A/N: sithlorde1988 here, with another chapter of Persona 5- The Phantom Files! Before we get into the usual disclaimer and start-of-chapter A/N shenanigans, I had a reader point out to me in their review that I forgot to list Smaug's affinities when I did his stat sheet so in light of that fact, let me break Smaug's stats down once again, with affinities included, and since I don't think it's too much of a spoiler, Smaug's learnset. So without further ado, Smaug's stats!
Smaug's Stats/Affinities/Learnset
Stats:
Level (as of chapter 17): 12
Strength: 14
Magic: 11
Endurance: 15
Agility: 13
Luck: 10
Affinities:
Physical: Repel
Gun: Neutral
Fire: Null
Ice: Neutral
Elec: Weak
Wind: Strong
Psy: Neutral
Nuke: Neutral
Bless: Strong
Curse: Weak
Learnset
Currently knows:
-Megido (Almighty, starting ability)
-Headbutt (physical, learned at level 3)
-Garu (wind, learned at level 6)
-Taunt (status, learned at level 2)
-Tarukaja (buff, learned at level 8)
-Agi (fire, learned at level 10)
-Dia (healing, learned at level 11)
Eventual learnset:
-Rakukaja (buff, learns at level 16)
-Resist Elec (passive, learns at level 20)
-Assault Dive (physical, learns at level 25)
-Media (healing, learns at level 27)
-Garula (wind, learns at level 32)
-Matarukaja (buff, learns at level 36)
-Agion (fire, learns at level 40)
-Diarama (healing, learns at level 42)
-Almighty Boost (passive, learns at level 44)
-Marakukaja (buff, learns at level 50)
-Megidola (Almighty, learns at level 55)
-Null Elec (passive, learns at level 60)
-Mediarama (healing, learns at level 62)
-Almighty Amp (passive, learns at level 66)
-Drain Fire (passive, learns at level 69)
-Deadly Fury (physical, learns at level 70)
-Megidolaon (Almighty, learns at level 75)
And then past that, each of his evolved forms gains a unique move they gain on evolving, but I won't list those here for sake of spoilers and because they'll both be moves I created for said evolved forms. But I think that should suffice as a good breakdown of Smaug's affinities, learnset and stats covered in depth. That said, thanks to AKANOS for pointing out that I'd forgotten to list Smaug's affinities. With that done, let's finally get to the disclaimer!
Disclaimer: sithlorde1988 does not own the Persona series in any way shape or form (bar the OC Kusa/Draconis who he DOES own as he made him) and the credit for owning the Persona series is given to Sega, Atlus and Koei Tecmo so credit to them!
That said, on with chapter 17!
Chapter 17- Infiltrating the Museum! The Kitsune Artist part 5
(At the hideout with Ren, Ann, Kusa, Morgana and Ryuji)
"So, are we gonna infiltrate the Palace?" Ryuji asked as Ren stroked his chin in thought before eventually answering.
"We are, but not today. From what Morgana said, we have a bit over two weeks until the deadline so I think we're safe to take a week of that time to do extra prep for the Palace, to be sure we're going in at our most prepared, so until next week, we can just relax within reason. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't keep your skills sharp, Ryuji. You should still train where you can, got it?" Ren said as Ryuji nodded before Kusa spoke up.
"Very well then. If we're not infiltrating, I'll take my leave now since I did tell Yoshizawa I'd help her train today, and since we're not infiltrating I don't have to cancel on her. Excuse me." Kusa said with a bow as he walked off, after which Ann and Ryuji also cited places to be and left, leaving just Ren and Morgana standing alone, the latter of which spoke up.
"Well, since we have a week of prep time, what did you have in mind?" Morgana asked Ren who smirked.
"First and foremost, we're going and returning 'Bubbly Hills, 90210', and seeing if there's any other DVDs for rent since I think we've watched most of them by now." Ren said as Morgana nodded his agreement. When they returned the DVD and checked the remaining selection, there was only one other title for rent in 'Guy McVer', a movie that boosts Proficiency. After that Ren decided to go hit up Untouchable to sell off the excess treasure he'd gotten from the brief run into the Palace they'd done previously. At that point, Iwai spoke up.
"Ah, kid. Good timing. That bag from the other day? Consider it all yours. You picked it up somewhere. Nothin' to do with me. Understand?" Iwai said as Ren nodded and Iwai kept speaking.
"I didn't see it, I didn't touch it, I don't know about it. We clear?" Iwai asked as Ren spoke up.
"Crystal." Ren said simply as he was given the 'Riot Police E' handgun. Iwai then nodded before he kept speaking.
"If that's it, then go home. You can go window-shop somewhere else." Iwai said as Morgana spoke up so only Ren could hear.
"Hey! That modified model gun should be a powerful weapon to use during Palace battles. Let's ask him about what was inside the bag! Don't freak out, Ren! Just ask him!" Morgana said as Ren shook his head.
"Nah, Morgana. I don't think my Guts are high enough rank for that." Ren said as Morgana sighed but nodded.
"Should we not? ...Ugh, fine, fair enough. You can ask him when you raise your Guts enough. Maybe taking on the Big Bang Challenge would help you get more gutsy..." Morgana said reluctantly as Iwai spoke up.
"You lookin' to buy or not?" Iwai asked Ren who spoke up at that point.
"For now, I'm lookin' to sell, and then I'll look at what you have after that. Odds are I will be buying at least something though depending on what you have in stock." Ren said as Iwai nodded in satisfaction. Ren then sold the small bit of Treasure he'd accumulated and got a bit over 6,200 yen for it all which satisfied him as he then looked at protectors. After a bit of browsing, Ren bought the 'Cone Collar' armor for Morgana.
After a bit more selling, Ren eventually left Untouchable and headed to Yongen-Jaya to pay a visit to Takemi at her clinic after noticing she was still only at Confidant rank 1, whereas every other confidant Ren had was at at least rank 2 (or 3 in the cases of Ryuji, Kusa and Igor) so he figured he needed to get her ranked up while he could. Ren walked up to the counter as Takemi saw him, sighed and spoke up.
"Oh, it's you. You know, the warmer it gets, the stranger people act...like that perverted high-school teacher. Has anyone ever studied the correlation between the rise in temperature and a rise in weirdos...?" Takemi asked as Ren shrugged, before noting he had sufficient Guts to handle the clinical trials. Takemi then spoke up again.
"So, what are you here for today?" Takemi asked Ren who then spoke up.
"I'm here to do a clinical trial, per my end of our deal since it occurs to me I've not been keeping up my end that well of late, even if we only recently struck that deal, so my apologies for being so late in keeping my end." Ren said. Takemi looked at Ren before simply nodding as she spoke up.
"Forgiven. And with that, I developed a new medicine. Could you come to the back?" Takemi asked as Morgana spoke up so only Ren could hear.
"So, what are you gonna do? Want to hang out with Takemi?" Morgana asked Ren who nodded as he spoke up.
"Yeah. I need to keep my end of the deal I struck with her, after all. If you don't want to be here, you can go take a walk somewhere, maybe go see if you can find Kusa." Ren said to Morgana who nodded as he padded off to find Kusa as Takemi spoke up.
"In that case, I'm going to start setting up, so please head to the exam room and wait for me." Takemi said as Ren nodded and went to the exam room.
(In the exam room with Ren and Takemi)
"Hmm...Here you go. I made various adjustments to the previous drug, based on your trial results. All right, drink it down in one gulp." Takemi said as Ren nodded and proceeded to down the whole glass in one gulp, wincing at the powerful taste, which was both sour and bitter while overwhelming Ren in addition to the terrible smell. Ren then found himself struggling to breathe as he then passed out, making Takemi giggle as she spoke up to herself (and maybe to the half-conscious Ren who was looking at her sleepily).
"Ah, your reaction to it is absolutely perfect. You feel a bit dazed, hm? Yes, I mixed in some special... components. Okay, let's take your temperature and blood pressure. I'm also going to draw some blood. I also want to perform a few motor skill tests. But those might be too much for you right now. Anyways, since we're in the final stages, I should first stabilize the fundamental formula..." Takemi said to a half-conscious Ren as another voice caught her attention.
"...Oh, so you ARE here." Takemi heard as an officer walked in to glare at Takemi with his arms crossed as Takemi huffed and spoke up.
"What? ...I'm in the middle of an examination. I've told you before, Officer. if you want to investigate me, you need to show me a warrant." Takemi said to the officer who huffed as he spoke up.
