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April 9th, 7:00 am
   Akira Kurusu's Appartment

---Music: Beneath the Mask (Instrumental) ---

"You know, sleeping in every once in a while is good for you, too," I hear Morgana suggest as I open my groggy eyes.
I smile as I swing my legs off the side of my bed and stand up, wishing deep down that I could follow his advice. "I guess I'm just too conditioned to waking up early," I joke.
Morgana licks his wrist habitually. "The life and struggles of a former student, huh..."
I guess I should mention that Morgana is my talking cat. "I'm not a cat!" I can perfectly imagine him shout in response, though I guess by now he's stopped making that assertion. After living as a cat for basically the entire time I've known him, he's probably used to it.
His movements are certainly feline, and I watch him as he cat-walks across the edge of my bed frame. After a few moments of quiet, he suddenly shudders with nervous energy. "I can't believe how... NORMAL everything has been, lately. Don't you ever wish we could go back to the excitement of the good old days?"
I turn on my phone screen and navigate to the calendar to check the date. April 9th, 2019. "Hmm," I hum, gathering my thoughts a bit more before coming up with a response, "I suppose it has been a long time. Christmas of 2016 was the last time we ever entered the Metaverse..."
"It's a real shame the Metaverse no longer exists," Morgana sighs, disheartened.
The conversation is enough to bring back a flood of mixed memories, both good and bad. It's true, everything was more exciting back then. I remember how I met my friends, how we used to plan our actions. I remember our rule to only choose a target who we all agreed on. I still remember the late nights spent crafting lock picks and other tools for infiltration. I remember the pulse-pounding break-ins, the dynamic struggles against monstrous foes... I still remember sneaking into palaces more decorated and absurd than my wildest dreams. Palaces both grand and magnificent, but warped and twisted. There's nothing more fantastic and unbelievable than what someone else's world view looks like. Using the Meta-Nav app on our phones, we were able to enter the world inside other people's heads, and from within their own mind we had the ability to change the hearts of criminals and all-around jerks to make them want to genuinely atone for their misdeeds. Living in the shadows, but making the world a better place by making evil-doers repent: that was what it meant to be part of the Phantom Thieves.
But, the fact of the matter is, that meta-physical world of cognition no longer exists. One of the hardest decisions we ever made as a group was to destroy the Metaverse. The choice was between a world of apathy and mental slavery to the shackles of mob-mentality and societal sensationalism, or a world where the people can think for themselves, and be free in their thoughts and actions... a world where the Phantom Thieves are no longer able to act. Perhaps, a world where the Phantom Thieves are no longer needed.
I shrug. "Well, that part of our lives has ended. No use worrying any more about it," I reason, trying not to let the emotional weight of nostalgia bring me down.
He seems to trail off in his inner thoughts for a bit, but then he shakes his head. "Eh. I just can't get used to it. I know Akira is your name, but 'Joker' fits you so much better, in my opinion!"
By now I'm getting dressed, so the laugh his comment elicits is muffled by the shirt that I'm putting on that is currently around my head. "I mean, nothing's stopping us from using our codenames, 'Mona.'"
"Good point," he giggles, stretching his back. "Still, though, don't you miss getting to see the others? I know I do!"
"It's no big deal," I speak casually, not putting much thought into it.
"What do you mean!?" he talks back, offended, "It's been over two years since you left Tokyo! How can you not care?!"
"We text all the time, remember?" I remind him, wiggling my phone in the air for him to see.
"Oh... right. How could I forget..." Morgana replies with a very sarcastic tone of voice, "I guess I didn't think about texting because I HAVE NO FINGERS TO TEXT WITH."
I laugh with both amusement and regret at having mentioned anything. "Well, it's never too late to catch up. How about you come over here and we can shoot some messages. I'll type out anything you want to say to them."
His eyes light up with sparkles. "Yes! Let's do that!"

---Music: Investigation ~ Opening 2001 ---

Without even thinking about who to choose to text, my mind recognizes that family comes first. I pull up the contact page for Futaba Sakura, who is essentially my little sister. Her bright orange hair, thick glasses, and odd style of hip clothing is unforgettable. With her technical skills and savvy intuition, she was unanimously chosen to be our navigator during our Phantom Thieves activities. She helped us through some of our trickiest mazes and puzzles, both physical and mental. True to her role, her codename was "Oracle."

Akira: Ayyyyy, Futaba.
Akira: Sup?
Futaba: Whooooaaaaa!! Akira! It's been forever!
Akira: I know, right? Sorry I haven't chatted. Been real busy.
Futaba: That's totally ok! I'm just glad to hear from you.
Akira: Morgana wanted to say hi, too. He says he misses you!
Futaba: Awwww!! Give him some big pets for me, ok?
Akira: Will do.
Akira: Before I forget, tell Sojiro I said hello, too.
Futaba: He's right here, actually! He's cooking breakfast.
Futaba: He says, "Tell him I really miss having him around the shop."
Akira: Yeah, I miss him too.
Futaba: He also says, "You better be practicing on your coffee and curry skills, or else."
Akira: Haha.
Futaba: And, he also says, "Get off that blasted phone while we're eating, have some manners, will ya'?"
Futaba: ...
Futaba: Oh he was talking to me with that one.
Futaba: Talk later! Bye!!!

