-Tokyo-
Tokyo City 10 o'clock pm April 25 2017. Anzac day. That was the day it all started. We hadn't met before. We did the big, "Wow, you too?"" Then we realized how stupid that sounded and promised never to say it again.
I think we toyed around with actually teaming up again but in the end who really wants to. Movies, TV and comic books make teaming up sound cool, but in the end, do you really want to give up your freedom to the obligations of a team.
We all got over it really quick though. Many of us had our own lives, family and friends back in our respected home. The how and why of the Persona's and their relationship to each other just didn't seem to matter.
- A Year later-
Goro Akechi walked into the tiny, cluttered basement room also known as the Newly established Law office of Sae Niijima . Her lips were drawn into a tight, determined line as she threw a manila folder on top of the mountain of papers and photographs burying what might have been, at one point, a very nice office desk. Sae Niijima, had her hands folded behind her head, and was currently using the desk herself-as a footrest.
"No."
Green eyes opened at the uttered syllable and glinted over the toes of polished black shoes. "'Morning, . Like the plan?"
"Sir, I said no. I'm not doing jt . This is ridiculous, even by your standards."
"What ?"
"The Phantom Thieves returned? ."
"Did you read the file before throwing it at me?"
"I wouldn't have thrown it at you if I hadn't read it."
"After what you did Goro and now he have weird incidents again I figured its the phantom theives again."
"Your insane " Garo said.
"Oh come on its not that bad you get to party, have fun, finally get laid " Sae replied "you're more insane than I already thought!"
"Phantom Thieves," Sae said with a lazy smirk. "Look we have had reports of the psychotic break happening again that would suggest the Metaverse is back "
Goro sighed, tapped her fingers against her folded arms. "You really think that ey are back?."
"Wouldnt put it past it ," Sae ignored his snort, "Its just rumours ."
"You do Realise that cause of you they were never brought to trial ."
"No thats cause of you if you didn't betray them "
Goro threw his hands up—in exasperation, in surrender. "Fine! I'm going home."
-Komashida's Castle jail cells-
Ann Takamaki was sitting in a prison cell, the gaurds outside taking a look at her.
"When will you ever learn, Takamaki ? You can't outrun the law no matter what you do," A guard said.
"But I am not the bad guy here, they are , Im trying to save the Metaverse!" Ann responded in annoyance.
"Yeah, I ain't buyin' that. You're a criminal, and you'll always be one after what you did to our king " The guard scoffed as he left the cell, making Ann groan in annoyance again.
"Can you believe these jerks?" Ann groaned.
"If i could bust out, I' have to tell the others," Ann Sighed. " Bigger Questions is how did i end up here ? And how is this palace even here when Komashida's heart was changed?" Ann said to herself. " If this Palace is here are the others also returned and what of the Metaverse?."
-Tokyo-
I sometimes wonder how differently things would have turned out if let's say Joker found the metaverse again. Funny how we depend on Joker a lot.
Anyways, I seriously wish it would have crashed in Inaba. I think Joker was in Inaba I forget. He would have known what to do. At least he would have more of an idea than me. But no, of all places it had to land in Shibuya my city. And close enough for me to reach before anyone. I didn't have a fucking clue. All I knew was that the next morning when I was getting ready for school and they said a meteor crashed into Central street I was like, "Bullshit!"
See this is what happened. I was heading home. I had re joined the track team since the phantom thieves had disbanded. See I'd been having some problems with the S.C.P.D. They hated my guts since Well we kinda showed them up. After all the phantom thieves changed the hearts of a lot of people and helped a crap ton of people. Damn i knew the Mayor was involved but the bastard had weaselled his way out. I wish i could steal his heart. So the track team was to help me get around faster.
It helps my strength, agility, and speed but I still don't want to run around all the time. So anyways, I was heading home, listening to the police radio in my headphones when I heard a call about some domestic violence a couple miles from where I was at. The operator didn't seem to be getting any response from police officers. Guess the patrolmen in the area were pretending to be busy. I figured what the hell I'll check it out.
When I arrived it turned out to be what other officers probably figured it would be. A couple arguing loud late at night. Some neighbor was calling complaining about the noise. Such a waste of a Phantom thieves ability, a domestic dispute.
