Disclaimer:

I do not own the story and the concepts represented in the fiction written. This fiction and all Persona-related fictions belong to Atlus, the fantastic company that created the games.

Author's Note:

After dozens of rewrites, I'm finally happy with this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy it. It'll get you right in the feels, I swear. Anyways, any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Comments to Reviews:

Erelia: No need to apologize. Thanks for the review. Also, I glad you noticed the intensity in the last chapter. Sure, this is a romance, but external events are still ongoing, and it's not only Haru who's going to go through tough times. Lastly, Arsene is MVP (most valuable persona!)

KingPlotBunny: Sorry if the last chapter was kind of rough. Things get better though. Also, it's through the rough times that people (or characters) learn and appreciate the good times.

prince of underbrush: Hm, kill the soul of the character? Well, I did kind of kill Akira's soul a bit last chapter. In honesty, your review was interesting, but I'm wondering if I understand it correctly. If you could elaborate, that'd be great. Maybe I could use it in other story ideas.

Before

6/2

The beeping of his alarm echoed loudly in his ear, stirring him once more from his dreamless sleep. Akira peeked an eye open, reached for his phone, and pressed the snooze button for the fifth time that morning. In a few minutes, it would sound again, snapping him out of his temporary stupor, and the cycle would repeat.

Until then, Akira pulled the covers over his head. He tried to sleep until someone's footsteps roused him awake. Sojiro's eyes swept around the modest attic. In his hands was a plate of curry covered by a transparent sheet.

"Hey," Sojiro murmured, stepping closer. "I know it's only been a few hours since you…vomited, but I got this for you. Not now, but maybe later, you can eat some when you can hold food down."

Akira turned on the bed to face him. "Thanks…yeah, later, I'll have some."

Sojiro grunted. "I notified your school, so don't worry about there being any trouble. Just get better soon, though. I can't be taking care of a sick kid when I'm trying to run a business."

Akira nodded weakly. "I'll try."

"Good."

With that, Sojiro returned downstairs. Akira waited until he couldn't hear Sojiro's footsteps before falling back on the bed and shutting his eyes. Within minutes, he would drift off and hit the beginnings of unconsciousness. And then, his alarm would wake him up, and the cycle would restart.

Akira escaped reality through sleep but never slept long enough to dream or experience nightmares. That was good. The state of nothingness was freeing.

Morgana – curled up on the sofa – watched the young man with worry and concern.

6/3

Akira was thankful that Sojiro didn't disturb him. Other than telling him that the school was notified and to get better, the older male just checked in periodically.

The nothingness continued onto another day.

Missing school should have been more of a concern – with his record and all – but Akira couldn't bring himself to care. At school, he was the criminal, the outcast, and the troublemaker. He was everything but what he really was. And, as much as he tried, Akira couldn't muster the drive for that prison.

While Sojiro was content with merely checking up on Akira, Akira's friends were another issue. He lost track of how many times they asked to stop by and the number of excuses he made up to thwart them. Ann and Ryuji were persistent, while Yusuke was much more conservative in his attempts to reach him. Still, Akira didn't want to deal with them. He didn't want to deal with anyone for the foreseeable future.

"You know, you can't keep doing this," said Morgana, jumping off the sofa onto the floor.

Akira bit back an angry remark and pulled the covers tighter over himself.

Morgana wasn't deterred. "I doubt the boss will let you laze around all day again. He might call the doctor, and she'll force-feed you some medicine. Then, you really will be feeling sick."

When Akira didn't respond, Morgana jumped onto the bed. He made his way to Akira's head concealed under the thin covers. "Akira…I don't know what's going on with you. Talk to me. You can't hide away from the world."

Akira shot forward, throwing the covers off him and nearly tossing Morgana onto the floor. "Just…shut up! Nothing is wrong with me! I'm fine. I'm not…."

The image of Arsene surfaced to mind. The youth reached for his trusty other self, the closest representation of his true self, and found nothing. A storm of emotions jumped at Akira, drowning him from the inside. The desperation, confusion, and fear were like another lifeform trying to claw its way to freedom and expression. Still, Akira was too afraid to allow it to see the light of day.

