Archive of Our Own ^beta

It didn’t take long for the Phantom Thieves to find their first target in Mementos that day. It was a young woman whose tendencies to self-harm worried her boyfriend, close friends, and family members. They even mentioned fearing she would do something extreme if things stayed that way.

As usual, she didn’t listen to them, and soon a battle took place. Her attacks didn’t deal much damage, but neither did the Phantom Thieves’ against her. Thankfully, with their powers combined, they still managed to defeat her after a while.

“Leave me alone!” she yelled from the ground. “I’m not hurting anyone… I’m just making it better for a little while.”

Yusuke couldn’t help but sympathize with that woman: her shadow was born from pain, after all… Hopefully, by changing her heart, she would be able to recover from those horrible habits.

“And that’s the problem,” Ryuji’s voice caught his attention, making Yusuke look at him. “Doing this won’t help you, it’ll only make you feel worse in the end.”

“Stop it…”

“You know how worried the people who love you are? If you ask them for help, they’ll be there for you. You don’t need to suffer like this on your own!”

“Shut up!” She yelled. “I don’t want to hear this from you!”

Then, before any of them could act, she hit Ryuji with a dark orb of magic, which violently threw him toward the opposite wall. Immediately, a suffering wail left her mouth.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

The group approached the shadow to take her treasure and finish the job. Yusuke, however, rushed to Ryuji’s side.

“Skull!”

He crouched next to Ryuji, placing a hand on his upper back to help him sit up.

“Damn… That hurt,” Ryuji muttered.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah. That shadow got me good, though.” He raised his left arm, looking at it. “Good thing I raised my arm… Dunno what that thing would’ve done to my head.”

Yusuke offered him a smile. “Good thinking.”

“More like good reflexes, but thanks.”

Ryuji laughed, but the sound was followed by a pained yelp.

“Stay still,” said Yusuke, keeping a hand on his back as support.

In a moment, Makoto was right at their side, examining Ryuji with a concerned look.

“Where are you hurt?” she asked.

“My arm.” He paused, moving his shoulders. “My back and head kinda hurt too.”

“Understood.”

She held Ryuji’s arm, casting Diarama under her breath. The greenish light covered Ryuji’s injuries, then vanished.

“Is it better?” asked Makoto.

“Yeah.” A relieved smile took Ryuji’s lips. “Thanks, Queen.”

“Just be more careful next time.”

“Sorry,” said Ryuji. “I just kinda felt bad for her.”

Makoto offered him a slight smile. In a moment, the rest of the team joined them, that shadow no longer in sight.

“Is everything alright?” asked Akira.

“Yeah,” Ryuji moved his arm to show it. “Feeling great.”

“Wow…” Futaba grinned. “Good thing our Skull is a tough one. If it were me taking that hit, I’d be dust by now.”

Ann giggled, patting Ryuji’s head. “This thick head of his had to be good for something.”

“Well said, Panther,” Morgana was quick to agree.

Those comments made Ryuji pout. “Yeah, yeah… You guys are so damn funny.”

Akira laughed, then looked at Ryuji. “Can you keep going?”

“Sure thing.”

“Okay, then,” said Futaba. “I’ll start searching for our next target.”

Yusuke helped Ryuji stand, and in a moment they were back inside Morgana, riding toward their next opponent.

“Hey, Joker…” Ryuji spoke after a while. “That shadow back there… You guys helped her, right?”

“Of course,” said Akira. “She finally understood how loved she is, and left with a smile on her face.”

“Good to know.”

He smiled, seeming relieved. Futaba stared at him with a devious grin on her lips.

“Do you have a soft spot for older women?” she asked.

“C’mon,” said Ryuji, “I just felt bad for her… We’re always seeing people who hurt others here, but she was only hurting herself.”

“And the people who love her,” added Akira. “Though she probably didn’t realize it until we changed her heart.”

“Yeah…” Ryuji lowered his eyes. “It’s pretty sad, ain’t it?”

“Indeed,” said Yusuke. “She must have felt quite lonely.”

Ann nodded, a melancholic look on her face. “I hope things get better for all of them now.”

A heavy silence filled the car until Ryuji let out a loud groan.

“She didn’t have to hit me that hard, though.”

The comment seemed to make the atmosphere a little lighter.

“Now that it’s over, it was kind of funny,” Akira admitted with a half-contained laugh. “You just flew away like an anime character.”

“Right?” said Futaba. “It was like she used a shout on him!”

Akira and Futaba repeated said shout dramatically, which made Ryuji scowl at them. Yusuke couldn’t hold back a smile at the light-hearted exchange.

“What?” Ryuji stared at him. “Don’t tell me even you’re making fun of me now, Fox…”

“I’m just wondering if I can translate that magnificent sight into a painting later.”

“Oh, c’mon…” Ryuji lightly pushed his arm. “You could choose anything else to turn into a painting. What about all the times I saved your ass from getting zapped?”

“They weren’t as funny…” said Akira.

“I can already think of a title.” Futaba made a dramatic pause. “The Flight of the Mighty Captain Skull: When a Seaman Touches the Sky.”

“Seaman…” Akira repeated with a small giggle.

“Seaman,” Futaba grinned.

Ryuji snickered, “Seaman.”

The three of them laughed, which made Makoto groan and call them children from the driver’s seat.

“But that’s still a nice title,” said Ann. “Can’t wait to see it when it’s done.”

“Me too!” said Haru. “I could even hang it on the wall when I open my café.”

“Good idea, Noir!” Morgana’s voice echoed inside. “I’m sure the mystery of the flying pirate will attract more clients to your place.”

Ryuji grunted, then turned his gaze to Yusuke, speaking in a grumpy voice. “Fox, listen to me… You paint this shit, and you get no more ramen from me.”

“What about beef bowls?” asked Yusuke.

“No beef bowls, no dumplings, no snacks, nothing.”

“Wow, that’s mean,” said Futaba. “Paint it, Fox! I’ll buy snacks for you.”

Yusuke nodded. “I will consider your offer.”

“Asshole.”

Ryuji nudged Yusuke with his elbow, and Yusuke smiled in response. The playful banter continued until they got closer to their second target: a third-year student who had been harassing a first-year for months over a minor disagreement. It started with unpleasant rumors and anonymous notes, but recently had escalated to public humiliation, destruction of her belongings, and physical aggression. The teachers didn’t intervene because of the social status of the bully’s parents, which only made the younger girl terrified of going to school, and even of leaving her bedroom.

“What a bitch,” Futaba crinkled her nose as she reread that message on the Phan-site.

“I hate people like this,” said Akira.

