Akira lowers Ann to the ground with Ryuji as they exit the metaverse. Ann relaxes back against the wall of the alley, still taking deep breaths.
"I'm going to go find a vending machine," Ryuji says. He heads out of the alley and towards some vending machines down the street. Ann looks up at Akira and notices that their clothes have changed back to their regular attire.
"You alright?" Akira asks her.
"Yeah… I think so," Ann replies.
"Lady Ann," Morgana says as he pokes his head around the corner of the alley.
"Wait, you talk in reality too?!"
"Yes, but it seems like people only understand me if they've been to the metaverse. Or have a persona, haven't gotten a chance to narrow down which they need to understand me here," Morgana says.
"I see," Ann says.
Ryuji returns to the alley holding two drinks in his hands. He passes one to Ann and the other to Akira. Ann stands up as she opens her drink and takes a long drink from it.
"Okay," she says, wiping her mouth, "I've got some questions you all need to answer."
"Okay, fire away," Akira says.
"So, the metaverse," she begins, "is an alternate reality or something?"
"More like a hidden dimension," Morgana says.
"Ok, and it's populated by those shadow things and palaces if someone's heart is full of twisted desires?"
"Yep," Ryuji responds.
"And when we go there, we can summon a Persona. Which is like a guardian that protects us while we're there?"
"Yes," Akira says.
"And when you break into a palace and steal the treasure at the heart of it, it can make a person's desires go away?"
"We think so," Ryuji says. "Morgana seems to think that if we can take away the person's desires, we can make them confess their crimes publicly in reality."
"Ok…" Ann says.
"Don't feel bad if it doesn't all make sense at once," Morgana says. "It's a lot to take in. I thought Ryuji would never get it."
"Up yours, cat!"
"I'm not a cat!"
"Guys," Akira says, "enough."
"Then what are you?" Ann asks.
"I don't know, really. I can't remember anything before waking up in Kamoshida's castle and finding these two in the dungeons during my escape," Morgana says.
"He's been staying with me the past couple of days," Akira continues. "He's been helping Ryuji and I understand the metaverse a little more and helping us figure out what to do about Kamoshida. We decided we were going to get him back for everything he's done to the volleyball team before today happened."
Akira's final statement hangs in the air as the group standing here remains silent. Akira realizes that even with everything that has happened, it's still only Friday. Shiho was in the hospital right now while they all stood in this alley drinking sodas and talking about Kamoshida and the metaverse.
"I'm sorry," Akira says to Ann.
"It's ok. We're doing this for her. Kamoshida will pay for what he's done," Ann says, anger in her voice.
"Well, we need a game plan," Morgana tells them. "Now listen up, we need to infiltrate Kamoshida's castle and find the treasure. It'll likely be in the deepest part of the castle and surrounded by the toughest guards. We may even need to fight Kamoshida himself. Now since the two of you last saw him and fought shadows in the main room, he hasn't said anything about it so we can assume that he has no recollection of what happens in there. Still, we should avoid using our real names in the palace in case it somehow transfers over if said enough times. We'll need codenames.
I propose Joker here be the leader of it all. He's the one who can use multiple personas and seems to be the strongest fighter by far."
"You have multiple personas?" Ann asks as her eyes widen. Akira simply nods in response.
"Ok, but why Joker?" Ryuji asks.
"Duh, multiple personas. Wildcard. Shadows won't be expecting us to hit them with their weaknesses since they'll assume we've only got three at our disposal," Morgana replies.
"Makes sense," Akira says. "And you can be 'Mona.'"
"Works for me. Ryuji can be 'Thug,'" Morgana says.
"Those are fighting words, cat."
"Fine, why not 'Skull' then?" Morgana says.
"Aww that sounds awesome! Skull it is then."
"What about me?" Ann asks.
"You sure you wanna do this? No one would blame you if you back out," Ryuji asks.
"I'm sure," Ann says.
"Ok then, how about… 'Cougar?'" Ryuji says.
