Chapter 26: Trauma of the Phoenix

"Is this true? The three Keeps outside my castle have been taken down?" Shadow Akira asks to a shadow cop, kneeling before him in a cave with several pools of lava.

"Yes, sir. The guardians defending the Keep shave all been defeated. As for the intruders, we have confirmed them to be the Phantom Thieves of Hearts."

"The Phantom Thieves…. So they did arrive… Just like he warned." Shadow Akira replies, turning to look out a hole in the side of the cage. Seeing one of the chains surrounding the Birdcage meet his eyes. He holds a hand out, trying to reach out only to snap it back as the barrier surrounding him snaps at his fingers. Words echoing in his mind as he shakes his head.

"Lord Phoenix, what shall we do?" The shadow cop asks as Shadow Akira continues to look out the hole. The fires around illuminating his silver armour adorned with red, orange and yellow feathers. A deep red cape with two long feather tails races down his back, while the silver crown on his head adored with the same feathers over his arm seems to wear down on him.

"Nothing. I'm sure the last two guardians in my castle will take care of them. If not, then I will deal with them myself." Shadow Akira grips his hands, glaring out the window as he snarls. "I won't be second best to anyone. Not my parents, not that bastard Shido. Not the traitors who left us. Not to the Phantom Thieves. Not my friends. And not to my perfect brother. I WILL show him who is better out of the both of us!"

Night had fallen on Yokohama when the Thieves returned from the Jail. Some of them had ash still on their faces while others took drinks of water to rehydrate. Even if none of them were sweaty, staying in such an Jail took its toll on them.

"So, tomorrow we breach the castle and find out what caused Akira to become a Monarch?" Chihaya asks as the team hang around the Motorhome. Ren and Hifumi had ducked inside to start working on tea as the rest hanged outside in the cool nighttime air.

"That's right. But we'll warn you now. It will hurt." Morgana warns in advance to the two as Haru gently pats him on the back. Iwai and Chihaya glance at each other while Kaoru lets out a nervous chuckle at the implications. But just as Ren and Hifumi exited the Motorhome with tea, motion from the side caught their eyes as they spot a group of Phoenix Enforcers nagging around a closed shop.

With three of the former friends leading the group, alongside two more. A girl with short brown hair that goes to her shoulders, and a boy with dyed cyan hair stylised like Mishima's, but longer.

"It's them, along with two others." Akechi remarks with narrow eyes as the team watches on with suspicion. "But who are they?"

"Shika and Kanrisha." Ren replies, eyes narrow. "And just like Ōji and Shinkō, they are rarely seen separate. And it looks like Hoshi is there as well. But what the hell are the five of them doing this late at night?" Just as the question leaves his lips, Ōji throws a hand out towards the shop. And the Enforcers, wearing hoods and masks to conceal their faces, attack the shop. Throwing rocks and spray-painting the walls while others rush inside and tear apart the inside. Leaving the Thieves in shock as Ōji and the other four also join in. Trashing the store even as alarms go off, before vanishing into the night just as cop cars could be heard in the distance.

"Back to the Motorhome." Iwai tells the others as they head back, staying in the shade of the trees as cop cars arrive on the scene. Swarming the area around the shop as the Thieves gather around the Motorhome. Rather predictably, some cops came over to them, searching for whoever attacked the shop and so approached them.

"You kids! Did you see what happened?" The leader asks, walking up to them as they were just handing out dinner.

"Are you talking about the alarm that went off? We heard it go off, but what happened?" Hifumi asks, tilting her head and putting on her best curious look. The cop nods at her and opens his mouth to speak, just as two more run up to him, panting hard.

"Sir! We got CCTV of the attacks! It was those Phoenix Enforcer punks." The cop says, earning a growl from the leader as he shakes his head.

"Damn those brats. Did we get a visual on them?"

"We did, but only on five of them. The images are blurry though, and it will take time to smooth them out." The cop looks at the Thieves, shaking his head before turning to his superior. "But, I can say for certain that no one here fits the people on the footage."

"Is that so…?" The leader remarks, letting out a sigh before turning back to the group. "Sorry for bothering you. Enjoy your meal, but stay alert. You never know when those punks will come after you." With that, he turns on his feet and walks away, grumbling about how all the kids in Yokohama are joining these Enforcers.