“Me too,” Ann agreed in a bitter tone. “Let’s help that poor girl.”

Considering what Yusuke knew about them, it wasn’t surprising that they were particularly invested in that case. He glanced at Ryuji, whose expression was unusually serious as well. Almost instinctively, Yusuke placed a hand on his shoulder—a habit he had acquired from Ryuji himself.

“We’ll bring an end to this,” he said.

Ryuji looked at him, then nodded. “Yeah, of course.”

His smile felt forced, which was understandable given the situation. They jumped out of Morgana, then walked the rest of the way toward the shadow. The battle was harder than the previous one, but nothing the Phantom Thieves couldn’t handle. Soon, her shadow was defeated, and they had her treasure in their possession.

“Let’s hope she becomes a better person now,” said Akira.

The others agreed. Yusuke, however, was distracted by something else: he often fought by Ryuji’s side, so he could tell that something was amiss. When the others started to make their way back, he stayed some steps behind, approaching Ryuji.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

Ryuji seemed surprised at the question. “No, I… Maybe I’m just tired.”

“Stay close to me, then. I will make sure nothing harms you.”

His words earned him a fond smile. “Thanks for having my back.”

“Always.”

Yusuke allowed the exchange to end there. Still, even Ryuji’s words didn’t carry the same energy as usual. He should truly be tired… Yusuke would make sure to keep an eye on him as they kept moving forward.

As they traveled deeper into Mementos, though, Yusuke couldn’t help but feel like there was something other than exhaustion bothering Ryuji: he looked slightly pale and seemed short of breath.

“Are you sure everything is fine?” he asked.

“Yeah… Just a little outta breath.”

“If you need to make a pause…”

“Nah, I’ll be fine.”

So he said, yet Yusuke couldn’t help but notice that he was cradling his left arm.

“How is your arm?” he asked.

“Stinging a little,” Ryuji admitted.

“May I have a look?”

Ryuji nodded, allowing Yusuke to pull up his sleeve. On the inside of his arm was a dark mark the size of a closed fist.

“This is an ugly bruise,” said Yusuke.

“Yeah… No wonder it’s hurting like hell.”

“What?” That exchange seemed to grab Akira’s attention, making him look back at them. “Did you hurt your arm?”

Ryuji shrugged. “Looks like it.”

“Just a minute…” Akira closed his eyes for a second, changing his persona. “There. Diarama!”

The bruise didn’t disappear completely, but became much lighter than before. More importantly, Ryuji’s face relaxed into a more natural smile.

“Thanks, dude,” he said.

Akira grinned. “Anytime!”

Yusuke observed Ryuji as he pulled down his sleeve, covering that mark. Something about that wound bothered Yusuke, though: usually, after healing a wound with their personas, it didn’t come back. Maybe it was just a coincidence, two similar injuries in the exact same place. That seemed like the most obvious answer, so he accepted it, pushing those worries out of his mind.

They approached their third target, but this time the ride wasn’t as lively as before, probably the first sign of exhaustion catching up to them. Still, they faced that third foe: an abusive boss who worked his employees to exhaustion, and never missed a chance to punish them and cut their pay for the pettiest reasons. The last straw had been when his secretary—a single mother of two kids—passed out from exhaustion, and he forced her to go to work the next day under the threat of “not needing her anymore if she wasn’t there.” It was frightening how many of those they faced every single month…

The battle didn’t last long, the shadow’s weakness to both ice and electricity allowing Yusuke and Ryuji to have their time in the spotlight, defeating the shadow and retrieving his treasure.

“Nice one, guys!” Ann raised her hands to high-five both of them.

“Three done, two more to go!” said Futaba.

“Good work, everyone,” said Makoto. “But don’t lower your guard just yet.”

They took a moment to celebrate and catch their breath before focusing their attention on the mission once again.

“Where’s the next one?” asked Akira.

“Let me see…”

They all had their attention on Futaba as she scanned Mementos with her Persona, searching for the fourth target. Yusuke was distracted by their talk when, suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder, using it as support. He looked back, seeing Ryuji there, just behind him.

“Fox…” he muttered. “I don’t think I can keep going…”

Those words, as well as the weak voice with which they were said, made Yusuke’s heart sink. “What’s the matter? Are you injured?”

Ryuji opened his mouth, but only a low, pained groan left it. “This hurts…”

“Where?” he insisted. “What’s wrong?”

He didn’t respond, and only then did Yusuke notice his heavy breaths. Ryuji swayed, and Yusuke quickly held him to keep him from falling.

“Skull, what is the matter?”

His voice, louder than usual, made the others stop talking and look in their direction.

“What happened?” asked Akira.

“I’m unsure.” Yusuke sat on the floor, carefully bringing Ryuji with him. “Skull, where is it hurting?”

“Where that shadow hit me…” he muttered, raising his left arm.

Akira looked at him, confused. “I thought I healed it…”

“Is this the same injury from the first fight?” asked Makoto. “Why didn’t you tell me it was still hurting?”

“It got better back then…” Ryuji explained. “But then the pain came back, and I thought it’d pass on its own if I waited, but it’s getting worse.”

“Let me see it.”

Makoto held his arm, revealing that wound. What once looked like a bruise was now a large mark with a rough texture, and would look like a burn if not for its unnatural grayish color.

“Did it look like this before?” asked Makoto.

“No,” Ryuji stared at it, confused. “It was just a bruise… Fox and Joker saw it too, right?”

“This is true,” Yusuke agreed. “It looked like a bruise until a short while ago.”

Makoto nodded. “Is there any chance you got hurt during this battle, instead?”

“No, I’m pretty sure I didn’t. That shadow didn’t even touch me.”

And they were all there to witness it, which could only mean that it really was the same wound from their first battle. The Phantom Thieves looked at each other, as lost as Ryuji himself. Futaba activated Necronomicon, using it to try her luck with its scan ability.

“It’s not a normal injury,” she said after a while. “Looks more like a status condition.”

“How do we cure it, then?” asked Ann.

“I’m not sure,” Futaba thought for a moment. “But it looks like a burn… kinda.” She ran her eyes through them. “Do we have any Nohar-M?”

“I got one,” said Akira.

They used it on Ryuji, waiting for a minute for any results.

“Doesn’t seem to be working…” Haru furrowed her brow. “If it’s a status condition, maybe a Relax Gel, or an Alert Capsule will work?”

“It’s worth a try,” said Morgana.

They repeated that same process with different items, but that wound didn’t change—if anything, Yusuke had the impression it was spreading even further, but he chose not to comment on it.

“Nothing?” asked Ann.

Ryuji shook his head. “Feels the same to me.”

