Miss Violet: Hello students. I want to thank all of you for your kind words regarding my concerns. Blues decided that he's going to allow me to be the co-writer on this from here on out. While my account and his are shown as co-creators on AO3, Blues' name is going to be on this account so I'm only co-writing on this fic AND The My Hero Academia Fic he's been working on. Hopefully, he'll change his mind and become a full writer again but for now, I'm in it for the long haul so please enjoy! Class is now in session!
Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Chapter Fifty-Six
[Opening Scene: Shibuya - Okumura Residence (Night)
Theme of Defeat/Loss: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]
"Okay, Makoto, I know all of you are shaken up, but I need you to tell us everything that happened tonight," Sae beseeched as she and Zenkichi stood in the Okumura living room, with five of the Shujin Six members and her sister.
She decided to stay at Tae's that night since Makoto was staying over with her friends, only to receive a call from a tearful Makoto.
"O-Okay," Makoto sniffed, her eyes watering. "We were in Shibuya. We were heading to the TOYO Cinema to see the Cake Knight Rises when these guys in suits showed up."
Sae watched Makoto lower her gaze. "We got into an argument with them because they were trying to swindle us into something shady. We tried to walk away from it, Sae-nee. We really did but…."
The prosecutor watched as tears fell down her younger sister's eyes. "T-They took me…." Makoto whispered.
Sae wanted to console her sister, but a part of her was glad this happened to her. Makoto was naïve to the outside world and she needed to brush against the seedy underbelly of Japan.
[Theme of Thy True Self: Bomb Shelter from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP Ver)]
"Such a wonderful thought, isn't it? Our pesky daughter needs to learn the price of her freedom."
The world seemed to darken around her as she crossed her arms and sighed. She could see Makoto's mouth moving but she couldn't hear anything come from her sister's mouth.
Sae looked past her should and with a frown, she saw herself leaning against a wall.
Except, Sae could tell that this person, despite looking like her, was not her.
This replica had glowing yellow eyes, extremely thick black eyeliner, and black lipstick. The duplicate wore the same earrings her father had given her days before he passed away, but the duplicate also wore a black choker with spikes and a hat that resembles an American flapper from the 1920s, with playing cards stashed behind the golden rose on the front of said hat.
The black dress this replica wore was very revealing with purple laces that exposed the center of her torso and her right leg. Her right leg was decorated with fishnet stockings and a derringer pistol.
The outfit was topped off with long black gloves and purple high heels, but what Sae found amusing was that this being had tattoos on her shoulders and most likely her back, and judging from the petals, she had a feeling that it was yellow roses.
Her favorite flower.
Sae narrowed her eyes and turned away from the doppelgänger to try and focus on her sister.
"You can ignore me all you want, darling," the doppelgänger taunted with a saucy smirk. "But we both know you'll wind up listening to me anyways."
The prosecutor felt a pair of arms encircle her waist and despite herself, she leaned back against them, allowing herself a slight breather. "Hm, our worthless daughter is a terrible liar," the doppelgänger murmured as she observed Makoto. "She's shying away from our eyes. She's also fiddling with her fingers and biting her bottom lip. Her tells are so obvious. She wouldn't last at a blackjack table."
Sae's right eye twitched.
"She is not my daughter," Sae hissed beneath her breath.
"Come on, Mommy Sae, we both know you've taken that role that useless cop forced on us when he kicked the bucket. Why deny it?" the replica teased.
Sae remained silent, but inwardly, she agreed with that thought.
"Of course, you agree. No sense in hiding from the truth, right?" the doppelgänger asked. "So, how will we punish her for lying to her mother?" the replica questioned.
Sae let out a low breath.
"She may be telling us the truth," Sae responded. "She may be lying about how it happened but she's shaken and on the verge of tears. Not to mention, Amamiya, Tōgō, and Kitagawa are missing. Where could they have gone?"
"Does it matter where those idiotic children are?" the doppelgänger questioned. "No. Besides, the ringleader of the Phantom Thieves is M.I.A. Their house of cards is about to fall. While our burdensome daughter's lies are annoying, she's given us a hand that can't be beaten."
Sae slowly smirked.
"Despite your irksome words, you have a point," Sae told the doppelgänger, who smirked in response.
"Of course I do," the doppelgänger retorted. "So, let's accept her lies for now and continue to find any evidence against her troublesome friends, even if they don't fit the crime. So when we do eventually find the "Shield of Gorin," we can put him in the darkest, deepest, cell, and claim the biggest prize imaginable."
The SIU Director's job.
"Bingo. We pin everything on Amamiya Ren and his group of street rats and our boss' higher-ups will surely give us his job. We already know it's on the line," the doppelgänger stated as she rubbed Sae's shoulders. "It was the reason we were given this chance…."
Sae nodded.
[Theme of Defeat/Loss: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]
"Very well," Sae announced once the world brightened around her. "We'll look into it. For now, Makoto, why don't you come with us to the police station so we can officially take your report?"
Makoto nodded and stood up.
"I'll come with you," Suzui volunteered as she stood as well.
