Chapter 41: A Decision to Make

Ω • Ω • Ω

6/12, Sunday

•Makoto•

Cram school had never made her feel so anxious. She knew that she needed to focus on her work, but everything that was going on in her life at this point… made it a bit hard to focus on classes.

"You're Sae-san's younger sister, correct? May I talk to you for a moment?"

She turned and her eyes widened briefly when she saw Goro Akechi standing there. She knew that he attended the same cram school as her, but she hadn't expected him to walk up and begin engaging in conversation like this. She refocused though, and nodded at him. "Is it about the Phantom Thieves, Akechi-kun?"

There was a brief moment where he didn't answer before a smile spread across his face. "You're quite perceptive. I was wondering if there were any points in common between Kamoshida's and Madarame's cases. There have been victims, after all. The Phantom Thieves need to be pursued."

"You criticize the Phantom Thieves, yet you don't doubt their existence," she noted.

"Oh, you saw that show on TV," Akechi-kun chuckled. "Common sense can get in the way at times when pursuing the truth. Many details become logical if I think on the premise that they do exist."

"Is this… because my sister told you to do so?"

"It was just a coincidence."

She narrowed her eyes and clasped her hands together. She didn't like that smile of his. "Why do I get the feeling that you're enjoying this?"

"...You may be right."

"Huh?"

"Phantom thieves that use calling cards and succeed in their crime… As the so-called 'Charismatic Detective', it'd be hard for me to not see them as rivals."

"You have such high self-esteem. So the Phantom Thieves are evil, and you are just?" She questioned. Sis had said that depending on the means, it could very well be illegal to manipulate someone's heart. They very well could be seen as evil, but… They'd helped the people she should have helped, saving the volleyball team from Kamoshida… While she did nothing. Was that truly evil?

"Compared to the people who manipulate others' hearts as they see fit, I believe I'm on the side of justice," he spoke with absolute conviction. "Besides, I'm only using my natural-born talents for the sake of serving the world. Don't you think the same about yourself too?"

"I…"

"...Oh, that's surprising. So you're just the good-girl type of pushover." She recoiled, but Akechi-kun didn't pay any attention to her at all, instead pulling out his phone. "Looks like it's starting soon. See you later! Give Sae-san my regards." And with another smile, he walked away.

"...Why does everyone get on my case?" She whispered, shutting her eyes to the world.

Ω • Ω • Ω

•Akira•

He panted for breath as Kasumi smiled next to him. His panting was less from exhaustion, and more pain from mimicking Kasumi's stretches. Were those really possible for normal human beings? "Not bad, Starr-senpai! You're pretty flexible, and you catch on so fast! At this rate, you'll have the fundamentals down in a heartbeat!"

When he had woken up that morning Yusuke had already left the café, but had left the Sayuri behind, proudly displayed on the wall of Leblanc. After that, he received a message from Kasumi asking if it had been a good day to train together. "Thanks. You're a good teacher, Yoshizawa-san. You seem to really enjoy this, too."

"It's all about the harmony between the internal and external oblique muscles! I can't get enough of it!"

"If you're that excited, then don't stop on my account. We're just getting started."

"Well! Feisty, are we? I'm glad to hear it!" Kasumi giggled. "Expert-level gymnastics are beautiful, but they require a lot of stretching. All right! Let's continue!"

Time felt like it was passing slowly, but that was likely just from the feeling of his burning muscles. When they finally finished they sat down on a bench. More accurately, Kasumi sat, he collapsed into it. He narrowed his eyes, slightly upset that the normal but athletic girl was less winded than the psychic thief. Yeah, it wasn't like his powers made him any stronger in the real world, but it was the principle of the thing…

"I think that's enough stretching for now. Good effort, Senpai! And, um… I'd like to continue with our training, but… I'm actually not doing so great at the moment, so I'm not sure I could manage anything too strenuous."

She looked downcast, so he just smiled at her. "If you need me to help with anything, just let me know. But we can continue more next time."

"Thank you for understanding." She responded with a smile of her own, before it dropped into a frown. "Do you remember how I said I wanted to talk to you about something? I've been feeling like… I'm stuck in this slump. No matter how much I practice, I just can't get any better. I went to my coach about it, but… she told me to take some time off from gymnastics."

Her face screwed up. "According to her, I need to think about who I really am. The idea's not to stop doing gymnastics, just… she wants me to take a break."

