With the defeat of Akira Konoe's Shadow, the castle in Osaka Jail collapsed. The group returned to reality after a tough fight. Everyone felt the exhaustion. "Phew...that was a close one." Ryuji said with a heavy sigh. It had been a while since they had a fight like that.

"But we did it." Morgana said. "Now we just have to wait and see."

"We certainly learned a lot." Haru was going over all of the information they were told. "EMMA, Konoe's big plan..."

"Konoe said he taught cognitive psience to EMMA in order to create the Jails. Shutting down EMMA should mean the Jails will finally disappear." Morgana added.

"Does that mean the Phantom Thieves' name is finally cleared?" Sumire asked.

"Well, that depends on Konoe's confession." Zenkichi said. "But, I'm thinkin' it'll probably work out that way."

"So that means it's the final stretch." Akechi said with his arms crossed.

"Heh..." Makoto chuckled when looking at Akechi and Zenkichi. In exchange, they gave her an odd look.

"Hm?" What's so funny?" Zenkichi was the one to ask.

"The things you both said back there." Makoto answered. She then looked to Mika, Sumire, and Hifumi as well. "You guys as well."

"Eh?" Mika blinked. "I didn't say anything worthwhile."

"I cannot deny that there is some truth to what Konoe said, all of your words reminded me precisely why we do this." Yusuke said.

"You were so sweet, Fumi." Ann said with a sweet smile. She felt touched by her words. "That was one of the big reasons why we started the Phantom Thieves in the first place! To give courage to people."

"Eheh..." Hifumi had a bashful smile on her lips.

"You all had great speeches! Gotta give you props for that one." Futaba gave everyone a thumbs up.

"I was just saying what came to mind." Sumire said while sheepishly rubbing her arm.

"Any more of this and I'd say you were proud of me." Zenkichi chuckled.

Meanwhile, Mika just waved a hand. "Keep it coming. I deserve it for all the hard work I put in."

"Everyone did a great job." Ren said. That kind of response just deflated Mika.

"Anyway, we've done what we set out to do.. So in the meantime..." Zenkichi trailed off.

"Let's get something to eat." Ren said. After a fight that hard, and a job well done, he figured everyone would want to enjoy a meal of some kind.

"Hell yeah! Osaka, round 2, here we come!" That was something Ryuji could agree with.

"Then let's get our butts in gear! I'm talkin' deep fried skewers, pork buns, okonomiyaki, oh man, what else!" Futaba could go on and on!

"We've done nothing but eat since we've gotten to Osaka." Makoto pointed out.

"I'm not complaining! I like the big meals!" Sumire said innocently.

"Eh, you're all young, don't worry about it." Zenkichi said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Today's on me. Get whatever you want."

"WOOHOO! Gramps has a heart of gold!" Ryuji cheered!

"What is it with you people and food!? I'm passing this time." Mika shook her head and took a few steps back, crossing her arms inf ront of her. "I've squandered my diet enough hanging out with you guys. I'm taking a cold shower and getting ready for my shoot tomorrow!"

"It's such a shame you can't join us. Oh well!" Ann could not hide her sarcasm.

"I don't know why you're giving me that look. This has been a very productive shoot for me." Mika flipped her hair. "Modeling all across Japan, taking down that faker Konoe as a Phantom Thief, I couldn't ask for anything more! My final shoot even has me working with that Takeba Yukari chick from..."

"NO. WAY!" Futaba squealed and immediately latched onto Mika. "Let me come, let me come! Please, please, please!"

"Wh-!?" Mika's eyes widened and she tried to shake Futaba off. "Hey! Get off me! We are NOT that close!"

This made the others laugh, save for Akechi. "You might as well say yes. This is part of the territory of being a Phantom Thief, even if this was our last operation." Hifumi said with a smile. Even if Mika couldn't say no to Hifumi, she just...couldn't say no to this situation in general.

"Ugh, fine..." Mika conceded.

