Chapter Text
At the beginning of May, a massive announcement about releasing the latest AI technology is made, which is supposedly the “future of artificial intelligence.”
Goro’s not big on that sort of thing.
Rin and Futaba are obsessed, though. Goro doesn’t think he’s had a single conversation with either of them in the past month that didn’t include some sort of technical jargon about coding and artificial intelligence.
It’s great that Rin’s picked up a hobby that keeps him from sulking about the four-month-silence on Philemon’s end, but Goro hates talking to them because he can never follow along with the conversation. Goro just doesn’t like knowing less about a specific subject than anyone else.
What can he say? He likes being the smartest person in the room.
~
Akira hates Kyoto. He’s only been here a month, but he can say that with certainty.
He doesn’t know anyone here, but his entire school still knows about his record and who he is. Sometimes, it feels like the whole city is looking at him with disdain, viewing him as a stain upon the town.
And his parents’ house is even worse. His mother acts as if the entire house is a bomb and one wrong move will set it off, walking on eggshells around both of them. His father is like cold marble, glaring down at Akira from the shadow of his deep-set eyebrows as if Akira is a disappointment, and nothing he does will redeem him in his father’s eyes. And then there’s the rules. He’s still getting used to it.
So, yes, Akira hates Kyoto.
It’s not all bad, though. Akira likes the architecture. After all, buildings can’t talk back. It’s pretty and very different from Tokyo. Akira especially enjoys the cemetery. It’s vast and borders the edge of a forest, and people ignore what Akira’s doing there.
If there are any other people there at all. Akira sometimes sees a lone crow sitting on a gravestone or a teenage girl who comes to visit one of the graves, but he never sees anyone else. The crow sometimes comes to sit by Akira, but the girl never seems to notice Akira’s presence.
Akira likes sitting by the treeline and talking to his Persona, cuddling with Fey-Fey, who never seems to leave his shoulder. Arsene is always chatty, and even Satanael sometimes joins in with a quip. But lately, the two Persona are becoming more distant—they don’t respond as often. Akira worries that it’s because the Metaverse is gone and wonders what will happen to him if they leave entirely.
You should talk to her, Satanael suggests one afternoon in May.
Akira doesn’t have to ask to know the Persona is referring to the young girl on the opposite side of the cemetery. She won’t want to talk to me.
You never know, mon voleur, Arsene says. Maybe she’s just as lonely as you.
Akira rolls his eyes and quips, You say that like it would be a GOOD thing, even as he makes his way over to the girl.
She looks up as Akira approaches, eyeing him suspiciously when Akira stops a couple of feet away from her.
“What do you want?” the girl asks, just short of snapping.
Akira glances at the grave marker she’s sitting in front of and sees the name Hasegawa Aoi. “Are you visiting your mom?"
“What’s it to you??” the girl definitely snaps this time.
Akira shrugs, uncomfortable with the conversation but unable to back out. “I’m new in town, and I don’t have any friends.”
“So, you thought approaching a stranger in the cemetery was a good idea!?” the girl exclaims indignantly.
Akira winces, tugging a little too hard on his bangs. “In hindsight, maybe not the best idea,” he agrees.
Surprisingly, the girl snorts out a laugh. “God, you’re awful at this.”
“Not arguing with you there,” Akira agrees, relieved that she doesn’t sound mad anymore. “I’m Kurusu Akira.”
“Hasegawa Akane,” the girl answers with a little smile.
“Now we’re not strangers anymore,” Akira says with confidence he doesn’t feel. Seriously, what are the chances I would meet someone with the same name as one of my friends in Kyoto?
Akane laughs and says, “You’re so weird.”
Akira smiles back and gestures to the ground beside her, “Can I sit?”
“Go for it,” Akane says. “At this point, I don’t think you’re a creeper so much as a socially inept idiot.”
“Oh good, I’ve been promoted,” Akira jokes as he sinks down.
They sit in silence for a while before Akane speaks up, “Did you lose someone, too?”
“Sort of,” Akira says, thinking of those mornings when Akane would drag him out of bed at four in the morning to climb a skyscraper and watch the sunrise from on top of the world. It feels so long ago. God, I was so naïve. “They’re not buried in this cemetery, but I like the quiet here. It kind of reminds me of looking down on the city from the top of a high-rise.”
