Persona 5: The Phantom Files

by sithlorde1988

Will cover the events of Persona 5 Royal, with the sequel set to cover Strikers. What happens when in addition to Ren being sentenced to go live in the care of Sojiro Sakura for a year after being sued for assault, his younger brother is also ordered to go and oversee him? How will this extra character change things? Read to find out! More info in chapter 1! ALL CHAPTERS NOW EDITED

30. Queen, Awaken! Rebellious Queen part 7

A/N: sithlorde1988 here, with another chapter of Persona 5- The Phantom Files! But more to the point, here we are at chapter 30! To date, I've only ever had a fic hit this many chapters one other time that I can recall, and that was with the final chapter of my recently completed story, Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory- The Amasawa Files (which ended its run at 30 chapters and just a shade over 502,000 words in length, both of which I fully expect this story to eclipse just in the Royal section of the story, to say nothing of the Strikers/Scramble part) which is up on my profile, for anyone who wants to read it and maybe leave it a review.

Fair warning to anyone who does read it though: I still need to go back in and give it some polishing, since on re-reading it myself, I've spotted many areas that need to be corrected, and chapter 1 in particular is going to need to be copy and pasted as a fresh document (along with I believe chapters 2 and 3) since there were quite a few areas that needed editing.

But that'll probably not happen until likely when I finish the Royal side of this story and go on a minor pause before starting the Strikers side of the story (though I will in all likelihood be typing out a small-ish interlude arc of sorts that helps connect the end of Royal to the start of Strikers/Scramble during said pause) so yeah there's that to consider. Now that I've gone on that brief tangent of sorts about my other stories (which I have many stories up on my profile, both one-shots and multi-chapter stories), let's hit up the disclaimer!

Disclaimer: sithlorde1988 does NOT own the Persona series in any way shape or form (barring the OC Kusa/Draconis who he made and therefore does own, along with any other OCs that might appear in the story) and the credit for owning the Persona series belongs to Sega, Atlus and Koei Tecmo so all credit to them!

That said, and without further delay, on with chapter 30!

Chapter 30: Bank of Shadows! The Queen Awakens! More Pre-Palace Prep Shenanigans! The Rebellious Queen part 7

(At the entrance of Kaneshiro's Palace, with Joker, Mona, Draconis, Skull, Panther, Fox and Niijima)

"Let's head in! But first, do we keep the same line-up we had at the end of the last Palace we did?" Joker asked the others, who thought about it before nodding as Joker kept speaking.

"Fair enough, so that means that for the time being, Panther and Mona are on back-ups with Niijima. Maybe if the instance comes that Niijima awakens to her own Persona, she might move to the front lines, but for now she's on backup status with Panther and Mona." Joker said in a commanding tone, getting nods from all present as the group went into Kaneshiro's Palace. After that the group approached the entrance as Mona spoke up.

"Shall we go? All right, we're going in!" Mona said as the group entered the Palace. Once inside, they found themselves stopped by a pair of security guard-esque Shadows, one of which spoke up.

"What business do you have here?" The security guard Shadow asked the group as Panther spoke up with a frown.

"I had a feeling this would happen." Panther said reluctantly as Draconis nodded his agreement and spoke up.

"As did I, Panther. As did I. But I suppose it was unavoidable if you think about it." Draconis said sagely. Niijima glared at the guards as she spoke up, her words making Mona and Draconis exchange wide-eyed glances of surprise with Skull and Joker respectively.

"Bring it!" Niijima said in a fierce and determined voice, making Skull look over at Niijima in shock before speaking up, his eyes slightly widened behind his mask as he spoke.

"No no! Wait!" Skull said as Fox spoke up to explain things.

"She's one of Kaneshiro's customers." Fox said as Niijima nodded, speaking up to play along with Fox's statement.

"I'd like to speak with the bank president." Niijima said as the other security guard Shadow frowned and spoke up.

"Excuse me, but do you have an appointment?" The second security guard Shadow asked Niijima who frowned and spoke up.

"I need to talk to him. Now let me through!" Niijima said forcefully as the two Shadows exchanged looks, but another voice echoed through the room and took the decision out of their hands as it spoke up.

"Let them pass." Kaneshiro's voice could be heard over an intercom, making the Shadows split apart and move aside so the group could pass, while Niijima gasped in recognition as she spoke up.

"That voice...It's Kaneshiro!" Niijima said as Draconis nodded before speaking up.

"I concur. There's no mistaking that dry tone of voice." Draconis said agreeably. Skull huffed as he spoke up.

"Like you have room to talk about dry tones, Draconis. That being said...Yo, banks have presidents?" Skull asked as Fox nodded and spoke up.

"Yes, but not the political sorts-in theory." Fox said as the group kept moving. After a second, another security guard spoke up.

"Please wait. Reception is to the right, towards the back. I strongly advise that you do not attempt to go elsewhere." The security guard said as the group nodded and kept moving. After a bit, the group found another security guard who looked at the group and spoke up.

"Reception is just past this door." The security guard said as the group nodded and kept going. Once they went through the nearby doorway another security guard spoke up as they stopped the group.

"Reception is just to the right. Don't go anywhere else." The security guard said as the group nodded and kept moving. As they reached the reception area, Niijima spoke up.

"Incredible...To think something this large flies high up above the sky..." Niijima said in surprise as Skull spoke up with a understanding smile.

"Well...I suppose it's true that anything goes within a Palace." Skull said as Draconis nodded and spoke up.

"That's true, but keep in mind we have a mission right now so let's keep moving. We can stop to admire the scenery later." Draconis said sagely as the group kept moving. After rounding a few more corners, they saw a security guard standing by a door, who spoke up once they spotted the group.

"This is the reception office. Hurry on inside." The security guard said as the group nodded and went into the room. Once in the room, most of the group's jaws dropped at the sight of a huge pile of cash on the table, which Skull gaped at before speaking up.

"Whoa...How many beef bowls could I eat with this?" Skull asked but Kaneshiro's voice answered before any of the others could reply to Skull's question.

"Unauthorized entry, property damage, and other disturbances. That comes to three million yen in total. You're here regarding that, correct, Miss Beautiful President?" The group heard as they looked over to the screen at the back of the room, on which a purple-pink skinned, black-haired, formally dressed version of Kaneshiro was looking at the group, sneering at them as he kept speaking, cutting off the snarky remarks that both Draconis and Skull had in mind as he spoke.

"It must be quite tough gathering so much money. I'd be willing to give you a loan, you know." The voice of what Draconis had mentally called 'Kaneshiro's Shadow' said through the screen as Skull blinked and spoke up in confusion, his words causing Fox, Joker, and Mona to all facefault, while Draconis frowned at him as he spoke.

"You gonna call it off then?" Skull asked as Draconis spoke up with a frown.

"Hardly! Skull, if we took this loan, IF being the keyword there, that'd just compound our problems. Because I don't see how that wouldn't just double up Niijima's debt." Draconis said sagely as Joker and Mona nodded their agreement with Draconis, as did Fox once all three had gotten up off the ground. Kaneshiro's Shadow gave Draconis an approving nod as he spoke up once more.

"You in the dragon mask, that's quite perceptive of you. And you in the skull mask, no-a loan. The interest rate is ten percent a day." Kaneshiro's Shadow said as everyone other than Niijima and Draconis gasped at this, while the two in question glared at the outrageous rate. Panther frowned as she spoke up.

"Ten percent interest a day...Um...Uhh...That means...One day is..." Panther said as Draconis and Niijima both spoke up, having already figured it out in their heads.

"Three hundred thousand yen/It's three hundred thousand yen." Draconis and Niijima said around the same time, making them blink before exchanging curt nods of respect, each impressed by the other's ability to do the math so quickly. Skull, Joker, Fox, Mona, and Panther all gaped at this, as Kaneshiro's Shadow chuckled and kept speaking.

"There's no need to be alarmed. I have a more manageable option for people like you." Kaneshiro's Shadow said as Niijima spoke up to cut him off.

"That was your plan from the beginning, wasn't it?" Niijima asked as Draconis nodded and spoke up.

"Exactly, Niijima-san. I'd be surprised in the extreme if Kaneshiro-kun was planning to let us leave here alive, or at least if his Shadow there was." Draconis said in a dry, deadpan tone as Kaneshiro smirked as he spoke up once more, pleased at how perceptive both Niijima and Draconis were.

"My, that's quite the impressive insights by the two of you...Niijima-san and the guy in a dragon mask. Or, should I say, the younger sister of the beautiful prosecutor Sae Niijima?" Kaneshiro's Shadow said, making the others aside from Draconis look at Niijima in surprise, while Draconis huffed as Niijima spoke up.

"How do you know that!? And more importantly, why are you doing this, Junya-kun? You never used to be like this when you were with Sae! Why have you changed into this...this disgusting excuse of a man that I'm looking at?" Niijima asked Kaneshiro's Shadow, not seeing the appraising look Draconis gave her as Kaneshiro's Shadow spoke up once more at that point.

"Don't speak as if you know a thing about me or my past, Niijima-san. If anything, your sister's the one who changed! I was nothing, if not good, to the two of you! And just because I found myself forced to do what I had to do in order for not only myself, but also the both of you to be able to survive, she dumps me!? How ungrateful can you be!? That said, please don't underestimate our intelligence network. My, what wonderful goods have come falling into my lap." Kaneshiro's Shadow said in a dry, drawling tone as everyone looked at him, Panther huffing as she spoke up angrily.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Panther said as Draconis spoke up as well at that point.

"What Panther said! Sure, what you speak of is terrible, but have you stopped to consider she had more than just her own happiness to consider, Kaneshiro-kun? And on top of that, you must have realized that in your line of work, you were inevitably going to find yourself at odds with Niijima-san's sister even if she had tried to make it work with you. So as such, you have no one to blame for your misfortune but yourself, for making the choices that you did! And as for your remark about wonderful goods, I hardly think that you'll change anything with that sort of a distorted view." Draconis said dryly. Kaneshiro's Shadow then chuckled as he spoke up, his words making Niijima, Panther and Mona gasp while both Joker and Draconis glared at what he had to say.

"Heh, so you say, guy in the dragon mask. Regardless, the fact remains that young women are such great assets. They lack strength-be it social, physical or mental. It's as if they only exist to be devoured by the strong. That just might be the rule since the dawn of history." Kaneshiro's Shadow said as Fox and Draconis glared angrily at the screen, the former speaking up in a disgusted sounding tone.

"You truly are despicable..." Fox said, trailing off as Draconis spoke up once more, glaring at Kaneshiro's Shadow as he spoke.

"Not to mention completely and totally sexist against women! 'Rule since the dawn of history', my effing ass! And I think Niijima-san here alone would contradict your opinion about women! You have no idea how much she's had to go through, just this year alone! If anything, she's one of the strongest people I've seen, even if she has been at odds with the rest of us at times. Regardless, she still managed to come through for us in a way that we could never have hoped to have managed on our own.

So you can take those sexist views of yours and shove 'em where the sun don't shine!" Draconis said in an annoyed tone of voice, leaving the fact that he and Joker were amply offended enough at that remark for Futaba and Kasumi, respectively, unspoken. Skull nodded as he spoke up, his words making Draconis and Mona have to stop themselves from facefaulting as he spoke.

"Truth, Draconis! And you better be ready, Kaneshiro! We're gonna steal your Treasure from you!" Skull said as Kaneshiro's Shadow smirked while speaking up.

"Don't make me laugh, you petty thieves. My citadel has the highest security installed in it." Kaneshiro's Shadow said as at that moment a bunch of Shadows spawned in before he kept speaking.

"Anyone will do anything for money. I'll rob you of your lives as easily as I breathe air." Kaneshiro's Shadow said before snickering as he spoke up once more looking at the Shadows in the room as he spoke.

"Get them." Kaneshiro said as the Shadows turned into a pair of strong-looking beings with long, sharp weapons, one of which spoke up as the fight started.

"It's Mister Kaneshiro's orders! Eliminate them at once!" The being said as the fight began! After the first couple of Shadows went down, another being spoke up.

"The first squad's been taken down! Send in backup! The target is still alive! We must deal with them at any cost!" The being said as more beings spawned in and the fight continued. After the second squad went down, the being from before spoke up once more.

"The target is currently stuck here! We need more backup! Don't let them escape! We must take them down!" The being said as three more beings spawned in, the same two as before and a third shorter being with what appeared to be a cross between a gun and a blade in one hand plus a very scary-looking face. Mona cringed as he spoke up.

"What the-There's no end to them. Have they really been hired with money...!? We're in trouble at this rate! Let's run!" Mona said as the others nodded and fled the battle. Once out of the room, Niijima winced at the others as she spoke up.

"Why did the security guards turn into monsters!? And what were those supernatural powers...!? Could those have been the Personas you mentioned...!?" Niijima asked as Draconis spoke up with a wince as he looked at Niijima as he spoke.

"No, those are not Personas. Those were Shadows. Sorry, we forgot to cover that when we were filling you in on the Metaverse, so that's our bad." Draconis said apologetically as Mona huffed and spoke up.

"Be that as it may Draconis, does now REALLY look like the time for Niijima to be asking that!? We need to retreat! Makoto, make sure you don't get separated from us!' Mona said as Draconis and Panther gaped at Mona referring to Niijima by her first name before nodding to the point the not-cat had made that fleeing took top priority at that moment. The group kept fleeing until Mona spoke up as they approached the exit.

"Hurry, Joker! The exit's just over there!" Mona said as Joker nodded and the group kept fleeing. However, as they reached the exit, another group of security guard Shadows spawned in making Panther speak up after she stopped to catch her breath.

"There's no end to them!" Panther said as Niijima winced and spoke up.

"Guys!" Niijima said as she noticed Kaneshiro's Shadow walk up to the group, making the others turn to face him as he spoke.

