April 17th, 20XX

Sunday. Instead of relaxing, he had to go out and shoot people with the student council delinquent. Huh. Interesting way to put it. So, noodles and guns, why not. Morgana wasn't around when he woke up, so he probably wasn't into it.

He waited around the station exit in Shibuya. Some old guy was giving a speech on top of a soapbox. The man started waving his hands into the small crowd.

"...And it is the people of this country that matter! Not the politicians, not the companies, it is the people like you-"

"Shut up, No-Good-Tora!" Hollered a passerby. As the old man started sputtering, Ren noticed a flash of neon approaching through the crowd.

"Hey, Sakamoto-kun. Mornin'."

"Wassup. So, you been to the new Aiya shop?" They started walking over to central street.

"The noodle place? Yeah, I went there a couple days ago."

"It's pretty good, right? Replaced another noodle shop, kinda funny, right?" Ruji laughed

"That Mega Beef Bowl is pretty mega," said Ren.

"Ha! Got that right!" They quickly took a seat at the counter. Ren decided to save Boss the money on curry ingredients and held his appetite for the meal.

"How're you adjusting to Shujin?" Ryuji took a swig of soda.

"It's going pretty good, not terrible. Better than I expected." Ren took a bite out of the mountain of meat.

"That's good. Bet you're glad your record didn't get out." He nearly choked on his noodles.

"You know?"

"Yeah, I'm still part of the student council, man."

"I… did not think that through." Ryuji snorted.

"Not like it matters. You're cool in my book."

They quickly ate their noodles, not from any sense of awkwardness, but because they were that good.

"So where's this airsoft shop?"

"It's this place down central street, called Untouchable. I'm a regular, but the guy is kinda a hardass."

Ren politely denied the totally-not-scam-artist they passed on their way into the alley.

There was a strange poster on the window to the shop. It was untranslated english text, with the number '40' next to it. Huh.

"Hey, Ryuji. What's that?" Ren pointed at the dark poster.

"Oh, that? I dunno. I think it's a western game. He sells models for it too."

"I thought you were a regular?"

Ryuji rubbed his neck.

"Well, i've been there- Oh crap! He's looking at us!" A gruff man inside glared at them through the poster. Ryuji jumped away from the window.

Eh, that guy is pretty scary looking. Won't judge.

Ren opened the door. He stood in the doorway for a few seconds. The man behind the counter kept up the glare, then shook his head.

"Yo. Your friend going to come in?" Ryuji awkwardly walked in behind Ren.

"Aha… ha…"

"..."

"..."

"..."

God, this is awkward.

"You going to buy anything or keep blockin' the doorway?"

"Yeah, sorry. This is an airsoft shop, right?"

"Well, we got that; uniform models and custom weapons." Ren raised an eyebrow.

"Weapons?"

"No real crap. Why are you two high school brats in here?"

"We're, uh…" Ryuji, as it turns out, was not being very helpful.

"Enthusiasts. Really into airsoft, cosplay, that stuff."

"Really?" The gruff man bit back his lollipop. "I know someone your age like that. Guessing you saw the poster?"

"Yeah, what's the english mean?"

"It's a western game, really blew up in Japan a few years ago, for the people that could read the manual. Never translated the thing." The man seemed a bit too ready to talk about it.

"Seriously? What's it called?"

"Warhammer 40k." The foreign words sounded strange in Ren's ears.

"Huh." The shopkeep suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be cool and badass (Even if doing it intentionally docks you a few points) and dropped his eyes back to a magazine.

"So, are you going to buy anything, or keep on wasting my time?"

Ren bought a cool looking pistol with a curved magazine. Apparently it shot hard foam instead of bullets. Lame.

Ryuji bought a shotgun.

And so, they were off to Akihabara.

Which was apparently just otaku central, and not the combination of a warzone and a red-light district.

But there were guys open carrying bright pink rifles, so kind of a mixed bag.

Some girls too, though they looked a hell of a lot scarier.

Ren thought he spotted one of the third-years walking past, but she was wearing goggles and camo gear, so it was hard to tell.

Ryuji's cell phone started ringing. They stopped in the street while he took the call.

