Chapter Text
"Mom asked me if I would... If I could be her research partner and... I think I want to stay."
Goro wasn't quite sure how to process the words coming from his sister's mouth. Her rambling explanation turned into white noise as he just stared. Stay here?
What was there here? Her mother.
What about him? He didn't matter.
"Goro, are you okay?" Goro flashed her a fake smile, purely out of habit. She frowned, instantly recognizing it for what it was. "Goro..."
"I'm fine." He wasn't. "This is important to you." More important than him. "And you should be with your family." Not him.
"Don't say it like that," Futaba took a step forward but Goro recoiled. "Come on-"
"What do you want me to say Futaba?" His voice took on a higher pitch, one normally reserved for pleasing grown ups. "I'm trying to be supportive, what more do you want from me?"
"For you to tell me what you're thinking! I'm not a mind reader Goro, if you're upset just-"
"What does it matter how I feel Isshiki?" His voice grew cold. "You've made up your mind." You don't care. "You're staying." You're abandoning me. "That's all there is to it."
"It's not, Goro, we're family-"
"Family!? Your mother is your family. Sojiro is your family. I'm just some-" He cut himself off. Their father wasn't worth discussing and it was hardly something to be proud of. The bond the two of them shared was rotten and now the cracks were starting to show. "We're not family Futaba. We never were and that's fine. I get it."
"No you don't-"
"No? Do you think I didn't notice when you abandoned me for Wakaba every chance you got?"
"She's my mom Goro!" Futaba stepped forward. Goro could see something more akin to exhaustion than frustration in her eyes. He'd seen that look many times before over the years. You're being a burden. "I haven't seen her since I was a kid!" Her protests went unacknowledged. Goro did his best to ignore them because he knew he was being selfish. Keeping her from her real family... But it hurt. And he wanted her to know and maybe feel it too.
"Did you think I forgot when you trusted Sojiro more me when he opened that fucking portal?!"
"Because I knew he wouldn't hurt us-"
"He's been lying to us all summer!"
"To get mom back!" There was the anger. It was only a matter of time. "Why are you being like this?! Why does everything have to be a fight with you?! I... I don't want things to be like this with us Goro, you're my brother and-"
"I'm not your brother." The words came out low and cold. He felt a strange sense of calm as he spewed the poisonous truth that demanded to be let free. "We aren't family Futaba, I don't care what connection we may have through Shido, we have never been family."
Goro watched as Futaba's eyes widened. He watched hurt blossom in her eyes before her expression changed to something more stoic, more guarded. She turned her gaze to the ground. "Fine."
"Fine." Before Futaba could get another word in, Goro grabbed his bag and left. He didn't look back at Futaba's hurt expression as he pushed down the horrible feeling in his chest.
Eyes followed Goro as he got himself lost in the forest. He did his best to ignore it, writing it off as some animals or gnomes or some other harmless creature. It wasn't like it was difficult to do, not when he was so preoccupied with Futaba...
It hurt to walk away. It hurt to end their conversation like that but... She didn't want him anymore and could he really blame her? Between him and actual family, it was obvious why she chose the way she did. She had better things to do. More important people to be with... That didn't make it hurt any less. That didn't make him want to stay any less...
He shook his head. It wasn't helpful to be thinking like that, not when he was trying to get away from that.
Goro huffed, leaning against a tree. It didn't make sense why he was so upset about this. It was only a matter of time before he was thrown away. He'd seen it since Wakaba was back in the picture...
He needed a distraction. He needed something to take his attention off the mess in his head. He knew he usually kept a book in his bag... Except when he checked it, he found a phone, some headphones, and far too many unhealthy snacks.
"Shit," He ran his hand through his hair. "Shit!" He slammed the bag on the ground in pure frustration. Of course he took the wrong bag. Why would the universe give him a break now of all times?
"Someone seems upset." Goro's breath hitched as the familiar voice came from behind. Of course. "What's wrong little Crow?"
