Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies, and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.


8/8

Hakuno nodded as she made room for Sae to come in. Hopefully, Ann wouldn't do anything weird on seeing the older Niijima.

Hopefully, she didn't know too much.

Then again, if she did know anything she would already be in handcuffs, she had very little doubt that she wouldn't immediately make them pay for their 'crimes' even if they were in an extreme gray zone. Technically speaking there were no exact laws that pertain to diving into someone's mental world and changing their perspective unless they claim it fell under mind control.

Sae wordlessly followed her into the apartment, Ann's eyes bulged out when she saw the older Niijima. "Ann Takamaki I presume?"

"Y-yes!" Ann's shock was perfectly in line, the two of them were seriously not expecting someone, much less one of their friend's older sisters. Who was a prosecutor…that is actively searching for the Phantom Thieves which they are a part of.

"I understand it is late but I have a few questions for you Miss Kishinami." Sae brought out a notepad as she sat across the small table.

Hakuno nodded in response, "We were about to prepare dinner, do you wish to join us?"

Sae paused, a small frown on her face, "No, that's fine. I'm certain that this won't take too long." Hakuno hoped so, but the opening let Ann hide in the kitchen, at least in there Ann's unique acting skills wouldn't tip off the prosecutor.

"Your parents worked alongside Wakaba Isshiki correct?" Hakuno nodded, it was well known and not even worth hiding, "And they are currently working for the company known as Madicce?"

Hakuno shrugged at that her parents didn't mention who they were working for, just that it would be in Okinawa, something about an NDA? She didn't ask the specifics because her parents were under one during their time with Wakaba.

"They have a Non-disclosure agreement… so they kept things silent, I'm not even sure what Island they are on other than it being in the Okinawa prefecture." Hakuno idly noticed Sae writing it down.

"Did they leave any notes or devices with you? Anything that might have a connection to their previous job?" She had to think about that…

How much should she tell her? It was obvious from what Makoto had stated about Sae that she was vehemently against the Phantom Thieves with possibly no way to get on their side at the current moment. However, giving her nothing might make Sae even more suspicious.

Did she have anything that could even fool the prosecutor? Nothing that she could think of… her parents took most of their papers and their current computers with them when they left. "I haven't seen anything…"

Sae sighed slightly, "I knew that was a long shot…" She pulled out a business card, "If you find anything please call me." Hakuno nodded as she accepted, "And onto the other matter… Ran Rū." A picture, Hakuno tentatively took it, orange hair, a normal face covered in tears.

A̷̛͓͇ ̸̱̣̽ͅm̶̰̰̍͘ă̶̱̞̤͊͠d̷̫͝ ̶͍́̾̅l̵͍͈͚̒ą̴͇̂͒͠n̴̩̕c̸̗̥̈́͛̿e̴̮̐r̷͓̎,̷̜̫̔̊ ̷͔̚s̴͎̼̀̽p̴̗͔̕e̶̥͚͈͠a̸̞̖̔r̸͓͈̰̉š̶̹͖̑ ̵̰̔͘m̸͖̄̂̏a̸̺̯͎͋̀d̴̨̒ẽ̴̡̼̠͆͝ ̶̢̩͋̋̈ő̸̪̄f̷̗̱͂̑ ̸͕̦͈͗b̴͙̻̻͛̓͠l̸̗̠̆̋̑ơ̸̡͍̩̍ō̸̬̇͂d̷̢̺̾͆̔ ̷͓͕̦͒ä̷̠̜̺ņ̵͎̬̎͐d̶̹̱͍͛̕ ̸̡͚̠̏i̷̡̠͓͂͒r̸̖̘̔o̵͕̜̙̍͝n̴̗̰̈ ̵̡̩̽ā̸̙̓ş̷̻̘̉͒͋ ̵͙̎t̷̰̫̣͒́h̵̝̘̩̾ȩ̶̨̛͑y̷̠̽͊͠ ̵̜̈̄͘ͅĺ̶͕̼͑o̵̟̲̅̂̋o̸̱̙̒͋͛ͅk̶̤̾̓̏ ̸̭̄̑ă̷̧̺̥͆t̸̟̳̎ ̶̘̱̤̿͛t̷̨͉̘͂͊̅ḫ̴̯͈̄́ĕ̸̳̳̱͝ ̸̨̈́͊̀c̶͙̾͊o̶͇͍̲̒̌ř̴̢̭̀p̸͓̂̋s̶̱̅̈e̵̮͔̫̅͂s̷̨͖̮͂ ̵̡̀̈́ȯ̵͖͐͂͜ͅf̶̦̣̺̎ ̴͖͔̳͗͌̏f̴̹̙͎͐a̸̠̍̀̆ļ̵̬̼͐̏ḷ̶̨̫̊̇e̶͋̂̈ͅn̷̖̬̆ ̴͍̆m̶̀̇̓͜â̶̫͕͜s̸̢̔͌͘ţ̸͉͖̉͛̋é̸͍̩r̸͖̞͘š̵̛̭̒ ̷̬͕̔͒b̷̜̥̱̂e̶͖̫̎f̵̝̂̕͜͜o̴͕͗̀ŕ̷̫̥̕e̴̛̠ ̶̹̟͋͒͝ţ̵͓̐o̴̢̫̝̎̓̈s̶̢̓̀s̶̫͕̓́ḯ̴̤̻̤͗n̵̘͛g̸͉̐ ̴̱͑̏͘t̵͙͚̆̅h̷̭̱̗̀͠e̴̲̰͒̚m̶̨̹̋́ ̸̭́̋̃a̴͚̥͌̿s̶̘̋͒͆ȉ̵̠d̶̫̹̂̐e̶̼̓͑ ̸̧̻̃̈́́ļ̷͓̂͜i̵̹̯̖͝k̸̲̉̌͒ë̴̟̭ ̷̤̜̈̃̾ţ̸̪͗ͅẖ̸̿̋͋ě̸̡̫y̸̫̣͋͛ ̵̦̼̃͗̊ạ̵̃̓͠r̴̙̮̓̾͝e̷͕̖̼͛ ̵͇̭͋͂n̵̛͉̫̗o̸̩͐͠ẗ̷̖́́h̴͚͓̏i̵͈̥̠͗̈́n̵͚̮̂̓̎ģ̶̡̟̔̋͛.̷̰̈̌͝

