Captain Blues: Ahoy-hoy! I am back with a brand-new chapter and HOLY MOLY; this fic has a bloody TV Tropes page! A kind user named The Patient One pointed it out to me, and I informed Rain, and we both geeked out.

I'm looking forward to seeing what else gets added on there. Now let's set sail!

Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Chapter Thirty – Five

[Opening Scene: Shibuya – Okumura Residence (Nighttime)
[Theme of Heartache: Reminiscence (Sorrowful) from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (PSP Ver)]

The group of teens surrounded the unconscious Ren, each of them wearing a mask of concern. "Oh, Ren. I was supposed to protect you," Takamaki whispered as she stared at Ren's resting form. "Some sister I am."

Makoto exchanged a glance with an equally confused Sakamoto.

Sister?

"Tell me how this happened," Takamaki demanded as she glared at Makoto.

"Maybe if you put the glare away, I will," Makoto told Takamaki with a glare.

"You can't tell me what to do. We're aren't in school, Lapdog," Takamaki hissed out with barred teeth.

"You know what, I'm getting annoyed with how you've been talking to me when I've done nothing, Takamaki," Makoto growled out.

"Then stay annoyed," Takamki retorted. "Because that's the problem, right there, you do nothing Bitch."

"Ladies, none of that inside my house," Okumura admonished as she took a sip of tea.

"Sorry," Both Makoto and Takamaki mumbled, despite the heated glare they shot each other.

Suzui gently brushed a strand of hair from Ren's hair, which Makoto caught and quickly turned away to hide her discomfort, as Suzui asked, "How long has he been out, Niijima-san?"

"He fainted the second he moved away from her," Makoto answered. "What happened tonight was pretty bad. I was unsure of what to do."

The cat meowed a few times as it curled up by Ren's feet. Makoto noticed that Suzui stared at the cat for a moment, then nodded before she said, "A lot of emotional turmoil can cause something like this. He just needs to rest it off."

Sakamoto groaned and said, "This whole situation is fucked."

"Niijima-san," Suzui softly began. "How did this happen?"

"Ren was over my house, helping me with something important when he received a text from Yoshizawa-san. Despite his better judgment, he went to her," Makoto began before retelling the group what occurred.

Once she was finished, the other teens were stunned.

"That was an emotionally charged situation. No wonder Ren dropped as soon as he was done," Takamaki whispered.

"But what confuses me is what Ren said," Suzui said as she glanced at Sakamoto. "Sumire never mentioned that she said those things to him."

"Right? A low-life criminal. Comparing him to the guy that murdered her sister, who, by the way, I did not know existed until now," Sakamoto said.

"Wait, did you two talk to her before?" Takamaki asked.

"Yeah. After you chased after Ren, she bumped into me," Sakamoto said. "Shiho then had her reveal her history, but she seemed honest."

"She was," Suzui said. "I could tell when someone is lying. She was speaking the truth the entire time."

"Ren told me his entire past," Takamaki said, which prompted both Suzui and Makoto to look to her. "He told me the entire story from being beaten by the cops to his parents and Sumire abandoning him. He mentioned everything she said to him. Sumire must have lied to you guys."

"We can discuss this more later," Makoto said. "Right now, we have a downed leader who just went through hell. I think, just for a little while, we keep Sumire and Ren away from one another. For both of their sakes."

The group nodded, except for Takamaki, who asked, "Who put you in charge?"

"Ann-chan," Suzui whispered. "This is not the time. Not now."

The blonde narrowed her eyes at Makoto, who ignored it.

"For now, we all should rest," Okumura murmured. "It has been a long night." Okumura then turned to Makoto and said, "You are more than welcome to stay here tonight. I have plenty of room available."

"I appreciate it," Makoto began. "However, I don't think I'd be quite welcome here."

"I insist," Okumura firmly said.

"Very well. Thank you for housing me tonight," Makoto said with a bowed head.

"Now, let's all get some rest," Okumura said to the rest of the group.

As the rest of Ren's friends left the room, with Takamaki sparing her an annoyed expression on her way out, Suzui walked up to Makoto and asked, "Do you mind if we talk on the balcony?"

