Heart of Justice Chapter 35
6/21
Ann looked up from her seat in the student council office as she saw Makoto Niijima finally enter. "I'm sorry for asking you here like this," she said. "What with it being lunchtime and all, I hope I'm not taking you away from your meal..."
"It's no problem," said Makoto, sitting across from her. "It's actually refreshing to be asked in, not to mention this gives me a chance to return this to you..." she fished Ann's sweatshirt jacket from her bag, passing it to her.
"Are you... doing alright, after... what happened yesterday?" Ann asked.
"I'm fine, now," Makoto said, giving an assuring smile. "If anything, the only nerve-wracking thing at the moment was when I was told to come here."
"I admit, I'm a little nervous myself," Ann said, standing up. "I called you here because I wanted to properly apologize, for everything... I guess now felt like a better time for that."
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked, curious.
"Well, blaming you for the... things Kamoshida did," Ann explained. "...I realized later there was something going on... Shiho was calling out to me and I wasn't there to help her. I didn't want to admit my own guilt and took it out on you, senpai... I'm very sorry!"
Makoto closed her eyes, taking a moment as the other girl bowed apologetically in front of her. "Hey, there's no need for that," said Makoto, her tone soft and as assuring as the smile she'd given earlier. "...Kiri- Kyoko... she said something similar to me last night..."
"She did?" Ann asked.
"For different reasons, but... the sense of projecting guilt, I guess," Makoto said. "Still, I owe you an apology as well for my own failure to act. I couldn't save anyone, not Suzui-san or Kaneshiro's victims, and kept telling myself I wasn't at fault because I was just following orders... but that was all a lie," she explained, her smile fading to a faint frown. "I felt like I'd be admitting to my own worthlessness... and how selfish I was being protecting my own goals if I hadn't shifted the blame off myself... and then the fear of that worthlessness that'd only be validated if I lost everything I worked for was what probably led me to being so harsh with you and your friends... I'm deeply sorry for that, as well."
"I see," Ann replied, glancing to the side and remembering her conversations with Kyoko, as well as remembering what had driven Yusuke to make a tactless demand of her in order to meet his former teacher and father figure's expectations of him. "I think a lot of us understand those fears, and you apologizing again, how about we call it even, alright?"
Makoto managed a smile again. "I guess... that'd be nice to put this behind us, yes."
"One more thing, though," Ann said, sitting back down across from Makoto. "You're not worthless, Niijima-senpai. What you did yesterday... it was a bit reckless, but we'd have never gotten into Kaneshiro's Palace without you... or gotten out... which was because you've now awakened to the power of a Persona, and gained the ability to change peoples' hearts like us... something you did all yourself, senpai!" she said with a smile.
"Thank you," Makoto said, giving a small, embarrassed laugh. "That way of thinking, it's very like you, Takamaki-san."
"Hm? What do you mean?" Ann asked, confused, now.
"When you confronted me about Suzui-san, I realized how dishonest and small I was," Makoto explained. "You're very direct and it helped me realize the error of my ways... turns out I'm a little slow on the uptake, it seems."
"Spend some more time with Kyoko, she's not exactly one to mince words, either," Ann said with a laugh, "...I know she can seem a little... intimidating at times, but I know her heart's in the right place... I've seen that for myself and I'm proud to call her my friend!"
"Yeah, I've noticed, and I'm really glad to get to know her, more, as well. I admit it surprised me to see how alike she and I are," Makoto explained. "Anyway... would it be alright if I just called you "Ann"? And you don't need to refer to me by last name or "senpai", just "Makoto" from now on."
"Y-you sure? Ugh... that'd be embarrassing, though!" Ann said anxiously.
"Trust me, it won't. We're friends, now, right?" Makoto asked.
"O-Of course! Yeah, just... it'll take some getting used to," Ann said. "Um, lunch probably isn't much longer, how about we check out this place I know that does stuffed crepes and we can talk more, then? We could each get a whole one and do half and half!"
Makoto's eyes widened a bit. "Think you can handle that much?" she asked, surprised.
"Don't underestimate me! Plus I've been really wanting to check this new one out! You've never gone out for sweets before?" Ann asked. "Don't tell me you literally spend all your freetime just studying!"
Makoto looked down, blushing. "...Ever since we lost Dad, I've pretty much spent all my time studying."
"Well it just means you're overdue!" Ann said with a smile as she got up and gathered her bag. "Anyways, I'll see you after school lets out, then!"
Makoto gave an affirming nod as she, too, stood up and gathered her things. Once Ann had left, Makoto heard her phone hum. Taking it out, she looked at the message on the screen, her brow furrowing in disgust.
"Just you wait, you son of a bitch. The only one who's going to be "paying" is you..." she hissed as she read Kaneshiro's message before heading to class as well.
Once classes had ended, Kyoko responded to Ryuji's message, meeting him out in the hallway near the stairs. Immediately the boy stared at Kyoko's forehead. "Dang... y'know, Ann said you dodged the last one!" he said.
"...It seems Mr. Ushimaru has significantly refined his craft in the meantime," Kyoko said dryly, folding her arms in annoyance and silently vowing she'd do the same.
"You... uh... wanna grab some ice from the nurse's office for that if it's still smartin'?" Ryuji asked.
"To be honest, I probably should," Kyoko said.
"Anyways, since Ann and Niiji- Makoto... right... she said to just use her name in that chat during class," Ryuji mused as they made their way to the clinic, Kyoko's frown deepening slightly at the still stinging memory of what said chat concluded with on her forehead. "...Anyways, since Ann and Makoto got other plans, and we're takin' the day off, well... you member that Yamauchi guy I told you about who's takin' over the track team?"
"Yes, you described him as being similar to Kamoshida?" Kyoko asked.
"Yeah, him," said Ryuji. "You remember how I said he doesn't give a rat's ass about the sport or the students."
"I remember," Kyoko said. "He's likely hoping to exploit the attention regarding the track team's victimhood from Kamoshida's jealousy, and putting himself in a position where he can be credited for them becoming the school's pride and joy again."
"Exactly!" Ryuji said with a nod. "Well, anyway, there's this rumor I overhead when class was lettin' out. Apparently he's gotten in trouble at school before with his drinkin'. But apparently, it hasn't stopped him from goin' out. Maybe he'll be a little more loose-lipped when he's had a few, ya know?"
"In Vino Veritas," Kyoko mused aloud.
"Eh? Whassat?" Ryuji asked, confused.
"It's Italian. It means "The Truth in Wine," Kyoko replied. "You're suggesting we tail him after school at some point and wait till he's gotten himself intoxicated enough he may say something he'd normally be more cautious about?"
"Basically... yeah," Ryuji said. "I mean, there's gotta be a place he frequents, I know he hangs out with some of the other teachers after school so if I can find out where he goes, maybe he'll let somethin' slip!"
"It's a workable plan, Ryuji," Kyoko said with a faint smile. "That said it'd be best I tail him, and keep our phones on like Makoto did with us. I am likely the most capable at it, after all."
"Heh, right," Ryuji said, recalling last time with Mishima and the maid incident. "...But anyway, the guys talk a lot, so prolly leave it up to me findin' out where he drinks. I'll letcha know, then!"
Kyoko gave a nod, and within a moment the two had reached the nurse's office, where Kyoko picked up an ice pack for herself and sat down a moment, feeling the last of the stinging fade.
"So, anyways, was hopin' in the meantime, wanna go do some more trainin'? I know it's been a while with so much happenin' lately," Ryuji said.
"I see no harm in that," Kyoko replied. "If we're going to be invading another Palace, it may benefit to work out some."
"Yeah, my thoughts exactly!" Ryuji said with a grin.
"Well, in that case, I think I'll just wander around a bit," Morgana said. "You two have fun, I'll come and find you by the gym once you're finished."
"Still, will we have anywhere to train at the school?" Kyoko asked. "With Kaneshiro's men lurking around Central Street about now, it may be best to keep a distance from the gym where they've been seen."
"Yeah, you got a point," Ryuji said, frowning. "There's gotta be a place we can go around here on campus, though! We can't give up!"
Kyoko gave Ryuji an inquisitive look.