"Well, there is such a thing as practicing too much, you know. Sometimes taking a step back is better for you. I'm not sure what she means by thinking about who you really are, though," he chuckled.

"But… I've never had an issue that practice couldn't solve. So now… I have no idea what to do. So, um… I want you to help me, Starr-senpai. Even if we're not doing gymnastics, will you still keep going out with me?!"

Whoa, when the hell did that happen?!

Damn, you've got movesss, kid.

'Oh shut up, both of you!' He cleared his throat, sure she didn't mean it that way. But, he, uh, did have to make sure. "…Romantically?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, no, not like that."

"Yeah, I figured," he laughed.

"I've heard my coach praising me. She says, 'Kasumi's greatest weapon has always been her boldness. And honestly, that used to be true. I was totally fearless, confident… Gymnastics was a fun challenge. But ever since I started high school, I've been in a slump. I got taller, for one, and there were some other… complications… I can't move how I want anymore. Like it's not even my own body."

"That does sound bad," he noted.

"I kind of fell into a depression. It got pretty bad." Smiling suddenly, she turned to him. "But when you helped me in Shibuya, something occurred to me… When I saw how fearless you are, how confident you are… I knew you were the right one for the job! If I stick with you, Senpai, I think I can learn to be confident again!"

"Well, how can I say no to that? Just leave it to me."

"Great! Thank you!" Kasumi giggled. "You're a strange one, Senpai. I didn't think you'd accept. Well, I'll try and return the favor through our deal!" He smiled as he sensed her appreciation, and chains crashed within his head.

RANK UP!

Faith Arcana, KaSumi Yoshizawa: Rank 2

Kasumi's phone rang, and she turned away. "Oh, excuse me." After checking it, her eyes widened and she stood up. "I should get going! I have a meeting with my coach! I'll make sure you don't regret this, so thanks for today!" She bowed to him, grabbed her stuff, and ran off.

He chuckled as she went, staying seated to rest his body some more before he returned to Leblanc. He certainly felt his stamina increase, but he definitely wasn't going into Mementos tomorrow.

Once Morgana returned from his walk around the park they began leaving, the sun's descent nearing the tops of the buildings. As he neared Leblanc he felt his phone vibrate, and he picked up. "Akira here."

"Hello, Senpai, It's Yoshizawa! I wanted to thank you for joining me today. Are you feeling sore after all that?"

"Of course," he answered.

"Well, you placed stress on muscles that you don't use very often! Please remember to massage them out before you sleep. But I'm so glad you accepted my request! I was so relieved, I suddenly got really hungry… and then my stomach wouldn't stop growling in my meeting."

"You get hungry from relief? Well… that's… impressive?"

"Thank you very much. Though I don't know that's really worth any praise," Kasumi giggled while he rolled his eyes at her many thanks with a grin on his face. "An excessive diet tends to make most people sick, but it seems to have an opposite effect on me. But since you're helping me out, I'll do whatever it takes to maintain my shape!"

"Well, I can put away a pretty good amount myself, so I'll give you some tips if you need them."

"Senpai, you're already helping me so much, don't put me into even more debt! Well, I'll be reaching out again soon for our next meet up! Talk to you later!"

"Adios." He hung up and walked inside as the evening began.

Ω • Ω • Ω

•Sapphire•

A sword flashed down towards him but instead of dodging or blocking the blade moved in, using his left forearm to stop the man's arms from dropping any further. His right arm swung around and clocked his opponent in the face, forcing them back.

"That's gonna—"

"Sapphire!" Noct called from the sidelines, sitting on a cushion and supervising the fight. "What did I say?!"

"No talking during a fight," he grumbled. As he did, a second fighter, some bald guy, attempted to slice him in half and he narrowly dodged with a jump backward. 'That's gonna leave a mark,' he finished his earlier sentence in his head instead, all while he burst forward and threw a straight punch. The bald fighter dodged the strike and swept up with his sword, the blade glowing blue while a third warrior, a woman fighter, attacked by thrusting their katana at Sapphire from behind as it crackled with lightning.

Considering this was a fight where he wasn't allowed PSI, he wouldn't be able to dodge both blows. Deciding that being stabbed with an electrified katana would be worse than a slice with ice, 'heh', he stepped into the upward slash of the bald warrior, feeling the paradoxical burning pain as the metal tore through his bare chest, ice spreading from the wound both within and outside his body. The third warrior overextended as Sapphire moved just a bit too far out of her range to get closer to the second, the Chosen grabbing the man's arm and twisting them around.

