8/6 - Dark Hour - North of Tatsumi Port Island - Ren
"Well," Akechi said, tilting his head at Ren with an amused face. "This is a fine mess you've put yourself in, Amamiya."
Ren deeply sighed. 'Sometimes, he can be so insufferable.' "Don't act like you're not part of it."
Akechi merely scoffed.
Ren noted everyone. Aigis laid on the floor, waiting for enough energy to move. Shinjiro stared around dispassionately, though his eyes often landed on Junpei and Akechi. Akihiko seemed to teeter around trying to talk to Shinjiro or give him space. Koromaru and Ken sat by the walls of the room with sullen looks. Mitsuru did the same as Ren, looking at everyone with a critical eye. Yukari glared viciously at Junpei, but it seemed like she was too exhausted to do anything. Junpei sat on the ground, his head in his hands.
'Looks like he's just realizing what happened.'
Might be good to give him some space to be introspective.
"Senpai," Ren began as he approached Mitsuru, "do you mind if I go after Kotone? Just to make sure she's okay."
Mitsuru glanced at everyone in the room, then nodded. "Meet us at the dorm when she's ready."
With a nod, he left the bunker.
Outside, the green light of the Dark Hour continued to loom over everything, though time should almost be up.
Ren raced outside as butterflies continued to build in his gut. Something was about to happen.
As soon as he felt he was far enough, he manifested his Phantom Thief attire. With the grappling hook, he took off to the rooftops, allowing him to see further away.
Just his luck, he saw a green wind slam on to the side of a building, far off where he was.
'Garudyne! The only ones here with that skill would be...!'
Ren clicked his tongue and immediately ran, jumping from rooftop to rooftop to get into the fight. He could only hope to reach in time.
From the same area, a bit of steam appeared. However, what took his attention wasn't the steam, but the large fireball that came after it: an Agidyne.
Luckily, the fight was right under him.
'Let's do this, Fafnir!'
He jumped off the roof, and blue flames erupted around him. The metallic dragon quickly wrapped around Kotone with the Agidyne hitting it instead. The dragon merely shrugged it off, not receiving any damage at all.
Ren landed on a roll, bleeding the momentum off before rising to full height.
"Sorry to crash the party," he said with a sneer, "but don't you think it's a tad unfair? You outnumber her."
Both Takaya and Jin's faces morphed into confused faces before turning into absolute hatred.
He turned to Kotone, and his heart stilled. Kotone bled from her forehead, her eyes didn't seem to focus, and even when she was sitting on the ground, she seemed to teeter.
She was hurt and exhausted, probably with a concussion to boot. At least before, she was only tired. But now? Strega roughed her up bad.
Ren smiled at her. "Sorry, princess, but you'll have to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. I'll clean this mess up quickly."
Kotone's eyes tried to focus on him before widening in recognition. However, before she could say anything-
"Joker!"
Ren whipped his head at Takaya's guttural scream and saw Hypnos powering up again. Jin fired his Evoker and red light surrounded Hypnos.
"I won't let you win this time!" Takaya yelled. "You die tonight!"
Ren simply smiled at Takaya's words.
Takaya grit his teeth at Ren's lackadaisical attitude and roared. Behind him, Hypnos fired off a Bufudyne.
Behind him, Kotone weakly screamed, "Watch out!"
However, a shadow flew over Ren. Fafnir swiped at the incoming shard of ice, causing it to shatter. It burst into tiny bits of ice, though a bit of Fafnir's tail froze over.
Takaya staggered back. "Impossible... That was our strongest combination yet. We trained so long for that!"
"Sorry," Ren said with a shrug. "You'll have to try harder."
Jin clicked his tongue and grabbed Takaya. "We have to go!"
However, Takaya kept his eyes on Ren. "No! I said he dies tonight!"
"You have no right to play god," Ren said with a frown. "No one does. Fafnir!"
Fafnir held its neck back, and blue energy gathered in its mouth.
Jin's eyes widened. "Dammit, it's that skill again! Takaya, we're leaving now!"
Takaya grit his teeth again but relented, immediately turning around to escape.
Fafnir flicked his head forward, and a stream of blue light erupted from its mouth. Jin dropped a small ball to the ground, and it exploded, causing a cloud of smoke to appear. The light blasted through the smoke cleanly.
Ren's Persona flapped its wings, causing the smoke to disperse, but Strega wasn't there anymore.
He sighed. They escaped again.
Still, they weren't his aim tonight.
He turned around, facing Kotone in full. Her eyebrows scrunched up and her mouth opened, then closed, as if she tried to say something but couldn't. Multiple emotions flickered through her face, between amazement, surprise, fear, happiness, and doubt.
He knelt and grabbed her shoulders, steadying her. "Hey," he began, "let's get you home. Everyone is waiting, okay? For now, sleep. You'll be back home before you know it."
"What was that?" she asked, having calmed down. "Why do you have another Persona? How do you know Strega? How-?"
Ren put a finger on her lips. "Shh, I'll explain later. Right now, you need rest." Behind him, he felt Fafnir shift into Alilat.
Kotone's eyes widened. "You have a third Persona?"
However, before she could say more, Alilat used Dormina, causing her to slump towards Ren.
Ren sighed. This is going to be a long night. Behind him, Alilat turned to Maria and a green light surrounded them both.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
"The lights are back," Mitsuru muttered as she watched the dorm lights flicker on.
"And they're still not here," Yukari said, staring at the front door before glaring at Junpei again. She opened her mouth but closed it, deciding against berating him again.
Junpei sat alone at the stool by the kitchen with his head on his hands, taking deep breaths, processing what just happened, what he did.
Meanwhile, the rest of SEES were scattered throughout the first floor.
Akihiko, Shinjiro, Ken, and Koromaru sat at the dinner table. Meanwhile, Fuuka and Yukari sat next to each other by a lobby couch. Opposite them was Akechi, sitting without a care in the world.
Finally, Mitsuru and Ikutsuki each took a single-person couch.
"And you won't say where you met Ren-kun?" Ikutsuki asked.
"Again," Akechi said with his eyes closed, as if he was meditating, "I'm not obligated to answer."
"Not even a hint?"
"No."
Mitsuru sighed internally. The two have been at it for a while now, the Chairman politely interrogating and Akechi being a staunch wall. Currently, Akechi hasn't given an answer, so she supposed he was winning on that front. That said, Ikutsuki ignored the obvious hint and continued to ask.
