Makoto: Hello everyone! Niijima Makoto here and it's time to start a new chapter. I hope you guys enjoy it!
Sae: Start the show…
Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Chapter Twenty –Six
[Opening Scene: Shibuya – Shujin Academy (Afternoon)
Theme of Investigation: Monochrome from Persona: Revelations]
"What can you tell us about Kamoshida, Kawakami-san?" Zenkichi asked the rather cute teacher in front of him.
"What's there to tell?" Kawakami asked. "On the outside, he seemed normal, but I could feel something…Off about him. It was an open secret with the staff that he tended to lean towards younger women, but knowing all that he has done is still shocking to hear about…"
"Yes, to confess it all was very surprising," Sae replied with a rushed tone. "You said it was an open secret?"
"Yes. I often caught Kamoshida staring at the female students a little more closely than the males. When I bought it up to Principal Kobayakawa, he said it was just my imagination. Some of my coworkers said he told them the same thing, but there wasn't much the teachers or I could do because of Kobayakawa…" Kawakami explained, her tone taking on a faint bitterness to it near the end.
"Was he a huge supporter of Kamoshida?" Zenkichi questioned.
Kawakami nodded and answered, "A huge one. He loved the boon that the Olympic Gold Medalist brought to the school."
"Good to note," Sae said. "Now, tell me about Amamiya Ren."
"Amamiya-san…" Kawakami said with a distant tone and a faint smile. Zenkichi watched as she tilted her head in thought before she said, "He seemed very friendly. He outright laughed at the Principal the minute he saw him. He tried to cover it up well enough, but I knew he was."
"You're telling me. It took all my willpower not to laugh when I first saw Kobayakawa. Like, where the hell is his neck?" Zenkichi with a toothy grin.
"How rude," Kawakami barely got out before she covered her mouth with a small laugh.
Sae cleared her throat.
"A-Anyways," Kawakami coughed out. "He's a fairly okay kid. It threw me off guard, considering his crime. I thought he would be quiet, brooding, and nervous, but he seemed to fit right in. So much so, I asked Niijima Makoto to take him onto student council."
"Did you?" Sae asked with a surprised tone.
"Yes," Kawakami answered. "I figured since he has this strong sense of justice among his past as a student council president, he would do good on the student council."
"Interesting…." Sae said with a nod. "Can you recount all that went down leading up to Kamoshida's arrest when it comes to Amamiya-san?"
Kawakami nodded and said, "Well, after our meeting on Sunday, Ren was late to class on Monday with Takamaki Ann and Sakamoto Ryuji. They got into a fight defending Takamaki-san's honor. I spoke to him, and he displayed a large amount of honor and fierceness I hadn't seen from a student before. He seemed hellbent on protecting them along with Shiho and Mishima…"
"Must be due to his past ties as the "Shield of Gorin." His moniker during his time in Aoharu City. He's unable to let that go," Sae said to Zenkichi as he wrote into his notebook. Zenkichi nodded in agreement as Sae said to Kawakami, "At his former school, he was known as their protector essentially."
"That makes sense considering all that Kamoshida said he did," Kawakami replied. "It's honestly unbelievable that Kamoshida felt the need to hire students to try and murder him for trying to protect them. It's almost sickening…"
Zenkichi nodded in agreement.
"Please continue," Sae said.
"Things seemed normal for a few days until the day the fire alarm was pulled. Once things calmed down, I noticed that the familiar trio and Suzui Shiho, Okumura Haru, and Mishima Yuki were missing. Later, I found out that Kamoshida put them up to be expelled but never listed a reason. Then a day or two later, that's when the note appeared."
Zenkichi and Sae exchanged a look before Zenkichi asked, "A note?"
Kawakami nodded and pulled out a note and handed it to the Sae and said, "Yeah. This was posted on the bulletin boards all over the school."
Sae began to read it.
"To Sir Suguru Kamoshida, the Bastard of Lust,
We have been watching you for some time now. We know of your twisted and lustful desires that you have forced on the helpless students of Shujin Academy. We also know of the ways you force those same students to stay quiet against your abuse.
And that is why we've come for you. To make their voices heard and protect them from the monster you have become. Come tomorrow; we will steal away those desires and make you confess your sins, for we are the Voice of the Voiceless.