I can't help but grin at their antics. Thinking of those two gives me a deep warmth. The two of them are the closest family I have.
"They never change, huh?" Morgana comments, cracking into a fit of brisk laughter. "Though, we didn't get a chance to ask her what she's been up to lately."
"Her third year probably just started," I recall, as she's the youngest of our group and still in high school. "Hard to believe she's older now than I was during the year I went to Shujin Academy."
"Well, who do we get in touch with next?" Morgana pushes on, more excited than ever.
Next comes Ryuji Sakamoto, the guy who's been there for me since day one of my year in the city. As the local "punk" who dyed his hair blond and embraced his negative image, he was an outcast much like I was, so we naturally gravitated towards one another. The first time we met was also the first time either of us were exposed to that crazy Meta-Nav app, when it installed itself into my phone. It wasn't long after we met Morgana, as well. After one crazy mishap after another, the three of us banded together to take down that abusive teacher.
  Between myself, Morgana, and Ryuji, there wouldn't have been Phantom Thieves at all. No one can beat him when it comes to loyalty and strength of will. Back in the day, he used to go by the codename "Skull."

Akira: Hey, Ryuji, what's up?

---(Music End)---

  A few minutes pass as I continue to get changed and brush my teeth. Nothing happens. I try again.

---Music: My Homie ---

Akira: Ryuji?
Akira: You there?
Ryuji: I am asleep right now, please try again later.

"That sure was well constructed for someone who is asleep..." Morgana skeptically comments.
"Haha. I can tell that he just tapped one of the pre-written responses instead of typing one out himself," I explain. He never was an early bird. I'll try to bother him again some other time, when he's more likely to be awake and functioning.

---(Music End)---

"Ooh! Ooh! Next, let's text Lady Ann!" Morgana picks, with twinkling stars in his eyes.
  With the charm and charisma of a super model, as well as her passionate nature, this blond-haired beauty has had no problem finding herself as the heart of our team. Once we helped her to find her inner courage to stand up for her loved ones, she became an irreplaceable part of our team, and has supported us as a true friend since. Her codename, "Panther," really highlighted her fierce tenacity.

   ---Music: Tokyo Daylight ---

Akira: Hey, Ann. Been a while!
Ann: Hi, Akira-kun!
Ann: What's got you up so early?
Akira: Nothing particular. Just checking up.
Akira: Morgana also wanted to catch up with everyone.
Ann: Mona's reading this? Hi, Morgana!

I can practically see Morgana blushing, and his curved eyebrows and goofy smile perfectly display the affection he holds for Ann. From the beginning, Morgana took a liking to her, and has made a point to support and help her wherever possible. It'd be pointless to deny that he had a crush on her, and still does.

Akira: What have you been doing lately?
Ann: Modeling has picked up, especially now with spring fashion lineups coming out.
Ann: I feel like I'm at a photo shoot every day now.
Akira: Don't push yourself too hard, ok?
Ann: Ahaha, don't worry about me.
Ann: I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't fun.
Ann: That aside, classes have started up, and I like my teachers so far.
Akira: I guess I haven't really talked to anyone about school either.
Akira: Did you get into that college you were looking at?
Ann: Yep! Ryuji and I both got into the same one.

"Ryuji got into college?" Morgana repeated in disbelief, before laughing heartily, "That's a miracle in and of itself. I'm proud of him!"

Akira: Morgana can't believe Ryuji got into college.
Ann: I don't think he can believe it, either.
Ann: And Yusuke got into a different one on the other side of the city.
Ann: We still hang out all the time.
Akira: Glad to hear it!
Akira: It's a shame I had to move back, I would have loved to continue hanging out with you guys.
Ann: Yeah... we all miss you.
Ann: Hey! Why don't we turn this into a group chat?

Before I can even respond, I get a notification that a new multimedia chat has started up. The chat includes me, Ann, Ryuji, and Futaba. On top of that, it includes three more of our friends, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, and Haru Okumura.

Ann: Hey everyone~!
  Ryuji: I am asleep right now, please try again later.
Ann: Huh...?
  Ryuji: I am asleep right now, please try again later.
Akira: His phone must be on auto-respond, just start a new group without him.
Ryuji: I am asleep right now, please try again later.

Ann starts a new chat, excluding Ryuji.

Yusuke: My, if it isn't Akira!
Yusuke: It's good to hear from you my friend.
Akira: Good to hear from you too, Yusuke!
Yusuke: I was just thinking about you, too.
Yusuke: I'm nearing completion on my next work, and I was going to text you photographs of it for your opinions.

Cool and collected, Yusuke burns with the soul of an artist underneath his impeccable manners. He carries quite the presence with his tall stature and deep blue hair, but he can't quite seem to hide the fact that he's a bit naive underneath it all. I blame his unusual upbringing under that corrupt artist--more like con-artist--who tried to take advantage of his talents. But, his skills with a paintbrush are easily matched by his skills with his katana, and there aren't many people I'd trust more than Yusuke to have my back. "Fox" was his codename.

Haru: How delightful! I hope you've been taking care of the plants I sent you.
Akira: Definitely, they are blooming right now.
Haru: Excellent!

Gardening is the most memorable hobby of Haru's, and she's quite good at it. Ever since her CEO father passed away, she has been struggling to find her place in the world while running the huge company he left behind. Though she wasn't initially fit for the cut-throat business world, her charm shined through and won over her father's employees, and soon everyone grew to love the polite and sweet girl with the fuzzy hair and the green thumb. Her codename was graceful and elegant, like her. "Noir" is what she went by.

Makoto: You better have a good explanation for why you've been so quiet lately!!!
Makoto: Just kidding.
Makoto: Have you been doing well?

This is Makoto, who can proudly claim to have been the brains of our operations. She's a year older, and went to college a year before the rest of us who did. Surely enough academia has been a great fit for the class president with the big brain and even bigger heart. But her true motivation lies in her future: Makoto and her sister Sae were both changed by the death of their father in the line of duty as a police officer, and Makoto in particular is determined to become an officer of the law as well. There's a strong sense of justice and an even stronger resolve underneath those bright red eyes of hers. "Queen" was a fitting codename given her authoritative role.

