Chapter Text
Two days after the Phantom Thieves had stolen his heart, Okumura confessed.
Akira had felt the anxiety that had been buzzing underneath his skin dissolve as he watched the confession playing on the TV in Leblanc.
No choked sounds of pain, no black liquid pouring from his eyes and bubbling from his mouth – Goro Akechi had not murdered Kunikazu Okumura in this timeline.
The world shifted beneath Akira’s feet and he placed a hand against the counter to steady himself.
“Woah kid. You alright?” Sojiro asked, but his voice sounded as if he had spoken underwater.
Akira gave himself a moment to regain his composure. Sojiro glanced at the TV. His expression changed as understanding dawned on him.
“Hold on. That new girl that’s joined your little posse – isn’t her name Okumura?”
That made Akira get his shit together faster than if someone had dumped a bucket of ice down his back.
Stop it, Sojiro. You’re supposed to be oblivious.
“Yeah. She’s terrifying,” said Akira.
Sojiro gave a surprised laugh. “I thought she was a total sweetheart.”
“Oh she is. That’s why she’s terrifying.”
Amusement danced in Sojiro’s eyes. “Sure kid, whatever you say.”
Akira’s phone buzzed in his pocket.
Private Message
2:03 PM
Alibaba: I see you’ve been busy.
Akira grinned.
Oh hey, Futaba. Took you long enough.
“What’s with that smirk on your face?” Sojiro asked.
“Oh nothing. A friend finally got back to me, is all.”
Akira climbed up the stairs to the attic. Morgana perked up when he heard Akira approach.
“What is it?”
“Alibaba finally texted me again.”
Morgana’s eyes widened. “Let me see!”
Akira sat down on the bed and Morgana found his usual perch on his shoulder.
Private Message
2:06 PM
Joker: Something like that.
Alibaba: Are you ignoring my request?
Alibaba: My threats were not empty.
Joker: Not at all.
Joker: We just had to finish up a job we already were working on.
Alibaba: Good.
Alibaba: Now steal their heart.
Joker: We need a name.
Alibaba: You need my name?
Joker: We can’t steal a heart without the person’s name.
Alibaba: Oh.
Alibaba: I see.
Joker: Well?
Alibaba: The person whose heart I want you to steal…
Alibaba: Their name is Futaba Sakura.
Morgana gasped. “Hey! Isn’t that Boss’ last name?”
“Yeah it is,” said Akira.
Private Message
2:08 PM
Joker: How do you know Futaba Sakura?
[Error: Message could not be sent.]
Akira was once again, kicked from the chat.
“Damn!” Morgana hissed. “We need to figure out who this person is. If they truly know your identities, then things can get bad.”
“Agreed,” said Akira. He stood up, jostling Morgana and forcing him to jump off his shoulder.
“What are you going to do?” Morgana asked.
Akira stretched his arms above his head, arching his back. A few of his joints popped. “Try and figure out the best way to ask Sojiro about Futaba Sakura.”
Morgana wrinkled his nose at the sound. “That’s really gross.”
“Thanks,” said Akira.
“You really think they’re related?” asked Morgana.
Akira shrugged. “It’d be one hell of a coincidence if they weren’t.”
“You still haven’t asked Boss?” Ryuji asked from his position sprawled out on Akira’s bed. Ann sat on his legs, making him squawk in indignation.
“Hey! Have some tact!” she chided.
“Yeah, Ryuji. You try asking him something you know he doesn’t want to tell you about,” Akira grumbled. “I feel like he’ll kick me out.”
“He won’t kick you out,” said Makoto. She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t sound too sure either.
“You can stay with me if he kicks you out,” said Ryuji.
“What about me?” Morgana asked.
“You can stay with me, Mona-chan,” said Haru.
Akira groaned. “Are we seriously entertaining this idea?”
Yusuke frowned. “I disagree with you, Akira. He welcomed me even though he did not know me. He won’t kick you out. There’s a better chance of him simply pretending that you don’t exist for the remainder of the year.”
“That really doesn’t make me feel any better.”
Akira’s phone buzzed. Everyone froze.
“Check it!” Morgana hissed.
Akira checked his messages.
Private Message
3:09 PM
Alibaba: Why haven’t you done it yet?
Alibaba: I gave you their name.
“Seriously?! This is for real?” asked Ryuji.
“What? Did you think this was some elaborate prank?” Akira asked.
Ann leaned over his shoulder to get a better view of the texts. “What are you gonna say back?”
Private Message
3:10 PM
Joker: We need to talk to Futaba Sakura.
Alibaba: What?
Joker: We need to talk to her so we can successfully complete your request.
Alibaba: You need to…
Alibaba: I see.
Alibaba: This won’t work.
Alibaba: I’m calling this off.
Alibaba: Don’t worry about this anymore.
Alibaba: I won’t reveal you identities to the police.