Makoto thought for a moment. “When Akira and I used our magic, did it ease the pain?”

“Yeah. Didn’t last long, though.”

She took his arm, then cast Diarama on it. The wound didn’t look much better, but Ryuji’s body seemed to relax.

“How is it?” asked Makoto.

“It helps,” said Ryuji. “But still hurts a little.”

“And, from what he said, it only works for a short time,” Akira added.

They stayed silent, thinking for a while. Ryuji was the first one to speak.

“I guess all we can do is wait for it to go away, then.”

Ann creased her brow. “But will it go away on its own?”

“It gotta go…” He paused, sounding less confident. “I mean, all other status effects do, right?”

“Is this like the others, though?” asked Futaba. “I don’t know… Something about it seems different.”

“I agree,” said Morgana. “And we can’t forget that it seems to be getting worse with time.”

Ryuji lowered his head, looking at that wound. “Good point…”

Another moment of silence, now heavier as their options seemed to be coming to an end.

“What if we leave Mementos, then?” Haru suggested. “If it’s a status effect caused by a shadow, it might go away when we go back to the real world.”

Morgana nodded. “That might work, actually.”

The group agreed. Morgana changed into his car form, and the others quickly embarked. Yusuke was about to help Ryuji to his feet, but then remembered how he had almost fallen just a few minutes ago.

“Skull, can you stand?”

“I dunno…” Ryuji moved his legs to test it. “My legs feel kinda numb.”

“Is something wrong?” asked Akira from the door.

Yusuke shook his head. “Don’t worry, I will help him inside.” He then turned to Ryuji. “Hold onto me.”

Ryuji agreed, placing an arm around Yusuke’s shoulders while Yusuke supported him by the waist, slowly helping him move until they were inside Morgana as well. They sat side by side on the back seat, which allowed Yusuke to notice Ryuji often checking his wound. He said nothing, but it was clear how anxious he was—and with reason.

“Is it getting worse?” Yusuke asked in a low voice.

“Maybe, I dunno…” Ryuji sighed, lowering his sleeve. “But it’s starting to hurt again.”

Yusuke nodded, then looked at Akira. “Joker, can you help us?”

“Sure.”

He used his power to heal Ryuji again—and then again a few minutes later. Every time, the relief lasted a little less, which only made Yusuke wish they had noticed the seriousness of that situation before it came to that point. Unfortunately, they were quite deep into Mementos, so it would still take a few minutes to reach the exit.

Ryuji rested his head against the car seat, taking some deep, raspy breaths while cradling his arm.

“Is it difficult to breathe?” asked Yusuke.

“A little. Not that bad, but… It’s kinda tiring.”

Yusuke brought a hand to his shoulder, pulling him closer. “You can lie down.”

Ryuji offered him a tiny, grateful smile. “Thanks… I’m really tired.”

He lay on the car seat with his head on Yusuke’s lap. Was Yusuke imagining things, or was his skin unusually pale? Without thinking much, he placed a hand on Ryuji’s forehead, surprised at how cold it felt. Ryuji placed a hand over Yusuke’s, holding it there.

“So warm…” he said with a pleased voice.

Despite everything, his words made Yusuke smile. “Is it good?”

“Uh-hm.”

Ryuji sighed, his body relaxing a little. A few minutes passed, during which his breaths became raspier and shallower.

“How are you feeling?” asked Yusuke.

“It hurts a little to breathe…”

“Don’t force yourself to talk, then. We will be out of here soon.”

Ryuji nodded, closing his eyes. Yusuke gently caressed his hair, in a way Ryuji had done for him before, to bring him comfort after a difficult conversation they shared about his life with Madarame. It had helped him back then, and Yusuke hoped it would help Ryuji now, even if just a little. And, indeed, it brought a faint smile to his lips.

“It’s been a while since I last felt this cared for,” said Ryuji.

His words surprised Yusuke. “I thought your mother was a caring one.”

“She is. But I try not to worry her… She’s got a lot on her mind already.”

“I see.” Yusuke carefully brushed his hair back with his fingers. “Allow me to do it for you this time, then.”

A low laugh left Ryuji’s lips. “It’s a little embarrassing to be taken care of like this… But it ain’t bad.”

Seeing that expression on his face was a small comfort in that bad situation. But it didn’t last more than a minute, since soon Ryuji raised his arm, staring at it in a mix of shock and confusion.

“Am I bleeding…?”

The question startled Yusuke. “Excuse me?”

He instinctively held Ryuji’s arm, pulling his sleeve up, freezing at the sight.

“Let me see it.” Akira looked back, his eyes widening when he looked at his injury. “This… Doesn’t look good.”

That was putting it lightly: what had looked like a strange burn mark before was now an open injury. Dark blood ran from an almost black gash shaped like the bud of a flower, surrounded by grayish flesh—almost as if it was rotting. And it was spreading, that sickening color now covering almost his entire arm.

Akira cast Diarama, but there was no visible effect. In a second, the others had approached, looking at that horrifying wound. Ann searched her items, finding a piece of bandage, wrapping it around Ryuji’s arm.

“It should at least protect it until we get out of here,” she said.

Ryuji nodded, looking at his covered wound, and Ann gently ruffled his hair, earning a low giggle in response.

“You know what?” she said in a cheerful voice. “Once we get out of here, I’m treating you to anything you want.”

“Anything?” Ryuji asked.

“Anything.” She thought for a moment. “Within reason, of course.”

Ryuji opened a devious grin. “Too late, you already said anything.”

Ann crossed her arms. “I forgot I can’t be nice to you…” She shrugged. “Well, I’ll make sure you repay me later.”

Ryuji let out a pitiful sigh. “What a way to treat the poor injured guy…”

“Don’t use it in your favor!”

“It gotta be good for something.”

Their exchange made Yusuke look at Akira and Futaba, who smiled, seeming more relaxed: you could always count on Ryuji and Ann to make even the worst situations not feel that bad.

“In this case,” said Yusuke, “I should probably treat him to something as well.”

“No way.” Ryuji narrowed his eyes at him. “If you’ve got spare money, then use it to get a good meal for yourself.”

“Besides,” said Futaba, “we can get you both some curry at the Leblanc. As many plates as you can eat!”

Akira grinned. “I’ll make it myself.”

Ryuji looked at him with suspicion. “Are you planning to test some weird new recipe on us?”

“No,” Akira opened his brightest smile. “Just my pure and unwavering love for you.”

The answer made Ryuji laugh. “Really, Joker?” He cleared his throat, then glanced at the others. “Why are you guys so willing to feed me all of a sudden, anyway?”

