I decided on something interesting. Despite having not yet gotten through two chapters of Anything OOO, I'm up to a point where it's feasible to begin an endgame scenario before getting into the Tragedy Arc. Therefore, I'll finish this story up to the end first. Then, the next chapter of Anything OOO will include a time skip mid-chapter. I'll explain my reasoning in that story. Disclaimer: I don't own Persona, Akiba's Trip, or Danganronpa.

Chapter 8: November

November 1

Akira was helping out Haru on the school rooftop. "You're quite good at this!," Haru noticed, "I'm impressed! The soil here would be much healthier if you could help out more often." Akira grinned. "It's the reason I can take on so many part-time jobs. For the most part they're just hobbies, albeit ones that can get us extra spending cash. Though I have been able to get some info off the street because of them."

Haru giggled. "It's amazing how much our skills can be used in our work as Phantoms. Even my gardening can help us out. I always thought of it as more of a hobby, but to think it could have such a practical application." The two got up from their work. "I've also been growing some plants around the house," Haru said, "Hopefully when Father is released he can see them. But that won't be for at least a year, maybe longer."

"What sort of plants are you growing?," Akira asked. "Coffee beans," Haru replied, "Sojiro-san tells me you know something of coffee yourself." "Sure, he's the one who taught me," Akira explained, "So, you plan on opening a cafe then?" Haru giggled. "Would you come visit if I did? The idea of running a boutique cafe sounds lovely." "I didn't even realize you were into coffee," Akira noted, "Even Ryuji only got into it as an acquired taste."

"I only discovered the joys of coffee recently," Haru explained, "The taste, and the aroma... I used to think it was just a bitter drink, but now I understand the depth of its flavor. It's something I wasn't even able to drink back then..." "'Back then?'," Akira repeated, a little confused. Haru became shocked. "Oh, sorry. Just thinking on the past. Is it alright if I confide in you?"

Akira nodded. "You see," Haru explained, "With my father detained, that technically leaves me as the company's biggest shareholder. Because of that, I don't feel as if I can trust any of the other employees. Father has always been the one running Okumura Foods, for as long as I can remember. Many of the higher-ups in the company wanted his favor, going so far as to ingratiate themselves to me. But now..."

"Now the company's in turmoil in the wake of Okumura's confession," Akira noted. Haru nodded. "Many employees are trying to use my influence to oust others. They say it's out of respect... But I don't know if I can believe them given their intentions. Then there are the rumors about the new company president, Takakura-san. He supposed to be holding the company until it can be determined the Father can be trusted with it again, but there are those who say he's secretly glad Father got arrested."

"That could mean a number of things," Akira noted, "He could just be glad that the workers don't have to suffer from unreasonable work conditions." "True," Haru replied, "But these same people suggest Takakura might pick up where Father left off. He's been with the company for years, but only recently started being nice to me, so I'm not sure what to believe. He's offered to help with asset management, but I'm sure he has an ulterior motive..."

Akira put a hand to his chin. "Yeah, it does sound suspicious. Especially under the circumstances." Haru nodded. "And the other day, he suggested I could sell all my shares and make a small fortune. But if that happens, the Okumura name can be stricken from the company completely." "Could he want the company for himself?," Akira asked. "That's my thought," Haru replied, "But it's only a theory I have. I don't have enough information to make a move."

"The whole thing sounds complicated," Akira noted, "Did you ask your father about this?" "Actually, yes," Haru said with a nod, "He suggested I not get so stressed from overthinking, and just focus on keeping the company from getting worse until either he gets released or I'm old enough to take control of the company for myself. It was honestly refreshing, since it was the first piece of advice that wasn't self-serving."

Akira nodded in realization. "So the other employees have given you that sort of advice. I'm glad Okumura, at least, seems to understand your problem." Haru nodded with a smile. "Yeah, and it makes me glad. Father definitely seems like his old self from when I was younger. And I feel much better talking about all this, too. Thanks for hearing me out, Akira." Sensing Haru's motivation, Akira felt their bond grow stronger.

Empress Rank 2-Baton Pass unlocked

"I feel a little closer to everyone else's level of strength," Haru noted, "Does this sort of thing happen often?" "Quite often," Akira replied, "Sometimes just getting things off your chest, or having a revelation about yourself, is enough to strengthen your heart. And allows us to tap into more of our Personas' power." Haru nodded. "The power of the heart... Oh, I should check the drainage to make sure the vegetables are getting enough water."


November 3

Haru was checking on the planters with Akira a few days later. "Soil is such a mysterious thing," Haru noted, "Within it, a simple seed can take root and grow towards the sun. It almost reminds me of a loving mother helping her child to grow." "That reminds me," Akira asked, "I don't think I've ever heard about your mother." "I don't like to talk about that...," Haru muttered, and Akira decided not to pursue that line of questioning any further.

Hoping to change the subject, he asked, "How did you get started working on the plants here anyway?" Brightening up, Haru replied, "Oh, it's because one of the teachers here asked me to. Ironically, it was Kamoshida. This was a few months before the rumors started. He seemed like a much different man back then... Anyway, despite my initial hesitance I picked it up rather quickly, so much so I wound up taking care of the plants far past the requested time."

"Has anyone else said anything about that?," Akira asked. Haru shook her head. "No I've been doing it secret. Mixing my own fertilizer, adjusting the soil ratios... Oh, but now I'm worried what the school might do if they find out." "I wouldn't worry," Akira said, "Munakata seems like a reasonable sort. Besides, you've gone this long without being caught. It's like you were a Phantom before you even joined us."

Haru beamed. "Oh wow! You really think so? Then we'll make this our little secret." She thought for a bit. "I've really been enjoying the time we have together. So much different from Sugimura... Thank goodness that's over. Father officially called off the arrangement. You know, that whole debacle began around the start of the year, when Father first introduced us."

"I don't think you ever told us the full story," Akira noted. "It's a simple enough story," Haru said, "I was to meet a friend of my father for a dinner date. As you can guess, that 'friend' turned out to be Sugimura. When Father told me that man was to be my fiance, I was surprised... At least at first. Somehow I always suspected that Father would marry me off for some sort of financial gain."

She shrugged. "So I just accepted it. It seemed to go well at first. We never went too far though. Heck, I never even kissed him. Anyway, for a while I was really starting to fall in love... And then the other shoe dropped. Once I found out what sort of person Sugimura really is, any love I might have had for him disappeared. To make matters worse, I don't think it's quite sunk in that our marriage has been canceled."

"Wasn't he informed about your father's decision?," Akira asked. "I thought he was," Haru said with a shrug, "But he's been harassing me constantly, asking about our next date. More than once I've had to threaten him with contacting the police, and once I actually did call the police. I've been crystal clear about my intentions to never see him again, but he seems to be under the impression that its a joke."

"He's even more terrible than I thought," Akira noted, "And he didn't exactly give a good first impression." "There's more," Haru said, "He's been telling everyone at Okumura Foods about some contract he made with my father. Been when I asked him about it, Father looked confused. He said there had never been such a contract. It makes sense of course. Even at his worst Father never was one to put all his eggs in one basket."

"Is Sugimura using the illusion of a contract to try and control you?," Akira asked. "I think that might be the case," Haru replied, "It might have worked... If I wasn't able to ask Father about it. Supposedly, if this contract were real, the company would have to pay extreme reparations if the marriage got called off. I suppose he's only thinking of his own personal gain."

She sighed. "But that's not how a relationship should be built. It should be on something more... Like... A love so intense that it makes your chest just tighten up. Almost like what you and Ann seem to have. It almost makes me jealous. Was it like that when you first saw her?" Akira thought back to when he first saw Ann on that rainy day. "Well, I wouldn't say it was like that at first, but it definitely grew into what you're talking about."

Haru nodded. "It's a shame I couldn't find that with Sugimura. It felt more like I was training to be some perfect little wife. Fortunately that's all over now. And I know, with that hardship overcome, that I can help my fellow Phantoms." She giggled. "And just maybe, I can find a real relationship in the process." Her eyes shifted. "Between you and me, I've been fantasizing about what Mona-chan might look like as a human." Akira couldn't help but grin, and he felt his bond with Haru grow stronger.

Empress Rank 3-Follow Up unlocked

"Well, it's getting late," Haru noted, "And I need to finish up my gardening." Akira nodded and headed back to the cafe. Outside the school, he saw Morgana, looking a little dazed. "She was... Fantasizing about me...?" Akira chuckled. "I think you made a bit of an impression on her." "All I did was talk about what a good team we are," Morgana noted, "I didn't think it'd get her fantasizing about me like that..."


November 4

It was evening, and Akira and Sojiro were preparing to close up for the evening when two suited people, a man and woman, walked in. "Sorry, we're closing for the night," Sojiro said. "That's alright," the man said, "We're not here to order. You are Sojiro Sakura, correct." "Yes, that's right," Sojiro replied. The man nodded. "We're investigators from the domestic affairs court. We're following up on the arrest of Youji Isshiki, as well as looking into some accusations he made while in custody."

"To be frank," the woman said, "Mr. Isshiki has accused you of abusing your adopted daughter Futaba." Futaba winced. "Maybe we should have tried dealing with Youji in the Metaverse," she whispered to Akira. "There's no guarantee we would have been in time," Akira whispered back. "Given Isshiki's behavior as reported by Detective Kirigiri," the man said, "We're questioning the validity of this claim. May we ask a few questions?"

"I don't see why not," Sojiro replied, "I've got nothing to hide. Please, have a seat." The man nodded as he and the woman sat at one of the tables. "We understand that Futaba was a shut-in until recently," the woman said, "But that she recently overcame that habit." "That was her own doing," Sojiro said simply, "With some help from her friends. As for why she was a shut-in, that was mostly because of her mother's death."

"Yes, Kyoko gave us most of the details," the man admitted, "One of our other departments is looking into the fallout from that incident." "Mr. Isshiki seemed adamant that Mr. Kurusu be charged with assault," the woman noted, "But Kyoko said she saw much differently. Is it true that all Mr. Kurusu did was push Futaba aside as Mr. Isshiki attacked?"

Sojiro nodded. "That's exactly what happened, and I only wish it was myself who did that. Akira never laid a finger on him." The man nodded. "Mr. Kurusu's reputation at school certainly flies in the face of his supposed history of violence. I assume then, that there has been no discomfort living with Mr. Sakura?" "None whatsoever," Futaba said bluntly, "Any problems there have been were of my own making. He's been a great dad." Sojiro looked surprised at Futaba calling him "dad".

"I'll be honest," Akira said, "I'm glad I wound up with Sojiro. He's been real patient with me over the last year." Sojiro smiled warmly. "Well, I hope that answers your question." He rubbed the back of his head. "Still threw me for a loop to hear Futaba call my 'dad' though..." The man nodded. "Well, it seems Mr. Isshiki was lying in his accusation. I doubt we'll need any additional check-ins, either. Thank you for your cooperation." He and the woman got up and left.

"That went smoother than I thought," Futaba noted, "It's not at all like on the crime dramas." Sojiro nodded, and Akira noted some tears. "You certainly laid it out, didn't you?," Sojiro said, "I was so worried what you both thought about me... Turns out I didn't need to worry." Futaba frowned. "Did you really think we thought so little of you? I may not call you dad, but you're still my dad nonetheless. That's just how it is." Sojiro gave a warm smile, and Akira felt their bond grow stronger.

Hierophant Rank 9-Curry Tips unlocked

"Well, that aside," Futaba said, "I'm getting hungry. It's curry time!" Sojiro chuckled. "Alright then. Pay attention now, Akira. You've still a way to go if you want to master this recipe." Morgana walked in to see the trio enjoying themselves. 'It's almost like a perfect family, broken as it is. Kinda reminds me of my own family. I hope Igor and Lavenza are doing okay... My father... And sister...'


November 5

The next day, Haru invited Akira over to the Wilton. "I mentioned earlier my newfound interest in coffee," she said, "So I decided to study it more by going to places like this." Akira nodded. "So what sort of coffee is this?" Both of them already had a cup in front of them. "This is Dark Ivory coffee," Haru explained, "It's a rather expensive blend. One cup costs roughly six thousand yen."

"Six thousand!?," Akira said, flabbergasted, "Chief's most expensive blend is only three-hundred yen. This must be some seriously amazing coffee." "Indeed," Haru said, "I've never tried it before, but I hope the taste is worth the price. Father always said never to skimp when it comes to learning experiences. That's a lesson I've always followed, so now should be no exception."

"Did you really have to cover the bill yourself though?," Akira asked, "You've seen how much cash we can rake in as Phantoms, so I could've paid for my own cup." "I know," Haru replied, "But I'm the one who invited you so its the least I can do." They took a sip. "Hmm," Akira mused, "A faint bitterness beneath a strangely mellow flavor... Rather distinct compared to Chief's coffee."

Haru nodded. "And it's distinctly fragrant, paired with a mild flavor. Certainly delicious, but not what I'd think of when describing coffee." "What sort of beans do they use?," Akira asked. "Apparently," Haru said, "They use beans harvested from elephant dung." Akira instantly regretted asking. "I can taste the elephant... At least I can keep it down after hearing that, so that's a plus."

Haru giggled. "Yeah, I probably should have that earlier. But I thought you'd find it harder to enjoy if you knew ahead of time. I was a little surprised to hear it myself, but oddly enough that's why I wanted to try it." "Fair point, I suppose," Akira said with a nod, "It not like it's the only coffee that gets harvested from dung. I heard of one type of coffee bean that gets harvested from cat feces. Morgana made a face when he heard that."

"Oh my," Haru said with a giggle, "Perhaps we should consider asking him to help us with some coffee making. Oh, but then he couldn't help us with our operations. Not to mention, Mona-chan might like the idea to begin with." Just then, a rather stocky man approached their table. "Haru-chan?," the man said. Haru's eyes widened. "T-Takakura-san?"

"I'm a little surprised to see you here," Takakura said, "I don't often see people your age going to this place." He then noticed Akira. "And who's this young man?" "This is a friend of mine from school," Haru explained, "Akira, this is Takakura. I mentioned him earlier." Akira nodded in realization. "By the way, Haru," Takakura said, "It looks like we'll be able to avoid litigation. We managed to settle on decent terms. And you should consider letting the company hold onto your shares for the time being."

"We've been over this," Haru said, "No matter what my father has done, I'm not going to let his chance to make things right be taken from him." Takakura cleared his throat nervously. "I understand... I simply thought you had enough to deal with after your father's arrest. Sorry to spoil your time here. By the way, how are things going with Sugimura-kun?"

Haru blinked. "I thought you knew. Our engagement has already been broken off." Takakura looked surprised. "Really? I thought things were going so well. The other employees were all talking about it. Oh well, it's not really my business anyway. Speaking of, I should be heading back to the office. Please, allow me to pay for your drinks."

"No, no, it's fine," Haru said, "And I'll be handling the shares for the time being. Father left them to me for a reason, after all." Takakura nodded. "If you insist, but please try to reconsider my offer. If you'll excuse me." He walked off. Once he was out of earshot, Haru said, "I'm not surprised Sugimura never talked to him about the fake contract. As the company president, Takakura could have easily uncovered the lie, if he didn't already know."

"Are you sure you'll be okay handling part of the company?," Akira asked. Haru shook her head. "No, I'm not experienced enough to run a company. But I can't risk the company falling into Takakura's hands. What do you think of him?" "I have a talent for reading people," Akira noted, "But I still don't know enough about Takakura from a single meeting to make that kind of judgement."

"I agree," Haru said with a nod, "What with the rumors regarding how pleased he is at father's incarceration, it's hard to tell what he's really thinking. There's no denying that as things stand, he could easily take control of Okumura Foods. Yet he didn't seem upset that I broke off my engagement, and he says he's been trying to rebuild the company's image. I'm just not sure of how sincere he really is..."

She leaned back. "Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I wasn't so rich. Just dial it back to what's needed to live on. You know, be a normal person. Yes, the company's important to me, but it's been nothing but stressful. On the other hand, when I'm with the Phantoms I feel like I belong. So I'll work harder, both on my skills and my harvests!" Akira smiled as he felt their bond grow stronger.

Empress Rank 4-Celeb Talk unlocked

Haru sighed. "Though what am I going to do to get Sugimura to back off? It seems like he can't take a hint. He's been showering with with presents, including several left right in my bedroom! He left a bouquet of roses right on my pillow! I've been heavily screening my servants since then, since that's the only way he could have accomplished that." Akira shook his head. "What a bastard..."


November 6

"Thanks for inviting me to this meeting," Kyoko said. The Phantoms had gathered in their hideout to discuss Phan-site requests. With Sojiro now in the know, he made a perfect early warning system should anyone get curious. And since Kyoko could now fight in the Metaverse, she was included in the meeting. "No problem," Ryuji said, "You may not be an official Phantom, but you're still one of our group. Plus, it's about time you got a look at Mementos."

Kyoko nodded. "The shared Palace of all humanity. This is where you change the hearts of all those minor criminals, yes?" "That's right," Morgana said, "This will also be Haru's first time here as well, I believe." "Nejima is definitely on that list," Futaba noted, "With the techniques we learned thanks to Shinya, we should be able to deal with that cheater easily." The group agreed to the request.

"Now for some new ones," Akira said, "Our second target is Akimitsu Tsuda, a member of the Hashiba Clan. He's been hounding Munehisa, our primary supplier, and even threatened his life and that of his son." "Supplier?," Kyoko said, confused, "Doesn't Munehisa own an airsoft shop? How can model guns help fight?" "I don't know if you've noticed," Yusuke said, "But the models he sells are realistic enough that they fool Shadows, thus that perception allows them to become real."

Kyoko nodded in understanding. "So why is Tsuda harassing Munehisa?" "He got stiffed on a deal with Hong Kong triads," Akira explained, "A deal for a surplus of guns. Tsuda lied to his bosses and is trying to use Munehisa to cover the loss." "Threatening one of our allies aside," Haru said, "It's just wrong to deceive his bosses like that." "Indeed," Kyoko agreed, "He might've gotten off with a warning if they knew he was cheated, but lying to the family constitutes a worse punishment." The group agreed to the request.

"This next one actually comes to us from the police if you can believe that," Morgana said, making all but Kyoko surprised. "Then it's likely Fumio Akitsu," Kyoko noted, "He's gained quite the infamy around the force. Akitsu is his birth name, but he keeps changing his name and appearance to avoid debt. He's got a rap sheet bigger than Tokyo. The police are at their wits end with him. I guess they figure if the Phantoms can't catch him, no one can."

"Well," Ryuji said, "If the police are willing to admit they need help, I'm willing to give it." The rest of the group agreed. "Next comes a request from our friend Hifumi Togo," Morgana said. Kyoko chuckled. When the others looked at her, she said, "One of my classmates is named Hifumi." "As I was saying," Morgana said, "It seems she's gotten fed up with her mother setting her up as some idol superstar. The woman's name is Mitsuyo Togo."