Akira: Hanging in there!
Akira: Doing jobs here and there to keep busy.
Makoto: You aren't going to school still?
Akira: Gap semester.
Yusuke: Always the free spirit.
Ann: You've got a ton of useful skills, you could probably study anything and get a job doing anything.
Akira: Ha, thanks. I'm just getting things settled.
Haru: It's understandable, traditional education isn't always necessary for people like us.
Makoto: You aren't going to school either?!
Haru: I'm taking online courses from an overseas college.
Haru: Running the business is full time, otherwise.
Ann: I didn't realize we had all taken such different paths.
Ann: I had always imagined it's be a clear jump from high school to college.
Yusuke: Such a conforming lifestyle wouldn't fit many of our personalities, I imagine.
Ann: You have a point.

I notice I'm getting a text in the original group, from Ryuji, so I presume we're all moving back to that chat.

---Music: Tokyo Emergency ---

Ryuji: Ok I'm awake! Sorry about that.
Ryuji: Man oh Man, Akira!! How are you, bro?!!
Ann: About time!
Haru: Hello, Ryuji!
Makoto: Looks like the gang's finally all here.
Yusuke: Minus two.
Akira: Futaba is eating right now and can't respond.
Akira: And Morgana is right here with me, contacting all of you was his idea.
Yusuke: Ah! I stand corrected.
Makoto: It's been so long since we've all chatted like this.
Ann: This brings back so many memories!
Ryuji: Why haven't we done this more often?
Ryuji: I guess we're just all busy lately?
Akira: Probably so.
Ryuji: Hey you guys. You seein' the news right now?
Ryuji: Channel 3.
Haru: You watch the news, Ryuji?
Ann: You never struck me as the type to keep up with current events.
Ryuji: I dunno.
Ryuji: After all we did as the Phantom Thieves, and how we trusted care of the world to adults...
Ryuji: I started to really pay attention to how things are going, y'know?
Yusuke: How surprisingly worldly.
Ryuji: But anyway, look at what's on right now.

As suggested, I flip on the small TV in my room and check things out. I seem to have tuned in right in the middle of a report.

---(Music End)---

"...who is a prominent social worker, has been accused of murdering her superior, just this morning. Police investigation is already underway, but one detail has been made clear through interviewing. Those related to the accused through work or business all claim she would never commit murder. Character witnesses have already stepped forth to testify this fact, but the police and prosecution seem confident that they have apprehended the right suspect."

---Music: Suspicion ---

Makoto: A murder?
Haru: How tragic...
Ryuji: Doesn't this sound familiar, though?
Ann: Uh?
Yusuke: What's so special about this case?
Ryuji: It's not the event itself, but a pattern.
Ryuji: A month and a half ago, a campaign manager killed the politician he was working to promote.
Ryuji: Three weeks ago, a foreign ambassador was killed by one of Japan's own diplomatic ambassadors. That one was all over the news!
Ryuji: And then a week ago, a business tycoon was killed by her most trusted subordinate.
Ryuji: Four days ago, another killing, with another politician, this time by their best friend.
Ryuji: And now this...
  Akira: I think I see what you are getting at.
Ryuji: See I knew this guy would get it.
Ryuji: There have been a LOT of deaths lately, that have to do with important people getting killed by someone close to them.
Ryuji: Someone who wouldn't kill them normally.
Ryuji: Fishy, ain't it?

Morgana's jaw is on the floor by this point. "I'm shocked, really. I had no idea a knucklehead like Ryuji could have drawn connections like this. He really isn't as dumb as he used to be!"
Damn. Even after all these years it doesn't seem like Morgana's aggressive rivalry with Ryuji has simmered.

Akira: Morgana says... that he's impressed, Ryuji.
Ryuji: Nice! Even the cat gets it! Of course he'd get it, he's smart too. Sometimes.
Yusuke: Tell me, Ryuji. If there is a pattern here, what do you make of it?
Haru: There's betrayal involved in all of these scenarios, it seems like.
Ryuji: Yeah, that's right.
Makoto: I'm guessing what stood out to you was the thought that these accused people wouldn't kill their friends.
Ryuji: Uh, yeah, I think that's it.
Makoto: Ryuji, are you thinking back to the Metaverse, perhaps?
Ryuji: Well, uh. I wasn't sure.
Haru: This seems different from mental shutdowns.
Yusuke: That being said, the Metaverse no longer exists.
Ryuji: Awww, c'mon you guys. There's something bigger going on here, I just know it.
Ann: I know we all miss our days as Phantom Thieves, but we have to accept that it's over now...
Ryuji: Maybe you're right... I'm over thinking things.

Even if it was just intuition on Ryuji's part, I feel like he's on to something. It has the gears in my head turning, hmm...

