CONTENT WARNING: This chapter contains mentions of statutory assault, partner abuse and parental abuse, as well as a brief depiction of extreme violence. While not graphic, this content still may be difficult or upsetting to read, so please take breaks or skip sections as needed. Stay safe.


11/2 – Wednesday
Late Morning

Futaba
Heyyyyyy hey hey hey hey hey hey.
Ren. Renny Ren. Rendal.
How's my favorite brother doing?

Ren
You're up early
I'm fine
Kinda tired but class is slow so I've been making lists
Also
What did you do?

Futaba
NOTHING YET OKAY I JUST
I kinda sorta mighta made a promise on your behalf.
Please don't be mad.?

Ren
That's really gonna depend on the promise
(I'm not mad)
(Please tell me what I agreed to anyway though)

Futaba
Okay so like me and Kasumi did like a super long call last night cause she wanted to know what was going on in the palace and i told her about what happened with crow and the logic gate and makie and ann, and we just talked for like five hours and at some point i was like "maybe i'll tell her that i have a crush on her" and i didn't but i thought REALLY hard about it BUT then we got into talking about like dating and stuff anyway like in a general sense and i chickened out again but i was like okay i can maybe get some good info here so i can be prepared when i DO tell her, so i was like "hey kasumi if you went on your first date tomorrow, what would you do for it" and she was like "depends on who i'd be going with" and i was like "pick someone" and she had the gosh dang AUDACITY to be like "oh i guess if i picked someone to go with tomorrow i'd pick you" and i'm over here turning into a tomato and thank heck she can't see me but i'm like "okay yeah sure but what would you do" and she's like oh go see a movie and get dinner and i'm like well i get kinda anxious and do you know any quiet places and she's like i get anxious too maybe we could eat in instead, and then she's like well whats your favorite food and im like curry duh and she's like okay so what if we made curry together and im like okay that does something to my heart but i think i'd wanna practice first so i can get a little above microwave chef level and she's like would it be too much to ask ren to make some and im like nahhhh he loves us he'd totally be happy to cook curry for a dinner date, and then we look up the evening movies for fun and by this point its like 4am and im getting mondo sleepies so im kinda just agreeing to stuff cause i like the sound of her voice and eventually she's like okay go to sleep we can talk more tomorrow and im like okay yeah cool and THIS GOSH DANG HECKING MORNING i wake up to a bunch of texts that read and i quote "Morning! :D I hope you're not too tired, you worked hard yesterday so I don't want you to push yourself. If we are still on for tonight, I do need to push back our movie until 6, I forgot practice today is going a little later. I'm really sorry and I hope that still works for you and Ren! X| I don't remember if we picked a movie, could you order the tickets? I'll gladly pay for them, since Ren's handling dinner. :) Sorry I'm sending you so many messages. X) I'm just really excited! I hope you're excited too. I can't wait to see you." SO HI APPARENTLY I AGREED TO THIS IN REAL LIFE LAST NIGHT HELP

Ren
Holy
Shit

Futaba
YEAH

Ren
I'm still not mad

Futaba
THANK
S
PLEASE HELP
IM NOT PREPAAAAAARED

Ren
You will be
Give me a sec to run some ideas in my head and I'll get you a plan
You are GOING to have a good date tonight so help me god
I will make it happen

Futaba
Thank youuuuuuu

Ren
Do you need help getting to the movie theater?

Futaba
If you could walk me to the train station that would be nice but I think I can handle it from there?
Scary. But pretty girl. Scary. But pretty girl.

Ren
She can't wait to see you

Futaba
SHUT THE HECK UP I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT PART I CANT DEAL

Ren
Hahaha
Walk to the train station is easy, can do
Movie at 6, leave at 5:30, I can be home by 3:30 so that's 2 hours
Plenty of time

Futaba
IS IT?

Ren
Yes
I've gone on a first date like twice before, you'll be fine
You're in good hands

Futaba
Okay. Okay.
Permission to still freak out a little bit though? Itty bitty?

Ren
Granted
But we're gonna get through this
Tried and true, the same way I got through confessing to Ryuji

Futaba
Soup and sobbing?

Ren
Teamwork
Take a nap if you can, otherwise listen to some music or play some games
All you need to do is shower before I get home

Futaba
I can do that. I do that all the time. Be sleepy and take shower.
That's A Taba-Can-Do.

Ren
Haha, glad to hear it
I'll fill Sojiro in, we'll coordinate ingredients, make sure I've got what I need for curry
And I'll grab a style consultant on the way

Futaba
If you bring Yusuke back with you I'm gonna tell Sojiro to disown you

Ren
I'm best friends with a part time model who was raised by two fashion designers
Why the fuck would I ever conscript Yusuke?

Futaba
YOU'RE BRINGING ANN INTO THIS?

