Chapter 48: Spotlight During Dark Times
October 23
Even though the Phantom Thieves had solved the issue with Paimon, there was still much for the gang to do in the human world. Makoto's sister, Sae Nijima, was trying harder than ever to find out who the Phantom Thieves were and had even sent the police to conduction investigations at Shujin. To keep close Makoto had put Ren, Ryuji, Ann, Octavia, and Collin on the school festival board so they could meet at school without arousing suspicion, but they weren't getting anywhere in their investigation. Not even Futaba's hacking skills were enough to figure out who they were going up against.
"Makoto, has Nijima-san told you anything about the investigation?" Yusuke asked as the gang met up at the hideout.
"Well… Sis actually stopped mentioning anything about work in front of me…" Makoto revealed. "It's possible I made some sort of mistake… Regardless, I thought over the matter of who we're going to invite for our school festival… I'm considering asking Akechi-kun."
"For real!?" Ryuji gasped.
"Why are you so surprised? Everyone was voting for him, and we have blackmail on him about his true identity, so it's not like he's going to out us to the entire school if he comes," Octavia raised an eyebrow.
"At least if he knows what's good for him," Loona growled, showing her claws.
"Akechi is also a powerful source of intel, seeing as he's our inside man within the police network," Makoto added. "Inviting him to the school will give us an excuse to talk to him. And I can no longer rely on my sister for information…"
"Yes, Akechi-kun's police connections are certainly going to help," Haru nodded.
"It's a bold move for sure, but we're the ones with the upper hand here, so the plan is fine by me," Morgana said.
"Did you see his press conference yesterday? One of his comments defending the Phantom Thieves stood out to me. "There is more to this." I think he said that knowing for certain that the Phantom Thieves would be watching," Makoto said.
"A coded phrase telling us that he has new information to share…" Octavia hummed.
"Still, there will be so many other students at the school festival… What are the odds of success?" Collin asked.
"It's a gamble. And the odds are less than favorable… But we can no longer afford to hesitate," Makoto replied. "What are your thoughts, Ren? Should we invite Akechi-kun?"
"Should be fine," Ren shrugged.
"…Okay then," Makoto nodded. "Is everyone else okay with that?"
"I'm good with the plan… Whatever he says has gotta be more reliable than what I've been able to come up with," Loona said.
"It would be reassuring to gain him as a full-time ally, rather than simply a source of information," Yusuke said.
"You mean let the Black Mask join the Phantom Thieves?" Futaba said in shock.
"His Persona was powerful when we fought him, and even if the entity took his Wild Card status, He already knows how the Metaverse woks, so his skills will be useful," Collin argued. "I know he's the one that killed your mom, Futaba, but we have to keep Akechi around for now until this crisis is dealt with."
Futaba frowned but gave a nod. "Right, okay then… I trust your judgement on this…"
"Guess I'll give him a call then," Ren said.
"Send his number over and I'll contact him right away," Makoto said, giving a thankful nod to Ren when she received the number.
"I gotta say, I'm really not big on this Akechi deal," Ryuji vocalized.
"Now's no time to be petty," Ann said.
"He may have been the Black Mask, but he's the best source of intel we have at the moment," Morgana said.
"Plus he's not going to backstab us now since Octavia "cursed" him," Loona pointed out.
Makoto pulled out her phone as it rang. "I have a response already. He says, "Let me think about it."
"What a sec. Didn't he say he wasn't gonna do any more stuff for the media?" Ryuji recalled.
"That's likely why he's so hesitant," Yusuke nodded.
"What're we gonna do if he turns us down?" Ann asked.
"I'll keep trying," Makoto assured the team. "It may be frustrating, but he's all we have at the moment. We need him to do it, no matter what."
"We're counting on you, Makoto…" Morgana said.
[***]
That night Ren and Loona went to Untouchable at Iwai's request, seeing as the gun store owner had a new job for them. "…I got a security escort task for you two. This is something I can only entrust to you. Wil you take care of it for me?" Iwai asked.
"We'll get whatever you need us done," Loona nodded.
Iwai nodded in return. "The person you'll be escorting… is Kaoru. Get dinner with him at that diner in Shibuya. Now, go. I gotta take care of some business with Tsuda. I'll be there after I handle that. See ya soon."
Ren and Loona left to go pick up Kaoru after that, taking him to the diner and treating him to a meal. "My dad's really late, huh… He's the one who asked us here too," Kaoru noted as the minutes turned into an hour waiting. "You know, it's pretty rare for him to invite people out like this. He must see something in you two, Amamiya-kun and Nyx-kun. I doubt he'd ever actually admit it though…"
Kaoru looked off to the side. "By the way, um… has he said anything to you? About me… weighing him down?"
"No, nothing even close," Loona said immediately. 'I almost fucked up my relationship with my dad. I'm not about to let this kid fall down that rabbit hole too.'
"…To be honest, he's been acting super weird recently," Kaoru said. "More than anything, he seems stressed out. I've even heard him mentioning my name on the phone a few times… But then every time I've gone to ask him about it, he's told me there's nothing to worry about. I dunno, it just makes me feel anxious somehow… I mean, we're supposed to be a family."
Kaoru sighed. "I'm not sure if you know this, but… he's not my real father. He just took me in after my parents died in a car crash. Apparently he was a good friend of theirs. Honestly, I can't remember a single thing about them… I wonder if my dad even considers me to be part of his family…"
"You should ask him," Ren suggested.
"You're probably right…" Kaoru nodded. "Now that I think about it, um… have you ever seen his tattoo?"
"Tattoo?" Loona questioned.
"The gecko on his neck," Kaoru clarified. "The truth is, I have a really bad scar in the same spot from my parents' car crash. Back when I was a kid, everyone picked on me for it. My dad would always come home to find me in tears. That's why he got that tattoo. He said it could be the new Iwai family crest. Oh, and I did some research on geckos. It turns out they symbolize protecting one's home and family. I had almost forgotten about that, to be honest. Maybe he cares about me more than I realize…"
"…Yo, sorry for the holdup," Iwai apologized as he approached the three of them. "You three look like you're having fun. What've you been talking about?"
"That's a secret," Loona replied with a smirk, putting a finger to her lips.
"Huh… Looks like you three're getting along pretty well then," Iwai smirked back. "Anyways, I can't stay long. I've got errands I need to take care of. Figured it'd be nicer to at least drop by instead of tell you over the phone."
"What errands?" Kaoru asked. "…Or can you not tell me?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Iwai questioned. "It's just work stuff. Ain't that right?"
"You should buy us something," Ren said.
