No one's POV
Currently, everyone is standing outside the courthouse, getting ready to enter Sae's Palace.
Morgana: The courthouse, huh?
Ann: Are you sure Makoto's sister's Palace is here?
Akechi: The Phantom Thieves are suspected of murdering Kunikazu Okumura. With a reward out for your capture, you're currently enemy number one in Japan.
Ryuji: We were framed!
Makoto: But we don't have evidence to exonerate us.
Yusuke: To quickly warp up this Phantom Thieves situation, the prosecutor's office and police are fabricating evidence and witnesses, while panting us the culprits.
Akechi: I'm sure they'll do an investigation soon, too. Of Shujin Academy, as well as the Sakura residence.
Futaba: For real?!
Akira: And the leader of that investigation is...
Haru: Mako's big sister.
Akechi: Sae is obviously out of control. But if we make her come to her senses by changing her heart, she'll bring this run away train to a halt.
Morgana: It's also to protect the life of Sae herself. When will the investigation take place?
Akechi: November 20th, I believe. It should be a substantially forced operation, so I doubt it'll take place before the 20th.
Nhazul: So three weeks from now.
Akechi: We have time, but not enough to waste. We don't know what's going on with the Palace, either. So let's-
Akechi pulled out his phone, but Futaba grabbed it with wide eyes.
Futaba: That's the newest model! Lucky!
Nhazul: ...-_-...Really, are you really doing this now...?
Makoto: Sorry, she has a weakness for stuff like this.
Futaba: This UI moves so smoothly! Awesome!
Akechi: Sae told me the gist.
Makoto: Oh, right. Akechi, it may be best if you exchange contact info with everyone.
Alechi: That's true.
Nhazul: You might want to just text him them...
Makoto: Right...
After a few minutes, Futaba gave Akechi his phone back.
Futaba: Thank you, thank you! I enjoyed that.
Akechi: I'm glad it pleased you.
Futaba: A good personality and good looks? Talking about another cheater!
Akechi: Huh?
Nhazul: That's her way of praising. But what do you mean another cheater?
Futaba then started blushing.
Futaba: D-Don't worry about it!
Akechi: Then are we ready, everyone? What's the keyword?
Nhazul: Well, since everyone case is pretty much a gamble if you win or lose, it has to be...
Akira: A casino.
Akechi then put in "casino" and then they were transported to Sae's Palace, which was a massive casino in the distance.
Ryuji: Whoa!
Ann: Flashy!
Yusuke: So the courthouse is a casino?
Makoto: My sister often calls it a "place of competition in which she must always win".
Akechi: That sounds like Sae.
Everyone then started stealthy move through the streets, making their way to Sae's Palace and Haru spoke up.
Haru: Oh, right. Your code name.
Akechi: Code name?
Ryuji: Phantom Thieves can't go around usin their real names, right?
Akechi: What are yours?
Ryuji: Skull!
Yusuke: Fox!
Ann: We pretty much decided on them with how we look, didn't we?
Akechi: Then, perhaps "Karasu" will be best for me.
Akira: Karasu?
Skull: Your clothes all black or something?
Akechi: The reverse actually.
Futaba: You'd be the only Japanese sounding one.
Ann: Okay, why not go with "Crow" instead?
Mona: Alright, from here on out, you're Crow.
Akechi: Got it.
After 10 minutes, everyone had made it to the back entrance to the Palace, where they saw Nhazul already sitting on the stairs waiting, eating two candy bars and they all looked at him surprised.
Mona: What the?! Nhazul?!
Nhazul: Yeah?
Ann: How did you get here before us?
Nhazul: ...-_-... I walked. Like a normal person...
After everyone entered the Palace, their outfits then changed and everyone saw Crow's outfit.
Crow: So this means we're acknowledged as a threat, correct?
Panther: That's a crow?
Skull: It's all white!
Crow: I said it was reversed. If our code names are to hide our identities, wouldn't this be better?
Mona: It just means that's what he thinks a rebel looks like.
Crow: This is my mental image of a person who sticks to their justice.
Tenor: And someone who will have one hell of a cleaning bill if they spill anything red on that outfit...
Oracle: Changing the subject, this is one glitzy casino.
Fox: But the patrons look completely normal.
Noir: They look like living, breathing humans.
Joker: This has to be her cognition.
Mona: Correct.
Crow: Cognition?
Panther: Oh, right. You don't know to much about cognitive beings, do you?
Crow: I think I can piece it together. I saw the robot employees in Mr. Okumura's Palace. In essence, since these ones look like real people, Sae view of others is surprisingly undistorted.
Tenor: Pretty much.
Joker: Genius detective already.
