The bath was a refreshing experience for all involved, ultimately. Mika and Lavemza went their separate ways from the others, while Morgana returned to his place in Ren's bag. "All right! Body and mind refreshed!"

"That bath was just what we needed." Haru smiled. "Thanks for suggesting it, Sophia!"

"No prob." Sophia replied. "I'm glad I could be of service."

"I noticed you guys were pretty quiet." Ann looked over at the guys. She hadn't the slightest idea the boys overheard that entire conversation the girls were having

Ryuji's eyes went wide. "Oh, um….you know…" Ann did not know and just stared at Ryuji.

Akechi decided to bail Ryuji and the rest of them out. "We were having our own discussion, that's all. We didn't wish to disturb you our voices."

"Oh! That makes sense." Ann nodded.

"I suppose that's fair enough…" Hifumi was far too distracted to even try probing that.

That's when Ren's phone rang. "Oh, it's Zenkichi." So he answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Greetings, you are now speaking of the long arm of the law! So, you guys in Sapporo?" Zenkichi asked.

"Long arm of the law…?" Ren nearly scoffed at that introduction.

"I was being facetious." One could feel Zenkichi rolling his eyes on the other end of the line. "You do know what that means, right? Anyway, I wanna schedule a meeting. How about I swing by the RV in the evening?" And then he hung up.

"Zenkichi's gonna meet us? Then let's go get ready." Morgana said.

"I wonder what he's going to tell us…" Sumire pondered. This was supposed to be their main destination, and now that they were here, their mission was likely to be under way very soon.

.

.

Evening arrived and everyone was gathered within the RV, with Akechi leaning against the open door as usual. "So, how that we're all here, I'd like to go over our suspect." Zenkichi said to start the team meeting. "Our suspect's name is Mariko Hyodo. Oh, and – wait for it – she's the mayor of Sapporo Central."

This shocked everyone. Everyone except Haru, who furrowed her brows in intense thought the moment she heard that name. "Our target's a mayor!?" Futaba nearly choked. They were aiming high on the political chain…!

"No way!" Ann gasped. "Doesn't that make her the most influential person in Sapporo!?"

"How could someone like that be a Monarch…" Yusuke sounded shocked.

"Shido wasn't so different." Ren pointed out. Akechi scoffed quietly in response.

"That's true. Such things have happened before…" Yusuke agreed.

"My question is, how are you certain it's her?" Hifumi asked.

"Because everyone's suddenly in love with her." Zenkichi explained.

"…There's an election coming up, isn't there?" Akechi asked the officer of PubSec. "I recall hearing whispers about around the city earlier in the day."

"You got it." Zenkichi nodded at Akechi. "Mayor Hyodo's approval rating now sits at a lofty 88%. She's gained fifty points in the last two months alone."

"My, how suspicious." Akechi scoffed. Hyodo definitely sounded guilty of being a Monarch.

"Did you say fifty!?" Makoto's eyes went wide.

"So, everyone just decided she was the go-to candidate?" Sumire asked.

Makoto shook her head. "It's not just that. Gaining fifty points like that is absolutely unheard of."

"Oh, sit tight, there's more." Zenkichi wasn't finished yet. "Last month, three city council who opposed her bill admitted to corruption and resigned. Any remaining councilmen who opposed her suddenly became her most fervent advocates. And as Akechi just said, the election is coming up. You can see how things look with that angle, don't you?"

"That's…" Hifumi was at a loss for words. From an outsider's perspective, everything was lining up so perfectly for Hyodo, it was unreal. From their perspective, this could only be the work of a Monarch.

"Rumor has it, Hyodo wants to expand her political influence to a national level. PubSec's been investigating that…but alas." Zenkichi shrugged. Knowing what he knew now, everything was making perfect sense. "We haven't run into any leads just yet. S what do you make of all this?"

"It's always a politician." Akechi rolled his eyes.

"If the world turned upside-down, they'd likely be trying to boss around gravity…" Hifumi let out a sigh. "Perhaps a few of this could be coincidences separately, but at once?"

"Someone's changing hearts." Ren concluded. It was all too obvious.