As they spun he threw the man at the woman, tossing them to the ground. The first opponent was back up at this point with a bloody nose, rushing at him. He grinned and side-stepped as the katana was thrust at him, the sword glowing with red flames, before cursing and falling back as the thrust turned into a slice to catch him. It felt like the sword sliced right between two ribs as his flesh blackened nearly instantly from the heat of the Fire PSI, but Sapphire's smile just grew wider and he clasped his hands together and then let loose with a hammer blow on the top of his head.

The warrior slammed into the ground and Sapphire raised his leg before stomping down on their head, knocking them out. And probably doing something dangerous to their skull or brain, but he wasn't a doctor. Still, head wounds were usually bad. 'Don't have to use my head to know that though… Ugh, that pun sucked.'

The man and woman who were still conscious burst up from the ground behind him and he spun around, catching both blades in his hands. They sliced across his palms as he clenched his fists around them, ignoring the agony as ice spread along one arm and lightning shot up the other. Both warriors' eyes widened as his grin became more feral in appearance, all while he yanked the swords from their hands, then grabbed their heads before they could escape and slammed them together.

They collapsed back to the ground, still awake, so he wound up and kicked the man hard enough to send his teeth flying, before grabbing the woman with one hand and winding up with the other, launching blow after blow down on her face. Blood flew, both from her face and from the slits across his palms, but once she was finally knocked out he let her go and stepped back.

"This bout is finished," Noct called from the sidelines.

He breathed hard, bloody gashes and cuts all across his abdomen. One of his arms was spawning from residual shocks, and the other was covered by a layer of frostbite, sharp shards of red ice bursting through his skin in several places from frozen blood. Reaching up to wipe sweat from his face, he grimaced as blood splattered off his hand and into his eyes. "Shit." He cast a silent Lifeup and let the golden light flow across his body, bringing him back to pristine condition. His scorched side returned to normal, and even the frozen blood bursting from his arm melted away as the skin fused back together.

"Whew. Man they might have been generic Soul-Forged weapons, but they had a good kick to them! Kikaku and Yone really know their stuff…" He grinned as he remembered the two, still apprentices when he had first visited Dalaam years ago. He walked off the training field to Noct as several healers began helping the knocked-out fighters, most of them trying to heal the knocked-free teeth back into the one warrior's mouth. "Uh, when he wakes up, tell him I'm sorry?"

Noct huffed, but it was so slight that only he noticed it. To anyone else, his face hasn't changed from its stony disposition. "When I told the beginning warriors they would have an opportunity to battle the Leader of the Chosen Four, they all jumped at the opportunity. They'll likely thank you for knocking their teeth out. I'll also let Yone-san and Kikaku-san know you approve of their smithing skills."

"What? Noct I was fighting beginners? Man, I wanted a good fight!"

Noct's eyebrow rose. "There were several instances in that fight where it was pure luck that you were not skewered through. Besides that, you were unarmed while they had Soul-Forged blades. That makes up for the skill gap. Well, and your recklessness."

"Me? Reckless?" He smiled innocently. "Perish the thought."

"Sapphire. Do not take me for a fool. That is supposed to be you and Willow." Noct leaned back with a faint grin as Sapphire took a lazy swing at him. "You took several cuts and stabs that you didn't need to, you could have avoided the attacks and retaliated after."

"They were just some minor cuts."

"Whether they were minor or major— and several were certainly major— the issue is taking the attacks when it is not necessary to do so."

"Oh come on, at this point Lifeups are so dirt cheap and easy for me to use that it doesn't even qualify as an inconvenience!"

Noct's gaze turned more serious. "Sapphire, the whole reason you're forbidden from using PSI in these bouts is because of your vision where your PSI was weakened considerably for some reason in the future. You won't be able to just heal from grievous wounds gained in combat like this. Jumping into attacks you could have avoided, taking blows just to return them… it's foolish."

He sighed. "Then I'll just be more careful when the time actually comes. These are just spars, man! Granted, deadly spars, but still. Now come on, I want an actual fight where we can go all out! Those guys still have to be healed, right? Let's have one, you and me, where we can use PSI!"

