Jester, Akemi, their friends and Miyuki and the members of SEES spend the next few minutes walking down dozens of pathways, opened and went through metal doorways while fighting and defeating shadows and gained EXP, money and items from them along the way and as they opened and went through another metal doorway, Yukari suddenly stopped walking.
"Whew! This place is ridiculously massive. It feels like we've still got a long way to go too…" said Yukari with a tired look on her face.
"What, you tired already?" said Akihiko.
"Nah, it's more of a mental thing. Exploring an unfamiliar place like this can get exhausting… But, I can definitely keep going!" said Yukari determinedly to Akihiko.
"That raises a good point, though-we have quite a few members who are new to our process. We shouldn't overdo it. Let's take periodic breaks as we proceed. This would all be pointless if we drove ourselves to exhaustion." said Queen concernly to them.
"In that case, why don't we take a short break now, Queen?" suggested Paladin as he glance at Queen.
"Hm, very well then, Paladin." said Queen as she nodded at Paladin before they began resting.
"So, I've grown curious about you Phantom Thieves-does your attire not weigh you down?" asked Mitsuru curiously to Queen about their outfits.
"I've been wondering about that too… Parts of your costume, like the cape and the spikes, look so heavy-but you can move around so quickly." said Ken curiously to Queen as well.
"Ooh, are we really going there? Cuz I wanna know too! What are the secrets behind your clothes?" asked Junpei curiously as well.
"It's kind of a long story…" said Paladin as he scratch his cheek a little.
"True, it is rather difficult to explain…" said Queen in agreement with Paladin.
"It's just how they're spec'd. Done." said Oracle casually to them.
"A typical answer from you, Oracle." said Jester in a deadpan tone of voice at Oracle (who stick her tongue out at her).
"Heheh… If only the rest of us had better explanation for it…" said Panther as she shake her head a little.
"I think they're great. Everyone's attire is really different and stylish, and suits each of them well." said Yukiko with an impressed look on her face at their outfits.
"Yes, our personalities are expressed quite clearly through them. I actually like mine quite a bit." said Crow as he nodded at Yukiko.
"Crow, your mask looks like it does a good job guarding your nose." said Yukiko, pointing out the use of his long red mask.
"That's true, but wouldn't it poke anyone standing in front of him in the head?" said Chie.
"That just means it has solid offense and defense. When you consider that, I'd bet it's even better than Teddie's gag glasses." chuckled Yukiko.
"Haha-thank you for the… praise, I guess?" said Crow with a slight confused look on his face at Yukiko.
"And how about what you guys call each other, like Jester and Mona? Are they nicknames?" asked Yukari.
"Not exactly, Takeba-san. They're our codenames." replied Jester as she shake her head at Yukari.
"Yeah, what she said." said Mona in agreement with Jester.
"Codenames… How do you pick those?" asked Ken in confusion to them.
"It's mostly based on how our outfits look or make us feel. Do you guys want some too?" replied Oracle.
"Aw, yeah! I was just thinking it's about time for me to take up a title!" said Junpei with an excited look on his face.
"So, they're like ring names… That doesn't sound half-bad. I'll take one too, if you don't mind." said Akihiko, excited as well while Koromaru let out a bark.
"Didn't we already learn where this kind of conversation leads us…?" said Naoto with a slight disbelief look on her face.
"C'mon, it'll be fun. You gotta go with the flow! So, if we based it off on how Sanada-san looks, maybe "Boxer"?" suggested Panther.
"Isn't that kinda straightforward? The first codename that comes to my mind for him is Protein…" said Yukari.
"How true since he loves protein to a fanatic fault." thought Miyuki in amusement in her mind while both Jester and Akemi had amused looks on their faces.
"Yeah, just go with that. He even loves dumping protein powder on his rice." said Shinjiro.
"He does? Ugh…" said Spade with a disgust look on his face.
"Give me a break! Can you even think of a codename for me that doesn't have to do with protein, Shinji?" snapped Akihiko as he glared at Shinjiro.
"Even if I took the time to think one up, you'd still just go on and on about protein anyway! Why should I bother?" snapped Shinjiro as he glared back at Akihiko.
"Wha-Don't make it sound like that's the only thing I talk about! I'm only so particular about protein because it's the primary nutrient that the body needs to-" said Akihiko.
"Okay, that's enough from you two and it's decided that Akihiko-senpai's codename is Protein! Next is Yukari, how about Miss Pink since she always wears pink clothes?" said Miyuki, cutting off their argument before she suggested Miss Pink as Yukari's codename.
"Huh? I'm getting one too!?" said Yukari with a surprise look on her face.
"Ooh, that's spot-on! It's got that air of authority to it, but it sounds cute, too!" said Yosuke with a small nod of his head.
"Right? Plus her outfits and accessories are overwhelmingly pink." said Miyuki.
"Hey, how'd you know that!? Oh right-you already know me. I forgot, sorry." said Yukari in surprise then realisation as she remember about it.
"It's alright, Yukari." said Miyuki as she nodded at Yukari.
U-Um… Can Koromaru and I get codenames too?" asked Ken hesitantly and hopefully to them.
"Of course. Let's see, Amada-kun is a spear-wielder, so perhaps… Lancer? Is that too plain?" suggested Noir.
"Yeah, it's too plain, Noir." said Jester as she nodded at Noir.
"Let me choose for you and Koromaru then, Ken-kun. If Yukari's Miss Pink, then how about Mister Black for Ken-kun?" suggested Miyuki.
"Mister Black… Not bad. Even in Featherman, Black is depicted as a cool "lone wolf" type with a high level of maturity…" said Ken with a pondering look on his face.
"Plus, you try your best to make yourself like black coffee." said Miyuki.
