Guest: Don't look at/ask me. I don't even know what happens until you do.

Ichinaruko: Please elaborate if you can.

Guest: The day accept this into my heart is the day I recreate that para-brother dance from DBGT… and you can't get me drunk or high enough for that. Also, Wes, am I the only one who HASN'T seen Jojo? Am I the odd one?

Alexaxegx: He has an apartment. As for his job… uh… Wes, i'm handing that answer to you. It won't be a complete re-trend of P5 with Yu in it, rest assured.

Blahblahblech: Combine traumatized with a hint of paranoia, and then you might be able to argue.

KingLuxion: His Wild Card is mediocre… I mean, he has a lot of hit points in the game, but his attacks?

Minus Megidolaon and the one unique attack, everything he has is underwhelming. Other than that, only a few mid-tier Agi-spells? Someone who's been solo-ing palaces since he was, what, 15-ish? Lore wise maybe? But game wise no.

Fatman iz ded: I have no idea! It wasn't my idea to add him!

Guest: I can't say anything as of now. This is more of a slow burn fic. But the p5 plot will go eventually.

Ichinaruko: Reword that.

Guest: Thanks, I had the picture of his plan for months in my head and I was super excited to finally get that out of my head. I'll show you a pic of them as a married couple I'm working on next chapter.

Alexaxegx: he mugs people! Yeeeee just imagine him going up and bitch slapping a poor sap. Quite a pickpocket artist too. Did you know that he loves Chinese food? We're going to throw that plot out the window, don't worry. The glass will shatter and rain down from the heavens and a make a beautiful ending.

Blahblahblech: What Grim said. Although I've made way too many drawings making fun of his trauma that taking him seriously is very hard.

KingLuxion: Goro will get his moment to shine with his Wild Card. I'm not going to say more but...a Yu vs Vanilla p5 Akira would be interesting.

Fatman Iz ded: oh, there's a concept art I have for minato already

For those asking for Minato? Here's his concept art so far: sta . sh/0133mhp7w4uo

A wisp of ghostly smoke waved through the air, slowly spreading into an ethereal web, forming delicate strings of grey that spread through the abyss. It was only seconds before the miniature nimbus had appeared and dispersed into the murky darkness, leaving no trace of its fleeting presence behind.

Particles of black begin to settle and crumble into an indiscernible mass, floating into a whirlwind of loose ichor that soon dispersed itself into the atmosphere, with each tiny fragment being consumed by the mighty torrent of the wind, fading away, not unlike the frail existence of the smoke from before.

Yet, just as everything seemed to vanish, a dark pair of eyes remained, lingering in the emptiness, gazing at the spot where its target had laid moments ago. In his left hand, rose a barrel of a smoking gun and his right, a dripping black saber.

Akechi awoke from a bitter dream; his eyes slowly registering his dimly lit surroundings, causing the boy to lazily shift around in bed. His hands shifted back and forth in attempt to reach his phone nestled between his sheets, however, he soon noticed the odd texture of his mattress. What was once the soft and comforting warmth of his bed had now transformed into a cold rough surface, supporting where he lay.

"What…?" The boy mumbled to himself, clenching his head in a shallow state of confusion before motioning himself off the floor. After a moment of grog-filled contemplation, he noticed himself still in his school uniform and standing in what appeared to be the dark of his living room; the blinds covered and only miniature streams of light barely lit up his walls in uneven patches of soft light. Upon fishing his smartphone from under his messy table, he finally realized what had happened to make him wake in such an odd setting. The time read an early five in the morning and he had collapsed onto his couch the night before from exhaustion, and his body had somehow rolled to the floor without his knowledge.

Akechi gave a long, drawn out sigh that lasted for a while before prepping for his morning. Despite his light sleep and troubled dreams, he had to prepare for another day, slugging into his washroom to clean and groom himself. Once again, as he approached the white marble sink he saw his own face gazing back him, and each time he did, it would line with an array of bitter expressions. Without having anyone else to truly socialize with over the years, the boy had often found himself taking comforting in his own thoughts and emotions. And each time he came to the mirror, he would finally lay his raw emotions bare in an attempt to finally express himself to 'someone' he knew who would fully understand his grievances. Whether it be the infuriating demands made by his co-workers, or another outrageous job by his father, he always found the boy in the mirror to share in his silent anguish. At times, he would mumble to himself and at times, his reflection would respond back in encouragement or simple agreement at his woes; it was the only time he could be fully honest, as the mirror boy was his one and only companion that truly accepted this miserable being, known as Goro Akechi.

However, just as soon as his self-reflection had started, it had concluded just as quickly as Akechi readied himself for the real world.

"Hello? Miss Margaret?" a shy brunette stepped into the tranquil hospital room, the soft sun beaming down from the open window, creating a fresh warm glow that engulfed the entire space.

"Ah, Akechi. You're back." The women in the room responded, turning her attention to the new arrival in the room.

"I have come as per usual Miss Margaret." Akechi said with a beaming smile, dropping his suitcase and other belongings into the room.

"Pardon my inquiry but, should you not be in school at this hour?" The blonde asked in curiosity, for this was not their usual meeting time of the day. The brunette still seemed about high school age and was probably still enrolled in his academic pursuits as a youth his age should be.

"You would be right on a normal day Miss," Akechi explained himself, "However, I was tasked to provide some crucial assistance at the police station today. So, I'm more so excused from my attendance."

The women tilted her head giving the boy another questioning look before he spoke up again. His excuse still doesn't lead to as to why he was here in the hospital.

