Hey guys! Thanks for the positive reviews and love as always. On with the story! Also sorry this uodate took more than 2 weeks.
"Wait! That's no good... Dammit!"
Akira chuckled softly at Ryuji's frustration.
The two were study together to prepare for the upcoming exams.
"Try starting over again." She instructed.
Well...
It was more like Akira was tutoring the hopeless boy in front of her. He grumbled as he struggled with the math, but he didn't give up.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
"Whoa! I did it! The answer matches!"
"Good job Ryuji." She said, smiling at him.
A victorious grin spread across his face.
"Hell yeah! Oh wait...Lemme grab a refill of my drink real quick. You want one too?"
She shook her head.
"No, I'm fine. Hurry and get your drink so we can get back to work."
With a nod, the blonde stood and left the booth. The little cafe they were working in was cozy so Ryuji had recommended they studied there.
That and Akira was still to scared to bring Ryuji to Leblanc.
Maybe if she brought Ann along as well, that'd soften the blow.
She chuckled to herself and turned back to her notes.
"Shouldn't we start heading home soon?"
Akira turned to the cat who had poked his little head out of her bag. She gently rubbed his head.
"Not yet. I want to make sure Ryuji understands this concept first."
Morgana purred at her touch before crawling out of her bag.
"Alright. I'm going to stretch my legs a bit."
Akira nods and watched the cat scamper away. Ryuji returned a few moments later, drink in hand and ready to get back to work.
The two diligently went about their work for about five minutes before the blonde boy in front of her groaned.
"Dammit! I don't get it!"
"Calm down Ryuji. Here, let me see."
He pushed his notebook toward her. The page was covered in hard to read chicken scratch, but she got the gist of what he was doing.
"Ok. Let me show you."
Ryuji raised a brow as Akira started writing in her own book. He leaned over the table a bit, but he still couldn't see it well enough.
So he got up and slid into her booth instead.
He saw her hand pause a bit when his body touched hers ever so slightly but she said nothing. She spoke as she wrote every step of the problem.
Ryuji watched carefully, but he definitely wasn't listening.
He couldn't help it.
He was listening first.
Honestly, he was!
But she smelled good.
Like really good.
It was like the sweet scent of vanilla or something.
Whatever it was, it was intoxicating and he loved it.
He'd never noticed it before and found himself inching closer to her to get a better whiff.
I sound like a damn creep. Focus Ryuji!
He took a deep breath and rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to calm down his racing mind. His heart hammered against his chest.
Was sitting this close to her sending him off?
Akira, completely oblivious to Ryuji's internal panic, continued her lengthy explanation. Unconsciously, she pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.
Ryuji noticed.
Now he wasn't even looking at her paper anymore.
His eyes locked onto her.
"-and that's all there is to it."
She finally turned to him, meeting his eyes.
"Ryuji?"
Say something.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Do you need me to repeat that?"
"N-no! I got it!" He stammered.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Yeah! Of course! I was... I was just staring at this feather in your hair!"
Before she can comment, Ryuji plucks the "feather" and throws it over his shoulder.
"Got it!"
For real!? That's the best I could think off!?
"Oh. Thanks."
She smiles at him and begins closing her books.
"Well that's all for today. I should start heading back."
Ryuji nodded and watched her start packing up her stuff. He slid out of his seat, letting her out.
"See you tomorrow."
With that, she left to find Morgana and head home.
He waved goodbye then sank back into the booth.
What was wrong with him?
Lately, he's felt weird.
At first, he thought it was because he finally had a friend. Being ditched by the track team and being Kamoshida's punching bag did a number on him, so he was happy Akira stuck by him.
Hell, he was happy when she spoke to him or waved at him when they passed in the halls.
It made him smile.
It made him really happy.
But was this happiness something more?
Sure, Akira was cute.
She was also sexy as hell in her Phantom Thief getup.
Ok, she's good looking all the time.
She was also strong yet kind amd understanding.
There was a lot he admired in Akira.
But was that admiration something more?
He groaned and sank further into his chair.
"Damn! This isn't the time to be thinking about this! I got exams!"
"Excuse me sir?"
Ryuji blinked and turned to the waitress.
"Um yeah?"
