Ren:….
Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Chapter Twenty – Five
[Opening Scene: Flashback - Aoharu City (Daytime)
Theme of Danger: Desire from Persona 5]
Yoshizawa Kasumi was in a bad situation.
She had just moved to Aoharu City and did her paperwork to join Gorin Academy, and everything was going smoothly. But as she was leaving, these three rough-looking students, two boys and one girl began to follow her until chasing her down this alleyway.
"Looks like little Red stopped running," The girl said.
The girl had long, spiky red hair, which was tied in a high ponytail, and black eyes. She wore a black mask that conceals her mouth, a dark blue short jacket with a sailor collar and white folded sleeves, and a long dark-blue dress.
Underneath the dress, she wore navy blue stockings and black ankle-length boots tied with several belts. Her white sailor collar has cross-black linings on each side.
"Looks like it, Zaki-chan," The second teenager said.
The second teenager was a giant boy with short brown hair and brown eyes with a white headband around his forehead.
He wore a green jumpsuit with gold buttons and stone-made sandals, with the jumpsuit's right sleeve torn off, revealing his large arm muscles and the first two buttons on the undone, and stone-made slabs wrapped around his stomach with a rope tied around it.
"L-Leave me alone!" Kasumi shouted as she stood at the alleyway's dead-end as three rough-looking students stood at the entrance of the alleyway. "I-I didn't do it!" She exclaimed.
"You hear that, Eiji? She says she didn't do it," The larger black-haired boy to the left cackled to the boy in the middle.
The teen leading the trio had long, comical tall blond hair that was spiked upwards with a pink headband keeping it together. He wore a purple school short jacket under a pink high-neck sweater, purple school pants, and white boots.
"Look here, Red," Zaki began. "You got something our boss wants."
"Give us the pocket watch, or else we fuck you up. Real simple," Eiji said as he flicked out a pocket knife and twirled it in his hand.
"I-I don't have a pocket watch!" Kasumi exclaimed.
"Well…We did warn her," Zaki told Eiji.
"How unfortunate. Oh well, Gan, if you don't mind, knab her," Eiji told the giant teenager behind him.
"Got it," Gan said as he slowly approached, only for a rock to collide with the back of his head.
"Come on, you three. How many times do we have to meet like this?" An amused voice asked, which prompted the trio to turn around.
[Theme of The Shield: Break in To Break Out (Chaotic Piano Ver) from Persona 5: The Anime]
Kasumi looked to see a teen with messy, curly black hair and storm-grey eyes.
He wore an open white school jacket with a red interior that revealed his black long sleeve v-neck shirt underneath it, white pants, and white, black, and yellow shoes.
Despite the danger she was in, she felt her face heat up at his confident grin.
"Aww fuck Eiji, it's him," Zaki said with apprehension in her voice.
"It's-a me," the newcomer said. "Now, how about you guys stop harassing her and pick on someone your own size?"
"Gan…Get him," Eiji hissed out.
The giant slammed his fists together and charged towards the curly-haired teen, who side-stepped the large teen while tripping him, causing Gan to crash to the ground, his head colliding with a garbage can.
"Has charging ever worked out for you, Gan?" The teen asked the dazed teen on the ground.
Kasumi watched as Zaki ran forward and shouted to the teen, "Watch out!"
The teen turned around only to duck the swing of the girl's roundhouse kick and delivered an uppercut, in return, sending her crashing on her back.
"Damn you, Amamiya!" Eiji yelled as he rushed forward and swiped his pocket knife at the newcomer's torso, but the boy easily avoided it with a jump backward.
She watched as her tormentor ran forward and continued to try and stab at the newcomer, but her savior was slippery as an eel, avoiding each lunge of the knife.
"Stop moving, you little bitch!" Eiji exclaimed as the teen missed another swipe of his knife. Kasumi watched as her hero smirked, ran forward, jumped into the air, and landed a solid knee to the middle of Eiji's face, sending the boy to the ground.
[Theme of Starstruck: Royal Days from Persona 5: The Royal]
The newcomer landed on his feet and looked back in amusement before he slipped his hands into his pocket and walked towards the downed Eiji. Kasumi could see Eiji reaching for his knife, but the victorious teen kicked the discarded knife to the side.
The teen then crouched beside Eiji and asked, "So, want to explain what happened, Yamada-san?"
"S-She has our Boss' pocket watch," the downed teen groaned out.
The teen frowned. "She has Daigo's pocketwatch? And how do you know that?" The curly-haired teen questioned.
"We saw her snag it…" The downed teen replied.
The teen stood up and looked to Kasumi and asked, "Do you have the pocket watch?"
"N-No…I d-don't even know who these people are. I-I just moved to this city yesterday and signed paperwork for Gorin just thirty minutes ago," Kasumi explained.
"Did you?" The boy questioned.
