Author's Note: This is a direct sequel to "Between Sea and Stone." Plot elements and character development in this story are intended for readers who completed that work first.
Amamiya Ren filled half his spoon with curry and then scooped up a pile of rice on top of the viscous, savory paste- creating an optimum bite. He put the spoon into his mouth, and let the flavors of the curry and rice mingle, textures flowing and replacing one another as Ren chewed. This was the signature dish of Cafe Leblanc for a reason: a phenomenal eating experience that somehow managed to be both intuitively and scientifically perfect. The culinary lovechild of Sojiro and Fuataba's mother, the late Wataba, was unlike anything Ren had ever eaten anywhere. And though he'd eaten it for breakfast practically every day for the last year, Ren wasn't even close to being sick of it. If anything, it only got better every day.
Sojiro stood on the other side of the counter, leaning on the surface with one hand, hovering over Ren while he ate. A habit that Ren was now used to. Sojiro was watching the morning news and intermittently drinking a cup of coffee. Ren took a sip of his own coffee, too, and as usual, this morning's brew managed to transform the lingering flavor of the curry still in his mouth.
As usual. As usual. Ren was content with that phrase this morning. A routine felt good- a normal existence like before the Phantom Thieves. No surprises. No threats. No lingering warnings or whispers of fate, destiny, danger. Just an early breakfast. A quiet moment of good company before both himself and Sojiro got on with their day.
"Good morning!," said the jovial television in the cafe's corner, "It is Monday, May 13th, and this is your morning, Tokyo!"
As the news program's introductory jingle played, Ren felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He made a mental note to check it later. One surefire way to irritate Sojiro was to look at a phone during a meal. In Sojiro's opinion, meals were for the people nearby, not the people far away. Ren respected that and took another bite of curry.
He glanced at Morgana as he chewed, the black cat was snoozing lightly in the chair next to him. Morgana, the spirit animal sent to guide the Phantom Thieves through prior dangers, held a more active nightly schedule, often leaving in the wee hours of the morning and returning as Ren was waking up. So he habitually snoozed through Ren's breakfasts and most of the morning commute in Ren's bag.
"Alarming news out of Shibuya this morning," said the female anchor moments after she appeared on the screen, "It appears three unrelated suicides have blocked traffic due to responding law enforcement teams. Authorities are reporting that three different people, two women and one man, all leapt to their deaths from buildings throughout Shibuya in the early hours of this morning."
"Hoo boy…" sighed Sojiro to himself, frowning.
"This unprecedented event caused a stir in the headquarters of the National Police, and NATPOL elected to take over the investigation in lieu of the local Shinjuku precinct. Junior Commissioner Toyotoma Seito made a brief statement on the steps of the National Police Agency Building at Number 1, Chiyoda City, early this morning:"
The television switched to a middle-aged man with close-buzzed hair and serious, intense eyes. "At this time, we are looking into all three incidents, but initial investigation has found no link between the three victims. There also appears to be no evidence of foul play in any of the incidents. That's all I have to say at this time."
The TV went black. Sojiro sighed and put the remote control back on the counter behind the bar. "Terrible news to start a day. I hate suicide. Such a terrible waste. And the worst part is, everything gets better. And everything gets worse, too. What's that saying? 'All this too will change'?"
"All this too will change?'" Ren repeated.
"Yeah. It's some old myth I remember hearing. A sultan wanted a ring with a saying that held a supreme truth, and so they made him a ring that said 'All this too will change,' meaning that good times and bad times are finite. In the end, they always end in change." Sojiro sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "That's why suicide bothers me so much. If they would just hang on, things would get better, because nothing ever stays the same."
"Maybe they fear it getting worse."
"Maybe. But I used to worry a lot about it. After Wakaba…" Sojiro looked through his glasses directly at Ren, the ghost of old fear in his eyes, "I thought I might lose Futaba the same way…"
Ren held his gaze for a few moments, the older man's eyes flickering slightly between Ren's own. Then, Sojiro looked away. "Ah, old fears don't matter. You all did something for Futaba, so now I don't have to be afraid of something like that. So- thanks."
