Shin Persona Evangelion

by Ultra Sonic 007

Shinji Ikari stared, bewildered by the bizarre-looking man, who gave an intrigued smile. "An interesting guest has arrived. My name is Igor. Welcome to the Velvet Room, young fool...we have important matters to discuss, you and I." (A fusion of the realms of Evangelion and Persona, where not all is as it seems.) (Cover art by Renu of the Sufficient Velocity forums.)

132. SIDESTORY - The Tale of Kurusu: Part 4

Author's Note: Even more changes being to happen...

Once I've got enough main plot interludes saved up, I'll post them in a separate chapter.

xxxx

Why are we here?

To realize that past struggles...may foreshadow future resolutions...

xxxx

In the end, Akira Kurusu decided to have Yusuke Kitagawa spend the night at Leblanc.

Convincing Sojiro Sakura, mercifully, was rather easy to convince. "His art teacher turned himself in to the police today."

Sojiro glanced towards the television — which had been displaying news related to the calling card at the museum; the news article publishing pictures that hinted at counterfeits of the Sayuri; and cell phone footage showing the police showing up at Madarame's atelier and then taking him away, with said footage captured by nosy neighbors — before looking back with an arched eyebrow. "Let me guess: you were actually serious about the art model business."

"Ah, so he's told you about me," said Yusuke without hesitation. "I thank you for your generosity."

Sojiro huffed, scratching at the back of his head. "Just...if you end up having to speak with the police, do it somewhere else! I don't want any trouble." Turning towards Akira, he groused, "And what did I say about staying out of trouble?"

"To be fair, it's his trouble, not mine," Akira quickly answered.

At this, Sojiro could only sigh. "I'm going to go and close up shop..."

xx

After helping themselves to some of the leftover curry in the fridge, as well as some fresh coffee — both of which Yusuke appreciated dearly — the artist asked, "So...do you think the change in Madarame's cognition already occurred...?"

(Little did he know, but Yusuke's use of the word 'cognition' prompted an eavesdropping Futaba Sakura — who had been about to go to bed, exhausted after a day spent hacking into museum security footage and fine-tuning the edits until it met her particular standards — to suddenly jolt up in her seat with alarm. "Cognition...?")

"It took just under a week going from taking Kamoshida's Treasure to him confessing his crimes...but there was so much more pressure on Madarame's mind in reality than was ever placed on Kamoshida's," answered Morgana, sitting quietly on Akira's desk. "For our easier targets in Mementos, the change of heart has always taken place within a day or two; it all depends, honestly."

"I see..." Yusuke glanced down at the painting in his hands: the original Sayuri. Whenever he had a free moment, he obsessively observed its every contour, the intimate strokes of each brush of paint. "...it is impossible for my mother's painting to be acknowledged by society anymore. So with that in mind, I would like you to have it."

Akira — laying on his couch, trying to figure out what to write in his probation diary — blinked. "Oh. Really?"

"You have already done so much for me. I can think of no better place to be graced by my mother's last memento."

"...I humbly accept your gift, Yusuke." With that in mind, Akira quickly wrote down his words.

xx

Day: May 29th, 2016

Saw a fox get revenge on the one who killed his mother. It was quite the sad scene.

I wonder what the cleanup event tomorrow will be like?

xx

"...before we parted ways, Ryuji and Ann spoke about why you all kept doing this: giving 'courage' to those who were unable to stand for themselves..." Looking over from the mattress, Yusuke asked, "Do you believe as they do?"

Akira pondered his own motives for fighting, and weighed them against the experiences of a life that no longer was. "...for me, it's about balancing the scales. Many people suffer at the hands of others: some have the power to get their payback; others are strong enough to endure their suffering and grow from it; but...a lot of people just don't have the ability to get back at the people who make their life miserable. So in a way...we help give hope to people who've lost hope in the future...that's how I think about it, anyway..."

("Hope..." murmured Futaba to herself.)

"So it is about exacting revenge, then?" asked Yusuke. "Seeking vengeance on behalf of victims?"

Akira thought about his words carefully. (How many times in his Last Life™ had he and his friends reflected on their actions as the Phantom Thieves, as the years had gone by?) "...revenge, vengeance, restitution, justice...a lot of words to describe something complicated, you know? You might argue that punishment inflicted on criminals is vengeance directed by the state against evildoers on behalf of the people...but what if the state gets things wrong? What if the system protects evildoers? What if the ones in charge fail to pursue justice like they should?" He looked up at the wooden beams of the attic ceiling, counting the grains and patterns in the material; what tree had they come from? What injustices had it, in some cosmic sense, borne witness to? "I don't try to think of it like that...I'm just trying to make things a bit more fair. Nothing more, and nothing less..."

("...making things fair..." Futaba looked at her computer monitors with a strangely detached air. How...would you make that fair...? She would wrestle with that question all night, even as the accusing whispers became louder and more vicious...)

"...I see." Yusuke chuckled. "You sound quite learned for one of your age."

"No kidding," commented Morgana.

Akira shrugged, getting into a comfier position on the couch. "Out in the countryside, you'd be surprised what you end up reading in order to escape boredom." (Still not technically a lie!)

Before long, sleep claimed them...

xxxx

...but alas, his night was not yet over. Joker sat up within the Velvet Room, glancing at Yaldabaoth. "It's been a while."

"A great sinner of vanity, expunged: yet another familiar station travelled." Fake Igor chuckled. "At this rate, you will merely end up at the same place..."

Joker glanced at the distant forms of Caroline and Justine: they seemed less perturbed by his presence now, yet still remained silent. "I'm sure. A lot's changed already."

"Indeed."

"Which reminds me of something else." The Black Mask...i.e. Goro Akechi. "The last time we went through this song and dance, you claimed complete ignorance about the Black Mask. Yet Akechi was the other 'player' in this little game of yours. For a God of 'Control', you sure didn't care for the truth."

The False Igor snorted. "A very human perspective, to equate 'Control' with truth or falsehood; control can be achieved with both." Tap-tap, went his fingers. "Besides, a 'game master' has to portray a certain level of...affected ignorance, to ensure that each player operates without undue coercion. After all, it would not be 'fair' to favor one side over the other..."

"Until you don't get the result you wanted, and end up flipping over the proverbial table out of spite," retorted Joker. "Like you did last time."

At this, Yaldabaoth could only sneer. "To which I say, are you not also seeking a desired result? What limits would keep you from reaching it?" Leaning forward, Fake Igor asked, "You speak of the importance of fairness, Trickster; to which I wonder, what could possibly rectify the unfairness of losing the life you so dearly valued? To have what you treasured and valued...ripped away, without warning, and without care?"

"I don't know, given that you probably had a hand to play in this whole 'repeat' business?" Joker heatedly replied.

Yaldabaoth could only laugh. "Ah, how short the memory of humanity is; were you not already warned at the beginning? These circumstances are courtesy of a malevolent will...our Ruin. Were it up to my design, I would have had nothing to do with you."

"The feeling's mutual," murmured Joker. Right; this whole business with whatever this 'Ruin' is...how in the world can I even begin to get to the bottom of it...?

"And yet here we are: reprising old and tired roles, without any thought of 'fairness'...or the lack thereof." Fake Igor's grin took on an air that was both dark yet sober. "Our Ruin cares not for such a thing..."

Alas, Joker would have to think about it later, for the dream soon came to an end...

xxxx

/Monday: May 30th, 2016/

Akira Kurusu — having said his farewells to Yusuke as the artist diverged to the train line that would take him to Kosei High School — quietly made his way to Inokashira Park, emerging from the station at Shibuya; needless to say, he was in a bit of a mood after his 'dream' involving Yaldabaoth the previous night. The notion of 'fairness', and having everything taken away at the drop of a hat...it only brought to mind just what he had lost, and that the chances of regaining it were slim...

As such, he was less than amused at the sight of some balding creep grabbing a familiar redhead first-year student by the wrist. "-I'll put my number in your phone so you can call me later," the adult slimily said. "Sound like a plan?"

"Stop it..." Yoshizawa whispered back.

Akira idly noted the number of people who were just standing around, not giving a crap; one man in a suit even turned around and walked away, not wanting to get involved. Man, y'all are a bunch of bitches, he thought with a bit of petty and purely adolescent wrath. Stepping forward, he intruded on both of their personal spaces, glaring daggers at a man who should have known better. "Hi."

Yoshizawa looked at him with shock, whilst the man snarled, "What do you want?"

Intentionally raising his voice, Akira loudly said, "I go to Shujin too; if you want a child's phone number, why not have mine?"

The stranger, bewildered by the sheer audacity of his statement, couldn't stop Yoshizawa as she darted behind Akira. "We're..." He looked around, as if realizing more people were staring at him for wanting to get a student's phone number, out of the blue. "...just being friendly-"

"Really?" To emphasize just how 'Done With You™' Akira was, he lowered his fake glasses, staring at him with an expression that belonged to the face of a pissed off senior citizen that didn't give a crap. "So am I."

The creep, as though realizing he was out of his depth, turned around and walked away without another word.

Akira huffed. "The nerve of some people, huh?" Glancing behind him, he asked, "You okay?"

Yoshizawa offered her gratitude in an overtly formal manner, asking why he stepped in to help.

"It was an adult harassing a teenager; that's all the reason anyone should need," he flatly replied.

For some reason, this response made the girl more thoughtful than expected. But then, the reality of the cleanup reared its ugly head, as the girl went to make a quick trip to Shujin to grab her gym uniform. With a polite bow, she excused herself.

At least she's polite, thought Akira as he continued onward.

xxxx

It was, admittedly, rather novel for so many Shujin students to be at the park in their gym uniforms.

What wasn't novel was the fact that he was split off from his friends, working alongside people who clearly didn't care for his presence. "-is he that transfer student?" whispered one of the people in his group. "The one with all the crazy rumors?"

"Keep it down, what if he hears us?"

Akira, had he actually been a teenager, might have tried to ignore them. Akira, being a bit of a 'grumpy old man' in spirit, decided to indulge in those instincts. "Yes...what if he heard you?" Glancing over his shoulder at the trio of stunned students, he added, "If you want my opinion, he'd probably ask about the craziest rumor you've heard about him. Or about which rumor you think is true. I'm sure he wouldn't be picky."

The students opted to shuffle away, seeking to pick up trash on their own.

Akira rolled his eyes. Kids. He opted for picking up garbage at a higher pace (use your max Proficiency to its utmost!), if only so they could be done faster.

(Also, why in the world was there so much trash at Inokashira?! Had the park really been that bad in his younger years?!)

xx

On the plus side, Takuto Maruki was excellent at making soup. So...at least lunch was salvageable?

(It's the small things...)

xx

Akira sat on a bench by himself with Morgana, enjoying the feel of the sun streaming through the shade. At least the sunlight feels the same...

"...that sure was a crappy time out there," murmured Morgana.

"It is what it is," muttered Akira, only to perk up as someone approached. "Ah. Yoshizawa-san."

"Hello, senpai! I wanted to properly thank you for earlier..." She looked around with concern. "Where's...the rest of your group?"

"I believe they were concerned about rumors regarding a vicious criminal lurking in the park, and decided to make a run for it." At her alarmed expression, he dryly remarked, "Said vicious criminal being me, by the way."

"Ah...I see."

It was odd, conversing with someone who he had no memory of; even with people he had been no more than acquaintances with, there had been some core that his neurons could at least latch on to. But Yoshizawa? He had zilch.

(Also, she had apparently been left behind by her own group as well. Why? She was practically the perfect picture of a polite and inoffensive student, as far as he was concerned.)

(You never know...)

Small talk ensued, and she once again apologized for an even older incident: outside the guidance office, with Kamoshida. (Seriously? That had been over a month ago!) Alas, rumors at Shujin were what they were, but even he was flabbergasted by some of the examples she rattled off. "...elephant tusk trafficking," he repeated. When she nodded, he blithely added, "Beats driving without a license." (Technically true!)

Finally, as if recognizing their circumstances, she made to finally introduce herself formally...that is, before she got distracted by a kid's balloon nearly slipping away.

'Nearly' being the kid word, because dang she could jump high. Gymnastics, huh?

"Whoa, that was pretty high..." murmured Morgana, looking down at the ground. "Hey, look."

Akira dutifully picked up a Shujin Academy pocketbook; the name Kasumi Yoshizawa was written inside. Kasumi, huh?

(Little did he know, but that fact impressed itself upon his cognition. He would not understand its provenance until...much, much later...)

Even so, he found her athleticism rather impressive. I'll take any edge I can get against whatever the true 'Ruin' is. So much so, that he asked for some pointers.

Alas, life being what it was, there was also a catch. "...I haven't been getting the results I want from my performances, and I'm worried that I'm overthinking things...any advice you could give would be wonderful. Not so much for technical coaching...just lending me an ear, from time to time."

Ah, sounds like some old-fashioned anxiety. I can help with that. "Deal."

(The feeling he recalled from Takuto Maruki reared its head again: a familiar feeling, yet tinged with something...else...?)

(The Faith Confidant...why does it feel shallow to you...?)

Alas, with an exchange of contact information, it was something he could safely think about later.

"...you know, I have to thank Suzui-senpai for convincing me to talk with you," Kasumi admitted.

Akira blinked. "You mean Shiho Suzui? I didn't know the gymnastics team and the volleyball team were close."

"Oh, not at all! I met Suzui-senpai completely by accident...but it feels like she's dealing with some of the same stuff I've been struggling with. So it's been nice, to have someone understand..."

"...if that's the case, why do you need me for advice?" he honestly asked.

Kasumi smiled politely. "Well...you kind of seem like an old man in spirit? What with the way you treat all of the gossip and rumors as if they're beneath you, without being malicious or mean about it...if that makes sense...?"

I wonder if I actually come off as that much older than an actual teenager to others? Something to think about. Alas, he was quick to brush it off with humor. "Well, I guess I'll just have to keep an eye out for gray hairs."

If nothing else, her cheerful giggle was heartening.

xxxx

That afternoon, Yusuke had remarked over text that he had been requested for questioning by police.

Yusuke: They want me to corroborate what Madarame has been telling them.
Yusuke: In terms of past incidents of plagiarism, that is.
Ryuji: for real?
Ann: whoa!
Akira: don't tell them anything about the Phantom Thieves
Yusuke: I will not.
Yusuke: They do not seem interested in that particular aspect.
Yusuke: I have overheard some officers speaking about matters at the museum
Yusuke: with regards to two guards found unconscious
Yusuke: and with abnormalities in the security footage
Akira: Let them think of the calling card as coming from a third party.
Akira: Anything to keep the suspicion off of you.
Ryuji: no need to let any adults get on ur case
Ann: Let us know when you get out!
Yusuke: I believe I will be heading to the dorms of my school, afterwards.
Yusuke: I can only hope the police have left my works alone.
Akira: We'll find a time to meet up soon. Stay safe, everyone.