Kasumi nodded as she fumbled with her purse then, pulled out a piece of paper, walked up to the tall boy, and handed it to him. He glanced at it, nodded, then said, "Looks like it's legit…" while he looked to Eiji.
"O-Oh…" Eiji weakly said. "I-It must have been that other red-haired girl Rena…S-Sorry about that, Red…"
"At least you apologized," The teen said. "Now, if I have to do this again, I don't think any of you or Daigo-sama will appreciate it; got it?"
"Crystal…" Eiji groaned out.
The teen looked back at Kasumi, held the paper to her, and said, "Welcome, to Aoharu City, Yoshizawa-san. I hope your official first day at Gorin will go better than this."
Kasumi stared into his storm-gray eyes, and for a moment, she forgot where she was.
She then shook her head and stammered, "I-I hope so too…" before she took the paper from his between his fingers. The taller teen gave her a confident grin and walked away with his hands in his pockets.
"W-Who was that?" Kasumi asked the downed Eiji.
"This is new pain…Ah, fuck," Eiji groaned. "That goodie-goodie is the "Shield of Gorin" Amamiya Ren…my nose," the teen answered, which caused Kasumi to look back at the retreating teen.
'Amamiya Ren…' Kasumi thought with a faint blush on her face.
[Scene Change: Present Day Shibuya (Daytime)
Theme of Yoshizawa: Compatibility Horoscope from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment]
"R-Ren…" Kasumi whispered as she stared at the teen in front of her. She could easily recognize that messy, curly black hair her fingers had once gripped and pulled when they kissed.
Despite the glasses, she recognized his storm-gray eyes. The same eyes that drew her to him after he saved her that day in the alley.
Ren began to stand up, but Kasumi stammered out, "W-Wait!"
She began to stand up as well, but Ren was already taking off down the sidewalk.
"Ren!" she yelled after him before she lowered her head, the guilt in her heart starting to reignite. He had looked so stunned to see her, but that expression gave way to both anger and hurt.
And she didn't blame him for feeling that way about her.
Kasumi had said some horrible things the last time they saw one another when he was at his lowest moment.
He had every right to hate her.
But as she watched him walk away, tears threatened to spill from her eyes.'Maybe this is for the best…' Kasumi thought, but that didn't stop the hand of sadness from gripping her heart.
'Ren…'
[Scene Change: Shibuya - Inokashira Park (Daytime)
Theme of Training: MAP from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment]
Makoto was exhausted.
After being haunted by that racy dream regarding Amamiya and herself, Makoto took it upon herself to exercise those thoughts away, which led her to Inokashira Park.
She had just finished jogging through the park, her face sweating as she took a swig of her water.
Makoto wore a long white shirt that went past her waist with tight black spandex compression shorts that reach her upper thighs, black fingerless gloves, purple socks, green shoes,
Makoto reached down to grab her white towel from her gym bag and wiped her face down, and said, "That was a damn good workout. But should I do some shadow-boxing next?"
Makoto closed her eyes in thought, crossed her arms, and thoughtfully muttered, "I don't want to overdo it. But I'm also in a groove, and I never get this amount of time to myself thanks to school. Maybe I should get a little more training in."
With her mind made up, Makoto opened her eyes, only to flinch in alarm when she caught the sight of a familiar figure sitting on a bench in the distance.
'Amamiya…' Makoto thought as her heart rate began to rise, images of her dream popping into her head.
She wanted to try and run the other way for a moment, but it was then she noticed something.
Despite the distance, she could see that Amamiya looked distressed
'Should I go over there and talk to him?' Makoto asked herself.
"Why should you?" That familiar voice whispered in her head.
Makoto tensed up.
[Theme of Thy True Self: Bomb Shelter from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP Ver)]
"You ignored the suffering of everyone else under Kamoshida's reign of terror for a long time. Why should you care about his suffering? Is it because you get off to that dream?" the voice taunted.
'Get out of my head,' Makoto thought angrily.
"I can't…We're one in the same Mako-chan. I know you inside and out," The voice taunted with a purr. Makoto could feel the world darkening around her as she stood face to face with her replica, the replica's eyes glowing that sickly yellow.
Makoto froze up and muttered, "Don't ever call me that again…"
Her replica laughed. "Does that nickname make you feel weak? Does it make you long for the man that is dead?"
"Shut up…" Makoto hissed out as she balled up her fist.
"Oh, my dear Mako-chan…" The replica purred with a slight smirk on her face. "Look at you…So small. So afraid…so weak. Unable to face the truth of your cowardice. Do you know why you don't want to hear your father's nickname for you? It's because you let him down."
'SHUT UP!" Makoto shouted as she hunched over, her hands pressed against the side of her head as a pained expression appeared on her face. "Please just shut up," Makoto whispered, her body shaking as tears began to build in her eyes.
