Disclaimer: I own neither My Hero Academia or the Persona series
Chapter 20
Izuku's foot was tapping with trepidation as he waited outside the school gates. While Makoto had expressed her interest in talking again, he couldn't help but feel nervous. It seemed like every time that they met like this, Izuku did something wrong and ended up straining their relationship. Today, Izuku was set on fixing that no matter what. He wasn't sure what he could do to fix it, but he would keep his options open.
I'll do whatever it takes.
"Midori."
Izuku stopped, looking up the stairs to see Makoto approaching. She gave a small, hesitant wave as she approached, showing her own nervousness. "Hey."
"H-Hi, Koto-san. Good to see you."
"Same. Sorry if I made you wait. I had to speak with some students before leaving," Makoto fiddled with the shoulder strap of her bag. "So then, shall we? We can walk and talk."
"Okay. Where are we going, though?" Izuku asked, moving to Makoto's side and walking in line with her through the alley.
"How about Big Bang Burger? I'm actually a bit famished," Makoto admitted with a small chuckle.
"Okay. B-But I'll pay this time!" Izuku said, swallowing a nervous lump in his throat.
"Midori, you don't have to-"
"Y-Yes I do. You paid for me last time, so it's only fair," Izuku reminded her, looking at the brunette with a firm stare. "Please leave it to me."
Makoto opened her mouth to protest, but shut her eyes and relented with a small smile. "Well, if you insist. I'll leave it to you, then."
An awkward silence fell between them soon afterwards. They both had things they wanted to say, but neither of them were sure if now was the right time to speak their minds. Izuku decided to take a chance and opened his mouth.
"I'm sorry!"
"I'm sorry."
Izuku blinked, realizing that Makoto had spoken at the same time as him. He looked at Makoto, a sheepish fluster covering her face.
"S-Sorry I didn't mean to-"
"N-No no, feel free to say-"
"I was just-"
"You two need to slow down."
Izuku jumped when he heard Morgana's voice over his shoulder, the cat now poking his head out of his bookbag.
"M-Morgana-san!"
"Sorry, but the awkward atmosphere was killing me," Morgana sighed before looking at Makoto, the third year student staring at him with wide eyes. "You can still hear me, right?"
"Y-Yes, though I can't say I'm quite used to it just yet…," Makoto cleared her throat before looking at Izuku. "I didn't realize you were carrying him in your bag. Morgana, right?"
"Correct. And I go everywhere with Izuku. I have to steer him towards the best courses of action to improve our chances in the Metaverse, after all," Morgana said, puffing his chest out in pride.
"Everywhere?" Makoto raised a brow, looking at Izuku for confirmation. The green-haired teen gave a weak, forced smile as his exhaustion from the previous day took hold.
"Yeah… he insists…."
"Hey, what's that look for? I at least give you time alone when you spend it with other people, don't I?" Morgana looked at Makoto and coughed awkwardly. "Um. Well, usually. I sort of wanted to see what was going to happen with you and Izuku forgot to let me out so…"
Despite herself, Makoto began to laugh, raising a closed hand in front of her mouth to be polite. "I guess you two are pretty close, then. But I would appreciate it if you would give Izuku and I some time to speak alone."
"Oh, alright. I guess what you guys have to talk about is pretty personal, after all," Morgana hopped out of Izuku's bag and started trotting through the alley. "I'll meet you at the station, Izuku. See you later."
"Y-Yeah," Izuku sighed as he and Makoto watched the cat leave. "Sorry about that. Morgana-san means well."
"It's fine. If anything, I can appreciate that he broke the ice between us," Makoto laughed before giving Izuku a smile. "Come on, let's get a burger."
With that, the two headed for Shibuya. They decided to hold their apologies for when they were seated and eating, walking in relative ease now. It wasn't long before they arrived at Big Bang Burger, seated inside with double-stacked hamburgers sitting in front of them.
"So… Principal Kobayakawa asked you to look into the Phantom Thieves?"
"Yes. He suggested that I would be able to get a more personal look into the students better than a teacher could. I don't know if he's trying to keep it as quiet as possible or is trying to avoid more work but either way, he gave me the task," Makoto explained, resentment evident in her tone. "I used to think he was respectable, at least. But the more I talk with him, the more I begin to see he only cares about the school's reputation rather than its students."
"I see… thank you for telling me, Koto-san. I know it's been difficult. And… And I-"
"If you would let me, I'd like to say something first," Makoto said, causing Izuku to nod his head in agreement. "Okay then… to start, I just want to say I'm sorry for how things ended between us in our last conversation. It wasn't easy to accept what you were saying. Especially knowing what it entails."
"I know. I'm… I'm sorry that I'm always making you worry," Izuku's gaze drifted to the table. "I know I haven't made it easy. You've just been trying to look out for me. It seems like every time I do something, I cause trouble for you… I'm sorry."
A somber silence followed, the two allowing the moment to linger as they let their words to sink in.
"You really are that same kid I met on the playground," he perked up at Makoto's words. "Always recklessly throwing yourself into trouble if it meant protecting someone in need. Never considering the consequences of your actions. Even now, four years later, you're still doing it. But I guess… I thought that was your coolest quality."
Izuku couldn't stop the flush in his cheeks, grinning goofily as he tried to think of a way to return the compliment.
"But… we're not kids anymore, Midori. What you do now carry much graver consequences than they did then. You… you know that better than anyone," With that, Izuku's shoulders tensed up, his blush fading as he frowned. "So I'm going to ask this one last time… in spite of everything that's happened, are you really still willing to go through with this 'Thieves' business?"
Izuku's lips pressed into a thin line, brow furrowing as he looked up at Makoto. "I am. As long as the Phantom Thieves can help people by stealing hearts, I'm going to do what I can. Ryuji-senpai, Ann-senpai, Morgana-san and I. We've decided to do everything we can for people who suffered the way we have."
It was Makoto's turn to break eye contact as she considered his words. Izuku swallowed another lump in his throat, knowing that he had done little to reassure her. He knew that by continuing his work as a Phantom Thief, he'd be making Makoto worry even more. But Izuku had to make sure that she knew how serious he was. It would help her understand the gravity of his next words:
"Koto-san… I'd like for you to join us, too."
That breathed life back into Makoto, the student council president's eyes shooting up to look at Izuku in disbelief. "Wh-What?"