"All Hifumi wants is to play the refined game of shogi," Yusuke said, "Such artistry cannot be stymied just because her mother missed out on fame." The group agreed to the request. "Here's a pretty intense one," Morgana said, "A local homeless named Yohei Kiritani. He may seem mild-mannered, but apparently he's suffering from a split personality, one that kills on commission. Supposedly it's only criminals he kills, but..."

"But there's only so far one can take the law into their own hands before they become what they're trying to fight," Kyoko noted. "This guy's like a darker version of us," Ann said, "We have to put a stop to him." The group agreed. "The last one...," Morgana began, "Futaba, care to take it away?" Futaba nodded. "Their names are Kouta and Asami Magario. They've been using their daughter, my former friend Kana, as a meal ticket by dressing her up like a gravure model."

The other girls, even Ann, shuddered. "Okay," Makoto said, "We have got to help this girl out." The group nodded in agreement. "I never got the chance to find out what weapons I'll be using," Kyoko said, "This will certainly be an educational experience. And six different people to track down." "It won't be too hard," Morgana noted, "After all, we've been getting stronger and stronger."


Once in Mementos, Rider took note of her weapons. A staff and handgun, but modified with high-level tech. "Looks like W's weapons," she noted, "I always wanted to try them for myself." The Phantoms started their descent, finding their first target on the fourth level of Kaitul. "There's Tsuda," Joker said, "Watch yourselves guys, he does not mess around."

Skull nodded. "Just looking at him tells me he's nuts." The approached Tsuda, who snarled at their appearance. "Hey! This is my turf! I'm the second-in-command of the Hashiba Clan! No one comes in here without my say-so! You don't talk, breathe, or anything without my permission unless you're a fellow yakuza. Those are the rules of this world." Rider scoffed. "If that were true the yakuza would have influence throughout the entire world."

"And considering you got stiffed on a deal with outsiders," Church chimed in, "I doubt that's the case." Tsuda growled. "Damn it... Even you aren't taking me seriously!? No one takes me seriously! The triads, Iwai, even my own clan! I'll show you... I'll show you that I'm not a joke!" He erupted into a form similar to Belphegor. "I'll teach you brats to underestimate me!"

Too bad for Tsuda, he proved very easy for the Phantoms to deal with by now. Knocked back to his regular form, he shook his head. "Damn it... There wasn't anything else I could do... I was gonna lose my position... Look at me, just a relic from a bygone era. These new college kids coming into the Hashiba Clan, with no respect for the old ways, laughing behind my back all the while."

He chuckled. "Seems even the yakuza is being taken over by intellectuals." "You still didn't need to go so far as to threaten a former subordinate," Joker noted, "You and Iwai are old friends, right? I'm sure if you explained the whole thing he would have helped easily." "Maybe," Tsuda admitted, "But I couldn't know that for sure. I was scared he'd laugh at me too."

"Well you have a chance to make things right again," Skull said, "Especially with Iwai." Tsuda smiled. "I hope so... Not sure how the clan will take my failure... And my attempts at deception. Mune... Here's hoping I get another chance to have a drink with you..." He disappeared, leaving behind his treasure seed. The group then descended into Akzeriyyuth.

"The paths seem to get more desolate as we descend," Rider noted. "And it's only gonna get worse," Mona agreed. Soon the group reached the third level, where they found Akitsu. "It's funny," Rider said, "Even I've had difficulty tracking this man in the real world, yet here it's as easy as following a GPS." They approached Akitsu, who seemed to smile at them. "Ah, the famous Phantoms. Here for a few pointers on hiding?"

"Like we need any help with that," Queen said, "Especially from a scumbag who runs from his debts." "You're days of swindling and thieving are over," Rider declared, "Best surrender and make it easy for once." Akitsu scoffed. "I'm just returning the favor to those swindling banks! They're always taking money from people unfairly! This is justice, you understand!"

"You have no room to be talking about justice," Fox retorted, "We may hide behind masks, but our intentions are laid bare. You simply hide everything behind lies and false identities." Akitsu growled. "If that's what you think, then maybe you won't mind if I rip those masks right off you and expose your own faces!" He erupted into a form that resembled a crimson version of Choronzon. "That's a new one," Joker noted.

"I'll live true to my desires! I'll tear off those masks of hypocrisy!" Rider grinned. "If only Hajime were here, he'd have words with this guy." The Shadow proved to be useless thanks to Skull's help, and soon Akitsu was dealt with. "This... Can't be right..." "The bank you stole from was investigated," Rider explained, "Rather thoroughly. And no real evidence of swindling was noted. You obviously didn't understand the system as well as you thought."

Akitsu's eyes widened. "It can't be... I was the villain the whole time?" "Looks like you were the real hypocrite here," Panther said, "And you have a lot of mistakes to own up to." Akitsu nodded. "I guess so... I've changed my appearance so many times, even I've forgotten who I really was. But now, I think I remember the real truth." He disappeared instantly.

The Phantoms continued down, finding a rest stop of the fourth level. They then headed down to the fifth level, where they found Nejima at long last. The man was standing there with a smug look on his face. "So this is Nejima," Mona said, "Hope that technique you got works, Joker." "It's proven itself in practice," Joker reminded him, "Nejima won't get away with cheating and ruining the game for other players."

Nejima continued to look smug when he saw the Phantoms approach. "So, the legendary Phantoms. Looks like you're winning streak is about to end with me. I'm the master of Gun About! No one can defeat me! Who cares if I cheat to win? That just proves what sore losers everyone else is!" He laughed as he erupted into a form similar to the guard captain they met in Ishida's Palace. "I am invincible! There's no way you can wound me!"

"We'll see about that," Joker said. Raising his pistol, he leapt about the area, firing wildly. The ploy worked, and Nejima was downed easily. "What...! How did you get past my unbeatable speed cheat!? This can't be possible! I'm the king!" "I've already met the King of Gun About," Joker retorted, "And as far as the game's concerned, he's ten times the player you are. Phantoms, now!"

They went for the All-Out attack. As Rider landed, she made a show of dusting off her shoulders as he stood up. "AND ONE TRUTH PREVAILS!" "Guys I think we're rubbing off on her," Skull quipped. Nearby, Nejima was sobbing. "It can't be... How can my cheating be thwarted so easily...?" "You shouldn't have been cheating in the first place," Noir retorted, "It only ruins the game for those that just want to enjoy it."

"That game was my only escape," Nejima explained, "My company laid me off... I have the skills and experience, but they just wanted to make the organization younger." "If you want to escape from reality, that's your choice," Church reassured him, "But remember that other people may have the same idea. This is supposed to be a community game, so treat it as such." Nejima nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I have a lot of people to apologize to." He disappeared, leaving behind his treasure seed.

"That technique proved to be excellent against Nejima," Mona mused, "Remind me never to underestimate that kid." The Phantoms moved down an area, where they found Togo. "There's Hifumi's mother," Joker said, "I remember seeing her once." "I recognize that face," Panther noted, "She's been on TV a lot in the past." "And now she's using Hifumi like a pawn," Fox mused, "No one uses a member of our family while we're active."

Togo didn't seem to notice the Phantoms at first. "Hifumi is my daughter, and I am her mother. I gave birth to her, raised her! She should be devoted to serving me! I can finally be happy once she becomes famous!" "Such a terrible mother," Joker said, "Using Hifumi just to fulfill your own ambition. Do you not even care about her passion for shogi?" Togo chuckled darkly. "That poor girl... She hasn't even realized that I had all her matches rigged. I knew she'd resist if I didn't play to her passions, so I simply implemented them into my goals."

That caused the Phantoms to blanch. "Oh that's sinking to an all-new low!," Skull called out, "Now you're even using your daughter's passion for your own selfish desires!?" Togo frowned. "Do you even have any idea how much work it took!? Hiring out private detectives and even criminals to find weaknesses in Hifumi's rivals. Paid off all those who would complain and sold those stories to the media! Without me, she'd never have come so far!"

"And now you're thinking so poorly of her," Mona retorted, "Everything you say just affirms our reason for being here." Togo growled before erupting into a form similar to Lilim. "I won't let you get in my way! Not when I'm so close to victory!" Unfortunately for Togo, she wasn't strong enough to significantly damage the Phantoms, and the fact that she was weak to Church's skills didn't help matters. Before long, she was returned to her normal form.

"It's not fair," she sobbed, "Why am I always the loser? Just once I wanted to taste success... Hifumi was my only chance to obtain that..." "But it's been at the expense of Hifumi's happiness," Joker retorted, "She's being mocked by her peers for reasons she doesn't understand, the stories have been causing her pain. You could wind up shutting her down with all this."

Togo eyes widened as that reality dawned on her. "I... Didn't want her to become unhappy. I thought she was perfectly fine with all this... Oh, what have I done? She won a junior competition in grade school and was praised as a 'genius girl'. Next thing I know that's all I can think about... I'm sorry, Hifumi..." She disappeared from the area, another request completed.

Another rest area for the Phantoms could be found on the eighth level. Then they finally the bottom of the path at level twelve. Rider took a look around. "This place reminds me of a subway transfer terminal." She then spotted Kiritani up ahead. "Careful with this one, Phantoms," Joker said, "Kiritani's background states he's an ex-mercenary." "We shouldn't have too much to worry about," Rider said, "He used to belong to Fenrir Company, and they were beaten by Kamen Rider Gold. Just don't underestimate him and we should be fine."

Kiritani didn't seem pleased to see the Phantoms. "I wasn't expecting to meet you face-to-face. That idiot kid must've put in a request against me. He's lucky I don't target civilians. You kids should stop playing hero and go home to your mommies." "And let murders like you do as you please?," Panther retorted, "Criminals or not, that's up to the police to handle. And if they can't, well that's where we come in."

Kiritani scoffed. "You seem more dangerous than me right now. I've seen a lot of torture in my time. When a person's heart and soul are ripped out from them. You've been destroying the parts of people's character you don't like." "And what of it?," Joker retorted, "Better to cut out the parts that make people hurt others than to kill off the parts of them that might be able to reform. Besides, we've tried other options and they proved useless."

Kiritani just glared, and erupted into a form that resembled Rakshasa. "If you punks don't understand, I'll just kill you off here and now!" He proved tougher than others, but in the end Kiritani was beaten as well. "Wait! Wait a moment! Just listen to what I have to say! I've only ever killed criminals, the sort of people the police can't touch." "But legally speaking," Rider retorted, "They're criminals in name only. Until a court of law can say otherwise, they might as well be innocent. And whatever information you might have gotten on them might be wrong."

"This is where we differ," Joker said, "You rely on second-hand knowledge. We go straight to the source. Here in this mental landscape, there are no secrets. When we target a criminal, we make sure the people know he or she was a criminal." The realization dawned on Kiritani. "I guess our actions are more different than I thought. But I hope you Phantoms are willing to keep fighting, when evil pops up once again."

Beyond where Kiritani was, the doors to the next opened up easily. "We're getting even more popular," Mona noted, "With so people believing in us, it's only a matter of time before we reach the bottom." The next area was colored deep crimson, resembling blood and rust. "Welcome to Silent Hill...," Church muttered. "This is the Path of Adyeshach," Mona said, "Or insensitivity."

"It just keeps getting worse the further down we go," Queen noted, "But at the same time, the number of people we see getting onto each station is growing smaller. Just what could lie at the very bottom." While there the Phantoms encountered a new Shadow, identical to the form Akitsu had taken. This was a Fused Ghost, which released the Persona Legion. The Phantoms didn't have far to go to reach their final request for the day, finding the Magario's on the third level.

"That's Kouta and Asami right ahead," Oracle noted, "They're the ones controlling Kana." Queen shivered in disgust. "Why do we find so many parents trying to control their children? And not even in a protective sort of way." Skull shrugged. "I wouldn't think too hard on it. Either way, we just beat some sense into these two and Kana won't have to go through that anymore." Kouta could already be heard muttering about bad bets and getting deep in debt, almost like a mantra.

"Why are we so unlucky!?," he finally called out, "We get bad luck all year round and remain poor!" "That's why we need Kana to stay at home," Asami said, "So she can keep making money for us. Her innocence, or sex appeal, whatever it is. It's the perfect little money maker for us." "You guys are sick!," Oracle called out, "And you call yourselves parents!? Don't you realize how much she's suffering?"

Asami scoffed. "That doesn't matter! We need money, and she's our only way to make it quickly!" "That's right!," Kouta agreed, "Otherwise our family will get broken up!" "That could wind up happening anyway," Joker retorted, "She'll commit suicide or run away. Just because your luck is bad doesn't give you the right to take it out on her." The Magarios erupted into new forms, Kouta resembling Incubus and Asami resembling Succubus.

"She needs to suck it up until we hit the jackpot!," Asami declared. "And we won't let you ruin that chance!," Kouta replied. The Phantoms readied themselves. While Kouta didn't seem to have any real weaknesses, Asami was quite susceptible to Fox's skills. With the two Shadows defeated, they seemed downtrodden. "What were we supposed to do?," Kouta pleaded, "We were in a mountain of debt..."

"That what happens when you use gambling to recover from a loss," Rider said dismissively, "It's a vicious cycle with a very low payout in the long run." Asami started crying. "I can't believe what horrible parents we turned out to be." Kouta nodded. "We really should try living honestly from now on." The two disappeared, and Oracle breathed a sigh of relief. "Hopefully now Kana won't have to do that sort of work."


That evening, Akira checked in on Munehisa, and was relieved to find him alright. "Hey, kid," Munehisa said, "You won't believe what just happened." "Try me," Akira said, "I've long ago expanded my suspension of disbelief." Munehisa chuckled. "Well, Tsuda called me up and asked me to forgot about the guns, and about anything he was threatening me with."

"And to think just the other day he was pointing a gun at us," Akira mused. "I know, right?," Munehisa said, "I thought it was a joke at first, but I didn't hear anything from him since then." He folded his arms. "The whole time he was talking, it felt like I was talking to the old Tsuda... Guess you Phantoms do your jobs well." He smirked as Akira just threw up his hands. "Is there even any point to the secret identity thing?"

"Look on the bright side," Munehisa said, "It's a very small number of people who know about it. Still, to think a person can go through such a drastic change so quickly." "Hard to say for sure," Akira said, "It's really varied from person to person. Usually they need at least a day to recover from the effects. Tsuda must be tough. It's only been hours at most. But I suppose that makes sense, given he's a yakuza."

"Either way," Munehisa said, "Him backing off is a real load of my shoulders. Suppose this means you've held up your end of the deal, though you can count on me to keep you guys well-armed for future jobs. And if it's not too much trouble, I could still use a helping hand around the store." "Sounds fine," Akira said, grinning, "But I'll have to count it as a part-time job, so I expect to get paid." Munehisa laughed. "I think we can agree to that! Thanks, Akira." Akira could sense his bond with Munehisa grow stronger.

Hanged Rank 8

"I suppose the first thing we should do is get rid of these prototypes," Munehisa mused, "They're no good now that Tsuda doesn't need 'em. Don't just throw them out though. They need to be disassembled first, and wiped clean. That way police can't mistake them for real guns." Akira nodded. He had to admit, Munehisa certainly was thorough with protecting his business.


November 7

Akira met with Shinya outside the arcade. "Here, Shinya," Akira said, handing him a calling card, "Since you seem to be such a big fan of the Phantoms, they decided to do this old school." Shinya took the card, a little confused, then his eyes widened. "This is for my mom! So the Phantoms really are targeting her... Guess she really is bad after all..." "Not bad," Akira corrected, "Just a little misguided. But that's why the Phantoms are after her. To put her back on the proper path."

Shinya nodded. "It's true that Mom really hasn't been herself... She used to be so nice. Do you think the Phantoms can really change her heart?" "Trust me," Akira said with a grin, "They'll get it done. They haven't failed yet, after all." Shinya smiled in relief. "Yeah. This IS the Phantoms we're talking about, after all!" "One thing though," Akira said, "Someone has to give this to your mom. Think you're up to it? It'll take a lot of guts."

Shinya thought for a minute, then nodded. "Yeah, I can do this. It is kinda my fault that Mom started acting this way... She's had to raise me on her own for years. She felt she had to get stronger because I was so weak." He closed his eyes. "But that's no excuse to hurt others around her!" He started sniffling. "She fights with everyone, about everything, and only winds up getting hurt in the end..."

Akira gave a warm smile. "Now you're acting like a Phantom. So whaddya say, Shinya? Shall we save your mom?" Shinya nodded. "Yeah. I want to stop her, before she breaks down. I want her to realize that she doesn't have to be strong for anymore." He looked at the calling card. "And since I can't seem to convince, maybe the Phantoms can. Don't worry, Akira, I'll get this to her." Akira smiled as he felt his bond with Shinya grow stronger.

Tower Rank 8-Electric Slug unlocked

"I have a good technique that can be useful," Shinya said, "It can improve the power of the Bullet Hail I taught you earlier." He checked his watch. "Gosh, it's getting late. Hey, can you... Not let people know I was crying? At my age, it's not really cool to be seen crying in public." Akira nodded as Shinya went off. Technically the calling card wasn't needed, they had the Phan-site to track down Hanae Oda. But Akira felt it would do Shinya some good to feel like he was helping.


That evening, Akira hung out with Yuuki. "I've been thinking lately," Yuuki said, "About what Akiyama-kun said. How I've changed. Back there, with those thugs, I couldn't bring myself to run away." "That is a big change," Akira noted, "Back during Kamoshida's reign, you certainly seemed like a coward. No offense." "No, you're right," Yuuki admitted, "But I was thinking why I might've changed."

"And did you find an answer?," Akira asked. Yuuki just shrugged. "Honestly, I was pretty desperate at the time. I can't remember much of it... But I do remember that I was thinking what you or the other Phantoms would do in that situation. You put yourself on the line standing up to Kamoshida, and probably other villains too." Akira chuckled. "It does seem like a scramble everytime we go up against a new target." Yuuki nodded. "Yeah, so I thought there had to be something I could do myself." "That sure was courageous of you," Akira said.

Yuuki chuckled weakly. "I was only acting out of fear though. But then again, maybe that's the whole point of bravery." He stood up. "You know, I've always wanted to change. From just a dull nobody to world-renowned hero. But watching you guys, I realized something. Heroes aren't heroes because they're famous... But because they fight for other people. In hindsight, what I really wanted to change was the old, weak me. The me on the volleyball team who let wrongdoings continue, even though it was unjust... Who looked the other way when it was clear others needed help..."