Ren couldn't think of any appropriate response to such a statement, so a silence stretched between them.
"Anyway," said Sojiro, "wash that plate up and get moving. I need to open up and you need to get going to school. And so does Futaba. Where is that girl?"
"I'll go by the house and pick her up."
"Thanks."
Ren washed his plate. Then he woke up Morgana who hopped obligingly into his bag. And they headed out for the day. When the doorbell of Cafe Leblanc chimed as the door shut behind him, Ren took out his phone while his feet carried him the well-worn path to the Sakura house, just a little further down the business alley. The text earlier was from Makoto.
==Q: I don't have class today and I want to visit Shujin. Look for me at Shibuya so we can ride together!
Ren felt a surge of excitement. Seeing Makoto this morning was a pleasant surprise. After spending every day together over the spring break, 24/7, returning to their somewhat separate lives and living conditions in Tokyo had been an unpleasant shock. But she was in her first year at Waseda University, and Ren was in his final year of high school. By necessity, they traveled separate paths most of their days. It was just one of the challenges of dating an older woman. But there were endless perks to it, too.
==J: Great! I'll be looking for you. I'll be the guy in glasses. And you'll be? The woman of my dreams?
He looked up to check where he was walking, and something white in the corner of his vision gained his attention. He turned his head to look down a narrow alley. A large, white Akita dog was watching him. Ren stopped walking instinctively, returning the dog's gaze. It was a beautiful animal, and it had an interesting ring of reddish fur on its forehead. He'd never seen a dog like it before.
His phone buzzed in his hand. Ren looked down.
==Q: wow...
==Q: Too cheesy. See you soon.
Oh well, not every line could be good. He looked back up. The dog was gone. Maybe someone had moved into the neighborhood, or maybe it was just a stray. Ren continued on his way.
Ren arrived at the Sakura house, a modest two-story home crammed with all the others of the neighborhood. A hollow block wall and gate marked the edge of the property, but the front door to the building itself was a scant four paces or so away from that line. It was a luxury of space in a city like Tokyo, however. Ren rang the buzzer on the gate.
No response.
He rang it again. "Futaba! Hey! Futaba!"
The house door shot open and a frantic Futaba appeared, lunch bag in mouth, one shoe on, the other being hopped into, and a portable game console in one hand. Ren watched her sort herself out. She arrived at the gate, breathing heavily.
"I'm ready.'
"What about your school bag?"
Futuaba let out a squeak, turned, and ran back into the house.
"It's been a month already..." said Morgana.
"Sojiro says she gets everything ready the night before, too," said Ren.
Did Futuaba freeze up in the morning, worrying about school? About social interactions of the day? Was it some sort of anxiety related to her previous shut-in lifestyle that upends everything in the morning? Was Ren missing something? The weight of worry for Futaba settled on Ren's shoulders. Maybe there was some problem he could help fix for the girl.
When Futaba came back out, they started their walk to the subway station.
"Futaba, you seem to have trouble being ready in the morning. Is something bothering you every day?"
"Yes," said Futaba, matter of factly, "this world boss spawns like, two minutes before it's time to go, and it's the only time of day it appears! It drops this item I really need! But if not enough players show up, it takes longer to kill. It always makes me late!"
Well… Ren supposed that was some sort of problem, but not exactly one he was fearing. It was a relief. That didn't sound like anything Ren needed to worry about- that was a problem for her father.
They arrived at the subway station and filed onto a car.
"How come you don't have a computer, Ren?" Futaba said suddenly.
"I don't know. I never thought about it. I guess I don't have any need for one, especially since I know you. You're better at that stuff than I ever could be, I'm sure."
"I don't mean for work. I mean for games and things."
"I have that game console in my room for that."
"That thing is a relic. I mean new games!"
"I never thought about it. I guess I don't really have time to interact with that stuff."
"Because you're always interacting with Makoto, right?"
Ren's eyes shifted to Futaba. She was looking away from him, appearing a little downcast. What was she getting at?
