Shiho: Hello everyone! Lioness here and it's time to start the show!

Ren: Let's get on with the sh-Wait! This is that chapter isn't it?! Wait! I take it back! Don't start the sh-

*Static*

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

[Opening Scene: Flashback - Aoharu City Police Station (Nighttime)
Theme of The Past: Joker Theme from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]

Ren sat in the back of the police car in stunned silence.

He couldn't believe what had just happened.

He stood up for that woman, who was being accosted by that slime ball, and she just stabbed him in the back and made him the bad guy.

He could hear the police offers in the front of the car talking, but it all sounded muffled to his ears.

Ren was just in utter disbelief at the turn of events he just faced. After what felt like an eternity, the door beside him opened.

"Welcome home, shithead," the officer said as Ren was grabbed by his shirt and pulled out of the car hard, which caused him to crash against the ground.

"Get up, you little piece of shit," the cop said as he kicked Ren in the stomach, which caused him to cough hard from the blow.

"Hey, hey. Save it for the interrogation room," another cop said.

"Why should we? A scumbag like this hitting that guy deserves to know how it feels," the first cop said.

"I-I didn't h-" another kick to the gut stopped Ren's sentence, causing another coughing fit to occur.

"Sorry, kid, we don't accept any lies here," The officer said before each one grabbed Ren's bent arms and hoisted him off the ground and dragged him into the police station.

After they got him processed, they both led Ren into an interrogation room and pushed him into a chair. "Alright, kid, we're going to ask this once. Why did you do it?" The officer asked.

"I didn't," Ren said with angered eyes.

"Well…We tried it the right way," The officer said before he motioned for the other officer to move the table away between the two, and the officer stood up. "Now we're going to try this my way," the officer said in a menacing tone as he cracked his fist.

[Scene Change: Present Day Shibuya – Takamaki Residence (Afternoon)
Theme of The Past: Joker Theme from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]

"Oh my god…" Ann whispered in horror as she sat across from Ren with a frown. "They did that to you?"

"Day in and day out…." Ren replied wearily. "Beaten until submission. They didn't listen to the fact that the woman was forced to lie. They didn't listen that the guy fell on his own. They just did all they could to make me confess. But I didn't. I wasn't the one that did it, so why should I confess?"

"Then how did it happen?" Ann asked.

Ren sighed.

[Scene Change: Flashback - Aoharu City Police Station (Nighttime)
Theme of The Past: Joker Theme from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]

"Well, well well…Amamiya Ren. You've done well to hold out for so long. I thought we would have beaten the truth out of you, but you're steadfast in your bullshit story. I'm very impressed…."

Ren spat out blood from his mouth and eyed the police officer in front of him. "Fuck off…" Ren growled out.

"And you still have that fire within you. It's too bad this charming meeting is going to be so short," The officer said.

Ren's eyes narrowed as best as they could, considering one of his eyes was heavily swollen. "You see, kid, it looks like we have more witnesses to collaborate that woman and that guy's story."

Ren's eyes widened as he said, "That cannot be true."

"It's very true, kid, which means with four witnesses, your lying ass is going to be locked up in Juvie for a good long time," the officer said with a laugh as he walked to the door. He then stopped and looked back at Ren and said, "It's a damn shame that your parents cared so little for you that they sold you out. Pity."

Ren's heart went cold.

"My parents?" Ren asked.

"Yeah,…You see, what makes your attack on this guy so brazen was that you did it near your apartment building where they could see you from their window," The officer said as another laugh left his lips.

"I want to see them!" Ren shouted.

"Visiting hours aren't until six," the officer replied.

"Look, you've beaten me for the past three days with no visitors at all. At least do me this favor," Ren implored.

The officer stared at the moment before he grunted and said, "Fine…But don't say I didn't do anything for you." The officer left the room, and twenty minutes later, he returned with Ren's parents in tow.

"Mr. and Mrs. Amamiya, I'll be outside. Just ring for me," The officer said before he left the room and closed the door, leaving the family alone.

"Hello, Ren…" His father said with a detached tone in his voice. "I see you're getting what you deserve from your actions."

"My actions…." Ren said, taken aback by the sudden start. "You both said that I attacked that man when I did no such thing!"

"We saw it with our own eyes, Ren," his father said. "Did you truly think we were going to defend you when the police told us of your involvement?"

