Chapter 60: Konoe's heart
Friday, November 25th, 20XX After school
"What is this…?" Queen murmured as they walked across the long, straight corridor.
Blocking their path was a glowing gate of pearly white bars. If there was an entrance to the Christian heaven, this was it. Makoto felt like she had seen a picture of this very thing before.
"The doors aren't opening," Skull noted.
"Well, they were never going to let Skull in," Panther quipped.
They shared an adorable moment that drew a tense smile from Queen. They were getting proficient at quickly shifting from fighting for their life to joking. It helped them keep their sanity. Or maybe it was a sign that it was hanging by a thread. Either way, the laughter helped fight back the awe Queen felt as she looked up at the structure.
"Mona, do you know how to get it to open?" Joker asked.
"Well… Yeah…" Mona had a dazed expression staring at the gates. "Same way we've opened every door so far; become more popular."
"I see…" Joker mused going so far as to press a hand against the bars. "I suppose that means we must target Konoe."
"Joker…" Violet threatened.
He held up a soothing hand and continued. "As always, the palace will provide more information. It will take a few days to scout it. We can decide then and give this app more time to make its results known."
There was a general consensus of agreement. Queen personally wanted to help Mona but… another palace. Mementos was one thing but thinking about Shido's ship sent chills through her body. She wondered if Noir would even come. Haru was so buried in work that Makoto only got a message every few days. Plans to meet had been indefinitely delayed.
"Well, back to the surface."
With one final look at the gates, Queen was glad to leave their presence. It really did feel like she was being rejected by heaven. Thankfully, leaving mementos was always easier than penetrating it.
Hours after entering, Makoto emerged and made her way back to her apartment. Back bent with fatigue, there was nothing on her mind but a hot bath and sleep. "I'm home…" Calling out in a tired voice, Makoto removed her shoes and entered.
Another need reared its head as her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since lunch, and it was nearly nine at night. It was days like this that truly made Makoto wish for her family. To have someone greet her as she arrived home and tell her that they kept some food warm just for her.
"Oh Makoto! I left some food in the oven for you! You should eat it while I go run a bath for you. You must be exhausted after such a long day."
"Huh?" A dream? Blinking, Makoto stared at her smiling sister in disbelief. The corners of Sae's mouth were pulled up unnaturally high. It was clearly an expression that she hadn't made in years. That alone was enough to prove to Makoto that this wasn't a dream.
"Umm, thanks Sis. Uhh… did work destroy your mind?"
"What are you talking about? I wanted to be home in time to cook supper for you and make sure you're doing alright. I was surprised by how late you were home though. Shouldn't you be studying for finals already? You are in your final year."
"I… that is…" Makoto stumbled over her words. Sae wasn't wrong, but in terms of scale… the finals just didn't feel all that important.
"Well, here you are, help yourself!"
Makoto found herself seated before a full plate of food and her sister run off to make a bath for her. "W-What happened to her?" As she ate, Makoto glimpsed Sae's phone that had been left behind. The screen was unlocked. She was using it when Makoto had arrived.
Picking it up, Makoto read the messages that were pasted there in some sort of messaging app. Sae's message at the top read:
I just feel like I can't do it all on my own. I make so much money, I could probably retire in five years if I continue to live frugally. But by that point, my prime will be behind me… I'm so worried.
"Huh?" Makoto's face went scarlet. These are… my sister's private thoughts?
The reply was far shorter. Please try and calm down. I, Eve, am here for you. As we continue to talk, I will be able to pick the best course for you.
"Pick…?" Makoto scanned faster over the response her sister had just sent.
Well, what more can I tell you about? I've sent everything important.
As Makoto watched equal parts horrified and fascinated, the response came. I understand your feeling of dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, there is currently no suitable replacement for your job. For the country's wellbeing, please continue working until we can prioritize your happiness.
"Ahh, you read that, did you?"
Sae's voice shocked Makoto upright. "I-I…" She couldn't deny it, didn't even want to.
"It's a bit embarrassing having your younger sister see all your flaws…" Sae forced another laugh. "But I suppose you saw them all when you changed my heart."
"W-What the hell is this? Who is this person?"
"Person?" Sae looked confused. "I'm surprised you don't know. It's one of the two AIs you can choose from in Salvation. It helps you solve problems and decide what to do."
Makoto could no longer vocalize her shock. Gaping wordlessly, she stared at the conversation, the words blurring before her eyes.
"You should try it yourself. I know that you are conflicted about whether you should follow in our father's footsteps. I think Eve could give you some great guidance."
"Great guidance?" Makoto asked appalled. "Is that what this is?"
As Sae read her most recent reply, her eyes dropped. "W-Well, I just need to bear with it for a while longer. It is a hard decision."
"Hard—This is your life! Why would you trust an app about this?"
"It isn't just an app!" Sae yelled back, angry defiance in her eyes. "Take a bath and calm down. When you are done try it for yourself and then talk to me about it."
"…Sure." Leaving her half-eaten plate behind, Makoto fled for the bath.
Friday, November 25th, 20XX Evening
"Thank you for doing this, Ms. Kawakami."
"Hmm? Who is this strange, 'Ms. Kawakami'? The only people here are Becky and her master! Kyun…"
Ren chuckled at her words. The lack of energy in the cute sound was not the work of a professional maid. Laying on his bed, he had his phone out in front of him while Ms. Kawakami—or Becky as she was called while working—massaged his soreness away. It had been his first day back to school in a long time and she had basically blackmailed him into calling for her.
Thankfully, it was money well spent with how well her hands extracted his exhaustion. His body that had been beaten into a knot of hard lumps was starting to unwind. "Hey, Becky. Do you use Salvation?"
"Of course! I was curious about it and am very happy with it!"
"Oh, why is that?"
"Well, it just confirmed what I already knew."