"Bingo." Zenkichi smiled. "And that's where you all come in."

"Um…but we have a problem." Sumire spoke up. "Don't we need a keyword before we can confirm anything?"

"Worry not, Yoshizawa." Zenkichi said. "She's already referenced EMMA several times in her speeches. Meaning there's a good chance she's been announcing her keyword in public."

"So if we listen to her speeches, we'll probably find out what her keyword is." Morgana surmised.

"That's right. In fact, Hyodo's gonna be in Suzushino on the 10th making a speech." Zenkichi told the group. Since it's close to the election, the crowd's likely to be in the thousands."

"That's a grip…" Ryuji was floored at those numbers.

"If she is indeed changing people's hearts, then perhaps this is no surprise." Yusuke said.

"Jails continue to prove themselves far worse than Palaces. It's almost impressive how much damage they can cause." Akechi let out a dry laugh.

"Hmmmm…" Haru said nothing this whole conversation. She was just stuck in her thoughts.

"Is something wrong, Haru?" Makoto realized Haru was uncharacteristically silent this whole time.

"No, it's just….mm, it's hard to explain…" Haru shook her head. "Mariko Hyodo. The name seems familiar somehow."

"I mean, she is the mayor of town. Maybe you just heard her on TV?" Ann suggested. It wouldn't be so strange if that was the case.

"Possibly…" Haru would take that explanation for now, but she knew that wasn't it. It felt so…personal. She wasn't sure why. "Sorry, let's put that aside for now. It's probably nothing."

"Whatever you do, don't try to contact her directly." Zenkichi said as a warning. "I'm saying this to keep you safe. It'll be a downright pain in the ass if she finds out we're onto her. I suggest you enjoy your leisure time until the day of the speech."

"We'll keep that in mind." Sumire nodded. "I am doubtful we'll have the chance to actually meet her, but it doesn't hurt to be careful."

Makoto then turned and whispered to Ren. "Hey, Ren…should we tell him about what happened with Inchinose-san? She is an important part of the investigation now."

"Oh, right…" Ren almost forgot they didn't tell Zenkichi about that. "Yeah, he should know."

Noticing the whispering and the occasional glance his way, Zenkichi decided to bite. "Something you wanna tell me?" And he learned exactly what was going on. "You made a deal with the creator of EMMA!?" What were the odds of this!? "Wait, hold on. That Kuon Inchinose, you said? Where have I heard that name before…" After a moment of thinking, he remembered. "Oh, right. She was on the report…"

"Were you lookin' into her?" Ryuji asked.

"I was looking into Maddice, actually." Zenkichi clarified." Wasn't long before her name popped up. The famous inventor who sold off EMMA to Maddice. Tell me, how'd you get cozy with someone like that?"

"I think…we were just lucky?" Hifumi rubbed her cheek.

"Yeah, it just…sort of happened." Ann wasn't really sure how to describe it either. Ichinose sure was…a character.

"Luck currently seems to be the answer." Akechi said, but his tone suggested that he wasn't entirely convinced. That was just his entire attitude this whole trip so far. Waiting for a chance to prove his suspicions correct.

"What matters is her familiarity with EMMA." Makoto said to get everyone back on track. "If anyone abuses it, she could help us find out who and why."

"Only Ichinose knows EMMA's ins and outs." Futaba added.

"Makes sense." The older man conceded to their points. Ultimately, this did work to their advantage, so he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. "The report didn't make her out to be somebody dangerous…." But at the same time…

"She's a liability due to being an outside factor." Akechi said.

"You're good, kid." Zenkichi said. "She's a really valuable source of information, but I really want you guys to be more careful about this operation. I'm trusting you guys with classified intel. So I'd prefer you don't go creating more liabilities like this behind my back."

"We understand. This specific scenario was simply…not one we could avoid." Hifumi phrased that as best she could. Nobody wanted to tell Zenkichi that Ichinose found them out because she heard Morgana.

"Good, and besides – should I be your go-to guy for help?" Zenkichi said with a bit of hope, eagerness, and dejection mixed all into one. "Seeing you guys run off making confidants left and right makes me feel like a lonely old man!"