"You always wanted to be a Hero too, right? When we were kids, you were right there next to me and Kacchan, shouting out your Hero Name, Biker Que-"
"Shhh!" Makoto hushed him as her cheeks turned pink. "P-Please don't remind me. I always feel embarrassed thinking about that stuff…"
"S-Sorry…" Izuku laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head before grinning. "But still, I know you wanted to help people in the name of justice. Not to mention that you have such an amazing Quirk! I'm sure you'd do great inside the Palaces we'll be dealing with!"
Makoto bit her bottom lip, conflicted emotions whirling up inside as she considered Izuku's offer. "A week ago, I… I would have told you to stop speaking nonsense and that you needed to give up on the idea. But after what happened with Principal Kobayakawa, I… I just don't know."
"O-Oh, right. You did say that something happened that made you rethink things. What was it?" Izuku asked, seeing her disgust at the mention of the fat principal.
"As you're aware, he was partial to what Kamoshida was doing to students. If that wasn't enough, I overheard something even worse after I finished speaking to me: I heard him speaking to police officers in his office. I couldn't make it all out because they were whispering but I heard enough. Kobayakawa had been paying those officers off."
Izuku's eyes widened in shock, jaw slacking as he struggled to find the words to react with. He knew that Kobayakawa was negligent of the students, but this went beyond what he feared.
"Apparently someone, or maybe several people even, reported Kamoshida's harassment. But Kobayakawa was only ever concerned with the school's reputation. So much so that he would pay off police to look the other way," Makoto crossed her arms across her chest and dug her fingers into her sleeves. "Kobayakawa is one thing, but for the police themselves to turn away, all for money? It… It made me reconsider everything you said…"
"Koto-san…" He wanted her to see eye-to-eye with him, but never wanted it to happen like this.
"But even with after learning all of that, I… I can't join the Phantom Thieves just yet. Not because I disagree with you, but… I have to take several things into consideration," Makoto explained, folding her hands together on her lap. "I want to do everything I can to make sure my sister is happy. Ever since our father passed, she's been carrying the burden of taking care of me. As happy as it makes me to hear that you want me on your team, I… I have to think about it. I'm sorry."
Izuku frowned. He couldn't say he wasn't disappointed by her answer, but he knew he'd do the same if their positions were reversed. "I understand. Expecting you to join immediately is a lot to ask for. Take as much time as you need, Koto-san. I'll wait for your answer," Izuku told her, giving a reassuring smile.
"Thank you, Midori. I mean it when I say that it makes me happy to hear that you want me to join you. Once I have my answer, I'll be sure to tell you immediately," Makoto said, allowing herself to smile.
Even without her acceptance, Izuku felt things returning to normal between them. In fact, he could honestly say that he felt their relationship had deepened with their understanding.
*SMASH*
Priestess Confidant: RANK TWO
Izuku's eyes widened as his sight returned normal, surprised but no less happy to see that they had indeed become a bit closer.
Makoto looked down at their food for a moment and blinked. "Goodness, we haven't even touched our burgers! We should probably eat quick before they're too cold!"
"O-Oh, right! I almost forgot too!"
"Whoa, you asked her to join?!"
It was Sunday now, and the team had gathered together to meet with Mishima and his mystery friend. The plain-looking boy suggested they meet at Inokashira Park, a peaceful place that Ann was the most familiar with. Since the group had gathered together, Izuku saw it as a good chance to explain what happened with Makoto the previous day.
"Yeah… she said she'll think about it. Koto-san has a lot on her plate right now, so she's not sure if she can. But I'm happy that we were able to make up more than anything."
Ann grinned. "Plus, it sounds like she finally gets why we're doing this. Good job, Izuku."
"Still, I'm surprised you asked her to join. Didn't you say before that you were keeping her out to protect her?" Morgana asked.
"That was when we didn't know how the things with Kamoshida were going to turn out, let alone whether or not we would still be the Phantom Thieves. But now that we've decided to go down this road, I think that Koto-san would be the best person we could recruit. She's had our back through all of this, even when things were strained between us. I think she'd be invaluable as a teammate," Izuku explained.
"Well, if you're that sure then I'm for it," said Ryuji. "But damn… the more I hear about that asshole Kobayakawa, the more pissed off I get. Maybe we should steal his heart so he doesn't cause anymore trouble."
"For now, I think it's safe to ignore him. With Kamoshida gone and the situation public, he's got his hands full already," Morgana suggested. "Kobayakawa might have enabled Kamoshida, but he's can't cause any harm on his own. Of course, if you guys want to go after him, we can."
"We can think about it in the future. Targeting him right now would be a bad idea since we want to lay low until exams are over," Izuku said.
Ryuji groaned. "Don't remind me…"
"Hey, I think I see Mishima-kun," Ann pointed out, bringing their attention forward. Mishima was sitting on a bench under the shade several meters ahead, chatting with someone seated next to him. He seemed to catch them out of the corner of his eye, smiling as he turned and waved them over. As the four approached, Mishima stood up with his companion, immediately causing all three to stop.
"H-Hey, guys… good to see you." Shiho said, giving a nervous smile and wave to the three.
"Shiho!" Ann exclaimed, a joyful grin spreading across her lips as she rushed up to her best friend, hugging her close without warning. Shiho only giggled as she returned the embrace.
"N-No way, dude…" Ryuji muttered, slowly beginning to walk up and join them. He soon noticed that Izuku wasn't next to him, looking back to see Izuku frozen in place. "Izuku? You good?"
"Y-Yeah… I'm okay…" Izuku's eyes were already starting to water as the thoughts and emotions he'd buried weeks ago rose to the surface. Did she resent him for his failure to save her? But she had asked to see them, hadn't she? What did she want to say to him?
You'll never find out unless you ask her yourself, kid.
Carter's voice brought Izuku out of his thoughts.
You're… You're right. Whatever she has to say, I'll take it.
Izuku wiped his eyes with his sleeves and walked forward, waiting for Shiho to finish speaking with Ann.
"What are you doing out like this?! Shouldn't you be at the hospital? When did you get discharged?" Ann asked, blinking away any remaining tears.
"Yesterday. I didn't say anything because I wanted to surprise you," Shiho said, giving Ann a warm smile. "My mom wasn't keen on letting me out the same day I get home, but… it really helps to be able to come out and see you guys."
"You're lookin' good, Suzui! Recovery Girl did some real good work on ya, huh?" Ryuji asked, joining the two and grinning at the brunette.
"Yes. I owe her a lot. What could have taken months or a year to heal was fixed in a couple weeks. Thanks to her, I can give my thanks and…" Her voice trailed off as she looked at Izuku, her smile falling as he received her full attention.
