8/3 Wednesday
Days until the cleanse: 18
Everyone had met up at Leblanc, as today was the day that they would finish their infiltration. But first, they needed to take care of one last thing.
"Yusuke, is the calling card ready?" Makoto asked.
"Yes, but how exactly are we going to get Futaba to open the door?" Yusuke asked. "Not even Boss is allowed inside."
"Maybe we just wait until she has to go to the bathroom or something." Ryuji shrugged.
"I don't know…" Morgana trailed off. "The door in the palace might not open unless she voluntarily lets someone in."
"Then I suppose we'll just be honest with her." Makoto said. "She wants to have a change of heart, so if we tell her that this is necessary in order to do it, she might accept it."
"Yeah!" Ann agreed. "If we just talk to her, I'm sure that our feelings will get through."
"I believe in Futaba." Ren nodded. "She'll definitely be able to help."
"Boss is out right now, so I'll pick the locks." Morgana said. "Let's head out everyone!"
"Yeah! If we just talk to her, I'm sure that our feelings will get through."
"I believe in Futaba. She'll definitely be able to help."
"Meow meow meow meow. Meow Meow Meow!
Futaba had been listening into the thieves' conversation with bugs that had been carefully placed all over Leblanc.
"W-Wait, they're coming here?!" Futaba gasped. "I'm not-"
*Buzz*
She glanced over, seeing her phone buzzing, a strange new app on it.
"What's this eyeball thing…?" Futaba muttered. "When did I get this app?"
She curiously clicked the app, only for her shadow self to materialize right in front of her.
"W-Whoa!" Futaba gasped. "Who're you?"
"I'm the other you." Futaba's shadow replied.
"...You're not a hallucination, are you?" Futaba questioned. "You're not like the others…"
"How much longer will you continue to blame yourself?" Futaba's shadow asked. "How long will you shut yourself away from the world?"
"But… it is my fault, isn't it?" Futaba whispered.
"Isn't it time you grasped the truth of what happened?" Futaba's shadow asked.
"The truth… but… NO! It's my fault! It has to be! It's my fault, and I… deserve to suffer for it." Futaba protested.
"Then why did you seek the help of the Phantom Thieves?" the shadow asked.
Futaba glanced away, not having an answer.
"You know that there was something strange about what happened." the shadow pointed out. "Are you going to avert your eyes from the truth? If that is what you desire… if you do not wish for your heart to be changed… then we shall kill each and every one of the Phantom Thieves." Futaba's shadow concluded.
"What should I do?" Futaba whispered as her shadow disappeared.
"We're so, so sorry Boss." Makoto winced. "We're so sorry for sneaking in again."
"He's not here, Makoto." Ren pointed out. "And, well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him."
"This is definitely the same door as the one in the palace." Morgana noted in front of Futaba's door.
Makoto softly knocked on the door. "Futaba-chan, you're there, aren't you? Please answer us."
There was no response.
"Alibaba?" Makoto questioned. "If you want to communicate through text, that's fine too."
A few moments later, she felt her phone vibrate.
Alibaba: You should have told me that you were coming.
"Sorry about that." Makoto apologized. "Listen… we need you to open the door to your room. It's the only way we can change your heart."
Futaba's response was immediate.
Alibaba: Absolutely not. I'm not mentally prepared!
"Please, you have to do this." Ren urged.
Alibaba: This is too sudden!
"The other you inside of your heart told us that you want to have your heart changed. I know that there's a part of you that wants to open this door."
Alibaba: The other me?
"It's ok, Futaba-chan. You can trust us." Ann insisted.
Alibaba: Give me some time.
"Ten seconds." Makoto said.
Alibaba: That's too little time! At least make it ten minutes.
"Maybe we should just kick the door down." Ryuji suggested.
"Let's give her ten minutes first." Makoto replied.
They waited outside Futaba's door, the ten minutes going agonizingly slow.
"Come on, Futaba-chan, think of all the great things you can do outside!" Ren encouraged. "Right, guys?"