"Hmph! I'm here because we received a report.I'll need to see a detailed statement of medical expenses and full medical records. I bet you didn't have enough time to hide any incriminating documents, huh?" The officer said to Takemi who huffed as she spoke up.
"Must be under the orders of the Medical Chief of Staff. Here you go." Takemi said as she handed over the requested documents to the surprised officer who spoke up.
"Huh...?" The officer said in surprise as he looked over the documents as Takemi spoke up.
"This kid here is my only patient today. If you're asking for his medical expenses, I'm guessing I'm under suspicion of improper billing? But without a receipt, I'd say you've been sent on a wild goose chase." Takemi said as the officer frowned before speaking up.
"Wh-What's going on here?" The officer asked as Takemi smirked before speaking up.
"You're being manipulated. That 'report' is fictitious. It's nothing but an attempt to harass me." Takemi said as the officer gaped before speaking up in disbelief.
"What!?" The officer said before he turned to Ren who was just sitting up and spoke to him.
"...Hey, you! What're you doing here!? You don't seem to be sick...Are you up to something illegal?" The officer asked Ren who spoke up with a straight face.
"Nothing of the sort. Doctor Takemi here was just giving me an examination, as she said. I have a bad heart, you see." Ren said by way of explanation. The officer blanched as he spoke up while Takemi gave Ren a look of mixed intrigue, appreciation and curiosity.
"A-A bad heart?" The officer asked as Takemi nodded and spoke up.
"Mm-hmm. He's stressed about taking his entrance exams. I have some drugs that help with relaxation. So, is there anything else? As you can see, I'm pretty busy here." Takemi said as the officer sighed before speaking up once more, his tone sounding defeated as he spoke.
"Fine. You're infuriating, you know that? Hmph... but I'd expect nothing less from the 'Plague'." The officer said as he turned and left the office with a huff. After he left, Takemi sighed as she spoke up.
"Ugh, I'm so over this..." Takemi said as Ren nodded while speaking up.
"I agree." Ren said, surprising Takemi who smiled as she spoke up with a slight smile on her face.
"I think we're going to get along just fine. As to what you just saw, it's nothing to worry about. I'm sure it was my former superior who made that false report. You eavesdropped on our conversation the other day, remember? He's just trying to put pressure on me...by having the police investigate me and my practice. Anyways, by the way, I need to draw some blood. There'll be some mild anemia, but only temporarily. You'll be fine. ...It's part of our 'deal', remember?" Takemi said as Ren nodded and spoke up.
"Very well, I suppose I have no choice if it's for our deal." Ren said submissively as he nodded and allowed Takemi to do what she had to do, getting a smile from her as she spoke up.
"I like kids who listen to their superiors. Enjoy your medicine." Takemi said as Ren blanched but nodded as he felt his bond with Takemi grow even deeper, causing the 'Death' card to appear in his mind's eye as the 'I' on it became a 'II', signifying that his Death Confidant had ranked up to Rank 2. After that, Takemi giggled as she spoke up.
"I'm going to draw more blood than usual...since you're healthy and all...Only kidding." Takemi said, adding the last part after seeing the 'what did I get myself into!?' look on Ren's face at her previous comment before she spoke up once more.
"Okay, lie down. You can go home once I'm done." Takemi said as Ren nodded, laying down as requested, and as he did so, he felt his Guts go up slightly thanks to the clinical trial. After Takemi finished what she needed to do, Ren eventually got to his feet and was allowed to go home as Takemi smiled before speaking up.
"All right, take care." Takemi said as Ren nodded and spoke up.
"Very well. See you next time." Ren said as he went to Leblanc, only for his phone to ring as he got to the door which he answered.
"Hello?" Ren said as he answered his phone. He shrugged as he recognized Takemi's voice on the other end.
"Hi, my little guinea pig. You get home safely? You still seemed kind of dizzy when you left, so I figured I'd check in. You know how it is. Some patients get sick on their way back home." Takemi said as Ren nodded before speaking up.
"Yeah, I get that. I'm totally fine, though. I was just about to walk into Leblanc when you called, actually." Ren said honestly. Takemi smiled as she spoke up.
"Yeah, you sound all right. Guess I've got nothing to worry about. I think you'll be okay, but call me if you start feeling sick. Okay, I'm looking forward to our next clinical trial." Takemi said as Ren nodded before he hung up his phone and went inside. Once he went in, Morgana reminded him about the paper bag, which Ren shrugged off by glaring at Morgana and saying quietly he'd do it once his Guts were high enough.
After a quick crossword break (which gave Ren a boost to his Knowledge once he finished it), Ren and Morgana went to the Underground Walkway to look at job postings, eventually deciding to apply for a night job at the Ore no Beko. Ren called the job and a worker answered.
"Hello. This is Ore no Beko on Central Street. How many are you ordering for?" The voice asked Ren who spoke up.
"I'm actually calling in regards to the job opening you placed an ad for in the paper." Ren said as the voice on the other end gave an 'ah' of understanding as they spoke up.
"Oh, I get it. You're calling about the job opening. This is great timing. We're in need of some extra hands. I'd take just about anyone at this point. You don't mind working at night, do you? Stop by anytime you're free to work. I'll be waiting! We're right by the entrance to Central Street. Hope to see you soon." The male who'd answered the phone, who was apparently the manager, said as Ren nodded before hanging up as Morgana spoke up.
"Whoa...That settles it. You'd better work hard, okay?" Morgana said as Ren nodded as he headed to the beef bowl shop to do a shift as Morgana spoke up at the entrance to the beef bowl shop.
"Come to think of it, you applied for a part-time job at this beef bowl shop, right?" Morgana asked as Ren nodded. He then went inside after nodding again when Morgana asked if he wanted to work. Once he went inside, he was directed to the manager's office, where the manager, a man in a suit, looked at Ren before speaking up.
"I've been waiting. Oh, you're the new part-timer, right? I've been expecting you. No need to introduce yourself. I actually need you to start working right away. Do you have any questions about the job?" The manager asked Ren who nodded as he spoke up.
"Yes, actually. First of all, what does the work entail?" Ren asked as the manager nodded before answering.
"Let me explain. Take customers' orders, prep them, serve them, ring them up, and then close the store. The meals are all ready-made, so it should be simple. Just make sure you're nice to the customers, okay? Anything else?" The manager said to Ren. Ren spoke up once more.
"Just one more question. Are there any other employees?" Ren asked, though he had a hunch he knew the answer, he figured he'd ask anyways to be sure. The manager winced as he spoke up.
"Sorry, not quite. Our budget's been cut despite being short-staffed...so you'll have to do everything alone. You're a spry young dude, right? You'll be fine. I'll pay you more to make up for the extra work! Thanks in advance! Okay, I need to head out for a bit! Keep an eye on the shop until I get back." The manager said as Ren nodded as the manager left and Morgana spoke up.
"This job is ludicrous. You have to everything all by yourself from the very beginning?" Morgana said incredulously from Ren's bag as Ren smirked and spoke up.
"Just a bit, but a job is a job I suppose." Ren said as Morgana nodded before speaking up.
"Oh well. Just give it your best shot, I guess. I'll be cheering you on." Morgana said as Ren nodded and went to work. As he worked Morgana spoke up.
"Ooh! Hey, the meat's done. You'll burn it if you let it cook any longer. That customer there wants to order takeout. Who has time to prepare that?" Morgana said as Ren shrugged, just working his shift without a word. Once the manager came back, he called Ren to his office after a bit and spoke up.
"All right, good work. You can leave now since it's the end of your shift. This is your pay today. Thank you. Well, I hope you can keep it up." The manager said as he handed Ren 3,600 yen. After he left, Morgana spoke up in an annoyed tone.
"Man...I don't blame you for looking exhausted...But you still managed all those orders by yourself. If you ask me, you were pretty proficient." Morgana said as Ren pumped a fist happily as his Proficiency increased. After that Morgana spoke up again.
"Let's head back! Come on, let's leave." Morgana said as Ren nodded, changing out of his uniform before heading back to Leblanc. Once there, he wasted no time getting into hs pajamas before laying down and falling asleep...
(The next day, on the way to change lines for the train to school, with Ren, Kusa and Morgana)
Ren and Kusa blinked as they saw Kitagawa walk up to them and speak up as they got off their train.
"So, it's you two. You did use this line before, now that I think about it...I hope you understand. Allow me to warn you again. Don't involve yourself any further." Kitagawa said as Ren and Kusa frowned before both spoke up.
"Waiting for me, are you?" Ren asked at the same time that Kusa spoke up.