Her head ached as Avenger's presence in her soul amplified. Hakuno could faintly feel her magic circuits flare as the strange memory was pushed aside.

"You and Miss Takamaki are the only two people to have encountered her twice without being killed. Would you mind explaining how you went about such a thing?" That… was an even harder thing to explain.

She couldn't explain that they had a Not-A-Cat and Magecraft to someone who would find it completely ridiculous.

"The first time." Ann's appearance in the doorway was surprising, "Was because we were all there. All Seven of us and… Makoto packs a punch." Hakuno nodded, Queen's fist had pierced many Shadows' bodies, even though Makoto didn't help with this particular situation… her fear of the dark kept her distracted. "And Akira's cat has sharp claws."

Sae's expression froze slightly, "Makoto was there?" She didn't know.

How could she not know!?

Hakuno looked at Ann with a slight frown, Ann stared back at her wide-eyed. "Yes… we were celebrating finishing finals… she did try and call you after it happened but you didn't answer…" Hakuno didn't mean to sound accusatory but…

"I didn't think-," Sae's mask cracked, and the stern prosecutor for a split second faded back into a concerned sister. "She never mentioned it…"

"Her yelling was probably the reason the Police found us as fast as they did and scared her away." Sae took a deep breath.

"Thank you for that… information…" Her face tried to return to the stern prosecutor and barely succeeded "And the second occurrence? Eyewitnesses reported that you two ran from an alley where we found traces of a fight and her knife."

"Morgana was in my bag, he jumped out and defended us."

Seeing her slight confusion Ann quickly spoke, "Morgana is Akira's cat." That seemed to confuse her even more.

"Why did you have his cat? In the middle of Jinbocho?" Hakuno shrugged at that. How could she explain that Morgana hated being alone and loved hanging out with everyone? From her knowledge Akira was rarely apart from him, the only times were when he wasn't allowed at his part-time jobs or hanging out with his friends… but he was always close by to the raven-haired teen.

"Morgana's attached to us all… we all spend time with him when we can, he even participates in our conversations." She sighed at hearing that, mumbling something about pet owners.

"From… your short time seeing her on the second occurrence did she display any abnormal signs? Perhaps a conflicted look? "

"Other than the crazed smile as she tried to kill and eat us?" Ann was short with the prosecutor, Ann was getting slightly too fired up against Sae…

"She seemed to clutch her head after Morgana scratched her, we don't know why she hesitated at that when before she was fine with it, but it gave us the chance to escape," Hakuno added, that much should be fine, after all, it was after the calling cards were sent, certainly for even the police they wouldn't be too sure of the immediate effects of a change of heart, just the eventual confession.