Her gaze alone was enough to shake Izuku's confidence. His eyes wouldn't meet Shiho's no matter how hard he tried. All of his attempts to smile quivered. His hand trembled as he waved at her.
"H-Hi, Suzui-senpai…"
Shiho was silent, her expression unreadable. She slowly strode over to Izuku, whose feet shifted nervously but remained firmly planted in the ground. He already accepted whatever words she might have for him, no matter how terrible they might be.
Shiho stopped a meter away from Izuku, wringing the fabric of her skirt. Izuku dared to look up at her face again, widening his eyes as he saw a wistful smile, mist building up in her eyes again.
"Thank you…" Shiho bowed as deeply as possible. "Thank you for saving me."
Izuku's lip trembled, shame overcoming him as he looked to the side. "I… I didn't though. I couldn't…"
"Back then… I didn't want to be saved. I just wanted to end it," Shiho admitted, slowly rising from her bow and looking straight into his eyes. "Even after I woke up, I didn't know what I would do with myself. But after I saw Kamoshida confess… I felt like I really could keep going on. Like someone reached out and pulled me from the brink. Recovery Girl saved my life, but you… you, Ann, Sakamoto-kun…"
Shiho's lips spread into a sincere, heartfelt smile shining for all to see. "You all saved my soul. You're truly my heroes."
Izuku stared at her in disbelief. All of the floodgates in his heart burst open. A new wave of tears spilled out and sank into the soil at his feet. He let out a loud cry, clutching at his chest as her words filled him with immeasurable happiness. He fell to his knees, continuing to sob as Shiho's words erased the last traces of guilt that clouded his mind.
Ryuji and Ann walked up to his side, rubbing his shoulder gently and helping him up. Neither said a word, understanding his burst of emotion more than anyone. Shiho didn't seem to mind either, watching everything unfold in silence. Mishima moved to stand next to her, wiping a single tear from his own eye.
"S-Sorry… I-I'm really a mess, huh?" Izuku laughed, grinning through his tears and looking at Shiho with mirth. "Thank you for saying that…"
"Hey, I'm the one who should be thanking you. It was wrong for me to put that weight on your shoulders. That's why I'm going to be helping Mishima-kun. Together we'll support the Phantom Thieves any way we can," Shiho said, a new look of determination flashing in her eyes. "So please… keep helping people who suffered like I did… like everyone had."
"We will. I promise," Izuku declared, sniffling one last time and nodding.
"Great. Then from now on, know that we'll be here to back you guys up!" Mishima declared, giving Izuku a thumbs up.
*SMASH*
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 Moon Persona,
I have obtained the winds of Blessing
that shall lead to freedom and new power…
While Izuku was more than happy to have formed a link with them he was admittedly surprised that the Moon Arcana was present for both Suzui and Mishima. Before the darkness faded, he could see the cards of the Moon Arcana hovering above them both. When making these links, he thought that it would form one for each person he knew. But clearly this wasn't the case.
Well… even so, I'm okay with that. I'd be happy to spend time with them both.
"Not to be presumptuous, but we thought we'd make a suggestion for your next target," Shiho said, looking at Mishima and nodding. The plain boy fished out a folded paper from his pocket, holding it out for them to take.
"Our next target?! Really?!" Ryuji asked, quickly taking the paper and opening it up.
"It's not a big one like Kamoshida, I think. But even the small-time offenders should be stopped, you know?" Mishima said. "A lot of the stuff that people are posting on the Phan-site has been really petty and unimportant. But as we went through the posts, Shiho thought this would be a good one for you to start with."
"'Natsuhiko Nakanohara'. Who is he?" Ann asked, reading his name aloud.
"Just some city office worker. Apparently he's been stalking his ex-girlfriend. She's starting to get scared, so she posted his name to the site. She's hoping you can change his heart and make him stop," Shiho said.
"That does sound pretty bad. I'm willing to take the case. Are you guys okay with it?" Izuku asked, looking at Ryuji and Ann in question.
"Well, would be a nice way to kick things off, officially. I'm up for this," Ryuji agreed with a crack of his knuckles.
"Count me in. Getting stalked like that does sound scary," Ann nodded, giving Shiho and Mishima a smile. "Thanks for finding this case for us."
"No problem! If we run into anymore cases that catch our attention, we'll be sure to let you guys know," Mishima said with excitement.
"And as site moderator, I'll make sure to verify the cases we find. Plus, I'll keep Mishima from picking something dumb," Shiho declared, a teasing smile on her lips as she made the plain-looking teen pout.
"H-Hey, what makes you think I would do that?"
"Just a small gut feeling."
"That's harsh… anyway, thanks for seeing us today. I can't wait to see what the Phantom Thieves do next!" Mishima said, turning to leave with Shiho.
"We'll support you, no matter what happens. So try and be careful out there, okay? I don't know how you guys do it, but I'm sure it's dangerous. We're counting on you," Shiho said, giving Ann a quick hug before turning around and following Mishima out.
"Man… that was really cool. I'm glad to see Suzui back on her feet," Ryuji said, grinning as he looked at Ann and Izuku. "Things turned out really well, huh?"
"Yeah. I'm really happy to see Shiho's up and about. It really makes me happy that we chose to keep being the Phantom Thieves," Ann said, smiling back at him.
"Things sure did get emotional. But I'm glad you were finally able to get that last issue off your back," Morgana said, popping his head out of Izuku's bag. "How do you feel?"
"Really good. I… I needed to hear that. It was a huge relief," Izuku said. The last of his tears had already dried when he turned to his friends with a clenched fist. "I'm really excited to start, now! Guys, I know we have finals starting tomorrow, but would you be willing to go after our new target right now?"
"Right now? As in right at this moment?" Ryuji asked, taken aback by the suggestion.
"Well, I guess we do have the rest of the day to do stuff. But should we really go after a new Palace just like that?" Ann asked.
"Considering the nature of the request, I doubt that we'll be dealing with a Palace. Come, let's head to Shibuya Station. Izuku and I have something to show you two," Morgana said, his feline smile stretching in excitement.
"Holy shit! This place is nuts!"
Heading back to Shibuya together, Morgana and Izuku took the time to explain Mementos to Ann and Ryuji. The two were surprised to say the least, but were thankful to know that such a place existed. With everything laid out for them, the group didn't hesitate to dive right into Mementos. While Morgana and Izuku had described what they could, seeing Mementos for themselves was still overwhelming.