“The city?” Akane repeats. “Did you come here from Tokyo, then?” When Akira nods, her eyes light up. Akane leans forward and lowers her voice, “Did you ever get to meet… the Phantom Thieves??”
Akira almost laughs aloud but decides against it. Grinning, he leans forward and says, equally conspiratorially, “Their first target was a teacher at my school.”
Akane squeaks in delight and almost topples over backward, practically vibrating with excitement.
“I take it you’re a big fan?”
“Oh, you have no idea!” Akane says. “You have got to come over sometime! I have all the merch, and I do a Livestream where me and a bunch of other fans talk about their exploits!”
“Have you ever been on the Phansite?” Akira asks.
“Are you referring to the Phantom Memes chat!?” Akane practically shouts. “I’m on all the time! Did you see the conversation where Joker accidentally outed Crow as Akechi!?? I could hardly believe it, but the facts line up!”
“Just don’t mention that on your streams or the chat,” he warns her.
“Obviously,” Akane huffs. “Oracle would totally dox me. I just wish there was some way to find out the identities of the other thieves… Especially Joker. It’s a terribly kept secret among the government—my dad gets all shifty whenever I mention it—but no one else seems to have any idea, and the PTs have been good at keeping their mouths shut since the whole ‘Crow is totally Akechi’ thing.”
“Yeah, that was a riot,” Akira chuckles. He’s not even lying. If not for his mom calling and ruining the moment, he would say that was the best part of his day.
“Who’s your favorite thief??!” Akane asks enthusiastically. “Mine’s Joker, obviously. He’s just so cool! And the fact that he’s asexual, like me, is just awesome.”
“Some of the other thieves are ace too,” Akira points out. “Oracle is. Rider might be. And Fox probably is, but who knows with him.”
“Yeah, but there’s just something about Joker,” Akane says wistfully. “I feel like we would be great friends if I knew who he was.”
Akira smiles, biting back a comment that they already are. “My favorite is Mona,” he says instead.
Akane asks, “Why?”
“I like cats,” Akira says with a shrug.
Akane pointedly eyes Fey-Fey, sitting on Akira’s shoulder like a parrot. “That’s kind of obvious.”
Akira reaches up to scratch Fey-Fey behind the ears, grinning when she purrs and licks his hand.
“What’s your cat’s name?” Akane asks.
“Morrigan Le Fey,” Akira says. “I just call her Fey-Fey.”
Akane scoots a little closer. “Can I pet her?”
“Of course.”
In the end, making a friend turned out to be pretty simple. Akira still hates Kyoto, but now he has something tying him here.
~
group chat: The Phantom Memes
May 4, 9:21 am
Admin, Crow (Joker Simp), Fox (Inari), Joker (Fae Child), Miko (Frosty), Mona (le Chat), Noir (Marshmallow), Oracle (le Gremlin), Panther (Crepe), Queen (Mom), Rider (angy birb), Skull (thug lyfe) and 200 Anon are present
Anon:
Happy Birthday Miko!
Frosty:
Thank you, Anon! <3
Anon:
are u doing anything special 4 ur bday?
Marshmallow:
I’m hosting a small party <3
It wouldn’t be fair to do anything spectacular when Joker isn’t here with us.
Fae Child:
Hey, no. You shouldn’t hold back just because I can’t join you :(
Frosty:
It’s okay. I’d rather do something small anyway.
Anon:
Why can’t Joker be there?
le Gremlin:
he had 2 go home :c
Anon:
Home…?
le Gremlin:
we told u joker was in tokyo 4 his probation rite?
well after tht was lifted his parents wanted him 2 com home
Anon:
…Isn’t that a good thing?
angy birb:
haha no.
Fae Child:
It’s not that bad.
angy birb:
oh yea because 16 years of neglect and abuse arent “so bad” absolutely
Fae Child:
Geeze, no need to bring out the sarcasm.
He’s exaggerating. I’m fine
Joker Simp:
You had a cut on your forehead when we facetimed last night.
Fae Child:
I tripped over my shadow.
Anon:
Haha I’m concerned.
Fae Child:
It’s happened before.
Anon:
Tripping over your own shadow or head wounds?
