Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies, and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
8/8
Hakuno's mind sped up, her circuits burned to give her a few extra moments to think. Haru saw Hakuno bring something out of nothing, going from what she had spoken there was a good chance that Haru had suspected her of being a Phantom Thief before seeing her reach into her Regalia.
That is a fairly reasonable connection. While people who didn't know their friend group too well, it would be obvious to someone who did know, easier to figure out if they knew the group from Shujin hung out with Yusuke. Too many people who didn't get along suddenly get along and get extremely lucky with Change of Hearts more or less saving them from bad spots.
How exactly could she turn this around to something that couldn't end badly for them?
Hakuno's mind went static as A sickly version of herself, her trusted friend backstabbing her to he-
"I'm not here to cause trouble," Haru's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, "… can we talk inside? I would like to get out of the rain." Haru glanced down the empty alleyway…
Why was she keeping a lookout as well?
Hakuno slowly nodded. Futaba, Ann, Akira, and Sojiro were still inside, although Sojiro didn't know about their activities.
"It was a trick of your eyes?" Hakuno weakly said Haru's eyes got soft.
"I would believe you but I do know more than just that…Don't worry I just have a request." Hakuno nodded slowly…
Akira brought them requests from his acquaintances so… it shouldn't be bad… right?
Akira was confused when Hakuno walked back in with her friend, Hakuno's face was normally expressionless. Still, there was an ever-so-slight frown on her face, and she faintly reminded him of Morgana when he was heard in Kawakami's class.
Or the one night when Morgana had a fight with the neighborhood cats and was covered in small scratches.
Or when the Priest found him sniffing around the Church when he was playing Shogi with Hifumi…
Akira was brought out of his memories by a look from the small red-head. "Nice to meet you." Professional at work. Well, in front of Sojiro.
"Welcome back." Sojiro faced the newcomer. He vaguely remembers the girl… Perhaps at school?
"Thank you, Boss." All Akira could think was that the fluffy-haired girl seemed to release days of exhaustion as she entered the cafe.
His and Ann's phone buzzed.
MemeQueen: Phantom Thief problem.
He didn't even see Futaba get her phone out glancing at her she gave him a slightly worried look. Ann must have gotten the text as well as she stared at the girls who walked in.
"Sojirooooo!" Futaba's cry echoed, "We headin' upstairs, taking your only customer!" Sojiro grunted, his eyes unmistakably softer as he looked at the small gremlin.
"Sure, leave me to take care of the night rush all by myself." He waved his hands as the group meandered to his bedroom/hideout.
Missing three members wasn't good but with Hakuno here he doubts something bad could happen…and with those three not here they couldn't take any requests that weren't life-threatening… hopefully, it isn't that. Although something about her felt strange, he hummed slightly as his eyes flashed…
Empress?
Hakuno watched as Haru's eyes laser-focused on Morgana before anyone else, "Oh my! So that is your cat Akira-kun!"
Morgana rolled over, was he in pain?
"To… much sushi…"
Oh.
Ann nudged Hakuno, a trade of looks Hakuno pointed at her hand covering her Regalia, and a slight frown overtook her face. Her bright blue eyes took a look of concern.
Hakuno knew they couldn't risk being found out, but she had grown complacent in places she felt safe. Admittedly it was a dumb way to get caught.
Haru still had her coffee and took a slow sip as she sat down, all the Phantom Thieves sat in front of the stairs while she sat at the back of the table in front of his bed.
Hakuno stood to the side watching, waiting, for Haru to say something. She focused on Haru as a blue tinge of Magical Energy danced in her veins, watching any tell as even Morgana got the feeling something had happened as he rolled over to look at her.
"So… is this it?" Haru's voice was low and soft, not at all the feeling of someone coming in to taunt… she was fidgeting with something in her pocket. Hakuno didn't feel threatened at all.
If not then why did she-
"I um…" Haru was now fidgeting, "I am sorry for intruding upon your group but I have a request!" Haru brought forth a red and black piece of paper.
A… calling card?
"What." The tension in the room deflated.
Hakuno glanced at the card, nothing was written on it yet, but it was certainly a calling card.
How did she get one?
"You… found the Phantom Thieves, found their hideout." Haru nodded at Ann's words, "To make a request? Even made a fake Calling Card and everything?"