"I got a really creepy vibe from the castle, but… this feels way different," Ann muttered, rubbing her arms as she looked around the station. As they stepped down to the turnstalls that led to the underground passage, their clothes immediately transformed. "Wh-Whoa! We're in our Thief gear?!"
"Dude, no way! They already know we're here?!" Ryuji asked in panic.
"Yes. Unlike the Shadows at Kamoshida's castle, the Shadows in Mementos can sense our presence. We'll have to be on guard, as Mementos is teeming with Shadows."
"Why didn't you say anythin' earlier?!"
"We're safe at this point. I explained this to Izuku before, but I've been here many times investigating. I have a good idea of the layout," Morgana reassured, placing his paws on his hips.
"So Mementos is everyone's Palace…" Ann muttered, thinking over what Morgana said on their way to Shibuya. "So… does that mean even if someone doesn't have a Palace, we can change their hearts through here?"
"Correct, Lady Ann. Though the steps we take to do so are different."
"This is pretty rad, but… does that mean the entire subway system is down there? We just gonna foot it all around this place?" Ryuji asked, not liking the idea himself.
"I suppose the time has finally come. Watch closely and be amazed…" Morgana said, causing the others to raise a brow in question. He hopped to the empty part of the hall, struck a pose and started waving his paw in a ring above his head.
"MORGANA…. TRANSFORM!"
With a quick hop in the air, Morgana suddenly burst in a puff of smoke. The next moment, he was replaced by a small, black bus with a yellow stripe running down the center. Its headlights, which were the same clear blue as Morgana's eyes, blinked at them intently. The other thieves gaped as they processed what just happened.
"... EH?!"
"Come now, Panther. Ladies first," Morgana echoed, his voice unchanged by his strange new form.
"M-M-Morgana-san! H-How did you..?!" Izuku stuttered out.
"Why the hell'd you become a car of all things! How the hell?!" Ryuji exclaimed, failing to see the logic behind this.
"This comes from the way cognition materializes in the Metaverse. Plus a bit of extra training," Morgana suggested, sounding far too casual despite his statement. "You could say it's similar to how your clothes transform."
"You changin' into a car is way different than our clothes changin'!" Ryuji snapped in disbelief.
"Well, apparently the idea of a 'cat transforming into a bus' is an extremely common cognition among the general public. I can't imagine why, though," said Morgana, who likely would have shrugged if he weren't a bus right now.
"... My Neighbor Totoro," The three muttered in exasperation.
"Pardon?"
"Nothing, just… still a little shocked," Izuku laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Hey, wait! Why didn't you do this in the Palace for us?!" Ryuji asked.
"Those hallways weren't exactly bus friendly. It would be way too cramped. And I doubt I'd be able to jump on chandeliers in this form!"
"Well, I guess that makes sense…" said Ryuji, conceding to Morgana's logic. Deciding to take a look inside, he walked up to the backseat doors, sliding them open. "Damn, gotta admit. Sure is spacious in here."
"H-Hey! Skull! Ladies first!" Ann said, curiosity taking over as she ran up to the behind him and started to pull him out.
"H-Hey! Careful how you're pullin' me like that!"
"P-Panther! Please, be gentle! It's still my body!"
"You even have a motor and everything… aside from the cat tail in back, you really are a bus down to the engine…" Izuku walked up to the hood and lifted it up to feel the parts inside.
"GAH! Hey, Hero! That feels weird!"
"A-Ah! S-Sorry!"
With their curiosity sated, Izuku joined Ryuji and Ann in the back seat, the three comfortably seating themselves. "Now this is more like it! Let's get movin'!" Ryuji said, relaxing back in his seat as they waited for the bus to move.
…
…
…
"Uh… Mona, why aren't we movin'?"
"What are you guys doing? I need a driver!"
"What?! You can't drive yourself?!" Ryuji blanched in disappointment. "This totally just lost a ton of cool points!"
"So… do either of you know how to drive?" Ann asked, looking at Izuku and Ryuji expectantly.
"N-Not at all…" Izuku admitted, sweat trailing down his cheek. "The only thing I can consider close to it was in an arcade game. I didn't play much of that though…"
"Uh… well, how hard can it be?" Ryuji mumbled, looking at Izuku expectantly. "You should give it a shot. If it doesn't work out, then maybe we'll all take a turn trying."
"W-Wait, I don't know if I like that idea…" Morgana said worriedly. "I-If you guys are going to do that, then be as careful as possible!"
"S-Sorry, Morgana-san. We'll do our best to make sure you don't get damaged," Izuku stepped out of the back seat and moved to the driver's side. Ryuji hopped over the front seat, riding shotgun while Ann moved to the middle, leaning on the back of the front seat. "Do we need keys for this?"
"Not at all. There's a switch underneath by the gas," Morgana said as Izuku settled into the driver seat. The first-year student swallowed slowly reached under the steering wheel and felt the underside of the dashboard for the switch.
"Hehehe~ that tickles! Lower, lower!"
"It's still weird to think we're inside Morgana-san right now…" Izuku mumbled to himself, finding the switch and turning on the engine.
"Ooooh that's gooood~!"
"Oh god, is the engine purring? This gets creepier by the second!" Ryuji shivered, shaking his head. "Okay, Hero. We're trustin' you on this!"
"O-Okay! I'll do my best!"
Izuku stepped on the gas a smidge too hard, causing them to jerk forward before he slammed his foot on the brakes. The three swayed back and forth harshly with the bus.
"S-Sorry…"
"Oh boy…" Morgana moaned.
"... This… might take a while."
After much trial and error, it was decided that Izuku had made the fewest mistakes while driving. While he was still incredibly tense at the wheel, he was at least getting an idea of how hard he needed to step on the gas and brakes to start and stop without crashing into anything.
"Well… at least we're making progress," Morgana sighed, weary from having so many drivers. Ryuji and Ann had more close calls with the subway walls than he cared to mention.
"I-I never would have imagined I'd learn how to drive this way…" Izuku laughed uneasily, gripping the steering wheel as tightly as possible.
"Try not to think too hard about it. Just keep us steady and we'll be fine," Ann suggested as she patted his shoulder.
"But man, it really does feel like the inside of a Palace, huh? This place gives me the creeps…" Ryuji said, leaning on the window of his door and peering out at the tunnels around them. The place would be pitch black if it weren't for the thin lamps that lined the walls, all of which glowed bloody red.
