In the alleyway opposite Shujin…
"Alright, we're all back in the real world now, Takamaki-san." said Keiko reassuringly to Ann (who's catching her breath) after they and Morgana left Kamoshida's palace.
"…Mm, thanks." said Ann thankfully to Keiko.
"So, are you okay?" asked Ryuji concernly to Ann.
"Well, pretty much… Wait, I lied. I'm still confused about all of this." said Ann with a conflicted look on her face to them.
"Understandable since this is the first time for you, Takamaki." said Mallory.
"You may be safe now, but a lot sure did happen back there… At any rate, we stand out too much here. Let's relocate to a safer spot." said Morgana to Keiko, Mallory, Ryuji and Ann and they nodded to him before they quickly left.
XXXX
In the subway station…
"Which one you want?" asked Ryuji to Ann as he's holding several soda bottles in his hands after he bought them from a convenience store in the station.
"Whichever's not carbonated." replied Ann.
"Uh, they're all carbonated actually." said Ryuji with a slightly sheepish look on his face.
"Then…" said Ann as she take the Coke one from Ryuji before he hold out the other 2 7 UP and Pepsi bottles to both Keiko and Mallory and they take the bottles and thanked him for it.
"Are you sure that you're fine with drinking that, Takamaki-san?" asked Keiko concernly to Ann about the Coke bottle in her hands.
"A little and thanks for asking, Amamiya. After all, us girls need to stay in shape." replied Ann as she glance and smiled at Keiko.
"Very well then." said Keiko as she nodded at Ann.
"What about me?" asked Morgana as he popped out of Keiko's bag and glance at Ryuji.
"Huh? But you're a cat." said Ryuji as he crossed his arms (which make Morgana scowled at him before he glance at Ann).
"…Have you calmed down, Lady Ann?" asked Morgana concernly to Ann.
"Yeah, I am. Um… Morgana, right?" replied Ann before she turned to glance at Morgana in surprise. "I really am talking to a cat… This feels so strange… Oh, sorry! You're not a cat, right?" added Ann apologetically to Morgana.
"It's fine, Takamaki-san. You'll get used to Morgana soon enough like us." said Keiko reassuringly to Ann.
"It's only natural that you're confused. Demanding that you understand all of this right after what you went through is asking too much." said Morgana.
"Honestly, I still can't believe what happened… And that power… my Persona…" said Ann as she shake her head in disbelief a little.
"It's the will of your rebellion, Lady Ann. With it, you'll be able to fight with us in that other world." explained Morgana.
"I see. So if what you told me is true, we can make Kamoshida have a change of heart, right? Is it really possible…? Can we actually force him to confess his crimes?" said Ann as she glance at Keiko.
"Yes. We can if we try, Takamaki. Because no one else will." replied Keiko.
"Because they're all cowards." said Mallory with an annoy look on her face.
"Yeah, you're both right. The volleyball team's keepin' quiet about this, while teachers and parents turn a blind eye. If guys and girls like us complain, they're just gonna shoot us down. Goin' all in on this plan is the only choice we got." said Ryuji as he clench his fists.
"Then let me help too. I want to make him pay for what happened to Shiho. He just keeps going like nothing happened, even after what he did to her… I'll never forgive him." said Ann determinedly to them.
"Wait, did you just said, "let me help"? You mean you want us to take you along?" asked Ryuji in a surprise tone of voice to Ann.
"Are you sure about that, Takamaki?" said Mallory concernly to her.
"Don't act like I'm gonna drag you all down. Weren't you guys watching? I can fight too." replied Ann as she scowled at both Mallory and Ryuji (who glance and exchange worry looks with each other before they glance at Keiko).
"Hey, what should we do, Keiko?" asked Ryuji.
"I'll admit that it's dangerous to bring her but… that is because she's not like us up until a few minutes ago. And now that she has awaken to her persona like we did and she can fight so I don't see any reason on why we shouldn't bring her with us, Ryuji." replied Keiko with a small yet firm nod of her head to Ryuji.
