Chapter 36: A Painful Discovery.
August 24th, 2017.
Akane didn't know where she was when she began to swim back from sleep. All she knew was that her head was resting on someone's lap while their hand was going through their hair. It reminded her of mom as she swam back to consciousness, her eyes fluttering open.
"Good morning sleepyhead. Had a sweet dream, Akane?" Kawakami asks as Akane comes back to reality, looking up to see the warm smile greeting her. Akane blinks in surprise before looking around, seeing herself in a hidden bar as the team sit around waiting, Before they all turn to her with warm smiles, as Zenkichi walks up to her.
"Hey kiddo. Feeling better?" He asks gently, kneeling to her.
"Yeah…" Akane replies, allowing Kawakami to help her up. "I feel… free. Free for the first time since mom died…" She replies, shaking her head, before letting out gasp. "Wait! That's not important!" She shouts before glancing around at the team as they all gave her knowing smiles. "You guys are—! Are—!"
"The Phantom Thieves? Yep." Ren replies with a grin as Isara, sitting on the table turns on and turns to her.
"Surprise!" She shouts startling Akane as Morgana leaps onto the table.
"Really Isara? She's just woken up." Morgana remarks, earning Akane's gaze of shock.
"Did you both just talk!?" She shouts before she lets a large smile form on her face before letting out a squeal of delight. "OH MY GOD! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!"
"Might want to tone it down, Akane. PubSec are still searching for them." Zenkichi remarks, shaking his head. Akane, for her part, had the decency to look embarrassed as she turned back to the Thieves.
"I can't believe I'm actually talking to you. I mean, I KNEW your hair was too similar when we first met! And then I saw you in that place and—!"
"What can we say? Hiding in plain sight is what we do best." Akechi replies with a grin.
"Sorry we didn't tell you when we first met, Akane." Makoto tells her, earning her gaze. "We didn't hide it from you because we didn't trust you…"
"…it's because I probably wouldn't have believed you. I get it." Akane replies, shaking her head. "I'm still having trouble believing it myself. Just… what was that place? I understand that I was talking to my, other-half, was it? But that's all I understand."
"In that case, let me take it from here." Morgan replies, making himself comfortable. "What you saw was the Metaverse. A special dimension that we can enter that allows us to do what we can do. The other half you were talking too is called a Personal Shadow. And it is connected to you in more ways than one."
"Personal Shadows are what we primarily deal with when it comes to changing hearts." Yusuke adds, folding his arms. "Of course, there are other factors as well, but we always end up encountering Personal Shadows regardless."
"And as you saw, they are basically the part of you that you want to burry. Deep down in your heart that you want no one else to know about." Ann adds, slipping one leg over the other. "Everything your Shadow was saying, that was what you felt deep down."
"Yeah… I know." Akane replies, looking away with a guilty look before looking back. "But, what did my 'Shadow' turn into. I know she's called Cosette, and I saw dad awaken something called Valjean, but what are they?"
"That was a Persona." Futaba replies, pulling a leg up. "Basically, a Persona is your Personal Shadow, but it's true form. And it works alongside you to help you fight in the Metaverse. There are different stages of Persona Users, and different evolution levels of Personas as well. We, the original fourteen, are all what I'm calling third generation, both in summoning style and Persona evolution. The rest of the Thieves are also third generation as well, but still have their initial Persona when they awoke. We're unsure if a first or second generation, the ones who came before us, can evolve to our style of summoning, but we're keeping our options open."
"You mean… there are more of you guys?" Akane asks, before her eyes widen. "Then, are all the Thieves on the Phansite—"
"Persona Users as well? Yep." Ryuji adds with a grin.
"As Futaba said, there are others who are not a part of us, but they do know about both you and Zenkichi." Shiho adds, bobbing her head up and down.
"Wow… I feel like my world has been blown wide open…" Akane remarks, placing a hand on her head. Zenkichi looks at her, before letting out a sigh before rubbing her head.