"You seem to be in quite a pickle..." Kaneshiro's Shadow said as Mona winced and spoke up.

"How dare you sneak around, Kaneshiro!" Mona said as Skull and Draconis winced, the latter speaking up in a dry tone.

"Is it REALLY sneaking if it's his Palace, Mona-sensei?" Draconis asked uncertainly as Skull nodded and spoke up.

"Exactly! Also, I think right now the bigger issue is getting everyone outta here safely!" Skull said, instinctively positioning himself so he could step between Niijima and the shadows if needed, his actions making Niijima look at Skull in a mix of surprise, awe, and even a hint of admiration. Niijima shook herself mentally to stay focused as Kaneshiro's Shadow spoke up once more with a frown at Mona while he spoke.

"I believe THOSE would be MY words. However, I do thank you for providing me with such wonderful goods...It's time you disappear." Kaneshiro's Shadow said, clapping his hands as even more security guard Shadows spawned in making Niijima gasp as she spoke up.

"Oh..!" Niijima said as Skull kept himself positioned so he could protect her if needed. Kaneshiro's Shadow spoke up as he smirked.

"Managing a bank is tough as it is. So it's my policy to kill clients who are more trouble than they're worth. Having one impertinent brat disappear is enough to set an example in that other world." Kaneshiro's Shadow said as Niijima stepped forward and spoke up with a fearful look on her face as she spoke.

"Please stop!" Niijima said as Kaneshiro's Shadow chuckled as he spoke up.

"Oh, I wouldn't damage an asset like YOU. THEY're dead men/women walking, but you'll be just fine. Your sister is quite a beauty though, as I recall quite well. I'll make sure to make her my personal slave, once I win her back. And then once I get bored, I'll just sell her off. Oh, poor Sis...She could've been successful, if only her younger sister wasn't so dumb." Kaneshiro's Shadow said as Niijima frowned and spoke up angrily.

"Junya-kun, I don't know why you're so bitter and distorted like this, but my sister...but Sae has NOTHING to do with this!" Niijima said as Kaneshiro huffed and spoke up, seemingly unconcerned by her calling him by name as he spoke, his words making Draconis and Skull gape before both glared at Kaneshiro's Shadow.

"Then you better start taking customers tomorrow. All you gotta do is endure it and do as you're told." Kaneshiro's Shadow said as Niijima winced, seemingly retreating into herself as she spoke, her words making Skull get increasingly annoyed as he heard her speak.

"Endure it...Do as I'm told..." Niijima said as Kaneshiro's Shadow smirked as he spoke up once more.

"You'll earn three million yen in no time. Although, your life and everything along with it will be a complete wreck by then!" Kaneshiro's Shadow said as he started laughing mockingly, making Skull and Draconis both growl as they spoke up, Skull speaking first.

"You bastard! How can you speak of something that disgusting and laugh!?" Skull asked as Draconis nodded and spoke up.

"For real, Skull! This man gives a whole new meaning to 'depraved, sick pervert'! Not to mention, he's nuts if he thinks we'll let him basically whore out our friend just to settle some bullshit debt!" Draconis said huffily, his eyes narrowed behind his mask as he spoke. Joker, Fox and Mona nodded their agreement as did Panther, but it was Niijima who would speak up next, visibly shaking with anger as she spoke, her words making Skull and Draconis gape as she spoke, literally putting her foot down in the form of a powerful stomp that left a crater in the ground where she'd stomped her foot down.

"I've been listening to you go on and on...I can't believe I'm saying this to you, Junya-kun, but...SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU MONEY-GRUBBING ASSHOLE!" Niijima snapped at Kaneshiro's Shadow, not seeing the twin looks of mixed shock, awe and respect her outburst got from Skull and Draconis, while the others just looked on in stunned silence and Kaneshiro's Shadow looked at Niijima in surprise as he spoke up.

"Huh?" Kaneshiro's Shadow said as Niijima then heard a voice speak to her in her head at that point.

(Awakening start-Makoto)

"Have you decided to tread the path of strife...?" Makoto heard in her head as she nodded, speaking up without any hesitation.

"Yes...Come to me." Makoto said confidently and decisively as the voice in her head spoke up once more.

"Very well. Let us proceed with our contract at once." Makoto heard in her head, as she suddenly started grabbing her head as it started aching like it was being tenderized with a hammer, making Makoto scream as she grabbed her head and started flailing about as the voice kept speaking up in her head.

"I am thou, thou art I...You have finally found your own justice. Please...never lose sight of it again." Makoto heard, as she started holding her head with her hands as she screamed, a metallic mask appearing over her face in a flash of blue light as the voice in her head kept speaking.

"This memorable day marks your graduation from your false self..." Makoto heard as she groaned as she struggled with her mask, eventually managing to yank it off with a loud pained cry of 'YAAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!" as the room was surrounded with a blinding flash of light as Kaneshiro's Shadow looked on in shock as he spoke up.

"What the hell!?" Kaneshiro's Shadow said, unintentionally voicing Skull and Draconis' thoughts as well with his question. Once the flash of light died down, Niijima could be seen sitting astride a bike, which Draconis noted with a bit of surprise appeared to have a face on the front, while the bike appeared to have shadowy chains flickering across the front as Skull and Fox both gaped, the latter speaking up in disbelief, not sure what to make of what he'd just seen as he spoke.

"A Persona...?" Fox asked in shock as Skull shook his head and spoke up, frowning as he spoke.

"No, dude...That's a bike..." Skull said as Draconis spoke up in a dry tone, smirking as he spoke.

"Actually Skull, since it had a face on the front of it, I'd say it's both a Bike AND a Persona, so you're both correct. Though am I the ONLY one getting serious 'Ghost Rider' and 'femme fatale' energy off of Niijima-san right now?" Draconis said as Skull smirked and spoke up.

"Truth, man! She looks freaking sick!" Skull said in agreement. At that point, Niijima got a resolute look on her face as she spoke up, glaring at Kaneshiro's Shadow as she spoke.

"At last, I can feel it...My 'self'. Me...! GUN IT!" Niijima said as she revved the bike/Persona's engine as she drove forward, doing a very precise spin in the lobby, knocking the Shadows down as Panther gaped at the display, speaking up in an appreciative tone.

"Wow...Nice!" Panther said as Mona gaped and spoke up, his tone a mix of shocked, awed and stunned as he spoke.

"Wh-What is that!? I've never seen anything like it..." Mona said as even Kaneshiro's Shadow was in shock and/or fear for a brief moment, before he composed himself and glared at the two Shadows still standing as he spoke up angrily.

"Ugh...You better earn your keep, or else I'll kill you!" Kaneshiro's Shadow said as Niijima frowned, glaring at Kaneshiro's Shadow as she spoke up once more.

"I will not lose heart again, EVER. I will go full speed, NON-STOP! RIGHT, JOHANNA!?" Niijima said as she tagged in for Fox, who tagged out so she could move to the front lines, still riding the now-named Johanna as she spoke up.

"I will not lose sight of myself anymore! I am DONE playing nice! Let's go, Johanna! Full throttle!" Niijima said as Mona spoke up at that point.

"The enemy's agitated! Take them down and make an opening!" Mona said as the battle began once more.

(End Awakening-Makoto)

As the battle started, Draconis turned to give Niijima an appraising look before he spoke up.

"Well, well. Looks like Miss Prez's gone and gotten herself her own Persona. The fact that hers came with its own wheels is rather interesting, but neat. But never mind that now. Niijima-san! This is your chance to prove your worth! Let's get rid of these overgrown eyesores and make a way out of here!" Draconis said as Niijima nodded and spoke up.

"Understood. Let's get them. CHARGE, JOHANNA!" Niijima said as Draconis nodded and spoke up.

"Agreed. COME FORTH, SMAUG!" Draconis said as both he and Niijima summoned their Personas. Niijima then spoke up.

"Looking at that Persona of yours, I'm guessing it's a fire-breathing dragon? If so, maybe you can burn the enemies so Johanna can hit them with the force of a nuclear bomb?" Niijima suggested as Draconis blinked before smirking as he spoke up.

"Techincally, Smaug uses Almighty skills. But he DOES know a little bit of Fire skills, and if your Persona has Nuke, we could use that to do some Technical damage shenanigans. Am I right that you want to try that?" Draconis asked as Niijima nodded and spoke up.

"Yep." Niijima said before driving forward and crashing Johanna into the nearest Shadow, right as the bike Persona flashed and loosed a giant orb of Nuclear energy at the enemies at the same time that Draconis snapped his fingers and Smaug loosed a torrent of Fire energy on the enemies, managing to clock them all with the 'Burn' status ailment, making the Nuclear strike from Johanna do 'Techincal' damage and knock the enemies down. At that point, Joker spoke up.

"Niijima! Ready to show us what you can do? This is the part of a fight where we go in for what's known as an 'All-Out Attack', and as you're the newest one of us, this is your chance to show off your All-Out Attack. Interested?" Joker said as Queen nodded eagerly before Joker spoke up.

"Good! EVERYONE! ALL-OUT ATTACK FORMATION!" Joker said as Draconis and Skull nodded as the quartet ran forwards to attack the downed enemies with all their might, until Niijima came flying in with her spiked knuckles smashing down into the ground, making the downed enemies dissolve into black mist as her fists hit them while Niijima showed off her aikido skills, proving that she hadn't been bluffing about training in the martial art before, as well as making Niijima pose like a badass as she spoke up. When she spoke, both Draconis and Skull smirked at what she said.

"FIST! OF! JUSTICE!" Niijima said as she posed epically and the screen cut to a still-frame image of the words 'JUSTICE HAS PREVAILED.' over the top of some tire treads, presumably left in the wake of Johanna's driving, as Mona spoke up after seeing the opening that Niijima's All-Out Attack had created..

"Now! Let's get outta here!" Mona said as the battle ended. After the battle, Mona spoke up.

"We know how to get in now. Our objective's been accomplished!" Mona said as Panther spoke up with a frown.

"True...but how are we getting out?" Panther said as Niijima spoke up in a dry tone, an amused smirk on her face as she spoke.

"There's only one exit, right?" Niijima pointed out dryly as she revved Johanna's engine idly as Skull smirked and spoke up, giving Niijima a look that was a mix of impressed and admiring as he spoke.

"So, you're totally the Fist of the Phantom Star now, huh?" Skull said with a smirk as both Mona and Draconis groaned at Skull's comment, not thinking that this was an appropriate time OR place for such a question. However, before either could voice their objections, Niijima beat them to it, glaring at Skull as she spoke.

"Do you WANT to get smacked?" Niijima said in a dry and snarky tone, making Draconis blink at her in surprise, impressed despite himself with her boldness and dry wit. Niijima kept speaking before Skull could even answer her question, looking at the surprised Thieves as she spoke.

"I'm going on ahead, so follow me!" Niijima said, as she did a full 360 on Johanna and barreled through the front door as she exited the Palace, leaving Skull to gape after her, his tone a mix of impressed, awed and intrigued as he spoke.

"Daaamn...that's hot. And badass!" Skull said as Draconis frowned as he spoke up, not amused with Skull's timing for stopping to admire the potential newcomer to the group as he spoke.

"Yeah, yeah, we get it Skull. You've got it bad for her! Let's focus right now! She gave us an opening after all, you fool!" Draconis huffed as Mona nodded and spoke up.

"Exactly! Okay, we have a path!" Mona said as he turned into his bus form as he spoke up.

"GET IN!" Mona said to the others who blinked before scrambling into the Mona-bus, which drove out of the Palace at high speeds as Kaneshiro's Shadow spoke up.

"So you'll stand against me, no matter what. Very well, I'll wait for you all. There's no escape in reality, nor will you break through the security system here. It doesn't matter WHAT you do! You all can kiss your bright futures goodbye!" Kaneshiro's Shadow said as the group fled the Metaverse...

(Back in the real world with Ren, Kusa, Morgana, Ann, Ryuji, Yusuke and Niijima)

As the others gathered around a winded, kneeling Niijima, other than Morgana who was dozing off in Ren's bag, Ryuji smirked as he spoke up.

"Man, talk about wild! That was no aikido. THAT was some hardcore ass whoopin'!" Ryuji said as Ann nodded, speaking up to add her two cents.

"I am SO not pissing her off...I feel like she'll rip off my arm." Ann said in mixed awe and fear as Yusuke nodded, speaking up at that point.

"I concur. She does exude that aura..." Yusuke said as Kusa chose that point to speak up with a smirk.

"True. She does have a certain aura about her, though I do hope you'll forgive me if I don't seem too surprised if we hear her at any point yell out 'NIIJIMA SMASH!' when she rages." Kusa said jokingly, making Niijima wince as she glared at Kusa for his bad joke as she spoke up, ignoring the fact that both Ren and Ryuji were chuckling at Kusa's joke as she focused her focus and anger on the younger Amamiya brother while she spoke.

"Oh, stop it! And Amamiya-kun the younger? I AM NOT THE INCREDIBLE HULK! So you can quit with those jokes right now!" Niijima snapped as Kusa winced and nodded, giving her his best contrite/remorseful look as he spoke up.

"Got it. My apologies, Niijima-senpai. That was in terrible taste. I was merely trying to lift the mood a bit, but I was unsuccessful in doing so, it seems." Kusa said as Niijima smiled approvingly as she continued to speak up, nodding at Kusa as she kept speaking.

"Forgiven, Amamiya-kun the younger. That said, this is the most exhausted I've ever gotten these past few years. But I have to say, it felt pretty great." Niijima said as Ren looked at Niijima, nodding approvingly as she kept speaking.

"But, I never thought I'd become part of the Phantom Thieves I was after. Sis might faint if she found out." Niijima said as Ren and Kusa exchanged skeptical glances, the latter speaking up, a smirk on his face as he spoke.