"Please don't get the wrong idea. I've already completed all that the police has asked of me for the day. Akechi tried to assure the other, "This visit is merely an extension of the police work I have been assigned."

"I see," a small amused smile had made its way to the women's face, "I did not take you for the type to be absent for your academic pursuits Akechi."

"O-oh? Why do you say that Miss Margaret?" For a split second, the women could almost hear a small stutter in the brunette's voice, as well as a micro change in his expression, yet she could not make out what was being conveyed, as it ranged from surprised, shocked, annoyed, or even maybe anger.

"Akechi, you chose to avoid your school in favor of this conversation yes? By saying this is tied to your profession, is it not only an excuse to prolong your exemption of attendance?" Margaret deduced, quickly seeing the boy's bright smile shift to a more unsure neutral.

"Is that so?" Akechi said, his voice dropping from his normal cheery tone, "Then do you suppose I'm a bad student for not being as studious with my studies?" Unlike the faux words and fake act from before, there was a tinge of genuine curiosity in his words. Akechi had always put a front of perfection around him: school attendance, grades, appearance and so on were all required for him to be viewed as an almost flawless figure in society's eyes. And as a result, he had gained hordes of adoring fans and many others all pinning for his individual attention. And the young man knew if he made even the slightest mistakes, he would cease that life of fame altogether. Yet here, he was about to let loose his mask that he had held on for so long, but for what reason he did not know. Akechi gulped on the inside, anticipating the worst for his slip up, not unlike a guilty child who knew they had done something they were not supposed to.

"No, in fact, I would agree to the opposite."

"H-huh?" The reply came to bewilder the boy. Genuine feelings of confusion began to cloud his mind.

"From the last time we conversed, I was not entirely jest-full with my words. You do often appear overworked, do you not?" Margaret continued, observing the subtle changes on the brunette's face, "You deserve a break for all your time Akechi. Sometimes, it is better to take a break for the sake of one's own wellbeing, even if it means foregoing one's duties".

Akechi had a hard time forming a coherent reply. Deep down, despite the simplicity of the women's concern, had the boy absolutely perplexed. Foreign sensations he had never experienced before came bubbling up from his conscious and he wasn't sure how exactly to rationalization them all. He watched the women in a blank, thousand yard stare, unsure if she was toying with him and unable to determine the truthiness of her words.

However, it was not only the brunette that was taken aback by those words, as Margaret herself was equally surprised. If one were to turn back time, then they would have known the Velvet assistant known as Margaret, from years ago, would have never uttered such foolish words. Years ago, such tomfoolery would have only likely came from her sister, but the never older. Yet now, after leaving that blue room, it had given the women much more time to think for herself then she would have liked, leaving her to fall prey to her own mind. If she had been more open with that young man, then maybe, maybe things wouldn't have turned for the worst. Maybe she should have been more similar to her sister ways of dealing with guests. Maybe it was her own professionalism that had-

"Miss Margaret?...Miss Margaret?"

"Y-yes?" Upon hearing a distant voice call her name, she snapped out of her self induced trance, an unreadable expression had made its way onto her face.

"Are you alright Miss Margaret?" Akechi frowned in concern, finally getting the women's attention.

"I'am, thank you Akechi," The boy didn't look convinced, "I was only feeling a faint headache, that is all." Margaret put a light hand to her head, imitating an act of having a small migraine.

"Really now…?" The brunette uttered out almost involuntary. It nagged at him that this woman was hiding something, as her expression of her trance had been much too similar to his own. His frequent trips to the mirror had taught him the many signs of anguish, despair, annoyance and so on that would all be faintly plastered on one's face.

"Hm? Do you not believe me?" The women asked, less offended than curious.

"Nope, not one bit."

"Why so?" She didn't even budge.

"Well, I would have if you hadn't made two important mistakes Miss Margaret." Akechi grabbed his police notebook, "One, as a detective, I've seen better liars after that emotional trance. And two, you said something quite vital during my last leave, preferably after I had relieved myself of my police duties." He tossed the small book to the other side, "As much as I lack concrete evidence, I sincerely believe you were, and currently are faking your amnesia. Am I wrong to assume that?" He questioned quite brashly, unlike his usual charming self, loosening his mask.

They both waited in choking silence at the accusation, and then it happened.

Akechi saw a small smile slowly form onto the women's face. In his mind, he had half expected a face of horror, or fear, but those negative emotions never washed over her perfectly sincere visage.

"Yes, yes I have. Good job Akechi, you have caught me in my deception." Margaret gave tiny chuckle, it sounded as if she was really enjoying the moment. She could practically spot the childish glint in the others eyes for being spot on and congratulated for his efforts.

"So why did you do it? I don't suspect you of being the type to mess with random police detectives." Akechi said, amused yet spiteful.

"I assume this will be omitted from the records?" The women beamed with a smirk, turning to the dusty police notebook in the corner.

"Why yes. I am afraid today will be another uneventful session with unsatisfactory results, because for now I'm merely Goro Akechi, high school student and upstanding civilian. Whatever I hear from now on will be through the ears of a regular school boy." Akechi instantly felt a burden lift from his shoulders as he declared himself relieved of his police duties for the day, causing his entire body to relax. There was no pressure here. No one rabid fans to shower him in fake adoration, no reporters to his tarnish reputation, and no one to put a label to his many imperfections.

