Chapter 3: Checkmate
"Wait, did you say Masayoshi Shido?!" Sojiro exclaimed, "Oh man, I should've figured it was him."
"What? You know him?" Ann blinked in surprise.
"I did...at my old job" Sojiro shook his head, "I suspect it was him who was involved in crushing Wakaba's research and her death. But I couldn't do anything, so I decided to protect Futaba and went into hiding."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Futaba firmly rebuked.
"Because you would've certainly gone after him and wind u-" Sojiro responded before backpedaling, "Look, Shido is a man willing to kill people who oppose him."
A moment of silence occurred, understanding the gravity of his words.
"It stands to reason" Sae interrupted, "He stands to gain the most from the mental shutdowns and his admanent opposition to the Phantom Thieves gained him tremendous popularity. Should he win the election, he will likely become Prime Minister."
"That bastard!" Ryuji cursed, "He fucking planned the death of our leader for his own selfish ambition!"
"I share Ryuji's anger" Yusuke bit, "We need to change his heart, for Akira and the sake of the country."
"We have a name, but where would he have a palace?" Haru asked.
"Perhaps the Diet Building" Makoto said, "It is a place where politicians would meet, so it would be fitting."
Candidate Found
"We got a hit!" Ryuji exclaimed.
"How perverse can he be if he thinks the Diet Building is his palace?" Yusuke said with disgust.
"So all we need is a distortion" Morgana replied.
"What would that be?" Ann asked.
"What does a politician think about?" Futaba asked.
"More like what does a person like Shido think about" Makoto said, "He aims to be the Prime Minister and thus the captain of the country."
"Captain? So… a ship?" Haru asked.
Candidate Found
"A ship?!" Ann exclaimed, "But that's locked on land, what will that look like?"
"Who knows" Morgana said, "What's important is that we have the name, location, and distortion. We can begin our operation tomorrow."
"One question" Haru asked, "Who...will be designated as our leader for this mission?"
Once more, the room went silent. The painful truth of having to replace Akira was felt by everyone.
"My vote is for Makoto" Ryuji said, "She's our tactician after all."
"Me?" Makoto said in shock.
"I agree" Yusuke said.
"She is our Queen after all" Morgana purred.
"The kitty is right, even if his pun is lame" Futaba replied.
"Then it's unanimous then?" Ann asked, "Makoto shall take up the mantle of leader and we will steal Shido's treasure?"
Everyone nodded in unison at the question before going over plans for tomorrow. Once everyone left, Makoto headed to the train station on her way home.
Pipipi
Akira's phone went off again, which Makoto picked up.
HT: I saw the newscast the other day
HT: Has the King really found himself in checkmate?
"Hifumi Togo" Makoto thought to herself, "She's that famous shogi player that Yusuke mentioned before?"
AK: He has, unfortunately.
AK: His Dragon is speaking for him
HT: …
HT: So, the opposing King has won.
HT: …
HT: Can...we meet tonight? There was something I was planning to tell him in regards to my mother
That's right, they did recently change her mother's heart. Perhaps it would be fine to meet with her.
AK: Sure, where at?
HT: At a church run by a shogi friend in Kanda. Google Map pin linked.
HT: It's where I develop my shogi strategies. Akira was my playing partner there, as...my pupil.
"Is this where he learned his radical tactics?" Makoto wondered before typing her response.
AK: I will be there tonight
HT: Thank you. He meant so much to me
With that, Makoto set her google destination to Kanda.
Catholic Church in Kanda
"Hello" Makoto called out to Hifumi, "You must be Hifumi Togo, correct?"
"That's right" Hifumi bowed, "You're...his dragon correct?"
"The name is Makoto Niijima" Makoto bowed back, "Akira was my boyfriend, although he saw me as his Queen."
"Ah, so he also played chess" Hifumi noted, "Take a seat, there is something I need to say."
Makoto sat next to the shogi player and waited for Hifumi to speak.
"I wanted to tell him thank you" Hifumi said, "Without him, I would never have broken free of my mother's match fixing. He and the phantom thieves put her heart in checkmate."
"So, you know?" Makoto asked with caution.
"A move I didn't foresee, but it radiated like light reflecting off of gold" Hifumi smiled, "You're a member as well, aren't you?"
"That's correct" Makoto admitted.
"There...is more to my mother's story as well" Hifumi said, "My mother arranged the matching fixing in order to gain fame through me, but more importantly she wanted to rub shoulders with a representative by the name of Masayoshi Shido."
"Did you say Masayoshi Shido?" Makoto blinked in shock.
