July Update: Reworded and skimmed up to Chapter 7. So check them out and expect the same soon with other chapters!
This Story is a Work of Fiction by a mere follower of Persona.
The Story and Elements of the Persona Story are all owned by Atlus Co., Ltd.
Similarities between original characters or events to persons living or dead in your world are purely coincidental.
Only those who have agreed to the above and support the official release may partake in this story.
Now then, let this new story begin…
Case File #0: Prologue
(XX/XX/20XX – Thursday, Afternoon) – (Location: Jiyū University, Bunkyō Ward)
A warm breeze brushes through the field of grass and flowers. The sounds of the calm waters of the pond set a serene scene that contrasted the bustling of students and faculty around it. Besides that, his was a sizeable quiet spot to calm the mind. One student lay on the bed of grass, relaxed in her posture with a book titled "The Count of Monte Cristo" covering her face. A white rose picked from a nearby bush fluttered to the wind beside her. It was a peaceful nap, and she would like nothing more than to indulge in this slumber for a while longer, then a presence was felt. With annoyance in her groans, she lifts the book and sits up only to see nothing.
She wonders what that feeling was when a buzz on her phone alerted her of the time; it was getting late. She uses the rose as a bookmarker before putting away the classic book and heading home. She followed the usual route towards the underground train line, her mind rifling with mixed feelings upon returning to her reality, contemplating what she has to say and what's left to do with classes almost ending. Anxiety grew in her at the thought of what her final grades will be.
She came to a stoplight alone, waiting as cars rushed by and distracted by her own thoughts. She almost tuned out the sound of cries from nearby, spotting a growing crowd a block away. The public was looking up a the tall company building. The brightness of the sun clouded her vision until a vague silhouette of a person was made out.
The next second, it was gone, and she could only watch helplessly as the figure plummeted to the cement below…
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
(3/19/20XX – Tuesday, Evening) – (Location: Niijima Residence, Chiyoda City)
"The follies of our society today, the kind whom we associate with a man who nearly took over this government decades ago, continues on. Its roots embedded in our economic, political, and social systems generations before, making this man an effect than the cause. It is a government system that gives leisurely benefits to the egocentric elites and figures of traditionalist beliefs at the working masses' expense. Like a specter in the night, it is seemingly powerful in its presence and unstoppable to those haunted by it. It sows seeds of apathy and misinformation, greed and ego, pessimism, and wrathful anger. However…however…"
The Representative sat at his wood desk, frustratingly tapping his pen at the paper alongside a tall stack of folders. His old wristwatch begins beeping, signaling it's time to take a break. He stretched, yawning loudly as he rubbed his weary eyes.
"Ren! You doing alright?" a voice asked that was music to his ears right now, or really any time of day.
"I'll be right over." Getting out of his seat, he looked through the window blinds overlooking the high rises of Tokyo in the distance. He takes his last sip of coffee, marking him the world's number one dad before exiting his private office. He stepped out to a small corridor, to his left, the master bedroom where he and his wife have slept for many years and a small staircase leading to the room his little thief sleeps.
'If she heard me say that now she be annoyed like hell…I'll make sure to say it when she gets back,' he chuckled, turning right he enters the main living room with his wife sitting at the dinner table.
Makoto's stared at her work phone, scrolling through emails while eating rice with beef and mix vegetables. A tired but focused look in her red eyes that still mesmerize him, he will never stop admiring her conviction and caring nature to those around her.
"Seems we're both caught up in another work-filled night, my dear, perhaps a cool cup of tea would help ease the tension," Ren said with suave, his charm ever-present.
Makoto would have rolled her eyes if not for her smile at his romantic antics. "I should've guessed that box of tea you got had another purpose, and yes, that would definitely help, thank you." She watches her husband quickly get to work in the kitchen behind the counter, hiding his crafting magic. The sight brought a pleasant calmness to Makoto. Seeing Ren just be himself was her assurance that things would continue being alright.
"Mind if I turn on the T.V.?" he asks.
"It's no bother. I could use some background noise."
With a click, the news channel popped up with the weather report and local news. Ren saw it discuss an entertainment alley with new restaurants and shopping places to enjoy, his sight focusing on a familiar government building he calls work in the background. Most passersby's in the report also wore pins supporting the current governing coalition than their reformist coalition.
'Do they even remember what almost happened to this country?' Ren questions, putting that frustration aside as he poured a tea for both of them. "My big speech is coming along well. Needs some rewrites, but the heart is definitely there, I feel," he says, starting small talk and handing Makoto her tea.
"That's not the one for the Committee session you've mentioned, right?"
