Persona 5 Plus: Between Sea and Stone
By YakFruit
Chapter 1
Standing in the sunroof, Ren Amamiya savored the salty wind of the coastal highway, billowing about his unruly black hair. The van rumbled under his feet, easily churning up the kilometers despite its evident age. The voices of his friends murmured under the hissing roar of the passing wind- Ryuji's always-defiant tone, Morgana's nagging-nasal voice responding, Futaba's high-pitched childish voice egging on a now growing argument over something or other between the two.
Ren couldn't quite catch what they were arguing about, but it made him smile nonetheless. The rhythm of it, more than anything, was a balm of warmth after his confinement in juvenile hall not so long ago. It reminded him of this past year, the year of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, a year of seemingly endless adventure, danger, and struggle. At first against villains of their school, then of society, then of human existence itself. The metaphysical epic which culminated in the death of a god.
Ren's smile left his face without him realizing it. His mind was not so much losing the memory of those final days, both three months and a lifetime ago- but his mind was actively retreating from it. A dungeon of human frailty, a hell-on-earth, a battle above the clouds. Stuff of movies and bad manga, surely. But very, very real- the dread of it nearly defeating him and his comrades several times before the end. He could feel it now, shivering under his skin, goosebumps erupting over his body, the echo of a voice in his memory-
"If you are not going to obey, you shall suffer."
The warmth of the sun vanished. He shivered and lowered himself back into the van, closing the sunroof. He looked upon his friends- blond Ryuji was leaning over the back of the middle seat, arguing with Morgana the talking cat, who was flanked by a smirking Futaba and a distressed-looking Haru; Yusuke was gazing out over the ocean, for the moment deaf to the world outside his own head; in the front seat, the back of Ann's head was still, but Ren could sense her hackles rising as the ongoing argument began to tax her patience; in the driver's seat, Makoto's face was visible to Ren in the rear-view mirror- she was grimacing like she did when handling troublesome students.
For a brief moment, Ren saw them all as doubled, as if some artist had granted them an extra outline, not quite overlapping the original- they were all of them high-school students, and they were all of them godslayers- dual existences vibrating uneasily against one another, like two magnets being pushed together against their will. Another chill swept through his body, cold sweat erupting from his forehead, and then the feeling, and the illusion of outlines, was gone.
"Shut up, you guys!" Ann Takamaki yelled from the front seat, finally having enough of the backseat bickering.
"You're like children," Makoto added, eyes flashing in the rear-view mirror before returning to the road, then they flashed back to the mirror and met with Ren's gaze. They connected, and Ren saw the sparkle of calculation flash through her crimson irises. It was the look that had stolen his own heart, but he was not happy about it this time when Makoto inevitably said: "Ren, is something wrong?" Always sharp, was Makoto. Attention from everyone shifted to him, even Yusuke emerged from his stupor and turned to look at him.
How had he ever become the center figure of such a group? It was not very long ago when he'd been someone else entirely- a quiet person, preferring to keep to himself. Inexplicably, perhaps due to fate, even inevitably- he'd become surrounded by allies and companions who unflinchingly regarded him as their leader- though until now, the path forward had seemed so locked in place, he was self-consciously unsure if he really led anyone at all. But a confident tone and a neutral facial expression always worked before, so it should work now.
"Yes, I'm fine," he said with a touch of gusto, pasting a confident smile on his face.
Makoto's eyes flashed at him in the mirror again- she clearly did not believe him. But thankfully, Ann Takamaki, the most socially adept member of their group, sensed a time to change the subject. "Haru, I've been wanting to ask: where on earth did you find this car, anyway?"
Heads turned to Haru in the backseat, the most reserved and soft-spoken of the group.
"Do you remember when we were researching things to free Ren? And I had to leave for a week? In January?"
Ann nodded, "Yeah, something with your dad's- I mean- your company?"
