Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies, and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.

8/19

She watched Futaba. Hakuno rarely noticed her actually put time into something, not to say she was bad at things more the opposite, Futaba was so good at technology that it was second nature to her.

So it felt strange to see her putting her time into the technology parts of Morgana's new phone collar. She would have to take it to Mementos to get it working right, see if they can't make it look slightly closer to his bandanna, and make it so he could actually use it. But it seemed to be coming along nicely.

The only recent time Hakuno can remember her putting that much energy into something was when she was being socialized with the rest of the thieves. She had even managed to go halfway down an aisle without a problem by herself!

Maybe it was due to Akira being a good influence on her, the whole 'Trickster' thing that the twins mentioned so often.

Hakuno shook her head, Futaba was both smart and stubborn, and she would surely figure out the best way to continue getting used to people in her own way, with or without the 'Trickster'.

Maybe this time next year she will be going to school with her, although… she wasn't too sure if she would still be at Shujin, her parents might swing back and take her down to Okinawa if their job decides to keep them there and Makoto and Haru were graduating this year…

She would like to stay with Futaba and everyone… But time moves forward…

"You alright?" Hakuno blinked, then refocused on what she could see of Futaba, "You seem out of it…"

"It's getting late." It wasn't that late, barely nine p.m. but she had woken up earlier than planned, and… Something was floating around in the back of her head that she couldn't figure out, and she did her best thinking when she was alone.

"Not too late…" Futaba mumbled as she swerved her chair to face her, "We still got a good few hours before we should sleep… wanna watch a few episodes?"

"Taba," She truly tried to look somewhat strict, "You should get your sleep, tomorrow is going to be a busy day…" Seeing the frown on her face Hakuno paused, something fluttered in the recesses of her mind.

More things I can't seem to figure out.

"M'kay, but right after I finish this, it should only take another few minutes."

"I'm going to sleep, I'll see you in the morning?" She gave Futaba a small hug before heading downstairs, Sojiro had gotten their spare futon out for her. Futaba's room was way too small for that, and she would rather not sleep on their couch again.

8/20

The car was cramped and slightly uncomfortable, and being forced into the backseat was never fun. And she was so annoyed that her Shotgun was ignored. So what if 'Akira has long legs' she called it! Not her fault the boy was stupidly tall.

At least she was sat next to Hakuno, so something decent came from it.

But she knew where they were going, and had a tiny inkling of a feeling of why Hakuno barely left her side yesterday. She was such a dweeb. Of course, she couldn't forget, having hyperthymesia means she couldn't forget. But she was touched that her best friend stayed by her during the moment, she knew Hakuno always had difficulties with emotions similar to herself, but her problem was the whole… 'socializing part' then the understanding thing she seemed to have.

Although she liked to think she wasn't nearly as dense…

The car stopped, and Futaba's eyes didn't leave Sojiro's headrest, he had dressed up in his white suit, the one Mom used to say was old-fashioned and fit him like a glove. He had taken meticulous care of the outfit since then. It fits his style, from her perspective.

"Taba?" She flinched before noticing it was Hakuno's hand that touched her shoulder. Usually, something that maybe would cause a bit of the strange butterfly in stomach thing but this time, she is just.

Tired.

"I'm coming…"

Akira seemed slightly confused about the whole situation, she had an inkling that their old man hadn't explained anything to him, at least not enough to understand what was happening. Although she did kind of wish Morgana wanted to come, the catboy wanted to laze about the empty cafe.

Climbing out of Sojiro's Porsche took her a moment longer than she expected, her long hair got caught on something she couldn't see. Huffing as she finally exited the small death trap, her eyes zeroed in on the first grave.

It wasn't her Mothers, heck she didn't even bother to read the name, but…

Being here made it feel oh so much more. She wasn't too sure if she was even ready to face her Mom, it's been far too long, and she had been improving herself, Akira had seen to it with the Promise List that they had made a while ago, they had almost finished it afte rall, the whole stuck on a school thing kind of put a wrench in their plans.

