Author's Note: I'm back from my vacation, along with some real life events happening for me. Disney World was truly as wonderful as ever, especially when the park was celebrating its 50th anniversary. Anyway, I'm trying to come up with ideas for the old P5 story that I've saved (the one originally called Between Two Worlds or Memoirs of the Papillon), trying to debate on what I should name my female main character since Akari is out of the question because I'm going to give Hikari from PQ2: New Cinema Labyrinth a part in my story by giving her a Palace and a Persona. Those two names would be confusing if I made a ship name for Yusuke and my OC, because people will be confused by whoever I'm talking about: Akari or Hikari.
I love the name 'Namine' from PERSONA 5 TWILIGHT and I'm also friends with the author, SolanaLeonhart, whom I've talked with about my idea and is fine with me using the name if I choose a name similar to her own. Airi/Airiko is another option, but I'm completely stuck on the name choosing. And trying to debate on which persona my female main character should use is also hard: Mulan or Jeanne d'arc.
An idea of throwing Ken Amada and a few characters from P4 and P3 in my old P5 story sounds intriguing after being inspired by P5 ACE IN THE HOLE, especially because I happen to find the Ken x Makoto pairing really cute. Although with the name problem on choosing what to name my own female main character, adding Ken whose name rhymes with Ren might make me sound like a hypocrite because I don't want to use Akari when I'm placing Hikari in my story and their names rhyme.
I have spoken to close friends and fellow authors for advice. But like I said, I'm stuck. I do hope to come up with something before Christmas comes.
Enjoy the chapter!
Ever since the incident regarding Madarame's confession, so many people had grown ecstatic about who will be the next target of the Phantom Thieves. Those online began sending a few requests on whose heart they'd want to change. Yusuke learned to only ignore the pathetic ones such as 'Make my parents stop nagging me' or 'I want my best friend to stop ignoring me.' The ones needed to be taken seriously such as 'A bully won't stop beating me up' or 'My teacher won't stop throwing things at me and my classmates.'
The reason for these explanations? The Phantom Thieves decided to take Yusuke on his first trip to Mementos. The intel on the Phantom Aficionado website sent some requests for them, two of them included a girl from Yusuke's school and the elder brother of Yusuke's neighbor in the dormitory.
Hikari Shimizu, a sadistic dominatrix.
Kazuya Makigami, a college dropout and Naoya's brother.
Yusuke heard of the stories regarding this bully. Daughter of a city councilman, a straight-A second year student, worshipped by her peers as the Kosei Queen. From what he learned, she was hurting this boy, going by the nickname Moto and whom she has an obsessive crush on, to do whatever she wants. Shimizu treats him as a slave against her will, going way off the deep end to give degrading orders, cruelly berate or beat him in public.
Nobody will speak up about it, not even Moto himself, either most likely out of fear or wanting to share in her accomplishments. Shimizu's father made his threat very clear to Principal Yoshitomo, who took over as the new principal, to drop the suspension when his daughter got caught physically harassing Moto or else he can kiss his job goodbye by falsifying evidence to incriminate the good principal of child abuse.
In Naoya's situation, he never breathed a word of the continuous beatings inflicted upon him. Kazuya has threatened to kill him if he ever tells, so he can't ask anybody for help because he's terrified of his brother and fears nobody will believe him if he says anything. After some gentle prodding on Yusuke's part, Naoya secretly confided in him of his concern about Kazuya getting caught up with the wrong crowd. This wrong crowd was suspected to be a group of burglars terrorizing Shibuya.
The intel on this burglary ring was also sent on the Phan-Site by Naoya himself, who not only did that, but sent a message asking for help to stop the abuse. These burglars mainly target restaurants in Shibuya, breaking in after they close for the day. They leave no trail or evidence for the police to find.
The kindhearted Yusuke often accompanied Naoya to the station when he had to go home to welcome his parents back after they recently returned from a business trip. Yusuke could only imagine the parents know nothing of their elder son beating up their golden child, as Naoya once explained to him that he's the favorite in his parents' eyes, and this further fueled Kazuya's hatred of his brother.
Yusuke refused to stand by and allow those monsters to get with their malicious acts of violence and thievery any longer. And the rest was a unanimous decision, everyone was in agreement to put an end to these crimes.