---Music: Investigation ~ Middle 2004 ---

Akira: Well hang on a minute.
Akira: We're convinced those things are not related to what we used to do because they haven't involved mental shutdowns.
Yusuke: I suppose so.
Makoto: Mental shutdowns... killing a person's inner shadow and causing them to lose all functionality as their blood leaks from their eyes and mouth...
Haru: Yeah... just remembering how disturbing those looked brings me shivers.
Makoto: Oh gosh! I'm so sorry! I was just thinking! I didn't mean to bring up the memory.
Haru: It's ok. I'm sure that my father found peace before he passed.
Akira: My bad for bringing it up. But, anyway.
Akira: It's not mental shutdowns, but what if it's changes of heart?
Ann: Huh? How could that work?
Akira: Well, let's assume somehow that Cognitive Psience is still being used, somehow.
Akira: I'm just devil's advocating here.
Akira: When we were Phantom Thieves, we discovered that by stealing someone's corrupted desires, we could reform a bad person into a good person.
Akira: But if you think about it, we only learned how to do that by experimenting with Morgana's idea to do so.
Akira: He was the one who suggested stealing the treasures from the cognitive palace could achieve such an outcome.
Akira: We weren't even sure it would work the first time we tried.
Akira: And when it did succeed, we never did any more experimenting because that method was all we needed to achieve our goals and correct criminals.
Akira: But the mind and the heart are incredibly complex.
Akira: What if we only figured out one specific thing that could be done to another's cognition?
Akira: What if there were other methods and other results?
Yusuke: I hadn't considered that.
Haru: How interesting! That's perhaps plausible...
Makoto: You are suggesting that perhaps someone found a way to change someone other than just reforming their heart, yes?
Akira: What I'm considering is, maybe there is a way to alter someone's cognition to make them act in a way they wouldn't normally.
Akira: I'm just throwing ideas at a wall.
Makoto: Your theory is believable, but impossible without the Metaverse unfortunately.
Makoto: Being able to go into the minds of others and to alter their hearts from within is simply too supernatural to be done any other way than the Metaverse.
Ann: Yeah, we definitely destroyed the Metaverse. There shouldn't be any way to alter anyone's mind anymore.

"Yeah, not unless someone is out there mind controlling people by doing that old magician trick where you dangle a pocket watch by a chain and swing it back and forth," Morgana jokes.

Akira: You're probably right.
Ryuji: Guess my hunch was a bust, huh...
Futaba: What'd I miss??
Futaba: Hang on, I'm rereading all of this.
Futaba: Ok, wow, here are my thoughts.
Yusuke: That was fast reading.
Futaba: My mom discovered a whole lot about Cognitive Psience, and I don't think she would have ever reached the Metaverse.
Fubaba: Everything she researched she did in real life, with real means, and there wasn't anything supernatural about it.
Futaba: Not until we all got that crazy Meta-Nav app.
Futaba: Anyway.
Futaba: I wouldn't rule anything out. There's probably still millions of things we don't know about Cognitive Psience.
Ann: I guess, when you think about it, there's no telling how many hands that research has passed through, ever since her research was stolen. Shido probably wasn't the only guy with access to the information she had compiled.
Haru: So, it's actually possible that someone out there could be altering people's minds to cause them to murder people?
Makoto: Hmm...
Makoto: But then the question becomes one of motive.
Makoto: All of the victims Ryuji described seemed to be of some kind of importance, be it social, economic, or political.
Yusuke: That certainly seems more deliberate than random acts of violence.
  Makoto: To what ends would someone be murdering high profile, but otherwise unrelated, individuals?
Akira: L;et'
Akira: s not gfet carrreied awayt

"Morgana, stop clawing at my phone," I laugh, "You can't text well with paws. Just tell me what you want to say."

Akira: Sorry, Morgana tried to jump into the conversation.
Akira: He says, "Let's not get carried away."
Akira: "I know know we're all itching to relive our Phantom Thieves days, but I need to be the mature voice of reason here."
Haru: Hehe, how adorable.
Akira: "Even if there is someone abusing Cognitive Psience, what could we even do about it?"
Akira: "The Metaverse is gone, and with it so is our ability to use Persona or our other abilities."
Futaba: That's... a good point.
Akira: "Basically, we have no means to do anything about it even if there is something sinister going on."
Yusuke: How dreadfully pessimistic.

"This sure is a different sounding stance than you had when we were talking a little bit ago, when you were super nostalgic for the Phantom Thieves," I point out.
"I know. I would love to go back to our old ways of fighting crime and helping people. But, we have to be realistic here," Morgana explains, with quite noticeable disappointment in his voice.
Heh. Even though Morgana can act like a kid at times, he really does have the capacity for mature thinking. "Either way, I have more to say, keep typing!"

Akira: "There's a bright side, though!"
Akira: "Remember what Makoto's sister said?"
Akira: "She told us that it's the adult's turn to stand up and do the right thing, and to leave things in her hands."
Akira: "And what did she do immediately after? Convict Shido for his crimes, AND get Akira's old criminal record cleared!"
Makoto: Sis... she's done so much for us.
Akira: "And she's sharp as a tack, too."
Akira: "Before she knew the truth about us, she was tracking and investigating the Phantom Thieves like a bloodhound, even when her superiors told her not to."
Akira: "Her intuition's much better than Ryuji's."
Ryuji: You're asking for it!!
Makoto: That's true. Sis has really been on top of things.
Makoto: Now that I think about it, I think she was even researching the case you mentioned earlier, with the politician from a few months back.
Akira: "We have allies we can depend on, is what I'm saying."
Akira: "Before we get carried away, let's just see how things play out."

---(Music End)---

Futaba: We should shelve this talk for later.
Futaba: I have to get ready for school now.
Ann: Man, this chat has really stirred up old memories.
Ryuji: Tell me about it. I can practically imagine us sitting around a table at our old hideout.
Haru: I'm just delighted we were all able to talk once more. We should get together like this more often!
Makoto: Be sure and take your studies seriously, everyone.

"That wrapped up at a pretty good time," Morgana concludes, "You should probably get going to that interview now."
"Right you are," I agree, "Take care of the place for me while I'm gone."
"Sure thing, Joker!" he smiles, giving the closest thing to a salute that he can accomplish with his cat arms.
With that, I'm out the door and off to the train station.

  To be continued...

  ---(Music End)---

  ---Music: Victory ---

Would you like to save your game?