"She apparently has been a big supporter of him ever since he was a city assemblyman. She was determined to make her way into his circle" Hifumi explained.
"So even Hifumi's mother's desire is connected to Shido…" Makoto said with sad eyes.
"Is something wrong?" Hifumi asked.
Makoto looked around to see if they were alone. Once she verified that it was only the two of them, she took a deep breath and let Hifumi in on their next mission.
"Shido is our next target" Makoto admitted, "He's the king responsible for all the events in the last few years, including the death of….Akira."
"Huh?" Hifumi gasped in horror. The man her mom wanted to rub shoulders with was the same man who put Akira in checkmate?
"He's a despicable man who cares about his ambitions on the road to being Prime Minister" Makoto angrily said, "A path paved with blood, including our leader."
Hifumi looked away from the auburn haired woman before pulling out prayer beads from her bag. For a solid minute, Hifumi was in silent prayer with only sobs being uttered out of her mouth. Once she composed herself, she gave Makoto a fierce look.
"Let me join your entourage" Hifumi demanded.
"What?" Makoto was taken back by the request.
"Though the black king has fallen, I know his spirit burns on" Hifumi said, "Let me assist the phantom thieves on this mission of yours."
"Uh...I appreciate the offer but I am going to have to decline" Makoto winced.
"Decline?" Hifumi was taken back.
"How we operate is not only dangerous, but goes beyond the constructs of reality" Makoto delicately said, "Without the proper equipment, you would be seriously endangering your life."
"Beyond...the constructs of reality?" Hifumi blinked, "Like...a realm that demons exist in?"
"Yes, exactly-wait, you understand what I am saying?" Makoto gasped.
"...I am a devout Catholic" Hifumi admitted, "The concept of a supernatural plane is easy for me to grasp."
"I...see" Makoto fumbled, "Then...perhaps I could explain in detail how we operate." Makoto pulled out her phone and showed Hifumi the Meta Nav app. Over the course of fifteen minutes, Makoto gave Hifumi the rundown of everything they do.
"So...persona" Hifumi reiterated, "One's inner self manifested into a beacon of power."
"That's right" Makoto said, "Without our personas, we wouldn't be able to operate as the phantom thieves."
"I see" Hifumi nodded, "So that's why you're declining my offer, because I lack a persona?"
Makoto nodded with a sad smile.
"But if my heart has the will to manifest in such a manner, then it wouldn't be a problem would it?"
"That's true but.." Makoto began to reply before Hifumi interrupted her.
"Then take me with you" Hifumi said, "I won't allow myself to remain in check while the man responsible for Akira's death runs amok! I-argh!" Hifumi suddenly knelt on the floor, grasping her head in pain.
"Hifumi!?" Makoto gasped as the shogi player seethed in pain, missing the whispers coming from her mouth. In short order, Hifumi let go of her head and stood up.
"I'm fine" Hifumi said, "I just had...a spiritual awakening if you will."
"Spiritual Awakening...wait, you don't mean?" Makoto pondered before realisation dawned on her.
"I think your concern has been sated" Hifumi replied, "Please...let me come with you."
Makoto deeply thought about what just occurred. She didn't obtain a persona in reality, did she? That should be impossible according to what Morgana told them.
"To think her resolve would be that strong" Joker mused in her head, "I do wonder what shape her persona will manifest the first time she rips off the mask."
"Akira, what are you doing in my head?" Makoto thought in awe.
"You allowed your mind to daydream a bit, so I am able to contact you briefly" Joker smirked as he shuffled cards in his hand, "A card from the deck flew out of my hand and into her soul. Perhaps you should let her tag along; she just caused the impossible to happen after all."
"...Very well" Makoto said aloud.
"Hmm?" Hifumi hummed.
"We will be meeting in front of the Diet building tomorrow afterschool" Makoto informed, "You're welcome to join us."
"I see" Hifumi acknowledged, "Thank you for accepting my offer. I must be getting home now." With a bow, Hifumi left the church. Makoto sighed at today's events and sent a text message to the chat.
MN: So...we're going to have a guest tag along tomorrow.
AT: Wouldn't that be dangerous?
MN: I would agree with you but…
MN: Hifumi Togo was persistent
YK: Togo?
MN: I know what you're thinking
MN: But something astonishing happened
MN: She...awakened to a persona in reality
Numerous people are typing….
RS: FOR REAL?!
A/N: As for why I didn't have Hifumi awaken in the palace, well let's just say she is of great Faith and thus able to do what she did. She still hasn't fully awakened yet, as she can't rip off the mask until after she enters the palace.