Work Text:
“ According to Hopi Dictionary: Hopìikwa Lavàytutuveni, the Hopi word koyaanisqatsi (Hopi pronunciation: [koj ɑː nis ˈ k ɑ tsi]) is defined as "life of moral corruption and turmoil" or "life out of balance”.”
“So now we get to talk about the big elephant in the room.”
Akechi scoffed. “Right. Makoto, you have nothing else to add before then?”
“I don’t believe so. Besides some choice nightmares I had, I believe now we can talk about the next eleven or so days.”
Ann stepped forward. “Okay, this is the part I’m curious about! You’d think that eleven days would be a time to go to therapy and heal not-“
“Go to war?” Yusuke nodded. “I don’t think any of us knew what to expect.”
Minato took a deep breath, and spoke with this grave nature, “From what I understand, this was the period that brought the worst out of everyone.” He looked at Akihiko. “Even you. One of the best of us. What happened?”
He took a deep sigh. “I don’t...I don’t know. Perhaps what Takeshi was doing reminded me of what killed Miki. The moment I heard about the bombings that set the world on fire and how he had a role in hurting all the people I loved, I felt...hatred. I’ve never felt that before.”
Sae looked up at Akihiko with some hint of disdain. “So you sent Makoto on a murder mission?”
Makoto scoffed and Akihiko rushed to explain. “Not exactly, I-“
“I came to him.” Makoto had spoken up. “I came to him to ask for a chance to find Takeshi and bring him down. At that point my plans weren’t to kill him...
But things change.”
Akechi scowled. “Things change.”
Ryuji finally spoke up, not wanting to antagonize Makoto anymore. “And what about you, Akechi? These past eleven days seem to have been...”
He grinned. “Productive?” Akechi sighed. “Yeah well...it’s easy to be productive while everyone around you has gone crazy.”
Haru sighed. “What happened to us?”
Futaba spoke wearily, “We lost sight of our purpose. Just like he said. It’s like we deleveled as human beings.”
Mishima nodded. “Perhaps this is what Yaldabaoth wanted. Our reckoning.”
Everyone took a collective sigh. But then, Akechi stepped forward. “It’s not over. Not yet. We can do better, and we have our work cut out for us, especially now that we know about the palace. This isn’t just about saving Ren or beating Takeshi.”
Makoto nodded resolutely. “It’s about proving that the Phantom Thieves can still be good. Not for our sake.
But for his.”
“So where do we start?”
“...We start with a nightmare.”