"May, that was quite a daring declaration. You truly are bold." Margaret watched as layers upon of layers of masks that the boy had built up from the years slowly begin to crack and unravel, into something he could perhaps call, a part of himself. For the women did not know what lay at the center.

"Am I? I'd like to think myself as more refined than most," Akechi said nonchalantly, but then shifted to a more serious tone, "So with police status out of the way, would you care to tell me more about this grey haired individual you spoke of last time?"

"Pardon my rudeness, but I cannot reveal much about that particular person…" Unlike the light cheer from before, the women's face darkened.

"I'm sorry if I bring up any painful memories Miss. However, can you at least tell me if this person is dangerous? It would be problematic if he started targeting civilians." Although the boy had left his police duties aside, he couldn't help himself from being consumed by his normal train of thought. Even as a faux detective had him asking countless such structured questions, yet he promised not to deliver any of this information to the police. However...it wasn't like the police was his only resource to deal with threats anyway.

"No. Thankfully I cannot see him harming just anyone but myself," Margaret lied yet again, "That was why I warned you Akechi. Associating with me may not be the wisest of decisions."

The blonde became more saddened, memories of the past flooded into her mind like a rough tidal wave, colliding with her already stressed emotions.

"Are they perhaps...someone close?" Akechi tried prying even more, curiosity gradually eating away at his at his mind. Upon hearing the question, the women nodded in silence, a tint of guilt had laced her once calm eyes.

"You could say...they were a student of sorts."

"So you were a teacher?" The women shook her head, leaving the boy to an endless guessing game that left him stumped. Just who was this mysterious blonde and where did she originate from? He know almost nothing about her, despite their vast police database. He even tried pulling from his father's shadier connections. However it yielded just as much from his research at the police department. The more Akechi wrecked his brain, the more frustrated he became. "Apart from these concrete possibilities, I suppose having a student can be almost anything." The brunette finally said in defeat.

"You look flustered."

"That I am Miss. I'm usually spot on with my deductions. It's a rare case that even I'm stumped." He gave a dramatic sigh, placing a hand to his temple like he was about to fall over-then he heard her giggle.

"Then how about this," the blonde said, halting the boy from his ongoing muse, "I will tell you more about myself if you take here." She pointed to a small pamphlet by the bed, its colorful print catching the brunette's eye.

"Here?" Akechi blanked twice, before making sure he heard the women right. "I suppose it will be popular among the populace, but is that a promise?"

"Be assured that I will fulfill my part of our deal." Margaret said kindly, reminded of the better times of the past, where a young man had spent time with her and completing her many requests.

"Very well Miss Margaret. It's a promise."

"Remember, the English language separates itself into three different but common tenses: past, present, and future, unlike Japanese. There are also a few additional variations such as passive and past passive. Don't forget to memorize and conjugate accordingly in your essays," Souji waved his hand over a large white board with neatly scribbled notes in colored marker, each hue assigned to a certain subject, "Losing a few points on grammar may not seem like much at first, but it can be a helpful difference between separating a satisfactory and excellent grade." The man finished, watching the students jaw down information on levels of complexity. Lingering his eyes on person to person he discovered some of them were more studious than others.

"Dammit, why does this gotta be so complicated? How am I supposed to memorize all these variations of the same freakin' word!? There's like a million of them!" Ryuji fumbled to catch up with the others, lost in in the sea academia, barely holding on as the strong currents and rough wind forced his mind to roll and tumble in its turmoil waters. Souji had spied on the blonde boy's notes, only to worry if he was going to pass, if not fail the exam entirely.

"Quit complaining and focus…" Makoto was next to speak up, unlike her rowdy friend, she had some of the most focused and detailed notes Souji had ever seen. In fact, it reminded him just a little of Yukiko. Back then, the two would always share their notes with the others.

"You will only slow down our pace." Yusuke chided, breaking out of deep concentration. His notebook resembled more of a piece of calligraphy art than actual writing for studies.

"You're all certainly serious today." Ann observed the crowd around her, if not half were mostly absorbed in their notebooks. Yu had somehow pressured everyone to focus, just as their session from before.

"Hey... hey," Morgana nudged the raven haired boy sitting next to him, but to no response. In fact, Akira appeared to be fully buried in his book. He was almost silent through the whole session, only answering laconically to a few simple yes or no replies.

"Is he alright?" Makoto watched the transfer lift up his head from his books, black eyes covered by a tangled mess of raven hair.

"Perhaps we should take a break from this study session. He doesn't look well." To Yusuke, Akira had always been the strange silent type, however, even as he came in to Leblanc the boy just felt...off.

"You ok man?" Ryuji turned to his friend, followed by the others, all eyes laced with a degree of concern and worry.

"Thanks guys, but really, it's no big deal," Akira felt the others burn their glares into him, especially Ann, "I think may have gotten a minor cold." For whatever reason, Souji felt as if the boy was avoiding eye contact altogether. And when they did, he was sure he the Wild Card wince.

"Akira, if that's the case then why didn't you tell us? We could have delayed the meeting if you told us" Morgana meowed, now that he recalled how Akira had behaved in the past few days, his movements were slower and sluggish than usual. The feline had only though the boy was tired and needed to recover from the palace.

"I rather not waste anyone's time. We set the date before after all," The transfer said, regaining some of his normal composure at being in the spotlight. "I'll go to the clinic later, I promise." He added half absentmindedly.

"Mona, make sure he does what he just said." Ann made the cat promise, being reminded of a certain someone who also pulled a similar excuse a while earlier.