"Yeah, right after she got done having multiple coronaries once you mention the part that you did so to help stop her evil ex-boyfriend. Jeez, I swear, this is starting to feel like something straight out of a movie." Kusa said as Ryuji nodded eagerly before fist-bumping Kusa as he spoke up.

"Truth, man! I can see this being a reverse Scott Pilgrim situation of sorts. Though probably minus the part with Niijima-san's sister having seven evil ex-boyfriends, hopefully." Ryuji said as Yusuke spoke up, easily changing the subject from Kusa and Ryuji's lame joking.

"Your sister? You mentioned her earlier..." Yusuke said as Niijima nodded and spoke up.

"Yes. She's a prosecutor for the district-and she's investigating the Phantom Thieves." Niijima said as Ryuji's eyes went wide as he spoke up.

"Wait-ain't that bad!?" Ryuji asked as Niijima chuckled at Ryuji's reaction, smiling at him as she spoke up reassuringly.

"No need to worry. A normal investigation would NEVER lead them to a world like that. Then again, must've been fate for this to happen..." Niijima said as she trailed off, leaving an opening for Ann to speak up in surprise and confusion.

"What do you mean?" Ann asked Niijima. Niijima looked at the group as she spoke up.

"I can't be like my sister. I had a feeling that there'd come a time when we wouldn't see eye to eye anymore. I'm thankful to have a sister who works so hard, but...there are times I feel sorry for her too. And after hearing my Persona's voice, I clearly understand how I feel now." Niijima said as the others nodded before Yusuke spoke up.

"It appears you're not as reserved as you make yourself seem." Yusuke said as Niijima winced and spoke up.

"I was just doing whatever the adults told me to." Niijima said as Yusuke spoke up, his words making Kusa gape at him in a mix of offense, outrage, and shock as he spoke.

"Wouldn't she be perfect as our advisor? She's fearless and has a sharp mind." Yusuke said as Ryuji spoke up, his words making Kusa huff and glare at him as he spoke.

"Sounds good to me! We've needed someone like that for a while now!" Ryuji said as Kusa huffed and spoke up.

"Be that as it may, I feel that I would be remiss if I didn't point out that even if we haven't had an official 'advisor' per se, I'd like to think that Morgana-sensei and I both somewhat filled that role in an unofficial capacity so far. So if Niijima-san wishes to take that role, then perhaps we can work something out where she shares it with myself and Morgana, perhaps as a co-advisor of sorts?" Kusa said after thinking about it. Niijima nodded as she spoke up, noticing idly while she did so how annoyed and almost Kusa's tone had been while she spoke.

"Agreed. I wouldn't dream of overstepping my bounds or stepping on anyone's toes. That said, I'd be honored if I can help out." Niijima said as Ann spoke up with a chuckle.

"We had way too much testosterone anyway, so I feel much better hav-" Ann said as she was cut off by Niijima's phone going off, making her frown as she checked it before speaking up.

"It's from Kaneshiro. He's reminding us of our debt. So the Kaneshiro over here doesn't know what happened inside the Palace." Niijima said as Kusa spoke up.

"Precisely. The Kaneshiro we saw was Kaneshiro's Shadow, or the distorted version of Kaneshiro's desires, hence why his appearance looked different to before." Kusa said as Morgana nodded and spoke up to add on to Kusa's explanation.

"That's right, but his Palace will be affected if the real Kaneshiro's cognition changes. We can't be lax." Morgana said as Niijima nodded and spoke up.

"It seems it'd be best to avoid unnecessary contact with him until then." Niijima said as Ryuji nodded, kicking the ground with his shoe as he spoke up.

"Three weeks left, huh..." Ryuji said as Yusuke nodded as he spoke up at that point.

"There's also that security system too." Yusuke said as Ann did a closed-eye smile as she spoke up.

"But if we pull this off, it'll definitely be great!" Ann said as Niijima gritted her teeth as she pumped a fist determinedly and spoke up, her words making everyone else but Ryuji wince at the fierceness in her tone while Ryuji just grinned, quite intrigued, and possibly even impressed, by this take-charge side of Niijima's personality as she spoke.

"We'll crush him like a fly. I'll make him regret making me angry..." Niijima said as Ryuji spoke up.

"Anyways, let's begin our operation tomorrow!" Ryuji said as Ann nodded before she then spoke up.

"First, we need to secure a route to the Treasure like always." Ann said as Morgana nodded approvingly before he spoke up.

"You guys are finally starting to get used to this." Morgana said as Niijima spoke up with a mix of a smirk and a smile on her face as she spoke.

"I'll be waiting for the call to meet up." Niijima said as the group dispersed for the evening, Ren and Kusa heading back to Leblanc with Morgana...

(That evening at Leblanc, up in Ren and Kusa's room with Ren and Morgana)

As Ren and Morgana sat and looked at one another, Ren's phone went off to signify a group chat with Ryuji, Ann, Kusa, Yusuke, and surprisingly enough Niijima, who Ren vaguely recalled exchanging contact info with as the group dispersed. And it was Ryuji to send the first response, unsurprisingly.

"Damn, motorcycles are cool...I wish my Persona was like that." Ryuji sent as Kusa sent a response at that point.

"I think I recall Morgana-sensei once saying that the Persona chooses the wielder as much as the Wielder chooses to awaken to it, so you having a pirate for your Persona happened for a reason, Ryuji. Besides, with all respect to Niijima-san, I don't think a motorcycle with a face is that cool of a Persona, though I will agree that it totally kicks ass." Kusa sent. Yusuke then sent a response.

"Yours is on a ship though, Ryuji. That said, I agree with Kusa. After all, your persona is a pirate ship captain, Kusa's is an actual dragon, Ren's is a literal gentleman thief, Ann's is a dancer/femme fatale, and mine is basically a pipe-smoking artist. So it somewhat fits that Niijima-san's is a bike, since she's clearly a closet biker or rider." Yusuke sent. Ryuji sent a response at that point.

"Dude, you kidding!? Motorcycles are way cooler than dumb boats! It'll be just like the song! 'I'm a phantom, on a steel horse I ride...' That's so badass!" Ryuji sent as Kusa frowned and sent a response.

"First of all, I do believe that lyric goes 'I'm a COWBOY, on a steel horse I ride...', and secondly, I didn't take you for a Bon Jovi fan, Ryuji! Hell yeah, man! Does that mean you enjoy yourself some classic rock too!?" Kusa sent as Ryuji sent a response at that point.

"Damn effing straight I do! Way I hear it from Ren, you like yourself some Zeppelin, Aerosmith and Metallica, among others." Ryuji sent as Niijima sent a response at that point before Kusa could send a response to Ryuji's respoonse.

"Don't say such things, Sakamoto. And for the record, I am most certainly not 'wanted'." Niijima sent as Kusa's jaw dropped at her quoting another part of that song, making him send another response.

"Wait, what!? You listen to Bon Jovi as well, Niijima-san!? That's effing amazing! Maybe you're more of a rock-n-roll girl than anything? As for you not being wanted, I'd say that depends on who you're asking, Niijima-san. Am I right, Ryuji?" Kusa sent as Ryuji sputtered and sent a response.

"Sh-Shuddup, Kusa! Just because I appreciate Niijima-san's Persona, and Niijima-san by extension, does not mean I like and/or want her! So quit your instigating! It was funnier when you were teasing Ren about Yoshizawa. Or would you rather I bring up a certain other redhead that you seem to be relatively smitten with?" Ryuji sent as Ann sent a response before Kusa could light into Ryuji and further derail the conversation.

"RYUJI! Don't pick a fight with him! And don't bring his friend into this when she can't defend herself! That said, honestly, I'm just surprised you know how to ride a motorcycle at all, Niijima-senpai." Ann sent as Ryuji sent a response at that point.

"Fine, I'll behave! That said, do you got a license, Niijima-san?" Ryuji sent. Niijima-san sent a response at that point.

"A regular one, yes. And you'd be surprised what sort of music I like, Amamiya-kun the younger. That said, I agree with your tastes. Led Zeppelin, Metallica and Aerosmith are all really great bands." Niijima sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"Niceee...I can't wait to get my hands on one too." Ryuji sent as Niijima sent another response.

"That aside, mind if I change the topic for a moment?" Niijima sent as Yusuke sent a response.

"What is the matter?" Yusuke sent as Niijima sent another response which had Kusa and Ren wincing with Morgana while Ann just was shocked at what was sent.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I know I'm not in any position to be saying that. I truly do...However, I must apologize. It was my actions that dragged all of you into this mess. On top of that, I misunderstood your true intentions in this. If only I could have realized what was happening to Suzui-san too..." Niijima sent as Ann sent a response.

"Come on, we don't need to talk about that now." Ann sent as Yusuke sent a response.

"It seems there are still lingering issues on everyone's minds." Yusuke sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"Now's not the time to be talking about that shit though! Don't we gotta be doing something about Kaneshiro?" Ryuji sent as Ann sent a response, followed by Kusa.

"He's right." Ann sent as Kusa's response came in, the tone of which gave the very distinct impression that he was livid.

"First of all, I agree with Ann! DO NOT DRAG TABA INTO THIS LIKE THAT, RYUJI! I'll back off about your possible feelings for Niijima-san, but do NOT drag Taba into this when she can't defend herself! I don't even do that to Ren about HIS lady friend anymore! That said, ignoring the fact that it was YOUR effing big loud mouth that enabled Niijima-san to take the actions that dragged us into this mess in the first place, you have a point, Ryuji.

Kaneshiro IS the main priority right now. Specifically, securing the route to his Treasure and changing that warped heart of his. Honestly, I legit feel bad for Niijima-san's sister that she had to date such a scumbag at one point." Kusa sent as Niijima winced but nodded as she sent her response.

"That is a good point, Amamiya-kun the younger. But he wasn't always like that. However, that being said...Very well, I understand. Anyway, I will do my best to make sure I don't slow you all down." Niijima sent as Ren put his phone away. Right after that, Morgana spoke up.

"Well, we were at odds with each other until just a while ago...But Ryuji's totally right. We need to work together to overcome this!" Morgana said as Ren set his phone down. Morgana then kept speaking as Ren stood up.

"Makoto seems like she'll make a reliable advisor. But now we're going up against a real criminal. Stay on your toes, okay?" Morgana said as Ren nodded. After sizing up his options, Ren decided on studying to up his Knowledge, right as Kusa walked in and noticed Ren sitting down.

"Ah, planning on studying, Ren? If you can wait just a second for me to set my stuff down, I'll join you. After all, it never hurts to have extra Knowledge, methinks." Kusa said as Ren nodded before Sojiro spoke up after Kusa went upstairs.

"Now listen up! Neither you, or Kusa for that matter, will have much time for studying when you go out into the world, so study now while you can. And study hard as well." Sojiro said as Morgana nodded approvingly and spoke up.

"The chief is right, as always. So what're you gonna do today, study with Kusa?" Morgana said to Ren as Kusa came back downstairs, studying materials in hand as Ren spoke up.

"Yeah, I think so. If nothing else, it's more Knowledge gains for me. With any luck, I'll get closer to bettering myself." Ren said as Kusa nodded and sat down at the table with Ren.

"Very true, Ren. And you never know when being smart and/or knowledgeable might help you impress a girl like, oh I don't know, maybe Yoshizawa-san? Luckily for me, I'm naturally fairly intelligent and when I couple that with how smart Taba is, that's a lot of Knowledge right there. But anyways, let's study." Kusa said as Ren nodded. Sojiro also nodded as he spoke up.

"As much as I wouldn't mind watching you two bond, I think I'll be headin' home, so I don't have to hear it if said bonding involves Kusa waxing poetic about Futaba. That said, make sure you close up when you're done." Sojiro said as Ren and Kusa nodded as Sojiro left, before the two started studying. As the two studied, Morgana looked at Ren as he spoke up.

"Hey, hey! I see you're able to solve these problems rather quickly, Ren. I hope you're not just picking the easy ones." Morgana said as Kusa spoke up.

"He's not, Morgana. I'm watching him. He hasn't skipped a problem yet, so don't worry so much. Besides, he knows full well that he can't cut corners in life. If nothing else, it'll not only make him even better as a person, but probably go a long way in endearing him to Kasumi. But I think he knows that already." Kusa said as Ren nodded without looking up from his studying. After a bit more studying, the pencils had stopped moving across paper to signify that Ren and Kusa had finished their homework while studying. Morgana spoke up approvingly as he looked over at the two.

"You're both making some excellent progress. I can see the wisdom in Ren's eyes behind his glasses! And I can hear it in Kusa's voice when he speaks." Morgana said as Ren nodded, pumping a fist happily as his Knowledge increased. After that, Morgana spoke up once more.

"Well then, you'll tire yourselves out if you keep at that if you go for too long. You should call it for the night and get some sleep." Morgana said as Ren and Kusa nodded, the three heading up to bed for the night. However, before Ren could go to sleep, Morgana padded over to him and spoke up, Kusa sitting up to listen in.

"A motorcycle-shaped Persona, huh...You know, I can turn into a car too, so it's like... I feel a sense of familiarity?" Morgana said as Ren spoke up.

"Perhaps, but I think we can all agree that motorcycles are cooler than cars." Ren said as Kusa frowned and spoke up.

"Since Morgana turns into a bus and not a car, I can agree with that. But I still say that the Morgana-bus is the definitive way to travel for us Thieves." Kusa said sagely. Morgana smirked as he spoke up, giving Ren a disapproving look as he spoke.

"You just don't get it, Ren. Don't underestimate the power of four-wheel drive!" Morgana said with a smirk as he kept speaking.

"Well, motorcycles are nice too, but it can't carry large numbers of people. I really am special after...all...huh?" Morgana said as he trailed off, seemingly speaking to himself as he kept speaking.

