Disclaimer: I own neither My Hero Academia or the Persona Series
Chapter 19
(Persona 5 OST: Hymn of the Soul)
"Congratulations are in order, Trickster. Your efforts have borne fruit."
Izuku would have liked to sleep that night without being troubled by a trip to the Velvet Room. It had been a good day aside from the small encounter outside the bathroom at the hotel. The Phantom Thieves had officially become a team and would continue their heroics from the shadows starting tomorrow. A good night's sleep would have been nice. But not one to complain even in unwelcome circumstances, Izuku kept his thoughts to himself.
"To think that our master would give such praise…" Justine said, looking at Izuku with hardly what he would call surprise.
"You better treasure this moment, inmate! I know I was betting a wimp like you wouldn't be able to get this far!" Caroline said, the volume of her voice causing Izuku to wince.
"R-right… thanks…." Izuku mumbled, feeling uneasy under the gaze of the twins.
"You have encountered allies who share your aesthetics, and have found a place for yourself in reality. With this, your rehabilitation can finally begin," Igor said, his words drawing a look of confusion on Izuku's face.
"B-but I thought you said I started my rehabilitation… whatever that is."
The long-nosed man chuckled. "Allow me to explain. This first battle you faced against the beast of lust was merely a test to see if you were capable of handling the trials to come. You have acquired special potential, to be able to wield multiple Personas and strengthen them through bonds. But you have only just begun to tap into the possibilities. You must hone and refine this power so that you may stand against the coming ruin. That is the rehabilitation cast upon you."
Izuku thought over his next question carefully. As much as he would like to find out what the 'coming ruin' was, he doubted that Igor or the twins would give him that information. Instead, he focused on what he could work on:
"How will I be able to get stronger, then?"
"There are various ways to increasing your strength. Fighting Shadows and gaining experience is one way. The fusion process that I taught you on your last visit is another."
Caroline smirked. "Feel free to grovel in thanks, inmate. This is all possible thanks to our master's guidance."
"This may be presumptuous of us, but we have words of wisdom to share as well," Justine said this time.
"When you're out in reality, you better keep working on those relationships you've formed contracts with."
"Spending time with those contractors will lead to the cultivation of those relationships."
"I'm sure you've got tons of free time, inmate. Make sure you use it to spend time with those people!"
"That is another source of power to help you overcome the ruin our master has mentioned."
Looking back and forth between Justine and Caroline, Izuku wished only one of them would explain this. Preferably Justine considering her quiet disposition. Having the twins talk in tangent was a bit confusing.
Thankfully, he had already settled the matter of the links in his mind. All that was left was to tell the others about this dream world and how this 'link' came to be.
That won't be easy, even with everything we've seen…
"Thanks to the contracts you've formed, your heart is steadily gaining the power of opposition. With that said, it would seem that you are off to a strong start with your rehabilitation. This is truly a joyous occasion… I shall grant you an ability befitting your newfound growth. Consider it a gift. May your devotion to your rehabilitation grow even deeper. I have high hopes of you."
*SMASH*
With Igor's last words, the world darkened, and the familiar crack of chains snapped in his ear.
Fool Confidant: RANK THREE
"With that, you can now possess more Personas at once. I believe this will serve you well."
Izuku heard a faint ringing of his alarm clock echoing around him.
"The time has come. Return to your brief moments of rest."
"Okay, but…" Izuku felt his eyes become heavy, sleep beginning to take him. Despite the complaints he had regarding their vague warnings and mysterious origins, Izuku felt nothing but gratitude toward the three. He wanted to express that, but the creeping exhaustion was making it difficult. "I… thank you. I… really do appreciate the chance to fight, and… to be a… Hero…"
Izuku could barely make out the twins for much longer, but could have sworn he saw a small tinge of surprise on their faces.
Makoto waited patiently by the principal's office, having been called by Kobayakawa during her free period. It was easy for the student council president to guess what the reason was. Now that school was back in session, there would be no end to the gossip about Kamoshida and his change of heart. Not to mention the supposed 'Quirk' that caused it. Makoto could hardly believe the actual truth behind the matter. Not to mention who the the true culprits behind the change.
"Come in, Niijima-san."
Hearing the principal's voice, Makoto exhaled a breath, standing from her seat in the lobby before walking inside Kobayakawa's office. The plump principal was sitting at his desk, fingers interlocked and a contemplative expression on his face.
"Yes, Principal Kobayakawa? Did you need me for something?"
"Yes. As you're aware, Kamoshida-san has effectively retired. After the stunt that occurred before the break, he was taken into the custody by police of his own volition."
"Well that's good to hear. Many were hurt by his actions," Makoto said, allowing her tone to sound somewhat pleased, even if she had known all of this beforehand. She might have disagreed with Izuku's decision to continue, but there was no doubting the good that came from stopping Kamoshida.
"Good isn't what I would call it. This fiasco is turning heads and making people question the ethics of our staff. Not to mention the many rumors spreading through the school about the culprits behind Kamoshida-san's change," Kobayakawa huffed.
That's all you care about? After everything he did?
Makoto shouldn't have been surprised. She was the one to confirm that the fat principal was playing a part in covering up Kamoshida's abuse in the first place. Of course, Makoto kept those thoughts to herself.
Like a good little girl, as usual.
"Someone orchestrated Kamoshida-san's sudden 'change of heart' with a powerful Quirk. I want to find this culprit as quickly as possible to silence all the rumors before they get out of hand. I'm sure these 'Phantom Thieves' are nothing more than students using the guise to hide their true identities," Makoto did her best not to react to the principal's hypothesis. "I'm going to do my part and have the staff pour through the student files to check for any Quirks that might be responsible. As for you, I'd like for you to help by investigating the students more personally."
This took Makoto off guard. "Me? But I'm just a student, sir."
"Be that as it may, you're the Student Council President and one of our brightest students. I trust no one else to be able to get to the bottom of this faster than you. It would be much appreciated if you could help me weed out this problem. This will also make things easier for me to smooth over with the police and the media."