"Could you please keep your voice down? I'm sorry your date didn't go well, but you're disrupting other customers."
"S-Sorry..."
"It's-"
Ryuji suddenly flew onto his feet.
"Wait! Date!? I didn't go on a date with anyone!"
"Sir, if you keep raising your voice I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Ryuji ended up trying to explain he wasn't on a date then got kicked out of the cafe.
He sat dejectedly on the train home.
"It wasn't a damn date..."
Wait...
Was it a date?
His face quickly became a shade of red.
There was no way that was a date! Akira and I were just studying!
Yeah! Just studying!
No matter how much he tried to convince himself it wasn't a date, a tiny part of him fluttered in excitement.
Perhaps it was?
TAKE YOUR TIME
Exams took up the majority of the week, but Akira wasn't worried.
Well, she wasn't worried about exams, but something else entirely.
Ann and her decided to walk together at the subway after her blonde friend couldn't shake the feeling someone was watching her.
The two kept their eyes open together but no dice.
They never saw anyone staring at them.
Soon, Akira too felt the eyes on her.
When she'd wait for Ann, she could swear someone was watching.
It was weird, but exams and Ann were her primary focus at the moment.
She could deal with her own stalker later on.
She smiled as Ann approached her and Ryuji. Both the blondes were tired, as it was the last day of exams. Ann studied all night while Ryuji goofed off.
Akira laughed as Morgana started a fight with Ryuji. She shook her head at them. Turning to Ann, the two talked to share last minute notes when Ann suddenly stiffened.
"Am I imagining things...?" She mumbled.
Akira opened her mouth to ask what was wrong when she felt it too.
She looked around, catching Ryuji's and Morgana's attention.
"You two ok? What's wrong?" He asked.
Ann shook her head.
"No, that's not it..."
Akira's grip on her bag tightened, but she said nothing.
I saw him... He's watching us...
The group crowded into the train.
As did their follower.
The entire train ride, she was on edge. Perhaps Ann was too, but she didn't ask.
Who was this guy and why was he stalking them?
Was he a groper or something?
The very thought sent chills down her spine.
Ryuji watched Akira tremble softly besides him. She was probably thinking the worst case scenario. She still hadn't gotten over the scare Kamoshida gave her, not that he could blame her. Sometimes he too would wake up from a haunting Kamoshida related nightmare. His hand went to reach out and comfort her, but the memories of the cafe made him pause.
His heart started hammering again and his hand dropped to his side.
The train finally stopped.
The three stepped off and followed the crowds to the escalator.
He did as well.
This didn't go unnoticed by Ann.
"Oh my god! He got off too!"
Akira turned and her eyes swept over the crowd, panic filling her.
Ryuji stared at the two, unsure of what to say for moment.
"Hey! At least pretend you care!" Ann snapped at him.
That brought him out of his stupor.
"I do care!' He said, stifling back a yawn.
Ann slapped his shoulder in annoyance. Akira chuckled at their antics, relaxing a bit, which in turn made Ryuji feel better.
"Come on." He said, walking ahead.
The two girls followed after him.
TAKE YOUR TIME
He sighed as he reached the top of the escalator.
That blonde and the dark haired girl... Did they both head that way?
He turned and hurriedly made his way out of the station.
He couldn't afford to let them get away this time.
Jogging up the stairs, he gasped a bit for breath. This was the most exercise he'd done in a while.
He stopped when he saw the blonde. She stood only a few paces away from him.
Where did the other one go?
It didn't matter right now.
He could do with just one.
He moved forward, reaching out to his hand...
Only to be blocked by a blonde male. He stopped and stared blankly at this new person. He tilted his head in confusion as the new blonde looked him over.
Before he could speak, the two blondes almost instantly began bickering.
"Is there something you want?" He asked, interrupting the fight.
"That's my line!" The girl yelled.
Before he could respond, he was smacked in the back of the head. Hard.
Over and over.
Quickly, he tried shielding himself from her assailant.
"Akira stop!"
"You screamed!"
"Not for that reason!"
"You said and I quote 'If I scream, attack'."
What is happening?
TAKE YOUR TIME
Akira stood sheepishly after beating the stranger with her schoolbag.
"Sorry. I had assumed the worst..." She mumbled.