    Yes No

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April 9th, 7:00 am
   Akira Kurusu's Appartment

---Music: Beneath the Mask (Instrumental) ---

"You know, sleeping in every once in a while is good for you, too," I hear Morgana suggest as I open my groggy eyes.
I smile as I swing my legs off the side of my bed and stand up, wishing deep down that I could follow his advice. "I guess I'm just too conditioned to waking up early," I joke.
Morgana licks his wrist habitually. "The life and struggles of a former student, huh..."
I guess I should mention that Morgana is my talking cat. "I'm not a cat!" I can perfectly imagine him shout in response, though I guess by now he's stopped making that assertion. After living as a cat for basically the entire time I've known him, he's probably used to it.
His movements are certainly feline, and I watch him as he cat-walks across the edge of my bed frame. After a few moments of quiet, he suddenly shudders with nervous energy. "I can't believe how... NORMAL everything has been, lately. Don't you ever wish we could go back to the excitement of the good old days?"
I turn on my phone screen and navigate to the calendar to check the date. April 9th, 2019. "Hmm," I hum, gathering my thoughts a bit more before coming up with a response, "I suppose it has been a long time. Christmas of 2016 was the last time we ever entered the Metaverse..."
"It's a real shame the Metaverse no longer exists," Morgana sighs, disheartened.
The conversation is enough to bring back a flood of mixed memories, both good and bad. It's true, everything was more exciting back then. I remember how I met my friends, how we used to plan our actions. I remember our rule to only choose a target who we all agreed on. I still remember the late nights spent crafting lock picks and other tools for infiltration. I remember the pulse-pounding break-ins, the dynamic struggles against monstrous foes... I still remember sneaking into palaces more decorated and absurd than my wildest dreams. Palaces both grand and magnificent, but warped and twisted. There's nothing more fantastic and unbelievable than what someone else's world view looks like. Using the Meta-Nav app on our phones, we were able to enter the world inside other people's heads, and from within their own mind we had the ability to change the hearts of criminals and all-around jerks to make them want to genuinely atone for their misdeeds. Living in the shadows, but making the world a better place by making evil-doers repent: that was what it meant to be part of the Phantom Thieves.
But, the fact of the matter is, that meta-physical world of cognition no longer exists. One of the hardest decisions we ever made as a group was to destroy the Metaverse. The choice was between a world of apathy and mental slavery to the shackles of mob-mentality and societal sensationalism, or a world where the people can think for themselves, and be free in their thoughts and actions... a world where the Phantom Thieves are no longer able to act. Perhaps, a world where the Phantom Thieves are no longer needed.
I shrug. "Well, that part of our lives has ended. No use worrying any more about it," I reason, trying not to let the emotional weight of nostalgia bring me down.
He seems to trail off in his inner thoughts for a bit, but then he shakes his head. "Eh. I just can't get used to it. I know Akira is your name, but 'Joker' fits you so much better, in my opinion!"
By now I'm getting dressed, so the laugh his comment elicits is muffled by the shirt that I'm putting on that is currently around my head. "I mean, nothing's stopping us from using our codenames, 'Mona.'"
"Good point," he giggles, stretching his back. "Still, though, don't you miss getting to see the others? I know I do!"
"It's no big deal," I speak casually, not putting much thought into it.
"What do you mean!?" he talks back, offended, "It's been over two years since you left Tokyo! How can you not care?!"
"We text all the time, remember?" I remind him, wiggling my phone in the air for him to see.
"Oh... right. How could I forget..." Morgana replies with a very sarcastic tone of voice, "I guess I didn't think about texting because I HAVE NO FINGERS TO TEXT WITH."
I laugh with both amusement and regret at having mentioned anything. "Well, it's never too late to catch up. How about you come over here and we can shoot some messages. I'll type out anything you want to say to them."
His eyes light up with sparkles. "Yes! Let's do that!"

---Music: Investigation ~ Opening 2001 ---

Without even thinking about who to choose to text, my mind recognizes that family comes first. I pull up the contact page for Futaba Sakura, who is essentially my little sister. Her bright orange hair, thick glasses, and odd style of hip clothing is unforgettable. With her technical skills and savvy intuition, she was unanimously chosen to be our navigator during our Phantom Thieves activities. She helped us through some of our trickiest mazes and puzzles, both physical and mental. True to her role, her codename was "Oracle."

Akira: Ayyyyy, Futaba.
Akira: Sup?
Futaba: Whooooaaaaa!! Akira! It's been forever!
Akira: I know, right? Sorry I haven't chatted. Been real busy.
Futaba: That's totally ok! I'm just glad to hear from you.
Akira: Morgana wanted to say hi, too. He says he misses you!
Futaba: Awwww!! Give him some big pets for me, ok?
Akira: Will do.
Akira: Before I forget, tell Sojiro I said hello, too.
Futaba: He's right here, actually! He's cooking breakfast.
Futaba: He says, "Tell him I really miss having him around the shop."
Akira: Yeah, I miss him too.
Futaba: He also says, "You better be practicing on your coffee and curry skills, or else."
Akira: Haha.
Futaba: And, he also says, "Get off that blasted phone while we're eating, have some manners, will ya'?"
Futaba: ...
Futaba: Oh he was talking to me with that one.
Futaba: Talk later! Bye!!!