Makoto nodded.

[Scene Change: Shibuya - Yoshizawa Residence (Nighttime)
Theme of the Troubled: Seven Sisters High School B from Persona 2: Innocent Sin]

"I knew I should have never let her talk to him," Shinichi muttered to his wife as he laid beside her.

"Honey," his wife whispered. "I know it's hard, but his anger did not come out of a place of irrationality. He had every right to say what he said. We forced our daughter into it at the behest of-"

"But he should have yelled at us," Shinichi interrupted with a sigh. "It was us who put Sumire through that, to begin with," Shinichi told her with a frustrated tone. "Now I fear that I need to get Maru-"

"No," his wife interrupted. "You promised that we would never use his services again. Haven't we dishonored Sumire enough by warping her into thinking she's Kasumi? Haven't we dishonored Kasumi's memory enough?"

Shinichi sighed.

"It was the only way to save Sumire from her guilt. I don't regret it. Kasumi wouldn't either," Shinichi told his wife with an air of sorrow. "But what do we do? What if Sumire encountering that boy messes everything up? She could attempt suicide again."

"We need to be the parents here. We can't continue to count on Maruki-san and his ways. We should have never gone to him in the first place," his wife said. "I'd rather our daughter live with the truth instead of living behind a false reality. At least then, we could help her instead of willingly being blind to her pain…."

Shinichi sighed.

"Maybe you're right…I won't get Maruki for now, but if things get worst, I will get him to fix our daughter again…."

"That's all I ask…." His wife told him with a sad smile.

[Change Scene: Shibuya – Okumura Residence (Nighttime)
Theme of Okumura Residence: Have a Short Rest from Persona 5]

"So, why are we spying on them?" Ryuji asked as he leaned against the wall as he and Ann watched Shiho and Makoto talk out on the Balcony.

"I don't trust her," Ann said. "I don't trust any of this. Ren's with her, and he is suddenly unconscious? I don't know, but it's rubbing me the wrong way."

"You heard what Morgana and Shiho said. He was in a highly emotional situation that took it out of him. You can faint from that, you know?" Ryuji said.

Ann sighed.

"So, what is this with Ren being your brother? I mean, I don't mind it, Ren-Ren has had my back from day one, and I count him as my twin, but I seem to remember you were a little iffy on him at the beginning," Ryuji told her.

"I was iffy on him," Ann admitted. "But after everything we went through and everything he told about his past. I was wrong to be iffy. Ren's a great person. And After he spilled his guts about him and Sumire, I couldn't help but call him my brother. It felt natural to think of him in that way."

Ryuji nodded.

"But I feel like I let him down by not being there with him tonight. He needed me, and I was not there," Ann huffed out. "And instead of me, Niijima of all people was there when he needed help."

Ryuji could hear the venom in Ann's voice when she referenced Shujin's Student Council President. "Look, Ann, you know we're friends, right?" Ryuji asked.

Ann turned her head to look at him. "Since middle school," Ann replied with a soft smile.

"Ann, we weren't friends back then," Ryuji said.

"We were," Ann repeated.

Ryuji was stunned by this admission. "You still thought of me as your friend back then?" Ryuji asked her, his voice trembling slightly.

"Of course I did. You may have pushed me apart, but we were friends then, and we still are now," Ann told him with a gentle expression. "Ryuji, why did you push me away back then?"

"It's a long story," Ryuji hastily, not wanting to bring up the past. "B-But that's not why I asked."

"Then why did you ask?" Ann questioned.

"I think you're a little too hard on Niijima," Ryuji told her. When he saw Ann was about to light into him, Ryuji held up his hands and said, "Before you go Human Torch on my ass, hear me out."

Ann slowly relaxed, but the annoyance on her face was unmistakable.

"She helped save Ren's life when Kamoshida's goons got him. When Makoto called me to the office, she had us dead to rights. She had Ren's notebook that had everything about us and our Personas. We all know she's the teacher's pet, but she didn't turn us in. In fact, she didn't even try and stop us herself. Everything went smooth as butter. Ren trusts her enough to have her with him tonight, and when shit popped off, she contacted me immediately and stayed by his side the entire time."