"Here, get yourself hydrated," Souji handed a glass of water to the younger Wild Card, who thanked him and gulped down the contents before looking much better.

"Are you sure we shouldn't postpone the meeting for now? You really should get some rest." Makoto's eyes softened, feeling a tinge of guilt for putting the other through such a grueling study session, in such a tattered state.

Akira shook his head, "No Makoto, like I said, I'm up for it. I'd rather get something done now than wait till the last few days before finals."

"That is pretty reasonable," Ann mused out loud, "Cramming right before would be exhausting."

"Man... can we talk about after the exams instead? I really don't wanna think about it." Ryuji messaged in his temples, imitating someone who had just gotten a rough migraine. Looks of annoyed protest were about to make themselves clear before-

"Same, I want to do something relaxing after," Akira cut in, " I don't want this to turn into a poor 'me' pity party. I'm not even that sick." Akira forced the thought through his mouth, each word feeling a great chore to his tired mind. Yet, it was better than dwelling on that uncomfortable topic.

"See? Even Akira agrees with me. Plus, didn't we just take down that Kaneshiro guy? I say we have another celebration party." Ryuji cheered, quickly parting the gloom from the current atmosphere, letting in a small ray of sunshine.

"Anyone have anything in mind? Let's go someplace where everyone is welcome this time." Souji reminded the group to choose wisely, unlike their last run ins at the buffet.

"How about a museum visit?" Yusuke chimed in, "It would certainly be a relaxing experiencing"

"Nah, it'll just remind us of that palace." The rowdy blonde of the group shot down.

"An aquarium?" Makoto put a hand to her chin in a musing motion.

"Too far."

"Destinyland?" Souji mimicked the girl.

"Too expensive."

"A place that serves sushi!" Morgana meowed.

"Again, expensive…"

"Oh! I know! How about the fireworks? The fireworks festival is just around the corner!" Ann chirped, catching the attention of everyone in the room.

"Too expen— wait! That's a actually a pretty sick idea!" Ryuji slammed his hands on the table, displacing all the notebooks and papers, causing a loud clap.

"Summer beauty is a rarity to behold, "Yusuke's face brightened, "I wouldn't mind drawing inspirations from the festivities."

"Sounds fun, I haven't been to one in a while." after countless years of constant paranoia and being on his feet, Souji never had time to stop and enjoy the simpler sides of life.

"Really? What were your previous ones like?" Makoto couldn't help but pry.

"I used to go to watch with my friends." The man replied in a joyous manner, similar to someone reminiscing about the past.

Although it wasn't clear if he was telling the truth or not, as if he had already forgotten himself.

Souji lingered behind, watching the others leave one by one. The sky had once again faded to a deep black, shrouding the outside in a thick, dark veil. There were only a few sources of light in the cramped alley, from the eerie glow of the public bathhouse, to the subtle yet warm light inside of Cafe Leblanc that pierced through the blackness like a guiding beacon in a stormy grey ocean.

"Hey, is there something wrong?" Souji looked toward the Akira, being only him and other in the empty cafe. Silent and bare, a sad contrast to the excitement and cheer from just hours before.

Akira sat down at one of the tables, before forcing himself to make eye contact with the veteran. "You could say I'm a little tired from all the palace hopping." The Wild Card placed a hand to his head.

"Is that all?" He felt a piercing glare shatter through what was left of his front and dive deep into his psyche. It didn't take long before the man had known he was speaking a lie. However, such feelings were never voiced.

"Y-yea…" Akira stuttered, before taking a deep breath, "It's been overwhelming" His voice cracked in the air, beads of sweat started to roll down his back; dark images of the blue room started to resurface from his troubled mind, and each time, he would see his friend in the place of that large sack, powerless and under the grim guillotine. His eyes frantically scrambled to identify any hint of disapproval or anger in the expression of the other, yet it remained to change.

"It's alright if you don't want to," Souji's shoulders slumped in a light sigh, "If it makes you uncomfortable then I won't push anymore." He paced himself to the door, pushing it ajar, inviting in the coolness of the summer night.

"Wait!" The young Wild Card turned to the men standing in the doorway, a pleading look in his eyes. "J-just give me some time. I'll...talk about it eventually." His face drooped, his jaw clenched, and his hand reached out as if to tell the other to stay. Akira wasn't sure what to say, or do anymore.

"Sure, whenever you want. Pick a time." The veteran gave a comforting smile before walking off into blackness, leaving Akira alone in the brightly lit cafe. It left the boy to slump down onto his seat again, to contemplate about his predicament.

The whole place felt eerily empty in the night.

"Excuse me, pardon me, please move to the side." A short haired brunette clumsy shoved his way through a large crowd. Trudging past hundreds of multiple colored yukatas that signaled the coming of summer, igniting the current excited frenzy from the stagnant city air. Hundreds upon thousands of people flooded the congested Tokyo streets, threatening to spill onto the equally packed roads of the sprawling metropolis.

"Which ones do you prefer? Strawberry danish? Or curry pan?" Ann pointed to a board menu decorated with an assortment of breads and other pastry items.

"I'm fine with either one. Whichever you want I guess." Souji said thoughtful, currently standing in a long line of people that wrapped around a popular cafe, consuming the entire building in a a large horde, not unlike a group of hungry shadows. The small group of six stood excitedly in the scolding Tokyo daylight, waiting for a long while after arriving in the heart of the city center.

"You two really are starting to sound like a couple." Ryuji yawned, unknowingly intruding upon the two's conversation.