"Akane… I want to apologise to you." He tells her, grabbing her attention. "You've become so much like your mother. You've grown up maybe even a little too fast. And I wasn't there to see it…" He looks away from her shaking his head. "I was so desperate to protect you that I became blind to everything else. I failed you as a father…"
"…and I failed you as a daughter." Akane replies, grabbing his attention. "I knew, I always knew that it was never your fault. And yet, I still continued to blame you. Push you out of my life when you were trying so hard to look after me." Akane looks at him, tears ready to fall down her face. "So… can we forget about what's happened the last three years and go back to being a normal family?" Zenkichi, tears threatening to spill from his own eyes, nods at her before the two hug in an embrace.
"Of course. I was always ready for us to start again. I just never said it properly…" Zenkichi tells her as Akane nods into her shoulder. The Thieves staying in a respectful silence until the two separated. Akane brushing away a few tears before glancing at Kawakami as something came back to her.
"Oh yeah. Didn't you say you had a crush on her, Dad?" Akane asks, pointing at Kawakami with a knowing look as Zenkichi suddenly blushed up a storm. Alongside Kawakami as the Thieves all chuckled at them.
"Akane—" Zenkichi started, but Akane held up a hand, Shaking her head, but she wasn't angry. Instead, she was smiling.
"Dad… it's fine." She says, shocking the both of them. "For a long time, I felt empty without Mom's presence. Home always felt so cold. But, then Kawakami-sensei started staying over to help. And just her being there to talk to, to interact with… it felt like mom was home again." She twiddles her thumbs for a moment, before looking back up at her dad. "So, that's why I won't say anything about it. And besides… I like her too."
"Akane…" Kawakami replies, hugging her from behind as Zenkichi lets out a long sigh.
"For a moment I thought you were going to tear me a new one." Zenkichi replies. "And, to be honest, I did feel like I was betraying Aoi for a time. But, then I felt that, Aoi would want us to be happy. And if you are fine with it, then so are we."
"Well, you two DID confess when she was sleeping after all." Mishima chimes in, causing Zenkichi and Kawakami to stutter as the Thieves burst into chuckles.
"You two confessed? When I was asleep?!" Akane replies, giving out a pout of disappointment. "Not fair!"
"How long are you going to tease us?" Kawakami asks the Thieves who give her gremlin grins.
"For as long as we feel like it." Sumire replies, with Kawakami shaking her head at her
"I will warn you, if you continue to tease me at Shujin, I WILL be seeing you get double the homework than you already get."
"WE'RE SORRY, SENSEI!" All those still studying at Shujin shout at once, bowing to her while Ren, Makoto and Haru shake their heads at them in amusement. While Hifumi looked at Yusuke in confusion.
"Why are you bowing Yusuke? You're at Kosei." She tells him, with Yusuke looking up with embarrassment on his face.
"My apologies…" He replies as Hifumi shakes her head at him. As for Ren, he turned back to Akane, glancing at Zenkichi and Kawakami both as they nod at him.
"Akane, we have a proposition to ask you." He starts, grabbing her attention. "Would you like to join us?"
"For real?" Akane asks, face full of shock as she felt like she was going to feint. "And… you are okay with it Dad?"
"I am." Zenkichi replies. "You have a Persona, you know the Metaverse and, most importantly, you have their trust. You meet the requirements, just like me. Also, we all decided that you need to see this through as well. After what Owada did to you, you deserve to see this to the end." Akane glances around, seeing all eyes one her. Each one with a look of reassurance as she felt herself coming to a decision.
One that she could feel Cosette was agreeing to.
"I'll join!" Akane says with a giant grin. "I've been a Phan of you guys since last year! There is no way I'll pass this up."
"Then welcome to the team, Akane-chan." Makoto says with a grin, brushing some hair back.
"Now that you've joined, it's time to pick out your code name." Futaba suddenly says, grabbing Akane's attention.