"Are you trying to gain our trust or get attention…" Futaba grumbled.

"I almost respected your work ethic for a moment." Akechi let out another dry scoff. Zenkichi sounded so competent until this very moment.

"Hate to say it, Gramps, but we do shit on our own 'cause your help only gets us so far." Ryuji stated bluntly.

"I-I wouldn't phrase it like that…" Sumire quickly added.

To that, Zenkichi took a defensive stance. "Well, excuse me for not being an expert in this cognitive mumbo-jumbo." Even though he'd been into the Metaverse, he still couldn't believe it was real. "And would it kill you to ditch the 'Gramps'? I'm as….fly as any one of you!"

"…" Uncomfortable silence filled the RV.

"At least say something…!" Zenkichi couldn't take this!

"…Your glasses are nice." Ren said, as a follow glasses wearer.

"I don't need your pity!" Zenkichi, the grown man, replied to the teenager with a pout.

"You're the one bringin' it up…." Ryuji scratched his head.

"Ugh…" Akechi felt a headache coming on.

"Never mind that!" Zenkichi stood up, his voice still a little pouty, so he fixed it by clearing his throat. "The speech is on the 10th and I need you to be there!" And with that, he left as fast as he could to preserve his dignity.

"Well, that was embarrassing towards the end." Akechi shook his head.

"I wish there was something we could do until then. I'm not a fan of waiting…" Makoto sighed.

"What else can we do but be prepared and keep ourselves in top condition?" Haru had a smile.

"It doesn't hurt to relax." Morgana said. They had two days to kill.

"Hey, since we're in Hokkaido, we should chow down on seafood!" Ryuji suggested.

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea…" Hifumi wasn't opposed to that. Her phone then buzzed and she checked it. Mika was texting her. She'd have to get back to that.

"I hear Hokkaido soup curry is also not to be missed." Yusuke offered his own suggestion.

"I'd like to visit the former government office! The flowers are said to be breathtaking!" Haru made her choice clear.

"I don't think we'll have to worry about staying busy tomorrow." Sumire said with a smile. "Will you be joining us, Akechi-san?"

"I might as well." Akechi replied. He was, of course, still standing outside the RV. Since Haru couldn't stand him sitting in the same enclosed space as her, it still worked for the both of them. "We may hear something interesting as we walk."

"Okay. I'll set up a route that leads us to all those locations." Sophia said.

"You're the best, Sophia!" Ann smiled. "We'll leave the navigation to you tomorrow!"

.

.

August 9th

The group stopped by the former Hokkaido Government Office, since this was the place that Haru wanted to visit. Ann was surprised at the sight of the building. "Check it out! It's actually pretty hip for such an old place!"

"It was once the main office for the Hokkaido government." Makoto said. "Now it remains a symbol of the island, and important cultural property."

"Simply marvelous." Yusuke was appreciating aesthetic of the building more than anyone else. "There's a stillness and symmetry here that ignites my artist's soul!"

Haru, meanwhile, was taking a look at the numerous, beautiful flowers all around. "And the garden is so lovely. How many kinds of flowers do you think there are?" As her gazed wandered, she happened to spot an angry woman and a man not too far away. That woman looked vaguely familiar and her curiosity got the best of her. "Huh? What's going on over there…?"

"This flower is completely wilted!" The older woman exclaimed to the man who appeared to be her subordinate. "How could you overlook this!?"

"Ma'am, I'm so sorry!" The man said. "It's just, this summer's been much hotter than last year…"

"Spare me your excuses!" The woman snarled. "This flowerbed is one of the city's main points of attraction. Have you forgotten you work for the most powerful woman in Sapporo Central? Perhaps you won't for much longer."

"Looks like we've found the mayor…" Hifumi thought to herself, sweating at such an intense display.

"Please, no! I'll do ANYTHING to fix this!" The man pleaded.

"You can keep your eyes glued to these flowers around the clock for all I care – just do NOT let this happen again!" The woman, who could be surmised to be Mariko Hyodo from her words, shouted at her subordinate.

