Catch-22: The Calling Card
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Yu get to see the whole calling card thing in action…if he lives through it first.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Many thanks to AKatsinTcups for betaing this chapter.
Few days later, Ren called him that they were sending the calling card tomorrow. They should meet up at LeBlanc in the late morning. He offered to bring Theo along as a distraction while they tried to get into Futaba's room.
He waved at Sorijo as he stepped into the café.
"Those kids are sure into tutoring, huh?" Sorijo said as he rubbed one of his mugs.
"I think that they are afraid that I might over work myself. So they schedule tutoring sessions just to get me out of the office," He said with a chuckle.
He glanced around the café. It didn't look like anyone was here.
Sorijo chuckled.
"They are good kids."
"Very."
"Just…don't tell them that."
He grinned.
"Can't have that, can we?"
"Master, I am sorry! It took me forever to find parking. Oh, hello, sir. It smells marvelous in here," Theo said as he busted into the café.
"Aww, it's nothing. Just curry," Sojiro said with a flush.
"Curry?! How marvelous. You must show me. I have been using this youtube. I haven't quite got it yet. I am shame to say that my Master makes it better than me. You must show me. I wish to be the perfect attendant for My Master," Theo said eagerly. Theo rushed over to the counter to watch Sojiro work.
He chuckled softly as he headed up stairs.
That should keep Sojiro busy for a while.
Once he reached the top, he found Ren and the others already here.
"Hey, Sensei! Have a seat," Ryuji said.
"Theo is downstairs with Sojiro. That should keep him busy for a bit while we work," He said as he took a seat on a chair next to Yusuke and Ryuji said.
"I have to remember to thank him later," Ren said.
"I am sure that it is no hard ship for him. Theo loves to cook and curry has been his weakness for a while now."
Ren grinned a little.
"Sojiro loves his coffee and his curry. Even if he doesn't want to say it, he loves talking about it too"
"That he does."
"Anyway, I got the calling card, let me know when you decide," Ryuji said.
"This is different from past cases. We'll be handing the calling card directly to Futaba herself. Once we give it to her, we'll head straight into her palace. There won't be any prep work in between, so make sure you're beforehand."
Ren nodded.
"Let's do this," Ren said.
"How will we convince Futaba to let us into her room through? Even Boss is forbidden entry," Yusuke said.
"Honesty. From my conversation with her shadow, she puts a high value on it," He said.
"I agree. I notice the same thing when she talked to us," Ren added.
"Yes, that would be the best course of action," Makoto said as she adjusted her shirt.
"You know a method?" Yusuke asked.
"I think it's quite straightforward. Futaba doesn't know what we're doing her Palace, correct? Hence, if we tell her we've come to steal her heart, she'll surely open the door and let us inside," Makoto explained.
"Wait…that's it?" Ann said in surprise.
"Simple is sometime, better," He said.
"Sensei is right. Futaba wants to have a change of heart. After all, she contracted us for that express purpose. That desire should lead her to open the door as well," Makoto said.
"That's right. Our feelings should get through if we just try and talk to her," Ann said hopefully.
"All right, I believe in Futaba! C'mon, let's get this done!" Ryuji shouted.
He chuckled at Ryuji's excitement. Everyone got up from the table and headed down stairs. Sojiro was busy showing Theo something over the stove. It was rather funny to see Theo having a notebook out and writing down notes.
"We are going out to get snacks. Be right back!" Ann shouted.
Sojiro waved to them half heartened as they walked past.
"Now if you cook at this temperature…" Sojiro said as he adjusted a knob on the stove.
"I see…" Theo said as he wrote something down.
Once everyone was outside, they headed toward Sojiro's house.
"Man…totally going to thank Theo for this later," Ryuji said as they made their way up the stairs.
"It looked like that they were enjoying themselves," He said.
"They did. Boss is a really good teacher. My curry has improved a lot since I started living there," Ren added.
"I can attest to that," Yusuke said.
"Me too. Ren's curry is almost as good as Boss," Ryuji said.
Ren blushed.
Once they arrived at the door, Makoto looked down.
"We're sorry for sneaking in so many times, Boss," Makoto said softly.
"I'm sure that he will understand. You're helping his daughter," He said.
"That's true," She said with a sigh.
"There is no mistaking it. This is the same door as the Palace," Morgana said.
"Hello, Futaba? You're there, aren't you? Please answer us," Makoto said as she knocked on the door.