"It is that true Ann? Are you and Yu an official couple-" Yusuke was about to voice his congratulations before they were promptly shut down by the blonde in question.

"W-what? No! R-right Yu?" The bubbly girl reddened and turned to the men, who only shrugged.

"Whichever you prefer." Souji beamed back with the brightest of smiles, which only angered the girl even more.

"Y-Yu!"

"N-no! Lady Ann?!" Morgana popped from his bag, a sinking feeling overtaking his small feline stomach.

"Guess you'll have to settle with someone else, Mona." Akira teased, causing the cat's eyes to bulge out of his skull. If the strange creature had possessed any tear ducts, then it would be unleashing a rushing river of water onto the ground.

"Guys...this really isn't helping our current situation." before anyone could comment anymore, Makoto gestured to several odd looks the group was receiving from passerby. It halted all further discussion on the topic.

"Thanks Makoto, clearly they dunno what they're talking about." The blonde eyed the others sharply before turning her attention back to the expanding line of people around the cafe. However, instead of enjoying the scenery of the crowd like before, she noticed a curious spot of brown peeking raising the sea of multicolored summer wear.

"Pardon me, please excuse me, passing through!" whoever the strange brunette was, he clumsy stumbled his way out of packed city center, speeding, shoving, and gingerly brushing away anyone who had landed in his planned path.

"Hey guys, don't you think that guy looks familiar?" Ann's eyes lingered on the youngman in the crowd, a questioning look begun to appear on her face.

"You're right. He features do appear somewhat recognizable." Yusuke rubbed his chin in contemplation, it's as if he had seen that face somewhere before. The features were partly obscured by a dark pair of glasses and the head covered in an equally dark baseball cap.

"Really? He doesn't look like to it" Ryuji shrugged as the semi familiar boy passed excused through another group of passerby, heading in their general direction.

"Please move aside!"

"It can't be can it…?" Makoto lifted an eyebrow in skepticism and disbelief, unable to trust her own mind.

"Something up Makoto?" Akira couldn't help ask, yet the answer never came, because just as the dark haired girl was about to answer, it happened.

"C-crap!" Suddenly, without warning, two capped cups of hot scalding coffee shot up into the air and headed straight for the pig-tailed blonde and the larger crowd of people behind her, as the unknown brunette lost his footing.

"Ann watch out!" Makoto shouted, springing forwards to shove the girl out of the way, only to watch someone else beside her move at impossible speeds towards the two deadly cups at the mercy of gravity's motion downwards.

Souji quickly moved himself in front of the blonde girl and leapt into the air, outstretching his arm in attempt to catch one of the air born cups and he barely managed to grip one with his palms, only for it to speedily plummet back towards earth. A few small drops of hot dark liquid splashed on his face as he tried for the second one with his free hand, struggling, however, just as he was about to reach the other, he felt another strong force collide with his own, with the impact managing to knock him off balance, followed by a foreign limb stretching pass him and pushing him in the opposite direction, causing the two bodies to lose control in the air.

"Yu!" The man heard someone shout but only barely as his world was now a blur, senses going at a million miles per second and gravity threatening to pull the two down in a painful landing and a hot mess on the ground. Without much thinking, Souji forcefully twisted with the other body in free space, trying to win back any possibility of a smooth transition to earth and he landed with a thud, slamming his lead leg onto the ground to get to a vertical base as quickly as he could, and just opposite of him, he caught a glimpse of his rival doing the same, catching a rough grip around his shoulder while Souji did the same, harshly, partly in an effort to not to crumble to the floor.

"You can let go now." Souji mumbled, eyeing the other, who shot back an equally stunned gaze through his dark lenses.

"Are you two alright?" Makoto stepped forward, both concern and frustration colored her face.

"Oh uhhh... sorry about that." The bespectacled brunette said shyly, taking back the two capped containers.

"Sorry? You almost-"

"Please! Let me explain myself." The boy turned to the others, removing his deep shades, "I apologize for what occurred earlier. I should have been watchful of where I was stepping."

"G-Goro Ake-!"

"Ryuji stop." Akira halted his rowdy friend from broadcasting the name to the entire city center.

"Thanks for that." The detective said which earned a nod from the other.

"Still, why are you dressed like that Akechi?" From Makoto could gather, the famed Goro Akechi had always tailored his appearance to be extremely flashy and recognizable, yet here he was the complete opposite.

"You mean this?" the brunette gestured to his outfit, "It's for today. A friend invited me out for the summer festival you see." He almost stumbled on his last few words, the strange concept of having a someone to spend time with had never crossed his mind.

"So you have your own close circle too huh?" Akira said from the back, silently observing the detective, as if scrutinizing his words for any false truths.

"Why? Can't people like me have private lives too?" Yet, instead of Akechi's vision lingering back on Akira as per usual, something else had caught his eye.

"He has a point. Famous or not, that doesn't exclude them from having personal lives." Souji could feel the detective's crimson orbs burn into his own, but he pretended not to notice. There was a tinge of caution laced in the boy's eyes.

"Thank you for understanding, Mr..?"

"Yu, Yu Narukami," Souji smiled, reaching out a hand, "And you're Goro Akechi that famous police detective yes? I hear about your work all the time."

"Of course, where are my manners? Yes, I'm as you say. However, I am merely the former for today as I'm off duty for the time being." The young man gave the outstretched hand a firm, yet rough shake, displaying a sign of high confidence.