Ren
If I didn't bring Ann into this, she'd ghost me for a week
This is going to make her entire month

Futaba
REVERSE DISOWNED PLEASE BECOME DOUBLE THE OWNMENT
I'M STILL KINDA FREAKING OUT A LIL BIT MORE FOR DUMB AND GAY REASONS BUT THIS IS STILL MUCH BETTER NOW THANK YOU
Okay. I can be calm. I'm cool. I'm cool.
Ann's gonna help. Woah nelly.
NOW I'm in good hands.

Ren
Hahaha


11/2 – Wednesday
Evening
Cafe Leblanc

Ren was in the process of debating whether he should leave the curry to simmer, since he didn't know when Futaba and Kasumi would arrive, when the bell over the door rang. He chuckled to himself, and lowered the heat on the pot.

"–archetype based on Dante's Inferno, which I've never read but I watched a playthrough of the video game once so I think I got the basic gist of it, and it's got a ton of names just right off of that like Dante and Beatrice and Virgil and a bunch of demons. And it's all about cards going in the graveyard which is kinda like dying so, you know, hell stuff."

A very familiar giggling. "That's so c-cool!" And then, a second later. "Hi Ren!"

"Hi Taba, hi Kasumi." Ren turned to throw a nod and a wave towards the two, catching a blur of red that threw him for a double take. "Nice outfit."

Kasumi swished back and forth, glancing down at her bright red skirt and matching blouse with a big smile. "Thank you! It's not nearly as cute as Futaba's though." He could practically see the hearts in her eyes when she said that.

Futaba grinned too, flapping her loose sleeves somewhat. "Yeah, I'm basically a fashionista. Got the cute girl outfit down pat." Her current clothes weren't that much different than her everyday wear, but Ann had talked her into a studded choker, a green windbreaker instead of her normal parka, and a matching beanie to keep her freshly brushed hair from getting too frizzed.

"Yeah?" Ren said, raising an eyebrow while Kasumi giggled her head off. "I'm hanging out with Ann in a bit, want me to tell her you said that?"

Futaba wheezed on nothing, her eyes bugging out of her face. "No thank you very much," she said, all in one strained breath. "She did a good job I'm very happy with how I look and also grateful please tell her that ." Kasumi's giggles were rapidly approaching a high pitched squeal, and she smacked ineffectually at Futaba's shoulder while covering her face with her other hand.

As cute as this was to watch, Ren did have plans. "Alright. Curry's on the stove, rice is also on the stove but give it like...five more minutes? It's almost done. Sojiro's watching TV, Mona's upstairs taking a nap and I'll be in Shinjuku with Ann. If either of you need anything, just text like...any of us. Or just yell for Morgana, he doesn't have...you get it." He shucked Sojiro's apron and hung it up dutifully.

"Oh, you're not staying for dinn-dinner?" Kasumi asked, seeming to catch her breath surprisingly quickly.

Futaba threw a glance towards her friend and made a series of noises that could only be described as vague distress, cheeks very red.

Kasumi gasped, turning towards Futaba, who tensed like a startled cat. "Futaba Sakura," she said, with just a hint of melodrama. "I already told you that I wanted to kiss you t-tonight. You are not kicking your brother out of his home just to do that s-sooner!" Well! That answered Ren's primed question about how their date was going.

Futaba shut her mouth fast enough that Ren could hear the clack of her teeth snapping against each other. This time, her vague distressed noise was one long, whining, closed-mouth note.

Kasumi's stern expression was already starting to melt, but Ren decided to beat her to the chase. "No one's kicking me out. Ann insisted I save room, she wants to try some quote unquote authentic bar snacks together." He slipped past his flustered sister, ruffling her hair as he passed - Futaba seemed to regain her faculties, growling and smacking at his hand. "Woah, easy there. Giving Mona's smacks a run for his money."

She grinned with her teeth. "I'm a better biter too. Don't test me bro." And chomped at nothing. Ren could see her fingers wiggling beneath the hem of her long sleeves, a little joyful fidget. It was starting to actually kinda hurt from smiling this much.

Kasumi snorted with giggles, attempting something that sounded like "Futaba!" but was choked by laughter. Flushed cheeks, bright smile. Despite Ren being still in the room, it was like Kasumi only had eyes for Futaba. Like nothing else mattered in that moment but her. Out of momentary curiosity, Ren traced Kasumi's line of sight to find her staring right at Futaba's face. Specifically, her lips. Yep. Yep yep, that was his cue to leave five times over.

Ren cleared his throat. "Okay. Curry's on the stove, Mona's in the bed, Sojiro's in his house, I'm in Shinjuku, love you both, bye." And without waiting for the protest that ended up not coming anyway, Ren pushed open the door, slipped out into the chill evening air, and headed towards the train station with Leblanc's bell still chiming in his ears.


"So?" Ann asked, voice full of the glee that impeded gossip, the second Ren made it off the train platform. "How'd the date go?"

"Futaba says you did a good job, and she's satisfied with how she looks," Ren said.