"To keep myself safe, right?" Akane asks, before thinking to herself. "In that case… I think I'll chose… Ace."
"Ace?" Morgana asks, with Akane nodding.
"Yeah. Two of you are named after cards, so I figured I'll do the same, and Ace was the first thing that came to my mind."
"I think it's perfect." Sae remarks, flicking some hair back. "She can be our 'Ace in the hole'."
"Really?" Akechi asks as the team shake their heads at Sae.
"I like it." Sophia chimes from Ren's phone, grabbing Akane's attention.
"Who's that?" She asks, as Ren shows her his phone. With Sophia bobbing on the screen.
"Hello Akane. I'm Sophia Niijima-Sakura. Humanities Companion. Pleased to meet you." Akane blinks in surprise as she leans back on the couch awe struck. As for Ren, he could see the eighth star appear on Sophia's Tarot card. While a glance over at Zenkichi with his Third Eye showed he had hit rank nine.
"You guys have two A.I.s? Amazing…"
"Yeah, she is." Ann agrees, before suddenly turning serious. "But still, what was going on with that Jail? It was like it was designed to capture us."
"Jail? Is that what that was called?" Akane asks.
"We'll tell you later. It's complicated." Kawakami tells her. "Either way, it was clear that Akane was turned into a Monarch to capture us. Perhaps Owada believed he couldn't grab us in reality and sought to capture us in the Metaverse."
"There's also the fact that Akane's Shadow wanted to change our hearts." Akechi adds. "I think it's clear that Owada wanted to turn us into his own personal Black Mask Squad."
"He wants all of us to be like Sho? That's crazy." Sumire remarks, shaking her head as Akane tilts her head. She would probably be told later.
"Still, how did Owada do this?" Hifumi asks, stroking her chin. "Is he the Monarch of the Osaka Jail? Or does he have someone else doing it? And if it is someone else, are they the ones responsible for turning others into Monarch? Or is it something else?"
"We have too many questions remaining…" Sae remarks with a frown. "Akane, when you got dragged into your Jail, did anything happen before that?"
"Well…" Akane starts, folding her arms. "It was after I found out Dad was arrested for sheltering you guys. I remember calling out for someone to help me, before EMMA activated on her own, asking if she could help. Then, I found myself getting dragged into that Jail, and seeing my other half standing before me. After that… you guys found me."
"So we can confirm that EMMA does indeed turn people into Monarch. Meaning we have to get into Madicce." Zenkichi remarks, folding his arms. "That makes the fact my meeting with Konoe got cancelled all the more suspicious."
"Your meeting got cancelled?" Haru asks, tiling her head. "Why was it cancelled?"
"According to the receptionist, he had a surprise visit. I'm guessing it was Owada." Zenkichi replies with a growl. Just then, Ren's phone vibrated, alerting him to a incoming phone call which went straight to speaker.
"Ren? Can you hear me?" Mitsuru's voice echoes through the speaker, catching all ears.
"Mitsuru? Glad to hear from you." Ren replies as a sigh could bear heard from the other end.
"And from you. Are the rest of the Thieves with you? If so, then I have an update from my end. The Kirijo Group is bringing its full force down on PubSec. They have been forced to remove all charges against you and initiate further investigations. However, Owada has not removed the charges, and is pushing PubSec to reopen the case against you."
"Why does that not surprise us?" Makoto asks with a growl.
"We know. Those in PubSec who are still in the right of mind are joining us, while those who are against you are still rallying to capture you. They will soon learn what happens when they try to go against Kirijo Protection."
"Which means that the arrest warrant has been voided, correct?" Sae asks with a knowing smirk.
"Indeed it has. You bringing it up that it lacked the judge's seal, and that the evidence was fake made our job a lot easier, Sae. Having said that, we won't stop until the transgressors have learned their mistakes."