Signed,
The Phantom Thieves of Hearts…"
"Personally, I thought it was a prank and laughed it off but considering what happened a few days later shows me it was a true threat," Kawakami said. "And admittedly…I'm glad it happened. Kamoshida was doing horrible things and whoever wrote that note was in the right."
Zenkichi nodded in agreement before he stood up, with Sae and Kawakami following his lead. "Thank you for taking time out of your day to talk to us. We'll stay in touch," Zenkichi said as he shook Kawakami's hand.
"I sure hope so," Kawakami said with a slight grin.
Zenkichi gave her a wink before Sae pulled him out of the room.
[Theme of Investigation: Monochrome from Persona: Revelations]
"So it is obvious those kids did this," Sae said the second the pair entered the car. "All of them had suffered injustices by Kamoshida's hands, but the question is how?" Sae said.
"It could have also been the teachers. Kawakami-san did mention she and the other teachers noticed something off as well," Zenkichi replied.
"No…" Sae said. "It's too coincidental. Amamiya Ren, someone that was well known for protecting others at his previous school, comes to this school, found friends in students directly affected by Kamoshida and in short order, ended Kamoshida's reign of control?"
"But it could be that the teachers knew of this coincidence and used him as the smokescreen to deal with him finally," Zenkichi countered.
Sae nodded in agreement, not seeing any fault in his defense, but still, her gut told her Amamiya and his friends were involved in this. "I still can't shake the feeling he was involved in this somehow…"
"If it makes you feel better, do you think we should shadow him then?" Zenkichi questioned.
"Yes…" Sae answered after a moment of silence. "While I strongly believe he has something to do with Kamoshida, I am not sure if he has anything to do with the breakdowns quite yet. But shadowing him may potentially shed light on them…"
"Alright…We just need to be careful about this," Zenkichi said. "One false move and the case could end…And I would back in Kyoto."
Sae could sense bitterness in his words, but she left it alone. Whatever was going through his head was his business. All she wanted was to complete her case, and if he was going to help her, then so be it.
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Niijima Residence (Afternoon)
Theme of Friendship: Time from Persona 3: Portable]
"So…This is my place," Makoto said as she stood at her apartment building beside Ren. "You didn't have to walk me home, you know."
"I know," Ren said with a smile. "I wanted to. Might as well start this friendship off right, you know?"
Makoto smiled a bit and said, "Thank you again for listening today…It did help, and hopefully, that voice stays at bay as best as it can."
"How sweet…You think him being close will stop me…" That familiar voice said within her mind, but she ignored it.
"I hope so too," Ren said.
"Oh, before I forget…." Makoto said before she took out her phone and handed it to him. Ren looked at her with a confused expression before a look of realization appeared on his face.
He quickly put his contact information in her phone before he held his phone out.
She smiled, and while she was in the middle of putting her number in, a car pulled up behind them. She finished putting her number in, and when she looked up, Makoto saw Sae stepping out of the vehicle.
Makoto wanted to smile and wave at her older sister, but the look on Sae's face told her that would not be a good idea.
Makoto handed the phone back to Ren while taking her own while Sae walked up to them and once she was close, Makoto said, "Hello Nee-san, How was yo-"
"I'm exhausted," Sae instantly replied, interrupting Makoto. Sae then looked to Ren and said, "Well…We meet again, Amamiya Ren."
"Ma'am," Ren said in a neutral tone.
Makoto was surprised.
He didn't mention seeing her sister before.
Then again, he may not have known Sae was her sister up to this point.
Sae looked to Makoto and asked, "What is he doing here?"
"We bumped into each other at Big Bang Burger, and he walked me home," Makoto replied with a small smile to Ren, who gave a smile back. She didn't want to reveal how they met up at the park nor their respective issues, and she prayed Sae didn't delve further than that.
"Hm, I see…" Sae said before she looked to Ren and said, "Well, she's home. You're free to leave immediately."
[Theme of Anger: Tension from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP Ver)]
Makoto was taken aback by how harsh and cold her sister sound. "Sae-nee…" she said.
