Literally: swan song
Meaning: swan song

Sunday, January 15th, Midnight

After wrapping up… whatever that was in Mementos, I won't even try to describe that, Sumire split away from the group at Shibuya station, while Akira, Morgana, Futaba and Goro took one of the last trains going through Yongen-Jaya. As they emerged from the station and marched towards Leblanc, Akira and Goro's phones buzzed.

PandaPunch: You two did not hear me announce it and I don't know if it had reached you:
PandaPunch: Tomorrow we're meeting up at 11:30 near the stadium.
PandaPunch: Now, get some rest, you two.
PandaPunch: I'm not saying this as the leader of the Thieves, but as a friend to both of you.

"Mona, do you mind sleeping with Futaba tonight?" Akira asked. "I need to have a word with Goro in private."

Futaba opened her mouth.

"Again, not the right moment for quips," he interrupted her.

"I just wanted to say that I'm on Goro's side no matter what." she replied. "If Maruki lied, then you've gone out of your way to atone. And if not, I can't blame you for what Goro Prime did. The function returns the same value either way."

"Always with the fucking programming metaphors," Goro growled. "Would it kill you to speak like a normal person?"

Akira and Morgana wanted to protest, but Futaba gestured at them to not bother. "Maybe it will, I won't check. Goodnight, big bro," she said, and she and Mona marched towards the Sakura house. As Goro reached for the keys for the cafe, Akira's phone buzzed again.

curryHunter: let him be a jerk this time
curryHunter: when i was in his state i said MUCH worse things to sojiro

"So," Goro asked, opening the door. "I assume you sent the catboy away so we can talk about this whole 'narration' thing."

"Yeah, more or less. I don't know much though," Akira said, truthfully. "I noticed the guy talking… a few weeks or months ago-"

"Let me guess," Goro interrupted him, "after Akechi got you captured, tortured, and almost executed."

"Maybe?" Akira wasn't sure of his own memories at that point, and didn't want to pile on more stuff on Goro's strained conscience. "I didn't really think about it too much. When we fought Yaldabaoth I kinda shouted the narrator down to deliver the final blow, but that was desperation more than anything – and it probably won't work again. I also made a few quips because I thought they'd be funny. I kinda leaned too hard on that at times."

"And that's it?"

Akira shrugged. "What else did you expect?"

Goro raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You've realized you're the literal protagonist of your own story and that hasn't changed anything about you?"

"You're smart, Goro. You know what hubris is," Akira retorted. "I know this is a story, and maybe even I'm an important player in it. But I don't know how it ends, and I will not tempt fate by guessing. All I can do is try my best and hope my stupid lucky streak won't end tomorrow."

Goro mulled that answer over for a moment. "It makes sense now, I think." He pointed at Akira, "The main hero," and at himself, "and the main villain."

"I prefer to think of it in terms of 'protagonist' and 'deuteragonist'," Akira replied. "Pigeonholing yourself as the villain won't do your sanity any favors."

"It can't get any fucking worse at this point, can it?!" Goro raised his voice, startling Akira enough to recoil a bit. He felt bad about it-

"Or did I?" Goro spat. "Is my remorse actually mine or is it the result of Maruki taking a hand blender to Akechi's mind?"

"Don't assume everything good about you was forced upon you," Akira protested. "I know you don't trust your sense of self now, but I knew Goro and I'm certain he was not as evil as he presented himself."

"Well, I'm no-"

Goro's retort was interrupted by a snippet of freeform jazz coming from his trouser pocket. He pulled out his phone. "It's Sumire."

Akira winced a bit. "Maybe you should just… leave her hanging this time."

Goro then picked up the call out of short-sighted spite. "What is it?" he barked.

"I just wanted to report that I'm back home," Sumire's voice came from the other end. "And you?"

"Well, there was a train crash between Shibuya and Yongen, but we've miraculously survived 'cause we're just that fucking important," Goro sneered in response.

"Stop it," Akira demanded.

Goro ignored him. "Of course we're home, what did you expect?"

"More or less this, truth be told," Sumire remarked, matter-of-factly. "You lashing out because everything's hard to process and your brain can't keep up."

"Congratulations, you've predicted the exact way in which I'll be a cunt," Goro retorted. "Do you have anything else you want to add?"

There was no response on the line. Akira bit his tongue for the time being, and so thoughts could stew in Goro's head uninterrupted. The nagging feeling of guilt began to form, and then Sumire finally said:

"I'm scared."

That was a gut punch. "Uh, I-I-I-"

"Not of you, Goro-kun!" Sumire quickly reassured him. "I-I mean, tomorrow I'm going to face down a god that can reshape reality itself, and that's kinda terrifying to me, y'know?"

"I've done this before, it's not as scary as it sounds," Akira chuckled to himself.

"Are you there too, senpai?"

