July 19th, 2016: Thursday

As Akira stared up at the ceiling of the Takemi clinic, he couldn't help but reflect on the last month or so.

First, they gained another new party member, the Class President herself, Makoto Niijima. Despite initial misgivings among the group, she has proved to be a valuable member of the team. Where once they charged headlong with the only real plan of attack being, well, attack and look good while doing it, she was introducing some level of strategy into their repertoire beyond finding a secret entrance.

The only problem was that she didn't know how to take a damn break. Her work ethic with the Phantom Thieves was consistent with her school work; 100% focused on the mission, nothing else in mind until it was complete. There were several times where they went nearly a full week in a row.

Akira had to put his foot down and tell Makoto enough was enough, they needed to rest. The first time it happened, she tried to argue, but Ryuji, the bundle of energy he normally was, fell asleep during one of the meetings because he was so exhausted.

Eventually, however, they handled the situation with Kaneshiro and then, hardest of all, got through Finals week.

Initially, the plan was to celebrate at the fireworks festival, but the rain ended up ensuring that was a bust. It was funny watching Ryuji drool over Makoto, though.

Now there was this "Medjed" issue hanging over their heads. Everyone was doing their best gathering intel, but as of yet, they've come up with bupkis.

So to unwind, he did the only thing he could really think of.

He went to Takemi's to do another clinical trial. Well, that was the excuse he was using.

The truth was that he just wanted to see her.

The closer they got to finalizing the medicine for Miwa-chan, the lower that Sword of Damocles dropped. He'd have no more reason to spend an extended period of time with Takemi anymore. It'd be relegated to buying medical supplies.

Perhaps they could spend time as simple friends, but would she even be okay with that? Just hanging out with some high schooler?

"You've got that serious look in your eye, again," he heard Tae call out from her computer.

He looked over and saw she hadn't turned around. "You can't even see me."

She finished typing the sentence in her report before spinning around and facing him. She leaned forward and leveled a knowing look at him. "You've looked like you saw someone kick a puppy since you walked in."

"That obvious, huh?"

She shrugged. "Want to talk about it?"

Akira looked back up at the ceiling and shook his head. There was no way on Earth that he was divulging what was really bugging him right now. "Just… nerves, I guess."

"About school?" She snorted and leaned back, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "How are those 'exams' going?"

"Good, actually," he said, grinning. "I'm pretty sure I aced my Finals."

"Congratulations," Takemi drawled. "And a flat out lie."

"What, you think I'm not top of my class?"

"I'm sure you're very smart, but you know that wasn't what I meant," she said, a smirk on her face. She circled back to her computer. "If you ever actually want to talk about it, my ears are open."

"I didn't know you offered therapy," Akira joked.

"I don't. But it's only fair that I listen to your problems when I've droned on about mine, no?"

Akira gave a noncommittal hum. He couldn't fault her for her logic, but no. That was not happening. "How is the medicine coming along?"

"Changing subject are we?" She shrugged. "Fine. Have it your way. It's nearly finished. Just a few more, then we'll be there, I can feel it."

She smiled to herself. "Soon, Miwa-chan can go home."

Akira nodded and sat up before swinging his legs off the side of the table. "So, I guess helping the good people of Yongen-Jaya hasn't put too much of a halt on it?"

She bopped him on the head with the clipboard. "It would have gone faster if you didn't stick your nose into my business."

He laughed and rubbed the top of his head. "Isn't me sticking my nose into your business the entire reason you've gotten as far as you have?"

"Don't get a big head over it. I would've gotten it finished. Speaking of, I don't have any more tests to run today."

"So, you don't need anything else?"

He was hoping she would say no.

As if to answer his prayers, she tapped her pen against her lips and smiled. "Actually, there is one thing."

She reached into a bag sat on the floor next to her desk and pulled out an apple. She tossed it over to him, which he caught one-handed.

"That old lady left this bag of apples for me. I'm not really a fan of them, but I figure if I have some company and a little help, I might be able to get through it."

Akira looked down at the apple. His mouth turned upward in a warbly smile, and he felt his cheeks burn. He was probably going to regret saying this, but what the hell.

"You know, Takemi-san, if-if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were asking me on a, uh, date."

Takemi topped midway from grabbing an apple and raised an eyebrow at him. A long, awkward moment passed. Akira was half certain he was going to get thrown out.

Thankfully, instead of telling him to take a hike, Takemi giggled. She actually giggled. There was even a snort in there.

"Was that you trying to flirt?" Takemi asked in the middle of her giggle fit.

Akira's face turned downright crimson as he looked to the side. "I just thought… well, since you tease me, why can't I tease you?"

As her giggles died down, she cleared her throat and nodded. "Fair enough. Needs work though. Too much stuttering, you need to be confident when you flirt. How else are you supposed to charm my pants off of me?"

"Your what?" Akira's eyes went wide.

She winked. "See? Like that."

He grumbled under his breath and took a bite out of his apple.

"Have you never flirted with a girl before?"