"You just dislike listening, don't you?" Noct asked dryly. "Very well. Shizuka-san, we will return soon. Make sure the training field is ready for our return and the warriors are prepared for the next fight. Ah, and have some refreshments delivered, specifically to restore our PSI. I have a feeling we will need them."

One of Noct's handmaidens smiled and bowed as Noct removed his ceremonial garb and replaced it with a simple gi, responding similarly in Japanese. "Yes, my emperor. It will be done." Sapphire grinned and called Casey to his hand, the Soul-Forged baseball bat responding eagerly. As soon as Noct was ready he grabbed the man's shoulder and dragged them both into his Magicant.

"Honestly, have you no patience?" Noct asked with a chuckle as the small island they stood on within his Sea of Eden grew into a large flat arena.

"Nope. Too many fights without any PSI. So let's go all out! Really let loose!"

Noct shook his head, walked several meters away, and unsheathed Faithkeeper, the Sword of Kings' runes glowing bright white as Noct's veins glowed black very briefly from the activation of his Enhancement PSI, and his eyes flashed silver before becoming black again. The ground cracked under his feet. "We just spoke of your recklessness, Sapphire. Don't make me repeat it so soon."

Sapphire barely heard him as he closed his eyes and let his PSI well up, as well as an influx of strength from eight points across the globe. The air audibly crackled as his veins also began glowing, blue and white lines running up and down his body as he similarly used PSI Enhancement continuously. The ground trembled and furrows formed.

He breathed in and out, before opening his eyes to reveal they'd transformed from black to bright silver, the waves of power he was giving off having the side-effect of making his black hair start to wave wildly around his head in the wind, his Enhancement much less subtle than Noct's, mostly from him strengthening his body even further than the King was capable of. "Ready, Princey?!"

Noct rolled his eyes and got into a battle-ready stance, feet spread apart and Faithkeeper held on his right side, by his head, and pointed towards Sapphire. "As I'll ever be… but just in case, I'll say it once more. That reckless nature of yours may very well be the death of you. Now, let's begin."

A feral grin grew on Sapphire Starr's face and he grasped Casey's handle with both hands as the star runes on her caps and the symbols along her shaft glowed, and the pink and blue psychedelic sky above swiftly turned stormy. Within an instant, too quick for any measurement, he crossed the space between them and crashed their weapons together, the ground shattering to dust and rubble beneath Noct's feet as he transitioned his sword into a guarding stance. The ringing sound of metal colliding was only drowned out by Sapphire's roar of excitement. "THEN LET'S GO!"

Ω • Ω • Ω

•Toranosuke•

"That you possess free will does not mean that you can always do as you please. To make your decision based simply on loss or gain is to act like a heartless machine. The reason so few people care about their fellow man is because so few have the energy to do so. We politicians have fallen short of our goal to change society. We need your support more than ever!"

"That approach isn't going to work!" A brown-haired man in a suit called. "You have to get the voters more excited! You're going to completely lose the hearts and minds of the people."

He shook his head. Honesty and integrity were what was needed, not fancy lies to capture the audience. You could do just as well, so long as you had conviction. "Again, what I'd like to say is—" Then he recognized who had called out. "Councilman Matsushita!" Starr-kun's face twisted into confusion by his side.

"It's been so long since we last spoke," he chuckled as he walked towards him and Starr-kun. "I wanted to stop by to see how you were doing." A moment later they were standing around the corner, the Dietman smiling towards his assistant. "Oh, you have a high schooler volunteering for you, huh? My, times have changed. Do you know about the Kuramoto Children?"

"Yoshida-san told me about them, yes," Starr-kun spoke with a smile on his face.

"That was nearly twenty years ago. I'm impressed that you're so interested in politics. I was a member of the Kuramoto Children as well. Yoshida and I joined the same year. I made an amazing career change, going from a pro wrestler to a Diet member."

"Really?" Starr-kun asked in surprise.

"Really," Matsushita-san chuckled. "I was elected easily, but I had no idea what I was doing. I realized I wasn't elected on my own merit when I failed to be re-elected for a second term." Mastuhita-san's gaze turned towards him. "That was true for the both of us."

"You made a great comeback, though. You're truly an inspiration," He spoke sincerely.

"As are you, old friend. You're working harder than anyone on the campaign trail."

"Oh, there's no need for false praise to impress the boy here."

The brown-haired man shook his head. "Yoshida's well-informed about the inner workings of politics, so I'm sure he'll be a great teacher. However, I suggest you only do as he says and not as he does, if you want to become a Diet member."

