Chapter 3: A Strange First Day


Makoto looked around seeing that this was the same as before, but instead of being in a car like before it was like a courtroom. In front of him stood the same man, Igor and the girl Lavenza. Weren't there others before? He walked to the podium and stood in front of them confused.

"It's you again." He spoke up looking at them. "So then that was real before?"

"Indeed it was, my young friend." Igor told him. "Everything you see is very real."

"But why am I here again?" Makoto questioned him confused before looking. "And weren't there more before?"

"Yes, but they have their own guests to attend to." Lavenza told him making him more confused. "Don't worry about it. For your journey I, Lavenza, will be assisting you."

"Oh that's right you mentioned that before." Makoto said remembering that. "But what is this journey? What exactly am I supposed to do?"

"All in due time, my friend." Igor told him as the same mask from before appeared. "During this travel you will meet many other and forge powerful bonds. Bonds that will be helpful for your upcoming trials."

Makoto looked as the mask flew to him before attaching to his head as he yelped out before it turned into blue flames and vanished away. He felt his face and didn't feel anything.

"Don't worry, the flames are harmless." Lavenza explained to him. Now she says it. "That's something that will assist you as well."

"Assist?" Makoto questioned hearing that.

"Yes, you are someone who holds a special power." Igor told him as he looked at him. "A power that will grow as your journey goes on. A power that will change the fate of you and those around you."

"Those…around me?" Makoto questioned confused at hearing that. "I don't understand."

"Makoto!"

"Naegi-kun!"

"You'll learn soon enough." Lavenza told him. "Your journey is close to starting. We will see you again."

"Wait!" Makoto called still having questions before the room started to disappear around him.


He groaned as he was slowly waking up. He felt he was in a room lying on a bed as he looked up seeing Ren and Sayaka above him along with others he didn't meet yet.

"R-Ren?" He questioned groaning tiredly.

Re sighed in relief. "Hey buddy."

"Naegi-kun!" Sayaka said relieved as she hugged him suddenly making him blush. "I was so worried!"

"M-Maizono-san?!" Makoto said blushing heavily from being hugged by her. "W-Wait where are…?" He questioned looking around.

"Nurse's Office." Ren answered him. "Maizono-chan said you passed out and you were brought here."

Makoto remembered passing out because he'd been called to the Velvet Room. "Wait so how'd I get here?"

"Oh."Sayaka let him go turning to two of the others in the room. "That was because of them. They saw you pass out by me and ran to help."

Makoto looked to the two teens who looked roughly younger than him and the others. The first was a girl with shoulder length blonde hair with several musical note hair pins in it and violet eyes. She wore a uniform of a white long sleeved shirt under a purple vest and a brownish-red tie, a purple skirt with black musical staves note pattern, purple stockings and beige shoes with a white backpack. The second was a boy with short black hair that was covered by the black cap he wore and grey eyes. He wore a black uniform with jacket, pants and shoes.

"Oh well then thanks for helping me, I guess." Makoto said to them both smiling.

The girl smiled back. "It was not problem. We saw what happened and well it would've been wrong to stand by."

"Uh yeah that's right." The boy nodded in agreement.

"Well thanks again for helping." Makoto said again before asking. "What are your names by the way?"

"I'm Kaede Akamatsu, the Ultimate Pianist. Nice to meet you!" She smiled at them brightly.

The boy looked timidly away but spoke. "M-My name's Shuichi Saihara, the Ultimate Detective. At least that's what they say."

The three of them looked surprised at hearing his talent since there was an ultimate detective already in their class.

"Ultimate Detective? Another one?" Makoto questioned hearing that.

"They let someone else besides Kyoko in with that talent?" Ren questioned that while Makoto and Sayaka noticed what he said.

"I guess so, though not sure if I truly deserve that title." Shuichi told them all as Kaede pouted to that.

"Shuichi we gotta work on that confidence of yours." She chided him lightly.

Makoto looked at Ren. "That explains them. Ren how'd you know I was here though?"

Ren looked at him. "Oh right, uh Enoshima-san apparently heard what happened while I was touring with Sherry and I immediately ran here."

"Sherry?" Makoto questioned before the other girl in the room stepped up.

"That's me." She told him smiling. "My name's Sherry Hinawa, Ultimate Violinist. You're one of Renny's classmates, huh? Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." Makoto said feeling at ease with her kind introduction. "I'm Makoto Naegi, the Ultimate Lucky Student. And wait. Renny?" He questioned realizing as he looked at Ren who blushed.

"What's that about, Akutagawa-kun?" Sayaka teased smirking at him.

"S-Shut up." Ren told them both as he looked the younger two. "So what class are you two in?"

"79th." Kaede answered him.

"Oh so the secondary course then." Ren realized. "So I guess that technically makes us your senpais."

"Didn't expect to be someone's senpai this early." Makoto remarked scratching his head smiling. "But I guess it'll be fun knowing you both."

"Likewise, Naegi-senpai." Kaede smiled.

Ren walked by Makoto scratching his head embarrassed. "So uh hey listen." He spoke as Makoto looked at him. "Sorry about ditching you earlier. I thought maybe it would help you a bit in confidence to talk with Maizono-chan alone."

Makoto smiled to him. "Hey don't worry about it, Ren. I get you were probably trying to help. Just don't try and leave me without a fair warning."

"Geez at least pretend to be angrier with me." Ren said dramatically before wondering. "By the way why'd you pass out anyway?" He asked concerned.