"I know that," Ann grumbled.

"Then why snap at her? She seems like she's on our side," Ryuji said.

"Yeah, well, we all thought that before Kamoshida showed up, but when we needed her, she did nothing to stop it," Ann said.

"So could we. I mean, Kamoshida crippled my ass and took away my dream, and we both know what he did to you and Shiho. We knew what he was doing, but none of us tried to stop him until Ren showed up. What if she's in the same boat as us?" Ryuji asked.

He could see doubt appear on Ann's face. "I mean, Shiho was done pretty bad by Kamoshida, but Shiho seems not to hate her as hard as you do. I'm not saying be her fucking best friend or anything, but I don't know. It just feels kind of shitty to hate on her when we didn't stop him ourselves," Ryuji finished.

Ann frowned.

"But if I'm wrong, I'll hold her down when you kick her ass," Ryuji added with a grin, which caused Ann to giggle.

"Idiot," Ann giggled before she sighed. "I know, you're right, Ryuji. It's shitty to treat that way. She makes me so mad. She acts like she's holier than thou and all about the students when she ignored Kamoshida's mess. But if she didn't know or didn't know how to stop it, then maybe I should apologize. After she proves the latter, I mean."

"That's all I ask," Ryuji said before he yawned. "I better hit the hay. I'm beat to hell."

Ryuji began to turn away, only for Ann's hand to grab his wrist.

"Ann?" Ryuji questioned.

"I won't let you push me away again, you know?"Ann told him.

From out of the corner of his eyes, he could see tears glistening in her eyes. She then looked at him and gave him a breathtaking smile, which caused Ryuji's heart to quicken. "When you're ready to tell me, I'll be here waiting for you. I promise."

"I-I won't be long," Ryuji stammered out. "I promise…." With those words, Ryuji rushed out of the living room.

[Theme of Nighttime: Velvet Room ~ Gymnopedie from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP Ver)]

"I want to thank you for helping Ren tonight," Shiho told Makoto as the two girls stood on the patio, shielded from the rain by the roof of the apartment building.

"You don't have to thank me, Suzui-san," Makoto murmured. "I don't deserve it."

"Nonsense. Ren needed someone there to help him, and he trusted to be there. That trust did not go unrealized."

Makoto looked leaned against the railing and sighed, her red eyes gazing out at the city below. Shiho could say many things about Niijima Makoto, but one of the things was that she found the girl beautiful, especially her red eyes.

They reminded her of Ren's in a strange way, by how expressive their eyes were. She could tell any emotion that they were feeling just by looking into them. And right now, Shiho could see that Makoto was disheartened by something.

Thanks to their conversation the other day and her actions tonight, Shiho's stance on Makoto had softened significantly, where she no longer hated her. She was now neutral on the Student Council president.

"What's on your mind?" Shiho asked.

"Where should I start?" Makoto murmured as she still looked out at the city. "Tonight's been a whirlwind for me, truthfully. But, I will be okay."

Shiho could hear the hesitance in Makoto's voice and frowned before Shiho placing her hand on Makoto's forearm. "Talk to me. I'm a pretty g-good listener," Shiho told her.

Makoto looked down at Shiho's hand and then at her face. "I know we haven't been on good terms," Shiho began. "And that's my fault. I blamed you for not protecting us from Kamoshida. It was unfair to you."

"No, you don't apologize for that," Makoto said.

"But I do," Shiho arguged. "It's hard to remember that we're just teenagers, Senpai. We usually don't have the power to go against jerk adults. Our conversation the other day made me realize that I took my anger and frustration out on you when you were unaware of the situation. And when you did realize it, you felt so guilty that you went against the principal and your duty as Student Council president to allow us to stop him."

"I don't deserve these words, Suzui…." Makoto whispered as she looked down at the floor. "I should have done more to help you and every student that slimy monster got his hands on. I should have dug deeper into those rumors. I should have stopped Kamoshida's reign of terror, but I didn't. Instead, I was blind to it all. I was useless…." Makoto hissed out.

Shiho caught the bitterness in Makoto's words as she said "Useless" and felt there was something more to it than just the Kamoshida incident.