"Whew… that was close." Ryuji remarks, rubbing the back of his head.

"For a moment, I thought he was going to accuse us." Shiho says with some worry in her voice.

"I don't think he would have." Akechi remarks, turning to the team. "He would not believe that a group like us would stay close to the sight of something like that vandalism as cops are coming in. He would have done a search on us first."

"And find our weapons for Metaverse exploration." Yusuke remarks with a grimace. "That was far too close for comfort." While the Thieves count their lucky stars that they managed to avoid a sticky situation, footsteps from the path near the water drew their eyes. Turning to look, they were surprised to see none other than Akira Konoe, walking down the path and looking at the water with a faraway look.

"Is that…. Akira Konoe?" Ann asks in surprise, catching his attention as he looks over to the team. Giving them a small smile.

"Well, good evening there. I didn't see you there. Must have been in my own head." Konoe remarks, before his eyes fall on Ren. Eyes widening in shock as he takes a nervous step forward. "Ren? Is that you?" Ren nervously separates himself from the others, walking up with a shaky grin as he greets Konoe.

"Hey, Uncle. It's… been a while." Ren says, as Konoe suddenly rushes up to him and envelops him in a hug with a laugh. Smiling with a big grin.

"Ren! It's been ages since we last met!" He cries, breaking the hug and holding him at arm's length. "I've been so worried about you when you went on probation. Even more so when your mother refused to give me your new contact details. But look at you! Have you been working out? And did you get a bit taller when we last met?"

"Well, it has been over a year at this point." Ren replies, letting out a smile. "Sorry I never got back in touch with you. The details I had were out of date."

"No need to worry about that! I'm just happy to see you again." Konoe remarks, before looking out over at the group behind Ren. "Are these your friends you made while in Tokyo?" Ren glances behind him at the others, before turning back to Konoe and nodding his head.

"Yeah, they are. Do you want to meet them?"

"Of course I would. I'd like to meet those who stayed by my nephews side." He says with a grin as Ren leads him to the Thieves. "A pleasure to meet all of you. As you are probably aware, I am Akira Konoe. Rene's uncle."

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Konoe. I am Goro Akechi." Akechi greets first, surprising Konoe.

"The Detective Prince himself? My, my, I never expected you to be Ren's friend." He greets, shaking Ren's hand.

"Well, he did help me last year with a favour. That, and I saw through his sham of a trial. I am proud to be his friend." Akechi replies, as each of the members introduces themselves to Konoe, while Isara and Sophia stayed quiet.

"My name is Makoto Niijima. And… I am also Ren's girlfriend. It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Konoe." Makoto greets as Konoe's eyes widen in surprise.

"His girlfriend? You managed to repair his heart after Hoshi shattered it?"

"Yeah, she did." Ren replies, wrapping a loving arm around her. "And she is a thousand times more perfect than Hoshi ever would be."

"Ren… you're embarrassing me…" Makoto replies, her face red as the team laugh at her. Ren glances at Futaba, nodding his head at her with a silent message in his eyes. Futaba and Hifumi both catch it and, realising what it meant, both nod back in return. It was time to drop the news on everyone.

"Good evening to you Konoe. I'm Futaba Sakura. And… I'm Ren's adoptive younger sister." Konoe turns to look at her, a slight bit of hurt behind his eyes, yet his smile not dropping.

"I had heard Ren had disowned himself from my harsh sister. It still hurts to hear, but I'm glad he has a home where he is treated well." Konoe tells her as Hifumi steps up, placing a hand on Futaba.

"My name is Hifumi Togo. I'm also adopted into Futaba's family, so I am technically Ren's older sister. Although…" She glances at the Thieves, nodding at Ren before dropping the bombshell. "…I am planning on formally dropping the Togo name and taking up the Sakura name instead."

"Say what?" Ann asks in surprise. "But, I thought you decided on keeping your last name?"

"I did. But, after the last time my ex-mother tried to drag me away, I decided I had enough." Hifumi reveals, letting out a sigh. "That's why, when we get back to Tokyo after our trip, Ren and I are changing our names." That sent a wave of surprise through the Thieves. But none more so than Konoe who turns to Ren with shock.

"Ren… You're changing your last name?" Ren looks at his uncle, some guilt on his face, yet determined all the same.

