Family gathering

Yusuke passed out as soon as they left the Metaverse. Ann looked at him.

"What now?"

"Now, we take him to Takemi's clinic." Ren sighed. "His medical checkup is well overdue."

Even though he was taller than any of them, it was frightening how light the teenage artist was. Sadayo was surprised he wasn't all skin and bones. Ren carried him on his back, even though Ryuji offered to relieve him.

"I've carried hiking bags that were heavier than him." Ren grumbled. "Madarame needs to go down, if only so Yusuke can be taken by someone who'll give him a semblance of normal life."

"Mom and Dad could take him in." Akiko offered. "Mom would become his new mentor, Dad could be his guardian and they'd help him recover. He would be safe with us. Really."

"You'll have to ask them first." Morgana frowned. "This isn't a decision you can take alone. By the way, aren't you tired, Akiko-chan?"

"Not that much. I could go for a nap, maybe half an hour, but that's it. Unlike him, I'm healthy."

"And tough enough you don't need a Persona to kill a Shadow." Ann mumbled. "I still got this stuck in my throat. Guess you and Ren are more alike personality-wise than physically…"

"Yup. Big Brother, Mom and I all got a temper. Big Brother and Mom are just better at keeping it in check. Me? Not so much."

Ryuji snorted. Akiko turned to Morgana.

"Speaking of, did you just talk?"

"Yeah. Anyone who went to the Metaverse can understand me. Regular people just hear mewls."

"Oh. So, since I went with you in the Palace, I can understand what you say."

"Yes, and Yusuke could do it too if he wasn't unconscious."

Takemi didn't have customers right now. In fact, now Ren thought about it, her clientele seemed rather limited. When she saw Yusuke, she gave the group a pointed glare.

"I'm almost afraid to ask what happened to you, so I won't. What's the problem?"

"Complete checkup." Ren said curtly. "He hasn't seen a doctor in years. Also, we think he suffers from starvation to an extent."

"I will be the judge on that, but simply by looking at him, you may be right: he has the telltale signs of anemia."

They decided to wait at the entrance. Takemi went to see them sometime later.

"How is he?" Sadayo asked.

Takemi grumbled.

"You were right about starvation. He is way lighter than someone his age should be. He also suffers from anemia, and I noticed the onset of thiamine deficiency."

The Thieves all cringed.

"His caretaker is neglectful." Sadayo explained. "He has made clear to us he hardly eats his share."

"Then it will have to change. I hooked him to an IV drip. He is extremely tired right now, so I suggest you take him somewhere quiet where he won't be disturbed. Here, I made a list for his diet, as well as a few medicines to boost his body at the beginning of the treatment."

"I'll have Mom and Dad take care of it." Akiko offered. "In fact, I'm calling them right away."

The Sugimura arrived half an hour later. Yusuke was still asleep. Yugiri frowned and looked at Ren.

"We got the evidence you sent us. Hinode was right. With this, we'll soon have a solid case to present to the court. Madarame's time will come sooner than he thinks…"

"And now, I need you to take care of Yusuke while he recovers. Can you do it?"

Hikaru smiled.

"Actually, I was thinking of inviting all of you for dinner tonight."

Everyone perked up.

"Where?"

"At home."

The Thieves looked at one another.

"Will do. I just need to warn Sojiro first."

Sojiro, as expected, had nothing to say. Before they left, Takemi called Ren.

"By the way, my little guinea pig, I just finished refining the medicine. Tell me when you're available to test it."

"Got it."

The rest of the Thieves gave him a look. Ren shrugged.

"How do you think I got the medicine on discount?"

"I hope for the both of you this is nothing illegal." Sadayo said coldly.

Ren shrugged.

"Perfectly legal. The remedy is at the stage where it's safe to test on humans Besides, she and her former superior are at odds and we're refining the medicine as a way to thumb our nose at him."

Sadayo quietly nodded and turned to Takemi with a beaming smile.

"Doctor? One last thing before we leave. I am Ren's homeroom teacher. If anything bad happens to him during those tests… you'll have to answer to me. Got it?"

The doctor looked at Ren and raised a brow. Ren shrugged helplessly. Tae sighed.

"Nothing bad will happen, Madam. I am better than that."

"You better. I don't joke when it comes to my kids' safety."

As they climbed in the car, Ren sighed.

"That was unnecessary."

"It was just a warning."