"Hey, not a bad idea," Iwai replied. "Order anything you want. It's on me!"
"O-Okay…" Kaoru stuttered.
"By the way, I'm almost done figuring out what happened with that deal we were talking about," Iwai said. "I'm going now to meet with the guy who set it all up. I'll have to fill you in on the details some other time. Anyways, this is all thanks to you two punks. It's real nice having two reliable part-timers to help around the shop."
'I feel like our bond with Iwai is growing even deeper…' Ren thought.
"U-Um… You're not getting yourself into anything dangerous, are you?" Kaoru asked.
"Dangerous? Course not," Iwai replied. "Well, I'm outta here. You can hang onto my wallet, Kaoru. Eat as much as you want."
"See you home…" Kaoru said as Iwai left. The trio ate dinner together and went home afterwards, Loona thinking about what Iwai's plan was to deal with the Yakuza breathing down his neck…
[***]
October 24
"I met a friend from college the other day. We got caught up talking about old times," Maruki said in class the next day. "Some of those old stories sounded too crazy to be true, now that we've got so many years behind us. Sometimes, people have a hard time remembering what's real and what's exaggerated. This kind of stuff happens to you guys too, right? But there's a reason for this. This phenomenon has a name too. All right, Goetia-san. From a psychological standpoint, what's a key reason our memories can differ from reality?"
Octavia smirked as she knew all too well what his phenomenon was. "Memory bias," she answered.
"That's right! Impressive," Maruki praised. "It's a type of cognitive bias that can impair or even alter your memories. Specifically, the name of the phenomenon in question is called "false memory." Like the name implies, it's a case where our brain may generate memories that simply aren't true."
'I know that my parent's didn't have a good relationship, but I hope not all of my childhood memories are false ones…' Octavia thought.
"The difference between inaccurate memories and the facts can lead to a lot of confusion," Maruki continued. "Still, if your subconscious desire manifests as a memory, I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing."
"False memories, huh… But's it's totally real to the person, right? What a strange concept," Morgana voiced.
Yusuke: Any word from Akechi?
Makoto: Nothing.
Collin: But tomorrow is the start of the school festival. Will this be OK? If Akechi declines our offer, we won't have a guest…
Ann: Huh? That's what you're worried about?
Makoto: I appreciate the concern, but it will be fine. I just need to get Akechi-kun to agree to this somehow.
Futaba: Yup.
Ryuji: What's that bastard up to anyways?
Futaba: He hasn't done anything since he said he was gonna go into hiding.
Makoto: I'm not sure. I'll try explaining the circumstances surrounding the school festival to him again. Hopefully he can give me a response by the end of the day. I'll let you know if I make any progress on that front.
After school Octavia and Ren went to Leblanc together, only to find Akechi waiting there at the bar. "Welcome home," Akechi greeted them.
"Honey, I'm home," Ren said in a snarky tone.
"You're back awfully late," Akechi said, rolling his eyes at Ren's joke. He turned to Sojiro. "How has business been for you lately?"
"Take a look around," Sojiro replied. "…Is the Nijima lady doing well?"
Akechi shook his head. "Unfortunately we haven't seen each other lately. We had a… difference of opinion."
"What are your thoughts, Representative Shido?" the host on the TV said, getting everyone's attention. Both Akechi and Sojiro hardened a gaze at that name.
"It doesn't surprise me that people say our country is lethargic. We've let these Phantom Thieves run amok," Shido said.
"That man's voice…" Ren muttered, clutching his head.
"And because they've targeted only prominent figures, our government leaders have been hesitant to act," Shido continued. "I apologize for any concern they may have caused and will henceforth search for an apt countermeasure."
"That politician's really honorable. I like how quick he says he's gonna do everything," a customer clapped.
"This is an important undertaking, and one I intend to confront with every asset available to me," Shido said. "The selfish criminals enacting this "social reform" are in fact the ones most deserving of reformation. Answering to the interest of the people as hastily as possible is my natural duty as a politician."
"Man, this guy is admirable," the customer said.
"Rampant political scandals, thieves on the loose… as sad as it is, this is the state of our nation," Shido continued. "We must resolve this problem, and I assure the people of this noble country that I will do just that."
"I've seen that man somewhere before…" Ren muttered.
"He sounds like a blowhard…" Octavia said.
"What're you two standing there staring off into space for?" Sojiro asked. "You're creeping me out."
"You're standing too," Ren pointed out.
"Stand here's my job," Sojiro rebutted.
"That politician is honest and carries and overwhelming charisma," the customer from before mused. "It feels like a trustworthy leader for Japan has finally come forth. Don't you think, Boss?"
"Sorry, wasn't listening," Sojiro replied.
"Criminals," hm? Well, that must be how he sees it," Akechi said. "However, that is ignorant of their true nature."
"Don't like politicians? I feel that," Octavia said.
"It isn't about liking or disliking them. It's more about how he suggests the Phantom Thieves be crushed when they have yet to be arrested," Akechi replied. "If this Okumura incident was not the Phantom Thieves… If they only change the heart of criminals… Then even though they can't be considered "innocent"…Perhaps my goals are not so different from theirs…."
"Are you a Phanboy now?" Ren teased.
Akechi laughed. "I knew there was something special about you, ever since the first time we met. I feel as though I could tell you anything during our conversations. Ah, that reminds me. I've been invited to a panel and Shujin Academy, and… Oh wait, I'm sure you know that already. Considering it's such a good opportunity, I've decided to accept the offer."
"We'll be seeing you there, then," Octavia said. "I'm sure there'll be a lot of talking points we could share at the events."
Akechi gave a sly wink, picking up on what the princess was implying. "I'm sure there will be… Thank you for the coffee, Boss. It was delicious."
"Glad you liked it," Sojiro replied.
"I'm happy I could see you. I'll be going now," Akechi said.
"See you tomorrow as well, Ren," Octavia said as she left as well. She quickly caught up with Akechi and whispered. "I noticed the way you reacted when that Shido guy spoke on the TV. Is he part of the conspiracy?"
"There are other matters more important than him right now. Especially those dealing with your domain," Akechi replied, dropping his detective prince façade. "I'll give you all more information at the festival tomorrow. Just make sure everyone is there so I don't have to repeat myself."
Octavia looked at her phone and a recent string of texts. "Looks like we're all planning to be there anyways. By the way, if you're going to be working with us, come up with a better code name. "Black Mask" is in poor taste right now."
Akechi hummed and nodded as they departed. He stopped and looked into a shop window where a TV was playing the interview with Shido. "They're considering me to join the team…? Looks like I may be able to get my revenge on you in my own terms soon enough… father."
