Persona 5 Royal: tmdrago Special Edition
By Tayla Drago
Episode #127 - You're Never Alone
Getting to sleep for Keiko and Morgana to hit the hay and Sojiro and Futaba leave back home, they know of the whole steps to take.
Morgana: I wouldn't worry about going to school for while, Madame Keiko. You'll study hard to keep up. Still, with Shido to be your enemy is mine too...And the person who saved you in Sae's Palace besides Aika and Hitomi. Was it also...?
None other than Kasumi Yoshizawa too.
Keiko: Yeah, Kasumi came to my rescue. I owe her one.
I guess there's some part of her to be on Keiko's side and the Phantom Thieves either way, to still be good.
Morgana: Yeah? I guess so. You better let Yoshizawa know you're safe now just in case. I'll lend you a hand in battle and talking to her.
Keiko: Okay then...? Good night, Morgana.
Morgana: Good night.
It'll be good to spread the message for Keiko to do with Morgana's help for Kasumi to get and Kiwa and the other too. For now, it was time to get some sleep.
Year 20xx
Day # 226 - November 11/22nd – Tuesday
Well, this should be a while for Keiko to go back to Shujin Academy, huh? It's better than the enemy to notice the whole truth yet, but Queen Lilith and Fallen One already do. As everyone all over town hear about the news of the leader of the Phantom Thieves 'to think' that she committed suicide for the news to spread quickly all morning long; as Ryuji hears other people talking about hating the Phantom Thieves on the train ride to school, and others liking Shido a lot to vote for the be lied to.
Man in Suit: There's no point in even having an election, Shido's gonna win.
Business Man: Of course. He's the only relabel politician there is. Plus the current government has been getting wrapped up in scandal after scandal.
Man in Suit: Even more importantly, there's just an aura about him. Like he an fix whatever problems we have.
Business Man: Honestly, it doesn't really matter to me who does it. I just wanna see our society back on track. Especially after it turned out those Phantom Thieves were nothing more than scum in the end...
Really...? While Keiko and Morgana did some things in the bed room for a bit, she gets text messages from others to see how she was doing.
Kawa: [Keiko? I hope you're doing well. You had me very worried. I hope to see you back in school, I was lucky enough to come up with you seeing your parents out of a town thing for a bit. But if I were you, do give them a call when you have the chance to later and I hope to see you again real soon. Take care and study hard...just in case.]
Keiko: Thanks, Ms. Kawakami.
While at school for others to believe that Keiko was out for a bit to have the other students worried about her leaving a bit...thinking that she was scared of the Phantom Thieves to starting to like her little at a time for Ann to hear it going all day long and a little bit for Yuuki as well after what he just heard on the news 'but he knew what was really going on'. While Keiko had some coffee that Sojiro made for her, she then gets another text message from Yuuki during his lunch break.
Yuuki: [Amamiya, I'm glad you're not really dead! Sorry...I know you wouldn't be and however you and your team pulled something off, it worked from the looks of it. I think...Sorry, if you can try to explain to me later on when I can meet up with you again later. With the Phan-Site is a real mess right now, but I'll work something out. Others believe in you, good luck.]
Keiko: Yuuki, you're a good friend.
Next was another text message send from Ohya who wanted to make sure on how well Keiko was doing too...This is going to be a bit.
Ohya: [Amamiya? I know you're getting my text message here. Are you feeling well? I know you can't be stopped that easily since you've been helping a lot lately...Now this will be a big story for me to get soon enough. Just be careful out there. And the things you told me to get for you, I hope it comes in handy on what's to come next. You can do it, girlfriend.]
Keiko: Without your journalist skills, Ohya, I would've made it this far. You rule.
Sojiro: You enjoy my curry and coffee, Keiko? Take your time, no ones coming in today. I don't want you to rush eating to end up choking.
She won't for Morgana was enjoying his meal and so was Keiko with the good curry handmade cooking.
Morgana: Once you finish eating, Madame Keiko, group text message the others when they contact you first on what the third key word we need to get to to Shido's Palace later.
Too bad none of them didn't find anything at all to meet up at the Diet Building to figure out the rest in a bit...Also, group text message time.
[Ann: Have you guys figured out the keyword to Shido's Palace yet?]
[Futaba: I've tried all sorta stuff, but no luck so far.]
[Yusuke: It is hard to understand the thought process of a criminal mastermind like him.]
[Futaba: Y'know, I've been wondering...If he's been behind all of those mental shutdown and using others for the dirty work...Doesn't that mean all the weird accidents from these past few years were his fault? Like, that subway accident back in April...]
[Makoto: Now that you mention it, that accident lost the Minister of Transport his job...]
[Ann: Wait...Are you trying to say Shido caused that accident? But it's the subway! Does he not c are at all about innocent lives?!]
[Yusuke: This man seems to be truly unbelievable...]
[Futaba: Supposedly there are still tons of victims from that in the hospital even now.]
[Yusuke: Masayoshi Shido...How many has the killed over the years?]
[Haru: How could we ever understand what goes on the mind of such a horrible man...?]
[Ryuji: Hey, wouldn't it be faster if we just go there and try and think about it on-site?! Let's try that!]
[Makoto: If we're going to go, I'd like Keiko-Chan to join, but...]
[Ann: Will that be OK? Won't somebody spot her there?]
[Ryuji: Eh, we'll prolly figure out the keyword in no time once we're there. Plus I can throw off anyone who talk us with my blazing speed!]
[Makoto: ...All right. Let's have Keiko-Chan join us then. Remember though...We're going with the intent of not being seen.]
[Keiko: Understood, I'll be very careful.]
[Ryuji: Mkay. Well, let's meet in front of the Diet Building and force that bastard's Palace open!]