"Why did you attack me?" The blue haired man asked.
"Because you've been stalking us!" Ann yelled.
The man blinked.
"Stalking you? That's outrageous."
Ann pointed an accusing finger at him.
"I know you've been following Akira and I! Ever since the train!"
"That's because-"
HONK! HONK! HONK!
The four turned as a black vehicle approached the curb besides them. The back window rolled down, revealing an elderly man with a gentle smile.
"My goodness, I had wondered why you left the car."
He glanced at the group.
"So this is where your passion led. All that's well ends well." He said, laughing a bit.
The young man suddenly spoke up.
"I saw you... from the car. I couldn't help myself from chasing after you. I didn't even notice the calls from Sensei... But thank goodness, I caught up to you."
Ann and Akira looked at him, still clearly confused.
"Ok..." Ann said.
"What?" Ryuji said, scratching his head.
He wasn't following this conversation in the slightest.
"You're the woman I've been searching for all this time! Please, won't you-"
"W-Wait a minute-" Ann started.
"Woman? Then why were you watching me too?" Akira pressed.
"-Be the model for my next art piece!?"
The three stared at him in confusion.
"Model?" Ann asked.
"All that I've drawn til now has been lacking, but I feel a passion from you unlike anyone else."
Morgana didn't like the way this conversation was going.
"This man's highly suspicious!"
His complaint fell on deaf's ears.
The man then turns to Akira.
"That's when I saw you too. You have this... this intense emotion eminating from you. I can't help but feel drawn to both of you."
Akira unconsciously blushed, looking away slightly.
Now Ryuji didn't like how this was going. He stepped up to the man.
"What kind of shady business are you recruiting for?!"
The man ignores him. Instead, he focuses back on the ladies, moving closer to them.
"Will you two cooperate with me? What do you say?"
Again, Ryuji steps up, blocking the man from the girls.
"Hold your horses! Who're you anyways?"
He steps back and composes himself.
"Oh, where are my manners? I'm a second-year at Kosei High's fine-arts division. My name is Yusuke Kitagawa."
He then pushes past as he continues, much to Ryuji's annoyance.
"I'm Madarame-sensei's pupil, and I am being allowed residence at his place. I'm striving to become an artist."
"Huh!? Do you mean THAT Madarame? The one who was on "Good Morning Japan" the other day?" Ann exclaimed.
"Wow really...?" Akira said, slightly awestruck.
Both were surprised when he said yes. This boy, Yusuke, was seriously training under the famous Madarame.
Ryuji had no idea who they were talking about.
Madarame came onto the art scene with his Japanese style. He became quite famous and was soon recognized all over the world for his changing style.
"But didn't we hear that name in Mementos?" Morgana whispered.
Now that he mentioned it, they all recalled one of the people who's heart they had changed had mentioned his name.
"Yusuke!"
The group turned to the man, presumably Madarame, in the car. Akira had forgotten he was there.
"I'm sorry, Sensei. I'll be right there!" Yusuke said.
Ryuji squinted at the elderly man.
"That's Madarame...? That old guy?" He mumbled.
Yusuke ignored Ryuji again, focusing on Ann and Akira.
"Madarame-sensei's exhibition will begin at the department store near the station tomorrow. I'll be there to help out on opening day. Please come by."
He takes Ann's hand then Akira's.
He stared deeply into Akira's eyes.
"It'd be great if you could give me your answer in regard to being a model then..."
He places the tickets in her hands. He takes his eyes off Akira, giving Ryuji a hard look.
"I bet you have no interest in the fine arts, but I'll give you tickets too."
Sparks fly between the two males, which goes unnoticed by Ann and Akira.
Finally, Yusuke releases Akira's hands.
"Well then, I hope to see you there tomorrow!"
He waves goodbye and enters the car with Madarame. The remaining three stand and watch the vehicle disappear down the road.
Akira, Ann, and Morgana immediately begin discussing what just happened. Ryuji couldn't comment. He wasn't even listening.
He was fucking pissed.
All he could see was red.
That damn condescending look he gave Ryuji.
How long he was holding her hand.
How deeply he stared into her dark gray eyes.
How her face turned red when he spoke to her!