"I suppose. I enjoy spending my time with her, so I don't have anything left over for a computer like you do."
"What if I'm tired of just having my computer? What if I want a Makoto, too? Someone with a face that talks back- not a screen. I'm tired of screens."
"You have all of us."
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
Ren did know it. His adoptive sister was asking him about romance. What to do? What to say? Well- his advice worked for Ryuji and Yusuke once, so maybe it will work for Futaba, too.
"Just talk to people. Get to know them. When it happens to be the right person, it will just click."
"Click? Is it really that easy? Why do we have so many shows and movies about people trying to find love if it's really that easy?"
Ren hadn't thought about that. He remembered Ann saying he and Makoto were really lucky when they spoke about this sort of thing on the balcony of the Aviary Resort. And now Futaba was basically saying the same thing.
"I don't know, Futaba. But that's how it worked for me. People are different, but people can also be the same, too. Maybe you're like me. Just talk to people, get interested in their lives, and see what happens."
Futaba didn't respond, but her eyes were off to the side- the direction she usually looked when she was thinking. They rode the rest of the way to Shibuya in silence. Morgana had nothing to add, which meant he must be sleeping in Ren's bag.
Their train arrived in Shibuya and Ren and Futaba exited their subway car and ran into the rear of a massive press of humanity. People were queuing up to ride the escalators to the upper level of the subway station, and it appeared the people near the top were waiting for their turn to move somewhere in the bustle they could hear overhead.
Ren realized it was the traffic problems from the suicide incidents. More people must be on the trains today with the busses delayed, and now the entire system was backing up from the sheer volume of people trying to move around the city through a single transit system. It was going to be a slow process to even get to their connecting train.
Futaba looked at the ocean of people with obvious hesitation. Ren took her hand. "Just stay close to me. You've done this plenty of times."
"Right."
They pushed into the line and stood. Moving forward a few steps every few moments. He took out his phone and found a group chat was already going. He hadn't felt the vibration for some reason. Futaba took hers out, too, and they both shuffle walked with humanity while chatting. The phone helped distract Futaba from the press of strangers, too.
==F: the press of humanity in Shibuya is extreme. I'm going to be truant.
==S: you're going to be a tree person?
==O: thats treant
==P: truant means absent, moron.
==S: then just say absent!
==N: whats going on?
==Q: Shibuya station is backed up. Probably because of the suicide investigations blocking the roads.
==S: suecides?
==P: suicides?
==N: yes, i saw it on the news.
==J: 3 people jumped off 3 different buildings this early am in Shibuya
==F: a tragic fate
==S: 4 real?
==Q: and no connection between them.
==S: man if yer gonna kill yourself, do it someplace where it wont bother the whole city
==O: ugh
==F: how vulgar
==P: thats terrible Ryuji
==N: think before you speak
==S: jeeze, gang up on Ryuji morning is it?
==O: its always gang up on stupid morning
==S: okay okay lay off already
Ren received a notification on his side-chat with Makoto. He opened it.
==Q: we'll never meet up in this mess. Let's just get on the train where we can and see each other at the Shujin stop
==J: k
The chats went quiet, so Ren put away his own phone. Futuaba started playing some sort of mobile game and lost herself in it, so Ren put a hand on her shoulder and gently guided her through the crowd. It was an odd morning, but that group chat felt good. It felt like the Phantom Thieves as they always were. He was still anxiously awaiting the aftermath of the battle on the mountain top, but so far nothing seemed amiss.
But Ren didn't let himself think that he and his friends were going to be just as they always were after the mountain top. They'd killed people. People who were ruthlessly trying to eliminate them, but killing in self-defense was still killing. And they'd surely been traumatized by the stress, fear, and most of them had even been shot at least once. The Phantom Thieves faced a great deal of terrible things in the old Metaverse, but this latest battle with human beings. Real people. It felt so very different.