Morgana: All right, let's head to the Diet Building. Make sure you aren't discovered, Madame Keiko. Okay?
As for Junko 'who's out of the group and Akechi to still be there to not contact them for now', she gets a call with Makoto to meet with her later on to make up a story about trying to find Akechi to be kidnapped for Sae to help her out on; she tells Makoto that she bought it to keep the Phantom Thief thing to herself to alert the others to keep busy to be a journalist to draw the offers await from this mess, which was working for Junko to act like she was sad about Keiko to commit suicide to help them out in any way. She was falling for it.
Junko: (Soon when we meet again, Phantom Thieves, I will take the last gem with the remaining six and you'll all die by my hands. It'll be the last one to pull off. So go ahead and try to stop Shido for a bit...I'll allow you to play for a little while longer.)
Now you're all wondering on how Keiko will go out with her friends to the place they needed to be, you know how? Keiko had some spare clothing to wear of a hoodie type of goth person. Nice disguise.
Keiko: (This better work.) Mr. Sakura, I'm going out with the others to know about Shido's Palace.
Sojiro: Are you sure? It's a bad idea, but still...I understand. Be careful, Keiko, take Morgana with you, and don't stay up too late.
Keiko: I won't.
And off the two go from train and to the outside of the Diet Building for not one doesn't notice a thing from Keiko on what she was dress up like, that's good. With Kiwa and Daisuke working hard in the real world and Aika and Hitomi in the Metaverse too like the others to have a spare Blood of Oath book to Keiko to look at and their copy, someone appears to lend them a hand to be another surprising member in the group.
Kiwa: Who's here at this hour?
Aika: Answer it, please? We're getting closer to the book.
The two girls were.
Hitomi: Closer to our answers at long last.
Doing so, Daisuke couldn't believe who it was. Can you guys guess who it is?
Daisuke: Hey! It's you.
For them to see comes to a real shock, more on that later. Mean while, arriving with Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, and Haru to see the two 'while Jackie searches a bit on finding Shido's Palace back in the Metaverse'. There was the Diet Building itself with no sign of Junko to be anywhere nor the whereabouts of Akechi either.
Yusuke: Junko isn't here...
Makoto: Let's begin at once. Police cars are making rounds, so we can't stay here for too long. We already have "Masayoshi Shido" and "Diet Building." All we need is "what" he thinks of this place.
The third and final keyword to look for it might be a little hard to do.
Keiko: Anyone got any ideas...?
Ryuji: Maybe "Mt. Fuji" since it's the highest place in the country.
Navigation Voice: [Conditions have not been met.]
That didn't work to keep on guessing.
Ann: What about a "mansion"?
Navigation Voice: [Conditions have not been met.]
Not that one either.
Haru: Since he's going to subjugate everyone as prime minister...perhaps at "school"?
Navigation Voice: [Conditions have not been met.]
Nope, not that one didn't work at all.
Yusuke: What about an "arena" like the Colosseum.
Navigation Voice: [Conditions have not been met.]
Futaba: "Imperial palace"?
Navigation Voice: [Conditions have not been met.]
Not even the last two didn't work either for they did tried so much, this was the hardest one they were trying to find.
Makoto: ...It's no good.
Haru: I thought we would've gained entry by now...Maybe we shouldn't have called Keiko-Chan here...
Keiko: No, it's fine. This next target might be a little harder to find at first.
Yeah, it'll probably take some time.
Ryuji: Hey, you think he's guardin' his whole Palace with a barrier? Shido stole the cognitive psience research, right? Maybe it had some special move written in it.
Like a special thing to protect you with a certain part to it? Hey, Ryuji might be on to something here.
Ann: Is that even possible?
Morgana: Who knows? I've got no idea. Even Jackie doesn't know about it either.
It's hard to tell.
Keiko: If that was true, Kiwa would've told us about it already.
Futaba: That was nothing like that in the notes I saw. Also, Aika and Hitomi would've known and told us by now.
I guess from the fake Black Mask of Junko's doing from back then to fool with Aika, Kiwa, Hitomi, and Daisuke's eyes for her and Fake Tsuba to do, but Wakaba was on to them to be killed in the end, sadly...
Ryuji: Anyways, what kinda person is Shido? I can't figure guy out...
They only know of Shido is a hard working to get what he wants to get it down and to be nothing but trouble, and that was it so far.
Yusuke: I did some light research on him last night, but I couldn't get a grasp on the type of man he is.
It was there that Ann notice someone who worked at the place to be talking to a security guard about something, he might know something for her to have an idea.
Ann: That man over there's probably a legislator, right? I'll try asking him.
Keiko: Just be careful, Ann. Please.
There she goes to ask some questions to this person for this legislator tells Ann about of what kind of person Shido was a Representative to think about the National Diet?
Ann: Excuse me...I'm a member of the newspaper club at my high school. May I speak with you for a moment?
Legislator Man: Sure.
Ann: What kind of persons is Representative Shido? What's he think about the National Diet?
For the man says of a "dedication for country" of seeing everyone's trust. Of a admirable man of action first class determination of a real model politician.
Legislator Man: His stance is "dedication for country" – it's how he's garnered everyone's trust. Hes an admirable man of action with a first-class determination. I'd say he's a model politician. I believe that he'll help create a wonderful future in which young adults like you can live in ease.
Hmm...That seems to be a good clue to get thanks to Ann to get back with the others to tell, for them to hear some about it but it still wasn't enough.
Futaba: An exemplary answer.
Ann: It makes sense he wouldn't tell teenagers anything unnecessary.
Was all hope lost...? Just then, Yusuke to notice something from someone else outside of the Diet Building to be doing something in the post stand.
Yusuke: Look over there! He's on a walkie-talkie!
