The next day, inside the train…
As Ryuji stepped into the train with the other passengers after the train arrived in the subway station before the train closed it's doors and depart from the station, he soon heard the passengers talking about the Phantom Thieves and Shido.
"There's no point in even having an election. Shido's gonna win." said an older man in a business suit.
"Of course. He's the only reliable politician there is. Plus the current government has been getting wrapped up in one scandal after another. Even more importantly, there's just an aura about him. Like he can fix whatever problems we have." said a middle-aged man in a business suit.
"Honestly, it doesn't really matter to me who does it. I just wanna see our society back on track. Especially after it turned out those Phantom Thieves were nothing more than murderous scums in the end…" said the older man in a business suit.
"We'll show you all…" mutter Ryuji with an annoy look on his face at the two businessmen.
XXXX
Inside the attic room in Leblanc…
After both Keiko and Morgana woke up from their slumbers and Keiko do her usual morning routine of brushing her teeth, cleaning herself up, putting on her clothes and folding and putting her futon away, Keiko heard and felt her smartphone vibrating with incoming messages and she take her phone out of her jacket right pocket to see the messages and saw that the messages are from her homeroom teacher Kawakami-sensei.
SK: I heard that you and your friend Caelum-san went home, so I announced it during homeroom… But that's a lie, right?
KA: Yeah, it is, sensei.
SK: I knew it. You two are planning something with Sakamoto-kun and the others, right? Well, try not to trouble the school or the parents, alright? You and Caelum-san take care of yourselves and also… make sure that you two keep up with your studies!
KA:… Don't worry, we will and thanks, sensei.
After Keiko's done seeing, typing and sending messages to Kawakami-sensei, Keiko put her phone back into her jacket pocket before she picked Morgana up and walked downstairs to meet and greet Sojiro.
XXXX
A few minutes later, inside a classroom in Shujin…
"Is it true that the leader of the Phantom Thieves is dead? If so, how could the police let her commit suicide in jail? They need to get their shit together." said a male student.
"Quiet down! You're in class! Break's been over for quite some time now. I swear, you're like noisy monkeys in a zoo… Hm? Oh, yeah…" snapped Ushimaru-sensei sternly at the students. "I received words from Amamiya and Caelum's families that they'll be absent for a bit. Geez… What do you kids think school is, anyway?" added Ushimaru-sensei in annoyance at them.
"It's almost time…" whisper Ann to herself.
XXXX
A few hours later, in Leblanc…
As Keiko is currently sitting and eating her plate of chicken katsu curry with Morgana on the chair to her right and Sojiro staring at the weather news report on the TV, she heard and felt her phone vibrating with more incoming messages and she take out her phone to see and read the messages.
YM: Hey, it can't be true, can it!? Please tell me you're OK, Keiko-chan!
KA: Don't worry, I'm fine, Mishima-kun.
YM: Oooh! Thank god you're alright! That suicide report was all over the news, and Kawakami-sensei said that you and Caelum-san went back to yours and hers hometown… I was honestly worried about contacting you two… Even Sakamoto, Takamaki and even Shinmei-senpai dodged my questions when I tried asking them about you two. But, don't worry. I won't tell anyone! By the way, the Phan-site is a real mess right now… But I'll keep supporting you all from the shadows! Good luck!
KA: Thank you, Mishima-kun.
"Look, you don't have to worry about it in here and about your missing friend Mallory, but try not to do anything to draw attention. Anyway, today's a day off, so eat your curry and take it easy. You can take your time with it too. It's not like any customers are going to show up, Keiko." said Sojiro calmly and reassuringly to Keiko.
"… I know, thanks, Sojiro-san." said Keiko gratefully to Sojiro.
"Let's try and think of the final keyword once the chief's curry has energized you." said Morgana.
"Right, Morgana." said Keiko as she nodded at Morgana before she resumed eating and finishing her plate of curry, thanked Sojiro for the curry as she stood up from her seat, pick Morgana up and went back upstairs to the attic room and as she and Morgana sat down on the couch, Keiko received more messages and she take out her phone from her jacket pocket to see and read them.
AT: Have any of you guys and girls figured out the final keyword to Shido's palace yet?
AS: Not at all, Ann-san.
FS: I've try all sortsa stuff, but no luck on my part either.
YK: It is hard to understand the thought process of a criminal mastermind like Shido.
GA: Hey, I'm sure we'll be able to figure it out in no time, Kitagawa-kun.
FS: Y'know, I've been wondering… if he's behind all of those mental shutdown accidents that "Junko Sakurai" and her "allies" caused… Doesn't that mean that all the other weird and terrible accidents from these past few years were also his, "Junko Sakurai" and her "allies" faults? Like, that subway accident back in April, for example…
MN: Now that you mention it, that subway accident lost the Minister of Transport his job…
AT: Wait… Are you trying to say that Shido caused that accident? But it's the subway! Does he not care at all about innocent lives!?
AS: He doesn't and one of those subway accident victims is my father…
JS: Seriously? Damn him…
YK: This man seems to be truly unbelievable…
FS: Supposedly there are still tons of victims from that accident in the hospital until now, not just Aglaia's father.