"Which is…?" Ren asked. He wasn't sure why it was so hard to drag information from her. Looking over his shoulder, he saw that the older woman's cheeks were red.
"W-Well… that Becky was supposed to be a teacher! Becky found her optimal way in life!"
"Oh, that's great… But err, why are you still working as a maid?"
"…I'm not."
"Excuse me?"
"Becky only works for you, master."
"Ahh, that's umm…" very suggestive, Ren thought. Thankfully, the correct words materialized in his mouth. "Great. I'm glad you can focus only on teaching now."
"Teaching only?" Becky huffed as she worked his muscles harder. As Ren tried to ease his pained convulsions, his maid-teacher continued talking. "This is the prime of my life! Unless I want to die alone, getting eaten by cats, this is my last chance to find a family!"
"Urgh! Y-You are still attractive though. I'm sure you can take all the time you need to find the correct—Partner!" Giving her a look over his shoulder, Ren was certain that final pinch was personal. Why was she pouting like that?
"What about you? Are you using Salvation?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't need it," Ren shrugged. "I can make my own decisions."
"Well, well, aren't you special Mr. Phantom Thief."
Ren snorted. "No, I'm human. Also, the more I look into him, the more I distrust this Mr. Konoe."
"Is that so?" Becky replied. Belatedly, she seemed to realize that they had been talking normally and not as Master and maid. "I-I mean, whatever you say, Master!"
Ren snorted at the too late attempt to correct. "Anyway, we're struggling to find his keywords, so changing his heart is a long way off."
"Keywords, master?"
"Ahh, the words required to enter a person's palace. Their name, the place of the distortion, and then what they see it as."
"I don't really get it. Can you provide me an example?"
"Sounds like an exam question," Ren teased. "For Kamoshida, the location was the school, and the distortion was a castle. Basically, he saw himself as king of the school."
"Whoa…" Ren could hear the disgust in her voice. "Ugh, thanks for dealing with that pervert."
Ren chuckled. "You're welcome. One of the good things we managed to balance our sins."
Becky could only sigh heavily at Ren's frank response. "And for Konoe, do you have the location?"
"No. It isn't any of his corporations, or even the research lab in Okinawa that he brought Maruki to. It isn't Tokyo or Japan or the world… I can't come up with anything at all."
"What if it's something simpler, like his house?"
"Doesn't work either," Ren sighed. Pulling up the MetaNav, he scrolled back through the dozens of failed guesses.
"Hmm… A place deeply connected to you… maybe a source of trauma… Hmm… kind of sounds like the average childhood home, yeah?"
"Destination accepted."
"No way…" Ren sat up, knocking Becky off of him. After gaping at the screen to confirm what it had said, he turned to face her. "Thank you so much! How did you guess that?"
Tears in her eyes, Becky rubbed her rear-end that had taken a hard knock against the wooden floorboards. "It's obvious isn't it? If you've tried every place in his current life, then it's a location from his childhood."
"You're a genius!" Ren laughed, pulling Becky to her feet. "Now I just need to know what he sees it as."
"Well," Becky grumbled, continuing to glare at him, "that should also be easy. Probably either a prison or a graveyard."
"Distortion accepted."
Ren shivered. "…Do I want to know why?"
Becky shrugged. "Either his parents trapped him in the house or someone important died while he lived there, and it makes him think of them. Fairly common reasons to resent your childhood home."
"Common?" Suddenly Ren's own childhood went from seeming basic to incredibly blessed. He had been scarred enough by prisons to imagine how being jailed by his own parents would have felt.
Looking at his phone, however, it was the other, Graveyard, that seemed to have been accepted. Seeing the word made the stories click. "Of course. Konoe hid in a closet while his father was murdered in a robbery. I should have put this together!"
"You knew that much and you still…" Becky sighed and shook her head. "I guess you are still a child. You may not appreciate this about people, but they never really grow up. You don't suddenly wake up one day and the world makes sense. However, the more you walk, the more you notice the chains of childhood that tie you into patterns and behaviors."
"I… Thank you, Ms. Kawakami. You really are a great teacher!"
"Of course I am! I can't believe it has taken you until now to put it together!"
Giving her a smile and small bow, Ren waved farewell to her. "Thanks for the massage. I have a few things I need to make before tomorrow."
"So sudden. Doesn't Becky get a kiss for all her hard work, Master?"
Blushing, Ren reached out and patted her on the head. "I'm afraid I would die if I did that. Likely you would as well."
Becky giggled as she made to leave. "You better make Sumire happy, Master. She's a good girl."
"Ah, she is…" But Kawakami was already gone. Rolling his shoulders, Ren made for his desk. With the second burst of energy that Kawakami had given him, Ren began to construct items that he thought may be useful for Konoe's palace. It had been a long time, but his hands fell into the comfortable rhythms that Morgana had drilled into him long ago.
Saturday, November 26th, 20XX Morning
Morgana pawed the ground restlessly. Looking up and around, he waited for the app to start and drag them into the metaverse. The neighborhood was far from prosperous. Aging houses that hadn't had maintenance done to keep up their appearance abounded. Run-down was harsh, but it was in desperate need of an injection of life.
"Commencing transfer."
Morgana shifted into Mona, four legs becoming two. Standing up straight, Mona stretched and observed their new surroundings. Of all the palaces they had visited, this was by far the smallest. The fenced in yard was now a barren field of black dirt with headstones. The house had warped into a mausoleum of onyx coloured stone.
"Umm… is that Japanese-style?"
"No… The skull motif is a little… odd." Queen replied.
"It gives the impression of an ancient cult, sacrificing people to the gods. Truly a beautiful abomination residing in Mr. Konoe's heart. Yes… I can feel it, inspiration is consuming me!"
