Akira's POV

A ringing noise was the only thing I could hear but the voiceless voice still reached me.

"Do you seek power?" It said as the ringing got louder and louder, to the point that it started to hurt.

"Do you seek revenge?"

"Revenge?" I manage to get out as the pain was getting worse.

The thought of getting some sort of payback on the people who wronged me had crossed my mind on more than one occasion. The bald guy back home who said I pushed him down when he was clearly too drunk for his own kind. The teacher who I've never seen before and the students who never bothered to get to know me.

"…Sure, why not."

A flash of light was the last thing I saw.


Date: 4/9

Location: On a train leading into Tokyo

I awoke when I flash of light ran across my face and I couldn't help but scowl when I felt pain in my neck. I was surprised that I was able to fall asleep on the train so easily seeing as sleep for me the past few weeks was hard to come by, but given the fact that I was "starting" anew in Tokyo of all places then who knows, I might be able to catch up on sleep.


Date:4/11

Location: Leblanc attic

I was wrong, dead wrong. As it turned out, my record of my crime had somehow found its way online so everyone at Shujin knew about me… so much for starting anew, eh. The dream (if you want to call it that) I had the other day that showed a teacher that I had never seen before but I had a feeling he was the one behind it when he gave a lift to a beautiful blond-haired female student to Shujin.

On top of that, another student, Ryuji Sakamoto and I found ourselves in a castle of places, a castle that felt like the school I was in just the other day and I swear that I can still feel the pain of that shield hitting me. The biggest thing that I took away from our journey into that castle, was the new "power" I had gained, I remember the words Arsene said to me like they were imprinted on my very soul and the freedom that came with it.

Of course, the flashy clothes and the confidence that came with it left as soon as we escaped that place and I was somewhat glad for it as I could feel something off, off about everything.

As I place my head on the pillow, I could help but laugh at the realisation that my Persona's name was Arsene and I was living in a café called Leblanc.


Date: 4/20

Location: Shujin Castle, Metaverse

In the nine days since we started this "steeling the treasure of Shadow Kamoshida" thing, Ryuji and I had gained two new companions, the first was Morgana, an anthropomorphic and biped cat in the Palace and a normal cat in the real world. The second one was the blond-haired beauty and fellow Shujin Student from days prior, Ann Takamaki.

The one thing that I get used to (too quickly, according to the others) was the HUD like feature that Morgana was able to give us and honestly, I was expecting something a lot more flashy given the clothes we wore and how the Metaverse looked, but no, it was all straight line and plain text. Simple and clean.

I was quite sceptical of Ryuji from the get-go as come on, who would want to be around someone with a criminal record, his story about him and Kamoshida I had to take at face value as for all I knew, he could have been looking for more ways to screw me more.

Regarding Ann, I could understand wanting to get back at the person who hurt her friend, but I had a funny feeling that she would bail when we were done here and I don't think I will be getting rid of Morgana anytime soon seeing as he's now living with me.

With the four of us, we made decent progress towards the treasure, all was good but that off feeling I had after Arsene lent me his power never seem to fade, it only seemed to grow with each day in the Palace and I did a decent job on pushing that feeling down so the others didn't notice and start worrying.

But when all I could feel was hatred and rage burning with every swing of my dagger and with every pull of the trigger from my gun, I knew that it wasn't going to be long till I couldn't keep it at bay.

And it was when we were fighting a Heavenly Punisher (later to be revealed as an Archangel) in the chapel area of this castle.

The fight started off alright, till I had to duck behind a pew to catch my breath and reload. I had managed to acquire another Pixie so when in need, I played medic alongside Mona and Panther. So, with my small break, I planned on healing whoever need it and that's when I realised that I was running low on MP and recovery items.

"Shit." I said before poking my head up only to see that we had only taken a fourth of the Heavenly Punisher's health and the others were nearly running out of MP.

But when a piercing ringing noise stops me from calling a temp retreat, I had to drop back into cover.

"Do you seek power?" A voiceless voice said as the ringing got louder and louder, to the point that it started to hurt.

I grabbed the sides of my head in a vain attempt to block the noise but it only seem to make it louder.