I walked up and there was a man yelling up at the bedroom window as a woman was throwing his cloths and what looked like video cassettes and CDs out. So cliché.
"Just open the door and let's talk," the man yelled!
"No," she screamed as she sat on the window sill throwing out a box that opened up in mid air and a bunch of magazines fell out. "I'm tired of hearing the same excuses from you!"
I walked up and glanced at one of the magazines and broken video cassettes on the ground. They were porn. The man looked at me as I came up to him. He looked confused and upset.
"Who are you suppose to be," he asked with a sarcastic tone. "
"What's going on," I asked. "It's like 3 in the morning and you guys are screaming."
"She found my porn collection and is freaking out," he said lowering his head in embarrassment.
I was surprised. I was expecting cheating, sleeping around. I was half waiting for her to throw some bitch out next. I looked up and now joined the screaming match.
"Seriously," I yelled up at the girl who was now looking embarrassed herself. "Porn? People are going to go to work tomorrow without their 8 hours of sleep because you're dumb enough to be shocked your husband…"
"Um boyfriend," The man corrected me.
"Your boyfriend watches porn," I continued. "Get your stupid ass down here and let him in."
Before anyone could react there was a loud BOOM! Followed by what felt like a violent Earthquake. The man next to me was knocked to the ground and the woman in the window lost her balance and fell out the window. I managed to maintain my footing to catch the woman before she hit the ground.
When I turned around everyone was coming out of their house asking questions.
"What was that," I heard.
"It came from over there."
"Was it a bomb?"
"No it came from over there."
"I think it was a meteor."
"Yeah I saw something in the sky."
"Maybe it was a spaceship."
I started looking around and saw smoke in the distance.
The woman I yelled at then saved pointed, "I saw it fall over there by the Central street."
In my ear I heard the operator dispatching cops to that area as well. So I ran. As I ran off I heard the boyfriend say, "Damn it! Now we are both locked out!"
I got to the bottom of the hill" I could hear sirens in the distance so I knew I wouldn't have much time. I don't think I believed I knew what I would do once I got there. I was being motivated by curiosity. I just wanted to know what it was that crashed.
When I got up there my nerves were killing me. The anticipation of walking towards the fire and smoke. The feeling of being rushed cause the sirens were getting louder and closer. My suit was fire proof so I walked through it and right to… again what looked like a silver dumpster.
At first I was almost disappointed. Then I touched it. I could still feel the heat and feel that this was no dumpster. See, I can tell the difference. This thing felt solid. Then curious. It was hard to see with all the smoke but there seemed to be an inscription on the lid and what would be the handle looked like a Maltese Cross.
Then I heard the cops arrive. I looked back and through the fire I could see the cops coming out of their cars and the fire truck and ambulance arriving.
Then I heard one of the cops yell, "Hey, it's that Ryuji kid!"
I attempted to lift the thing and take it with me but found it was way too heavy and the cops were now drawing their guns and trying to surround me.
I heard one come over their loud speaker, "Stay where you are!"
"Fuck this," I said to myself and ran off. I could hear a bunch of yelling but I didn't look back. I even turned off my radio and went home thats when i noticed the app had returned to my phone.
-Inaba-
I remember thinking, "Why not me?" Every exciting thing happens some place I am not. God this town is boring i cant believe Morgana convinced me to come out here. Theres something weird happening in this town he said. Something called the Midnight channel he said an investigation team he said .
My mornings usually consisted of sleeping. I'd usually get home from my nightly activities around 5 am to 6 am. Sleep in till 11, 11:30am. Then lay around my apartment. I always schedule my plans for the afternoon.
Although that day I didn't have any plans. Well, I had one lead but it was… eh. To tell you the truth I was more interested in returning to Shibuya at that point. My worst fear since I obtained the my training was seemingly coming true. It was changing me. I use to be so responsible. I took my studies serious. Now, they didn't seem as important. I was becoming more reckless. Motivated by my whim and curiosity.
A part of me wanted to put my foot down and continue investigating this Midnight Channel, but the Phantom Theif inside of me won over. And with that I caught the train to Shibuya.