"Cat girl?" Morgana suggests.
"Panther," Akira says.
"Yeah, I like 'Panther.' Panther will be my codename," Ann says with a smile.
"It's settled then, we'll all steal Kamoshida's heart and make him confess his crimes!" Morgana says enthusiastically.
"When are we going back in?" Ryuji asks.
"We'll need to get fitted out," Morgana replies. "Ryuji, can you show Akira and I where you got that model gun? If they work in the metaverse, we'll need more of them to fight all the shadows in that castle."
"Yeah, I can show you where, tomorrow work? After school?"
"Works for me," Akira replies.
"Alright, you can have the pistol if you want, I'm looking to get a shotgun!"
"We'll get you something too, Lady Ann," Morgana tells her.
"Ok," she replies. "Here, let us all exchange numbers so we know when Akira wants us to go into the palace." The three students exchange numbers and contact information on their phones. Ann notices a new app is installed.
"That's how we get there," Akira says, "Ryuji got it after he and I went into the castle the first time."
"Finally," Morgana says, "we'll need a place to meet where we won't be disturbed and can discuss openly and freely. This alley isn't that great."
"How about the rooftop?" Ryuji suggests. "It's never locked but no one is allowed up there and the janitors only check the roof at the end of the day anyway."
"It's a plan then," Morgana says. "We should all split and go our separate ways. It's getting late."
"Agreed," Ann says. "I'm going to go check on Shiho at the hospital before I go home."
"Send her our best," Akira says. Ann smiles as her cheeks flush a bit.
"I will. Thank you." Ann waves as she heads out of the alley.
"Alright, I'll text you later dude?"
"Definitely," Akira replies. As Morgana hops into his bag, Akira hoists it over his shoulder and begins to head towards the station.
XXXX
Akira walks home after getting off the train. The thoughts of the day run through his mind. Another excursion into Kamoshida's castle, Ann's new suit, Ann joining their little group to get back at Kamoshida.
Akira arrives back at Leblanc. He stops outside the door for a moment looking in at Sakura-san. Akira remembers how unfriendly his welcome was upon arrival, but Sakura-san has mellowed out quite a bit since then. He's taken on more of the 'disapproving parent' role regarding Akira.
Akira steps through the door hearing the bell chime as he does so. Sakura-san turns his head and nods at him as he walks in. As he's on his way through the café to the attic Akira is stopped by one of the patrons sitting in a booth. A young woman in gothic attire with pale skin and dark hair waves at him.
"Another coffee please?" she asks.
"Here, I'll get that for you, Doctor," Sakura-san says. He steps around the counter to retrieve the woman's coffee mug to refill it. Akira gives her a polite smile as he continues walking up to his room.
"Did Sojiro say that woman was a Doctor?" Morgana asks, hopping out of Akira's bag as he climbs the stairs.
"Mhmm," Akira replies. "Why?"
"We should try visiting her to see if she can sell us medication for the metaverse."
"Medication?"
"Yeah, everything in the metaverse works because you think it does," Morgana says. "Or something like that. Anyway, if we get some medicine to bring in there with us, it can help with the cuts, scrapes, and bruises."
"If you think it will help," Akira replies as he disrobes his school clothes. "What do you think of my decision of bringing Ann in?"
"She's strong, you had that nailed immediately. But I'm also with Ryuji, surprisingly, bringing her in without asking anyone else was a bit reckless. It worked, but in the future we should all agree."
"In the future? You think we'll need more people?" Akira asks.
"Possibly," Morgana says hopping onto the bed. "You never know how bad the shadows in a palace are until you meet them."
"Alright, in the future, we'll put it to a majority vote," Akira replies.
XXXX
Ann walks into her apartment again. Her legs ache, her back is sore, and her head is pounding. In her wildest dreams she couldn't have imagined a day like today happening at all. Everything with Shiho and then Akira and Ryuji and that cat Morgana was something straight out of one of her childhood animes she used to watch.