"Carry...? No... Take somewhere? Something just crossed my mind...It's no use. I can't remember at all...Uggghhh...Eh. There's nothing I can do about it if I can't remember. I need to concentrate on Kaneshiro for now. Unlike you guys, Makoto's clever, so we can expect great things from her." Morgana said as Kusa huffed and spoke up, giving the not-cat an uncertain yet annoyed frown while he spoke.

"She might be clever, Morgana-sensei, but WHO was it that bailed YOU, Ryuji, AND Ann out of that trap that you set off with your treasure lust during Madarame's Palace!? If I recall right, was that not me? So I disagree with you saying that the rest of us aren't clever." Kusa said huffily. Morgana winced and nodded.

"Fair enough, Kusa. I meant to say 'unlike the rest of you, bar Kusa' anyways, so my bad." Morgana said as he kept speaking.

"But man Ren, you really do have something special." Morgana said as Ren blinked and spoke up.

"If you mean the rest of the Thieves, that was just coincidence. If you mean Kasumi and I, I just got lucky." Ren said. Morgana nodded agreeably as he spoke up.

"Looks like I better step up my game too!" Morgana said as Ren nodded, feeling his bond with Morgana deepen, making the 'Magician' card appear in his mind's eye, the 'III' becoming a 'IV' to signify his Magician Confidant link with Morgana reaching Rank 4, and as a result Morgana awoken to his power of 'Kitty Talk' which allowed Ren to re-do negotiations with an animal-type Shadow if they fail. After that, Morgana spoke up once more while Ren tried not to laugh at Morgana's new skill being called 'Kitty Talk'.

"I know! After we deal with Kaneshiro, I should consult her about Mementos too. I'm sure Makoto's brain can-" Morgana said as he blinked on realizing Ren hadn't said much in a bit, hopping up onto the bed to look at him as he spoke up.

"Hellooooo...? Ugh...We got Yusuke, and now Makoto...this guy has quite the luck." Morgana said as Kusa spoke up.

"I suppose that's the trade off for when it completely and utterly screws him over, is he has equal measures of good luck to offset it. That said, I'm not surprised he's asleep, since we all went through a lot today." Kusa said. Morgana nodded as he looked over at Kusa.

"That's true, Kusa. ...Could there be some reason for it, do you think? Nah, that can't be..." Morgana said as he got off Ren's bed and padded over to hop onto Kusa's bed as he and Kusa got comfortable for the night...

(The next afternoon, at lunch in the Student Council Room with Niijima and Ann)

After Niijima got seated in the Student Council Room, giving a surprised look to Ann, who'd called her here, Ann spoke up.

"I'm sorry for asking you here like this." Ann said as Niijima smiled as she chuckled before speaking up.

"Oh no, it isn't a problem...I actually find it quite refreshing to be asked to the student council room. Although, it's somewhat nerve-racking as well." Niijima said as Ann nodded before she kept speaking, looking at Niijima as she spoke.

"I think I'm a bit nervous myself." Ann said as Niijima gave her a confused look before she kept speaking.

"Anyway, um...I wanted to apologize. I'm...really sorry for everything." Ann said as Niijima blinked as she looked at Ann before speaking up.

"What do you mean...?" Niijima asked in surprise as Ann winced, feeling a bit ashamed and embarrassed to mention this, but she kept speaking anyways.

"You know how I blamed you for Kamoshida's sexual harassment? Well, I wanted to apologize for that...I've honestly been meaning to this whole time." Ann said as Niijima looked at her in surprise as she spoke up.

"Takamaki-san..." Niijima said as Ann kept speaking, feeling the need to speak as she spoke.

"I realized later that Shiho was calling out for me...and I wasn't there to help her when I should have been...I didn't want to admit my own guilt...so I took it out on you, Niijima-senpai. I'm...very sorry." Ann said, with a bow for effect as Niijima gave Ann a look that was a mix of shocked, awed and impressed at Ann apologizing to her as she spoke up, giving Ann an understanding look as she spoke.

"Hey, there is no need for that. In fact, I think the two of us are pretty similar." Niijima said as Ann looked up in surprise at this, blinking as she spoke.

"Huh...?" Ann said as Niijima spoke up with a smile, her eyes closing in slight regret as she spoke.

"I was unable to save anyone. Not Suzui-san, and not any of Kaneshiro's victims. I kept telling myself I wasn't at fault because I was simply following orders...But that was all a lie. It felt like I would be admitting my own worthlessness had I not shifted the blame off of myself. Fear of that worthlessness was probably why I acted so harshly toward you and your friends...I'm deeply sorry as well." Niijima said as Ann blinked at this, looking a mix of surprised and shocked as she spoke.

"I see. Well, in that case, wanna call it even?" Ann asked as Niijima blinked at the question as she spoke up.

"Even...? Hehe, you're right. How about we leave this conversation in the past?" Niijima said to Ann who sat back down as she spoke up with a closed-eye smile.

"Mm-hm! Oh, but...one more thing. You're not worthless, Niijima-senpai." Ann said as Niijima gave her a confused look as Ann kept speaking.

"You were a bit reckless, but you're the reason we found a way into Kaneshiro's Palace. And you even obtained the power to change people's hearts. You did that all yourself, Niijima-senpai." Ann said, making Niijima chuckle as she spoke up.

"That way of thinking is very much like you, Takamaki-san." Niijima said as it was Ann's turn to give the confused look as Niijima kept speaking.

"When you confronted me about Suzui-san, I realized how dishonest and small I was. You're always very direct...That's what helped me finally realize the error of my ways. It turns out I'm a little slow on the uptake at times. Hey...Can I call you Ann?" Niijima asked Ann who nodded, surprised by the request but not having a problem with it.

"Um, yeah! I'm going to do the same, M-M-Makoto...Rgh, that's so embarrassing!" Ann said as Makoto chuckled as she spoke up.

"How about we get something to eat before we go home for the night?" Makoto asked as Ann nodded and spoke up.

"Ooh, I know a place! There's a crepe shop at Central Street that totally stuffs their crepes!" Ann said as Makoto did a closed-eye smile as she spoke up, liking the idea.

"Do you want to split one?" Makoto asked as Ann thought about it and spoke up.

"Hmm...let's each get a whole one and then we can go half and half on those!" Ann said as Makoto smiled and nodded eagerly as she spoke up.

"Yes, let's! After school today, right?" Makoto said as Ann nodded, the two sealing the agreement by shaking hands...

(Later that afternoon, in class with Ren, Morgana and Ann)

While Ann and Ren were paying attention in Ushimaru's class, their phones went off to signal a group chat with Ryuji, Kusa, Yusuke, and Niijima. Yusuke sent the first response.

"I realize this is a mite late, but how shall I refer to you, Niijima-san? I believe some courtesy should be shown to those who are our senior." Yusuke sent as Ryuji sent a response, seemingly also agreeing with Yusuke as he responded.

"Oh yeah...Should we call you Niijima-san, or like, Niijima-senpai?" Ryuji sent as Kusa sent a response at that point.

"You say that like you even know anything about the usage of honorifics, Ryuji. Besides, even Morgana can tell what you really want to call her. But I'd say that's up to Niijima-san to decide." Kusa sent as Niijima sent a response at that point, stopping Ryuji from sputtering much at what Kusa had sent.

"There's no need to be formal. Just treat me the same way you would everyone else." Niijima sent as Ren sent a response at that point.

"All right, if that's what you want, Niijima-san. We'll abide by your wishes. Though as you'll probably figure out soon enough, our group can be a bit of a lively bunch at times. But despite that, we all mean well and have each other's backs when it counts. Granted, even in spite of having each others' backs, some of us tend to be at each other's throats from time to time for reasons, so you'll adapt fairly quickly, I'm sure." Ren sent. Yusuke then sent a response at that point.

"Would that not be rude, Ren?" Yusuke sent as Ann sent a response that had Kusa gaping but shrugging as he had a feeling it would happen.

"I already just call her by name." Ann said as Ryuji blinked and sent a response.

"First of all, shuddup Kusa! I don't need you busting my balls just because I was admiring her Persona and I called her cute once! That said, for real Ann? Did something happen?" Ryuji sent as Kusa sent a response at that point.

"All right, I'll be good for now. Besides, I didn't say that I don't approve of it, because I do approve. You two would probably go really great together. But that's just my opinion." Kusa sent as Ann sent a response at that point.

"I agree, Kusa! Ryuji, if he can quit being crass, vulgar and rude long enough, would probably be really cute with Makoto. Also, that's a secret between us girls!" Ann sent. Ryuji then sent a response that had Kusa and Yusuke both facefaulting when they read it.

"Dammit, that sounds like fun..." Ryuji sent as Kusa sent a response.

"Sounds like fun!? What do you think those two were doing Ryuji, hooking up? For one, I'm fairly certain Niijima-san is into men and not women! And secondly? Well, let's just say I don't think Niijima-san is the girl Ann wants to date. But I won't say more than that, since that's Ann's business to fill Niijima-san in on that." Kusa sent as Niijima sent a response at that point.

"Are you referring to Ann and Suzui-san, Amamiya-kun the younger? If so, she told me already and I think they go good together. That said, all of you may call me by my first name. No need to hesitate." Makoto sent as Kusa sent a response at that point.

"She told you that, Nii-I mean Makoto!? I guess it makes sense she'd feel she can trust you, since you're the first girl since Ann to join our group. That said, if that's what you want, then so be it. From here on, I will endeavor to remeber to address you by your first name within these chats, Makoto. One thing you'll probably learn about me in particular while you're one of us is that I tend to try to follow people's wishes on how I address them, such as you and Ann, and even Yusuke. Ryuji doesn't count since he doesn't seem to give two fucks either way how people address him. I called each of you by last name until given leave to do otherwise.

Also, I suppose, and keep in mind that I can't speak for the others when I say this, but you can call at least me by first name as well, and I believe Ann said you already call her by name as well, so for sure her too. I'll leave it up to Ren, Yusuke, Ryuji and Morgana on if you can call them by name or not. Though I get a feeling Ryuji, for one, won't mind you being on a first-name basis with him." Kusa sent as Yusuke sent a response.

"I agree with Kusa. If we're all going to be working together, no reason not to be on a first-name basis with one another. Therefore, if you wish us to address you by your name, then very well, I shall do just that." Yusuke sent as Ren really quickly put his phone away as he saw Ushimaru glaring at him as he spoke up.

"Hey, Amamiya the elder! ARE YOU LISTENING!? You! Pay attention! Is that how you listen when someone's talking to you!?" Ushimaru said as Ren felt a murderous intent, just barely dodging the chalk tossed at him, and getting the usual murmurs praising his dodging and the odd comment or two asking if he was a ninja with his reflexes as Ushimaru spoke up.

"Tch...Well, whatever. Moving on." Ushimaru said as Morgana spoke up from inside Ren's desk.

"HEY! Ooh, you got the whole class' attention! I'd say your Charm definitely went up from that!" Morgana said as Ren nodded while his Charm increased. The rest of the class passed uneventfully from there...

(After school with Ren and Morgana)

Morgana looked at Ren as he spoke up at that point.

"Okay! Our next target is a criminal, one that even the police can't handle. We'll take care of him ourselves and leave the world speechless!" Morgana said as the 'MISSION START!' notification appeared on Ren's phone as he considered his options. After weighing his options, which were hanging out with Takemi, Ryuji, or Maruki, he opted to hang out with Ryuji after realizing that he'd not ranked him up in a bit, plus he'd already ranked up Takemi fairly recently and he had a feeling he could take his time to some degree with ranking up Maruki. As such, Ren walked over to Ryuji and spoke up with a grin.

"Yo Ryuji, my dude! What's bonkin', man?" Ren said with a smirk as Ryuji fist-bumped Ren as he spoke up.

"Eh, not much. What're you doin' today, Ren?" Ryuji asked as Ren spoke up.

"I'll send a group chat later formalizing it, but I figure since we have 3 weeks until our current deadline, we can make this first week a 'prep week' of sorts, like we did with Madarame's Palace, just so we're at our best going into it since I get a feeling the difficulty curve is about to spike a bit in this next Palace, so we need to be prepared accordingly. That said, I figured we could hang out if you were up for it since it's been a bit since we did that." Ren said as Ryuji blinked and spoke up.

"Huh? You sure we're gonna be okay not headin' in?" Ryuji asked as Ren spoke up.

"Yeah man, we've got plenty of time, as long as we go in when the prep week ends. And according to the calendar on my phone, today is 6/21, so on 6/28 should be when we go in, well before the 7/9 deadline so we'll be fine if we stick to that." Ren said as Ryuji thought about it and nodded, speaking up with a smile.

"That's true. Eh, why not? I guess it ain't gonna hurt gettin' a change of pace. So, y'know how we were lookin' for somewhere we can train? Well, I finally found a spot. We're free to do whatever we want! How 'bout we head on over there?" Ryuji said as Morgana poked his head out of Ren's bag as he spoke up.

"It's good to take a break every so often. Do you want to hang with Ryuji?" Morgana asked Ren who nodded.

"Yep. I wanna hang out with him. You can go look for Kusa if you like, though I have a fairly good guess where he is." Ren said to Morgana who nodded as he spoke up.

"I agree. Odds are good he's either hanging out with his lady friend, helping the chief, or probably helping Yoshizawa train." Morgana said as he padded off to find Kusa, before Ryuji spoke up to get Ren's attention, smirking as he spoke.

"Back on topic, the spot I found is a gym over in Shibuya. It's pretty damn cheap too. Wanna get goin'? C'mon, I'll show you the way." Ryuji said as he and Ren headed to the gym, which according to the sign was called 'Protein Lovers'. Ryuji spoke up as the two approached the gym, grinning as he looked at Ren as he spoke.