Haru ignored the slip. "Yes, well, I was in Vietnam because Okumura Foods is expanding there with a new processing center, and I wanted to see it for myself. And so, one of the businessmen in Hanoi invited us to a party at his home. I guess he wanted to show off his car collection to us, and this van was in the garage. When I saw it, I almost shouted 'Mona!', I was so surprised, honestly."
"Car collection! Must be nice-" said Ryuji.
"Mmhmm, he had lots of things, but I think the man was surprised when I showed so much interest in this van. He called it.. Umm.. Oh, forgive me, I don't remember what he said it was called, it has a weird name. But apparently the design is from France, and they made them for a while after World War II."
"Why was it in Vietnam?" asked Morgana.
"Vietnam was a French colony for a long time," said Makoto from the front seat. "In fact, the movement for independence from the French is what started the war with the United States in nineteen-"
Ryuji groaned loudly. "Finals are over, prez, give us a break."
"You really need to study more, Ryuji, you'll be a third-year soon."
"Haru! Save me, please," cried Ryuji, "- so the car is French, and…"
Haru giggled. "Yes, it's French, and well, after the man saw my excitement and showed me everything about the car, he offered to sell it to me."
"What! How much was it?" asked Ann.
Haru blushed. "Well, I didn't ask, but Mr. Takakura advised me it was a good price and it was clear the man was underselling it because he wanted to secure the contract with Okumura Foods. I've gotten lots of offers kind of like that, but this was the first time I decided to take advantage of it. I had it shipped here and it just arrived a few weeks ago."
Ren watched Haru's face as she spoke, and with the way her eyes moved (just a bit up and off to the right), he knew that Haru knew exactly how much the car cost, and probably how much the shipping cost, too. But thanks to her father' company, she controlled more wealth now than the rest of them were likely to ever possess over the rest of their lives, combined. It was an inequality that seemed to make her uncomfortable, so Haru tried her best not to flaunt her money, and everyone else did their best to ignore it for her sake.
"That's so cool, Haru," said Ann, "I would have missed riding around together like this, since Morgana can't transform anymore!"
"Lady Ann! I was better than this thing!" said Morgana, indignantly.
"You made cuter sounds!" said Futaba, rubbing Morgana's head.
"And while this vehicle seems an elegant machine," offered Yusuke, "It does not match the visual impact you achieved as a bus, Morgana. You were striking!"
"That's- that's right! I was a great bus!"
"My back always hurt, though," said Ryuji, "It was always so bumpy."
"That wasn't my fault! I was driving over subway tracks like the whole time!"
"The toll road is a bit tamer to drive than Mementos," said Makoto.
"But we've been driving foreee-eeeehhh-ver," said Futaba, "Can't we take a break?"
"It's been three hours."
"Exactly! Three hours! I'm bored!"
"I'm hungry," offered Ryuji.
Yusuke cleared his throat. "A cup of tea wouldn't be unwelcome."
Haru blushed. "I need a break, too."
"Well, we are not in a rush. What's the next town, Makoto?" asked Ren.
"Oh, umm.. The signs say it is Matsuzaki. Shall we stop there?"
"Yes, let's."
"Ok. It must be a coastal town, so it might be fun to explore, too."
"An afternoon by the ocean! Sounds perfect! I should have brought my swimsuit!" said Ann.
"And fish! Fresh fish! Maybe we can get sushi!" cried Morgana.
Makoto stopped the van on the edge of a quaint, small-town quay. Local fishing boats bobbed in the harbor, and the beginnings of a small coastal business strip promised to reveal that eclectic mix of local shops and restaurants that summer ocean towns always seemed to have. Beyond the end of the strip, the golden glow of bare sand marked the edge of Japan.
Everyone piled out of the van and stretched.
"Ah, the smell of the air! It's so salty and wonderful" cried out Ann. "Come on, Futaba! Let's go see what kinds of shops are here!" She ran off towards the business strip, blond blobs of hair bouncing in the sun.
