Captain Blues: Ahoy-hoy! Captain Blues of the SS FleetingDream and I'm back with a brand new chapter.
Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Chapter Forty-One
[Opening Scene: Shibuya – Okumura Residence (Evening)
Theme of Okumura Residence: Have a Short Rest from Persona 5]
"So they all arrived really haggard looking with Mishima-san?" Shiho questioned.
Haru nodded before taking a sip of her tea.
After Haru's exhausted friends went to the guest rooms, Shiho finally returned with an overnight bag and a frown on her face. Haru wanted to question her on what was wrong but judging from Shiho's face, Haru was better off not commenting on it.
"It sounds like they went through some hell. I hope they'll be okay," Shiho murmured before she shook her head and sighed. "Have you heard from Makoto-san and Hifumi-san?"
"I have. Hifumi managed to sneak out and is on her way. Makoto should be here any minute," Haru replied. "But I wonder, with Ren and the others unconscious, would it be right to spill what we know to them without them?"
Shiho sat beside Haru and rested her head on the girl's shoulder. "I don't have the answer to that. I wish I did…."
"Same," Haru replied.
"So, you never did tell me how close you and Hifumi-san were to one another," Shiho murmured.
Haru flushed.
After Shiho questioned her closeness at the park, Haru managed to deflect it somewhat, but she knew that eventually, she would need to tell her friends. "It's a long story," Haru simply replied. "I'm not comfortable telling it now, but I will soon, okay?"
Shiho nodded just as the doorbell rang. "Must be Makoto," Shiho said as she stood up and made her way to the door. Haru watched as Shiho opened the door to reveal Makoto, who seemed light up at the sight of her friend.
"Sorry I am late," Makoto said with a smile as Shiho allowed Makoto entry by stepping to the side, where Haru could see her smile as well. "It smells divine in here."
"I made sure to stock up on a lot of hot food, considering it will be somewhat of a long night," Haru said as she raised her teacup towards Makoto, who waved back as she made her way to the food table.
"You are certainly kind. Thank you," Makoto said as she took a fresh slice of pizza and munched on it happily.
"The others are resting in the guest rooms," Shiho explained to Makoto as she sat beside Haru. "We're waiting on Hifumi to get here before we explain what's going on."
Makoto swallowed her food and said, "I've been reading the notebook Ren allowed me to keep. Is what going on with Togo-san and I related to any of that?"
Shiho and Haru exchanged a look.
They had forgotten Ren had let her keep the journal.
"Potentially?" Haru answered with an unsure tone.
"I have so many questions," Makoto sighed out as she popped open a bottle of strawberry soda and took a drink. "And I'm unsure if I want to know the answers."
"Trust me, I know what you're going through," Shiho told her with a kind smile. "But you're not alone in this. We're here to help you and Hifumi-san get through this."
"Thanks," Makoto said with a smile.
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Junes (Evening)
Theme of Junes: Junes from Persona 4]
Zenkichi pushed his grocery kart along the aisles of Junes, his mind deep in thought while his daughter trailed behind him, looking disinterested at best. After meeting with those kids in LeBlanc, Zenkichi had excused himself from the café and followed them to the museum.
He kept his distance and watched as the blond boy, Ryuji, and a kid he recognizes as Mishima Yūki, trail behind Madarame while Ren and the blonde girl, Ann, spoke to a blue-haired boy he realized must have been Kitagawa Yusuke.
But thanks to the mob of people chasing after the famed artist, he had lost track of the teens. Annoying, but at least he managed to attach faces to the case. But something was eating away at him.
If these kids were indeed the Phantom Thieves, how would they be able to threaten a high-profile target? And why even chose Madarame in the first place? "Hey Zenkichi," Akane said, which snapped Zenkichi from his thoughts. "I'm going to the cereal aisle. Don't wait up," his daughter told him, and before he could answer, Akane walked off, leaving Zenkichi behind.
Zenkichi sighed as he lowered his head.
Aoi would be so ashamed at how his relationship with his daughter has degraded. With his head down, Zenkichi pushed the cart out the aisle, only for his carriage to collide with another cart,
"Oh, I am so sorry about that," A familiar voice said, making him look up to see Kawakami Sadayo. "Oh, it's you, Hasegawa-san," Kawakami said with an exhausted yet friendly smile.