Ann rolled her eyes with a smile. "Yeah, duh, of course I did and of course she is. I'm a professional. But how did the date go?"

Ren smirked. "Three and a half million yen that Kasumi kissed her before I made it on the train."

" Yeah she did!" Ann punched at nothing, letting out a little victorious whoop that drew a few judgemental gazes from passersby. Even the anxious jolt in Ren's pulse at the sudden attention didn't shake his smile. "Fuck, I'm proud of them. About time, too." She started walking, and Ren dutifully followed. "It's been agony watching those two make doe eyes at each other at every meeting."

"Speaking of," he chuckled. "How's Makoto?"

Ann perfectly pivoted mid-step, punched Ren hard in the arm, and swiveled back around to keep on walking like nothing had happened. Ren grinned, grimaced, grinned again, rubbed his sore arm, and matched her pace.

"She's good," Ann said, once he'd caught up. "She's really good." Her hand went to her ear, as if trying to brush a strand of hair back into line, but unfortunately there wasn't a single lock out of place. "I think I might have gotten in over my head. That..."

She pursed her lips, frustration and affection dancing across her expression. "That confident, handsome jerk will not stop sending me really cute selfies and little lovey-dovey texts, and she is clearly trying to get me to crack and admit I've got it bad for her and it is pissing me the hell off. The second I let her kiss me once, she just..." Ann gesticulated wildly at nothing, and then let out an emphatic and frustrated sigh. "The fucking gall , I swear."

"Got it bad?" Ren raised an eyebrow. "You're... dating her. I thought that was kind of implied."

Ann barked a laugh. "Implied, yeah! It's just..." She gestured at nothing again, then seemed to catch herself. "It's a femme thing. Like if I want her to kiss me I'm not gonna say 'hey Makoto, wanna smooch?' or something, I'm just gonna like...ask her to help me put on some lip gloss, or put my arms on her shoulders, stuff like that. I get her to want to kiss me. Then she gets to be brave and confident and ask, and I get to be all aloof and unaffected and say yes," fluffing one of her ponytails for effect, "and we both get to be happy."

He blinked at her. "That is... super roundabout for just a kiss."

"It's not meant to be efficient, Ren," she sighed, pausing to slip past a pair of loitering students in uniforms Ren didn't recognize. "It's meant to be fun. It's a game."

"And she's cheating," Ren concluded, pivoting sideways to slip past the students as well.

"She's cheating!" Ann agreed, clenching one hand into a fist and shaking it at nothing. "I am not supposed to be the one getting flustered here! I'm the flusterer, Ren!" She gestured emphatically to herself.

"Guess you better step up your game then," he chuckled. "If she's one-upping you, better one-up her back."

Ann hummed, nodding thoughtfully. "Yeah. Yeah! Step up my game, huh?" She sent a toothy grin towards Ren. "You and me, battle plan over bar snacks. Let's fucking do this."

"Right there with you." And he extended a fistbump that she immediately returned with gusto.


11/3 – Thursday
After School
Kanda Church

Hifumi was quiet. When Ren arrived for their scheduled game, the board was already set up. Only a few words, the necessary ones. Her focus, what little of it she spared to her environment, was glued on the board. And they played. No extravagant tactics. Ren was tempted to go for the Burning Cage again, but he wasn't given an opportunity.

Today, Hifumi was a merciless foe. Silent. Cold. No more of those experimental plays she would weave into her strategy, no banter or mirth. Calculation and execution. She left no room for anything else.

"Checkmate," she said. The timer on her phone had just clicked over to 19 minutes when she retrieved it and locked the screen. Ren hadn't thought to check how many moves it had taken, but he guessed that was a new record for their games too.

"Damn," he said. Ren ran a hand back through his hair, letting out a long breath that just kept getting longer as it left him. "Should I...take the fact that you absolutely wrecked me today as a compliment, or...?"

Hifumi sighed. Hm. The emotion there was...relief. A tension lost. She'd been tense? "I don't want you to assume that I've been taking it easy on you before. But I believe..." A twinge of a smile. "I wanted more out of those games than simply to win. I enjoyed them."

Ren nodded. "And you didn't want to enjoy this one?"

"I–" Hifumi looked mid-protest, but paused. "Actually, yes. In a roundabout way." This time, her smile was a little more genuine. "This will be my last game of shogi for a few months, at least. Possibly, though not likely, my last game ever."

"Oh." Ren blinked. Okay. Holy shit. "Is it your mom?" he asked, before logic could advise against it.

Hifumi shook her head. "My mother's change of heart has made this an option the way it wouldn't have been before, but I'm not doing this because of her. I'm doing this because of me."

She didn't want to enjoy this game. Meaning... "You're not enjoying shogi anymore, huh? And you didn't want to have fun with this game because that might change your mind, or something."

"Hm." Hifumi stared at Ren. "Almost entirely correct, yes." A hint of a smirk. "Are you trying to give that Prickly Prince a run for his money, or am I simply that easy to read?"