"Man... we really DON'T got a good place to train!" Ryuji said dejectedly as he and Kyoko roamed the open vestibules linking the school buildings together. "...And if we stick around here, we might run into Nakaoka and the others. Any ideas?"
"Morgana did propose using the overhang beams in my room for pull-up workouts," Kyoko said, still holding the ice pack to her head. "...Though I doubt Boss would appreciate us doing exercises in his café in the middle of the afternoon."
"Yeah, I mean... workin' the arms is prolly a good idea, too, ya know?" Ryuji said. "Still... it'd just turn into eatin' snacks n' playin' video games or somethin'."
Kyoko folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at him.
"...Oh, right," Ryuji said, before a look of realization came to his face. "Know what? You really oughta try 'em out. Video games, I mean. Like... you never even played like, an arcade or somethin'?"
"No," Kyoko replied dryly. "You think my grandfather would ever permit such a distraction from my studies and training in his home?"
Ryuji scoffed at her words. "Hey, they ain't all distraction! I mean, yeah, okay, they're definitely fun and make me lose track'a time real fast, but ya know, they ARE good for developin' hand-eye coordination!"
"...I believe we were discussing a place to train?" Kyoko inquired.
"...Right, I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a peek around the gym?" Ryuji asked.
The two paused at the sound of someone grunting in pain, followed by what sounded like someone getting hit nearby.
"S-stop! Guys... I-I swear, I didn't...!" a male voice protested, followed by another punch.
"That sounded like Nakaoka!" Ryuji exclaimed, eyes wide in shock. "Sounds like he's in trouble!"
Before Kyoko could reply, Ryuji dashed off ahead in the direction of the voice. Taking a breath, she lowered her ice pack and ran after him as quickly as she could. Sure enough, right around the corner of the gym, she and Ryuji came across the track team, all of them standing around Nakaoka, who was on the ground, cornered against one of the hedges next to the gym building while Takeishi stood over him, massaging his fist, the other two track members standing on either side of him.
"DUDE! What the hell're you doin', Takeishi?!" Ryuji protested as he ran over, Kyoko right behind him.
"Stay outta this, Sakamoto!" Takeishi snapped, turning to face Ryuji but shooting a glare back at Nakoaka, who was now wiping blood from his nose. "We just had a few questions for this damn stool pigeon, here! It doesn't concern you!"
"Beatin' the crap outta him hardly sounds like askin' questions!" Ryuji snapped back.
"You needed there to be all three of you to do this?" Kyoko asked, folding her arms and glaring at Takeishi and the boys standing around Nakoaka in disapproval.
"Yeah, like for real, Takeishi?!" Ryuji asked. "You think yourself tough when you need these two to hold a guy you're already stronger then down for ya while you beat him up? That's just effin' cowardly!"
"Don't go feeling sorry for Nakaoka, here, Sakamoto!" said Takeishi. "He's the one you can thank for all the shit Kamoshida put us all through!" he shouted, pointing at the battered boy on the ground. "That's right, HE'S the one who was tellin' Kamoshida all those secrets about us the whole time, including what he used to rile you up enough to take a swing!"
Ryuji froze, looking at Nakaoka, then at Takeishi. "...No way, that's a load'a bull!" he said.
"Are you so sure of this?" Kyoko asked, stepping forward and glaring at Takeishi. "...Did you even give him a chance to tell his side before you started assaulting him?"
"Dude, she's right!" Ryuji said. "You guys've been trainin' together like, forever! Didja even bother lettin' him talk?"
"Furthermore, we've heard the track team is going to be restored, now, with Kamoshida gone, correct?" Kyoko asked. "To my understanding, with his confessions of the abuse, there has been a growing amount of sentiment towards you, or, at the very least, the notion you can return to your former status as the primary image of the school's athletic programs?"
"Yeah, I ran into Ikeda a while back at the gym in Shibuya, he was tellin' us he heard about it," Ryuji said. "So... ain't this fightin' kinda pointless, now?"
"Sh-Shut up!" Takeishi snapped defensively. "I'm telling you, this piece of shit sold us all out! He's a total snitch! Doesn't it bother you it's all thanks to him Kamoshida found out about your parents and knew exactly how to provoke you?"
Takeishi turned, glaring down at Nakaoka. "Get up! We're not done, here!"
"WHOA!" Ryuji immediately rushed between them, holding his arms out protectively and even causing the other two track members to step back in surprise.
"Outta the way, Sakamoto! We'll beat the shit outta you, too, if we have to!"
"Keep this up, Takeishi, and I'll get a teacher over here to put an end to it," Kyoko warned. "In fact, I think I saw Mr. Ushimaru on the way out here, want me to go see if he's still nearby?"
The boys all turned their attention to her, now.
"Whoa! Hold on!" Ryuji shouted. "You all ain't gonna beat up a girl, are you?!"
"What? Don't be ridiculous!" Takeishi protested, glancing back at Ryuji a moment before looking back at Kyoko. "...Listen, Kirigiri, we got every right to be pissed! You already know what Kamoshida put us through, so why're you protecting this weasel who made it worse?!"
"...Kyoko," Ryuji said, frowning. "...Listen, these guys've been through a lot already. They're just mad, alright? We don't need to make things worse on 'em when they finally got a chance..."
"Ryuji...?" Kyoko blinked in surprise, wondering what he was offering.
"Takeishi... if it'll make ya feel better, and make ya lay off Nakaoka whose clearly already had enough... go for it. Take a swing at me," Ryuji said, giving the other boy a stern look. "...But you're gonna wish you didn't. Trust me, it feels bad lookin' back on shitty stuff you've done."
"Are you crazy?" Takeishi asked, surprised by Ryuji's offer.
"Even if Nakaoka was workin' with Kamoshida, ain't it fine, now?" Ryuji asked, not flinching. "That bastard's gone, and payin' for his crimes in prison just like he deserves! It's all in the past so you guys gotta put this crap behind ya!"
"Even still, we can't keep around people who're gonna undermine our team!" said Takeishi, glaring past him at Nakaoka.
"But... but I d-didn't do anything!" Nakaoka protested, pinching his bleeding nose and nursing the bruises on his face. "I w-wasn't working for Kamoshida! It doesn't m-matter how much you hit me! My answer won't change!"
"Here..." Kyoko walked past the two boys and offered her ice pack, which the boy readily accepted as he held it to a noticeable bruise on the side of his face.
"That so?" Takeishi asked with an angry sneer. "We got proof, Yamauchi told us!"
"Yamauchi?!" Ryuji asked, eyes wide with shock. "You're gonna take that asshole's word for it?!"
"He has a point," Kyoko said, looking back a Takeishi. "I was already filled in on what kind of person Yamauchi was to you. I admit I'm surprised you'd be so willing to take him at his word knowing this..."
"Trust me, Kirigiri, I know what a d-bag Yamauchi was, but he's willing to coach us and he insists on turning things around, and that Nakaoka was feeding our secrets to Kamoshida for a pat on the back and a letter of recommendation from him!" Takeishi said, nursing his knuckles as he glared at Nakaoka. "...Now stop defending this traitor and let him take his medicine!"
"...Um, Takeishi, we should probably get going. At this rate it's gonna look real bad if anyone else shows up," one of the other track members, one with short dark hair, said as he looked about anxiously.
Takeishi let out a low, angry growl as he shook his head, glaring back at Nakaoka one last time. "Nakaoka, you better remember two-faced shitbags like you aren't welcome on our new track team, so don't even think about trying to stay on when it's official!"
Ryuji looked back at Nakaoka once Takeishi and the other track members had left. "You alright, man? What was that all about?"
"J-Just stay out of this, Sakamoto!" Nakaoka snapped, wincing and putting the ice pack on his jaw again abruptly. "This has nothing to do with you!"
"But-!" Ryuji started, only for Nakaoka to promptly cut him off.
"But nothing!" Nakaoka said sharply. "When you swung at Kamoshida, you were really hitting all of us who tried so hard to endure his bullshit! You might have thought hitting him was worth it, but you know that's what he wanted! Doing that only gave him the excuse he was looking for to shut us down!"
"For what, performing better then his volleyball team?" Kyoko asked.