He crossed his arms. "And what might that mean?"

"I'm guessing he doesn't know…?" Matsushita-san's voice trailed off as he asked the question. In response he shifted his stance slightly, Starr-kun eyeing him from the side, as Matsushita-san continued. "You really think you can win the election by being completely honest and making good arguments? You've got to secure voters! Or else you'll be forever known as No-Good Tora!"

His brow furrowed and he clenched his fist in front of him to emphasize his point as he responded, "Without honesty and good arguments, there can be no political justice!"

"Ha… it's been a while since I've heard one of your grandiose speeches." Matsushita-san's mouth formed into a smile, and they both chuckled. The man's gaze turned back to Starr-kun. "Starr-kun, was it? Tell me, what about Yoshida here drew you in?"

"It was his message. One of the very first speeches I heard from him was one where he was advocating for, well, teenagers like me. How the older generation hadn't prepared us for the world ahead, and that we needed help. It moved me."

His eyes widened. He knew that the boy wasn't always perfectly honest with him, he could tell that much, but that came straight from the heart. There had been no lies there. "Starr-kun…"

"Well… that's quite impressive. You just may have the potential to become a Diet member. You address matters quite directly for a young person. It seems you have been taught well."

"I intend to teach him everything I know. That's what we agreed on." Starr-kun smiled at him, and they nodded at each other. He didn't realize it, but within the silver-eyed boy's head was the sound of chains snapping.

RANK UP!

Sun Arcana, Man of the People: Rank 3

"By the way, how are things between you and old man Kuramoto?"

He sighed at the thought of him. "We're still not on speaking terms."

Matsushita-san eyed him, his face contemplative. "…There's something I'd like to get your opinion on, so I'll be in touch."

"Very well."

Nodding at them both Matsushita-san began leaving, before pausing. "Oh, that reminds me. You may still distrust me because of what happened with the missing party funds… But I'm not the one who pointed the finger at you. That's all I'm going to say."

He sighed and combed a hand through his hair. "Why did he have to mention that…?" Seeing Starr-kun's raised eyebrow he just smiled. "Ah, my apologies. That's all for today. Good job…"

"Don't forget to invite me to your next speech. I'm looking forward to it." His smile grew wider as Starr-kun saw his distress and attempted to cheer him up.

"Of course. Have a good night." Starr-kun smiled back at him before wandering off, a cat came out of nowhere and jumped into his bag when he opened it up for the feline. "Heh." He shook his head and took his signboard and box, heading home for the night.

Ω • Ω • Ω

6/13, Monday

•Akira•

"Fancy seeing you here."

"Akechi-san." He looked over and nodded at the high-school detective. "I keep hearing about how Tokyo is this massive city, but apparently everyone I know uses this station," he smirked.

"Quite the mystery, that," Akechi smiled. "Still, I wouldn't have expected to run into you at this time, even though Shujin was in this direction… Perhaps it really is fate."

"Don't let your fangirls hear you talking about fate with me, or they might come up with some theories about the two of us," he chuckled.

"Well now, that might be embarrassing were that to happen. In any case, how are you doing, Starr-san?"

"Not bad at all."

"Relaxed as usual, hm? I've been getting interviewed a lot lately, so I've been wondering how to answer such questions… I see now there's no need to be so roundabout with my responses. Talking with you helps me realize many things, it seems."

"Just from me telling you 'not bad at all'? My, your detective's intuition must be a cut above the rest."

They both laughed, Akechi peeking one eye open. "If it isn't too much trouble, may I speak with you again sometime?"

"Fine by me. We shared contact information for that reason, after all. Send me a message whenever you'd like. If I'm not too busy I'll be happy to speak again."

"Perfect, thank you, Starr-kun."

"Come on, the train's arriving, Akechi-san. Let's talk more on board." They talked about mundane topics as they train rumbled along, and parted with pleasant goodbyes once they reached the stop closest to Shujin and he needed to step off. As he walked up the street to the school Morgana popped out of his bag.

"Getting chummy with him?"

"Have to keep his guard down, after all. If I'm just defensive with him, he'll think I'm hiding something. I'll leave it to Ryuji to give away our secret identities first," he chuckled. Morgana shook his head and ducked back into his bag, and the school day soon began after he sat down and nodded at Ann.