It didn't take long for the Nav to react when Akiko tapped on the notification. The first time Yusuke entered Mementos, his school attire changed into his Phantom Thief outfit and the scenery around him took the forum of a twisted version of the subway station connected by a massive series of subway tunnels. Crimson and black colors gave the atmosphere a frightening aura, enough to make anyone scared to venture deep into the subway. But not the Phantom Thieves.
A new area has been confirmed in the depths. Updating guidance information. The Metaverse Navigator reacted strongly when a new section appeared on a map with graphic design on Joker's iPhone.
"What's this?" Fox peered over his girlfriend's shoulder, confused.
"It looks like the places we can go has expanded again," Panther deduced. "It's because we made Madarame's Palace disappear, right?
Mona said nothing at first, then adapted an unsure look. "Most likely... I think."
Yusuke couldn't bring himself to lecture the feline, understanding his lack of knowledge to this strange, distorted world. "You seem rather uncertain. How far does this... Mementos run anyway?"
"Uhhh... It's huge!" The cat tried to come up with the correct response, intending not to look embarrassed. "...Extremely." Except his uncertainty was clearly obvious.
Skull shook his head, disapprovingly. "You're always so vague when it comes to the important stuff." He crossed his arms as he turned his gaze to his leader. "It's like he's kind of flaky as our chief of operations. Don't you want him to try a bit harder too?"
"He's doing his best, Skull!" Joker's expression hardened, giving the pirate-themed thug a warning not to pick on Mona like that. "No need to push Mona harder. Just give him some time."
"You truly are different from that moron over there." Mona smiled in appreciation for his leader's patience, but also added a little jab to insult Skull and it made the blond male ready to pick a fight with him.
Panther sighed, exasperated. "There, there..."
Steeling his features into a firm glare, Fox placed himself between Skull and Mona. "I don't fully understand, but Mementos and the Palaces are related to each other, correct? Then all we must do is continue changing the hearts of evildoers to ascertain its full expanse. I don't believe there's a need to quarrel over it."
Thankfully, they took the hint and backed off.
Afterward, Mona transformed into a bus and Joker took the wheel while everyone else got inside and drove off. The eerie howls, the ominous voices and blowing of the wind doesn't faze the Phantom Thieves as their black cat vehicle journeys deeper into the endless tunnels. Most Shadows just scurry away in fear of being run over. Mona's navigation skills proved quite reliable in tracking down their targets, each located in two separate areas.
To Fox, it's like driving through the depths of the underworld. Endless labyrinth of intersecting train tracks that seemingly goes on forever until they stumble upon a portal or two, where the rails they'd been following are twisted or intertwined upward in the air, converging in front of an empty space swirling of black and red energy.
It's all so... so... exquisite.
He could've let out a cry of overwhelming joy if the vehicle didn't hit a bump in the tracks. Witnessing the embodiment of man's darkest desires. A place like Mementos is a true living work of art. He wanted to sketch his discovery, trying to capture the twisted realm of mankind's desires in its entirety before this fleeting moment ends.
Although he would have done his sketch had Joker not shouted at everyone to get out of the van, for they have found their first target. Though irritated, Fox understood there was work to be done.
The samurai thief will never forget the first time he fought Shimizu's shadow, and later on Kazuya's shadow. How their eyes gleamed maliciously, thinking how confidant and smug they are to get away with it when they've beaten down Moto and Naoya made Fox's stomach churn uneasily.
Shimizu views her sadism as a sign of love, deluding herself to believe her victim's suffering is a sign of their love and friendship. Believing her good looks and status as a straight-A student or the Councilman's daughter gives her the right to order people around. Anybody who attempts to stop her, she'd tattle to her father and that pathetic excuse of a father would abuse his authority to get rid of good teachers or innocent students.
Kazuya confessed to being the ringleader behind the burglary ring, convincing his friends to do some part-time work for him. It was originally meant to be a prank to get back at society for treating him like dirt, but the gang got too cocky and wanted to keep doing more heists, so Kazuya viewed this as rebelling against society. He's been beating up Naoya to vent his stress over it, use him as a slave until the poor boy suffers a meltdown and dies.