Makoto was prepared to answer, but felt that he shouldn't mention about the Velvet Room or Igor. Something like that seems unbelievable. Even he still can't believe it. "I-I don't know, I guess maybe I passed out from exhaustion. I didn't really sleep last night since I was excited to come here."

Ren chuckled to that. "Well I guess I can believe it." He pat his shoulder. "Can you stand?"

"Yeah." The Luckster nodded as he stood from the bed stumbling a bit making the Wild Card and Idol check him. "I'm fine really." He soon stood up. "There see?" Ren and Sayaka still looked unconvinced but seemed to let this go. "How long was I out?"

"About 30 minutes or so." Sayaka answered pointing to a clock. "From what you said though I guess you needed it."

"Yeah I guess, sorry I ruined your guys' tours though." Makoto told them feeling a bit guilty.

"Don't sweat it, Makoto." Ren told him. "A tour isn't as important as someone's health. There's plenty of chances to look around the school later on."

"Akutagawa-kun's right on that, Naegi-kun." Sayaka added smiling. "I'd be more concerned for you than knowing about the areas in the school."

Makoto smiled to hearing that from them both before hearing something from his stomach as he looked embarrassed while the rest looked and the girls giggled while Ren smirked.

"Sounds like your tanks empty at the moment." He chuckled at him wrapping an arm around him. "Come on, let's go eat then."

"Sure." Makoto nodded as they walked out of the Nurse's Office to head off to eat. "By the way, how'd you meet her?" He looked at Sherry.

"Oh I ran into her right when I split up from you." Ren answered him walking looking to Sherry who was talking with Kaede and Sayaka. "There's something about her."

Makoto looked at him wondering to what that meant before asking. "So Renny?"

"Shut up." He muttered pulling Makoto's hood over his head making him struggle.


4/7 (Sunday)

Afternoon

After a bit they had arrived in one of the cafeterias in the school and grabbed their meals before sitting at a table talking some more while others around the school were doing the same.

"So Ren, what school did you go to before coming here anyway?" Makoto asked sitting across from him eating.

Ren took a sip from his mug before setting it down. "Shiketsu Private Academy."

"I think I know that place." Kaede said eating. "Isn't it pretty far from here though?"

Ren nodded. "My uncle let me move in with him before the school year started."

"Oh that explains it." Makoto nodded to that.

Sherry soon finished up as she stood with her tray. "Well I'm off. I gotta finish with unpacking. It was nice meeting you all." She said to them bowing a bit as they nodded, before looking to Ren. "And I hope to see you around, Renny. Maybe you can hear me play sometime?" She offered.

"Yeah sure of course." Ren nodded to hearing that. "I'll see you around, Sherry."

She smiled going off from the table. Ren watched her go before turning back as the rest were looking at him.

"What?" He questioned them before they went back to eating.

After some time the five of them soon left and were preparing to head back to their dorms.

"Well it was nice meeting you guys." Makoto said to them. "Hope to see you more around the school."

"I'm sure you will." Kaede smiled at them with Shuichi giving a nod and smile as well before they walked back to their dorm.

The three of them soon walked back to their class' dorm and entered in. As they did they saw Leon on the couch groaning.

"What's wrong with you?" Makoto asked him seeing him like that.

"I don't wanna talk about it." He said muffled.

Mukuro walked by and stated casually. "He was being chased around."

"Yo!" Leon suddenly shot up as she left the room.

"Chased around?" Sayaka questioned confused hearing that. "By who?"

Leon groaned. "One of the upperclassman. Ibuki Mioda, the Ultimate Musician."

"Oh I think I heard of her." Makoto realized. "She was lead singer of her band in middle school."

"Oh right, didn't they break up though?" Sayaka questioned.

"That's what I read." He nodded before looking to Leon. "So why was she hounding you?"

"Apparently someone let it be known that I decided to change careers." Leon mentioned. "So she wanted to teach me everything, though I might've taken her up on it if she had been a little less…" He tried finding the right word.

"Spirited?" Sayaka guessed.

"Yeah something like that." Leon nodded to that palming his face in his hand. "Oh man, that woman didn't give up."

"Who even told her anyway?" Makoto questioned him.

Ren noticed Junko walking by chuckling with a grin on her face giving him an idea on who told him.

The rest of the day, the students just stuck around the dorm with them occasionally talking with each other before having dinner and all deciding to get some sleep. Makoto went back to his room after saying good night to both Sayaka and Ren before getting in the shower and lying in bed, however his mind was still filled with questions of earlier.

'Great journey? What could Igor mean?' He wondered before he slowly drifted off to sleep with these questions still in mind. As he did, something started to appear on his phone. A strange app.


4/8 (Monday)

Early Morning

The next morning, Makoto woke up to hearing the alarm of his phone as he groaned and turned it off. He looked at the time.

"Guess I better get ready." He said as he slowly got up and prepared to get ready for his first day of school. After showering he grabbed the uniform provided for him. It consisted of a white dress shirt, a brown blazer and pants and a red tie. He wore his regular shoes along with it before stepping out grabbing his bag on the way out as he did was also when Ren came out. "Morning, Ren!" He smiled.

"Morning Makoto." Ren turned to him smiling also. He had on the same uniform as Makoto, but didn't have his tie tied and his shirt was black instead. "Well first day how ya feeling?"

"Nervous, but not as much as when I first stepped to the gates yesterday." Makoto admitted to him. "Probably cause of already meeting everyone or maybe just cause of what happened."

