Persona 5 Strikers – From Light and Dark
By Tayla Drago
Episode #19 - Prince of Nightmares
Wow! Ango can be a show off and a lady's man to hate other guys but his fans love his books, way too many sellouts going on in one area. Sapporo was pack with other fans for Keiko and Haru don't even like men like Ango is and already taken – for them, Akechi, Morgana, Sophia, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, and Futaba decided to work around there to question people about Ango and his work since they were all camping out to find Ango's Jail. Another one in the Metaverse for him to be a Monarch, but what was the special word of his this time? Either way, everyone splits up to find something.
Akechi: I better let the Master know about this. Keiko, will you be fine gathering some information?
Keiko: I will be fine, along with both Sophia and Morgana helping me out. You do your part, Akechi-Cun, and we'll catch up in a bit.
Sounds like a good plan there.
Morgana: Leave everything to us!
Sophia: [I'll be sure to be useful for you all.]
Good to know that Keiko will never stop loving Akechi at all.
Akechi: Good, then let us all get to work.
It was time to search around Sendai - Mt. Aoba Park first. For some as Keiko was walking around for her, Morgana, and Sophia to overhear people talking about how much they love Ango's work to get more of his books non-stop. They were too crazy about him! Getting one book was fine, but more than one was way too much. From fan talking for the three to hear about, Zen tells Akechi the same thing on the phone of the problem to look into more, same with Makoto and Yusuke to hear lots of girls fighting on who will Ango fall in love with, Ryuji and Ann seeing the guys doing the same thing to become like Ango himself, with Haru seeing the line to be long for another sell out to go on for Ango's books to be in many stores and packed; and Futaba to look up on other research on her computer to tell about Ango's line of work and such, just like Alice. You know, where people hide some of their real background online...? That again. Well, this is as far as they can gather the information so far tonight...
Morgana: Great, we got nothing.
Sophia: [Nothing on my end either.]
Keiko: It's been fifteen minutes now, let's just go back to the RV to see how everyone else is doing-! Huh?!
Running into someone to be in Keiko's way, for the two didn't see where each of them were going to. Both fine, as this girl was none other than Ellen Guyver in human disguise of a goth looking teenager girl. Oh, boy. Not sensing one of the bad guys was in front of the three Phantom Thieves, for she and Hans can hide it well in the real world of their human appearances.
Ellen: Ouch...
Keiko: Ah, sorry.
Ellen: (Dammit! I just want to go clothes shopping again in the real world along with shoes, jewelry, makeup, and a new bag too. Is that so hard to ask for?! Still, we have to keep our cool until the moment comes for the two of us to make a move. I need to remain calm as a teenager girl as much as I can. I will get to all of the other girls for my Brother to not have a lot but me, his twin sister only.)
Thinking well to remember her mission...
Keiko: Hey, are you okay? Do you need help?
Having a lot of stuff she bought, Ellen acted like a normal goth girl to be calm, smart, and caring to fool everyone else. For Ellen doesn't know that Keiko or Morgana were Phantom Thieves to sense out either.
Ellen: ….! What? Yeah, I'm good. I wanted to go clothes shopping and other things to my taste, so whatever. Are you good too?
Keiko: Yeah, I'm good. My cat and I are on vacation to have a look around Sapporo, it looks nice.
With Morgana acting like a cat just in cat and Sophia stayed quiet.
Morgana: M-Meow...? (I hate acting like a real pet.)
Ellen: Just you and your cat?
Keiko: Well, my fiance and my other friends, we're all traveling together for a summer break fun tour.
For Keiko to show her engagement ring to Ellen to be smiling a little for love was a beautiful thing for them both.
Ellen: Oh, wow! You're getting married?!
Keiko: Real soon with my Akechi-Cun...
Ellen: Lucky you! I hope to get married to a certain someone in my life too.
About Hans, but they were related...Oh, come on!
Keiko: You love someone too? That's good. I hope your brother understands.
Ellen: Yeah, he does... (More than you'll understand a little.) Just remember this, never let go of that special someone. Be with this man forever to cherish everything and such. And never let go of your true love.
This has Sophia learning more about love.
Sophia: [Hmmm...True love...]
Luckily for Ellen to be so busy to think about Hans to not hear Sophia's voice on Keiko's cell phone at all.
Keiko: Sure, I won't. Same goes with you too.
Ellen: Then I'm glad to help out. Sorry, I don't get out much to do my own thing to be happy with another one. So yeah...I need to finish shopping and meet up with my brother now.
Keiko: Yeah, the others are waiting for me too.
Before leaving, other fangirls were looking at Ango's picture in some posters all over the area and going...tons of crazy about this one book author.
Ellen: Tch...Women...
Keiko: Excuse me?
Ellen: Nothing, some girls can be out of it on a fantasy. A big waste of time.
Keiko: Well, you're not wrong, it's a bit too much. (If it's really Ango's doing, then we have to get back everyone's Desires he has taken and turn them into Gegasites for power in his Jail.)
Ellen: Thank you. Between you and me, we're lucky to not be this type of male. We already have men we truly love. So just stick to them only and not...this wannabe person.
Since she and Hans have made Ango into another Monarch in the first place, and for them to be good actors in all of this.
Keiko: I hear you. Not a show off, then some are good people out there.
Ellen: Boy, you said it. Look, I need to get back before my brother worries about me even more. So I hope to see you around during your summer break. Maybe.
Keiko: Right, see you later. Aw, what's your name?
Having alias' names to hide it well, even for the twins, came up with good ones.
Ellen: It's, ah...Eiko Saitou. Later.
Keiko: Nice meeting you, Eiko, I'm Keiko Amamiya. See you next time hopefully.
Taking off in different directions, Ellen got off well to becoming someone else when she's out or Hans does the same thing too.
Ellen: (Keiko Amamiya, she's so weird of a girl. But I like women like that only more than the rest of them in this world. She reminds me of myself, well...almost.)