"Go away," His body tensed as the memory of their last encounter surfaced. "I'm not in the mood."
"Aww~ What's the matter Goro?" Akira practically purred the words as he got closer. "You seem so angry... even more than usual."
"I said-"
"Calm down little Crow," Goro could practically hear the smirk in Akira's voice. "I'm not here to hurt you. I actually came to help."
"Help," Goro spat. He turned to Akira with crossed arms. "Don't insult me with that bullshit. I know what you are."
Akira grinned. It was wide but not quite malicious. Still, he had some sort of angle. "I wouldn't dream of it. Besides, you're far too smart to be manipulated by something like me, right?" He took a step closer. Realizing his approach wasn't working, his expression softened until it almost became sincere. "I really just want to lend my friend a hand."
"We're not friends." Goro glared but it had no effect. "Now fuck off. I'm having a bad enough day without you here."
"It wouldn't happen to be related to your Hermit, would it?"
Goro froze. He tried not to let the discomfort show on his face but the widened grin on Akira's face told him he was failing miserably.
"I'm right, aren't I?"
Goro looked to the ground. He knew his silence was enough of an answer for Akira but still... He absolutely refused to admit even the possibility of him being right out loud. So he grabbed Futaba's bag and pushed his way past the demon.
"You know," Akira began to follow Goro as he tried to escape the conversation. Part of him just wished he could be sucked into a black hole so that he wouldn't have to deal with this shit. "I could help-"
"Go to hell." He kept walking, hoping that maybe Akira would give up. "I don't want anything you're offering."
"Not even the chance to stay with your family?" That stopped Goro in his tracks. As much as he wanted to keep going, he couldn't bring himself to move. A way to stay... "I thought so."
"What are you talking about?"
Akira's grin softened into something a bit more gentle. "I just so happen to know a way to... distort time." Goro didn't move away as he took a step forward. "That's what you want, right? I can extend the summer, allow you to stay with your family for as long as you'd like. I can even bring you back to before your Heirophant opened that portal if you'd prefer..."
"This is a trick." It had to be. It was from Akira, there was no way he could accept such a thing. And yet...
"It's nothing like that. Think of it like a peace offering." Akira held out his hand. "I'd like to bury the hatchet and start over."
"You possessed me-"
"It was only a little mischief... And I'd like to make up for it now." Goro hesitated. He wanted to believe Akira. He wanted it so bad but he knew he wasn't to be trusted. He knew it was a bad idea. Still, he could feel his resolve crumbling. "Don't you want to stay with your family?"
"Wakaba told us how dangerous you are..." He mumbled. Akira just gave an amused grin.
"Are you really going to trust what she says when she keeps so many secrets from you? What happened to valuing the truth?"
Goro stared at Akira's outstretched hand. He knew he shouldn't accept. He knew, "What are you asking for in return?"
Akira paused to consider before his eyes went to Futaba's bag. "The phone you have there. That should do."
Goro narrowed his eyes at Akira. Why the phone? What did he want to do with it? But then again, what harm could he do with it? Sure, he had internet access but short of trolling random people online, there wasn't much real damage he could do... right? And besides, even if he broke it, this wasn't Futaba's main phone. She kept that on her at all times. And maybe there was some vindictive part of him that wanted to see her hurting a little too.
"I..." He looked down at Akira's hand and took a breath. He saw a soft smile on his lips, so warm and inviting... He steeling himself. "I accept." He said as he grabbed the phone and placed it in Akira's outstretched hand. Suddenly, he gave a wild grin.
"Thank you little Crow." He turned the phone on, allowing Goro to see a glowing red eye...
The Meta Nav.
His eyes widened. No. "No!"
"You have no idea what a big help you've been."
Before Goro could do anything else, Akira snapped his fingers. He found himself suddenly exhausted as he fell to the ground. The last thing he saw before everything faded away was red swirls and a bright pulsing eye.