"Do you seek revenge?"

"Revenge?" I managed to get out as the pain was the only thing I feel.

The thought of getting some sort of payback on the people who wronged me had crossed my mind on more than one occasion. The bald guy back home who said I pushed him down when clearly he was too drunk for his own kind. The gym teacher who screwed me before I could even start and the students who never bothered to get to know me.

"…Sure, why not."

"Come forth my Trickster, and release thy rage!"


Ryujis' POV

Watching Akiras' first awakening was rough, so hearing him scream made me freeze… hell it even made the knight that we were fighting stop dead in its tracks. I didn't really want to look back, but I couldn't stop myself from doing so… my friend was in danger and I wanted to help stop it.

What I wasn't expecting to see was blue flames around gold eyes and that same off-putting smirk that he had when he first transformed. I was going to call out to him but before I could, he moved way faster than before, like he was lagging like in a video game, but only in real life. And he pulled the Knights aggro… which was nice as I need to catch my breath.

Honestly, I was kinda jealous of how badass Akira was looking and acting as the Knight brought his large sword down at him and I was going to tell him to move but before I knew it, Akira had brought his dagger up to block and I couldn't believe that he was holding his own. And from the look of it, the Knight was struggling more than Akira was.

"Too slow!" Akira said as he flicked his wrist and sent the Knight flying backwards.

Watching something as big as the Knight get thrown backwards was kinda funny and I did kinda feel sorry for it as well, as Akira didn't let up as before the knight could even get its bearings, Akira was already in the knight's space and was plunging his dagger into its side with that black and red ooze spurting out in gushes.

With a trail of blue flames, Akira had moved to be hanging off one of the knights' wings with his gun aimed at the base of the wing.

"You're done!" He said as he fired off a few shots into each wing before leaping backwards and landing without any problems.

There was one thing that I had always wondered about Akira after we learnt that he could have multiple Personas, and that was if he could summon more than just one at a time. So, when he says "Ravage them!" and six Personas' appear (including Arsène) and all of them having blue flames linking them to Akira making him look like a frigging supervillain.

The whole thing was over and done with faster than our normal All-Out Attack and all that was left was a pile of goo, one dagger and Akira kneeling on the floor with the blue flames raging from his face and it looked like he was struggling to regain control.

"Hey bro, what was that just know?" I said as the rest of us walked over to him.

When he didn't reply, I started to worry as it was clear that he didn't have full control over whatever it was.

"What's wrong with Joker, Mona?" I heard Ann say as we stopped in front of him.

"I don't know, everything is pointing to him being okay." He said hopping up onto Anns' shoulder.

'What the fuck is going on, Bro?'

Now, I only do this to family members and to Ann and Shiho back in middle school, and that was that I was going to hug him… my mamma always said that a hug can solve a lot of problems and that I was always great at giving them.

I could tell Ann and Mona were giving me funny looks as stepped up to him and crouched down, of course, when I did, Akira looked at me and I could see the struggle in his eyes… kinda wish I had Anns' fire resistant though, as the blue flames did hurt as I hugged him, but if it meant helping my bro out, then a little bit of burning was acceptable.


Akiras' POV

The cold feeling that I was surrounded in soon disappeared and was replaced with a comfortable warmth as I was brought back to "reality" to find Ryuji hugging me with Ann and Morgana watching with a bewildered look.

'When was the last time I had a hug like this?'

I smiled and returned the hug. "Thank you, Ryuji."

"No prob, Bro." He said and I would have let go by now, but it was surprisingly comfortable.

It was then that Ann spoke up. "I hate to break up this bromance, but what was that, Joker?"

It's then that Ryuji and I parted and stood, with the help of Ryuji mind you as I hurt more than one of his runs around Shujin.

"I… I don't know, all I remember was feeling cold, pain and a voice talking to me, other than that, I don't remember anything." I said and I truly don't remember a thing, the last I knew was that we were fighting that Knight… what I didn't want to tell them was that I was scared of whatever that thing was.

"Any ideas Mona?" I heard Ryuji say as I watch Ann call forth Carmen to heal me.