Why did this feel familiar?
"Didn't Makoto do the same thing?" Hakuno nodded to Futaba's statement, in a way Makoto just put the pieces together from overhearing small bits and following Akira around.
"I heard you and Mishima speak on the roof almost a month ago and I tried to put a request in online… But every time I tried to boot up my computer it would just stop working. And the group you hang out with is almost all tied with the Phantom Thieves. And, I bought the calling card from the store… they started to sell them last week." Hakuno had no idea they did…
Hakuno felt Futaba flinch. But… it was right; Ann, Ryuji, and Akira had connections to Kamoshida, and so did Makoto if you stretched it, Yusuke had a connection to Madarame… And all are friends of each other which would look suspicious.
"How?" Haru blinked at Futaba's slight utterance, and a slightly bashful expression crossed her face.
"Well… I would ensure I wore sturdy shoes so it didn't hurt…" Hakuno couldn't be mad. She knew Haru was bad at technology… just not that bad. Futaba whimpered slightly at hearing that…
"Whose heart do you want us to steal?" Ann put them back on track.
"Um…" Hakuno watched as Haru gathered herself, "Could you teach me?"
Teach her?
"No." Akira's voice came down like a hammer, "What we do is… dangerous." Haru's face was resolute and no emotion showed on her face other than… pure determination. "We will… consider a request, but it has to be unanimous. And… it has to fit our justice."
Haru nodded, "That does make sense…"
"Who's heart do you need stolen?"
Haru pulled out a picture, and dozens of people appeared in the photo, "It's the man in the center, in the purple suit… my fiance." The barely hidden venom in Haru's words was a shock to Hakuno. She had never heard the third-year talk like that.
"You're engaged!?" Ann's voice rose at that statement, Hakuno didn't know that.
Haru quietly sighed, "Yes… It is a political marriage dictated by my father." Her Father… "It was decided when my Father and his met during a meeting in Sapporo, I… don't want to marry him." Her face was cold and her voice was quiet.
Hakuno could faintly hear the bell jingle downstairs.
"We would need a name."
"Yuuto Sugimura is his name is… it truly impossible for you to teach me? I don't want to intrude on your business and would only do this one other job!" Haru's face was stiff… but her eyes shined with pure determination.
Akira sighed, glancing at the four of them. "Can you give us time to talk? This isn't a matter to do lightly."
She felt that it would be a good idea, and while she didn't like the idea that Haru would even have a chance to join, she felt that at least having a night to sleep on it would help her think of a way to stop Haru from thinking about trying.
"Thank you for hearing me out." Haru's bow was slight, as she walked out closing the door behind her.
"Hakuno how much do you know about her situation?" Akira was straight to the point, Morgana having gotten onto the table stretched while Futaba's laptop sprung open.
"Not to much…I haven't seen her too often this Summer…" Which was a shame… Hakuno had no idea how to hide they were all Phantom Thieves… although Hakuno guessed it wouldn't be as suspicious if you didn't see Yusuke with them due to him being from another school…
Akira nodded, a slight frown on his face, "It is kind of obvious if you know us…" Ann was correct in all ways, "All of their victims staying together? Someone could even connect Makoto to Kaneshiro because of those posters the principal put up."
Hakuno forgot about that.
On that note…
"Futaba… has the principal leaked anything yet?" Akira's eyes snapped to her.
"Leaked?"
"Oh yeah! You still owe me sushi for that!" Hakuno glanced at the not-a-cat…Morgana appeared to be gaining quite a bit of weight…
"I AM NOT!" Oh.
She said that out loud.
Futaba's laughter only stopped when she fell out of the chair. "Nothing really, at least no names. If we got his house to it might be easier… Especially with school's on break."
Hakuno heard the wood creak, her flight or fight instinct kicked in as she whirled around, digital magecraft a single thought away as a teen in a tan suit walked up.
"Oh sorry to interrupt." Hakuno released a breath as Goro Akechi walked up the steps with barely a sound.
"Ah, forgot that was tonight." Akira chuckled nervously as Morgana's tail smacked him in the arm. "Me and Akechi are going to the Jazz Club, I'll see you guys tomorrow?"
"Oh no, don't mind me." Akechi waved, an unnerving smile on his face. "You can continue your conversation."