"Yeah… Hey Ma…" Ryuji sighed. "Yeah, I'll be there soon." He tapped the call off and turned to Ren. "Sorry man, I gotta go help my mom with groceries." Aw man.

"Don't worry about it, do what you got to."

"Right, thanks, man." He waved as he walked away. Ren called after him.

"Later man, thanks for the ramen!"

Ren looked down at the box in his bag. Now, to get this around Boss…

"No, see, it's an airsoft gun! I know about not pointing it at people and all that stuff!"

"...Huh?"

Ren's anxiety had been building on the way back to the cafe. He blurted out his excuse as soon as he got there.

...Before anyone actually asked.

He only just then noticed the orange-haired girl jump out of her seat and run into the kitchen area.

"...Sorry, should I come back later?"

Boss leaned into the kitchen area and whispered to the girl.

"That would be best."

"Alright." Ren turned to the door.

"Wait," he stopped, because of Boss's call. "I might have to close up early. Here's a key." The man tossed a key to Ren. He nodded.

"Thanks, I'll get this back to you."

"Don't bother. But if I get any calls about you getting drunk in Shinjuku-" Boss had one of his signature glares on. Ren waved him off as he walked out the door.

"You'll throw me out, I know, I know. I'll get out of your hair. Or what's left of it."

Oh, I am SO paying for that later.

Ren walked around Central Street, checking out the nightlife in Shibuya. Though it probably couldn't be called that at 6 PM.

"Psst, Trickster-" Ren looked around, wondering where the voice was coming from.

"Over here." Ren looked over to- That storefront was not vacant this afternoon! But sure enough, Lavenza was leaning out the door of a tackily decorated bar front. Putting the 'room' in 'Velvet Room,' apparently. Ren quickly walked over.

"How is this here? This is the real world!" He hurriedly whispered, keeping an eye out for any other students. He wasn't wearing his uniform, but Mishima getting a hold of information like this, of him talking to an… unnaturally, hot girl outside of what looked like a bar? To quote Boss, hoo boy.

"Please, come inside." She moved back inside, which Ren could clearly see. Nothing like the way it acted in Mementos, no soul-crushing black void, just a dimmed interior.

He walked in and closed the door behind him.

"I thought this was a cognitive space? I feel pretty awake right now, and I'm sure this is a place in the real world."

"You are awake, Trickster, and you are physically here, but you are simultaneously not."

"Schroedinger's cat." Ren nodded like he knew what he was talking about.

"Precisely, though he simply takes the form of a cat. This room exists between mind and matter, partially in both. To those who have not signed a contract, they simply do not notice an irregularity with the room. To some, it exists, and to others, it does not."

"That's… huh." Ren noticed cat-cat Morgana lazing about on one of the betting machines. "Is that why Morgana's a normal cat right now?"

Ouch, those are sharp claws. How did he jump so fast?

"Get off the Trickster's head, Morgana."

"He deserves it. For the last time, I! Am! Not! A! Cat!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, now get off!" Ren pulled the cat out of his hair desperately, but Morgana held strong, in spite of not having opposable thumbs.

"MROWWW!"

"Ack! Anyway, Igor, was there anything specific you wanted to tell me?"

"I simply wished to alert you to our ability to assist you, Trickster."

"Huh. Well, thanks. Boss doesn't want me to get drunk tonight, so I don't think I'll take any chances with your alcohol."

"If that is the case, may I make a request?" Ren turned to Lavenza.

"Sure."

"I would like you to escort me to a location within the city. No Velvet™ alcohol involved."

"...You trademarked the champagne?"

"It was popular enough."

With two people?

"...Why not. Anyway, where do you want to go?"

"From what Minatos tells me, there is a very interesting location within Tokyo."

You listened to Minatos?

"Apparently, it has the power of multiple galaxies in its kitchens, and it quickly serves that to its guests. I was very intrigued, as he tells me that humans actually consume this cosmic energy. I would like to know how this is achieved." Lavenza had a determined look on her face.

...

"You want me to take you to Big Bang Burger?"

And then, Ren was walking next to a barmaid, on his way down central street.

She constantly waved her head around, trying to get a good look at the city. She looked way too much like a tourist.

The strange blue attire and light complexion probably didn't help that either.

