Makoto, as Queen, was chasing after Skull, aka, who has previously threatened the entirety of the Phantom Thieves in releasing all of their true identities online, just as a means of getting back at them for the cruelty committed towards him, both in the past and present. Makoto was sent by Ren to go after him, all by herself, knowing full well that she is the only person he will be willing to listen to, if a request was to be expressed.
However, he really underestimated Makoto in this regard. Even without his personal request, she would have given chase after Ryuji, either way, even on her own terms. Having previously been the most present in his life, knowing the way he ticks, Queen decided to face Skull all by herself, without anyone else interfering, as he'd allergically react to the presence of her other friends and he'd end up getting more compelled to expose them in public.
But additionally, ever since his mother had landed in the hospital over a severe heartache that she had suffered, most likely caused by her having gotten emotionally torn down the same way her son did with all the misfortune that was befalling him recently, it just motivated Makoto even more to try and come to a peaceful agreement with her closest friend without anyone needing to get hurt
She uses her trusty Johanna to speed through the darkened streets of Tokyo at night, trying to track Ryuji down, thanks to Futaba's Oracle radar and when she saw Ryuji... to her shock, he was in her line of sight now, but he wasn't on foot anymore. He looked like he was literally "sailing" across the skies with a wooden pirate ship, shaped like a hoverboard, beneath his feet, holding onto the ship's main mast as though he was doing aerial speed sailing.
And when he looked behind, he looked quite bemused and indifferent.
Ryuji: "Well, lookie here, the goody two-shoes in the flesh. What do you want from me? Did you come to lecture me again?"
Makoto: "Ryuji, listen to me! I just want to talk to you! Slow down and let's settle this like rational adults, OK?"
Ryuji: "You wanna talk, huh? How about... No?"
The second he said No, he stomped on his board to open a hole on the back, which dropped out a bomb for Makoto to gasp at and immediately dodge with her Persona-infused motorcycle in a very tricky brake and jump type of evasion. She immediately caught back to him and yelled in disbelief and anger:
Makoto: "Hey, why did you do that?! I am just trying to talk to you here! What was that for?!"
Ryuji then began speaking in a very sincere and yet so untypically serious tone:
Ryuji: "Well... because I myself have nothing to say to you."
Makoto: "What?"
Ryuji: "I made a decision, Makoto. Accept it, already. I am no longer your teammate or buddy-buddy. I have estranged myself from you and the rest of the team. And with what I am planning to do, it's either this: Do or die. Literally. Talking just won't resolve this issue anymore. We are enemies. No reason to chase after me, if you were to ask for MY humble opinion."
Makoto had to pull herself together as best as she can, because the more she heard him talk about this, the more she felt her own heart shattering, so she wanted to remain professional, since this might be the only chance she may ever get to talk to him, before he goes through with his plan.
Makoto: "So there is really nothing to be done about this? Am I just supposed to sit here and accept my fate of you exposing me and everyone else to the public? That's a cruel joke, Ryuji. And, I just don't understand... I just so happen to have noticed a severe flaw in your plan: Let's say, you DO expose us. Then what? You think, YOU won't be found out too? The moment you say anything about our true identities, the authorities may eventually trace it all back to you. Nobody is safe in this day and age. And though we are enemies, I..."
She choked on her own voice, as she realized for one brief instance, how much it really meant for her that he didn't ever get hurt, in spite of them now being technically estranged. She felt her lower lip quivering, knowing full well what may happen to him, if she allowed him to have his way...
Makoto: "I... I don't want you to get hurt! Surely, you must, if you did this, then you will only end up getting caught in the crossfire! Is this worth it?! Risking your own life, just to leave us out in the open?"
Ryuji: "..."
The vice leader was really growing anxious now. Considering Ryuji's lack of consideration for anything she had said and the fact that he appears to be fully aware of what he is planning on doing and it doesn't seem to be a "phase" of his, she was really fighting with herself at this point to not shed a single tear...
Makoto: "Ryuji! Speak to me! Why do you want to go through with this?! You should be aware of the consequences, even for yourself! Why are you so willing to even let yourself get harmed in the process, just for a selfish means to pay us back?! You MUST know this! Ryuji!"
Ryuji: "All there is left to say really, is this..."
Makoto: "What?"
His eyes opened in a really lifeless and aloof way, as he spoke in an almost threatening tone...
Ryuji: "...you shouldn't ever underestimate a man, with nothing to lose."
Then, he jumped off of Captain Kidd to land straight on the ground, with Makoto speeding right past him and stopping on the other side of the docks, approaching Ryuji on foot. And once she got closer to him... suddenly, he pulls his signature weapon and points it straight at her, looking as lifeless and borderline suicidal as he can be.
Ryuji: "I can only repeat ONCE what I have said, Makoto. I literally. Got nothing. I repeat. NOTHING. To say to you. If you don't want to get hurt, then get out of my way. I will go through with what I planned, whether you, or the rest of your piece of shit team, like it or not. And before you get any ideas on calling this outrageous or spineless, well... you had this coming. You reap what you sow."