This Yusuke character obviously was up to no good!
"You're not planning on going, are you?" Morgana asked.
"I think I will..." Ann said.
"Yeah same." Akira agreed.
Ryuji's eyes bulged.
"What!? Why!?" He yelled.
"Crap! Look at the time! I'll see you later." Ann said as she took off running.
Morgana began sulking, sinking into the abyss of Akira's bag.
"Poor Morgana... He's losing the battle." She chuckled.
She expected Ryuji to laugh or take a jab at the sad cat. She didn't expect him to stare at her in dead silence.
"Um... Ryuji?"
The way Yusuke looked at her...
"Ryuji, could you stop staring. It's embarrassing..."
Ryuji sighed and shook his head.
"Sorry. Let's get goin'..."
Without another word, Ryuji dejectedly starting walking. Akira followed after him, a bit concerned.
"Ryuji? Are you alright?" She asked.
"I'm fine... Just exhausted with how today's goin'."
She grabbed his shoulder, making him face her.
"Come on. Sure, Yusuke was a bit weird. At least he wasn't some pervert or something."
"True. But if he was that can of weird I wouldn't let him anywhere near you." He frowned.
"Aww~" She cooed in a teasing manner.
"And Ann!" He quickly added.
She chuckled at him.
"Geez, you seem all innocent and cute, but you've got a serious sadistic side." He sighed.
"I do not!"
"Sureeeeeee... Rightttttt..."
"Ryuji!"
She swatted his shoulder as his face broke out a grin.
The two eventually started chating and made their way side by side towards Shujin.
TAKE YOUR TIME
Sae stared at her from across the table.
"You became acquainted with Madarame's pupil by chance?"
Akira nodded.
"That's a little too convient. It makes me wonder if you're even telling the truth."
Akira sighed at her skepticism, but kept quiet.
"So be it. What I want to know most is your method." Sae said.
She gave the older woman a confused look. She didn't understand what she meant.
"It's true that Madarame was an unforgivable criminal worthy of the scorn thrown at him. He was an adult who cultivated his own fame and fortune by sacrificing the livelihood of children. But how?"
"How what?" Akira asked.
"How did you discover such horrible deeds that were hidden all these years in such a short time?"
She's not going to believe me...
"The Metaverse."
"This "Metaverse" business again?" She scoffed.
Knew it.
Sae sighed and looked Akira over.
"... Fine. Let's suppose that people's hearts can be changed by stealing their Treasure, like you've said."
Akira raised her brow.
"If so, a different suspicion arises."
Sae crosses her arms as she goes on.
"People have gone made or lost consciousness, never to recover... like the subway accident in April. Depending on how you look at it, that could be taken as a phenomenon for a sudden change of heart too. Were you related to those as well?"
"... I don't want to say."
Sae gives her a scrutinizing look.
"...I see."
She glances at her watch. She didn't have much time left.
"Continue telling me about Madarame's case. Keep it concise and only of truth."
Akira nodded and continued.
TAKE YOUR TIME
Last day of exams and Ryuji knew he was one hundred percent fucked.
Well, he knew that from day one...
But he couldn't even focus enough to properly do eeny meeny miny moe to guess.
He kept thinking back to Yusuke and Akira from earlier that morning.
Her hand fit perfectly in his...
Like a Prince holding his hand out to his Princess...
He jabbed his forehead with an eraser.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS!
And yet that's all he could think about.
He could only see Yusuke holding a blushing Akira by the hands, rose petals dancing in the air around them.
He could so clearly hear Yusuke speaking to her.
You have this... this intense emotion eminating from you. I can't help but feel drawn to both of you.
His grip on his pencil tightened.
He and Akira were only friends. He wasn't jealous.
He was worried for her safety. Yusuke wasn't good enough for her!
Yeah! That's it!
The rest of exams droned on, but he was relieved it was finally over.
"Mmmmmm, it's over!" Ann sighed happily.
"Yeah... It's over..." He mumbled.
"I'm feeling confident, but I'm glad exams are done." Akira grinned.
Morgana popped out of her bag.
"I predict you did very well Akira. All your studying paid off." He said.
Ryuji groaned.
"Can we stop talkin' about the exams? Like it or not, they're gonna come back graded next week."