"Why do you say that, Kitagawa-kun? It seems to me like you're in denial. But if you truly don't want us to involve ourselves any further, we'll abide by your wishes. Wouldn't want to upset you after all, since you do seem like a reasonable enough guy when you want to be." Kusa said politely. Kitagawa huffed at Ren's attempt at humor as he spoke up.
"I only saw the two of you coincidentally. I have no time for such an ambush. And Amamiya-kun the younger, I appreciate your consideration and respect. But you don't need to worry about me. I've gotten by like this before, and I can keep doing so." Kitagawa said defensively. He then glared at Ren threateningly as he spoke up again.
"As for you, Amamiya-kun the elder. If you continue sniffing around my sensei...we have ways of dealing with that. That's all I have to say." Kitagawa said as Kusa blinked and spoke up.
"Fair enough, but I hope you realize we're only trying to help, even if we're not choosing the best way of going about it. Hopefully things work out for you." Kusa said politely as Kitagawa gave a polite nod to Kusa who returned the nod as Kusa and Ren continued the rest of their trip to school in peace...
(Later that morning, in class with Ann, Ren and Morgana)
"Oh yeah, the great artist Madarame is holding an exhibition in Shibuya right now, isn't he? I've gone to see his work before, but wow... They are truly incredible! I saw some of his interviews, too. He really is a charming fellow. It's rare to see a gentleman artist like him, in a field known for having a lot of eccentric types. By the way, you seem far removed from the arts, Amamiya-kun." Inui said as Ren looked up and gave Inui his full attention.
"Here's a question. Which famous ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period is said to have moved residence over 100 times?" Inui asked Ren who thought about it before speaking up, having read that answer in a book recently so he spoke up with confidence.
"This is it! The answer is Hokusai Katsushika." Ren said as Inui nodded and spoke up.
"That's right! Correct. It seems you know a thing or two after all. Hokusai had a habit of moving, but he also changed his name quite a lot-at least thirty times throughout his life. His sole interest was his art, so he stayed in poverty, wore tattered clothes, and lived in squalor." Inui said as the usual murmurs about how smart Ren was ensued as Ren's Knowledge increased from the correct response he gave. After that, Inui kept speaking.
"Actually, Madarame's house was quite modest, too. All master artists, past and present, always put their art above their fame." Inui said as Morgana huffed and spoke up so only Ren could hear.
"Ugh! He steals his students' work, and makes them suffer! He's no master-he's just an abusive old con man! We're gonna get him, no matter what." Morgana said as Ren nodded as the rest of the class passed without incident. After school, Ren decided since he had nothing else to do to work a shift at the Triple Seven to up his Charm. While he was working, he was surprised when he heard his name called and looked up to see Ann at the counter smiling at him.
"Oh, Ren. I didn't know you work here. Aren't the uniforms so cute here? They look like strawberries...You're really working the look too. All right, see you at the cashier!" Ann said as Ren nodded before she walked away, leaving Ren internally glad Kusa wasn't here to tease him about wearing pink, even though it was Ren's opinion that real men can get away with wearing pink. After a bit, Ann walked back up to ring up her purchases, scowling as she spoke up.
"Ugh...There's a lot of sweets here, so it took me a while to decide what I wanted. Okay, keep up the good work! Byeee." Ann said as Ren nodded. After a bit, his shift ended as Morgana spoke up.
"Hey! Good work out there. You got to learn how to be considerate of others through dealing with customers." Morgana said as Ren nodded while his Charm went up.
"Wanna head back? You're almost done, right? Let's get your pay and go home." Morgana said as Ren nodded, claiming his 3,500 yen paycheck and changing out of his uniform before heading back to Leblanc...
(That evening, at Leblanc)
Ren frowned as his phone went off as soon as he got back, seeing that it was a group chat with Ryuji, Ann and Kusa.
"Kitagawa-kun contacted me..." Ann sent as Ryuji sent a response right away.
"Asking you to model for him again?" Ryuji sent as Kusa frowned and sent a response.
"Didn't he already do that? I don't think Kitagawa-kun is the type to issue repeat invitations, Ryuji. But in all seriousness, why did Kitagawa-kun contact you, Ann?" Kusa sent. Ann then sent a response shortly after that.
"No, Ryuji. And to your question, Kusa, he said, and I quote, 'Outsiders who do not understand my circumstances should refrain from butting in. If you continue to involve yourselves, I will be forced to contact the police.' He seemed rather bothered when he said it too..." Ann sent as Kusa sent a response.
"Ah, so more of what he said to Ren and I this morning. I wonder why he's acting so defensive. I mean, I get that abuse victims sometimes feel the need to defend their abusers, or so I read once, but still, isn't this a bit unnecessary? Hopefully he realizes we're just trying to help..." Kusa sent as Ren sent his own response.
"What Kusa said, but in my opinion, Kitagawa-kun seems really upset. Not sure why, but he seems that way to me. And Kusa, are you on your way back?" Ren sent as Kusa sent a response.
"Already back, actually. I'm chilling upstairs. I spent most of the day helping Yoshizawa and then chatting with Futaba. So I definitely kept myself busy." Kusa sent. Ryuji frowned as he sent a response.
"At least you're putting in a good word for Ren with her, I hope Kusa? That said, it's just like Ann said...I think we gotta stop trying to convince him. He's not gonna listen to anything we have to say." Ryuji sent as Kusa chuckled and sent a response at the same time Ann sent her own response.
"But of course, Ryuji. Why else would I help her out so much if not to talk Ren up to his crush? I would think you knew this about me by now, man." Kusa sent with a smirk as Ann's response came in.
"I think he's just being obstinate at this point. I'm pretty sure he can sense something is wrong...And the only reason he made that impossible demand was to try and distance us from him." Ann sent as Kusa sent a response, this time sending it at the same time as Ryuji's response.
"Y'think?" Ryuji sent as Kusa's response came in.
"I thought the same thing, Ann. Granted, I may or may not have told Kitagawa-kun he was being in denial and that we'd respect his wishes to appease him. But in my honest opinion, unless we can either get some iron-clad, incontrovertible evidence of what Madarame is doing, or somehow get Madarame to spill the beans to Kitagawa-kun himself, there's not much we can do to convince him we're here to help at this point. That said, hopefully this prep week we're taking is going to be helpful in the long run." Kusa sent as Ryuji sent another response.
"Kitagawa just seems like a weird, stubborn dude to me." Ryuji sent as Ann sent a response at that point.
I guess that does fit the artist stereotype...And Kusa, I agree. He is in denial, but as you said, barring making Madarame slip up himself or finding iron-clad proof of what he's doing, it's unlikely we'll get through to Kitagawa-kun at this point." Ann sent as Ryuji sent a response of his own.
"Either way, what we gotta do ain't gonna change. We have to steal Madarame's heart." Ryuji sent as Kusa sent a response.
"Agreed. But that makes it that much more crucial that we make the most of this prep week Ren granted us so we can be at our best for the coming Palace. We might need the boost." Kusa sent as Ren put his phone away while Kusa kept chatting to Ann and Ryuji. After that, Ren weighed his options, and when he saw that Sojiro could be ranked up again, he spoke up to him. Sojiro looked up as he heard Ren speak up to him.
"Hmm? You finally interested in coffee-brewing? If you'll help I can teach you." Sojiro said as Morgana spoke up so only Ren could hear.
"What are you going to do? Will you help the chief out?" Morgana asked as Ren nodded.
"Yeah, I'll help him out." Ren said so both Morgana and Sojiro could hear, the latter of which smiled as he spoke up.
"Then you clean up. I'm going to finish preparing the curry." Sojiro said to Ren who nodded as he did as asked. After a bit of cleaning up and prep, Sojiro spoke up.
"All right then, that's it for tomorrow's curry...Hey, how's it going? You getting any better at remembering how to handle different bean types? Now then... there are three factors that determine the flavor for a cup of coffee: grind, heat and time. First up is the grind. For the siphons we have here, we're aiming for medium-fine. ...Are you listening to me? What grind are you supposed to use?" Sojiro asked as Ren spoke up.
"Medium-fine, Sakura-san." Ren said politely and respectfully. Sojiro smirked as he spoke up.
"Right. Keep up the good work. It doesn't net much profit given the effort it takes, but hey, money is money. I'm not gonna forgive you if you serve our customers crap coffee though. Just remember that." Sojiro said as Ren nodded his understanding as Sojiro's phone rang, making him frown as he spoke up.
"Hmm? Who could this be...?" Sojiro said as he answered his phone.