"Still got none, sadly." Our cat navigator said with a frown.

"Well, whatever happens, dude, we'll be here to bring you back out of whatever it is." Ryuji said with a pat on my shoulder.

"Yeah," Ann began with the biggest smile I've seen from her. "I'm sure your boyfriend here is always willing to give you a hug."

Ryujis' outburst about being called my boyfriend was somewhat funny and honestly, Ryuji was a good-looking guy. With my head in the clouds, I joined the spat that Ann and Ryuji were having towards the end.

"Look, why don't we hug and you can find out the power of a good hug."

"You won't do anything weird right?" Ann said whilst looking a bit apprehensive.

Ryuji shakes his head. "I won't I promise."

As Ann went into the hug, I was waiting to see how long it would take Morgana to object to this and low and behold, as soon as Ann relaxed into it more, our Cat Navigator started to speak up. The smug look on Ryuji was what made Morgana jump up onto Ryuji and "tried" to push them apart.

"Can't you see you're making Lady Ann uncomfortable you bone head!"

"It's actually… quite comfortable, Mona. You should try it."

"Eh! Didn't I say you'd enjoy it?"

At their antics, I couldn't help but laugh even though my body didn't like it. I had to curl up just to stop some of the pain.

"Hey, you okay Joker?" Ryuji said as he helped me stand again as I felt the healing powers of Zorro.

"You know, I think that's the first time I've seen you laugh." Ann said and honestly, she was correct.

Since coming to Tokyo, I did my best to keep a low profile and hoped that this year would pass by… but the best-laid plans of mice and men as they say.

"Anyway, I don't think there is enough healing in this world that could cure my fatigue right now… so can we call it a day?"

"I think it's best we do." Ryuji said and I was glad he was on my side on this as I really didn't think I could make it to the next safe room in my condition.


Date: 4/20

Location: Yongen-Jaya

I was grateful that there was a bathhouse near Leblanc so I could rest my achy bones and just relax. Don't get me wrong, I was somewhat starting to trust them, even if that voice said otherwise, but after today, they had moved my trust in them in the right direction.

Sinking a bit more into the bath and rest my head against the wall as an old guy turn the temperature up more… which was very much welcomed.

'I feel like shit for not talking about it more to them, but would they distance themselves from me if I told them everything?' I sink a bit further in. 'Who am I kidding, of course they will. Who would want to be friends with someone who can do all that… let's hope that after we've dealt with this palace we'll go our separate ways.' Sitting up, I shake my head from side to side. 'I best get out before I pass out.'

Stepping outside of the bathhouse was kind of nice as a cool breeze passed by. It was weird that Morgana wasn't in the locker room when I came out, but that meant that he would be outside instead. I found the cat sitting outside of Leblanc.

"Feeling better, Joker?" He said as he hopped up and into my bag.

"Better, but still ache though."


Date: 4/23

Location: Central Tower of Kamoshidas' Palace

I wasn't really looking forward to fighting Shadow Kamoshida, but seeing as I could wield multiple personas'… then I didn't really have a say in it. Having to carry that obnoxiously large crown was making me hate this place even.

And yeah, watching an almost naked guy turn into a hybrid of a goat and baby that was way too pink was the last straw. I would have dropped the crown and walked out of here if I didn't promise the other three.

The plan was to destroy that chalice first before taking on the pink baby, but of course, getting in close was always the hardest thing to do seeing as I found out the hard way that he can fire a bunch of volleyballs at us.

The battle was going well. We were slowly chipping at its health and the health of that damn chalice of his, which the big pink baby was healing from. It was clear that close quarter combat was not advised seeing as it had that disgusting looking tongue and the oversize knife and fork… well, the others didn't choose to get in close, but I did, even though I get hit a couple of times.

As we took refuge behind one of the pillars, it was Ryuji who suggested something that I wasn't too happy about.

"Dude," He began as he loaded a couple of shells into his shotgun. "you think goin' berserk mode might tip this fight in our favour?"

The look I must have given him must have told him everything.

