Phantom Thieves and Hearts: Makoto Niijima x Male Reader

Palace of Gluttony

The Phantom Thieves met up the next day as they had all agreed upon. Today they would complete their route to Kaneshiro's Treasure, and send the calling card once they left the Palace. It was definitely a tall order, but they had fully prepared within the past few days to take down Kaneshiro within the next two days.

Apparently the last two to arrive were Makoto and Y/N both, as the other members were waiting for them as they arrived.
Of course they hadn't been waiting long, but everyone was nervous about whether they could take Kaneshiro down within their deadline. Sure they had plenty of time left, but that still wouldn't take the edge off naturally. Especially from Makoto who had so much on the line to lose, and had never experienced the changing of a targets heart personally...

"So this is it huh?" Questioned Y/N with a mellow tone.

"Either now or never right?" Responded Ren with his usual monotone attitude

Everyone was on high alert, unsure about what they were going to face within the remaining depths of Kaneshiro's Palace. Though they were to soon find out.

The Thieves steeled themselves, opening the metaverse navigation app and transporting themselves into the Palace of Gluttony.

As they arrived at their starting point, Joker stopped everyone in order to formulate the strategy before infiltrating the Palace itself.

"Today I want Panther, Fox, Mona, and Queen to lead us." He declared, "Queen still needs more experience fighting shadows, and I think this is the best team to cover your weaknesses."

Nobody in the team was opposed to his declaration, and continued listening to him as he spoke further.

"Skull, Sparrow, and I will be supporting from behind, but I doubt you four will need the help." He continued, "and one final thing, the other day I decided I want Sparrow to help me lead the Thieves."

Everyone looked on with shocked faces. Joker was an incredible leader, and nobody doubted Y/N's abilities, but they thought it was an unnecessary promotion.

"I had the same reaction as all of you." Claimed Y/N, "I'm more of a right hand man if anything though, I'm just maintaining equipment and so on; speaking of which, Queen..."

Sparrow turned to Queen as he withdrew the new equipment he purchased for her, a new Revolver and Knuckle Dusters.

"Thank you Sparrow, I will take care of them." Smiled Queen

"Everybody else, I have new equipment for you all too." Declared Joker as he similarly withdrew an assortment of weapons and armour for his team.

"I'm still confused as to why you want someone else to help you lead Joker." Claimed Ryuji, "Now, I trust you both man but I thought I was your right hand man!"

"You're my best friend Skull, but that's a separate matter." Claimed Joker, "I need someone mature and confident in case something were to happen to me..."

The Phantom Thieves aside from Queen and Sparrow looked towards Joker as he declared this with worry and confusion in their eyes. Sure, Ren Amamiya was as human as they come, but Joker was their dependable strong leader, and to declare something could happen to him...

"Nothings going to happen to you Joker." Assured Y/N, "We'll make sure of that, leader."

Sparrow's assuring confidence lit sparks within everyone, replacing their worry. It was surprising easy to overcome their doubts, but the Phantom Thieves believed in their leader, and whatever decision he made, they would follow through.

=

It was a short trip for the team to return to where they last left off. Infront of them stood the final elevator into the depths of Kaneshiro's bank, one last venture towards his Treasure.