Seconds become minutes before the sensations eased themselves back under his control.

He exhaled. "I'm…ok."

"You're…not ok!" countered Morgana, startled. "You looked like…um…you – you were possessed!"

Before Akira could relieve Morgana's distress, Sojiro's footsteps grew audible. The older male jogged up the steps to the attic and saw Akira sitting up and smiling. "You're up, good. You look…better. Listen, I'm low on ingredients and have to make a quick supply run. Watch over the café while I'm gone."

Sojiro turned, then stopped and looked over his shoulder. "And make sure to shower and change. You look like a mess."

X

After a long shower and throwing on a loose-fitting shirt and jeans, Akira ventured downstairs to the establishment's café section. It was how he expected it – barren without a single patron. Sometimes Akira wondered why Sojiro even bothered. Wouldn't lounging around in bed be more enjoyable?

Akira sat on the stool closest to the old phone and reached for Sojiro's latest puzzle book with nothing to do and starving for mental stimulation. He was ten minutes into the word game when Morgana came down from upstairs.

"Hey," said the feline, approaching. Morgana's tail swished back and forth. "You…forgot your cell phone upstairs."

Akira hummed a reply and shrugged.

"You should go get it…."

"It can wait, Morgana," Akira said, pulling on one of his curls as the answer to a word question eluded him.

"Yeah, but as the leader, you need to be available if the others need you!"

There was an edge to Morgana's voice – a hardness that Akira had never heard from the feline before. Setting the puzzle book down, the raven-haired youth gave his furry companion a tired look.

"Maybe later," Akira said with reluctance.

Silence filled the establishment until the chime above Leblanc's entrance sounded. Akira expected it to be Sojiro or a customer. He didn't expect Haru Okumura to be dressed in a sleeveless purple blouse, jeans, and black wedges. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, resembling how she had it styled during their last outing, but now it was curly and wild, like a pom-pom ball. She looked great, though, if not a little winded.

"Akira, are you ok?"

Akira was too confused to answer her. When she asked again, stepping further into Leblanc, Akira nodded.

"I was told you were feeling unwell," Haru murmured hesitantly. "I tried to call, but…."

Akira heard a low snort of contempt from Morgana. Then, suddenly and without warning, Akira remembered. He had invited Haru over for coffee and curry. Something he had utterly forgotten.

"I…haven't been feeling well," Akira said.

Haru smiled. As she began her reply, Sojiro entered. And, even without a word, Akira knew that his predicament had become more complicated.

"Well, hello," Sojiro said to Haru, trudging forward with the numerous bags in his hands.

"Hello, Sakura-san," Haru replied. "It's been quite some time. Let me help you with those?"

"Oh, no, no, please! It's alright. That's why he's here," Sojiro said, directing his gaze at Akira. "Hey, do you mind…coming back in a few? I hate to ask you to leave, but closing shop during restocking is policy."

A blush crept up Haru's face, and Akira looked at Sojiro incredulously.

"I'm sorry." Haru apologized with a bow. "I didn't mean to cause any disturbances."

"No, no!" Sojiro affirmed. "It's no problem at all. You're completely fine. Just come back in a little bit."

Haru straightened herself slowly, the flush on her face never fading. After a series of apologies (from Haru) and reassurances (from Sojiro), Akira watched his mentor awkwardly exit the café. Sojiro walked forward and shoved a few grocery bags in Akira's hands.

"I didn't know you had a policy about –"

"I don't," Sojiro interrupted. "Now, come on and help me put these away quick."

There was a sparkle in the older male's eyes as he organized each item Akira put in his hands.

"Ok," began Sojiro, "I bought some time. So, what's with you and that girl?"

Despite his best efforts, Akira's face reddened. "She's my mentor."

"Obviously," his guardian snorted. "What else? When did you two start…dating?"

"We're not!"

"Oh, so not yet."