Fae Child:
Yes.
Anon:
Joker, please take better care of yourself!
Joker Simp:
Agreed.
Fae Child:
Guys seriously. My parents aren’t hurting me.
I AM FINE.
Leave it alone.
Frosty:
Omg I just read that in your scary leader voice and had flashbacks to Shido’s Palace.
Marshmallow:
Oh, you mean the really deep tone?
Joker Simp:
Lmao it’s cute you guys think the leader voice is deep.
He can go deeper.
thug lyfe:
That’s what she said.
Joker Simp:
Oh, piss off.
~
Akira’s not sure if he could pinpoint the moment his Persona stopped talking to him. He just knows that no matter how hard he reaches—how deep he digs into his heart—nothing ever answers. Akira is empty. At last, he’s alone in his head.
Akira has never been more isolated.
He can’t focus. He has huge gaps in his memory. He feels like he’s losing touch with reality and sinking into the inky depths of his heart. Akira is sleepwalking through his own life.
He fails a test.
His father does his whole “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” talk and locks Akira in his room without letting him eat.
When his stomach starts to protest in the middle of the night, Akira picks the lock and raids the fridge. As the primary cook, Aiko must know what he’s done in the morning, but she keeps her mouth shut and doesn’t mention it to Daichi.
As Akira is leaving, his father stops him, staring down at him with a cold expression, and simply says, “Come home immediately after school. Curfew is at three.”
Akira doesn’t have the energy to argue, but distantly, he thinks the rule seems a little unreasonable.
Instead, he goes to school as usual, sleepwalks through his day, and catches the bus home to make his parent’s curfew. Akira closes himself up in his room when he gets home, his own little prison cell, and does his homework while he waits for his mom to get home from work.
She’s in a good mood when she gets home, pleased to see Akira already in his room and doing his homework. “How was school, honey?” she asks, hugging Akira, and he relaxes in relief—he’s made her happy.
“Good.”
“I’m glad.”
For a moment, Akira feels warm, floating gently in his body as he finishes his homework and helps his mom prepare dinner. When Daichi gets home, they eat, and Akira’s parents ask him about school, and he feels like a normal kid with normal parents who love him.
And then, two days later, Akira’s bus is late, and he doesn’t get home until three-thirty. Aiko is a nervous wreck, pacing on the front porch when Akira steps off the bus, and she actually screams at him.
When Akira tries explaining that the circumstances were out of his control, she shrieks, “Don’t get lip with me, young man!”
“You’re not even listening to my side of the story!” Akira shouts back.
But Aiko is beyond reason. “What will your father say…!?” she whimpers as she leads the way inside the house. “Go to your room and stay there until your father gets home.”
Akira throws his hands up in exasperation and goes to his room, slamming the door behind him. He can still hear his mother pacing in the kitchen.
Daichi gets home an hour later, standing in the doorway to Akira’s room with crossed arms. “I heard that you yelled at your mother this afternoon,” he starts.
Akira snorts. “Yeah? She tell you why I yelled at her?”
“Akira…” Daichi’s tone is a warning that Akira ignores.
“This curfew rule is fucking stupid,” Akira snaps. “When I was living with Sojiro, he—”
It’s the wrong thing to say, and Akira knows this immediately by the way his father’s thick eyebrows pinch together, and he draws himself up to his full height. “You are not living with Sojiro anymore,” Daichi says, dangerously soft. “You are living under my roof, and you will follow my rules. Do I make myself clear, young man!?”
Akira forces his suddenly bone-dry throat to swallow and bites out, “Crystal clear.”
As always, even in his anger, Daichi is perfectly controlled, closing Akira’s door with no more force than necessary, a soft snick signaling his departure. Akira waits until he can hear his parents’ voices downstairs before growling and hurling his pillow at the door.
It hits with an anticlimactic fwump before flopping to the floor.
Akira can feel his thoughts turning to sludge as smoke and vapor fills his head, so he just lays down on his bed and stares at the ceiling, counting the breaths between each blink while Fey-Fey kneads at his chest. Her claws digging into his skin are a sharp comfort, each one a pinprick of reality seeping through the fog in his head.
And Akira can’t even have an anxiety attack—can’t even sleep—because he’s not safe here.