"Since Keiko say yes to Takamaki joining us then so be it. Welcome aboard, Takamaki." said Mallory as she nodded at Keiko then at Ann.
"I agree as well. The more the merrier, after all." said Morgana in an agreeing tone of voice to Keiko. "Don't worry, I'll protect her and you too, Madame Keiko." added Morgana firmly to Keiko.
"Thanks, Morgana." said Keiko as she glance and smiled at Morgana.
"Even if you guys say no, I'd just go in alone." said Ann as she scowled at them.
"Oh right, she can entered the palace by herself now that she has the app… Rgh, fine." said Ryuji as he scratch his head in slight exasperation at Ann's decision.
"Then it's decided. Well, I hope we'll get along!" said Ann as she smiled at both Mallory and Ryuji before she turned to glance at Keiko. "I'm going to make Kamoshida pay and atone for what he did. Not just for Shiho's sake… but for everything he's done. I won't let any more people suffer because of him. I'll do whatever it takes!" added Ann sternly and firmly to Keiko.
"Yes, we will, Takamaki-san. Together." said Keiko as she nodded to Ann and felt a strong fighting resolve from Ann.
XXXX
In the interrogation room…
"A group like yours must have relied on subtlety and misdirection. Otherwise, you'd never survive. Some of you might even have been hiding behind a "public face" their entire lives." said Sae to Keiko before she leaned forward a little. "If you're listening, answer me!" demanded Sae.
XXXX
I am thou, thou art I…
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Lovers Persona,
I have obtained the wings of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power…
After the girl's voice fell silent and time stand still, Keiko look up and saw a card (a pink and purple card with the dark grey figures of a man and a woman standing with their backs to each other and with a large grey heart floating above them) appearing above Ann's head before the card fell and landed on Keiko's hand and she quickly put the card into her blazer pocket.
"Just let me know when you guys are heading back in… Oh wait! We don't have each other's contact info. Hey, give me your number and chat ID. And, um…" said Ann to them before they take out their phones and exchange numbers and chat ID with each other. "I'll be counting on you, Caelum and Ryuji, then. Same goes for you too, Morgana." added Ann as she smiled and nodded at Keiko, Mallory, Ryuji and Morgana.
"Yeah, right back at you too, Takamaki-san." said Keiko as she smiled back at Ann.
"Sure, Takamaki." said Mallory as she nodded at Ann.
"The pleasure is all mine, Lady Ann." said Morgana as he smiled back at her as well before Ann turned and walked away from them.
"What a kind girl… Such admirable consideration for others… And the innocence to cast herself into the jaws of death to achieve her goal… She cares about her friends, and she's as pretty as you to boot, Madame Keiko… What a girl! She's captured my heart…" said Morgana dreamily to Keiko while both Mallory and Ryuji scowled at him.
"Oh really, Morgana?" said Keiko as she smirk and ruffle his head a little.
"You know, Keiko, Mallory, it'd be better if this group could get together quick from now on…" suggested Ryuji.
"True. Our best option would be to make a secret hideout where we could discuss these things." said Morgana in agreement to Ryuji.
"A hideout, huh…? I like the sound of that." said Ryuji with a slightly wide smile on his face.
"So where should we make a secret hideout? Any ideas?" asked Keiko as she crossed her arms.
"How about the school's rooftop? It seems like nobody goes up there. For the time being, that will make the perfect hideout. I can't contact you all inside a Palace, so I'll stay in this world. That being said, I'll need someone to take care of me. I'm personally nominating you and Miss Mallory, Madame Keiko. You 2 should feel honored." Morgana told both Keiko and Mallory.
"Huh? But why us? Why not him?" said Mallory in a surprise tone of voice to Morgana as she raised and pointed her finger at Ryuji.
"Sorry, Mallory. My place is a no-go for Morgana. So it's all on you and Keiko to take care of him now." said Ryuji nonchalantly at Mallory.