"Yeah. After disowning myself from my parents, I felt more and more uncomfortable on using that last name. Even if they told me, I couldn't use the Konoe part. Which is why I've decided to change my last name to Sakura as well. But…" He drops the arm around Makoto, placing his hand on Konoe's shoulder. "…Even though I am cutting myself off from my old family, that's not to say I'm cutting myself off from either you or Akira. When my probation was dropped, I wanted nothing more than to contact the both of you and introduce you to everyone. I'm sorry that I'm telling you this now after so long, but…"

"Ren, it is fine." Konoe interrupts, placing his own hand on Ren's shoulder. "I always had a feeling you would have changed your last name. You are your own person, not someone's tool. What you do with your life is up to you, and you alone. If you feel more comfort with a different last name, then I won't stop you. My only request is that you keep me in your life."

"I always planned to do so." Ren replies with a grin, before dropping the smile. "But, I haven't told Akira yet. And, with how things are currently with him and his Phoenix Enforcers… I don't know when I should tell him." Ren shakes his head as he lets out a sigh. "I'm worried about him. His behaviour that I've heard recently, and how he's trying to go for politics… it doesn't fit his character…"

"I'm sure he will be fine. Give him time." Konoe replies, before checking his watch. "I'm sorry to cut this short, but I have to go. I need to get back to Osaka for a meeting soon. Here." He takes out a business card, handing it to Ren. "It has my phone number on it. Don't hesitate to give me call, all right? And keep your chin up, Ren. Always keep moving forward. Remember what I always told you when you and Akira were young?" Konoe smiles as he steps away, moving back to the path. "A smile better suits a hero, and we are the heroes of our own stories." And like that, he leaves the Thieves alone while Ren heads back to the table so they could continue their dinner.

"Gotta say, your uncle looks like a cool dude." Ryuji remarks after swallowing his food. "He was pretty understanding as well."

"I'm just glad he hasn't changed since I last saw him. He's still the same Uncle that I grew up knowing." Ren replies, before looking up at the night sky. "Even if he is a suspect in all this…"

"Honestly, I'm hoping that he isn't." Makoto replies, pushing some hair back. "You're already going through this with Akira… It would be unfair if your Uncle was also in this…"

"Makoto's right Ren. You deserve the happiness after everything you have been through." Iwai remarks, Kaoru nodding beside him. Ren smiles at them thankfully, before taking a spoonful of his curry. It was surprising how it wasn't cold by now.

"Still, that was a bombshell to drop on us though." Shiho remarks, looking between Hifumi and Ren. "When did you guys plan to tell us?"

"Honestly, we were going to tell you guys after we dealt with Akira's Jail. But seeing Uncle Konoe again… It felt like a good time to say it." Ren replies, taking another spoonful of curry. Shiho nods her head in acceptance of the answer, before another set of footsteps grabs the teams' attention. This time, it was Zenkichi. And hew was wearing a disgruntled look.

"Ah, you're here. I'm sorry to bother you kids, seeing how you're having tea, but there's something that came up that you need to know." He says, grabbing their attention with the seriousness in his voice. "And before you worry, it's not about you guys."

"What is it about?" Kawakami asks, earning a loud sigh out of Zenkichi.

"I'll get straight to the point. The cops are planning to move on the Phoenix Enforcers as a whole." The groups eyes widen in shock as Zenkichi fixes his glasses. "I'm sure you guys saw that attack on the shop nearby, right? Well, that's not the only one. Multiple shops have been attacked by those punks tonight, and police are combing through the CCTV to find those responsible. Including the five who led the attack here."

"All of them? Including Akira and the others?" Ren asks with worry as Zenkichi looks at him.

"From what I've heard, he and the other seven who founded the club are on the list of suspects. But they weren't part of the attacks. At least, not visible on the cameras anyway. So technically, they haven't committed any crimes." Zenkichi lets out a sigh, rubbing between his eyes. "But despite that, they are still the 'leaders' of the group. And at this rate, we are looking at all eight of them getting hit with criminal charges for planning the attacks. Regardless if they are innocent or not."

"What?!" Ren shouts, standing up suddenly. "Akira would never do anything like that! And I know Denki and the others! They would oppose this no matter what!"