Ren laughed. Prickly Prince , huh? Fuck, he'd definitely have to remember that for later. "Closer to the former."

"I see." She adjusted herself. "But, yes. Before my mother's change of heart, I didn't enjoy shogi outside of our games and the rare days where I was permitted to practice on my own terms. I assumed that my mother's lenience would bring me back that passion I've lost. And...it didn't." She stared down at her hands, at the lines in her palms. "And beyond the fact that I'm burned out and need a break, there's...the fact that I get to make this choice is the only proof I had that letting the Thieves change my mother's heart was a good decision." A twinge of desperation, of genuine pain, slipping through the cracks.

Ren leaned back and let out a long breath. A rustling in his bag. "Don't guilt trip yourself," Morgana whispered, a firm almost-growl beneath his words. "You didn't make that choice for her. If she decides she regrets it, that's her right. It's not something you did."

"Your bag is talkative today," Hifumi said without a hint of vocal mirth, though Ren could see a little hint of humor in her almost-smile. Morgana promptly both stilled and quieted.

"Thanks," Ren said, hoping both Morgana and Hifumi would assume the word was meant for them. "So, you're proving that to yourself." Half a prompt, but she seemed to catch it.

"I often forget how intensely she pushed me," she said. "When I'm not in the midst of it, it's...hard to remember." Her hands slowly clenched in her lap, lips pursed. "If my mother's heart has changed, if she is no longer standing in my way, and yet I cannot... be better? Then I was always the one at fault. Exactly the way she said I was."

Ren felt the tension thicken the air, clinging to his lungs like smoke. Deep breath in, deep breath out. "You're choosing your own path now," he said. "Isn't that better?"

Hifumi paused. Considered that. "Yes," she said slowly. "But it's not enough. I'm...not satisfied with that. With myself."

"Got it." Ren found himself smiling. "Well, sounds like you've got a good plan then." He shifted to the side, standing up. Hifumi started as he did, blinking up at him. "Need any more help from me? Beyond, like, moral support?"

Again, a careful consideration. "Do you...know any good hobbies?" she asked, cracking a sheepish smile.

Ren laughed, and the sound echoed around the resonant walls of the church. "I mean, my primary hobbies are busybodying and making lists. I'm probably not the right person to ask." He leaned down, gently scooping up his bag. "But...I'm also extremely good at finding people. So when you do decide on a hobby you wanna try? Text me. I'll get you someone who knows what they're doing."

Hifumi blinked. Eyes narrowed, even as she kept a slight smile. "Track and field?"

Another laugh. "Too easy. My boyfriend."

"Strategy games?" Hifumi asked.

"My sister; and also, like three other people off the top of my head. I could single-handedly organize you a game night."

A gleam of sharpness. "Phantom Thievery?"

A few months ago, that might have gotten him. A few weeks , even, that sort of challenge would have rattled his mask, sent him into anxious overcorrection. Ren just kept grinning. His pulse was steady. Unthreatened. Confident. "I know some people."

A shadow of a smirk. Hifumi stood, adjusting the red string in her hair. "I'll keep that in mind. And if you ever find yourself in need of a strategist..." She winked. It was a messy gesture, over-emphasized, impossible to miss. "You have my number."


11/4 – Friday
Morning

Ann
Hey guys, fucking GUESS what happened to me today.

Yusuke
There is at any moment an infinite number of potential outcomes to that challenge.

Ann
Yeah but like, you could narrow it down. A little.
You know me.

Yusuke
The world is vast and full of wonder.
You are also full of wonder.
And you live an incredibly rich life.

Ann
I
Omg?
Thank you.

Ryuji
uhhh? dude?

Yusuke
I don't quite understand the surprise.
You know me.

Ryuji
LMAO YEAH OKAY FAIR
anyway yeah no ones gonna guess it so just spill

Ann
Lmao lmao lmao okay so.
I showed up to a shoot yesterday just to find out I got sniped AGAIN.

Ren
Oof
Mika?

Ann
Yep. Literally who else would have that much fucking gall lol.

Kasumi
Wait...isn't that the AI singer girl with blue hair? :o

Ryuji
GIRLDUDE YOURE THINKING OF MIKU

Kasumi
OH GOTCHA OKAY THANK YOU X|

Ann
Lmaoooo imagine if fuckin Miku sniped my shoot.
I wouldn't even be mad, I'd ask for an autograph.

Makoto
And 1 for Ryuji 2.
Ur a fan, right?

Ryuji
lol yeah guilty as charged
also nice to see you using the shortened words and numbers and stuff again koto
been a hot minute

Makoto
Oh.
I didn't know any1 cared abt that.
Cool. Thnk u.
Sorry for intrrpting, go ahead Ann.