Souji observed the two cups of coffee still in the detective's hands, eyeing one cup to other, "And it looks like you might be late at this rate too. They've cooled down significantly at this rate." Suddenly, at the reminder of his imminent tardiness, Akechi's eyes lit up in what could only be described as self-annoyance as he quickly excused himself from the scene.

"Ah, you may be right. Please excuse for now then Mr. Narukami," He then shifted his attention everyone, including Akira, "It was nice meeting you guys again. But I'm afraid I have take my leave for today." With a hurried step just as before, Souji watched the brunette quickly disappear and fade into the large sea of people.

"Looks like somebody was in a hurry." Ryuji frowned.

"Were you about to chew him out on what he said on TV?" Makoto gave a long sigh, earning a glare from the rowdy boy.

"Me too Ryuji, me too. Although don't you think there's more interesting we got to view about him today?" Akira smirked.

"Indeed. His movements were extremely peculiar." Yusuke replayed the moment over and over again in his mind. The way the detective had so effortlessly lifted himself into the air and displayed almost fluid levels of acrobatic movement, not to mention his mirrored landing that matched their eldest member's.

"To think he even matched Yu in terms of reaction as well," Makoto mused out loud, turning to the man in question, "Hey Yu. May I inquire into how long it took you to obtain such a high degree of freedom in your movements?"

"Years and years of practice. I was a bit surprised he matched me too. You don't see many people like that often." Souji said nonchalantly.

"So you're saying Akechi may have had similar experiences to Yu? The police do train their employees for self-defense and arrests." Ann pondered, scrambling her mind to find an answer that would fully solve the detective's graceful movements.

"No. I don't think what we just witnessed was just any simple form of self defense," Morgana popped out of his bag, "In fact, it looked like someone who had years of combat experience. Or at least movement skilled enough to match Yu's," The feline meowed serious, "We should be on our guard around that Akechi. I don't have a good feeling about him."

"Mona is correct. Despite how he is portrayed in the media, there could will be more layers to his character than we're lead to believe." Makoto concluded.

"Dude! Don't tell me he's some kinda shady assassin! Private life my ass- " Ryuji grumbled at the thought, in his head, it made sense.

"Don't be ridiculous, that stuff only happens in the movies." Ann chided

"Or he could secretly be hiding a talent in acrobatics that could rival-"

"Yusuke, I somewhat doubt that." Makoto was next to shut down another outrageous comment that rivaled the first in sheer ridiculousness.

"Akechi being an assassin?" Souji joked as he turned towards the general direction of the young detective. He could still barely feel his presence in the monochrome sea. "That would be an interesting plot twist wouldn't it?"

"Huh? What you mean?" Ann asked in curiosity.

The man's eyes narrowed, focusing on no one in particular.

"Wouldn't be poetic if that were the case?"

He said to the new Wild Card.

"Sorry I'm a bit late Miss Margaret!" Akechi approached a white parasol holding women, the large outstretched fan obscuring most of her face and covering her delicate features. The brunette breathlessly delivered the small cup into her hands. "The line at the shop was longer than I anticipated." He was breathless by the time he had finished.

The women smile, "It's quite alright Akechi. I should be apologizing for making you ran such an errand."

"No, no. It's alright." the boy adjusted his cap, "That shop is a staple of coming to Tokyo after all. Say, does that mean you're not from this area Miss? I'd always assumed you were from abroad."

She simply nodded, "Yes, you are correct in that I do not belong in this country. Being here has been a new experience for me." Margaret's face lit up in a soft grin, which was only highlighted even more by the dusk of the setting sun and the glistening water that reflected the many bright colors below them. Hues of red, pink and purple shone across the calm Tokyo docks. "And you have been helping me adjust Akechi."

"Then...do you miss your home country? Do you...miss home?" For one reason or another, for better or for worse, Akechi's curiosity had lead him to choose those last few words. A small void of emptiness had formed in his heart and he did not know why.

"Home…" The women seemed to mellow out, her eyes a droop, "I guess you could call that place my home…" She recalled her time spent in that cozy blue room, surrounded by siblings and master. Margaret herself had spent several human lifetimes dedicated to her sole calling, yet it was rare for her to remember times where she had truly called the place a home.

"That place?" Akechi mused to himself, not sure what to make of the women's strange remark.

"What about you Akechi? Do you converse with your family often?" The women wanted to compare her experiences with the boy. If only to know what humans experienced as 'family' was any different than her own.

"Yea...I spend time with them when I can." Despite his polished rephrased responses just for occasions such as this, Akechi harder and harder to speak them properly. He was about to go on with his uncomfortable answer before the women cut him off. He was thankful.

"Hm?" Margaret noticed a few small stains on her cup, along with a lit dent. "Did you fall Akechi?"

"Oh uh that?" The boy eyed the marks thoughtfully, "I ran into someone earlier and they helped me picked these up. Sorry about the dented cup." The boy flushed at his embarrassing accident, however, on the inside he begun to recall the incident in a different light. Now that Akechi had replayed the scene over in his head, it reminded him of the peculiar movements of that man. His mind scrambled to piece together the very few seconds the two had met and clashed with each other. He remembered his complete astonishment at the other matching and even mirroring his own motions and speed. Just who were they?

"They must have been a kind stranger." The women remarked, noticing just how close the two cups came to spilling on the ground. She looked now to her darkened surroundings as the dusk sun had finally set, and before she could speak anymore, a strike of red and yellow had pierced the brilliant fabric of the starry night sky, blooming into a flurry of colored lights that spread across the dull city skyline.