"That may have been his reason for having it in for us, but thanks to Sakamoto losing his temper, we lost the one place we could vent our frustrations..." The boy's voice began to tremble again as he struggled to calm down. "...The one place we could... belong a-and... be appreciated. Then... it just got worse from there. Tensions got high, things were just... rough from then on."
"Still, like I said, Kamoshida's gone, now! Why's this still gotta be a thing?" Ryuji asked.
Nakaoka shook his head, nursing his bruises. "What if I told you... they were right about me?" he asked. "Would you still think everything's "fine" and think I'm so worth protecting if I was the one who told Kamoshida about your parents?"
Ryuji let out a deep sigh, folding his arms as he regarded the boy before him. "...Yeah. If you told him, you told him. I'm over that stuff with my parents, anyways!" he said, his features hard. "...Besides, I've realized somethin', Nakaoka," he said, as his expression softened a little. "I might'a messed up with Kamoshida back then, but hangin' on to the past ain't gonna help anythin'! I just gotta focus on bein' myself, and bein' free!"
"What're you talkin' about? "Free"...?" Nakaoka asked, chuckling bitterly to himself and shaking his head as he stood up straight and handed the ice pack back to Kyoko. "...Thanks..."
Without another word, the boy walked off back to the vestibules.
"Hey, Kyoko... you get it, right?" Ryuji asked after Nakaoka had left. "...What I'm tryin' to say, I mean?"
"I believe so, yes," said Kyoko, relieved her own forehead felt fine again.
"Right? He was the one not makin' sense!" Ryuji said. "But you know, I guess bein' free... it feels kinda like... when I'm talkin' to you, you know? It's hard to explain but it feels good. Like a lot just sorta gets off my shoulders... it's a feelin' I like. Thanks for backin' me, there, too. After that whole thing, I guess I feel a little moreso. Free, I mean!" he explained with a wide grin.
Kyoko heard the sound of a chain link break within the recesses of her mind.
"...Seems we didn't get much in the way of training done, though," Kyoko remarked.
"True that," Ryuji said, sighing. "Still, it was worth it to come out here, turns out my gut feeling was right about that whole mess with the track team..."
"Regardless, Nakaoka never confessed to anything to the other track members, despite he seemed serious when he told you," Kyoko replied, folding her arms.
"Yeah, he's weirdly stubborn sometimes. Guy'll keep his mouth shut no matter how many times you try an' knock some teeth outta it, it seems," Ryuji said.
"And Takeishi had said this all came from Yamauchi," Kyoko explained. "...He and the others simply took his word for it as their apparent proof... though it's possible they're willing to cut their losses to have the team restored."
"Could be," Ryuji said. "But Yamauchi's shady as all hell. He ain't worth it and like you said, this has gotta be all just for his ego! If we can find where he goes off to so he can take a few drinks after the school day, maybe we can bust 'em!"
"It's certainly possible," Kyoko said with a nod. "Are there any teachers he regularly associates with? One that it may benefit to be a fly on the wall around to find out where he goes?"
Ryuji pinched his chin in thought. "You know, there might be one! I sometimes saw 'em talkin' after practice. He's always kinda had it out for me, too. Think they go off drinkin' together sometimes, though I dunno where."
"In that case, let me know immediately next time they're off to go have drinks again. I can tail them then and investigate," Kyoko replied. "See if you can find out the name of the place, too, on the off-chance I lose track of them."
"Sure thing! I got the best detective for the job, so there's no way we can lose!" Ryuji said with a laugh.
"I won't disappoint," Kyoko said with a faint smile.
"Hey, what's up?" Morgana asked as he came around the corner and trotted over. "Ready to head out?"
"Yeah, think we're done for now!" Ryuji said. "I'm gonna go get changed and head on home. I'll catchya later, Kyoko!"
Kyoko gave him a nod as she headed to the locker room to change out of her gym clothes as well.
Kyoko, back in her casual clothes, was back in her Leblanc attic room when she felt her phone hum informing her of a message. Taking it out, the young detective blinked in surprise at who it was from.
[Kirigiri. Hello, this may seem sudden and a last-minute invitation, so I understand if you're otherwise busy and would decline, but I have some free time. How about yourself? Are you home already?] a message from Goro Akechi read.
-I do, and yes, I am. Why? she replied.
[I see. Perhaps you'd be willing to meet me in Kichijoji, then?] Akechi responded back.
[I was thinking of playing some billiards at one of my favorite haunts, would you care to join me at the Penguin Sniper Darts and Billiards Club?] he added.
[It'd be a nice chance to talk, if nothing else.]
Given that the workout with Ryuji had been interrupted before it could even start due to the infighting amongst the track team members the two of them had to diffuse, Kyoko was, admittedly, with extra time, herself, and saw no reason to decline. She'd also recalled last time she'd come, and how it'd been a while since she'd gotten to play, having not done so recreationally but rather as a form of a training exercise. She was, by her own admittance, curious of the other young detective's skill and how it'd measure with her own if it'd not waned at all.
Morgana, curious, hopped on to the bed to look at the screen, then her in curiosity, Kyoko stood up, having made up her mind.
-Very well. I'm on my way. she replied.
[Thank you. I'll see you shortly, then!] Akechi responded.
"Have fun. I'll be fine, here!" Morgana said, curling up on the bed as Kyoko got ready to head out again.
Within a half hour, Kyoko found herself once more in Kichijoji, and the night life that came with it giving her memories of when she'd brought Mishima here to investigate the troublemaker in the alley bars. Sending Akechi and quick message and making her way through the alley, Kyoko headed to where she remembered the club to be and found the other boy detective standing outside near the stairs leading in, monogrammed briefcase in one hand and looking at his phone in the other, seemingly unaware of her presence as she drew closer.
"Akechi," Kyoko said, now standing before him with her phone in hand.
"Why, Kirigiri! Glad you made it!" he said with a smile. "...I hope it wasn't too inconvenient to come out this way just to see me."
"Not particularly," Kyoko replied, putting away her phone.
"Well, anyway, I had hoped since I was free for the evening we could talk, but as it seems we have plenty of time, and being here in Kichijoji, and thought it may be an interesting experience to play against someone for a change!" Akechi said with a warm smile. "Also, I figured we could chat and play at the same time as well if you're up for it."
"I wouldn't have come out here if I wasn't," Kyoko replied, brushing back her hair.
"That's certainly good to hear!" Akechi said. "Well, shall we head on in, then?" he asked, leading the way up the stairs and Kyoko silently following. In a matter of moments, the two had gotten a table for themselves, the balls set up in the triangle frame with the cueball ready. Akechi stood at one end, pool stick in hand while Kyoko stood to the side with her own as other patrons played at the other tables or sat at the bar nearby.
"Have you played before, Kirigiri? I admit... in my personal perception of you, I imagined you the type who'd give me quite a challenge!" Akechi said with a chuckle.
"I have, yes," Kyoko said. "It has been a while, but I consider myself sufficiently skilled. My grandfather had taught me, though it was not meant for fun but rather as an exercise in observational skill."
"Ahh, I see," Akechi replied with a nod. "I can't argue his logic, as keen observation is an essential skill for a detective, correct?"
"It is, yes," Kyoko answered with a nod of her own.
"Regardless, being able to play against someone will be a new experience," Akechi explained. "Perhaps it's due to following a personal policy of spending my spare time in the most meaningful ways..."
"I can certainly say it's a policy I've been familiar with growing up," Kyoko replied. Her grandfather had certainly ensured her detective work and whatever accommodated it were where her spare time was spent. "...You mentioned playing against someone, did no one teach you?"
"I'm self-taught, actually. Videos, instruction and strategy books, but it seems they've paid off as I've managed to impress my share of patrons," Akechi said. "So... ladies first?"
Kyoko gave the boy a look of intrigue, raising her eyebrow slightly. "...Do you intend to assess my skill by having me make the first move?" she asked.
"There's a lot one can learn from an opponent simply by observing their moves, if one pays close enough attention," Akechi said with a playful chuckle.
Kyoko gave a small, faint smile. "To be frank with you, I never played against anyone either. My grandfather instructed me, but had me always play alone. It was a matter of observing the table itself and the positions of each ball after each shot."