That didn't look good.
Keiko: Ah...
Ann: Wait, is it about us?
Ryuji: That doesn't look good.
And this was their queue to leave the area just in case they draw out more attention for the rest of the guards.
Makoto: We should leave at once. Tomorrow's a day off, so let's have an early strategy meeting. Meet at Leblanc, okay?
Keiko: Good idea, Makoto, I'll see you guys tomorrow.
Sounded like a very good idea to do for Keiko and the others to meet up again at the cafe in her room, they need to plan things out first before making another move.
Haru: We should all think about this tonight...
And they will...As Keiko, Futaba, and Morgana took the train ride back for them and Sojiro to see the latest news from one of Shido's speeches to make on the TV news for them to watch on what he was plotting. Him again...?
Shido: [The criminals calling calling themselves the Phantom Thieves are no more. However, I believe that this country's citizens are still living their days in anxiety. These scandals only increase our distrust of the current government. As a citizen myself, I am enraged!]
Such words to fool the people is Shido's words to trick them all to vote for him.
Morgana: Look who's talking.
Keiko: Masayoshi Shido...
Morgana: What's up, Madame Keiko?
For Akechi to say something of Shido's name to Keiko, she might heard of him so far to say he could be the father he was mentioning a lot.
Keiko: Well, Akechi-Cun once told me about Shido, of this man being his father who left him and his mother behind, she died later from a terrible illness to have my boyfriend move from foster home a lot to soon becoming an ace detective. I sense bad things about this Shido person already just by looking at him...He's helping the two other Shadows to also imprison my Akechi and used two more Shadows to spy on all of us... (And I know I've seen him somewhere before too.)
Can't say I blame Keiko to remember something about Shido from before...
Shido: [What does it mean to be a politician with responsibility? Working toward personal gain without consideration of the country is outrageous!]
This is getting way out of hand...
Sojiro: The election's public notification is tomorrow, but no matter where I go, people are cheering for Shido.
Futaba: Everyone's being deceived so easily.
The others were watching this too for Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, and Haru texted both Keiko and Futaba to talk about the lair Shido to win everyone's trust to be played like fools they all were. For Yusuke has found out that Shido's a member of the Nation Food Diet group of the United Future Party to run for campaign someday to come true 'or trying to' for a 53 year old man.
[Ryuji: I tried looking Shido's interview up online. They all sound so goddamn fake.]
[Yusuke: I checked his profile as well, but I couldn't find much outside of his title education. He's currently 53 years old, and has gone from being a metropolitan assemblyman to a representative. Though he is a cabinet minister, he's split from the ruling party to form the United Future Party.]
[Ann: Shido's a cabinet minister?! For real?!]
[Makoto: He was specially appointed to the position. That's his current title.]
[Yusuke: Apparently he also won a contest for who people would most like the have as their boss.]
[Haru: Even the news sites write about him as though he's assured to become the prime minister.]
[Makoto: If only we could find out the meaning behind Shido's words...]
Watching the rest of the parts on TV.
Shido: [In order to save this country, that has been tainted by villains, social reform is essential!]
Like his words will fool the others that Keiko knows of.
Futaba: Ugh...
Morgana: He makes me sick...
Keiko: Same.
Later that night for the other Phantom Thief members group text message to see that Shido was a liar and such to try to win by any means...
[Haru: Shido's reputation is truly astronomical...]
[Yusuke: It's preposterous.]
[Ann: This isn't the popularity level of a normal politician anymore.]
[Ryuji: What's so great about him? I seriously don't get it.]
[Futaba: He's a strong leader who protects his citizens...Well, supposedly. Is everyone blind?!]
[Makoto: We'll just need to shed light on who he really is. By the way, is it OK if my sister joins us tomorrow? She's hoping she can be of help as well.]
[Keiko: Fine by me, Makoto. With Sae with us, that would be great. The more friends, the better.]
[Makoto: OK. I'll tell her that.]
[Haru: OK, we'll figure out the keywords tomorrow for sure!]
They have to find the third keyword to get into Mementos somehow and Sae may help them out 'while at other times keep Junko busy for a bit to way somewhere way before the election thing'; if they can find the Treasure to show that Keiko/Joker's alive, then they can expose Junko by then. More on that later as well.
Morgana: Madame Keiko, is it all right with you...I'll sleep by your beside side. Just until we save Akechi.
Better than a stuff animal for Keiko to be just fine with it for he has been doing it a lot lately. So after ready and getting some money to selling things at Iwai's shop, it was time to get some sleep.
Keiko: That's fine, Morgana, and thanks for being there for me a lot.
They get some sleep to try again tomorrow to get what they need to see Shido's Palace in any way. While everyone else were loving Shido and his powerful 'fake' speeches so far.
Year 20xx
Day # 227 - November 11/23rd – Wednesday
The next morning for Keiko to be getting other text messages from her other friends that she's been helping her and others out lately, like Chihaya this time...
Chihaya: [Keiko-Chan, oh thank goodness! You're well for me to sense from the danger you were almost in to end your life! But I'm glad you're well, my dear friend. We're so alike to have a strong connection of our powers to be the same, but a strong feeling on a goal we must do, I shall keep bringing you some luck and please hang out with me again.]
Keiko: We'll both keep our powers in check to bring us both to victory and by helping out others, Chihaya, in our own way.
And another text message as well from Tae to check on her friend/guinea pig of hers.
Tae: [I'm glad you're still breathing, Keiko. If you died on me, I hate to do some tests on you...Just kidding. I am happy that you're well to fight back and staying health thanks to my help, as well as your love to have protected sex thanks to my special chip in the arm to work wonders, doesn't it? Keep at it for me to put in another one in two years...Just call me and I'll examine your body free of charge if you're sick again. Take care.]