The man bowed. "That's what I'll do, mayor!"

"Geez…that's one scary lady…" Ryuji was sweating.

"I'm too terrified to move." Sumire gulped. Mariko wasn't even yelling in their direction, but her voice was so commanding, she couldn't help it.

"Wait, hold on…did he just say Mayor!?" Morgana just barely caught that.

Mariko turned around to notice the group and gave them a pleasant smile. "Oh, are you here for sightseeing? I'm sorry you had to witness such unprofessional behavior from our staff during your visit."

"Uh-huh…" Akechi was going to hold his tongue on that one. At least for now.

"Oh, no…." Makoto's voice was a little shaky.

Mariko noticed Haru and stepped closer. "Hmmm…? Could it be…ah! You're…Haru-chan!?"

"Huh-?!" Haru took a step back from surprise. This woman knew her?

"Of course you wouldn't recognize me. You were tiny the last time I saw you." Mariko said with a fond smile. "It's me, Mariko Hyodo. Your father, President Okumura, was a very good friend of mine."

What were the odds of this? Akechi briefly glanced away, but only for a moment. "Is that so…"

"This is the mayor!?" Ann felt the realization hit like a lightning bolt.

"O-Okay guys, don't panic!" Futaba said, panicking.

"S-Stop shaking, Futaba-senpai…!" As if Sumire was one to talk.

Haru could feel the memories slowly returning to her. "Could it be…you're…Mari-san?"

Mariko's face lit up in delight from being called a familiar name. "Yes! Oh, that lifts my heart. It's been ever so long."

"Haru, do you know this lady…?" Makoto felt a little left behind here.

"I do!" Haru was smiling. "Mari-san was one of my father's clients. They used to go golfing all the time. And she'd always keep me company whenever I was bored or lonely."

"Some freaking coincidence…" Ryuji was blown away by the odds.

"You can say that again…" Morgana and Hifumi said in unison. This meeting was the epitome of luck.

"Haru-chan…I'm so sorry about what happened to your father." Mariko frowned. She had to get that off her chest. When she did, Akechi and Haru both had gazes that glanced elsewhere.

"O-Oh, no…it's…okay…" Haru lied right through her teeth. Just when it felt like she was able to move on, everything came back to drag her back down. But it was only natural Mariko would give her condolences about it.

"Well, if there's anything that's been troubling you, you know that I'm here for you with open arms." Mariko said gently.

"I appreciate you saying that, but I'm okay." Haru smiled. Those words did give her comfort. It was nice knowing there was something in her corner again, so close, yet so far from home. "I have good people helping me with the company, and I'm working hard to finish my degree. Ad while I'm grateful to be surrounded by such wonderful people, I still have to walk on my own two feet."

Mariko could feel her eyes water. "Haru-chan…,my, how you've grown…" Feeling like a proud parent, she stepped forward to bring Haru into a hug.

This only embarrassed Haru. Being hugged in front of her friends like this. "Mari-san! I'm not a little kid anymore…"

"Aha…please forgive me." Mariko stepped back. "It seems my emotions got the better of me. Now then, are you visiting with your friends? I hope you're all enjoying Sapporo to the fullest. Rest assured, my staff is working hard to make Sapporo a beautiful and worthwhile destination for all." She then turned to her subordinate, who was still stuck in a bow. "Don't just stare at the ground! Go take care of these flowers at once!"

"Right away, ma'am!" The man then hurried off.

"Goodness. The moment I turn away, they all start slacking off." Mariko sighed. "I'm sorry you had to see that. Now, as much as I'd like to keep chatting, there are preparations to be done. This election has kept me busy night and day. But do let me know if there's any way I can help you." With that, she walked off.

"….." Haru let out a sigh after Mariko was gone.

"Well. That was an experience. She's, uh…..selectively pleasant?" Ren wasn't sure how the best way to phrase it.

"I'm sorry to be blunt, but she seems really two faced." Makoto said to Haru.

"She gives Alice a run for her money…" Hifumi said quietly. That was a lot to witness.

"Mari-san…you used to be so kind to everyone…" Haru frowned. The way she screamed at that subordinate…that was not the Mariko she remembered.