"Yes, hello?" Sojiro said as a voice on the other end spoke, and judging from how Sojiro frowned after the voice was done, it wasn't good things that the voice had to say, especially with how Sojiro frowned when he eventually spoke again.
"...How'd you get this number?" Sojiro asked the voice who then kept speaking making Sojiro frown as he spoke up again.
"Now? Where?" Sojiro said as the voice kept speaking up and he eventually sighed before speaking up once more.
"Ugh...Fine." Sojiro said as he hung up and turned to Ren before speaking more.
"Sorry, something just came up. We can keep going with the lessons some other time." Sojiro said as Ren nodded understandingly. He then spoke up.
"I understand. From your expression, I'm guessing it wasn't anything good. Was it trouble, Sakura-san?" Ren asked cautiously but politely. Sojiro smirked at the question and spoke up.
"What, you worried about me? ...It's nothing you need to concern yourself over. Just do the dishes while I'm gone. Oh, and remember to shut off the gas before you close up shop. It's nice having someone around to help at times like this. And between you and Kusa, I have plenty of help on hand." Sojiro said as Ren nodded.
"Naturally. And given you were nice enough to take us in for the duration of my probation, the least we can do is help out where we can." Ren said agreeably. Sojiro nodded approvingly as he spoke up.
"That's a good attitude to have. Turns out you're actually a harder worker than I thought. Keep it up." Sojiro said as Ren nodded.
"Yes, Sakura-san. Understood." Ren said with a nod as he felt his bond with Sojiro deepen. At that point, the 'Hierophant' card appeared in his mind's eye as the 'II' on it became a 'III' to signify that his Hierophant confidant had reached Rank 3. At that point Sojiro spoke up.
"The rest is on you. Okay, I'm off. Don't eat all our food while I'm gone." Sojiro said as Ren nodded.
"Got it." Ren said with a nod as he finished cleaning up and headed back upstairs as his phone went off, making him turn back around as he went downstairs to answer it so he wouldn't wake up Kusa who was dozing off on the couch, his phone setting on the nearby table open. Once Ren got downstairs, he answered the phone.
"Hello?" Ren said.
"Hey, you get everything closed up? Sorry about earlier. Had to take care of some business. But don't worry, I'll put you to work. We've got lots of time on our hands." Ren said as he nodded.
"Got it, Sakura-san. And in case I end up not in a mood to say so later on, Thank you in advance for being so good to me and Kusa. I know I don't always acknowledge what you do, but I do appreciate it." Ren said sincerely. Sojiro blinked at that as he spoke up.
"Huh. You're awfully obedient today. Well, as long as you help out and do your part, I'll treat you fairly." Sojiro said as Ren nodded and spoke up.
"Fair enough, Sakura-san. Can't ask for much more than that, after all." Ren said as Sojiro chuckled on the other end before speaking up.
"True enough. Well, just make sure you turn off the stove before you head to bed." Sojiro said as Ren nodded, hanging up the phone and doing as he was asked before heading upstairs and smirking at the oddly content smile on Kusa's face as he dozed, not bothering to look over at Kusa's phone which sat open as he dozed, which if he had, he'd have seen a very sweet text from Futaba to Kusa on-screen, but because Ren wasn't nosy, he didn't look at it. Instead, he got ready for bed and went to sleep...
(The next day on the train to school, with Ren, Kusa and Morgana)
Ren and Kusa frowned as he heard two young males talking.
"Ugh, I don't wanna go to work today..." The first young man said as his friend spoke up.
"You still working at that beef bowl place on Central Street? I thought you like that place 'cause the pay was good. What happened?" The second young man asked as Kusa and Ren exchanged surprised glances at the mention of the place Ren had just gotten a job at as the first young man spoke up again.
"Sure, the pay's fine, but I'm the only one there at night. That job magazine said it was a 'fun, friendly workplace.' Ugh, maybe I should just quit..." The first young man said as Ren and Morgana huffed at what the first young man said.
"If only that guy knew you just got hired there to take some shifts over. But like he says, work can be pretty trying when you're by yourself...But it's a worthwhile experience. Don't give up" Morgana said sagely as Kusa spoke up.
"Oh that's right, you took a job there the other day, didn't you Ren? How are you gonna have time for everything if you keep applying for work? You can't be in multiple places at once, you know." Kusa pointed out cautiously as Ren shrugged and spoke up.
"That's true, but I only took the job that night because there wasn't much else going on. Plus I had a hunch it'd be a good move to do so." Ren said with a shrug as Kusa nodded, the two finishing the ride to school in silence.
(At lunchtime that afternoon with Kusa, Ren and Morgana)
"Oh, our grades are out. How'd you do?" A female student asked her friend as Ren tried to approach the gaggle in front of the grade sheet to see how he did, not aware that Kusa was after the same thing. The female student's male friend spoke up.
"Damn...I'm dead..." The male student said as he saw his grades as the female smiled at her grade and spoke up.
"Phew, I'm above the average. That's the real dividing line. My allowance is safe for now..." The female said as Ren finally got to see his score. He smiled as he saw he finished just above the average score only to see Kusa smirk as he saw his score placed him in the top 10 percent of his year scorewise, or well above the average. Morgana smiled at the two as he spoke up.
"Well, not surprised that Kusa is in the upper brackets of his year score-wise since he's a first-year. As for you Ren, you did well enough. Hm...Well, it should set a good example for your friends." Morgana said as Ren pumped a fist happily as his Charm went up from his score being good. After that, he and Kusa walked off to go to class...
(After school, with Ren, Kusa and Morgana)
"Hey, shouldn't you tell the others about that target in Mementos?" Morgana asked Ren who shook his head.
"No, Morgana. There's only one target right now so it wouldn't be worth our time to go to Mementos for it. Once there's a few more targets piled up then I'll fill the others in." Ren said as Kusa nodded and spoke up.
"So if Mementos is off the table for today, what's your plans Ren?" Kusa asked as Ren spoke up.
"Not sure to be honest, Kusa. Lemme check my IMs real quick in case anyone wants to hang out." Ren said, checking and seeing he had 3 IMs, one of which was Ann asking about the palace which he ignored, one of which was Ryuji wanting to hang out which he ignored, and the third of which he blinked at, as it was Maruki wanting to hang out. Ren blinked at this before speaking to Kusa once more.
"Well, I was gonna say you and I could hang out but it seems my presence is needed at the nurse's office with Maruki. I guess I might as well use the chance to get another session in to keep the school happy. Y'know Kusa, I don't think I've seen you OR Ryuji head in for a session yet." Ren said with a frown as Kusa spoke up.
"That's because we agreed that we'd rather not go in for a session unless we have to. And I in particular have no interest in speaking to a therapist at this point, whether doing so is mandatory or not." Kusa said as he crossed his arms with a frown as Morgana looked at Ren.
"You go on ahead and go see Maruki. I'll hang out with Kusa here while you do that." Morgana said decisively while Ren nodded and Kusa smiled as he gently set Morgana into his lap and absently petted him while he started relaxing a bit, making Ren chuckle as he went to go meet Maruki in the nurse's office, the last thing he heard as he left being the sound of Morgana's contented purrs as Kusa petted him...
(In the nurse's office, with Maruki and Ren)
"I've been getting a lot of students coming in ever since I arrived here. To be honest, it's been... kind of a relief." Maruki said as Ren gave him a confused look making him speak up with a smile.
"That whole mess with Kamoshida was the reason I was called here, after all...They warned me a lot of students had been impacted. I knew there would be a lot of free-floating anxiety. But when I actually got to talk to everyone, I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the things on everyone's minds were college entrance exams, relationship problems...In other words, typical worries for high-schoolers. Some did open up about deeper issues, but not the majority. Some students were still struggling with the scars from the incident, yes...But at the very least, I'm glad the ones who came to me have taken some steps towards recovery." Maruki said as Ren chuckled before speaking up.
"Thanks to you, probably. After all, I'm sure there was a reason that you were chosen out of who knows how many other therapists to come provide therapy for Shujin. And I doubt it was as simple as your name being drawn out of a hat." Ren joked. Maruki nodded with a smile as he spoke up with a chuckle.
"That's true enough, Amamiya-kun. As to it being thanks to me...Well, I can only hope so! I don't think I've done much, but if I've helped even one person, then that makes it all worth it. I know I'm not the most reliable guy, but remember you can always talk to me too if something's bothering you. I am the counselor here, you know. If nothing else, I'm good at listening. Having said that, it's a little awkward that I have to ask for your help, but...you remember how I asked you to help me with my research?" Maruki said as Ren nodded while speaking up.
