Chapter Text
9/8/16: Daytime
The Sakura's House
The sounds of keyboard tapping and music can be heard from Futaba's room, as Futaba herself is at work analyzing the data while Minato and Morgana are taking a nap on her bed. The rest of the Phantom Thieves are currently over in America for there school trips, so Minato didn't have much to do now. He decided to hang around Futaba in case she needed something.
Futaba made some confused noises before leaning back in her chair and sighing. "I think my brain is overloading..."
That comment made Morgana wake up, who is currled up on Minato's lap. "Maybe it's time for a break."
"Suppose so, made good progress though." She took a sip of her drink before turing to Morgana. "... Has he been asleep the entire time?"
"Pretty sure."
"Sleepy head."
"Said the person who was asleep for over 3 weeks."
"I've managed to do longer" Minato comments, eyes still closed. The two just stared at him.
"Anywaaaaaaay, i'm hunger!" Futaba hopped out of her chair. "Pretty sure Sojiro recently bought a pack of insta noodles. You want some Minato?" He simply gave a thumbs up in response as Futaba heads to the kitchen.
"How can you possibly sleep more than than 3 weeks!?"
Minato yawned. "Long story." After some stretches, Futaba came back. "Any updates on info?"
"Hmmm, i'll say i'm 37% through."
"Oddly specific but okay."
"My point is i'll be done before everyone gets back."
"That's.. impressive" Morgana admits.
Futaba simply giggled, proud of her skills. "It's easy peasy once you get the hang of it."
"Riiiiiight..."
"I got a question Minato!"
"What's up?"
"How did you guys deal with Apathy Syndrome? I looked up everything I can and even went to some obscure websites, but can't find anything."
Oh....... this is a small issue. Of course there's nothing on how it ended, it wasn't natural on how it ended, and no way a normal person would even understand it.
"Well, when we got rid of the Dark Hour, Apathy Syndrome just... dissappeared. There wasn't any reasonable way to explain it without us sounding like the crazy ones."
"Hmmmm..." Futaba rotated in her chair in thought till she suddenly stopped. "Hey Mona? Do you think it will work the same way for Mental Shutdowns if we get to the bottom of Mementos?"
"Possibly? I actually haven't thought about it that much. Maybe that's why I want to get down there so badly?"
The three chatted for a while before Futaba had an idea. "Hey Minato!"
"Yes?"
"I wanna go to the arcade in Akihabara!"
"Arcade?"
"Yeah. Come on, can we go? Pleeeeeeeease??"
Minato didn't know how to respond at first, but eventually gave her an answer. "Sure, if Boss is fine with it."
"Yahoo!" Futaba leapt from her chair and ran to the front door.
"Well can you wait a moment?" Minato sighed as Morgana ran after her. This was going to be a long day...
Akihabara
After Sojiro approved and put Minato in charge, the three head off. Thankfully there was a stray bag lying around in Futaba's room she wasn't using at the moment for Morgana to tag along in. Akihabara is a perfect place to go if you need anything electronic or a fill of anime. After surviving the packed train ride Futaba was realived that the arcade was mostly empty at the moment. Then she basically became an energetic puppy.
"Hmmm, what to play, what to play?" She turns to Minato. "From what I heard, your from Tasumi Port Island correct?"
"Yes, but what does that have to do with this?"
"I read up online that it has an arcade over at a mall. Any good games?"
"Hmmm, Game Panic at Paulownia Mall? Yeah there are some enjoyable ones... of course nothing like anything here but it was a nice distraction."
"Huh... ooooo let's play Gun About!"
"Ummm?"
"Don't worry, it's multi so we can both play." Futaba walks over to the machine as Minato follows. A leader board was currently on screen, with the number one placing listed as 'The King'.
Morgana peeked his head out of the bag. "So what's this game about Futaba?"
She grabs one of the plastic guns out of the holder and points it at the screen, pulling the trigger to the instructions page.
"Huh. Okay." He put Morgana on the small table behind himself so he can watch.
"I uh, also figured this might be good practice for the MetaVerse."
"That's.... actually a pretty good idea Futaba!" Morgana said.
They have a point. For better or for worse, Minato is used to the Evokers, not a real gun, and of course the Evokers will actually fire bullets in the MetaVerse. "Alright." He picks up the other plastic gun. After paying some Yen the game starts.
Morgana watched as they played and immediately noticed that they play differently from each other. One difference is how they hold the gun, with Futaba using both hands while Minato uses only his right hand. Really it's mainly that there's something about Minato that he couldn't put his paw on. He's an odd one for sure. Morgana got knocked out of his thoughts as a winner sound plays.
"Begginers luck..." Futaba mutters.
"Said the one who missed five times in a row."
"Ow my pride! Best two out of three, now!"
"Was doing that anyways."
The game starts up again as Morgana takes a look around the arcade. The only other person that was here has already left, so it was just them and the staff left, and they don't seem to care about Morgana's presence. He got lost in his own thoughts again before being interputed again.
"You just picked up the game six minutes ago, how are you already a top tier in it??"
Seems like Futaba lost... Minato casually spins the plastic gun in his hand. "Like I know."
"Your adaptability skills are off the charts, it's crazy!"
"You good Morgana?"
"Huh? Oh yeah i'm fine Minato."
"..... You sure?"
"Positive" Morgana replied a little too quickly. As Minato placed the plastic gun back into it's holder, Futaba grabs Morgana's bag and takes him farther back in the arcade, claiming that there is a game that he can play. He watched from a distance till the bell of the door rang and someone walked in.