"You think…maybe she's not the Monarch we're after?" Ann twirled one of her pigtails nervously.

"Our target is the mayor of Sapporo." Akechi turned to Ann. "She is the mayor of Sapporo. I will be surprised if we put in her keyword and nothing happens."

"I…gotta agree with Akechi here." Ryuji rubbed the back of his neck. It felt weird to say, but he had a point. "We also saw her go apeshit on that guy. Normal people don't get pissed over plants."

"Are you okay, Haru?" Ann looked to Haru, concerned.

"I'm fine. Just a little surprised." Haru admitted. "Oh, and sorry I didn't get her keyword. I was…preoccupied."

"Understandable…it didn't cross my mind either." Akechi admitted. That did not make Haru feel better like he thought it would.

"We'll get it soon enough." Ren reassured the both of them. "But are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Haru said. Hifumi thought about opening her mouth, but…she decided against it. It was for the best…

"We should take this chance to ask around." Morgana said. "If she is the Monarch, we can learn something about her."

"No time like the present." Akechi said while walking off. He was the first one to do so, feeling uncomfortable with the atmosphere between him and Haru now. With the connection Mariko had to Haru and her father, things felt tenser between them than usual.

"Yes. I'd…like to find out what changed her." Haru nodded slowly.

.

.

Night fell in Sapporo. Mika asked to meet with Hifumi over text because she was so curious about what was happening. "Come on, you can tell me, Hifumi-chan!" Mika was too curious for her own good. "There's some more weird stuff going on, isn't there?"

"Sorry, Mika…I can't tell you that." Hifumi said with a sheepish smile, rubbing her arm. "It's stuff that's really on a need to know basis."

"Oh, come on…I wanna help again!" Mika said.

"I appreciate that, but I can't distract you from your work either." Hifumi added.

Mika could take the hint. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Okay, I get it. Top secret Phantom Thief stuff. But if you can't tell me, I'll just figure it out on my own. You're hunting the most suspicious person in Sapporo right now, aren't you?"

"Erm…" Hifumi wasn't going to confirm or deny that. While she did trust Mika, she did want to take Zenkichi's advice about keeping things on a lid seriously. The operation they were undergoing was important, after all.

"So…the Mayor?" Mika tapped her chin. Hifumi wasn't a good liar and Mika knew that. "God, people won't shut up about her. Everywhere I've been people are talking about her. She has some weird grip on this town, just like Alice did on Shibuya."

"Are you jealous because they aren't looking at you?" Hifumi said with a teasing smile.

"Hey….." Mika couldn't fight that. "But more importantly, you guys really like going after politicians don't you?"

"It's not like we're choosing to…" Hifumi rubbed the back of her neck. "It just…happens."

"Well, at least you're here." Mika smiled. "So, let's go out!"

"I can't. I'm busy." Hifumi frowned. "It's also late. I should be getting back soon. But I am happy to see you here. Good luck with your shoot!" Hifumi did have to leave.

Mika, meanwhile, did furrow her brows and frown. "…Good luck, Hifumi-chan." Seeing Ann with Hifumi earlier…ooh, the jealously…the envy…

.

.

August 10th

It was the time of Mariko Hyodo's speech. She was speaking to a large crowd, even larger than one could have predicted. "I'm sure you are all aware of the prior corruption that plagued our city council. Make no mistake, no one is more ashamed than I. As such, the ethics bill I propose will leave no more room for corruption to rear its ugly head. With your support, I will make this city of Sapporo a beautiful, stainless Paradise! Like fresh snow on a midwinter's day! Together, let us turn our home to a beacon of light to the world, where both citizens and government leaders radiate truth and purity! Now everyone, let's clean Sapporo up!"

"We're on it, Mayor Hyodo!"

"We'll do it!" The crowd erupted into a loud cheer as she rallied them all together.

"Holy shit…it's like we stepped into a cult…" Ryuji's jaw was nearly on the floor.

"Her popularity is unbelievable…" Ann was a little nervous with a crowd this huge. "Do you think everyone here has had their heart changed…?"