"I…" A thought quickly came to Makoto. If the investigation into the Thieves was left to her, then there really wouldn't be a problem. She could keep Kobayakawa off of Izuku and his friends' backs by feigning ignorance. It was strange that she suddenly found herself covering for Izuku after scolding him so harshly several days before, but she knew that this would be the best way to keep him out of trouble.
"I understand. I'll do what I can."
"Thank you, Niijima-san. I truly appreciate it. If you succeed, I would be more than happy to sign a letter of recommendation to any college of your choosing," Kobayakawa declared. Makoto couldn't stop her jaw from hanging out for a few moments. It was a generous offer.
"Th-Thank you, principal Kobayakawa," In truth, she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. That letter of recommendation was something she would never receive.
"Your actions at this school have been exemplary, Niijima-san. It speaks highly of your lineage considering both you and your sister's career," Kobayakawa continued, the mention of Sae causing Makoto to raise a brow in confusion. "If I'm not mistaken, she holds an admirable position at the Public Prosecutor's office. It wouldn't be far off to say that the actions you perform here reflect upon her as well, both good and irresponsible. Wouldn't you agree?"
Makoto's leather gloved hand tightened into a fist.
How dare he use my sister like this! I… I…
"... I understand."
As much as Makoto wanted to explode on the principal for his underhanded approach, she knew she couldn't. That would be more irresponsible than anything she could do by letting Izuku and his friends stay in the shadows. So she just closed her eyes and accepted the job with a weak nod.
"How wise. It's no wonder that you're the Student Council President," Kobayakawa chuckled with a smile. "I would like for this matter to be settled quickly. Start as soon as possible, Niijima-san, so that we might be able to put all of this behind us."
"Yes, sir. I'll do what I can," Makoto said, her brow hardening as she fixed him with a resigned glare. To the principal it looked like she was ready to give it her all, but for Makoto it was truly an expression of her distaste. Regardless, she made no further comment on the matter, turning around and taking her leave.
Opening the door, Makoto was mildly surprised to find two officers standing on the other side.
"Ah, officers. Do come in! Sorry if I made you wait! I just finished with my previous meeting," Kobayakawa said, ushering for the two men to enter. Makoto politely stepped to the side, allowing them to walk in before leaving herself. "How can I help you today?"
As Makoto started to close the door behind her, she made out the faintest words from one of the officers.
"Do you have a handle on this situation? We might be in some hot water if you don't!"
Makoto raised a brow, closing the door completely but standing close to the edge to try and listen. It was hard to make out what they were saying as they spoke in nothing but hushed whispers. Despite that, she could hear the heat in their voices, and was able to discern some of it for herself.
"... We were the ones… you paid us to keep… That bastard did all that… Our precinct will…"
"Ah, Niijima-san!"
Makoto jumped, having put all of her attention into eavesdropping what she could on the conversation. Looking at the front desk of the office, Kobayakawa's secretary smiled. "Is something wrong?"
"Huh? O-Oh, no! Nothing at all!" Makoto said as she paced towards the exit. "Just a little bit distracted is all. If you'll excuse me!"
Makoto didn't bother to wait for the secretary's farewell, making it to the hall as swiftly as possible. What she heard the officers say drew more questions than answers. It wasn't intelligible enough for a definite answer, but putting what pieces together she had, Makoto came to a conclusion that made her tremble.
If what I heard was true, then… those officers were paid off. That means that someone did report Kamoshida. But Kobayakawa bribed them to keep quiet on the matter.
Makoto stopped mid-stride, her hands wrinkling the fabric of her skirt. So even when someone tried to stop it the right way, it amounted to nothing?!
"There are people who are afraid to speak up, or even when they do they're silenced,"
Makoto's chest ached as she recalled Izuku's words.. Kobayakawa turning his back to the students was one thing, but the police officers were an entirely different beast. For those men to turn their backs on the suffering for a quick buck when their sworn duty was to protect civilians from harm… the very thought shook her to her core.
Maybe… Maybe Midori was right.
The final bell could not have come any sooner for Izuku. Releasing a tense breath, he stood from his seat and moved for the door. Despite the break from Golden Week, the whispers and accusatory looks he received from the rest of class showed no sign of dying down. Combine that with the police officers he saw roaming the halls, the green-haired teen couldn't help but feel pensive.
Just relax. They have no way of knowing how we did it. Just have to keep cool and go about my day as usual.
Stepping down the stairs from the third floor, Izuku peered down the second year hallway to see Ann and Ryuji bickering over something.
(Persona 5 OST: My Homie)
"Shaddup! You're barely better than me! You're only good at English!"
"Well, it's better than being bad at everything!"
"Wh-what are you guys arguing about?" Izuku asked as he approached the two, bringing them out of their mildly heated argument.
"Oh, hey man. Nothin' important, just the fact that exams are comin' up soon," Ryuji sighed in disdain, his foot tapping the ground incessantly. "We've been so focused on the whole Kamoshida thing that I haven't studied for nothin'..."
"Oh, please. You wouldn't have studied even if everything was sunshine and rainbows," Ann teased, causing the faux blond to flinch and hunch over.
"I'm inclined to agree with Lady Ann. You definitely would have slacked off," Morgana chuckled, poking his head out from Izuku's bag.
"Sh-shaddup! She doesn't need your help!"
"W-well… if you want I can help you study," Izuku offered, working up his confidence and smiling at Ryuji. "Both of you, if you want. I might be a year behind, but I've taken some of the more advanced classes. Maybe I can help?"
"Wait, for real?" Ryuji blanched, his jaw hanging in amazement. "I didn't know you were that smart!"
"It's true. I've listened in on his classes and can attest to their difficulty," Morgana said, adding his two cents to the matter. "And judging from the papers he gets back, his marks are remarkably high as well."