Without hesitation, Shiho lifted her head back up to make Makoto look at her. "But you did," Shiho whispered to her. "Ren told you our plans in stopping Kamoshida. You could have been the principal's right hand and spilled everything to him, but you didn't. That one action helped us, Niijima-senpai. More than you could ever know," Shiho told her.

"Your actions during Kamoshida's incident with protecting us as the Phantom Thieves and your actions tonight with Ren tells me that you're not the villain I once thought you were. Don't treat yourself like one," Shiho told her with a slight smile. "Goodnight, Senpai."

Shiho turned away and walked back to the balcony door and opened it, only to stop when Makoto quietly said, "Thank you, Shiho…."

Shiho smiled and walked inside.

[Change Scene: Shibuya – Okumura Residence (After Midnight)
Theme of Okumura Residence: Have a Short Rest from Persona 5]

It was 2:35 A.M when Ren finally woke up.

He looked around and found himself staring at a familiar ceiling.

He turned his head to see Ryuji sleeping in the bed across from him, and when he looked down, he saw Morgana curled up, resting as well.

'How did I get here?' Ren asked as he carefully crept out of bed and walked out of the room. The last thing he remembered was being with Makoto and Sumire.

Sumire.

Ren felt both anger and sorrow creep into his heart at her name. He had been too hard on her. Sumire deserved it for hurting him as she did, but he was still too hard on her. As Ren walked into the living room, he noticed that Haru was walking out of the kitchen with a glass of water.

The pair jumped in alarm at the sight of each other.

"Jeez, you scared the mess out of me," Ren said as he gripped his chest.

Haru let out a startled laugh and said, "Likewise."

The two laughed a bit.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Ren-kun," Haru said with a smile as an exhausted Ren offered a smile.

"Thanks, Haru," Ren said. "How in the world did I get here?"

"Makoto-san and Ryuji-san brought you here. Makoto told us about what happened. I'm so sorry," Haru explained.

"Shit happens, you know?" Ren replied.

"I know that," Haru said with a sigh. "Are you able to talk to Ryuji later on?" Haru asked. "I'm afraid I might upset him again, and I know you two best friends."

"Of course I can, but I need some context," Ren said. "What happened?"

"We had a bit of a disagreement, I am afraid," Haru answered.

"Disagreement?" Ren asked.

Haru nodded before she motioned to the couch and said, "Come, let us sit down and converse."

Ren nodded and let Haru lead him over to the couch, where they both sat down. "I withheld information from all of you," Haru admits. "Both Shiho-chan and I have. Regarding everything that happened to her."

"This is not going to be fun, is it?" Ren asked.

"I am afraid not," Haru answered.

Ren sighed before he said, "Well, good thing I'm in this comfortable chair."

Haru giggled before the air grew serious.

Ren listened to Haru explain what she and Shino had gone through regarding their shadows and what that could mean for others like them. By the time she finished, Ren was gravely concerned.

"This explains things," Ren said.

"It does?" Haru asked.

"Yes. Because I have been helping Makoto deal with the taunts of her shadows," Ren admitted.

"Nijiima Makoto?" Haru gasped out.

Ren nodded gravely and relayed what has been going on with Makoto, and once he finished, he said, "I was helping here before my shit with Sumire happened. I was going to ask Shiho for assistance since I had a feeling about her and her shadow. Nice to know it was confirmed."

Ren then asked her, "Which means if Yusuke is going through this as well, we must hurry and save him from Madarame,"

"I agree," Haru said.

"We will start the operation tomorrow. But right now, I'm also concerned about you. Why did you not tell us what you were going through?" Ren asked.

[Theme of the Troubled: Seven Sisters High School B from Persona 2: Innocent Sin]

Haru let out a soft sigh before she gently explained. "There are more important things going on. Like with Hifumi-chan, Nijiima-san, and potentially Kitagawa-san. I did not want to bother anyone with what was happening to me."

"I can understand that," Ren told her. "But you can't push yourself and your struggles aside because you feel that other people need help more than you. That's not how this works."

Ren watched as a smile of resignation appeared on Haru's face. "You do not understand Ren-kun."