I can't help but grin at their antics. Thinking of those two gives me a deep warmth. The two of them are the closest family I have.
"They never change, huh?" Morgana comments, cracking into a fit of brisk laughter. "Though, we didn't get a chance to ask her what she's been up to lately."
"Her third year probably just started," I recall, as she's the youngest of our group and still in high school. "Hard to believe she's older now than I was during the year I went to Shujin Academy."
"Well, who do we get in touch with next?" Morgana pushes on, more excited than ever.
Next comes Ryuji Sakamoto, the guy who's been there for me since day one of my year in the city. As the local "punk" who dyed his hair blond and embraced his negative image, he was an outcast much like I was, so we naturally gravitated towards one another. The first time we met was also the first time either of us were exposed to that crazy Meta-Nav app, when it installed itself into my phone. It wasn't long after we met Morgana, as well. After one crazy mishap after another, the three of us banded together to take down that abusive teacher.
  Between myself, Morgana, and Ryuji, there wouldn't have been Phantom Thieves at all. No one can beat him when it comes to loyalty and strength of will. Back in the day, he used to go by the codename "Skull."

Akira: Hey, Ryuji, what's up?

---(Music End)---

  A few minutes pass as I continue to get changed and brush my teeth. Nothing happens. I try again.

---Music: My Homie ---

Akira: Ryuji?
Akira: You there?
Ryuji: I am asleep right now, please try again later.

"That sure was well constructed for someone who is asleep..." Morgana skeptically comments.
"Haha. I can tell that he just tapped one of the pre-written responses instead of typing one out himself," I explain. He never was an early bird. I'll try to bother him again some other time, when he's more likely to be awake and functioning.

---(Music End)---

"Ooh! Ooh! Next, let's text Lady Ann!" Morgana picks, with twinkling stars in his eyes.
  With the charm and charisma of a super model, as well as her passionate nature, this blond-haired beauty has had no problem finding herself as the heart of our team. Once we helped her to find her inner courage to stand up for her loved ones, she became an irreplaceable part of our team, and has supported us as a true friend since. Her codename, "Panther," really highlighted her fierce tenacity.

   ---Music: Tokyo Daylight ---

Akira: Hey, Ann. Been a while!
Ann: Hi, Akira-kun!
Ann: What's got you up so early?
Akira: Nothing particular. Just checking up.
Akira: Morgana also wanted to catch up with everyone.
Ann: Mona's reading this? Hi, Morgana!

I can practically see Morgana blushing, and his curved eyebrows and goofy smile perfectly display the affection he holds for Ann. From the beginning, Morgana took a liking to her, and has made a point to support and help her wherever possible. It'd be pointless to deny that he had a crush on her, and still does.

Akira: What have you been doing lately?
Ann: Modeling has picked up, especially now with spring fashion lineups coming out.
Ann: I feel like I'm at a photo shoot every day now.
Akira: Don't push yourself too hard, ok?
Ann: Ahaha, don't worry about me.
Ann: I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't fun.
Ann: That aside, classes have started up, and I like my teachers so far.
Akira: I guess I haven't really talked to anyone about school either.
Akira: Did you get into that college you were looking at?
Ann: Yep! Ryuji and I both got into the same one.

"Ryuji got into college?" Morgana repeated in disbelief, before laughing heartily, "That's a miracle in and of itself. I'm proud of him!"

Akira: Morgana can't believe Ryuji got into college.
Ann: I don't think he can believe it, either.
Ann: And Yusuke got into a different one on the other side of the city.
Ann: We still hang out all the time.
Akira: Glad to hear it!
Akira: It's a shame I had to move back, I would have loved to continue hanging out with you guys.
Ann: Yeah... we all miss you.
Ann: Hey! Why don't we turn this into a group chat?

Before I can even respond, I get a notification that a new multimedia chat has started up. The chat includes me, Ann, Ryuji, and Futaba. On top of that, it includes three more of our friends, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, and Haru Okumura.

Ann: Hey everyone~!
  Ryuji: I am asleep right now, please try again later.
Ann: Huh...?
  Ryuji: I am asleep right now, please try again later.
Akira: His phone must be on auto-respond, just start a new group without him.
Ryuji: I am asleep right now, please try again later.

Ann starts a new chat, excluding Ryuji.

Yusuke: My, if it isn't Akira!
Yusuke: It's good to hear from you my friend.
Akira: Good to hear from you too, Yusuke!
Yusuke: I was just thinking about you, too.
Yusuke: I'm nearing completion on my next work, and I was going to text you photographs of it for your opinions.

Cool and collected, Yusuke burns with the soul of an artist underneath his impeccable manners. He carries quite the presence with his tall stature and deep blue hair, but he can't quite seem to hide the fact that he's a bit naive underneath it all. I blame his unusual upbringing under that corrupt artist--more like con-artist--who tried to take advantage of his talents. But, his skills with a paintbrush are easily matched by his skills with his katana, and there aren't many people I'd trust more than Yusuke to have my back. "Fox" was his codename.

Haru: How delightful! I hope you've been taking care of the plants I sent you.
Akira: Definitely, they are blooming right now.
Haru: Excellent!

Gardening is the most memorable hobby of Haru's, and she's quite good at it. Ever since her CEO father passed away, she has been struggling to find her place in the world while running the huge company he left behind. Though she wasn't initially fit for the cut-throat business world, her charm shined through and won over her father's employees, and soon everyone grew to love the polite and sweet girl with the fuzzy hair and the green thumb. Her codename was graceful and elegant, like her. "Noir" is what she went by.

Makoto: You better have a good explanation for why you've been so quiet lately!!!
Makoto: Just kidding.
Makoto: Have you been doing well?

This is Makoto, who can proudly claim to have been the brains of our operations. She's a year older, and went to college a year before the rest of us who did. Surely enough academia has been a great fit for the class president with the big brain and even bigger heart. But her true motivation lies in her future: Makoto and her sister Sae were both changed by the death of their father in the line of duty as a police officer, and Makoto in particular is determined to become an officer of the law as well. There's a strong sense of justice and an even stronger resolve underneath those bright red eyes of hers. "Queen" was a fitting codename given her authoritative role.