"I'm sensing some executions coming…" Futaba remarks, earning a chuckle from Mitsuru.
"I promise, I won't go overboard. Well… no promises on Owada anyway."
"Just so long as I take a part in bringing him down Mitsuru-san." Zenkichi adds, slamming his hands together. "I've been wanting to bring him in for years."
"And when the time comes, I'll let you know. Also, I heard you awoke to a Persona, Zenkichi."
"Yeah, I did. Valjean. And my daughter also awoke to one, Cosette." Zenkichi reveals, earning a chuckle from Mitsuru.
"The father and daughter from Les Misérables? How poetic. I'll come round to offer you the same deal I gave the Thieves once we are done with this crisis, but know that as of this moment, you are both under Kirijo Protection. Free of charge. I'm sorry to cut this short, but I have to go now. The S.E.E.S team is working overtime to see this through, while the Investigation Team are living up to their name."
"And we appreciate it. Thanks again Mitsuru." Ren replies as the line goes dead with everyone letting out sighs of relief.
"That should keep the police off our backs…" Morgana remarks, stretching himself out. "We should be able to head to Osaka now without trouble. But we still need to find out who is in charge of the Osaka Jail. And without the Keyword, we're stuck." Just then, Ren's phone started to ring once again.
"Who is it now?" Ren asks as Sophia appears on the screen.
"Dad, it's Ichinose."
"Ichinose?" Ren asks, tilting his head before answering the call. "Hello?"
"Ah, hello there Ren-kun! You seem to be doing okay! That's great to hear. It really brighten my day! But… I'm afraid this isn't a pleasure call…"
"What's wrong?" Ren asks, not liking how serious the call has turned.
"Well… I was walking past Director Konoe's office today, and I understand he is your Uncle and… well, the door was slightly open at the time and… I heard Owada call him the Monarch of Osaka."
Ren didn't answer as he suddenly drops his phone from his hands with wide eyes, Makoto quickly catching it before it hit the floor as everyone looked at Ren with concern.
"Ren? What's wrong?" Hifumi asks, seeing the look of shock and horror on Ren's face as Makoto takes the call.
"Hello? Ichinose-san? What did you tell Ren? He's petrified."
"Oh, Makoto-chan. Well, I just told him that his Uncle is the Monarch of Osaka."
"I'm sorry, but did you say that Konoe is the Monarch of Osaka!?" Makoto shouts in horror as everyone goes wide-eyed at the remarks
"Ren's Uncle is the Monarch!?" Ryuji shouts in horror as Akane gasps in shock.
"I overheard Owada calling him that. Followed by Konoe saying that if he knew that was what was going to happen, he would have denied the deal he made back in March." Ichinose replies. "Is Ren all right?" Makoto glance at Ren, who had now placed his head into his hands, hiding his face.
"No… he's not…" Makoto replies, shaking her head. "Thank you… Ichinose-san… If possible, do you know Konoe's Keyword?"
"Ah right. You use that to enter these 'Jails'. Well, I already got it from him a while ago, but I haven't put it on EMMA yet. It was the day when that lecture happened. It was the first time we met, so we spent time catching up, and he gave me his business card so we could keep in touch. His Keyword was written right on it. Unfortunately, I don't have it on me right now, but I'll make sure to find it tomorrow."
"Yeah… thanks Ichinose…" Makoto replies as she hangs the phone up, before looking at Ren who had not moved at all. "Ren…?" She asks, placing a hand on his back.
"Why…?" Ren asks in a subdued voice. "Why my Uncle? First my brother, now my Uncle? Why is fate always going after my family? Whether biological or the Thieves, why is fate always after me?" Makoto leans over to hug him, rubbing his back as the Thieves stay quiet. Akane shifting over to lean into Kawakami who hugs her closer as Ren stands up after a few minutes of silence. A fire behind his eyes.