There’s nowhere in Kyoto that’s safe… except—
Akira blinks as reality rushes back.
Within a minute, he’s climbing out the window of his second-floor bedroom, dropping to the lawn behind the house and catching Fey-Fey as she follows after him. Together, they creep through the darkened town, making their way to the cemetery—the only place Akira feels even remotely safe in this town.
Even in the pitch black of nighttime, Akira finds the grave of Hasegawa Aoi. He sinks to the ground, leaning back against the stone, and looks up at the stars.
Akira allows himself to break down.
It’s a relief to cry after holding back for so long. He can only drop his head onto his knees and curl up as small as possible as his sobs make him dizzy from lack of air.
If this is what it will be like for the entire year Akira has to be in Kyoto, he’d rather just kill himself.
~
group chat: WTF Velvet Room
May 10, 2:12 am
Rin (The Jester), Akira (The Fool), and Akechi (The Hanged Man) are in this chat
The Jester:
hands up for insomnia
The Hanged Man:
✋
The Jester:
oh good im not the only one
wanna go for a walk with me?
The Hanged Man:
Don’t you have school in the morning?
The Jester:
yep
do you wanna go or not
The Hanged Man:
Give me five minutes.
I assume we’re taking the “scenic” route?
The Jester:
obviously
its only fun when theres an abundance of life threatening danger
The Hanged Man:
That’s what I thought.
I’m not climbing a goddamn skyscraper at two in the morning with you while wearing my PJs.
The Jester:
why you chicken?
dont you want your fans to see you walking around in public in your featherman onsie?
The Hanged Man:
I will smother you in your sleep.
The Jester:
akira would be dissapointed
you wouldnt
The Hanged Man:
Akira would understand 😁
But, you're right. I would kill you while you're awake, so you would know who murdered you.
The Jester:
charming
ill be sure to come back and haunt you
hurry up
The Hanged Man:
Calm down, I’m coming.
~
Akira doesn’t know what time it is—how long he spent in the cemetery—but the sky is still dark, so he imagines it can’t have been that long.
Fey-Fey is a comforting weight on his shoulders, a reassurance that Akira’s not alone. She makes a noise of discontent when Akira lifts his head, rubbing the dried tears out of his eyes, and looks around the empty cemetery. It takes him approximately fifty seconds longer than it should for Akira to notice the man standing a few feet away, staring like Akira’s an oddly behaving insect.
Akira flinches back against the headstone he’s taken refuge by, but the man doesn’t move. He has slim, rectangular glasses and long hair. He’s wearing a wrinkled suit and carrying a bouquet of white lilies.
“It’s late, kid,” the man says after a prolonged silence. “What are you doing here?”
The way he speaks, his posture, and how he looks at Akira make him think “cop!!” and he barely stops himself from panicking all over again.
Akira tries to speak, but nothing comes out.
“Are you drunk?” the cop asks.
Akira’s voice isn’t working, so he settles for shaking his head.
The cop sighs like he’s too tired for this. “You’re sitting on my wife’s grave,” he says, gesturing to the stone Akira is cowering against. “Would you mind moving? I’d appreciate it.”
Akira quickly scrambles to his feet, backing away from the gravestone and the cop, who makes no move to grab him and merely lays the bouquet on the grave, dismissing Akira entirely.
He bolts while the cop is distracted, sprinting into the forest and forging his own path back into town.
Akira doesn’t know where to go. He knows Akane’s address but has never been to her apartment. Akira doesn’t think she’d appreciate him banging on her door in the middle of the night. Ultimately, Akira returns to his parent's house, climbing the drainpipe to slip in through his bedroom window.
The cemetery was supposed to be his safe haven, but now that it’s been invaded by a cop, Akira can never go back there.
It doesn’t occur to him until much later that the man visiting Hasegawa Aoi’s grave must have been Akane’s dad.
~
group chat: The Phantom Memes
May 12, 7:32 am
Admin, Crow (Joker Simp), Fox (Inari), Miko (Frosty), Mona (le Chat), Noir (Marshmallow), Oracle (le Gremlin), Panther (Crepe), Queen (Mom), Rider (angy birb), Skull (thug lyfe) and 200 Anon are present
Anon:
Have you guys seen the new Emma app?
