... In which the Phantom Thieves convene to discuss whether or not to fight Dr. Maruki. Yet before they can agree to Akechi's proposal for teaming up, I might have to finally reveal my true feelings for him . . . along with everything else I've kept bottled up so far.

******************************************

When I wake up the next day, I find Akechi already downstairs, together with Sojiro and Morgana. "You'll be late for school," he says with a smile, and I hurriedly eat my breakfast before packing my things together.

His response to my question about why he isn't preparing to go back to school is a laugh. "When we defeat Maruki, this "reality" and everything in it will vanish. And me . . . Well, you know that, when this happens, I won't be in a position where attending school will have mattered."

To that, I can't muster a reply. I can only say goodbye and promise to text him about the meeting later. On our way to school, I distract myself from the image of Akechi back in custody by telling Morgana about the unexpected appearance of the velvet room in my sleep. I want to tell my friends, and also finally tell Akechi about Yaldabaoth and the way we were set up. About the fact that he has the same potential as I do, even if dormant. If I can talk to Igor and Lavenza again, maybe I should ask them about him and whether there is any way for him to unlock his potential the way I have.

Before I can ask Morgana what he thinks, I'm startled by the sight of . . . Sumire. Her hair is down, and she wears her glasses instead of contacts again—the way she used to before Kasumi's death, I recall from the memory Dr. Maruki showed us.

I assure her that she has nothing to be ashamed of when she tries to apologize for fighting us. That's what friends are for, after all. But the events of the past week have visibly taken their toll on her, and although she asks for time to herself, I can't help but wonder whether there's something I can do to ease her burden.

Ryuji and Ann don't have the opportunity to talk to me before class, but it isn't long before the group chat begins to liven up again. I pay more attention to Ms. Chouno than to my phone until Haru brings up the planned meeting.

HARU: I think I've sorted through my own thoughts, but I'd still like to hear everyone else's take.

RIN: Let's all meet at the hideout after school.

ANN: Let's!

> Oh, and Rin, don't think we've forgotten about last night.

HARU: What happened last night?

MAKOTO: Uh . . .

I twist my phone between my hands, trying not to stare at the row of portraits, wishing there were two more. At the same time, I'm fishing for ways to articulate the second thing I wanted to bring up in a way that won't feel too jarring.

YUSUKE: Did we miss something?

> I didn't have time to read the chat history . . .

RYUJI: Don't worry, man, I'm gonna ask Rin later in person anyway.

RIN: Can I add Akechi back to the group chat so that I don't have to send an extra invitation?

RYUJI: ?!?

> I thought we were meeting up about whether to team up with him?

HARU: Wouldn't it be a little awkward to invite him to such a meeting?

MAKOTO: I agree.

> Let's meet up and decide first, then inform him.

I grip my phone so tightly that my nails hurt from the hard casing.

RIN: What's there still to discuss . . . ?

RYUJI: Uhh . . . a lot.

MAKOTO: I know you trust him, Rin, but I want to hear everyone else's opinion too.

> This will be uncomfortable if he is there.

RYUJI: Yep.

> We heard your opinion, but you didn't hear ours.

HARU: There wasn't much time either way . . .

MAKOTO: Not saying that I am against cooperating with Akechi, but Rin, could we discuss this just among us Phantom Thieves first?

HARU: I see it the same way.

YUSUKE: Me too.

> Would we really be able to speak freely about him if he were there?

I close the chat and shove my phone into the space under my desk, startling Morgana.

"What happened?" he asks, and I unwillingly unlock the phone again so that he can read the chat. "They're right," he finally says, and I grimace. "Rin, we can hardly discuss his own case in front of him!"

But we could. I clench my hands. And if we really wanted to do him a favor, we would. We'd be one hundred percent honest to his face.

I don't bring up the fact that I will likely relay everything they say about Akechi back to him anyway . . . and I feel only a little bad for it. He deserves the truth—I think over and over—no matter what my friends decide. Only if we show him honesty will he ever open up to the concept of trust at all.

I consider just how much I crave to give Akechi something of the sort—a space where he'd feel secure enough to consider trust. No matter how long it might take or how difficult it might be, I will prove him wrong when he claims that the world is only "eat or be eaten". I am not. We are not. We, who . . . used and deceived him just like everyone else, I force myself to recall and grit my teeth against the shame.

But . . . does that mean it's too late? I think about Futaba and wonder whether it is at all possible for the rest of my friends to reconcile with Akechi the way she did. The fact that I can't think of one single sensible reason why not, and yet I still can't shake the doubts, gnaws at me the entire remaining school day, making it impossible to focus. I want to make it happen, but I don't know how, without imposing my will on my friends or coming across as telling them how to feel.

By the end of the final lesson, I am almost too mentally exhausted to still hold a meeting today, but I hardly have a choice. I've been putting off texting Akechi that they have decided not to invite him as well, and I don't remember the last time a simple text message made me as uncomfortable as this one does when I finally type it.

Akechi doesn't reply until I arrive back at Leblanc, and there are already all my friends, so I'm forced to set my phone aside. In brief words—and before anyone can bring up what happened last night—I tell them what Lavenza told me.