"No kidding… so where's this Nakanohara guy supposed to be?" Ann asked peeking out the backseat window. "How are we supposed to find him?"
"I can sense a distortion for the most part, but I can't pinpoint exactly where it is. You guys should keep an eye out for any distortions you can find. It will be pretty obvious once you see it," Morgana said, causing Ryuji to groan.
"So we're just gonna have to drive around 'til we find it? That bites."
"At least we're not tackling a full Palace. The distortion will be miniscule by comparison. Any Shadows aside from Nakanohara's we fight will only be what we find on the way to it."
"Wh-What is that?!" Izuku blurted out, slamming his foot on the brake and bringing them to a complete stop. Ann and Ryuji peered through the front window, their jaws dropping as they saw a tall black being stomping across the tracks. Its body lacked any sort of defining features except for the collection of distorted white masks that littered the upper half of its body. Thankfully, it didn't seem to notice them, stomping down its intended path as if they weren't even there.
"That is the host body of the Shadows living here. They're similar to the knights we took down in Kamoshida's castle," Morgana explained. "Don't worry, they might look big and tough, but they're no stronger than what we fought before."
"O-Oh, okay. Maybe we should get out and try to take its mask off, then?" Izuku said, looking back at his companions for approval.
"Why do that? Just drive me right into its back. I'll knock it over, then transform back into my usual body so we can get a surprise attack on the Shadows once they materialize!" Morgana suggested, a bit too much excitement in his voice for comfort.
"Aw dude, that sounds awesome! You should totally do it, Hero!" Ryuji encouraged, giving Izuku a grin.
"Wh-What?! Just drive right into the Shadow?!"
"Well, it would definitely knock it down at that size. It sounds like it's worth a try," Ann agreed, looking at Izuku expectantly. "Don't worry, Hero! We believe in you! Run the Shadow over!"
Izuku pursed his lips, shifting his gaze back forward. The Shadow's back was to them. It would never see them coming if he started now. Izuku took a deep breath before stomping on the gas and clenching his eyes shut. Morgana's tires screeched as they sped forward, ramming straight into the Shadow's back with a loud thunk.
Morgana bounced back after the impact, his body immediately returning to his original form, He and the others landed on their feet with weapons in hand. The black giant tumbled over on the ground, its body becoming a swirl of ooze that spewed out several Shadows. As they took shape, Izuku noted that they were all Slimes.
"Mona, Panther! Hit them with wind and fire!"
"On it!" They answered, Carmen and Zorro materializing above them both.
"Agi!"
"Garu!"
With a swing of her slave and a whiff of his sword, the two quickly unleashed torrents of fire and wind. Izuku made sure to follow up with the same, summoning Jack-O-Lantern and blasting the third his own fire spell.
"Let's finish 'em off!" Ryuji roared. Captain Kidd fired a volley of lightning from its arm cannon and blasted the stunned Slimes. That was enough to seal the deal, the Shadows quickly bursting back into black ooze and disappearing.
Izuku and his teammates took a moment to catch their breath, smiling as they looked at one another.
"Dude, that was totally badass!" Ryuji laughed.
"I can't believe we did all that in one combo! We've really gotten good at this!" Ann said, running over to Ryuji and high-fiving him before going to Izuku for the same.
"I-I didn't think hitting them with the car would be so effective… We were able to recover so quickly after Mona transformed, too!"
"Yes, yes. As you can all tell, I am quite amazing. You're welcome," Morgana chuckled, puffing his chest out in pride. "Come on. We shouldn't linger on the ground too long. We don't want to be the ones to get ambushed."
With their celebration cut short, the three quickly piled in after Morgana transformed once again. Driving around, Izuku made sure to pass by the many different steel doors. Some were accessible to them while others were locked off. Some doors led nowhere, but some yielded decent loot in treasure chests for them to pick up.
Moving onto the second floor, Morgana's metal body suddenly began to rumble. "I can feel it. The Shadow is on this floor."
"About time. Makes me wonder what the distortion you mentioned looks… like…" Ryuji started, trailing off as the three drove out of the second floor entrance. Just a small ways to their left, the subway rails it twisted and morphed into a strange portal that was turned up into the wall. It was a swirling mixture of black and red whirlpool that seemed to suck all the wind and dust around it inside like a black hole.
"Um… I'm guessing that's it?" Ann asked, staring in awe.
"That's correct. It looks like we've finally found our target," Morgana confirmed.
"Okay, then. Considering that this is a Shadow of a person and not just the usual enemy, we should be careful. He will no doubt be stronger than what we just fought. Though considering his distortion is so small, he's not going to be as strong as Kamoshida's Shadow, right Mona?"
"Yep. He'll be a tough customer, no doubt, but his cognition isn't so powerful that he can be anything considered close to Kamoshida. As long as we're careful, we should be fine."
Izuku nodded. "Okay. Is everyone ready?"
"You know I am!" Ryuji said with a grin.
"Let's change this stalker's heart!" added Ann.
"Alright, we're going in," Izuku shifted back into drive, diving straight into the distortion. While the view slightly warped as they entered, nothing appeared to affect them as they drove inside. The walls and tracks were no different than the ones outside, but at the center of the concealed area was a lone man in a black business suit, his head tilted down and taking no notice of them.
Izuku stepped out of the driver seat, walking ahead to meet the Shadow. They couldn't simply hit Nakanohara's Shadow with the car, as that might actually kill him. They had to hear his reasons for themselves and convince him of his wrong doings.
Just like we did Kamoshida. His heart isn't nearly as distorted, so it shouldn't be too hard.
"Who are you?!" Nakanohara's Shadow spat as he turned, looking at Izuku and his team in suspicion.
"Are you the asshole stalkin' his ex? We got a bone to pick with you!" Ryuji exclaimed, pulling his pipe out and pointing it at Nakanohara.
"Yeah! Haven't you stopped to consider her feelings?! She is your ex, after all! You shouldn't be treating her like that!" Ann said with an accusatory glare.
"So what if I am?! She's my property! I'll do what I want with her! She treated me like a plaything too, after all! Why should I be the one punished?!"
"Tormenting someone because of what happened in the past doesn't solve anything! You're just hanging onto that hate and won't let go!" Izuku declared.
"Damn straight! We're gonna take down all the shitty adults mistreatin' people like you are!"
"There are plenty worse people out there than me! People like that damned Madarame! What about him, huh?! He stole everything from me, but you're just gonna ignore him?!" Nakanohara snapped, causing the four to hesitate for a moment. "You know what? Fuck it, we're done talking!"