Ren's nervousness seemed to melt away into a look of annoyance as he said, "You were so cordial earlier. I guess being home shows your true colors."
"Ren…" Makoto said, surprised at his defiant tone.
"You are a criminal with my baby sister. I have every right to be less than cordial to someone like you in the face of that," Sae said.
"A criminal? And to think I was nervous about you at first. Now I know exactly where to place you. Blind like the rest," Ren shot back.
Sae narrowed her eyes at Ren, who glared back at her sister.
Makoto was shocked at how serious he looked compared to the unsure person that sat across from her just a little while ago. But staring at the serious yet brave Ren made Makoto's stomach flutter.
She had never seen someone stand up to Sae before, and while it was thrilling, she was nervous by the outcome. "For someone on the student council Shield of Gorin, you aren't very bright talking to one of the top Public Prosecutors of the Tokyo District Special Investigation Department like this," Sae said after a moment.
Makoto watched as Ren tensed at the moniker he used to carry and felt herself get mad at her sister for pushing that in his face.
"And for someone that likes to protect, you sure love putting yourself and your friends into serious trouble, so I'm going to make this very clear. You stay away from my sister Amamiya-san, or there will be some severe consequences," Sae warned.
Makoto watched as Ren looked away from her sister before he looked at her. "Hey, I should get going. I'm going to miss my train."
For a moment, Makoto was disappointed at how easily he gave up, but then he saw a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. Without warning, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Makoto's cheek, which caused her whole body to freeze at the contact.
She could see the absolute shock on Sae's face as Ren leaned away, and with his eyes locked on hers, Ren said, "I'll see you tomorrow Makoto-chan."
Makoto felt her breath stop as her face heated up at the sheer disrespect Ren had just shown, but the defiant look in his eyes combined with the confident smirk only made her legs turn to jelly.
Ren then finally looked to Sae and said, "Nice to meet you, Niijima Sae. Nice to have this chat." Ren gave her sister a smirk before he turned and walked off.
Makoto touched her cheek and let out a small bashful laugh, despite Sae's seething look.
Makoto didn't know what the fallout would be between her and Sae regarding Ren's shocking actions, but she knew one thing.
Her interest in him had just skyrocketed to new heights.
[Scene Change: Shibuya - Café LeBlanc (Afternoon)
Theme of Café LeBlanc: Beneath the Mask From Persona 5]
Ren walked into the LeBlanc's with a sense of peace.
He knew that provoking Sae so hard could lead to ramifications that may hurt him, but he was tired of people holding that bullshit accusation over his head. He had done the right down, and people continued to look down on him for it.
It was so easy to allow his more confident persona in Joker to appear to infuriate the prosecutor. Besides, Ren knew from the moment he saw her that he had to be careful, and as long as he stayed an excellent little phantom thief, she couldn't touch him.
Outside of framing him, of course.
Still, Ren felt terrible for doing that to Makoto and hoped she wouldn't hate him for the action.
He then heard his phone's familiar chime and pulled it out only to see that Makoto texted him.
Makoto: You are undoubtedly brave, Ren.
Ren smirked.
Ren: You should see me when I'm really on top of things
Ren waved to Sojiro, who nodded back, as Ren walked upstairs to his room where Morgana was still napping on his bed.
Makoto: Hm. I hope I get the chance to see you like that then. I'll see you tomorrow Ren.
Ren blinked in surprise. He wasn't trying to flirt with her then, but at least she played along. But now that he knew she wasn't mad at him, and while he had the confidence, he needed to sort something out with Shiho.
He took a breath and began his text.
Ren: Hey, Shiho-chan. You want to come down to LeBlanc's so we can talk?
Shiho: I'll be there in thirty minutes, Ren-kun
And true to her word, thirty minutes passed, and Shiho was in his room, sitting beside him on his bed.
[Theme of Tenderness: Tender Feelings from Persona 3: Portable]
"I'm glad you could make it," Ren said with a smile.
"L-Likewise…" Shiho said. "I-I was worried admittedly."
"Why?" Ren asked her.
He watched as Shiho fiddled with her hands, and despite the situation, it was cute how shy and bashful she looked. "W-We were going to kiss that night a-and…" Shiho took a small breath and said, "I wanted that."