He shook his head, taking another bite. "Not really my style."

"Oh? Most teenage boys I know of have an overconfidence problem."

"I guess flirting just never sat right with me. It's like a game you're trying to play with the person you want to be with. I think it's best to speak what your heart says when it comes to that kind of thing."

Takemi laughed and took a bite of her own apple. "Y'know, that might be one of the cheesiest things I've heard."

"Doesn't make it less true."

"I suppose not," she agreed. "Y'know, if you flirted with that kind of energy, you'd have women knocking down your door."

"I'll keep that in mind," Akira said even, his face still flush.

They fell into easy conversation. It was nice. No talk of Medjed, Phantom Thieves, Mementos, nothing. Just the two of them talking about life.

That's why he liked coming here so much. She didn't know anything about the Phantom Thieves or their work. To her, Akira was just some high school kid asking for drugs.

The pleasant atmosphere was shattered when there was a knock at the door and a familiar old man in a brown suit walked in. He barely spared Akira a glance before he focused solely on Takemi.

Akira didn't like the look in his eyes. The old man was here to cause a problem, whatever that may be.

"Hello, Dr. Takemi," he said with none of the actual warmth that should come with a greeting.

"Chief Oyamada."

Somehow, Takemi's tone was even colder. Akira was impressed, and surprised when he couldn't see his own breath.

Oyamada harumphed and adjusted his tie. "I was at a medical conference nearby and I thought I'd check up on you."

He finally ordained to look in Akira's direction. "Who's this? A… patient of yours?"

That word sounded like a slur coming out of his mouth, but Akira stayed quiet. He trusted Takemi enough to handle this. If it got to be too much, he'd jump in, but for now? He'd hang back.

Takemi's eye twitched as she crossed her arms. "He's a part-timer. Why don't you cut the crap, Oyamada, and tell me what you're doing here?"

"I see your exile has done little favors to your manners. I hear you stole one of my patients. A little girl with bronchitis. I believe she came here with her father."

"I didn't 'steal' anyone. I didn't even want to see her initially, and I certainly didn't encourage her to visit my clinic. Her father brought her here because he wasn't satisfied with the care he was receiving elsewhere."

Oyamada frowned. "Are you implying that the care of a general practitioner is superior to that of a university hospital?"

"I didn't imply anything," she argued, careful to keep her voice even and calm, to not stress on any one word. "He was free to find a new doctor."

"One who deals in a back alley creating their own medicine? 'Medicine.' Bah!" He waved a hand, dismissing the notion entirely. "What you're doing here is patently absurd and I would have thought you were smart enough to know it."

Takemi pursed her lips and looked away.

"I was willing to turn a blind eye before, but you are beginning to stick your nose in places you have no business being in," Oyamada growled. "Final warning; shut this place down and resign your license."

"How about you fuck off?"

Both Oyamada and Takemi's head snapped to Akira as he hopped off the examination bed and placed his hands in his pockets. He moved in front of Takemi to act as a shield from the verbal tirade she was being subject to.

"What did you just say to me?"

"You have two ears." Akira steeled his gaze. "I'm pretty sure you know how to use them."

"Do you have any idea who I am? Do you have any idea who this woman is?"

"If you're going to throw the 'Plague' card at me, you can shove it," Akira said firmly. "I know all about that, and she's still twice the doctor that you ever were."

Behind him, he heard Takemi breath out, "Kurusu-kun..."

"From what I hear, it wasn't even her fault to begin with. You're the one that took her off the project before the medicine could be administered, it was you who rushed the remainder of the development, as far I'm concerned, whatever happened to the girl is your fault."

"How dare you? I've never been treated with such audacity in my life. A young man like you should know your place, and it certainly is not mouthing off to your elders!" Oyamada gestured towards Takemi and snarled, "She's a monster! She tortured a patient with her unregulated medicine! What a shame, too. She was such a brave little girl, always smiling…"

Silence fell upon the exam room.

"…was?"

Akira looked back. He had never seen Takemi look so small, sound so small before. It looked like her whole world was crashing down around her at this very moment.

And there was nothing he could do.

Oyamada tried to put on a solemn face, but Akira could see through it. He was practically giddy to twist the knife. "She passed away. Perhaps you'll suffer the same fate if you stick around her. She is the Plague, after all."

"What…?" Takemi took a few steps forward, pushing past Akira. "But-But she still had time! She was recovering! How could her condition have deteriorated that quick?!"

"Must have been a misdiagnosis," Oyamada sneered. "Now, back to the reason why I'm here. Don't ever take another patient away from me again."

He turned on his heel and made his way out the door without another word.

Akira took a step back to give Takemi some room. He regretted that decision when she fell to her knees. He rushed to her side, crouching down to meet her at her level. "Takemi-san?"

"No, no, no… This… This is what I was working for. She was what I was working for… This past years, all for nothing!"

"Takemi-san, we can't lose hope."

"Hope?" Takemi let out a hollow laugh. "What's the point of hoping when she's dead? What have I even been doing with my life…"

"Maybe he's lying. She could be-"

"Enough, Akira!"