"Seems you managed to make a change for yourself," Akira noted, "And you didn't even need our help to do it." Yuuki smiled. "Yeah, I guess I did, didn't I? But I wouldn't say you didn't actually help. Well, not in the usual way. As I watched the Phantoms, I understood that I had to follow their example, and become a better person to those around me. Even if I can't change the world, I can still help a few people in it. And even if I mess up again here and there, I'll be able to pick myself up knowing you guys are out there. And you can be sure that no matter what, I'll be there to support you, as well." Akira nodded as he felt his bond with Yuuki solidify.

I am thou, thou art I...

Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath

Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion

And break the yoke of thy heart

Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret

Of the Moon, granting thee infinite power...

Moon Rank 10-Salvation Wish unlocked

"By the way," Yuuki said, "I think I may have found a major request. Links all the way to Hope's Peak Academy. Apparently, there are rumors that a big head honcho in the showbiz scene was trying to prevent the academy's Ultimate Pop Sensation, Sayaka Maizono, from attending. I'll do some digging and get you the details. As for my documentary, I was also planning on making it into a book. Hopefully, anyone who reads it will also find courage."


November 8

Haru had invited Akira to hang out at Big Bang Burger. In spite of the recent scandal, the restaurant remained popular due to its quality. Haru and Akira were sitting together enjoying some coffee. "So," Haru said, "I wasn't able to find out anything more about Takakura-san. Some of the people I asked said he often complained about my father, but considering what Father was like at the time..." "Easy to hate?," Akira said bluntly. "Exactly," Haru said, "Also, just as many said the exact opposite. But that could just be to reassure me. Honestly, I know one side must be deceiving me, but I trust them so little I can't really determine which one."

"Someone's got to be telling the truth," Akira noted, "Kyoko has this catchphrase she burrowed from a fellow teenage detective, Kudo I think. 'One truth prevails'. The question is finding where that truth is." Haru nodded. "I see... If there are two contradictory stories, then logically one of them must be true. I guess I'll just have to learn the truth for myself. Interestingly, Takakura seems to be looking other potential suitors for me. At the very least, he understands that I'm not interested in marrying Sugimura. He says he wants to make sure I have vital backup for myself and the company."

"Has Sugimura been bothering the company anymore?," Akira asked. "He's barged in from time to time," Haru said, "But he always retreats when Takakura shows up. None of the employees talk about the fact that the marriage has been canceled. I think Sugimura might be trying to put pressure on me, since they all seem to be pushing for the marriage to be completed." She rubbed her shoulder. "I wish I could make them understand that he's just using them."

"Well graduation is coming up soon," Akira said, "You know the contract's fake, and Takakura isn't even aware of the deception. Maybe it would be best to refuse Sugimura flat out after graduation and let him stick his own foot in his mouth." Haru giggled. "That might work. But I don't want to put the employees through any more suffering. Still, I'm glad I have you here to talk to about all this. Before I joined you guys, I thought I would just have to accept whoever Father decided I would marry and let the rest of my life pass me by. I wonder what would have happened if Father didn't have a Palace..."

"Then you wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place," Akira said bluntly, "Okumura only tried controlling your life because of his distorted desires. If his desires had been less distorted, he'd have been more inclined to let you choose your own husband." Haru blinked. "That's true, isn't it? Well, I shouldn't be worrying about 'what ifs' in the first place. I'm here as a Phantom now, and that's all that matters." Seeing Haru's resolve, Akira felt their bond grow stronger.

Empress Rank 5-Bumper Crop unlocked

"I've been managing to improve my horticulture," Haru said, "Now that I have a use for it, it's been going by rather easily." She took another sip of coffee and sighed. "You know, there are days I wish I could just enjoy a cup like this on the seaside and just... Forget everything. Maybe even invite all our friends." "That's a lot friends to invite," Akira noted. 'And some of them might not be able to make it.'


Sojiro and Futaba went to the church in Kanda, inviting Akira to join them. "Y'know," Sojiro said, "I always think about Wakaba on the anniversary of her death... But it's been a while since I visited. I've always made the excuse that it was because I was busy with the shop... But the real reason is guilt. I was afraid Wakaba would be angry with me. But now that I managed to get Futaba here, I can meet her with my head held high." "How long do you think you kept her waiting?," Akira asked with a grin.

Sojiro chuckled. "Too long. But it sure felt good to tell her how much Futaba's improved. I also told her about you. And how much you being here has helped things." He folded his arms. "Y'know... This is the first time the four of us are all together..." "Hey Sojiro," Futaba said as she came over, "What are you smirking for?" Sojiro was speechless for a second, then said, "Well, this is just what my real smile looks like." Futaba nodded. "It looks nice. I approve." She then walked, causing Sojiro to breathe a sigh of relief.

"That reminds me," he said to Akira, "Seems Youji's report has been retracted as a result of his conviction." He looked over at Futaba. "I wonder if the day will ever come when she'll become a bride." "If she ever finds the right guy," Akira noted, "Though let's hope we don't get a repeat of her mother." Sojiro laughed. "I'm sure she'll be a fine lady either way. She is her mother's daughter after all. It's funny, I only wanted you to help out around the shop. But you wound up showing me so much more... You reminded me that I have a family I need to protect. And when the time comes, you can count on me for support." Akira smiled as he felt his bond with Sojiro solidify.

I am thou, thou art I...

Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath

Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion

And break the yoke of thy heart

Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret

Of the Hierophant, granting thee infinite power...

Hierophant Rank 10-Curry Mastery unlocked

"I've taught you all I know," Sojiro said, "You're a real man now." "What are you two talking about?," Futaba said as she approached again. Akira and Sojiro grinned at each other. "Oh, nothing important," Sojiro said dismissively. Futaba shrugged. "Well anyway, I hunger! Curry time!" Sojiro chuckled. "Sure. And this time, I think Akira might be able to handle making it." "Oh, that sounds interesting," Futaba said, "I'd like to see how you improved."


November 9

Futaba was hanging out in Akira's room, looking rather please. "I recently e-mailed Kana," she explained, "And she actually replied. We even got to chatting over the phone about our time in elementary school. Turns the reason she got mad at me for reading her diary is because she was so embarrassed, and she thought I would hate her because I learned her secret... That's why she ran. I guess the two of us aren't so different, really." "Ah miscommunication," Akira mused, "The ultimate killer."

Futaba giggled. "Well, I finally got a chance to apologize to her." "Good to hear," Akira said, "Seems you're finally branching out." Futaba nodded. "Unfortunately, she's too far away to visit, but we can still contact each other through e-mail. And we both made a promise to go to high school next year." She thought for a moment. "Y'know, if it wasn't for you guys, I don't think I'd ever find the strength to contact Kana in the first place. I really gotta thank you, Akira."

"Hey, you worked hard at this too," Akira replied, "Give yourself a little credit here." Futaba grinned. "You think so? It's kinda embarrassing to hear, but I guess you have a point. Oh yeah, Kana-chan was surprised that the Phantoms listened to her request. She'll never know the whole truth of the matter!" She chuckled at that thought. "Guess I can finally say I've completed all my promises... Thanks for helping me with this, Akira." "Whatever it takes to help a friend," Akira said, feeling his bond with Futaba grow stronger.

Hermit Rank 8

"So hey," Futaba said, "Can I ask you a big favor?" "Depends on the favor," Akira said warily. "Could you... Pat me on the head?," Futaba said, "It's something Mom used to do when she was happy with me." She lowered her head. Akira just shrugged and gave a quick pat. Futaba got so shocked that she stood up immediately. "Whoa, I wasn't expecting you to actually do it! Now I know why Nana can't handle them..." She and Akira started laughing at that.


That evening, Akira visited Hifumi. She looked a little downtrodden. "My mother spoke to me earlier," she explained, "It seems she's been fixing most of my games thus far. And she was the one who sold that story to the magazines." She started crying. "I... Had no idea about this... I feel so ashamed. But in hindsight it makes sense. Looking back, several of my opponents were making very poor moves at odd times..."

"Are you going to be okay?," Akira asked, concerned. "Just disappointed in myself," Hifumi said, "I just wanted the world to recognize my skills, but now I wonder if I ever truly had any to begin with. I had let myself grow conceited with each fake victory..." She looked at Akira. "I suppose you changed more than one heart today." Akira facepalmed. "And here we go again."

Hifumi smiled. "I thought as much. Why else would Mother confess all of a sudden? It could only be because of the Phantoms, but there was no one listening in on our conversation." Akira grinned. "Looks like you're underestimating yourself. You're pretty observant." "Thanks," Hifumi said, smiling, "And to be honest, I'm glad Mother's heart changed. I still plan on going through with the exhibition match. If I win, that will prove that I do have skills. If I lose, it will allow me to start over."

She nodded. "But first, I will reveal the truth. It may bring me harsh criticism... But it must be done. And I hope you'll be there to watch." "Naturally," Akira said, "Just make sure to give it your best." "Certainly," Hifumi said, "As your teacher, if I don't put up a good fight, I could wind up embarrassing both of us." Akira smiled. Already he could feel their bond continued to grow.

Star Rank 8

"You still seem a little scared," Akira noted. "Of course I am," Hifumi said, "I've just learned my kingdom stands on a house of cards. I don't know if it can withstand a true battle. But I'm determined to fight with dignity to the very end, as a true queen should. There's a new move I'd like to try out for the exhibition. Would you care to stay for another match?" Akira nodded, and they got started with their game.


November 10

"Thanks for coming," Makoto said as Akira entered the student council room. "What's been going on?," Akira asked. "It's Eiko's boyfriend, Tsukasa," Makoto explained, "He's been sending me texts constantly. Because of his work schedule, his days and nights are reversed, so he send me 'good morning' texts just as I'm going to bed." "That's creepy," Akira admitted, "Does Eiko know anything about this?" "Not yet," Makoto said, "But I'd definitely tell her if he asked me on a date."

"Glad to hear it hasn't gone that far yet," Akira said, "What's he been sending you so far?" "Normal stuff for now," Makoto replied, "Standard greetings, asking how things are with my 'boyfriend'. It makes me wonder if I was just being biased, thinking he just wanted money from Eiko." "On the flip side," Akira noted, "The fact that he keeps contacting you makes me question how committed his relationship is. Sure I've been friends with other girls while still dating Ann, but at the same time his volume of contacts is staggering. Definitely outside of what's normal."

"I'll admit this sort of scenario sounds like it came from a TV show," Makoto said, "But people forget it's a part of reality too. I'm just scared that Eiko will wind up a victim of some human trafficking ring. Dad mentioned one such gang from Shinjuku who would specifically look for depressed women... Taking advantage of how lonely those girls feel to force them into horribly abusive situations... Then once the girls are buried in debt, they're forced to sell off their bodies. And that's not the only way they're forced into it, either. Blackmail, illegal immigration..."

"Jeez, Makoto," Akira interrupted her, "This is getting a little dark." "Sorry," Makoto said, "All this talk got me started, and thinking about Dad. See, he was going after one such gang when he..." Her voice caught in her throat for a second before she decided to sit down. "It was during his investigation, when he was hit by an errant truck... He was killed instantly..." Akira's eyes widened in shock. "So... It's not just Futaba who lost a good parent..."

Makoto nodded. "At first it was thought to be an accident. But then at the funeral, I overheard my father's supervisor speaking with Sis. Dad had been working with a detective named Fuhito Kirigiri, who did a follow-up investigation following his death. He learned that Dad was most likely assassinated..." "Assassinated...?," Akira repeated, "And... Kirigiri?" "Yeah, Kyoko's grandfather," Makoto replied, "Fuhito had discovered that the driver had received a larger than normal payment prior to the incident, and suspected that he had been paid off by the gang leaders."

"Do you know anything about the gang?," Akira asked. Makoto shook her head. "Not really, but there was no need to find out. They didn't last much longer after that, since Fuhito threw everything he had into shutting them down to avenge my father. As for the driver, he had also been killed on impact, and drugs were found in his bloodstream... Whatever's left of that gang is lost to the shadows of Shinjuku, thanks to Fuhito's efforts, and the clean-up operation."

Akira nodded. "I'm just sorry it had to come at the expense of your father. And so many others as well." "Tell me about it," Makoto replied, "We still haven't been able to help those poor victims... That's why my sister decided to become a prosecutor. Many thought she'd be teaming up with Fuhito's son, Jin, but by that point he had already decided not to become a detective and instead become headmaster at Hope's Peak. So Kyoko picked up the slack. Sae said she couldn't just stand by and watch as evil prevailed while others suffered. She definitely got that passion from Dad."

"I'd say you got a little bit of it too," Akira noted, "But you've been talking about your dad this whole time. What happened to your mom?" "She was long dead by the time of Dad's murder," Makoto said sadly, "Which meant we were on our own. Luckily Sae was old enough to take care of us both by then, but it was hard on her. I'd imagine if not for Kyoko's suggestion to see a therapist, Sis would have a Palace of her own. A good thing too, since she's started talking cheerfully about Dad's accomplishments again."

Akira chuckled. "Sounds like you looked up to him." "I still do," Makoto replied, "Because of his work, Dad couldn't be home very often, but it was awe-inspiring to see him tirelessly pursue one case after another. That was how Dad chose to live his life... Bringing justice to the world around him." "That's very admirable of him," Akira noted, "No wonder you said he might've worked with us. The same way Sae is now." Makoto nodded. "Yeah. Come to think about it, I remember something he would always say to me. The most important part of your life is how you choose to live it."

"That's profound," Akira said, "I can't really speak for the others, but I know I've already made my choice of how I want to live. What about you, Makoto?" Makoto thought about it. "I've never really thought about it. But I know I still have a chance to change where my life is going. After my father died, I wanted to lighten the burden for Sis as much as possible, so I kept on the path so laid out for me. But now I know that path won't lead me anywhere..."

Her eyes then widened. "Oh wait! We were supposed to be talking about Eiko! Jeez, how did we get so far off topic?" She and Akira laughed at their predicament. "It's funny," Makoto said, "I haven't talked this much about my father in a long time. Sure me and Sis have mentioned him occasionally, but never to this level. It's a painful memory... But I somehow feel comfortable talking about it with you." Sensing Makoto's trust, Akira felt their bond grow stronger.

Priestess Rank 7-Shadow Factorization unlocked

"I feel as if I understand myself a little better," Makoto noted, "This clarity might be useful for analyzing our enemies." Just then, her phone went off. "Oh, it's Eiko again... Now she's gloating about how she might just skip college and marry Tsukasa. I really hope we can get to the bottom of this and break off our fake dating. It might strain things between me and Ann, and we'd started becoming good friends recently." "Tell me about it," Akira said, "I'm concerned things might get ugly if we don't wrap this up."


November 11

The plan to capture Crow was nearing completion, but the Phantoms still needed to secure Ishida's Treasure before they could pull it off. Already the group was decked out in their thief outfits, or rebel outfits now since Rider didn't really count as a thief. "So Ishida already recognizes us as a threat," she noted, "Good to know." "Let's start by returning to our insertion point," Joker said, "From there we head for the elevator and discuss how to get it moving. Keep watch. If Ishida sees us as a threat there will be Shadows about."

Sure enough, the area around the elevator had a few Shadow guards patrolling. Pulling the mask off one revealed a white horse with a single horn, an Expressionless Beast. It released the Persona Unicorn. One of the breakables in the area released a spirit attached to a jeweled pendant. When Joker downed it, he gained the Persona Orlov. Ahead of the elevator, the group found a Safe Room, which seemed to shift to some sort of office. "This is Sae's office," Rider noted, "Makes sense, since Ishida isn't able to influence her right now."

The Shadows above the Safe Room revealed two new forms. One was a grey-skiing woman with white hair and a pink priestess outfit. This was a Mountain Girl, and released the Persona Kikuri-Hime. The other was a winged warrior with red armor, carrying a shield and spear. This was a Divine Warrior, which released the Persona Power. "From here we should be able to get into the backrooms," Rider noted, "That may be the best place to find a membership card we need to operate the elevator."

"Then let's look for a customer data terminal," Queen suggested, "From there we can hack our way into the system and trick it into letting us in." The hallways were crawling with more Shadows. One of which was the same form they had seen with the guard captain last time, a Cruel Leopard. It released the Persona Ose. Another Shadow close to the end of the hallways revealed a woman with black hair and green robes, a Lamenting Sacrifice. It released the Persona Kushinada.

The group soon reached a Safe Room afterward. Past it, Oracle noticed something. "There's a guard captain past that door. Luckily it's back is to us. How do you wanna play it, Joker?" Joker grinned. "They shouldn't prove too difficult." He kicked open the door and ambushed the captain, revealing a green-skinned woman with pink hair and robes. It soon went down rather quick, clearing the way forward. Mona then picked up the item it dropped. "Check it out, it dropped a security keycard. This could come in handy for us."

The card allowed access to a few new rooms, allowing them to bypass a couple of guards standing in front of a set of double doors. Which was fortunate, since those doors led to a monitoring room. "Perfect," Oracle said, "We should be able to find a terminal here that will suit our needs." "We'd better take care of that guard first," Skull noted. The guard revealed an anthropomorphic elephant wearing Indian armor. The group ambushed it with the Bullet Hail technique, letting them defeat it easily. "That was... Interesting," Noir said, "How did I rapid-fire a grenade launcher?"

"Don't question it," Rider suggested, "Or you'll never be able to do it again." One the ground near the defeated Shadow were a few cards. Rider picked one up. "We're in luck. These are the membership cards we need. All we have to do is hack the system and get them registered." "You want more than one?," Oracle asked. "I have an idea in mind," Church explained, "I've been going over it with Rider. This casino is similar to a popular one is Osaka. And if it works the same way, I think we can trick the system and outsmart Ishida."

"Alright," Oracle said, and she got to work. Soon enough, she had the first one complete and handed it to Church. "I didn't know what name to use," Oracle said, "So I just went with Taro Tanaka." "That's fine," Church reassured her, "It'll work perfectly." "Are you sure about that?," Skull said, "That's way too simple a name." "It's also generic," Rider explained, "Ishida doesn't pay much attention to names, since they blur together after a while. Trust me, this should work."

Oracle finished the second card. "Okay, I went with something more elaborate. Shinji Nakanomatsu. I also downloaded a map for the Palace." "Now we just need to get out of here," Skull said, "That vent over there should do nicely." The hallways soon led the Phantoms to a previously sealed door near the ceiling decorations in the first room. From there they quickly reached the elevator and tried the card. Sure enough, the elevator confirmed they could now reach the Standard Floor and Members Floor.

"So we can't reach the manager's floor yet," Panther noted. "Clearly our ranking isn't high enough yet," Rider said, "We'll just have to find out how to increase our rank. There may be information on that at the Members Floor." Once they reached the Members Floor, they were surprised to see Ishida waiting for them. "Well, well. I'm impressed. I didn't think you had what it takes to reach this level. Congratulations are in order, but don't get so full of yourselves. You still have a long way to go, and this is MY casino you're in. You won't find this infiltration to be as easy as all your previous ones." And with that, he disappeared again.