"… Very well then, Maly and I will take care of you, Morgana." said Keiko.
"Well, we now have our hideout, so let's meet there tomorrow!" said Ryuji before he bade farewell to both Keiko and Mallory and he got onto the train that had just arrived, leaving them behind.
"OK! Lead and bring me to my new residence in this world, Madame Keiko, Miss Mallory!" said Morgana slightly excitedly to both Keiko and Mallory as they waited for their train to come, got on when it arrived and head back to Shibuya with Morgana tucked safely in Keiko's bag.
XXXX
Meanwhile, inside an apartment in Kichijoji…
Akira is currently chopping up some spinaches, carrots, turnips and mushrooms before he picked up and dumped them into a huge pot of boiling soup near him before he heard the sound of the front door opening. "Welcome back, Takuto." greeted Akira to the person named Takuto.
"Yeah, I'm back and what's for dinner, Akira?" said a tan-skinned, short unkempt dark brown-haired, bespectacled brown-eyed middle-aged man named Takuto wearing a dark blue dress shirt with a white ribbed sweater over it and a long sleeve light brown jacket with dark brown fabric at the cuffs and collar over his sweater and shirt, long dark blue jeans and tan shoes with laces on them to Akira as he entered the kitchen.
"We'll be having vegetable stew for dinner and how goes the interview for the counselling job in Shujin?" asked Akira.
"The interview goes well and I got the job, Akira." replied Takuto happily to Akira.
"Is that so? That's good news and can you help set up the table, Takuto?" said Akira.
"Of course." said Takuto as he nodded at Akira before he left the kitchen and helped set up the table in the dining room.
XXXX
Inside Leblanc…
As both Keiko and Mallory arrived and entered Leblanc, they saw a fair-skinned, short dark blue-haired, dark brown-eyed, punk-looking woman wearing a sleeveless blue/green dress with a long sleeve black jacket over it, thigh high black stockings and black high heels on her feet sitting by herself in one of the booths with a cup of coffee on the table in front of the punk-looking woman before Sojiro told them to go up to their room and they both did and Keiko open her bag to let Morgana out once she and Mallory's in their room.
"What the… What is this place!? Is this some kind of abandoned house!?" said Morgana as he look around Keiko and Mallory's attic room with a disbelief look on his face.
"Of course not and this place is-" said Keiko as she scowled at Morgana before she quickly fell silent (while Morgana also quickly fell silent) when she and Mallory heard the sound of footsteps coming up to their room and they saw that it's Sojiro.
"Hey, are you two-" said Sojiro sternly to both Keiko and Mallory before he noticed Morgana lying on Keiko's futon. "I was wondering why I heard meowing… Why did you 2 bring it here for!?" added Sojiro more sternly at both Keiko and Mallory.
"It doesn't have a home, Sojiro-san." said Keiko.
"It followed us here, boss." said Mallory at the same time.
"It followed you 2 and it had nowhere to go, huh? Look, this place is a restaurant. Animals are a no-go…" said Sojiro.
"Can't you please let it stay here with us, Sojiro-san?" said Keiko.
"Though I guess you 2 might stay on good behavior if you 2 got a pet to take care of… Fine then." sighed Sojiro as he agreed to let Morgana stay with them.
"Really? Thank you, Sojiro-san." said Keiko thankfully to Sojiro.
"But keep it quiet when we're open for business. And don't let it roam downstairs, or I'll toss it out. Oh, and I'm not gonna take care of it. That's all on you two." said Sojiro.
"Yeah, we get it, boss." said Mallory as she and Keiko nodded at Sojiro before he turned and walked away.
"Was that the ruler of this place, Madame Keiko?" asked Morgana as he glance at Keiko (who nodded to him). "He seemed pretty understanding for someone who keeps you 2 cramped up in this dump. Then again, I suppose to normal people I just sound like a meowing cat." added Morgana to both Keiko and Mallory before they saw Sojiro came into their room again with a plate of fish slices on it before he put the plate down in front of Morgana.