On the side, Yukari sighed and asked, "How are you so calm, Akechi-san? The only person you know isn't here. You've already confessed you shot someone. What stops us from arresting right now?"
"Because I know Amamiya will take care of the problem," Akechi said with a scoff. "He'll pull through."
"That's a lot of trust in Ren, don't you think?" Akihiko asked from the kitchen.
Akechi merely shrugged. "Perhaps. Amamiya is a lot of things; a liar isn't one of them."
"Then," Ken interrupted, "did Ren-senpai actually kill someone?"
Again, Akechi scoffed. "No, he's too much of a goody-two shoes to actually kill someone."
"Then, what about you?" Shinjiro asked.
"And what about me?" Akechi asked back, deadpan.
Shinjiro glared at him.
Suddenly, slammed on the door. All members of SEES shared glances, unsure on what's going on. Slamming just as the Dark Hour ended? It wasn't like there were any coffins nearby during the Dark Hour, so no one could have knocked on the door as soon as the Dark Hour stopped. It seriously gave off the vibes of the first Full Moon Encounter.
Akihiko cautiously moved towards the door, Mitsuru right behind him with a rapier.
Akihiko opened the door, and what the two saw surprised them both.
In front of them, Ren carried a sleeping Kotone in his arms in a princess carry. While Ren and Kotone seemed alright, it was hard to miss the dried blood and damaged clothes on her.
"Strega attacked, but we managed to push them back," Ren said, answering the unsaid question. "Kotone needs a bed. While I used some medicine on her, she still collapsed in exhaustion."
Kotone's eyes suddenly opened as she suddenly gripped Ren's shirt. "Sorry, Ren, but I'm perfectly fine. You're going to explain things now."
"Kotone?!"
"Don't think you can run from explaining what the hell just happened."
"What do you mean?" Yukari asked. The commotion at the front door took everyone's attention, and they were all looking at the pair now.
"He wasn't lying about Strega attacking me," Kotone started, "but he's been hiding things from us. He had his Tartarus outfit on when he fought them off, he also had a dragon for a Persona, and I think I saw another Persona after that."
"Is this true, Amamiya?" Mitsuru asked.
Ren sighed. "Yeah, it is."
"You have a lot of things to explain," Kotone said, keeping eye contact with Ren.
"I'll explain everything, so don't worry. That said, I was pretty sure you were asleep after the fight. When did you wake up?"
"A few blocks back. You were too focused on jumping between rooftops. Don't change the subject. Drop you me on the couch so you can start explaining, mister."
"Yes, ma'am."
"How are you okay with this?!" Junpei yelled. "Aren't you pissed that he's been hiding shit from us?! Three Personas, that weird transformation, the chance that he's a criminal?!"
"Because I don't think Ren's a bad guy," Kotone answered, glancing at Junpei as Ren maneuvered through the lobby. "I get not telling us. Everyone's got secrets they don't want others to know."
"Even when he's been hiding things that could help us?" Yukari asked.
"That's why he's going to explain now," Kotone said as Ren lowered her on the couch, her back facing the main hallway. "Thank you."
"And what about you, Akechi-san?" Ikutsuki asked. "How are you connected to all this?"
"Like I said," Akechi glanced at Ikutsuki with a smirk, "Amamiya will take care of the problem."
"Glad to see your faith in me," Ren muttered as he sat on the couch opposing Kotone. "Get comfy; this might take a while."
Akihiko and Shinjiro leaned on the wall behind Ren, monitoring him. Koromaru and Ken stood beside Shinjiro. Yukari and Fuuka sat beside Kotone while Mitsuru, Aigis, and Junpei stood behind the couch. Meanwhile, Akechi and Ikutsuki sat on the single-person couches, not having moved during the entire time.
Ren closed his and drew a large breath, straightening his back. He exhaled and gray eyes stared at the red eyes of the girl right in front of him.
"My name is Amamiya Ren. codename: Joker. I am the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, a vigilante group that changed the hearts of the corrupt. While that is the case, we are also a group of Persona-users in the year 2016. Here's our story."
-.-
The Castle of Lust.
The Museum of Vanity.
The Bank of Gluttony.
The Pyramid of Wrath.
The Spaceport of Greed.
The Casino of Envy.
The Cruiser of Pride.
The Prison of Sloth.
The Laboratory of Sorrow.
The Cages of Sin throughout Japan.
Using the Metaverse to go back in time.
Ren's story was nigh possible to believe.
All around the room were looks of doubt. Shinjiro looked at Ren as if he was crazy. Ikutsuki stared at Ren, starry-eyed.
"You're actually crazy. You know that, right?" Junpei asked, his tone of disbelief made apparent. "Going back in time, some crap about an app, a guy that could revive the dead... All of that has to be bullshit."
The story was hardly believable. A different dimension based on the cognition of humanity. Treasures that would change a person. Beings that could change reality as they saw fit.
None of that made sense.
But...
"You experience a 25th hour of the day, fighting black monsters you call Shadows with beings called Persona. Beings, by the way, you summon by shooting yourself on the head," Akechi refuted. "I hardly believe you have room to say he's joking."
"You..." Junpei growled.
"Amamiya," Mitsuru said, her voice cutting through the room. "Was my father's dream even remotely possible? You used the Metaverse to travel back in time, but would using the Shadows help that?"
Akechi raised an eyebrow at Ren.
"I don't think so," Ren said after a moment. "I believe the Shadows are a product of the Collective Unconscious. The power to travel back in time is most likely the same, rather than being a product of the Shadows themselves. I think he looked at the wrong tree in the forest."
"And what did you think of his plan?"
"I hate it," Ren answered with a huff. "No one should have the power to control the future. Everyone should have the freedom to decide their own path."
"Is that not what you're doing as well?" Ikutsuki asked. "You've come back in time to change the past."
"Maybe," Ren answered, "but I try not to do it directly. I want to support you guys so you can face the future rather than take it from you. Those living at the time deserve to control their own future, not someone that might disappear before reaching that same future."
"Ren, what do you mean?" Kotone asked. "Are you going back?"
"More than likely," Ren said, and Kotone's face hardened. "At the end of your journey, I'll probably go back."
"What, so you're just going to run if everything goes south?" Yukari asked.