"That's great! You can help me out then!" Ann cheered, crowding closer to Izuku in enthusiasm. The green-haired teen reddened with every step she took.
She's so close!
"Hey! Don't just hog him for yourself! I need way more help than you do!" Ryuji argued. This time he was the one who stepped forward, taking Izuku by the arm and yanking him closer. "With his help, I'll be able to goof o-I mean focus on looking for our next target!"
"Shhh!" was Izuku, Ann and Morgana's immediate response, the platinum blonde reaching out and gripping his blazer.
"Could you be any louder?! The last thing we need right now is to draw more attention to us!" Ann hissed, shaking Ryuji roughly.
"R-right! Sorry!" The last thing he needed was Ann throttling him.
"We should save talk about… that stuff for when we're away from school," Izuku said, looking down and holding his chin. "I don't think using the roof would be a good idea, either. If people see us meeting up there together a lot, they'll be even more suspicious than they are now…"
"That's too bad. I kinda liked hangin' out up there together," Ryuji said, lightly kicking the ground in his disappointment.
"Izuku's right. The roof of the school isn't safe anymore now that the cops are snooping around," said Morgana. "From now on, it would likely be best to move our hideouts around. Sticking to one place for too long will probably bring unwanted attention as well."
"Let's save all that talk for after exams. I doubt we'll be doing much of that stuff until they're done," Ann suggested.
Ryuji let out a discouraged grunt. "I am not lookin' forward to that…"
"Hey guys!"
The three students raised their heads to see Mishima coming down the hall while Morgana tucked himself away. "How's it going?"
"Ah, Mishima-senpai!" Izuku greeted with a smile. "Did you need something?"
"Yeah, actually. I wanted to see if you guys had seen that Phantom Aficionado Website yet. You know, the one dedicated to the Phantom Thieves of Hearts?"
"Yeah, actually. Saw it just a couple days ago. It was cool to see how many people were thankful. To the Thieves I mean!" Ryuji said, quickly trying to correct himself. "What about it?"
"I'm the one who started it," Mishima declared with a proud grin, causing the three to widen their eyes in surprise. Before he could continue, Mishima quickly looked around the halls, leaning around the group as if to make sure the coast was clear.
"Wh-what are you doing, Mishima-senpai?"
"Just making sure no one's listening," Mishima said, eyes narrowed suspiciously before smiling again. "Okay, we should be fine. I just wanted to ask but… you guys are the Phantom Thieves, right?"
Izuku, Ann, and Ryuji immediately tensed up, shocked at being outed so quickly. Almost on instinct, Ann turned to Ryuji and punched him in the shoulder.
"Ow! Hey!"
"I told you to keep a lid on it!"
"W-wait! It's not Sakamoto-kun's fault!" Mishima quickly dismissed, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "I-I just pretty much guessed it. I was pretty close to this case and before you guys sent that letter, you were the only ones to stand up to Kamoshida. Remember?"
"O-Oh, right… I guess you knew about that first-hand." Ryuji grumbled, rubbing his now sore shoulder. The platinum blonde gave an apologetic smile and scratched the back of her head.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna tell anyone," Mishima reassured, giving a kind smile again. "Considering that it would mean a lot of trouble for you guys, there's no way I'd let that out. Acts of vigilantism might not be high on the cops' priority list, but considering all the attention the school's getting from it, they'd have to make an arrest."
"Y-yeah… that would be really bad for me," Izuku said, swallowing a lump in his throat.
"Kamoshida used me to do some terrible things. To all of you and a lot of other students. I won't say this really makes up for it, but… I want to help you guys as much as I can! So please, if you need anything, let me know!"
Izuku smiled at Mishima's enthusiasm. This was a huge change in spirit from the downtrodden teen he met weeks ago. "Okay. We'll be sure to do that. Thank you, Mishima-senpai!"
"Great!" Mishima smiled back, looking around the group expectantly. "It might be a bit much to ask, but from the look of things the Phantom Thieves aren't going to stop, right? There are so many evil adults out there abusing power like Kamoshida is. I hope that you… that the Phantom Thieves will keep helping out people who need saving from them too. That's why I put the site up: so that people can post their problems there too. Everyone's looking forward to seeing what they'll do next."
"Giving everyone a place to put their problems on… that is a great idea. You really thought this out, Mishima-senpai."
"Well, to be honest, it's not just me… I've actually got someone helping me build the site and maintaining it now," Mishima said, causing the three to look at him in confusion. "They want to meet you guys soon too, but… they need a bit more time. Say, on Sunday, do you think you guys could come and meet them? I know we should all be studying, but this is pretty important to them. They can't do it today or tomorrow because of some… complications, but we promise not to take up too much of your time."
Izuku looked at Ryuji and Ann in question, both shrugging neutrally. Looking back at Mishima, Izuku nodded. "Okay. We'll come on Sunday and see your friend."
"Great! They'll be happy to hear that. I'll see you guys then, okay? Later!" Mishima said, bidding farewell before jogging down the hallway.
"Well, that all happened," Ryuji stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Think he'll actually keep quiet?"
"He seemed okay for it. He was playing it cool as much as possible," Ann suggested, looking at Izuku. "Plus with everything he said, he seemed genuine enough to me. How about you?"
"Yeah, I think Mishima-senpai won't say anything. He seemed like a different person compared to how he was when we first met," Izuku said, smiling at his friends. "I'll believe in him."
"Yeah, you're probably right. The guy seems pretty harmless, anyway," Ryuji agreed.
"Besides, having a forum where people can post their problems sounds unexpectedly useful. It'll give us more chances to make a name for ourselves in the future," Morgana suggested, drawing his teammates attention. "But I'll leave that explanation for later."
"Cryptic as always," Ryuji huffed, shaking his head. "Anyway, I guess we don't gotta start studyin' just yet, right? We should get some downtime before this Sunday when we gotta work our butts off."
"I don't know Ryuji, you might need all the help you can get as soon as possible," he winced as Ann chuckled. "But you're right. I guess I don't mind hanging out for a bit. You two coming?"