"Is that okay, Sae-nee?" Makoto inquired
"That's perfectly fine with me. You need to be surrounded by your—" Sae paused for a moment due to almost calling her friends "Street Rats." Sae swallowed the words and continued, "—Friends during this terrible time."
"Thank you, Sae-nee, Hasegawa-san…." Makoto whispered.
"You're welcome," Zenkichi replied with a friendly smile. "We'll also inform their parents/guardians of what happened to them, in case these shady guys reach out to them. If Amamiya-san, Kitagawa-san, or Tōgō-san happen to show up or if you happen to see the men who took them, please contact us."
Okumura, Mishima, Sakamoto and Takamaki nodded.
But as Sae walked to the front door with her partner, she looked back at Makoto and for a moment, one single moment, she realized how small and afraid her sister was.
But that moment passed, and Sae walked out the door with her sister, her partner, and a member of the Shujin Six, dead set on capitalizing on this juicy opportunity.
[Theme of Somberness: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (PSP)]
"We're in the clear," Ryuji softly reported as he watched the prosecutor and detective enter their car and drive off from the balcony. He walked back into the living room and announced, "Alright gang, we need to get a lot of rest. Tomorrow, we're going to gather supplies and after that, we're heading back to the Palace to save them, got it?"
The group nodded.
"Good," Ryuji sighed. "Get some sleep, yeah?"
Haru and Yūki stood up and silently walked into the hallway toward their sleeping locations, all except Ann and Ryuji.
"This is so fucked," Ryuji sighed as he limped toward the hallway with Ann walking behind him.
"Yeah…." Ann agreed as the pair walked into the hallway toward the guest room Ryuji was staying in. "Why didn't we stop him? Why didn't we save him?"
"It was his damn heroic complex that did this," Ryuji lamented. "He's so willing to throw himself into the line of fire every time. First with him seeking out Kamoshida on his own while we saved Shiho's life. And now…."
"He's gone," Ann whispered.
"Idiot," Ryuji scoffed. "That stupid idiot…."
"Do you think we'll be able to do it?" Ann asked. "Save them, I mean."
"I don't know," Ryuji truthfully answered. "But I'll give my life to make sure they do."
"Ryuji," Ann warned. "I don't need you putting yourself at risk."
Ryuji wanted to argue back but one look at Ann's teary eyes rebuked the argumentive fire that he had. "We came too close to losing our lives tonight," Ann agonized. "We should have never decided to go into an unknown place with low resources…. But we did. We marched into that hell without a second thought and n-now we're here…."
Ann breathed, no doubt trying to keep herself from crying again. "We need to be smarter, Ryuji…. I already have an idiotic brother staying behind to save us and keep watch on the other two newbies. No more heroics or final selfless acts…." Ann quavered.
"Alright," Ryuji softly agreed. "No more heroies and shit. We get in, save them, and get the fuck out. All of us. I promise."
Ann nodded and slowly walked to the guest room down the hall, only to stop and turn back to look at him. "Goodnight, Ryuji…." Ann said with a sad expression.
"Goodnight Ann," Ryuji replied with a supportive, but gloomy smile.
Ann bowed her head, walked into her guest room, and closed the door behind her.
Ryuji opened the guest room door and with a heavy heart, he hobbled inside.
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Niijima Residence (Night)
Theme of Somberness: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (PSP)]
After talking at the police station, Makoto and Shiho were dropped back at Niijima's home. The two had opted to return to Haru's but Sae told them it was getting late and that they were probably asleep already.
"I didn't expect to be coming back here," Makoto softly lamented as the two stepped inside her apartment. Makoto then looked at Shiho and stated, "You didn't have to come back with me, you know?"
"I know," Shiho confirmed. "But after the night we had, I didn't want you to be left alone."
Despite everything that happened, Makoto felt touched by Shiho's words. "Thank you," she whispered.
Shiho offered a small smile. "Anytime," she answered.
"Well, sad to say, I've never had anyone over before," Makoto shyly mentioned. "I don't know how this should go…."
Shiho tilted her head in thought and proposed, "Well, since it's late and considering today's events, maybe we should just turn in for the night so we can be well-rested for tomorrow?"
"R-Right," Makoto stammered. "That is a good idea."
Shiho offered another small smile and inquired, "So, where should I sleep?"
"Well," Makoto murmured. "We don't have a pull-out couch and we don't have a guest room…. How about we both sleep in my room?"
Shiho suddenly flushed, which made Makoto swiftly backtrack. "I'll sleep on the floor!" Makoto exclaimed. "T-That way, there isn't any awkwardness!"
Shiho blinked. "Are you sure?" Shiho asked.
"Positive," Makoto confirmed.
Shiho nodded.
Once the duo took their respective showers and changed into their pajamas, Shiho and Makoto settled down for the evening, with Shiho on Makoto's bed, and Makoto on the floor with spare blankets and pillows beneath her.
"Makoto?" Shiho softly asked.
"Yeah?" Makoto responded, her voice just as soft.