Keiko: I'll try to get better, Tae. For you as my doctor I will.
With Sojiro finish giving some curry to eat for Keiko as she and Morgana got ready for the others to come over for another meeting; for Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, Haru, and Sae to be joining them on this one. And it was still hard to guess the third keyword to put in the Nav to still not find anything yet.
Haru: Last one... "Diamond mine."
Navigation Voice: [Conditions have not been met.]
Still no good, to feel tired out for trying to guess on so many names to get something right, but with no luck even today.
Makoto: ...No good.
Ryuji: How many'd we missed?
Yusuke: Perhaps he truly does have a barrier up.
Could it be possible for Shido to have something like it in the Metaverse of his Palace? Was it this hard to do?
Ryuji: Right?!
Keiko: You might be on to something, Ryuji, it's scary just think about it. (Surprisingly...)
Maybe to be right about something, but now wasn't the time to be thinking about it a lot.
Ann: That's not something to be excited about, Ryuji!
Morgana: We know all the way up to "Diet Building" too...
Now Sae sees how this whole thing works for them.
Sae: ...So you enter keywords into the Metaverse Navigator.
Ryuji: Boss, can you turn the TV on? Shido might be on it.
Sojiro: Sure thing.
Turning the TV on for everyone to see on TV first was none other than Junko Sakurai to be getting her latest story, she has some nerve.
Makoto: Junko Sakurai...!
And that's not all, Akechi was on there too 'but it wasn't really him right now'.
Futaba: Her and Junko's stupid, composed fake face! And Akechi...? Then he's-!
Keiko: No... (It can't be...!) It's not really Akechi-Cun...It's Fallen One...! I don't know how, but he's taken over his body to look and talk just like the real him!
Once Keiko felt it out from the TV to sense from afar, the others couldn't believe in it either.
Sae, Sojiro, Morgana, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, and Haru: Akechi's being posses!?
For the Fallen One to look and act like Akechi to be in another talk show to act very well without everyone else noticing a thing.
Newscaster: [So, Akechi-san. We were really worried about you. Thank goodness your partner Junko Sakurai came to your aid to feel better now. Any who, is it true that Junko withdrew yourself from the media as part of your plans to capture the Phantom Thieves? For Junko herself to put her life on the line to stop them?]
For Junko/Queen Lilith to look and act like her clumsy cheerful self to be waving to the audiences, as Fallen One to act like Akechi to be his other detective self to play it cool.
'Akechi' Fallen One: [We truly apologize for causing such a stir from Junko and me. I helped out and Junko wanted to do the rest for me to keep me in touched. Honestly, it required a lot of courage to openly oppose them when their popularity was at it peak. Not that I wanted to have my true love upset, she'll learn soon for me to do all of this for her...I mean, people often lashed out at me online and whatnot. And Junko to be hearing the same old story to get something from her journalist must've been hard to do, but she wanted to help bring true justice.]
Newscaster: [Then, was it also both of your plan when you two said they weren't at fault after their popularity declined?]
'Akechi' Fallen One: [Thanks to Junko, that was to catch them off guard. I could say I applied my profiling knowledge for Junko to give it her all to bring us to victory. Once they lost public support, someone they thought was their greatest enemy lend a hand like Junko was to use her special gift for something good for the world...That's the same strategy used in romance to fool of some friendship thing, wouldn't you agree?]
For Jackie to scans from this Akechi to be in a deep sleep for that was the real one, for the others see Fallen One in disguise from trapping his spirit to controlling his entire body.
Keiko: He's not my Akechi-Cun! I would never fall for Fallen One Shadow!
Haru: And why he acting as Akechi-chan to be treated as an "ace detective of justice"?! How dare this Shadow hurt Keiko-Chan's heart! And Junko's ten times worse as Queen Lilith!
Those weren't the only things to be going on...
Sojiro: It's not just on TV or online. Newspapers, magazines...I see their faces everywhere. From Akechi to be fine dating with Keiko until this thing took a whole of him, and seeing Junko to become famous for a made up woman to make a great journalist. Nothing more than a fake.
Yeah, its become bad for Fallen One and Queen Lilith to change something like this to slowly do the rest for power, to change the world for a better tomorrow.
Ryuji: On the other hand, no one's hoping for our comeback on the Phan-Site, like at all!
It'll be a while until the Phantom Thieves to prove in their innocents no matter what it takes for them to stop the three enemies.
Haru: The Phantom Thieves are "evil." Shido, Fallen One, and Queen Lilith are "just"...It should be the other way around.
Ann: And what they're doing to poor Akechi...They're manipulating information using the media!
Keiko: Akechi-Cun will be fine. Fallen One needs him alive to change the world by being him, we have time to rescue the real Akechi soon.
They will save Goro Akechi and stop the three real enemies, as well as getting one gem to two more False Gods to go down.
Yusuke: Leaving Junko aside – we'll get back at her later with Fallen One who's using Akechi's body – our main issue is Shido.
Haru: Were there any instances before when you didn't know the Palace keywords?
Trying to ask Ann about what she try talking to the man yesterday about it, she only got a few words in it.
Ann: Well, there was the time with Futaba.
That's right...They didn't know about Futaba's Palace to as her name, the room she was in, and what she thinks of it. So may be if they can do the same thing with Shido from the last keyword they needed.
Keiko: We did find out with her help.
Makoto: We didn't know anything about her, so all we could do was make conjunctures.
Keiko: But we did with Futaba when we visit her in the house she lives in.
That's true, but what if they did the same thing with Shido himself?
Futaba: Then, why didn't we just go directly and see Shido?
Sadly – that'll be very hard to do.
Haru: That's impossible. He's surrounded by bodyguards and followers all the time.