"I doubt she'd answer…"
"Didn't you tell me that she has been communicated through your chat? Maybe text her and she will response," He said.
Makoto nodded.
"We know that you are there. It doesn't matter if it is through chat messaging. Answer us, Alibaba."
Ren's phone rang in his pocket. Ren pulled it out for the others to read.
"In order to steal your heart, we need you to open this. We can't your heart otherwise. Please let us in," Makoto said after she read Ren's phone.
Makoto paused for a moment as it chimed again.
"The other you within your heart told us to have you open it. Deep down, you want open this door, don't you?"
He heard another chime.
"Right. We're trying to uphold our promise, but you're the one resisting us."
Another chime came through the phone.
"Ten seconds."
He grinned slightly. Makoto is definitely well named.
"Fine. But if Boss comes home, we'll kick down the door and enter if we must."
A long silence took place in the group before Makoto knocked on the door.
"Time's up, Alibaba."
Makoto turned to everyone.
"We need to change her cognition. Better to be completely safe than sorry," Makoto said.
"So she has to be one to invite us in…." Yusuke said softly.
"Futaba, please open the door." Makoto shouted.
After a minute, the door slowly opened.
"All right, let's go…" Ryuji said.
Everyone went into Futaba's room and started looking around.
It was rather messy…and he thought he heard something crunch under his shoe.
"What is this…?" Yusuke said.
"Medical science, information technology, biology, psychology…These are all technical books…" Makoto said as she stared at Futaba's book shelf.
"We knew that she was smart…judging by her palace," He said.
"Right."
"She keeps herself cooped up in a room like this all of the time…?" Ann said sadly.
"It is where she feels safe," He said as he leaned against the wall.
"Where is Futaba?" Yusuke asked.
"Probably in the closet." He said as he tilted his head toward the closet.
"She'll shut herself in till the bitter end, hmm?" Yusuke said.
"Even if that door's opened up to us, we'll get stopped again inside," Morgana said.
He moved to his place against to the wall and opened up the closet door.
"Hello, Futaba-chan. It is nice to meet you," He said with a smile.
"Sensei!"
"EEEEEEK!" Futaba said as she ducked under some clothes.
"This makes no sense. Explain yourself!" Futaba said as she tried to hide under her pile of clothes. She was doing a good job of it. She had a lot of clothes in there.
He was impressed.
"Whoa…she talked….sort of," Ryuji said.
"We needed to change your cognition. Unless we do so, we can't change your heart." Makoto explained.
"So basically, my cognition is being hindrance, keeping you away from the core of my cognitive world?"
"You understood that…" Ann said in surprise.
"Very smart," He said as he kneeled down to Futaba.
"Who are you?" Makoto said in awe.
"Hey…why did you make up some name to help you? We would help you anyway," Ryuji said.
"I am embarrassed okay!" Futaba mumbled.
"I think that I understand….It is hard to ask for help," Ann said sadly.
"How did you know about the cognitive world?" Makoto said.
"I just did, okay?"
"Oh, that is right! Boss said something about it before," Ann said.
His eye brow rose slightly. Ryuji's eyes widen then look over at the others.
"Man…we didn't tell Sensei that part."
"That would have been useful to know. We will talk about this later," He said.
"Man, we going get another "activity." But you think this is related to how he was getting' grilled by that one lady," Ryuji said.
"Perhaps her mother was researching this cognitive science that was mentioned?" Makoto added.
"Cognitive pscience with a PSI in front. Less science, more supernatural. That's important," Futaba said.
"That got her attention," Yusuke said.
"So, Sensei was right. It did have to do what Futaba's mother was working on," Ann said.
"Futaba, can you tell us what your mother was working on?" Makoto asked.
Futaba didn't answer any of their questions. She kept digging herself into her pile of clothes.
"Wait….did you really kill your mother? Was it accident? The mother that Boss described is nothing like one that was in your world. We want to hear the truth from your mouth," Ann said angrily.
"You moron!" Ryuji said in a panic.
"Ann…" Yusuke said sadly.
He wanted to comfort his student but right now, his eyes were on the pile of clothes.
He watched the pile shake…and he heard Futaba's voice.
"My…mom…was killed…urgh."
"It's possible that she can't remember because her heart has become distorted," Makoto said.
"I am sorry…I…a lot has happened…I am sorry," Ann said.
Suddenly, she popped out of the pile of clothes with her arms out. A sock hit his face caused him to stumble back.