Ren shook his head. The Sugimura, having expected passengers, had taken the limo. Ann held Yusuke's IV drip during the trip to the apartment. Once there, Hikaru led them to the guest room and tied the drip to a pants hanger. The bed was king-sized and really comfortable. The young artist's sleep would be sound.

Ren looked around. It was the first time he went to his mother's home, and it made him curious.

The apartment occupied the entire floor. The living room was huge, with a circular pit in the middle, four sets of stairs and a table rising from the ground. The sleeping rooms were on the left. Closest to the entrance was Yugiri and Hikaru's, with Akiko's between her parents' and the guest room. The kitchen wasn't a room but a half-walled place opposite of the sleeping rooms. Finally, the bathroom was at the upper right corner, and quite large of surface. There were a few potted plants and a balcony spanning between the kitchen and the bathroom. Ren didn't notice any furniture.

"It's mostly in our rooms." Akiko explained. "Mom likes having the living room as free as possible, so bookshelves and the likes are elsewhere."

"It looks open. And rather comfortable, too."

There were sofas cushioned with black leather in the pit. The table was large enough that they could seat in it and dine comfortably.

Finally, hanging above was a crystal chandelier. The ambient setting was black, white and green, with the brown of the fake lath on the ground.

"It looks nice." Ann smiled.

Then she saw the painting. It was hanging proudly on the door to Akiko's room, the light from the balcony's patio door falling right on it. The Thieves gathered around it.

"So, this is the painting Yusuke made about Akiko and Ren." Sadayo hummed. "It is indeed beautiful."

"I like how they contrast each other." Ann smiled. "Ren is all in monochrome shades while Akiko's all made in warm colors. Then you have Morgana in the middle, black and white, yellow and blue."

"Dude, I can even tell what's written in the cherry branches! He's really good!"

"No wonder Madarame wanted the painting to himself." Morgana smiled. "This is indeed a masterpiece."

Ren didn't speak. Instead, he observed his and Akiko's faces, comparing not just the colors but the techniques, the gentleness used to depict his face and the swift energy used for Akiko. Yusuke was indeed skilled.

"There's something I have been wondering." Hikaru mused. "The cherry blossoms read Once upon a time, which is a common beginning of fairy tales…"

"Big Brother was telling me a story when Yusuke caught us. It was a nice story."

"So, this is as I thought. The painting depicts a scene that actually happened." He turned to Ren. "You told Akiko a fairy tale? May we hear it as well?"

"Why don't we do it at the table?" Yugiri smiled. "Dinner's ready."

Ren cast the Thieves a quick look. They wouldn't take long to figure what his tale was based on. He just hoped they would wait until after they left to ask for explanation. Sae was, so far, the only non-Persona user aware of the Metaverse's existence. He intended to keep it so.

The Thieves and the Sugimura gathered around the table. Yugiri, as the hostess, had set the covers and brought the dishes. Ren grinned at the sight. The menu followed the traditional ichiju sansai: one soup, three dishes. Everyone had their platter. Along with the classical miso soup and rice, his mother had made namasu – thinly-sliced vegetables and seafood marinated in rice vinegar, pork teriyaki and nikujaga, a beef and potato stew with sweet soy. It smelled good and, as he found out, tasted even better. Everyone dug in the dishes with gusto, Ryuji and Sadayo especially happy to eat something different from takeout.

At Hikaru's urging, Ren told his tale once more. Everyone listened, Akiko grinning from ear to ear as she already knew it. Morgana shook his head. He knew exactly what the teen's tale was about, and his focus was on the other Thieves as they listened, wondering when they would figure it out. Surprisingly enough, Ryuji was first, followed by Sadayo and Ann.

"Later." He softly mewled them. "Once we're out."

Yugiri nodded.

"Nice story. It sounds like a genuine fairy tale. What inspired it?"

Ren shrugged.

"I just came up with it."

Ann gave him a side-glance and mouthed "Liar." No one noticed.

The sound of a rumbling stomach interrupted them. Everyone turned to see Yusuke standing at a distance, watching the group as he held the empty IV bag. Sadayo smiled.

"Awake at last. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes." Yusuke's voice had a slight strain. "Where am I?"

"At the Sugimuras' house. We took you there after we brought you to the doctor."

Yusuke nodded. Hikaru took him to the bathroom to remove the IV and apply a band aid. In the meantime, Yugiri went to get a bowl of rice and soup for him. The artist watched the group. Akiko, Ren, Ryuji, Ann, Sadayo, Yugiri and Hikaru. He was offered a seat between Ren and Ryuji and sipped the soup with a grateful smile on his face. It was only miso, but it was still great in his book.