[***]
Hifumi: There's something I'd like to say… as your teacher. We can have a lesson as well, if you'd like to play a match.
Ren: I'll be right there.
Hifumi: Thank you. I'll be waiting for you at the church.
"I quit the ladies Professional Shogi Players' Association," Hifumi revealed to her two students. "I need to start over as an amateur."
"That's rough," Ren said.
"It was inevitable," Hifumi shrugged. "There were a lot of people who covered for me by saying that I was just being used by adults. But I'm the one who most at fault. I was overconfident. If only I had taken a look at myself and properly assessed my shogi skills. I believed that with my skills, I could overcome being treated like an idol… There's nothing I can say about my mother."
Hifumi smiled at the two boys. "You didn't abandon me, even after you learned about the fixed matches… Now I know how encouraging it feels to have someone believe in you. At first, this was just a deal… You help me develop new moves and I give you shogi lessons. But before I knew it, you became… someone I couldn't do without. I'm not gonna pay attention to all the criticism anymore."
She clenched a fist with confidence. "This time, I'll earn everyone's praise… with my own skills!"
"I believe in you!" Collin cheered.
"The reason I'm able to think this way is because you stuck by my side… I'm really grateful," Hifumi said.
'I feel a strong bond with Hifumi…' Ren thought.
Collin felt a cold shutter go down his spine. 'Why do I feel like Ren can summon some major demonic power now…?' he thought.
"Well then, onto our final lesson…" Hifumi said. "I truly hope that you… No… That the Phantom Thieves find my lessons useful."
"So you know," Ren said.
"It feels like everyone you get close to finds out…" Collin sighed, looking at Ren.
"Yes. I spoke to you about my mother, and then my mother changed… I knew that couldn't be a coincidence," Hifumi replied. "If there's anything I can do to help, please know that you can rely on me."
"Thank you," Ren said.
"Oh, and you should probably know this as well…" Collin said, dropping his human disguise to show his cherub form. "I guess you could say being in this place gave you a guardian angel, heh-heh…"
Hifumi looked surprised at Collin but gave him a smile. "Thank you for helping the Phantom Thieves. If an angel is on their side that means they truly are just, no matter what the media says. I will support you in whatever you want to accomplish. Now, let's play a match. I have a lot of new moves I'd like to test out. I hope you're okay to stay here a while longer."
"Of course we are. I think I finally know how to play this game now too," Collin laughed, sitting down to play the next match. "Oh, and on last thing before we start… I had a friend of mine make you a special shogi piece as a thank you for all the help you've given us." The cherub pulled out a King shogi piece, with the kanji and coloring on it matching the Phantom Thieves logo.
"Thank you… from the bottom of my heart," Hifumi said, accepting the gift. From that day on Hifumi would use that special piece in all her matches as she rose through the ranks of the shogi league, even creating a new tactic called the Phantom Angel maneuver based on her experiences with the Phantom Thieves. And whenever Hifumi came back to this church, her heart felt closer to the special friends she'd made there.
[***]
October 25
The festival seems to be a success," Yusuke noted as the Phantom Thieves walked into Shijin Academy. The entire place was done up in decorations for the events, with different attractions throughout the halls and students mingling about.
"There's definitely a lot more people than last year," Ann said.
"Well, yeah. This place got "famous" and all," Ryuji replied. "The Phantom Thieves, Kamoshida, Principal Kobayakawa. On top of that, we got Akechi as a guest."
"There may be police officers in plain clothes too…" Makoto said with worry. "Actually, they probably are here. We better be careful about what we discuss."
"Acting like normal students is going to be important," Morgana said.
"What do you normally do at a school festival?" Futaba asked.
"I'm not sure myself, seeing as I was homeschooled," Octavia said.
"Ditto, but lived in an orphanage," Loona added.
"Look around at the exhibits… and eat stuff?" Collin said. "Truth be told, the schools in Heaven weren't much about festivals like this…"
"There's no set rules for this kinda thing. Walk around and hang out, like when we went to the beach," Ryuji said.
"Just enjoy yourselves," Ren said.
"I think I can do it if I've got everyone with me!" Futaba said with confidence.
"You're so laid-back… There's a possibility that your name and Ryuji's has come up," Makoto sighed.
"A number of the teachers had been questioned before, and even we were interviewed the other day too," Octavia nodded. "Don't let your guard down too much."
"It's true that the initial members have been at this for a long time, making it easier to get tracked…" Morgana said seriously.
"All right…" Ryuji sighed.
"Now, now. Let's leave it at that. We just need to be mindful about what we're saying, correct?" Haru chimed in.
"Oh, um…" Makoto flustered.
"You seem to be having quite a lot of fun, Haru. You did mention that you were looking forward to this," Yusuke mused.
"I want to go around with everyone and eat the refreshment stands," Haru said.
"This'll be a great change of pace from all the nasty stuff lately!" Futaba nodded.
"Shall we head off to the stands then?" Collin asked.
"Let's do it," Ren nodded.
"Oh right. This is your first time at our school festival," Makoto realized.
"They're pretty good- from what I've heard…" Ryuji said.
"I know a great one!" Ann declared. "Follow me." The gang followed Ann up to the second floor, arriving at a stand with a maid behind the counter. "This is the place!"
"Maid Takoyaki"?" Haru read the sign.
"New customers! I'll show you all to your seats," Ann said.
"…So it's our class's stand," Octavia realized, looking up at the classroom number.
"It's still a refreshment stand, isn't it?" Ann retorted.
"What it's like is a deserted island," Loona said, looking around to see no one else in the area.
"Well, I guess it's good for talking since there aren't any people here…" Collin noted.
"We heard a lot of rumors, even on our way here," Haru whispered as the team sat down.
"And it was all bullshit," Ryuji cursed.
Morgana noticed the maid coming over. "Here she comes… Act normal."
"Who cares? There's nothing "normal" about this anymore," Ryuji said, sitting back in his chair.
"Welcome home!" the maid greeted. "May I take your order?"
"Take my order"!? What happened to the maid atmosphere!?" Ryuji exclaimed.
"There are a lot of odd flavors…" Yusuke noted, looking at the menu.
"Stick to a normal one," Octavia said. "I don't want any weird-"
"I'm so sorry. We sold our last normal one to the previous customer," the maid apologized.
"The Hell…" Loona sighed.
"Well then… I'll have the mentai cheese Takoyaki," Yusuke ordered.
"I'm sorry. We're out of cod roe," the maid apologized again.
"Then, how about the squid-" Haru started.