"We have to choose our own path, eh?" Yusuke shifts his weight, leaning on a bench. "Akechi had mentioned that we needed to determine what we'll do from here on out—it seems that he was right."

I make a face because they've apparently still been doubting that, then force myself to listen attentively to the following discussion that ensues about whether or not to face Dr. Maruki. At least I'm relieved by the conclusion they arrive at—even though Dr. Maruki's distorted desire is not evil, and therefore he is not like any other of our targets, everyone seems to agree that he has to be stopped.

"We decide what's right for ourselves," concludes Ryuji eventually. "That was what we all agreed on when we went after Rin into the Palace." I frown, yet before I can voice any of the numerous objective reasons why Dr. Maruki should be stopped, Ryuji continues, "If changin' Doc's heart fixes our reality, then I'm gonna do it." When no one replies, he pauses, looking around. "Uh, so . . . somebody, say something . . ."

"Ah!" Makoto exclaims. "Sorry, I was just thinking about how right you are, Ryuji."

"So, we're going to change our target's heart, not to reform society but to acquire the reality we believe in," Yusuke adds. "That doesn't sound bad at all."

"And to re-instate justice."

"That, and to ensure the world's fairness."

> "Also to preserve growth and progress."

Everyone looks at me almost as if they've forgotten that I'm still here. "Yes," Ann says after a pause. "I guess, as nice as it sounds, if everything painful is just erased, there's no reason to strive for something better."

"Mistakes make you wiser," Haru mumbles.

"And no one shouldn't just rob people of the chance to get what they deserve," Futaba adds with a grin. "The good and the bad!"

Everyone nods, and Ann claps her hands. "Then it's unanimous!"

I feel the atmosphere lighten and the weights fall off everyone's shoulders . . . except my own. I shove my hands deeper into my pockets, trying not to overthink what it might mean for Akechi if my friends decided not to accept his offer of cooperation now that they've decided to face Dr. Maruki. Would they just . . . exclude him? Even after he was the one who started this mission?

"Well, that means our next step is pretty clear," Morgana announces. "We go back into the Palace since Maruki said he'd be willing to fight if we are. It's safe to assume he's expecting us to infiltrate his Palace."

I open my mouth to interject and finally ask about Akechi, but then Ryuji asks about how Dr. Maruki's powers work. No one has a reply for him; the best that Morgana can say is that we'll need more intel before facing him.

Just then—as if on cue—my phone rings. Yet when I fish it out of my pocket so quickly that I almost drop it, it's not Akechi. It's . . .

As aghast as the rest of my friends, I turn on the speaker and let Lavenza make her offer to help, and then suggest meeting up tomorrow at Shujin.

After she hangs up, there is a moment of astounded silence. I have as little clue as any of my friends as to how she's able to call me or what information she wants to share. "I'm not sure what to make of it," Haru mumbles eventually. "But since we've determined our goal and Lavenza has offered to help us . . . I'd call that progress of some sort."

Morgana nods. "All we have left is whatever we discuss tomorrow at school," he says as I prepare to stash my phone away. "Plus, whether or not we're going to team up with Akechi."

I nearly drop my phone again, and apparently, my friends finally take notice of how uneasy I am. "Oh, and Rin—don't think I've forgotten that I was gonna ask you why Morgana slept at Futaba's yesterday!" Ryuji chimes in, and I tense up.

"He did?" Yusuke asks, and Futaba nods.

"Why are we even considering not teaming up?"

> "What's there still to discuss about Akechi?"

Makoto raises an eyebrow—whether it is because I am changing the topic or because I'm yet again asking the same question she already answered in the chat, I don't know.

"Considering what you told us, it really does seem like we share an end goal with Akechi," she says. "But . . ."

"Well, I already told him I'd team up yesterday," Futaba cuts in, and all eyes are on her immediately. "What?" She rocks back and forth in her seat. "Did you all forget that I asked him to come here when we met in front of Maruki's Palace? The long and short of that conversation is simple: In his own words, I've put our feud behind us. And Rin's right—there's no reason not to team up."

There is a long pause during which my friends stare at her with expressions ranging from shock to awe. "So, you guys talked about . . ." Ann shifts in her seat. "You know . . ."

"What exactly we talked about is only between those who bore witness," Futaba says solemnly.

"Wait, he was here last night?" Ryuji cuts in suddenly.

"Does that, by any chance, have anything to do with why Morgana slept at your place?" Haru asks.

Ryuji jumps up from where he leaned on a chair so abruptly that he almost knocks it over. "Huh?!"

"Futaba, you did say that Rin was "otherwise occupied" . . ." From Ann's expression, I can tell that she's guessed what this means. "Rin, you . . . Are you guys like . . . actually . . ."

"Actually, what?" Yusuke asks, looking around.

"I believe she is asking whether the two of you are dating," Haru replies, folding her hands on top of the table. "Although it seemed pretty obvious to me, last time we met."

"Wha—!?" Ryuji breaks off and cries out when he stubs his foot on another chair.

"Dating?!" Yusuke exclaims. "You mean . . . officially?"