Though Hakuno doubts it was the right thing to say as Sae's eyes lit up slightly at hearing that, "I see. Faster compared to their previous targets…" She sighed, "Thank you for the information… If you find anything please call me. Now if you would excuse me…"

"As long as my parents are fine with it." Safest to push it off to her parents…


Catburglar: Makoto: Hakunon

Catburglar: Makoto! Your sisters here!

Makoto: What!?

Catburglar: Hakunos talkin to her and keeping her busy. Asking about her parent's work with Futaba's?

?̷͖̄?̷̰͝?̶̧̃?̷͖̄?̷ Added MemeQueen

MemeQueen: Call me and I appear, Her parents did work close to my Mom… Her dad specifically was good at sorting data and her Mom was like hella friendly.

Catburglar: Oh shit she brought up Ran Rū i'm going in.

MemeQueen: RIP, Queen ya think you can get your sis to leave them alone?

Makoto: Sis… doesn't even come home often anymore, she doesn't listen to what I have to say.

MemeQueen: Oh. ;.;

Makoto: But, I'm fine with that. I found my place to belong.

MemeQueen: Sneaky Crime Criminals for the Win!

Hakunon: Sae left, she seemed shaken slightly?

Catburglar: No way, she looked super pissed.

Hakunon: When Ann mentioned you were there her mask cracked for a moment.

Makoto: I see…


8/9

Makoto: My sister came home last night, she hugged me

Hakunon: Thats good.

Makoto: … She hasn't hugged me in years.

Hakunon: Oh.

Makoto: She also mentioned that Ran Rū will be getting the maximum punishment for her crimes.

Hakunon: That's good?

Makoto: I'm worried for her, Sis means well… but her drive seems to be picking up speed faster and faster. I'm worried she might burn out.

Hakunon: Is there any way we can help her?

Makoto: Other than turning ourselves in as the Phantom Thieves, nothing else comes to mind now. Are you ready to talk to Haru?

Hakunon: Leaving the apartment now.


"Maybe she got stuck in traffic?" Makoto's words were possible but… Hakuno glanced out onto the street from the small cafe in Kichijoji that Haru herself picked out. Hakuno felt a bop to her leg as the not-a-cat got her attention.

Hakuno leaned down and placed a small amount of cake into his waiting mouth…"She is over an hour late." It was… worrying, while the two didn't hang out often Haru wasn't too late. Nor has she responded to any texts. The vast crowds of Kichijoji made it a bit hard to focus on any one person in particular.

Hakuno drummed her fingers along the wooden table, another sip of her cold tea as she finally saw the fluffy-haired girl enter the establishment, she seemed exhausted. And she was wearing a sweater… in this heat?

Hakuno leaned down slightly and whispered. "Morgana, can you keep an eye out for us?" Hakuno waved her down as she entered… her arms shook slightly as she sat across from the pair.

"I'll be right outside." With a blip, he was gone Hakuno had no idea where he went, but she trusted the faux-feline.

"Sorry… Father had a meeting with Sugiumura's father… and I was asked to entertain him." Even her voice sounded tired. Hakuno shared a look with Makoto as the ruby-eyed girl spoke up.

"Are you hurt?" Haru's eyes widened slightly before she shook her head.

"No… he did-"

"Please don't lie." Hakuno glanced at her arm, covered by a sleeve. There was no visible bruising on her hand… but Hakuno gently reached for her arm as she flinched.

"...He was upset that I wasn't home last night when he 'came through'."

"Does your Father know?" Haru looked at Makoto and slightly shook her head.

"No, while my … Father knows I do not love him, he does not know the actions he does, at least… I do not believe he does." The formula for Recover flooded her circuits as the gentle glow came from her hand into her arm, she had to keep it as little as possible to ensure no one else could see. "What… are you doing?"

"It's complicated… But Hakuno can heal small wounds." Makoto paused before hissing out, "A waiter is coming." She could feel Makoto's gaze as the Code-Cast faded… Hakuno wasn't sure why but… it seemed to have a lesser effect than she intended…

"Thank you." Haru bowed slightly, "I'll take…Blue Mountain," Hakuno shook her head, she was fine with what she had… well her empty cup and plate.

"I'm guessing you want information about Sugimura?"

"Seeing your bruises… I think it would be right for us to target him." Makoto's voice was as steel as her mask.

"Have you ever thought about telling your father? If he knew sur-"

"My father would appear weak to the board if he did such a thing." Haru's voice was stern, "He… I believe that he just needs a chance to make things right, and the falling from grace of my …Fiance could give him leverage. If we cancel it, the board might use it as an example to try and remove him."