"I see," said Akechi. "Well, perhaps my reason is also because you fascinate me, Kirigiri. I'd like to see how you apply your observational skill to this game."
"Very well," Kyoko approached the table and removed the frame, her gaze focused on the white ball as she lined up her cue stick, taking careful and precise aim and sliding it forward. The balls scattered immediately, only for the 9 ball to immediately get potted.
"A break ace! Very remarkable, Kirigiri!" Akechi congratulated with a small clap.
"Would you believe me if I said it was purely by coincidence?" Kyoko asked, glancing back at him.
"Perhaps, perhaps not," Akechi replied. "I suppose we can simply start over with the 9 ball having already been sunk..."
Kyoko blinked, curious. Akechi's simple smirk was reassuring, yet also he appeared quite impressed.
Once the balls had been set up again, Akechi took his own turn, leaning forward as he took aim, and after a second, he sharply moved the cue stick forward, hitting the white ball and sending it at the others. The balls bounced about, Kyoko's gaze following the 9 ball as it rolled towards the pocket in the corner, the white ball coming up behind it at a higher speed and sending it in, potting it.
"Another break ace!" Akechi said with a slight, amused laugh.
Kyoko couldn't help but smile. Faint, but amused as well. "Were you showing off?" she asked, helping arrange the balls again so they could try once more.
"Would you believe me if I said it was purely by coincidence?" Akechi said, smirking as he repeated what Kyoko said earlier. "Be that as it may, looks like we'd better start over, again!"
The next game, however, did not face an abrupt end via a golden break and continued longer. Kyoko could see Akechi was indeed a formidable opponent as he was both observant and precise, she watched him intently whenever he had control of the table, from the sides of the table he'd stand at as he studied where the balls had moved, to the positions he took to get the right angle for his shot...
"Oof, that was a bad move on my part," Akechi said suddenly, turning around with an embarrassed smile after his latest shot and noticing the girl's stare. "...You alright, Kirigiri?"
Kyoko resumed eye contact, brushing back her hair and looking away. "...I am, yes," she said, her gaze turning to the table. "My turn, correct?"
"It is," Akechi said with a chuckle. "...Though it seems my luck has potentially reached it's limit! If you make this shot, I'd be in trouble..."
Kyoko gave the table another look before approaching as Akechi stood back. Lining up, she took aim and made her shot, sending the cue ball into the yellow ball, sending it into the pocket across the table.
"Not bad! Everything's riding on your next shot, Kirigiri!" Akechi said with an approving smirk. "So, how will you handle this?"
"Hm, you're wondering if I'll go for a careful shot or a power shot?" Kyoko asked, glancing back at him.
"I suppose I am," Akechi said. "It sort of parallels who you are, I suppose. Are you the type who'd approach a difficult situation with caution or force?"
Kyoko gave a faint smile. "I suppose it would depend on the situation and its urgency," she said, examining the table once more as she circled it. "Both carry their respective strengths and weaknesses. Caution comes with hesitation, force comes with haste. Personally, I prefer to..."
Leaning over, Kyoko lined up her pool cue, and took a crisp, precise shot. "...Assess the situation first."
The two watched as the cue ball struck a blue ball, sending it into the pocket. "...I've learned sometimes, you have to rely on a little of both."
"Well done, Kirigiri!" replied Akechi. "Of course, there are sometimes moments where circumstances can alter even the most precisely-planned action. By pure chance, your chosen move can be disrupted after it has been executed, what then?"
Kyoko looked over at the boy, a faint smile once more on her face before she aimed to take another shot. "...A keen sense of deductive reasoning and a level head, key aspects to a detective's career to adapt to a situation accordingly. My experiences have taught me nothing is ever truly guaranteed."
"You've certainly been taught well, Kirigiri," Akechi replied with a nod, though a smirk came to his face as he noticed Kyoko's shot had failed to sink another ball. "...Perhaps now will be one of those times!"
Kyoko silently stepped aside as Akechi approached to take his turn next. Moments later, the game had ended.
"Seems I win," Akechi said as he completed the final shot that sank the remaining ball. "Still, that was incredibly close, very nearly a draw and we'd have to resort to a tiebreaker!"
"You are quite good," Kyoko replied.
"As are you, Kirigiri," Akechi said with a smirk, bringing his hand to his chin and giving an intrigued look. "...Though I admit, losing as your senior, being a year older, may be a little shameful on my part, wouldn't it?"
"Perhaps," said Kyoko, "...If you were using your left hand, instead."
"Hm?" the boy looked confused by her words.
"You're left-handed, correct?" Kyoko asked. "Up until we played proper, I noticed you always used your left hand, then you switched."
"Ahh, so you noticed!" Akechi said, smiling sheepishly. "Yes, my left hand is my dominant hand, and I did indeed switch hands during the game..."
"Did you feel a need to use a handicap against me?" Kyoko asked, her tone neutral once more.
"My apologies, I suppose I did feel going all-out against you, my junior, would be a bit gauche of me," Akechi said. While Kyoko's face didn't show it, he could sense she may have been a little offended as if she felt he'd taken unnecessary pity on her. "...That said, I'm still nearly ambidextrous enough that I can even use chopsticks with my right hand. It... wasn't my only reason, though..."
"You wanted to see if I'd notice?" Kyoko asked. "I actually took notice as soon as you'd done so, but seeing you play, I could tell you are correct that you're efficient with your right hand as well, so I waited until we finished to make mention of it."
Akechi smirked. "You wished to determine the extent of my self-provided handicap?"
"Something like that," Kyoko replied. "In situations such as this, I could observe how much it actually impaired your skills."
"And yet, you appear to have miscalculated on your last shot," Akechi remarked.
"Did I?" Kyoko asked. Despite her question, her face remained flawlessly neutral and impassive. "Perhaps I did, or perhaps I chose to handicap myself as well? Can you discern which it was? Either could be true."
Akechi paused, studying the girl a moment with intrigue as he set aside his pool cue, folding his arms and pinching his chin between his thumb and folded index finger in thought. "...I have to admit, right now you have me guessing. You truly are a fascinating person, Kirigiri," he said, lowering his hand. "...Perhaps if I were to not hold back were we to have a rematch sometime, I'll have my answer?"
Kyoko's gaze softened, a hint of a smile forming. "Perhaps you will."
"I'm certainly intrigued now, and I appreciate that from you, Kirigiri!" Akechi chuckled. Within the recesses of her mind, Kyoko heard the sound of a chain link shattering.
"...Then in that case, however," Akechi continued, "...I'll offer my own stakes as well. Win against me when I don't use my right hand, and I invite you to ask me any one question you wish, and you will have an honest answer. Just know that I will face you with everything I have."
"You're certainly very confident," Kyoko replied.
"In life, you have no other choice if you wish to rise above where you start," Akechi said, his gaze turning towards his pool cue as he took it up again. "...Still, I trust these terms are acceptable?"
"They are," Kyoko said with an approving nod, her expression once more neutral, though curious of what Akechi meant by his words or if they had anything to do with what his fans had been talking about on her way to school after the interview.
"Then it's a deal!" Akechi said with a smile. "But anyway, thank you for coming and spending time with me. I'd say our little game certainly turned out to be quite interesting, whether it be you took notice I used my other hand, or even simply choosing to tell me outright."
"You are playing against a detective. Our mission is to uncover the truth," Kyoko replied.
"A mission that applies everywhere," Akechi said with a small laugh as he began to gather the equipment. "Already you've been an interesting influence on me, and I rather enjoyed our time together. If you're so inclined, we could go out again, sometime."
"I would be," Kyoko said as helped finish picking up the equipment and the two made their way over to the counter.
"Haha, I'm certainly honored," Akechi said as they made their way outside. "As rivals, perhaps?"
"...And perhaps... because you fascinate me as well," the other detective said as she looked back at him.
Akechi paused a moment at Kyoko's response, a small smirk forming on his face. "...Is that so? Well, I certainly hope not to disappoint you in that regard the next time I see you," he said, taking a look at a message on his phone before giving Kyoko one last smile. "...I'll look forward to then, have a good rest of your night, Kirigiri."
