Note: this fic contains references to suicide (specifically, Akechi's mother).
"We're taking the offer."
Kurusu's words pierced Goro like a knife. As the blade withdrew, it left a long, ringing shock in its wake, incredulity and outrage warring in him in equal measure. An inferno slowly started to kindle in his heart as the former detective's eyes narrowed into slits.
"... Are you serious?" He spat, his every word tasting like ichor.
Kurusu's face didn't budge, however, the light reflecting off his glasses obscuring his eyes. "I'm serious."
Sucking in a deep breath, Goro looked away, reeling at the implications of his rival's words. He was going to throw everything away, everything, just because he didn't want his would-be murderer to die. Kurusu had always been a ridiculous, sentimental fool, but this was just beyond the pale. It was madness, plain and simple. Internally, Goro screamed, his skin suddenly feeling too small for his body, too small for his rage. He refused to give Kurusu the satisfaction of watching him break down, however. His rival - no, enemy - didn't deserve the privilege after making a choice like that.
"... Well, I have your answer." Goro kept his voice dangerously level, refusing to even look at the other teen. "There's nothing left I can say. Our deal's off."
Turning on his heel, the former detective walked out of the door. As he stormed out of Leblanc to a destination unknown - it wasn't like it mattered now, it wasn't like anything mattered now that Kurusu had betrayed him, made every single wretched decision Goro had ever made in his life fundamentally meaningless - he let out a vicious, keening laugh. The polite façade of the Detective Prince had been long abandoned, but this wasn't the maniacal, cackling glee of the Black Mask slaughtering his prey either. No - it was hoarse and bitter and broken, the laugh's jagged edges cutting into his throat and making every hysterical peel that tore out of his mouth taste like rust.
Unbelievable. Unbe-fucking-lievable. He knew his rival was a sentimental fool, he knew Kurusu had a saviour complex that could give Maruki's a run for its money, but Goro had been stupid enough to think that his rival had at the very least held some basic respect for him. (Cared for him was too strong a word to use that night - to use any night - and yet it had dawned on some quiet, treacherous part of Goro that Kurusu was prepared to damn the world just so he could hold on to an empty facsimile of his rival.)
(The idea didn't make him feel touched at all.)
Distantly, the former detective wondered how the Phantom Thieves would react when they heard the news. They'd tripped over themselves apologising to Kurusu in the wake of Maruki's actualisation, resolute to atone for the oh-so horrific crime of getting brainwashed by someone they'd once trusted. How would they feel when they heard Kurusu was planning to throw all their personal revelations and growth away? How would they feel when they heard Kurusu was turning his back on them for Goro of all people?
Kurusu ignoring Goro's autonomy was one thing - it barely should have even been disappointing given the latter's past record - but disregarding the wishes of his so-called friends? Goro had initially viewed the rest of the Phantom Thieves as mere props, simple tools in Kurusu's arsenal, and only time had softened his views. Despite the brilliant performance Kurusu put on, however, it seemed he had been right on the money.
Then again, they probably wouldn't care. At their heart, the other Phantom Thieves were all followers. They'd hem and haw, but in the end, they'd capitulate to Kurusu's desires.
A burst of rage suddenly flashed into his chest, and as his laugh turned into a howl, he punched the side of a wall. His fist made a satisfying crunch as it hit brick, but no pain seeped into his knuckles - his bones didn't crack nor his blood veins burst against the rough grit. A derisive scoff tore from the teenager's throat. Damn Maruki - Goro couldn't even indulge in a catharsis as petty as this.
"Akechi!"
So great was the storm brewing in his heart, the words failed to reach his ears as he continued to storm down Yogen-Jaya's streets.
"Akechi, wait!"
He continued his march, a thousand lamentations and curses running through his mind.
"Akechi, stop running away from me!"
Something small and sharp dug into his legs, and Goro whirled around, aborting his reflexive kick a mere millimetre away from Morgana's fragile ribs.
"What do you want with me?" The former detective's shoulders sagged, exhaustion breaking through the usual cold mask he used as a wall to keep himself away from the non-Kurusu Thieves. Goro's expression then morphed into a sneer as his bitterness seeped through. "Are you here to drag me back to Kurusu's side so I can apologise to your oh-so-vaunted leader? Pretend I'm grateful for him dooming humanity for 'my' sake?!"
"What are you talking about?" Morgana's ears flattened, voice somewhere between alarmed and confused as the fur on his spine slowly began to prickle. "Wait... you're not seriously suggesting Akira took Maruki's deal, are you?!"
