Chapter 2: Shadows
Ren had just arrived at the Hospital along with Sojiro and Futaba asking for the room that Ryuji was in as Ren was starting to look nervous and worried at the same time.
"Well it appears that all of Mr. Sakamoto's friends are all in his room but the boy has yet to regain consciousness but you can go in and see him for yourself." A Nurse said as she lead Sojiro, Ren, and Futaba to Ryuji's room and saw Ryuji wearing a hospital gown and covered in bandages as Ren would also notice the rest of his Phantom Thieves Comrades who were not too happy to see him.
"Hey you guys." Ren said to Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, and Haru but all they did was exchange glares at him as Futaba waved at them and they all were happy to greet her.
"Hey you guys, i'm guessing all of you are mad at Ren, huh?" Futaba asked she had long orange hair and wore glasses and was wearing a t shirt with a Tetris logo on it, green cargo pants, and black shoes.
"Hey Futaba, I see you brought that heartless jerk Ren with you." Ann said as Ren took a breath knowing his friends are all upset with him over his treatment of Ryuji.
"Guys I came here to see Ryuji." Ren said as Yusuke looked at Ren's direction with a look of disdain.
"Really Ren, you acted like you didn't want to see him, what kind of best friend are you, are you going to tell me how much you hate me, because if you did know that I would not hesitate to punch you in the face." Yusuke said as he was wearing a midnight blue t-shirt, dark pants, and brown shoes.
"Yusuke I don't hate you at all, and I don't hate Ryuji; I would never hate my best friend." Ren said as Makoto appeared and kicked Ren hard in the leg. "OWWWWWW!"
"As Student Council President I must say that I am absolutely sickened by the sight of you Ren Amamiya, to think you would say such awful things about the first friend you ever made when you transferred to this academy after you got put on Prohibation, you know I could report you to the Police and say you caused Ryuji to get assaulted by those thugs and you weren't there to help him; if it was you in that situation Ryuji would have been right there beside you." Makoto said as she wore a pink short sleeved top, a plaid shirt, black leggings and shoes.
"Guys I made a mistake, I've been feeling stressed and I lashed out at Ryuji, I just came down here to apologize to him and get back at those thugs who injured him." Ren said as Ann just glared at Ren.
"We're all going to Mementos without you, you really hurt Ryuji and if there's anyone who can take down these lowlives thugs is the six of us Futaba, Morgana, are you coming with us?" Ann asked as Ren could not believe his friends are going into Mementos without him to help lead, all because of his treatment towards Ryuji.
"You guys can't go without me, besides Morgana can't turn into a car and none of you except me can drive." Ren said as Makato picked up Morgana.
"Morgana, I can drive you much better than that jerk Ren." Makoto said as Morgana smiled at Makoto.
"You got to be kidding me, Morgana you are always insulting Ryuji." Ren said as Haru who was wearing a white dress, legging and pink shoes scoffed at Ren while petting Morgana.
"She may be but you were supposed to be his best friend not say mean things that hurt his feelings and got him sent here." Haru said as Ren was really starting to get upset.
"Guys I came here to apologize to Ryuji, can you guys please let me just apologize to him." Ren said as the others went silent for a moment before Ann began to speak.
"If you came here to apologize it had better be sincere and you better mean every word of it." Ann said as Ren went over to Ryuji's unconscious body and took his hand.
"Ryuji, i'm really sorry for everything I said to you and how I kept avoiding you and being a total jerk. I let whatever stress I have been going through cause me to lash out and I ended up hurting your feelings and I regret the things I said earlier when I called you a pain in the ass. I am the biggest pain in the ass their ever was. I'm sorry for everything and I just want to make things right and repair our friendship." Ren said as he fell to his knees and buried his face in Ryuji's chest but could still hear his heartbeat as a Doctor approached the group.
"You kids should go on home i'll let you all know if your friend regains consciousness." The Doctor said as the teens all left the Hospital and went back home. That night as Ren went to sleep he found himself in well sort of a strange dream, he normally finds himself entering the Velvet Room but this place looked slightly different.
"Where am I? Ren asked as he saw what looked like Ryuji waving at him.
"Ren Hey Bro." Ryuji called out as Ren went over to hug him before a voice that sounded like his appeared from behind as Ryuji began to fade.
"Who's there, and where's Ryuji?" Ren asked as what appeared to be a Shadowy Doppelganger of himself appeared which Ren looked ready to attack. "Who are you and why do you look like me?"
"I am your shadow in the Metaverse, don't you know anyone can have a shadow." Shadow Ren said as Ren looked at his Shadow with a glare.