"Kawakami-san. I apologize for bumping into your cart," Zenkichi apologized, willing a friendly smile to appear on his face.
"Oh, no harm, no foul," Kawakami said with a smile. "That's a lot of food in your cart."
"Yeah, my daughter sure enjoys her junk food," Zenkichi replied with a small smile. "She's like her mother in that regard. Can't help but to snack."
"Oh, I didn't know you were married," Kawakami said. Zenkichi could see a hint of disappointment in the woman's eyes.
"I was. My wife passed away three years ago," Zenkichi replied with a slight frown.
Kawakami frowned at this and apologized with, "I am so sorry, I had no idea. How did it happen, if you don't mind me asking?"
"It's no problem at all. She was struck by a drunk driver," Zenkichi answered.
"Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss," Kawakami told him with a genuine tone. Zenkichi offered a shrug and a tiny smile.
"It's been rough, but we're making due as best as we can," Zenkichi told her. "No apologies needed, Kawakami-san."
"If you're sure. I still feel bad if I opened a wound of some kind," Kawakami told him. Zenkichi appreciated the Shujin teacher's carefulness, but he waved it off.
He wouldn't lie to himself and say that Aoi's death didn't affect him. Zenkichi missed his beautiful wife dearly, but he knew that he would be at peace with her death with time.
But what he would never be at peace with is the circumstances of her death or his cowardice. He just had to remember that he was protecting Akane. She's all that matters right now.
"Hey, Hakuna Matata. It means no worries," Zenkichi told her with a grin on his face.
Kawakami laughed a bit and said, "That reference alone tells me you have a daughter."
"It's her favorite movie," Zenkichi said before he gave the woman a wink and added, "And I guess mine too."
Kawakami smiled with a faint reddening of her cheeks. "Do you mind telling me about your daughter?" Kawakami asked.
Zenkichi smiled and answered with, "Let's shop and talk, Kawakami-san."
But if he had been paying attention, he would have seen Akane watching from a distance, a scowl on her young face.
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Okumura Residence (Evening)
Theme of Okumura Residence: Have a Short Rest from Persona 5]
Makoto and Shiho watched as Haru paced back and forth, her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed in concentration. Shiho wanted to comment on Haru's nervousness, but she felt that it wasn't her place.
Sure, they were friends, but Haru tended to keep things close to the vest, especially now when it involved Togo Hifumi. "Are you alright, Okumura-san?" Makoto questioned.
Haru paused and said, "It's Haru, Makoto-san."
"Sorry, Haru," Makoto apologized. "But are you alright?"
"I'm thinking," Haru admitted. "So much has happened in both my personal life and school life that I just need to take stock of everything."
"That's a good idea, truthfully," Shiho said.
Makoto nodded before there was a knock at the door. Haru quickly walked to the door and opened it to reveal Hifumi on the other side. "You're here," Haru said.
"I'm here," Hifumi replied.
As Haru and Hifumi blushed, Makoto leaned over to Shiho and whispered, "So, am I wrong to think that something is going on between them?"
"You are not," Shiho whispered back.
"W-Well, come inside," Haru said as she stepped to the side to let Hifumi in. Hifumi walked inside, pulling her suitcase in behind her.
"You're here a lot earlier than I thought you would be," Shiho noted.
"My mother decided to spring the news that she was going to Sendai for a few weeks to hash out some deal with Natsume Sougo," Hifumi answered with a shrug.
"Famed author, Natsume Sougo?" Makoto asked with surprise.
"The very same one," Hifumi replied. "So after she left, I came straight here."
"That sounds so sudden," Shiho murmured.
Hifumi let out a humorless laugh and said, "It was, but hey, I didn't have to sneak out, which is a huge bonus." Hifumi then took a look at Haru, smiled, then softly added, "I'm so glad I took you up on your offer. I would have been alone otherwise."
"I am, too," Haru replied with a flushed expression.
"Yo! I smell food!" Ryuji's voice exclaimed from down the hall.
"Food sounds hella good right now," Ann's voice said.
"Judging by those voices, Ann and Ryuji are awake," Shiho said with a smile.