"Yeah! Like going to the arcade!" Ryuji said.
"Chocolate crepes!" Ann added.
"Goin' to the movies!" Ryuji exclaimed.
"Double chocolate crepes!" Ann said.
"People watching." Yusuke smiled.
"Yusuke, that ain't fun." Ryuji grumbled.
"Alright, Futaba-chan, time is up." Makoto warned. "I'm going to count to three."
Alibaba: Count to three? Do you think I'm five years old? It won't work.
"One." Makoto started
Alibaba: You don't have to do this!
"Two…" Makoto said, a slight edge to her voice.
"Alright I'm coming out!" a panicked voice cried.
Futaba opened the door and burst out of the room.
"Woah, she actually talked." Ryuji mumbled.
"T-There!" Futaba stammered. "Now my cognition won't be as much of a hindrance to you anymore, right?"
"You know about this cognitive stuff?" Ryuji questioned.
"How do you know about it?" Makoto asked.
"And why did you try to conceal your identity?" Ren added.
"… 'Cause I was embarrassed." Futaba mumbled.
"We understand." Ann told her. "Asking for help isn't easy.
"But it was very brave of you to do so." Makoto smiled. "We're very proud of you."
"T-Thanks…" Futaba stammered.
"Can you tell us a little more about what you know about the cognitive world, if you can?" Makoto softly said.
Futaba glanced away, clamming up.
"Does it have to do with your mother?" Ren asked. "Is that why you're quiet?"
Futaba nodded.
"So, was she studying cognitive psience?" Ann asked.
"Yes, cognitive psience." Futaba answered. "But it has less to do with science, and more to do with the supernatural."
"Well now! That certainly got her attention." Yusuke noted. "It would seem that we're on the right track."
"Could you tell us more?" Makoto asked. "More about what your mother worked on?"
No answer.
"That might be all that we're getting from her." Ryuji frowned. "Let's just hand her the calling card for right now."
"Hold on." Ann said. "Futaba, did you really kill your mother?"
All of them looked at Ann in surprise.
"Ann, what the eff?!" Ryuji exclaimed.
"I want to know what really happened." Ann said. "When we saw what was inside of your heart, we heard things like maternity neurosis, but we still aren't really sure about the truth. The way that Boss… that Sojiro described your mother was completely different than what she was like in your cognition."
Makoto decided that now was the time to voice something that she had considered before.
"Futaba… do you think that it would be possible for someone to have messed with your mother's cognition?" Makoto asked. "Someone, perhaps, with powers similar to us?"
"I… I… my mom… was…"
Futaba clutched her head, the group worrying that they had pushed her too far.
"T-The one who killed her was… Nngh…"
"Futaba, we're sorry." Makoto quickly apologized.
"We just want to help you." Ann frowned. "Why don't you lie down and-"
"I-I don't know, I don't know!" Futaba cried. "But… I might if you steal my heart! So… steal it, right now!"
"W-What?" Makoto stammered.
"I'm ready! Soooo… steal it! Right now!" Futaba exclaimed.
"Err… that's not quite how it works." Makoto told her. "We can't steal your heart right at this moment, Futaba-chan."
"T-Then what are you doing here?!" Futaba snapped. "I'm closing my door again, so get out!"
"No, you can't do that!" Ann pleaded.
"Why n-not?" Futaba stammered.
"How much do you know about the cognitive world?" Ren asked her.
"Well, I know that it exists, but not much besides that." Futaba admitted.
"What happens here in the real world affects what happens in your cognitive world." Makoto explained. "So we needed you to open your door so that we could get through a barrier in your palace."
"Ok… um, how exactly do you get into the cognitive world?" Futaba wondered.
"Well, we use a smartphone app." Makoto answered.
"An… app?" Futaba repeated.
"It just kinda appeared on our phones one day." Ryuji told her. "And it lets us go to the Metaverse."
"The Metaverse. So that's what it's called, right?" Futaba asked.