"Huh? You even know that!?" gasped Ken with a surprise look on his face while Koromaru barked in surprise at Miyuki.
"Let's see… For Koromaru, how about, Hellbeast summoned from the Infernal Depths!?" suggested Fox dramatically to them (which make Koromaru whine in sorrow at Fox codename suggestion for him).
"Oh hell no, there's no way we're calling him by that codename and it's quite a mouthful to say it all the time, Fox." said Paladin as he shake his head and scowled at Fox.
"Paladin's right. Looks like your names are a little too next-level for the dog scene, Inari." said Oracle in agreement with Paladin.
"I see…" said Fox with a dejected look on his face.
"Alright, me next, me next! So, what kind of codename do you think fits me best?" said Junpei excitedly to them.
"Hm, for you, maybe Goatee?" suggested Jester.
"Huh? On, come on, why do you suggest that as my codename!?" said Junpei with an outraged look on his face at Jester (while Yukari snicker in unison at Jester's codename for Junpei).
"Because it fits you somehow?" said Jester.
"Yeah, it does. And another codename that fits you is "Geezer"." said Oracle.
"You too!? Why are you 2 so cruel to poor me?" said Junpei with a very sad look on his face.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Next please." said Yukari.
"Alright. For Shinjiro-senpai's codename… How does "Brood" sound?" suggested Miyuki.
"Huh!? Are you sayin' I'm moody or somethin'!?" gasped Shinjiro in disbelief and shock at Miyuki's codename for him.
"Yeah because that's how you look like on the outside but that's not it, senpai! I call you by that codename is because you're sort of like a brood mother who take such good care of us…" explained Miyuki innocently to Shinjiro (which make almost all of them chuckled and giggled in amusement at Shinjiro).
"Wha-You-What're you…!?" sputter Shinjiro in embarrassment at Miyuki.
"Arf!" barked Koromaru.
"Don't take HER side, Koro-cha-Ahem-Koromaru!" sputter Shinjiro as he also corrected his choice of words.
"So, the guy loves dogs, but he keeps it a secret, huh, leader…?" asked Skull as he glance at Jester.
"Yeah, looks like it, Skull." replied Jester as she nodded at Skull.
"You really know everyone so well, Miyuki-chan. It's amazing!" said Fuuka with an impressed look on her face at Miyuki.
"I know all about you too, Fuuka-chan. Let's see, Fuuka's codename… Maybe Hacker? Or Killer Chef?" suggested Miyuki.
"Uh, we already used the "Hacker" codename on Oracle and she denied it, Miyuki." said Panther.
"That's right, I did." said Oracle as she nodded at Panther.
"Oh-in that case, "killer chef" is the deal for the girls on our team except Akemi, too." said Yosuke.
"EXCUSE me!?" snapped Chie as she, Yukiko and Rise glared in unison at Yosuke.
"Oh boy. You've done it now, Yosuke." thought Akemi as she sighed and shake her head at Yosuke.
"Oh… So the me in your timeline isn't that great at cooking too…" said Fuuka with a troubled look on her face.
"Well, to put it bluntly, yeah." said Miyuki in reluctant agreement with Fuuka.
"How painfully honest and blunt of you to say that to Fuuka, Miyuki." said Yukari.
"But, wow! I guess we're pretty much the same in your timeline, huh?" said Junpei.
"All right, everyone, I believe that's enough chatting and rest for us. We should get going and-" said Mitsuru.
"Oh, we don't have codename for Mitsuru-senpai yet. Got anything for her, Miki-tan?" said Junpei, cutting off Mitsuru's words.
"Hm, maybe C'est Magnifique or Execution Queen for Mitsuru-senpai?" said Miyuki with a pondering look on her face.
"What!?" gasped Mitsuru with a shock look on her face.
"You're at least partly right about Mitsuru-senpai… She does say "execute" a lot." said Yukari as she smiled at Miyuki.
"Please, stop this…" said Mitsuru with an embarrassed look on her face.
"Anyway-you really do know us well, huh, Miyuki? Even I'm starting to feel like she's always been a part of our group." said Akihiko.
"Same here, Akihiko-senpai." said Miyuki as she nodded in agreement with Akihiko.
"Then, should we give you a codename too, Miki-tan?" said Junpei.
"Huh? Me too?" said Miyuki with a confused look on her face at Junpei.
"Well yeah! We shouldn't leave you out as the only person without one!" said Junpei before he glance at Jester. "Hey, Jester-Can you come up with a codename for Miki-tan?"
"A codename for Miyuki, huh? Does "Blue" sounds alright?" suggested Jester.
"Blue, huh? I suppose it'll do for someone like her, Jester." said Crow as he nodded in approval at Jester's codename for Miyuki.
"Yeah and I'll accept that codename that you suggest for me, Jester." said Miyuki as she smiled at Jester.
"Really? I'm glad to know that you accept it, Miyuki." said Jester as she smiled back at Miyuki.
"Good heavens… Is everyone satisfied now? Enough playing around-it's time for us to get moving again." said Mitsuru impatiently at them.
"Aww, but what about our codenames?" groaned Junpei.
"There's no real reason for us to use codenames. In fact, any confusing names could cause problems when issuing commands." said Mitsuru sternly at Junpei.
"Yeah, I guess that's true… It just feels like a bit of a bummer though." said Ken with a dejected look on his face.
"Still, at least it's quite fun for us to have codenames." said Miyuki cheerfully to them.
"Well, it's still not a big deal, but if it's to your liking then it's fine, Miyuki." said Yukari.
"Looks like this was a useful rest for everyone. Well then, let's head out." said Mona before he, Jester, Akemi, their friends and Miyuki stop resting and resumed their exploration of the place.