For all the apparent majesty and villainous boasting of these monsters' powers when they had transformed into demons, the Phantom Thieves made short work of the Kosei Queen and the boss of the burglary ring. With the addition of Fox in the team, neither of those villains stood a chance. He delivered the final blow on Yaksini after the wretch reduced to begging on her knees in terror. The second battle regarding Mithras ends with Joker shooting a bullet through his forehead, stealing away the arrogance in his heart, as if to symbolically cleanse him of the evil inflicted upon his soul.
The dark auras that surrounded Shimizu's shadow and Kazuya's shadow throughout the whole fight began to grow weaker after their defeat. Her shadow bowed her head in shame, the demeanor was completely the opposite of what she was before. The same can be said for Kazuya, collapsed to the floor and leaning on the back of a large key wedged in the ground, his once mocking superiority filled with nothing but regret.
The changes of heart had worked.
Their shadows faded away in a pure, white light as Shimizu and Kazuya had returned to their other selves. The buds of their Treasures were quite baffling. A key used to unlock a drawer in his Kazuya's bedroom, and a whip sword belonging to Shimizu's family.
Everyone left Mementos with their mission complete... but not before Fox wanted to capture the essence of the distortion of mankind's desires, even the bizarre architecture spurs his hand to fly across his sketchbook (carrying his art supplies with him in his school bag, just in case he finds inspiration), scribbling furiously and ignoring the murmurs of annoyance and frustration of his comrades.
Joker can't help but release a small breath of discontent, watching her boyfriend express his passion on paper. She didn't want to laugh when he was like this, but his behavior was really funny. Even when Skull pushed for him to get going, the blue-haired artist wouldn't budge. Panther and Mona didn't do so well when they tried to make him listen. He was so stubborn, acting like a petulant child.
"No matter what you say, I won't move until I finish this sketch!" was the response Fox made to his team. His artistic spirit cannot be broken so easily. Art is his passion and visiting Mementos has given him inspiration.
"Hey Fox..." If anyone had been watching, chances are a lightbulb would be seen illuminating over Joker's head. "...if you don't come, I won't take you out for ice cream if I go on a date with you."
He didn't make a comment upon her words, but the pencil scribbles had stopped, which gives a good indicator that she's finally gotten his attention. Fox sits straight up, tucking the sketchbook under his arm. "Okay. Let's go." He was a bit disappointed. Perhaps another day he will capture his discovery on sketch.
This reaction caught everyone else off guard, but at least they were finally able to leave Mementos at last.
Police sirens and flashing lights caught the team's attention when they recently left the subway. Imagine their surprise to find Kazuya and his gang arrested in public when, according to the whispers of onlookers, Kazuya just suffered a meltdown and cried, admitting his crimes to the whole world. Pedestrians prevented the thieves to make sure nobody escaped until the police arrived.
Yusuke and his friends secretly visited the Makigami residence where Morgana climbed up a tree, carrying the key and a small note in his mouth, and left it on the windowsill. Kazuya's shadow had asked the Phantom Thieves to send that message to his brother before his shadow faded away: burn what's inside the drawer and toss it out.
As for Shimizu's change of heart, Yusuke didn't have long to wait. Police cars lined up around the area when Yusuke just arrived the next morning. He squeezed his way through the crowd to see what all the hullabaloo was about. Teachers and students from all over the school had gathered at the front entrance, watching two officers dragging a handcuffed, miserable and wailing Hikari Shimizu to a cruiser. She kept going on and on about how she deserved to be punished for physically abusing her crush and using her father's status as a councilman to get away with horrible misdeeds.
"Good riddance to the Kosei Queen..." Yusuke chuckled, an expression of relieved satisfaction, muttering to no one but himself. "...although she's not much of a Queen anymore."
Many teachers and students looked on in confused horror, others like her victims celebrated while the rest filmed the incident on their phones. Amid the chaos, Shimizu's father, who was looking really red in the face after several officers chewed him out, tried to stop the police from taking away his daughter. Threats of blacklisting and getting fired didn't help the situation. His daughter did confess earlier of his plan to incriminate false evidence to get Principal Yoshitomo fired, simply for doing his job by rightfully punishing his daughter for assault. Another set of handcuffs were slapped on the corrupt councilman's wrists, and he was shoved into another cruiser.