So much for the search thing, huh? Not a lot for tonight, so maybe tomorrow to get something out of it later. But for now—Keiko, Morgana, and Sophia headed back to the RV to talk to the others.
Sophia: [What an odd girl she was.]
Morgana: Odd?
Sophia: [I think she was, but...It was hard to tell.]
Keiko: She was a goth. Some teens are into it, Eiko was only fitting in to getting out more. It must be hard not having friends but one lover and a brother. Maybe they don't have a family anymore. How sad.
Well, there was a lot more to it really...
Morgana: Let's just hope the brother and sister will be fine. Come on, we got a lot to talk about next. We'll do more investigations on Ango Natsume first thing tomorrow whether he has a Jail or not.
Keiko: Got it, Morgana. (I do hope to see Eiko and her brother again during our trip and work time.)
Well, I think Sophia's on to something of the odd behavior from Ellen to act like the human Eiko. Why is that...? Hmm...Getting back to the RV for Keiko, Morgana, Sophia, Akechi, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, and Haru to talk about what they needed to do next for tomorrow and getting to Ango's Jail in the Metaverse. Because from the way people are loving Ango's books too much and their Desires to be taken and mind control back in the real world, then it's not good at all.
Makoto: All right, let's go over what we know so far. Sophia, you can confirm there's a Jail here, correct?
She's never wrong to not pick up anything if there wasn't one.
Sophia: [The smell got a lot stronger once we entered the city, so, yes, I'm sure of it.]
Haru: And the man we met earlier...His name was Ango Natsume?
Seems like it, for Futaba found something on her laptop to say the least to let the others know about it.
Futaba: I just did a quick search on him. Here's what came up. Ango Natsume, grandson to renowned writer Sogo Natsume. Currently a successful light novel author. Says the guy kicked his career with his debut work, "Prince of Nightmares," which won the grand prize in he Soukaisha Awards. This thing's selling stupidly well. It sold a million copies alone!
From Sogo himself to Ango, a big family business in their books.
Ann: A million?! That's kinda nuts, right?
Keiko: Bestseller and for others like us...Nothing special.
Akechi: This may sell out from Ango and his grandfather before him, Sogo. It's weird...I don't know why, but there's a lot more to say for his grandson than Sogo himself. But I still don't know why.
Something to be hidden again for the public to not know about at all? Could be...
Futaba: Yeah, like that. For someone's debut to hit numbers like that is nothing short of a miracle. Love it or hate, Big Sis has another good point too.
Makoto: I checked social media, and, well...This whole thing is kind of bizarre.
Akechi: I also agree. Even Master's puzzled by all of this.
It takes a while to love Ango's work like with Sogo a lot, but this was too much.
Futaba: Natsume's fans are probably going on some kinda rampage, right? There's a rumor that some people got beat within an inch of their lives just because they were sorta dressed like Natsume's characters.
Makoto: Right...But the worst part is that no one stepped in to stop them. In fact, the attackers were praised for what they did.
Akechi: They think of Ango as their worshiper of his novels.
It's a mess up, to not be around crazy fans like them. But only because of their Desires were taken.
Yusuke: These are likely the same kinds of people who'd defile Masamune's statue with flyers. They clearly lack self-restraint.
Haru: The fans at the station seemed really passionate too. It was almost like they were part of a cult...
Like with Alice, this one was different from Ango's doing in a different area.
Futaba: I'm checking some of the online forums, and it looks like there's about a hundred threads created about this dude almost every day. And they're all positive...Not only that, but all of these IP addresses are from Sendai.
Akechi: Posting about Ango a lot, having fans love him too much, fighting over him, and buying so many of his novels. I heard that creators take their time to become famous, but not in a few days. Then it must be the next Monarch.
Ryuji: That's crazy suspicious. This is definitely out guy, the, right?
Keiko: Well...I doubt he can't be the best like his grandfather is, right? But we can't be too sure yet.
Almost, they still needed more information to gather up.
Yusuke: That's true, Ms. Keiko...We haven't determined his abilities as a writer yet.
Ann: If he really is just some freakishly talented writer, then the Jail here has nothing to do with him, and he earned all that praise, right?
Maybe, maybe not...
Ryuji: But there's still a chance he's our Monarch, too, ain't there?
Morgana: That's what we're gonna find out. Tomorrow, we'll go into town and see what intel we can dig up. If he's the Monarch, then there's a good chance we'll run into some victims who've had their hearts changed, just like in Shibuya.
And to also report back to Zen to know about this mess too.
Futaba: Oh, yeah, we should probably let inspector Gramps know, too, huh?
Akechi: No worries. I'm keeping him posted about it as we speak.
From Zen's student and the other Phantom Thieves will do so.
Haru: Good idea. He might be able to give us some other clues, too. Thank you as well, Akechi-san.
Akechi: It's no trouble at all.
Ann: Okay, well, I guess we should all probably hit the hay. We've got a busy day tomorrow.
With Keiko and Akechi having the motel to themselves in a good room and a shower for the others to use and using the bathroom as well, that and camping were all good to go.
Keiko: Good night, everyone. Akechi...
Akechi: Of course, Keiko. Let's go. Everyone else please make sure you sleep well.
Off they go for their fun time and in bed for the lights off and window curtains closed. Making love again for kissing and holding each other to go under the bed next...Laughing to make their lovely night together count from time to time to having sex.
Sophia: [Sweet dreams, everyone.]
Sophia was charging in the bathroom while Ann, Futaba, Makoto, and Haru were sleeping in the RV; Ryuji, Yusuke, and Morgana were sleeping on top of the RV camping on top. Not a bad spot.
Ryuji: So...Why the hell are we sleepin' up top?! Might as well be sleepin' outside...Ain't it gonna be cramped?!