"Um… We're currently out catching squid. It'll probably take another five or six hours…" the maid said.
"That doesn't even sound remotely possible!" Ryuji shouted. "Ain't this whole menu just a sham!?"
"Actually, we spent most of our budget on making the maid costumes look nice," Ann admitted. "We didn't put too much effort into the octopus."
"I can see that…" Loona rolled her eyes, pulling out her phone as boredom sunk in.
"Please don't make a scene, Ryuji…" Collin whispered before coughing and turning to the maid. "Then, what would you recommend with what you have now?"
"That would be the Russian Takoyaki," the maid replied.
"We'll have that, please," Haru nodded.
"This will take a little time," the maid said before leaving back the classroom.
Ryuji shook his head. "…Let's forget about the octopus and get back on topic."
"On that note, hearing Kamoshida being almost treated like a victim make me want to eat my stress away!" Ann scowled.
"I've even heard conjecture that the principal was targeted for reasons like "he knew too much," Morgana added.
"I kept hearing about Goro Akechi's popularity," Yusuke said.
"All thanks to the Phantom Thieves!" Futaba frowned. "Imagine if they knew what the detective prince was really like…"
"At least he agreed to show up here so we had an excuse to all gather and get what information he had," Octavia said. "Flaunting his ego in front of a crowd will be a good cover, after all."
"I hope this isn't another trap and that the other Black Mask isn't here as well…" Morgana said nervously.
"Is that Takoyaki done yet?" Ren wondered.
"You're so carefree… Does this mean you have nerves of steel in any situation?" Makoto shook her head. "Still, it doesn't change the fact that we don't know what this other Black Mask is planning."
A bell soon went off and the maid returned with their food. "Thank you for the wait."
"Ooh, it's fresh made!" Ann said in awe.
"Lies! I heard a microwave go off!" Futaba rebutted.
"Well, it's not like I was expecting crispy Takoyaki at a school festival or anything," Ryuji shrugged.
"So, what makes this a "Russian" Takoyaki? Is it made with beer or something?" Loona asked.
"Could there be jam in it as a secret ingredient? That sounds quite delicious," Haru said.
"Well… one of these is "special," the maid said before walking off.
Morgana looked at the food with a raised eyebrow. "Uh, one of them's obviously red. That's gotta be the one."
"Dude, don't tell me that "Russian" part means…" Ryuji realized.
"It's like, going for the obvious one is manly?" Ann said.
"I-Is that so?" Morgana said.
"Don't do it, Morgana, it's a trap that'll have your mouth set on fire," Octavia said.
"I'd prefer the most beautifully shaped one… but all of them are misshapen," Yusuke sighed.
"Oh, aren't you all going to eat?" Haru asked. "I think I'll go for the "special" one."
"Wait… is she honestly going for it?" Collin gasped.
"Do you wanna go for the red one?" Loona asked Ren, turning on her camera to record what would surely be something funny.
"Think it'll be spicy?" Ren questioned.
Duh. It'll be funny watching whatever sucker eats it," Loona chuckled.
"Oh, everyone's all here," Akechi said, walking up to the table.
The group all looked at him with shock. "Th-The panel isn't until tomorrow though…" Makoto pointed out.
"I came to check out the venue. I can't make any mistakes since a lot of people will be present," Akechi said.
"Someone's eager," Futaba frowned.
"But, people ended up recognizing me. Everyone bombarded me with questions," Akechi sighed.
"That's cause you were sloppy…" Ryuji muttered.
"I grew tired of the baseless rumors they kept bringing up, so I escaped to where there weren't any people," Akechi went on. He looked at the Takoyaki and picked up the red one. "…I'm going to have one of these."
Haru gasped. "The "special" one!"
"Let's just call this my cooperation fee," Akechi said, dropping his act a bit to look smugly at the Phantom Thieves as he ate the Takoyaki whole.
"Oh, this is gonna be good…" Loona grinned as she held up her phone to record the oncoming hilarity.
"Mm, it's quite deli-" Akechi's face suddenly went red as the flavor hit him hard.
"Eating food in one bite is a bad idea…" Octavia shook her head, knowing from her time as a royal the dangers of eating dubious foods.
"Ngh… My throat…! Urgh! This is…!" Akechi gagged. "Oh… Oh, my stomach… It burns!"
"Are you okay? Do you need water?" Collin asked.
"I-I-I'm fine!" Akechi said, trying not to gag. "I just love… uh… spicy- spicy stuff… Haha… hah…"
"Hey, does he sound broken to you?" Futaba giggled.
"W-Well then I'll… I'll see you… uh… t-t-t-tomorrow," Akechi stuttered before walking off.
"Wow, he's really trying to hold it together. He's waddling around like some comedian," Ann said.
"It's like he wants to get picked up for some commercial or something…" Ryuji said.
"And… send!" Loona said, posting the video on social media. "Damn, that was funnier than watching Moxxie try and fail to wrangle a hell-pig!"
"But… did he truly come to simply check the venue?" Yusuke questioned. "…This isn't good. I keep suspecting every little thing…"
"…I know what you mean. I'm doing the same too," Makoto nodded. "I need to do my best tomorrow. We need to make sure he gives us the intel we need."
"We'll pull this off, Makoto. I know we will," Collin said with conviction. 'Of course, I have something I need to pull off tomorrow as well…'
"Akechi… When he got here, didn't he say that everyone's all here?" Futaba recalled.
"Probably wanted to make sure that none of us had been taken out by the new Black Mask," Octavia said. "I suspect that's why he was here today as well: to make sure he wasn't at Shujin either."
Soon the school day came to an end, and it was time to leave. "So, I guess we got through all of it okay?" Ryuji said.
"Yes, but the associated mental fatigue was extraordinary. Being cautious takes a lot out of you…" Yusuke sighed.
"Seriously. I think I'm as tired now as I am after midterms," Ann said.
"I didn't mind any of that. I just loved seeing that detective gulp down the special Takoyaki…" Futaba smirked. "In fact, I'm going to make some epic remixes of Loona's video when I get home."
"You do it, Futaba," Loona laughed, ruffling the girl's hair.
"I had fun as well, since I got to spend time with you all," Haru smiled.
"What would you like to do now, Haru? Walk around a little more?" Makoto asked.
"I appreciate the gesture, but I'm satisfied with stopping here," Haru replied. "Why don't we go home and rest up? We'll have to deal with Akechi-hum again tomorrow, after all…"
"I have to agree," Morgana nodded. "What will our next move be?"
