Catch-22: The Conversation We Have When You Aren't Around
By: M14Mouse
Summary: During the field trip, the thieves have a talk about their Sensei.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Sad.
Many thanks to AKatsinTcups for betaing this chapter.
When Ren told Sojiro and Sensei about their field trip, Sojiro smiled and said to have fun and stay out of trouble. Sensei just smirked behind his coffee and added to just be glad that he didn't have to pick up trash or visit a former love hotel. He definitely was going to have ask for that story later. To Ren, Hawaii proved to be interesting and fun. He had never been out of the country so, he didn't have anything to compare it to. Hawaii was so colorful and bright. The beach back home was nice but the beach here was beautiful. He'd never seen sand so white before and the waves were a shade blue he wasn't sure how to describe. He took an embarrassing number of pictures of the beach.
Yusuke would be proud.
Speaking of Yusuke, Ren was kind of surprised when he showed up, but it was a Yusuke thing to do.
"We should get souvenirs for Boss, Futaba, Morgana and Sensei," Ann suggested as they passed by a shop.
"How about a few coffee mugs for the others and a laser pointer for Morgana? Bam!" Ryuji clapped his hands for effect, "We're done."
Ren didn't need to turn around to see the look that the girls were giving Ryuji, even he knew that was a terrible idea.
Yusuke beat him to the punch.
"That is pitiful. A coffee mug doesn't illustrate our feelings for Boss or Sensei." Yusuke said to Ryuji.
"You'd get them lobsters," Ryuji rebutted.
"So? Both men have a taste for the finer things in life."
"I think that it should be left to Ann, me, or possibly Ren. Oh, or Haru. I'm meeting up with her later. I suggested that you come as well," Makoto said to Ann and him.
"Why? What is so important about her?" Ryuji asked.
"She is Okumura's daughter."
"Getting info for our next heist. Nice."
Makoto shook her head.
"No, that isn't it. I meet her the other day. We started talking and she revealed that she posted on the message board."
"Wha?"
"Her father arranged for her to be married. She is doing it out of obligation to her father, except she expressed a desire to get out of it, but she cut herself off when saying it out loud."
"Poor girl to be used as such. How did you come to meet her?" Yusuke added.
"Sensei. He is helping her develop her business plan for a café she wants to open after school."
"That is impressive."
"Very. When we meet up, I have to ask how it went."
Ren took a deep breath and started running his hand through his hair. He almost wanted to forget he thought about it. He felt bad for talking about Sensei since he isn't here, but he knew that this conversation needed to happen especially before their next palace.
"Speaking of Sensei, I think that we need to talk about him," Ren said nervously while messing with his bangs.
"What for?" Ann asked curiously.
"I think that he shouldn't come into the next palace with us."
He heard the chorus of "no, what!" and "why?" and "did something happen?" from Ann, Ryuji and Yusuke. The only voice that was absence was Makoto.
"It is because of the headaches, isn't it?" Makoto chimed in softly after the initial protest died down.
He nodded.
"I think they are getting worse."
"I think that they are as well. Sensei is trying to hide them, but I noticed them a few times," Makoto said.
"Do you think it's stress? I mean he tries so hard to be there for us even with his job and his schoolwork. Sometimes, I don't see how he does it," Ann said with concern.
"That is a possibility."
"I think that is part of the problem. I asked Futaba to scan him when we were down there."
"And?" Yusuke asked.
"I think something, or someone, has attached themselves to Sensei. Futaba can't make out if itis a persona or a shadow."
"I thought that Sensei had a persona," Yusuke said in confusion.
"He does. Morgana and Futaba confirmed it."
"Then it is another persona?"
Ren shook his head in frustration.
"From I read in the Kirijo Group's files, most people only have one persona. Yes, it can evolve but still only one. The expectation being wild cards. The question is can someone develop another persona?" Makoto disclosed thoughtfully.
"Man, why are you guys making it so complicated? Why not just ask Sensei?" Ryuji pointed out.
He and Makoto shared a look.
"That is…an idea,' Makoto said with hesitation.
"Don't you think Sensei would know?"
"I'm guessing yes? I overheard Theo talking about that he needed to do something. I didn't really connect on what they were talking about until now."
"Maybe, it is like a parasite and its feeding off of Sensei?" Ann said in horror.
"Don't say that!" Makoto responded in a panic.
Ren forgot that Makoto really didn't like horror films.
"If that is the case, we should remove it. Sensei saved us a ton. We should return the favor," Ryuji said.
Ryuji sounded really pumped about it.
"That is an excellent idea. But how do we go about doing that?" Yusuke asked.
"I was thinking that we have Futaba-chan scan Sensei again while we are in Mementos then we could work out a plan of action," Makoto said.
Ren felt his phone start vibrating in his pocket. He flipped his phone over to reveal Futaba's name flashing on his screen.
He hit the answer button to be greeted with sobs.
"Futaba?"
The sobbing continued.
"Futaba, what is wrong?" He said in a slight panic.
The sobbing grew louder. He heard Morgana shouting to put down the phone.
"What's wrong?" Ann said as she and the rest of the group crowded around Ren.
"I don't know…she's crying," He said.
He put the phone on speaker to allow everyone to hear.
"Futaba…all of us are here. What's wrong?"
"It's my fault. My fault. I shouldn't…My fault. I am so sorry…" Futaba cried.
"Put down the phone. Please. I need to tell them. It isn't your fault. It's my fault," Morgana said in the background.
"We can't do anything if we don't know, Futaba," Makoto said with a concerned tone.
"Futaba, we need to know. Does Boss or Sensei…"
Her sobs rose even higher.
"Did something happen to Boss or Sensei? Come on, Futaba. We need to know," Ryuji said.
He could the growing sense of panic within the group.
"My fault. My fault. My fault," Futaba mumbled over and over again.
"I'm calling Sensei," Ann said as she pulled out her phone.
He could tell by her tone that she was the edge of panicking herself.
"OUCH! Morgana!" Futaba shouted.
"Futaba!" Ryuji shouted.
"We found a place in Mementos. It was an accident. We started to explore it and…." Morgana trailed off into the phone.
"What happened?" Ren asked.
"The ground…we started to sink…and Sensei pushed us out of the way….He disappeared into the ground."
"I couldn't sense him anymore. Sensei is gone and it's all my fault," Futaba sobbed again.
End of The Conversation We Have When You Aren't Around
Next Chapter: The Meeting Place
A/N: You guys have such interesting theories on Metaverse. It has been fun to read. I told you guys that I had something planned for chapter 50. Well, it has started! (And 90% of you are like it is about damn time.) I am half debating about playing Royal when it comes out because I don't want it to influence this fic or pull me away from writing the Royal version of this fic. I am conflicted! Anyway, I am totally glad everyone is enjoying this ride. Thank you for the reviews, kudos, and favorites. You guys are the best. Read and review if you wish.