"You're not implying that he . . . stayed here last night, are you?" Makoto asks, visibly battling her own discomfort with the thought.

"I'm afraid that's exactly what happened," Morgana says, hanging his ears and tail and earning several shocked outcries. "I tried to warn her!" he adds. "But unfortunately, by the time we all snapped out of our ideal realities, Rin was already beyond saving."

I have to stifle another eye roll before I finally say it—

> "We are dating."

"We are together now."

Makoto clasps her hands in front of her mouth, staring at me wide-eyed. Yusuke next to her doesn't even bother covering his agape-standing mouth, and neither does Ryuji. Apart from Morgana and Futaba, Ann and Haru look the least surprised but nonetheless taken aback. "You are . . . uh . . . like . . ." Ryuji breaks off, gawking at me.

"He actually . . . slept here last night?" Ann mumbles. "Isn't that a little . . . early?"

Well . . . I can't meet her gaze, having to admit to myself that it would be . . . under normal circumstances. But considering I've been waiting to be with him since summer, I honestly couldn't care less about how appropriate our pace is or what anyone else thinks.

"As long as the two of us are comfortable with it . . ."

> "I'm sorry, but that's really none of your business."

Ann's mouth snaps shut, and so does everyone else's.

"Rin, we are merely concerned about you," Makoto says. "You know what happened last time Akechi showed interest in you . . ."

"You got played!" Ryuji interjects. "And you're seriously just goin' along with that guy now? Just like that? Aren't you worried that the same thing might happen again?"

"You were so devastated," Haru mumbles. "Aren't you . . . the least bit apprehensive about trusting him again? Considering—"

"Considering what?!"

Everyone flinches back when I take a step forward, slamming my hands into the table where the girls all sit. But I do not care one single bit. At the back of my head, I hear a tiny voice, heeding me to be cautious with my words lest I say something in the heat of anger that I'll instantly regret. But so much sheer frustration has gathered in my gut that I can no longer keep it from boiling over.

"What?!" I repeat. "What do you think will happen if I trust him again? What hidden agenda are you so afraid of—that he aims to manipulate us into facing Dr. Maruki? If that's the case, he's already succeeded . . . And that's a good thing. Do you think he wants to set us up again? But for what crime—maybe the one he's turned himself in for?" I swallow hard so as not to begin shouting. "Do you not realize that he's fighting Dr. Maruki in order to go back to a reality where he'll be in prison? He's fighting that hard for nothing but the chance to atone for his crimes. And you judge him?!"

Everyone present stares at me, mouth agape, even more taken aback than when I announced that we were dating. "Rin, I don't think anyone meant to . . ." Ann begins.

"L-Let's focus on whether to team up with him before anything else," Makoto amends. "Everything else—"

But I cut her off. "What are you so scared of?" I exclaim. "Don't you realize that, without Akechi, I wouldn't even be here? I would still be in my own reality, and by extension, so would all of you." I swallow the images of crying and hanging onto my phone, onto Akechi, day after day after speaking to my friends. "Without him, we wouldn't even be standing here debating whether to take on Dr. Maruki," I call. "We wouldn't be here! It was his idea, and therefore it is his mission. I'll tell you something right now: I'd rather do this alone with him than without him."

Only then does my mouth snap shut, and I'm left clinging to the table as if my life depended on it, not looking any of them in the eyes.

No one replies for what feels like an eternity, and even though I'm not meeting any gazes, I feel them burn on me either way. I bite down on my lip, trying my best not to let the impending mortification and guilt crash into me just yet. "I promised to hear your opinions," I say with as much composure as I can muster. "So, say them. Give me a single adverse outcome or a potential scheme he might be devising that would justify your continued suspicion—one that isn't based on past preconceptions—and I will consider it."

Once again, I am met with only silence. It stretches for so long that I am bound to eventually lose the battle against the mortification that built up within me for saying such things—almost yelling. At my friends . . . I blow out a breath, digging my nails into the table to keep myself standing. But I can't keep the tears from rising in my eyes as well.

"There's none," Haru finally says into the silence with a slightly trembling voice. "We all know that, Rin. This hesitation doesn't stem from logic, but rather from association."

"Yeah, Shido is done for," Ann mumbles. "And Akechi . . . I didn't even think about that . . . prison thing yet."

"It's like you said, there's no reason to still resent or suspect him," Futaba chimes in. "And there are plenty of reasons for teaming up. Dr. Maruki's strong enough to change reality itself. If we . . ." She pauses. "See, I was gonna say, "We're gonna need his help", but then I realized that you're right, Rin, and it's actually the opposite. Akechi's gonna fight him anyway, no matter what we do, and you don't wanna let him go into a fight like that alone. Well, and, honestly, neither do I."

"I agree," Morgana says somberly, and the rest of my friends nod.

"I . . . do not have any ideas for an averse outcome either," Makoto mumbles. "I was trying to come up with something just now, but . . . Are we genuinely as over-cautious as you say? I . . ." She picks at the table, not finishing her sentence.

"What's he even fighting so hard for if all he has to go back to is prison?" Ryuji mumbles, and no one replies. "Isn't that a little suspicious?"

"Well, what are you fighting for?" Morgana asks.