An average day passed him by, only answering a question in class once he was called on, something about acid rain before he got a call from Ryuji at the end of the day. He picked up as he exited the building, walking to the station. "Akira here."

"Yo, it's me."

"Ryuji? Shouldn't you be doing your extra credit assignment?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna start it now, I was about to, but before I did Niijima came up to me."

"What?" He frowned and stepped off the street into the little alley they used back during Kamoshita's Palace. "What happened? What'd she say?"

"Um… listen, I think… Alright, I think it's best everyone was together for this, ya know? It's important. Could you let everyone know we gotta meet up when I'm done here?"

"Yeah, alright. We'll see you at the hideout."

"Right. Later." Ryuji hung up, and he looked down at his phone and frowned. What did Niijima want, and what was so important that Ryuji figured he should tell everyone in person? It probably wasn't her figuring out their identities, or Ryuji would have been panicking more. And it wasn't like she didn't already know, she clearly had narrowed it down to them, she just didn't have proof…

He shook his head and began dialing Yusuke's number. He'd let the artist know, then Ann, that they needed to meet up later. "So, that sounded pretty serious," Mona spoke, popping out of his bag. "I hope that Numbskull didn't give anything away."

"I guess we're going to find out," he murmured.

Ω • Ω • Ω

•Ryuji•

"Yo!" Everyone looked over at him as he walked up, Yusuke stepping away from the railing he was leaning against with a concerned look.

"Ryuji, Akira told us there was something important you needed to discuss with us?"

"Uh, yeah." He kicked at the ground when he stopped next to them, not really sure how he should start. What she had told him….

"Why not start at the beginning?" Akira suggested. "She came up to you when you were preparing to start your extra credit assignment, right?"

"Yeah… Okay, I'll start there."

Ω • Ω • Ω

"Yo, Haru!"

"Oh! Hello Sakamoto-kun!" Haru smiled sweetly at him and he grinned as she stood up next to the flower pots. "Ready to get started?"

"Yup! You need me to bring some fertilizer up here today or what?"

She giggled and shook her head, her poofy hair bouncing around. "No, not today. It'll be a quiet day where we just make sure they have enough water!"

"Sounds like something you don't need me for," he sighed. "Why'd Ushimaru think this was good extra credit work?"

"Do you not want to?"

"No, no, I'd love to! Just, uh, wonderin' why you'd even need my help for that." Haru just laughed again at his embarrassment. Before she responded the door to the roof opened.

Niijima walked out and looked over at him. "Sakamoto-kun, could I speak to you for a moment?"

"Uh, today's Monday, I'm studyin' with you Wednesday."

"It's not about that, I just need you for a few minutes. If you don't mind, Haru-chan?"

"Feel free, Niijima-chan!" He scowled as Haru gave the okay, and followed Niijima as she walked back inside the school.

When they were in the stairwell and the door to the roof was closed he crossed his arms. "So, what do you need now, Prez?"

"…I… Wanted to ask for your help. The Phantom Thieves."

"Ugh, this again? Prez, I told you, I dunno shit about 'em. I just root for 'em."

"I know you, Starr-kun, and Ann-chan are them, even if I don't have proof." He bit his tongue, really thankful he hadn't shouted out a question on how she knew before she said the part about not having anything to prove it. "I don't know how you managed to send those calling cards to Madarame while at the park, but I assume it has something to do with you being friends with Yusuke Kitagawa-kun, Madarame-san's former pupil."

"Who the hell is Kitagawa—?"

"I have pictures of you four all interacting at the very least, so don't deny that," she interrupted, pulling out her phone and showing a picture of them at their hideout by Shibuya. Shit. "In any case, again, I wanted your help."

He struggled to think of what Akira would say in response to that. "What— uh, if we— if you COULD ask the Phantom Thieves for help, what WOULD you be askin' them for help with?"

She sighed. "If I were able to ask the Phantom Thieves for help, I'd ask them to assist me with stopping the blackmail of Shujin Academy students by the organization operating within Shibuya, to verify the justice they speak of."

"For Real? You want them to help you take down some… mysterious group in Shibuya?"

Niijima nodded, then stood straighter. "Yes… Since students are some of the people being blackmailed, as Student Council President, it's my duty to help them. I'll be someone that other students can see as dependable and who can be counted on… I will not turn a blind eye. I know that the school, the adults, are using me, just… Hm. In any case, I won't be like them, but perhaps more like the 'righteous' Phantom Thieves you admire so much, correct?"