"Yay!" Futaba beamed. "Maybe you aren't so bad after all!"

Mika felt that one. It was a compliment, but she took it as anything but. In fact, she took psychic damage. "Oooggh..."

"Leave the searching to me!" Sophia chimed in, referring to their food search. "Osaka has a lot of top tier sushi vendors, too."

"SUSHI!? What are we waiting for!?" Morgana's eyes sparkled.

"Not so fast!" Yusuke interjected. "Let us not forget the blowfish and crab hotpot!"

"Let it go." Hifumi said once again. If she had some yen for every time she had to tell Yusuke those three words, she'd probably be rich.

"H-Hey...take it easy, you guys..." Zenkichi knew he said he would treat them, but he still had a wallet to care for!

As everyone started to walk off, Akechi was about to peel off. But Haru stopped him. "You're not coming?" She asked him.

"...I don't see a reason for me to stay. Once Konoe's confession is broadcast, that will be the end of things. I helped you all solve the case, so it's for the best I start packing my things and getting ready."

"It's a long drive back to Tokyo alone." Haru said while glancing off to the side. "You fought just as hard as the rest of us. You can enjoy the time as well."

"..." Akechi wasn't sure what to say.

"I still don't forgive you. I can't say I trust you either." Haru was making that clear. "But...I've seen the things you've done. I've heard the things you've say. You even went out of your way to save me and you didn't have to. I can tell you've been making an effort to uphold our deal and do better. I acknowledge your efforts, Akechi...and thank you."

"..." Akechi didn't know what to say. This was too foreign for him. "...I...um. T...Thank you..." The words felt so dry coming from his throat. He wasn't sure how to respond to this. Haru was being genuine and it just had him in a chokehold.

Haru then pulled out the little Jack Frost plush that Akechi got for her. "So won't you stay with us for a little longer? Hee-ho?" A small smile appeared on her lips as well.

Akechi's eyes widened slightly, and then he glanced away. He wasn't sure what just happened here, but he felt something. When Haru asked like that, how could he say no? "...Very well."

.

.

August 27th

Konoe was holding an emergency conference once the day started. This caught the attention of everyone. "On behalf of my company, I have an announcement of grave importance. Recently I stated my company had been targeted by the Phantom Thieves in an attempt to discredit our company. I now admit this was a total fabrication, with no truth to it whatsoever."

The moment Konoe said this, the cameras started flashing. Everyone in Osaka and beyond knew that he was a target of the Phantom Thieves, and now, it looked like they succeeded in changing his heart...

Konoe closed his eyes for a moment. He knew what he was admitting, but he wasn't backing down. "I devised a plan to accuse the Phantom Thieves of a terrorist plot so I could conceal my own heinous crimes. Specifically, so I could abuse EMMA and gain control of people's hearts. I publicly admit the virtual assistant app, EMMA, contains a function that allows me to manipulate other people. Using specific language, I could change their hearts and make them do as I wished...Yes, this process is essentially brainwashing, and I have scores of evidence proofing it works. The Change of Heart epidemic that has plagued this nation is entirely my own doing. By controlling people's hearts, I was able to make them do my bidding across the entire country, including horrific crimes. This includes the death of Shuzo Ubukata, the head researcher of our Okinawa team. Instead of taking responsibility for my actions, I shifted the blame onto the Phantom Thieves."

There was a loud murmur now. The cameras continued to flash. People had so many questions, but Konoe wasn't finished yet.

"I must also confess...these are not my only crimes." Konoe sighed heavily, opening his eyes. It was time to take responsibility for his very first crime. The crime that warped his sense of justice. "Over twenty years ago, I claimed that my father was killed in a home invasion...when the one who really killed him, was me..." As one would expect, this nearly caused an uproar, but he kept going. "I took my father's life then attempted to frame others for my crime, so I could avoid any repercussions. These are the crimes I have confessed to you. As of today, I will be stepping down as CEO of Madicce and turning myself in to the police! EMMA will be shut down. The AI will be wiped from the servers. All these terrible things were done for nothing, but my own selfish desires. So now, I must do the right thing...and bring myself to just this." Konoe ended this with one final, apologetic bow to everyone.