"Go ahead and steal it!" Futaba said.
"What's gotten to you all of a sudden?" Ryuji said in surprise. Ren offered his hand and he grabbed it to get off of the floor.
"C'mon! Hurry up!" Futaba said as she refused to look at them.
"We did come to steal your heart but it's not really done right here at this moment. At least, you came out from the pile of clothes," Makoto said.
"I didn't want too! He did it," Futaba shouted.
"I am sorry. We didn't mean for you to jump to conclusions," She said.
"I see…" Futaba said as she tried to back herself into the closet.
Oh, no, she doesn't.
He placed himself in front of the closet and she rammed right into him.
"HEY! Get out of the way! You tricked me!" Futaba shouted.
"You aren't listening," He said as he refused to move.
He wanted to say more but he knew…Futaba is going to have to face the truth herself.
"I…I…You are a big meanie!" Futaba said as she putted her hands on his hips.
She refused to look at the others.
"She is aware of that world but she doesn't understand how a change of heart occurs," Morgana said.
"How much are you aware of that world?" Makoto asked.
"I know that there's another world based on cognition but I don't know how to get there. Can you guys go there? You said something about my heart…" Futaba mumbled as she looked down at the ground.
"That is right."
"How do you do it?"
"We use a smartphone app."
"An app?"
"Yes. By entering the required information, we can go into the cognitive world."
"A name…a place…and a distortion-those three. In your case, Futaba Sakura, "Sojiro Sakura's house, and-" Ryuji said.
"Futaba…you don't happen to have this app, do you?" Makoto asked.
"This….I don't…" Futaba said.
"Thank goodness…" Makoto said.
"Can you take me with you?" She said.
"No. It isn't safe," Ren said.
"I'll leave it to you then."
He frowned….something…was off. Why was she suddenly agreeable?
"Good. Don't forget your promise, all right?" Ryuji said.
"Go. I will stay with her," He said as he watched the others leave.
"That might be a good idea," Ren said.
"Oh, right! We can't get the treasure until she reads this!" Ryuji said in excitement.
"Hmm? A calling card?" Futaba said as she grabbed the card from Ryuji's hands.
"Yes, it is one we prepared for you."
"I can't read it. Big meany is standing here,"
"I'm hurt," He said in a deadpan fashion.
She sighed when he didn't move.
"It's embarrassing."
"Go…I will make sure that she reads it," He said.
"Okay…"
Once everyone left, he took a seat on her bed and waited. He might have sat in something squishy. He wasn't going to look. Futaba's eyes darted from him to the calling card.
"You are…their Sensei?"
"That is correct."
"You know…when the thieves talked about you, I expected you to be older…with a beard."
"I expected you to be taller…from how the thieves described you," He said in amusement.
He could see a smile form on her face.
"Let's see…Futaba Sakura has committed a great sin of drowning in sloth. Thus, we will rob every last of those distorted desires…" Futaba said as she read the card to herself.
"Alright! Thanks, Sensei!" Morgana said as he bolted from a pile and out the door.
"EEEEEEEKK!" Futaba shouted as she nearly fell over again. Once she regained her balance, she pointed her finger at him.
"You guys are going to give me a heart attack!"
"I doubt it."
"Hmph! Well…you are done here? Why don't run off with them and be all…thief-y?"
"Why don't tell me when you got the app on your phone?"
Futaba's mouth dropped for a moment then it went shut. Her eyes darted around her room as if she was trying to find a place to hide. Once she couldn't find a place to hide, she took a seat in her computer chair and stared at him.
"How did you…?" She sighed.
"When a teenager suddenly agrees with you, you know that they are up to something," He said with a small smile.
Nanako was a little younger than Futaba but he and uncle are starting to see puberty starting to hit.
Luckily, the others were there to keep an eye on her…much to her dismay.
"So, you are going to take my phone away?"
"No, I am not. Actually, I want you to use it."
She blinked for a moment then frowned at him. He could almost see the gears turning inside of her head.
"…But why…? The others said that it's dangerous."
"It is."
"Then why?"
"Even if they change your heart, will you see the truth?"
Futaba took the phone out of her phone and stared at it then looked at him.
"If I use this, I can change my heart?" She said as she looked down at her phone.
He remained silence. He wanted her to figure out herself.
"Vocal Input?" She said into the phone then she paused.
"Fu-Fubata Sakura…"
He heard a beep come from her phone.
"Sojiro Sakura's house…"
Candidate found.