"I-"
"No can do. Izuku and I have some plans of our own. Sorry about that Lady Ann," Morgana said, causing Izuku to tilt his head in question.
"What do you mean? We don't have any plans…."
"Why yes we do. Now that we've established the Phantom Thieves, we have to make sure we have all the right equipment for our operations. And I have an idea for how we can fix that problem," Morgana said, giving a mischievous cat grin to the green haired teen.
Why do I suddenly feel nervous...?
"Suit yourselves. Just try not to look too suspicious with whatever you're doing," Ryuji shrugged before looking at Ann. "So, still wanna do somethin'?"
"Sure! We should go to the underground mall!" Ann suggested, swaying her arms back and forth at her sides in anticipation. "I've been meaning to get some blouses lately, I just forgot during the break."
"What?! Why are we automatically going to the mall?! That's only fun for you!"
"Oh, hush. I'll buy you food if that'll even things out."
Ryuji opened his mouth but paused, debating the offer for a moment. Finally, he sighed and nodded. "Alright, fine. But I get to choose where we eat!"
"Deal!" Ann grinned before looking at Izuku and Morgana. "Well, guess we'll see you guys later. I've got some shopping to do. Better get your arms ready to carry some big bags, Ryuji!"
"H-hey! That wasn't part of the deal!" but his words fell on deaf ears as Ann marched onward. Ryuji groaned in regret, slowly following after the twin-tailed blonde. "See ya guys later…"
"Heh. Looks like Ryuji's going to have a lot of fun carrying bags around all day, huh?" Morgana chuckled in amusement.
"Yeah, but… those two seem close now. I'm sure they'll end up having fun either way," Izuku smiled, watching his friends descend the stairs.
"Close? As if. It's not like she would…" Morgana doubted before a stray thought made his ears droop. "N-no, no way. You don't think Lady Ann could fall for a monkey like that, do you?!"
"U-um… I don't know…" Izuku muttered, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek as the cat started to freak out. "Sh-shouldn't we focus on what you have planned?"
"Huh? O-Oh, right… it's impossible anyways, so I should stop worrying," Morgana told himself, shaking his head. "Back to business. Pull out your wallet and open it up."
"My wallet?" Izuku repeated, fishing into his pocket and fishing out an All Might-themed leather wallet.
"Good. Now two cards back on the left fold. I think that's where you put it."
"Put what?" Izuku asked before pulling at the thin card inside. Izuku immediately paled, eyes turning into dinner plates as he immediately remembered the name listed on the card. "Oh… her…"
"That's right. I'd say if anyone can give us the tools we need, it'll be her. Mei Hatsume."
The train ride from Shibuya to Musutafu was nerve-racking for Izuku. On one hand, he was actually going to see U.A. up close for the first time. On the other, he was meeting with the eccentric girl who thought that people would be willing to test her inventions at risk of severe injury or death without compensation. As impressive as they are, Izuku knew that he wasn't really keen on risking life and limb over them.
Once he arrived, Izuku couldn't help but marvel at the gates of U.A. High School. Unlike most schools, the front gate was electronically monitored with reinforced doors a half-foot thick. They only opened in the presence of a U.A. I.D. card and were locked shut by steel bars within it after all the students had left. The rest of the school was enclosed by a sweeping security wall that was nicknamed the U.A. Barrier. Constructed from the toughest materials money could buy, it was designed to keep out all but the most powerful of Villains. The main building was structured in the shape of a huge "H" with architectural glass rather than brick or plaster. It towered above the gate, displaying its superiority as Japan's number one Hero Training School for all to see.
"Talk about majestic… and this is just a school?!" Morgana asked, no less astonished by the campus than Izuku now that he saw it up close.
"That's right… the school that some of the greatest Heroes in the world attended, including All Might himself." Izuku answered, a wistful gleam visible in his eyes.
I… I wonder if I ever had a chance of getting in to begin with.
"Hello~!"
An enthusiastic voice brought Izuku out of his thoughts, looking down at the school gates to see the eccentric engineer Mei walk through, waving as she approached with a staggering swiftness. Her outfit was nearly unchanged from the last time they met, aside from a couple of small additions to the bag on her back.
(My Hero Academia OST: Obstacle Course)
"O-Oh, hello Hatsum-"
"I'm so glad you took my offer into consideration!" Izuku barely had a chance to greet her before Mei closed the distance between them instantly. "I know, you saw my babies in action once and you just had to come back and see them up close for yourself!"
"W-well, I-"
"You called me just in the nick of time, too! I was planning to test out one of my latest inventions myself tonight! But in answer to my prayers and hard work, I suddenly get a call from you!" Mei took another quick step forward, Izuku flinching as he took a step back in shock.
"R-right, but before that I wanted to-"
"Thanks to you, my babies can be cared for properly without delay! I'll get data I need and won't risk injury to myself!" Mei moved another step forward, forcing Izuku to take another trepid step back.
"S-so honest! L-look, Hatsume-san, before we start I-"
"We don't have time to waste! We need to get moving so we can start! I hope you're ready to take the punishment required to ensure my babies grow and mature like they're supposed to!" Mei declared, quickly taking Izuku's wrist and pulling him along. Normally, Izuku would be having a panic attack, but Mei was dragging him along so quickly that he could barely process anything that was going on.
"W-wait, where are we going? Sh-shouldn't we be going to the school?"
"Sadly, I can't test my newborns in any of the labs after a minor explosion one of my babies caused. But have no fear, Power Loader-sensei was kind enough to give me access to an off-campus garage he has for storing extra equipment! We'll be able to conduct all our tests there without problem!"
Izuku would be lying if he said he wasn't a little disappointed. It would have been nice to have a chance to walk across the campus for himself, even if only for a short time. Regardless, that wasn't the reason he came here.