She didn't even want to think about the new one they added to the end… She was really doing her best not to think about where she was huh? Man, her mom would've laughed, something about how-

She felt her face flare up, Hakuno had snaked her hand around hers. Hakuno was holding her hand! They used to do it all the time, back as kids, but now!? It didn't mean anything back then, and for Hakuno probably nothing right now.

She knows it's to comfort her.

"Thanks." Taking a few steps to join up with Sojiro and Akira, their Pops finally seemed to have given him a heads-up on what they were there to do, either that or arriving at the Cementary kind of told him what they were doing here. Admittedly, she had never done it in the past, it's been… far too long since she has come by…

She was far too embarrassed and scared to go before, the whole… Murdering her Mother aspect of herself was strong back then. Luckily it was replaced for her to figure out the truth. That slide evolution was a godsend, the slimeball principle was already starting to mutter a few interesting tidbits, maybe in a few days…

"You ready?" Hakuno's eyes bore into her, she gave her a small shrug.

Taking a deep breath, she channeled her inner Necro the evercalm Persona she could feel giving her a tiny pat on the back. "As ready as I can ever be."

The walk to the Isshiki family grave was fairly silent, Hakuno could faintly hear others walking in the distance but most stayed near their ancestral graves. Sojiro had talked with the staff about the flowers, and the four of them began cleaning up the Isshiki's area. Akira and Sojiro took charge of the weeding while Futaba and herself focused on cleaning the stone.

It took the better part of an hour, Wakaba's family wasn't in the area from what she knew so no one else joined them. She didn't know too much about Futaba's uncles and aunts, other than the abuse they inflicted on Futaba, so she had a feeling they didn't care at all about their family's grave…

She had brought the incense, she always had a few on hand due to the shrine she kept in her room, while Sojiro arranged the flowers Hakuno slipped into her purse to 'conveniently' bring them out. Getting a small grateful nod from Sojiro he laid out an offering.

"Is that… coffee?"

"Yeah, it's in Mom's special cup." Hakuno didn't know that, but Futaba was the one who could remember it all. Her memory may be strong but Futaba's… Hakuno pretended to ignore the small white bottle of Sake that Sojiro slipped behind the flowers.

Clasping their hands and closing their eyes, Hakuno took a moment to collect herself. The Isshikis weren't her ancestors, but Wakaba held a special place. Her own ancestors didn't have a familiar grave, at least not one she had known, but she did offer a small prayer to them as well. She had no idea if Ghosts were even a thing in this world, but… She had seen Wakaba's essence in Futaba's Palace. So...All she could do was hope that they were in a better place and hope that they could keep watching and protect Futaba with everything they have. Their … activities will need every little bit of help they can get, real or not.

Hakuno thought she might have felt something, but with a tiny flicker of enhancing her senses, she couldn't tell anything.

Opening her eyes she saw Futaba staring at the grave, with an emotion she couldn't pinpoint. Although something that Sojiro seemed to recognize.

"Akira, Hakuno would you mind helping me lug these buckets back, Futaba we will be back in a few minutes. " Hakuno's eyes met Sojiro's and nodded, Futaba gave a small nod, her eyes not leaving the stone.

Picking up the bucket full of weeds and heading back towards the church, Akira somehow knew and talked to the Priest as if they were old friends, dumping the weeds into the spot the priest told them to, Sojiro led them back inside.

"You know, I didn't think I would make it out here this year." Sojiro was leaning against the wall of the church, he seemed extremely tired.

"Your shop is busy at this time… Hopefully Morgana isn't having trouble running it." Hakuno rolled her eyes, not counting the weird Akechi thing the shop only got a handful of customers…

Now that she thinks about it, hopefully, Yusuke found something to eat today.

"He probably would scratch someone's eyes out for calling him a cat."

"Shut up you brats." He chuckled, "No, the guilt's been stopping me from coming," Oh, serious talk then. "I thought… well I got to thank you, kids, Wakaba probably would have been pretty angry that Futaba wouldn't come on over."