"…Yeah. I guess so." She looked at him, and he wasn't sure what to think. This was… it sounded important enough for them to get involved with. If there was some criminal blackmailing a bunch of kids in Shujin and a bunch more people in Shibuya, they should definitely be stopping them. But working with Niijima? "Have you thought about usin' the Phan-site?"

"I'd rather ask them in person. This isn't something I want to put online. It's too important."

"Man…" He groaned and leaned against the wall. "Then… if you could meet 'em in person, where'd ya do so?"

"Here, on the roof. No one is allowed up here besides you and Haru-chan. That would keep my conversation with… them private."

"Yeah. Well, I should get back to Haru." He turned away and began walking back up the roof. "But, uh. I'm happy that you're startin' to believe in 'em too."

"I don't," she responded. "But if they want to prove their justice to society— to me so that I can happily stop searching for them… I think this would be a good way to do it. Let Starr-kun know."

"…If I were a member, and if he was too, I definitely would. See ya, Prez."

"Have a good day, Sakamoto-kun."

Ω • Ω • Ω

"She really thinks we'd work with her on this?" Ann blurted out as soon as he was done talking.

"I agree, that does seem foolhardy," Yusuke sighed. "While stopping this blackmailing is a noble cause and one I could subscribe to, working with her doesn't sound like the greatest idea."

"Yeah, who's to say she wouldn't sell us out as soon as we're done?" The kitty-cat questioned as he propped his paws on Akira's shoulder. "She's been looking for us ever since we took down Kamoshida. We help her with this and she could just turn around as soon as we're done and sell us out to the principal."

Akira was silent as he listened to everyone. When Morgana finished and Ann and Yusuke were nodding at his words, he looked up. "Firstly, good job. It wasn't perfect, but at least you didn't slip up and rat us out accidentally. I'm willing to bet she had a recorder going through that, but nothing you said sounded all that incriminating if she did."

"Thanks!" He grinned.

"But I want to hear your thoughts on this, Ryuji. What do you think about her offer?" He blinked at Akira's words and scratched his head.

"Uh, ain't you the Leader? You decide if we're doin' this, right?"

"As the Leader, I'm coordinating our schedules, managing our war chest, purchasing and managing supplies, determining which Shadows we battle or slip past…" he cleared his throat, interrupting himself. "Er, my point is, I decide many things. But, just as we decide unanimously on whether a target is worthy— and we are agreed on searching for this target?"

"Yeah."

"Of course."

"It would be a worthy one."

"Mmhm."

"Good. Then, just as we've unanimously agreed that this is a target we should be going after, I don't just decide on my own whether we should work with someone. Everyone's opinions go into this. So, Ryuji, what do you think?"

"Oh. Well…" What DID he think? If he hadn't spent those study sessions with her he'd immediately say it's a bad idea, that she'd probably rat them out. Hell even with them, he was uncertain. It really seemed like she just cared for herself and her grades and that was it. But then there was their argument in the last session, and what she said today… She wanted to be someone who was dependable. Just like 'the Phantom Thieves he looked up to.'

Even before that, when they were actually studying and she wasn't pressing him on the Phantom Thieves, she was doing her best to be helpful. Whenever he didn't get something she would keep dumbing it down for him and didn't seem to lose her cool… besides at the very beginning when she found out just how much help he needed in every subject. She… Wanted to help other students. He was sure of that.

"I think… we should be careful. But… She ain't just gonna rat us out if we work with her." Ann's eyes widened and Yusuke tilted his head.

"Seriously, Ryuji?"

"Yeah."

Morgana shook his head, while Akira just smiled at him. "Alright, if that's what you think then I'll trust your word on it, Ryu. You've spent the most time with her out of all of us, after all. Do you have her ID?"

"Yeah, I had to give mine to her after our first study sesh."

"Send her a message, and tell her to come to where she specified after school tomorrow. That the Phantom Thieves would likely want to get this done as soon as possible. Now, Yusuke, you won't be able to come anyway since it's Shujin. However, whoever does go is going to confirm her suspicions that they're a Phantom Thief. Ryuji, you said that we can work with her, but to be careful. So, if either of you would rather make sure that her suspicions simply stay suspicions, and not confirm them—"

"No way, man," he shook his head as he messaged Niijima. "I said we can work with her, so I'm goin' too."