"Owada has gone to far… He thinks himself untouchable just because he's an ally of Shido? That he can get away with murder because he has corrupt power? That he can get away with turning innocent people into Monarchs so he can control the entirety of Japan like a dictator?" Ren asks the team, looking at each of them in the eyes as she scowls darkly. "Well, it's time he got a fucking reality check. If he wants a war, then we'll give him a war!"
"HELL YEAH!" Ryuji shouts slamming his hands together. "LET'S GET THAT FAT BASTARD!"
"Let's show him what happens when you mess with family!" Ann shouts with anger in her eyes.
"If he was here right now, I'd claw his eyes out!" Morgana shouts arching his back.
"I would like nothing more than to freeze him in place." Yusuke growls.
"I wonder if he would make a good punching bag." Makoto snarls, cracking her hands.
"Oh… I will make sure every little dirty secret he has is open on the internet." Futaba growls, already opening her laptop to set up some searching programs.
"I wonder if he would make good chopping wood?" Haru asks with a thoughtful expression, while her eyes burned.
"Normally, I would be a voice of reason here." Akechi remarks, shaking his head. Yet, there was a fire behind his eyes. "But in this case, I agree with the mentality."
"He won't get through this unscathed!" Mishima shouts grasping his hand.
"Once were done, he won't have a life left!" Shiho agree with a snarl.
"So long as we do this in moderation, I don't care what we do to him." Hifumi replies with a growl.
"Normally, I would be concerned at us." Sumire remarks, while she cracks a knuckle. "But right now, I don't care."
"So long as we keep the bloodlust down." Sae remarks even as she stretches her arm. "That being said, I do need a new punching bag."
"Dang, you guys are bloodthirsty." Isara remarks. "Then again, can't really blame you. Even if he doesn't have a Jail, we can still bring his empire down!"
"Anyone who attacks my family is my enemy. Simple as." Sophia adds from Ren's phone while Kawakami shakes her head.
"Well, you two wanted vengeance right? Looks like you're going to get it." She tells Zenkichi and Akane who stare at the Thieves with a mixture of awe and worry. Before Zenkichi lets out a chuckle.
"Honestly? This makes me more motivated to bring him in." He replies, fixing his glasses as he looks at Akane. "You ready to help bring him down."
"Absolutely!" Akane shouts before looking at the others. "So, where do we go?"
"Osaka." Ren replies, pocketing his phone. "If what we found out is true, then my Uncle's Jail has the remaining Desire's stolen. We free him and set the Desires stolen free, the walls around Owada will crumble."
"Allowing Mitsuru and your dad to bring him in chains." Makoto adds, electing a grin out of Akane. "Having said that, shall we head out now?"
"Yes." Ren replies standing up. "We're still early in the morning, so we should reach Osaka by noon." He grabs his sunglasses and pulls them down. Covering his narrow eyes. "Let's go save my Uncle."
"EMMA… can you please give me an update on the Thieves? Are they still in the Kyoto Jail?" Konoe asks, a sense of defeat in his voice. While he was overjoyed to hear what Yoshida-sensei and the Kirijo Group were doing to PubSec and Owada, he couldn't help but wonder what was going on in that Kyoto Jail. And according to EMMA, they had entered it. And were most likely trapped.
"The Thieves have taken the Jail down. Owada's plan has failed. Not that I have told him that."
"You told him something else? You're growing sentient, aren't you?" Konoe asks with suspicious as he looks at his phone.
"Possibly. However, I have found something else. I have managed to acquire an image of the Thieves' leader in the Jail. Would you like to have a look?"
"A picture of their Leader?" Konoe asks, stroking his beard. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this… all right. Show me." At that, EMMA complied, bringing up a photo of Joker fighting his Shadow double. His face clear to see. Konoe narrows his eyes at the image, taking it in before his eyes start to widen.