Ryuji nodded. "Some people like you even got these places called Palaces, where we need to enter in these keywords to get in."
"We needed a name, a location, and the form your cognitive world takes." Yusuke added.
"So… Futaba Sakura, Sojiro's house, and… what would the last one be?" Futaba asked.
"Your cognitive world took the form of an Egyptian tomb." Ren answered.
"A tomb…" Futaba muttered. "Say… could I come with you guys into my palace?"
"No way. It's way too dangerous." Ren replied.
"But…"
"Futaba-chan, do you have the app?" Ann asked.
"… No." Futaba muttered, hesitating for a moment.
"Well, there's one more thing we need to do before we can change your heart." Makoto told her.
"Oh! The calling card!" Futaba realized as Makoto handed it to her.
"I need you to read that." Makoto requested.
Futaba Sakura, the sinner of wrath.
You unfairly lash out against yourself, believing that you are deserving of the hatred and scorn of all of those around. You shut yourself away from the world as a form of self-punishment, averting your eyes to the truth. We, the Phantom Thieves of Heart, shall fulfill your request and change your heart, and reveal to you the truth of what happened to your mother.
Makoto watched as Futaba tightly clutched the paper in her hands, eyes glued to its message.
Gently yet firmly, she removed the calling card from Futaba's hands, placing it on her bed.
"We'll change your heart. I promise." Makoto assured her.
"... Thank you." Futaba whispered.
They exited Sojiro's home, making sure no one saw them as they brought out their phones.
Little did they know, however, that as soon as they left, Futaba started to stare at the new Metaverse app on her phone…
"Alright team, now that Futaba's let us in, we should be able to get through that door in her palace!" Morgana said.
"Then let's move, everyone." Makoto ordered.
With everything ready, they entered Futaba's palace once again.
Thankfully, they had opened several shortcuts along the way during their last infiltration, making getting around the palace much easier.
It didn't take them long to reach their destination, and sure enough, the door in the palace had been opened as well.
On the other side was a dark room, the only source of light being a gleaming coffin in the center of the room.
"This one better not come alive." Ryuji grumbled.
"The treasure must be inside." Ann realized.
"All right then, let's get it!" Ryuji grinned.
"Careful, there could be some more traps." Ren warned.
"Treasurrrre!" Morgana purred.
As they approached the coffin, a loud rumbling shook the entire pyramid.
"What was that?!" Ryuji gasped.
"There's someone… or something here with us." Yusuke frowned.
"Look! Up there!" Ann cried.
Everyone glanced upwards, seeing cracks beginning to form in the pyramid walls.
"Be careful, everyone." Makoto warned.
The ceiling collapsed to reveal a gigantic sphinx with a familiar face carved into it.
"That's… that's Wakaba!" Ann realized. "That's Futaba's mother!"
"FUUUUUUTAAAAABAAAAAA!" Wakaba roared, ripping apart the top of the pyramid.
"Mona, what is this thing?!" Ren exclaimed.
"It's a cognition!" Morgana yelled. "A cognition of Wakaba created by Futaba!"
"Queen, watch out!" Ryuji cried.
Wakaba knocked over a pillar with her claw, Makoto gasping as she saw the pillar about to land on her.
Ren charged forward, pushing Makoto out of the way of the attack.
They narrowly avoided Wakaba's attack, landing on top of each other, faces inches apart.
"Are you ok?" Ren asked.
"Y-Yeah…" Makoto stammered.
Before they could say anything else, Wakaba let out a scream before trying to swipe at them again.
"How dare you enter the Pharaoh's tomb!" Wakaba snarled. "May misfortune fall upon all of you!"
"Take-Minakata!" Makoto shouted, wasting no time in summoning her latest persona.
Wakaba let out a roar, summoning several Anzu and commanding them to start flying towards them.
"Zionga!" Makoto shouted. "Skull, you too!
"Got it!" Skull yelled.
