Ren: Hey all, Ren here with another chapter and I think you guys will enjoy it so sit back, relax and let's…

Shiho: Start the show!

Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Chapter Twenty – Four

[Opening Scene: Yacht (Nighttime)
Theme of Yacht: Improvised Song Dedicated to the next Prime Minister's Ship from Persona 5]

"Isn't this yacht amazing, Haru-chan?"

To Haru's left was her fiancé, Konoe Sugimura, a taller, brown-haired, brown-eyed man that wore a white business suit, violet undershirt, and black tie.

And to her right was her father, a bespectacled older man who wore a business suit and an orange and brown checkerboard ascot under a white shirt.

Haru herself wore an elegant soft-pink mermaid long evening dress with a matching sheer shawl that sat beneath her shoulders, a pair of soft pink heels, and the back of her hair done in a ponytail, on the exception of her bangs, which shaped the sides of her face.

Haru wanted to ignore the man, but his grip on her right bicep made it difficult. Instead, she bit back the bitterness she felt at his mere presence and answered, "Yes. It seems Masayoshi-san spared no expense for this party."

"A man of his stature wouldn't," her father said with a slight frown on his face.

"I understand that completely," Sugimura sighed out. "My brother is the same way. Always showing out with grand conventions. Just last year, when he took over my father's company, Madicce, he made it a week-long event."

Haru sighed as both Sugimura and her father began to discuss this Konoe Akria person. Being on this ship, surrounded by these people, made Haru feel trapped in prison.

She wished she could escape.

"Haru-chan!" a familiar voice shouted.

Haru looked up and felt her eyes brighten when she saw a figure emerging from the crowd of stuffy suits. The person was an older woman with brown bouffant hair and hard angled eyebrows.

She had on red lipstick, eyeliner, blue to pink eyeshadow, and a pair of earrings.

She wore a light royal blue scarf tied around her neck, a black business suit with darker colored rose motifs around her shoulders, and her skirt's left side.

"Hyodo-san," Haru chirped as the woman stopped in front of them.

"Ah, You made it, after all, Hyodo-san," Okumura said with a slight smile.

"Well, when the future Prime Minister invites you to his yacht, you have to accept," Hyodo Mariko said with a smile before she looked to Sugimura. "And you are?"

"I am Konoe Sugimura. Younger brother to Konoe Akira," Sugimura introduced with a (what Haru assumed) charming smile.

"I see," Mariko said as she shook the youth's hand. "Forgive me for intruding, but I came to snag Haru-chan for a few minutes. Do you two mind?"

"Not at all," Okumura answered. "But remember, we have a meeting soon."

"Of course, of course," Mariko said as she took Haru's hand, and together the pair walked off until they were outside on the Lido deck.

When the coast was clear, Haru immediately embraced the older woman, who happily accepted the embrace. "Thank you so much," Haru told the woman.

"No thanks are needed, Haru-chan," Mariko chided. "I saw how uncomfortable you were over there and had to help."

Haru had known Mariko for the majority of her life.

They had met when her father, who was still a wonderful person, had taken her golfing. The older woman was a trade partner of her father's and a close family friend.

She was like a mother to Haru, and while the woman was always away in the city of Sapporo, where she was the city's mayor, they would keep in touch every day through texts and phone calls.

But despite their closeness, Haru couldn't reveal to Mariko what her father and Sugimura saw Haru as, for it could ruin Mariko's relationship with her father, and Haru didn't want that.

It was just another thing Haru despised about herself.

"You did not tell me you were coming here," Haru said as they began to walk.

"I figured a few days off would do me some good. Plus, Kunikazu told me that you were coming with me and told me to keep it a secret to surprise you," Mariko said with a smile.

Haru smiled.

So there was a little of her father left within that twisted form of his.

"You look very stunning, by the way," Mariko told her with a proud tone. "That fiancé of yours must be grateful for having such a beautiful woman in his life."

Haru bit back the revulsion she felt at Sugimura being referred to as her 'fiance' and instead smiled. "He's ecstatic about it. Called me a princess," Haru said, feeling guilt immediately by the lie.

There were a lot of things Sugimura called her, and none of them were endearing.

"Well, I hope he doesn't mind me stealing you away for a while. A girl has got to have a break from all the stuffiness these events bring," Mariko said with a smile.

Haru smiled back.

"Now, I don't know about you, dear, but I am famished. Have you eaten anything?" Mariko asked.

Haru shook her head.

"Here, you stay put here, and I'll grab you a plate," Mariko told her with a wink and walked away.

Haru turned around and leaned on the banister, and viewed the beautiful starry night. As much as she despised being trapped by her father and Sugimura, she had to admit that it was nice sometimes to live this life.

