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

3: I Can't Be Weak Anymore

All your pain....can be undone....

(Ren's P.O.V)

Frozen to the spot, I turned to face Kasumi. Her expression was anxious out of concern for my odd behaviour.

I swallowed. It wasn't right to leave her here by herself, not with the Palace literally steps away.

"Senpai..?"

...but I also didn't know how safe it was to bring her in. Could she possibly be a phantom thief?

I took out my phone. Unlocking the screen, I could see no trace of the Metaverse Navigator.

...meaning it was true. This was reality.

The realization dawned on me. This was going to be much more dangerous than I could predict. As well, my chances were slim to none that Kasumi could in any way be a Phantom Thief.

.....but, besides that point, my gut knew she was much safer with me, than by herself.

My gaze stiffened, turning even more serious than normal.

"Kasumi, I know this doesn't make sense, but I need you to trust me."

She pursed her lips together and, after a second of considering my words, her expression changed with a determined nod.

"I'm going to go investigate that tower. Will you come with me?"

She didn't hesitate, just like I suspected.

"I trust you. Let's do this, Senpai."

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

After managing to sneak through the scaffolding, Kasumi and I came face to face with a long, winding pathway that lead to an ornately detailed tower glowing in the distance.

It had winding pillars cascading radially around its base, with bright white lights shooting upwards towards the middle. Within the halfway point of the structure, a glowing, glass blue structure that looked like an elevator rose the pinnacle of the Palace high into the sky, with transparent steps curving around the elevator to reach the peak.

On the top of the tower sat a large sphere, blue in structure yet glowing a sinister yellow. Odd looking wires, cameras, and distorted light fixtures wound around the entirety of the architecture, consistently moving every few minutes to keep an eye out for intruders.

.... This was the most uneasy I'd ever felt prior to a Palace infiltration. This wasn't going to be easy.

I turned towards my friend, who was staring in awe at the massive tower.

"Stay close behind me, okay?"

Her eyes blinked out of her surprise, then she turned to me.

"Got it."

I took off running, Kasumi at my back, heading down the winding cement path and steps. Up ahead, I saw a small entrance with an elevator.

I swallowed. Stepping towards it, I pressed the button on the control panel beside it. A spaceage looking elevator shaft quickly descended and opened its doors.

Kasumi glanced at me, as if reaffirming that we were going to proceed inside. I nodded, and within moments, we were heading up into the tower.

----------

The rounded slabs of metal that circled radially around the elevator to make a door shifted apart, allowing us into the first floor.

I took a single step out, but suddenly had to stop.