"So, Ishida would rather scheme than meet us with brute force," Mona noted. "So how are we supposed to proceed?," Panther asked, "I've never really gambled before." "We don't have time properly gamble here," Joker said, "And you heard Ishida. This is his casino, so he controls the game. Our best bet is find out how to take that control away." "Okay then," Queen said, "Let's start by finding out how to increase our rank. There's a cashier over there. Maybe he can help us." Before reaching the cashier, the Phantoms found another Safe Room.

Once they reached the cashier, another cognition, it bowed to them. "Welcome to the Members Floor. Please, take these complimentary tokens to get you started." Instantly the cashier added one thousand tokens to Joker's card. "You'll find a dice game to the left of the counter, and slots to the right. Choose whichever suits your fancy, but I would recommend the dice game for beginners. Also, please accept this map of the Members Floor, to help you get around easier."

"What exactly are the tokens used for?," Joker asked. "Simple," the cashier replied, "You can exchange them for prizes here at the counter. Top prize is an upgrade to your card that will let you access the High Limit Floor, but keep in mind that this item costs fifty-thousand tokens. Of course, you can borrow tokens if you like, up to the current total on your card." Rider and Church looked at each other briefly. The group walked off for a bit. "So this is Ishida's game," Fox noted, "He hopes we'll waste our time trying to win each card, taking up time until he can implement his plan."

"And Joker's right," Mona said, "Those games will be rigged. We'll need to find some way to cheat the system." "It wouldn't surprise me if Ishida was cheating," Rider mused, "He's been suspected of forging evidence for years. All he really cares about is keeping his position. But there's one flaw in his plan. He's not a prosecutor anymore, so there are gaps in his cheating. We just need to exploit them."

Thus, the group entered the dice game area. Several of the breakables in the area held additional tokens. Soon enough, Joker spotted a vent to the backroom of the area. "Interesting," Queen said, "If we explore what's going on back here, maybe we can find a way to break Ishida's game." Some of the Shadows in the hallways had new forms, like one that Shadow Kishi had transformed into. This was a Life-Draining Spirit, which released the Persona Kumbhanda.

Another Shadow revealed the same form as an earlier guard captain, a Midnight Queen. It released the Persona Queen Mab. A final Shadow had the form of a armored female riding a horse and wielding two sword, a Funerary Warrior. It released the Persona Valkyrie. The Phantoms also discovered another Safe Room while exploring. Eventually, they found themselves behind the rooms for the dice game, where a guard captain was monitoring the games.

"It's just like we thought," Oracle said, "Here's where they monitor the calculations for their rigging." "Then it's time to put a stop to it," Joker said. Quickly he ambushed the Shadow, revealing a human figure painted with white stripes and wearing a red cloak. It proved easy to take down, giving the Phantoms the run of the place. "Now that we've stopped the cheating," Skull said, "It should be easier to earn those tokens."

Queen then thought of something. "Say... Why don't use this equipment to our advantage? Leave most of the games as unrigged, then leave one game rigged in our favor. That way we can earn the tokens we need faster." "Are you sure that's okay?," Noir asked. "It's our only option," Rider reminded her, "Ishida is rigging this system against us, so we need to push back by turning his rigging to our advantage." Oracle grinned. "Leave it to me." After a few moments, she had the rooms set up.

Using their borrowed security card, the Phantoms found the room in question. "Welcome," said the cognition running the game, "Care to enjoy our dice game? Simply bet on the numbers that will appear on three cast dice. A correct prediction will double your bet, while a matching set will triple it. And if you get three sixes, you get quintuple your bet! Right now we're running a Grand Raise promotion, meaning both buy-in and payout are five times the normal amount! A single customer may make up to four plays."

Joker confidently sat down. "I'm game." "Splendid," the barker replied, "It's one-hundred and twenty-five tokens for the buy-in." Joker began playing, betting on the dice to land between eleven and eighteen each time. The barker looked shocked as Joker earned over three-thousand tokens with his betting. "This is... A little unprecedented... But it seems luck is in your favor. Congratulations!" Joker grinned.

"That was good for a start," Rider said, "But we're still short of our goal." "I'm back," Church said, "And I finished with what we need." "What were you doing?," Fox asked. "Not just yet," Rider replied, "We don't want Ishida to catch wind of it." "Still, this is kinda fun," Panther said, "I wonder what else we can do around here." "There's the slots on the other side of the floor," Queen noted, "We might be able to earn more tokens there." The Phantoms walked away from the dice area with over six-thousand tokens.

Just inside the slots area, the Phantoms encountered a guard captain. "You Phantoms are playing well. Unfortunately for you, I've been given permission to kill you if you get too far." "I get the feeling anything over the initial one-thousand counts as 'too far' for Ishida," Church quipped. The Shadow burst into a new form for the Life-Draining Spirit, but it was nothing the Phantoms hadn't battled before and proved easy to remove. "Ishida is becoming more blatant with his cheating," Fox noted, "Attacking us in the backrooms where we're obviously trespassing is one thing, but this..."

"Doesn't look like anyone was drawn to the battle though," Panther said. "It's because of how Ishida perceives the courtroom," Rider explained, "He thinks everyone there is only concerned with their own victory. I doubt the cognitions here will pay us any mind." "So much for fair and square," Skull said, "Then again, we've never expected things to be fair up until now, so this just makes it challenging." They walked into the area proper, where rows upon rows of slot machines could be seen.

"I doubt we'll get anything substantial from the machines in here," Mona said, "Rigged or not, the payout won't be nearly big enough to justify spending too much time here." "There should be some higher limit slots towards the back," Rider suggested, "Let's find those, then circumvent their tricks." The Phantoms stalked around the area, taking note of the Shadows, some looking like waitress bunnies. Sure enough, the Phantoms reached a larger room with a massive slot machine against the back wall.

"That's huge!," Skull exclaimed. "And it's no decoration," Oracle said, "That slot machine holds the big prize money. We manage to rig that to our favor, and we can easily earn enough tokens to get that high limit upgrade." The decided to check it out. "Looks like it was a good move to add those extra tokens," Church said, "This thing costs five-thousand tokens to play. But if we get a triple seven, the payout is fifty-thousand!" "Nice," Mona said, "But this is definitely a high-risk, high-reward scenario. Not to mention it's most likely rigged."

"There's an upper area," Queen said, "Let's see if can't find something there." Sneaking through the upper parts of the slot room, Oracle grinned when she found an access terminal. "Just give me a second with this... Wow, they really worked the cheating angle hard in this room. I can't disable their methods from here, but I did locate several multi-colored terminals from which I can. I just need access to the red and green ones. I've already highlighted them."

One of the terminals was located in the backrooms of the slot area, while the other was near the entrance. "Just a little bit," Oracle said, "And bingo! I managed to tamper with the percentage of the big slot machine, while disabling the cheating on the smaller machines. It's not a guaranteed win, unlike with the dice game, but I was able to shift the ratio in our favor. We'll be winning eight times out of ten." "Sounds perfect," Joker said, "A payout while still having a little risk. Let's head back and try out our luck."

It was tense when Joker started the slot, but it turned out to have hit the jackpot, earning the Phantoms the fifty-thousand they needed, and causing a stir among the cognitions playing the lower slots. "We're attracting too much attention," Mona said, "We have the tokens we need, let's head back to the exchange counter and get that upgrade." With the large amount of tokens won, the Joker was able to get all the prizes available from the counter, including the High Limit Card.

On the way out, a guard wearing a bouncer uniform was standing in the Phantoms' way. From the intercom, Ishida's voice could be heard. "Trying to cheat the system, are we? I can't say I'm not impressed, but it's irksome nonetheless. Don't think you'll win so easily, however. After all, less than one percent of all defendants manage to avoid conviction in my courts. And you Phantoms will be no different. Guard, dispose of them." The guard erupted in a golden clock decorated with three female angels with one wing each.

"So he's finally trying it our way, huh?," Skull said, "Fine by me. I was afraid we'd start to get rusty." It didn't take long for the Phantoms to prove their point, defeating the guard captain with relative ease. "So you defeated one simple guard," Ishida said dismissively, "I'll still be the one to win this gamble. All the courts are a gambling stage, the prosecutors being the ones set the table. And I am the who manages them all. All except that annoying Niijima. A prosecutor like her could shake up the status quo."

"Probably for the best," Queen said, "Let me ask you, how many innocent people has your system put in jail? How many criminals have wound up going free because others took the blame? Even when they say the house always wins, they don't necessarily win big." "You talk like you're the first one to notice the corruption I've cultivated," Ishida replied, "Even Akechi figured it out, and I'm sure by now you've noticed he's no real detective. I wouldn't be surprised if you've already discovered his biggest secret. Well, we'll see how good your skills are soon enough. I was hoping to stop you from reaching the High Limit Floor, but I should have known better than to expect to beat you in combat."

He cut the transmission, allowing the Phantoms to return to the elevator. Unfortunately, the High Limit Floor had a major obstacle. A giant gate with a single locked door blocker their path, an usher standing in front of it. "Greetings," it said, "Do you have a reservation?" "Reservation?" Skull said, "What kind of bullshit is that?" "This must be one of those cognition barriers you mentioned earlier," Rider noted, "Ishida thinks we can't get close to him. Which means we need to somehow make him think otherwise."

"Well, when you think about it," Queen said, "We're seeing a casino, but this is really just the courthouse as seen through Ishida's eyes. This High Limit Floor is probably just some high level access area only certain people can enter." "Then it's got to be the courtroom itself," Rider realized, "Luckily for us, getting in is easier than Ishida realizes. All we have to do is attend a trial. They are open to the public, after all."

"Even better," Queen said, "There's a trial tomorrow that my sister is attending. And Ishida will be watching as well." Rider nodded. "He wants to put a rush on as many trials as possible to make room for the Phantoms' arrest." "I get it," Skull said, "We attend the trial and gets Sae's attention. That will draw Ishida's towards us..." "And change his cognition, making him think we're allowed on this floor!," Mona finished, "Okay then, let's head back to reality."


November 12

The next day, the group walked into the courtroom as the trial was starting. As predicted, Ishida was sitting the gallery, watching and grumbling about how long the trial was taking. "So what's this trial about anyway?," Ryuji asked. "Some politician who misappropriated funds to go on a personal vacation," Kyoko explained. Akira shook his head. "Wow... Toranosuke would have words with him." "I thought Sae-san was investigating the mental shutdowns," Haru said, "Why is she taking this trial?"

"It's a case she was on before she started investigating the mental shutdowns," Makoto explained, "I guess she wanted to finish off this older one, since we're pretty close to solving it." Sae then turned her head and spotted Makoto. She gave a quick wave, which did not go unnoticed by Ishida. He looked over and narrowed his eyes. "Niijima's younger sister... And Kirigiri as well. Those others must be friends of theirs. I had nearly forgotten that trials are open to all ages..." "Did you hear that?," Morgana said, "Sounds like Ishida's cognition changed. We may be able to get inside the High Limit Floor now." The Phantoms stayed for the duration of the trial before returning to the Metaverse.


Sure enough, the gate barring the High Limit Floor was gone completely, revealing a sprawling game area. The room briefly shifted to reveal the courtroom. "Amazing," Rider said, "This world would certainly interest Gekkogahara. Let's check in with the counter and see what's available here." The cashier greeted the Phantoms warmly. "Welcome, and congratulations on reaching the High Limit area. Allow me to offer these one-thousand token as a starting point, as well as a map for the area."

"How much do we need for the next card?," Joker asked. "There is no 'next card'," the cashier said, "Past this point is the Manager's Floor, but it doesn't require a card. If you wish to know more, please enter the door above this counter." Heading through said doors, the Phantoms were met with the sight of a giant set of scales placed between two pathways. "Interesting," Queen said, "This scale seems to be act like a bridge, which means we'll have to lower it somehow to reach the Manager's Floor."

Joker investigated a nearby terminal, which named the scale as the "Bridge of Judgement". Said bridge required one-hundred-thousand tokens to lower. "Ishida's really setting the bar high," Mona noting, "He doesn't expect us to be able to get any further. Still, we got the fifty-thousand from earlier, and this is the higher limit area. One-hundred-thousand can't be that hard." Back in the main hall, the group discovered another Safe Room.

To the right of the counter was a game area called the "House of Darkness". A Shadow was waiting for them right in front of the area. "Welcome, participants. Allow me to explain a few things about this floor before you begin. Here on the High Limit Floor, VIPs are permitted to send substitutes into the games to compete in their place. A bit like horse racing. Since you seem to have no substitutes of your own, you will be the participants. But I suspect you were planning on playing for yourselves regardless."

"Naturally," Mona replied, "It's no fun just being a spectator." The Shadow chuckled. "With that in mind, allow me to explain the rules of this game. Before you lies a rather straightforward maze. However, as the name 'House of Darkness' suggests, the area will be almost pitch-black. You'll only be able to see a few feet in front of you, just enough to avoid running headlong into... Obstacles. The entry fee for this game is one-thousand tokens, which I see you already have. If you succeed in reaching the goal, then you will be paid ten times that amount."

"Any special restrictions we need to know of before we begin?," Joker asked. The Shadow shook his head. "None whatsoever. There is no time limit. You are free to backtrack as needed or even leave through the entrance if you need to get your bearings. Please, enjoy yourselves." And with that, he walked off. Right next to the entrance was a Safe Room the Phantoms activated, before heading into the maze. Inside, the area was as dark as the Shadow mentioned. "I can barely see my hand in front of my face," Noir said.

Joker activated his Third Eye, which lit up the area quite nicely. "Follow me, you guys. Ishida didn't account for my special skills." The Shadows inside had new forms. First was a scarlet-skinned woman with long nails, bushy black hair, and covered in trinkets, a Dancing Witch. It released the Persona Rangda. A second had the same form as the guard captain from the Membership Floor. This was a Final Assessor, which released the Persona Norn.

After that came a Shadow with a form identical to the guard captain from the terminal room, an Auspicious Pachyderm. It released the Persona Ganesha. A final Shadow revealed a pure black humanoid with glowing eyes, white hair, and a green cape. This was a Quaking Lady of Shadow, which released the Persona Skadi. There were locked doors in the maze meant to trap players, but the Phantoms were able to circumvent this, literally through vent crawling.

Eventually, they reached a brightly lit room. "Looks like we made it out," Noir said. "That maze seemed rigged to keep people trapped," Mona noted, "Probably to fall victim to Shadows. Come on, let's return to the entrance, it should be through the lower doors." The doors lead to a long hallway, where the Shadow from before was waiting. "I'm surprised you were able to make it through there. But this is as far as you go." He hit a terminal on the nearby wall, causing two card decorations to fold out and block the path.

"If he thinks he can stop us from winning so easily, he's got another thing coming," Skull said. Ducking into a nearby vent, the Phantoms found themselves in some more backrooms. Navigating the hallways soon lead to the other side of the card wall, where Joker disabled the terminal. "Ishida seems intent on keeping us from our goal," Rider noted, "Clearly he understands your normal operation. Shame he can't see everything." The hallway lead to a smaller room, where they found another Safe Room.

Just the beyond it, the Shadow was surprised. "How did you...? It should have impossible for you to get this far!" "Never underestimate our abilities," Joker said, "We've played your game for amusement, but that trap you pulled at the end has us just a little peeved. So now, we're gonna beat those tokens out of you." "Just try it!," the Shadow declared, erupting into a half-man, half snake, carrying a trident and wearing a royal crest.

However, after all its tricks, the Shadow wasn't very strong. With it defeated, the Phantoms stood around. "I guess he planned this from the very beginning," Noir noted. Rider nodded. "Ishida hates to lose, after all. He cheated his way to his current position, and he has no intention of losing it. He rigged the games on the Membership Floor, we should have expected him to do so here." "Either way," Panther said, "We have our winnings from this game, but it's still only a tenth of the requirement."

"There should be another game on the opposite side of the floor," Fox said, "Let's try that one." The other door in the main room lead to a Battle Arena. Right inside the reception was another Safe Room. Nearby was the dealer for the game. "Greetings, and welcome to our Battle Arena. I see you have several members in your party, though I should mention that each team can only consist of up to four members. As for the buy-in, it is ten-thousand tokens. Win, and you'll receive ten times that amount."

"That would give us the amount we need to cross the bridge," Fox noted, "Best pick our teammates wisely for this." Joker nodded. "Noir, Skull, and Mona, you'll be with me for this." The trio nodded. "Splendid. I'll set up the opponents right away. While you're fighting, there will be odds makers taking bets to see whether you win or lose." Rider and Church nodded to each other. They entered the spectator area with the other Phantoms while the main team entered the arena itself.

Turns out when the dealer said "opponents" he meant "more than one team". First was a couple of Auspicious Pachyderms, but they didn't take much. Next were a trio of Dancing Witches. "Aren't they gonna send anything we haven't seen?," Skull quipped. That's when a giant man clad in golden armor and wielding a hammer in one hand appeared. "Me and my big mouth...," Skull muttered. Still, the giant Shadow didn't prove too difficult thanks to Noir, and the Phantoms were soon victorious.

In a shocked voice, the announcer said, "A-And the winner is the Phantoms... Payout will delivered right after this..." The Phantoms collected their tokens and returned to the bridge. However, when they tried the card, Ishida's laughing voice appeared. "Nice try, but I expected you to make this far. So I changed the requirement for the Bridge of Judgement to one million tokens." "Then it's a good thing me and Church planned ahead," Rider said.

Church smirked as she placed in a second card, which successfully registered the proper amount. "Impossible!," Ishida called out, "How did you collect this much under my nose!?" "We used your own system against you," Rider explained, "One of your rules is that we can borrow tokens from the casino, up to the total we have on the card. In addition, each floor we reach pays out one-thousand tokens to get us started, and that's per card."

"When we infiltrated the terminal room," Church said, "We actually wound up with several cards, so we had Oracle register both of them. Everytime we played a game, Rider and I would borrow out some tokens and take advantage of a little-known game people in the main area were playing." Ishida gasped. "The side-bet system...!" "Exactly," Rider said, "You didn't let us know about it, but you forget that your casino is based on one your other self has seen in Osaka, which I happen to know of. The side-bet system let's a player bet on whether or not another player will hit a jackpot on any game."

"So you guys were betting on us winning," Skull said with a grin, "Knowing we'd pull it off." Rider nodded. "Ishida let slip that we could borrow tokens, hoping that would throw us off our game. After all, why would we want to owe money to a fake casino inside someone's head? But don't forget once we take Ishida's Treasure and this place disappears, that debt goes with it. Really though, the plan would have been useless if not for Church. It's clear why she's your team's smuggler." Church blushed as the other Phantoms congratulated her, and Joker could feel their bond grow stronger.

