Chapter Text
Ren Amamiya stewed slightly uneasily in his chair. He is holding onto his calm demeanor, a process made gradually easier as whatever drugs they inserted into him was slowly being processed in his system. Of course, one was not the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts without steel nerves and a strong will. After all, he forsook escaping in favor of this grander plan, all done to further investigate the happenings of the mysterious enemy against him and his team.
No one outside the team knew of what was truly to come. Well, there was Mishima, but while Ren enjoyed rattling his chain every one in a while, he was one of them.
He then heard the echoes of footsteps coming through the hallway. Footsteps he has gotten to know and made pretty clear on who was coming. Everything is going according to plan…
THUMP!
Well, except for that. Ren could not help but wince a little at the sound of someone tumbling onto the floor, even if he knew the person doing so is his enemy right now.
Of course, his nerves of steel were pushed to their limits when he saw the door open and he saw who stood there.
Dressed in his dark beige outfit and clad in stylish black leather gloves was Goro Akechi, the so-called seconding coming of the Detective Prince. Ren admitted to being curious so he did have Futaba do some preliminary research on Akechi’s rise soon after the formation of their little alliance near the end of October. From the basics, he rose up seemingly out of nowhere as a young and savvy professional, using his intelligence and cunning to solve seemingly impossible cases. His deductive skill and young age earned him the title of Detective Prince, “inheriting” it from the original, one Naoto Shirogane.
Has their plan failed? No… he cannot have any doubts here. Whatever comes his way, he needs to overcome it. His expression remained stalwart, almost defiant.
Deep down, he couldn’t help but be nervous though. After all, the plan seemed to have hinged on this one moment and he was not sure if it would work. Regardless, he would stand by the whole plan to the end. If he had to improvise to fight, then so be it.
However, the Akechi came in possessed a different matter of holding himself
He was disheveled and looked a little confused. Ren chalked it up to the tumble though, it did sound like it hurt. He would’ve been more sympathetic if not for the circumstances he was in because Akechi. Then he saw Akechi remove his hand from his face, likely from clutching a bruise.
For an instant, Ren saw an expression he did not predict…
Panic.
It lingered briefly for a second before he straightened up, but to a skilled individual like Ren, it gave away a detail he did not expect. Perhaps Akechi was messing with him?
“I requested that we be alone for a few minutes. I permitted the guard standing by to use the restroom. He appeared to have been holding it in for a while,” Goro Akechi began talking with his tone. A tone that someone would consider charming though perhaps with a hint of condescension or at the least pride. However, the pride here was absent; replaced instead with restrained agitation.
Ren stood, stoic and giving nothing away to Akechi. He looked pretty beat up and exhausted, so he would utilize that to try and gain any possible intel from his vantage point.
“I do not know what is going on here…” Akechi noted, his body tensing up further, his gloved hand tightening. In the harsher view of the light, Ren peered deeper at Akechi’s face. He is distressed to the point of non-focus, a quality that is very unfamiliar with the Detective that Ren has gotten to know in the past few weeks.
He suspected since the first day they made the alliance, recalling how he was somehow able to hear Morgana’s comment on pancakes and had Futuba wiretap him. His conversion with the other individual on the line was everything they needed to know.
However, he remembered feeling… suspicious or puzzled at it.
“All of it is according to plan, Shido-san. One way or another, the Phantom Thieves will fall… starting with their leader…”
“The trap has been set in place...”
Akechi revealing to set them confirmed their suspicions, but looking back, Ren noted how different the voice sounded. It clearly was still Akechi, albeit raspier and with heavier breathing. Just distinct enough to sound different in tone to Akechi’s usual cadence of speaking. Initially, he and the others assumed it is his “real” manner of speaking, but reflecting on it in this instance… it sounded just as forced, even moreso, than Akechi’s usual tone. Putting on the pretense of being naturally menacing yet it remained off…
Ren did not know why he was thinking this now, yet his instincts brought it up. He wondered if Akechi would attempt to “kill” him right here and now, framing him for the mental shutdowns that have been plaguing Tokyo for the past two years. That appeared to be his plan and his own counterplan seemed to not be lost though Ren was nothing if not flexible.
“When I escaped, I ended up passing out and when I awoke, I learned that you were captured, supposedly sold out by one of the team,” Akechi proclaimed, rubbing the bruise on his head. “I refused to believe that. No one possessed any actual motivation… and then I discovered my phone was bugged,” he explained.
Ren briefly appreciated his lingering disorientation since it helped mask his sudden blanching. Did Akechi discover Futaba bugging his phone??
Akechi winced once more, breaking from his train of thought. “We can discuss that at a more appropriate time. Right now, you need to escape,” he began saying before hearing footsteps. “I will send you a message later,” he told him. “I’ll be right back…” he said, hearing knocking outside before leaving out the door.
Ren did not see Akechi come back, he heard his footsteps before disappearing.
After several agonizingly long minutes, someone entered the room.