Yusuke: There's nothing we can do. There isn't enough room in the car. Ms. Keiko and Akechi-san's love to own a motel. They're nice to let us use the shower and bathroom. Besides, it's not as bad as you say. Back when there were more students at the atelier, it was quite normal for us to sleep huddled together due to lack of space.
True, and weird on how Yusuke described it.
Ryuji: Man, you always keep cool in the weirdest possible way, you know that? Besides both Keiko and Akechi, I get it. But c'mon, guys are we really just gonna call it a night? Shouldn't we like, all be playin' cards till super late or stargazing or somethin'? Ain't that the kinda shit we're supposed to do on a big trip like this?!
With a lot to do differently was their call. For the guys, it must be different.
Morgana: It's best to sleep to be ready for anything to go to the Jail again.
Ryuji: Morgana, you're missin' the point...
Morgana: What point? Forget it, Ryuji. We're up early tomorrow anyway, so you'd better get some rest.
Ryuji: Man, it's gonna be hot as well with three of us WITH Morgana too, ain't it?
Just the three of them wouldn't be too bad, right?
Yusuke: Very true...That fur certainly won't help things either.
Morgana: What do you want from me?! I can't help that I'm a cat! Not that I'm actually a cat, though!
Hearing a banging sound from inside the RV, the girls were trying to sleep.
Ann: Guys, shut up!
Ryuji: Shit...Sorry.
Ouch. And so, the three guys decided to turn in for the night...For these guys were snoring...
Ryuji: *snore*
Yusuke: Zzz...Wrong! Not like that, like this! This! ...Zzz.
Morgana: Mrow... *purr*
I'm surprised these guys can sleep from the sounds they were making, but they were all sound asleep And...I'm not going to ask what Yusuke was dreaming about, hopefully about Makoto. With Keiko and Akechi cuddling in bed after having sex.
Akechi: Amazing as always...
Keiko: It was, Akechi. It always feels great.
Akechi: Keiko, I'm your knight to save my Princess from any villain like Ango Natsume is. I promise.
Keiko: You're my hero. For some people who are into Ango's work, that's good. It's the other we need to save. So we better get to work tomorrow. Good night. I love you.
Akechi: Good idea, let's do that. And I love you too, Keiko. Good night.
They sleep well, all of them do. While Loki was hanging around back in the Metaverse, the same can be said for Kaguya and Picaro to hope to find something as well.
Picaro: Kaguya?
Her sister thought about Ellen for some reason for a few seconds.
Kaguya: Funny, I thought I felt like one of our old childhood friends just a second ago.
Picaro: Our memories are slowly coming back. So the Jail in Sapporo might lead us to finding more.
Kaguya: Of course, Sister. We can still do this.
And for Loki to find more of his family to be alive somewhere on the mastermind who was behind this mess.
Loki: (I wonder if I can move on after this...I wonder if they'll forgive me.)
Who's to say right now...As for Ellen to come back to get her shopping done and then resting up, for her to get to work for Hans' saying next.
Ellen: I know, Brother, I'm on it tomorrow. Got my shopping done. Also met with a girl who gets me.
Hans: That's so unlike you liking other girls.
Ellen: Some of them, yeah. For one to not change the Desire of. Well, good night.
With her resting up to hug a pillow to think of Hans, he was thinking about Keiko on his end. Ah, I don't think she knows about it yet.
Hans: Good night, Ellen. (I will find the girls to bear my children with, and Keiko Amamiya the most. I want to see what else she does against Natsume's Jail. As my sister will watch the whole thing. We will get everything done for Mommy's sake, and find Pandora's Box.)
What a weird sibling type of family they are, huh? Yeah, not good at all. Soon night turns into morning for a brand new day to start.
8 – August/1st/Tuesday (Sendai)
Finally in the morning to have a good sleep, showering, and such from mobile and a hotel too, the Phantom Thieves get ready to do some research. By hearing Natsume's so call fans to buy and talk about his work a lot. Way too much to be going on in Sapporo.
Morgana: Morning, Madame Keiko and Akechi.
Those two lovers had a good sleep.
Akechi: Good morning, Morgana.
Keiko: And it looks like everyone's here.
For the three, Futaba, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Haru, and Sophia were all gathered outside of the town of Sapporo to begin their investigation.
Ryuji: All right, made it to Sendai Station! Let's score us some leads on that smug bastard!
Futaba: Sheesh, take it down a notch, dude...You're bouncier than a grade-schooler on summer vacation.
Well, someone seems to be very tired.
Ann: Are you all right, Futaba? Are you not a morning person?
Futaba: I didn't sleep much last night...I can't get comfy without my usual pillow.
Keiko: Sorry, Futaba.
Some people had trouble sleeping in their usual way.
Makoto: Well, it was our first night sleeping in the RV, so I suppose it's no surprise. You'll get used to it over time, I'm sure.
Haru: The station is really busy on weekdays. Maybe because everyone's out of school.
From summer break things are going on then maybe. With Keiko's cell phone going off, Sophia explained the area locations.
Sophia: [The shopping arcade is only a short walk away. The Tanabata Festival decorations are apparently a popular attraction for sightseers.]
The most famous festival of theirs is starting this week, perfect timing!
Haru: Oh, I see. Sendai's Tanabata Festival is coming up soon!
Yusuke: Seems there's plenty of shops to draw a crowd. Perhaps we should try asking around over there.
Akechi: Sounds like a good idea. You guys do that while I help out Master.
Sounds like a plan there.
Morgana: Yeah, we'll do the same thing we did with Alice. Let's meet up again once we've found something.
And splitting up for Akechi to talk to Zen, the others get to work. Investigation time for Morgana and Keiko to ask people and their friends of the fans of Natsume to be all over town. Something wasn't right to have stores to sell things or waiting in line to be very long. Time began for Keiko and Morgana to hear tons of people talk about Natsume's book and some good parts of the Phantom Thieves, it was non stop. Makoto found out something to tell Keiko and Morgana about first...
Makoto: What a crowd. I wonder what's going on? It feels a bit...off, I guess.