Judgement Rank 9-Protect unlocked

With the tokens inserted in the terminal, the bridge lowered, allowing the Phantoms to cross to the other side. Now finally inside the Manager's Floor, the group saw the familiar glowing rainbow orb. "This is it," Mona said, "We've reached the Treasure." "Now we need to discuss the next step," Rider said, "We have until November 20 to take this, right? Tell me, do you usually stretch it out to the very last day?" "Not normally," Mona replied, "We could, but we usually find it more beneficial to complete the job before the deadline. Really, once a person undergoes a change of heart, it happens almost instantly, though they will need a few days to recover."

"Then here's what I have in mind," Rider said, "On November 19, the day before the deadline, me and Sae will gather a squad of police officers. Ostensibly they'll be there to capture both the Phantoms and Crow, but they have explicit instructions to make Crow a priority, and ignore the Phantoms should they escape." "But will Crow even be there?," Queen asked. "He'll show," Joker said, "Somehow I just know he won't miss this opportunity to pay us back for the humiliation in Okumura's Palace."

"How will we get the police into the Metaverse?," Skull asked. "It shouldn't be too hard," Mona replied, "We only need one of your phones to bring all of us into the Metaverse. There's not much difference, from a relative perspective, from the ten of us and a whole squadron, plus their cars of course." "They'll be set up in a part of the Metaverse that still looks normal," Rider said, "Their signal to move will be when the alarm from the Palace goes off, indicating we've reached the Treasure and are confronting Ishida."

She closed her eyes. "The real issue is the fact that these Palaces apparently crumble as the Palace ruler is defeated and the Treasure removed. To avoid that, we'll keep Ishida here in his Palace until Crow can be confirmed captured, sending Joker ahead with the Treasure. Since we know who Crow is likely to be, we can use Ishida's desire to take revenge on Crow to accomplish this." "Sounds like this will be our most daring plan yet," Mona noted, "But I like where this is going. We pull this off, we can finally solve the mysteries of the mental shutdowns." The Phantoms headed back to reality.

Infiltration Log:

o Infiltrated the casino

o Found a Safe Room

o Infiltrated Staff Passageway

o Found a Safe Room

o Neutralized the Control Room

o Obtained a Member's Card

o Infiltrated the Members Floor

o Found a Safe Room

o Infiltrated the Dice Game area

o Found a Safe Room

o Disabled the Dice Game Cheat

o Gained Coins with the Dice Game

o Infiltrated the Slot Room

o Disabled the Slot Machine Cheat

o Won a lot of coins from the Slots

o Acquired 50,000 Coins

o Obtained the High Limit Card

o Unlocked the cognitive lock

o Infiltrated the High Limit floor

o Found a Safe Room

o Found a Safe Room

o Got through the Dark Zone

o Found a Safe Room

o Completed the Maze

o Found a Safe Room

o Became Champion of the Arena

o Acquired 100,000 Coins

o Moved the Scale Bridge

o Infiltrated the Manager's Area

o Secured a route to the Treasure


November 13

With their plans set, Akira took a trip to the Velvet Room to complete a few fusions. First was Fortuna, a pale woman dressed in blue with a spinning wheel where her stomach would be. Next was Byakko, a white tiger with blue stripes. After that he fused Horus, a shining golden falcon. Then he got Koumokuten, an armored warrior carrying a scroll and calligraphy brush. From there he got Pale Rider, a skeletal figure riding a grey horse and wielding a scythe. Finally he fused the same Persona that the captain from the maze resembled, Raja Naga.

Finally, Akira decided to complete the new task set for him. With the Personas he gathered, he was able to create the required Bugs, which was the same form Mogami had taken. "Yet another task complete," Lavenza said, "And your bonds are growing stronger and stronger. You may have noticed that when one of your bonds becomes unbreakable, you gain access to a new and powerful Persona. They belong to people who are capable of outright halting Yaldabaoth's progress."

"So if I restore those Personas," Akira said, "It could bring a new age to the world." Lavenza nodded. "It's interesting to think about. Those with the Wild Card have the power to change the fate of humanity, but I don't think it's ever been done so thoroughly. Mostly it's just been ruining the efforts of a dangerous deity who misunderstands what it means to be human. But this new threat is manmade, so it makes sense to go deeper. And at the rate you're going, you will soon break free of the chains that bind you." Sensing Lavenza's faith, Akira felt their bond grow stronger.

Strength Rank 9

"There is one more task to complete," Lavenza said, "Simply create a Seth with High Counter. Once this is accomplished, the last gift I have for you will be unlocked." With this final task complete, Seth, a mighty black dragon, emerged. "This last task is finished," Lavenza said, "It's a big step toward freedom for all humans. I sense a time turmoil in the near future, but with your help, and that of the Phantoms, I doubt it will be as terrible as the one causing it meant it to be."

"And what about you?," Akira asked. Lavenza smiled. "I feel more at ease with the situation. Unlike the master, I wasn't sure if it would be possible for anything to change. But as the changes pile up, I now understand. The future, too, is based on our perception. I hope one day, my brother, Morgana, can return here. Thank for talking with me, Akira. May your strength continue to grow." Akira smiled as he felt his bond with Lavenza solidify.

I am thou, thou art I...

Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath

Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion

And break the yoke of thy heart

Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret

Of the Strength, granting thee infinite power...

Strength Rank 10-Special Treatment unlocked

"Your soul has reached out to every Persona user in the city," Lavenza said with delight, "Their hopes lies with you. You no longer need to strengthen yourself to be able to restore Personas that are stronger. This is the final gift I can offer you. Akira, you have taken a great step in your rehabilitation. It won't be long before you are free to pursue your own destiny. Be sure to walk it with pride."


Back in reality, Akira met Futaba in his room. "So me and Kana-chan have been contacting each a lot more often," Futaba said, "She says she wants to get back into school, but is worried she might not have the money... As for me, I intend to go back." "Sounds like you've really matured," Akira noted. Futaba nodded. "I have you and the others to thank for that. Everyone's been a great help. As much as I hated elementary, it is where I met Kana, and not everything was bad."

She grinned. "And from what you, Ryuji, Ann, Makoto, Nana, and even Haru are saying, Shujin's become a pretty awesome school. After all, there are no more abusive volleyball coaches." The two of them laughed. "And who knows," Futaba said, "Maybe I'll meet someone nice while I'm there. I mean, Mom eventually found someone, that's how I got born. Though I intend to stick with whoever fathers my kid... Also they'll probably have to get Sojiro's approval, but that shouldn't take much."

Akira laughed. "I'd think they'd have to be able to keep up with you, as well." Futaba smiled. "Y'know, I'm glad I met you guys. Even with Nana's help, I likely would have been stuck in my room for the rest of my life. It's kinda like you're an older brother. And you know what? I'm gonna keep giving it my all, until I can give a hundred and ten percent." Akira could sense Futaba's determination, and felt their bond grow stronger.

Hermit Rank 9-Emergency Shift unlocked

"Check it out," Futaba said, "I think I can help the team in a pinch. Maybe it's because I know a lot about Mom's research, but it's like I can influence reality in the Metaverse. That's pretty useful, right?" "Beyond useful," Akira admitted, "You've really helped us out a number of times. Not to mention your skills have invaluable to our operations." Futaba chuckled. "If only Mom could see me now."


That evening, Akira was helping around Munehisa's store. He was already making improved versions of Kyoko's futuristic-looking weapons. "And here I thought it was getting crazy when you made model gatling guns," Akira noted. Munehisa chuckled. "Yeah, never I thought I'd get that kind of special order." He polished off of the older model shotguns Ryuji used to use before upgrading.

Akira himself was busy fine-tuning an antique model. "Careful how you handle that," Munehisa said, "And let me know if anyone's interested in buying it. I'll only let a real exert buy that one." "I wonder whatever happened to Tsuda," Akira thought out loud. Munehisa sat down at his laptop. "I heard he got excommunicated from the clan. It's the most merciful punishment they can give for failure. At least, I hope that's all they did. Might've gone easy on him because he got shafted by the triads."

"You're hoping he's still alive?," Akira asked. Munehisa nodded. "I never once wished he'd die on me. He was still a brother, after all." Akira certainly hoped that Phantoms actions didn't lead to Tsuda's death. Munehisa sighed. "This whole thing's been crazy. Tsuda used to be the role model for upholding the yakuza code... I guess times are changing..." That's when Munehisa's phone went off. "Hello? Oh, it's you. Listen if you wanna talk about Tsuda-"

His eyes suddenly widened. "What!? What the hell do you think you're doing!? Bastard... Hey, wait...!" But whoever was on the other end had hung up. "Dammit!" "What happened?," Akira asked. "It's Masa," Munehisa explained, "That bastard went and kidnapped Kaoru!" Akira looked surprised. "Didn't see that coming..." "Yeah, me either," Munehisa replied, "Turns out he knew about Tsuda's failure the whole time. Bet he was waiting for a chance like this."

The two of them hurried to Seaside Park, where Masa was keeping Kaoru at knife point. "Let him go, Masa," Munehisa demanded. Masa shrugged. "Now why you gotta be like that. I just gave the kid a friendly ride home from cram school. Right, kid?" "Sorry, Dad," Kaoru said, "He said he had stuff to tell me about you..." Akira narrowed his eyes. "Just what's your game here, Masa?"

Masa looked at Akira. "Hey, don't I know you from somewhere? Oh right, I saw you at that diner... I shoulda known you were helping Mune. Well, if you're so interested, I was planning on getting my hands on those guns Tsuda wanted from Mune, that's all. With Tsuda gone, his spot in the clan is open, and I was hoping to make a good first impression." "Well your timing is off," Munehisa said, "I already disassembled those guns when it was clear Tsuda wouldn't be coming for them."

Masa looked unimpressed. "Y'know... I know all about Kaoru's situation." Munehisa, Akira, and even Kaoru looked surprised. "Dad, what's he talking about?" "Didn't I tell you all about it in the car?," Masa said, "About what your dad really thinks about you?" "Yeah, but it didn't make sense," Kaoru said, "After what Akira told me..." Masa chuckled. "You really think you can believe that kid? He's working for Mune, after all."

Akira narrowed his eyes. "Munehisa, you need to tell the truth here. It's the only way to disarm Masa." Munehisa looked at him. "Are you sure?" Akira nodded. "Trust in Kaoru, Munehisa. That's the only way out of this." Masa glared at them. "What are you two blabbering about over there?" "You said you knew about Kaoru's situation," Munehisa said, "But did you really tell him everything?"

"Huh?," Masa asked, confused. "Kaoru," Munehisa said, "What about to tell you, you may not like. But it's the honest truth. I've been keeping it from for your own protection, but I'd say the current situation threw that out the window. You see... You're real parents didn't die in a car crash. You were actually abandoned by your mother when you were just a baby. That's why I took you in. At the time... I was part of the yakuza, but I quit when I adopted you, so you wouldn't have the stigma hanging over your head."

Kaoru looked surprised. "R-Really...?" Masa laughed when he heard that. "Oh shit, I can't believe you really told him! Well, he's telling the truth, of course. It was pretty much accepted that your mom was trying to sell you off for drug money. But when Mune didn't accept the offer, she just up and left you! Really gotta thank you for that, Mune, I've been holding that story in all day!"

Kaoru, however, was smiling. "Thanks Dad. Now I know for sure... That you really do care for me." Masa stopped laughing and looked flabbergasted. "Wait, what...?" "No matter what Dad was in his past," Kaoru said, "It's in the past. I'm old enough to let that go. I don't know if you were expecting that secret to break me, but you thought wrong!" Masa, along with Munehisa and Akira, were surprised.

Kaoru touched his hand to his scar. "Me and Dad might be blood related... But we're still connected by the gecko! We are still family!" Masa growled, but stopped when he felt a gun barrel pressed against his shoulder. "You certainly raised that kid right, Mune," came a familiar voice. Munehisa looked surprised when he saw who it was. "Tsuda...!" Masa gulped. "T-Tsuda... Sir... Funny seeing you here..."

Tsuda scoffed. "Don't give me that 'sir' crap. I heard about it, y'know. Right before I poured my heart out to the boss, you ratted me out about the bad deal. You never were good at keeping your mouth shut. Hell, the dead knew what you were up to." Masa looked to be on the verge of tears. "What... What are you talking about...?" "What is he talking about, Tsuda?," Munehisa asked.

"Seems Masa here caught wind that I was trying to use you to make up for my losses thanks to the triad," Tsuda explained, "And spun a rather interesting yarn to the boss. Shortly after that, I suddenly realized how wrong it was to exploit a sworn brother just because I was feeling old-fashioned compared to the new blood. I told the boss everything. He had two different versions of the story to go off of, but since he heard about the Phantoms targeting me he decided to believe my version, and simply had me suspended. So Masa, how long you are gonna be waving around that knife?"

Masa instantly dropped the knife, making Kaoru breath a sigh of relief. Tsuda smirked. "Your kid's definitely got guts, Mune. Like father like son, I suppose. I'll make sure Masa here pays off his debts. Hate to say goodbye Mune, but... This will probably be the last we see of each other." Munehisa nodded. "Take care, brother." Once Tsuda and Masa were gone, Munehisa asked, "You okay, Kaoru?"

Kaoru nodded. "Yeah. I was scared for a little while, but it looks like it all worked out." Munehisa laughed. "Scared, huh? You sure did a great job of hiding it. You're maturing even faster than I realized..." "He's certainly a strong will," Akira noted. Munehisa nodded. "Yeah, doubt I could have said all that stuff. Guess I was so busy making sure he didn't end up like me that I didn't see what he was really becoming... Thanks for helping me see that, Akira." Akira grinned, sensing his bond with Munehisa grow deeper.

Hanged Rank 9

Suddenly, Kaoru's stomach started rumbling. "Sorry... Guess all the excitement got me hungry..." Munehisa laughed. "Come on, let's hit the diner in Shibuya. My treat, of course." He turned Akira. "You up for it." "Sure," Akira said, "I'm not expected home for a few more hours." Munehisa grinned. "The way Kaoru eats I wouldn't be surprised if he grows taller than me someday." The trio started laughing at that.


November 14

Haru and Akira were hanging around Book Town. Haru had wanted to find some material on coffee making. "So there are eight different ways to roast coffee beans," she mused, "With light roast being the most acidic. The type of roast you want should differ depending on how you want to drink." "Coffee is certainly complex," Akira noted, "I learned that first-hand thanks to Chief." Haru nodded. "Indeed. I plan on hand-roasting each type someday."

As she kept reading, she said, "You know, Okumura Foods wasn't always a burger chain... I believe I mentioned this, but it started out as a simple cafe owned by my grandfather. Unfortunately, it closed down before I could truly appreciate the finer intricacies of coffee. But that's where our family business originates." "It's a real surprise to learn that," Akira said, "When did you first learn that anyway?" "Father mentioned about a year or so ago," Haru explained, "Anyway, the cafe was shut down after Grandfather's passing due to a steady loss in revenue."

"That's a shame," Akira said, "I would have liked to visit it." Haru nodded. "Yeah. Grandfather never really cared about profit, just keeping people happy." Akira chuckled. "He and Sojiro would get along great. Sojiro only cares about customer satisfaction, only needing enough money to support himself and Futaba." "They do sound very similar," Haru admitted, "In fact, my grandfather's cafe even had an entire community centered around it. He would even offer free meals to those who couldn't afford it."

She looked sad. "The day it closed, people lined up for blocks to leave flowers... Now I want to make sure the same could happen with Big Bang Burger if something similar happened with Father." "That won't be easy," Akira said, "Okumura did a lot of damage before we finally snapped him out of it." "I'll find a way," Haru said, "I just need to get stronger. And, I need to understand what it means to have people trust in you. That way, I can decide who I can trust in the company, and help out the team." Akira nodded as he felt their bond grow stronger.

Empress Rank 6-Harisen Recovery unlocked

"There you are Haru," came an uncomfortably familiar voice. Haru and Akira both groaned as Sugimura approached. "What is it now, Sugimura?," Haru demanded, "I thought I made it perfectly clear that I won't be marrying you. Father already called it off, in case you've forgotten." Sugimura smirked. "And I wonder how the company will fare if your father's contract to me is broken."

Haru gave a smirk of her own. "Please, I already spoke with Father about that so-called contract. He confirmed it doesn't exist." Sugimura's smile dropped, and he looked confused. "Wait... How did you talk to your father?" "Conjugal visits of course," Haru replied, "I get them regularly. Or were you not aware that it's possible to visit someone while they're in prison."

Sugimura blinked. "Prison? Why would Okumura be in prison? He's supposed to be dead. That kid who visited me said he'd be dealing with it." Haru and Akira looked at each other, and Sugimura got the distinct impression he had said too much. "I... Think I'll come back another time..." He quickly left for his car. "Does Sugimura have anything to do with the conspiracy?," Haru wondered aloud. "I don't know," Akira said, "But maybe Kyoko can find out."


November 15

The Phantoms were heading into Mementos for a bit while biding time until the deadline. Their reason was two-fold. First, they needed to complete the request to deal with Hanae Oda, Shinya's mother. Second, it was flu season. And according to Mona, during flu season Shadows in Mementos could be stricken with Despair status, and that included the feared Reaper Shadow, meaning it was a great time to farm experience off of it.

After exploiting this for a bit, the Phantoms headed for the eleventh level of Adyeshach, where they found Oda. She was muttering to herself as the Phantoms approached. "You can't survive in this world if you're too soft... No one will help a single mother, they just look at me coldly. Everyone is my enemy, so I have to fight. I have to win!" "Wow," Rider muttered, "I've never heard of anything so cynical. Have you ever even tried to get help from someone?"

"Don't act like you know me!," Oda called out, "You punks don't know anything! We have to be strong, because if we lose then there's nothing to catch us! I'm fighting for my own happiness, so that no one can mock me!" "You seem to be leaving your son out of that rant," Joker noted, "Maybe you're just in it for yourself after all." Yelling in anger, Oda erupted into a giant female with orange skin, Indian garments, and carrying twin sabers. "You leave my son out of this! Get in my way and you die!"

The fight took a bit, but with Panther's help it didn't take long to beat Oda. Returned to her normal form, she began crying. "No... I'm going to get everything taken from me again... Society just sees me as a loser since I've got no money, and no reason to be proud of myself..." "Quit blowing it out of proportion," Joker scolded her, "You're seen as a loser because of how you act. And it's not like we're talking anything physical from you. After all, you still have your son to consider."

Oda's eyes widened. "Shinya..." She began to tear up. "How could I have forgotten? When my husband left, Shinya was my light... I've forgotten my greatest source of happiness. I can't believe I've been such a terrible mother. Thank you, Phantoms. I think I understand why Shinya looks up to you so much..." And with that, she disappeared, and left behind her treasure seed.