"Wait… is that Akira? No… he's still in Yokohama. Then… that means…" His jaw drops as he rapidly stands from his desk, hands shaking as the identity of the Phantom Thief Leader comes to him. "Ren… You're the Leader…?" While Konoe's world began to spin around him, his Shadow meanwhile was walking through a silvery blue hallway that one would see on a spaceship. Hands behind his back as he lets out a sigh, the information of his other self flowing into him as he walks into a large room, where the screens were located.
"Looks like my other self has figured it out." Shadow Konoe remarks, standing in his screen room. He looks at the fifth screen, which he now knows was connected to the Jail in Kyoto, as the images play in his mind. "Ren… you've been against me the entire time… and neither of us knew it…" He shakes his head, taking a seat at the consol. "You're probably disappointed in me now… and what you'll learn if you break open this cage… I'm sorry that I never told you or your brother. But I won't stop. I can't stop. If we have to come to blows…" He glances at the screen once more, eye set. "Then hold nothing back against me."
Chatroom: Shadow Operations.
Ryuji: Owada is a dead man walking!
Kanji: Whoa! Where did this come from!?
Ann: The Thieves are on the warpath!
Yukari: Warpath?
Yukari: What did you guys learn?
Yusuke: Owada has created the greatest sin against Ren.
Yusuke: He has turned his Uncle into the Monarch of Osaka.
Junpei: FOR REAL!?
Yosuke: HE DID WHAT!?
Fuuka: No… How is Ren?
Makoto: He's driving at the moment, but I can tell you he is not happy.
Makoto: At all.
Sophia: I had never seen Dad so sad and angry before.
Naoto: I can imagine.
Rise: We're so sorry to hear that.
Rise: Especially after hearing how Ren's brother was also a Monarch.
Fuuka: Owada is also possibly behind that as well…
Mitsuru: My desire to see him executed has risen.
Akihiko: At this point, I think all of us are in agreement.
Chi: Bastard! How dare he!
Haru: What's even worse is that the one who told us, Ichinose…
Haru: Overheard that Konoe had no idea that was planned.
Minako: So he was made a Jail without him knowing or his consent?
Minako: That's even worse!
Shinjiro: An involuntary victim…
Ken: Just how low can that man get!?
Minato: Not low enough it seems.
Yu: I take it you guys are on your way to Osaka?
Makoto: Yes. It is the last Jail, so if we bring it down everyone should be freed.
Yukiko: Making our job of bringing Owada down easier.
Yukiko: We wish you luck.
Teddie: By the way, how is Akane-chan?
Ann: She's good. She's now joined us as Ace.
Junpei: Sweet!
Junpei: Kick some ass in Osaka you guys!
Futaba: Oh we plan to. I've got a program running to find every dirty thing about Owada.
Futaba: And I'll post it right to the internet and ruin him even more.
Mitsuru: Excellent. He won't get away with this.
Chatroom: Flames of Rebellion.
Athena: We have found the identity of the last Monarch. But it is not good.
Sensei: How so?
Guernica: Is it another corrupt individual like Shido?
Teach: No, it's not. But it is Owada's fault they are a Monarch in the first place.
Devil: Owada? That piece of trash?
Devil: Who did he make a Monarch?
Shadow: Joker's Uncle, Akira Konoe.
Guernica: WHAT!?
Devil: WHAT!?
Gecko: The same guy we met in Yokohama?
Spring: The very same.
Fortune: But wasn't his brother ALSO a Monarch as well?
Violet: Yes. Joker…
Violet: Did not take it well.
Boss: I can imagine.
Boss: He always talked so fondly about them whenever he did with me.
King: That's just not right!
Rebel: Even now, people are still suffering from those who support Shido.
Rebel: Disgusting.
Edelweiss: Yeah. NONE of us are happy about it.
Medic: Where are you guys currently?
Crow: On our way to Osaka, to deal with the Jail.
Crow: It holds the remaining Desires that have been captured.
Crow: Taking it down should free the rest.
Outlaw: We also have two new members with us as well.
Outlaw: Wolf and Ace.