"Of course I am." Goro sneered. "For all his lofty righteousness, the second he faced the mildest of inconveniences, he crumbled like a pack of cards. I suppose that's the real reason why you call him Joker."
"Akechi..." The cat's whiskers drooped pathetically. "Your life isn't just a mild inconvenience."
"Oh, spare me the fucking drivel!" Goro snapped, vision blazing red. "You're all the same - sanctimonious sheep who are all talk, talk, talk. Well, not me. If Kurusu is too chicken to deal with Maruki, I will."
He'd gotten three steps away before Morgana cried out yet again. "Wait!"
"Enough. There's nothing left to discuss - you've made your choices, and I've made mine."
Morgana's expression was utterly inscrutable as he met Goro's eyes. "You're right - I have made my choice. I'm coming with you."
Anger suddenly sparking and dying, the former detective shot him a bewildered look. "... Pardon?"
"Your Personas don't have any healing skills. You'll need someone by your side when you fight Maruki if you want to stand any chance of winning."
Goro's jaw slowly dropped open as he floundered. He'd been prepared for many things - he'd been prepared for Maruki's last-second bombshell and to a lesser degree for Kurusu's betrayal, even if it still hurt - but this? Morgana was Kurusu's constant companion, a constant presence at his side. While all of the Phantom Thieves were Kurusu's followers, at least most of them had a life outside of their leader - Morgana was his bloody pet.
And yet... here he was, choosing Goro and the world over his leader's wishes. Narrowing his eyes, he scrutinised the cat, looking for any signs of deceit and betrayal. While his detective work was a mere smokescreen, Goro had actually learnt some skills on the job. When he examined Morgana though, every inch of the animal's posture screamed sincerity.
He tilted his head. Goro didn't particularly like Morgana - the cat was smug, irritating, and didn't have the ability to back up his overblown ego - but he was right when he said he'd be an asset. Goro wasn't a healer by nature, and while it had been a bitter pill to swallow, his two separate incursions with the Phantom Thieves had taught Goro it was easier fighting in the Metaverse with a group. Defeating Maruki was far more important than preserving his pride.
"... Fine. Let's go." The former detective gave the cat a curt nod. "We'll need to get some supplies for the Palace tomorrow."
"Hold on!" Morgana yowled, eyes wide as Goro started to head towards the Yogen-Jaya station at a far more sedate pace. "What about everyone else?"
"What about them?" Goro arched a brow. "Sakamoto and Takamaki hang off Kurusu's every word, Niijima couldn't make an independent decision to save her life, and there's no way in hell Sakura or Okumura would choose to assist me over Kurusu in any world."
The cat's fur suddenly puffed out as he arched his back in shock. "Damnit!"
"What is it?" The teenager's brow twitched, his patience at its limit.
"Futaba - she has Leblanc bugged! She would have heard that entire conversation!"
...
Goro's brow slowly rose as he set eyes on the younger Sakura's door. While he heard she'd been a shut-in before joining the Phantom Thieves, he'd had trouble reconciling that with the Sakura he knew. Her initial shyness had barely lasted a few minutes before it was replaced by prickly jokes which were just a bit too pointed to be anything other than digs at him, and that wasn't even taking into account her truly boundary-crossing behaviour. The hacker's room, however, seemed to be a relic of her past. Caution tape stickers were plastered across the wood, warning all to keep away.
"Knock on the door for me." Morgana ordered, and despite the flicker of irritation that ran through him, Goro obeyed his command.
They received no response, however, leaving the unlikely duo to stand there in silence.
Eventually, Goro sighed. "Let's go. It's clear she's either out or simply doesn't want to talk to us."
The latter wouldn't be all too surprising – out of all of the Phantom Thieves, she was one of the ones who'd gain the most from Maruki's reality. Dealing with Goro's continued existence was probably a small price to pay if it meant she got her mother back.
Morgana's ear simply twitched, however. "Wait – I think I can hear something."
Goro moved to press his ear to the door, but there was no need. A faint, but ragged gasp echoed into the hallway. The sound didn't stop as he kept listening - the sharp, choking noise of someone struggling for breath only grew louder now that he was focused on it. The former detective froze in place as realised what was happening - he'd never dealt with panic attacks personally, but he had seen them from afar a couple of times at the precinct when unwitting suspects suddenly realised just how far over their heads they were.
"Futaba?" The fur on the back of Morgana's spin bristled and rearing upwards, he pawed at the wood. The door was shut tight, however, and the cat flicked his tail with agitation. "Akechi, open the door."
"Why?" He furrowed his brows. "My presence is likely what's upsetting her in the first place."
"Just do it!"
