Me: What if I write more about the adventures of politician!Akira

Also me: What if I write something cracktastic

I did some research on minimal age for candidates to get elected into the Japanese National Diet (25 for House of Representatives, 30 for House of Councillors). Elections happen every four years. It also turns out that the Japanese Emperor appoints somebody to be Prime Minister instead of being elected like what happened in Persona 5. So I guess that's how politics roll in the Persona 'verse. *shrugs*

And yeah, I know that in my previous fic (Image Problems), Akira was running for Prime Minister. I suppose Akira got stupidly overconfident and tried to run for Prime Minister early on in his political career.

(I also looked up the average life span of cats before realizing that Morgana is technically not a cat but I figured that people not in the know would eventually notice.)

Bastet (or Bast or Baast) is the Ancient Egyptian goddess of cats, protection, joy, music/dance, and family. I knew about the cat part but family seems hilariously appropriate considering the events in this fic.

There's two versions of this fic and I wasn't sure which one to go with. So I decided to post both. This is version 1.

Disclaimer: I own nothing besides the plot of this story and my OC, Aiko Tendo.

A Belated Hero's Reward

By Bilbo-sama

Version 1: Well, that happened I guess

It was election season and Representative Akira Kurusu was hosting a rally.

It was a standard issue 'children are the future blah blah blah here's what I'm hoping to do when reelected' rally. Nothing really special if you don't count the fact that the man is holding a napping cat.

'What is he doing? Gaining votes from the crazy cat ladies?' thought Aiko Tendo: Ace Reporter.

Sources say that the cat, known to all as Morgana, was allegedly obtained fourteen years ago when Kurusu was in his second year of high school. Rumor has it that he brought Morgana with him everywhere back then too.

Perhaps he even invited the cat to his own wedding. If he did that, then he's pretty high up on the Crazy Cat Lady scale.

Before she step forward and ask him to express his thoughts on the idea, a scantily clad woman stepped up to the front and her presence hushed the crowd.

Wait, is she wearing a headband with cat ears?

"Greeeeetings," the woman purred. Oh god, the crazy cat lady pandering is /working/.

"Er, hello," said Kurusu, eyebrow raised and arms still full of sleepy cat who woke up to see what the fuss is about. To Aiko's surprise, the cat had a white spot of 'covering' its green eyes, instead of it's chin.

"I am Bastet," the woman continued, "and I wish to reward Humanity's Hope."

"Humanity's Hope?" someone whispered, "what does that even mean?"

"Should we do something?" asked another person behind Aiko.

"I kinda want to see where she's going with this, dude," another attendee replied.

"And you haven't found it yet?" Kurusu finally asked, intrigued. The cat in his arms flicked it's all black tail.

"I have not," Bastet shook her head, "This city is busier than I anticipated. I came to this spot in hopes I would find assistance."

The cat meowed incessantly for a minute, Bastet listened intently. What is even happening?

Finally, Bastet smiled, "I see, thank you." She closed her eyes as if she was concentrating, raised her hand and then snapped her fingers.

Nothing seemed to happen.

"I hope, heh, Hope would enjoy his reward immensely," said Bastet with an unnerving toothy smile.

And then suddenly, she was gone.

"Er," said Kurusu, confused, "Any other questions?"

A week later, it was announced that Kurusu's wife, Haru Kurusu nee Okumura, had given birth to the couple's second child, revealed to be a boy with suspiciously familiar blue eyes.

Aiko can't help but feel that the timing was too convenient.

Nobody else thought so and thus she forced herself to drop it.

Even if the 'original' Morgana was never seen in public again.

It sounded like a good idea to have decoys for Morgana in case of political shenanigans. I imagine that the decoy cat(s) have code names based on either Arthurian legend or Personas the Thieves had.