Alibaba: Sorry for wasting your time.
Joker: Wait.
[Error: Message could not be sent.]
“Holy shit! They really did kick you from the chatroom!" said Ryuji.
“It seems like they don’t want us to talk to Futaba,” said Haru.
“No kiddin’,” said Ryuji.
They all stared at Akira’s phone for a moment.
Ann frowned. “Is that really it then?”
Akira hummed. “Something about this is bothering me.”
“What do you mean?” Yusuke asked.
“When I asked Alibaba for a name, they asked me if I needed their name.”
“Huh?” asked Ryuji.
Makoto put a hand to her chin. “I think I see what you mean. What did they say exactly?”
“They referred to themself using the word ‘my’.” Akira told her.
“I see,” said Makoto. “Yes, I agree with you. Your judgement is usually accurate, and it does strike me a bit odd as well.”
“Can somebody tell me what the hell is going on?” asked Ryuji.
“I believe I’m catching on as well,” said Yusuke. “You believe that Futaba Sakura and Alibaba are one and the same.”
“What?!” said Ryuji and Ann at the same time. Their expressions were identical. Akira had to laugh.
“If Futaba and Alibaba really are the same person,” said Haru, “then why would she want us to target her?”
Morgana looked at Akira. “You need to talk to Boss.”
Akira groaned.
“I need a bath,” said Akira, staring up at the ceiling.
Morgana sniffed and wrinkled his nose. “You do.”
He did not move from his place on Akira’s chest.
“I can’t breathe when you lay on me like that.”
Morgana scoffed. “You’re talking just fine. Go to the bathhouse. Your hair is greasy.”
“I can’t move if you don’t get off of me.”
“Ugh. Fine.” Morgana hopped off of Akira, digging his back paws into Akira’s stomach in the process. Akira grunted in displeasure.
He rolled out of bed and shoved a change of clothes into his bag. He moved to pluck his glasses off his desk out of habit, before realizing he was just going to take them off anyway. He shrugged and started down the stairs.
“Wash your hair!” Morgana shouted after him.
“Okay, Mom,” Akira called back. He left Morgana spluttering in his room.
On the way out the door, Akira tripped over a box. He muttered a curse under his breath and bent down to pick it up. He paused when he saw the name printed on the label.
Huh. It must’ve been shipped to the wrong address.
Akira got an idea.
Sojiro Sakura walked into Leblanc to find Akira sitting in a booth, staring at a slightly dented cardboard box that was placed on the table in front of him. His glasses were missing, and his hair was unfortunately still in need of a wash.
“What are you doing?” Sojiro asked, a bemused expression on his face.
“Who’s Futaba Sakura?” Akira asked.
Sojiro’s eyes widened. “Where the hell did you get that name?”
Akira pointed to the box. Sojiro snatched off the table. He swore when he read the label.
“Is she your daughter or something?”
“Stop asking questions!” Sojiro snapped.
Akira closed his mouth.
Sojiro pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just… go to your room or something.”
“I actually need to shower.”
“Then go to the damn bathhouse!”
“Right,” said Akira. He grabbed his bag and hurried past Sojiro, who looked like he was about to have a stroke.
Sojiro looked up when he heard the bell on the door chime, signaling that Akira had left. He made eye contact with the kid’s cat, who was sitting at the bottom of the stairs. His blue eyes were far too intelligent for an animal’s.
“The hell are you looking at?” Sojiro griped. Morgana blinked at him, before whisking around and trotting up the stairs.
The Phantom Thieves
11:57 AM
Joker: asking sojiro about futaba sakura did not go well
Skull: so he knows her?
Joker: definitely
Joker: she lives in his house
Queen: How did you find that out?
Joker: a package for her showed up at leblanc
Joker: i tripped over it on my way to the bathhouse
Panther: who do you think she is?
Joker: i asked him if she was his daughter and he flipped his shit
Fox: Wouldn’t you know if he had a daughter?
Joker: you would think so, right?
Joker: i haven’t stepped foot into his house
Noir: Not even once?
Joker: nope
Skull: that’s kinda weird
Panther: that’s VERY weird
Fox: That is indeed suspicious.
Queen: Do you think he could be hiding Futaba from you?
Joker: if she lives in his house he’d have no problem doing so
Joker: he did not like it when i asked about her
Joker: i’m guessing that yeah he is
Noir: I wonder why.
Fox: I am curious as well.
Joker: maybe i should break into his house
Skull: oh i’ll help
Noir: Oh me too!
Queen: We will not be breaking into Sakura-san’s house.
Panther: …
Panther: i agree with queen
Joker: you guys are no fun
The next day when Akira found another box that was supposed to be mailed to Futaba, he got another idea along with it.
“Come on, Morgana,” Akira said. “We’re going to go meet Futaba.”