Sojiro smirked at Akira's sigh of exasperation. Putting the last item away, the older male turned and gave Akira an intense look. Akira froze. The look Sojiro was giving him was one the young man was unaccustomed to seeing. Then, Sojiro's face split into a smile, and he reached over and patted Akira's back.

"To think you'd have a girl like that chasing you," he praised.

Akira opened his mouth to correct him when Sojiro said, "Today's been pretty slow. I've been looking for an excuse to close early. Listen, I'll close shop and give you time with that girl."

"No, that's not –"

The chime above the entrance filled the café as Haru reentered the establishment. "Is now a better time?"

"Perfect time," Sojiro said, removing his apron and folding it neatly behind the counter. "I'm heading out, but this guy will take care of anything you need."

He turned in Akira's direction and quietly said, "Take any funny business upstairs."

Akira could feel his ears burn from Sojiro's comment as Sojiro bid Haru farewell and left Leblanc. Haru turned in Akira's direction and made eye contact. Looking away shyly, she took in Leblanc's interior with interest.

"Just…take a seat," Akira murmured.

"Hm?"

"Take a seat," Akira said, attempting to smile kindly. "The booth works. I'll…start making you something."

Haru did as he suggested and sat in the closet booth. Akira could feel her eyes on him as he turned toward the cabinets and reached for the tools to make coffee.

"Are you feeling alright?" Haru asked.

Akira looked over his shoulder and offered a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, yeah…just a bit worn out, is all."

The young man prepared the house special, Jamaican Blue Mountain, with practiced ease. In his head, he could hear Sojiro say, "LET ME EXPLAIN!"

"I can help," Haru offered, "if you aren't feeling well."

"It's fine," Akira said, waving his hand dismissively. As coffee filled the mug, Akira moved to the refrigerator for ingredients – Sojiro's secret curry wasn't such a secret anymore – when he spied Morgana curled up at the foot of the stairs.

Without looking at him, Morgana said, "Try to be respectful and accommodating. She came here for you."

"Oh, is that Morgana I hear meowing?" Haru wondered out loud, scanning the room for the feline.

Akira said nothing and returned to his task. He worked in silence. Haru was quiet too, and, with his back turned to her and the feeling of her eyes gone, Akira couldn't tell if she was still sitting in the booth. When he did turn around, a cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain in his hand, he saw Haru waiting patiently. She sat straight, her posture poise and hands folded neatly over her lap.

"That smells wonderful." Haru beamed with a look of absolute joy.

A smirk was on Akira's face as he placed the cup in front of her. It was only for a moment, but something other than turmoil shifted within him. "Thanks. I'm glad you think so. I'll be done with the curry soon."

Haru nodded. "I can't wait. This is delightful. But try not to strain yourself, ok?"

"I'll try not to."

The bit of relief within him was quick to fade. In its place returned the storm of turbulence he kept deep in his gut. Except, accompanying the unease were thoughts he would rather avoid. Thoughts he tried to escape from with sleep.

The unease grew inside of him. His mind betrayed him, and his unjust circumstances filled his head like poison. He thought about the trial that seemed like a nightmare and the day he was branded a criminal. How the students at Shujin looked at him and whispered the most outlandish claims. No matter where he went, he was a prisoner of someone else's devices.

The Velvet Room – the damn demonic place! – was proof of that.

The need to escape to his room clawed up to his mind like some ravaged beast. Akira glanced at Haru, contently enjoying her coffee, and wished at that moment she'd disappear. She was like everyone else – wasn't she? – watching him, trying to impose her will on him.

"Akira."

The young man blinked, and he looked at Haru through the haze in his mind. She smiled and sighed in satisfaction.

"I haven't had coffee this refreshing in a long time. I can't imagine anything better."

"W-well." Akira paused and shook his head lightly. His thinking became more lucid and under control. "Just wait for the curry."

"That sounds great," she beamed.

Akira returned the smile with some difficulty. He distracted himself by gathering ingredients, and various secret components like the red wine under the counter, mixing them as he had done many times for the Phantom Thieves. The end product was something even Sojiro would think twice about criticizing. Haru's quiet gasp and eyes filled with amazement attested to that fact.