Ren could feel his face heat up at this and said, "I-I wanted it as well."
"Y-You did?" Shiho stammered out in surprise.
"Yeah…" Ren confirmed. "B-But I'm glad it didn't…" He saw that Shiho was still listening to him, which made him feel a little safer in continuing. "I saw her today…My Ex, Sumire… "
"You did?" Shiho asked with surprise.
"Yeah…" Ren said as his eyes began to grow misty, and his heart began to hurt. Steeling himself, Ren explained, "I had just pawned off the medal. I was walking back on Shibuya when I bumped into her…" Ren forced a grin to appear on his face as he said, "I handled it like a champ."
Without warning, Shiho placed a hand on his cheek, and the grin fell. "You don't need to do that…" She told him.
Ren could feel the warmth of her hand on his cheek and felt himself small slightly, his eyes watering.
Ren was angry at himself for allowing these emotions to come back.
When he was cruelly kicked out of his home and former life, he tried as hard as he could to push his parents and Sumire away, but they forced themselves back into his mind, and now, all of that pain had come back.
He was able to hold in his hurt and anger during talking with Makoto and "sparring" with Sae, but in front of Shiho, the girl that he needed to protect for so long, the girl he nearly kissed, he wasn't able to keep that wall up.
"She hurt me badly, Shiho…" he told her in a whisper. "Everything that I had endured during that circus of lies I could brave but the minute she turned her back on me, it all fell apart…I-I trusted her, and she betrayed me. And now I'm left like this…"
Ren shut his eyes as tears began to fall from his eyes.
"Because of everything happening so fast, I could never deal with what she did to me, and now that she's back, it makes me every more afraid to put myself out there…, And if I kissed you while feeling this way, it wouldn't have been fair to you because I do like y-"
Without warning, Shiho's lips found his own in a soft kiss, which caused his eyes to widen in surprise, but she pulled away just as fast as he could think about returning it. "Shiho?" Ren whispered.
Despite the blush, Shiho wore a tender smile on her face as she said, "I-I know that you're hurting. A-And I am hurting too…K-Kamoshida hurt me bad a-and I'm scared too. I-I am scared that you'd find me d-damaged…But when we were going to kiss, I felt so much more like myself…"
Shiho's smile then grew.
"W-We both need to heal f-from cruel p-people…But I-I kissed you because I-I want you to think of that kiss as my promise to you…" she said. "I p-promise that I will be here to help you sort through it all…I-If you'll let me…"
Ren was touched by this and unable to stop himself; he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips as well. He felt her freeze up for a moment before she melted into him and returned his soft kiss with her own.
He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers and said, "I want us to figure out all of these fucked up emotions Sumire and Kamoshida forced on us together."
Ren then pulled away entirely and added, "And once we do, if you're still interested in me in the future…Would you like to go out on a date with me?"
"In the future, when we clear through it a-all…I'd be honored," Shiho responded with a smile.
And it was then that 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 Passion Persona,
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power…"
Captain Blues: And with that, the end of this chapter. This chapter introduced the Passion Arcana!
A little background on this arcana…
The Passion is the step into the second decade of the Major Arcana, the point where the journey into the inner depth begins. In other decks, this trump is called 'The Power', a symbol for the mastery of our own animal side. Crowley named the card 'Lust' - and most people don't really think of mastering their inner animal, but enjoy it full tilt...
In a combination of both, the animal side shouldn't be 'mastered' in the meaning of 'surpressed', nor should it be let out to 'romp around'. It should not be ignored, but accepted as a natural part of oneself. In that manner, one will not only be able to profit from its instinctive natural power, but also to save the power needed to 'master' it.
The Passion Arcana implies vitality, energy, and power. In most aspects of life, an endeavor will have much more success when passion is put into it. The drives of this arcana is Energy, passion, charisma, joy of life
Drive: Energy, passion, charisma, joy of life
Light: Power, vitality, unconditional devotion
Shadow: Weakness, insatisfaction, depression
I thought hard on Shiho's arcana. At first, I was going to do the Lovers or Adjustment arcana but Ann is still the Lovers and looking back at the history of this version of Shiho, this arcana works perfectly for her.
Until next time!