November 16

Akira and Yusuke were meeting Hifumi as she was preparing for her exhibition match. "Thank you for meeting me," she said, "After my confession there are many people clamoring for me to lose on purpose. I won't give them the satisfaction of throwing the match, however. I'll either win or lose based on my own merits." "Be sure to give it everything you've got," Akira said. Yusuke nodded. "We'll both be there to support you." Hifumi smiled.

Hifumi headed for the venue whilst the two friends watched online at the Wilton. Yusuke winced. "Her opponent is skilled. She's been able to draw out the match with her techniques, but it's only buying time." "Her nerves aren't helping," Akira noted, "I think she understands how outmatched she is." An excited murmur echoed across the lobby as Hifumi managed to get herself out of a bad situation. Unfortunately, her opponent made a masterful counter of his own.

At that moment, Hifumi could be seen standing up. 'I concede...' Regardless of her loss, many people in the lobby who were against her were disappointed. They had thought that because of all the fixed matches, Hifumi had no real skill and were expecting an utter curb-stomp. Instead Hifumi not only held her own, but only lost by conceding. "I held out as long as I could," Hifumi said as she joined the two boys, "But in the end I felt like an ant challenging an elephant."

"At least you were able to prove you have skills," Akira noted. "A saving grace," Hifumi admitted, "But now I know what my true limits are. During that last move, my opponent was one move away from checkmate. I could think of at least a dozen ways to prevent that... But I didn't want my pieces to suffer any longer." Akira smiled. "That was a very queenly decision." Hifumi smiled and nodded. "Despite my loss, it feels as though a demon has been purged from me."

"So where do you go from here?," Yusuke asked. "I intend to start from the beginning," Hifumi replied, "Take my shogi playing back to its roots and build up skills naturally. I already have a strong base to start with, thanks to helping you two and the others learn how to play. My dream is far from over, I've merely slipped back a few steps." Akira could sense Hifumi's determination, and felt their bond grow stronger.

Star Rank 9-Touryou unlocked

"I may not be the Shogi Princess I thought I was," Hifumi noted, "But I still have a few skills that I can pass on to your group." She stood up. "So, Yusuke, you said we'd be going to that diner after the match. Are you sure you have the money for it?" Yusuke chuckled. "Not to worry. I don't think I'll have to worry about money for a while." Akira smiled as the couple walked off, arm in arm.


November 17

Eiko had asked to meet Makoto and Akira at Big Bang Burger. "What did you want to talk about?," Makoto asked. Eiko looked a little embarrassed. "Well... I was hoping you could lend me some cash..." Makoto and Akira looked at each other, completely shocked. "Why would you ask that?," Makoto asked. "It's nothing major," Eiko insisted, "And I'll be sure to pay you back. So please?"

"I thought you could get money from your parents," Akira said, "Why ask us?" Eiko didn't seem to want to answer, but Makoto could guess. "Does it involve Tsukasa?" Eiko nodded. "He dropped a super expensive bottle of sake at work, and now the club's making him pay for it... But he needs help getting together the cash." "That story sounds fishy," Makoto noted, "I wouldn't recommend giving him any money until you know whether or not its true."

Eiko got indignant. "Makoto, he's not lying! I know there's this whole stereotype about club hosts, but Tsukasa's not like that! He's really gentle and honest... He even calls me 'princess' because I'm so special to him. I'm the only one he calls that, too." "Princess, huh?," Akira said, "I've heard plenty of cases where girls who were victims of assault or abuse were called such nice things by their attackers... Before the incident occurred."

"Plenty of con artists do it to," Makoto agreed, "They lure in young, vulnerable girls, calling them generic nicknames that sound nice. That way they don't have to remember names." "Don't accuse him of any of that stuff!," Eiko said, "You don't even have any proof!" "You're right, I don't," Makoto admitted, "But you have no proof to the contrary. Tell me, did you ask anyone at the club about the bottle?"

Eiko looked down. "Well... No... But he said I shouldn't tell the club members about it, because he's too proud to have me go crying to his boss!" Akira shook his head. "That just sounds like a lame excuse. He's taking advantage of your feelings so that you won't find out whether the bottle was really broken." Eiko looked saddened, then turned her head towards Makoto with tears in her eyes. "Makoto, please... All my other friends are too busy with their school work to help me... And I don't want to risk my parents finding out..."

"Eiko, I'm sorry," Makoto said, "But Tsukasa's story just doesn't add up. Honestly, the more I hear, the more scared I get that he might drag you into some suspicious line of work." "Well... He did get me a job," Eiko admitted, "But I wouldn't call it weird. I'm just serving drinks right now to help pay off the bottle. He said I can be number one in no time. I may just keep doing it after I graduate. It's not like I plan on getting into college."

Makoto sighed. "Eiko... Now I really am starting to wonder about you. I used to envy the way you live. You acted like you knew how to live for yourself. But now it feels like you don't have any direction in your life, and you wind up clinging to the first thing you think will help. Meanwhile I always felt like I was being pushed along by other people, but now I understand how to make my own choices."

Eiko looked sad. "I see... Sorry to spring this on you. I'll make up the money somehow..." "Before you leave," Makoto said, "Remember how you gave Tsukasa my contact info? He's been texting me constantly after that, and he recently asked if my sister and I live alone. He also asked me if I'm serious with my boyfriend. Are you still sure that he's serious about you?"

Eiko looked hesitant, but said, "Maybe he's just worried about my friends? Look, I need to get going. Thanks for talking with me..." She left after that, and Makoto sighed. "She acts like Tsukasa is all she has. Maybe he is... But that just increases my concern. She's just the sort of girl those gangs in Shinjuku would target. Eiko's family is well off, but she's often out-shined by her younger brother. That may be why she fell for Tsukasa in the first place, because he treated her as special."

"She's too naive," Akira noted, "I'm not the sort who would ask Ann for money." "I doubt any boyfriend would do that sort of thing," Makoto said, "At least not normally. Eiko needs to realize this. You up to helping me?" "Absolutely," Akira replied, "We'll help her get out of this mess." "Thank you," Makoto said, "I really feel sorry for her. She takes what she has for granted. Kinda like how I used to be. But I've grown to the point where I can see more of the world, and I want her to be able to do the same." Sensing Makoto's conviction, Akira felt their bond grow stronger.

Priestess Rank 8-Endure unlocked

"I think the first thing we should is find out more about Tsukasa," Makoto suggested, "He's most likely well-known around Shinjuku. Some of the other club hosts might know about him." "Planning to get that evidence, huh?," Akira said, "But how will we get Eiko to understand it." "Leave that to me," Makoto said, "Right now we've got other issues. Tomorrow is when we put our other plans into motion."


November 18

The group was gathered in Leblanc, Sojiro having reserved the entire cafe for their plans. "I have the police force ready at any time," Kyoko said, "If my theory is correct, using all our apps at once should create a rift big enough to bring the entire squad into the Metaverse." "Let me just clarify one thing," Akira said, "We're agreeing that Akechi is the one known as Crow?" Kyoko nodded. "He thought he was clever at hiding it, but his behavior after both Raiga's and Okumura's confession leave me with little doubt."

"We kinda figured it might be him after he made a comment that made it clear he could understand me," Morgana noted, "Not to mention Haru's description of Crow out of his Metaverse outfit helped put the pieces together. Tell me, did Akechi have any mysterious scars?" Kyoko nodded. "He had several bullet wounds, which he passed off as a gang retaliation. I'm guessing it was really one of you?" Nana sipped her coffee. "Guilty."

Kyoko chuckled. "Anyway, I have the time slot for the calling card. By now Akechi has likely caught on to the patterns in your psychological warfare, so he'll rush right in. I'd say we have at least an hour to obtain the Treasure." "That shouldn't be a problem," Akira said, "And since we have the Palace and the surrounding area mapped out, I have a good idea of how to make my escape. I'll be sure to let you know when Crow gets nested." The group nodded.


That evening, Kyoko visited Sae at the office as she was getting ready to leave. "This is the moment of truth," Kyoko said, "The Phantoms are ready to make their move, we're ready to make ours. If all goes well, we'll have Crow in custody by this time tomorrow." "Good," Sae said, "I'm eager to put this case behind me." "One thing," Kyoko said, "Joker wanted me to give you this." She handed Sae a diary. "This is the diary Joker kept ever since he came to Tokyo," Kyoko explained, "It should help give you a clearer perspective. Make sure no one else reads it." Sae nodded.


November 19

Akechi walked into Ishida's office. "So," he said, "Tomorrow you make your move on the Phantoms. I'd have expected them to retaliate by now." "Yes, I'm a little surprised," Ishida replied, "I guess we'll never know just what Kirigiri and Niijima were planning." Just then, the TV he was watching went to white noise, before revealing the Phantoms' logo. "Speak of the devil...," Akechi muttered.

'Greetings people of Japan,' came Joker's voice as his silhouette appeared on the screen, 'For those of you glued to the news feeds, you'll know that apparently we're being blamed for the rash of mental shutdown cases that have been going on for the past year. The justification? Okumura's vagueness in regards to a conspiracy hiding in Japan's dark underbelly. While we're certain those of you who choose to believe in us don't buy a word of it, let me give the rest of you my assurance that I and my Phantoms are not the culprits. Who is, you may then ask? For now we have no answers, but we hope to get them with our next caper.'

'To Sosuke Ishida,' Church came in, 'The gambling director of envy. The director of the SIU has been forging evidence for his cases in order to climb his way to the top of the heap.' Ishida looked shocked. "How did they figure that out?" 'Probably the same way I did,' Akechi thought, 'By speaking with Shadow Ishida.' 'Because of this guy,' Skull said, 'Hundreds if not thousands of people get a straight up conviction, their only trial being either a farce or a formality.'

'With who knows how many innocent people going to prison in place of the true criminals,' Noir chimed in. 'He doesn't even care if they're guilty or innocent,' came Queen's voice, 'Just that his unit wins in the end. And he has all but one prosecutor in his pocket to ensure his victories.' "Are they talking about Niijima?," Akechi asked. "I think so," Ishida replied.

'For the sake of returning justice to the righteous side of the police force,' Fox said, 'We will make Ishida confess his crimes with his own mouth.' 'Be ready ready for us tomorrow and no later,' Joker said. 'Because no one escapes the Phantoms!,' came the unanimous declaration. The video then cut off. Ishida growled, and Akechi saw the world go to black, the familiar sight of Shadow Ishida appearing. "If that's how they want to play it, then the game is off!"

Once the world returned to normal, Akechi spoke up. "They'll be attacking soon," he noted, "I just wish we had more time to prepare." Ishida nodded grimly. "Can you take care of this?" "It'll take some time," Akechi noted, "They seem to be able to zip through the Palaces, while I'm stuck taking the slow route. But I'll move as fast as I can." Ishida nodded. "Best hurry. I'm not losing here when we're so close to victory."


Meanwhile, Rider and the Phantoms had already entered the Palace, hurrying for the Manager's Floor. Once they reached it, the Treasure was already gone. "That's twice now," Mona said, "And I can't track it when it's materialized." "I can," Oracle said, "It's up there, behind that vault door." Said door had a vague roulette wheel design, though the wheel itself was missing since the door was open.

Right behind the door was an elevator leading up. The room it reached looked like a giant roulette wheel, with Ishida standing in the center. "You certainly have come a long way," Ishida admitted, "A shame the game has to end here. But I'm willing to play for a little bit longer, if only to stall until Crow gets here. Then, he'll either kill you... Or me. Either way, my boss will finally be able to put an end to you."

The Phantoms raised their weapons, but Ishida just raised a hand. "Attack me if you want, but fair warning. If you attack while the game is in motion, you'll have to be penalized. And the first round begins... Now." The roulette wheel started to spin. "I'm sure you're aware of how roulette works. Naturally we won't just be betting for money, but also items, energy... Even health. And, as I said, if you attack me while the wheel is spinning, you will incur a penality."

"He's not joking around," Oracle said, "As long as the wheel is spinning, his attack goes through the roof. Stay on guard until the wheel is ready to stop." A bright neon sign behind Ishida flashed that money was on the line this time. "I'm sure he'll cheat at this game just like he has all the others," Mona noted, "Keep on eye out and see if we can spot how the cheat works." The roulette ball started spinning along the track.

Joker nodded, and started with a smaller bet on the red squares. As the wheel stopped, at first it looked like the ball would land in a favorable pocket, but then inexplicably moved over to black pocket. "Looks like you lose this round," Ishida said with a chuckle. "Did you see that?," Joker said, "The ball seemed to float above the first pocket before it switched over. That means there's a glass lid over the pockets, save one that goes against our bet."

"Our best bet to stop this is to catch him in the act," Rider said, "We'll need someone to destroy that lid at the proper moment." "Think you can handle it, Queen?" Joker asked. "Leave it to me," Queen said as she snuck to the rim of the wheel. "Ready for round two?," Ishida said smugly. This time the bet was for hit points. Joker decided to try a larger bet on the third set of twelve. As the ball stopped at the desired pocket, Makoto fired off a shot, easily breaking the glass lid and allowing the ball to drop into the pocket.

Ishida gave a sharp cry as he was drained of health. "What... What just happened!?" He suddenly found himself surrounded on all sides. "We had a feeling you would cheat throughout this entire caper," Joker said, "But we waited until just now to call you out on it knowing we'd be wasting our breath otherwise." Ishida growled. "You think you can come in here to steal the core of my casino? The very vindication of all my work reaching my position?"

"It was never truly earned," Joker retorted, "A demon like you could never truly belong in an office taken with lies and deceit." Ishida growled as the usual liquid consumed him, before erupting into a new form. It looked rather like a clownish version of a judge, only as tall as a tree and missing his lower torso. "Accursed phantom thieves! I'll see you hung from the gallows!"

Comical as his berserk form was, it proved useless against the combined power of ten Persona users. "It's over Ishida," Joker said, pointing his gun, "We've stolen your envy." With a shot, Ishida was reduced back to his human form. "It's not fair...," he muttered, "All the power I had... I finally had a chance to pull ahead when Hiroto was killed..." Queen gasped. "My father...?," she whispered. "So you had rivalry with another law enforcement official," Joker said, "Hiroto you said?"

"Hiroto Niijima," Ishida confirmed, "Sae's father. No matter how hard I worked, I could never get ahead of him. Not to mention he was working closely with Fuhito Kirigiri. Then, as if by coincidence, a gang they had been targeting ordered a hit on him. When I heard he was killed, I used everything I could think of to finally pull ahead." "But what's the point?," Queen asked, "It was never a competition for Hiroto. And even if it was, it was over when he died. Really, all you've done is pervert his ideals."

"But you have a chance to make it right," Rider said, "You're only in this because Crow exposed your secrets to whoever your boss is. And right now is another target of ours. You've already confirmed he's in here. If you hold off on returning to your other self until we can catch him, then you can finally be free of that burden." Ishida thought for a moment. "Very well... It will be the first step in my atonement." "Good job Rider," Joker said, feeling his bond with Rider grow stronger thanks to her efforts.

Justice Rank 7-Harisen Recovery, Endure, and Protect unlocked

Just then, several alerts came up in the group's mask. "Magic time people!," Oracle said, "Everything's in place, and I've just identified Crow approaching the Palace! Joker, the Treasure is under the sign." Joker went and grabbed the Treasure, a metal briefcase. Then he rushed off and down the elevator. "Here's hoping he makes it," Rider said, "I can't predict how the police will make their move past this point."


Several people were enjoying the various games at the casino, though the ones that lost looked particularly grim. Suddenly, an alarm sounded throughout the casino, causing confusion among the crowd. Just above them, a few people spotted Joker perched on the chandeliers. As he made his way across the chandeliers and other ceiling decorations, Oracle spoke to him through his mask. 'Okay Joker. This is your chance to escape. Just get to the rendezvous point and we'll retrieve the briefcase on our end.'

For a second there was some other kind of voice, coming in rather garbled, but it faded quickly. Joker continued across the skyways until he reached a large balcony on the second floor of the casino. A few guards were quick to intercept him. They quickly morphed into their Shadow forms. Joker grinned and leapt onto the nearest guard, ripping off his mask and revealing a new form.

It had a serpentine body that stood upright on two mechanical legs. The tail seemed rather mechanical as well. It's upper body resembled a minotaur, the hands grasping two handles on the hips, as if using them for support. Around its neck was a cravat and a rather high collar. Arsene laughed inside his head. "Fate has taken an interesting turn. Though still destined to dwell in darkness, you are soon to savor the sweetness of victory." Joker grinned as he stared down the Shadow. "You won't be hard to deal with." He pulled out his gun and fired off a few shots to distract the monster before effortlessly slashing its torso with his knife.

The creature went down quick, and Joker took the opening he created to leap to a higher balcony, evading more guards as he did. Running down a maintenance hall, Joker spotted a guard near a staircase. The guard's back was turned to him, so Joker took the chance to hide in the shadows. "Are you sure the intruder came this way?," the guard asked into his service radio, "I can't see anything. All right, I'll keep looking." The guard moved away, and Joker took the chance to move up the stairs. Several guards spotted him and tried to follow as Joker reached the top floor of the casino.

'You're almost there,' Oracle said, 'Your exit is right ahead of you.' Joker looked and spotted the stained glass window that was the drawing point of the casino. "I see it." Just then, several guards appeared behind him. "Don't move! You have nowhere left to run!" Joker grinned. "If you think that, then you clearly have no imagination." To the guards' shock, Joker leapt onto the banister and ran across it until he reached the window. Smiling at the dumbfounded guards, he quipped, "See ya." And with that, he dove out the window.

Right outside, the squad of police Rider gathered was there, making the usual commands as Joker surveyed the situation. Spotting a nearby emergency ladder, Joker ran for it, easily leaping to grab it. To his luck, the police had not thought to station anyone there. However, once he reached the roof, he heard someone call out, "JOKER!" Joker grinned as he spotted Crow leap from the top of the Casino to confront him.

"Somehow I knew if we pulled this job you'd show yourself," Joker said smugly, "Church sends her regards. She really missed you." "No she didn't," Crow said, fingering the scar on his cheek, "She got me good." Joker shrugged. "As much as I'd love to tangle with you, one of us has a date with the police down there. And since I have a job to finish..." And with that, Joker caught Crow off-guard with a body tackle, sending him plummeting to the ground where the police were able to apprehend him. The captain in charge sighed in resignation as Joker disappeared from the roof.

"Well," he said, "There goes what may be our one chance to apprehend the Phantoms." He knelt down to see where Crow had fallen. "But true to their MO, they left us a bigger fish to fry. You might be interested to know they were on to you for a while now. The Director's not their only target here." Crow growled as he was cuffed and led into a squad car. Once the police cleared out, Joker emerged from the alley. "Crow's been nested. Time to finish this job." He smiled as he headed off to meet with his team in front of the casino.