The brunette was really fighting back tears at this point, as she genuinely reached her limit with him. Her heart was beginning to ache very badly and it grew increasingly tougher for her to maintain her composure. For a brief moment, her voice even cracked while trying to maintain a steady tone.
Makoto: "You may say all this... and yet you still talk to me... don't make me beg over here. You must be aware of the consequences and knowing how careless you can get, I have no choice but to call this complete lunacy on your end! For god's sake, you'll also get hurt in the process, this is not me theorizing, this is me stating facts here! The moment you open your mouth, they will ask you questions and eventually, they will find you out! What exactly do you gain from all this, if it also means putting yourself in harm's way?! I just don't understand, Ryuji, help me out here!"
Ryuji: "Tsk. If you really want to know..."
He gets into a fighting stance, summoning his Persona as well, pointing his spiked bat in her direction.
Ryuji: "...you might as well beat the answers out of me, how about that? You are an expert at that, right? Go on ahead. I am more than willing to give you answers, if you are able to make me croak."
The former student council president had to pull herself together now. Ryuji actually plans on fighting with her. And considering the stakes... This may potentially be the most important fight of her life. She is not allowed to fail, after she came so close to him. She has to win. She summons Johanna and quickly gets into her Muay Thai stance.
Makoto: "I really don't want to fight you, Ryuji... but you are willing to put all of our lives at risk, so... you leave me no choice. Johanna!"
Ryuji: "Captain Kidd!"
It began simple. Instead of immediately using their Personas, both decided to go close quarter combat. Obviously, Makoto clearly holds the edge over Ryuji in regards to combat technique and discipline, always hitting precisely and with full strength, whilst Ryuji fights less with technique and an idea behind his punches and kicks, as his fighting style could closely be described as a T-rex with dancer legs. Where his legs bear far more weight to them than his punches, as his reach on his arms are mildly stubby, which is why, his biggest compensation is easily his long baseball bat, which compliments his really aggressive way of fighting.
At first, both rushed into each other like enraged bulls, constantly ramming one another, trading punches and kicks as though they were equal in overall strength level, and this kept going on and on without anyone showing a small sign of fatigue, with Makoto only waiting for Ryuji to leave himself wide open. And while they traded physical hits, both held a conversation.
Makoto: "I really don't want to do this. But you're forcing my hand."
Ryuji: "Oh, sure. I forced your hand. Like last time? When I saved all of you and your only reasonable response was to hit me unconscious, as a way of thanking me? Yeah, thanks a lot. You're welcome."
Hearing this moment mentioned again to her, all that Makoto could give as response was a genuinely irritated:
Makoto: "Oh, come. On! How often do you intend on bringing this stupid subject up, let go of it already! It happened! OK? We were not that bright back then, so what?! Didn't we already apologize to you? I am pretty sure we did!"
...the moment she said that, all went in slow motion, as Ryuji's eyes got hidden under a shadow and he coldly muttered:
Ryuji: "...you are a terrible liar, Mako."
Makoto: "What in the-"
Ryuji: "...THAT'S A LIE!"
Then, she felt the wooden tip of Ryuji's spiked bat connecting with her stomach at full force, causing her to bend over, screaming in agony, with Ryuji ramming her mercilessly away from himself with her quickly regaining her focus and footing, being the tough cookie that she is. Though, then she began coughing up blood, as that spiked bat really hit her well in the middle region and she began breathing heavily, trying to recover from that harsh blow to her stomach.
Makoto: "What are you talking about...? I swear to god, I really thought, we did apologize for what happened! I even talked to the others about this and they all claimed that at one point, we actually did!"
Ryuji: "Cut the bullshit, Makoto! You and everyone else, never. EVER. apologized to me about anything! None of you ever did! The fact that it happened AT ALL, is completely irrelevant to me! What is NOT irrelevant though, is the audacity that you guys have, to just wipe all of this under the rug! First, none of you ever apologize to me, then we don't see one another for months and only until Ren is back, then we genuinely have any interaction again and even with me giving you all the benefit of the doubt, then you have the NERVE to shamelessly lie, STRAIGHT. TO MY FACE. of any of you having apologized ever to me! PISS OFF!"
Now, Makoto had to get serious. Ryuji really seemed to be ready to get rowdy from now on and given how badly she angered him, this won't be a cakewalk. She summons Johanna and gets ready. However, feeling filthy for having been lied to by her friends and having lied to Ryuji as a whole, because of this, she softened up and grew to understand the problem at hand.
Makoto: "I really lack any proper defense to argue against this, Ryuji. I know you probably don't even care enough to listen anymore, but, know this... I am not going to be against you on this matter any longer. You were not the only one that was lied to in this situation... I am sorry."
Feeling understood at last, actually managed to calm Ryuji down somewhat, as he sighed and managed to pull himself together to a certain degree... and because it's Makoto, it cooled him down even more, knowing she is not the lying type, unless she is on the job.
Ryuji: "So you admit it... at least, you acknowledge it..."