“We need to make sure you grow strong and healthy,” said Futaba.

“I ain’t no kid.”

Ann lightly poked his cheek. “Maybe not in size or age, but everything else…”

“Whaddya mean by that?”

“Don’t be so mad, Skull,” said Futaba. “You know you’re like a little brother to me.”

“I heard this right?” Ryuji looked at her. “Did the gremlin of the group really call me her little—”

A loud cough cut his words, soon turning into a coughing fit. Yusuke helped him sit, rubbing his back as he coughed and wheezed. There was a strange wet sound when something dark left his mouth, dripping into his glove. Was it… blood? It seemed too dark to be blood, but… what else would it be?

Those coughs continued, getting louder and more intense with each passing second. Past the initial shock, Akira used his persona to cast Diarama again. It seemed to help a little, since it at least put a pause on that coughing fit, allowing Ryuji to catch his breath.

“Are you alright?” asked Ann.

“Yeah…” he muttered between heavy breaths. “Sorry…”

The cheerful atmosphere from moments before was gone, replaced by an even heavier tension than before. That wasn’t just a wound anymore… But what was happening to him, then?

Silence filled the car as those thoughts seemed to cross the minds of them all. Carefully, Yusuke helped Ryuji lie down once again.

“We’ll get out of here soon,” said Akira.

Ryuji nodded, covering his eyes with his right arm. “Yeah…”

There was still some dark fluid on the corner of his mouth, so Yusuke cleaned it with his thumb. He still couldn’t tell if it was blood or not, and wasn’t sure he wanted to learn the answer.

“This is so weird…” murmured Ann after a while. “What kind of status effect is this?”

Futaba shook her head. “I don’t know, I never saw anything like it before.”

“It’s… scary, isn’t it?” Ann lowered her voice. “To think of what else we might face as we go deeper into this place.”

“Indeed,” said Yusuke. “We have no way of preparing ourselves for it, we can only deal with the consequences.”

Ann bit her lip, hugging her own arms. A single look at her face, and one could almost see all the horrors going through her mind. Noticing her distress, Akira patted her back.

“It’s okay, Panther,” he said. “We’ll be out of here so—”

His words were cut by a surprised yelp when Makoto suddenly hit the brakes.

“What’s the matter?” asked Akira.

“Shadows…” said Morgana. “A lot of them.”

“What do we do?” asked Haru.

“I’ll try to pass them by. Hang on!”

Saying this, Makoto accelerated, running over a couple of shadows. It wasn’t long before she was forced to stop again, though.

“There are more coming…” She clicked her tongue. “I think we’ll have to fight.”

“What about Skull?” asked Akira.

“Stay here with Fox and watch over him,” said Makoto. “The rest of you, come with me!”

Akira nodded. “Alright.”

Before leaving the car, Ann offered them an encouraging smile. “Just leave it to us.”

Yusuke trusted his group, but the number of shadows was quite alarming. Not only that, but Ryuji’s whistling breath made his heart clench: that was the worst time to get trapped in a long battle.

“Hey…” Ryuji’s voice called their attention. “My chest kinda hurts.”

“I’ll take care of it…” Akira cast Diarama, then added in a comforting voice. “Don’t worry about it, just breathe.”

Ryuji nodded. “I’m kinda dizzy.”

“Keep your eyes closed,” said Yusuke. “This will be over soon.”

Ryuji did as he said. His voice sounded weaker than before, though… Yusuke reached for his arm, checking it. His entire arm had a grayish color, the blood that stained the bandages so dark it almost looked like ink—just like the dark fluid that had left his mouth minutes before.

“It’s getting worse.” Akira gritted his teeth after casting Diarama again. “Why isn’t it going away? What are we doing wrong?”

“This ain’t your fault,” muttered Ryuji.

“Nor is it yours.”

“No, I…” He struggled to speak. “If I minded my own business back then… she wouldn’t have attacked me. It’s all ’cause I talked too much.”

“Stop it.” Akira brought a hand to Ryuji’s face, making him look at him. “I’m telling you it wasn’t your fault, so don’t try to blame yourself.”

“Joker is right,” they heard Morgana’s voice. “None of us knew things would turn out like this. Not even me… And, if anyone should know what to do now, it should be me.” A small pause. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say this, Mona…” said Ryuji. “I don’t want you to feel bad.”

“I think we’re all tired,” Akira said with a smile. “It’s no one’s fault, obviously… But this entire situation is making everyone nervous.”

“Yeah…” Ryuji agreed. “Guess you’re—”

Another coughing fit. This time, Yusuke immediately helped him sit, while Akira used his power to make it better.

“There…” said Yusuke in a reassuring voice. “Just breathe slowly.”

Ryuji did as he said. Yusuke kept a hand on his back and another on his chest to keep him steady. It was then that he noticed something on the side of Ryuji’s neck: a black bud-shaped mark, with a thin trail of dark blood oozing from it.

“What is this?” Yusuke couldn’t hold back his surprised words, lightly touching the skin close to that wound.

“Huh…?” Ryuji brought a hand to his neck, then looked at the blood that stained it. “Another one?”

Without asking any questions, Akira cast Diarama yet again to make that wound stop bleeding. Yusuke observed him: he had been using his powers almost non-stop since Ryuji’s condition worsened, and his exhaustion was starting to show on his face. Seeming to notice it too, Ryuji threw him a concerned look.

“Hey, Joker… Ain’t you tired?”

Akira forced a smile. “I have some Snuff Souls with me, so don’t worry about it.”

Ryuji opened his mouth to protest, but stopped himself. What other option did they have?

“Is it hurting anywhere else?” asked Akira.

Ryuji hesitated, and Yusuke had a bad feeling about it.

“Tell him,” said Yusuke. “It will be worse if you hide it.”

Ryuji nodded, a shadow of guilt covering his face. “My chest. My back. And my legs…” He paused, creasing his brow. “You think there’s more wounds there?”

Akira didn’t answer. Instead, he offered Ryuji a smile. “It will get better once we leave this place. Just hang in there, alright?”

“Yeah.” Ryuji managed to return the smile. “Been through worse than this, right?”

“Yes, you can do it. Just a little longer.” Akira stopped for a moment. “Skull?”

Ryuji’s body leaned to the side, and Yusuke instinctively pulled him close to his chest to keep him from falling. Akira reached for his face, touching his cheek.

“He passed out,” he said.

Yusuke clenched his teeth, holding Ryuji a little tighter. Why couldn’t it be over soon? He just wanted to take Ryuji safely back home.

“Fox…” Akira’s low voice made Yusuke look at him. “I hate to say this, but… I don’t know how much longer I can keep healing him.”