Nakanohara's body liquified, falling into a pool of black ooze before reforming as a long-armed red imp with hair covering the top half of his face. Horns sat on top of his head and suction cups in its palms and fingertips. "This is a winner-takes-all world! I'll beat you losers down and show you what that means!"
"Get ready, here he comes!" Morgana warned, watching as the Shadow launched itself forward, slamming its palm into the ground as it attempted to strike Izuku.
"Carter, come!" Izuku called out, pulling off his mask and summoning his original Persona. They both extended their right arms and held their middle fingers back with their thumbs, aiming directly at Nakanohara's Shadow. "Quantico Smash!"
The imp was sent tumbling backward from the wave of force and compressed air, only for him to stop his flight with a suction-cupped hand gripping the ground.
"Hah! Pathetic, loser!" he mocked.
Izuku bit back a curse as he turned to his teammates. "Be careful! He's resistant to physical damage! Look for his weakness!"
"I'm on it! Come, Zorro!" Morgana proclaimed, the black-masked Persona taking shape and sending a billowing gust of wind with a wave of its sword. The Shadow staggered several steps backward but showed no signs of lasting damage.
"You little runt! I'll show you!" It growled, smacking the ground and hopping in the air at Morgana. A bolt of lightning stopped him in his tracks, Ryuji made the quick move of summoning his Persona. "GAGH~!"
"Heh! Looks like lightning works pretty well on this asshole!" Ryuji smiled, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Not bad, Skull. I guess you can be good for something every once in a while," Morgana chuckled, pointing his blade at the now stunned Shadow. "We should seize this e opportunity!"
"Right! Everyone, together! Let's finish him!" Izuku ordered, the others nodding as they gripped their weapons tight and jumped at the Shadow. With a barrage of hits, the four whaled on the defenseless Shadow, Izuku delivering one last hit with his staff and knocking the imp back.
"GAH~!" the imp cried out, rolling against the ground with a thud, head his smacking against the rails. He groaned in pain, his body beginning to fade again as it shifted back to his human form. Nakanohara's Shadow slumped over as he stood, all of his resistance and former confidence gone.
"Oh… okay… I've had enough…"
"Good. Have you learned your lesson?" Izuku asked, lowering his staff as he and his friends surrounded Nakanohara.
"Y-Yes… I was wrong to do that to my ex… forgive me. I just… I needed an outlet. I needed something to focus my attention on after my teacher tossed me to the side. Before I knew it, I became obsessed…" The Shadow admitted, his eyes cast to the side in shame.
"That Madarame guy, right? He was your teacher?" Ann asked. "While I get that you had it rough, you really shouldn't have taken it out on your ex. It wasn't her fault that happened to you."
"I… I know. I'm sorry… I'll make sure to apologize to her as well," The Shadow sighed dejectedly. Izuku frowned, realizing that the man was truly sorry for his actions. Sympathizing with him, Izuku knew what to say.
"Now that you've repented, you don't have to worry. We'll go after that teacher of yours," Izuku said, causing the others, including Nakanohara's Shadow, to look at him in surprise. "Madarame, right? I'm sorry to hear that you were mistreated like that. But that's why the Phantom Thieves of Hearts are here. We'll make sure to avenge you and that he never does it again. I promise." He declared, giving the Shadow a confident smile.
Nakanohara's Shadow stared at Izuku in shock, but a small smile crept up on his lips. "Okay… I'll choose to believe in you, Phantom Thieves. Please stop Madarame before someone else is hurt by him… thank you…." the Shadow said before his body began to fade, disappearing as a brilliant light took his place.
"Heh. Smooth talking there, Hero. I think you really touched his heart," Morgana smiled, going up to Izuku's leg and nudging him.
"It wouldn't feel right to leave him hopeless. He did some bad things, but he wasn't a bad person at heart. If we can help him too, then I'll be happy to do it," Izuku said, looking down at Morgana and smiling.
"Hey, what's that?" Ryuji asked, the others looking up to see the light persisting where Nakanohara once stood.
"Ah, that's the bud of a Treasure. If a Shadow like that is left alone long enough, it can become a full-fledged Palace. But silver lining, it does provide a reward for our efforts! Go ahead and claim it, Hero!" Morgana said.
"O-Oh, okay then," Izuku walked up to the Treasure, snatching iit out of the air to see a pearl forming in his hand. He stuffed it into his pocket, looking back at his friends. "I guess we're done here."
"Yep. Too bad we didn't get more on that Madarame guy, though. But if that teacher is as bad as all that, then maybe another one of his students will report it?" Ann suggested hopefully.
"We can look into it again sometime. More information would have been nice, though," he sighed, hoping that he could keep his promise to Nakanohara.
"Well, until then, I say we get outta here. But man, this place effin' rocks! It'll be a great place to use for practice and train our Personas before goin' to a Palace, don't you think?" Ryuji said with a grin.
Ann smiled. "Plus it's nice to be able to help out the little guy. We can't just forget the little problems people face, you know?"
"I agree on both accounts. Heroes do everything they can to support the people, whether it's getting cats out of trees or stopping Villains. So we'll do the same," Izuku agreed, looking at his team. "And you're right, Skull. Mementos really is a great place to train. I think that we should try to use it as much as possible to keep us from getting rusty between targets. Maybe we should set up a schedule for when we go in during the week? We'll have to be careful not to go too frequently because it can be so tiring. Plus, given how risky it is, we really-"
"Dude. Mumbling," Ryuji and Ann said, causing Izuku to flinch in embarrassment.
"Heh. It has been a while since we've seen that. It's a bit refreshing to see it again," Morgana teased, skipping to the front of the group. "With that, our mission is accomplished. But before we head out of Mementos, I do have somewhere I'd like to show you all first."
"Alright, we're here."
Izuku, Ryuji and Ann slowly trailed behind Morgana, eyes scanning their surroundings in wonder. Going to the second floor as Morgana asked, they came to a subway platform with the tracks running at its sides. But unlike the previous floor, trains flew across these tracks.
"I… I thought trains didn't run through Mementos…" Izuku said, watching as one blew past them.
"They don't on the previous floor. But I suppose this one is an exception," Morgana said, skipping ahead of them without paying much attention to the trains. "Come on, this way. That's not what I wanted to show you guys."
"There's more?! But I'm already confused as is!" Ryuji blurted out.
"I'm sure that's a default quality for you, Skull."
