Hey, all. Been a while and by a while, of course I mean half a year. Whoops. I've had ideas rumbling around for this and some are in varying stages of completion. Whether or not they'll come out, who knows since this is just a side project.
So this is a dumb idea I've had for a while and I guess I'm confident enough in my interpretation of the characters to give this a shot.
This one is the trip to Tokyo during Nanako's journey that I had talked about, so without further ado? Let's begin.

Baton Pass

27 Year old Yu Narukami was the first to step out of the train, assured and determined that this was where the latest lead would take them.

"We made it." He announced.

The rest of the investigation team was quick to follow, each looking different. Yukiko was tired, Yosuke looked pretty bored, Chie looked fired up and ready to go, Naoto and Kanji were pretty reserved, quietly leaning on one another for support and both Rise and Teddie were in the best of spirits.

"Finally back in the city!" Rise chirped. "I love Inaba but this is what I'm talking about!"

"Yeah! I can finally catch up on all of my adoring fans!" Teddie grinned.

Yosuke shook his head. "What fans? You're a high school teacher in a small town who was in a dance thing like ten years ago. You don't have any fans."

"You must be mistaken, Yosuke. I get all sorts of fan mail from many admires across the globe. Why, just yesterday I received steamy messages from some very generous models."

Everyone gave him blank pained stares, unwilling to believe the bear.

Chie rolled her eyes. "Teddie, I love you and all but try to be a little realistic."

"You all don't know what my messages are like." Teddie winked.

"Well…"

Naoto let out a yawn and moved away from her husband. "You two can continue going at it all you want, but must I remind you that we have an important mission to take care of?'

"Aw, you're no fun." Teddie laughed.

Yu shook his head. "Naoto is right. We must remained focused on the task at hand."

"Right… the killer." Yosuke nodded.

"Our leads have lead us straight to Tokyo, where we hope to corner the culprit within Junes HQ."

Yosuke smiled. "Gotta love the perks of being a higher up in this company, I'll be sure to get us in no problem."

Yukiko frowned. "Yes, but there is still the matter of the TV World. I can't imagine anyone here in Tokyo would have a connection to that?"

"Yeah, it's mostly the Metaverse that they deal with these parts, right?" Kanji asked.

"Correct. Which is why I believe that it is time to call upon our greatest ally here in Tokyo to give us an advantage in the coming trial." Yu announced.

Teddie grinned. "Great! I will call Mr. Iwai to help us right away!"

"Yes, I- what? No!" Yu glared at the blonde haired man who was still wearing a playful grin.

Yukiko sighed. "Please… Let's not get the Yakuza involved again."

"Again?" Chie asked. "Did I miss an episode?'

"He is not in the Yakuza, he was just part of a regular gang." Teddie corrected. "Besides, he's been out of it for years now."

"Plus, guy is pretty cool for getting Ted here a fake ID and stuff so that no one would ask any questions." Kanji pointed out.

Naoto shook her head. "Regardless, I think it would be best not to get criminals involved with our investigation."

Yu shook his head and let out a sharp laugh. "Sorry, Naoto but criminal help is exactly what I'm looking for, the type that comes from a petty thief."

~Persona 4 A Lifetime~

The Investigation Team arrived in the middle of a street in front of a quaint little café in the Yongen Jaya district.

Naoto sighed. "I should have known…"

Chie chuckled. "Uh… Yu? Are you sure about this? I mean, I know that we're desperate at this point, but really? Him?"

Yu nodded. "We're on his terf so it'd be best to get his help."

"Yeah… But…" Kanji groaned.

"Guys, it's gonna be fine, I promise." Yu nodded to them as he pushed through the door and they all piled in.

When they walked into the restaurant, they saw a young man with short slightly disheveled black hair, tired olive colored eyes ringed by sleepless nights looked down at a plate with a cup that the was idly pouring coffee into. He wore a plain white shirt and a baggy pair of jeans as well as an apron over it all. On his chest was a little name tag saying 'Hello, my name is Mishima!'

The young man looked at them and smiled. "Friends of thieves?"

Yu nodded. "Yes, we are looking for the one called Ren Amamiya."

"Weird, he saw you guys coming and then quickly ran upstairs, I have no idea w-"

Suddenly the lights in the room shut off. Yu was quick to cover Yukiko, his gun at the ready; Naoto did the same with Kanji while he put his hands on her shoulders; Chie raised her fists, Rise did her best to hide behind the others in the room and Yosuke wasn't sure what to do as Teddie had grabbed at his leg and shuddered in fear. Mishima was quick to go down to the floor and cover his head.

Suddenly a stage light came on pointed towards the stairway to the attic and there appeared Ren, striking a dramatic pose as jazzy music started to play.

"Showtime!"

Everyone in the room let out groans at this, except for Yukiko who started laughing.

Naoto crossed over to the front of the room and switched on the lights.