"Yeah, me too," Ann agreed. "It wouldn't feel right letting you two go alone. We're a team." She crossed her arms and looked away. "Even if I don't agree with the whole 'working with Niijima' thing…"

"I'll be there too, Lady Ann. Don't worry, if she tries anything, my sneaky palms will stop her!"

"Sneaky paws," he corrected, causing the cat to glare at him.

"If I can't come in, then at the very least, I will remain outside, waiting. We are a team, as Ann said."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot to ask you guys if you were okay with this change of plans," Akira nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry about that…"

"Yeah, you did forget." Ann poked him in the chest and smirked up at him. "You owe us for that."

"Double chocolate crêpe?"

"Perfect!" He rolled his eyes at the two as they basically stared all lovey-dovey into each other's eyes. They were totally flirting, he just didn't know how Morgana wasn't seeing it. Or them!

"I would like some art supplies myself," Yusuke smiled.

"I think groceries would be the better option for you," Akira replied as he finally saw that he and Ann were spending, like, ten seconds too long staring into each other's eyes.

"I want fatty tuna!"

You— Yo Prez was tinkin bot wat u said

You— I bet the PTs r real busy n want 2 b quick n shit

You— If they were able 2 meet u, it'd prob b ASAP—2morrow afterschool or somthin.

"Well, whatever you do to apologize to them, right now I've let her know," he sighed, kicking at the floor. "Let's hope the egg ain't gonna be there…"

"You're the one that's telling us to work with her, why don't you show a little faith?" Morgana sighed. "You're going to make us regret going along with this, you Numbskull."

"Aw, thanks, Monamona!" The cat scowled at him as he teased back, then his phone vibrated and he looked down at it.

The Prez— I see. Thank you very much for letting me know, Sakamoto-kun. If I were meeting them, I'd show up at the specified location. Have a good night.

"That was quick. Looks like she's goin' through with it."

"Alright… Then tomorrow we meet with Niijima and confirm, for better or worse, that we're the Phantom Thieves." Akira grinned at him. "Of course, if she rats us out we can all blame Ryu for it, so, you know… no pressure."

He flipped him off. "Yeah, no pressure at all! Asshole." That seemed to break the slight tension and everyone chuckled before going their separate ways for the day, all while he looked down at the message she'd sent him. For their own sake, and for hers too, he really hoped she was being truthful and wouldn't talk.

But… time would tell, he guessed.

So, the changes are compounding here. The few study sessions that Ryuji and Makoto have had together as a consequence of him never studying for the first exams of the game resulted in him trusting her just a bit, but that was enough for him to push to work with her without her having to blackmail them.

And of course, Akira being VERY anal about not saying anything that could incriminate them in public meant he shut Ryuji up in the courtyard right as he was doing the canon blurting out of 'we're the Phantom Thieves!' That meant Makoto didn't have definitive evidence that they were by their own mouths, only really having the photos of the victims of Kamoshida and Madarame spending time together, which could lead to an explanation of how Akira, Ryuji, and Ann had an alibi for the Calling Cards sent to Madarame's exhibit.

Makoto herself is affected as well, not just because she doesn't have true blackmail material. Spending time with Ryuji, his slightly changed lines in every interaction where he talks about how people can depend on the Phantom Thieves, and of course the argument where he accuses her of not caring about the students at all and only sucking up to teachers. My only regret is this makes me miss out on the interrogation between Makoto and Akira that should have happened that day, I had been looking forward to writing 'I have a right to be silent' with an Eaglelander Akira lol.

These slight changes have led to a different start to this Palace, and we'll see if any more changes occur on the way. Other than that, we've had Faith Rank 2, Sun 3, and I made Makoto note that the little interaction between Makoto and Akechi is happening at a prep school. I mean, it never says in the English game where the hell they are to be meeting like that, it's obviously not Shujin, but in Japanese, the signs behind them say something about a prep school apparently, and since they're both third years, it makes sense they're going to one on Sunday.

Finally, there was also another Sapphire segment. Still keeps up his training when he can, but he also wants to let loose. A bunch of fights without getting to use PSI is boring him lol. So while he does get to let loose against Noct there, I cut it off with just a hint of what he's capable of in a real fight to hype up what he can really do later. Hope that was fun. But yeah, let me know what you think of the chapter, or just leave a 'nice,' both are always great to read. See y'all next time!