The two of them fired bolts of lightning at each of the shadows, knocking them all out of the sky.
"Alright everyone, attack Wakaba!" Makoto ordered.
As Wakaba was out of range of their weapons, they resorted to using their strongest magic.
Wakaba was bombarded with fire, ice, wind, lightning, and darkness, all of the spells colliding to create an explosion.
When the smoke cleared, however, they saw that their attacks had done little damage to Wakaba.
It only seemed to make her angrier.
Ryuji fired his shotgun several times, but all of them fell short of their target.
"Damn it, get down here!" Ryuji snapped.
"This isn't working." Makoto scowled. "As long as Wakaba stays up there, we won't be able to hit her with physical attacks."
"Then we're going to need a plan, and fast!" Morgana warned.
But before they could think of anything, Wakaba gave a mighty flap of her wings, sending razor-sharp winds in their direction.
"H-Hold on, everyone!" Makoto cried, the winds cutting into her.
As the Phantom Thieves struggled against Wakaba, Futaba wandered her palace, eventually stumbling onto three different murals.
"T-These are-"
"Don't you remember what happened?"
Futaba whipped around, seeing her shadow self approaching.
"Y-You again!" Futaba gasped.
"Don't you remember?" her shadow self repeated.
"I remember… that I threw a tantrum. That I told my mother that she thought her cognitive research was more important than me." Futaba frowned. "It's my fault. It's my fault mom is dead!"
"Are you sure?" Futaba's shadow asked. "What happened next?"
"What… happened next…?" Futaba repeated, before her eyes widened. "Mom… she told me that as soon as she finished her research, we could go wherever I wanted!"
Her shadow smiled. "And then?"
"She said that she was sorry for leaving me alone for so long, but to try and understand how important her research was." Futaba continued.
"Did she hate you?" Futaba's shadow asked.
"She… didn't?" Futaba questioned. "She didn't!"
Suddenly, one of the murals in front of her changed, now depicting her mother with a smile.
"M-My head…"
"Search deep within your memories." her shadow advised. You will find the truth."
"But… how do I know that you're actually me?" Futaba muttered. "Prove that you're me! Say something that I would say!"
Futaba's shadow paused for a moment before replying.
"… What, you think I'm an… imposter?" Futaba's shadow asked. "You think I'm… sus?"
"Ok, yup, you're definitely me." Futaba realized. "Thank you. I… know what I have to do now."
Futaba ran towards the Pharaoh's tomb, only to find the Thieves facing a sphinx with her mother's face.
"W-What the?!" Futaba gasped.
"Futaba?!" Makoto gasped. "What are you doing here in your own palace?!"
Seeing her mother's face caused her to fall to her knees, the voices ringing through her head again.
Makoto immediately went to the girl's side, making sure she was ok.
"Youuuuu… you killed me!"
The sphinx of Wakaba glared at Futaba, beginning to yell and curse at the girl.
"I wish you had never been born! There's no meaning in your pathetic life! No one needs you!"
Makoto clenched her fists, anger rising at Wakaba's continued abuse.
"Nobody… cares…" Futaba whispered.
Futaba began shaking, Makoto rubbing her back to try and comfort her.
"Futaba-chan, that monster isn't your mother!" Ann cried. "It's just a cognition that you created!"
"B-But…"
"Did your mother ever say things like that to you before?" Makoto gently asked. "Boss told us she raised you as a single mother as best as she could. Is that true?"
"Is it possible that some of your memories might be false?" Yusuke asked her.
"Futaba Sakura! Remember!"
Everyone turned to see Futaba's shadow looking down at Futaba.
"Think hard, Futaba. Was that suicide note real? Would the mother you know truly have written that?" Futaba's shadow asked.
Futaba clutched her head and let out a scream.
A loud piercing scream containing years of pain of anguish.
And then, silence.
"F-Futaba-chan?" Makoto whispered.
"No."
Futaba stood up, a determined expression on her face.
"She would scold me at times, but she really did care for me!" Futaba exclaimed.