"Sweet dreams, okay?" Shiho murmured.
Makoto offered a small smile. "Sweet dreams, Shiho…."
[Scene Change: Shibuya – Shibuya - Okumura Residence (Night)
Theme of Somberness: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (PSP)]
Ryuji had just about dozed off when he heard a knock at the door. Ryuji rose off the bed and muttered, "Just when I could take my mind off of things."
He slipped out of bed and hobbled to the door, but when he opened it, he saw Haru on the other side.
[Theme of Confrontation: Tartarus 1st floor from Persona 3]
"Forgive me, Ryuji-san, but we need to speak," Haru gently said as she walked past him into the room.
"I mean, this is your place," Ryuji replied as he turned around and watched as Haru walked to the bed that Ren normally occupied.
"Um," Ryuji hummed. "So, what's up?"
Haru remained silent as if she were searching for a good way to start their conversation. Ryuji watched her face morph into several expressions before it settled into determination. "Tell me, while you, Mishima-san, Ann, and Shiho are rescuing the others, what will Makoto and I be doing?" Haru Inquired
"I don't know," Ryuji truthfully answered. "Most likely remain at the base. Maybe get the supplies we need before we go inside the place? I'm not sure, why?"
Haru went silent again as she crossed her arms and stared at the carpeted floor. "I-I mean," Ryuji continued. "If you have a better suggestion, I am all ea—"
"I will be accompanying the four of you in saving Hifumi, Kitagawa-san, and Ren," Haru interrupted.
Ryuji stared at her as if she had lost every inch of her mind. "Like hell you are," Ryuji sharply reprimanded.
"And why not?" Haru questioned. "Because I don't have a Persona?"
"No," Ryuji answered. "That would be hypocritical as fuck if I refused you going in there because of that."
"Then why?" Haru queried.
"Oh, that's very easy to answer," Ryuji replied. "While we're not shy about letting people without Personas go with us, it's not the safest option right now for many reasons. My biggest reason is your Shadow."
Haru balked at the reason and asked, "What does she have to do—"
"A lot," Ryuji interrupted. "Did you forget that you don't have your Shadow under control? The reason shit got bad for us is because Makoto was kidnapped by Hifumi's shadow and then Shiho was getting her ass beaten like a fucking bongo drum against Makoto's shadow."
Ryuji held up both hands and took a breath. He knew just by his tone alone that he was getting too worked up over this. I doubt anyone would blame him for this, considering what happened earlier in the night, but he didn't want to chew Haru's head off.
"And not to mention, you're admittedly too compromised to do this," Ryuji continued. "I know that's rich, considering my best friend is caught up in there. But every time someone with a hot head walks into a palace, bad shit happens. Ann nearly fried Ren and I, and Hifumi totally popped off. And despite not knowing the whole story, you and Hifumi are close."
"We are close," Haru confirmed. "We are very close…. This is why if she "Popped off" in your words, I should be there to calm her head."
"Yeah, at the risk of you losing it or being kidnapped because of your Shadow? No way," Ryuji rebuked.
Haru narrowed her eyes and for a moment, Ryuji heard Captain Kidd sigh. "And here we go…." The Persona whispered inside his head.
"Sakamoto Ryuji," Haru calmly started but Ryuji could see a coldness in her eyes that he had never seen in them before. "You and I are friends. We saved Shiho's life together, and despite you blowing up at me regarding me hiding knowledge about my Shadow, and despite your founded argument, I find it sweet that you are worried about me."
"But…?" Ryuji trailed off.
"You're taking my statement as me asking you for permission," Haru told him. "I understand the risks, and I am willing to take them to save Kitagawa-san, Ren-san, and Hifumi-chan. I will be going to Tōgō Mitsuyo's palace to save them. Either I go with the four of you, or I go alone…."
Haru pulled out her phone and to Ryuji's annoyance, he saw the strange app had been opened on her phone, and noticed that the keywords needed to enter Mitsuyo's palace. "But either way, I will be going."
Ryuji glowered at his friend but as he opened his mouth, Haru added, "And be aware, you're lucky I came in here to declare my intentions. Because after you told me what happened tonight, I was going to sneak out and go there while everyone slumbered."
Ryuji's shoulders slumped as he shut his eyes. He had to admit, she was fucking scary when she wanted something. "Fine," Ryuji surrendered. "I'd rather your ass be with us instead of being alone. You will come with us tomorrow to Mitsuyo's palace…." Ryuji opened his eyes and glared at her. "But if your Shadow tries anything…."
"Then I will take full responsibility," Haru finished.
"Then we're good," Ryuji told her.
Haru smiled and walked toward him. Without hesitation, she stood on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for your concern, Ryuji-kun," Haru chirped and then walked out of the room, leaving a befuddled Ryuji behind.
'Okay…. What the fuck was that?' Ryuji asked.
"Yep, still a spitfire," Captain Kidd laughed.
Miss Violet: And that's the end of this chapter. The next one will be a doozy as we have some Shiho/Makoto and the rescue. It's going to get hectic! Until then, class is dismissed!