"This has gotta be it! Here we are...Protein Lovers gym! It's pay per visit, so you don't gotta worry about any bullshit contracts or nothing. The equipment's kinda crappy, but they got tons of variety. Plus, it's real damn cheap. Totally worth it, even without a pool or hot tub. By the way...Oh yeah! You bring your stuff?" Ryuji said as Ren blinked before speaking up, confused by Ryuji's question as he spoke.

"And by stuff you mean protein powder, right? After all, the sign says 'Protein Lovers' so that implies that protein is either highly valued or required for the gym, if not both." Ren said. Ryuji smirked as he spoke up.

"Hell yeah, man. If you wanna beef up, you gotta-Wait, that ain't it! I'm talkin' about spare undies! Gettin' back into your sweaty clothes after a nice hot shower is like, the grossest goddamn thing. Oh, but don't go gettin' your hopes up. No way I'm gonna let you use mine. Wanna get goin'? Anyways, let's head in." Ryuji said as Ren followed him inside, the 'Sports Gym' being marked on his map so he could fast-travel there in future. Once inside the gym, the two worked out, with Ryuji stopping to catch his breath as he panted while wearing his workout outfit, a teal muscle shirt and blue and white shorts with white sneakers.

"Phew...My form's comin' back...but I don't got...any stamina..." Ryuji said as he stopped to cough but before he could keep speaking another voice spoke up.

"Sakamoto?" Ren and Ryuji heard as the two turned to face the source of the voice, a guy with short brown hair, a red and black shirt and black shorts. Ryuji's eyes widened, before he smirked as he greeted the new arrival with a grin.

"Yo, Ikeda-senpai! What's bonkin'?" Ryuji asked the now-named Ikeda who blinked as he spoke up.

"'Bonkin'? You say the strangest things. Is that how you greet a friend?" Ikeda asked Ryuji who chuckled as he spoke up.

"I've been tryin' to come up with some cool new slang. Maybe it'll catch on!" Ryuji said as Ren had to keep from laughing, since he felt Ryuji's slang catching on was as likely to happen as Morgana hooking up with Ann, though he wisely chose not to voice this thought aloud. Ikeda blinked at this as he spoke up.

"You can't just do that. Oh, and you don't need to call me senpai anymore. I've already graduated, remember?" Ikeda said before turning to Ren, looking him over with his all-black workout outfit, other than the grey-white shirt he wore under the outfit and white sneakers, as he spoke up.

"Hm? I haven't seen you before...Were you on the track team?" Ikeda asked as Ryuji spoke up.

"Him? He's uh...a friend! By the time he showed up, the track team was already...well, y'know." Ryuji said as Ikeda nodded and changed the subject by looking at Ryuji as he spoke.

"I see. Speaking of which, how's your leg?" Ikeda asked Ryuji who shrugged as he spoke up.

"Eh, I'm managin'...How 'bout you, Senpai? You still runnin'?" Ryuji asked Ikeda who nodded as he spoke up once more.

"I actually joined my university's track team. You'd think I would've quite entirely after what happened..." Ikeda said as Ryuji rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke up.

"About that, I'm real sorry..." Ryuji said as Ikeda cut him off by speaking up.

"No, I should be the one apologizing. I was supposed to be the leader of our team, yet I just resigned myself to Kamoshida's will..." Ikeda said as Ryuji spoke up.

"That's 'cause you needed him to write your letter of rec, right? You were just lookin' out for your future...but I still managed to eff it up anyways." Ryuji said as Ikeda shook his head and spoke up.

"Kamoshida clearly never intended on writing my letter of recommendation. You were just his excuse not to. And honestly, I enjoy where I am now. The track team isn't special, but it's perfect for me. So in truth, I should be thanking you for what you did, Sakamoto." Ikeda said as Ryuji blinked at this and spoke up.

"Senpai..." Ryuji said as Ikeda spoke up again, cutting off whatever Ryuji had been about to say as he spoke.

"I've always regretted not doing more to protect you guys...but I heard some good news recently...the Shujin track team's being reinstated!" Ikeda said as Ryuji gasped in shock.

"FOR REAL!?" Ryuji asked, clearly stunned to hear this. Ikeda nodded and spoke up.

"I mean, Kamoshida confessed all the horrible stuff he did, right? I guess the school got the old team together and told them they want to try starting it up again." Ikeda said as Ryuji blinked as he spoke up, both shocked and stunned at what he'd heard.

"Nobody told me about that." Ryuji said huffily. Ikeda blinked at that as he spoke up.

"Huh, odd...The rumors got as far as me, and I'm not even a student anymore. Anyway, I heard they're going to get Mr. Yamauchi as their new advisor." Ikeda said as Ryuji blinked at this and spoke up.

"Huh? Yamauchi...? Hold up, THAT Yamauchi!?" Ryuji asked as Ikeda nodded.

"Yup, the one who was basically Kamoshida's lapdog. Apparently, he volunteered. He's really enthusiastic about pulling the track team up from the ashes." Ikeda said as Ryuji blinked and spoke up.

"He is?" Ryuji asked as Ikeda nodded and kept speaking.

"You know, now that the team is being reinstated, there's no need for any bad blood, right? Why don't you go talk to them? I'm sure they could use someone with your passion." Ikeda said as Ryuij nodded and spoke up.

"Yeah." Ryuji said as Ikeda nodded, gave Ren a nod of respect, and walked off, leaving Ryuji to look at Ren as he spoke up.

"So the track team's comin' back...Good for them." Ryuji said as Ren spoke up.

"You can tell me it's none of my business if you want me to stay out of it, but I notice that you seem conflicted, Ryuji." Ren said. Ryuji shook his head and spoke up.

"Nah, not really...For real though, I'm glad the team's comin' back. It's sweet that Nakaoka and them can start trainin' again. But I'm still worried about their advisor, Yamauchi. He's basically like a mini-Kamoshida." Ryuji said as Ren nodded and spoke up.

"I getcha. So basically Yamauchi's an asshole then?" Ren asked. Ryuji nodded as he spoke up.

"Basically. He'd always yell at us at practice, but then be a huge kiss-ass when our parents were around. Ugh, I can't believe a moron like that's gonna be advisin' the track team. He doesn't even teach PE! ...He's gotta be up to something." Ryuji said as Ren nodded his agreement as Ryuji kept speaking.

"I'll do some research...There's a chance I'm gonna need your help too, mkay? You'd be free to lend me a hand if I need it, yeah? I'll be countin' on you!" Ryuji said as Ren nodded, feeling his bond with Ryuji grow still deeper, as the 'Chariot' card appeared in his mind's eye, the 'IV' turning into a 'V' to signify that his Chariot Confidant link with Ryuji had now reached Rank 5. However, there were no new skills for this rank-up. Afterwards, Ryuji spoke up once more.

"All right, we don't got time to be messin' around here anymore! Let's head home!" Ryuji said as Ren nodded. Ryuji then spoke up once more.

"Wait, I gotta shower first!" Ryuji said as Ren nodded, before also showering, and when the two of them were showered and dressed, Ryuji spoke up.

"Well, see you! Seeya!" Ryuji said as Ren nodded, heading back to Leblanc. Once he got to the door, Ren's phone rang so he answered it.

"Hello?" Ren said as he answered his phone, smirking as he recognized Ryuji's voice on the other end.

"Yo! What's bonkin'? About that stuff today...I can't really let myself be happy about the track team startin' up again. Like I said earlier, there's just something fishy about Yamauchi being the advisor. But I mean, if anything happens, I know you got my back. So I ain't too worried!" Ryuji said as Ren spoke up with a nod.

"Don't worry Ryuji, I gotcha." Ren said reassuringly. Ryuji smirked as he spoke up.

"Thanks, man! I knew I could count on you! I mean, we don't know for sure if anything sketchy's goin' on. But when I get these gut feelings...they're usually right. Well, if I hear anything, I'll hit you up. Okay, later!" Ryuji said as Ren nodded and hung up his phone, heading into Leblanc as he did so. As he walked in, Sojiro spoke up.

"Rain, huh? I'm so sick of how few customers I get during the rainy season..." Sojiro said as Ren nodded, right as his phone went off to signify a group chat with Yusuke, Ryuji, Kusa, Ann and Makoto, with Yusuke sending the first response.

"Hm, there has been no sign yet of Kaneshiro acting on his threat." Yusuke sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"He prolly thinks his money's just gonna come rolling in." Ryuji sent as Yusuke sent a response.

"He does have the upper hand on us, after all..." Yusuke sent as Ann sent a response.

"If that picture got out, who knows what would end up happening to Ren..." Ann sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"Guess worst-case scenario'd be he gets expelled." Ryuji sent as Makoto sent a response at that point.

"No, there is a more serious alternative...He's currently under probation, meaning...I'm so sorry. This whole situation is my fault." Makoto sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"C'mon, stop that. I mean, you're the one who's in the most trouble right now." Ryuji sent, clearly trying to cheer up Makoto, though it didn't exactly work if her next response was any indication.

"My sister is a prosecutor...This will surely be a problem for her as well. What should I do...?" Makoto sent as Yusuke sent a response.

"Kaneshiro must surely be taking that aspect into account too..." Yusuke sent as Ren sent a response at that point.

"We need to stop him." Ren sent as Kusa chose that point to finally send a response.

"Indeed. His heart must be changed. There's no two ways about it in this instance. After all, we all heard his plans for Makoto and her sister, and those plans are absolutely not okay! I'm sure Ren and Ryuji would agree with me that women deserve far more respect than that!" Kusa sent as Makoto and Ann nodded their approval as they read the response. Ryuji then sent a response at that point.

"Truth! And for sure. Even the police are having trouble with that bastard. We'll be heroes if we catch him!" Ryuji sent as Ann sent a response.

"High risk, high reward..." Ann sent as Makoto sent a response.

"You're all so positive..." Makoto sent as Yusuke sent a response at that point.

"Hm...In a way, your recklessness is the only reason we are now able to pursue this change of heart." Yusuke sent as Ryuji nodded and sent a response.

"Totally. We're in deep shit, so we're gonna do whatever we can to get out of it." Ryuji sent as Makoto blinked before sending a response.

"I...never thought of things in that way before." Makoto sent as Yusuke sent a response.

"It is quite strange hearing something so positive from Ryuji." Yusuke sent as Kusa sent a response at that point.

"Need I remind you that Ryuji is a positive guy when he wants to be, Yusuke? Also, I'm sure he has his reasons for trying to be more positive in the chat, especially now that a certain someone is in this chat." Kusa sent with a smirk as Ryuji sent a response at that point.

"Shuddup, Yusuke! And truth, Kusa!" Ryuji sent as Ann sent a response.

"All right, Leader! You can decide when we meet up!" Ann sent as Ren blinked, Ann's response reminding Ren of something he'd told Ryuji that afternoon as he sent a response.

"Thank you for reminding me, Ann. I know we're on a bit of a deadline crunch, so that's why we're going to do the 'prep week' for this palace right now. So until 6/28, I don't want to see ANY responses asking about when we're going to the Palace, because they will likely as not be ignored. That said, everyone enjoy their prep week, and before you ask Kusa, the cafe's still unlocked." Ren sent as Kusa sent a response.

"Thanks for the heads-up, Ren. I'll be back shortly. Just hanging out with a friend and I'll be home." Kusa sent as Ren put his phone away without waiting for the others' replies. After he put his phone away, Morgana spoke up.

"When your position changes, your view of the world changes too. It's a shift in cognition. In any case, we're in big trouble if we can't change Kaneshiro's heart. Let's do this." Morgana said as Ren nodded as he pondered his options. After weighing his options, Ren decided to call up and request Kawakami since he actually could afford the 5,000 yen request fee at that point. Kawakami then blinked in surprise as Ren paid the 5000 yen to request her without hesitating.

"...I see. Very well. I'll head over right away then..." Becky said as Ren hung up the phone. A short time later, he had a maid up in his room as Kawakami spoke up.

"So this is your room, huh? Hm, how do I put this...? Ugh, never mind. So, what kind of kid are you?" Kawakami asked Ren who spoke up.

"First of all, I share this room with my brother Kusa, who happens to be out hanging with a friend at the moment, but should be back fairly soon." Ren said as Kawakami nodded.

"Ah yes, that's right, I forgot you share a room with your younger brother. That said, the way you opposed Mister Kamoshida, I'd say that you're earnest, and have a strong sense of justice. That being said, you called a maid service and requested me?" Kawakami said as Ren shrugged and spoke up.

"Eh, what can I say? Mishima and Ryuji showed me the poster, and we got curious and wanted to try it out. To be fair, we had no idea you'd be the maid that was sent that night, so that was as much a shock to me as it was to you. That said, it might be a surprise to you, but even I can get really lonely at times." Ren said honestly. Kawakami nodded as she spoke up, her words making Ren look at her in wide-eyed disbelief by the time she was done speaking..

"That makes sense that those two would be involved, moreso Sakamoto than Mishima, but it is what it is I suppose. As for you being lonely, I see...Oh, that's right. You have a criminal record...Okay, then how about this...I'll let you skip class a few times." Kawakami said as Ren looked at her in shock as she smiled at him and spoke up.

"It's tough not having any place where you belong, isn't it? However, I reserve the right to change my mind if your grades drop." Kawakami said as Ren nodded and spoke up.

"Fair enough. But let's be honest here, Miss Kawakami. When was the last time my grades dropped at all?" Ren asked as Kawakami shrugged, conceding that Ren had a point as she kept speaking, not able to argue his point at all.

"And in exchange, you won't tell anyone that I'm moonlighting as a maid. Sound good?" Kawakami said as Ren spoke up.

