Real & the Ideal: A Persona 5R Dark Sun Sequel (Goro Akechi x Amamiya Ren)

24: Bearing the Burden of Truth (Justice pt.1)

Don't let go of your dreams

No more tears shall drop from your cheeks anymore

You won't need to

strive for greatness

Believe in me

That you don't need to suffer from anything

No more.....

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(Ren's P.O.V)

My...my head.

I was shaking, clutching my head as it pulsated with pressure so intense, it felt like a jackhammer drilling into my skull.

I was useless to stop it. The cognition was so powerful, so overwhelming...

And I was already backed into a corner. With the brace around my ribs already hindering me, I couldn't easily stand up and attack. I could hardly even lean forward as I panted, trying to will my breathing and heart rate to slow.

Get a hold of yourself. Slow down..just...

No...Maybe...maybe if I could...

J-just...get my...

Before I could set my fingers around the hilt of my gun, my consciousness began to fade out.

I can't...

I have to...

I have to take his..-

Everything turned white.

------------

All of a sudden, I was watching a video. As if my mind's eye was a tv screen, the odd sight of white noise and fuzzy static began replaying over and over.

Then a timestamp appeared.

8/16.

For a moment, I backtracked my thoughts. Today was 2/3. That meant..

This video was showing me a premonition of the future. 6 months from now.

...August.

The white noise dissipated and left the image of a dark room. I could see a back haired figure cuddling against a boy with lighter hair. The window showed it was the dark of night outside.

I had to stare for a moment to figure out who the two teens were.

The black haired figure cuddled closer to his counterpart as the two laid together on a small cot. I briefly watched as the teen snuggled his head into his partners shoulder. A jolt of surprise rushed through me-

The familiar touch was exactly the gesture I gave to Akechi when we slept together.

...that meant, I was watching myself.

Much like how it normally turned out, Akechi didn't return my sentiment. It was nothing short of normal, except for one, single detail.

My boyfriend's eyes were open - inhumanly aghast, with irises as small as pinholes.

Something was wrong.

He was breathing heavily now. After a moment, he forced his eyes shut, clearly trying to will himself to sleep. But it wasn't working.

All of a sudden Akechi shifted and brought his hands to his head. I watched as the figment of myself cuddled closer in concern.

"Akechi?"

I sat up and hovered over him, but he both refused to look at me, and also refused to reply.

"Is something wrong? Are you okay?"