"But you know it's not worth it."

[Theme of Thy True Self: Bomb Shelter from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP Ver)]

The world darkened around Haru, and in the water below, the face of her shadow appeared, a soft glow to her eerie yellow eyes.

"You would turn this life away for a chance—a single chance to be free from your gilded cage. Free from the man who treats you as his sexual plaything and free from a father doesn't care," The shadow told her.

"My father has given me everything I wanted," Haru told the shadow. "And he wouldn't do that if did not care for wellbeing."

"Oh, give me a break," The shadow said. "Our father sees us as a tool. Why do you think he gave us willingly to that jerk? We're expendable to him. We're as a tool that is only here to help him gain more notoriety."

"Father cares. I know he does…" Haru whispered through the ache in her heart. "I know that this betrothal is nothing more than him selling me to the highest bidder but look at this life. Look at what he was able to give me after Mother passed away. He's giving me so much and is willing to give me more because he cares. If I have to suffer at being Sugimura's… Sugimura's…."

"You can't even finish that sentence, can you?" The shadow sadly asked her.

Haru felt tears spilling from her eyes and down her cheeks.

"Haru-hime. Your father is not the same man he was," The shadow whispered. "He doesn't care. And like you said before, once he does something, nothing can change his mind. So even if you told him all that you have endured under Sugimura, he wouldn't care."

The shadow closed her eyes and said, "You screamed that you cared about what Sugimura and your father has done to you the last time we met. But you're still doing it. You're willingly keeping yourself enslaved to them. And for what? Because of living the good life? Is that worth this abuse?"

Haru remained silent.

"Just because Father cares about your wellbeing doesn't mean he cares about you as a person. Think about that. And when you decide to break the chains that bind you, I'll be here. I promise."

[Theme of Yacht: Improvised Song Dedicated to the next Prime Minister's Ship from Persona 5]

"Are you okay?"A voice asked, which caused Haru to jump and look to her left, and despite the sadness she felt, her heart fluttered.

Hifumi wore a black silk cheongsam dress with red trim and red flowers, a red shawl that hung down from her arms and down her back, and black ballerina shoes.

"Oh, Togo-san!" Haru exclaimed as she placed a hand wiped her eyes. "You startled me."

"I apologize," Hifumi said with a slight frown. "I was eating dinner with a future opponent and my mother and decided to leave them be at their table when I spotted you over here. I figured I'd say hello. So, hello."

Haru let out a watery giggle in response and said, "Hello to you as well, Togo-san."

"Why were you crying?" Hifumi gently asked, concern evident in her dark-green eyes.

"Just a silly thought, nothing to worry about, I promise," Haru told her. Haru knew Hifumi wanted to say more, but before she could, Haru blurted out, "You look magnificent tonight."

"O-Oh?" Hifumi gasped out, her cheeks turning a faint red. "T-Thank you. My mother picked this outfit out for me. Made me look more exotic." Hifumi gave a small roll of her eyes before she smiled at Haru and said, "But I'm nothing compared to you. Despite the tears, you look radiant. Pink is your friend."

"T-Thank you," Haru stammered, the red on her cheeks deepening.

"Ah, it seems you've made a friend, Haru-chan," Mariko said as she held a plate of food.

"Oh, thank you, Hyodo-san," Haru said with a grateful tone.

"It's no problem, dear," Mariko said with a smile before she looked to Hifumi and said, "And aren't you a beautiful girl. My name is Hyodo Mariko. Mayor of Sapporo, and close family friend to Haru. And you are?"

"I-I'm Togo Hifumi," Hifumi introduced as she held out her hand.

Mariko shook her hand and said, "Well, excuse me for interrupting you ladies, but I wanted to inform Haru-chan that I have a meeting to attend too. Mind keeping her company for a while?"

"Of course," Hifumi said with a smile.

Haru turned to Mariko with confusion but smiled when the older woman gave her a wink.

"You two have fun now," Mariko said before she hugged Haru once and walked off.

"She seemed pretty nice," Hifumi said.

"She is," Haru said before she realized something.

Mariko had taken the plate of food with her.

"Oh no, she forgot to give me that plate of food," Haru sighed out.

"No worries, how about we get some food together?" Hifumi offered.

Haru smiled.

"I-I'd like that very much…" Haru replied.

And together, the two walked off, and it would be four in the morning before the two finally said their goodbyes.

[Scene Change: Next Day - Suzui Residence (Afternoon)
Theme of Hanging Out: Afternoon Break from Persona 3]

Ann stared at her phone long and hard, her heart thumping in her chest.