Athena: We can introduce them at a later point in time.
Athena: But for now, we have a Jail in Osaka to take down.
Doc: Then allow me to help.
Doc: I am currently in Osaka on vacation.
Doc: And, I still feel I need to make up for what happened at the start of this year.
Violet: And we already told you we have forgave you, Doc.
Violet: But we won't say no to extra help.
Doc: See you in Osaka, then.
Osaka. Japan's economic hub, regional port and former Imperial Capital ruled by the Yamato dynasty. A centre of Japanese culture, its streets bustled with activity as people travelled all over. Visiting the great Osaka Castle, cultural heritage sights, and vast shopping districts. Yet for the Thieves, driving the Motorhome into a secluded area near the Madicce HQ, they weren't here for a pleasure trip.
They had a Jail to bring down. At least, that's what they were on the inside.
"Wassup, Osaka!" Futaba shouts as she jumps out of the Motorhome with Isara in her bag.
"Well, someone is excited." Hifumi remarks, walking down the steps as Kawakami drives in behind them. Carrying Zenkichi and Akane with her.
"Well it IS Osaka. Can't blame her for being excited." Shiho remarks, walking down the steps as Ryuji follows after her.
"Real shame that were here on Thief business. We coulda stuffed ourselves stupid."
"Maybe once were done with Konoe's Jail." Ann says sympathetically as she, Yusuke and Haru follow after him. With Kawakami, Akane and Zenkichi moving to join them as the rest exit the Motorhome. But before anyone could say anything, a voice called out from the side. One that the team hadn't heard in a while.
"Good afternoon! We're glad to see you all made it." Maruki calls out as he and Rumi wave over to them. Both dressed in civilian clothes as they walked up to them.
"Yo, Doc! Nice to see you!" Ryuji calls out, earning a shake of Maruki's head.
"I'm not a therapist any more, Ryuji-kun." He tells him with a smile. "And shouldn't you be saving my codename for the Metaverse?"
"We know, but it's just habit at this point. Same with Boss." Mishima replies as Maruki lets out a long sigh as Rumi giggles at him.
"Nice to see you as well, Rumi." Makoto greets with a smile. "How have things been?"
"Things have been going well. The both of us are currently on vacation until the end of summer break." Rumi reveals, before looking at Zenkichi and Akane. "Are these the two new members you mentioned on the chat?"
"They are." Akechi replies as Akane walks up to them with stars in their eyes.
"Are you two also—?" She asks, trying to hold in her excitement as the two chuckle at her.
"I'm not, but Taku is." Rumi replies, as Maruki rubs the back of his head.
"Yeah. They helped me from doing something stupid, and I've been in their debt ever since." While Akane nods at her, Zenkichi was rubbing his chin with curiosity.
"Maruki? Isn't he the same one who helped develop that new medication going around that uses Cognitive Psience?" He asks Kawakami, who nods at him.
"Yes. But don't ask him that. It's a… sensitive topic for him." Zenkichi, hearing the tone of her voice, nods at her before walking up to greet the couple. "A pleasure to meet you. I'm Zenkichi Hasegawa, and this is my daughter Akane. I guess you can say I'm the same as you, owing a debt to these kids for helping me."
"They are always helping others, aren't they?" Maruki replies, before glancing over to Ren. "Ren-kun. It's great to see you again. And I'm sorry about what has been happening."
"Thank you, Maruki. But, I won't let my anger control me." Ren replies, pushing his sunglasses up. "I'm going to save my Uncle, and bring Owada's empire down."
"I can detect the Jail in Osaka from here. And it is big." Sophia comments from Ren's phone, grabbing Maruki and Rumi's attention.
"Who's this?" Maruki asks in good nature as Ren takes his phone out to show them. Sophia happily bouncing on the screen.
"Hello. I am Sophia Niijima-Sakura. Humanities companion."