Makoto: "Please know this... you said before, that I will always be the only one you are willing to open the door for... well, guess what? You will always be welcome at my place as well. ...always."
Ryuji: "Say what...?"
Makoto: "I am just saying that, no matter what you will decide from now on, the decision will be entirely up to you. I can't force you to change your stance on matters... after being armed with the knowledge of having been mostly fed with lies on this entire matter... just so you know, I would never hold you in malice, should you decide to expose every one of us. After all that had happened, we kind of deserve a suitable punishment for having mistreated our own teammate like this... even I am totally revolted to know all this..."
She takes her mask off to look at him with the warmest and most welcoming gaze that she can muster.
Makoto: "Heh. I'll personally arrange a meeting with my team later to see what can be done about this. I refuse to go back to this hell of living only for the morally corrupted adults, being their mindless slave, only speaking on their behalf like I lack agency in my own life. These days are long gone for me."
Ryuji began smirking, as he folded his arms, before summoning Captain Kidd again to ride on top of him, being so ready to continue the fight on a positive note.
Ryuji: "You haven't lost sight of yourself, just like me... after all, shouldn't this be what being a Phantom Thief is all about? Staying true to yourself and your aspirations? Good to know that at least one understands me... you're simply the best, Makoto. Stay the way you are. And hey... sorry for that baseball slug that I had delivered to your abdomen. That was completely unnecessary."
Makoto: "No worries, I am used to most of your BS as of late. You really are a master at giving me gray hair... but I don't mind, as long as you stay healthy..."
She thought to herself, feeling a tear running down her face and butterflies in her stomach...
Makoto: "I didn't even realize it until now... when he decided to leave the team, I... I felt empty... as though, all my feelings of joy had been sucked straight out of my soul... like, I seem to miss him the most... he was always the one to make me smile, when I had no reason to. He is an idiot... but he was always MY idiot... now, I may probably never see him again, at this point in time... oh, Ryuji... if only you knew..."
Her heart began beating out of control, as more tears ran down her cheeks, realizing the true significance of this fight...
Makoto: "What is this feeling...? I can't control it, I want to stop, but... I lack the ability to... knowing that we are going to fight for real now and a decision has to be made, that may affect all of us... but I really don't want to hurt him... what am I going to do...?"
But Ryuji also didn't feel so well about this, and he thought to himself, looking depressed all the same...
Ryuji: "Oh man... I really done fucked up now... Makoto may hide it, but I can tell, she is carrying a major burden on her back... I know I said, I won't change my stance, but damn... why do I feel so guilty all of a sudden...?"
She felt her emotional connection to Ryuji only tightening further...
Effectively, she may have betrayed the team effort here, but she refused to betray Ryuji's faith in her, knowing how much he is really suffering and it resonated with her...
The gap is closing in even further between the two...
Priestess & Chariot Arcana! Level up! Level 7!
But Ryuji yelled out:
Ryuji: "Makoto! No matter what happens now, it won't matter! We started this fight, let's end this! I don't wanna leave you unsatisfied!"
She wiped her tears and nodded, before smirking in return, confident that she was going to win. This is going to be a fair fight now, acting as though there are no serious stakes, thus relieving the pressure on both of them.
Makoto: "Yes. Show me your best, Ryuji. Show me the maximum of your potential. Don't disappoint me now!"
Ryuji: "At the very least... I am YOUR disappointment, not anyone else's."
Makoto: "R-Right!"
Both sped at one another with their vehicle Personas, causing massive explosions to raid the entire dock, to signal that this fight is a really rough one. We keep seeing insanely brutal hit exchanges that only rival those of barbarians, and both would fire projectiles at one another, Makoto would fire tracking missles from Johanna's sides and Ryuji would repeatedly either drop or fire pirate ship bombs from either below or from the front, and whenever they would clash, their surroundings would get engulfed in a blazing firestorm upon impact with their projectiles... and even in close combat, it seemed as though, both were terrifying equals and it even scared the crap out of Makoto for how resilient he is, and how long he can hold out in the face of her raw physical strength.
But soon, all this had to come to a close, as the two began charging up their elemental attacks one final time... Ryuji charges up his electricity through his spiked bat and Makoto charges up all the SP into her knuckles... and both sped in, screaming their last battlecry before clashing together, Makoto trying to break Ryuji's bat with her atomically charged knuckle and Ryuji trying to break through her raw strength...
...until the mixing of their elements almost caused an atomic explosion to go off...
...and once the dust settled...
...tragically, we see Makoto, one the ground, with Ryuji, still standing tall above her, in spite of both him and her looking really ragged and roughed up on the outside... but he felt satisfied... he kneeled down to gently pick her up, bridal style and carrying her unconscious body away from the wrecked battlegrounds to take her home back to her place... with a gentle smile on his lips...
Ryuji: "I am... going to have to... think about this... once again... about releasing the personal info, I mean... Mako... you really turned out to be a true hero for today..."
He gently presses his forehead against hers, as he takes her back home...
THE END