"Uh . . . ah . . ." Ryuji scratches his head. "For . . . Wait, I already said that—to stop Doc from messin' up reality."

"He fights for the truth," I whisper and everyone's heads whip back to me. "For the restoration of justice and the freedom of will . . . his own and everyone else's. He won't settle for a world under someone else's control."

"Oh . . . I guess he knows a great deal about what it's like to be unfree," Ann says, and I can see on her face that she knows it too—the dread of being at someone's mercy, having to do what they say or face unpleasant consequences.

"Yeah, I'm not standin' for that either!" Ryuji exclaims.

"Neither do any of us," Yusuke chimes in. "This only affirms the resolve I felt earlier."

"I . . . didn't look at it in that light before," Makoto says. "But I suppose . . . living in a world ruled by Dr. Maruki, no matter how happy or benevolent, also means being subjected to his whims."

"Exactly," Ryuji adds. "I don't care how good the Doc's intentions are—I'm not being manipulated." Everyone nods, even more resolved than before, and Ryuji plops back onto his chair. "Well, I guess that settles that then."

One moment of silence passes, and then everyone gasps as I fall to my knees where I stand, sobbing miserably.

"Rin?!" Makoto leaps up first. She and Ryuji help me to my feet, and I bury my face in my hands, mortification burning through me.

"Hey! What's the matter?" Ann scoots over, and Makoto lets me sit where she used to, handing me a handkerchief even though I'm not actually crying. "I thought everything turned out fine?"

As discretely as I can, I wipe my face and my nose, then exhale, trying to breathe calmly. I bow my head, clenching my hands around the handkerchief. "Please forgive me for blowing up like that earlier," I say, trying to sound more assured than I feel. "That tone was out of line. I mean—" I have to take another deep breath before I can continue. "I don't mean to antagonize you all. But I did mean what I said," I insist. "And no matter how you'd react or how I might feel later, I would say it again if I had to. Even if you'd be angry with me. I won't judge you if you are."

"Hey, hey—" Ryuji leans on the table where I used to stand. "Don't worry about it. We were just a bit surprised, is all."

"Yeah, we're not mad," Futaba adds. "We could never be mad at you for just sharing your opinion."

"Yes, on the contrary—I've never seen you exude such passion before," Yusuke remarks. "Not even during our grand calling card for Shido. I might have . . . underestimated your zeal."

"You're usually so composed," Ann says. "But you know you don't have to be, right? You can always share with us how you feel."

"Maybe getting some emotions out every once in a while would do you good," Morgana adds. "I suppose it was all bound to boil over eventually."

"I concur," Makoto says, looking like she knows exactly what that feels like. "You do not have to put up a strong front for us."

"And even when you're angry or upset, that's not shameful," Haru adds. "It might take a while to become comfortable with destructive emotions such as those, but we'd never ask you to hide them from us."

"Hey, if you're lookin' to let off steam, you can always come to the gym with me!" Ryuji laughs and I can't help but laugh along. Feeling the guilt slowly being replaced with affection for my friends, I take a series of deep breaths, trying to let go of the tension that still refuses to leave me.

"Maybe you're right," I finally say, hearing Akechi's "You're not a bother . . . If shame is the only reason you speak so little, you should do it more," in my ear too. "I appreciate you all very much, really. I'll try to be more open if that's okay."

"Of course!" Ann assures immediately. "No matter how much you value teamwork, you're still our leader. No one will blame you if you act like it more."

I make a face and forgo mentioning that I find it so difficult most of the time to speak my mind because they—if they're all in agreement—tend to steamroll over contrary opinions if they're not voiced assertively enough. Maybe—even though the thought of voicing an opinion that goes against the group's assertively terrifies me—that's something I should work on as well . . .

One more deep breath later, I finally raise my gaze. "I just . . . The reason I'm so upset is that I feel caught between these fronts, and it's taking a toll. I just want us all to get along. Can't we all get along?" I plead, clutching the handkerchief tighter. "I'm not even asking you to trust him or to accept him . . . Just, if you cannot trust him, can't you at least trust me? Do you really think my judgment is so poor?"

"Your judgment may be clouded . . ." Makoto remarks.

"It isn't," I reply as assertively as I can. "You said it yourself—even you can't come up with a valid reason to distrust him anymore."

"I-I suppose . . ." Makoto admits.

"Rin, we're just worried about you," Morgana says. "It's not that we don't trust you, but consider our side of things too. To us, it kind of seems like you're just throwing yourself back into the arms of a man who betrayed you the last time you did that." I grit my teeth, but before I can reply, he continues, "Which I know isn't the full story . . . Who knows what the two of you were up to during that week?" He shudders. "But, from our perspective . . . well."

"That, and . . . are you really not the least bit resentful?" Ryuji asks incredulously.

"About what?" I ask with a tinge more ice in my voice than I intended. "The fact that he risked his life so that we might get away and take care of Shido? Or perhaps the fact that he turned himself in to the police so that I didn't have to?"