"This looks incredible," Haru said. "It's amazing you can make this yourself."

Akira handed her eating utensils. "Thanks. Eat up."

Haru did, taking a spoon full of curry into her mouth. Another sigh of satisfaction escaped her lips, and she eagerly began to eat more. Akira watched her, then looked away. Without anything to preoccupy his mind, he tried to suppress the thoughts and feelings that returned in waves.

Oh no, he thought, feeling the tightness in his chest.

Desperately, Akira looked into the confines of his soul for solace. He needed something to dispel the chaos unraveling inside of him. He scanned the mental landscape, the never-ending sea that was him, and found his other selves. But those masks, those fake facades, weren't him. They weren't who he indeed was. The image of Arsene surfaced to mind, and Akira knew he had to leave. He attempted to stand, but a hand reached out and grabbed his wrist.

No, no, no, no, no!

"Akira, you look unwell," Haru said, looking up at him in concern, her damn hand never releasing his wrist.

No, no, no, no, no!

After the trial, they branded him a criminal and handcuffed him.

In the Velvet Room, he woke up handcuffed.

And now, instead of Haru's hand on his wrist, Akira saw handcuffs.

"You're not acting like yourself," Haru stated.

The image of Arsene surfaced to mind and then disappeared.

Akira yanked his hand away. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ME!?"

Haru jumped, leaning back as far as she could into the booth. One of her hands absently rubbed the other as she watched him in fear and confusion.

"YOU – you're like everyone else!" Akira barked, rising from the booth. "You think I'm just some delinquent. I'm not! I'm…"

From Morgana's spot at the foot of the stairs, he watched Akira's outburst in shock. He stood, ready to pounce if his friend became aggressive toward Haru.

For Akira, words spilled out his mouth like water from a broken faucet. "I'm the leader? Flirt? Delinquent? Artist? I can be anything! Cool, calm, collected, assertive, cautious, analytical, spontaneous, perceptive, narrow-minded." Akira's unsteady gaze roamed the room until settling on his feet. "I can be anything but not myself anymore."

Haru remained silent throughout his convoluted tirade. Slowly, her expression changed from confusion to scrutiny. She recovered from her initial alarm and said, "Aren't you all those things?"

Akira looked up at her as if suddenly remembering she was in the room.

Haru continued, "You say you…play different roles and act in certain ways."

Haru stood from the booth. Akira wondered if she would sprint toward the exit, report to the school he was unstable, and have him sent away. He questioned those things even as Haru took a small step in his direction.

"You said you could be anything…but yourself," Haru summarized. She took another step forward. Her gaze was searching. "But, aren't you all of those things?"

Something loosened inside Akira, clearing some of the haze in his mind. "But…it's not normal to have so many different sides."

Haru tilted her head, her expression indecipherable. "As long as those other sides are good and moral, it's ok. They can be parts of something larger, the real you. Right?"

"The…real me?"

The thing inside of him loosened more, then disappeared. To where? Akira couldn't be sure but immediately, an enormous pressure lifted from his shoulders. His vision cleared, and his focus sharpened. Within the sea of his soul, he saw his other selves and felt a newfound comfort in their presence.

They're pieces of something more significant, he realized. They're parts of me.

He focused on Haru. Haru returned his gaze but with a different kind of intensity. Her placid expression didn't reveal the emotions swimming in her eyes, the inner conflict in her mind.

"Haru, I'm sorry. I –"

"Don't."

His mentor walked up to him and pulled him into a tight embrace as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"You're not a criminal, a delinquent, or anything else," Haru stated with simple directness. "You're you."

Without disengaging herself, she reached for Akira's glasses and placed them on the table. Blinking, Akira lowered his gaze to hers. Gone was the discord in her doe-like eyes. What remained was an unshakeable determination. "And," she said, "I like you."

Her lips meet his before he can fathom a reply.

"Woah," breathed Morgana in the background.

Akira wholeheartedly agreed. Woah. He never imagined coffee and curry could taste so good off someone's lips.