"Hey!"
"What exactly are we here to see, Mona?" Ann asked, wanting to get back on topic.
"It would be this right here," Morgana declared, stopping at the end of the platform and pointing at something straight ahead. The three looked up to see a wall now blocking the rest of the path. It was marked with strange details that glowed with an ominous red light.
"We're here for a wall? What's the point?" Ryuji asked, scratching the top of his head.
"Now hold on. There might be more to this than the normal eye can see," Morgana said, glancing up at the dead end. "Too bad Hero's Third Eye thing was just a cover... "
"Huh? 'Third Eye'?" Ann repeated, raising a brow in question.
"Oh, it's nothing. When Hero and I went to go and make a deal with this crazy inventor girl, he had to make up a Quirk to avoid suspicion," Morgana explained, looking back at Izuku for a moment. "It's a good thing she didn't ask you to show it off. Then again, that kind of power would be pretty hard to test, huh?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah… right," Izuku said, giving a nervous laugh and rubbing the back of his head.
Ryuji went pale at the news. "Oh man, you guys actually ended up goin' to see that crazy chick?!"
"Of course. Her tech is incredibly advanced and could be useful to us when we're exploring Palaces," Morgana said in confirmation.
"I don't know. Her equipment did look badass, but I had the worst feelin' that her tests were gonna be dangerous as hell."
"Oh they are, trust me. Izuku got stuck in a tree and hurt himself pretty badly."
Ryuji winced, "You alright, dude?"
"Y-Yes, just a little… distracted by this area," Izuku lied, unsure what to say.
I still haven't told them about the world in my dreams. With everything that's been happening, it kept slipping my mind…
"Yeah, I feel ya on that. So can we get outta here or what, cat?" Ryuji asked, turning his attention to Morgana.
"Just one moment. While it wouldn't do anything the last time I came down here, I want to see if that's changed…" Morgana trailed off, walking up to the wall and placing a paw on it. The wall suddenly began to rumble along with the rest of the station. The Thieves all stepped back and prepared for the worst. Not a moment later, the wall's center piece lifted up and the corners rolled back in, revealing a passageway going down.
"It opened!" said Ann.
Morgana smiled, "Just as I suspected."
"A new area has been confirmed in the depths. Updating guidance information."
"Th-The Metanav updated?" Izuku fished into his coat pocket and looking at his phone. "There's another floor now…"
"Looks like I was right all along. Before this wall would never budge, but I had the suspicion it was actually a door," Morgana said, looking back at his teammates. "It would be strange if a place like Mementos was so shallow as to only have one floor like the one we previously explored."
"So you always knew it would be deeper, huh?" Ryuji said, crossing his arms.
"Yeah! Now that Kamoshida's Palace is gone and people are talking about us, I was hoping that something might have shifted here as well!"
"How deep is it? Should we try to go in?" Ann asked, looking at the others in thought.
"Let's not. We accomplished our mission for today, haven't we? It would be best not to drive around aimlessly," Morgana suggested, earning a nod of agreement from Izuku.
"Mona's right. We don't know what's down there and we might end up wasting unnecessary energy. We'll be coming back to train here in the future anyways, so we can wait until then to explore."
"Precisely. Let's head back for now, and I'll explain more once we're out," Morgana said. With that settled, the four turned back around and got ready to leave.
But Izuku hesitated for a moment, looking down in thought as Morgana's words echoed in his head.
It might be hard to explain to them, but… I need to be honest. I can't just hide it. It's not right to. Especially from them.
"Yo, Hero. You alright?" Ryuji called out, bringing Izuku out of his thoughts. "You look a little lost."
"Is something wrong?" Ann asked in concern, tilting her head.
Izuku looked between his three friends and released a deep breath.
"Y-Yeah, there's… something I need to tell you guys. But it… might not be the easiest to explain…"
"So… that's everything. That I know about that place, at least…"
Ann, Ryuji and Morgana stared at Izuku in bewilderment. Once the group had gotten out of Mementos, they settled down in Shibuya Station's courtyard to hear what Izuku had to say. He explained to them everything about the Velvet Room. Its existence, Igor and the twins, the effect it has on Personas and his friendships and so on. Izuku wasn't sure how they would react, but the faces they were making were about what he expected at least.
"Okay… wow. I wasn't expecting… all that," Ann admitted, fumbling with the end of her hair.
"Yeah, no kiddin'. When you said you had somethin' to tell us, I didn't think it'd be about some new crazy complicated shit!" Ryuji, kicked the ground in exasperation. "Like, it's not the craziest thing to happen to us, but it's pretty up there…"
"Y-Yeah, I can understand how you feel. It took me several visits to the Velvet Room to accept that it was real, too. But the proof of its existence is through my Personas and my Third Eye. There's no denying it now," Izuku said before looking at Morgana. The cat seemed somewhat distracted, looking at the ground in thought. "Morgana-san? Is everything alright?"
"Huh? O-Oh, yeah, just… had a weird feeling after hearing all that, is all…" Morgana admitted, shaking his head before looking back up. "But that's not important. So that power you mentioned… you really can do all those things?" Morgana asked, understandably curious about what Izuku's power was capable of.
"That's right. I can do all of the things I listed off for Hatsume-san. It's also how I solved the puzzles in Kamoshida's Palace and had Personas other than the ones I captured."
"Oh, yeah. I thought it was strange that you had some new ones, but… every time we saw it, it was during a fight so I'd forget to ask after. We were in a pretty big hurry inside of Kamoshida's Castle, too," Ann recalled, feeling a little dumb for not addressing it sooner.
"Man, how much more nuts can all this get?" Ryuji grunted, scratching his head furiously as he tried to process it all.
"Backtracking, what's this about 'ruin'? They haven't explained that to you in any more detail?" Morgana asked, only for Izuku to shake his head.
"They keep being vague about it. All I know is that it's coming and that I can somehow prevent it by acting as a Phantom Thief."
"That's so crazy. Why not at least explain what it is at least?!" Ann snapped. "Can't they give you some idea?"
"I-I don't know… but I guess it works out for us. I was planning to be a Phantom Thief either way," Izuku laughed sheepishly. But it was soon replaced with a frown as his gaze trailed to the floor. "But… about the… 'contracts' that I mentioned…"
"Oh, right. So like… when you make friends or somethin', it makes some sorta… link?" Ryuji asked, trying to sort out what Izuku explained to them.