"I want to believe you Ren, but we have heard no response from them. Either they are shocked at what has happened and are trying to form a response, have no idea this has even happened and are in the dark. Or… they have changed more than you know." Zenkichi looks away, not seeing Ren in the eyes. "How close are you to finishing that Jail?"

"We're just about to dive in tomorrow and find out where his Trauma is. We'll send out the calling card the day after and stop this madness." Makoto tells him, earning a nod from the investigator.

"That works out fine. The police are waiting a few days before they make a move. If your brother and his seven friends denounce themselves from the Enforcers and leave the group, the police will pass over them. But if they don't in three days' time…"

"He will. We'll make sure of it." Ren replies with narrow eyes. Eyes that made Zenkichi take a step back. "I know what it's like to have a record. And I WON'T let any of them have one. The stigma that stays with you when you have a record… it makes your whole world lose colour. Everything goes darker, and you feel as though you have no future left open to you. The isolation that comes with everyone cutting you off and abandoning you, to be honest, I don't even know how I got through the first half of April with that load on me until I met Ryuji, Morgana, and Ann. That's why…" He tightens his hand into a fist, staring right at the Inspector. "…I will do anything so that Akira never has to suffer from that."

The Thieves sit in silence, Ren's words bouncing around their heads as Zenkichi looks at Ren in the eyes. Before he slowly nods his head at the leader.

"I hear you. I'll do everything in my power to see Akira and his seven friends are not charged for anything. I'm not about to see family members get torn apart due to the actions of others. Can't say the same about the five who led the attack here though, but something tells me you won't mind." Zenkichi turns around, his back facing the Thieves as he makes for the streets. "I hope you kids know what you are doing. And that you succeed in time." The Thieves stand in silence, watching as Zenkichi leaves as Ren sits down back in his seat. Letting a sigh out as Makoto places a hand on his shoulder.

They had a time limit now. They could not mess this up, while Chihaya glanced at the card she had pulled.

The Hope card, in reverse.

August 11th, 2017

Not wasting anytime, the Thieves return to the Yokohama Jail early in the morning. The sooner they could knock out the Trauma Cell, the sooner they could send the card to Akira. Not because they were fed up with the heat, but walking through the blistering wind around them only added another reason to get this over with. At least the drawbridge leading into the castle had descended, opening the way up to the inner courtyard. Yet, there was still one problem left.

"We can't go through the front so long as that lava waterfall is up." Fortune handily points out to the stream of lava blocking the main entrance of the castle. An inner moat of lava surrounded the plaza, while walls of craggy rock surrounds the sides, pining the Thieves in.

"Anyone see a way in?" Violet asks, glancing around while taking a glance towards the Birdcage above them. It was only now, standing up this close, that they could see that not only was it built into the mountain itself, but what looked to be the Marine Tower could be made out from the towering rock.

For Joker's part, he scans the area with his Third Eye. Looking for any weakness that they could exploit. Before finally spotting a row of rocks sticking out from a nearby wall, leading up to the battlements where a cave entrance lay open. Motioning to the others, Joker leads the team up the rocks, hopping over the lava moat below before arriving onto the battlements, rushing along the side until they reached the cave entrance.

Where they found another cognition waiting for them. This time, it was the deep brown haired Shika who was blocking their road.

"Let me guess, you are the Phantom Thieves who have been messing up our home? You guys have zero tack, don't you?" Cognition Sika asks, shaking her head. "Is it any wonder why people hate your guts?"

"Cheap talk coming from one who tore apart a shop." Fox counters, hand resting on his katana.

"Am I to care? If it has nothing to do with me, I won't bother showing interest. And if something I care about bores me, I drop it and move on. Just like Ren." C-Shika shakes her head, not seeing Joker tighten his hands in anger. "Know it all bastard, always deciding on what we should do. It felt good to see him get hauled off when he got too big for his sense of help. Just like all of you…" With that, C-Shika changes form into an Anubis. The scales held in her hand dipping between bless and curse. "Time for you to go into retirement!" Not even pausing to stop, Shika unleashed a Maeigaon on the Thieves, forcing them back before following up with a Makougaon.

"Man, I HATE Anubisi!" Skull yells, ducking under a spear of light while Spring, Violet, and Fortune tank the bless attack head on. Just as several Isis and Thoths join Shika, alongside the usual shadow cops and dogs.