Yeah, it was off to have tons of lines in some bookstores. Seeing another female fan buy more books, a book signing was also happening with Natsume today too.
Morgana: Book signing...?
Sophia: [From what I can gather, Ango Natsume's book signing will be happening in Sendai today.]
Morgana: Already, huh? I know about being an author's work, but still. This isn't normal.
Sophia: [The bookstore's in a mall named Porto, and the event starts in one hour.]
Morgana: I see...All right, Madame Keiko. Let's come back here when we're done collecting rumors.
Good idea. Gathering rumors from other people comes first.
Keiko: Then let's continue our search.
Walking around some more to also do some shopping too, even eating with some friends to also make some new foods by hand. Yusuke loved his beef tongue meat he had yesterday. Downstairs of other outside shopping parts, Ryuji sees something cool to tell Keiko and Morgana about it.
Ryuji: Check out those things hangin' from the ceiling! They look like aliens!
Keiko: These things...?
They were just paper designs to be hanging around.
Sophia: [They are apparently called "streamers." In Sendai, they're known for being topped with a large ball called a "kusudama."]
Tayla: We know what streamers were, but the ones called Kusudama...The Japanese kusudama (medicine ball) is a paper model that is usually (although not always) created by sewing multiple identical pyramidal units (usually stylized flowers folded from square paper) together through their points to form a spherical shape. Alternatively the individual components may be glued together. (e.g. the kusudama in the lower photo is entirely glued, not threaded together) Occasionally, a tassel is attached to the bottom for decoration.
Kusudama originate from ancient Japanese culture, where they were used for incense and potpourri; possibly originally being actual bunches of flowers or herbs. The word itself is a combination of two Japanese words kusuri, Medicine, and tama, Ball. They are now typically used as decorations, or as gifts.
The kusudama is important in origami particularly as a precursor to the modular origami genre. It is often confused with modular origami, but is not such because the units are strung or pasted together, instead of folded together as most modular constructions are made.
It is, however, still considered origami, although origami purists frown upon using its characteristic technique of threading or gluing the units together, while others recognize that early traditional Japanese origami often used both cutting (see thousand origami cranes or senbazuru) and pasting, and respect kusudama as an ingenious traditional paper folding craft in the origami family.
Modern origami masters such as Tomoko Fuse have created new kusudama designs that are entirely assembled without cutting, glue or thread except as a hanger.
Fun to learn more things thanks to Sophia's help, huh?
Ryuji: Now that I think about it, isn't Tanabata celebrated in July?
Keiko: That's some good history data there, Sophia.
Sophia: [It looks like Tanabata is observed using the old lunar calendar, so the festival is held a month later, in August.]
Ryuji: Huh. I don't know if I follow you...But whatever! August rules!
I see...Next was Ann standing around near the food court area of sweets.
Ann: Ugh, this sucks!
Morgana: Did you find something out, Lady Ann?
Keiko: Yeah, is something wrong?
Something about her to be shopping for something sweet to eat.
Ann: Oh, Keiko. I was wandering around the shopping area here...And now I've got sweets on the brain, with all these dessert shops and food stands around. The temptation's the worst! I almost folded when I saw a place with gyutan ice cream that also sells chocolate bananas! *sigh*
Keiko: Mmm...Sounds tasty.
Ann: All right, sorry about that. I should get back to asking around about Natsume.
Keep trying to find something sweet to eat, Ann. So the investigation continues. Talking to another female fan, a friend of a fan. Not this girl to find this whole thing messed up. Taken Desires of this other girl's Shadow and into a Gegasite, that's a big clue there. Continue to walk around. Another one of a man at a store he owes to see people buy a lot of Natsume's work to worry of them wasting their money and not on food or drinks. Another clue!
Morgana: That's not unlike what was happening with Alice. She had fans pouring in abnormal amounts of money, too...
More to gather and buy some of the things...Then seeing Yusuke to see another store to tell Keiko about it for Morgana and Sophia to hear.
Yusuke: ...Look, Ms. Keiko. This general store over there is unusually packed with female customers.
Keiko: And...? What else is there, Yusuke?
Yusuke: Well, perhaps it's just my imagination, but their eyes seem...hollow.
Ah yeah, something to keep in mind just in case. Moving on...They go see how both Futaba and Haru's search were going, to have one of them find something maybe. Not to mention having the Big Bag Burgers in the area.
Futaba: The store owners were really surprised to learn who Haru's family is.
Keiko: Another Big Bang Burgers here.
Futaba: I know, right? At first they were all stiff and nervous, but Haru's too warm for anyone to keep that up long! She had 'em singin' in no time. It was crazy seeing how people treat the upper crust, let alone Haru's ability to get 'em to stop! She is so amazing...
She was only being herself to let the good people run the Okumura Food company. For Futaba to say it, and for Haru to say this part next.
Haru: Oh, hello, Keiko-Chan.
Keiko: How's the search going for you, Haru?
Haru: So far I've been asking around the shops here-apparently, Sendai's in the middle of Natsume fever. Apparently, it's even affecting some of the shop's staff. I overheard some complaints that it's getting bad for business. People no-all, no-showing or even ditching their shifts partway through to go pick up more copies of Natsume's book...Could their hearts have been changed?
Keiko: It would seem like it.
Another part to bring up next.
Haru: Oh, I nearly forgot...When I told one of the local restaurant owners that I was on a trip with my friends, he gave me this. It's a hamburger from a local chain, using only local ingredients. They said it's very good.
A Gyutan Burger could be a handy item for Keiko to use.
Keiko: Can do. Thanks.
And a few more searching to be done next around the area. Soon other girls love Natsume's work and one out of some log in computer thing, this gets Keiko and Morgana's attention.
Morgana: Hey...Did you hear that?
Keiko: I did, Morgana.
Sophia: [She seemed suspicious of Ango Natsume stealing other people's work.]
