"Wowwe!" Sophia said. "This is quite the celebration!"
Everyone cooed or chuckled at the young AI's demeanor. It's been some time since she was with them so it made sense for it to be pretty effective. Akira smiled as he held the phone higher.
"Been some time since you were on my phone. How is it?"
"It's just as comfortable as I remember. Thank you, Akira." Sophia said. Ryuji tapped Akira's shoulder.
"Dude, there's everyone else!" Akira looked and saw Ann, Makoto, Haru with Zenkichi and Akane. "Finally we've gotten together. Let's make Shibuya our playhouse!"
"Let's not do so. I mean causing a public disturbance would be generally bad. Even if you are a hero." Zenkichi said.
"Apologises. We were held up by the crowd near their hotel. However, that did give Haru and I a little bit of time to plan our day. And we'll start with Ann." Makoto gestured to the model.
"Akira, I don't know if you knew this, but recently a photoshoot I did a while back has decided to use me and several other models for a new fashion display at the mall. I thought we'd go there to see the debut."
Akira pondered on that.
"Really? Hm, not a bad place to start. We can definitely start our day with a good run around the mall." Ryuji said.
"I agree with Ryuji, let's show Lady Ann our support." Morgana said from Akira's bag.
"Hm, sure. I'd love to see your latest work." Akira said. "It would be my pleasure."
Ann smiled brightly as she waved her hands up. "Alright then, leave it to me! Follow the leader and I'll get you there!"
Unknown to the group, two other blondes were watching. Their eyes scanned the Phantom Thieves before laying their eyes on Akira. One reached into their pocket and pulled out a golden apple.
A few people glanced at them before feeling weak to their knees. The pair walked forward and disappeared into the crowd. Above them, a figure with golden eyes watched them. It sighed and melted into the shadows.
Meanwhile the Phantom Thieves delved into the festivities. Akira watched his friends have all kinds of fun as he and Futaba were getting snacks. Everyone had so many different orders, but buying things for them was never a problem. If you take into account his previous year in Tokyo and the road trip, this was nothing.
"You got me some tuna?" Mona asked.
"Yup."
"Always a man of few words. Well it's a good thing Gramps is covering this. It's always good to have an older adult for this stuff." Futaba said. Akira chuckled as they carried on. Zenkichi and his daughter were in front of the group when they found themselves at Ann's modelling display.
Akira smiled as he saw how bashful Ann was getting. She was blushing and everyone was giving their praises. Even Yusuke's odd compliments didn't deter her. She looked at him and he gave a thumbs up.
Futaba and Akira returned to the group with their orders. Zenkichi didn't look to bothered by the price though Akira could see a bit of sweat on his brow upon the initial look.
The group was eating their snacks as Yusuke held his stomach. Futaba turned from her ice cream. "You ok Inari?"
"...apologies. I need to use the restroom. Do we have something after this?"
Makoto tapped her chin. "Well the girls and Zenkichi were going to take Akane for some shopping. Guys?"
"We'll be checking out some of the newer video games coming out. I heard that one of the Shin Megami Tensei got a new remake! So we gotta go!" Ryuji said. Futaba was visibly shaking into wanting to go, but looked at the rest of the girls. Maybe she should indulge this habit only once.
"Then I will meet you guys at the game shop."
"We'll meet at Central Street near Big Bang Burger." Haru stated. "We'll text when we're ready or when you guys are."
"Got it." Ryuji said. The group dispersed as Akira made sure Mona was secure in his bag and still eating his fishy snack.
Above them, two people pressed their hands on the ground. A blue pulse of light briefly lit up the ground while no one paid attention.
A Few Minutes
Yusuke was washing his hands and humming a song he heard a while back. The guys were nearby so he had to see what new creative games were out there.
"Futaba's gotten me too interested in video game aesthetics. I need to control myself and know when to or not to purchase a game!" Yusuke never even played the games, he just let Futaba play through them and unlocked all the concept art. It was a strange partnership the two had.
The door to the bathroom opened and closed. A man wearing a black medical mask and black lensed glasses entered and looked around. Yusuke looked up and his eyes widened when the man stepped in and covered his mouth. He struggled against the assilaint when the man pulled down his glasses.
"Don't move." Yusuke's body shook when he passed out.