"Nah, that's tomorrow, and it's already done. I'm just outlining the main policies and discussing strategies with other members for a coming bill from the upper house. More of the usual really…crossing fingers it passes this time."
"Bleh, "Makoto groans, "at least you get to work with people who usually agree and cooperate with you. Tomorrow for me is dealing with the usual stubborn scum. Those guys want nothing more than me off that desk...had to be on her day too."
The reminder about their plans and the person in question brought a smile to Ren's face, "Speaking of the birthday girl, she still hasn't come back yet, has she?"
"I got a text an hour ago saying she ran into Nea while getting textbooks for the semester. Unsurprisingly, Nea was insistent on catching up and getting ice cream." Both parents chuckled at the image of their daughter out with her best friend; it's been a while since they heard of her doing such evening activities. "She should be home a bit later than usual," Makoto stated as she finished her plate and grabs some toasted bread.
"Well, still a preferable experience to last year's shopping where you and Sae-"
"Ren!"
"With her and I almost passing out from the stuff we carried and Sae threatening-"
"Ren, I thought we agreed never to bring that up again!" Makoto said, flustered and coughing up breadcrumbs. "Besides, it was her first year to Jiyū. How can we not be worried if she didn't have everything possibly needed!"
Ren sits gladfully that these moments still happen between them. Some things do not change.
"I hear you, but we see she's more than capable of navigating that life already," Ren said in defense. "Stuff like gathering necessities and organizing her schedule is always a teaching moment. This year especially is going to be interesting what with the new university president already making changes."
"Yeah, I actually read about him from an article I read. It said- "
"Moving on with world news, a major political scandal emerges when one of the leaders of a labor movement in Europe stepped down after breaking down over the futility of thier cause." The sudden announcement from the T.V. catches both of their attention. "This confession shocked many, leaving many questionings such as why a beloved and confident figure by many suddenly break. While this story is still developing, the movement's future is left questioned by those opposed and neutral to them."
The words and images of the man bawling to the camera brought back many memories.
"I heard of him," Ren mentions staring back at the T.V., "He wasn't one of the founders but was certainly powerful with his speeches. I knew he had personal fears, but...spilling all that like this? Wonder what Yusuke thinks, living over there and all."
"He, and the rest of us, are quite busy on our careers. So I can't begin to tell you," Makoto replies. She sees Ren nod silently, the watch on his wrist ticking by till he asks again.
"Makoto, when do you think the others will be available? You know, so we can catch up and share some drinks at Leblanc."
Her husband gave a casual look but hid that nostalgia behind his glasses; a time long passed and vanished for them. She would be lying if she didn't look at her phone some days and expected that red-eye to pop up again.
Imagining also some poor shadow's face during her Aikido sessions with thier daughter. They were on top of the world, knowing that no matter what stands in the way, life will always change.
That year would always hold a place in their hearts. However, Makoto holds what they have now just as preciously.
"Ren, that part of our lives is…gone now, not just by our own promise but through Lavenza's as well. We couldn't even if we tried."
Ren turns to her, eyes closed and his usual smile, "Yeah…I know, just brought back memories, that's all."
He opens them upon feeling her hand on top of his, their wedding rings together with their fingers interlocked. "What's important now is things right in front of us. All our children are the stepping stone to the adult world. Let's see it through that they achieve what they desire so…so that they don't have to do what we did."
Ren nods, bringing a smile to Makoto. She proceeds to blush when he kisses their rings.
The front door clicks, the sound of footsteps signaled to them a certain someone is finally back.
The young adult took off her red shoes as she entered; the heavy book bags slugged over her grey coat were put down as she hanged up her grey satchel and coat. "I'm home!" she announces as she talked through her red phone to her best friend. "Yeah, it's no issue, Nea. It's the thought that counts," she replied, fixing her short curly black hair from the crazy winds outside. "Yes, I'll book a trip to Suidobashi during your day off. I got it under control, so just take care of yourself and don't exhaust yourself, okay?" Her usually sharp red eyes soften at Nea's acceptance of the schedule change; she brushed off any rain droplets on her white button-up shirt as she said goodbye and put her phone in her black pants.
"So, how was the nightlife for my little thief?" her father remarked, his watch showing it's past ten.
Mao rolled her eyes, chuckling as she entered the kitchen, "alright, you got caught me red-handed. Nea and I took some valuable possessions for our future lessons on thievery." She opened the still-warm rice and meat with veggies, "Looks nice. Thanks for the meal Mom, turns out ice cream isn't a filling dinner."