Ren shook his head. "It won't," he said with a straight face. "That's why I'm here. If anything happens, I'll do my best to support you. And if things take a turn for the worst, I'll be there until the end."
"Wait," Akihiko said behind Ren. "Doesn't you not knowing about the Dark Hour mean we'll win? Sounds to me like we'll destroy Tartarus and the Dark Hour."
"You're right..." Fuuka muttered. "If Ren-kun never heard about the Dark Hour before coming here, then the Dark Hour and Tartarus disappeared, or will disappear in this case."
"Unfortunately, it's not that simple," Ren said. "I've already confirmed this timeline differs from mine."
"How?" Yukari asked. "Did something happen?"
Kotone's eyes slightly widened. "Kurusu Akira… He's you here, right?" When Ren nodded, she continued. "Your backstory matches up with his. Orphanage, passing down your glasses as it did to you, the eerily similar looks... He's you but born in Inaba."
Ren nodded. "You're very close; just like him, I was born in Inaba, not Tokyo. I only used Tokyo because I know the city very well. The most important parts of my life also happened in the last one to two years in the city, after all."
"Then," Ikutsuki began, taking Ren's attention, "how did you create such a background? I used the Kirijo Group's channels to find out who you are, and they all lined up. Each place you've been in once existed. Who are you working for? Who is supporting you?"
"Let's just say they're pretty invested in humanity," Ren said. "They're pretty hands-off, but I think that they're more than willing to help if needed."
"Can you tell us who they are?" Ikutsuki asked.
Ren shrugged. "Sorry, not in the cards. Like I said, they're pretty hands-off and I think they're already helping by sending me here."
Ikutsuki nodded. "Very well. Moving on, how do you know Akechi-kun? You mentioned no one's name in your story. However, if Akechi-kun is here, he has to be somewhat connected to the Metaverse, especially when you said he's supposed to be dead."
"You actually slipped?" Akechi asked Ren with a glare.
"Hey, dead man walking, remember?"
Akechi shook his head with a scoff before sitting straight. "Considering Amamiya told his side of the story, I suppose I should say my piece before someone else slips up," he said, glaring at Ren. Ren merely rolled his eyes in response. "If the Phantom Thieves were SEES, then you can consider me Strega."
"What?!" Akihiko yelled. "You were the Black Mask? Does that mean you actually killed people?"
Akechi stared straight at Akihiko. "And what if I did? Does the answer matter to you?"
"Are you crazy?!"
"Then does that mean you're ashamed of what you did?" Mitsuru asked with a frown. "Considering you're dodging the question, after all."
Akechi shot her a venomous look. "Yes, I've killed before."
"Do you regret any of it?" Akihiko asked.
"I believe I already answered that," Akechi said with a raised eyebrow.
"Why you-!"
"Don't lose your head, dumbass!" Shinjiro said, hugging Akihiko before he could punch Akechi.
"Not that it matters," Akechi said as he leaned back in his chair. "Amamiya held up to his end of his deal; I don't see a reason to continue anything."
"What deal?" Kotone asked, glancing at Ren.
Ren raised an eyebrow, but Akechi shrugged. "I didn't slip."
Ren sighed and looked at Kotone. "Akechi killed people under the orders of Shido Masayoshi, the man that would have become the Prime Minister of Japan. Akechi would kill any of Shido's enemies, making them look like accidents."
"To make Shido look even more impressive," Akechi interrupted, "someone would then blame these accidents upon said enemies. His enemies would continue to fall while he would rise. With him at the helm, he would eventually rule over Japan."
"The seventh Palace Ruler..." Fuuka muttered.
"He wanted to use the Metaverse to control all of Japan?" Junpei repeated. "Holy cow..."
"But you beat him," Kotone said, remembering Ren's story. "How does Akechi being a criminal and your deal fall into all this?"
"In reality," Ren continued, "Akechi wanted to kill Shido's reputation at its highest point, which would humiliate him and bring him crashing down to the ground, a fate worse than death. However, he lost the chance to do so during our excursions in the Palace, even after we convinced him to work together. And so, we made a deal: change Shido's heart in his stead."
"In the end," Akechi said, "Amamiya made good on his side of the deal. He sent Shido to prison when he became Prime Minister. With him gone, I don't have any orders to kill anyone, nor do I want to do so. And, to clarify, I have no interest in Shido here; he's not the Shido I'm after."
"And how can we trust all of that?" Akihiko asked, having calmed down already.
Akechi stared at Akihiko and said, "You can't. I don't know you, and you don't know me. I have no history to pull between us. The only thing you can do is swallow whatever morality you have and accept the situation."
"What?!"
"What do you think, Ren?" Kotone asked.
"I trust him," Ren said after a momentary glance at Akechi. "In Maruki's reality, he confessed to his crimes to keep Shido in prison, even if it meant he would go to prison."
Akechi narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
"Then," Mitsuru interjected, "does that mean you'll take responsibility if something goes wrong?"
Ren agreed with a nod. "If he tries anything, I'll stop him."
"We can still get him arrested for murder, can't we?" Akihiko asked.
Akechi scoffed. "Have you tried thinking about how you would do it? You can't arrest Strega, who commits crimes using the Dark Hour, making it impossible to prove their crimes. How can you arrest me, someone from the future, for crimes that never even happened? You'd have to talk about the Dark Hour and Tartarus, and I don't think people would believe you."
"That reminds me," Ikutsuki said. "How did you end up in Tartarus? From what you said, the Phantom Thieves stopped you, the Black Mask, in Shido Masayoshi's Palace. You disappeared after that, only to come back to Maruki's Palace momentarily. To repeat Ren-kun, you being in Maruki's reality was more him granting a wish than actually being there. Therefore, something must have happened in Shido's Palace when it broke down. So, what happened?"
Ren and Akechi stayed quiet for a moment before Ren sighed.
"We're not entirely sure either," Ren said. "We don't understand the Metaverse, even if we used it for quite a bit. What we know is that Palaces are places of distortion used to lock Shadows who grew too egotistical for the god to control. Still, even if the Palace is a separate layer from Mementos, it is part of the Metaverse. Once it disappears, it must have merged with Mementos and the Metaverse, then by extension, the whole Collective Unconscious. With this reasoning, I think that Akechi fell into the Collective Unconscious after the Palace broke."