"Wha- wait up!" shouted Futaba as she hurried to catch up.
Ren and the others followed at a more leisurely pace.
"Man, what's with them? Acting like we've been in a car all day" said Ryuji, then he sighed and rolled his shoulders, "I guess the sun does feel good though." He head shot up as a new idea crossed his mind. "Hey, you think we can get beer here? I heard that small towns aren't as strict about the drinking age as places in Tokyo are."
Ren had never tasted beer before. That might be interesting. "I wonder…" he said, already planning how he would attempt it. When his friends decided to be adventurous, inevitably, he would be the one to try it first- like when they discovered Kawakami-sensei's side job.
Makoto gave them both a frightening look. "Don't even think about it, you two! It's illegal for minors to drink, and we just got Ren OUT of juvenile detention!"
"I do not feel like a minor these days," said Yusuke.
Haru made an affirming sound. "Hmm, yes, I think I know what you mean."
"Not you too, Haru!" said Makoto.
"I remember you dragging me to bars in the red-light district," said Ren.
Makoto blushed as Yusuke and Haru regarded her with surprise. "That was different, and you know it!" She sighed and looked out over the wharf. "But I know what you are both talking about- I don't feel like a minor, either. And maybe I'm just too used to being a chaperone." She frowned slightly. "Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever been on a trip as a participant. I've always had to be an authority figure. A student leader. A Council President. Always something other than just… me."
They were all silent as they considered that.
"Have you ever tasted beer, Makoto?" asked Ren.
"No."
"Interesting. Neither have I. Maybe we should broaden our views."
"Ren…" Makoto sounded exasperated, but her voice also had that hint of surrender.
"Aw man, this trip is gonna be awesome," snickered Ryuji.
They caught up with Ann and Futaba at a small clothing store, trying out hats. Big summer hats, wider than their shoulders. A smiling shopkeeper stood nearby, watching closely.
Futaba tried on a large pink monstrosity, she turned to the approaching group with dramatic flair. "What do you think? Would Princess Peach wear a hat like this?"
She received a collection of confused stares.
"Do'ya mean like in Mario?" said Ryuji.
"Yes!"
"Sure, maybe."
"You're useless. I need a nerd. I'll ask Yuuki." She posed for a selfie with her phone.
"Who?"
"Mishima," supplied Ren.
"Mishima! You're on first names with Mishima, Futaba?"
"Apparently, they chat late into the night," said Makoto.
"What?! Our Mishima? Chatting with a girl? Late at night?"
"Jealous of Mishima, Ryuji?" asked Ann, who used one of her modeling glamor turns, blond hair swirling under a broad straw hat, her blue eyes sparkling- every inch the exotic hafu.
"Hell no!" growled Ryuji.
"Sure, you're not. How's your girlfriend?"
"Aw, shut up."
Ann laughed. "Makoto, Haru- come here, I have some I just would love to see on you two."
Makoto and Haru allowed themselves to be drawn into the store. "Oh my, would that even fit in the van?" said Makoto's drifting voice.
The four males- three men and a cat, regarded the clothing store entrance with trepidation.
"Let's get some food, Ren- let the girls have hat fun," said Ryuji.
"Sure," said Ren.
"I too would prefer food over hats," said Yusuke.
"Me too," said Morgana.
"Well, you're also a cat. Hats look ridiculous on cats."
Ren thought anyone else would be making a joke, but Yusuke used such a serious tone, it wasn't exactly clear. Best to cut off any sort of argument however: "Let's go find someplace with fish."
"Yeah!" said Morgana.
They set off down the quiet street, the only visitors of the town today. As they passed the various shops and stores, more than one shopkeeper watched them walk by.
"They all look kinda eager, don't they?" murmured Ryuji.
"A shop needs shoppers! We must be the first of the season," said Morgana.
"But where are the restaurants?"
Yusuke lifted a slender arm to indicate the strip of sand at the end of the road. "If I were to serve food here, I would want my customers to dine before the beauty of the sea."