As their daughter eagerly filled her plate, Makoto and Ren glanced at each other with perplexed expressions. It wasn't strange for their daughter to be happy, but compared to how she's been acting recently concerning Jiyū and "Personal Discussions" not ending too well...
Ren took the last bite of his food and stayed casual as Makoto continued the discussion, "Well, somebody's in a good mood."
"Well, sure," Mao shrugged as she walked over," a new semester to look forward to and time with friends would generally make people feel good. I think at least."
"True, and so why the call about a sudden trip?" Makoto asked with her hand on her chin. "Didn't you two set plans for your big day?"
Mao rolled up her long sleeves as per her mother's table manners and took a bite of food, "we did, but she canceled last minute. At one of her jobs, her boss called in, basically sweating bullets requiring every hand on deck for customers and new shipment. Came with a bonus she's been wanting, so I told her, 'yeah, we can push it back later.'"
"Nea canceled…on you?" Makoto asked, her finger tapping her chin. Ren knew that investigators look anywhere. "The same person who cried back in 5th grade just for being on a different softball team than you were, decided to put extra money over celebrating your birthday?"
Mao hardly flinched from the question, her eyes close as she ate, "It was her job at the airsoft complex. You know she loves working there. Trust me, she was super hesitant at first, and it was not until I gave her the okay that she finally relaxed. Besides, I usually have casual home birthdays, so it's no big deal."
Mao cleaned her mouth with a napkin, opening one eye to see her mother still unsatisfied.
"Well, I'm actually jealous you are going there," Ren interjected, smiling to ease them both, "this week for your mother and I is going to be packed with work, so a little vacation time sounds nice. Have I ever told you the first time I've gone there with Nea's parents?"
Mao followed her father's lead and chuckled like always, "of course, you just finished up a school field trip. After having one too many pancakes, you decided it was a good idea to go on the craziest ride there with Uncle Ryuji, who proceeded to throw up on you."
"Actually, he didn't," Ren smirked. "See, I had Mona by that point, long before we got Morgana. He also so happened to be with us during the incident, and well…"
Mao looked at him, confused, "wait, if he was on the ride when…oh come on, dad! T-that's even grosser," she laughed with him.
Makoto saw them smiling over such silly things and put aside her work face, sitting back in her chair. "To this day, I still don't understand what compelled you to think feeding pancakes to a cat was a good idea, even a strange one like Mona."
"He asked for it didn't he?" Ren defended, "gotta do what the cat says, or it's back to him sleeping on my laptop."
Mao shook her head at his puns, "sure, dad, and maybe Mona would've clawed you as well if you didn't go to bed or something."
Ren and Makoto both glanced back with a look, knowing that comment was far too real. Ren fixed his glasses, grabbing his tea and telling his daughter, "You'll get it one day when you have a pet, and before you know, it'll be like understanding a second language."
"Well, I'll make sure to tell Nea that Morgana will have only a moderate amount of treats before we get on any rides."
Makoto shook her head at the reminder, "She spoils him far too much. When was the last time they checked his weigh-?"
A phone buzzed on the table, which Mao saw was hers. Makoto saw her eyes widen slightly upon seeing something.
"Sorry, I gotta take this," Mao announced, already up with her phone in hand, "Mind if I go up after cleaning my dish?"
"Mao Niijima," Makoto said sternly, "you just got here. Your father and I have been glued to work all day. Nothing is more relieving than being together with you like this."
"Mom, look it-it's important alright?" Mao asked eagerly, "It's from one of my professors, yeah he's new and- "
"Read it then, all of it." Makoto crossed her arms, her daughter freezing up and holding the phone behind her back. "You said it's from university, correct? Unless it is something very private, what's not to share? At the very least on the table Mao."
Ren felt where this was going, a bit concerned as well.
"Or is it a request like last time? Resulting in you coming home with a broken nose, or the time before that with your arm bandaged up, after lying us. Both coincidently around an area where an officer reported beaten up thugs?" Makoto questioned further. "Anything you want to say?"
Mao was now glaring back at her mother, barely holding the urge to talk back.
"Mao," Ren spoke softly, "We just want to know what's going on right now that's troubling you."
She does not take her eyes off her mother but hears her father's words clearly. She tosses the phone to her mom, who checks to confirm who it really was. Seconds tick by as Mao irritably tapped her fingers. Ren didn't look away from his daughter.
After a minute, Makoto stops and slides it back to Mao as she sighs, her eyes close with a look of shame.
"Am I free to go, officer?" Mao asked coldly.
"…yes," Makoto whispered upon finding nothing.
Mao grabs her phone and storms off, only stopping briefly at the steps before going to her room.
