#//And Akechi would think helping the Thieves out of their sticky situation would be helping to settle that debt when he sees Futaba.

[kingspuppet-a]

P5 Strikers Verse || Straight Up Devious

At the beginning of the summer, Akechi is currently working at the rehab facility that helped him and his mother out when he was younger. Most of his time is spent helping around as payment for his residence as well as attending therapy sessions (both private and group). He holds minimal contact with the outside allowing the public to think that he either disappeared or died to whatever conspiracies they came up with. Anyone he meets at the facility is bound under a contract of not speaking personally about those in the care of the rehab allowing his cover to remain a secret.

All social media and other ways to keep in touch with the outside world are removed from his phone. It’s only through some workers at the facility that he learns of EMMA. Then he hears about it on the news that they keep on the TV in the common area. He pays it no mind until the mention of the Phantom Thieves catches his attention. It rattles him, but he tries to play it off as indifference or a lack of caring towards the group so he can get through the rest of his day.

That night he finally digs around on social media for the first time in many months. He pulls up several articles as he finds himself unable to satiate his curiosity. Keeping up with the news for a few weeks, he finally decides to check out the situation himself. His therapist express great concern when he tells them of his decision. Much to his reluctance, he told them about his time as Shido’s hitman as well as his brief excursion with the Thieves. It leads to them questioning whether his choice was out of a sense of duty, genuine curiosity, or a way to hurt himself.

For the rest of the night he thinks on it, and finds that he doesn’t have an answer. A past he’d best forget came back to haunt him. That chapter of his life left open like a raw wound. So without a clear answer in his mind he sets out the next morning. Through the changes of heart he tracks the Thieves down to Kyoto, and when he continues to hear about EMMA he downloads the app himself.

He finds it incredibly foolish for the population to be so infatuated with a damn AI. Could they really do nothing for themselves? It seemed like everything that happened all those months ago was pointless to the public.

It’s only when he spots a lone Futaba looking like a frightened deer does he finally make contact with the Thieves again. And despite his better judgement, he forces his involvement because now he finally finds his answer. He owes the Thieves, and he’s always one to repay his debts.