"No, no!" Ryuji raises both his hands, retreating. "Just—"

"Then what is your point?" I snap, inadvertently rising to my feet. "You all . . . What are you hoping to achieve by telling me all this? Do you think I'm not aware of what he's done? That I've somehow not considered all this a long time ago?" I think about what Akechi himself told me—that reality is messy and difficult, and that I have to let go of all the delusions I've ever had about him in the past to truly have him. "So, no," I say firmly. "I'm not "coming to my senses". Baggage and obstacles included—I love him. And no matter what any of you say, I am not going to deny this for a second longer."

This leaves them all speechless . . . even me. I sit back down, forcing myself not to feel guilty for this outbreak as well. All I did was tell them the truth . . . and yet my heart is suddenly pounding out of my chest with apprehension.

"You—" Ann breaks the silence first, her voice laced with pure awe. She hesitates, then simply says, ". . . Wow."

"Yeah, no shit . . ." Ryuji leans forward. "Did you actually just say that? I-I mean . . . Gee, you're . . . Is it just me, or is she a bit scary right now?"

"A bit." To my horror, Yusuke concurs, raising his hand to his chin pensively. "The strength of conviction and emotion she radiates . . . I am by equal means fascinated and terrified." If my knowledge of Yusuke didn't tell me that this was very likely a compliment, I might have asked for clarification. The last thing I want is for others to be scared of me.

"It makes sense now," Haru says before I can ask after all. "You're . . . really serious about him, aren't you?"

"When did that even happen?" Makoto mumbles, and I shrug. I'm honestly not even sure when I became aware of the depth of my feelings . . . Let alone when they formed.

When exactly did I realize that I would risk it all for Akechi? Might it have been when I lost him? To supposed death or to betrayal? Or . . . to his own first rejection? I suddenly see his face, almost frighteningly genuine, beneath strands of rain-soaked hair. What are you doing to me . . .

Oh, who am I kidding? I smile. I was already risking it all for Akechi before Morgana even told me that he'd been to the Metaverse, and for one moment, I wonder why. Sure, I was crushing on him from practically day one . . . How did that go—that thing I did that doomed us both? My smile widens. I was yearning and dreaming, flying high on cloud nine, always throwing caution to the wind just to see him. But those feelings hardly compare to those I harbor for him now.

Yet when I try to pinpoint when exactly my feelings deepened so much, I find that I can't make up my mind. Maybe, I ponder, there's no "falling" in love with someone. Maybe, rather than a fall, it's a gradual descent over time. And if you don't pay close attention to what your heart's doing, the next time you check, it's already descended ten stages deep without your consent.

"I don't know when it happened," I say truthfully. "But I am serious about him."

"That's . . . somehow both unexpected and expected at the same time," Ann says.

"Well, I'd say be cautious, but I suppose that'd be redundant," Makoto mumbles. "If you really are . . . that certain about him, we're going to trust you."

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her," Morgana announces.

One moment of more or less awkward silence passes. "S-So, just to be clear, since we got a little sidetracked, we are teaming up with Akechi, right?" Ryuji asks eventually, and the rest of us nod.

"Then, let's all meet at Shujin tomorrow," Makoto declares. "I'll take care of figuring out how to get Yusuke and Futaba into the school. And . . ." She throws me a look. "I'll inform Akechi too. If we are teaming up, I don't see any reason for him not to attend." I nod energetically, and Makoto gives me a cautious smile. "Then, either of you, feel free to ask me if he requires help getting into Shujin as well."

I nod again, returning her smile, and the relief on her face makes me feel a fresh pang of guilt for being so harsh. "I appreciate the effort; thank you," Yusuke says before I can drown in it, and Futaba and Ryuji get up from their seats immediately.

"Alright, let's head home for now," Ann says, and I stand as well to make room for her to get up. "I still have some homework to do."

"Ugh, don't remind me." Ryuji groans.

"I'll be staying here," Morgana announces, leaping onto the counter. "No matter how serious you are about him, you can't have Akechi over here every night, or you're not gonna get any sleep anymore. Maybe, instead of him, you should turn your attention back to the fact that school has now started again."

His words earn collective laughter, albeit also some raised eyebrows. It might take a while to familiarize my friends with the concept that we're dating, I think, as I watch them leave one by one. Then, before finally heading up to my room to do my own homework, I decide that that's fine because it ultimately doesn't matter what others think.

***

I'm already done with most of my homework when Akechi finally replies to my earlier text.

GORO AKECHI ♥︎

> That won't be a problem.

> Although I'm wondering, why text me at all?

I groan, almost throwing my phone. Then I swipe the screen to call him instead of formulating a lengthy text.

"Hey! You should finish up your homework first," Morgana interjects. Yet before I can confirm the call, the group chat illuminates.

RIN AMAMIYA

> Because I wanted to <3

Before he can send me any more texts that I don't want to leave on "read", I quickly open the group chat.

At first, I regret delaying calling Akechi for the sake of the group; my friends are enthusiastically exchanging ideas about Lavenza and how she might make it to school tomorrow.

ANN: If someone does give her a hard time, will you be able to come up with something, Rin?

I make a face, then glimpse at Morgana, who is still staring at me with a figuratively raised eyebrow, presumably for ignoring the textbook in front of me.

RIN: Morgana's on top of it.