[***]
Shin: I know it's late, but do you think I could swing on by that café of yours? I really want to try that coffee Octavia is always talking about.
Ren: You can stop on by.
Shin: Cool. See you there, then.
Shin took a long sip of his coffee, giving a satisfied sigh as he set the cup down. "Damn, this is the best coffee I've ever had," he said. "Compliments to the barista."
"If you think that's good, you should come on by whenever we're actually open," Ren chuckled. "Boss knows how to make it better than I can."
"Please, Ren, you're getting just as good as he is," Octavia said.
Shin smiled at the bond the cousins shared. "Well, as good as this is, I didn't just want to come here to try the coffee. I've got something else I need to tell you guys… I'll be heading out of the city come the end of the month, and I don't know when I'll be back."
Octavia stiffened at that announcement. 'Shin is… leaving?' she thought in disbelief. "Well, that's okay… You can just call us, right?"
"It in relation to my dad's job, so contacting me is going to be… difficult," Shin shook his head. "But I feel like I've taught you all I can at the moment, Ren. You should be good enough to defend yourself now… though I somehow doubt you were ever truly in need of my skills from what I've seen."
"You made a difference for sure. Don't doubt yourself," Ren replied.
Shin laughed. "Okay, okay, I'll take your compliments. But, uh, if you want to come and see me off, I'll be at the main station in Tokyo on the thirty-first, the last day of the month. I'd be nice to see you and your friends before I go. I know we're not all friends, but from what I have seen of you guys… they seem like nice people."
"They are, they really are…" Octavia looked at her own coffee in sadness. "I'm… really going to miss you, Shin. It's been nice having someone around that I feel like I can connect to on more than just being a friend."
"…So you see us as more than friends?" Shin raised an eyebrow.
Octavia blushed. "I-I mean, not in that way! More like we just click whenever we're together, you know?"
Shin laughed again. "Don't worry, Via, I get what you mean." He shot her a wink, making Ren chuckle as Octavia blushed again. "Still, I think you all should come and see me off. If it's the last time we see each other, I want you all to be there."
"We'll do our best to come and see you. Promise," Octavia nodded.
"I just wish we could have done more together. Really let you join the friend group," Ren added.
Shin sighed. "I wish I could do that too, but… I'm a lone wolf and being part of a pack never seems to fall in my cards. Such is life, I suppose, but I never forget the people that have had an impact on my life. It's been nice knowing you guys, so thanks for the ride while it lasted."
'I sense a melancholy resolve in Shin's heart…' Ren thought.
I am thou, thou art I…
Thou hast birthed a bond clad in the heart's strength.
This union, born and embraced by will unyielding,
Shall become the balefire that lights thy path.
Thou hast gained a glimpse of Void's truth,
Granting thee further power to tread the abyss…
Shin rolled his shoulders and got up from his seat. "Well, thanks for the coffee, Ren. If I ever come back here, you owe me another one," he said.
"The door is always open to you," Ren replied.
Shin smiled, before holding Octavia's had for a moment and staring into her eyes. For a moment, she felt as if he was staring into her soul and seeing her true self. "Next time we meet, how about you show me some of your poetry, Octavia? I'd love to hear your own words brought to life," Shin said before leaving Leblanc. Ren and Octavia could swear they heard the sound of a familiar motorcycle revving up and driving into the distance after Shin left…
[***]
October 26
"Well then, we will now begin today's panel," Makoto announced to the student body the next day. "Our guest of honor is Goro Akechi."
"I feel kind of bad, considering how many people have gathered… I'm sure you all would've been happier to have a singer or a mascot appear, wouldn't you say?" Akechi joked, getting a laugh of the audience.
"We'd appreciate it if you could tell us about your experiences with the notorious Phantom Thieves," Makoto said. "It'd be wonderful if you could let us hear more about your actual investigative process."
"I'm not used to being the one interrogated… so please go easy on me," Akechi joked.
"How much do you think he knows?" Ann asked.
"It depends on how much he was able to get from Makoto's sister, though I heard they're not on good terms right now," Octavia replied. "Whatever he does know, he won't expose us here. We have the upper hand."
"I hope Makoto can get us some information right here and now…" Collin muttered.
"As much as you're allowed to say, would you tell us how far along your investigations is on them?" Makoto asked.
"Getting right to the point, I see," Akechi noted. "Well, if it's as much as I'm allowed to say, then everything on TV and the internet is all of it. We don't have any leads yet, and the methods behind their crimes are still unclear."
"I see…" Makoto said, silently glad he was keeping his end of the deal. "Even with this country's power, arresting them is proving to be difficult… Is that the case?"
"I wouldn't phrase it that way… but well, something like that," Akechi nodded.
"Thank you for answering that question," Makoto said. "By the way, it seems you've denied any correlations between the Phantom Thieves and the murders… Why the sudden change? Until now, haven't you upheld your stance that the Phantom Thieves are dangerous? How are you so positive that they haven't committed murder?"
"Aren't you a little to comfortable interrogating people? Why, it's as if you're a prosecutor," Akechi joked.
"Ah, excuse me. This is something I've personally been interested in, so I couldn't help it…" Makoto apologized. "But, won't you tell us? What reason is there that you'd claim their innocence when you previously stated they were unjust?"
"Mako-chan's really pressing for an answer," Haru noted.
"She has to make it look good for the audience," Loona replied.
"Every person whose heart they changed have truly been criminals, including Okumura…" Akechi said. "Why, then, was he the only one who needed to be killed…?"
"Why is that?" Makoto asked.
"I must admit… I couldn't deduce a reason," Akechi said. "That's why I believe that case should be thought of as if a different party is responsible. And if- This is all hypothetical, mind you. If the Phantom Thieves are ones I know if, I can't possibly imagine they would kill anyone." The crowd gave a gasp.
"Your comment just now… Does this mean the police have already identified who they are?" Makoto asked.
"Oh, no. The police haven't gotten that far yet," Akechi replied. "But I have my own conclusions about the identities of the Phantom Thieves."
"Akechi…" Octavia muttered, letting magic dance around her fingers as a warning.
"Let's calm down. He's got a plan, I'm sure of it," Ren said, putting a hand on hers.
"He better not do anything…" Futaba growled, eyes glowing a bit.
"You're not going to ask me who they are?" Akechi questioned.
"…It may have repercussions on the investigation. Are you sure you can share that with us?" Makoto asked.
"It's only my personal opinion, so announcing that here wouldn't pose a problem," Akechi replied. "However… There is possibility that everyone present will hear the truth before the police or media."
"What's he planning on saying…?" Loona wondered.