Kyoko gave a nod. "You as well."
As the two parted ways, Kyoko made her way back to the station to return home for the evening. Casting one last glance back at the boy detective's retreating form, Kyoko resumed her trek back home. Despite their time together, Akechi was still something of an enigma to her she felt inclined to examine further. On one hand he came off as a mature and morally upstanding individual, but there were those moments of cynicism she could relate to, and his statement earlier that suggested something underneath of a less then charmed life prior to where he was, now.
Yet there it had been, that smile, different from the one he put on for the cameras but something more real when she challenged him, from spotting the handicap he'd given himself, to inquiring if he could tell if she had done the same for herself or not. Between the game and the battle of wits that had come with it, it did not feel like nothing more then two talented young detectives testing one-another but rather, Kyoko had, by her own silent admittance, had fun, too.
6/22
"Hey, 'sup?" Ryuji asked as Kyoko arrived at the accessway, Morgana in her schoolbag and Makoto accompanying her.
"We did a little stop at the airsoft shop before we got here," Morgana explained. "Figured we should arm up our new member before we carry out this Mementos mission, after all!"
"Right, that would make sense," Ann said. "So, what'd you get, Makoto?"
Makoto opened her own schoolbag and held it out, allowing the others to peer inside, where a pair of spiked knuckle dusters and a revolver model lay within.
"Daaamn!" Ryuji uttered, staring agape at the contents.
"...I swear, if anyone in school knew I was carrying these around in my bag," she muttered, blushing anxiously.
Kyoko blinked, her gaze turning towards her as it seemed the rather enthusiastic demeanor Makoto had shown at Iwai's while shopping seemed to have all but vanished, now.
"Don't worry about it, once we're in the Metaverse, they sorta... disappear until you need them," Morgana explained.
"That's certainly convenient," Makoto said. "...You explained this "Metaverse" is a world formed by human cognition, and the "Palace" is one created by Kaneshiro's perception of how he views Shibuya, and if we take this "core" you called a "Treasure", we can change his heart?"
"Correct," Morgana said. "We need to secure an infiltration route beforehand. Once we do that, we can send the calling card and take it!"
"I see," Makoto said. "The thing that eludes me, though, is the means we get there... a smartphone app. I actually noticed when I got home the other night that it appeared on my phone!"
"You only need a name, location, and distortion. After the first entry, the Palace is bookmarked," Yusuke explained.
"You make it sound like an ordinary app, aren't there any dangers associated with it?" Makoto asked.
"Whaddya mean? We've already been in the Metaverse a buncha times!" said Ryuji.
"That's not what I mean," Makoto replied. "Like... it's a navigation app, right? Couldn't someone easily access our history on the server?"
Kyoko turned her attention from the windows to the other girl, everyone else was staring in surprise.
"What, hasn't anyone thought of this before?" Makoto asked, confused. "We don't know where it came from, either! Like I said, it just... randomly appeared on my phone after the last time we were there! Kyoko, do you know about where it could have come from?"
"As far as I can tell... it appears to be paranormal in origin, like the Metaverse itself. I don't have a particularly wide understanding of how smartphones work as my grandfather never let me have one until now, but I would deduce it isn't something that can be accessed through conventional means," Kyoko said, electing not to go into extensive detail on Igor and the Velvet Room as it appeared none of the others had any access to it judging from the times she'd visited while in the Palace or Mementos with them, making her unable to prove its existence or anything regarding it, and admittedly there were still a lot of questions she had on the matter of it as well.
"Yeah, I don't fully understand it either, but given how Kyoko described it, I don't think we need to worry about people accessing our data. The Meta-Nav is incredibly special and wasn't made by ordinary means, I don't think it's truly a part of this world," Morgana explained.
"That's true, I suppose," Makoto replied. "I mean... an app that allows you to enter another reality? That's not exactly commonplace. I guess since Sis doesn't know who the Phantom Thieves are, our information is safe for now..."
"On other matters," Kyoko explained. "Putting a stop to the gang leader responsible for the robberies in Mementos would be an opportunity to get some experience facing Shadows before we begin our infiltration of the Palace."
"We've already let Mishima know after school, so we're all set to go, now!" Morgana chimed in.
"Of course. I promise I'll give it my all!" Makoto said with a smile.
"We're still admittedly learning some things ourselves. With your sharp wit and Kyoko's deductive skills, I think this'll make our missions all the easier!" Morgana replied.
"The sooner we stop Kaneshiro, the better. We can't afford to let him leak those photos," Makoto said.
"There's no other way. Kyoko's right, I doubt even if we paid him back, Kaneshiro's not gonna let us go," Ann said, frowning.
"He won't," Kyoko said. "After we've resolved this mission in Mementos, we'll prepare to re-enter the Palace. I anticipate the obstacles we'll face will be significantly worse then what we faced in Madarame's as Kaneshiro would exercise more caution to not just avoid the law, but also to avoid becoming a liability to whatever connections are protecting him."
"C'mon, we just gotta take 'em down before the time limit!" Ryuji said. "We'll bounce back after! Not to mention once we take this bastard down, we'll prove our justice that people'll really start admirin' us!"
"And in the process, we will be able to further explore Mementos' depths," said Yusuke.
"That's right! Despite our circumstances, this is still a perfect opportunity either way!" Morgana declared. "We have to succeed, no matter what!"
Kyoko gave a nod of agreement, taking out her phone and pulling up Mementos on the Meta-Nav as she looked at the others. "...Kazuya Makigami," she said.
MATCH FOUND! the app replied.
"We have our target. The ringleader of the gang behind the break-ins pretending to be the Phantom Thieves. Let's go..."
The moment Kyoko's thumb tapped the screen, reality began to twist and warp the accessway around the group, Makoto staring in awe as its fleshy growths began forming around the walls like a rapidly spreading fungus as the lights grew dim and their surroundings decayed, reshaping into the foreboding recesses of Mementos...
"Oh, my clothes changed again!" Makoto observed, noting the leather racing suit she'd gained from their last visit to the Palace.
"That reminds me," Morgana, once more in his cartoonish bipedal form, stated as he looked up at her. "...We need to assign you a codename as well!"
"Codename?" Makoto asked, raising an eyebrow behind her metallic eyemask.
"We use codenames when we're in the Metaverse, due to that we're essentially traveling inside a world that exists in peoples' cognition. That way no one suspects us in the real world!" the cat explained. "I go by "Mona", Ryuji's "Skull", Lady Ann is "Panther", Yusuke is "Fox", and Kyoko is "Ace"."
"I see," said Makoto. "Do you have any ideas of one for me, then?"
"Kinda a hard one, honestly," Skull said. "..."Shoulder Pads"?" he asked, looking at the studded pauldron-like pads on Makoto's leather suit.
"You can't be serious," Makoto said flatly.
"Why in the world did you focus on that of all things?" Mona asked, exasperated.
"..."Rider", perhaps?" Fox offered.
"Eh, sounds too much like a smuggler, honestly," Makoto said, folding her arms. "...Any other ideas?"
"How 'bout "Fixer"?" Panther suggested.
Makoto sighed. "...Despite what you may think, I'm not a mastermind. I was thinking something... short, simple, maybe one syllable so it's kind of to the point as well?"
"She demonstrated a lot of power back there when she awoke to her Persona, but has a sort of refined elegance to her in the real world as well," Mona observed.
"Like a queen?" Ace inquired.
Makoto smiled at the word, glancing over at the other girl. "Queen? I like that. It has a nice ring to it."
"Much like the chess piece, using destructive power to wipe out opposition while also protecting the other pieces, very appropriate," Fox remarked with an approving smile.
"I was just thinking about back when I'd first awakened," Makoto said with a nod as she brushed back her hair. "...In that case, I think it's settled! "Queen", it is, then."
The brunette, Queen, then took a moment to look at her surroundings, approaching the inactive escalators. "So, this is Mementos... I guess given the subways, especially in Shibuya, are where a lot of people in Tokyo end up, it would make sense it'd be found, here, wouldn't it?" she asked.
"Mementos is essentially the "Palace" of the masses, those who aren't distorted enough to have an individual Palace of their own like Kaneshiro does," Mona explained.