"Shika's got no weaknesses! This will be a long one guys!" Oracle informs the team as Gecko slams a hand into the ground, igniting the ground with Maragidyne and burning several cops and a few Isis. Before quickly following it up with a Sledgehammer, just as Shika attempted to hit him with a Mudoon. Only for Fortune to leap in front and absorb the hit.

"Struggle all you like! You won't get past me!" Shika yells, watching as Queen and Mona's spells wash over her shield. Leaving small cracks, but not enough to shatter it. Outlaw grunts in annoyance, knowing that his main gun skills would do nothing against Shika, before glancing over at Skull as he bashes away a big one wielding a giant axe.

"Skull! What say we finish this off old western style?!" Outlaw calls out, the star in Joker's coat glowing once again.

"I thought you'd never ask!"

"It's Showtime!"

Leaping into the air, Skull and Outlaw pass the red curtains that fall and change the area. Transporting Shika, a few Thoths and Isis and numerous shadow cops onto a old steam train as it steams down a mountain path. On the outside, a wanted poster of Skull and Outlaw flaps in the wind as the two Thieves ride alongside the train on white stallions.

"Time to send this train off the rails!" Skull shouts, holding a grenade before throwing it into the chimney stack of the train. The grenade detonating with electrical energy and destroying the engine, sending the train storming off the tracks and into a canyon below. As it passed by, Outlaw and Skull grab their guns and fire at stacks of barres holding gunpowder. Setting them on fire as the train and passenger cars fly off the canyon edge.

With the entire caboose detonating in a large explosion as it slams into the ground below. The two Thieves grinning at their work before ridding off into the sunset as the curtains fall and restore the area.

But while it was enough to wipe out the lesser shadows, Shika was still floating about with scales held high. Yet, her shield was close to breaking, as cracks criss-cross the barrier like a spiders web. Something that Joker was quick to capitalise on.

"This shows over! Megidolaon!" He cries, Raoul forming to his side as he blasts the sphere with almighty energy. Shattering it and leaving Shika stunned as the Thieves unleashed their All-Out Attack. Sending the cognition of Shika back to the shadows of where she came from.

"All right! Gatekeeper down!" Edelweiss cheers as the Thieves take a moment to breathe, while Sophie glances at Joker with a concerned expression.

"Dad… are you all right?" Sophie asks quietly, holding Joker back as the team enter the cave. "You've been distant ever since we arrived."

"I have?" Joker asks with some slight surprise.

"Yes. You haven't introduced me to Uncle Akira or Konoe. I feel… left out." Joker's eyes widen slightly as he frowns softly at her before kneeling to her height and rubbing her head.

"I'm sorry if you've been feeling that way. But, please try to understand Sophie. This has been…hard for me. Seeing my brother become a Jail Monarch and knowing that my Uncle is under suspicion… I just feel that if I introduce you to them now, it will only make things worse. Like how I didn't tell Akira that I'm changing my last name." Joker lets out a sigh, standing back to full height. "Once we are done here and change my brothers' heart, I'll make sure to introduce you to him. Deal?" He holds a hand out to Sophie, who looks at it before grabbing with both hands.

"Deal." She replies with a grin, one that Joker copied before the two joined the others inside the cave. Finding several tunnels leading into various directions while Oracle stood at the centre. Her screens spinning around her as she attempted to map out the route.

"Everything okay?" Queen asks the two as they join, with Joker nodding at her with a smile before Oracle lets out a cheer.

"I found a route!" She calls, pressing several buttons as one of the tunnels glows green. "This one will lead us to the top! Got a few other tunnels to move through, but it should be a straight path!"

"Something tells me it won't be so easy, but time is of the essence." Noir replies as the team head for the passageway. Walking through the dark tunnel, with nothing to guide their way but thee glow of lava through the walls, the team press onward to the top. Passing through countless tunnels, forced to take detours when roofs collapsed or became filled with magma. But eventually, they reached the outside leading towards the Birdcage, where the final cognition stood.

"You Thieves actually made it all the way up here? You really are serious on stopping the Phoenix, aren't you?" C-Kanrisha asks, shaking his head as the Thieves stand before him.

"If you realise that, then get out of our way." Outlaw tells him, not liking how he was looking at someone who could be called his evil double ganger.