Akira: Hanging in there!
Akira: Doing jobs here and there to keep busy.
Makoto: You aren't going to school still?
Akira: Gap semester.
Yusuke: Always the free spirit.
Ann: You've got a ton of useful skills, you could probably study anything and get a job doing anything.
Akira: Ha, thanks. I'm just getting things settled.
Haru: It's understandable, traditional education isn't always necessary for people like us.
Makoto: You aren't going to school either?!
Haru: I'm taking online courses from an overseas college.
Haru: Running the business is full time, otherwise.
Ann: I didn't realize we had all taken such different paths.
Ann: I had always imagined it's be a clear jump from high school to college.
Yusuke: Such a conforming lifestyle wouldn't fit many of our personalities, I imagine.
Ann: You have a point.

I notice I'm getting a text in the original group, from Ryuji, so I presume we're all moving back to that chat.

---Music: Tokyo Emergency ---

Ryuji: Ok I'm awake! Sorry about that.
Ryuji: Man oh Man, Akira!! How are you, bro?!!
Ann: About time!
Haru: Hello, Ryuji!
Makoto: Looks like the gang's finally all here.
Yusuke: Minus two.
Akira: Futaba is eating right now and can't respond.
Akira: And Morgana is right here with me, contacting all of you was his idea.
Yusuke: Ah! I stand corrected.
Makoto: It's been so long since we've all chatted like this.
Ann: This brings back so many memories!
Ryuji: Why haven't we done this more often?
Ryuji: I guess we're just all busy lately?
Akira: Probably so.
Ryuji: Hey you guys. You seein' the news right now?
Ryuji: Channel 3.
Haru: You watch the news, Ryuji?
Ann: You never struck me as the type to keep up with current events.
Ryuji: I dunno.
Ryuji: After all we did as the Phantom Thieves, and how we trusted care of the world to adults...
Ryuji: I started to really pay attention to how things are going, y'know?
Yusuke: How surprisingly worldly.
Ryuji: But anyway, look at what's on right now.

As suggested, I flip on the small TV in my room and check things out. I seem to have tuned in right in the middle of a report.

---(Music End)---

"...who is a prominent social worker, has been accused of murdering her superior, just this morning. Police investigation is already underway, but one detail has been made clear through interviewing. Those related to the accused through work or business all claim she would never commit murder. Character witnesses have already stepped forth to testify this fact, but the police and prosecution seem confident that they have apprehended the right suspect."

---Music: Suspicion ---

Makoto: A murder?
Haru: How tragic...
Ryuji: Doesn't this sound familiar, though?
Ann: Uh?
Yusuke: What's so special about this case?
Ryuji: It's not the event itself, but a pattern.
Ryuji: A month and a half ago, a campaign manager killed the politician he was working to promote.
Ryuji: Three weeks ago, a foreign ambassador was killed by one of Japan's own diplomatic ambassadors. That one was all over the news!
Ryuji: And then a week ago, a business tycoon was killed by her most trusted subordinate.
Ryuji: Four days ago, another killing, with another politician, this time by their best friend.
Ryuji: And now this...
  Akira: I think I see what you are getting at.
Ryuji: See I knew this guy would get it.
Ryuji: There have been a LOT of deaths lately, that have to do with important people getting killed by someone close to them.
Ryuji: Someone who wouldn't kill them normally.
Ryuji: Fishy, ain't it?

Morgana's jaw is on the floor by this point. "I'm shocked, really. I had no idea a knucklehead like Ryuji could have drawn connections like this. He really isn't as dumb as he used to be!"
Damn. Even after all these years it doesn't seem like Morgana's aggressive rivalry with Ryuji has simmered.

Akira: Morgana says... that he's impressed, Ryuji.
Ryuji: Nice! Even the cat gets it! Of course he'd get it, he's smart too. Sometimes.
Yusuke: Tell me, Ryuji. If there is a pattern here, what do you make of it?
Haru: There's betrayal involved in all of these scenarios, it seems like.
Ryuji: Yeah, that's right.
Makoto: I'm guessing what stood out to you was the thought that these accused people wouldn't kill their friends.
Ryuji: Uh, yeah, I think that's it.
Makoto: Ryuji, are you thinking back to the Metaverse, perhaps?
Ryuji: Well, uh. I wasn't sure.
Haru: This seems different from mental shutdowns.
Yusuke: That being said, the Metaverse no longer exists.
Ryuji: Awww, c'mon you guys. There's something bigger going on here, I just know it.
Ann: I know we all miss our days as Phantom Thieves, but we have to accept that it's over now...
Ryuji: Maybe you're right... I'm over thinking things.

Even if it was just intuition on Ryuji's part, I feel like he's on to something. It has the gears in my head turning, hmm...