"That may explain how Akechi could still be alive," Ikutsuki said, "but it doesn't explain how Akechi was in Maruki's reality."
"Perhaps, rather than the reviving Akechi, Maruki's power merely called him back from the Collective Unconscious," Ren answered. "I don't think Maruki himself knew what his powers and Persona actually did."
"You don't think a god would?" Mitsuru asked.
Akechi barked a sardonic laugh. "Maruki was no god; he was nothing more but a grieving man who grew a god's complex because he thought his Persona actually healed people."
"That's...a very dark interpretation of him, don't you think?" Yukari asked.
"While l think Akechi could have said it better," Ren said as he glared at Akechi, "he's not wrong. What all Maruki wanted to do was help people, even before he got his powers. Things led to one to another, and he lost hope for everything. In the end, he was just a person who lost his way, corrupted by the power he got. It's because of that he isn't a god, but just a person."
"Before, you mentioned the Collective Unconscious," Ikutsuki commented. "How is this different from the Metaverse? I understand Mementos and Palaces belong in the Metaverse, but I don't think you've ever explained the Collective Unconscious."
Ren and Akechi shared a glance.
"Then, how did you know to call the things you fight Shadows? How did you know what to call the things you use to fight Persona?" Akechi asked with a tone of incredulity.
"We're not entirely sure," Mitsuru answered. "My grandfather named them after he found the Plumes."
"Kirijo-sama never explained it either," Ikutsuki added. "And any notes he could have made were lost in the explosion ten years ago."
"Then, how did you know?" Fuuka asked.
"There was a researcher," Akechi answered, and Ren flinched. "Her field was related to cognitive pscience. She theorized there was another world connected to someone's psyche."
"How do you know that?"
"Because she was Akechi's first target," Ren answered, eyes filled with anger. "Her research led Akechi to work under Shido."
"It stemmed from the Western philosopher Carl Jung," Akechi continued, ignoring Ren. "After researching the man himself, his philosophy greatly resembled what we faced in the Metaverse."
"Masks, Shadows, Personas..." Ikutsuki muttered. "Of course, he'd correlate to yours. We Kirijo researchers discarded that path in understanding Shadows because they behaved far too different from what Jung described. However, for you, they would be just as he described. On top of that, the Shadows we face are monsters rather than Personas and we're missing other things like your Masks. Our Personas are also more forced than simply accepting a part of yourself."
"Right," Ren said. "From Jung, we learned a Shadow is a part someone rejects about themself, something people hide from the world. However, doing so is detrimental; after all, you're rejecting a part of yourself. A Shadow is also the center of your desires. So, what happens when you accept that Shadow? Jung says it becomes a Persona, the Mask you use to protect yourself from the world. Our time in the Metaverse all proves that. When we accept our Personas, we accept our Shadows, embrace our Wills of Rebellion, and receive our masks and outfits to fight back against the world."
"A bit corny, don't you think?" Junpei asked.
Ren shrugged. "It is what it is."
"Then, from your experience," Ikutsuki said, leaning forward, "what do you think about the Apathy Syndrome?"
"From what I've seen, it's like the mental shutdown from our time with one key difference: a victim of the syndrome is still alive while it's possible for a shutdown victim to die," Ren said. "I have first-hand experience with a victim who died and a second-hand account from someone still alive. The latter was left in a coma, similar to a victim of the syndrome."
"Is there a correlation?" Mitsuru asked.
Ren shook his head. "Nothing concrete. We know that, to cause a shutdown, you have to kill someone's Shadow. Here, the Apathy Syndrome is caused by a Shadow coming from another person, right?" Ren asked Ikutsuki.
The chairman nodded. "Indeed. That is what our research showed."
"Then, we can't really tell if we extrapolate from both our data," Akechi said. "Assuming the Shadow that leaves the person is that person's Shadow, the Shadow is still alive, so the victim isn't experiencing a mental shutdown. We've never seen a Shadow 'leave' a person, either."
"And the times we've seen a Shadow 'get taken,' they were still with the person, so any changes to that Shadow caused a shift to the real person," Ren added.
"I suppose the two types are far too different to make a comparison then," Ikutsuki muttered. "Our Shadows are born from the Dark Hour while yours seem to be born from hearts."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "I don't think so? There is a definite connection between the two, but we don't know enough. Shadows are born from ourselves, even here in the Dark Hour. The Dark Hour itself is a piece of the Collective Unconscious."
"That's impossible," Ikutsuki said with a laugh. "The Dark Hour is special. It is its own thing, completely different from the Metaverse and the Collective Unconscious."
"If the Dark Hour is separate from the Collective Unconscious, then how come I have my Personas, mask, and outfit?" Ren asked. "I have everything that I had before. I even have the cognitive boosts I had in the Metaverse."
"Cognitive boosts?" Akihiko asked.
"Remember how I get stronger when I have my outfit? It's because of cognition," Ren said. "The Metaverse is a world of cognition. So long as people believe in something, it becomes real. If the Shadows and I believe that I'm strong, then I am strong. That's how I can do things that are inhuman."
"Another evidence outside that the Dark Hour and the Collective Unconscious are connected," Akechi said with a sneer, apparently enjoying Ikutsuki's face of disbelief. "That might actually explain how I ended up in that tower."
"What do you mean?" Mitsuru asked.
"If the Dark Hour and Metaverse connected through the Collective Unconscious," Ren muttered, "then did you somehow fall into the Collective Unconscious in Shido's Palace, then get out through Tartarus?"
"That would be..." Yukari said with a frown.
"...Time travel…" Kotone muttered.
No one could say anything after that. Kirijo Kouetsu was right: it was possible to travel through time using the Shadows. The frowning evidence sat in front of them.
One of them even made it on his own, without any help.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Ken asked.
Yukari's hands slammed on the table. "I refuse to follow senpai's grandfather's words. My dad died trying to stop the Dark Hour and Tartarus, and I'm going to keep doing that."
"Takeba..." Mitsuru muttered.
"I'm fighting too," Ken said. "Those Shadows killed my mom. I don't care about anything else."
Shinji's eyes shifted as Akihiko's face hardened, unseen by anyone.
"That still doesn't change that our research shows only a few people can have the potential," Ikutsuki said. "All our research suggests so. Even if everyone you met that went to the Metaverse had the potential, that doesn't mean everyone else could have."