“Seriously?” Morgana asked. But despite all the skepticism in his voice, he jumped into Akira’s bag.
“We got another package for her. Sojiro isn’t here so I can’t send it home with him.”
“If Boss finds out he might actually kick you out,” Morgana cautioned.
Akira picked up the box with a grunt. It was somewhat heavy. “It’ll be fine.”
Akira fumbled with the door handle for a few seconds before managing to turn it. He pushed it open with his shoulder.
“How did so many things get sent to the wrong address?” Morgana asked as they walked down the street.
“No idea. Maybe she ordered a bunch of things at once,” said Akira. Sweat was beginning to bead on his forehead. It was hot, and the box was getting heavier by the second.
Morgana noticed his strain. “Is it heavy?”
“Sort of,” said Akira. “Things like this make me glad I actually take the time to work out with Ryuji.”
“What about in the Metaverse?” Morgana asked.
“I don’t really use it in the Metaverse. It’s not like I get up close and personal with the Shadows. I sort of just stand at a distance and shoot them.”
“But you keep up really well despite not having a Persona,” said Morgana. “And you do more than you think. I can distinctly recall you stabbing one before it could get the drop on Yusuke.”
“I guess,” said Akira. He turned the corner onto the street with Sojiro’s house. His arms were beginning to burn.
They walked the rest of the way in silence. Well, Akira walked. Morgana got a free ride.
Akira lowered the box down to the ground in front of the Sakura household’s front door. He took a moment to shake out his wrists. Then he leaned forward and rang the doorbell.
No one answered.
Akira rang the doorbell again. “Sojiro?” he called. “Are you home.”
Still no answer. Akira tried the doorknob. It was unlocked. Akira and Morgana exchanged a glance.
“Makoto told you no breaking in,” Morgana reminded him.
“As much as I love Makoto, she’s not my mom.” Akira turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. He stuck his head inside.
“Futaba Sakura?” he called into an empty hallway. “I have a box that says your name on it.”
Akira heard the patter of footsteps. A flash of bright orange hair darted through the hallway and up the stairs. Distantly, he heard a door slam.
“Was that her?” Morgana asked.
Akira only shrugged. He picked up the box and stepped inside.
“Pardon the intrusion,” he said as he crossed the threshold.
“You’re really going to break in?”
“This isn’t breaking and entering,” Akira retorted. “There was no breaking involved. I’m only entering.”
Morgana sighed. “Fine. Just be quick. We don’t know when Boss will get home.”
Akira set the box down inside the hallway. Then he climbed up the stairs. Morgana shifted nervously in his bag. Akira paused in front of her door.
“You think this is her room?” Morgana asked.
Akira knocked on the door. “Futaba?” he asked voice soft. “Are you in there?”
He heard someone move around behind the door, but she didn’t answer.
Akira changed tactics. “Are you Alibaba? Are you the one who’s been texting me?”
For a moment nothing happened. Akira was about to try again when his phone in his pocket buzzed.
Private Message
3:42 PM
Alibaba: What are you doing here!?
Joker: Trying to get answers.
Joker: You are Futaba Sakura, correct?
Alibaba is typing…
Joker: I think we can help you.
Joker: If you want us to.
Alibaba: Yes.
Alibaba: I’m Futaba.
Joker: Do you still want our help?
Alibaba: …
Alibaba: Yes.
Joker: Can you leave this chatroom up?
Joker: You don’t need to speak to us verbally, but being able to communicate with you would help.
Alibaba: Okay.
Joker: Thank you.
“Woah,” said Morgana. “You were right.”
“Of course I was,” said Akira, voice smug.
Morgana rolled his eyes.
“We need to tell the others,” said Akira.
“Yeah. We need them to check if she has a Palace,” said Morgana.
Akira nodded. He hurried down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, he noticed the doorknob was turning. Before he could react, the door opened. Akira froze like a deer in the headlights.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. They both just stared at each other.
Finally, Sojiro broke the silence. “Akira? What the hell are you doing in my house?”
Akira’s usually smooth tongue betrayed him. “Umm. Well- I just- the box.”
“What box?” Sojiro asked.
Akira pointed wordlessly to the box that still sat in the middle of the hallway.
Sojiro sighed. “Another box for Futaba showed up at Leblanc?”
Akira nodded. “I came here to drop it off. The door was open, so I checked to make sure no one had broken in or…” he trailed off.
“Did you see her?” Sojiro asked.
“… Yeah. I did.”
“Did you talk to her?”
For a moment Akira considered telling him the truth. He thought about showing Sojiro the texts. But then he’d have to explain the Phantom Thieves, and he didn’t know how lenient Sojiro would be if Akira openly admitted to being part of a group of vigilantes.
“No,” said Akira.
Sojiro sighed again. “Alright. Come with me back to Leblanc. I’ll tell you about Futaba. I should’ve told you a while ago.”