Ren chuckled to him at that. "Yeah, I get it, but don't worry so much." He told him patting his shoulder as they walked to the stairs to reach the dining hall. "It's gonna be alright."

"Right." Makoto nodded as they entered into the dining hall where some of their classmates were as they walked to the kitchen getting food before walking to where Sayaka was sitting. "Morning Maizono-san!"

"Morning Naegi-kun, Akutagawa-kun!" Sayaka smiled to them wearing the female student uniform with a ribbon in place of a tie.

"Morning." Ren sat down with his mug in his hand taking a sip looking around the room seeing almost everyone except one. "Hey where's Kyo…Kirigiri-san?"

They both looked to the quick change even when he'd called her by her name yesterday, but Sayaka spoke. "I saw her leave a little bit again. Said something of the headmaster needing her on something."

"And?" Makoto questioned her.

"That's all she said." She answered making both of them slump.

"That girl's a mystery for sure." Makoto mentioned muttering.

"No joke." Ren sighed at that. 'Though it's strange he'd call her so early.'

"I just wonder why though." Makoto said voicing his thoughts for him.

"Who can say?" Ren questioned taking a bite from his toast.

Soon once everyone finished they all started making their way over to Hope's Peak. On their way, Makoto and Ren noticed sirens flashing around and a crowd.

"The hell?" Ren questioned as they walked to look.

Makoto looked to one of the other students in the crowd. "Hey what's going on?"

"Someone was found dead outside of the school." They answered shocking both of them as they looked at each other before pushing through the crowd to get to the front.

"Excuse us." Makoto said as they reached the front to look. They looked seeing the police around as some were covering what they presumed to be the body of whoever it was while seeing Kyoko talking to some of the others on duty. "What do you think happened?"

"I-I don't know." Ren shook his head looking to the scene.

Kyoko was talking to the police on the situation and nodded before turning as she looked seeing the two of them watching with the crowd. She walked over to them. "Don't you all have class to get to?"

With that much of the crowd dispersed, but the two of them stayed making her look at them. "Same for you two."

"Don't you also?" Ren snarked back at her making her glare.

Makoto seeing something about to happen stepped between them. "So uh what exactly happened here, Kirigiri-san? Someone in the crowd said that someone was found outside the school."

Kyoko looked to him before sighing. "Yes that's true. The cause of death we're not sure of yet, but it doesn't seem like the victim was attacked as there's no sign of any wounds."

"So what? They just suddenly died somehow?" Makoto questioned. "How's that happen?"

"That's why we're waiting for an autopsy." Kyoko told them.

"Ah Kirigiri-san!" A voice called making her eyes widen slightly before looking annoyed.

"Oh no." She groaned turning as they both looked.

They saw a teen older than them with shaggy brown hair and reddish brown eyes. He wore a tan peacoat, white button down shirt, black and white striped tie, black pants, gloves and brown loafers.

Makoto recognized him immediately. "Wait isn't that Goro Akechi?" He questioned seeing him.

"The Detective Prince?" Ren added looking. "Yeah that's him."

Kyoko sighed in annoyance when he came up. "Akechi, what a surprise. Why are you here?"

"Oh now don't be that way." He smiled coming up to her. "I'm here same as you doing my job. When I heard the report I had to see if it was like the other cases."

"Other cases?" Ren questioned hearing that.

"What other cases?" Makoto questioned also.

Akechi turned to them. "Oh these must be classmates of yours I take it?" He wondered. "Pleasure gentlemen. As for the other cases…" He prepared to say, but Kyoko cut him off.

"Classified." She told them both. "They don't need to hear it, Akechi. And they have to get to class."

"Oh very well." Akechi sighed to that looking to them both. "Well I hope to see you two around more. Have a good day." He bowed before looking to Kyoko. "And I look forward to working with you again, Miss Kirigiri." He walked off.

Kyoko sighed in annoyance as Ren leaned against the barricade. "So if he's the prince does that make you the Detective Princess?" He teased making her glare at him again.

Makoto flinched pulling Ren's arm. "Hey Ren we should probably head to class now before Ishimaru gets on our cases for being late!" He tried to pull Ren along with him.

"Okay, okay you can stop with the pulling." Ren followed him.

"Hold it, Akutagawa." Kyoko said sternly making them stop before she came to him. They watched as she grabbed his tie before…tying it for him and letting go. "You should learn to tie this. I'll be in class shortly." She walked back.

Makoto blinked to watching that. "What was that about?" He asked Ren confused.

"Uh it's…it's nothing." Ren told him quickly before clearing his throat. "Come on."

They both walked off heading to class as Kyoko returned back to the scene where Akechi was waiting.

"You know the taller one." He said to her watching them leave. "I can't help but notice how similar he looks to the headmaster." She stopped at that. "Why is that?"

"Does he?" Kyoko questioned. "I hadn't noticed." She continued to work.

Meanwhile, Makoto and Ren ran to get to their classroom and entered inside where the rest were settling to their seats.

Makoto sighed in relief as they took their seats. "Made it."

"Yeah." Ren sighed sitting in the desk next to him.

"So Ren what do you think Akechi-san meant?" Makoto asked him making him look at him. "Those other cases mentioned I mean. What did he mean? Murders? Or something else?"

"Good question. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer." Ren told him thinking. "Although it's gotta be something pretty big if he's involved."

"Well what about this victim?" The Luckster questioned him. "Was it a random person or someone from the school?"

"Wish I had an answer." The Wild Card answered just when Kyoko entered in just as the bell rang.