"I mean," Ren said, rubbing the back of his head, "even AI can have Personas. I don't see how anyone else can't. So long as you accept the voice in yourself, you can have a Persona."
"What voice did you hear?" Ikutsuki asked.
"For the Phantom Thieves, the voice told us something we didn't truly accept before, that injustice filled the world," Ren said with glazed eyes. "It forced us to see the truth, that we can't keep looking away. In the end, it asked us if we were okay with that. And how could we? We were sick and tired of being used for others' selfish gains. It's why we created the Phantom Thieves, to fight against corrupt adults and disillusioned people, then give others the courage to fight for themselves."
"And what about you?" Akihiko asked, glaring at Akechi. "I don't see how becoming a murderer was about rebelling against people."
Akechi smirked. "Wouldn't you want to know?" Mitsuru opened her mouth, but Akechi continued. "But, if you really want to know, mine was about revenge: revenge against the man who wronged me, that I can't keep looking away from my anger. No one was going to get in my way after that."
"That's enough for you?" Akihiko asked with disgust.
Akechi's smirk grew larger. "Why shouldn't it be? I'm just accepting that part of myself."
"Akechi, please stop aggravating him," Ren said with a sigh. "We're not trying to start a fight."
Akechi merely scoffed, but he stopped.
"Does anyone have questions they'd like to ask?" Ren asked everyone. "I think we covered everything I can think of at the moment."
"I'd like to ask about your thoughts on the usage of Evokers," Ikutsuki said, "but I can see that everyone's tension is getting to them. It is rather late." He glanced at the clock, showing the time was now three in the morning. "I suppose we can keep my questions for now, if no one else has questions?" he asked, looking around the lobby.
It seemed like he was right. Ken was about to doze off while the second-year students began to yawn or blink away their drowsiness. Akihiko still seemed like he wanted to do something about Akechi while Akechi, Mitsuru, and Shinjiro were still alert.
"No," Mitsuru said with a shake of her head. "I think we should rest for now. We can ask more questions tomorrow."
The students filtered out of the lobby, Ken and Koromaru first. Kotone stared at Ren before leaving with Yukari and Fuuka. Junpei left, saying nothing.
"I suppose we have to talk about sleeping arrangements for the foreseeable future?" Mitsuru muttered.
Ikutsuki nodded. "Indeed. I think leaving Akechi-kun with Ren-kun would be the best idea?"
Mitsuru glanced at the remaining people and nodded. "I trust Ren enough to keep him in line if anything happens."
"I'm not a mutt," Akechi said with a growl.
"Your fault for making an enemy out of everyone," Ren fired back.
"Then I'll get an extra futon," Akihiko said before turning to Shinjiro. "Your room is clean, so you can sleep whenever."
Shinjiro nodded and immediately left.
Ren sighed as he left with Akechi, Akihiko and Mitsuru trailing them both. He didn't know what he expected when or what he would be forced to explain himself, but it wasn't this.
-.-
Kotone laid on her bed after changing to a different set of clothes, too tired to take a quick shower. Too many things happened in the span of a few hours, and it drained her. So, here she was, resting on her bed.
Still, even if her body was too tired, her mind continued to process the day. She felt more thankful for her insomnia now more than ever before. Well, maybe not. It felt like it helped her wake up after Ren used his Persona on her.
Ren...
It turned out she didn't really know him, didn't she? Even if she felt so close to him, he never told her the truth about him. The times they spent together, the July Full Moon Operation, their heart-to-heart in Yakushima... How much of those were actually him? Was the Ren she learned the real Ren?
Ren never mentioned it, but would it be possible for him to just go back in time to when there was another problem with Shadows? That made little sense. Was there something else? On top of that, he had the power of multiple Personas and Igor said she had the same power because of the Wildcard. Is it possible he has the same?
Wait... Igor also said the Velvet Room existed between dream and reality, mind and matter. For some reason, the others can't see it even if they were right in front of it. She stopped asking the others about it because no one reacted to it. But what if Ren can see it? Is he related to the Velvet Room? The only Wildcard she knows is her, and that power feels deeply linked to the Velvet Room. Maybe they helped him against Yaldabaoth during his time and that's how he knew about it. Still, why would the Velvet Room send him? What is it because she'll fail?
They never trusted her, did they? They knew she'd fail without help. Was she this bad as a Guest?
No, it doesn't matter whether Ren's here or if Igor knew she would succeed. Whatever happens, happens. Just react like before: smile, bear, and be quiet.
If they stop the Dark Hour, great. If they don't, that's okay, too.
After all, everyone lies, even her. It exhausts her to keep that upbeat personality whenever she's with someone. She made friends only to strengthen herself. She has no reason to fight during the Dark Hour except that her senpai made her leader.
Nothing about her is real.
So then, why does learning Ren kept secrets hurt her so much?
-.-Take Your Time-.-
8/7 - Morning - Iwatodai Dorm - 3rd POV
"Oh, you're awake," Akihiko said as he saw Ren making breakfast. "I didn't think you'd be up already."
Ren shrugged. "It doesn't matter what secret gets out; the world keeps turning. That means people get hungry. Considering we have two new people, and with the people here that have monsters for stomachs, I thought I should get up bright and early."
"That's for sure," Akihiko said with a laugh. "What do we have for today?"
"Pancakes," Ren said, turning around to give Akihiko a stacked plate of pancakes. "I thought that a sweeter breakfast might help pick up the mood."
"Thanks," Akihiko said, taking the plate, "and true; I'm starving. Sucks that there's no protein, but I'll take it easy for today."
For a few minutes, silence reigned between them, broken only by the griddle's occasional sizzle.
"Senpai," Ren called, taking Akihiko's attention. "Are you okay? After everything you learned last night, that is."
Akihiko chewed on his food for a moment in silence. "How are you okay with Akechi?"
Ren turned around to face him. "What do you mean?"
"From what you said, the Phantom Thieves worked with him," Akihiko said. "But he intentionally killed people. I'd understand if he didn't, but..."
Ren plopped another batch of batter on the griddle before turning around to answer. "Because he's pretty similar to me."
Akihiko's face of disbelief almost made Ren laugh if it wasn't for the atmosphere. "How is he similar to you? You're not a murderer."
"How do you know that?" Ren asked with a raised eyebrow. "For all you know, I could be lying; I could be a murderer."