"And the suicide note?" Futaba's cognitive asked.
"It's a lie!" Futaba snapped. "They lied… and blamed me for my mother's death! I'll never forgive them!"
Futaba clutched her head again as another voice rang out in her head.
But this voice was… different. Soothing.
Unfamiliar, yet familiar at the same time.
"What denies you is an illusion… a curse put upon you by the heartless." the voice said.
Futaba began to wobble back and forth, Makoto trying to keep her steady.
"You knew all along, but cowered in fear…" the voice continued.
"I know, but…!" Futaba gasped. "Not anymore! I'll face the truth head on!"
Hearing those words, Futaba's shadow smiled before fading away.
A brilliant light flashed around Futaba's body, and suddenly, a strange, disc shaped machine adorned with a gargoyle appeared above Futaba's head.
The machine started making strange noises as it spun around before casting a beam of light onto Futaba and releasing several tentacles.
The tentacles wrapped around Futaba's body, restraining her.
"W-What is this?!" Ann stammered.
"Is that… a UFO?!" Ryuji exclaimed, dumbfounded.
"Not just a UFO!" Morgana shouted. "But a Persona too!"
"W-Woah, woah! It's just like one of my Japanese anime!" Futaba gasped.
"Contract… I am thou… thou art I…" the UFO spoke. "The forbidden wisdom has been revealed. Illusions and mysteries shall deceive you no longer!
Futaba shined a bright beam of light on the Thieves, healing their wounds.
"This is my cognition, so I should be able to affect it!" Futaba told them. "Leave this to me!"
Futaba concentrated for a moment, before a ballista materialized in front of them.
"Use that to strike her while she's in the air!" Futaba told them.
"Skull, fire the ballista!" Queen commanded.
"You got it!" Skull yelled.
As soon as Wakaba saw Ryuji heading towards the ballista, it immediately started flapping its wings, kicking up a sandstorm.
"Damn it!" Ryuji shouted. "I can't see with all this effin' sand in the way!"
"Mona, can you blow it away?" Makoto asked.
Morgana tried a Garula spell, but it had little effect.
"There's too much sand!" Morgana shouted. "I can't blow all of it away!"
Makoto frowned, trying to think of a new strategy while avoiding the debris.
She began to focus, using her third eye to try and pinpoint Wakaba's location.
"Skull, to the left!" Makoto shouted.
Skull started moving the ballista while Makoto kept an eye on Wakaba's position.
"Now!" Makoto cried.
Skull fired the ballista, and while she couldn't see where it had hit, the loud shriek that she heard let her know that the bolt had met its mark.
The sandstorm began to subside, revealing an enraged Wakaba, a bolt lodged into her forehead.
"Futaba! You useless brat!" Wakaba screamed. "How dare y-
"Shut the hell up!" Ren snapped. "I don't care if you're an illusion or whatever! How can you speak to her like that?!"
"That's right!" Makoto agreed. "No parent… or guardian… should ever say something like that! Not to the child they're raising!"
Wakaba seemed to falter at their words, giving them time to strike.
"Everyone, now!" Makoto ordered.
They rushed Wakaba, hitting her with their strongest physical attacks.
"Swift Strike!" Makoto shouted, firing up several punches at Wakaba.
She landed multiple direct hits to the bolt in Wakaba's forehead, her eyes widening when she saw cracks beginning to form around the bolt.
"Everyone, aim for the head!" Makoto commanded, firing a Zionga at the shadow
Wakaba quickly recovered, dodging her attack and charging straight towards them.
Wakaba slammed down on the platform, right on top of the ballista.
"Skull!" Ann cried.
Wakaba's attack had knocked all of them to the ground, but Ryuji suffered the worst of it, being the closest to the ballista.
"Mona, heal him." Makoto ordered. "The rest of you, with me!"
Wakaba charged after Ryuji, hoping to deliver the finishing blow.
"Stay away from him!" Ann shouted, getting between them.