Ann
Kay!
But no yeah Mika not Miku.
I made a bit of a stink about it but not actually that much cause, ya know, I don't wanna go burning bridges with people who might hire me again.
But I guess! This time the guy who double-booked me actually felt bad for once!
Cause today I wake up to an email about like "oh hey sorry again, someone was supposed to notify you way way in advance about the plan change and that's on us, yadda yadda please don't ghost us, here's some concert tickets we had lying around."
So.
Anyone wanna go to Risette's homecoming concert?

Ryuji
FUCK RIGHT OFF YOU DID NOT GET RISETTE TICKETS

Ann
WANNA BET
IVE GOT FUCKING PICS SAKAMOTO
YOU WANT IN?

Ryuji
BET YOUR FUCKING ASS I DO

Ren
Haha
That's next month, right?

Akechi
December 12th.

Ryuji
fuck dude warn a guy before you jumpscare the group chat like that

Akechi
If you're flinching at my name above a text message, we're going to have an issue moving forward as allies.

Ren
12/12, got it
Pretty easy date to remember, huh?

Akechi
Yes. That and I've already agreed to attend.
Naoto's invitation.

Makoto
Will u b the guest of honor then?

Akechi
I'm sure you'd enjoy seeing me make an ass of myself on stage, Niijima.
But no.

Futaba
Wait i just woke up whats happening about miku now

Kasumi
Morning Tabby! :D

Futaba
Oh morning Mims :)

Ryuji
no uh specifically not miku false alarm
WAIT WHAT HEY BACK UP
WHATS WITH THE CUTE NICKNAMES

Kasumi
WE'RE DATING NOW SO WE GET CUTE NICKNAMES DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT!? :O

Ryuji
NONE WHATSOEVER
congrats girldudes

Ann
Congrats! You two are so cute together I'm gonna cryyyy.

Futaba
Wah thank u

Haru
Congratulations from me too.

Kasumi
Thank you Ann! :D
Oh good morning Haru!

Haru
I've been up for a few hours actually.
That's misleading. I didn't sleep.

Ren
Are you alright?
I haven't gotten on my transfer yet, I could make my way to you

Haru
Please don't.
Thank you. But please don't.
I'll be sleeping through most of today, best that I can.

Yusuke
A good plan. Sleep is important.

Makoto
Do u need anything we can help w/?

Haru
I'm calling an emergency meeting.
Leblanc. After school. No exceptions.

Ren
Got it
I'll make sure Sojiro closes early just in case
I'm here for you, just text me if you need anything in the meantime

Ryuji
ditto here
ill suplex a train if i gotta
i give no shits

Haru
Thank you both.

Ann
What's actually going on though?
I'm going to need something a little more than just an "emergency meeting."

Haru
Please
I can't say more right now.
I'll tell you this afternoon, I promise.

Makoto
Ann?

Ann
Okay.
Stay safe.

Haru
You have my word.


When Haru made her way up the stairs, she wasn't alone.

Akechi threw a glance toward the paired entrants, and his eyes widened. "Fuck!" The exclamation left him with the approximate violence of a cough. All eyes turned to the detective, his expression halfway between a grimace and empty bite, and then towards Haru. And her plus-one.

Mishima startled to a full stop, blinking towards the Thieves, in particular Akechi, who had lowered his gaze and covered his mouth and was in the process of glaring his way through the floorboards. "Uh," she said. "Should I...wait downstairs?"

Haru kept walking into the attic. "Sit down, Mishima." Her tone was calm, but empty. Ren could see the bags under her eyes. He scooted over on the couch when she got closer, but she passed him without a word. Without a look. It wasn't personal, he knew that. Didn't stop his heart from curdling in his chest.

Ann threw a long glance between Akechi visibly dissociating from the meeting at hand, Haru settling into a chair with a blank expression, and Mishima awkwardly attempting to scoot up onto the empty dresser next to the staircase. "What," she finally said, "the fuck is going on?"

Haru closed her eyes before answering. A breath in. A breath out. "After I told you all about my history," she began. "I made some precautions. Inspired by Futaba's recommendation, actually." History. Precautions. Ren's stomach dropped.

"Oh," Futaba said. She and Kasumi had already been shoulder to shoulder on the bed, but now Kasumi had wrapped her arms around one of Futaba's, nestling her head into the girl's neck.

"I specifically asked for assistance from Akechi and Miss Mishima," Haru continued, nodding to them both in turn.

Mishima gave a sheepish smile and raised a hand in a half wave from her spot on top of the dresser. "I put a filter on the Phan-Site," she said. "For, uh, that guy."

"Sugimura," Haru said. Her wandering gaze was frost and steel.

"And that filter was tripped, I assume," Akechi concluded, his teeth still grit.

"Was it by him?" Morgana asked, hopping up onto Ryuji's lap, then reaching his paws onto the arm of the couch so he could blink slowly at Haru.

She smiled, just a little. "By Uchino Rea," she said. "An old friend." A gleam of sharpness in her eyes. "She was my only friend, when I met Sugimura."