Yusuke: There's no way high school students can get an appointment with him either.
Wait, there is another way...
Ryuji: Well, we do have an adult with us...
Looking at Sae to go with them...even if it would work out, it might still be a risky move to pull off.
Sae: No, that's still impossible. Besides, that's too dangerous a method.
Ann: Well this is a problem...
Just then...they hear something coming from outside of the cafe for Sojiro to notices first for himself to hear it.
Sojiro: What's with the ruckus outside?
Announcer: To everyone gathered before Yongen-Jaya Station!
Sounded like a car was driving by to make room for the streets of a event to be going on.
Sae: Isn't that an election-campaign car?
Keiko: I think it is...
That's when Haru remembers something about today.
Haru: Oh right! The candidates are currently campaigning!
Also this is where Keiko remembers hearing the voice from somewhere.
Keiko: (That voice again...)
And hearing from outside, Shido speaks up to the people from the others to hear from inside of the cafe.
Shido: A apologize for the commotion! I am Masayoshi Shido!
Ryuji: Wait, did he just say, "Shido"?!
Ann: Yeah, he did!
From Keiko to sense and remember hearing Shido's voice somewhere, it all comes back to her now...From the event she saved the woman to get arrested and again to see him at the buffet. She remembers him!
Keiko: (It sounds like the same voice I've heard back then...)
Morgana: …?
Looks like Morgana was catching on to Keiko as well.
Ryuji: Man, talk about bein' lucky! We can go check him out without an appointment now!
As Ryuji and Haru were the first two rushing to the area first, Keiko and the others followed them next. With Keiko in disguise, she can go out with the others.
Morgana: Hey, Ryuji ran off toward the station. This way, Madame Keiko. Hurry! By the way, did something happened? You didn't seem well a moment ago...
Keiko: I'll explain later...
The further down the street parts Keiko runs to the places, the more she can hear Shido's voice to make a lot speeches to get closer to sneak around to meet with the others to see Shido himself in person to get a clue on the third keyword they needed, with some luck. This has to work out somehow to be their last chance. Arriving at the streets of Yongen-Jaya Station to making it there, she, Morgana, Haru, and Ryuji finally see Shido to be doing another speech of his.
Shido: I humbly ask that you cast your vote for me, Masayoshi Shido! Let us all set sail toward a happy future together! I hope to continue serving you all!
So many cops all over to block to path for the others to cheer for Shido's words to love his work. Ew! With Keiko, Morgana, Haru, and Ryuji arriving at the scene to see the enemy they must steal the Treasure to change the heart of this man.
Ryuji: Is that the guy?! You guys wait here! You too, Keiko, you're not safe going much closer, OK? I'll go get intel for us!
A risky move for Ryuji to do...I hope it'll go well.
Haru: Wait!
Keiko: Be careful, Ryuji!
As the three waited for hope of Ryuji's safety as he approaches to Shido for him to finish with his speeches for him and other co-workers and guards to walk out with him.
Ryuji: Heeey! Yo, Shido-san!
Oh, no...Trouble.
Guard: Stand back!
Ryuji: I just wanna talk to him for a sec!
Guard: He's a busy man!
Ryuji: The hell?! Ain't he s'posed to hear a citizen's comments?!
But instead, the guard pushes Ryuji aside.
Guard: That's enough, brat!
He brings up a thing of Ryuji and Keiko seeing Shido a while back to still be a jerk 'that he really is' for him to cut in line to go to the elevator door first since they were first in line.
Ryuji: You're that asshole we met at the hotel before! At the elevators!
Here's the flashback...
Ryuji: Oh, I'm sorry-So you can butt in front of others people if you're in a hurry?
End of flashback afterwards...
Guard: What are you talking about?!
Luckily for Keiko, Morgana, and Haru to rush to Ryuji's side in time to help him out.
Morgana: That moron...!
Keiko: Ryuji! (I don't care if I'm out of the open, I have to help out my friends!)
Haru: Come on, stop...!
Ryuji: But these guys-
That's where Shido turns around to say something Ryuji only 'for him not to care or recognizes Keiko at all' which was good.
Shido: Hey kid. You don't want to know what happens when you cross me...
Hearing Shido talked for Keiko to recognize it completely. From the hotel buffet, the time she saved the woman, and him suing her on something that Keiko didn't do at all.
Shido: It seems the customer base the changed since I was here last. Have they started a day care?
Hey, he touched her too for Keiko to just push aside only, and Shido tripped on his own to get hurt as an acted.
Shido: This ain't a show,. Get lost, kid.
All of this to set Keiko up for nothing.
Shido: Damn brat! I'll sue!
Keiko: (That voice...This man...There's no mistake...He's the same man as the one from before...He must be Akechi's father.)
That's where Shido spots Keiko to be a normal looking teenage girl only for her to try not saying a word.
Shido: What are you looking at, woman? Yeah, you just keep quiet to yourself for your own safety. This country is filled with clueless children...I worry about Japan's future. Let them go, they already know of their place like this girl does. My next appointment is coming up.
A close call there for it did scared Keiko a lot to be happy that Shido didn't notice a thing. As Shido drives off for Ryuji really hated him already since day one.
Keiko: Ah, man...! That was too close...
Ryuji: What a piece of shit. So whaddya think after seein' him in person, Keiko?
Keiko: You guys...he's the one who set me up and got me arrested. There's no doubt, it was Shido.
This comes to a bigger shock for Haru, Ryuji, and Morgana to hear this part.
Ryuji: Wait...He's the jerk you told us about before...?! The same guy?! For real?! Seriously?!
Haru: You're sure, Keiko-Chan...aren't you...?
No doubt about it at all.
Morgana: Shido's the one who ruined your life...Madame Keiko, he's the one.
