93 The Thieves Grow.

As Ren and Yusuke made their way to Leblanc, Ren carefully explained the Metaverse and the Phantom Thieves, ensuring their conversation remained private. Upon entering the café, Ren approached Sojiro with a request.

"Hey, Sojiro, could you do me a small favor?" Ren asked, sporting a wide, disarming smile that immediately made Sojiro suspicious.

"What is it?" Sojiro inquired, eyebrow raised.

"Could my friend here," Ren gestured towards Yusuke, "stay over for a little while? He's run into some trouble at home and needs a place to crash temporarily."

"That's..." Sojiro started, skepticism apparent in his tone, about to decline the request when his gaze fell on Yusuke.

Yusuke appeared visibly worn, his typically impeccable attire marred by signs of distress, including faint stains of paint on his cheek and an overall air of exhaustion. His eyes were tired, his expression vulnerable, much like a stray puppy that had lost its way.

The weight of the day's events, coupled with the awakening of his persona, had visibly drained him. His pale complexion and slender frame only added to the gravity of his situation, prompting Sojiro to pause and reconsider.

"Kid, are you hungry?" Sojiro asked after a thoughtful silence.

Yusuke gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.

With another sigh, Sojiro relented. 

"Sit down. You can stay here for a few days. But try to find somewhere else soon, okay? It'd be problematic if someone checked up on Ren's living arrangements and found you here, too."

Yusuke bowed slightly, his voice soft yet grateful as he addressed Sojiro. 

"I deeply appreciate your hospitality, Sakura-san. I will transition to my school dormitory at the earliest opportunity. My scholarship at the fine arts program covers the cost, so it's merely a matter of the administrative process."

Sojiro raised his eyebrows in surprise. 

"A scholarship? What school do you attend?"" 

"I am enrolled at Kosei, Sakura-san," Yusuke replied, maintaining his polite demeanor.

"Kosei? How did you..." Sojiro trailed off, his gaze returning to Yusuke's disheveled appearance. Shaking his head, he dismissed the need for further explanation. "Never mind, just make sure you keep out of trouble."

Yusuke settled into one of the booths at Leblanc, turning his attention to Ren with a sincere expression.

"Sakura-san seems like a considerate person. I hope my presence doesn't inconvenience his establishment," he remarked with a tired voice.

After replenishing his energy with some food, time gradually passed, allowing the other members of the Phantom Thieves to arrive and group up in Ren's room.

Ann was the first to enter. With her characteristic charm, she greeted Yusuke cheerfully.

"Welcome to the team! I'm really looking forward to working together!" she exclaimed, her smile radiating warmth.

Yusuke observed her with a mix of awe and curiosity. 

"Intriguing... Could you possibly be a model? Your visage would perfectly complement a canvas," he mused, his artistic gaze briefly reigniting before dimming as reality pulled him back. "Forgive my digression; I must remain focused until I've aided my mentor."

His demeanor shifted back to a more somber tone as he set aside his creative impulses.

Ryuji and Makoto arrived shortly afterward, followed by Shiho, who approached Yusuke with a comforting smile.

"Hey, Yusuke. I'm really sorry to hear about 'Humanity'. We'll make sure your painting is returned, okay?" she assured him gently.

A faint smile crossed Yusuke's face, lifting some of the weariness from his features. 

"Suzui-san, your concern is appreciated, but please, there's no need to worry about me. You once expressed interest in learning art from me; I ask for your patience until after we restore Madarame's honor."

Shiho nodded understandingly, her smile unwavering. 

"There's no rush, Yusuke. I know what it's like to feel to be hurt by someone who was supposed to be your teacher. Take all the time you need, and don't stress about the art lessons."

As the group settled, Futaba entered quietly and took a seat in a corner, offering a brief greeting. The last to join was Takemi, who appeared slightly uneasy.

"It feels a bit odd for me to be here with everyone else. Sojiro didn't ask any questions, but he did give me an odd look as I came in," she shared, her tone a mix of amusement and discomfort.

She hadn't really thought about it before, but she was the only real grown-up in the group. Being one of the newest members also made her the most inexperienced, which felt weird because she had to listen to the younger members for advice.

She might be close to Ren, but she hadn't spent much time with the rest of the group before her persona woke up. Now, they had seen parts of her she'd never shown to anyone else.

"You know, the more people we add, the harder it's gonna be to meet here in Leblanc. My room isn't that big. We should probably find another place to hang out," Ren observed, prompting Ann to chime in eagerly.

"My parents are out of the country, and they won't be back anytime soon. We could use my house. They usually give me a heads-up if they're coming back, so we'd know in advance," she suggested.