"You can hide from me, but you cannot hide from the truth within…" The presence whispered. "You let your father down…"
[Theme of Sorrow: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment]
"Niijima-san…" her eyes snapped open, and she looked up to see Amamiya standing before her. Makoto tried to stand upright and look natural as tears fell from her eyes.
"I-I'm sorry," Makoto shakily said as she went to wipe her tears away, but to her surprise, Ren had one falling down his cheek as well. "A-Ama…" Makoto tried to speak to make herself seem normal, but she felt so weak.
"Are you okay?" Amamiya asked, his voice faint and exhausted.
Makoto wanted to tell him that she was okay. She just had a temporary break from reality, which wasn't a lie, but she couldn't find the energy to lie to him. "No…I'm not okay…" she answered.
Ren gave a small smile and said, "Neither am I..."
[Scene Change: Shibuya - Big Bang Burger (Afternoon)
Theme of Sorrow: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment]
"How long have you heard this voice?" Ren asked.
"Since the whispers of Kamoshida's misdeeds began…" Makoto replied.
After the admittance of their pain, the pair left Inokashira Park and found themselves at Big Bang Burger. "I keep trying to drown them out, but I can't. It's always there. It was always taunting me and angering me," Makoto muttered softly.
"Why do you think it's there?" Ren asked her before he took a drink of his milkshake.
"I wish I knew,…But its voice has gotten stronger lately. I just wish I knew why," Makoto replied before she took a sip of her drink. "But enough about me. Why are you not okay?"
Ren took a deep breath and asked, "Do you remember when I broke down my past to you?" When Makoto nodded, Ren continued with, "The girl that betrayed me and broke my heart, I saw her today…And it brought up a lot of terrible things in me…"
"Amamiya…I'm so sorry…" Makoto said. "That must have hurt you."
"More than anyone will ever know," Ren said. "There's so much damage that she did that I…I just can't…"
"Trust anyone again," Makoto finished softly.
"I can trust my friends, at least the ones that I've made here in Shibuya…but I…" Ren paused before he let out a deep sigh. "Ann, Ryuji, Haru, Shiho…I trust them, more than they will ever know but…When it comes to love…I can't…I can't let myself be hurt like that again…"
Makoto stayed quiet as Ren let out a small laugh. "That's the first time I've ever said it out loud…I don't trust love…" Ren softly said.
"Ren," Makoto said after a moment. "I'm not going to pretend I know about love, but…Maybe you should talk to her. Tell her how much that betrayal. Get closure. I can't promise that it'll make you trust love again, but It's a good place to start."
Makoto then took a breath and said, "A-And if you want…I can help you. Give you an ear to talk to…"
Ren looked at Makoto in surprise. "Really? You'll do that for me?" Ren asked before suspicion filled his heart. "Why?"
"I-I wish it could be out of the goodness of my heart, but…Amamiya-san, I don't have many friends and. That voice in my head, it's getting louder. I feel like I'm going insane, So Equivalent exchange…"
"You listen and coach me on my issues if I do the same with yours," Ren said before he raised his milkshake cup to her. "Very well, Lieutenant, we have a deal."
Makoto smiled and raised her soda, and their cups met in agreement, and it was then, Ren felt that familiar feeling.
"I am thou, thou art I…
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Priestess Persona,
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power…"
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Shujin Academy (Afternoon)
Theme of the Prosecutor: Strange Atmosphere from Shin Megami Tensei: Persona]
"This is the place. Shujin Academy…" Sae said as she looked to the officer at her side.
The man beside her had black shoulder-length hair and a goatee, and he wore a pair of glasses, a black suit with a tie, and a light turquoise long-sleeved shirt with golden buttons at each end of it and black buttons on each side of the collar; and white sneakers.
This man was Hasegawa Zenkichi, a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Public Security Bureau and, as of right now, her partner in discovering what was causing these breakdowns.
"When I was brought here, I never expected this to be my case," Zenkichi said with a raised eyebrow. "But with these mental shutdowns going around, Kamoshida's spilling his guts out of nowhere does is suspicious…"
"I agree, but the sooner we figure it out, the sooner we can stop the next one," Sae replied.
"So, shall we go investigate?" The man asked with an easy-going smile.
Sae merely frowned and said, "Let's go, Hasegawa-san."
'This incident with Kamoshida…I know it has something to do with the mental breakdowns, and once I figure it out, there's nothing that will stop me…' Sae thought with a determined gleam in her eyes.
Rain: So now Ren and Makoto's friendship(?) has began while Sae and Zenkichi start their investigation. What will the next chapter bring? Also, to clarify something. In the first chapter, I stated that Ren would be with three women. After some thought, I decided to change that so now the story will be Ren/Makoto/Shiho as the main pairing, along with Ryuji/Ann. The rest you'll have to wait and see! Until the next chapter…
Zenkichi: See you all later!