Rolling his eyes, Goro complied. Sakura's room was dark and messy, but his surroundings earned nothing more than a cursory glance as his attention was quickly stolen by Sakura herself. The younger teen looked dreadful. Her skin was stark and pale against the faux luminescence of her computer screens, the blue light washing out her already far-too-colourless features. She was curled up on her chair, rocking in place as sweat glistened on her brow, her hyperventilating as loud as bullets now that she was no longer shielded by the bulwark that was her door.
"Futaba? Hey, it's me. Don't worry – things will be alright." Morgana's voice was gentle as he approached her.
The second he got within reaching distance of her, Sakura suddenly lurched, snapping the cat up with impressive speed. Goro couldn't help but be reminded of a video he saw of an eel catching its prey. The fish had snapped its head out of its burrow, grabbed its hapless victim in less than a second, and then retreated back into the darkness before Goro could even blink. Morgana yowled as Sakura held on to him like a lifeline, half-crushing the feline. Goro almost felt sympathy for him - emphasis on almost, that is. Even with the cat ensnared in her arms, however, Sakura's rapid breathing continued, and the former detective squirmed with discomfort, entirely out of his depth.
He cleared his throat, speaking in the gentle tones of his princely persona. "If it would make you more comfortable, Sakura, I can leave."
Much to his surprise, however, she frantically shook her head, a broken whimper escaping her throat as her already strained breathing grew even worse. Dammit. Goro grit his teeth, glancing around as if he could. Unless Sakura calmed down, now, she'd probably faint, and there was no way Morgana would leave her side after something like that. He'd lose his healer, and that was unacceptable.
"Morgana, help get her breathing under control." He ordered as he whipped out his phone, frantically googling how to deal with panic attacks.
"R-right!" The cat stammered. "Okay, uh… after me! Breathe in slowly…. Breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out…"
Clicking an article that listed twelve ways to help someone calm down from a panic attack, Goro's eyes caught on a line. Help distract them with gentle conversation. Glancing around Sakura's room, he honed in on a series of Featherman figures posed on one of her shelves. He blinked slowly – they belonged to the deluxe limited-edition line that had been released in celebration of the franchise's 22nd anniversary last year. They cost an arm and a leg – Sakura had to be a devoted fan to go out of her way to get those.
"Do you like Featherman, Sakura?" He asked, not expecting a response. "Have you seen the latest season? While I don't have the time to indulge in such childish shows personally, I did catch some glimpses of it on TV. Quite frankly, I'm astounded with the direction the writing took. After Black Falcon's betrayal, he never should have been allowed back on the team. But then again, given the target audience of the story, I suppose I should have expected that it would contain some trite Aesop about forgiveness."
"… Akechi." Sakura wheezed, her voice sounding like gravel. Still, she didn't look quite so blue, and that was a good sign. "Your Featherman opinions fucking suck."
He reeled back, jaw dropping wide open. "They do not!"
"Buddy, i-if you think Black Falcon's heel-face turn came out of nowhere, you need to take a crash course on media literacy." She tilted her head, staring at him curiously. "Y'know, I always thought you'd be one of those obnoxious Black/Red shippers. The edgy vibe's right up your alley."
Goro huffed, folding his arms. "Obviously not. Like I said, I don't have the time to indulge in children's TV shows. And why would I ship something like that when the infinitely superior Red/Yellow exists?"
Morgana wrinkled his nose. "… I thought you said you didn't watch the show?"
… Shit.
Sakura gave the former detective a sceptical look, before grabbing her phone from her desk and waving it. "You do realise I've seen your internet history, right?"
… Double shit.
In an attempt to save face, Goro promptly moved the conversation onward. "You're feeling better, I see."
The second he spoke, Sakura wilted. Morgana shot him a dirty look, but quite frankly, Goro cared little about what the cat thought of him - he was finished relying on the validation of others just to feel a modicum of self-worth.
Slowly but surely, Sakura gave him a weak nod. "I thought I was being so, so selfish, so horrible even thinking about staying in Maruki's reality, but…!" Whimpering, she clutched her head. "I-I made my peace with never seeing mum again, but now we are going to stay here, and even though I want her back so much, this just feels wrong. Everything feels wrong. Akira… Akira wasn't meant to make this choice."
"Then fight back with us." Goro stated flatly. And take solace that in doing so, you'll get to avenge your mother.
"… Eh?" Sakura peeked upwards, staring at him with wide eyes.
"That's right." Morgana nodded, nuzzling her affectionately. "We're not going to sit back and let this happen. In a reality like Maruki's… there's no hope, just stagnation. I can't accept that – I won't!"
