Annkoto - P5

Annkoto - Chapter 16: You Caught Me

Ren and Morgana got little to no information from the citizens around Yongen Jaya about Futaba Sakura.
He calls the rest of the Phantom Thieves to meet up at Leblanc.

Ryuji: "Nothin' huh?"

Ren: "We got close, but not even the supermarket has seen her."

Morgana: "We may have to take a more direct approach."

Ann: "You don't mean we break into Boss's house do you?"

Morgana: "No breaking, just entering."

Yusuke: "How in the world-"

Makoto: "Sorry, Ren, could I see that calling card again?"

Ren hands it to her.

Makoto: "And when was the last time you heard from Alibaba?"

Ren: "We had a conversation this morning. They asked why we hadn't completed the change of heart yet. And I explained that it's not that easy. And when they realized we needed to confront Futaba directly, they said that wouldn't work."

Makoto: "It seems to me... Alibaba may in fact be Futaba herself. It's too big of a coincidence that this calling card was delivered by hand. And how else would she so easily know that Futaba hasn't had a change of heart?"

Yusuke: "So she's asking that we steal her own heart?"

Ann: "Maybe she wants us to save her from the scars of her abuse? That would be hard to ask directly."

Makoto: "I'd like to meet up with Boss, not break into his home, just knock on his door and talk to him."

Morgana: "So no sneaking in? :("

Ann: "Not this time Morgana."

Ren: "I can take you to his house."

Ryuji: "We'll come with."

...

The team approaches Sojiro Sakura's private residence.

*Knock Knock*
Makoto: "Hello? Boss?"

Ann: "I can hear the TV, that means he's in there right? He wouldn't just leave it on."

Ryuji: "Did he fall over or somethin'? Boss is pretty old ain't he?"

*Knock Knock Knock*
Makoto: "Boss? Are you okay?"

Morgana jumps up to the door handle and it swings down.

Makoto: "It's unlocked? I'm not sure if it's okay just to go in..."

Morgana has already scampered his way inside.

Yusuke: "The Boss could be injured, we must enter."

Ann: "Hopefully he's okay..."

The Phantom Thieves enter the dark entrance hallway. They're very cautious, more so in fact than whenever they infiltrate a palace. There's not a trace of their usual reckless abandon in this location.

Lightning strikes and Makoto squeals, grabbing onto Ann's arm.

Makoto: "Let's just get out of here, please? Can we just go?"

Ann: "Makoto-senpai, are you afraid of the dark?"

Makoto: "Only a little..."

Ann: "Wow you really are adorable."
She puts her hand on Makoto's head, comforting her.

A shadowy figure appears to have come down the stairs, behind Ann and Makoto. They both hear the quiet footsteps and turn around. Lightning flashes and they see a small girl for a second before she runs back up the stairs.
Ann and Makoto both scream. And Makoto clings onto Ann's leg.