Not that it detracted from the experience, because, hoooooo boy, that's a damn fine- 'Shut it, me. She's probably not human.'

The buzz of the city kept most attention away from them anyway.

"Hey, Lavenza, just thought of something."

"Yes, what is it?"

"How old are you, like, actually?

"About your own age, Trickster. Attendants must do their best to care for the guests of the Velvet Room. I suppose that is why I am."

"Were you ever born?"

"At some point, I must've been, but I do not recall the event's occurrence."

"Yeah, it's not like humans remember their birth either."

"Really? How strange."

"Well, we remember being children. Were you ever a child?"

"I… cannot recall. The closest I have been to that stage was my form as Caroline and Justine."

"Don't beat yourself up about it."

"Hm? What does that mean?"

"Well, humans forget stuff all the time. Heh, I forgot my umbrella yesterday. It's not the end of the world. We don't know everything, and that's not too bad, is it?"

"I suppose you are correct, Trickster, thank you."

"No problem. Is this the place you wanted me to take you?" Ren stopped in front of a restaurant with a big, space-themed sign and advertisements.

"I believe so. How interesting, the use of bright color and cosmic imagery to evoke a curiosity in the viewer, intending to attract the masses into its interior."

"Yeah, something like that. Let's go inside."

"We may enter? Oh, but it would be improper of me to enter such an establishment in such casual clothes. Higher beings would surely appreciate a more formal dressing manner, would they not?" Ren sighed.

"It's fine, I'm sure they don't mind."

In the depths of a faraway sea, a gigantic door covered something best left unseen. It rumbled, scattering earth across the sea floor, burying the sunken city once again.

"One… consumes this? And it is called a burger, Trickster?"

"Yes." Ren managed to scrape the money for two challenge burgers together. Luckily, they had a promotion at night, so it wasn't too damaging for his wallet.

"How interesting." Lavenza picked the rather comically sized burger and pressed it to her mouth. Ren stared at her, as she didn't move for several seconds. A half-minute later, he noticed her face starting to take on a bluish tinge. He jumped out of his seat, and rushed next to her.

"Hey! You don't drink it, you idiot!" Ren pulled her hands down and shoved the straw of his drink in her mouth. She took several gulps, not pausing for air, until he heard only the air in the cup.

"You don't drink burgers, Lavenza. I thought you were going to pass out for a second." Ren face-palmed as she drank the entirety of her quickly-grabbed cup in seconds.

"...I apologize for worrying you, Trickster. It appears that I have not regained all of my strength. I had thought that liquid consumption would be the most effective method."

"Now that I think about it, you don't have anything but drinks in the Velvet Room, do you?"

"As of now, that is true. I still eat, but I will request that Igor provide some other refreshments to the residents."

"You do that. And consider adding Jack and Coke to the menu. Y'know, without Jack."

"I didn't think you would be knowledgeable about mixing drinks."

"I wouldn't either. Do you want to take that burger to go…" Ren realized that the attendant had eaten the rest of the burger while he was talking.

In about ten seconds.

He lazed back in his seat, and contemplated his untouched burger.

"Nevermind. Y'know, Boss probably won't know if I get home too late."

"Your warden, correct?"

"Eh, warden might not be the right word. Guardian is more like it. I only see him an hour every day. Not much of a parent either. Though, that girl could have been his daughter…"

"He sounds like a marvelous man."

"I'm sure he is, but he's a little rough around the edges. Not a bad guy though."

"I suppose you are similar in that regard."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

Lavenza just giggled.

"Do not concern yourself with it. Thank you for showing me this place."

"No problem."

Ren sighed and looked back at his burger. He motioned for a to-go bag from a server.

"So, is there anywhere else you want to go?"

"Not as of now, but I may later. Will you accompany me then?"

"Sure."

I am thou

Really?

Thou art I

I don't mind, I guess. But it's not a date thing.

Thou hast acquired a new vow. It shall become the wings of rebellion that breakth thy chains of mortality.

Not a dating thing. Totally.

With the bond of the Strength Arcana, Thou will obtain the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power.

Strength, huh?

So that's why Minatos wasn't in the room earlier.

Probably got punted to the moon by Lavenza.