Ishida must have just returned to his other self, because the casino was already dissolving, giving way to the familiar sight of the courthouse. "It all went as planned," Mona said, "And now Crow's in custody. Our only concern is if his boss has the pull to somehow bust him out." "We'll get a big clue to their identity if they do," Rider noted, "Let's get back to reality. This should put an end to the Phantoms investigation."


November 20

Sae walked through the hallways of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, a diary in one hand and a briefcase in the other. As she reached a room where several plain-clothes officers were standing, one of them noticed her. "Ah Niijima-san. You're just in time. The Director's last order before he was retired and arrested, was that you were to be given as much time as needed to question the prisoner." Sae nodded. "Yes, I must admit it was a surprise to learn who was behind the mental shutdowns, but it does fit in with Kyoko Kirigiri's investigations."

The officer nodded. "The only sour note in this is that the Phantoms escaped. Another successful heist from them, and the public is cheering in anticipation of their next big heist." Sae chuckled. "The only reason the department is still investigating them is because they're an embarrassment to the police, having caught criminals we didn't even know about. Or perhaps, it's boredom from having little else to do in the wake of the peace their actions bring?" The officer coughed uncomfortably as he rubbed the back of his head. "I... Can't really deny either of those."

He then noticed the diary. "Is that the diary sent to us by the Phantoms' leader?" "Yes it is," Sae noted, "It's meant to tie up any remaining loose ends, as well as detail how our Black Mask Killer pulled off his crimes. Don't go getting any ideas. I have Joker's confidence that only I will get to read it." "Understood," the officer said, "The suspect's ready when you are." Sae nodded and entered the room.


Meanwhile, at Leblanc, Akira and the others were waiting for word of when Sae would complete her interview of Akechi. "Y'know," Akira said to Nana, "I can't help but think it might have been better that you didn't wind up in Hope's Peak Academy." "Funny enough, I was thinking the same thing," Nana said, "Who knows what might have happened if I hadn't been there to cripple Akechi, preventing him from killing Haru's father."

She smiled. "This entire time I was wondering what it might be like if I was at Hope's Peak... But maybe I wasn't meant to be there at all. Naegi was a Kamen Rider before he was sent there, so he's perfect to protect it from those Despair creatures. But now I know, without a doubt, that my place is here in Tokyo, with the Phantoms. That I will never doubt." Akira smiled, feeling his bond with Nana solidify.

I am thou, thou art I...

Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath

Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion

And break the yoke of thy heart

Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret

Of the Judgement, granting thee infinite power...

Judgement Rank 10-Second Awakening unlocked

Nana felt a surge of power awaken within her. Deep inside her soul, Sabetha transformed. In a flash, she changed into a violet-skinned woman with bright green hair, wearing Athenian armor and carrying a two-handed sword, splendid eagle wings sprouting from her back. This was Persephone, Nana's true Persona. Nana grinned as she felt the new power. "I think I just took a level in badass. And I'll be sure to use this power to finish our fight."


"I believe that wraps things up nicely," Sae said to Akechi, "If your boss decides to throw you under a bus, that would be best. But rest assured that wether he does or not, I've no doubt the Phantoms will find him. You're probably better off accepting your judgement." She checked her watch. "Well, it's getting rather late. I'm sure me and Kyoko will have more to speak to you about in the coming days, so you'd best get comfortable." And with that, she left. Akechi waited until she left, then smiled as the bailiff approached him with a familiar cell phone.


Kyoko soon arrived at Leblanc. "We'll know soon enough how Akechi's boss reacts to his arrest," she said. "Somehow I don't think he'll stay locked up," Makoto noted, "Somehow whoever his boss is will find a way to spring him, even if they have to do it illegally." Kyoko nodded. "Akira, here's your journal back. Sae made sure it never left her possession until it was returned to me." "Thanks Kyoko," Akira said. The fact that Kyoko kept her promise helped strengthen her bond with Akira.

Justice Rank 8

"I'll be sure to keep you up to speed should anything else happen," Kyoko said, "But for now I'd like to check in with my other team. Dark and her cohorts have been unusually quiet as of late, and that worries me." "Good luck out there," Futaba said as Kyoko left. "So," Yusuke said, "Now it's a waiting game. It will likely take a few days to discover our next target." "People are looking forward to it," Ryuji said, "Our popularity has jumped to close to eighty percent. I'd say one more job might just bring us close to a full one-hundred."


November 21

Sae joined the group the following evening at Leblanc. As they got their coffee, Sojiro was the first to speak up. "So, Akechi was the one behind the mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns all along." Sae nodded. "He pretended to solve those cases in order to become famous. He might have been able to continue doing so unopposed, if he hadn't touted himself as the second Detective Prince."

"That brought me into the picture," Kyoko said, "Naoto Shirogane, the original Detective Prince, has been equal parts rival and inspiration to me. To see someone so casually claim her moniker irked me, so I decided to measure up Akechi. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed." "How did you figure it out so easily?," Sojiro asked. Morgana, who was using his translator, spoke up. "It was during the field trip to the TV station. During our downtime, I said that I wanted to go see Dome Town, which I described as a 'pancake-looking place'."

"It was after that we met Akechi," Akira said, "And he casually mentioned one of us was talking about pancakes. At the time, Morgana's translator didn't exist. Without it, you'd need to hear him talking in the Metaverse to understand him in reality." "He must have heard it while you were in Madarame's Palace," Sae noted, "Akechi didn't know a thing about Kamoshida's Palace." "What about you, Kyoko?," Sojiro asked. "I figured it out when he was hospitalized for multiple bullet wounds," Kyoko noted, "He played it off as a gang retaliation for interrupting an extortion racket, but his injuries, while debilitating, were not life-threatening in spite of their location."

"Meaning he had to have gotten them while in the Metaverse," Makoto noted. Kyoko nodded. "That reminds me," Akira said, "You never explained what you found in Junko Enoshima's Palace." "There was no Palace," Kyoko said, "Just a vague presence in the Metaverse version of Hope's Peak Academy. There, her Shadow was trapped by something strange, so bizarre I couldn't fully grasp what it was. But from the way her Shadow talked, she's not the Despair-loving monster I thought she was."

"That reminds me why I came here," Sae said, "Yesterday evening, there was a report that Akechi escaped. Seems the guard sent to look after him was on his payroll. He was found dead, and Akechi was gone. Security cameras reveal that Akechi was handed his cell phone, which the guard somehow had, then vanished." "He used the Metaverse to escape," Morgana noted, "We'll likely face him for good in our next Palace."


Akechi entered the office of his boss, Masayoshi Shido. "I hope you understand the effort I had to go through to free you," Shido said curtly, "You're still quite valuable to me. Unfortunately, it seems you'll have to operate in secret from now on." "I'm surprised you still need my help this close to elections," Akechi admitted. Shido smiled. "Who says you won't still be needed once my reign is established? After all, there will always be those who oppose me. Even I am not so blinded by pride to see that."

He clasped his hands together. "Still, it's a good things it is so close to elections. Thanks to those Phantoms, we've lost our connection to the school system, our funding, our partnership with Foundation X, and our control over the police. Only my becoming prime minister can rectify these losses now. And once I do, we will have the power to erase these Phantoms once and for all. They have run roughshod over my plans for far too long."


"Wait," Ryuji said, "You mean you have a good idea who Akechi's boss is?" Kyoko nodded. "Akechi was so eager to escape that he made a slip-up. The security feed included audio. Just after disposing of the guard, Akechi made a call confirming he was making his escape. He called the person on the other end 'Shido-san'." "I've heard that name a number of times," Akira noted, "He's a major figure in the political world." Sojiro rubbed his chin. "Masayoshi Shido... He has been the most vocal anti-Phantom voice as of late."

"It makes that he's the mastermind behind these events," Sae noted, "He would profit the most from the mental shutdowns due to his political career, to say nothing of the damage to the current administration done by the psychotic breakdowns. And while his popularity has been dipping as of late, it's a slow crawl. People only dislike that he's maintaining a negative stance on the Phantoms and taking everything they do out of context. Plus, if he wins the next election, he stands to become the next prime minister."

"If that happens," Yusuke said, "He could undo all our hard work trying to repair society. It's most likely why he tried to set us up as the perpetrators of the mental shutdowns." "We got a taste of what he's really like," Ryuji said, "Back at the Wilton. I remember him as the guy who cut ahead of me and Akira at the elevator." Akira nodded. "And ever since, I've gotten the nagging feeling I've heard his voice somewhere before..."


That night, Akira was in the Velvet Room again. Ishida was in another cell, and another lock had been removed. "Now this is perhaps the biggest turn yet," Igor noted, "And Akechi became imprisoned, if only for a time, while you walked free. And now the demon of envy has been captured. Only one remains. And this one is the most important of them all, to you at least." "How do you mean?," Akira asked. "He is connected to the beginning of it all," Igor explained, "The very reason you are in this situation in the first place. You'll understand shortly..."


November 22

Inside Shido's office, Akechi was grumbling. "It's disgraceful, really. I can't believe I underestimated those Phantoms. One tiny slip-up... That's how they got suspicious of me. If anyone ever found out I was discovered because of pancakes of all things..." "It is highly amusing," Shido admitted, "But also a reminder that we have let hubris get the better of us. Over the last two years we've gone so long without being discovered that we let our guards down. It's only a matter of time before they come for me."

"It won't be that easy," Akechi said, "They can't just warp into someone's Palace the way I can. They have their own checks and balances like me. I just need to say someone's name and I can find them easily in the Metaverse, but at the same time I must always take the long way through each Palace. On the other hand, the Phantoms seem capable of warping quickly through key points in each Palace, but they need to specifically pinpoint a Palace ruler using their name, what they think of as their Palace, what form the Palace takes, and what sin they possess."

"My sin and the location of my Palace are easy enough to determine," Shido admitted, "But the form it takes? They would have to understand me in order for that to happen. I'll get in touch with our remaining partners. It's about time we finalize our plans in preparation for the elections." Akechi nodded. 'I'll need to time this carefully. I can't let those Phantoms get to him before I can.'


November 23

"Man," Ryuji said, "We still can't think of what Shido's Palace might be." The Phantoms had been discussing all manner of methods of finding out enough about Shido to discern what sort of form his Palace might take, but Kyoko was able to point out flaws in each of them. And he was so secretive in his daily life even she couldn't figure it out. Akira then spotted Shido in person as he was driving by on his mobile platform.

When Akira got a good look, his eyes widened. "It's him...!" "Him who?," Morgana said. "They guy who gave me that false assault charge," Akira said, "I just now remembered his face." "So it was Shido who put you in this position in the first place," Yusuke said, "How ironic... He may actually have created his worst enemy." "Do you remember anything from that time?," Kyoko said, "Anything that might give us a clue as to the form of his Palace." Akira thought for a moment. "Give me some time. I might be able to think of something."


November 24

"So," Kyoko said, "Did you come up with anything?" "I think so," Akira said, "During one point when I was confronting Shido while he was harassing that woman, he said that people have to shut up and accept the direction he steers them in." "So," Ryuji said, "He thinks of the Diet Building as some kind of vehicle, with him at the wheel or helm." "It's got to be a ship," Akira said, "He always makes references to our country being like a ship during his speeches." Sure enough, the familiar transition occurred.


"Did it really work?," Rider said, "The scenery looks the same, and we're not even in our outfits yet." "But I'm transformed," Mona noted, "So we're definitely in the Metaverse." "The gate's open and the guards are gone," Skull said, "But maybe we should take a look around the entrance first, just to get our bearings." Oracle then looked behind them and gasped. "Guys look!" The group gasped when they saw open ocean. More specifically, they saw a flooded Japan, with the Diet Building alone standing atop a giant luxury liner.

"This is...," Rider muttered. "We've seen this phenomenon before," Joker said, "A Palace so vast that it transforms all the Metaverse around it. It was the same with Kaneshiro, Raiga, and Okumura." "It represent that they see themselves as so powerful," Mona explained, "That they can influence the world." "Yeah, but in Shido's case, he can back it up," Skull said, "If this is a country that children can be proud of, then Shido must touched in the head!"

"I'd imagine Akechi saw this as well," Fox noted, "Yet he still aided Shido." Joker's face grew stern. "We can't let Shido sink this country. Let's sink this liner instead." The Phantoms entered the main lobby, where their outfits manifested. Rider then took a look around. "Seems everyone here is wearing a mask. We may blend in easier." "It may represent Shido's mentality," Fox noted, "He sees them as people, but doesn't believe they show their real faces."

"He is still a politician," Queen said, "A politician who doesn't see people as people is doomed to failure. Even Shido understands this." The group walked up the grand staircase, only to be confronted by a Shadow. It immediately erupted to reveal a white lion with a reptilian tail. "Guess we're fighting," Noir said, "But is it really okay to do this in a crowded area?" In spite of Noir's fear, the guests just saw the fight as entertainment of some kind.

"They do not feel in danger despite the confrontation," Fox noted. "They think they're safe so long as they're on this ship," Rider explained, "You saw the devastation outside, yet there's not a sign of it in here." The lobby was mostly devoid of enemies, and soon the Phantoms reached another gathering room. "Hey," Mona said, "I can sense the Treasure right in front of us." He led the group to a large set of doors decorated with lion heads. Oracle took a quick scan. "There are five slots to stick in keycards."

Queen took a look at the door. "Apparently this leads to the Representatives Chamber." "You mean that large conference chamber you always see on the news?," Skull said, "It makes sense the Treasure would be in there. And I bet Shido's putting everyone through a meaningless vote where it's just him getting his way." "Which means it's just his supporters in there," Noir said, "So to get in, we need to make him think we support him."

"Shido's smart," Joker noted, "He won't fall for deception easily. Let's ask around the guest area and see if they know anyone who has a keycard. That might help us obtain one." Soon enough the Phantoms got some info about certain VIPs who could enter the chamber. First was a former nobleman that always hung out at the pool. Second was a "Mr. Ooe" who was at the restaurant. Third was a TV station president who hung out at the ship's casino.

Joker also found a map at a brochure kiosk. With it, they were able to locate a nearby Safe Room to discuss their findings. Interestingly, the Safe Room shifted to Leblanc. "Shido must know of the place but never visits," Mona noted. "Too much bad blood with Chief," Joker explained, "They haven't spoken since Wakaba's murder." "It's ironic," Rider said, "The Phantoms hideout is the safest place from him. So, what do we know about the VIPs?"

"We need to find each and obtain a letter of introduction," Skull said, "Then those letters should become the keycards we need to enter the chamber and secure the Treasure." "One of the VIPs is a politician named Ooe," Queen said, "He's always seen at the restaurant at night and sits near the window." "I didn't get a name," Panther said, "But I did overhear about a former nobleman who likes to frequent the pool area." "There's also the president of a TV company," Fox chimed in, "He seems to pass the time playing slots at the casino."

"I managed to get something too," Oracle said, "Remember the IT company president that helped Raiga? He's here too. Though he tends to keep himself confined to his room, entering only from an exclusive hallway." "I overheard something as well," Joker said, "There's been talk of a mysterious individual called the 'cleaner'. No word on where he hangs out, though he's definitely considered a VIP."

"That's all five, I think," Rider said, "The cleaner one is kinda vague. Now to the matter of dealing with them. If they're simply cognitions, we might be able to get away with just talking to them, tricking them into handing over their letters. But if they turn out to be Shadows, they'd be the same kind as the ones from the Mementos requests." "Ah, wouldn't it be great if that was the case?," Skull said, grinning, "We could change their hearts and erode Shido's power-base before dealing the finishing blow." "Either way," Mona said, "I think now's a good time to head back. We have the info we need, we just need to complete this job before the elections on December 18."


November 25

Akira joined Haru on the school rooftop. "I recently bought a mini roaster and coffee mill," Haru said, "I wanted to try making coffee for myself. I thought it might be fun." "Not easy is it?," Akira said, "I've become a master barista, but only through the Chief's careful guidance." Haru giggled. "It certainly isn't easy, but it is rewarding." She then seemed to stumble briefly. "Sorry, I felt dizzy for a second there..." "You okay?," Akira asked, "Maybe we should see the nurse."

Haru shook her head. "I fine, really. Okay, next we need the dirt for the planters..." Unfortunately, she didn't get two steps before starting to collapse, prompting Akira to catch her. "What was that you were saying about okay?" Haru sighed. "I think I need to take a little rest." Akira got one of the folding chairs for her to sit on. "Sorry about this," Haru said, "I haven't been getting much sleep. Takakura's been pushing for a new business venture. A chain of low-cost, intimate cafes."

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," Akira noted. "Maybe so," Haru said, "But some of the employees don't think so, and they've pushing for me to step in. But I'm just a high schooler, I can't predict how this venture will turn out..." She sighed. "I'm at a loss at what to do." Akira shrugged. "Well, what do you want to do?" Haru thought about it. "Well, the idea does sound nice, spreading the joy a fresh cup of coffee can bring. But I don't know if you can truly get that from a low-cost cafe chain."

"Maybe you should consider telling Takakura that," Akira said. Haru looked surprised. "I... Haven't considered that. All we've ever discussed was the business side of things." She stood up. "Maybe it is time I stop being afraid and just address the problem directly. I'll tell Takakura what I really feel, and what's really important to me." "That's the way to think, Haru," Akira said. Haru smiled. "Yeah, now I get it. If I refuse to trust someone, I lose any chance of having them trust me." Akira could sense Haru's resolve, and felt their bond grow stronger.

Empress Rank 7-Soil Improvement unlocked

Haru's eyes then it up. "And I think I know the perfect way to accomplish this!" Akira looked confused. "How?" Haru giggled. "I just thought a certain magic item that will help me convey my true feelings to Takakura. But it will take some time to prepare, so for now I'll keep it a secret. Don't worry though, I'll tell you about it next time." Akira nodded. Haru was definitely growing into the role of a phantom thief.


November 26

The next day, Haru and Akira were working on the planters. "So," Akira said, "What about that 'magic item' you mentioned?" "We're working on it right now," Haru said. Akira looked surprised. "You mean... The soil?" "Yes!," Haru said excitedly, "It's a special high quality mix I made using several different kinds of fertilizer. It's soft, warm, has good drainage, and is full of nutrients."

"Cool," Akira said, "But how does this count as magic?" "Well," Haru said, "I'm not really good at expressing myself with words. I never really had the practice, and the very thought of it makes my heart race... But I've been pouring my heart and soul into this soil for months, so it knows how I feel. That's why I'll be using it to grow coffee plants. And once they're ready, I'll use the beans from those plants to make coffee! It's taken a lot of effort to do this, but it won't be much longer now."

