Catch-22: The One Where The Boss Finds Out

By: M14Mouse

Summary: 25 unread messages and 15 missed calls.

Disclaimer: Don't own them. Bummer.

When he got out of his business dinner, he checked his phone.

Unread messages and missed calls weren't unheard of for him. Unread messages were divided into his students, friends, and business. He always had quite a few.

When he read that he had 25 unread message and 15 missed calls from his students, he knew something was up.

He hoped that it was good news about Akechi.

When he started reading the messages, he could only sigh. It started well enough with the festival, Akechi, and pictures of…some type of food. He wasn't quite sure what it was. It looked like someone could eat it. Maybe. Sort of.

Ryuji: It isn't my fault this time.

Ann: No one said it was the last time!

Ryuji: Morgana did!

Makoto: Calm down everyone.

Futaba: It was memorable, okay!? That is why I kept the calling card.

Ryuji: STILL! Come on, Futaba. You could have hide it in a better place.

Futaba: There is no better place than with my mint condition Pokémon cards.

Haru: I'm glad that Boss knows now. I always felt bad when we had our meetings in his cafe.

Ren: He took it really well. You might want to talk to him, Sensei. He might be able to fill in some gaps for you about Wakaba's research.

Yusuke: I always had the feeling that Boss was a remarkable man. This proves it.

Futaba: Sojiro wants you to call or come by the café.

Yu: I will call a cab and be there shortly. This is better to do in person.

It didn't take him long to reach the café. When he got inside, he saw Futaba, Morgana and Ren sitting in one of the booths with Sojiro was making coffee behind the counter.

"Good evening, everyone," He said amusedly.

Ren smiled while Futaba gave him a small wave. Good. His students didn't look stressed which he took as a good sign.

"Good evening, Sensei. Sorry for the late night," Ren said.

"It's fine. I was having a business dinner when you called. Theo and Lila have the night off. Theo is trying to teach Lila how to cook. If I don't have a kitchen when I come home, you know why. So, how much did you two tell him?"

"Boss pretty much figured out everything," Morgana said.

"We didn't need to tell him anything. He filled in the blanks when I started talking," Ren added.

"Interesting. Then why am I here?"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP THEM?!"

Futaba and Morgana nearly jumped at Sojiro's voice. Ren looked a little bit shock.

Oh, that is why he is here.

"Stop them from what?"

"THIS!"

"Could I have?"

"Yes!"
"How?"

Sojiro's mouth dropped then snapped together.

"You could…have taken away their phones…or…or told them that it was dangerous!"

"Yes, I did tell them that it was dangerous. Futaba and I ran an experiment. The app just moved to another phone if the original is damaged or destroyed. I guess that it would do the same if they didn't have their phone."

"Yup. We slammed his old phone and it show up on his new phone like nothing happened. Oh, we can't delete it either. Cool but super weird," Futaba added.

"The app?" Sojiro asked.

"It is how we get into cognitive world," Ren answered back.

Sojiro sighed and looked at him.

"It is better than a tv," He said with a shrug.

"There is no world inside the tv," Sojiro said. Sojiro started at him as his face slowly turned pale.

"You're probably going to need to get a chair," Morgana said.

"Yup! Support Buddy is going to have to show him. Hey, Ren. You probably want to make sure that Sojiro doesn't faint," Futaba said to Ren. Ren nodded and got from up the booth to get a chair.

"There is no world inside the tv," Sorijo said repeatedly in a panic.

"Like there is no cognitive world, Dark Hour, or a world in a lighthouse that appears on every third Sunday. There are a few others but…we don't have all night," He said.

"Wait…there is a world inside of a lighthouse?!" Morgana asked.

"It is an abandoned lighthouse off the coast of Italy. We sealed off the area. Time will destroy the lighthouse more than we will," He said sadly.

It made him sad to see the lighthouse slow disappear into the face of nature but that is what they wanted.

Sorijo began to shake his head in deny.

He walked over and stepped on the chair that Ren brought the chair over to the tv then returned to his seat at the booth.

"Don't look away," He said as he stuck his hand into the tv. Putting his hand into a tv set always felt like putting his hand into a puddle of water without getting wet.

"Still so creepy," Morgana said.

"So awesome!" Futaba said.

He watched Sojiro's mouth drop again and eyes widen.

"So, she was right. There are other worlds," Sojiro said as he regained his composure.

"Yes," He said as he removed his hand and step down.

"Can you go inside of the tv?" Sojiro said as he turned to Ren and Futaba.

"Nope," Futaba said.

"No," Ren answered.

"I hope not. It is stressful!" Morgana answered.

"Then how can he do it?" Sojiro said in confusion.

"I have been doing this a lot longer than them," He said with a shrug as he took a seat in the chair.

Poor Sojiro. He looked so confused.

"Doing what?"

"Fighting shadows, gods, goddesses, take your pick. I have probably fought them."

Sojiro took off his glasses and started rubbing his nose.

"You're going to break Sojiro, Support Buddy," Futaba said.

"Probably."

"There have been rumors but…I thought that they were myths and fairy tales. I….I need a drink."

"Probably several."

"You…" Sojiro said before letting out a laugh.

"I was only vaguely aware of them until we met in Mementos. I think Yusuke just joined the group. At that point, they were determined to Phantom Thieves. To answer your question, I doubt that I could have stopped them. Teenagers are a stubborn bunch. So, I decided to assist them to keep them slightly out of trouble. My record has been poor since they can't seem stop people from finding out about them," He said as he grinned at Futaba and Ren, who looked mildly sheepish.

"Tell me about it."
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.-Martin Buber

Sojiro shook his head.

"So, you do this for a living?"

"Yes."

"How….Wait…you work for the Kirijo group. There are rumors…"

"That may or may not be true."

"I'm going to need entire bottle, aren't I?"

He smiled a little bit.

"Probably. You could invite my uncle and you can complain about us behind our backs. He said that I give him grey hairs. In my defense, he already had them before we met."

"Can't really complain since I have this place bugged," Futaba said to Sojiro.

"What…Why?" Sojiro said in a panic.

"Just in case, you know…comes back."

Sojiro just sighed.

"Support Buddy said that it is good for evidence if he tries to harm you, the cafe or Ren. I'm trying to be more pro-active!"

"Sensei is a terrible influence on her," Ren said with a grin.

"It doesn't help that they are working on some super move," Morgana added.

"You guys will be fine. It is the bad guys that have to wonder," Futaba said with a grin.
"No one is going to die. At least, I hope not," He said mildly.

"I'm going to need the whole cabinet, aren't I?" Sojiro said with a sigh.

"Then you really need my uncle."

End of The One Where the Boss Finds Out

Next Chapter: The Phone Call (Break In Play)

A/N: Well...it was bound to happen. XD No one pays Boss enough for this. Poor guy. Anyway, thanks for the wonderful reviews. I'm glad that you guys enough the dancing chapter. It was a fun chapter to write. As always read and review if you wish. And thank you for the kudos, reviews, favorites, etc.