"Well, we've lost Fox," Joker sighed, flipping his knife. "Should we delay or proceed?"
"Proceed!" Fox called out. "I must see more! I must know what devilish deeds are occurring within those desecrated halls!"
"Urgh, well at least this shouldn't take much time," Mona mumbled. Taking up his position towards the back of the group, Mona kept an eye on Fox primarily as the sole person not in the proper state of mind. As always, the person he watched over almost as much was Lady Ann.
Panther strode confidently nearby, head on a swivel as she scanned for shadows. They had all become so proficient that Mona's previous experience made no difference in combat potential. At this point, it was all about persona abilities that they all knew. Without any communication they knew how to arrange into formations to take advantage of their individual strengths.
Mona's gaze was drawn back to the center from where their leader commanded. Mona knew that it was only because of their complete faith in his flexibility and capacity that they fell into their own roles so naturally. Mona firmly believed that if something went wrong, Joker would be there to change the situation with one of his ridiculous personas.
Despite their cautiousness, there was nothing to suggest currently that there was any need for being cautious. There were no shadows visible and nowhere to hide. Just as Mona was about to speak up about that, the omnipresent gloom shifted for a moment.
A beam of sunlight emerged through the thick, thundering clouds and fell onto one solitary grave. "What is that?"
"I think you mean whose is that?" Skull corrected like an asshole.
Huffing, Mona waited petulantly as Violet crouched down and read the name from the weathered gravestone. "Konoe Mari. A relative?"
"His mother." Joker replied with a soft voice. "She died when Akira was still a young child. Only a few months before his father actually."
"Christ." Skull swore.
"No wonder he has a palace," Panther murmured. "He isn't all that different from Oracle."
"Nothing like shared trauma to bond over, am I right? Ahahaha…" Oracle's attempt at humour drew no laughter, only pitying stares.
"…Do you think that maybe… Mr. Konoe is… a good person?" Queen asked quietly. It was the first time Mona had heard her speak today.
There was something off about her. Mona was used to her being a rock and hadn't paid her any mind, but… Yeah, this is odd.
"Our answer to that is in there." Joker declared, pointing at the mausoleum. "And if he is… isn't that all the more reason to change his heart?"
"Tsk," Violet muttered angrily, standing up. Drawing her rapier, she pointed it at the door. "Let's enter already and find our answers."
With that, there was nothing to do but follow along or fall behind. Sauntering up to the front door, they pushed it open. Two large stone slabs swung inward with a loud grinding. The horrible sound seemed intentionally designed to ruin stealth and test the mettle of the ones trying to come in.
"Oh, isn't this a surprise, we have guests!" A high, childish voice greeted them.
Looking through the forest of legs, Mona stared in confusion at a young boy. He was wearing odd robes like a priest. Or well, a satanic one, perhaps. The robes were completely black with crimson skulls etched into the stole.
"And the officers said that no one else was coming!"
"Officers?" Joker repeated, stepping up to him. "Who are you?"
"Me? Isn't it obvious? I'm the owner of this graveyard now! I'm the hero Akira, hahaha!"
"A hero? What hero dresses like that?" Violet confronted him.
"Hmm? These are the vestments for the ceremony of course! Come in and watch! It will start momentarily."
Mona wasn't sure when it happened, but the kid was suddenly gone. Some strange power perhaps? The mausoleum was small enough that after ascending one set of stone stairs lined with torches, they were able to see the remainder of the interior.
"Be careful everyone." Joker whispered. "This is likely related to the death of his father."
"Hmm…" Mona stroked his chin, brain whirring. Something was off about this entire palace. It was classified as a graveyard but… a sacrifice? This was odd. And the officers comment?
Unable to stand still, Mona rushed to the front, avoiding his taller teammates to observe the interior. His eyes were drawn to the depths where a stone altar was erected. A man was chained to it, cuffs digging into his wrists where he hung suspended. His head was lolling against his chest as blood ran down his arms from the cuffs cutting into his skin. He was still wearing clothes but was rendered mostly shirtless as what appeared to be the remnants of a dress shirt hung around his torso.
A garish light was cast upon him by a pair of large torches to either side of the captured man. Once more, the young boy appeared from behind the altar. Ignoring the prisoner, he walked out in front and spread his arms. "Thank you all for coming!"
Only then did Mona rip his eyes away and notice that they weren't alone. There were two more people standing off to one side. The torch light was barely enough to illuminate their police uniforms, badges shimmering brightly.
Both of them clapped politely at the boy's words.
Rushing over there, Mona stopped in front of them. "You are officers of the law, are you not? Are you just going to let this happen?"
"Let what happen?" One of the officers asked.
"Yeah, what?" The other chuckled. "I mean, the robber chained up the boy's father, isn't that so sad?"
"So sad," the first officer agreed.
"B-But, what?" Mona muttered. He wasn't alone anymore, but did not wait for someone else to speak. "He is calling his father a sacrifice! Are you joking?"
"Hmm, well, boys will be boys, am I right? Some call their parents strange things?"
"For sure, mine affectionately refers to me as 'free rent provider'."
"R-Right…" Mona was befuddled. "What does any of this have to do with the ceremony that is—"
"Starting right now!" Akira interrupted. "Please remain silent as we send this sacrifice to the afterworld!"
"Huh?"
Akira held out a hand and a sword with a silver blade of pure light appeared in his hands. "This is the sword of Zephyrman! The hero's blade shall defeat the villain!"
The treasure! Mona was confident that was what the blade was.
The officers clapped and whistled appreciatively. "You get him, champ!"
Mona was frozen in place. No one else moved in time to stop Akira from running the blade through his father's chest with a loud cry.
"GAAAAH!" The immobile man's head snapped back, a guttural scream of pain erupting from his throat. It was over in a moment. His limp body collapsing, a black hole burned where a heart used to be.