Joker Simp:
Unfortunately.
Anon:
what does that mean??
Mom:
What’s Emma?
le Gremlin:
its a super ai!!
rider & i hav ben tryin 2 figure out the code but its super complicated!
angy birb:
its proven an interesting challenge to test my programming skills against
Joker Simp:
Oh God, you set the navi’s off.
Anon, do you realize what you’ve done?
They’re gonna be talking in AI and coding jargon for ages now.
le Gremlin:
uve gotten rly gud! ur skills rnt quite up 2 my lvl yet but ur gettin up ther
Anon:
“navi’s”?
angy birb:
high praise coming from you oracle
le Chat:
A nickname for Rider and Oracle.
It’s short for “navigator.”
le Gremlin:
im rly interested in checking emmas code against the metanav
i mite b able 2 decode it tht way…
angy birb:
the code is uncannily similar yeah
but i didnt see the weird code azure spotted in the metanav
le Gremlin:
thts bcuz it was made by humans rather thn a god
Anon:
Ah. I see what you mean, Crow.
Joker Simp:
Insufferable.
Anon:
Where’s Joker?
le Gremlin:
no idea
@Fae Child
@Fae Child
@Fae Child
@Fae Child
@Fae Child
@Fae Child
@Fae Child
Inari:
He doesn’t appear to be present.
le Gremlin:
@Fae Child
@Fae Child
angy birb:
ill try calling him
le Gremlin:
@Fae Child
@Fae Child
@Fae Child
Joker Simp:
WOULD YOU STOP THAT!??
le Gremlin:
@Fae Child
Joker Simp:
I hate you.
angy birb:
hes not answering his phone
Marshmallow:
It is rather early…
Maybe he’s just not awake, yet?
Joker Simp:
Maybe…
Anon:
Should we be worried…?
Mom:
No.
I’m sure Joker’s fine.
~
Satanael stares down at his near-catatonic master. After the third time he tried to escape and ran headfirst into the cage of his trauma trapping him here, Akira curled up in the center of the birdcage and stopped moving.
Satanael is worried for him.
Not just for his Shadow, but for his Self in reality as well.
He calls for the only one other than him strong enough to leave the bird cage. “Arsene.”
The gentleman thief appears with as much fanfare as ever—stylish, always, even when Akira is falling to pieces—a flurry of wings and a click of his stupidly tall heels (though Satanael isn’t really one to talk when his heels are just as high. And he wonders what that says about Akira when the two halves of his truest self wear nine-inch heels).
“You called?” Arsene asks, heels clicking against the cobblestone floor as he walks over to sit on the other side of Akira.
Satanael doesn’t like to waste time with banter and pleasantries. It’s more efficient to get right to the point. “I am worried for Akira,” he says. “As you can see, he has fallen into catatonia.”
“Yes, it’s affected the rest of the prison as well,” Arsene says. “The others have started falling asleep.”
“I worry about the effect this place might have on him in reality,” Satanael says.
“As do I. But what can we do about it?” Arsene asks. “We’re both trapped here, even if we’re freer to wander the prison than the rest. We still can’t reach him in reality.”
“No, but someone else could,” Satanael says. When Arsene only looks confused, he explains, “I have sensed an outside disturbance, deep in the sewers. Something, or someone, has been placed there, and it hasn’t left yet. I can feel a child-like innocence emanating from it and a deep potential for immeasurable strength. If you can find it, perhaps you can send it to reality to help Akira.”
Arsene looks down at their master, curled in on himself and staring off into nothingness, looking somehow so much younger without his mask and the prison garb hanging off his form. “I would do anything for him,” Arsene says fiercely.
“As would I,” Satanael replies.
~
“Goodmorning~! My name is Sophia, your virtual AI companion. May I ask your name?” a cheerful, feminine voice speaks from Akira’s phone, making him slowly blink his eyes open to stare at his phone where it’s plugged in on his nightstand.
He wasn’t sleeping, not really, but he wasn’t awake either.
When Akira finally reaches for his phone, Fey-Fey mrrrps at his change in position before settling back down on his chest. Akira retrieves his phone and holds it up in front of his face to see what has disturbed his unrest. What greets him is the adorable face of a girl—wide blue eyes and bright red hair pulled up in braided pigtails—smiling sweetly back at him.