Morgana’s low voice echoed inside the car once again. “Should I change back and use my magic?”

“Maybe later,” said Akira. “For now, we need a safe place to stay.”

Morgana went quiet again, and Yusuke wondered if he still felt guilt over what happened. Ryuji, Akira, Morgana… he was tired of seeing his friends suffer like that.

“Fox,” said Akira. “Can you hold Ryuji up for a minute? I want to check something.”

Yusuke agreed. First, Akira removed Ryuji’s scarf, stained by that thick black fluid. Then, he carefully opened part of his uniform, checking his chest with a creased brow.

“As I thought, there are more of those wounds…” he said.

Yusuke’s stomach twisted. “Are they…?”

“Not as bad as the one in his arm, at least.” He closed Ryuji’s clothes again. “I’ll try to keep them from spreading any further.”

“Joker…”

Akira smiled. “It’s alright, I still have some energy left.”

It was a lie, but Yusuke couldn’t bring himself to point it out. Akira and Ryuji were similar in their selflessness, and it took that horrible situation for Yusuke to realize how terrifying it could be.

“Joker!” Futaba called him from inside Necronomicon. “These ones’ only weakness is bless… We need your help!”

Akira’s face tensed up, but he quickly moved to the door. Before leaving, however, he took his item pouch and threw it to Yusuke, who caught it.

“Stay here with him,” he said. “Use as many items as you need to help with his pain. I’ll be back soon.”

He left without waiting for a response. Yusuke followed him with his gaze, and part of him wanted to do the same and fight alongside his friends. But he couldn’t leave Ryuji in that state, and at that moment, he was his first priority.

Yusuke carefully laid him down again, then checked his wounds. More and more, those gashes resembled horrid black flowers, slowly blooming all across his skin. The black veins on his neck wound were quickly spreading up, reaching his pale face. Yusuke used one healing item after another, but none of them even slowed that growth.

“Mona…” Yusuke called.

“Do you need my help?” asked Morgana.

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

Yusuke carried Ryuji outside Morgana, to a corner far from that battle, sitting there with him in between his legs, hugging him close to his chest. Morgana changed into his cat form, then rushed to their side. Yusuke didn’t like the idea of them being exposed like that, but stopping those wounds from getting even worse was more urgent.

Morgana quietly used his healing powers while Yusuke observed. There was something strange in his expression, and his previous words had made it pretty clear what was on his mind.

“Are you still blaming yourself?” asked Yusuke.

Morgana lowered his eyes, silent for a few seconds. “I should have known. But I didn’t even notice anything was wrong until it was too late.”

Yusuke understood that feeling, despite not agreeing with it. He wanted to say something, but the words failed him when he needed them the most. What would Ryuji do in a situation like that?

Yusuke brought a hand to Morgana’s head, gently patting it. “It is not too late yet. We need to get him out of here. And we could never do it without your help. You are the only one who can take us back to the real world in time.”

A minute of silence passed as Morgana thought about those words. Then, he raised his head, looking at Yusuke.

“You’re right,” he said. “There’s no point in blaming myself… I need to do what I can to get us out of here.”

“I am glad you understand.”

Morgana nodded, opening a faint smile. “Thanks, Fox… I almost lost myself again.”

“You are too hard on yourself.”

Morgana let out a small laugh. “You sound like Skull. Maybe because you two are so close.”

Those words brought a pleasant, warm feeling to Yusuke’s chest. “Maybe.”

They stayed like that for a while, with Morgana healing Ryuji every few minutes, until the sound of Ann’s scream startled them. They looked at that battle, soon finding her facing a big shadow on her own. And, behind her, Akira was on the ground, bleeding from a deep wound. Makoto was too busy facing another shadow to aid him, and even if Ann managed to defeat her opponent, her healing magic wasn’t strong enough to heal such a wound.

“I need to help him,” Morgana offered Yusuke a small item: a Vanish Ball. “Stay far from the battle. If anything gets closer, use this to escape with Skull.”

Yusuke took that item from him. “Understood.”

Morgana nodded, then ran toward that battle. Yusuke’s chest tightened: he didn’t want to lose anyone… He was only now properly grieving for his mother, if he lost another person important to him… The possibility was so terrifying he didn’t even want to imagine it.

“Fox…”

Ryuji’s low voice made Yusuke look at him.

“Skull… How are you feeling?”

He didn’t look fine: his face was deathly pale, his dry lips carrying a gray tone. Those black veins had covered most of the right side of his face like thin vines, circling a new wound that bloomed close to his bloodshot eye. Ryuji didn’t answer that question, looking at that battlefield with a distant gaze.

“Are they hurt?”

“No,” Yusuke lied. “They are fighting, but everything is going to be fine.”

“Is this all my fault?”

Yusuke was taken aback by that question. “Of course not.”

Ryuji gritted his teeth, a pained sound leaving his throat. Yusuke reached for that pouch, taking another healing item.

“Here… It should help with the pain.”

But Ryuji shook his head in response. “Go help them.”

“I need to stay with you.”

“They need you more than me… Joker’s hurt.”

“I won’t leave you,” Yusuke insisted. “Don’t worry, they will come back to us safely.”

Against Yusuke’s will, his fears permeated his words. Ryuji lowered his head, then covered his face with a hand, sobbing into it. Yusuke tightened his arms around him in a desperate attempt to bring him some comfort.

“Everything is alright…” he whispered. “Don’t worry, this will all end soon.”

“I’m sorry…” muttered Ryuji, shaking his head. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

For a haunting moment, he almost sounded like that shadow woman they had faced hours before.

“There is no reason to apologize,” said Yusuke. “None of this is your fault.”

Ryuji continued to shake his head. “I shouldn’t be here… I never wanted to be a burden, but… I dunno what to do. I try to be strong… I try not to get in the way, but… I always make things harder for everyone…”

His slurred words made little sense, and Yusuke wondered if it was yet another result of that strange ailment.

“What are you saying?” He made an effort to keep his voice calm. “You were never a burden. You simply got hurt, and we are trying to help you.”

Ryuji shook his head again, and when he opened his mouth, a pained sound left it. “This hurts…!”

“Take this…” Yusuke took another item from the pouch. “It will help.”

They were running out of items. He glanced at that battle, which continued just as fiercely as before. Then, his gaze fell upon Ryuji, who had his eyes closed as he made an effort to breathe.

“Skull?” he called. “Can you hear me?”

Ryuji opened his eyes, looking at him with a lost expression.

“Where am I?”

“In Mementos, remember?”