At the sand, the street took an abrupt sharp turn, narrowed and ran before a few more shops facing the ocean. The one on the end displayed a stylized fried fish on its sign- an obvious destination for their seafood desires. A small veranda featured several chairs under umbrellas, undulating in the sea breeze. Ren's stomach growled at the sight of it.
"Oh! That's the place, for sure!" said Morgana, leading the way.
The shop owner came out to meet them as they approached. "Good afternoon," she said, "Will you kids be having lunch?"
"Yes, thank you," Ren said.
"Will it just be the two of you, or will your friend over there join as well?"
Ren and Ryuji turned to see Yusuke still standing at the turn of the road, holding up his hands in the form of a picture frame and looking through them- bending this way and that way while gazing down the length of the beach and the surrounding cove.
"Yes, he will be joining us, as will some others. Seven in total. Plus our cat- he is loyal and very well behaved, I hope it is not a problem?"
The owner's eyes lit up. ""Seven! Yes! And no, no, the cat is not a bother at all!
"May we all sit outside?"
"Yes, I'll just push these tables together."
"We can help."
"Thank you very much!"
In short order, a collection of tables was clumped together to make room for seven. It took up most of the veranda, but they were the only customers. And it seemed likely the only customers for the rest of the day.
"Can I get anything started for you?"
Ren and Ryuji glanced through the window of the restaurant, searching for the menu items posted on the walls, but the owner said: "I operate by what the fishermen brings in each day, do you favor any particular fish?"
"We will trust your judgement, please showcase your restaurant to us- but if we could start with some tea and sushi? Then when the rest of our friends arrive, we may begin with the cooked fish?"
The owner was taken aback at first, then smiled broadly and bowed. "Yes, of course! Please take your seats, I'll get your tea going immediately."
Ren turned to Ryuji and Morgana, both were gaping at him.
"'Showcase your restaurant to us?'" mimicked Ryuji.
Morgana laughed. "That sounded like Joker ordering, not Ren Amamiya!"
Ren wondered if he had sounded foolish, but it had seemed the easiest way to get a large meal ordered for everyone. He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "I simply asked for what I wanted."
"Man, when you are on, you are on. I was worried retirement was going to change you, but I guess not," said Ryuji, flopping down with a sigh into one of the chairs. "That strong, concise way of talking isn't just a persona thing- it's really you, isn't it?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Hell no! I was just thinking that with us disbanding... well- we'd start becoming who we used to be. You know? The kids who thought homework, grades, our parents- you know? Like that stuff was the center of our worlds, like it was who we were."
Ryuji looked at Ren with that troubled, thoughtful look that used to be so often on his face- it was the Ryuji who worried about the honor of his mother, the future of lost friends on the track team, of victims of injustice. Again Ren, for a moment, saw that double-outline on Ryuji- he was both a troubled kid, and Skull, the Phantom Thief warrior, a savior of humanity- for a moment, the vibration of that outline distracted Ren, then it was gone.
"We can never go back to who we were," Ren said, "We all had to change into something stronger than what we used to be."
Ryuji smiled, the light flooding back into his expression, "You still know what to say."
"I'm not sure if that's true for me," said Morgana.
"Morgana, you were made for something huge and you kicked ass at it- what do you have to worry about?" said Ryuji.
Morgana's tail flicked happily. "You're right, Ryuji! Maybe you got smarter, too!"
"Can't you take one nice thing from me without coming back with an insult!"
"Sorry, Ryuji- I can't resist."
"Try harder!"
Ren settled down into a chair next to Ryuji, gazing out over the ocean- enjoying the cool breeze and warm sun. He never used to understand how adults enjoyed such a mundane activity like sitting in the sun- but now, after this last year- he fully understood it. He stretched out his legs and focused his attention on the fact that there was no Palace, no deadline, no do-or-die task to accomplish- the weight of the last year was truly gone, and Ren sank into the luxurious feeling of that weight finally being gone- a lightness of the soul. Ren let his eyes close, losing himself in the feeling of the day.