"I'm looking for my best friend Ryuji Sakamoto." Ren said as Shadow Ren began to laugh.
"That weak pathetic loser, don't you remember you said you hated him, you said he does nothing but get on your nerves, and that he's a loser." Shadow Ren said as Ren looked at his Shadow with anger.
"You, I bet somehow you possessed me to say those things about Ryuji, it's because of you, he's laying in a Hospital Bed, I will never forgive you." Ren said as he tried to attack his shadow only for shadow Ren to punch him back.
"It was that punch that got you put on Prohibation; you know your heart has been distorted since then and living with Sojiro Sakura a jerk who doesn't really care for your well being and would throw you out if you make one wrong mistake. It has caused you so much stress that you began to get annoyed by Ryuji and let's face it I took control and now that weak pathetic loser is out of your life. I can be your new best friend, what do you say?" Shadow Ren said as Ren istantly responded by shaking his head.
"Ryuji is irreplaceable and I will make things right with him." Ren said as Shadow Ren handed Ren what appeared to be a postcard which was from Ryuji as Ren began to read it out loud.
"Dear Ren, Why did you say all of those mean things to me? I thought we were friends? Don't you love me anymore? I'm all alone now and i'm crying my eyes out. Why do you hate me Ren? I always loved you." Ren said as he looked at Shadow Ren.
"Whatever the cost I will find Ryuji." Ren said as a squeak could be heard as a small gray colored mouse wearing what looks like a Skull Mask appeared at Ren's Feet. "That looks like Ryuji I remember when he was transformed into a Mouse in Futaba's Palace." Ren said as he approached the Mouse but the Mouse started crying and started to run away with Ren giving chase. "Hey Come Back." Ren said giving chase as some shadows appeared.
"You idiot you just attracted the attention of Shadows, well you better use those Personas then." Shadow Ren said as Ren transformed into Joker as his Persona Arsene appeared behind him as Joker took out his guns and began firing at the shadows and using different elemental powers to take down the Shadows.
"I'm coming for you Ryuji, I promise I will set things right." Ren said as he defeated the Shadows as Dark Ren didn't appeared to be too impressed.
"Don't make promises you won't keep, but I will say this your friend is here and I know where you can meet him just follow me." Dark Ren said as Joker looked very skeptical.
"Why should I follow you, you will more than likely lead me into a trap?" Joker asked as Shadow Ren shook his head.
"Do you want to reunite with your precious Ryuji, than follow me, but be careful of Shadows." Shadow Ren said as Joker looked at him.
"Just remember if you try anything funny, I will attack you, now lead me to Ryuji." Joker said with a serious look as Shadow Ren lead the way.
"Whatever but wouldn't you be the one trying anything funny after all you are called Joker?" shadow Ren said as Joker scoffed at his Shadow's ridiculous question.
"It was given to me by Igor as part of my rehabilitation." Joker said as Dark Ren laughed.
"You mean that big nosed freak and his twin guards, I am taking over this game now; your heart has become distorted and allowed me to take over and trust me since you broke your best friend's heart he himself now has a distortion."
"For Real." Joker said trying to sound like Ryuji as Dark Ren facepalmed.
"Did you really half to say that, you know what you really do wrap your life around that loser, he's a terrible influence on you, but I could be a much better one." Dark Ren said as Joker was starting to lose his patience.
"I'm warning you one last time, take me to Ryuji or I will kill you." Joker said with anger as his shadow had an evil smile on his face.
"You do realize that your anger gives me strength." Dark Ren said as crying from a familiar voice could be heard.
"RYUJI, that's him." Joker said as he saw Ryuji in fetal position with his face buried in his arms and knees crying as Ren tried to hug him. "Ryuji i'm sorry for everything I said, please forgive me, let's go home." Ren said as Ryuji got up to his feet and then punched Ren in the face knocking him to the ground as shadows surrounded Ryuji.
"You think I would ever forgive you for saying those mean and hurtful things to me. Our friendship is over all you did was ignore me and left me in Shinjuku and you didn't lift a finger to help. You never come to my side when that stupid cat insults and bullies me, I would always have your back but you are never there to have mine like any true friend would and then you start acting like a dick for no reason and then called me a pain in the ass. It's your fault I got attacked by those thugs because if you had been a better friend this would have never happened and it's too late for apologies." Ryuji said as Joker now had tears in his eyes.
"No Ryuji please, don't do this remember all of the fun times we had together?" Ren said with tears in his eyes.
"Oh we had fun alright, until you threw that away because you're such an egotistical, selfish, mean spirited asshole. Go be friends with that asshole Akechi you seem to have a mancrush on him, hell you like him more than me. I also noticed you're crying to and now you know how I felt after you hurt my feelings and destroyed our friendship." Ryuji said as Ren was now hurt by everything Ryuji was saying or was this really Ryuji or his shadow in the Metaverse?