"I see," Queen said, gazing down into the dark abyss below, the faint sound of winds howling further in. "Already this place feels... different... from Kaneshiro's bank..."
Ace nodded as she approached as well. "It is. It feels like it's leading somewhere, or to something, but there are barriers further in that keep us from venturing in too far," she explained.
"However, the more famous the Phantom Thieves become, the further we're able to proceed," Mona added.
"What do you think's down there? You think it's sort of like these "Treasures" you mentioned?" Queen asked.
"I'm not sure, but whatever it is, I suspect all of this is connected to it somehow," Ace explained. "This whole place feels like we're inside something alive, if that's the case, whatever's at the end may be what functions as its metaphorical... or perhaps literal brain or heart."
The young detective put her hand to her chin, folding her arms. "...Meaning if this place is a manifestation of the collective unconscious, then whatever it is, all of this, may be connected to it, or perhaps even controlled by it..."
"We'll get to the bottom of it eventually!" Skull cheered. "We take out Kaneshiro, that's sure to make a difference, here!"
"I think I get it, now," Queen said with a smile. "But for the time being, I believe we were going after this Kazuya Makigami person?"
"Yup, from what I can sense, I think his Shadow Self is further down, so be ready because this place is filled with other Shadows that may try to attack us!" Mona said, trotting down the stairs ahead of them and leading the way, the others following.
"Wow... it's like a labyrinth!" Queen said, staring in disbelief at the dark, dank halls ahead.
"That's where I come in!" Mona said proudly, leaping into the air and in a poof of smoke and a comical meow, landed in his cat-bus form.
"Wh-what the?!" Queen cried out, stepping back in surprise.
"Oh, right, you missed that when we escaped the Palace," Panther remarked.
"I can turn into a bus, and we use that to get around here faster!" Mona said, humming as he remained parked in place. "Hop on in! I can't drive myself, you know!"
"Do any of you even know how to drive?!" Queen asked. "Ace, how about you?"
The others immediately looked uneasy.
"...I'm not that bad," Ace replied closing her eyes and letting out an annoyed sigh as she brushed back her hair in frustration.
"...To be honest you are rather hasty on how much pressure you place on both the gas and break pedals," Fox stated bluntly, earning a glare from Ace.
"...In that case, I think it's best I do the driving from now on," Queen said, already making her way to the driver's side and opening the door. "I turned eighteen last April, so I've been taking lessons."
"Awesome! We got a real driver, now!" Skull said, climbing into the back with Panther and Fox, while Ace took the passenger side and gave Skull a look as well.
"...I suppose it gives me less to stress myself over," Ace conceded a moment after while Queen looked over the shift and dashboard.
"I think I got this. So, where do we go, exactly?" Queen asked.
"I dunno," Mona said through the bus's speakers. "Thing is, as it's part of the collective unconscious, its floors constantly change. Still, there's always a way back and a way forward, so we just gotta find the next set of stairs. If we see Shadows, we go full speed!"
"Y-you mean just... ram them?!" Queen asked, shocked.
"Yeah! It's a great way to get them off-guard!" Mona said.
"Hey, we've done it before!" Panther said cheerfully.
Queen sighed in response. "That's... impulsive, but... if it works in a place like this, then it works. Let's get moving..."
"Up ahead! Turn left!" Mona's voice ordered through the bus's speakers as Queen obeyed, giving the steering wheel a crisp turn as she continued driving across the rickety train tracks.
"I swear, it's like the deeper we go, the more organic this place looks!" she remarked.
"Indeed," said Fox, finger-framing their surroundings as he peered out one of the windows. "It truly captures the nature of a living organism, and to be in the underground subway trains, the place where people go at the start and end of their day, be it at school, work, or simply errands..."
"Countless thoughts and emotions pouring into it," Ace mused as she, too, looked out the window.
"Luckily the Shadows we've run into are weaker ones, but they'll get stronger the further we go!" Mona said.
"Those last few we ran into weren't so bad at all," Queen said.
"Your Persona's definitely somethin' else, that's for sure!" Skull said. "I'm sure this Makigami guy'll be a pushover when we reach 'em!"
"Looks like we're about to find out," Panther observed as the path led to another swirling red portal, confirming they'd found where their target was hiding.
"Are we ready, everyone?" Queen asked, looking around at her passengers.
Once everyone had given their approval, Queen floored the pedal, the cat-bus suddenly leaping off the ground and through the portal. Immediately, the group found themselves in a large chamber much like the ones other Mementos targets' Shadows had dwelt in. Strange red glyphs and fleshy vinelike growths adorned the walls and large red tubes resembling arteries pumped steadily across the ceiling and through an opening in the cracked wall at the end of the room.
Emerging from the cat-bus, which promptly reverted back to Mona's normal form, the group could see a humanoid figure standing at the end of the room, its back turned to them.
"I take it this must be Kazuya Makigami's Shadow Self?" Queen asked quietly.
"From the look of it, yes. In addition to running the burglary ring, he has been abusing his younger brother whenever he asks him about where he's getting his money from and threatening him with violence to keep him silent," Fox explained.
"Then let's put an end to it. Be ready, Queen. Shadow Selves are stronger then the regular ones you've dealt with so far," Ace stated, leading the group as they advanced on the Shadow.
Kazuya's Shadow turned, glaring at the group with luminescent golden eyes as he faced them. He was tall, lean, with messy hair with red dye in it and wearing a black hoodie with red stripes and khaki pants and black boots, looking every bit a delinquent. The Shadow chuckled as he regarded the Thieves that stood before him. "Phantom Thieves, right? I saw that post on your little site!" he sneered. "You lookin' for the one behind the burglaries? Yeah, I convinced my friends to do some "part-time" work for me, but I'm not in the wrong, here!"
"Trying to make excuses, now? You should be ashamed of yourself!" Fox said, frowning.
"No! I just meant it as a way to have a little fun, then those idiots went and got cocky!" Kazuya protested indignantly. "...And now I'm the one who gets in trouble for the shit they're doing?! Damnit! Why do bad things always happen to me?!"
"Bad things?! What do you mean?" Panther asked, confused.
"Ever since I was a kid!" Kazuya snapped. "School, my peers, society, everyone! Always treating me like dirt!
"Your brother's worried about you! You even care how this is affecting him?!" Queen protested.
Kazuya suddenly grew tense, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists angrily as smoke began to billow around him. "Why should I? What's it matter how he feels when he's got mom and dad doting over him all the time 'cuz he's the smart one! He was always the favorite, they don't give a shit about me!" he growled angrily. "How the hell am I supposed to just take it and live a normal life? I'm rebelling against this shitty society like you!"
"Violence and crime against innocent people ain't rebellion! Don't be stupid!" Skull retorted.
"How dare you! You guys're thieves, too! Don't act like you're better then me!" Kazuya shouted angrily, the twisted caverns starting to tremor violently.
"He's right, though! You and your gang terrorize innocent people and just act out! You're little more then a bunch of self-righteous thugs!" Queen said, glaring at him, her knuckle dusters appearing over her hands as she could feel it in her gut they were in for a fight.
"You stole our name, and use it to try to make yourselves look good," Ace stated, glaring as well. "We're putting an end to your crimes here and now..."
Kazuya chuckled, then burst into a fit of maddened cackling as he reared back, his form melting down into a mass of black and red ooze that bubbled violently on the ground before exploding in a burst of smoke, revealing a muscular, blue-skinned man with long, wavy blond hair. A gold bracelet adorned its left arm as it brandished a long dagger in its right hand, a large gold fin jutting out the top of its head. It had no lower body, however, its torso embedded in a round black meteor rock covered in glowing gold glyphs, blue light pouring from the crevice its body emerged from as it hovered several feet off the ground.
"Such a condescending gaze!" the Shadow snarled, opening its now red eyes and grinning spitefully at the Thieves "I've dealt with it enough! I'll crush you all!"
"All of us? I don't think so!" Mona said, brandishing his scimitar, the other Thieves weapons appearing in their hands as well.