Hakuno felt conflicted, she had checked the Metanav, Haru's father was a hit… but so were many others, and a Palace could be formed from any distorted desire, not just one of ill intent. But… there are rumors about his company that Hakuno can't really ignore.

"We have to go after him." Makoto's eyes held a fire she had never seen before, "It would be against everything we stand for if we didn't." Hakuno slowly nodded.

"We have to inform the rest of our team… are you fine with that?" Haru hesitated a moment before nodding. The coffee arrived and Haru took a long sip before she whispered.

"Is it truly impossible for me to join?"

Hakuno looked at Makoto.

Makoto looked at Hakuno.

"Why do you want to join?"

"I want to be a hero. Someone who fights for what is right. To protect others and be happy." Hakuno sighed.

Her words were pure and tinged with hope. "Everyone that has joined… has done it because there were no alternatives." And it was painful… for everyone, not counting her or Futaba due to their… different awakenings. Although, Futaba's was a lot of emotional pain.

Hakuno doubts that Haru could form a contract with a Pseudo-Servant/Persona as she did, nor would encountering her Shadow in her own Palace be safe… If she even had a Palace.

Would it work if she was in Mementos? Something to think about later.

"We will… discuss it with the team, if we can find a safe way then there is a chance." Haru brightened up at that before squashing it down.

"Thank you for doing this."


"Why Karaoke?" Hakuno looked at the screen while Ryuji tried and sing a song in English.

"Didn't see a point in heading to Leblanc then back again to Shibuya." Akira nodded as the music died down and Ryuji handed the mic to Ann, a… blue twin-tailed girl appeared on the screen as Ann began.

"I'm already hooked up to the security of this place, their cameras are so outdated, just a single tap and boom no audio." Futaba was perked up on her side with her laptop on the table.

Hakuno looked at the blue-haired boy that was dragged here, his face was hollow and his eyes were closed, a soft snore coming from him.

"Is… he sleeping?" Akira sighed.

"We found him sitting on a bench at the station, nobody batted an eye when we picked him and took him here." Hakuno nodded slowly the young artist did seem inspired the last time she saw him. Knowing his slightly self-destructive tendencies she could believe that he hadn't slept until that moment.

Or probably eat.

"Should… we wake him up?" Hakuno looked at the tablet and debated on ordering food.

"I got it." Futaba walked to him, something in her hands as she waved it under his nose.

He jerked up, a startled shout as his eyes widened to a comical level. His hands reached for the…

Hakuno sighed, it was Jagariko. Futaba jerked it back above his head as she stood on the couch.

"No roughhousing." Makoto's voice was stern causing the red-head to jump down Ann's song came to an end and she handed the mic to Makoto, "Now then is everyone ready?"

Yusuke nodded, his eyes still slightly glazed as he munched on the jagariko. "Yuuto Sugimura is someone we need to target, his abuse towards Haru alone would be enough but…"

"That's not all," Futaba's eyes were back on her computer as she turned it around, out of sight from the camera, "I dug a bit into the cases of why he was banned from the clubs, a few witness testimonies were disregarded because of his Father's status. He would get violent when his 'girls' weren't ready for him."

"Disgusting."

Akira was calm, "Everyone in agreement?"

Hakuno nodded.

"He is so going down," Ryuji replied as he cracked his knuckles.


"Ya know, those nets are really creepy." Ann pointed at one that fell onto a Shadow, they had yet to be caught by one of them, the Shadows seemed to trip into them often though, and the weird pitfalls that Akira would always see coming.

They were far deeper than previously, a new path had opened up recently and it seemed as if Sugimura's Shadow was in the new zone. "Hmm.." Futaba adjusted her goggles and stared at the fallen Shadow as they passed. "The net reminds me more of a spider's web than a hunting trap…"

"Maybe all the pitfalls are spider nests?"

"Better not be!" Ann's voice echoed in the Monamobile. "That creepy-ass Shadow in Hakuno's palace was too much already!"

"Hmm… a trapdoor spider perhaps? Has there been anything on the news that would elicit such a panic?" Yusuke was sketching something on his art pad.

"Nothing comes to mind…" Hakuno hadn't heard anything but… "Perhaps people are feeling trapped? Not the closest connection but the Metaverse is a strange place."

"Hmm. Oh! The staircase! We can finally head down!"


Author's Note: Happy New Year! First Chapter of the year and all that! Small plot moving forward and all that jazz! Some hints to possible future interaction!

Also! If anyone hasn't heard CCC fantranslation was finished! Thank you iwakuraproductions!

PT after Fiance! Will it resolve Haru's situation? Will it end up helping her? Will Sugimura be in a bikini dancing? Who knows but the future?