Keiko: He is.
Well, that's another reason why they needed to change Shido's heart and fast.
Ryuji: Holy shit...I don't believe it...
Morgana: ….
Haru: ...Let's get going, okay?
Going back to Leblanc for Keiko, Morgana, Ryuji, and Haru making from the toughest crowd all over town, to meet back with the others of seeing Shido in person to be hearing with luck. Not only that, but Aika and Hitomi heard the news as well to keep a low profile to seeing each other, but they saw ans heard the whole thing.
Aika: Shido? He's the one to not only ruin our lives, but also...
Hitomi: Hurt Amamiya's the most. What an evil man.
Punching the wall for Aika's stronger than she looks and Hitomi was the smart one.
Aika: Unbelievable! That bastard! He's so going to get his heart changed and arrested!
Hitomi: Right, and I think I know how we can do it, Iwamura. And he will. We must tell Tsuba and Jodojon about this right away.
Aika: More research on Shido? Hell's yes, let's do it. And of course have Kiwa message Keiko and the others for us to back them up all the way to the very end.
Hitomi: Yes. And more details on the Blood of Oath book, let us be off.
Now we're talking! From there...to also not get caught for Keiko was lucky and she tells them that it's the same man who set Keiko up on a crime she didn't do – for Makoto, Ann, Yusuke, Futaba, Sojiro, and Sae to learn about this as well.
Ann: Shido's the guy who set you up, Keiko...?!
Keiko: Yes, it's the man who I've been trying to tell you all about. I'm innocent, and Shido ruined my life since then.
To be all true, now they know the man that Shido really is in person.
Yusuke: What kind of fate brought you two back together...?
Keiko: I wish to knew that part myself, Yusuke, believe me. He has been aiding Junko who's Queen Lilith and Fallen One who has a hold of Akechi-Cun. We have to stop Shido...!
Makoto: Talk about a destined connection...
But that's not the only bad thing Shido has done to Keiko, there was a lot more they've all learned about.
Morgana: Shido was involved in the cognitive research too, right? This can't be dismissed as just a coincidence...
Sojiro: God...What the hell's going on here? Now I've seen Keiko's good behavior to be strange but good, I feel sorry for her than what her parents have treated the poor girl.
He now knows for Keiko to be a good person to get to know her a lot over time.
Sae: Shido was already a politician then, yet he sued a student like Keiko and ruined her future? He must've pulled some strings so that his name wouldn't be mentioned...Furthermore, he also would've had to force that woman into making a false statement and she died because of it for Shido had Junko murder her at gun point.
It would make sense why Shido wanted Junko to murder her to keep his secret.
Yusuke: He would do anything. We're talking about a man who ordered a hit inside the police station.
Sojiro: He can't sit still until he crushes whoever opposes him, no matter what how trivial. He's always been that way. I thought I would help out a trouble maker like Keiko at first, then I realize how good of a person she is to become a hero Phantom Thief who helped out Futaba a lot, and now...I realize that she has the right to live on her own and not something for her own parents to treat her like garbage! I don't care if they pay me, I won't let Keiko be treated as an outcast anymore. Keiko...
She gets it, for Keiko has never blamed Sojiro at all since they first meant to slowly grow to liking each other.
Keiko: It's fine, Mr. Sojiro...You're like a real father to me and Futaba as the best sister I ever had, you two are real my family.
They all felt bad to really hate Shido on how he treats people.
Ryuji: What a piece of shit! "Children are the future," my ass! What he's sayin' and doin' are completely different!
Ann: But now that we found out who did it, can't something be done about Keiko's record?!
Yeah, about that...
Sae: Once the courts have a judgment, overturning that decision will be difficult. It'd barely be possible even if proof of innocence is presented and Shido admits admits to his crimes.
Yusuke: At any rate, we need to trigger a change of heart in him.
They have to do so and only then can prove in Keiko's innocents in no time.
Makoto: Be that as it may, Shido's outer appearance and his true face are wholly difference. It's beyond hypocritical. It's as if he's an entirely different person.
Haru: He speaks about the good of this country...It makes me wonder what really is on his mind.
Sojiro: That man's full of ambition to rise in the world. He only thinks of the weak as stepping stools for his success.
Ann: He treats himself as an elite man while looking down on others...That's the worse.
And what of the third keyword to put in the Nav? Did they find out from Shido's speeches?
Yusuke: I assume the keyword for what he believes the Diet Building is will be despicable too.
Ann: It must be something serf-centered and completely different from politics.
Haru: Someone like him needs to be punished as soon as possible!
Only one way to find out is to get there later once they get out of school for Keiko to meet up with them to make another move, they can do this.
Ryuji: Let's head to the Diet Building again right after school tomorrow. I feel we'll get it this time!
Makoto: Stewing over it won't get anywhere. We have to do this...
They all agreed to do what needs to be done for all of them, they'll try again tomorrow to check out Shido's Palace.
Keiko: Then we'll meet with each other at the Diet Building, see you guys then.
As everyone go back home and Sojiro to close the cafe, Keiko and Morgana get some sleep to be ready for anything for the Phantom Thieves to make a move...besides Jackie's already aware of this to be ready to meet up with them when the arrive and Jose to see them again in Mementos way later; as well as seeing the outside of the Diet Building at night time for everyone really loves Shido to vote for him real soon to be a big hit all over town lately. With Kiwa texting the others about hearing about Shido and having a new backup on the team to talk about later, all was set for Metropolis 12 members as well.
Kiwa: Okay, you're in. But first let's lay down some ground rules for all of us.
Yeah, they're going to need all the help they can get. And from reading for Keiko to be doing, it was time to call it a night.