For the last ten minutes, she sat staring at the message she had sent Ryuji, wondering if she should send it to him.

Ann edited her message several times, but she still was hesitant to send it despite it looking okay. "Shiho, tell me if this sounds good," Ann said as she looked at her best friend, who laid beside her with her eyes closed.

"Hey, Ryuji, sorry for this random-ass text, but I couldn't keep this from you anymore. The other night, I overheard you and Ren talking, and I didn't mean to overhear it! I swear! I was there to let you guys know Haru and Shiho made breakfast. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I should have tried harder to be your friend instead of letting you go about it all alone. I know we're friends now, but I just wanted to let you know that I won't ever let you go again," Ann finished and looked to Shiho and asked, "That sound good?"

"Ann-chan," Shiho began in a tone that Ann knew all too well.

She was about to drop some truth on her.

"I don't know what you overheard, but if it's serious, it would be better to talk to him personally about it instead of writing a full-length letter through text," Shiho told her.

Ann thought about it for a moment then sadly replied, "But what if he takes it the wrong way? I don't want to see him hurt because of me. I've already nearly damaged this fragile friendship when we fought in Kamoshida's palace."

"I doubt Ryuji-nii will do that," Shiho replied.

"Ryuji-nii?" Ann repeated with a grin. "You bumped him up to "Big brother" status?" Ann asked with a significant smile.

"W-Well yes," Shiho replied with a stammer. "Next to Ren-kun, Ryuji-kun was a massive help, and he's been nothing but great to me."

"He is a good guy…Isn't he?" Ann questioned more to herself than to Shiho. "He's blunt, crude, and can be a bit of an idiot, but he truly has a good heart…" Ann let a tender smile appear on her face, only for Shiho to start giggling.

"W-What?" Ann stuttered out.

"Oh, nothing," Shiho replied with an innocent smile.

"Meanwhile, you and Ren have been dancing around each other since the end of the Kamoshida mission. When are you two going to talk about the near kiss?" Ann asked.

Shiho blushed deeply.

Before Shiho could answer, Ann noticed a text on the group text. Ann saved her text as a draft, switched over the group text, and saw Ryuji text the group.

Ryuji: I just got an excellent idea!

Shiho and Ann glanced at each other before Haru's text came next.

Haru: What's the idea?

Ren: Yeah, clue us in, Ryu!

Ryuji: Ryu? You've been playing too much Street Fighter, Ren. Wait…Ren…Ken! Dude!

Ren: Awww, I just realized it at the same time. We totally are Ryu and Ken!

Ryuji: Shoryuken!

Ren: Hadoken!

"Boys," Ann rolled her eyes while Shiho laughed.

Ann: Before the Bromance continues, what's the idea Ryuji?

Ryuji: Why don't we use the dirty money from Kamoshida's medal and use it to fund a celebration feast on a job well done?

"That's not a bad idea, really," Shiho said.

Ann frowned.

She was kind of hoping for something else. Ann shook her head, stopping that thought immediately, but she had to admit, it was a good idea.

Ren: Morgana says, "That sounds like a meow-velous idea.

Haru: *groans*

Ann: Get the fuck out right now!

Ryuji: That was a dirty pun. I love it.

Shiho: Pun aside, I agree. We should celebrate.

Ann: I guess that's fine. There is somewhere I want to go, though. It's a place Shiho, and I have wanted to go to for a while

"Oh! Is it?!" Shiho questioned with stars in her eyes.

Ann grinned and nodded.

Shiho squealed and launched herself at Ann, who laughed happily. "Oh, I love you so much," Shiho cheerfully said. "That'll be great!"

Ryuji: Awesome! Hey Ren, why don't you stop by and snag the medal so we can get it pawned?

Ren: Cool, I'll be on my way. Hey Haru, when do you get back, by the way?

Haru: I'll be back tomorrow afternoon.

Ryuji: Sweet! Should we do it tomorrow then?

Ann: Why don't we go on the last day of the holidays? I mean, it'll help energize us when school starts.

Ryuji: Then it's settled! Children's date is the day of the Phantom Thieves Feast!

Ren: Man, this is great!

Shiho: : )

Ryuji: NO EMOJI!

Shiho: : )

Ann: Sweet! I'll start checking on prices!

Ren (Morgana): And the meeting concludes!

Haru: Here, here!

Ann then saw another text come in, and when she switched to it, she saw that it was Ryuji.

Ryuji: Hey. I know I still owe you. Um, there's this new alien movie coming out tomorrow. I figure I can start paying that debt by taking you to it?

Ann felt her heart start to beat rapidly as her face began to heat up.

"Ann? Are you okay? Shiho asked with concern.