"Of course. Despite what some might think of me, I do actually have a good memory. I think most of the time anyone who says something like that usually has me confused for Kusa. Not to talk bad about someone when they're not around, but if anyone has occasional instances of being forgetful, it's him. Granted, it's rare that it happens, but on occasion he'll get immersed in stuff and forget minor things if he doesn't make it a point to memorize them or note them down so he can look at them. But he's usually pretty good about remembering things when he has to be." Ren said casually. Maruki nodded agreeably as he spoke up.
"As for your brother, I can't really say much on that since you know him better than I do, not to mention the fact he hasn't come in yet to see me. That aside though, I can get that I didn't give him the best first impression at that assembly, but I'm sure he's aware that these sessions are mandatory." Maruki said as Ren nodded before speaking up.
"That's true, but Kusa can be quite stubborn when he wants to be. But I don't think he's avoiding the sessions to avoid you. I think with him, it's more of a case of if it's something he doesn't want to do, he'll often dig his heels in to not have to do it. But usually given time, he comes around on most things. But in this instance, I can only guess at whether he'll come around to doing sessions or not. And in the end, it's purely his choice to make, not for anyone else to influence." Ren said sagely as Maruki nodded and spoke up.
"Agreed. That said, I know I said you'd be helping with my research, but don't worry. it won't be anything too difficult or intensive. I just need you to listen to what I have to say, and work through some questions with me. So...But let's see...Maybe I should start at the beginning. I can tell you a little about what this research is for. What I'm studying now is pain felt in the mind. Or perhaps more fancifully, in the heart. Some specific examples include the pain of someone saying hurtful things to you, or being separated from those you love...Maybe this world would be clearer-pain defined by abstracts, like trauma or stress.
Bodily, physical pain can be thought of as something necessary. An autonomic response to injury, illness, whatever. But, what about pains felt within one's heart? That pain isn't born from any tangible problem in our bodies, right? It's something strange and immaterial. I guess it goes to show there are still a lot of mysteries in our own hearts and minds. You know, I...And I... well, I want to learn more about these internal, psychological pains. Now, this is my question to you...When do you truly feel pain in your heart, Amamiya-kun?" Maruki said to Ren who blinked as he spoke up.
"Instinctively, I'd say either when I lie or when someone betrays me, as I feel like either of those make a lot of sense as points when I'd feel pain in my heart, the latter moreso than the former probably." Ren said as Maruki nodded approvingly as he spoke up with a smile.
"I see... Yes, I can sympathize there. Sometimes, all it takes is one betrayal for intense trust to turn into intense pain. It can be rough. It doesn't feel good to struggle with pain in your heart. But with that in mind...How about the pain of a broken heart, then? After all, that kind of pain is only born because we fall in love, right? Do you have any thoughts on this kind of pain, Amamiya-kun?" Maruki asked Ren who stroked his chin contemplatively before speaking up.
"As much as I'd agree that that sort of pain is necessary, I also feel it could be seen as a seed of sorts for new loves." Ren said after a bit to think. Maruki chuckled as he spoke up.
"Hahaha... I never took you for a poet." Maruki joked as Ren smirked as he spoke up.
"I'm not though. That just happened to flow out like that on that one occasion. Besides, out the two of us, and by two of us I mean me and my brother, Kusa's the writer of the two even if he doesn't get much time to hone it with school and overseeing me. But it is what is there I suppose." Ren said. Maruki grinned as he spoke up.
"Fair enough. That said, but it's a wonderful sentiment. A very positive way of looking at it. Internal, emotional pain can be difficult to deal with. Though some say it's always coupled with other feelings...And I agree, of course. I think that's a fair assessment. Though personally speaking...I'd think if pain can be avoided, it should be. Maybe it shouldn't exist at all. Mm. Wounds of the heart are much harder to detect, and in a way, they're far more complex than physical injuries. That's why I'm doing this research...To save people who are suffering from internal pain that they keep holding onto. You helped me realize that purpose again. Thank you." Maruki said as Ren spoke up with a nod.
"Don't worry about it. Happy to help, even if it is part of our deal." Ren said as Maruki nodded and spoke up.
"Right. Thanks to you, I think I'll be able to better articulate my thoughts today." Maruki said as Ren nodded, sensing Maruki's gratitude towards him, causing the 'Councillor' card to appear in his mind's eye, the 'II' becoming a 'III' to signify that his Councillor Confidant had reached Rank 3, and with it came the realization of another new ability in the form of Flow, an ability which gives a chance for Ren to receive the effects of Charge and Concentrate at the start of a battle. After that, Maruki spoke up once more.
"Okay, I think that'll do for today. Hm...? Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something..?" Maruki said before he gasped and got wide-eyed as he kept speaking.
"Oh...! Your mental training!" Maruki said as Ren crossed his arms, giving Maruki a disappointed look as Maruki spoke up nervously.
"Oh, uh, no! I didn't forget about our promise, of course! I'll teach you tricks for mental discipline, and you help me with my research! Just like we decided, right?" Maruki said as Ren nodded approvingly as Maruki sat down and spoke up.
"Now then...how about something like this today?" Maruki said as he showed Ren some mental training exercises which made Ren's mind feel stronger, causing his max SP to go up by 5 as a result. Maruki then spoke up once more.
"Oh, and here. Never a bad time for a snack, right?" Maruki said as he gave Ren a Jagariko. He then spoke up once more.
"O-Okay, NOW we're ready to wrap things up...Well, see you." Maruki said as Ren headed back to Leblanc after that, only for his phone to once more ring as he got to the door, making him answer it.
"Hello?' Ren said as he answered the phone, not surprised to hear Maruki's voice on the other end.
"Oh, this is Maruki...Do you have time to talk right now? I'm taking a breather. Just finished my last counseling session for the day. And I thought I'd thank you once again for your help earlier." Maruki said as Ren chuckled before speaking up.
"Good work over there. Sounds like you're really getting a lot done." Ren said sincerely. Maruki chuckled before speaking up.
"Thanks. A lot of students came back to talk today. Hopefully they got something out of it. ...But to be honest, it's pretty tough juggling this job and my research at the same time. Thanks again for agreeing to help me out. I might be looking to you for help more frequently from now on. It'd mean a lot if you could lend a hand. All right, see you later." Maruki said as Ren hung up the phone, pleased that Maruki kept his call relatively short as he went into Leblanc. Once there, Ren gave Sojiro a nod of greeting. After some consideration, Ren opted to use the bathhouse to relax, hearing that it can boost up Charm.
Unbeknownst to him, his decision to do so would make him miss out on a potentially interesting phone call between Kusa and Futaba, but of course Ren was more interested in bettering himself in preparation for the coming Palace. After he finished, Morgana complimented Ren as his Charm went up. After that, the two headed back to Leblanc. As they went to go upstairs, they stopped short as they heard Kusa speaking to someone on the phone.
"...I had no idea you were going through all that, 'Taba. I get we talk a lot, but this seems like the sort of thing you'd know you can confide in me over. But I understand why you felt the need to keep it to yourself. I'm just glad you seem to be doing better now though. It's too bad you keep having off days. Maybe someday things will get better for you. Either way, you know I'm here for you if you need me. So don't be afraid to trust me with stuff.
I know you're probably still mad at me for telling Ren and Morgana about you that time, but I didn't exactly have a choice given that they overheard us talking on the phone so I couldn't exactly evade the question without Ren getting suspicious, and with my luck, drawing his suspicions might also raise your father's suspicions, and I don't think he even knows we know each other yet." Kusa said as he listened to the voice on the other end, smiling as they finished speaking before he spoke up once more.
"...I see. Well, I understand you need to rest so if that's the case, I'll let you go so you can get some rest. Hopefully we can talk like this again sometime, since this was rather fun in my opinion." Kusa said as he listened to the voice on the other end and nodded.
"Yeah, yeah I get it. Go ahead and do what you gotta do, 'Taba. Bye." Kusa said he hung up the phone with a smile, blinking at the sound of shuffling on the steps as his eyes narrowed suddenly before frowning in realization as he spoke up in a slightly drier than normal tone.
"You can quit eavesdropping on me now, Ren and Morgana-sensei. I know you're there." Kusa said in a quiet but disapproving tone. Ren and Morgana flushed in embarrassment as they came out of hiding and came up to the room giving Kusa twin apologetic looks as Morgana spoke up.
