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There wasn’t a specific day in history Goro Akechi could point to that shaped him to become the villain he’d turned out to be. An outsider might assume it was the day he, as a child, discovered his mother in the bathtub. Door ajar, lights off. Mother submerged, unmoving - her wrists still leaking red droplets. It certainly affected the boy as much as it would any other child, but even so…

[break][break]Had he not learned of his father, then there may have been hope for the young Goro to stay the course and grow up “right”.

[break][break]He toyed with the thought often. Sometimes while taking the train to school, other times while caught up in a superfluous interview with an overly ecstatic host and his simple-minded loyal audience. How easy they were to sway. While acting the part of the perfect “detective”, his mind was miles away, considering all the “what ifs” the world had to offer.

[break][break]The conclusion he reached was always the same. Goro was a lost cause from the moment he was born. There was no veering off course, not for him, not ever. Adults mocked him at every turn, their disgusted hearts poisoning his life’s every waking moment. The orphanage was a pitiful place, only serving to enforce he was nothing but an undesirable child better left for dead. Every step and turn he made sent him spiraling further and further down the dregs of humanity until...

[break][break]... until he learned the truth.

[break][break]What happened to his mother changed him. Learning of Masayoshi Shido’s identity as his father solidified him. The man that abandoned his accidental “family”, the politician that represented the “best” of the country while scorning those he trampled in his wake. There were many worthless adults who’d earned Goro’s ire, but none could be loathed as much as this man - the very worst adult of all of them.

[break][break]Revenge was his life’s mission from then on, a goal simplified by the blessing of access to the Metaverse. A world formed entirely by the public’s cognition, Akechi presented his ability to tamper with the minds of others to Shido in hopes of gaining rank with him. Gaining his trust. Shido bit the bait almost immediately, so readily enamored by the prospect of an easy end to his political opposition.

[break][break]Goro would manipulate those he had to, elevate Shido to the top of the world, then reveal himself as both this “great man’s” tool and son. After rising so high, Shido would plummet to the ground, no better than the undesirable son he’d cast aside so long ago.

[break][break]
73 dead in subway accident. Several more in grave condition. Cause of accident is unknown currently, but foul play is suspected-

[break][break]It had been like that for months. Accidents. Violent outbursts. Death upon death.

[break][break]Goro portrayed himself as a genius detective prince whose intuition could only be matched by Naoto Shirogane from the Inaba incidents. As the incidents rolled in, his successful career rose. He was a guardian of justice, an attractive face for television ratings, and Shido’s secret weapon that guaranteed success.

[break][break]Nijima Sae was ever helpful in leading the charge in these cases as he rounded up criminal after criminal, each one disoriented and confused to some varying degree. She was ruthless in her prosecution, sentencing each with rigid justice.

[break][break]Goro looked on, smiling for cameras, dazzling the adults with his boyish charms and incredible talents. None of them knew the real him. None of them knew everything was his own doing.

[break][break]73 dead.

[break][break]...

[break][break]He had to remain vigilant. It would all be for naught if he gave up halfway.

[break][break]The Phantom Thieves strike again, stealing the hearts of the wicked. Their deeds are a boon to the nation-

[break][break]The Phantom Thieves.

[break][break]How quickly the public turned on him when he dared to criticize this group of “virtuous criminals”. Their reactions were as expected, their moods flippant as always. Gaining their love and adoration had always been such simple work, but keeping it? That was a different matter entirely.

[break][break]The public disgusted him, but likewise, their scorn pained him, even if it was all part of his plan to take the Thieves down. How easily they forgot their heavy-handed praise in the face of someone who dared to stand out from the faceless nothings of society.

[break][break]Fine, he didn’t care. One day they would see he’s right, and then he’d be lauded as a true hero by all. It would just take time, just a little more time.

[break][break]The Phantom Thieves. Shido. All of these berserked criminals ravaging the city.

[break][break]Goro was going to save the good people from all of them. How could anyone refuse to love him after such glorious feats?

[break][break]The Phantom Thieves continue to garner support. Faith in the police is waning-

[break][break]Threats to Goro’s life were minimal despite his heavy hand in criminal investigations (likely due to said investigations having unique circumstances). Yet, he couldn’t shake the creeping unease. The prickling caution. The weariness and fatigue. Goro braced himself every morning for the daily onslaught of public opinion, Shido’s steely voice delivering ruthless orders, the perfect mask he wore to convince the masses of who he wasn’t.

[break][break]A cafe of little significance caught his eye, and he’d very quickly become a regular customer there. The owner treated him like any other customer as if his face wasn’t emblazoned on the television screen a few feet away on a daily basis. It was the only place in all the worlds he’d come to know that he ever felt safe.

[break][break]It was the only place where he ever felt like himself.

[break][break]But it wasn’t just Sojiro Sakura who he’d become acquainted with. Kurusu Akira, a boy of no striking traits other than his criminal record, lived upstairs in the cafe attic of all places. He was of no significance, yet Goro likewise found himself at ease when enjoying their pleasant discussions. He dared not to think of it as anything more than casual discussion. Distractions were a hindrance, and Goro could not afford to stop short.

[break][break]It was too late for that.

[break][break]Akira would often find Goro lost in thought (murder, exhaustion, regret), and the detective would ever play up the charms and smiles. Sometimes he liked to imagine them having an honest discussion, just the two of them.

Himself, the detective prince (killer, psychopath) and Akira, a nobody kid (leader of the Phantom Thieves, defender of the people).

[break][break]Fantasies were ever fated to remain thus.

[break][break]Masayoshi Shido to go on trial for his crimes. Akechi Goro, suspected accomplice in his crimes, is missing. Details to follow at 5-

[break][break]In his final moments, Akechi Goro wondered if that’s how the headlines might read in the months to follow. As someone who spent the better part of their life carefully forging their identity piece by piece, he couldn’t help but try to predict what would come next. It was all coming to pieces now.

[break][break]Kurusu Akira…

[break][break]The rest of the Thieves were irrelevant. Akira was the only one who could see his final wish through. Akira would remember him. Though he never made a dent in the public, though he never made Shido acknowledge him, he would become a scar upon the Thieve’s heart, one that he would carry with him throughout the rest of his days.

[break][break]If only they could have met sooner. If only Akira could have changed his path…

[break][break]There were no heroes for the undesirables, but sometimes, Goro liked to imagine a life where that wasn’t true.

[break][break]The cognitive version of himself that Shido had concocted in his own mind smirked over the barrel of his gun. Despite everything else, he’d never considered ending his own life and yet… here he was. In a very twisted manner, he was about to end himself.

[break][break]He would’ve laughed, were his wounds from the final fight with the Phantom Thieves not so grievous.

[break][break]He cocked his own gun, pointing it steadily at the other version of himself as the Thieves called out to him from beyond the shutter doors. They were just like everyone else, in a way. Simpletons so quick to change at the drop of the pin. Except for Akira…

[break][break]Simultaneous gunshots rang out through the palace. The Thieves could no longer pick up any readings from Akechi.

[break][break]After the initial announcement of his disappearance, the public was soon to shift their focus. Virtual reality technology was making a headway in development. Shido was steadily rising in rank. Tensions with various countries rose and fell.

[break][break]His was a name destined to disappear with the passing of time.

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