"Something about distortion…distortion…distortion…hm?" She said as she shook her head.
His hand reached for his sword. The air seemed to change around them. He could sense it.
"Not again…" She said as she grabbed her head.
You killed her….murderer….It is all your fault!
He heard their shouts and screams echo through the room. How in the world…..
"NO!" Futaba shouted as she bolted her chair. Instantly, he got up to follow her.
She stopped in the hallway and stopped.
"That's right. I remember now. Back when they were here, I-messaged "tomb" in the chat, and…that is right, isn't it?," She said before she turned back to him.
Input accepted. Searching for route to destination.
"It is," He said with a nod.
She looked up at her phone.
"It means…I can go in now?"
The air was starting to change again then the voices were echoing through the room again. He reached to grab her shoulders.
"If you are going to do this, you are going to have to it now. I will be with you. The thieves will be with you."
"I can't take this anymore! DO IT!" Futaba shouted as the air changed around them.
Beginning navigation.
The air shifted around them like when he and the others got into Mementos or a Palace.
He looked around at all of the floating images and code above them.
This was definitely a new place that they haven't exploded yet.
"So this is inside of my heart…" Futaba said as she looked around.
"I believe so," He said to her.
"I didn't think that it'd be like this…"
"What did you expect?"
"Uh…a starship or an anime?"
He chuckled softly as Futaba walked around to look at her surroundings more. Suddenly, one of the murals landed in front of her.
"Huh…?"
"So you brought her…?" Shadow Futaba said behind him. He tilted his head toward her and nodded.
"I didn't bring her here. She did it herself," He said to the shadow.
A small smile on shadow Futaba's face as she walked pass him and stood in front of Futaba.
"Do you remember now?" Shadow Futaba said to Futaba.
"This is the suicide note. The men in black suits read it after mom died…"
"That is correct. Look at the next one…" Shadow Futaba said as she dropped another mural in front of them.
"This is…when mom jumped in front of that car…"
"That's right. Now, the next…"
Another mural fell in front of them.
He watched Futaba dropped to the floor. Her eyes were glued to the mural.
He wished that he could offer some comfort but he knew better. No matter how many people you have in a room…you must face the truth yourself.
"No…."
"Don't run. I thought that you made your mind up after you talked to the Phantom Thieves…to Sensei," Shadow Futaba said.
"Ok…I'll look. It's me complaining. Mom scolded me for bothering her," Futaba said as she got to her feet again.
"Yes."
"It knew it. It was me who killed mom. I was a bad daughter…I weighed her down, and she hated me for it…I's just like I remember," Futaba said in anguish.
"Are you sure?"
"Huh?"
"Remember everything. Don't avert your eyes. When did this happen?"
"Just a little before mom died…"
His lips pressed together. He was right. It did have something to do with her work.
"I whined about wanting to go on a family trip but she scolded me and said no."
"Was that all she said?"
Although for shadows…Futaba's shadow was nicer than most.
"I'm too busy right now. I need to finish my cognitive research as soon as possible," Futaba said.
"And what did you do?" Shadow Futaba said gently.
"I threw a tantrum. Told her she thought her research was more important than I was…That's when she scolded me."
"What did she say afterwards? There was more."
"…."
"Did she say…My research is almost over. Once it's finished, we can go whereever you like. I'm sorry I've left you alone for so long, Futaba. Please try to understand though. This research is really important. I need to complete it, even if it costs me my life."
"Did she hate you?"
"She didn't..?"
"What? She smiled." She said in surprised as the mural changed.
"Argh…my head…it hurts…Which is true?" Futaba said as she fell to her knees.
"I think…you know the truth, Futaba," He said as her shadow disappeared.
He walked over and helped Futaba to her feet.
"Huh…do you hear it?" Futaba said as she looked toward the stairs.
"….."
She bolted to the stairs and quickly, he followed. They made the way up to the top of the pyramid where he saw his students laying on the ground. Up in the air…it looked like a sphinx with Futaba's mom's head on it.
"Futaba?! Sensei?! You came into your cognitive world!?" Makoto said as she got to her feet in shock.
"Mm-hm," Futaba said in a daze.
"What in the hell were you thinking?! Bringing her here! Don't you know what happens?!" Morgana shouted at him.
"Fairly good idea what will happen," He shouted to Morgana.
"Don't….wait…is that…" Futaba said as she approached his student.
You killed her!