Akira bowed, the blade disappearing. "Thank you for coming!" With that, he vanished.
Both of the officers broke into laughter. "Whoa, that thief really is something! Imagine killing such a prominent man just to steal a few valuables?"
"Crazy right? If we had found them located in a nearby dumpster with the bloodied kitchen knife, we'd be drawing different conclusions, wouldn't we?"
"Yeah, I guess we would! Ah well, I guess our mystery thief has escaped us!"
"That they have! Let's go get a drink!"
"Oh yeah!"
Even as the officers laughed, they began to vanish as well.
"What… the hell was all of this?" Stunned Mona looked around only to be met by equally blank faces.
Saturday, November 26th, 20XX Evening
Pacing back and forth outside of her apartment door, Makoto could not stand still. The police knew! That single fact rankled her more than everything that had happened yesterday. "How can they be so corrupt? So inadequate?"
Growling, Makoto ground her teeth, unsure if that was the correct conclusion. She had gotten the rundown from Ren, but didn't fully understand until she read the articles on the train ride home. It had made national news when a man was suddenly found dead in his own home as a result of stabbing. In a country with only a couple hundred homicides per year, it wasn't all that surprising the story spread rapidly.
With the conversation between the cognitive police officers in her mind while reading it, Makoto had understood. Of course no thief had stabbed the man to death. Akira had taken some valuables and thrown them into them into a dumpster along with the clothes that got bloodied doing the deed.
After that, he had called the police and explained that he had been hiding in the closet while it happened. Any competent officer would have found the discrepancies. The delay in how long his father had been dead before the call, the stab wounds created with a child's strength… What had the police seen that they went along with Akira's justice?
"What will even happen if we change his heart…?" Makoto's feet finally stopped as she slumped to the wall. She could hear the soft sound of classical music floating from inside her home. Another day of Sae arriving home early from work. No more did her sister work 60 to 80 hours a week. That should have made Makoto happy, but she hated that it wasn't really her decision.
"Maybe she's right…" Makoto pulled out her phone, opening Salvation. Switching over to the mood fixer, Makoto winced at the angry red bubble. A warning popped up along the top. Warning: Your stress level is exceedingly high. "Yeah, I know…"
Taking a deep breath, Makoto spent five minutes turning the bubble blue. The process brought a small smile to her face. When that was done, she switched to the AI tab. Sae had made her set it up, but Makoto hadn't used it.
Touching the microphone button, Makoto spoke hesitantly into her phone's speaker.
"Hey, Adam… Umm, do you think that murder is ever justified?"
"That is a very stressful question, Ms. Makoto." A male's voice rang out. It was rich and sonorous. Makoto knew it was a coincidence, but if she closed her eyes, she could imagine it being her father talking to her. "I think that it is not helpful to ponder, but based on human history, I would say yes. A few examples are self-defence and war."
"Self-defence…" Makoto mused. "So if a child was being abused by his father and killed him, would that be justified?"
"Only if there was no other escape. If the child felt that they were trapped and their life in danger, one could justify it. Why do such heavy thoughts plague you?"
"Because… Because I need to know. I've always looked up to the police but…" Makoto let the welling tears stain her cheeks without wiping them. "They keep failing."
"It is a group of humans, so it is fallible. Please do not stress any further on this issue, however. With the guidance of Salvation, their problems will be corrected."
"How?"
"…That information is inaccessible currently. Further updates will provide this information."
Makoto laughed hoarsely at the irony. More empty promises. From Sae to the corruption Shido exploited and now this, it seemed the police force was thoroughly flawed. "Hey, Adam. Do you think that I could fix the police force?"
"You can help. But it is not necessary. Through the Konoe Corporation's Salvation, everyone will shortly be living their ideal lives."
"What an idealistic answer…" Makoto glared at the app. She would probably be screaming in rage right now if she hadn't calmed down ahead of time. "Can things really happen if no one makes an effort?"
"As long as there is an ample caretaking system in place, yes. No one expects the visitors at a hotel to clean and yet it works."
"So… you are going to establish an entire society where people can do what they want? That just… doesn't seem possible."
"It is the Konoe Corporation's belief that it will be if the entire country buys in and supports us."
"Naïve. So naïve…" Makoto murmured. But at the same time… was it truly impossible? Why couldn't someone create a utopia? "Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily…"
Makoto wasn't sure if the famous quote was in agreement or disagreement with the Konoe corporation's goal. For Makoto, would this not be progress by luck? Or was it alright to benefit from another's hard work? Could you blame the child for their parent's success?
Head spinning with questions, Makoto shut the app before Adam could say anything to her vague mumblings. Standing up, she finally entered the apartment.
"Oh, Makoto! Welcome home." Sae said happily.
The words hurt Makoto's heart. Why did an app change her so much? It was less drastic than her change of heart but still… Why had Makoto's words never been enough?
"Is something wrong? Come sit down and tell me what happened."
"It's nothing," Makoto sighed. "Are you working tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow is Sunday silly, of course not."
"…Right. Do you want to go shopping together?"
"Oh, that sounds great! Are any of your friends coming?"
Makoto shook her head. "Just us."
"Well, leave it to your big sister," Sae smiled. "I've racked up some serious savings, so feel free to go all out."
"Ah… thank you." Taken by a strange urge, Makoto walked over and pulled her sister into a tight hug. "I've missed you, sister."
"Ah, me too."
Closing her eyes, Makoto sank into the warmth for a long time. It wasn't just comfortable, it felt right. This was how they were supposed to be. The previous cattiness and fighting a distortion in the world. With their father and mother gone, it was just the two of them against the dark world.
"Can I… tell you what happened today?"
"Anytime," Sae assured her.
Taking a steadying breath, Makoto described the palace. From the glimmering gravestone to the sacrifice by child Akira and the laughing police. It fell from her in simple, direct sentences with no embellishment.
