Faith | Akira Kurusu x OC | Persona 5

Faith VI | Promise

Protip: (FIXED) Yuuen's birthday is January 17th making her a Capricorn.

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"Good morning, Mishima-kun!" Yuuen faked a smile giving the timid boy a small wave as she walked by him in the hallway.

"A-ah... Good morning, Yuuen..." He shyly waved back, "You're energetic today..."

She gave him a small yet friendly hum and walked away.

"Morito-san?" A recognizable voice said making the girl shudder.

She knew it would happen eventually but she didn't expect it to happen this early into the day.

"K-Kamoshida-sensei!" She cursed herself for stuttering out the name.

She practiced this so many times in her room, but standing in front of him face-to-face is a whole another story.

She gulped and put on a fake smile that was so fake it almost seemed malicious.

"Good morning Kamoshida-sensei!" She grinned as her heart sped up in fear.

"W-why good morning Morito-san. You're sure chipper this morning..." He spat out with a forced smile.

"Yup! It's such a beautiful day! Why wouldn't I be happy?" Yuuen smiled innocently as she noticed Akira's glance from the hallway.

"O-oh Akira! Good morning! I got what you asked for!" She called walking past Kamoshida-sensei.

Then she quickly turned around with a bow.

"Sorry, I'd love to chat but I have work to do."  She rushed off pulling her black-haired friend away as he had a look of sheer confusion on his face.

"W-what?! What the hell? What did I ask you to do?" Akira questioned absolutely confused.

"Nothing! I just said that to give me an excuse to escape." Yuuen sighed as she stopped dragging him. "That was too close..." Yuuen took a moment to catch her breath, just realizing she hadn't breathed the entire time.

"O-oh. I see." Akira said fixing his glasses a bit.

He patted her head lightly, "Are you alright?" He asked concerned.

"Y-yeah... I'm just a little shaken up." She sighed relishing in the comfort of his pat.

It kind of reminded her of when her father used to pat her head.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you." He sighed as Yuuen waved it off frantically.

"D-don't worry about it! And you did help! I got away see?" She tried to reason to not make the boy fear.

"No seriously..." Akira's expression turned serious and grim. "I'm taking too long, and you got affected." He apologized sadly making the girl turn her head in confusion.

"I didn't think it would turn out this way, I just need a little more time." Akira bowed his head in sadness.

Kamoshida's palace was very large and, even with four members, his team had yet to locate the treasure room, meaning he couldn't launch the calling card.

The last thing he wanted was Yuuen to get hurt.

She's the only one who Akira can be himself around, not the Leader of the Phantom Thieves, or misfit delinquent living in Shibuya. Around her he's allowed to be Akira, nothing more and nothing less.

He vowed that he would protect her with his newfound ability, but she got hurt because of his own procrastination.

"I'm sorry Yuuen." He said genuinely as the girl raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"W-what are you talking about?" Yuuen questioned quite shocked. "It wasn't your fault that Kamoshida did that." She said as Akira looked down in sadness.

'If only you knew...' He thought as Yuuen continued to speak.

"Also... I've been meaning to ask. What do you mean by 'Fix things' or just 'Needing more time'?" Yuuen questioned with a concerned look on her face.

"Akira... Just what are you planning to do?" She asked seriously as Akira stood up in shock.

"I-...." He started but paused, Yuuen couldn't know about the Metaverse. She was already hurt enough letting her know would put her in immediate danger.

"I-... can't tell you." He continued making the girl sharpen her glare.

"And why not?" She argued getting frustrated. She already went over this once with Akira, she thought she knew he could trust her, but he still refuses to tell her.

"Sakomoto-kun knows.  So does Takamaki-san." Yuuen pointed out frustratedly. "Why am I any different?"

"It's not that..." Akira tried to explain, but he was put on the spot and can't think of a good response.

"D-do... you not trust me?" She asked with sensitivity laced in her voice.

"No! It's not that!" Akira stopped her before she continued her interrogation. "I do trust you, more than anyone. But I also care about your well-being. And don't want to see you get hurt." Akira explained as Yuuen furrowed her eyebrows.

"See me get hurt? What about you?" Yuuen said frustratedly, "I care about your well-being too! If you're doing something bad, at least tell me what it is so I don't sit here worrying about you, I can help you!" Yuuen argued.

"No!" Akira denied making Yuuen back off in shock. "I-I'm sorry... I just...you can't get hurt. And this is the one thing I can never tell you..." He said sadly.

He hated keeping things from Yuuen, but this was the only way to guarantee her safety.

"Akira..." She muttered out of a combination of disbelief and sadness.

"I...want to believe in you..." She paused making the guilt weigh heavier in the young boy's throat. "Why do you make that so difficult?" She asked sadly.

"I-I don't mean to..." Akira started but he choked out the words.

"Please, tell me you're not doing anything illegal, please reinsure me that you'll be ok..." She pleaded quietly grabbing onto his blazer gently and pressing her head against his chest.

Akira paused, what the Phantom Troops we're doing wasn't illegal, it was just.

He gave her a bittersweet smile and patted her head.

"Ok... you win." Akira said resting his hand on her head in a comforting matter, "I promise."

Yuuen looked up with a slight smile and grateful eyes.

"Thank you." She said graciously as she felt her heart physically lift. "I'll place my faith in you for now, please don't let me down..." Yuuen said as Akira nodded.

"I sware... I won't." Akira said seriously vowing those words.

'I promise.'

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AN: I'm a little conflicted as to where the story should go from here but I'll just play it by ear and hope for the best.