They all sat in silence a bit before the door to their class opened up as someone stepped in. He was a relaxed shaggy, long blonde haired man with blue eyes and a pencil thin mustache and goatee. He wore a white tuxedo and a white hat on his head. They all recognized him as the man that scouted all of them out.

"Good morning, everyone." He said to them all. "Sure you all remember me as the school's talent scout, but for this year I'm going to be your teacher. My name is Koichi Kizakura."

Some of them looked confused to this since they thought their teacher would be someone else. Ren noticed that Kyoko didn't seem at all surprised as if she knew something.

Kizakura spoke again. "I know, I know not what you expected." He spoke their thoughts. "Believe me this was a surprise for me too. But this was kind of a last minute thing for everyone really." He finished.

Makoto leaned to Ren. "Last minute? Wait you think?" He asked him quietly.

"Doesn't seem like a coincidence." Ren told him suspiciously.

The rest of their starting class was just details of their classes and how they have the option of whether to attend or not, but not during more important matters. Kizakura also explained how exams work a little differently to focus more with their talents something Makoto and Ren weren't entirely certain of due to their 'talents.' Other than that, the class mostly talked amongst themselves, the two of them no different.

"So you really think it's not a coincidence, Ren?" Makoto asked him about what they saw earlier.

"I'm almost certain." Ren said to him. "I mean if the fact Kizakura-sensei is our teacher isn't proof, I don't know what is."

"Fair enough." Makoto said looking to his phone for anything. "Doesn't look like the media knows yet." He said closing out before seeing the strange icon. "Huh?"

"Yeah well figures that this place wouldn't spill anything on that, they gotta…" The Wild Card continued before seeing Makoto looking at something. "What's wrong?"

"Take a look at this." Makoto showed him the strange app which looked like a weird eye on his home screen.

"What the hell? What app is that?" Ren asked him looking at it.

"I don't know." Makoto told him looking at it. "I don't even remember adding it on here."

Ren looked at his own phone not seeing the icon. "Well it's not on mine."

"Great so much for luck." Makoto grumbled as he soon deleted the icon from his phone, not wanting to risk a virus. "Probably something my sister did before I left home."

Ren chuckled. "Yeah sibs are a pain."

"You have any?" Makoto asked him.

Ren flinched a bit. "I have a younger cousin who's kind of like a sister. If that counts."

"Yeah I guess that counts." Makoto said to him not noticing him flinch.

Sayaka came up to them. "What are you two talking about?"

"Oh hey Maizono-san." Makoto greeted her. "We're talking siblings."

"And how they can work our nerves." Ren added.

"Oh I see." She giggled hearing that.

"Oh that's what you're talking about huh?" They looked seeing Junko coming leaning on Ren's desk.

"Oh Enoshima-san." Ren said seeing her.

"If it's sibling trouble I've got stories." She smirked leaning by him. "Care to hear, Akutagawa-kun?"

"I don't know if I could listen to ones from you, but I'm sure Ikusaba-san's got stories." Ren remarked towards her.

"Oh so hurtful, Akutagawa-kun." She said as her whole personality seemed to change suddenly making them shocked by how quick to that before she turned to an almost cutesy persona. "Well if you don't wanna hear them now, then maybe later? After school perhaps?"

"Uh we'll see, but I might be busy." Ren told her.

She grinned to him switching to normal. "With the violin girl maybe?" She questioned making him blush. "Oh! So that's it, is it?!"

Ren looked away from her. "Don't see how it's any business of yours anyway, Cheshire. It's my business."

"Oh really?" Junko questioned him leaning by his face.

"Cheshire?" Sayaka questioned that nickname.

"So what is it with you two then, huh?" She questioned pouting at him as he looked away.

Makoto thought to help, but someone else did it for him. Kyoko did by pulling Junko back from him.

"I believe he said it's his business." She told Junko sternly as the others looked. "I expect that you should respect it."

Junko huffed. "Well fine then." She turned around. "I'll learn eventually though." She waved back to Ren. "Bye, Ren-Ren." She walked off.

"Ren-Ren?" He questioned shaking his head before looking at Kyoko. "So I guess I should thank you then?"

"You could." The Detective told him. "I was just coming over to tell you that the Headmaster wished to speak with you."

"Huh?" The three questioned while the two looked at Ren.

"Ren?" Makoto questioned him.

Ren looked at him. "Don't worry, buddy it's probably nothing." He stood grabbing his bag. "I'll see you in a bit." With that he walked out with Kyoko to the Headmaster's office.

"What's that about?" Sayaka questioned confused.

"I don't know." Makoto answered looking to the door. 'Obviously it isn't about the murder. So why does the Headmaster wanna see Ren?'

"I doubt it's serious." Sayaka spoke up as he snapped out of his thoughts looking at her. "I'm psychic remember?" She questioned before adding. "No I just remember you two breaking off from the rest of us this morning to see what the commotion was about."

"Oh I guess we were the only ones really curious about it then." Makoto scratched his head at that. "It is still suspicious though. This happening anyway I mean."

Sayaka nodded before they left the classroom together. "So anyway you're not feeling faint like yesterday, right?" She asked him concerned.

"No don't worry I'm fine." Makoto assured her. He felt he wasn't going to have any problems like yesterday and felt fine now. Though he was still lingering on a few things. "Like I said it was just exhaustion yesterday was all."

Sayaka still didn't seem convinced, but she let it go for now. "Well alright then, but if you start feeling that way then you immediately go to the nurse, understood?" She told him sternly making him nervous a bit.