Ren scratches his brow, thinking what they can do next. "I'm concerned about this too, but perhaps we're overthinking a little. Mao was quiet, sure, but she's like that sometimes. And you know her when some jerk starts harasses- "
"I wouldn't blink an eye if these were self-defense, but I've trained and know what her defensive techniques look like, Ren. These persistent wounds are signs she's looking for trouble, and I can't accept." Makoto groans, irritable of this situation, "I had hoped she dropped this when high school was over, but those instances aren't some random encounters."
"Look, I remember those days too. Constantly talking to Mao's teachers about it but- "
"I don't understand her thought process Ren, she's smarter than this," Makoto almost yelled out, barely holding back her frustration. "She has countless opportunities in front of her but chooses none. Instead, she falls back into old habits, throwing herself into reckless trouble again. Has she even chosen a major yet, or is she putting that off till next year again?"
"It's not like she hasn't been trying Makoto," Ren defended her, "and people need their own time and methods to decide. It's her own future, is it not?"
Makoto stays silent as she grabs her work phone and heads to their room. Her thoughts on the matter were made clear.
"Guess I'm going up alone then," he sighs, going upstairs and seeing the door closed. "Mind if I come in?" Ren asked, hearing no response till she opened the door. He slowly walks in with a smile as Mao heads back to her work desk; he sees the room was relatively the same since moving back from the dorms but a few months ago. The Jack Frost plushie on her bed, reminding him of simpler times.
Mao sits dead focused, wearing thin, round glasses while doing an early studying session with one of her new books. "Thinking of new pair soon?"
"They're fine. Getting new ones always bothered me," Mao mumbled.
"Well, as long as your eyesight's fine," Ren replied, pushing up his first real glasses while trying to stay casual. "You know, take it from a fellow glasses user, that when your sight-"
"Dad, just say what you really want to say. I'm all ears," Mao sighs, still writing down notes.
Ren figured she respond like that; it was a habit he hoped she moved on from when talking to others. However, he took it one step at a time and got to the point, "Mao…I get your going through a rough patch right now, a bit on academics and career-wise."
"That's an understatement."
"But you're still at the cusp of transitioning to a bigger world out there; you have time. Besides, it's not like everyone truly knows where they're going even with the most thought out of plans."
"All except you two," she reminds him.
"Yes," Ren sighed, body tensed from what the actual past was, "but those were under specific circumstances, Mao. The kind I don't wish for you to go through yourself,"
"The false assault on your record, right?" she asked, a calmness in her voice. Recalling the barrage her father faces daily and the rougher times at her high school because of it.
"…yes, that one," Ren half lied, "I don't regret what I did, but I was also lucky to meet the best people in Tokyo. I didn't do it alone nor carried any burden from it alone. Perhaps those kinds of connections could help you in too...it may even be what you need."
"Yet everyone out there only out for themselves these days," Mao replies, stopping her work as she sat back to her chair, "exploiting those they deemed useful till they've outstayed thier use…or end up dead."
"You're not just talking about troubles at Jiyū, are you?"
"No, but it does have its fair share of jerks and questionable practices," Mao spoke out of spite before looking back at her father. "I don't know if you heard, but...before my first year ended, a woman from an office building near the campus…leaped off the roof from years of back-breaking work with little pay. I didn't just hear or read about it, too. I was coming back from a hard day at a class when I looked up…and saw her falling in the distance…I didn't see her land cause of the crowd below but-."
"Y-you saw her?! Mao, why didn't you-?!"
"This was after another person in Shibuya was blacklisted for voicing a simple complaint and died alone in poverty," Mao's eyes looked down, staring at nothing as she shared the disturbing truth. "I later learned each of them came from Jiyū, top of their class even. Despite all that, this was how the world treated them."
"Mao…please stop," Ren asks calmly, kneeling and putting his hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eye. "You can't just walk away from that; you should've told us or anyone about this."
"Probably, but that'll hardly change anything, would it?"
Mao looked to the pile of work on her desk, "I couldn't stop thinking about it. Who wouldn't? And every time I come to that same damn question…just what is waiting for me out there? Simply do as I am told? Follow the career path that would probably earn the most money while sacrificing my own identity for some soulless, shit job?" She pulled away from her father's hands, turning back to her desk, "Seeing that with my own eyes, knowing that there's many more like it. In the end, I…couldn't accept that. However, plenty of people out there do, and now almost everyone hardly seems to care."
'You are not the type to think about giving up Mao,' Ren thought as he stood back up and chose his next words carefully.