"…That's quite the confidence you have," Makoto noted. "If you feel certain… then very well. I'd like to as you then: who do you think the Phantom Thieves are, Akechi-san?"
"That idiot!" Ryuji seethed.
"No… there's no way he would expose us here after our deal…" Yusuke shook his head.
"They're people you all know quite well," Akechi said. "The identity of the Phantom Thieves are-" He suddenly paused as his phone went off. "Oh, it's mine. I apologize for the interruption, but I can't turn off my phone due to my job. Would you mind if I step away for about… ten minutes or so?"
"I'm terribly sorry, everyone, but we'll be taking a break," Makoto said to the crowd. "We'll resume the panel in ten minutes."
"Please don't troll me online for this interruption, okay?" Akechi asked, getting a laugh from the crowd. As he stepped away he whispered to Makoto, "Is there a room I may use?"
"There's the PE faculty office," Makoto replied.
"…I want you to come too. There's matters we need to discuss," Akechi said. "Make sure the rest of your team are there too."
"Did you set this up…?" Makoto realized.
"We only have ten minutes, you know," Akechi pointed out.
The Phantom Thieves soon gathered at the set location, all of them on edge after Akechi's performance. "What do you want to tell us about the investigation?" Joker asked.
"I have a potential lead on who the new Black Mask is," Akechi said, pulling out some photos. "I noticed a new person working with both Sae-san on the investigation as well my benefactor. No doubt he is the one that killed Okumura's father."
The group looked at the photos, revealing that the new Black Mask seemed to be an American man with a small blonde mustache and goatee, wearing a gaudy cowboy outfit that seemed very out-of-place amongst the people of Japan. "Is that a cowboy…?" Ann questioned.
"What a minute, I know that asshole!" Loona exclaimed, growling a bit. "He's the assassin that tried to kill Stolas at the Harvest Moon Festival."
Octavia blinked in surprise. "Really? Then he must be a renowned assassin since I'm pretty sure that's the same guy Mom hired before…"
"Then we're dealing a demon assassin in disguise. This mission just got a lot more dangerous," Morgana said. "Especially if he's working both the police and the people that hired Akechi to track us down."
"A Black Mask that's also a demon… Things just got a lot worse for all of us," Collin worried.
"That's also why I came here yesterday, to make sure he wasn't part of the police detail assigned to the vent," Akechi said. "Now then, you've heard Sae-san is the one spearheading the investigation about you Phantom Thieves, correct? The higher-ups are concerned only with settling the case. They want to capture the culprits behind the psychotic breakdown incidents and end the commotion. Those are the ones who are putting pressure on Sae-san. I can only imagine her impatience."
"You mean the incidents you've been causing?" Futaba reminded him.
"And do they even have evidence to accuse the Phantom Thieves of the murders? How would they even prove it?" Collin questioned.
"Even if there is no objective explanation to the method, it's over once causality is established," Akechi shook his head. "Sae-san can't make rational judgements at the moment, especially with a literal demon whispering on her shoulder. If she were to be cornered, well… she may even make up a confession."
"Make it up?" Makoto gasped.
"So they're gonna make it our fault!? Just 'cause they feel like it!?" Ryuji exclaimed.
"We haven't killed anyone though!" Ann shouted. "And we're still going to be arrested?"
"You'll be found guilty if you're caught, and it will be treated as a very serious crime," Akechi nodded.
"Bullshit! None of that makes any sense!" Ryuji cursed.
"Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do alone anymore to stop the flow of things…" Akechi said.
"Which is why we have to be the ones to change our own fate," Octavia said.
Akechi nodded. "Yes. In return I'll point you to who the mastermind behind the mental shutdowns is and turn myself in once we change his heart. Revenge on that man is all I want…"
"Sounds like you have a personal gripe against this guy," Loona noted.
"He's responsible for everything wrong that's ever happened to me… At first, I wanted to get close enough to him to kill him myself, but without my power that isn't a possibility anymore," Akechi explained. "So now I'm allying myself with the Phantom Thieves and allowing myself to follow your lead. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, after all. We can discuss more details about this at another date. I look forward to seeing you all again. It was definitely worth coming today- for various reasons."
Akechi looked at his phone. "We should be getting back… About that. I'm sorry. Would it be acceptable if we ended the panel here? The reason why to called for me in the first place was because you wanted intel, correct? Our business here is concluded then."
"I'll deal with it somehow," Makoto replied.
"Akechi," Ren said as the detective went to leave. "Next time we meek, it'll be at the hideout. I'm sure you know where that is, correct?"
Akechi gave a smirk the leader of the Phantom Thieves. "I'm sure I can guess, attic boy. And I'll make sure our new Black Mask doesn't catch on that I know of his true nature, either."
The gang left the room and went back out to the auditorium. "I'm sorry about the sudden break. An urgent task came in," Akechi said to the audience. "So, I truly apologize about this… But I'll have to end things here today."
"To make up for the time that was planned for this panel, the rakugo research club will instead be-" Makoto announced amidst the uproar.
"I can't say anything in detail regarding the Phantom Thieves investigation… But I feel another great stride will occur again soon," Akechi said. "I hope you all continue to pay attention to what happens."
"Let's have a big round of applause for today's guest, Goro Akechi," Makoto announced.
"Is this really going to go well for us?" Haru asked.
"Now that we know another demon is involved, it means that the entity has found another champion to take Akechi's place," Octavia said grimly. "We'll have to take care of him before we can go after the mastermind."
"I'll ask Dad to give us any info he can on that cowboy asshole," Loona said.
"I'll see of Mom has some info as well, since the hired assassin she told me about might be the same as this guy," Octavia nodded.
"We need to give this a lot of thought on how to play this…" Morgana said.
[***]
With their business concluded for the day Ren and Octavia decided to head out, only to stop as a voice came over the PA. "The post-festival party is about to begin in the gymnasium. Please join us, everybody," the voice said.
"Post-festival party? I thought this thing was over…" Morgana said in confusion. "Eh, nobody invited you to it, so let's just go home."
It was then that Kasumi walked up to the two. "Huh? Amamiya-senpai, aren't you going to the post-festival party?"
"I'm not sure yet…" Ren replied.
"Then why don't we go together?" Kasumi offered. "Festivals don't come around every day, so we may as well enjoy it while we can!"
"Octavia, there you are!" Shin called, joining the group. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the post-festival party with me. Normally I wouldn't be interested, but after yesterday I thought I'd make it up to you."
Octavia blushed a bit. "Sure, why not?" she replied, taking Shin's hand as the quartet went to the party together. "Seems like it's already begun," Octavia noted as they entered the room.