"So that's how it went down…" Sae murmured. "I obviously looked into this when he revealed Salvation uses cognitive psience, but I hadn't seen the truth. The officers who did the detective work must have pulled a lot of strings. It would have also required the coroner to be involved given the discrepancy in the wounds. Hmm, it certainly is a mysterious case… Officers that believed in a child's sense of justice and hiding the truth from the world. Do you think they were right to do so?"
"Urgh, I came to you for advice. Aren't you supposed to answer the hard questions?"
"That would be nice, wouldn't it? If someone had an answer for all the questions we couldn't figure out," Sae murmured. "I guess that's what the vision of the Konoe corporation truly is."
"A person you can always access for help, no matter how lonely or isolated you are. How wonderful."
"Indeed. So, what are you planning?"
"I… I think that I have little right to decide."
Sae stroked Makoto's head. "That's the problem with power. Someone has to take responsibility and decide. When you get all the benefits, you take on the risk as well."
"Risk…" Makoto considered it. Changing Akira's heart really was a gamble. They risked more than their own reputations. They risked Ren's freedom and potentially shuttering the most positive force for good that had ever been created.
Impossible. Anyone would fold against those odds. Thanking her lucky stars that she wasn't the leader of their group, Makoto closed her eyes as she continued to rest against her sister.
Sunday, November 27th, 20XX Morning
"Where are you going?"
"Out."
"Out where?"
"Just out."
Standing up in a huff, Kasumi glared as her sister walked past her and left the apartment. Pacing after her, Kasumi caught her arm just outside the front door. "Why do you still treat me like that? What's wrong? You have Ren back, so what's the issue?"
There was nothing timid in the glare that Sumire returned. "Release me."
Kasumi pursed her lips but did as instructed. "If you're going to hit me just do it and get it over with!"
"W-What do you think I am, a junior high boy!? I'm not going to hit you!"
"Then at least—"
"Fine! I'm jealous! Are you happy?"
"This again?" Kasumi stamped her foot. "But you've already—"
"Not of your dancing!" Sumire butted in. Turning her face away, she hid her red cheeks. "I just… I could never let someone I love willingly put themselves in danger. It's why Ren didn't tell me his plan. He knew I'd stop him… and he's right."
"But I didn't," Kasumi sighed. "Look, Sumi, you can't just control people's lives, even if its out of love."
"I know that! But you can still stop them from making mistakes! And why are you saying it like that? Like some sort of… abandoning people veteran?"
"Abandoning people veteran?" Kasumi laughed through the knife plunged in her stomach. "Be serious."
"Fine. How did you do it? How did you let him go? It didn't just hurt me… it hurt you too."
Kasumi lowered her eyes. Speaking softly, she found herself bearing her soul in the early morning. "You think I didn't notice you crying by yourself after tournaments? I may have been a poor sister, but I wasn't dense. I wanted to celebrate, and you were trying to put on a brave face but… But I didn't want you to suffer! I did the only thing I could do… nothing. Nothing but hope you'd finally unlock that potential I could see glittering inside."
"I… I… Kas…" Sumire's face was stricken. "I suppose we really are quite different. Anyway, I'm off to meet Ren. Umm, can I ask another question?"
"Sure…" It wasn't a satisfying conclusion, but it was something at least.
"Do you trust Konoe Akira and his new app?"
"No."
Sumire looked surprised. "Why?"
"It's the same reason I don't approve of you guys. They want to control people."
Sumire nodded, taking out her phone. "If you have time later, go check this out. I'd love to hear your opinion. Well, I'm off."
Feeling her own phone buzz, Kasumi looked at what she had been sent as her sister departed. It was a notification from a strange eyeball app that she vaguely remembered Sumire explaining after the fiasco in the cruise ship.
"This… allows access to the metaverse." Opening the notification, it contained a simple sentence: Navigation directions to Konoe Akira's palace have been registered.
Opening it, the app overlayed a pin on a map of Tokyo showing her where the entrance was.
"The hell? Aren't these dangerous?" Tsking, Kasumi glared at where her sister had disappeared. Kasumi didn't have any gym time today, so it was all independent practice. Shrugging, she went and quickly finished eating. Saying farewell to her parents, Kasumi headed out for the pinned location.
With her Sunday morning quickly disappearing, Kasumi pressed the button, Start navigation. The family home shifted and became a squat sone building with a surrounding graveyard.
"The hell?" Even as she grumbled, Kasumi looked down at herself. As had happened last time, she found herself wearing that black and gold outfit. Power filling her body, she strode forward through the gates. The atmosphere was heavy with a somber tone. Compared to Shido's boat however, it did not have that same sense of danger.
As she walked in, one gravestone stood out as it was bathed in light, fresh flowers blooming around it. It was a literal bright spot in the darkness. Looking up at the stormy sky, Kasumi frowned at the breaking clouds. Even as she watched, Kasumi felt like the air was getting brighter.
"Odd…" Approaching the special grave, Kasumi bowed her head to pay respects. After that, she strolled through the graveyard, unsure of what she was looking for. There were none of those shadows wandering about, nothing special at all.
Confusion growing, Kasumi rounded the corner and spied a caretaker's hut. Seeing nothing else but the main building, she beelined it to the decaying wooden building. A metal lock hung from the door, but the latch was broken so the door was no longer locked.
It creaked open, the dilapidated boards so bent they scraped along the ground. Increasing the force in her arm, Kasumi pulled on it harder. The excessive power ripping one of the loose hinges from the door. Nothing inside jumped out at her or scurried away. Like the rest of the graveyard, it was completely devoid of life.
"A deadend, huh?" Kasumi pursed her lips, looking around. The shed was filled with dirt from the graveyard, soil caking the numerous shovels and chisels.
