The Aeon Arcana

Everyone's a Critic

Saturday, August 13. Daytime.

"This is just…creepy."

Ann's face was curled in disgust as she looked at Akechi. The Phantom thieves, including yourself and Akechi, had gone to Mementos to investigate Hifumi's mother. Akechi, not bothering to keep up the façade, was dressed in his full black mask attire. Everyone was gathered at the very top platform in Mementos, waiting for Ren's instruction. You were already fed up with everyone, though, and it had hardly been ten minutes.

"Oh, it's creepy when a man wears a leather suit, but you can?" Akechi snapped.

"What the hell kind of deflection is that?!" Ann yelled.

"He…he does that when directly provoked," you said quietly. "He prefers encouragement."

"Is he a dog?! " 

"Sometimes, yes," you grimaced.

"I resent this conversation," Akechi said, annoyed.

"I said it was creepy to have the Black Mask so close to us, that's all I meant!" Ann clarified. "No need to be so sensitive, jeez."

This was already a wonderful start.

"I am not sensitive," Akechi continued to argue. "You're just a–"

"Enough!" You ordered, stepping between Ann and Akechi. You stood in front of Ann, facing your boyfriend. 

Akechi had his mask pushed down over his eyes, so his expression was obscured. You could tell by the slight step he took backwards, and the licking of his lips that he was cowering. He was going to be a complete asshole, and it was only going to escalate.

You dragged Akechi to a far corner of the platform. You moved your face close to his ear and spoke in a hushed tone. "Goro, I need you to do your best to relax."

"I don't want to relax," he growled. "I want to kill something."

"Hey!" You pushed up his mask and looked directly into his face. "Don't be like this. I thought we were supposed to be getting along. "

"Tch. I never got along with them to begin with, let alone now that they're genuinely hostile." Akechi glanced at the Phantom Thieves who were crowded around Ren's phone.

"Don't take what Mona said to heart–"

"He's right." He looked directly at you now. "I murder. And I defile you."

"I don't want to have this conversation here," you said, closing his helmet.

"Hah! You don't care what we do in Mementos," Akechi smirked.

"Be quiet!" You hushed him.

"Fine, I'll behave," Akechi relented. "But I won't tolerate being badgered by the other women. I only enjoy it when it's you."

"Be patient, handsome boy," you pat Akechi on the chest.

"You two lovebirds done over there?" Ren called. 

"Relax, Joker," Akechi growled, approaching the group. He pulled out his own phone. "Found her," he said. "She's deep in."

"How?!" Morgana cried. "We haven't even sent a calling card–"

"You think I use calling cards?" Akechi said. "I have high tech equipment to locate shadows by just knowing their names and sin. Find them, and then…" He did a finger gun and pretended to shoot Ryuji in the forehead.

"The ef was that?!" Ryuji yelled.

"Another fight?!" Makoto pulled Ryuji backwards, preventing him from hitting Akechi. "Seriously, Crow. I know you're more mature than this."