Year 20xx
Day # 229 - November 11/24th – Thursday
The next morning as Ann takes the train ride to school to hear a lot about how Junko's a hero, Fallen One as Akechi to fool everyone else, and Shido to win everyone's trust to love his strong speeches. Later that morning – Keiko gets another text message from Shinya to talk to Keiko about if the leader of the Phantom Thieves 'being her as Joker was really dead or not'.
Shinya: [Hey, Missy? It's not true that the leader of the Phantom Thieves is dead? I sure hope not...! But you would've told me about it right now, so that means she's still alive! Yes! I'm glad, but I'll keep it to myself, trust me. Other than for you and I to play some more shooting games again, I also hope to see you around again in person. Keep me in touch.]
Keiko: I will do that, Shinya.
I think Shinya might know of Keiko to be Joker...Later around lunch time for Sojiro makes his curry for Keiko and Morgana to eat his own meals, for Keiko gets another text message from Toranosuke Yoshida 'Yoshi' to check on Keiko next.
Yoshi: [I have a good feeling about you not being put in danger of the Phantom Thieve are far from being done yet. Yes, I can tell you and your friends are doing well...What a relief, really it is. I just hope you'll settle in to stopping the one call Shido to change his heart in no time by any means necessary, but please be very careful with him. I'm counting on you, Keiko, while I still delivering some good speeches on those who still believe in the Phantom Thieves.]
Keiko: Yoshi, there's no need to worry at all.
A good way to have other good people on Keiko's side, huh? Hours later...she and Morgana meet up with Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, and Haru back outside of the Diet Building place to try to find the third keyword to use to get to the Metaverse of Shido's Palace as Aika and Hitomi will back them up as always on their ends 'while there were some guards to look out for'.
Makoto: The security guards became suspicious of us last time, so we can't stay here for long.
Keiko: Let's try to make it quick.
Not if they can't get the last word yet it they cannot do anything at all.
Futaba: But we still have no hit...
Ryuji: Think it's a barrier after all?
Again with this...? Oh boy, Ryuji.
Yusuke: Where'd your enthusiasm from yesterday go?
Ryuji: Aw shuddup. The real game starts at two outs!
Ann: Enough chatting. Ryuji, please. You should be thinking about the keyword!
They have to try something out, but what was it...? Time for thinking here on what Shido does to put the puzzle together to be solved.
Haru: The citizens are secondary. He only cares about his own well-being and that of his lackeys...
Makoto: He wants to become prime minster even if it means trampling on others...
A little bit more to think about...
Futaba: Fortune...Rich people...
Well, maybe Morgana thought about something else next to ask Keiko about it.
Morgana: Hey, Madame Keiko, can you think of anything based on what you've heard from him? Just try saying anything. It doesn't matter if you guess. You can do it.
Thinking really hard for Keiko to try to remember on what she heard from Shido himself from where she got set up...
Shido: Incompetent fools like you just need to shut your mouths and follow where I "steer" this country!
He said something about "steer" to people to follow him on where Shido always goes to; like he wants to be more than a Prime Minister of things to run anything his way...or by force if Shido has people go up against this guy.
Keiko: Ah...Steer. Shido said something about the word "steer" to the woman he was trying to rape.
Morgana: Steer...?
Keiko: Is it like a ship...? Steering could be one of them to control a ship or boat.
Yeah, that could be it! That has to be it!
Navigation Voice: [Results have been found.]
For the Nav got something of results to be found of Shido's Palace in the Metaverse at long last.
Haru: It was a match?!
Keiko: We got it!
Turns out that Shido's Palace is a ship of all the things they didn't think from a politic type of person. Still, the building of this place was on land, and not on sea.
Ann: What? The Diet Building's a ship?! What kind of scenery will that be?! The actual building's on land!
Makoto: I can't even begin to imagine what it will be like...
Futaba: Well, whatever it is, looks like there are no barriers!
Yeah, Ryuji...Ha! Well, it does work for Jackie's avatar to give out the go sign for them to enter.
Ryuji: Sh-Shuddup! Let's hurry up and go in!
Ann: Easy there, Ryuji, we're only playing. I still love you.
She kisses Ryuji's cheeks and hugs him to feel better. Those two are still a cute couple together, aren't they?
Ryuji: I love you too, babe.
Just one more thing before heading out...
Yusuke: Are we clear of the guard's sight?
Morgana: Get closer to the wall, just in case. All right...Do it, Madame Keiko.
Keiko: Okay. Ready or not, here we go.
Hitting the button on Keiko's cell phone of the Nav, they go to the Metaverse of Shido's location they go exploring first for today.
Navigation Voice: [Beginning navigation.]
To do so, but did they get to the Metaverse? This one was really hard to tell if they did...There was no sign of the security guards to be anywhere in the area now, so maybe it did work. Well, Morgana changed so it did work...So they just explore around the building to find anything else off of Shido's Palace to be a bit different.
Morgana: Let's have a look around the place.
And so they do, until something comes up for them to notice a thing or two for each of them to sense out.
Ann: How's it look over there? See anything?
From the girls staying close of the five, the three men look around on the other side.
Ryuji: Nah. It's totally normal.
Then Futaba steps in to try to hack into things on her end.
Futaba: I'll check it out! Huh? What the heck?
Doing so, she then notice something quite different to stop.
Ryuji: What's up, Futaba?
Keiko: Is there a problem?
Nope, nothing for Jackie to finally appear to be moving around all silly-like to try to tell the others about something very important as well as hearing Futaba's gasping.
Ryuji: Futaba?
Yusuke: What is it?
They all and Jackie rush back to Futaba's side to be standing while also being amazed on what she was seeing, and so were the others.
Ryuji: The hell...?