"Uh yes ma'am, I promise." The Luckster nodded to her words.

Satisfied with that answer, she smiled again. "Alright then, well I need to get to my next class and so do you!" She turned to go off waving. "See you later, Naegi-kun!"

"Yeah see ya later, Maizono-san." He waved back before he walked off to find his next class. Before he did, he looked at his phone again just to make sure that app didn't come back. When he checked it was back. "Again? Okay so maybe not Komaru's doing, then who or what?" He wondered this looking before he bumped into someone making him yelp and fall back. "Oh man." He groaned rubbing his back looking up. "Sorry about that."

"Oh think nothing of it." The person held out his hand. Makoto looked up to the figure. He had messy, off-white shoulder length hair, light grey-green eyes and very pale skin. He wore a sleeveless green sweater with a red v-neck collar. "Let me help you."

"Oh thanks." Makoto took his hand and let him pull him up. Once he straightened himself out he looked to the older teen. "Again sorry about that. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

He gave him a smile. "Don't worry about it. It isn't the worst that's happened to me, which might be later on." He told him as Makoto looked at him confused. "But how rude I haven't introduced myself. My name is Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky Student."

"You too?" Makoto questioned surprised that someone else possessed his talent. Though he wasn't fully surprised since it was just from a lottery.

"Ah then you must be the new lucky student in the 78th class I take it?" Nagito questioned at hearing that.

Makoto nodded. "I'm Makoto Naegi. Nice to meet you, Komaeda-senpai." He shook his hand.

"Likewise to you, Naegi." Nagito told him. "I do look forward to seeing just how your luck shines on in this school."

Makoto looked from hearing that. "Uh yeah thanks. Though it's really not always that good. If at all anyway."

"Yes well I admit that mine is a bit…different than that." Nagito admitted to him before shaking his head. "But still I anticipate to see what you will bring to the school."

"Uh sure." Makoto told him not sure how to respond on that one. 'Though he might be disappointed, unless whatever Igor wants me for becomes important.' Before the conversation with Nagito could continue someone came by.

"Oh Naegi-kun!" He looked as Sherry came up to him placing her hands on his shoulders. "There you are!"

"S-Sherry?" Makoto questioned surprised seeing her.

"Hope I'm not interrupting." She said to them both.

"Oh no, it's nothing." Nagito assured her smiling. "Well I believe I've taken enough of your time, Naegi. I hope both of you have a good day." He told them walking off.

Makoto looked seeing him go before looking at Sherry. "Sherry what was that about?"

"Sorry about, Naegi-kun." Sherry told him. "Just I've heard a few things concerning him."

"What kind of things?" Makoto questioned her at hearing that. And if he should be concerned in the future.

Sherry looked to him, but shook her head. "Don't worry about it too much." She told him. "We should head to class though."

Makoto looked at her not telling him whatever it was about Nagito, but he did nod to what she said. "Yeah right." He walked with her down the hall.

"By the way." She spoke making him look over at her. "Where's Renny at?"

"The Headmaster needed to see him for something." Makoto answered her as she looked in concern so he quickly backpedaled. "I'm sure it's nothing bad! That's at least what Ren said anyway!" He tried to calm her down.

Sherry seemed to accept that. "Well alright then."

Makoto breathed out in relief before he wondered something. "Hey Sherry can I ask something?" He questioned as she looked at him. "Why'd you suddenly start calling Ren 'Renny'? Just seems like something a little…intimate."

"Oh really?" Sherry questioned blushing a bit as she twirled a lock of hair. "To be honest with you really, Naegi-kun, I don't really know why I suddenly started with it." She admitted to him while he looked at her. "Guess it's just sort of been a habit when I meet people at times."

"Why's that?" Makoto questioned her hearing that.

Sherry looked like she wanted to answer before seeing her classroom. "Oh look we're here now."

Makoto looked at the door before looking to his schedule. "Oh yeah. I guess we're here together." He said to her before looking at her. "What were you going to say before?"

"Never mind, it's nothing." Sherry told him before entering in as he followed in after her confused.

'I wonder what she was about to say?' He wondered confused sitting by her looking at her as she was twirling her hair more. A nervous tic maybe? "Hey Sherry? If something's wrong I can listen if you want."

The Violinist looked to him and smiled. "Thank you, Naegi-kun. But it's alright, really." She assured him before turning to the front.

Makoto looked at her again before turning also while his attention diverted to his phone once again looking at the mysterious app. 'Was this your doing, Igor?'


A while after classes had gone by as some students were heading to the cafeteria for lunch. Makoto walked through getting his tray as he walked to find a table. He didn't see Ren or Sayaka yet though which made him confused.

'Ren couldn't still be with the Headmaster, right?' He wondered confused. 'I'm not sure about Maizono-san.'

"Senpai! Over here!" He looked seeing Kaede smiling waving to him.

He smiled walking over to her and Shuichi. "Hello, Akamatsu. Saihara." He greeted them and sat down.

"Hello Senpai." Shuichi greeted with a nod to him.

"So how have your days been?" Makoto asked them both.

"Been going great." Kaede told him smiling as she gestured to Shuichi. "Shuichi's slowly coming out of his shell." When she said that it made the Detective blush and lower his hat over his face.

Makoto chuckled a bit at that display. "Well at least its progress anyway." He remarked to Shuichi. "I'm sure you'll fully get there."

"Yeah I guess." Shuichi muttered before looking to him. "By the way why aren't Akutagawa-senpai and Maizono-senpai with you?"