He glanced around the place, but there was no recognition in his face. “Did I get in trouble again?”

“What do you mean?”

“If it hurts, then… I did something bad. If I were good, then… it wouldn’t hurt…”

“You did nothing wrong.”

“No, I… I try to… But I can’t get things right… I made her cry… I made her cry like he did…”

He sobbed, then started coughing violently.

“Stay calm…” said Yusuke. “Breathe slowly.”

Ryuji tried to do as he said, but more of that black liquid left his mouth, dripping from his nose as well. Ryuji looked at his stained glove in silence as he tried to catch his breath.

“Am I dying…?” he asked.

The suggestion was enough to make Yusuke’s heart sink. “No, you will be fine. Just stay with me a little longer.”

Ryuji didn’t respond, staring at that black stain for a long while. “If I die… will he stop hurting her…?”

Yusuke didn’t like where his thoughts were leading him. Even if it was just the result of a delusion caused by that ailment, nothing good would come from such a thing.

“Skull, look at me.” He placed a hand on Ryuji’s cheek, turning his gaze away from that stain and toward his face. “You are going to be fine. So, don’t say such things.”

Ryuji didn’t respond for a while, then shut his eyes, flinching with a groan. “It hurts…”

“Just stay strong for a little longer…” Yusuke hugged him close to his chest. “This will be over soon.”

“It won’t…” he muttered. “It’ll never be over. When I think it’s over, it happens again. It just keeps hurting, and… I can’t stop it. I can’t do anything… If I die, at least it’ll all be over.”

“You are not going to die,” Yusuke said in a firm tone. “I will take you back home, I promise.”

Ryuji shook his head. “It’s fine… I’ve got it coming.”

“Why?”

“I’m a horrible person…” A low, hollow laugh escaped from his lips. “I’ve got nothing… But I keep taking more and more… More and more… I just keep taking and I can’t stop it. It hurts, and I can’t stop it… It never ends… I’m so tired of it, but it never ends…”

It was difficult to understand what those senseless words meant. Yusuke tried, but things couldn’t properly connect in his mind.

“You are not taking anything,” he said. “You are the one who is always giving me so much… I just wish I could do something for you in return.”

Ryuji kept shaking his head, and Yusuke wasn’t sure if it meant he was rejecting his words or if Yusuke had understood their meaning the wrong way.

“What are you taking, then?” he asked.

“Everything… I’m stealing her life… I’m making things harder for you, I… I shouldn’t be here… I’m… I hurt everyone… I’m just like him…”

Who was him? Did he mean his father? Or perhaps that teacher Yusuke had heard about? But it made no sense to compare himself to those despicable men who had only caused him harm.

“What do I do…?” Ryuji asked between loud breaths and small coughs. “What do I do, Yusu? I don’t know…”

“For now, just stay calm and rest. You are just confused because of what that shadow did to you.”

At the mention of that shadow, Ryuji went quiet; and, for a moment, Yusuke dared to hope he had calmed down.

“That woman,” Ryuji said, “she was kinda like me… I guess that’s why she got so mad. ’Cause I pretended I didn’t get it when I did. When things hurt too much, you just gotta make it hurt in a different way. Yeah, I get that… I make it hurt more so I can forget it… Even if it’s just for a while. But no one can see it… I’d make her cry again if she saw it…”

“You make it hurt?” Yusuke repeated.

“I hate it… I hate pain… I don’t want it to hurt. But it feels better when it hurts. For a while, it feels better. But then it hurts more… And I hate it so much…”

He lowered his voice to a barely audible mutter.

“I hate myself so much.”

Ryuji gritted his teeth, letting out a pained groan as he clawed at the wounds on his neck and face. Yusuke had to grab his wrists to make him stop.

“Don’t do this,” Yusuke said. “It will make it hurt more.”

“This hurts…” He sobbed. “I hate it… It hurts…”

“Don’t worry, we will find a way to make it stop.”

Ryuji continued to shake his head, sobs and coughs making his breaths heavier. More of that black liquid left his mouth and nose, and it startled Yusuke to see some of it running down his eye, rolling over the petals of that black flower on his face. Ryuji shut his eyes tightly, as if trying to make it stop.

“Yusu…” he muttered. “Why can’t I just die…? I just want it to end…”

“If you died, it would kill me as well,” said Yusuke. “And I don’t wish to die, so, please… Never say something like this again.”

His words made Ryuji go silent. He lowered his head, curling into a ball against Yusuke’s chest.

“Sorry…” he said. “I’m so sorry…”

He sobbed quietly. Yusuke said nothing, just held him closely, burying his face in Ryuji’s hair. He wasn’t one for seeking the aid of God or any other entity, but at that moment, he pleaded to anything that could possibly hear him. Please, let this end soon… Please, let it be over…

A sudden commotion made Yusuke look up. On that battlefield, a huge shadow fell, and after it, many of the smaller ones started to run away, terrified. Luck, divine intervention, miracle… It didn’t matter what caused it: that was their chance to escape.

“Everyone, get in!” Morgana yelled as he changed into a car. “We’re leaving before more of them come!”

Ann and Futaba dragged an unconscious Akira inside the car, while Makoto rushed to Yusuke’s side to help him get Ryuji in. This time, Haru drove so Makoto could use her magic to help Ryuji—it didn’t seem to have much of an effect now, but she still tried. Meanwhile, Ann fed Akira their final Soul Drops while gently patting his cheek, trying to wake him up. His friends spoke all at the same time, but Yusuke couldn’t hear them, a high-pitched noise flooding his ears as if it was all too much for his mind to take in. So, he looked down at Ryuji, lying on the car seat with his head on Yusuke’s lap.

“Skull?” Yusuke called him, lightly touching his forehead.

He no longer responded to his voice. Those black veins pulsated under his skin, thicker than before, resembling thorny vines; new wounds bloomed all over his body, spreading at a terrifying speed. Futaba tried to clean the dark blood that oozed from them with a folded bandage, but there was no end to it. At that rhythm, if whatever ailment that afflicted Ryuji didn’t kill him, the blood loss certainly would. Yusuke hated that thought, but he already looked dead—as if he had been dead for a long time.

“Fox,” Makoto’s voice finally reached him, bringing him back from those thoughts. “Stay with us. We can’t lose you, too.”

Yusuke could only nod in response. He could hear Ann’s voice, and followed it with his head, looking at her as she continued to talk to Akira.

“Joker… Can you hear me?”

This time, she received a low groan in response. Slowly, Akira seemed to return to consciousness, his eyes searching the car for something.

“Where’s Skull…?” he asked in a weak voice.

“Right here,” Ann responded. “The others are taking care of him.”