The remainder of the road trip to Ren's hometown went off without a hitch. They left Matsuzaki and linked with the bullet train and simply took local trains to Odo. He surprised everyone that he'd arranged to live in Tokyo for his third year of high school (well, except for Makoto who already knew), and the visit with his parents went well. Then it was a simple train ride back, and in seemingly no time at all, they were now over a month into the new school year. The new normal. The new routine. And still- nothing. Everyone seemed exactly as they were before.
It couldn't be that easy. That consequence-free. Ren had seen movies and read books, and from what he understood: people didn't come back from war and just… go on being the same person they were before. It changed them. Maybe not disastrously, but it changed them. And that mountain top- that was as close to war as Ren ever wanted to get. Fear. Bullets. Blood. Screaming. Death. It was more than enough.
What had Sojiro said this morning? This too will change? As in, this current state of relaxed routine… it couldn't last. Something was coming and it was going to change everything. It was just a matter of time. But perhaps this was paranoia? It sure sounded like paranoia. Makoto was quick to pick up on him getting into these cognitive traps of his. He should try and worry about this when he was with her, because she would probably find the way to dispel it.
After enough time passed to ensure that Ren and Futaba would both be late for classes, they reached the train to Shujin Academy. They both again found themselves crushed in a press of people, jostling into each other and their neighbors with every jolt of the car. Futaba seemed a bit nervous again, but otherwise in control of herself.
"You okay?" said Ren.
"Yeah. I've been through a few crush rides like this. But it makes me understand how the women in the cartoons could have such a bad time on crowded trains."
"... What kind of cartoons are you watching?"
Futaba's face froze in shock, realizing she'd just let something slip. Then she blushed furiously. "None of your business, Ren!"
They rode in silence until they reached the stop for Shujin Academy. Futaba was now a first year, though a bit old for that grade due to her "shut-in" year. Ren, Ryuji, and Ann were third-years, the final year. Yusuke was also a third-year, but he attended a different school. Finally, Haru and Makoto were alumni, both graduates of Shujin. Makoto was now enrolled at Waseda University. Haru was running her late father's food empire while studying a business degree online. Morgana was, as always, a cat. His knowledge was more or less pre-installed by That which created him.
Upon exiting the subway car, Ren spotted Makoto waiting near a wall, her eyes searching the departing crowd. Those eyes met his. Makoto smiled her usual reserved public smile. Ren felt his mouth break into a grin of its own accord. His mood lightened and the worries of this morning were entirely forgotten. The sight of her went through him like a cool summer breeze.
They approached one another, Ren's passion reinvigorated by Makoto's distinct crimson eyes; her sharp features; defined chin; tidy, short black hair; and her lithe figure which hinted at the surprising physical strength she possessed. This was his partner in life, and he loved looking at her- being apart only made that feeling stronger. As did the look of muted excitement on Makoto's face as she looked at him. They drew together in the dispersing crowd.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," she said.
They stared at each other for a moment, oblivious to the world. It was an unwritten rule that they generally didn't hug or kiss in public, so they stood close and stared, eyes dancing into each other.
Futaba sighed loudly, intentionally breaking the spell.
"Yes," said Makoto, blinking and blushing ever so slightly. She checked her watch. "You two need to hurry. First period started a bit ago."
"Teachers understand subway congestion," said Ren as they started walking.
"That doesn't mean you should take advantage, Ren. There is a difference between being late and being intentionally tardy."
"Should I run?"
"Perhaps walk with alacrity."
Futaba's face was turning between the two of them as they talked. "What was Makoto like as student council president?"
"Pretty much like this," said Morgana from Ren's bag.
"Har-har," said Makoto.
"What are your plans at the school?" said Ren.
"I thought I would see some of my teachers on their breaks and check in on the student council. My subordinate won the election, so I'm interested to see how he is doing."
"Checking in on your political legacy?'
Makoto let out a short laugh. "Did you all agree to tease me this morning? But- yes. I suppose in a way I am. Who knows what people will become? I need to maintain my networking."