YK: Masayoshi Shido… How many has he hurt and killed over the years?
HO: How could we ever understand what goes on in the mind of such a terrible man…?
RS: Hey, wouldn't it be faster if we just go there and try and think about it on-site!? Let's all try that!
MN: If we're going to go, I'd like Keiko-chan to join us, but…
AT: Will that be okay? Won't somebody spot her there?
GA: Don't worry, I'll make sure that no one spot her and I'm heading over to get you now, Keiko.
KA: Okay, Goro.
RS: If you say so, Akechi. We'll prolly figure out the final keyword in no time once we're there. Plus I can throw off anyone who tails us with my blazing speed!
KD: Wow, impressive if you could do that, Sakamoto-kun.
RS: Quiet, Donovan!
MN: Alright. Let's have Keiko-chan join us then. Remember though… we're going with the intent of not being seen.
KD: Sure, Makoto.
GA: Of course, Makoto-san.
RS: Mkay. Well, let's meet in front of the Diet Building and force that bald bastard's Palace wide open!
"Alright, once Akechi's here then we'll head to the Diet Building together. Make sure you aren't spotted by anyone too, Madame Keiko." said Morgana.
"Yeah, I know, Morgana." said Keiko as she nodded at Morgana, put her phone back into her jacket pocket and both she and Morgana waited for Goro to show up and once he did, Goro help bring Keiko carefully and cautiously out of Leblanc (and convinced and reassured Sojiro-san that Keiko will be fine going outside with him and their friends, which make Sojiro-san reluctantly agree to let Keiko out and tell her to be careful and tell both Goro and Morgana to watch and stay with her), met up with the others before they take the train ride to where the Diet Building is.
XXXX
A few minutes later…
"Well, here we all are near the Diet Building, everyone." said Jason slightly jokingly to them.
"Really, Shinmei-kun?" said Aglaia in a deadpan tone of voice at Jason.
"Sakurai isn't here, neither do her "allies" and Caelum-san…" said Yusuke sadly to both Keiko and Akira.
"We know and how are you now, Akira-kun?" asked Keiko concernly to Akira.
"I'm fine and feeling much better than yesterday, Keiko-san." replied Akira reassuringly to Keiko.
"… That's good then." said Keiko with a relief nod of her head.
"Let's begin at once. Police cars are making rounds, so we can't stay here too long. We already have "Masayoshi Shido" and "Diet Building". All we need is "what" he thinks of this place." said Makoto as she take out her phone.
"Maybe " " since it's the highest place in the country?" suggested Ryuji.
"Condition have not been met." said the female navigator voice from the Meta-Nav app in Makoto's phone.
"Guess not." said Keith.
"What about a "mansion"?" said Ann.
"Condition have not been met."
"Maybe a "castle"?" said Goro.
"Condition have not been met."
"Since he's going to subjugate everyone as Prime Minister… perhaps a "school?" said Haru.
"Condition have not been met."
"What about an "arena" like the Colosseum?" said Yusuke.
"Condition have not been met."
"Imperial palace"?" said Futaba.
"Condition have not been met."
"… It's no good. None of them fits." sighed Makoto with an exasperated look on her face as she put her phone back into her pocket.
"I thought we would've gained entry by now… Maybe we shouldn't have call Keiko-chan here…" sighed Haru.
"No, it's fine, you two. It's just that it's harder to find the last keyword than we think." said Keiko reassuringly to both Makoto and Haru.
"Hey, you guys think he's guardin' his whole Palace with a barrier? Shido stole your mom's cognitive psience research papers, right? Maybe it had some special move written in it or something else." said Ryuji as he glance at Morgana.
"Is that even possible?" said Ann as she and the others glance at Morgana too.
"Who knows? I've got no idea." said Morgana as he shake his head.
"There was nothing like that in my mom's notes that I saw." said Futaba as she shake her head as well.
"Dammit! Oh well, at least you try, Sakamoto-kun." said Jason.
"Anyways, what kinda person is Shido? I can't figure him out…" said Ryuji as he scratch his head a little.
"Aglaia and I did some light research on him last night, but we couldn't get any grasp on what type of man he is." said Yusuke while Aglaia nodded in agreement and Ann suddenly noticed a businessman talking to one of the blue uniformed security guard standing guard outside the Diet Building.
"Hm? What is it, Ann-san?" said Goro curiously to Ann.
"That man over there's probably a legislator, right? I'll try asking him." said Ann.
"I'll go with you, just in case." said Goro.
"… Alright and be careful, Goro, Ann." said Keiko concernly to both Goro (who nodded and squeeze her hand to reassured her) and Ann before she and the others watched both Goro and Ann left them and approach the legislator businessman.
"Excuse me… I'm a member of the newspaper club at my high school. May I speak with you for a moment?" said Ann calmly to the legislator businessman while Goro stay silent behind her.
"Uh, sure?" said the legislator businessman in slight confusion to Ann.
"What kind of person is Representative Shido? What's he think about the National Diet?" asked Ann.