He froze. That was the first time she's ever said his name. She looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy. Tears were rolling down her cheeks.

"All it would take is a call to the hospital to confirm… He wouldn't be so stupid as to lie about that when I could so easily disprove it. She's dead."

Her gaze fell back to the floor. "It's over…"

Akira frowned and looked at the doorway Oyamada had just walked out. He had half a mind to go after him and give him a verbal rundown, but he knew that would only cause more trouble for both himself and Takemi. It wasn't worth it.

"I was sick."

Akira turned back towards Takemi. "What?"

"When I was a kid." She sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "I was in and out of the hospital a lot, especially in middle school. I wasn't able to have a normal life until I was about to graduate high school because of it. I didn't make many friends."

She adjusted herself into a sitting position, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "I remember being so incredibly grateful to all the doctors and nurses who helped me through that… I just wanted to do the same for others."

"This isn't…" Akira stopped and reconsidered his words. "It might be… too late for Miwa-chan… But you can still help others. That father and his daughter, the old lady, you helped them."

"That's the problem." She looked up at him, tears trailing down her face. "Oyamada is a shit doctor. When word comes out that I'm offering a better service, people will come to see me regardless of whether or not I want them to. He'll see that as me stealing his patients, and he'll do whatever it takes to stop it. Blacklist me, talk any suppliers out of dealing with me, anything to strand me and tear down what I've built."

Akira grit his teeth. "Then what are we going to do?"

"'We?'" Takemi laughed, a mirthless laugh without any warmth. "There's no 'we' here, guinea pig. You're going to focus on schoolwork… and I'm going to close my clinic."

"What?!" Akira got to his feet and backpedaled. "But that's-This is your life!"

"My life was trying to help Miwa-chan." Takemi took a deep, shuddering breath. "And now it has no meaning. If I close now, it's possible I can find work somewhere else. Maybe as a school nurse or something."

A distant, wistful smile crossed Takemi's face. "You know, all things considered... It wasn't so bad… being a doctor again. Thank you, Akira."

A sudden, horrid realization came crashing down on Akira's shoulders.

This was all of his fault.

If he hadn't gone into business for himself and essentially strongarmed Takemi into helping that little girl, word of how truly skilled she was at her job wouldn't have reached Oyamada.

It was on him that Takemi's livelihood, her reason for existing, was under threat. Therefore, he needed to make it right. He couldn't save Miwa. But he could prevent the same sickness from taking anyone else.

All he needed was a name.

"Oyamada," Akira spoke aloud, his voice flat and even. "What's his full name?"

Takemi blinked. "What are you planning on doing?"

"Research." He shrugged. It was an obvious lie, one he was sure she'd see right through. But right now, there wasn't a whole lot else he could do. "I have friends who are more tech savvy than me. I'm thinking they can find something."

"I don't want you hurting yourself for me."

"I don't like seeing my friends in pain," Akira said gently, but firmly. "I'll do whatever I can to help ease that pain."

He reached up and removed his glasses. Without them, he couldn't hide the weariness that seemed to have taken permanent residence behind his eyes. Hers widened as a blush began to cross her cheeks.

A roguish smile crossed his face, though his eyes were no less genuine. "Besides, I'll just find it online if you don't tell me."

She laughed, though it was more of a cough right now, and she shook her head. "Such a troublemaker… His name is Shoichi Oyamada. I don't know how that'll help, but…"

"It'll be okay. Hold off on shutting down your clinic, just for now. For me?"

He walked past her to the door, but stopped before he left. He looked back over his shoulder and smiled at her. "I know you probably hated having me see you like that, but I'm glad you did."

Akira didn't want for a response. He'd chastise himself for it later, but he rushed out of the clinic and started making his way towards the train station.

"You look like you're on a mission," a voice called out, shortly followed by a weight landing on his shoulders.

Akira didn't need to look to know Morgana was busy making himself comfortable in his school bag.

He didn't respond. This had little to do with the Phantom Thieves. This wasn't a goal to help change society or to stop some big shot from wrecking havoc over the little guy.

This was personal.

He pulled out his phone and dialed the one number he knew he could count on.

"Hey man, what's up?" Ryuji's voice responded.

"I need you to meet me in Mementos," he said. He could feel Morgana's shock in his bag. "I have a favor to ask."

As Takemi sat on the floor of her clinic, she found herself in a strange conundrum. Oyamada had just stormed, tore down her dreams of saving Miwa-chan, and then all but strong armed her into shutting down her clinic, all in one fell swoop.

So why was she smiling?

Akira Kurusu had never ceased to surprise and intrigue her. Some strange kid asking for her rumored miracle medicine, continually going above and beyond what she asked for. So when he said it would be alright, despite all the evidence in the world, she allowed herself to feel something she hadn't dared to feel in years.

It was small. Little more than a candle amid the darkness threatening to overtake her. But it was there and it was real. Pure and undiluted.

It was hope.