"Hey!" he exclaims, peering at my screen. "What's that about now? No, I'm not! How am I supposed to pull something like that off?"

I almost stick my tongue out at him.

"That's what you get for being a stickler."

> "That's me telling you what to do for once."

"You—!" Morgana breaks off and sits there with his jaw dropped. For one moment, I lament that standing up to a whole group isn't as effortless as standing up to only one individual, then I focus back on the screen.

FUTABA: A kitty helping out a little kid . . . Sounds like one dynamite duo!

> That could last three seasons and a movie, easy!

MAKOTO: That's not exactly helpful to us right now, though . . .

YUSUKE: At any rate, I'm certain she would reach out to us if something were to go awry.

HARU: That's true—we can put our faith in Lavenza.

MAKOTO: Agreed. Let us know if anything changes, Rin.

> Good night, everyone.

As soon as my friends' portraits go dark, I reopen Akechi's chat. "Rin, the rest of your homework!" heeds Morgana, but I'm already pressing the call button.

"What could possibly be so crucial that it can't wait until tomorrow?" Akechi greets me, his words clashing with the discernible smile in his voice. But how did he know . . . "Nijima texted me earlier about a meeting at Shujin," he clarifies, as if he's read my mind. "So, what is all this about, hm?"

I drop backward onto my bed, pressing the phone to my ear.

> "My friends agreed to cooperate with us."

"The Phantom Thieves are in on the Maruki-mission."

"Ah, I see," he says in an unreadable voice. "But why meet at Shujin and not at Leblanc? Your school seems like a suboptimal hideout in almost every way, especially since you have non-Shujin members too."

For one heartbeat, I hesitate . . . Then I tell him everything. Starting with the velvet room, our special potential, and then Yaldabaoth's and Igor's bet to set us up against each other. I do my best not to let it through, but my voice still shakes when I have to tell him that so much of his suffering, his isolation, and the unfortunate way in which he discovered his power were all orchestrated as part of a grand scheme to turn him into a harbinger of ruin—the one whom my friends and I were destined to fight.

"We're meeting with Lavenza tomorrow," I whisper eventually. "She says she has intel on how Dr. Maruki's reality-bending powers might work. Please be there with us," I add after a pause. "Let's fight him together. Let's do good together now that all of that nonsense is over. Let's—"

"Why do you speak as though you have to convince me?" Akechi cuts me off, sounding irritated. "Have you forgotten that all of this was my idea?"

"No, just—"

"Amamiya, I couldn't care less about what some gods want or not from me," he says contemptuously. "So, it turns out that I've been even less free than I thought. And so what? None of that matters anymore. I've made my decision and I'll live by it. Are you following?"

I am . . . but my mouth remains sealed shut. I'm honestly not sure what kind of reaction I expected, but certainly not such cold indifference. It might not be genuine, I think momentarily. But even if so, I can do nothing now. So, all I say is, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Akechi asks. "Are you not following?"

"I am!" I exclaim. "Just . . . you . . ."

"Give it a rest," he cuts me off. "You should really work on not feeling guilty unless you've actually done something wrong." I think about all the unwarranted guilt I harbor from how I rebuked my friends and almost laugh. It's certainly at the top of my list. "Either way," Akechi says after a while. "While that bet is no longer relevant, I'm not uninterested in meeting this Lavenza tomorrow—if she really is as you say."

"You should talk to her if you can," I assure him. "I'll do the same if I get the chance. It's not too late."

There's a long pause, at the end of which he only says, ". . . Perhaps."

"I wish it didn't have to be this way."

"Oh, Amamiya!" he exclaims, and I flinch. "If you do not cut it out with the wishing this instant, I'm coming over there and taping your mouth shut."

"But I—"

"How many times do I have to tell you?" he sneers. "I am not interested in running from the consequences of my past, be they self-inflicted or divine. Do you not comprehend that this, right here, in this very moment, is my life? I will not spend it lamenting what-ifs. I will do with my life what I want. And if some god wants to stop me, he should take that up with me directly."

"Is that part of why you want to fight Dr. Maruki?" I press out, my head spinning from the overwhelming flood of emotions and impressions his voice carries.

"It's part of the reason, yeah," Akechi confirms. "Either way, let's see how that meeting goes tomorrow. Was there anything else on your mind?"

"Just that I miss you," I whisper, and I'm certain that even Akechi hears Morgana's following groan.

Akechi laughs—surprisingly softly compared to the way he spoke just now. "You should really learn to get on without me," he says in that same mellow tone.

"I can," I whine, wondering if that's a lie. "I just don't want to."

There's a pause. "Good night, Rin," is all he replies, then he hangs up and I let out a long sigh.

"See, even Akechi's telling you that you should distribute your attention more evenly," Morgana says and I laugh. "So, about that home—"

"This . . . fake reality is the closest he's ever had to a self-determined life," I cut Morgana off quietly, hugging my phone to my chest. "And he knows that he'll be back in custody when we defeat Dr. Maruki. So, it's all that he has."

"You're right," Morgana says pensively. "His resolve to fight for the true reality is pretty admirable, under those circumstances—more so than everyone else's. Even if it's just to bring down someone who aims to control him again."

