Chapter Text
11/20 20XX
Pain radiates throughout Akira’s body. He’s in- a cell? No a holding chamber is... is that what they had called it?
His eyes won’t focus, world blurring around the edges. His head is so, so heavy but his mind feels light, like flying or drifting in the water. The prosecutor left, the door clicking behind her with an annoyed huff, something about how his story doesn’t make any sense, doesn’t fit the timeline, doesn’t work with what happened.
He doesn’t blame her, his memories feel as if they’ve been blended, solidified and then stitched back together. Anything he recalls is distant, like watching yourself in a recording. He doesn’t know how long it’s been or how he got here.
There’s a click and then the sound of a body hitting the floor. He tries to turn his face to look, tries to convince his eyes to move. But his body isn’t moving, isn’t listening. All he can do is stare blankly as a blurry figure approaches him, voice garbled and distorted through Akira’s ears.
“This is how such idiocy ends.”
And then he’s gone.
7/2 20XX
Akira jolts awake, accidentally pushing Morgana off the bed with an undignified yelp. His temple throbs and his heart beats erratically. A nightmare? Even as he tries to recall what his dream was about the memories slip through his grasp, leaving behind only a looming sense of dread.
“Hey! What was that for!” Morgana yells, jumping back up on the bed and deliberately climbing his way onto Akira's torso, with a very annoyed huff.
“I- I’m fine, just had a nightmare.” Akira responds, voice dry and faltering. Morgana gives him a look and then slowly moves from using his small yet surprisingly heavy weight from crushing Akira's spleen to the side of the bed.
“It’s probably just because the deadline is approaching, try to get some sleep and we’ll finish up tomorrow”.
Akira nods and takes a few shuddery breaths to ground himself.
His dream felt important, but he can’t remember what it was about.
7/2/20XX
Miles away, Akechi wakes up in a cold sweat. That dream again. He flexes his left hand instinctively, willing the imprint of the cold metal against his palm to dissipate. This is the third time he’s had this dream. Akechi’s not superstitious, but then again, he’s never dealt with a reocurring dream this vivid, this real.
The first time he’d had the dream, he woke only remembering the cold feel of metal in his hand and the smell of gunpowder in the air. It’s a smell he’s not very used to; his gun in the metaverse is, after all, only a toy. He had quickly pushed the dream from his mind and gone to school and then work. A week later, the PE teacher at Shujin confessed to mistreating his students and voluntarily chose to undergo an internal investigation within the school district and then with the police.
The second time, Akechi had this dream, he had awoken with the smell of gunpowder mingled with blood and the feelings of anger mixed with triumph and a feeling of loss that he couldn’t quite place. A week later, popular artist Madarame had confessed on national television to plagiarizing his pupil’s works.
Akechi rubbed his temples. If this was some sort of pattern he can only guess that a week from now the Phantom Thieves were going to cause yet another stir. He shut his eyes, willing for the dream to come back in more detail, but to no avail. This time he had awoken to the faint memory of grey eyes staring into his, the pupils dilated and blank, almost unseeing. They seemed so familiar, if only he could remember the face of the person on the other side of his gun. Not that it matters, Akechi thought to himself as he sat up to start getting ready for his day, it was only a dream after all.
7/2/20XX
Akira goes through the day in a hazy state of mind. He misses his phone going off, and brushes past Ryuji and Ann asking him if he’s free after school today. It’s not until Makoto, grabs him by his shoulders before he steps out of the school that he comes to his senses. She lets go immediately as he turns around to face her.
“Hey, um, you never answered my text, or Ann’s and Ryuji’s. Are we going to Kaneshiro’s palace today? I know we still have some time before the deadline, but…”
He pauses.
“Of course, I’ll send a text to meet everyone at the hideout today, sorry it almost slipped my mind.” He gives her his best Joker smile out of the metaverse and sees some of the worry melt off of Makoto’s face. Truly, he’d rather go back to Leblanc and turn in early but she’s right. They do have a deadline coming up and the sooner they can send the calling card the better.
After Makoto walks away, Morgana pokes his head out of the bag and gives him a long look. “Are you still not feeling well? I know you weren’t sleeping very well. If it helps we still have time before we have to send the card.”
“M’fine, just a bit tired. I’ll be okay once we secure the route to the treasure.”
Morgana doesn’t stop staring at him but he must eventually decide that whatever else he has to say isn’t important, because he pops his head back down into his bag and remains silent the rest of the way to the hideout.
7/9 20XX
Akechi stares at the news, Shido is not going to be happy about Kaneshiro, but on the other hand, if all goes well the fake medjed’s challenge should be enough to control the situation once some damage control has been done.
He looks briefly at the case file on his desk. Three Shujin students and Madarame’s former pupil. They seem to be the most likely suspects, although there’s also the chance that Yusuke and the group were drawn to each other due to their similar experiences. Both did after all have an abusive figure taken out of their lives due to the phantom thieves.
How novel, bonding over trauma.
Akechi snorts to himself before packing his bag and heading out. He suspects he’s going to have a rather busy month. Perhaps he can convince Sae to treat him to sushi today.
7/9/20XX Evening
Phantom Thieves Chat
Ryuji: That bastard confessed!
Ann: Congratulations everyone!!
Yusuke: It would seem that we are once again successful
Makoto: I would like to thank everyone for your help.
Ryuji: np
Ann: ditto
Yusuke: truly, we should be extending our gratitude to you for your help in the palace
Ann: Oh yeah, now that Kaneshiro’s taken care of are we still going to have a celebratory party for Makoto?
Makoto: ?
Yusuke: I vote we go somewhere woth food
Yusuke: *with
Ryuji: Yo, we should go to the buffet again
Ann: not again, I don't think my stomach can take it
Akira: we’ll have to count how much money we made first
Yusuke: Buffet? Why was I never taken to this buffet??
Makoto: may I suggest that we decide after finals?
Ryuji: oh shit
Makoto: …
Ann: did you forget about finals?
Ryuji is typing...
Akira: Sojiro says its cool if you all want to do a study group here
Ryuji: you are a lifesaver
Ann: seriously, I would love to have some help reviewing math
Yusuke: my finals are not this week however I will provide assistance were I can
Ryuji: Hells yeah, study party
Makoto: I will attend as well, if only to make sure Ryuji actually passes
Ryuji: Hey! My grades ain’t that bad
Akira closes his phone with a smile. Everyone seems to be in high spirits, but... he feels like he’s forgetting something important.