“Goodmorning!” she says again. “I am Sophia, your virtual AI companion. What is your name?”
Akira wonders distantly how an artificial intelligence managed to download itself onto his phone when it has Oracle-level security.
And then he decides that he doesn’t care.
“…Akira,” he says at length.
Sophia, who waited patiently for his answer, beams at him like Akira just gave her a candy bar. “Okay, I’ve got it! It’s nice to meet you, Akira.”
“…Sure. Nice to meet you too,” Akira replies.
“What do you want to do today, Akira?” Sophia asks.
Akira does think about her question, but… the thought of even getting out of bed makes him shake. He doesn’t want to face the memories again.
“I don’t know,” Akira answers finally. “What about you?”
“What do I want to do…?” Sophia repeats, sounding surprised that he even asked her. “I… want to learn more about the foods people like to eat. What is your favorite food, Akira?”
He doesn’t even have to think about it. “Curry.”
“Will you make some for me?” Sophia asks.
What an odd request from an AI.
“…You can’t eat it, though, can you?” Akira asks.
“No, but I want to see how it’s made and what it looks like,” Sophia explains. “And you can describe its taste to me!”
She sounds so excited about it; she reminds Akira of Futaba. There’s no way he could refuse. “…Okay.”
…
It’s only after he’s cooked and eaten and is washing the dishes while listening to Sophia hum some unknown melody that Akira realizes her request was probably just a ploy to get him out of bed. He can’t even be mad at the trickery, though, because he managed two whole hours of distraction with it and got a meal out of it too.
~
Sophia convinces him to talk to Maruki again, which is why Akira finds himself logging into Zoom on Sunday for a facetime meeting with his therapist.
Maruki smiles when the call connects, and Akira feels a surge of relief at the familiar warmth Maruki exudes, even through a computer screen.
To his horror and embarrassment, Akira immediately starts crying.
Thankfully, Maruki doesn’t mention it or say anything during the breakdown, waiting patiently until Akira can get himself back under control.
“S-sorry,” Akira gasps when he finally stops sobbing, scrubbing the tears out of his eyes.
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Maruki assures him. “If you’re having a difficult time, you can always come to me for support.”
It’s the same thing Akira’s heard from every one of his friends over the past two months that he’s been back with his parents. He didn’t believe it then, and he doesn’t believe it now. He’s the leader; he can’t put his burdens on them.
“I’m okay,” Akira says.
Maruki doesn’t look like he believes him. “I know when you contacted me, you said you were having nightmares,” Maruki says after a brief silence. “Is that what you would like to talk about today?”
Akira shrugs. He doesn’t really want to tell Maruki about the horrific visions he’s been having whenever he tries to sleep. Dreams that sometimes feel truer than reality.
Maruki hums, eyeing Akira with a critical eye that makes him squirm. “Akira, do you mind if I speak frankly for a moment?”
Akira shakes his head.
“From what I can see, your mental health is suffering under the care of your parents,” Maruki says clinically. “I would recommend that you return to Tokyo immediately, but I’m aware that won’t be possible without the approval of your parents.”
“They would never let me,” Akira says immediately, shaking at the thought of even asking them.
“Do you believe you are unsafe with them?” Maruki asks.
Akira shakes his head. “They wouldn’t hurt me,” he says. It’s true; the harsh words don’t really hurt him, and even his father’s cruel punishments can’t penetrate Joker’s armor. Akira shouldn’t be as bothered as he is by anything his parents have done.
It’s no worse than what he went through during childhood.
And yet, against all logic, it does bother Akira. He lives his days in fear of his parents taking offense at something he’s done. His nightmares consist of a terrifying mix of Koji and Akira’s parents—his past and present all blurring into one.
“Akira,” Maruki’s gentle voice cuts through his spiraling thoughts, “Can you tell me five things you see?”
Akira sucks in a breath and looks around the room. “There’s a crow sitting on the branch outside my window,” he starts. “I think it followed me from the cemetery. It looks like it’s going to rain. I put my Phantom Thieves poster up on my door. There’s a picture on my nightstand of my birthday. The book I’m reading right now is next to it. I was on chapter fifteen.”
