Chapter Text
Akira was irritated rather than threatened when the Grail sent someone to infiltrate the Phantom Thieves. He’d been surviving on his wits his entire life. Goro Akechi, to be fair, is no slouch either. If Akira didn’t know better, he’d take that soft-spoken manner to be genuine. Akechi’s a remarkably flexible thinker for a Justice Arcana.
He knows the mission Akechi is inching them towards, against Judge Nijima, is a trap. Akira expected that to be the last surprise.
But on the night they’re due to go after Nijimia, Akechi pauses and looks at them all. “Shall we stop pretending?” The real Akechi shows through at last in his sharp smile. “You always knew the Grail sent me, didn’t you?”
There doesn’t seem much point in denying it now. Akira shrugs. “You played the part well, though.”
Akechi laughs, saying, “Better than even you know.”
Something glitters behind his eyes. He raises a hand and a shimmer in the air gives away a barrier—just like Makoto. Makoto the Priestess.
Akira sucks in a breath and even Futaba stutters in surprise. “Y-You’re…”
“A Wild Card, like your leader,” Akechi says. “Naturally, the Grail doesn’t know.”
Akira is silent. It’s discomforting to think he didn’t have Akechi figured out after all. “…Why tell us this?”
“I would say I’ve had a change of heart, but I think you know me better by now. The truth is I have a certain ambition, and the Grail is not conducive to achieving it.”
“Surviving?” Akira suggests dryly.
Akechi chuckles. “Not quite. There is someone I want to kill.”
The Thieves exchange glances. It seems too good to be true.
“Why should we trust you?” Makoto says.
“Because I’ve told you a secret that would put a price on my head,” Akechi answers, a hint of annoyance beginning to creep in. “And because tonight, we aren’t going to raid your sister’s place – we’re going to save her life.”