Ren realized this was a part of her ambition to become a police commissioner. Makoto was already laying down the foundation for something decades in the future, hedging her bets that the people she knows today will grow up to be valuable contacts in the future. It was both impressive, and a little scary. What kind of woman would Makoto eventually become? He thought about the Junior Police Commissioner Toyotomo Seito, who was on the television this morning. Ren found it easy to replace that man's serious face with Makoto's, her crimson eyes fierce, her jaw set in the face of the news cameras and microphones. Could Ren handle the person Makoto seemed destined to become?
What kind of thought was that? Ren smiled to himself and easily punted that doubt out his mind forever. Makoto wasn't someone who was handled. She was a force that he was lucky to be allied with; a partnership that he hoped would be his life's pleasure to maintain.
"What are you smiling about?" said Makoto, suspiciously.
"Nothing. I mean- Uh- yakisoba pan. I think there might be some in the school today."
"Lies," said Morgana.
Ren resettled his bag on his shoulder, shaking Morgana off balance.
"Hey! Revenge just proves I'm right!"
They split up at the entrance, Makoto headed to the office to announce her visitation, and Ren and Futaba headed deeper into the building. First years were the lowest ranking students, so Futaba needed to climb to the third floor. Ren continued on past the stairwell and walked down the hallway towards the 3rd year rooms.
As he passed, Ren craned his neck to look inside 3C, Ryuji's class. He was in there, laughing at something. He seemed to get along with his seatmates at least. Next was 3B. Ann was equally easy to spot through that window, her blond hair made it seem like someone with a spotlight followed her around everywhere in Japan. She was quiet, gloomy, looking out the classroom window and not talking with anyone.
Ren frowned as she passed out of his sight. Ann seemed to carry isolation around with her like a keychain. Even after the last year, that had not changed. But that gloomy sadness. Was that just because it was a Monday, or was there something else going on inside? Of anyone on the Mountain Top, Ann had been the most destructive; saving all of their lives, while taking the most lives to do it. And Ann's persona used fire. It was… messy.
Ren realized that in his simple joy at seeing Makoto this morning, he forgot to talk to her about his worries over the Mountain Top's aftermath. The psychological fallout that he was expecting, but not yet seeing. Well- it's not like that was the right place or the right time. And Futaba and Morgana were with them. Ren only shared his doubts with Makoto, no one else. He feared that if the rest of the team were fully aware of how much the Joker mystique of his was a show of bravado, if they knew how many doubts riddled his soul like swiss cheese, they would all lose faith in him as their leader. And they would have never picked him as their leader after taking down their first target, Kamoshida, a teacher of this very school.
No. Only Makoto could know. She understood.
But for now, he needed to make it through school today. He was good at hiding doubts. What was a few hours, a few days, a few weeks? And the Phantom Thieves would perhaps be ready to think about their next target. Maybe a mission is what they needed. Something to focus them all. Reorient their priorities on justice, their perspectives on the victims of this world. The investigation, the battles, the success. It was a cathartic crucible to which they were addicted. Perhaps the familiar pattern of action would cleanse them all.
Ren entered his classroom, 3A, a reality from his #1 class ranking last year. Ms. Chouno, the always gaudily-dressed English teacher, turned and frowned at him as he entered.
"Mr. Amamiya. Trouble on the subway, I take it?" she said in a way that clearly announced her displeasure.
"Yes, I am very sorry," Ren did his best to look contrite and he bowed slightly.
"No one else was late. Just you."
"I have no excuse." Ren bowed again.
Ms. Chouno seemed mollified. She waved her hand in an imperious way, indicating he should make way to his seat. Ren did so, remaining tense. Ms. Chouno was the most subtle of his teachers- her style was to lull a student into a false sense of security and then strike.
Meanwhile, the rest of the class was whispering and giggling to each other. They liked to see Ren in hot water. He'd started his time here as a rumored violent delinquent which everyone acted like they were afraid of. Then he'd blown all of them out of the water in exam scores, rocketing himself to the top of the class, and now it was just old-fashioned, run-of-the-mill jealousy. If the top student was torn down, then maybe they could ascend.