"Good questions, Ann-san." thought Goro proudly at Ann.
"His stance is "dedication for country"… it's how he's garnered everyone's trust. He's an admirable man of action with a first-class determination. I'd say he's a model politician. I believe that he'll create a wonderful future in which young adults like you two can live in ease." replied the legislator businessman happily and calmly to both Goro and Ann before the legislator businessman walked away and both Goro and Ann turned and went back to the group.
"Well, you two did good even though it's not enough." said Akira.
"An exemplary answer." said Futaba.
"It makes sense he wouldn't tell teenagers like us anything unnecessary…" sighed Ann.
"Hm? Everyone, look over there! He's on a walkie-talkie!" said Yusuke concernly to them as he noticed another blue-uniformed security guard staring suspiciously at them while talking on the walkie-talkie strapped to his shoulder.
"Oh no." said Keiko with a worry look on her face.
"Wait, is it about us?" said Ann.
"No, it's about Big Foot. Of course it's about us, Takamaki!" said Keith as he scowled at Ann.
"That doesn't look good and leave my girl alone, Donovan!" snapped Ryuji as he glared at Keith.
"We should leave at once. Tomorrow's a day off, so let's have an early strategic meeting. Meet at Leblanc, alright?" said Makoto.
"We should all think about this tonight…" said Haru.
"Right. We should and I'll see you all tomorrow." said Keiko as she nodded at them before they turned and went to the subway station to take different train ride home.
XXXX
Another few minutes later, in Leblanc…
After Keiko, Goro, Morgana and Futaba returned and entered Leblanc together, they stopped in their tracks when they see Sojiro is staring with a cold look on his face at the latest news of Masayoshi Shido doing another one of his speeches.
"The heinous criminals themselves the Phantom Thieves are no more. However, I believe that the citizens of this country are still living their days and lives in anxiety. These scandals only increase our distrust of the current government. As a citizen myself, I am enraged!" said Shido with anger and outrage looks on his face on TV.
"Humph, look who's talking." scoffed Morgana in disdain at Shido.
"Damn you, Masayoshi Shido…" snarled Goro as he glared darkly at Shido before he felt Keiko gently wrapped and rubbed his gloved hands with hers to calm him down.
"Calm down, Goro. Don't pay his words any mind and I'm here with you." said Keiko softly and calmly to Goro.
"… I know and thanks, Keiko." said Goro thankfully to Keiko for calming him down before he pull his right hand out of Keiko's grip to pull her close for a hug and he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"What does it mean to be a politician with duty and responsibility? Working toward personal gain without any consideration of the country and it's citizens is outrageous!" said Shido's voice on TV.
"The election's public notification is tomorrow, but no matter where I go, people are voting and cheering for Shido." said Sojiro grimly to them.
"Everyone's being deceived so easily." said Futaba with a disappointed look on her face before she, Keiko and Goro felt their phones vibrating with messages from their friends and they take out their phones to see and read the messages.
RS: I tried looking up Shido's interviews online. They all sound so goddamn fake.
YK: Aglaia and I checked out his profile as well, but we couldn't find much about him other than his title education. He's currently 53 years old and has gone from being a metropolitan assemblyman to a representative. Though he is a cabinet minister, he's split from the ruling party to form the "United Future Party".
AT: Shido's a cabinet minister!? For real!?
AK: Are you serious, Yusuke-kun!?
AS: I wish we're not serious about it but we are, Kurusu-kun.
MN: He was specially appointed to the position. That's his current title.
KD: Can't believe that he's been appointed with such a high position…
GA: Neither do I, Keith-kun.
YK: Apparently he also won a contest for who people would most like to have as their boss.
HO: Even the news sites write about him as though he's assured to become the Prime Minister.
MN: If only we could find out the meaning behind Shido's words…
KA: I'm sure we will soon enough, Makoto.
"In order to save this country that has been tainted by vile villains, social reform is essential!" said Shido's voice on TV.
"Ugh…" said Futaba with a disgust look on her face at Shido as she (and both Keiko and Goro) put her phone back into her jacket pocket.
"He such a vile one. So vile that it sickens me a lot." said Goro, disgusted as well.
"Same goes for me, Goro." said Keiko.
"… Well, I'll be going now. Good night and I'll see you and the others tomorrow, Keiko." said Goro lovingly to Keiko.
"Yeah, good night, Goro." said Keiko as she bade farewell to Goro and watched him leave Leblanc before she bade farewell to both Sojiro and Futaba and they leave Leblanc too, Keiko then locked the place up, picked up and bring Morgana up to the attic room, change into her pajamas, bring out her futon and pillow before she and Morgana fell asleep (while elsewhere in Doctor Maruki's house, Akira is thinking and worry about Mallory, who's now being introduced to Shido in his office after his TV interview by Sabinae/Yhoundeh, leader of Junko's "allies" and when Shido ask to know about what kind of power that Mallory/Lythalia had and she show him her power and control over all plants and flowers, which surprised and pleased Shido and Sabinae/Yhoundeh a lot).