"How can I not understand?" Ren asked her.

"Look at all that I have. My family has more money than anyone can ever imagine. I can call my father and take all of you to America, and he would summon up tickets to a first-class trip. My clothes price range is more than people's rent or mortgage. I live in luxury. I am blessed with this lifestyle while others suffer. It wouldn't be right to accept help when so many need it more than me. That's just how it needs to be," Haru told him.

As he stared at her, he could see the depth of how lonely Haru was at that very moment, and it made him sad. Haru was one of the nicest people he had ever known, yet she struggled with something that she hid away beneath a mask.

"It doesn't have to be," Ren told her as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "We're all friends, Haru. And friends trust and care for one another."

Haru remained silent.

"I don't know what is going on in your life that gave you this shadow. But you aren't alone anymore to carry that weight. Through thick and thin, we'll always have your back," Ren told her with a soft expression. "We're the Phantom Thieves. The Voice of the Voiceless, and we help anyone that needs us. No matter their status and no matter the importance but you have to let us help. So please, don't bottle this up. Let us be there for you."

For a moment, Ren felt like he had cracked through the porcelain mask that Haru to reveal the real girl beneath it but then it was gone, and that crack healed itself.

"Thank you, but I will be fine," Haru told him with a kind smile."You should get some water and rest in the guest room, okay? You look exhausted," Haru told him as she stood up.

"Alright…." Ren acquiesced, not wanting to push her any further.

Haru stood up and walked off, leaving him feeling like a failure as he sat there alone.

As Haru walked in the dark hallway towards her room, she gripped her chest as tears began to fall from her eyes, her mind replaying Ren's words.

"I'm sorry, Ren…." Haru whispered.

[Scene Change: Unknown
Theme of Unknown:….)

'Where…Where am I?'

Those were the first words Kasumi thought as she opened her eyes. The last thing she remembered was being with Ren.

But now, Kasumi found herself sitting in an endless plain of green grass filled with flowers and white petals floating around her from a tree that towered above her and seemed to touch the moonlight sky above.

"How bizarre," Kasumi breathed out.

How did she get here?

Kasumi felt the wind blow gently around her as she heard a female voice singing through the gentle breeze.

"When the light is running low…."

Kasumi's head whipped up to glance at to the north, where she was sure the singing was coming from. "That song…" Kasumi murmured.

'And the shadows start to grow…."

Somewhere in the deep recesses of Kasumi's mind, she had heard this song before but from where?

"And the places that you know seem like fantasy…."

Kasumi looked around to determine where the song was coming from until she saw it. In the distance, there was a girl.

The girl had flowing red hair as bright as the moon with a red ribbon, and she was wearing a white sundress, but she had her back towards her.

'There's a light inside your soul…."

Kasumi didn't know why but she felt began to walk towards this girl in the distance before she began to jog, and then finally, Kasumi was running as fast as possible towards her, her song getting louder the closer she got.

"That's still shining in the cold with the truth…."

Kasumi continued to advance towards the north where the girl stood, but the moon's bright light grew brighter.

"The promise in our hearts…."

Slowly, the girl turned around to face her, but the light was bright enough to cover the upper half of the girl's face as wisps of her red hair flowed against her face.

"Don't forget…."

"Wait!" Kasumi shouted as she reached out to the figure, which caused a gentle smile to appear on the girl's face as the light grew brighter.

"I'm with you in the dark…."

"Kasumi!"

[Scene Change: Shibuya - Yoshizawa Residence (Blue Hour)
Theme of the Troubled: Seven Sisters High School B from Persona 2: Innocent Sin]

The red-haired girl rose out of her bed with a gasp, her body dripping with sweat as she breathed heavily.

'W-What was that?' The girl thought as she held her face; her pupils were dilated and shaky.

"You're finally awake," A loving voice whispered from across the room. The girl looked up to see herself.

But her eyes were glowing a radiant blue.

"Hi, Sis," The twin said with a tender smile. "I missed you."

Captain Blues: So…A lot has happened in this updated chapter. The next chapter will have Ren and Zenkichi meet and we will be going full throttle into the Madarame arc, which will have his palace's reveal, so until then, let's set sail.