To never end at all.
Morgana: I wonder if it's true or just some rumor.
And from there, the gathering rumors have been completed.
Keiko: That's about it. Akechi said he'll meet us later near one of Natsume's newest ones. A book store must be nearby.
Morgana: I think he got his part covered. At least we've got plenty of intel now. I'd say it's safe to call it quits. Remember Natsume's autograph session we heard about? This is our chance to see him in person. Let's do some first-party reconnaissance.
So they go do so while Akechi does his line of work and aiding his teacher to get back to the others in a bit.
Keiko: Let's indeed, Morgana.
Then it was time to regroup first.
Sophia: [We're getting everyone together? Okay, I'll contact them for you.]
Morgana: Thanks, Sophia. We should get over there ourselves.
With Sophia making the call for Keiko and Morgana, they all meet up at a nearby book signing for where Natsume was at right now.
Porto
Ango Natsume's autograph event
Arriving at a bookstore there were tons of people waiting in line for Natsume's new book to be published and sell out a lot today. Girls love him and boys want to be just like the guy. Too much...With Keiko, Morgana, Sophia, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, and Haru seeing how this so call book author's a big hit.
Keiko: This is still a lot of fans. (Natsume to have a Jail to be a Monarch to take people's Desires and have their Shadows turn into Gegasites. While the real selves have no free will.)
Ryuji: That smug bastard's bein' promised all over the place. I feel I'm going insane.
Compared to what Alice was, it might be worse for Natsume's as well.
Makoto: That's quite a crowd for a book signing...
Futaba: Urrrrgh...There's so many people, I think I'm gonna throw up...
I don't blame Futaba. So they needed Natsume's keyword to get into his Jail next, but will it happen here today? It was hard to tell yet.
Morgana: Is he gonna give out his keyword for EMMA and change everyone's hearts like Alice did? We should keep an eye on him for now.
So many fangirls were in line the most compared to some of the guys were. Natsume was signing a lot of books for his fans, even the women the most.
Passionate Fan: Um, Natsume-san. I just wanted to say thank you for putting out such wonderful work all the time. I was so touched by your book, I ended up buying fifty copies!
Competitive Fan: Yeah, well, I bought a hundred! Some to read, some to collect, some to give out, and some to...
Also I call him either Ango or Natsume sometimes, same thing.
Ango: My goodness...Thank you, I'm flattered.
Competitive Fan: Reading your book somehow gives me hope, courage to keep going! I won't rest until each and every one of my friends knows about your book!
Ango: Well, I have said that I want my book to reach as many people as possible...I can't help but feel guilty, though. Be sure you don't overdo it.
Meaning he wants for them to do it since his Shadow/King is making them do it all.
Passionate Fan: No, it's okay! I'm helping you because I want to!
Yeah, this is getting insane. Soon the Phantom Thieves overhear a few other girls talking - not to mention Haru and Keiko keeping their distances away from the perverted author.
Gossipy Fan: I heard the reason he started writing novels was for this poor girl who's bedridden in the hospital. Supposedly he wanted her to keep fighting so she could one day see him finish his novel...
Bandwagoner: Oh my gosh, that's beautiful. He's just so compassionate. It's like he's a saint.
Delusional Fan: I know, that story alone's enough to make me cry...I guess even real life is like a novel sometimes. We have to tell the whole world about Ango Natsume's good deeds!
Really? This is bad huh? From the whole Desires taken and becoming zombies is ruining their lives too. And the book signing kept on going.
Keiko: I don't like where this is going one bit. (The book-signing concluded, and Natsume and his fans left...)
While this was going on, Akechi did some research on him to look up Ango's background.
Akechi: (Huh? What's this? Ango Natsume related to "him"? But how?)
Soon Zen meets up with Akechi to tell his student about their next target to look into next with luck since Ango has a Jail.
Zen: Oh, Goro, hey. Glad I found you. Can I meet with the others later tonight?
Sounds like a date for the two will meet up with the Phantom Thieves in a bit. The others were at the bookstore to learn about Ango's work to talk about getting the keyword – and Yusuke to be reading something in his hands of Natsume's books to be fine. Just as long as he doesn't affect you from the EMMA app then you're fine.
Haru: I'd expected as much, but...he's really popular.
Keiko: A little too popular if you ask me.
At least the Phantom Thief girls aren't into him at all.
Ann: Do you think that bit about the girl in the hospital is for real?
The story of Ango making the books for some little girl to recover in the hospital...? Who knows.
Ryuji: Dude didn't seem like the type, if you ask me.
Morgana: I don't think Natsume said anything resembling a keyword...
It was really hard to tell on this one.
Haru: Could it be because he really isn't a Monarch? Or perhaps he's just being careful...
Makoto: If he is the Monarch, maybe everyone here's already had their hearts changed?
Futaba: Meaning he wouldn't need to give out his keyword...Hey, Inari, what's that you've been reading?
The Prince of Nightmares book it would seem.
Yusuke: Ango Natsume's novel, "Prince of Nightmares."
And yet he was still himself to buy it on his own free will and not affected by Ango's Shadow's doing.
Futaba: Inari, you actually bought that thing?!
Keiko: May we ask why? (I think Yusuke's still himself to not become one of Natsume's crazy type of fans. Good.)
Explaining time...
Yusuke: I simply wanted to check whether the content of the book was truly deserving of the fervent praise it's received.
Haru: Well...how is it? Is it good?
Yusuke: Hmmm...How should I put it? For any creative work, one should be able to feel some sense of its creator's passion. No matter how crude or unrefined the work may be, there should always be some sort of spark present to those engaging with it. I'm not terribly well versed in the literary arts, but...I feel nothing when reading this book. The sentences are formed well enough, but what's here is shockingly hollow. It's as if these words have been taken from someone else and given the most bare-minimum coat of paint possible...
Futaba: Lemme see.