Wakaba wouldn't she probably would have made a lame joke about Sojiro being forgetful and her daughter's wistful nature but, Sojiro looked like he wanted to continue, so she didn't mention it.

"You sure kept her waiting." Sojiro gave Akira a rueful grin.

"Kids these days… It felt good to tell her about the family expanding, and how Futaba's improved. That includes you ya hear? Oh, I suppose the Cat counts too." Hakuno gave a nod to Sojiro's statement. While she hasn't spent much time with Sojiro, not counting the time they spent as kids, she has practically been glued to Futaba for the better part of a month.

"Thanks, Sojiro," Was… Akira blushing? He certainly was scratching the back of his head looking away from them. "Make sure you tell Morgana."

"Bah, well if you kids are in any trouble, just make sure you give me a heads up. I might not always be reliable, but keep me updated, more so if Futaba starts… dating." Huh, Hakuno… hasn't really thought of that.

"Don't worry Boss, you would be the first to find out." Akira and Sojiro had different smirks, and she wanted to punch it off of Akira's face. Not too sure why.

Futaba was grateful, spending a few moments with her Mom to tell her how things had been going, the improvements being made to herself, and about all the things she had accomplished on her new Promise list.

Apologizing for lying to her about the one she made all that time ago about getting along with Hakuno and Kana. She… should probably look up to her, it's been a really long time and she was worried those notes weren't that good…

Clunking her way into the Church, her eyes landed on the three leaning against the wall, both Akira and Sojiro had grins.

"Gross, why are you two smirking at Hakuno?" Akira raised his eyebrows at seeing her. He was making fun of her somehow.

She wanted to punch him.

"Er, this is what my real smile looks like." She sighed, her family members were real goofs.

"I approve." She sent him a smile, and Hakuno split off joining her to look out over the graves. "You think Mom would be proud of me?"

Hakuno didn't immediately respond, which was strange, after a few moments right before she spoke Hakuno nodded, "Yeah, Wakaba loved you, remember?" Futaba shook her head.

"No, I mean, proud not love. I hid away for a year… even after getting taken in my Sojiro. I did so much illegal stuff…" While her hacking was mainly towards the rich asshole tycoons it was still illegal.

"Yeah, you were stupid," Ouch, "But, I think she would be proud of you regardless. You are her little double, her little flower." Grrr.

"Not a flower." She could hear Hakuno roll her eyes, god, that was one of the cheesiest things Hakuno's ever told her, "I'm a strong Cactus, look at all my needleness." Now that got a good laugh out of her, enough of this seriousness! Futaba felt her stomach growl.

"Come on, I know the best Curry place in the world, my treat?"

"Sure, sure. You dork."

Curry Time!

The ride back towards Leblanc went by a lot smoother than the ride from it, Sojiro genuinely seemed happier and like a weight was off of his shoulder. Akira did as well, she wasn't too sure of it but she thought she saw a small welling of tears in the corners of his eyes when they walked to the car.

While Sojiro parked his car he let them out, she was confused about why a somewhat familiar man in black was looking into the cafe. He hadn't noticed them yet, but Futaba had hidden behind both Akira and herself.

Was he a regular? If he was then why would Futaba be afraid of him? It had only taken Sojiro a few minutes to reach them, he seemed out of breath for some reason. But he quickly placed the three of them behind him and spoke in the sternest voice she had ever heard from him.

"You just don't know when to give up do you?"

Author's Notes: A bit short! Sorry bout that! But Extra Chapter cause Fate/Extra Record still breathing! So hopefully not the end of the world lol.

I love Sojiro's confidant, I do, but I do kind of feel like his tenth level should have been the whole 'I now know your Phantom Thieves' part like the rest of them. That and them going to Wakaba's grave on the day of her death kind of fit better to me than a random Tuesday ya know?

Not too sure how it could have been incorporated into gameplay whether it be story-based or not idk.

Anyways~!

Cya laterz!