"Only if you're comfortable, Joker." Morgana said as he slid into the cover that Ryuji and I were in.

"Yeah, and we'll be here to pull you back out of it." I heard Ann say from behind me and I couldn't help but sigh in response.

I really didn't want to go back that there… but if meant that we could get out of here faster then I was going to have to buckle up.

"I don't know how long it's going to take for me to get "it" going, so I'll need you to distract the boss for me."

There was a round of affirmatives from the others and again, it was Ryuji who said something that I wouldn't have thought.

"How about we knock that crown off his head, might piss him off but it should give ya enough time."

"That's probably the smartest thing I've heard you say bone head." Morgana said and I had to somewhat agree with him there.

"Piss off you monster cat." I laughed inwardly at his response before I felt that same cold tingly sensation.

"We'll go with that then, I'll leave the crown to you Skull, Panther, Mona and me will distract the baby so he doesn't find you." I said as I pulled a few smoke bombs out and threw them out.

As soon as the smoke started to billow out, Ryuji started to climb the pillar as the three of us made our way out onto the floor.


Ryujis' POV

Climbing up the weird pillar was easier than I thought and with the smokescreen that Joker put up worked like a charm as Shadow Kamoshida didn't know where I was, being made fun of by Panther and Mona did tick me off, but I will get them back for that.

Panther and Mona were the ones that did most of the fighting seeing as Joker was trying to enter berserk mode and playing support, they were making my job easy as I made my way along the balcony. I didn't pay attention to what was going on down there I was trying as hard as I could to not get seen.

As I got just behind Shadow Kamoshida, I hopped up on the railing just in time to see Shadow Kamoshida shout "Golden Medal Spike!," Panther and Mona were near a pillar on either side of the room and Joker was standing in the middle with his eyes closed, obviously trying to go berserk. Which made him the prime target for the attack.

I would have shouted to tell him to move, but I froze up when a voiceless voice told me to stay quiet as the massive stone volleyball flew towards Joker. Watching Joker take the attack head-on was not something I wanted to see ever, more so when the volleyball smashed the doors into splinters and lodged itself into the wall.

When the voiceless voice returned and told me to go, I couldn't help but leap onto Shadow Kamoshidas' head. I was move surprised that I was able to knock the crown off his head with little resistance, Shadow Kamoshida only made a fuss about it when I was on the floor with the shrunk down crown.

It was when I was putting some distance between me and the goat baby, was when I was able to see the damage that spike really did. If Akira did survive that I would be surprised, but given that our Hud read his health at zero had me doubting that.

"I thought you two were meant to protect him!?" I shouted when I got closer.

"We were, but you try getting him to move, the guy was like a rock and listened like one as well." Panther shouted back.

"And I didn't want to be flattened by that thing." Mona chimed in and I could feel my blood begin to boil.

I had to stop dead in my tracks when I saw blue flames coming around the edges of the volleyball.

'What in the world!?... It can't be… How the fuck did he survive?'

In the few seconds that I had stopped, the flames grew and had started to crack through the ball and it was when the ball exploded, that when I saw Joker standing there with the same look as last time. I didn't know if he was of clear mine but given that he didn't say anythin' then it meant that it was time for me to shine.

Once again, he moved just as fast as last time and I was more shocked that I was able to latch on to him as he pass. One good thing came out of it and that was that I was able to make him stop. My presence must have gotten through to him as he brought a hand up and grasped my arm.

"Thank you, Skull." He said and it's then that I notice the blue flames had died down. It's then that Panther and Mona stepped up.


Ann's POV

I was glad that Ryuji was able to stop Akira from his crazed state and I was about to question why Akira pushed out of Ryujis' grasp and summoned a little red imp with long hair, but when there was a lot of rubble from the volleyballs around us told me that he just saved us.

"Nice save, Joker."

"Yeah, thank you, Joker." I said as I felt my heart start to beat a bit faster.

'I didn't realise how close we were.'

"So, how about we finish this?" Akira said with a glance back at us and with his smooth voice, I honestly couldn't help but fall for him slightly.

"Let's show this overgrown baby what we're made of!"

"I'm right behind you, Joker."