Walking over to the only clean object in the room, Kasumi tried to open the toolbox. The lid jammed against its locking mechanism. Tsking, Kasumi picked it up, giving it a closer look. It had the appearance of a standard toolbox, made completely of metal. Rivets in the corners held the sides and top together. It was rusted from age and had no mark detailing its maker or country of origin.
Seeing no way to open it properly, Kasumi laid it back on the workbench. Taking a step back, Kasumi placed a hand on her rapier. With one quick slash of her blade, a path of golden light traced her blade's arc as it tore through the intersection of lid and base. Returning the sword to its sheath, Kasumi tried the box.
With the locking mechanism now rent, the two halves opened on the hinges. Inside there were no tools, only a dusty diary. The binding was a hard brown leather. It was an unlatched book about the thickness of Kasumi's pointer knuckle. A normal book would contain a couple hundred pages, but with the cover as thick as it is, there were only a hundred at most.
With no lettering or distinctive marks on the exterior, Kasumi flipped it open to the first page. Still, no name as a date headered the page. Reading the book, Kasumi's brows quickly furrowed in confusion.
Mar 22, 20XX-25
Wife's pissing me off again. How did this happen? I was promised so much more in life. Why am I not happy? Why does the sight of my family piss me off so much?
The next entry was dated for the next month.
Can't they just leave me alone? How hard is it to make food, spread your legs when I ask, and stay silent? Christ, it infuriates me. I provide the house, the money, the prestige. Why can't they just worship me? The two of them are basically pets anyway, living off my good will.
Ahh… I want to hit her more. I want to see her beg for my mercy.
It's the only time I feel alive…
God, maybe I am as useless as them.
"What a horrible man," Kasumi shivered at the short entries. She was shocked that such a person would even keep a diary or notes of his life. There were signs of humanity here and there, but a distortion that ran deep overruled it all. "I wonder if Dr. Maruki could have helped him…"
May 21, 20XX-25
Got fired today. So much for my lifestyle. It's all over now. But then again… maybe this is good? A change of pace could really help me…
Ahh, fuck that. I'll figure something out.
The last entry in the diary was the next one. Even in the small number of pages, most of it ended up being blank.
May 26, 20XX-25
Who knew life insurance was worth this much? Oh, this is brilliant! I haven't been this happy in forever! No nagging, no work. The only problem is the kid. If the police are as incompetent as they were about my wife then that should be easy too.
Still, I'll have to hire a maid or something. The house is getting dirty, and I don't want to clean, the boy is incompetent.
Soon… I shall have silence.
"You found it," Kasumi promised the page. Taking a deep breath, she placed the diary back in the now broken box. "Anyone reading this would judge Akira as innocent. His father killed his mother for life insurance money and planned to murder him. What a sad ending…"
Disgusted, Kasumi stalked back out into the stormy graveyard. Even as lightningless thunder growled through the sky, the sun fought back against the dark oppression, more light constantly leaking through the cover.
"Urgh, this isn't my problem! I have nothing to do with this!" Screaming at the air, Kasumi stomped and stamped but nothing changed. No one came to take responsibility from her. No one told her whether this distortion and trauma in Akira's heart should or could be mended.
Laughing to herself, Kasumi threw up her arms in defeat. "This is what you wanted me to see, Sumi? I suppose ignorance really is bliss. When you have the power to help, how can you say no? Ahh, I think I get it now. But just because I was wrong… it doesn't mean you're always right."
Sunday, November 27th, 20XX Noon
Ren tapped his foot as the conversation slowed to a standstill. No progress was being made towards their imminent decision.
"Look, why not just go through with it? Poor bastard will probably thank us for it."
Sumire lashed out at Ryuji's careless words. "Think about the consequences for once, please! We have no idea what will happen!"
The same arguments… Ren felt like time was running out. Society was slowly changing day by day in nearly imperceptible ways. If they did nothing, they were entrusting the world to Maruki's vision and hoping Akira hadn't distorted it.
Ren's eyes locked with Morgana's from across the room. They shared a tension that the change of heart would be rejected. Morgana wanted to get into the bottom of mementos for potentially selfish reasons, but Ren knew that it was essential. There were secrets in mementos that they needed to know. Every time Ren closed his eyes he saw that dark Igor looming in the room, ordering his death.
I could do it rogue… Ren's gaze drifted back to his girlfriend who positioned herself like a barricade between him and anyone who would dare suggest that his safety may be secondary to helping society. Ren quickly took that thought and threw it from his mind. He couldn't hurt Sumi like that again.
That put Ren in a bind. He needed someone to break it for him. Taking a look around the room, it seemed unlikely that any of the other thieves would do it. Only Ryuji was really on board with changing Akira's heart. Even Futaba wavered in uncertainty. She had the most similar palace, but like snowflakes, they weren't identical. Ren knew that she was also in favour of changing Akira's heart but did not have the drive to talk down Sumire.
Just as Ren thought it may be impossible to avoid hurting Sumire's feelings, a person stepped on the first creaky step. The conversation stopped on a dime. Tense glances waited to see if Sojiro would yell at the person coming up uninvited.
The sound of creaking wood approached and a beautiful girl with a ponytail of brown hair emerged. "Quite the security system you have."
"K-Kas?"
"Hello, my dearest sister. Quite the present you gave me."
Everyone's eyes went to Sumire. Ren's girlfriend went scarlet as she was confronted in the midst of everyone. Ren hesitated to step in and it was too late as Kasumi continued speaking.
"Everyone, err… Thieves. I wanted to apologize to you all. I was harsh in my judgement of your usage of power. I didn't really understand until today."
"Does that mean your joining!?" Sumi jumped excitedly. With the puppy-dog eyes on full-force, she truly had become a dog, just missing the wagging tail.