"I'll be honest, in addition to myself, Sakamoto, and Mishima, I wouldn't be surprised to find that Kusa at least knows about the maid service, since he was also there when Ryuji whipped out the poster he found. However, he refused to take part and called us all desperate fools for taking part in Ryuji's plan. That said, I wasn't planning on telling a soul regardless, so I see your offer as just an added bonus. So, I promise to keep this between us, Miss Kawakami." Ren said. Kawakami gave Ren a closed-eye smile in surprise as she spoke up.

"Then it's a deal!" Kawakami said happily as Ren blinked, realizing in that moment he'd just struck a deal with Kawakami, his homeroom teacher...

(Fast forward to the interrogation room with Sae and Joker)

"To think you pulled off so many crimes while attending school. I can't believe you managed that by yourself. There had to be someone at the school helping you...What do you have to say to that?" Sae said to Joker...

(Back in the present with Kawakami and Ren)

Ren looked at Kawakami and nodded in agreement of sealing a deal with her, as the expected voice was heard in his head.

"I am thou, thou art I...Thou hast acquired a new vow. It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity. With the birth of the Temperance Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power..." Ren heard in his head as a new card appeared in his mind's eye, this one having the word 'Temperance' on it with an 'I' under the word 'Temperance', signifying that his newly-forged Temperance Confidant link with Kawakami had reached rank 1.

As a result, Ren had gained the ability to 'Slack Off', allowing him to utilize select instances of Kawakami's class to have additional free time for various things, from Kawakami. After that, Kawakami spoke up with a wince, frowning and sighing as she spoke.

"Ugh, what am I doing here with one of my students...? Well, I guess I should get going. Oh, please request me if you need any help with your housework, okay?" Kawakami said as Ren blinked at this and spoke up.

"Why is that, may I ask? I don't see myself needing help that often, but I'm willing to call on you if needed for said help. But I have to wonder why you'd make that offer." Ren said to Kawakami. Kawakami looked surprised at Ren's question as she spoke up.

"Well, I mean, we know each other's secret, and it would really put my mind at ease. Besides, I'm, uh, I'm considered over the hill for this type of job, so I don't get requested that often." Kawakami said as Ren blinked at this and spoke up in surprise.

"You? Over the hill!? Pardon my being presumptive here, but you don't look a day over like 24 to 25 tops, if even that." Ren said honestly, not figuring Kawakami to be that much older than him, maybe 10 to 15 years, give or take a year or two. Kawakami nodded as she spoke up while giving Ren an appreciative closed-eye smile.

"You get it! And no, I'm not telling you my age. After all, a gentleman never asks a lady for her age." Kawakami said before smirking as she kept speaking.

"That said, I'll show my appreciation by making it easy for you to ditch class! Just think about it, okay?" Kawakami said as Ren nodded. The two then headed downstairs, where Kawakami curtsied as she spoke up.

"Master...All right, Master, that'll be it for today! Ugh...God, you have no idea how exhausting this job is...Listen, promise me you won't tell the school about this, okay? For both our sakes. Absolutely no going around talking about maid stuff to anyone! Unless it's your brother, since I think I can trust his discretion to not spread it around." Kawakami said before assuming a very chibi/anime face as she kept speaking, Ren trying not to cringe as he listened to his teacher speaking the way she was speaking as Kawakami spoke.

"It'll be our wittle secret, just for Becky and Master, okay? Can you keep a secret?" Kawakami asked Ren, who winced at the face Kawakami was making as he spoke up, trying not to look at Kawakami more than he had to, as he spoke.

"Yeah, I get it. It'll stay between us." Ren said. Kawakami nodded, immediately shifting over to a closed-eye smile that had Ren wincing at how cutesy it looked as she spoke up, very pleased by Ren's response as she spoke.

"Oh my gosh, Master! Thank you sooo much! I'll make sure to keep my promise too. Well, I'm gonna head home. Oh, and don't forget to study for your exams, okay? If you waste all your time playing around, your grades will suffer. Bye! See you later." Kawakami said as she left the cafe, leaving Ren to sweatdrop after she left, mentally chastising himself for even remotely finding his teacher's closed-eye smile or faces cute.

Ren then firmly reminded himself he was interested in Kasumi, and ONLY Kasumi. At that moment, Ren idly wondered why Kasumi hadn't been in contact that much recently. Ren was so engrossed in his thoughts, he almost didn't hear the door of Leblanc open and close once more as Kusa walked in, giving Ren a mixed worried/confused look at the look on Ren's face as he spoke up, blinking at the vacant, almost zoned-out, expression on Ren's face as he spoke.

"Hey, Ren? You alive in there bro? Hello, earth to Ren!" Kusa said, worriedly waving his hand in front of Ren's face, finally making Ren snap out of his thoughts as he noticed Kusa. Ren then spoke up after a moment, looking at Kusa as he spoke.

"Oh hey, Kusa. Didn't realize you were finally home." Ren said as Kusa nodded and spoke up.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I may or may not have had to take extra time to talk down Taba from using her computer to take revenge on Ryuji when she saw his text over my shoulder dragging her into our one chat last night when we first added Makoto to the chat. Needless to say she was NOT happy when Ryuji dragged her name into the chat, even if he didn't name drop her.

Luckily, I was able to convince her that he meant that in jest and not in a harmful way so she calmed down, though she did spend a bit ignoring me after that before she finally calmed down and forgave me. But never mind that, what's up with you, Ren? You look like you saw something you wish you could un-see." Kusa said as Ren nodded.

"Basically, you're correct in that statement, Kusa. Remember that poster Ryuji showed us that Mishima walked in on that you refused to take part of?" Ren asked Kusa who nodded, knowing what Ren was referring to as he spoke up, both curious and intrigued at what that had to do with what Ren was referring to as he spoke.

"The poster for the maid service, right? What about it?" Kusa asked as Ren nodded and spoke up, giving Kusa a pointed look as he spoke.

"Yes, that one. Well, to make a long story short since I can't go into detail as I've been sworn to secrecy, no thanks to Ryuji catching my homeroom teacher at her night job, I have a new confidant, who apparently likes to make chibi/anime faces and roleplay like she's a servant. The look you probably saw on my face was me being horrified that I found it even remotely cute, and then firmly reminding myself that I should be finding Kasumi cute like that, and ONLY Kasumi. And frankly, I don't know that Kasumi won't get angry and territorial if she ever knew I was having my homeroom teacher over to do housework." Ren said as Kusa blinked in surprise before laughing as he spoke up.

"Damn Ren, only YOU could have THAT sort of issue and actually not be happy about it! Not that I blame you, considering how much Kasumi enjoys spending time with you and might actually be taking notice of you a lot more than she used to recently. But at the same time, and this is not only off the record, but stays strictly between us? I feel like you could do a lot worse than your homeroom teacher as a maid, since I won't deny that she is cute. However, she's also a lot too old for either of us if she's a teacher. Besides, I think we both know I prefer my women around my age, and a bit feistier and more spunky." Kusa said with a smirk as Ren nodded his agreement and spoke up.

"Fair point, Kusa. Besides, I think if anything, that outfit might actually look rather adorable on Kasumi, not that she'd take up that sort of work any time soon." Ren said as Kusa nodded.

"That's true. Going from gymnastics to being a maid would be QUITE the leap to make for anyone. But it is what it is. And don't feel bad that you found your teacher cute. It's not like you're falling for her or anything. There's no harm in looking, as long as your focus stays firmly on Kasumi, where it belongs." Kusa said as Ren nodded, smirking as he saw the three sparkling blue notes over Kusa's head, likely signifying that his next rank was ready to happen at some point in the nearish future. At that point, Kusa spoke up.

"But anyways, that aside, you did bring Morgana-sensei back with you, right?" Kusa asked Ren who blinked at this, going wide-eyed at the question before he spoke up.

"No...he said he was going to find you when he left me so I could hang out with Ryuji!" Ren said as Kusa frowned and spoke up.

"He never found his way to Futaba's. Maybe he's wandering around the alley nearby?" Kusa said, blinking as the two heard a light scratching at the door, both sighing in relief as they saw Morgana at the door, opening the door for him as he wandered in and Kusa spoke up with a smile, looking the not-cat in the eyes as he lifted him onto his shoulder as he spoke.

"There you are, Morgana-sensei! We were just talking about you! Where've you been by yourself?" Kusa asked Morgana.

"I was off hanging out with Lady Ann and Makoto, as it happens. Turns out they have no qualms with not-cats getting in on their girl time, but I'll leave it at that for sake of not betraying the secrecy I've been sworn to." Morgana said as Kusa smirked and spoke up.

"That seems to be a trend tonight, between you and Ren here. But at least in your case Morgana, it's just your friends you were hanging out with and not your homeroom teacher." Kusa said as Morgana blinked, gaping at Ren in surprise as he spoke up, not expecting Kusa to say what he had as he spoke.

"Wait, WHAT!? Ren finally called Kawakami and I missed it!?" Morgana asked in shock as Ren nodded, speaking up as he gave the not-cat a pointed glare as he spoke.

"Yep. And I'm not saying anything more than that since as Kusa said, I've been sworn to secrecy by Miss Kawakami." Ren said as Morgana nodded as he spoke up.

"Fair enough. Well, it IS rather late, so we should get ready for bed, yeah?" Morgana said as Kusa and Ren nodded, both getting into their pajamas as they laid down for the night...

(The next morning on the train to school with Ren, Morgana, and Kusa)

"Hey did you hear? There's a famous fortune teller in Shinjuku." Ren and Kusa heard a male nearby saying to the female next to him who nodded as she spoke up.

"I know what you're talking about. Yeah, I read something about that online. The beautiful fortune teller or something...I hear she's pretty good. A lot of people say her predictions came true." The female said as the male spoke up.

"Some say she can divine your very destiny. Maybe she can tell me who my soulmate will be...I think I'll pay her a visit." The male said as Morgana spoke up.

"A fortune teller in Shinjuku, huh...Didn't we see her when we met with that journalist?" Morgana asked as Kusa nodded from behind Ren as he spoke up.

"Yep. We did indeed. She predicted Ryuji would have women or other troubles, and that I'd have great strife or hardship in my future, or whatever she said. And that was right before those crazy dudes accosted Ryuji and chased him off with a dress." Kusa said, trying not to laugh at the memory of Ryuji's face that night. Morgana, however, actually laughed at the memory of that night as he spoke up.

"Oh, that's right, THAT happened that same night, didn't it? Poor Ryuji...but wow! She seems pretty popular. She said she's there at night, as I recall. Should we pay her a visit, too?" Morgana asked Kusa and Ren, making Ren speak up.

"I probably will at some point, since I have a feeling she's another Confidant Link I've yet to form. I can't speak for Kusa though." Ren said as Kusa huffed and spoke up.

"If not for the fact she made that prediction about me, I'd not want anything to do with her. But I feel like it can't hurt to check this out at least once, if only to get more details on what she said about me. After all, if she was right about Ryuji, odds are she could be right about me as well." Kusa said. Morgana nodded approvingly as the ride to school proceeded uneventfully from there, until the two got off the train to switch lines, at which point they were approached by Makoto.

"Good morning, Ren and Kusa. I've been thinking a lot about Personas and Palaces since yesterday...That floating bank really reflects Kaneshiro's personality. He's flying around so he can trace his steps...He doesn't trust anyone. I bet security's tight in there too. That's why we should get moving soon. Why don't we go to the Palace today?" Makoto asked. Ren frowned as he spoke up.

"That IS a good idea, Makoto. But at the same time, consider this: I said that we were having a pre-Palace prep week this week, so once that's over, we'll go inside but not before then. You were in the group chat last night when I sent that message, right?" Ren asked Makoto who blinked and nodded sheepishly before she spoke up.

"Yes, that's right, I'm sorry. You did say that. Understood. I'm sure you have you reasons as the leader." Makoto said as Kusa spoke up.

"Yeah, a reason called wanting us to be as prepared as possible for anything when we go in." Kusa said dryly. Makoto nodded as she spoke up.

"That's a good point, Kusa. That said, I'll leave my schedule open after school, so talk to me anytime." Makoto said as Ren and Kusa nodded as the three headed to school...

(That afternoon, in class with Ren, Morgana and Ann)

Ren and Ann's phones went off in class to signify a group chat from Ryuji, Kusa, Yusuke, and Makoto, Ryuji sending the first response, his tone clearly one of concern.

"Makoto, you OK? Has Kaneshiro threatened you or anything?" Ryuji sent as Makoto sent a response.

"He's been demanding money, but I choose to ignore those messages. But it's sweet of you to worry about me, Ryuji." Makoto sent as Ann sent a response.

"Is that OK? Have any scary men shown up at your house?" Ann sent as Makoto sent a response at that point.

"No." Makoto sent as Yusuke sent a response after that.

"Kaneshiro still has the photographs in his possession, remember? Perhaps that advantage is why he doesn't feel any urgency to act." Yusuke sent as Ryuji sent a response.

"So do you think we're safe for now then?" Ryuji sent as Ren sent a response.

"Honestly, I'm kinda worried. After all, we only get until July 9th or a bit over two weeks so while we have the time for our current prep week, we don't have much more time past that so after this week, we'll have to go all-out on the Palace to get it done in time, which is why I'm insisting you all do as much preparing as you can, and not just spend the time hanging around with people." Ren sent. Ann sent a response at that point before Ryuji or Kusa, who Ren's 'not just spend the time hanging around with other people' comment had been aimed at, could do so.

"As you should be. Just like Yusuke said, those pictures are bad news for us." Ann sent as Yusuke sent a response at that point.

"We will need to change Kaneshiro's heart as soon as possible." Yusuke sent as Kusa and Makoto sent responses fairly close together, Kusa's coming through first.