Seeing it for herself, Futaba gets what Yusuke was saying about the writing in Natsume's book.
Keiko: What's on there?
Futaba: Oh, wow. This line here's lifted from an anime from two years ago. The words got changed a bit, but that's definitely it. Sneaky. I think I've seen this one before, too. And this one! Sheesh, this one too...Wait...Is this whole book just a bunch of stuff he ripped-off and strung together?
Keiko: So he's copyrighting like Madarame did.
Oh yeah, we all remember that guy. Except Ango Natsume's a bit different to still be doing a bad thing either way.
Futaba: Probably. If the original writers or worse, their fans, ever saw this, there'd be a freaking riot online...
Yusuke: I can't possibly fathom how such a fraudulent piece of work garnered this much praise...That is, unless the fans had their Desires stolen.
Stolen, becoming slaves, Gegasites of their Shadows in the Metaverse, and so on to be trapped.
Keiko: There's no mistaking it. It's the power to change hearts.
Futaba: With all that we know now, it's safe to say there's definitely something going on here.
Haru: If only we knew the keyword, we could investigate the Jail for ourselves...
Ryuji: Think we should ask some of his fans? They're all had their Desires taken, right?
It was the only option of this whole mess.
Makoto: Hmm...If this is anything like the situation in Shibuya, I doubt they'll tell us anything.
Futaba: Guess we're kinda stuck, then. Have we heard anything from Gramps yet?
Besides tagging along with Akechi, Zen seems to be busy too like his student was.
Keiko: Akechi told me he is with Zenny right now.
Ann: And he said he'd be here with Akechi by tonight. Maybe he learned something too.
Makoto: All right, then. I guess we should go ahead and wait for Inspector Hasegawa and Akechi-san, then.
With everyone else leaving the store with Keiko, Morgana, and Sophia catching up...Yusuke had something to say to Keiko real quick.
Yusuke: ...Hold on, Ms. Keiko.
Keiko: Huh? What is it, Yusuke?
Walking up to Keiko and reading the book so far, Yusuke wanted to know what she thought of Natsume and his work to be real or not.
Yusuke: Why do you think Natsume wrote this novel?
Keiko: Money? Fame? I have no clue which one.
Yusuke: Well, it might be about the money and the fame, is that it? You may be right. It wouldn't make much sense if that weren't the case.
Keiko: Same here.
A lot to remind Yusuke of a certain someone like Natsume was and doing the same thing.
Yusuke: No matter how much praise your work receives, if it was built on the backs of others...Then you cannot truly call that praise your own. Those compliments will surely ring empty. Anyone in the arts should know this. That is why I don't understand. What was he thinking when he wrote this novel?
It was still unknown right now, to still try to find the answers they needed.
Makoto: What are you two doing? Let's get going.
Yusuke: We're coming, Ms. Makoto. My apologies, it wasn't my intention to hold you up. Let's be off, Ms. Keiko.
Keiko: Right.
Heading back to the mobile home for the others to meet up with Akechi and Zen, to talk about Natsume to be causing trouble like Alice did. On how to get his keyword of the Jail to go into and getting everyone's Desires back too...With Loki finding his answers to get where he needs to be with some Gegasites killed so far.
Loki: ...So that's where it is.
And the same thing for Kaguya and Picaro too...
Picaro: The hell?
Kaguya: This is a brand new Jail than the first one was.
Yeah, you guys will know what Ango's Jail will look like later on. Promise. Now back with Zen for him and Akechi meet back up with the other Phantom Thieves about the situation right now. Also this was Zen's first visit in the Phantom Thieves' vehicle of theirs to borrow.
Zen: Pretty nice ride you've got here.
Akechi: Thank the Boss back at Leblanc.
Zen: Oh, really? That's nice. And I gotta say, I didn't expect Sendai to be on the agenda. How's you know there was a Jail here?
Ann: Well, about that...
Thank Sophia for her AI skills to smell a Jail out.
Sophia: [I smelled it.]
Zen: ...You smelled it?
He'll get used to Sophia more and more since he is fine with Morgana talking.
Keiko: Sophia's not a dog, she's an AI.
Makoto: Anyways, have you learned anything new?
Getting back to the subject at hand...
Zen: Ah, yes. Ango Natsume, right?
Akechi: We've both found some information.
Zen: Yeah, he's suspicious, all right. His book's been selling like crazy, but only here in Sendai.
Akechi: It's the one and only place so far to become famous. Lots of fans, Natsume in the family name, and out of nowhere is well known too. It's not out in other areas but this, how odd.
Zen: Most of the other stuff I've heard lines up with what you guys told me. Anyhow, I did some asking around while Goro was getting some paperwork, and here's what I also found...
Something very big to hear next.
Akechi: If Natsume got the EMMA app to bring his fans to him, the same as Alice did...It makes sense how a lot of people are buying a lot of his books all over Sendai.
Zen: No kidding. Apparently, everyone in Natsume's little fan club becomes friends with him through EMMA.
Like those two just said, it is all true to get everyone else's attention.
Akechi: It only gets from bad to worse.
Zen: And once that happens, they start buyin' his book any and every chance they get. Some even go into debt because of it.
Akechi: Lose their money, don't care about buying important things, and become something for Natsume to love too much.
Zen: Any of this sound familiar?
It sure does.
Ann: It's just like what happened with Alice...
Keiko: So it is from EMMA's doing the same old thing.
Zen: He might have different methods from Alice Hiiragi, but I'm almost certain Natsume's using the same power.
Akechi: Natsume's different from what Alice was doing from before.
In other words, it's all true from EMMA's power to give to Natsume next.
Morgana: In that case, we really need to get our hands on his keywords...
Ryuji: Can't we just nab shithead and make him cough it up?
Bad idea to do and not get into bigger trouble. For Akechi to remind Ryuji not with a smile on his family to be serious and caring.
Akechi: Ryuji, as a friend and a detective...please don't.