"I don't really know on Maizono." Makoto answered him. "As for Ren last I saw him was the end of homeroom when he was called to the Headmaster's office."

"What? Why?" Kaede questioned him hearing that.

"I don't know, he said it was probably nothing." Makoto told them both. "It only being the first day and all it must be nothing." He said to them before he looked over in the line as he saw Ren there. "Oh there he is." They looked before seeing Ren leaving the room. "Huh? Ren?"

"Where's he?" Kaede questioned before Makoto stood to follow him. "Wait up." She got up after him.

"H-Hey guys wait!" Shuichi said following them as they all returned their trays to follow Ren.


Outside, Ren sat near one of the resting areas by the courtyard eating. He sat with his head on his hand with a look in a mixture of annoyance and anger. He thought back to his talk with the Headmaster earlier. It clearly wasn't a pleasant one.

/Flashback/

"So what's this about?" Ren questioned keeping an even tone. He sat in the Headmaster's office across from him with Kyoko in the seat next to him.

The Headmaster sighed to him expecting that as he'd received it before from the Detective next to him. "Look I understand you don't wish to be here, but I just…needed to talk to you."

"Oh that's all?" Ren questioned sarcastically turning away. "16 years later and you wish to talk?"

Jin sighed to that as Kyoko kept quiet through this with her eyes closed. She figured this is how it might go. It did with her after all.

Ren looked back at Jin with a glare that showed bitterness. "Was this whole 'Wild Card' talent really just an excuse so that I'd be brought in?" Jin looked away which seemed to confirm it. "I figured. Someone else in the Reserve Course probably deserved this more."

"Ren, I know that I have much to answer for not just to you." Jin told him as he glanced to Kyoko. "But I want you to know something, son."

Ren turned away from that. "Don't call me that." He said to him with an edge that had Kyoko looking at him.

Jin looked downcast before sighing. "Of course. Well I want you to know that I regret many things. Leaving her." He looked to Kyoko who didn't acknowledge it. "And us giving you up." Ren didn't acknowledge it so he sighed. "And I want you to know that doing so was the hardest thing we could've done."

"Yeah well you certainly didn't have a hard time deciding which one to give up, did you?" Ren said bitterly as he stood grabbing his bag. "Well you've seen me and as you can see I did fine without either of you."

"Ren…" Jin tried to say to him, but Ren wouldn't hear as he walked to the door.

"You have a good day." He said walking to the door and leaving. Right as he walked out of it and down the hall it opened as he looked seeing Kyoko coming out looking to him. "What gonna scold me for talking to him that way?"

The Detective shook her head to him. "I have about as much connection to him as you do, Ren. He left me too."

Ren scoffed looking away. "Yeah well there's a difference. He was at least around for most of your life." He then turned back at her. "And despite us sharing that fact it doesn't mean a thing."

Kyoko looked at him a bit. Her expression was unreadable for him so he didn't know what she was thinking til she closed her eyes. "Very well then. Then we'll go about our time here as classmates." She looked back at him. "Does that suit you?"

"Yes." Ren said to her as he walked for his next class. As he did his thoughts were clouded. It's what he wanted so…

/End Flashback/

"Then why does it feel like it doesn't?" He wondered to himself aloud. He didn't need them in his life, so then why?

"Uh hey Ren?" A voice said behind him making him jump a bit as he turned seeing Makoto, Kaede and Shuichi behind him. "Oh sorry about that."

Ren sighed in relief. "No it's fine. What are you guys doing here?"

"I was gonna ask the same thing." Makoto said to him walking to him. "What gives man? Why are you out here by yourself?"

"I just needed some time to myself to think over some things." Ren responded to him.

Makoto looked at him for that before thinking. "Is this about your talk with the Headmaster?" Ren flinched a bit to that. "Sorry to pry, but…"

Ren raised a hand to him silencing him. "It is, but it's personal."

"Senpai…" Kaede tried to speak, but before she could someone ran by her and Shuichi hiding under the table.

"Kuwata?" Makoto saw him under the table before the Baseball Star shushed him confusing all of them. "What are you doing?"

"Hiding? What's it look like?" He questioned rhetorically.

"Mioda-senpai?" Ren questioned him.

"Yeah." He nodded keeping down.

"Well I don't see her around." Makoto told him looking around. "I think you're clear." He said allowing the athlete to come out of hiding. Makoto then looked back at Ren. "So listen that app from before?" He began as Ren looked to him before he pulled out his phone to show him that it was back.

"What it's back?" Ren looked surprised. "So I guess it wasn't your sister then?"

Makoto shook his head knowing who it was really, but left that part out. Leon, Kaede and Shuichi all looked over to see the app with the latter two looking at it in recognition. The Detective pulled out his own phone and showed the same app making them all look at this.

"Wait you both have it?" Ren questioned confused.

Makoto looked at Shuichi. 'Is he one of the other guests that Igor mentioned?' He wondered in confusion. Before he could question it he noticed something. "Maizono-san?"

They all looked at him before following his gaze. They saw the Idol walking away from the school.

"Where's she going?" Kaede questioned. "Classes are going to be starting again soon." They watched her go seeing some nerves to her steps.

"Well we don't technically have to attend." Ren reminded them as he stood up. "Let's find out where she's going."

"Seriously?" Leon questioned as he started walking. "Dude if we don't show then Ishimaru's gonna get on our asses." He then saw Makoto getting up. "Wait you too, Naegi?"