"...another target taken down; a new addition to the team..." Morgana, sitting upon Akira's bed, looked rather excitable. "Our strategies will be broadened...and we have an artist with an eye for beauty, to give us that bit of class!"

"Happy, aren't we?" observed Akira.

"Well, of course! We're going to be more renowned after this...and I'll get closer to realizing who I truly am..." Looking up, Morgana seriously asked, "What kind of person do you think I was?"

"You mean the person you are," corrected Akira. "Don't think that current feline exterior of yours means that you're not a person...at least, in my eyes." He punctuated his point by scratching behind Morgana's ears.

Morgana began purring, despite his intentions not to. "You wouldn't scratch another human behind the ears, though!"

"I'm sure there are people who would pay good money for that sort of thing."

"Don't compare me to weirdos!"

xx

Day: May 30th, 2016

Today, I learned that gymnasts can jump very high, and that I'm apparently guilty of smuggling elephant tusks.

Also, my cat will kink-shame you without remorse. Don't test him!

xxxx

/Tuesday: May 31, 2016/

"-Kurusu-kun?"

Akira blinked, as though startled by Takuto Maruki's words. "Sorry. I have a lot on my mind." Sometimes, his contemplative moods were rather...fickle, as to when they struck. Maybe it's because I helped Haru with the Gardening Club during lunch period...?

The counselor's smile was as genial as ever. "Understandable. I've already had quite a few people come to me to talk about their worries; typical stuff for high-school students, but also some that were...deeper. Is that on your mind currently?"

"Putting it mildly, Doc."

"Well, if nothing else comes of my time here, I'm glad I've helped at least some people get on the road to recovery; I know I'm not the most reliable guy, but I'm always available if something's bothering you. After all...if I've helped even one person, then everything I've done is worth it. That's the philosophy I try to keep to."

If only more were like you. "I appreciate it."

"...maybe something to distract you is what's needed. Some thought exercises, if you will; about what I'm researching, that is." Leaning back in his chair, Dr. Maruki spoke about pain felt in the mind; or rather, the heart. About how it differed from the body's automatic response to physical injury; about how it was intangible, and hard to quantify. "This is my question to you: when do you truly feel pain in your heart, Kurusu-kun?"

Flippant responses came to mind: being punched; when lying; when being betrayed; yet, all he could fathom in that instant was the sights and sounds of a family that no longer was. "...when I feel loss."

With those words, Maruki seemed rather surprised; yet, there was a glint of empathy there. "Loss of what?"

"...of something I can never get back."

Maruki softly sighed, his messy bangs making him look somewhat forlorn. "It's rough, isn't it? To struggle with pain in your heart. In a way, the pain of loss is born from the pain of love; because the more you love something, the greater the loss of it hurts you. What are your thoughts about this kind of pain?"

...talk about a loaded question. "...it keeps me moving." That was pretty much all he could say; if he focused too much on what he had lost, he couldn't deal with the challenges that lied ahead of him.

"A very stoic response; fit for a man beyond your years, I would say." Looking off in the distance, Maruki continued, "That internal, emotional pain can be difficult to deal with...and not everyone is as capable as you are. It's not surprising that some come to the conclusion that such pain should be avoided, if possible. What would the world be like, if it didn't exist at all?"

"...well, we'd be lacking in lots of romantic literature, for one," Akira joked.

Maruki chuckled, before sighing deeply. "...it's always important, to come back to first principles. To be reminded of why I'm doing this research: to fully understand the complexities of such wounds to the heart; to save people from the internal pain they keep holding onto...or can't let go of. So thank you, Kurusu-kun. It's nice to speak with such a young man who isn't afraid to be open about such vulnerable subjects."

If only you know how 'young' I am.

(Meanwhile, unbeknownst to both of them, Futaba Sakura was listening in via Akira's phone.)

("...wounds to the heart..." she repeated to herself. What was she going to do next...?)

xxxx

Day: May 31st, 2016

Dr. Maruki is a pretty cool dude. I like him.

I wish he could have been around at my old school; it probably would have solved a lot of issues.

I wonder he was up to, way back when?

(Oh well, not like I can ever know for sure.)

xxxx

/Wednesday: June 1, 2016/

When Ryuji — bored and impatient whilst waiting for the situation with Madarame to pan out — cornered Akira after school, the latter was worried that it might have been something serious.

Then he pulled out a flyer for a 'housekeeping service', with a maid on the front and center, and Akira idly remembered oh yeah, this is where we first met 'Becky'.

It was just the sort of stupid shenanigans that would lighten any guy's mood. (Plus, it would finally give him a reason to get involved with Kawakami's troubles.) The only thing that was a difference relative to the Last Time Around™ was the lack of Mishima. Dadgummit, this is starting to get on my nerves...

The call was made, using Ryuji's phone; the maid in question would arrive within twenty minutes. (If he recalled the details right from the Last Time Around™, 'Becky' was assigned to a specific geographic area...and she was also generally assigned to first-time customers that the service believed to be less than reputable, or potential pranksters...which, if they did any kind of public records search for Ryuji's phone number, might have provided enough details to validate he was a high school student. Because why 'waste' the time of their younger, more 'valuable' maids on a service call that wouldn't pan out...?)

As Akira waited in the vacant apartment within Ryuji's apartment complex — idly wondering how old the heating unit on the ceiling was, and when was the last time the floor mats were dusted...? — the blond looked at him with bewilderment. "Dude, how are you so chill?"

"You just have to be in the zone. That, and I intentionally left Morgana outside, so I'm enjoying a bit of peace and quiet." He loved the little rascal, honestly; but man, he had forgotten how overbearing the Most Definitely Not a Cat™ could be near the beginning.

"How'd ya get him to not tag along?"

xx

/Minutes Earlier/

Morgana stared flatly at Akira. "You seriously think you might find someone who needs the Phantom Thieves' help?"

"Yes."

"...from a maid service?"

"You'd be surprised how vicious a world it can be."

"..."

"Plus, if Ryuji did this by himself, he'd probably end up in a lot more trouble than he needs."

"...good point."

xx

"...by being convincing," said Akira, dramatically adjusting his glasses.

Ryuji chuckled. "Yeah, fair enough."

Then came the knock on the door, from the housekeeper in question.

And, cue the panic, dryly thought Akira as he turned to watch a nervous Ryuji run out to the balcony. I'll remember you always!

"Welcome home, Master~ ," said the sickly sweet voice from behind him. "My name is Becky! I'm going to fill your tired heart full of lovely energy. Meow~ "

Oh good gods, the Cringe™. You must...survive! Akira, without turning around, adjusting his glasses. "Nice to mee-ow-t you."

"We're going to get along so well! Meeeooowww!"

The fact Kawakami wasn't being ironic in the least is what made the tacky mannerisms so hard to endure. (Because being tacky and cringeworthy on purpose, fully aware of the irony? That could be hilarious...if done properly. But not like this...not like this...!) So Akira suffered in silence as she began to explain the services she could provide.

Then, she approached. "Hmmm? You look young, Master...are you, perhaps...in high school?"

Akira couldn't remember what he had said the last time. But now, without any hint of irony or hesitation, he confidently said, "I'm a dad."

"Wow! Your skin's so healthy!" She didn't buy it.

Thus, before she could say another word, Akira decided to the cut it short. "I know, it takes a lot of effort," he continued, turning around to look her in the eye. The way Becky's eyes immediately widened said so, so very much. "...hold up...Kawakami-sensei?"

("Dude, what?!" loudly whispered Ryuji out of shock out on the balcony.)

"Wait, who's there?" Becky approached the door, which only prompted Ryuji to flee. "Sakamoto-kun...?" Her voice took on a tone of dawning horror. "...oh no, oh no..." Slowly turning around, her face went through a billion emotions in the fraction of a second. "Did...you request me specifically?"

Akira decided to provide a bit of mercy. "Can't say I requested anyone in particular. After all, I've never met Becky before." (Technically true.) "But I do have a serious question: how much volume does your hair have to make such lucious pigtails? Because I wouldn't think you'd have enough, with the way you normally have it styled at school."

Kawakami's irritated expression said volumes about how she felt about it.

She quickly tried to swear him to silence. "If you promise not to tell Ms. Chouno about this, I'll do anything for you!"

Darn it, you make it too easy. "...anything?" he retorted, intentionally provocative. When she glared back at him in silence, he shrugged. "Hey, I'm not the one whose mouth is writing checks I can't cash. I'm trying to help you out."

"...just...let's just pretend this never happened. I'll pretend you were a no-show."

"And I'll make sure to swear Sakamoto to silence. You heard him, right?" For some reason, Kawakami's complexion worsened, nigh jaundiced in appearance; trying to mollify her, he added, "Hey, do I seem like the kind of guy who would go for something this silly? I may be accused of being a smuggler of elephant tusks, but I can clean up after myself, thank you very much."

"...elephant tusks?"

"Shujin's rumor mill." That was all the answer he needed.

At this, Kawakami couldn't really protest.

xxxx

When Akira finally emerged, his first question was to ask Morgana if he had seen where Ryuji went.

Then he followed the cat to the boy's apartment. When the blond answered, he hissed, "Dude, what happened?!"

"What happened is that you bailed, my boy," joked Akira.

"Was that actually Ka-" Akira's hand bolted over his mouth. "Mmph?!"

"Let's keep it down, shall we? Cook up some instant noodles so I can explain."

Morgana shook his head as he followed the two into the small confines of an apartment staffed by a working class mother who was often on the job: orderly to the extent possible, yet featuring a bit of clutter and spots which could use some love and attention. "This whole night seems like such a hassle..."

As the two boys ate a cheap dinner, Ryuji hounded Akira with questions: yes, that was definitely our homeroom teacher; no, I don't know why our teacher would be moonlight as a maid; no, she didn't seem happy about it; and so on and so forth.

And, of course, the question had to be asked. "...so, was she hot?" asked Ryuji.

"..."

"What?! It's a legitimate question!"

"It's also my homeroom teacher, Ryuji."

"In a maid outfit. That's like, peak performance!"

...fair enough, he was forced to relent. (Because there had been that one time when Haru — having clearly gotten way too many ideas from Futaba — surprised him with a certain outfit...but that was in an entirely different life. No point in reminiscing...) Sighing, he spoke professionally. "Notwithstanding that she's not my type? Too much makeup to hide her stress marks, and the hairstyle is questionable; she'd probably be better with a ponytail. Plus, it's hard to find someone attractive when they're in the middle of doing something they clearly want nothing to do with."

"...I guess that's fair," murmured Ryuji. "Why would your teacher be doing this sort of thing? Is Shujin's salary that crappy?"

"I think there's more to it than that." And that's all Akira was going to say, for now.

Thus did the two swear themselves to silence, according to the deepest rituals of the unwritten Bro Code™.

xxxx

Day: June 1st, 2016

Met another talking cat, but this one wanted to offer room service.

I already have one talking cat, so I declined.

xx

As Akira turned away from his diary, he got a buzz from his phone.

ALIBABA: The teachers at your school certainly are something, aren't they?

...oh. Right. Futaba was still able to listen.

Akira: Nosy. :|
Akira: Can you please not do anything that causes her any extra hassle?
ALIBABA: Compared to the other teachers at your school?
ALIBABA: Moonlighting as a 'catgirl maid' is honestly quite normal
ALIBABA: and possibly based.
ALIBABA: Jury's out as to whether or not she qualifies as redpilled.

Akira rolled his eyes. And with that, I'm going to bed.

(At least Futaba's becoming more comfortable with you to joke like that, even if she's still operating under a pseudonym...)

xxxx

The next few days went by relatively quickly, in Akira's estimation.

xxxx

Day: June 2nd, 2016

For some reason, the English teacher was giving my homeroom teacher some flak. My chivalrous interruption earned immense gratitude.

Alas, it seems that Kawakami-sensei is dealing with some troubles of her own. Who knows what she's dealing with? (I'll probably find out later, because that's just how my life tends to roll.)

Decided to see what a gymnastics session with Yoshizawa would be like; to my surprise, Shiho was also there.

I hung out with the latter afterwards; apparently, the volleyball team's reputation amongst the competitive community has gotten smeared because of their association with Kamoshida.

And because of this, she seems to think even less of her own volleyball skills...hence why she's trying to find a way to improve through any means possible.

Sometimes, I have to remind myself that I'm playing dumb, because going along with dumb ideas is the only way that some kids will learn...even if would be simpler to just lecture them towards the right conclusion from the get-go.

The curse of youngsters being hard-headed and stubborn. (And I should know, I'm one of them!)

On a side note, the Student Council President keeps following me around the school grounds and beyond. I wonder if that means she's into me? (Nah, probably not.)

xxxx

Day: June 3rd, 2016

My artist friend was finally allowed to go back to his home.(Because the police had finally finished investigating Madarame's atelier in full, Akira didn't write.)

I think we should probably go treasure hunting in the subways, just to spice things up. (We need to keep our skills sharp with some Mementos missions, Akira didn't write.)

We should probably get some maps. (We'll pick our targets tomorrow before entering Mementos, Akira didn't write.)

Anyhow, a certain gecko revealed his "deep, dank lore", as a certain 'sister from another mister' (and also from another mother) would have said, a long time ago. (Iwai finally told me about his former ties with the Hashiba Clan, and his sworn brother Tsuda, Akira didn't write. I wonder how much Past-Life-Futaba™ has infected my lingo, he also didn't write.)

I wonder...am I the gecko's substory, or is he mine? (If you know, you know.)

xxxx

Day: June 4th, 2016

Treasure hunting throughout the city!

(We managed to get several Mementos missions done, including the one I needed for Chihaya, Akira didn't write.)

We ran into a fox that seemed quite interested in what we were doing. (Yusuke's first foray into Mementos; he was always fascinated by the nature of the general public's Palace, Akira didn't write.)

Among our haul: stamps, pretty flowers, and fool's gold that had a bit of silver inside, once you buffed it out. (Jose took the Will Seeds from Madarame's Palace and made them into a ring that not only nullifies weaknesses, but also provides a Skill that can absorb one attack of any kind. How?! Akira did not write any of this.)

Also, my name keeps showing up on the Phan-Watch website. I guess a lot of students still have it out for me. (It's easy for us Thieves to ignore, but if Mishima has no intention on stopping it...will this cause an issue, later down the line? Food for thought, Akira didn't write.)