"Crowds have a tendency to attract people. I imagine some of them came of their own volition." Yusuke said.

"And if she gives out her keyword, I also imagine they'll be indoctrinated soon enough." Akechi said.

"…." Haru didn't like the way Akechi said that, but she couldn't deny the possibly, and that was the part that pained her the most.

"Haru…" Makoto frowned. This looked like it was a lot on Haru.

"Hey, everyone, she's pulling her phone out…!" Sumire pointed out.

"She's gonna say it. Be ready." Morgana told everyone.

"I'm sure you're all familiar with EMMA, yes? I'm also no stranger to technology, so please feel free to add me." Mariko said with a smile. "For those of you listening outside Sapporo, outside of Hokkaido, or even outside the country, this invitation extends to each of you as well! The keyword is 'Snow City'! Well, there you have it."

"Outside of the country? She sure is attempting to sink her hooks in as early as she possibly can." Akechi said, finding Mariko's foresight impressive and dangerous. If her goal was to reach the national level of politics, using EMMA preemptively on those outside of the country would no doubt aid that goal.

"This really is some crowd…" Ren felt a little daunted. This was bigger than Alice or even Natsume. The amount of people already under Mariko's spell were huge…

"Shouldn't we do something…?" Ryuji looked to the others.

"Aside from standing and watching? I don't know if that's wise…" Hifumi shook her head. "What can we do anyway? At least, in reality."

"Not a lot." Akechi said.

"But we have her keyword now. So we can enter the Jail whenever we're ready." Ren said.

"The smell here in Suzushino isn't too strong." Sophia said. "Getting inside the Jail won't be a problem."

"So the preparations have been made." Yusuke said.

"….Then let's go, everyone." Haru said, determined. "If Mari-san really is the Monarch, then we have to stop her. We can't let her continue to manipulate the hearts of the people." Haru had to stop her if that was the case.

"All right. Then let's get going." Ren said. The speech was dying down and the crowd was starting to disperse. So there was no better time to enter the Jail than now.

.

.

The Sapporo Jail was nothing like they could've expected. The instant the Phantom Thieves entered the Jail, they were met with a blizzard in a frozen city. They were all shuddering from the fierce cold. "S-S-So cold…" Oracle shuddered, clingingly closely to Violet for warmth.

Violet had it the worst. Her legs were freezing and she had no means to cover them. "C-C-Can't…feel my legs…"

"C-Can't…see shit…." Skull groaned. The blizzard wasn't helping things at all.

"Gah…" Dragon was suffering and clinging to Panther desperately for warmth. Mona couldn't even move; he was frozen stiff from the cold.

"I don't know how I didn't see this coming…" Crow's mask at least prevented the snow from getting in his face, but that didn't stop the cold. Snow City? Of course there was going to be a blizzard!

"I-I think…it's dying down…" Panther huffed. The blizzard did eventually die down, and now they could witness the Sapporo Jail for what it was: a beautifully frozen city, as cold as the Monarch's own heart.

"A city encased in ice. Its serenity belies a yawning desolation." Fox could tell at a first glance. He could feel how empty this place was. Lonely.

"S-So cold…!" Oracle was still hugging Violet. "Why is it so cold in the middle of summer!?"

"Make sure to stay warm…" Joker was probably faring the best out of everyone, but that wasn't saying much.

"Trying so hard…" Panther said, hugging Dragon in turn.

Noir pointed up high. "Look, up there!" There was a castle, that was their destination. But she then realized that they were in a Jail. That confirmed everything. "…The fact that we can enter this Jail means that Mari-san really is the Monarch."

"Noir…." Panther felt bad for Noir.

"It's okay." Noir shook her head. "My main concern is getting everyone's Desires back."

"There's a building that looks like a castle in the distance. Should we head there?" Sophie asked.

"Yes…let's make investigating that castle our top priority." Queen said.

"Alright! Let's go!" Joker told everyone. They finally made it into the Sapporo City Jail. It already proved to be more daunting than that of Prince of Nightmares. Were the Phantom Thieves up to the cold bite of reality? There was only one way to find out…