"O-okay. You can lead the-" Izuku suddenly realized that Mei was still towing him by the wrist, his face breaking out in a nervous sweat as his face reddened. He quickly pulled his arm away, causing the eccentric engineer to finally stop.
"F-feel free to keep going! I'm right behind you, don't worry!" Izuku said, trying to mask his fluster with feigned excitement.
Mei blinked once before grinning. "I see that the idea of seeing my babies again has filled you with anticipation as well! As you wish, try to keep up!"
Izuku breathed a sigh of relief, but that relief died when he realized that Mei had sped off without him. He had to sprint to catch the engineer before she vanished from his sight. Despite the long running security wall of the school, Izuku and Mei didn't go far, arriving at a small row of vacant garages just to the side of the campus. Looking around, Izuku spotted a multitude of security cameras, alarms, and sirens. It may have been off-campus, but it was undoubtedly safe.
"Over here! Garage 10!" Mei called out, waving for Izuku to catch up. The green haired teen quickly jogged over, watching as Mei pressed a card key against a scanner near one of the large metal containment doors. They slowly folded itself into the ceiling, revealing a storage space the size of the apartment Izuku and his mom lived in. What equipment was here was pressed against the walls of the garage in the back, leaving plenty of room on the center floor. Seeing the scorch marks on the ground, Izuku guessed that it was the usual spot that Mei used for testing her 'babies'.
I hope I don't end up as another scorch mark on the ground….
"Here we are! THIS IS WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS!" The sheer volume of her voice made him jump. "Today was an especially lucky day for me! I usually have to request to take equipment and building materials out a day beforehand. But thankfully, I had already made a request yesterday, so we can start immediately!"
"I-immediately?!" Izuku squeaked out, eyes widening as large as plates as he snapped his neck back to look at her.
"Oh right, there were several things to discuss first! Starting off, I just want your reassurance that I will not be held legally responsible no matter what bodily harm and/or damage befalls you!" As if to push the point, Mei immediately brought up a paper and pen for Izuku to sign.
"W-wait! A-aren't we going to discuss how you're going to compensate me first?" Izuku asked, holding up his hands as he suddenly found himself wanting some more time to decide on whether he would go through with this deal or not.
"Oh, of course! You did say that instead of being paid that you had another idea for how I can motivate you!" Mei placed the paper and pen back in her pack before crossing her arms. "Okay, lay it on me! How exactly can I help?"
Izuku let out a small breath, trying to steady his beating heart after all the excitement. "S-so I was thinking that maybe… in exchange for doing your tests, you would… be willing to make me some devices I could use as well?"
Mei's ever-present grin turned to a frown as her crosshair irises began to zoom in on Izuku. "Oh, and what exactly would you plan to do with my babies if I did?"
"N-nothing bad, I swear!" Izuku swallowed another lump in his throat as he remembered what he had rehearsed with Morgana.
I hate to lie like this, but I don't have a choice. Her equipment could be really helpful in a Palace…
"Y-you see, I go to another Hero Training school. I know that U.A.'s facilities are the best and I thought I'd be able to get an edge if I went to you! What the Support Courses at my school showed me were nothing compared to what you have!" It was a good thing he went home to change into his casual attire first, otherwise Mei would see through this lie immediately.
Mei's confident smirk returned. "I see… you certainly know brilliance when you see it…" she brought her face uncomfortably close to Izuku's, examining him like a bug under a microscope. "But how do I know that you're not just trying to steal my babies to let my rivals dissect them?! Which Hero School do you go to?!"
"K-Ketsubutsu Academy High School!"
"Oh? Ketsubutsu, eh?" Mei backed away for a moment, tilting her chin up in thought. "No one there particularly stood out to me, even among the second and third-years…" Mei shifted her gaze back to Izuku, the-green haired teen stiffening up.
"Hm… what's your Quirk?"
"Huh?" this wasn't one of the questions he expected to hear. "M-My Quirk?"
"Yes. If I do end up making some tools for you to use, I need to know your Quirk so I can design my babies to work with it or around it." Mei explained, her tone unusually professional this time.
"M-My Quirk… I…" Izuku mumbled, hunching over as he suddenly found himself in a corner. Morgana kicked around in his backpack, likely feeling just as nervous as Izuku was.
Wh-What do I say?! I can't just make one up or she'll ask me to demonstrate! Think, think think! What can I do, what can I-
Then it hit him. Inside the Velvet Room, Igor had given him an ability just days before they went to steal Kamoshida's Treasure. He had no idea if it worked outside of the cognitive world, but it was the only shot he had.
"I have… something called a Third Eye," Izuku finally said, looking back up at Mei again. "It helps me see in the dark, see things that normally can't be seen and reveals hidden objects, tracks, and booby traps."
Izuku never got a clear explanation of his Third Eye, but said what he remembered doing with it.
"Oh, a sight-enhancing Quirk like mine then… Interesting… There are only so many options to enhance a non-physical Quirk, but that also means there are few things that could get in the way of it. The possibilities are endless!"
"That's the other thing. Because my Quirk can only help with what I can see, I… need tools that can compensate for my lack of offensive capabilities. I use a wooden staff, but sometimes I feel like that isn't enough. I need something with stopping power that I can use alongside the rest of my equipment," Izuku explained, taking his knowledge of his close-range difficulties in the Palace he had and using them to help his case.
Mei stared at Izuku for a moment, closing the distance between them again. Izuku gulped, backing up enough so that she wasn't right in his face.
"Okay."
Izuku blinked, feeling less nervous as he met Mei's gaze again. "R-Really? You'll do it?"
"I'll do it… after you test out at least three of my babies first!" Mei declared with an evil glint in her eyes. "If you're determined to get the best babies possible for your training, then prove it to me! Help me get some data to work with!"
While that wasn't the outcome Izuku was looking for, it worked out all the same. If any of Mei's inventions were half as impressive as what she showed off in Shibuya, he had no doubt that he would come back to help her test out more equipment in the future anyways.