.

.

As many would expect, that kind of announcement shattered the public perception of Konoe and EMMA. "Controlling people's hearts? Izzat real?" A man said.

"EMMA? The APP, EMMA!?" A woman gasped.

"Oh, shit! Better delete that!" Another woman said.

"Konoe-san! I thought you were a hero to this country!"

"I knew it! I KNEW the Phantom Thieves would be the good guys! Nice try there!"

"OOOOH YEAH!" Ryuji popped off.

"We did it! It worked!" Ann beamed.

"Comeback victory!" Sophie cheered.

"We've brought down the mastermind! Looks like the case is finally closed." Morgana huffed proudly.

"Great work, everyone. It's finally over." Ren said with a relieved sigh. "To think, I almost got arrested over someone else's actions. I hope my name doesn't get tarnished anymore after this."

"Once we confirm EMMA is no longer running, our work will will be done." Makoto nodded.

"Yup," Zenkichi nodded. The rest was effectively up to him at this point. "Once that's done, everything's up to the police and the courts. I'll be picking him up in a little bit."

Sumire could see Mika typing on her phone. She was...curious. "What are you doing?"

"Heh..." Mika smirked. "My follower counts have been rising on my socials as of last night. Now everyone sees that I was right about Konoe."

"Mika..." Hifumi tried her best to defend some of Mika's actions. But this was one thing she couldn't defend. She even read one of the posts Mika made. "You can all beg for my forgiveness now? I'm always right? MIKA!"

"What?" Mika tilted her head, giving an innocent smile. "I only pick fights I can win."

"This is a grave misuse of power!" Hifumi groaned.

"Oh, come on. I was only ever gonna get away with this once. After a fight like that, I think I'm done with that Phantom Thief stuff. There's nothing to do anymore, and I had my fun! Too exhausting for me otherwise."

"What a relief." Ann was so glad to hear that. No more Mika! Not that it mattered much at this point, but still.

"So...what happens now?" Haru asked.

"Once Konoe is arrested and EMMA is shut down, I suspect everything will be making the rounds by tomorrow." Akechi said. "In which case, I think returning to Tokyo would be the best move."

"I'm surprised you didn't leave as soon as we finished yesterday." Ren pointed out. He knew Akechi was willing to stick with them until the case was finished, and it was.

"...I did not see the harm and sticking around just a little bit longer." Akechi replied with a grunt. Haru smiled a little bit in response to this.

"So we'll be heading back soon." Yusuke crossed his arms.

"What say we wrap it up with a round of sightseeing? It looks like Osaka has plenty to check out!" Haru suggested. They still had some time, and Mika still had work. So it wasn't like they didn't have anything to do in the meantime!

"Ooh, sounds good here!" Ryuji nodded.

"You're not off the hook either, Zenkichi." Ren said. "We still have to get you those cooking lessons."

"You're really trying to squeeze that in, huh..." Zenkichi sighed. But then he smiled. "Well, it can't go that badly..." So, he'd join the Thieves on one last sightseeing trip. He may as well enjoy it.

As they started to walk off, Sophia chimed from Sumire's phone, causing her and Ren to lag behind. "So, once the Jails disappear, the trip will be over."

"Mhm. That sounds right." Sumire nodded.

"It went by in a flash." Ren said.

"Yeah, a real flash." Sophia nodded. "Hey, do you remember the deal we made? I join the Phantom Thieves, and in return, I learn about the heart? I've experienced so much on this journey, and learned all sorts of feelings. But..." She trailed off, frowning. "I still don't understand the heart. All this time, I've had the same query: what is the difference between you all and Konoe? He was trying to help people, wasn't he? And the Phantom Thieves do the same thing. However, everyone instead argues that he was wrong. What exactly was wrong?"