Outside
The girls were looking over the clothes. Akane was being dolled up by Ann as Futaba was showing Zenkichi all the weird glasses she'd found.
Makoto and Haru stood on the side.
"Are you ok Makoto?"
"Hm? Oh, I'm fine Haru. Just a bit out of it. We rushed to get here so quickly and got here so early, I guess I forgot to relax."
"Well isn't now the perfect time to relax? We have our summer break and our friends have finally graduated. I think it's our duty as their seniors to guide them through college."
"Of course. Though that might just mean Ann and Ryuji, right?"
Haru giggled. "Of course, our illustrious leader is someone who rarely needs help. Still, I would be more than happy to help him."
"That so?" It's an open secret among the women of the Phantom Thieves that Joker was an object of affection/desire. She'd even say for the boys depending on how close he interacts with Yusuke. Yet none of them have made the move. As more of their group enters the new realm of adulthood, their highschool silence on the matter will eventually erode.
"Well, I know for certain that we'll always be around for help."
"Akane, are you ok?" The two girls looked at Ann and saw her holding Akane. The poor girl looked so sleepy. "Akane?"
Zenkichi noticed. "Akane! What happened? Are you faint? I thought you drank plenty of water!"
Haru ran up and Makoto was about to as well when she looked to see other patrons looking exhausted. The workers and the shoppers had a similar look of exhaustion.
"What the hell?"
Meanwhile
"Ah, what the hell! This line is hella long!" Ryuji said.
"I estimated we'd be standing here for another half hour." Sophia said from the pocket of Akira.
"An hour? I don't think this game might be worth it, Ryuji." Akira said.
"But we already waited for so long! Look at the line from where we began and where we are now."
"Hm, you're right." Akira said.
"You're kidding me, right!" Mona said as he popped his head out of the back. "I'm getting bored just sitting here waiting for a game. Let's at least go somewhere to look around. We can even try those old game centers."
Ryuji paused. "That's...not a bad idea. But still Mona, we can't leave this line half assed. How could we go on if we let a line beat us?"
"Oh, like how Okumura's employee line beat you."
"You know damn well that boss was cheap as hell! We wasted so much before finding out we had to beat in one move. It's bullshit!" Ryuji rubbed his arm as if remembering that palace. Haru, whom they love so much, why did her dad have to be such a pain in the ass for his treasure.
Akira laughed at the two as Sophia watched on with interest as well. Suddenly the people in line groaned. Ryuji and Morgana looked around as people looked so exhausted.
"Hold on." Akira started to move before someone reached from behind
Akira was suddenly grabbed from the back by the stranger. Dragging him away from the line, Akira barely tossed Morgana away before he was thrown against the floor.
"Akira!" Ryuji shouted. The blonde ran in to help. Morgana rolled out of the bag and extended his claws.
"What the hell! Get away from him!" Morgana shouted. The two ran together with Morgana hopping on Ryuji's shoulder and using him as a platform to jump the attacker. Ryuji pulled back his fist before going in for a hook.
The hooded stranger slapped Morgana away and caught Ryuji's fist. He kicked the blonde in the stomach.
Akira got up and looked at Sophia. "Are you ok?"
"The phone's rattled. I'll be fine even if it breaks, I'll hop to Ryuji's." Akira nodded and put Sophia safely in his pocket.
The stranger grabbed Ryuji by the throat and slammed him to the ground. The blonde groaned as Mona hopped off Ryuji and landed on the stranger's face. The stranger didn't react but pulled the cat off. He tossed Mona aside.
"Mrow!"
Akira ran forward and lunged at the man. The two exchanged a few blows before Akira's arm was caught and he was kneed in the gut. He spat out some saliva and was tossed aside. The stranger smirked from underneath his hood and pulled out a golden apple.
Crushing it in his hands, a bright yellow explosion engulfed the group as one more explosion went off across the way.
A dark curtain fell over the area as every civilian 200 meters within the radius passed out. Folks nearby suddenly felt something in their brain make them turn around. Cars, buses, and trains reversed and the entire place was soon silent.
The sky was red and purple, the world had flipped like it once was with Mementos.
The stranger carrying Yusuke looked around when blue flames erupted. He looked down and grimaced.
"I see."
He took off his glasses and his golden eyes glowed within the dark spectrum.
"Let the show begin."