He pulls out his phone and starts scrolling.
"What're you looking at?" Ann asked.
"The usual site, but it's no use. There ain't any useful info. The number of posts are gettin' less and less too..." He sighed.
"We can't let the Phantom Thieves be a one hit wonder." Morgana frowned.
"There's no point in getting antsy though." Ann said.
"Ann's right. We just have to be patient, that's all." Akira added.
"I know! Why don't we go eat lunch somewhere? We still have some money left over from the other day." Ann said, grinning.
"Sushi!" Ryuji and Morgana yelled simultaneously.
Akira giggled.
"I'm pretty sure we don't have that much money left." She said.
Ann nodded in agreement.
"We have the tickets to Madarame's exhibit. Let's go!"
"That's tomorrow." Akira replied.
"Oh right..."
Morgana sighed dejectedly.
"Was it love at first sight with that Yusuke guy...?"
Ryuji felt himself tense as he waited for Ann and Akira (mostly Akira) to respond.
"It's not like that. His artwork is just really nice. Plus, we got free tickets." Ann said.
"O-of course." Morgana stammered.
"Besides, this could also be related to what we heard in Mementos." She added.
"True. So, we're all going to see the exhibit together." Akira said, pushing her glasses up.
Morgana nodded eagerly, going off about fine arts building character. Ryuji wasn't really listening.
"Well, if everyone's going..." He mumbled.
"It's settled then!" Ann cheered.
"I can't wait." Akira grinned.
This exhibition made Ryuji wanna gag, but he couldn't be the only Phantom Thief not to go.
Especially if Yusuke would be there.
"Let's meet at the exhibit entrance tomorrow." Ann suggested.
They all agreed. They then went their separate ways.
Hours later, Ryuji sat on his bed, lost in thought. Exams had brought him down a bit. As did their chance encounter with painter boy.
Akira had never answered.
She never said she liked Yusuke...
But she didn't deny it either...
Only Ann had.
"Dammit..."
BUZZ!
He felt around for his phone. It was a text from their group chat.
Ann: So I keep thinking about what Nakanohara said...
Akira: That guy from Mementos right?
Ann: Yeah. Could he really have been talking about the famous artist Madarame?
Akira: I think so. Who else could it be?
Ryuji: I mean, have you guys ever heard of someone else called Madarame?
Ann: True. It's not common at all.
Akira: That means Yusuke-kun is training under a corrupt teacher.
Ann: Kitagawa-kun's home life must be pretty terrible.
Ryuji sighed, relaxing his grip on his phone.
If that was true, Yusuke was prolly being abused or something. The thought made Ryuji feel bad for him. As much as he didn't like Yusuke, he wasn't going to be an ass and ignore him if he needed help.
Ryuji: We gotta look into this.
The girls chimed in agreement. Throwing himself onto his bed, he scrolled through the Phan-site again.
Still pretty bare in posts.
He groaned and glanced at the ticket Akira had given him.
Which was given to her by him.
He rolled over and turned off his lamp.
I'm overthinking things. There's nothing going on.
He repeated this in his mind til he drifted off to sleep.
TAKE YOUR TIME
The exhibit was very crowded when they arrived.
Beautiful works of art decorated the walls around them, adding a splash of color and uniqueness to the pale walls.
"Morgana, stay in the bag. It'd be bad if someone discovered you." Akira warned.
Heeding her warning, the cat dove back into her bag.
They didn't see Yusuke so they went about the exhibit, oohing and aahing at the various works of art.
Well Akira and Ann did. This wasn't really Ryuji's scene.
Before he knew it, he was alone.
The girls had wandered off without him.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
He was really out of place here.
He walked around, glancing at each painting he passed. The blonde stopped when he noticed a crowd around a certain old man.
Madarame!
He was surrounded by press. A woman held a microphone out to him.
"We continue to be truly surprised by your imagination. You have such expansive styles, it's hard to believe that it all stems from one person. Where in the world does all your inspiration come from?" She asked.
"Well... It's rather difficult to put into words..." Madarame began.
He turned and smiled at the woman.
"They naturally well up from within my heart like bubbles rising one after another in a spring."
"Naturally, you say?" The reporter pressed.