Makoto turned to him. "I don't like the idea of having to leave, Kuwata. But I'm curious and a bit concerned of why Maizono-san's leaving like this." He followed after Ren.

"Well I'm going too." Kaede said following the both of them.

"Oh come on." Leon groaned looking to Shuichi who shrugged and followed after making him sigh. "Crap. Fine." He went after them. "I know I'm gonna regret this."


They followed Sayaka as she was walking from the school and heading into the city. They were wondering as to why she was doing this and where she was going specifically.

"Couldn't we just ask her when she gets back?" Leon questioned them again.

"Hey if you wanna leave we're not stopping you." Ren told him looking back up front. "Where in the hell is she even going?"

"Let's keep going and find out." Makoto told them holding his phone more as he looked to the app and pressed it as it opened. "Weird."

"Do you really have to look at that now?" Ren asked him as they walked.

Makoto kept looking at it as they were walking not paying attention to Ren's words as he saw a microphone on the screen to it.

"Guys hold up." Shuichi told them quickly making them stop as they looked seeing where Sayaka was heading. It looked like some kind of recording studio.

"Sugimaru Recording Studio?" Leon questioned seeing it. "Hey I heard of this place! It's run by Kazuhira Sugimaru!"

"Sugimaru?" Kaede questioned hearing that. "Isn't he Maizono-senpai's manager?"

"And manager of many other singers and up and comers." Ren mentioned. "A lot of people tend to tell him 'King of Idols.'"

"Who calls him that?" Makoto asked him curious not noticing his phone typing in something.

"I think just himself. Guy thinks he's king of some castle or something." The Wild Card answered.

"Candidate found, preparing navigation." Makoto's phone spoke making them all look at it.

"Preparing navigation?" Makoto questioned confused before seeing the whole area seem to distort. "W-Whoa what's going on?!"

"How should we know?!" Kaede questioned in shock.

"Oh I knew I should've stayed behind!" Leon shouted out loud before their visions all blurred.


Unknown:

Makoto groaned as his vision slowly came back to normal. He looked seeing the rest also coming to their senses also.

"What in the hell?" Makoto questioned looking around.

"Uh guys?" Leon spoke as they all looked seeing him look in shock. "That wasn't there before right?"

They all looked before looking up in shock and confusion. In front of them was a huge castle in the middle of the city.

"What the hell?!" Kaede exclaimed. "Where did that come from?!"

"Where is everyone?" Shuichi questioned not seeing anyone else, but them.

"And where's the studio?" Ren questioned looking to the castle.

Makoto looked at his phone again specifically at the app. "I think this had something to do with it. Something we said caused this."

"How the hell does that make sense?!" Leon exclaimed grabbing onto his shoulders shaking him. "I don't know how you did it, but find a way to get us back!"

"Kuwata!" Makoto shouted from the shaking. "I'm not sure how I can! I don't even know what I did!"

"Kuwata-senpai calm down!" Kaede spoke up separating them both. "This isn't helping!"

Makoto shook his head to get reoriented before looking back to the castle and turning at Ren. "What do you think?"

"I'm think we're not gonna learn anything standing here." He replied.

Makoto agreed. "Yeah, let's head in and look around." He walked ahead with Ren.

"W-Wait!" Shuichi called as they followed them both into it. They looked at it as they entered noticing the grand design of it.

Kaede looked at her phone. "No reception?"

"What the hell is this place even?" Leon questioned looking around at the place.

"I really wish I knew." Makoto said walking looking around before looking to Shuichi. "Saihara? Can I speak with you a moment?"

Shuichi looked before walking to him. "What is it you need Senpai?"

"You have the same app I do." Makoto showed him. "So answer me this. Did you have someone appear to you in a strange dream? A long nosed man named Igor?"

Shuichi looked surprised. "H-How did…Wait you mean?"

Makoto nodded. "I've met him too. He told me I'd have to be on some journey."

"Same with me." Shuichi answered. "What does it all mean?"

"I wish I knew, but something tells me it's connected with…whatever this is." Makoto told him pointing around the castle. "That's about all I can figure at least."

They soon heard something as they all turned. Behind them was a knight in black armor wearing a strange mask.

"What the hell? Hey buddy you work around here?" Leon questioned walking up with the rest. "If so tell us what this is." But the figure remained silent annoying him. "Hey don't just ignore me, man!"

Ren looked around seeing another one coming from the stairs. "Uh Kuwata?"

He turned seeing it coming also with the rest of them with all of them feeling unease now.

"Okay I'm starting to freak out now." Kaede said nervously holding onto Shuichi.

"Let's get out of here!" Leon turned to get out but another knight appeared before bashing him with the shield as he was knocked back and down.

"Kuwata!/Senpai!" The group all shouted running to him worried. Makoto looked around seeing more of the strange knights appearing and surrounding them slowly before they all got knocked out as well.

As Makoto passed out he heard someone shout to take them away.


"Makoto? Makoto!?" A familiar voice called out.

"Senpai, wake up!" Another familiar voice called out.

Makoto groaned as his eyes slowly opened before he saw Ren and Kaede looking down at him worried. "Guys?" He slowly sat up holding his head.

"You alright?" Ren asked him concerned.

"Yeah kind of." Makoto groaned looking at them. "You guys?"

"More or less." Kaede answered him.

"Hey! Let us out of here!" They turned seeing Leon banging on the door of the cell they were in with Shuichi by him. "I know there's someone out there!"