---Music: Investigation ~ Middle 2004 ---

Akira: Well hang on a minute.
Akira: We're convinced those things are not related to what we used to do because they haven't involved mental shutdowns.
Yusuke: I suppose so.
Makoto: Mental shutdowns... killing a person's inner shadow and causing them to lose all functionality as their blood leaks from their eyes and mouth...
Haru: Yeah... just remembering how disturbing those looked brings me shivers.
Makoto: Oh gosh! I'm so sorry! I was just thinking! I didn't mean to bring up the memory.
Haru: It's ok. I'm sure that my father found peace before he passed.
Akira: My bad for bringing it up. But, anyway.
Akira: It's not mental shutdowns, but what if it's changes of heart?
Ann: Huh? How could that work?
Akira: Well, let's assume somehow that Cognitive Psience is still being used, somehow.
Akira: I'm just devil's advocating here.
Akira: When we were Phantom Thieves, we discovered that by stealing someone's corrupted desires, we could reform a bad person into a good person.
Akira: But if you think about it, we only learned how to do that by experimenting with Morgana's idea to do so.
Akira: He was the one who suggested stealing the treasures from the cognitive palace could achieve such an outcome.
Akira: We weren't even sure it would work the first time we tried.
Akira: And when it did succeed, we never did any more experimenting because that method was all we needed to achieve our goals and correct criminals.
Akira: But the mind and the heart are incredibly complex.
Akira: What if we only figured out one specific thing that could be done to another's cognition?
Akira: What if there were other methods and other results?
Yusuke: I hadn't considered that.
Haru: How interesting! That's perhaps plausible...
Makoto: You are suggesting that perhaps someone found a way to change someone other than just reforming their heart, yes?
Akira: What I'm considering is, maybe there is a way to alter someone's cognition to make them act in a way they wouldn't normally.
Akira: I'm just throwing ideas at a wall.
Makoto: Your theory is believable, but impossible without the Metaverse unfortunately.
Makoto: Being able to go into the minds of others and to alter their hearts from within is simply too supernatural to be done any other way than the Metaverse.
Ann: Yeah, we definitely destroyed the Metaverse. There shouldn't be any way to alter anyone's mind anymore.

"Yeah, not unless someone is out there mind controlling people by doing that old magician trick where you dangle a pocket watch by a chain and swing it back and forth," Morgana jokes.

Akira: You're probably right.
Ryuji: Guess my hunch was a bust, huh...
Futaba: What'd I miss??
Futaba: Hang on, I'm rereading all of this.
Futaba: Ok, wow, here are my thoughts.
Yusuke: That was fast reading.
Futaba: My mom discovered a whole lot about Cognitive Psience, and I don't think she would have ever reached the Metaverse.
Fubaba: Everything she researched she did in real life, with real means, and there wasn't anything supernatural about it.
Futaba: Not until we all got that crazy Meta-Nav app.
Futaba: Anyway.
Futaba: I wouldn't rule anything out. There's probably still millions of things we don't know about Cognitive Psience.
Ann: I guess, when you think about it, there's no telling how many hands that research has passed through, ever since her research was stolen. Shido probably wasn't the only guy with access to the information she had compiled.
Haru: So, it's actually possible that someone out there could be altering people's minds to cause them to murder people?
Makoto: Hmm...
Makoto: But then the question becomes one of motive.
Makoto: All of the victims Ryuji described seemed to be of some kind of importance, be it social, economic, or political.
Yusuke: That certainly seems more deliberate than random acts of violence.
  Makoto: To what ends would someone be murdering high profile, but otherwise unrelated, individuals?
Akira: L;et'
Akira: s not gfet carrreied awayt

"Morgana, stop clawing at my phone," I laugh, "You can't text well with paws. Just tell me what you want to say."

Akira: Sorry, Morgana tried to jump into the conversation.
Akira: He says, "Let's not get carried away."
Akira: "I know know we're all itching to relive our Phantom Thieves days, but I need to be the mature voice of reason here."
Haru: Hehe, how adorable.
Akira: "Even if there is someone abusing Cognitive Psience, what could we even do about it?"
Akira: "The Metaverse is gone, and with it so is our ability to use Persona or our other abilities."
Futaba: That's... a good point.
Akira: "Basically, we have no means to do anything about it even if there is something sinister going on."
Yusuke: How dreadfully pessimistic.

"This sure is a different sounding stance than you had when we were talking a little bit ago, when you were super nostalgic for the Phantom Thieves," I point out.
"I know. I would love to go back to our old ways of fighting crime and helping people. But, we have to be realistic here," Morgana explains, with quite noticeable disappointment in his voice.
Heh. Even though Morgana can act like a kid at times, he really does have the capacity for mature thinking. "Either way, I have more to say, keep typing!"

Akira: "There's a bright side, though!"
Akira: "Remember what Makoto's sister said?"
Akira: "She told us that it's the adult's turn to stand up and do the right thing, and to leave things in her hands."
Akira: "And what did she do immediately after? Convict Shido for his crimes, AND get Akira's old criminal record cleared!"
Makoto: Sis... she's done so much for us.
Akira: "And she's sharp as a tack, too."
Akira: "Before she knew the truth about us, she was tracking and investigating the Phantom Thieves like a bloodhound, even when her superiors told her not to."
Akira: "Her intuition's much better than Ryuji's."
Ryuji: You're asking for it!!
Makoto: That's true. Sis has really been on top of things.
Makoto: Now that I think about it, I think she was even researching the case you mentioned earlier, with the politician from a few months back.
Akira: "We have allies we can depend on, is what I'm saying."
Akira: "Before we get carried away, let's just see how things play out."

---(Music End)---

Futaba: We should shelve this talk for later.
Futaba: I have to get ready for school now.
Ann: Man, this chat has really stirred up old memories.
Ryuji: Tell me about it. I can practically imagine us sitting around a table at our old hideout.
Haru: I'm just delighted we were all able to talk once more. We should get together like this more often!
Makoto: Be sure and take your studies seriously, everyone.

"That wrapped up at a pretty good time," Morgana concludes, "You should probably get going to that interview now."
"Right you are," I agree, "Take care of the place for me while I'm gone."
"Sure thing, Joker!" he smiles, giving the closest thing to a salute that he can accomplish with his cat arms.
With that, I'm out the door and off to the train station.

  To be continued...

  ---(Music End)---

  ---Music: Victory ---

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