Akira tried to stand, but Ann gently held him by the shoulders, keeping him down.

“Don’t move…” she said. “We’ll take care of everything else.”

Akira reluctantly nodded. Seeing him awake was a small relief—so much that it took Yusuke a moment to realize something seemed amiss.

It was too quiet… The sounds of Ryuji’s difficult breaths no longer heard. For a single, hopeful moment, Yusuke wondered if it was a good sign, but then another realization made his heart seem to stop for a second. He wasn’t just quiet, but way too still, the small movements from his chest going up and down no longer there. Yusuke had a bad feeling, and brought a hand near Ryuji’s nose and mouth. His blood went cold.

“He doesn’t seem to be breathing.”

There was a second in which time seemed to stop. Makoto grabbed Ryuji’s wrist, feeling it for a few seconds, her face losing its color.

“Ann, can you do chest compressions?” she asked.

“I… think so…”

“Then do it, now.”

Makoto jumped to the back seat, crouching before Ryuji, while Ann did the same. She did as she was instructed, while Makoto pushed air into Ryuji’s mouth. They repeated it many times, but Yusuke couldn’t tell if it was working or not. Ryuji stayed still and quiet, no response at all…

“What’s happening…?” Akira tried to look back, but fell down on the seat with a pained hiss. “What happened to him?”

“We don’t know!” Futaba looked at Haru through the rearview mirror. “Please, hurry!”

Haru and Morgana accelerated, going as fast as possible. It felt like an eternity before they finally arrived. Yusuke and Makoto grabbed Ryuji by the arms, half-carrying, half-dragging him out of Morgana and toward the entrance.

Then, they crossed to the real world. Yusuke and Makoto carried Ryuji to the nearest bench, laying him there. Yusuke touched his face, terrified of what he would see when he looked at it.

“Ryuji…”

He was breathing. Yusuke pressed his ear against his chest: his heart was beating. The relief was so overwhelming that his legs lost their strength, and he fell to his knees, grabbing Ryuji’s hand between his, bringing it to his face. He was alive.

Slowly, Ryuji’s face regained some color, losing that horrible gray tone. Those black flowers all over his body started to close and fade, as if they were never there. The one in his arm lingered, though, like a partially healed burn that would leave a scar. His face twitched, then he opened his eyes, looking at the others with a lost expression.

“Ryuji…” Yusuke repeated, leaning in his direction. “Can you hear me?”

Ryuji blinked a few times, as if trying to get his vision back into focus. “Yeah…” He sat up with some effort, then shut his eyes, bringing a hand to his head while letting out a small, pained groan. “What happened?”

“We’re not sure,” said Haru. “That shadow did something to you. It only got better when we brought you out of Mementos.”

Ryuji stayed quiet for a moment, trying to recall those events. “Ah… right…”

He looked at his own arm, relaxing as he saw that now faint mark. Akira moved closer to him, placing a hand on his head, looking at his face.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“My head hurts. And my chest…”

Ann looked away, a shadow of guilt on her face. “Sorry, that was probably me.”

Ryuji creased his brow. “What…?”

“You weren’t breathing,” said Morgana, “so Lady Ann and Makoto had to…”

Morgana’s voice trailed off, but it was enough for Ryuji to understand what he meant.

“Shit…”

For a few seconds, none of them said a single word. Then, Futaba suddenly stepped forward and clung to his neck, sobbing loudly.

The gesture seemed to break everyone else out of their daze. Akira was the next one, joining Futaba in that hug, then soon Ann did the same. Morgana jumped on the bench, rubbing his head against Ryuji’s leg. With a relieved smile, Haru placed a hand on his head, caressing his hair, while, by her side, Makoto rubbed his back.

Yusuke stayed in place, still holding Ryuji’s hand. He wanted to hug him, to hold him close until he was certain he was truly there, safe by his side. But he couldn’t bring himself to let go of his hand, as if that single action would be enough to make him disappear from his life—this time, for good.

Ryuji’s pleasant, almost amused laugh took some of that weight out of his chest: he sounded like the Ryuji he knew once again. No longer the one who said cryptic things in a weak, raspy voice… The one who had given Yusuke the courage to move forward; the one in whom he trusted without a shred of doubt; the one who inspired and supported him, and who was always by his side whenever Yusuke needed someone. The one who was more precious to him than anything else in his life.

“Sorry for worrying you,” said Ryuji.

“Just don’t do this ever again!” Ann yelled.

“That’s right!” Morgana agreed. “You stupid, useless Ryuji!”

Ryuji laughed. He turned his face toward Yusuke, their eyes meeting. Ryuji offered him a smile, and Yusuke couldn’t help but do the same, finally letting go of his hand, this time placing his arms around Ryuji’s neck, holding him closely. He couldn’t say a word, but neither did Ryuji, who embraced Yusuke back, letting out a long sigh as his body relaxed in his arms.

“Uh, kids… Is something the matter?”

The moment was interrupted by an older man, who looked at them with a mix of curiosity and grandfatherly concern. Makoto was the first one to respond.

“No, everything is fine. Our friend just felt sick suddenly, so we brought him here to recover.”

“I see.” The man nodded. “You should check that, it could be anemia. My granddaughter had it a while ago… Passed out on the street just like your friend here.”

“We will take him to a doctor as soon as possible.” She bowed slightly to him. “Thank you very much.”

The old man nodded, then walked away from them with no more questions. It did, however, serve as a reminder that they were in a public area, and that the number of curious gazes upon them would only grow the longer they stayed there.

“We should take him home soon,” said Akira.

“You should be going home, too,” said Haru to him. “You pushed yourself too far this time.”

Akira seemed about to protest, but a single look from Makoto made him stay quiet.

“Don’t worry,” said Futaba. “I’ll make sure he gets home safely.”

“Me too,” added Morgana.

“Make sure he rests well,” said Ann. “Instead of working the evening shift at the Leblanc.”

Akira let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not such a workaholic.”

“We’ll make sure of it.” Futaba patted his shoulder, then turned her gaze to Ryuji. “Someone should accompany Ryuji home, too.”

“I will accompany him,” Yusuke quickly said. “You must all be exhausted from that battle. I could not join it, so I can do at least this much.”

“Are you sure you will be fine on your own?” asked Haru.

“Of course.”

“Very well,” said Makoto. “Be careful on your way back, you two.”

“And let us know when you arrive home,” asked Akira.

Both Yusuke and Ryuji agreed. As the others said their goodbyes and made promises to rest properly, Yusuke looked at him, still sitting on that bench.

“Can you walk?” he asked.

