Assemble the What Now? (Persona 5 x DCMK)

Chapter 15

REN'S POV:

We sit at the living room area as Kuroba serves us some water. Kudou looks over to Kuroba and both nods. Curious, my mouth opens to say something when Kuroba's statement from earlier got me thinking second thoughts. "Each of you and the Phantom Thieves were weaved together, with the starting knot of that person." Are they aware of everyone's situation? Did he understood who he's talking about when asking? How much do they-

"Ren-kun..." Haru look at me with a worried expression. Then, all eyes are on me. "You're thinking of something. Would you mind sharing with us?"

I look at my friends before looking at the residents and back. A sigh escape from my mouth, though I am nowhere close to relaxed. After a moment of silence, my eyes shift towards the residents of this apartment. "They know our next target and our connections with them." All eyes move towards Kudou and Kuroba now. "How much they know? I have no idea, but is enough to question their motive and actions."

Kudou's expression is of expected, at least some eyes widening for a bit, but Kuroba's face is completely neutral. At least it was until he smiled or smirked or whatever the face is showing. Shivers travel all over my body when he did that face.

Makoto look at my expression and squinted towards the two. Noticing how death inspiring that smile is, she moves her hand over my face, covering the view of the two. "Would you mind explaining to us your train of thoughts?"

A chuckle fills the room when one of the two replies back, "I don't know Ojou-san. Why not you try figuring it out? You are from a family of policemen just like Meitantei-" "Hey!" "-Why not you try and deduce our train of thought?"

Her hand move down from my face and slams down on the coffee table in front, leaning towards them. "Don't avoid the question Kuroba-kun. Just how close are we into your thoughts?"

Kuroba tilts his head to the side for a bit with one of his hands on his chin, portraying an innocent expression. "Hmm... I think your leader is closer when it comes to our thoughts," his head straightening up with a grin, "well at least my thoughts he's close to. I don't think the rest of you bothered to question us though."

Futaba gleams, wondering how she could smile from this creepy confession. "Interrogation time?"

Kudou shows a bewildered face. He looks at me as I look back at him, shrugging. He hesitates for a while before he replies back with an okay.

"Yes!" Futaba gleams even more, dragging out her phone as Ann does the same. "I have been wanting to do this since I seen those interrogation scenes from those dramas. Inspector Futaba go!"

**********

After a few minutes of silence, Futaba melts down with a sigh, "How can detectives make these interrogations so awesome? How can Akechi do this?"

Kuroba nods. "I wonder the same thing. How did Shinichi do interrogations against criminals knowing that they're fully capable to attack the police?"

All eyes go towards Kuroba, including Kudou. With a sigh, Kudou slumps down and mumbles a few words.

Yusuke is the first to speak up, saying, "Kudou-san's a detective?"

"Yup," Kuroba smiles with a peppy face.

Kudou's face slams against his own palm with an even bigger sigh. "Why you got to expose me like this?"

"Because, these kiddies aren't detectives, Meitantei. Exposing your life is better than exposing my life."

Kudou's hand falls down, showing a glare towards him. "And what does that suppose to mean?"

"You're already famous with your current identity and your 'current' identity. People don't know who I am, but everybody knows Kid."

"But that doesn't mean you can talk about my identity like that freely. Besides, your identity is as exposed as mine. You shouldn't be talki-"

A loud clap interrupts the two. "Now going back to the interrogation," Ann says and look back at us, "I'm sure the rest of us have a few questions for them."

Futuba raises her hand and speaks immediately, "Where are you two from exactly? Leader told me to do some background research on the two of you and it seems like the two of you didn't exist until recently. Even when looking for some identities around the globe, nobody, whether it is a missing or a deceased or is alive, matches up to your description like you're from another planet or something."

Ryuji shots up. "An alien? Are you for real?"

"I would say dimension hopping, but there are no other people named Shinichi Kudou and Kaito Kuroba in this world."

"And with Kuroba-san's statement about Kudou-san being famous already proves that they're from another another world or universe," Yusuke follows up on her.

"Exactly Inari. Knowing that we can go inside somebody's mind just proves that we might be useful with jumping from world to world. Now answer the question: Where exactly are you from?"

"Your leader must be smart with the orders you got from him," Kuroba smirks as he put both hands up. "We believe we're from another world. Even though we're biologically from the country Japan, we never heard of a group called the Phantom Thieves back from where we came from. The only phantom thieve that became part of the culture is me and Lupin."

So another universe if there's already a Japan where they're from. "And how did the two of you came here?" I ask.

Kudou is the one that answers this time. "This is just a mere dream that Kaito and I are experiencing by being in this 'world'. A so-called magical gem put us in a coma, transporting our consciousness into this world."

"According to an acquaintance of mine," Kuroba claims as he points at me, "someone who is supposed to be well acquainted with you should help us wake up."

Someone who is supposed to be well acquainted?

"If that's the case then welcome to the Phantom Thieves!" Ryuji smiles as we all look at him.

"Who said that we're going to join the Phantom Thieves?" Kudou squints. "Just because we told you our situation doesn't mean that we automatically become part of the group. Cooperating is completely different from joining. Seeing how little you think about the after effects from your targets, it seems is doesn't matter if their mentality becomes low to the point of suicide. I'm perfectly fine with the culprit confessing their crimes, but going through palaces based of from your explanations, that's just goes against that person's privacy. Anyway, I don't know about Kaito, but I'm not joining. I can help out with those Memento requests of your but not the individual palaces itself."

Kuroba looks at him. Understanding him, he looks back at us. "It seems to be best if we don't join."

I nod back and stand up. Every other member does the same and head out of the door. Before we leave Kudou spoke some words which makes me smile back:

"We wish you luck on this target, knowing that this one is personally affected everyone."

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Finally, one of the scenes I've been hoping to make! Even though it's pretty sloppy.

Also, stay safe out there and wish you luck.