"Magnificent!" said Yusuke, jerking Ren back into reality. "An absolutely magnificent location. The hills of this cove are beauty beyond description. I'm inspired- I want to capture this landscape forever on canvas. Both the sight of it! And the feel of it!"
The owner returned with a teapot and cups. "The sushi starter will be out soon."
"Yes!" said Morgana.
"Oh my, what a loud meow. It's like it understood what I was saying. Do you want some fish?"
"Yes!"
The owner laughed and returned to his shop.
"The beach is pristine. Not a footprint marring the surface," said Yusuke has he sat down. Ren poured him a cup of tea. "Thank you."
"Yeah," Ryuji surveyed the empty shoreline. "It's kind of creepy, actually. These kinds of places are always on those travel shows- there's always people."
Ren eyed Ryuji as the blond haired young man stared intently over the beach. Ryuji was not the most intellectual member of the old team, but he may be the most intuitive- he could calculate an emotional truth as fast as Makoto could a logical truth. Ryuji was Ren's oldest comrade, and he'd learned early that they could all profit from Ryuji's gut feelings.
Ren's mind began considering the next steps. He could wait for the rest of the team to show up, they could eat, and during a quiet moment in the conversation, he would say something like: 'This town is a bit empty isn't it, Ryuji?; and Ryuji would say something like, 'Yeah, like I said earlier, these kinda places always have people', and then Ann or Haru, the more traveled members, would agree, and then Makoto would start the theorizing, 'Why might that be?', and then everyone would start considering what they could do to investigate. They would be back into the rhythm of action which had forged them into a team capable of shaking the very foundation of human existence.
But the Phantom Thieves were done- the Metaverse was gone with it's foul deity. There was no magical place they could infiltrate to become super heroes with magical powers- and well, they could all probably use mundane weaponry to a frightening degree, but was using those monster-slaying skills on real people a path to venture down? Therein went Goro Akechi into darkness.
The restaurant's door opened with the tinkle of a bell. A large platter of simply prepared sushi was set on the table.
"Wow, perfect timing!" said Ann, taking a chair after sharing greetings with the owner.
Makoto sat down next to Ren with a warm smile.
"No hats?" asked Ren.
"Can you imagine the van with those big things? We wouldn't even be able to see out the windows," Makoto said.
"I felt a little bad about it," said Haru, "When we left without buying anything, the shopkeeper looked devastated. I think her business might be going poorly."
The group went quiet to consider this observation. Already! This was the moment, Ren could sense it. With the right sentence, he could steer the path of them all. His eyes flicked over these people, his friends- no. They were more than friends. Friends shared interests. Activites. Jokes. They all shared countless moments on a knife's edge, with the arms of one another all that held them back from the brink. And all their arms linked together holding up the world when all the rest of humanity had joined with the enemy.
It was an iron bond that would keep them all together for life, even if they physically separated over the flow of life. Those double-outlines vibrated before him again. Joker realized he was suddenly brimming with the desire to take action, to seize his own justice and hammer it down upon something which deserved it. His own hand's outline was vibrating, too. Ren Amamiya hesitated, stepped back mentally as the presence of Arsene hovered vaguely on the edge of his consciousness before fading away.
A Palace was born from powerful, twisted desire- a trap which captured the soul of the owner, captured their will and transformed them into the opposite of what they had previously intended to be. If he were not careful, might he accidently lead these companions of his into that very same trap? Unable to forget their brief lives as Phantom Thieves? Forever obsessed with the power which once was theirs- their futures corrupted by the desire, the need to be heroes working to their own agenda- damn the people and their laws- the Phantom Thieves would save them from themselves, whether they liked it or not!
That voice again echoed in his memory, deep and horrible.: "If you continue to reject that order, there will no longer be a place for you in this world!"