“I…” Ryuji moved his leg, testing his weight on it before letting out a tired sigh. “I don’t think so. Sorry…”

“Climb on my back.”

“I’m pretty heavy.”

“It is fine.”

Ryuji seemed reluctant, but ended up doing as he said. He was quite heavy, and Yusuke had to walk slowly not to risk losing his balance or letting him fall. Truth was, Yusuke knew that Makoto or Haru would be more suited to the job of carrying him home, but—besides what he had already said about them being exhausted—Yusuke couldn’t bear the thought of parting ways with Ryuji.

They spent most of the train ride in silence. Yusuke noticed Ryuji dozing off, then gently pulled his head toward his shoulder, to which Ryuji didn’t protest.

The calm, silent minutes that passed allowed Yusuke to think about those things he heard from Ryuji in the Metaverse. Little by little, what initially sounded like the senseless ramblings of a confused person started to make more sense as he compared them to what he knew about Ryuji’s life. His horrible father, that teacher who shattered his dreams, how guilty he felt over the feeling of being a burden to his mother—which also connected to how hard he tried to be useful to their group, always putting their needs and wants above his own.

And there were those specific comments about hurting as well… Maybe some of it had been an influence from that shadow, but Yusuke couldn’t help but feel like that wasn’t the entire truth. Ryuji never seemed like the kind of person who would go as far as doing something like that, but Yusuke had only known him for less than one year. As close as he felt to Ryuji, there was still much about him he didn’t know.

He woke Ryuji up when they were near their station, carrying him out of the train and toward his home. If he wanted to talk, that was probably his last chance.

“Ryuji…”

The response came in a slightly sleepy voice. “Hm?”

“Do you harm yourself?”

Perhaps he was too direct with that question. Ryuji didn’t respond for a long while, and Yusuke wished he could see the expression on his face.

“No, I…” Ryuji stopped, hesitant. A moment later, he added in a low voice. “Why? Did I say something weird while I was out of it?”

“Not weird. But I think I understand some things about you better now.”

There was a small groan, followed by another moment of silence before he finally responded in a low voice.

“I did, for a while. But I stopped a long time ago.”

“That is a relief.” Yusuke paused, wondering if it was fine for him to continue. “Why did you do such a thing, though?”

“Things were… bad for a while,” Ryuji explained. “First, ’cause of my old man. Then, when my mom divorced him and things were getting a little better, Kamoshida broke my leg and… I got into some bad habits again.”

Now that he said it, those final pieces fell into place in Yusuke’s mind. The understanding brought a weight to his heart.

“You really stopped, didn’t you?” he asked.

“Yeah. Really.”

“Good.” Despite trusting Ryuji’s words, however, there was still a hint of anxiety in Yusuke’s heart. “Everyone was worried about you. If anything happened to you, we would all suffer terribly.”

“Sorry for scaring you.”

“There is no need to apologize for something that wasn’t your fault. All I ask you is that… Please, keep in mind that we all care about you.”

“I know.” Ryuji made a brief, hesitant pause. “Did the others hear what I said, too?”

“No, only me.”

“Can you… not tell them?”

“I won’t. But I can’t pretend I didn’t hear it, either.”

Ryuji didn’t respond. Yusuke knew he was uncomfortable with the subject, but he couldn’t simply stop there.

“Do you hate yourself?” he asked, finally.

“Sometimes, yeah. But… I guess I’m starting to like myself more lately.”

That didn’t sound like a lie, which was a relief.

“I am glad to hear it.”

Yusuke didn’t ask any more questions, not wanting to push him too far. It didn’t take long, however, for Ryuji to break the silence.

“Hey, Yusu… I dunno what I said to you, but this was all worse before I met you and the others.” He lowered his voice. “Y’know, wanting to die and harm myself. It was pretty bad when I was younger, and last year. But I don’t really feel like that anymore.”

Yusuke repeated those words in his mind for a few steps, giving his mind enough time to fully absorb their meaning.

“If you ever feel this way again, would you tell me?” he asked.

“Yeah. Sure.”

“I mean it.”

“Me too.” Ryuji went quiet for a moment. “Hey, Yusu… Thanks for caring about me.”

Such a strange thing to be thankful for… Yet, Yusuke could understand the feeling.

“I should be the one thanking you for it,” he said.

“I didn’t do anything, though.”

His words almost made Yusuke laugh: he truly had no idea…

Before he met Ryuji, Yusuke’s life had been nothing but a tangled ball of frustrations, sorrow, confusion, helplessness, and—above all else—loneliness. For a long time, his art had been the only thing keeping him from sinking into that deep sea of terrible feelings and thoughts.

He had never told anyone, but a few times when he was younger, he too had that urge to harm himself in different ways, especially when Madarame made him feel like a useless burden without a future. But Yusuke had been too weak to—or perhaps strong enough not to—do more than scratch his arms a few times. Every time, it was only a momentary relief, though, followed by an unpleasant feeling in his stomach. With time, he learned to fight that urge and let his feelings out through his art.

However, when the truth about his mentor and his mother came to light, for a while, Yusuke was terrified of becoming like that man. Not even his art was enough to help him—it was like there was a barrier between it and himself. And that feeling only seemed to confirm his fears that something was wrong with him, that if he stayed that way, sooner or later he would become a man as horrible as Madarame, who could do little but lie, steal, and hurt those around him.

The Phantom Thieves saved him. And, among them all, Ryuji was the one he felt the closest to, and who stood by his side whenever he needed it. If Ryuji hadn’t been there, with his wide smile and caring gestures, Yusuke might have sunk into that dark sea and come back as a different person—if he ever came back at all.

So, yes, Ryuji had saved him. Maybe not his life, but his entire self. If he were better with words, he would properly convey it all to Ryuji, and let him know how deeply he understood those fears and the pain he carried within him; however, voicing his feelings wasn’t one of his talents, so all he could do was try.

“You did,” said Yusuke with a slight smile. “You saved me.”

“Huh?” Ryuji sounded genuinely surprised. “Did I…?”

“In more ways than you can imagine.”

Ryuji didn’t speak for a while, and Yusuke didn’t try to get a response out of him.

“I see.” A small sound like a laugh left Ryuji’s lips. “Good thing I’m here, then.”

Yusuke smiled. “It is a wonderful thing, yes.”

Ryuji’s arms tightened around him, and it made Yusuke realize—once again—how precious that boy was to him. He slowly walked toward Ryuji’s home, step after step, while feeling his comforting weight and warmth against his back.

And, if there were still any barriers standing in between them, Yusuke felt like they had fallen at that very moment, allowing them to truly reach each other’s heart.