Ann Takamaki yawned as she walked through the dark, damp halls of Mementos. The young blonde was in a sour mood from having to wake up so early and the negative atmosphere of Mementos was doing nothing to help. An acrid smell permeated the air, Ann hoped it wouldn't stick to her skin. She curled her lip at the venous protrusions that snaked across the walls, pulsing with a sickening dark blue color. The ground squished softly under her heels, like she was walking on a thin layer of mud. Every time Ann had ever set foot in Mementos it had been for a fight, she had never realized just how gross the entire place was. She made a mental note to thank Morgana later for always transporting the Phantom Thieves through this place.
Ann was alone, a few days prior she had made a commitment to herself to become a stronger person. She realized that if she kept relying on others so heavily, she would never be able to stand on her own against conflict. If she was strong, Ann would be able to stop people like Kamoshida from hurting others. She had set out for Mementos on her own a few hours before school started in order to start training, but now that she was here, she felt a bit lost. Ann knew she had to fight Shadows if she wanted to grow as a Phantom Thief, but each time one appeared on her path her nerves got the better of her and she ran away. It was unbelievably frustrating. Ann had even stayed in the upper levels of Mementos where the Shadows were weakest, but the idea of fighting alone was just too terrifying. Ann shook her head as she walked. What was she thinking? She couldn't do this by herself! She needed the other thieves here with her.
"Asking for help already? Pity." A fierce, feminine voice sounded within Ann's head.
Ann stopped walking and looked down at her feet, her own reflection stared back up at her from a small dark puddle on the ground. Carmen, Ann's Persona, appeared in a flurry of fire, standing tall behind Ann. Ann's bright red jumpsuit seemed to blend into Carmen's fiery dress. Carmen traced a finger over the cheek of Ann's cat mask.
"Why are you holding yourself back darling? This tentative kitten is not the woman I made a contract with." Ann sighed and leaned her head into Carmen's hand.
"I just… I can't do this on my own! There's so much that could go wrong and I'm afraid I won't be strong enough to pick myself up if I fall. I'm just, too weak…" Ann felt tears welling up in her eyes. She hated it, but there was little she could do to stop them.
"…You're right." Replied Carmen. "Ann Takamaki is too weak to do anything significant on her own. She would turn and run at the first sign of danger. She's a pitiful soul." Ann closed her eyes and tried not to break down into tears. "That's why the other you, your inner self, cried out to you in your greatest moment of peril. So that Ann Takamaki could find the strength to face her fears." Ann opened her eyes and blinked away her tears, she looked up at Carmen in confusion. "Take a look at yourself darling." Continued Carmen, running her hands down Ann's slim shoulders. "Would Ann Takamaki ever wear something like this out on the streets of Shibuya?"
Ann turned to examine herself in the puddle. Her whip hung on a small loop attached to the waist of her costume. The leather suit hugged the curves of her body graciously, accentuating her shapely legs, small waist, and perky bosom. Her boots ran all the way up her legs, flaring out at the end to highlight her plump bottom. A window in the chest of her suit revealed an ample amount of cleavage. Wear this outfit in public? As if.
"No." Replied Ann finally, a slight hitch in her voice.
"No." Echoed Carmen sadly, twirling a finger in Ann's curled hair. "So, what's different now? Or any other time you're with the Phantom Thieves?"
"I'm…. I'm not Ann right now." She said slowly. "With this mask I'm Panther."
"Panther." Purred Carmen into Ann's ear. A chill ran down her back. "Ann Takamaki may be a scared little girl, but Panther..." Carmen grabbed the zipper between Ann's breasts that held the middle of her jumpsuit together. Ann Felt her cheeks redden as Carmen slid the zipper down a bit, revealing even more cleavage. "Panther is the strong, stunning, sexy leading lady of the legendary Phantom Thieves! She forges her destiny with her own hands and apologizes to no one for it!" Ann could feel Carmen's words lighting a fire in her stomach. The heat swelled into her chest and filled her with confidence.
"So tell me again." Cooed Carmen. "Who are you?"
"I'm Panther!" Replied Ann with a giggle. Ann took the zipper from Carmen and slid it down even further, so that it sat nearly below her breasts. The pink frill of Ann's bra poked out from underneath her red jumpsuit, teasing the eye with what was held underneath. "The sensual superheroine who takes what she wants when she wants it!" Ann loosed her whip with one hand and swung it overhead. The whip hummed overhead and jerked down with a satisfying crack. Carmen clasped her hands together and laughed in delight as she receded back into Ann.
"That's more like it darling, let your inner self shine through. You scandalous little minx." Ann laughed and brought her heel down into the puddle, breaking the reflection. She strutted down the halls of Mementos swinging her hips with all the confidence and grace of a super model. It was time to get to work.