"Honestly? Yes!" Ren yelled out. "You both are my parents. You both raised me, right? I deserve some benefit of the doubt."

"You assaulted a person, Ren," his mother said, her voice quivering as if she was going to burst into tears. "W-We saw it, and there was the woman witness as well…We raised you to be smart and honorable. Not this….Nothing criminal that preys on the weak!"

It was like a bullet hit his heart.

He couldn't even fathom what he was hearing.

"Mom…D-Dad…I-" Ren stammered out, unable to form any words.

"You're not our son any longer," His father stated as his mother let out a sob. "You are nothing but a criminal, and you should be treated as such," His father said before he gingerly grabbed his mother's arm and knocked on the door.

The door opened, and the pair left, with his tearful mother looking back at him one more time before the door closed again, leaving Ren to lower his head in the middle of the darkened room.

[Scene Change: Present Day Shibuya – Takamaki Residence (Afternoon)
Theme of The Past: Joker Theme from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]

"Oh my god…" Ann softly whispered.

"Y-Yeah, so the ultimate betrayal from my parents," Ren said with a laugh, but even to his ears, it sounded so broken. "But despite that, God seemed to want to put me through more anguish with Sumire…"

"Sumire…" Ann whispered.

"My Ex-Girlfriend…." Ren replied. "And the reason I ran from the school today…."

[Scene Change: Flashback - Aoharu City (Afternoon)
Theme of The Past: Joker Theme from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]

"Thanks for the help Takuto-san!" Kasumi said with a smile as she looked back at her therapist.

Her therapist was a tall, bespectacled young man with brown, short unkempt hair, and he wore a blue suit with a blue checkered tie along with a white coat, light khaki slacks held on by a black belt, and brown sandals without any socks.

In his suit's chest pocket, he has a yellow pen and a staff ID that's further tied around his neck with a red strap.

"Anytime, Kasumi-san," Takuto said with a carefree smile. "You take care, and I'll see you same bat-time, same bat-office."

Kasumi giggled a bit.

His humor was a little weird and old school, but she liked him.

She bid him farewell and walked down the sidewalk up until she reached her house, but as she got to her door, the door opened to reveal two men in black suits and glasses.

"Oops. Sorry," Kasumi said as she stepped to the side to allow the men to pass.

Once they did, she stepped inside to see her mother and father looking distraught, and immediately, something was wrong.

"Mom…Dad…You two alright?" Kasumi asked.

"Hey dear…Take a seat, we need to talk about Ren…" Her mother said softly.

"Ren…Is he okay?" Kasumi asked with concern.

"No, and that's the problem. Just sit down…." Her father said.

[Scene Change: Present Time Shibuya – Shujin Rooftop (Afternoon)
Theme of The Past: Joker Theme from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]

"They told me what happened. He had hit some guy for no reason, and his parents and the woman who was with the guy were witnesses, but I knew he didn't do it. Ren was not like that at all. He's an honorable person that only protects people," Kasumi explained.

"Man, that's fucked up…" Ryuji said with a scowl.

"I refused to hear them out, but then they told me about those men I saw. They wanted us to act as witnesses to this event. To lie on Ren and say that we were there in passing. I was honestly horrified by this event, and I tried to fight against it, but in the end, my parents forced me to…" Kasumi said shamefully.

"How did they force you?" Shiho questioned.

"They said that if my father did not do it, something horrible would happen to him, but he never clarified," Kasumi answered as she held her left forearm, her head bowed. "I already lost my sister, and as much as I love…Loved Ren, I couldn't bear that hurt again…." Kasumi said sadly. "And the day after, I went to see him….I shattered his heart."

[Scene Change: Flashback - Aoharu City (Afternoon)
Theme of The Past: Joker Theme from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]

With a heavy heart, Kasumi walked into the interrogation room where Ren sat. He was now in an orange jumpsuit with dried blood on his cheek.

He looked so broken, and Kasumi felt her heart was tearing at the sight.

Still, Ren looked up and offered a smile. "Hey Sumi…Sorry I look like hell…"

'Oh Ren…' Kasumi sadly thought.

She wanted nothing more but to wrap her arms around him and tell him that she loved him and that it would all be okay, but she couldn't.

She came here to do what her parents needed her to do to save her dad.

Even if it meant tearing her heart apart.

