Chapter 36
When Yu landed, Akechi was already up, searching for a weapon.
Trusting Yu and not bringing a gun had been his biggest mistake.
Hearing the sound behind him, Akechi turned, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and resentment, unsure whether he was more angry about Yu’s actions or the fact that he had kept his knowledge of the other world and Personas a secret.
Yu walked towards him, his glasses glinting, his gray eyes devoid of emotion.
Akechi backed away, finding no weapon.
“Narukami, I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“There’s no misunderstanding.” Yu drew his katana, the tip of the blade resting against Akechi’s throat. Akechi’s breath hitched, but he didn’t flinch.
He tried to stall for time. “Yu Narukami, are you going to kill me?”
“And this isn’t the Metaverse, is it? At least, not the Metaverse I know.”
Akechi’s mind raced, his thoughts becoming clearer in this dangerous situation.
“Entering the Metaverse without the Navigator, and remaining in our regular clothes… Yu Narukami, where are we?”
Yu didn’t lower his blade, his gaze fixed on Akechi’s eyes, offering no answer.
The blade pressed closer, and Akechi was forced to tilt his head back, the sharp edge breaking his skin, a slight sting reminding him of Yu’s anger.
Yu’s silent fury was more terrifying than any outburst.
“So,” Yu finally spoke, “you didn’t deny knowing about the other world and Personas. You didn’t deny my accusation. You are the culprit behind the mental shutdown incidents.”
“Why did you do it?”
Akechi remained silent.
He had never anticipated this.
After confirming Ren’s identity as a Phantom Thief, he had planned to frame them for the mental shutdowns, ensuring there was no evidence against him.
He had never suspected Yu, never imagined being cornered like this, Yu’s blade against his throat, his secret exposed.
He wanted to argue, to deny, but he knew Yu wouldn’t have done this without being certain.
Any denial would be pointless.
“A righteous detective, committing murder and framing innocent people, Akechi!” Yu’s voice rose. “Answer me!”
“Ah, shut up!” Akechi shouted back. “Yes, I did it! So what?!”
“As long as I achieve my goals, I don’t care how many people die!”
“And how do you know those people didn’t deserve to die?!” Akechi finally dropped his facade, his true nature revealed. “Politicians, businessmen… they’re all corrupt! Even prosecutors fabricate evidence for their own careers!”
“Don’t they deserve to die?!”
Such selfish and callous words. This was reversed Justice.
Yu lowered his blade, then, as Akechi raised an eyebrow, he threw the katana aside and punched Akechi in the face.
The blow sent Akechi sprawling to the ground, clutching his cheek and hissing in pain, his eyes filled with rage.
“Deserve to die?”
Yu’s breath came in ragged gasps, as if trying to control his anger.
“Did the man shot by the politician deserve to die? Did the pregnant woman, caught in the crossfire, deserve to die? Or… Akechi, do you think I deserved to die?”
“Would it have been fine if I had died?”
Yu looked at him, his eyes filled with sadness. “That day… you were genuinely worried about my safety, weren’t you?”
Akechi froze, a sharp pang of guilt stabbing at his heart.
He remembered that day, the high school student who had saved the pregnant woman, and himself, instinctively running out to find Yu after hearing the gunshot.
“We’re friends, aren’t we?” Yu’s voice trembled slightly. “Because we’re friends, you came to this deserted place to meet me. Because we’re friends, I’m listening to your explanation.”
“Akechi, turn yourself in. It’s not too late.”
Akechi could never understand Yu, his seemingly naive belief that any wrongdoing could be forgiven, his unwavering optimism that even a fall from grace could be redeemed.
Frustration and a searing pain consumed him.
“Shut up,” Akechi glared at Yu. “You don’t understand anything.”
“Why didn’t that politician kill you? If you had died then, you wouldn’t be here spouting such nauseatingly righteous nonsense.”
“Yu Narukami, I hate you. I hate you so much I want you dead!”
Akechi stood up, his clothes transforming into a white, knight-like Phantom Thief outfit, a red, beaked mask covering his face.
This was the first time Yu truly sensed Akechi’s killing intent.
“It seems reconciliation is impossible.”
Yu picked up his katana, the sadness in his eyes replaced by a steely resolve.
“Alright, then let’s fight.”
“I’ll crush your pathetic attempts at defiance.”
Akechi ripped off his mask. “Die! Robin Hood!”
Yu, unfazed by the unfamiliar Persona, remained calm, summoning his own Persona only when Robin Hood attacked.