Worked off some stress at an arcade in Akihabara. Bought dinner for a kid, and got war stories in return for my charity. (Ah yes, Shinya Oda's grand tales of his battles against elementary school bullies, Akira didn't write.)

Tomorrow is another day.

xxxx

/Sunday: June 5, 2016/

The final day of Madarame's art exhibition — already racked with intrigue and publicity by the scandalous reporting and the infamous calling card — coincided with a public announcement via the news.

It was not done via a melodramatic confession on air, complete with overdramatic bawling; instead, it was delivered calmly by a police spokesman. Madarame had confessed his crimes to the police, substantiating the reporting done by Ichiko Ohya: the abuse, the plagiarism, and the counterfeiting. Subsequent prosecution would be performed with regards to the matter of money laundering and any ill-gotten gains.

The police made no mention of the calling card, but the news were quite enthusiastic about the ramifications of the Phantom Thieves' existence.

(Makoto, quietly watching the news report, could feel the subtle pressure of Principal Kobayakawa slowly beginning to build in the back of her mind. I have to investigate them, she thought, even as she idly trailed the conspicuous group of teenagers. But why me...?)

(Akechi, watching the news from elsewhere, could only frown. Hmm.)

The Phantom Thieves, naturally, wanted to celebrate their success. They agreed to coordinate later that week over homemade hotpot.

Then, Ryuji asked Akira to celebrate...with darts. "These coupons expire today, dude!"

"...seems legit," said Akira with a shrug, occasionally looking over his shoulder towards a girl who was not as stealthy as she thought she was. Gotta admire her tenacity, at least.

Thus did they make their way to Kichijoji.

(It was a place that he had only ever visited with regularity as an adult, due to a concept cafe that Haru had launched within the area during the prime of her career as a restaurateur.)

(You can only wonder how different it'll be...)

The vibes of the area were rathered distinct, popping with color, a mix of chic outlets, antique stores, alleyway vendors, and other stores ranging from discount to high end. It's strange, how lively it feels now. Akira quietly followed Ryuji to the lounge in question, which — in spite of its odd name (Penguin Sniper?) — had a clean aesthetic and a very nice look. There was also something mentally satisfying about playing darts to 301 and 501 with Ryuji and Morgana.

(Seriously, the cat's ability to jump and fling a dart with his mouth was downright impressive.)

"Maybe we should bring the others here to play billiards too," mused Akira, much to Ryuji's joy. (Besides, any excuse to hangout as a group was one he would take.)

But...there was one thing he had to address, as he and Ryuji split off for the day.

With intention and purpose, he walked towards a girl in a teal coat and black pants, trying very hard to 'inconspicuously' read a tourist pamphlet. "You know, if you wanted to join us for darts, you could have asked."

Makoto jolted with shock, looking up at him. "...I see."

"I mean, it would sure beat just trying to follow us everyone. Are you trying to confess something to me, Miss President?" Cocking his head, Akira added, "Or maybe...to Sakamoto?"

Makoto simply stared at him, lips curled into a cross between a pout and a frown. Without saying another word, she turned around and walked away.

"...she sure is stubborn," murmured Morgana.

No kidding. (If he recalled right, Kaneshiro's Palace would be on their radar soon...)

xxxx

Alas, this life had a curveball.

xxxx

As Akira made his way to Leblanc that evening, he observed a familiar man leave the cafe with a disgruntled expression. Ah. Futaba's uncle. "Did Sakura-san throw you out again, sir?" he called out.

"Pipe down, you stupid part-timer," griped the middle-aged man, no longer trying for a cheerful facade. "What does he pay you with, bowls of substandard curry and mediocre coffee?"

"...first of all, your palate sucks if you think that about his coffee and curry. Second, I'm paid with oodles and oodles of cash. After all, he is a former government agent, you know," Akira retorted, opting to be intentionally sarcastic.

Alas, Youji Isshiki did not take it that way. "I knew he was holding out on me!"

Akira blinked. "Wait-"

"I'll use that Futaba brat if I have to...that's the ticket..." Mumbling to himself, the man continued on, no longer paying Akira any mind.

"...what was that about?" wondered Morgana.

"...Futaba..." The man had her said her name aloud. "Futaba...?" Akira spoke, as if in a trance.

(Elsewhere, amidst the confines of her room, Futaba Sakura suddenly went still.)

...I think that's my ticket. With renewed vigor, Akira entered Leblanc, flipping the 'Closed' sign behind him as he did so.

"Ah, you're back," remarked Sojiro as he cleaned some dishes; the cafe was empty, bereft of customers.

"I take it that Isshiki-san was being a bother again?" Akira asked.

Sojiro blinked, only to sigh. "Ah. You must have run into him outside...no matter what I say, he just doesn't get the hint." With a tired expression, he added, "He's an old acquaintance of mine who's short on cash; don't let him bother you."

"Well, he did mention something rather odd." Leaning up against the counter, Akira idly asked, "Who is Futaba?"

("...oh shit," said Futaba, feeling the walls beginning to narrow down on her. "No no no no...")

Sojiro immediately frowned. "Why do you know about her?"

"...it's just a name that the man said. But your reaction is awfully interesting, Sakura-san." With an almost casual air, Akira — setting his phone down on the counter, and Morgana Bag™ on a chair — spoke. "I always found it odd, how you had me stay here, in the attic above your place of business...especially given that your home would be a much better place to keep me out of sight and out of mind, if running the restaurant was your primary concern...but it's not, is it?"

(Futaba paced back and forth, even as the words of Akira and Sojiro filtered through her headphones. The leader of the Phantom Thieves is talking about me. He's confronting Sojiro about me. Not about Alibaba, but about Futaba, about her very self! What do I do, what do I do...!?)

"It's none of your concern," Sojiro flatly said.

"Is it not? He called Futaba a 'brat'; is she a kid that you're looking out for? I mean, if you wanted to keep me away from her in order to ensure her safety from a delinquent on probation, I could understand that...but you haven't mentioned her at all: you've spoken not a word about her. And this cafe has no mementos, no pictures...nothing." I know this seems cruel...but this is something the both of you need to confront. "Are you hiding this 'Futaba'? And if so, why? For what purpose?"

Sojiro's face curdled into something ugly. "If you keep this up, I will throw you out. Drop it!"

Morgana, looking back and forth with worry, murmured, "Joker...?"

(The anger in Sojiro's voice was undeniable; would the Leader of the Phantom Thieves be provoked into acting out of self-defense? "No no no no...!" The thought of a person with such enigmatic powers turning against Sojiro was too much to bear; yet what could she do? Her door was an impenetrable wall, looming large with a viciousness that was all in her own head. And yet...what could she do...?)

(With desperation born from dawning terror, Futaba panicked and did the only thing she thought to do.)

Ring ring, chimed Akira's phone, out of the blue. Glancing at it, the number wasn't registered in his contacts...but it was one he knew by heart, from the Last Time Around™. "Pardon me, Sakura-san." With purpose, Akira answered...but on speaker. "Hello?"

"You leave him alone, you hear me?!" exclaimed the youthful voice of one Futaba Sakura.

You could have heard a pin drop.

"...Futaba..." Sojiro said with utter bewilderment, only for his rage to double over. "Why in the hell does she have your number?!"

Futaba squeaked, unknowingly outing herself.

Bingo. "I got a text from a stranger close to a month ago, who was using a pseudonym." said Akira. "Despite the airs this person put on, they struck me as...rather lonely. But they never said anything about who they were...but they seemed to know an awful lot about me. To get a call, out of the blue, from a number I've never seen before?" (In this life, technically; Alibaba's messages never had a recognizable number they were registered to, being random every time.) "Tell me...is this Alibaba?"

"Alibaba...?" whispered Morgana.

"...yes...?"

"You need to start explaining, right now!" yelled Sojiro.

"Sakura-san...I'm not your enemy. And I'm not hers, either," Akira said, with intentional meekness. "But I'm just trying to understand...because that Isshiki guy? He mentioned using Futaba as leverage against you, whatever that means. And believe it or not, I like this little corner of Tokyo." With a genial smile, he added, "I don't want anything to threaten that...and if you're trying to protect Futaba from something, or someone...let me help."

The older man was practically at war with himself, his wrinkled face going through a cavalcade of emotions...until, finally, he simply sagged on his feet. "...damn it all. Fine." With a soft voice, he called out, "Futaba?"

"...yes, Sojiro...?"

"Is he a danger to you?" he asked.

"...no. He's not..."

"Is he blackmailing you?"

Akira tried so very hard not to roll his eyes, even as Futaba answered, "No."

"...then I'm going to bring this boy over to our place. Do you mind?"

"...no...I don't..." Without another word, she hung up.

"...very well." Sojiro looked sternly at Akira, a fierce protectiveness overshadowing his features. "If you've done anything to my daughter-!"

Akira nodded. "I understand. And, for what it's worth...I don't think you're a bad guy, Sakura-san." After all, who could deny the man's protective love for his adopted child, as though she were his own flesh and blood?

xxxx

(All the while, within the Sakura household, Futaba had dived into her walk-in closet, curled up into a ball; the walls were tumbling down, and the fortress that kept the world outside was about to be breached.)

(She would finally be seen as the utterly wicked thing that she was, in all her wretched splendor.)

(Thus did Futaba Sakura weep.)

xxxx

Stepping into Sojiro Sakura's house felt like going back in time, in more ways than one. Akira couldn't help how his eyes moved about, taking everything in. Quietly, Morgana stepped in behind them, looking around with an inquisitive air.

"Take a seat," commanded Sojiro, gesturing towards the small couch in the living room. Akira obediently did so, treating the situation with all the seriousness it deserved. "So...remind me about your standing at school."

"Made it into the Top Ten of the midterms a couple of weeks ago," Akira answered. "And I recently joined the Gardening Club."

"I see...I see." Sojiro sighed, rubbing at the back of his head. "I honestly wish you were more of a troublemaker. It would have been easy to tell you no."

Akira nodded. "I can't blame you for feeling that way; I am still a stranger, for all intents and purposes."

"...no," murmured Sojiro, leaning against the wall with a tired expression. "Aside from some hiccups at the start, you've been a big help around the cafe. And you even tried to help out that artist kid after the whole business with Madarame..." The man briefly looked up at the ceiling, as though something had crossed his mind. "...but it's not easy..."

"When it comes to children? I don't think it's ever easy for fathers...especially the protective types," said Akira.

Sojiro snorted. "Don't speak as though you have experience in that area."

"Just telling you what I've observed from some fathers I've seen," he answered, without going into any further detail. (After all, Akira did have experience.) "So...if Futaba's your daughter...where's her mom?"

"...well, she's not mine by blood, first of all," admitted Sojiro, before he delved into the whole sordid tale regarding his past with Wakaba Isshiki: a quirky, smart, and bizarre woman who — even though Sojiro never said so explicitly — had captured the old man's heart. He spoke of her daughter, Futaba: a girl whose birth father had never been known. He spoke of Wakaba's tragic suicide, and how he took Futaba into his own home.

"Even though she still has family on the Isshiki side?" remarked Akira, referring to Youji.

Sojiro huffed, a dark look crossing his features. "There's a reason I ended up with custody; I won't go into any of those details." That was fair enough; thus, Sojiro spoke of how Futaba had opened herself up to him, little by little, despite her depressed state; of how Futaba blamed herself for Wakaba's death; of how, earlier that year, she had begun to speak of hallucinations and strange nightmares, before becoming a proverbial recluse. "She's been...a bit better, this past month. And I suppose I have you to thank for that?"

Akira shrugged. "Like I said, she reached out to me first. I don't know how she got my number, but she comes across as someone with a lot of technical know-how."

Sojiro couldn't help but chuckle. "With all the computer equipment I've bought her, I'm not surprised; she's a real chip off of her mother's block...oddities and all. But when I couldn't even get a doctor to see her...you understand, now, why I didn't want you here?"

"I understand." Akira placed his elbows on his knees, looking down at the floor. "To live in fear of the outside; to not feel safe, even within the bounds of her own home...I can see why you didn't let me in."

Sojiro was visibly grateful. "It's not a good life for her...but I don't know what I can do, other than...this."

"And is that what you want? As her father?"

Sojiro blinked. "I told you before, I'm not-"

"I don't know if you've even formally adopted her, but you called her your daughter. And with the way you spoke of her mother..." Akira didn't say any more, but he made it clear that he recognized Sojiro's feelings for Wakaba. "...even with what little I've seen, you're pretty much her dad. And the dads I know? The good ones? They've always wanted what's best for their children...and for their children to be happy."

Sojiro quietly mulled over his words, reappraising Akira in his eyes.

"...would it be possible to see Futaba?"

"She won't let you in," Sojiro sharply said.

"Then I'll just sit outside her room," said Akira. "Even if I only talk to her through text...it'll at least let her know that I'm there." Looking up into Sojiro's eyes, he added, "You've been her only lifeline...and then, for whatever reason, she reached out to me of her own volition. She wants her situation to change; I can feel it." With finality, he said, "And I can tell that you want more for her than just this."

Sojiro frowned, briefly glancing down at his legs where Morgana was rubbing up against them. Finally, with a tired sigh, he said, "All right...fine."

Thus did Akira follow Sojiro up the stairs, where Futaba's distinctive door — plastered with caution tape and a 'PRIVATE: DO NOT ENTER' sign — awaited. "Futaba," began Sojiro, his throat thick with complicated emotions. "...I know I've told you about the boy I've taken in as part of his probation. Well...he's standing right here."

(Within her closet, Futaba's breath hitched.)

Akira quietly sat down, leaning against the wall; unknowingly, his back was right up against Futaba's; all that separated them was a thin wall. Calmly, yet quietly, Akira sent a text to the number Futaba had called him from.

Akira: Hey.

The response was immediate...except through a different text log.

ALIBABA: Why are reaching out to my number?
Akira: I'm sure you don't want Sojiro to look into our actual text logs.
Akira: Because he's probably going to ask to look at them, and he won't like what he sees.

(Futaba grimaced; her mind recognized it as a problem, and so she moved on autopilot back to her computer.)

ALIBABA: A fair enough point. I will fabricate a fake log in order to placate him.
At that point, the conversation switched over.

Futaba: So
Futaba: you know the whole story
Akira: I'm sure there's a lot I haven't been told
Akira: And whether I find out more...?
Akira: That's up to you.
Futaba: Up to me, huh?

(Futaba stared at her phone with a pensive expression, even as her hands over the keyboard of their own volition.)