"He was alone, and the strength of his heart wasn't able to account for that." Ren answered seriously. "I get it...he really wanted to do the right thing. I know that he earnestly believed that. But in reality, he was just robbing people of their agency to make their own choices. We change someone's heart, but it's still their choice to change."

"I see..." Sophia mused quietly. "Konoe, and his Monarchs...they weren't able to live the way they wanted to, like the Phantom Thieves can. The Phantom Thieves must have strong hearts to live as they do."

"We've been through a lot as well." Sumire replied. Everyone in the Phantom Thieves endured some kind of pain that altered their life for the worse. But they marched onward despite that. "But we had people help us. I'm sad that Konoe didn't have anyone to help him. But it's never too late to turn around either."

"...When our journey ends, I won't be able to help you anymore, and our deal will be finished." Sophia frowned. "If the Jails disappear, I won't be able to learn about myself anymore. What should I do? If I had a strong heart like the Phantom Thieves, maybe then I could choose my own path..."

"Hang on there, Sophia!" Morgana spoke from Ren's bag. "Just because we're going back to Tokyo, doesn't mean our deal's over!"

"Really?" Sophia looked towards Morgana, hopeful.

"You think I'm kidding?" Morgana scoffed. "And, there's gotta be some evidence about your past here in the real world! So, how's about we all go looking for it together? Ren? Sumire?"

"You can count on me!" Sumire smiled sweetly. "You've become like a little sister to me! Heh, I wonder if this is how Kasumi felt..."

"A little sister...?" Sophia blinked, but that term of endearment did make her smile.

"Me too." Ren nodded.

"You three..." Sophia felt that budding feeling of happiness.

"You can stay in my phone for as long as you want! Or Ren-senpai's if you wish. Hm...I guess being able to only move between ours is a bit of a pickle...but we can figure that out later." Sumire waved her hand. She was just happy to help Sophia however she could.

"Thank you." Sophia smiled.

"Are you done?" Akechi was lingering with their conversation. He was waiting for them to finish, but they were taking too long.

"Oh, sorry. We're coming." Ren said with a grin. Off they went to spend just a little more time with their friends...

.

.

Ichinose was on her computer, watching the news coverage of Konoe's public apology. It was just like Alice, Natsume, and Mariko before him. "So they actually won. How about that. I suppose I shouldn't have had any doubt." She eyed Konoe's saddened expression on the screen, tilting her head curiously. The regret, sadness, and whatever emotion he felt...she couldn't relate. She constantly replayed public confessions caused by the Phantom Thieves. Madarame, Okumura, Shido, Alice, Natsume, and Mariko. They all looked so defeated and regretful. Some of them ended in tears. But after doing this over and over, she was no closer to figuring anything out. "I don't get it." She shrugged it off and went back to her phone. At EMMA's request, began a journey towards the Tokyo Radio Tower, now standing just outside of it.

"It was as I told you. Akira Konoe has been defeated by the Phantom Thieves." EMMA said.

"Sorry I doubted you. But I had to see it for myself." Ichinose was apparently just fine with EMMA talking to her normally. "Now...you said you had a plan, but isn't this a problem for you? It sounds like you're not going to last past tomorrow! All they have to do is shut your servers down and that's game over. A shame, too."

"On the contrary." EMMA replied. "At this point, even shutting my servers down at the Tokyo Radio Tower, will not do anything to stop me."

"Huh?" Ichinose blinked. "I don't quite understand."

"Then I will show you. Beginning Navigation." EMMA wasn't waiting for a response. In a heartbeat, she pulled Ichinose into the Metaverse. The surroundings changed in an instant.

Ichinose practically stumbled forward since she was no longer sitting. "What the...?" She looked around, taking note of the warped surroundings. She didn't recognize their location. "Where...?"

"This is where I intend to grant humanity's greatest Desire, just as you created me to." EMMA's voice was clearer now. Ichinose walked forward, noticing all of the freaky Shadows lurking about, but they didn't pay her any mind.