"You came back with Kotone yesterday instead of leaving her for dead," Akihiko said, before taking another piece and swallowing. "I think that counts for something."
Ren flipped the current batch of pancakes before answering, "The same system that abused my friends and me abused him, too. The only difference was that I had friends when he didn't. No one was there to tell him to stop, to hold him back. He lived for nothing but his revenge, while my friends reminded me there was more. By the time we realized it was Shido who sent me to juvie, all I could think about was stopping him, not killing him for what he did to me."
"Do you forgive him?"
"Never," Ren answered immediately. "The system may have wronged him, but it was his prerogative to kill all those people. He killed too many people and hurt some of my closest friends. I could never forgive him."
"Then why work with him at all?" Akihiko asked. "He hurt you and your friend, and you can't just forgive and forget."
"Because I want to give him a second chance," Ren said, turning around. "That's what the Phantom Thieves do. I know he's crass, sarcastic, and likes to argue, but he tried to do something good before he disappeared. I'd like to bet on that side of him still being there."
Akihiko chewed slowly, forming his own thoughts, and swallowed. "Has anyone said you're way too optimistic?" When Ren raised an eyebrow, he continued. "Instead of telling us a lie last night, you told us about something even more out there. Time travel, different dimensions, gods; that kind of stuff. Now, you're telling me about trying to get something good from a murderer who killed people for a few years? And you expect us to believe all that?"
"Not at all," Ren said. "Everything I've experienced has been fantastical, so far out of the norm, I can hardly blame you for not believing me."
"And yet, you said it, anyway. I'll believe you," Akihiko said. "You helped us out so far. The least I can do is at least believe in you."
Ren let out a sigh and smile. "Thanks. You won't regret it."
"What about you?" Akihiko asked. "You met Shinjiro before, right?"
Ren nodded. "Back in April, if I remember right. What about him?"
"You don't have questions?"
"I do," Ren said, "but I don't know if I'm in the position to ask because, you know."
Akihiko chuckled. "I'm fine with it so long as you don't push it."
"Then," Ren said after a hum, "who is he? It's pretty clear you and Mitsuru-senpai are pretty close to him."
"He's my brother," Akihiko said. "We came from the same orphanage, so we've been together since. Things happened, so he left."
"But he ended up coming last night. Is he...?"
"Staying to fight?" Akihiko said, completing his sentence. "Not sure. I didn't really ask."
Ren grunted in understanding. "Then, how did he know where we were?"
Akihiko coughed. "I told him..."
Ren squinted his eyes at him. "Does Mitsuru-senpai know?"
"Yeah," Akihiko said. "She knows I told him about it."
"Why tell him at all?" Ren asked. "I don't really see a reason you would."
"That's because I want him to get back into fighting," Akihiko answered. "I just tell him, hoping he'd come back whenever he wants to."
"I see..." Ren muttered. "What about one last question?"
"Shoot."
"Is he okay with pancakes?"
Akihiko smiled. "So long as it's not too sweet."
The two heard someone walking down the staircase. Akechi turned towards the kitchen and froze, his eyes stuck on the breakfast on the table.
Akechi glared at Ren with a face of disgust and said, "I hate you."
Ren merely smirked and passed him a plate.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
8/7 - Dark Hour - Command Room - Ren
"So... uh, why does Akihiko seem angry?" Yukari asked, glancing at Akihiko. Ken, Junpei, and she arrived in the command room but noticed the irritated atmosphere coming from Akihiko. Meanwhile, Ren, Akechi, and Kotone sat on the opposite side, putting as much space between them and Akihiko.
Kotone shook her head with a smirk and a huff, side-eyeing Ren. "It's for a really dumb reason."
"What do you mean?" Ken asked. "I haven't seen him all day. Was he out because of it?"
Ren rubbed the back of head, embarrassed. "Akechi hates his pancakes and-"
"And you made pancakes this morning," Ken continued. "Why would you make something he doesn't like?"
"Alright, it's not that he hates pancakes," Ren corrected. "Pancakes just remind him of something unpleasant for him, so he doesn't like it."
"I hate sweets, Amamiya," Akechi corrected. "Pancakes are sweets."
"Pancakes are an exception," Ren whispered to Ken. "Notice how he hates sweets, not pancakes?"
"Did the two fight?" Yukari asked, ignoring the children.
"No," Shinjiro said from behind them, coming into the room with Mitsuru. "But it's still stupid; it's like dealing with a kid."
"I'm not a kid," Akihiko said. "And I am not angry. Exasperated is the better word."
"Enough to go out for the entire day?" Shinjiro asked with a deadpan face.
"You didn't see his face when he saw the food, Shinji," Akihiko said. "You'd be like me if you were there."
"Did you mean to do it?" Kotone asked, whispering to Ren.
"Not really," he answered. "I knew everyone either liked it or was okay with it. I didn't think Akihiko would hold a grudge over food like this. It was just a prank for Akechi, a way to get back at him."
Kotone raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you were this petty."
"Less of being petty and more of a 'Welcome Back to the Living' kind of thing," Ren said with a shrug.
Akechi huffed. "And what a way to say it, Amamiya. It's not like this is the first time, either."
Kotone stared at Ren, waiting for an explanation. However, Ren shrugged again.
"I'll explain later."
"You better not," Akechi snarled.
Ren opened his mouth to say something, but the doors opened and Ikutsuki entered the room.
"I'm very sorry I'm late," Ikutsuki said. "I had to prepare some things."
Ren tilted his head, and he saw a familiar briefcase. It seemed like Ikutsuki and he had the same idea.
Everyone took their seats or remained standing up. Ren sat next to Kotone and Aigis while Akechi stood behind him. Akihiko sat opposite them while Fuuka, Ken, and Koromaru sat next to him. Junpei, Yukari, and Shinjiro stood behind them. Mitsuru and Ikutsuki sat on the single-person chair in the room.
"Thank you again for meeting up on short notice," Ikutsuki began. "Considering last night's reveal, I took the initiative and prepared things for this meeting." He placed the briefcase on the table and opened it. Yukari gasped and Akihiko growled, though Ren couldn't say he didn't see it coming.
Inside the briefcase was an Evoker, and everyone knew whose it was for.
Ren glanced at Mitsuru and noted the lack of surprise on her face, eyeing Akechi.