Izuku brought his hands up in front of him and balled his fists, nodding with determination. "I understand! I'll do what I have to! Let me test out your babies!"
Mei's eccentric grin returned, giving Izuku a thumbs up. "Perfect! That's exactly what I wanted to hear! It'll be a pleasure to work with you, guinea pig-I mean test subject!"
"Y-You let it slip again!" Izuku exclaimed in fear before shaking his head. "B-But anyway, my name is Izuku Midoriya. I look forward to working with you, Hatsume-san!"
"And it'll be a pleasure to use you for testing, Midoriya-kun!" Mei laughed, extending an arm and gripping his hand to shake.
*SMASH*
Izuku the beginning of his new arcana caught him off guard. It had been some time since he formed a new bond.
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Fortune Persona,
I have obtained the winds of Blessing
that shall lead to freedom and new power…
The darkness faded and Mei continued to shake his hand. "Alright! Now that negotiations have ended, let's start with your first test!"
"Oh, right. What do you need me to test?" Izuku asked, watching as Mei set her bag down and began to rummage through it.
"Allow me to introduce my latest baby, the Wire Arrow!" Mei exclaimed, producing a harness from her bag. Attached to its sides were two silver tubes with pointed tips at the ends. They were both connected to a large metal spindle in the back. "Quickly, put this on!"
"O-Oh, okay!" Izuku agreed without thinking, setting his backpack and Morgana down before taking the harness and quickly buckling it across his chest.
"The Wire Arrow was a fun design I picked up from an old anime, but with my own spin on it! Using compressed air, the harness launches a bolt connected to a steel wire that can support over several hundred pounds despite the thin design! Grab that switch under your left arm!"
"Switch?" Izuku looked over himself, quickly finding a small silver button hanging by a wire. "This?"
"Yep! Now, for the purpose of this test, you'll have to face the outside for the best possible result!"
Izuku obeyed, turning back to the open garage door and facing out. On the other side of the garage lot was the treeline that surrounded U.A. "O-Okay! What now?"
"Aim well and try to hit one of the outside trees by pressing on the top button! The air pressure is strong enough to launch the wire arrow accurately at over one hundred meters!" Mei exclaimed as her voice raised in volume, getting more excited with each use of her new 'baby'.
Izuku followed her instructions, positioning his body to match with the closest tree. Pressing the button, Izuku flinched as the left tube shot the bolt out and planted into the tree. Izuku smiled in awe, amazed by the accuracy and speed that the Wire Arrow launched at.
"Th-That was incredible, Hatsume-san! I barely felt it fire and it didn't go off course when I flinched!"
"Right?! And this is just the tip of the iceberg! The Wire Arrow can increase the user's mobility and travel speed exponentially for those without a movement-enhancing Quirk! Okay, now go ahead and press the bottom button!"
"Bottom button?" Izuku repeated, lifting the switch up to see an identical one on the bottom.
"What will this one doOOO~?!"
Izuku immediately regretted pushing the button before finding out its purpose. He was swiftly yanked forward, the spindle on his back wrapping back up and rocketing Izuku toward the tree that the bolt had hooked into.
"Oh, make sure you press the center gauge to release the arrow!"
Izuku fiddled with the switch in panic, pressing what he could if it meant helping to slow him down. Out of sheer luck, he found the switch that released the bolt, winding it back up without using the tree for propulsion. While this had helped to slow him down, it didn't change the fact that he was still hurtling through the air. Izuku flew into the tangle of leaves waiting for him on the other end, getting his stomach caught on a particularly large branch. While it kept him from falling, the impact knocked the wind out of him, the boy falling limp as he hung over the branch.
"That was great, Midoriya-kun! You gave me plenty of data to work with!" Mei called out, though Izuku could barely hear her over the pain he felt in his gut. "Thanks to you, I can tell that the propulsion system is too strong and needs to be recalibrated! I'd say that this partnership of ours is off to a great start!"
Izuku groaned as he wondered how terrible future tests would be.
"Maybe… this was a mistake…"
(Persona 5 OST: Endless Days)
"Morgana-san… can't I just sleep instead...?"
After Izuku finished giving Mei the data on her Wire Arrow, the green-haired teen made a painful trip back home. He made sure to stop by Takemi's, asking for medicine to help with his bruised stomach. Despite her obvious amusement when she saw him stumble into her clinic in such a state, she was kind enough to give him some painkillers and cooling pads to dull the ache and reduce the swelling free of charge.
Much to his chagrin, Morgana refused to let him rest just yet. The two now sat in front of the tool desk, Izuku hunched over the table with an ice pack taped over the bruise while the cat rested just a few inches away from his head.
"After this. I'm just going to give you a quick rundown on how to make basic infiltration tools," Morgana persisted, Izuku letting out a pained grunt in response. "Alright, when we were in Kamoshida's Palace, you remember seeing several chests that were padlocked, right?"
"Yeah… what about them?"
"Well, as it just so happens, I know how to make lockpicks," Morgana said, puffing out his chest proudly, "If we can make a few for the next Palace we encounter, we'll be able to bring more loot back with us. You might think that we've got enough, but I can assure you that the stuff in the locked chests is way more valuable than the random junk Shadows drop."
"I guess that could come in handy…" His bed still seemed far more attractive than anything he could possibly be learning right now.
"Come on, tough it out. I haven't gotten to the best part!" Morgana hissed, leaning forward and pushing Izuku's shoulder with his paw. "These next tools are important, so sit up and pay attention."
Izuku yawned and forced himself to sit up and hear Morgana out. "Good. Okay, you still have the bag of materials I told you not to sell?"
"Yeah, they're over here," Izuku leaned over the edge of his table, wincing as he felt his bruised stomach ache and sting every time he moved. He powered through and grabbed the sack off the shelf, placing it on the table for Morgana to see. The cat burrowed through the bag, mumbling incoherently as he pawed through the contents. Izuku started to nod off, barely putting up a fight when his eyes became heavy.