"B-but… the Phantom Thieves act unanimously. We can't take on Maruki if Akira's gonna be a no-show."
"Then don't act as a Phantom Thief." Goro sighed, wondering why on earth she'd accept something she so clearly didn't want because of a stupid rule like that. "Assist us as yourself."
"… Yeah. Yeah!" She beamed again, her usual spark returning to her eyes. "Ace hacker Alibaba has returned! Maruki's not gonna know what's hit him!"
…..
As the demure heiress guided Goro to her living room, he ignored the oppressive tension in the air. Quite frankly, Goro had had far more intimidating people than Okumura Haru pissed off at him. While he'd have much rather delegated this conversation to someone else, Sakura was in no condition to leave Yogen-Jaya, and Morgana had insisted on staying behind with her. Alas, telling the Phantom Thieves that Kurusu had betrayed them wasn't something that could be handled over the phone either - the topic was far too sensitive.
"Tea?" She asked, an undercurrent to her voice despite the superficial politeness of it.
"No thanks." He rolled his eyes. "Let's cut to the chase. The less time we're forced to endure each other's company, the better."
Okumura nodded, and despite her disdainful frown, didn't put up a word of protest. "Very well. Why are you here, Akechi?"
"Kurusu has decided to stay in Maruki's reality." The brunette's eyes widened in shock, but Goro continued before she could interrupt him. "I never made it off Shido's ship. I'm his wish."
The change in her demeanour was instantaneous. All emotions vanished from Okumura's face as her usual softness was covered up by an icy mask that would have put most of Shido's associates to shame. It dawned on Goro that Okumura somehow knew Kurusu even better than he did. While he'd had his doubts, yes, Goro had thought that in the end, his rival would do the right thing. The second Goro had revealed his fate, however, Okumura had known instantly that Kurusu would trample over everything the Phantom Thieves had worked for just to keep her father's killer at his side.
"… I see." She folded her hands in her lap, and while the heiress was perfectly still, Goro could see the rage slowly brewing under her skin. "What time should we meet at the Palace tomorrow?"
…..
It was only by pure coincidence that Goro crossed Kitagawa's path. Okumura had offered to take the hunt for Palace supplies off his hands, and given their best SP restoratives came from her garden, Goro had acquiesced. He was on his way towards the next Thief on his list when he caught sight of a familiar mop of blue hair in Shibuya station. Despite the fact that the world around them was nothing but a farce, it seemed Kitagawa was still keeping up with his habit of people-watching. Goro had no idea what on earth of value could be found by witnessing Maruki's blissful stupor of a reality, but he knew better than to question whatever inanities were going on in the artist's mind. Quite frankly, it would just give him a headache.
Mind made up, he marched towards the taller boy.
"Ah, Akechi." Kitagawa's eyes flicked over to him like there was nothing weird at all about Goro approaching him at this hour in the evening. "Here to observe humanity as well? A keen eye is an important skill in both our respective professions, after all."
I don't need to hone any skills, since after tomorrow I'll be dead.
Goro was smart enough not to say that out loud, however. "We need to talk. Just as a warning, it's going to be unpleasant."
"Yes, I suppose it would be, wouldn't it?" Kitagawa mused, no judgement in his voice despite his words. "Very well. My ears are yours."
Kitagawa managed to hold on to the very end of Akechi's tale before something in his eyes broke.
"How… lamentable. He would truly damn me to living under Madarame's thrall again?" Kitagawa's shoulders began to shake, and Goro arched a brow as a peal of humourless laughter left the artist's throat. "Observation is key to an artist, but yet again, I have failed to see what is happening directly under my nose. I was blind to Madarame's deceit, and now, it seems like I was blind to Akira's cowardice. I really am a fool, aren't I?"
Goro shifted awkwardly on his feet, the sounds of the Shibuya station amplified by Kitagawa's wretched silence. He knew he needed to say something, but the only kind words his tongue knew how to offer were the platitudes of the Detective Prince, and somehow, Goro doubted Kitagawa would react well to them at all.
In the end, he chose honesty, and gave the other teen a muted shrug. "You weren't the only one who expected better of him."
Kitagawa's shoulders slumped, conflict written all over his face. "Trust, faith… they truly are fickle things. Mere vapours in the wind, fleeting and intangible - the second you think you've grasped them, they slip out of your fingers… In truth, I envy you. Your hubris belies your wisdom – keeping a wall between yourself and others means you cannot rejoice in their strength, but it also means their weaknesses cannot drag you down either."