For they see them moving for a huge type of ocean view of waters all over from sunken building, for this Metaverse was Shido Shadow's Ship Palace. They were on a huge cruise type of ship! For it was big to fit the entire Diet Building on it and it was moving, as it was swimming through other building to sink them under water in seconds.
Keiko: Shido's Palace is a cruise ship. (I knew it was one, but something like this to be moving is brand new to all of us.)
Haru: Even though this country may sink, he alone will survive...That's what this cognition is about, huh...?
From something to look nice to not be very real, this was still mess up to see all of this mess to look and feel very real. Other than Jackie hugs Keiko to be happy in seeing her again.
Keiko: Oh, Jackie! I miss you too...I'm fine. I'm glad you're watching on Jose for us. (Poor thing must've been scared from the whole plan of ours, but I don't blame it for worrying a lot, not to our friend to try finding Jackie's true human master to be someone else. Same with Jose, he's such a brave young boy.)
The little Persona knows to be much stronger from here on out and so was Jose, right now they all have to deal with this to still have their normal clothes on in the Metaverse for right now.
Ryuji: This is bullshit...! A country that children can be proud of, my ass! It's completely sunken in his head! If a guy like this stands above everyone, we're seriously done for!
Ann: This is beyond ridiculous!
Yusuke: The same goes for Junko. She should've seen this scenery as well...yet she still aided Shido. Both her and Fallen One who is controlling Akechi's body while his true self is trapped by Fallen One's doing. Damn him...!
For Jackie to be sticking its tongue out, it gets the Phantom Thieves on how they all felt about this type of mess.
Makoto: What in the world is he thinking...?
Haru: Whether it be for glory or for simply a reward...My father died because of someone like this...! And I do feel sorry for Ms. Hitachi to be left heartbroken.
Futaba: We gotta sink Shido instead of this country!
This will be a hard one to do to change Shido's heart while also stop two more Shadows, get one more gem, and two more False Gods to kill off. For Jackie to find its human master might take some more time on the last False God probably to wait for wait later to do.
Keiko: Jackie, listen...This next mission might be hard to do, but I promise we will find your human master who's real. Not Junko or a fake illusion sister of the made up Megami. I'm sorry it had to happen like this...Still, the next path we'll be facing with will be hard, are you willing to still follow us and still help you out again later?
For Jackie the special Jack Frost Persona to not go down without winning this type of fight to be ready for anything to stay by their side. From a sword, shield, and armor made of ice of its own upgrade, to go all out in this one.
Morgana: Jackie's in until the very end to find its master. Thank you, friend.
Keiko: Yes. Akechi-Cun must be saved while we stop Fallen One, Queen Lilith, and changing Shido's heart too. With the others in Metropolis 12 too, we can save the world. We can do this.
The little snowman type of Persona won't fail its friends.
Morgana: Good... (You're a real member of our team, Jackie.) A Palace with not just the center of the distortion, but the entire country sunken...I can't believe there's someone with this tremendous of a desire...Everyone, be careful! This will be completely different from past Palaces!
Ryuji: We're definitely gonna take his Treasure!
Keiko: Then let's do this! So before we go, we all know what to do, right? Little at a time we got to get things done to take a few days to complete, but we will pull this whole thing off. I just wanted to say this too...From the powers we gained, others we helped out so far, friends that I've made, bad guys to stop, Akechi-Cun calling out to me to stay strong, helping out Jackie, Jose, Aika and Hitomi get their answers; solving the case for Kiwa to get his real cousin, Daisuke to find his loss family being two daughters, and stopping the three main enemies...We can make a big change with many reasons why. When we're done, I want to live on my own with Akechi to work hard and finish up our high school years. Anyone else care to join in?
They all do for their goals that they also have like Keiko's...Besides Jackie's was to find about itself and the human master who must rescued 'whoever it really was'.
Ryuji: All right! Now we're talkin'! I want to do my best to be a kick ass track runner!
Ann: I wish to become a model to be in magazines, movies, and TV shows to look my best for Shiho to see me.
Yusuke: A fine artist to paint the best ones that I see all beautiful-like.
Makoto: A police commissioner like my Dad was. We must put an end to this by December 17th, the day before the elections!
Futaba: I want to get out more to find what love really means...
Haru: Run my own coffee shop like my grandfather did.
Morgana: And for me to become human again to learn about myself one day, it will happen. Now let the infiltration begin! Time to pay Shido back for setting us up into a trap!
That's right! But before that could happen...Mochizuki leaves Keiko something of a double edge sword of her new weapon upgrade to get and to have from her Persona form allows for her to do so; same with the others with their armors, weapons, guns, and other equipped things to keep hold of for it was the last thing she can do as she slowly fades away. For one girl was there with long hair to look so young to be hiding in the shadows, she takes off afterwards.
Ann: Mochizuki...? She was real?
Sadly, this was the last time we'll be seeing Mochizuki only to leave the rest to the Phantom Thieves.
Keiko: Thank you, Mochizuki. We know. We'll get back at Junko Sakurai aka Queen Lilith for you, she will be stopped. Now then, everyone...We should get going to have a look around the Palace. Stay close. (All this to come this far, we have to do this.)
Whoever this person was and from the Persona's spirit, they helped them out at least. Now it was time to explore Shido's Ship Palace for today and the rest will follow next. For Keiko, Ryuji, Ann, Morgana, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, Haru, and Jackie were all set to go to have a look around without anyone seeing them so far of Shadows to be suited up 'almost but not yet'. But once they are, they have to be ready for anything who stands in their way...Same with Aika and Hitomi made it there as well.
Aika and Hitomi: It's time to move out.
Good sisters, huh? This will be the Phantom Thieves' biggest target to go up against with many good reasons why. Time to set sails to take action on Shido's Treasure and the final one of the Brightful Gems to take from him next.