As Ann sets her bag down and draws a bath is when it all truly begins to hit. The voices of the doctors telling her and Shiho's parents that she's in a medically induced coma to reduce swelling on her brain echoes through her head. The prognosis being she may never really wake up breaking Ann's heart to realize she may never get to see Shiho smile or wake up at three in the morning to random YouTube videos Shiho sends her when she can't sleep.
Ann finally removes the last piece of clothing and sits in the bath and cries. Sobs rack her body as she cries and heaves from the events of the day. Why?! Why didn't I realize she was in so much distress and trouble? Could I have helped her? Is this my fault?
After what feels like hours Ann finally cannot cry anymore. She wipes her nose and splashes some of the tub water on her face. Without Shiho, I'm all alone in that god forsaken school with Kamoshida. Well, no. I've got Akira and Ryuji who're going to get back at him for everything he's done. Ann reaches for her phone and begins to type a message to Ryuji.
Ann: Hey.
Ryuji: Hey Ann. How u doin?
Ann: I've been better. I wanted to thank you and Akira for bringing me along today.
Ryuji: O, thats nothing. Im sorry I was an ass about you coming. Sometimes I still wonder if its all real. I just didnt want anyone to get hurt
Ann: I understand. I'm glad you say that because I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. Thank you again 3
Ryuji: Ur welcome. Were gonna get that bastard back 4 what hes done.
Ann: I hope so!
Ryuji: Well Im heading 2 bed. Let us know if you need anything
Ann: I will! Do you know if Akira is still awake?
Ryuji: Probably. If u messaged him soon. When I did he was cleaning.
Ann: Alright, thank you again Ryuji. Goodnight!
Ryuji: night!
Ann smiles as she thinks of Ryuji from middle school and how different he was now. She remembers how he used to be even more irresponsible and immature than now, but he's really grown a lot. But he still hasn't grown out of his, 'fight everyone who picks on the weak' mentality. Ann opens another message and begins typing.
Ann: Hey.
-Thanks for everything today.
-You guys saved me and I didn't get a chance to thank you properly.
Akira: Don't worry about, it's fine.
Ann: No, it's not.
-I could have died today if you guys hadn't rushed in.
Akira: You're welcome
-But really Ann, it's ok. If anything I should be apologizing for putting you in that situation in the first place
Ann: Can I ask you an honest question?
Akira: You just did lol. But sure, go ahead :P
Ann: Shut up! Why'd you bring me along?
-You knew how dangerous it was and you brought me along anyway.
Akira: I had a feeling even if we'd have said no you would've found a way yourself.
-I don't know why, but it was a gut feeling so I figured it'd be safer if we brought you along with us.
-Guess that didn't go so well
Ann: I see.
-Well, again, thank you. I'm glad to be a part of getting Kamoshida back for what he's done.
Akira: How's Shiho doing?
Ann: Medically induced coma. Not sure what her odds of waking up again are.
-And then on top of that her legs and spine are going to be messed up if she does
-She'll need a lot of physical therapy to walk again
Akira: I'm so sorry Ann
Ann: Thank you. The best I can do is visit her often and make sure Kamoshida gets what's coming to him.
-Do you think when this is all over, you guys would visit her with me?
Akira: Sure. I'm sure Ryuji would be down too.
Ann: Alright, thank you.
-I'm pretty tired, I'll text you more later ok?
Akira: Sounds good. Goodnight Panther :P
Ann: LOL goodnight Joker
Texting the boys made Ann feel a little better. Knowing what she had to do to make everything better eventually began to fuel her anger and channel it to something. Kamoshida. That bastard was going to get what's coming to him, and Ann is going to be the one to deliver it to him.
Ann leaves the tub and dries off. She wraps herself in a towel heads into her bedroom. Ann takes her hair out of its tails and dresses in some shorts and a loose-fitting shirt for bed. Ann falls onto her bed and as soon as her head hits the pillow, she drops into a deep sleep.