An image of man appeared in front of Futaba. He watched Futaba wrapped her arms around her body to protect herself from the voices.
"No…"
Why don't you say something?!
Another image appeared before Futaba as she fell to the ground.
It is your fault!
A image of woman joined the group.
"It's my fault…It's my fault that Mom…"
Once the images were gone, he rushed to her side.
"Futaba…."
"Is it my fault?"
"That is right. You killed me!" The flying monster shouted as it circled around them.
"Wait…is that monster her mother?" Yusuke said in awe.
"No…Futaba's desire's and guilt must've distorted her cognition of her. The wish that her mother was alive again is mixed in as well, along with those eerie jeers.," Morgana said to the group.
"You are nothing but a demon that stood in my way. I wish that you had never been born! That way I could've announced my results without having to waste my time on you! I poured my heart and soul into that research! It could've been the discovery of the century!" The monster shouted.
He sighed.
"Futaba…what is the truth?" He asked as he kneeled down next to her.
"Sensei….What does she mean by that?" Makoto said she kneeled next to him as well.
"Her work. Cognitive science." He said.
"Cognitive pscience," Futaba mumbled to him.
He grinned slightly. Good. She still has some fight in her.
"You are going to die! There's no meaning to your life. No one needs you!" The monster said as it hoovered over them.
"Nobody cares about me….?" Futaba said in pain.
"That isn't true," Makoto said.
He held out his hand to stop Makoto talking.
"What is the truth, Futaba?" He said.
"I don't know…I don't know."
I should have never had Futaba…
She was always such a brother.
"You know."
It seemed you caused your mother a great deal of trouble, Futaba-chan…
"We can't face this for you. You must face this yourself."
She must have had some kind of maternity neurosis.
"No matter what it is…we are here."
"Ng…gh…" Futaba said as her fingers dig into her head.
Youu…..arreee…..
"Hey, we are in deep shit if this keeps up," Ryuji shouted to everyone.
"Sensei…it is because she believed that she killed her mother that she deserves to die? Futaba gave birth to a Palace where her mother wants her dead?" Makoto asked.
"No. It is merely an illusion," He said as he shook his head.
"What?" Makoto said in surprise.
"Sensei is right! Futaba-chan, your mother is no monster!" Ann shouted.
Futaba struggled to get the words out as she cling to her head.
"But…but…"
He got to his feet and turned to Futaba.
"I am very disappointed in you, Futaba," He said softly.
"What…?" Futaba said in disbelief.
"You saw the truth. I saw the truth. You and I are cut from the same cloth. We value truth and honest with ourselves. You continue to live in this distortion…this fog. You almost seem to embrace it. You aren't the person I thought you were. For that, I am disappointed and I'm bringing you home."
Futaba stared at him with wide eyes.
Futaba's words stumbled out of her mouth.
"You…you can't make me! You can't…I want…Arghhh!"
Futaba screamed as her hands cling to her head again.
"What do you want?" He said calmly.
"I…want…."
"The truth…what is it?'
He grabbed Makoto to stop her from approaching Futaba.
"What is going on?" She asked him.
"….If I'm right, a persona."
"….Huh?!" Makoto said as she looked at him with a confused look.
"Futaba Sakura! REMEMBER!" Shadow Futaba said as she appeared before them.
"You're the reason she committed suicide. You were just getting in the way of her research. Why do you think it was suicide?" Shadow Futaba said to Futaba.
"…Because of the note."
"Exactly. The men in the black suits read her suicide note to you, and what was it written on it?"
"All of her complaints...about me."
"Yes. The shock and the pain led you to avert your eyes but they kept reading it aloud in front of your relatives."
"Think hard. Was that suicide note real? Would the mother you loved so much truly have written that? Did she ever say such horrible things to you?"
"No! She scolded me whatever I had tantrums but she cared for me!" Futaba said as she scrambled to her feet.
He grinned slightly. Finally, she seeing the truth.
"Then what about the suicide note?" Shadow Futaba said.
"A total lie!"
"You were used. They forged her suicide note to laid the blame of her death on you! They trampled all over your young heart! Get mad! Don't forgive those rotten adults!" Shadow Futaba shouted as she pointed at Futaba.
"It's because I couldn't face myself, or Mom's death. Even then, why did they have to yell at me like that?!," Futaba said angrily.
Shadow Futaba was gone and Futaba returned to her feet.
"Futaba-chan!" Ann shouted.
"I wondered if it is going to be a spaceship," He said thoughtfully.