Ann slumped over and placed her hands on her knees, not wanting to use the slimy walls of Mementos for support. Her chest heaved as the last traces of the Shadow she had just defeated faded into wisps of smoke and evaporated into the air. Ann wiped a few beads of sweat from her chin and flicked them off her fingers. A few stray droplets rolled down her neck and darkened the lacy fabric of her pink bra. From her slumped position her breasts threatened to fall out of her jumpsuit completely.
Ann tugged and the hem of her shirt, allowing some air to flow into it. She was going to have to take a shower before classes started. Ann rolled back her sleeve and checked her watch. Time always felt distorted in Mementos, so it was a good idea to keep a close eye on the clock. Her training had consumed the better part of an hour and a half, but she still had plenty of time to make it back to the station. Ann rose from her slumped position and began to backtrack her path to the surface.
As Ann neared the top level of Mementos she heard a chittering sound echo from around a bend in the path. Stepping softly, Ann slid close to the wall and inched around the bend. She didn't have the time or energy for another serious fight and knew she would need to sneak by if the Shadow up ahead was a strong one. She breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted a lone Incubus seated on his haunches, picking at something between his toes. Ann spotted the exit to Mementos just past the small red imp and grew confident. She hit her strut once more and walked right by the Incubus, who hadn't heard her approach.
The imp jumped to his feet as Ann strode by and prepared to fight for his life, but Ann ignored him and continued towards the exit. The small Incubus made to turn tail and run but paused as he looked on at Ann's receding figure. Her hips swung in the dim light, each step causing a small ripple to flow up the back of her legs and over her tight, leather clad bottom. The tail of her costume bounced in unison with her walk, tapping back and forth from each cheek of Ann's tantalizing buttocks. The imp was mesmerized by the hypnotic sway of the girl's walk and made a noise under his breath.
"Hey there pretty kitty." Said the Incubus as he began to tail Ann. His voice was gravely and high, like a child with a sore throat. "What's the rush? Wanna stay and play for a bit?" Ann flipped her blonde, curled pigtail over her shoulder and gave the Incubus a sneer.
"Yeah right." She said, turning up her nose. "I think I'd rather die!" Ann had always hated the Incubus Shadows, they reminded her of that bastard Kamoshida. They were weak, cowardly, and absolute incorrigible perverts. Ann stepped up to the platform leading to the exit of mementos, glad to feel concrete under her heels after walking on the mushy ground for so long.
"Come on now, don't be so cold." Called the Incubus, closing the distance between himself and Ann. The flash of pink bra he had seen when Ann turned excited the imp, and as Ann stepped upward onto the platform he could just make out the outline of her panties underneath her tight pants. They were high on her hips, two thin lines of fabric reaching around her thin waist and meeting just under her tail to form a triangle that pointed down to her butt.
"Kekeke." Laughed the Incubus. "Why don't you show me that cute little thong you're wearing there? Give me something to remember you by?" Ann felt her face redden as she turned on the Incubus, drawing her whip.
"I said beat it!" She yelled, cracking her whip downward. She scored a direct hit on the Incubus's forehead, causing him to tumble head over heels backward. "Hmph!" Ann turned and began to climb the stairs as the little red imp rubbed his forehead and cried out in pain.
"Owowowow!" The Incubus looked up at Ann through bleary eyes and sniffed. "Little bitch." He said under his breath. "See how smart you are after this!" the Incubus rose to his feet, both hands glowing with a black, sinister aura. He took one last moment to appreciate the sensual beauty of Ann's bouncing bottom as she ascended the stairs then brought his hands together and fired a black shadowy orb at Ann's unprotected back. The orb soared through the air and connected with Ann's back, dissipating into her body.
"Gah!" She cried in alarm. A cold shiver went through her body followed quickly by a tingling sensation like electricity all over her skin. For a moment Ann was paralyzed and her heart sunk in fear. What had she just been hit with? She had never felt anything like it from a Shadow attack before. Ann steeled herself for one last fight and prepared to draw out Carmen. But as quickly as they had come the cold, tingling, and paralysis were gone and Ann was left shaken, but otherwise unharmed. The orb rematerialized and withdrew from Ann's body, flying back to the Incubus.
"Kekekekekeke…" The laughter of the Incubus faded down the hall as it beat a hasty retreat.
"Pervert!" Ann yelled after imp. "Your weak attacks are nothing to the great Panther!" The little Shadow ignored her as he ran, clutching something to his chest as he went. Ann pressed a hand to her back where she had been struck and sighed in relief when she felt no pain. The young girl quickly made her way up the rest of the stairs, not wanting to be late to school.