Crow: Do the Calling cards also have some connections to cognitions?
Mona: By making the person aware of being targeted, their Treasure materializes.
Crow: Then I was right. The Calling card was necessary.
???: Well, well...It seems uninvited guests slipped in. Thieves in fact.
Everyone then looked over and saw Shadow Sae.
Queen: Big sis...
Skull: So we're jumping right into this? Fine by me! It saves time!
Shadow Sae: I'd rather you didn't speak as if were equals. For I not only run this place, but I'm also the number one player.
Tenor: Shocking...
Shadow Sae: At the moment, you don't even have what it takes to fight me.
Joker: Then what?
Shadow Sae: The Treasure is located on the Manager's floor, at the highest point of this building. I'll see you there. Then we can do business.
Queen: Why are you telling us this?
Shadow Sae: I wish to go about this in the fairest manner possible. I've fought and won all this time to be number one.
Shadow Sae then teleported to an elevator and went up it and the others went over to the elevator, trying to use it , but it wouldn't work, since they needed a member's card.
Skull: What the hell?!
Fox: Apparently it requires a member's card.
Crow: Then let's find one.
Queen looked and saw Tenor still pushing the button to the elevator.
Queen: What are you doing...?
Tenor: I saw this in a game once, you keep pushing the button and eventually it'll just let you through out of pure annoyance.
Oracle: Oh! I played that game before! It's really fun!
Queen just looked at Tenor annoyed.
Queen's thoughts: Why do I like him so much...
Joker: We got company!
Everyone looked over and saw that a shadow had appeared in front of them.
Crow: Heading to the top will not be a simple matter.
Mona: Get ready time rumble guys!
Crow: Leave this to me.
Crow walked in front of everyone and summoned his Persona and the shadow lunged it's at him, but was blocked.
Tenor: Hey now.
Panther: No way.
Noir: Is that Crow's Persona?
Crow: Take them down, Robin Hood!
Robin Hood drew back his bow and took out the shadow with one hit.
Skull: Whoa!
Mona: You're not bad!
Crow: I'm just warming up. Come on, let's get back-
Panther: Wait a second. Doesn't it sound like we're gonna get ambushed based on what we heard earlier?
Queen: Agreed. I suggest we return for now and prepare.
Crow: I'll do whatever you guys decide.
(Timeskip)
After leaving Sae's Palace, everyone went home and Nhazul, Morgana, Akechi and Akira all went to Leblanc to think about what to do.
Akechi: The way it is, it'll take a gamble to crack that Palace. Have either of you gambled before?
Akira: Nope.
Nhazul: Not really.
Akechi: Thought so. Neather have I.
Suddenly, Futaba came running in and hid behind Nhazul.
Akira: Futaba?
Nhazul: What's wrong? Why were you running?
Suddenly, Sojiro came running into Leblanc as well.
Sojiro: Wait, Futaba! I apologize for speaking so harshly.
Akira: What's going on?
Sojiro: It's none of your business.
Nhazul: Well, if she comes running in here scared to death, yeah, I'm going to make it my business.
Akira then noticed that Sojiro had dropped something and he picked it up and they were all shocked to see it was Futaba's Calling card.
Nhazul...-_-... You kept it?
Futaba: I mean...It was memorable...
Sojiro: Wait...do you two know something about this?
Nhazul and Akira looked at each other and Nhazul looked at Akechi.
Nhazul: Mitsuki, can you leave, we need to have a talk.
Akechi: Right.
Akechi then left and Sojiro looked at the three of them.
Sojiro: Explain.
Futaba: Explain...
Sojiro: Can't tell me?
Futaba then started clinching Nhazul's shirt tightly.
Futaba: Ex...plain....
Morgana: Hey, if this keeps up, Futaba's...
Akira: We know.
Nhazul: We'll explain, Sojiro.
Sojiro: I asked Futaba. But I'll get right to the point. Is this a"real" one? Did they...trigger a change of heart in you?
Futaba: E-Ever since...Mom died...there was...no exit...I was trapped...in a labyrinth of...my heart...I knew I... had to leave it...but I... I couldn't do it myself...
Sojiro: Futaba...
Sojiro just sighed.
Sojiro: The three of you, sit down. I can at least listen to what you have to say.
The three of them sat down in a booth, Futaba next to Nhazul and Akira next to Sojiro.
Futaba: The Phantom Thieves...saved me...They stole my messed up heart...It's the same as Mom's research...They changed...my cognition...
Futaba then started crying and Nhazul just brought her into a hug.
Sojiro: Seriously? Wakaba's research about altering one's cognition...I wondered about it myself too, but still...