Everyone nodded, and it was decided. They'd use Ann's place as their new 'headquarters' until they found something better. The school rooftop wasn't an option for Takemi or Yusuke, and Takemi's clinic was hit-or-miss since she had patients to look after.

Once they settled on the new hideout, Ren was ready to gear up. He wanted to take Takemi and Yusuke to the airsoft shop to get some supplies and better gear for everyone. But before they got into that, he noticed something was off.

Looking around, he spotted the problem. Before, everyone had some link to Shujin Academy. One way or another, they knew each other. Even when Makoto joined, they all interacted with her at least once since she was the student council president.

Futaba was seriously antisocial, and though she was starting to open up slightly, she was still pretty closed off with everyone but Ren. Yusuke was a bit eccentric, and though that wouldn't be much of an issue usually, he, too, was reeling from the events of the day. Takemi was also not the most sociable of people.

Just a few weeks back, she had been turning down patients because she didn't feel she was good enough to treat them, and even though after curing the girl, her clinic was busier, she was still not someone who opened up easily.

Ren almost slapped his forehead but instead raised his arm to call attention.

"Alright, I goofed. Let's stop the meeting here for today." The rest of the group looked at him, slightly confused, before he continued. "Yusuke needs some time to rest, and we are rushing all of this too much. That's my bad."

He realized that adding three, or well, two and a quarter, counting Takemi, socially awkward members to the group had its challenges. Just because they trusted him didn't mean they instantly clicked with everyone else.

As Ren explained, the tension in the room eased, and looks of confusion among the group shifted to understanding.

"You know, Ren's got a point," Mona piped up, hopping into the middle of the table. "In the Metaverse, trust is everything. We gotta work on that."

Makoto, catching on, nodded in agreement. 

"That's true. I've been thinking, we should really spend some time bonding. It helped when we all went to Mementos with Futaba, but we're still not quite there."

Ann's face lit up with an idea. 

"Tomorrow's Sunday, and we're all free, right? How about we make it a team-building day? I was planning to go shopping with Makoto and Shiho soon, but why don't we all go? We could each pick something we like and share it with the group. It'd be a fun way to get to know each other better."

Futaba looked a bit worried and asked, "Is it going to be crowded?"

Ryuji laughed and reassured her. 

"No worries, we'll stick together. And if it gets too much, your 'emotional support human' will be right there with you," he joked, making Futaba roll her eyes but then nod with some hesitation.

Yusuke also appeared slightly troubled. From Ren's explanation, the only way to truly redeem Madarame and help him return to the man Yusuke believed he used to be was to steal his distorted desires. He wanted to act quickly, but the group's cautious approach resonated with him after some thought.

"I see. From the brief moment I was in that other world, it was clear that it was not too safe. I understand. If this is what it takes for us to help my Sensei see his wrongdoings, then I will do my best. I shall strive to open my heart as much as possible and welcome all of you in." Yusuke declared, his voice filled with resolve that quieted the room for a moment.

"Damn, bro," Ryuji exclaimed, somewhat taken aback, which lightened the mood as a few chuckles spread through the group.

"No, it's refreshing to see things from your perspective," Makoto said thoughtfully. "Given your admiration for him, I'm intrigued about meeting your teacher myself."

Yusuke's face twisted with complexity at her words.

"Please understand, my sensei's heart may appear tainted by vanity, but beneath that, I believe he remains a virtuous man," he implored.

The group shared a few uneasy glances before Shiho spoke up, nodding gently.

"Alright, I'll reserve my judgment until we see for ourselves... But Yusuke, once we enter his palace, we'll see everything, the root of his distortion and his true nature. What we find might challenge how you see him."

Yusuke's expression deepened, his resolve firming. 

"When I awakened Goemon, I vowed to face the truth head-on," he began, his words catching Futaba's attention since she, too, had made a similar promise to Necronomicon.

"Regardless of what we uncover in my Sensei's heart, I will not look away. Yet, I will continue to hope for the better aspects of the man who nurtured me. I ask you all to try and see the potential for good in him, even if it seems he has strayed far from it," Yusuke earnestly requested.

As the conversation unfolded, Takemi, who had been quietly observing with a smile, noticed Yusuke wince and clutch his head. With a concerned frown, she quickly approached him, crouching to get a better look. Her sharp gaze scanned Yusuke, attracting the attention of everyone in the room.

Takemi took a good look at Yusuke and noticed he was really pale and thin. It was clear that awakening his persona had really worn him out.

"We should wrap up soon." Takemi suggested, her tone laced with concern. "Yusuke could use some rest, a better diet, maybe more exercise, and definitely some sun." She began, unconsciously listing the rest of the things she noticed.

As she stood, a thought struck her, widening her eyes with realization.