"Ho do you feel?" Ren asked softly.

"Drained. There isn't an ounce of energy left in my body. Was awakening to your Persona so exhausting to you as well, or did my poor health aggravate it?" Yusuke sighed. "In any case, I understand why you don't wish to see Akiko undergo the process. It is gruesome to say the least."

The Thieves froze simultaneously as Yugiri and Hikaru turned to them.

"…What is he talking about?"

Several particularly creative swear words crossed Ryuji's mind as Sadayo made a pained face. Ann looked like a deer in the headlights while Ren looked downright embarrassed.

"You weren't supposed to hear about that… At all. That is our big secret, and we have a lot of reasons to keep it so. In fact, aside from us, Akiko and another person working with us are the only ones who know about it."

"Secret or not, Akiko got involved." Yugiri said harshly. "As her parents, we have the right to know what's going on, especially since it looks dangerous."

Ren looked at the other Thieves.

"Do we tell them?"

"It's not like we have a choice." Sadayo sighed. "Besides, it is true that their daughter got caught along, although it was an accident."

Ryuji, Ann and Morgana nodded.

"I don't like it." The feline frowned. "But Sensei is right. I doubt the Sugimura will let us out until we tell them everything."

So, reluctantly, the Phantom Thieves told the family about the Metaverse and their activities. Hikaru quietly nodded. As for Yugiri, she looked thoughtful.

"So, the Metaverse is a place where the collective beliefs of mankind take on a real shape, and just like it is affected by real life events, one can use it to affect people in the real world… No wonder you want to keep it a secret. I can think of many ways people could use this place for evil."

"As a matter of fact, we think the nervous breakdowns and mental shutdowns are due to another Persona user, only he's using his powers to commit crimes."

Hikaru hummed.

"You said you stumbled upon the Metaverse during your first day at school. The mental shutdowns started two years earlier, and at this time, you were still living in Tataraba. You have a watertight alibi."

"The other person who knows about the Metaverse is Sae Niijima, the prosecutor." Ren explained. "We took her to Mementos and offered to collaborate, with us providing knowledge of the Metaverse while she helps make sure our targets end behind the bars."

"Which brings me to my second worry." Akiko's father frowned deeply. "Basically, what you are doing is altering someone's mind against their will. This is brainwashing. No matter how just the cause is… To temper someone's mind against their will is a crime. Are you aware of it? It's true that you only target criminals, but your methods are more than a little morally ambiguous, and it doesn't help that you are relying on perfectly mundane means to hide the Metaverse's existence – means that would get your targets brought to justice sooner or later."

Hikaru's glare was harsh. The Thieves began to feel nervous.

"What you are doing is seriously questionable morality-wise, and the mundane means you use mean you don't actually need the Metaverse. Knowing that, why would you keep using it?"

The Thieves looked at one another. Hikaru was raising a perfectly valid point. They didn't answer right away, and Hikaru didn't press them. He could tell they were thinking on it, and he was curious to hear their answer. Eventually, Yugiri left to get the daifuku, glutinous rice balls filled with sweet red bean paste. Yusuke's eyes lit up.

As he chewed on the pastry, Ren mulled over Hikaru's words. An answer eventually came to his mind.

"…And then what?"

"Sorry?"

Ren looked at the man. Hikaru returned his gaze.

"And then what?" The teen repeated. "Let's say we successfully incriminated Kamoshida – or even Madarame – without the use of the Metaverse. What do you think happens next?"

"They face their punishment and go in prison."

"No. Not them. For a very simple reason: these people are powerful. They have money, they have fame, and they have connections." Ren's gaze hardened. "They are incriminated and pass before a tribunal. Kamoshida is an Olympic athlete who's close friend with the Principal of Shujin. Connection and fame. What stops him from calling Kobayakawa for help, to pull some strings to have his sentence lessened or be outright proven innocent? After all, this is the word of a famous athlete against a bunch of teenagers. Who is the jury going to believe? Then, Madarame. He has money, he has connections, and he has fame. All three. Put him before a judge and try guessing what's going to happen once he pulls some strings…"

Hikaru winced.

"Right, you have to account for corruption in the system. It is unfortunately common in politics, and I admit this is one of the reasons the political world never interested me."

Ren crossed his arms.