"What? And let you pass on? As if. You Thieves' may think you have the run of this place, but you don't. So why don't you just call it quits and go on home?" C-Kanrisha remarks, before changing his form into a large shadow. A White Rider, to be exact. "If not, then I guess I'll show you why you lot are nothing but a bunch of losers! Just like those brothers!"

As the Thieves ready for a fight, several large shadow cops holding rocket launcher spawn around Kanrisha, alongside some giant shadow cops holding swords while normal cops and dogs spawned around him alongside several Ose and Dionysius.

"Riot Gun!" Crow and Outlaw shout, launching the first attack and tearing into the smaller shadows while the rest of the Thieves engaged the free personae. While Oracle got to work scanning Kanrisha, an Ose charges at her with swords raised, only for Gecko to jump between them and reflect the attack. Followed up by Sophie who blasts the Ose with a Kougaon as Violet attacks with a Sword Dance. Sending the Ose flying off the edge and to the ground below.

"Thanks you guys!" Oracle calls to the three as her screens zero in on Kanrisha. "And here are the stats! Kanrisha is weak to ice, but blocks fire and bless and reflects curse!"

"Perfect! Ready fox?" Joker calls, landing next to him, and he rests a hand on his mask.

"Of course!" Fox replies, taking his own mask off as Gorokichi forms behind him. "Bufudyne!"

"Ice Age!"

The two ice attacks slam into Kanrisha from two sides. One from below as it forms into a tree, the other from the front as it forms into a sphere before blasting out into a spiralling pattern. Skewing Kanrisha even as his shield flares to life.

"You think you're so clever, do you!?" Kanrisha shouts, attacking with a Riot Gun before switching to an Oni-Kagura. "Just like Ren!? Well, I've had it with smart-assess poking their noses into other people's business! Why can't you just be idiots like Akira!?"

"Don't call him that!" Joker yells, blasting another Ice Age at Kanrisha before switching to Raoul as he glows scarlet. "Let's see if you can handle this!" He leaps into the air as Raoul conjures a scythe of darkness before tossing it to Joker, before blasting the area around Kanrisha with countless black feathers. Covering him in feathers as Joker comes down, scythe above his head, just as Raoul creates another one for himself.

"Scythes of Eternal Darkness!" Joker screams, slicing down from above as Raoul comes in from the side. Forming a cross pattern of curse energy as the countless feathers all explode as one. Engulfing Kanrisha in a blast of curse energy that breaks through his resistances and shatters his shield, while decimating the shadow cops standing around him. Leaving him open to one final All-Out Attack, wiping him out and leaving the path to the Birdcage clear. "Don't call Akira that…"

"Dang Joker… Never seen you that pissed off before." Skull remarks as the team gather around him. "You even managed to use a skill from the Kingdoms."

"I think that was his Theurgy." Oracle remarks, grabbing the teams' attention. "Remember what the S.E.E.S team told us they could use? Well, I think what Joker, what we all did in the Kingdoms, was Theurgy. And I think it works differently that the Voltage attacks we've been using so far."

"We can talk about that later." Mona interjects, looking at the cage. "For now, we have a Trauma Cell to find." The Thieves glance at the cage, all wondering where the voices would lead them next, and what they would say.

"Well, let's get this over with Fortune." Gecko remarks, rolling his shoulder before stepping forward. Fortune looks wearyingly at the cage, before letting out a sigh of resignation as she joins Gecko at the cage. Both placing their hands on it and feeling the pain surge through them, while the Thieves wince in sympathy. Just as their vision go white, and the voices echo around them.

Why do we even keep him around? All he ever does is hold us back.

Indeed. You would think Akira would have half the smarts his brother has.

But he doesn't. Nor does he have any worthy talent either. No natural leadership at all.

I thought brining him here would take his mind off things, but it would seem customs does nothing either.

He will never forget his brother. Even now, he's standing in his shadow, never able to escape. Nothing but a second rate child. Always behind.

Why…? Why do they always compare me to him?

Akira's heartbroken voice echoes around them as the vision ends, brining the Thieves back to reality as Gecko and Fortune back away from the Birdcage.

"That stings…" Gecko remarks, shaking his arm.

"Those voices we heard… are those…?" Panther asks hesitantly to Joker, who eyes burn with anger as he stares at the cage.