"This meeting is to formally invite you, Akechi Goro, to the Specialized Extracurricular Extermination Squad," Ikutsuki said. "You've seen us in action, but we exist to-"
"Not interested."
Akechi stood up, ignoring everyone's stares.
"W-wait," Ikutsuki said, reaching out to him. "We'd like your help. We understand that Ren-kun is strong, but the more people we have, the better."
Akechi smirked. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that. Amamiya is strong enough for this."
"Don't you care about the people getting hurt about this?" Yukari said. "Didn't you fight to save everyone from that Maruki guy?"
Akechi stared at her, then sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Idiots, I'm surrounded by idiots," he muttered. He stared again at her and said, "Let me make something clear: I don't care about the faceless idiots out there. The reason I fought with the Phantom Thieves against Maruki was because he, a depressed madman, had the power to warp reality. He took away my choices. I will not lay down on the side like a dog." Yukari stammered, trying to say something, but Akechi turned around. "That said, I'm leaving. I'm done with all this Persona bullshit."
As he reached out for the door, Ren stood up.
"I don't think you are, Akechi."
Akechi froze on the spot. "Would you mind explaining in detail?" he growled.
"You and I both know you're not," Ren repeated. "That's why you were in the bunker last night."
"And how does me being there mean I'm not done with Personas?" Akechi asked, now fully facing Ren.
Ren stood up behind the couch, all eyes on him. "Because you and I know that voice last night wasn't just some voice. It was your Persona. You listened to it and decided to follow it."
"On a whim," Akechi growled.
"And you had a chance to actually disappear," Ren said, pushing on. "You could have disappeared during the Dark Hour, and no one here would have been able to track you. You could be in a new city with a new identity by now. And yet, you listened to your Persona and ended up meeting up with us."
"Don't you dare gaslight me, Amamiya," Akechi growled, stepping towards Ren.
Ren shook his head. "I'm not; your own actions are speaking for yourself."
Akechi ground his teeth and spun around.
"If that's not enough," Ren said, "then what about cashing in on two favors?"
Again, Akechi froze and glanced at Ren. Though, now, his face showed total confusion. "What favors?"
Ren held up a finger. "We made a deal to change Shido's heart in your stead. We did that, and we sent him to jail."
"One I repaid by taking your place in prison back on Christmas," Akechi said with a frown.
Ren really wanted to smirk but bit the feeling down. Smirking now would only make Akechi even more tense.
"But that happened in Maruki's reality. What do you think happened when we took it down?" he asked.
"The reality never...happened..." Akechi's eyes lit up with realization. "That means I never went to prison."
Ren nodded. "And I went instead," he said, putting up a second finger. "Two favors, and I'm cashing them both now."
Akechi looked at him in befuddlement. "Why?"
"Do you really think I'd let you out of my sight?" Ren said. "I honestly don't think you'd go around killing again, but I know I'm the only person here you know, and you'd rather die than ask for a stranger's help."
"I don't-"
"You were always alone back then, and that's how you ended up being a murderer. Here, at least I'm here to stop you from going on the deep end," Ren said with a sigh.
Akechi glared at him with a snarl. "I don't need your pity."
"It's not about pity, it's about second chances," Ren countered. "That's what we Phantom Thieves do."
Akechi shook his head and sighed. "Fine," he said with force. "However, if this is going to work, I want to make some things clear." He looked at the rest of the people in the room, letting his eyes wander and meet their eyes for a moment. "I don't trust any of you. I'm not here to fight your cause, nor to be a good guy and save people. I'm only here because I dislike letting debts be unpaid."
"Wha-" Junpei yelled out.
"If, at any point," Akechi continued, "I feel you're dragging me behind or hesitating on a decision, I have no qualms about leaving you all behind to do what needs to be done. I hope that is clear enough." His eyes shifted towards Ikutsuki and Mitsuru. "I also have what I believe to be basic demands if I am to live with others, mainly IDs. I can't go around living here without never existing, can I?"
Ikutsuki smiled, as if everything went according to plan. "Of course! We can talk more about those demands after this meeting. Now that you're a part of SEES, you will require this: your own Evoker. I understand you can summon your own Persona your own way like Ren-kun, but more choices don't hurt. Do you know how to use it?"
Akechi nodded and approached Ikutsuki.
"Now, to use it, you-"
Akechi grabbed the Evoker, lifted his head, and, without blinking, moved the Evoker to under his jaw. Glass broke and Hereward floated behind him, its cold eyes settling on Akechi.
"He... He didn't even hesitate..." Yukari stammered out, her eyes moving between Akechi and the new Persona.
Ren narrowed his eyes at Akechi. Yukari was right; Akechi was far too callous with his first time with an Evoker. No hesitation. Was Akechi...?
Ren shook his head. This wasn't something that he should think about right now. Maybe later when they could talk again.
Akechi hummed, narrowing his eyes at Hereward.
"Is something wrong?" Mitsuru asked.
Akechi shook his head. "Nothing to worry about. If you're worried about my ability to fight, don't."
Mitsuru nodded. "Then I believe it's a good time to plan the next Tartarus excursion. Our new members have experience fighting Shadows, so I believe we should start exploring tomorrow night. Your thoughts, Shiomi?"
Kotone hummed in thought, her elbow on her knees. "I think we can go in a couple of days. Akechi-san, Aragaki-senpai, are you ready tomorrow?"
Shinjiro only nodded.
"Like I said," Akechi answered, "don't worry about me; I can take care of myself."
Kotone smiled and nodded at Mitsuru. "Sounds like we're set."
"Alright!" Junpei yelled. "With all that doom and gloom stuff out, it's time to party! Summer is here!"
"Yes, it is," Mitsuru said with a small smirk. Ren found it chilling; she never usually does that. "Enjoy your vacation while you can; summer classes start on the tenth."
"H-Hey... Good one, senpai," Junpei said, laughing nervously. "You almost had me there."
"I... Uh... I don't think she's joking, Junpei..." Ren said.
Mitsuru nodded. "It's no joke. I've signed us all up for intensive courses. I know how difficult it's been, balancing school and our late-night excursions; you haven't had much time to study. For that, I apologize. That's why the Chairman agrees this is a good idea. Though... I thought I told Takeba and Yamagishi."
"Are you serious?!" Junpei screamed. "This is the first time I've heard of it!"
"Sorry..." Fuuka muttered, slightly sinking into the sofa. "I forgot to mention it."