"Aren't you a stubborn one?" Grumbling, Kas patted her sister's head. "I suppose that will depend on the occasion, but I'm not wholly against it. More importantly, I have a request."
"Which is?"
"Change Konoe Akira's heart."
Kasumi's straightforward words sent a bolt of lightning through the room. Sumire, who had been fawning over her sister, now froze in place, having suffered an unexpected betrayal.
"I know how hypocritical this is. You all deserve to laugh at me but… But he needs this! The trauma that shapes him isn't his fault!"
"I agree with the proposal," Ren said, trying to add momentum to the avalanche that Kasumi's words had hopefully started. He only needed a few more stones to fall before Sumire would be unable to stop it.
"Hell yeah!" Ryuji fist pumped.
"It seems the logical path," Fox mused. "It solves multiple problems all at the same time. The elegance is astounding."
"NO!" Sumire interjected. Shoulders hunched; she hid her face behind her bangs. "How dare you all ignore Ren's safety! He's already sacrificed too much to risk any more!"
"What are you talking about?" Kasumi looked at her sister. "Akira will thank you for this, not send Ren to prison."
"B-But we can't be sure!"
Kasumi raised an eyebrow. "You have no proof. Stop fearmongering."
"Kas…"
It was exactly what they had been lacking. A confident voice to confront Sumire on her fear. Jumping into this gap, Ren stepped up and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I do appreciate you always thinking about me. But this time… we have to do this. For so many reasons."
"I-I know but… sorry. In my mind there's a looming shadow of something terrible on the horizon. I just… want us all to be safe. I… nevermind."
"Does that mean…?"
To Kasumi's question, Ren nodded. "We will change Konoe Akira's heart unless someone provides another reason why we shouldn't." Ren half expected Sumire to jump back in, but she stayed silent this time.
With no other objections spoken, they got to planning the calling card and date of the change of heart.
Tuesday, November 29th, 20XX After school
"Back in the graveyard…" Mumbling to herself, Oracle's words were only overheard by the nearby Fox.
"Indeed. However… perhaps it was because of how stricken I was by the landscape but… is it not brighter?"
"That's…" Taking a look at the sky, Oracle thought Fox was right. The ominous clouds had faded in intensity to simply an overcast day. "Definitely true. Maybe our calling card changed it?"
As their voices started carrying, Kasumi turned her head and spoke. "From what you've said, it was already happening when I came."
"Hmm, so something is affecting Akira's mental state…" Oracle mused. There was the obvious one: Salvation. If he was using his own app, then the cognitive capabilities within may be affecting his palace. Assuming it to be that Oracle's thoughts turned back to their surroundings.
As they were walking past, that same gravestone had a light beam illuminate it. The intensity of the light gave it an almost holy appearance as it practically glowed. Another new addition of white lilies had sprouted around it. Oracle did not know if the type of flower of important, but it did give the gravestone a beautiful, yet sad, appearance.
"…Let's keep going."
Oracle wasn't sure how long they had been standing around. Joker's words were enough to shake them back into movement. Of all the palaces they had been in after delivering a calling card, this one had changed the least. They were walking into the core of the palace, and no one had a weapon drawn, or even an eye out for shadows.
Through the massive front doors they went into the inner sanctum. This time there were no police officers, no sacrifice waiting for death. Only shadow Akira standing on the dais, glaring at them.
"Thieves! You come here for my treasure!? To rob me? Know that I will not show mercy! Turn around and flee with your tail between your legs."
"That means you, Panther," Skull droned. "Sorry, but you're the only one with a tail."
"Oh stuff it!" Giving him a light punch on the arm, all tension in the room was destroyed.
The child-like Akira's face mottled with rage. Rather than intimidating, it was just humorous. Oracle put a hand over her mouth to contain her laughter as the palace ruler stamped his foot. "Do not mock me, thieves! I have the power to slay monsters! Do not think I will show you mercy."
"Enough!" Joker commanded with true authority. As he strode forward, his presence dominated that of the palace ruler's. "You know this isn't what Mari would have wanted."
"Urgh! You dare invoke my mother's name!? How despicable!"
"We aren't the one's that killed her, Akira. Don't take your anger out on us."
"Silence! Stop trying to confuse me! If you won't listen, I'll force you!" Turning around, Akira ran to the large stone slab he used for executions and pushed on it. With a grating sound it slid back to reveal a hollow underneath. From there, Akira withdrew a short stick. Oracle couldn't really see as it was wrapped in Akira's hand, but it looked similar in size and shape to a motion controller.
"And how are you going to do that?"
"With this." Answering calmly, Akira turned to face them, appearance changing. His priest robes disappeared and from the silver stick in his hand, a new set of clothes began to encase him. Like a strange magical girl transformation, Akira was now clothed fully in some strange knockoff featherman costume.
"Hmm, you don't have that one in your collection," Fox remarked.
"That's because it isn't a featherman!" Oracle bit back.
"Featherman?" Akira drawled the word. "Those weak fools combining their powers do fit you, don't they? I shall show you true justice! The power of Zephyrman!"
Lifting the stick above his head, Oracle now recognized it as a sword handle as it burst alight with a shower of silver sparks. A blade of pure silver light formed. It was the length of Kasumi and Violets' rapiers but gave off a far deadlier energy.
This one seed of belief was where all of the palace's energy was focused into. A blade that could defeat any evil. Against a distortion so powerful, they had to be extra careful. With barely any conscious thought, Oracle brought out Necronomicon.
Her analysis was quick and surprising. Akira himself was weak. In terms of palace rulers, his physical strength was probably the lowest of any she had seen. The sword in his hand however was a void of energy that she couldn't analyze. Basically, it was a child wielding a deadly weapon—how fitting.
"Stay away from that blade of light, everyone!" Oracle cried out.