"AHA! Perfect!"
"Wh-What?! What is?!" Izuku asked, rousing him from his near sleep again. Morgana pulled his body back out, several loose materials hanging from his mouth.
"I've got the materials we need to make it. So sit up and I'll instruct you on how to…" Morgana stopped short when he saw that Izuku was about to fall over again. "Okay, fine. I'll make this first tool as a demonstration. Try to hold in your amazement once I've finished."
"I'll try…" Izuku honestly tried to give Morgana as much attention as he could muster, but it was proving a daunting task. His head dipped back up and down, each time coming back up in a vain attempt to stay awake.
"And done! Voila!" Morgana declared, sitting back to let Izuku see his creation. He looked back up at Izuku expectantly, only to be disappointed when he saw the boy's head start to dip again. With a groan, he reached a paw forward and smacked the green-haired teen's cheeks lightly.
"Y-Yes! That's amazing, Morgana-san…" Izuku snapped up in panic before his eyes landed on Morgana's supposed tool. It was a white ball poorly wrapped up in thin parchment. "Um… what is it?"
"A smokescreen."
"A smokescreen?" Izuku repeated, his tired brain taking a moment to process the information. "W-wait, a smokescreen?!"
That revelation woke him up.
"That's right! All you do is throw it into the ground and POOF! You've got yourself a smokescreen," Morgana explained, sitting tall and puffing out his furry chest. "Impressive, right?"
"Y-Yes! That really is amazing, b-but how did you make it with the stuff we gathered up?!" Izuku asked, carefully taking the ball in his hand and inspecting it closely.
"You'd be surprised what I can throw together with the junk dropped by Shadows," Morgana chuckled, rubbing his head on the back of his paw. "Lockpicks, smokescreens, offensive tools... If a phantom thief needs it, I know how to make it. All we need are the right materials."
"W-Wow… I can't believe it…" Izuku mumbled, placing the ball back on the table. "This will really help when we're inside a Palace… But why didn't you bring this up when we were infiltrating Kamoshida's Palace?"
"Eh, I wasn't so sure you guys would be in this for the long haul. It would have been a waste of time otherwise. But now that I know you are, this felt like an appropriate time to bring it up. Now we'll have a lot more utility at our disposal during our heists."
"I see… that makes sense," Izuku said, nodding in understanding. "So you're going to teach me how to make them?"
"Another time. I was barely able to wake you up with this. We'll have plenty of time to make tools some other night. Why don't you get yourself to bed, now?" Izuku couldn't have heard any more welcome words at that moment, nodding in acceptance and pushing off the table. Izuku lamely dragged his feet to his bed, twisting to fall on his back and avoid his bruise.
*ring ring*
Izuku groaned when he heard his phone's text chime go off. He struggled to find his pocket, pathetically attempting to pull it out.
"Geez, I'll get it. Want me to read who it's from?"
"Please…"
"Oh… it's from Makoto Niijima."
Izuku raised his head from his pillow, unable to ignore the message now. He sat up on his elbows, taking the phone from Morgana.
Koto-san: Hey, Midori. I know we've been a bit quiet since our last discussion, but there is something I need to tell you. I wanted to find you after school, but I couldn't find you.
Izuku pursed his lips, feeling guilty for not seeking out Makoto to talk things out. But considering how their last discussion ended, he had been afraid to approach her.
Izuku: Sorry, I left right after school ended. I had to go meet with someone. What's wrong?
Koto-san: Kobayakawa asked me to investigate the Phantom Thieves.
Izuku nearly dropped his phone on the floor. He imagined that Kobayakawa would leave it up to the police to investigate the case for them. He wouldn't have guessed that the Principal would take a personal interest in the matter.
Izuku: I see… what did you say?
Koto-san: That I would do it. It's the best way to keep him off your trail. I can keep up the facade as long as I have to.
Izuku felt a pit form in his stomach. Even when she was mad at him, Makoto was still going out of her way to help him out.
Izuku: I see. I'm sorry that I keep causing you trouble like this. Thank you for everything you've done to help us out.
He couldn't leave it like that, not after how things had been.
Izuku: And I'm sorry about what happened several days ago. I know that you were just looking out for me and the others. But if I can help people with this, I want to do it.
He waited a moment for Makoto to reply, wondering what she might say. He would be happy if they could move on and get back to being friends again. But ever since things with Kamoshida escalated, their relationship had become tense for one reason or another. The fact that it was all his fault just made things worse.
Finally, Makoto answered:
Koto-san: It's okay. I know you could never stop yourself from helping people in need. And after today… I think that you might be right.
Izuku's eyes lit up, rereading the text over and over to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Another text message soon followed.
Koto-san: Some things happened today that have me rethinking what I said to you…
Koto-san: I just don't know.
Izuku wondered if Kobayakawa had said something he shouldn't have to Makoto. He had been aware of Kamoshida's abuse after all, so it was easy to guess that he wasn't happy to see the coach confess to his crimes. But seeing Makoto's struggle, he decided to do his best to help her this time.
Izuku: We should meet up tomorrow after school. We can talk about what happened then if you want. And I want to hang out again.
Izuku couldn't ignore her feelings. If there was something bothering Makoto, there was no way he could just let it go. He wanted to do whatever he could to start mending fences.
A moment later, his phone chimed again.
Koto-san: Okay. I'd like that. We'll meet up at the front of the school.
Izuku: Okay, I'll see you then! Good night, Koto-san.
Koto-san: Good night, Midori.
"Looks like you sorted some things out. I wonder what's bugging her, though?" Morgana asked. The cat was seated by Izuku's head so he could peek at the messages the teenagers were sending.
"I'm not sure but… I'm glad that she's talking to me again…" Izuku yawned, resting his head back on his pillow. "Really… glad…"
And like that, Izuku was out like a light.
"Hah~. Today has been a good day of shopping."