"It's Kasumi…" Kasumi replied, forcing her emotions away. Only those I trust can use that nickname," The girl said softly. "How could you do this, Ren?"

"No….Not you too," Ren breathed out as his head slumped forward. "I can take a lot in this world…I can take my parents stabbing me in the back. I can take all of my friends leaving me but not you. Please tell me you aren't here to do this."

"My parents were there, Ren," Kasumi said as she held her left forearm with her right hand, her head turned away. "They were driving past when they saw you hit that guy. That's not the Ren I know. The Ren I know protects the innocent, not attack them."

"I didn't attack anyone!" Ren exclaimed. "That guy was accosting that woman. I stepped to tell him to lay off of her. He stumbled on his own, fell, and got hurt. He then blackmailed the woman, and she stabbed me in the back. You have to believe me."

Kasumi knew that from his tone of voice that he was telling the truth. It was well known through the school that he was a horrible liar, which made this all the harder for her.

"There have been multiple witnesses, Ren…Your parents, the woman, and my parents. They all wouldn't lie to me or the police. But here you are lying to me. And that hurts, " Kasumi told him.

Kasumi allowed tears to fall from her eyes at the injustice that she was causing. "Everyone at school looked up to you, Ren. You were our school's Class President. You were our shield. You protected us, and yet you did this. And to make it worse, you lied to me. Don't you care?"

The tears were flowing freely at the hurt and defeated look on Ren's face.

"I don't even know what you are now, but you're not the Ren I fell in love with…Goodbye…" And without hearing another word, Kasumi walked out.

But the moment the door closed, she sunk to her knees and sobbed heavily.

[Scene Change: Present time Shibuya – Shujin Rooftop (Afternoon)
Theme of a Broken Heart: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment]

"So he was purposely set up, and you went along with it…" Shiho murmured.

"Yeah…" Kasumi said.

"Fucking adults!" Ryuji raged as he kicked over a chair. "Every fucking time I think they can't sink any lower, they prove me fucking wrong!"

"I hurt him so badly…." Kasumi said as she wrapped her arms around herself and began to sob. "No wonder h-he can't even face me…."

Kasumi then felt a pair of arms wrap around her in a tight hug.

When Kasumi looked up and saw that the one embracing her was Shiho, Kasumi broke down into deep, heaving sobs.

[Scene Change: Shibuya – Takamaki Residence (Afternoon)
Theme of a Broken Heart: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment]

Ann felt her blood boil as she held Ren as he cried into her chest.

How dare they?

His parents.

Sumire…

He did so much for them, be the perfect son and honorable boyfriend, and yet everyone tossed him away as if he was nothing!

"It's okay, Ren…" Ann whispered as she rubbed his back. After everything Ren had done for them, Ann didn't see him as a friend. She saw him as her brother, and her brother was hurting because of the constant betrayals he had to endure.

"I won't let anyone hurt you again, Ren," Ann whispered as she brushed his hair, her arms tightening their grip around him.

"Y-You can't promise that, Ann," Ren tearfully whispered against her.

"I can and I will," Ann said as she gingerly separated herself from him to look into his eyes. "They didn't know how good they had it with you. But I do. Me, Ryuji, Shiho, Haru, Morgana, and even Mishima know who you are. You are the bravest, kindest, most selfless person we have ever known."

"For God's sake, Ren, you walked into Shujin after enduring all that happened to you and still helped us, even when your livelihood was at risk," Ann told him. "And I'm such a bitch; I even distrusted you at first…"

Ann wiped her eyes from the tears of anger and sadness that had escaped and said, "But no more. Ren, I promise you; from this day forward, I will do everything in my power to make you never feel like this again. I will protect you from Sumire, your parents, or anyone that tries to hurt you."

She could see Ren starting to cry again and immediately held him close again. "I will always have your back, Ren. No matter what happens," she whispered as more tears began to fall from her eyes.

"From this day forward, you're mine to protect," Ann whispered into his ear, only to smile when she felt his grip tighten around her.

Rain: Hello all! Rain here at the end of the chapter. So that's how it all went down. I've had some questions about the Sumire/Kasumi thing, and I'll answer those in time; I just don't want to spoil people who haven't played Royal yet. It would suck to be spoiled so hard like that through this fic.

The next chapter will introduce Mementos and as well as a *SPOILER* so until then…

Ann: Stop the show!