Another switch of chat logs.

ALIBABA: If Sojiro asks
ALIBABA: Refer him to the chat logs under 'Al1b ba'
Sure enough, Akira noted the sudden existence of another chat log from that pseudonym. And it's been retroactively dated, too. (Seriously, her speed was frightening.)

Akira: I see.
Akira: One question.
ALIBABA: Ask away.
Akira: The "villainous" person whose heart you want changed; the one you called "the lowest of the low"
Akira: Were you referring to yourself?

(Futaba clenched her teeth, thinking back to the chats she'd had weeks ago regarding distorted desires, and why the Phantom Thieves used them. To admit the truth...was to admit a vulnerability.)

(Yet, hearing Sojiro speak so plainly about Mom, and about her circumstances...what could be done? What should be done?)

Finally, with Sojiro watching quietly from the stairs, Akira received her response.

ALIBABA: Yes.
Akira: Okay.
Akira: So...what do you want?

After that, there was no answer. After five minutes lapsed, Akira sighed. "I think she's done talking, for now..."

xxxx

There was a certain hesitancy and tension between Akira and Sojiro as the former left to return to the cafe, with the latter promising to have a talk about 'proper boundaries' the next day.

"...that was pretty intense," remarked Morgana, as he followed Akira back into the cafe.

"That's putting it mildly," muttered Akira. "But it is, what it is..." He suddenly had a text come through.

ALIBABA: Sojiro is just kindly talking at me through my door
ALIBABA: He's really rattled
Akira: I didn't mean to be.
Akira: But some things that Youji Isshiki was saying
Akira: Didn't make sense compared to what I knew about Sojiro
ALIBABA: I see
ALIBABA: One more question
ALIBABA: You're always talking to your cat as though he can understand you
ALIBABA: Do your powers afford you the ability to speak with animals?

...a reasonable conclusion to draw.

Akira: Morgana's just special :D
ALIBABA: I see.

There was no further response.

As such, Akira quickly typed into the Thieves' group chat once he changed into his night clothes.

Akira: Guys
Akira: I know who Alibaba is.
Akira: We need to talk tomorrow.

Tomorrow was another day...but it was not too late to take care of something else, mused Akira as he looked at the original Sayuri, resting upon one of the attic shelves.

After five minutes, he had it hanged in the little corner by the bartop downstairs, where it had been for literal years the Last Time Around™. There. That's better.

(The cafe already felt a little bit more like home.)

xxxx

Day: June 5th, 2016

Played some darts with my bro in Kichijoji. Also keep getting stalked by the Student Council President.

Had a pretty important conversation with my probation officer about why I live in the attic above his restaurant. (Turns out he has a daughter!)

I hope she and I can be friends.

xxxx

/Monday: June 6, 2016/

The rumors and gossip about the Phantom Thieves had reached a greater volume and density, insofar as Shujin Academy was concerned.

So much so, that Akira was actually grateful to work on the rooftop planters that day alongside Haru. These gym uniform coats are absolutely awful in the heat, through, thought Akira as he tied the sleeves of the jacket around his waist.

"Is it that hot, Kurusu-kun?" she asked, looking prim and proper in her full tracksuit, with not a hint of sweat. (Even if 'kun' was done solely from the standpoint of a senpai to a kouhai, it still felt better than the formal 'san'.) "I should probably double-check these plants' resistances to temperature..."

"Nah, I'm fine, Okumura-senpai. Just a bit warmer than I expected, today." The switch to summer uniforms had impacted quite a few students, judging by those who tanned a bit quicker than average. "Do you think they need more water?"

Haru stuck a finger into the soil, getting a feel for its moistness. "This pot is fine. Could you check on the ones over by the wall?"

(It was odd, how peaceful such mindless labor felt...)

As the two packed up and left with about ten minutes left in the lunch period, they paused at the sight of another third-year student waiting for them. "So it's as you said," murmured Makoto Niijima, a hand resting under her chin.

Akira arched an eyebrow. "You could probably check the school records to verify I actually joined the Gardening Club. Like I said I did."

Haru gave a polite bow towards her peer. "Hello, Niijima-dono; how are you, today?" The utter formality with which Haru spoke — as if Makoto was a business partner of equal societal standing — was shocking to hear; so much so, that Akira jolted. "Would you, perchance, be interested in joining the Gardening Club? Given your duties on the Student Council, it might take more time than you expect..."

Makoto, to her credit, was unflappable. "I appreciate the offer, Okumura-san." Glancing back at Akira, she said, "I just had a brief conversation with Principal Kobayakawa; quite a bit of attention has been made of the fact that a famous figure like Ichiryusai Madarame had a calling card delivered to him in a way similar to what happened with Suguru Kamoshida. It's very interesting, wouldn't you say?"

Before Akira could say another word, Haru said, "I believe class will be starting up soon, Niijima-dono. He and I need to change back into our uniforms, so time is of the essence. I truly apologize for having to stop your conversation, but I'm sure it can be continued at a more convenient time."

"...yeah, what she said," dumbly said Akira, trying his hardest not to fanboy over the politest 'hey, back off' he had heard in quite some time.

"...I suppose it shall," admitted Makoto, turning aside to let the two pass.

Only after they were out of earshot did Haru sigh with a hint of remorse. "It's no secret that she's been investigating something on behalf of the Principal as of late; I wonder if she's aware of the unkind rumors following in her wake..."

"...who knows." Glancing down at his shorter senpai, he remarked, "So, dono? I wasn't aware Niijima-san and you were of such high status."

Only a lifetime of training in societal etiquette kept Haru from faltering. "Well...without putting too fine a point on it, I believe that Niijima-san's family occupies a rather prestigious position of her own. Even if it's of a different type than my family's, I think it's of equal importance. I can only hope that she and I both are capable of living up to such grand expectations."

There was a metric ton to unpack with those words, but Akira could only marvel at the fact that Haru believed Sae Niijima's position as a public prosecutor was of equal societal worth as Kunikazu Okumura's status as a business executive for a great conglomerate. A high opinion of those who enforce the law, or a low opinion of your own father? Akira kept those thoughts to himself, simply saying, "Well, my only expectation at the moment is making sure our plants can easily drain once the rainy season starts."

Haru's smile, although small, was far more honest and genuine. "Yes...I'm grateful for your help, Kurusu-kun. You've been wonderful to work alongside."

"Same back to you," he said, as they entered the athletic building, parting ways to change out of their gym uniforms.

(How is that working alongside her...never seems boring...?)

xxxx

Akira opted to have everyone meet up on the top floor of Mementos after school, that day.

After all, the details about Alibaba's true identity were something he wasn't going to risk outsiders overhearing...much less Futaba eavesdropping on via his phone.

And so, Joker calmly provide a few reminders about how Alibaba had reached out to him, and how Alibaba had been acting on their behalf to send calling cards via Phan-Watch and other electronic means to their targets in Mementos; in like manner, he detailed Alibaba's role in delivering Madarame's card to the museum, to the point of actually manipulating the security footage to hide his and Yusuke's involvement.

"Geez, talk about a tech wiz," grumbled Skull. "And they just reached out to you...out of the blue, one day?"

"Given Alibaba's true identity, I think they have Leblanc bugged. It fits a lot of the puzzle pieces together."

Fox frowned, eyes narrowing behind his mask. "I spoke quite a few things in confidence, the night I spent at the cafe. I am not comfortable with the thought of those words being heard by a stranger."

"Easy, Fox," said Mona, his tiny arms crossed. "Given the circumstances that Joker and I found out yesterday, I don't think we have to worry."

"How come?" asked Panther.

"Because Alibaba is actually the adopted daughter of my probation officer," explained Joker, much to the surprise of Skull, Panther, and Fox. "See, it all started with a guy by the name of Youji Isshiki who kept trying to get under Sakura-san's skin..." And so Joker explained how he had discovered the existence of Futaba Sakura, his confrontation with Sojiro about her, Futaba's subsequent Paragon Interrupt™ ("It's a game reference," explained Skull to a confused Fox), and the emotional revelations endured within Sojiro's household.

"...so her mother committed suicide in front of her...?" murmured Panther, a haunted tone overshadowing her voice.

"And the person whose heart 'Alibaba' wanted to change...was her own?" reiterated a befuddled Skull. "Does she have her own Palace?"

Joker nodded. "I checked the Nav on the way here. Futaba Sakura definitely has a Palace; given everything that Boss told me, it wasn't hard to figure out the location is her house. No luck with the other keyword, though," he said, feigning ignorance.

"...I mean, she doesn't sound evil," said Panther with downcast eyes.

"As we've seen with our various targets, people's desires vary far and wide in terms of their distortions," observed Fox. "So I am not surprised that the distortions of the human heart can take many forms..."

Mona nodded. "Well said. Notwithstanding how helpful Alibaba has been to our efforts, changing her heart would only reduce the risk that Joker has living under the Boss's roof...because they're both suffering because of her circumstances."

"...yeah," said Skull, pounding his fist into his palm. "It'd be nice to finally put a face to the name of whoever's been helping the Phantom Thieves!"

"I mean, we haven't actually seen her ourselves," admitted Joker. "But hopefully, that'll change soon...which brings to mind another idea I have." When he told them, their befuddled reactions were unsurprising. "I know, it seems odd...but given the nature of her distortions, her presence might keep her own cognitions from being too much of a hassle..." (Because he honestly couldn't remember what exactly determined the strength of a Palace's Shadows, and he was worried that they would be too 'underleveled' without going through Kaneshiro's Palace first...)

Mona huffed, his eyes narrowing with concern. "To take a Palace Ruler into their own Palace...we don't really have a precedent for that..."

"...nothing ventured, nothing gained," swore Joker.

Panther sagged. "Do...we have a time limit on this? Because we have that social studies trip coming up in a few days..."

"...social studies trip?" Joker dumbly repeated.

"Oh yeah, you were busy with the gardening stuff at lunch!" exclaimed Skull. "She decided to go to a local television studio, and I decided to tag along. You wanna come with?"

...oh. Oh. The Trip to the TV Station™. The place where I first meet Goro Akechi officially. That...was rather important. "I guess? I haven't put too much thought into it."

"Do you think you could encourage them to promote more artistic programming? It might inspire me to actually watch television more often," remarked Fox.

"I...don't think it works that way," muttered Skull.

"Plus...we still haven't technically celebrated the addition of Fox to our team, as well as changing Madarame's heart!" cheered Panther. "Plus, it feels weird that Fox has been to where you live, and we haven't!"

"Oh yeah, I've never seen your place, dude!" exclaimed Skull. "Let's meet up on Saturday after school! We can decide how to take care of it then."

"In the meantime, let's think about the remaining keywords to enter Futaba's Palace. Think about stuff that would be related to shut-ins, hikikomoris, agoraphobics, and the like," explained Joker, rising to his feet. As he made to head for the exit...

"Hey, INMATE!"

...a voice only he could hear entered his ears. Glancing over towards the Velvet Room's door, he saw Caroline standing outside. Without speaking aloud, he arched an eyebrow to acknowledge her presence.

"Your Wardens would like a word with you! Come to the Velvet Room at your earliest convenience!"

...I wonder what this is about?

xxxx

Shortly thereafter, Akira made his way over towards the Velvet Room door near Shibuya's Central Street, in the alleyway that lead to Untouchable. Caroline and Justine both stood outside, looking at him with expectation.

And, to be honest, he did not expect the request made of him. "So...you both want to hang out? Outside?"

(This was definitely new.)

The matter of Caroline and Justine (and hence, Lavenza by proxy) had been hanging in the back of Akira's head ever since he had returned to the past. (A past which was similar yet not fully identical to what he remember, but that was neither here nor there.) Given their hesitancy to interact with him inside the Velvet Room during fusions, he had been wondering as to whether or not his Confidant with them would ever return...

"Your presence has been utterly confusing, Inmate!" exclaimed Caroline, kicking her legs back and forth atop the translucent door. "We had so many plans set to test the progress of your rehabilitation..."

"And yet, your Compendium contains all of the Fusion Requests we had planned to ask of you," murmured Justine, looking down at her feet. "We did not know what to make of it."

"Other than the fact that you're a cheater!" accused Caroline.

It was strange, thinking about the nature of these tiny Wardens; even as Akira heard himself answer, reality itself seemed to shift in a subtle manner, such that the conversation existed only within his cognition, and no one else's. (An aspect of the Velvet Room itself? Or an aspect of Yaldabaoth's power, leaking into reality?) "Hard to cheat at something I didn't know was coming."

"Well, with all the magnanimity we possess, we have decided to give you new duties. Special assignments, if you will," said Justine. "There are places in reality that may be of use for your rehabilitation; we would like to inspect them in person."

"We must make sure that they are up to our strict and exacting standards!" said Caroline, tapping her baton against her shoulder.

"...so, like I said before, you want to hang out," summarized Akira.

"Don't reduce these tasks to such meaningless tripe!" chided Caroline.

Justine nodded severely. "We would make sure that you are adequately awarded for successfully completing them. But be warned: they will not be available indefinitely."

...just one more thing on top of another. But I should be able to manage. Plus, a part of him felt a strange kinship with the Silver Twins™: like he, they had both been forced to endure a trial they didn't ask for. "Sounds like a deal. So...where to first?"

(Somehow...it was both surprising, and yet not, that the first place they wanted to visit was Big Bang Burger.)

(And you DEFINITELY learned that you can't take the Cosmic Tower Burger without advanced prep time...)

(Plus, their reaction to the Lil Bang Meal™ — spaceship toy included — had been worth the stomachache! To think that Justine disdained pickles!)

(To have your Strength Confidant once more open is truly a boon...and you got a Maragi Skill Card out of it...)

However, on the way back home, Morgana suddenly spoke. "Say, Joker..."

"What's up?"

"...back at Big Bang Burger...did something...feel off to you...?"

The sheer hesitancy and uncertainty in Morgana's voice was surprising. Did he not realize Caroline and Justine were there? The restaurant worker had acknowledged their existence and talked to them; how had Morgana not known? "In what way?"

Morgana's ears flattened, a sense of unease crossing his face. "...hmm...never mind. It's nothing."

...hmm. Something to think about for later. "If you say so."

xxxx

Day: June 6th, 2016

My senpai in the Gardening Club is one badass lady. Enough said.

Also, I got ambushed by two small children who forced me to eat a gigantic burger for their amusement.