"Sorry, Kusa. We were just curious is all since you don't say much about Futaba. But from the sounds of that conversation, it sounds like you two get along rather well. And that comment about you wanting to be there for her...Well, let's just say it sounds a lot like something I might say to Lady Ann if I were trying to encourage her. And I'm sure in time it will work for you. Just be patient and keep being supportive of her. It might not happen right away, but more times than not, good things come to those who work for them." Morgana said sagely as Ren glared at him and spoke up with a smirk.
"This from the guy who has no chance of getting with Ann whatsoever. You do realize that, right Morgana?" Ren said to Morgana as Morgana and Kusa huffed and the latter spoke up.
"Ren, don't pick on Morgana-sensei. Yes, I'm annoyed at you two for listening in on my conversation, but I can get why you did it. And is it Morgana-sensei's fault he's not in his true form at present? Cut the man a break, Ren. He can't help he's stuck in a cute animal form without his memories. Besides, not his fault that he happened to fall for a woman who likes other women. That could happen to anyone." Kusa said sagely as Morgana nodded, curling up happily on Kusa's lap as he spoke up around a purr.
"Exactly, Kusa. You get it. And if you do manage to end up with her, your friend is very lucky to have someone like you in her corner." Morgana said with a nod as Ren rolled his eyes before he walked over and changed into his pajamas, shaking his hair dry on the plant, careful not to hit the TV or Kusa's phone. Ren then laid down on his bed.
"On that note, I say we should go to bed since we still have a few days of prep left before the Palace." Ren said as Morgana and Kusa nodded their agreement and went to sleep, the latter curling up on the former's chest as the former laid down...
(The next day on the train to school with Kusa, Ren and Morgana)
Ren and Morgana got a seat on the train, with Kusa lucking out and getting the seat next to Ren, which he took advantage of to flip through his phone as he started a private chat up out of boredom while Ren read part of 'The Art of Charm' to pass the time. In what seemed to be no time, the two got off the train and on the way to school, they walked past two females chatting to one another, stopping so they could listen in because they were curious.
"Do you ever use the study corner in the library? I always end up goofing off at home, and not many people know of it." One of the females said as the other winced and spoke up.
"But, isn't the environment kind of a problem? Have you heard the rumors about that transfer student...?" The other female said as the first female spoke up.
"Oh, him. Yeah, he used to be all anyone ever talked about. But you remember Mister Kamoshida's big apology? The transfer student's kinda old news now. My recent test scores haven't been so hot...If I don't shape up, my allowance could be in danger." The first female said as Ren and Kusa rolled their eyes as the rest of the walk to school went uneventfully...
(Later that morning, in class with Ann, Ren and Morgana)
"Okay, today we're going over...It's possible to apply math even to an abstract concept like beauty. The golden ratio used in the Mona Lisa and the Parthenon is a famous example. But a different ratio has been used in Japanese art and architecture since ancient times. I'm sure you've all heard of the silver ratio. Now then, Amamiya-san. Take a look at this." Usami, the math teacher, said as she called Ren's name making him look up and give her his full attention. Usami showed Ren a picture and spoke up.
"Give me an answer! The golden ratio is 1:1.1618, but do you know the silver ratio?" Usami asked Ren who frowned briefly before smiling as he recalled seeing this question on a recent assignment and speaking up confidently.
"This is it! The answer is 1:1.414." Ren said as Usami nodded, clapping as she spoke up.
"Precisely! That's correct." Usami said as she held up the picture again, but with the '?' that was in the upper right corner now replaced with a 1:1.414 as Ren had given that answer. Usami then kept speaking.
"You can see it's closer to a square than the golden ratio, right? One theory says it's because Asians have rounder faces than Westerners, so they prefer a similar shape. This ratio was used in things like ukiyo-e paintings and the pagodas at Horyuji Temple. One you should be familiar with is B4-size paper. Those proportions are the silver ratio." Usami said as the usual murmurs about Ren's intelligence ensued as Morgana praised Ren's smarts as his Intelligence went up. At that point, Usami kept speaking.
"Oh yeah, I hear that mascots that are seen as cute have faces that are close to this ratio. In other words, if you use this ratio, you can make cute things." Usami said as Morgana smirked and spoke up.
"I see...It is true that mascots tend to have round-ish faces..." Morgana said as Ren smirked while looking at him making him gulp as he kept speaking.
"Huh? Why're you looking at me like that?" Morgana said as the rest of class passed uneventfully...
(After school with Ren and Morgana)
Ren checked his IMs, and on seeing there were no important IMs, looked at the map to see who he could rank up, seeing that Takemi could be ranked up but he was in no hurry to rank her up again, but then he stopped short on seeing that Ann was also available to rank up, deciding to rank her up. He walked to the Underground Mall and walked up to Ann who smiled on seeing Ren as she spoke up.
"Oh, Ren. What're you thinking of doing today?" Ann asked Ren who smiled as he spoke up.
"To be honest, I hadn't initially made plans for today as yet, but when I saw you were hanging around, it occurred to me we haven't had much one on one time recently so I figured, why not? We've got time before the deadline, so why not hang out?" Ren said as Ann looked at him in surprise as she spoke up.
"Are you sure about that? We still haven't found the Treasure..." Ann pointed out as Ren smiled and spoke up.
"I know that, but we still have just under 2 weeks before we have to have our infiltration route so we've got time to take a day for ourselves, I'd say. Besides, I recall saying this week was a 'prep week' for the Palace anyways so we're not gonna go after the Treasure for another couple of days anyways so you can relax, Ann." Ren said as Ann smiled and nodded as she spoke up.
"I guess there's no point in worrying if you're so sure...Oh yeah! I started training, so you should totally help me out if you have the time." Ann said as Morgana spoke up to Ren.
"It's good to take a break every so often. Do you want to hang out with Lady Ann?" Morgana asked as Ren nodded.
"Naturally, Morgana. I intend to hang out with her." Ren said confidently as Morgana nodded, getting the hint and padding off to find Kusa as Ann spoke up.
"All right, let's go. Hm, the best way to get to Inokashira Park is by train, right?" Ann asked as Ren nodded so the two took a train to Inokashira Park. Once there, they found a spot to hang and Ren sat on a fence as Ann spoke up with a smile on her face.
"Man, big open places like this are great! I think my training's going to go super good today! So, remember how I said before that I want to strengthen my heart? Well, I came up with a way to do it!" Ann said as Ren smiled and spoke up.
"You know Ann, has anyone ever told you how amazing you are? If not, you're amazing." Ren said honestly to Ann. Ann giggled at the praise from Ren as she spoke up.
"Hehe, I got this! I think having a strong heart means you don't let anything get under your skin. So basically, I want you to say stuff to me, and I'll try not to get fazed by it!" Ann said as Ren looked at her in confusion as he spoke up.
"That's your training...?" Ren asked in surprise. Ann just winked as she spoke up.
"We've already started! I won't let that hesitation shake me!" Ann said as Ren blinked, figuring he should say something to Ann as she spoke up.
"C'mon, hit me with your best shot!" Ann said as Ren smirked and spoke up.
"If you say so, Ann. And for the record, you're an airhead if you think that is a way of strengthening your heart." Ren said. Ann shrugged and spoke up.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! And?" Ann said as Ren said as he groaned while speaking up.
"And I want to beat my head against the nearest surface, because that response was annoying." Ren said as Ann smirked and spoke up.
"Uh-huh, uh-huh. What else?" Ann asked as Ren rolled his eyes.
"Y'know what? I got nothin'. Can we stop yet? Insulting you is tougher than I thought it'd be. Maybe this is the sort of stuff you should've practiced with Suzui-san, or maybe not since who knows if you'd be too busy ogling her to take the training seriously." Ren teased with a straight face. Ann giggled as she spoke up.
"You're giving up? That means I win! And you know as well as I do Shiho is still struggling to stay awake given her coma from...well, you know. She's getting better though. And I saw what you tried to do there, using my crush on her to try and make me falter. Too bad for you it didn't work!" Ann said as Ren smirked and spoke up.
"Says the girl who just openly admitted to having a crush on Suzui-san in a public place where anyone could've heard." Ren pointed out with a chuckle. Ann blinked as she spoke up again, realizing Ren was right.
"Crap, you're right! Luckily, no one but us is around so it doesn't matter. But wait...is this how the game is supposed to go?" Ann asked Ren who sweatdropped as Ann kept speaking.
"Oh well. On to round two! Bring it on!" Ann said as Ren frowned.
"Seriously, Ann, this won't help your heart at all." Ren said bluntly. Ann blinked at that before standing up and speaking up.
"You know...I kinda feel like this won't make our Personas stronger." Ann said as Ren laughed as he spoke up.