"I get it," he said, "your frustrated…and traumatized at everything going on. It is easy to let this push you to recklessness or hopelessness over everything else. But, you still have a fire in your heart that refuses to be extinguished. A passion that, if used to its potential, can bring change to people around you, no matter how small, it might even stop tragedies like that from ever happening." There was no hint of doubt in those words of what he believes his daughter was capable of. With a serious look in his eyes, he asks, "Mao, do you have that potential?"
Mao did not look back at her dad, sitting there for several long seconds till whispering back, "I hope I do."
"We know you do," Ren assuringly said, "all that is left is to find that push." With a smile on his face, he heartily patted her on the head, which made her smile a little. "So don't give in," he encouraged, "keep using that big noggin of yours to continue seeking out others and finding ways to harness your skills to their fullest. You're too stubborn to let this society consume you." He slowly stops, leaning back to the wall and causing Mao to look back at him.
She saw a shameful look in his eyes, "In fact, I've worked the past twenty years hoping to fix this country. For the downtrodden and for you…but now? I can barely get a single bill to the Prime Minister's desk. Perhaps then things would be getting a bit better…"
Mao rarely ever saw her father like this. Even on his roughest days, he had a smile on with some horrible dad joke hiding under his sleeve. Looking back, she remembered something he said in his youth. Her demeanor softened, her eyes looking with admiration, "Being a hero, it's never been easy work, but it's better to doing something than nothing at all."
Ren smirks. That's right, he needs to stay strong for them. "Thanks."
"And if it makes you feel better, the National Prosperity Party Students at Jiyū have moved from spreading fake rumors to just posting defaced cardboard cutouts of you on social media," Mao quipped.
"Oh yeah…I think I look better with the devil horns and oni teeth, doncha think?"
Both continued to laugh at their own bad jokes till Ren felt he took enough of Mao's time and decided it's time for all of them to rest. He gets up and points to her with confidence in his eyes, "Still got a whole month ahead of ya till classes. I know you got this, and whenever you feel defeated, remember there are always others there to pull you out. So please, take care of yourself as much as you do to others. They need you too."
"I'll think about it," Mao answered, eyeing her phone.
Ren walks to the door when he looks back at her. She didn't hear him whisper to her, "And we'll always be by your side too. We love you, Mao." He shuts the door, leaving Mao to her own devices.
Upon hearing the fading footsteps, Mao tapped her finger on the wood desk. She eventually picks up her phone and sees the hidden screencap images of texts she managed to delete under her parents' noses. She read what the client said.
Client : "Tomorrow is still a go, right?"
She thought back to her father's words, the look of frustration and concern in her mother's eyes. Mao's fingers on her device almost moved by themselves in trying to respond, but the words and concern from her parents held them back, contemplating what they would feel and how this could horribly go wrong like it almost did for them. However, her conviction and memories of such injustices pushed back and demanded action be done, or else others put in such shitty situations will attain thier justice.
"Mom, Dad…I can't keep blinding myself from what's out there, especially when there isn't anyone else to help," Mao whispered as she replied.
Anonymous: "Yes, enter the café at 4 pm exactly. I'll be there before rainfall and take care of things from there."
After a minute, another message pops up. Mao could only imagine the anxiety they were feeling.
Client: "Thank you!"
Client: "You know, I actually feel like we're safe for once. Hey, no matter what happens, at least I know we've tried."
A small smile forms as she texts back.
Anonymous: "Let's work together to ensure that."
Client: "Yeah!"
Mao deletes the evidence on her phone with everything set and noticed it was almost midnight. She could not waste any sleep on this and jumps straight to bed. She rests her eyes while looking out the moonlit window across her bed. The words of her parents echo in her head as she fell asleep, 'My future…'
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
"Ren?"
Makoto's worry snaps Ren out of what Mao said, wondering how he will share such news. They both sat on the corner of the bed, Makoto wondering what he learned that's troubling him. He glanced at his watch and saw it was getting late and they needed to leave early tomorrow; he decided to tell Makoto after Mao's birthday.
"I'm fine; I gave her a few words of encouragement and shared some laughs. I think she's doing alright now," Ren answered.
Makoto smiled at the response and lay in bed. Turning off the lights as she whispered, "We got a big day tomorrow, best not to have you collapse when she gets back."
"Alright, just five more minutes on my speech," Ren requested. He saw his wife nod before walking back to his office. He sat down and stared at the paper sheet until he found the words he wanted and began writing.
"However uncertain a future with such issues may be, it is not beyond us to use what ambitions we have now for guidance for a better world. It's through a thought-out plan with our coalition of working masses of multiple backgrounds, who believe in that same world as we do, and the power each of them holds that'll bring those ideas to fruition. We will change the heart...no, the very soul of this country."