(And there's a field trip coming up...wonder if I'll see any people of interest? Like a masked detective, or a sentai hero-turned-villain...?)

xxxx

And so life continued on.

xxxx

Day: June 7th, 2016

Flyers got put up on bulletin boards requesting information from the student body about vague and undefined 'concerning situations'. Miss President is probably feeling the heat from the Principal. (Seriously, who relies on a student to run their own investigation? Is he that terrified of losing face that he would rather let the Student Council President take the fall?)

In cooler news, I caught Ushimaru-sensei's chalk in midair between my fingers, and then answered the question correctly. (Not sure if this filled with my classmates with awe or terror.)

Also ended up walking Yoshizawa to the station because she had forgotten an umbrella. (Rookie move: never forget your umbrella as we get near the rainy season!) I hope she does well at her upcoming gymnastics qualifier and prelim.

Found out she's also a target of gossip. "Miss Special Snowflake", how original. (And out of season!) At least she seems to have a good attitude about it.

Given that it was a dreary day, it was clearly the perfect time for another clinical trial with Dr. Takemi. She seems rather flummoxed by the people who want to come to her clinic in spite of her reputation. Also got some nasty backstory involving some hospital doctor called Oyamada. Memo to myself: never end up under his knife!

(On a side note, who would want to have a disease named after them? Crawford and Ende, I'm looking at you!)

xxxx

Day: June 8th, 2016

That posting changed something; I'm starting to hear a lot more rumors flying around about students getting caught up in matters involving threats and blackmail. (Kaneshiro's crimes involving teenagers as patsies; this is around the time they started impacting Shujin's students en masse, Akira didn't write.)

There's also lots of people murmuring about who's been told to keep quiet by the Principal about anything troublesome. (Memo to myself: think about this later!)

Dr. Maruki had an interesting lesson about totalitarianism. He makes for a better lecturer than most of the faculty.

Also, Yoshizawa wanted to make good on our prior deal about gymnastics lessons. (My poor obliques and hip flexors...oh, how they ache...!)

Surprisingly, for such a cheerful and upbeat girl, she's stuck in a slump of some kind. Sounds like complications with puberty, body image, and an old bit of depression due to some undisclosed "complications."(Yeah, raising teenagers through those difficult years is a trial all its own, Akira didn't write, even as he mused about his children from the Last Time Around™...)

It's interesting that she turned to me — the ultimate 'Fake It 'Til You Make It' guy — for advice on being confident.

Anyhow, the Boss is still a bit wary of me. I think he's wondering when I'll next ask to see Futaba. (It's really hard to focus on crossword puzzles when he's just staring at me...MENACINGLY.)

Tomorrow is another day.

xxxx

/Thursday: June 9th, 2016/

And so dawned the day of the social studies field trip.

It was strange, moving about the confines of the colorful television studio, and seeing a set design that was in no way similar to what he could recall from the future...past...whatever. I wonder how many times they've change the design of the set?

(He also overheard some of the staff mention one 'Director Shinichi Yoshizawa'...was there any relation with Kasumi from school?)

"...interesting stuff," murmured Ryuji, as he idly observed the inner workings of television broadcasting and scheduling.

"Get this get anymore obvious...?" grumbled Ann. "I should have picked the field trip to the Ministry of Justice, like Shiho did..."

"Kind of bad for a Phantom Thief to go to where the cops and law guys are, ya know?" whispered Ryuji.

(Huh, so that's why he hadn't seen Shiho around. I wonder if that's where Mishima decided to go, as well...?)

Ann pouted. "Yeah, but still..."

"...how much longer is this going to take?" asked Morgana from behind his shoulder.

Akira stared blankly ahead, his mind not paying attention to anything around him in the least.

That is, until an associate director tried to 'sweet talk' Ann into appearing on television. "You've got a slammin' bod, after all..."

"...I'm on a school trip," icily said Ann, clearly broadcasting her disinterest.

Let's see how accurate my eavesdropping is! "I wonder if we should inform Director Yoshizawa about the way you present yourself...very shameful," said Akira, catching the associate director's attention. "Come to think of it, doesn't he have a daughter who goes to our school? I wonder what he would think about this..."

"...on second thought, maybe I should have you working with another group," nervously said the AD, glancing over towards Kawakami-sensei.

The teacher sighed tiredly as she approached the trio. "What did you do?"

"Just emphasizing the importance of virtue and morals in public programming," said Akira without hesitation.

"...just follow me," grumbled the beleaguered teacher.

"Thanks for the save," mouthed Ann as they moved to follow her. "But how'd you know that this place's director is the father of Shiho's friend?"

Akira dramatically adjusted his glasses. "Eavesdropping and educated guessing."

Ryuji flatly stared. "...so, just bee-essing, huh?"

"Is it truly bee-ess if it works?" joked Akira.

The day continued on in a similarly mundane fashion (with less sexual harassment direct Ann's way, fortunately), with the students discussing their plans about what to do once they left. "Ooh, ooh! I wanna go to that huge pancake-looking place we passed on the way here!"

"...you mean Dome Town?" inquired Akira.

(This conversation suddenly felt familiar.)

Discussion about the features of Dome Town and the amusement park continued on.

(Definitely familiar.)

Feeling much better about their circumstances (Morgana's unease about roller coasters aside), the students elected to make their way to Dome Town.

(...now it felt less familiar...?)

They were not interrupted.

(...why did this feel off?)

It wasn't until they were out the doors of the television station that it hit Akira like a ton of bricks. I didn't run into Goro Akechi today...ah, crapbaskets.

xxxx

Day: June 9th, 2016

Alas, the trip to a media wonderland was marred by perverts.

Overall, it was strangely unfulfilling.

(And that's even when counting the sight of Ryuji hurling chunks into a trashcan due to nausea.)

xxxxx

/Friday: June 10th, 2016/

Where yesterday had been about navigating the inner workings and background of what made a television station tick, today was all about seeing how it worked live.

That included being in the audience of 'Good Morning, Japan', where none other than the High School Detective Goro Akechi himself was being interviewed during the 'Hottest Meet-and-Greet' segment. "I thought I've seen him on TV before..." murmured Ann.

Akira had to begrudgingly admit that, insofar as media appearances went, Akechi was very good at winning the crowd over: sporting charisma, a genial demeanor, and a politely inoffensive sense of humor that played well to the camera...which, of course, made his professed opposition to the Phantom Thieves all the more notable. Gotta say, he's pretty good at hiding his true face...then again, I kind of have an unfair advantage...

(Like you're in any position to criticize someone for hiding their true self...?)

Yet, for all the things that had changed, some things remained the same: as such, when Akira was asked by the the television co-host about his thoughts on the Phantom Thieves, he decided to be...inventive. "Well, if we are speaking purely in terms of hypotheticals," said Akira, speaking into the wireless mic, "Then I think the Phantom Thieves are simply serving the role of a Robin Hood archetype, like Nezumi Kozō or Ishikawa Goemon."

"...a very firm acknowledgment," acknowledged Akechi, ignoring the surprise from the other students. "And yet, these outlaws lauded for their heroism suffered quite unsightly deaths..." (Akira had no idea how to interpret that.) "In that case, there's one more question I'd like to ask: if your heart were to be changed by the Phantom Thieves, how would you determine if you were still yourself?"

Hmm. I don't think this is the question he asked the Last Time Around™. Oh well, that's what winging it was for! "Simple: by relying on..." With exaggerated motions, he struck a dynamic sentai pose, with absolutely no sense of shame. "...the Power of Friendship!™ Patent pending."

His antics caused a wave of disapproval from various students, while Ann and Ryuji cringed at his demeanor. At the edge of the room, Kawakami was downright distraught with embarrassment.

("I don't get it, that seems like a good answer to me," whispered Morgana from within his bookbag.)

Akechi, however, was unphased. "I see. You certainly have a flare for the dramatic." Then he turned back towards the show hosts, speaking about 'how' such changes of heart could hypothetically occur.

"...dude, I can't believe you have the guts to do that," said Ryuji with a wince.

Akira blinked. "To do what? I was being serious."

Ryuji stared. "...for real?"

Thus did the show continue on, until it was finally time to depart. As Ann went on ahead and Ryuji went to the bathroom, Akira calmly waited...

"Ah, hello again!"

...until Goro Akechi approached. "Yo." Now, for the million yen question: does he actually remember anything?

"I appreciated your input today. To paraphrase Hegel, advancement cannot occur without both thesis and antithesis..."

...ah, he's a bit more of a tryhard in one-on-one situations, I had forgotten about that. Arching an eyebrow, Akira answered, "I'm not sure Hegelian dialectic works that way."

"...well, I did say I was paraphrasing," admitted Akechi, looking at him with a discerning look. "What I mean to say is that our brief discussion was quite meaningful; I don't run across many people who are willing to speak their minds so freely."

Akira shrugged. "Well, I've been told my filter is somewhere between broken and nonexistent."

Akechi chuckled, looking and sounding for all the world like a prim and proper high school student. "And yet most who speak without a filter tend to let purely base thoughts come forth; if you are as you say, then you must be quite the learned sort to speak so eloquently."

"It comes with exercising well and getting plenty of sleep." Briefly jostling his bookbag, Akira remarked, "If need be, I'd recommend getting a cat to serve as a sleep aid. They're quite good at it."

"Hey!" yelled Morgana from within his bookbag.

"...was that a cat's meow I just heard...?" wondered Akechi, looking intently at Akira's bookbag.

(...wait. This was different.) "Maybe. Maybe not. Who's to say?" (A meow? Could...Akechi not understand Morgana...?)

Akechi chuckled. "You really are intriguing. I bet you'd make for a worthwhile debate partner on a variety of subjects. I'd like to keep picking at your thoughts if we ever come across each other in the future. How does that sound?" To emphasize the point, Akechi extended his hand.

...I honestly don't know what to make of this. Alas, he had no choice but to keep moving. "...sounds like a deal," Akira said, shaking the detective's grip firmly.

(And so, your Confidant of Justice itself has risen to life...)

Thus did they exchange contact info before Akechi moved on.

So too did Akira, once Ryuji returned. Even as the faux blond complained about how Akechi had spoken about the Phantom Thieves, Akira's mind was going all over the place. Has he not seen Mona in the Metaverse yet? Or is it something else? I...just don't have information to go off of...great, now I'm starting to sound paranoid...

xxxx

Day: June 10th, 2016

Crossed swords with a junior detective in a battle of wits. Who won? Who's to say?

(But seriously, I have no idea what to make of all this.)

xxxx

/Saturday: June 11, 2016/

With the social studies trip done and dusted, the Thieves decided to coordinate their 'official' celebration of Madarame's change of heart.

(A slight change in speed, a minor change in organization; that was all it took for the trio to make their away immediately from the school grounds, instead of lingering by the vending machines, where a certain Class President would record incriminate evidence...not that Akira remembered any of this.)

Alas, when meeting up at Shibuya, everyone was befuddled by the sight of a painting covered by a sheet, sitting atop a rolling suitcase. "...what's that?" asked Panther.

"I have grown tired of the dorms and their filthiness, so I have decided to move in with our leader," remarked Yusuke without hesitation. "I made some adjustments to our work after some inspiration, so I believe it would make an acceptable housewarming gift."

"...not that I'm not flattered, but it's not up to me. My probation officer letting you stay one night is entirely different from letting you live there," dryly said Akira.

Yusuke seemed utterly bewildered. "Oh. I see. How unfortunate." Turning towards Ann, he asked, "Might I then live with you?"

"What? No!" she protested. "There's no way that's gonna happen!"

"...perhaps if I purchased a welcoming gift to show my gratitude?" he remarked. "Given the aesthetics, I'm sure you would appreciate the picture of our leader..."

Ryuji arched an eyebrow. "Ain't that the one he modeled nude for?"

"Yes, why do you ask?" the artist blithely responded.

"Then not just no, but heck no!" retorted Ann, her face sporting a fierce blush.

Yusuke looked utterly shocked. "Impossible..."

My teammates are all a bunch of dorks, and I love them more than can be possibly imagined, Akira thought with a chuckle.

"...let's just get over to Leblanc and we'll talk about it then. I'd rather discuss what we're all going to have for dinner!" exclaimed Morgana. "I vote for sushi!"

As they moved on towards the station which would connect them to Yongen-Jaya, Akira briefly looked over his shoulder; from a distance, he could barely make out the presence of Makoto Niijima. Still snooping, huh? With a grin, he winked in her direction.

(Makoto frowned as the suspicious group of students vanished from sight. "...why are you all hanging out together...?" How could mere students be capable of the things attributed to the Phantom Thieves...?)

xxxx

Sojiro was noticeably surprised by Akira's tagalongs. He'd known about Yusuke, but the presence of Ann and Ryuji was a shock. "Huh. A girl, too?"

"Hello!" cheerfully remarked Ann, immediately adopting the role of the social butterfly. (A skill not often used, given her isolation at school; but amongst those who wouldn't care for such things, she was easily the most charming of Akira's friends.)

As they made their introductions, Akira went to help out behind the counter. "I'd like to make their drinks, if that's okay?"

Sojiro snorted. "Now hold on. I get these are your friends, but right now? They're customers; they're only going to get the best, and you're not yet up to my standards."

"...your word is my command, Boss," said Akira, offering a proverbial olive branch.

Sojiro seemed to catch on; even if he was still prickly about the recent incident with Futaba, he still accepted the peace offering. "Now hold on, you're still going to help me." In his own way, of course.

(All the while, Futaba quietly listened through her bugs.)

xx

With Ryuji's first encounter with coffee having been a disaster for his taste buds, and with the decision made to have hotpot with rice porridge for dinner, Yusuke quietly framed the revised painting on the beam behind the couch. "I would prefer to use a nail, but I did not bring a hammer. I hope you will forgive the use of something as gauche as a removable hook," muttered Yusuke. "Also, I went with a less ostentatious frame, to keep with the simplicity of the image. If you would prefer a nicer frame, I leave it to your discretion.

Needless to say, the final version of Yusuke's piece was...

...striking.

"Those look like Arsène's wings," observed Mona.

"And this was before you even went into the Metaverse?" remarked Ryuji. "Dude, that's crazy..."

Ann, once she got over the fact she was essentially looking at a (tastefully censored) version of Akira in the nude, focused on the essential differences. "Why did he make you look so old?"

"I've been told I'm a bit of an old man at heart," quipped Akira.

"...and you actually have a bit of a belly?" she said, pointing at the curve of the abdomen resting upon the right thigh. "But you've always looked so lean!" exclaimed Ann, poking Akira's side as if to test for flabbiness.

"Everyone's abdomen will have folds when they sit down, Ann," said Akira with a roll of his eyes. "Doesn't matter how lean you are; the skin and muscles have to go somewhere."