"Don't underestimate me, losers!" Kazuya bellowed, raising up his blade as twin orbs of crackling light appeared before him, bursting apart in a flash of light and revealing a muscular red humanoid like one of the Shadows Kaneshiro had sicced on them, and a smaller creature resembling a plucked bird with a giant onion for a head with gashes resembling eyeholes and a mouth. The former brandished its glaive with a fierce growl while the latter let out an angry squawk as it unleashed a powerful blast of flame, Kazuya hovering behind them.
The Thieves immediately took cover, barely avoiding the fire in time for the red humanoid to leap at Fox, swinging its glaive at him. Fox parried with his katana as he stepped back, due to the creature's superior size and weaved around it.
"GOEMON!" his icy Persona appearing above him and firing a blast of powerful cold at the enemy.
"That thing's tough, for sure!" Mona shouted. "Use magic! ZORRO!"
"JOHANNA!" Queen shouted.
"CARMEN!" Panther cried out.
Their respective Personas immediately took aim, unleashing a combined might of flashing blue energy, powerful wind, and flames at the towering humanoid before it could shift its attention to them from Fox's counterattack.
Ace weaved around the blasts of flame the birdlike Shadow kept firing, studying its movements. It was airborne, and not particularly large, so it would need to be hit fast and hard. "Skull! Gun!" she ordered.
"On it!" Skull's shotgun appeared in his hand as he quickly took aim, firing at the smaller Shadow. The creature spun about in the air, squawking out in pain before toppling to the ground. "Aw yeah! You're out, now!"
The bird Shadow let out a sickening noise that sounded like it was chuckling before it suddenly opened its gaping mouth wide as red energy gathered. Ace and Skull cried out as they suddenly felt intense pain go through their bodies followed by overwhelming fatigue. The birdlike Shadow cackled as it rose back up into the air.
BANG!
The creature once more tumbled to the ground, this time flailing on its back as Queen lowered her smoking revolver. "Panther let's finish it!" she shouted.
Panther gave a nod, her Uzi appearing as they promptly emptied both their weapons on the creature, causing it to explode in a burst of smoke.
"I got you! Zorro!" Mona shouted, his black-clad Persona appearing once more and Ace was bathed in a green light, able to stand once more.
"You think that means anything?" Kazuya shouted, raising his dagger once more, and in another burst of smoke, a new birdlike Shadow, good as new, appeared before him.
"He can just summon them at will!" Fox shouted, having finished with his opponent. "There'll be no end to this!"
"Then we take out Kazuya first!" Ace said.
"We're out of ammo," Queen said, looking at her revolver.
"I ain't!" Skull said as he stood himself back up.
"Skull, you and Fox go for that one but conserve ammo in case he makes more. Mona, back them up," Queen said. "Ace? Panther and I got your back, we'll take out Kazuya up close! Do the opening move, then I'll make mine, followed by Panther!"
Ace gave a faint smile and a nod before facing Kazuya. "Let's end this!" she challenged.
"My thoughts exactly!" Kazuya declared with a laugh, summoning another red humanoid.
"I got 'em! CARMEN!" Panther shouted, her dancer Persona doing a spin and the humanoid recoiling in pain as it felt overcome with fatigue.
"Alright, we're set! Let's go!" Queen ordered.
"STAY BACK!" the Shadow of Kazuya cried out, raising its hand as glowing energy formed and flung it at them, causing a powerful explosion that sent them tumbling back.
"That'll teach you little insects!" it shouted, before raising an eyebrow in curiosity as it saw Ace stand back up and advance on it. "YOU THINK YOU CAN WIN?! CHEW ON THIS!"
The Shadow thrust its dagger forward, a blast of ice shooting straight at Ace, who quickly leaped out the way, landing in a crouching position.
"Not this time. Now try this!" Ace stated, touching her mask. "ELIGOR!"
The knight Persona appeared, its mount letting out a loud whinny as it charged forward, crackling energy surrounding its form as it slammed into Kazuya, striking the Shadow with its weapon and sending it tumbling back.
Before it could react, Ace leaped back, extending her hand. "Queen!"
The leather-clad Phantom Thief dashed forward, extending her hand as well and their palms struck, Queen feeling a burst of energy in the heat of the moment as she touched her own mask. "JOHANNA!"
Her motorcycle Persona formed beneath her, allowing Queen to rocket across the walls of the cavern as Kazuya attempted to hit her with blasts of ice as she charged up a bolt of glowing blue energy and rode straight at the Shadow, unleashing its power in a bolt of light at it.
She wasn't finished, though, as her Persona vanished, sending Queen into the air. "PANTHER!" she shouted, extending her hand. Panther returned the favor, leaping up and their palms slapping as she felt a burst of power as well.
"CARMEN!" Panther cried out, her Persona once more appearing and unleashing a blast of flame at the enemy.
Kazuya cried out in pain from the attacks, recoiling and flailing angrily from the flames now covering its body.
"He's burning! Ace!" she cried out. Ace leaped forward, completing the cycle with a strike of her palm.
"AMI-NO-UZUME!" the young detective shouted, the goddess Persona appearing above her and firing a gust of wind at Kazuya's Shadow, aggravating the flames and making it topple to the ground, moaning in pain and frustration.
"Like a well-oiled machine!" Mona observed, striking the birdlike Shadow with his slingshot as it exploded into smoke.
"Let's finish this punk, Fox!" Skull cheered as he touched his own mask. "CAPTAIN KIDD!"
"GOEMON!" Fox shouted, his kabuki Persona rising up next to Skull's pirate one as their combined might staggered the second red humanoid Shadow.
"No... no... don't... underestimate me...!" Kazuya stammered. "You get it don't you?! It feels good to steal! I finally feel free!"
"At the expense of people who've never wronged you?" Ace asked coldly.
"Everyone's wronged someone! What's it matter?" Kazuya protested, reaching out his hand towards the red humanoid Shadow. The latter howled in pain as its body crumbled into ash, Kazuya's Shadow grinning as it was bathed in a red aura, its wounds beginning to fade and its body bulking up as it gripped its dagger tight.
Immediately, crackling energy gathered around the Shadow's form as the glyphs on its meteor-like lower body glowed brightly, and emitted a blast that sent the whole group flying across the room.
"All that matters is now I can do whatever I want, I'll keep on stealing and no one can do anything about it!" Kazuya's shadow sneered as it began to hover off the ground again.
"You really are just a petty egomaniac!" Queen hissed, struggling to stand after the Shadow's last attack. "JOHANNA!"
Her motorcycle Persona once more appeared, and Ace was bathed in a green aura, prompting her to stand once more. Queen rode by her, slapping her palm with her own and giving Ace another boost of power as the detective began firing several shots from her own gun at the remaining Shadow.
"ZORRO!" Mona cried out, his Persona appearing and swinging its rapier, green light bathing the other Thieves as they stood up.
"Let's give 'em hell! CAPTAIN KIDD!" Skull shouted, his pirate Persona once more rising up and charging Kazuya head-on and slamming him into the adjacent wall before tumbling to the ground.
"NOW!" Ace shouted, and the group, all as one, promptly leapt into the air, Kazuya crying out in pain as a flurry of blows from every direction struck and fired. The Thieves all leapt back into formation, Kazuya staring upward weekly as Ace now stood, gun pointed down at the transformed Shadow.
"The only thing about to be stolen," she said, gazing down at her fallen foe, "...Is your twisted desires."
BANG!
The Shadow cried out, exploding in a burst of smoke that dissipated away, revealing the frightened form of Kazuya Makigami.
"I... I... " Kazuya lowered his head in defeat. "I-I get it... m-my brother... h-he really... he told you because... h-he cares about me..."
"I can't speak for him, but by my observation, I'd say he does," Ace said.
"She's right," Fox said, approaching. "Your brother only sent us, and confronted you, because he was worried about you."
"You gotta have already known this!" Skull said, joining them. "He wanted us to help you because he cares! You were wrong when you said no one did!"
"It really was for me," Kazuya muttered, trembling as he reached into his pants pocket and took out a small, glowing key. "Take this... it's the key to a chest in my room. Give it to my brother next time you see him. You're the good kinda thieves, right?"
"Why would we? The hell's in it?" Skull asked.