"Yeah… my ex-mom and ex-dad." He clenches his hand while gritting his teeth. "They always talked about him like that… Always comparing me to him."

"But, where is the Cell located? I don't think I heard anything that sounded like a location to me." Spring remarks, rubbing her arms. The Thieves rack their brains at the conversation, running all the words in their heads as they tried to find anything that could help. Until Joker's eyes widen at one word.

"Customs… That's it! The Yokohama Customs Museum!" The team glance at Joker as he snaps his fingers together. "My ex-dad had been adamant that one of us should try to take over that place as a manager, and would drag us there whenever he could. That's the only place that comes to my mind."

"It sounds like a long shot, but I suppose we don't really have a choice." Teach remarks, shaking her head. "How far is it from where we are currently parked?"

"It's not far. I can guide us there." Joker replies, turning back to the entrance. "Let's go." Without another word, Joker leads the team back through the castle. A determined face never leaving his features as they marched.

Ren wasn't joking when he said it was not far from where they were. In just a few minutes, they arrived at the white stoned building holding the museum. Compared to others, it wasn't large and grand or even imposing. Just a simple four-story building with long windows and decorative sides. Yet, this place was also where Akira's trauma was located. Something that Ren was not at all eager to find out.

"Well, we are here. Are you ready, Ren?" Yusuke asks, casting a glance at Ren as he looks up at the building. Before letting out a sigh and turns back to the others with a steel gaze.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Grasping his phone, he brings it to his face, watching the EMMA app as it awaits his response. "Keyword: Rising Phoenix."

Keyword successfully entered. Beginning navigation.

And like all the other times, the thieves find themselves inside the Trauma Cell, the world around them reverberating from the red and black waves. Around them, stacks of museum pieces detailing the history of customs lines the walls around them, and even in the space before them. While at the far end, standing with arms folded and faces of displeasure, Ren's former parents stand before them.

"Why does he even continue to praise his brother? He's no longer here to help him." His ex-mother asks in an uncaring voice. "Ren is a criminal. He should just forget about him and actually make himself useful for a change."

"There's no changing that. Ren had always been there for him. To the point that he actually was a detriment to Akira's growth." Ren's ex-father replies, as a gasp from Akira echoes around the Thieves. "He should realise by now that he can never be his brother, yet he still tires to be him regardless. What, is he also going to try to assault someone and get a record as well?"

"No… Ren was helping me be my own person… he would never hold me back. He tried to help someone else…"

"Forget about it. Akira is a waste of breath to help. Without his brother, he is nothing but a paperweight. Why did I even bother to keep him around?" Another pained gasp echoes from Akira as Joker clenches his hands. One that was matched by the rest of the Thieves as the two cognitions turn to face them.

"He can try to forge his own way however he likes. In the end, he's nothing but a shadow of his brother. One he will never escape from. Right, Akira?" At that, the two cognitions change into two Lock Keepers. One held four spears, while the other held four hammers.

"TWO!?" Skull shouts as the two Lock Keepers advance. "Who said there would be two!?"

"You never knew how much Ren continued to defend you, Akira. Even when he himself knew how stupid you were!" The Keeper armed with hammers shouts, slamming them down and scattering the Thieves.

"You think you can forge your own way?! How can you do so with that thick brain of yours!?" The Keeper armed with spears cries, spinning them around like a hurricane and scattering the Thieves even more.

"Guys! They are both weak to curse and bless, but the one armed with spears is weak to physical, while the one armed with hammers is weak to gun!"

"Good to know!" Noir cries, Lucy, forming behind her. "One Shot Kill!" The round from Lucy slams into the hammer Keeper while Gecko sprints at the one holding spears. Easily dodging the blows as he gets in close to the Keeper.

"Vorpal Blade!" He shouts, slamming the attack as a haymaker into the Keeper, sending it staggering back as it reals before jumping into the air. Slamming back down onto the ground and sending out a shockwave as the hammer Keeper boosts its attack.

"The idiot younger brother, trying to start a club. What makes you think it will work? You have no talent as a leader like Ren!" The hammer Keeper shouts, slamming all four hammers down and sending out a shockwave at the Thieves. Forcing them into the air as the spear Keeper attempts to skewer them mid-flight. Even as Joker, Crow and Fortune blast them both with curse magic, followed up by Spring, Violet, and Sophie with bless magic on top.