Zen: Listen to my student, will ya? Do that, and I would have to arrest you for assault. You can ramble on about the Jails all you want. Best-case scenario is you getting dragged off to a mental institution.
Akechi: You see? I told you so.
Good point, just do your other part of the job.
Ryuji: Right...
Haru: Well, we're phantom thieves, so going at it directly is not preferred anyway.
Futaba: Oh, there goes Beauty Thief. Always tryin' to be elegant and subtle and stuff.
The old code name that almost happened, but it didn't.
Zen: Beauty...what?
Keiko: Beauty Thief. Futaba's talking about Haru's old backup code name until she changed it into Noir.
Well, that was something else.
Haru: M-My name is Beauty Thief!
Akechi: Please don't ask, Master...
Zen: I see...She's really calling herself that?
Not anymore she's not to have Noir better.
Morgana: Getting back on track...We gotta think of a way to get that keyword.
There is a way for Zen to do something for them, and some data Akechi also gathered up too.
Zen: That's where I come in. You'd better thank you for this later.
Makoto: For what?
Zen: Natsume's holding a party tonight in celebration of "Prince of Nightmares" passing over a million sales. And I just happen to have enough invitations for all of you.
Akechi: For one being me as a famous Ace Detective Prince.
Well he was famous for getting in easily on Akechi's end.
Zen: Which also means...
Ann: We're crashing a party?
Keiko: Seems like it. (I can get for Zenny and Akechi-Cun can get in, so they saved us all the trouble.)
Akechi: There's no need to thank us.
It was good news for them.
Ryuji: Hey, that sounds fun as hell! Don't you think, Keiko?
Keiko: Yes! This is our chance.
Anything to get Natsume to get the keyword out of him somehow, the Phantom Thieves have to play their cards very carefully.
Zen: I'm glad to help. So what do you guys think? Glad we struck a deal?
Akechi: That's my Master.
From family and students to study by his teacher.
Futaba: You did pretty good, Gramps! Akechi, not bad. Your teacher's pretty cool.
Ryuji: Yeah, nice one, Gramps!
Yusuke: I must admit, I'm seeing you in a whole new light, Gramps.
Ann: Yeah, you really came through, Gramps!
Haru: I knew we could count on you, Gramps-san.
Ha! Haru gives Zen a Gramps-san in it. Still, Zen wasn't old of a grandpa type at all. Still...They were all grateful for his work so far.
Zen: C'mon guys...At least all me by my name...Amamiya-chan is with an OK nickname.
Keiko: Zenny, yes.
Akechi: Neither of us don't think you're a gramps at all.
Even Sophia says the same thing too.
Sophia: [Don't feel bad, Gramps.]
Akechi: I say we should prepare for tonight. Master, we got this.
With Akechi aiding the team 'as always', Zen leaves the rest for the Phantom Thieves to get to work, hopefully to go well. And for Akechi to have Keiko's back as the others watch themselves from Natsume 'just in case'.
Party Venues
Prince of Nightmares, one-million-sold celebration
With Akechi accompanying Keiko, Morgana, Sophia, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, and Haru to the place that night 'and thanks to Zen's help too', the show starts off with Natsume making his speech for his fans. Selling his books a lot was way too soon to be my option.
Natsume: Thank you all very much for coming today. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy yourselves.
I can't say I blame the phantom thieves 'even Akechi the most' for not liking Natsume's attitude. After the show was over, Natsume was talking to four of his co-workers to admire this guy's work. Some elderly man, another male adult, business guy, and a fancy dress up woman. As well as Natsume's bodyguard was there to do his job too.
Natsume's Editor: Congratulations, Mr. Natsume. Truly.
Natsume: It's all thanks to everyone working so hard to push sales. All I did was write.
Natsume's Editor: Oh, you're too modest.
Stout Editor: It really is impressive how well you're done, considering the amount of competition there is these days. I know we tried to promote you early on as the grandson of renowned writer, Sogo Natsume but...I never would've expected you to perform this well.
Natsume's Editor: The praise you've received is due entirely to your talent, Mr. Natsume. You're a shining star to readers and authors alike.
Nope, just a show off for the EMMA and his Shadow/King himself doing all the bad things to people' Desires the most by taking them away.
Natsume: My talent, you say? Haha, well now, I wouldn't go as fans as to say that...The words on the page matter little. If there's something worth talking about, the people will always flock to it. From there, all one needs to do is craft a little story into it, and voila. For example, take that origin story about how I started writing because of some poor girl in the hospital.
Natsume's Editor: Pardon my asking, but is that story really true, Mr. Natsume?
Or something made up for both Keiko and Akechi to sense something was up.
Akechi: ...
Keiko: (Doing his work for a girl at a hospital? Something tells me it might not be true...)
And what was Natsume's response? It was this...
Natsume: Ahahaha, I'm afraid that's my little secret. Truth, fiction...Does anyone really care? You might recall Ichiryusai Madarame's confession on TV too long ago. Surely, you remember. His signature piece...What was the name of it?
Stout Editor: Oh, do you mean the "Sayuri"?
How can any of us forget those things?
Natsume: Ah, yes, that's it. The "Sayuri." That piece was certainly lauded as the pinnacle of beauty at the time, but if you ask me, the only place it belongs now is the trash.
Wow! What a rude thing to say about Yusuke's mother's wonderful artwork!
Ryuji: That dick...!
Haru: The trash?! How rude!
Ann: He has no idea what was put into that painting! Who does he think he is?!
Akechi: I agree. Natsume is not only a showoff, but he's very distasteful on people's work.
It was hitting Yusuke hard the most to try to be strong.
Yusuke: ...
Morgana: Yusuke, I know how you feel, but...
But he hangs in there no matter what Natsume was saying.
Yusuke: I'm all right. I have a favor to ask. Would you mind if I handled this one? I promise I'll get the keyword from him.
Ryuji: But...