Ann and Ryuji had spent the better half of their hang out that day walking from outlet to outlet. The twin-tailed blonde didn't hesitate to tow Ryuji around like a reluctant dog on a leash, his arms becoming a hanger for shopping bags. By the time Ann had gotten her fill, Ryuji was exhausted from hauling them around all evening. Thankfully, Ann kept her word and allowed Ryuji to pick the place they'd stop and eat at. Wanting to relax for a bit, Ryuji suggested the diner on Shibuya's main street.
"Says you! My arms are gonna be effin' sore tomorrow…" Ryuji grumbled, rubbing his exposed arm to massage out some of the marks left by the bag's thin handles.
"Oh, don't be such a baby. I picked out a few things for you too!" Ann said with a wave of her hand. "Plus, I'm buying you dinner. It all ended up working out!"
"You picked somethin' out for me?"
"Yeah! Check the black bag on the far left."
Ryuji turned to the eight bags sitting on the side of their booth. Several of them were black, making the faux blond bite his bottom lip as he took a guess at which bag to look into. The first one he grabbed produced a red bra.
"Not that one!" Ann's face was turning a shade of pink as she reached forward and slapped his shoulder. "The next one over!"
"S-Sorry, sorry!" Ryuji quickly apologized, but it took him a while to tear his eyes away. He moved on to the next bag, rummaging through it to see a couple designer t-shirts and a hoodie inside. Much to Ryuji's surprise, they were all things he'd want to wear.
"Whoa~, these effin' rock! I'm surprised you got stuff I'd actually like! You guessed the size right, too!"
Ann grinned. "Well, you haven't really changed your style since middle school. I figured you might appreciate something loud but fashionable."
"Well, damn… thanks, Ann. These are pretty damn cool," Ryuji said, pulling the shirts out to get a better look at them.
"No worries! I know I was making you carry a lot, so I thought that maybe you deserved a little more than just dinner in return."
"Hey, I'm happy to take both," Ryuji chuckled, grinning at Ann. "Though I'm pretty curious, where do you get the money for all this? Your part-time job pay that good?"
"Well, it's partly that and partly my parents giving me an allowance. I don't see them that much since they're often abroad for their jobs, but they make sure to give me money each month. I usually have enough left over to splurge a little."
"Heh, I don't know if this would be considered 'a little'," Ryuji looked down at the bags again. "I feel like you coulda paid for our victory buffet on your own."
"No way, those prices were insane! It's one thing to invest in clothes, they last a lot longer than food. Spending that much on food is only for when you really do have the extra money!" Ann argued, but Ryuji laughed it off.
"If you say so. Speakin' of food…" he licked his lips when he saw the waiter walk up to their table, a platter with their meals in hand. "I sure did work up an appetite carrying those bags around."
This wasn't Ryuji's first time at this joint, so he knew to order the hamburg steak. It was the best one he ever had except for the ones his mom made him. A tender, juicy patty seasoned with garlic, onion, horseradish, soy sauce, and worcestershire sauce and thickened with freshly cracked eggs and breadcrumbs. What really put it over the top was the special brown gravy that the cooks kept top secret. Not even the waitresses knew what went into it. For a meat lover like Ryuji, it was perfect.
"Dig in! I know I am!" Ann giggled, greedily snatching her fork off the table. She had ordered the sweetest entree on the menu: the sugar-dusted buttermilk pancakes that had maple syrup drizzled all over them. Even though it was dinner time, there was no resisting how fluffy and airy they were. Besides, she was going to keep being a Phantom Thief. If the next Palaces were anything like Kamoshida's, she'd definitely be putting in enough exercise to maintain her figure. What was there to worry about?
But before she could lose herself in sweets-fueled ecstasy, she was overcome by the feeling that she was being watched She looked up from her meal and began scrutinizing every single face in the room. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. No one was focused on her or their table. Then again, menus were hiding people's faces, and there was no telling what kind of creep could be hiding behind a laminated piece of paper...
"Somethin' wrong?" Ann snapped her head back as she heard Ryuji's voice.
"I-it's… nothing. I thought I felt someone watching me, but… guess I'm imagining things." she gave the diner another once over, but still couldn't find anything suspicious.
"Huh. Weird. I haven't felt like that at all," Ryuji shrugged, stuffing his mouth and waving goodbye to his manners. "I think you're just bein' paranoid now that we're officially Thieves, you know?"
Ann looked back down at the table. "Yeah… I guess you're right."
"See? Just relax," Ryuji encouraged through stuffed cheeks. "By the way, your food's getting cold."
"Oh, crap!" Ann gripped her fork again, finally starting her meal.
Several tables away, a menu set itself down. A pair of gray eyes glued to the twin-tailed blonde.
I finally found her… my muse.
To be continued…
Thanks again goes to reppuzan for his hard work in helping me become a better author and improving on the story!
Hey guys, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I know it's been a little bit since the last update, but as I said before I was on a break. Not to mention once that was over I was working on another story's chapter and came up with a fun idea for a side story. But I digress. Summer school has started up for me, so I can't say for sure when the next update will be out. It all depends on how much work I end up doing.
As you saw, we finally got to establish Izuku's new Confidant Link with Mei this chapter. And as I'm sure you're all aware, she has taken Chihaya's place in the story as the Fortune Arcana holder. I'm sorry, but in this case, she provides much more viable support for the group than what Chihaya can. And the Fortune Arcana fits well to Mei with what I have planned.
Be prepared, because she's not the only Arcana holder that will be replaced, I'm afraid. Not a lot of them, but a few. Though that doesn't necessarily mean that because they no longer hold the Arcana that they won't appear in the story. What that means for some of the Persona characters will be revealed eventually. I'm sorry if this rubs some people the wrong way, but that's just how it will have to work.
Alright, I hope you all enjoyed that chapter, please leave a follow, a favorite and a review if you'd be so kind. Thank you all for your support, as the everbuilding popularity of this story is making it my most popular story to date! It truly makes me smile to see s