"No kidding," remarked Ryuji, as he poked Ann in the side to make the point. "You ain't one to talk!" he said with a boyish grin.

"RYUJI!" she hissed, poking back at him, thus instigating the Great Poke-Off of the Attic™.

Akira stared quietly at the face: wrinkled and aged...the face that had once been his. I won't forget where I came from...and why I'm going through all of this.

With Sojiro's blessing, they used the portable stove and hotpot upstairs; with broth cooking and ingredients ready, they conversed about numerous things whilst eating: Akechi's effect on the Phantom Thieves' public reputation (especially online); their concerns as to whether it would stop people from looking to the Thieves for courage amidst impossible situations; whether or not they truly could uphold justice in society as it stood.

(All the while, unbeknownst to Akira, Makoto Niijima was discussing with her sister about the notions of justice, whilst Akechi's interview droned on in the background. The segment where he debated with a member of the audience — who was kept off-camera — caught her ears, because that was definitely Akira Kurusu boasting about 'the Power of Friendship'. Justice...friendship...what do those even mean...?)

(All the while, unbeknownst to Futaba, she was quietly watching clips from the same show online, even as she idly listened to the Phantom Thieves talk amongst themselves whilst eating food. The Phantom Thieves...I've already helped them accomplish a lot...and Kurusu knows who I am, now...so what's stopping me from asking them...?)

As they let their food settle (with Ann snoozing off shortly thereafter), more intimate introductions were made for Yusuke's sake: Ryuji speaking about how he had met Ann and Shiho Suzui in middle school, and how Ann's foreign features made her an outcast; Ryuji revealing to Yusuke the truth about Kamoshida's breaking of his leg, and the troubles he'd caused his single mother ("Turns out I'm a pretty bad son, huh?" the blond remarked with a self-deprecating chuckle); Morgana speaking about his lost memory and form, and his desire to find the truth within Mementos ("The key to the truth of my circumstances has to be down there...it has to," swore Morgana with a solemn voice); Akira, of course, spoke of his encounter with a drunk baldy who had been harassing a woman, only for his good deed to get him arrested by the police...and for the woman ("I mean, she was outright threatened by the baldy, so I only wonder what it was he had over her," mused Akira with a detached air...because, as far as he was concerned, that incident had happened decades ago) to profess to the cops that Akira had actually assaulted the man.

"Just listenin' to it pisses me off," growled Ryuji. "Can't believe you're so calm about it!"

"At this point, it is what it is," said Akira. "I can only move forward...and get payback in my own way."

"And you don't remember who it was?" asked Morgana.

"It was pretty dark," replied Akira. (Technically not a lie, but also not technically an answer.)

Ryuji and Yusuke were both in a right proper mood about the injustices they and others had suffered; so much so, that Ann quietly sat up, revealing she had been up for a while. "This weird feeling came over me while I was listening to you guys...it almost feels like I've known you all forever...do you think it's because our backgrounds are so similar?"

At that moment, Akira remember the last time when Ann had said those words. This time, those words threatened to break through all of his masks. More than you know...more than you could ever know...

"I actually feel like I've known Morgana for a really long time too. It's so strange...I can't really put it into words," added Ann.

I wish I could tell you. I wish I could tell all of you...but I don't know if that would be the right thing to do! Akira maintained his calm facade, letting none of his inner turmoil free.

It was a time for renewing their vows as Phantom Thieves, promising to continue forward with their mission to bring down the rotten adults of society, and to change the hearts of those who couldn't be touched by the normal modes of justice.

Thus, did Akira feel it was right to make a move. "Did you hear all of that, Alibaba?"

(Futaba froze. "...damn.")

"...oh right, you did say she had bugged this place!" loudly whispered Ryuji.

("...double damn!" What to do, what to do...?)

"...Futaba-chan?" tentatively said Ann, unsure of where to look. "We heard about all the stuff that went down between you, Akira, and Sakura-san...and...we want to help you!"

"Although I personally disagree with the pervasiveness of your eavesdropping, it does allow for us to speak candidly," remarked Yusuke. "From what little we've learned, you have suffered as well...and, just like us, had no one to turn to."

Ryuji nodded. "What they said. Your uncle sounds like a shitty dude, and Sakura-san seems like a cool guy. Being a single parent...it ain't easy...gah, what am I saying, you heard the stuff I said about my mom!"

(Futaba, sitting within her chair, stared listlessly at the monitor as she let their words wash over her. Could it be...so simple...? The logical part of her mind said no; the vengeful part, poisoned by self-hatred, hissed that it was all for nothing; and yet...)

Akira held out his phone. "If you want us to do this...then just say the word."

(...and yet...she wanted to dare for hope, no matter how ludicrous it seemed for a waste of space like her. Thus, she picked up her phone.)

His phone rang. Pressing the screen, he said, "You're on speaker."

"...hi," came Futaba's quiet voice.

"She sounds so young," murmured Ann.

"...so, you've all known me as Alibaba. I snuck my bugs into Leblanc so I could keep watch on Sojiro whenever he's working...and long before Kurusu-san ever arrived. So...sorry about that..."

"It's allowed us to accomplish a lot; think of it as a silver lining," said Akira. "You've observed our justice for over a month now...and you've helped us in a variety of ways. When you first reached out to me, you told me that there was someone whose heart you wanted us to change...before a request can be accepted, we need to know who...and why."

"...but you know the who and why..."

"He has a point; these things have a ritual all of their own," said Yusuke with a knowing smile. "The request must be made."

(Futaba mulled this over, muting herself as her mind circulated upon itself. "...makes sense...they need the quest flag triggered before the objectives become available...that's how I should think about it..." 'Gamifying' it helped make it easier to communicate.)

"...very well. The target's name is...Futaba Sakura. She...practically killed her mother...and her heart won't ever let her forget it..." There was a brief hiccup on the other end. "The target doesn't know what to do...but she can't live like this anymore...being an inconvenience to the one who took her in...so please...change her heart...take away this misery...!"

Akira shared a glance with his comrades, who all nodded in return. "...we accept your request." Tomorrow would be a Sunday: the perfect day to begin their infiltration. Just hold on, Futaba...we've got your back.

xx

The night drew down in a rather sedated manner; while Ann Takamaki elected to return home, the boys elected to refresh themselves at the bathhouse across the street.

("I have a task for you, my comrade," remarked Akira Kurusu to Morgana. When he whispered his idea to the tuxedo cat, the feline immediately agreed that it would be of great benefit for their infiltration.)

As such, Akira found himself soaking into the hot waters, letting the tension slowly eke out. Okay...let's recap as to what's coming up...maybe we take care of Futaba before moving on to Kaneshiro? Then again, who was to say if Kaneshiro would be Makoto's target of choice...?

"-hey, dude!"

Akira blinked, looking over at Ryuji Sakamoto. "What is it?" he sleepily asked.

"What do you think about Ann? As a girl, I mean," Ryuji asked.

Akira shrugged. "She's cute. Not my type though."

"Man, no hesitation...I mean, her looks totally make up for her overbearing personality."

Ryuji's comment elicited a blunt "I'll be sure to share what you've said with Ann" from Yusuke Kitagawa, prompting a brief argument between the two.

Eh, let the kids hash it out, mused Akira.

Eventually, words broke back through. "... but the way I hear it is that you like 'em with green thumbs."

Akira blinked. "Hmm?"

"You know, the Gardening Club you've been spending time at school with? I can see you two on the roof from the window during lunch." With a grin just shy of sleazy, Ryuji said, "My man" in the most 'dudebro' way possible.

Akira shrugged. With an even tone, he remarked, "She's cute. Beautiful. Potentially an angel from above. A creation of the gods, even."

"...the fact you can say that stuff with a straight face is kinda scary," remarked Ryuji, somewhat deflated by Akira's dry response.

"Hmm...I might be interested in joining this Gardening Club, if only to see our leader in such an amorous state," remarked Yusuke, bringing up his hands to frame Akira in his mind's eye.

Ryuji stared. "...dude, you don't go to our school."

Yusuke slowly blinked. "...ah. That is true. How unfortunate."

Alas, the heat of the bath — courtesy of a nearby oldtimer — prompted Ryuji to finally call it quits. Eventually, Yusuke too elected to return to Leblanc.

Akira wasn't sure why they had a problem with the temperature; it felt just grand.

xxxx

On his way back from the bathhouse, Akira noticed he had gotten a couple of messages.

Futaba: I guess you're the one who sent this guy over

Attached was a closeup Morgana's face, his eyes closed against the light of a camera flash.

Futaba: ...
Futaba: thanks

Akira smiled, wondering if Futaba was cuddled up with the diminutive feline.

Akira: no prob :)

(Unbeknownst to Akira: although Morgana suffered in silence within Futaba's surprisingly clingy arms...he could tell that the girl felt some semblance of hope from his mere presence, even if neither of them could articulate why.)

xxxx

Day: June 11th, 2016

Enjoyed some hotpot with friends.

Wondering how we can help out the Boss's daughter so we can invite her along.

xxxx

/Sunday: June 12, 2016/

Akira quietly lingered at the top of the stairs, waiting for Yusuke to finish having a private conversation with Sojiro about...something. Whatever it was, he would let the old geezer have a chance to impart wisdom to the struggling artist.

When he went downstairs, Sojiro remarked, "You have some pretty good friends...surprisingly enough." Briefly glancing over at the picture of the true Sayuri, he added, "And generous to a fault."

"Yep," admitted Akira as he went to put on apron for the morning shift. "Anyhow, mind if I give a shot at preparing the morning brew?"

Sojiro huffed. "You still have to pass my standards, you know."

Slow and steady, Kurusu, slow and steady...

xxxx

Near lunch time, the Phantom Thieves gathered outside of Sojiro's house, where Morgana was waiting for them outside the front door. "So...are we ready?"

"...not quite," admitted Akira, glancing down at the chatlog for the Phantom Thieves; at some point that morning, they had finally clued in to what Futaba's last keyword should be, after days of pondering her circumstances. Ann, alas, had eventually stumbled upon tomb...but, to Akira's surprise and hidden frustration, that had not been enough.

Apparently, much like pervert with Kamoshida and plagiarism with Madarame, there was a concept associated with Futaba's Palace that they needed to come up with.

Numerous ideas had been thrown around: sadness, sorrow, entrapment, despair, isolation, depression, and other such 'lively' concepts.

"Gah, this is getting us nowhere!" grumbled Ryuji, glancing above the top of the stone enclosure blocking Sojiro's house from the alleyway. "I don't wanna think about more sad shit like this."

"...but what could Futaba associate with a tomb...?" murmured Ann.

"These 'keywords' you mentioned for Kamoshida and Madarame...they seem to be aspects which, although a necessary part of how they view the world, are nonetheless a separate reality in and of themselves," observed Yusuke. "Perversion is something which anyone can grasp in isolation...much like the crime of plagiarism. So what sort of concept could influence Futaba Sakura in a similar way...?"

At that point, it clicked. Ah...right. "...she believes she killed her own mother...and hates herself for it," whispered Akira, opening up the Meta Nav to repeat the keywords. First, the target: "Futaba Sakura." Then the location: "Sojiro Sakura's house." Then the distortion: "Tomb." And then, finally...the concept which sat at the foundation of Futaba's distorted cognition: "...Matricide."

"Input accepted. Searching for route to destination," chirped the Metaverse Navigator.

Akira looked up from his phone, adjusting the bookbag on his shoulder — laden with supplies and drinks — to look at his comrades. "You all ready?" When they all nodded sternly, Akira pressed the button.

"Beginning navigation."

The dense urban landscape of Yongen-Jaya dissolved...and in its wake was a searing sea of sand.

"...what the eff kind of tomb is this?!" yelled Ryuji out of disbelief.

"You ever heard of Ancient Egypt?" dryly said Akira.

xxxx

Shortly thereafter, the Mona-bus rolled along the desert sand in a relatively brisk manner.

Unlike the Last Time Around™, however, Akira had had an idea.

"...air's starting to get warm," murmured Ann, holding her hand up to the vent on the front.

"Time for another refill then," said Akira, keeping his hand on the wheel. "Ryuji, water." The blond grabbed one bottled water out of the supply bag, handing it over the front seat. Ann grabbed it and opened the glove compartment, where she unceremoniously poured the liquid into a nebulous void before closing it back.

A relieved sigh from Mona echoed through the cabin, as the air within slowly became cool again.

Ah, the wonders of evaporative cooling, mused Akira.

"A truly simple yet wondrous way of cooling off," observed Yusuke. "I wonder if all gloveboxes are like this..."

"...probably not," remarked Ryuji.

"Let's not say anything that'll mess with the cognition now," warned Akira. "Cats drink water to cool down; engines need liquid coolant to keep from overheating; therefore, adding water to the Mona-bus makes him and us cooler." So simple that a child could buy into it...hence its effectiveness. "...let's just hope that we can avoid going through the desert each time."

"Agreed," chimed the rest of the Thieves.

Before long, Ann pointed out the town looming on the horizon, over which sat an enormous pyramid: one capped with a pyramidion of polished limestone and golden plating. Sand gave way to brick roads, and desolation gave way to palm trees and small oases; the Mona-bus parked underneath a wall providing a bit of shadow, allowing them to step outside. Immediately, the dryness and heat were noticeable.

"Gah, crap, it's hot!" exclaimed Ryuji. Pointing at the stairs leading up to the pyramid, he said, "That's got to be the place, right?"

"A pharaoh's tomb," murmured Yusuke. "Beautiful...conforming perfectly to the golden ratio..."

"We aren't seen with hostility right now," observed Akira, noticing their lack of wardrobes. "Let's hope it stays that way."

On the way up, he couldn't help notice a few feline statues sitting atop some of the pillars bordering the stairs; there was a striking resemblance to a certain tuxedo cat. "Hey, Mona."

"What?"

"Good job."

"...for getting us here?" he asked. "I mean, that's obvious."

Akira smiled. Sure, we'll go with that. As he continued upward, he mentally reviewed the changes he had made during his last trip to the Velvet Room.

(June the 6th, 2016: After returning the Twins to the Velvet Room, he had stepped inside to fuse some Personas. Shiisaa and Jack Frost had given way to High Pixie; Hua Po and Apsaras had become Matador; Koropokguru and Inugami had combined into Fuu-Ki; and, summoning Eligor from the Compendium, he had used that to fuse Koppa Tengu into Andras. Then, just to be on the safe side, he had pulled a higher-level Persona out of the Compendium that he nonetheless recalled as having great utility...and all the while, Fake Igor stared at him with that knowing and irritating grin.)