"Good, you finally get it." Ren said. Ann nodded as she frowned and spoke up.
"Hmm...Huh, something's not right..." Ann said as her phone went off and she read it before turning to Ren.
"Oh, sorry! I just got an email from my agency. The next shoot is...really far. Wait, what's this at the end? It's a notice saying to pay extra attention to the time and place they tell you. Apparently some models haven't been showing up at all lately. Then asked why they didn't come, the models all say they heard there was a change in schedule. It sounds like shoots have been real hectic with all the scrambling they've had to do for substitutes." Ann said as Ren frowned.
"Huh, that does sound unusual...Has that happened to you at all, Ann?" Ren said after a brief pause to mull over what Ann had said. Ann looked at Ren in surprise as she spoke up.
"Hmm? No, I haven't missed a single shoot so far. It probably really confuses the staff to see a sub showing up too. Hopefully it doesn't happen to me...Though actually, my first modelling gig was as a sub. That was back when I was still in Finland. My parents didn't have enough models for the event." Ann said as Ren looked at her in confusion so she spoke up once more.
"Oh, haven't I told you? My parents are both fashion designers who put on some seriously extravagant shows. They jump from country to country, so I only really see them for half of the year. Maybe less these days." Ann said. Ren nodded.
"I can see how that must be lonely for you, but at the same time? I bet that freedom makes up for it, since from where I'm sitting it sounds nice." Ren said with a smirk. Ann nodded with a smile as she nodded.
"Yeah, I guess I can afford to be pretty relaxed these days. Plus it would be pretty tough being a phantom thief with my parents around, don't you think? It was rough when I was little though...just me and our live-in caretaker. I didn't really have any friends...Wow, that got dark fast...! Ahaha..." Ann said as Ren smiled before speaking up.
"Nah, not that dark. Honestly, Kusa was the same for a time when he was younger, except in his case he tended to keep to himself and only leave his room when he had to. Thankfully he outgrew those shut-in tendencies of his fairly quickly. Nevertheless, I can understand why you'd have had a rough time of it with no friends." Ren said as Ann nodded.
"As much as I find that surprising that Kusa was a shut-in, it somehow makes sense. And it somewhat to a point explains why he's so good about protecting those he gets close to, since he knows the feeling of not having anyone and probably doesn't want to go back to that feeling." Ann said making Ren blink in surprise at how perceptive Ann could be as she smiled and kept speaking.
"Mm-hmm...Honestly, when I'm modeling...it almost feels like I'm connecting with my parents somehow. It's a nice hobby to have...but I don't think I'd want to make a living out of it. After all, that's where Kamoshida first spotted me... and that's how our class started those rumors...Besides, the Phantom Thieves are more important to me right now. Nobody can be my substitute there...YES! That's why I need to get stronger!" Ann said as Ren nodded in agreement and spoke up.
"That's true, Ann. There's only one Panther in the Phantom Thieves and she's standing right in front of me." Ren said with a smirk as he felt his bond with Ann deepen through her heightened motivation, making the 'Lovers' card appear in his mind's eye as the 'II' on it became a 'III', signifying that the Lovers Confidant had reached Rank 3, and with it, Ann learned the ability Follow Up. After that, Ann spoke up again.
"Oh yeah! When I was little, I used to watch this anime where the main villain was this female thief. She'd lose to the hero every time, but I always thought she was cool. She wasn't really a 'good' person per se...But she was beautiful, strong, sincere and even sexy." Ann said as Ren chuckled and spoke up.
"Whoa, ease up there Ann. Otherwise I might start thinking you were into girls even when you were little but didn't realize it until recently." Ren joked as Ann rolled her eyes and spoke up, playfully smacking Ren on the arm as she spoke.
"Hush, you! As I was saying...She always said whatever she wanted, did whatever she wanted...She knew what justice was for her. I...wanted to grow up to be just like her someday. I hope I'm getting closer now, if only just a little bit. Well, I guess on that note we should get going. Well, see you later. Bye!" Ann said as she and Ren headed their separate ways, the latter of the two heading back to Leblanc. Once there, Ren's phone went off as he got to the door of Leblanc and he answered it.
"Hello?" Ren said.
"Heeey, it's me. Thanks for coming with me today! So after we met up, I tried doing some runway walks on the way home. Like how a cool, sexy woman would walk. Then some girl who was watching me nearby started to copy me and runway-walked with me! She had to have seen me, right? Do you think she thought I was cool...?" Ann asked Ren who thought about it before replying.
"Who knows? Could be the case though. Maybe she was trying to catch your attention for all we know. After all, it's not exactly like it's a secret that you're quite the looker Ann." Ren said as Ann gaped at his remark before giggling to Ren's surprise.
"Hehe, stop it Ren! Even if it is flattering to hear you say that! It's almost enough to make me blush, kind of. To be honest, I feel kinda bad for her. She has no idea that the real me is a human disaster." Ann said as Ren frowned and spoke up, very unimpressed with Ann calling herself a human disaster, and when he spoke up his anger was plain in his tone.
"Ann, you listen to me, and you listen to me good! You are NOT a human disaster, and it insults me to hear you belittle yourself that way! If anyone's a human disaster it's that scumbag Kamoshida, or better yet that lousy Madarame!" Ren lightly rebuked Ann who frowned as she kept speaking.
"Fair enough, Ren. Mmm...I guess I still got a long way to go. But I'm not giving up. I made a decision that I'm going to get stronger, so I need to overcome any obstacles! Thanks for hearing me out! Okay, bye!" Ann said as Ren put his phone away after hanging up, making his way into Leblanc. Once there, Morgana caught up to Ren as Ren decided to go use the bathhouse again to up his Charm, while Morgana waited in Ren's bag in the changing room. After he was done, Morgana complimented Ren on his looks, making Ren smirk as his Charm went up again. The two then headed back to Leblanc where Ren changed into his pajamas before getting ready for bed...
(The next day, with Ren, Kusa and Morgana)
Ren woke up fairly early, smirking as he saw Kusa still curled into his pillow, dozing happily with Morgana on top of him, also dozing. Ren smirked as he got up and stretched, the sound waking up Morgana who hopped off of Kusa and padded over to Ren as he spoke up.
"Morning! That reminds me, the home shopping program is airing today...should we check it out?" Morgana asked Ren who nodded.
"We can at least check it out. But past that, I make no promises since today is also aojiru day." Ren said as Morgana nodded understandingly. Of course, Ren being Ren, headed right for the aojiru stand, forgetting entirely about the shopping program, and instead went to check the aojiru, frowning when he saw it was the aojiru for 'Proficiency' which he had no need for at that moment. After that, Ren shrugged and decided to hit up a shift at the Triple Seven. Most of his shift went uneventfully, up until nearer the end just after Nanami went home. Ren was counting the till to pass the time when he heard the door open up, and looked up in surprise to see Kusa walking into the store.
"You here on an errand for Sakura-san, Kusa?" Ren asked Kusa who nodded as he spoke up.
"Pretty much, though it's more-so an errand for Futaba than for Sakura-san. Turns out she ran out of soda so I told her I'd pick her up some more. This place carries Dr. Pepper, right?" Kusa asked Ren who thought about it and nodded.
"I believe so. If we do, it'd be in the back with our cold case, which is usually where we keep the sodas. Go check there." Ren said as Kusa nodded.
"Right, will do. See you at the cashier, Ren! Still can't believe you work here, by the way." Kusa said as Ren laughed and nodded as he went back to counting his till. A bit later, Kusa walked back up, some soda bottles in each arm as he set them down on the counter, making Ren smirk as he spoke up.
"Looks like you found what you're looking for, Kusa. Do you need a bag for all those? Also, what are you going to tell Sakura-san if he asks you why you're lugging a bag full of sodas towards his house if he sees you?" Ren asked, curious to hear if Kusa had a plan for talking his way past Sojiro if it was needed. Kusa smirked as he spoke up.
"No need. I know the back way to Futaba's house, and she lets me in her window. Luckily her house is all one story so I don't have to do a lot of climbing to get to said window, so that makes my job easier." Kusa said with a smirk as he paid for the sodas he'd grabbed and Ren nodded as he spoke up.
"Yeah, that is pretty useful. Not gonna lie though, wouldn't have pegged her, or YOU for that matter, to be into Dr. Pepper of all things. First time for everything though, I guess." Ren joked as Kusa nodded.