"The fireworks. Looks like they've finally started." Akechi gazed towards the docks and the water, another bloom had shattered the silence of the area once again, leading to a shower of luminous blue. It was then accompanied by several more claps and boom that rang out through the air.

"I have never witnessed them this up close before." Not only did the shimmering sparks splash onto the city's dark canvas, but also danced and swayed across the dock's calm waters through their morphed reflections.

"So this is your first time?" Akechi witnessed several more blooms, feeling the summer breeze swept across his hair.

The women nodded.

"Yu? Yu? Where are you?" Ann called into the dense crowd, foreign faces of every shape and sizes were all lined around her, packing her into a severely congested street corner. Loud claps akin to thunder and balls of light blossomed into the sky. The blonde stood on her toes, only to barely catch a glimpse of colored sparks in the air.

"Isn't that awesome?" She could hear someone in the front row exclaim at the dazzling lights, but groaned at her frustration of being stuck in the very back. If only she could have something to stand on-

"What the-?!" Just then, she felt someone gently lift her up from the ground. At first, panicked flood her system and she balled her hand up into a fist to strike at whoever at dared to touch her, sending a ferocious punch that collide with her assault's cheek, only for her to halt in sudden realization. But it was too late.

"Ow!" Souji cried out, feeling a quick burning sensation pass through the left side of his face. "Did you really have to hit that hard?"

"Well could you have warned me beforehand?" Ann glared, "I thought you were a creep trying to trying to touch me in the crowd!" Although her words were harsh, Souji noticed her face reddened significantly.

"It was supposed to be a surprise." the man pouted, causing the girl to sigh.

"Now put me down." She said, still deeply flustered, crossing her arms.

"You sure? The view from up there is pretty sweet-" He had to quickly correct himself before it turned into a perverted comment, " I mean look between those buildings. You can see the fireworks more clearly than ever right…?" Souji sweated buckets, he felt as if he had just dodged a bullet that would have sent him into a blazing inferno that would have made the night's fireworks seem like a simple side show. Instead, he would have been the main lightshow attraction.

"Now that you mention it…" countless strokes of light spiraled their way into the heavens, clashing with the empty dark, exploding into graceful bursts of fire confetti that rained down like mini shooting stars. All reflected in her deep blue orbs, "Can you do you even higher?" the blonde said mesmerized, stars in her eyes.

"Sure thing." Souji watched the blonde's eyes light up in awe among the the array of flashing lights. The moment reminded him of his better days in Inaba where he went out with his own friends. The faded memories of moments gone by seem to get crisper and in focus as time gone by, not unlike a camera adjusting it's blurry lense. With his mind slowly drifting off into his own world, he tried to picture what it would been like if his own group here as well. And slowly, a childish grin creeped onto his face as he imaged the flustered faces of both Yosuke and Chie getting out in another of their silly arguments, while other enjoyed themselves among the festivities. He wondered what a meeting between and Teddie and Morgana would have been like, or the cute interactions he could have seen between Ann and Rise if they ever conversed with one another-

"Hey, Yu. Aren't you tired?"

"Hm?" Souji tilted his head up, finally being pulled back to the real world. "No, not really. I can do this all day if you want." He assured the blonde, who was still in the air.

"I'm beginning to think you have super strength in reality too." he lowered her to the floor.

"Really? You're pretty light compared to some of the stuff I used to lift before. You should put on more weight if want any chance of making my arms go out." Souji chuckled, but nothing happened. In fact, there was neither a flustered reaction, nor a any sort of panicked comment from the other.

Ann gazed at the grey haired man with an annoyed frown, but said nothing else. Time seemed to slow to a crawl, yet neither knew how long really passed. Then it happened.

"You were expecting a reaction out of that weren't you?" She narrowed her eyes. Puffs of Agi where written all over his face.

"What? I think it's cute. I like doing it on purpose." Souji shrugged casually, ignoring the girl's scorching gaze.

"C-cute?"

"Yep. I don't do this with anyone else." His reply had caused the blonde to stumble back and reddened significantly. "You're adorable when you're mad."

Ann held in the urge to assault the idiot in front of her again. "And you're a dork for thinking that…" She looked away, avoiding his gaze as much as she could, hiding her embarrassment.

"And I'm never going to stop."

"Ever?"

"Nope."

She gently yanked at his shirt, finally facing him, "Serious?"

Souji's face lit up, holding out a hand, "Pinky promise?"

She watched him silently before raising her own hand, locking fingers with his, "And whoever fails to keep it swallows a thousand needles."

As the both of them finished their words, a shower of stardust bloomed for the sky and scattered across heavens, sending a wave of light particles raining overhead. Thousands of individual sparks of red, blue, yellow and so on bathed the area in a shower of stars.

As of now, the future for Souji seemed eerily bright, bathing him in its welcoming glow, beckoning, taunting, and guiding him far beyond his failures. Yet, just as the light was about to engulf him, it also alerted the shadows of his past...

Souji felt a warm hand grasping his own, making his way through an unknown crowd. Faceless individuals wisped by on every corner, passing through and disappearing like thick puffs of smoke. Bright neon lights of various colors blinked on and off in his direction, but it was hard to make out their message. His mind was a fog and he unconsciously cruised by, the only sensations being that same warmth from before, guiding him, assuring him in the lonely metropolis. Yet, the deeper he went, the more bizarre his surroundings became. As what was once looming towers of steel and glass of the city started to distort and fade, soon replaced by smaller, more country like buildings. Soon, the world around him shifted and glitched, twisting, morphing, and melting until there was nothing more but small pieces of abandoned infrastructure. A wave of yellow now tainted the stale air and he felt his hands devoid of that same warmth from before.