What denies you in an illusion…A curse put upon you by the heartless. You knew from the very beginning…And yet, you cowered in fear…
"That's right. I knew but I…"
Will you die as you are told…? Who will you obey? Cursed words spat out in a seething illusion? Or the truth within your own soul?
It is your fault! IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT!
"I won't let those distorted lies deceive me anymore and I won't be led astray by other's voices either. I'm going to trust with my own eyes and my own heart to distinguish the truth from the lies. There's no way you're my mom! You're just a fake created by those horrid adults! I'll…I'll never…I'll never forgive them!" Futaba shouted at the flying sphinx
Shadow Futaba glowed behind her and vanished into a spaceship.
He was right.
Although, the tentacles were new.
"What the hell!?" Ryuji shouted.
"What is going on?" Morgana shouted.
"Her persona...it looks like that she is a navigator," He shouted back at the others. The tentacles pulled Futaba inside.
"Is she going to be okay?" Makoto shouted.
I am okay.
Please help me.
Ren nodded and turned his attention to the group.
"Okay…Fox, Queen, Mona are with me. Everyone to the back line. Get ready just in case!," Ren shouted.
"Right!," The group shouted.
"This is my heart's world, right? Hacking into my distortion should be no problem for me," Futaba's voice echo through his head.
Futaba in her spaceship persona made a ballista appear behind them.
Shoot it down with this then beat the crap of it!
"I am going to man the ballista! It will allow everyone to focus on the battle," He shouted as he eyed the ballista.
"Do it!" Ren shouted back at him.
He rushed over to the ballista and started moving around to aim it at the sphinx. Luckily, it was too hard to operate. He let off its first arrow and hit the sphinx dead on. The sphinx fell from the sky and almost landed right on top of them. The group began to bombard the monsters with various attacks.
After taking enough attacks, the monster flew back into the air.
"Sensei, shoot another one!" Ren shouted.
He nodded and aim another arrow toward the sphinx. It took him a moment to readjust his aim and let another arrow lose.
The monster screamed as it fell onto the pyramid again.
The sphinx screamed something but he couldn't make it out. He felt something pressed against right side of his head.
At first, he thought it was one of his personas but the pressure into a sharp pain.
"Urgh…" He said as he tumbled to the ground.
"Sensei!"
His vision turned black and he heard mumbling…the voices were distant…but he heard the distinct sound of sword drawing.
Suddenly, the pain was gone.
He panted softly as everything returned to view. He saw Ann and Ryuji hovering over him with concern looks on their faces.
"Are you okay, Sensei?" Ann asked.
"I'm fine."
"What in the hell happened?!" Ryuji said in a panic.
"I am not sure."
He shook his head. It still hurt a little bit but not enough to knock him off his feet again. Ryuji offered his hand. He took it and he helped him to his feet.
"Nnngh…Futaba….Futaba! If only I had never birthed you!" Sphinx shouted.
He looked over to his students standing around the sphinix.
No matter what you say to me…I will live! FIRE!
Ren drew his gun and pulled the trigger.
The monster screamed as black smoke rose from its body. It started to fall down the pyramid and disappeared from view.
Futaba hovered over them for a few minutes before her persona dropped her back down on the ground in front of his students and disappeared.
"FUTABA!" Makoto shouted as she rushed over to Futaba.
"Damn, you're freakin incredible!" Ryuji said as he pumped his arm up in excitement.
"Whoa! What in the world?!" Futaba said as she got her feet and looked at her outfit.
That outfit didn't look comfortable at all either. He is beginning to wonder if all of his students have a thing for uncomfortable outfits.
"Oh…It's totally skin-tight!" Futaba said in excitement as she patted her outfit.
"Another thing showed up?!" Ryuji shouted to the group. He looked over to see an image of Futaba's mother approach the group.
Ah, he forgot about this part.
"Mom!" Futaba shouted.
"Huh?" Ann said in confusion.
"Futaba, thank you for choosing to remember the real me" Wakaba said.
"I'm so sorry for being so selfish. Mom…," Futaba said as she moved closer to her mother.
"Don't come over here," Wakaba said.
Futaba stopped in her steps at her mother's voice.
"This isn't where you supposed to be, is it?"
"But I finally get to see you again…" Futaba cried out.
"Are you being selfish again?"
Futaba moved around nervously and struggled to get the words out.
"Uh…hm…I…I love you, Mom."