"We were uhh…" Ann's eyes flickered to her as she sighed.
"Going to take Futaba home for the night, it is getting late." He checked his watch as Futaba quickly nodded and got to her side.
"You are right, it wouldn't be safe for a lone girl to wander around this late." Hakuno didn't know why she reacted like this towards him, but the ace detective was the most untrustworthy person next to Maruki that she had ever met in this world other than Kaneshiro and Ran Rū.
Phantom Chat
Tricky&Kitty: So, one of Hakuno's friends found us out.
Makoto: Who?
Art: I believe a few of your friends have caught on as well right Akira?
Tricky&Kitty:... Some have… hard to explain to our Doc how we go through so many meds.
Catburglar: Haru Okumura is Hakuno's friend.
Pirateboi: Wait! Okumura is at the top of the poll!
Hakunon: Poll?
Pirateboi: Yeah! Mishima put a poll together to ask the peeps who we should go against next! Hella rad!
Hakunon: And easily ripe for abuse.
Pirateboi:?
Tricky&Kitty: We shouldn't target someone solely based on an internet poll.
Pirateboi: But it could lead us to someone truly horrible!
MemeQueen: Skull's gotta point if half the rumors online are true then Haru's dad is truly horrible.
Makoto: I believe we are losing focus of the conversation, whose heart did Haru want to change?
Hakunon: Her fiance, Yuuto Sugimura.
Catburglar: He did look sleazy…
Tricky&Kitty: Futaba, what can you dig up about him?
MemeQueen: Weirdly not much, a few rumors of him being banned from a few clubs in Shinjuku, the announcement of his engagement with Haru, and barebones social media pages. It seems almost too clean. His family on the other hand seems to have fallen into some money troubles, and is a Peers' Club member. His father is a Councillor Member and his term ends next year. B
Catburglar: We just got to Shibuya how did you find that much?
MemeQueen: A magician never reveals her secrets!
Tricky&Kitty: She has been digging since ya left.
MemeQueen: Betrayer! Although thats just a quick look, i'll keep searchin.
Makoto: While I dislike Haru being forced into marriage, Sugimura doesn't seem like a typical person we would go after, we will need more information. Does he appear in the Metanav?
Hakunon: I trust Haru that she would have more reasons than just her marriage… Perhaps we should ask her for more information tomorrow?
Pirateboi: He's a hit! But one of the keywords ain't showin up right.
Hakuno glanced as she switched to the Metanav, typing in his name was fine but the distortion box was acting strange… glitching and changing from normal empty and something that Hakuno could barely catch a glimpse of.
Art: Hmm, perhaps it could be something similar to Hakuno's Second Palace?
MemeQueen: But he ain't that special! Just a random Mob
Hakunon: It does seem to be taking words if typed, and it flickers to something else, Yusuke can you focus on it?
Art: Ah, I had not thought of that…
Tricky&Kitty: I have to say, boring name for super counter.
Catburglar: It fits but sounds super dull. I do need to figure out mine...
Hakunon: Might be easier if you went to the Temple its safe and helps to focus.
Art: Mementos. His Shadow lies in Mementos.
Pirateboi: That settles it we go after him!
Makoto: Just because he is in Mementos won't mean his Shadow won't be strong, nor is that a definite reason to target him, we should ask Haru for more information or wait for Futaba to get more information.
Hakuno yawned as she heard the knocking on the apartment door, she was in the middle of helping Ann with her summer homework and they weren't expecting anyone. Hakuno had her phone in one hand just in case.
Slowly she walked, as she looked out the peephole she got even more confused. She couldn't imagine why they were at the door…Unlatching the lock before another round of knocking could commence Hakuno's dull brown eyes stared into tired red and brown eyes.
"So it was you…" Her voice was soft before becoming stern once more, "Hakuno Kishinami do you have a few minutes to talk?" Long silver hair, black suit… Sae Niijima.
Were they found out by her as well!?
Author's Note: Well, uh sorry for the break! Holiday time was rough, but here is a little thing to tide ya over for now. Back-to-back cliffhangers. Not much to add, but bet some weren't expecting to go after the fiance first, while I love how Haru grows up and deals with him in her confidant it to me feels a bit incomplete not to punch him in the face.
But well… anyway, that's all for today! Hope y'all have a good New Year and here's to many more chapters to come!