Persona 5: The Delinquent and his lover: Full Edition

Guilty Conscience. Part 2

Makoto found it very hard having to repeat the story about how the tragic events of the party came to pass. It was a long story, but neither Sojiro, Futaba or herself sat down. Makoto could feel how much the both of them cared about Akira and how much they blamed her for what happened as the story progressed.

Why not... I am responsible for all this after all. And I was hoping Sakura-san would accept me as Akira's girlfriend so much...

As she was thinking about him, Sojiro spoke. "What I don't understand is why? Why, if you knew how dangerous that man was, did you go to that party?"

"We didn't know..." replied Makoto, without looking up, "We thought he was just a pathetic man taking advantage of naïve girls, we didn't know he was part of this huge criminal organization. We were lucky that my sister was running an operation on them, because if she hadn't been there-"

"Y-you mean you were lucky." cut in Futaba. Normally she would have a hard time speaking so freely to someone she didn't know like Makoto, but the anger she was feeling was helping her in a big way. "Just y-you... A-Akira wasn't, was he?"

"Futaba..." Sojiro said.

"No!! I can't believe she can stand there and call Akira lucky after what they did to him!!" Futaba said, almost yelling, and then turned to Makoto. "B-but you thinking that makes sense. I looked you up, you know? I never understood, what was the popular, straight A, best of the class Student Council President doing dating a guy with a criminal record? But now I know... y-you were just using him.. Y-you needed him to handle all the danger that would come with your stupid quest, and now that it's done, you don't care what happens to him, right!?"

Makoto wanted to tell them that wasn't the truth, that she would never use Akira, that he was too special to her, but she couldn't.

I can't defend myself... because wanting to or not, that's exactly what I did...

"I do care." Replied Makoto, still looking down. "I came here to explain the situation so-"

"No you don't!!! " Yelled Futaba, walking up to Makoto. "You don't care, not like me!!! If y-you really cared about him he wouldn't be in a hospital bed right now, you would have protected him, just like he protected you!!! B-but why would you!!!? Y-you have everything!!! You must have tons of friends, tons of guys just dying to be with you, why would A-Akira matter to you!!!?"

"I-I-" tried to reply Makoto.

"SHUT UP!!! I don't want to hear you anymore!!! " Yelled Futaba, pushing Makoto in the abdomen with all her strength, right where Kouzo had hit her the night of the party. The pain made Makoto scream and double over and fall to the ground. Her loose shirt rode up and revealed her injury to Futaba and Sojiro, who gasped with shock.

Makoto slowly sat down on the floor, covering her stomach and hugging her legs. "Every friend I have..." she said, pausing for a moment to think about Eiko, Ann, Ryuji and Haru, "Or should I say every true friend I used to have, I made because of Akira... Before I met him, I was completely alone, even my sister didn't talk to me... Things have changed with her now, and that is also thanks to him."

Makoto had been trying all day to hide her emotions, to not give in to the guilt and just focus on the task of solving Akira's problems. But her strength was running out.

"He saved my l-life that night, but I owe him more than that... I owe him more than I can c-convey into words. I... I love him more than anything in this world... I-I know it's all my fault... I-I know he's h-hurt b-because of m-me... I-I'd g-give a-anything to... t-to..."