"Y-Yeah, something like that. And I guess that every time I get closer with the person in that link it… levels up?" Izuku said, unsure how to explain that part or what it entailed. "But I guess that each link has an Arcana which are titled after Tarot cards I think. There are specific Personas that match them and get stronger because of them."
"So then… do you have a link with all of us?" Ann asked curiously.
"Yes. Ryuji-senpai is Chariot, you're the L-Lovers, and Morgana-san is Magician," Izuku explained, looking down in a bit of shame. "I… I was afraid at first when these links started forming though. I mean, it's beneficial, but…"
"But what's up? Isn't that a good thing?" Ryuji asked, raising a brow in question.
"W-Well I… I don't want you guys to think that's the only reason I'm friends with you. I-I mean, it helps, sure, but that's not why I-"
"Whoa, slow down, Izuku. You don't have to worry about that," Ann cut him off, causing Izuku to blink. "You're one of the most sincere people I've ever met. There's no way you'd be faking the funk when it comes to making friends."
"Huh?"
"Yeah man, you kiddin'? You're way too nice for that kinda crap. If you make friends and those links or whatever, we know you're not doin' it just for some power ups. That just makes 'em cooler!" Ryuji reasoned, giving Izuku a reassuring grin and slapping his shoulder.
"I agree. We all know what kind of heart you have, Izuku. Don't ever doubt that," Morgana said, smiling up at Izuku as well.
"Y-You guys…" Izuku's eyes became high-powered fountains as he sobbed into his sleeve. "Th-thank you~!"
"Hey man, that's nothin' to cry about!" Ryuji laughed, shaking his head. "But man. First Mementos, and now this weird ass Velvet Room thing… this ain't makin' any more sense than when we first learned about it."
"Well, at least regarding Mementos, we still have some clues to its secrets," Morgana suggested, sitting up on his hind legs. "Since it's the public's Palace, I suspect that the reason it opened for us now rather than before when I was alone is because the public is somewhat aware of our presence."
"It's a good thing you know so much about it, at least. How come, though?" Ann asked.
"I… can't say for sure. My memory is still foggy on the details," Morgana admitted, looking somewhat down at the thought. "All I know is that… my answers lie in the depths of Mementos, and that I need to get down there no matter what."
"You think all the answers are in there for what happened to you?" Izuku asked, earning a nod from Morgana in answer.
"Mementos isn't just the public's Palace. It's the source of all Palaces. Palaces like Kamoshida's with one ruler simply didn't exist until recently. Something is causing a great distortion in Mementos and enabling this. If we can stop that, then my appearance just might…"
"So you were looking for a Hero too, huh?" Ann asked, giving a sympathetic smile to the cat.
"I-I just needed pawns!"
"You did mention that the first time around, huh? Well, I guess Izuku and I did promise to help with that, right?" Ryuji said in understanding before looking at Izuku.
"That's right. You've helped us so much, Morgana-san. We'll do whatever we can to help you find your memories," Izuku declared, giving Morgana a confident grin.
"I'll help out too. Together we'll help you get back what you lost, okay?" Ann said kindly.
Morgana suddenly became shy, looking away from the group as he flustered up. "Th-Thanks… I'll be relying on you guys."
"Of course! Oh, but while we're on the topic, I do have one question…" Ann began. "Are you a boy or a girl?"
"Wh-What?!" Morgana sputtered. "I-I'm male, of course! I have to be!"
"His voice can be confusin', but I'm pretty sure he's a guy. Morgana tries to act macho way too much," Ryuji chuckled, causing the cat to glare. "Oh, but I do got a question about that Velvet Room thing!"
"What is it?" Izuku asked, blinking in surprise.
"Those twins… are they hot?"
Izuku gaped at his senior while Morgana sighed and Ann immediately elbowed Ryuji in the gut.
"Ow! What?!"
"Really? That's your question?"
"What, I'm curious! Twins can be real ho-OW!"
"Um… Ryuji-senpai…" Izuku mumbled, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I forgot to mention before, but the Twins… look like they're both ten."
"Oh… well that sucks."
"So much for your little twin fantasy," Morgana chuckled.
"It's probably good that they are though, if you think about it…" Ann said, a small teasing smile on her lips. "Izuku probably wouldn't be able to handle being around them otherwise."
"E-Eh?! But I-"
"Oh yeah, good point. Guy would probably faint every time he saw 'em," Ryuji laughed, joining in on Ann's fun.
"I-I… uh…" Izuku gave it a moment of thought, sweat trailing down his cheeks as his shoulders slumped. "Yeah…"
"Ah, don't sweat it, dude. At least you don't end up like Morgana who was practically droolin' on himself," Ryuji chuckled, wrapping an arm around his shoulders as he looked at the cat.
"Wh-What?! I resent that! I-I don't just drool over myself!" Morgana complained, embarrassed as he recalled his first meeting with Ann.
"Alright, let's chill. It's starting to get late, so we should probably be heading back," Ann noted, the four looking up to see the sun beginning to set.
"Yeah, good point. Now that you all know about Mementos, you can shift your focus to your studies. Then we can look for a big target to pursue."
"Damn it, you had to go and remind me of that…" Ryuji groaned, hunching over in disappointment. "Fine, I guess I'll study…"
"Don't worry too much, Ryuji-senpai. Tomorrow, maybe during lunch or after school, I can help you study for the tests the days after that," Izuku offered before looking at Ann. "You too, Ann-senpai."
"Please do. Tomorrow's my English test so it won't be a big deal, but I'd appreciate the help after that!" Ann smiled.
"If you can help me pass just one of those tests, you'll be doin' me a huge favor. Thanks, man," Ryuji grinned.
"O-Of course! I'll try not to let you guys down!"
With that, the four went home for the night, getting some much needed rest for the long week ahead of them.
To be continued…
Thanks as always goes to reppuzan for his fine work editing on this chapter!
Finally finished. Not that this one took that long to write, just a bit longer than I would have liked. But considering it's a bit longer (not much though) than the previous couple, I'd say it worked out quite well.
The final scene was a bit of a tussle because I was on the fence about what to do: either talk about the Velvet Room or work on another Arcana. I've put off the discussion on the Velvet Room long enough though, so I ultimately decided it was time to tell the gang about it. I think it worked out.
Also, sorry no OST's this chapter. I wasn't really thinking of any songs from either series as I was writing. I'll put some more up next time. I know it's a small, insignificant detail, but I do like to think of certain music playing during scenes.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, please leave a review, a follow and a favorite if you'd be so kind.