"Seriously… It had to keep calling out in that cute little voice…" said Sojiro before he turned to glance at both Keiko and Mallory. "Make sure that either one of you wash that dish. By the way… have you 2 decided on a name?" asked Sojiro.
"Yeah, Morgana." replied Keiko.
"Morgana? Huh… I was hoping I'd get to name it…" said Sojiro with a slight dejected look on his face before he walked away again.
"Looks like the chief likes me better than you two. And to be honest, this place is heaven compared to Kamoshida's cells." said Morgana as he turned to glance sadly at them. "Also, remember how you guys asked me before about what I am? To be honest… I don't remember anything about my birth."
"Truly? You don't remember? That's sad." said Keiko in a pitying tone of voice to Morgana.
"I think the Metaverse's distortions made me lose both my memories and my true form." said Morgana more sadly to both Keiko and Mallory.
"Is that so? Are you sure the true form that you lose is human?" asked Mallory.
"It has to be, Miss Mallory! I mean, why else would a cat be able to talk like this? There's no other possible explanation." retorted Morgana as he scowled at Mallory. "There's no doubt that the distortions were what caused me to lose my true form. I'm sure that once they're purged, I'll finally be able to get that self back. And I've a pretty good idea on how to do it too. That's why I was in the castle in the first place." added Morgana before he turned and began eating the fish slices on the plate until he finish it then cleaned his head a little with his paws.
"I see." said Keiko.
"Let me make myself clear; You and Miss Mallory taking care of me won't be for nothing. It'll be give and take, Madame Keiko. Due to my knowledgeable and dexterous nature, I have a lot of intel on infiltration tools." Morgana told Keiko.
"Infiltration tools? For what?" asked Keiko in a confused tone of voice to Morgana.
"Whoa, hold it. I can't tell you more unless we settle on a deal. In exchange for you keeping me here, I'll teach you about these tools. How does that sound, Madame Keiko?" asked Morgana.
"Very well then, I accept your deal, Morgana." replied Keiko as she nodded at Morgana.
"I like your answer. Hehehe… Then it's a deal, Madame Keiko." said Morgana as he smiled happily at her before she felt another resolve from him.
XXXX
"Skillful infiltrations and escapes to all manner of places… There's even the possibility that you used special tools and had someone who manufactured them… Answer me! Who is it?" demanded Sae to Keiko (who stay silent).
XXXX
I am thou, thou art I…
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Magician Persona,
I have obtained the wings of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power…
Another card (a light and dark blue card with black eyes and black hands holding a black flame in the middle of it) appear above Morgana's head before it flew toward Keiko and she take it and put it into her blazer pocket with the other 2 cards.
"I'll lecture and teach you about the infiltration tools over time." Morgana told her.
"Alright, Morgana." said Keiko with a nod of her head to him.
"By the way, Madame Keiko, the power you used in the palace was seriously amazing. The stronger that power of yours gets, the more reliable it'll be as a trump card. All right, I'm gonna stick with you whenever you go from today on. Personas are the strength born from one's heart. Depending on what kind of life experience you gain, I bet it'll affect that power as well!" Morgana said and explain to Keiko (who widened her eyes in surprise at him while Mallory started feeling a bit jealous at Keiko).
"Is that really possible?" asked Keiko.
"Yes, it is! And if you become acquainted with capable people, you might learn various useful skills too… This is all part of our deal, got it, Madame Keiko?" replied Morgana.
"Of course, Morgana." said Keiko in an agreeing tone of voice to Morgana.
"I expect great things from you, Madame Keiko. Don't let me down, OK?" said Morgana.
"Yeah, I know." said Keiko as she nodded to Morgana before she and Mallory left their room for a bath (which Morgana didn't follow and stay in their room, at least), change and put on their pajamas after their bath then they went back into their room, do some text messaging with Ryuji and Ann on their phones before they fell asleep (while Morgana lie himself down between both Keiko and Mallory and fell asleep too).