"It's been...quite a while since I've felt anything like that sort of intimacy. And that was a friendship formed over many years."

"We simply grew apart. She and I met in middle school, and she ended up moving before high school. I recall we promised to stay in touch, but neither of us ended up keeping that promise. That was the same year I ended up meeting Sugimura."

Ren's throat was threatening to constrict to the point of asphyxia.

A low growling curse drew his gaze towards Akechi. "I should have predicted this," he said. A hand back through his hair, and an involuntary little laugh. "Naturally, if she hadn't wanted to talk to me... "

"Talk to you?" Makoto asked. "Sorry, back up. Why were you talking to Haru's old friend?"

"I asked him to," Haru said. A pointed look at Akechi, and an equally pointed nod.

The Prince steadied somewhat, though a few jitters slipped through his mask. Finger tapping against his arm, gaze flicking towards and away from Ren. "As part of my investigation into the Phantom Thieves," Akechi began. "I dug into the suspiciously abrupt deal made between Okumura Foods and the Sugimura family."

"Did you know Haru was being sold the fuck off?" Ryuji asked, brow furrowed, left heel tapping away at nothing.

"Not at the time," Akechi said. "Only that the Sugimura family had been embroiled in controversy before. Namely, covering for abuse allegations against their eldest son."

"Allegations," Yusuke muttered, his teeth grit. "Haru, did you..." He trailed off, clearly lost for words.

She shook her head. "The daughter of his family's maid," Haru said, a thorn glinting behind her eyes. "Four years before I ever met him."

Ren swallowed hard. "Fucking figures he'd be a repeat abuser," he said, slowly. Fingers clenched and unclenched. A name he would not say, would not think.

Akechi nodded solemnly. "I further uncovered a dropped attempt to bring stalking charges against that same eldest son. At Haru's request, I reached out to the young woman who made those charges." He grimaced. "I assumed she was simply taking the time to respond. It seems my reputation as your enemy precedes me. Apparently, she was startled into reaching out to the Phantoms." A quick glance, almost a glare, towards Mishima, who froze in her seat.

"You ta-talked with her," Kasumi said. "And she...that was Haru's old friend, wasn't it?"

Ann let out a strained breath. "Fuck," she muttered. "Haru, she...you couldn't have..." Words failed her as well.

Haru silently fished her phone out of her pocket and unlocked it. "My name is Uchino Rea," she read. "Two years ago, I was raped by Fukui Sugimura." No one moved. No one even breathed. "I was a coward and I ran, but someone I...I care about," her voice strained to the point of breaking, "is still being abused by him. I think the police are getting involved, and I know they're going to make things worse. I don't know what you can do, but I don't know who else to turn to. Please stop him from hurting anyone else, and please...make sure that Haru Okumura is safe."

Yusuke covered his mouth with one hand. "My god," he whispered. "That is...fuck me."

"Fuck , " Ann muttered again, this time through grit teeth, her hands white knuckling on her lap.

Silence. Haru lowered her phone, but she did not raise her head.

"We made a private response," Mishima said, with an unsteady smile that was clearly forced. "Um, we said that Haru was under the Thieves' protection, and that she'd made a request that the Thieves were going to honor, but–"

"A request?" Makoto asked. Mishima's mouth snapped shut, eyes wide. "What request?"

Mishima's gaze went to Haru. All eyes followed.

Haru inhaled. "Futaba," she said, and the girl started in Kasumi's arms.

"Y...yeah?" she asked.

"The Thieves operate in unanimity," Haru continued. "I know that. But right now, I...you are the only person whose opinion on this truly matters to me. And it does matter." She finally raised her eyes. Brow set. Her gaze was distant and hollow. "I am going to kill Fukui Sugimura tonight." The air in the room was gone. It was like breathing void. "It would be easiest, safest, to do this by way of a mental shutdown. But I would not dare do so without your consent, considering–"

"Don't bring my mom into this." Futaba's voice sent a jolt into Ren's stasis. His sister's eyes were cold embers, her breath a pained and furious shudder. She shifted, glancing away, as if ashamed of her own tone. "Please don't bring her into this. She's more than the way she died."

Haru nodded slowly. "I understand. Thank you. I won't." A careful breath. "I still wish for your consent on this."

"Yeah," Futaba said. "You've got it." A quick unsteady breath. "If... anyone deserves to die like that, it's someone like him . So go ahead. I wouldn't ever stop you."

Like 'him.' Sugimura, yes, but...

"I wasn't...entirely truthful, when I told you about...Futaba's father. It wasn't a lie, really. I never found out who he was. I never pushed her on it. But I knew what he did to her. I knew."

The glint of a rapier a thousand miles away. A familiar Frenchman's growling threat.

Get. Your. Ass. In. Gear. Boy.

"Akechi." Ren's voice was hoarse, and he cleared his throat. Focus. "Do you know if you could spin this to Shido somehow to keep him away from this and off our backs? Or to hide a mental shutdown from him somehow?"