Goro wrinkled his nose, ninety percent certain that wasn't a compliment, or if it was, it wasn't one to be proud of. "… People can and will hurt you anyway, Kitagawa, even if you keep them at arm's length. My life is a cautionary tale, not a good example. Besides, it seems like the rest of you Phantom Thieves have the backbone your leader sorely lacks – even if Kurusu has irreparably violated your trust, you still have actual friends who will stay at your side."
"How fascinating… I didn't think I'd ever hear sentiments like that from you of all people." The artist rubbed his chin. "Stay still for a moment. Something about your profile had changed – I have to sketch this down before the moment is lost forever."
The brunet's eye twitched, but he knew better than to call Kitagawa out on his eccentricities. Goro would happily endure five minutes of tedium if it would earn him the artist's blade for tomorrow's battle. Eventually, the lanky teen finished his drawing, and as he put his sketchbook away, Goro didn't bother asking to see the sketch. He had no need for the past, after all – what mattered was the present, and securing the right to finish his story in the way he deemed fit.
It seemed Goro wasn't the only one thinking about his fate. Kitagawa looked directly into his eyes, expression carefully measured. "And have you made your peace with that? Your life being a cautionary tale, that is."
Goro nod. "Of course I have. It wasn't glamourous, but it was mine, and I won't let anyone take that away from me."
Not even Kurusu.
"Hmm…. I suppose that's something I can understand." A wry chuckle escaped Kitagawa's lips, and while it wasn't mirthful, it lacked the edge of hysteria it had before. "I have had what is rightfully mine stolen from me more than enough times. I will not let my knowledge of the world, no matter how painful, be taken from me as well. Tomorrow, I fight by your side."
…..
"So, why are you here, Akechi-senpai?" Yoshizawa asked curiously as they walked down the corridor. Something then flickered across her face, and she shot a troubled look back over her shoulder. "You don't have to worry about me – I'm ready to face Maruki-sensei with all of my strength."
Trust me, it's not you I'm worried about.
"Perhaps we could take this somewhere private?" He gave her a princely smile, acutely aware of her parents' presence in the house.
"Oh, uh, right!" Her eyes widened, and a slight blush crept over her cheeks as she quietly hurried him into her bedroom and closed the door behind them. "Sorry – I've never had a boy over before."
Instantly, alarm flashed through him. "Ah…! I apologise if I've given you the wrong impression, but-"
"Oh no!" Yoshizawa's eyes grew even bigger. "I wasn't suggesting, uh… that! Anyway, I like someone else, and I know I'm not your type, Akechi-senpai."
A wave of relief rushed through the detective. He had no idea what she was referring to when she said his 'type', but quite frankly, he didn't have the time to clear up whatever misinterpretations Yoshizawa had about his character.
"It's Kurusu." Goro let out an exhausted sigh once he determined they didn't have any eavesdroppers. "He's taking Maruki's deal."
Yoshizawa stood there, uncertainty flashing through her eyes as the glorified image of Kurusu she'd built up in her head came crashing down in the light of his disappointing reality.
"That… no. That can't be right." She murmured, doubt lacing her voice. "Senpai wouldn't do something like that to us!"
"Well, he did." Goro gritted his teeth.
"But… why?" She sunk down, voice plaintive as she sat on her bed lest her trembling legs failed to keep her upright. "He was the one who convinced us to fight back – he was the one to tell us our pain was worth it, as it made us who we are. Senpai's rebelled against Maruki-sensei's reality from the very start – there has to be a reason why he changed his mind."
Goro hesitated. Unlike the rest of the Phantom Thieves, Yoshizawa was ignorant of his bloody past and his sacrifice in the bowels of Shido's Palace. The revelation that he'd been dead all along would come as neither a surprise nor a huge disappointment for any of the Thieves - in fact, Okumura had probably been rather chuffed at the news. The gymnast, however, was different. She simply knew him as the Detective Prince and the aloof ally of the Phantom Thieves, nothing more, nothing less.
"… It's me. I'm his wish – I passed away in the Metaverse at the end of last year, and Kurusu's greatest desire was for me to come back. The Akechi Goro standing before you right now is nothing more than a walking corpse."
Shock spread across her features, a horrible gasp leaving her throat as she cupped her mouth with her hands. The pity in Yoshizawa's eyes made bile rise at the back of her throat, and for a brief moment, his body itched with the urge to do something, anything, to wipe the disgusting expression off her face.
"That's… I'm so sorry, Akechi-senpai."