Ann stood in a small crowd of people at the Shibuya station, waiting on the train that would take her to school. She yawned and covered her mouth with one hand, the other hand loosely clutching her schoolbag. Ann was back in her usual warm weather school uniform. A simple short sleeved white collared shirt and the signature checkered skirt of her school. Normally she would have her blue hoodie wrapped around her waist, but since it had been so warm recently, she had left it at home this morning. She had, however, worn her red leggings that she normally only wore in the wintertime since the early morning was so cool. A tall pair of brown boots completed her outfit.
Underneath her clothes Ann's lacy pink bra and matching thong clung to her body tightly, still slightly damp from her training. Ann only wore her sexy underwear when she needed a confidence boost for the day, and it had definitely helped motivate her through her training. She had always assumed, however, that she was the only one who knew when she wore them, but her interaction with the Incubus had proven that her choice in underwear could be deduced when Ann was in her Panther costume. Ann could recall several occasions when she had chosen to wear her sexy underwear while working with the Phantom Thieves. Had the others ever noticed? The thought made Ann's chest tight, but she quickly shook off her anxiousness. No point in worrying about it now.
Despite the warmth, Ann shivered as another broad yawn wracked her body. Maybe going to Mementos in the morning wasn't such a good idea. The exhaustion from training coupled with her early rise made Ann feel like a walking zombie.
"I'll get an energy drink at school." Ann thought to herself. "Or at the very least, some coffee on the way there." A warning bell rang through the station as the roar of a train echoed down the tube. Ann looked at the electric sign above her head, not her train, she would have to wait longer. Getting to the station early sucked. The train rushed through the station, slowing to a halt down past Ann and the other people waiting. A large gust of wind followed the train and in her groggy state, Ann forgot to hold her skirt down. The wind caught the back of Ann's skirt and flipped it up against her lower back. Ann swatted lazily at the back of her skirt, she had on her leggings so there was no urgency. After several seconds Ann found the hem of her skirt and pulled it back down, yawning once more.
Out of curiosity, Ann turned to see if there was anyone directly behind her. There were only a few feet of space between her and a support pillar behind her, so it was unlikely anyone saw anything. To Ann's amusement, there was a short boy with straight black hair in a middle schooler's uniform standing directly in front of the pillar. The boy's face was bright red, his hands clamped onto the straps of his backpack. Ann caught his eye as she turned, and the boy's blush deepened as he jerked his head down to stare at the floor.
"Jeez." Ann thought to herself. "And I thought I embarrassed easily." She knew her leggings were tight and didn't leave much to the imagination, but the kid seemed to be overreacting a bit. It was just leggings, plenty of girls wore them without anything over them, it wasn't a big deal. Ann turned back to face the tracks, a slight grin on her lips.
"Well, he is just a middle schooler. Hormones raging and all that. He'll probably be thinking about this all week." It occurred to Ann that her skirt had been flipped for a decent amount of time, and that the boy was a step behind her. He may have seen the outline of her thong like that pervy Incubus had. A tinge of pink flashed across her cheeks. The thought was embarrassing, but at the same time a twirl of excitement fluttered in Ann's gut.
"Where did that come from?" She wondered.
"That's the Panther in you." Answered Carmen in her head. "She likes the attention darling."
"The attention? The kid's a middle schooler!" Thought Ann.
"Attention is attention." Countered Carmen. "The boy is enraptured by your womanly figure." Despite her initial protest Ann realized Carmen was right. She liked the attention, even if it was embarrassing. Ann stole a quick glance back at the kid, most of the red from his face had faded and he was now fixated on the bottom on Ann's skirt. Ann turned before she caught his eye again.
"Look at him." Giggled Carmen "Praying for another gust of wind." Ann Almost laughed out loud and bit on the end of her thumb to suppress herself. Suddenly she had an idea, and she felt the heat rise to her cheeks once more.
"Should I?" Asked Ann inwardly. "He is just a kid."
"It's just a bit of innocent teasing." Replied Carmen, reading Ann's thoughts. "Panther wouldn't give it a second thought."
Excitement fluttered in Ann's gut and she decided to act on her idea. Her exhaustion forgotten, Ann swung her schoolbag to her front and dropped it at her feet. The train for the middle school would come immediately after hers, which was good, Ann could execute her plan and leave the boy as soon as her train came. She was going to have him thinking about her all month! Ann quickly checked around her to make sure no one was looking. Most of the crowd was busy staring at their cellphones and those who weren't were looking straight ahead, lost in their thoughts. Perfect.