The news report said that another train has crash crashed in Central Street. So that is where I went. When I got there the entire place was surrounded. Cops everywhere. People in suits and pant suits walking around, talking to each other and ordering people in uniform around. I stayed hiding from a distance. Ryuji had warned me Shibuya wasn't friendly to our us.
I used my Camera to zoom in and take pictures. I saw paramedics caring body bags into ambulances. I began zooming in as close as I could scanning the area. The hole in the ground looked like a regular hole, minus the train. At the time I just figured I got here too late and they had already picked it up. Seemed quick but I didn't give it a second thought.
I wasn't going to get any closer with the area so busy, so I decided to take a break. Hit the city, get something to eat and check back once the area was cleared.
I occasionally checked in throughout the day and it wasn't till after midnight that they cleared the area. I was expecting guards or officers posted on all ends to the stations parking lot. But nothing. I got to where I remember the crash being and it was all gone. The area was clean, repaved and repaired.
"Weird, huh," I heard behind me.
I looked and it was Ryuji . He walked passed me. It looked as if he were scanning the area too.
"Yeah," I responded, trying not to look like he startled me. "You would think a thing like this would be preserved for further investigation."
He nodded, "That's what I thought."
I turned on the app in hopes of an odd occurrence..
"Looks like Ryuji is learning," Morgana said. More to himself.
"I don't mean to be a bitch," He said. "But why are you here?"
"Originally to just see the crash," I answered. "But now I think I've stumbled onto to something."
"Well, whatever it is We can handle it," He said. Ryuji then Hugged me " Welcome back Joker " he said, i nodded.
I looked at him and he was still scanning the area.
"Have you heard from the others?," I asked.
He stopped walking around and spun to face me.
"No Ann has been missing for weeks now " Ryuji answered, then seems to think about it. "I have no idea about Yusuke , Makoto or Futaba."
I laugh..
"What," Ryuji yells.
"Yeah, "I laugh. "Im sure we handle this alone."
"Yea" Ryuji says.
We began scanning the areas that weren't paved around the parking lot. The cracks in the pavement. Anything they might have missed. I was walking around and Ryuji just followed me around. Scanning the area too. He was coming off really eager. I was beginning to wonder if he missed this.
"I miss this being the Phantoms," he said sounding proud.
"Yeah Me too," I said.
"Hold on you said you used the app " Morgana said.
"Its back on my phone too ," I said. Looking at my phone.
"We've built up a reputation here ," Ryuji continued on.
I was scanning trees around the parking lot, trying to ignore Ryuji and Morgana arguing, when I came across something.
"Why is there blood at the crash site," I whispered to myself.
"My God," Ryuji yelled. "Why do people keep saying that?"
I looked back at him.
"What else should they call it," I asked.
"It wasn't a train," Ryuji said.
"How do you know," I asked.
"I was the first one here," He answered. "I saw what crashed and it was definitely no train."
I stood up now giving him complete attention.
"Why didn't you mention this at first," I asked.
Ryuji shrugged, "'Cause, i was having to much fun doing this with you and Morgana again i forgot."
"What was it," I asked.
Ryuji shrugged again, "I don't know. It was metal and looked really old. Like an Antique. Looked like a dumpster from the old days. Those metal ones."
Morgana laughed, "A garbage can crashed to the ground?"
"It just had that look," Ryuji said. Sounding frustrated that Morgana laughed at him.
"And it had some writing on it and a cross as a handle."
Now this was getting interesting. "What kind of writing," I asked.
"I couldn't read it," he said, pausing. As if he stayed still enough it would magically come to him. "Looked like that language they write the bible in."
"Hebrew," I asked, not really believing it.
"Yeah," Ryuji yelled all excited.
I thought about it for a second. I really wish this thing crashed in Inaba. I could have been the first on the scene rather than Ryuji I don't know why but my gut was telling me I had to figure out what really happened here.
" Whatever happened here the question is how is the Metaverse back" Akira said. Ryuji nodded " Didnt we destroy it ?" He asked " We did but after all Momentos is the desires of humans after all " Morgana said " Do you think the Palace's were restored ?" Ryuji asked " Its possible " Morgana said.