I nod, then shake my head. "That's not the only reason," I say with conviction. "That thing I said about restoring justice? Preserving growth and progress? Akechi was the one who said that first."

"Really?" Morgana's eyes widen.

"When Dr. Maruki asked him why he resists so vehemently." I nod. "He said that everyone deserves the consequences of their actions. Happiness shouldn't be given freely, but rather earned."

Morgana ponders for a while. "As harsh as that sounds at first glance, he's right. Good actions should be followed by good consequences, and bad actions by bad consequences. Although, in reality, that often isn't the case."

"In Dr. Maruki's reality, it would never be the case," I say. "We'd be robbed of our chances to strive for happiness because it would just be handed to us—even to those who are evil. Doesn't that invalidate the worth of goodness just a little?"

"Hah, since when have you become so wise?" Morgana leaps onto the bed next to me, inspecting me from head to toe. "You really have changed," he says, to my surprise. "I thought maybe I was imagining things, but the way you stood up to the others today . . . There is something about you that's different."

I make a bemused face at him, but Morgana keeps staring pensively. "So, is this really all Akechi's doing?" he asks with a figuratively raised eyebrow. "Considering I'm pretty sure it started when he came back. The good and—well." He jumps onto the windowsill and looks me over again. "Your . . . Uh, I mean, I-I'm not saying that you becoming more confident is a bad thing. On the contrary, I've always said that you should begin speaking your mind more. It's just . . . so sudden."

I frown. Am I really that different from the way I was before Christmas? I don't feel all that different, I think. Only a little bolder, a little braver . . . In fact, I feel a lot like back when we first founded the Phantom Thieves—in protest against the injustices of the world. Except now, I am more inclined to voice all of my feelings aloud . . . which has to do with Akechi. Even if only indirectly, considering I'm still haunted by what happened to him when I didn't speak my mind last time.

Briefly, I reflect on his encouragement and the encouragement of my friends earlier to be more open. Is that also part of why I've grown bolder—that, for the first time, I actually feel like I have a space where I won't be judged for my words?

Shelving that thought as "likely", I consider that I might seem so changed to Morgana, also because when the two of us last spoke like this, I was still grieving. So, in that sense, one could say that Akechi's return has indeed lifted my spirits.

In the end, I only shrug, giving Morgana a smirk.

"I'm only a little more confident."

> "I'm just sick of keeping my mouth shut."

"Not planning to stop any time soon."

"A-And that's good!" Morgana insists. "Really. The Maruki business aside, I'm glad things have turned out so well," he says in a more sympathetic tone. "Just that you . . . You have a different air to yourself, I guess. Uh, but—" He straightens out, his fur standing on end. "Either way, regarding Akechi—I know I've been skeptical about the two of you so far, and I'm still gonna be concerned about you! But I'm not gonna tell you to stay away from him or anything."

My smile brightens, and Morgana gives me a stern look, then sighs. "Not only would that be futile, but . . . Well, look, I get that you have feelings for him. A little better now than earlier today, actually. I also see that he makes you smile like nothing else."

Even though I should have honestly known this, the fact that Morgana noticed makes my smile fall and my cheeks flush. I raise my hand in an attempt to hide my face.

"Hiding won't do you any good. It is very obvious," Morgana says conversationally. "And you do look adorable when you smile like that. So I'll let it slide."

I groan, lifting my other hand to my face as well, glaring at Morgana through my fingers.

"But even so," he continues a little too smugly. "I also meant it when I said that I hope you're not throwing all caution to the wind. In all seriousness, you're not letting that guy do anything . . . indecent to you, are you?"

I snort into my hands with laughter at the immense concern in his voice. Technically . . . just because Akechi told me that nothing can happen yet doesn't mean that I wouldn't let him. And—I glare at Morgana through my fingers again, suddenly feeling an unprecedented surge of boldness, accompanied by the desire to get back at him for flustering me—he doesn't know what we have and haven't done.

So, instead of a reply, I lower my hands and lean back, giving him another smirk, then shrug as nonchalantly as I can.

"Rin!" Morgana exclaims, nearly toppling off the windowsill, and I properly break into suppressed laughter. "Ugh . . . I leave you alone with Akechi for one week . . ."

I cross my arms, tilting my head.

"It did me good."

> "I'm a bad girl now."

"You should do it more."

"Not on my watch, young lady," Morgana snaps, and I laugh more. "Where would we end up if I let that guy ruin you?"

> "I would let him ruin me."

"That's not up to you."

Morgana's tail shoots into the air. "You—! Ugh, as long as you don't do anything that you'll end up regretting . . . Anyway, you should really take a break for today," he says unexpectedly. "You can do the rest of your homework in the morning . . . I'll make sure to wake you up early."

With a long sigh that turns into a yawn, I stand from my bed, not bothering to argue. I change into my pajamas before I curl into bed, and although Akechi isn't here, I am flooded with memories of having him here with me. In search of traces of his scent, I dig my head deep into my sheets, shutting my eyes.