"I love you, Futaba. Now, you should get going."
Futaba watched her mother disappear then she turned around.
"Oh, right. Medjed."
"Where are you going?" Makoto asked as Futaba started walking away from the group.
"Home. I know how to use the Nav now," Futaba said as she turned her attention to the group.
"Hmm…make sure you get some rest when you get home. Getting your persona can be taxing," He said with a hum.
Futaba turned her attention to him.
"You know, you were kind of mean back there."
"Would you have it any other way?"
She blinked at him.
"No, you are right. I needed a good dose of honesty. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"And speaking of honesty…you stick like a sore thumb."
"So, I have been told. What do you suggest?" he said as he offered his arm to her.
Futaba tapped her mouth with her finger and used her other arm to wrap around his. He hit the app with his other hand. The pyramid began to fade away and replace with the outside of her house.
"A ninja."
"Aww…the sword but won't I stick out even more?"
"I don't know. We have to work on that. I was thinking…ooo…a ninja mask! Opmh!" Futaba said as her feet gave out from under her.
He caught to make sure that she didn't hit the ground. He put her arms around his neck and put most of her weight against her body. Slowly, he guided her back into the house and up the stairs.
"No…a knight!" She said with a yawn.
"So, am I knight or ninja?"
"…You can be both…:yawn:…"
"That would be an interesting sort of mask."
"No…no…terrible idea…everyone is all thief-y….I know….a ninja…thief."
"And I thought that I wasn't supposed to stick out."
"Samurai!"
"So…I am a samurai thief?"
"NO! You are a gangster thief! You aree…"
Her suggestions were kind of funny.
"Don't worry…buddy…I…working…on….it."
He guided her back into her room and into her bed.
"You'reee…right about being…zzzzzzz…." Futaba said as she doze off to sleep.
He chuckled softly and pulled a blanket over her. She really needed to clean her room. He shrugged his shoulders.
Another fight for another day.
He needed to find his students first. He wondered where they ended up. As he was walking down the stairs, he heard a loud bang. He saw Ren, Makoto and Morgana started to run up the stairs.
"Sensei!" Makoto said.
He put his finger against his mouth.
"Sh…she is asleep. We will talk outside," He said as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
The group moved their conversation outside of the house.
"Is Futaba alright?!" Makoto said.
"Yes, she is fine. Waking one persona can be a draining process. She will need time to recover. I am sure that she is will be good as new in a few days."
Makoto sighed in relief.
"That is a relief. Still…we might have to tell Boss since he might notice something is off."
"Good idea," Ren said.
"With that being said, how dare you allow Futaba into her own palace? You have no idea what could happened to her! She could have died because of your stupidity! This isn't the tv world! This is something totally outside of your realm of understanding!" Morgana said as he paced in front of them.
"MORGANA!" Makoto said angrily.
He rose his hand slightly to stop Ren and Makoto from speaking.
"Allow?"
"YES!"
"She was going to go inside with or without me. She already the app on her phone when we were in her room."
Morgana stopped pacing and stared.
"What…?"
"She lied to us?" Makoto said to him.
"Yes. When she suddenly agreed with you, I knew something was up. That is why I stayed behind."
"But…how…?" Morgana said in confusion.
"I am not sure. I thought maybe you would know…"
Morgana shook his head no.
"No, I don't. I am not sure how the app appeared on your phones."
"Then we have a mystery on our hands. You are correct. Cognitive world isn't like the tv world. It is too similar for me to ignore. So, I would like your help with something, Morgana."
"What is it?"
"Next time, I am in the tv world, I would like you to come with me. You might be able to pin point what I have been missing."
"Really…? Just me?" Morgana said with a surprise expression on his face.
He nodded.
"It will be safe with just you. Besides, the tv world here is more misty than foggy."
Morgana bowed his head.
"I will be honored to help."
"Well, that is settled. So, who is going to tell Boss?"
Ren and Makoto looked at each other then pointed to him.
He shouldn't be surprised.
End of the Calling Card
A/N: My beta is back and we finished Futaba's palace. YES! Do guys know how much youtube I watched!? Hours! Hours of people running around her damn palace. Luckily, this is the last palace for a while (thank goodness). Now we getting to the fun stuff…Yu's special friend…the beach trip…Haru…Futaba and Yu communicate entirely with emojis. Fun stuff. Anyway, thank you guys for the endless support with your kudos, favorites, reviews. You guys are awesome. Read and review if you wish.