"I'm not done yet. Let's say somehow Kamoshida and Madarame get successfully incriminated and end in prison. All's well and good, the people they hurt are safe… for a time. Once they get out of prison, what's stopping them from going back to their old habits? Kamoshida is a pedophile. He is physically attracted to underage girls. Do you honestly think prison is going to change that? Do you think spending time in jail will make him stop being a sexual predator? Do you think Madarame will stop being a scam artist, especially since it proved to be a reliable source of income for him?"

Hikaru didn't answer. Ren looked down.

"This is why we need the Metaverse. Because mundane means are all fine and all, but they only offer temporary solutions, and even those solutions can be twisted by pulling the right string at the right time. Using the Metaverse may be morally ambiguous, but the result is guaranteed to be permanent, and the last rule of the Phantom Thieves of Heart is that we only target truly heinous criminals who stand beyond the reach of the law."

"Nakanohara was hardly a heinous criminal." Yugiri pointed. "He was just a stalker."

"And we didn't steal his heart."

Ren's mother raised a brow.

"But he changed."

"Nakanohara was struggling." Sadayo said softly. "He knew what he was doing was wrong, and when we found his Shadow in Mementos, he was in a fierce debate with himself. We simply comforted him and nudged him in the right direction. His conscience and his ex's support did the rest."

Hikaru sighed.

"I am still wary about your methods, but you have a point. I know all too well about corruption in the circles of power – more than I wish I did, I admit. The Metaverse offers a way to permanently reform criminals… but, as the mental shutdowns proved, they can also be used to commit crimes. And, of course, this is a well-documented fact that power tends to get to people's head faster than they think." The man looked at the Thieves regretfully. "I'm going to be honest. I don't feel safe knowing there are people out there who have outright magical means to influence people's minds, and it doesn't help someone is using those very means to commit murders. Someone… Even with your rules, I think you need someone to keep an eye on you, to make sure you stick to your rules and don't abuse those powers of yours."

"Who watches the watchmen?" Sadayo summed.

"Exactly. So, since we know you… Might as well be us. Besides, you are a band of thieves. People like you need someone to back them up, a benefactor, so to say." Hikaru smiled and looked at Yugiri. "We have money, influence and contacts. As long as you stick to targeting criminals, we will gladly provide whatever help you need. Besides, aside from Kawakami-san, the rest of you are a cat and high school students."

"True." Ann winced.

Hikaru nodded.

"So, what do you say? Yugiri and I will keep backing you in your operations, and in return, we'll make sure you don't abuse your powers. Sounds like a fair deal, right?"

Ren looked at the others.

"What do you think?"

"More help's always fine, I guess." Ryuji shrugged.

Ann looked down.

"They have a point about us risking abusing our powers. I agree."

Morgana nodded.

"I'm confident about us, especially with Agatha and Philemon watching us, but the Sugimura are related to you. If it makes them feel safer, alright."

"And it's true that we could use their support as much as Sae Niijima's." Sadayo added. "I agree as well."

"Then it's unanimous. We accept your help."

Hikaru and Yugiri nodded, a smile on their face. Akiko turned to her brother.

"Wait, the fairy tale you told me, that was Kamoshida's Palace, right?"

Ren chuckled.

"Busted."

Hikaru gave the teen a pointed glare.

"So, you tell your adventures to my daughter in the shape of fairy tales, huh? Let me guess… Morgana is the bakeneko, this one is obvious. For the ranger, I'd say it's you and Takamaki-chan is the maiden, since the King is lusting after her. Finally… the messenger is Ryuji-kun and the maid is Sadayo-san."

"It would stand, since your friend works at a delivery." Yugiri noted. "And, as your caretaker, I'm not surprised Sadayo-san would be a maid."

The Thieves looked at one another. Ren had to admit, it was pure coincidence that their teacher happened to be a former maid. His mother's reasoning was just like his own: Sadayo was the Thieves' den mother.

"There's one thing I'd like to request." Hikaru suddenly said. "Take us to the Metaverse. Not only will it enable us to understand Morgana, it will also allow us to see this otherworld with our own eyes."

"Alright. Mementos or Madarame's Palace?"

"Madarame's Palace is less creepy than Mementos." Sadayo pointed. "I suggest we pick this one."

"Got it. Then let's meet tomorrow before Madarame's shack."

Most caper crew have someone rich and powerful to back them up. This is what the Sugimura have become to the Phantom Thieves - that, and their safeguards. As Hikaru pointed, what the kids do is brainwashing. Misusing that kind of power is easy.

Next chapter - if I manage to write it, Yusuke is formally introduced among the Phantom Thieves.

See you soon !