Do you not comprehend that this, right here, in this very moment, is my life? I will do with my life what I want. Over and over, I hear the merciless yet oddly comforting words . . . Until my eyes suddenly snap open. I will do with my life what I want. He is . . . I clutch my sheets tighter. This life that he has proclaimed to be his own, in which he adamantly refuses to do anything he doesn't want to, he has chosen to spend . . . with me.

". . . Hey?"

I throw my bedsheets back so suddenly that I almost knock Morgana off.

"Sorry . . . It's nothing." He curls together on top of my blanket, but I don't believe him for one second.

> "Come on, what's the matter?"

"Doesn't seem like nothing."

I slip out from under the blanket and sit cross-legged on my mattress, reaching to pet Morgana behind the ears. He hisses, shaking his head. "I was just . . . remembering what happened that night," he mumbles. "You remember, right? The night before we went into Mementos to uncover its true nature . . . And then on Christmas Eve . . . Remember how I said I'd finally found the place where I belong?"

I nod, but he's not facing me. "Even though I said that—and really believed it—I still fell right into Maruki's hands." He shakes his head firmly. "I know I've made it obvious how much I want to be a human . . . More than once, I thought it would give me a chance with Lady Ann, but . . ."

"But it's not your true self."

"But it wasn't really you."

> "But it felt wrong anyway."

I put all the love I feel for him into my smile.

"Huh?" Morgana whips around to me, and his eyes widen. "H-Hey, stop looking at me like that. You know that what I did was lame. I can't believe I was off having a blast while you were busy trying to help us . . . And Akechi too. You really meant it when you said that you wouldn't have pulled through without him, right?"

I nod, then avert my eyes. "Even my own reality aside . . . it felt horrible to crush your dreams," I whisper. "He was the one who told me, day after day, to keep going. That I was doing the right thing."

"I guess maybe I should thank him too," Morgana mumbles sourly. "I don't like admitting it, but I'm beginning to understand what you see in that guy. He's remarkably strong-willed. Maybe he'll be a better influence on you than I thought . . . A-And if you get married to him someday, I'll even be your flower boy. How's that sound?"

I let out an utterly undignified squeal and nearly keel over, off the bed. My mouth opens to tell him to stop speaking nonsense, but . . . I pull myself back into an upright position and lift my pillow, shoving my burning face into it. "That sounds perfect," I mumble into the pillow, and Morgana hisses.

"Hey! I was just teasing! I didn't—Rin!"

"It sounds perfect," I repeat, slowly peeking over the top of the pillar. "Okay?"

"Okay, okay." Morgana groans. "Gee, you . . . Either way, you should be more upset with me for abandoning you last week. I know you're always so forgiving and kind, but you can't just excuse something this big. If you do that, I'd be more disappointed than anything."

My smile falls, and I lower the pillow, pulling my legs to my chest and turning to face him. "What do you mean?" I ask sincerely, and Morgana rolls his eyes.

"Oh, come on. You know, you have been helping me from the very beginning. You're always so kind to me—to everyone, really. And all I do for you, in turn, is boss you around and chicken out when you would have needed me the most."

"I don't mind your bossing me around." I smile, poking his forehead with my finger and eliciting a hiss. "Who else would make sure I get all my homework done on time?"

"You're almost eighteen. You should manage that yourself." Morgana huffs, then sighs. "But all jokes aside, I hope you realize what an incredible person you are. Sometimes I look at you and I think, "She's far too kind and soft for such a merciless world." But you manage to turn kindness into a weapon and softness into a shield. You . . . You're actually so much stronger than I am."

"Oh!" I clasp my hands in front of my mouth and sniff, blinking just twice until the obligatory wave of embarrassment at a compliment of such magnitude has subsided. Then I reach for Morgana and pull him into a tight hug.

He hisses only once this time, then he actually lets me cradle him. "Gee . . . You're unbelievable," he mumbles. "But after all we've been through together, I should've really seen this coming."

I release him, laughing again, and he shakes himself. "You know what? I'm going to make you a promise right now. I'm going to try this kindness-can-be-a-weapon thing for myself—after your example. I'm not really used to showing weakness openly, but I'll try. Okay? Maybe I'm just scared that I'll be exploited . . . But clearly, it works for you. So, I'm going to try wearing my heart on display as proudly as you do . . . And I'm going to keep protecting you as best I can. I promise I will!"

"I've discovered a new . . . no, my original power!"

~

Morgana's Persona Mercurius has transformed into Diego!

One significant look passes between us, then Morgana stretches contentedly. "Alright, time to serve Maruki his just desserts . . . Isn't it honestly the kind thing to do to rob him of his distorted desire? He's not a bad person, even now. Once all that distortion's gone . . ."

"He can become happy as well."

> "He can find his own happiness too."

I'm cut off by a yawn, and Morgana scowls. "You're exactly right. See, I was gonna apologize for the hassle, but . . . it really is time for you to sleep. Just remember that you and I are gonna be even greater partners now."

I give him a big smile and a double thumbs-up, then I fall backward onto my bed, nestling into the sheets. Tomorrow . . . I press my face into my blanket, feeling Morgana curl up on top. Whatever mission start tomorrow may bring, I feel like along with it might start a whole new era.