"Don't mourn me, Yoshizawa. I assure you, I don't deserve it, and quite frankly, I don't want your pity or your grief." His dull crimson eyes drilled into her own. "What I do want from you is an answer. Will you stand with me and fight Maruki, or will you ignore everything Kurusu taught you and sit on the sidelines?"
The gymnast's lips pursed as she looked to the ground. "… I promised Senpai today that I'd show Maruki-sensei that I've found a way to face reality. I'm not going to break that vow, even if it hurts, but…" Head tilting upwards, her expression was pleading as she met his gaze again. "Please don't hate Senpai for this. I'm not sure if you've lost anyone you love before, but… it's horrible. It… it fractures something deep inside you, and those cracks keep on spreading until one day you look into the mirror and you can't even recognise yourself anymore. And I'm not just talking about Maruki-sensei's actualisation here."
This time, it was Goro who looked away, images of long brown hair floating in bloodstained water flashing ever so quickly into his mind. "I… I do know what it's like to lose someone, Yoshizawa."
"Then you should understand." She rose to her feet as she approached his side. "Everyone else has had a month to process this, but Akira-senpai only learned about his wish today. It's no wonder he's struggling."
… It was true, wasn't it? Goro's eyes narrowed. Maruki had quite literally sprung this revelation on Kurusu at the very last second. Despite all his protests otherwise, it seemed the therapist really was as duplicitous as Goro thought he was.
(He didn't forgive Kurusu. Not by a long shot. Still, some of his rage towards his rival lessened.)
He couldn't get caught up in his thoughts for long, however, as Yoshizawa suddenly enveloped him in a hug. The former detective stiffened at the unexpected contact, confusion running through his mind. Yoshizawa had explicitly confirmed she held no affections of that nature towards him, so why…?
"I know you told me not to grieve you, but… I'm going to miss you anyway, Akechi-senpai. Thank you for everything you've done. You do deserve so much better than this, no matter what you think."
…..
Goro was three seconds away from knocking on the Niijimas' door when it suddenly swung open. He stepped backwards, blinking in surprise, and it was small consolation that Sae looked just as startled. The prosecutor was clearly heading out somewhere – she'd donned her winter coat, and her lipstick was a shade of purple she'd never risk wearing into the office.
"Oh, Akechi-kun! I wasn't expecting to see you here."
He hesitated, uncertain how he should address his former colleague. While she knew of his crimes in the real world, Goro had no idea if - and if so, how - Maruki had altered Sae's perception of him. In the end, he decided to play it safe.
"My apologies." He smiled, donning his Detective Prince mask. "I didn't mean to disturb your evening – do you have plans?"
Sae made a so-so motion with her hand. "Things are quiet at work, so I thought I'd spend some time with my friends."
Goro blinked slowly. He was one hundred percent positive Sae didn't have any friends. Christ. This place is so creepy. Whatever understanding he was begrudgingly beginning to feel for Kurusu was thrown straight out of the window at that moment.
The prosecutor seemingly interpreted his silence as something far less derogatory than what it was, and gave him a friendly smile which was somehow both completely uncharacteristic yet oddly familiar. "Do you want to come with me? You are on that list, after all."
For the second time in as many minutes, Goro blinked slowly. He and Sae were… friends. Whose wish was that? He sincerely doubted the prosecutor desired to be closer to her teenage hitman coworker who spent two years deliberating egging on all her worst tendencies. At the same time, being friends with Niijima Sae definitely wasn't his wish.
(Maybe… maybe it wasn't anyone's wish at all. Perhaps it was a thing that simply just was. Maybe all those lunch outings which normally devolved into politely bagging their obnoxious colleagues meant more to the both of them than they ever realised.)
Still, that was neither here nor now. Goro had come to her apartment for a reason. "Perhaps another time, Sae-san. Truthfully, I'm here to see your sister. Is she home?"
The prosecutor nodded before poking her head back inside. "Makoto! Akechi-kun is here to see you!"
"… Wait, really?" Was the younger Niijima's distant reply.
Not bothering with a response, Sae gave him one last smile before walking away. "I'll see you later, Akechi-kun. Don't stay up too late!"
Mere moments after her sister disappeared, the younger Niijima took her place, eying him warily from their door frame. "Akechi." She greeted with none of the prosecutor's cheeriness. "Why are you here?"
Unsurprisingly, the student council president didn't look any happier after he answered her question. The brunette stood stock still, stony expression carved from marble.
"You know… if Akira had made this choice earlier, I probably would have gone along with it. Seeing my father again, seeing Sae happy… I don't think mere words can describe how desperately I want this. I mean, Sae's seeing friends this evening." Niijima threw her hands up into the air. "She doesn't even have any friends!"