"I concur, Yusuke. But at the same time, as long as we're careful and don't waste our time, we should be able to finish in time. And Ren, I know you were aiming that 'not hanging around other people' line at me! I know I need to focus, but that doesn't mean I can't also fit in time for my friends too." Kusa sent dryly as Makoto sent her response.

"Agreed, both with Ren and with Kusa. I will do everything I can to help." Makoto sent as Ren sent one more response.

"I know that, Kusa! But at the same time, we can't leave anything to chance! So every bit of prep we can get done is crucial in being sure we're going in to this new Palace at our best!" Ren sent huffily as he put his phone away without waiting for Kusa's response. The rest of class went uneventfully from there...

(After school, in class with Ren and Morgana)

"So, what's the plan for today, Ren?" Morgana asked Ren who spoke up.

"Well, looking at this, I'd say our best move would either be putting in a shift at one of my two jobs or hanging out with Ann to rank her up." Ren said as Morgana smiled at Ren's response.

"Good idea, Ren! I'm personally up for spending time with Lady Ann! But I'm guessing you won't want me around for that." Morgana said as Ren shrugged and spoke up.

"I actually don't mind if you come along Morgana, as long as you don't make a fool of yourself." Ren said as Morgana nodded. Ren then headed to the Underground Mall to hang out with Ann. Once at the mall, Ren walked over to Ann, who smiled and spoke up as she spotted Ren.

"Oh, Ren. What're you thinking of doing today?" Ann said as Ren spoke up.

"Well, as it happens, I was thinking we might hang out since it's been a bit since we last hung out, unless you have other plans." Ren said. Ann blinked as she spoke up.

"Are you sure about that? We still haven't found the Treasure..." Ann said as Ren spoke up.

"Yes, I'm sure Ann. Firstly, we're in the middle of a prep week. Secondly, we've got enough time to hang out. So relax." Ren said to Ann. Ann nodded as she spoke up.

"I guess there's no point in worrying if you're so sure...Um, I've been thinking of going to see Shiho in the hospital...Do you think we could maybe spend some time together before I go?" Ann asked as Morgana spoke up.

"It's good to take a break like this every now and again. That said, you're certain you want to hang out with Lady Ann?" Morgana asked Ren who glared at the not-cat as he spoke up.

"If I wasn't certain, would I be here in the first place? Yes I'm certain I wish to hang out with her. Keep up those questions, and you can go find something else to do while she and I hang out." Ren said so only Morgana could hear, making Morgana just nod in understanding. He then turned to Ann.

"I'd love to spend time with you, Ann. Pay Morgana no mind, he's just a bit of a worrywart." Ren said as Morgana huffed but said nothing as Ann smiled and spoke up.

"Thanks! Hm, what should I get for Shiho...? It's hard deciding for myself." Ann said as she and Ren took off walking. After a bit, Ann blinked as she spoke up.

"FOR REAL!? Hey, I have some big news...! The double cream from that famous crepe shop is half off right now! Oh, but I probably can't take a crepe into the hospital, huh...I...really want one though...Do you think Shiho would want one too?" Ann asked as Ren spoke up after pondering his response carefully.

"You know Shiho better than I do, Ann. In my opinion, I feel like she'd just be happy to see you spending time with her. As for you taking her a crepe, I'd give that up for now and save it for when she can leave the hospital for extended periods of time as a sort of extra surprise." Ren said cautiously. Ann winced but nodded as she spoke up.

"R-Right...It might be half off...but I should try to control myself...Also, Shiho might have rehab today too. They probably would even let her eat it. So you're probably correct that I should save it for when she can leave the hospital so I can surprise her with a trip to get crepes since I recall she does somewhat like them. Maybe I could even use the occasion to consider confessing to her. Maybe. I suppose that depends on if I have the courage to admit my feelings to her or not, and if she shows signs of reciprocating said feelings...after all, I can't force her to do something she doesn't want to do." Ann said before blinking as she saw the confused look on Ren's face as she kept speaking.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention-Shiho started her physical rehab. She pushed it up ahead of schedule. I think it's because I told her about how I want to get stronger. She said she was gonna start working hard too...I haven't seen any of her rehab sessions yet though..." Ann said as Ren smirked and spoke up.

"If that doesn't suggest she's trying to get rehabbed so she can spend time with you, I don't know what does." Ren said sagely as Ann nodded right when her phone went off.

"Oh, hold on." Ann said as she checked the message and gaped as she spoke up.

"What? Now!? Uhhh, that's not good!" Ann said as Ren gave Ann a confused look as she spoke up.

"Oh, sorry! Something just came up! That was from my agency. One of the models didn't show for a magazine shoot they're doing. They're looking to wrap soon so I'm gonna head over now to fill in...It's pretty close though. Let's go! Wanna come with? Actually, let's just go! I'll race you there!" Ann said with a closed-eye smile as Ren spoke up.

"How can I race you to somewhere I've probably not been before, Ann?" Ren asked in uncertainty. Ann giggled as the two went to the meeting spot. Once there, Ren noted that the gathered people appeared to be having a pre-shoot briefing. After that, the brown-haired, brown-eyed female with the males turned to look at Ren and Ann, and Ren frowned as the girl was, for lack of a better term, pretty. Ren did note with a smirk she had nothing on Kasumi, though. The girl ignored him as she looked at Ann.

"Ann-senpai! I'm sooo pumped to get to work with you today! After I saw you in last year's show, I just...Oh, I think I'm gonna cry..." The girl said as Ann spoke up.

"U-Um, it really wasn't a big deal...That fashion show was tiny..." Ann said as the girl nodded as she spoke up.

"Fair enough. By the way, I'm Mika. And please, no honorifics. I might be older, but you have lots more experience, Ann-senpai." The now-named Mika said as Ann nodded, speaking up with a closed-eye smile.

"All right, M-Mika...Haha, it feels a little weird saying it like that...Oh, and you don't need to use 'senpai' with me. A-Anyway, uh...it's nice to meet you?" Ann said. Mika nodded, giggling as she spoke up.

"Likewise, Ann-chan. You're so nice. Hey, can you teach me how to be a better model? You know, your everyday routines, stretches..." Mika asked Ann, not seeing the wary look on Ren's face behind Ann as his instincts were being set off with many red flags from what Mika had just asked Ann, who blinked as she spoke up.

"Routines? You mean like...singing in the shower...?" Ann asked as Mika winced and spoke up.

"O-Oh, is that all you do? Then, what kinda stuff do you eat? I've been looking all over for a place to import some organic green almonds...Plus I'm getting suuuper tired of eating quinoa. Do I need to like, boil it in hard water or something?" Mika asked Ann who frowned as she spoke up.

"Um, almonds? I only ever eat them when they're covered in chocolate...And hard water? Isn't it kinda tough to boil ice...?" Ann asked as Mika blinked at her before speaking up.

"Chocolate? Umm, not to be rude Ann, but...Do you weigh yourself?" Mika asked Ann who did a closed-eye smile.

"Oh of course! Once a year for the health examinations at school." Ann said as Mika got a uncertain look on her face

"I see...so you're gonna keep it all a secret from me, huh? I get it. It's hard trusting someone you just met..." Mika said to Ann who panicked as she spoke up reassuringly.

"Th-That's not it! I just don't really think about that stuff...! It has nothing to do with not trusting you. It's more that modeling is like a hobby for me." Ann said as Mika frowned at hearing this and spoke up, her demeanor visibly different as she spoke.

"What? Ann-senpai, that's so horrible...! What do you mean you don't care about modeling for these guys!?" Mika said as the photoshoot assistants walked over, one of them looking at Ann as they spoke up.

"You said that, Ann-chan?" The assistant said to Ann who spoke up in surprise.

"W-wait, I..." Ann said as Mika spoke up to cut her off, not seeing the glare Ren gave her as she spoke.

"I love this magazine! Everyone tries so hard to make sure their product is the best...!" Mika said as the cameraman chose that moment to speak up.

"Mika-chan, just calm down. Don't worry, we all know that you're giving it your all here." The cameraman said to Mika who gave him a sad look as she spoke up.

"But...you guys work so much harder than me...and I'm still the one getting comforted..." Mika said, sniffling a bit for effect as Ann spoke up in a flustered tone.

"Wait! H-Hold on..." Ann said as the photoshoot assistant cut her off by speaking up.

"Ann-chan, the truth is, we had both you and Mika-chan come down as substitutes for our missing model. We wanted both of you on the cover, but if you're not really interested..." The photoshoot assistant said as Ann spoke up.

"H-Hey, I didn't..." Ann said as Mika spoke up, cutting Ann off as she spoke.

"Don't worry, I...I can do it alone! I read the concept docs on my way here..." Mika said, still sniffling. She then turned to Ann with a devious grin on her face as she spoke up once more.

"Heh." Mika said as Ann blanched and spoke up.

"WHAT!? You faker...!" Ann said to Mika, who made a show of crying once more as she spoke up again.

"Y-You're so mean, Ann-chan...! Do you really hate me that much!?" Mika said as the cameraman spoke up.

"Keep it civil, you too. Anyway, you good to go, Mika-chan? Sorry about all this, Ann-chan. We won't be needing you today. We'll reimburse your transportation expenses though, and even throw in a little extra for your trouble." The cameraman said as Mika walked back over to him and the photoshoot assistant as Ann spoke up.

"Oh! But..." Ann said as the magazine staff left with Mika for the photoshoot, leaving behind a shocked/devastated Ann and confused Ren, who was also annoyed at Mika for what she'd done to Ann. Ann then looked at Ren as she spoke up.

"Ugh! I really screwed that up..." Ann said as Ren spoke up.

"You got unlucky, Ann, that's all. Though I do have to admit, her acting was rather amazing, even if what she did to you was beyond screwed up." Ren said. Ann sighed but nodded as she spoke up.

"Yeah...But maybe it's because deep down, I'm not that invested in modeling...She sees straight through that. Ugh, anyway, I totally ruined the shoot...But still, wasn't Mika's fake crying pretty incredible?" Ann asked Ren who thought about it and spoke up.

"I don't like admitting it, but it did have grace to it. Though I don't know that I condone what she did to you." Ren said. Ann blinked as she gave Ren a wide-eyed stare as she spoke up.

"Do you think...? Oh, maybe that's what I'm missing...! I-I dunno though, I think I'm pretty good at fake crying myself. I know the perfect technique." Ann said as Ren spoke up.

"This I have to hear. Go on Ann, tell me more of this perfect technique of yours." Ren said. Ann nodded as she spoke up, her words eventually making Ren facefault as she spoke.

"Listen carefully...The key is...You don't actually cry!" Ann said, and Ren spoke up after he got back up.

"I mean, that makes sense. That is why it's 'fake' after all." Ren said agreeably. Ann nodded as she spoke up happily.

"YES! Either way, I think I'll be able to use that ability to our advantage in the Metaverse! I'll turn my failure today into positive energy going forward!" Ann said as Ren sensed a heightened motivation from Ann, as he felt his bond with her get deeper. At that point, the 'Lovers' card appeared in his mind's eye, the 'IV' becoming a 'V' to signify that his Lovers Confidant link with Ann had reached rank 5, and as a result of said rank-up, Ann was able to enlighten Ren on the ways of the 'Crocodile Tears', making it so Ren had the chance to force enemies to ask for less during negotiations with Ann in the party. Afterwards, Ann kept speaking.

"Speaking of the Metaverse...I'm gonna try super hard in my work with the Phantom Thieves too! But for now, I should go stop by and see Shiho in the hospital. Thanks for today!" Ann said as Ren nodded and spoke up.

"No problem. I guess I should get back to Leblanc now..." Ren said as Ann nodded and spoke up once more.

"Okay, Ren! Bye!" Ann said as Ren headed back to Leblanc...

(That evening at Leblanc with Morgana and Ren)

"Hey! That popular fortune teller must be the saome one that predicted horrible misfortune for Ryuji, right? She must have some kind of trick. Maybe we should check it out..." Morgana said as Ren nodded, before pondering his options. While doing so, Ren blinked when he saw a private chat from Akechi. He pulled it up and read it.

"I'm in Kichijoji right now. I've found myself with a bit of time on my hands. If you feel so inclined, perhaps you could meet me here and we could chat for awhile?" Akechi sent as Morgana spoke up.

"So what's the plan? Are you gonna hang out with Akechi?" Morgana asked as Ren looked at him and nodded before speaking up.

"Yeah, I'm gonna hang out with Akechi. I mean, outside of that, my literal other options are Iwai, who I don't have the Guts to hang with just yet, and that fortune teller that we saw in Shinjuku the other night, who I sense I'll need to be rather rich to hang with, so given the choices, Akechi's really the only option outside of stat building." Ren said as Morgana nodded. After travelling around a bit, Ren eventually arrived in Kichijoji, where Akechi was waiting and smiled, speaking up as Ren approached him.

"Hi! Hey, Amamiya-kun. Good evening. There's actually a prolific cafe right over there. I was hoping we could discuss things over some tea, but...Unfortunately, my television appearance has earned me the attention of a rather extreme fanbase. As far as they're concerned, anyone in my company must meet their standards of intelligence and attractiveness...If not, well, they take it to social media, denouncing and harassing the people in question. I wouldn't wish that on you." Akechi said as Ren nodded while Akechi kept speaking with a smile as he looked Ren over.

"But you? I expect you'll pass muster easily." Akechi said as Ren nodded and spoke up, smirking as he noted that his Knowledge and Charm were both sufficient to hang out with Akechi in this instance.

"I'm always up for seeing someplace new, Akechi-kun. Thus, I'd be honored to go there with you." Ren said politely as Akechi smiled, giving Ren a closed-eye smile as he spoke.

"Thanks. The place is really quite popular. It should be open right now...Let's get going." Akechi said as Morgana nodded and spoke up.