"Yeah first time for everything, indeed. Including you going to the bathhouse with Morgana-sensei. And don't deny it, I saw how wet your hair was the last two times you came back from there, and Morgana-sensei's fur was even slightly damp when I petted him afterwards. I like that you two are bonding, but is a bathhouse really a safe place for that?" Kusa asked uncertainly as Ren chuckled.
"I don't take him into the baths, Kusa. He just accompanies me there and waits in the changing room. He's damp because he tends to share a bag with my damp towels after I change since there was nowhere else to put them. That said, let's ring you up." Ren said as Kusa nodded, and after his purchase was rung up, Kusa spoke up.
"Cool. Well thanks for ringin' me up Ren! Keep up the good work! You're good at what you do." Kusa said as Ren smiled and gave Kusa a respectful nod which he returned. After Kusa left, Ren went back to look at the window where Morgana was sitting as Morgana spoke up.
"Good work out there. You got to learn how to be considerate of others through dealing with customers. Also, I'm kind of glad you didn't bet money with Lady Ann the other day." Morgana said as Ren blinked at that.
"What're you talking about, Morgana?" Ren asked Morgana who laughed as he spoke up.
"I recall you telling Lady Ann when she came in here that Kusa would've laughed at your uniform being so pink. Yet he came in here earlier and didn't say a word, thus proving you wrong." Morgana pointed out as Ren blinked before nodding a moment later.
"Huh, that's actually true. Good point, Morgana." Ren said with a smile, smirking as his Charm increased. After that, Ren got his pay of 3,500 yen, changed out of his uniform and went back to Leblanc with Morgana...
(That evening at Leblanc, with Ren and Morgana and Kusa)
Once Ren and Morgana got back to Leblanc, they checked out the home shopping program, during which Ren spent almost 8000 yen on an 'Outdoors Camping Set' because of the elemental items contained therein. After that, Ren and Morgana sat at the counter while Ren finished reading the Art of Charm, and as a result, Ren's Charm went up a lot. After that, they heard the door open and smirked as Kusa walked in, looking slightly flustered as he smiled at Ren and Morgana.
"Evening. Rare for you to beat me home these days, but I guess first time for everything?" Kusa said as Ren nodded, smirking as he spoke up.
"So it seems. Say, Kusa, any reason you're so flushed looking? If I didn't know better, I'd think Futaba was rather appreciative of you going shopping for her." Ren teased as Kusa flushed slightly in embarrassment as he spoke up.
"None of your business, Ren! But if you MUST know, Futaba was rather pleased to get more of her favorite sodas brought to her. So she may or may not have kissed me on the cheek as a knee-jerk reaction to me bringing her the sodas. And I didn't see it coming, hence why I'm so flustered. I'll be honest though, I didn't mind it since her lips were deceptively soft on my cheek. Either way, I'm just glad she's trying to open up somewhat, even if it's just to me. Though I may or may not have walked past Sakura-san on the way back here and had to feed him a line about being out for a walk so he didn't think I was coming back from his house." Kusa said sheepishly as Ren laughed and spoke up.
"HA! I knew you were getting cozy with her, Kusa. And I wouldn't keep lying to Sakura-san, since he's very perceptive and will probably catch you out on it if you're not careful. Granted, if you can get her to open up, he MIGHT not be pissed at you hanging around with his daughter behind his back, MIGHT NOT being the keywords there. Either way, good job Kusa! Looks like at least one of us is making progress of sorts in their love lives." Ren said with an amused smirk. Kusa rolled his eyes as he spoke up.
"Funny, Ren. Though I dunno if I'd count a knee-jerk kiss on the cheek as progress in my love life. After all, that could've just been a gesture of gratitude. That by no means indicates that she has feelings for me. And honestly, I'm not in a hurry for her to figure it out since she's not exactly in the best place to be worrying about relationships at the moment. But that's all I'm saying on that. Night Ren, don't stay up too late!" Kusa said as he disappeared up the stairs, leaving Morgana and Ren to exchange stunned looks at what Kusa had said before they nodded and followed him up to bed, Morgana taking his usual perch atop Kusa as he got comfortable...
(The next day, on the line between trains with Ann, Kusa, Ren and Morgana)
"Morning!" Ann said to Ren and Kusa as she walked up to them as they got off their train. Ann then spoke up.
"The Madarame exhibit lasts until the 5th of next month...We have to change his heart by then. The artwork on display were done by his pupils too, weren't they? We can't leave this alone. Hey, how about today? Want to go to the Palace?" Ann asked Ren. Kusa frowned at Ann but Ren spoke up before he had a chance to do so.
"Let me think about it, Ann. We do still have a couple days left of the prep week, but if there's not much else to do, maybe we can go in a couple days earlier than planned. We'll see." Ren said. Ann blinked but nodded.
"R-Right. All right, but I think we should hurry." Ann said as Kusa spoke up.
"And we will, Ann. But you heard Ren, we want to be as prepared as we can possibly be before we go in. After all, a good thief is only as good as the preparation he put into his work beforehand, or something like that." Kusa said as Morgana nodded from Kusa's bag. Ann nodded and spoke up.
"I get that, but Kitagawa-kun's lying to himself. I know, because that's how I was with Kamoshida. I might be overstepping my bounds...but I want to help him! Let me know when you feel like going!" Ann said as Kusa and Ren nodded and the three headed to school...
(That afternoon, in class with Ann, Ren and Morgana)
"Oh, have you heard? Madarame, the maestro of the art world...Artists with that good of an eye are rare in Japan. I wonder if he has synesthesia. Yes, regarding synethesia...One of many English terms that come from Greek root words. Haven't heard of it? It's a condition where your senses can cross over each other, like seeing music as color. There are all kinds of varieties, though some sense combinations are more common than others.
We call people who experience this phenomenon 'synesthetes'. Mister Amamiya, you were staring off into space, weren't you? Well, your number's up. The root words of synesthesia are 'syn' and 'aisthesis'. What do they mean?" Chouno asked Ren who blinked at being called on while his mind was on preparations for the second Palace. Morgana spoke up at that point.
"She wants to know what the root words mean...? It's all Greek to me, but I can give it a try...Here, let's think about this. It'll be easier if we put our heads together. Okay, let's start with 'syn'. I think that's in a lot of other words, too. Like...synergy, and synchronicity, and synthesis. If we think about what these words have in common, then maybe 'syn' means..." Morgana said as Ren thought about it and quietly said 'together.' so only Morgana could hear making him smile as he kept speaking.
"That's it! 'Syn' means 'together' or a combination of something. And 'aisthesis', huh? That's a little like aesthetics. I wonder what if it means..." Morgana said as Ren thought about it then spoke up so only Morgana could hear.
"Senses?" Ren guessed. Morgana nodded as he spoke.
"Yeah! That's it. Sounds like we know the definition of the root words. So that means the full word basically means..." Morgana said as Ren smiled before speaking up so Morgana could hear.
"Senses coming together." Ren said to Morgana, making him smile as he spoke up.
"Nice! Yeah, that's it! Phew...We really gotta stay on our toes in this class. I could use a snack after all that brain power...Let's get a treat after this!" Morgana said as Ren spoke up to Chouno.
"Synesthesia means 'senses coming together'." Ren said confidently as Chouno smiled and clapped.
"Correct! Good! You've been studying! Unfortunately, synethesia's something you have to be born with...You can't learn it. Some of the geniuses over the course of history had synesthesia. The composer Franz Liszt instructed his orchestra to play the color purple. The poet Arthur Rimbaud was also said to see colors in letters." Chouno said as the usual mutters about Ren being smart ensued. Morgana complimented Ren as Ren's Knowledge went up. At that point, Chouno kept speaking.
"Seeing colors in sounds and letters, and feeling shapes in flavors and numbers...Geinuses and common people see the world differently. Were you able to understand that?" Chouno said as Morgana spoke up so only Ren could hear.
"Synesthesia, huh... That's fascinating. Although, the reason Madarame sees the world differently is because of his distorted desires." Morgana said as the rest of the class passed uneventfully. After school, Ren decided to keep prepping for the Palace, knowing he had a couple days of prep time left...
END OF CHAPTER
A/N: And boom, another chapter done! I know I said last chapter we'd start the infiltration of Madarame's Palace this chapter, but then I realized a 'prep' chapter could be a very interesting way to do some extra character development to a point with some characters. Next chapter will probably be the rest of the prep week and the start of the return to Madarame's Palace, and maybe more if time permits! Either way, feel free to leave a review with your feedback/opinions of the story so far, or just PM me, I don't mind hearing from my readers either way, as long as it's constructive criticism and/or not a flame review. Those will be ignored. That said, until next update, sithlorde1988 out!