By the end of the arrest, all students were ordered to go to their classes. But that didn't stop them from talking about what happened. The gossip of two arrests suspected of being caused by the Phantom Thieves is a hot topic it seems. Everywhere Yusuke went chatter about the same subject continued on and on. Whether it was positive or negative, he was glad to have done his duty in ridding school and society of evil.
And despite going on that lovely outing with Akiko for ice cream after school, Yusuke's happiness was abruptly cut short. A few days later, a teenage celebrity by the name of Goro Akechi, a high school detective who often worked alongside the police, made an appearance on Good Morning Japan, and publicly denounced the Phantom Thieves as vigilantes who tamper with people's hearts against their will and is currently cooperating with the police to arrest them.
Thanks to him, people gradually began to lose their faith in the heroes who put an end to Kamoshida's abuse and Madarame's plagiarism. This detective may be free to deny their actions, but being cursed by his charm and influence is another thing. Yusuke had smiled when Akiko (recalling via her text message about her class going on a trip to a local TV station) calmly yet bravely made it clear when she believed the Phantom Thieves represent justice, but it wasn't enough to change minds.
Things couldn't get any worse after that dreadful field trip, can it?
Yusuke couldn't have been more wrong.
Makoto Niijima, the Shujin Academy student council president, had cornered them on the bridge with a recording on her phone. Hearing Ryuji's loud complaints exposing themselves as the Phantom Thieves made Yusuke's stomach churn uncomfortably. They had been found out, no thanks to that careless idiot, although Ann admitted her fault in this because she got recorded too. Niijima blackmailed them into uncovering a crime syndicate that is targeting high schoolers. If they could prove what they're doing is for justice's sake, she'll delete the recording.
It may be insufficient evidence, not enough to prove their methods if Niijima turned them over to the authorities. Regardless, Akiko would be in real danger because she's on probation. Yusuke couldn't bear the thought of his beloved locked in prison. Even if the police laid a finger on her, he'd do whatever it takes to protect his precious girlfriend from those heartless bastards.
There was no choice but to go along with it.
No students in Kosei were doing any shady jobs, only those in Shujin are. Akiko eventually got to meet with a journalist, who gave her the name of the crime boss: Junya Kaneshiro. It didn't take long to deduce the correct keywords to enter his Palace, however, with an enormous bank floating high in the air, there was no way for them to infiltrate such a queer Palace.
Ann had some harsh words for Niijima, which suddenly pushed the student council president to brashly put herself in danger. Kaneshiro blackmailed them for three million yet, threatening to release pictures of them supposedly doing illegal acts in a night club which he captured on his phone.
Yusuke was the only one vocal in scolding Niijima for her recklessness and stupidity. He calmed down once the girl explained the reason behind her incompetent actions: Niijima was just like them, no place to belong in society. Labeled an outcast by society. In Niijima's case, she was scorned as a pushover by her peers because she obeys whatever orders the adults give her, even though those orders meant turning a blind eye to injustice like the Kamoshida scandal. Even her own sister, the only family she has left after the loss of their father, views her as a burden.
Niijima just wanted to be useful in some way when everyone looked down on her as useless.
The strange part is because of Niijima's actions, this makes her a customer for Kaneshiro's bank, granting them access to get inside. Shortly thereafter, confronting Kaneshiro's shadow as he gloated over his schemes caused Niijima to awaken her Persona, Johanna. Yusuke was taken aback to see a Persona, let alone a historical medieval woman who reigned as pope, in the form of a motorcycle. He was deeply impressed by her fighting skills, exuding such a fiery spirit and a strong aura. Albeit he, and Ryuji, eventually grew to be slightly afraid of what they now call Makoto's Fist of Justice if anyone vulgar so much as provokes her.
With Makoto's help as advisor and strategist for the team, the Phantom Thieves successfully defeated Kaneshiro and stole his Treasure. But not before he warned them of this mysterious person who wears a black mask who is using the Metaverse to create the mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns, the same person Madarame had mentioned before. This bothered Yusuke for a while. Whoever it is, this person sounds incredibly dangerous.
Kaneshiro turned himself in to the police, not long after. The authorities had the audacity to take credit for his arrest, but the public knew whom to thank for apprehending the leader of a crime ring, as a result of Makoto and Ryuji placing the calling cards in Shibuya. The Phantom Thieves became so popular that Akechi's nonstop criticism goes completely ignored and people say nothing but praises about them.