Ren felt the goosebumps go over his body again. What was the right path?
"Ren, are you okay?" said a soft voice.
He turned his head to see Makoto looking intently at him.
Makoto leaned towards him. "Ren, what is it?"
Her sharp features were wrinkled with worry, her reddish eyes searching his for information. She was strong, fierce, gentle, honorable, compassionate- and then in a flash, her eyes were gold, her expression of worry transformed into one of sadistic delight, a shadow Makoto, more beautifully terrible than the shadow form of her sister had ever been. Ren shuddered and blinked, and the vision was gone. It was what could one day be; they could all have gold eyes one day, if they were not careful- as corrupt and self-assured as anyone they ever stole a heart from. As vile and evil.
Ren would rather die than see such a future. He resolved to not say the sentence which would lead the team down the path of investigation. This trip was to remind them of who they were in this world, remind them that they are just normal people like everyone else.
"It's nothing," he said loudly, gathering everyone's attention to him, "Just a chilly breeze surprising me. Must be the early season. Must be why we're the only ones here today."
Makoto's frown remained, her eyes still searching his face.
"Yeah, if the sun wasn't out, this wind would make me wanna eat inside," said Ryuji.
"Speaking of eating!," shouted Morgana, "I call dibs on all the fatty tuna!"
"Yeah, right!" challenged Futaba.
Makoto leaned in towards him again. "You're going to tell me the truth tonight," she whispered in that tone- the Queen had spoken, and one disobeyed at their own peril.
"That reminds me," said Yusuke, sipping tea dramatically as attention shifted to him, "is this the trip wherein you two are going to tell us that you both are dating?"
Ren blinked. Makoto blushed.
"Oh, come on!" laughed Ann, "We've known since last year!"
Makoto blushed deeper. "What? It was that obvious?"
"Oh my, yes," said Haru.
"You guys were trying to keep it secret?" asked Futaba around a mouth of sushi.
"Morgana!" said Makoto.
"I didn't say anything!"
"He didn't tell us anything," mumbled Ryuji, mouth also full, "You guys always stand so close to each other."
Ann nodded. "And remember when we met Futaba? Makoto grabbed onto Ren for dear life!"
"Oh yeah, I remember that," said Ryuji, laughing out a few grains of rice. "I still don't get why you both were scared, it was just lightning and we were in Boss's house."
"And one time in Leblanc's," said Haru with a smile, "Ren said he wanted to get married someday- and Makoto reacted so strongly!"
"Oh right, I almost forgot about that," said Ann. She leaned forward and put on an intense face. Then it burst into surprise and she acted like she was pushing short hair behind one ear. "Re-.. really?" she said, in a fair approximation of Makoto's voice.
"I didn't notice that clue," said Yusuke.
"That's not a huge surprise, Yusuke," said Ann.
Makoto was blushing heavily, her hands balled into tight fists and pressed into her thighs. Ren knew it was more because she was realizing she was a failure at subterfuge than because their relationship was public knowledge. But it was a little of that, too. He reached over and took one of those balled fists into his hands.
"We were going to tell them, anyway," he said.
She smiled and nodded, shoulders relaxing slightly.
"You're so red!" said Haru, "You poor thing! We are all happy for you two!"
Ann, Futaba, and Yusuke nodded. Morgana simply sat smiling- he had long been their confidant.
"Just don't break up badly and make everything awkward for us," said Ryuji.
"Do you remember when you followed me all over Tokyo when you were investigating the Phantom Thieves?" asked Ren.
Makoto's blushes vanished into a laugh. "Perhaps stealth isn't a talent of mine."
The bell on the door went tinkle-tinkle. The first of the fish had arrived. Ren smiled and moved the tea to make room for the first two platters. His friends were laughing and chatting amongst themselves in eager excitement. At least now, for this meal, they could be normal high-schoolers on a well-deserved vacation.
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.))