them."

Ren nodded, but his mind drifted towards Anachronism, towards that other iteration of himself. He'd made mistakes, done so very much wrong, and still ended up going farther than anyone who had come before him. Even if Ren believed he was doing everything right, would he make it to that same end? Could he go even farther, or would he wind up face-planting into the dirt like every previous Joker? Something in his gut told him there wasn't any way of knowing. Not until he got there.


9/21 – Wednesday
Evening
Café Leblanc, Attic

Kasumi
Did you know there's an anime about lesbian swordfighting? :o

Ren
As of right now, I do
Lemme guess, Taba told you about it?

Kasumi
Actually, another gymnast did. I think she might have been flirting with me? X)
But I asked Futaba and she told me tons!

Ren
What's X)?

Kasumi
We're probably going to watch it together sometime if you wanted to join. :)
Oh!
That's, uh, like a smiling face with the eyes closed?
I don't really know a good face for shy but also happy. X)

Ren
Good to know, thanks
Also, I think I'll have to pass on the anime night, Taba might kill me

Kasumi
What!? Why would she do that? :O

Ren
You know what don't worry about it

Kasumi
Rennnnnn. :(

Ren
Fine fine haha
I'm just pretty sure she's been looking for an opportunity to spend more time with you
You got to bond with the rest of the Thieves in Hawaii after all, but she couldn't go with

Kasumi
But Futaba and I texted all the time when I was on the trip. :\

Ren
Oh

Kasumi
Did she not tell you? :o

Ren
Must have slipped her mind
Still though, big difference between in person and text

Kasumi
I guess so, that does make sense.
We should definitely find something to do together with the three of us sometime though!

Ren
Haha sure thing
Maybe not lesbian anime though
Not to knock it, I just don't know how applicable it is to me

Kasumi
Oh I didn't even think about that!
Good point again. X|

Ren
That's uh
Shy but not happy face?

Kasumi
Embarrassed face

Ren
Gotcha haha


Ren
Yo by the way
Kasumi tried to invite me to third wheel on what I'm going to assume is some sort of nerd date
Considering that she said you two were going to watch and I quote
"Lesbian swordfighting anime"
I took the liberty of coming up with a good platonic explanation for why you probably want to hang out just the two of you
So you're welcome for that
Just give me some advance notice the next time you plan a date so I can fake a cold or something

Futaba
BRO.
YOU'RE THE FUCKING BEST HOLY SHIT.

Ren
Also your crush is like comically clueless at this point
I don't know how she doesn't realize that you like her

Futaba
Shut the fuck up djfgbj.
Also, like you're one to talk?
You had a nervous breakdown when you found out you were crushing on Ryuji.

Ren
If Yusuke told you that I will end him
Wait
Right
Sojiro bugged Leblanc
How do I keep forgetting that?

Futaba
Lmao.
Anyway you're the best and I love you and I owe you one.

Ren
After that fucking comment? You owe me two

Futaba
One and a half.

Ren
Sure, deal
And I love you too
Uh
Wait, one last thing

Futaba
What's up?

Ren
So you know the note I read to everyone yesterday?
There's a little bit of it I left out just cause it's kinda
Well okay let me show you

Ren sent

Futaba
Uh okay.
Lemme just…
Okay woah.
OKAY WOAH.

Ren
Good woah?
Bad woah?

Futaba
Woah like that's the sappiest shit I have ever read and it's all true dhfgbjh.
Okay thank you for not reading that to everyone.

Ren
You're welcome haha
But uh

Futaba
I know.
You're gonna ask me about Kana, right?

Ren
I am
Future you said for me to push you
But I don't know how comfortable I am with that, to be honest
I am comfortable saying this much:
I'm here for you
If you have more to tell me, and future you seems to think you might, then I'm here to listen
You're my sister, I care a lot about you, and I never want you to feel like you have to tell me about stuff
Because you don't owe me, not even that

Futaba
Thought I owed you one and a half.

Ren
Haha
I'm serious though

Futaba
Okay.
Idk it's tough.
Like I really want to tell you more but at the same time it's just like
Stupid. I feel all embarrassed and ashamed of it.
And I don't want you to think any less of me or her, even though I know you wouldn't!

Ren
You can take some time to work your way up to it
Maybe try talking it out to yourself in your room, or tell it to Bis
And then if you feel up for telling me, I'll be here

Futaba
That should be okay, I think.
Thanks Ren.

Ren
Yeah, always


█████
Afternoon
Shibuya Central Square

It had been more than a few days, but the Trickster's injuries lingered. There was still a dark ring around his eye, he had to be careful not to put pressure on his right leg, and strenuous exercise made his lungs feel like they were straining against his bruised ribs. They were miserable reminders of the death he'd barely avoided, like the scar resting across his left wrist. And it probably didn't help that he was currently starting right at the man who was responsible for both attempts.

The sun glinted off the politician's bald head as he elocuted to an audience of dozens, flanked on either side by what were probably heavily armed guards, each the relative size of a brick house compared to the scrawny, sleep-deprived teenager who watched the speech from halfway across the square. The words didn't even register to the Trickster, they just washed over him like blood off greased hands. He stood there, hands in his pockets, staring at his would-be-murderer.

The man wouldn't have known, of course. Or he wouldn't have cared. He doubted the bald fucker even took enough time to look at the Trickster's name before ensuring he'd be thrown into juvie. Maybe he'd have paused to learn the name of a Phantom Thief before ordering his son to shoot him in the head, but the Trickster considered that equally unlikely.

As far as the man was concerned, the young man was dead twice over. And the Trickster couldn't wait to prove him wrong and return the favor all in one fell swoop.

"You're risking quite a lot to meet here," the boy not currently in the black mask said. "My life as well as yours, and those of your teammates."

The two were on opposite sides of a bench on the side of the road, not a far walk from the square. Even if their mutual foe had eyes here, they could easily pass themselves off as an exhausted nobody and a relaxing Prince who just happened to find themselves within speaking distance.

"Can't sit still," the Trickster said. "Every time I close my eyes I'm right back in that fucking room again." His hands tightened against his knees. "I need something to focus on or I'm going to go insane."

"And you've chosen to fixate on the exact opposite of relaxation," the boy said. Though his tone was dry, it seemed oddly sympathetic as well. "That sounds just like you."

"Sounds more like you, you mean," he fired back.

The boy sighed. "I can't deny I'm well acquainted with self-sabotage. But for both of our sakes, and the sake of our agreement, I would hope you can be smart enough to avoid annihilating yourself until at least such a time as we can take ████'s heart."

The Trickster was quiet, for a moment. "And here I thought you were just waiting for an opportunity to put a bullet in the guy's head. Changed your mind?"

If the boy not currently in the black mask had flinched, the Trickster couldn't see it. "Hardly," he said. "The real question is, have you changed yours?"

The smell of ozone and gunpowder in the back of his head. The feeling of his finger curled around the trigger. "Not sure. I'll have to get back to you on that."


Lots of love for Jane, who's been a wonderful inspiration and her beta-reading notes have warmed my heart every time.