Captain Blues: Time to start the show!
Persona 5: The Darkest Hour
Shadow Operatives!
[Opening Scene: Iwatodai – Kirjio Shadow Operative Building (Morning)
Theme of KSO Building: Backside of the TV from Persona 4]
"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy lives to come here," Fuuka said as she sat at the circular table.
Fuuka wore a white-colored sundress with sleeves, black tights, and boots. She also had long hair that was braided to the front
"No problem, I was due to for a vacation anyways," Amagi Yukiko sighed out as she sat beside Satonaka Chie, who was napping beside her.
Yukiko had her hair up in a neat bun, and she wore a snow-white dress with a sky blue cardigan and white sandals.
Meanwhile, Chie wore a yellow top with white lines, a light gray collar short jacket with blue in the interior, a black ribbon necklace, gray sports leggings, and white sneakers with yellow details.
"Any idea where Kanji and Rise are?" Hanamura Yosuke asked as he kicked his feet up on his desk. Yosuke wore an orange shirt with the word "FEVER" written in white and placed on the shirt vertically, aqua jean pants, a pair of fingerless orange gloves, and orange sneakers.
"They should be here soon," Shirogane Naoto answered with a slight yawn. "At least that's what Kanji told me."
Naoto had nearly waist-length hair tied in a loose ponytail with her trademark blue cap on her head. Naoto also wore a black suit with the jacket removed to reveal a blue button-down shirt, a black tie, black suspenders, black pants, and black dress shoes.
"You sound exhausted. Are you okay?" Yamada Ken questioned as he sat beside her while the ever-faithful Koromaru slept by his side.
Ken wore the standard uniform of Gekkoukan High School, brown shoes, a wristwatch on right wrist, and an armband with "Student Council" written on it on his left arm
Koromaru wore his customized Evoker collar and wings and Ken's small orange jacket
"Just a late-night," Naoto answered. "Yu, Margeret, and I went to dinner to celebrate closing our 100th case with Nanako, Teddie, and Ryotaro-san."
"I still can't believe the three of you guys are giving this a shot," Iori Junpei said as he sat down beside Naoto with an exhausted sigh. "I mean, being with one person is tough, but two of them? It's crazy."
Junpei wore a simple black T-Shirt with aqua-blue racing stripes on the sides, a pair of aqua-blue pants, and black shoes. He also wore a black cap over his long hair and a cross necklace around his neck.
"I think someone is jealous they couldn't pull it off," Teddie, in his Ted persona, teased as he sat on the desk.
Teddie's blond hair had grown to reach the middle of his shoulder blades with a blue ribbon, and he wore a blue and white striped T-shirt with an anchor design, navy shorts, and yellow shoes.
"You kidding me? Chidori is all the woman I could ever need," Junpei said with a tender smile.
"Careful everyone or Junpei's going to bust out the family pictures again," Yukari joked as she nudged Junpei with a friendly smile.
Yukari wore a pink top with a white lace design, a light navy collar short jacket, light beige short shorts, and brown high heel boots. She also wore a white choker with a pink buckle with the letters "Y&M" etched in it.
"Yeah, who knew he was going to be Mr. Family man," Akihiko joked.
Akihiko wore a simple black suit with a light brown collar shirt, red tie, and black gloves and a pair of sunglasses over his eyes.
"We're here!" Kujikawa Rise announced as she tossed off her straw hat and glasses while Tatsumi Kanji stood beside her and offered a wave.
Rise wore a white see-through halter top, with a pink, light blue, and orange shirt underneath it and tan pants.
Kanji wore a maroon pullover, black gloves, tan pants, and black shoes with red lines with glasses over his eyes.
"We also found this little number," Kanji said as he pointed behind him.
Suddenly, Labrys jumped and said, "Surprise!"
Labrys wore a bright yellow ribbon and a yellow and white dress with black-trimmed and her familiar headpiece.
"Hey, Labrys!" The Persona users all shouted out as she sat beside Teddie.
"Hey you," Labrys said as she nuzzled the side of Teddie's face, causing him to blush.
"Hey yourself, you Bear-y beautiful gal, you," Teddie replied. "I missed you."
"I missed you more," Labrys replied.
"Seems like the gang is all here," Mitsuru said as she walked into the room and took her place at the head of the circular table.
Mitsuru wore a red ribbon with a green gem, a puffy white blouse, a red skirt, white stockings, and brown shoes. She also wore a black choker with gold lettering that had "M&Y" etched within it.
"Barring Narukami and Aigis, I see," Mitsuru noted with an air of disappointment.
"Margeret summoned Aigis-sensei for some reason after we met up with Kanji and Rise," Labrys explained.
"Same with Yu," Naoto said before she smiled as both Kanji and Rise, who sat to her right and left, respectively.
"Must be due to their Wild Card status," Mitsuru said as she crossed his arms.
"I know Elizabeth and Margaret explained all of that to us last time we all met but damned if I'm still not confused on how any of that works," Yosuke said.
"You are so not wrong," Junpei said with a yawn.
"Alright, let's get started. Sanada-chan, You and Aki are the two are in the know here. Explain what happened, please," Mitsuru said.
Fuuka nodded and said, "Three days ago, The Dark Hour returned. Juno alerted me of this. I was able to use her."
"That can't be!" Junpei exclaimed. "Minato got rid of the Dark Hour by becoming the seal!"