"Let's get in there, Amamiya-senpai!" Kasumi cheered, dragging Ren into the party.
"And now, it's time for your favorite Shujin tradition: The Student Sharing Special!" the MC announced. "But, before that: we've decided to change things up this year! We've got a huge surprise for you all! Members of the dance club, come on down!" Music started to play as dancers came out on stage, showing off their moves for the crowd. "Now everybody, join in! Don't fall behind the dance club, strut your stuff!"
"Just standing around while everyone dances is embarrassing…" Octavia muttered.
Then why don't we dance?" Shin suggested, holding out a hand to her.
Octavia looked over to Ren, watching as he and Kasumi were dancing together. "Sure… It's showtime," she laughed as she started to sway to the music.
"And now that you're all warmed up, let's switch up the music!" The MC said. "We've even got karaoke for anyone daring enough to sing up on stage!"
Shin looked to Octavia with a big grin. "Oh, no, I am not singing in front of everyone," Octavia shook her head.
"Come on, when are you going to have another chance to do this?" Shin asked, dragging her up to the stage.
"No way! Shin!" Octavia laughed.
"I know the perfect song to pick out too! It's a favorite from when I was a kid," Shin said as he whispered instructions to the MC.
"Okay everyone, it looks like we have our first karaoke singer!" the MC announced, handing Octavia a microphone as she was put up on stage. Ren gave her a surprised look, Octavia nervously grinning and shrugging her shoulders in response.
"You'll do great, Via!" Shin shouted, giving a thumbs up as music started. Octavia swayed a bit to the music, a funky beat playing as she suddenly recognized the song.
'From that old game…' she thought, before remembering the lyrics and opening her mouth to sing.
Rolling around at the speed of sound
Got places to go, gotta follow my rainbow!
Can't stick around, have to keep moving on
Guess what lies ahead, only one way to find out!
As Octavia sang Kasumi and the dance club started dancing to hype up the crowd, the gymnast showing off her ballet moves to the amazement of everyone, especially Ren.
Must keep on moving ahead
No time for guessing, follow my plan instead!
Trusting in what you can't see
Take my lead I'll set you free…
The feeling of being put on the spot soon started to fade as Octavia got into the groove of the song, remembering a time from long ago when she would sing in her family home's vast music room. 'We really should dust off the piano and play music again…' she thought.
Follow me, set me free
Trust me and we will escape from the city
I'll make it through…
"Yeah, Via, keep it going!"Shin cheered.
Follow me (follow me), set me free
Trust me and we will escape from the city
I'll make it through prove it to you…!
Follow me!
Oh yeah!
As Octavia grooved to the beat, Kasumi held out a hand to Ren. "Come on, senpai, show us what you can do!" Kasumi shouted.
Danger is lurking around every turn
Trust your feelings, got to live and learn!
I know with some luck that I'll make it through
Got no other options, only one thing to do!
Ren set down his bag and pushed up his glasses. "Here I go!" he said, starting to move his body in a way that was both classy and contemporary.
I don't care what lies ahead
No time for guessing, follow my plan instead!
Find the next stage, no matter what that may be
Take my lead, I'll set you free…
"Woah, I didn't know Ren could dance like that," Morgana said. "Heh, always with the surprises. Just like I'd expect from the ace of the thieves!"
Follow me, set me free
Trust me and we will escape from the city
I'll make it through…
Kasumi giggled as Ren held his hand out to her. "You really surprised me with those moves, senpai. Come on, let's dance together!"
"At once," Ren nodded, Kasumi taking his hand as they commanded the dance floor together.
Follow me (follow me), set me free
Trust me and we will escape from the city
I'll make it through prove it to you…!
Follow me…!
As the two danced, the other students took note at their performance.
"Yoshizawa is dancing with that guy?"
"They are kinda cute together, don't you think?"
"I never thought Yoshizawa would be into bad boys…"
Octavia smiled as she did a spin, belting out the next lines of the song.
Surprises are hiding out in front of me!
Uncover their secrets and then we will soon be free!
The song then simmered down a bit as Kasumi and Ren bowed to each other. "I'm glad we could share this dance," Ren said.
"So am I, Ren," Kasumi said, Ren gasping and then smiling as she finally used his given name. "Now come on, let's cheer Goetia-san on!"
Follow me, set me free
Trust me and we will escape from the city
I'll make it through…
Ren and Kasumi went up to the stage to stand alongside Shin, the three of them clapping along with the song as Octavia smile at them, singing her heart out.
Follow me (follow me), set me free
Trust me and we will escape from the city
I'll make it through prove it to-
Follow me, set me free
Trust me and we will escape from the city
I'll make it through prove it to you…!
'For my first school festival, it'll certainly be a moment I won't forget for a long time…' Octavia thought as she finished out the song.
Follow me! Follow me!
Oh, follow me!
Follow me! Follow me!
Follow me…!
The crowd clapped as Octavia gave a bow, happy to end the day a more lighthearted note.
[***]
"Okay Collin, this is it… Now or never…" Collin said to himself as he paced back and forth. He'd sent a text to Loona to meet him outside of the school where no one else would be around to see them.
Soon enough Loona arrived, spotting Collin and crossing her arms. "Okay Collin, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" she asked.
"Um… well…" Collin mumbled. 'Don't stammer now, Collin! Just say what you want to say…'
"Are you actually going to say anything or just sweat like a nervous pig?" Loona questioned, raising an eyebrow. "You know what, I can just leave if this is too much for you-"
"No wait!" Collin shouted, pulling out a bouquet of flowers and holding them out to Loona. "I got you these!"
"…Thanks?" Loona said, confused as she accepted the flowers. "What's all this about?"
Collin took another breath, his face red as he spoke, "W-Well, I've thought a long time about this, and it took a while to come to terms with this…"
"Collin, you're kinda freaking me out right now…" Loona said nervously.
"Loona Nyx, I, Collin Pastor, love you!" Collin shouted, closing his eyes and instinctively wincing away from her. When nothing happened, he peeked out of one of his eyes and looked to see Loona still standing there, a light blush on her face as she stood there with a stunned look.
"W-W-What!? No way, this has to be a joke," Loona laughed. "Did Ryuji put you up to this or something?"
Collin shook his head. "No, this isn't a joke. I love you, Loona, and I don't care if you're a demon and I'm an angel. My heart is telling me that you're the one I want to be with!"
"You know this isn't going to work out," Loona sighed. "I mean, even if I was interested in you- which I'm not saying I am- wouldn't you just get kicked out of Heaven again after you worked so hard to try and get back there? I'm not about to put you getting home in jeopardy, so knock this shit off."