"It's okay, Fuuka," Junpei said, wiping off an imaginary tear.
"Hey, even if your grades improved a bit, you still need help!" Yukari said. "You should be thanking her!"
"I know," Junpei said with a sigh. "This sucks."
Kotone chuckled at his antics. "It's okay, Junpei. You're not alone on this; it's the first I heard of it, too."
"How long are summer classes?"
"It's only for a week," Fuuka said with a smile. "It's just supplementary lessons, so they won't teach new things."
"Oh, thank you!" Junpei yelled with a fist pump. "Summer is still on the table!"
-.-Take Your Time-.-
8/8 - After Midnight - Ikutsuki's Office - Ikutsuki
"To summarize, Akechi Goro is now working with SEES, though he has some demands. Shinjiro-kun is also taking part again," Ikutsuki said over the phone.
On the other side of the call, Takeharu hummed. "And what are Akechi's demands?"
"Just some basic needs for someone without an identity," Ikutsuki said, sandwiching his phone as he sifted through papers. He found what he looked for and read it. "'Passport, some other IDs, and boarding in the dorm. He also mentioned something about some sort of security number, but I don't think we have that yet."
"Did those two truly come from the future?" Takeharu asked.
He nodded, even if he knew Takeharu couldn't see it. "Yes. I looked at this Kurusu Akira - the Amamiya Ren of our reality - and other than being in Inaba, his story is the same as Ren-kun. Should we ask them for more evidence? Perhaps we could use that to-"
"No," Takeharu immediately answered. "I refuse to use information from the future for our gains. I would not differ from my own father."
Still the useless son, I see. Koetsu is rolling in his grave right now.
Ikutsuki sighed in relief. "Glad to hear it, Takeharu. We can't make the same mistakes as our predecessors. What do you want to do now?"
"I'll need to think about that for a while," Takeharu responded. "It took me years to get used to the Dark Hour, and now I'm learning about time travelers. I'll let you know what I plan to do. At the very least, I want to talk to them face-to-face. I'd like to hear the truth directly."
"Of course," Ikutsuki said. "And what of Akechi-kun's demands?"
"Give them to him. The support of another Persona user is invaluable, more so from one with experience."
"Are you not disturbed by his crimes?" Ikutsuki asked. If Ikutsuki was a lesser man, Akechi might have disturbed him. But, as the one who will bring about the Fall, one single murderer is nothing to fear.
"Amamiya trusts him enough, so I'll trust him for now."
Ikutsuki blinked. "Aren't you trusting Ren-kun too much?"
Takeharu made an uncommitted hum on the other side of the phone. "Perhaps. I can't explain it, but I feel that I can trust Amamiya."
And this is only after a single meeting. I heard that Takeharu and Ren had a private meeting. What happened there? Did Amamiya change Takeharu's heart somehow? That would be impossible; the Metaverse doesn't exist. But... If the Metaverse and Dark Hour are connected through this Collective Unconscious...
No, that's impossible. The Dark Hour is separate, a whole different dimension. Something like the Metaverse can't compare to it.
"Well, I trust your judgment, Takeharu. You are the one who got the Kirijo Group out of the biggest scandal the company had and probably will have," Ikutsuki said. "Is there anything you'd like to ask about?"
Takeharu hummed and said, "No, I don't think so. Thank you, Ikutsuki, for telling me. That will be all."
"Have a good night, Takeharu," Ikutsuki said and ended the call.
Takeharu was truly an idiot, to trust someone so quickly and to never even doubt Ikutsuki. For someone that looked distrustful and is quite a ferocious entrepreneur, he is far too trusting.
Still, that wasn't what he should ponder about.
It's been proven time travel is real. Should he pursue it in exchange for the Fall? Abandon all the work he did for the past decade to achieve Koetsu's original dream?
Ikutsuki shook his head.
There was nothing to question. Even if time travel for the benefit of mankind was Koetsu's original dream, Ikutsuki didn't follow him because of that. He accepted Koetsu's invitation because he agreed with his plans for the Fall. The power of Shadows was a marvelous sight to behold, to see the Prince arrive once again to deliver judgment upon the world would be euphoric.
-.-Take Your Time-.-
Author's Notes:
Did you know that Japan didn't have a social security number or equivalent until 2015?
That said, sorry for the delay. Elden Ring dropped and I ended up dropping 120 hours. I'm now PL235 in my first playthrough. Frostbleed Hookclaws are pretty strong. Ranni and Tiche are best girls, Wave of Gold is OP farming tool (poor Albirnaurics), and Radahn and TOGETHAA best boss fights. I did cheese Rykard by dying to him first try, upgrading the weapon to +9, respeccing for all Strength, then summoning Mimic Tear + 10. Yeah…
So, for this chapter. We got Ren saving Kotone, Kotone not being as affected by Dormina as Ren thought (I'm dead sure that the P3 MCs have insomnia; they're never sleepy when Pharos visits), the truth about Ren, and Akechi joining SEES.
Ren saving Kotone is pretty straightforward, I feel. To me, Kotone being awake instead of sleeping because of insomnia felt right too. Some might have issues with Ren and Akechi explaining the truth, but I think I hit the important parts, or the ones that should be explained when everyone's dead tired past midnight. I think Akechi joining SEES is straightforward as well. Akechi feels that he is done with all the Persona bullshit, but he really isn't. Still, that wasn't enough, so Ren had to remind him that he owes Ren some favors.
I also imagined this kind of Ren, the type to scrap with Akechi in little things when there's no lasting effects. Think of the Mementos conversations.
Looking at the next few days of the P3 calendar, we've got summer classes, the summer festival, and the film festival. Do you know what that means? I'm going to do my best writing fluff.
There's also going to be an upcoming Tartarus expedition and it will be Akechi's first as SEES. Now, I learned my lesson from last time and made it so that the expedition happens earlier than waiting almost a month like the first time.
I did mess up with not adding scenes since I thought of them too late. One of them was Kotone taking Lavenza out for the day like with Theo. As of right now, it seems like there's no connection between the two, but I want to say that Kotone's taken Lavenza out at least once before this point in the story. I hope to create an omake next chapter to fix this. Thankfully, it's a fluff omake, it won't affect the story too much.
Edits: 2022/10/18
Just changed something minor. Sorry for the update ping, if you get it.