Past the door they went, into the air conditioned confines of the pyramid; it was an instant nostalgia bomb for Akira, who recalled the holographic strings of binary, and the green ambiance of the tomb's inner light. Alas, it was not necessarily good nostalgia, because this Palace had been...difficult. Still not in our outfits. "Eyes open, team." As the four humans and one cat-shaped person made their way further in — jumping over pillars fixed in quicksand, ascending long flights of stony stairs — a certain individual stood in their way. "...I guess you must be the Shadow of Futaba Sakura."

Futaba's Shadow — bearing a silk outfit fit for Egyptian royalty, with bare midriff, golden top, and a tiara with a dragon's head bearing numerous gemstones — stared at Akira with piercing yellow eyes; her glasses were the only anachronistic feature. "...hmm..."

"...you know who we are, right?" asked Ann. "We were...invited here, right?"

"You claim that you are here to plunder my tomb," stoically said Futaba's Shadow. "Thieves steal that which does not belong to them...and the misery? The sorrow? The despair? They are mine. And I am not willing to part from my rightful punishment."

Yusuke frowned. "This is markedly different compared to her request in reality..."

"I mean, you told us to change your heart!" exclaimed Ryuji. "Your real self has been helping us out; she knows how we work!"

"...does she? Truly?" Turning her gaze towards Akira, she remarked, "This is no place for tool-assisted speedruns."

Akira blinked, feeling a strange omen. Wait, what-?

In the next instant, a few things happened: the Phantom Thieves' outfits manifested; enemy Shadows manifested in a flash of black and red around the group; a trapdoor opened up underneath Joker, plunging him into darkness.

"Joker!" was the last thing he heard from Mona before he landed on a steep slide, curving into a deeper part of the pyramid. His mind blazed into action, as his Third Eye observed what was coming: as the slide came to an end, Joker readied his feet, angling himself so that he landed on a stone floor in a tumbling roll.

...well, this is different, he mused, dusting off his coat to look around; he was in a gigantic arena of some kind, lit at a distance by great torches. Summoning Arsène, he willed his Persona to fly up and grab a torch; when the winged thief returned the torch to Joker's hand, he found himself staring directly at Futaba's Shadow. "...that was kind of rude."

The Shadow's eyes pierced through the gloom. "...you are far more powerful than the others."

Joker went still. "...are my friends fine?"

"They are facing the dregs: a suitable challenge for them. But not suitable for you." The Shadow began to pace, her eyes remaining locked on Joker all the while. "My Other Self has wondered a great deal about your capacity...about the things you are capable of. She has chalked it up as a matter of your status as a Phantom Thief...but subconsciously, there are aspects of your powers which trouble her."

"...and you're aware of those aspects, I take it?"

Coming back in front of Joker, Futaba's Shadow said two words. "Cognitive psience." It was a familiar phrase, one that Joker had heard for decades in his Last Life™; he couldn't help but react to it. In so doing, he sealed his fate in the eyes of the Palace Ruler. "You are aware of the concept. Even now, your cognition is roiling with insight: heavy in a way that should not be possible for one as young as you, who was never associated with my mother's research."

"...what are you getting at?" Inwardly, his dread was only growing. This isn't how it's supposed to go; I just wanted to help her!

"Whatever Providence has granted you such knowledge...I know not the origin of. Yet everything about you reeks of manipulation. The burden of the Truth my other self refuses to see...is already enough; my shoulders cannot bear whatever scheme you are conniving."

"It's not a scheme," he heatedly said. "I want to help you. The others want to help you. You don't deserve what's happening to you!"

"...you speak so familiarly with me. Such fire; such emotion...for a mere stranger." Futaba's Shadow faded away into the darkness. "In which case, all you can do is prove your mettle, Joker of the Phantom Thieves..."

Suddenly, artificial lights emerged from the walls, illuminating the interior; to Joker's shock, they revealed a presence he had not even noticed. "What the?!" A great sphinx, bearing the head of a woman with black hair in a bob cut, and wearing a red blouse, slumbered on the floor; great chains looped around her limbs, keeping her down. This...is Futaba's cognition of Wakaba's mother!

"Your efforts in reality...have kept the guardian of the tomb from escaping. Yet the Outside is full of those that seek to free her..." The voice of the Palace's Ruler echoed from all around. "...should she roam free, the weight of my Sin will only grow heavier. And this tomb will fall into ruin..."

Ruin. Ruin. Was this a change that I caused? Or had Futaba's cognition always been trapped under the pyramid, and had only broken free as the summer went on, worsening her condition...? He had no way of knowing.

All he knew was that the Sphinx's eyes shot open; aware of his presence, she loosed a blood-curdling scream that echoed painfully throughout the chamber and the pyramid beyond.

(In reality, Futaba — sitting at her desk — suddenly went still, feeling a heavy cloud settle over her. "No...not again...")

Joker immediately manifested the Persona that currently bore the highest level of his main party: the one pulled directly from his Compendium, mere days ago. "Arahabaki!" The humanoid dogū figure emerged mere moments before the Sphinx's massive paw slammed into it. The Sphinx roared angrily as her great paw bounced back, repelled by the Persona's inherent reaction to physical attacks. No time to think! Just fight!

It was a frantic and almost desperate mania that drove Joker over the next several minutes. With grappling hook enabling him to dance through the air, he struck at the ripping and roaring Sphinx to the best of his ability; although Arsène and High Pixie were his preferred Personas for sheer mobility, the Wind Skills of Fuu-Ki and the pinpoint strikes of Matador helped severely; when he was unable to dodge, pulling out Arahabaki or Shiki-Ouji to tank the physical blows was all that kept him alive.

Scurrying along the back of the chained beast was a no-go; within the tight confines of the underground chamber, all it would take is one shift — one roll; one push! — for him to go splat against the wall or the floor.

And the damned cognition just would not shut up! Her enraged screams were downright cacophonous in the tight confines of the tomb, threatening to burst his ear drums.

Ammo spent, Joker thought, wincing as he dove underneath an errant swipe. Rolling to his feet, he sliced at the limb before darting away. Most of the supplies are with the others, Joker mused as Fuu-Ki's Garula unleashed a vicious windstorm within the epicenter of the chamber; the restraints binding the Sphinx rattled and strained from the sheer forces at play. Situation...less than optimal.

Fuu-Ki suddenly got batted aside, as the Sphinx furiously dove towards him with both paws.

In desperation, he re-summoned Arahabaki.

The Persona repelled the strike as before; however, the utter power knocked the Sphinx back...and through the wall. The great beast fell into a tunnel that had been painstakingly carved, leading to a distant opening outside. Various bandits with handheld tools — more Shadows, hellbent on imprisoning Futaba within the distortions of her own mind — scattered from the fallen Sphinx. The angry cognition took notice of the pinprick of light, stomping towards it with wrathful intent.

"And so her image of Mother's Wrath shall now rule the skies," observed Futaba's Shadow, manifesting once more by Joker's side. "What will you do now?"

The answer was obvious. "...we're not ready for this Palace yet," growled Joker, frustrated more with himself than anything. "...the others-?" A part of the nearby wall slid open, revealing a spiraling staircase. "...my ticket out, huh?"

"My tomb will be crawling with bandits the next time you return," observed Futaba's Shadow, staring intently at him. "You will not find safe grounds here, Manipulator."

The self-destructive unfairness with which Futaba's Shadow was acting made Joker want to tweak her ear like a little kid. Stupid teenagers; why do you have to make things so damned difficult?! Yet, the greater part of him knew that the Shadow was still true to who Futaba was: even if she had a subconscious understanding of the truth, her impulsive need to drive people away still held strong. "...guess we'll just have to be smarter about it." As Joker made his way towards the stairs, he asked, "One question...how would you react if I were to bring your Other Self here? How would her Palace react?"

Futaba's Shadow was silent.

"...fair enough." Joker quickly made for the stairs, unwilling to stick around now that bandits were beginning to pour in through the wall that the Sphinx had broken down. After a few minutes of arduous climbing, he finally stumbled through a trick wall that dropped down upon the main stairway of the Palace. "Guys!"

"...sure took your sweet time," grumbled Skull, resting on his back in a spread eagle fashion. The other Phantom Thieves were in similar straits: favoring limbs, leaning against walls, gasping for air. "...those Shadows...are frickin' tough..."

"...and we went through almost all of our supplies," remarked Fox, gesturing at the crushed cans and crumpled food packages littering the ground around them. "To act so viciously against those who want to help her...I wonder if this is an example of the mythical tsundere I've heard so much about at school...?"

Panther groaned audibly. "Come on..."

Mona looked severely at Joker. "What happened to you?"

When a distant roar caught their attention — one that caused the pyramid itself to shake — Joker dryly said, "Fought a giant Sphinx. Now it's broken loose, and we need to regroup."

As if to punctuate his words, a giant boulder suddenly dropped onto the top of the stairs, rolling down towards them menacingly.

"OH YOU'VE GOTTA BE EFFIN' KIDDING!" screamed Skull, as sheer adrenaline forced the Phantom Thieves to take flight.

xxxx

Back in the real world, the four humans (plus one cat) felt utterly boneless. "...that...sucked..." grumbled Ann.

"...I think we need to get stronger before trying her Palace again..." muttered Akira.

At this, there were no disputes.

xxxx

Later that evening — after mindlessly swinging a bat at the bagging cage for a couple of hours, and therapeutically soaking up in the bathhouse — Akira got a message he had been waiting for.

ALIBABA: I feel like shit.
ALIBABA: What did you do?

Akira decided to be honest.

Akira: Your heart is pretty tough.
Akira: We're going to need to level up before trying again.
ALIBABA: So this awful feeling is a result of you trying to change my heart
ALIBABA: And my heart...resisting?
Akira: Pretty much :|

It was a humbling experience, to be sure...especially in light of whatever insight Futaba's Shadow had into his own situation. What exactly does she see when looking at me?

ALIBABA: I want the change of heart to happen
ALIBABA: Why would I resist?
Akira: well
Akira: you know the saying about how we're our own worst enemies?

At this, he did not get a response.

(Mostly because Futaba, wiping angrily at her nose with a tissue, was busy feuding with her own self-hatred...however futile it would be.)

"...that's about what I expected," murmured Akira, lazily glancing over at the bed where Morgana was curled up in a deep sleep. This Sunday could have gone better...

xx

Day: June 12th, 2016

My friends tried playing a new game involving dungeon crawling and exploration, straight out of a Colorado Bones movie.

It was surprisingly exhausting. Don't think we'll be playing it again for a while...

xxxx

All told, given how the day had gone, Joker wasn't surprised when he opened his eyes to the mocking laughter of Fake Igor.

"And so you bear witness to the world that rejects your petty tricks," sneered Yaldabaoth, drumming his fingers with a speed that could be called gleeful. "A fitting display."

"I'm sure you just laughed it up," griped Joker. "It was just the equivalent of us running into the Reaper without proper planning and insufficient power levels. We'll be ready the next time."

Fake Igor's grin was all too pleased at his defiance. "I'm sure. Perhaps you'll increase your power by indulging in youthful escapades, seeking to recreate a time long lost..."

"...something bothered me, about what Futaba's Shadow said." It tied into something which had been niggling at him: why would a being as powerful as Yaldabaoth stomach living out an old 'role' — one that had led to his ultimate failure! — and endure such humiliation so passively? Was the mysterious 'Ruin' truly so formidable? "She seemed...rather insightful. Too insightful. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought that she had some subconscious knowledge of the fact we've lived through this before...or, at least, that I know more than I'm letting on."

"And is the Trickster ready to explore the ramifications of that statement? Are you, as a Trickster willing to face the true distortions of the world? Ones far deeper and far grander than you could possibly fathom?"

Part of him wanted to impulsively say yes...but, after the proverbial curbstomping visited upon the Phantom Thieves by Futaba's Palace, he was not too arrogant to speak so boastfully. (At least, he hoped he wasn't.)

In response to his silence, Yaldabaoth could only laugh...

(And all the while, Caroline and Justine watched with uncertainty.)

xxxx

/Monday: June 13, 2016/

"Fancy seeing you here," remarked Goro Akechi, approaching Akira at the train station that morning.

Akira didn't acknowledge him.

"I suppose Shujin is in this direction too...but to run into you again? Perhaps it really is fate..."

Akira said nothing.

"...hello?" said Akechi.

Akira's head snapped up, right as the train arrived. "Ah, sorry. Dozed off. Sunday was exhausting. Have a good day." Without another word, he walked onward into the train, leaving Akechi behind. Not in the mood to deal with mind games right now.

(To be fair, he was still tired...as was everyone else, judging by the Thieves' group chat asking for a temporary break to rest and recuperate.)

xxxx

Much to Akira's surprise, Makoto Niijima requested to see him in the Student Council office after school. We've been more careful, haven't we? I don't think she's been around in a place to record us...

Fortunately, she didn't: however, she had been remarkably dogged in tracking the movements of himself and his friends, and her speculations about the makeup of their group would have been insightful from an average detective; however, her attempts at getting him to confess were downright amateurish compared to his memories of the tough and no-nonsense adult he remembered from the Last Time Around™. As such, her attempts at making him squirm seemed...well, cute, more than anything else. Alas, he wasn't in the mood to play along. "You know, I have no issue siccing Okumura-senpai on you."

"...hiding behind your senpai?" remarked Makoto with a tone that was both surprised yet disappointed.

"She seems tough. And her opinion of your nosiness was rather severe in its understatedness...not that I'd have to tell you that." Leaning forward, Akira said, "But seriously, why do you care about who is or who isn't a Phantom Thief?"

"..."

"Does being Principal Kobayakawa's gofer really mean that much to you? I doubt it." In response to her brief surprise, he added, "People like to gossip. You haven't exactly been subtle with all of your questions, Miss President."

"..."

Honestly, Akira was still bitter from yesterday's disappointing foray into Futaba's Palace, so he opted to be a bit more gutsy with his opinions than normal. "I mean, this has to be eating at you, doing the busy work for a man who can't be bothered to get out of his chair to do what's right for the student body. But rumors are a pretty vicious thing in this school, you know: they don't care one way or another for truth or falsehood...so much so, that they can even poison the minds of those who know better. Like with Ryuji Sakamoto: the 'Track Traitor'. The ugly rumors about Takamaki-san...or about me. And now...they're circulating about you: teacher's pet...collaborator...or a city girl gallivanting around in places she's not supposed to." I mean, given how far you've gone to track us outside of Shujin, people were bound to wonder. Leaning back, Akira quietly observed, "Even if your motives are pure...even if your circumstances don't match their false reality...before long, it'll start to eat at you. And then you may lose yourself to the point you start thinking...that maybe they're right." (After all...how long had Futaba Sakura labored under the malicious lies enforced upon her? How much pain had she endured as a result falsehoods that she had been manipulated into believing were true?)