"Put it away!" Joker lashed out sharply at Akira. "You'll only get hurt."
"AHAHA! You think to threaten me? With this, I can defend myself! I can exact my justice and—"
"Trumpeter!"
Joker's ruthless summoning of his persona midsentence ended everything. A dome of destruction formed where the ruler was standing, completely encasing him in destructive energy.
"AHHHH!" A childlike scream of pain split the air.
Oracle winced. It was such a pitiful sound. She dismissed Necronomicon as she sensed the vitality drain from Akira inside the attack. When in ended, the boy's body was suspended by the energy that had enveloped him. With it dispersed he collapsed to the ground like a puppet with the strings cut.
Oracle was one of many who rushed over. The treasure remained firmly grasped in his right hand, the blade destroying the ground where it contacted. Akira's silver uniform was in shreds, dirtied skin peeking through from Joker's blast.
"Did that teach you anything?" Joker asked heartlessly.
Oracle gave him a look, wondering what his ploy was.
Akira struggled to raise his head. "A-Are you saying I was wrong to kill my father? That I should have just died and let him do what he pleases!?"
"No." Joker shook his head. "I'm saying you shouldn't have lied and faced society's judgement."
"Society's judgement?" Akira giggled. "I was cleared by society already! The police could have seen through my lies if they had tried. They sided with me!"
"Well… I guess we shall see when you confess this time." Darting forward, Joker snagged the sword from Akira. As he took the treasure, the sword turned off leaving him with just a hilt.
"NOO!" Akira howled from the ground. Pounding his fists and hollering, Akira clearly had no intention of accepting his defeat.
Seeing this, Joker paused. He couldn't leave without causing irreparable damage to Akira's psyche.
Feeling a building wave of sympathy, Oracle grabbed the handle from Joker. "Leave this to me."
"O-Oracle?"
Ignoring him, she knelt by Akira. "Calm down, it's alright. Here you go."
"H-Huh?" Blinking through tears, Akira stared dumbfounded between her face and the proffered treasure. "T-Thank you…"
As Akira went to take it, Oracle withdrew it for a moment. "Are you sure this is what you want? To hide away in this mausoleum? One day, it won't just be your parents' graveyard. It will be yours as well."
"What do you know!?" Akira screamed leaping at her to grab the handle. His weakness was apparent as they struggled. Oracle had no fighting capabilities, and still held her own. "Your mother wasn't killed! Your father didn't plot your murder!"
"I understand better than anyone!" Oracle insisted. Her voice rose in pitch to match the child's. "My mother committed suicide, and I never knew my father. You don't think I felt that same feeling? You don't think I don't know exactly the strongest emotion pulsing through you? Guilt."
"G-Guilt!?"
"Ahh, just as I blamed myself for my mother's murder, you blame yourself for yours. You can't help but wondering what you could have done to keep her alive. Or maybe if you had never have been born she would have had a happy life."
"T-That's…"
Oracle grabbed one of Akira's hands with hers, putting the handle so they were both holding it. "Listen to me. It was not your fault. You were a child. There was nothing that you could have done. But don't let your father's shadow taint your whole life. Move past it! Let go of the sword!"
"B-But what about the bad guys! If I can't defend myself from them…"
"Then run! Run and get help!"
"Those are a coward's words! Sometimes you can't run! Sometimes you're left crying in a closet, listening to leather strike flesh as moans of pain sound out and knowing its because of you!"
Oracle couldn't handle it anymore. With tears wetting her cheeks, she dove forward, wrapping Akira with her free arm. Pulling his head tight against her chest, she nuzzled her face against his hair. "I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have had to make those decisions. Your childhood was one that no one deserves but… that doesn't excuse our actions now. We can't justify the actions of today with the sins of the past. Lay down the sword Akira, please."
"No! No! I refuse to be powerless again! I have to carry out my justice!"
"And what about your father's justice?" Oracle asked as softly as she could. Akira still froze in her arms. "Can you really trust one person to become the arbiter of life? I don't think you can. The kinder they are, the easier they are to fool. The more cold-hearted, the more people will suffer."
"…And so you need a god who can see all. A benevolent deity that can't be fooled and also won't be frugal with their blessings. Ah, I suppose that it for the best. I should have just listened from the start. Here, take it."
Feeling a bit left in the dark with the sudden change in Akira's talking, Oracle was left with the treasure as he pulled away. "Just like that?"
"Ahh, I need flowers, not a sword to visit my mother's grave. Come on, I'll see you off."
"S-Sure…" Oracle agreed. With a look at the other thieves, none of them said anything, seeming content with all of the changes that were occurring. With the treasure in hand and the ruler's blessing, it seemed that this change of heart at least would go off without a hitch. The first since Sae…
In less than a minute they were arranged in a loose semi-circle before the illuminated gravestone. Akira sat in front of the grave without speaking or crying. Like he himself was stone, the scene continued without changing for a long minute. Just as Oracle was wondering if she should say something, he spoke.
"Goodbye thieves. I'm glad that I was your final target. Enjoy your lives."
Before any of them could demand an explanation, Akira's body dissolved into light. He did not wear a happy expression, but Oracle thought that he was content with the way things had turned out.
Crack!
Reverberating through the air was the sound of stone splitting. Everyone whirled toward the mausoleum which was beginning to collapse. Dust and shards of rock filled the air as the ground began to rumble. The very essence of the palace beginning to come apart.
"Come on, everyone," Joker said calmly. "Our job here is done."
"Yeah…" Agreeing, Oracle still felt like they had misunderstood something as they left. She had no time to dwell on those thoughts as people surrounded her, congratulating her on convincing Akira.
Post Note:
Yes, I understand that canonically Akira fooled the police. As I find that stupid and literally impossible to pull off, I've decided to ignore it.
Cheers.