"Loona, if it was truly wrong for us to be together, then let God himself strike me down where I stand," Collin said. Loona looked up to the sky, only to find not even a rumbling of thunder anywhere. "See? I know there's a lot of hate between our realms, but both of us have seen the good and bad on both sides. Not all demons are evil, and not all angels are pure-hearted. We can be just as flawed as humans, but that also means we can make our own choices."
"Collin…" Loona gasped.
"Besides, I've been living on Earth for almost a year now. I think I can manage an entirety here if it means I can see you," Collin chuckled. "So, will you accept my love, Loona?"
Loona looked down at the cherub and sighed. "For the longest time I thought I needed someone strong, tough, and hot has Hell to be my boyfriend. Then I met Bee and found out I might be a bit more Bi than I thought, but I also saw what love actually looked like when I saw how Bee and Vortex acted around each other. Collin, I'll admit that I hated your guts when we first met, but now I see that you're one of the angels that actually gives a shit about helping people, even demons like me…"
The hellhound smirked as she held Collin's flowers close. "So you know what? Fuck it! I'll be your girlfriend, Collin, and if anyone has a problem with that, we can just tune them out! Besides, maybe I have thought you were pretty cute in the past, especially in your demon disguise…"
"W-Would you like me better as a demon?" Collin asked.
Loona chuckled and shook her head. "Nah, you're much better when you're being your being yourself, Lambchop. Although… If we're going to be together, I want out first kiss to be as our truest selves, if you know what I mean."
Collin nodded, dropping his human disguise as Loona did the same. Collin hovered up to her muzzle and put a hand on her cheek before Loona grabbed his head and smashed her lips against his. Collin's whole body went red from his blush, but closed his eyes and leaned into the kiss, the two moaning a bit as they shared their affection for each other. When they finally parted for air, both of them were panting, a bit of drool still connecting their mouths.
"Mother Mary…" Collin gasped.
"Holy fuck that was good…" Loona said. "Damn Collin, how many girls were you pulling back up in Heaven to be kissing that good?"
"Y-You're actually the first person I've ever dated… or kissed…" Collin admitted.
"Damn. Well, at least I'm not alone in that department," Loona laughed, Collin joining in as they held hands. "So, how long until the others find out about us?"
"I think they're figure it out pretty quickly…" Collin said.
Loona nodded, before putting on a serious face. "By the way, Blitz can never find out about this or else he'll kill you. And I mean he'll literally kill you- the guy probably has a holy bullet stashed away somewhere in case I decide to start dating someone."
"Oh dear…" Collin muttered. "W-Well then I guess I just have to be such a good boyfriend that he doesn't kill me, right?"
"Yeah, leave the convincing to me, Lambchop," Loona said, pulling Collin into a hug before kissing his forehead. The two were now officially a couple, an angel and demon pairing the likes of which hadn't been seen in a millennium. The two didn't know it, but their love would one day soon help to instigate changes that would benefit both their realms for centuries to come.
Futaba: Hey guys… Uh, well… Sojiro… knows everything. And he basically confirmed that the guys hat hired Akechi are porbably the ones that killed my mom.
Ryuji: What!? He knows everything!? You gotta be fucking kidding!
Octavia: Honestly, I'm surprised it took him this long to catch on.
Loona: Wait, are you OK? Did he report you or anything?
Yusuke: We likely wouldn't be receiving these messages if Ren was not OK. I had a feeling that Boss was no ordinary man…
Collin: But he didn't recommend you turn yourself in, did he? I think in that case we can consider him a new ally.
Yusuke: I'm more curious about what he mentioned to you.
Haru: You mean how our enemy is most certainly the same people who targeted Futaba's mother?
Yusuke: Yes. She was killed by mental shutdown, the same method used by both Akechi and the new Black Mask.
Ann: Wait a second though… Didn't you say Boss had to "run from it all"…? Does that mean someone was trying to stop the news from getting out? Who could do that…? …Who do you think the culprit could be?
Ren: A government official.
Ryuji: Ain't you letting your imagination run wild a bit?
Octavia: No, that checks out if you ask me. Would make sense that those in power would use Akechi to keep their power as well.
Yusuke: Indeed, it does make sense.
Ryuji: Wait a sec! If you're right, then wouldn't the police be working for 'em too!?
Makoto: …That's not impossible.
Collin: This is getting to big for me to even think about…
Haru: Can we really win this?
Futaba: We're gonna win, no matter what!
Confidant Rank Up
Confidant: Shin Igami
Arcana: Void
Rank 5 Description: Shin gave his goodbyes to Ren and Octavia, but he promised one last meeting…
Rank 5 Ability: Arcana Burst- gain additional EXP when fusing Persona of the Void arcana.
Author's Note
Before talking about the main bulk of the chapter I wanted to give my thoughts on Hifumi as we finished up her Confidant. Our favorite shogi player is a character that I enjoy, especially as she touches on the topic of pageant moms and the pressure of unwanted fame on children. Fun fact: her design was originally going to be used for one of the Phantom Thieves (most likely Makoto) before they changed it, though they reused the design later for the Hifumi we know today.
Next we have Akechi coming back into the story to give information on the new Black Mask who at this point it should be obvious who it is even if I haven't outright said their name yet. One thing I wanted to emphasize in this story is Futaba being more confrontational and angry with Akechi since I feel like P5 doesn't really touch on her feelings about working with her mother's killer during the third semester. Granted that's probably due to her focusing on the mission, but I wanted my Futaba to be a bit more open and snippy with her resentment of the guy. Also her creating memes out of Akechi's Takoyaki fail is a hilarious idea I had to put in here.
As for the school festival, we get an expanded look at the dance scene with Kasumi by adding Shin and Octavia into the mix. Shin has been an interesting character to write, being a parallel to Kasumi right down to his Confidant being locked at Rank 5, but we've only seen half of who he really is. You'll get more of him soon when his event comes at the end of the in-story month and you do not want to miss it.
The song Octavia sings is "Escape From the City- Funk RMX", a cover of the Sonic Adventure 2 song that's sung by the main singer of Persona 5, Lyn. When I first heard this remix I knew I wanted to use it in something, and a fun song to sing at a festival was the right place for it.
Finally, our ship has sailed on Loona/Collin, everyone! An unlikely pair that's been slow burning in the background of this fic, but now that both of them have reached the end of their personal Confidant journeys they're ready to try out being a couple. You can thank TalosLives here on AO3 for roping me into this ship so if you want more content for it go check him out!