Makoto frowned at Ann's name being mentioned, but Shiho noticed and said, "I know you two aren't getting along, but trust me, it'll pass, okay?"
Makoto gave a wry grin and replied, "Maybe in another life, it'll pass."
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Hasegawa Temporary Residence (Nighttime)
Theme of Bitterness: Persona (Arrange Version) from Megami Ibunroku Persona]
"All the groceries are put away," Zenkichi happily said as he walked out of the kitchen and into the living room.
Zenkichi sat on the dining table in front of the seated Akane with his back to her and untied his shoes as he said, "I know we'll be here for a year or so while dealing with these Phantom Thieves, but I feel like we've bought enough to stay for five years."
As Zenkichi took off his shoes, Akane scowled in disgust behind him but remained silent.
"Say, Akane," Zenkichi quietly began as he turned around to face her. "We're coming around the time of the anniversary. I thought we could drive to Tokyo to see her."
Akane remained silent, but the anger she had been feeling since catching her father talking to that woman was beginning to build. "Oh?" Akane questioned with a low tone.
"Y-Yeah," Zenkichi answered, his hand going to the back of his neck as a sheepish expression appeared on his face. "I know it's going to be a little harder because of this case, but I want to take some time off. Maybe we can make it a father/daughter trip."
"I'll make sure to check my calendar," Akane muttered. "I might be busy around that time…."
"Akane…." Zenkichi murmured. "I know that time is a rough time for both of us, but-"
"Oh? Is it?" Akane spoke up as she sharply stood from the couch. "Because you sure didn't show that when you were speaking to that woman at Junes!"
She could see confusion in Zenkichi's eyes before realization set in. "Akane," Zenkichi began as he stood up and turned around. "That woman was a person from the case I'm wor-"
"Enough of your excuses," Akane hissed out, stopping Zenkichi in his tracks. "Have fun with your girl. I'm going to bed." Akane started to walk towards the hallway that led to her room.
"Akane," Zenkichi yelled from behind. "I'm serious. I-"
She heard him take a step towards her, and she turned around sharply and said, "Don't you come near me ever again."
"Akane…" Zenkichi murmured.
"No wonder you never caught mom's killer. You're too busy trying to replace her," Akane told him.
Akane could see the hurt in the man's eyes as he looked away from her, which only increased her anger. "Can't you even look your daughter in the eyes?" she asked. "Of course not. You could never face up to anything. "
Akane then scoffed and said, "I can't believe I have such a pathetic person like you for a father." Before Zenkichi could get another word in edgewise, Akane walked down the hall into her temporary room, where she slammed the door shut.
Akane took deep, shuddering breaths as she locked the door, turned around, and leaned the back of her head against it.
"You sure showed him, Akane-chan," A dark voice whispered, prompting her to look up.
[Theme of Thy True Self: Bomb Shelter from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP Ver)]
Across the room, there was a large mirror where she saw herself standing, but at the same time, Akane knew that it wasn't her.
The reflection of her smirked, her eyes gleaming with malevolence. "That loser never cared about us. Nor did he care about mom. He deserved every little bit of it what he got in there."
Akane nodded, a slow smirk appearing on her face. "He did," Akane whispered.
"You ready to continue our plans?" The reflection asked.
Akane nodded as she walked over to the mirror and said, "Yeah. The sooner we complete them, the sooner we can trap that lowlife in there and get justice for mom. Just like the Phantom Thieves did with Kamoshida…."
The reflection smirked and stepped back before the mirror turned into a dark purple portal. Akane grinned and walked through the portal, where it then changed back into a regular mirror.
Captain Blues: And that is the end of this chapter. While it might seem like filler for some, it's not, as I've placed two massive plot points for Hifumi and Zenkichi, the stars for the next two palaces.
Yep, Akane gets her own palace. I felt like out of all the newbies in Strikers, her story really interested me, and I felt she deserved a palace of her own, considering how heavy that entire arc was.
Also, I know I left the Kasumi storyline on a cliffhanger, but I will get into that once Madarame's arc concludes and before the Togo Mitsuyo arc begins. The next chapter will have Mishima, Hifumi, and Makoto star and the full swing into Yusuke becoming a Phantom Thief. Until then!