He closed his eyes.
“Magatsu-Izanagi,” Yu said. “Let’s see what you’re capable of.”
Magatsu-Izanagi, the Persona he had inherited from Tohru Adachi, its dark red form radiating an ominous aura, the embodiment of desire. How would it fare against reversed Justice?
His katana blocked Robin Hood’s attack, electricity coursing through the point of contact, shocking Akechi.
Akechi winced, falling to one knee, his body numb, his teeth gritted as he glared at Yu.
…He was strong, stronger than any Shadow.
And somehow, Robin Hood felt sluggish, his attacks weaker than usual.
“Are you having trouble controlling your Persona?”
Yu asked, his glasses reflecting an eerie golden light, making him seem even more intimidating.
“Don’t worry, it’s normal. This isn’t Tokyo’s Metaverse. In my world, those who refuse to accept themselves are hunted by their Shadows.”
He pointed his sheathed katana at Akechi’s forehead.
“You’ve awakened your Persona, but you haven’t accepted yourself, so it’s rejecting you.”
Akechi scoffed.
He struggled to his feet. Robin Hood, defeated by Magatsu-Izanagi, lay on the ground, dissolving into static, like a flickering TV screen. He couldn’t hold on any longer.
“Rejecting myself? How do you know I haven’t accepted myself?” Akechi clenched his fists so tightly his fingernails pierced his gloves, drawing blood.
“I’ll show you my true self!”
“Come forth, Loki!”
His Phantom Thief outfit dissolved into black, Robin Hood transforming into a monstrous, horned figure.
“Oh?” Yu narrowed his eyes, adjusting his glasses. “So you have multiple Personas. Impressive.”
“But it’s useless.”
Magatsu-Izanagi vanished behind Yu, reforming into a completely different Persona.
“I’ll show you what true justice is,” Yu said softly.
It was the strongest Persona, born from Nanako’s justice.
“Sleipnir!”
Akechi paused. Loki’s attack struck Yu’s Persona, but it caused no damage. Instead, Loki lost nearly half his health instantly.
…Curse reflection.
Sleipnir vanished, Magatsu-Izanagi reappearing. This time, Magatsu-Izanagi’s blade struck the weakened Loki, sending him flying, Akechi crashing to the ground three meters away, coughing in pain as Loki shattered behind him.
Yu didn’t even need Izanagi-no-Okami. His other Personas were more than enough to defeat Akechi.
The power of his bonds was something Akechi, alone and isolated, could never comprehend.
“Cough, cough,” Akechi clutched his stomach, a searing pain radiating through him.
Yu recalled Magatsu-Izanagi, walking over to Akechi and dropping a healing item beside him.
“Since you can’t seem to understand, think about it here,” he said calmly, his tone strangely unlike his usual self.
“Find your own way out if you want to leave.”
“Or I’ll let you out when you finally understand.”
“…Are you going to imprison me?” Akechi asked weakly, glaring at Yu. “Yu Narukami, what are you trying to do?”
“You can’t lock me up in the real world without evidence, so you’re going to imprison me here instead?!”
“No,” Yu shook his head. “If it’s not voluntary, it’s not atonement. I’m just giving you time to think.”
“Goodbye, then.”
Without further explanation, Yu turned and left, vanishing within a few steps, leaving Akechi struggling to stand.
“Yu Narukami!” Akechi called out, supporting himself on one knee.
“Damn it.”
“…I hate you. I hate the Phantom Thieves.”
“…I’ll kill you all! Every single one of you!”
Yu stepped out of the abandoned screen, seeing Ren and a worried Mona waiting for him.
“Ren?” Yu asked, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“Morgana was worried about you, so I had Futaba track your phone’s location,” Ren said, his gaze fixed on Yu. “Are you alright?”
Yu smiled, the warmth returning to his gray eyes. “I’m fine.”
“Thank you for waiting for me.”
“Where’s Akechi?”
“I’m giving him some time to think. I believe he’ll figure it out.”
Ren believed it too.
In his past life, Akechi had had a change of heart at the last minute, helping the Phantom Thieves escape. Although it had been largely due to his realization that Shido had been manipulating him, regardless of the reason, he had repented.
And in this life, the moment Akechi befriended Yu, the false god’s plan had begun to unravel.
The man who had been alone in his past life now had a genuine connection, a bond that could influence him, even if he didn’t acknowledge it, even if he struggled against it.
But who said struggling wasn’t the beginning of change?