Akira: When did you notice?
Sojiro: When she said she was gonna go to the beach out of nowhere. Even doctors had thrown in the towel.
Futaba: ...
Sojiro: At first I chalked it you as other kids being a better support for you then any adult. But as I kept watching the tabloids shows here day in and day out, a thought crossed my mind...I thought "your case seemed kind of similar to what these Phantom Thieves were doing.
Futaba: Wow...
Sojiro: I'm still your guardian, you know. I'd never overlook such a drastic change in your behavior.
Futaba: Sojiro...
Sojiro: But to think that Wakaba's research and the Phantom Thieves changing hearts were about the same thing. Back in the day, I used to be a government official. My job was to be the bridge between the country and the lab that Wakaba worked at. It's around that time that I got to know her. She said something odd when we were out drinking one day. That one of these days, she might end up dead. A bizarre death. Who wouldn't take that as a joke? I just laughed it off...But it happened exactly as she said. If anything were to happen to you, I'd feel like I let her down.
Sojiro looked at Nhazul and Akira.
Sojiro: There's something I want to ask the two of you, Akira, Nhazul. Judging by your attitudes, you both knew about the Calling cars, didn't you? You both should've known that Futaba had a change of heart through the Phantom Thieves as well. Is there a connection between the two of you and them? The first incident of change of heart was a teacher you twos school. The kid who brought that painting here was a pupil of that artist who had a change of heart, wasn't he? And then there's Futaba. You both always seemed to be linked to those incidents somehow...Got anything to say?
Nhazul: Wow...you're a lot more sharp then I thought.
Akira: We're sorry for keeping quiet.
Sojiro just looked at the two of them.
Sojiro: You know what people call them? Criminals. Why did you both introduce such dangerous people to Futaba?!
Futaba; That's not true! I asked them ! That's why Nhazul and Akira saved me! They stole my heart!
Sojiro: Asked? Stole?
Futaba: Oh...Uh...Ummm...
Sojiro: Wait, are you saying they're the ones who changed your hearts?! They don't just deal with the Phantom Thieves...they're actually apart of them?! You're pulling my leg, aren't you?
Nhazul: Guilty as charged.
Akira: It's true.
Sojiro just looked at the two of them shocked.
Sojiro: Are you both serious...? The two of you are really Phantom Thieves? For crying out loud...
Futaba: Sojiro...
Sojiro: So basically, I've been sheltering not one, but two Phantom Thieves for the past six months...? And on top of that, Futaba's involved too...What the hell...?
Futaba: I want to find the culprit who killed my mom!
Sojiro looked at Futaba shocked and confused.
Sojiro: Wait, killed...?
Futaba: She was killed! I...remember it now.
Sojiro: Stop this nonsense!
Futaba: Why won't you believe me?! Are you the same as everyone else?! Didn't you know already?! The way Mom died wasn't normal! Didn't you notice that her research was stolen by someone?! Sojiro...!
Sojiro didn't say anything for a few seconds and then spoke up.
Sojiro: When she passed away... I did think it was odd...it was awfully fishy. But what could I do? All I was able to do was run from it all. Run away, hide...and end up here, as some old guy running a cafe. To be frank, I took you in for my own good. Like it'd somehow make up for what I'd done. It's basically, my fault that you got burdened with all this crap.
Futaba: It's not your fault, Sojiro...
Sojiro: I acted all big, lectured, even yelled at you kids...And I end up getting consoled by her. God...Real pathetic, aren't I?
Nhazul: That isn't true.
Akira: And we're sorry.
Futaba: I mean, the one who killed Mom is the one at fault!
Sojiro: I see. But don't worry. Even if you're the real Phantom Thieves, I have no intention of reporting or kicking you out. I mean, who would believe such a story?
Nhazul: At this point, you'd be surprised...
Sojiro: Unless they catch you red handed, it's impossible to explain that you're the Phantom Thieves. But let me say one thing through. Immediately back out of a fight that you can't win.
Akira: What do you mean?
Sojiro: Just do as I say. If by chance you pissed off the same guys that killed Wakaba...Then they're not someone that kids like you can deal with. Listen to reason, alright?
Sojiro then stood up.
Sojiro: We're done talking about this. C'mon, time to eat. All that yelling's gotten me hungry.
Sojiro walked off and Morgana jumped on Nhazul's lap.
Morgana: Phew...If he turned us in, that would've jeopardized the whole operation. Still, we should tell the others about what just happened.
Futaba then leaned her head on Nhazul's shoulder.
Futaba: I'm tired...
Akira: Same...
Nhazul: ...-_-...This theme of being caught and or blackmail really needs to stop...