"Yeah, I thought the same thing," Akihiko said. "Up until I got rocked by a shadow."
"But there is more. I sensed another persona user. Their abilities were similar to mine and Rise's," Fuuka continued.
"Wait! So that's who I sensed when we landed, Kanji-kun," Rise said with an excited tone.
"Yeah, you were mentioning something about that on our flight," Kanji said.
"Shibuya is where I sensed that Sensory Persona," Rise said to Fuuka.
"Shibuya?" Fuuka said. "It would make sense. I remember feeling that persona user in that direction."
"Could this be Hi-no-Kagutsuchi or Sho?" Ken asked.
"Yu defeated Hi-no-Kagutsuchi, and Sho has been MIA for the last four years," Naoto said. "No, this may be something more."
"I agree," Mitsuru said. "Which is why we're all be heading to Shibuya to locate these Persona Users. They could be the reason why the Dark Hour has returned."
The group nodded, but Akihiko asked, "But what if they're not involved in that? What should we do then?"
"Maybe they would be willing to help us?" Chie suggested.
"I'm unsure admittedly," Mitsuru murmured.
"How about this," Naoto said. "Aigis and Yu-kun are with Margaret in The Velvet Room. Why don't we wait until they return? Maybe they might have some insight for us."
"That's a good idea, Naoto," Yukiko said.
Mitsuru looked unsure about this, but she nodded. "I don't like to wait until something happens, but that may be the best case. The sooner we get word back, the sooner we can know the next move."
The group nodded.
"We'll adjourn for now until Yu and Aigis return. I booked each of your rooms at the Wilton here in Iwatodai and set up a reservation at the buffet for this afternoon," Mitsuru said with a smile.
[Scene Change: Shibuya - Café LeBlanch (Morning)
Theme of Café LeBlanc: Beneath the Mask from Persona 5]
Minako slowly opened her eyes and found herself still in Sumire's embrace. She didn't know why this girl had decided to hold her throughout the night, but Minako felt deeply in her debt. She would have to find a way to repay the girl for helping her out.
Minako slowly leaned up to see Ren walking up the stairs. "You're finally awake," Ren said with a smile. "How are you feeling?"
"I feel out of place here," Minako admitted.
"I know. I felt the same way when I came to this city. I know it's vastly different from what's going on with you, but um…." Ren said.
"I appreciate it all the same. Thank you," Minako said with a slight smile.
"Did she stay with you the entire night?" Ren asked, referring to Sumire.
Minako nodded and glanced down at her. "She didn't have to do it, but she did…." Minako murmured. "Why did she do that?"
"It's her story to tell," Ren said with a smile. "Maybe you should ask her when she wakes up."
"I'm already awake," Sumire groaned out as she opened her eyes, revealing to Minako her bright, ruby-red eyes. "Morning."
"Morning," Minako replied as she felt the back of her neck heat up slightly. "So," Minako began as she looked at Ren. "What's the plan for today?"
"Well, after you two went to sleep, Morgana, the tuxedo cat you saw with us, went to the Velvet Room. They requested our presence," Ren told her.
"The Velvet room…." Minako murmured. "Right. We better get going then. The sooner we go, the sooner we can figure out what is going on."
Ren nodded.
[Scene Change: The Velvet Room
Theme of the Velvet Room: Velvet Room from Persona 2: Innocent Sin]
"How long must we wait?" Aigis questioned as she leaned against the wall of the circular room.
Aigis wore a bright red tie and black and white dress with red-trimmed. She dons a black headphone-like headband with blue linings.
Beside her, Narukami Yu sat on the floor, dozing off.
Yu wore a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, a loose, light red necktie and a brown belt with a metal buckle, and a pair of dress pants and black shoes.
"Thank you for coming," Margaret said to Aigis before smiling fondly at the resting silver-haired man. "I feel bad having to take him here."
"He seems exhausted," Aigis murmured as she glanced at Yu.
"He and Naoto solved their 100th case last night, so we all went to celebrate with dinner," Margaret said with a smile.
"I am surprised Igor would allow you to leave this area," Aigis told her.
"Thanks to my relationship, he realized I would always be a visitor here. Like Elizabeth," Margaret explained. "But thankfully, Marie, Theodore, and Lavenza are here in my stead. But tell me, how are you, Aigis?"
"I am fine," Aigis softly replied. "However, I have this odd feeling within me. My Papillion Heart feels as if it is on fire. It appeared three days ago, but I do not know why."
"Why does the Velvet Room look like a prison?" Yu's voice cut in with a tired groan.
"That is because of my Trickster," A new voice said. With a cobalt blue flash, Lavenza stood beside Elizabeth. She held out her hand and said, "I am Lavenza. The current Velvet Room attendant. It is nice to meet you, Narukami Yu and Aigis. I've heard a lot of good things from Margaret and Elizabeth both."
"Hello, Lavenza," Aigis said as she shook her hand.
Yu cracked open an eye and shook Lavenza's hand while he asked, "What did you say about "Your Trickster" if I heard right?"
"My trickster, Amamiya Ren," Lavenza said. "He is the newest Wild Card."
"Wait, I know that name…." Yu muttered.
Just then, the sound of cell doors opened, and two teens stepped out of them. "My trickster!" Lavenza exclaimed.
But none of them expected the teen girl to shout, "Aigis! You're alive!"
Captain Blues: Until the next chapter!