Fools.
No. No- That was unfair... Children. Ren's classmates were still children. With rare exceptions, none of these young people would ever experience anything close to what the Phantom Thieves experienced, what Ren and the others saw, felt, bled, and killed. Eventually, Ren's classmates would mature. Become adults. But even then, most would never reach the same level that the Phantom Thieves were at right now. It wasn't their fault. It wasn't even a problem. It was a blessing. And Ren reminded himself that preserving that blessing of innocence for his classmates, and all other children in Japan, was the self-pledged goal of the Phantom Thieves' new existence.
Ren sat down. After one final scowl in his direction, Ms. Chouno returned her attention to the class as a whole.
"I've been hinting for the last month that this year would jump your English comprehension to the next level. We're done with just conversational studies. That's second year stuff. This year, we are getting into literature! This year, you will have multiple reading assignments surrounding some of the foundational stories of western society and culture!"
Ms. Chouno paused dramatically.
The class as a whole blinked at her sleepily.
Undeterred, she plowed on:
"And what better place to start than the West's own archipelago of high culture and society: Greece!"
"But they speak Greek…"
"Mr. Watanabe, you can see me after school today. I'll have some work for you."
A groan.
"Yes, the people of Greece speak Greek. And the ancient people of India spoke Sanskrit. But the texts of the Buddha were translated from Sanskrit, to Chinese, to Japanese. Thus we have Japanese Buddhism. In the same way, the texts of the ancient Greeks were translated to Latin, to English. And so we will read their stories in English."
"The ancient Greeks told many stories to explain why the world works as it does. The first myth we are going to study this year is the myth which explains the reason for the change of the seasons. It's a tale of lust, crime, kidnapping, and a mother's sorrow."
Ms. Chouno's eyes began roving the class. Ren tensed. It was time. It was only an act. He knew instinctively who her target would be.
"Mr. Amamiya! Can you tell me the name of the Greek goddess of the harvest?"
All eyes in the class shifted to him. The Greek goddess of the harvest? He'd seen a great number of shadows in the Metaverse, all of which resembled various gods, demons, and mythological creatures… but classify them by culture of origin? That was Makoto's territory. Time was running out. A greek goddess. A greek female name. He only knew one of those. Ehhh... it was better than nothing.
"Helen?"
Ms. Chouno frowned and shook her head. "Helen of Troy? No, no. The answer is Demeter. The Greeks believed she granted fertility of both field, and of women… if you know what I mean, ladies." She turned and began writing on the board in English: D-E-M-E...
Giggles, and also assorted jeers at Ren: So much for Mr. #1; He's not so smart after all; I bet Niijima gave him all the answers last year; yeah they studied in the library together all the time; cheated in the library all the time you mean; did all kinds of things together all the time you mean; ooohhh hehehehe.
"Hush!" shouted Ms. Chouno, whipping back around. "Ms. Kobayashi. Since you seem so talkative, you can read the first two paragraphs out loud to the class."
"Eeep!"
More giggles.
Ren sighed, pushed his glasses up the ridge of his nose, and then looked out the classroom window. The same Tokyo sat out there, same as it ever was. All this too will change? Maybe that didn't apply to high school.
End Chapter 1
((Author's Note: Portions of this story will be censored or altered to meet content guidelines of this website in regards to mature content. The full version of the story, the Director's Cut, if you will, will be simultaneously maintained on AO3. The differences are not major or essential to the plot, but this is a story of young adults, life-or-death conflicts, and natural reproductive urges- all of which influence the characters and their reactions.
The characters of Persona 5 have experiences and a mental maturity which lends them to acting and behaving as adults- as adults more mature and admirable than many real world adults ever manage in their lifetimes The characters will encounter adult situations at certain points in the story. If you want to avoid reading that sort of thing, then this version of the story you are reading right now is where you want to be. The other version is on AO3.
In short, in the video game, if you went on a date with someone and brought them to your room, the screen would then go black and time would pass. This story is like that- the screen will go dark and time will pass. AO3 has the other version.))