Ren breathed out in relief to see Sae Nijima…
“It was all true…” she told her before seeing his somewhat frazzled expression. The attorney sighed, concern on her face. “I’ll take you back to your place unless you have a preferred place to be dropped off. My advice would be to sleep off the drugs…” Sae told him as he helped him up.
“Shido-san… my job is complete. There was a minor setback, but nothing that disrupted the mission.”
“What setback?”
“Just a minor bruise to the head. Not from him of course, but an accident.”
“I see. It is of no consequence as long as the job is done. And the others?”
“I decided it would be best to dispose of the remnants after the entire ordeal is resolved. Let them suffer “unfortunate accidents”…”
“Would they try to avenge their leader?”
“Even if they could, it does not matter. They will live the rest of their short lives knowing that they will be executed for crossing us..”
“Very well then. This little arrangement has worked quite well for us, even with the unorthodox conditions that you were established beforehand…”
“Such matters cannot be helped though perhaps when the smoke clears, I will be able to enjoy myself…”
“There is of course the Special Investigations Unit director to address…”
“I imagine that he will likely meet an untimely end. Given his advanced age and the stressful nature of his vocation, I imagine he will be susceptible to a stroke…”
“Sounds plausible. We should prepare to mourn him for all the good work he has done.”
“In the meanwhile, snap elections have been called. Your goals are within your grasp.”
“Indeed. My political opponents were disgraced thanks to you and ensuing my squeaky clean reputation while the mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns have people clamoring for someone to bring order.”
“Everything is going according to plan…”
“And what of yourself? What are your plans? When I become Prime Minister, I will grant you your hearts’ desire.”
“That is a secret, but it is nothing grandiose. In fact, I will take the opportunity to lay low for a while. I have been feeling extensively exhausted as of late.”
“Hm. Very well. Before the end of the year, every loose end will be tied up and Japan will awake up to a brand new era…”
*CLICK*
“I couldn’t agree more… but perhaps not the reasons you are thinking of…”
Café Leblanc… a quiet cafe frequented primarily by a relatively small base of loyal regulars found in Yongen-Jaya. Of course, the customer base has grown slightly since the temporary residency of Ren Amamiya inviting the odd assortment of patrons.
Sojiro Sakura surveyed the group who were leaving the cafe one by one, having undergone quite an extraordinary ordeal. After all, it’s not everything a bunch of high schoolers and their magic cat con a government conspiracy two years in the making that resulted in dozens of deaths, directly and otherwise for the purpose of obtaining power.
And they’re quite the odd bunch too.
Right now, it’s just making sure that Ren is okay. While he has recovered substantially from his interrogation through violence and the drug, he could tell the young man has an issue brewing in his mind. He would not exactly consider himself sentimental, but he has to say to having a soft spot to Ren.
Maybe cause he sees a lot of himself in him.
By now, most of everyone has headed home, including Futuba.
“Something on your mind?” Sojiro asked Ren, who appeared to have been lost in thought.
“I’m alright, boss. Just relieved that everything worked out as well as it did,” Ren told the older man with a wary smile, one that definitely reminded the barista of himself.
“I figure that, but you have that look in your eye,” he said before sighing a bit and stepping from behind the counter. “From my old job, it was the look of someone who’s thinking that’s something’s wrong. And given where I worked at, I’ve seen a lot,” Sojiro responded with his own wary smile.
Ren would admit to being a little surprised finding out that Boss worked for the government though it did explain a few things in hindsight, such as being able to keep himself and Futaba in good financial standing despite the relative quietness of Leblanc, though he figured Wakaba Sakura also left them some money in some form or fashion.
“Back when I had Futaba spy on Akechi… he spoke in a subtle but odd tone. Coarse and harsh, but not in a way that sounded natural. It still sounded like him, but as if he is trying to talk tough,” Ren confessed after a brief pause. “Well, given how you mentioned how he is, he may be the two-faced sort of person,” Sojiro noted. “Yes… though now I am wondering if both faces have to be completely honest,” Ren pontificated.
“I’ll say this, Ren. In my experience, people show and grow different sides of themselves. People change over time and show different sides of themselves to people. Even you,” Sojiro noted to him with a smile. “Yeah, that’s true. Though I am still trying to figure out the motivation for why Akechi would side with someone like Shido… and how he got his powers before us,” Ren responded before facing Sojiro. “These accidents have been happening even before I moved here. If he is truly behind it all, then he must have been at work for a while now. This leaves a lot of questions to be answered. Even if we change Shido’s heart and have him confess, that still leaves Akechi,” Ren noted.
“You need to relax. You just been through a hell of an ordeal. Give yourself time to rest,” Sojiro noted with a pat on Ren’s shoulder. “Lock the place up,” he noted to him before he began heading out.
“I didn’t know Boss worked in the government. I guess there’s a lot we still don’t know about him,” a voice said and Ren saw who entered the room.
A predominantly black cat with white features and striking blue eyes.
Morgana. The one who would lead him and the others down the path to becoming Phantom Thieves.
While Ryuji is his best friend, Morgana held a special place because of the unique bond they shared. Morgana led Ren back to their room. An exhaustive and arduous day deserved some good rest.