Makoto was silent, her lips pursed tightly together. (Underneath the desk, her fists were curled tightly.) "...so...if you were in my position...what would you do?"

"Find someone I can trust, first of all, and tell them as much of the truth as you're willing to tell. Then...see if they can give a lending hand. But whoever that is? Well...that's up to you."

After that, Makoto quietly dismissed him, allowing him to leave without further incident. So...she didn't quite discover us this time...but without us, is she going to be as gung-ho about investigating Junya Kaneshiro?

(A problem for another time. For now, you have an afternoon to fill...)

xxxx

(As Akira worked that evening at Untouchable...an entirely different conversation was happening at the Niijima household.)

(Sae Niijima, having received calls about a lifestyle change from school, inquired about why Makoto had been coming home late.)

(Makoto, who would normally not want to be a bother to her sister...couldn't get Akira Kurusu's words out of her mind. After all, if there was someone she trusted more than anyone else in the world...it was her sister. Thus did she speak of task that Principal Kobayakawa had handed her, to investigate the Phantom Thieves.)

(Sae...was not happy, to say the least. Yet, she still had enough propriety to be upset on Makoto's behalf, as compared to being upset that Makoto had been doing something so foolish. Oh, and the words she had for Principal Kobayakawa, to have a mere high school student embark on an investigation that intruded on her territory...!)

(Needless to say, Makoto was uncertain as to what would come of tomorrow, when her sister would speak with the Principal directly...yet, she couldn't deny the sense of joy at the thought of her sister being so protective...)

xxxx

Day: June 13th, 2016

Felt very lazy today. Didn't help that I had an impromptu interview with the Student Council President. (She seriously needs a chill pill.)

Alas, work is work, and I ended up working for a little gecko...who apparently has a lot of 'friends' among the homeless.

And the homeless like talking about all sorts of things. (Like a certain dealing between a Hong Kong mafia exec and a certain yakuza named Tsuda...or about the inroads being made by Kaneshiro's goons amongst the teenage youths of Shibuya, Akira didn't write.)

Anyhow, the gecko was interested in what the homeless had to say. Maybe he'll have treats for them? That'd be nice.

Tomorrow is another day.

xxxx

/Tuesday: June 14, 2016/

It was during lunch period — whilst helping out with the Gardening Club (i.e. just Haru Okumura) — when Akira, glancing through the side fence, noticed two individuals walking underneath the colonnade connecting the academic wing and athletic wing of Shujin Academy. "...huh." What are Sae Niijima and Goro Akechi doing here?

Haru, noticing his sudden distraction, looked over his shoulder with intrigue. "Oh; is that Akechi-san? I wonder why he's here...and who's that woman he's with...?"

"In the mood for gossip, Okumura-senpai?"

Haru shook her head. "Not particularly...although, now that I'm thinking about it...the detective's interview last Friday had him talk with someone in the audience. And although the cameras didn't show who he talked to...it sounded very much like you."

Akira quietly arched an eyebrow. "And? We had the social studies trip to the TV studio last week. Luck of the draw that they picked me." He decided to press on a different topic. "Do you think my support for the Phantom Thieves was...problematic?"

"...well...what I was actually thinking about was the last thing you said. Something about relying on..." With a sweet smile laced with devilish knowing, she added, "...the Power of Friendship?"

Having Haru poke fun at him was...well, it was adorable, but he still felt an impulsive flush of embarrassment that made his teenage self want to run away. "...and?"

Apparently, his blush was enough to make her giggle. "I thought it was cute!"

"...friendship can be cute and manly," he quietly retorted, much to her amusement. "Anyhow...wanna see what why someone like Goro Akechi is visiting our Academy during school hours?"

Haru was more than amenable to that; as she went to put away her gardening tools, Akira quickly shot a warning text through the group chat.

Akira: I saw Akechi from the roof. He's visiting Shujin with some lady.
Ann: ?!_!?
Ryuji: for real?!
Akira: stay low and don't draw attention
Yusuke: I am unfortunately rather tall, so I don't know how that will help me.
Ryuji: he ain't at your school, ya dingus!
Yusuke: Ah. Of course.
Akira: Ann, make sure Morgana knows to keep hidden in my desk
Ann: this wouldn't be a problem if you just took Mona with you in your bookbag -.-
Ann: it's just the Gardening Club, right? He probably likes it outside!
Akira: Not until he apologizes for calling me a simp.
Ryuji: WTF?
Ann: huh?!
Yusuke: What is a 'simp'?

Akira promptly put his phone away.

xxxx

After dropping by the locker rooms to change out of their gym tracksuits, Akira and Haru came across none other than Makoto Niijima outside of the Principal's Office. "Miss President."

Makoto seemed genuinely surprised. "Oh. Hello." Glancing at a nearby clock, she said, "Classes will be starting back up in less than twenty minutes..."

"We just saw Goro Akechi walking into our Academy with someone, and were curious, Niijima-dono," explained Haru. (She was still emphasizing Niijima's status; how curious.) Glancing towards the door to Kobayakawa's office, she asked, "Is...something the matter?"

"Oh. My sister just came by to talk to him about...something." Makoto seemed hesitant to talk about it. "I saw Akechi-san with her, but he said he had to go to the restroom..."

A likely story, mused Akira, wondering what exactly had prompted Sae Niijima to make a visit to Shujin Academy way ahead of schedule. "That lady's your sister? I've seen her stop by the cafe my probation officer runs a couple of times in the mornings." (Technically true.) "And the stuff I've overheard her talking about..." (Technically true from the Last Time Around™, but it's not like Makoto was in any position to call him out.) "...does she work for the courts, or something?"

Makoto didn't see any reason to deny his remark. "My sister, Sae Niijima, is a public prosecutor, assigned to Tokyo's Special Investigations Unit. It's a very important job."

"...so what brings her here?" Akira 'innocently' asked.

Makoto hesitated. "...well-" At the moment, Sae stepped out of Kobayakawa's office: her face was set into a stoic frown, as if trying to keep herself from getting angry. "Sis?"

"...is there a place we can talk privately, Makoto?" asked Sae, not even looking in Akira and Haru's direction.

Makoto, suddenly unsure about the change of conversation, motioned for Sae to follow her to the Student Council room. As they walked around the corner, Akira glanced back at Haru with an arched eyebrow. "What's up with that?"

"...I'm not sure...let's follow them!" Without hesitation, Haru set off at a gentle pace.

Akira boggled. "Huh? Hey, wait." He quickly followed the petite third-year.

xx

(Moments later, Goro Akechi came around a different corner, watching silently as the two Shujin students went to follow the Niijima Sisters. "...hm.")

(Entering Kobayakawa's office, he actually caught the principal off guard. "Oh! Hello there, Akechi-kun. I didn't know Niijima-san brought you along-")

("You know who I represent," Akechi coldly remarked, catching the principal off-guard. "Why don't you start by telling me exactly what you've been doing to investigate the Phantom Thieves, without your repulsive sycophantic filter?")

(Kobayakawa—still nervous and anxious after his recent talk with Sae Niijima—all but crumbled.)

xx

Akira and Haru slowly crept near the door to the Student Council room, straining to listen. Akira decided to make use of his Third Eye, if only to shut out distractions from the surrounding environment...and even with a door in the way, he could perceive unbridled anger emanating off of Sae Niijima.

"-you going to confess?" asked Sae, as though she had been repeating herself.

"I...I don't understand what you want me to confess-" replied Makoto, sounding genuinely uncertain.

"Then let me spell it out for you: Principal Kobayakawa said that he ordered no such investigations into the Phantom Thieves, and that you embarked on this foolhardy endeavor all on your own."

At that moment, Makoto went dead silent, utterly dumbfounded by Sae's words.

Haru looked curiously at Akira. "Why would he order Niijima-dono to do that...?"

Akira, alas, was in utter disbelief. So...sounds like Sae confronted Kobayakawa about what he's been making Makoto do...and instead of owning up to it, he played dumb and threw her under the bus. (What an utter lowlife.)

"...he said that...?" asked Makoto, still shocked.

"Why would you lie about something so foolish to me? All you've done is waste valuable time out of my day! Do you think this is a game?" demanded Sae.

...and it looks like Sae Niijima's already discarded the possibility that Kobayakawa's lying to her. Which naturally means...oh, Makoto, you poor thing...

(To be called a liar when you were no such thing was bad enough when it was at the hands of the masses. But at the hands of family? That had to sting something fierce.)

Makoto's hesitation and incredulity clearly didn't come across well, because her words became quieter. Sae's did as well, to the point where neither Akira nor Haru could hear them...that is, until many seconds later, when Sae could no longer keep a hold over her anger. "Useless. If you're not going to take responsibility, then why should I even bother? Do you respect my time that little? When I'm the one who's been keeping us afloat after Dad died?"

"Sis, I..."

"Just...focus on your studies: you can't afford to indulge in such childishness, because I certainly won't. If I find that your grades have slipped because of this...frivolity...then..." Whatever Sae's implied threat was, it seemed like even the elder Niijima sister was unsure. "Just do as you're told, and grow up."

Makoto's answer was inaudible.

The sound of sharp footsteps prompted Haru and Akira to step away, just in time for Sae to open the door. Her eyes, already set into a fierce glare, immediately zeroed in on them. "Eavesdropping?"

"I mean, you were kind of loud," bluntly said Akira.

A glint of recognition entered Sae's eyes (probably from Leblanc) before she turned away. Reaching for her phone, she quickly dialed a number. "Akechi? Meet me out front. We're done here-"

As her voice trailed off, Akira turned back towards the open Student Council room, where Haru had already entered.

(All the while, little did he know, but a certain student was quietly observing from the other end of the hall, and surreptitiously moving closer...)

Courteously shutting the door behind him, Akira took in Makoto's appearance at glance: shoulders slumped, eyes downcast at the table, and a stoic face. "...well. That could have gone better." Haru's immediate glare in his direction prompted him to add, "Shutting up now."

"...Niijima-san," said Haru, dropping the dono honorific entirely. "The student body is well aware of the fact you've been doing investigations on Principal Kobayakawa's behalf. Even a cursory investigation would have unveiled this..."

"...but what would the point be? It's not like my sister would be interested without a crime to prosecute..." Makoto sighed, raising her arms to rest them on the table. "I guess...I really am useless..."

Akira quietly stepped around Haru, moving to the other side of the table. "...why were you doing all of this for the Principal? What was your goal? Your motivation?"

"...in retrospect...it was the reason I needed to look into the Phantom Thieves," said Makoto, as if recognizing this epiphany for herself. "The sudden change to Kamoshida was undeniable; what could have caused such a thing? Blackmail? Threats? Yet the Phan-Watch site started up, and individuals began requesting that these Thieves target people: what determined who they went after? What was the method behind their selections? And how did they accomplish such changes? Then, when Madarame made his public confession...the pressure to find out about the Phantom Thieves only grew."

"But why would Principal Kobayakawa care about who the Phantom Thieves are?" wondered Haru.

A good question with an unpleasant answer, Akira thought.

"...it just seemed such an odd use of my time. But now, with students sending in requests for help regarding something entirely different...it just felt silly to keep focusing on the Phantom Thieves, when I could be doing something useful, something that could actually help people...so when my sister asked me about how things were going at school, I told her about the investigation...and..." Makoto made a motion to shrug, but it was so halfhearted that it came across as a lazy twitch. "...you saw what happened."

"...so the Principal really lied about what he made you do..." murmured Haru.

"So, what now?" asked Akira. "You've seen enough of what the Phantom Thieves are capable of; ever thought of making a request on Phan-Watch?" In an almost lighthearted manner, he added, "I mean, who knows; if they took down Kamoshida, maybe they'd be interested in taking down the likes of the person who enabled him...and allowed an entire school to turn a blind eye to sexual harassment and attempted suicide..." It was rather blatant, to be honest; although Haru looked at him with confusion, Makoto — who had been trailing him and his friends for weeks, and had already concluded that they were the most probable suspects to belong to the Phantom Thieves — looked up with a certain sharpness in her eyes. "Just a thought."

(Outside the Student Council room, the certain student — Yuuki Mishima — backed away from the door with shock. Targeting the principal...and now the transfer student is making inroads with the Student Council president...? Did the transfer student have a connection with the Phantom Thieves? With a small thrill of terror running down his spine, Mishima retreated; he had to think, he had to figure out how to take advantage of this situation...!)

To his complete and utter shock, Makoto shook her head. "What Kobayakawa did...is small stuff, compared to what's currently threatening the other students. Whatever dispute I may have with Principal Kobayakawa...is nothing."

...well, she certainly still has that sense of justice, thought Akira, secretly proud of Makoto being able to turn away from her own pain to focus on the bigger picture.

"...your own suffering shouldn't be something you have to turn away from, Niijima-san," murmured Haru, looking rather downtrodden at Makoto's apparent decision.

Akira went for a nearby cabinet, pulling out a sheet of paper and a pencil from the supplies to write down a number. Folding it in upon itself several times, he handed it over to Makoto. "If you would like to discuss the matter in further detail, send a message to this number. They'll help you out." With those words, Akira turned to depart. "I think classes about to start back up." As he left, his mind swirled with questions. So...looks like we're going to target Junya Kaneshiro after all. Now, how to logically find out about him without needing to make a trip to his club...?

(Haru, giving a polite farewell to Makoto, turned to leave as well. Just because Makoto Niijima doesn't want to target Kobayakawa...doesn't mean that he should go unpunished! Maybe she'd look into Phan-Watch herself...)

(Makoto, looking down at the piece of paper with a stern expression, rose to return to her classroom. Amidst the turmoil in her heart and the agony induced by Sae's words, she tried to focus on what she could do...and that involved collating all of the requests for help that had come to the Student Council as of late, courtesy of numerous phishing scams in Shibuya. The Phantom Thieves...are they capable of taking down an unknown mafia boss...?)

(And all the while, leaving Shujin Academy far behind, Goro Akechi — idly noting Sae Niijima's frustration — wondering if his warning would keep Kobayakawa in line. The fact he thought it was a good idea to foist all of his work off on Makoto Niijima only shows how worthless he is, he darkly mused. Privately, part of him hoped that Kobayakawa would break, if only because it would give him an excuse to put down a truly miserable excuse of a human being...)

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TO BE CONTINUED

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