"I'm gonna walk around. Let me know when you're ready to leave." Morgana said as Ren nodded before accompanying Akechi to the place in question, where Akechi chuckled as he spoke up with another closed-eye smile for Ren that was more of a closed-eye grin as he spoke.

"The cake here's fairly popular. I've been wanting to try it myself." Akechi said as Ren spoke up.

"I see. You come here often? I'd guess so since you seem so well-informed on the cake here among other things." Ren said jokingly. Akechi chuckled as he shook his head.

"No. I only learned about it recently. Fads tend to be fairly similar, so I'm more curious about its popularity than its taste. Well, why don't we give it a try?" Akechi said as Ren nodded before the two tried the cake. When they were done, Akechi smiled as he spoke up with another closed-eye grin as he spoke.

"Ah, it was quite nice! Mm. It was delicious after all...I actually enjoyed that more than I thought I would." Akechi said as Ren nodded, only for their meal to be interrupted by some passers-by, one of which squealed quietly as she looked at the guy with her and spoke up.

"Oh my gosh! Hey, look! Isn't that him?" The squealing woman said as the woman with her, who didn't even look that much like a woman to Ren, spoke up.

"Ohh, you mean the guy who's on TV these days...Who was he again?" The short-haired woman said as the squealing woman spoke up again.

"Wasn't his name Akechi-kun? You know, the next-generation Detective Prince? Should we ask him for an autograph? Might be something worth bragging about..." The squealing woman said as Akechi winced as he spotted the women and spoke up so only Ren could hear.

"Uh-oh. Looks like I've been spotted." Akechi said before Ren nodded sympathetically as he spoke up.

"That sucks, Akechi-kun. But at the same time, should've figured it'd happen at some point, yeah?" Ren said. Akechi nodded as he spoke up.

"True. She's just here for the cake, I'm guessing. I'm sure she doesn't mean any harm, but I don't want to cause any trouble for the store..." Akechi said as a male passer-by spoke up at that point.

"Huh? Is someone important here?" The male passer-by asked, getting the attention of the gaggle of women loitering near a staircase across the way, one of whom spoke up.

"Who is it? Is it a celebrity!?" The woman said as Akechi winced, looking at Ren as he spoke up again.

"Looks like I'm out of time. I wish I could've relaxed a little longer, though. We should go." Akechi said as Ren nodded sympathetically before he spoke up.

"I get it. However, I still think it's unfair! You've done nothing wrong, yet people are always hounding you everywhere you go." Ren said. Akechi nodded as he spoke up.

"True, but at the same time I think it's best if we leave. Sorry, but I have the feeling I'm only going to cause problems if we stay. A shame I don't have glasses like you. Maybe I would have been able to get out of this situation. Ren blinked at Akechi's off-hand comment, before his eyes widened as an idea came to him while he spoke up.

"You might not have glasses, Akechi-kun, but as it so happens, I do. How about we put them to use, and find out if your theory about being able to get out of this situation is correct?" Ren said with a smirk before he walked over to a now wide-eyed Akechi, who gaped as he spoke up.

"H-Hold on a moment! Huh? Hey, what are you-!?" Akechi said as Ren just smirked, messing up Akechi's hair and carefully sliding his glasses onto Akechi's face, making him look almost unrecognizable as he sat back down, smirking proudly as his handiwork as he spoke up.

"And now, we wait to see if you were right about glasses getting you out of your current situation." Ren said as Akechi gave him an unreadable look from behind the borrowed glasses. At that point, the squealing woman spoke up.

"Oh, he's back. This time, I'll get his autograph for..." The squealing woman said as the short-haired woman frowned and spoke up.

"Hey, is that boy really Akechi-kun?" The short-haired woman asked as the squealing woman blinked as she shrugged and spoke up.

"You know...Now that I see him up close, I'm not sure..." The squealing woman said as the short-haired woman spoke up uncertainly.

"Maybe you were seeing things? I don't remember the show too well, but I'm pretty sure he didn't look like that." The short-haired woman said, as the squealing woman sighed and spoke up.

"Aww! If he was the real thing, I could've bragged about meeting him." The squealing woman said as the passers-by dispersed, leaving Akechi and Ren alone as the former gave Ren a blank look behind the glasses he was wearing, while Ren was busy trying not to laugh at both his handiwork and how stupid the passers-by were to be fooled by such a simple ruse as messed-up hair and an improvised pair of glasses. A short time later, after Akechi was back to normal and Ren had his glasses back, Akechi frowned and spoke up.

"I can't believe you actually did that. I suppose I'd better learn to watch what I say around you." Akechi said as Ren gave Akechi a contrite look as he spoke up.

"Sorry for doing that without asking first, but it got us out of that situation, yeah? I'd say that in this case, it was a necessary evil. Although, I almost should've taken a picture just so I could have the memory of that, because you do have to admit it was pretty funny seeing you like that. Granted, it was probably mortifying for you, and for that I apologize whole-heartedly. However, if it gets us out of a similar situation in future, I make no promises about not doing so again. However, I WILL promise that I'll ask first next time. How's that?" Ren said to Akechi, who smiled as he nodded, eventually realizing Ren was right even if he was quite mortified at looking like he had. After a bit, Akechi spoke up.

"Well, you saved me. I daresay such crude means would never have occurred to me. Still, there's no knowing how things may go unless you give it a try, hm? I think I've learned a valuable lesson. Thank you." Akechi said to Ren, who nodded as he sensed Akechi's gratitude towards him. At that moment, the 'Justice' card appeared in his mind's eye, the 'II' becoming a 'III' to signify that his Justice Confidant link with Akechi had reached rank 3. However, there was no new skills gained from the rank up. Akechi then kept speaking afterwards.

"Looks like our coffee's gone cold. Why don't we order new ones?" Akechi said as Ren nodded agreeably. A short time later, the two parted ways, Akechi speaking up once more as the two left the place they were at.

"I'll see you later! Well, see you next time." Akechi said to Ren, who nodded as the two went their separate ways, the latter heading back to Leblanc, where his phone rang as he reached the door, making Ren answer it.

"Hello?" Ren said as he blinked, only slightly surprised to hear Akechi's voice on the other end.

"Hello. It's a shame our discussion was interrupted today...I was rather enjoying having a breather with you. But you certainly surprised me today. I can't believe we got out of that with such a basic trick. It was an interesting experience, but even so? I definitely don't want to go through that ordeal ever again. I saw firsthand what happens when I'm too careless with my words around you." Akechi said as Ren nodded before speaking up.

"Again, I am sorry for doing that without asking you first, but you yourself even said it was interesting. So be honest, wasn't it fun too? Maybe not the being disguised, but the rest of it." Ren said as Akechi winced at the question before speaking up in a dry tone.

"Amamiya-kun, you have a twisted concept of 'fun'. Though if you dressed as me next time, I might agree. I could use a stunt double." Akechi said, continuing to speak as Ren nodded warily as Akechi kept speaking.

"You and I aren't terribly different in height. I'm sure my clothes would fit you. If we do this, it'll have to be carefully planned, of course. I'll be dictating everything, from hair to accessories. Nobody would notice the switch, I'm sure. We proved it today that most people can't see beyond the superficial. Whoops, I've an early start tomorrow, so I'll have to excuse myself. See you soon." Akechi said as he hung up the call on his end as Ren hung up his phone, walking into Leblanc and slipping upstairs to get ready for bed, making Kusa look up from his private chat and blink when he saw it was Ren.

"Oh, you're home Ren. Where'd you disappear to, bro?" Kusa asked as Ren smirked, looking at Kusa as he spoke up, his words leaving Kusa struggling not to laugh as he spoke.

"I was out hanging out with Akechi. I have to say, I almost wish you could've been there, just so you could see how incredibly crazily he and I played these really moronic passers-by with a simple disguise trick. It was hilarious! His hair was so frizzy and poofy, and he looked hilarious wearing my glasses." Ren said as Kusa blinked before he burst out laughing at this as he spoke up, sparkling blue music notes going up over his head while he spoke.

"For real!? Please tell me you got a picture!" Kusa said with a grin. Ren nodded as he spoke up once more.

"I did indeed get a photo of him, discreetly of course. However, he doesn't know I snapped said picture. So that stays between us for now. But I might share it, if I remember, next time we're in a group chat with the others." Ren said with a smirk that Kusa matched, managing to get his laughter under control as he spoke up.

"That's great, Ren! I can just see Akechi, dressed up like a total dork. I bet Ryuji would get a huge laugh out of that picture too." Kusa said with a huge grin. Ren nodded as he spoke up.

"Indeed. Is that Ryuji you're currently private chatting with right now?" Ren asked Kusa who shook his head in the negative before speaking up.

"Nope, it's Taba. But I think you knew that already, despite your question. But do share that picture if you remember, Ren. I, and I'm sure Ryuji as well, could use the laugh." Kusa said as Ren nodded, the two getting ready for bed as Kusa finished his group chat before the duo laid down for the night, Morgana padding up the stairs to lay on Kusa as the trio fell asleep...

(The next morning on the train to school)

"HEY! Ah, you and I were able to grab a seat! Kusa wasn't so lucky, but he doesn't mind standing. Why don't you read something until we get there?" Morgana asked Ren, who nodded as he started reading 'Social Thought'. Ren then started reading to himself as Kusa did a private chat while standing.

"Social norms can be broadly divided into 256 types..." Ren read as Morgana spoke up with a frown, reading over Ren's shoulder.

"This isn't making any sense to me. Does the author even understand what they're saying...?" Morgana asked as Ren just nodded and kept reading. A short time later, Morgana spoke up to get Ren's attention as Kusa looked over, having finished his private chat and gotten curious about Ren's activities.

"HEY! Hm? Oh, I din't realize how long you've been reading. So, how far did you get?" Morgana asked Ren, who shook his head and spoke up.

"I got I'd say around halfway through." Ren said as Morgana nodded and spoke up.

"That's pretty good progress. But it seems like you still have some pages left. You should continue some other time. Oh, we're almost at the station. I'd say that was an efficient use of your time." Morgana said as Ren and Kusa nodded, the rest of the trip to school passing uneventfully...

(In class that morning with Ren, Ann and Morgana)

"Oh, yes! I hate how much it rains this time of year...Speaking of rain, did you know that the teru teru bozu was originally female? According to one theory, it came from a Chinese paper doll of a girl-the 'Sao Ching Niang.' When it came to Japan, it looked like a monk praying for sunny weather, and became male. In the history of the world, it's not uncommon to twist people's genders for politics or religion. Now then, Amamiya-kun, please look at this picture." Inui said as Ren looked up and gave Inui his attention.

"Here's a question. Some say this tarot card is based off of a woman named Joan...Now, do you know what this woman's position was?" Inui asked Ren, who smiled as he remembered hearing Kasumi once mention this to him while they were training together, making him smirk as he spoke confidently to answer the question.

"THIS IS IT! The answer is a pope." Ren said confidently, thanking Kasumi for that answer in his head as he spoke. Inui nodded and clapped as he spoke up.

"Ah...Not bad! That is correct. Pope Joan was a significant figure from the medieval ages. You're quite the history buff. Joan-or Johanna as some historians argue-was the pope of Rome, even though women couldn't be priests. As such, she was a legendary figure, sometimes thought of as an anti-church symbol." Inui said as more of the usual murmurs about Ren's Intelligence were heard, making people actually say that he was smart. Morgana even spoke up and praised Ren for being smart enough to get the question right, making Ren smirk as his Knowledge went up. At that point, Inui kept speaking.

"According to the legends, Joan was a cross-dressing girl brought from Athens to Rome. Praised throughout the city for her wisdom, she was eventually chosen by the people as pope. However, when it was discovered that she was a woman, she was stoned to death. This incident was regarded a taboo by the church. As a result, Joan was stricken from history books." Inui said as Morgana huffed and spoke up in annoyance.

"As long as they can do the job, it doesn't matter if they're man or woman. Sheesh, some people..." Morgana said as the rest of the class passed uneventfully...

(After school, with Ren and Morgana)

"Hmm...It's raining...Weather may very well have the same influence on Mementos as it has on humans..." Morgana said as Ren nodded, deciding to ponder his next move carefully...

END OF CHAPTER

A/N: Boom! And there we have another chapter done and dusted! I know no one expected the prep week at the start here, but it was the best place to put it, especially since I was able to fit quite a few extra events in that I otherwise would've had to find places to slot in (such as the new Confidant link, the four Confidants that got ranked up and the start of the third Palace's deadline along with the next Awakening) so I suppose it was worth it for that. That being said, next chapter should be the rest of the prep week, AND the next part of the third Palace!

With any luck, I can get the Palace to cover at least two chapters on its own, so as to keep around the usual 10-12 part average arc length! But we'll have to wait and see what happens! That said, feel free to leave a review on the story if you're enjoying it with your thoughts/feedback/constructive criticism on the story (or you can PM it to me if you prefer, though I take either or both), and I appreciate the support/feedback either way! That said, until next update, sithlorde1988 out!

CONFIDANT LINKS AS OF THE END OF CHAPTER 30

FOOL (Igor/Prison Master) : Rank 5

MAGICIAN (Morgana) : Rank 4

EMPEROR (Yusuke) : Rank 1

HIEROPHANT (Sojiro) : Rank 3

LOVERS (Ann) : Rank 5

CHARIOT (Ryuji) : Rank 5

JUSTICE (Akechi) : Rank 3

STRENGTH (Caroline and Justine/Twin Wardens) : Rank 2

DEATH (Tae/Back-Alley Doctor) : Rank 5

TEMPERANCE (Kawakami) : Rank 1

MOON (Mishima) : Rank 4

SUN (Yoshida/Man Of The People) : Rank 2

WORLD (Kusa) : Rank 3

FAITH (Kasumi/Yoshizawa) : Rank 2

COUNCILLOR (Maruki) : Rank 4