"Has been like that the whole time?" Makoto questioned them as the other three nodded. They all suddenly something like shouting in agony.

"What was that?!" Shuichi questioned in alarm as they all ran to the cell door. They looked for the source, but couldn't see anything.

"I don't like the sound of that." Makoto said nervously. "We gotta get out somehow."

"I don't see anything we could use to bust open the door." Kaede looked around in the cell before they heard something else. "Do you hear that?"

They looked before seeing the knights coming towards their cell. One stopped in front of it. "Be glad that your punishment has been decided upon. Your charge is 'unlawful entry.' Thus, you will be sentenced to death."

"Say what?!" Leon exclaimed in horror of hearing that with the rest looking in fear.

"You can't be serious!" Ren exclaimed.

"No one's allowed to do as they please in my castle." A new voice spoke up making them look as someone walked up. He was a man with black hair wearing a crown on his head and a cape around his body. The strangest thing was his eyes that were glowing yellow.

Kaede looked in realization. "W-Wait a minute! Sugimaru!?"

"What? That can't be?" Leon questioned in shock looking. "No way is this the same guy!"

"Well I thought it was a bunch of petty thieves, but it's just a bunch of troublesome teenagers entering places they shouldn't." 'Sugimaru' said looking to all of them.

Leon didn't look amused. "If this is some kind of joke, it ain't funny, asshole!"

'Sugimaru' glared at him. "You dare to insult a kind like that?! That's unwise." He told him. "Not only do you brats invade my castle, but insult me- the king! The penalty for that is death. Take them out and begin the execution!"

The knights soon opened the door of the cell and walked in as they all backed up quickly.

"Dammit." Ren glared at this as he and Leon looked and nodded to each other before rushing and tackling one in the chest sending it down.

"Hurry get going!" Leon said to the rest before one of the knights based him away as he crashed.

"Kuwata!" Ren shouted trying to help before getting pinned by another one.

"Ren!" Makoto shouted worried for him.

"Get out of here!" Ren shouted to him. "Take them and go!"

"But Ren!" Makoto tried to say as 'Sugimaru' walked towards Ren and Leon.

"How noble and pathetic." He mocked them both. "Kill them first!" He ordered his guards. "After that do away with the rest!"

"No!" Makoto ran trying to help them both but got held back by two of them knights. "Guys!" Ren looked over at him with a look to say it's alright, even if it wasn't. He felt so helpless now wishing he could do more.

'What's wrong? Are you simply going to watch?' A voice asked in his head as he felt pain again. 'Are you forsaking them in their final moments?'

"I'm not. No." He answered groaning as Shuichi and Kaede looked at him confused for a moment.

'Very well, I have taken heed of your resolve.' The voice told him. 'Vow to me!'

Soon a wind appeared as 'Sugimaru' looked with the rest as Makoto screamed in pain holding his head.

"Makoto?" Ren questioned seeing this.

"Hold him down!" 'Sugimaru' ordered as his knights ran grabbing him and slamming him to the wall.

"Naegi-senpai!" Kaede shouted trying to help but getting stopped.

Makoto yelled out more in pain before lowering his head and showing a white mask with black around the eyes on his face. The same mask from his dream. He looked up before he pulled at it and yelled ripping it from his face sending everyone back.

The mask fell before blue flames appeared around Makoto while blood was around his eyes.

'I am thou…thou art I." The voice said as the flames formed around Makoto changing his outfit. "Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice! Call upon my name and release thine righteous rage!'

As this continued they all looked seeing the flames seem to take form while Makoto stood before smirking slightly.

'Reveal the strength of thy will to seek the truth on thine own! Though thou be chained by Hell itself!'

Makoto soon looked up with a determined glare. "Come! Arsène!"

Soon the flames completely took form and from them with a wicked laugh came the form of tall figure with a tall top hat and a horned mask for a face with a red suit. Upon its back were two feathered wings. They all looked in shock of what they were seeing before seeing Makoto also changed. Gone was his uniform replaced with a black long sleeved long coat, a high necked waist coat and black pants with red gloves. The biggest change however seemed to be the unnatural smirk on his face. It was a look that said hell is about to be unleashed.


And the gang has entered into the cognitive world for the first time and Makoto has awakened his Persona, Arsène.

Yeah Shuichi and Kaede will be two of the starting members of the Phantom Thieves. I was planning originally for just all of Class 78, but decided to do a mix up. My trailer may have implied all of them, but hey trailers lie.

Anyway the beginning line up so far will be.

Makoto Naegi/Joker
Ren Akutagawa/Spectre
Morgana/Mona
Leon Kuwata/Rockstar
Sayaka Maizono/Muse
Kaede Akamatsu/?
Shuichi Saihara/?

Shuichi's reveal of the app first also reveals he's one of the other guests mentioned. Don't worry I'll probably do a separate story detailing how he got it and his interactions with his own Social Links.

So which other members of Classes 77, 78 and 79 do you think should be part of the group? Give me the ideas in the comments on that person and their Persona cause I still need to figure those out for them.

Also someone had suggested to me that members should also gain their Personas during trips to Mementos. I'm thinking about that, but I feel that the Shadow Bosses their won't be enough for them to Awaken, so I'm thinking maybe do something like the Arcana Shadows from Persona 3.

Also if I am planning the harem route for Makoto, I will NOT be adding Komaru into it. Sorry folks, but it's just not my thing. If you got a problem with it then oh well.

All in all let me know what you think so far, what you think to these ideas and if you have suggestions let me know and I will see you all next time!