Ann: Yes. I'd love that.

Ryuji: For Real! Awesome! Should we meet up at the theaters?

Ann: Yeah, that would be cool…I'll see you tomorrow then.

Ryuji: Tomorrow…

Ann: Cool! It's a date!

"Ann. Your face is red now," Shiho commented as a large smile appeared on Ann's face.

"I…I think I have a date with Ryuji…" Ann said.

Shiho's squealed and hugged a still smiling Ann.

[Scene Change: Café LeBlanc (Afternoon)
Theme of Hanging Out: Afternoon Break from Persona 3]

Ryuji: I am freaking out so hard!

Ren stared at his phone while Morgana curled up beside him to take a brief cat nap.

Ren: What's up, man?

Ryuji: I may have just asked Ann on a date!

Ren's eyebrows shot up in alarm before a large smirk appeared on his face.

Ren: Well, well, well. Love is in the air for our two resident blondes. I hope you name your kids after me.

Ryuji: Oh, you son of a bitch, lol. I'm freaking, dude.

Ren: I know, I know. Just take a breath and relax. What are you guys doing?

Ryuji: I'm taking her to see that new alien movie. I think it's called "Aliens: The Re-Vengeance" or something like that.

Ren: Aliens: The Re-Vengeance…

Ryuji: I'm sure it'll be a trash-ass action movie, but I figured Ann would like it.

Ren stared at the name of the movie and let out a sigh of annoyance. That date is going to flop if that's the only thing Ryuji and Ann were doing.

Ren: You may want to add more to that. Like going to dinner or something else.

Ryuji: Oh! How about the batting cages? Or mini-golf?

Ren: Mini-Golf sounds fun. Make a day of it.

Ryuji: Cool, cool, cool…

Ren: Just try and hide it from Morgana. I think he's starting to get a little crush on Ann.

Ryuji: No problem. I'd hate to hurt the little guy's feelings. He's pretty awesome for a cat. Mom's back with the groceries. Text me when you get here!

Ren: See you in a bit!

Ren slipped his phone into his pocket smiled. It had been a day since his strange conversation with his mom, and while it was on his mind, the text session with his friends lifted his spirits.

He didn't know why but compared with his past friends; this new group had quickly grown near and dear to his heart.

How had he lived without them in his life?

Ren carefully stood up off the bed to let Morgana sleep and crept downstairs to where Sojiro was handling sweeping the floor. "Hey Boss…" Ren said with a smile.

"Hey kid, you going somewhere?" Sojiro asked.

"Yeah. I'm going to stop off at a friend's then go to the gym. I've been lazy and feel a little chunky," Ren said with a laugh.

Sojiro chuckled as well and said, "It's good to see you keep in shape. Most teenagers would eat junk food all day without burning it off."

"My dad was hard on me to keep fit, so I try to keep fit…Sometimes," Ren replied with a brief laugh before he noticed a pile of dishes in the sink and asked, "Need some help?"

Sojiro looked at the dishes and said, "You know what? Sure."

Ren smiled and made his way to the sink when he heard the door open and shut. When he turned around, he felt his heart himself blink in surprise.

[Theme of the Prosecutor: Strange Atmosphere from Shin Megami Tensei: Persona]

A rather tall woman with long ashen brown hair asymmetrically parted on her right side, and reddish-brown eyes walked into the café. She wore a black business suit with a black turtleneck along with gray heels.

'Whoa…I'm not usually the guy to want someone to step on them, but…wow,' Ren thought. "Why is everyone in this city so fucking attractive?!' Ren then took a step back as a sense of Déjà vu overcame him.

He blinked his eyes and suddenly found himself in a dark room, his chest and face hurting, his vision blurry as the woman in front of him punched the steel table beneath her, causing his headache to increase, but in another blink, he was back at LeBlanc's.

'What the fuck…' Ren thought.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen," The woman said with a brief nod.

"Afternoon," Sojiro replied coolly.

"H-Hello," Ren said with a stammer.

The woman's eyes glanced at him, and suddenly, Ren felt like he was in the hot seat and immediately rushed to the sink to start the dishes.

As he did the dishes, Sojiro flipped on the TV, where the newscaster was speaking.

"The cause of the runaway-train incident in the subway the other day still has not been found. Police are hurrying to solve the matter as it may relate to the rise of psychotic breakdown incidents."

"Oh, is that the thing everyone's been talking about?" Sojiro questioned as he crossed his arms.

"Doesn't it make you curious?" The woman asked. "People who were living normal lives suddenly going mad or deranged out of the blue like that?"

Both Sojiro and Ren looked at her curiously.