"What's important is to distance oneself from worldly desires such as money and fame. My atelier is a modest shack, but it is more than enough to pursue true beauty."
Ryuji frowned as he eavesdropped.
He lives... in a shack?
"I see... So the act of emptying one's mind gives rise to inner beauty."
The reporter and Madarame continued talking, but Ryuji was too busy focusing.
Shack...
Suddenly, he felt someone push against him.
Followed by another.
Then a few hundred others.
"Hey! Stop pushin'!" He yelled.
He struggled to stay, but was eventually swept away.
"There's too many people!" He muttered.
"Help!"
Morgana?!
"I'm being crushed!"
Following the sound of the pleading cat, he found Akira's bag on the ground nearby.
"Morgana, what happened? Where's Akira?"
Akira wouldn't just leave her bag unattended with Morgana inside.
"She said she had to use the restroom and left me on a bench near the door. But then all these people started coming out of nowhere and knocked me around." He moaned.
He picked up the bag and looked around.
He didn't see a bathroom door anywhere.
"Come on, she'll be outta the bathroom soon. Let's walk around."
Morgana nodded and dove back into the bag. They made their way around the exhibit with no sign of Ann or Akira.
Suddenly, a dark braid moved in the corner of his eye.
Akira...?
He turned and scanned the room.
"There! I see her." He said.
Ryuji pushed through the crowd, making his way closer and closer.
"Akir-!"
His words died in his mouth.
He stopped dead in his tracks and stared straight at her.
She wasn't facing him.
No, she was facing him.
Yusuke...
They stood together in front of a painting, talking leisurely.
"Lady Ann..."
He could hear the sadness in the cat's voice. Both girls stood besides the artist in training. Yusuke had both of them.
They all looked like they were enjoying themselves.
His head sank and he turned away.
"Come on, let's head to the exit..." He mumbled.
He didn't hear Morgana respond, but he didn't voice any complaints. The crowd pushed against his shoulders, but he simply let them brush past him. He felt a jab to his back and an elbow to his gut, but he ignored it.
Nothing could hurt more than the stabbing pain in his chest...
Yay. Chapter done. I hope you enjoyed. I decided to make this one more Ryuji-centric as before he was the only male human in the group. Meaning he had all the attention from the ladies. The introduction of Yusuke is really stirring up his feelings. But Ryuji's an idiot so he has no idea what those feelings are yet, of course. I hope you guys liked Ryuji's perspective.
Also big shout out to the people in the reviews who said 2 weeks passed. I would say your names but you're both Guests. Either way, you guys are real ones for calling me out.
As usual, onto comments and questions.
Specifically to DreamingCakeCats I do plan on having Akira have a sister-like bond with Futaba. Futaba was always like a sibling to me in game so I'd love to incorporate that.
Has your mom gotten better?
Yes she has! Thanks for all the good health wishes for by the way. She's finally able to walk and go about her normal day again.
Excited for E3?
I was, it's come and gone by now. I only really watch Square enix and Nintendo but I keep my eyes out. Final Fantasy seven remake looks amazing. Oninaki, Fire emblem 3 houses, breath of the wild sequel, pokemon, astral chain... so many good games. My wallet is going to be dead by the end of this year...
What are your overall thoughts on P5 Royale?
I love it. The trailer song "Colors Flying High" is amazing. There's an amazing cover by Jenny that sounds great. Also it has a ton of cool features and amazing looking new characters. Also new girl's Persona is Cendrillion. Literally Cinderella. That's cool.
Do you have any new Persona stories ideas? How do you come up with stories?
I'll answer the 2nd question first. I come up with stuff based on my dreams, events that happen in real life, or images I've seen. For example, this story was inspired by a fanart of what Akira would look like as a female. The gears started turning from there. As for new stories, I've thought about making a female version of Persona 4, Yu becomes Yue. I've also thought of a mafia/yakuza version of P5 but Akira is female again. She's caught the eye of the Boss *cough cough* Ryuji *cough cough* and he wants her but she doesn't trust him. But yeah, those might come in the future. I started a draft for both but I'm not sure if I want to start it yet. If you guys are interested in that, I'll definitely try to speed it up.
That's all for now. Hope you all have a nice day!