Something was wrong.

Obscure…

Very, very wrong….

Suffocating…

As soon as he gathered his senses on the abnormal plane of existence, Souji was nauseous and rattled for the first time in a very long while, his tall frame hunched, limbs numb and cold and his horror plagued face sweaty and weary as if he had been awake for a very long time in absolute misery and torture.

"N-No..."

Souji took a step back and gasped, heart pounding, despair clawing at his throat and every intake of scare air and water vapor burning his throat and lungs. His eyes stung and his arms trembled, legs wobbling but he managed to remain standing, most likely due to the horror that had left him numb and almost listless because for the very time in a very long while...

"This can't be..."

Fog…

"Not again!"

As far as his eye could see.

His sorrowful cry pierced through the area but the echo died down soon after when he heard a sneer from the shadows, widening his eyes because now he knew he was not alone. Someone was lurking in the shadows. Souji had a good idea on who that was and he wanted absolutely nothing to do with her anymore.

He had escape from this nightmare.

Almost blind with the amount of dense fog around him and horrified of the entity just around the corner, Souji reached into his pocket to get the glasses Teddie had made for him.

Nothing…

Glasses that Teddie had made for him…

Glasses that he left discarded way back in the battle in Inaba, never to pick them up again.

"T-Teddie..."

Another haunting whisper made him cry for support and he furiously yelled the name of-

"Rise!"

To guide him out of the hell.

Nothing.

Rise had yelled, no, begged at him to come back and save the rest but he never looked back, not even once.

"G-Guys..."

Souji found some courage and actually looked back, just a small tilt of his head to the side so he could look back and hopefully find his friends who always had his back.

Yosuke.

Kanji.

Yukiko.

Naoto...

All of his friends from whom he used to draw his strength.

"..."

No one.

Just a small shadow staring into his soul way back, from so many miles back and yet it felt as if that stranger had a hand around his throat and was breathing right next to his ear, burning the oxygen in his lungs and the sanity in his mind. Another tremor rocked his body as well as his soul, brain bouncing and smashing into his skull when the dread and horror began to seep in, with old memories and the reality that he had tried so hard to bury in the darkest recesses of his mind.

A small echo of a footstep forced Souji to collect the broken pieces of his mind and hurl his body forward, his palm pushing him back up when he fell forward and his legs kicking him off the ground because he had no other option but to run. Run from her. Run from the memories. Run from the cruel reality.

Run from his failures.

Just like he did years ago.

Souji felt the burn on his legs due to the lack of oxygen and will, build up acid and horror. "Run. Run. Run!" he furiously chanted the same word again and again, forcing his body and mind to co-operate as he ran through the thick fog, a blind and broken heap of a man on his last legs of sanity. He made no effort to summon his strongest personas, personas that had effortlessly crushed the palace shadows because he knew it was futile.

His personas knew it was futile.

Effort was futile against HER. He had found that out way back.

His breath came out with a hiss when his lungs momentarily failed him and Souji tripped, rolling over several times over and his head smacking against the pavement with a thud that left him dazed and confused. He scampered to his feet and resumed the run, catching more footsteps and whispers from the back and front, telling him that there was no escaping her.

"D-Dammit..."

Echos.

"Ann?"

Whispers.

"Akira!"

No one.

Souji smashed head first into the red door in his path, another cruel reminder that he was not in a normal dream and just another nightmare. This was every bit as real as the reality in Inaba years ago. He clawed and punched the entrance and it finally opened up when the figure came within arm's length of him and he just barely escaped her grasp.

Souji heard a giggle and his heart sank, twisting towards the other direction and finding the strange door locked. A small sigh left his lips and a smash at the door made him take a step backwards, fearing it would break and Izanami would get her hands on him again.

Something was very wrong about the new area.

Far more terrible than the last room.

Souji made the stupid mistake of looking back again, something he had sworn not to do and when he did, his legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground on his knees, arms hanging limp at sides, head tilted to the side and his gray eyes white as sheet because before him...

"No..."

Chie.

Yukiko.

Kanji.

"Guys..."

Sprawled out on the floor, inhumanely bent, listless and pale.

Dead.

Souji clasped his mouth with both of his hands to stop himself from vomiting and his stomach churned, twisting and turning, his heart smashing into his rib-cage and his mind rapidly shutting down in response to seeing his comrades, his friends lying dead in the domain of the goddess, battle scars and wounds still fresh and gushing out blood. Souji had lost his voice but his soul was screaming at him to do something and he did, punching, slapping and pinching himself as hard and as brutally as he could, causing welts and bruises but he remained in the foggy world, forced to look at their corpses right beside him.

Souji clawed at his eyes and the fog drew denser, obscuring the dead bodies and physically hurting him it when into his eyes and then down his throat, chilling and burning every single of his nerves and organs. He could hear his own shout echo in nothing but his head, reverberating horribly over and over until he fell back, more and more of the fog overwhelming him and blinding him to everything and everyone.

There was just fog.

And a pale hand of a goddess beckoning him and then reaching for his throat.

Huh, 9k this time, eh? Didn't expect that. Fucking hell, I need more motivation like this in my life. Last time I tried writing a chapter completely solo, I hated it… hell, I still hate it. Ah well.