"Amamiya-kun… can you please try to take things seriously for once?" She groaned.

Ren laughed. "Come on, you had to admit that was pretty funny. Yukiko sure thinks so."

Yukiko had to do her best to stifle her laughter which had currently died down to chuckles. Mishima, who was now back at the counter, handed her a glass of water which she gladly took.

"Hey, Rise? Am I still a showstopper?" Ren winked at her.

Rise couldn't help but smirk. "I give you a 7/10, next time you should use one of my songs."

"Wha?!" Chie shouted. "Don't encourage him!"

"And I'm sure Morgana thought so too." Ren added.

At that, the cat revealed himself at a corner of the room with the same stage light that he had used. The cat shook his head and sighed as he slunk down to one of the seats. "You never change, do you?"

Naoto nodded. "Now that is a sentiment I agree with."

"Would you rather cuff me again like the first time we met? I'm sure I could change your mind that way?" Ren smirked and waggled his eyebrows suggestively at her.

Naoto's eyes widened in shock and a blush crossed her face. "I- you- stop!"

Kanji crossed over to them and put his hands on Naoto's shoulders. "Seriously, dude. Stop." He directed a glare in the direction of the bespectacled thief.

Ren simply shrugged, that same mischievous grin coming on his face. "What can I say? I can't help it."

Everybody in the room groaned at this except for Yu who couldn't help but furrow his brow, but he bit his tongue and decided not to say anything.

"We really don't have time for your games, Amamiya." Chie glared at him.

Ren raised his arms in defense. "Okay, okay… I'll stop. All jokes aside though, it really is good to see all of you all again."

The young man wore a warm, inviting smile that easily seemed to melt away a lot of the disdain from the group. But there was a certain hollowness to his eyes that seemed to go past the others but not Yu. Mishima noticed too.

But Ren kept the conversation rolling. "Although since it's not just Chie showing up, I'm guessing it's not a Shadow Op mission?"

Chie laughed. "Mitsuru's still pissed at that ridiculous display you pulled last time."

"Futaba vouched for me! Sophie and Ichinose too!" Ren insisted. "And I still saved the day!"

"Yeah, don't care. You're still benched, Temp Op. We'll call you when we need you."

Ren sighed, but was quick to bring the mood back up. "Well, at the very least I take it that you two are not here to arrest The Leader of the Phantom Thieves, right? It would be a shame for you to have to haul in Mishima here."

Mishima gasped. "W-wait?! What did I do?"

Ren was quick to make his way over to Mishima and lazily leaned on his shoulder, a lopsided grin plastered on his face. "Can't believe you sent all those calling cards, man. Why'd you do it?" Ren laughed while Teddie, Yosuke, Yukiko, Rise and Kanji were quick to join in. Ren ruffled up Mishima's hair a bit at that to which the young man couldn't help but smile at him.

"Not yet." Yu chuckled. "Though if we do, I'll be the one doing the cuffing."

"Cool, I'm into that too." Ren smirked.

Yukiko stopped laughing and frowned. "Would you like to repeat that, young man?"

Ren gulped. Unlike Kanji, Yukiko's intense gaze bore a certain level of fear into him that he immediately wanted to get away from. "Uh… No, ma'am. So sorry, senpai."

"Good!" She beamed, patting the young man on the head.

Yosuke sighed. "Okay, guys. That's enough, can we please get on with it?"

"I dunno, Yosuke. I could bear another joke or two." Teddie chortled, elbowing the business man a little to which he sighed.

Morgana laughed. "Typical Teddie, always lazing around instead of getting to work."

"Don't start with me, furball." Teddie snapped to which the two glared at each other.

Everyone ignored the two animals and looked to Ren again.

"Knock it off you two!" Both Ren and Yosuke shouted, getting the two to finally stop.

Ren then turned his attention to Yu. "So…"

"I wish we could've visited under less pressing matters." Yu sighed. "But we've been lead to your territory and I think it would be best to get the expert on all things regarding the Metaverse here in Tokyo."

"What exactly are you guys up to?" Ren asked. "I thought aside from Chie, all of you left that life behind."

Naoto shook her head. "It would be nice but unfortunately something has come up again requiring the full attention of the Investigation Team."

"Murders have been starting up in Inaba again." Yu finished. "Somebody's pulling people into the TV World and our investigation has lead us here, meaning that we're going to need your help, Joker."

All eyes we're on Ren now who's shocked expression turned to one of determination.

"Do you even have to ask? It's showtime!"

And that'll do for this one. I wanted to expand the world of Persona 4 A Lifetime by including Ren and a little bit of the world of P5. While this story will mostly have a focus on the P4 cast, I figured now was a time to slide in a little bit of details of what the rest of the world is up to.
I liked writing my version of Joker which does have a reason to be the way he is as well as this nice reunion between friends. It's a good time.
R&R