"Yeah, we were talking about stuff when you called," he said. "I can walk out of earshot if you want to talk to Goro in private."

"You don't have to," Sumire replied. "I just wanted to tell him I… want him around. Warts and all."

With the last rational part of what passed for his brain, Goro restrained his frustration with everything and everyone. "I…" he started, trying to figure out what to say. "I'll keep you safe. I won't let any of you get hurt tomorrow. That's the one fucking thing I'm sure of right now."

"I'm glad to hear thaa…" Sumire yawned mid-sentence, "-at. I'm sorry. I should head to bed."

"So should we," Goro remarked. "Goodnight, Sumire. Rest well."

"G'night, Goro-kun."

She hung up and Goro put his phone away. Akira let out a prolonged exhale, visibly deflating. "Can I confess to something?"

"Hit me."

"I'm scared too."

Goro raised an eyebrow. "Are you really?"

Akira responded with a pointed stare. "I will face my former friend who now has the power to rewrite reality itself, why the fuck would I not be scared?"

"Because you're the great Joker of the Phantom Th-"

"You of all people should know something about putting up facades," Akira interrupted him with a growl.

After a moment of terse silence, Goro conceded: "Point taken. Truth be told, I am nervous myself. Not just about Maruki, but also about my identity and what awaits me after the dust settles." After a pause, he added. "But at this point, I'm certain we'll get through this. There is simply no other option."

Akira realized it was a big fat white lie, but decided to not draw attention to it.

"Did you really have to point it out?" Goro growled.

"Let's just go to bed," Akira said, turning towards the staircase to the attic. "We're all on edge."

Goro followed him. "And about to cut ourselves."

"G'night, Goro-kun," Sumire said, then hung up. She was already in her PJs, ready to go to sleep – or at the very least, go to bed and lie in it with her eyes closed for the next few hours.

She returned to her room. It was just like it had been before Kasumi's passing.– two identical desks side-by-side, each with a computer and some school supplies scattered around, a bunch of medals and trophies on the wall, and a bunk bed in the corner. Kasumi was sitting on the top bunk, watching her enter. "Are they home?"

"Yeah." Sumire put her phone on her desk and plugged it in. "And they put up a brave front for lil' old me."

"Did you need it?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "I mean, I am scared, but at the same time hiding won't help me, or anyone else. I might as well grin and bear it."

"You know what," Kasumi jumped off of her bed and put her hand on Sumire's shoulder, "I'm not gonna wait until morning to tell you this – the real Kasumi wouldn't have lasted a day in your shoes."

"Now, come on-"

"Don't 'come on' me, Sumi," Kasumi interrupted her. "Everything came natural to her. She didn't have to work like you did, she wouldn't have known how to handle things going pear-shaped. The moment she would've encountered any difficulty as a Phantom Thief, she would've folded like a paper crane." She pointed at herself. "Trust me, I know what I'm talking about."

Sumire didn't appear to find that as supportive as she would've hoped. "Do you really have to demean yours- uh, Kasumi like that?"

"I just want you to know you've already surpassed her. That's all."

"It doesn't matter anymore if I 'surpassed' her or not," Sumire replied. "She was my sister, not a yardstick to measure myself to at all times. This… this shouldn't have been the point."

Kasumi exhaled air through her nose. "You loved her, despite everything, huh?"

Sumire lowered her head, not daring to meet the gaze of the person in front of her. "You are here because I loved her."

After a pregnant pause, Kasumi put an arm on Sumire's shoulder. "Fine then – you're not more heroic than Kasumi would've been. You're a hero. No need for comparisons."

"Hm." Sumire mustered up all her heroism and looked back at her. "That's… a way to think about things, considering you'll die because of my actions."

"You didn't bring me to this world," Kasumi countered. "It's not on your conscience. And hell, if I could do anything to stop that shrink, I'd do it." A smirk appeared on her face. "Do you need live bait for something, maybe?"

Sumire frowned a bit. "…I'm gonna miss you."

Instead of replying, Kasumi went for a hug.

Morning

Futaba, Morgana (in human form) and Wakaba entered Leblanc.

The only people inside were Akira by the stovetop, preparing a batch of curry and rice, and Goro by the counter, waiting for his meal.

"Good morning," Akira greeted them. "And where's Sojiro?"

"He decided he wants to spend the day alone," Wakaba replied. "I do not fault him for this. Do you mind my presence here?"

"Not at all, come in," Akira invited her.

"Neither of us is real so who gives a fuck," is what Goro would have said, if he could muster enough of a care to be antagonistic. Instead, he half-heartedly shrugged.

The newcomers sat down by the counter, beside Goro. Soon enough, four plates of curry on rice were placed in front of them. Four mugs of coffee swiftly followed.

"I almost forgot…" Wakaba pulled out a piece of paper and handed it over to Akira. "Here. A gift."

"What's that?" Futaba asked.