Yusuke: There's a good chance he remembers your faces from the other day and he doesn't care about Akechi. However, I was toward the back of the crowd, so there's a good chance he won't recognize me.
Is it an OK idea to do?
Akechi: Keiko, Natsume won't care about me. I need to speak to him for a minute. I will watch Yusuke.
Keiko: (Akechi-Cun...) Do us the honor, Yusuke. We'll leave it to you.
This was go time.
Morgana: Right, Yusuke might be our best bet here.
Ann: Good luck!
Akechi: You can do this.
It was their only shot they had.
Yusuke: Thank you. I'll be off, then. I'll go first, Akechi, and then it'll be your turn.
With the others staying behind to watch and listen, Yusuke does his part and Akechi watches on the sidelines until it is his turn. It was show time here.
Akechi: (With Yusuke having one of Natsume's books, we'll have a better chance on this.)
Here we go then, hopefully it will somehow work for Akechi and Yusuke to play their cards very carefully.
Yusuke: Pardon me for interrupting. I happen to be a big fan of yours, Natsume-san.
Stout Editor: Hm? Who are you?
Seeing other adults still trying to play it cool. They all know Akechi for Natsume to not care about him or his famous detective skills.
Ango: A fan and the ace detective prince named Goro Akechi. How fancy.
Yusuke: Well, yes. But please forgive me, I was hoping I might trouble you for an autograph.
Akechi: And don't mind me, I'm just here for the show I was invited to.
Some of the adult group didn't care about Yusuke to be around only.
Natsume's Editor: Hey! Mr. Natsume is a busy man. You can trouble him later!
But this author just laughs to not mind another fan to make him smile.
Ango: Ahaha, come now. I'm sure one autograph won't hurt.
Yusuke: Ahh, you mean it? My thanks, Natsume-san! You're too kind!
And so, Natsume signed the book for Yusuke for him and the others finally got it with a few more things to get next.
Akechi: ...
Yusuke: To receive an autograph from the great Ango Natsume himself...This honor is truly more than I deserve.
Ango: Nonsense, don't sell yourself short. It's readers like you who allow authors like me to keep writing.
Yusuke: I see. That's a wonderful way to look at it. Oh, right. Do you by any chance use EMMA, Natsume-san?
They got it because Natsume does have EMMA app on his phone for his other fans.
Ango: Of course. With how convenient it is, how could I not?
Yusuke: If you don't mind, could you please add me to your friends list? It would be a privilege to be closer to one I respect so greatly...
And another part happens again for the Phantom Thieves, the plan was working.
Ango: *chuckle* Not at all. My fans and readers mean the world to me. The keyword is "Princes of Nightmares."
Akechi: (Yusuke, you did it.)
That's the key to getting into Natsume's Jail now. Just one more thing Yusuke wanted to say right away.
Yusuke: Thank you very much. Except a request from me sometime soon. Now, there is one more thing...I overheard you and your entourage mention the "Sayuri" earlier...If I'm not mistaken, you said it should be thrown out with the trash, as though it were some cheap attempt.
Akechi: I'm afraid I heard it all too.
This guy admits it as well out of his own mouth.
Ango: Ah, so you heard that, did you? Is that what I said? Well, I take it someone of your taste agrees with me? In the end, that painting only held value because of whose name was attached to it. Madarame had-
Yusuke: The "Sayuri" was painted by my mother.
Yep, now Natsume has really done it.
Ango: ...?!
Akechi: Oops, you really did it now.
Yusuke: This may be unprofessional of me, but professionalism be damned...My mother painted the "Sayuri" at the cost of her own life. It is her final masterpiece. That painting was crafted with a love that simply cannot be found anywhere else. Don't you dare lump it in that soulless drivel you cobbled together from authors far more talented than you!
He has really done it now.
Ango: ...?!
Natsume's Editor: H-Hey, you can't...!
Yusuke: I merely spoke the truth. Now, if you'll excuse me...
Just one more thing left for Akechi to do.
Akechi: Also, from him saying those words to be a good friend of mine, you were hitting on my fiance too. So...KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM HER!
Punching Natsume in the face, that was a good hit there to leave Keiko and the others speechless.
Keiko: (Akechi-Cun...)
Ango: Hey!
Others: Mr. Natsume!
With Akechi leaving with Yusuke, the Phantom Thieves got what they needed to take their leave.
Yusuke: Well done, Akechi. Now we've got what we came for. Let's head outside, yes?
Akechi: Ah...I feel better now.
With them, Keiko, Morgana with Sophia, Ann, Ryuji, Makoto, Futaba, and Haru take off...Natsume is left really mad at what Yusuke and Akechi did to him. Serves him right.
Ango: ...Soulless drivel?! That little bastard...And Akechi...! Who the hell does he think he is punching me in the face?! What the hell do either of them know?!
Natsume's Editor: I-It's all right, Mr. Natsume. He's just looking to blame you for something because he's jealous of your genius. And Akechi-san's just caring. So don't let any of them get to you.
He wasn't taking this so well.
Ango: Shut up!
Natsume's Editor: Eep!
Ango: ...Hmph. No matter. He'll come around just like the rest. And Goro Akechi will get his...!
Yeah, right. For Natsume Shadow might be different to fight against than his human self, two other people saw it all in their human disguises. Hans Guyver/Hiroko Saitou for his human name and the same old Ellen Guyver/Eiko Saitou; they've both witness the mess that went down since they aided Natsume for power and saw who talked to him of Yusuke, Akechi, and the others only.
Hans: Hmm...That was new.
Ellen: Even if it was, Brother, who cares. I know he's gonna mess up. Still, I got a job you gave me to do. So I'm on it. (All for you of course.)
Hans: I think you'll do fine, Sister. (That girl just now.)
From seeing Keiko, does Hans know she's Joker who's also the leader of the Phantom Thieves? And the look from seeing Akechi with her could be trouble? And does Ellen know of Keiko as her enemy? More to come next time.