"It may help if you gave us an idea of what you want him to do," Ace said, taking the key.
"I guess... just tell him "burn what's inside or throw it away"," Kazuya said with a small, bitter laugh as his eyes began to wet before he vanished in a flash of light.
"Hm, if I may, I can give it to him when I see him at school. I'll be sure to let him know what Makigami wanted him to do as well," Fox said.
"It may be best to leave it anonymously with a note where he'll find it," Ace replied.
"I can do that," said Fox with a nod as he pocketed the key.
"Well," Queen said, approaching, "...I hope I was able to be useful back there. This trip definitely took a lot outta me but I think I've gotten the hang of it!"
"You really did!" Panther said with a smile.
"I think you're ready to handle infiltrating the Palace," Ace said, glancing over at her with an approving nod as the ground began to tremble with the loss of its distorted former occupant. "...At any rate, I believe our work here is done. We should leave, now."
"On it!" Mona said, transforming into his cat-bus form as Queen took the drivers seat and the others quickly piled in, and soon made their way back to the labyrinth's entrance.
Kyoko folded her umbrella as she entered the Leblanc café. A thunderstorm had been waiting for the Thieves when they'd returned from the Metaverse resulting in the decision to simply try and get home as quickly as possible with the crowds seeking shelter and discuss matters after.
"Welcome back," Sojiro said, putting out his cigarette. "...That storm really came outta nowhere."
Kyoko gave a silent nod as she looked around, the place being otherwise empty. "It did, I was fortunate I had my umbrella," she said.
"The rainy season's still not over, so I guess I can't be too surprised, can I?" Sojiro asked with a slight chuckle, a faint rumble of thunder outside. "I'm guessing you rushed here soon as it happened? You look pretty worn out."
"Do I?" Kyoko asked, glancing over at him and brushing back her hair, which had gotten a little damp. Granted, she figured she likely did from fighting through Mementos and facing a particularly formidable target, but it made for a good alibi. "Yes, I suppose so. The stations got crowded and it came down rather hard in Shibuya."
"Well, if you haven't had dinner yet, I think I have some leftovers if you want, seeing as how the weather's made it a really slow evening," Sojiro offered.
Kyoko gave him a small, but grateful smile. "I haven't, yet, no."
"Well, have a seat and I'll get you some. It's alright to make exceptions every now and then, I suppose, if you've been keeping out of trouble," said Sojiro as he went to the back and prepared a plate while Kyoko sat down in one of the bar chairs.
"I've behaved," Kyoko replied, setting her bag down and with a faint meow Morgana climbed out, seating himself in one of the chairs.
"I suppose some of how your grandfather raised you has stuck," said Sojiro, setting Kyoko's plate down before her, a serving of curry and rice on it. "...Makes it harder to believe what happened that led to you coming here."
Pausing, Sojiro looked away a moment, then back at her. "...Sorry. Look, I believe your heart was in the right place then, and the idea of you just assaulting a man out of nowhere sounds completely far-fetched. That said, sometimes no matter how well-intentioned our actions may be, even when it was the morally right thing to do, that doesn't mean undeserved consequences can come of it..."
Kyoko looked down at her food. "...It's fine," she said. "In another time and place, I probably would have called the police and walked away... but then, I just... couldn't. Like for that instant I thought to myself I was betraying what being a detective is supposed to entail. I've been told all my life the truth takes no sides... but I'm also supposed to uncover and uphold it. How am I doing either of those when I willfully walk away from something like that?"
Sighing, Sojiro ran his hand across his forehead. "...I can't say I have a good answer to that, but I suppose sometimes it can be easy to think it feels safer to look away and stay out of it, make it not your problem. But even when you do that..."
"Hm?" Kyoko looked up at him, her gaze now one of intrigue.
"...Don't worry about it," Sojiro said, his tone abrupt as he clearly wished to drop the matter. "...I guess sticking your nose in something comes with being a detective, doesn't it? Just... try and know when and where to choose your battles, understand? With how it sounds like things went, it could have gone much worse for you, so it'd be best you'd avoid them completely for the time being."
Kyoko gave a silent nod as she began to eat her food, curious of if it had something to do with that man when kept harassing him but knowing it was not the time or place to pry on the matter. She paused a moment, feeling a weight in her heart at Sojiro's words. Despite how things had started, she could feel his concern for her, and it made her feel a sense of guilt pinch at her insides hiding her Phantom Thief activities from him. She was essentially accepting and seeking every single battle that came her way right now and one mistake could sabotage everything she'd spent her life on beyond repair.
Yet, what she'd said came to her mind, the thought she was going against all a detective was supposed to be by willfully ignoring the truth she'd been exposed to, such a thing felt outright impossible to her, now. Makoto's words rang in her mind, how using others, blindly following orders, and looking away would have made her little more then an accomplice to the evils she'd found herself against both before and now.
"...Well, I'd better get going, you enjoy the rest of your night," Sojiro said once Kyoko had finished her food. "With the weather, maybe the baths are holding that special again if you're willing to brave the downpour."
Getting his coat and hat, Sojiro headed for the door, opening his umbrella as he stepped outside. "Don't stay up too late," he said, glancing back one last time before closing the door and heading home.
"It's getting pretty heavy out there," Morgana mused, looking out the window. "Hope Lady Ann and the others made it back home alright..."
As if to answer that, Kyoko heard her phone chime and took it out, seeing the chat log had become active.
[Phew! Picked up dinner on the way back! Talk about a downpour!] Ryuji said.
[My umbrella went inside-out! I was totally drenched when I got home I took a shower!] Ann replied. Kyoko heard a sad sigh from Morgana who'd been looking at the screen with her.
[As did I. I'd not brought mine after all. Still doesn't a shower seem redundant at that point?] Yusuke inquired.
[You know, it does pay off to come prepared. It's still rainy season after all.] Makoto said.
[So how is everyone? You and Morgana make it back okay Kyoko?] Makoto added.
-We did, yes. Kyoko replied. Makoto's icon then came up indicating she was typing something.
[I got another message from Kaneshiro reminding us how many days we have left. I have a feeling this is going to be a regular thing, now.] Makoto said.
[So we're goin' into the Palace tomorrow, then, right?] Ryuji asked.
-Yes. It's clear Kaneshiro is confident we could never afford to pay him back and even if we did, he won't let us go. Kyoko responded.
[So there's no telling if he might suddenly change the deadline on us.] said Yusuke.
-The sooner we deal with him, the better.
[I agree. I promise I won't let you down.] Makoto answered.
[I'll make sure Makigami's brother receives the key we got, and the instructions on what to do as well.] Yusuke said.
[I guess Mishima will let us know when his heart's changed, too.] messaged Ann.
"Guess it's settled. We're robbing a bank tomorrow!" Morgana joked.
Kyoko gave the cat a look, before giving a small, amused smile.
-Everyone meet at the accessway after school. Be ready. she messaged before putting away her phone.
"It would be a good idea to get to bed early, then, but wanna take Boss's suggestion, first?" Morgana asked, prompting Kyoko to glance out the window again at the pouring rain.
The young detective watched the rain pour with no plans on letting up any time soon, yet after today's mission, and with what was in store for her and the others tomorrow, perhaps it would be worth it.
Her mind made up, Kyoko stood up from her seat and headed upstairs to get some clean clothes before she'd make her trip back outside.
A/N: Thanks for your patience, everyone! It's been a rough month with some IRL stuff that came up along the way, but I finally got this new chapter out! Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time when the mission to infiltrate Kaneshiro's Palace truly begins!
0 - The Fool: Rank 5
I - The Magician: Rank 4
V - The Hierophant: Rank 4
VI - The Lovers: Rank 5
VII - The Chariot: Rank 6
VIII - Justice: Rank 2
XI - The Strength: Rank 3
XII - The Hanged Man: Rank 2
XIII - Death: Rank 4
XIV - Temperance: Rank 2
XVIII - The Moon: Rank 3
XIX - The Sun: Rank 3
1 - The Councillor: Rank 4
? - Faith: Rank 2
Kyoko's Personas: Eligor, Shiisaa, Kusi Mitama, Suzaku, Jack Frost, Ame-No-Uzume, Orobas, Flauros