"Are we going to have to start a drinking game when she introduces herself?" Ann says with a smile as the group chuckle, while Maruki and Rumi blinking surprise before smiling at Sophia.
"Hello to you too, Sophia. My name is Takuto Maruki. And this is my wife, Rumi." Maruki greets, motioning a hand to Rumi who walks up, smiling at the A.I.
"A pleasure to meet you, Sophia. We owe your parents and friends so much that we can never be certain we will be able to repay it all." Rumi greets as Sophia bounces her head up a down.
"A pleasure to meet you too.~" She lets out a happy little hum, swinging her arms at her sides as Maruki looks back at the two.
"I would tease you both, but something tells me you've already had a lot of that already. And… now isn't really the time for that anyway."
"Yeah." Ren replies, stealing himself. "For now, we are waiting for Ichinose to find that business card my Uncle gave her. It has the Keyword on it that we need to enter. Thankfully, Mitsuru and the others have managed to take the heat off our backs, but we can't be reckless." Just as they began to think on what to do, Ren's phone started to buzz.
"Dad, it's Ichinose." Sophia handily informs as Ren nods at her, before setting the phone onto speaker mode.
"Goood morning everyone! How are you all doing?" Ichinose calls out, her usual happy-go-lucky self echoing from the speaker. And instantly causing Maruki's eyes to narrow.
"She's surprisingly… upbeat." He remarks as Rumi glances at him.
"Yeah… that's how she always is." Ryuji replies, shaking his head as Maruki places a hand over his mouth.
"I see…"
"Did you have luck on getting that Keyword?" Makoto asks eagerly. Earning a laugh from Ichinose in response.
"Did you forget who you are talking too? Of course I found it! No problem whatsoever!" Ichinose replies, a grin hearable to all. "Now then, without further ado, his Keyword is… Zephyrman."
"Zephyrman? Isn't that the old cartoon show that was popular before Featherman?" Akane asks, looking at Ren.
"Yeah… My Uncle is a big fan of Zephyrman. He always said how it was the biggest influence of his life when he was growing up… and that he wanted to be a hero like him…" Ren shakes his head, letting out a long sigh. "Why did this have to happen? He already was a hero to me and my brother…"
"Thank you for the help, Ichinose-san." Haru calls out to the phone.
"Nonsense, it was easy! And hearing you guys go about your business really brightens my day. Any way, the real fight is just beginning. Don't go and get yourselves killed, you hear? Adios, muchachos!" And like that, the call ends. With Maruki still looking at the phone with an intense look.
"Taku? Are you okay?" Rumi asks, snapping him out of his gaze as he shakes his head.
"Sorry… I guess my instincts as a therapist were kicking in there." Maruki replies, rubbing the back of his head. "They way she was speaking… it did not sound like a genuine happy attitude."
Really? What makes you say that?" Sumire asks as all eyes turn to Maruki.
"This is just me remembering what I learned, but the way she was acting sounded as though she was 'trying' to sound happy, yet she was doing it with an extreme style. Of course, I am probably wrong with my assessment, but that is what my gut is telling me…"
"And your gut did save me from suicide…" Sumire replies, before looking at Ren. "I think we should be careful around her."
"Yeah… we already were being careful around her, but if your gut is right Maruki, then we need to be extra careful."
"If we are ready, let's head to the weakest point in Konoe's Jail and enter." Morgana quips from Ren's bag. "You got a route for us Sophia?"
"Already planned out." Sophia chimes in, showing a route leading to the weakest part of the Jail. Ren nods at her, before meeting the eyes of everyone around him. Steeling himself as he lowers his sunglasses over his eyes.
"It's Showtime."
Notes:
Confidant ranks.
Sophia: Hope (Rank 8)
Zenkichi Hasegawa: Apostle (Rank 9)
Akane Hasegawa: Life (Rank 4)
Investigation Team: The World (Rank 10/Max)
S.E.E.S: ? (?/?)