"You know, I could give everyone a physical check-up. Sure, you guys heal up with magic in battles, but it's good to double-check that all this Phantom Thief activity isn't secretly wearing you down."

Takemi's words sparked an idea in Ryuji as he chimed in.

"Oh yeah, I've got to set up workout schedules for Futaba, Takemi, and Yusuke. I meant to do it earlier, but Futaba seemed a bit distant. No excuses this time, though. You're all doing the Phantom Training." Ryuji said, his grin spreading across his face.

"That sounds a bit much…" Futaba started to protest.

"No, Ryuji's right," Ren jumped in, stopping Futaba from complaining further. "Being part of this team means we all need to be in shape. We cannot afford for one of us to be hurt because we don't have enough stamina to retreat. Don't worry; we'll start easy."

"But… there will be people… and sweat… and germs?" Futaba tried to argue, her voice trailing off as she realized her excuses weren't holding up. Given how her bedroom used to look, she knew she wasn't in a position to fuss about a little dirtiness.

After a bit more enthusiastic planning, the group decided to leave Leblanc to give Yusuke some peace to rest.

As night fell, Yusuke found himself in need of clothes and borrowed some from Ren.

"I must apologize for the inconvenience. In my haste, I left home without packing," Yusuke said, a hint of embarrassment in his tone.

Ren was already turning the couch into a bed for him and simply shrugged. 

"No worries, we'll sort out some clothes for you tomorrow. If there's anything you need, just let me know."

Yusuke hesitated, then added. 

"I… also don't have any money. So I will not be able to purchase anything."

Ren chuckled slightly before answering.

"Like I said, don't hesitate to tell us. We have a lot of savings from our work as Phantom Thieves. Now that you are a Thief, your needs are our needs."

Yusuke's expression became softer as he nodded in agreement until he heard a mischievous giggle that caught his attention.

"If you ever need someone to paint, I'm always here," Mona said with a playful laugh. "I promise, you won't find a more interesting subject. I can be a shadow, a spy, a thief, a human, a bus, a helicopter—I can be anything."

"You forgot 'cat,'" Yusuke chimed in, trying to be helpful, yet Mona's expression turned a bit sour.

"Eh... sure, throw 'cat' on there too, I suppose. It's kind of the reason I am such a good spy" Mona conceded after a brief pause. He then leaped to the foot of Ren's bed to settle down for the night. "But if you're adding 'cat,' make sure it's at the bottom of the list."

As Ren settled into bed and closed his eyes, Yusuke was left to his own swirling thoughts.

Despite his exhaustion, sleep escaped him. He had overturned his life in a single day, and he couldn't help but wonder what his teacher would think upon discovering the chaos he'd left behind. His destroyed paintings, and his sudden departure from home.

The day had been surreal, and standing up from the couch, Yusuke glanced over at the sleeping figures of Ren and Mona.

Positioning his fingers like a frame, he captured the image of Ren asleep. 

"How strange," he whispered to himself.

He roamed the room silently, his gaze landing on the countless flowers. Drawn to one of the poppies, he plucked it gently from its pot, the touch soothing his turbulent mind. Though not well-versed in flowers, holding the flower seemed to anchor him, calming the storm within.

As he contemplated the room, a small blue butterfly drifted in through the window, fluttering until it softly landed on the poppy in his hand, mirroring a scene Ren had once painted.

"The poppy and the butterfly…" Yusuke said softly, a small smile on his face as he took in the scene.

He remained still, lost in the moment, until the butterfly took flight once more, settling by Ren's side.

 "How strange…" Yusuke muttered once more as he returned to the couch. He lay down, holding the flower he'd picked earlier. With his mind a bit clearer now, his eyes slowly closed, and he drifted off into a deep sleep, dreaming vividly as he tried to sort through everything that had happened that day.

As Yusuke fell asleep, Mona cracked open one eye and watched him with a flick of his tail, curious to know what he had been thinking.

Mona stayed quiet in the dark room, just thinking to himself for a while. After some time, he closed his eyes again and went back to sleep.

~A/N~

(As I wrote this chap, I was like, woah, going kinda fast there, bud. So, I decided to pump the breaks slightly. I'm not going to lie; I am pretty excited for the arc that comes after this one, so I was about to go Sonic mode on the chaps and dive into the Madarame palace and stuff basically next chap.

However, I'm going to listen to the advice the game gives you at every loading screen and take my time. Basically, everything after Takemi walks into the room is me taking back the reigns from Sonic. Threw that hedgehog into the pool, lol.

And yeh, as always, I am always open to feedback. 

See ya'll on the other side with next chap; it's probably gonna be a chunky one. And for anyone curious, I am keeping a loose calendar system, but the date for this chap is 7/2.)