Akechi's gaze narrowed. "Certainly I could , though I would advise against ordering me to turn your girlfriend's trauma into a tool for your benefit–"

"Akechi." Firm, blunt. He stopped talking. Haru slowly, carefully, interlocked her fingers in her lap. "Thank you, genuinely, for your concern. For listening." Listening? To what, exactly? "But you have my permission to do what is necessary to make this easier. To keep the Thieves safe, yourself included. You all have my permission for that."

"Hm," Akechi said. A long and tired sigh. "Very well, consider it done. I'm sure Shido will be overjoyed to hear I've managed to corrupt one of the Thieves into another killer."

Haru smiled, just a little. "Ren?" she said, and she didn't look his way. "Shouldn't you call for a vote?"

Ren let his gaze wander. None of the Thieves looked particularly comfortable, but none looked like they wished to protest. "Ann made you a promise about this. So did I." Ann's gaze flicked towards him, blinking quickly. "I promised you, if you needed to get rid of him, that I would help keep you safe afterwards. I'd make sure you could do that without risk."

He forced a smile, even as every breath ached at his lungs. "I'm not coming with you as the leader of the Phantom Thieves. I'm coming with you as someone who cares about you. I'm keeping my promise, Haru. Regardless of what anyone else has to say about it."

Another short silence, but this one felt clearer, lighter. Out of the corner of his eye, Ann looked away, towards nothing. Ren forced himself not to dwell on it, but it still stung.

Haru straightened her back. Little adjustments. Gaze set. "Thank you," she said. "I'm ready."


11/4 – Friday
Evening
Mementos

Sugimura's Shadow was far more human than the robot cognition in Okumura's Palace had been, but Ren could see the resemblance. Gaudy white suit, purple tie, a smirk that sent shudders across a room.

"Ah, Haru," he said, in a saccharine soft voice. "To what do I owe the pleasure, my lady?"

Noir moved towards him. Purposeful step after purposeful step. "Drop the act, Fukui." She gripped her axe just below the head, that black and wicked blade that shone incandescent in Mementos' fractaline light. "I know what you are. And I know what you did to Uchino."

The Shadow snorted. "What I did? Oh, you misunderstand. You were pushing me away, what else was I supposed to do?" Ren grit his teeth. He could feel his mask itching against his face, but he kept his tongue. This wasn't his fight. "That girl wasn't anything to me, I promise. Scout's honor." He crossed his heart with one limp finger.

"That's a shame," Noir said. She let the axe drop through her fingers until the blade kissed the dirt, until she was holding it by its proper handle. "Because she means quite a lot to me." She turned slightly, sending a glance over her left shoulder. "Oracle. Now, please."

"Check," came Oracle's voice through the comms. "Shutting this fucker up...now."

And a gentle static filled Ren's ears. He winced, shivered slightly, forced himself to adjust. A steady, constant white noise. He could see the Shadow's mouth moving, but he couldn't hear a word. They'd agreed on this. Even as it itched under his skin not to know...Haru had made clear she didn't want anyone to hear this. She didn't want her teammates, her friends, her boyfriend, hearing what Sugimura had to say about her. And...never getting to hear the man's opinion wouldn't keep Ren up at night. Not as much as what he knew was coming next.

Noir kept moving forward.

Sugimura took the first step backwards. A flash of fear. His mouth was moving faster now.

"Stop making excuses." Noir's voice pierced through the veil. "Show me your true form, Fukui. Show me the man I've been scared of."

He grit his teeth. Yelled something that blended into silent nothing, and his form distorted. An engorged dusk, writhing and furious and ugly, starting to take shape.

"Crow," Noir said. "Take your satisfaction."

And an arrow leapt from an ethereal bow with enough force to send Ren stumbling to the side, wincing at nothing as the shockwave rocked the static ocean drowning out the Shadow's words. The arrow struck true. What was once a monstrous form was now sans a two foot diameter circle dead center. Dust like blood dripped into the empty hole that was once its stomach.

Sugimura's Shadow collapsed inward, falling like ash. Noir kept walking, momentarily obscured by the melting Shadow. She raised her axe and positioned the blade horizontal. Against the neck of a man who had yet to fully form again.

She stood. Waited. Ren moved slightly to the side, enough to see Sugimura on his knees. His mouth still moving, black blood dripping out of the corners of his lips as he made some manner of plea. Begging for his life.

"Be calm, Sugimura," Noir said. Her voice was the softest venom. "Don't you know? The Phantom Thieves don't kill."

He was still. A slight smile. "Haru." Ren couldn't hear the name, but he knew the shape of it enough to read it on the man's lips. Followed by three short words.

And Haru cut his throat.


11/4 – Friday
Night
Minato City

Ren had been mulling over the best way to give Haru space while still offering his company, but she beat him to the punch.

"Akechi," she'd said, when they made it back to reality. "Please check in on Uchino for me. I don't believe I can handle...anything in my current state."