"I've attempted to devise a recipe for curry that would match Akira's preferred way of making coffee," Wakaba explained. "I am trying to put a small piece of me on the other side, so to speak."

"Hm." Akira read the note before pocketing it. "I'm looking forward to giving it a go when this is all over. Thank you."

"Don't mention it." With that topic concluded, she turned to Goro, who was eating his meal with the enthusiasm of a death row inmate. "Futaba mentioned your identity crisis. How are you holding up?"

Goro's spoon plopped down into his plate, and that was the extent of his response, as he stared blankly at the countertop. Futaba tried to put an arm on his shoulder, but he recoiled. "Don't fucking touch me," he hissed.

"Right." Wakaba considered that an answer to her question. "I've spoken with Sojiro. He offered to arrange some accommodation for you, should you need any when the dust settles."

"Dad didn't need convincing," Futaba added.

"I just want you to know," Wakaba continued, "whatever happens today, no matter what form you'll come out the other end, you need to take care of yourself. You're allowed to take care of yourself."

A voice in the back of Goro's head told him to say something inflammatory. That's what the real Akechi would do, burn all the fucking bridges and antagonize the short list of people that still gave a shit, despite everything ugly about him revealed, they still cared about him and the real Akechi did not appreciate it, the fucking idiot…

That thought gave him enough pause to bite his tongue.

"As tragic as it is for the original Goro to get overwritten like that," she went on, "none of this was your choice, and you cannot be blamed for what happened, one way or another. And while I know it's hard to process, and… I am not unbiased on this front, you are as human as everyone else in this room."

"Well, most people," Morgana added.

Goro didn't find that reassuring, but decided to bite his tongue. He then scowled at nothing in particular. "Do you really have to describe every stray thought in my head?" he hissed under his breath.

I literally do, it's the limitations of the medium.

After a moment, Goro gave up and returned to eating. Akira sat down on the other side of the counter with his own portion of curry and coffee. They were mostly done eating when the sound of the door opening prompted all four to turn to the side, and see Sumire and Kasumi Yoshizawa enter the cafe.

"The fuck are you doing here?" Goro asked.

"And a good morning to you," Kasumi replied. "Mrs. S invited me for board games. Sumi decided to walk with me and catch the cafe-bound half of the team before they leave."

"Right," Akira replied. "Are you hungry? I've made lots of curry today."

"I had a light breakfast," Sumire replied. "I don't think I can eat anything more today."

"But I can," Kasumi sat down by the counter. "Garçon, I'll have your finest in the biggest bowl you have!" she proclaimed with a grin.

Mildly amused, Akira reached for the exact same plate and mug that everyone else had got.

Goro's spoon scraped the clean bottom of the bowl. He looked to the side and noticed Akira's plate and mug were already empty, and Futaba and Morgana were almost done with their meals as well. "I think we should leave after Akira serves her," he said, sliding off the stool. "Let's not prolong this any more than we have to."

"Can I…" Wakaba started. "Can I say one last thing?"

Goro restrained himself from the obvious contrarian answer. "Sure."

"Just… be good now, alright?" She turned to Futaba. "You too, while we're at it."

"She's already good," Goro said. "A proper fucking focused laser beam of goodness, and I won't let her get hurt if it's the last thing I do."

"You're gonna protect Sumi too, right?" Kasumi spun on her stool to face him. "If you don't, I'm gonna team up with the real Kasumi and haunt your goddamn nightmares."

"Of course," Akira said, putting curry and coffee in front of her. "I'll watch all of them when this is all over, I promise."

Goro adjusted his necktie. "If I am allowed to say one last thing…" He glanced at Wakaba. "Thank you. For being better than I deserved."

After a pause, Wakaba hesitantly outstretched her arms, and both Futaba and Goro came for a hug. She cared about both of them – all the details muddying the picture didn't matter to her at the time. Sumire embraced her sister as well. Akira collected all the dirty dishes and put them in the sink in the meantime. He then circled the counter and picked up his jacket from the coat stand. "Right then, ready when you are."

After a moment, and maybe a sob Akira couldn't pin to anyone in the room, Goro and Futaba released Wakaba, while Sumire and Morgana got off their stools. The four marched to the exit door. "Farewell," said Goro, reaching for his overcoat and leaving the cafe. The rest of the team promptly followed him.

With a sigh, Wakaba turned to Kasumi. "So, now we wait. I brought a shogi board and pieces to pass the time."

Kasumi swallowed a bite. "I'unno, I never got into shogi. I know how the pieces move, but nothing beyond that."

"Do you have any better ideas?" Wakaba asked, open to suggestions.

"I bought an Uno deck on my way here," Kasumi suggested.

"I might need to have the rules explained to me for that one."

"Right, after breakfast." Kasumi shoveled some more curry into her mouth. "That Akira guy's a great cook. I'm kinda jealous."