Goro resisted the urge to nod in agreement – he'd had the exact same thought merely a moment ago.
"But…" Niijima continued, lips pursed. "We all decided that our suffering was worth it if meant the world would be free – a decision Akira convinced us to make. And yet, he abandons that stance the second it's his desires that are threatened? I… I thought better of him. I didn't think he'd ever be so selfish." The brunette red eyes were burning. "Suffice to say, I'm in."
…..
Goro glared down at his plate. A stack of pancakes sat before him, drizzled in a rich maple syrup that glistened in the diner's lights like honeyed gold. Two scoops of ice cream sat at the wretched meal's side, the once fluffy vanilla cream having melted into a gloopy mess due to the former detective's continual refusal to eat it. If Takamaki had an actual brain cell in her head, he would have thought she was mocking him. He didn't even like pancakes that much, for crying out loud.
Scratch that, she's definitely taunting me. Why the fuck did I agree to meet Takamaki in a dessert restaurant again?
Oh, that's right – it's because she lives a good hour away from everyone else and by the time I got to her place Kurusu's fucked up therapist would have painted smiles on all our souls.
It was only slightly satisfying that the blonde looked as miserable as he did.
"Oh, Akira… how could you be so stupid?" She cradled her head in her hands, her crepes just as untouched as his pancakes. Thankfully, Takamaki didn't dwell in her misery, and instead met his eyes with a frown. "Are you okay? I mean, no matter what we do, you're…"
He folded his arms. "I'm fine. There's no need to get sentimental about my death – I don't want your pity."
"It's not pity. It's sympathy. You've done some horrible things, but you deserved to get the chance to atone for them." Takamaki's frown deepened. "I mean... if Kamoshida didn't deserve to die, then neither do you." The blonde then paused, twirling a strand of her hair in her fingers. "Then again, I only spared Kamoshida because dying was too good for him, so maybe that's kind of a bad analogy."
Goro arched a brow. "… Pardon? Are you suggesting you genuinely considered giving Kamoshida a mental shutdown?"
This time, it was Takamaki's turn to be surprised. "Uh, yeah? I thought Akira would have told you…"
"Evidently not." He clenched his jaw. "Why didn't you? I looked into his crimes – Kamoshida would have deserved it."
"Well, duh." The blonde shrugged, looking far more at ease than she had before. "I thought about it, but… it would have been too quick. Too easy. I didn't just want Kamoshida gone, I wanted him to suffer. I wanted him to feel like I did – like Shiho did – every single day for the rest of his miserable life. That's worse than death could ever be."
It was only at that moment that it dawned on Goro just how wrong he'd gotten Takamaki Ann. He'd written her off as a mere ditz – bubbly, blonde, and just as soft-hearted as the rest of the Thieves. Underneath her glamourous surface though lay something raw. Something vicious. Something relatable.
(Because death had been too good for Shido too – Goro wanted him to watch as his legacy came crumbling down. He wanted Shido to beg, so he could lean down and whisper into the politician's ear 'no'.)
Curiosity ran through him - he'd always been inquisitive. Was that the real reason why she'd been the first to offer Goro her hand in the engine room that day? Still, while he wanted to ask Takamaki more, more, more, the former detective knew he simply didn't have the time. Goro had been so hyper-focused on Akira – his foil, his antithesis, the one who stood at the Phantom Thieves helm and rampaged through the Metaverse with almost as much finesse as he did – that he'd ignored the rest of the boy's companions. For the first time ever, he realised that was a mistake, and one he would never, ever be able to rectify.
This evening, they had proven themselves to be so much more than just their leader after all.
Still… deep down in his heart, Goro was at peace with that. It was better to see the true nature of the Phantom Thieves - if only for a moment - than to spend eternity with facsimiles of them with everything that made them the people they were shaved away.
If only Kurusu could have seen that too.
…..
By the time Goro finally reached Sakamoto's abode, he was actually feeling optimistic about their encounter. Every single Thief so far had pledged to join him tomorrow, which was about seven more of them than what he initially expected.
He should have anticipated his luck wasn't going to last.
Tapping on his foot, he glanced at the time on his phone impatiently. He was just about to ring the doorbell yet again, when the apartment's door finally swung open.
"Quiet down, would ya? Mum's trying to sleep." Sakamoto gave him a dirty glare.
Goro scoffed – that was just rich, coming from the Phantom Thieves' biggest loudmouth – but the former detective had enough restraint to keep his thoughts to himself. Unfortunately, the blond was one of the Phantom Thieves' heaviest hitters, and would be a huge boon in their fight against Maruki tomorrow.