Plans of a celebration were put on hold because Makoto was very strict on them focusing on their studies for the upcoming exams. That may be true, but there's another problem left to tackle: Yusuke's slump has returned with a vengeance.
The young artist wished to have a moment with his girlfriend and speak in private of his dilemma. She agreed to listen and took him to Leblanc where he slipped into the warm leather seating of the booths which he found comfortable. Coming here feels like home. The feeling only solidified strongly as his gaze lingers at the portrait his late mother had left to him.
"Ah, the Sayuri... It seems to suit this cafe quite well. I'm glad I chose to leave it here." Yusuke smiled. It's as if this painting completed this masterpiece of home and comfort that is Leblanc. No time for such idle chat. He slid his gaze from his mother's legacy toward his beloved, behind the counter making them each a cup of hot coffee. "D-Darling... I fear I have found myself in quite a horrible mess."
Akiko looks up, her gentle gaze alarmed with concern behind her glasses. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
Her eagerness to offer him assistance was humble and kind, it's exactly what Yusuke came here for. The bluenette didn't expect her to jump in so swiftly, not just because she's his significant other, but also his leader. "To put it bluntly, I am in need of your assistance... Please, listen to what I must say."
Akiko walks around the counter carrying a tray with two cups, giving him one and setting the other one in the same booth he sits in. Putting her tray on the counter, she moves to go sit beside him, offering him her full attention. "Okay, what's the problem?" Such a devoted and caring girlfriend.
"Throughout my artistic career, there have been moments I've struggled with particular motifs or techniques. However, each of those struggles did eventually fade. Yet now I find myself in a similar situation... but the more I try to escape it, the worse it becomes. It seems I am trapped in what we in the art world call a 'slump.'" He recalled the first time he saw her, he had been trapped in one when he found nothing to help him create the perfect masterpiece.
"You mean like a how authors get a writer's block, you're in what you'd call an artist's block, right?" Akiko moved a little closer, her shoulder and hip tenderly made contact with him, keeping him slightly warm.
"Are you aware that I am attending Kosei on an art scholarship?" Yusuke continued, leaning closer. "Such coveted grants are not given as charity. I must continually achieve within my field to remain eligible. Were I to lose my scholarship... I would have no choice but to leave the school as well. Nobody would care because as far as everyone is concerned, I'm just another Madarame waiting to happen." The severity of the situation reminded him painfully of his former principal's cruel words and the bullying he suffered shortly after his ex-sensei was condemned.
"Yusuke..." Akiko's voice cracked, full of empathy and melancholy. She understood all too well of what it felt like to not be wanted at a school when the whole world is quick to judge you for being tied to an incident that you're not to blame for.
Yusuke was shunned due to his former connection with Madarame.
Akiko had been disowned and expelled for a criminal record built on lies.
It's no wonder the two shared a deep connection.
"In the earlier days of my career, I would exclusively paint what I desired, when I desired it. The only goal I had in mind was the pursuit of pure beauty... That goal is what drove me onward. I wanted nothing more than to attain the lustrous allure of the Sayuri in my own work." It felt like so long ago for Yusuke in sharing his feelings with someone who'd listen. To express how he'd love painting for the fun of it, for the passion of it. He made the perfect choice when he picked her to be his muse. "Yet what reason do I have now? Holding on to my scholarship? Keeping a roof over my head? Worldly desires are all that spur my brush to move," he cried in anguish, "and the resulting work reflects such impurity of mind!"
The sudden increase in his volume forced Akiko to jump in her seat, her body flinched at the loudness. Yusuke realized this, regret clearly seen on his pale features. He sighed heavily, bringing the coffee cup to his lips for a brief sip to calm his nerves. He shifts his attention back to his beloved, bracing himself to confess his greatest fear aloud. "To be honest, I am unsure as to whether I can even call myself an artist anymore."
Akiko was quick to recover from the brief shock, offering comfort to him. Reaching for his hand to intertwine their fingers together, her thumb softly stroking his skin. "Sweetie, you're under a lot of stress from this. Don't be so tough on yourself. You're still an artist in my eyes, no matter what you say.