"I'll speak to Mishima on the topic," Akechi had replied. "I doubt the girl would want to hear from me again."

"Thank you." And then her eyes had gone to Ren. "Please take me home."

And there was nothing else he would rather do.

The train ride was silent. A painful half-foot between them that Ren wouldn't dare cross, and Haru seemed equally unwilling. And then they walked back to her apartment. It was cold. Some part of Ren's brain chastised him for not bringing a jacket, but somehow he hadn't shivered once.

A few times, he found his gaze wandering towards Haru, and wished for nothing more in that split second than to reach over and hold her.

He didn't.

When Haru reached the top of the stairs leading to her apartment, she stopped. Ren stilled as well, a few stairs down. "Ren," she said. "Do you have something you want to ask me?"

Did he? Ren caught his breath, mulled it over. "When you said the Phantom Thieves don't kill, was that implying you didn't want to be a Thief anymore?"

"It wasn't," she said, immediately. "I don't. I...that is to say, I am not intending to leave. I don't know what I'd do with my life if I wasn't a Thief. I have no desire to desert you. Any of you."

A correction just a little too fast. Too sloppy. 'Any of you.' Maybe she wasn't talking as a Thief there. Maybe she was talking as herself. Ren nodded. "Okay." Breath in, breath out. "I know it hurts right now." He paused, expecting her to protest. She didn't. And it was the clearest admission she could have provided. "It's okay if nothing helps. But if there's something, anything, I can do for you, can you tell me?"

Haru was quiet for a time. "There's a part of me that wants to invite you inside," she said. "To stop thinking about him. To ask you to stay the night, and all that implies."

Ren felt his gut lurch. All that implied? A little tingle danced across his ribs. "And?" he said, the word leaving him quieter than he meant it to.

"And I can't ask that of you," she said. "I can't ask you to distract me like that. I cannot make you stay."

He swallowed. Make him stay. Very particular wording there. "Could... I ask to stay. To distract you?"

"Yes," Haru said, immediately.

"Would you want that?" he asked.

"I would say yes," she replied. "If you asked."

Okay. Fuck. Ren caught his breath again. He wanted that. He wanted to spend the night in her arms. To know she was going to be okay, because he was there to make sure of it. He wanted to hold her and never let go. To call in sick tomorrow and text Sojiro he was staying with her and leave everything and everyone else behind for just one night.

But he was smarter than that. Knew himself better. "May I hug you?" he asked.

Haru turned to face him. "Yes," she said.

Ren climbed the last few stairs into her open arms. He held her. "I'm not staying the night," he said. "I want to be with you, but I don't want to be your distraction. I want to...I mean, I want to be your boyfriend." A little laugh slipped out of him, barely more than a breath. "I know that's kind of selfish, but–"

"It's not." Haru stilled. Turned slightly, looking away from him, as close as they were. "It's not selfish to want different things. If you...if you let me hurt you, just because it might make me happy," her voice sharp, almost angry, "then I'll never forgive you."

"Okay," he said. "Noted. Sorry. I won't let you then."

"And staying would hurt you," she said. It was almost a question, but not quite.

"It might sting a little, yeah," he said. "I'm never going to hate being around you. But I...I want you to enjoy being around me too. I don't know that I trust myself to...make smart decisions about that. I know it's...not going to be easy for me to be with people, like that. With anyone. I don't want you to have to...like, walk me through feeling safe being that close to you, when you're as rattled as you are."

"I see," she said. "That would...be beyond me, tonight." Her grip on him tightened. "And I wouldn't dare ask you to take that leap until you were ready to."

Ren laughed, a little. Until he was ready. Sort of optimistic there. The implication that he could ever be ready. But...he wouldn't pop that bubble. "Yeah. So, not tonight. Yes, a hundred times yes, but not tonight."

Haru nodded, her hair tickling his cheek. "I'll ask again. Another time."

"Please do," he said.

"I will."

Neither of them moved for a long few seconds. Ren didn't want to leave. He didn't want to let her go.

"I love you," he said.

"And I, you," she said.

Ren slowly extracted himself from the embrace. He stood there in front of her, at the top of the stairs, for another few seconds. "Stay strong, Haru."

A little smile danced on her lips. "Stay strong, Ren."

Ren turned back towards the stairs with an effort that felt monumental, and he started walking.

Halfway down, he heard a door close vaguely above him.

When he made it to the bottom, turning back towards the train station, Ren found himself shivering. He slipped his hands into his pockets and kept walking.


Happy new year, everyone. It's still technically 2022 when I'm posting this, so! We did manage to get one last chapter in before the new year! It's been a pretty rough few weeks, so I want to give an extra shoutout not only to Jane, my eternal confidant and best friend and unparalleled beta reader, but also to Ralu, Dave and Rabbit for providing a great deal of emotional and psychological support through a genuinely very rough holiday season. I'm blessed to know you all.