"You still hang out with those 'friends' of yours? Didn't they betray your brother? Oh wait, HE betrayed YOU!" The spear Keeper counts, spinning around like a tornado while the hammer Keeper leaps into the air and slams back on the ground.

"Argh! They keep double-teaming!" Outlaw shouts in annoyance, jumping over the shockwave while firing his gun mid-air. Landing rounds on the hammer Keeper before ducking under the spears.

"Focus on one at a time!" Queen shouts, hitting one of them with an Atomic Flare. "We take one out, and we have more room to breathe!"

"Why do you keep on trying? You will never amount to anything! You will always be the second-rate son. You will never be more than that!" The hammer Keeper roars, slamming two hammers on the ground before dragging them forward while the spear Keeper vanishes. Reappearing behind Joker and Crow before bashing them both into the wall.

"Joker! Crow!" Edelweiss shouts, rushing over to them as the hammer Keeper appears before them. Hammer in the air and ready to crush them. Just as it brought the hammer down, Edelweiss leaps between them and blocks it, turning her thrusters on to full max as she struggled to hold the hammer back.

"You are a failure! An insult! A waste of space who does nothing but sit around! When will you realise this and leave!?" The hammer Keeper yells, just as Outlaw lands a heavy gun attack on its back, cracking its shield, while Skull lands a heavy blow on the spear Keeper. Cracking its shield as it stumbles back.

"You think you can make a political party? You can't even think of a good idea at home! What makes you think you have what it takes to run a county!? Nothing! You are nothing but a spoiled brat who lives in his brother's shadow!"

"You will never escape that fate. Accept it, and be done with this fantasy. Your future is not yours to control. You don't even know what to do with it! A boy who pales in comparison with his older brother. Rushing after him in a pathetic attempt to stand by his side. That will never happen, idiot!"

"I've had enough of this…" Joker says quietly, standing on his feet, glaring daggers at the Lock Keepers. "I always kept Akira away from them when they spouted this nonsense. And maybe I should have done something to make them think otherwise. But now I see just how selfish they really are."

"I agree… I have had it with parents thinking they are better than their own children." Crow growls as the star in Joker's pocket glows. "Let's show them just how wrong they really are!"

"With pleasure!"

"It's Showtime!"

As the red curtain came down and covered the field, the battle area was transformed into a rooftop terrace, with rain coming down from the sky as the two Lock Keepers glanced around in confusion, before spotting Crow at the far end of the roof. While Crow stood alone on the rooftop, he held a hand to his head before his eyes widened in anger as he was suddenly engulfed in a red aura of curse energy, before charging down the rooftop towards the two Lock Keepers.

Meanwhile, Joker grappled along the vents of the roof towards the Lock Keepers before swinging high into the air and slicing down across one of them before cutting the other with a curse-infused knife. Doing the same in reverse on the two as he leaps back over Crow, who begins to wail into both with relentless abandon before giving one final slice across their chests, leaving a sphere of curse energy between the two as Crow lands behind them, while Joker lands next to him.

"Game over." Joker quietly remarks with anger in his words before firing a single curse-infused shot into the sphere, detonating it and consuming both as Crow walks away. Calm as ever, as the area returns to normal. The two Lock Keepers back away, stunned by the attack as their shields shatter, the Thieves unleashing one final attack on them, slashing into them without care until, finally, they fell.

Leaving behind two shattered locks as the Trauma cell returns to its previous form.

"Man, what assholes! Can you believe the shit they were saying!?" Skull yells angrily, kicking his foot at a table

"To disregard their son, just because he couldn't keep up… That's just cruel." Fortune replies, hand on her chest while Gecko slams his hands together.

"More shitty parents…" He growls while Joker glares at the two locks with fury.

"Akira… You had to deal with this when I was away, didn't you? You had to hear them compare you to me every day even though I was a criminal…That made you envious, didn't it? Or… have you always been envious of me?" He asks no one, his hand shaking before slamming it into a nearby wall. "I should have noticed sooner. Why didn't I see it?"

"Joker…" Mona says quietly as Joker takes a deep breath. Loosening his shoulders, he turns to the others.

"Let's get out of here." He tells the group, walking to the exit in silence. "We have a Card to write, and I have a brother to confront."