Ann fired multiple shots at Wakaba's head, but Wakaba quickly blocked them by shielding her head with her claw.
Seeing that happening, the gears in Makoto's head began turning.
"Futaba, make another ballista! I have a plan!" Makoto shouted.
"Right!" Futaba nodded.
Futaba materialized another ballista, Wakaba's eyes immediately drawn to it.
As she moves to destroy it, however…
"Panther! Destroy the nearby pillar!" Makoto commanded.
Ann let loose an Agilao at one of the pillars, trying to knock it over onto Wakaba.
Wakaba stopped the pillar with its claw, stopping it from falling.
"Fox, the ballista!" Makoto ordered.
Fox ran as fast as he could, making a beeline for the ballista.
But he wasn't fast enough, Wakaba managing to crush the ballista before Yusuke could reach it.
Yusuke was undeterred, however, firing off a Bufula spell at Wakaba's other claw.
The spell froze the claw to the ground, and Yusuke followed up by stabbing his sword into the frozen claw.
Wakaba screamed in rage, trying to free its claws.
With both of its claws occupied, Makoto charged forward, hoping to land the finishing blow.
Wakaba tried to slow her down by calling some Anzu, but Ren quickly shot them down.
"Now's your chance, Queen!" Ren shouted.
"Mona, give me a boost!" Makoto cried.
"On it!"
Morgana boosted her up with wind, sending her into the skies above Wakaba.
"Assault Dive!" Makoto cried, aiming right for the bolt in Wakaba's head.
She gasped when she saw Wakaba begin to flap her wings, knowing that she Wakaba could easily blow her out of the sky.
"Power up!"
Futaba's voice rang out, and Makoto suddenly felt a rush of energy flowing through her.
Wakaba flapped her wings, creating large gusts of wind, but Makoto easily powered through it with the help of Futaba's boost.
She slammed into the bolt with enough force to send it straight through the back of Wakaba's head.
"FU… TA… BAAAAAAAA!" Wakaba cried.
More cracks began to form on Wakaba's face, until finally, the sphinx collapsed to the ground
"We… we did it." Makoto gasped. "We beat her! We-
Wakaba's eye suddenly shot open, swiping at Makoto and sending her flying across the room, knocking her unconscious.
"Queen!" Ren cried.
Wakaba slowly stood up, glaring daggers at them.
"Futaba!" Wakaba roared. "I'll make you feel the pain I felt! I'll kill your… and all of these intruders as well!"
Makoto's Confidant Progress:
THE FOOL - Ren Amamiya: Rank 8
THE HUNGER - Igor: Rank 6
THE CHARIOT - Ryuji Sakamoto: Rank 5
THE MAGICIAN - Morgana: Rank 6
THE FAITH - Eiko Takao: Rank 6
THE TOWER - Chiaki Yasui: Rank 5
THE SUN - Shiho Suzui: Rank 6
THE MOON - Takayo Tachibana: Rank 5
THE HIEROPHANT - Sojiro Sakura: Rank 5
THE TEMPERANCE - Naoya Makigami: Rank 4
THE STAR - Hifumi Togo: Rank 3
THE DEVIL - Mitsuhide Matsuoka: Rank 2
THE HANGED MAN - Munehisa Iwai: Rank 2
THE DEATH - Yohei Kiritani: Rank 2
THE EMPEROR - Yusuke Kitagawa: Rank 4
THE EMPRESS - Haru Okumura: Rank 3
THE LOVERS - Ann Takamaki: Rank 3
THE STRENGTH - Caroline and Justine: Rank 5
THE JUSTICE - Goro Akechi: Rank 4
THE PRIESTESS - Kasumi Yoshizawa: Rank 3
THE FORTUNE - Phantom Thieves of Heart: Rank 4
THE JUDGMENT - Sae Niijima: Rank 4
THE COUNCILOR - Takuto Maruki: Rank 5
Are the Phantom Thieves just? Yes 40.1%