"Yes, let's." I nod my head and hummed. I did get a funny look from Ryuji, but I put what thoughts he might have to the back of my mind.

Our goal, I assumed was still the same, was to destroy the chalice first and then Shadow Kamoshida and honestly, it was starting to look like we would. With Akira having gained control of his… unique powers made getting close to the Shadow Kamoshida and the chalice a lot easier.

Granted, me or Ryuji weren't doing the crazy shit that Akira was doing, like bouncing from small volleyball to small volleyball all the while using his Persona's to not only protect us but also to block the Golden Spike, which seemed like said move was only aimed at Akira. But from what I can remember from some of the video games I have started, Akira was playing the role of Tank and DPS, so it was only natural that it was happening.

I couldn't help but watch Akira as he showed off and who could blame me, the guy looked hot doing so.


Akiras' POV

When the fighting was all over and done with, and I had shaken that power off, my body felt like a sack of potatoes and the migraine I was sporting was among the worst I've had.

'I think a bath is in order when we get back.'

Lying on the floor was going to have to cut it for the time being, but seeing as Ryuji was offering his hand to pull me up meant that the little saving grace I had was short-lived. Whilst Ryuji was helping me, Ann and Morgana were dealing with Shadow Kamoshida.

We got to them just in time to see Kamoshida admit to his sins and promised to go back to his real self.

There was silence as we stood there-Ann with crown in hand-looking at where Shadow Kamoshida once knelt and it was kinda hard to believe that it was finally over. My body was looking forward to a couple of days in the bathhouse.

"It's finally over." Ann said as she dropped to her knees.

I watched as Ryuji walks over, crouches down and places a hand on her shoulder. "Yep, it's finally over."

"So… How about we get out of here?" I said as I was close to joining Ann on the floor.

Of course, the peace of a well-done fight was over when the place started to rumble and crumble. Even with how my body was feeling I was still able to move like the clappers to the hole in the wall that the volleyball that should have killed made.

"You're honestly not thinking about jumping?" Ann said looking over the edge.

"Why not? It's the fastest way down and out."

"Dude, how'd you expect us to survive?" I heard Ryuji say and I was hoping that he was going to be in favour of my idea.

"This isn't your best idea, Joker." Morgana said just before the tower we were in started to lean in my favour.

I did have to agree with Morgana on that as it wasn't my best idea, but given the current situation, I was going to use this exit… I will say this, sliding on bricks was not fun, but it got us out faster.


The week following the taking of the treasure was tiresome to say the least. We were on edge and kept an ear out for any news about Kamoshida as best we could, but without a way into the faculty office-without reason that is-we were left in the dark mostly.

Our relief came on the first Monday in May when Kamoshida showed up looking rough as hell during the morning assembly and laid bare what he had done to the entire school. And of course, Ann laid into him when he said that he was planning on killing himself and it was then I promised never to piss Ann off after watching that.

We celebrated our success with a buffet at Hilton Tokyo, which I was looking forward to more than I thought I would because it wasn't every day that a commoner like me could eat high-class food.

After us eating more food than I thought possible and a run-in with a bald guy that looked familiar, we (even though I wasn't that much up to it) ended up deciding to continue as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, ready to steal the treasure of the corrupt and the deceitful… all of it voted on unanimous by the four of us.

The main question was now was, who was going to be our next target?

Authors Notes

With Season two of The Rising of the Shield Hero out and having this story in mind for some time, I thought that there was no better time than now to write this.

The fight with Shadow Kamoshida and after Ryuji hugged Akira, in my mind, played out like the ball-pit fight scene from Spy x Family episode five. Why? Because it's now my favourite episode ever, plus the music tied with animation was just superb.

I plan on leaving this as uncompleted as I don't know when I'll get around to finishing it, but if this somehow gets enough traction, then I'll push it up on the production list.

For those of you who somewhat care and want to ask stuff, I have Twitter (Under the same name,) so come say hi.

If you do like my work and you have an idea for a story that you want to write, then please, feel free to comment/review and I'll see about writing it at some point.

Walk Tall and Be Fierce, my Friends.