Akira nodded in understanding. "I see... You hoping all that hard work will come out in the coffee, then offer some to Takakura." "That's right," Haru replied, "I wonder what he'll think of it." "Well, I don't know how the taste will turn out," Akira admitted, "But I'm sure it will help him understand you a lot better." Haru smiled. "I feel the same way! It's the first time I've had any belief in anything."

She closed. "And... I'm not exactly opposed to his cafe idea. But at the same time, I can't support a management that will only deceive. After Father's arrest, opinions of Okumura Foods is at an all-time low, and I'm scared that this new chain might be more an attempt to sneak under the radar rather than rebuild our image." "Give them some credit," Akira said, "Speaking from experience, it can be hard to get rid of a negative label. Even after we dealt with Kamoshida, there were whispers about me having a violent disposition for another month."

"That's true," Haru admitted, "But fooling people with low-quality product instead of regaining their trust is not the way to go. If that's their intention, I'll oppose them every time." Akira smiled. "You sure are amazing, Haru. You've really grown since we first met." Haru smiled. "Well, I am supposed to be a heroine of justice, after all." She then stuck out her tongue in a playful manner. "Just kidding!" The two friends shared a laugh, as Akira felt their bond grow stronger.

Empress Rank 8-Endure unlocked

"By the way," Haru said, "I'd feel better if you were there when I speak to Takakura. I always find it easier to speak my mind when you're around." "That's fine," Akira said, "I just hope Takakura doesn't get the wrong idea." Haru giggled. "Don't worry about that. Now I need to get some of this soil back to my coffee plants at home. Mind helping me?" Akira nodded and they headed out.


That evening, Akira met Hifumi in Kanda. "So, I decided to quit the Ladies Professional Shogi Players' Association," Hifumi said, "And start over as an amateur." "I'm sure your kingdom will rise again," Akira said jokingly. Hifumi laughed. "Yes, such is my intention. Turns out my portrayal in the media was softened thanks to many people covering for me, saying I was just being used by adults. It's a nice sentiment, but the real culprit was my own overconfidence."

"How do you figure?," Akira asked. "I was unable to properly assess my own skills," Hifumi explained, "I believed that I could overcome being treated like an idol by using those skills. Thank you, for still being there even after learning what my mother. I know understand how encouraging that feels." "We're Phantoms," Akira declared, "We don't abandon those who need support."

Hifumi nodded. "I'm grateful for that. This all just started out as a simple deal to exchange shogi knowledge... But now you've become a good friend. From now on I won't pay attention to criticism. I'll earn everyone's praise... With my own skills!" "You'll have my support," Akira said, "And that of my friends." "And you have mine as well," Hifumi said, "Whenever you need it." Hearing those words, Akira felt their bond solidify.

I am thou, thou art I...

Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath

Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion

And break the yoke of thy heart

Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret

Of the Star, granting thee infinite power...

Star Confidant 10-Togo System unlocked

"I do wonder though," Hifumi said, "How exactly does my shogi help the Phantoms in the first place?" Akira grinned. "Let's just say finding new ways to move on the board gives us new ways to act in combat. We still have to fight in that world, or else our targets would overwhelm us due to a lack of battle experience." "I see," Hifumi said, "I guess that makes sense."


November 27

Akira and Nana were walking with Futaba around Akihabara. Futaba had insisted on trying to walk around by herself. "Think she'll be alright?," Nana asked, "Even natives like myself can get swept up around the stores here. Brotato frequently gets sidetracked looking for the latest anime memorabilia." "You worry too much," Futaba said as she approached, "Sorry for being late, by the way, I forgot to keep track of time." Akira chuckled. Futaba had wanted a half-hour to look around, but it had been forty-five minutes.

"If that's the only reason you're late, you're doing alright," Nana noted. Futaba grinned. "Yeah, I was having a lot of fun checking out all the electronics. Then I ran into this Lili Oumi fangirl. She grew very passionate and was especially proud of this Lili cosplay she did for a festival." Nana tapped her chin. "Did she happen to have light violet hair? Maybe with thin pigtails?" Futaba nodded, curious. Nana sighed. "That sounds like Shizuku..."

Futaba shrugged. "Anyway, it was the same Akihabara as before, but everything just looked so different to me. And not just here... It's like the whole is expanding! It seems like everyday I'm finding something new to experience. I thought I could find everything I ever wanted or needed online, and while I may still spend a lot of time there, I've come to realize how important it is to experience the real world, too. And I want to experience it even more now."

"You've definitely come far, Futaba," Akira said, "It's hard to believe you were such a shut-in before." "It kinda reminds of my own history," Nana said. Futaba smiled. "Oh, that reminds me. I recently got a text from Kana-chan. She managed to get a job at a convenience store. Sounds like she's just happy being a normal teenager. And she got some study guides with the money she made! Sounds like she plans to take the high school entrance exam!"

"She's really coming into her own," Akira noted, "You'd better not lose to her." "Oh, you can bet I'll be working my butt off to keep up," Futaba said, "As of now, Kana is my new rival! Oh yeah, that means I've officially completed my promise list. And it's because you two helped give me my life back. And now, I'll use that life to help the Phantoms however I can." Akira smiled as he felt his bond with Futaba solidify.

I am thou, thou art I...

Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath

Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion

And break the yoke of thy heart

Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret

Of the Hermit, granting thee infinite power...

Hermit Rank 10-Final Guard and Second Awakening unlocked

Deep inside her soul, Futaba could feel Necronomicon evolving. The Persona transformed into a giant sphere with flames around its circumference, digital lines visible across its surface. This was Futaba's true Persona, Prometheus. "I just felt my heart level up!," she noted, "It's like I've risen from the ashes of death!" Akira thought to himself. 'How long will it be before Arsene, too, evolves into a stronger form?'


Kaoru had visited his dad and Akira at the airsoft shop that evening. "I wanted to thank you for the other night," Kaoru said to Akira, "I learned a lot about myself, stuff I didn't know I wanted to know until that moment." Munehisa chuckled. "Intruding on a private family moment... Well, it's my fault for dragging you along. And it did turn out all right in the end." Kaoru laughed. "It was shocking to hear, but it's refreshing to learn why you took me in. I just wish you'd told me sooner, that way I wouldn't have been threatened."

Munehisa smiled. "I was scared of how it would change your life. Who your parents are and where you come from tends to stay with you for life. Thanks to my loser parents, I was bullied for much of my life. It's why I turned to the yakuza in the first place. But it's because of you that I found the strength to leave." "Well, I know one thing," Kaoru said, "Your not a loser, Dad. After all, you're a brilliant business owner." "Sounds like Kaoru won't lose his faith," Akira noted.

Munehisa nodded. "Yeah, and I couldn't be prouder. Sounds like in the end, I was just fighting my own demons, worrying about nothing... My own childhood was holding me back from understanding that I was learning from my own parents mistakes. Well, you certainly helped open my eyes, Akira." "It's fine Dad," Kaoru said, "What's past is past. But, Akira, why were you so eager to help my dad out? He told me how you were helping getting information on Tsuda-san."

Akira shrugged. "Guess it's just in my nature to help those who really need it." "Huh," Kaoru mused, "You sound just like the Phantoms. Fighting for the underdogs, helping the helpless... I know lots of people have their own opinions, but I've always thought the Phantoms were really cool." Munehisa looked at the clock. "Kaoru, we gotta get going before the supermarket closes up."

Kaoru freaked. "Oh crap, that's right! I'm in charge of tonight's dinner!" He quickly left the store. "I don't think he'd be ready to know one of his heroes is standing right in front of him," Munehisa noted, "Anyway, we should get closed up." And they started pulling down the shutters, Munehisa was thinking. "Y'know, at first I thought the Phantoms were just a passing fad. But you and your friends helped me when I really needed it. I guess you're more than just talk. If you ever need some backup, I'll be there for ya. Count on it." Akira smiled and nodded, feeling his bond with Munehisa solidify.

I am thou, thou art I...

Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath

Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion

And break the yoke of thy heart

Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret

Of the Hanged, granting thee infinite power...

Hanged Rank 10-Ace Customization unlocked

"There still one thing that confuses me," Munehisa said, "How can model guns be so useful to the Phantoms?" Akira smiled. "You remember the research file Kyoko shared with you? Your models are so realistic that Shadows can't tell the difference. And in the Metaverse, that means a model gun can act very real." Munehisa nodded. "Gotcha. And because it's a model to begin with you can dodge Japanese gun laws. Clever. I always knew you had guts, Akira." The two laughed as they finished closing up.


November 28

It was the first time Akira had set foot in Okumura Foods in the real world, yet here he was sitting next to Haru as she presented her coffee to Takakura. He was a little surprised that it was hand-crafted, but the flavor seemed to agree with him. "So, what is it you wanted to discuss with me?" "Simply put," Haru said, "I have found it difficult to trust anyone in the company after Father's arrest. You included."

Takakura looked off-put. "Rather cruel of you to say, but I can understand." Haru nodded. "I'm sorry to have to say that. So, what do you think of the coffee? The beans were grown in my own garden, and I even handled the preparation. I put all my heart into making it, hence the reason why I asked to meet you here, Takakura-san. I'm not suggesting that we need to put this level of effort into the Okumura Foods coffee chain, or put a halt to your plan. But I won't let this company, my company, serve low-quality food to the public."

Takakura smiled. "You know, I just remembered why this flavor is so familiar. It reminds me of the coffee your grandfather used to make." Haru looked surprised. "Truly?" "Yes," Takakura said, "I used to be a regular at his cafe, that's how I joined the company in the first place. I was strongly opposed to closing the cafe, but I wasn't in any position to oppose the decision. I wanted to name the new chain after that old cafe to make up for it. My dream is to create a cafe that is just as loved by the community, and its employees, as his was."

Now Haru was really surprised. "Is... That so...?" "I know you have every reason to distrust us," Takakura said, "I always wish someone had stood up to your father sooner, things might be much different. But I can sense your true emotions through this coffee. You really do take after your grandfather." Haru looked saddened. "I'm sorry I was so rude to you." Takakura nodded. "I must apologize as well. I never explained why I was pushing you to sell of your shares of the company. The truth is, I was afraid they'd be too big a burden for you. But it seems I may have been wrong."

He smiled. "If you feel you're up to it, why not take part in the next company meeting?" "Me?," Haru said, "Are you sure?" "Yes," Takakura said, "I have been aware of the rumors that Kunikazu's arrest pleased me. I certainly believe he'd find perspective in prison, but I was never glad that he had to be arrested. I feared that the company might collapse before he could be released, since many supports of his actions are opposed to me trying to restore Okumura Foods to its former glory."

"So you never agreed with the way Okumura was doing things, then," Akira surmised. Takakura nodded. "Yes... I felt that Okumura's ambitions would ruin the company in the long term. Since his arrest, I've spent a great deal of effort pushing against the board of directors to return the company to the right path. Thanks to you, Haru, I now know that it's possible to communicate what I need to. And I'd like your help rebuilding this company from the ground up."

Haru smiled. "I see. In that case, I will gladly assist!" "Thank you," Takakura said, "I'm sure your grandfather would be proud, and I know your father will be when he hears. By the way, the coffee was just superb. Oh yes, I almost forgot. I recently learned about Sugimura and his deceptions. And it seems, he was under the impression that your father had been killed." "Yes, that really confuses me," Haru noted, "Surely the media has mentioned that Father was in prison."

"Actually, I know part of the reason," Takakura said, "It seems he doesn't truly trust the media, and never watches news beyond what's shown on the city jumbo-trons, and never touches a newspaper. Someone must have fed him a lie that Okumura had been killed somehow and he completely bought it. Okumura wasn't mentioned in the media after his press conference, after all. I'm sorry for pushing you to get married to him, but I wanted you to have some support for the company. But perhaps it's better that you choose your life partner for yourself."

"Indeed," Haru said, "I lost interest in Sugimura when I learned how controlling he was. But it wasn't until I met Akira and his friends that I decided to break away from that control under my own power. From now on, I'll control my own destiny." Takakura smiled. "You've certainly grown into a strong woman, Haru. I wish I could have noticed it sooner." "There's one thing on my mind," Akira said, "How did Sugimura spread the falsehood of the fake contract so easily?"

"I imagine he had help from certain people in the company," Takakura suggested, "He's been invited to plenty of meetings by those who are opposed to me. At first I thought nothing of it, but when it was clear that Haru had no interest in marrying him I began to question it. I suspect they may have been hoping that he'd take over the company by marrying Haru. But we don't need a politician in this company, not with our humble roots." "It's too bad for him I was able to talk to Father about it," Haru said, "That's how I learned early that the contract was fake."

After Takakura finished enjoying his coffee, he headed for his home. "This turned out to be a huge success," Haru said, "I was able to get my feelings through to Takakura-san. And he understood them. I was far simpler that I thought it would be. Thank you for being here to help me." "You did amazing there," Akira said, "I could definitely feel your strength." Haru giggled. "You think so? I certainly felt confidant when addressing Takakura. But it's because of you that I decided to reach out in the first place, so again, thank you." Akira smiled as he felt their bond grow stronger.

Empress Rank 9-Protect unlocked

"Maybe I will find the right guy someday," Haru said, "But they'll have to be pretty special, considering what I've been through with Sugimura." She sighed. "It's too bad all the guys in our group are taken... Though if Mona-chan could become human..." She shook her head. "Well, I shouldn't think about that right now. We still have other things to deal with."


November 29

Makoto and Akira were walking around Shinjuku, hoping to get info regarding Tsukasa. As it happened, one irritated promotor knew the guy, and his trick with the sake bottle. According to him, Tsukasa was notorious around Shinjuku for wrecking people's lives, including an old friend of the promoter. Now satisfied, Makoto brought Akira to where Eiko's work was, waiting for her shift to finish.

Eiko was a little surprised to see Makoto. "What's up...?," she asked, a little sullen. "Did you know your boyfriend is infamous around here?," Makoto asked, "A few people we talked to told us about his sake bottle trick. Turns out, you're not the first he's pulled it on." Eiko sighed. "Look Makoto, I get that you want to help, but this isn't enough for me to doubt him. And right now I have a date with him, so..." "It's fine," Makoto said, "I figured this alone wouldn't be enough. Actually, Tsukasa should be stopping by any minute."

Eiko looked confused, until Tsukasa walked up, saying, "Hey babe. Did I keep you waiting? I know I'm a bit late after seeing your text, but..." "Text?," Eiko said, "I never sent you a text." Tsukasa looked confused, then saw Makoto and Akira. "Oh, it's you two. How's it going?" "Don't dodge the issue!," Eiko yelled, "Look, these two have been saying some rather disturbing things about you. And up until now, I've had no reason to believe any of it. But now you say I texted you when I know for a fact I didn't. My phone even says as much."

"Huh?," Tsukasa said, "Look, I know have something of a bad rep in this neighborhood, bust honestly, princess-" "Wait a moment," Eiko said, "That's another thing. For a while now all you've called me is princess. At first I believed you when you said it's because I'm special. But I want to confirm something. What's my real name?" Makoto and Akira couldn't help but smile at each other as Tsukasa became tongue-tied. "Come on now, of course I remember... Makoto."

At that moment, Eiko slapped Tsukasa hard. "Moron! That's HER name!" She pointed at Makoto, making Tsukasa flabbergasted. "You stuck your own foot in your mouth," Makoto said, "I needed a way to make Eiko understand. I was the one who sent you that text, making it sound as much like Eiko as possible, but using my name. Even after Eiko said she never sent the text, I'm betting my name stood out as the last real name you could remember."

Eiko was shaking with rage. "Everything Makoto said about you is true, isn't it!? The whole time you were just using me! Well, consider us over, you bastard!" She stormed off, saying, "I thought you were the only who cared... Guess I didn't realize how much my real friends cared about me..." Once she was gone, Akira spoke up. "I think she got the message." Tsukasa growled. "Damn you, bitch! Do you know what you just lost me!?"

"Quite a bit, I'd imagine," Makoto said, "But when evil like you preys on my friends, I need to step up." Tsukasa scoffed. "You think I won't retaliate for this?" He then got shocked by Akira stepping up to him. "And what do you think you can do against the two of us? We've faced much tougher than you in our lives." "He's right," Makoto said, "I come from a long line of police officers, and know quite a bit about self-defence. And Akira is a strong fighter in his own right. So, what experience do you have?"

Tsukasa gulped, indicating his only experience was against those that couldn't defend themselves. He quickly ran off, getting the attention of a few passerby. "I think we should relocate," Akira said, "We caused quite a scene with that display." Makoto nodded. They soon reached the Crossroads Bar, and Lala was willing to let them stay there until the storm passed.

"I'm glad Eiko understood," Makoto said, "She really laid into him, didn't she?" "I'm surprised she up and smacked him," Akira noted, "I could still see the imprint." "He's clearly not used to people fighting back against him," Makoto said with a nod, "By the way, thanks for stepping in back there." She then looked around. "This place is... Interesting."

"This is where I always meet Ichiko," Akira explained, "The owner knows me enough to allow me in whenever, so long as I stay away from the booze. I've even worked a few shifts." "You certainly know a lot about this city," Makoto noted, "It's hard to believe you've only been here less than a year. Y'know, spending time with you and Eiko has given me a lot to think about. There's so much you can miss when you've got your nose stuck in a book. It makes me realize how little I truly know about the world."

She closed her eyes. "I remember Eiko once told me I would flunk a test about love. But that's not something I know how to study for." "It's not really something you can study," Akira said, "Me and Ann... We just kinda happened. There's likely someone out there for you, too. You'll know when the time is right." "I hope so," Makoto said, "I'd hate to be led astray like Eiko almost was. But thanks... For the encouragement." Akira nodded, feeling his bond with Makoto grow stronger.

Priestess Rank 9-Protect unlocked

"You kids almost finished talking?," Lala asked as she walked over, "It's almost time to open the bar." "Oh, sorry," Makoto said, "We didn't need to take up so much of your time." "It's alright, sweetheart," Lala said reassuringly, "Any friend of Akira's is welcome here in my opinion. And that fresh drama of yours reminds me of when I was a girl." "Well, we got other plans to make," Akira said, "Thanks for letting us stay here, Lala." Lala nodded. "My pleasure. Feel free to ask for help anytime."

To be continued...

This story is almost finished. Observant readers will note that I added and altered the prologue where appropriate. Hey, they did it in Persona 5, so I can do it too. Also, Nana's true Persona being Persephone ties into the theme of the ultimate Personas having ties to underworld stories, and in particular a version of the tale of Hades and Persephone where the latter wanted to go with Hades due to her overbearing mother, much like how Nana jumped at the chance to join the Phantoms. Now, I have had plenty of time to think about how I'll be ending this story in relation to Anything OOO, and I'll be mentioning some of what I decided in the next chapter. Read and review.