“Very good,” Maruki says. “What about things you can touch?”
Akira puts his hands down on either side, feeling the smooth surface of his comforter and the softness of Fey-Fey’s fur. “I’m sitting on my bed,” he says. “I can feel the blanket beneath me. Fey-Fey’s here too. She’s really soft. I can touch the computer; it feels warm.”
“You’re doing very well,” Maruki assures him. “Describe in detail to me one thing in your room—using all five senses.”
Akira’s eyes land on Fey-Fey, looking back at him with trusting emerald eyes. “Fey-Fey’s eyes are the color of grass in the height of summer,” he tells Maruki. “Her fur is the softest thing I’ve ever felt, and she purrs when I pet her. She smells like dandelions. Her tongue feels like sandpaper on my skin, but I’m not gonna lick her back.”
“That’s excellent,” Maruki says. “Do you feel calmer now?”
Akira breathes deeply, reminding himself that he can. “Yeah.”
Maruki smiles proudly and says, “Good. Can you tell me what caused you to dissociate?”
“I was thinking… about Koji,” Akira says, a shudder creeping up his spine and making him squirm.
Maruki nods. “You’ve told me about him before,” he says. “He was your babysitter when you were young, correct?” Then, at Akira’s affirmation, Maruki continues, “He hurt you. Do you feel comfortable talking about how?”
Akira rapidly shakes his head.
“That’s fine,” Maruki says soothingly. “I won’t force you to share anything you’re not comfortable with.”
Sometimes, Akira wishes Maruki would so he could spill the whole thing all at once and never have to talk about it again. But that’s not how this works.
Akira trusts Maruki because he knows the man will never push him past his comfort level.
The Councillor, Rank Nine.
~
Akane wakes up on a train. She has no memory of how she got there or where she’s going—or even the intention of going anywhere at all—but none of the people on the train seem to think it’s strange when Akane pushes herself upright from where she had sprawled out across the seats.
A look outside the window tells her nothing about where she is; all she can see is a bright blue sky and greenbrown landscape streaking by. Definitely not in the city, then. (Why would she think she was in the city?)
Akane glances around the car, but no one seems to be paying her any attention—at least, that’s what she thinks at first glance. But then she sees a boy. He’s about the same age as Akane, staring directly at her from across the car.
He has dark hair and blue eyes that seem to stare through her lifelessly. There are headphones around his neck, and Akane can hear upbeat pop music from the speakers, contrasting with his vacant appearance.
...Akane also feels like there should be a mask?
She’s not sure why, but something about him—maybe the blurring of his features around his eyes or the misty moon pattern on his shirt—makes her think of a black mask and six raven wings.
She has no idea who this boy is, has never met him before in her life, yet somehow he seems familiar.
For some reason, Akane feels afraid (why?).
She sets her jaw and turns to stare out the window instead. Her own reflection looks back with striking golden eyes instead of the violet Akane expects… And a blue butterfly mask. Everything else is identical, though, right down to the side braid and even the Parachute Pandas pin she wears on her school uniform.
Gradually, she notices the reflections of the people in the train disappearing—even though Akane knows they haven’t made any stops—until it’s just her and the boy.
Akane watches him in the window's reflection until the boy suddenly gets to his feet and moves towards her.
She whirls around just in time for him to stop in front of her, and he’s suddenly dressed in the black mask, and moon-pattered kimono she was just thinking would suit him.
“You’re trapped in a dream,” he tells her. “It’s time to wake up.”
There’s a brief moment where Akane remembers everything, from the accident to her Awakening. The interrogation room and everything that came after. December twenty-fourth, when they were the only ones standing between the God of Control and all of Tokyo.
...Her death.
She thinks she screams, but she can’t hear anything around the sudden cacophony of voices in her head;
“Dreamer!”
“Wake up!”
“You are needed!”
“You have to save everyone!!”
“YOUR DUTY IS TO DIE FOR US.”
There’s suddenly a gun in her hand. Akane lifts it to press the barrel against her temple and pulls the trigger.
For a second, she thinks she sees the boy reaching for her, but then darkness rushes up to claim her, and Akane sinks into blissful oblivion once again.
…
Akane wakes up.