It was obvious she was trying to placate him with kind words. Yusuke felt guilty for his sudden outburst. "My apologizes... it seems I got somewhat carried away. But... I simply cannot accept this lack of purpose in my work." He gives her hand a tender squeeze. "That is why I am so upset with my own indecision. Such vague ambition is, in essence, a sin of sorts."
Perhaps his wording on the situation was a tad bit dramatic as the concern was evident on Akiko's pretty face. "A sin? Uhh... Yusuke, don't you think you're taking this too far? I wouldn't call it a-"
"Though I suppose allowing my young career to come to an end here would be even more sinful," Yusuke interrupts. He never meant to alarm her, but it was honestly how he felt, and he wanted to explain it to her. "I only wish to create a work I can be genuinely proud of." Now he shifts his attention, and Akiko's, toward the painting which inspired him to become an artist. "Darling, just look at the Sayuri. Her incandescent figure, alluring gaze... That is the meaning of pure beauty! Yet no matter how hard I try to replicate it, an elegance so sweet remains elusive to me!"
"Why is that?" Akiko questions, curiously.
"Why is that, you ask? It is surely because the painter behind the work differs... Because the soul differs!" His mother's pure, beautiful, compassionate soul had created this majestic masterpiece just for him and it shines like the sun, illuminating a path for him to find through his darkest moments. Yusuke's own work... is nothing but a simple candle illuminating in the darkest times for people, only a small glimmer of hope for those who try to believe but feelings of doubt still linger.
For a while, he'd been studying art to understand the soul behind the painting. Recently, Yusuke came up with a theory that just might be the explanation. "But if my estimations are correct, the 'soul' is nothing but another way to speak of the human heart. What, then, is the heart? How does it bring forth such beauty? I must understand!" His mother poured her heart and soul into painting such a beautiful picture, solely just for him, with a passion and dedication translated clearly for all to witness. It inspired her son to follow in her footsteps, but alas, Yusuke is in a desperate struggle at trying to figure out how to accomplish the same with his own art. "To be perfectly frank though... I am unsure of how to do so."
Yusuke took a moment to calm down, taking another sip of his beverage, and to clear his thoughts. His gaze left the Sayuri toward the raven-haired girl sitting close beside him. She knows when to be there for him when he needs it. She was always so helpful and compassionate. How could anyone have the audacity to alienate her as a criminal when she's truly an angel? "Akiko, my love... Would you be able to provide me assistance? You have already brought profound change to my world. Hence, I believe you of all people may be able to bring me closer to the truth."
The answer to his plea for help came as Akiko crashed her lips on his while she wrapped her arms around his neck. Taken aback by this bold action, he placed his hands on her back and hair to bring her closer with no intention of hiding his love. Pressing his tongue against her lips, demanding entrance, she caved in and let him explore her. She finally gasped for fresh air as she released him, a trail of saliva connecting between their lips.
"You can take that as a yes!" Akiko chuckled between soft panting. "You know I'm happy to help you in any way I can!"
"You would!?" Yusuke gasped, his lips curled upward in a relieved grin. "Wonderful! Thank you!" He heard her hiss in surprise when he started kissing on her neck, revealing his hunger for more. Moaning attractively, his lips moved down across her collarbone with uncontrollable pleasure.
Overwhelmed for what she desired more than anything, Akiko regained her senses when she noticed the time. The hour has gotten late. Even the thought of their friends walking in on them, also returning Morgana from their trip to a cat cafe, would be totally awkward. "Whoa, wait... Keep this up and you'll miss your train... and if our friends saw us like this..." She gently pushed herself out of his embrace, reluctantly.
Their friends... his curfew... of course, how could he have forgotten. A red hue colors Yusuke's pale cheeks, embarrassed. "My apologizes, I couldn't hold myself back." He finished the last of his coffee. "At the moment, my art teacher has yet to notice any drastic changes in my work. But I cannot hide forever. Impurity of the heart will undoubtedly seep onto an artist's canvas eventually."
"Don't you worry." Akiko is quick to reassure him. "We'll figure something out. Let's say tomorrow after school?"
"Excellent!" Yusuke hurriedly gathered up his things and paid for the coffee. Before he left for the evening, he turned to give his generous girlfriend a goodbye kiss. She returned it with equal affection. "I look forward to speaking about this matter again. Sleep well, my love."