Ann slowly bent down to reach into her bag, careful to keep her knees locked, just like she was taught to never do while wearing a skirt. She looked up towards the ceiling as she randomly moved her hand in the bag to give the impression she was looking for something. Ann felt the hem of her skirt slide up over her butt, revealing half of her plump, round bottom and was rewarded with a faint gasp from the boy. The excitement churned in Ann's stomach and she felt her cheeks redden even more as she imagined him taking in the view of the nylon stretched tightly over the bottom half of her butt, her white skin partially showing through the stretched fabric. She couldn't resist, Ann arched her back and leaned further into the bag. For just a moment, her skirt climbed even higher, fully displaying Ann's butt and undoubtedly a bit of her private area. Ann wondered how thinly the leggings had stretched, how much skin could the boy see?
Ann grabbed a tube of lip gloss from the bottom of her bag and quickly snapped back upright, flipping her blonde curls over her shoulders. A lot of blood had flowed into her head, but that was not the reason her face was warm. Ann squealed inwardly and glanced around, no one seemed to have noticed. That was good, what about her target? Ann undid the cap on her lip gloss and gently began to apply it to her lips as she turned. The boy's entire face was flushed and his breathing was rapid. He swallowed heavily as he met Ann's eyes. Ann put the cap back on her lip gloss and rolled her lips in on one another to spread out the pink coloring. She giggled and winked at the boy, who looked as though he may faint at any moment. That face was precious. Why was this so exciting for her?
Suddenly the echo of another train roared from further down the tube. This was Ann's ride. She stooped in the proper manner to collect her bag and was sure to hold her skirt this time as the train barreled forward, producing a large gust of wind. Ann noticed how breezy the wind felt, even through her leggings. It was important to Ann that the boy wonder whether or not she had done any of this on purpose, which is why she behaved properly for the second train. As the train slid to a stop the passengers in front of her shuffled into the car. Ann realized she was going to be the last one to enter. She got another idea.
"Do it." Carmen urged her. "Let him remember the day he met Panther." Ann stepped onto the train and turned to face the open doors. The boy was directly ahead of her, with virtually no other commuters around him. Perfect. Feigning another yawn, Ann stretched her arms up over her head, her heart pounding. She had carefully positioned the edge of her bag to snag the front of her skirt, lifting it along with her arms. The boy's jaw dropped open as he got a look at Ann's uncovered front. Ann's face burned brightly, but she held her arms up for a moment, pretending to stretch. Then the door closed, Ann dropped her arms, and the moment was gone. As the train pulled out of the station Ann scooted further into the car and found an empty seat. She set her bag in front of her and fanned her face with her hand.
"That was crazy!" She thought.
"That was marvelous!" Replied Carmen with a laugh. "Did you see his face? Priceless!" Ann took deep breaths to try and calm herself, but the thought of the boy getting excited by her body kept her heart racing. She covered her face with her hands and shook her head.
"I can't believe I just did that! Oooooh, I hope no one else saw me that was so embarrassing!"
"You did wonderfully darling." Assured Carmen with a coo. "It's high time you realized the effect your body has on others. It can be a powerful tool. Besides, you really didn't do anything wrong. It's just leggings, right?"
"Yeah." Thought Ann as her heart rate finally slowed to a normal pace. "Just leggings." Ann placed her hands on her knees and exhaled one last large breath. This was too much excitement for one morning, but at least she was wide awake now. Ann absentmindedly scratched at an itch on her calf, her nails digging lightly into her skin. It took her a few moments to register what she was feeling. Her skin, underneath her fingers as she scratched. Her skin… her bare skin. Ann felt a weight sink into her stomach as she looked down at her legs. Her long, lightly tanned, unclothed legs. Ann wasn't wearing her leggings.
"Oh my God." She thought, her pulse quickening.
"Oh my God." Agreed Carmen, her voice high in shock.
"OH MY GOD!" Ann felt like her face was going to start steaming as it was flooded with bright red color.
"Oh my goodness." There was a hint of pleasure in Carmen's voice, Ann didn't appreciate it.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! Where are my leggings? Where are my leggings? WHERE ARE MY LEGGINGS!" Ann screamed inwardly, clutching the hem of her skirt tightly. "I KNOW I put them on this morning!"
"Yes, yes. You had them on when you left. But now you do not so you must have lost them sometime between here and there." A few seconds ticked by and the two girls came to same conclusion.
"The Incubus!"
"The Incubus!" They shouted in unison.
"That little perv stole my leggings! That's what that attack was! He was carrying something as he ran away!" Ann swallowed hard, her arms beginning to tremble. "And I, a-a-a-and I…"
"Gave that little middle school boy quite a show." Finished Carmen in teasing tone. "I'll bet pink is his favorite color now." Ann buried her face in her hands to muffle her scream. Carmen laughed as the train rolled onward towards the school. "Quite an exciting morning, quite an exciting morning indeed."