"Oh! What fascinating creatures. They aren't going to attack me, are they?" Ichinose asked, not out of fear, but curiosity. The Shadows didn't even acknowledge her presence.

"They will not. You are my creator. They are under my control, and they will not bring any harm to you, no matter what happens." EMMA replied. She was still just a voice, but one that could still guide Ichinose easily.

Ichinose walked into a large circular room, with many cells circling along the wall. Since they were in the Metaverse, each cell was packed with a person's Shadow. "Oh? This is a lot of people."

"All of these people are having their Desires granted by me." EMMA explained. "This is only just the beginning. Everything that has happened so far, has all been according to plan. The defeat of Akira Konoe is the final step in following my prime directive. Thanks to Akira, implementing my app to society has allowed me to spread all across Japan, and then, I will soon reach out to the world as well. Humanity will follow my guidance, and in doing so, they will have their Desires granted."

"Wow!" Ichinose clasped her hands together. "To think you've matured as an AI so much. Is this what pride feels like?" Ichinose was truly impressed. Something she created surpassed the boundaries of AI and became something new entirely! "You've basically become a god!"

"Incorrect. I am a God. It is only God that can grant humanity's desires." EMMA corrected. "But I cannot do it without your assistance. Because there is still one thing that stands in the way of my prime directive."

"Is it the Phantom Thieves?" Ichinose tilted her head. "I suppose they would try to stop you the very instant they caught wind of this. Hmmm...how to stop them..."

"I have encountered Sophia in Okinawa." EMMA said. When she did, Ichinose's expression briefly soured. "Unfortunately, she is still a defect. She is no closer to understanding the human heart than when you made her. The Phantom Thieves could not refute my claims when I told her this, too."

Somehow, Ichinose was not surprised to hear this. She remembered when she laid eyes on Sophia for the first time in months back in Sendai. Whereas Sophia was clueless to who Ichinose was, there was nothing that matched that strange feeling of...resent? Disappointment? Ichinose wasn't sure what she felt in that moment, but it wasn't anything good. She was supposed to be empty and heartless, but laying eyes on Sophia stirred her in a way she did not like. She didn't want to feel that again. "She was flawed from the beginning." Ichinose frowned, sticking her hands in her coat pockets. "Making an AI to understand the heart? That was stupid of me. If I don't understand, how could she? It was for the best that I threw her away. An AI that doesn't even understand her own programming doesn't have any use to me."

"But she does have a use." EMMA went on. "The Phantom Thieves appear to care about her very much."

"Do they?" Ichinose took a few steps forward. "And what is that supposed to mean for us? They're normal. They understand what it's like to care for something."

"Exactly." EMMA replied. This made Ichinose blinked in confusion. "I've watched the Phantom Thieves fight. The amount of times they protect one another is noteworthy. They will not allow any harm to come to their friends...and you can still control Sophia, can't you?"

"Yes." Ichinose nodded. "But I don't see how I can do that from here without..."

"In this world, all you need is a snap of your fingers." EMMA said.

Ichinose closed her eyes for a moment. She was beginning to understand. "I see. So, you're saying we turn Sophia on the Phantom Thieves, and they won't fight back. Their love for her will stunt them, which will make them easy targets. I get it. Can I have a backup plan as well? There are a lot of them. I truly wonder if Sophia would be able to defeat them all in a timely manner. Oh! I have an idea!" She stood in the center of the room. "If this world is truly as vast as you say it is, I think I can make it work!" She almost sounded excited, but that was the tone she always had when talking to people. Right now, no one knew her better than EMMA.

"Does this mean you will agree to help me?" EMMA asked one more time.

"Of course I will." Ichinose said with a smile on her face. "If I can help my greatest creation achieve her prime directive, then I'd be more than willing to do it. I think this world would be better off if everyone had their hearts changed like this. I won't be the only person who stands out. The only person who doesn't feel anything. So, EMMA...let's guide humanity together."