Slipping off his shoes by the doorway, Goro noted with interest that there was less footwear on the shoe rack than he expected. As they silently crept through the Sakamoto's dingy apartment, there wasn't a single sign of the blond's father anywhere. The absence was telling, given this was meant to be a perfect world.
As Sakamoto closed the door behind them, sealing them away in his predictably messy room, Goro cut to the chase. "Kurusu has decided to stay in this reality. I'm his wish, and he can't bear to part from me." The former detective's lips curled into an ugly grimace.
"… What?" Sakamoto replied dumbly, eyes blinking.
"Kurusu isn't going to change Maruki's heart. Neither myself nor the rest of the Phantom Thieves find that acceptable, however. We're going in tomorrow, Joker or not. Are you with us?"
The delinquent's brow scrunched like this was a complicated maths problem. "… I don't get it."
Oh, for the love of –
Goro gritted his teeth. "I'm dead. I died in Shido's Palace – the me standing before you is just a highly detailed cognition."
"Nah, not that, man." Sakamoto had the gall to look peeved. "I'm talkin' about Akira. No way he's gonna just let Maruki take over the world."
If I count slowly back from three, maybe I'll stop feeling the urge to strangle him? "On the contrary, Sakamoto, Kurusu very literally is going to just let Maruki take over the world. That's not up for debate. The only question is are you going to follow his heed, or fight back with us?"
The blond jutted out his jaw, stubborn defiance shining in his eyes. "I won't need to. Akira ain't gonna betray us – you'll see."
Shaking his head, Goro walked to the door. He should have expected Sakamoto of all people to put up the most resistance, but he still couldn't help but feel disappointed. "Very well. Have it your way."
…..
Maruki's laboratory loomed into the sky above them, the Palace's usual sterility offset by the frantic buzzing of the world around them. Adrenaline was already beginning to seep through Goro as jagged shapes began to cut into the edges of his vision, the world pulsing red to the beat of his heart. The security level was at its max, and it was time to change Maruki's heart.
… The only problem was that it was very clear none of them knew where to start.
Goro couldn't take the lead – Sakura and Okumura would never allow it, and quite frankly, he didn't have the patience for it anyway. Niijima could coordinate the Phantom Thieves in battle well enough, but the social intricacies of rallying the team before the final fight were well beyond her. Meanwhile, Morgana's attention was locked on the Palace's entrance, looking for something that would never come. Takamaki, Sakura, Okumura, and Yoshizawa shuffled awkwardly, none of them having the guts to enter the spotlight. They were slightly better than Kitagawa though, who was distracted framing the seemingly never-ending spire with his fingers.
The former detective was mere seconds away from snapping at them to get their act together, when Yoshizawa of all people stepped forward.
"Um…" The redhead cleared her throat awkwardly. "It's probably not my place to say this, but thank you for being here today. E-even if Senpai isn't joining us… we can still retake our reality!"
Yoshizawa cringed almost as soon as she finished speaking, but before she could bluster out an apology, a chorus of cheers greeted her.
"Yeah! Nothing can stop us now!" Takamaki grinned.
"Well put." Kitagawa nodded. "It is time to put an end to this farce and return to the world where we belong."
"Or don't belong, really!" Okumura tittered, not seeming put off by that at all.
"Alright." Niijima cleared her throat. "We've got our equipment and items all ready, so let's do this. We've defeated Palace Rulers before – Maruki's just another name on that list."
Goro stepped forward. "Let's go. The sooner we end this, the better."
No one complained as he started to stride towards the elevator – in fact, the remnants of what was once the Phantom Thieves slipped alongside him with practised ease.
They were almost about to enter the contraption when Morgana suddenly paused, fur bristling despite his more humanoid state. "Wait!"
It quickly became apparent what had distracted the cat as the automatic doors leading into the Palace's foyer suddenly opened. Whirling around, Goro instinctively reached for his sabre, but there was no need. He'd recognise the two figures that stood in the doorway anywhere.
Sakamoto stretched, giving his companion an affectionate punch on the shoulder as he flashed a smug grin at the former detective. "See? Told ya so."
From his position at the blond's side, Kurusu gave his team a wan smile, before his eyes quickly glued themselves to his rival. Dark rings were chiselled underneath them, but a mask of rebellion had still managed to manifest on Kurusu's face, hiding the worst of his clearly sleepless night.
Goro's heart skipped a beat as he proceeded the implications of that.
"Hey." Akira's nod was brief, and all the apology the former detective needed. "Sorry that I'm late."
Hearing the words aloud didn't hurt either.