"Not to mention that it's happening one after another…Could they be coincidental?" The woman finished thoughtfully.

"Hm…You have a point," Sojiro replied. "Leaving that aside…What'll you have today?"

"The house blend, please," The woman said.

Sojiro nodded and began to make her coffee. The woman then turned to Ren, who started to rewash the dishes and asked him, "Are you a part-timer? I'm surprised this place can afford one."

"That's right," both Sojiro and Ren said in unison before Sojiro continued with, "That's exactly the case."

"Yeah, I kinda needed this job to help pay for my schooling," Ren replied as he continued to clean.

"Oh, so you're a high school student. I figured because you look around that age. Where do you attend?" The woman question curiously.

"I attend Shujin Academy. I'm on the student council," Ren replied as he placed three cups on the drying rack beside the sink.

"Shujin Academy…I know someone who goes there," The woman said. "I've heard that things are rough there right now."

"Yeah…" Ren said, trying to keep his voice calm and normal sounding.

"A former Olympic medalist and pride of Japan falling so low…It's honestly surprising. I heard Kamoshida confessed his crimes as if he was a different person. It makes me wonder. Can a person's mental state change so easily?"

'Okay…What the hell does she know?' Ren thought to himself with a suspicious tone.

The woman eyed Ren a bit longer before Sojiro sat her cup of coffee down in front of her. "Thank you…" The woman said before she began to drink.

"Dishes are done, Boss," Ren said as he dried his hands off with a towel.

"Thanks, kid, you're free to go," Sojiro said.

Ren nodded and unfurled his sleeves and picked up his jacket, and began to walk past the woman, but as he did, the woman said, "I'll be seeing you, Amamiya Ren."

Ren stopped cold in his tracks at the door before looking back at her with surprise, but the woman didn't look at him.

She just merely continued to drink.

Ren quickly left the café.

[Scene Change: Shibuya – Untouchable Airsoft Shop (Afternoon)
Theme of Untouchable's: Layer Cake from Persona 5]

After snagging the medal from Ryuji, Ren found himself at the alleyway of the Untouchable Airsoft Shop.

Ren immediately became curious when he noticed the two men whispering in front of the shop, but he shrugged, walked into the shop, and saw the grumpy attendant again.

"Hey!" Ren said with a grin.

The surly man looked up from his magazine and muttered, "Oh, you again. What do you want?"

Ren took out the medal and asked, "How much would you be willing to give for this?"

"A gold medal?" The man questioned before he barked out a laugh. "We don't buy fake or stolen goods here, kid." The man then took another look at the medal then said, "On second thought, let me see that."

Ren handed him the medal, and after a few minutes of examining this, he said, "I'm not going to question where you got this, but I'll take it. How's thirty-thousand yen sound?"

"Works for me," Ren replied.

"Good deal," The man said as he handed Ren the money. He then glanced at his watch and mumbled, "Almost time…" the man then pulled out a brown paper bag and said, "Take this with you as thanks for the medal."

Ren eyed the bag but then shrugged and took it. "But it's best not to open it. Just bring it back with you the next time you come here."

"No worries. I got you covered," Ren replied with a grin.

"Good kid. Glad you're quick to understand," the man said with a nod.

Just then, the door was kicked open, and the two well-dressed men, along with another man in a swat uniform, busted into the store, the swat-dressed man holding a pistol in his hand. "Munehisa Iwai, there are some matters we'd like to discuss with you today," the man in the tan suit said with a smirk.

"Go, kid," Iwai said.

Ren shrugged and walked towards the door and was about to leave when he heard the tan-suited man speak again. "Do you know why we're here?"

"Lookin' for evidence? You tell me, Detective-san," Iwai replied with a smirk on his face.

"Watch your attitude!" The black-suited man barked.

"And here I thought only dogs barked," Iwai chuckled out. "Well, go ahead and search the place."

"What?!" The black-suited man exclaimed.

"I mean, an upstandin' citizen's supposed to cooperate with the cops, right?" Iwai questioned.

The tan-suited man looked to his partner and asked, "You sure that lead was legit?"

"I'm damn sure," the man said, but he sounded less confident than before. Ren immediately opened the door and left before they started questioning him on why he was there in the first place.

Ren was back on the central street of Shibuya and let out a sigh of relief, but as he turned around, he collided with someone.

With a yell, he fell onto his ass and grumbled, "Man, that hurt…"

It was then he heard a gasp, and when he looked up, he found himself his blood run cold.

For sitting in front of him was the girl that shattered his heart.

Ren:….

Ryuji: That's rough as hell…

Shiho: Who is she?

Ann: Only one way to find out I guess…