“You weren’t telling everything to Boss. I could tell,” Morgana said, climbing onto the bed, circling around once before facing Ren. Their unique partnership meant Morgana served as a special Confidant, even more so than the others at times.
“At first, I thought the plan failed. Akechi came in, a little earlier than expected though he did trip when I heard him running down the hall. But it’s how he acted… he seemed surprised that I was captured. He mentioned his phone may have been bugged, but he did not mention Futaba. At first, I was wondering if he was taunting me. But then he told me I needed to escape… he said he would send me a message later,” Ren confessed, letting out a breath he was unaware that he was holding before laying on the bed.
Morgana’s brief yowl of surprise and fur standing on end indicated the shock is indeed real. However, he did manage to compose himself. “But we saw everything play out as is. He killed your cognitive version and the coroner passed it off as suicide even though there was no body… Was Akechi playing us the whole time?” Morgana said, becoming anxious himself.
“No… he wouldn’t be the type if Shido is the sort of man Boss said he is. In fact, I got a message from Makoto. She said Sae got some news that the SIU director seemingly died of a stroke all of a sudden,” Ren responded, the undertone spelling out the true message. The director was disposed of… so why not him?
“All we can do now is wait and see what happens. The important matter is you are alive. No one else knows you are so that gives you the cover you need to find out more. Once we stop Shido, we’ll figure more how he did what he did and hopefully, get the answers about Akechi,” Morgana told him before going closer. “I do not care much for him, but if he is your enemy, then he is mine as well,” he added in solidarity to Ren. “We just need to figure out the keyword to his Palace and then we steal his Treasure,” Morgana noted with confidence. The quasi-cat’s optimism did ease Ren’s heart though.
Ren permitted to smile before he laid back in bed, hoping sleep will come well.
Ren awoke to a familiar sound…
A haunting piano melody… the sound of a woman singing an aria…
And the sensation of prison garbs on him.
He’ll admit… this is not entirely unexpected, but definitely not something he was wanting.
“Get up, inmate! Our master wishes to speak to you,” a bratty voice cried out that he recognized. He turned to see them there. Caroline and Justine.
These mysterious twin girls that supposedly were supposed to help with rehabilitation… whatever that was. He never received a definition on the context being used here… especially with the figure sitting there.
The smiling long-nosed figure who called himself Igor…
He did not wholly trust him. He did not know why though while the room itself provided a faint form of comforting presence, Igor did not.
“You have successfully cheated death and thus achieved a large goal on your path to rehabilitation,” Igor proclaimed with a booming voice as he sat there with his legs crossed.
“Yet it came at such a close call. Quite unexpected. Is he trying to trap you…? Or was it a mere happenstance of fate?” Igor asked him in that deep baritone, one that contrasted against his relatively quirk and harmless appearance.
Ren considered asking Igor about Akechi, but he got the feeling he would not receive any answers from him. In fact, the more he got to know about his mysterious benefactor through the gift of the Wild Card, the more uneasy he grew. Contrasting with this is his relationship with the little twin wardens, whom he was growing closer with, thanks to helping them with their checklist.
“However it will turn out, the game has gotten quite interesting, and I am wondering how it will end. Will you succeed in averting ruin?” Igor questioned him.
For someone being his benefactor, Igor acted more like an ominous judge, looming over him. “I am intrigued to see how this will all go,” he mentioned. “But for now, enjoy your victory through subterfuge. Your time of reckoning is coming and we will see how you will fare…”
“He’s right, inmate! You better not let us down!” Caroline responded. “You have shown great promise thus far and you still have plenty of expectations to live up to,” Justice followed up with, her calm serene voice contrasting the more vitriolic tone of her sister.
Ren merely sighed at them in response, though kept his eye warily on Igor. “Whenever you feel more recovered, inmate, we still need your assistance,” Justine whispered so Igor would not hear in regards to the list. Ren did relax, feeling his relationship with the two shift to the slightly more casual one they were developing now.
He nodded before resting on the prison cot. He did privately admit to himself that Igor is correct… he felt that a massive inflection point was coming. After all, they had explored nearly every facet of Mementos except for the core, growing ever closer to it and its mysteries. Maybe if they defeat Shido, they can finally reach the core of Mementos…
And discover whatever lays down there…
…
…
…
“I do not know what is going on… ever since that day, I have not felt myself. And now… I fear that I may have placed the people I care about in grave danger… and worst of all, I cannot even trust myself anymore…”
“I cannot use the phones. Too risky. I’ll write it down and drop it off…”
“Just what happened to me on that day…?”
…
…
…
“Ren? Ren!”
Ren snapped out of his thoughts to hear Sojiro trying to get his attention, his face one of concern. “Sheesh, I knew you had a lot on your mind, but I didn’t think you’d zone out like that,” Sojiro noted, sighing in relief.
“Here, you got this. Someone dropped it off for you,” he said, passing an envelope over to Ren. Suspecting what it was, he went to his room and began opening it.
“Who’s it from?” Morgana asked from his perch, seeing the strange letter Ren received.
“It’s from Akechi…”