"Stop Ryuji that's not true, in fact you're not the real Ryuji you're just a Shadow." Joker said as Ryuji had an evil smile on his face.
"Oh I am For Real, and now I shall have my revenge." Shadow Ryuji said as he transformed into Skull and used Captain Kidd's electrical attacks on Ren as Shadow Ren transformed into Shadow Joker to use Arsene's attacks on Shadow Skull.
"Come on let's join forces it's the only way to win, your friends now hate you, i'm all that you have left." Shadow Joker said but Joker refused to allow his Shadow to fight with him.
"I refuse to let you fight with me; I came here to get my best friend back." Joker said as Shadow Skull laughed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA You dumbass don't you know our friendship is history, you were the one who destroyed it; that can't be undone. You might as well accept the help from tht Shadow version of you because all of your friends no longer trust you." Shadow Skull said as he tried to use electrical attacks on Joker using Captain Kidd as Joker continued to dodge and then realized he had to wake up soon for School.
"I'm afraid I half to fight another day, and when I do come back, i'm getting my best friend back." Joker said as Shadow Skull and Joker both laughed.
"Very Well, you know where to find us in Mementos, however good luck trying to get your friends on your side." Shadow Joker said as Ren woke up in his own bed as Morgana also woke up as well.
"Good Morning, did you sleep well?" Morgana asked as Ren sat on his bed rubbing his temples.
"I found myself in the Metaverse I met my own Shadow I believe he has come to my after I had that fight with Ryuji and worst of all Ryuji's shadow was there too and they tried to attack me. They must be in Memetos now." Ren said as Morgana smiled.
"We need to get the others to help us fight off your's and Ryuji's shadows in Mementos; but it's not going to be easy since everyone pretty much hates you now." Morgana said as Ren started to get dressed.
"We need to get with the others and save Ryuji; I just hope we don't end up causing a mental shutdown, because if that happens than I just don't know how I would be able to live with myself if that were to happen." Ren said putting on his Summer School Uniform and made his way downstairs for breakfast.
"Good to see you are awake, did you have any trouble sleeping?" Sojiro asked knowing how Ren has been depressed as of late.
"I've just been worried about Ryuji, I mean what if he he wakes up and doesn't want to be friends with me anymore?" Ren asked as Sojiro handed Ren a plate of Curry and a cup of Coffee.
"You know friends do fight at times and you know what so did me and my little brother." Sojiro said as Ren looked at him with a stunned expression.
"You have a brother?" Ren asked before taking a bite of his curry.
"I did and let's just say he was as close to me as Ryuji is to you; he was more than just my little brother he was my best friend and he always looked up to me, than I guess I got tired of him bothering me all the time so I ended up yelling him and the next thing you know he was hit by a car outside of our house and died in the Hospital. It was one of my biggest regrets I ever had." Sojiro said as Ren looked very sad after hearing Sojiro's story.
"That's terrible Boss, I ended up getting tired of being around Ryuji and I ended up making the same mistakes you made; I really hope Ryuji is ok. I just want to make things right with him." Ren said taking a sip of coffee.
"Ren you're a teenager and that usually happens where you want personal space and get stressed and frustrated and I was the same way and everyday I have been haunted with the regret over the way I treated my little brother all of those years ago and wish I could go back in time and make things right or wish he was still here but he's not and the last known memory of mine was when i yelled at him and ended up hurting his feelings and he left the house because of me and got hit by a car." Sojiro said as Ren knew he could not let Ryuji suffer the same fate.
"Boss one way or another I will make things right with Ryuji, I will not allow our friendship to be destroyed and if Ryuji were to die than I would have no idea on how I would be able to go on with my life if that were to happen." Ren said as Sojiro placed a comforting hand on his Foster Son's shoulder.
"Everything will be ok Ren, anyways you better finish your breakfast and head off to School, I have a business to run you know; just don't get mugged by those thugs who put Ryuji in the Hospital I heard on the news today they jumped a customer who was on his way to work at Big Bang Burger." Sojiro said as Ren finished his Coffee and Curry as Sojiro took the Coffee Cup and Plate and placed them in the sink as Ren took his bad with Morgana inside and made his way out of the cafe.
"See you later Boss." Ren said making his way towards the Subway Station.
Can Ren overcome both his Shadow and Ryuji's Shadow in the Metaverse? Can Ren get his friends back on the same page with him? Most importantly can he save his friendship with Ryuji? Find out what happens next time.
To Be Continued