I'm thinking of making a schedule. Like, once a week every Thursday I'll post a chapter starting today (July 6th).
In this chapter: I introduce Haru early because I do what I want. Also, have some general idea of what Protag-chan looks like.
Magical Gentlewoman Phantom Thief Joker-chan
By Bilbo-sama
Chapter 4 - Observations
-June-
The so-called criminal transfer student known to all as Akira Kurusu, Makoto decided, is rather tall.
Which meant following her was hard because it was like for every one step the transfer student took, it takes four for Makoto in order to keep up.
Today Kurusu has entered the library and looked around before noticing the manga collection. She browses for a minute before her eyes behind the thick large glasses seemed to light up. She selects a volume before sitting down while doing her best to ignore the whispers.
'No way, she's reading that series?'
'I didn't know she's into that.'
'She seems so...serious and librarian-y. Why would she waste her time on that?'
'Maybe she's going to steal it? She is a criminal after all.'
At that, Kurusu sighs, shuts the volume, returns it to the shelf, and leaves with nary a hair getting out of place of the intricate braided bun on the back of her head.
Haru Okumura, a classmate of Makoto, looked up and frowned at the increase of whispers. She watches Kurusu return the manga and leave before getting up from her own seat and goes to the shelf to see what the source of gossip was about.
To Makoto's bafflement, Okumaru-san smiled before gathering her things and presumably leaving for garden club activities.
A few hours later, when the library was close to empty, Makoto returned and gravitated towards the manga shelf.
The volume was still there.
Why would a serious looking girl read something so frivolous?
And why risk being seen reading 'Angel of Love and Justice Momochan?'
...And why does this school even have that?
It was by chance when Haru encountered the transfer student in the bookstore at Shibuya a few days later.
Kurusu-san, while intimidating looking, was browsing the pet section while her cat peered out of the bag that hung over her shoulder. The cat seemed displeased by this judging from the low hiss it made.
For some reason, the student council president, Makoto Niijima, was pretending to be browsing a business shelf while angling her head so she can keep an eye on Kurusu-san.
"Shush, Morgana," Kurusu-san whispered as she glanced at the cat who quietly 'mrowed' in response.
"Right now you're a cat and cats have specific needs for some things...probably," she whispered again.
It was at that moment, Haru decided to take a chance and approached Kurusu-san. Niijima-san retreated to the history section.
"Excuse me," Haru quietly said and was rewarded by a a startled twitch from Kurusu-san who then carefully turned around, mindful of the bag's proximity with the book shelves.
"Um, yes?"
"May I pet your cat?"
Kurusu-san glanced at the cat, now revealed to be Morgana, whose 'mew' sounded like a sigh.
"I think that was a 'maybe,'" she shrugged.
Haru carefully raised a hand to Morgana to let it sniff her. For a moment Morgana gave her a look that seemed to translate to 'are you kidding me?' before it gave in and sniffed. Haru stroked the cat's head and before long it was purring.
It meowed again and Kurusu-san immediately looked down to see the book Haru was holding in her other hand.
"Is that the latest volume of Card Keeper Bakura 2?" Kurusu-san asked.
"It is!"
Ten minutes later the two girls exited the bookstore chatting away.
Makoto hesitated. Should she follow them? Surely Kurusu wouldn't dare to harm Haru Okumura.
Before she called it a day, she spotted Morgana staring at her. If she didn't know any better, the cat looked as though it regrets everything about today.
How strange.
If there's going to be silly movie references to watch in P5, then why not throw some in badly veiled references in here too?
Also, Haru gives me the impression that she'd like shoujo anime (including magical girls) but she also gives off that vibe that she likes horror movies and death metal.
I imagine that on girl!MC's side of things, like with Persona 3 Portable, you can start off some social links/confidants early and with less stricter requirements. Like, you can help Haru with garden club at like level 2 proficiency but the plants you work on will yield more rewards the more proficient you are.
Some confidants, however, will be introduced as soon as my new game plus file unlocks them because I never pursued them in my initial playthrough. :(