"Oh, I didn't know that you played here as well."
Minato immediately recognized the voice as the room went dead silent. Of course HE is here now. "What do you want Akechi?"
"I just wanted to enjoy some free time that I had."
Minato turned to him annoyed. "Couldn't you have gone to.... I don't know, any other place?"
"Well someone isn't happy to see me" Akechi teased.
"Look, I don't like you, you don't like me, so if you need something just say it."
Futaba and Morgana in the back have been very quiet since Akechi walked in. They kept playing to not seem suspicious, but are hearing every word of what's going on. Futaba does know that Akechi is really high up on the ranks for the Phan-Site to change his heart, constantly changing for the number one spot with Okumaru.
"Alright, I suppose for once your taking things seriously." Minato rolled his eyes. "So, about the Phantom Thieves, what's your stance on them now?"
Minato answered with no hesitation. "The opposite of yours."
"Very funny."
"It's true."
"Hmm... so you truly believe they are just?"
"Yep. Of course with no confirmed way in how they change hearts, it's just a feeling." He looked directly at Akechi, "That feeling tends to be right."
"So I heard, but gut feelings isn't proof."
"Not like you have any either." The two are glaring daggers at each other before a call notification made its way to Akechi. He takes a quick glace at it.
"Well it's seems I must be going now."
"Yeah fuck you too" Minato muttered as Akechi walked out.
Futaba grabbed Morgana's bag and headed to him. "Well you two clearly have history."
"It's not as spectacular as you think. He specifically has been a giant pain to not only us, but to the Shadow Opetitives as well."
"I know you said that you guys weren't on good terms with the police" Morgana recalls, "But this seems like something different."
".... I suppose you could say that. Let's get out of here before he bugs me again."
9/10/16: Evening
Leblanc
Today was a pretty quiet day overall, as Futaba is almost done with her analysis. She needed a break so they headed over to Leblanc to have a meal.
"We are still open for business, get Morgana upstairs."
"Sojiro it's not like anyone's coming in anyway. Plus if someone does come, you can tell them it's a cat cafe!"
"You know that's not going to work..."
Minato was about to make a comment, and then the bell rang as someone walked in. "Excuse me..."
Sojiro looked at the man then at Futaba, "What did I tell you!? Get that cat upsta-"
"It's a cat cafe."
"Arisato stop that!"
"Oh no please, there's no need, I'm sorry!"
Morgana looked up to see the commotion then he stared at who came in. "Wait a second... it's-"
"I was told that Akira-kun is lodging at a cafe and I just happened to be passing by so..."
"You know Akira?" As Sojiro asked that both Futaba and Morgana moved next to Minato.
"Yes, i'm currently helping out at Shujin." He takes a seat at the counter.
"Ah I see, you teach at his school huh?"
"Not really. I'm just a counselor."
(Shujin has a counselor?? Guess they had to repair their reputation somehow...) Minato thought to himself.
They keep talking as Futaba nudged Morgana. "Do you know him?" She whispers.
"Yeah, Takuto Maruki. He became a counselor here after the Kamoshida case. He's a pretty nice guy."
"Ah."
"You talk to your cat often?" Both Futaba and Minato flinched as Maruki's attention is now on them. "That's so neat." Futaba moved slightly closer to Minato, which happened to be farther away from Maruki. "Sorry did I frightened you? My apologies, I just found it impressive is all."
"Your fine, we just didn't expect the sudden attention" Minato answered.
"Futaba, just take Morgana upstairs okay? I'll call you back down when it's all clear."
She starts to head upstairs but then glaces over at the counter... "That book."
"Oh, this? It's on a subject called 'cognition pscience'. Any interest?"
Red flags immediately raised, and it already was waving in the wind for Sojiro. "I'm, sorry but we need you to leave. Don't worry about the bill."
"Huh? I-i'm so sorry if there was anything I-"
"Ummm..."
"He stays!" Futaba leapt out of her seat. "What good is driving your few customers away going to do anyhow?"
"Futaba...."
"S-s-so..." She started to shake a bit but her resolve stayed strong. "That book! Is it what you teach Sir- I mean, Mister!?"
"Huh? Well, no. I'm not a teacher."
"What's it for, then?"
"It's just a personal interest of mine. I've been studying it for years now. It's difficult to grasp at times, but it's quite useful. Fun to study, too."
"It's fun?"
"I mean... if you really enjoy what your studying then it would be fun to you" Minato adds.
"Right. It's also a wonderful division of science that can help many people. That makes it pretty fun, right?"
Futaba giggled. "Yep! Mom thought the exact same thing!"
"Mom?"
"Her mother studied it too" Sojiro answered. "What I don't get is why you're studying something like that though."
Minato tapped his foot in thought. "I suppose for a counselor it makes sense, since it's related to his field of study..."
"Is it?" Morgana meowed, in which he simply shrugged. Not like he was keeping track.
"So your mom thought that too? She sounds like a wonderful women."
"Hell yeah, my mom owned. She loved me SO much!"
Maruki quickly picked up on Futaba using the past tense. "Well, i'm sure she'd be very proud."
Futaba turned to Morgana, "C'mon Mona, let's go! Off to a menless room!"
"Hey wa- Futaba!" Minato let out a small chuckle as he watched the two head up.
"Sorry about that. Would you care for another?"
"Sure, thank you."
"How about you Arisato?"
"Boss you already know my answer."